and its murderous attributes, so evidently as Ireland; in the popish districts of which, there are more crimes marked with the very highest possible features of atrocity, committed frequently in one day, than have been perpetrated in the United States, except by the adherents of Babylon the Great, during the half century which has elapsed, since the termination of the revolutionary war.

The extraordinary increase of the more nefarious and sanguinary crimes in this republic, has often perplexed the minds of those who investigate our political economy; and they have expressed their surprise at so painful an effect, without an obvious and adequate cause. Had they enlarged their views, and contemplated the vast and disproportionable influence of popery and of its enslaved minions, they would easily have discovered the fertile source in which all these evils originate.

In the sacred oracles, popery is ever described as a ferocious monster, combining all the worst and most mischievous attributes of that mysterious being who is represented as the adversary of mankind, who as " a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Such is the concise and graphical delineation of the Roman hierarchy, and their infatuated disciples: they are bent upon mischief only, always, and in every situation; and their pretended religion teaches that it is meritorious to extirpate heretics, and that the extent of their indulgences, and the term of their continuance in purgatory, will be both deeply affected by the quantity of Protestant blood which they shed.

Thus in Ireland, at this day, nearly all the more astounding butcheries, and arsons, and abductions, are instigated by the Roman priests, publicly in the mass-house, or privately in the confessional; and atrocities at which humanity shudders are openly boasted of, as the ground of claim for reward from God. This spirit and feeling, or rather obduracy, every Irish priest and Papist bring with them to every country; and the only reason why they are not so notoriously and frequently exemplified is this--that the Jesuits are aware, their priestcraft would not be tolerated in this country by public opinion, and that it could make no influence, did they themselves, although "false prophets, not come to us in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Therefore, for the present, they practice their iniquities more secretly, and restrain their sanguinary dependents from exhibiting all the repulsive barbarities which they would exult to enact. Nevertheless the allegation is undeniable-every genuine Papist is necessarily cruel and hard-hearted in all points where popery is interested.

4. Integrity and Faithfulness peremptorily discarded from Romanism.

The unholy system which has been introduced into the world by "the dragon and the beast" is a compound of dishonesty in social life, and disobedience to the civil laws; and treachery in every relation which a man can sustain.

In the operation of the Roman system, every thing is subjected to the paramount principle," the good of the church!" To maintain the ascendancy of this their mysterious God, all other claims must be sacrificed; and vice and virtue lose in a Papist's estimate, their essential characteristics and attributes, when they advert to this grand

motive of action. The ensuing extract, from a modern writer of great eminence in the papal controversy, lucidly depicts this tremendous usurpation.

"Among the various principles and customs, more especially those of religion, which modern Rome has adopted and perpetuated from the ancient idolatrous possessors of the great city and its empire, there is none in which the resemblance or virtual identity is more conspicuous than in that policy, by which she has acquired, and by which she retains, her dominion over a great part of the civilized world. No instrument for these purposes, whether of fraud, of flattery, of terror, or of force, was ever refused or overlooked by her. Her code of government embraced all objects, and comprehended the most distant extremes, with all which occupied the intermediate space. The most self-tormenting ascetic, and the most voluptuous profligate, were almost equal objects of her attention; and while to the tractable, submissive and attached, she presented every indulgence which was, or which was believed to be in her power, she had tortures and deaths of all horrors to gain, retain, or recover, those who might be rebellious, or who meditated rebellion. To no power but modern Rome, is equally applicable, the description of the poet on the ancients:

Te regere imperio populos, Romane, memento;
Hæ tibi erunt artes; pacisque imponere morem,

Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos.' Virg. Æn. 6: 852.

Here is a gigantic, mysterious and long established power, yet in existence; having indeed suffered much, and therefore the more intent upon retrieving its loss; with no deficiency of skill, and no neglect of instruments. Mendham's Indexes.

After the citations which already have been introduced respecting the practice of falsehood and theft, both of which are directly encouraged by the Roman priests, it would be superfluous to prove, by any additional evidence, that as an individual, and in his domestic relations, a consistent Papist can neither be honest nor worthy of confidence We shall therefore close this dissertation, by a detail of the influence of popery upon man as a citizen.

In reviewing the monastic system, it has been evinced that the natu ral tendency of popery, is decidedly adverse to the growth of a nation, in morals, wealth, and population. The celibate system enervates or destroys the whole stamina of the social compact. European history, since the overthrow of the ancient Roman empire, determines this fact with infallible authority; and the existing modern condition of the papal countries, certifies, that in this aspect, popery retains its boasted unchangeableness.

A few additional quotations will demonstrate, that a Papist, if he be sincere and truly devoted to his priestly masters, can make no pretentions to be a faithful and an obedient citizen, where any Protestant government rules. It is vain to retort solitary exceptions against a multitude of witnesses; or to adduce examples where the restrictions upon their ungodly designs, are so numerous and potent, that they are not able to exhibit their furious ebullitions, and are also afraid to enact their treasonable designs. In this respect "a great delusion fills the minds of men, particularly in this country, respecting the character of the Roman hierarchy, and its adherents. The true qualities of both are

No. 96. Burial of a Protestant during the time of Popish Perse

not to be sought in the declarations or conduct of individuals of that community, however respectable; for their assertions are worth nothing-absolutely nothing. The subjects of the papacy have taken the utmost pains to disqualify themselves from having any opinion, or being able to give any exposition on the subject of their religion, which shall be independently and personally their own. The Roman,

beyond any other sect, is bound to his peculiar faith and discipline by original engagements, the most sacred, the most positive, the most extended, the most rigorous; and it is there we must look for its true and distinguishing character. This is the only way to avoid injurious and fatal error."

No topic probably is of more importance to the interests of the American federal republic, than the estimate which their public functionaries form of the moral obligations that bind them to a faithful discharge of their respective official duties. And, as conjoined with this, the allegiance which all citizens owe to the constitution, laws, and acts of those who administer and execute them. Hence, where so many interests are concerned, and the safety of millions is jeoparded, it is of the very highest moment, to be assured of the incorruptible fidelity of those persons, whose principles and measures may vitally affect the national security and welfare. In this reference, it is selfevident to all persons who are acquainted with the spirit and effects of popery, that no bigoted adherent of that system can either be a trusty citizen, or a confidential public officer.

In the papal bulls and decretals already cited, the superiority of the spiritual to the civil authority is peremptorily asserted. The exclusion of Roman priests from all subjection to any temporal jurisdiction, even though it be a popish government, is directly claimed. That neither the Papal ecclesiastics, nor their disciples, rightfully owe any subordination or allegiance to Protestant rulers, is infallibly decreed; and that every measure, however perfidious and cruel, to overthrow all heretical powers, as they are called, is just and meritorious, is the decision of every Roman pontiff, council, and canonist, from Boniface, the first papa universalis, to the existing "image of the beast," Gregory XVI.

It has been evinced by the doctrines of the most oracular authors among the Romanists, that even upon the article of giving evidence, a secular popish judge is not a sufficient lawful authority to receive the testimony of Romish ecclesiastics, and that the latter cannot be forced to testify before such a judge. How much more strongly therefore do they impugn the right and competency of Protestant administrators of Protestant laws to exercise jurisdiction! In fact, the whole is denied as an usurpation of the children of the devil over the rights of the supreme pontiff and his subordinate priests, and as sacrilege concerning "the holy church." Sa, Aphoris. page 41. "The rebellion of Roman priests is not treason, because they are not subject to the civil government." If they owe no subjection even to the civil government, even when it is directed by Papist rulers, how much more, according to their own principles, must they be absolved from all allegiance to Proestant authorities, which, according to their bulls, are accursed withCut redemption. Bellarmin, Controvers. lib. 5. cap. 6. page 1090. " The spiritual power must rule the temporal, by all sorts of means and expedients when VOL. II-65