The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-14 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLICS.
Mu. Elm-roil—While one Gentleman cohterids
that the Roman Catholics have, a
,right to meet, deliberate,
remonstrate,*and dimand thoseprivileges Which belongto the Con-
stitution; and another says, he has heard no argument aglinst
what is called their Emancipation, but what is founded in er-
ror, it may naturally he supposed by Such as have not given
much attention to the subject that the Roman Catholics have
recently been treated by our Government with great injustice,
and had had those rights withheld from them to which
they are entitled by the Constitution. The fact is, the
Constitution itself withholds them, because it is Lot
consistent with its safety to trust men with any de-
gree of power who profess that the See of Rome bath, and might
to have, a jurisdiction and pre-eminence within these realths
over their lawful Sovereign ; and that Princes excommunicated
by the See of Rome, may be murthered by their subjects. These
are arguments founded in common sense; and not in error,
unless it is meant to be said, that it is a downright Mistake to
suppose that the Catholics do, in these enlightened times, hold
any such absurd doctrines. But if they do not hold them,
what hinders that they should take the oaths required, and
enjoy every privilege- belonging to the Constitution ; if they
will not do this, it is most evident that they continue to hold
these abominable doctrines, which, together with that of burn-
ing heretics, are not to be borne in any, much less in a Pro-
tistant State. But how can we suppose a mistake ? Do they
not tell us themselves that they continue to hold the same doc-
trines they ever did hold, arta must continue to do so ? and can
we forget the cruel deaths of Ridley, Latimer, and Crammer,
&c.? Depend upon it, if they ever get the power, the same scenes
will recur again, of which indeed there seems little probability
at present, but we have already seen that granting them one
boon does-but encourage them to ask, or rather demand 'ano-
ther, and should they obtain any share in the Government, in the
nature of things, their attempts at the ascendancy will be Imre-
mitted. They may trump up perhaps a Popish successor to the
Crown. There can be no peace in such a motley administration,
and it must end 'either in the triumph of the Pope,or in the revival: of the Bill of Pains and Penalties. A popish King, it may be
said, is quite out of the question, but if under present circum-
stances they are granted any one point, which is contrary to the
Constitution as settled at the Revolution, as a matter of' right,
by what logic will they be prevailed upon to forego a Popish
successor, if such should arise ? Meanwhile they will be screw-
ing up the winch of their power to a higher pitch.
I have often wondered that Roman Catholic gentlemen in
this country, where they have a ready key to all knowledge do
not begin to suspect, that their opinions may be erroneous, and
institute an inquiry into the title of the Pope's pretensions to
the extravagant claim of superiority over all the Kings of the
earth. It is clear that there can be no such right if it be not de-
rived from God, and our Saviour tellshis disciples " whoever
amongst you desires to be greatest let him be your servant."
As to the keys of Heaven being delivered down from St..
Peter, Dr. Horsley makes it very clear in his sermon on that
subject, that Jesus Christ meant to build his church not upon
the back of St. Peter hut upon his confession that Jesus was
the Christ the son of the living God. Be this as it may, yet
still there would be difficulty in the title; it must be first proved
that St. Peter was ever at Rome, then that he was Bishop of
Rome, and his will should \e produced that he left the keys to
the Bishops of Rome in succession endowing them with the
gift of infallibility. Now, let us try this claim of infallibility by
some of his works ; since he calls himself the Vicar of Jesus
Christ, his works should be in unison with his master's; now
Jesus Christ says, " search the Scriptures," the Pope says,
" shut up the Scriptures," the reason is plain, because they
would prove him to be an impostor, like the Pharisees, he re-
jects the word of God to keep his own traditions though our
ford says, (Mark vii.) " in vain do you worship God, keeping
the commandments of men ;" He again says, " keep holy the
Sabbath day." The Pope
says, " do what you please on the
Sabbath day." The doctrine of Jesus is, that God is a spirit
and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth, and that a reli-
gious principle should influence every thought and action of
man, while the Pope traffics in indulgencies for sin, and deals
out absolutions at a price. These few instances may serve to
shew that the doctrines of master and man do not proceed from
the same source since bitter and sweet waters do not proceed
from the same fountain.
It has been observed that England has prospered in a wonder-
ful manner since the Reformation and certainly the protecting
hand of Providence was never more visible than in the many
perils she escaped during the last war, and what can thii favour
be imputed to if not to the purity of her Church? It ought to
convince us however that our ancestors acted wisely in barring
their gates against the Priests, convents, and seminaries of au
idolatrous worship, and it were much to be wished that our
House of Commons in this case would proceed more majoruin,
bearing in mind that God punished the children of disobedience
because, " when they knew God they glorified him not as God,
but changed the „glory of the incorruptible God into an image
made like to corruptible man. Should it be said they do not
worship the image, still bowing down to it, and making it to be
.used in any respect in worship, are equally
against the com-
mandment, and it remains to be considered how far we by har-
bouring and conniving at it in our great liberality, such abomin-
able tenets, may not in the end be made partakers of their sin,
and receive of their plagues,

Yours,

OCTOGENARIUS

FOR TUE SUS.

LENT.
MR. EDlTOR—Having seen the Letter of Mr.
RAE WILSON, in reply (if such it can be) to mine, noticing
the practical description he gives of mountains in Judea, which
puff in your Paper he has acknowledged to be of his own send-
ing, I shall content myself at present by merely stating, that
as he does not appear to be in possession of the facts, by his
" beg" of you to send him a copy, which his attack upon your
Printer induces me to believe he already possesses I shall re-
serve myself until he answers the former note which' I hid the
honour of sending you. Ad interim, permit me to declare that I
did not charge the traveller with " laying," as he terms it,
but merely asked questions of you who had given the ,unin-
telligible matter to the public? At the same time 1 confess
myself a traveller, who has gone over more miles than Mr. RAE
WILSON has gone over furlongs ; and that I have lately arrived
from Kamchatca and Noblka Sound, and brought with me an
elephant's skin full of original letters from the unfortunate
'Queen of FRANCE to lUDIBODA, principal japan blaking
maker to the King of the Charlotte Sound Indians, fbr a more
particular account of which invaluable MSS. see a puff in the
Morning Post a few weeks ago f—date shall be given in the
next letter.
P.S. Captain PARRY was expected at the Court of Alan-
where three days after I took my leave.
I am; Sir, yours truly,
SUBSCRIBERA and AIIIICPS.
N.B. It was Mr. ItaE,l;lirtr.soar's grammar, and not the
dancing of the mountains, which struck me as questionable !-
with which Our Printer had nothing to do—at least I presume
he is not allowed.to alter IVISS.,Itow much soever he may be qua-
lified to do so.