The situation of the Catholics in England is far more favourable3 at present than it has been at any period since the unfortunate expulsion of James II. There is an opinion prevalent among freethinkers and schismatics that intolerance is bad policy, and that religious principles hostile to an establishment will die away if they are 323not persecuted5. These reasoners have forgotten that Christianity was rooted up in Japan, and that heresy6 was extirpated7 from Spain, by fire. The impolicy is in half measures.
So long as the Stuarts laid claim to the crown, the Catholics were jealously regarded as a party connected with them; and even the large class of Jacobites, as they were called, who adhered to the old family merely from a principle of loyalty8, being obstinate9 heretics, looked suspiciously upon their Catholic coadjutors as men whose motives11 were different, though they were engaged in the same cause. These men would never have attempted to restore the Stuarts, if they had not believed that the Protestant church establishment would remain undisturbed, they believed this firmly—believed that a Catholic king would reign12 over a nation of schismatics, and make no attempt at converting them; so ignorant were they of the principles of Catholicism. But no sooner 324had the Pretender ceased to be formidable than the Catholics were forgotten, or considered only as a religious sect13 of less consequence in the state, and therefore less obnoxious14 than any other, because neither numerous nor noisy. In fact the persecuting15 laws, though never enforced, were still in existence; and the Catholics themselves, as they had not forgotten their bloody16 effects in former times, prudently17 persevered18 in silence.
Fortunately for them, as soon as they had ceased to be objects of suspicion, the Presbyterians became so. This body of dissenters had been uniformly attached to the Hanoverian succession; but when that house was firmly established, and all danger from the Stuarts over, the old feelings began to revive, both on the part of the Crown and of the Nonconformists. What they call the connection between civil and religious freedom, or, as their antagonists19 say, between schism4 and rebellion, made the court jealous of their numbers and of 325their principles. The clergy20 too, being no longer in danger from those whom they had dispossessed, began to fear those who would dispossess them; they laid aside their controversy21 with the Catholics, and directed their harangues22 and writings against greater schismatics than themselves. During such disputes our brethren had nothing to do but quietly look on, and rejoice that the kingdom of Beelzebub was divided against itself.
It is true, a violent insurrection broke out against them in the year 1780; but this was the work of the lowest rabble23, led on by a madman. It did not originate in any previous feelings, for probably nine-tenths of the mob had never heard of popery till they rioted to suppress it, and it left no rankling24 behind: on the contrary, as the Catholics had been wantonly and cruelly attacked, a sentiment of compassion25 for them was excited in the more respectable part of the community.
The French Revolution materially assisted 326the true religion. The English clergy, trembling for their own benefices, welcomed the emigrant26 priests as brethren, and, forgetting all their former ravings about Antichrist, and Babylon, and the Scarlet27 Whore, lamented28 the downfall of religion in France. An outcry was raised against the more daring heretics at home, and the tide of popular fury let loose upon them. While this dread29 of atheism30 prevailed, the Catholic priests obtained access every where; and the university of Oxford31 even supplied them with books from its own press. These noble confessors did not let the happy opportunity pass by unimproved; they sowed the seeds abundantly, and saw the first fruits of the harvest. But the most important advantage which has ever been obtained for the true religion since its subversion32, is the re-establishment of the monastic orders in this island, from whence they had so long been proscribed33. This great object has been effected with admirable prudence34. A few nuns35 327who had escaped from the atheistical36 persecution37 in France were permitted to live together, according to their former mode of life. It would have been cruel to have separated them, and their establishment was connived38 at as trifling39 in itself, and which would die a natural death with its members. But the Catholic families, rejoicing in this manifest interposition of Providence40, made use of the opportunity, and found no difficulty in introducing novices41. Thus is good always educed42 from evil; the irruption of the barbarous nations led to their conversion43; the overthrow44 of the Greek empire occasioned the revival45 of letters in Europe; and the persecution of Catholicism in France has been the cause of its establishment in England: the storm which threatened to pluck up this Tree of Life by its roots has only scattered46 abroad its seed. Not only have many conversions47 been effected, but even in many instances the children of Protestants have been inspired with such holy zeal48, 328that, heroically abandoning the world, in spite of all the efforts of their deluded49 parents, they have entered and professed50. Some of the wiser heretics have seen to what these beginnings will lead; but the answer to their representations has been, the vows51 may be taken at pleasure, and broken at pleasure, for by the law of England such vows are not binding53. As if any law could take away the moral obligation of a vow52, and neutralise perjury54! May we not indulge a hope that this blindness is the work of God?
There are at this time five Catholic colleges in England and two in Scotland, besides twelve schools and academies for the instruction of boys: eleven schools for females, besides what separate ones are kept by the English Benedictine nuns from Dunkirk; the nuns of the Ancient English Community of Brussels; the nuns from Bruges; the nuns from Liege; the Augustinian nuns from Louvain; the English Benedictine nuns from Cambray; 329the Benedictine nuns from Ghent; those of the same order from Montargis; and the Dominican nuns from Brussels: in all these communities the rules of the respective orders are observed, and novices are admitted; they are convents as well as schools. The Poor Clares have four establishments, in which only novices are received, not scholars; the Teresians three; the Benedictine nuns one. Convents of monks55 are not so numerous; and indeed in the present state of things secular56 clergy are better labourers in the vineyard; the Carthusians, however, have an establishment in the full rigour of their rule. Who could have hoped to live to see these things in England!
The greater number of converts are made among the poor, who are always more easily converted than the rich, because their inheritance is not in this world, and they enjoy so little happiness here that they are more disposed to think seriously of securing it for hereafter. It is no difficult 330thing to make them set their hearts and their hopes upon heaven. Their own clergy neglect them; and when they behold57 any one solicitous58 for their salvation59 without any interested motive10, an act of love towards them is so unexpected and so unusual, that their gratitude60 prepares the way for truth. The charity also which our holy religion so particularly enjoins61 produces its good effect even on earth; proselytes always abound62 in the neighbourhood of a wealthy Catholic family. Were the seminaries as active as they were in the days of persecution, and as liberally supplied with means, it would not be absurd to hope for the conversion of this island, so long lost to the church.
Another circumstance greatly in favour of the true religion is, that there is no longer any difficulty or danger in publishing Catholic writings. They were formerly63 proscribed and hunted out as vigilantly64 as prohibited books in our own country; but now the press is open to them, and able 331defenders of the truth have appeared. This also has been managed skilfully65. To have openly attacked the heretical establishment might have attracted too much notice, and perhaps have excited alarm; nor indeed would the heretics have perused66 a work avowedly67 written with such a design. Accordingly the form of history has been used, a study of which the English are particularly fond. An excellent life of Cardinal69 Pole has been written, which exposes the enormities of Henry VIII. and the character of the wretched Anna Boleyn. Another writer, in a history of Henry II. has vindicated70 the memory of that blessed Saint Thomas of Canterbury, who is so vilified71 by all the English historians; and Bishop72 Milner, still more lately, in a work upon antiquities73, has ventured to defend those excellent prelates who attempted, under Philip and Mary, to save their country from the abyss of heresy.
A division for a short time among the Catholics themselves was occasioned by 332Dr Geddes, a priest of great learning, but of the most irascible disposition74 and perverse75 mind. This man began to translate the scriptures76 anew; and, as he avowed68 opinions destructive of their authority, as well as of revealed religion, his bishop very properly interfered77, forbade him to proceed, and on his persisting suspended him for contumacy. He obstinately78 went on, and lived to publish two volumes of the text and a third of notes: the notes consist wholly of verbal criticism, and explain nothing, and the language of the translation is such as almost to justify79 a suspicion that he intended to debase the holy writings, and render them odious80. As long as he lived he found a patron in Lord Petre; but his books are now selling at their just value, that is, as waste paper; and if his name was not inserted in the Index Expurgatorius it would be forgotten.
Pope and Dryden, the two greatest English poets, were both Catholics, though the latter had been educated in the schism.
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1 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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2 dissenters | |
n.持异议者,持不同意见者( dissenter的名词复数 ) | |
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3 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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4 schism | |
n.分派,派系,分裂 | |
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5 persecuted | |
(尤指宗教或政治信仰的)迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 ); 烦扰,困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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6 heresy | |
n.异端邪说;异教 | |
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7 extirpated | |
v.消灭,灭绝( extirpate的过去式和过去分词 );根除 | |
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8 loyalty | |
n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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9 obstinate | |
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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10 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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11 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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12 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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13 sect | |
n.派别,宗教,学派,派系 | |
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14 obnoxious | |
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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15 persecuting | |
(尤指宗教或政治信仰的)迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 ); 烦扰,困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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16 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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17 prudently | |
adv. 谨慎地,慎重地 | |
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18 persevered | |
v.坚忍,坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 antagonists | |
对立[对抗] 者,对手,敌手( antagonist的名词复数 ); 对抗肌; 对抗药 | |
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20 clergy | |
n.[总称]牧师,神职人员 | |
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21 controversy | |
n.争论,辩论,争吵 | |
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22 harangues | |
n.高谈阔论的长篇演讲( harangue的名词复数 )v.高谈阔论( harangue的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23 rabble | |
n.乌合之众,暴民;下等人 | |
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24 rankling | |
v.(使)痛苦不已,(使)怨恨不已( rankle的现在分词 ) | |
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25 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
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26 emigrant | |
adj.移居的,移民的;n.移居外国的人,移民 | |
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27 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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28 lamented | |
adj.被哀悼的,令人遗憾的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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30 atheism | |
n.无神论,不信神 | |
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31 Oxford | |
n.牛津(英国城市) | |
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32 subversion | |
n.颠覆,破坏 | |
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33 proscribed | |
v.正式宣布(某事物)有危险或被禁止( proscribe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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35 nuns | |
n.(通常指基督教的)修女, (佛教的)尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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36 atheistical | |
adj.无神论(者)的 | |
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37 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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38 connived | |
v.密谋 ( connive的过去式和过去分词 );搞阴谋;默许;纵容 | |
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39 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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40 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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41 novices | |
n.新手( novice的名词复数 );初学修士(或修女);(修会等的)初学生;尚未赢过大赛的赛马 | |
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42 educed | |
v.引出( educe的过去式和过去分词 );唤起或开发出(潜能);推断(出);从数据中演绎(出) | |
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43 conversion | |
n.转化,转换,转变 | |
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44 overthrow | |
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 | |
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45 revival | |
n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 | |
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46 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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47 conversions | |
变换( conversion的名词复数 ); (宗教、信仰等)彻底改变; (尤指为居住而)改建的房屋; 橄榄球(触地得分后再把球射中球门的)附加得分 | |
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48 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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49 deluded | |
v.欺骗,哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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51 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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52 vow | |
n.誓(言),誓约;v.起誓,立誓 | |
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53 binding | |
有约束力的,有效的,应遵守的 | |
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54 perjury | |
n.伪证;伪证罪 | |
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55 monks | |
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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56 secular | |
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的 | |
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57 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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58 solicitous | |
adj.热切的,挂念的 | |
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59 salvation | |
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
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60 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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61 enjoins | |
v.命令( enjoin的第三人称单数 ) | |
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62 abound | |
vi.大量存在;(in,with)充满,富于 | |
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63 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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64 vigilantly | |
adv.警觉地,警惕地 | |
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65 skilfully | |
adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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66 perused | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的过去式和过去分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
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67 avowedly | |
adv.公然地 | |
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68 avowed | |
adj.公开声明的,承认的v.公开声明,承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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69 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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70 vindicated | |
v.澄清(某人/某事物)受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 );表明或证明(所争辩的事物)属实、正当、有效等;维护 | |
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71 vilified | |
v.中伤,诽谤( vilify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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73 antiquities | |
n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 );古迹;古人们;古代的风俗习惯 | |
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74 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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75 perverse | |
adj.刚愎的;坚持错误的,行为反常的 | |
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76 scriptures | |
经文,圣典( scripture的名词复数 ); 经典 | |
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77 interfered | |
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉 | |
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78 obstinately | |
ad.固执地,顽固地 | |
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79 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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80 odious | |
adj.可憎的,讨厌的 | |
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