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dictions of Daniel the prophet, should be taken into this estimate. Such pious readers may rest assured that these points are only omitted because it is the author's firm persuasion that to have adduced them on this occasion would naturally be construed by Catholics into a begging of the question, and would, moreover, lead to criticisms and speculations tending rather to perplex than to elucidate the great subject under consideration. Yet, so firmly fixed is the author's belief in the consoling doctrine of divine agency in all the great revolutions of the universe, that he has no hesitation in assenting to the reasoning of Dr. Robertson on this point; and he hopes that, once for all, it will satisfy the most scrupulous of his brethren, to quote what this eminent historian has written on this subject of Providence:-" To overturn a system of religious belief, founded on ancient and deep-rooted prejudices, supported by power, and defended with no less art than industry; to establish in its room doctrines of the most contrary genius and tendency; and to accomplish all this, not by external violence or the force of arms, are operations, which historians, the least prone to credulity and superstition, ascribe to that Divine Providence, which, with infinite ease, can bring about events which to human sagacity appear impossible. The interposition of Heaven in favour of the Christian religion, at its first publication, was manifested by miracles and prophecies wrought and ut

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tered in confirmation of it. Though none of the reformers possessed, or pretended to possess, these supernatural gifts, yet that wonderful preparation of circumstances which disposed the minds of men for receiving the doctrines, that singular combination of causes which secured their success, and enabled men, destitute of power and of policy, to triumph over those who employed against them extraordinary efforts of both, may be considered as no slight proof, that the same hand which planted the Christian religion, protected the reformed faith, and reared it from beginnings extremely feeble, to an amazing degree of vigour and maturity.'

And now I may be permitted to pass on to a review of those less equivocal or controvertible causes already enumerated, which produced this most extraordinary event.

I. The extreme laxity and even profligacy of the clergy, had long been a source of painful regret to the wise and the good, and of sarcasm, impious pleasure, and contempt to the wicked and the vain. Cardinal Bellarmine, a writer, as all the world knows, but seldom disposed to say a syllable in disparagement of the Church or the Roman Court, confesses that "for some years before the Lutheran and Calvinistic here

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Reign of Charles V. i. pp. 235-236. ed. 1809.

sies," as he expresses it, "were published, "there was not (as contemporary authors testify) any severity in ecclesiastical judicatories, any discipline with regard to morals, any knowledge of sacred literature, any reverence for divine things; there was not almost any religion remaining."*

It would be easy to enlarge on the representations which have been made by writers of every description, of the depravity of the times, both long before and immediately preceding, the reformation. But enough on this head has already been given in the preceding section; and charity would lead us to hope, nay, it is absolutely certain, that, bad as have been the popes and the clergy, they never were so utterly depraved as they are represented to have been; though I fear it is too much to say, with Dr. Milner,† that not more than thirty of the 255 pontiffs have dishonoured their high office and sacred profession. It must, however, be granted, that a very large majority of the popes of Rome, and of the ministers of religion, have been men of piety,, virtue, and benevolence. The Rev. Alban Butler's

* Bellar. Concio xxviii. Oper. tom. vi. col. 296. ed. Colon. 1617, apud Gerdesii Hist. Evan. Renovati, Vol. I. p. 25, in Robertson's Reign of Charles V. vol. ii. p. 258.

+ Letters to a Prebendary, p. 38.

Lives of the Saints*, exhibits some instances of the most exalted goodness that ever adorned human nature; and the several published Histories of the Popes, even the most prejudiced† attest the important fact, that many of the Roman pontiffs have been persons of eminent virtues and heroic sanctity, whose example is publicly held out for the edification and example of christians." And why should any Protestant blame this just tribute of praise? Yet, blamed it will be; and many will regard the author as little less than in "league with devils." Thank God! the system of faith he has adopted, as being, in his judgment, the Faith of the Gospel, stands in no need of support from the vices, or even the virtues of popes. Were all the Roman prelates Saints, that would not alter the records of truth; had all of them been demons, the divine veracity would remain unshaken. It is, therefore, with far other feelings than those of envy or mistrust, that I discover, (for, as to myself, I announce it as a discovery, in opposition to the slanders or

* Of this book Mr. Gibbon thus speaks :-" A work of merit; the sense and learning belong to the author: his prejudices are those of his profession." Dec. and Fall, vi. p. 166. [Note] See, too, the Life of this eminent and excellent divine, by his nephew, the present Charles Butler, Esq.

+ Not even excepting the work of the reformed Councillor of the Inquisition, Bower, a book which has happily sunk into contempt and oblivion.

the pious prejudices of the nursery,*) that many of the Popes of Rome have been men that would have honoured any church to which

* Those who have no interests to serve but those of truth; no mistake but what they would gladly have removed, will not blame me for inserting, in this place, the following extract from Mr. Gother's curious little work, entitled, “A Papist Misrepresented and Represented; or a Two-fold Character of Popery." The extract is made from the edition of 1811:

Of Wicked Principles and Practices.

"The papist misrepresented is a member of a church called holy; but in her doctrine and practices, so foul and abominable, that whosoever admires her for sanctity, may upon the same grounds, do homage to vice itself. Has ever any society, since Christ's time, appeared in the world so black and deformed with hellish crimes as she? has she not outdone even the most barbarous nations and infidels, with her impieties, and drawn a scandal upon the name of Christian, by her unparalleled vices? Take but a view of the horrid practices she has been engaged in ; consider the French and Irish massacres, the murder of Henry III. and IV. kings of France, the holy league, the gun-powder treason, the cruelty of Queen Mary, the firing of London, the death of Sir Edmund Bury-Godfrey; and an infinite number of other such like devilish contrivances; and then tell me, whether that church, which has been the author and promoter of such barbarous designs, ought to be esteemed holy, and respected for piety and religion, or rather to be condemned for the mistress of iniquity, the whore of Babylon, which hath polluted the earth with her wickedness, and taught nothing but the doctrine of devils? And let never so many pretences be made; yet it is evident, that all these execrable practices have been done according to the known principles

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