"But the late act," you fay, "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 seminaries, and to make numerous converts, day by day, to their intolerant, perfecuting principles? I can point out, if need be, feveral of the perfons: and they are increasing daily.

แ

But "Nothing dangerous to English liberty

is to be apprehended from them." I am not certain of that. Some time fince a Romish prieft 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 fecurity 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, juftice and mercy; especially, when feconded by the abfolution of a prieft, or, if need were, a papal pardon.

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

I am, Sir,

Your humble Servant,

CITY ROAD, JANUARY 12, 1980.

JOHN WESLEY.

D E F E N CE

O F 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 unnecessary; 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

With perfecution I have nothing to do: I perfecute no man for his religious principles. Let there be "as boundless a freedom in reli"gion," as any man can conceive: but this does not touch the point. I will fet religion, true or falfe, utterly out of the queftion: suppose the Bible, if you please, to be a fable; and the Koran to be the word of God. I confider not, whether the Romish religion be true or falfe: I build nothing on one or the other supposition : therefore, away with all your common-place declamations about intolerance and perfecution for religion! Suppofe every word of pope Pius's creed to be true,-fuppofe the council of Trent to have been infallible,—yet, I insist upon it, That no government, not Roman catholic, ought to tolerate men of the Roman catholic perfuafion.

I prove this by a plain argument: let him anfwer it that can:

That no Roman catholic does or can give fecurity for his allegiance or peaceable behaviour, I prove thus: It is a Roman catholic maxim, established, not by private men, but by a public council, that, "No faith is to be

kept with heretics." This has been openly avowed by the council of Conftance: but it never was openly difclaimed. Whether private perfons avow or difavow it, it is a fixed

maxim of the church of Rome: but as long as it is fo, nothing can be more plain, than that the members of that church can give no reafonable fecurity to any government of their allegiance or peaceable behaviour: therefore, they ought not to be tolerated by any govern ment, Proteftant, Mahometan, or Pagan.

You may fay," Nay, but you will take an "oath of allegiance." True, five hundred oaths: but the maxim, "No faith is to be kept "with heretics," fweeps them all away, as a fpider's web: fo that ftill, no governors, that are not Roman catholics, can have any security of their allegiance.

Again, those who acknowledge the spiritual, power of the pope, can give no fecurity of their allegiance to any government: but all Roman catholics acknowledge this; therefore, they can give no fecurity for their allegiance.

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The power of granting pardons for all fins, past, present, and to come, is, and has been, for many centuries, one branch of his fpiritual power; but those who acknowledge him, to have this fpiritual power, can give no fecurity for their allegiance; fince they believe the pope can pardon rebellions, high treafons, and all other fins whatsoever.