Anfwer. By "authority whatsoever," is not meant the authority of God, nor the fupreme authority of the ftate, but the authority of Rome, or foreign authority.

Fifthly. "The oath is to be taken in the plain "and ordinary fenfe of the words. Authority what"foever, in the plain and ordinary fenfe of the words, includes the authority of God and the "ftate."

66

Answer. The plain and ordinary fenfe of any word, is the fenfe annexed to it, by the common consent and custom of mankind, according to their respective idioms and languages: but, in any legal act, mankind never extends the words "authority whatsoever" to the authority of God, who is above the control of human laws, nor to the fupreme authority of the ftate, which is never prefumed to bind its own hands, whereas it is an invariable maxim in human laws, that the fame power which enacts them, can repeal and dispense with them. "Per "quafcunque caufes res nafcitur, per eafdem "folvitur."

Sixthly: "The oath forbids mental referva"tions on pain of perjury. Now mental refer"vation is a proposition, which taken accord

ing to the natural import of the terms, is

“false;

"falfe; fuch is this propofition, I declare that "no authority whatsoever can difpenfe with any part of this oath, according to the natural

import of the terms, it is falfe, because God "and the state can dispense with a part of it: "but if qualified by fomething concealed in the mind, (v. g. except God or the state) it "becomes true. In that very propofition, "there is a mental reservation, the great re

σε

fuge of religious hypocrites, who accommo"date their confciences with their interefts."

Answer. The definition is juft, but proves nothing. For refervations were introduced in order to deceive the perfon to whom we swear. But the magistrates, in whofe presence we take the oath, know that by authority whatsoever, is not meant the authority of God, nor that of the ftate.

Seventhly: "The laft paragraph of the teft, "tends to contradict an established doctrine of "the Catholic church, which is, that in the "church there is vefted a power of examining into the nature of oaths, (which are acts of religion) and of determining whether they 66 be, or be not lawful."

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Anfwer.

The teft does not deprive the

church of the power of examining into the law

fulness oaths.

The last paragraph is entirely

levelled

levelled against the difpenfing power: the right of examination is quite out of the queftion. Without thinking that I can be acquitted of this declaration, &c.

દર

Eighthly. "A fundamental article of the Catholic faith, is the infallibility of the church. "This article is reversed by these words with"out thinking that I am or can be acquitted of any σε part of this declaration, although the pope or σε any authority whatsoever, fhall declare that it "was null and void from the beginning. In fine, "in taking the oath, a Catholic must reafon in "this manner. It is an article of my faith, that

the church is infallible, the pillar of truth, "fays St. Paul, which the powers of hell can

never overthrow, according to the promise of "Chrift. Now fhould the church declare, that this oath is null and void from the begin

ning, I bind myfelf by oath not to believe her. Is this confiftent with the principles of "a Catholic? To believe that the church is

an infallible guide, and to bind himself by a "folemn oath not to believe her although the "fhould define contrary to his opinion!"

Answer. A Catholic fhould fooner expire on the wheel, than take an oath implying an abjuration of any point of his religion. We have not here a permanent city, and in fuffering with uprightness and integrity for confcience

fake,

fake, we expect a better. We know that life is fhort, that the Chriftian is condemned to the crofs, and that the pampered tyrant, as well as the oppreffed flave, muft appear naked at the awful tribunal of Jefus Chrift.

We are not to court the favours of government at the expence of confcience neither does the oath impofe fuch a rigorous condition.

The words," without thinking that I am or "can be acquitted of this declaration, although "the pope, or any authority whatsoever, shall "declare that it was null and void from the

beginning" these words, I fay, mean no more than that you are convinced of the truth of what you fwear; and that, in case of a difpenfation you think yourself ftill bound to keep your oath. For the words, "acquitted,

abfolved," regard the 'difpenfing power, Now that the doctrines mentioned in the declaration, are not our real principles, has been fufficiently proved; and reafon, as well as religion, informs us, that a difpenfation granted against the law of God, or good morals, "can"not acquit or abfolve us before God and man." "It is not a faithful difpenfation, " fays St. Bernard, "but a cruel diffipation." "Non fide"lis difpenfatio, fed crudelis diffipatio.'

* De Difpenfatione et Præcepto.

Ninthly:

Ninthly: "Let us fuppofe that the church "fball declare the aath null and void from the be"ginning, you bind yourself by oath not to "believe her; and thus renounce your religion "under cover of loyalty."

Answer. I do not bind myself by oath not to believe the church in her doctrinal decifions: I only fwear that "I do not think myself ac"quitted or abfolved" of my obligations, by a difpenfation granted by the pope, &c. The laft paragraph, as I remarked before, is entirely levelled against the difpenfing power.

Our legiflators know, that the infallibility of the church is a tenet of Roman Catholics. By the very preamble of the act, they enable us to give public affurances of our allegiance, without prejudice to our real principles. In fwearing that "I do not think myfelf acquitted of this "declaration, although the pope or any au"thority whatsoever, fhall declare that it was "null and void from the beginning," I do not mean to deny the infallibility of the church, nor the authority of God, nor even the fupreme authority of the ftate: and the magistrate, in whofe prefence I fwear, knows that it is not my intention. As there is no defign on one part, nor deception on the other, I neither renounce my faith, nor perjure myself, although

the