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1. A Defence of the Divinity of Chrift and the Immortality of the Soul: in answer to the author of a work, lately published in Cork, entitled, "Thoughts on Nature and Religi

66 on." Revised and corrected. II. Loyalty afferted or, a Vindication of the Oath of Allegiance; with an impartial enquiry into the Pope's TEMPORAL Power, and the prefent claims of the STUARTS to the English throne: proving that both are equally groundless. III. An Address to the common People of Ireland, on occafion of an appre

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In which are introduced,

The Rev. John Wefley's Letter, and the Defence of the
Proteftant Affociations.

1

THE SECOND EDITION.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED BY JOHN CHAMBERS.

M.DCC.LXXXI.

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DIGNITARIES AND BRETHREN

OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER OF

THE MONKS OF ST. PATRICK.*

Reverend Fathers, and illuftrious Brethren,

THE purport of the work which I

have the honour to dedicate to your or der, is to cement the bands of society; to fecure the fafety of our country, by union and mutual confidence; to render the fubject's allegiance firm, and at the fame time reasonable, by establishing it on its proper grounds; to difpel the mifts of long-reigning prejudice; after difarming Infidelity, which ftrikes at the foundation of religion, and the dignity of our nature, to induce the Chriftians of every denomination to lay aside the destructive weapons which frenzy has fo often put into their hands; and, under their peculiar modes of worship, to inspire them A 3 with

* A fociety of Nobles and Gentlemen, compofed of the greatest orators and writers in Ireland; who, unfolicited, have done the author the honour of adopting him as one of their members.

with that benevolence and charity enforced by the first principles of the Law of Nature, and confirmed by the facred Oracles which they all revere.

In my fugitive pieces, to which the circumstances of the times have given rife, you discovered the fincerity of my designs, in attempting to diffufe to the community at large, the influence of benignity. My feeble efforts have attracted your attention, and procured me the honour of your efteem. With regard to the rights of fociety, and protection due to the man who does not forfeit them by his mifconduct, the learned, the virtuous, the liberal-minded of all denominations, make no diftinction; but, with every refpect due to religion, leave fanaticism, the noxious vermin that neftles in its wool, to prey upon the ulcerereads of the biguts. Hence, neither my character of a Catholic Clergyman, which, in these Kingdoms, the prepoffeffion of ignorance has rendered fo odious, nor the discountenance of the laws, which doom me to transportation, with the common malefactor, nor the disagreeable circumstances

of

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