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 UC SOUTHFRN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 Protestant Association 
 Appeal
 
 \src 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 AN 
 
 APPEAL 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION 
 
 T O 
 
 THE PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN; 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 THE PROBABLE TENDENCY OF THE LATE ACT OF 
 PARLIAMENT IN FAVOUR OF THE PAPISTS. 
 
 To dcfign the Advancement of Popery, is, to defign the Ruin 
 of the State, and the Deftruclion of the Church 5 it is to facrifice 
 the Nation to a double Slavery, to prepare Chains both for their 
 Bodies and their Minds. Bp. Sherlock.. 
 
 >~c 
 
 :>.<), 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY J. W. PASHAM, BLACK-FRIARS ; 
 
 AND SOLD BY J. DODSLEY, IN PALL-MALL; C. DILLY, IN 
 
 THE POULTRY; AND J. MATHEWS, IN THE STRAND. 
 
 e i = ' ' a - 
 
 MDCCLXX1X. 
 
 MM
 
 C 3 J 
 
 A N 7*7*o. 
 
 APPEAL, ^V. &c. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ALARMED at the indulgence granted to 
 Papifts, by an Aft lately pad in their fa- 
 vour, and well perfuaded that the principles of 
 Popery deferve no fuch encouragement from any 
 Proteftant ftate ; we feel for ourfelves, we tremble 
 for pofterity : and, having maturely deliberated 
 on the confequences that moft probably will re- 
 fult from this indulgence, we think it a duty we 
 owe to religion and our country, to afibciate; and, 
 by every lawful method, to procure a remedy for 
 the evils apprehended from its operation, and to 
 preferve the ineltimable privileges, which, as 
 Chriftians and members of fociety, we enjoy. 
 
 This Afibciation is not formed to promote the 
 
 views of party, or to embarrafs the mealures of 
 
 government at this important crifis. It confills of 
 
 B Pro- 
 
 868419
 
 L + 1 
 
 Proteftants,who will yield to none of their fellow- 
 fubjects, in loyalty to His Majefty's perfon, or in 
 zealous attachment to our happy constitution. 
 
 If the doctrines held by Papifts were confined 
 to matters of opinion in religion, and did not in- 
 clude political tenets of the mod dangerous ten- 
 dency, they might expect the fame connivance, 
 which has generally been extended to other erro- 
 neous fects : they might bow down to their ima- 
 ges, fwallow the abfurd doctrine of tranfubftan- 
 tiation, and amufe themfelves with dreams of 
 Purgatory, without interruption : their ignorance 
 and fuperilition would rather excite companion, 
 than expofe them to the confequences of any Pe- 
 nal Statutes. 
 
 But, when Papifts thunder excommunication 
 againft all who differ from them in opinion, and 
 their religious profeflion itfelf breathes the very 
 fpirit of perfecution and cruelty, againft thofe 
 whom they anathematize as heretics; who, if 
 Princes, are to be depofed and murdered ; if fub- 
 jects, to be maflacred : when they avow fuch 
 principles as thefe, what fecurifcy can be given to 
 any ftate for their peaceable behaviour ? and what 
 claim can fchey have to toleration under any Pro- 
 tectant government * ? 
 
 See Archdeacon Blackburne's Coniiderati&ns on tbc 
 prcfent State of Popery. 
 
 It
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 It is not our defire to perfccute ; but, as Pro- 
 teftants, we are concerned to fecure ourfelves and 
 pofterity from Popifh perfecution. When we call 
 to mind the Protectant blood that has been fhed 
 by Papifts, both at home and in foreign countries, 
 we cannot but be excited to ufe every legal expe- 
 dient, to prevent the return of fuch a national ca 
 lamity. 
 
 Should the Papifts, in any future period, be 
 poflefTed of power, we have reafon to apprehend 
 that the fame principles would be productive of 
 the fame effects. Thefe principles they have never 
 publicly difavowed ; and, as Papifts, cannot, with 
 confiftency, difown : therefore, as they ftrike at 
 our liberties and lives, to tolerate perfons pro- 
 fefling them, is to lay the axe to the root of our 
 deareft privileges and moft facred rights. 
 
 ImprefTed with thefe con fiderations, we would 
 now call the attention of our fellow-fubjects to 
 the following obfervations on the late Aft of Par- 
 liament : and, if the matter contained in them be 
 true , if our wifcft and beft laws againft Popery 
 be virtually repealed, and our conftitution actu- 
 ally endangered ; what meafures fhculd we adopt, 
 with what fpirit and unanimity lhquld we act, to 
 preferve our civil and religious liberties from the 
 incroachments of Popery, and from its infepar- 
 able concomitant, ARBITRARY POWER i 
 
 82 SECTION
 
 [ f 3 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Thoughts on Toleration, and hozv far it is confijhrt* 
 with our civil Confiituti on, and the prefervation of 
 the Protejlant Religion, to extend it to the Papijls. 
 
 \ N order to gain a clearer idea of Toleration, let 
 * us inquire into the true nature of its oppofite, 
 which is Perfection. 
 
 Perfecution confifts in hurting a man in any of.; 
 his natural or civil rights, without any crime 
 committed on his part j but merely on account of 
 the principles he holds, or the worfhip he per- 
 forms ; when thofe principles and that worfhip 
 have nothing in them incompatible with the fcrip- 
 tures, the civil interefts of the community, and 
 the peace of the public ; and though he be able 
 and ready to give all legal fecurity to the go- 
 vernment for his peaceable behaviour* 
 
 Toleration is the very oppofite of perfecution, 
 and, therefore, confifts in the contrary fpirit and 
 conduct ; that is, in allowing every man to pro- 
 fefs his own faith, if not evidently repugnant to 
 the holy fcriptures, without the leaft injury done 
 him in his civil rights, fo long as he fhall give 
 proper fecurity for his being a peaceable member 
 of fociety. 
 
 Perfecution, on the account of religion, is 
 equally wicked and abfurd, becaufe it defeats its 
 
 own
 
 L 7 I 
 
 own end ; for, inftead of reconciling the mind to 
 any fet of religious principles, it muft excite the 
 utmoft horror and difguft -, it may make hypo- 
 crites it cannot make true converts. 
 
 The horrible effects of Perfecution by the Pa- 
 pifts in foreign countries, but more efpecially in 
 our own, ought to touch the tendereft feelings of 
 every true Proteftant. No language is fufficient 
 to defcribe the injuftice and cruelty of fuch an 
 infernal fpirit. To illuitrate the truth of thefe 
 obfervations, let us, for a moment, turn our eyes 
 to foreign countries ; and what fcenes of cruelty 
 have been acted under the auipices of Popery ! 
 how many have been tortured on the rack, or 
 cruelly murdered in the cells of the inquifition ! 
 how many have been dragged forth to difgrace t 
 what is called, in thofe unhappy countries, an 
 auto dafe*, but is rather an act of triumph over 
 faith, humanity, and common lenfe. Is it not 
 enough to condemn the innocent to flames, kind- 
 led by fuperftition, without leading them forth in 
 mock proceiTions, and cloathing them with fan 
 benitos^ or coats of devils, to expofe them to the 
 infults of a barbarous multitude? But why do 
 we fpeak of cruelty to individuals only ? Let 
 us call to remembrance the maiTacre at Paris, on 
 the 24th of Auguft, 1572. There Popery ap- 
 peared in its true colours, " drunken with the 
 
 Aft of Faith. 
 
 B 3 blood
 
 t 8 ] 
 
 * blood of* the faints, and with the blood of the 
 " martyrs of Jefus." Whilft Popery has exift- 
 ence upon earth, let it be remembered, though 
 to the difgrace of humanity j let it be remem- 
 bered with horror, that on St. Bartholomew's-day, 
 thoufands and tens of thoufands of Proteftants were 
 murdered in France in cold blood ; fuddenly 
 maffacred in their beds and hoUfes, by the cru- 
 elty and treachery of their Popifh fellow-fubjefls, 
 at the very time they were carefTed and courted ; 
 and that this perfidious conduct met with the ap- 
 probation of his infallible holinefs, pope Gregory 
 Xlllth, of infamous memory, who went in fo- 
 lemn procefljon to St. Lewis's church, and in- 
 fulted the goodnefs of the fupreme Being, by re- 
 turning thanks for the blood that had been fhed 5 
 and, to preferve the remembrance of a transac- 
 tion lb meritorious, it was defcribed at Rome, in 
 a magnificent picture, intitlcd the TRIUMPH 
 cf the CHURCH. Such is the faith that Papifts 
 keep with heretics; fuch the triumphs of the 
 church of Rome*. 
 
 But to come nearer home: in England, where 
 no inquifition was fuffered, Popery hath recorded 
 her name in characters of blood. During the 
 reign of queen Mary, how many of the moft 
 learned and pious men were brought to witnefs a 
 good confefiion at the flake ! The crutlty of Po- 
 
 See Thuanus's Hiftory of France. 
 
 pifh
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
 pilh pcrfecutors made no diftinction of age or fex, 
 learned or unlearned, noble or ignoble: all fell 
 alike the victims of their undifcerning bigotry. 
 Nay, horrible to mention ! pregnant women were 
 burnt alive. And in the ifland of Guernfey, a 
 fcene of almoft incredible barbarity was acted : 
 * 4 A mother and her two daughters being com- 
 V mitted to the flames, one of them being mar- 
 " ried, and in the laft month of her pregnancy, 
 4 * was, by the violence of the pain, taken in la- 
 ** bour, and brought forth an infant -, which a 
 *f humane bye-ftander refcued from the fire : 
 '* but after, fome confultation, the magiftrate, 
 " who fuperintended the execution, ordered the 
 44 innocent to be thrown back into the flames j 
 44 where it perifhed with the mother * -" con- 
 curring in opinion with Bellarmine, a cardinal of 
 the firft note, who fays, M that if it were poflible 
 M to root out heretics, without doubt they are to 
 44 bedeflroyed root and branch -f." 
 
 Smithfield, Oxford, Cambridge, moft of the 
 public market-crofles, and many other places 
 throughout the kingdom, have a voice crying 
 aloud to Britifh Proteftant.% Beware of Po- 
 pery j and bear an unanimous and irrefragable 
 tefiimony, that Popery and Toleration ntver can 
 agree J. O Britons ! let not the b!ood of the 
 
 Sec Smollet's Hiftory of England, vol. vi. 
 f- See Bellarm. de laic. % See Fox's Martyrology. 
 
 B 4 martyrs
 
 [ w ] 
 
 martyrs be forgotten, or their fufferings effaced 
 from our memory, to the lateft pofterity. 
 
 From England, let us pafs to her fitter king- 
 dom, Ireland ; and behold more recent difplays 
 of Popilh cruelty ! Is the memorable and lament- 
 able asra of 1641 fo foon forgotten ? Are there 
 none living, in thefe days, whole anceftors fuf- 
 fered by that unparalled maffacre, when the Pa- 
 pifts endeavoured to extirpate the Proteftants 
 with fire, fword, and famine? .Though the plot 
 was difcovered, time enough to prevent the in- 
 tended maffacre caking place in Dublin ; yet, in 
 the province of Ulfter, and other parts of the 
 kingdom, neir 100,000 Proteftants were but- 
 chered , with fuch circumftances of premedi- 
 tated cruelty, as none but bigotted Papifts could 
 have perpetrated. Such fpedtacles of mifery and 
 diltrefs mud have foftened any other hearts how- 
 ever favage or uncultivated. But Papifts not only 
 infulted them in their fufferings, but triumphed 
 in the hope, that the victims of their cruelty 
 would be damned to all eternity *. The mind 
 recoils from fuch fcenes of cruelty with horror ; 
 and, upon a review of all thefe melancholy fafts, 
 by what arguments from reafon, juftice, humanity, 
 or piety, can the Toleration of fuch a religious 
 
 * See the Hiftory of England, and Sir John Parfon's Hit 
 tory of this horrible mafiacre. 
 
 2 profeffion
 
 [ 3 
 
 profeflion be defended in any free and Protefhnt 
 ftate? 
 
 It is alfo incompatible with the prefervation of 
 our civil conftitution, to tolerate Popery; which 
 not only enflaves the mind, but would bind 
 nobles and people with the iron chains of defpo- 
 tifm. It is a fyftem convenient for tyrants : we, 
 at lead of this country, have ever found it look- 
 ing with a malignant afpecl: on freedom, and ac- 
 tive in the retinue of Arbritary Power. 
 
 Popery abhors civil liberty, becaufe that is 
 friendly to liberty of confcience : and it is a 
 maxim of all Papifts, from which they never can, 
 confidently, depart, " that difobedience to the 
 laws of the pope and church, not only excludes 
 men from falvation , but is likewife a forfeiture 
 
 of all civil rights and liberties whatfoever V 
 
 Again, 
 
 * See No. 5, of Sir Richard Steel's Appendix to the Ro~ 
 mim Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, wherein are the following quota- 
 tions : 
 
 ** Heretics may lawfully be fpoiled of their goods, though 
 ' it be better to take them by authority." 
 
 " None are bound to reftore what they have been intruded 
 " with by heretics, or to perform any contraft made with 
 them." 
 
 By pope Gregory the IXth's oonftitutions, " A man, by 
 herefy, is deprived of all jurifdittion, whether natural, 
 " civil, or politic." 
 
 " Heretics may not be termed either children or kindred ; 
 * but, according to the old law, thy hand fliall be upon them 
 < to fpill their blood." 
 
 As
 
 [ m 3 
 
 Again, do not the political principles of the 
 Papifts oblige them to deny the fupremacy of the 
 king of England ? Have they not, moreover, na- 
 turally fome obligations of intereft and attach- 
 ment towards a. foreign claimant, Did not James 
 II, lofe his crown for adhering to Popery ? Is 
 popery a crime in the eyes of Papifts ? Can they 
 then ever look on his lineal fucceiTor, as only a 
 
 As a convincing proof of this, we give the following anec- 
 dote : " John Diazius, a Spaniard, became a Proteftant 
 from reading the books of Luther. His brother Alphonfus, 
 one of the pope's lawyers, hearing that his brother was turned 
 Proteftant, came with all fpeed into Germany, bringing a no- 
 torious cut-throat with him, refolving either to bring him 
 back to Popery, or to deftroy him. 
 
 When Alphonfut came to Ratifban, his brother John was 
 gone to Neujberg, about the printing of Bucer\ books, to 
 which place Alphonfus followed him, and there they main- 
 tained many difputations upon religious matters ; but Al- 
 phonfus finding his brother fo ftedfaft in the belief of the truths 
 of the gofpel, that neither the pope's agent, by his promifes 
 or threats could terrify him, nor he by his perfuafions and 
 pretentions of brotherly love, could prevail upon him to re- 
 turn to Popery ; he feigned to take a moft friendly and af- 
 fectionate leave of him, and departed ; but foon he returned 
 with his ruffianly murderer, and by the way, they bought an 
 hatchet of a carpenter. Alphonfus fent the ruffian in firft. 
 difguifed, with letters to his brother, himfelf following be- 
 hind ; and while John Diazius was reading the letters, this 
 bloody murderer cleft his head with the hatchet, and taking 
 horfe, they both rode away." 
 
 Biograph. Evangel, life of Diazius. A work now pub- 
 liihing by the Rev. Mr. Middleton. 
 
 pretended
 
 [ >3 ] 
 
 pretended prince ? So that, whatfgever appear- 
 ances they may aflame, the ties of gratitude and 
 affection bind their allegiance to the fucceflbr of 
 that Prince, who loft his crown in fupport of 
 their caufe ; and lead them to anathematize the 
 Revolution, and reject the Act of Settlement, as 
 an act of injustice *, 
 
 * M It is not to be denied but that the pope, upon juft 
 " caufe, hath power to abfolve, both himfelf and all others, 
 *' from the religious and legal obligation of an oath." 
 
 " Afcer a prince is by name excommunicated by the pope, 
 " his fubje&s are freed from their allegiance ; his country 
 becomes the right of catholics, who, beyond all contra* 
 " dittion, exterminating the heretic inhabitants, may poflefs 
 " it as their own." 
 
 " The power of depriving kinga of their crown, and era- 
 *' perors of their dignities, for the good of the church and 
 " fouls, was always peculiar to the pope; 
 
 " Who hath no left authority, as Chrift's vicar, overChrif- 
 " tians, than the fhepherd over his fheep." 
 
 *' It is not lawful for Chriftians to tolerate any king, whq 
 " draweth his fubje&s into herefy." 
 
 ' But fubjedls ought to endeavour tofet up another in his 
 * place." 
 
 " They ought to expel him his kingdom, as the enemy of 
 Chrilt." 
 
 " This is the undoubted judgment of the moft learned, and 
 " agreeable to apoitolical truth." 
 
 " We, by our apoftolical authority, do abfolve all fub- 
 jefts from their oaths of fealty, which they have fworn to 
 41 princes excommunicated. 
 
 " We excommunicate all heretic princes, and abfolve their 
 M fubjedls from their oaths and duties of allegiunc^
 
 [ '4 3 
 
 That thefe were formerly the views of Papifts, 
 is clearly evinced by their conduct in the rebel- 
 lions of the year 1715 and 17455 that they are 
 not nowy we muft truft to the words and affur- 
 ances of thofe men, whom no oaths can bind *. 
 
 With 
 
 *' We ahfolve all fubjefts of England from the oaths thy have 
 * e taken to Elizabeth their queen." 
 
 See Richard Steel's Appendix. 
 
 As Dr. Tucker, the Dean of Gloucefter, has taken upon 
 him, in his late publication, entitled, " Thoughts on the 
 Prefent State of Affairs," to affert, that the Papifts have been 
 good fubje&s for 1 00 Years paft, and that they had no hand 
 in the rebellions of 17 15 and 1745 ; we would beg leave to re- 
 mind our readers, that 100 years have not yet elapfed fince the 
 glorious Revolution ; and in how many plots they have been 
 engaged againft the king, the government, and the Proteftant 
 religion fince that happy event, none can be ignorant, but 
 thofe who are unacquainted with the hiftory of Great Britain. 
 As to their conduit in 17 15, the following preamble of an 
 Aft of Parliament, made immediately after the fuppreffion of 
 that unnatural rebellion, will be the fulleft confutation of the 
 Rev. Dean's panygeric on the Papifts, and the beft evidence 
 of the opinion our anceftors entertained of the principles of 
 Popery, and of the loyalty of the Papifts on that occafion. < 
 *' Whereas the Papifts within this kingdom, notwithftanding 
 ' the tender regard that hath been fhewn them for many 
 *' years laft paft, by omitting to put in execution the many Penal 
 ** laws, which (on occafion of the many juft provocations they 
 H have given, and horrid defigns they have framed for the de- 
 "JlruQion of this kingdom, and the extirpation of the P rot eft ant 
 ** religion) have been made againft them ; and notwithftand- 
 ** ing they,have enjoyed, and do ftill enjoy, the protection and 
 
 " bene&
 
 [ K ] 
 
 With refpeft to the religious tenets of popery, 
 they are an offence to the very being and moral 
 perfections of God, irreconcileable to reafon, and 
 
 the 
 
 " benefit of the government, as well as the reft of his ma- 
 " jelty's fubje&s, have ad, or the great ef part of them, been 
 " concerned in ftirring up and fupporting the late unnatural 
 ** rebellion, for the dethroning and murdering his moji facrei 
 <l majefy ; for deftrcying our prefent happy e/lablijhment ; for 
 " fettling a Pcpijh pretender upon the throne of this kingdom ; for 
 ' the defruclion of the Protejlant religion, and the cruel mur- 
 tl dering and mafacreing its proffers, by which they have 
 " brought a vaft expence upon this nation ; And whereas it 
 " manifcflly appears by their behaviour, that they take upon 
 ** themj'el-vei to be obliged hy the principles they prof e/s, to be ene- 
 *' mies to His Majefy, and to the prefent happy eftablijhment, and 
 *' watch for all opportunities of fomenting and Jlirring up nei 
 " rebellions and dijlurbances ivithin the kingdom, and o/invit- 
 " INC foreignhrs to invade it: And for as much as 
 " it is highly reafonablc, that they fhould contribute a large 
 *' fhare to all fuch extraordinary expenccs, as are or fhall be 
 " brought upon this kingdom by their treachery and infiiga- 
 * tion ; and to the end, that by paying largely to the late 
 " great expenccs by them brought upon this nation, they may 
 " be deterred, if pojfible, from the like offences for the fu- 
 *\ ture, Geo. I. Hat. 2. c 25." 
 
 It is alfo exprefsly mentioned in our ftatutes, that the de- 
 fign " of the wicked, horrid, and unnatural rebellion in 
 ** 1745, was to depofe and murder His moft f Acred Majefy, 19 
 "fet up a POPISH PRETENDER, bred up and inftruft- 
 *' ed in Romijh fuperjiition and arbitrary ptinciples on the 
 " throne, to the utter defruftion of the Prottjiavt religion, and 
 '* the laws and liberties of this jru cenjlitutton ." from which 
 
 it
 
 t -6 3 
 
 the mod horrid corruption of divine revelation ; 
 and ought not to be tolerated, becaufe they im- 
 pel the Papifts, by a moft intolerant fpirit, to ex- 
 tirpate Proteftants, under the name of excommu- 
 nicated heretics, becaufe it is one of their maxims, 
 " that no faith is to be kept with heretics," by 
 which the moll facred ties of fociety are diflblv- 
 ed becaufe they can have difpenfations for per- 
 jury *, and paradife for murder and treafon; and, 
 
 it evidently appears, that fo late as the year 1745, Popery 
 and Arbitrary Power were, in the judgment of our forefa- 
 thers, infeparably connected ; and whether any, but Papijis t 
 would have attempted to depofe and murder king George the 
 lid, of glorious memory; to fet up a Popiih pretender, and* 
 utterly to deftroy the Proteftant religion, and the laws and li- 
 berties of this free conftitution, (with the greateft deference 
 to the bold ajfertion of the Rev. Dean, in favour of the loyalty 
 of Papifts,) we appeal to the Proteftants of Great Britain to 
 determine. 
 
 * See the form of the oaths prefcribed by the late and for- 
 mer Afts of Parliament, which fuppofe that.Papifts, under the 
 ma2c of religion, are capable of the groffeft perjuries and 
 moft horrid treafons ; and alfo an extraft in Sir Richard 
 Steel's Appendix, from the oration of pope Sixtus the Vth, 
 uttered in a confiftory at Rome, Sept. 2, 1759, wherein he 
 commends, as wonderful and meritorious, the execrable mur- 
 der committed by Jaques Clement, a Jacobine friar, on 
 Henry III. king of France, and compares the conduct of the 
 monk in perpetrating that execrable murder, with the con- 
 duct of Eleazar, and with that of Judith, in flaying Holo- 
 fernes j and prefers the deed of the monk to both. 
 
 % as
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 as pardons are to be bought on eafy terms, the 
 vileft crimes are committed without remorfe. 
 
 Upon the principles of common fenfe, what 
 can any man think of fuch contemptible doc- 
 trines, as the infallibility of a poor weak crea- 
 ture, and his fupremacy over all the empires and 
 kingdoms upon earth ; yea, over all the worlds 
 of heaven, earth, and hell ? What can any ra 
 tional man think of a bit of bread being turned 
 into a human body and foul, and into the very 
 nature of God, or of worfhipping the fupreme 
 and omnipotent Being, under images of wood or 
 ftone, filver or gold ? What can any virtuous 
 man think of this fupreme and infallible pope 
 felling pardons for all kinds of fins, and indul- 
 gences for all manner of wickednefs, for a thou- 
 fand years to come*? And, laftly, what can 
 any f rious man think of the damnable herefy of 
 
 for- 
 
 From the following extracts of the fees of the Roman 
 chancery, taken from a book publifhed by the pope's autho- 
 rity, it appears that the prices of abfolution are as follow: 
 
 For lying with a woman in the church, and 
 
 there committing other enormities 
 For grofs and wilful perjury 
 
 For a layman for murdering a layman 
 But for laying violent hands on a prieft, tho' 
 
 without Ihedding blood 
 
 For defiling a virgin 
 
 For a prieft or clergyman keeping a concubine 
 
 /. 
 
 /. i. 
 
 o 
 
 9 O 
 
 o 
 
 o o 
 
 o 
 
 7 6 
 
 o 
 
 io 6 
 
 o 
 
 9 * 
 
 
 
 io 6 
 
 
 For
 
 [ f ] 
 
 forbidding to marry, fetting up the vain tradi- 
 tions of their church above the authority of the 
 word of God j and of the Popifh arrogance, in 
 refufing the cup to the laity, and prohibiting 
 millions of common people from reading the 
 fcriptures, though they have fouls as infinite in 
 value and duration, as the proudeft prelates or 
 highefl: monarchs upon earth ? 
 
 To tolerate fuch opinions as thefe, is to infult 
 the natural and moral perfections of that God, 
 who gave us reafon and immortality, and to en- 
 courage the practice of idolatry by law, in a Chris- 
 tian country. To tolerate Popery, is to be in- 
 ftrumental to the perdition of immortal fouls now 
 exifting, and of millions of fpirits, that at pre- 
 fent. have no exiftence, but in the prefcience of 
 God y and is the direct way to provoke the ven- 
 geance of an holy and jealous God, to bring down 
 deftruction on our fleets and armies, and ruin on 
 ourfelves and our pofterity. 
 
 For committing inceft i i 076 
 
 But, for forging the Pope's hand-writing 1 7 7 
 
 See No. 2, of the Appendix to the aforefaid hiftory of Sir 
 Richard Steel. 
 
 SECTION
 
 C 19 3 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 A View of the- principal Laws that were in Fores 
 againjl the Papijls before they were altered by the 
 late Aft of Parliament \ and of the Spirit in 
 which they wen executed. 
 
 *T*0 know how far a mitigation of the Penal 
 *" laws againft the Papifts was expedient or 
 neceftary, a view of the laws mould be taken, 
 and like wife of the mild fpirit, in which they 
 were enforced. 
 
 To enter into a minute detail of the numerous 
 Acts in our books againft Popery, would be te- 
 dious, and exceed the limits of our prefent 
 publication : it will be fufficient, therefore, to 
 felect a few of the feveral ftatutes on this fub- 
 jecl : amongft which, the principal laws againft 
 
 JESUITS AND POPISH PRIESTS HEARING AND SAY- 
 ING MASS POPISH BOOKS AND RELICS PAPISTS 
 
 KEEPING SCHOOLS AND PURCHASING AND IN- 
 HERITING estates, demand pur more immediate 
 attention. 
 
 By the 27th of Eliz. c 2. no jefuit or Popifh 
 pried fhall come into, or be in the realm, on pain 
 of high treafon, unlefs he conform ; and any per- 
 fon knowingly receiving, or relieving fuch, is 
 guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy. 
 
 C J3y
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 By divers fubfequent ftatutes of Eliz. and Jam. 
 feveral other penalties are infli&ed , and it is par- 
 ticularly enacted by the ftatute of 3d Jam. c. 4. 
 that if any perfon (hall put in practice to reconcile 
 any fubjects to Popery, or, if any perfon (hall be 
 willingly fo reconciled, he, his aiders, and main- 
 tained, fhall be guilty of high treafon. 
 
 By the nth and 12th of Wm. Hid. c. 4. any 
 perfon apprehending any Popifh bifhop, prieft, or 
 jefuit, andprofecutinghim, till he was convicted 
 of exercifing any part of his ecclefiaftical func- 
 tion, was (for this is now repealed) entitled to 
 the reward of iool. and any Popifh bifhop, prieft, 
 or jefuit, fo exercifing his function, (except in 
 foreign minifters houfes) was adjudged to perpe- 
 tual imprifonment. 
 
 By the 23d Eliz. c. 1. and feveral fubfequent 
 ftatutes, perfons hearing or faying mafs were li- 
 able to forfeitures and imprifonment i and by the 
 above ftatute of Wm. Hid. any Popifh bifhop,. 
 prieft, or jefuit, that mould fay mafs, (except 
 in foreign minifters houfes) was adjudged to per- 
 petual imprifonment. 
 
 By feveral ftatutes of Edward Vlth. Eliz. and 
 Jam. Ift. perfons having in cuftody, bringing from 
 beyond the feas, printing, felling, buying, or re- 
 ceiving any Popifh books or relics, are made li- 
 able to pecuniary penalties ; and, in fome cafes, 
 to imprifonment, and the pain of incurring a 
 
 premu-
 
 C ] 
 
 premunire , and the books and relics are to be 
 burned, and defaced, and magistrates are thereby 
 impowered to fearch for the fame. 
 
 There are many ftatutes in our books againft: 
 fending children to be educated in Popifh prin- 
 ciples j and by the ftatutes of 13th and 14th Car. 
 lid. c. 4. and 17th Car. Ild. c. 2. all perfons(and 
 Papifts amongft others) are prohibited from teach- 
 ing ichool, upon pain of fine and imprisonment ; 
 unlefs they be licenfed by the ordinary, and con- 
 form to the liturgy of ihe eftablifhed church * ; 
 and by the nth and 12th Wm. Llld. any Papift 
 keeping fchool, or taking upon him the govern- 
 ment or boarding of youth, was adjudged to per- 
 petual imprisonment. ... f . 
 
 The only ftatute that incapacitated Papifts 
 from purchasing or inheriting eftates, was the 
 above-mentioned Act of Wm. Illd. by which 
 they were difabled to purchafe, and rendered in- 
 capable of inheriting, or taking any lands by de- 
 fcent, devife, or limitation *, but the fame were 
 given to the next of kin, being Proteftants. 
 
 Thus flood the principal laws againft Popery 
 before the late Act of Parliamant was paffed. 
 Laws that, from time to time, were rendered ne- 
 ceffary, by the turbulent conduct of the Papits: 
 
 * By an Ad pafled in the laft feffion, Proteftant Di/Ten- 
 tcrs taking the oath therein mentioned, are qualified to teach 
 and keep fchool*. 
 
 C 2 every
 
 L * ] 
 
 every additional feverity being occafioned by the 
 difcovery of frelh infurreclions againft govern- 
 ment ; which will appear very evident to thofe, 
 who confult the hiftory of the time wherein thefe 
 ftatutes were enacted *. 
 
 . Perhaps it may appear ftrange, in this day, 
 that the Papifts were, by fo many ftatutes, made 
 fubject to the penalties of high treafon : but this 
 difficulty vanifhes, when we confider that our 
 anceftors knew, by dear bought experience, that 
 the principles of Papifts neceffarily kad to trea^ 
 fonable practices againft the ft ate; fmcethey own 
 implicit obedience to a< foreign head, who claims 
 a power of abfolving fubjo&s from their allegi- 
 ance, and depofing and excommunicating princes 
 for herefy. 
 
 To this fource we mud afcribe the many nefa- 
 rious attempts that they .have made on our excel- 
 lent Conftitution, and on the perfons of pur Sove- 
 reigns fince the Reformation: and from this 
 fource we mull expect ruin to ourfelves and pof- 
 terity, whenever thofe, who have always had the 
 will, fhall have the power, to deftroy us. 
 
 Should the laws, as they thus ftood againft: the 
 Papifts, appeartoo fevere ; let it be remember- 
 ed, as a judicious writer obferves, " that they 
 
 See Bifhop Gibfon's Fifth Pafloral Letter, entitled, 
 *' The Danger and Mifchiefs of Popery." Sec. 6 and 7. 
 
 2 " who
 
 [ *3 ] 
 
 " who made thefe laws, had an opportunity of 
 *' contemplating the naked features of Popery, 
 " dripped of all difguife." They law the bitter 
 enmity it bore to the civil and religious rights 
 of mankind ; and were, confequently, better 
 judges of what was necefiury for the future fecu- 
 rity of the Britifh conftitution, than we of this 
 generation, who (thanks to a kind Providence) 
 have had no fuch experience *. 
 
 Had the promoters of the late repealing fta- 
 tute looked back, and placed themfelves in the 
 fituation of our anceftors; had they taken 
 a retrofpec"tive view,of- ma fiacres in cold blood, 
 of flames fcafce expiqguimed, of plots and re- 
 bellions'w&h -difficult? difcovered and iuppreffed ; 
 they would have been alarmed at the malignant 
 afpect of Popery, and fuch an Aft would never 
 have palled fo unanimoufly through the Britifh 
 fen ate. 
 
 Having thus briefly examined the laws as they 
 formerly flood, let us now confider the fpiric in 
 which they were executed ; a fpirit of lenity and 
 moderation. They were fcldoni enforced, but 
 when the rebellious conduct of the Papifts renr 
 dered it abfolutely necefiary, and brought down 
 the vengeance of J^enal ftatutes on their heads : 
 
 * See Archdeacon Blackburn on The prefent State of Po- 
 pery, page 26. 
 
 C 3 and
 
 [ 4 ] 
 
 and even then, they were inflicted by the hand 
 of difcriminating juftice; not confounding tho 
 innocent with the guilty. 
 
 Notwithftanding all that we are told of the 
 feverity of thefe ftatutes, they are mild, when 
 compared with the bloody edicts now in full 
 force againft Proteftants in Popifli countries. 
 "VVhilft Papifts in England are claiming Tolera- 
 tion Proteftants in France are expofed to per- 
 fection, by the repeal of the edict of Nantz : and 
 in other Popifh countries, Proteftants are, by law, 
 condemned to death. Aftonifhing contraft ! that 
 needs only to be confidered, to evidence the im- 
 propriety of the late repeal. 
 
 The wifdom and policy of the laws againft: 
 Popery have been proved by the experience of 
 above two hundred years , and it is to them we 
 are at this day indebted, under divine Provi- 
 dence, for the prefervation of our rights and li- 
 berties, and for the fettlement of the crown in 
 the illuftrious houfe of Hanover. 
 
 If we may believe the very advocates for tole-f 
 rating Popery, by thefe laws Papifts were dif- 
 couraged, their numbers in England conftder- 
 ablydecreafed,and Papifts themfelves conftrained 
 to become good fubjects : and ought laws, whofe 
 wholefome feverity hath produced fuch falutary 
 effects, to have been eflentially changed, or vii> 
 tually repealed ? 
 
 Befides,
 
 L *5 J 
 
 Befides, was there any application from the 
 Papifts, complaining to government of the ri- 
 gorous execution of thofe laws, that occafioned 
 the late alteration to be made therein ? It is 
 not pretended that there was : the Papifts would 
 not venture fuch an aflertion ; nor could it have 
 gained credit, if they had. Plow far the laws 
 themklves are materially affected by the late 
 Act of Parliament, will appear from a perufal of 
 the next fection. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Confi derations on the late Att of Parliament ; and 
 the Alterations made thereby in the Penal laws 
 againji the Papifts. 
 
 'HpHE Act of William Hid. which was the 
 "*" object of the late repeal, was, with great 
 propriety, entitled, An Act for the further pre- 
 venting of the growth of Popery." The preamble 
 recites, " That there had been of late a much 
 greater reibrt into this kingdom than formerly of 
 Popim bifhops, priefts, and jefuits, and that they 
 did very openly, and in an infolent manner, af- 
 front the laws, and daily endeavour to pervert 
 His Majefty's natural born fubjccts-, which had 
 been occafioned by neglect of the due execution 
 of the laws already in force." For preventing 
 C 4 the
 
 C 26 3 
 
 the further growth of Popery, and of fuch trea- 
 fonable and execrable defigns againft His Ma- 
 jesty's perfon and government, and the eftablifhed 
 religion, as had lately, as well as frequently 
 theretofore, been brought to light, and happily 
 defeated, by the wonderful Providence of God ; 
 it was thereby enacted, amongft other things, 
 c * That any perfons, who fhould apprehend any 
 Popifh bifhop, prieft, or jefuit, and profecute 
 them, till they were convicted of faying mafs, or 
 exercifing any part of their office or function, 
 fhould be entftled to iool. reward; and any fuch 
 bilhops, priefts, or jefuits, fo convicted, or any 
 other Papifts that fhould keep fchool, or take' 
 upon them the education or government of 
 youth; were adjudged to perpetual imprifon- 
 ment : and Papifts, not taking the oaths of alle- 
 giance and fupremacyj within the time therein 
 limited, were difabled, and made incapable of in- 
 heriting, or purchafing lands ; which were given 
 to the next of kin, being a Proteftant." 
 
 Whatever feverity may appear in the penalties, 
 it is evident, from the very words of the pream- 
 ble, that they were warranted by the infolent 
 conduct and treafonable practices of the Papifts. 
 And ought fuch wholefome provifions to have 
 been repealed ; unlefs there be fufficient reafon to 
 apprehend that Popifh bifhops, priefts, and je- 
 fuits will not now refort hither in as great num- 
 bers
 
 C v 3 
 
 bers as they did at that time, to repeat their per* 
 nicious practices v efpecially jcfuits, who are now y 
 what they were not then, the outcofis even of 
 Popilh countries ? 
 
 There are but few inftances, wherein this Ak 
 hath been enforced : the heavy penalty of per- 
 petual imprifonment intimidated the jefuits of 
 that day, who crofied the feas in fhoals, and reu* 
 dered the execution of it almoft unneceffary. 
 The claul'es relating to eftates, were a ftab to the 
 vitals of Popery j which* being deprived of the 
 means of acquiring landed influence, was dilcou* 
 raged, and gradually declined. 
 
 But, by the preamble of an Act made in the 
 1 8th Geo. Hid. entitled, " An Act for relieving 
 His Majefty's fubjects, profeffing the Popilh reli- 
 gion, from certain penalties and difabilities im- 
 pofed on them by the above-mentioned Act of 
 Wm, Hid." we are told, That it is expedient to 
 repeal the very provifions, which had been pro- 
 ductive of fuch happy effects. 
 
 And, accordingly, it is thereby enacted, " That 
 fo much of the faid Act as relates to the appre- 
 hending, taking, or profecuting, of Popilh bifhops, 
 priefts, or jefuits ; and alfo, lb much of the faid 
 Act, as fubjects Popilh bilhops, priefts, or jefuits, 
 and Papilts, or perfons profeffing the Popilh re- 
 ligion, and keeping ichool, or taking upon them- 
 felves the education or government of youth, 
 
 within
 
 [ 2S ] 
 
 within thefe realms of England, or the domi- 
 nions thereto belonging, to perpetual imprifon- 
 ment ; and alfo, fo much of the faid Act as dis- 
 ables perions educated in the Popifh religion, or 
 profefling the fame, under the circumftances 
 therein mentioned, from inheriting or purchafing 
 any manors, lands, tenements, or heredita- 
 ments , and gives to the next of kin, bein a Pro- 
 teftant, a right to have and enjoy fuch manors, 
 lands, tenements, hereditaments, (hall be, and the 
 fame, and every claufe, matter, and thing there- 
 in before-mentioned, is, and are, thereby repealed, 
 for the relief of all Papifts who fhall, within the 
 time therein-mentioned, take the following oath :'* 
 
 cc T A. B. do fincerely promife and fwear, That 
 " I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to 
 " His Majefty king George the Third, and him 
 " will defend, to the utmoft of my power, againft 
 * c all confpiracies and attempts whatever that fhall 
 " be made againft his perfon, crown, or dignity ; 
 " and I will do my utmoft endeavour to difclofe 
 " and make known to His Majefty, his heirs, and 
 * fucceflbrs, all treafons and traiterous confpira- 
 " cies which may be formed againft him or them ; 
 * 6 and I do faithfully promife to mainiain, fup- 
 * port, and defend, to the utmoft of my power, 
 the fuccefiion of the crown in His Majefty 's fa- 
 mily, againft any perfon or perfons whatfoever ; 
 
 * hereby
 
 C *9 1 
 
 " hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any 
 <c obedience or allegiance unto the perfon taking 
 ' upon himfelf the (tile and title of prince of 
 " Wales, in the lifetime of his father, and who, 
 " fince his death, is faid to have afTumed the ftile 
 " and title of king of Great Britain, by the name 
 *' of Charles the Third, and to any other perfon 
 ** claiming or pretending a right to the crown of 
 ' thefe realms ; and I do fwear, that 1 do reject: 
 *' and deteft, as an unchriftian and impious pofi- 
 * e tion, That it is lawful to murder or deftroy any 
 <c perfon or perfons whatfoever, for or under pre- 
 " tence of their being heretics ; and alfo that un- 
 " chriftian and impious principle, that no faith is 
 " to be kept with heretics : I further declare, 
 " that it is no article of my faith, and that I do 
 " renounce, reject, and abjure, the opinion, that 
 " princes excommunicated by the pope and coun- 
 " cil, or by any authority of the fee of Rome, or 
 " by any authority whatfoever, may be depofed 
 " or murdered by their fubjects, or any perfon 
 * whatfoever : and I do declare, that I do not be* 
 * { lieve that the pope of Rome, or any other fo- 
 ' reign prince, prelate, ftate, or potentate, hath, 
 " or ought to have, any temporal or civil jurif- 
 *' dicHon, power, fuperiority, or pre-eminence, di- 
 l rectly or indirectly, within this realm. And I do 
 " folemnly, in the prefence of God, profefs, tef- 
 *' tify, and declare, that I do make this declara- 
 *' (ion, and every part thereof in the plain and or- 
 Z l^ dinary
 
 C 30 ] 
 
 c * dinary fenfe of the words of this oath ; without 
 " any evafion, equivocation, or mental referva- 
 " tion whatever; and without any difpenfation al- 
 H ready granted by the pope, or any authority of 
 u the fee of Rome, or any perfon whatever ; and 
 < l without thinking that I am or can be acquitted 
 " before God or man, or abfolved of this decla- 
 " ration, or any part thereof, although the pope, 
 " or any other perfans or authority whatfoever, 
 (hall difpenfe with or annul the fame, or de* 
 5* clare that it was null or void." 
 
 It is evident, therefore, that, by the Aft of 
 Geo. Hid. the moft material parts of the ftatute 
 of Wm, Hid. exprefsly enacted for the further 
 preventing the growth of Popery * are actually re- 
 pealed: and though it be faid, that thefe are only 
 detached parts of a fingle Aft of Parliament ; yet 
 it will appear, from the following considerations, 
 that the laws, which, we are told, now remain in, 
 force againft the Papifts, are become a body with- 
 out a foul ; there is no fpirit remaining to enforce 
 them, nor any encouragement to put them into, 
 execution. 
 
 By the repeal of the lafl and moft fpirited Aft 
 againft Popifh bifhops, priefts, jefuits, and fchool- 
 mafters, are not all former ftatutes virtually re- 
 pealed or invalidated ? To rake into the embers 
 of thofe antient laws, would appear malicious, in 
 the judgment of our modern law-givers : no?. 
 
 ^could
 
 C 3 D 
 
 could it be expected that fuch profecutions would 
 be countenanced, in any court of juftice ; when 
 the very foundation, on which they formerly flood, 
 is removed by the Act of Geo. Hid. 
 
 What wife ends can it anfwer, to enforce the 
 antique flatutes for deflroying and defacing Po- 
 pifh books and relics, (which may be deemed in- 
 nocent in their operation, when compared with 
 the fubtilty of thofe, by whom they were pro- 
 mulgated and difperfed) fince Popifh bifhops, 
 priefts, jefuits, and fchool-maflers, may now 
 teach and propagate their erroneous principles, 
 in their own peribns, to the feduction of the rifing 
 generation ? 
 
 To repeal an Aft to prevent the refort of Popifh 
 bifhops, priefts, and jefuits to thefe realms, is 4 
 flrong encouragement, not to fay, invitation, to 
 them to come over in abundance. If it be ob- 
 jected, that there are two flatutes ft ill in force, 
 one of liz. and another of Jam. declaring fuch 
 offenders to be guilty of high-treafon ; it is ob- 
 vious to anfwer, that the fubfequent law, 
 which condemned thefe offenders to perpe- 
 tual imprifonment, and the laft Act which has 
 revoked that fentence, on condition of tak- 
 ing the oaths, have virtually repealed the two 
 preceding flatutes. For what the law declares 
 not to be deferving of banifhrnent, cannot ho 
 judged worthy of death. Our legiftature, con-r 
 
 fequently
 
 C 32 1 
 
 fequently, in effect, has declared , that, as there 
 is now no law in force againft propagating 
 Popifh errors, every one who engages in the per- 
 nicious office, may proceed in it without danger 
 or fear of moleftation. 
 
 By the laft fection of this repealing ftatute, it 
 is provided, " That nothing in that Act mould 
 " be conftrued to extend to any Popim bifhop, 
 " prieft, jefuit, or fchoolmafter, who mail not 
 " have taken, or fubfcribed the oath, before a 
 *' profecution mall have been commenced againft 
 " him :" which plainly implies, that it was ex- 
 pected by the Legiflature, that Popifli bifhops, 
 priefts, jefuits, and fchoolmafters, would now re- 
 fort hither ; and is a tacit licence for them to ex- 
 *rcife the duties of their function, upon condi- 
 tion of taking the oath therein prefcribed. 
 
 If it were not meant, that all who qualified, 
 by taking the oath required to be taken by the 
 late ftatute, fhould be thereby fcreened from the 
 penalties of all former Acts ; why was that pro- 
 vifion inferted, to make a favourable diftinc- 
 tion between thofe who have taken the oath 
 before they fhall have been profecuted, and thofe 
 who have not ? whilft thofe who refufed or ne- 
 glected to conform, were liable to a penalty of 
 perpetual imprifonment , others, who fubmittecj 
 to the terms of the LegiQature, would be in a 
 
 much
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 much ivorfe fituation. The Popifh bifhops, 
 jefuits, and clergy would think themfelves little 
 obliged to our fenators, to fave them from a 
 prifon, whift they left them expofed to a gibbet ; 
 and, after all their conformity, if the old laws 
 be not underftood to be virtually repealed, be 
 liable to an arraignment for high treafon, and 
 iubject to an ignominous death. 
 
 If the laws againft priefts and jefuits be virtu- 
 ally repealed, it neceflarily follows that the laws 
 againft Popiih chapels, and hearing and faying 
 mafs, are in the fame fituation. It would be 
 in vain to relieve the former from the penalties 
 of coming to, or being found within, Jiefe 
 realms, if by fhutting up and prohibiting the 
 latter, they are prevented from exercifing theie 
 ecclefiaftical function; as they are too afiiduous 
 to be idle in fucb a caufe, and have no bufinefs 
 
 in this country, but to pervert the ignorant and 
 unwary. 
 
 The only ftatutes, in which the Papifts are, 
 hy name, prohibited from keeping fchools, is 
 now repealed. They were indeed, amongft other 
 perfons, prohibited from keeping fchools, by the 
 Acts of 13th and 14th Car. lid. c. 4 and 17th 
 Car. lid. c. 2. unlefs they we relicenfed by the or- 
 dinary, and fubferibed a declaration of confor- 
 mity to the eftablifhed church: but it is well 
 known how little thefe ftatutes have been re- 
 garded
 
 C 34 3 
 
 girded of late years; and, as Papifts are now 
 no longer awed by the penalty of that claufe in 
 the flatute of Wm. Hid. many Popifh fchools 
 and feminaries of learning will, doubtlefs, be 
 added to thofe already opened, throughout the 
 kingdom. 
 
 The ftatute of Wm. Hid. was enafted to pro- 
 hibit their teaching, becaufe it had been found, 
 by experience, that the former laws were infufE* 
 cient for that purpofe ; but that is one of the 
 detached parts of the laws againft Popery, which 
 is totally altered by the Aft lately paifed for 
 their relief. It is in vain to enforce the obfolete 
 laws to prevent the fending of our children to 
 foreign feminaries, to be inftrufted in M the 
 rankejl principles of /edition and rebellion-" when 
 they may now be taught at home, without the 
 rifque of eroding the feas, and at the eafieft ex- 
 pence to their parents *. 
 
 Nor can we blame the Papifts, for conftruing 
 all former ftatutes on the fubjeft as virtually re- 
 repealed, when the only claufe, in which they 
 are exprefsly named, is no longer in force. They 
 have reafon to think themfelves licenfed to teach, 
 as well as preach ; and we have too many recent 
 inftances to prove by their conduft, that thefe 
 are their fentiments. How fatal the conle. 
 quences to pofterity ! 
 
 See Bjfliop Gibfon's 5th Paftoral Letter, page 26. 
 
 pur
 
 [ 35 ] 
 
 Our anceftors well knew that landed property 
 and parliamentary influence were infeparable; 
 and, therefore, to form a bulwark for the de- 
 fence of our conftitution, wifely concluded, 
 that it was their indifpenfible duty, not only by 
 the Teft Act to exclude Papifts from fitting in 
 the houfe , but to prevent them from interfer- 
 ing in the choice of reprefentatives, by depri- 
 ving them of the means of influence amongft the 
 electors. . a2 
 
 For thefe important ends, by the abovemen- 
 tioned Act of Wm. Hid. Papifts were difabled 
 to purchafe, and incapacitated to inherit, any 
 landed property ; and their eftates were given 
 to the next of kin, being Proteftants. By thefe 
 means Proteftantifm was encouraged, the wings 
 of Popi(h arrogance were clipped, and they, 
 
 ^^ being no longer in a fituation to acquire landed 
 property, loft their influence; and our liberties 
 have been preserved to this day. 
 
 The feverity of this ftatute was felt in its 
 operation by Papifts of the laft century ; and 
 government has experienced the policy of it, 
 
 P| from its effects, in this. Papifts, incapacitated 
 
 to purchafe lands, were neceftitated to lay out 
 their monies in the funds, to contribute to the 
 iupport of the ftate; and the Papifts, in our 
 day, have fcarctty felt any inconvenience there- 
 from; having been habituated, for fo many 
 
 V years, 
 
 K
 
 ' 
 
 years, to acquire a monied intereft, ill lieu of 
 Janded property. But this barrier is now re- 
 moved ; thefe ' (Ilaufes are all repealed; and 
 Papifts are enabled to purchafe what they can, 
 and capacitated to inherit all they purchafe. 
 
 If we attend to the form of the oath to be 
 now taken by the Papifts in thelaft Act of Par- 
 liament, we fhall perceive a very ftriking varia- 
 tion between that and the oath of Supremacy 
 of Geo. ift. flat. 2. c. 13-, by that, every Pro- 
 tectant, and all other perfons are required, on 
 their oarh, to declare, that no foreign prince, per- 
 fon, prelate,' ftate, or potentate hath, or ought to 
 have, any jurifdietion, power, fuperiorky, pre- 
 eminence, or authority, " ec cleft ajlical or fpiri- 
 " tual" within thefe realms. But in the laft fta- 
 tute, to accommodate the Papifts, and to avoid in- 
 croaching on their obedience and fubmiffion to 
 their Spiritual Father, the words, " ecclefiajiical 
 *' or Jpiri'tual" are omitted, and the words, 
 ** temporal or civil" fubftituted ; by which it is 
 plainly declared, that the Legiflature, confci- 
 ous of the jurifdicx.on of the pope over every 
 Papift within this realm, and that the Papifts, 
 as fuch, could never confcientioufly abjure the 
 fame ; have defignedly changed thqfc material 
 words, and thereby recognized, within thefe 
 realms, the ecclefiajiical and fpiritualjurifdiilion of 
 fhepope, and all that are in authority under him. 
 
 And
 
 [ 3? ] 
 
 And notwithftanding the oath is guarded/ as 
 Wuch as it is poffible for any form of words to 
 guard againft mental refervations and jefuitical 
 evafions ; yet, it is evident, that, as the Papifts 
 hold the printiples afcribed to them in the oath, 
 (and if not, why afcribe them ?) they may, with 
 the greateft deliberation, commit perjury j and, 
 without inconfiftency, abjure their faith, fince 
 their conduct would be held meritorious in a 
 Romifh confiftory ; and they would be intitled, 
 not only to difpenfations, but to commendations, 
 for fo doing. 
 
 But fuppofing, which cannot be admitted, that 
 Papifts take the oath in fincerity, and fwear with- 
 out any mental refervation ; how few, in propor- 
 tion to the number of the Papifts, will be under 
 the necefiity of appearing to take the oath ? bi- 
 Ihops, priefts, jefuits, fchoolmafters, and thofe 
 who are defirous to capacitate themfelves to pur- 
 chafe or inherit eftates, muft fubmit to the terms 
 prefcribed , but how few are they, when com- 
 pared with the bulk of the Papifts in this nation? 
 and it is unreafonable to fuppofe that any amqngft 
 them will take this oath, except with views to 
 their fecurity or intereft. 
 
 Confidering the inattentive manner in which 
 oaths of this nature are adminiftered in our pub- 
 lic courts, it will be a fortunate circumftance for 
 D 2 the
 
 [ 38 3 
 
 the more fcrupulous amongft the Papifts, who, 
 taking the advantage of the hurry and confufion 
 which generally attends this kind of bufinefs, may 
 repeat after the officer as much as they pleafe, 
 and omit the reft ; and yet, upon taking fuch an 
 oath, mfuch a manner, Papifts are to be intitled 
 to relief under that Act of Parliament. 
 
 Is it not evident from the foregoing obferva- 
 tions, that all the laws againft Popery are virtual- 
 ly, and the moft eflential and important, actu- 
 ally repealed ? and that, though the late ftatute 
 be not entitled, An Ab~l for the toleration of Pope- 
 ry within his Majefty's dominions ; yet Papifts, 
 conforming to the terms thereof, have a right to 
 expect at leaft a connivance on the part of the Le* 
 giflature, which will be equivalent thereto in 
 every refpect. 
 
 A learned commentator on the laws of Eng- 
 land, has obferved, that " if a time fliould ever 
 " arrive, when all fears of a pretender fhall have 
 cc vanilhed, and the power and influence of the 
 " pope fhall become feeble, ridiculous, and def- 
 " picable, not only in England, but in every 
 " kingdom of Europe ; it probably would not 
 " then be amifs, to review and foften thefe rigo- 
 " rous edicts; at leaft, till the civil principles of 
 " the Roman Catholics called again upon the le- 
 " gidature to renew them." But there is no rea- 
 i fon
 
 lat< 
 
 mm. 
 
 [ 39 ] 
 
 Ton to conclude that this is the time : the influ- 
 ence of the pope is not yet become ridiculous 
 and defpicable in foreign countries ; and Papifts 
 in England pay the mod implicit obedience to 
 every mandate of the Roman fee. 
 
 But if fuch a period mould arrive, might not 
 a line be drawn between foftening and repealing ? 
 It would be a dangerous experiment to wait till 
 the civil principles of Papifts again, expofed 
 them to the difpleafure of the law. We have 
 reafon to believe that, whatever their civil prin- 
 ciples might be, their conduct would involve 
 them in fecrecy ; nor would they venture to 
 ftrike a blow, that might difcover them, till 
 they had undermined our conftitution and ef- 
 fected our deftruction ; and then it would be too 
 
 tc for the wifdom of the Legiflature to inter- 
 
 e. 
 
 Therefore, from all thefe confiderations, may 
 we not conclude, that the late indulgence is 
 impolitic and inexpedient; and that this is not 
 the time to repeal the ftatutes againft Popery ? 
 
 D 3 SECT. 
 

 
 [ 40 ] 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 Cbfervations on the manner, in which the late Aft 
 was* obtained ; onjthe principal Arguments in its, 
 Favour ; and on the fatal Confequences, which 
 will mojl probably refult from it* 
 
 TI THEN we confider how far the whole fyf r 
 V ? tem of the law againft Popery is affected 
 by the late Aft of Parliament, it is reafonable to 
 fuppofe, that an Act of fuch national importance 
 would have been introduced in the moft public 
 manner. Qught not an alarm to have been found- 
 ed throughout the kingdom, that the fenfe of the 
 people might have been known, before laws, in 
 which they were fo eiTentially concerned, were fo 
 materially altered ; and before the ftru&ure, which, 
 the wifdom of our anceftors was fo many years, 
 employed in raifing againft the dangerous en- 
 croachments of Popery, was to be demolifhed at 
 ipne blow. 
 
 Jnftead of which, without any previous notice, 
 the Act was introduced, in the moft private man- 
 ner at the end of afefiiori to a thin houfe : many 
 of the members having retired to' their coun- 
 try feats ; it being underftood that the principal 
 bufinefs was finifhed, and that no new matter of 
 an interefting nature, would be taken up at that 
 advanced feafon of the year. Thofe who were 
 seajous for its fuccefs, might be confcious, that, 
 
 4 
 
 m
 
 ft there had been time for refle&ing on the A& 
 and its coniequences, i^never would have palled: , 
 it was, therefore, hurried through' the houfe, 
 without a review of the ftatutes, as they then 
 flood ; or a mature confideration, how far they 
 would be altered by the palling of this Popifli Bill. 
 
 The fituation of thofe at the helm was delicate : 
 it was dangerous, at fuch a cri lis, to provoke the 
 refentment of a numerous body of Papilts, by op- 
 pofing the bill -, they were ignorant of the fenti- 
 ments of the people; and, being thus furprifed, 
 thought it politic to acquiefce. The bifhops had 
 not time fufficiently to deliberate on it; and were 
 tender of appearing enemies to Toleration. Thus 
 the mifchief was done, before the defign was 
 made known; and, confcquently, before it could 
 be prevented, jk 
 
 There has been a time, when the fpirit of the 
 people would, and juftly too, have-been roufed 
 at fuch furreptitious conduct j bur, alas, for the 
 a. welfare of thefe realms ! a fpirit of fupinenefs and 
 ^indifference, as to the interefts of religion and li- 
 berty, flrangely pervades the kingdom ; and the 
 zeal of our .ancestors, either for the Proteftant 
 caufe, or for our glorious Constitution, is no 
 where to be found *, 
 
 But 
 
 In a traft publiihcd in 1753, printed for Dodfley, iq, 
 
 Pall-Ma^, inutlcd, " A brief Account of die Vandois, his 
 
 D 4 ' Sardinian
 
 [ 4* ] 
 
 But this Act had a different fate in Scotland : 
 it was not paffcd in that feflion; therefore the 
 people had full time to forefee its fatal effects, 
 and to prevent their taking place. And though 
 we cannot approve the conduct of the mobs at 
 Edinburgh and Glafgow ; yet the fpirited and 
 fuccefsful oppofition in Scotland to the Popifti 
 bill, will, for ever, endear thofe who were con- 
 cerned in it, to every true Protectant. 
 
 The principal arguments in favour of the Bill, 
 are the following, that Papifts are become good 
 fubjecls, and therefore ought no longer to be ex- 
 pofed to the penalties of fuch fevere ftatutes , 
 that, in the prefent fituation of affairs, the late 
 repealing Act was neceffary, to conciliate their 
 affection to government and that no bad confe- 
 quences can refult therefrom, as Popery is not 
 now of an intolerant and perfecuting lpirit. 
 
 " Sardinian Majefty's Proteftant Subjects in the vallies of Pi- 
 * edmont, &c." there is a remarkable inftance of the zeal of 
 Engliihmen for the Proteftant religion. When thefe inof- 
 fenfive people were perfecuted and impoverifhed by Popifh 
 cruelty, " the Dutch, the Swifs, and the Germans (faith 
 " the author) had relieved the Vandois by benefactions : but 
 " perhaps there is no inftance in hiftory of any nation inter- 
 pofing fo warmly for another, as the Englilh did, at this 
 " time, for a poor people, removed from them at an im- 
 *' menfe diftance; in an inland country, and connected by 
 " no reafons of policy or intereft." And we are informed in 
 the margin, that the collections in England amounted to 
 38097 1. 7s. 3d. a noble inftance of laudable zeal, worthy 
 of imitation in the prefent day ! 
 
 If
 
 he Pap 
 
 
 [ 43 3 
 
 If the Papifts were rendered firm in their alle- 
 giance, by the operation of the wife enactions, 
 which are now repealed ; why were they repeal- 
 ed ? We have lately had little opportunity of 
 proving their fincerity : for the enemies of the 
 Proteftant fuccefiion were fo effectually crufhed 
 during the rebellions in 17 15 and 1745; that, 
 whatever their inclinations might have been, they 
 could have no profpect of fuccefs, in any plots, 
 without imminent danger to themfelves. 
 
 Whatever the exigencies of government might 
 require , that a Proteftant Jtate mould be indebted 
 to the arms of Papifts for its fupport, is a circum- 
 ftance truly alarming, and worthy the moll fe- 
 rious confideration of every Briton. 
 
 In the beginning of the late war, our affairs 
 affumed a gloomy afped: but did we arm the 
 Papifts for our defence ? Were we indebted to 
 them for the glorious victories of 1759 * ^ as lt 
 not the wifdom of our ancestors, to diftruft the 
 profeffions, and difarm the profeflbrs of Popery? 
 And mould we put fwords into the hands of Pa- 
 pifts, God only knows how loon they might be 
 turned againft our own lives, and be employed 
 in fubverting our moft valuable interefts *. 
 I As to the perfecuting fpiritof Popery j it is to 
 this day, and ever will be, the fame : it cannot 
 be otherwife, whilft they maintain its two fun- 
 
 See Bifhop Ufher's Proteflation againft Popery. 
 
 damental
 
 w - . 
 
 C 44 1 
 
 Omental tenets, PAPAL SUPREMACY and 
 INFALLIBILITY: the apparent difference 
 xnuft be afcribed to their want of power *. 
 
 By rejecting their idolatrous fuperftition and 
 vain traditions, we are become . heretics and 
 fchifmatics, in the judgment of the fee of 
 Rome : and doth not the pope yearly excom- 
 municate us as fuch, denounce the moft awful 
 curies againft us, and declare our deftruction to. 
 be a meritorious work ? That all this is not 
 mere form and ceremony, but a direction zea- 
 loufly purfued, whenever it is practicable ; is 
 evident from the bloody inquifition, and the 
 conduct of Papifts in all kingdoms, where Po- 
 pery is unreftrained by law j-. 
 
 x Popery 
 
 " Can it be worth while (fays the learned and ingeni- 
 ous Bifhop Hurd) to fpend words in fixing this charge of 
 intolerance on the church of Rome, when her ableft advo- 
 cates, even in our days, openly triumph in it." For proof of 
 this, he refers to Mr. Crevier's hijiory de V Uni<verjzte > de Paris 
 torn. iii. /. <vi. page 435. Paris, 1 761. Where chat eminent 
 writer very roundly defends the murder of the Bohemian Mar- 
 tyrs at Conflance, and the fraud and ill faith, through 
 which the pious and tender hearted fathers of that council 
 rufhed to the perpetration of it. See Introduction to the 
 Study of the Prophecies, 2d. edit. p. 382. 
 
 f The following extracts, from the form of Excommunica^- 
 tion pronounced at Rome on Maunday-Thurfday, demonftrate 
 the benign fpirit by which the Papifts are actuated towards thofc 
 whom they deem hereticks. 
 
 ThQ
 
 [ 45 3 
 
 Popery has long been chained in Britain : the 
 ^onkquences of unchaining it will be dreadful 
 
 to 
 
 The Title runs thus : " The Excommunication and AnatJu- 
 pmtization of all Htreticks whatfoever, and their favourers, and 
 SchifmaticksyOr of thofe <who violate the Ecckfiajlical Liberty , or 
 any nvays infringe the contents of (his Bull, <wbich is ivont to be 
 fublijhed on Maunday-Thurfday. 
 
 " Sect. i. We excommunicate and anathematize in the 
 name of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, and by the 
 authority of the blefled apoftles Peter and Paul, and by our own, 
 all Huffites, Wickliphifts, Lutherans, Zuinglians, Calviniits, 
 Hugonots, Anabaptiits, Trinitarians, and Apoftates from the 
 Chriftian faith, and all other hereticks by whatfoever name 
 they are called, and of whatfoever fed they be : as alfo their 
 adherents, receivers, favourers, and generally any defenders of 
 f rhem ; together with all who without our authority, or that 
 % of the apoftolick fee, knowingly read, keep, print, or any 
 ways for any caufe whatfoever publickly or privately on any 
 pretext or colour, defend their books containing herefy, or 
 treating of religion; as alfo fchifmaticks, and thofe who with- 
 draw themfelves, or recede obftinately from the obedience of 
 us, or the bilhop of Rome for the time being/' 
 
 " Sect. 2. Further, we excommunicate and anathematize 
 all and fingular, of whatfoever ftation, degree or condition 
 they be ; and interdict, all univerfnies, colleges and chapters, 
 by whatfoever name they are called ; who appeal from the 
 orders or decrees of us, or the popat of Rome for the time be- 
 ing to a future general council ; and thofe by whofe aid and 
 favour the appeal was made." 
 
 " Sect. 16. Alfo thofe who upon this account dire&ly or 
 indirectly hinder archbifhops, "twfliops, and other fuperior 
 -md inferior prelates, and all other ordinary ecclefiailical 
 judges whatsoever by any means, either by imprifoning or mo- 
 ' . letting
 
 
 
 [ 46 ] 
 
 to poflerity, as the principles of Popery are ftill 
 the fame. Popes and general councils are ftill 
 
 infallible : 
 
 letting their agents, prottors, domefticks, kindred on both 
 fides, or by any other way from exerting their ecclefiaftical 
 jurifdi&ion againft any perfons whatfoever, according as the 
 canons and facred ecclefiaftical conftitutions and decrees of ge- 
 neral councils, and efpecially that of Trent , do appoint ; as 
 alfo thofe who after the fentence and decrees of the ordinaries 
 themfelves, or of thofe delegated by them, or by any other 
 means eluding the judgment of the ecclefiaftical court, have 
 recourfe to chanceries or other fecular courts, and procure 
 thence prohibitions and even penal mandates to be decreed a- 
 gainft the faid ordinaries and delegates and executed againft 
 them ; alfo thofe who make and execute thefe decrees, or who 
 a give aid, counfel, countenance or favour to them." ^ 
 
 '* Sect. 19. Further, we excommunicate and anathematize . 
 all and every magiftrates and judges, notaries, fcribes, execu- 
 tors, fub- executors, any ways intruding themfelves in capital 
 or criminal caufes againft ecclefiaftical perfons by procefting, 
 banifhing, or apprehending them, or pronouncing or execu- 
 ting any fentences againft them, without the fpecial, particular 
 and exprefs licenfe of this holy apoftolical See ; alfo thofe who 
 extend fuch licences to perfons or cafes not expreffed, or any 
 other way unjuftly abufe them ; although the offenders fhould 
 be counfellors, fenators, prefidents, chancellors, vice-chan- 
 cellors, or intitled by any other name." 
 
 " Sect. 22. In fine, none may be abfolved from the afore- 
 faid cenfures by any other than by the pope of Rome, unlefs 
 he be at the point of death, nor even then, unlefs he giveth 
 caution to ftand to the' commands of the church, and give 
 
 fatisfaction" 
 
 " Sect. 30. Let no man therefore infringe, or boldly and 
 raihly oppofe this our letter of excommunication, anathema- 
 tization,
 
 C 47 3 
 
 infallible: it is impoflible for infallibility to err; 
 and, therefore, whilft Popery has any exiftence, 
 
 it 
 
 tization, interdict, innovarion, innodation, declaration, pro- 
 teftation, abolition, revocation, commiffion, command and 
 pleafure : but if any one fhall prefume to attempt it ; let him 
 know that he fhall incur the difpleafure of Almighty God, 
 and of his bleffed apoftles Peter and Paul." 
 
 Given at Rome from St. Peter, in the year of our Lord's in- 
 carnation, 1610, the 8th of April, in the fifth year of cur 
 popedom. 
 
 James Brambilla. Mag. Cur/. 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 In the Year 1765. 
 
 A genuine copy of a Popifh excommunication, found a- 
 mongft the papers of Philip Dunn, deceas'd, a Popifh bifhop, at 
 his houfe in the county oiWickloiv, pronounced by him againfi 
 Francis Freeman, one of his parilhioners, who at that time 
 embraced theProteftant religion. Faithfully tranflated from 
 the Latin original, by Dr. Tooker. 
 
 ** By authority of God the Father Almighty, and the blefTei 
 virgin Mary, and of St. Peter and St. PauU and all the holy 
 faints, We excommunicate Francis Freeman, late of the count}' 
 of Dublin, but now of ' Juck-mill, in the county of Wickloiu, 
 that in fpite of God and St. Peter, and in fpite of all the holy 
 faints, and in fpite of our mod holy father the pope, (God's 
 vicar on earth) and in fpite of our right reverend father in 
 God, Philip Dunn, our diocefan, and worfhipful canons, who 
 ferve God daily : hath apoftatized to a moft damnable reli- 
 gion, full of herefy and blafphemy; excommunicated let him 
 be, and delivered over to the devil, as a perpetual malefa&or, 
 and fchilmatick, accurjfed let him be in all cities, and in all 
 towns, in fields, in ways, in yards, in houfts, and in all other 
 
 places,
 
 C 48 ] 
 
 it mufi necejfarily be in futtire, what it hath been 
 in times pad. 
 
 Perhaps we may be told, that Popery is not 
 tolerated : but where fhall we draw the line be- 
 tween Toleration, and a repeal of every legal 
 reftriction ; a removal of every difcouragement 
 to the growth of Popery ? 
 
 In the preceding feetion, we have endeavoured 
 to demonftrate, that, by the late Act, all the 
 laws againft Popery are virtually, and the moft 
 efiential, actually repealed ; and, that the Pa- 
 places, whether lying or rifing, walking or running, leaning 
 orftanding, waking orfleeping, eating or drinking, or what- 
 soever thing he does : befides we feparate him from the 
 threfhold and all good prayers of the church ; from the parti- . 
 cipation of the holy Jefus; from all facraments, chapels, and 
 altars ; from the holy bread and holy water, from all the merit 
 of God's holy priefts and religious men, and from their cloy- 
 iters and all pardons, privileges, grants and immunities, 
 which all the holy popes have granted them ; and we give him 
 over utterly to the fiend ; and let him quench his foul when 
 dead in the pains of hell-fire, as this candle is quenched and 
 put out. And let us pray to God, our lady, St. Peter and St. 
 Paul, that all the fenfes of his body may fail as now the light 
 of this candle is gone ; except he come on fight hereof, and 
 openly confefs his damnable herefy and blafphemy, and by 
 repentance make amends as much as in him lies to God, our 
 lady, St. Peter, and the worfhipful company of this church ; 
 and as the ftafFof this holy crofs now falls down, fo may he, 
 except he recants and repents." jfc 
 
 Signed " Philip Dunn^ 
 
 pifts
 
 [ 49 ] 
 
 pifts conftrue it as a virtual repeal of all the 
 Penal ftatutes, is evidenced by their prefent con- 
 duel. They are building, purchasing, and hir- 
 ing buildings for mafs houfes : they are fetting 
 up fchools and feminaries of learning, in different 
 parts of this metropolis and kingdom. They 
 prefume on the lenity of government ; and life va- 
 rious artifices to enfnare the children of the poor, 
 and to pervert the ignorant to their deftrudtive 
 errors : they even infult Proteftant minifters in the 
 lifchafge of their duty. 
 
 Did they not undexftand that the laws againft 
 lying and felling Popifh books were repealed, 
 they would not jiave dared to publifh an ab- 
 ftract of the Douay Catechifm : formerly they 
 were cautious, even in bringing books into the 
 realm, though printed abroad 5 or if they ven- 
 tured to print, yet never to put the place where 
 they were printed, or advertife them for fale ; 
 but circulated them, in a private manner: 
 whereas, fince the paffing of the late Act of 
 Parliament, they advertife their books and 
 pamphlets in the public papers ; and the pub- 
 lisher of the abWS& of the Doutf Catechifm, 
 printed in 1779, "has not only put his name and 
 place of abode on the title page ; but has told 
 us, in capitals, that it is W ITH PERMISSION. 
 
 Let. us now attend to the- fat il confequences 
 
 that will probably refult from this repealing fta- 
 
 2 tute ;
 
 [ 5 ] 
 
 tute; and they appear truly alarming. The 
 chief difcouragements to Popery are removed, 
 and the Proteftant child of a Papift is now in no 
 better a fituation, than his Popifh progeny. 
 Jefuits and Popifh priefts will now take encou- 
 ragement to refbrt hither, and compafs fea and 
 land, to make profelytes : and Popifh teachers 
 will be equally afliduous in feducing the children 
 of the poor. Books will be publifhed, cate- 
 chifms difperfed, and no pains fpared to captivate 
 the unwary. 
 
 But let us look forward to pofterity, and the 
 confequences appear yet more fatal. Policy will 
 teach the Papijls to be cautious at prefent, left they 
 Jhould alarm the Legijlature. They are, there- 
 fore, now working by their emiflaries, in a fecret 
 manner 5 but the evils will be feen and felt 
 hereafter. 
 
 By educating our children, they are fapping 
 and undermining the very foundation of our con- 
 ftitution, in church and itate. The Papifts, re- 
 ft rained from purchafing, have, for many years, 
 been accumulating money : they may now ex- 
 pend it to advantage. It is a melancholy consi- 
 deration, that lands are not worth, at this time, 
 fo much as they were, by feveral years purchaie. 
 This is owing to the Icarcity of fpecie ; but there 
 is not fuch a fcarcity with the Papifts. The ne- 
 ceffity of the times will compel many to part with 
 
 their 
 
 %
 
 [ 5 3 
 
 their eftates ; and Papifts have an opportunity of 
 purchafing for lefs than their value, and thereby 
 of getting great part of the landed property of 
 the kingdom into their own hands. Being en- 
 abled to purchafe, and capacitated to inherit, they 
 will acquire an increafe of power, as their landed 
 property increafes , and, by their landed proper- 
 ty, will certainly, in a future period, influence our 
 ckftions in Parliament, 
 
 By an influence in parliamentary elections, a 
 future Parliament may be found endued with fuch 
 a liberal fpirit of Toleration, as to remove the 
 Ted Act *, to qualify them for offices of magis- 
 tracy, and give them an opportunity of fitting 
 in both Houfes of Parliament j or Papifts (as 
 they can have difpenfations for oaths) may think 
 it a duty they owe to the church of Rome, and 
 by jefuitical fophiftry be taught, that it is no fin 
 to put on the profeffion of Proteftantifm * for a 
 
 feafon 
 
 That his holinefs of Rome authorifes fuch conduit, is 
 evident from the cafe of Par/ons. This jefuit was appointed 
 fuperior in a miffion to England, in order to promote Popery 
 in this kingdom. But he and his colleagues could not fafely 
 come into thefe realms, becaufe Pius V. had not only ab 
 folved the fubjedls of queen Elizabeth from their oath of alle- 
 giance, but pronounced an anathema againft all thofe who 
 fhould obey her. However, Gregory XIII. removed this hin- 
 derance, for he gave them a faculty, difpenfing with their 
 obedience to the queen, notwirhfUnding the bull of his pre- 
 
 deceilbr
 
 [ 52 ] 
 
 feafon, to obtain feats in Parliament, that they 
 may ferve the interests of Pcpery. 
 
 Should fuch a period arrive, and unlefs wife 
 and timely meafures are taken to prevent it, moft 
 afluredly it will, where then will be the fafety of 
 the Proteftant fucceffion in the illuftrious houfe 
 of Hanover ? and what fecnrity will our pofte- 
 rity have for the prefervation of their, civil and 
 religious liberties ? 
 
 Nor are thefe fatal events improbable , per- 
 haps not very remote ! If Papifts have power, 
 it muft be ufed to fpread and exalt Popery 
 throughout the land : and mould fuch a period 
 arrive, Papifts will then once more have the 
 fword of magiftracy in their hands ; England 
 will again be deluged with the blood of martyrs, 
 our liberties be exchanged for bondage -, and the 
 Proteftant religion be removed, to make room 
 for Popifh fuperftition. 
 
 The laft obfervation that we fhall make on the 
 confequences refulting from the late Act, feems 
 to us of the utmoft importance, and demands the 
 moft ferious attention. 
 
 In that Act of Parliament, the oaths of Alle- 
 giance and Supremacy, and the oath of Abjura- 
 tion, are comprehended in one form ; and, to ac- 
 
 deceflbr. Thus Papifts of the worft fort appeared Proteftant 
 ubje<3s, and this by papal authority. 
 
 Biograph. Di&ion. Life of Parfons. 
 
 3 commodate
 
 [ S3 J 
 
 commodate the Papifts, as was mentioned in the 
 preceding fe&ion, the words, " ecckfiaftical or 
 " Spiritual" are omitted, and the words, " U 
 *' ral or civil* 1 inferted in their ftead. No Papifc 
 could confcientioufly have fworn, that the pope 
 and bilhops appointed by him, had no ecckSiaS- 
 tical or Spiritual authority or pre-eminence-, when 
 every Papift, as fuch, neceflarily owes implicit 
 obedience, in fpiritual matters, to the pope of 
 Rome. The words eccle/iojiical or Spiritual, 
 are, therefore, omitted ; and the words temporal 
 or civil, fubftituted ; and, by this very material 
 alteration in the form of the oath, the Spiritual 
 and ecclejiaftical jurisdiction of the pope and Pq- 
 pifh prelates (for there are titular bilhops already 
 appointed over every fee throughout the king- 
 dom) is tacitly acknowledged, and virtually re- 
 cognized, by the Legislature. 
 
 But, by the acknowledgment of this foreign 
 jurifdiction within thefe realms, the king's Supre- 
 macy, in Spiritual matters, is given up, at leafc 
 in part, to the bifhop of Rome; by which means 
 the conftitution is violated, and perjury is im- 
 pofed on every Proteftant, who, to qualify him- 
 felf for any office in church or flate, is necefli- 
 tated to take the oath of Supremacy appointed 
 by theftat. of Geo. I. and which every Proteftant 
 to whom it is tendered, is bound to take at his 
 peril. Alarming confideration indeed ! 
 
 E 2 By
 
 [ 54 1 
 
 By this, e.very Proteftant is required ori bi$ 
 oath to declare, " That no foreign prince, Per- 
 fon, prelate, ftate, or potentate hath, or ought 
 to have, any jurifdiction, power, fuperiority, pre- 
 eminence, or authority, ecclefiaftical or fpiritual, 
 within thefe realms " though he knows that tho 
 pope, a foreign prince, and the prelates ap- 
 pointed by him, claim ecclefiaftical and fpiritual 
 jurifdiction, power, fuperiority, pre-eminence, 
 and authority ; and that the fame is now publicly 
 recognized by an Act of the LegiQature : and that 
 the laft oath of Supremacy, appointed to be taken 
 by the Papifts, is framed in conformity thereto. 
 
 Some indeed may object, Did not the pope 
 heretofore claim this jurifdiction, and Papifts 
 acknowledge it; and were not Proteftants under 
 the fame difficulty formerly, with refpect to the 
 oath of fupremacy, as they are now ? Certainly 
 not : the pope might then command, and Pa* 
 pifts obey ; but neither the one nor the other 
 eftablilhed his fpiritual jurifdiction, whilft the 
 laws refufed to admit it , and declared on the 
 very face of the oath, that no foreign prince or 
 prelate hath, or ought to have, any fuch autho- 
 rity within thefe realms. 
 
 But now, whilft the temporal and civil jurif- 
 diclion of the pope is excluded, his ecclefiaftical 
 and fpiritual authority is, by omitting the words, 
 ecclefiaftical and fpiritual, in the form of the oath, 
 tacitly afiented to : nor will a confeientious Pro- 
 teftant
 
 [ 55 3 
 
 teftant be fatisfied with being told, that he may 
 fafely take the oath of fupremacy, notwithstand- 
 ing the alteration in the Popifh oath , as he knows 
 that no foreign (late, potentate, or prelate, ought 
 to have any jurifdiftion within thefe realms: he 
 is to fwear that they have not, as well as that they 
 ought not to have any fuch authority : which, be- 
 fore the recognition thereof by the late Aft of 
 Parliament, he might do, without wounding his 
 confeience. 
 
 It is in vain to tell us, that the pope ought to 
 have no power, we fee it is now acknowledged 
 that he hath j and, therefore, can never take the 
 oath of Supremacy, without involving ourfelves 
 in the guilt of perjury : unlefs the laws, in that 
 refpeft, are put on their former footing. 
 
 Are thefe the confluences of this Aft ; and 
 (hall we be indifferent ? Have we no regard for 
 our welfare, and for the dearcft interefts of pof- 
 terity ? Shall we perjure and ruin ourfelves with- 
 out making one generous effort ? Heaven for- 
 bid ! Let us be roufed to a confideration of our 
 ftate : let us apply to government to obtain re- 
 drefs. We have reafon to hope they would at- 
 tend to our application, and remedy the evils 
 apprehended from that improvident Aft. But 
 if they refufe, we fliall have nothing to reproach 
 ourfelves with : we fhall have difcharged our 
 duty j and, armed with confeious integrity, be 
 prepared for every event. 
 
 CON.
 
 [ 56 1 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 "The ahfolute necejfity of an application to Parlia- 
 ment for redrefs ; and the conjlitutional mode of 
 obtaining it. 
 
 I" TPON a review of the foregoing obfervations 
 on the tendency and operation of the late 
 Act of Parliament, is it not evident, that it is 
 tantamount to a Toleration of Popery ; a virtual 
 repeal, and an actual fufpenfion, of all the Pe- 
 nal laws againft the Papifts ; and that it will be 
 productive of the molt fatal confequences ? 
 
 The prefent ftate of Popery is truly alarming, 
 and calls for immediate and fpirited exertions, to 
 prevent its further progrefs in this nation. To 
 be indifferent or filent, at fuch a crifis, when all 
 that is dear to us as men and chriftians, is at 
 (take; would be ungrateful to the memory of 
 our anceftors, injurious to ourfelves, and unjuft 
 to generations yet unborn. 
 
 Though it be the defire of every true friend to 
 civil and religious liberty, that Toleration fhould 
 bs built on the broadeft bafis ; yet, to tolerate 
 Popery, is to encourage what by Toleration it- 
 felf we mean to deitroy, a fpirit of perfecution 
 and bigotry of the moft notorious kind. 
 
 Papifts
 
 [ 57 ] 
 
 Papifts own a foreign head as fupreme, who 
 can difpenfe with the moji f acred oaths : and, 
 therefore, no confidence can be put in their moft 
 folemn proteftations. They have filled our land 
 with blood, and alarmed us with maflacres, re- 
 bellion, and treafon: and (hall we, out of love 
 to Popery, endanger the peace of government 
 and the fafety of the ftate ? What meritorious 
 actions of the Papifts entitle them to fuch favour 
 at our hands. 
 
 The people of Great Britain have lately had 
 ftriking proofs of the Jincerity of Popifh affurances y 
 from the infidious conducl of our Roman Catholic 
 neighbours. France not only publicly protefted 
 againft the conducl: of our American colonies, 
 but proceeded fo far in her plan of duplicity, as to 
 order the American privateers to leave her ports ; 
 and Spain gave us to underftand, that (he was 
 too much intcrefted for her own colonies, to en- 
 courage fuch an example of difobedience to the 
 mother country. 
 
 Our Miniftry, Satisfied with thefe delu/ive ajfur- 
 ances, trufted to the amity of France and Spain, 
 and refred in fecurity : they knew that TREA- 
 CHERY was no part of the fyftem of BRITISH 
 POLITICS ; and expe&ed that Jincerity from the 
 houfe of Bourbon, which chara&crifes our con- 
 due"^ and which is the glory of this nation. 
 
 What
 
 C 58 ] 
 
 What was the confequence ? at the very time 
 when Papifts were receiving favours from this 
 government, our profcjfmg friends laid afide the 
 mafque, and appeared in the blacked colours of 
 bafenefs and perfidy. Forgetting their public dis- 
 avowals of the American caufe, and their fclemo 
 proteftations to the Britifli miniftry ; their moji 
 Chrijiian and Catholic majejiies^ without the leaft 
 provocation, contrary to the faith of treaties, 
 and to the law of nations^ united for our de- 
 ftruction. 
 
 And mall we, after fuch infidions conduct from 
 Roman Catholic nations, truft to the temporifing 
 affurances of Papifts, and put weapons into their 
 hands, to be turned againft ourfelves ? Is this 
 a time to look to them for fupport ? Rather, let 
 us unite for the defence of our country, and the 
 Proteftant inrereft, againft all foreign and internal 
 enemies : let us, as a nation, acknowledge God, 
 and depend upon his Providence for fuccefs : and 
 we need not fear the united efforts of our perjured 
 and inveterate foes. 
 
 Having pointed out the fatal confequences of 
 the late Act of Parliament , to remedy the evils, 
 let the Protectants, throughout the kingdom, 
 aflbciate as one man, and apply to government 
 for redrefs : and thus fhew, that the fenfe of the 
 people at large is not to favour Popery : and 
 
 that,
 
 C 59 ] 
 
 that, whilft they are fupported by Britijfj Prdtef- 
 taxts, they have nothing to fear from Pcpijb ad- 
 verfarks. 
 
 Something is ftecelTary to be done, to allure the 
 nation in general, and Papifts in particular, that 
 -it is not the intention of the Legiflature, to en- 
 courage the growth of Popery. Papifts are info- 
 lent and prcfuming : and nothing but a law to 
 repeal or qualify the late A<ft, can keep them 
 within the bounds of allegiance and decency. 
 
 Such an A<5t is abfolutely neceflary to fatisfy 
 the minds of all true Proteftants , to relieve us 
 from the impofition of perjury, occafioned by 
 the late alteration of the oath of fupremacy in 
 favour of the Papifts , to lave the conftitution 
 from being violated ; to preferve the Proteftanc 
 intereft in this kingdom from that imminent 
 danger, with which it is threatened ; and to fe- 
 cure the Proteftant fucceflion in the family of His 
 prefent Majefty. 
 
 Our conftitution hath marked out the mode of 
 obtaining redrefs ; and declares, that it is the 
 right of the fubject to petition. Let petitions be 
 circulated throughout the kingdom : let the 
 clergy of the eftablifhment and Proteftant mini- 
 fters of every denomination, and all who are zea- 
 lous for the welfare and fafety of the Proteftant 
 religion, cordially unite, and ftrenuoufly exert 
 themfelves on this important occafion. 
 
 Let
 
 [ 6o ] 
 
 Let petitions againft the Popifh Bill be Tent to 
 Parliament, with numerous fignatures from every 
 county, city, and corporation j and from other 
 refpectable bodies of people. Let our reprefen- 
 tatives be inftructed by their conftituents, to fup- 
 port thefe petitions in the houfe ; and, as the eve 
 of a general election is approaching, we have 
 reafon to hope, that thefe inftructions will be 
 attended to. Should they be neglected, we foon 
 fhall have an opportunity in our hands, of elect- 
 ing members more attentive to the voice of the 
 people, and the prefervation of the Proteilant 
 intereft. 
 
 If fuch meafures be adopted by Protectants 
 with unanimity, and profecuted with fpirit, go- 
 vernment may then with fafety relieve us from 
 our fears, by repeajing the late Act ; and have 
 nothing to dread from the refentment of the Pa- 
 pills. 
 
 But, mould it be objected, that, as the Act is 
 pa(Ted, it would now be dangerous to repeal it : 
 let us atleaft apply for a retraining Act, to qua- 
 lify, amend, and explain the Popifh bill. 
 
 An Act, to declare, that the former Penal Sta- 
 tutes are in full force, and that perfons fhall be 
 duly encouraged in putting them into execution, 
 to prevent the further growth of Popery. 
 
 An Act, to amend the form of the oath in that 
 patted for the relief of the Papifts, that Prote- 
 
 ftants,
 
 [ 6i ] 
 
 ftants, who are required to take the oath of Su- 
 premacy, may not be neceffitated to incur the 
 guilt of wilful perjury. 
 
 An Act, to prevent the Papifts (if they mull be 
 permitted to acquire landed property) from inte- 
 refting themfelves, directly or indirectly, in any 
 election for members of Parliament, on pain of 
 forfeiture of their eflates. 
 
 An Act, to prevent jefuits from reforting hi- 
 ther under heavy penalties, and to prohibit the 
 attempts of Papifts to pervert Proteftants to 
 their erroneous tenets, on pain of exemplary 
 puniftiment. 
 
 And laftly, (if Papifts muft be permitted to 
 teach thofe of their own principles in private) an 
 Act, to reftrain them from keeping public fchools, 
 and teaching the children of Proteftant parents, 
 on pain of perpetual imprifonment or banilh- 
 ment. 
 
 As to declaring the former laws againft the 
 Papifts yet in force -, if the late Act were de- 
 figned only to repeal detached parts of a finglo 
 ftatute, and the former laws are nut underftood 
 to be affected thereby ; it will be an Act of 
 kindnefs to the Papifts, to put them on their 
 guard, by fuch a declaration ; or, otherwife, 
 their zeal to profelyte may expofe them to dif- 
 agreeable confequences. 
 
 It is not meant that, thefe ftatutes mould be 
 
 executed
 
 VAVbuivu 
 
 I vx -- . 
 
 nue peaceable, and do not attempt to diffufe 
 their pernicious principles, what will they have 
 to apprehend from that fpirit of lenity, with 
 which thefe ftatutes have ever been enforced ? 
 
 We prefume that it would be better if the 
 late *ct of Parliament were totally repealed, and 
 the laws againft the Papifts placed upon their 
 former footing. But if that cannot be obtained, 
 a qualifying Aclr, with fome fuch reftrictions as 
 thofe abovementioned, feems abfolutely necef- 
 fary. Thus the Papifts would be curbed, but 
 not crufhed ; they would not be perfecuted, nor 
 could they perfecute ; the grand objects of this 
 ASSOCIATION would be obtained ; the Pro- 
 teftant religion would be preferved ; the Britifh 
 conftitution fecured ; and the Hanoverian fuc- 
 ceffion eftablifhed upon the firmeft bafis. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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