reasoning stated above proceeds, moreover, upon a supposition, which must not be taken to be true. The allegation that the Romanists of the higher orders are not sincere in the belief they profess, is as unfounded, as it is uncandid and uncharitable; and they who think that the errors and absurdities of Popery are as easily seen through by the members of the Church of Rome as by us, forget that the Papists are taught from the cradle to renounce the right of private judgment on points of faith, and to look on matters connected with that subject through other eyes than their own."

It is a matter of deep regret to me, that the Papists should continue to deprive themselves of the privileges they might enjoy upon the same terms with myself: and I think this refusal on their part is a full warning to each individual who would give them power and influence, and gladly if he could believe it right, not to let a mistaken liberality work upon that regret he feels, till he thereby become one of those who seem ready to risk our Constitution at this present moment, lest it should be risked by and by. It is not my intention to debate this question now; but supposing the declaration required by 30 Car. II. stat. 2. §3. were abolished, the oaths which the Papist would, after such abolition, be required to take, are now printed at length, that we may see clearly the obligations which Papists decline.

The Oath of Allegiance.

“I, A. B., do sincerely promise and swear, That I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George."

The Oath of Supremacy.

“I, A. B., do swear, That I do from my heart abhor, detest, and abjure, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatever. And I do declare, that no foreign Prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm."

The Oath of Abjuration, (6 Geo. III. cap. 53.)

"I, A. B., do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify, and declare, in my conscience, before God and the world, That our Sovereign Lord King George is lawful and rightful King of this realm, and all other his Majesty's dominions and countries thereunto belonging. And I do solemnly and sincerely declare, That I do believe in my conscience, that not any of the descendants of the person who pretended to be Prince of Wales during the life of the late King James the Second, and since his decease pretended to be and took upon himself the style and title of King of England, by the name of James the Third, or of Scotland by the name of James the Eighth, or the style and title of King of Great Britain, hath any right or title whatsoever to the crown of this realm, or any other the dominions thereunto belonging: and I do renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedience to any of them. And I do swear, That I will bear faith and true allegiance to his Majesty King George, and him will defend to the utmost of my power, against all traitorous conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his person, crown, or dignity. And I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to his Majesty and his successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which I shall know to be against him, or any of them. And I do faithfully promise, to the utmost of my power, to support, maintain, and defend the succession of the crown, against the descendants of the said James, and against all other persons whatsoever which succession, by an act intituled, 'An Act for the further limitation of the Crown, and better securing the rights and liberties of the subject,' is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia, Electoress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being Protestants. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according to these express words by me spoken, and according to the plain common sense and understanding of the same words, without any equivocation, mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever; and I do make this recognition, acknowledgment, abjuration, renunciation, and promise, heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a Christian.'

See 30 Car. II. stat. 2. §3; 1 W. & M. cap. 1. § 5. and cap. 8. § 11; 2 W. & M. sess. ii. cap.2. § 3; 1 Geo. I. stat. 2. cap. 13. § 1. & 16; 6 Geo. III. cap. 53. §1; 9 Geo. IV. cap. 17.

The oath of Supremacy and Allegiance in the Act "To restore to the Crown the ancient jurisdiction over the estate ecclesias

tical and spiritual, and abolishing all foreign Powers repugnant to the same," (1 Eliz. cap. 1. § 19.) is at least as strong as the present oath of Supremacy: and by the "Act for the assurance of the Queen's royal power over all estates and subjects within her dominions" (5 Eliz. cap. 1. § 16.) was required from every Member of the Commons before he should enter into the Parliament House, upon pain of being treated as if he had never been returned, in case he should enter that House without having taken the oath. Papists, however, took this oath, and so got into Parliament, as the preamble of the 30 Car. II. stat. 2. expressly states: and then goes on to require the Peers and Members of the Commons to take the several oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; meaning, I believe, the one oath to that effect under the 1st Eliz. cap. 1. § 19: and also to subscribe and repeat the declaration against transubstantiation &c. The 3d Jac. I. cap.4 .4. does not affect this oath, as it appears to me. The 1st W. & M. § 3 & 4, only substitutes, for the old oath, the substance of it divided into two oaths, already printed in these pages, as the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; which oaths are the same as those required in the 1 W. & M. cap. 8. § 12; and 1 W. & M. stat. 2. cap. 2. § 3; excepting, that the words power and jurisdiction" change places. There were Papists then who took the oath of Supremacy, and were thrown out of Parliament by the declaration 30 Car. II. stat. 2. If the declaration be repealed, the supremacy may now, as formerly, be insisted upon.

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If the declaration were abolished, the three oaths of Allegiance, Supremacy, and Abjuration, are the only remaining grounds, that I am aware of, upon which Papists rest their present demands: and from these oaths I believe they wish to strike out only the supremacy of our King. How England understands that supremacy, is happily laid down, with the most scrupulous accuracy, both in Elizabeth's Injunctions, the 37th Article, and our received Commentaries upon its import. There is reason to hope, that, ere long, all oaths will become

unnecessary; that the Legislature will allow any person, who must now swear, to affirm, instead of swearing; and subject him to the same penalties as are now attendant upon perjury, should he violate the truth upon solemn affirmations, when substituted for oaths. It is not necessary to enforce the very words now in use: all that seems necessary, is a substantial promise of allegiance, and disavowal of foreign supremacy or influence with or without oath.

Although the fact be, that, before 30 Car. II., Papists did take the oath of Supremacy, yet it is difficult to understand how they could take it in full sincerity. To me it appears, that a Papist, while he remains a Papist, cannot take the oath of Supremacy; and that until he takes it, Protestants ought, by all lawful means, to try to prevent his obtaining any further power than he now possesses, to be exercised over Protestants.

"Character, though mostly the cause, is, by a common reaction, also the effect of laws and it is of great importance what opinions are held by those who have the making our laws in England. It is not difficult to see why Papists should wish for more power in England than they now possess: and they would probably receive it, but for their own hierarchy. There is inseparably attached to any priesthood much political influence over their flocks: and the direct tendency of Popish influence is to overthrow the Church and State of England. And the same tendency must there exist, varying only in degree, wherever any priesthood requires obedience or belief on any other authority than that of the Bible, by any other arguments than such as address themselves to the reason. requires great consideration before any further power is given to Papists, whose influence must be powerful: for their religion is very near superstition, and is built upon the passions that should die away from the heart, and is shaped for their indulgence and pardon. The Papist now, when he is bidden by his priest, pays his money to a foreign power, friend or foe, as it may happen; and holds his spiritual welfare independent of

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his native land, and dependent upon his compliance with the commands of an alien; at the same time that that alien, if he reason consistently from his own premises, must be set against England. It must be kept in mind, that Popish priests never deny to their own community that ultimate salvation which they never concede to those out of their community. What is doubly miscalled Catholic Emancipation, is not a question of religion, and should not be represented as such. If the faith of the Papist be inconsistent with his fealty, the Pope is to blame, not the King of England; and the question should be argued at Rome, not here."-Church Inquiry, p. 35.

From the "Minutes of Evidence on the State of Ireland," Vol. IX. p. 564, it appears that the Pope and Popish priesthood have often checked the feelings that would else have induced the Popish laity to take an oath of Allegiance. The present Coronation Oath is as follows:

(1 W. & M. cap. 6.)

"The Archbishop or Bishop shall say, 'Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this kingdom of England, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the Statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same?'

"The King and Queen shall say, 'I solemnly promise so to do.'

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Archbishop or Bishop, Will you to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments ?'

Archbishop or Bishop, Will you to the uttermost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of this realm, and to the Churches committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of them ?'

"King and Queen, All this I promise to do.'

"After this, the King and Queen, laying his and her hand upon the Holy Gospels, shall say, 'The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God."

The Bill of Rights further requires the King and Queen to