and I allow that in places it is great, the British Society has not been so careful and exact in its proofs as it ought to have been. Mere general guessing and partial calculations ought not to be set forth, with authority, as conclusive facts. Daily instruction, generally speaking, is most wanting where it is said the inhabitants are chiefly dissenters." Why do they not instruct their children, and build schools for themselves? In several of the most destitute places, however, the number in Sunday schools exceeds one-seventh of the population. From the above reports, it would appear, that one-third or one quarter of the whole inhabitants has been taken as the criterion of those who ought to be under instruction in schools; but this proportion, especially in places where children go to work very young, is larger, I apprehend, than ought to be assumed. At any rate, the want of schools, whatever it may be, in dissenting districts, can be no reflection on the clergy, who can only secure education by the aid of their wealthy and welldisposed parishioners. It does not seem quite fair that the members of the church, having provided so many places of instruction for their own members without any aid from the dissenters, should be taxed to erect sectarian seminaries.

R. W. B.

SOME ACCOUNT OF WRITERS AGAINST THE ROMANISTS.

SIR, The Romish controversy, which, to borrow your words, (Brit. Mag. for July, p. 92,) is "at this present moment of the greatest importance," induces me to request "the clergy," who "must, in many quarters, make themselves again fully masters of even the details" thereof, to remember the directions of one well qualified to bestow them. "If (says Dr. Wotton*) we would successfully attack the papists, we must see what the church of Rome has professedly taught in any authentic books of her own. The Canons of the Council of Trent, the Catechismus ad Parochos, and the Offices of the Church, which have been set forth since the celebration of that council, may be depended upon. The Catechismus ad Parochos is the clearest and best system of popery that we have, and its authority cannot possibly be evaded, it having been composed by order of Pope Pius V., in pursuit of a decree of the Council of Trent for that purpose.' these we may add, "The Creed of Pius IV.," usually found with the Catechismus ad Parochos; which creed, as the late Dr. Doyle observed in his examination before parliament, "Every (Roman) Catholic acknowledges." +

Το

"Bellarmine, and Perron, and Stapleton, are deservedly esteemed " (as Dr. Wotton previously observes,)" among the ablest defenders of popery; and yet, whenever Papists are pressed from the writings of any, or all of these men by our divines, they immediately tell us, that what these doctors say, is only their private opinion, in which the Church (as they call themselves) are not obliged to acquiesce."

Wotton's "Some Thoughts concerning the Study of Divinity," republished at Oxford in 1818, p. 47.

+ Phelan's and O'Sullivan's "Digest of Evidence," part i. p. 174. Lond. 1826.

Here, then, we have, in the first place, a statement of the authorized works in which we must seek the doctrines and discipline of the Roman church; if we would wish, in examining these various points, to confine ourselves to one work, that written by a learned Lutheran, Chemnitii Examen Concilii Tridentini, must be the one; although Heideggeri Anatome Concilii Tridentini and others might be mentioned. If, from the larger works written in Latin, and by foreigners, we come home, it will be found that Bishop Stillingfleet's "Council of Trent examined and disproved by Catholic Tradition"* is well deserving of perusal; and as the Creed of Pius IV. contains a summary of the doctrines, &c., of the Papal or Latin church, the tract written by Mr. Altham, entitled, "The Creed of Pius IV., or a Prospect of Popery taken from that Authentic Record, with short Notes;" and "A Brief Examination of the present Roman Catholic Faith, contained in Pope Pius's New Creed," by Mr. Gardiner, together with Bishop Bull's "Corruptions of the Church of Rome," will be found useful, and, it may be, sufficient for general purposes.† To these productions of the seventeenth century, I may be permitted to add, two works of the present day, well deserving attention, "Cramp's TextBook of Popery," and "Mendham's Memoirs of the Council of Trent;" nor must we omit, "the two principal and celebrated historians of the Council of Trent, Fra Paolo Sarpi and Cardinal Pallavicino;"§ on whose comparative merits and demerits, Aquilinius should be consulted, in his "De Tribus Historicis Concilii Tridentini."

Of the "Offices of the Church," or Romish liturgical books, it is difficult to speak in few words. Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, in his "Directions to a Young Divine," has enumerated them; but Koecher, in his "Bibliotheca Theologiæ Symbolicæ et Catecheticæ, itemque Liturgicæ," under the last division, has entered into the consideration of all necessary particulars. Of these, but more especially the breviaries, both before and since the time of the Tridentine Council, the English reader will find much information in the "Reflections upon the Devotions of the Romish Church;" (London, 1674;) and in the series of papers inserted in "The Protestant Guardian;" (London, 1828;) entitled "Roman Breviary." To these, for ordinary purposes,

See Catalogue of all the Discourses (separately) published against popery during the reign of King James II., (Lond. 1689,) where the above work of Dr. Stillingfleet is No. 54 in the list. Also in his Works (Lond. 1710,) vol. vi. pp. 421-515; and partly in Bishop Gibson's Collection of Tracts, entitled, "A Preservative against Popery," (Lond. 1738,) vol. ii., Appendix, pp. 103–133. Ibid. Title, vii. pp. 3-18.

+ Mr. Altham's Tract, in the Catalogue, ibid., No. 183. "Gibson's Preservative," vol. iii., title, x. pp. 3-6. Mr. Gardiner's, Gibson, ibid., pp. 7–59.

"A Text-Book of Popery, comprising a brief history of the Council of Trent, a translation of its doctrinal decrees, and copious extracts from the Catechism published by its authority," &c. ; by J. M, Cramp. "Memoirs of the Council of Trent, principally derived from manuscript and unpublished records, namely, histories, diaries, letters, &c., of the leading actors in that assembly." By the Rev. J. Mendham, A.M. Lond. 1834.

§ Mendham, ibid., pref. p. 5.

if we add Bishop Stillingfleet's "Discourse concerning the Idolatry practised in the Church of Rome," and its "Defence;" Hospinian's "De Festis Christianorum;" and Rivet's "Apologia pro Sanct. Virgine Maria ;"* full proof will be had of the heathenish origin of saint worship, and the monstrous absurdities and falsities of the daily companion of the priests of that church,-the Roman Breviary.+

In speaking of the three chief defenders of the Roman church, Bellarmine, Perron, and Stapleton, who were severally natives of, or connected with Italy, France, and England, it may be observed, that the "Disputationes" of the first are now almost the only ones to be met with. His "Disputationes de Controversiis Fidei," are, as the younger Spanheim observes, arranged after the three-fold division of the Apostle's Creed; viz., the Catholic church, the communion of saints, and the forgiveness of sins, to which is prefixed that entitled, "De Verbo Dei," in four books. I am not aware that we have any extended reply to these works of Bellarmine, taken as a whole; we have, however, "Vorstius's Anti-Bellarminus Contractus," and "Ames's Bellarminus Enervatus;" books which, though small in size, contain, with some exception, very much useful matter.§ Among a vast variety of writers who have replied to Bellarmine, as to principal points, Whitaker deserves especial regard; these are, his "Prælectiones, De Ecclesia; De Conciliis; De Romano Pontifice;" his "De Sacra Scriptura;" against Bellarmine and Stapleton, jointly;¶ and, although somewhat out of place, his "De Peccato Originali; De Authoritate Sacræ Scripturæ," against Stapleton, alone.** nolds also wrote his "De Romanæ Ecclesiæ Idololatria," (Oxon, 1596,) principally against Bellarmine; and "The Notes of the Church, as laid down" by the latter, we have "examined and confuted," under their fifteen heads, with a "general introduction," by Drs. Sherlock, Patrick, Tenison, and other learned bishops and divines, in the time of James II.++ If we pass on to Perron, we shall

Rai

Stillingfleet's Works, vol. v., contains the above, which also, as all other of his controversial works, were first published separately. "Hospiniani De Festis Christianorum," separately, and in his collected works, tom. i. Genev. 1674. Rivet's "Apologia pro Sanct. Virgine Maria," separately, and in his collected works, tom. iii. pp. 597-744. Roterod. 1660.

"The Protestant Guardian," p. 10, quoting Blanco White's "Practical and Internal Evidence," pp. 159-161.

"Spanhemii Opera," tom. iii. col. 749. Lugd. Bat. 1703.

"Anti Bellarminus Contractus: hoc est, Compendiosum Examen omnium Fidei Controversiarum," &c. Conr. Vorstio auctore. Hanov. 1610. "Bellarminus enervatus a Guil. Amesio," (Amstel. 1658,) beside other editions. Of Ames, says Bishop Barlow, in his "Directions" before mentioned, "he was a non-conformist, and so caute legendus; but for Rome and Bellarmine, he has distinctly proposed their pretences, and given a clear, short, and rational answer to them." See "Barlow's Genuine Remains," (Lond. 1693,) pp. 47 and 59.

“Whitakeri Opera Theologica," (Aurelia Allobrogum, 1610,) tom. i. pp. 419-568, De Ecclesia: ibid. pp. 569-626, De Conciliis: tom. ii. pp. 510—756, De Romano Pontifice.

Ibid., tom. i. pp. 251-417, De Sacra Scriptura.

Ibid., tom. i. pp. 631-690, De Peccato Originali: tom. ii. p. 1-509, De Authoritate Sacræ Scripturæ.

tt Catalogue, ibid. pp. 11-13. "Gibson's Preservative," vol. i. title, 3, pp. 44-190.

find that particular replies have been directed against him, on behalf of our King James I., by Isaac Casaubon, and Peter Du Moulin; the title of the former being "Isaaci Casauboni ad Epistolam illustr. et reverendiss. Cardinalis Perronii Responsio;" (Londini, 1612;) while that of the latter is, "Noveauté du Papisme opposée à l'Antiquité du vray Christianisme," &c.; which, notwithstanding it has undergone several editions, we have to lament, is very seldom to be obtained.

In enumerating the ablest defenders of the church of England against the attempts of Romanists, "The Apology of the Church of England," and its "Defence," together with his "Reply unto Mr. Harding's Answer," by Bishop Jewell, must ever be considered; as also "The Sum of the Conference between John Rainolds and John Hart," (London, 1598,) in the reign of Elizabeth; in the reign of James, her successor, Crakanthorp's excellent work, "Defensio Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ contra M. A. De Dominis Archiepiscopi Spalatensis injurias;" (Londini, 1625;) and that of Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, entitled, "A Relation of the Conference between" himself "and Mr. Fisher, the Jesuit." Nor should we forget Bishop Morton's "Catholic Appeal for Protestants," (London, 1610,) in reply to a Romish work, called, "Brerely's Protestants' Apology for the Roman Church; (printed in 1608;) though some others be omitted. If we advance to the reigns of Charles II. and James II., we shall find the name of Stillingfleet, in the confession of his brother bishops,* raised pre-eminently above the rest in opposing and defeating his Romish antagonists; in proof of which, besides the works already mentioned, we may adduce, his defence of Archbishop Laud's work, already named, entitled, "A Rational Account of the Grounds of the Protestant Religion;" a work occupying an entire folio volume.

Contemporary with Stillingfleet were not only the writers who examined and refuted Bellarmine's Notes of the Church, already mentioned, but many others, who, with signal success, waged a literary warfare against the papists. Many of, but by no means all, their tracts are to be found in Bishop Gibson's collection, entitled, "A Preservative against Popery;" in three volumes, folio. As this collection is both scarce and dear, a summary of its contents may not be unserviceable at this time, especially when it is considered that some of the tracts contained therein are not unfrequently to be obtained, as originally and separately published, at a reasonable rate. † The bishop has arranged the same under various titles, which are again subdivided into chapters, formed by the various tracts. The titles relate to-1. The Reformation-2. Papal Supremacy-3. Catholic Church-4. Rule of Faith, popish-5. Rule of Faith, protestant6. Worship-7. Sacraments-8. Popish Methods for the Pardon of

Bishop Burnet, I think, says thus much in the "History of his own Times," as does Bishop Hough, in his Letter (to Stillingfleet, Dean of Worcester,) prefixed to "Stillingfleet's Miscellaneous Discourses," printed in 1735.

The theological booksellers, as Messrs. Cochran, Straker, Leslie, Darling, Keymer, and others, in London, have generally some of these tracts on hand; but the largest collection of them, in town, in their separate state, is in the hands of Mr. Thos. Rodd, of Great Newport Street, St. Martin's Lane. 3 к

VOL. VIII.-Oct. 1835.

Sin; which are followed by an Appendix of General Discourses against Popery. Such are the contents of the two first volumes; the third contains, under title 9, The Doctrines in Dispute between the Church of England and the Church of Rome, truly represented10. Examination of the Doctrines contained in the New Creed of Pope Pius IV.-11. The Authority of General Councils examined, and the Roman forgeries therein detected-12. The Virgin Mary truly represented against the inventions and misrepresentations of Papists-13. Arts and Practices of Missionaries and Priests discovered and laid open-Appendix, General Discourses against Popery. To attempt to give the names of the writers and the titles of these tracts, above one hundred in number, would, upon the present occasion, take up too much space, but yet a few passing observations may be desirable. On the first head, that of reformation, we notice the absolute necessity of the separation of our church from the Romish communion, as clearly proved by Drs. Stratford, Clagett, and Burnet; where, not to insist upon the particular histories of the reformation of our church, we may add, that, as it regards the subject generally, there is much in Brown's "Fasciculus Rerum" worthy of attention. Under this same head, we have the defence of our church against the imputation of schism, by Dr. Hickes and others; and its Orders vindicated by Dr. Burnet, as well as the subject of Celibacy, considered by Mr. Wharton and Mr. Payne. To these, on the ordinations of our church, we may add, beside the large work of Mason thereon, two sermons, preached by the above Mr. Brown, before the University of Cambridge, which sermons ought at this time to be reprinted, in English, and his work on the same subject, printed in 1731. On the second head, we have in this collection, by Gibson, the subject of the Papal supremacy considered by Bishop Patrick and others; but here we must remember the larger and more important treatises of Whitaker, De Romano Pontifice, and Barrow on the Supremacy. On the next head, that of the Catholic church, we have the fifteen notes before referred to, which may be compared with what Whitaker, in his De Ecclesia, has said thereon. On the fourth head, the Rule of Faith, we may add to the tracts, by Archbishop Tenison and others, that of his predecessor, Tillotson. And on this head, under the word Tradition, though Bishop Patrick's and others are of great service, yet it may be wished that that of Dr. Whitby's had not been omitted. And under the next head or title, of Worship, the same remark will apply to Dr. Whitby's Tract on the Latin Service, not to insist upon his Discourses of the Idolatry of the Church of Rome. On the following titles, of the Sacraments and the Popish method of the Pardon of Sin, it will be sufficient to observe that the subject of the Seven Roman Sacraments has been considered by Bishop Stillingfleet; and, not to speak of some others, those of Transubstantiation and Adoration of the Host, by the same

See the catalogue already cited, No. 162, for this and others, by Milbourn, Seller, Whitfield, and Prideaux, No. 163-166. Another catalogue, published in 1688, entitled, "A Continuation of the Present State of the Controversy," is very useful; Brown's sermons are noticed, p. 55.