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unconsciously cut out for such indiscreet and not very high principled adventurers. But as long as Popery exists, her impostors will.
I now travel back to pp. 76-9 in order to notice an argument which should not escape. It belongs to an approved canon of sophistry, to wit, that of breaking the force of, or evading, a charge by a parallel, or similarity, meant to be complete as far as the argument is concerned. Mr. G. has found a parallel, and therefore a justification to his church, in the pecuniary provisions of the Anglican. This line the author has adapted from Dr. Milner, C. Butler, Esq. and Dr. Doyle, without naming either, and rather disguising his obligations. He has acted prudently. At least he might know, that in my Venality, pp. 80 — 6, I had given that fallacy due consideration, and I believe, a death's blow. And it is curious to observe how, of two mutually destructive defences of the Church of Rome, that of Fees of Office is exchanged in Mr. G.'s epistle for the more general and evasive term "compensation for services" — services, not likely to be extravagantly taxed, if rated at the valuation of Mr G., or according to the real worth of the trumpery published in the Romish annuals; but calling for very high esteem, and very costly remuneration, when understood in the good orthodox sense, as a release from sin, and a passport to the joys of paradise.
The class of Tax to which I have confined myself is that of the Penitentiary. In a catalogue, as authentic as authentic can be, to be discovered and published against the will and efforts of its authors, absolutions for various sins are included, and a price annexed to them. It is notorious, that such absolutions, and indulgences containing them, were put to sale, and vast sums collected in consequence. Those individuals who had, value received,-in spiritual graces, doubtless thought them worth something, as, if they were not deceived, they must do; and it is historically certain, that armies, (" truly penitent and contrite," as most armies, particularly Crusaders, must be!) went to the field of battle with the gay assurance, that, if they fell, their church's indulgences would blot out all their sin?, and carry them clean and straight to heaven. But it seems they reckoned without their host; for their host had a salro, which, were he called to account, he would be sure to produce. He had contrived certain reservations to save his credit. Just as if a banking company, with no capital, should issue fictitious notes to an enormous amount, thinking it quite enough to provide secret technical forms invented and used by themselves, such as would enable them to prove in a court of law, if called upon,
