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‘TRUTH IS POWERFUL, © AND WILL PREVAIL. . co Sp
Pye
e
eens
waz
saree ES wrcmomeas
NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, OC
reenact nn cs a eeesinmamilct
+ < versal article of the Christian faith as expressed in the Nicene |
challenge to dispute being published in The Dublin. Evening
Post, wherein certain members of the Bible Society i in Dublin,
propose to meet some individuals of our Clergy, in the presence
ofa select portion of tbe public, in order fo discuss some ques-
‘ion or questions previously agreed upon, a’ ich are to re-
fate, T suppose, to the religious belief of the tice to be thus
eugages
“Pneed not remind you, dearest Brethren, of what is ruled
By the Sepreme Authority of the Church (see Ben. xiv. de le Syn.
ioc ) with regard to individuals unanthoriced thereto by their
Bishops, nat entering into public disputations with persons main-
taining heretical opinions ; your owa sense, and the very
nature of divine trath, as deposited by Christ with his Apostles,
aad their successors, show to you, that whatever relates to faith,
morals, or discipline, should be regulated by those whom the
Holy Ghost has appoluted to govern the Church. I, therefore,
bearing onthe abore challenge, wish to inform you. aud all those
coneerne d with you, that, having given to this matter what con-
sideration j it deserves,it is my wish that no such disputation asis
ove mentioned be had by you, or by any one of you, with the
Geatlenen alluded to.
“ As the obedience you owe tome isa reasonable one, itis just
that I shoutd state to you the grounds upon which Lrequire of
you to exercise it in ¢ this matter, and they are,—Fir: st_ because
the character of the Christian religion i is pace; and the end of
falar the Apestle’s suggestion, if we became fond of disputes.
hirdl y—Breause all experience has § proved the ju ice an
ceuth of “Pertutian’ 's. remarks, in his ‘ Prescription,’
wherein he says, that disputes with heretics “weary the weak,
¢reate anxiety in the minds of others, and that the only thing
Weobtain by then is, to have our anger excited by their blas-
Phemy.—The reason assigned by him for this opinio
which
quite
alone can
determine disputes; that they disregard ti
ie to understand rightly that part of Revelation
which is written ; and because they appeal to t! t Scripture Sy
whieh ore mute, and cannot therefore decide. ‘Ing uibus (scrip-
taris) incerta ext vicivria aut par incerta.
“ Fourthly —because no general principles, to which the ques-
tions to be discussed could be finally referred, can be agreed
tipon between the parties for this reason, that the members of | finila “est.
the Bible Society ad mit our r Créed, nor have they any
Creed oftheir ow n ne ey do not admit our Creed, tor they ac
cuse the pares of having decreed error, and of having ‘been
ai in idolatry for upwards of eight hundred years ; see the
ook of Honilee They also have long misunderstood that uni-
ed in the first Council of Constantinople, and which
ein one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;’ nay,
to apprehend that they have latterly endeavour-
isciously; to dissolve: ihe entire religion of Christ
system of Latitndwarianism approaching to utter infide-
proce maa have no Creed of their own; for, from the reports of
you te es which, on a former occasion, ‘took piace between
Spposit then, it appears that they. maintained errors the most
Epes ¢ one to the other; and that, being invited to produce a
common formula of faith, they were unable fo do so. » It also
the Eee! ough some of these men novsoaly belong to
nathor lished Church, that they disregard her ‘ip ine and
oth u x as is luid down in the ordinance of the inj ig prefixed
he* Articles of religion,’ as it is expressed or implied i in the
es themselves, and as it is recorded in the words of man,
by advocating an unlimited right
cardiess of nd pothers to judge on all matters of religion, re-
mon " ofall authority. . With such men there can be no com-
thereneen inciples to which they could be bound to adhere; or, if
S their getty? they could be departed from by them as soon
such Prigiunions underwent a change, but in no case would
any othe Spies express a form of religious belief binding upon
are Cathet han those who might subscribe to them. You who
mea wh \Cs proiessing a clearly defined faith, can never meet
who are thas tossed about, by every wind of doctrine, upon
Y 5 they may be worsted in argument, con-
F, Congsunded a! e exposure of their own cou-
say s te
ther teases
ed; ‘hough uncon:
inte as
By,
tor themselves
dl of
"ain or fo!
“ Fifth!
ing into them you appear to callin question those truths which
are already defined by the Holy Ghost and
Bishops, the successors of the Apostles.» You agree, as ie were,
to empannel a jury of J know not that descripti ‘ons,
to try the question Hhether Christ is with us, teaching atl days,
even to the e world; whether the Holy Ghost has, or
has not tanght our Fathers all trath; whether we be placed by
him to rule the Church of God ; whether the Church be, or be
not, the pillar and ground of truth; whether those whom we
leave bound on earth be boun Heaven; or whether the gates
of hell have, or can prev ainst the Church; whether again,
ig Chareh hag been buried inidolatry for eight hundred y ears}
whether, i in fine, those who refuse to hear her, and who thereby
despise Christ and the father who sent him, are, of are not, as
heathens and publicans before God. The truths, Rey. Brethren,
which would be thus subjected, as it were, to trial, are clear and
incontestible; you yourselves have enforced them by much ar-,
gument and great eloquence § and it is because they are im-
moveabl Ie, and because uments in support of them are
able, convincing, and dhanswerable, that the members of the
Bible Society wish, by inviting you go a renewed discussion, to
turn public attention from the Palpable folly of their proce. ‘ede
ings—from the unspeakable evils, which the principles they ad-
vocate have entailed upon society + from the frauds and imposi-
E
=e
ner proposed because there is no tribunal on the earth compe-
tent to try the issue between you. The errors maihtained by
the members of the Bible Society, regard either the pri
articles of the Christian faith, or truths already defined by the
Church, ‘But these classe s of truths are Immoveably and defi-
nitely settled ; God or his Church, or reach have spoken; 3
and, as St. ‘Augustine ‘said to the Pe he cause
cluded, I wish the error would at length cease, causa ia est,
utinam aliguando finirel error. ‘There can be no new hear.
ing, no rial. . ‘Lhe Church at-Trent invited the heresics of
the 15th Century (these who re ached or renewed the errois
which are now revived).to plead their own cause before the
Council; these blind and to eee men refused to do so; but
their cause was examined fully and dispassionately —sentence
at length was pussed,and the matter set at rest for ever, Causa
It can never be revived; it hath seemed good to the
Holy Ghost, and to our Fathers, so to determine; there can be
no re-hearing of the case; there is no higher tribunal consti-
tuted by God, no one or many to whom a new issue could be
directed for trial; * Whosoever doce not hear the Church, let
him be as an Heathen and a Publican.’ Those who are cut off
on account of their obstinacy may complain, but there is no re-
medy for them but in submission; the Church may soothe, may
explain; she may relax or alter her discipline to favour their
weakness, or to assist them to return; but the One Faith she
cannot alter; it is as simple, as immutable as God himself —
You, reverend Brethren, have often, and well proved these
truths; one argument alone is sufficient—! Going'—says th
Redeemer to his Apostles, and in their persons, to those who
lawfully succeed to them— Going, teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, commanding them to observe whatsoever T have
given yout mand, and, lo! Lam with you till the end of
the world.’ ” It is ‘the worst of heresy, and a virtual apostacy
from the Christian religion, to assert that there ever. was, » or
will be wanting, a body of men assisted immediately by Christ,
and employed without interruption or intermission in adminis-
tering the Sacraments of God, teaching his Commandments,
and ruling throughout the world his One Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church. It is the worst of heresy, and a virtual apos-
tacy froin the Christian religion, to assert, that the gates of
Heil have ever prevailed agamst this Charch, tnat is, that the
Pastors and prople who compose it have ever, at any period,
even fora single honr, professed error. You, therefore, cannot
enter into a disputation. which would scem to imply that the
opposite of what is here stated is even remotely possible,
astly—Yoa should, not contend, as is proposed, with men
ever whom a trivinph could be productive of no permanent ad-
—You are to avoid these disputes, because by enter-
by us; that is, by the
authority alone can decide— By the sun alone of the Church,”
as St. Jerome observes, ¢ all the streams or rivulets of error
can be dried up.’ To ascertain the existence of this Church—
for the infidel sigos and tongues may be necessai
tian the grace of his baptisn id th
learned at his ‘other's ‘3 breast, ‘is quite sufficient: and to such,
at least, as are bora and educated in these countries, it must be
quite obvious, if they be humble, pious, dispassionate, and not
maddened with en| na r' denomination of
Christians exi it (the Cathoties sone excepted) have not
separated. themselves from the One [Joly Catholic and Apo-to-
lic Church at a certain time, and for caures but too well asce!
tained; and as to the consequences of sucha separation
not mine, whilst addressing you, to state them, or to give es~
pression to that deep afiliction which the consideration of them
‘xcites within me. [once was moved by such reflections, and
by the Jove I bear to my brethren who are in error (for whom,
like the Apostle, L would willingly, for a time, be even an ana-
thema, or separated from Christ) to suggest, through an emi-
nent individual, not to a society, not of tales and gentlemen,
but to one of the highest states in the realm, a proposal for
eking to bind up that which bas been broke n—to heal that
which is infirm, aud to bring back that which has strayed: but
the Spirit which was once sent to seduce Achab, has been per-
ed to seduce nny in tiis empire, and the term of his se-
Pee
i it, fo establish pence and good il upon earth, as the means of | tions practised by persous connected with the , bit above all) ion has not yet expired; perhaps it will yet terminate; if
{ . Siting men for Heaven; this ead of our cailing was announced | from the contemplation of that worst of all evils, the inty odace it Stiote, the means of gonctlietion a peace are at hand; if
} by the Angels at Bethlehem, when the humanity and benignity | tion and justification of Socinianism or infidelity ; evs whiel | not, it'is our duty to adore the God, whose
5 of our Saviour God Grst appeared ; and it was repeated by Phim-| flow immediately and necessarily from the recognition of an un- indgnente are inscrutable, and -w ose ways camot be investi-
{ Self, when he wes about to leave us and return to his Father, limited right in all persons to discard authority, and to abide in | gated
} these words: ‘My peace Tease you, my peace 1 gi religions matters by the single opinion of their own mind. No! |“ Praying the Almighty God, Reverend Brethren, that he may,
} the establishment or preserva’ of this peace, tle di p Brethren, you have supplied to socirty at large, emple materials | Keep our minds and hearts united in his love, and in the love of
| saentioned would, in itself, dadin itvellvets be diree y opposed. for serions and deep reflection; sufler men to digest them, tore | one another, J remain your traly affectionate and humble ser-
\ “Second—St. Paul says, ‘if any one be contentious or fond | flect upon ther, and should error or her: vant in 0 Chris rist Jesus. , itd DOYLE.
\ of dispates, we have uo such custom nor the Church of “Gods +] our borders, you will know how, and whe “ Given at Edenderry, on my Vi: isitation, ~
‘ We would therefore, <leviate from the principles of God's Church | it, Test it should creep like.a cancer amongst our people. “ this 28th day of August, 1825." . ‘
i and the custom of the Saints, as well as prove ourselves uninind- “ Sixthly—You should not dispute with | these men inthe man- ‘e
- I wrote the greater part of the ahove, I haye
seen the Now spaper containing the paper to which this Jetter
as reference, and it requires from me uo further remark. You
will continue, as hitherto, to labour along with me in the faith
of the Gospel, by carefully watching eve} ty error that may be
isseminated, whether by speech or writing, amongst our peo-
pl fe, and by ¥ exposing and refuting them, wienever ‘they appear
deserving “of notice.”
sect Catholic Associatio
(Concluded from our ast.)
Offer to yourselves in anticipation, the effect of such a pro-
ceeding. « f the people of Ireland meet on the first of January,
1826, in their respective houses of worship, and send a common
cry for liberty from the altars of God, will not that cry reach
into the Cabinet; make its way to the Throne; echo through
the Chambers of Westwuiuster; and make—even Eldon stare?
o thousand three hundred petitions, signed
upou two thousand ‘three hundred altars, and rushing at the
same instant juto the Councils of the Legislature, may not ex-
cite alarm, but cannot be treated with contempt. may be
asked, how ¢: the Association effect all this? Lanswer, the
Association is not to effect all this. We have no right to peti-
tion for the redress of grievan we are entitled, by a spe.
cial clause, to promote educat tion: Wwe shall array the Clergy
for an end which is perfectly legal, and when they shall once
have been marshalied; when once the political apparatus shall
have been Prepared, it will be the office of another Association,
which shall sit for fourteen days, (the period allowed by law
to make use of the iustruments with which they will have eon
provided, and to turn the means which we devise for the Oita:
ment of one odject, into the ackievement of another, for
usto plant the tree of knowledge—it is for others to gratt Ai-
8
them instruction. Finding theme assembled, it will be for others
to point our the road to free is brings me to the third
expedient to which I have adverted. By the law, as it stands,
an Association forthe redress of grievances may ‘exist for four-
teen days. hi itself has given us a useful intimation.
thank Mee Plonkett ‘or the hint, Much may be done in fourteen
days. They will afford a session for the ‘people. Perhaps the
brief duration of such a body as the law permits will ape it’
still more imposing. An Association may be formed which will
ave ag great an eilect upon the public mind as the former body, ,
and the exertion necessary for its vigorous sustainment need
not be so permanently vigorays,
Vantage; a8 individuals, they may be learned aud respectable,
lly. bout they slo can suifer—no one is re-
Dut, as religionists, they are deserving only of your unmized
Let the Hie chy, the Nobility, i
e chief Clergy, t
the great Agricuiturists, the teadin
Merchants, ine “Catholic
—for a Chris- *
and the creed which he has ¢ +
berty upon it. (Loud cheers : We assemble the people to give «
I propose the following plan:
ew we.
} ~ . : r *
VOL. I. OBER 29, 1825: NO. 31 val
if
‘ sponsible for their errors, no one need blush at their confusion— | pity. .They profess to be sceking for truth—this can only Le | pe
. Hight Bes. Dr. Doyles Avyress no man isa partner in their shame: not so with you. If through | found inthe Catholic Church—and the faith which believes in a
} error, mistake, ignorance or forgetfulness you leave an objec- | it, as there propounded, is a gifi of Ged—to be ebtainet, notby («
bone To the Ree. the Catholic Clergy in Carlow and its gs who | ton uurefated, or an aspersion not wiped away, such objection | dixputation, but by humility’ ulms, deeds, and p The Le
a4 were heretofore engaged i in disputes with cerlain Members of oraspersion stands recorded against your Church, and the chaste judgment of man is too slow and too tnsettled=—the objet « of ee
the Bible Society. spouse of Christ suffers in your person from the blasphemy: of | itsinvestigation are too mysterious and too far removed—it may a
“Reverssp asp Dear Barrurey, —I have only heard of a | her winnie children, reason interminably and dispute, Lut it can never determine— a