,transcribed from the #ahdh ,hamilton1 ,adams and ,co4 edition by ,david ,price4 ,bible-,burning3 ,,the ,,substance ,,of ,a ,,sermon ,,preached ,,in ,,st4 ,,martin',s ,,church1 ,,birmingham1 ,,on ,,sunday ,,evening1 ,,dec4 #aj1 #ahdh2 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,john ,c4 ,,miller1 ,m4,a41 ,,rector ,,of ,,st4 ,,martin',s4 ,,in ,,consequence ,,of ,,the ,,burning ,,of ,a ,,school ,,girl',s ,,copy ,,of ,,the ,,authorised ,,version ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament1 ,,by ,a ,,priest ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,rome4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,hamilton1 ,,adams1 ,,and ,,co42 ,,wertheim ,,and ,,macintosh4 ,,birmingham3 ,,benjamin ,,hall4 ,price ,threepence1 or ,sixteen ,shillings per ,hundred4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author4 ,,visitation ,,sermon--,neglect of the ,holy ,spirit a ,main ,hindrance to ,ministerial ,success4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #b;d41 or #hs4 per hundred4 ,,visitation ,,sermon--,preaching3 a ,sermon preached in ,st4 ,philip's ,church1 ,birmingham4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #b;d41 or #hs4 per hundred4 ,,sermons 7,,twenty71 preached at ,bexley ,heath ,episcopal ,chapel4 #hvo4 ,price #ajs4 #f;d4 8,,thy ,,kingdom ,,come60 a ,sermon preached in obedience to the ,queen's ,letter1 for the ,society for the ,propagation of the ,gospel in ,foreign ,parts4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #f;d4 #hvo4 #as4 8,,holiness ,,unto ,,the ,,lord10 ,,upon ,,the ,,bells ,,of ,,the ,,horses3 a ,sermon on ,zechariah xvi4 #bj4 ,price #f;d4 #hvo4 #as4 8,,giving ,,thanks ,,always ,,for ,,all ,,things20 a ,sermon on ,ephesians v4 #bj4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #f;d4 #hvo4 #as4 ,,the 8,,little ,,maid20 a ,sermon on #b ,kings1 v4 #b-d4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #f;d4 #hvo4 #as4 ,,sermons 7,,fifteen71 preached at ,park ,chapel1 ,chelsea4 #a vol4 post #hvo4 ,price #fs4 #f;d4 8,,the ,,simplicity ,,that ,,is ,,in ,,christ20 a ,sermon on #b ,corinthians1 xi4 #c4 ,preached at ,park ,chapel1 ,chelsea4 ,published by ,request4 ,price #f;d4 #hvo4 #as4 ,,psalms ,,and ,,hymns for the ,sanctuary1 ,family ,altar1 and ,closet4 #abmo4 #bs4 ,,jeremiah xxxvi4 #bb1 #bc4 8--,and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him4 8,and it came to pass1 that when ,jehudi had read three or four leaves1 he cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth1 until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth40 ,,if among the vast multitude which is now thronging this sacred building1 there be one who has come up hither with the expectation that it would be my object to excite or fan a flame of bitter hostility against the members of the ,church of ,rome1 ,i trust that he will be disappointed4 ,if there be any who have come up hither from a feeling of idle curiosity1 it is my earnest prayer that they may not leave this ,church without obtaining a blessing1 though unsought by themselves4 ,it is now1 my beloved ,brethren1 and it has been this day1 my earnest and heartfelt prayer that1 while ,i discharge what1 perhaps mistakenly1 yet conscientiously1 ,i feel to be my bounden duty1 ,i may not forget that ,i am called upon as a minister of ,christ to manifest the spirit of my ,master2 and that while ,i speak the truth1 ,i may do it in love4 ,and if1 at the close of this discourse1 my memory should recall one bitter expression towards the members of that ,church whose corruptions ,i feel it my duty to expose1 no one in this congregation could deplore it more than the preacher himself4 ,may ,god1 in ,his infinite mercy1 send down ,his blessing on my present endeavours6 ,may ,he send on us the spirit of candour1 the spirit of love1 the spirit of faithfulness1 that while we strive1 as far as in us lies1 to 8live peaceably with all men10 we may not forget that there is one thing dearer than peace--,,his ,,truth6 ,i shall say but little on the text itself4 ,the roll which is here spoken of as having been cut and consumed by ,johoiakim was written1 as you will observe from the previous context1 by ,baruch1 at the dictation of ,jeremiah1 a prophet inspired of ,god2 and contained ,god's threatenings against the corrupt and degenerate ,jews4 ,when this roll had been read in the hearing of the king1 his conduct was that which is narrated in the text4 ,without further reference to my text1 ,i conceive that the most open and honourable manner in which ,i can proceed is1 first to read to you the simple account of the circumstance which has given rise to the delivery of this discourse4 ,some of my own dear people will remember with gratitude the ministrations of one of the ,clergy in this town1 now the ,incumbent of ,st4 ,peter's ,church1 who was for some months the senior ,curate of this parish4 ,that gentleman1 ,i need not say to you1 is of such unimpeachable integrity and ,christian character as not to admit of any doubt of the truth of his public statement4 ,a little girl attending the ,free ,industrial ,school which has been set on foot by my beloved and zealous brother the ,rector of ,st4 ,philip's1 became possessed1 it does not appear by what means1 of a copy of the ,protestant authorised version of the ,new ,testament4 ,to this ,testament ,mr4 ,greaves's ,letter has reference4 ,,to ,,the ,,editor ,,of ,,aris',s ,,gazette4 ,,sir--,i see in your paper of last ,monday a statement that a ,testament was burnt by a ,priest of the ,church of ,rome in a house in ,london ',prentice-street1 in this town4 ,i had written you a letter on the subject immediately on its occurrence2 but upon consulting with the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,grantham ,m4 ,yorke1 ,rector of ,saint ,philip's1 in whose ,free ,industrial ,schools the ,testament in question had been given to a little girl1 ,i determined first1 if possible1 to obtain the admission of the ,priest to what passed between us in conversation4 ,as1 however1 publicity has been given to the occurrence before ,i have had time to carry out my plans1 ,i think it best1 as the ,minister of the district in which ,london ',prentice-street is situated1 to write to you at once1 and say that the statement is strictly true4 ,the ,priest acknowledged to me that he burnt the ,testament1 and also declared that he would burn every ,bible or ,tract which he found in the houses of any of his people4 ,he also charged me never again to enter the house of a ,romanist in my district2 and upon my assuring him that ,i should pay no attention to his command1 and that the law of the land would protect my person1 he said he would order his people to use 8scurrilous0 language towards me1 and to offer me insult1 if ,i ventured to pass their doors4 ,upon my appealing to him1 and asking 8how he dared to burn the ,word of ,god80 he told me 8to go and preach in my pulpit1 and not to preach to him40 ,i merely state facts1 and leave your readers to draw their own inferences from them4 ,i remain1 ,sir1 your obedient servant1 ,,joshua ,,greaves1 ,incumbent of ,st4 ,peter's1 ,birmingham4 ,november #bi1 #ahdh4 ,now ,i have no desire to act dishonourably or uncandidly1 and therefore ,i feel it to be my duty to read a document put forth by the body of ,roman ,catholic ,priests in this town1 in reference to the above letter4 ,it was published in our local paper of yesterday morning4 8,we1 the ,catholic ,clergy of ,birmingham1 having seen it stated in a letter from the ,rev4 ,joshua ,greaves1 that one of our body had burnt a copy of the ,protestant version of the ,new ,testament1 found in the house of a ,catholic1 have no hesitation at once to admit the fact2 but wish at the same time to add that the act was regretted afterwards by the ,clergyman by whom it was done1 and strongly disapproved of by his brother ,clergy1 as soon as known4 ,justice1 however1 requires us to state that the ,catholics of ,birmingham had suffered constant and great annoyance from the interference of certain ,protestant ,clergymen or others1 their agents1 who frequently intrude themselves into the houses of poor ,catholics1 unsought for and uninvited1 for the purpose of perverting their faith4 ,it was with the knowledge that such a system was going on1 and under the excitement of the moment1 that the act1 which it is not attempted to justify1 was done4 ,we take this opportunity of stating that the ,catholic version of the ,sacred ,scriptures is considered by us as the only one authorised for circulation amongst our own people4 ,,bernard ,,ivers1 ,,thos4 ,m4 ,,leith1 ,,wm4 ,,molloy4 ,st4 ,chad's4 ,,george ,,jefferies1 ,,michael ,o',,sullivan4 ,st4 ,peter's4 ,j4 ,p4 ,,burke4 ,st4 ,mary's4 ,handsworth4 ,st4 ,chad's1 ,birmingham1 ,dec4 #g1 #ahdh40 ,the signatures include that of the priest who burned the ,testament4 #e ,now ,i have no doubt that two objections to my sermon will arise in many minds4 ,first1 ,i can quite imagine that some persons who are here1 and many more perhaps who are absent to-night1 may be disposed to say1 8,is it not unfair0--7,i am now speaking of an objection which might have been urged previous to the published statement of the ,priests17 8,is it not unfair to charge a whole body with the act of a solitary individual8 ,would it be fair to the ,church of ,england to identify her1 as a body1 with the indiscretion or sin of any one of her ministers80 ,if it were true that there were nothing in the doctrines or laws of the ,church of ,rome to identify her with this act1 then ,i should acknowledge the force of the objection2 ,i should fully acknowledge that it would be grossly unfair to charge on any body the act of an isolated individual1 unless there were something in the principles1 in the laws1 or in the practices1 of that body which accorded with it4 ,but a still stronger objection may occur to your minds1 after the acknowledgment of the ,romish ,priests4 ,you may say1 8,is not this document signed by the priest who burnt the ,testament8 ,would it not therefore be more generous and more ,christian1 when he who has done wrong acknowledges his error and expresses his sorrow1 to accept his apology and be silent80 ,this objection1 ,i feel1 must be answered4 ,now with regard to the reply of the 8,catholic ,clergy0 as they style themselves1 it admits the fact1 namely1 that a ,new ,testament was burnt4 ,and in candour we are to take it for granted that the ,priest expresses his regret for having said he would burn other ,bibles at any future time4 ,you will remark however1 by the way1 7though ,i shall not now dwell upon it17 that there is not a word of regret for the utterance of the threat of scurrilous and abusive language4 ,not one word is said in reference to this point--that a man calling himself a minister1 not of a branch of ,christ's ,church1 but of the ,catholic ,church1 tells a ,protestant ,clergyman1 in the precincts of his own parish1 in the house of one of his parishioners1 that though he shall not advise any to resort to violence against his person1 he shall encourage them to use scurrilous and insulting language towards him1 if he attempts to pass the door4 ,but to return to the burning of the ,testament4 ,making every allowance for the members of a ,church who regard the ,protestant version as erroneous1 ,i am prepared to show you that this is not a solitary instance of such proceedings in the ,romish ,church4 ,and therefore it is that1 notwithstanding the public expression of regret now read to you1 ,i feel justified in dwelling upon this point4 ,during the past week ,i received a visit from a ,protestant ,clergyman from ,ireland4 ,i was mentioning this incident to him1 and he began to narrate to me one or two other facts of a similar kind4 ,i appeared interested in the subject1 and1 without any solicitation on my part1 yesterday morning1 as ,i was reading the apology of the ,priests1 the post brought me a letter from this gentlemen1 wherein he narrates the circumstance which occurred in the parish of which he was once ,curate4 ,i should say1 that ,i have the names of place and persons in my hand and am quite prepared to give them up if necessary4 ,he says-- 8,when ,i was curate in the parish of --1 diocese of ,cork1 my esteemed rector the -- established a scriptural school in the parish of -- which was attended by a considerable number of ,roman ,catholic children4 ,a ,father -- the parish priest1 visited the house of a man named ,sullivan1 whose daughter went to our school4 ,mr4 -- asked how the little girl was improving1 and said he wished to hear her read4 ,she brought him her ,bible1 which he no sooner saw than he made a rush at her1 snatched it out of her hand1 called in the neighbours to warm themselves by the light of a 8,bible fire10 and then burned it1 and heaped the fire to make the blaze the brighter40 ,if any person present wishes to see the names he is perfectly at liberty to do so to-morrow morning at my house4 ,i merely mention the circumstance1 to show that the ,bible-burning in ,st4 ,peter's district is not a solitary instance4 ,before however ,i go to the main line of argument which ,i shall endeavour to pursue1 ,i will mention a fact which occurred in my own parish1 not a hundred yards from this spot1 the truth of which a person present is prepared to substantiate on oath4 ,one of my ,scripture ,readers1 in the course of his visits among the poor ,irish1 found a considerable number of them almost or entirely unable to read4 ,he came to me 7though teaching them to read was no part of his duty1 but merely to read to them7 to ask whether ,i should have any objection to his teaching them to read as they seemed willing to learn4 ,i allowed him to purchase a few elementary reading ,books2 not ,testaments or ,bibles4 ,he went three or four ,sundays1 and some of his scholars seemed willing and thankful to avail themselves of the privilege4 ,at last he found they began to look somewhat shy on him4 ,he told them to show the ,priest the books from which they were learning to read4 ,the books were produced1 and the priest said there was no harm in the books themselves but they would lead to the ,bible4 ,and1 as if to form a complete counterpart to the case in ,st4 ,peter's district1 as if scurrility and insult were to be added to the burning of ,god's ,word1 my ,scripture ,reader was actually kicked1 not by a ,priest1 but by an ,irishman1 as he went out of the ,court1 who used the strongest language1 and exclaimed 8,break his neck60 8,,it ,,would ,,lead ,,to ,,the ,,bible60 ,and these poor ,irish are doubtless still unable to read1 though had my ,scripture ,reader been permitted to pursue his labours1 there is no doubt that by this time they would have been fully able to do so4 ,before ,i pass on to the views and conduct of the ,church of ,rome in reference to her own versions1 ,i would bring before you the language in which ,rome speaks of our endeavours to circulate our ,scriptures4 ,you are invited to-night by a seasonable coincidence1 to attend a ,bible ,meeting in the ,school ,room of the very ,district in which the circumstance which gives rise to this discourse occurred2 and ,i trust if any of you are lukewarm about the ,bible ,society1 you will feel that it is high time for us to meet to circulate the ,word of truth1 when ,priests are burning it4 ,now what is the language of ,rome towards the ,bible ,society8 ,pius ,v,i,ith calls the ,bible ,society 8a most crafty device by which the very foundations of religion are undermined--a pestilence--a defilement of the faith most imminently dangerous to souls40 ,leo ,,xii4 declares of it 8,that it strolls with effrontery through the world1 contemning the traditions of the ,holy ,fathers1 and contrary to the well-known decree of the council of ,trent1 labours with all its might and by every means to translate or rather pervert the ,holy ,bible into the vulgar language of every nation1 from which proceeding it is greatly to be feared that what is ascertained to have happened to some passages may also occur with regard to others3 to wit that by a perverse interpretation the gospel of ,christ is turned into a human gospel1 or what is still worse into the gospel of the ,,devil40 ,to the same effect is the language of the present ,pope in one of his ,encyclical ,letters4 #h ,but ,i acknowledge that all this does not apply to the main point which ,i desire to urge this evening4 ,the question that now presents itself is 8what is the practice of the ,church of ,rome in reference to the possession of the ,scriptures by their people1 even in their own received versions40 ,and one of the reasons why ,i am not satisfied with this document issued by the ,romish ,priests1 is1 that it would seem to imply--7,i acknowledge it is not stated1 but ,i ask any man of common sense what would be the impression produced on his mind on reading this acknowledgment7 that the ,church of ,rome does circulate the ,scriptures generally8 ,i ask any candid man1 would not you conclude and infer from their words1 that the only objection of the ,romish ,church is to the circulation of what they consider erroneous versions1 but that they are endeavouring to circulate their own8 ,i appeal to your judgments whether what ,i say is not a fair and legitimate inference from their language4 ,i believe1 in my conscience1 that it is intended to convey that impression4 ,now let us examine carefully--and ,i earnestly crave your attention to this point1 my ,roman ,catholic hearers--what is the language of your ,church8 ,you shall not have my words4 ,i will give you the words of your own ,church4 ,and ,i presume ,i am not saying anything which a member of the ,church of ,rome will deny4 ,nor am ,i relying on an authority which the ,church of ,rome can now repudiate4 ,for before ,i read the extract which ,i am about to read to you from an ,italian writer1 it is necessary that ,i should prove to you that the writer is one fully recognised and endorsed by the ,church of ,rome4 ,it appears that on the #bfth of ,may1 being ,trinity ,sunday1 #ahci1 ,alphonsus ,liguori was canonised at ,rome1 that is to say1 he was admitted into the muster roll of the ,saints of the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,on the #ahth of ,may1 #ahjc1 ,pius ,,vii confirmed the decree of the sacred ,college of the ,jesuits1 which declared that all the writings of ,st4 ,alphonsus had been most rigorously examined1 and ,i beg you to mark what follows--8,that not one word0 7after this rigorous examination7 8not one word had been found worthy of censure40 ,i think then what ,i can bring forward from writings thus examined1 from writings which have been thus broadly endorsed and declared free from censure1 from the writings of a man who has been recently canonised1 may safely be dealt with as recognised by the ,church of ,rome4 ,many of you are aware that certain books are prohibited to her people4 ,there is a congregation called the 8,congregation of the ,index10 appointed to examine books to put them into the class of prohibited works4 ,will you believe the fact that 8,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god0--,protestants6 ,romanists6 let it sink deeply into your hearts--,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god6--not in the ,protestant translation1 not in a heretical version1 but the ,,word ,,of ,,god as received by the ,church of ,rome--is ,,in ,,the ,,romish ,,index ,,of ,,prohibited ,,books6 ,i do not ask you to take my word for a fact so incredible4 ,rome shall speak for herself4 ,here are the words of the ,index4-- 8,since it is manifest by experience that if the ,holy ,bibles are allowed everywhere without difference in the vulgar tongue1 more harm than good would arise from it on account of the rashness of men4 ,let the judgment of the ,bishop or inquisitor be abided by in this matter1 so that with the advice of the parish priest or confessor they may grant the reading of the ,bible in the vulgar tongue1 translated by ,catholic authors to those whom they shall have ascertained to be likely to derive no harm1 but rather an increase of faith and piety from this sort of reading1 which permission they must have in writing2 but if any one shall presume to read or possess them without such permission1 he may not receive absolution of his sins unless he first deliver up the ,bibles to the ordinary4 ,from ,pope ,pius #dth1 we have the following cautionary rule--,that since it is manifest from experience that if the ,bible be indiscriminately permitted in the vulgar tongue1 more injury than benefit will result through the rashness of men1 the use of ,catholic versions shall be granted by the voice of the priest or confessor to those alone who it is understood will not be hurt by the reading of them1 but will be advanced in faith and piety40 --8they may grant0--8shall be granted60--,man giving permission to read the ,bible6 ,that is1 on ,romanist principles1 if one of you1 my parishioners1 wants to read the ,bible1 he must come to me1 as his ,rector1 for permission--for a written certificate6 ,mark also the condemnation by ,pope ,clement ,,xi of a proposition made by an eminent writer 7,quesnel7 of the ,romish ,church4 8,it is useful and necessary in every time1 in every place1 and for every degree of persons1 to study and to know the spirit1 and piety1 and mysteries of the ,sacred ,scriptures40 ,this was laid down by ,quesnel1 and ,pope ,clement condemned it4 ,but ,i ask 8,is it a fact that in this very town1 where we have a considerable number of ,romanists1 the ,scriptures are disseminated in the ,romish version80 ,one of the excuses which might be urged for the ,priest is1 that the ,testament which was burnt by him was not the authorised version4 ,two or three weeks have elapsed since he burnt that one1 but has he given1 in its place1 one of his own ,testaments8 ,he had not done it up to yesterday morning4 ,what6 has he burnt the ,testament of a little child without the slightest restitution8 ,had ,i taken away what ,i deemed an erroneous version1 at least ,i should have gone to the first ,bible depository and should have said 8,at any rate1 if ,i take away what ,i consider erroneous ,i must supply what ,i think is right40 ,on his own showing1 he was bound to have given the child a ,new ,testament according to the ,romish version4 ,but it will be said1 8,there are many towns where you can buy the ,romish version of the ,scriptures at their booksellers40 ,i can attribute this to nothing else than that ,rome skilfully accommodates herself to circumstances of time and place4 ,this remark will be deemed uncharitable by many4 ,brethren1 it is not very easy to avoid the appearance of uncharitableness when speaking of the practises of the ,church of ,rome4 8,dr4 ,dens1 having given the ,fourth ,rule of the ,index1 and stated that it is strictly binding in ,romish countries1 says--#8,yea1 rather according to ,steyaeret1 the law 7#dth rule of ,index7 was received and hitherto observed 7with some variety1 according to the peculiar genius of nations71 in by far the greatest portion of the ,catholic world1 nay1 in the whole of that part of the world which is completely ,catholic3 it was more dispensed with only where ,catholics lived among heretics4'0 #aa;a ,where the ,protestant ,bible is extensively circulated1 there you will find the ,romish ,scriptures may be purchased4 ,but1 in the face of the hundreds here to-night1 ,i state it as a fact which may be substantiated by superabundant evidence1 that the ,church of ,rome is still1 as by her own showing she is not ashamed to own1 opposed to the general circulation of the ,word of ,god in the vernacular tongue1 even according to her own received version4 #aa;b ,and now let us inquire into the reasons for this conduct4 ,the first is1 as the words just quoted bear me out in asserting that they consider that danger and mischief would arise from the general circulation of the ,word of ,god among the masses of the ,people4 ,men and ,brethren6 ,i desire to put a bridle on my spirit and on my tongue to-night1 but when ,i hear a man telling me that the ,word of the living ,god--that that revelation which our ,heavenly ,father has graciously given to us his fallen sinful creatures1 to tell us of his love1 to make known his will1 and to declare the way of salvation--that this is to be denied to the masses of the people1 ,i feel within me 7,i trust a holy7 indignation4 ,why is it not the very glory of the ,word of ,god--is it not one of the best evidences of its adaptation to the wants of man--that while there are mysteries which neither a ,bacon1 nor a ,newton1 nor a ,locke could fathom1 and into which even an archangel can but desire to look--there are lessons which the simplest can fully understand1 which a ,timothy may learn at his mother's knees4 ,is it not a blessed and irrefragable proof of the fact that ,god intended all to have the ,bible--that the ,bible in its great and vital truths 7,i do not say its every mystery7 is open1 under the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit1 not merely to the ,priest or to the scholar1 but to the most ignorant of men8 ,and ,i will venture to assert that1 so far from the ,bible being above the comprehension of an uneducated man1 whenever you find such an one become a humble1 prayerful1 reader of the ,bible1 it expands and strengthens the powers of his mind4 ,yes6 ,you will find in the courts and alleys of this vast town1 many a man who could not discourse to you of this world's lore1 but his eye would kindle1 his mind would be all intelligence1 and his tongue all fluency1 as he began to talk of the wondrous themes of the ,word of ,god4 ,it is to me one of the strongest proofs that the ,bible is the ,word of ,god1 that the mind of the most ignorant cannot come into contact with it without becoming elevated thereby3--,the testimony of the ,lord is sure1 making wise the simple3--,the entrance of thy words giveth light2 it giveth understanding unto the simple4 ,but a second reason for the non-circulation of the ,written ,word by the ,church of ,rome1 is that she does not regard it as the alone standard of faith and practice4 ,hear one of her champions4 ,you will not find that the ,church of ,rome repudiates ,dr4 ,wiseman4 ,he plainly says--8,the ,protestant asserts1 and the ,catholic denies1 that ,god intended the ,scriptures to be the rule of faith40 ,hear also the decree of the ,council of ,trent-- 8,having constantly in view the removal of error and the preservation of the purity of the gospel in the church1 which gospel promised before by the prophets in the sacred scriptures1 was first orally published by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 who afterwards commanded it to be preached by his ,apostles to every creature1 as the source of all saving truth and discipline1 and perceiving that this truth and discipline are contained both in written books and unwritten traditions which have come down to us1 either received by the ,apostles from the lips of ,christ himself1 or transmitted by the hands of the same ,apostles under the direction of the ,holy ,spirit1 following the example of the orthodox fathers1 this ,council doth receive and reverence1 with equal piety and veneration1 all the books1 as well of the ,old as of the ,new ,testament1 the same ,god being the author of both2 and also the aforesaid traditions1 pertaining both to faith and manners1 whether received from ,christ himself1 or dictated by the ,holy ,spirit1 and preserved in the ,catholic ,church by continual succession40 ,thank ,god for the contrast which we can present between ,rome and our ,protestant ,church6 ,what then is the language of our own ,church8--8,holy ,scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation3 so that whatsoever is not read therein1 nor may be proved thereby1 is not to be required of any man1 that it should be believed as an article of ,faith1 or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation40--,,article vi4 ,and then again in the ,x,xth ,article she says--8,the ,church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies1 and authority in controversies of faith10--7the word 8authority0 is rendered in the ,latin ,articles not by a word signifying imperial1 absolute1 authority1 but weight1 influence17--8and yet it is not lawful for the ,church to ordain anything that is contrary to ,god's ,word written1 neither may it so expound one place of ,scripture1 that it be repugnant to another4 ,wherefore although the ,church be a witness and a keeper of ,holy ,writ1 yet1 as it ought not to decree anything against the same1 so besides the same ought it not to enforce anything to be believed for necessity of salvation40 ,men and ,brethren beloved6 let this be distinctly impressed upon your minds--that the universal right of the laity--yes1 of the uneducated part of the laity--to the ,word of ,god1 in their own tongue1 is a distinctive principle of the blessed ,reformation4 ,as it was the ,bible which contributed mainly to enlighten and emancipate the mind of the great ,luther1 so have the translation and circulation of the ,bible in the vulgar tongue been co-extensive with the progress of true religion in this country1 since the ,reformation4 ,from the time when the large ,bible stood in the ,parish ,church1 with its chain to secure it2 when the multitudes who wanted to read the ,word of ,god had to flock there and to wait in turns to get to the sacred treasure1 or one had to be the reader for the rest2 from that time down to the present1 when the ,christian ,knowledge ,society1 the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 and other ,institutions have successively given their aid1 the ,word of the ,lord has had free course and been glorified4 ,and now ,i submit that ,i have proved1 my case against the ,church of ,rome4 ,i have shown that the act which1 notwithstanding the explanation of the ,priests1 has excited the astonishment and indignation of ,protestants throughout this town1 does not stand alone4 ,and more1 that even the version which is authorised by the ,romish ,church is not permitted to be generally read1 without the permission of a ,priest or authorised person4 ,without saying one word which is not entirely consistent with ,christian charity1 ,i now ask of you1 whether that ,church is more in accordance with the will of ,god1 which tells you that1 before you read his ,word in private1 you must have the written permission of the ,priest--or that ,church which1 without exception or reserve1 puts into the hand of her every member the written ,word of ,god8 ,what1 ,i would ask1 was the language of ,david8 ,he was not a ,priest--8,o how love ,i thy law6 it is my meditation all the day40 ,the poor ,romanist1 unless he has the written permission of his ,priest cannot1 amid his troubles and his sorrows1 say with ,david1 8,thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage40--7,,psalm cxix4 #ed47 ,remember too what is said of the ,bereans1 when they heard ,paul preach--8,these were more noble than those in ,thessolonica1 in that they received the word with all gladness of mind1 and ,,searched ,,the ,,scriptures ,,daily1 whether these things were so40--7,,acts xvii4 #aa47 ,no ,romanist will assert that his ,priest is superior to ,st4 ,paul4 ,but what did the ,bereans do when ,paul preached to them8 ,they 8,,searched ,,the ,,scriptures ,,daily0 to see whether he was preaching truth4 ,and ,i tell you that if ,st4 ,paul himself1 yea1 if an angel were to preach to me1 ,i would do the same4 ,but what would be said to a poor ,irishman who should go to his ,priest and say 8,i have been looking to my ,bible to see what is said there about what you told us yesterday1 and ,i find that what you taught us is not according to the ,word of ,god80 ,and what does ,st4 ,paul say when warning ,timothy in his second ,epistle 7iii4 #ad1 #ag7 against 8perilous times0 and evil men8 8,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness1 that0--,who8 the priest8--the scholar8--,no6--8,that the ,,man ,,of ,,god0--whether priest or layman1 whether scholar or no scholar--8may be perfect1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works40 ,and contrast his language to ,timothy with the case of the little girl from the ,industrial ,school--8,from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation1 through faith which is in ,christ ,jesus40--,there were no ,bible-burners in ,st4 ,paul's days4 ,the little girl in ,birmingham receives a ,testament1 and it is not only taken away1 but is burnt by the ,priest4 ,we read in the ,epistle for this morning's service 8,whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning1 that we through patience1 and comfort of the scriptures might have hope40 ,it is evident therefore that they were not written to be kept back from the people1 but that they were 8written for their learning40 #ae ,yet the ,church of ,rome which arrogates to itself the title of the only true ,church puts the ,bible into the ,index of prohibited books4 ,one more example which the ,scriptures furnish--the example of the ,ethiopian ,eunuch4 7,acts viii4 #bg1 c47 ,he was sitting in his carriage1 reading his ,bible1 and ,god sent his minister to him saying--8,understandest thou what thou readest80 ,beautiful illustration of a minister's place6 ,it is to explain the ,scriptures4 ,he did not say 8,you cannot understand them--,you ought not to be reading ,esaias the prophet40 ,if he took it out of his hands1 it was not to throw it either into the fire or into the water1 but he took the book from him and 8began at the same scripture and preached unto him ,jesus40 ,and this is our office now1 not to stand between the people and the ,bible1 but to open up the ,bible to them1 grounding our every sermon1 our every lecture1 our every lesson1 upon it4 ,i proceed1 ,brethren beloved1 to draw from this mournful occurrence practical lessons1 and1 in doing so1 ,i trust ,i shall not violate the rule which1 in perfect sincerity1 ,i laid down at the commencement4 ,of course1 the ,romanist will think ,i am violating it1 as will some latitudinarian ,protestants4 ,but1 ,i urge1 learn from this transaction in our town the true unaltered character of ,popery4 ,yes--though many haply do not like that statement1 ,i repeat it--the true unaltered character of ,popery4 ,we are bigots forsooth6 which was the bigot8--the man that gave the ,bible or he that burnt it8 ,mark the published statement of the ,priests4 ,i am to be told that1 put as ,i am1 in some measure1 at least1 in charge 7in accordance with the laws of this country17 over the souls of the people in my parish without exception1 ,i am not to go into the houses of some of my parishioners2 or1 if ,i do so1 ,i am to be treated with scurrility and insult6 ,let me ask you1 does any man or woman here believe that there is a ,protestant ,clergyman or a ,dissenting ,minister who would have said that if any ,romish ,priest came into the house of one of his people he was to be treated with scurrility and insult8 ,i can only say from the depth of my heart that ,i should be utterly ashamed of any ,protestant ,clergyman who so disgraced himself4 ,we are told however by the ,priest that if we venture to pass the door of a ,roman ,catholic we shall be treated with 8scurrility and insult0--,i repeat the words because ,i was careful to ask the ,incumbent of ,st4 ,peter's for the very words employed4 ,but are we to receive this doctrine8 is there any man in this country except the owner of the house or tenement--be it among the humble tenements of ,london ',prentice-street1 or the villas of ,edgbaston--who has the power to say to me that ,i shall not enter that house8 ,is it come to this1 that1 in these days of freedom1 in the #aith century1 ,i am not to be at liberty to enter the house of one of my parishioners1 whether he be a ,roman ,catholic or ,protestant1 7so long as the householder permits my visit7 without receiving scurrility and insult at the instance of a ,priest6 ,i1 for one1 unhesitatingly declare1 and ,i believe ,i shall be supported in the declaration by the body of my brethren1 that ,i do not mean to abide by any such rule4 ,but the ,priest was provoked1 forsooth1 by the conduct of certain ,protestant ,clergymen and their agents who enter the house of the poor ,romanist1 to pervert his faith6 ,the charge is that we are making proselytes4 ,if by this it be meant that we are trying to get people over from one ,church to another1 ,i demur to it4 ,it is my object1 with ,god's assistance1 to make them ,christians1 to draw them to ,christ1 but ,i wish to make them converts and not proselytes4 ,i wish indeed to see them ,church of ,england ,christians1 because ,i believe that my own dear ,church exhibits ,christ in her ,articles and formularies1 and is a truly ,scriptural ,church4 ,but ,i confess that ,i was almost provoked to a smile when ,i read of the complaints of ,rome that we are seeking to proselytise6 ,rome which is literally setting wife against husband1 daughter against father1 by the most insidious artifices2 perverting ,protestants1 and even the children of ,protestant ,clergymen1 by artifices the most subtle6 ,rome which is not content with contesting the ground with us in our own land but in heathen countries also1 as well as in our colonies6 ,the charge of proselytising comes with a very bad grace from the ,church of ,rome6 ,let me however say that though ,i do not wish to proselytize but to convert1 ,i will not undertake to keep my ,scripture ,readers out of any house at the dictation of ,priest or ,pope4 ,i will not undertake to leave men in error and darkness4 ,let us use lawful1 open handed1 means1 let us not have recourse to subtle artifice4 ,let us have all as open as the day1 and ,i have no fear for the ultimate progress of the truth4 ,and we ask all members of the ,church of ,rome to confine themselves to honourable1 straightforward1 proceedings4 ,it will perhaps be said that in what ,i am now about to urge ,i am trenching on party politics4 ,i appeal to my two years' ministrations in this town1 whether ,i have at any time been guilty of advancing anything in the shape of party politics4 ,but there are some questions in which politics and religion are so intimately blended1 that ,i hold it to be false delicacy to abstain from the bold avowal of our sentiments4 ,i put it to you--are we prepared to pay money to the ,romish ,priests for burning ,bibles in ,ireland or in ,england1 without a manful1 constitutional1 struggle8 ,i know that if you deviate from the simple ground of principle1 and begin to talk of expediency1 a strong case may readily be made4 ,on grounds of expediency1 ,i myself should be disposed to yield1 but as a sworn minister of the ,church of ,england1 ,i have proclaimed ,rome to be ,,idolatrous2 and if you are ashamed of your ,church1 ,i ,,am ,,not2 and ,i will not consent1 either directly or indirectly1 to support idolatry--,i will not consent to pay money for a ,priest who goes into ,london ',prentice-street or into ,ireland to burn the ,word of ,god4 ,but bear with me awhile1 while ,i advance my second lesson4 ,be thankful for the ,protestant ,reformed ,church of ,england4 ,we are not half thankful enough for the ,church of ,england4 ,and though some of our ,dissenting enemies desire to pull her down1 they little know how much they risk4 ,they little know what a protective position the ,church of ,england occupies between them and the tyranny of ,rome4 #ah ,whatever the ,church of ,england may have been in times gone by1 and ,i do not say that the bitter weed of bigotry is entirely eradicated1 yet she is now practically a tolerant ,church4 ,but it is the fashion of the day to decry ,protestantism1 8,protestantism is a mere negation60 ,we do not mean to say that ,protestantism will take a man to heaven4 ,but we do say that it is the glory of our ,church that1 when the truth of ,god had been overlaid with error and corruption1 she came out of the corruption herself1 and made a bold protest against it4 ,let us not be ashamed of the name ,protestant4 ,we want not ,protestantism as a mere toast at a jovial dinner--as the mere shibboleth of a party4 ,our ,protestantism is a holy thing4 ,it is a protest against the corruption of the truth of ,god4 ,and1 if you love ,protestantism1 dally not with ,popery4 ,don't go to ,roman ,catholic ,chapels to hear the pretty music6 ,don't let your children have tales and novels which contain poison1 simply because they are nicely got up and illustrated4 ,a man may drink poison out of a golden cup2 but it is poison still4 ,your only safety is to have nothing to do with it4 ,touch not the unclean thing4 ,thirdly4--,circulate the ,scriptures4 ,if you cannot do it by your own individual exertions1 join those ,institutions which are established for this purpose4 ,join the ,christian ,knowledge ,society2 join the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society4 ,support our ,parish ,scripture ,readers' fund2 and if the emissaries of ,rome are going up and down in our town1 let us at least be equally diligent2 and ask whether we ought not to determine to have an enlarged band of ,scripture ,readers to counteract their efforts4 ,fourthly4--,remember the solemn privilege and responsibility of possessing the ,bible4 ,it is a privilege to possess the ,bible2 but that privilege entails an awful responsibility4 ,for when the ,lord ,jesus shall come a second time1 to judge the world1 he will demand an account1 not merely from the ,priest who burns the ,bible1 but the ,protestant who neglects it4 ,a neglected ,bible is as bad as a burnt ,bible4 ,at the last day1 it would be better for us to have been members of a ,church which withheld the ,word of ,god from its people1 than1 having the ,word1 to have neglected and despised it4 ,all you that have the ,scriptures in your houses1 first given perhaps by some affectionate parent1 now no more--,servants1 to whom some kind and pious ,mistress has given a copy of the ,word of ,god1 which you have left unread--you little ,children who have received a copy of this ,holy ,book in the ,sunday or the ,national ,school--beware lest the ,word of ,god neglected and despised should rise up against you at the last great day4 ,beware1 lest1 being ,protestants in name1 ye be wanting in ,bible faith1 ,bible hope1 ,bible lives4 ,before ,i sit down1 ,i desire to address another portion of the congregation to-night4 ,my ,roman ,catholic hearers1 you have not often listened to a ,protestant preacher4 ,perhaps you may never listen to another4 ,and perhaps from what you have read of speeches and sermons against ,romanism1 you think that we are one and all fire-brands1 cherishing and indulging bitter animosity against you4 ,i am free to acknowledge1 and ,i say it with all honesty1 that ,i much regret the way in which some persons talk about ,romanists4 ,i believe that a great many rash and bitter words have been employed2 much that is inconsistent in the sight of ,god with ,christian charity4 ,i admit this1 but let me also say that you must learn to distinguish between language against your system and language against yourselves4 ,we do believe your system to be idolatrous4 ,we do believe it to be opposed in many essential points to the ,word of ,god4 ,and though there be some traitors in our camp who eat our bread and want to fraternize with you1 we tell you that the great body of the ,protestant ,churchmen of ,england have no sympathy with these traitors4 ,but ,i earnestly invite your candid attention while ,i solemnly ask you one question4 ,does your ,church circulate the ,word of ,god8 ,i do not say does your ,church1 in some particular cases1 withhold her objection8 but as a ,church is it a ,bible-circulating ,church8 ,i am dealing with fellow immortals1 fellow sinners4 ,let me a moment put aside the distinctions of ,protestant and ,romanist4 ,let us1 my ,roman ,catholic hearers1 recollect that we are both poor worms of the earth--with immortal souls--passing into an awful eternity--an eternity into which you and ,i may be plunged speedily4 ,i say unto you then1 as dying men and fellow sinners1 that all is not right1 if your ,church or your ,priests stand between you and the ,word of ,god4 ,i say to you1 though the ,pope himself preach to you1 8,search the ,scriptures0 for yourselves2 assert the right of examining the ,word of ,god4 ,i do not say to you 8,become a ,protestant10 8,become this1 become the other20 all ,i now say is 8,search the ,scriptures0 with honest1 hearty1 humble1 childlike prayer4 ,search them 8daily40 ,they will enable you to test the rules and doctrines of the ,church of ,rome4 ,when you turn to your ,bibles1 you will find the ,virgin ,mary there4 ,you will find her there as 8highly favoured0 and blessed among women--but you will not find her as a mediator between yourself and her ,incarnate ,son2 you will not find her as the object in any sense or measure1 of religious worship4 ,and when you turn to your ,bibles1 you will find ,confession there--but you will not find confession to your priest necessarily enjoined2 you will not find that1 in order to absolution1 you are bound to open to a fellow man all the secrets of your inmost soul4 ,on ,calvary alone1 and at the foot of the cross1 must you confess your sins4 ,and when you turn to your ,bibles1 you will find ,good ,works there--but you will not find good works to have in any measure an atoning efficacy--but that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the law4 ,and when you turn to your ,bibles1 you will find in them the blessed truth that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ died on the cross for sinners--but you will not find the doctrine of the mass there4 8,christ was once offered to bear the sins of many40--8,by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified20 and that offering is never to be1 and never can be1 repeated4 ,when you turn to your ,bibles you will find that in the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper we do1 in a spiritual sense1 by faith1 eat the body and drink the blood of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ--but you will not find that by the prayer of the ,priest1 common sense is contradicted1 and the bread1 and the juice of the vine1 turned into the body and blood of the ,son of ,man4 ,beloved1 all ,i ask of you is to test these things by ,scripture1 and when you have done this1 compare the ,church of ,england with that of ,rome1 and may the ,spirit of ,god be with you as your helper and your guide6 ,this congregation is now about to separate4 ,the ,roman ,catholic who is here1 will perhaps never more set foot within these walls4 ,but remember we shall meet again at the last great day4 ,on that solemn day no priest can stand in your stead2 no ,church doctrines or dogmas can be put in as your plea or excuse before your ,judge4 ,you will stand in the presence of ,him who made you and hath redeemed you4 ,and if ,i have seemed to speak bitterly1 believe me1 in these last words1 it is my soul's inmost prayer for every ,romanist here present to-night1 that1 if he be not brought out of that ,church before that solemn hour when the wood and hay and stubble shall be burnt up by the judgment-fires1 he may yet1 spite of his ,romanism1 be so found on the ,,one ,,foundation--even ,jesus--as that we may meet in the ,church in glory6 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,b4 ,,hall1 ,,printer1 ,,high-,,street1 ,,birmingham ,,footnotes4 #e ,i subjoin the following documents1 issued since the preaching of this ,sermon3-- ,at a ,meeting of the ,committee of the ,birmingham ,auxiliary to the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 held ,december #aath1 #ahdh4 ,it was unanimously resolved3 ,that the object of the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society being the circulation of the ,word of ,god without note or comment1 this ,committee cannot pass unnoticed the dishonour done to the ,word of ,god by the act of a ,roman ,catholic ,priest in this town1 who1 during the last month1 burned a copy of the ,new ,testament2 nor the attempt made by his coadjutors and himself in repudiating that act1 to excuse it in some respect1 inasmuch as that excuse rests upon principles which1 carried out to their legitimate conclusion1 would infringe upon our undoubted right to circulate the ,word of ,god1 wherever parties of any and of every creed are willing to receive it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,to ,,the ,,editor ,,of ,,aris',s ,,gazette4 ,sir--,it is with much regret that ,i am obliged again to come before the public on the subject of the ,testament which was burnt in ,london ',prentice-street1 in this town1 by the ,rev4 ,w4 ,molloy1 a ,priest of the ,church of ,rome1 but the cause of truth demands it of me4 ,it is stated in the apology put forth by that ,rev4 ,gentleman and his coadjutors1 8that the act was regretted afterwards by the ,clergyman by whom it was done1 and strongly disapproved of by his brother ,clergy as soon as known10 and that it was 8under the excitement of the moment that the act1 which it is not attempted to justify1 was done40 ,now ,sir1 ,i ask you1 as ,i ask the public1 are these statements consistent with the following facts3--,the ,testament was burnt on ,thursday1 ,nov4 #af1 about two o'clock p4m41 and it was not till the following ,saturday1 about midday1 that ,i had any conversation with the ,priest upon the subject4 ,being in ,london ',prentice-street on the ,saturday1 ,mr4 ,molloy sent for me to the house where he had burnt the ,testament1 to ask if ,i supposed that the woman to whose daughter the book had been given was a ,protestant1 because he had heard that ,i had visited her the day before4 ,it was upon that occasion that ,i enquired of him whether or not he had burnt the ,testament2 he told me that he had1 and would burn every ,bible and ,tract he found in the houses of his people4 ,i warned him that ,i should make his words public1 and he told me ,i was perfectly welcome to do so4 ,i further remember saying that ,i had often been told that ,i had unjustly charged the ,romish ,priests with denying the ,bible to their people1 and his reply was to this effect--8,you have stated the truth1 and are perfectly welcome to state it when you will2 you are furthering our objects by doing so40 ,there are several other points in the apology on which ,i should much like to dwell1 but ,i think it best simply to state facts1 and leave the public to judge for themselves whether the apology that this act was done in the excitement of the moment can apply to ,mr4 ,molloy1 who1 after the reflection of two days1 threatened to repeat the act again and again4 ,i remain1 ,sir1 your obedient ,servant1 ,,joshua ,,greaves1 ,incumbent of ,st4 ,peter's1 ,birmingham4 ,december #ad1 #ahdh4 #h 8,hopes had been raised of a new order of things1 as a new ,head1 of a widely different character from any of his predecessors1 ascended the ,papal ,throne4 ,yes--rail-roads and gas-lights shall be admitted for the first time in the dominions of ,him of ,rome3 but1 not the ,bible ,society2 that shall be denounced with as loud a voice of thunder1 as ever proceeded from the ,city of the ,seven ,hills4 ,that voice of thunder has been re-echoed by ,cardinals and others1 in ,france1 ,holland1 and elsewhere2 and so re-echoed1 that many a faint heart has quailed2 and some1 who before stood half-prepared to encourage the dissemination of the ,scriptures1 have drawn back and closed the door before half-opened4 ,and yet1 even among ,roman ,catholics1 the distribution of the ,scriptures has proved as large as ever4--,in no previous year has the ,society been counted worthy of suffering a fiercer vituperation from this quarter than during the past4 ,take as an example1 the following paragraph from a famous ,encyclical ,letter1 and see with what company the ,society is associated3-- 8,you are already well acquainted1 ,venerable ,brethren1 with other monsters of error1 and the frauds with which the children of the present age strive bitterly to beset the ,catholic religion and the ,divine authority of the ,church3 to oppose its laws1 and to trample on the rights of the sacred as well as of the civil power4 ,to this point tend those guilty conspiracies against the ,roman ,chair of the blessed ,peter1 on which ,christ laid the irremovable foundations of his ,church4 ,to this point tend the operations of those secret ,societies1 emerging from their native darkness for the ruin and devastation of the common weal1 as well sacred as social1 who have been again and again condemned with anathema by the ,roman ,pontiffs our predecessors1 in their ,apostolic ,letters1 which we1 in the plentitude of our ,apostolic power1 confirm1 and command to be most strictly observed4 ,this also is the tendency and design of those insidious ,bible ,societies1 which1 renewing the crafts of the ancient heretics1 cease not to obtrude upon all kinds of men1 even the least instructed1 gratuitously and at an immense expense1 copies in vast numbers of the ,books of the ,sacred ,scriptures1 translated 7against the holiest rules of the ,church7 into various vulgar tongues1 and very often with the most perverse and erroneous interpretations2 to the end that 7,divine tradition1 the doctrine of the ,fathers1 and the authority of the ,catholic ,church being rejected17 every man may interpret the revelations of the ,almighty according to his own private judgement1 and1 perverting their sense1 fall into the most dangerous errors4 ,which ,societies1 emulous of his predecessor1 ,gregory ,,xvi41 of blessed memory1 7to whose place we have been permitted to succeed1 without his merits17 reproved by his ,apostolic ,letter 7#af7 and we desire equally to condemn40--,forty-third ,report of the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society4 #aa;a 8,awful ,disclosure1 being ,extracts ,translated from the ,moral ,theology of ,alphonsus ,liguori10 by ,rev4 ,r4 ,p4 ,blakeney4 #aa;b 8,when ,drs4 ,doyle1 ,murray1 and ,kelley1 the ,irish ,roman ,catholic ,bishops1 were examined before a committee of the ,parliament1 the following confessions were made by them3--7,question to ,dr4 ,doyle7--,you were educated in ,portugal8 ,yes4 ,did you ever see in ,portugal any translation 7of the ,scriptures7 into the vulgar tongue1 whether allowed or not8 ,no1 ,i did not4 7,question to ,dr4 ,murray7--,you were educated in ,salamanca8 ,i was4 ,can you give any information as to any authenticated version of the scriptures in the ,spanish language8 ,i did hear that there was a ,spanish version of the ,holy ,scriptures1 but ,i do not happen to know the fact4 ,have the ,scriptures any practical circulation in the vulgar tongue in ,spain8 ,they had not then4 ,have the people seen the ,scriptures in a language they could understand8 ,i believe they were not generally read by the people4 ,do you imagine that any material portion of the people have so much as seen the ,scriptures in a language they could understand8 ,i do not know that they have40 ,hear again extracts from the evidence of these ,roman ,catholic ,bishops before the ,parliamentary ,commissioners1 #ahbe-- 8,ques4 ,are the ,commissioners to collect that you think it improper for the children to read through the ,gospels and ,acts8 ,ans4 ,without explanation ,i think it is improper2 ,i think no portion of scripture ought to be read without being accompanied with explanation and instruction4 ,ques4 ,is it a venial or a mortal sin in an adult peasant to persevere in reading the ,new ,testament in the authorised version of the ,church of ,england1 after his priest has forbidden it8 ,ans4 ,i should feel great delicacy in fixing the amount of guilt which constitutes the one or the other4 ,ques4 ,would you allow any of the peasantry of ,ireland who might persevere in reading the ,scriptures in the authorised version1 after having been prohibited by your clergy1 to be received to the ,sacrament8 ,ans4 ,no1 ,i certainly would not4 ,ques4 ,should you think it improper for such an individual to bury the ,word of ,god8 ,ans4 ,i should be highly amused with such a proceeding4 ,ques4 ,would you think him highly deserving of approbation8 ,ans4 ,i do not know but ,i would3 it might show a disposition which ,i would prize highly1 though ,i do not think the act a very laudable one1 but attending to the disposition more than the act itself1 ,i would reward the man4 ,ques4 ,you would consider it in the man a proof of orthodoxy8 ,ans4 ,yes1 a proof that he was filled with a right faith1 only pushed to an extreme40 ,now compare with these answers what ,dr4 ,doyle said in his evidence respecting the authorised version4 8,though it has many errors ,i consider it one of the noblest of works--one of the ablest translations that has ever been produced40--,see ,no4 ,,iv4 ,tract of the ,british ,reformation ,society1 pages #e1 #f1 #g4 #ae 8,do we still then ask why the ,holy ,scriptures were given to us by ,divine ,providence8 ,that question ,i conceive admits only of the following answer4 ,they are a gift to us and to our children1 collectively and individually1 that we may lay them to our hearts1 that they may be to us our rule of life1 and that by following their precepts we may daily approach nearer and nearer to ,god4 ,this ,i repeat must be their great and primary object4 ,they are not then1 nor were they ever intended to be1 a hidden treasure1 hoarded up in the sanctuary of the ,church1 to be visited only on solemn occasions1 to be held up at a distance to the veneration of the multitude1 to serve only as a test of the accuracy of our oral teaching1 but they are at once the individual possession1 the personal friend1 the monitor1 the familiar oracle of every servant of ,christ40--,dr4 ,shuttleworth's ,not ,tradition but ,scripture4 #ah ,greatly should ,i rejoice1 were those of our ,dissenting ,brethren who refuse to take part in such proceedings as those of the ,anti-,state ,church ,association1 publicly to repudiate1 at least1 their language and spirit4