Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-06

believes not shall be C0nden1red4 MARX XVI. io,J
Has not Christ, who instituted baptism for the
remission of sins, declared that except q man be
born again of ,oatsr and of the Holy Ghost, he CAN
NOT enter the kingdom of God2 (John iii. So
Has not ST. Paul enumerated list Of crimes,
such as adultery, idolatry, hatred, solutions,
heresies, murders, drunkenness, &c. Of which
he declares, that they ,oho do such things shall not
obtain the kingdom Of God9 (Galat.v .2l) Are
not these exclusive conditions?
| Whoever processes the law Of Christ mus,
profess the principle and doctrine of exclusive
salvation. 1t is not the Catholic, it is God him
self who will Exclude from Heaven those who
are not ouly qualified for it by faith and good
works.
But the Catholic, whilst he is bound to adj
nit, and with firm faith to believe, this doctrin-
al principle, is bound also by the divine COM
mandment not to Judge. He is not allowed,
therefore, 10 pronounce sentence OF condemna-
ton on individuals, who may live and die out
Of the external communion of the Catholic
Church: nor to pronounce sentence of condem-
nation against those who may die in an appa.
rent state Of sin. All those he leaves to the
righteous Judgment of the great searcher OF
hearts, who at the last day will render to every
man according 10 his works.
But surely charity, as well as truth, must for
| bid one Christian TO deceive another, IN mat
ter Of such infinite importance as the eternal
salvation Of his soul. He who should persuade
his neighbor, that no condition for salvation is
required on the part Of man, would deceive him.
! He who admits that any one such conditlon1s
required by the Almighty, admits the principle
| Of exclusive salvation.
| SECTION XI-On keeping Faith aOuh HereticS.
Catholics are charged with holding the prin-
ciple that they are not bound 10 keep Faith with
Herstacs
| AS Catholics, we hold and we declare, that
all Catholics are bound by the law Of nature,
and by the law Of revealed relig ion, TO observe
the duties Of fidelity and justice to all men, with
out exception of persons, and without exception
of nation or religion.
British Catholics have soemnly sworn, "tbat
they reject and detest that unchristian and inn
pious principle, that faith is not to be kept with
heretics or inhdels.'
After this, the imputation Of their holding
this principle, cannot but be felt by them as
grievously injurious to their religious and mo-
raj character.
CONCLUSION.
Having, in the foregoing declaration, endea-
vored TO state, in the simplicity of truth, such
misrepresented or misunderstood in this coun-
try, and to explain the meaning in which Ca
thoIics understand the terms by which these
doctrines are expressed in the language Of their
church we confidently trust, that this declara-
ton and explanation will be received by all our
fellow-subjects, in spirit Of candor and chart
ty, and that those who have been hitherto isno
rant Of, or imperfectly acquainted with our doc
~ of foi 40 ~ ,,l,,,
ledge, that, as Catholics, we hold no religious
principles, and entertain no opinions flowing
from those principles, which are not perfectly
consistent with our duties as Christians, and as
British subjects.
This declaration we, the undersigned, ap-
prove, and publish, as an exposition Of our
principles and doctrines, on the sub ect TO which
it refers.
+ WILLIAM, Bishop Of Hala, Vic. Apost. in
the London District.
+ PETER BERNARDIN, Bishop Of ThespiG,
Vic. Apost in the Western District.
I THOMAS, Bishop Of Bo!ina, Vic. Apost in
the Northern District.
+ THOMAS, Bishop of Cambysopolis, Vic.
Apost. in the Middle District
ALEXANDER, Bishop Maximianopolis, Vic.
Apost in the Lowland District in Scotland. |
hANALD, DlShop OF Aeryndela, &c. APoSt. |
in the Highland District in Scotland.
PETER AUGUSTINE, Bishop Of Siga, Coad-
utor in the Western District
JAMES, Bishop Of Usula, Coadjutor in the
London District.
I THOMAS, Bishop Of European, Coadjutor
in the Northern District
t ALEXANDER, Bishop of Cybstra, Coadju-
tor in the Lowland District in Scotland.
May 1926.