[Picture: Public domain book cover]
FACTS AND ASSERTIONS:
OR
A BRIEF AND PLAIN EXHIBITION
OF THE
INCONGRUITY OF THE PECULIAR DOCTRINES
OF
The Church of Rome
WITH THOSE,
BOTH OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES,
AND OF THE
EARLY WRITERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH CATHOLIC.
* * * * *
BY
GEORGE STANLEY FABER, B.D.
RECTOR OF LONG-NEWTON, AND PREBENDARY OF SALISBURY.
* * * * *
It is the part of mere triflers to propound and to speak the things
which are not written. _Athanas. Epist. ad Scrap. Oper._ vol. ii. p.
29.
* * * * *
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR C. J. G. & F. RIVINGTON,
_Booksellers to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge_,
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD,
AND WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL.
* * * * *
1831.
[410]
* * * * *
GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John’s Square, London.
* * * * *
ADVERTISEMENT.
IT has been suggested to me, that _A brief and plain Exhibition of the
utter Incongruity of the peculiar doctrines of the Church of Rome with
those both of the Sacred Scriptures and of the early writers of the
Christian Church Catholic_ might be useful as a small Tract for general
circulation.
This suggestion has given rise to the present little manual. As for
those, who either desire more copious information on the subject, or who
may wish to see my authorities in the original Greek and Latin: I refer
them to the second edition of my _Difficulties of Romanism_, printed for
Messrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul’s Church-Yard, and Waterloo-Place, London,
1830.
If, from the Written Word of God and from the Fathers of the three first
ages, any Latin Divine can make out an historical case, for _The alleged
Apostolicity of the peculiarities of the Church of Rome_, better than the
failures of Mr. Berington and Bishop Trevern of Strasbourg: let him by
all means come forward, whether he be Bishop or Priest or Deacon. The
Bible and the Fathers of the three first centuries, whence alone any
historical substantiation of the assertions made by the Romish Clergy can
be deduced, are open to them as well as to ourselves.
Respecting _opinions in the abstract_, ingenious men may dispute for
ever: but FACTS are of a more stubborn and intractable quality.
_Assertions_ of the apostolicity and perpetuity and immutability and
primeval universality of Romish Peculiarities are cheaply made: but FACTS
and ASSERTIONS are matters widely different from each other.
To the satisfactory test of BARE FACTS I have brought the peculiar
doctrines and practices of Romanism.
Let the Latin Clergy, if it be in their power, set aside _my_ FACTS, and
historically substantiate _their own_ ASSERTIONS.
_Long-Newton Rectory_,
_August_ 3, 1830.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
Introductory Statement 7
CHAPTER II.
Transubstantiation 9
CHAPTER III.
Purgatory 24
CHAPTER IV.
Unwritten Tradition and Insufficiency of the Written Word 29
alone
CHAPTER V.
Meritorious Satisfaction 39
CHAPTER VI.
Saint-worship, Image-worship, Relic-worship, Cross-worship 44
CHAPTER VII.
Papal Supremacy 55
CHAPTER VIII.
Remarkable acknowledgements made by the Romish Clergy 59
CHAPTER IX.
Extraordinary theological practices of the Romish Clergy 62
CHAPTER X.
Conclusion 72
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.
THE great and constant boast of the Latin Clergy is: that _The Catholic
or Universal Church of Christ from the very beginning_, _has_ ALWAYS
_taught the doctrines which are now taught by the Church of Rome_; that
_These doctrines are revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures_, and that
_They have_ ALWAYS _been set forth and maintained by those early
ecclesiastical writers who are commonly styled the Fathers_.
I. On these points lest we should labour under any mistake, let us hear
the positive declarations of the Council of Trent, which sat in the
sixteenth century, and which by the Romanists is considered as having
finally set at rest all disputes respecting the points of doctrine
litigated between themselves and the Reformed. {7}
The declarations of that last reputed infallible General Council run in
manner following.
1. This faith was ALWAYS in THE CHURCH OF GOD. {8a}
2. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH thus ALWAYS understood. {8b}
3. This matter was ALWAYS held for certain in THE CHURCH OF GOD. {8c}
4. THE SACRED SCRIPTURES declare, and the tradition of THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH has ALWAYS taught. {8d}
5. Since, by the testimony of SCRIPTURE, by apostolical tradition, and
by the unanimous consent of THE FATHERS, the matter is perspicuous:—no
one ought to doubt. {8e}
6. The Council of Trent, following the testimonies of THE SACRED
SCRIPTURES and THE HOLY FATHERS and the most esteemed Councils and the
judgment and consent of the Church herself, determines, confesses, and
declares, these doctrines. {8f}
II. Here we have no ambiguity. The Church of Rome, we see, speaking
through the organ of the Council of Trent, declares: that _Her doctrines
are revealed in Holy Scripture_; and that, _Expressly as such_, _they
have always been unanimously taught by the Fathers_, _and have always
been invariably received by the Church Universal_. {8g}
III. Now the meanest capacity will at once perceive: that, _In making
this declaration_, _the Church of Rome asserts_, _not merely a point of
opinion_, _but_ AN ABSOLUTE MATTER OF FACT.
The simple question, therefore, is: _Whether the asserted_ FACT _be
capable of substantiation by competent_ EVIDENCE.
1. In submitting this matter to the plain and honest inquirer, it is
obvious, that nothing more is necessary: than, first, to state any
particular doctrine of the Roman Church; next, to bring forward either
the silence or the declarations of Scripture; and, lastly, to adduce the
testimony of the Fathers.
2. By the adoption of such a plan, without a grain of any extraordinary
learning, and by the mere exercise of common sense, every reader will be
enabled fully to judge for himself.
3. Nor can a member even of the Roman Church justly refuse to hear me.
For the present is simply A QUESTION OF FACT: and, by Mr. Berington, one
of his own Clergy, he is distinctly assured; that _It is no article of
Catholic Faith_, _that the Church cannot err in_ MATTERS OF FACT. {9}
Under the express sanction, therefore, of Mr. Berington, the laic
gentlemen of the Roman Church will, I hope, be persuaded to indulge me
with their company.