abundantly refutes your charge against the romancatholic church, of concealing her abuses, it propounds, in the clearest terms, the catholic doctrine respecting her infallibility. We admit, that individual members of our church may both err in faith, and be guilty of immorality; but we also assert, that the church cannot err in faith this infallibility, and this infallibility only, we ascribe to her. I must add, that this celebrated work of Bossuet, on the Variations of the Protestant: Churches, from which I have presented you with the foregoing extract, was translated into the English language, by father Browne, of the Society of Jesus, for the instruction of the English catholics, in 1742, in two octavo volumes: so little do catholics deserve the imputation of concealment, with which you so liberally charge them.

After perusing the full and unreserved exposure, by one of the most eminent and most popular writers of the church of Rome, of the abuses which prevailed in her during the middle ages, you will not, I am sure, renew this charge.

But, while you dilate so much at length, and with such evident complacency, on the circumstances which you think disgrace the church of Rome, did not justice require you to place, in as full a view, and to dwell as much, and as long, on those topics, which are honourable to her? You mention some superstitions: Why are you almost wholly silent on the edifying scenes, with which the history of the church, during the middle ages,

is replete the numerous councils held in every part of Christendom? their admirable canons? their regulations for preserving the purity and integrity of faith; for promoting, in every possible manner, both the spiritual and temporal welfare of mankind? You mention some persons, whose conduct you deservedly censure: Why did you not also mention some, at least, of those holy men, whose heroic virtues you yourself cannot deny? You mention some ridiculous legends: Why are you wholly silent on the writings of the Gerberts, the Bernards, the Aquinases, the Gersens, the Bacons ? Why not mention Thomas à Kempis's golden volume? or Thaulerus, of whom Luther, your patriarch, speaks in such lofty terms of praise? Why conceal the many institutions for the redemption of captives, and for the conversion of barbarians, with which the catholic church abounded in the times, which you so much vituperate? her various charitable institutions; her schools? the countless exertions of individuals for these, and a hundred other purposes of christian piety or beneficence? Should not all and every one of these hold their due place in a work, which bears for its title "the "Book of the Church?" Where is that good taste, for which you are deservedly admired, when, turning aside from these pleasing and glorious themes,-from virtues that do honour to man, and the relations of which are so productive of useful and heroic deeds, you luxuriate in the descriptions of those scenes, which christianity laments, repu

diates, and wishes to be forgotten? But God never abandoned for a moment his church. Involve and

involve again her disasters :- Make the tares as abundant as you wish them to be thought, still there never was a time in which the faith of the church suffered corruption, or in which the promises of God to his church were not verified, by the richness and plenty of her harvests.

LETTER XII.

HENRY VIII.

167

SIR,

WE now reach the æra of the Reformation: to you, a subject of great joy; to me, a subject of deep regret. You dedicate your twelfth chapter to its commencement under Henry VIII.

It is one of the misfortunes of controversy, that charges, even of the most serious and offensive kind, may be conveyed in a line, or even by a word, while pages are necessary to refute them. With charges of this nature "the Book of the Church" abounds in a greater degree than any other work which I have met with; they occur in the present chapter more than in any other. All, or even a considerable proportion of them, it is utterly impossible for me to discuss; I am therefore obliged to confine myself to such of your general charges against us, as appear to me to require particular notice.

Has England been benefited by the reformation? This is the subject of the letter which I now have the honour to address you. I shall inquire whether she has gained by it,-I. In temporal happiness ;II. In spiritual wisdom;-III. Or in morals?IV. Whether the revival of letters was owing to the reformation, or materially promoted by it ?-

v. Whether the conduct of the religious orders called for the dissolution of the monasteries?— VI. Whether the church of Rome was negligent in remedying the abuses which crept into it?VII. And, whether roman-catholic historical writers of the former, or the present times, merit the indiscriminate and unqualified abuse, which, certainly, without any provocation, you pour upon them.

XII. 1.

Has England gained by the Reformation in Temporal
Happiness?

TWICE did the roman-catholic religion rescue the inhabitants of England from paganism. She instructed them in the divine truths of the gospel; introduced civilization among them; was, after the Norman Conquest, their only protection against the oppressions of their conqueror; and, during a long subsequent period, their only defence against the tyranny of the barons. To her, you owe your magna charta, the important statute de tallagio non concedendo, and several other statutes, regulations and forms, which are the groundwork and bulwark of your constitution. constitution. A numerous clergy administered the rites and blessings of religion; numerous portions, both of men and women, whose institutes were holy, furnished the young with means of education, the old with comfortable retreats, and all with opportunities of serving God in honour and integrity. Throughout England the roman