Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-05


rurity.
r OF so great importance did the Nation
Al Institute of France consider the de-
velopement Of the true Gil cumsfances
. onnected with it, that they ifoposed a
premium for the best essay upon th's
question. The prize was obtained by Z.
viIlers. can assembly OF philosophers,
in the bosom Of France, restored TO the
Catholic worship" says this "riter,"pfo-
poses to ascertain the influence oil Luz
iher's reformation. This change in Ian
suage implies great one in opinionj and
in this point of view; the question may
be said to answer itself" The papal
pswer had now, by the reformation, be-
come even in France, teium f,nbstle SINE
ictu. The volcano had been extinguish
ed. These people, therefore, were left
rree to follow The guidance Of truth, ard
were we'll qualified, both as Roman Ca
tholics and philosophers. swell and tfuiy
to try the issue, and true verdict to
give according to the evidence We
shall not be suspected of drawing our
portrait from the Al cry efusions Of the
poemical enemies Of the Roman faith"
if we take this author for our guide. We
shall, therefore, probably make free use
Of his book, adopting his sentiments, and
even his language, when they suit our
purpose.
In accommodation to " the distance Of
the place." which separates our "good
and polite correspondent" we have de
layed this communication, hoping that
the arrival Of bis promised answer might
enable US, finally, to dispose Of the mat
ter already debated, and to pass on to
the next question. Wishing, however,
to be making some progress, we have
thought it best TO proceed in our enqui-
ries, reserving any notice OF his last let
ter. until he has given us the whole OF
his reply. We think il right however,
here, comply with his request, dictat-
ed no doubt by an adequate motive, in
giving him the reference to the canon
law which says, that"if The Pope were
so wicked as to carry with him immune
rable people by troops ts hell, TO be with
himself forever tormented; yet 40 NOR
tai man whatever must presume here to
reproye his faults, because he is Judge Of
all, and himself to be judged t ncne."
Decret. part 1. dist. can. 6. 81 Papa.
In order to prepare the way for our
entrance on the subject which is to
shew the influence of the reformation on
the progress of knowledge, we beg leave
to submit to our =" opponent" the follow
ing interrogatories. Before the rcforma-
ton, was not study rendered as mac
cessabie as possible to the laity ?" was
not the "study of the Bible, in particu-
lar, interdicted :" Did not the theolo-
sical inquisitors Of Cologne solicit and
obtain an imperial edict, commanding the
burning and exterDinating of every He.
Drew book :" Did they not endeavour to
demonstrate that the "study Of Greek
& Hebrew was pernicious to the faith ?"
Did not the faculty Of theology Of Paris
before the Parliament, that Gre
igion was undone, il the study of Greek
and Hebrew were permitted - Dees
the Roman Catholic historian Conrad de
Revesback tell true, who ascribes to the
,cclesiastics such sentiments as these
8 A new language is invented. which is
,alled Greek; guard carefully against i..
I is the mother OF all heresy whoever
'eads it, instantly becomes a Jewf"
Did not Leo X. the enlightened and ac-
Pope Of the 10Th century,
prohibit all works translated from the
Greek, Hebrew, or Arabac, while he
every one who should inpugn
The blasphemous poem of Ariosto I"