Pamphlets on the Eirenicon [pp. 217-231]

Pamphlets on the Eirenicon.
others from repeating them. We are
sorry to say-what we still believe will
be acknowledged as true by all who
have been at the pains-pains not
taken by some who have written on
this subject-of not merely consider ing the animus and motives of Dr. Pu sey, but of examining his book in de tail, and taking its measure as a work
of erudition and controversy-that,
unattractive in sty)le, rambling, in coherent, vague, and intentionally
"loose" as it is, it has one great
quality, however unintentional-that
of being a perfect storehouse of mis representation. We speak simply as
critics, and we disclaim all attempts to
account for the phenomenon. It con tains an almost unparalleled number of
misstatements of every kind and de gree. Its author's reputation will
give weight and currency to these.
Though never perhaps likely to be a
popular book, it will still take its
place in Protestant libraries, and will
be much used in future controversies.
* No one can tell how often we shall
have certain extraordinary statements
about the sanctification of the Blessed
Virgin, her active and passive con ception, the protest of the Greek
Church against the doctrine, Bellar mine's assertion about general coun cils, transubstantiation, extreme unc tion, and the like, brought up against
us; and the erroneous conclusions
founded upon them cannot be neglect ed by the defenders of Catholic truth.
It is, therefore, essential not that Dr.
Pusey should be attacked in an un kindly spirit, but that his book should
be handled critically, and, as far as
may be, whatever it contains of mis statement; misquotation, unfair insinun tioa and conclusion catalogued and.
exposed. It must be remembered
that there is a great demand for the
materials of anti-Catholic controversy.
Dr. Pusey does not subscribe to the
societies which mostly hold their
meetings in Exeter Hall in the month
of May; but he might Well be made
a life-governor of all of them in con sideration of this book. It will be
used by the zealots who try to win
the poor peasants of Cofinaught to
apostasy by means of food and clothing, and by the more decorous
"Anglo-Continentals," who are just
now rubbing their hands at the prospects of infidelity in Italy. Alas!
it not only teems with snares for the
learned and conscientious, but it is
full of small insinuations for the ignobler herd of paid agents and lecturers-" what the poorer people believe in Rome," what Catholic
churches are called in south India,
what Cardinal Wiseman is reported
to have said of Archbishop Affr6,
"who died in recovering his people at
the barricades." These things may
be passed by as simply faults of taste;
but the pretensions of the book to
learning, and its historical and doctrinal statements, cannot be admitted
without sifting. Dr. Pusey has imposed an unwelcome task on Catholic critics. At the very time that
they would be conciliating his followers, they are forced to attack him. It
has seemed to us indeed that ordinary
care in examining authorities, an
attention to the common-sense rule
that strangers cannot understand a
system from without, the use of the
many means at his disposal of ascertaining the Catholic meaning of
Catholic language, more self-restraint
in assertion, in urging arguments that
appeared telling and conclusions that
were welcome to himself, and
somewhat less of confidence in his
own attainments as a theologian,
would have spared those who wish
him well this painful undertaking at
a time when they would gladly say no
word that may sound harsh to his
ears. But, after all, truth is more
precious than peace, and peace can
only be had through the truth; and
we can cordially return to Dr. Pusey
the assurance which he himself
has proffered to Catholics, that
those engaged in the ungrateful task
of subjecting his volume to the analysis of criticism have no intention
whatever of wounding his feelings.
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