The Sun.
London, England, 1820-09-26 00:00:00

,POPERY ANb PhoTiNTANnsm.

It may not, at the present juncture, be unin-
teresting to consider how far the different genius
of the two religions systems of Popery and Pro-
testantism may affect the national spirit of de-
fence and freedom, and, consequently, the dura-
tiou of the State..'—Entbnsiastic religion leads to
conquest;—rational religion leads to rational de-
fence ; but the modern spirit of irreligion and
radicalism leads to ra,c,llly and abandoned

cowardice. •
Popish-Superstition, as, well as Fanaticism, of
which indeed, in many instances, Popish Super-
stition is a species, is a. more active principle„
with regard to continest, than rational Protestan-
tism).
,The first piques itself on destroying and
extitilkiug the enemies of Gpo ; the latter, re-
garding none..as the enemies 9f Go') on account:
of error, aims only at rational defence. While
Protestantism, therefore., retains its :proper in-
linence in-the-minds of -men, .it may be a match-
for Popish Superstition. - What it wants in fury,
it makes up in steadiness. Tliis truth has been
often manifested in -our country. Mankind are

_apt to be either blindly zealous, or altogether
C.cool in :natters 'of I,religion the reason is, be-
-cause they are. getrerally led by their passions in
.religion as in other things. hence the peculiar
danger to
:Protestantism arising from Popery.—
ForPopery in its nature tending to inflame a
passion, lays bold of the ruling weakness of
man.; while Proteqantisrn, working only on his
nobler part,
.his reason, whose dictates he but
seldom retards, is apt to fall away into neglect
and coldness; Thus we see, taking man as he is,
fury is the natural character of the one—indiffe-
rence of tfinothei.
Besides, Popish Superstition obtains another
advantage over Protestantism, arising from dege-
nerate manners. For Popery points out religious
persecution and intolerance, as the best atone-
trint• for vice or crimes ; whereas Protestantism
urges no pretence of this nature on its votaries';
but, on the contrary, teaches them, that, without
morals, religion is mockery of the Supreme
Being. Thus we see, that even the vices of a
Papist tend to inspire him with zeal; whilst the
vices of a Protestant urge him., for the sake Of a

ful,:e peace of mind, to the neglect and forgetful.,
ness of all religion. Thus, thong!' the principle
of the Papist does not preserve the purity of his
manners, yet evert his degeneracy tends to pre-
serve his principles.' This we see confirmed
daily—and that the principles of The Roman Ca-
tholics remain unshaken and the same. On the
ether hand, though the principles of Protestantism
tend to preserve the purity of manners, yet, if a
degeneracy of manners comes on, it tends to de-
stroy the principle—whiCh is too obvious from
the general state of things in this country, where,
as .manners have degenerated, religious principle
hath decayed. '
Another circumstance, which tends to preserve
and strengthen.the -zeal and intolerant principles
of Popery, is, the tremendous penalty annexed
in the imagination to any departure from them.
For as the Papist-believes this departure will ex-
pose him to all the effects of the Divine displea-
sure, so this apprehension tends to prevent the
natural excursion of thought, and chains down •
the mind in IntellectUal darkness. On the con.;.
trary, the , free principle of Protestantism, not
working by terror, encourages the mind to ranze
abroad in quest of truth. No religious appre-
hension accompanies the search ; and hence,
though reason will sometimes. fix the mind, in salu-
tary religious principle, passion will oftener allure
and misguide it into the pleasurable path of
unbelief.

Another reason of the permanency of Popery
ariseth naturally from the cause just mentioned.
Where so much merit is supposed to be in one
particular system of belief, and so much demerit
or guilt in any- departure from it, there even the
benevolent passions urge strongly to making pro-
selytes; for it is esteemed little less than a soul
saved to draw a man over to the Popish faith.
Now, the genius of Protestantism is essentially
opposite to this. AS it is too just and generous to
compel, so as..a' natural
.consagnelice, it is often
too indolent_ even. to Persuade. .Popish super-
stition arms itself with the weapons of civil
power ; and by checking the open and avowed
profession, checks in a certain degree the. pro.
gress of impiety ; whereas it must be acknow-
ledged and lainented,• as one of the unalterable
defects of a free government, that opinion must
have its course. The disease is bad, -but the
cure would be fatal. . Thus 'freedom is compelled
to admit an enemy, who, under pretence and
form of an ally, often proves her destroyer.
The Lot cause flows naturally, as a. cinise-
guence of those which have been assigned. A
religious principle, which is only overwhelmed
by the prevalence of vice or passion,• but still lies
dormant in the heart, may be easily awakened
and recalled into action ; but where <the prin-
ciple is not overwhelmed, but extinguished by
degenerate manners, there it is seldom, if ever,
restored to its former influence. Now the Popish
principle, when it seems to lose its effect, is ge-
nerally no more than overwhelmed by vicious
manners. The religious. belief being rooted in
powerful passions, remains in the heart, and
thfough any striking or alarming incident is
again awakened into action, which is -strikingly
shewn in an instance recorded by MAGI!: A VEL,
Disc. Pol. 1. iii. c. I.—But where the principles
of Protestantism are borne down by opposite man-
ners, there the power of these ruling manners
tends not only to overwhelm the effedts of the
rational principle, but to destroy the - principle
itself. For reason is. easily betrayed or . cor-
rupted by ; and tvhere,rational principle
is not rooted in some opposite passion of equal
strength with that which bears it down, • as soon
as reason is corrupted, the principle is of course
extinguished and lost. The present state of the
Country is a lamentatle instalice•of this truth.
The object of these observations is plainly this
that. if we Tegard -man as. that weak creature
-which he always bath been, is-, and will be ; as a
creature often lect-nhy: passion, and seldom by

reason 4 there is manifestly an inequality of force
in these species of religion. Their genius is es-
sentially opposite : Protestantism calmly pre-
sents herself to the reason, .Popery -seizes the
passions of mankind.; i iid hence, modern Popery
set against moderwrrOtestantittn, is in clanger of
overwhelming the latter.

[To be continiteti.]

GERMAN. PAPERS.

. MESSINA, AUG. 23.—A few days ago, a plot
was discovered:; Which might have been attended.
with very fatal. consequen'eeB to our city. The
Palermitans had gained some adhere Ats, by means
of bribery, in order, as it is said, to set tire to the
city in various places, and in the general con-
fusion to have opportunity for pillage and 'mas-
sacre. Several great families are compromised :
Princes, Barons, &c: are arrested and imprisoned
in the citadel, where they will be brought to
trial. This event has excited great detestation
of- the Palermitans. Citizens and soldiers vie
with each other to Maintain ordei. Every body,
takes to march agaimt these wretches—every
body from the infant to the old man is incensed
against them. 111 the interior of the Island they
have Already done much mischief,- but a great
naval and military force is arrived from Naples,,
and further reinforcements will soon follow, and
every body here and in the rest of Sicily burns
with the eager desire to tight them ; it is hoped
they will soon be -overpowered. The enthusiasm
for the Constitution is general, and we hope
shortly to enjoy the fruits of it.
WAi:siw, SEPT. 4.-,-Political news, of the
highest importance to the social system of Europe,
is circulating here at this moment, when the
Polish Diet is meeting for the second time. A
new project is- spoken of for the re-establishment'
of the kingdom of Poland. 1t is affirmed that ne,
gociations, in which all the Poles are interested,
have been commenced between the- Courts. of
Russia, Austria, and Prussia. If they should
agree on the-re-establishment of the kingdom of
Poland in its integrity, this State might again
fulfil in Europe the object to which it seems par-
ticularly destined by its geognwhical position.
It would become again au important weight
in.the balance of Europe, and the bulwark of the
North.

The differences which had subsisted since the
Revolution in Slain, between the Courts of St.
Petersburg') and Madrid, ark entirely reconciled.
The Emperor Alexander has caused a new Note
to be delivered to King Ferdinand, in which he
declares that he is far from intending to inter-
fere in the internal affairs of an independent
power, which being- a member of the Sacred Al-
liance, has just claims to his invariable good will.
The Emperor adds, that he shall see with satis-
faction the further development of the order of
things established in Spain, and whatever can
contribute to .the,happiness of the Spanish Na-
tion will always excite in him the most lively
interest.

VIENNA, SEPT.. 6.—Persons well acquainted
with the state of politics are of opinion that' the
preparations for war will not end in hostilities,
on the following .rounds-:—For some days past
it has been stated' that Mr. de Cevalios, late
Spanish Minister to our Court, will return from
Madrid on an 'extraord:nary mission. We already
know that the Xing of Spain has been-requested
by his brother-in-law, the Prince Regent of the
Two Sicilies, to interfere with 'European Powers
in favour-of the new order of things established
at Naples ; and M. de Cevallos is supposed to be
instructed to offer the mediation of Spain, and to
try to Maintain peace between Austria and
Naples. On. the other hand, the accounts from
all parts of Italy are not at all favourable to the
undertaking of a, war. An alarming fermenta-
tion prevails in.the provinces of Lombardy and
Venice, which gives ground to fear that the
slightest check received by the Austrian Arms
might be followed by a general, insurrection of
the people of Italy.
In the Papal dominions, letters have been in-
tercepted, vs hich 'show that the Carbonari are
engaged in a,plan to raise all _ltaly, in case of a
war with Austria. The: Cabinet of Vienna is
fully sensible of the hazard of such a contest,
and our Government will therefore proceed with
the utmost circumspection in this affair.
:VIENNA, SEPT. I.—The Court Gazette says,
" Accounts from' Clagenfurth, of the 6th, state,
that in.consequence of the arrival of an express
from Vienna, the Duke de Gallo, who arrived
there some days before on his way to' Vienna,
had set out on the same day to return to Naples."
FROM THE MAINE, SEPT. 15.---The Frankfort
Fair begins very well, at, least infinitely better
than the Spring Fair; there has been, not only a
great sale of English goods, but also of Swiss,
Saxon, and most other German manufactures ;
and in, most articles there is no want of demand
or of purchasers.

GLOUCESTER MUSIC MEETING:—The Glou-
cester Idusical Festival was attended by the
nobility and gentry, and persons of distinc-

'.ion of the County, all being anxious to give
their sanction to so delightful a triennial
jubilee,-in which the most celebrated and emi-

•nent. .professors are engaged at a very con-
siderable expense to the Stewards. The dis-
tinguished characters,, as well as the audience
generally, contributed liberally to the colleCtion,
for the laudable purpose of relieving the Widows
and Orphans of deceased Clergymen. At the
head of • the distinguished characters were the
Duke and Duchess '.of Beaufort find daughters,
Lord •Calthorp, Mr. B. Bathurst, Mr. Foley, be-
sides the Bishop of the Diocese-, and several dig-
nified Clergy.
A monkey, weighing only welve pounds, has,
within the lA' few days, ncototered several of
the best,:brc.l.l.- of ‘24.pounds weight. The
odds in the iastaato against_ the mop-
key, two to onr!, bu.i. the, r:l6lk4.:with his tusks
seized upon• the dog's, and -cut their throats as if
'done :with a razar. the pf•a minute most
Of the-dogs frOrn losd.of blood,
'and died withitt,:a.-fer,horms.After the ihattles;

We received this morning the Paris Papers of
Friday last. Those of Saturday, which were
also due, have not arrived. They contain no an-
nouncement respecting the accouchement of the
Duchess de BEl:Rh—The- following are ex-
tracts .

" PAnts, SEPT. 21.—The King gave a private audience yes-
tet day Morning to the flibhup of Bahylon. In the afternoon
his Majesty transacted business with the Minister of the In:
tefior, and the Duke de Richelieu.
" Commission of the Coutt of Peers continues daily
its operations, till half:past six in the evening.

" The Intlicatear of Botirdeaux of the 17th instant says,
General O'Donnell, Count d'Abisbal; passed through this
city. several days since on his way to Paris ; his Courier an-.
nounced him as Spanish Minister ; it is not, however, pro-
bable, that he enjoys favour enough with the Go's:eminent. of
his Catholic Majesty tu.lie invested. with any character.
" Bergami it at present at Locarno, in Italian Switzer-
land, to the North of Lake Major.

" Recent letters from Genoa state, that a Sardinian vessel,
which had arrived from Algiurs its the Gulf of Spezzia, had
brought intelligence that the English and Sardinian Consuls
hail quitted Algiers, and bad sailed for Masseilles. The Mo-
tive fur their departure is not known.

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