IDOLATRY THE PREVAILING PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH OF ROME; OR, AN APPEAL FROM TESTIMONY TO FACTS; IN A LETTER CONTAINING GENERAL REMARKS ON THE EVIDENCE OF THE Roman Catholic Prelates of Ireland BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. ADDRESSED TO THE MOST REVEREND THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. BY THE REV. W. BORRADAILE, M.A. VICAR OF WANDSWORTH, SURREY. LONDON: PRINTED FOR C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD, AND WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL. 1825. 343 A LETTER, &c. MY LORD, HOWEVER desirous I might be at any other time to recede from, rather than to obtrude myself upon, the notice of the public, this is not a period for the indulgence of private feelings, or for allowing a dread of animadversion to deter from the performance of a great public duty. Every individual, who can throw light upon the important subject, which has recently occupied the attention of the Legislature, and the partial investigation of which may lead to most disastrous results, is bound to stand forward and offer such information as he possesses and although his opinions may have little weight, he may feel confident that whilst he adheres to truth in the statement of facts, his deductions from them will be treated candidly by those to whom they are submitted. A 2 I address this Letter to your Grace, because I do not know any person to whom the Clergy may more properly appeal, against the unkind decision of their lay-brethren, who have denounced them as unfit to deliver their sentiments upon a question nearly affecting the religion, of which they are teachers and because I intend, on this occasion, to confine myself scrupulously to the theological portion of the evidence, which I have undertaken to examine asserting, at the same time, the right of the Clergy to deliver their sentiments upon the political question, before every constitutional tribunal. I shall not now comment upon every observation that has been made on the opposition of the Clergy to the Roman Catholic Claims. I say nothing of the delicate suggestions, that the Clergy are only working in their vocation, that it might be expected of them in the way of trade, and similar elegancies: but I cannot pass by an observation, which fell from a distinguished orator, and from whom we might have hoped for better things. The Right Hon. Gentleman, to whom I allude, is said to have drawn the charitable conclusion, that the opposition of the Clergy arises from their ignorance; and that this ignorance of an important question may be forgiven to men, who generally lead the lives of recluses. Now, I am certain, that the Clergy will disdain either to admit the accusation, or to accept the apology. The Clergy are not ignorant of the bearings of this question: they have thoroughly examined it: they have not contented themselves with the ex-parte evidence of the advocates for one side; but have compared the statements of these advocates with the pages of history, and their opinions with information obtained from less interested quarters. But if the Clergy may justly repel the imputation of ignorance, what are we to say to the apology for it? Does the Right Hon. Gentleman who offered it, recollect where he himself received his education? or will he not remember that many of that body, whom he taxes with the ignorance of recluses, were his rivals at Eton and at Oxford? that they move in the society which he graces, not as dependents but as equals, and that they consequently possess every opportunity of information and improvement, which a liberal education and intercourse with every rank of society can give? He cannot, surely, have persuaded himself, however he may try to persuade others, that the almost monkish retirement of Collegians more than a hundred years ago, |