AND THE DOCTRINES OF THE OXFORD TRACTS FOR THE TIMES. BY THE AUTHOR OF "SPIRITUAL DESPOTISM." Fas est etenim, ut prisca illa cælestis philosophiæ dogmata processu VOL. I. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. W. CURRY, JUN. & CO. Dublin. 1840. PREFACE. ALTHOUGH during the past twelve months the doctrines promulgated by the writers of the Tracts for the Times have lost nothing of their original and intrinsic weight, their relative importance has been sensibly diminished by the rapid advances of that system with which those doctrines cannot fail to be associated in the public mind.-The sudden expansion of romanism in all parts of the world where it has a the footing, has had the inevitable effect of reducing apparent magnitude of what so lately had attracted all eyes; and it now seems that the wave of Oxford divinity, as high as ever, is but a billow in the mighty mantling swell which is curling on toward our shores. These writers who, in fact, have not received strict and discriminating justice from all hands, may loudly protest against the unfairness of being thus left to be swallowed up in the deluge which the old dragon is pouring from his jaws. They may indeed have some good reason to complain in this instance; for, have they not themselves 'prophesied ' against Rome? have they not, in one breath, denounced |