The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-30
The following letterIas been communicated to

The following letterhas been communicated to
us with request that it be inserted:
To the following letter we beg the earnest
attention of every Protestant, and also, of eve
nv Roman Catholic. Read it with candour,
and attention. But above all sthers, would we
beg the attention of every politician and magis-
venerable JoHK WEsLEY's days, is equally true
now of Romanism.
A LETTEU FROM THE REV. JOHN
WESLEY A. NJ. POPERY.
"To the Printer efthe Public .4drertiser,'
'Sir,-Some time ago pamphlet was sent to me,
entitled-eAn Appeal from the Protestant Asso.
citation to the People of Great Britain A day or
two since kind of answer 10 this was put into
my hand, which pronounces 'its style contempt
ible. its reasoning futile, and its object mali
cious' On the contrary, think the style of it
is clear, easy, and conclusive; the object or de-
sign, kind and benevolent. And in pursuance of
the same kind and benevolent design, namely, to
preserve our happy constitution, shall endea-
vor to confirm the substance oil that tract by
few plain arguments.
With persecution have nothing to do per-
secute no man for his religious principles. Let
there be as 'boundless freedom in religion as
any man can conceive But this does not touch
the point: will set religion, true or false utter
" out of the question. Suppose the Bible, if
YOU please, to be fable, and the Koran to be
the Word of God. | consider not whether the
Romish religion be true false; l build moth
ing on the one or the other suggestions. There
fore away with all your commonplace declama-
ton about intolerance and persecution for re-
ligion. Suppose every work of Pope Pius's
Greed TO be true; suppose the Council of Trent
to have been niallible: yet | insist upon it, that
no Government, not Roman Catholic, ought to
tolerate men of the Roman Catholic persua-
sion.
| prove this by plain argumsnt-Qet him
answer to it who can)-that no Roman Catho-
lie does or can give security for his allegiance or
peaceable behaviour, prove thus. 1t is Ro-
man Catholic maxim, established not by private
men, but by public council, that No Faith is
to be kept with Heretics.' That has been open
" avowed by the Council of Constance, but it
never was openly disclaimed-( whether private
persons avow disavow iD. 1t is fixed max
i'm of the Church of Rome. But as long as it is
so, nothing can be more plain, than that the
members of that church can give no reasonable
security to any government of their allegiance
or peaceable behavior. Therefore, they ought
not to be tolerated by any government, Protes-
tant, Mahometan, Pagan.
You NAV say, NAY, but they will take an
Oath of Allegiance True, five hundred oaths;
BUT the maxim, ENs Faith is to be kept with
Heretcs,' sweeps them all away as spiders
web. So that still, no governors that are not
Roman Catholics can have any security of their
allegiance.
Again-Those who acknowledge the spiritual
potcer OF the Pope can give no security of their
allegiance to any government: but all Roman
Catholics acknowledge this: therefore, they can
give no security for their allegiance.
The power of granting pard0TS for all sins,
past, present, and to come, Is and has been for
many centaries, one branch OF his spiritual
power.
But those who acknowledge him to have this
spiritual power can give no security for their al
leglance; since they believe the Pope can par
don rebellions, high treason, and all other sins
whatsoever.
The power of dispensing with any promise,
oath. or vow, is another branch of the spiritual
power of the Pope And all who acknowledge
his spiritual power, must acknowledge this.
But whoever acknowledges the dispensing pow
er of the Pope, can give no security oil his allie
glance to any government.
Oaths and promises none; they are as light
as air; dispensati ON makes them all null and
void.
Nay, not only the Pope, but even priest has
the power to pardon sins This is an essential
| doctrine of the Church OF Rome. But they that
|
rity at ALL for the priest pardon both perjury
and high treason.
| Setting then religion aside, it is plain, that
upon principles Of reason, no government ought
to tolerate men who cannot give any security to
that government for their allegiance and peacea-
BILE behavior. But this no Romanist can do, not
only while he holds that 'No Faith is to be kept
with Heretics, but so long as he acknowledges
either priestly absolution or the spiritual power
of the Pope
But the late Act, you say, does not either toll
crate or encourage Roman Catholics | appeal
to matter OF fact. Do not the Romanists them
selves understand it as a liberation? You know
they do. And does it not already Oct alone what
it may do by and by) encourage them to
preach openly, to build ehapels Cat Bath and
elscwhere) to raise seminaries, and to make
numerous converts day by day to their intoler-
ant per scouting principles! | can point out, if
need be, several OF the persons. And they are
increasing daily.
But nothing dangerous to English liberty
is to be apprehended from them | am not
certain of that Some time since a Romish
priest came to one | knew, and after talking
with her largely, broke out, you are no here
tic You have the experience of a real chris
TAM And would you she asked burn
me alive" He replied, God forbid unless it
were for the good of the church,
Now what security could she nave mad tor
her life, if it had depended on that man: The
good Of The church would have burst all the ties
oftruth, Justice, and mercy, Especially when
seconded by the absolution of priest, or (if
need were) papal pardon.
If any one please 10 answer this, and 10 set
his name, shall probably reply; but the pro-
auctions of anonymous writers | do not pro-
mise to take any notice of.
| am, Sir, your humble servant
JOHN WESLEY.
City Road, Jan. 2lst, 1850.
Lro.,a IL MILL. aoIrnrt;sa.