Wesley Corpus

But this no Romanist can do, not only while he holds that “no faith is to be kept with heretics;” but so long as he acknowledges either priestly absolution, or the spiritual power of the Pope. “But the late Act,” you say, “does not either tolerate or encourage Roman Catholics.” I appeal to matter of fact. Do not the Romanists themselves understand it as a toleration? You know they do. And does it not already (let alone what it may do by and by) encourage them to preach openly, to build chapels, (at Bath and elsewhere,) to raise seminaries, and to make numerous converts day by day to their intolerant, persecuting principles? I can point out, if need be, several of the persons. And they are increasing daily. But “nothing dangerous to English liberty is to be appre hended from them.” I am not certain of that. Some time since, a Romish Priest came to one I knew, and, after talking with her largely, broke out, “You are no heretic; you have the experience of a real Christian l’” “And would you,” she asked, “burn me alive?” He said, “God forbid!--unless it were for the good of the Church !” Now, what security could she have had for her life, if it had depended on that man? The good of the Church would have burst all the ties of truth, justice, and mercy; especially when seconded by the absolution of a Priest, or (if need were) a Papal pardon. If any one please to answer this, and to set his name, I shall probably reply.--But the productions of anonymous writers, I do not promise to take any notice of. I am, Sir, Your humble servant, CITY-RoAD, JOHN WESLEY. January 21, 1780. To THE EDITORS OF THE FREEMAN's JOURNAL, SEv ERAL months since, Father O'Leary, a Capuchin Friar in Dublin, published Remarks upon this Letter in the Freeman's Journal. As soon as these were sent to me, I published a Reply in the same Paper. When I read more of his Remarks, printed in five succeeding Journals, I wrote a second Reply; but did not think it worth while to follow, step by step, so wild, rambling a writer. Mr. O'Leary has now'put his six Letters into one, which are reprinted in London, with this title, “Mr. O'Leary's remarks on the Rev. Mr.