solve in the minds of such men every human obligation which the heart of man can conceive. In fact, it is well known that one of the conspirators in the business of the fifth of November, who escaped the hand of justice here, met with both commendation and reward at Rome; nor can it be doubted but that, if their plot had succeeded, that memorable day would have been marked in Popish calendars as glorious and triumphant, as it is now in the Protestant for a day of Divine interposition and deliverance.

Such are the systematic doctrines and practices which render it unsafe for Protestant governments to trust any material power in the hands of the Romanists.

But, then, it is here said, " These representations, at the present day, are absolutely fabulous, and altogether unworthy of the notice of wise men." The answer is, If this indeed be so, if the objectionable doctrines of the Romanists have really terminated their disgraceful existence, every true Protestant will rejoice in the event of such à revolution, and be heartily disposed to allow them the utmost licence of rational toleration. He will, however, expect to have better proof of their

sincerity than the mere declarations, or even the signatures, of a few interested members of that communion, collected at suspicious moments and to serve particular purposes. You know that no people on earth are more completely under the dominion of their clergy, than the congregations of the Roman Catholics; and you know also, that their clergy, as a body, have not relaxed or amended in any one syllable of their ancient most atrocious. and detestable doctrines. And is it not, therefore, with a fearful astonishment that you hear it gravely affirmed in Parliament, that all the peculiarly odious, offensive, and dangerous parts of the Romish religion have long since been done away?

Let me ask (e. g.), Do you believe that the numerous sanguinary decrees of the Pope and his Coun cils, which for so many years have been the disgrace of reason and humanity, are now actually repealed? Do you believe that the Roman Catholic clergy, particularly those of Ireland, do now avow before all the world this revolution which is said to have taken place? And do you seriously think that they are now instructing their deluded congregations in their new and reformed doctrines? For

give me to believe these things would require a most uncommon portion of credulity! Yet you would not deny that there may be several humane Deists, or half-Deists, nominally of the Romish communion, who may sincerely detest many both of the political doctrines and the scandalous practices of the Church of Rome; and to their candid concessions, most probably, we are in part to ascribe the favourable impression concerning the present state of Popery made on the minds of several leading characters in our own country: but, surely, wise and watchful British senators will not suffer themselves to be ensnared by such partial and unsatisfactory professions; surely they will examine, and even scrutinize, with an industrious and jealous attention, whether the great body, particularly the clerical body, of the existing modern Roman Catholics, are not theinselves educated, and are at this moment educating their offspring, in precisely the same systematic plans of bigotry, persecution, contempt and hatred of Protestants, which caused their forefathers to be guilty of so many horrid plots and massacres.

Every source of information which you will take the pains to examine, furnishes fresh proofs

that I do not overstate this matter; proofs that Popery continues substantially the same thing it ever was; proofs that it only waits for opportunities to promote and sanction the same detestable attempts and purposes. Still, it is very far from my design to accuse the consciences of every Roman Catholic, as though they were loaded with the guilt of intended persecutions, plots, and cruel barbarities. What I affirm, and verily believe, is this, that, such is the nature of the Romish religion, that its votaries are constantly in a state of preparation for these things; and that probably, without supposing many of them to be aware of it, they are fitted, well fitted, to be the ready tools and instruments of bold tyrants, crafty priests, or enterprising bigots and fanatics, at any moment they are wanted: and, moreover, that these disciplined engines of destruction, like the barrels of gunpowder which they well know how to employ, are not the less dangerous because their outward appearance is harmless, and because the combustible trains that connect them are at present invisible. I venture, therefore, to add, that, as we are perfectly aware of the latent mischief of these principles, we must, I think, be altogether inex

cusable if we do not effectually guard against them in future.

Yet God forbid we should harbour the smallest degree of unchristian animosity towards any of our fellow-creatures, of whatever persuasion they may be! Let our abhorrence be always not of the men, but of the cruel, unrelenting principles in which the Romanists are steadily educated. From the ruinous operation of these, may Almighty God protect us! and be it our earnest prayer, that (as one very material mean of protection) He would be pleased to give our senators wisdom! The history of mankind does not furnish instances of a more common or more severe scourge of Divine Providence, than the infatuation of the councils of princes and governors; and I may truly add, that such infatuations have usually taken place in times of great wealth, great power, and extent of empire, that is, in times of great prosperity.

To conclude. Very few words may now satisfy the second branch of this discourse. If it be true that long-continued prosperity, numerous victories by sea and land, extraordinary and even miraculous deliverances from imminent dangers, have been