An Essay on the Law of Celibacy Imposed on the Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church, and Observed in All the Religious Orders Abroad In Which Are Delineated Its Rise, and Progress from the Most Early Ages of Its Existence, Down to the Present Time; And Im

Excerpt from An Essay on the Law of Celibacy Imposed on the Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church, and Observed in All the Religious Orders Abroad: In Which Are Delineated Its Rise, and Progress From the Most Early Ages of Its Existence, Down to the Present Time; And Impropriety of This Ecclesiastical Constitution Is Shewn

Sub? Did of Theatrical entertainments; 11 y' a de grands exemples pour, mais de fortes raifons contre. The propriety of it may bedcfended by great examples but combated with folid arguments. Indeed, it mull be acknowledged, that a fiate of continency has been celebrated by many of the ancient; Fathers with great encomiums, and mar riage has been rather depreciated and contemned. To thefe traditionary author1t1es, therefore, I will Oppofe others equally refpeftable and conclufive. In fbort, as Scripture, authority, and reafon have been appealed to in fupport of this opinion; with what degree of truth they have, feverally, been a?irmcd to favour it, I will endeavour to thew in the courfe of this eltay. How far I {hall have fuccecded, I {hall leave to the im partial, after a candid petufal of it, to deter. Mine. I have chic?y colleéted only 'what others have faid before me upon this filbjef't; but, I have aimed to draw the controverfy within a. Narrower compafs: Efpecially, as without ever lofing fight of my principal fubjeét, I have, occafi onally introd uced fuch other difcu?ions, as may ren der this Efi'ay more interefiing and comprehen five, than will probably be apprehended from a bare infpeétion of its Title page. My with is, rather to be ufeful by contributing to fupport what I really efieem the caufe of truth, than to feck unmerited and unfatisfaétory applaul'e, by advancing any opinions which may difiutb the B a peace(6)

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