LETTERS TO M. GONDON, AUTHOR OF "MOUVEMENT RELIGIEUX EN ANGLETERRE,” “CONVERSION DE CENT CINQUANTE MINISTRES ANGLICANS," &c. &c. &c. ON THE DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER OF THE Church of Rome, BOTH IN RELIGION AND POLITY. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY CAJNESWORDY CHR. WORDSWORTH, D.D. FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE. oca ΤΟ M. JULES GONDON, AUTHOR OF 66 MOUVEMENT RELIGIEUX EN ANGLETERRE ;" "CONVERSION DE CENT CINQUANTE MINISTRES ANGLICANS, OU PERSONNES DE DISTINCTION;" 66 MOTIFS DE CONVERSION DE DIX MINISTRES ANGLICANS;" &c. &c. MY DEAR SIR, I have been induced by public and private considerations to address the following Letters to you. } You have taken a lively interest in our religious affairs, and have evinced considerable knowledge of them in your periodical and other publications*, for copies of which I am indebted to your kindness; and from personal intercourse with you, to which I look * M. Gondon also announces for immediate publication a Translation of Mr. Newman's Essay on Development-" ouvrage traduit de l'Anglais avec l'approbation de l'auteur." back with feelings of pleasure and of cordial regard for your friendship, I am persuaded that the sentiments expressed in your writings are deeply imprinted on your mind. Your acquaintance also with the productions of the English press supplied me with another motive for addressing you; and I am glad to be able to think that the references in the following Letters to our Writers, particularly Theological, find an appropriate place in a correspondence with one who has paid especial attention to the Literature and Religion of England. In writing freely to a friend concerning the religious and political system of the Church of Rome, to which he is strongly attached, I cannot expect his concurrence in all I have said on that subject, at least until he has very carefully examined the grounds of my assertions; but I should deeply regret if any thing should be found in these Letters which is justly chargeable with asperity or illiberality towards that Church or any of her members. My main design has been to endeavour to show unreservedly, but not uncharitably, what the real nature and necessary results of the ecclesiastical and civil principles of Rome are; and to prove, at the same time, that we enjoy in this country a form of Religion and Polity which other Nations may do well to imitate, and which we are bound to maintain and thus I have aimed to promote the cause of Truth and of Peace. Allow me now to submit what I have written to your candid and serious consideration, and to subscribe myself, my dear Sir, with sincere regard, Yours faithfully, Cloisters, Westminster, March 1, 1847. CHR. WORDSWORTH. |