and its murderous attributes, so evidently as Ireland; in the popish districts of which, there are more crimes marked with the very highest possible features of atrocity, committed frequently in one day, than have been perpetrated in the United States, except by the adherents of Babylon the Great, during the half century which has elapsed, since the termination of the revolutionary war. The extraordinary increase of the more nefarious and sanguinary crimes in this republic, has often perplexed the minds of those who investigate our political economy; and they have expressed their surprise at so painful an effect, without an obvious and adequate cause. Had they enlarged their views, and contemplated the vast and disproportionable influence of popery and of its enslaved minions, they would easily have discovered the fertile source in which all these evils originate. In the sacred oracles, popery is ever described as a ferocious monster, combining all the worst and most mischievous attributes of that mysterious being who is represented as the adversary of mankind, who as "a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Such is the concise and graphical delineation of the Roman hierarchy, and their infatuated disciples: they are bent upon mischief only, always, and in every situation; and their pretended religion teaches that it is meritorious to extirpate heretics, and that the extent of their indulgences, and the term of their continuance in purgatory, will be both deeply affected by the quantity of Protestant blood which they shed. Thus in Ireland, at this day, nearly all the more astounding butcheries, and arsons, and abductions, are instigated by the Roman priests, publicly in the mass-house, or privately in the confessional; and atrocities at which humanity shudders are openly boasted of, as the ground of claim for reward from God. This spirit and feeling, or rather obduracy, every Irish priest and Papist bring with them to every country; and the only reason why they are not so notoriously and frequently exemplified is this-that the Jesuits are aware, their priestcraft would not be tolerated in this country by public opinion, and that it could make no influence, did they themselves, although "false prophets, not come to us in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Therefore, for the present, they practice their iniquities more secretly, and restrain their sanguinary dependents from exhibiting all the repulsive barbarities which they would exult to enact. Nevertheless the allegation is undeniable-every genuine Papist is necessarily cruel and hard-hearted in all points where popery is interested. 4. Integrity and Faithfulness peremptorily discarded from Romanism. The unholy system which has been introduced into the world by "the dragon and the beast" is a compound of dishonesty in social life, and disobedience to the civil laws; and treachery in every relation which a man can sustain. In the operation of the Roman system, every thing is subjected to the paramount principle," the good of the church!" To maintain the ascendancy of this their mysterious God, all other claims must be sacrificed; and vice and virtue lose in a Papist's estimate, their essential characteristics and attributes, when they advert to this grand motive of action. The ensuing extract, from a modern writer of great eminence in the papal controversy, lucidly depicts this tremendous usurpation. "Among the various principles and customs, more especially those of religion, which modern Rome has adopted and perpetuated from the ancient idolatrous possessors of the great city and its empire, there is none in which the resemblance or virtual identity is more conspicuous than in that policy, by which she has acquired, and by which she retains, her dominion over a great part of the civilized world. No instrument for these purposes, whether of fraud, of flattery, of terror, or of force, was ever refused or overlooked by her. Her code of government embraced all objects, and comprehended the most distant extremes, with all which occupied the intermediate space. The most self-tormenting ascetic, and the most voluptuous profligate, were almost equal objects of her attention; and while to the tractable, submissive and attached, she presented every indulgence which was, or which was believed to be in her power, she had tortures and deaths of all horrors to gain, retain, or recover, those who might be rebellious, or who meditated rebellion. To no power but modern Rome, is equally applicable, the description of the poet on the ancients: Te regere imperio populos, Romane, memento; Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos.' Virg. Æn. 6: 852. Here is a gigantic, mysterious and long established power, yet in existence; having indeed suffered much, and therefore the more intent upon retrieving its loss; with no deficiency of skill, and no neglect of instruments. Mendham's Indexes. After the citations which already have been introduced respecting the practice of falsehood and theft, both of which are directly encouraged by the Roman priests, it would be superfluous to prove, by any additional evidence, that as an individual, and in his domestic relations, a consistent Papist can neither be honest nor worthy of confidence. We shall therefore close this dissertation, by a detail of the influence of popery upon man as a citizen. In reviewing the monastic system, it has been evinced that the natural tendency of popery, is decidedly adverse to the growth of a nation, in morals, wealth, and population. The celibate system enervates or destroys the whole stamina of the social compact. European history, since the overthrow of the ancient Roman empire, determines this fact with infallible authority; and the existing modern condition of the papal countries, certifies, that in this aspect, popery retains its boasted unchangeableness. A few additional quotations will demonstrate, that a Papist, if he be sincere and truly devoted to his priestly masters, can make no pretentions to be a faithful and an obedient citizen, where any Protestant government rules. It is vain to retort solitary exceptions against a multitude of witnesses; or to adduce examples where the restrictions upon their ungodly designs, are so numerous and potent, that they are not able to exhibit their furious ebullitions, and are also afraid to enact their treasonable designs. In this respect "a great delusion fills the minds of men, particularly in this country, respecting the character of the Roman hierarchy, and its adherents. The true qualities of both are not to be sought in the declarations or conduct of individuals of that community, however respectable; for their assertions are worth nothing-absolutely nothing. The subjects of the papacy have taken the utmost pains to disqualify themselves from having any opinion, or being able to give any exposition on the subject of their religion, which shall be independently and personally their own. The Roman, beyond any other sect, is bound to his peculiar faith and discipline by original engagements, the most sacred, the most positive, the most extended, the most rigorous; and it is there we must look for its true and distinguishing character. This is the only way to avoid injurious and fatal error." No topic probably is of more importance to the interests of the American federal republic, than the estimate which their public functionaries form of the moral obligations that bind them to a faithful discharge of their respective official duties. And, as conjoined with this, the allegiance which all citizens owe to the constitution, laws, and acts of those who administer and execute them. Hence, where so many interests are concerned, and the safety of millions is jeoparded, it is of the very highest moment, to be assured of the incorruptible fidelity of those persons, whose principles and measures may vitally affect the national security and welfare. In this reference, it is selfevident to all persons who are acquainted with the spirit and effects of popery, that no bigoted adherent of that system can either be a trusty citizen, or a confidential public officer. In the papal bulls and decretals already cited, the superiority of the spiritual to the civil authority is peremptorily asserted. The exclusion of Roman priests from all subjection to any temporal jurisdiction, even though it be a popish government, is directly claimed. That neither the Papal ecclesiastics, nor their disciples, rightfully owe any subordination or allegiance to Protestant rulers, is infallibly decreed; and that every measure, however perfidious and cruel, to overthrow all heretical powers, as they are called, is just and meritorious, is the decision of every Roman pontiff, council, and canonist, from Boniface, the first papa universalis, to the existing "image of the beast," Gregory XVI. It has been evinced by the doctrines of the most oracular authors among the Romanists, that even upon the article of giving evidence, a secular popish judge is not a sufficient lawful authority to receive the testimony of Romish ecclesiastics, and that the latter cannot be forced to testify before such a judge. How much more strongly therefore do they impugn the right and competency of Protestant administrators of Protestant laws to exercise jurisdiction! In fact, the whole is denied as an usurpation of the children of the devil over the rights of the supreme pontiff and his subordinate priests, and as sacrilege concerning “the holy church." Sa, Aphoris. page 41. "The rebellion of Roman priests is not treason, because they are not subject to the civil government." If they owe no subjection even to the civil government, even when it is directed by Papist rulers, how much more, according to their own principles, must they be absolved from all allegiance to Protestant authorities, which, according to their bulls, are accursed without redemption. Bellarmin, Controvers. lib. 5. cap. 6. page 1090. "The spiritual power must rule the temporal, by all sorts of means and expedients when VOL. II.-97 necessary. Christians, Papists, should not tolerate a heretic, Protestant king." Sanctarel, Tract. de Heres. cap. 30. p. 296. "The pope can depose negligent rulers, and deprive them of their authority." Lessius, lib. 2. cap. 42. Dub. 12. p. 632. "The pope can annul and cancel every possible obligation arising from an oath." 66 La Croix, vol. 1. p. 294. A man condemned by the pope, may be killed wherever he is found." Not only would the examples of Queen Elizabeth of England, Henry III. and Henry IV. of France, and William III. of Britain, with numberless other similar cases, practically illustrate these pontifical canons; but the history of the immortal William, Prince of Orange, in the sixteenth century, so strikingly develops the operation of these Roman rules, that it would be injurious not to insert it. Philip II., king of Spain, one of the most infamous and despotic monsters who ever submitted to the papal yoke, by the sanction of the pope issued a proclamation, offering "five thousand golden crowns, a patent of nobility, all William's estates which could be seized," and other immunities, to any person who would take away his life, or deliver him up alive or dead, into Philip's power. Eventually, the price was raised to twenty-five thousand golden crowns, or twenty-eight thousand ducats, at that period an immense sum; and a ferocious Spanish merchant persuaded one of his younger clerks, named Juanillo, to perpetrate the assassination. He was accordingly confessed by a Dominican priest, absolved, and promised paradise. He was also assured that a spell should be put upon him, by which he might enter the presence of the prince invisibly; and then having received the monk's benediction, he prepared, with the title of future saintship guaranteed to him, to commit the atrocious crime. The attempt was made on the day specified; but providentially the design failed, although the ball of the pistol, which had been consecrated with all the ceremonies of the mass, entered William's throat, broke one of his teeth, and passed out of his left cheek. Juanillo was killed upon the spot. In his pocket were found the name of the priestly confessor, and others who were privy to the design, who were duly punished: also the charms which he was taught would preserve him from seizure and injury-frog's bones, filthy rags, and other amulets, and the Jesuits' catechism, with a prayer to the angel Gabriel, imploring his intercession with the Almighty, and with the Virgin Mary, to speed him in the murder. To crown this most nefarious transaction, and to prove that the Jesuits contrived the assassination, the order afterwards openly recognised those criminals as martyrs for "the holy Roman church!" gathered their mortal remains, and publicly exposed them in their mass-houses as relics, which were worshipped by their blindfolded votaries. Two years after, at the immediate instigation of the Jesuits of Dole, another ruffian was similarly prepared, and effectually executed his design. Three bullets, also consecrated for the express purpose by those monkish butchers, were fired at the prince, which entered his left side, and passed through him, coming out on the right. He expired almost instantly, having only time to offer a short petition, that his people, and his own soul might enjoy the compassionate mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the murderer was reproached as a traitor, he thus justified himself: "I am no traitor; I have done as the king of Spain and the priests commanded;" and then added this ferocious denunciation; "If I have not slain him, cursed be my ill fortune!" The execution of the hardened and priest-ridden assassin was a wretched compensation for the premature and sudden death of one of the most dignified Christian philanthropists and patriots, who is found on the long catalogue of immortalized Protestants. Blackwood's Mag. Art. House of Orange. But it may be retorted, that the papal system, and the Jesuit code of the sixteenth century, however abominable then, are now reformed and meliorated. This is a most mischievous delusion; as is verified by the case of Pope Clement XIV., more generally known by his original appellative, Ganganelli. He was the professed infallible pontiff himself; and sixty years have not elapsed since he was poisoned by the Jesuits. To prove the peculiar sanctity and piety of that ecclesiastical order, the murderous dose was administered during the professedly peculiar solemnities of the holy week before Easter; as if they had expressly selected the period when Ganganelli might be most unsuspicious of their traitorous designs, against which he had long guarded. Thus treacherously did they kill their own acknowledged supreme infallible lord. During six months, notwithstanding he used every antidote against the poison which he was convinced that he had imbibed, Ganganelli suffered the most excruciating tortures; and so certain were the Jesuits of the effect which their envenomed potion would produce, that hieroglyphical engravings and poems were dispersed in various parts of Europe, predicting the speedy termination of Clement's pontificate, and limiting the continuance of his life to the month of September. He died only nine days prior to the period which they had designated. Salmeron, Comment. Evan. Hist. vol. 4. pars 3. Tract. 4. page 411. "The pope hath supreme power over the whole earth, over all kings and governments, to command and enforce them, to employ their power to promulge popery; which mandate of the pope they are bound to obey; and if they resist, he must punish them as contumacious." Philopater, Respons. ad Edict. sec. 2. Num. 157, 158. page 106. "All papal theologians and ecclesiastical lawyers affirm, that every Christian government, as soon as it openly abandons the Roman faith, instantly is degraded from all power and dignity, by human and divine right; all their subjects are absolved from their oath of fidelity and obedience which they have taken; and they may, and ought, if they have the power, to drive such a government from every Christian state, as an apostate, heretic, and deserter from Jesus Christ, and a declared enemy to their republic. This certain and indubitable decision of all the most learned men, is perfectly conformed to apostolic doctrine !" Additional testimonies and historical facts of a very edifying charac ter, and of great importance, may also be found in the first volume of the Protestant, from chapter xxiv.-xxix.; and especially the justification that was pleaded for the violation of the oath of allegiance commanded to be taken by James I., and which the Jesuits declared was of no more binding power than cobwebs and ropes of straw;" and 66 |