Note F.

The obligation of oaths. The opinions of the Jesuits as to oaths, and the power of mental reservation, are well known. They have been avowed in England within the last few years!

The "Secunda Secundæ," of Thomas Aquinas, has been stated by a Maynooth Professor, Dr. M'Nally, before the Committee of the House of Commons, to be a standard book there. (See Appendix to Report, p. 450.) In this work occurs the following question:—"Whether a prince, on account of apostasy from the faith, loses Ins dominion over his subjects, so that they are not bound to obey him?" Answer, "We have the authority of Gregory VII., who says, 'We holding the statutes of our holy predecessors, absolve by our apostolical authority those who are bound to excommunicated persons by fealty or the sacrament of an oath; we absolve them from the sacrament of their oath, and prohibit them to observe faith towards them, by all means, till they make satisfaction. But apostates from the faith are excommunicated, as also heretics, as the Decretal says, Extra de Hæreticis, cap. ad Abolendam.' Therefore men must not obey apostate princes."

The above is taught at Maynooth, which is endowed liberally by us Protestants. Can we wonder that Ireland is disaffected, when such a pest-house of sedition is allowed to exist? We might multiply quotations such as the above.