Wesley Corpus

4. I am persuaded Mr. O'Leary is the first man that ever made the important discovery. But, before he is quite sure, let him look again into Father L'Abbe's Concilia Maxima, printed at Paris in the year 1672. The last volume contains a particular account of the Council of Constance; one of whose decrees (page 169) is, ' That heretics ought to be put to death, non obstantibus salvis conductibus Imperatoris, Regum, &c., notwithstanding the public faith engaged to them in the most solemn manner.' Who, then, can affirm that no such doctrine or violation of faith with heretics is authorized by this Council Without putting on spectacles (which, blessed be God, I do not wear) I can read a little Latin still. And while I can I must fix this horrid doctrine on the Council of Constance. 5. But, supposing the Council of Constance had never advanced this doctrine or the Church of Rome had publicly disclaimed it, my conclusion stands good till it is proved (1) that no priest has a power of pardoning sins; and (2) that the Pope has neither a power of pardoning sins, nor of dispensing with oaths, vows, promises, &c. Mr. O'Leary has proved neither of these. And what has he proved It is hard to say. But if he proves nothing, he either directly or indirectly asserts many things. In particular, he asserts:-- (1) 'Mr. Wesley has arraigned in the jargon of the Schools.' Heigh-day! What has this to do here There is no more of the jargon of the Schools in my letter than there is of Arabic. 'The Catholics all over the world are liars, perjurers, &c.' Nay, I have not arraigned one of them. This is a capital mistake. I arraign the doctrines, not the men. Either defend them or renounce them. 'I do renounce them,' says Mr. O'Leary. Perhaps you do. But the Church of Rome has never renounced them. 'He asperses our communion in a cruel manner.' I do not asperse it at all in saying these are the doctrines of the Church of Rome. Who can prove the contrary (2) 'Mr. O'Leary did not even attempt to seduce the English soldiery.' I believe it; but does this prove any of these three points ' But Queen Elizabeth and King James roasted heretics in Smithfield ' I In what year I doubt the fact.