From Pope Pius 4th, we have the following cautionary rule—That since it is manifest from experience that if the Bible be indiscriminately permitted in the vulgar tongue, more injury than benefit will result through the rashness of men, the use of Catholic versions _shall be granted_ by the voice of the priest or confessor to those alone who it is understood will not be hurt by the reading of them, but will be advanced in faith and piety.” —“_they may grant_”—“_shall be granted_!”—Man giving permission to read the Bible! That is, on Romanist principles, if one of you, my parishioners, wants to read the Bible, he must come to me, as his Rector, for permission—for a written certificate! Mark also the _condemnation_ by Pope Clement XI of a proposition made by an eminent writer (Quesnel) of the Romish Church. “It is useful and necessary in every time, in every place, and for every degree of persons, to study and to know the spirit, and piety, and mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures.” This was laid down by Quesnel, and Pope Clement condemned it. But I ask “Is it a fact that in this very town, where we have a considerable number of Romanists, the Scriptures are disseminated _in the Romish version_?” One of the excuses which might be urged for the Priest is, that the Testament which was burnt by him was not the authorised version. Two or three weeks have elapsed since he burnt that one, but has he given, in its place, one of his own Testaments? He had not done it up to yesterday morning. What! has he burnt the Testament of a little child without the slightest restitution? Had I taken away what I deemed an erroneous version, at least I should have gone to the first Bible depository and should have said “At any rate, if I take away what I consider erroneous _I must supply what I think is right_.” On his own showing, he was bound to have given the child a New Testament _according to the Romish version_. But it will be said, “There are many towns where you can buy the Romish version of the Scriptures at their booksellers.” I can attribute this to nothing else than that Rome skilfully accommodates herself to circumstances of time and place. This remark will be deemed uncharitable by many. Brethren, it is not very easy to avoid the appearance of uncharitableness when speaking of the practises of the Church of Rome. “Dr. Dens, having given the Fourth Rule of the Index, and stated that it is strictly binding in Romish countries, says—‘Yea, rather according to Steyaeret, the law (4th rule of Index) was received and hitherto observed (with some variety, according to the peculiar genius of nations), in by far the greatest portion of the Catholic world, nay, in the whole of that part of the world which is completely Catholic: _it was more dispensed with only where Catholics lived among heretics_.’” {11a}