In proof of this, take the injunction of celibacy, alone separating the priesthood from the body of the community, and the practice of confession, making them masters of the conscience, while the doctrines give them an absolute power over the will.  To submit to such thraldom men must be bigoted in its favour; and that we see is the case of Spain, in Portugal, in Austria, in Italy, in Flanders, in Ireland, and in all countries where you have Papacy in full blow.  And does not history prove, that however other sects may have languished under the relaxing influence of good fortune, Papacy has ever been most fiery and rampant when most prosperous?

But many, who do not expect that conciliation will be the result of concession, have a farther expedient on which they rely much.  They propose to take the Romish Church in Ireland into pay, and expect that afterwards its clergy will be as compliant to the Government as the Presbyterians in that country have proved.  This measure is, in the first place, too disingenuous not to be condemned by honest men; for the Government acting on this policy would degrade itself by offering bribes to men of a sacred calling to act contrary to their sense of duty.  If they be sincere, as priests and truly spiritual-minded, they will find it impossible to accept of a stipend, known to be granted with such expectation.  If they be worldlings and false of heart, they will practise double-dealing, and seem to support the Government while they are actually undermining it; for they know that if they be suspected of sacrificing the interests of the Church they will lose all authority over their flocks.  Power and consideration are more valued than money.  The priests will not be induced to risk their sway over the people for any sums that our Government would venture to afford them out of the exhausted revenues of the empire.  Surely they would prefer to such a scanty hire the hope of carving for themselves from the property of the Protestant Church of their country, or even the gratification of stripping usurpation—­for such they deem it—­of its gains, though there may be no hope to win what others are deprived of.  Many English favourers of this scheme are reconciled to what they call a modification of the Irish Protestant Establishment in an application of a portion of the revenues to the support of the Romish Church.  This they deem reasonable; shortly it will be openly aimed at, and they will rejoice should they accomplish their purpose.  But your Lordship will agree with me that, if that happen, it would be one of the most calamitous events that ignorance has in our time given birth to.  After all, could the secular clergy be paid out of this spoliation, or in any other way?  The Regulars would rise in consequence of their degradation; and where would be the influence that could keep them from mischief?  They would swarm over the country to prey upon the people still more than they now do.  In all the reasonings of the friends to this bribing scheme, the distinctive character of the Papal Church is overlooked.