TO THE REVEREND PETER ELMSLEY, D. D., PRINCIPAL OF ST. ALBAN'S HALL, CAMDEN PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT HISTORY, &c. &c. THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED, AS A MEMORIAL OF RESPECT AND FRIENDSHIP. PR E F A CЕ. In the brief Advertisement prefixed to the first edition of this Book, it was said that references had not been given, because the scale of the work was not one which would either require or justify a display of research. The late Mr. Charles Butler, seizing the advantage which he thought was thus given him, charged me, in his Book of the Roman Catholic Church, with proceeding upon an avowed plan of withholding from the reader the authorities for my assertions. This accusation was disposed of in a manner to which no reply has been attempted. The letters which under the title of Vindicia Ecclesia Anglicanæ I addressed to that gentleman, adduced more authorities than he expected, or wished to be reminded of, and more proofs than can ever be invalidated of that system of imposition and wickedness which has been carried on by the Romish Church. It is not so easy to deal with vague imputations as with specific charges. Mr. Short, in the Preface to his Sketch of the History of the Church of England, has asserted that the Book of the Church is "not free from such views of the subject as can never contribute to the discovery of truth." Now, as members of the Church of England, there can be no difference of opinion between Mr. Short and myself upon all the vital points of our subject; where vi any may exist it can only be upon matters infinitely inconsiderable when compared with those upon which we must necessarily accord. I know not, therefore, what there can be in my views more than in his own, which should render me unwilling to seek for truth, incapable of perceiving it, or capable of disguising it. Keswick, Aug. 26, 1837. |