_your_ scriptural Church the benefit of it. "And the other books (as
Hierome saith) the Church doth read, for example of life, and instruction
of manners, but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine."
(Art. 6, Ch. Eng. P. Book.) Well, most Reverend Gentlemen, _truth_ and
_falsehood_ are in this passage, mixed up together _to a nicety_. In the
first part, your scriptural Church tells the people that she, like Hierom
(and mind, St. Hierom was a great Catholic Saint), reads her
_un_canonical books, for example of life and instruction of manners.
Well, _her object_ for reading these books, as far as it goes, is very
good; but then, your scriptural Church _slyly_ adds, "but yet doth it not
apply them _to establish_ any doctrine:" an artful inuendo that St.
Hierom did the same. Now St. Hierom wished, indeed, the Catholic Church
to read these books, for example of life, and instruction of manners; but
St. Hierom, at the same time, included in the Catholic canon _all_ the
books, which had been ranked in the Catholic canon by antiquity. Now, if
your scriptural Church, quoted St. Hierom's authority in confirmation of
the _first_ part of this passage, why does she slyly intimate, to follow
him in the _second_ part, where she contradicts St. Hierom, by asserting
that certain books of the Scripture, are _uncanonical_, which St. Hierom
believed, and taught were _really canonical_? Come, Reverend Gentlemen,
your Church _must_ have had some _sly_ reason, for this _contradictory_
conduct. Now, _do_ tell us _what this_ reason was. Well, if _you_ will
not tell, _I_ must.
You have seen, how the first reformers _falsified_ the Scriptures, to
make the sacred text, harmonize with their _reformed_ ideas; but _what
puzzled_ them _most_ was, they found there were certain books, which they
could not _possibly tune_ to _their new_ ideas. They _durst_ not indeed,
_entirely_ reject these sacred books; for they knew in _what_ veneration,
they had been _always_ held by _antiquity_; but on the _other_ hand, they
_durst_ not admit them as _canonical_; for _then_, the _testimony_ of
_these_ books, would upset _their new-fangled_ ideas; they thought,
therefore, the _most convenient_ method, was to make _flesh_ and _fish_
of them, and _then_, they could either _admit_, or _contradict_ them,
according to their _own spiritual convenience_.
And that I am speaking the truth, I will give you _one single_ instance,
and from this _one_, you will be able to judge of _the rest_, of their
sly method, of squaring the scripture to their _new_, and _re_forming
ideas. Of all the tenets of the Catholic creed, there is _none_, that has
been _more lustily_ inveighed against, and accordingly, _none_ that sound
_so awfully_, to an _English Protestant_ ear, as Purgatory, and Prayers
for the dead. (_O keep your seats, Most Reverend Gentlemen, I am not
going to put you into Purgatory, although you may imagine it smells very
strongly of it on this side the grave._)[L] Well, mind this doctrine of
Purgatory, and of Prayers for the dead, was the belief of the Jews, and
of all the first Christians, and continued even to the time of the
Reformation. Now in the book of _Machabees_, this doctrine is so
_plainly_ laid down, that no man in his senses, can contradict it. Read
the following passage, and tell me, if I am not speaking the truth. "And
making a gathering, he (Judas Machabeus) sent 1200 drachms of silver to
Jerusalem for sacrifice, to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking
well, and religiously, concerning their resurrection. (For if he had not
hoped that they that were slain, should rise again, it would have seemed
superfluous, and vain to pray for the dead.) And, because, he considered
that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up
for them. It is, therefore, a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the
dead, that they may be loosed from sins." II. Mac. xii. 43-46.
Now this passage was so _clear_, and _positive_ a proof of purgatory, and
of prayers for the dead, that the first Reformers found, that they could
not get rid of it, _without denying the divine_ authority of the book.
_Accordingly_, these new soul-menders, told the people that the two Books
of Machabees, were not included in the Jewish Canon, but _unfortunately_,
they _forgot_ to tell the world _the reason_, (viz.,) because the Jewish
Canon was compiled by Esdras, _long before_ the Books of Machabees were
written. And now, you may understand the _sly_ words of your sixth
article, "but yet it doth not apply them (these books) to _establish any
doctrine_," viz., to establish the _Catholic_ doctrine, and to _overturn
their new-fangled_ ideas.
Now, Gentlemen, is it not plain that your _Church_, hath _both corrupted_
the Scriptures, and expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon, many of the
_inspired_ books of those sacred volumes?
And now, allow me to quote the _first_ part of the sixth Article of your
Church, and then, tell me _what_ the _people_ are to do, to save their
souls, and how your Scriptural Church, _is ever_ to be raised again, to a
new spiritual life. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to
salvation: so that, whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be approved
thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as
an Article of the Faith, or to be thought requisite or necessary to
salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture, we do understand those
Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was
never any doubt in the Church."
Now this part of your Article, assures us, in the strongest manner, that
the Holy Scriptures, contain all things necessary for salvation, that
they are the sure palladium of a Christian, and his title-deeds to
eternal life; and it also says, that in this sacred volume, are to be
included all the books of whose authority, was never any doubt in the
Church. Now, it is also plain from what I have advanced, (and find me a
person who can overturn by _solid_ argument what I have advanced,) it is
plain, I repeat it, that your Church has _both_ falsified the text of the
Scripture, and expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon, many books, whose
authority and divine inspiration, were held by antiquity in the greatest
veneration. Now, most Reverend Gentlemen, do tell me what the people are
to do. On the _one_ hand, your Church tells the people, there _is no_
salvation _without_ the Scripture: and on the _other_ hand, your Church
has falsified the text, and also expunged from her _Protestant_ Canon,
many _inspired_ Books of the Scripture. Really, can you obtain the
possession of property by _corrupt_ and mutilated title-deeds? Certainly
not. How, _then_, are your people to obtain eternal life by your _false_,
and mutilated title-deeds of the Scripture? Really, most Reverend
Gentlemen, if the prejudices of my popish education do not strongly
deceive me, your Protestant mutilation of the Scripture, and your Sixth
Article, are pregnant with the most _paradoxical_ consequences. O how
justly may I apply to _your_ Scriptural Church, the observations which a
distinguished minister of the Church _of England_, applied to the
operations of the Bible Society; these are his words: "Surely, it is
enough to make a Christian's blood run cold, to think of the sacrilegious
presumption of a Society, which dares thus to tamper, and trifle with the
revelation of the Almighty, and dares publish to the heathen, and attempt
to pawn upon its credulous supporters, these schoolboy exercises of its
agents, as the Sacred Word of God! It is the circulation of such
translations as these, that, more than once, at the meetings of this
Society, have been blasphemously compared to the miraculous gift of
tongues. And such a system is supported, and such comparisons applauded
by many, who, on other occasions, lay claim, and justly, to the
characters of piety and intelligence."[M] O how justly might he have
applied these observations to his own Church.[N]
We have now seen, most Reverend Gentlemen, the falsification, and
mutilation of the Sacred Scriptures, by the Protestant Reformers. Your
Sixth Article tells the people, that the Scriptures are the only means of
salvation; but of course, she must mean _correct_ copies, and
_authenticated_ translations of those sacred volumes. Now, what are the
people to do for eternal life, placed as they are, on the one hand,
between your falsified, corrupt, and mutilated Scriptures, and on the
other hand, the absolute necessity (according to your Sixth Article) of
culling their religion from the Scriptures? But, as there is no hope of
salvation, for the people in this awful fix, do you think, you could
raise a church for the people, instead of these falsified scriptures? But
then, it is evident, that you cannot raise that church, on the frail
foundation of these falsified, and mutilated scriptures. Really I am
sorry, that I declined the assistance of the Spanish chemist, as he
might, perhaps, have thrown some new light, on this subject by his
wonderful chemical operations. O! but a very bright idea, has just popped
into my mind, that your Protestant prayer-book, was first made 'by the
aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God.' Surely, we shall now
succeed, by the aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the noble object of God's
honour. Well, then, we will now see, how this prayer-book, was first made
by men, 'aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God;' we will
then see, how these very men who at first declare, that this prayer-book,
which was made by the aid of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God,
afterwards most solemnly swear, that all these inspirations of the Holy
Ghost were heretical, and contrary to true religion, and then, how they
bring back this prayer-book, and enact the most severe penalties on all,
who will not adopt its use.
In the reign of Henry the Eighth, the faith of Protestantism, and
defection from the Catholic faith, first partially began. In the reign of
his son, Edward VI., Protestantism, made a-head, and Catholicism, rapidly
declined. It was in the reign of this youth Edward VI., (only eleven
years of age,) that the Protestant prayer-book, was made by Act of
Parliament. In the preamble of this Act (i. & ii. Edward VI.) we are
informed that Edward (only eleven years of age) appointed the Archbishop
of Canterbury, and others, who, "aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the
honour of God," made this prayer-book. Take notice that this Act (i. &
ii. Edward VI.) declares, that this Protestant prayer-book, was made by
these men, "aided by the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God." This Act
of Parliament, provided also, that if any clergyman, refused to use this
prayer-book, in the public service, he should, for the first offence,
forfeit to the King one year's income of his benefice, and be imprisoned
for six months; for the second, he should be deprived of the whole of his
benefice, and be imprisoned for one year; and for the third offence, he
should be imprisoned for his whole life. But this Act, was not confined
merely to the clergy, it extended also to the laity. It enacted, that if
any layman, should by interludes, plays, songs, rhymes, or by other open
words, declare, or speak anything to the derogation of the said common
prayer-book, penalty after penalty, was to follow, until he had forfeited
all his goods, and chattels to the King, and to be imprisoned for life.
Such, was the first formation, of your Protestant prayer-book, as the Act
of Parliament, (i. & ii. Edward VI.) plainly shews.
Now, let us see the result, in the next reign. Edward died seven years
afterwards, and was succeeded by his sister, Mary, who was a Catholic.
Almost, as soon as Mary had ascended the throne, the very men repeal the
whole of the famous Act, for making the common prayer-book, and that too,
on the grounds that this prayer-book, was contrary to true religion,
although, in the former reign, they had solemnly declared, they had been
assisted, "by the Holy Ghost" in the making of this prayer-book; they
also abolished all the pains, and penalties, which they had enacted, in
the former reign, against the clergy, and laity, for not using this
common prayer-book, and this too, on the express ground, that they had
been for years, wandering in error, and schism, although, they had had
the barefacedness to assert, in the previous reign, that the Holy Ghost,
had assisted them in the formation of this common prayer-book.
Well, Mary died about five years afterwards, and was succeeded by her
sister Elizabeth, who was at first a Catholic, but shortly turned
Protestant. Now the second Act of this Queen, (i. Eliz. chap. 2.) brought
back again, this prayer-book. In Mary's reign these very men, had
abolished this very prayer-book, as schismatical, they now recall this
common prayer-book, and inflict the most severe penalties, upon all, who
will not use it, in the public service. For the first offence, it was now
enacted, the clergy were to forfeit a year's income, and be imprisoned
for a year; for the second offence, they were to forfeit all their
incomes, and be imprisoned for life, for refusing to use this common
prayer-book, in the public service. The people also, were compelled on
Sundays, and holydays, to attend the Church, and to use this common
prayer-book, under various penalties, and in failure of paying these
penalties, they were to be imprisoned. Bishops, Archdeacons, and other
Ordinaries, were to have power, to inflict these punishments. Really the
conduct of these men, is, so inconsistent and monstrous, that if we had
not Acts of Parliament for it, I should have been afraid to state it,
upon any other authority. In the reign of Edward, these very men make the
common prayer-book, and declare it a work of the Holy Ghost, and for the
honour of God; then, in about seven years afterwards, in the reign of
Mary, they declare this book to be schismatical, and contrary to true
religion, although in the former reign, they had asserted, it was a work
of the Holy Ghost, and for the honour of God; and then in about five
years afterwards, these very men recant again, recall this prayer-book,
and inflict the most severe pains, and penalties, both on clergy and
laity, who refuse the use of it. Most Reverend Gentlemen, may I ask you,
what kind of a prayer-book, must that be, which was made by these
inconsistent, and monstrous men? and yet, such is your Protestant
prayer-book, of the Church of England as by Law established.
But some of you reverends, will perhaps reply, really, Sir, it is too bad
of you, thus to lower our Protestant Prayer-book, for we Protestants all
know, how many beautiful, and admirable parts there are in that Church
Prayer-book. Most Reverend Gentlemen, before I answer this objection, we
must quietly trace back our steps to the Spanish chemist. Of course, I
have forbidden myself the application of his wonderful, chemical
operations to your Church. But then, you yourselves can apply them, and
judge whether there really is, any analogy or not, between his chemical
operations, and the spiritual works of your scriptural Church. Well,
then, I have shewn you, what a beautiful Church God and Jesus Christ
first built; and I have shown you the sure, and infallible foundation of
that Church, which was to be perpetuated from age to age, with the world
for its boundaries, and time for its duration. I have shewn you, how, in
the sixteenth century, arose a body of men, the most audacious, and
strange spiritual chemists, that the world ever beheld, whether you
consider the spiritual instructor of some of them, or whether you
consider the strange doctrines they advanced, and the barefaced manner,
in which they defended, and propagated their new-fangled ideas. I have
shewn you, how these strange spiritual chemists, wished to demolish God's
infallible Church, how they cut it into pieces of universal and damnable
idolatry, how then, they put these various parts into the sublimatory
glass of falsification, and mutilation of God's word. You then saw, how
these spiritual chemists, and their followers, have been trying in vain,
for these three hundred years at least, to collect, and unite, and form
these various parts of Christ's Church (which according to their bare
assertion, had fallen into error), into a more perfect, and durable form,
than that which God had first given it. You have seen, how these
Protestant children of the Reformation, honoured England with a
Protestant Prayer-book, the formation of which, almost defies all the
power of credibility; and were there not Acts of Parliament to show
this, it would be an insult to any Englishman, to assert such a thing in
his presence. Now with all these facts before you, is there not a great
analogy, between the outrageous conduct of your Church, and that of the
Spanish chemist, who destroyed his master, with the design of raising
him, to a more perfect and durable state, than that which God had first
given him?
I ask you, most Reverend Gentlemen, with all these awful and
incontestible facts before you, will your Protestant Church, ever be able
to raise Christ's Church, to as perfect and as durable a state, as she
_is now_, and _was then_, when you withdrew from her? Your Protestant
Church has been trying her hand, at this work of reformation, for more
than three hundred years, and still she is something like the Irishman's
wife: Pat got married, and in about three months after, went to the
priest, and said, "Plaise your reverince, you didn't marry me and my wife
rightly." "Well," asked the clergyman, "how did I marry you wrongly?"
"Plaise your reverince, didn't you say, I was to take my wife for better,
and for worse?" "Certainly," replied the priest. "Now, plaise your
reverince, she's all worse, and no better." Really, how justly may we
apply this to your Church of England as by law established. In short,
this country, the wonder of the world in commerce, in the arts and
sciences, in the extent of her navy, and the power of her army, this
wonderful nation, presents, in point of religion, a confused medley of
every sort, and of every form of worship, a perfect chaos of doctrines,
in which every one plunges, and tosses, dogmatizing as fancy or feeling
directs. In consequence of this confusion of religious opinions, men know
not, to whom to listen, what to believe, or what to do. This confusion of
religious opinions, and doctrines, commenced with the Reformation, and
has continued, and daily increased ever since. O how justly did a chief
of the savages, address, near Boston, a missionary, who had gone with his
Bible, to convert the pagans of that country. "How," asked this chief,
"can _your_ religion be the _true_ one, since you _white_ men do not
_all_ profess the _same_? Agree among _yourselves_ in this point, and
_then_ we will attend to you." (Phil. Gaz. Nov. 1817.)
But some of you reverends, will ask again: Really, sir, do you pretend to
assert, that our Common Prayer-book, and that our Protestant Church, do
not contain _any_ spiritual treasures? I answer, that in all counterfeit
coin, which is well executed, the gold is often laid on the base metal
rather thickly, and with great ingenuity. Now, this is the case with your
counterfeit prayer-book, and with your counterfeit religion. Whoever will
take the pains to examine carefully, the strange mixture of good, and of
evil, which is to be found in your Protestant Prayer-book, and in your
Protestant religion, will, at first, stand astonished, but his
astonishment will soon cease, when he finds that the little good which is
in them, flows from the Church of Jesus Christ, which you formerly left,
and that the evils with which they abound, flow from the inventions and
the ingenuity of man.
Allow me to give you a few instances of this. In the Apostles' creed (and
in your Thirty-nine Articles you admit this creed as the word of God),
you profess to believe, in the Holy Catholic Church. Now, this is the
real word of God, which your Church admits; but then, you also solemnly
declare, that you believe in your hearts, and from your soul, that the
doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church is idolatrous. Now this is the mere
human invention of your Protestant Church. Now when these two doctrines,
the one from God, and the other from man, are brought in contact, let us
see what sad consequences they make with you, and your scriptural Church.
You profess to believe, in the Catholic Church; but Catholic, means
universal, and as the Roman Catholics form the greatest body of
Christians, their Church only, can be the Catholic, or universal Church;
for Catholic, and universal, mean the _same_ thing. But mind, you destroy
this Catholic or universal Church. How? Why you swear, that her doctrine
is idolatrous. How, then, can she be holy? Thus, you see, by joining in
religion the word of God, with the inventions of man, you destroy (though
perhaps without intending it) the holy Catholic Church, in which you
profess to believe.
I will now give you another instance. At the end of the Communion Service
of your Common Prayer-book, I find these words: "It is hereby declared,
that thereby no adoration is intended, or ought to be done, either unto
the sacramental bread or wine, there bodily received, or to any corporal
presence of Christ's natural flesh and blood. For the sacramental bread
and wine, remain still in their very natural substances, and therefore,
may not be adored, for that were idolatry, to be abhorred of all faithful
Christians." Of course, the plain meaning of these words is, that Jesus
Christ is not present in the Lord's Supper, and therefore, it would be a
great crime to there adore him. But, what does your Church Catechism
(which is in your prayer-book) teach children on this subject? Why, it
asks them, "What is the inward part, or the thing signified?" Your Church
Catechism answers: "The Body and Blood of Christ, which are _verily_ and
_indeed taken_, and _received_ by the faithful, in the _Lord's Supper_."
Now this declares, that our Saviour, is _really_ present in the _Lord's
Supper_, for how can you _really_, and indeed _take_ Him, and _receive_
Him, if He is not _really_ there? Thus, in _one_ part of your
prayer-book, you solemnly declare, that our Saviour is _not_ present, in
the _Lord's Supper_, and therefore it would be idolatry there to adore
him; but in _another_ part of the _same_ prayer-book, you teach children
that He is _present_; and that they _verily_ and _indeed take_ Him and
_receive_ Him in the _Lord's Supper_. The Act of Parliament of Edward
VI., for the making of this Common Prayer-book, declares it to be a work
of the Holy Ghost; but I hope you will excuse me for saying, that I think
it was a very curious Holy Ghost, and whether it was black, or white,
really I have not sufficient of the prophet in me to divine. But how was
this _manifest_ contradiction, introduced into your prayer-book? Why, I
will tell you; the doctrine of the _real_ presence of our Saviour in the
Blessed Sacrament, had been believed by the great body of Christians,
ever since the time of our Saviour, until the Reformation. Luther and
Zuinglius, indeed, as you know, were convinced _by the devil_, that our
Saviour was _not_ present in the Blessed Sacrament, and that, therefore,
it would be idolatry to believe it; but then, how were they to manage to
substitute their new-fangled opinions, for the constant belief of all
former christian ages? Why, they made flesh and fish of them; they mixed
together again the word of God with the inventions of man, and then,
thought that the people's orthodox stomachs, would _swallow better_ their
new-fangled religious ideas.
But, what has often amused me the most, in your scriptural Church, is
this; you solemnly declare, that the doctrine of Catholics, is
idolatrous; but, should any of these poor Catholic sinners, condescend to
lay their idolatrous bones, in any of your churchyards; what do you
_then_ declare? Why, that you commit to the dust, this Catholic, (who
according to you during life has been a most idolatrous sinner,) "in the
sure, and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord
Jesus Christ;" for you would thus pray: "O merciful God, we meekly
beseech Thee, that when we shall depart this life, we may rest in Him
(Christ) as our hope is, this our brother doth." Thus you tell us, that
during life, we Catholics live in the horrible sin of idolatry, and then,
after death, you are willing to commit us, _for a comfortable fee_, "to
the dust, in the sure, and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal
life, through our Lord Jesus Christ."