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his subject in these words, "But admit it not impietie, as I think it is not, it is flat and egregious foolerie at the best."

The truth is, Sir, that in this very interesting Treatise, Bishop Mountagu ably disproves the doctrine of your Church on the invocation of Saints; shews the futility of all argument for it from reason, from Scripture, and from the Fathers; in short, he concludes it, to use his own words, a point of plain folly and ridicu“lous absurditie, as it is laid downe: even by "the most learned, judicious, and advised "amongst them," and "in point of practice "and performance, by the simple vulgar people,' "not acquainted with, nor capable of scholas"ticall niceties, or difference in termes, of In"vocation and Advocation, Helpe originall, and “ derived;" it is "flat Impietie against God, and "Idolatrie in their ordinarie devotion unto the "creature."* And yet, so decidedly on this point was the Church of England in his day opposed to yours, that Bishop Mountagu was charged with " Poperie," for even making the

small admission which we have seen above.

凰

I venture to predict, Sir, that we shall hear no more panegyrics on this Bishop, from you or Dr. Milner.

* See "The Epistle Dedicatorie."

There remains one other authority cited against us, both by yourself and by Dr. Milner, on which I will say a few words, once for all, I mean Martin Luther. We venerate the memory of that great Reformer, and humbly thank God for those greatest of all blessings, religious liberty, and its consequence, religious truth, of which he was the instrument. But we are too true to his principles to admit all, or nearly all, of his opinions. In many of the points, in which he differed from the other Fathers of the Reformation, we think him in error. We are, in short, as you well know, not Lutherans; though a great theological authority, the Edinburgh Review,* has recently in all seriousness pronounced that we are such; that there are in England no less than nine millions of that denomination, and in Ireland, five hundred thousand Lutherans, (synonymous with members of the Established Church,) in contradistinction to other Protestants.

LETTER III.

Relics.-Images.-The Cross.

YOUR next particular is thus introduced; pursuing the same method, in respect to the Cross, and Relics of the Saints, I shall transcribe "the decree of the Council of Trent upon "them:" and, having said this, you quote a short passage respecting Images.

The Cross shall be considered presently: but, meanwhile, permit me to express my astonishment at the manner in which you thus venture to dispose of Relics. Instead of keeping the promise, which you have made,-instead of "transcribing the decree of the Council of "Trent upon them," you absolutely suppress every single syllable which the Council says about them. Is this dealing fairly by us? Has the Council been as silent on the subject of Relics as you are pleased to insinuate? Far otherwise; its decree,—in the same page, and immediately preceding the passage which you quote, is as precise, as full of matter important to our enquiry, on this point as on the

other. It must be my business to supply your deficiency, which I will endeavour to do in as few words as the case will admit.

The Council first declares" that the holy "bodies of Martyrs and other Saints (which "bodies when living were members of Christ, " and the Temple of the Holy Ghost, and will "hereafter be raised by him to eternal life, and I glorified) are to be venerated by the faithful." Here you have a positive command of the practice:-It next says, that "by these bodies many benefits are conferred by God on men;" here

you

have a reward and encouragement for your obedience. Lastly, the Council consigns to utter condemnation, "all who affirm, either "that veneration and honour are not due to the "relics of Saints; or that the honour paid to "them, and the other sacred memorials, is "useless, and who say that it is in vain for the "sake of obtaining their aid (the aid of Relics "and other sacred memorials) to frequent the Sepulchres of the Saints."*

"

* Sess. xxv.

"Sanctorum quoque Martyrum, et aliorum

cum Christo viventium sancta corpora, quæ viva membra fue"runt Christi, et templum Spiritûs Sancti, ab ipso ad æternam “ vitam suscitanda et glorificanda, a fidelibus veneranda esse : per quæ multa beneficia a Deo hominibus præstantur: ita ut affirmans Sanctorum Reliquiis venerationem atque honorem non

if you had not

For it proves, Church teaches

Surely, Sir, this is not a passage altogether without meaning; it is not one, which ought to have been omitted by you, even expressly promised to give it. beyond contradiction, that your the people to look to Relics, as means by which blessings may be obtained from God. It proves, therefore, (in spite of a feeble caution which. for form's sake is afterwards added,) that the monstrous and degrading superstitions, which have been practised in this matter, have not been the mere unauthorised follies of individuals: but that your Church, as a Church, is deeply responsible for them; that they are the natural, the necessary, results of her own doctrine, and are almost sanctioned by her own formal and solemn decree.

But even this decree of the Council is not all. Its Catechism is more particular. Assuming as notorious, that there is virtue in Relics; it asks, how is this truth confirmed? The answer is

deberi; vel eas, aliaque sacra monumenta, a fidelibus inutiliter "honorari; atque eorum opis impetrandæ causa Sanctorum memo"rias frustra frequentari; omninò damnandos esse, prout jamec pridem eos damnavit, et nunc etiam damnat Ecclesia." It is afterwards said "Omnis porrò superstitio in Sanctorum invocatione, Reliquiarum veneratione, et Imaginum sacro usu "tollatur."