Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ed about the streets with xo POPERY flags fly. ing; set fire to the Catholic chapels, demolish their houses, and at night, it is said, that the city was seen blazing in thirty-six different parts, from one spot. After these dreadful riots, which lasted six days, and many other evils that befel the Catholics, his late majesty passed another act in 1791, for the relief of his Catholic subjects, and gave them all those privileges which they now enjoy, and for which they were and ever will be grateful both to their deceased friend and sovereign.

Notwithstanding the revolutionary persecution which the Catholic religion has endured and is enduring, it is still the religion of the several states of Italy, of most of the Swiss Cantons, of Piedmont, of France, of Spain, of Portugal, and of the islands in the Mediterranean, of three parts in four of the Irish, of far the greater part of the Netherlands, Poland, Bohemia, Germany, Hungary and the neighbouring provinces; and, in those kingdoms and states in which it is not the established religion, its followers are very numerous, as in Holland, Russia, Turkey, the Lutheran and Calvinistic states of Germany and England. Even in Sweden and Denmark several Catholic congregations, with their respective pastors, are to be found. The whole vast continent of South America, inhabited by many millions of converted Indians, as well as by Spaniards and Portuguese, may be said to be Catholic. The same may be said of the empire of Mexico, and the surrounding kingdoms in North America,

including California, Cuba, Hispaniola, &c. Canada and Louisiana are chiefly Catholic; and throughout the United Provinces, the Catholic religion, with its several establishments, is completely protected, and unboundedly propagated. To say nothing of the islands of Africa inhabited by Catholics, such as Malta, Madeira, Cape Verd, the Canaries, the Azores, Mauritius, Goree, &c., there are numerous churches of Catholics established and organized under their pastors, in Egypt, Ethiopia, Algiers, Tunis, and the other Barbary states on the northern coast; and thence, in all the Portuguese settlements along the western coast, particularly at Angola and Congo. Even on the eastern coast, especially in the kingdom of Zanquebar and Monomotapa, are numerous Catholic churches. There are also numerous Catholic priests and many bishops, with numerous flocks, throughout the greater part of Asia. All the Maronites about Mount Libanus, with their bishops, priests and monks, are Catholics, so are many of the Armenians, Persians, and other christians, of the surrounding kingdoms and provinces. (See Sir R. Steel's account of the Catholic religion throughout the world.) In whatever islands or states the Portuguese or Spanish power does prevail, or has prevailed, most of the inhabitants and in some all of them, have been converted.

The whole population of the Philippine islands, consisting of two millions of souls, is all Catholic. The diocese of Goa contains four hundred thousand Catholics. In short, the

236

PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

number of Catholics is so great throughout all the peninsula of India within the Ganges, notwithstanding the power and influence of Britain, as to excite the jealousy and complaints of the celebrated Protestant missionary, Dr. Buchanan. (See Christian Researches in Asia, p. 131, Mem. Eccl.) In a late parliamentary record, it is stated that in Travancor and Cochin, is a Catholic archbishoprick and two bishopricks, one of which contains thirty-five thousand communicants. (Dr. Keer's Letter, quoted in the late parliamentary report on the Catholic questions, p. 487.) There are numerous Catholic flocks, with their priests and even bishops, in all the kingdoms and states beyond the Ganges, particularly in Siam, Cochinchina, Tonquin, and the different provinces of the Chinese empire. I must add, on this subject, that, whereas, none of the great Protestant sects was ever much more numerous or widely spread than it is at present, the Catholic church, heretofore, prevailed in all the countries which they now collectively inhabit. The same may be said with respect to the Greek schismatics, and in a great measure to the Mahometans.

FINIS

INTRODUCTION..

SECTION I.........

A general account of the first Reformers, and their
different doctrines.

SECTION II..................

Page.

.7

......26

Civil Wars in Germany, set on foot by the Refor
mers-Huguenots in France-Murder of the
Duke of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorrain-
The Massacre at Paris-The Irish Massacre.
SECTION III..

John Knox-Murder of Cardinal Beaton-Duke
of Alva's Wars-The Reformers complain of
their disciples-Testimony of Erasmus and oth-
er writers-Luther's contempt of the ancient
Fathers-His scurrility.
SECTION IV.......

.46

........67

Luther declares that God revealed the things he
taught His doctrine of free will, and his rules
relating to marriage.

SECTION V....

.84

The cause of the divorce brought before judges ap-
pointed by the Pope.

SECTION VI........

.88

Archbishop Cranmer's character-His wife in a
box-He dissolves the marriage between King
Henry and Queen Catharine.

SECTION VII......

King Henry is declared supreme head of the
Church of England in spirituals.
14

114

SECTION VIII. .

Page.
...122

Dissolution of Religious Houses in the reign of

Henry VIII.

SECTION IX..

A farther account of the effects of the Reforma-
tion under king Henry.

SECTION X.

........140

...146

The Reformation carried on in the reign of Ed-
ward VI. and the true motives of it.

SECTION XI...............................

The same subject continued.

[blocks in formation]

.......157

..172

Death of Edward VI-The usurper, Jane Grey,
executed-Mary's reign and death.

[blocks in formation]

Of the English Reformation, as established by
queen Elizabeth.

191

SECTION XIV....

202

The Queen's supremacy established without the
consent or concurrence of the Clergy.

.209

SECTION XV.............

Some remarks upon the progress and motives of
queen Elizabeth's Reformation.

CONCLUSION.

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

222

Containing some penal laws, and the death of the
Queen of Scots.

« AnteriorContinuar »