_To_ MR. THOMAS.
_Ballycar, Nov. 13, 1834._
October 29. Being asked by a Roman Catholic why I would not pray to the
Saints, and implore their intercession; I replied, Because I have no
authority in Scripture for it. But on the contrary, St. Paul says,
"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus;" and the Saviour himself says, in John xiv. 6, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me;" and he
also says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, I will do
it." Now since all we ask the Father, in the name of the Son, is granted
unto us, why should we address ourselves to other mediators? We also
read in 1 John ii. 1: "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
Nov. 2. In Quin, entering into a conversation with two persons, on the
necessity of reading the Scriptures, one of them replied, that their
clergy would not permit them to read them. I asked him, which should he
obey, his priest or God? He replied, God. "Therefore you should read,
and not only read but search, the Scriptures; for Christ himself says,
'Search the Scriptures;' and again he says, 'Blessed are they that hear
the word of God, and keep it:' and the apostle Paul strongly commends
the people of Berea for reading the Scriptures; he expressly says in
Acts xvii. 11: 'These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.' Now if these people
doubted the words of that eminent apostle, how much more should we
search the Scriptures in the present day, and see if the doctrine taught
us be consistent with the Scriptures or not!" After reading different
passages of Scripture, and reasoning for some time on this subject with
these people, they replied that it appeared consistent with truth, that
men should read the Scriptures.
Nov. 7. Entering into conversation with one person, on the immediate
state of happiness of those who die in the Lord; he replied, that no
person can enter heaven, without being purged from their sins in
purgatory. I asked him, Did he not think that the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ was sufficient to cleanse him? He replied, He was confident
it was, but we must also suffer for some time in this place. I read to
him different passages of Scripture, to prove to him that the blood of
the Lord Jesus cleanseth us from all sin, such as Isaiah i. 18, 1 John
i. 7, Prov. vii. 13, 14, 15, Heb. i. 3, &c.. After reading this passage,
the man took the book out of my hand, to see if the words were expressly
the same as I read them; after seeing they were, from his conversation
after, he seemed very much to doubt this doctrine. I read at intervals
to the Major's workmen, himself being in a delicate state of health,
which renders him at different times unable to do it. He had been very
ill this day or two past, but is now getting better. Sir, I remain
yours,