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pleasure to find I have executed it to their satisfaction; and not offended the intelligent, or the candid, among their adversaries. What I consider to be truth, I must tell; but

I hope to tell it in a manner, which will show sincere respect for those, whose different notions it opposes. Harsh or contumelious words never yet served the cause of truth or reason: St. Francis of Sales has justly observed, that "a good christian is never outdone "in good manners."

In the present introductory address, I shall insert the creed of Pope Pius IV, as an authentic exposition of the faith of the roman-catholic church. It contains a particular mention of most articles of her faith, and a general statement of the others: on the last I shall offer some observations.

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I mean to proceed on the following plan :— The number of letters will be the same as the number of chapters in "the Book of the Church;" and each letter will notice what I consider to be proper subjects for animadversion in the chapter, which, in number, corresponds with it. As nothing of this nature occurs in the first chapter of "the "Book of the Church," I shall insert in my first letter some statements and remarks respecting the general diffusion of the roman-catholic religion over the world.

II.

The Creed of Pius IV.

THIS celebrated symbol of catholic faith was published by his holiness in 1564, in the form of a bull, addressed to all the faithful in Christ. It was immediately received throughout the universal church; and, since that time, has ever been considered, in every part of the world, as an accurate and explicit summary of the roman-catholic faith. Non-catholics, on their admission into the catholic church, publicly repeat and testify their assent to it, without restriction or qualification. It is expressed in the following terms:

"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, "Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things "visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus "Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born "of the Father before all ages; God of God, Light "of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not "made; consubstantial to the Father, by whom all "things were made; who, for us men and for our “salvation, came down from heaven, and was in"carnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, "and was made man; was crucified also for us "under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried, "and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures, and ascended into heaven; sits at the

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right hand of the Father, and will come again "with glory to judge the living and the dead, of "whose kingdom there will be no end and in the

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Holy Ghost, the Lord and Life-giver, who pro"ceeds from the Father and the Son; who, together with the Father and Son, is adored and glorified; who spoke by the prophets and one

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holy catholic and apostolic church. I confess one "baptism for the remission of sins; and I expect "the resurrection of the body, and the life of the "world to come. Amen.

"I most firmly admit and embrace apostolical "and ecclesiastical traditions, and all other consti"tutions and observances of the same church.

"I also admit the sacred scriptures, according "to the sense which the holy mother church has

held, and does hold, to whom it belongs to judge "of the true sense and interpretation of the holy "scriptures; nor will I ever take or interpret "them otherwise, than according to the unani"mous consent of the fathers.

"I profess also, that there are truly and properly "seven sacraments of the new law, instituted by "Jesus Christ our Lord, and for the salvation "of mankind, though all are not necessary for

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every one; viz. baptism, confirmation, eucharist,

penance, extreme unction, order, and matrimony, "and that they confer grace; and of these, baptism, "confirmation and order, cannot be reiterated with"out sacrilege.

"I also receive and admit the ceremonies of "the catholic church, received and approved in "the solemn administration of all the above-said sacraments.

"I receive and embrace all and every one of

"the things, which have been defined and declared "in the holy council of Trent, concerning original "sin and justification.

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"I profess likewise, that in the mass is offered "to God a true, proper, and propitiatory sacrifice "for the living and the dead; and that in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist there is truly, really, and substantially the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity of our Lord "Jesus Christ; and that there is made a conversion "of the whole substance of the bread into the

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body, and of the whole substance of the wine into "the blood, which conversion the catholic church "calls transubstantiation.

"I confess also, that, under either kind alone, "whole and entire, Christ and a true sacrament is "received.

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I constantly hold that there is a purgatory, and that the souls detained therein are helped by the suffrages of the faithful.

"Likewise, that the saints reigning together "with Christ, are to be honoured and invocated, "that they offer prayers to God for us, and that "their relics are to be venerated.

"I most firmly assert, that the images of Christ, "and of the Mother of God ever-virgin, and also "of the other saints, are to be had and retained; "and that due honour and veneration are to be given them.

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"I also affirm, that the power of indulgences was left by Christ in the church, and that the

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"people.

"I acknowledge the holy catholic and apostoli"cal roman church, the mother and mistress of all "churches; and I promise and swear true obedience "to the roman bishop, the successor of St. Peter, "the prince of the apostles, and vicar of Jesus "Christ.

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"I also profess and undoubtedly receive all "other things delivered, defined, and declared by "the sacred canons, and general councils, and particularly by the holy council of Trent; and "likewise I also condemn, reject and anathematize "all things contrary thereto, and all heresies whatsoever condemned and anathematized by the ❝ church.

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"This true catholic faith, out of which none can be saved, which I now freely profess, and "truly hold, I, N. promise, vow and swear most "constantly to hold and profess, the same whole "and entire, with God's assistance, to the end of my life. Amen."

III.

Observations on such of the Articles of Faith, contained in the Creed of Pope Pius IV. as are expressed in general Terms.

DETAILED accounts of these would not suit the plan of these letters. On all I beg leave to suggest, that in every religious controversy between

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