Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/33

 therefore can truly confess that Article of the Nicene Faith, without contradicting our selves, I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church.

I cannot see for what reason some Persons shou'd look with so ill an Eye upon the Conversion of the English Saxons by St. Augustine, and undervalue the great Kindness of St. Gregory to this Nation, in setting forward and encouraging his Mission: That all the Histories which relate that Affair, shou'd be misreprefented, and perverted, to make room for Mens own Fancies, and Conjectures, of so much later date; but a violent Prejudice against every thing that bore any Relation to the Name of Rome'', or want of a more perfect Acquaintance with the Affairs of that Time. This has occasion'd some to seek any Refuge, rather than to own that our Conversion was any way derived to us from St. Peter, as if such a Relation to that first Bishjop of Rome, and Apostle, must necessarily involve us in all the Corruptions which crept into that Church, and, by degrees, rendered it most deform'd, and odious, with all the Novelties and Absurdities of modern Popery. It is strange to observe what Shifts and Evasions are used to lessen the Esteem of St. Auguftine's Negotiation, and to prove that Christianity was not establish'd here by St. Gregory’s Care. ’Tis true, Christianity had a long time before been preached and receivd in the Island; but in the time, when the Britains, and the Romans, had the Possession of it. At the time of Gregory’s Mission, the Saxons were Masters of the greatest Part''