Sequentia Christiana

THE object of this little work is to give a simple and concise account of the chief doctrines of the Catholic Religion in their natural and logical sequence. It is intended for the use of those who, like the Author, have had the happiness of being brought, by the special mercy of God, from the misery and danger of doubt to the fulness and Divine certainty of faith. It may also serve as a beacon-light to souls-and there are many-who are struggling up steep and difficult paths to the Rock of safety and strengththe Ancient City of Refuge-the Catholic Church. Those also who are engaged in the charitable work of instructing converts and others" unto justice" may find it a serviceable kind of text-book on which to base their teaching. The writer does not attempt to prove what is stated by long arguments; he relies chiefly upon the innate reasonable force of the bare statement of truth itself, and upon that authority before which most of those for whom he is writing bow-the Holy Scriptures. The quotations from the early Fathers, when not translated from the original text, are cited from trustworthy writers. Doubtless there are not wanting many excellent books of this nature, each with its separate feature and value, each presenting the hidden germ of "truth" in its own way; but what God has revealed cannot be too often proclaimed, and each herald has his own circle of hearers and his own attracting force. That this way of putting forth the Christian verity may win not a few souls to the faith, and confirm it in many who are but neophytes, is what, under God, the writer hopes for. Let it be his apology, if apology, indeed, be needed, for abandoning the ministry of the Church of England, for if what is set forth in the following pages be true -and the majority of Christendom would declare it so to be-all other forms of religion whatsoever fall by default according to the axiom: "Of two contradictories, if one be true the other must be false."