from conscientious persecutors. Now these persons have never been either numerous or powerful. Nor is is to Christianity, that even their mistake can be imputed: they have been mis led by an error, not properly Christian or religious; but by an error in their moral philosophy. They pursued the particular, without adverting to the general, consequences. Believing certain articles of faith, or a certain mode of worship to be highly conducive, or perhaps essential, to salvation, they thought themselves bound to bring all they could by every means into them. And this they thought, without considering what would be the effect of such a conclusion when adopted amongst mankind as a general rule of conduct. Had there been in the New Testa ment, what there are in the Koran precepts, authorizing coercion in the propagation of the religion, and the use of violence towards unbelief, the case would have been different. This distinction could not have been taken, or this defence made, If it be objected that Christianity is chargeable with every mischief of which it has been the occusion, but not the motive, I answer, that if the malevolent passions be there, the world will never want occasions. The noxious element will always find a conductor. Did the applauded interconmunity of the Pagan theology preserve the peace of the Roman world? Did it prevent oppressions, proscriptions, massacres, and devastations? Was it bigotry that carried Alexander into the East, or brought Cæsar into Gaul? Are the nations of the world into which Christianity hath not found its way, or from which it hath been banished, free from contentions? Are their contentious less ruinous and sanguinary? Is it owing to Christianity, or the want of it, that the finest regions of the East, the coun-.. tries inter quatuar maria, the Peninsula of Greece, together with a great part of the Mediterranean coast, are at this day, a desert ? Europe itself has known no religious wars for some centuries, yet has hardly ever been without war! THE Clergy," says this masterly writer, that is the Catholic Clergy alone, "were accustomed to read, to enquire, and to reason.' Whatever knowledge of ancient jurisprudence had been preserved, either by tradition, or in such books as had escaped the destructive rage of the Barbarians, was possessed by them; they founded a code of laws (the Canon Laws) consopant to the great principles of equity. Being directed by fixed and known rules, the forms of their courts were ascertained, and their decisions became uniform and consistent. It is not surprising, then, that Ecclesiastical jurisdiction should become such an object of adıniration and respect; that exemption from civil jurisdiction, was courted as a privilege, and conferred as a reward. It is not surprising that even to rade people the maxims of the Canon Law should appear more equal and just, than those of the ill-digested jurisprudence which directed all proceedings in Civil Courts; according to the latter, the differences between contending barous were terminated as in a state of nature by the sword; according to the former, every matter was subjected to the decision of laws; the one, by permitting judicial combats, left chance and force to be the arbiters of right and wrong of truth and falsehood: the other passed judgment with respect to these by the maxims of equity, and the testimony of witnesses. And here, whilst such an outcry is raised about the danger of any increase of power or privilege on the part of the Catholics, we have the testimony of history, "that many of the regulations now deemed the barriers of personal security, or the safeguards of private property, were borrowed from the rules and practice of the Ecclesiastical, viz. the Catholic Courts!"'- Changing then only a name, we may add, if, therefore, it be admitted, that the introduction of the Canon Laws by the Catholics has materially contributed to create a greater regard to persons and property, than would otherwise have prevailed in the Western world, the Catholic Religion must be acknowledged in this respect (instead of promoting tyranny and slavery) to have advanced the cause of freedom, and the temporal interests of mankind. contributed more than any other circumstance to introduce the practice of manumission." Now that this liberation was the peculiar work of the Catholic religion, under the operation of one of its special tenets is beyond all dispute; because, " A great part of the Charters of manumission, previous to the reign of Louis X. are granted pro amore Dei pro remedio animæ, et pro mercede anima; viz. for the love of God; the soul's health, and the reward of the soul. The formality of a manumission was executed in a church, as a religious solemnity. The person to be set free, was led round the great altar with a torch in his hand, he took hold of the horns of the altar, and there the solemn words conferring liberty were pronounced. Manumission was frequently granted on a death bed, or hy latter will. As the minds of men were at that time awakened to sentiments of humanity and piety, these deeds proceeded from religious motives, and were granted pro redemptione anime; for the soul's redemption. Conformably to the same principle, Princes upon the birth of a son, or upon any other agreeable event, appointed a certain number of slaves to be enfranchised, OR these, some of the most ju- as a testimony of their gratitude to dicious of the Protestant writers, God for that benefit." And yet, furnish apologies which cannot but with these indubitable testimonies perplex and confound their more in-staring them in the face, there are tolerant bretheren. "Domestic Sla- Protestants still to be found, who very," according to the celebrated deprecate all kinds of prayers and author of the History of Charles the offerings for the souls of the depart. Vth, was most effectually alleviated ed, and still endeavour to persuade by the genius of the Catholic Re- themselves and others, that the Caligion;" and yet, since that period, tholic religion is fraught with tyranny its enemies have never failed to cou- and slavery!!! ple slavery and the Catholic Religion together! "The humane spirit of the Christian, (at that time the Catholic Religion,) the historian. observes, struggled long with the maxims and manners of the world, and Of Prayers and Offerings for the FOR Souls of the Departed. Singular Attitude in Preaching. A RECENT Evangelical Magazine, in a biographical sketch of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, says "such was his modesty and diffi dence, that for some years, diligent as he was in composing his sermons, and committing them to memory, he had not the courage to look round upon his audience, but delivered his discourses with his eyes fixed upon a great stone in the wall of the church, immediately opposite to him. Such a relation as this, given by the brethren, would lead people to attach full credit to what the facetious Echard relates of another evangelical in his time, who generally kept his eyes fixed upon a large spider in a corner of the meeting, and was once heard to exclaim in his prayer, Lord make us ashamed of ourselves, if thou canst!" Simplicity of the Portugueze. Lieutenant Parke, of the second battalion, 7th regiment, who died suddenly, at the commencement of the late campaign, was interred on an eminence.near the town of Guarda; and as the bearers, who were soldiers, had to carry the corpse a considerable distance, it was necessary to provide some refreshment, such as bread and cheese, which was given them after the service was performed: and as numbers of the inhabitants had followed the procession to the spot, and the circumstance was novel, the crowd was so great, that many of them could not approach near enough to observe the ceremony, and therefore ima: gined that the bread and cheese was intended to be put into the grave, for the purpose of subsisting the deceased in another world; and this idea was generally credited for a considerable time. Impudence Punished. THE great Frederick of Prussia, seeing his taylor come to him dressed in a bag wig and sword, like a gentleman, took no notice of him, but repeated, from Daniel, chap. viii. 8. The he-goat is waxed very great. The taylor retired, to inqure of the pages what his majesty meant; and they. told him to go and change his coat, and bring his measure in his band. Scriptural Equivocation. THE same king wrote, under a Petition for new windows in a pa rish church, which was very dark, "Blessed are they which have not seen, and yet have believed." John XX. 29. Witty Replies. IN the first division of Poland, in 1775, the bishopric of Ermland fell to Prussia. The Prince Bishop Krasiky, a man of great learning and wit, soon saw himself honoured with the king's esteem, and dined almost every day with his majesty. The king one day said, pleasantly, to the prince bishop, "Be pleased, when you go to heaven, to take me under your mantle." "Your majesty," said the bishop," was pleased to curtail so much of my revenues, and in consequence, so much of the length of my cloak, that I much fear I should not be able to cover your majesty's feet, and should be detected in the act of smuggling contraband goods." The king, much pleased with this smart answer, said, "But what will you say to me when we meet in hea"Great king," replied the prince, take me under the shadow of your wings, but spare me with your talons;" alluding to the black Prussian eagle. ven?" A Pithy Dialogue. Frederic William.-It is very extraordinary how the French came to the knowledge of our secret ex pedition. I protest, upon the ho nour of a king, that I never revealed it to any one soul, but the Countess of Lichtenau. General Clairfait. And she to the French. In our Saviour's time, there was but one traitor in twelve, but here is one in three! Persecuting Popes, and arch Bishops WHEN Isaac la Peyreyra, the author of Præadamitæ, was brought before Alexander VII. at Rome, to make his recantation of the errors of his book, the pope received him with marked good humour; and being accompanied by some of the cardinals, he said to them smiling, "Let us embrace this man, who was before Adam." After this, La Peyreyra, assisted by a learned man, appointed for that purpose, retracted and reformed his pre-Adamite system, as being contrary to the Fathers, and the truditions of the Church. Another time, one of the pontiffs was visited by a poor enthusiast from Scotland, who imagined he was sent to convert him. Being admitted into the presence, and supposing the pope understood all dialects as well as languages, he exclaimed, “Awa, mon: gang awa, mon, an gin ye'd save your saul.Gang awa wi a' speed to Scotland, an be made a member of the true kirk." Biography of the Abbé de la Peste. IN consequence of the plague raging violently at Constantinople, it has transpired, that some few years ago, there resided, at the European Hospital in that city, a religious, known by the name of the Abbé de la Peste. He devoted himself to the service of the afflicted. His physiognomy, his silver hairs, his deportment. inspired the highest veneration for his virtues. During many years, he faithfully discharged the perilous duties of his office. His zeal for religion, his sympathy with suffering humanity, fortified him against danger. He received, with out distinction, the afflicted of whatever description; he bestowed on them all the care and assistance which his knowledge in medicine, and skill in surgery, enabled him to exert, and mostly to the best effect; but if his remedies failed, his consolations, his discourses, his affec tion, never failed. He had been affected with the plague several times; but he escaped its fury, by means of many cauteries, or issues, which he kept open. Notwithstanding, he ended his days in the midst of his good offices. SIR Heretics. WILL any of your Catholic correspondents inform a sincerely inquiring Protestant, "What is the precise and correct meaning which the Roman Catholic Church attaches to the word Heretic? are there dif ferent kinds of Heretics? I mean are there any species of Heretics, who in the sense of the church may be considered as in a salvable state, as to their future happiness? In short, sir, I am desirous of knowing what is the true doctrine of the church, with respect to the future salvation of Heretics; and whether all those are considered condemned Heretics who do not belong to the present Roman do not belong to the present Roman Catholic church? Other questions I put with, as far as I am capable of judging, a truly honest and sincere mind, and with a devout wish to come at the real truth. A PROTESTANT. SIR. TO THE EDITOR. IF the following is thought worthy of a place in the Catholic Mag azine, you will oblige me by inserting it. ST. HENRY THE HERMIT. The Danes were indebted in part for the light of faith, under God, to the bright example and zealous labours of English missionaries. Henry was born in that country, of honourable parentage, and from his infancy, gave himself to the divine service with his whole heart. When he came to man's estate, he was solicited by his friends to marry, but having a strong call from God to forsake the world, he sailed to the north of England. The little Island of Cochet, which lies on the coast of Northumberland, wear the mouth of the river of the same name, was inhabited by many holy anchorets in St. Bede's time. This Island belonged to the monastry of Tinmouth, and with the leave of the prior of that house, St. Henry undertook to lead in it an eremitical life: he fasted every day, and his refection, which he took at most only once in twenty-four bours, (after sunset,) was only bread and water; and this bread he earned, by tilling the little garden near his cell-he suffered many temptations and died in his hermitage, on the 16th January, 1127, and was buried by the monks of Tinmouth in the Church of the Blessed Virgin, near the body of St. Oșwin, king and martyr, The following seems be a description of the above saint, written by Mr. Southey. IT was a little Island where he dwelt, Or rather a lone rock, barren and bleak, [dark spots, Short scanty herbage spotting with lis greystone surface. Never mariner Approach'd that rude uninviting coast, Nor ever fisherman his lonely bark, Anchor'd beside its shore, it was a place,, Befitting well a rigid anchoret, And purposes of life; and he had And had grown old in solitude. That fbuilt The little Chapel that his toil had Now by the storm unroof'd; his bed of leaves Wind-scatter'd, and his grave grown o'er with grass And thistles, whose white seeds Wither'd on rocks, or in the waves wing'd in vain, were lost. stone, Henry repair'd the chapel's ruin'd roof, Clear'd the grey lichen from the altar [him And underneath a rock that shelter'd From the sea's blast, he built his hermitage. The peasants from the shore would visit him |