he likewise admits, that there is not one text of Scripture that can force any man to believe in it— and, indeed, it must be acknowledged, that there are many which are of sufficient force to compel to the contrary faith. I shall select but a very few strong ones-Look to the expressions of Abraham, in the parable of Lazarus, Luke xvi, 22, 23, and 26; and the passage in John v. 24, " He that heareth my "word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH 66 everlasting life, and shall not come into condemna"tion, but is passed from death unto life." Look also to 1 Thess. iv. 14, and other places, for the state of all men at Christ's coming to judge the world— "them which sleep in Jesus shall God bring with "him," &c. And also to Rev. 14. 13.-" Blessed 66 are the dead which die in the Lord from hence. "forth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from "their labours." But without seeking for texts condemning, in express terms, a doctrine which was not at the time invented; or for others, besides those already quoted, implying tenets which are totally inconsistent with it, I would refer to the entire tenor of Scripture, to its full and free proclamation of unpurchased and unmerited mercy, and especially to "fiebat mentio ;" and the following-" Neque tàm necessaria fuit, sive purgatorii, seu indulgentiarum fides, in primâ "ecclesiâ atque nunc est.' "Faith in a purgatory or in "indulgences was not so necessary in the primitive church, as "it is now ;" and this because, as he tells us, there were better men. But surely the suffering of one soul only in a purgatorial fire would have induced the necessity of teaching those doctrines, if they were true; the real fact however is, that they are thoroughly of human and modern invention. 77 opular and influential character, as a national poet, nd a political supporter of their native predictions; nd perceive how you put away all his assertions as little grounded in fact," with less than four pages of allegations; in which almost every important doctrine of their religion is handled briefly, and dismissed with little argument, and rather "ex cathe"dra;" they will naturally be inclined to conclude, that there are stores of proof somewhere, too numerous to produce in detail, and of which, therefore, a specimen must suffice. It is to be expected that this thought will especially suggest itself to the acute Irishman's mind, when he reads your very jejune and insufficient paragraph upon this-the most important doctrine of his creed-involving the great accusations of idolatry itself, and of the direct breach of one of the commandments of Jehovah, that are brought against it. He will naturally reason thus within his mind :-" It cannot be because that this "part of the subject is of little consequence, that "Mr. Moore has treated it so very lightly and so very briefly; it cannot be that he despises the arguments of Usher, and the Protestants, so fully "and boldly brought forward; and surely such a man cannot be indifferent to the truth itself; it "must be that the matter was so convincingly proved "to him, that he thought it was quite unneces 66 66 sary to trouble us with arguments respecting it; "but that it would suffice to give us, who have "neither opportunity or leisure for research, his own convictions on the subject." And he will that great and comprehensive truth, which so plainly declares it, and which quenches every spark of purgatorial fire." The blood of Jesus Christ "cleanseth from ALL SIN." 1 John i. 7; and to the last and emphatic declaration of our Saviour from the cross, when he uttered the words-"It is finished." It might appear proper, from its name, to notice St. Patrick's purgatory in this place; but it is obvious, from its nature, that the consideration of it should be reserved for the head of penance and of pilgrimages. " of The next that you mention is a very important doctrine indeed. "The habit," you say, "INVOKING, AND PRAYING TO SAINTS was, it is "evident, general among the ancient Irish Christians; "and a life of St. Brigid, written according to Ware "in the 7th century, concludes with the following "words: There are two holy virgins in heaven, "who may undertake my protection, Mary and St. Brigid, on whose patronage let each of us depend.' "See Lannigan Eccl. Hist. v. iii. c. 20, note 107." It appears to me, that one of the greatest evils likely to arise from the publication of your sentiments on this subject, will follow from the confident manner in which you have treated it. The people of Ireland, while they are shrewd and inquisitive, are equally credulous and confiding; they are also, in general, wherever they are not led completely blindfolded, anxious upon this matter; and they are far from being ignorant of Archbishop Usher, and his opinions concerning it. When, therefore, they meet in their research with a history by one of your popular and influential character, as a national poet, and a political supporter of their native predictions; and perceive how you put away all his assertions as "little grounded in fact," with less than four pages of allegations; in which almost every important doctrine of their religion is handled briefly, and dismissed with little argument, and rather " ex cathe"dra;" they will naturally be inclined to conclude, that there are stores of proof somewhere, too numerous to produce in detail, and of which, therefore, a specimen must suffice. It is to be expected that this thought will especially suggest itself to the acute Irishman's mind, when he reads your very jejune and insufficient paragraph upon this-the most important doctrine of his creed-involving the great accusations of idolatry itself, and of the direct breach of one of the commandments of Jehovah, that are brought against it. He will naturally reason thus within his mind ::- "It cannot be because that this 66 part of the subject is of little consequence, that "Mr. Moore has treated it so very lightly and so 66 very briefly; it cannot be that he despises the ar"guments of Usher, and the Protestants, so fully "and boldly brought forward; and surely such a man cannot be indifferent to the truth itself; it "must be that the matter was so convincingly proved "to him, that he thought it was quite unneces 66 sary to trouble us with arguments respecting it; "but that it would suffice to give us, who have "neither opportunity or leisure for research, his own convictions on the subject." And he will |