Saint Alphonsus Liguori : Or Extracts Translated from the Moral
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SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI : OR, EXTRACTS, TRANSLATED FROM THE MORAL THEOLOGY OF THE ABOVE ROMISH SAINT, WHO WAS CANONIZED IN THE YEAR 1839. WITH REMARKS THEREON. BY THE REV. R. P. BLAKENEY, B.A. MINISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH, CLAUGHTON, BIRKENHEAD. SU-I.K nsn" LONDON : PUBLISHED AT THE REFORMATION SOCIETY S OFFICE, 8, EXETER HALL, STRAND. 1852. B* PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. the THE Editor in presenting the second edition to public, avails himself of the opportunity to express his thankfulness for the success which the work has met in exposing the immoral teaching of the Church of Home. The importance of the " Awful Disclosure" is at once evident from the fact, that since its appearance the " public journals (even the English Churchman") and all Protestant Controversialists have drawn arguments from it, in proof of the anti-social character of Popery. We have no hesitation in saying that the exposure of Romish sentiments as expounded by the Saint, is one of the heaviest blows which the Church of Rome has received for a long time. Cardinal Wiseman has written the life of Liguori; but no attempt has been made to rebut the charges of A2 IV PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. immorality which are brought against the Saint s moral theology. The conclusion may be fairly drawn that the attempt is regarded as hopeless. The translation is literal : The references to authors are given in the usual contracted form in order to save space, but the Editor has appended a list of their names in full, and the century, if known, in which they lived. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THE circumstances which called forth this publication were simply as follow. The Rev. R. P. Blakeney deli vered a lecture in the Assembly Rooms, Nottingham, on " The tendency of Romanism to destroy man/s best interests even in this world / in proof of one of his points, viz. that Romanism is immoral in its principles, " he quoted various passages from the Moral Theology of Alphonsus Liguori." In one or two instances the references to pages happened to be mis-printed, and hence, one of the Roman Catholic Priests ventured to put forth the " assertion that in some of the passages referred to, not one word of the alleged matter could be found there." For a time this caused great excitement amongst the townspeople, who were led to suppose that a Protes tant Clergyman was found guilty of gross dishonesty. No doubt the Roman Catholic Priest supposed that Mr. B. (in consequence of a statement published in the lecture, that he was indebted to Mr. Campbell of America for reference to the passages,) did not pos sess the original works, which are almost unknown to British Protestants, and would therefore be unable to authenticate them. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Blake ney placed the original volumes in the Protestant Li- VI PREFACE. brary for public inspection, with all the passages marked to he in which had referred ; and moreover published the newspapers a certificate from six gentlemen bearing testimony to the correctness of the translation. In truth, the Roman Catholic Priest s conduct was a striking exemplification of the principles of equivoca tion or double- speaking, which the Church of Rome has authorized in Liguori. It appeared that the passages " were in the works of the Saint, but the word there" contained the equivocation. This circumstance directed Mr. Blakeney s attention more particularly to the " Moral Theology of Liguori/ and he determined to issue a series of tracts containing specimens of the mo~ rality sanctioned and taught by Rome. The work has much exceeded the limits which were at first designed, but it is hoped that the "Awful Disclosure" will awaken Protestants to a sense of the necessity of arresting the progress of Romanism, which is so iniquitous in its character. The Translation is strictly literal, and no freedom whatever taken with the text. The names of various authors Filliucius Sanches Lessius Escobar, &c. &c., are left in the contracted form, that the passages might be as little encumbered as possible. INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION. IN this day of rebuke and blasphemy, when Popery is honoured and endowed when the Church of Rome is by every means extending her borders it is necessary to lay bare her iniquities, and prove that the principles of Rome are such as will sap the foundations even of morality. It admitted that not must be Popery progresses ; long since, this great nation regarded it as a system full fraught with danger to man s best interests in time and eternity : the sentiments and feelings of our fathers as to Romanism, may be seen in the protective laws which were enacted for the preservation of civil and religious liberty, but the hedge which their zeal, yea, wisdom and prudence had planted around this great country has been torn up : the laws which were to a great extent rendered necessary by the restless and anti- social principles of Popery have been repealed. Though once, the subjects of the Pope had no share in our administrations, now they legislate in, our Senate Vlll INTRODUCTION. House; though once,, the national treasures of the British nation were exclusively dedicated to the support of eternal truth, they are now expended likewise in the endowment of error and at this idolatry ; and very time, a bill is being passed by the Legislature, which will confer greater favours upon the Papacy, and even legalize the Jesuits, who have been expelled from some Romish countries. Britain, emphatically and justly called great, is, alas, " being revolutionized : she was great, because righte ousness exalteth a nation," but now the principles, to the maintenance of which we must impute her pros perity, are nationally despised by the national Senate : Infidelity and Latitudinarianism have laid their cold hand upon a great portion of the people^ while Popery has grasped the remainder. Hence, Romish Chapels and Cathedrals, costly, mag nificent, and commodious, are every where rising up the members of the Church of Rome are labouring in their respective spheres and by every means, for the perversion of the people. The cause of Rome has been pleaded in the pulpits of the Anglican Zion, and by men who are the professed ministers of a Protestant Church, but who probably belong to the Jesuit order ; defections are daily taking place from the ranks of Protestantism, and so elated are Roman Catholic countries at the prospect of England s once more re ceiving the Papal yoke, that not only are prayers offered tip for her conversion, but even thanksgivings for the Papal tendency which has appeared. INTRODUCTION. IX But has Romanism progressed only in its naked form ? No ! It has advanced in the estimation gene rally speaking, of the country at large. Once, and not a great while ago, the British Senate House was essentially Protestant, its members re garded Romanism as a foul and destructive system, and they were the fair representatives of the sentiments of the nation in but the general ; now, man who speaks of legislating upon religious principles in the legislative assemblies, is looked upon as a fanatic. Protestantism is at the of " is as laughed ; cry No Popery" regarded absolutely unworthy of men of reading, common sense, and enlarged views : and the impression rests upon the minds of most men who even still retain the name of Protestant, that Popery, if not absolutely true, is a much mis-represented system that the charges brought against it on the ground of its anti-social character are false and altogether unfounded. Miserable ignorance, blind infatuation ! Popery has progressed not only in its naked form, but even secretly and influentially. The labours of Romish Priests and the sophisms of Jesuits have not failed in casting a mantle over the deformities of Rome and hiding them from the view of Protestant England. In short, the God-dishonouring and blood-stained harlot has made England (I speak generally) drunken with " the wine of her fornications." The worldly wise men who think favourably of Popery, and suppose that it is not inimical to the best even tem poral interests of mankind, must acknowledge that they X INTRODUCTION. are fools before they can become truly wise. The Infidel Senators who dare to scorn the truth of that God, by " and decree whom kings reign princes justice," and rave " about the harmless and injured Church of Rome," must renounce their blind infatuation, their anti- Christian folly, ere they can vaunt themselves on the possession of truthful and enlarged views. Such men are not only inconsistent with the great principles of Bible Chris tianity, but also ignorant of those indisputable proofs which brand upon the forehead of the Church of Rome " the title of the Antichristian Apostasy, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth." Rome sanctions teaches principles which are not only soul-destroying in their character, but also baneful to the interests of society, and injurious to the welfare of the nation, principles of equivocation, lying, per " evil that jury, doing of good may come," and the extermination of Protestants. She establishes practices which bind the galling chains of slavery around man kind, and must degenerate and demoralize the noble and the virtuous. But what evidence have we for these bold assertions, for bold we admit they are ? Perhaps it will be said, us and not mere let that "give evidence, assertion; evidence be of such a character that it cannot justly be evaded evidence which will indisputably prove that Rome has sanctioned those principles and obliges her members to them." UNHESITATINGLY WE SAY, HERE IT IS.