the benefit of' it, though he might not be able to interpret the laws o4' the realm relating to the prerogative of which he enjoyed the benefit. He who make8 religion a personal thing, and who really believe8 the truth which bringa peace and salvation to hi8 soul, knows with infulli- ble certainty what that truth i8; and if he were asked question8 about it every day of his life, he would give substantially the same answers. Christians of this description are perfectly certain and unanimous in the profession of their faith, which i5 not a mero system 0t' speculative nions, 80und or unsound, not a mere agreement in the understanding of a few doubtful passages of Scripture; but an entire submission of the heart, mind, and conduct, to the will of C, od, as plainly made known by- the general tenor of his word. All such speak of religion in the same rmmuer; it teaches them to pray for the same th?ngs: with regard to the essence of Christianity, they are of the same mind. Thus they are o?/s CAr/st. This is the true religion as it exists in those who be- !ieve the gospel, that is, who are (?hristians in the Bible sense. True religion, in the estimation of Roman Catholics, is a system of opinions and dogmas which a man must believe upon the authority of the church, without presuming to think differently upon any of them from what the church is pleased to dictate. Roman Catholics sometimes boast of the d?atA-/?d converz4os.? of Protestants to their faith. They also glory in the conversion of the duke of Brunswick, for whom the priests blasphemously and wickedly' proposed to suffer damnation in his stead, provided he should be damned by embracing popery. Such a substitution is contrary to express Scrip- ture, which says, "Every man shall give an account of HmSELF to God." It also proves the wickedness of their convert, and his total want of all genuine religion; for were he truly pious, he would find enough in Christ's grace without having recourse to such a refuge of//es. e 6. An exclusive right to the Holy Scriptures is the bold claim of the (?hurch of Rome. To place this in its true light, we have only to quote tim following words of Bishop Milner, which assert that we Protestants have no right to r?ad, ?tudy, or even possess the word of God. In his twelfth letter, of his End of C, ontroversy, iu reply to his Protestant cor- respondents, he utters the following arrogant sentiments: "Before I enter on the discussion of any po? of Scripture with you or your friends, I am bound, dear sir, in conformity with my rule of faith, as explained by the fathers, and particularly b?r Tertullian, to protest against your or their right to argue from Scrtpture, and, of course, to deny any need there is of my replying to any objection which you may draw from it; for I have reminded you that no/n'opAecy of $cript,?re of any/n/vats /nterpretat/on; and I have proved to you that the whole business of the Scriptures belongs to the church; [the clergy ;] she has preserved them; she vouches for them; and she, alone, by confronting them, and by the help of tradition, authoritatively explains them. Hence it is impossible that the real sense of Scripture should ever be against her and her doctrine; and hence, of course, I might quash every objec- tion which you can draw from any passage in it by this short reply,-- m/?ta?/rs ?m/n g. Nevertheless, as d?ar/ty ?ar?th a//tk/?, and never fail?th, ! will, for the bet?r ?afisfying of you and your frienda, quit my �* On this point see M'Oavin's Protestant, vol. ii, pp. 595-541. 1 oigitize by Goodie
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