miracles. So do I, and so do all Christians. But it is not so well known
that the miracles, in which Protestants believe, differ widely from
those which the Romish church teaches her followers. We believe the
miracles recorded in the Holy Scriptures; to these, however, the
_infallible church_ pays little or no attention, but hands us down a
catalogue of miracles, for the truth of which she herself vouches, and
calls upon all to receive them as the "genuine article." It may be
edifying, and if not, it can not fail to be amusing to American
Protestants, to see a specimen or two of Popish miracles. I assure
the reader, they are very fair ones, to my own personal knowledge, and
considered as such by every true Roman Catholic in this city of Boston
as well as elsewhere.
St. Hieronymus, better known by the name Jerome, who died early in the
fifth century, relates the following miracle:--"After St. Hilary
was banished from France to Phrygia, he met in the wilderness a huge
Bactrian camel, and having seen, in a vision, that his camelship was
possessed of the devil, he exorcised him, and the devil sprang out from
him, running wild through the wilderness, leaving behind him a strong
smell of brimstone." He tells us another miracle, with much gravity.
"Paul the Hermit," says this saint, "happening to die in the wilderness,
his body remained unburied, until discovered by St. Anthony. The saint
being alone, and not having the means of digging a grave, nor strength
enough to place in it the body of the hermit, prayed to the Virgin
Mary to aid him in his difficulties. The result was, two lions, of the
largest species, walked up to him, licked his hands, and told him that
they would dig the grave themselves with their feet, and place the body
of Paul in it. They did so; and having finished their business, went on
their knees, asked the saint's blessing, and vanished in the woods."
Palladus, who lived in the fifth century, and was greatly distinguished
in the Romish church, tells us of a hyena, which, in a certain wood in
Greece, killed a sheep. The next day, a pious hermit, who happened to
live in the neighborhood, was surprised at seeing this hyena at the-door
of his cave; and on asking it what was the matter, the hyena addressed
him in the following language: "Holy father, the odor of thy sanctity
reached me; I killed a sheep last night, and I came to ask your
absolution." The saint granted it, and the hyena departed in peace. We
find in Butler's Lives of the Saints, which is for sale in almost
all Roman Catholic bookstores, an account of some most extraordinary
miracles, for the truth of which, the _infallible_ church pledges her
veracity. For instance; when heretics cut off the head of St. Dennis,
the saint took it up, put it under his arm, and marched off some miles
with it. Butler relates another extraordinary miracle, and if American
Protestants presume to doubt it, they may expect a bull from the Pope of
Rome.
A certain lady in Wales, named Winnefride, was addressed by a young
prince, named Caradoc. But she, being a _nun_, could not listen to his
addresses. The young prince got impatient, and finally, in a fit of rage
and disappointment, he pursued her in one of her walks, and cut off her
head. A saint, by the name of Beuno, hearing of this outrage, went in
pursuit of Caradoc, and having come up with him, he caused the earth to
open and swallow him. Upon his returning where the _nun's_ head fell, he
found that a well had opened, emitting a stream of the purest water, the
drinking of which, to this day, is believed to cast out devils. When the
holy St. Beuno looked at the head of the _nun_, he took it up and
kissed it, placed it on a stump, and said mass. No sooner was the mass
finished, than the beheaded nun jumped up, with her head on, as if
nothing had happened.
Come forward, Americans, if you dare, and deny this miracle. The _holy
church_ vouches for its truth. St. Patrick, the great patron of Daniel
O'Connell, whom his holiness the Pope calls the _greatest layman
living_, performed some very extraordinary miracles, as we are told;
among them was the following: A poor boy strayed from home, and died of
starvation, or something else, and the body was nearly devoured by
hogs, when St. Patrick, chancing to pass that way, discovered it in this
mutilated condition. The holy saint touched it, and it instantly
sprang into life, resuming its former shape and proportions. On another
occasion, as we read in the Lives of the Saints, St. Patrick fed
fourteen hundred people with the flesh of one cow, two wild boars, and
two stags; and what is more strange than all, the same old cow was seen,
on the following morning, brisk and merrily grazing on the very same
field where she was killed, cooked, and eaten by the multitude.
We read of another very great miracle, which no Roman Catholic can
doubt, without running the risk of being considered a _heretic_. St.
Xavier, who is considered one of the most distinguished saints in the
Romish church, had a valuable crucifix. On one of his journeys at sea,
it fell overboard, much to his regret. When he arrived at his place
of destination, he took a walk along shore, meditating on the power,
grandeur, and infallibility of the _mother of saints_, and what was the
first object that caught his eye? Lo, and behold, he saw a crab moving
towards him, bearing in its mouth the saint's crucifix, and continued
to advance until he reverently laid it at his feet. No Roman Catholic
writer, since the days of St. Xavier, questions the truth of this
miracle.
The Popish biographers of St. Xavier tell us of another great miracle
performed by him, the truth of which is attested by the _infallible
church_. The devil tempted Xavier, and the "_old boy_" assumed the
shape of a lovely female; the saint ordered her off, but she refused,
and attacked him again on the same day; but the saint, unwilling to be
annoyed any longer, spit in the devil's face, and he instantly fled.
I cannot dismiss, this subject without relating a few more of those
miracles which Roman Catholics believe. They may be seen in Belarmine's
Treatise on the _Holy Eucharist_, book iii. ch. 8. St. Anthony, of
Padua, got into an argument with a heretic, concerning the doctrine
of _transubstantiation_ or the changing of bread and water, by Romish
priests, into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. After arguing the
question for a long time, the heretic proposed to St. Anthony to settle
their controversy in the following manner: "I have a horse," said the
_heretic_, "which I will keep fasting for three days; at the expiration
of that time, come with your _host_ (an image) and I will meet you with
my horse. I will pour out some grain to my horse, and you will hold the
host before him; if he leave the grain, and adores the host, I shall
believe." They met, and St. Anthony addressed the horse in the following
words. I translate, literally, from that illustrious writer in the Roman
church, Belarmine.
"_In virtue, and in the name of thy creator, whom I truly hold in my
hand, I command and enjoin thee, O horse, to come, and with humility,
adore him." The horse, instanter, left his corn, advanced towards the
host in the priest's hand, and, devoutly kneeling, adored it as his
God._
St. Andrew, as we read in Romish history, was a man of great eminence
and _sanctity_. Papists pray for his intercession daily. The _infallible
church_ informs us, that he performed some very great miracles I beg to
give my readers one, as a sample of the many which he performed.
The devil, armed with an axe, and accompanied by several minor devils,
with clubs in their hands, made an attack upon the saint, whereupon he
called upon St. John, the apostle, to rescue him. St. John lost no time
in making his appearance, and summoning some holy angels to aid him,
with chains in their hands, he rescued St. Andrew from these devils, and
chained every one of them to the spot; whereupon, as we are informed in
the _Acts of the Saints_, St. Andrew burst into laughter, and the devils
fell to screaming and crying mercy.
In the year 1796, a work, entitled _Official Memoirs_, was published in
Ireland, under the authority of Dr. Bray, archbishop of Cushel, and Dr.
Troy, archbishop of Dublin. In this work it is stated--and to doubt the
fact in Ireland, would be-_heresy_--that in the month of May, 1796, at
Toricedi, tears were seen to flow from the eyes of a _wooden image_ of
the Virgin Mary. Impious as such doctrines are, they are now believed by
Roman Catholics.
I was myself personally acquainted with archbishop Troy, and I remember,
when young, that he and the priests by whom I was instructed, took much
more pains in impressing upon my mind the truth of such miracles, as
that of the wooden Virgin Mary, than they did the truths of the Gospel;
and, in fact, every Catholic is taught to rest his _salvation_, almost
entirely, upon the intercession of the _virgin_. Ninety-nine in a
hundred of Irish Catholics rest all their hopes of salvation on the
Virgin Mary. They adore her, they worship her, and what is worse, Popish
bishops and priests teach them to do so. They even compel them to adore
the virgin, though the miserable beings have the hardihood to deny it
before Americans. But will they dare do it before me? When a poor,
ignorant Catholic goes to confession, the usual penance imposed by the
priest, for minor offences, is the repetition of the following address
to the Virgin Mary, two or three times a day, for a week or more,
according to the heinousness of the sin committed:!!!!!
"Holy Mary, Holy mother of God, Holy virgin of virgins, Mother of
Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste,
Mother undefiled, Mother untouched, Mother most amiable, Mother most
admirable, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Redeemer, Virgin most
prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most
powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor,
Vessel of singular devo-Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of
ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star,
Health of the weak, Refuge of sinners, Comfort of the afflicted, Help
of Christians, Queen of angels, Queen of patriarchs, Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles, Queen of martyrs, Queen of confessors, Queen of
virgins, Queen of all saints."
The above tissue of blasphemy is daily, nay, several times in a day,
repeated by Catholic priests and their _penitents;_ and I am much
mistaken, if there is upon the face of the globe, whether in Pagan,
Mahometan,1 or Heathen countries or creeds, to be found any thing
equally blasphemous, or more disgusting to the mind of any individual
who believes in the _pardon of sin through the atonement of Christ_;
and I hesitate not to say, that the Christian, who countenances such
a doctrine, or contributes, in any way, to its propagation, denies his
Saviour, and shows himself unworthy of the name he bears.
To the professed infidel I have nothing to say. To him, who mocks
and scoffs at the Triune God, I will attach no blame; with him I have
nothing in common, further than brotherhood of the same species; but
I must appeal to the Christian, and seriously ask him, Why do you
encourage such blasphemy as this address to the Virgin Mary? Why do
you encourage its propagation amongst your brethren? Why do you hold
communion with those who utter it? Would the primitive Christians, if
they now lived, hold any communion with idolaters? Would they contribute
their money to build temples for _Isis and Dagon?_ Would they basely
bend the knee to the golden calf of old? No. Sooner--much sooner--would
they lay their heads upon the block. They would look upon it as a
denial of their God, and a recantation of their faith in him. Would your
Puritan forefathers give the right hand of fellowship to the worshippers
of a wooden image? Would they give their money to a priest, to build
churches, and teach his followers that they could hew out for them
images of wood, possessing power to work miracles, or in other words,
to change the laws of nature, which the _Eternal Law-Maker_ alone can
change or suspend?
Custom, the point of the bayonet, or even that cruel tyrant, early
education, may enforce such idolatry on the Old World; but the free-born
American, unbiassed by education--unawed by tyrants--has no apology. His
submission to such doctrines is an unqualified surrender of his reason,
his religion, and the liberties of his country.
When the star of our independence first arose, it was hailed by the
Christian philosophers of the old world, as a foreshadowing of the
downfall of tyranny, superstition, and idolatry. They looked upon it
as fatal to the bastard Paganism, taught in the Popish church; but what
must be their astonishment, if permitted at the present day to look
down upon our country, and see our people practising that same Paganism,
nicknamed Christianity, and asking from our government protection--a
privilege which the framers of our constitution never intended should be
extended to tyrants or idolaters!
Here I would stop, and never more put pen to paper, for or against
Popery, did I not see many of my fellow-citizens, possessing the finest
minds and precious souls, falling victims to the sophistry, ingenuity,
and quibbling casuistry of Popish priests and bishops.
It is not long since I saw a letter from the Roman Catholic bishop
Fenwick, of the diocese of Massachusetts, in which he informs the
_authorities of Rome_ that he is making converts from some of the _first
families_ in his diocese. This, I presume, is correct, and these are the
very individuals most easily imposed upon. They know nothing of Popery.
They are not aware that Papists have two sides to the picture, which
they exhibit of their church. One is fair, brilliant, dazzling, and
seductive. Nothing is seen in their external forms of worship but
showy vestments, dazzling tights, and the appearance of great devotion.
Nothing is heard but the softest and most melting strains of music. No
wonder these should captivate minds which are strangers to guilt; nor is
it strange that they should bring into their church those who are most
guilty, in the full assurance that their guilt shall be forgiven, and
their crimes effaced from the records of heaven, by only confessing them
to one of their priests.
Will the heads of those respectable families, to whom Bishop Fenwick
alludes, and from whom he is making so many converts, permit me to ask
them, whether they have ever reflected upon what they were doing, in
permitting Romish priests to come among them? I have myself been a
Catholic priest, as I have more than once stated; I am without any
prejudice whatever. If I know myself, I would do an injustice to no man;
but I hesitate not to tell those heads of families, whether they are the
parents or guardians of those _converts_ to the Romish church, of whom
mention is made, that if they have not used all their authority with
which the laws of nature and of the land invests them, to prevent these
_conversions_, they are highly culpable. If they are parents, they have
become the moral assassins of their own children, and perhaps their
own wives. Do any of those fathers know the _questions_ which a Romish
priest puts to those children, at confession? Do husbands know the
_questions_ which priests put to their wives, at confession? Though a
married man, I would blush to mention the least of them.
Though not so fastidious as others, I cannot even think of them,
much less name them, without a downcast eye and crimsoned cheek, and
particularly those which are put to young and unmarried ladies.
Fathers, mothers, guardians, and husbands of these _converts_, fancy to
yourselves the most indelicate, immodest, and libidinous questions which
the most immoral and profligate mind can conceive!!!!! fancy those ideas
put into plain English, and that by way of question and answer--and you
will then have a faint conception of the conversation which takes
place between a pampered Romish priest and your hitherto pure-minded
daughters. If, after two or three of these _examinations_, in that
_sacred tribunal_, they still continue virtuous, they are rare
exceptions. After an experience of some years in that church,
sooner--far sooner--would I see my daughters consigned to the grave,
than see them go to confession to a Romish priest or bishop. One is not
a whit better than the other. They mutually confess to each other.
It was not my intention, when I commenced this work, to enter into
any thing like a discussion of the doctrines maintained by the
Romish church. My sole object was to call the attention of _American
Republicans_ to the dangers which were to be apprehended, and would
inevitably follow, from the encouragement which they are giving to
Popery amongst them. I have, however, deviated a little from my first
intention, in more than one instance; but I trust, not without some
advantage to many of my readers. I am aware that I have exposed myself
to the charge of carelessness and indifference to public opinion, in not
paying more attention to the construction and order of my sentences. Did
I write for fame, or the applause of this world, I would have been more
careful; but, as my object is only to state facts, in language so plain
that none can misunderstand it, I have no doubt the reader will
pardon any defects which he may find in the language, or want of
consecutiveness in the statements, which these pages contain.
I will now ask the attention of the reader, for a few moments, to
the Popish doctrine of _Indulgences_; and I do so because priests and
bishops deny that such things as _indulgences_ are now either taught
or granted to Catholics. They say from their pulpits and altars that
indulgences are neither * bought nor sold by Catholics, and never were.
It is an axiom in our courts of law--and should be one in every
well-regulated court of conscience--that _falsus in uno, falsus in
omnibus_. The meaning of this axiom is, that he who tells a falsehood in
one case will do so in every other. If this be true--and it is as true
as that two and two make four--I pronounce all Roman Catholic priests,
bishops, Popes, monks, friars, and nuns, to be the most deliberate and
wilful set of liars that ever infested this or any other country, or
disgraced the name of religion. I assert, and defy contradiction, that
there is not a Roman Catholic church, chapel, or house of worship in
any Catholic country, where _indulgences_ are not sold. I will even
go further, and say, that there is not a Roman Catholic priest in the
United States, who has denied the fact, that does not sell indulgences
himself; and yet these priests, and these bishops--these men of sin,
falsehood, impiety, impurity, and immorality--talk of _morals_, and
preach _morals_, while in their sleeves, and in their practices, they
laugh at such ideas as moral obligations. Here I would appeal even to
Irish Catholics who are in this country. I would ask all, or any of
them, if ever they have heard mass in any Catholic chapel in Dublin, or
any other city in Ireland, without hearing published from the altar, a
notice in the following words, or words of similar import.
"_Take notice, that there will be an indulgence on----day,
in--------church. Confessions will be heard on------day, to prepare
those who wish to partake of the indulgence_." I have published hundreds
of such notices myself; and any American, who may visit Ireland, or
any Catholic country, and has the curiosity to enter any of the Romish
chapels, can hear these notices read; but when he returns to the
United States, he will hear the Roman priests say that "there are no
indulgences sold by the Romish Church." Beware, Americans! How long will
you be the dupes of Popish priests?
Will the reader permit me to take him back a few years, and show him
in what light _indulgences_ were viewed in the 16th century, under the
immediate eye of the Pope and full sanction of the _infallible church!_
The name Tetzel, is familiar to-every reader. He was an authorized agent
for the sale of indulgences. I will give you one of his speeches,
as recorded on the authority of Roman Catholic writers, and recently
published in this country in D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation.
_Indulgences_--says this reverend delegate of the Pope--are the most
precious and sublime of God's gifts.
Draw near, and I will give you letters duly sealed, by which even the
sins you shall hereafter desire to commit shall be all forgiven you.
I would not exchange my privileges for those of St. Peter in heaven; for
I have saved more souls by my indulgences, than he by his sermons.
There is no sin so great, that the indulgence cannot remit it, and even
if any one should--which is impossible--ravish the holy Mother of God,
let him pay, let him only pay largely, and it shall be forgiven him.
The very moment the money goes into the Pope's box, that moment even the
condemned soul of the sinner flies to heaven.
Examine the history of Paganism, and you will not find in its darkest
pages any thing more infamously blasphemous than the above extract,
taken from a speech delivered by one of the Pope's auctioneers for
the sale of indulgences. But even this would be almost pardonable, if
priests did not try to persuade Americans that those sales have long
since ceased.
It is not more than twelve months since I was in the city of Principe
Cuba; and I beg permission to relate to my readers what I have there
personally witnessed; or, as we would express it in our most homely
language, seen with my own eyes.
At an early hour in the morning, I was aroused from my slumbers by a
simultaneous ringing of all the bells in the city. On looking out, I
witnessed the marching of troops, firing of cannons, field-officers in
their full uniforms, all the city authorities wearing their official
robes, with innumerable priests and friars bustling about from one end
of the city to the other. My first impression was, that a destructive
fire must have broken out somewhere, or that some frightful insurrection
had taken place: but, on inquiry, what think you, reader, caused this
simultaneous movement of the whole population of Principe, amounting in
all to about sixty thousand? "Tell it not in Gath; publish it not in
the streets of Askelon:" A huge bull of indulgences had arrived from
the Pope of Rome, and they turned out--troops and all--to pay it _due
homage_, and hear it read in the cathedral of Principe.
A day was appointed for the sale of the indulgences contained in the
aforesaid bull! Accompanied by a Scotch gentleman, with whom I had the
pleasure of forming an acquaintance, we went, with others, to the house
of the _spiritual auctioneer_, and I there purchased of the priest, for
two dollars and fifty cents, an _indulgence_ for any sin I might commit,
except four, which I will not mention. These, I was told, could only be
forgiven by the Pope, and would cost me a considerable sum of money.
Many of our citizens are in the habit of visiting Havana, and can
purchase those indulgences at any sum from twelve and a half cents to
five hundred dollars. Will you still listen to Popish priests, who
tell you that indulgences are neither sold nor bought now in the Romish
church?
From Cuba I immediately proceeded in the United States' ship Vandalia,
to Vera Cruz, and from thence to the city of Mexico. I felt desirous of
ascertaining the state of Popery in that exclusively Popish country, and
availed myself of every opportunity to do so. Accordingly, soon after
my arrival in Mexico, I strolled into the _cathedral_, and saw in the
centre aisle a large table, about forty feet long and four wide,
covered with papers, resembling, at a distance, some of our bank checks.
Curiosity induced me to examine them, and, instead of bank checks, I
found checks on Heaven; or, in other words, _indulgences_ for sins of
all descriptions.
I resolved upon purchasing; but, knowing full well that Americans,
though _the most intelligent people in the world_, but long the dupes of
Roman Catholics, would scarcely believe me if I told them that I bought
an indulgence in Mexico. I went back and requested of our consul there,
Mr. Black, to come with me to the cathedral and witness the purchase of,
and payment by me for an _indulgence_. Will Catholic priests tell you
there is no truth in this? If they do, be not hasty in making up your
minds on the question. There are two or 8* three lines of packets
running from New York to Vera Cruz, and you can easily ascertain,
from Mr. Black, whether I am telling truth, or whether _Papists_ are
humbugging you, as they have been for the last half century.