'J9 SetTr?Stw. [Boo? !?. T!ms Mr. Heanl demmaees the Bible, while his ?iooe?u bidrap Purcell ?eems to approve of it. The priest, however, is teaching his tlock in their muive C,m'man; but the bishop is surrounded by a Pro- testant audience. Both, howeve?, are the devoted sons of the church, and the faithful retainers of the doctrine taught by the Council of Trent. Among them, however, there are some well-disposed persons who have been always in favour of the general circulation of the Scriptures. But as far as any sentiment in fayour of the Scriptures in this respect has prevailed, it has been owing chiefly to the influence of Protestants; for in those countries and districts where their religion prevails, such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, and South America, the Scriptures are neither read nor studied to any profitable extent. We might, however, give quotations from some eminent Catholic divines who are in fayour of the indiscriminate reading of the Scriptures. The following extract of a letter from Rev. J. Spauldin? a Protestant mhmionary, under date of September 23, 1837, Rio Janeiro, in South America, will furnish a true z/?ecimen of what exists and always has existed when the circulation of the Scriptures depended on the Church of Rome. From ge?vration to ge?ion, it may be truly said, such has been her practice. "The Bible, to an astonishing and almost incredible extent, is a new book, and a real curiosity in this country-. An elderly lady, who in other respects appeared quite intelligent, said' she had lived so many tyhnsears in the world, and never heard of it till lately.' How many are totally ignorant of the Holy Scriptures is unknown. A gentleman, a Catholic, and with no great faith in missionary operations here, re- marked to me, ' that he did not suppose there were four hundred Bibles in the Bruils'--among a population of at least five millions. What is this but an awful famine of the word of God ! And what an awful fact, that this famine, which carries moral death and ruin whereve. r it goes, has continued from gemsration to generation." A recent occurrence has taken place in South America in perfect keeping with the foregoing. The account and accompanying document were published in the Journal of Commerce a short time since, and were copied in the Western Christian Advocate of Cincinnati, in the number for February 22, 1839. A Mr. Wheelwright had circulated some Bibles and tracts in Escuado, and also taught a female school. This so provoked the bishop of Quite that he addressed the following to the minister of the interior :m "B?iop'x Pa/aee, Qu/to, Fd,. 8, 1838. "Since the extinction of the tribunal of the inquisition, it devolves upon the bishops to take cognizance of matters of faith--which sacred deposits is confided to them as pastors appointed by the Holy Spirit to rule the church of God, decide controversies, and inculcate sound dec- trines. In this character, however unworthy, I cannot failto guard against encroachments upon the Catholic religion within my diocess---it being the .highest good of man, UlXm whichhis eternal welfare and his dear- est roteream depend. "Nothing is mote opposed to this object than that the business of teaching should be confided to tho?e who are enemies of that religion, and who will spate no pahm to weaken its belief, ewpeeidly in that !
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