neglect and irreverence of the Sabbath, and the general dissoluteness of manners, will answer the second inqui ry. And further, what were the characters of the saints, the demi gods of the Church of Rome, as described in her Breviary, held up to admiration in language of extravagant eulogy, and proposed to the faithful as their model and exemplars? Every one knows that their holiness mainly consisted in unnatural chastity and abstinence, self-imposed penances, wearisome ceremonies, and unmeaning devotions, for which scripture furnishes no warrant or injunction, and which its general principles and spirit utterly condemn. The generous food of the gospel produces health and strength of soul, and activity of the spiritual powers; but the low diet of popery enfeebles the mind, vitiates the moral sense, and excites a morbid irritability that is pregnant with danger to man's highest interests. Christianity is a system of benevolence; for it proceeds from him who is "good to all, and whose tender mercies are over all his works." 57 In imitation of his Heavenly Father, the Christian is desirous, "as he has opportunity, to do good unto all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith."58 To administer to the spiritual and temporal wants of his fellow-mortals he will gladly "spend and be spent ;" and though, when he looks upon a divided church he cannot but mourn over the prevalence of error and disunion, he is too well instructed to suppose that any sect possesses a monopoly of religion, and heartily adopts the language of the apostle, "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."59 As for those who differ from him, it is his aim to show the same kindness and forbearance which he expects in return. Their errors are to be exposed and refuted; their persons and property are sacred. His divine Lord has taught him that the tares are to grow together with the wheat, and that the execution of judgment is reserved for himself: the armies that follow the mighty conquerer attend his progress and celebrate his triumphs, but he only wields the sword. Go Man is not responsible to his fellow-man, for 57 Psalm cxlv. 9. 58 Galat. vi. 10. his religious opinions or practices; but all are responsi ble to God, and "vengeance is his" alone. In direct opposition to these statements, stands the intolerance of popery. The Roman Catholic is bound to believe that all who refuse to hold the doctrines advanced by the Council of Trent, and summarily comprised in Pope Pius's creed, are out of the reach of salvation, and must certainly be damned to all eternity. Nor is this allThe intolerance exists in practice as well as in theory. It is an undoubted maxim of that persecuting church that those whom she shall choose to call heretics may and ought to be compelled by the secular power to renounce their opinions, or punished for their contumacy, even unto death. Such is the decrees of the fourth Council of Lateran, practically illustrated in the crusades against the Albigenses, and the horrible persecutions endured by the reformers in the sixteenth century. And such is the present doctrine of the Romish church, although the power to enforce it is in good measure wanting. The world is progressively advancing in knowledge and improvement; religious liberty has won its bloodless victories; yet the right to restrain and coerce conscience, and visit supposed theological errors with temporal penalties is still pertinaciously defended, and forms a component part of the system of popery.62 This is consistent, it is true; it is not for the infallible to alter or repeal; but it helps us in forming our judgment of the community that puts forth such monstrous assumptions, and vindicates the Protestant from the charge of 61 The third canon of this council anathematized and excommunicated all heretics; ordered them to be delivered over to the secu lar power; directed sovereigns and states to exterminate them, and threatened excommunication if they refused; and granted the same indulgence to those Catholics who undertook to extirpate heretics by force of arms, as to those who joined the crusades to the holy land. Dupin, xi. p. 96. 62 Mr. Butler says that Religious persecution is a "crime;" (Book of the Roman Catholic Church, p. 258,) and he, with many others of his communion wish it to be believed that modern Catholics are not persecutors. But we have nothing to do with private opinions; we must abide by Mr. Butler's own rule: that heretics are to be exterminated, is an "article of his faith," seeing that it was decreed by the council above-mentioned-a council which all Catholics" undoubtedly receive." He has no authority to contradict its decisions. uncharitableness, when he denounces the system as the "Antichrist," the mystical "Babylon" described in holy writ, and long ago destined to terrible destruction. Christianity is a system of happiness. Faith in the gospel produces content, cheerfulness, satisfaction, and the sublimest felicity. And the practice of Christianity is inseparably connected with bliss: "her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Gratitude, trust in God, patience, hope, temperance, charity, and other kindred virtues, promote our happiness as well as our purity. Both temporal and spiritual blessings are attendant on the religion of the New Testament; and its benefits are enjoyed by society at large, in the melioration of laws, the improvements witnessed in domestic and social life, the diminution of misery and crime, and the gradual softening down of the asperities of the human character: so true is it that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' 1163 But it is obvious that these blessings can only be experienced in proportion to the degree in which Christianity is understood and realised. Here, is the crowning glory of the gospel; it is the religion of mankind. Unlike the philosophy of the ancients, it has not an esoteric and an exoteric doctrine, one scheme for the learned and another for the vulgar. It may be understood by all; it is intended for all; it is given to all. The Roman Catholic system interferes with this divine benevolence, takes away the key of knowledge, and having sealed up the heavenly treasure, doles it out again with niggardly hand to its wretched victims. That those countries in which popery is the prevailing religion are usually worse governed and more miserable than others; and that the people generally are lower in the scale of civilization and enjoy fewer of the comforts of this life than their neighbours, are facts beyond dispute. It is equally clear, 63 1 Tim. iv. 8. 4 64" Of all the religious grievances of which the French peasantry and labouring classes now complain, as falling the heaviest, the necessity they are under of attending mass on working days, and the strict observance imposed on them by the maires, or magistrates, of many of the communes, to religiously observe all feasts and festivals, and even certain hours, on particular days dedicated to particular that for these results popery itself is responsible; like every false system of religion, it brings a present curse upon its votaries, and makes the world a wilderness indeed. Finally; Christianity is peculiarly the religion of Christ. He is the " Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" the centre of attraction-the source of life-the sole head and governor. In the Christian commonwealth he is the supreme and only ruler, and his statute book is the New Testament. Other king the church, as. such, may not have; other laws, in things spiritual, she must not acknowledge; she is "complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." 65 · One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." 66 But popery is the religion of priestcraft. From beginning to end it is nothing but priest, priest, priest. The aggrandizement of the sacerdotal order is the main design of all its ceremonines and services; the priests are literally and truly "lords over God's heritage." Thus, the honour of the Redeemer is taken from him, his authority vilely usurped, and his laws trampled under foot. That indescribable being called "the church," has contrived to merge all power, divine and human, in her own monstrous tyranny.57 Sitting in the chair of blasphemy, saints, on pain of a heavy penalty, is the most oppressive. These agents for the revived claims of the long-forgotten legion of saints frequently levy their fines, without mercy, on the profane, but industrious peasant who takes up his spade during the vigil of St. Didymus, or who plies the wheel on the feast of St. Catherine." Lady Morgan's France, i. p. 103. "Bavaria is one of the most backward countries of Germany, in regard to every kind of improvement. A bigoted and ignorant priesthood, not content with possessing a valuable portion of the lands of the country, have insisted on the expulsion of the Protestants, and on the strict observance of the endless holidays and absurd usages which impede the progress of industry among their followers. Hence a general habit of indolence and miserable backwardness in all arts, and especially in agriculture; and in point of learning a complete contrast to the north of Germany." Loudon's Encyclopædia of Agriculture, p. 96. 65 Coloss. ii. 10. 66 Matt. xxiii. 8. 67 It has been already mentioned, that in expounding the fourth commandment the compilers of the Catechism have made the word "sabbath" to include saints' days; all are placed on the same footing, and the commandments of the church claim the same re, gard as those of God. the Pope styles himself the "Vicar of Jesus Christ," but in reality exercises sovereign control over the consciences and souls of men, and " opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped." While the name of Christianity is retained, its power and influence are gone; and under the guise of friendship a deadly thrust is aimed at its very existence. The skeleton is not more unlike the living man than popery is unlike Christianity. Or it may be aptly compared to the "whited sepulchre, which indeed appears beautiful outward, but is within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." 69 When a system so absurd and mischievous is held forth as the only genuine representation of the religion of the New Testament, and the means of comparing the one with the other are studiously withheld, it cannot be wondered at that reflecting minds should take refuge in infidelity. To them it must appear far wiser and better not to believe at all, than to suffer such a degradation of reason and common sense as popery requires of them. "If this be Christianity," they argue, "if these silly superstitions, these ridiculous legends, this idol-worship and priestcraft, this hostility to knowledge and freedom, this desolating principle of persecution, belong to a system which arrogates to itself a heavenly origin, we will indignantly reject its claims, and rather wonder in the uncertainties of skepticism than submit ourselves to a yoke which a child might spurn to wear. Such a system carries with it its own refutation, and only deserves to be consigned to everlasting contempt." Thousands and tens of thousands have reasoned thus: and in such countries as France, Italy, and Spain, particularly the latter, infidelity, concealed or avowed, is diffused to an astonishing extent, and numbers among its adherents a large proportion of the clergy themselves. They have confounded Christianity with popery, and the tyrannical policy of their church prevents them from rectifying the mistake. By demanding implicit faith, without examination or inquiry, and vigilantly guarding all the avenues to divine truth, it has driven them into unbelief, as their sole resource. They must either cease to think, or cease 68 2 Thess. ii. 4. 69 Matt. xxiii. 27. |