country, and the celebrated LE BRUN, in the preface to his Work on the Mass, declares, to be, "no longer a question to be discussed," (i. e. "whether it be proper to exhibit the Liturgy in the vulgar tongue, and allow the people to read it," but "a thing established,"-I might avail myself of the circumstance of this work having been pronounced highly useful to the Pastor, by some of the most laborious and enlightened Missioners in the English Church.

Yet its purport is simply to expound. And therefore, until it have the sanction of grave authority, it is only to be considered as the work of an individual, labouring to set forth the faith, doctrine, and sacred rites of the Catholic Church, under a formulary of private prayer and instruction. In doing this, I have univer sally endeavoured to guide myself by the humble Christian's POLAR STAR, the authority of the Apostolic See; to whose approbation and judg ment I submit every sentence and expression this work contains.

INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.

THE object which the Writer proposes to himself, in the publication of this little work, is to bring the land-marks of ancient faith more into public view, by exhibiting religion to his Protestant Countrymen, as it is professed and practised in the Catholic Church. His determination was taken, in consequence of many virtuous and respectable Protestants having frequently expressed to him their regret, that at the turbulent period of the Reformation, no angel of peace could be found to calm the furious tempest of human passions-that in the violent contention of parties, the religious unity should have been destroyed, under which they admitted, this nation, as one family, had lived prosperous and happy for many centuries-strangers to those jealousies and divisions which now distract our society.

Indeed none can be ignorant that, from the period referred to, the minds of our Protestant Countrymen have been greatly agitated by religion, and that they are still engaged with each other in a perpetual struggle, to establish what each party respectively considers the purer form of worship. The attempt, however, it must be confessed, has not only completely failed, but the half-raised fabric is gradually dissolving into the Anti-Christian principles of UNITARIAN DEISM. The sacred scriptures are opposed-the divinity of Christ is openly disputed or denied his very existence is blasphemously questioned-and a strong tide of popular infidelity has set in against all revealed religion. Among such, therefore, as

yet believe in the sacred Trinity, and profess the revealed religion of our divine Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, does it not become a fair question, in these circumstances-whether it would not be wise and prudent, in order to save the last remnant of faith, to coalesce with the great body of the Catholic Church, and in one united phalanx, oppose the further encroachments of infidelity?

It was, I must suppose, under the impression of this sentiment, that a learned Bishop of the Protestant established Church, Dr. Barrington declared, in the strongest terms, his earnest wish for a re-union of the Protestants with the Catholics. For, in his Address to his Clergy of the Diocese of Durham, after classing religion in this country under the heads and in the order of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Socinians, he ardently prays, that the two first may be induced to unite in opposition to the last. There ap

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pears to me," says he, "to be in the pre"sent circumstances of Europe, better ground "of hope for a sucessful issue to a dispassion"ate investigation of the differences which se

parate the two churches of England and of "Rome, than at any former period. With this "view, and these hopes, I continue to exert my "humble efforts in this great cause of charity "and truth."

As a Catholic, I certainly cannot assent to what this learned Bishop erroneously imputes to my religion; but in every wish expressing a love and desire of CATHOLIC UNION, I not only most sincerely accord, but would glory to become the servant of the servants of God in promoting that event. Nor can any thing give me more pleasure and delight than to transcribe the following lines of this Prelate to his Clergy. After wrongly inferring, from some of the doctrines and usages of

our Church, that we countenance what to him appears idolatrous, sacrilegious, blasphemous, impious, and prejudicial to the laws and constitution of this free empire, (for, in fact, we abhor all such wickedness equally with Protestants themselves) he continues: "If, I say, by persevering "in a spirit of truth and charity, we could bring "the Roman Catholies to see these most import"ant subjects in the same light that the Catholics" (he means the members)" of the Church of Eng "land do," (surely then, in truth and charity, they will not require us to say, of ourselves, what we know to be false)" a very auspicious open"ing would be made for that long-desired mea66 sure of CATHOLIC UNION, which formerly "engaged the talents and anxious wishes of "some of the best and ablest members of both "Communions.

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"And what public duty of greater magnitude can present itself to us, than the restoration of 46 peace and union to the Church, by the recon"ciliation of two so large portions of it, as the "Churches of England and Rome? What un"dertaking of more importance and higher in"terest can employ the piety and learning of the "ministers of Christ, than the endeavour to ac"complish this truly Christian work? What

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more favourable period can occur than the pre"sent, when gratitude on one hand, and mutual "interest on the other, prompt to such an accom❝modation? Gratitude, for valuable privileges "already received; and mutual interest, in op-. "position to an overwhelming tyranny, equally "hostile to all ecclesiastical establishments that &6 are not yet subject to its infidel domination, "which has at this time usurped, or is labouring "to usurp, the domination of every State in Eu"rope, except this happy Country, so highly

"favoured by a protecting Providence.* If I "should live to see a foundation for such union "well laid, and happily begun; if Providence "should but indulge me with even a dying pros

pect of that enlargement of the Messiah's king

dom, which we have reason to hope is not very "remote, with what consolation and joy would it "illuminate the last hours of a long life? With "what heart-felt pleasure should I use the rap"turous language of good old Simeon :- Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.' May that Saviour, who has left us, in the record "of his Gospel, his own anxious prayer for the "union of his disciples, promote and prosper "the blessed work of CATHOLIC UNION. And "for this purpose, may he divest the minds of "both Protestants and Catholics, of all preju"dice and passion-of all interest and uncandid "views-and of every feeling contrary to the "spirit of the Gospel. May he dispose all par"ties to make the word of God the rule of their "judgment and conduct; and so form the hearts "of all to the simplicity of the gospel, that, in "all their endeavours for the good of the Church, their great purpose may be to seek Christ and "him crucified." (1 Cor. ii. 2.)

Such is the Christian language of this learned Prelate, with whom I cordially pray, that while all parties depend on the infinite merits of Jesus Christ for the pardon of their sins, they may govern their lives according to the precepts of his Gospel; that sanctifying them by his word, and disengaging their hearts from all affection to the things of this world, or that savours of superstition and iniquity, and is repugnant

• This was written during the irreligious government of revolu tionary-France.