"which is added,"-(we copy the words of the titlepage),-"Roman-catholic Principles in reference to "God and the King."—All these editions, except that of 1686, have been seen or ascertained to exist, and can be referred to by Mr. Kirk: that of 1686 is in the possession of the writer.

Doctor Claggett quotes The Principles in his letter to Mr. Gother, (p. 17 & 33); they are also noticed in "The Loyalty of Popish Principles."

They are not noticed by Mr. Dodd, as he was satisfied with mentioning the work of Mr. Gother, to which they were appended. It is observable that he makes particular mention of one half at the most of Mr. Gother's controversial writings: after quoting a few of them, he says generally, "with many other polemical "discourses."

Bishop Coppinger gave at least twelve editions of "The Principles," first in his "Exposition," and afterwards in his "True Piety;" to both of these he affixed his name and ecclesiastical titles. The late bishop Walmesley declared, that "this exposition of the ca"tholic doctrine was composed with great judgment and "precision." The letter in which the prelate expresses this opinion, is at Buckland in Berkshire, the seat of the Throckmorton family.

Eleven or twelve more editions of " The Principles' were published between the years 1748 and 1813; making in the whole not fewer than thirty-five editions. There also have been several abridgments of them; as those inserted in various editions of "Ward's Errata," a work highly commended by bishop Milner, and in "The Real Principles of the Catholics," by bishop Milner's predecessor, bishop Hornyhold.

Finally, a copy of it, accompanied by a letter dated the 9th of May 1788, was presented to Mr. Pitt by the committee of English catholics. To give this copy the

greater authenticity, the hon. James Talbot, then vicar apostolic of the London district of the English romancatholics, signed the first page of it with his name.

We have observed, that the tract of which we are speaking, was first published in 1680. It bore this title: "Roman-catholic Principles, in reference to God " and the King, explained in a letter to a friend, and "now made public, to shew the connection between the "said Principles and the late Popish Plot. By a Well "Wisher of his Country. Matt. xxii. v. 21. Render to "Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God "the things which are God's. London, printed in the

year 1680." The author professed "to give a true and "candid explanation of his belief in the main points of "faith and loyalty, controverted between catholics and "protestants, as they severally relate to God and the "king." The sacred articles of the Trinity, and the divinity of the Son of God, not being points controverted between catholics and protestants of the established church of England, these doctrines are not noticed in "The Principles," as these notice only the points in controversy between the churches.

An appeal to this tract, as containing an exposition of catholic doctrine on all the points in question, has been frequently made by the parliamentary advocates of the catholic cause, and there was a general wish to see it. In 1815, the last and best edition of it was published by Mr. Kirk. He has prefixed to it a laboured and curious inquiry respecting the author of it, and its various editions. By a variety of arguments and inferences, he makes it appear highly probable, that the author of it was the reverend father James Corker, abbot of the benedictine abbey of Lambspring in Germany, a priest, tried for Oates's plot, and acquitted; thus answering the description given of the author by viscount Stafford on his trial.

From Mr. Kirk's edition, "The Principles" were printed verbatim by the writer of these pages in his "Confessions of Faith," and in the first and second editions of these Historical Memoirs.

This impression has since been the subject of many pages of cavil, by bishop Milner, in Appendix A. to his "Supplementary Memoirs of English Catholics." Respect for episcopal authority would, if this had been the only episcopal opinion which had been on it, have induced the writer to withhold from re-printing it in the present edition of his Memoirs: but, when he considered that it was edited six times by Mr. Gother, twelve times by bishop Coppinger, and once partially by bishop Horny hold; and that it was explicitly approved by bishop Walmesley, and solemnly signed by bishop James Talbot, he thought that these venerable persons were much more likely to speak the voice of the church than the one discordant voice, however respectable, of Dr. Milner.

It also occurred to him that the writer's omission of them in the present edition, after he had inserted them in the former, might, with those who were not acquainted with the real cause, give rise to inferences unfavourable to the catholic cause.

It should be added, that a work, which professes to give an historical account of any religious denomination of persons, must be imperfect, unless it gives an account of their religious tenets; and these, so far as the loyalty of the English roman-catholics is concerned, are nowhere expressed better than in "The Principles."

It should also be observed, that Dr. Milner's objections do not apply to any of those positions in "The Principles," in which the loyalty of the catholics, or, in other words, their duty to their king, is concerned.

For these reasons, but without the slightest disregard of Dr. Milner's authority, or disrespect for his opinions,

we shall now insert "The Principles," from Mr. Kirk's edition of them.

We shall subjoin the creed of pope Pius the fourth, as it contains the creed, the whole creed, and nothing but the creed, of the roman catholic-church.

ROMAN-CATHOLIC-PRINCIPLES IN REFERENCE
TO GOD AND THE KING*.

(Printed from Mr. Kirk's edition of them: from which all the notes and citations in the notes underneath the text, are copied.)

SECTION I.

Of the Catholic Faith and Church in general.

1. THE fruition of God, and the remission of Redempsin, are not attainable by man, otherwise than in tion in Christ; and by the merits of Jesus Christ, who gratuitously purchased them for us.

2. These merits of Christ, though infinite in applicable

by faith.

Dr. Coppinger

This is the original title of the work.

styles them simply, Principles of Roman-catholics: and Mr. Berington had before substituted country for king; and sections for paragraphs.

The reader will recollect, that the object of the author of this tract was, to give 66 a true and candid explanation of his "belief, and judgement, in the main points of faith and loyalty, "controverted between catholics and protestants, as they seve"rally relate to God and the king."-The other essential doctrines of christianity, being admitted on both sides, are supposed throughout, and not unfrequently alluded to in the body of the work.

2. Are applied to us, chiefly, by the sacraments, which presuppose, and indispensably require in us a right faith.-Dr, C. True Piety, ninth edit. Cork, 1813.

which is

themselves, are not applied to us, otherwise than by a right faith in him”.

3. This faith is but one entire, and conformable but one; to its object, which is divine revelation; and to which faith gives an undoubting assent.

supernatu

ra! :

4. This revelation contains many mysteries, transcending the natural reach of human understanding. Wherefore,

By the di- 5. It became the divine wisdom and goodness to vine provi- provide some way or means, whereby man might dence, to be learnt; arrive to the knowledge of these mysteries; means visible and apparent to all; means proportioned to the capacities of all; means sure and certain to all". 6. This way or means is not the reading of scripprivate in- ture, interpreted according to the private judgment i terpretation of of each disjunctive person, or nation in particular; scripture; but,

not from

but from

m

7. It is an attention and submission to the voice the univer- of the catholic or universal church, established by sal church, dilated, Christ for the instruction of all; spread for that continued, end through all nations', and visibly continued in and guided by the Holy the succession of pastors and people through all Ghost for ages. From this church, guided in truth" and secured from error in matters of faith, by the promised assistance of the Holy Ghost, every one may learn the right sense of the scriptures, and such

that end.

d 1 Cor. i. 20.-Matt. xvi. 17. John, ix. 41. g Matt. xi. 25.

i 2 Pet. iii. 16.-1 John, iv. 1, 6. 1 Matt. xxviii. 19.

* Matt. xviii. 17.—Luke, x. 16.

Psal. ii. 2.-Isa. ii. 2. and xlix. 6.-Matt. v. 14.

" John, xvi. 13.-Matt. xvi. 18.—J Tim. iii. 15.

6. Private reason or judgment of each particular person or nation.-Dr. C.