The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-14
To tie RI. ReU. The Bishop Of Aratt, and
coadyutor Bishop Of Philadelphia.

coadyut0r Bishop OF Ihndde!Ppa.
RI. Rev. SIR:
have received your printed letter, dated
the "Feast of st. Johns, 164l " Not know
ing what my bretheren the Bishops Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States, to whom it is also addressed, may say
TO your extraordinary proposition to become
Romanists, have the honor of returning you
the following answer for myself.
That branch Of the Holy Catholic Church
(not Roman) in America, whose Bishops you
have thought proper TO address, and invite to
leave their parent and primitive stock,-the
Vine Christ Jesus, whose only "Husbandman"
! is God the Father,-to be ingrafted on the Ro-
mish Church, is cherished by the blood of her
martyrs. You cannot be ignorant that we
are all deeply conscious OF the fact of these
martyrs having died rather than own the cor
rupted creed of the Romish Church, or submit
to tine usurpations of her self-created Pontiff.-
That it should ever have entered your mind to
invite us to return TO that Church, and submit
to their hierarchy, seems strange; and that
we should do it with cur eyes shut and our
tongues tied, in obedience 20 your invitation,
is no compliment to our under landing, and no
evidence of your humility.
You tell us so look up to the chair of the
Pope" We reply, we would rather ''look up
to the throne Of the true God, and through
Jesus Christ, implore heavenly grace and
strength to resist temptation TO sin.
You, with seeming triumph, point US to the
little pamphlet called The End of Controver-
! sy." We would hunbly direct your attention
TO the Holy Bible, wherein is set forth the end
of the world and the fall of spiritual Babylon.
| In reference TO the point in question, would
most respectfully recommend to your serious
perusal DR. Barrow's work on the Papal Su-
! premacy.
You are pleased TO say, that ''you cannot
come beyond the prccents of the (Romish)
"Church, to reach US in our present position
and therefore, from afar, you raise your
"voice" to make us hear your entreaies TO
come to the Pope
Nov, Ri Rev. Sir, we would spare you the
trouble of raising your voice any higher, by
answering forthwith that ice do hear, and
beg leave to assure you, that your being
afar of from us, might be matter of re-
greet, were we acquainted with your personal
and private virtues. But as this is not our
happy Iot-as we know you only by your pres.
ent ''RAIsED VOICE, AFFAIR OFF" inviting us Il
cannot say tempting us) TO commit great
SIN, oy acknowledging an editihy sPhitud
monarch in ''calling the Pope our master. u
when Jesus Christ is our only universal Bish.
CD, as he and he only was such to the Apostles
and first Bishops of the Church, in those prim.
tive days, we confess we do not regret YOU
distance from us. lfyou must ''RAIsE YoUB
VOICE" and cry aloud to US, on a subject sc
repugnant to our consciences and abhorrent to
our feelings, we can only express our sincere
wishes that the distance between us were
much greater than it is.
But in this and in all things, we would pray
for grace to submit 10 the will of God, and
that which we cannot prevent nor remedy, beal
with resignation.
In all things consistent with the will o
Christ, the Bishop of our souls, am, Rt. Rev.
Sir, your faithful servant,
PHILANDER CHAISE, Bishop of Illinois