Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-06

ia so strong and
81 81 dccSs - lsfolowiag letter,
Written by the great End good John Wesley.
bearing date 1880, and addressed to the ed
itor of the Frccman's Journal, Dublin. 1t
was drawn out in controversy upon the Eng
fish liberation Act, and may be found in the
miscellaneous of Mr.. Wesley, on page SIT,
volume 5. This letter was furnished the
Memphis Eagle and Enquirer by distin-
guished Methodist of North Mississippi, in
consequence of Judge Longstreet having CALL
ed the Methodist Church to task for joining
the American party, and tainted them with
furnishing the name of their great and ven-
Grated leader, Wesley. Here it is:
SIR some time ago pamphlet was sent
to me entitled "An Appeal from the Pro-
testant Association to the People of Great
Britain" A day or two since kind of an
swer to this was put into my hands, which
pronounces its style contemplate, its reason
ing futile, and its object malicious. On the
contrary, think the style Of it is clear, easy
and natural the reasoning in general strong
and conclusive; the object or design, kind and
benevolent.
And in pursuance of the same kind and be-
nevolent design, namely, to preserve our hap
Ply constitution, shall endeavor to confirm
the substance of that tract, by few plain
arguments. With persecution | have moth
ing to do. persecute no men for his relig-
ious 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, utterly out of the ques-
ton. Suppose the Bible, if you please to be
a fable and the Koran to be the word of God.
| consider not, whether the Romish religion
be true or false; build nothing on one or
the other Imposition. Therefore away with
all your commonplace defamation about in
tolerance and persecution for religion. Sup.
pose every word of Pope Pius's creed to be
true. Suppose the council of Trent to have
been infallibe; yet, insist upon it, that no
government not Roman Catholic ought to tol-
crate men of Roman Catholic persuasions.
prove this by plain argument, Qet him
answer it that can,) that no Reman Catholic
does or can give security for his allegiance or
peaceable behavior. prove in thus: 1t is a
Roman Catholic Maxim, established not By
private men, but by public council, that " no
faith is to be kept Nth heretics." This has
been openly avowed by the Council Of Con.
stance, but it was never openly discaimed.-
Whether private persons avow or disavow it,
it is fixed maxim of the Church of Rome.
But as long as it is so, nothing can be more
plain, THAI that the members Of that church
can give no reasonable security to any gov.
eminent of their allegiance or peaceable be.
havior. Therefore they ought not to be tol.
erased by any government, Protestant Ma.
homedan, or Pagan. You say "nay, but
they will take an oath of allegiance" True,
five hundred oaths but the ma kim, " 30 faith
is to be kept with heretics," sweeps them all
away as SPIDERS web. So that still no
governors that are not Roman Catholics can
have any security for their allegiance.
Again those who acknowledge the spir-
itual power Of the Pope can give no security
of their allegiance to any government but all
Roman Catholics acknowledge this j; therefore
they can give no security for their allegiance
to any government but all Roman Catholics
acknowledge this; therefore they can give nc
security for this allegiance. The power Of
granting pardon for all sins-past, present
and to come-is and has been for many cen.
turtles, one branch of bis spiritual power
But those who acknowledgment to have THU
spiritual power can give no security for their
allegiance, since they bel;eye that the Pope
can pardon .ahcll;pp n, and a
:: :: !: !! !: =: :;
edge this b. sss%hSSsyer acknowledges the
dispensing power of the Pope can give no Sc.
curity for his .alegiance to-aay government
Oaths and promises are none; they arc iigh,
as air--n disptnsation makes them all nui
and uoid. Nay, not only the Pope, but even
a priest, has power to pardon sins
This is an essential doctrine of the church
of Rome. But they that acknowledge thi,
cannot possibly give any allegiance to any
government. Oaths are no security for theil
allegiance to any government. Oaths are
no security at all for thS+priest can pardon
both perjury and high treason. Setting ,theil
religion aside, it is plain that upon principles
of reason, no government ough, to tolerate
men who cannot give any security to tina,
government for their allegiance and peace.
able behaviour. But this no Romanst cur
do only while he holds that mo faith is to
be kept with heretics," but SO long as he ack,
nowledgcs either priestly dissolution, or tn.
spiritual power Of the Pope.
If any one plcases to answer this, and sigr
his name, | shall probably reply. But tht
productions of any anonymous writers dc
not promise to take any notice of.
Iam your humble servant,
JOHN WESLEY
City Road, January q, 1850.