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The power of difpenfing with any promife, oath, er vow, is another branch of the spiritual power of the pope; and all who acknowledge his fpiritual power, muft acknowledge this : whoever acknowledges the difpenfing power of the pope, can give no fecurity of his allegiance to any government.

Oaths and promifes are none: they are light as air a difpenfation makes them all null and void.

Nay, not only the pope, but even a priest, has power to pardon fins! this is an effential doctrine of the church of Rome: but they that acknowledge this, cannot poflibly give any fecurity for their allegiance to any government. Oaths are no fecurity at all; for the priest can pardon both perjury and high treason.

Setting, then, religion afide, it is plain, that upon principles of reafon, no government ought to tolerate men, who cannot give any fecurity to that government for their allegiance and peaceable behaviour: but this no Romanist can do, not only while he holds, that "No "faith is to be kept with heretics," but so leng as he acknowledges either prieftly abfolution, or the spiritual power of the pope.

"But

"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.

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 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 absolution of a priest, or, if need were, a papal pardon. O 2

'If

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.

CITY ROAD, JANUARY 12, 1980.

I am, Sir,

Your humble Servant,

JOHN WESLEY.

A

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 such 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

are really Proteftants, or Proteftant 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 fuccefs, is neither eafy nor neceffary to determine; but it is easy 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 ftated 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 these are fincerely defirous of being informed, they are requested to attend to the following particulars.

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

opened,

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