day. I believe I know some Roman Catholics, who sincerely love both God and their neighbour, and who steadily endeavour to do unto every one, as they wish him to do unto them.

But I cannot say, this is a general case: nay, I am fully convinced, it is not. The generality of Roman Catholics wherever I have been, are of the same principles, and the same spirit with their forefathers. And indeed, if they held the same principles, it could not be doubted, but they would be of the same practice too, if opportunity should serve.

Those principles, openly avowed by their forefathers, of priestly absolution, Papal indulgences, and No faith to be kept with heretics, have never been openly and authoritatively disavowed, even unto this day. And until they are, a Roman Catholic, consistent with his principles, cannot be trusted by a Protestant.

For the same principles naturally tend to produce the same spirit, and the same practice. Very lately, a person seeing many flocking to a place, which she did not know was a Romish chapel, innocently said, What do all these people want? And was answered by one of them, with great vehemence, "We want your blood. And we will have it

On Friday last I dined with a gentlewoman, whose father, living in Dublin, was very intimate with a Roman Catholic gentleman. Having invited him to dinner one day, in the course of conversation, Mrs. Gr asked him, "Sir, would you really cut my husband's throat, if your priest commanded you?" He answered honestly, "Madam, Mr. Gr is my friend. And I love him well: but I must obey the Church." "Sir," said she, "I beg I may never more see you within my doors."

But still, be their principles what they will, I would not persecute them. So persecution is utterly out of the question. I know no one that pleads for it. Therefore the writing or talking against it, is time lost: it is proving what no one denies.

And the Romanists never have been persecuted in England since I remember. They have enjoyed a full toleration. I wish them to enjoy the same toleration still; neither more nor less.

1 would not hurt a hair of their head. Mean time I would not put it into their power to hurt me, or any other persons whom they believe to be heretics. I steer the middle way. I would neither kill, nor be killed. I would not use the sword against them; nor put it into their hands, lest they should use it against me: I wish them well: but I dare not trust them.

But still I say, Persecution is out of the question. And I look on all vague declamations upon it, which have been lately poured out, as either mere flourishes of persons who think they talk prettily, or artful endeavours to puzzle the cause, and to throw dust into the eyes of honest Englishmen.

Bristol, March 18, 1782,

THE

ORIGIN OF IMAGE-WORSHIP

AMONG

CHRISTIANS.

WHEN Christianity was first preached in the world, it was supported by such miraculous assistance of the divine power, that there was need of little or no human aid to the propagation of it. Not only the apostles, who first preached it, but even the lay-believers were sufficiently instructed in all the articles of faith, and were inspired with the power of working miracles, and the gift of speaking in languages unknown to them before.

But when the gospel was spread, and had taken root through the world; when kings and princes became Christians, and when temples were built and magnificently adorned for Christian worship; then the zeal of some welldisposed Christians brought pictures into the churches, not only as ornaments, but as instructers of the ignorant; and from thence they were called libri laicorum, the books of the people. Thus the walls of the churches were beset with pictures, representing all the particular transactions mentioned. And they, who did not understand a letter of a book, knew how to give a very good account of the gospel, being taught to understand the particular passages of it in the pictures of the church. Thus, as Hieroglyphics were the first means of propagating knowledge, before writing by letters and words was invented; so the more

ignorant people were taught compendiously by pictures, what, by the scarcity of teachers, they had not an opportunity of being otherwise fully instructed in.

But these things, which were at first intended for good, became, by the devil's subtlety, a snare for the souls of Christians. For when Christian princes, and the rich and great, vied with one another who should embellish the temples with greatest magnificence, the pictures upon the walls were turned into gaudy images upon the altars; and the people being deceived by the outward appearance of the priest's bowing and kneeling (before those images) as the different parts of their devotion led them, they imagined that those gestures were designed to do honour to the images, before which they were performed, (which they certainly were not ;) and so from admiring, the people came to adore them. Thus, what were at first designed as monuments of edification, became the instruments of superstition. This being a fatal oversight in the clergy, at first neglected, or winked at, by degrees, (as all errors have crept into the church,) gathered strength; so that, from being in the beginning, the dotage of the ignorant vulgar, the poison infected those of better rank, and by their influence and countenance, brought some of the priests over to their opinion, or rather those priests were the occasion of deceiving the rich and powerful, especially the female sex, for ends not very reputable or agreeable to the integrity of their profession. But so it was, that what the priests at first winked at, they afterwards gave countenance to; and what they once countenanced, they thought themselves obliged in honour to defend; till at last, superstition came to be preached from the pulpits, and gross idolatry obtruded upon the people for true devotion.

It is true, there were many of the sacred order, whose sound hearts and clear heads, were very averse to this innovation; who both preached and wrote against the worship of images, shewing both the wickedness and folly of it. But the disease was so far spread, and the poison had taken such root, that the consequence of opposition was the divid

ing the church into parties and schisms, and at last proceeded to blood and slaughter.

N. B. Is it not marvellous that what was so simple in the beginning, should degenerate into such idolatry as is scarcely to be found in the heathen world! While this, and several other errors, equally contrary to Scripture and reason, are found in the church, together with the abominable lives of multitudes who call themselves Christians; the very name of Christianity must stink in the nostrils of the Mahometans, Jews, and Infidels.