pretended Reformation every where originated in the pernicious doctrine of salvation by Faith alone, without good works; and that of the Catholic Church has ever taught the necessity of them both; likewise that she possesses many peculiar means of sanctity, to which modern sects do not make a pretension; likewise that she has, in every age, produced the genuine fruits of sanctity, while the fruits of Protestantism have been of quite an opposite nature; finally, that God himself has borne witness to the sanctity of the Catholic Church, by undeniable miracles, with which he has illustrated her in every age. It did not require much pains to prove that the Catholic Church possesses, exclusively, the name of CATHOLIC; and not much more to demonstrate, that she alone has the qualities signified by that name. That the Catholic Church is also APOSTOLICAL, by descending in a right line from the Apostles of Christ, is as evident as that she is Catholic. However, to illustrate this matter, I have sketched out a Genealogical, or as I call it, The Apostolical Tree, which, with the help of a note subjoined, shows the uninterrupted succession of the Catholic Church in her chief Pontiffs and other illustrious Prelates, Doctors, and renowned Saints, from the Apostles of Christ, during eighteen centuries, to the present period, together with the continuation in her of the apostolical work of converting nations and people. It shows also a series of unhappy heretics and schismatics, of different times and countries, who, refusing to hear her inspired voice, and to obey her divine authority, have been separated from her communion, and have withered away, like branches cut off from a vine, and which are fit for no human use.-Ezek. xv. Finally, I have shown the necessity of an uninterrupted succession from the Apostles, of Holy Orders and Divine Mission, to constitute an Apostolical Church; and

have proved that these, or at least the latter of them, can only be found in the Holy Catholic Church. Having demonstrated all this in the foregoing Letters, I am justified, Dear Sir, in affirming that the motives of credibility, in favour of the Christian Religion in general, are not one whit more clear and certain than those in favour of the Catholic Religion in particular. But without inquiring into the degree of evidence attending the latter motives, it is enough for my present purpose, that they are sufficiently evident to influence the conduct of dispassionate and reasonable persons, who are acquainted with them, and who are really in earnest to save their souls.-Now, in proof, that these motives are, at least, so far clear, I may again appeal to the conduct of Catholics on a death-bed, who, in that awful situation, never wish to die in any religion but their own: I may also appeal to the conduct of many Protestants in the same situation, who seek to reconcile themselves to the Catholic Church. Let us, one and all, my Dear Sir, as far as in our power, adopt those sentiments in every respect now, which we shall entertain when the transitory scene of this world is closing to our sight, and during the countless ages of eternity.

O the length, the breadth, and the depth of the abyss of ETERNITY! 'No security,' says a holy man, 'can be too great, where Eternity is at 'stake.' (1)

I am, &c.

J. M.

(1) Nulla satis magna securitas ubi periclitatur Eternitas.'

END OF PART II.

320

THE END

OF

RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY

PART III.

It is a shame to charge men with what they are not guilty of, in order to make the breach wider, already too wide.'-Dr. Montague, Bishop of Norwich. Invoc. of Saints, p. 60.

'Let them not lead people by the nose to believe they can prove their 'supposition, that the Pope is Antichrist, and the Papists idolaters, when they cannot.'-Dr. Herbert Thorndike, Prebendary of Westminster Just Weights and Measures, p. 11.

The object of their (the Catholics) adoration of the B. Sacrament is the only true and Eternal God, hypostatically joined with Holy Hu'manity, which humanity they believe actually present under the veil of the sacramental signs: and if they thought him not present, 'they are so far from worshipping the bread in this case, that them'selves profess it to be idolatry to do so.'-Dr. Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down. Liberty of Prophesying, chap. xx.

ON RECTIFYING MISTAKES CONCERNING THE

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

LETTER XXXI.

From J. BROWN, Esq. to the Rev. J. M., D. D., F. S. A.

INTRODUCTION.

REVEREND SIR,

THE whole of your letters have again been read over in our Society; and they have produced important though diversified effects on the minds of its several members. For my own part, I am free to own that, as your former letters convinced me of the truth of your Rule of Faith,

namely, the entire Word of God, and of the right possessed by the true Church to expound it in all questions concerning its meaning; so your subsequent letters have satisfied me, that the characters or marks of the true Church, as they are laid down in our common Creeds, are clearly visible in the Roman Catholic Church, and not in the collection of Protestant Churches, nor in any one of them. This impression was, at first, so strong upon my mind, that I could have answered you nearly in the words of King Agrippa to St. Paul: Almost thou persuadest me to become a Catholic, Acts, xxvi. 28. The same appear to be the sentiments of several of my friends: but when, on comparing our notes together, we considered the heavy charges, particularly of superstition and idolatry, brought against your Church by our eminent Divines, and especially by the Bishop of London (Dr. Porteus), and never, that we have heard of, refuted or denied, we cannot but tread back the steps we have taken towards you, or rather stand still, where we are, in suspense, till we hear what answer you will make to them. I speak of those contained in the Bishop's well-known treatise called, A Brief Confutation of the Errors of the Church of Rome. With respect to certain other members of our Society, I am sorry to be obliged to say that, on this particular subject, I mean the arguments in favour of your Religion, they do not manifest the candour and good sense, which are natural to them, and which they show on every other subject. They pronounce, with confidence and vehemence, that Dr. Porteus's charges are all true, and that you cannot make any rational answer to them: at the same time, that several of these Gentlemen, to my knowledge, are very little acquainted with the substance of them. In short, they are apt to load your Religion, and the professors of it, with epithets and imputations too

gross and injurious for me to repeat, convinced, as I am, of their falsehood. I shall not be surprised to hear, that some of these imputations have been transmitted to you by the individuals I allude to, as I have declined making my letters the vehicle of them; it is a justice, however, which I owe them, to assure you, Rev. Sir, that it is only since they have understood the inference of your arguments to be such as implies an obligation of renouncing their own respective religions, and embracing yours, that they have been so unreasonable and violent. Till that period they appeared to be nearly as liberal and charitable with respect to your communion as to any other.

I am, Reverend Sir, &c.

JAMES BROWN.

LETTER XXXII.

To JAMES BROWN, Esq. &c.

ON THE CHARGES AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

DEAR SIR,

I SHOULD be guilty of deception, were I to disguise the satisfaction I derive from your and your friends' near approach to the House of Unity and Peace, as St. Cyprian calls the Catholic Church; for such I must judge your situation to be, from the tenor of your last letter, by which it seems to me, that your entire reconciliation with this Church depends on my refuting Bishop Porteus's objections against it. And yet, Dear Sir, if I were to insist on the strict rules of reasoning, I might take occasion to complain of you, from the very concessions which afford me so much pleasure. In fact, if you admit that the Church of God is, by his appointment, the inter

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