in the composition of the work itself: and though it is impossible for me to guess exactly what you would say, if we were conversing together, I hope that the questions and remarks which I shall put in your mouth, will be such as you would not be sorry to have used, and not very unlike those which your own minds would suggest. Let us, then, if you please, begin our first conversation, or Dialogue; in which you will bear the name of Reader, and myself that of Author: and may God bless the result to both of us. CONTENTS. Containing an Account of the Author; how the Errors of the Roman Catholic Church made him an Infidel; and how, to avoid her tyranny, he came to England, Origin and true principles of Protestantism; calum- nies of the Romanists against Luther; origin and pro- gress of the spiritual tyranny of the Pope; existence of true Protestants long before Luther; persecution PAGE DIALOGUE 1. CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR ; HOW THE ERRORS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH MADE HIM 2 AN INFIDEL; AND HOW, TO AVOID HER TYRANNY, HE CAME TO ENGLAND, WHERE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE 'PROTESTANT RELIGION MADE HIM AGAIN EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY, Reader. WELL, Sir, since you are pleased to wish for a conversation with me, may I make bold to ask who you are ? Author. By all means, my good friend. The truth is, that, unless you know who I am, and by what strange and unforeseen events I happen to be here, our conversation would be to little purpose. You must, then, know, in the first place, that I am a Spaniard, and have been regularly bred and ordained a Catholic Priest. R. Indeed, Sir! Perhaps you are one of those poor creatures, who, I hear, have been driven out of Spain for having tried to give it a better government. A. No, my friend: I have been now (1825) more than fifteen years in England, and came hither of my own accord, though I left behind every thing that was most dear to me, besides very good preferment in the Church, and the prospect of rising to higher places of honour and emolument. R. Why, Sir! that appears strange. A. So it must to those who are not acquainted with the evil from which I resolved to B escape, at the expence of every thing I possessed in the world. You, my dear friend, have had your lot cast in a country which is perfectly free from religious tyranny. Were it possible for you to have been born in Spain, and yet to possess the free spirit of a Briton, you would not wonder at the determination which made me quit parents, kindred, friends, wealth, and country, and cast myself upon the world at large, at the age of five and thirty, trusting to my own exertions for a maintenance. All this I did merely to escape from religious tyranny. R. You quite surprize me, sir! But I wish you would tell me what it is you mean by that religious tyranny, which you seem to have feared and hated so strongly. A. You will easily understand it as I proceed with the story of my own life. I was born of gentle parents, and brought up with great care and tenderness. My father's family was Irish, and the English language being spoken by him and many of his dependants, I learned it, when a boy; and thanks to that circumstance, which I consider as a means employed by Providence for my future good, I can now thus freely converse with you. Both my father and mother were Roman Catholics, extremely pious from their youth, and devoted to works of charity and devotion during the whole course of their lives. It was natural that such good parents should educate their children in the most religious manner; and they spared themselves no pains to make me a good Roman Catholic. My disposition was not wayward; and I grew up strongly attached to the sort of religion which |