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"Bishops and other Prelates. And we will, as one entire "and united body, forward by our counsels, actions and "devices, the advancement of his Majesty's Rights, and "the good of this Nation, in general and in particular oc"casions, to our power. And that none of us, in any "occasion whatsoever concerning the Catholic religion, or "the good of this Kingdom of Ireland, will in any respect single himself; or be or seem opposite to the rest of us; "but will hold firm and entire in one sense, as aforesaid,

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" &c."

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And now, if there were no other quarrel against you but this, which you make to be the principal and first ground of your Quarrel:-to wit, As so standing for the rights of your "Church," falsely so called, and for the rights of your "Archbishops, Bishops and Prelates," as to engage People and Nations into blood therefor :—this alone would be your confusion. I ask you, Is it for the Lay-fee," as you call it, or for the Revenue belonging to your Church, that you will after this manner contend? Or is it your Jurisdiction, or the exercise of your Ecclesiastical Authority? Or is it for the Faith of your Church? Let me tell you, Not for all or any of these is it lawful for the Ministers of Christ, as you would be thought to be, thus to contend. And therefore we will consider them apart.

For the first, if it were "St. Peter's Patrimony," as you term it,—that would be somewhat that you lawfully came by! But I must tell you, Your predecessors cheated poor seduced men in their weakness on their deathbeds; or otherwise unlawfully came by most of this you pretend

to.

'Not St. Peter's Patrimony, therefore, whosesoever it may be!' And Peter, though he was somewhat too forward to draw the sword in a better cause, yet if that

weapon, not being proper to the business in hand, was to

be put up in that case, hé must not, nor would he, have drawn it in this. And that blessed Apostle Paul, who said, "the labourer was worthy of his hire," chose rather to make tents than be burdensome to the Churches. I would you had either of those Good Men's spirits; on condition your Revenues were doubled to what the best times ever made them to your predecessors!-The same answer may be given to that of your "Power and Jurisdiction ;" and to that preeminence of Prelacy you so dearly love. Only consider what the Master of these same Apostles said to them: "So it shall not be amongst you. Whoever will be chief shall be servant of all!" For He himself came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And by this he that runs may read of what tribe you are.

And now' surely if these, that are outward things, may not thus be contended for; how much less may the Doctrines of Faith, which are the works of Grace and the Spirit, be endeavoured by so unsuitable means! He that bids us " contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints," tells us that we should do it by "avoiding the spirit of Cain, Corah, and Balaam ;" and by "building up ourselves in the most holy Faith," not pinning it upon other men's sleeves. Praying "in the Holy Ghost;" not mumbling over Matins. Keeping "ourselves in the love of God;" not destroying men because they will not be of our Faith. "Waiting for the mercy of Jesus Christ;" not cruel, but merciful!-But, alas, why is this said? Why are these pearls cast before you? You are resolved not to be charmed from "using the instrument of a foolish shepherd!" You are a part of Antichrist, whose Kingdom the Scripture so expressly speaks should be "laid in blood;" yea "in the blood of the Saints." You have shed great store of that already:—and ere it be long, you must all of you have "blood to drink ;" "even the dregs of the cup

" of the fury and the wrath of God, which will be poured

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In the next place, you state the "interest of his Majesty," as you say, 'for a ground of this War.' And this you hope will draw some English and Scotch to your party. But what "Majesty" is it you mean? Is it France, or Spain, or Scotland? Speak plainly! You have, some of you lately, been harping,-or else we are misinformed,upon his Majesty of Spain to be your Protector. Was it because his Majesty of Scotland was too little a Majesty for your purpose? We know you love great Majesties! Or is it because he is not fully come over to you in point of religion? If he be short in that, you will quickly find out, upon that score, another "Majesty." His Father, who complied with you too much, you rejected; and now would make the world believe you would make the Son's interest a great part of the state of your Quarrel.-How can we but think there is some reserve in this? And that the Son has agreed to do somewhat more for you than ever his Father did? Or else tell us, Whence this new zeal is? That the Father did too much for you, in all Protestant judgments,—instead of many instances let this be considered : what one of your own Doctors, Dr. Enos of Dublin 'says;' who, writing against the Agreement made between the Lord of Ormond and the Irish Catholics, finds fault with it, and says it was "nothing so good as that 'which' the Earl of "Glamorgan had warrant from the King to make; but

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exceeding far short of what the Lord George Digby had

warrant to agree 'to,' with the Pope himself at Rome, in "favour of the Irish Catholics."2 - I intend not this to you; but to such Protestants as may incline to you, and join with you upon this single account, which is the only ap

Read in your Bibles, and consider that! 2 Antea, vol. i. p. 273.

pearing inducement to them: 'to them I intend it,' seeing there is so much probability of ill in this abstracted. 'In this by itself so much probability of ill.' And so much certainty of ill in fighting for the Romish Religion against the Protestant; and fighting along' with men under the guilt of so horrid a Massacre. From participating in which Guilt, whilst they take part with them, they will never be able to assoil themselves, either before God or good men.

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In the last place, you are pleased,—having, after your usual manner, remembered yourselves first, and "his Majesty," as you call him, next; like a man of your tribe, with his Ego et Rex meus,-you are pleased to take the People into consideration. Lest they should seem to be forgotten; or rather you would make me believe they are much in your thoughts. Indeed I think they are! Alas, poor "Laity!" That you and your King might ride them, and jade them, as your Church hath done, and as your King hath done by your means, almost in all ages! — But it would not be hard to prophesy, That the beasts being stung and kicking, this world will not last always. Arbitrary power is a thing' men begin to be weary of, in Kings and Churchmen; their juggle between them mutually to uphold Civil and Ecclesiastical Tyranny begins to be transparent. Some have cast off both; and hope by the grace of God to keep so. Others are at it! Many thoughts are laid up about it, which will have their issue and vent.1 This principle, That People are for Kings and Churches, and Saints are for the Pope or Churchmen, as you call them, begins to be exploded;—and therefore I wonder not to see the Fraternity so much enraged. I wish "the People" wiser than to be troubled at you; or solicitous for what you say or do.

But it seems notwithstanding all this you would fain 'Paris City, A.D. 1789-95!

And to

have them believe it is their good you seek. cozen them, indeed and in truth, is the scope of your whole Declaration, and of your Acts and Decrees in your foresaid Printed Book. Therefore to discover and unveil those falsities, and to let them, 'the People,' know what they are to trust to from me, is the principal end of this my Declaration. That if I be not able to do good upon them, which I most desire, -and yet in that I shall not seek to gain them by flattery; but tell them the worst, in plainness, and that which I am sure will not be acceptable to you; and if I cannot gain them, I say,'-I shall have comfort in this, That I have freed my own soul from the guilt of the evil that shall ensue. And on this subject I hope to leave nothing unanswered in all your said Declarations and Decrees at Clonmacncise.

And because you carry on your matter somewhat confusedly, I shall therefore bring all that you have said into some order; that so we may the better discern what every thing signifies, and give answer thereunto.

You forewarn the People of their danger; which you make to consist: First, "in the extirpation of the Catholic Religion;" Secondly, "in the destruction of their Lives;" Thirdly, "in the ruin of their Fortunes."-To avoid all which evils you forewarn them: First, That they be not deceived by the Commander-in-Chief of the Parliament Forces: And in the next place,-having stated the ground of' your War, as aforesaid,—you give them your positive advice and counsel To engage in blood: And then' lastly 'you' bestow upon them a small collation in Four Ecclesiastical Decrees or Orders, which will signify as little, being performed by your spirit, as if you had said nothing. And the obligation that lay on you' to all this you make to be your Pastoral relation to them, "over your Flocks."

VOL. II.

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