The Autobiography of John Brown the Cordwainer, Ed. by a Clerical Friend [G. Huntington] (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ...and getting a little smattering of science; and I like the old monuments of piety, where poor old folks may find a resting-place, and where prayers are going up daily like incense before God. Jaques.--Had Henry VIII. a right to take the Church property from the Papists, and to give it to the Protestants? Mr. Tomkins.--He did nothing of the sort. He lived and died a Roman Catholic. All he wanted was to get the Church property for himself, and his favourites and flatterers. There was no taking away from one set of people to give to another, except what. was taken from the clergy and put into the pockets of the laity. The Church and nation was 'Papist: it saw its errors, and reformed itself. It was the same Church, just as a man who's washed his face is the same man as he was before. Jaques, --That's a very different tale from what one commonly hears. Why, a lecturer came here, and he said we'd robbed the Papists, and so he was against all endowments. Myself.--He was an ignorant ass, and just like most of those fellows who've got the gift of the gab, and nothing else to trade on. Jaques.--But the Church and nation may turn round again, and then who'll get Jones' and Pilkington's money? Mr. Tomkins.--I'm only speaking of what is just and right. We may have a Revolution and an "Age of Terror" it's true, God grant we mayn't; but what I say is, that what's once given to the Church cannot be taken from the Church without injustice. Jaques.--Ay, but if the Church washed its face from Popery as you say, Mr. Tomkins, it may wash it again from your High Churchism; and so Jones' and Pilkington's almshouses may go to other folk after all than those he's a mind to put into 'em. Mr. Tomkins.--So it may; and if there was a Revolution they might make just as short...