Historic Sketch would necessarily | civil privileges, as men and citizens, to be elected to places of profit and trust, (and we are afraid that to many of them it is none of the least of their grievances that they are Dissenters) let them evince the virtue of consistency by acknowledging the same right to Catholics, or at least be neutral on the point; for to plead strenuously in defence of their own civil rights, and at the same moment to oppose the granting of those same rights to any of their fellow subjects is extremely disingenuous. carry us to an inconvenient length, and we must content ourselves with recommending it to the attention of our readers. The intricate and difficult question of "Catholic Emancipation," almost unavoidably forces itself upon his consideration. After a rapid glance at the conduct of that apostate church in times that are past, and the efforts that have more recently been made to obtain that desideratum, Mr. Williams delivers his opinion upon the subject in the following terms. “The_plain inference from these facts is, that Popery is essentially and unalterably intolerant; and Mr. Plowden, a Catholic of high respectability, had good reason for asserting that modern Catholics differ not one iota from their predecessors," either in their faith or practice. Semper eadem is their motto, and should be our memento: and the question now is, Whether the principle of self-preservation and defence does not necessarily oblige Protestants, to restrain those, who neither would nor could allow them toleration? The only case in which religious freedom can be dangerous, is when a religion is permitted, which itself will tolerate no other; but would rekindle the fires of persecution, and deluge the country with the blood of its best citizens ! "Still I would not restrain even these bigots in their faith or worship: I would only deny them the power of interrupting ours; and this appears to me the only restraint of which they now have to complain. Catholic emancipation has, in my view, no reference to the religious toleration of Catholies, but only to their admission into offices of power and influence in the state. With respect to the exercise of their worship, their ecclesiastics have only to enter their names at the Sessions of the peace, and they are at full liberty to perform their functions, without control." and also Upon the whole, in taking our leave of these Essays, we must acknowledge that, without adding very materially to our previous stock of information, we have read them with no inconsiderable satisfaction. The author appears to much greater advantage as an Historian and advocate for the righteous cause of religious liberty, than as a Theologian. Had he allowed himself more time in the composition of his work, and had his numerous avocations afforded him the opportunity of more frequently revising and more deliberately metho-. dizing his materials, 'tis probable that the volume had appeared with greater advantages than it now does. But even in its present state it contains a mass of valuable information, which and profit by readers of every demay be consulted with both pleasure scription. If in á former article we found ourselves called upon to dissent from some things advanced in it, we now offer our apology in language which Johnson used concerning Jonas Hanway" We had no desire to offend him, and if his character may be estimated by his book (of which indeed we have no doubt) he is a man whose failings may well be pardoned for his virtues." In the extract now made, we believe the Essayist has correctly stated what The Constitution of the Baptist Churches, is the deliberate judgment of the adapted to promote the purity and great body of Dissenters in this king- extension of the kingdom of Christ. dom, on the spirit of BY JOSEPH IVIMEY. London. Butpopery ton and Son. Price 4d. on the question in dispute. He re16. 1816. pp. marks that Protestant Dissenters are MR. IVIMEY has been rather unfor subject to most of the same restraints tunate, in making his debut before the and disabilities which Catholics are public with this little pamphlet. Thus though candour compels him to it commences: "My kingdom" said admit that they object to these dis- our Lord, is not of this world! This abilities:" and here it is that we divine axiom clearly describes. the think them inconsistent. If they church of Christ, in its nature, origin, cannot content themselves with sim-government, subjects, laws, and priple toleration, but must plead their Ivileges." Now if it be true as is hers VOL, III, X of the difficulties he should have to affirmed that all this is comprised in our Lord's negative assertion, we must be allowed to say that it comprises much more than meets either the eye or the ear of ninety-nine readers out of a hundred! We admit, with Mr. Ivimey, that the kingdom of Christ is spiritual in its nature-and divine in its origin. That Christ is the alone head and lawgiver in itthat his subjects are real believersits laws contained in the scriptures-principles upon which our churches and that its privileges comprehend all the blessings of life and godliness. But how all these particulars are fairly deducible from our Lord's simple negation, it is beyond our comprehension to devise; and sure we are that were we required to adduce proof of then, we should find it absolutely necessary to call in the aid of other texts of scripture. But some persons can both preach and write with very little expense of thought. The object of the pamphlet before ns is to evince the peculiar fitness of the constitution of the Baptist Churches to advance the interest of the kingdom of Christ in the world; and the author chants his Io triumphe in the sublimest strains of self-complacency. It would indeed give us inexpressible pleasure to join him in the chorus, could we do it with a good conscience; but regard to the highest authority compels us to hesitate, and to ask how does this matter really stand?" Our great masters in the art of reasoning tell us that there are two very distinct, and even opposite methods of arriving at a conclusion on any particular point. One of them consists in reasoning from the cause to the effect; this is the straight for ward way of arguing a priori. But there is another method of doing it which logicians call reasoning a posteriori, and which consists in arguing backwards, from the effect to the cause. Mr. Ivimney has adopted this latter mode in the pamphlet before us. He does not set out with shewing that the Baptist churches of the present day are constituted "agreeably to the pattern shewn in the mount" or, in other words, that they resemble the churches planted by the apostles of Christ, under divine inspiration, and from thence inferring their peculiar and exclusive fitness to promote the interest of Christ's kingdom in the world. He wa nrobably well apprised are founded, are calculated to promote these ends, let them be zealously and scrupulously maintained, and whatever there is in them subversive of these, let it be for ever abandoned." p. 5. Now on this we remark, that Mr. Ivimey has not told us, who is to be judge in this matter—who shall decide on the tendency of these principles to produce the alledged ends? Has every distinct church the power of appointing such rites and ceremonies as in its wisdom, it may think to be conducive to these valuable purposes? So Mr. I. seems to admit-and herein he joins issue with the church of England and with the church of Rome also! The only difference consists in the opinion of the respective judges. One thinks such and such a mode very proper and conducive to the ends in question, while the other dissents from that opinion and condemns it. But all the while it is no divine law that regulates the judgment; it is merely the wavering fancies of men! And we honestly declare that were we to adopt Mr. Ivimey's principle and act upon it, we do not see any settled place of rest for us short of the bosom of the church of Rome. Mr. Ivimey himself, we are sure, does not see the subject in this point of view; for we have that confidence in him as to be persuaded that if he were once brought to see, that the apostolic churches were intended to be patterns in their constitution, order and worship, to the churches of Christ in every age until he come again, he would study to find out the rule of those churches and make conscience of imitating them. How far he can stand acquitted to his own conscience in suffering himself to be carried away by "the traditions of the elders," to the utter neglect of the will of his Divine master, is a matter that deserves his most serious consideration. Religious and Literary Entelligence. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. From the Rev. Mr. Pinkerton to the President. Warsaw, Oct. 22, 1816. Next "My last contained a few hurried lines from Posen, which, I trust, is destined ere long, to become the seat of a Bible Society. Hearing, while in that city, that His Imperial Majesty, Alexander, was at Warsaw, and intended to take his departure for St. Petersburg on the 18th, I quitted Posen; and travelling eastward, through the dreary woods and sandy plains of West Poland, arrived in this city on the 12th, in the afternoon. day I lost no time in calling on Prince Czartorisky, and several of the other promoters of the Polish Bible Society, that I might know the state of the Bible cause at Warsaw. The Prince expressed great joy at my arrival, and related to me the particulars of what had been done in my absence, which are shortly as follows: No sooner had the Archbishop of Gnezn been informed of what had taken place during my visit to Warsaw in 1814, than he immediately began to exert all his influence, as Primate of Poland, to prevent the final establishment of the Polish Bible Society. The friends of the cause, however, remained true to the solemn promise they had given on the 26th of August 1814; and on Gnezn being ceded to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna, the influence of the Primate became less feared and felt in this quarter: so that a General Meeting of the promoters of the Bible Society was again convened in the palace of Prince Czartorisky, on the 9th of May last, when the Polish Bible Society was finally and unanimously established. Prince Czartorisky was elected President; the Catholic Bishops of Kuavia, Cracow, and Culm, with one of the Uniat Bishops, were chosen Vicepresidents; also twelve Directors (of whom three are Protestants), two Secretaries, and a Treasurer. The subscriptions were immediately opened, and upwards of 5000 florins subscribed; and a full account of the formation of the Society, its principles and object, was just preparing to be laid before the public; when"-[Here Mr. Pinkerton describes an interference which occasioned a very serious embarrassment." Finding things in this situation, and much cast down in my mind, 1 turned to my God and Saviour, whose I am, and whom I serve, and earnestly prayed for direction. I then came to the resolution of laying the whole state of the matter before His Imperial Majesty, without loss of time, and of humbly praying him to become the Patron of the Polish Bible Society. For this purpose, I called upon His Excellency Mr. M. Novozilzoff, on the 14th instant, and presented him with a letter of recommendation from Prince Galitzin, which, with one to the Secretary of State, Count Soboleosky, and thirteen to other distinguished personages in the different provinces through which I intend to travel, on my return to St. Petersburg, I found in the hands of the postmaster here, awaiting my arrival. I met with a most kind reception from Mr. M. Novozilzofi, to whom I represented the whole matter; and entreated him to submit it to His Imperial Majesty, if possible, before his departure. His Excellency perfectly agreed with me in considering this as the most proper step which could be taken, in the present state of the business, and kindly charged himself with laying it before the Emperor. He begged me to call again upon him the next morning, when he hoped to be able to give me an answer. It was not, however, till the 16th, that I again saw His Excellency; when, to my great joy, he informed me, that His Imperial Majesty had been graciously pleased to put himself at the head of the Polish Bible Society. 66 Having obtained this important information, I immediately communicated it to most of the leading men; in consequence of which it was agreed to call a meeting as soon as possible after the departure of His Imperial Majesty." Mr. Pinkerton goes on to relate, that a public meeting took place on the 21st, where the chief Nobility and Clergy of the Greek Church assembled to form such an institution as was wanted for the supply of Poland, a country more destitute of the Holy Scriptures than any other in Christendom. To show this fact in its true point of view, Mr. P. (in a letter from Cracow, dated August 7, 1816.) addressed one of the Secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in these very remarkable words: "I shall give you the following authentic and interesting facts respecting the different translations and editions of the Bible in the Polish language, in order that you may have a just conception of the lamentable scarcity of the Scriptures in the Polish nation. These facis, by the assistance of the learned Professor Bantke, I have collected with great care from the records contained in the ancient library belonging to the University of this city. "There have appeared, at diferent times, five translations of the Bible in "I trust the Committee, after duly considering the facts above stated, (respeeting the almost total want of the Bible, in the surrounding countries,) will approve the proposals I have made in their name, and gladly pass a grant of 5001. for encouraging the formation of a Bible Society in the ancient metropolis of Poland (which, though in a fallen state, has still upwards of 24,000 inhabitants, and 60,000 more attached to its present form of government), and also for printing an edition of 10,000 Bibles and Testaments for the benefit of the Polish nation." the Polish language. The first is called hands of the people, that it never wat the Old Cracow Bible, and was printed reprinted in Poland-and has undergone in this city in 1561. Many passages of only two other editions out of the counthis translation being taken from the try, viz. at Breslau, in 1740, and 1771. Bohemian Protestant Bible, it never re- Now, the whole amount of copies in ceived the sanction of the Pope. How- these three editions of the authorized ever, it went through two other editions, Polish Bible is supposed not to have exin 1575 and 1577, both printed in Cracow. ceeded 3000. Thus there have been A copy of this version is now very rarely printed only about 3000 Bibles in the to be met with, even in the best libraries space of 217 years, for upwards of of the nation. The second version, which 10,000,000 of Catholics, who speak the appeared in 1563, is called the Radzivil Polish language! Hence it is, that a copy Bible. It has never gone through more is not to be obtained for money; and that than one edition. Prince Radzivil, at you may search 100,000 families in Galiwhose expence this translation was made | cia and Poland, and scarcely find one and printed, was a Protestant; but he Bible.” dying soon after its publication, his son, a Catholic, carefully bought up the edition and burnt it! The third version, by Simeon Budney, is called the Socinian Bible. This translation went through two editions, the first in 1570, and the last in 1572;-both printed at Niesweiz, in Lithuania. Of this version, it is said, that only three copies exist, in distinguished libraries. The fourth translation into Polish is the Danzig Bible. This version was made and printed by the Reformed Church in Danzig, and has passed through seven editions; viz. Danzig 1632, Amster dam 1660, Halle 1726, Koenigsberg 1737, Brieg 1168, Koenigsberg 1799, and Berlin 1810. The first edition was, for the most part, burnt by Wonzyk, Archbishop of Gnezn; and the Jesuits have always exerted themselves to buy up and destroy such copies of the other five editions as came in their way; so that it is concluded that of the six editions of the Protestant Bible, printed between 1632 and 1779, at least 3000 copies have been thus wilfully destroyed. The whole six editions, probably, did not amount to more than 7000 copies; so that if the copies which have been worn out by length of time were added to those which The reader will perceive that the pre have been destroyed, it would be found, ceding columns contain only an Extract that (with the exception of the seventh from Mr. Pinkerton's Letter-and that edition, printed in Berlin, at the expense there are several chasms in it which reof the British and Foreign Bible Society, main to be filled up. He alludes to a and consisting of 8000 copies) the exist- powerful authority which was interposed ing number of Bibles, among the 250,000 at the request of the Archbishop of Protestants, who speak the Polish lan- Gnezn, to prevent his (Mr. Pinkerton's) guage, must be very small. But, alas! benevolent object of establishing a Bible how much smaller still is the number of Society in Poland, being accomplished. copies which exist among the Catholics The mystery, however, which hangs over of Poland will appear from the follow-this affair, will be sufficiently unravelled ing facts. The only authorized version of the Holy Scriptures, in Polish, is that which was translated by Jacob Wuiek, approved by Pope Clement VIII. and first published in this city in 1599. The translation is considered, among competent judges, to be among the best European versions made from the Vulgate, and the language, though in some degree antiquated, is yet pure and classical. "Such care, however, has been taken to keep even this authorized version of the Holy Scriptures from coming into the Mr. P. not only promised that 5001. should be given by the Committee of the Bible Society in London, to encourage the formation of a similar institution at Cracow, but he also stated to the meeting at Warsaw, that he was authorised to grant the like sum of 5001. to assist in promoting their benevolent labours. "This piece of information," adds he, 66 was heard with expressions of universal joy and gratitude; and it was accordingly resolved to write to the Society in Lon don, and transmit them a copy of the constitution and proceedings of the Polish Bible Society." by the following Bull against Bible Societies in general, and against that in Poland in particular, issued by the present Pope, with the full concurrence of all the Cardinals of the Romish See. PAPAL BULL AGAINST BIBLE | mirably, to the view of the faithful, and SOCIETIES. Issued from Rome June 29th, 1816, by POPE PIUS VII. to the Archbishop of GNEZN, Primate of Poland. POPE PIUS VII. VENERABLE BROTHER, Health and apostolic benediction. In our last letter to you we promised, very soon, to return an answer to yours; in which you have appealed to this Holy See, in the name also of the other Bishops of Poland, respecting what are called Bible Societies, and have earnestly inquired of us what you ought to do in this affair. We long since, indeed, wished to comply with your request; but an incredible variety of accumulating concerns have so pressed upon us on every side, that, till this day, we could not yield to your solicitation. We have been truly shocked at this most crafty device, by which the very foundations of religion are undermined; and, having, because of the great importance of the subject, convened for consultation our venerable brethren, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, we have, with the utmost care and attention, deliberated upon the measures proper to be adopted by our Pontifical authority, in order to remedy and abolish this pestitence as far as possible. In the mean time, we heartily congratulate you, venerable brother; and we commend you again and again in the Lord, as it is fit we should, upon the singular zeal you have displayed under circumstances so hazardous to Christianity, in having denounced to the Apostolic See, this defilement of the faith, most imminently dan gerous to souls. And although we perceive that it is not at all necessary to excite him to activity who is making haste, since of your own accord you have already shown an ardent desire to detect and oppose the impious machinations of these innovators; yet, in conformity with our office, we again and again exhort you, that whatever you can achieve by power, provide for by counsel, or effect by authority, you will daily execute with the utmost earnestness, placing yourself as a wall for the House of Israel. For this end we issue the present letter, viz. that we may convey to you a signal testimony of our approbation of your laudable exertions, and also may endeavour therein still more and more to excite your pastoral solicitude and vigilance. For the general good imperiously requires us to combine all our means and energies to frustrate the plans, which are prepared by its enemies for the destruction of our most holy religion: whence it become an Episcopal duty, that you first of all | expose the wickedness of this nefarious scheme, as you already are doing so ad openly publish the same, according to the rules prescribed by the Church, with all that erudition and wisdom in which you excel; namely, "that Bibles printed by heretics are numbered among prohibited books, by the Rules of the Index, (No. II. and III.) for it is evident from experience, that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit:" (Rule IV.) And this is the more to be dreaded in times so depraved, when our holy religion is assailed from every quarter with great cunning and effect, and the most grievous wounds are inflicted on the Church. It is, therefore, necessary to adhere to the salutary decree of the Congregation of the Index (June 13th, 1757), that no versions of the Bible in the vulgar tongue be permitted, except such as are approved by the Apostolic See, or published with annotations extracted from the writings of the holy fathers of the Church. We confidently hope that, even in these turbulent circumstances, the Poles will afford the clearest proofs of their attachment to the religion of their ancestors; and this especially by your care, as well as that of the other Prelates of this kingdom, whom, on account of the stand they are so wonderfully making for the faith committed to them, we congratulate in the Lord, trusting that they all will very abundantly justify the opinion which we have entertained of them. It is moreover necessary that you should transmit to us, as soon as possible, the Bible which JACOB WUIEK published in the Polish language with a commentary, as well as a copy of the edition of it lately put forth without those annotations taken from the writings of the holy fathers of our Church, or other learned Catholics, with your opinion upon it; that thus, from collating them together, it may be ascertained, after mature investigation, what errors may lie insidiously concealed therein, and that we may pronounce our judgment on this affair for the preservation of the true faith. Proceed, therefore, venerable brother, to pursue the truly pious course upon which you have entered: viz. diligently to fight the battles of the Lord in sound doc trine, and warn the people intrusted to your care, that they fall not into the snares which are prepared for them, to their everlasting ruin. The Church waits for this from you, as well as from the other Bishops, whom our epistle equally concerns; and we most anxiously expect it, that the deep sorrow we feel on ac count of this new species of cares which an enemy is sowing so abundantly, may, by this cheering hope, be somewhat alleviated: and, we heartily invoke upon you and your fellow-Bishops, for the good of the Lord's flock, ever increasing spi |