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troubles of a heart which desires no consolation from present popularity, and which looks only to futurity for posthumous reward.

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pal opinions.

To my companions in Newgate, I would read S. Ber- and how far nard's book de consideratione, in which he shews that he would popes, and much less bishops, have no absolute autho- have regarded parity over God's heritage, but are themselves subject to the laws of the Church. I would read for them the letter of Gerbert, who was afterwards Pope Silvester II., to the Archbishop of Sens, in which he says 'Does it follow that because Pope Marcellinus apostatized to Paganism we are to follow his example.' I say decidedly, that if a pope offend against a brother Christian, and being repeatedly admonished, hearken not to the Church, he ought to be held as a pagan: the higher his rank, the more tremendous his fall. What if he should declare us unworthy his communion, unless in obedience to him we violate the rules of justice, he cannot therefore separate us from the communion of Jesus Christ."

Rome not

meddlers, on

with the

It may be necessary for the sake of some The discireaders to observe here, that the Doctors of the ples of Church of Rome are by no means the only ones the only who claim for the sovereign spiritual authority religious" in their communion this power of deposing secu- grounds, lar princes. The true scriptural and catholic doc- rights of trine, that the great KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF royalty. LORDS, "from whom ALL power is derived," is also "the ONLY ruler of princes," is not less unsavoury in the nostrils of others far removed in many respects from any liking for the general doctrines of Rome. The truth of this remark will be sufficiently obvious from a reference to the murder

Specimen of a "Covenanter's" Bull of de

position of

a king of England.

And it

of King Charles the First of England.
may likewise be very strikingly illustrated from
the sentiments expressed in a Declaration, pub-
licly set forth by some of the Covenanting party
in Scotland a few years afterwards. A portion
of it, as a specimen of the views of that party on
the subject in question, is here subjoined. The
original document itself was read aloud, and
then posted up at the cross of Sanquhar, by
Mr. James Renwick, a most eminent preacher
and leader of the Covenanters, on the 28th of
May, 1685.

"A few wicked and unprincipled men having proclaimed James Duke of York, though a professed Papist and excommunicated person, to be king of Scotland, &c., we the contending and suffering remnant of the pure Presbyterians of the Church of Scotland, do here deliberately, jointly and unanimously protest against the foresaid proclamation, in regard that it is choosing a a murderer to be a governor, who hath shed the blood of the saints; the height of confederacy with an idolater, which is forbidden in the law of God; contrary to the Declaration of the Assembly of 1649, and to many wholesome and laudable acts of Parliament; and inconsistent with the safety, faith, conscience, and Christian liberty of a Christian people to choose a subject of Antichrist to be their supreme magistrate. And further, seeing bloody Papists, the subjects of Antichrist, are become so hopeful, bold, and confident under the perfidy of the said James Duke of York, and Popery itself like to be intruded again upon these covenanted lands; and an open door being made thereunto by its accursed and

abjured harbinger Prelacy, which these three kingdoms are equally sworn against, we do in like manner protest against all kinds of Popery in general, and particular heads, &c. &c. &c," all which expressions of sentiment Mr. James Renwick's biographer justifies by asking, "Was not the Revolution Settlement founded on the very principles contained in these declarations? And did not the whole nation do, in 1688, on a larger scale, what the Covenanters did on a small scale?"-Life of Mr. Renwick, pp. 88, 89. Vid. No. IV. sup.

between this

from Rome.

We have neither space, wish, nor need to en- The parallel ter on these questions here. Only it may be re- and similar marked, that, making full allowance for the dif- manifestoes ferences existing between the relative positions of the Church of Rome and the Covenanters, towards the Crown of these realms, there will remain, after all, a curious analogy between the recorded sentiments of these respective parties on the subject of regal excommunication, deposing power, &c.: in order to see which very clearly, it is only necessary to read over the words of the preceding declaration, substituting for "James, Duke of York, &c.," "the Princess Elizabeth, although a professed Protestant;" for "we the pure Presbyterians, &c.," we "Pius V., &c. ;" for "idolater," "heretic;" for "acts of parliament, &c.," "decrees and canons of the universal Church, or judgments and sentences of her most famous doctors, universities, &c. ;" for "prelacy," the "oath of allegiance," &c. &c.

No. LXIV.

Circumstances of

which oc

curred the

corded,

NOTICE OF ONE OF THE EARLY CONGREGATIONS OF THE MODERN
ROMAN CONNECTION IN IRELAND.

In that useful and interesting collection the the times in Desiderata Curiosa, (Dublin, 1762,) we find, (in vol. i. p. 394,) a very authentic and sufficiently transaction remarkable notice of the Sunday proceedings of below re- one of the primitive congregations of the modern Romish ecclesiastical organization in Ireland; proceedings which took place just at the time when arrangements were in a forward state of progress for extending their newly introduced episcopacy and priesthood throughout this island, and which, as illustrating in a very striking manner the condition of ecclesiastical affairs in the country at that time, appears well deserving of a place in this collection of records. The noas described tice we refer to occurs in the form of depositions taken before Sir Toby Caulfield, an individual well known to the reader of the history Oct. 22,1613. of Ireland at that period, as member for Armagh in the parliament of 1613, as one of the grantees who obtained lands in the Plantation, &c. &c. This document is transferred by Mr. Phelan to a note in his "Policy," (pp. 262, 263,) in his

in the deposition of Shane O'Donnelly.

own usual careless and random way of quoting. It is here inserted as given in the original work.

"The Examination of Shane McPhelomy O'Donnelly, taken before me Sir Toby Caul field, Knt., October 22, 1613.

friar, holds

the Co.

tions,

"Shane McPhelomy O'Donnelly saith, That about the T. McCrodend of May last past, upon the Sunday, he was at mass den, Romish at the Glynn in Bryan McGwyre's country between the a conventicounty of Fermanagh and Tyrone, where Tirlaugh cle on the McCrodden, a fryer there, lately come from beyond seas, borders of said the mass, and was preaching most part of the same Fermanagh. day; and in his sermon he declared that he was sent from the pope to persuade them that they should never His pious alter their religion, but take the pope to be their true exhortahead, and rather go into rebellion than change their religion; and that the English service proceeded from the seducement of the devil, and did earnestly exhort them upon pain of damnation, to stand on their keeping rather than alter their religion. At which mass there assembled (as he thinketh) 1000 people of all Fermanagh except himself and one Shane Roe O'Quinn, son to Cale O'Quinn, who accompanied Neale McTirlaugh, Nuis O'Neale of the Largye; which Neale McTirlaugh upon these speeches uttered by the friar, spake aloud, saying -God be thanked we heard this mass; God be blessed such a one as you came amongst us to give us this council; for our parts we will rather go into rebellion, and be eaten with dogs and cats, rather than go to the English service to hear the devil's words.' And the said Shane Roe O'Quinn said the very same words after him. And the fryer had at that day given him at the least two and copious hundred cows and garrons. This examinant, and one pelf, on this Dowaltagh O'Donnelly and Neal O'Flanigan, were pre

VOL. III.

21

occasion.

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