to the contrary, we believe that they (the Romanists) do not differ from us in fundamentals. But let us see what it is the Pro

say

6

testants say. Some that Popish errors are damnable!' Let it be admitted, many errors are damnable which are not in fundamentals. Errors which are damnable in themselves, are often pardoned by the mercy of God, who looks upon His creatures with all their prejudices. Others say, that Popish and Protestant opinions are diametrically opposite.' That is certain: they are not all logomachies. There are a hundred diametral oppositions in opinion among the Romanists themselves, yet he will not confess that they differ in fundamentals."-" The word 'substantials' may either signify old substantials, believed and practised by all Churches, in all ages, at all times, which are contained in the Apostles' Creed-and thus our religion, and the Roman religion, are the same in substance : on new substantials, lately coined and obtruded upon the Church, as those articles which are comprehended in the Creed of Pius IV.—and in this sense, our religion and theirs are not the same in substance. The former substan

tials were made by God, the latter substantials devised by man.”*

Thus a man may be a sound and established Protestant, and still be charitable towards the Church of Rome. So think some of the most eminent of our modern divines: and thus is it with our politicians. No one could write stronger of the debasing nature of the Roman Catholic religion, as popularly accepted abroad,† than the late Lord Dudley and Ward, and yet he voted for the Roman Catholics in Ireland being placed on an equal footing with the

Archbishop Bramhall's Works," vol. ii. p 204. Oxford edition, 1842.

↑ See Letter XVIII, dated Florence, written to the Bishop of Llandaff, p. 115. In speaking, however, of the insult and degradation the Pope met with from Buonaparte, his Lordship says: "The Pope unites in himself all those qualities that most strongly engage the sympathy of mankind towards a sufferer :—age, simplicity, innocence, constancy, piety, and a station which is still considered, by a majority of Christians, as the most exalted and venerable upon earth; and yet he (Buonaparte) chose to treat him with such barbarity and insult, as would justly be counted shameful toward a malefactor under sentence of death."-Letter VIII, p. 45.

Protestants. And Lord Brougham very recently said, "It became necessary to express one's opinions distinctly, and he should therefore say, with respect to the errors of that form of worship, or religious faith, denominated Roman Catholic, that no one could surpass him in the strength of his dislike to the Roman system. He referred emphatically to the Roman policy which had been engrafted on the Catholic system. He should say nothing of those doctrines, or articles of faith which appertained to the salvation of the souls of men. They were sacred from his touch on the present occasion." And this very ground may be said to be taken by Archbishop Whately, the Bishop of Norwich, and the late Dr. Arnold.

But this question will be more widely discovered ere long to be a political and not a religious one. Even if it were a religious one, our love of toleration should teach us" because that a thing is not true, is not argument sufficient to conclude that he that believes it true is not to be endured;"* but it is a political question, and when we take upon ourselves the

* Jeremy Taylor.

paternal government of a people, we must not in reason and charity abuse and deteriorate the religion of that people, even though that religion were Mahometan instead of Roman Catholic. If we deny them privileges on account of their profession of religion, then, if their religion be ancient and dear to them, we must expect that they should endeavour to cast off that civil alliance which will not grant them religious liberty and when, as in the case of the Irish people, certain understood compacts have not been complied with, then the Repeal of the Union is inevitable, whenever there be but power to enforce the national will. Let us hope, however, that conciliation will be the object of any Prime Minister who may be potent in England, and that conciliation offered only on terms of perfect justice: then will be accomplished the noble desire of the Duke of Wellington-" I have told your lordships that there is no religion in this question: (endowment of Maynooth College,) but I say there is a great Christian principle; and I say that it is your duty not to persecute, and not even to appear to persecute !"

THE

EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE.

"After all the efforts of the Church, of Dissenters, and of other persons, both in high and low stations, the amount of ignorance existing, and which will continue to exist, was fearful."

LORD JOHN RUSSELL, July 17, 1846. "When the history of our times comes hereafter to be written, it will appear scarcely credible to posterity how great has been the supineness, and the neglect of the British Legislature with regard to education."

EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. CXLI.

LETTER I.

TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, M.P. My Lord,

I have just read the letter of the Rev. Dr. Hook to the Bishop of St. David's with satisfaction that the Vicar of Leeds should VOL. II.