dividuals who, by their talents and public conduct, have rendered themselves conspicuous in detecting and exposing the corrupt practices of the hirelings and their employers, and the encroachments which have been made on the constitution. To alarm the feelings of the timid, the changes have been rung on the horrors of the French revolution till their nerves have been unstrung, and religion has been made the stalkinghorse to trample down every feeling that is honest, generous, and patriotic. Even the eldest son of a catholic peer has thought it not beneath his rank to swell the list of calumniators and misrepresenters of the sentiments of the reformers. He further insinuated, aye, falsely insinuated, that I was under the dictation of the scoffer of all religions. That my political opicions are more favourable to those advocated by the men charged, but unjustly, I believe, with being the enemies of religion, than they are to those of the party who are constantly crying out in favour of it, but violating its precepts, I frankly avow; and this cognation of mind, in civil matters, is produced by the conviction that the reformers are more honest and sincere in their professions than the supporters of the present system. A catholic firmly grounded in my faith, it matters little to me whether my protestant neighbour profess this or that creed, or no creed at all. If his social conduct be correct, and his intentions be upright, I must respect the man though I lament his spiritual error; and while his political opinions and actions accord with the principles of the constitution, I conceive myself bound, as well as the catholics in general, to cooperate with such characters for the public good, adopting the wise axiom of the great bishop of Imola, "Man does not exist in a state of nature, Member of society, in the advantages of which he participates, reason wills that he in return shall communicate to it those which are in his power, and that, by this reci procal exchange of services, he shall concur to the public felicity." Another ornament of the church, abbé, Foere, the editor of Le Spectateur Belge, writes thus on the sentiments delivered by cardinal Chiaramonti : "Such is the celebrated discourse pronounced by Pius VII, when bishop of Imola. It is a bulwark, eternally impregnable, raised against those perpetual calumniators of the catholic religion, who never cease accusing it of fanaticism and servility. In every line sound reason marches along side the principles of the catholic religion, The latter are made to accord with the wise lights of the age. The liberal ideas are confined to their just limits; liberty and equality well understood, doctrines so essential to the spirit of the catholic religion, are here reduced to their just value; the signification of these words and their use are determined with a precision and wisdom which must carry the assent of every impartial reader. Whatever may be the lights of the age, or of the ages to come, the fundamental principles of religion will always be in unison with the true lights; its principles are eternal, they are of all places and times. Whatever, likewise, may be the constitutional forms of governments, it is those wise principles which they ought to adopt in theory, and particularly in practice; principles, which the catholic religion has never ceased to teach and inculcate to the governors as well as to the governed. Beyond them, all is abuse or licentiousness, despotism or anarchy." In these sentiments I cordially a gree, as they are incontestible; but is the conduct of the partisan priest suitable to the principles laid down by the holy father, when bishop of Imola? Is is not rather calculated to confirm the accusations of our calumniators, who charge us with fanaticism and servility? As the principles of our religion are always the same, yet suited to all times and all places, why should not it professors imbibe and practice the liberal sentiments of the age they live in, so far as regards political economy, instead of trying to prop up an old vitiated system, which threatens destruction to the few remaining liberties of the country, and to involve it in confusion and bloodshed? I know that some of the clergy, for whom I entertain the most sincere regard and esteem, are dreadfully apprehensive that religion will suffer by such conduct. But let me ask them if the catholic religion would be in greater danger under a reformed parliament than as at present modeled? Would there be less moral virtue in a reformed house of commons, than in the one now elected and constituted? Have catholics more to apprehend from the ravings of a Carlile, than the gross calumnies of a bishop of St. David's or of Durham? Is not major Cartwright as honest in principle as lord Castlereagh ? Mr. Hunt as the duke of Wellington? Mr. Cob. bett as George Canning? Mr. Wooler as Dr. Slop? I beg pardon of these able advocates for reform and justice, for making the contrast, but it is my own unbiassed conviction, that there is a thousandeth times more honesty and worth in their political actions, than in those of their calumniators. If the reformers do not exhibit that respect for religion which is to be found in catholics, it ought to excite no surprise in the latter, but ather their regret that the former have not had the same benefit of attaining the knowledge of truth as themselves. As I before said, the existence of error in faith or the wast of it, must always be lamented; but if we find the disposition inclined to obey the moral precepts of the law of God, surely we catholics ought to hail the event as favoura ble, and seek, by a reciprocal exchange of services, in co-operating for the public good, to inspire in the minds of our uninformed brethren the advantages arising from the knowledge and practice of true religion. In associating with men of liberal sentiments, and adopting the most just and generally received political opinions, we should thereby secure the public mind in favour of our religion, and prevent that scene of revolutionary anarchy so much dreaded. Because, were there is unity of sentiment less occasion for division necessarily follows; and the weight of the catholic body thrown into the scale of a national reform and a removal of the abuses which are admitted to exist under the present system, would operate to insure a successful issue to our joint claims. The reformers call for a renovation of the genuine principles of the constitutiou, on the basis of civil and religious liberty. We have been taught, they say, to form our religious creeds from our own notions; you catholics admit of a rule for your faith, and for adhering to this rule you have had to bear an unmerited and unjust persecution. During this persecution we were led to believe that you deserved to be thus punished, but we now perceive that while we were applauding the proscription of your civil rights we were imperceptibly losing our own. We approved of your being disfranchised, and we are in turn disfranchised ourselves.—You have been long deprived by penal laws of choosing your representatives in parliament, and by the innovations of time and corruption we are equally unrepresented. We acknowledge our error, let us then unite to obtain, by legal means, our 4. See p. 48. company to adinne der Cobbett to he truth and shame the devil" formed in Dublin last December. civil rights, and enjoy the exercise L ing of chapels and schools, and as the present system last, such ad- . 2 S.. d L Capone reformers wall for in partisan clergy attempt to stop the current of the ocean, as to imagine they can prevent the current of public opinion, in favour of this measure, from flowing among their flocks. law to the people. When questioned as to the doctrine he taught, he appealed to public opinion; when ac cused as a seducer, he rested his defence on public opinion. The apostles, when they entered on the mis sion, preached Christ crucified to the jews and gentiles, and consequently had recourse to public opinion. Every country that embraced the catholic religion, did it by public opinion, through the grace of God; and hence, vox populi vox Dei, the voice of the people may truly be said to be the voice of God. By public opinion were the bishops of the church chosen in the primitive ages, and the present hierarchy of Ireland, by their memorable reso claring that they neither sought nor desired any other earthly consideration for their spiritual ministry to their respective flocks, save what they might from a sense of religion and duty, voluntarily afford them, rested their characters on public opinion. And well would it be for religion, were some of our English leading clergy to follow their example.-Next to the finger of God, an exemplary and perfectly independent To me it appears to be one of the wise dispensations of Providence to effect the release of truth from the bondages which the reformation wound round it. A spirit of inquiry now reigns amongst the intelligent part of our protestant brethren, which the advocates for corruption and the sham friends of religiou and morality are desirous of diverting, by the distribution of bibles. If deism and infidelity meet with some supporters among the reformers, less peril is to be apprehended from that circum-lution of February 24th, 1810, destance than a general perversion of the word of God, which will be the case if self-interpretation continues to spread. Let then the catholic pulpits, and particularly those of the metropolis, sound with the doctrines of true religion. Let our preachers be exhorted and encouraged to expound the mysteries of the church of God, the basis on which she is founded, the authorities and characteristics by which she is known, and the misrepresentations and false-clergy, is the chief support of relihoods by which her enemies have endeavoured to blacken and defame her. Taking example from the venerable and learned Chiaramonti, let "sound reason march alongside the principles of the catholic religion," and let the former be made to accord with the wise lights of the age." Let not a mistaken notion prevail, that religion will be best promoted by making the clergy as dumb dogs. Our blessed Saviour did not act on this idea, but, on the contrary, he openly taught in the temple. It was there he denounced and reprobated the crimes and hypocrisies of the priests and pharisees. It was there, or in some public place, he explained the maxims of the new gion, because, by acting thus, they will be sure to keep public opinion on their side. Had the bishops in Harry the eighth's time appealed to public opinion, instead of relying on the protection of that haughty and capricious tyrant, the change in religion would, most probably, have never happened. Let me then, in conclusion, entreat those of the clergy who are acting on the principle of conciliating bigotry, by suppres sing controversy, and supporting the throne, by chiming in with the measure, of corruption, under an idea of being disloyal if they acted otherwise, to lay aside such puerile notions and take pattern from the pa triotic bishop of Imola, now our And thou! Bethlehem, land of Juda, although thou art an obscure corner of the country of the Hebrews, from thee came forth that Leader foreseen by the prophecies, who, prefigured in the rites and sacrifices, was to bear the scepire of Israel; thou wert the cradle of the Emmanuel, who brought to us the peace of the ManGod born of a Virgin: the heavens and the earth bore testimony to his divinity, to his mission. Happy stable! and thou, glorious country of Juda, thy remembrance penetrates me with joy! May the tears of consolation, which escape from my eyes, excite those of my beloved brethren who hear me, and may the universe resound with thy praises and glory! But shall my joy be but a sterile tribute? shall the object of this discourse be only to call forth applause! for miraculous events? The ManGod is born to teach unto men a THE Eternal displayed in time his omnipotence outside himself, and instantly appeared all created beings. He walked on the rebellious waves which covered the earth, and at his terrible voice the shores encompass-pure doctrine, to instruct them, and to ed the billows, which fled into their abyss. On Sinai, the lightnings and the thunder, precursors of his Divine Majesty, manifested his presence to the conductor of Israel; and, on two tables of stone, the finger of God traced that code of laws in which mian finds his duties towards the Deity, towards himself, towards his fellows, duties primitively engraven in his soul, to direct his conduct and to regulate his manners conformably to his nature. Shall I say it? the Divine Wisdom thought he had done too little, in showering upon man those gifts of an infinite goodness, in spite of the ingratitude and defection of his children. Another order of things was determined by the Most-High, New and more splendid benefits were to signalize still more his mercy towards men, by inspiring them with more confidence in God. Happy stable of Bethlehen! in thee appeared so many wonders! dissipate the darkness which clouds' their intellect. To this school I iuvite you, my dearest brethren; I proceed to lay before you the summary of those precepts, the accomplishment of which shall render you models of christian perfection in this life, and lay up for you a treasure of merits for the life to come. The Son of God, clothed in our mortal flesh, but disdaining the frail vanities and grovelling pleasures of the earth, teaches to us by his example first, then by his discourses, Christian humility. Declaring blessed the poor in spirit (Matt. v. 3.),' he invites us to imitate him, saying: "Let him who will come after me, deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. xvi. 24.) These few words contain the principal duty of the Christian towards God, for all his duties must have for their basis, humility, which excites in man the acknowledgment |