JESUITISM.-A REVIEW.

There is no limit to sophistry; on every side you turn, like the horizon, its continuity may be traced.

The Comte de Montalembert's work, bearing the annexed title, and which has lately (to quote a prefatory note) "created considerable sensation abroad," is an apt illustration of the former fact, in that a most able writer whilst professedly taking a dispassionate view of England's political destiny, strains every point of his narrative to elevate Roman Catholicism above the Protestant Religion. Throughout that remarkable treatise, all questions relating to past events, as well as our existing constitution, laws, and customs, nay even the future policy of Great Britain, are made subordinate to the interests of Popery. Thus the latent spirit breathed in those pages, is an absorbing bigotry, with a simulation of ingenuousness; which, by partial, of distorted views of great events, gathers to itself the faded honours of tradition. Though ostensibly presented to the world under a po mask, yet the real import of the Comte de Montalembert's work is, the prospective religion of England as foretold by its present condition. Sosible a manoeuvre, and such ambition are tactics proverbial to the Jesuits Contrary to all accredited methods of religious warfare, Popery descends to the meanest intrigues, and the lowest arts for spreading its heresies. This under-current system of propagating Romanism, ought on detection to be subjected to the strictest criticism. Let the hoary mummery be denuded of its strategems and gaudy accessories, so that the public may not beguile themselves into the fallacy of their forefathers' superstition as though it were redolent of all the moderation, the love, the good works, and the sanctity imputed to it by a Frenchman to recover his creed from the just doom of Anglo-oblivion.

Every subject in this realm, ought to be a censor of irreligion, whether the latter assumes the barbarous guise of Infidelity, or appears in the refined and more delusive doctrines of Popery. Neither one's own natural deficiency, nor the exalted intellect of others can absolve the conscience of any honest man who neglects doing his utmost to support that true Protestant Faith, which, for so many generations has diffused its blessed influences over our native land.

By some strange misconception, the principal contributors to the Press have termed Montalembert's religious opinions "mild;" whereas, learning has only toned off the vulgarity of enthusiasm into a more subtile, though equally dangerous mode of enforcing his belief. The author of the work in question, holds a distinguished position among the French literati; also his fame as a statesman, both under the bygone and present régime, extends throughout Europe. He is an advanced Liberal in politics, but a Conservative Papist whose dictum would bind souls beyond all hope of temporal release. Such is the dangerous vanity of error. It first misleads, and then destroys.

Either for assault, or defence, material power in matters morallike unrestrained fury, only rouses suspicion against the employer of that rude weapon. By a legislative enactment, we could silence the wicked advocates of Popery, and cast the currency of their ill doctrines to prey amid continental dupes; but thank Heaven! neither the social, nor the moral organization of the English people is so abject as to endure the banishment of its opponents. Freedom of discussion is the privilege of our countrymen; also by it error must finally fall, and the truth become established. Hence the preliminary fact is solved,-how absurd theories and falsehoods are grafted upon, as well as tolerated among our theological literature.

Now the influences of Protestantism are not impotent, nor exclusive in their nature and action; thus we venture forthwith to examine some of the author's arguments, and endeavour to show by comparison, which of these contending religious states, has, on clear evidence a legitimate claim to our veneration and support.

Primarily the French critic must be challenged upon his own ground-he asserts "There is nothing in the annals of any modern people which equals the political degradation of England under the despotism of Henry the VIII; and, the nation that bore the baseness of parties during Charles the II reign, cannot be endued with any superior virtues." "England has sacrificed her right and liberty to ambition."

By way of context, we append the following extracts, and then their author's object will become manifest::-"ROME IS THE ONLY PURE RESERVOIR OF THE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT." "The glory of the Catholic Church is to lend herself with an indefatigable flexibility to the institutions, the manners, and the ideas of all countries." "What a benign and salutary influence would Catholicism have exercised, over the hearts of the

English people! How it would have softened its unbending disposition, purified its asperity, and, above all, diminished its implacable egotism. But God decreed otherwise. The spirit of evil has prevailed."

Let us examine this assumption interrogatively, that is by inquiring, what have been the antecedents of Popery, when its partizans were in the plenitude of their "benign and holy power?"

Since the time of the Conquest, two Kings, most opposite in their characters-the one wise and great; the other weak and irresolute, exhibited the same result. Henry II, embroiled his reign in trying to diminish the overgrown power of the Papal clergy; whilst John, quarrelled with the Pope, and was excommunicated. These are the earliest specimens of that "salutary influence" wanting a considerable cropping at the hands of its own votaries.

Next may be cited King Henry V, so notorious for the persecution of the followers of, and the primitive Reformer himself-Wickliffe. This learned and pious man, has the exalted merit attached to his memory, that he was the first to openly protest against the gross errors of the Romish Church. Thus can be traced the rise of bloodshed under the jurisdiction of the Popish priesthood; as, Sir John Oldcastle, and Lord Cobham, upon refusing to violate their consciences, were put to an ignominious death.

Henry VIII, as is well known, abjured the Romish Faith because the Pope would not encourage his (the King's) connubial lust to the fullest extent. Good sprung out of evil. The divorce of Catherine rent asunder the strongholds of Popery; for the seeds of Truth were planted while the debauched King, and haughty, vacillating Clement wasted their time in quibbling about temporal supremacy. Romish writers must not too hastily ignore the events appertaining to the period in question; as "despotic" Henry once enjoyed very close communion with the Holy See indeed, his (?) arguments on behalf of the Seven Sacraments procured for him the title, Defender of the Faith. The King, moreover, during the early part of his allegiance to Rome, was a fiery persecutor of the Protestants, having himself orally condemned John Lambert to the flames. The King's pristine bigotry and vicious prejudices, were shown in another quarter.-Cardinal Wolsey, the arrogant prelate who by turns sung, laughed, and danced with every libertine at court, was originally the chief favourite; whilst the clergy headed by this engaging and ambitious minister, greedily seized upon extra power, only, as the

sequel proves, to bring fresh odium among their clique. Consequently, the insatiable vices of the priesthood, laid the foundation of the after reverses which befel Popery.

But we have yet to see the "benign influences" of Romanism at their meridian height, under the sceptre of Mary; who, in conjunction with those "holy" monsters, Bishops Gardiner and Bonner, waded vulture-like through Anglo blood, to re-establish the heresies of Popery. The French savan with genuine Papal "flexibility" turns apologist for this Queen-of odious memory, by contending that her reckless cruelties were the sad means REQUIRED by the intolerance of her age, to bring back the Kingdom to the unity of Catholicism." As will be presently demonstrated, Mary played a part in strict conformity with the spirit, which actuated other Papal rulers to wreak such necessary vengeance on their subjects; likewise, parallel instances of moderate date equally prove that, persecution of the most atrocious kind not only has been, but is still systematically practised by the direct, or covert sanction of the Holy See. Brute force, subtlety, and perfidiousness are all-prevailing tenets of Romanist administration. No tolerant regard for the spiritual belief of others,- -even to the utmost stretch of charitable excusation, can palliate the former feature of the Papists. Shall we estimate those anatomical butcheries of the years 1553 to 57, so exquisite was the refinement of their torture-as "necessary" methods of appealing to human reason and bringing sinners to repentance. Are thumb-screws, the stake, and the rack collateral evidence in part proof of, a "pure, benign" religion? God forbid! Love thy neighbour; dedicate your heart and soul to the Omnipotent; also, let the guiltless cast the first stone, are Divine commands. That all the Christian graces belong exclusively to Romanism, is certainly, a vain and wicked boast. How did the supporters of Popery and the councillors of Queen Mary, obey these former heavenly mandates? Let history tell its own tale.Hooper, Ferrar, Rogers, Taylor, Saunders, Ridley, Latimer, Cranmer; all these worthy and eminent prelates, suffered at the hands of Papists a cruel, lingering death. Every school-boy remembers the account of a furious bigot, who preached a sermon to proselytize the Oxford martyrs while they were preparing for the stake; and when the pile was lit up, one of them pronouncing the immortal words, "Be of good cheer brother, we shall this day kindle such a torch in England, as I trust by God's grace, will never be extinguished." The venerable speaker,

though palsied with age and chained to a stake fronting Baliol college, thus calmly surrendered his soul unto God. Further:-the dying remorse of the apostate Primate who cried, "Perish my unworthy hand" is a companion tragedy not yet forgotten. Incidently observe the animus of the Romish Bishop Bonner, that ceremonial master of gore, lust, and bigotry; who, sometimes whipped the prisoners and tired himself with the "benign" exercise: he also tore out the beard of a weaver, and then-as a foretaste of "holy" arguments, held the victim's hand to a lighted candle until the sinews shrunk and burst. This same priest's vehemence, when the ambassador of polygamist Henry to the Court of Rome, so incensed His Holiness that he threatened to throw Bonner into a cauldron of boiling lead. Master and man, therefore had an assimilation of animal, if not of controversial feeling. As a summary of the preceding horrors, be it known to all modern dabblers in Romish ritual, that during Mary's reign, two hundred and seventy-seven persons suffered death by fire; besides those punished with imprisonment, fines, and confiscations. Amongst the number who perished at the stake, were five bishops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay-gentlemen, eightyfour tradesmen, fifty-five women, and four children! These comprise a total of the murders perpetrated at a given historical epoch, by the connivance and with the sanction of Popish priests; or, to borrow the Comte de Montalembert's opinion, the above cruelties were only "the sad means required to bring back the Kingdom to the unity of Catholicism." The court or lay party, also, kept near to the acts of the Church; for the following proclamation was issued in order to win the public again to orthodoxy :-"Whosoever had any books of heresy, and did not presently burn them; without any further delay should be executed by martial law." Concerning the social state of England, whilst subject to this bigoted government; Erasmus at the climax of a quaint description of its near ally, declares-"that our domestic condition was everything nasty."

The succeeding reign of Elizabeth, in one particular, affords especial evidence about the unscrupulous means employed for the diffusion of Popery. Philip, King of Spain, had long contemplated the destruction of the Reformed Church, so as at a decisive blow to re-introduce Roman Catholicism and once more enslave the people of England. For the accomplishment of this object, he made an abortive attempt with the Spanish Armada to destroy our war-ships off the coast of Plymouth; of