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"But the late act," you say," does not either tolerate or encourage Roman Catholics." I appeal to matter of fact. Do not the Romanifts themselves understand it as a toleration? You know they do. And does it not already, let alone what it may do by-and-by, encourage them to preach openly, to build chapels, at Bath and elsewhere, to raise feminaries, and to make numerous converts, day by day, to their intolerant, perfecuting principles? I can point out, if need be, several of the perfons: and they are increasing daily.

But "Nothing dangerous to English liberty "is to be apprehended from them." I am not certain of that. Some time fince a Romish priest came to one I knew, and after talking with her largely, broke out, "You are no he❝retic! You have the experience of a real "Chriftian!" "And would you," she asked, "burn me alive ?" He faid, “God forbid! "Unless it were for the good of the church."

Now what security could fhe have for her life, if it had depended on that man? The good of the church would have burft all the ties of truth, justice and mercy; efpecially, when feconded by the absolution of a priest, or, if need were, a papal pardon.

If

If any one please to answer this, and to fet his name, I fhall probably reply but the productions of anonymous writers I do not promise to take any notice of

I am," Sir,

Your humble Servant,

CITY ROAD,

JANUARY 12, 1780..

JOHN WESLEY.

A

DEFENCE

ог THE

PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.

BY J. W.

VARIOUS pieces, under different fignatures, having appeared in the public prints, cafting unjuft reflections on the Proteftant Affociation, and tending to quiet the minds of the Proteftants at the prefent alarming crifis, by infinuating that there is no danger arifing from the toleration of Popery, and that fuch affociations are unneceffary; I think it a piece of juftice, which I owe to my countrymen, to give them a plain and true account of the views of this affembly, and lay before them the reasons which induced them to form this Affociation, and determined them to continue it.

Whether the gentlemen, who have favoured the public with their remarks on this occafion,

are

are really Proteftants, or Protestant Diffenters, as they style themselves; or whether they are Papifts in difguife, who affume the name of Proteftants, that they may be able to undermine the Proteftant caufe with the greater fuccess, is neither eafy nor neceffary to determine; but it is eafy to fee that they are either totally ignorant of the fubject on which they write, or elfe they wilfully disguise it.

The pieces I refer to are written with different degrees of temper. One gentleman in particular appears to be very angry, and loads the Affociation, and their friends, with the moft illiberal and unmanly abuse.

If this

gentleman had clearly stated the cause of his refentment, he might have been answered, but as he appears to be angry at he knows not what, he can only be pitied. Others have written with more candour and moderation, and would have been worthy regard, had they not been deficient in point of argument. If thefe are fincerely defirous of being informed, they are requested to attend to the following particulars.

how

However unconcerned the prefent generation may be, and unapprehenfive of danger from the amazing growth of Popery; calmly foever they may behold the erection of Popish chapels, hear of Popish schools being opened,

opened, and fee Popish books publicly advertised, they are to be informed that our ancestors, whose wisdom and firinnefs have tranfmitted to us thofe religious and civil liberties which we now enjoy, had very different conceptions of this matter; and had they acted with that coldness, indifference, and ftupidity, which feems to have feized the present age, we had now been funk into the moft abject state of mifery and flavery, under an arbitrary prince and Popish govern

ment.

It was the opinion of our brave, wife, circumfpect, and cautious ancestors, that an open toleration of the Popish religion is inconfiftent with the fafety of a free people, and a Proteftant Government. It was thought by them, that every convert to Popery, was by principle an enemy to the conftitution of this country; and as it was fuppofed that the Roman Catholic religion promoted rebellion against the state, there was a very fevere law made to prevent the propagation of it. Such was the ftate of things in the reign of the great Elizabeth; and Popery having, notwithstanding such restriction, gained ground in the reign of James the fecond, though the encouragement it then received from the ftate, was not equal to what it has now obtained, the nation was alarmed; and the noble

and

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