Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-05
From the Christian Intelligcncer.
THE OXFORD TRACTS.I

THE OXFORD TRACTS.
A series Of Tracts have within two or
three years been published in England, en-
titled "Tracts for the times" They are
generally known, and referred to as "the
Oxford tracts" as they are written by Pro.
ftssors Pusey, and Treble oflhc University,
and Rev. Mr.. Newman Of Oxford. They
carry high Church claims to the very ex.
treme point, and arc replele with spirit,
and with sentiments which approximate,
and SAVIOUR strongly of Popery. They have
obtained very considerable currency, and
have attracted considerable attention, and
elected discussion in England. That able
and excellent periodical whe Christian OF.
serrer which is edited by members of the
Church Of England, and which his for a
long time yielded efficient aid 10 the cause
of evangelical religion, has for the last two
years devoted much OF its space to the ex.
position and reGutalion Of the doctrines of
these tracts, and ofsome other works Of a
simi ar character which have issued from
the English Press. 1t is said that these
doctrines have been spread to some consid.
erable extent. These tracts may well be
considered among the "signs of the times" "
They throughout show great kindness, and
respect for tine Church Of Rome, and slight,
and disregard Of the reformation, and its
effects. At the same time they incorporate
some Of the most Objectionable doctrines of
the Papal Church IN corruption OF the vital
truths Of Christianity. The Princeton Bib.
lcal Rcpertory sometime since contained
an article on the 'Oxlord Tracts" giving
aa extended view of their principles and
doctrines. This, however, has reached the
notice o! but very few Of our readers. In
the nun Der Of the Len lon Christian Obser.
yer for October, which we have just receiv-
ed, there is a review of a recent valuable
work ent tied assays on the Church aoith
observations on existing circumstances and
dangers, By Laynan. Large extracts
are there made from this volume, giving a
striking view of the spirit, and theology of
the tracts, and ofkindred works. We copy
part of these extracts below. We shall next
week ful nish what will shew the peculiar
theology Of these tracts. 1t will be seen
that pref renee is made to, and quotations
drawn form not merely The "Oxford Tracts -
but also several recently published works of
similar heo'ogical charac er, and also two
periodicals which have espoused their doc.
trine "the British Critic" and the "Brilish
Magazine"
1--WE have termed it modified Popery >
and it is nothing short of this. But this is
a grave accusation. and we must establish
It by proof, before we proceed another step.
"Popery, entire and unmitigated, could
not grow up within the pale of our Estab.
Eshed Church. Were company orJesuirs
ofthe most fiery and vehement character, 10
e especially let loose upon US, for the pur-
pose o. scducing back again into Popery
the Church ofEngland (and no man can
say that such mission may not be actually
at work among u.s. they would not venture
to counsel, they would not even wish, that
those upon whose minds they had succee-
ded in making a favourable impression,
should at once avow their conversion. and
boldly secede from the Church of England
Far more subtle and dangerous would be
their course of operation; namely to in
struct their prosely,es 10 remain within the
pale of The Church, but while so preserving
their rank and influence, 10 teach, nculca,e,
and defend, as large portion of the tenets
of Rome as coould with safety be ayowed.
Any other plan than this would lead to
nothing more than the bare loss of a certain
number ofmembers 10 the church, counter
acted by increased vigilance on the part OF
those who remained faithful. Such a pro.
cecdlng, therefore, would be adverse to the
whole system of Jesuilsn, and would Ger.
talny not be the one prescribed by that un.
dermining body.
"Or, putting the Jesu,s entirely out of
view; and supposing only fresh effort of
Sa'an to draw the Church of England back
again into the hands Of Antichrist; what
would be the most obviously probable course
which such temptation would take -
Would it not follow in the old track, aud
BRING in Popery now, as it was brought in
# Old. by !;ulo and little? And il 10: Ills