It has been suggested to me, that A brief and plain Exhibition of the utter Incongruity of the peculiar doctrines of the Church of Rome with those both of the Sacred Scriptures and of the early writers of the Christian Church Catholic might be useful as a small Tract for general circulation.

This suggestion has given rise to the present little manual. As for those, who either desire more copious information on the subject, or who may wish to see my authorities in the original Greek and Latin: I refer them to the second edition of my Difficulties of Romanism, printed for Messrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul’s Church-Yard, and Waterloo-Place, London, 1830.

If, from the Written Word of God and from the Fathers of the three first ages, any Latin Divine can make out an historical case, for The alleged Apostolicity of the peculiarities of the Church of Rome, better than the failures of Mr. Berington and Bishop Trevern of Strasbourg: let him by all means come forward, whether he be Bishop or Priest or Deacon. The Bible and the Fathers of the three first centuries, whence alone any historical substantiation of the assertions made by the Romish Clergy can be deduced, are open to them as well as to ourselves.Respecting opinions in the abstract, ingenious men may dispute for ever: but FACTS are of a more stubborn and intractable quality.

Assertions of the apostolicity and perpetuity and immutability and primeval universality of Romish Peculiarities are cheaply made: but FACTS and ASSERTIONS are matters widely different from each other.

To the satisfactory test of BARE FACTS I have brought the peculiar doctrines and practices of Romanism.

Let the Latin Clergy, if it be in their power, set aside my FACTS, and historically substantiate their own ASSERTIONS.

Long-Newton Rectory,
August 3, 1830.