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Mr. Butler intimates an intention of answering the Bishop of Chester's observations. In a third edition of the Bishop's pamphlet, a Postscript is added in reply to Mr. Butler's Letter, in which his Lordship animadverts in sufficiently strong language upon what certainly appears to be an evasion, rather than a satisfactory explanation of the meaning, in which Mr. Butler has made use of the offensive terms. As the subject of this Postscript is chiefly the latitude of interpretation with which the Thirty-nine Articles may be subscribed, we shall reserve what we have to say upon it for our article on Paley's works, in which it must necessarily be considered.

In the last edition of Mr. Butler's pamphlet, we find a short rejoinder from that gentleman, deprecating the style in which the Bishop had addressed him, and intimating that he was prepared to meet the forces which are known to be marching up against him.

The Accusations of History against the Church of Rome examined, in remarks on many of the principal observations in the work of Mr. Charles Butler, entitled the "Book of the Roman Catholic Church," By the Rev, GEORGE TOWNSEND, M.A, of Trinity College, Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 312. 6s. Murray, 1825.

MR. Butler's "Book of the Roman Catholic Church," and the controversies to which it has led, afford a striking illustration of the temper and character of the times; and furnish a practical comment to the declaration which we set out with making, and which we have repeated in several of our articles, that the age has arrived wherein we may hope to hear religious opinions discussed without angry disputes or personal invectives.

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It is a happy sign, that the most venerable of our Bishops, whose public services as a churchman, and whose years, as a man, have been extended far beyond the most lengthened of any of his predecessors, that the prelate, whose episcopal charges, whose political bias, whose patronage of literary merit, and whose acts of bounty, have all testified his ardent zeal for the interests of the Reformed religion, as opposed to that of Rome, should yet have carried himself so mildly and charitably in the great contest, that the very champion of the hostile faith, the writer himself of "the Book of the Roman Catholic Chureh," bears honourable witness to his worth, and takes an honest

pride in telling the world, that he has enjoyed his Lordship's confidence. (6 Having been professionally employed, (says Mr. Butler, in his Reminiscences, p. 97, when speaking of the Bishop of Durham and of himself,) and confidentially consulted by his Lordship, during half a century, he has come to the knowledge of a multitude of instances of his Lordship's exemplary charity, and well regulated munificence:-100,000l. would not make up the amount of those, in the foundation or arrangement of which his Lordship has professionally consulted the Reminiscent."

It is moreover a singular coincidence, that the two volumes which first issued from the press in reply to Mr. Butler's defence of the Roman Catholic faith, viz. Mr. Townsend's "Accusations of History against the Church of Rome," and Dr. Phillpotts'"Letters to Charles Butler, Esq. on the theological parts of his Book," &c. should be the productions of two of the Bishop of Durham's domestic chaplains. Our present concern is with Mr. Townsend's reply, as that which was first published; and in the next number we shall notice Dr. Phillpotts', -for the matter contained in each is so distinct, and entitled to so much grave attention, that it would be the height of injustice to both to mix them up under one article.

Every body who has read Mr. Butler's "Book of the Roman Catholic Church," must have observed the strain of courtesy which pervades it. We think, as we hinted in a former Article, it somewhat approaches to affectation; and therefore we are better pleased with the genuine placidity, with which Mr. Townsend picks up the glove and enters the lists. It is with the serenity and composure of one who is sure of victory, and is not desirous of dealing severer blows, than the nature of the combat compels him to inflict. Never certainly did a gentler or more courteous knight come pricking on his way, or run a tilt in more studied attitude than Mr. Butler. He

prances and

caracoles over the course upon his menaged ambler, in the most graceful manner possible. He salutes his adversary, and makes his obeisance to the spectators of the conflict with that smiling air, which shews, that he is as anxious to exhibit his courtly demeanour and attire, as his prowess; or rather that he depends more upon conciliating the sympathy of the ring, and subduing his foe, by the pretty way in which he canters up to the rencontre, than by the vigour of his charge. To continue the simile, Mr. Townsend advances on his heavy war-horse, whose very weight is enough to trample every thing beneath him,

"Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum."

If he seem proud of any thing, it is of the divine panoply of truth, with which he feels himself encompassed.

"Illa dei donis et tanto lotus honore

Expleri nequit, atque oculis per singula volvit,
Miraturque."

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The terms "gentlemanly" and "gentlemanlike," and words of similar import, borrowed from the language of refinement, occur so often in "the Book of the Roman Catholic Church,' that the author's principal anxiety appears to be, that the Roman Catholic faith should be considered the most aristocratic and gentlemanlike religion in the world. The writer of " the Accusations of History against the Church of Rome," is equally bent upon keeping his temper, and preserving the rules of decorum, but he conducts the discussion, not merely as a wellbred disputant, but as a philosophical, and what is more important, as a Christian reasoner, as one, who has an high interest at stake, and who must earnestly contend for "the faith once delivered to the saints." He speaks as one having authority, as though he felt strong in the assurance that he has the testimony of history, the voice of reason, and the word of God on his side. There is no trifling, and no playing with his subject. His paragraphs are short and pithy. He dispatches an argument in a few conclusive sentences. He does not leave it necessary to return to the attack, but bears down upon the assailable point at once, with all the force that sound principles and incontrovertible matters of fact can give him. Every chapter contains a fund of information upon historical and ecclesiastical topics;-so much so, that the best read, and most experienced controversialist, may gather something from the perusal of it.

The manifest object of Mr. Townsend is to confute error, while he advocates a good cause, and not to shine as a bookmaker; the fastidious critic therefore will overlook some defects, which are to be attributed principally to the necessary haste with which the volume was got up. Mr. Butler's book required an immediate answer; and when it is remembered, that Mr. Townsend's reply of 312 octavo pages was published within a very few weeks after the other, the wonder is, how so many authorities could have been consulted, so many documents adduced, and such a mass of materials put together, in so short a space of time.

Mr. Townsend has worked into a methodical series, plain, learned, and cogent arguments against the Roman Catholic system. His book is, indeed, particularly valuable for the authori

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ties which he gives. The beginning corroborates the Bishop of Chester's observations, which we have just quoted; and at p. 23 is the following pertinent remark upon the taunt which Mr. Butler has condescended to echo against the variety of Protes

tant sects.

"I could have selected from the writings of the Romanist divines nearly every doctrinal opinion which is advocated by our jarring sectaries. Arminianism was the doctrine of the Jesuists; Calvinism of the Jansenists; Quakerism of the Franciscans; Socinianism in all its gradations from Arianism to Belshamism, was taught by the authors enumerated in the Roma Racoviana' of Jameson-the fanaticism of new sects among us was the same with that of new orders among you yet all these appeal to Popery, and protest against the Scriptures. This recrimination however is unworthy of either party."

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We quite agree with Mr. Townsend in his address to Mr. Butler upon the comparison between Romish and Scripture miracles.

"You in fact resign the Romish miracles to their fate, when you' conclude that no miracles, except those which are related in the Old or New Testament are articles of faith. If all are from God, all are to be received, for all would be undeniable." P. 48.

And the following is a striking passage:

"The Protestant may reject the opinions which Scripture or reason convince him are absurd, The Romanist is permitted to reject nothing which his Church has once sanctioned. The undeniable fact is, that the council of Trent has sanctioned, and confirmed and strengthened all your past errors. The council of Trent has fettered your communion with its bonds and chains, and you cannot be free. You are like the imprisoned eagles. You have wings that can soar to heaven, and eyes that would meet the mid-day sun: but your wing droops, and your eye is blinded; for the council of Trent has legislated in darkness, and the morning is past and the day of knowledge is come, but you may not, you cannot fly, nor gaze."

There are also some extremely good remarks upon the forced celibacy of the clergy, p. 60; and on the disputes between the Popes and Kings, concerning the rights of investiture, occurs this seasonable paragraph:

"The Protestant asserts, that the perfect obedience of the subject cannot be enforced by the sovereign, if any foreign influence whatever be permitted to interpose. Then as now the Romanist would have granted that homage to the pope which he refused to his temporal prince. The evil complained of, was the conduct of the sovereign (in

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nominating to vacant bishoprics): the remedy proposed was the inter ference of the pope, A Protestant of the present day would decide, that the remedy should have been found in the law, and by the senate of the country, or that the Clergy should have submitted to persecu tion as the martyrs of old. The Romanist would decide that the pope was right, for he was authorized to govern, and his power was merely spiritual. Both theory and experience unite to convince the world that spiritual allegiance, without temporal power, is an utter impossibility." P. 68.

The subject of the independence of the Clergy upon the State, and the separate (" divine," Dr. Milner calls it) jurisdiction of the Church, is farther treated very elaborately by Mr. Townsend in his Eighth Letter; and to this we shall at present confine our remarks, as it relates to the question really in dispute at the present day. As the primitive Christians died for the faith of the Gospel, so Archbishop Becket was the champion and martyr of that Church, which has not been backward to own and pay her debt of gratitude to him, formerly by the tribute of the most splendid ecclesiastical honours, and now by gallantly vindicating his memory. There is some special pleading in the defence, and the controversy is divided into three, stages, 1st, the exemption of the Clergy from the jurisdiction of civil tribunals; 2dly. the Archbishop's conduct with regard to the constitutions of Clarendon; and 3dly. his excommunication of the prelates, who in opposition to his authority, as Primate, had assisted at the coronation of the son of the reigning king.

It is undeniable that the immunities of the Clergy in the age of Becket, were pushed to an extent, which produced great practical evils by sheltering from punishment ecclesiastics who had committed the worst crimes. Encouraged by success, the Popes. had also begun to develope their system of temporal power, and of subjugating to their authority all sovereigns and countries. Henry the Second of England, in proceeding to check with spirit and ability these encroachments, which threatened to leave him only the shadow of a sceptre, reckoned upon the co-operation of his favourite, the new Primate; and it was natural the king should feel disgusted and irritated at finding that priest his most pertinacious opponent. Henry inherited from his Norman blood, as Mr. Southey observes, a temper to make men tremble; and in the course of the contest he broke out into acts of indefensible passion and violence. But was Becket faultless? Did he really perish, according to Mr. Butler's account, for" a faithful adherence to ecclesiastical duty?" Did he only assert the rights of the Clergy in a peaceable and

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