made so horrible a use of the mistaken notion that unanimity is a good in itself, as the church of Rome. They have appropriated the term Catholic to their own pale, and branded with the name of heretic, all that are without it; and the latter title has made even the merciful deem it a crime to pity them, and the just, injustice to do them right; so closely allied in common minds are names to things. Unity* of opinion is indeed a glorious and a desirable thing, and its circle canno be too strong and extended, if the centre be truth; but if the centre be error, the greater the circum

places not only robbing the churches, burning the tithes, but trampling under foot the holy eucharist, that was consecrated by such, whom Pope Hildebrand had excommunicated.' The bishop adds: 'And must we, after all this, believe that the Roman See is the fountain of unity in the Catholic church! that all wars and rebellions arise by casting off subjection to the popes, when they themselves have been the great fomenters of rebellion, and the disturbers of the peace of Christendom.'

It is an admirable fetch of their policy, and which very much contributes to secure and enlarge their interest, the suiting religion to the various humours and inclinations of men. The great wisdom of the court of Rome,' says Dr. Stillingfleet, appears in this, that as long as persons are true to them in the main poin's, they can let them alone in smaller differences among themselves; and not provoke either of the dissenting parties lest they give them occasion to withdraw from their communion. They can allow different rites and ceremonies in the several orders of religion among them, and grant exemptions and privileges in particular cases; if they can but hold them fast, and render them serviceable to their common interest, it is enough.'

They make very different representations of religion, as the case may require; and, indeed, have provided wonderfully for the entertainment of all sorts of persons. What the Jewish rabbins say of their manna, that it had every kind of taste, either of oil, or honey, or bread, as would be most grateful to several palates; such a manna is popery, only it does not come froin heaven. If you be for pomp and glory, their worship cannot miss of giving full satisfaction. Their altars are adorned with cost'y paintings; hung with images of extraordin extraordinary saints; enriched with gold and pearl, and whatever can charm the spectator's eye: their pri priests officiate in costly habits; their churches resound with the choicest music, vocal and instrumental; and their public processions carry an air of magnificence, every way proper to amuse the minds of superstitious people. If, on the other hand, you are for severity, they can accommodate you; they know how exactly to fall in with that humour. You will hear amongst thein many notable ference, the greater the evil, and the strength of the parts serves only to give it an energy to be execrated, and a durability to be deplored.

harangues in commendation of voluntary poverty, vows of abstinence, penance, and mortification, by going barefoot, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and exercising the sharpest discipline towards the body. Glorious is the character of their St. Francis, whom they make the highest saint in heaven, because he made himself the poorest and vilest wretch on earth. If you are for strict morals, they have casuists for your purpose, that will talk seraphically, and carry things to an excessive height. If you are for greater liberties in practice, they can turn you to such as will condescend as much as you can desire, that will promise you salvation, though you have no other grace or qualification but that of subjection and obedience to the church. And it is by this and the like stratagems, that such multitudes are drawn into their net. This is one of the sorceries of the whore, by which so many nations are deceived.

It is a very great inducement to popery, and a special means of propagating it in the world, that they have contrived so easy a way of salvation. You may go to heaven if you live and die in the church of Rome, without either repentance towards God, or faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ; you need be at no pains to mortify your lusts and corruptions, to purify your heart, and govern your lives according to the laws of the gospel; what they call attrition, (and what that is you have been told,) with the sacrament of penance, and the absolution of a priest is sufficient. And you know how well they provide for the safety of any sort of cattle by holy fraternities. No less a man than their Gregory IX. says, that St. Francis obtained this privilege of God, that whoever had his habit on, could not die ill.And St. Francis says himself, that whoever loved his order in his heart, how great a sinner soever he was, he should obtain mercy of God. And in the like strain they talk (as you have heard) of other of their saints, and the societies called after their name. To enter among them, and wear their badge is a sufficient warrant for heaven, whether he be a saint, or the worst of sinners that has it.

I must not omit the great delusion of all, and that is, their tales of visions, apparitions, and miracles. If they find the people boggle a little at any of their opinions, and not so Criticism is like champaign, nothing more execrable if bad, nothing more excellent if good; if meager, muddy, vapid, and sour, both are fit only to engender colic and wind; but if rich, generous, and sparkling, they communicate a genial glow to the spirits, improve the taste, expand the heart, and are worthy of being introduced at the symposium of the gods. In the whole range of literature, nothing is more entertaining, and I might add, more instructive, than sound and legitimate criticism, the disinterested convictions of a man of sensibility, who enters rather into the spirit, than the letter of his author, who can follow him to the height of his compass, and while he sympathizes with every brilliant power, and genuine passion of the poet, is not so far carried out of himself as to indulge his admiration at the expense of his judgment, but who can afford us the double pleasure of being first pleased with his author, and secondly with himself, for having given us such just and incontrovertible reasons for our approbation. When death deprived the house of commons of the talents of Charles Fox, I conceive he did not leave behind him a more elegant classic in all that enlightened body. I once heard him say, that he was so idle at Eton, that he verily believed he should have made but little comparative progress in the Greek language, had it not been for the intense pleasure he received on his first taking up Longinus. It was lucky for me,' he would say, 'that I did not then know where to procure an English translation, and I never quitted him until I could read him with such facility as to derive more pleasure from his emarks upon Homer, than from the poet himself.' On mentioning this circumstance to an old Etonian, ne confirmed it by the following anecdote : he said hat on one occasion, by a wilful kind of mistake, Fox took his favourite Longinus, a book above his class, into the school-room, and it happened rather unluckily, that he was called upon to go through a portion of some other author appropriated to that day; he was not a little puzzled, and the master perceived his embarrassment- What book have you got there, sir?" said he; 'hand it to me.' On perceiving that it was a Greek copy of Longinus, 'Sir,' said the master, 'I shall punish you severely for having neglected to bring the right book, unless