tools of designing politicians and Priests, who could do any mischief with such ill-tutered followers. Crafty Priests give the name of "Heretics" to whom they choose; and then teach their deluded people to murder such "Heretics" without pity, as if they performed a meritorious deed. Nothing but the laws of our country prevents the repetition of barbarities, at which human nature shudders; and nothing can enlighten the minds of honest Catholics, but to instruct them in the benevolent doctrines of religion contained in the holy Bible, a book which Papists in general have too long been discouraged from reading.

Cath. The Bible discouraged? Catholics forbid the Holy Scriptures? 'Tis false, Sir, 't is false; 't is a vile calumny. At least 't is not true in Ireland; but, on the contrary, you Protestants have designedly corrupted the Scriptures, by publishing spurious translations, which lead the sincere inquirer into error; and by such wilful corruption you have converted the food of life into the poison of death!

Prot. Will you oblige me so far as to prove your words true? The diabolical and foul conduct of which you thus accuse Protestants, ought not to be mentioned as a mere suspicion without ample proof. Cath. Here, Sir; see here. Read this hand-bill and advertisement; which has lately been distributed by tens of thousands throughout all Ireland, &c. &c.

Prot. Is that printed advertisement offered as proof? Then, be so obliging as to read it to me. I see it was issued from the shop of Mr. Coyne, in Dublin. Read, at least, the chief parts of it.

Cath. Now in the press, and printing by R. Coyne, 165, Capel Street, Dublin, with the permission of the MosT REV. DR. TROY, and the MOST REV. DR. MURRAY, A new and cheap Edition of the

Holy Bible; with Annotations for clearing up the principal Difficulties of Holy Writ; in five volumes duodecimo: price to Subscribers in boards 11. 12s. 6d,; in plain calf 11. 17s. 6d. **** As the Bible is now nearly finished, the above plan" [of paying only eighteen pence weekly]" is adopted by the Editor, in order to give the work. ing people and well-disposed an opportunity of purchasing the Bible at an easy rate; and at the same time it will substantially refute the calumny industriously circulated in twopenny pamphlets, that the Catholic Clergy prohibit the faithful from reading the Word of God, or having it in their possession; a charge every day made, not only by these daring pamphleteers, but by the learned, who ought to know that scandal is a deadly crime, which neither their zeal nor their prejudices can palliate. It was the boast of the first pretended Reformers, and continues to be the boast of their disciples in the present day, that they had emancipated their followers from the shackles of Catholic despotism, and had restored to them the freedom of the children of God. This freedom, it appears, consisted in reading an erroneous version of the inspired writings, and in venerating, as the dictates of eternal wisdom, the blunders of ignorant and interested translators. What crime more foul in its nature, more prejudicial in its consequences, more allied to diabolical malignity, than that of DESIGNEDLY corrupting the Holy Scriptures; and, by such cor ruption, leading the sincere inquirer into error, and converting the food of life into the poison of death? And, do we not every day hear those deformers of the Holy Writ calling on Catholics to read their spurious and corrupted translations; telling them, at the same time, that by doing so they will easily detect the errors of Popery, and learn the true and genuine doctrine

your

of the Gospel; exclaiming, that the Scriptures are no longer concealed under the obscurity of a learned language, but exhibited to you in your native tongue? But, Catholics answer, We will not read Protestant Bible-we will not drink at the muddy part of the stream, while we can drink with equal ease at the fountain-head. Catholics will desire Protestants to read the letter of PIUS THE SIXTH, our Supreme Pastor of blessed memory, to ANTONY MARTINI, afterwards Archbishop of Florence, who translated the Bible into the language of his country, and be covered with shame, for their vile misrepresentations

it

Prot. The cry of heresy, corruption, error, and final damnation against those who do not read the original Scriptures with the eyes of a Catholic, must necessarily be excited by every ignorant and selfish Priest who believes that mischievous advertisement, and circulates among his followers!! It is all of a piece with the presumptuous claim of "Infallibility" and never-ceasing truth in the Roman Church!!! The direct charge it contains, of the diabolical and malignant plan of modern as well as early Protestants, "that of designedly corrupting and deforming the Holy Scriptures," is big with dreadful consequences. It must create an endless jealousy and suspicion (if not a mortal hatred) in the breasts of your deluded people, against their Prince and his lawful government!!!

[To be continued.]

sion;

which I pray may be as useful to your son and Mr. P as, through divine grace, they are suited to be unto them. I am glad, for their sakes, I had them in my possesand hereafter, very possibly, may give them a larger spread. Several letters and other papers of that dear man of God are yet in my hands, which are worthy of publication.-I have also, through God's providence, committed to my care all the papers on pious subjects of our friend Mr. Adam. He died in March last, full of faith and of years. "Could I," said he, a few days before his departure, "could I be sensible of what you, my friends, were about, when you were putting me into my coffin, and shutting me up in it, I should find it to be to me the most pleasing scene I have ever been witness to from my youth until now."-His papers consist of annotations and lectures on several of the Gospels, and some of the Epistles. Those on St. Matthew's Gospel have been revised by Mr. Milner, of Hull, and will probably be published very soon by subscription. There is likewise a large number of sermons in manuscript, and a variety of observations and occasional remarks, from the year 1747 to 75 or 6. The last of these are much abbreviated, and I am writing them out at large. I send you the few following as a specimen of the others:

"I like Christ's work so well, that I do not care how long I live to do it; nor how soon I die, that I may know and serve him bet

ter."

"Let others boast of self-power, and despise help; I have great need to pray."

"What hope could I have, if God does not forgive what I am, as

well as what I have been

"I know my sin, and can tell myself of it; but in vain, if God does not tell me of it again. There is almost as much difference betwixt spiritual conviction of sin,

and any human knowledge of it, as betwixt God and man."

"The moment we sin, there is an absolute forfeiture of life incurred; nothing but mercy can now relieve us, and we must always see ourselves in the light of condemned malefactors; for no after-acts can undo what is past.' "I long to know something, and be something; i. e. to die."

66

August 13th, 1765.-I had for many hours a strong, lightsome, and overpowering sense of joy, without any preceding course of reading, thought, meditation, or action of any kind, to be the ground of it; but finding myself all on a sudden drawn to God; led to the Redeemer's feet in faith, admiration, and thankfulness; desiring to be led by the Spirit, and making professions of love and obedience. I know such comforts are not to be lived upon, nor proofs of a high state of spirituality, but rather the contrary; and supposing them to be the real influxes of the Spirit, are to be considered as calls to greater sincerity, circumspection, and faithfulness, if not as forerunners of trials and sufferings.'

I have already written out twentyseven or more half-sheets of such like observations, and several yet remain. Let me know if you think they may be useful, or otherwise. To me they are a feast.-By the papers of Saturday I have read an account of the death of the eldest of Mr. P's sons. The Lord sanctify to them and us the dispensations of his providence! I know not if this be the son of the elder brother, or otherwise. If it be, does the inheritance now devolve to the Clergyman? Then, the Lord be his defence from the snares which will attend it. My kind respects and Mrs. B.'s to Mrs. R. and all friends. I am always,

Dear Sir,
Your sincere friend, &c.

GEO. BURNETT,

ARCHBISHOP Usher had that fluency, and ready command of words, that for many years he never committed more to writing than the heads of his sermons, trusting the rest (after he had well considered what to say) wholly to his memory. In his delivery, his very voice and gesture were moving and persuasive, yet without any tone or affectation. He never cared to tire his auditory with the length of his sermon, knowing well, that as the satisfaction in hearing decreases, so does the attention also, when the discourse is too long. And to evince how strictly he endeavoured to keep to this rule (though sometimes to the regret of his hearers), the following is an instance :"About a year before he died,when he had left off preaching constantly, he was importuned by the Countess of Peterborough, and some other persons of quality, to give them a sermon at St. Martin's Church, in which church his voice would be best heard of any thereabouts. He complied with their desires, and preached a sermon highly satisfactory to his auditory. But after a pretty while, the Archbishop happening to look upon the hour-glass, which stood from the light, and through the weakness and deficiency of his sight, mistaking it to be out, when indeed it was not, he concluded; telling them, since the time was past, he would leave the rest he had to say on that subject to another opportunity, if God should please to grant it to him, of speaking again to them in that place. But the congregation finding out his mistake, and that there was some of the hour yet to come; and not knowing whether they might have the like happiness of hearing him again, made signs to the reader to let him know that the glass being not run out, they ear

things above," and to seek an inheritance in heaven as "the one thing needful:" as well as soften them into sympathy and kindness for others who suffer adversity." If affliction be sanctified to produce these effects upon us, however severe it may be, we shall assuredly find cause to say of it, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes:" and ere long we shall " member no more the sorrow," for the everlasting joy which it will have brought forth to us. Such have been the "peaceable fruits" of God's corrections to multitudes: may increasing numbers find the like benefit from them!

re

2. But many, I am sensible, are not fond of having cases of this kind brought forward. We have allowed that the deceased was not always a correct character; and they may know that she was not, to the last, a perfect one. And it is not at all agreeable to their ideas, that such an one should be held forth as a person of whose salvation we may feel much confidence, and in particular as more clearly and decidedly a Christian, than many whom they may think, at least taking the whole of their lives together, more virtuous cha

racters.

Notions of this sort I apprehend to be very common; and they involve some fundamental errors, which may here deserve particular animadversion.

First, they seem to imply, that a person, in order to being at any time a decidedly Christian character, must have always been, in the main, a good one. But does not such a sentiment betray ignorance of the very first principles of Christianity? Christianity supposes us all to be in a very sinful, unholy state: it calls us all, therefore, to repentance and conversion: it acknowledges none as good, but those who obey this call: and,

with respect to them, it assures us, that God will regard, and consequently that we should regard, not what they were before, but what they henceforth become. "All their sins which they have committed shall be no more mentioned unto them: they shall surely live." The " heretofore," and the "henceforth," what we were in time past, and what we are now and from this time forward, are distinctions of essential importance, on the plan of the Gospel.

We are aware, that some persons denounce the doctrines we are now laying down, as preferring penitence to innocence: proclaiming that men must be wicked in order to be good:' and teaching

that great sinners are more in the way to heaven than little ones.' But these are all the idle charges of men who "speak evil of the things which they understand not." We do not prefer penitence to innocence, but only to impenitence, and to the pride and folly of man supposing himself innocent, when he is, in truth, an unhumbled rebel against God. For of real innocence our fallen race affords no examples. We do not, again, teach, that men must be wicked in order to be good, but that all are wicked till conversion to God makes them, in some degree, good.

We teach not that great sinners are in a fairer way for heaven than little ones. We do not admit, that any are little sinners: or that it is easy for us to determine who are less sinners than others. But we contend, that those who feel the burden of their sins to be intolerable' (as we are all taught to profess that we do), and, accordingly, "repent in dust and ashes," are in the way to heaven, rather than those who "trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others." We teach not that profligates" enter the kingdom of God before" more decorous cha