Publisher's Synopsis
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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