DISSERTATION I.

A few general reflections on the Majesty and Sublimity of the truths and objects included in the contemplation of the religion of our Divine Saviour-a brief review of the important results accruing to the Social System from its connexion with the Civil Polity—this connerion as at present usurped by the Papacy, and blended in its assumption of Spiritual, and Secular, universal domination, whereby it may be said, it makes Common Cause with Sectaries, who resist this union, is contrary to the plain warrant of Scripture, the usage of all Antiquity, and the first principles of framing a Christian Society— occasional remarks on the duties of Ecclesiastical and Civil governors in particular reference to the present perilous laxity, and unprincipled policy, of dangerous Factions—and interpersed with various other topics suggested by the preceding subjects, illustrative of the Author's general design, &c. &c. &c.

A MORE important question can never come before the eyes of man, than the investigation of what are the human means most calculated to advance, protect, and establish the vital principles of our pure and holy Religion. In the all-comprehensive subject of Religion, is involved every thing that concerns mortals here below,—whilst, beyond the troubled ocean and eventful vicissitudes of human affairs, its heart-cheering

[Continued from Note, p. 67.]

We are reluctantly obliged, to lay before our readers, still more horrifying, accumulated heaps of Pontifical filth and lewdness. We will terminate the hideous portraiture, with but one more quotation out of Baronius relative to the eleventh century. I am satisfied the impartial Protestant reader, will not require any further proofs of Bernard's veracity; and I should suppose that the holy monk's Saintship, will command some confidence and reverence, from his special worshippers. Of the eleventh century, Baronius writes,-"that it was by Dithmarus styled the iron age, because iniquity did then abound, and that many did then discourse and believe, that in this very age Antichrist (!) was to come, and the world was to have an end; and the corruption of manners VOL. I.

K

promises unfold to the delighted view, of the humble and obedient follower of its heaven-taught precepts, a blissful haven-unruffled by the agitating storms of life;-disclose to its faithful votaries an enlivening prospect of the unchanging joys of an endless eternity of undisturbed repose ;-and inspire them, even in this lower world, with the glowing fervour of an ennobling ambition, to soar far above the littleness of time, or fantasies of sense, and to aim at the possession of a loftier prize. In the contemplation of these momentous truths, there is an awful grandeur, which surpasses the utmost stretch of human imagination,—

which then (saith he) was very great, especially among the Ecclesiastics, might easily persuade men that it would be so" (Annal. A. D. 1001. Baronius here quotes the authority of Dithmarus, Bishop of Mersburgh, in Misnia. He died in A. D. 1028; having written a "Chronicle of his Times," which was printed by Reineccius in 1584, folio; but was afterwards re-edited by the celebrated Leibnitz.-Moreri.). It were quite in vain, then, even for the most unrelenting Jesuit, to cavil at the confirmatory sentence of our Protestant Mosheim; whom I do not now quote, to enlighten, but rather, to receive illumination from these Romish Historians. In his review of the tenth century, he says," the history of the Roman Pontiffs, that lived in this century, is a history of so many monsters, and not of men; and exhibits a horrible series of the most flagitious, tremendous, and complicated crimes, as All Writers, even those of the Romish communion, unanimously confess!" (Eccles. Hist. Cent x. Part ii. chap. ii. §. 2.). And of the eleventh Century he writes,"all the records of this century loudly complain of the vices that reigned among the Rulers of the Church, and, in general among all the sacerdotal orders; they also deplore that universal decay of piety and discipline, that was the consequence of this corruption in a set of men, who were bound to support,-by their example, their authority, and their instructions,-the sacred interests of religion and virtue. The inferior orders of the clergy were also licentious in their own way; few among them preserved any remains of piety and virtue, we might add, of decency and discretion. While their Rulers were wallowing in luxury, and basking in the beams of worldly pomp, and splendour, they were indulging themselves, without the least sense of shame, in fraudulent practices, in impure and lascivious gratifications, and even in the commission of the most flagitious crimes!" (Eccles. Hist. Cent. xi. Part ii. chap. ii. §. i.). I cannot restrain myself, here, from making an observation; though, doubtless, it may excite the spleen of the ignorant and bigotted Romanist, as it certainly will call forth expressions of pity and surprize from the enlightened Protestant. For, Romanists can never

and a wondrous sublimity, which, while it connects earth with heaven and time with eternity,-and reveals to man, that he is formed, for expatiating on a wider and grander theatre, that he is reserved to partake of a nobler-a more exalted destiny-points out likewise its Divine original, by the unspotted holiness of its precepts,-by the perfect aptitude of its various parts to the nature, weaknesses, and wants of man,-by the majestic splendour of its sanctions, -by the inconceivable greatness of its objects,-and by the overflowing measure of wisdom, goodness, mercy, and love, so wonderfully and plenteously

well endure, the stubborn fact, that the entire motley parade of their degrading and superstitious rites, had their beginning at a very late period in the annals of the Church; and that their Novelties, owe their origin, to periods of the greatest darkness, the most impure morals, and the most unhallowed licentiousness, that ever the pen of an historian has been obliged to describe. One example out of a thousand, may suffice to illustrate this undeniable truth. In this very century, i. e. the eleventh, it would be tedious to enumerate, in a circumstantial manner, the new inventions that were imposed upon the Western World, under the specious titles of piety and zeal, by the superstitious despotism of these papal Monsters;-who, it would appear, fondly, and industriously imposed upon their unfortunate and ignorant dupes, such galling burdens, as might inspire the panic of superstition;-as well to cloak their own hateful enormities, as to strike dismay, by the terrors and wonders of their boasted, superhuman powers. Among the endless novelties of these ridiculous inventions, we will just mention that Sergius III., the Father of the illegitimate John XI. (!), first ordained the bearing of candles in the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, thence called Candlemas day; the dignity of Cardinal was first instituted; Investitures first introduced; the Feast of All Souls first appointed by John XIX. ; Swords, Roses, &c. first consecrated by Sergius IV. on Christmas night, to be sent as tokens of love, to Princes, whom the Popes desired to court and flatter; the Sabbath Fasts first introduced by Gregory VII; and the Cistertian, Carthusian and Whipping orders (!), with many others were first founded in this Century. In the thirteenth century, Albertus Magnus, Provincial of the Dominican order in Germany; the illustrious Preceptor of St. Thomas Aquinas -the Angelic Doctor-the great luminary of the Scholastic world (Bayle), says "they that now preside over the church, are Thieves and Plunderers; Robbers, not Guardians; Spoilers, not Protectors; Destroyers, not Shepherds; Deceivers, not Guides; perverting, not teaching the Doctrines of the Gospel. These are the forerunners of Antichrist, the enemies of the Flock of Christ!"

displayed, throughout each, and all of its diversified details.

It must, then, assuredly be acknowledged, that, of all the subjects, which the grasp of human intellect, is permitted to approach, Religion-in its origin and end-in its causes and effects,-ought pre-eminently to occupy a place of transcendent, and supreme importance, in the estimation of every true friend of man, and in every genuine lover of social order. How deeply enraptured should we contemplate this characteristic and exclusive privilege of man, which would seem, even now in his fallen state, to reserve for him

(In Johannem, cap. x.). And to these may be added the additional testimony of William Holcot,-"The Priests of this time are like the Priests of Baal; they are Apostate angels; the Priests of Dagon; the Angels of Hell!" (In Libro Sapientiæ, lectio 182.). These most highly esteemed Doctors of the Romish Communion, supply us with an indisputable body of corroborative evidence, in confirmation of what St. Bernard declared, as has been already shown, and of his still more extraordinary declaration," that the putrid contagion, in his day, crept through the whole body of the Church, and the malady was inward and could not be healed. The actions of the Prelacy in secret, were too gross for expression!" (Bernard. p. 1728.-"Serpit hodie putrida tabes, &c."). And for the present, we are quite as disposed, as Bernard, to leave the mid-night miscreancy of the Roman Bishops, in its native, and congenial darkness. 3rd. The warmest partizans, and devoted creatures of the Papacy, have described the tenth century, as has been already fully exhibited, in language, which almost staggers belief. The historians of that period, assert, that," all virtue fled from the Pontiff and the people. The Romish Church was filthy and deformed, and the Abomination of Desolation was erected in the Temple of God!" (See Giannone's "History of Naples," Book vii. p. 5. edit. of London. Bruys' 'Histoire des Papes," vol. ii. p. 208. With whom also Sabellicus, Baronius, and Du Pin coincide). 4th. The eleventh century has been described in the same frightful colours. "Piety aud holiness," all the historians confess, "had fled from the earth, whilst irregularity and iniquity among all, and, in an especial manner, among the clergy, every where reigned. The sacraments, in many parts of Christendom, ceased to be dispensed. The few men of piety, from the prospect of atrocity, thought the reign of Antichrist had commenced, and the world hastened to its end." (See Paris, (Matth.) Historia, p. 5. edit. of Zurich, 1589. Bruys' "Histoire des Papes," vol. ii. p. 316. Glaber, Baronius as before quoted, and Spondanus teach the very same thing). The twelth and thirteenth centuries, were, if possible worse. We have already given St

alone of all the countless multitudes, in the midst of Creation's boundless realms, the impress of Divinity itself! How glorious a possession, has ungrateful, rebellious man, here to boast of, were he but to remember that its origin is the bosom of his heavenly Father's mercy, and the yearnings of his pitying love! With what emotions of adoring gratitude ought man's inmost breast to thrill, if he ever call to mind the causes of this divine and mysterious love! Ah! but human apostacy, rebellion, ingratitude, and corruption may have caused this unparalleled display of the attributes of Deity, in providing an infinite atonement—

Bernard's disgusting picture of these ages, confirmed by a large number of the most unexceptionable testimonies. Morlaix describes this period thus,-" Piety and religion seemed to bid adieu to man; and for these were substituted treachery, fraud, impurity, rapine schism, quarrels, war, and assassination. The Throne of the Beast (!) seemed to be fixed among the clergy, who neglected God, stained the Priesthood with impurity, demoralized the people with their hypocrisy, denied their Lord by their works, and rejected Revelation, which God gave for the salvation of man!!!" (Morlaix and Honor. in Bruys' "Histoire des Papes," vol. ii. p. 547.). 5th. The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, have been delineated in terms of execration, by the pens of the greatest, and most distinguished writers of modern ages. Cardinal Alliaco says,-"the Church is come to such a state, that it is worthy of being governed only by reprobates!!!" (Alliaco in Hardouin's "Collection of Councils," vol. i. p. 424. ; and Lenfan's Councils, vol. ii. p. 276.). Mariana, the very renowned Spanish historian, and who had been a distinguished Professor in several of the most reputable Jesuitical Colleges, mentions this age, thus," every enormity had passed into a custom and law, and was committed without fear. Shame and modesty were banished, while, by a monstrous irregularity, the most shocking outrages, perfidy, and treason, were better recompensed, than the brightest virtue. The wickedness of the Pontiff descended to the people!" (Mariana's "Histoire d'Espagne," vol. v. p. 718. edit. of Paris, 1725.). The description of Ægidius is equally terrible. "Licentiousness reigned. All kinds of atrocity, like an impetuous torrent, inundated the Church; and, like a pestilence, infected nearly all its members. Irregularity, ignorance, ambition, unchastity, libertinism, and impurity triumphed; while the plains of Italy were drenched in blood, and covered with the dead. Violence, rapine, adultery, incest, and all the pestilence of villainy, confounded all things sacred and profane!" (Labbé, "Concilia," vol. xix. p. 670. Bruys', "Histoire des Papes," vol. iv. p. 365. Mariana's "Histoire d'Espagne, vol. v. p. 770.). The portrait of these times drawn by the highly celebrated Pico of