Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/247

Rh newly-converted “hates and renounces all the errors of her former belief,” and promises, in the first place, faith and obedience to the doctrines and commands of the infallible Roman church especially as they are expressed by the Council of Trent; finally, she promises to believe in Jesus Christ. “The Church first: then—the Saviour.” Such is the doctrine of the Roman Catholic church.

Cardinal Talbot held a somewhat longer discourse, in which he displayed both talent and energy; but what injustice to the reformed church! What distorted, narrow views of faith and the essence of Christianity! One might have believed that they were merely certain dogmas and forms epitomized! When the speaker, with his eyes raised to heaven, lamented his “unfortunate fatherland, England, as having renounced the truth and sunk into depths of error,” I involuntarily fixed upon him a sternly protesting glance, of which I believe he was aware; because he looked again and again, inquiringly, toward the part of the chapel where I, as well as all the others, were kneeling.

I am told here, every day, of persons of consequence in England, Germany, and other countries, who have been converted from the Protestant to the Roman Catholic church; they wish to entice me to follow their example, and, therefore, spare neither flatteries nor other means of persuasion. Many converts, I believe, are attracted to Catholicism by some beautiful doctrines which it has preserved, and which the Protestant church has rejected; many also are imposed upon by the apparent stability of the Catholic