letter
t o a
Roman Catholic k.
Y
O U have heard ten thoufand Stories of us,
who are commonly called Proteftants, of
which, if you believe only one in a thou¬
fand, you mud think very hardly of us;
But this is quite contrary to our Lord's
Rule, Judge not that ye be not judged; and has many ill
Confequences, particularly this, It inclines us to think
as hardly of you. Hence we are on both Sides lefs
willing to help one another, and more ready to hurt
each other. Hence brotherly Love is utterly deftroyed .-
And each Side looking on the other as Monfters, gives
Way to Anger, Hatred, Malice, to every unkind Af-
fedtion: Which have frequently broke out in fuch
A 2 inhuman
i
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inhuman Barbarities, as are fcarce named even among
the Heathens.
2. Now can nothing be done, even allowing us on
both Sides to retain our own Opinions, for the foft-
ning our Hearts towards each other, the giving a check
to this Flood of Unkindnefs, and reftoring at leafl fome
fmall Degree of Love among our Neighbours and
Countrymen ? Do not you wifh for this ? Are you not
fully convinced, That Malice, Hatred, Revenge,
Bitternefs, whether in us or in you, in our Hearts or
yours, are an Abomination to the Lord ? Be our
Opinions right or be they wrong, thefe Tempers are
undeniably wrong. They are the broad Road that
leads to Deftru&ion, to the nethermoft Hell.
3. I do not fuppofe all the Bitternefs is on your
Side. I know there is too much on our Side alfo.
So much that I fear many Proteftants (fo called) will
be angry at me too, for writing to you in this Man¬
ner ; and will fay, " "Lis fhewing you too much
" Favour ; you deferve no fuch Treatment at our
" Hands."
4. But I think you do. I think you deferve the
tenderefl Regard I can {hew, were it only becayfe
the fame Goo has raifed you and me from the Dull
of the Earth, and has made us both, capable of Lov¬
ing and Enjoying him to Eternity : Were it only be-
caufe the Son of God has bought you and me with
his own Blood. How much more, if you are aPer-
fon fearing God (as without Queftion many of you
are) and ftudying to have a Confcience void of Offence
towards Go d and towards Man ?
5. I fhall therefore endeavour as mildly and in-
offenhvely as I can, to remove in fome meafure
the Ground of your Unkindnefs, by plainly declaring
what our Belief, and what our Practice is : That you
may
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may fee, we are not altogether fuch Monflers, as per.
haps you imagined us to be.
A True Proteftant may exprefs his Belief in thefe,
or the like Words.
6. As I am allured, that there is an infinite and in¬
dependent Being, and that it is impoflible, there (hould
be more than One, fo I believe, that this One God
is the Father of all Things, efpecially of Angels and
Men : That he is in a peculiar Manner the Father of
thofe, whom he regenerates by his Spirit, whom he
adopts in his Son, as Co-heirs with him, and crowns
with an Eternal Inheritance: But in a ftill higher Senfe,
the Father of his only Son, whom he hath begotten
from Eternity.
I believe this Father of All, not only to be able to
do whatfoever pleafeth him, but alfo to have an eter¬
nal Right, of making what and when and how he
pleafeth, and of Poflefling and Difpofing of all that
he has made : And that he of his own Gopdnefs,
created Heaven and Earth, and all that is therein.
7. I believe that Jefus of Nazareth was the Savi¬
our of the World, the MeJJiah fo long foretold : That
being anointed with the Holy Ghoft, he was a Pro¬
phet, revealing to us the whole Will of God : That he
was a Prieft, who gave himfelf a Sacrifice for Sin,
and ftill makes Interceflion for Tranfgrclfors : I hat
he is a King, who has all Power in Heaven and in
Earth, and will reign till he has fubdued all I hings to
himfelf.
I believe, he is the proper, natural Son of God,
God of God, very God of very God : And that he
is the Lord of All, having abfolute, fupreme, univer-
fal Dominion over all Things. But more peculiarly
cur Lord, who believe in him, both by Conqueft, Pur-
chafe and voluntary Obligation. •
A3 1 believe
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I believe, that He was made Man joining the Hu¬
mane Nature with the Divine in one Perfon : Being
conceived by the lingular Operation of the Holy Ghoft,
and born of the Blefled Virgin Mary, who as well af¬
ter as before Ihe brought him forth, continued a pure
and unfpotted Virgin.
I believe, he fuffereed inexpreflible Pains both of
Body and Soul, and at laft, Death, even the Death of the
Crois, at the Time that Pontius Pilate governed Judea,
under the Roman Emperor : That his Body was then
laid in the Grave, and his Soul went to the Place of fe-
parate Spirits: That the third Day he rofe again from
the Dead ; that he afcended into Heaven ; where he
remains in the midft of the Throne of God, in the
higheft Power and Glory, as Mediator, till the End of
the World, as God, to all Eternity: That in the
End, he will come down from Heaven, to judge every
Man according to his Works ; both thofe who fhall be
( then alive, and all who have died before that Day.
8. I believe the infinite and eternal Spirit of God,
equal with the Father and the Son, to be not only per¬
fectly Holy in himfelf, but the immediate Caufe of all
Holinefs in us ; enlightning our Underftandings, rec-
tifying our Wills and AffeCtions, renewing our Na¬
tures, uniting our Perfons to Chrift; alluring us of the
Adoption of Sons, leading us in our Actions ; purify¬
ing and fanCtifying our Souls and Bodies, to a full and
eternal Enjoyment of God.
9. I believe that Chrift by his Apoftles gathered un¬
to himfelf a Church, to which he has continually ad¬
ded fuch as fhall be faved : That this Catholick,
that is, univerfal Church, extending to all Nations and
all Ages, is Holy in all it's Members, who have Fel-
lowfhip with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghoft :
That they have Fellowlhip with the Holy Angels, who
conitantly minifter to thefe Heirs of Salvation: And
i - with
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with all the living Members of Chrilt on Earth, as
well as all who are departed in his Faith and Fear.'
10. I believe God forgives all the Sins of them
that truly repent and unfeignedly believe his Holy
Gofpel; and that at the laft Day, all Men lhall rife
again, every one with his own Body.
I believe, that as the Unjult lhall after their Refur-
redlion, be tormented in Hell for ever, fo the Jult lhall
enjoy inconceivable Happinefs in the prefence of God
to all Eternity.
11. Now is there any Thing wrong in this? Is
there any one Point which you do not believe as well
as we ?
But you think we ought to believe more. We will
not now enter into the Difpute. Only let me alk, If
a Man lincerely believes thus much, and prattifes ac¬
cordingly, can any one poffibly perfuade you to
think, That fuch a Man lhall perilh Everlafting-
ly?
" But does he prattife accordingly ?" If he docs
not, we grant all his Faith will not fave him. And
this leads me to Ihew you in few and plain Words,
What the Practice of a True Protellant is.
I fay, a True Protellant: For I difclaim all com¬
mon Swearers, Sabbath-breakers, Drunkards: All
Whore-mongers, Liars, Cheats, Extortioners; in a
Word, all that live in open Sin. Thefe are no Prote-
flants : They are no Chriltians at all. Give them their
own Name: They are open Heathens. 1 hey are the
Curfe of the Nation, the Bane of Society, the Shame
of Mankind, the Scum of the Earth.
is. A true Protellant believes in God, has a full
Confidence in his Mercy, fears him, with a filial
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Fear, and loves him with all his Soul. He worfhips
God in Spirit and in Truth, in every Thing gives him
Thanks ; calls upon him with his Heart as well as his
Lips, at all Times and in all Places: Honours his holy
Name and his Word, and ferves him truly all the Days
of his Life.
Now, do not you yourfelf approve of this ? Is there
any one point you can condemn ? Do not you pradlife,
as well as approve of it ? Can you ever be happy, if
you do not ? Can you ever expedt true Peace in this,
or Glory in the World to come, if you do not believe
in God thro1 Chrift, if you do not thus fear and love
God ? My Dear Friend, conlider. I am not perfuad-
ing you to leave or change your Religion ; but to fol¬
low after that Fear and Love of God, without Which
all Religion is vain. I fay not a word to you about
your Opinions, or outward Manner of Worfhip. But
I fay, all Worfhip is an Abomination to the Lord, un-
lefs you worfhip him in Spirit and in Truth, with your
Heart as well as your Lips, with your Spirit and with
your Underflanding alfo. Be your Form of Worfhip
what it will; but in every Thing give him Thanks :
Elfe it is all but loft Labour. Ufe whatever Outward
Obfervances you pleafe ; but put your whole Truft in
Him : But honour his holy Name and his Word, and
ferve him truly all the Days of your Life.
14. Again. A true Proteftant loves his Neighbour,
that is, every Man, Friend or Enemy, good or bad,
as himfelf, as he loves his own Soul, as Chrift loved
us. And as Chrift laid down his Life for us, fo is
he ready to lay down his Life for his Brethren. He
{hews this Love, by doing to all Men in all Points, as
he wou'd they fhou'd do unto him. He Loves, Ho¬
nours, and obeys his Father and Mother, and helps
them to the uttermoft of his Power. He honours and
obeys the King, and all that are put in authority under
him. He chearfully fubmits to all his Governors,
Teachers, Spiritual Pallors and Mailers. He behaves
lowly
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lowly and reverently to all his Betters. He hurts to
body by Word or Deed. He is tr ie and juft in all his
Dealings. He bears no -Malice or Hatred in his Heart.
He aoitains from all evil Speaking, Lying and Slan¬
dering, neither is Guile found in his Mouth. Know¬
ing his Body to be the Temple of the Holy Ghoft, he
keeps it in Sobriety, Temperance and Chaflity. He
does not delire other Men's Goods, but is content with
that he hath, labours to get his own Living, and to
do the whole Will of God in that State of Life unto
which it has pleafed God to call him.
15. Have you any thing to reprove in this ? Are
you not herein even as he ? If not (tell the truth) are
you not condemned, both by God and your own Con-
fcience ? Can you fall fhort of any one point hereof,
without falling Ihort of being a Chriftian ?
Come, my Brother, and let us reafon together. Are
you right if you only love your Friend and hate your
Enemy ? Do not even the Heathens and Publicans fp ?
You are called to love your Enemies: To blefs them
that curfe you, and to pray for them that defpightfully
ufe you and perfecute you. But are you not dilbbedi-
ent to the heavenly Calling ? Does your tender Love
to all Men, not only the Good, but alfo the Evil and
Unthankful, approve you the Child of your Father
which is in Heaven ? Otherwife whatever you believe
and whatever you pradlife, you are of your Father the
Devil. Are you ready to lay down your Life for your
Brethren ? And do you do unto all, as you wou d they
lhou'd do unto you ? If not, do not deceive your own
Soul. You are but a Heathen Hill. Do you Love,
Honour, and Obey your Father and Mother, and
help them to the utmoft of your Power ? Do you Ho¬
nour and Obey all in Authority ? All your Governors,
Spiritual Pafto.s and Matters ? Do you behave lowly
and reverently to all your Betters ? Do you hurt no
Body by Word or Deed ? Are you True and Juft in
all your Dealings ? Do you take care to pay whatev >.r
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you owe ? Do you feel no Malice, or Envy or Re¬
venge, no Hatred or Bitternefs to any Man P If you
do, it is plain, you are not of God ; for all thefe are
the Tempers of the Devil. Do you fpeak the Truth
from your Heart to all Men, and that in 1 endernefs
and Love ? Are you an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is
no Guile ? Do you keep your Body in Sobriety, Tem¬
perance and Chaftity, as knowing it is the 'I emple of
the Holy Ghoft, and that if any Man defile the
Temple of God, him will God deftroy ? Have you
learned-in every State wherein you are, therewith to be
content ? Do you labour to get your own Living,
abhorring Idlenefs as you abhor Hell Fire ? The Devil
tempts other Men : But an idle Man tempts the Devils.
An idle Man's Brain is the Devil's Shop, where he is
continually working Mifchief. Are you not flothful
in Bufinefs ? Whatever your Hand finds to do, do you
do it with your Might ? And do you do all, as unto
the Lord, as a Sacrifice to God, acceptable in Chrift
Jefus.
This, and this alone is the old Religion. This is
true, Primitive Chriftianity. O when fhall it fpread
over all the Earth ! When fhall it be found both in us
and you ? Without waiting for others, let each of us,
by the Grace of God, amend One.
16. Are we not thus far agreed ? Let us thank God
for this, and receive it as a frefh token of his Love.
But, if God flill loveth us, we ought alfo to love one
another. We ought, without this endlefs jangling
about Opinions, to provoke one another to love and
to Good Works. Let the Points wherein we differ
fland afide : Here are enough wherein we agree,
Enough to be the Ground of every Chriftian Temper,
and of every Chriftian Action.
O Brethren, let us not ftill fall out by the way. I
hope to fee Tou in Heaven. And if I praflife the Re¬
ligion above defc*bed, you dare not fay, I fhall go to
Hell.
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Hell. You cannot think To. None can perfuade you
to it. Your own Confcience tells you the contrary
Then if we cannot as yet think alike in all Things, at
leaft we may love alike. Herein we cannot poflibly'do
amifs. For of one Point none can doubt a Moment,
God is Love : And he that dwelleth in Love, dwell-
eth in God and God in Him.
17. In the Name then, and in the Strength of God,
let us refolve, Firft, not to hurt one another: To do
nothing unkind or unfriendly to each other, nothing
which we wou'd not have done to ourfelves. Rather
let us endeavour after every Initance of a kind, friend¬
ly and chriftian Behaviour towards each other.
Let us refolve, Secondly, God being our Helper,
To fpeak nothing harlh or unkind of each other.
The fure Way to avoid this, is to fay all the Good
we can, both of and to one another : In all our Con-
verfation, either with, or concerning each other, to ufe
only the Language of Love: To ipeak with all Soft-
nefs and Tendernefs; with the moft endearing Expref-
fion, which is confident with Truth and Sincerity.
Let us, Thirdly, refolve, To Harbour no unkind
Thought, no unfriendly Temper towards each other.
Let us lay the Axe to the Root of the Tree j let us
examine all that rifes in our Heart, and fuffer no Dif-
pofition there, which is contrary to tender Affedtion.
Then fhall we eafily refrain from unkind Actions and
Words, when the very Root of Bitternefs is cut up.
Let us, Fourthly, endeavour, To help each other
on, in whatever we are agreed leads to the Kingdom.
So far as we can, let us always rejoice ro fliengthen
each other's Hands in God Above a'!, ler us each
take heed un:o himfelf, (fifice eacti muft give an Ac¬
count of himfelf to God) That he fall not fhort of
the Religion of Love ; that he b, not condemneu m
that he himfelf approveth. O let you and I, (wnat-
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ever others do) prefs on to the Prize of our high Calling:
That being juftified by Faith, we may have Peace with
God through our Lord Jefus Chrift: That we may
rejoice in God through Jefus Chrift, by whom we have
received the Atonement: That the Love of God may
be fhed abroad in our Hearts, by the Holy Ghoft
which is given unto us. Let us count all Things but
lofs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Jefus
Chrift our Lord : Being ready for him to fufter the
Lofs of all Things, and counting them but Dung that
we may win Chrift.
1 am,
Tour Affectionate Servant,
for Chriffs Sake.
Dublin, July
18th 1749.
FINIS.