ments in Purgatory in the Public Markets? Our adversaries have dwelt much upon a certain recondite doctrine of their own, and their extensive and various readings. Let them produce some proof of it, and at least that they have read and do know something. They have exclaimed confidently in all circles, that every part of their Religion bears the stamp of Antiquity, and is confirmed not by the multitude prove the madness and impiety of the Popes, and the folly and ignorance of the Papists in general, than a belief in these idle fantasies. They would do well to attend to the words of St. Augustin Fratres, Jesum Christum Justum habemus advocatum apud Patrem. Ipse est propitiatio pro peccatis nostris: Hoc qui tenuit, Hæresim non fecit: Hoc qui tenuit, Schisma non fecit. Unde enim facta sunt schismata? Cum dicunt homines, nos justi sumus; nos sanctificamus immundos: nos justificamus impios nos petimus: nos impetramus. My Brethren, we have Jesus Christ the Righteous, our Advocate with the Father: He is the Propitiation or PARDON for our Sins. He that held this Doctrine never committed Heresy; never Schism. For whence arise Schisms? Where men exclaim, (like the Pope), we are just; we sanctify the ungodly; we obtain Pardon for Sinners; we pray; we succeed. Augustin in Epist. Johan. tract i. * Bishop Jewell in his Defence, states, that the Popish Priests sold openly their pardonnes, and al the roomes and lodginges of Purgatorie, as a gaineful kinde of marchandise.” The Defence of the Apologie, p. 545. What only, but by the uninterrupted consent of every nation and age. Let them at least shew us this Antiquity; let them clearly prove this extensive propagation of their Religion, and the Conversion of every Christian Country to their Persuasion. But as we before said, they fly from their own decrees; and those acts which a few years ago they sanctioned as of Eternal Obligation, have been in as short a period rescinded. confidence then can we place in their assertions respecting the Fathers-the Ancient Councilsthe Word of God? They have not, gracious God! they have not either the Antiquity; or the Universality, or the Consent of all Ages and Nations of which they thus arrogantly boast: and of this they are themselves by no means ignorant; although they would fain dissemble their knowledge. Sometimes indeed they have plainly confessed as much; and therefore they allege that occasionally the Decrees of the Ancient Councils and Fathers may require Emendation to meet the Exigencies of the Church. It is thus that they screen themselves behind its walls, and by false artifices impose upon the credulity of mankind. And it is truly marvellous that men should either be so blind as not to detect these imposi tions, or if conscious of them, that they should with such unruffled equanimity endure this state of Mental Bondage. But when they repealed these antiquated and obsolete decrees they replaced them perhaps, by others less defective; for, they have the assurance to assert, that were Christ himself, or his Apostles to rise from the dead, the administration of the Church of God could not be conducted with more Propriety and Holiness than it now is by them. They have indeed substituted new Dogmas and Decrees; but, as Jeremiah says; † chaff instead of wheat; or, as Isaiah tells us; those things which God hath not required at their hands. They have stopped up all the veins of living water; they have hewn out for the people of God ruinous and muddy cisterns, full of mire and filth: cisterns, which have no pure water; which cannot contain any. They have torn from the * If Christ himself or his Apostles were alive again, the word, that is to say, the doctrine of our belief, so preached and received in the Catholic (Popish) Church, neither should be altered, nor could be bettered." ↑ Jeremiah xxiii. 28. Harding's Confutation. Bishop Jewell in his defence accuses the Papal advocates people the Holy Communion; they have robbed them of the Word of God; the source and fountain of all consolation: they have caused them to wander from the true worship of the Deity; from the right use of the Sacraments and * Prayers of the Church. But, that we might have wherewithal to amuse ourselves in the interim, they have given us their own invention, Salt, Waters, Oils, Spittle, Palms, Bulls, Jubilees, Indulgences, Crosses, Incense, with an infinite number of Ceremonies : and as Plautus says; †ludicrous sports. In these things alone does their Religion consist. These they of having effected an entire change in the Doctrine of the Apostles, and addresses them in the words of the Prophet Malachi: "Ye have departed out of the way, ye have caused many to stumble at the Law, ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts; therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways." Malachi ii. 8. 9. *The words of our Saviour may well be applied to the Papists, who make their prayers in a Language unknown to the People." The People draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew xv. 8.9. Ludos Ludificabiles. Shows and Pageants that are very amusing and entertaining, but utterly useless, have taught the people to believe are the proper means of propitiating God; * of expelling Demons; of quieting and confirming the Consciences of men. These forsooth are the Orient Colours, the Precious Balms of the Christian Religion : these are grateful and acceptable in the eyes of God: this was the Edifice to be erected upon the Ruins of the Institutions left us by Christ and his Apostles. The impious Jeroboam, having revolted from the service of God, and induced the people to worship the golden calves; † to prevent a relapse in their inclinations, their defection from himself, and their return to serve God in his temple at Jerusalem; in a long speech exhorts them to constancy; Behold, says he, 66 thy Gods, O Israel!" thus has your God com "It is too much manded you to worship him. for you to undertake so long a journey, and Augustine Steuchus, one of the most esteemed Popish Doctors, writes thus: Aquas, sale et orationibus sanctificamus, ut ad earum aspersum nostra deleantur delicta: We hallow Water with Salt and Prayer, that by the sprinkling thereof our Sins may be forgiven. And the Roman Pontifical declares that the consecrated Water, Ashes, Palms, Candles, &c. are profitable for the Salvation of both Soul and Body. August. Steuchus in lib. numerorum cap. xix. and the Pontifical. + 1 Book of Kings xii. 28. |