The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-23
John Wesley ON Rornanisu,.
lie following appeared in The Public
Advertiser, of London, in 1880, and the


SIR: Some time ago a pamphlet was sent to
me, entitled, An Appeal from the Protestant As
soclatIon to the People of Great Britain" dav
of Two SINCE Kind OF answer to this was put into
my hand, which pronounces "its style contemnfi-
Die It's reasoning futile and its object ma lieious
On the contrary think the style of it clear easv
ana natural; the reasoning, in general strong
ana conclusive; the object or design kind and
benevolent 1870
And in pursuance of this kind and benevolent
des1gn-namely, to preserve our happy Constitu-
tlon-I snail endeavor to confirm the substance of
that tract by a few plain argument. With Dersa-
cutlon l nave nothing to do. I persecute NO man
Tor his religious principles Let there be as
poundless freedom in religion as any man can
conceive But this does not touch the point
Will set religion, true false, utterly out of the
question. Suppose the Bible, if you please to be
fable, and the Koran to be the Word of Cod
consider not whether the Romsh religion be
true or raise; build nothing one or the other
supposition
Therefore away with all commonplace declama-
ton about intolerance and persecution for reiig-
ion! Suppose every word of Pope Pius's creed to
be true; suppose the Council of Trent to have
been 1nfalllb1e; yet insist that no government
not Roman Catholic ought to tolerate men Of the
Cathollc persuasion. prove this by plain argu-
ment Qet him answer who cam. That no Roman
Catholic does can give security for his allie
glance or peaceable behaviour. / prove thus: It
is Roman Catholic MAXIM established not by
private men, but by public Council, that mo
faith is to be kept with heretics.' This has been
openly avoWed by the Council of Constance but it
never was openly disclaimed. Whether private
persons avow or disavow it, it is fixed maxim of
the ChurNh of Rome. But, long as it is so,
it is plain that the members of that church can
give no reasonable security to any government for
their allegiance or peaceable behaviour.
Therefore they ought not to be tolerated by any
government-Protestant, Mohammedan or Pagan
You may say, "Nay, but they will take an oath
of allegiance" True, five hundred oaths; but the
maxim, mo faith to be kept with heretics,''
sweeps them all away as spiders web So that
still
can have any security of their allegiance.
Again, those who acknowledge the spiritual
power of the Pope car give no security for their
allegiance to any government; but all Roman
Catholics acknowledge this; therefore, they can
give no security for their allegiance. The power
OF granting pardon for all SINS past, present and
to come is, and has been for many centuries, one
branch of his spiritual power. But those who
acknowledge him to have this spiritual power can
give no, security for their allegiance, since they
believe the Pope can pardon rebellious high trea-
son, 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 ali who acknowledge his spiritual power must
acknowledge this. But whoever acknowledges the
dispensing power of the Pope can give no security
for allegiance to any government. Oaths and
promises none; they light as air. dis
pensation makes them all null and void Nay, not
only the Pope but even priest, can forgive sins!
This is an essential doctrine Of the Church of
Rome. But they that acknowledge this, cannot
possibly give any security for their Allegiance to
dAy 6of0lAi Sht' OntnS ale AO security ais
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 who cannot give any security to
that government for their allegiance and peace
able behaviour But this Romanist do,
Dot only while he holds that mo faith is to be
Kept with heretics," but so long as he acknowl-
lodges either prestly absolution, the spiritual
power of the Pope. "But the late Act you say,
does not either tolerate encourage Roman
Cat ,lics." / appeal to matter of fact. Do not
the Romanists themselves understand it toler-
alton? You know they do. And does it not
already (let alone what it may do by and bye)
encourage them to preach openly TO build chan