The Mystery of Iniquity

T H E

MYSTERY OF INIQUITY ;

B X b M ILB R A . . REV S S . T . JE S E G E , ,

C en e on er . Of the Newa rk M E. f c

N ARK N. EW J . ,

WA RD TIC HENO R P RINTERS AND PUBLISHERS . , 1 8 7 2 E r d a c c rdi A c t o f C r ss in th e a r 18 1 nte e o ng to ong e ye 7 . B WA R D T C H E N O R y I ,

In th e fﬁ c o f th e Lib ra ria o f C r s s a t Wa sh i o e n ong e , ngton , C E O N T NTS .

PREFACE ,

C A TER I H P .

THE IS S E S U TATED ,

C A T R II H P E . A GLANCE AT THE PAST

C A T R III H P E . SHALL THE BIBLE BE OUR GUIDE ?

C A T R I H P E V. Ho w HAS ROM E TREATED THE BIBLE ?

CHAPTER V.

HE T S A T E T PPLIED .

CHAPTER VI.

THE S P GREAT U UR ER , S 4 C O N T E N T .

CHAPTER VII.

T M SS HE A ,

CHAPTER VIII .

C SS ONFE ION .

CHAPTER IX .

PURGATORY,

CHAPTER X . To WHOM SHALL WE PRAY

E CHAPT R XI . C ELIBACY,

C A T R X I H P E I .

T C N SYS M HE ONVE T TE ,

CHAPTER XIII

M S INOR FOLLIE ,

CHAPTER XIV. N W B DRU K ITH LOOD .

CHAPTER XV. ROME I N PROPHECY

A ER X CH PT VI. T HE PERIL OF THE HOUR , P R E F A C E.

THE auth o r o f the present treatise is w ell a w a re that mu c h h a s already been written and printed o n

E s the s ubjec t o f R o manism . ver in c e the mo mo r ableday when Luther nailed his c elebrated theses to o o o f t he W s s the d r ittenberg Cathedral , bu y pen have been a t w o rk expo sing the fo lly o f Papal do c trine and Papal prac tic e . Mu c h that h a s been

h a s o w o o u t o f n c o m written , h ever , g ne pri t and be e

s o c s no o s o n x s o b lete , be au e it l nger bear the e i ting

S iT state o f the c o ntro versy . The p it o f R o me h a s

c o o f o o never been hanged , but her m de perati n , in

a t s h a s o this c o untry lea t , been greatly m diﬁed

s within t h e past ten year . Waning in the O l d

o - h a s c o c w rld , the idea been n eived that the Papal 6 P R E F A C E .

thro ne m a y so me da y be ere c ted o n th e ruins o f the

To a o u t s o Americ an Republic . c rry thi b ld plan

no x s w to o no o to o e pen e ill be deemed great , and t il

s C u r l c s s s m s s o . c o o evere pub i h l y tem u t be de tr yed ,

o u r t s o f s o o r s o u r s righ per n and pr pe ty inve ted , hall

o f legislatio n a nd c o urts o f justic e bro ught under

c o o o f R o m s ﬂ u nc o ne c o f o u r the ntr l i h in e e , itadel

t s a ft a o t k n est o t liber ie er n her ta e and d r yed , un il we

o u c o o o o f o are br ght under the mplete d mini n R me, and are c h a nged fro m a n a tio n o f intelligent free

t a f ss Pa s men o a n tio n o blind and helple pal laves .

This ne w aspec t o f things renders it nec essary that w e h a ve the adva ntage o f fresh and additio na l

It st s o w s i o f o is light . mu be h n that the p rit R me s S t sh e is o f c till the ame , tha ever the enemy ivil and

o us t s x o religi liber y , and that , under a miling e teri r a nd fa o s s sh e c o c s a a nd ir pr mi e , n eal d rk deep de s c h w e o n s c igns . Mu h that a s been ritt n the ubje t o f R o manism within th e past twenty - ﬁve years is either to o learned and elab o ra te fo r general c irc ula

o o r s to o s s s o to ti n , el e abu ive and en ati nal gain P R E F A C E . 7

Th e a o u o s ge ne ra l c reden c e . uth r h mbly h pe that

s he h a s met a real w a nt o f the times . The pre ent

wo rk is no t designed t o be a n exh a ustive treatment

o f s c t s t o f s ef the ubje , but imply urni h a bri manual

o f th e past histo ry and pres ent statu s o f the Ro man

i i s a s k to st c c o ntro ver y . Great p in have been ta en

s c so c c c o f s to do e ure ab lute a ura y tatement , and ju stic e in every c a se to th o se wh o m a inta in o pp o site

w s Ho w w o o s o c h a s a vie . ell the pr p ed bje t been o

c o sh s ft to to mpli ed mu t be le the reader determine .

Trusting th a t so me go o d may be wro ught b y the

w o no w o ff to c fo r rk ered the publi , praying the

divine blessing o n th o se still kept in the d a rknes s o f

o s o o k s fo t R mani m , and l ing earne tly rward o the time when the man o f sin shall be de stro ye d and

s s s o io s ‘ o f Je u reign upreme ver the nat n the earth ,

o c o ts s s o f c t o the auth r mmi thi , the re ult mu h il and s to w o o f tudy , the thinking men and men the land .

V . . J . S . . ERONA , N J G

CHAPTER I .

THE I S E S T A TE S U D .

We do not l ook on the Po ish sect a s a reli ion ba t ra ther a s a p g , hiera rchica l t ra nn under a cloa k o reli ion cl othe with the s oils y y f g , d p o the cwil ower which it ha s a sa r ed to itse contra r to OW f p , p lf, y ’ ” a/eiowr s own o trine —M S d c . ILTON .

HERE are elements o f devotion in the char

o f - acter man , so deep seated and universal , that some form o f religion is rendered impera

o f f in tive . A sort intuitive belie the existence o f f a Supreme Being and a uture state , impels all men to acts of adoration . Travelers have f f met with tribes and races , existing in a ear ul state o f phy sical and moral degradation : but none have been found without some form o f f m f f religious belie and so e orm o worship . The

f is f f of belie o ten vague and absurd , the orm worship low and revolting : but still the fact 2 IO THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY.

remains , that men are everywhere instinctively f impelled to acts o f devotion . The sta rs o

the o f the nd f s o f heaven , beasts earth , a the ruit of the ﬁeld , have all been the objects human

a s : adoration . In Judah w God known his

m b ut s na e was great in Israel the Per ian ,

o f the f ignorant true God , bowed be ore the

sun the setting , while Egyptians gravely adored

of cats and cows , and the streets Athens were

” s ﬁlled with carved divinitie . In addition to this general belief in the ex

iste nce Of f a Supreme Being and a uture state ,

is s o f there an almo t universal conviction sin , leading men to offer sacriﬁce and to look in some

fo r s . way alvation Hence in all ages , animal sacriﬁce has been common among the heathen , and fo r four thousand years was offered by a

o f portion f the human amily by Divine direction . If f f then , we are a allen , sin ul race , how impor tant that we seek the Divine favor in the divinely

' a n ? A mista ke f ppoi ted way here may be atal .

s i Who dare a sert that in relig on , it matters not

is s ? what a man believes , so long as he incere T S S S HE I UE TATED .

is If n It not so in other matters . we take poiso ,

f s a n d i no deeming it to be ood , our incerity g rance will not save us fro m the natural c o nse f f ue nc e s o . u q our olly In a h ndred matters ,

m o ma n there is a way which see eth right unt a , ” the f s f but end thereo are the way o death . The question o f what is right and wrong in

o s r a nd s religi u belief, becomes impo tant pres ing , a s the interests and value o f the soul rise f superior to the interests and value o the b o dy .

If all men were agreed as to the right met hod o f r f o l egaining the Divine av r and image . it wou d nevertheless be our duty seriously to ponder whether mankind had fo und the pa th of truth but when we remember that the world is di vided

the se thin s h f o s in g , t at men pro ess opp ite and

s s exclu ive creeds , how important and olemn

is Th becomes the question , What truth e population o f the world at the present time may be estimated a t and the religious condition o f the world may be re pre

f : sented in round numbers as ollows Idolaters ,

Christians , Moham I2 T S HE MY TERY OF INIQUITY . me da ns , Jews , Mor mons , f By Christians , we mean those who pro ess to

f o b e derive their doctrines r m , and to followers of s Chri t . Those that have been classiﬁed under

e ne ra l of s the g name Christian do not , however , all agree either in practice or in doctrine .

U a o nder this term h ve been included !impr perly,

ho s fo f t of we pe to how ,) those who llow the ai h

Rome . These number about re gard the Pope as their sole head a nd infallible

s e guide , while all other are denounced as vil

s w u to . heretic , and itho t reserve given over end

s o . s les damnati n The creed to which all bi hops ,

s a s s s s eccle i tic and teacher in the Romi h Church ,

s s s f h mu t give public as ent , calls it el T is true

” f o f n catholic aith , out which one can be saved . Within the past fe w years fearful anathemas f f have been ulminated rom the Papal throne ,

s d do again t all who are to their own thinking .

o f d of s e One the pre ecessors the pre ent Pop ,

ha s s in a celebrated bull, aid , We declare and determine it a principle abs olutely necessary to T S I HE ISSUE TATED . 3

salvation that a l l human beings are subject to the Pope If the high claims of this arrogant

h a l l C urch are true , Protestants will surely be f r n e orever damned . Luthe , Calvi , Wesl y, White

e a re ﬁeld , Locke , Newton , L ighton , Howard ,

h : N beyond all question , in ell while ewman

s Mc Co sh Hall , Bi hop Simpson , Dr . , and thous

d o f e an s devoted men , who are seeking to serv

God wa and to do good , must be on the y . Now ,

o f fo r f e the Church Rome , claiming itsel the nam ” “ its e Catholic , holding that beyond pale ther

of t can be no possibility salva ion, looking upon ” a s “ all other religious bodies pestilent sects , that are to be denounced and destroyed , chal l n e s f e g the investigation o all thinking men . To investigate these claims is the o bject of the

” s . If we present treati e we ﬁnd them sustained , must lose no time in hiding ourselves under the pro tecting shadow o f Rome but if we ﬁnd them a b surb f e e and alse , no contempt will be too sev r fo r the h f Church t at has dared to put them orth .

to We shall endeavor carry on our investigation , in a Christian and candid spirit . We propose to I THE S O F 4 MY TERY INIQUITY .

S o s s r how that R manism is in no en e Ch istianity , t f f hat it is a oreign hostile power, the un ailing fo e o f o s ss all true religi n , who e rise , progre .

s a nd n persecution , ﬁnal overthrow have all bee H W portrayed in oly rit . We pro pose to show that the doctrines and spirit o f Romanism are in direct conﬂict with

o s S Of b its the d ctrine and pirit the Bi le , that

s is - hi tory dark and blood stained , that it is the ” ” of “ d s Man Sin to be e troyed , Babylon to be ” ” “ “ W thrown down , and the Great hore to be ” “ a re sha l l judged . We well aware , that we not meet the views o f that large class o f

fo m persons , who look on Romanism as one r o f st a Chri ianity among m ny others , or who , t having given little or no atten ion to the subject ,

s o f s regard all denunciation Popery as unchri tian , ” e s “ b cau e there is good in all religions , and ” b d in If good and a all churches . these good natured people could only get a peep “ behind ” s s o o the cene , and beh ld the internal w rkings

s o f s o d o o and moral Romani m , they w ul s n ﬁnd s ome more worthy object on which to b estow S S THE IS UE TATED . 5

is t heir overﬂowing charity . There another class that will take exception to the views set forth in

ss o f o Fa ther this book . I mean that cla wh m

s re re Morrell and Dr . Ewer con titute the ﬁtting p

nt ti f s se a ve s . These men are pro e sedly Protes

“ ” ta n t e t o f o s , , ~ y harp on the Failure Pr testanti m

a s fa r a s s and they dare , mimic the way and

f s f orm o Romanism . Every now and then some o f the m muster up courage to identify them s elves with the church that they have so long

a a l l s o f s . dmired , and lover out poken truth re

h s s joice t at another , like Juda I cariot , has gone

” his to own place . While , however , we hold and maintain this view o f the Roman Catholic

h we Churc , would not imitate her bigotry and

- ss narrow mindedne . Let it be remembered that

s h s h o f in the e hig and exclusive claim , the Churc

’ o s Rome stands alone , like Milt n Satan , By

” - o t sin exalted to so high pre eminence . No her

s s religiou body claim to be the janito r o f Heaven .

The the f charity that y withhold rom us , we

to fo r f extend them , while we cannot ail to per

c e ive that the great mass o f Romanists are 16 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

in We t living sin and without Christ , canno f s Ma sill o n e orget that Fenelon , Pa cal , and , wer

c o f e in mmunion with the Church o Ro me . Thes

s b s h h were saint , not ecau e t ey were Roman Cat

o f f e s S o . oli , but in pite the act They were lik tho se ﬂowers that grow up from the b o so m o f a

- o f s dead and decaying tree . The writer thi book ha s met with some memb ers o f the Romish

s e Church , whom he had every rea on to believ

s s were sincere Christian . But all this prove

f b e nothing in favor o Romanism . A man may

o f o f saved while a member the Church Rome , in the s fo r a ame manner and the same reason , that heathen living up to the light o f reason and co n .

' i n il no s o f sc e c e w l be saved . God is re pecter

so o f per ns but in every nati n , he that eareth Him i ” a nd s s . worketh righteousnes , accepted with Him

” We shall use the word Church when Speaking

f f . W o o e Popery , only by way accommodation do not believe that it is a church , any more than Mormonism or Mohammedanism can be called a

is o o f church . It m re a political than it is an ecclesiastical body . But as it claims to consti

CHAPTER II .

A L A N C E T TH E A S T G A P .

k — As or the ol a ths i . 1 JE . 6 . f d p . R v ,

EARLY every o ne kn o ws that the Church of

s s o f its Rome boa t antiquity , and in a tri u m ha nt us “ W p tone , asks , here the Protestant

” religio n wa s before Luther ? To an swer thi s

o o f que sti n will be the object the pre sent chapter .

Let it be remarked , however , that the argument drawn from antiquity do e s no t carrymuch weight l l i it f a . s s o with , a ter Judai m lder than Roman

s . W e ism , and Heatheni m older than either will, h s o f t se t owever , examine the claim an iquity up

s se e by Romani m , and how well they are sus

i of ta ne d by Scripture and hi story . To be any

the a t o f o f value , n iquity the Church Rome must

to t o f s be equal hat the New Te tament , else it hi cannot be the Church o f Christ and s Apo stles . S A GLANCE AT THE PA T . 9

That a society o f Chri stian s existed in the City o f the o f o ne Rome , in time Paul , no will deny .

Bu t did they set up the same claims , hold to the s s ame doctrines and practice , that are now main

t a ine d . If if by the Papacy they did not , they

s s s maintained view and practice the very oppo ite , then the Church now having its central power at

“ is s s Rome , not the ame with the mall band o f

s o f believer gathered there in the time Paul ,

m n Is any ore than mid ight one with noonday . We kno w what the Church o f Rome teaches — a t we h s the present time ﬁnd it in her catec i ms ,

- o t s o f n prayer bo ks , in the wri ing her leadi g men , in the canon s and decrees o f the Council o f

s Trent . Perhap it would be best , just at this

f s o f point , to present a brie ummary her teach

fo r f ing , that we may have it re erence in the f : She s In uture believe , common with us , in God

the So n the Father , God , and God the Holy — Gh o st ; in the incarnation death and re surre c t o f s s n ion Jesu Chri t , the ﬁnal judgme t, and a

o f future state reward and punishment . But on

a o f s this found tion truth , a va t superstructure o f 20 THE MYS TERY O F INIQUITY .

false doctrine and absurd practice has been

H is f f . o erected ere a summary Papal belie , as

/ b t he o f issue d in concocted y Council Trent , and

f o f 1564 s fo r the orm a bull in December , , !ala , IV o s . the boasted antiquity ,) by P pe Piu This

f s is the creed be ore alluded to , to which all bi h

O s o f p , ecclesiastics and teachers in the Church

Rome must give public assent ! I most ﬁrmly admit and embrace aposto lic and ecclesiastical

o b se r traditions , and all other constitutions and vances o f the same Church ; I also admit the sacred Scriptures according to the sense which

ha s the holy mother Church held and does hold ,

n s d o f to whom it belo g to ju ge , the true sense and interpretation o f the Holy Scriptures ; nor will 1 e ver take or interpret them o therwise than according to the unanim o us consent o f the f f athers . I pro ess , also , that there are truly and

s s o f ne w s properly seven acrament the law , in ti tute d s fo r sa l by Je us Christ our Lord , and the

o f s r vation mankind , though all are not nece sa y fo r : t s every one , namely bap i m , conﬁrmation ,

e eucharist, penance , xtreme unction , orders , and S I A GLANCE AT THE PA T .

t o f o f matrimony , and tha they c n er grace ; and b these , aptism , conﬁrmation and order cannot be

t do s reitera ted witho u sacrilege . I al o receive a nd o f admit the ceremonies the Catholic Church , received and approved in the administration of I a l l the above said sa craments . receive and e mbrace every one o f the things which have been deﬁned and declared in the holy

n o f s Cou cil Trent concerning sin and ju tiﬁcation .

f s s the s is ff I pro es , likewi e , that in ma s , o ered to

o o s fo r God a true , pr per and propitiat ry acriﬁce the living and the dead ; and that in the most

s o f holy acrament the eucharist , there is truly ,

n the b really and substa tially , body and lood , together with the soul and divini ty o f o ur Lord

Jesus Christ ; and that there is made a co nver sion o f the whole substance o f the bread into the body ; and of the whole sub stance o f the wine

s into the blood , which conver ion the Catholic

h s f Churc calls tran ubstantiation . I con ess , also ,

that under either kind alone , whole and entire ,

Christ and a true sacrament is received . I con sta ntl d is a y hol that there purgatory , and that 3 THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY . souls detained therein are helped by the suffrages of f the aithful . Likewise that the saints reign i ng together with Christ are to be honored and

ff fo r us invocated , that they o er prayers to God , h an d that t eir relics are to be venerated . I

s s o f most ﬁrmly a sert that the image Christ , and of o f s o f the mother God ever virgin , and al o

b a u the other saints , are to be ad d retained , and that due honor and veneration ‘ are to be given

s f f indul to them . I al o a ﬁrm that the power o

me os f s r a nd ge was le t by Chri t in the Chu ch , that the use o f them is most wholesome to Christian

the . people . I acknowledge holy catholic and

s apostolic Roman Church , the mother and mi tress O f all churches ; a nd I promise and swear tru e

the n s s o f obedience to Roma bi hop , the uccessor

o f of St . Peter , prince the Apostles and vicar

f ss Jesus Christ . I also pro e and undoubtedly receive all other things delivered , deﬁned , and declared by the sacred can o ns and general coun oil s o f , and particularly by the holy Council

o Trent ; and likewise , I also c ndemn , reject and a nathematize all things contrary thereto , and all GLANC S A E AT THE PA T . 23

heresies whatsoever condemned , rejected and

s a nathematized by the Church . Thi true cath o f o f w h lic aith , out which none can be saved , hic f f I I now reely pro ess and truly hold , , , A B ,

s promise , vow and swear , most con tantly to hold a nd f ss h pro e the same , whole and entire , wit

’ s the o f f God s as istance , to end my li e ; and to

fa r a s procure , so lies in my power , that the same shall be held , taught , and preached by all who are under me , or are entrusted to my care ,

of fﬁ so e by virtue my o ce , help me God , and thes h f ” s o . oly gospel God , Amen Now we know what are the teachi ngs o f b Romanism , can we tell what was maintained y the primitive society o f believers at Rome ? If

“ s o f we do , we can soon settle the que tion anti

uit Wll if . e h he q y , we do not know w at t y taught , we know what was taught them . There was quite a long letter written to them by the Apostle Paul , which has come down to

o if our day . Paul is go d authority , !even Peter w a s is the reigning Pope ,) but when it remem

t s t t t bered , that both par ie admi that his let er 2 4 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

o f H was inspired , and that it is a portion oly

its o as se Scripture , auth rity umpire in the ca

. u s . becomes supreme Well , let look at it Do

ﬁ nd h it » a b o ut we anyt ing in extreme unction ,

s t penance , indulgence , ransubstantiation , the wor

o f the o f s i a nd ? ship Mary , adoration a nts images

o ss fo r the d Anything ab ut purgatory , ma es dea ,

- o f o su the pre eminence the R man Church , the

re ma c f t f w o S . ss p y Peter , con e ion , or orship in an unknown tongue Not a Si ngle word from beginning to end . The greatest heretic could h no . a re ave done worse Nay more , there some things in thi s inspire d letter that must have a

s curiou sound to Roman Catholic ears . I wonder that they have never suspected Paul o f being a N s . o Prote tant doubt but that they would , had

a nd fe w b u t he lived written a centuries later , in

’ wa s n in Paul s time , there othing the Church at

o H sa “ I s s . e R me , to prote t again t could y,

C s fo r thank my God through Jesus hri t you all , that your faith is spoken o f throughout the whole ” world Should any o ne write such a letter at l the present day to the peop e in Rome , he would

26 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

whosoever S hall call upon the name o f the Lo rd ” i shall be saved . This is too bad . What s to

o f s t f become the poor priest , with heir con ession

s s s fo r boxes , indulgence , and ma se the dead The poor old Pope ha s just been hurling thunder bolts o f wrath against all not in communi o n with

” the s s Apo tolic See , and here Paul tell us that

’ if we call on the name o f the L o rd we shall ” s s be saved . Other pa sage might be adduced , Showing ho w little Paul knew o f the dogmas and

Le t a doings o f Popery . such declarations s t hese be compared with the hi story and practices

‘ “ a k f f . o Romanism Him that is we in the aith , ” o f no t receive ye . For the Kingdom God is

s meat and drink , but righteou ness , and peace , ” s and joy in the Holy Gho t . Beside the letter

o f to the Romans , Paul wrote a number others ,

as also did Peter and John . These letters both Roman Catholics and Protestants believe to be f l a ce o . inspired , and p in the Canon Scripture

n But they all run like the Epistle to the Roma s .

o s Nothing ab ut purgatory , mass , penance , relic ,

of the h h prayers to saints . Nothing is said C urc S A GLANCE AT THE PA T . 27 a t Rome as being superior in p o wer or digni ty

o to the Church at C rinth , Ephesus or Jerusalem . Peter lays no claim to any superiority o ver his

” s s f brethren , call him el an elder , and permits

s f Paul to with tand him to the ace .

No w we are prepared to retort , and to ask

s Romani ts where their religion was when Paul ,

t s and n Pe er , Jame Joh wrote their letters to the f several churches . The Roman Catholic aith is i l If t s o d . old , we admi , but then it not enough

o o we take a j urney d wn the centuries , in order

f S o f to get at the true aith , we will not stop hort

Christ and his apostles . We are determined not to l ose our way among the councils and fathers but to pursue our inquiries until we reach the f s ountain head . Now , we are prepared to a n wer

“ W n the question , here was the Protestant religio f u be ore L ther We reply , where it always wa s s : b , till is , and ever will be in the Bi le .

s o n The Prote tant religi n is othing new . It is s o o f no imply the religi n the Bible , thing more

a sk a s and nothing less . We the Rom ni ts where

h n is is a nd we t eir religio , and what it , are 28 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

s to o f o s pointed to Papal bull , decrees C uncil ,

s f th f Ask us and to the ayings o e athers . the

s he r m o t . o same que tion , and we p int to Bible F

we t it de rive our doc rine s and mo rals . Hi sto ry

informs us how the Papal corruption was bro ught t l l about . We can e when the ﬁction o f purga

wa s o f m ss tory invented , when that the a , and so on all thro ugh the chapter o f sh a meful a nd

s No t o nl v o t hamele ss imp o sitions . can we p in to the Ne w T e stament as the fo undation o f o u r

f o f o f aith and practice , but we have ample pr o

o f uninte r an external kind , the long continued ,

ru te d s o f f o n . p , and pure exi tence our aith earth

: “ Dr . Breckinridge has well put this point The

f is if act , the Roman Catholic Church had never

s exi ted in the world , we would have abundantly

more proof o f the pure s uccession o f the Church

o f d n s Go h o w . on earth , t an we have Becau e the chief o bjects o f her exi s tence have been to

s s to bani h the Scripture , corrupt the church , to

s s o f degrade the human race , to kill the aint b God , and to cover the earth with palpa le dark h ness . How vast and ow glorious would have T THE P S 2 A GLANCE A A T . 9

m s been the living monu ent to God , erected in whole nation s which that church ha s butchered

no w s f s o u r s if that would tand orth to ble s eye , she had never existed ! Alas ! our hearts sink within us when we contemplate the evil she has

o n o f done , and dwell the probable condition

s fo r the human race , at thi moment , but the dire inﬂuence of the Latin Church . Yet the very breadth o f her errors and crimes affords us

o f e o f the evidence the continued existenc truth , in the hearts and lives of those who resisted her

n . f sway , or died be eath her strokes The A rican

of s As churches the ages , the variou iatic ! early the e sto ria ns churches , especially N , the Greek

Ca l de e s l s church , the in Ire and , the Waldense

o f in the South Europe , the Moravians and

a s o f o s f Bohemians in the e t Eur pe , the writing o

a nd i f o f the early Greek Lat n athers , the army

to martyrs , have handed down us evidence o f the constant existence o f those who did not ho w

— ' Pa ism in the Unite d Sta tes the knee to Baal p ,

a e 3 2 p g .

ha s God always had a people to serve Him . 30 THE MYS TERY O F INIQUITY

Truth has never been quite banished from the

’

e . O f uc c i n we s e ss o . arth this , are proud We care but little fo r that boasted chain over which

Ro manists and High -Churchmen make so great a n ado , every link in which is covered with rust a n d blood but we do glory in the succession O I f f s f aith ul witnes es o r the truth . Many a long

c e ntury has the true church abode in the wilder.

n she She ess , but has never yet become extinct .

ha s lived all through the dark and stormy past,

“ f o is advancing r m one victory to another , and f shall yet become the joys o the whole earth .

ha s Popery burned men and women and bibles ,

o f but the eternal truth God , cannot be burned

with ﬁre , bound by chains , or drowned in ﬂood .

No m a rb l e a n d e c o rdin b s s de r g ra cay, ’ An d l i e th e v r s m e m o ss , k gra e ry, pa away Th e o rks o f m a n in h rit a s is u st w e , j , ’ Th e ir a u th o r s ra il t a n d re tu rn to du st f y , Bu t t ru th divin e o re ve st n ds se c u re f r a , It s h e a d a s gu a rde d a s it s b a se is s u re ;

i e d in th e ro l l in ﬂ o o d o f e n dl e ss e rs F x g y a , Th e il l r o f th e e te rn l t ru th e rs p a a app a , Th e ra vin Sto rm a n d d sh in w a v de ﬁ e s g a g e , ki Bu il t b y th at Arc hite ct w h o b u il t th e s e s . HA C PTER III .

SHALL THE BIBLE BE CUR GUIDE ?

” w a n to the testionon —I ii To the l a d . i 0 S . 2 y AIAH v . ” Th wor is a l aon unto an eet a nd a li ht unto an a th y d p y f , g y p . 1 5 c i 0 . PSALM x x .

HE great question between Roman Catholics

and Protestants is Simply this ! Is t he

uf of f Bible s ﬁcient as a rule aith , and guide to v ? h t sal ation We say that it is . They say t a

is suf it is not . Prove that the Bible alone

ﬁ cie nt fo r ; that it is possible us to read , study

a id o f and understand the Bible , without the

f a nd t popes , athers or councils , a comple e victory

0 r is soon secured . N Roman Catholic has eve dared to defend the doctrines and rites o f his church by a simple appeal to the pure word o f

” Sma riu s “ o f God . in his Points Controversy , !a Roman Catho lic work recently published)

t off h s arts wit a chapter entitled , The Bible 2 T E S T 3 H MY TERY O F INIQUI Y .

f not the only Rule o Faith and Practice . Les t s ome may think that our opponents are misre pre s o f ented , I will qu te rom a standard Roman — ’ Catholic wo rk Milner s End o f Controversy

“ The o u o f f t s fo Cath lic r le ai h , as I tated be re ,

no t the writte n wor d o Go d b ut the is merely f , whol e wor d o Go d b o th written a n d it e f , u nwr t n ;

r s S cri tu re a n d tra ditio n s in other wo d , p , and the e ex oun de d a n d ex l a ine d b the Ca thol ic hu rch p p y C .

T s two - ol d ru l e l a w his implie that we have a f , or , and that we have a n interpre ter or j u dg e to ex l a in it to f p , and decide upon it in all doubt ul ” — d a e 80 En o Contro vers . points . f y , p g

o f o The italics are those the auth r quoted . There is a very sho rt way by which to decide f f the question now airly be ore us . The Bible is

s o s in pired , In ther word , God is its author . Men wrote it ; but God guided the pen and kept

s is b them from all erro r . Thi admitted y both

o w s sa o f f? parties . N what doe the Bible y itsel

’ Does it claim to be man s only infallible and all

uﬂi i nt ? If it s i s se t s c e guide doe , the matter tl e d t e 2d e 3 d . In h pistle to Timothy , chapter

THE S O F 34 MY TERY INIQUITY .

you that the whole business of the Scriptures

o n s — she ha s bel g to the Church preserved them ,

fo r she vouches them , and she alone , and by the

o f help tradition , authoritatively explains them .

s o f Hence , it is impos ible that the real sense Scripture should ever be against her and he r

of doctrine ; and hence , course , I might quash every objection which you may draw from any

s t e The pas age in it by his short r ply , Chu rch

n ders ta n ds the a ssa e d erentl rom ou u p g if y f y ,

a ke its me a nin therefo re yo u mist g .

of W f ! Shades hately , de end us Is not this a perfect gem o f fair and conclusive reasoning ?

I wo nder that he ever wrote anything on the

the h subject , when matter can be settled wit out h the exercise o f thoug t or argument . But he

: “ cha rit gives us the reason Nevertheless , as y b ea re th a l l thin s a nd n ever a il eth I l fo r g f , wil ,

sf of f the better sati ying you and your riends ,

fo r quit my vantage ground the present, and an swer distinctly to every text not yet answered

a n o f or by me , which y you gentlemen , which S HALL THE BIBLE BE OUR GUIDE ? 35

Dr s f ha s . Porteu himsel , brought against the f r Catholic method o eligion .

The dogmatic manner in which Dr . Milner

s a ssume the very matter in discussion , and then triumphantly talks about leaving his “ vantage ” if ground, leads us to imagine that he had lived a fe w he centuries ago , would have employed weapons more to his liking than are logic and S f cripture . Rome has often ound that ﬁre and f s o . word are no mean allies ; but this , more anon We will return to our examination of Scripture ; nor r l e will we allow Dr . Milner to u e this divin

t o f wi ness out court . And Scripture , too , shall

S fo r f the s o f peak itsel , untrammeled by saying the f t of n a hers , or by the decrees cou cils . A Chris h h f tian c urc was ounded by St . Paul in the city

” o f the s Berea . We read that when apo tles

thei preached to them , not satisﬁed even with r

t “ e estimony, they search d the Scriptures daily ” h r r whet e these things were so . St ange to

r t elate , his conduct on their part was com mended ; and they were pronounced more noble than the unthinking inhabitants of Thes 6 3 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

n o f t b e salonica . The preachi g the apostles migh investigated in the light o f Scripture ; but now we must receive with unquestioning faith the

o f o f teaching every little upstart a priest , tho ugh he be too ignorant to read correctly a

S o f ingle line the original Greek or Hebrew .

. his f h s St Luke , in pre ace to the book whic bear

he his name , gives us the reason why wrote

s . It seemed good to me al o , having had per fee t understanding o f all things from the very

e ﬁrst , to write unto the in order , most excellent

h c or Theophilus , that t ou mightest know the tainty o f those things wherein thou hast been ” ! n instructed . Ah then traditio is not the most reliable thing in the world ; and in order to

u of know the certainty divine things , we must

the have recourse to written word . I think that we have pursued this line o fthought

long enough . Scrip ture claims to be an infallib le guide ; and in no place allows to tradition a Share

n t in this high prerogative . Co sider what radi f h t tion is . Peter and Paul be ore t ey die , instruc some o f their pupils in matters not mentioned in S HALL THE BIBLE BE OUR GUIDE ? 37

to b e Scripture , or stated too obscurely under

f . stood . These , be ore they die , instruct others

: These again , tell somebody else and so the tradition is passed along through eighteen cen turie s o f turmoil and conﬂict . And this is the ” “ unwritten word , equal in importance and f h authority to the Holy Bib le itsel . Away wit such absurd blasphemy . Tradition either merely accords with Scripture or else it must ﬂatly con tr di t If l r a c it . it mere y acco ds with Scripture , why is it of such high value ? The same virtue may be claimed fo r thousands of worthy C hris If tian teachers . it contradicts Scripture , it

But in st o f . mu be the Devil , says another , it forms us on those points upon which Scripture is

. h silent T en it must go beyond Scripture , and what Shall we do with those solemn words o f the beloved disciple : If any ma n shall add unto these things , God shall add unto him the plagues

” that are written in this book . !Rev . xxii . ,

But , says another , it does not contradict or go

s beyond Scripture ; it imply explains Scripture . But is Scripture so o bscure that we must take S 38 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY . this difﬁcult and roundabout way to get at its

Ind e d n ? So . e o e meaning Roman Catholics say , of their most eminent authors tells us that The

S is o f f cripture not itsel , demonstratively clear in points o f ﬁrst rate importance ; and the divine

s law , like human law , without an authorized inte r e te r r o f p , must ever be a sou ce doubt and ” contention . This simply amounts to saying that tradition

If is clearer than Scripture . Now Paul , Peter , James and the other apostles could preach in a l f clear and inte ligent manner , why in the name o common sense could they no t write in a clear and intelligent manner Men usua l ly ta ke more care i in writing, than they do in speak ng . More than this , they wrote by inspiration . I think , then , that we can get along very well wi thout tradi tion . The Scriptures are able to make us wise

” unto salvation . One more point must be cleared up before we proceed with our discussion . Who shall interpret the Bible ? The Church o f Rome claims to b e th f him She e sole interpreter o this sacred vo e . S HALL THE BIBLE BE OUR GUIDE ? 39 .

W ’ t must do the orld s hinking in this respect . f This claim we re use to recognize . We claim that every man has not only the right to read but to interpret thi s Book . In this glorious em . ~

’ ma o f H ployment , we y have the aid God s oly

If o f Isdo m . W Spirit any you lack , let him ask o f a nd u » God , that giveth to all men liberally , p ” i th . se e b ra ide . not !James , Let us how f h the rule o the Romis Church will work . A poor Sinner reads in the New Te stament such

r s : g acious invitation as these Come unto me , all

- ye that labor and are heavy laden , and I will

” “ give you rest . And the Spirit and the bride him h say come . And let that eareth say come . And let him that is athirst come . And

l e t r of whosoever will , him take the wate ” f f o w f f a li e reely . N , be ore he can orm any ide

n o f s ho w as to the meani g thi , he must ﬁnd out the Church understands it , how all the Popes ,

councils and fathers have interpreted it . Then if he ﬁ h h S n nds in all c urc history , a ingle dissenti g

f re ma In In fu unc e r voice , he , must orever aw l

' t fo r ainty there must be , according to the creed 40 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY.

f o f the “ m o the Council Trent , unani ous consent

” us o ff o f the h o ly fathers . Does not this shut

o f ? from ever kno wing the will God But , says

h h n th t e Roman Cat olic , do you not k ow at No

prophecy o f the Scripture is o f any private inter

” pre ta tio n This is a correct Scriptural quota

Y u : . o tion , we admit but let us look at it will

i 20. 2d . ﬁnd it in Peter , Let us take context

We a of and all . have also more sure word

prophecy : whereunto ye do well that ye take

h .in heed , as unto a light that shinet a dark place ,

the s in until the day dawn , and day tar arise

h : s s your earts knowing thi ﬁr t , that no prophecy o f u o f the Script re is any private interpretation . For the prophecy came not in old time by the will o f man ; but holy me n o f God spake as they ” were moved by the Holy Ghost .

h s : o f the Notice three t ing First , the remarks a postle only refer to the prophetic parts of

“ S . e cripture Second , we are urged to tak ” t o f heed to !that is , consider ,) the subjec prophecy . Third , the reason assigned why it is

o f not private interpretation , is that it came not

2 THE S O 4 MY TERY F INIQUITY . d iscussion , we shall cling to the Bible . This the rule o f our faith and practice

Mo st wo n dro u s b o o k ! b righ t can dl e o f the Lo rd St r o f e te rn it th e o nl st a y, y ar By wh ich th e b ark o f m a n co u l d n av igate

Th e s e a o f l i e a n d a in th e c o a st s o f b l iss f , g

S e c u re l o n l st a w h i h ro s o n tim e y ; y r c e ,

An d o n its da r a n d tro u b l e d t rs s til l , k wa e ,

A s e n e ra tio n dri tin sl o w l b g , f g y y Su c c e e de d e n e r tio n th re w ra g a , a y ’ O f h ve n s o wn l i h t a n d to th e h il l s o f Go d ea g , , ’ ” Th e e v rl stin hil l s o in te d th e sin n r s . e a g , p e eye CHAPTER IV

HOWHAS RO ME TREATED THE BIBLE

For I testify unto every man tha t hea reth the words of the

ro hec o this book. I a n ma n sha ll a dd unto these thin s p p y f f y g , ’ God sha ll a a d unto him the pl a gues tha t a re written in this book And if a ny ma n sha ll ta ke a wa y fro m the words of the book of

this r hec God sha ll ta ke a wa his a rt out o the hooh o li e p op y, y p f f f ,

a nd ou t o the hol cit a nd rom the thin s which a re written f y y, f g ”— — i 18 19. n this hooh RE . ii. . V xx ,

’ HE Bible is Go d s great gift of love and

mercy to a lost and dying world . It wa s

e fo r a l l designed to xist time , and to be read h f by all men . It teac es us how to escape rom

sin , death and hell . It contains such a rich

r of u of wo ld hidden treas re , that centuries de vont study have not revealed all its meaning ;

the e r of while , at same tim , the g eat plan sal i l vation s so c early revealed , that the most h f SImpl e need not go estray . Millions ave easted

' nl v t a nd h on its he a ve ruth , died wit its precious 44 THE MYS T ERY OF INIQUITY .

f words o promise on their tongues . It has

“ c f the o - e brought om ort to br ken hearted mourn r , peace to the burdened conscience and troubled

f o heart o the p or Sinner . Well has one o f

’ Israel s sweet singers said

” Pre cio u s Bib l e ! wh at a treasu re Do e s th e w o rd o f Go d affo rd Al l I n t fo r l i e o r l e a su re wa f p , o o d a n d m e di in e sh ie l d a n d S o rd F c , w ; Le t th e o l d a o u n t m e o o w r cc p r, ” in th i I n e d n m o Hav g s e o re.

f a nd b e the Guilty , alse , cruel must system , that will degrade in a ny way this sacred vol u me strive in any way to shut it out from the h h s s of . eart and home the people We call , t en , in the name o f our sin -burdened and suffering h o f f r umanity , the Church Rome to answer o

o f s e her treatment thi Divine Book . Wcharge t he o h h R mish C urch wit having degraded , cor ru te d m s s We p and i tran lated the Bible . charge her with the crime o f making the Bible a sea led book , by claiming to be its only expositor . With the crime of retarding in every pos

S a nd o f the ible way , the circulation reading Ho w HAS ROME TREATED THE BIBLE ? 45

h e Bible . To sum up the w ole in a singl sen h tence , we charge the Romish Churc with being

a t a l l times a nd in ever ossibl e wa the invet , y p y ,

e B e era te enemy of th Hol y ibl e . Can this charg

? W ha s be sustained e Shall see . It already been Shown that the Roman Catholic Church e xalts tradition to a n e qual footing with Scrip

ha n ture . This s bee proved by witnesse s f h h f taken rom the Romis Churc itsel . It is

- f one a well known act , and which no intel

l i e nt a ‘ g person , whether Romanist or a Pro f r o . n ot testant , would eve think denying Is this degrading Scripture ? If we should make the doggere l o f old Mother Goose a text

book in our schools and colleges , would it not j ustly b e considered as an insult to the writings of o u r phiIO SOphe rs and scientists ?

? It has also been shown from Roma n Catholic authority that this Church claims to be the only D reliable expositor o f Scripture . Oe s not this in ? e ffect make it a sealed book Let Dr . Milner f answe r . We are happy to re er the reader to

t s e e o f r hi tr atis , because the work Milner is a so t 5 46 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY . of standard among Roman Catholics as the wri

of the the tings Calvin are to Presbyterians , or writings o f Wesley a nd Watson amon'g Meth

: e c d es t d c ta t odists . He says Th Chur h o no i e

a n ex osition o the whol e Bibl e b eca use she, ha s p f , no tra dition conc erning a very g re a t proportion of ” — it . o f 109 End Controversy , page .

a ~ re tt Well, things have come to p y pass ,

n We i deed . dare not , as we value our eternal

o f interest , interpret a single passage Scripture f r We s f o ourselves . mu t trust all to the in allible f f church . But this in allible church itsel d o es not

” know anything about “ a very g rea t proportion o f b the Bi le . I have just been looking again at the

f . h work o Dr . Milner I thoug t that I must have

a nno unc c me nt made a mistake , the is so astonish

ing . But no , there it is in black and white , on

l o9th o f the page his book . Any one may get ” and read it . A very great proportion o f the

Bible can never be understood . Why was it

n? the f b h writte Let in alli le churc reply . But why ma y we not understand it Did not God intend that we Should understand it ? We a re Ho w HAS ROME TREATED THE BIBLE ? 47 told that all Scripture is proﬁtable : but what

us if is ss fo r u s good can it do , it impo ible to understand it ? Are we unable to secure t he aid of the Divine Spirit and is thi s the reason why

? fo r Go d we may not understand it No , de clares himself ever willing to besto w this price

‘ s f is s ? w e les gi t . What then the _ rea on Alas , ha ve t a d Who no r ition . is willing to receive such ab surd and blasphemou s teaching ? Who is willing to follo w a guide so blind and intolerant ? To the Roman Catholic the Bible must ever i remain a sealed book . He dare not nterpret

s s the simple t pas age , until he has secured the “ unanimous consent o f the holy fathers Those who know much ab out the teachings o f the holy f s of athers , mu t laugh at the idea getting their ” unanimous consent But we c harged the Church o f Rome with having corrupted the

f r Bible . Let us look at this o a short time . In

a f i many l rge am ly Bibles , between the Old and

s f New Te taments , there are placed ourteen vol

a o c r umes called the Apocrypha . The word p y

v f A olcra ha pha is deri ed rom the Greek p p , and 8 THE S T 4 MY ERY OF INIQUITY .

i . means h dden, my sterious There is no reason why these books should be bound together with

the Old and New Testament . Any one can see f that they orm no part o f Scripture . They do f not claim to be inspired . They are not ound in any catalogue o f canonical writings made during

f f The s the ﬁrst our centu ries a ter Christ . Jewi h Church never re c e l ve d them as a part o f the e Canon . Christ never quot d them , neither did

f e any o the apostles . Those books contain stat

f- ments at variance with history , sel contradictory , and opposed to the doctrines and precepts of

s Scripture . These book the Roman Catholic Church has exalted to a place in the sacred

h the o f Canon . T is was done by Council Trent

h The e a in the l 6t century . ! n xt time R oma nist

a sks me where m rel i ion wa s b e o re Lu ther I y g f ,

a m oin to a sk him where his a ith wa s b e re g g , f fo

the Cou ncil of Trent. ) Is not this a gross corruption of Scripture

the is o f the Why , Bible a very small part rule

of f t of aith and prac ice , adopted by the Church

. d Rome By the time we get through with tra ition ,

0 THE S T R O F N 5 MY E Y I IQUITY .

Ca thol ic Church ha s never pu bl ishe d a Bibl e . This may seem a sweeping and uncharitable

b ut t . . charge , it is nevertheless rue We under

a the r stand by Bible , pure , unadulterated wo d o f of God , published in the language the people ,

th n r wi out ote or comment . Commentaries a e good enough in their place , but commentaries are

’ ’ ’ s not Bibles . Barnes Notes , Clark s and Ben on s If Commentaries are not Bibles . you went to

o f u fo r purchase one them , you wo ld not ask a

Bible . Now , the Romish Church has published a

of t r s version the Scrip u e , but they have taken good care to counteract its manifestly Protesta nt tone o f , by appending a large addition Papal

comment . They have never dared to give the pure word

f l u if o God to the peop e . What wo ld you think Pre sbyterians and Methodists should refuse to

u h b d p blis a Bi le , unless interlarde with Cal va nistic or Armenian comments Would you not say that they were afraid of the Bible This Romish version of the Scriptures is called the

at of Douay Bible , because made a town that Ho w HAS ROME TREATED THE BIBLE ? 5 ! n r a me in France . Every schola knows that it is a poor affair compared with our common English

h s Bible , and t at it contains many gros inac i ra . t The cu cies Nor could well be otherwise . version o f the Bible in common use among the

E u the Protestants , was made in ngland , nder r o f 1 11 6 . eign King James , in the year It was a careful translation of the original Greek and

of Hebrew , made by a large number wise and

of good men . The Douay Bible is a translation

of the a nd . the Latin Vulgate , not Greek Hebrew f It is a translation o a translation . This Latin f Vulgate is itself a mixed and imper ect affair . I will simply mention one gross mistranslation , as

f th We f t a specimen o e rest . re quently mee with the word repentance in the New Testament .

f Me ta noia It is a translation o the Greek word , and expresses one of the conditions o f salvation .

It is a very important word . In the Douay

F r doin ena nc e . o Bible it is translated , g p this

n tra slation there is no earthly warrant . They

h da e a i mig t as well have rendered it nc g g . Dr . Nevins justly remarks It would seem as if they 2 THE S 5 MY TERY O F INIQUITY .

were anxious to avoid the use o f any word which

e s orrow a m en dmen t xpressed or implied either or , a nd therefo re they ﬁx on the phrase doing

ena s if p nce . I am mi taken these translators t have not a solemn accoun to give . This single

if o ne rendering , it were the only exceptionable , would be as a millstone about the neck o f that

r o f f t anslation . Just think the alse impression ,

o f m and that on a point the highest mo ent , made on the minds o f so many millions by this one ” Thou hts on e gregiously erroneous version . g

1 h o f Po er 13 . p y , page But the Churc Rome does not want the people to have the word o f Go d in any form : and does not even look with favor on the general circulation and reading o f the Douay Bible . As many may at ﬁrst be tempted to question this statement we will go to

RO IIl l Sh w fo r f a ork proo , and once more appeal

“ f ” “ to the End o Controversy . Hence the

C r atholic Church requires her pasto s , who are to

o f preach and expound the word God , to study this second part o f her rule no less than the

w t n a nd s e ﬁrst part, i h unremitti g diligence ; h ? Ho w HAS ROME TREATED THE BIBLE 53 encoura es those o her ock who a re ro erl g f ﬂ , p p y

u a l i e d a nd dis os e d to rea d it o r their e di ica q ﬁ p , f f ” t on . i Notice two things , ﬁrst, reading the Bible is not required as a Christian duty . It is merely

n fe w encou ra e d. S c g e ond , o ly a can ever enjoy this privilege : “ those who a re properl y qu a l iﬁ e d ” a d dis ose d f n p . This extract may be ound on

’ f t . the 99th page o Dr . Milner s celebra ed work But again he tells us that The Catholic clergy

o m of t r must , and do empl y , no s all portion hei t ff of ime , every day , in reading di erent portions b holy writ . But no such o ligation is generally

t a incumbent on the ﬂock , hat is , on the l ity ; it is sufﬁcient fo r them to hear the word o f God from those whom God has appointed to announce a nd

e explain it to them , whether by sermons , or cat

chisms the o f , or other good books , or in tribunal ” 3 11 penance . Page . This does not look as though Rome favored much the free circulation and reading of the

s f . Bible . But history give us additional acts In

the 11th the century , Pope Gregory VII . ! patron saint o f Ame rican bishops) formerly returne d S 54 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

s s d o f thank to God , becau e the ecadence the Latin to ngue made the old Latin Bible unfa 2 f miliar to the people . In 12 9 the Council o Toulouse in its 14th canon “ forbids the laity to have in their po sses sion any copy o f the books o f s the Old and New Testament , except the P alter , and such portion s o f them a s are co ntained in the

s o f -V : t Breviary , or the Hour the irgin and mos ” f s s in strictly orbid the e works the vulgar tongue .

o f Ta rra c o ne 1242 a l l The Council , , ordered

o f b t he u versions the Bi le , that were in lang age of the people , to be brought to the bishops and

“ burnt . In the Ten Rules Concerning Pro ” hib ite d B s o f ook , drawn up by order the

o f - PO e Council Trent , and approved by p Pius f IV . s o . , we ﬁnd in rule III that version the Old Te stament may be “ allo wed only to pious and

” s learned men at the discretion o f the Bi ho p . In

IV f e o f r ule . the r e circulation the Bible is declared to be hurtful in the extreme ; permis sion to read it must be o b tained o f the bishop or

s s s i un . inqui itor , and all book ellers ell ng it to a uth o rized perso ns are to be punished . Ho w HAS ROME TREATED THE BIBLE ? 55

The position of Rome on this subject ha s never

a nd 1824 changed . In , ordinances

. f the were issued rom the Papal throne , against

f In diffusion o f the pure Word o God . the

August number o f the Ca thol ic Worl d fo r the year

1868 b i o f s o f , the urn ng Protestant tran lations the Holy Bible is boldly justiﬁed . Enough has been said to show that the Church o f Rome is

to e o f . the deadly the Bible As Protestants , we are prepared to boldly announce that we will never give up our right to read and study the

f r Bible o ourselves . We will have it in our f , s public hools , in our amilies and in our churches .

“ It to o is precious a book to be easily given up . h Rome had better beware how she touches t is ,

Ma a Cha rta o f S f the g n our piritual reedom . We

e b B . liv in a Bi le land , and in a ible age CHAPTE R V .

TH E TE S T A L I E P P D .

” e sh t i — Y a ll kn them b he r ruits. M ow . vu . 16 y f ATT , . ” i i e t e - Out o th ne o n mouth w ll I u he . L w x ix . 22. f j dg UKE ,

EN ma but M y use the same term , yet attach ff re to it a widely di erent meaning . The are fe w words in our language employed in so m ff hu ” a ny di erent ways , as the word C rch . Roman Catholics differ widely from Protestants f f in their view o the Church o Christ . Roman ists claim that Jesus Christ established a visible ecclesiastical organization , in communion with

— o f h which salvation is certain out whic , it is

d o f impossible . We do not eny the existence a h “ visible churc , but claim that The Church !or a part of it) is there where the word and the sacra ments are ; and the society in which the one is

h the r m t e prea c ed , and othe ad inis ered is a legitimat

8 S T 5 THE MY TERY OF INIQUI Y .

s In ame in government , the same doctrine , and — the same in worship the same in every age and in every land : while Protestants are divided up into a vast number o f discordant and hostile

s . s f und sect This boa t , however , has but little o a f tion in act . The simple truth is that change after change has taken place in the government and worship o f the church ; one doctrine after

» f b e another has been added to the aith , while t tween the various monastic orders and par ies , the re has b een fa r more difference and hostility than exists between the various denominations o f Protestantism . Suppose we look ﬁrst at the matter of govern

the ment . The Pope is great central power in

s — Romani m hence , it is very properly called

is o f s of Popery . He the vicar Chri t, the Head the s t o f his Church , and in illu tra ion supposed

s— p o wer over three world Heaven , Earth and — Hell wears a triple crown . What can be more important in the government o f the church than

of ? the manner electing a Pope Well , suppose it can be Shown that the Church of Rome ha s THE TE S T APPLIED . 59 greatly varied in the manner of selecting the

f S t P a d f r s s o . b o ucces ors eter , will it not look

s ? u s Ma imb o ur ~ the the boa ted unity Let take g ,

s fo r We great Jesuit hi torian , our guide . do this that our opponents may no t charge us with un f ss. Ma imb o ur s airne According to g, the ﬁr t

s hi s s fo r Pope elected s own ucce so r . Then the

ﬁ ve u next cent ries , sometimes the people alone ,

s sometimes the clergy alone , and ometimes the

o o people and clergy conj intly , elected a P pe by a

o f ff s plurality votes . Here are ﬁve di erent way

f fo r O choosing a Head fo r the C hurch . Then the next twenty years no Pope could be chosen without the consent of the reigning prince . By

the and by , the Gothic kings cut matter short by

’ selecting the Po ntiﬂ without consulting either people or clergy . At the present time , the Pope is elected by the College o f Cardinals : but we might show by continuing our studv of this Jesuit

s f s o f hi torian , that be ore the pre ent manner se

e n le ting a Pope was fixed upon , there have bee thirty fundamental variations in this important matter . Another curious reflection must come in 60 T S HE MY TERY OF INIQUITY . r In 1181 e ight here . the cardinals b gan to assume the sole power o f electing a Pope . For e leven centuries they ha d no voice whatever in the election o f a Pope . Fo r the last five centu

Fo r ries they have ha d all to say in the matter . e leven centuries those who m Christ appointed to select his representative had no vo ice in that e lection ; or fo r more than ﬁve centuries those whom Christ neve r called to this authority have t o o f aken violent p ssession it, and thrust out the

r . fo r true electo s Alas , us poor divided Protest a nts ! We have no t rouble in selecting a head fo r the church . We all agree that Christ is the

. f B n He a d o c r . t ot h grea t . the hu ch u only as there been great difference among Romanists in t e o f fo r h h manner selecting a head the churc , b ut t here ha s often been no small amo unt qf

in he trouble ascertaining who t real head was . Any o ne at all acquainted with church history ha s he a rd o f the g re a t wes tern schis m . Gregory ' 1 d t e 3 78. XI . ied in h year From that time until t e 447 ne h year 1 , there were always two , at o !and h d time three rival popes . One party a a Pope 6 ! THE TE S T APPLIED .

reigning in Rome , and the other party had a Pope

reigning in Avignon . This bears rather heavily on the unity a rgu t f . s ment Another , tar ling act remains to be ment ioned: Not only has the church had two

and even three heads at a time , but more than f once has had no head whatever . A ter the death f th o . e Pope Leo IX , papal throne was vacant

r f of fo an entire year . A ter the death Nicholas

i f r t IV . wa s o wo s , it w thout an occupant year and t hree months ; and again stood emp ty after

f I f r l o X . o the death Benedict e even months .

s Many other uch cases might be mentioned . We

f s have re erred to the great western chism . It may be well to state that o f this schism Maim

“ bourg says : It wa s the twenty -ninth which s u divide d eparated the Catholic comm nion , and b e twe en d erent hea ds s ilf the ame church , to which ,

s o by all laws , human and divine , there h uld have

” b b ut a nd G i . l or o s een one , that in one person u

Unit f f i . o s witho u t a y In act, the Church Rome he a d ever ti e a Po e dies fo r y m p , there is always a n b f o h PO e interval e ore an t er p can be elected . 62 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

’ Can it be that Christ s true church can some f times have three or our heads at once , and then again have no head whatever ? We Protestants h k t in that the church can have but one head , and

s that that head is Chri t Jesus , the ever living

nd s S o f a ever ble sed aviour men . Which o f the t wo beliefs do you regard a s the most sen sible ? We have Spok e n o f t he change that has come over the gove rnment o f the Rom ish Church ; let us now look at the doctrines of this church and see if there has been any change

n there . The great stre gth o f the Roman Cath f olic Church lies in its supposed in allibility .

Yet a Sa f of str nge to y, never be ore the decree R the late Ecumenical Council , have the omish f theologians been able to locate this in allibility . Some have placed it in the general council with the

fe w s b Pope at the head , while a have a cri ed it

sh in to the Pope alone . Archbi op Purcell , his

x celebrated controversy with Ale ander Campbell , distinctly repudiated any belief in the infallibility f P hi o O e . . s the p alone Dr Milner , in book on

s the papal controver y , distinctly says that no THE TES T APPLIED 63

member o f the Roman Catholic Church is required to believe in the individual infallibility

o f . a the Pope Yet it has just been , deﬁned as

o a nd f it d gma , those who re use to believe are

u e prono nced anath ma . ‘ It is extremely diﬂicul t to see how this decree ha s f If i f b e . s any logical orce the Council alli l , Why may it not err in pro nouncing the Pope to be

/ infallible ? If the Pope pronounces himse l fto be f in allible , we are then in a most ridiculous circle .

The Pope is infa l l ibl e b eca us e he de cl a res hims elf so ; a nd his de cl a ra tion is tru e b e ca u s e he is in f fa l l ibl e . Such is the sublime logic o Rome . Ta ke the dogma o f the immaculate conceptio n o f

s the Virgin Mary . Thi wa s never required or

d of f t c 8 eﬁned as an article aith un il De ember th , 1854 D i f . . o r Milner , writing in the beginn ng the o f : “ The present century , said it church does no t decide the controversy concerning the

o f s V conception the Bles ed irgin , and several

s t s s he o other di pu ed point , becau e s sees n thing

a absolutely clear and cert in concerning them ,

either in the written or the unwritten word , and 6 S 4 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

therefore leaves her o wn children to form their

” “ if own Opinions concerning them . But any one should now dare to Speak o r write against the

o f mm u u dogma the i ac late conception , he wo ld

at once be give n over to endless . damnation .

s f s Thi quotation rom Dr . Milner is intere ting , because it admits that there are controversies and “ disputed points even in the church claim

in ing never to vary the slightest particular . Ho w c a n Romish writers claim the attrib ute of

fo r the of is unity a church , history which a his tory o f successive corruption and change ? l The Apocrypha , and Vu gate , and tradition were not exalted to canonical authority until the f t sixteenth century . The use o the Latin ongue

of the in worship to the exclusion vernacular , was

h Tra n ub sta n introduced in the sevent century . s tia tio n wa s ﬁrst taught in the eighth century and

In made no small commotion . the eleventh , the

’ Lord s Supper was mutilated by the establish . m o f f h ent communion in one kind In the twel t , the doctrine o f Seven Sacraments was ﬁrst f taught . The doc trines o the meritorious virtue

66 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

” fa mil v s s H s a s among them elve , i tory acqu int us with long and bi tter contests between the

s a nd s s Franciscan the Dominicans . The Je uit

f b o f to - have o ten een complained head quarters , a nd IV 17 3 s X . 7 were aboli hed by Clement , in ,

s V is I 1 14 . . 8 but re tored by Pius , in There now no small amount of discord between the Gallican

U o fo r and the ltramontain parties . S much the unity in the Roman Catholic Church . The seco nd te sting attribute or mark of the true

is church claimed by Rome , !do not laugh) s a nctit s y . While absolute anctity can only

s b u is belong to the true invi i le ch rch , yet it the l design o f pure religio n to make men ho y . Be ye ” h ’ o oly is God s great command . With ut holi

” ss s s o f ne no man shall see the Lord . A y tem f t o ai h that w rks no change in the heart , and

ff s fo f c o f e ect no re rmation in the li e , annot be

’ ﬂi rm o f o s . a God s devi ing Now , we R manism

that it ha s even no tendency to make men holy . The fact tha t no w and then we di scover a saint

f fo r within her pale , does not re ute the charge , i sol ated cases o f moral rectitude have occurred S 6 THE TE T APPLIED . 7

e s s even among the heathen . The Pop them elves f have often been monsters in human orm . This is admitted even by papal writers . The bishops

s if o b and priest present a record , p ssi le , still

s . darker . Say Dr Ruter , in his Church History , Speaking o f the seventh century : “ Almost every crime which disgraces humanity entered into the f ” dark catalogue o clerical vices . The centuries

fo uril e ss fo r that llow present no change , the h worse . Those w o think that priestly morals

e s have improved in mod rn time , would do well to

’ co nsider the sad case o f Edith O Go rma n or the

o f S its abduction Mary Ann mith , with dark f f o s . s record lie and orgery The e , some may f say , are only spots upon the sur ace , yet they a re dark and deep enough to reve a l the corruption If “ that must lurk within . any reader o f this book doubts the charge o f corrupt teaching and

’ ra c tic e l e t O n e e Den s p , him btai and p rus Theol

o S e cre ta Monita of gy, or the the Jesuits . Some

o f f parts the ormer work are so obscene , that no publisher dare give them to the world in an English form . He woul d be subject to indictment unde r 68 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

S e cre ta the law against indecent literature . The Monita conta ins the secret law s and re gulations

‘ Of S e o f J or s f a n the oci ty esus Jesuit , and orm e xhib ition of depravity a nd hellish tea chings,

e c a n absolutely appalling to contemplat . What we expect from such teachers and such teaching

“ ” “ If o . Like priest , like pe ple the blind lead f ” Th . e the blind , both shall all into the ditch

' most degraded a nd depraved of our populace a re in open and full communion with the b o asted ” “ r e l e l Mother Chu ch . And never does Rome

‘ te in n o r - s va the me tal moral scale , tho e who

‘ f the f throng her alta rs . O this we see proo

is f f m t o ne - o f every day . It sa e to a ﬁr hat third

1 t the crime committed in this country , s commit ed by Roman Catholics .

o f the The history Romish Church is one long ,

a r r of s h d k ecord bloodshed , oppres ion , ypocrisy f a nd . o no S o wrong And t day , there is ign any

" ' ' z change : fo r the b e tte r : nO ma nife sta tions of

f l m s Spiritual li e . It is still umbling the mi ty t o f the a e eva raditions p st , still ncircled in medi l

“ ‘ “ a w l f - a s a m of sh do s , and sti l pouring orth tre THE TE S T APPLIED . 69

s d s corrupt teaching , that bear eath and de olation

o f on every poisoned wave . Hear the testimony

o f one who has recently drank this stream , and te sted by a sad experience the present spiritual

f H s d o s . . d con ition Romani m Rev Edward u ban , who left the Churc h o f Engl a nd fo r the Church o f o e R me , recently cam back again , and in a public letter states so me o f his experie nce s dur i i o o n s s “ Where ng h s s journ amo ng the R ma i t . ver

I went I wa s fo rced by what I s a w a n d he a r d to ma ke a compari son between the individ ual spirit ua lity o f mind in th o se I had left behind me in

n i c ho f the A glican Cathol c Chur h , and t se I ound

In o the R man Catholic Church . The re sult w a s

w a s a r more S a r that I knew there f pirituality , f m ore a r more o personal piety , f holiness am ngst the members of th e Church o f England than m o s ho s o f Chu rc h o f m am ng t t e the Ro e . And this w a s !in the ﬁrst instance) not the fault o f individ ua l s o f sy h b e In , but the stem in which t ey were g e duca ted . They had certain fo rms a nd cere

i s a nd f id h mon e to keep per orm , and they d t em because it was their duty to do them and when 0 THE S O F 7 MY TERY INIQUITY .

s they had accompli hed this duty , they ﬂattered

t rl ht the o f hemselves that all was g in sight God .

o s t s They w r hiped him with heir lip . but in too

m a s s s fa r f him any c e their heart were rom . During the fo ur or ﬁve months I was a Roman

l e Catho ic , I hardly ver heard the name Jesus m th devoti onally entioned . It was always e m f ‘ ‘ ' na e o Our Lady . She wa s the R ty ug z a m ' ’ ec c a to ria m nO t s a p , Chri t , to the Rom n Catholic o t in practice , th ugh I hope in heory that it may

. o f be otherwise Their churches , instead sound

» n o f s ing out the sweet ame Je us , rang with the

o f : w holy name Mary until her name , hich , as a

o f o f member the Church England , I loved and

so S o f honored highly , became horn nearly all its attractiveness becaus e o f the frightful abuse to

I ne ve r ’ fe l t which it was subjecte d . my soul so stirred and ﬁred with i ndignation as when I saw the gl ory and supremacy o f our only Saviour

o f Jesus trampled upon by the Mariolatry Rome .

s f In short , it was the ense that I had le t Jesus

in the h o f i d Churc England , beh n me !so to speak) _ n that drove me to her commu ion again . I felt S ! THE TE T APPLIED . 7

h s s that Mary , wit all her bles ednes , was a poor , poor exchange fo r the unfathomable love o f l 1 s . s Jesu And earch where I wou d , could not ﬁnd him in the devo tions o f the Roman Catholic

” Church , except in the background .

If s is O f anctity an attribute the true church , surel y the Church o f Rome will have a difﬁ cult

n task in maki g good her high claims . The third mark o f the true church given by Romish writers

f l “ s is that o Catho icity or universality . Our is

h e t Catholic , that is , the universal church , there

” f it is ore must be the true one , their great argu ment . This attribute does indeed belong to the

h of true invisible Churc Christ . We are all one in him . But this true church has no one com

no o ne . munity on earth , and has visible ruler

The Romish Qhurch proudly claims the title ‘ ” fo r s f the Catholic her el , and thus assumes

s if very point in di cussion . But universal , why

Is It b does she not include us How , that eyond

m ns of u her pale , there are illio truly pious so ls ,

to his serving God , and working extend King

o m ? of d The lives these are , at least , as holy , 2 7 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

o o s a s f their word as g d , and their death peace ul as tho ugh they were in communion with the

f o f Church o R o me . The Church Rome is no

o to t o m re entitled the name Ca h lic , than the

h o f l o r the Greek Church , the Churc Eng and ,

o d st o Meth i Episcopal Church . A part cann t be

l S fo r the who e . But let o ur o ppo nents peak

“ : themsel ves . The true church is Catholic or

U : ers ons niversal in three several respects as to p , a s l a es s o f the c a s time . to p , and to It con ists most numerou s bo dy of Christia ns it is mo re o r

s d u s e d whereve r Chris tia nit re va il s les iﬁ , y p and it has vis ibly e xis te d e ver sin c e the time of the ’ — a os tl es . End o Co ntro vers a e 179. p f y , p g

us Let look at the three points named First ,

s is s c o n the Romi h Church Catholic , becau e it

” s s f Si t o the most numerous b ody o f Christians .

In o ther wo rds it c o nsis ts of the “ most nu mero us " ” bo d Chris tia ns there o re it inc l u des a l l the y q , f

hri t a Gl o i s l ic S e c ond it i s m ore or C s i ns . r ou o g ,

l ess diﬁu s e d where ver Chris tia nity pre va il s . But

b e o f s the same may said the Pre byterian ,

' - s O I s s . We Bapti t , Methodi t Epi copal Church

E S O F 74 TH MY TERY INIQ UITY .

In s s s Church thi country , thi boasted apo tolic

n chair is a universa l laughi g stock . John Wesley was fo r many years inclined to high-church views : but after a careful investigation o f the

l to “ os subject , he was compe led admit that Ap to l ic Su c c ession is a ﬁ ction which no ma n ever did

’ I or c a n rove . p But on this subject more anon . m Rome is thus condemned by her own assu ptions .

her a n We can turn her weapons against , d by the

n S w no t h tests that she lays dow , ho that she is t e true Church o f Christ . VI CHAPTER .

T E AT R ER H GRE USU P .

’ Who o oseth a nd exa l teth himsel a bove a ll tha t i s ca ll e God pp f d ,

or tha t is worshi e so tha t he a s Go s tteth in the tem l e God p d ; d i p of , ” she in imsel t a t is T h he o . 2 ii w 4. g h f G d HE S . . I“VERY system of fa ith has its great centra l : f h h head the source rom w ic it emanates , and the recognized authority in all matters

f d a s s n o ispute . Rom ni m has uch a ce tral

. s h n head What Christ i to the C ristia , Mo

to he to hammed t believer in the Koran , Brahma

o the Hind o , or Brigham Young to the Mormon , th the Pope is to e Roman Catholic . His devo tion is directed to Rome rather than to Bet hlehem

f th or Calvary . The p o wer o e Pope in spiritual ma tters is regarded a s supreme : and as the inter ests o f the soul are superior to the inte rests of

to the body , he is supposed by many Romanists

e m hav supre e power over states and princes . 6 S O F 7 THE MY TERY INIQUITY.

d o f f He is the great Hea the Church , and rom

his f in allible teaching there can be no appeal ,

is V c o f s s He the i ar Chri t , and carrie the keys f i o Heaven and Hell . He s called by the most

o s of s s blasphem u titles , bla phemou because they

belong o f right only to Diety : and is approached

s His s with the mo t abject adoration . ble sing is

s a s the s o f his ought greate t boons , while curse

is supposed to convey unnumbered woe s . Such are the views, and such the practice o f the Ro

s mi h Church on this subject .

‘ It is well known that these enormous claims of b power and dominion , are uilt up on the sup f o s s o . p ed upremacy St Peter , and on the as s umption tha t each reigning Pope is his direct

s uccessor . We propose to Show that Peter neither claimed nor exercised any supremacy over

th e : if other disciples and that he did , the Pope

is s cannot prove that he his succes or . The pas sage o n which Romanists base their high claims fo r “ the Papacy is Matt . xvi . , And I s a o y unt thee , That thou art Peter , and upon this r h o f ock I will build my c urch , and the gates THE GREAT U SURPER . 77

And wil l Hell shall no t prevail against it . I give unto thee the keys O f the Kingdom o f

Heaven ; and whatsoever tho u shalt bind on

s s earth , hall be bound in Heaven ; and what oever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in

” e Heaven . On this text the entire superstructur o f Papal dominion has been erected . The keys

and the rock is their unfailing argument . From the b old and decided manner in which they con

tinua l l o l e d y quote these words , one w uld not be to suppose that the argument derived from them

fa and the lse meaning ascribed to them , had

been exposed and refuted a thousand times .

s is f u t to Yet , uch the act . We m st use Scrip ure

S f n r explain cripture . A concordance is o te bette

t he than a commentary. The verses preceding

In f sh s f l n text dispute , urni a key to its succe s ul

te r re ta tio n p ,

When Jesus came into the coasts o f Ce sarea

h e s : Phillippi , asked his disciples , aying Whom

Son o f do men say that I , the Man , am And they said : Some sa y that thou art John the

o ne Baptist ; some Elias , and others Jeremiah , or F U THE MYS TERY O INIQ ITY . o f He untO w the prophets . saith them , But hom sa y ye that I am And Simon Peter an swered a nd : s So n o f said Thou art the Chri t , the the

s s living God . And Je u answered and said unto

him : s S o - o fo r s Ble sed art thou , im n Bar j na , ﬂe h

a nd o no t o blo d hath revealed it unt thee , but my

Father which is in heaven . And I say unto ” No w wha t is the thee , that thou art Peter , etc . ,

ck ? I t e r o . S All hinges on this it Peter , or h

’ f o f , r s glorious con ession our Lo d Divinity , tha t Peter had ju st made ? We think that it is the

latter .

1 n t . The Greek word petros or Peter does o

of o mean a rock , but a stone , or little piece a r ck ;

e tra o f o ur s “ U but p ! which Lord ays , pon this petra I will build my does mean a

c ro k . Now a real rock is superior to a mere

i f A e s o . tros tone , or a little p ece the rock gain , p

n e t a f H r . o w is a masculine oun , but p is eminine then can Peter be referred to as the ro ck on which the church is built ? He cannot be the

f a rock , and yet only a small piece o the rock t

the same time . THE S GREAT U URPER . 9

2 . r s s Ch ist is , in other pa sages , expre sly de cl a re d to be the foundation or roc k on which the

“ h f o church is built . For ot er oundati n can no ' ” ma n l a tha n is is y that laid , which Christ Jesus .

1 . . 11 Cor iii , . 3 . A rock implies courage and immovability , when employed as a metaphor : but Peter was ﬁ proverbially impulsive and ckle . The gates o f

sofa r him hell prevailed against , that he denied

s his Ma ter with oaths and curses . Through fear of f the Jews , he also re used to mingle at Antioch with

t s O the Gentile conver , and was penly withstood to

f “ s the ace by Paul . Becau e he was to be blam

” S f r . e o . ed much the rock Now , what about the to keys Why , our Lord gave them Peter .

fo r u The Bible says so , and that is enough s Pro

n . I t e sta ts . And will give unto thee the ke ys o f ” of f the Kingdom Heaven . This is one o the fe w passages tha t Roman Catholics a re willing to ad

‘

o . mit is easy to be understo d But , what a re

fo r ? Wh to u l a nd keys y , n ock open a door is

one o f the uses to which they ma y be put ; and

‘ the Only other use that I eve r heard of is to l ock 80 S In UITY THE MY TERY OF go .

to use it again . Well , which did Peter put the

k s ? “ o o o f H ey He pened the Kingd m eaven ,

is o s s sa that , the G spel Church , or Chri tian di pen

H the o to b Oth s s . e ti n , Jew and Gentile preached

s s o a nd s o f n ﬁr t erm n , was the in trument maki g

h n the ﬁrst c o nverts among eac . With o e key he

O o Of s pened the Kingd m Heaven to the Jew , and

wit h the o ther to the Ge ntiles . Thi s wa s a dis

' f o n is b ut it wa s tinction con erred Peter , it true ; nece ssary that so me one o f the twelve sh o uld

b e in ss o f s l g the busine preaching the Go pe . The whole twelve c ould not turn the keys a nd o pen h ” i P t e o s . Nev ns on o er a e 45 d or p y , p g . But who has the po wer o f the keys no w ? Whv no

n W h do the if o e . hat could t ey with keys they ? had them Peter opened the door , and it is

s If o is l o never t o be clo ed . a d or un cked and

a nd s opened , is never to be shut again , who care wha t becomes o f the keys ? But Roman Ca tho lios sa y that those key s signify the a utho ritv con f r a nd s e red on the Church , e pecially on the

s Popes . The key have been passed along from

o l d one to another , until they have reached Pius

S 82 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

s so s s thing . What ever , then , the di ciple , as the

s o f Churc h ~sho ul d inspired teacher the , declare

f s b e to be orbidden to men on the earth , hould fo s h rbidden by heaven , and what oever t ey should

' i h o f the s t . permit to be d ne , should be law ul in g f o n . s s heave Thi power , however , belong only

s s no t o to the apo tle , and more to Peter than all the re st . Peter never claimed any supremacy

snﬁ e r d m f over his brethren . He e hi sel to be

O penly rebuked by Paul . He wrote two e ncyc li cal or general epistles ; but they bear no re sem

t o s s . blance tho e i sued by Pius IX , or any other

’ o f St . s those claiming to be Peter s succes ors .

s his “ s He commence epistle Peter , an Apo tle ” Wh is f s . o Jesus Chri t y , what the matter with the man He claims no supremacy whatever

his fo r f over brethren , Paul requently began his Wh s s . s no t epistle in the ame way y doe he say ,

“ o f the Peter , Primate Apostolical College , ” a nd f . o f Supreme In allible Head the Church ,

h s f etc . This would be somew at in the tyle o a

s o f f h modern Pope . But in the first ver e the fi t f chapter o his first letter , we find a still stronger S 8 THE GREAT U URPER . 3

declaration : The elders which are among you I ”

s . o e xhort , who am al o an elder I do not w nder f that while the letters and speeches o Pius IX . ma y be read by any one the two letters o f

Peter !Pope Peter , they would say ,) cannot be

m i w read by a Ro an Cathol c layman , ithout the a ddition o f notes and comments . I do not wonder that while the lett ers and bulls o f Pius

. o IX may be understood by anyb dy , that while

is the private interpretation allowed here , church and tradition can alone explain the letters o f

But po or Peter . Peter was inspired by the Holy

Ghost . All admit this . To what conclusion h ? h t en are we driven Why , that Peter wit in

S piration , is a poorer and more careless writer

IX a nd o than Pius . all other P pes are without it !

W u s s hat an abs rd and bla phemou doctrine . We are not through with this matter o f the

e t . Pe te s a e d ﬁrst Pope y r wa m rri . This is bad

“ fo r PO a pe . Not even a common priest in the

s f Romi h Church , dare take a wi e . But there can

s be no mi take about the case o f Peter . The

’ New Te stament tells us that his wife s mother 8 S 4 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY . wa s w f a nd t very ill ith a ever , tha Je sus resto re d he t t If h r o he a l h . s e had only died , there wo uld have been no trouble . I wonder if Roman

o s do s he Cath lic not wish that had died .

Romanists tell us tha t Peter didnot live with his

f f o : s wi e , a ter he became P pe but the Bible give us no such intelligence . The Roman Catho lic Church tells us that it is indebted to tradition fo r f f o s o o . is this preci u piece in ormati n Now , it

. i very nice to have tradition to appeal to . It s h if such a dim , s adowy thing , that it were asserted that tradition teac he s us that the moon

of e f to is made gre n cheese , it would be di ﬁcult

o s s directly disprove it . But we Pr te tant are cruel enough to ﬂing tradition aside , and keep

s n the di cussio centered around the Bible . Peter

his fe then was a married man , and lived with wi

b un like a respectable Christian . Som e may e reasonable enough to think that this is much bet

a s o f s e ter , than to live many the Pope hav

f to f o s o o s . d ne , in sin ul relation the wive ther

se e s f You when a man leave the in allible church , there is no telling what queer notions he may S THE GREAT U URPER . 5

n entertai . Again , the Pope must reside at

Rome : but we have no good reason to believe

he o f Th that Peter ever saw t city Rome . e

i o Bi b le tells us nothing about t . S they fall d a back on tra ition ag in . Tradition says that

s o f t Peter was Bi hop Rome , and hat he died in

o f that city . In the words an eminent author , we think that : “ Tradition must be treated as a

o h n notori us liar , to w om we give no credit , u less what he says is conﬁrmed by some one in whom If f . w we can rely it be a ﬁrmed by him alone , e must suspend our belief until we obtain better

” ’ n o f testimo y . The story Peter s visit to Rome

d s is mixe up with so much ab urdity , as to utterly destroy our faith in the whole transaction . We

fo r are told , instance , that he went there chieﬂy h t O s . a t to ppo e Simon , the magician T at heir

the ﬁrst meeting , Simon ﬂew up into the air , in

of f n sight the whole city that the Devil , righte ed

of f the by the name Jesus , let him all to ground ,

f so by which all he broke his legs , and on ,

d - a na us eum . S They will how you to day in Rome , the h the s place w ere Peter kneeled on occa ion , 86 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

and a stone marked with the blood o f Simon;

s if We must receive a hundred uch stories , we

fo r s admit Peter to have been at Rome , they all re t

s on the ame authority . We will conclude what

h S of we ave to say on the upremacy Peter , by adducing s o me more Scripture testimony on the

We s subject . deem thi a better guide than tradi

We o f a trife the tion . read s among apostles as

“ to who among them should be greatest . And

f h i o f there was also a stri e among t em , wh ch them should be accounted the greatest . And he

o f said unto them , the kings the Gentiles exercise lordship over them ; and they that exercise h d f authority upon t em are calle bene actors . But ye shall not be so : but he that is greatest among you , let him be as the younger , and he that is ” 2 h . 4 2 f e . 5 chie as that doth serve !Luke xxii , , ,

Three questions at once occur , which we

n . if o ur will leave Roma ists to answer First ,

o f Lord , by the ﬁgure the rock and keys , had just wh given the supremacy to Peter , y should there

who be any dispute among the apostles , as to f? should be chie Second , why did not our Lord THE GREAT U SURPER . 7

f if a nswer plainly that Peter should be chie , such

? s wa s his design Third , how does the tatement

o f a s o f our Lord , to the lack lordship and

r o i a utho ity am ng the disciples , agree W th the claims o f the Papacy Several events in the history o f the early

C o o f hristian Church , as rec rded in the Acts the

s f if Apo tles , are very di ﬁcult to understand ,

Peter was the ﬁrst Pope .

s Fir t , Peter in company with John , was sent to the newly converted Church in Samaria by the

o c ther apostles . Now when the apostles whi h were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had re

c e ive d the W of t ord God , they sen unto them

” e - 1 4. P ter and John . Acts viii . ,

’ fo r He This looks bad Peter s supremacy .

m u s t ha ve o r o tten a bou t the ke s f g y .

no t un Second , The Church did receive with

e d f f q u stione aith the teaching o Peter . On the contrary : “ When Peter was come up

t o t o f Jerusalem , hey that were the circumcision

him n c ontended with , sayi g Thou wentest in to

s . men uncircumcised , and did t eat with them 88 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

But Peter rehear sed the matter fro m the begin

” o ning , and expounded it by order unt them . 2— 4 . . s Acts xi , . Thi looks worse yet They “ ” h o . s e c ntended with Peter Now , urely , will

s s f f ﬂouri h the key , and all back on in allibility .

f s no t No t a bit o it . He doe even pronounce ” “ n a them a “ h s them A , but re ear ed the matter f rom the beginning , and expounded it by order ” W b unto them . ell , they certainly had etter success than some o f their fellow- heretics in after e ages . Poor Luth r was excommunicated , Huss wa s u o f W ff wa s b rned , the body ickli dug up

nd t o s fo r “ a given the ﬂame , and all contend ing with those who claim to be the literal suc c e sso rs o f St . Peter .

s r o f Third , The ﬁr t Gene al Council the

Church was held at Jerusalem . Peter made a

h b ut m s s speec , Ja e pre ided , and pronounced the t h f f e . decision . S e e ﬁ teenth chapter o Acts

is s n Verily , the Bible a hard book to under ta d , if we must reconcile it to the claims and teach ings o f Ro manism . Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter .

0 THE S T F 9 MY ERY O INIQUITY .

r . is b Pete to Pius IX , exhi ited in triumph by the

s l o o/es v Romi sh Church . Thi very con incing .

If naughty Protestants only woul d cease to ques

t x ion and e amine everything , and trust to tradi tion and the Infallible Church — there would be

is use o f f no more trouble . What the in allibility if you have to st0p a nd prove everything ? They

s might as well be without it . Suppo e we look at

S o this boasted chain a little . omeh w we have c ontracted a very bad habit o f lo o ki ng into mat

s fo r f ters and thing ourselves , and eel very little fear o f papal curses . One thing must be remem

' f a n bered about this chain . To be o y value it If b m . ust be complete a single link is roken , the f if c o . hain is no more use Well , then , Peter was

o ? Who the ﬁrst P pe , who succeeded him was

? e St . em t t Cl n S . the second Pope , say some ff Linus . o h , say others All start wit Peter , but

th e f very next step is uncertain . The athers do

a . Tu rt ul lia n St not gree about it says that . Cle me nt succe eded Peter ; while other fathers b e

n stow this honor on St . Linus . Now , we ca not ,

a h o f ccording to the Churc Rome , explain a S THE GREAT U URPER . 9 l

s of s single pas age the Scripture , unles we have the f f h o . unanimous consent the holy at ers Now , suppose we apply the same rule to this papal

t chain . It is a poor rule tha will not work in more than o ne way . Have not things come to a pretty pass The very ﬁrst link in this chain is

0 wa broken . N one can tell who s the second

Pope . We might go on and show that the way gro ws da rke r and darker a s we advance ; b ut we ” will wait until they ﬁnd the “ missing link. It

s s might eem cruel to keep up the inve tigation . The Church of Rome has a do ctrine called in ” t s tention , hat ca ts a still deeper gloom about

If. this chain . in administering a sacrament , the

t o it administrator intends bestow the grace , is

e f accomplished , no matt r what the character o If the recipient . , on the other hand , the admin istra to r no t i the it does ntend to bestow grace , is

s withheld , in the ame strange and arbitrary man

s s ner . Now , uppo e we knew that St . Clement

n t s o r St . s o S t . t and Linu , Linu and not S . Cle

e . ment , succ eded St Peter ; suppose the historic

h a o f h f a h c ar cter t is amous ch in is all rig t , how 2 S T 9 THE MY ERY OF INIQUITY . are we to know that each reigning Po pe was a f ? literal successor o St . Peter For if in ordain

inte nd ing a Pope , the administrator did not to o the sh rdain , matter was not accompli ed , and the

wa s PO e f s poor man no p a ter all . Thi makes

” “ f s fo h n con usion wor e con unded . It a s bee shown in a previous chapter that the bo asted succession has frequently been interrupted by vacations and schi sms . It has frequently been

s decreed by councils , that all tho e ordinations

a re o the z e rso n o r null and v id , in which p to be d s f ained ecured his elevation by raud or bribery .

No w w m ha s f n , we kno that the popedo o ten bee

. f o s . btained by ju t such un air means Here , then , is another way. in which s uccession has been in

d the te rru te . o p According to R mish doctrine , no heretic can transmit episc opal or priestly

s fo r power to another . Thi looks bad the suc

s a s o f o s . ce sion , many the P pes have been heretic Pope Lib re iu s was a n Arian ; Anastasius was a Ne storian ; Honorius wa s a Monothelite ; John

. s of re XX taught that the soul the pious, when f f leased rom the body , would not see God be ore S E THE GREAT U URP R . 93

the Day of Judgment ; Jo hn XXIII . believed

a fﬁr that the soul died with the body . This is m

a ed of him by the Council o f Const nce . Many of the Popes have been men o f the vilest charac ter . Can we believe that God would call such men

to his ? preside over his Church , and teach truth

Monstrous Roman Catholics themselves admit that one -tenth o f the Popes have disgraced the ' fﬁ f r o ce . Alas o this boasted chain ! It i s broken

o s at a hundred p ints , and all covered with ru t and blood . Well has Bishop Janes said He who would trace his ecclesiastical pedigree up to the chair of Peter,must wade through slime a nd bloo d

” to his very neck . We will now conclude what

sa o n o f s we have to y this branch the ubject, by summing up our reasons fo r refusing to believe in

ss this boasted succe ion .

l s f . The li t o reigning Popes presented by the o f o o Church R me has no hist ric value .

2 s h . The uccession s a s been interrupted by

s long and repeated vacation .

3 . f n And also by violent and reque t schisms . 9 THE S F 94 MY TERY O INIQUITY .

4 n o f “ . Accordi g to the doctrine intention ,

of many those occupying the papal throne , may fﬁ never have been ordained to the o ce .

5 of the . Many Popes have been heretics , and according to the Romish Church , no heretic can properly transmit priestly or episcop al power . f 6 . Many o the Popes have obtained the ofﬁce f by raud and bribery ; and this , according to the

o f views our opponents , is enough to render their ordination void .

f o f 7. Many o the Popes have been men vile character . R CHAPTE VII .

THE MASS .

” Tea chin or octrines the comma n ments o men —M 9 . . x v . g f d d f ATT .

VIN IIA G cleared away the false rule s o f f b s aith and practice , adopted y the Romi h

a nd s Church , establi hed our right to read and

s the f under tand Bible , and argue rom it alone ha v1n g shown by their own tests , that the Romish c o r o ra tl o n i s h o f p not the true Churc Christ , and demonstrated the unreliable nature o f their boa sted succession : we are now prepared to e xamine their false teachings and corrupt d o ings f ’ in the light o God s holy word . We will begin

m Ma s with what they are pleased to ter the s .

The word is not in the Bible . The y had to If invent it . you went to one o f their churches when they were celebrating mass , you would hardly think that it was intended to represent 6 S o n 9 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

” the humble scene in the little upper chamber at

s o s Jeru alem , or in ther word , that it was the L d’ or s S u er . pp True , they have the bread !in the f o f f s orm a wa er , but we let that pas ,) and the b : s s s . wine but here the re em lance cea e They , however , do not regard it as bread and wine ;

b o d a nd bl oo d s ou l a n d divinit o f but as the y , y

s e a t a n d drink . the Lord Jesu Christ . This they

misre re se nta Surely , this must be a Protestant p

N i i n . 0 s s tion , here it the catechi m h ? ! s . Q. What is the oly euchari t A t is a

o sacrament , which contains the body and blo d ,

of s s f soul and divinity Jesu Chri t , under the orms f and appearance o bread and wine .

h is Q. Is it not bread and wine w ich ﬁrst put f ? upon the altar fo r the celebration o mass A . Yes ; it IS always bread and wine till the priest pronounces the words o f consecration during mass .

? . Q. What happens by these words A The bread is changed into the body o f Jesus Christ

’ i and the wine into h s blood .

? A . Q. What is this change called It is

8 S o n 9 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

e bu rnin a tic e f call d the g r l in the Church o Rome . Thousands have been burned and tortured

u beca se they would not believe it . But we are f not through with the enormities o th e mass . After professing to turn the bread and Wi ne i nto

s s o f Jesu Chri t , !this is simply a shorter way stating it) the prie st cl aims to offer him up in

l s r sacrifice . This they cal the unbloody ac ifice f h ” o t e o s s l . mass . This is no Pr te tant ander Read the canons o f the Council of Trent on this subject ‘ 1 If . sa Canon any one shall y, that a true and proper sacrifice is no t offered to God in the mass ; or that what is to be offered is nothing else than gi vi ng Christ to eat ; let him be

s 2 I sa . a . f accur ed C non any one shall y, that ‘ by these words Do this fo r a commemoration of

' ’ s s s me , Chri t did not appoint his apo tle priests , or did no t ordain that they and other pries ts should o ffer his body and blood : let him b e accursed .

Is not this in direct violation o f the oft-made

o o f once declarati n Scripture , that Jesus was T S S HE MA . 99

ff o f o ered , and then completed the work human redemption ? Does it not give the l ie to the dying words o f Jesus He declared that it wa s b finished . Rome says , it has een going on ever f o . since , and will continue to the end time ” “ u nbl o o d a Then an y sacrifice , does not gree very well with the declaration o f Scripture that f ” without shedding o blood is no remission . ff b ” Cain o ered an un loody sacrifice , but there

o f H f . e o was no divine recognition it went rth ,

however , to slay his brother , and so has Roman ” h its “ ism , wit unbloody sacriﬁce , more than

of once stained its altars with the blood heretics . According to the Romish doctrine Christ h a s ff f o . been o ered millions times A little , ignorant priest can cause the Saviour o f the World to be

ﬂ r d o e e whenever he pleases . The sacriﬁce e on Calvary is not enough . We are pr pared now to hea r of almost any absurdity in connec tion with the mass ; and need not wonder to hear that Roman Catholics worship the consecrated f f . h wa er Yes , t ey actually all down and wor h Th f . e s ip it priest li ts it up to the people , and IO O S O THE MY TERY F INIQUITY .

s “ Ec ce A nu s Dei ui te l l it mu n di ecc a ta crie , g , q p

Behol d the La mb o Go d tha t ta ke th a wa the sin f , y d ” f of the worl . The congregation all down and

o s Me a cu l a m e a cu l a me a w r hip it, crying , p , p ,

m a xima cu l a — M au l t m au l t m ver re a t p y j , y f , y y g ”

a t . t f u l Then they walk up and e a t i . Do the very heathen go ahead o f this ? Did ever a heathen

s make a god , consecrate him , wor hip him , and then turn aro und and eat him ? They tell us that it

f s - t f is not the wa er they wor hip , but tha the wa er

h o We a s been turned int the blessed Saviour .

s s h is s f have j u t own that this impos ible . In act , it

n s . f I eeds no howing There it is , still a wa er . f

we c a nn o t b el ieve o u r s enses c a nno t b el ieve , we

a n thin k y g . They thin that it is the blessed

a o r Saviour ; but then that does not m ke it so , f e xempt them from the charge o idolatry . All

f o idolatry is o unded o n ign rance . This moreover f is will ul ignorance . All they have to do is to

believe their senses . One more folly remains to be considered in

r to s s h o f elation thi ubject . The Churc Rome

s f h wa s withhold the cup rom the laity . T is

| O 2 THE S O F T MY TERY INIQUI Y .

f as per ormed in a Romish Church . We might

“ o s t well say , Lo k , on thi pic ure , and then on

” the that . I would love to see man who could trace any connection or resemblance between the

If o two . this was the only c rruption introduced

o o u by the R man Cath lic Church , it were eno gh

f - s th to sink her orever , like a mill tone , benea the

f a s waves o the se . But we hall ﬁnd much more

t inve s to excite holy indigna ion , ere we ﬁnish our ti i f ga t o n o her abominations . V CHAPTER III .

CON ESSIO N F .

ver cr me a s I ha ve sta te be ore which the Ro mish Church E y i , d f , sa nctions a nd a lmost a ll the immora l it es o its me mbers either ori , i f , g ” na te in or hav e so me connection with Aurwul a r Con ession —HO f .

GAN.

I T is a peculiar feature in the economy o f Re s manism , that it perverts and mi guides ele

ments in human nature , that originally are good

: . n fo r and beneﬁcial For insta ce , it is natural a of soul , when burdened beneath a load sin and

f s guilt , to con es this sin and misery , and to cry f ” out , God be merci ul to me , a sinner . The

s e Romi h Church at this point , com s in between

the soul and its Saviour . and sends the trembling sinner to the priest to him his Sins must be con

f s i essed , and through him pardon mu t be rece ved .

All this sounds very , strange to Protestant

‘ ears , yet it is the unchanging doctrine , and daily | O THE S O F 4 MY TERY INIQUITY.

f o a r practice o the R m n Catholic Chu ch . We prefer to state their d o ctrine s in the language o f

o wn s o - a their tandards , that n ne may ch rge us

r diﬂi with unfairne ss o misrepresentation . It is

s f s o f o cult to tate airly the view an pponent ,

unless you do it in his own language .

: “ f t Well , here it is Whoever shall a ﬁrm hat

f s o f sin o the the con e sion every , acc rding to cus

s of i s i ss a tom the Church , mpo ible , and merely t human tradition , which the pious should rejec ;

o f o h or that all Christians , b t sexes , are not

o bound to bserve the same once a year , accord ing to the constitution o f the great Council o f

f r f hf Lateran ; and , there o e , that the ait ul in

s f Chri t are to be persuaded not to con ess in Lent, ” s ci Let him be accur ed . Co un l of Tre nt de

cre es . 8 Sess . . Canon , xiv

If f s we these con e sions were made to God , would interpose no objection !though what man could recount and specify every sin that he had

t d a re ever commi te but they made to a priest,

- - f e l l ow sinn er . We t a ellow man , a f all admit hat sin should be confessed ; but common sense would

THE MYS TERY O F INIQUITY

o a l l any farther . The Ro manists are welcome t

o fo s f o the c m rt and upport they can get r m it . I

know that the Romanists quote the well -known ” ss “ o f ss f t to o pa age , C n e your aul s one an ther ;

but this implie s something mutual . It bears not the smalle st resemblance to confession a s prae

s the r ticed in the Romish Church . Doe priest tu n

f s his s ? If around and con e s to pari hioners not , how can it be called confessing “ one to another

f n H Auricular con es sion is an i sult to Christ . e

onl Go d a nd is the great , the y Mediator between Wh f . s man y, then , need the prie t inter ere

s o Chri t says to men , Come unto me but R me says : You must go to the priest ; he is to you ” o in the place o f God . We bject to Ro mish

f s t is . con e sion , hat it absurd 1 have not sinned against the priest , but against

If h sin f God . a child s ould against his ather , would he go to a neighbor with his confe ssion ; or

m to to ake the illustration stronger , would he go

ha d h s f? a brother , who sinned equally wit him el

f ss f e Suppose they con e to each other , and orgiv

f f o each other , will that satis y the ather R man CONFE S SION . 07 ists tell us that partie s must repent b efo re they can ob tain ab solutio n ; that the priest cannot fo r

do if sin give them until they repent ; well , they c e re l Go d f y repent , will n ot orgive them , and then who care s whether the priest forgives or ? l f not At the very best , auricu ar con ession is ” h h s . u eless Facts , with whic every one oug t to

ob e c be acquainted , compel us to urge another j

f It is immora l in its ten tion against con ession . dencies a n d resu l ts . As Romanists stoutly deny this , and urge the contrary , we will take special pains to prove it . It produces immorality both

f s f in the con e sor and in the con essed . It pro

f s o f duces immorality in the con es or . The mind the priest becomes a S ink fo r the reception and

of of retention all sorts moral corruption . He

s s f f mu t li ten month a ter month , and year a ter

s s s o f o f year , to the mo t di gu ting details all sorts vice . Old men and children , young men and m aidens , must pour into his attentive ear , a reci

o f s s s tal their thoughts , de ire , and mo t secret

s s sin , Thi , surely , cannot have a very reﬁning f or sancti ying inﬂuence . 108 THE MYS TERY o n INIQUITY .

Then the se c rets o f the confe ssio nal mus t ne ver f be divulged . The priest must carry them o r

his n t ever in o w bo som . Rather han reveal any

o f s s ste e thing made kn wn in con e sion , he mu t p to

l vin H is the f: g and perjury . ere proo Peter

De n his o o c ss- o , in The l gy , whi h is the cla b ok in

Ro Maynooth College , in Ireland , and in other

m s s f o n o f ish chool , has the ollowing , the duty

o f s re S e c t : Ca n a ca se b e iven c n e sions , in this p g in which it is l a wfu l to bre a k the s e crecy of the 7 c onfession Answe r : None can be given ; a l

f o f a though the li e or salvation man , or the

s of de truction the commonwealth , would depend

a t . then s t a swe . Wh o u ht a con e sor o n r thereon , g f

when in terrog a te d respe cting a ny tru th which he

knows o nly by sa cra menta l co nfession Answer He ought to answer that he does not knowr it ; f r th i s . and , nece sa y , to conﬁrm at by an o ath

t l a w l to l ie in a n c a se b u t the Obj . It is no fu y

c on essor l ie s be c a u s e he knows the tru th there f ,

o re he o u ht no t to c on rm b a n o a th tha t which f , g ﬁ y

/ itio n i Ans . re o s s is n o t tru e . The minor p p de

nied ; because such confesso r is interro gated as a

“ 0 THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY .

o f s H ss . r a man ﬂe h , and blood , and pa ion e hi hi warm breath is upon s cheek . Into s ears

s s a d she pour her most ecret thoughts n desires .

No thing mu s t b e c once a l e d. C o uld the devil himself invent anything better suited to ruin both soul and body ? History is not silent on

“ : S IV . this subject In pain , Pope Paul uttered his b l o f s n s o r of ul against the crime olicita t ,

s s o f f ss o o t tho e prie ts who , in the act con e i n s lici the perso n confessing to indecent acts . When

s wa s thi bull introduced into Spain , every person

wa s who had been solicited instructed , within

t to o 8 thir y days , rep rt to the inquisitions . 0 great wa s the number o f female s who went to the

o f s o f S palace the inqui itor in the city eville only , to reveal the c o nduct o f the i r i nfamous c onfe s

s s a nd sor , that twenty notarie , as many inquisitors , were appointed to n o te down their several info r

s h fo fﬁ mation . But t ese being und insu cient , sev

s o f t s wa s o eral period thir y day app inted , and the matter was ﬁnally given up , and the whole ” El tt matter terminated where it began . lio on

I a e 3 23 . R oma nism Vo l . I . , , p g S CONFE S ION .

This is a picture of Romish mo rality as devel

in f oped the con essional , that may well make every lover o f his land and his kind tremble with alarm . I will conclude this branch o f my subject by giving some extracts from the writings o f the

. . s Rev L J . Nolan , once a popi h priest , but now a Protestant minister : “ During the last three years that I discharged the duties of a Romish

o f s clergyman , my heart ten huddered at the idea f o f enteri ng the con es sional . The thoughts o f

‘ the many crimes I had to hear ; the growing doubt upon my ml nd that confession wa s a nerro ne o us n doctrine , that it tended more to harde th to the an reclaim heart , and that through it 1 should be rendered instrumen tal in ministering l f destruction to sou s , were o ten considerations to

s o f Th a me in the hour my reﬂection . e recit ls of the murderous acts I had often heard through this iniquitous tribunal , had cost me many a rest

t in less night , and are still ﬁxed wi h horror my

fu f memory . But the most aw l o all considera

t the f I tion is his , that through con essional had THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY . bee n freque ntly a ppri se d of inten de d a ss a ssina tio ns o s i s s and m t d abolical con piracies , and till from the ungo dly inj unctions of secrecy in the

s a s s ‘ Romi h creed , lest , Peter Den ays , the con

’ fe ssio na l o o us no t sh uld become odi , I dared give the slightest intimatio n to the marked -o u t victims o f s t laughter . But hough my heart now trem

s th e o f s s ble at recollections the murderou act , still duty obliges me to proceed and enumerate f one or two instances o the cases alluded to . The ﬁrst is t he case o f a person who wa s barbar o usl s s y murdered , and with who e intended assa

i i n f ss s na t o I became acquainted at con e ion . One o f the ﬁve conspirators !all o f who m were sworn to commit the horrid deed ,) broached to me the im bloody conspiracy in the confessional . I ple red him to de sist from his intentions of b e c o m ing a n accomplice in so diabolical a de sign but alas ! all advice was useless no diss uasion could

! his e his prevail ; determination was ﬁx d , and only reason fo r having disclo sed the awful machina

his f s s tion to con e sor , eemed to have originated from a hope tha t his wicke d des ig n woul d be ha l

“ THE S O F 4 MY TERY INIQUITY . bishops an almost absolute control over the peo ple . It is the chain that binds them to the throne of o papacy . Fr m early childhood , their most secret thoughts have been conﬁded to the priests , the whole history o f their lives have been com mitte d s r ? to them , and hall they dare to ebel May God in his mercy soon remove this great

- f plague spot rom American soil . CHAPTER IX .

R O RY PU GAT .

\ ” o- tho sh t be with me in a ra ise —L iii T da u a l . . 43 y p d UKE xx , .

’ Th e s in ts w h o die o f Ch rist o sse ss d a p , En ter in to imm e dia te re st Fo r h e m n o fu rth e r t e st re m a in t s,

f u in ﬁ r a n d tu rin in O p rg g es to r g pa s .

” O U will not ﬁnd the word “ purgatory in

the Bible . Rome cannot express her doc trines and customs in scriptural language . She has been compelled to invent a terminology of

he r . x c own Mass , rosary , pope , e treme un tion ,

o f chrism , acolyte , and a host other words ,

f s f very amiliar to Romi h ears , may be ound in a “ f dictionary , but not in the Bible . A orm o f

” is o f sound words great value , but nevertheless , if the things themselves could only be found in S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

W o f Go d o the ord , we would not bject so strongly f f o . s o to the use new terms But the wor t it is , that the doctrines and customs signiﬁed by these f s t . s word , canno be ound in the Bible Thu it is

t f r with the doc rine o purgato y . The Bible does f no t give it the faintest shadow o suppo rt . But

is so what this purgatory , about which we hear

f o f much rom Romanists , and which we can ﬁnd no trace in the Bible ?

’ i s H . It not eaven . It is not Hell They do

o f not mean by it , the doctrine the intermediate s so w o tate , in which many orthy Pr testants

a S s believe , the place where dep rted pirit wait

s f o the the re urrection r m dead , and the great day o f judgment . T hey believe in purgatory a s a place where the souls o f departed R o man Cath e e f r li s go to be puriﬁed and prepared o Heaven .

no t fo r It is Protestants . They must go direct

It is o f l itera l re o f e a ul to Hell . a place ﬁ , f rf pa in . Roman Catholic writers make its t o rments as great and terrible as are tho se o f Hell . But

ma s f a then you y e cape rom purg tory , while in H ell there gleams no he pe . This seems to be

S I THE MYS T ERY O F INIQUITY .

not having fully sati sﬁed fo r the punishment due t A . o t t s . to their mor al sin To purga ry , ill they

' f sf fo r have made ull sati action them , and then to Heaven

Now what fo undation ha s this divisi o n o f sins

o o t s s s o f int m r al and venial in , thi idea making s atisfaction fo r sin by suffering in the world to

o f ? S come , in the word God imply none what f . S s ever till , the very Devil him el can quote

a Scripture , and we do not wonder , when we le rn that Romanists make a faint Show o f defending

“ f i their favorite doctrine ro m the Bible . It s but

s natural that they hould . Protestant teaching has inspired so much love and reverence fo r the

fo r o f Bible , that they must the sake public

O o s o f do e pini n , make ome show proving their i f t trines by t . Even tradition and the a hers are

u fe not quite enough . So they give s a w pas f f 1 13 o . . sages Scripture . They re er to Cor iii , , “ m ’ 14 15 . s , Every an s work hall be made mani f fo r h h est , the day s all declare it , because it s all be revealed by ﬁre : and the ﬁre shall try every ’ If ’ o f . man s work , what sort it is any man s PURGATORY .

sha l l work abide which he hath built thereon , he

’ If s s receive a reward . any man work hall be burned he shall suffer loss : but he himself shall

d so a s . be save , yet by ﬁre

s s o f Thi ﬁre , however , is not a the ﬁre purga

’ t is s f ory upposed to be , to puri y men s souls , but

’ ’ E e a s to try e very ma n s wo rk . v ry m n wo rk is to be tried : but purgatory is only gotten up fo r

h s t e beneﬁt o f good Roman Catholic . Poor Protestants have no such chance o f salvation

sa aft er death . It does not y that persons are

a s b re — saved by ﬁre , but only , so y ﬁ that is ,

diﬂicul t f d with great y. By care ully rea ing the t h ext and context, any one may understand t is f f “ ss o . beauti ul pa age Scripture A good man , who fo o f , on the precious undation Jesus Christ ,

s s builds worthle s material , such as wood , hay ,

s ff s o f his stubble , hall su er the lo s works , yet he

f s s th himsel hall be aved , though with great di ’ — s o a s b re . Ne e a 1 . vins o n Po r e 55 culty , y ﬁ p y , p g .

. v . 25 26 f o f Matt , , , is urged in avor purgato r “ t s u s y Agree wi h thine adver ary q ickly , whil t thou art in the way with him ; lest at any time l 2O THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY .

the s y v r a nd the adver ar deli e thee to the judge ,

fﬁ c the n c a s judge deliver thee to the o er , and be t V n s . sa u tho u s t i to pri on erily , I y nto thee , hal by no mean s c o me o ut thence till th o u hast paid

o s f n the utterm t arthi g .

This text ha s abo ut as much to do wit h purga

o a s t he s t ry man in the m o on . To pre ent a clear exposition o f it is the very best way to refute

f h ha s f o the alse doctrine t at been ounded up n it .

’ This I will do by quoti ng from Whe do n s inval

ua hl e commentary : “ The who le is a symbolical

s o f a s repre entation divine judgment , is shown

b s y the next verse , in which ju tice without mercy

d a s is inﬂe xib ly declared . The A ve rs ry tands

r r ff ickl the a fo o u o ended God . Qu y and w y t stand fo r the brief period o f our proba ion . The

n f i The a Ju dg e is the S o o Man at h s coming . ﬁ 3 1 Th c er n . . . . e is the judicial a gel Matt xxv ,

: o prison is Hel l . Sentiment repair every wr ng before divine justice inﬂict punishment to the

” I t o l o s . s no s utm t this exp ition c ear , simple , b eautiful To wha t straits must men be reduced when they press this text into the service o f

| 22 THE S F MY TERY O INIQUITY .

s s Third , that the per ons to whom thi preaching

wa s s . o sent , was the antediluvian F urth , that the priso n wa s the earth on which they then

So u . . s s s lived clear is it , that thi text give no p

o o f b p rt to the doctrine purgatory , that a num er o f Ro man Catholic writers have themselve s given W f it up . e have now examined the texts o Scripture put forth in favor o f this horrid doc

fo r trine . Let us look a moment at the clear

Scrip ture testimony against it . I hardly know

so where to begin , numerous are the declarations o f Scripture that bear again st the existence o f a

f r o o s . e purgat ry departed spirit Rememb r , that

’ this purgatory is fo r God s children . The blood b r o f Christ is not enough . Sin must be u nt o ut ’ b s s . in ﬁre , not wa hed away in Jesu lood Paul

: h said I am in a strait betwixt two , aving a de

to de a rt is sire p and be with Christ , which bet ” i 23 s s no t a ter . Phil . . , . Thi doe look much s

ste though he expected to p in purgatory . “ We know that if our earthly house of this

ss o f tabernacle were di olved , we have a building

s s the God , a hou e not made with hand , eternal in PURGATORY . | 23

' 2 S s s . v . 1 . a s heaven Cor . , omehow thi p sage does no t look much in the direc tion o f pur

a to r o g y. In an ther place we are told that to be ” absent from the b o dy is to be present with the Lord Is the Lord in purg a tory A ve l ce from heaven declares that the dead in the Lord

“ f are blessed , and that they rest rom their la ” s o f bour . What kind rest could a person ob tain if racked by the pain s o f purgatory ? This

n inquiry might be continued much lo ger , but enough ha s been presented to Show that the Re mish ﬁction o f purgat o ry has no foundation in

fo r o f Scripture . Prayers the dead grow out

f is o f the doctrine o purgatory . This one the If ways by which the unhappy souls escape .

no f fo r they are poor , and have rich riends to pay

s s h mas e and prayers , t ey must remain in purga tory un til they suffer enough to atone fo r t heir i f sins . But f they have rich riends to se e that

” s s “ fo r the o f masse are aid repose their souls ,

s their departure may be hastened . The prie ts

o f seem to know all about the state departed souls . Else why do they say masses fo r the repose of a | 24 THE MYS TERY o r INIQUITY .

s for so departed oul a sea n , and then give the

? If s is no t matter up the oul in purgatory ,

s s s the e prayer are useles , and had better be

f f s o n offered in behal o ome e else . And why do

s s s s kno w they cea e saying mas e , unles they that the soul is liberated ? To do this would be

ss no t s fo e fo r cruel . Yet ma es are aid r ver the

o f repose a soul . Some only have a mass said at

f f r . s o s the uneral Other , again , keep it up everal

. s s s . months , or a year All thi eem strange

s m s to s Surely , the priest u t know when top , when

so is . n how do the the ul liberated But , the , y know Would it not b e awful if they stopped

f o too soon , and le t the s ul in torment Another

s t fo r curiou thing about hese prayers the dead is ,

so . that they wait long , sometimes They do not h d keep rig t at it , until the work is one . Some

s o s t b time m nth , and even years , in ervene etween

s the mas es .

It may be very nice fo r friends o n earth to have things done in this quiet , genteel way ; but how about the po or soul in purgatory ? I think that I should want them to hurry up .

l 26 T o r HE MYS TERY INIQUITY . o ff t h , and to reach hem he must wade t rough m smoke and ﬂa e . No wonder that we never

“ hear o f a Roman Catholic dying shou ting ha ppy !

fo r ha s f f Death him a ear ul sting , and the grave ff is robed in blackness . How di erent when a

Christian dies . His lips ma y be wet with the

de w o f e s the vale , and his cold ch ek kissed by

S o f the pray Jordan ; yet all is well . Jesus

s of e n waits to receive him , and the host glory camp about his dying pillow .

Su re th e l ast e n d i H l m hi O f th e go o d m a n s pe a ce . o w ca s e xit

Ni h t de WS a l l n o t m o e l ml o n th e ro u n d g f r ca y g , ” r rn - u t in d ir No r e Wo o W s e e so so t . w a y , xp f

It has often been my privilege to stand by the

-S o f t n s s bed ide depar i g aints , and witnes the c a l mne ss a nd peace wit h which they looked for f ward to the li e beyond . O ! Rome thou hast shut out the light o f Beth

’ l e he m s t he s w star , and replaced keleton cro n on

’ ma o sa o f Death s dark brow . We y alm st y thee ,

a s of o f the legends the Rabbi say Cain , that the

ﬂowers wither at thy touch , and the earth turns PURGATORY . 127

b diﬁe re nce black eneath thy tread. The between thy teachi ng and the teaching of the Bible is best shown in the hour o f death . I hope the reader

to . riest will trust to Christ , and not Rome The p

s h may tand at your dying bed , wit hallowed oil , holy water , cruciﬁx and beads ; yet these will f give your soul no peace and com ort . But Jesu s will make your death a transition to joys nu known . Well ha S the poet said

O h h n e o h o n d o u s h n e ! c a g , w r c a g Bu rSt a re th e priso n b a rs

Th is m o m n t there so l o w e , ,

So a n o n iz e d a n d n o w g ,

n d h e t r Be yo t s a s .

O c h an ge stu pe n do u s chan ge Th e e l ie s th e so u l l e ss l o d r c , Th e su n et e rn al b re aks Th e n e w imm o rt a l wake s i Wakes with h s Go d. H C APTER X .

TO WHO M SHALL WE PRAY ?

” — i 6 ma e k n nt . . . Let our re u ests be now u o God. v y q d PHIL ,

’ e r is th e Ch risti n s vit a l b th Pray a rea , ’ Th e Ch ristia n s n ativ e a ir His a t c h o rd a t th e ate s o f de a th w w g , H n t He v e n b r r e e ers a y p aye . Mont ome g ry.

RAYER is the great duty o f the Christian

f s f li e . No man can lead a piou li e without

s praying , any more than he could su tain physical f i li e with o ut eating . Prayer s the ﬁrst indica

o f ne w f o f tion the li e , the ﬁrst act the awakened soul : while the last words o f the expiring saint

f is are o ten breathed in prayer . Prayer a

o f f golden thread , woven by the shuttle aith , all

w f o f f through the arp and woo the Christian li e .

S The question then , to whom hall we pray is f one o great importance . A mistake here may

| 0 F 3 THE MYS TERY O INIQUITY .

t a nd ss h pa roness protectre , may watc over us

t o o ur writing you , and lead mind , by her

o s heavenly inﬂuence , to th se counsel which may

’ ’ prove most salutary to Christ s ﬂoc k . Toward the conclusion o f the same letter he says : “ But that all may have a successful and

ss us to happy i ue , let raise our eyes the most

ss V o he re ble ed irgin Mary , who al ne destroys

Sie S e e , who is our greatest hope , yea , the ntir

” o f gr und O our hope .

is t This high praise to bes ow on a creature .

V i is e its She !the irg n Mary) our only h pe , “ ” W i f f . s o r entire ground hat room le t Jesus ,

no f whom Protestants , who have in allible pope

to guide them , are wont to regard as the great foundation o f a l l their hopes ? We will now

” “ o f d V give the Litany the Blesse irgin , a.

o o f b to rigmar le nonsense and lasphemy , be found in nearly all Romish b o o ks o f devotion

” THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED vi RGi N.

“ of We ﬂy to thy patronage , O holy mother

G o d ! Despise not our petitions in our ne c e s To WHOM S HALL WE PRAY ? I3 !

t e us f o a l l 0 e si ies , but d liver r m dangers , ev r glorious and ble ssed virgin !

Lord have mercy on us .

n Christ ! have mercy o us .

Lord ! have mercy on us .

h “ h u ! h ! s . Christ ear us . C rist graciously ear

o f ha ve me rc on us God the Father Heaven , y .

o f the ha ve God the Son , Redeemer world , me c s r y o n u .

ha ve mer on us . Holy Trinity , one God , cy

Holy Mary ,

h o f Holy mot er God ,

l o f Ho y virgin virgins ,

O f Mother Christ ,

t o f Mo her divine grace ,

Mother most pure ,

s Mother mo t chaste ,

unde ﬁl e d Mother , d Mother unviolate , Mother mos t amiable,

s Mother mo t admirable ,

o f o ur Mother Creator ,

o f R m Mother our edee er, S O Y 13 2 THE MY TERY F INIQUIT .

Virgin mo st prudent

V s irgin mo t venerable ,

V o s f irgin m t power ul ,

V o s irgin m t renowned ,

s f Virgin mo t merci ul , f f Mother most aith ul ,

o f s Mirror ju tice ,

S of o eat Wisd m ,

o f Cause our joy ,

s Spiritual ve sel ,

s o f Ves el honour ,

o f r Vessel singula devotion ,

Mystical rose ,

w o f To er ivory ,

u of Ho se gold ,

o f Ark the covenant ,

o f H Gate eaven , i Morn ng star ,

o f Health the weak ,

f o f n Re uge si ners ,

f o f a ﬂflic te d Com orter the ,

o f Help Christians ,

n o f Quee angels ,

| 34 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

o f that He is the only way entrance , the one great

door .

She S is the Morning tar , not Christ , as we

“ read in Revelations . I am the bright and — 1 . 6 morning Rev . xxii , . She is the

” “ o f Health the weak , not Christ , the Great ” S e “ f o f s s . h Physician is the Re uge inner , the ” f o f the f o f Com orter a ﬂicted , the Help Chris

” t h crea ture ians . Is not t is gross idolatry , pure worship ?

the f “ fo r It is true they use orm , Pray us ; but , then , they mean , be our advocate , intercede for us ; and they do this because of her supposed

fo r o f merits . When we ask the prayers our

f n o f living rie ds , we make no mention advocacy f or merits . We think , a ter all , that it is most

ff f r o . e ectual , when we pray ourselves So their h plea will not hold good . T ey cannot exonerate

th o f themselves from e charge ido latry . They degrade the Lord Jesus by introducing a new mediator and intercessor . But the Bible declares

“ h r i s o ne b that, T e e one God , and mediator e TO WHOM SHALL WE PRAY ?

tween God and men , the man Christ Jesus .

1 . 8. Tim . ii , But they are not content with appealing to the

n Virgin Mary . They want a y quantity of

“ b ” If s o w . s string to their one aint is well , a

hundred saints are better . So they have a Lit any o f Saints A who le string o f saints are invited to act as our mediators . There seems to be hardly

r any room fo Christ whatever . Yet the Bible

l Me dia on tor . declares that he is the y Is it not ,

a s a fo r then , gross and sh meles idol try , those call

s h ing themselve C ristians , thus to invoke the whole host of heaven ? But they give the Virgin

- t Mary the pre eminence . To her hey not only

sin Ye s si n . pray , but g . , they g to her Their t s s o f emple resound with her song praise .

o the 3 34th o f Fr m page the Roman Missal , I subjoin a Specimen o f this form o f idolatry

O h o l m o th e r o f o u r Go d ! , y To th e e fo r h e l p w e ﬂy

e s ise n o t th is o u r h u m b l e D p prayer, l Bu t a l l o u r w an t s su pp y . l 6 S g THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY.

O l o io u s Vi in e v r b l e st g r rg , e , Defe n d u s fro m o u r fe e s ; o m th r te n in d n se t u s Fr ea g a ger free , i ” An d t e rm n ate o u r w o es .

n is According to this hym , the Virgin Mary th w ﬂ fo r e source to hich they y help . She sup

f n plies their wants , protects them rom their e emies , a nd terminates their sorrows. I am glad that I

t o f a m not a Roman Catholic . Here is ano her their hymns to the Virgin

M RI AVE A S STELLA .

il th o u re s l e n de n t st r Ha , p a ’ Wh ic h shin e th o e r th e m ain

Bl st m o th e r o f o u r Go d e ,

An d v Vi in u e er rg Q e e n .

il h t e o f b l iss Ha , appy g a , ’ Greeted b y Ga b rie l s to n gu e Ne otia te our ea ce g p , ’ And ca ncel Eve s wron g .

’ Loosen the sinner s bon s d , Al l e v il s drive aw ay ; B i n l i h t u n to th e b l in d r g g ,

An d fo r a l l r c r g a es p ay .

’ t th e m o th e s e Exer r car , An d u s th y ch il dren o wn

To Him c o n ve o u r r y p ayer, Wh o h o se to h n c b e t y So .

1 8 S 3 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

o f H . a n Jesus , and is now in eaven But is that y reason why we should worship her ? IS it any

s s reason why we hould pray to her , ing to

h he r . d her de icate c urches to her , and adore

a nd ? images pictures This creature worship ,

n o f u s this adoratio Mary and the saints , r n all

t n through heir preachi g , their prayer books ,

h o f their newspapers . The wors ip the creature

u f has s pplanted the worship o the Creator .

Le t s i o f n us see how thi worsh p , and prayi g to f S o S . aints , looks in the light cripture This is

fo it a nd the great te st . Be re the idolatry super stitio n o f Rome melt away like dew on the moun

s tains . We have already een that we are invited

s k u Go d to make our want nown nto , and that there can be o nly one mediator between him and

” us “ the s s is man Christ Je u . Prayer most

o f S certainly one method worship . inging is h . t e S another Now , Romanists pray and ing to

a nd s s h m Mary the saint ; hence they wor hip t e .

n How this does agree with the solemn declaratio ,

- h m Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God , and i ” 10 only shalt thou serve . Matt . iv . , . T S ? I . O WHOM HALL WE PRAY 39

Here is another passage that ought to make Romanists tremble with fear and guilt : “ Le t no man beguile yo u o f your reward in a voluntary

t s o f n humili y and wor hipping angels , intrudi g

s into those thing which he hath not seen , vainly ”

lle . . 1 8. pu d up by his ﬂeshy mind Col ii . , Elijah did not seem to be acquainted with

i fo r d E “ the Rom sh ways , he sai to lisha , Ask what I Shall do fo r thee before I be taken awa y ” f . t . rom hee Kings ii , If Elijah expected to be prayed to in a future

wa s o f i ? state , what the need th s admonition

e P ter !Romanists regard him as their First Pope ,) seems to have been a bit o f a Protestant ; for

n f his f wo n whe Cornelius ell down at eet , and shipped him , Peter raised him up , and said

“ ” Stand up ; I myself am a ma n. This is not much after the manner o f modern Popes

if no t r Now , we are to wo ship saints when on h h h the eart , why s ould we worship them w en taken to Heaven ? But we have a ca se in the Bible where the worship of a saint in Heaven f . t e was directly rebuked and orbidden John , h O T S O F | 4 HE MY TERY INIQUITY .

o s l f o the bel ved di cip e , ell d wn to adorn angel showing unto him the heavenly glory ; but he

him S e e thou do it no t fe l said unto , ; I am thy

- o f low servant , and thy brethren that have the ” 1 f J 0. R v . . s o s wo s . e te timony esu ; r hip God xix , If all the angels and saints feel and act like

s o ne - f o f the thi , hal praying done in Roman b e Catholic Churches had much better omitted .

fo r s o f As the wor hip Mary , Christ treated her " s s l o ve d he r a s with kindnes and re pect, his

ha s she mother , but never indicated that should be worshipped or prayed to , never announced he r o f H as the Queen eaven , or as a mediator w f f . a r s bet een him and us So rom thi , he seems to have guarded his fo llowers against exces sive

r f r reve ence o her .

“ s One aid unto him , Behold thy mother and t h h S y brethren stand wit out, desiring to peak with thee . But he an swered and said unto them

a nd a re that told him , Who is my mother who my brethren ? And b e stretched forth his hand to s s : ward his disciples , and aid Behold my mother and my brethren ! For whosoeve r shall

1 2 R 4 THE MYS TE Y OF INIQUITY .

‘ in mids o f the Lamb the t the throne , but makes no o f mention Mary , whom Romanists regard as

’ r heaven s great queen . This wa s certainly a ve y

i i n grave e m ss o . The reader may now see the great difference between Romanism and Protestantism on the sub

e c t of the j prayer . We have only the gre at and

to a nd f glorious God pray to , eel that we need f no other re uge . Romanists direct a great part o f the their praying to Mary , to saints and

d u . Go angels We only pray to , beca se we have n f r n r o Scriptural warrant o prayi g . to any othe

Being . This ground has been already gone over . 1 will only add that we have one ins tance in the f t New Testament o praying o saints . The rich

n man prayed in hell , but his prayer was ever answered . The Roman Catholics are welcome to get all the aid they can from this Single case i l of praying to sa nts . We shou d hardly know

r the if how to p ay to saints , even we wished to,

If S h we hould pray to t em in a general way , it f f would be a random sort o work . We ear that we u h O r would not gain m c by the pe ation , as it To WHOM S HALL WE PRAY ? | 43 migh t be with them as it is with their brethren

’ o n earth , that what is everybody s business ,

’ ” n s oon comes to be regarded as nobody s busi ess . If we do not pray in this general manner , but s n elect individual saints , we ought to k ow just

no t who are in he aven and who are . But this

' we no r do not know , will we know who are in h u eaven ntil we get there ourselves . God alone h can look down into the uman heart , and tell

who a re r s . t uly loving and erving him Now, suppose we should make a mistake , and pray to

‘ s o f i W o ur ome one not in heaven , what ava l ould ? fﬁ prayers be But waiving this di culty , how a re we to know that the saint to whom we pray h s Th ears us ? The saint are not omnipresent . e

‘ d b th e m a nd istance etween us is very great , and how do we know that a saint can hear a thousand

r s f prayers , add e sed to him rom a thousand parts o f ? the earth at the same time Besides all this , praying to saints is a very roundabout way of

v n e Wh getting access to our hea e ly Fath r . y not go at once to God ? He loves to have us come I S T 44 THE MY ERY OF INIQUITY.

s . to him , invites and even urge us to come In f a s ta ndin invita tion . act , we have g

Wh no t o ? y , then , impr ve it For these and many other reaso ns we prefer to pray to God

. o s only We l ve the saint and angels . We love to think o f the time when we may fello wship

ra d with them , but we do not p y to them . We o

o n not w rship them . We ever worshipped them

no t f when on the earth , and do eel inclined to worship them no w that they are in heaven . We f f have never elt any loss ro m thi s action .

We have always found God an all-sufﬁcie nt

W e t s the f Friend . e n ver expec to exhau t ountain f o Divine goodness . We have yet to learn that

s o f f Romanist bear the ills li e , with more calm ness or trust in God than Protestants . We will conclude this chapter with a brief refutation of the arguments commonly advanced by Roman

o f o f s Cath lics in de ence their aint worship . It has been said that we ought to worship the

b e c a use o f . saints , their supernatural excellence

fo r But mere excellence is no ground adoration ,

| 6 S 4 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

approached by us , that the saints are more human , Th . s e t etc Thi we ﬂatly deny . New Testamen

k o f everywhere spea s Jesus as tender and loving . He can “ be touched with the feeling of o ur inﬁrmitie fe w b e s . A more arguments might

e mentioned , but as they are about like thos w already given , the reader ill not require their

o f examination . The Church Rome stands charged with gross idolatry . She worships the

She creature more than does the Creator . This is a mill -stone that will yet Sink her beneath the f th . waves o oblivion . May God hasten e time He r dark shadow comes between the soul and

She fo r God at every turn . sends her children aid and grace to nearly everything but God .

t l h f to May God in his own good ime , revea imsel h h t t . em , and bring t em out into the ligh CHAPTER XI .

LI CE BACY.

” b e in a l —HEB ii i a e i nora i . Ma rr s ho l l . . g x ,

’ i ess t s a o one A b sho then must be bl a mel h hu b nd w e . p, , , a f if

1 T iii . 2. IM . ,

Let th e ea cons be the husba n s o one w e rulin their chil ren d d f if , g d ” a nd their own houses well —1 TIM iii 1 . 2. . . ,

o m e stic h a in e ss th o u o n l b l iss D pp , y

O f di e th a t h st su iv e d th e l l s v . Para , a r fa

of fo r HE love one man one woman ,

and the life -long union o f such devoted

a t o f m he rts , in the holy esta e atrimony , is a most blessed and a divine institution . This benign

o f ordinance escaped the wreck Eden , and has b h t een anded down o us . Even this pure and h - d the eaven ordained institution , has not escape withering touch o f Romanism . One would think that so fair a ﬂower might have been allowed to bloom and ﬂourish unharmed ; b ut it has not been | 48 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

i s the case . Rome teaches that there a holier , a f s o . more exalted tate , than that marriage It is better , says Rome , to live in a single than in a mar h s . ried tate Surely , t is looks like an improvement

f n On the wo rd o God . Man has become purer tha

o f f his Maker . The tenth canon the Council o

o f s fo l Trent on the subject marriage , read as lows : “ Whoever shall a fﬁrm that the conjugal state is to be preferred to a life o f virginity o r celibacy , and that it is not better and more condu .

i i n Vi i c e lib cive to happiness to rema n rg nity , or ” h i hi m . acy , t an to be marr ed , let be accursed

Their catechism puts it in this form : “ The h d words increase and multiply , whic were uttere

t o n by Almigh y God , do not impose every indi vidual an obligation to marry ; they declare the object of the institution o f marri age ; and no w ff that the human race is widely di used , not only

r is the e no law rendering marriage obligatory ,

the but . on contrary , virginity is highly exalted

Su and strongly recommended in Scripture , as

to e o f a e rfe perior marriage , as a stat gre ter p c

” tion and holiness .

| 0 THE S O F INI UITY 5 MY TERY Q .

f ” sary to speak reproach ully . It is declared honorable in all ; and is especially enjoined on those who take holy orders . The ﬁrst miracle o f Christ was performed at a wedding ; and from the relations o f husband and wife a re drawn many tender and beautiful illus t ra tio ns f , setting orth the union between Christ and his people .

se e of m f the re The more I Ro ish olly , and mo I contrast its teachings with the Bible , the less do I wonder that they dislike so much to see this

o e blessed bo k circulated and r ad . What would

if n u the Roman Catholics think , taki g p Bible , they should read that marriage is Honorable in

” ” o r “ the husb a nd o f all , that a bishop must be ” one wife ? If the Church o f Rome wishes to

' the b e tte r c on retain its hold upon people , it had tinne its old plan of keeping the Bible away f f r rom them . We give them credit o seeing and

f n r care ully guardi g their weak point . Fo the s o f us - ake , however , Bible loving Protestants , and that great regard fo r the Bible which per

u f vades the entire comm nity , they do make a aint I CELIBACY . 5

f show of defending their doctrine rom the Bible . They well know that in‘ order to make converts

o f from the ranks Protestantism , they must pre f tend to have some little regard or the Bible . For their own people they have a much more f direct and pleasing method . The voice o the

f r Infallible Church is enough o them .

fo r o f Well , the sake us Protestants , they try to defend their horrid doctrine of celibacy from

of f the Bible . It is a sorry sort de ence , but n o f u s if one would be likely to do any better ,

e ha d w so poor a cause and so little to sustain it . They appeal to the ﬁrst epistle o f Paul to the h r . We Co inthians , the sevent chapter admit that in this chapter there are some expres sions l that seem to favor a sing e state . But the ex

planation is very easy . The Church was soon to undergo a terribl e persecution ; even then to be a

r r Ch istian b ought reproach and peril . In such a state of things common prudence would suggest

r i g eat caution in enter ng upon the married state .

f e As we have be or said , no man is obligated to m it f f arry , and may o ten be a question o great | 2 THE S 5 MY TERY O F INIQUITY .

moment , whether it be best to enter upon married f f . S o li e , or to remain single uch was the state

s o f things in the mind many , when Paul wrote

the to the Church at Corinth . The key to whole chapter is given in the 26th verse : “ I suppose t f ” s o r s s s . hi is good the pre ent di tres Yet , even

s s under these circum tances , he doe not command a n a s o f f y man , or cl s men , to abstain rom mar ria e t f fo r g , but expressly declares tha it is law ul all . So much fo r the argument drawn fro m the

o f seventh chapter Corinthians .

s 12 is f v o f Sometime Matt . xix . , , quoted in a or

s We s s Romi h celibacy . read in thi ver e , that

a s There be eunuchs , which have m de them elves f f ’ ” eunuch s o r the Kingdo m o Heaven s sake .

s s . The e , however , are rare and special ca es It may sometimes happen that me n are called to some work that they can perform better if free f o f f rom the care a amily . The reader will recall the case o f Bishop Asbury and the early American Methodist

a s f r o s o f the preachers , u nishing a g od illu tration

’ ‘ f s o f act just stated . In those day severe toil and

| 54 THE MYS T ERY OF INIQUITY .

o f a ue interpretation this passage we might rg , ‘ Animal life is sustained by aliment not so the

n f h f f f fa r a gelic li e t ere ore to abstain rom ood , as

’ s d s as po sible , is in the same egree to make one

’ 7’ f El l iott on R a s . I I . om ni m Vo l . sel an angel , ,

a e 3 5 p g 8 . We will not pursue this investigation into the

f of f r Bible argument in behal celibacy any arthe .

a s a s One or two more p ssage might ‘be given , sometimes quoted by Romanists ; but before they can by any means be pressed into the s e rvice of

h u f f Romanism , t ey m st receive so anci ul an inter

re ta tio n r p , and be so grossly perve ted , that to f s f the n ormerly con ider them , and re ute meani g f in orced upon them , would be an insult to the

t el li e nc e of the . the g reader We object , then , to

o f t ha s Popish doctrine celibacy , tha it no f support or oundation in Scripture . We object also that i t is absurd . All men ought to be as h If c el ib a c v s oly as they can . is a holier tate

u m ma n . than matrimony , no o ght to be arried

Well , suppose we all practice celibacy . There would soon be none left to argu e concerning l CELIBACY . 55

wa : which is . the better y unless we adopted the f f practice o Rome , and allowed ornication ,

s because too pure to enter upon matrimony . Thi m may see a severe charge , but we appeal to well

f If h - b e known acts . Fat er Walsh , the would

’ f O Gorma n seducer o Miss Edith , had taken to f f himsel a wi e , he would soon have been hurried out o f the church and ministry : but as he only

to f attempte d ruin a poor and de enceless nun , he is now and always h a s been an ordained priest in the Romish Church . All the punishmen t he received was a removal from one parish to another . I think I can under stand why the Church of Rome forbids its priests If . f s to marry they marry , and rear amilie , they f will orm social and political ties . They will f cease to be the mere tools o the Pope . They

o f a n d will contract a love country , the great

o f the binding power Papacy will be broken .

is the c a n a f f As it now , y ‘ e sily be trans erred rom

d a d one country to another , or employe to great

s vantage as spies and politician . This gives the

Pope an immense power . 1 6 S 5 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

We object to celibacy a s maintained and pra c

o c ticed in the Roman Cath lic Chur h , that it pro

u f f o o f h d ce s a ear ul am unt licentiousne ss . It a s

“ s is d done this in the pa t , and it doing it to ay .

i i s f If A tree s kno wn by t ruits . celi b acy is

c s o h su h a holy tate , it ug t to ﬁll the earth with

n o f s l s ff blessi g . The voice hi tory tel a very di er ent story . In t he third century Cyprian complains bitter

o f o f l y o f the conduct the celibates his day . He tells us that males and females occupy the

n o f c e l ib same bed , although livi g under a vow f acy . In the ourth century , Chrysostom admits

f o in f s d o f o c nduct the pro es e virgins his day , as

s b gross as that de cribed y Cyprian .

Uda l ric s o f us , bi hop Aug ta , who ﬂourished

us : several centuries later , tells That Gregory

o f the Great , by his decree , deprived priests their

s S o t f wive ; when , h r ly a ter , he commanded that

ﬁ sh u f ﬁ sh - some should be ca ght rom the ponds , the

s s o f f ds o f ﬁ hers , in tead ﬁsh , ound the hea six thousand infants that had been drowned in the

” he “ rn f th pond . These , tells us , were bo rom e

CHAPTER XII .

THE CO NVENT SYSTEM .

God ha th ma de ma n wright but they ha ve sought out ma ny ” in enti s — ii v on . EEC . v . , 29. AS the Church o f Rome ascribes great merit f o f she to a li e celibacy , so likewise ascribes

f of great merit to a li e solitude . The great doctrinal error at the foundation o f t hese false

s o f f o f view human li e is , that the atonement

s is no t s f s f Chri t in it el u ﬁcient to save the soul .

It must be supplemented by penance and self-in

ﬂic te d f o f pain in this li e , and the ﬁres purgatory

in the life to co me . Protestants believe that the followers o f Christ must often bear the cross of suffering and pa inful toil in thi s life ; but they do not believe that Christians should seek fo r suffer

in s g, or that they hould inﬂict it upon them

selve s . Neither do they regard Christian ff su ering and toil as vicarious , or in any way as S S THE CONVENT Y TEM . | 59

f f adding to the per ect work o Christ . Romani sts seem to think that the more miserable we are in

s l thi world , the happier we wi l be in the next . They think t hat human suffering may become

s f vicariou , and trans er merit to others , by making the soul o f the sufferer advance in sacriﬁce and purity beyond the requirements of the law o f

God .

s o f o Thi surplus holiness and go d works , con stitute what they are pleased to call the Celes

” o f s is s tial Treasury Indulgence , and generou ly retailed by the Holy Father in prices to suit the f pockets o the various purchasers . We can now very easily understand the rise o f the convent

t o f f sys em . We see the nature the oundation on r which it ests . f Th e heart o man is given to pride . The Bible plan o f salvation does not ﬂatter this proud h — c o nfe sse dx a nd f eart sin must be orsaken , eternal life must be received as the free and unmerited f f gi t o God . All this is very repulsive to the

e a rn proud and unrenewed heart . Man would

n b . salvatio . He would a g] it He would rather l 6o S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

f get it in any way , than as a ree and unmerited g ift . Very early in the hi story o f the Christian

s f- s s Church , did thi sel righteou pirit begin to

f t f f - cf s s . mani e t i el Even in the li e time Paul , the Mystery o f Iniquity began to wo rk . Once

n o o f havi g c mmenced , this vile cancer monkery

S t it continued to pread , un il threatened to eat away the last remaining semblance of Christian

“ ” . H ity Says Dr . Ruter , in his Church istory , speaking o f t he fourth century : Another branch o f superstition , which daily increased , was Monk ery ; the actual estab lishment o f which is to be f f o . dated rom the urth century Numbers , seized by

f S t a anatical pirit , volun arily inﬂicted upon them

ff s selves the severest su ering , and were content

i f to be depr ved o every earthly good . In this solitary state , like their leader , the illiterate An tho n t if y, they rejec ed learning as useless , not

f s pernicious , and pro es ed to be occupied solely in h silence , meditation and prayer . W en , however ,

f m s they were or ed into regular societie , they em ployed some part o f their time in study . Their melancho ly modes o f life prepared and qualiﬁed

| 62 S o r THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

Tours , propagated monkery so rapidly in Gaul , that his funeral is said to have been attended by no s m le s than two thousand onks . The numbers o f s the e deluded people , and the veneration paid to them we re such a s to induce them sometimes

s s the to conceive them elves superior to the law ,

o f i f n s execution wh ch they reque tly su pended , and ventured with impunity to snatch criminals from the hands o f justice while on their way to

” h rch His tor a es 5 76 . . C u 7 execution y , p g ,

In the next century matters grew still worse .

O f monkery in this century , Dr . Ruter says The approbation o f monastic institutions wa s

ff s not only extensively di u ed , and numbers made

f f o f unhappy rom the de ection their relations ,

o o f th and the c nsequent loss their support , but e more judicious part o f th e community had the

iﬁ a tio n the who mo rt c to observe that , as numbers embraced the state o f monachism sensi b ly in

s s f crea ed , so al o monastic olly increased in the

o f s same pro portion . In the beginning thi cen tury a ne w o rder o f monks wa s in stituted by a

n of e person o f the ame Alexander , who obtain d S 6 THE CONVENT SY TEM . 3

o f f of the name watchers , rom their method per forming divine service without any intermission .

They divided themselves into three classes , which relieved each other at stated hours and by that

means continued , without any interval , a perpetual A s of . cour e divine service mong the Mystics , many not only affected to reside with wild and

s h savage beast , but imitated their manners . Wit a ferocious aspect they traversed the gloomy

fe d deserts , upon herbs and grass , or r emained

fo r motionless in certain places several years , ex

n o f mid- sun posed to the scorchi g heat the day , f o r to the chilling blast o the nocturnal air . All conversation with men was studiously avoided by

f t s f u these gloomy ana ic , who requently concl ded

of s their lives by an act violent madnes , or shut t d hemselves up in narrow and miserable ens , to howl out the re mainder o f their wretched e xis

Church His tor a e 101. tence y , p g It would be an easy task to follow out the de vel o pme nt o f this miserable superstition during

s the succeeding centuries . It till exists in the

’ “ f R Church o ome . Men and women still think 16 S o r 4 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

h s t at they can plea e God , and secure a high place

s s f in Heaven , by shutting them elve up rom the

s d s n bu y worl , and pendi g their years in undis tu rb e d s s eclu ion . Two things , however , are over

o lo ked .

s First , They do not e cape temptation by rush

o f ing into the cloister some convent. They take with them our frail and imperfect human

i i n nature . The human heart s the same co nvent

’

. s and in hall The devil , our soul arch enemy , b cannot be Shut out y gate s and bars .

S o o s o O fo r ec ndly , They l e n ble pportunities

o o o s s doing g d . S me nun , we know , lead bu y live s among the sick and suffering ; but others are

s s c o n called cloi tered nun , and never leave the

fo r o s o f s vent, even the purp e public wor hip

No w f s , what right has any one , pro e sing to be

f o o f s s to s f u a oll wer Je u , hut himsel p in useless and inglorious so litude ? Admitting that even

s do no t s o f s s cloi tered nuns , lead live utter u ele s

ss h o w o m s ne , much more go d ight be accompli hed if freed from the vows and fetters of convent l ife !

| 66 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

All Christians wa nt to be as holy a s it is possible fo r them to be . Well , suppose we all go into

s . convent , and become monks and nuns what is to become of a world perishing in sin

The convent system is cruel . It tramples on the purest and best instincts of the human heart . It takes young and impulsive creatures , ﬁlls the1r mi nds with glowing conceptions of the

o f conve nt . l ife purity and bliss , binds them by

fu of the most aw l vows , to a loveless and dreary f li e .

The f ha s t alse step been aken . Soon the d bright dreams are ispelled . Sleeping on co m fo rtl e ss f beds in narrow cells , getting up at our

’ - o clock in mid winter , and a complete severanc e f f rom all human loves ; with ghostly athers ,

s o a nd prie tly brothers , jeal us sisters , a snappish

fo r f b e a old superior mother , is ound to nything

o l e a sm but r mantic and p g. Repentance comes

“ f too late . The atal vow has been taken , and death alon e can bring relief.

Irish Sk tch Boo/s Thackeray , in his e , has said f some truth ul words . Would that all thinking S S | 6 THE CONVER T Y TEM . 7

f to enter upon convent li e , might read and ponder m f U the . Re erring to the rsuline convents at

s : “ e Black Rock , near Cork , he say In the grill f is a little wicket , and a ledge be ore it . It is to this wicket that women are brought to kneel ;

a S and bishop is in a chapel on the other ide , and takes their hands in his , and receives their vows . f f I had never seen the like be ore , and elt a sort f o shudder in looking at the place . There rests

’ the ff f fo r girl s knees as she o ers hersel up , and swears the sacred a ﬂe c tio ns which God gave her ; there she kneels and denies forever the beautiful — duties o f her being no tender maternal y earn ings no gentle attachments are to be had from — her or fo r her there she kneels and commits

. 0 suicide upon her heart , honest Martin Luther t f wicke d hank God you came to pull that in ernal , h

— s unnatural altar down that cursed Pagani m . I came out of the place quite sick ; and looking f ! be ore me , there , thank God was the blue spire o f Minksto wn f church , soaring up into the ree sky a river in front rolling away to the sea

r o f libe ty , sunshine , all sorts gladness and motion , | 68 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

’ ro undabout ; and I couldn t but thank Heaven fo r f it , and the Being whose service is reedom , and who h a s given us affections that we may u se them not smo ther and kill them ; and a no ble

o a nd w rld to live in , that we may admire it Him who it — no t S f o a s h made hrink r m it , t ough we

— s o dared not live there , but mu t turn our back up n f it . and its bounti ul Provider I declare , I think , fo r a a s h my part , that we h ve much rig t to per mit S utte rism in India as to allo w women in the

U n nited Ki gdom to take these wicked vows , or

” o b Cath lic ishops to receive them .

T s hese convent , it must be remembered , are

f s shut out rom public in pection . No one can

o f enter them , or have any interview with any

s s the their inmate , unles allowed so to do by

Romish authorities in charge . A fe w years a go a motion was made in the r B itish Parliament , and carried by a small major

i t o ity , to appo nt a commit ee to inquire int con t f ve ntua l and monastic ins itutions . In re erring to

n o f the Lo n the agitatio growing out question , the don Wa tchma n justly made the following remarks

O S F | 7 THE MY TERY O INIQUITY .

n - in you g woman to some convent prison France .

a o f frl e nds H ppily , the pursuit her and her own vigoro us resistance bafﬂed the attempt ; but no : o ne who heard her crie s fo r help resounding thro ugh the hotel where her Spiritual guardians

fo r detained her the night , could well believe ‘ ’ ‘ that this bride o f heaven vol u nta rily sought

’ f o f the re uge the cloister .

. W In this country , they are no better e sincerely hope the time will come when these institutio ns will be annually inspected by ofﬁcers

o s fo r e l n app inted expres ly this purpose . W

s ms wh spect pri ons and lunatic asylu , y not

’ s o s ? o in pect c nvent God nly knows how many ,

a S u like M ry Ann mith , have been abd cted and conﬁned i n them : or how many would fa in b e restored to so ciety and liberty if they only ha d

If s s o f the opportunity . the e word warning

a s f e re shall lead any to turn ide rom the snare , they take the fatal a nd unnatural vows upon

s s h them , or hall in any way ha ten the time w en

o f these pris ns shall be inspected by proper o ﬁcers ,

fo r the author will be amply repaid all his toil . CHAPTER XIII .

M I N O L L I E R F O S .

” The Mother o Ha rl ots cm nin ions o the th f ct Abor a t f Ea r . i 5 RE i . V . v . x , N I comparing the doctrines and doings o f s of Romani m , with the teaching Holy Writ , we cannot - fail to perceive a wide departure from

e h Scriptural simplicity . Whave gone over muc

of u e m the this gro nd , but hav not yet co pleted

t f b n lis o Papal a omi ations . Wishing to make this b o ok rather a brief manual on the subject of

e Romanism , than an extended and exhaustiv treatise ; and having yet to consider the posi

o f l tion Rome in prophecy , its crue and blood h h t irsty persecutions , the danger with whic it

h f h its t reatens our national li e , together wit ‘ a nd s certain utter overthrow , we will compres our examination o f some remaining Romish l 2 7 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY .

o f abominations into the Space a single chapter . O f course a mere outline can only be given . We hope that many o f our readers will be led to

s o f s make a thorough compari on Romi h doings , with the pure and infallible wo rd o f God

s fo f Those who do thi , will never llow in the oot

t s o f s ep Doane , Rogers or Dr . Stone ; unless their desire o f notoriety and gai n i s greater than

h fo r h If t eir love trut . you Should go to worship in o o s me R man Catholic Church , you would ﬁnd ff ff f it a very di erent a air rom a Presbyterian ,

s O t r Baptist , Methodi t , or any her t uly Protestant

Church . Perhaps the ﬁrst thing to attract your h attention , would be a little vessel ﬁlled wit

f o - f water , !o ten not ver clean) and astened to the

fa r-f hol wall in the vestibule . This is the amed y

wa te nd fe r . A little salt a a w other ingredients

s wa te r , a s are put in ome common , bles ing is

the ! added by priest or bishop , and behold we have “ holy water This -holy water is put to

ff s t o many di erent u es , and is supposed possess

t is s the un old merits . It upposed to keep away

o ff o f Devil , prevent Sickness and to ward harm

1 T S T 74 HE MY TERY OF INIQUI Y .

S o f and prinkles them in the name the Father ,

o f o f . e and the Son , and the Holy Ghost Som times the visitor at Rome will see a Splendid

r equipage driven up , attended by outride s , in

s S elegant livery , to have the hor es thus prinkled

o un with holy water , all the pe ple remaining covered till the absurd and disgusting ceremo ny is over . On one occasion a traveler observed a m country an , whose beast having received the

se t off f a holy water , rom the church door at l h galop , but had scarce y gone a undred yards before the ungainly animal tum b led down with i b t ts e . him , and over head rolled in o the dust

a n He soon , however , rose , d so did the horse , without either seeming to have sustained much h i . T e nj ury priest looked on , and though his — f o f c o unte blessing had ailed , he was not out nance ; while some o f the bystanders said that

fo r but it , the horse and its rider might have

” ’ broken their necks . Dowl ing s His tory of R 0

ma nism a es 117—118 , p g .

No w r , what war ant in the Bible can we ﬁnd for S uch degrading ceremonies , such absurd o S I Mi R O R FOLLIE . 75 superstition ? It is not enough to say that the

s Bible does not condemn it . We hould have

s f . some po itive oundation , on which to rest it

n f Many thi gs are not orbidden in the Bible , simply because when the Bible was composed , f these modern ollies were unknown . But it does not seem to ﬁt in with the general spirit o f the

o n Bible . When the Bible is silent upon a point h f whic we seek in ormation , we test the matter by

a n to . appeal its general spirit and tone Now , the general tone o f the Bible is O pposed to such

Operations . Holy water was unknown to the

w s s his Je i h priest , unknown to Chri t and to f a postles . We can trace the origin o this super

- titio n i s to no very ﬂatter ng source . It is mani

l f Ca tho fe st y transmitted rom Paganism . Roman lic writers themselves have been compelled to

of b e admit this . This matter holy water may deemed by some as a thing Of small importance ; but it serves to illustrate the corruptio n s and

f o f s n no h ollies Romani m . Passi g w wit in the h church , we ﬁnd it ﬁlled wit images and pictures f o Mary and the saints . To these the people 1 6 M S 7 THE Y TERY OF INIQUITY .

f kneel , and be ore them , at least , they engage in

n prayer . This certai ly has a very heathenish

o o c a n and id latr us appearance . We hardly get away from the impressio n that we are in some

o heathen temple . R manists tell u s that their

b e o re to people only pray f them , and not them that the worship given them is only of a relative

s o & f l o o s c . k and ec ndary kind , but a ter all it at

s o e n lea t very much like id latry , and we hav bee ” o “ f warned to av id even the appearance o evil .

us o f o o f Let put the language the C uncil Trent ,

o f Wo o f S S ha and that the rd God , ide by ide , t t

m n o f we ma y c o mpare the . This is the la guage

: “ s l ss the the Council I mo t ﬁrm y a ert, that

s o f s o f o he o f Go d image Chri t , the m t r , ever

so o f s virgin , and al the saint , ought to be had

o r n and retained , and that due h no and veneratio

’ 7 is o f is to be given them . This the language the

W o rd o fGo d : “ Th o u shalt n o t make unto thee any

o r ss o f a n h is graven image , any likene y t ing that

a n o o r a is in the e in he ve ab ve , th t arth beneath , or that is in the w a te r u nde r the e arth : Th o u shalt ” no t. b o w o s f to h no r s . d wn thy el t em , erve them

1 8 S 7 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

n o s r a s With this si gle alterati n , it e ves exa ctly fo r all the purposes o f the popish a s it did fo r the

f h i “ s o r t b . a s pagan wor hip , w ich was uilt For in the old temple , every one might ﬁnd the God of his s s f country , and addre s him el to that deity, who se religion he wa s mo st devoted to ; so it is the s ame thing now every one chooses the patron whom he likes be st ; and one may see here different services going on a t the same time at

ff s n di erent altars , with di tinct co gregations round

a s of them , just the inclinations the people lead them to the worship o f this or that particular

’ ’ t —Dowl in s His tor o Roma nism a e sain . g y f , p g 4 12 .

Papal Rome seems to be a s much given to

a s idolat ry a s ever w pagan Rome . In a dditio n

o f e to the ven eration images and pictures , Rom teache s her fo llowers to adore the rel ics o f the

b o es c l o thin ha i s h is n r &c . 0 aints , t at , their , g , , N

” h cons ecra te d Roman Cat olic Church can be ,

s s unle ss some acred relic are stored in it . It

s - may be a very mall relic , a tooth , a toe nail , a

o o f a rese rve d tea hair , a dr p the blood , or p r S 1 MINOR FOLLIE . 79 from the eye but so long as it has been declared

genuine by the Pope , and placed with the usual

i s i n th ceremon e e altar o f the church , it will

uﬂi s c e . The reverence in which these relics are h held is very great , and t ey even go beyond

AS holy water in their power to work miracles .

e s very church , in order to be con ecrated , must

fo r the have some relic , the demand them , and

t n f s hun i g a ter them has been immense . It is ai d that there are as many pieces o f the tr ue cross

ff s of a s in di erent part Europe , would supply a

t h f fo r own wit uel an entire winter . We are

o f o f reminded the story the showman , who exhibited the sword with which Balaam smote his

a ss . o ut The rustic cr wd gazed in m e admiration ,

his and the showman was having it all own way , when a gentleman present called his attention to f swo rd b _ut the act , that Balaam did not have any ,

‘ f thin b h d s o r . o a a s e s only wi hed one N g , the how

“ fo r man replied , This is the one which he ” t wished . This cer ainly was not a very reliable

a s o a s s or valuable relic , yet go d thou ands ex hib ite d b h o f y the Churc Rome . It is very 180 r T THE MYS TERY o INIQUI Y .

difﬁcult to see what advantage can be derived

f ss ss o o f r s rom the po e i n and study these elic , if l even they were a l genuine . In what way can

’ the - f f o . o . s toe nail St Peter , a drop St Paul

b o o r so o f o f h s l od , me the beard Jo n the Bapti t ,

o ur o excite dev tion , or make us any holier , even if we are sure that we have them in our possession ? But how can we ever know that

s e tc . of these old bone , , ever did belong to any the sai nts ? There is no external difference b e h f o f . t e o tween the bones St Paul , and bones

s s f St Juda Iscariot ; none between the kull o .

o f f. is Peter , and that the impenitent thie It true

ma we can ge t the decision o f the Pope . This y

s f atis y devoted Romanists , but will hardly con

vince the great outside world . We need not w o nder that Roman Catholic countries abound in

e h f inﬁ d l s . Let the Churc o Rome pull down its

a nd pagan images pictures , throw away its old

o s if s bones and ther ridiculous relic , and it doe

s not ecure obedience , it may possibly command

respect . Having considered the holy water at

the i s door , the mages and picture on the wall ,

o r 182 THE MYS TERY INIQUITY .

h l i s o f . V b e e d t in the temple the heathen irgil ,

n o f V s s s Speaki g the Paphian enu , ay

’ He r h u n dre d l t rs th e re With a rl a n ds c o w n e d a a g r , A n d ric h e st in c e n se sm o kin g b re a th e aro u n d ” ’ d — l n 1 2 r . 4 0. Sw e e t o o s . ﬂ ,

“ m ro s the u s e o in c ens e Under the pagan e pe r , f for a ny purpos e of rel ig ion iva s tho ught s o c ontra ry

to the o bl i a tions o Chris tia nit g f y , that , in their

s o f a nd c on per ecutions , the very method trying

vic tin wa s g a Christian , by requiring him only to t o f t hrow the least grain it in o the censer , or on U the altar . nder the Christian emperors , on the

s o eou other hand , it was looked upon as a rite p l ia rl hea the nish o s y , that the very places or h u es where it could be proved to have been done , were ,

o f The do sius s by a law , conﬁ cated to the govern

- . b a s rel i s of s ment In the old ef , or pieces culp f ture , we never ail to see a boy in a sacred habit ,

s which was alway white , attending on the priest , with a little chest or box in his hands , in which

s fo r use o f this incen e was kept the the altar . And

the s o f in ame manner still , in the Church Rome , S 8 MINOR FOLLIE . 3

there is always a boy in a surplice waiting o n the

s the t s s prie t at altar , with the sacred u en il ; among

s o f s the rest the Thuribulum , or ve sel incen e ,

s s which the priest , with many ridiculou motion

s s s s and cros ing , wave several times , as it is moking

t ff ts o f around and over the al ar , in di erent par

’ i l in s Histor o Ro ma nism s . Do w the erv ce g y f ,

a es 115 116 p g , . Candles will also be observed by the curious

s visitor burning upon the various altars . The e

fo r s o f are not the purpo e illumination , as they

b i In d - are kept urn ng the a y time . Here we have

another innovation upon primitive worship , drawn f from the abominations o heathenism . This cus

tom s us , Herodotu tells , was ﬁrst introduced by f the Egyptians . Many o the early writers ex

f o f The pose the olly this heathen practice . y ” l i ht u c a n dl es to God s Loitontius “ a s g p , say , if He l ive d in the da rk and do they not deserve to pa ss for m a dmen who of er l a mps to the ﬂ u thor a nd Gi ver of l ight

If any reader of this book doubts the correct

o f the a c c o unt o f i ness here given Rom sh worship , 18 S 4 THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY . let him step into the nearest Ro man Catholic

f fo r s f If church , and veri y the matter him el . the

s s s image and pictures , the co tly robe and glitter

s the s s o ing altar , candle , incen e and h ly water,

c ss s the operati music and gay proce ion , do not

o f so o s o r remind him me g rgeou pageant , heathen

s temple , we will be very much mi taken . Turn

f o m s s to w s f ing r the e matter the or hip itsel , we are a stonished to hear the prie st read the service

n s a d nf i a trange n u amiliar tongue . It is Latin ; fo r s is o f f thi the language the Church o Rome .

ss o f fo r In this dead and , to the ma es the people ,

the s i o o s . g tten t ngue , Romi h service said One would think that if an unkno wn to ngue were to

o H o r — be empl yed , it would be ebrew Greek the language in which the Word o f God was ﬁrst writ

o s s ten . But R me ay that Latin is to be pre f ferred and Rome claims to be in allible . A curs e is pronounced upon all who afﬁrm t hat Mass

fo r should be performed in a ny other tongue . As

se e ss o f f our part . we do not the nece ity per orm ing any part o f divine service in any other than

f the the language o the people . Paul says In

THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY . t n e ion to appeal to , and bei g !in his own stima

o nf ti n) i allible , has added ﬁve more .

These ﬁve are Conﬁrmation , Penance , Extreme

U a nd C nﬁrma nction , Holy Order Matrimony . o

o is th ir c e re m n f ti n e . o y o receiving persons into f ull communion with the church . The Bishop is

s d the admini trator . The candi ates knee l before f f . o o m him A chrism , made oil olives and balsa ,

s is the f e and consecrate d by the b i hop , put on ac o f f o f the the person in the orm a cross , bishop

: “ S n h S of saying I ig thee wit the ign the cross ,

h o f sa l va tion in and I conﬁrm t ee with the chrism ,

o f o f o f the the name the Father , and the Son , and m Holy Ghost . A little blow on the cheek is so e

. sa times added This , they y, is to teach them to bear the trials and persecutions Of the world with f Christian calmness and ortitude .

No w if sim l o f re ce iv , this was p y their manner ing members into the church , although we should f o much pre er some other meth d , we would yet have no controversy with them on the subject , but

t we f when hey give it sacramental qualities , eel 18 MINOR FOLLIES . 7 compelled to oppose it a s unsound and unsc rip

o f tural . They base it on the laying on the hands o f s the apostle , several times mentioned in the

New Testament ; b ut this wa s fo r the bestowment o f f f s special and extraordinary gi ts . The gi t have

s fo . cea ed , and there re the ceremony Every

a f s sacr ment must have its appointment rom Chri t , consisting both o f an outward sign and words of

s o f institution . But thi ordinance theirs has none f o . h these . The sign which they use is oil T eir

o f S the words consecration are , I ign thee with

S o f the s f ign cro s , anoint thee with the chrism o

“ of o f health , in the name the Father , and the Son , ’ f and o f the Holy Ghost . But none o these have

f o their institution r m Christ or his apostles . We

the s s s s o f read , indeed , that apo tle u ed impo ition f n o . ha ds , but never chrism or oil Indeed,this

s us d w a s use super titio evice not then in , being

o f is brought in l nga ter by Sylvester , who reported

m o f by Da ascus to have been the deviser chrism . 23 2—23 Ell io t on oma nism a es 3 . R , p g Penance is the performance o f some task given

the s in f s n a s o f by prie t con e sio , ! the saying so 188 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

n ﬂ ve Ma ria s o r Pa ter Nos ters ma y ) , by which

sf is f r r o f sati action made o sin . This matte con fe ssio n o o f n and the true meth d obtaini g pardon , h a s s s already been go ne o ver . Je us Chri t died fo r w all men , and all who ill may obtain pardon

o f do thr ugh aith in him . Nothing that we can ,

t o f o o f will add the per ect w rk Calvary . Extreme

U n c tio n is the fu nnies t ceremo ny in the Churc h o f o i t f . s o o s o R me There n hing unny in the cca i n , fo r is ide a it given to those about to die , but the o f o f i anointing the body a dying man , n order to s o f is su help him elude the gra p the Devil ,

r l o p e me y ridicul us . The ceremony co n sists in an o inting the dying man with oil that ha s been

s to the bles ed by the bishop , the oil being applied e e s e a rs nos e o s s y , , , m uth , hand , and sometime to i h f kidne s . No w s t e o the y , where scriptural un

o fo r h s is dati n all t i We are pointed , it true , to

i St . s o the case ment oned by Jame , but the an int ing in this case was given with reference to the

o f s ma n r o s r cu re the ick , whe eas R manist neve give extreme unc tion while there remains any

o f f b hope li e . The anointing practiced y the

1 0 S o r 9 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

o f o bewail the prevalence civil and religi us liberty ,

o if l t and w uld , they cou d , put back the world in o

f in the da rkness o the middle age s . Like certa d s o s s s eadly plant , P pery thrive be t in darkne s

o f ss and in glo o m . The light progre and liberty

l to s s wi l bring death her dark and deep de ign . — Let the pe o ple have the light o f knowledge let — them learn to reason fo r them selve s and the

fo power o f Ro me will be rever broken . I will concl ude this cha pter by referring to one

o i o o f s more o f the ab m nati ns Romani m . I mean

f o n the pretended power o w rki g miracles . This

power wa s given to the apostles a s the credentials

o f the correctne ss o f their messa ge and the reality

As o f their commission . the church became

fo r Ne w established , and received a guide the

s s Testament , miracle gradually di appeared , and

s o Ro soon ceased t o exist at all . Thi p wer the l s to man Catholic Church ha s never cea ed claim .

If s s , however , we examine her boa ted miracle by

s s so o s . . the usual te t , the y n di appear The mira

b e ne ﬁce nt cles o f the Bible are digniﬁed and .

The miracles o f Romanism are a b surd in the high S 1 MINOR FOLLIE . 9

o f : B est degree . The miracles the ible are well

w ss c atte sted by competent itne es . The mira les

o f o s u o s R mani m are nattested , except by th e pre

ﬂe c t fe w o f h tending to e them . A t em may be

n f fo r u s o . Do s named the am eme t the reader g ,

a ss es b e es fo r n c Onv e rsio n o f and , the be eﬁt and

s s mir heretic , have adored the sacred ho t . Many t s o . acles are a cribed St . Dominic A knight , to

s s h t whom he pre ented a ro ary , became so holy t a every time he dropped a bead he beheld an angel V it convey it to the irgin Mary , who magniﬁed , and with the whole string b uilt a palace upon a mountain in Paradise . When Dominic entered

o f Tho ul o use s o f the city , all the bell the city rang to s welcome him , untouched by human hand .

When a nu rs ing b a be he reg u l a rl y obs e rve d fa st

da s a nd w ou l d e t o ut o b e d a n d l ie u on the y , g f p

d a e a ce h g ro un a s p n n . They will s ow you at Lo

s n V retto , in Naple . a house i which the irgin Mary is said to have been born and will gravely inform you that this house was carried thro ugh the a ir b a n el s f fe w y g , rom Nazareth to Loretto , a cen

turi e s ago . 1 2 TH O F 9 E MYS TERY INIQUITY .

Our whole book might be ﬁlled with these a b

“ ” surd , lying wonders and thousands yet would r n o emain u t ld . Is not Rome well called the “ Mother of harlots

” a n d abominations o f the earth N 0 name is too

s fo r o f har h such a m nster o iniquity . There may b e words in the Engli sh la nguage strong enough to express our indignation and contempt fo r this

of n vile system shame and wrong , but we ca not n ow recall them .

s m o f n So , bles ing the emory honest Marti

ma Luther , and praying that author and reader y alike be kept secure fro m the machinations o f the

” o f n . Man Sin , we bri g this chapter to its close

| THE S O F 94 MY TERY INIQUITY .

21st and 22d chapters o f the third book o f his

” “ La ia s work , entitled De , !concerning the laity ,)

fo r o f he boldly claims the church , the right

s s puni hing heretic with death . The no tes in the Rhemish Testament teach the same horrid

. n . 55 doctrine The comme t on Luke ix , , reads a s f “ No t ollows justice , nor all rigorous

h o f S is fo punis ment inners , here rbidden ; nor

’ Elia s s f act reprehended ; nor the Church , nor

s fOr t s Chri tian princes , blamed put ing heretic to death ; but that none of these should be done fo r

s o f t de ire our particular re venge , or wi hout

s o f m di cretion , and in regard their a endment ” o and example to others. In the celebrated w rk

f r - b in o Pete Dens , a text ook nearly every

s a nd a f popi h college semin ry , we ﬁnd the ollow ing on this subject “ Are heretics rightl y

e s pu nish d with Death ? St . Thoma rightly

m ti f o f answers in the a ﬂir a ve . Because orgers m t o f s oney , or o her disturbers the state, are ju tly

f s punished with death ; there ore al o heretics ,

f r of f who are orge s the aith , and , as experience

' h th ta t S a e e . ows , gre tly disturb s This DRUNK WITH BLOOD . 195

of is conﬁrmed by the command God , under the o l d f s s s law , that the al e prophet hould be

it is killed . The same proved by the

— b f o f condemnation y the ourteenth article , f ” John Huss in the Council o Constance . Thus the reader will see that this is still the doctrine f th o e R o mi sh Church . They have not the

o to s o p wer put thi d ctrine in practice , as they

ha d Go d fo b o once , but should ! r id) this p wer e ver return to them again , we have no reason to expect anything else than a return to the f bloody persecution s o the past . It has been e f o f stimated that rom the birth Popery , in 606 Fi t , to the present time , more than f y

Mil l ions o f o ur race , have been slain by this

Monster o f Iniquity . This is an average o f more than fo r every year o f the existence f o Pope ry . No computation can reach the numbers who h to ff s o n a c ave been put death , in di erent way , count o f their maintaini ng the profession o f the

o f Gospel , and opposing the corrupti ns o the

Church of Rome . A million o f poor Waldenses 1 6 S 9 THE MY TERY o r INIQUITY . perished in France ; nine hundred thousand o r tho dox Christian s were slai n in less than thirty years a fter the i nstituti o n o f the o rder of the

s . k o f b o a s te d o f Je uits The Du e Alva . having

i t he s - six o put to death , n Netherland thirty th u

n o f o o o sand , by the ha d the c mm n executi ner, f during the Space o f a fe w years . These are a e w s m s b ut fe w o f o s h s o peci en , and a , th e whic hi t ry has reco rded but the to tal amo unt will never be

s s o s o known till the earth hall di cl e her bl od , and

’ n —S co tt s Church His no more co ver her slai . ! to ry . ) The persecutio ns o f pagan Rome dwindle

insi niﬁc a nc e into g , when compared with the per se c utio ns o f papal Rome .

En l a n d no w fu P s g , a peace l , happy rote tant

ha s o f country , been the scene many a ﬁerce

s s c u o f Romi h per e utio n . D ring the reign the ” “ o d S o f s 288 Blo y Queen Mary , a pace ﬁve year ,

o s st fo r pers n were burned at the ake , the crime o f loving Jesus and the bl essed Bible The ﬁrs t

wa s o o s who martyr the venerable J hn R ger , was

u Smithﬁ e l d 4th o f b rned at on the February ,

1555 . f The martyrdom o Saunders and Hooper,

1 8 S o r 9 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

f 24th f record o it . It too k place on the o 15 2 7 . n August , It began and raged most exte sive l s t o o y at Pari , yet extended hr ugh ut the

Th wa - d w kingdom . e plan s laid by the queen o

o f c Me dici ager Fran e , Catharine de , in concert

so n s . U with her , Charle IX nder the pretext o f m H o s a arriage between enry , the Pr te tant

o f Na s s o f king varre , and Margaret , the i ter

s o s s s s Charle , the Pr te tant , in va t number , had

a s s l been attr cted to Pari . At midnight the igna h wa s the . NO given , and butc ery commenced . human language can se t forth the h o rro rs o f that f f ss s s s right ul ma acre . For everal day the street o f S te n Paris ran with blood . ome thousand

so s o f a e . per n , every g and sex , were murdered From Paris the slaughter extended thro ughout

o o s s f the kingd m , and nearly Pr te tant ell t s a s victims Opapal cruelty . Solemn thank were d returned to God fo r so signal a Victo ry . Me als were o rdered to be coined to perpetuate its mem

r of s f f wa s O v . The news thi ear ul murder d received at Ho me with unre strained elight . A

universal jubilee was proclaimed by the Pope . DRUNK WITH BLOOD . 99

f n o ﬁ The guns o St . A gelo were ﬁred , and b n res

in s s s c in lighted the treet . A medal was tru k

’ PO e s his o wn s the p mint , with head on one ide , and a repre sentation o f the mas sacre o n t he

b s w other , with an angel randi hing a s ord , bear ” the s o “ Hu o no ta ru m S tra es ing in cripti n g g ,

w f o overthro o the Huguen ts .

1598 - s f In the year , twenty six year a ter this

a ss IV . ss horrid m acre , Henry i ued an edict

In granting the Protestants liberty o f worship .

1685 LOui I a n d S X V. o s rev ked thi edict, the old

s w e no t a l persecution were revived . They er

t o s fo r o s lowed a semble public w r hip , their min iste rs s were bani hed , and their children com

l l e d h s pe to go to Ro mish c urche . A common

o f s dra oon in mode puni hment was called g g , that is r , quartering brutal dragoons upon the poo

o Pr testants . These dragoon s could torture the defencele ss

o a n s . o pe ple in y way they plea ed D wling , in his

s o s fo o e very able hi t ry , give the ll wing xtract on

’ s f c S no dic o m : “ thi matter , rom Qui k s y There

v was no wickedness , though e er so brutal , which 200 THE S O F T MY TERY INIQUI Y .

did m e n they not put in practice , that they ight

f s a orce them to change their religion . Amid t

s s thou and hideous cries and blasphemie , they hung up men and women by the hair or feet upon

o f of s o r o s o f h mn the r o s their chamber , ho k c i eys , and smo ked them With wisps o f wet hay till they w ere no l o nger able to bear it ; and when they ha d if o S taken them down , they w uld not ign an

o f e s s t abjuration their pretend d here ie , they hen m trussed them up again immediately . So e they t s hrew into great ﬁres , kindled on purpo e , and would not take them out till they were half

ms s . o s a roa ted They tied r pe under their r , and

n o plu ged them again and again int deep wells , from whence they wo uld not draw them till they

s to had promi ed change their religion . They bound them a s criminals are when they are put to a u f the r ck , and in that post re , putting a unnel

mo nths o into their , they poured wine d wn their throats till its fumes had deprived them o f their

o reason , and they had in that c ndition made them

o s So e con sent to become Cath lic . me th y stripped

f ha d oﬂe re d a stark naked , and a ter they them

202 THE S R O F MY TE Y INIQUITY .

f - o s s s e athers to the bed p t , and ravi h d their wives

f o and daughters be o re their eye s. And in ther places rapes were publicly and generally permit

fo r hOurs o s ted t gether . From other they plucked

o ff s o f o s the nail their hands and t e , which must

’ s s need have cau ed an intolerable pain . The heart sicken s at the review o f the se horrid

. f s f ha s no t us. detail A ter all , the hal been told Much will never be known until the awful dav o f

s a l o f judgment hall reveal l the secrets earth . We will brieﬂy refer to the persecutio ns o f the

s f o Waldenses . Thi peace ul and virtuous pe ple

o f n o lived in the south Fra ce and in Piedm nt .

h to d m o f T ey would never bow the ictu the Pope , or fo llow the corrupt teachings o f the Roman ff Catholic Church . For this they su ered the

s s s mo t terrible and protracted per ecution . Pop ish armies again and a gain laid waste their happy

s n f o m s o f home . Children were tor r the arm t loving parents , hat they might be reared under

o Th e l s Roman Cath lic inﬂuence . he ple s victims

f o f papal cruelty suﬂe re d death in a thousand dif fe r n f f e e t . m s o orms So e , like the saint old , wer DRUNK WITH BLOOD 203

h o . sawn asunder . S me had their t roats cut Oth e rs f o to o f s f f were hurled r m the p ome lo ty cli t . Neither old age nor helpless infancy co uld pro

o v ke pity . Let tho se who regard the Romish hierarchy as

’ h o f s s l a branc Chri t true church , and who ove to

s s o us imitate her way and teachings , eri ly ponder If on the se bloody persecutions . ever Popery

s o o f s se e get c ntrol thi land , we may expect to

r - these awful scene s e enacted .

is t s s n It rue , the e horrid transaction are a thi g

f a t b ut o s . the p , when have they been repudiated

They never have been , and never will be . The

of s f Church Rome claim to be in allible , and h se t h aving her seal to t ese enormities , dare not

h s go back on her past i tory .

a ﬂi rm s Again we , that all Rome want is the

t a re n d o . S p wer Her eachings uncha ge , her pirit as stern and cruel as ever . Her garments are

w the o o f f stained ith blo d ﬁ ty million saints , and

f r she still thirsts o more . Let us not ﬂatter our

s S o f o selve that the pirit R me has been tamed , or h her thirst fo r blood quenc ed . It will be time 204 THE MYS TERY O F INIQ UITYM

u She eno gh to believe this , when shows sorrow

fo r her past deeds o f blood and cruelty . We

s s s mu t see to it that her per ecution are over , in

s o f a s n o t thi land Freedom , at le st . We mu t f If trust to honeyed words and so t pretences . we

s . warm the viper , we will urely be bitten Pre

nti l ve o n . is better than cure God he ping us , we will never allow Romanism to establish her i f n ernal Inquisition on American soil .

206 S o THE MY TERY r INIQUITY .

f s o prophecy are not ully under to d , and perhaps

n o t s h will be . until the event predicted shall ave

s a nd taken place much seem dim uncertain , yet

We still much can be understo od . se e that truth

o o the is to triumph ver evil and err r , and that

f o glo ry o God is one day to c ver all the earth .

No S one , it eems to me , can read the Bible Without perceiving that a terrible and fearfully

o o wicked power was to arise , h ld sway ver the e s s o f o s arth , and per ecute the saint the M t High fo r t s many weary cen uries , and ﬁnally to di appear

“ o f beneath t he wrath o f Almighty Go d. Man

” ” “ ” Sin - st o Wo , Anti Chri , Babyl n , Great h re

f sa f seem to re er to the me sin ul and cruel power , ff though representing it under di erent images .

s h The e prop etic terms , together with many other f ‘ names and images , all re er , we think , to the same anti . chri stian and persecuting hierarchy

e o f s o s t s s Pa pa l Ro m . The coming thi m n er y

f the th f is s . o o 7 tem o iniquity , ﬁr t shad wed rth in

l s s chapter o f Danie . Thi chapter contain an

o f s account a vi ion , in which the prophet beheld f s c s our beasts rising up in uc es ion , and holding 20 ROME IN PROPHECY . 7

th of d o minio n over e earth . An explanation the

i f s us vision s also urni hed in the same chapter .

s s By comparing thi vi ion , and its explanation ,

’ Ne b ucha dne z z a r s o f with vision the image ,

" d b 2d o f l escri ed in the chapter Danie , and the

’ o s o prophet s explanati n , it will be een that b th

f f s vi sion s re er to the same line o event . The fo ff t s o f f u ur di eren part the image , and the o r

s s s f bea t , repre ent the our great universal King d o m s o f the earth . N 0 student o f histo ry need be informed that these four ki ngdoms are the Chaldean or Ba b yl o

o - nian , the Med Persian , the Grecian , and the

s o Latin or Roman . This last univer al kingd m , the s s Roman , is repre ented by a bea t more terri

a n f o “ f ble and ﬁerce than y o the thers . A ter

s the s thi I saw in night vi ions , and behold a f s f s n ourth bea t, dread ul and terrible , and tro g ex c e e dingly ; and it had great iron teeth : it de v o ure d s s d and brake in piece , and tampe the residue with the feet o f it : and it was diverse from all the beasts that were befo re it ; and it had

” - . . . 7. . o ten horns Dan vii , Nor is this all Fr m 208 S E THE MY T RY OF INIQUITY .

o s “ o am ng the ten horn , another , a little h rn

' arise s and plucks up three o f the ﬁrst horns by th s o s o e e roo t . And beh ld in thi h rn wer eyes

s o f o n like the eye a man , and a m uth speaki g ” great things .

o f h s In the latter part the c apter , thi part

f f “ o the visi o n is ully explained . Thus he

f h s S l b e f said , The ourt bea t hal the ourth king do m o sh s f o up n earth , which all be diver e r m all

o s S o o kingd m , and hall dev ur the wh le earth , and

s . shall tread it down , and break it in piece And the te n h o rn s out o f thi s kingdo m are ten kings that Shall arise ; and an o ther shall arise after

s f s them and he shall be diver e rom the ﬁr t , and

n s h S k he shall subdue three ki gs . And he all pea

w o ds s s H S great r again t the Mo t igh , and hall

s s o f o s H a nd wear out the aint the M t igh , think to Change time s and laws a nd they shall be g iven into his hand until a time and time s and the

B t m n s sit f . u dividing o time the judg e t hall , and

his o o s they shall take away domini n , to c n ume

” Vers es 25 26. to s o o . and de tr y it unt the end ,

f s wa s ff f The ourth bea t di erent, rom the other

2 10 THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY .

o ne f sented by the little horn , and diverse rom all the others .

“ is a a This gener lly greed , by all Protestant

s to the n o f PO e interpreter , be ki gdom the p , which wa s certainly o f a v ery different nature f a n o f fo s s rom y the rmer , being ﬁr t ecclesia tical ,

S f or piritual , and a terward claiming a temporal , ” — s o n B s . or civil juri dicti . en on Three o f the ten kingd o ms were to be plucked up by this arro gant ne w -co mer ; and history in forms u s that in the eighth century the exarchate o f nh the o f o s Reve a , kingdom the L mbard , and

o f o to a o the state R me , were reduced p pal d min

l e h “ a nd mo nth ion . This ittl orn had eyes , a

” s “ more that pake very great things , and a look s tou t tha n his fe l l ows .

s f These eye denote cra t , and cunning , qualities fo r which Popery has ever been noted . Cer ta inl if s s y, we con ider the bull , anathemas , and

o s o f s o S no t absoluti n the variou P pes , we hall have much trouble in ﬁnding the Mo uth that ” h spake very great things . T is horn was also I H ROME N PROPHECY . to speak great wo rds again st or as “ the

H n f Most igh . This is bei g ulﬁlled at the l s o . s . pre ent h ur The old Pope , Piu IX , c aims fo r s f his f o o s him el , and ell w p pe , the attribute o f f s in allibility , a matter that belong only to

’ . Gra tio n s s o f God In Decretal , the title God is given to the p o pe ; while to d ay he is hailed h ” t e o . s s as O , Lord , our God , P pe Thi ho tile power should also “ wear out the saints o f the Most High ; and the frequent and bloody

s s o f m n u s s per ecution Rome , re i d that thi pre

ha s f s diction been more than ulﬁlled . It hould

“ ” also Think to change time and laws . This

o o f f s Rome has d ne in App inting asts and ea ts ,

s o s indul canonizing saint , granting pard n and

e nc e s fo r s s s t o o f o s g in , in ti uting new m des w r hip ,

s c s o f f n o impo ing new arti le aith , e j ining new

o f s s rules practice , and rever ing at plea ure the ” — V' d Bi sho J e wton . laws o f GO and man . p For a long time this proud horn will exercise d o min

“ d s ion , but some day The ju gment hall sit , and they shall take away his dominion , to consume THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY .

” d o and to estr y it unto the end . Christ must

n his o l s o r ﬁ ally triumph , and Kingd m wi l ooner

n later o vercome all oppositio . Popery will

s o f peri h , and the Kingdom Emanuel arise in it everla s ting beauty up o n s ruin s .

ss no w s Pa ing on to the New Te tament , we have in the second epistle o f Paul to the The ssa lonians a very full prediction o f the papal do

s “ minion and enormitie . Let no man deceive

s : fo r s no t you by any mean that day hall come , r f except the e come a alling away ﬁrst, and that

o f Sin so n o f man be revealed , the perdition ; who oppo seth and exalteth himself ab o ve a l l that is Go d is s so called , or that wor hipped , that he ,

Go d S m o f S as , itteth in the te ple God , hewing

him self that he is Go d. And

S the then hall that wicked be revealed , whom

h S o f his Lord shall consume wit the pirit mouth , and shall des troy with the brightness o f his com

: s is f ing even him , Who e coming a ter the work

in o f S s a nd l g atan , with all power , and igns , ying

Wo s o f nder , and with all deceivableness unright

2 I THE S O F 4 MY TERY INIQUITY .

f his o s amilies . Paul wrote sec nd epi tle that he

b n so a nd re might ri g them back to a und mind ,

store the Church to its fo rmer healthy co ndition .

He tells them that befo re the end of the wo rld

f f l o s s f shall come , there will be a ear u ap ta y rom

t s o fo r the ruth , a dark and tormy peri d the true f H l ollowers o f Christ . e warn s them that a ready

the h unholy leaven a s commenced to work . Germs o f false doctrine and practice have been f t sown , rom which shall spring up a corrup and

b - lood red harvest . By the “ Man o f sin we do not think that

o ne o is b ut s ss o f any p pe meant, the whole ucce ion

“ ” i boastful decei vers . The term king s so me times used in Scripture fo r a Who le successio n o f

- b . s is s He . kings . The term high prie t u ed ! ix ,

- 7 fo r the o f . , series and order high priests So we think the term “ Ma n o f sin is used to

s o f a de ignate the whole line unholy , cruel, rro

o fo r gant and vici us men , that have occupied so f many centuries the pretended chair o St . Peter . Having gone over the predictions o f Daniel

h i n relative to the Papacy somew at detail , we cw RO ME IR PROPHECY . 15 need no t dwell very lo ng o n the chapter befo re u s s o ha s the h . Allu i n already been made to hig f claims and blasphemou s title s o the Po pes . They h ave seemed to take special pain s that the 4th

' verse o f the c hapter befo re us sho ul d not lack fo r ” s s o fulﬁllment . The ign and lying w nders are

n F r worthy a brief co sideratio n . o the se Roman ” T “ f s ism ha s n . he s o ever been oted Live Saint , so o o o o f o f p pular am ng R man Cath lics , are ull

”

s o s s . the mo t ridicul u storie The Breviary , which every prie st mu st read fo r nearly two

’ s i s stuﬂe d r o f hour every day , with nar ations a

o f ma like ch a racter . One them y be give n as a

f s his d sample o the rest . A aint had hea nearly

‘ ff so cut o by me wicked person , yet he lived two

s his s a o ss day , and carried it in hands two mile cr

u a nd u wa s the co ntry , laid it down where a ch rch

f s a terward built . Many other examples o f a like character might

Who b e given . can tell but that the perio d o f

’ ” s “ o s ha s f Rome str ng delu ion now ully come , and that t he lie to which they are given o ver is n o ne other th a n the dogma o f Papal Infallibility ? 2 16 H S T E MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

his f s Paul , in ﬁrst epistle to Timothy , re er

t e o s s His again to h c ming apo ta y . words have

a s been placed at t he head o f this chapter . It w

” “ de a rtu re rom the a ith fOre to l d a p f f , that Paul ,

t s s and his an wer exactly to Romanism . The

s o f s o little ociety believer , gathered at R me in t he of s s wa s so time the apo tle , pure , that their

” f t “ S f o o ai h was poken o thr ughout the Whole w rld . f But , one corruption crept in a ter another , power

the the and wealth completed work , and pure f o f s wa s f aith Chri t banished rom Rome , leaving the “ Mo ther o f Harlo ts enthroned mistre ss o f

s o s s “ ive hee d to the world . Thi ap ta y was to g ” s e du ci n s irits ha s o g p , and thus papal R me long

She s s s been doing . pray to saint and angel , claims to know the exact conditio n o f the depart

' f o s b ed , and en orces her pretended revelati n y

ﬁ n d claiming angelic vision s and visitants .

” do c trin es o de vil s o r o o f , rather , d ctrines c ncern

dem ons o f s ing demons . The the Greek were beings o f a middle nature between God and man . To these they prayed a nd gave worship as medi

a t o rs.

2 18 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

a ndo b trude d o is fﬁ sa up n mankind , it di cult to y ,

whether with greater artiﬁce or cruelty , with

o greater conﬁdence or hyp crisy , an d pretended

o f sanctity , a m re hardened ace , or a more hard

e ned co nscience .

Ha ving their c onsc ie nc e s s e a r e d with a ho t

iron O f s se t fo s cour e , no man could rth lie so

ss great in number and dark in guilt , unle the con ” s s F id a wa orb din to m r . science thu seared . g r y Papal Rome h a s long forbidden marriage to her

a s o . clergy , and exalted celibacy a h lier state ” ﬂ n d c omma n ding to a bs ta in from me a ts . Rome fo rbids the u se o f animal fo o d t o s ome men at all

s s . time , and to all men at certain time

h a s H e s o f Well Dr . atﬁ ld , peaking the pre

o s : “ dicti ns we have been con idering , said It i s almost impossible to read the se words wi thout

‘ s s i i o h a conviction , or at lea t a su p c n , t at they were written fo r the express purpose o f de sc rib f ” ing the apostate Church o Rome .

- o s s s s o f A s . J hn , in his epi tle , peak an nti Chri t

r s o f a s The G eek word mean instead , well as

- o a u a ppo se d to . The anti p pes claimed papal ROME IN PROPHECY . I9

tho rit fo r s v s O o se y them el e , and pp d the reigning

ff - s s s o ne o ponti , Anti Chri t likewi e mean pposed

to s s c n t s Chri t , and al o laimi g the ti le and power

f s o Christ . Able interpreter agree that Anti

s o o o f Chri t den tes an rganized body men , per

e tua te d f p rom age to age , opposed to Christ , and

which he will destro y . Whe re can we lo ok fo r the fulﬁllment o f this

if is f ﬁ o m ? prophecy , it not ul lled in the P pedo

The identity of papal Ro me with Anti - Christ

ha s ! been maintained by Luther , Calvin , wingli ,

Me l a nc tho n Bu c e r , , Beza , Bengel , Cranmer , Lati

o n o s Sir s mer , Ridley , H oper , Ty dale , R ger , I aac

N o s o Vitrin a ewt n , Mede , Bi h p Newton , Louth , g ,

’ DAu b i ne Ga us se n O use l e so g , , y, Dowling , Matti n , a nd s o f o s a ho t ther able thinker , both in this c ountry and Europe . We will now turn to the 13 th chapter o f i Revelations . The B o ok of Revelations s the

s s s is fu o f s mo t my teriou in the Bible . It ll type , h f i s . o s shadows , and symbol Muc it not per f u s o . S haps at this time lly under t od till , we are

f m a s f he not to turn away ro it , rom a book pe 20 THE S O F 2 MY TERY INIQUITY .

is le ssly sealed . A blessing pronounced upon

h o i those w read and understand it . It s a

o f S i is fo “ part cr pture , and there re Given by

” i s i o f Go d s fo r o u r n p ration , and de igned com

fo s . o o rt and in truction M re ver , the author in

s n fe w o s to -v pre enti g a th ught the reader , concern ing the part Ro manism plays i n the grand

s o is no t s t o f apocalyptic vi i n , giving the re ul

s s o f o f independent re earch , but the view some

s o s o o the able t and m t s ber c mmentators . In

13 th c o f io s h the hapter Revelat n , Jo n tells us

s s o ne s u f o the that he beheld two bea t , ri ing p r m

o f o . sea , and the ther coming out the earth

s tw o s s n s sm The e bea t , we thi k , repre ent Romani ,

s s its s s the ﬁr t repre enting ecular , and the econd

It s its eccle siastical p o wer . claim to be supreme

t o f h . s s c o u se a in bot The ﬁr t bea t ame up the ,

is f s o f that , rom the mid t war and tumult , and

s had seven head and ten horns . The great

s - o f o nt ma s commentat rs , ancie and modern ,

s a nd s i ni Prote tants Papi ts , agree in mainta ng

that thi s beast represents the Roman Empire .

The only question is whether it r e pre se nts pagan

222 THE S O F MY TERY INIQUITY .

s fo r appears to have been the ixth head , ﬁve were f f ’ o s . Se e . allen be ore St . J hn time ! chap xvii

f s o r fo s o f o The ﬁve allen head , rm g vernment ,

s c o s c o s s were king , n uls , di tat r , decemvir , and

m s . s xt o r w ilitary tribune The i h head , the po er

o f o s wa s o the emper r , wounded unt death , when the Ro man empire wa s overtur ned by the inva

n o f o s - a nd sio the northern nati n , the name and

ﬂi f o d o c e o emper r alike de stro ye . This deadly

” wound wa s healed when the pope and peo ple

o f o f h o f R me revolted rom the exarc Ravenna , a nd proclaimed Charle s the Great empero r o f the

s i Ro man s . Thi beast s repre sented a s Speaking

s n Go d s great things , bla phemi g , per ecuting the

o s l saints , and h lding almo t universa sway over

he f t nat io ns o the earth .

s e t u nder the c on This the ecular empire did , y ,

o a d t e dic ta ti o e c c esia s c e tr l n by h on f the l ti a l po w r. Roman Catholic writers have so metimes b o asted that the Church never c laimed the power o f slay ing heretics ; it co uld only give t hem over to the

W s civil power . e all know ju t what that

s mean . 22 ROME IR PROPHECY . 3

As well might the assassin afﬁrm that he did f f not do the atal deed , but the kni e that he held hi 11 in s hand . And now !verse ) the prophet

s beholds another beast . This bea t rises up out o f s tl the earth , that is , like a plant, ilen y , without at ﬁrst attracting much attention , and

s r has two horns like a lamb . Thi beast e pre s s s o o f ents , we think , the eccle ia tical p wer papal Rome . Although this beast had the

o f l m s “ s appearance a a b , he neverthele s pake

” i c a s a drago n . The Rom sh Chur h pretends to

v h s be ery meek and oly , yet command and slays like a tyrant . This second b east j o ined in concerted acti o n with the ﬁrst . The secular and e cclesiastical po wer o f Ro me go hand in

so o f fo hand . We do not hear much the rmer no w m l u d s , si p y beca se they are not exerci e it . We have no do ub t that if Romanism ever gets

' o f a ﬂa irs control national again , we shall hear the same lo rdly pretentions and the sa me ste rn de

s s f t o cree , absolving subject rom allegiance their

n n s s governme t , and givi g tate and crowns to

” “ o parties pleasing to the M ther Church . 22 S o r 4 THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

Verse 13 th refers to the pretended miracles o f o s c f ha s d R mani m , to whi h re erence been ma e

. o s so already And he d eth great wonder . that he maketh ﬁ re c o me do wn from heaven on the earth in the sight o f men By mean s o f these pretended miracles the na

o s o f n ti n the earth have bee deceived , and the

o o f fa r “ p wer Popery extended and wide . And

deceiveth them that dwell o n the earth by means o f th o se miracles which he had the power to do

s h o f the s s t o m in the ig t bea t , aying the that

s o im dwell on the earth , that they h uld make an

to s o f s age the bea t , which had the wound a word ,

o f and did live . And he had p wer to give li e unto

o f s m o f the the image the bea t , that the i age

a s o s s a s be st hould b th peak , and cau e that many as wo uld no t worship the image o f the beast f Ve rs es 14 15 . s o should be killed , Thi image

s s re res enta tive idol su the bea t . thi p , many have p

He is o posed t o be the Po pe . nly a private per

two - s c s son until the horned bea t , the ec lesia tical

‘ o a nd o ns s . p wer , select him c ecrate him a pope

a s o f h He is then adored the vicar C rist , and

226 S THE MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

s o f ages , and soon the thunderbolt Divine wrath

S - Th hall cleave it fro m cap stone to fo undation . e

twelve hundred and sixty days a re hastening to d their close . The Pe pe is pre ppe up by French

s bayonet , and when they are withdrawn the Ital

ians will hurl him in indignation from the throne . I ho pe that reader and writer will live to see the

” th S hour . It Seems to me that e kies will be

s brighter , and the light weeter , and that men

h f of will breat e reer , when the dark shadow f f Popery is li ted rom the earth . VI CHAPTER X .

THE PERIL O F THE HO UR .

” T r i — erb o b e o n e d r a rm e d 0 Prov . f ewar s to b e fo e . ld

UR is - task well nigh done . We have endeavored to state fairly the questions at

We issue between Romanists and Protestants .

o f B have demonstrated the right the ible , and

the Bible alone , to decide in this , and all other

f We controversies o a religious character . have s s f hown how Popery aro e , and have care ully con side re d its false dogmas and superstitious prae W f ti ces . e have o llowed the stream o f her dark a nd o bloody hist ry , until we turned with horror f We r h i rom the theme . have viewed the p Op e t c

a s o f o s h o f its rel tion R mani m , and ave read cor rupt histo rv and ﬁnal o verthrow i n the Word o f

G o d. It no w o nl v remains that we warn our 2 28 S o r THE MY TERY INIQUITY .

countrymen o f it s d ark and deep de signs c o n

o a nd o f f f cerning our bel ved land , the ear ul

s n o s f hadow ha ging ver thi air republic . Casting

' l a ne e o ve r s o f a hurried g the nation the earth ,

we s e e that in many lands Ro ma nism is going

do is o n S wn . It g i g down in pain , in Mexico , in — f u s i n s . s A tria . in France yea , Italy it el Bible

” a re s o m a nd o s now di tributed in R e , m re than thi ,

a s V s th nk to ictor Emanuel , Prote tant churches

ha s n have been organized in that city . Spain bee ,

n O to in like ma ner , thrown pen the light , and the pure go spel o f Christ may now b e preached in that

ha once benighted land. In Austria the Pope s

O n f o f s been pe ly deﬁed , and a aint gleam religiou

b s n li erty break in upon that land , so lo g held in complete subjection to the Papal Se e . In Mexico a small band o f believers have organized the

“ o f s s s t t Church Je u , in oppo i ion to the corrup

o f t the Church Rome , called in tha land Church f ” o Mary . While Romanism is thus gow g down in the

W s s o f Old orld , and even in ome part the New , it is on the incr e a s e in the United States . It pre

2 0 THE S O F U 3 MY TERY INIQ ITY .

. o day We hear the same lordly pretensi ns , and

no w f s of every and then , see the mani e tations her

We cruel and intolerant Spirit . know what

s S s r . Romani m is in pain , in Au t ia , Mexico ! in We in Ireland , in Italy . know how much reli

t o the gions liber y was enj yed at Rome , when

wa s s of Pope upreme , and the inﬂuence Protest

a ntism f was un elt ; in Rome , where Protestant

f n worship was orbidden by law , and America

women arrested fo r seeking to found an orphan N S asylum . o Protestant Englishman or cotchman

dare b uy land in any part o f Ro mish Ireland

is o with a view to living on it . Here the n tice , which not long ago was served o n many Protest ant landlords and tenants in the R o mish dis

tric ts o f Ireland

N O T I O E

M H 1869. ARC ,

— o Protesta nt a a rm in this SIR You ha ve l et to a heretic , r , f

o the countr but he sha ll never ut his oot u on it or he wil l pa rt f y, p f p ,

e wil l never a ll ow a her etic to live a mon st us . never l ea ve it a l ive . W g The ba ll is i be shot ea . S o if h e put his foot on these l a nds he w ll d d

This is no i l e threa t so hel me God. rea dy for him. d , p

O NE O F THE PEOPLE .

This spirit R o manists bring with them to this THE O F THE 2 | PERIL HOUR . 3

n t s o f it cou ry . A ﬁne illu tration was given ,

s o f n a hort time ago , in the city New York , whe a

f - us o f peace ul pic nic , held under the a pices the

” s so o wa s American Prote tant As ciati n , violently

s s as ailed and broken up . The e things are not done by the people withou t the knowledge and

o f s s connivance the prie t and leaders . They

o have the people under their complete c ntrol ,

c o ul d revent thes e s c en es o bl oo d the and p f , if y

l e e d on y wish d to . If th y c a n ke ep them fr om re a in Pro testa nt bo oks a n d oin to Pro tes ta n t g , g g chu r ches the c a n ke e them rom a ss a ilin Pro , y p f g tes ta n t ic - i s a t ec t e s p n c a n d m o bbing Pro tes t n l u r r . Once in a while some o f their leaders are rash

’ enough to lift the curtain and show us the dark

f f a o the and ear ul background . Some years g

She her d o the Va l l e o f p f y , the organ the Bishop

f s f o St . s Loui , gave expres ion to the ollowing

: “ of into l e r sentiment The Church is , necessity ,

n she she a t . Heresy endures when and where

s she mu t ; but hates it , and directs all her ener i If gies to ts destruction . Catholics ever gain an e f immens numerical majority , religious reedom in 2 2 THE S O F 3 MY TERY INIQUITY .

s i a n o thi co untry s at end . S our enemies sa y ;

’ so . o o s Review o f o we believe Br wns n , ab ut

at o s in s s the same d e , , j in ub tantially the same a ssertion “ The lib erty o f here sy and un b elief i e c ts s not a natural right . All the rights the s

o r f S have , can have , are derived rom the tate , d s o n ex e ie nc . As t and re t p y they have , in heir character o f sects ho stile to the true religion

o no the o f o r !P pery) , rights under law nature

o f Go d t the law , hey are neither wronged nor

o f if f s deprived liberty , the State re u es to grant ” Ta bl et them any rights at all . The New York

” d o f ridicules the i ea a liberal Catholic . A Western Roman Catholic paper recently said :

“ s f s s Here y and unbelie are crime , and in tates

l s om s o under re igiou !R i h) c ntrol , are to be pun ” i e d o sh as ther crimes .

s t o no w s m A very important que i n arise , na ely By what mean s do es Romanism hope to get the supremacy in this country She ha s more than f one method o reaching this po int . Her plans

o o f l are deep and well laid . S me them we wil now c o nsider .

2 H O F 34 T E MYS TERY INIQUITY . mo n s o s s cho l ecularize , and are intended by their

h f s to o to c ie upporters secularize , educati n , and

l f s O s make all i e ecular , that we ppo e them , and

f s re use to end our children to them , when we can l ” possib y avoid it . f f It is easy to se e the dri t o these remark s . The v w a nt the scho ols under the d o minion o f

s t s t Romanism , or el e hey want the entire ys em a o s s b li hed . They do not wish to join in upport

t f s s ing them , and hey re u e to end their children to them . Our glorious public school sy stem stand s a s a mighty barrier before the advancing waves f R o s . o s omani m Rem ve thi barrier , and their

Vi o s o f ﬁnal ctory will bec me a mere que tion time .

2 The ho e t a ke hos t o th c . y p o m a f you fu l on verts by m e a ns of the ir co nvents a nd s ec ta ria n s c ho o s l .

They have a vast number o f schools and semi naries scattered all over the land . They make

re te nsw ns s ts s great p , and many illy Protestan end . u t their s o n s and da ghters to be educated in hem . i t is so fashionable and romantic to go away to

“ ” ’ of S St . s the College the acred Heart , Jo eph s H 2 THE PERIL O F T E HOUR . 35

” o r “ U s e d Academy , the r uline Convent, to be

- u d f o Mrs . S ca te . Poor, red aced , ign rant hoddy , who thinks that one church is as good a s ano th

” o er , and who d es not know but that the massacre f t o St . Bartholomew ook place during the late h war , thinks that it is suc a ﬁne thing to say , ” My daughter has been educated in a convent .

s ! so s r o Poor , illy ﬂies ea ily t apped by the R mish

s s Spiders . The e academie and seminaries are

The a re the grand proselyting institutions . y po ores t scho ol s in the cou ntry . They give a little

o f s smattering French and mu ic , painting and

fo r h s s drawing ; but as i tory , cience , literature ,

is but little taught or learned . They teach silly and romantic young women how to become Roman c e . Catholi s , better than they teach anything lse These schools are a very important part o f popish

r machinery . Eve y year they carry over to Rome

u a ho st o f yo thful and impul sive converts . Thou sand s of do llars are annually voted to them by T unscrupulo u s politicians . hey are going up all f over the land . They are said to be ree from

n f sectarian inﬂue ce . The rich and the ashionabl e 2 6 3 THE MY S TERY OF INIQUITY .

k send their children to them . But we now that they are arranged with the intent o f making con

s s vert . The mu ic , the painting , the conversation , i f the very atmosphere , all breathe the sp rit o

m Wh s Romanis . y are Romani ts so anxious to educate American women ? Why is it that they

so fo r o f S o f M care little the women pain , exico , o f Austria ? They are very anxious to educate the women o f the United States why not give a l ittle attention to those o f Rome and Italy ?

“ ” Charity should b egin at home . When they manife st some desire to educate t he da ughters o f

d fo r other lands , we may give them a little cre it

t c l sinceri y . Until that time we shall be ompel ed to think that their schools and seminarie s in this land are o nly so many way s o f adding to the

o f sh wealth and power the Romi Church .

3 The ho e to a in s tren th b the ten denc . y p g g y y

m t he co mm nion Ro e q itu a l is o t u of m . There h a s been manifested o f late in many

s f churches , nominally Prote tant , a pain ul tendency

s o f to imitate the teachings and doing Romanism .

fo f e no ha s b One rm a t r a ther een introduced ,

2 8 S o n 3 THE MY TERY INIQUITY . make the people familiar wit h her forms and

f o f ceremonies , and orm a sort connecting link , or bridge , over which thousands pass to the old ” t s Mother Church . Ri uali m would be sad

o if m n h en ugh , it eant nothi g more t an ceremonies

s - s o f fo r and ide hows , a sort amusement idiotic and superannuated clergymen . But it means more f . o than that It means , We are weary Protes f tant orms and doctrines , we want the ceremonies

s o f and dogma Popery , we want something to please the eye and delight the ear , yet something

u n that will not set too hard pon the co science , or f ” require too much o the heart . May God in his mercy give the ecclesiastical body to which these

o o ff men bel ng , the nerve and power to cast them , so that they may be compelled to show their

f n h colors , and prevented rom corrupti g a churc that has given to the world so many brave and true men .

4 R a d ro m the ol i . oma nism expe cts much i f p

ticia ns in the su b u a tion this c o u ntr . , j g of y Pro fe ss1ona l politicians are men o f very little prin i l h c e . p They a re after the lo aves and ﬁs es , 2 THE PERIL OF THE HOUR . 39

If seeking ever their own personal emolument . they can gain votes b y donating money to Pa pal

s s r in titution , by sending thei daughters to Romish

s a nd t d school , a ten ing Roman Catholic churches f i . s s and airs , they will do it This the rea on why every year hundred s o f thousands o f dollars are

t u If h voted to Roman Catholic insti tions . Met o

s s t di t , Presbyterians , or any Protestan religious

t o hO S ita l s s body , undertake build p , or school , or asylums , they do not ask or expect that the State

of 1S will bear any part the expense . Why it so different with Roman Catholics Why are they so much unlike the rest ? IS it not that they hope one day to become our established church , and begin even now to anticipate their coming glory

f we I a Protestant church is to be dedicated ,

n t do o see the Governor and Mayor , Senators and

Congressmen in such eager haste to attend .

ff n Politicians know that Protestants vote di ere tly , that there is no power impelling them to think and vote in concert; They also know that the great mass o f R oman Catholics vote , in one 2 0 THE S O F 4 MY TERY INIQUITY.

way , that they act in concert ; hence the eager ness with which they labor to secure their

votes .

r What , then , is our duty unde these circum stances? We see the forces o f Popery combined together fo r the overthrow o f our civil and

o f religious liberty . We hear the tread their

h d y r n r t gathering osts . Every a b ings e w rec ui s f the f rom Old World . and urnishes them with

n f h see t some co verts rom t e New . We heir churches and schools go up a s b y the hand of magic ; while every week the Romish press grows

bolder and more deﬁant .

1 We must s ee to it tha t our school s stem , y

is t s no impa ire d or overthrown by them . Thi is

the great strength and glory o f our land . Here

the i of O f ch ldren the poor , and the children the f rich meet together , drinking alike rom the s n s o f r ma n pri g lea ning . The poorest in the land may give his children a good education .

Romanism will never prevail in this land , unless she ﬁrst succeeds in overthrowing our system o f r h f ee public sc ools .

2 2 THE S 4 MY TERY OF INIQUITY .

R must hold them to a strict account . A oman

' o Catholic cann t be trusted in O ﬁic e . They will surely use their inﬂuence to pro mote the cause o f i the papacy . The ballot s going to be a great d w . G o b a l l ot po er in this contest grant that the ,

bu l l et and not the , may decide in this coming conﬂict .

4 e s e e m e t su o . Wmu t giv no mor on y o pp rt

Roma n Ca thol ic i ns ti tu tions to bu il d their church ,

s i s s e or to a their r es t . , p y p There is alway

great temptation to do this . Business men

do it as a matter of po l ic y ; ' pol itic ia ns do the

u same . But let o r politicians and business men remember that every dollar given to Rome goes

o f o to build the prison American h pes , drives a

’ nail in Liberty s cofﬁn .

e m st enl i hten the eo l e . 5 . W u g p p They must

f n see and eel the impending da ger . By and by

b o f it may e too late . The price liberty is eter

of r nal vigilance . Many our secular newspape s f f are under the control o Romanism . Many o our religious papers a re afraid to speak out on 2 THE PERIL OF THE HOUR . 43

S o f s n this subject . ome our mini ters are stra gely A f f . S silent aith ul watchmen , we must give the

f the do warning . Many o people not know what

n the doctri es of the Romish Church are . They think o f it as one among many other Christian h f churches . T ey orget the bloody persecutions of t o ha s b e the past , and hink that the li n f come the lamb . We must li t the veil , and Show them the true nat ure of this Mystery of

Iniquity .

e s 6 . Wmu t se e tha t n o one suf ers in person or ro ert b e ca u s e the wil l no t bo w down to p p y , y

i s the s upers t tions of papery . Religiou liberty is f the birthright o every American citizen . Laws must be passed by which convents shall be in

S e cte d h s p , and those t erein impri oned restored to

i f u f l . s o s . u l liberty The issue be re , The conﬂict

U is pon us . It will most likely be the last great conﬂict between light and darkness , good and f evil . De eated here , Romanism will never bear

the n o f rule over natio s the earth again . Suc c e ssful in her assaults upon this country , and she 244 THE MYS TERY OF INIQUITY may put the world back again into the darkness

o f s f s . the middle age . But we ear no such re ult

o f God and truth must triumph . The doom Anti

Christ is sealed . The towers o f Babylon must

Take h eart Th e pro m ise d h o u r draw s n ear I h e r th e do w n w rd b t o f win s a a ea g , ’ An d Fre edo m s tru mpe t so u n din g c l ear Jo y t o th e peo pl e Wo e a n d fea r To n e - o l d t n s l d- o l d in w t o s . w r yra , w r k g