their superiors: because they have only political power, which regards solely the public peace and tranquillity.

"The examples of Christ, the doctrine and practice of the church, and the rule, Matt. x. prescribed to the apostles in preaching, prove the same thing.

"Yet it is to be observed, that infidels not baptized, although they cannot be compelled to the faith, may yet be obliged by their rulers to observe the law of nature, and thus to abstain from blasphemies against God, idolatry, &c.: the reason is, because right political order is founded in the observance of the law of nature.

"Infidels also, not subject to a Christian prince, may be compelled not to hinder the preaching of the faith in their parts; the reason is, because the church has the right and power of preaching the gospel through the whole world, which Christ conceded to her. Matt. xxviii. 19, Teach all nations;' and Mark xvi. 15, Preach the gospel to every creature.'

"If therefore the church be hindered in this right, Christian rulers can, as the defenders of the church by war or other means, restrain those who endeavour to hinder the preaching of the faith.

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According to Suarez, Herinx, &c., a Catholic ruler can compel infidels subject to him, under pain of exile, to be present at certain times at the preaching of the gospel; because, according to the constitution of Gregory XIII., Jews living at Rome are compelled every week to be present once at a sermon concerning things of the faith.

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Obj. It is said, Luke xiv. 23. Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in;' therefore, all infidels may be compelled to embrace the Christian faith.

"Ans. I deny the inference; for the words of the parable, according to S. Gregory, are understood concerning compulsion, improperly so called, which is done through preaching, persuasion, showing of miracles, &c.

"But if with St. Augustine you understand the words concerning compulsion, properly so called, then they are understood concerning heretics and schismatics, who have at some time professed the faith, and who can be compelled.

"BAPTIZED INFIDELS, SUCH AS HERETICS AND APOSTATES USUALLY ARE, ALSO BAPTIZED SCHISMATICS, MAY BE

COMPELLED, EVEN BY CORPOREAL PUNISHMENTS, TO RETURN TO THE CATHOLIC FAITH, AND THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. "THE REASON IS, BECAUSE THESE BY BAPTISM HAVE BECOME SUBJECT TO THE CHURCH; AND THEREFORE THE CHURCH HAS JURISDICTION OVER THEM, AND THE POWER OF COMPELLING THEM THROUGH APPOINTED MEANS TO OBEDIENCE, AND TO FULFIL THE OBLIGATIONS CONTRACTED IN BAPTISM.

"This also holds good in those who have been baptized in infancy, or who have undergone baptism compelled by fear or some necessity; as the Council of Trent teaches, sess. 7, can. 14, concerning baptism, and the Council of Toledo, 4th can. 55.

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Obj. No one believes unless he is willing; but the will cannot be compelled; therefore, no one can be compelled to the faith.

"Ans. I deny the inference; for he is not compelled to believe against his will, but from unwilling, to become willing.

"You will insist: no one can be compelled to baptism, therefore, &c.

"I answer with St. Thomas,- Just as it belongs to the will to vow, but to necessity to perform; so to receive the faith belongs to the will, but to keep it when received to necessity! However, it is not always expedient for the church to use this right; as will appear from what is to be said hereafter.'

The sections which treat of Heresy and of the manner in which heretics are to be punished, speak for themselves. They will be appreciated by every Protestant, and they are respectfully and especially commended to the attention of those liberal and enlightened apologists for Popery, who tell us that Romanism has changed for the better. The preceding and following sections prove it to be the same bloody, persecuting and cruel religion that it always has been. We bring no gratuitous or railing accusation against the private members of the Romish church. The vast majority of them are probably ignorant of many of the vile principles with which the minds of their priests are saturated; but we cannot help

regarding every man, who has been trained in the theological schools in which such tenets are inculcated, and who has failed to renounce them and the church which enjoins and practises them, as the foe of God and man, and the sworn enemy of our dearest civil and religious rights. It is only expediency, which restrains Holy Church from attempting to enforce these bloody tenets in our own land, and in the experience of American citizens !

In the following sections it is distinctly avowed, amongst other things of scarcely less atrocity, that "HERETICS ARE JUSTLY PUNISHED WITH DEATH." "HERESY IS NOT TO BE

TRIED, OR PROVED, BUT TO BE EXTIRPATED, unless there should be reasons, which may render its toleration advisable."

"If greater evils would follow or greater benefits be hindered," then forsooth heretics may find some toleration from Holy Mother Church! Here is an open avowal that so soon as the priests of Rome have the power, they will consummate the atrocities, which their theology inculcates! So soon as they can do it, they are bound by their very principles TO COMPEL baptized infidels, such as HERETICS, i. e. PROTESTANTS, even by CORPOREAL PUNISHMENTS to return to the CATHOLIC FAITH, and the unity of the church! And yet some of these very men, who thirst for the blood of Protestants like ravening wolves, put on the sheep's clothing of zeal for liberty, and proclaim their attachment to its institutions from the house tops! "They bellow as they'd burst the heavens," Our Country! Our Country! American Independence and Liberty for ever! Out upon such barefaced hypocrites!

But we are accosted by some good men—“ Admitting that the principles of Popery are as hideous as the blackness of darkness itself, yet where is the danger' to our free institutions, which you seem to apprehend from its existence in this country? The people of the United States are too in

telligent as a body to fall in love with the cocked hats and cassocks of the priests and the crude absurdities of Popery, and too enthusiastically devoted to the cause of civil liberty, ever to surrender their freedom to the tender mercies of a few designing foreigners!"

I state in reply: The church of Rome already numbers in her fellowship in the United States, 200,000 members more than the aggregate of all the communicants in the combined Protestant churches! She claims TWO MILLIONS as the number who bow down to her images in this country. The Protestant churches contain according to a late accurate estimate, 1,800,000. In the aggregate of actual professors, therefore, we are according to her own statement outnumbered.

Now, it is true there are millions who avow some of the distinctive principles of Protestantism, who are not in immediate communion with any denomination. But on the other hand, there are not a few, whose predilections are in favour of Popery, though they are not enrolled on the registers of Holy Church. And what is the character of the large remnant of our population?

You will find many useful citizens and valuable members of society, who give themselves little or no concern about religion, but whilst we make provision for these more honourable exceptions, is it not true that the patriotism of multitudes, who are living without God in the world, who attach themselves to no place or form of worship, and who care for none of these things, is very questionable? Should any contingency arise, requiring the exercise of self-denying devotion to the country, how much dependence could be placed on them, if they were tempted to surrender some important principle by an appeal to passion or prejudice? Read the history of Europe; and do you not find in repeated instances that the power of the Pope gradually rose from a puny embryo to the stature and vigour of a giant? First, it asks an asylum,

and, from sheer pity for its imbecility, an asylum is granted; and when by sycophancy and subserviency it has wormed. itself into places of trust and profit, silently and gradually it accumulates a powerful influence; at length with the consciousness of growing strength, it begins to claim immuni ties, and when it has secured them, it next affects supremacy; and when it has gained this, instead of whispering out of the dust, it commands and threatens with a voice of thunder.

Twenty years ago the man who should have predicted that by this time Popery would be in the ascendency in this country would have been scouted as a fanatic. And with its present power before our eyes, with the voice of history calling to us from every kingdom and empire on the continent of Europe, “Beware of the Beast!" shall we be asked “Where is the danger?"

There is danger in the very nature of the fundamental principles of this monstrous system of superstition and cruelty. Their very enormity screens them by staggering credulity and giving to the truest portraiture the aspect of exaggeration.

There is danger in the insidious and insinuating address of its crafty and unprincipled priesthood, who are the sworn vassals of the Pope.

There is danger in the indifference and supineness of Pro

testants.

There is danger in the good-natured liberality of "unsuspecting Americans.”

There is danger in the vast foreign resources both in men and money, which are at the command of the Holy Fathers in this country, and of which they know how to make use.

There is danger in the want of principle and patriotism in many ungodly politicians, who to carry personal or party measures will conciliate the votes of Papists at the expense of the constitution.

There is danger in the corruption and venality of most