demonstrates that the system is that of " Anti-Christ." That the nuns are required to take the vows of perpetual virginity, is another and similar transgression of the laws of nature and of God, and neither of these allegations against Romanism can be gainsayed, for both are avowed, and vindicated as intrinsic features of the system. Now, with only the Bible in our hands, we may go forth against this single abomination, and having proven the doctrine of "forbidding to marry" to be the "doctrine of devils" on the authority of inspiration; it would be easy to prove by the same testimony that so far from such vow of celibacy being binding in the sight of God, either upon priests or nuns, that if they rigidly observe it to the end of their lives, they are by that act guilty of grievous transgression and "mortal sin." For it is true in the morals of the Bible that "a bad promise is better broken than kept," for the sin is not in breaking a bad promise but in having made it, and in breaking it alone, can we bring forth "fruits meet for repentance." Hence the immediate lawful marriage of all the priests and nuns, notwithstanding their sacerdotal vow, and all the solemn sanctions with which it was imposed, is the dictate of policy and duty, the suggestion both of reason and religion. To illustrate this position, suppose a combination of Atheists, the disciples of Fanny Wright, were to impose upon their male and female votaries, a solemn vow, with all the sanctions of an extra-judicial oath, that they would cast their children as soon as born upon the state, and abandon them to the care of the community, according to the creed and morals of that peripatetic philosopher. Now suppose the attempt to perform this vow by every mother, was resisted by the deep voice of nature, and the maternal heart, instinctively revolted against this unnatural deed. Who would not here recognize the truth, that parental affection is implanted by the Creator in the fundamental laws of the physical and intellectual being. And yet the conjugal, as well as the maternal relation, are both ordained of God, and that system of religion which interferes with either, is ipso facto false. But we forbear to pursue this subject, although the most prominent characteristics of Romanism, are equally vulnerable to the assaults of the Bible and coinmon sense. Hence we deprecate the present aspect of the controversy, because the strong and impregnable fortresses of truth are abandoned by the Protestant army, and a kind of running fight is kept up, not against Popery, but against Father Phelan, and the Hotel Dieu. While at the same time the "mighty weapons" furnished by the armoury of Heaven are suffered to rust, Bible truth, and Bible arguments, are laid aside, and instead of preaching "Christ crucified," Protestant ministers and Christians are employed in crying through the land, the precious name of Maria Monk! Shame on such Protestants, they dishonour the cause of truth, and essentially subserve the cause of Popery, and what is still worse, they betray the ark of the Lord, and the cause of Christianity itself into the hands of its enemies. Nay more, they basely pander to the depraved appetite for scandal, which is increased and perpetuated by "what it feeds on." Finally, if there were no other objection to the character of the present war waging against Romanism, an allsufficient one is found in the indiscriminate manner in which Papists are denounced, as though it were impossible for any man to be saved, within the pale of that church, however he may be blinded by ignorance, bound by prejudice, or enslaved by superstition and priestcraft. Such intolerance, is neither consistent with Protestantism nor Christianity, for the creed of both concedes that in every nation and in every church, "he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of Him." We cannot envy, either the candour, or the charity of that man, who does not believe that there have been, and are now such, who wear the chains of the Papacy, and are nevertheless "accepted of God," who judgeth righteously," according to that which a man hath, and not according to that which he hath not." That there have been eminently holy men, who have lived and died in the Roman Catholic Church, cannot be questioned without denying the unimpeachable evidences which history has recorded. Some of their names, are rendered imperishable by their deeds of piety and lives of usefulness; nor is it manly or honest to withhold or conceal this concession, which truth and candour demand. They lived and died nevertheless in grievous errour, and were themselves the dupes of imposture, but of their salvation we have no authority to doubt, if they "feared God and worked righteousness," and of this in the case of many, we have strong evidence. The like want of discrimination is perceptible in reprobating all the doctrines of Romanism, for many of these as taught in their standard writings, will be found to be, on important and cardinal points, strictly orthodox and scriptural. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the unity of the God head, the essential Divinity of Christ, and the Deity of the Holy Ghost, will all be found in the creed of Romanism. But while all these great and essential truths, are maintained and defended, and common justice demands that all this should be frankly admitted, yet these sound and wholesome truths are corrupted, and most inconsistently mingled with errour, mysticism, and imposture, by which their glory is obscured, and their practical influence for the most part annihilated. Nay more, the truth of God, is adulterated by additions and emendations, by the Roman Catholic church, until the simplicity, purity, and spirituality of Christianity is lost, amidst a multitude of unauthorized dogmas, ceremonies and unmeaning mummeries. While Popery professes to hold the true doctrines of the gospel, many of which are not only stated, but ably defended, by her standard writers, yet her guilt consists in the fact, that she "holds the truth in unrighteousness," as she not only teaches the truth, but a vast amount more than the truth! And what does it avail her, supposing she held every doctrine of Christianity, while at the same time she "teaches for doctrine the commandments of men," by which the former are nullified. So far from the truths she holds being urged in her vindication under such circumstances, her orthodoxy in these respects only increases her power of mischief, and renders her a more dangerous and formidable foe to Christianity. This semblance of the true faith, which her "articles of religion' exhibit, while united to other articles which are utterly at variance with the former, is the secret of her power and influence, since it serves to clothe errour in the habiliments of truth. And in the opposition to Romanism, to which Protestants by their duty to the cause of truth are imperiously bound, it is of vast importance that they should make a just discrimination in their censures, "separating between the precious and the vile," both in relation to the doctrines of Popery, as well as towards the deluded victims of her impostures. Let us never forget that the cause of Protestantism and of Christianity are identical, and that the successes of the former are but the victories of the latter. And surely if we form this estimate of the nature of our position, we may banish all those morbid fears, which craven spirits are wont to indulge, in relation to the issue of our contest with Popery. Ours is a "strong tower,” a “kingdom which the God of heaven has set up," and which "shall never be moved." The "church of Christ," has "her foundation in the holy mountains." Ours is a strong city with "a wall of fire round about, and the glory in the midst." As our cause is thus secure, and our ultimate triumph certain, let Christian ministers beware lest they delay the period of our victory, by expending their strength for nought, or at least waste their energies upon warring upon the mere borders of the enemy's camp. Especially should such take heed, lest the employment of any species of "carnal weapons," should expose us to the curse inflicted upon those who brought "strange fire to the altar of God," or "touched the ark with unhallowed hands." 66 Popery is to be attacked, not in her out-works, but in her strong-holds, and with the "mighty weapons" of the gospel of God, we may at once make the assault upon the heart of her encampment. And to do this effectually let the Bible Society make the charge, and into the hand of every Roman Catholic upon the earth, who can read its sacred pages, let a copy of this "sword of the spirit" be placed, and let those who cannot read have its lessons of heavenly wisdom repeated in their ears, by those whom the love of Christ constrains" to feel for the souls of their fellow-men. Let Protestant Sabbath Schools gather the children of the poor into those nurseries of the church, and by kindness and love their ears and their hearts may be opened to "the truth as it is in Jesus." Let missionaries of the cross be multiplied and sent forth until their numbers shall exceed the whole army of Jesuits, monks, friars and nuns, whom Pope Pius employs throughout his vast domains. And let the whole Christian Church come up to the work of evangelizing the world, and by their prayers, exertions and liberality, let them prove that their zeal for the truth is equal to that of Romanists for their sect. Then within the walls of the Eternal city, other Pauls shall "proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ," and a "nation shall be born in a day." Then will it soon be heard, even from the strongholds of Romanism, that our Messiah is "bringing his sons from afar and his daughters from the ends of the earth." Then will Protestant Christianity raise her song of triumphant victory, while the thunders of the Vatican will be silenced amidst the echo of the cry which shall go up into the heavens from every nation, kindred, tongue and people, Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! Channing on Slavery, Review of. Abbot's Writings, Review of.. Adams, Rev. John R., Review of Gurney on the Sabbath Albro, Rev. John A., Review of Shepard on Infant Baptism On Sacred Music. " Views in Theology, Review of Burchard's Sermons, Review of. Causes of Disease among the Clergy "C of the Present Declension of Religion Christian Union, I. 83 503 521 66 33 423 219 319 228 454 489 121 140 Curtis, Rev. Thomas, Last Evidence of the Truth of Christianity. 478 Dana, Rev. Daniel, D. D., Review of the Memoir of Dr. Rice Dickinson, Rev. R. W., Review of Sermons on occasion of the Great Editor on Christian Union, I. on United Brethren's Society Effects upon the Chuich of its Relative Position. Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Enquiry concerning the Theological Origin of Perfectionism Essays, M'Laurins', Review of . Gould, Edward S., American Criticism on American Literature . 103 266 140 . 311 . 596 159 154 5 454 . 237 331 5 51 56 on Radical Opinions 253 33 . 503 Hamlin, Cyrus, Ancient Limits of the Negro Race Henry, Professor C. S., Importance of a Learned Order Humphrey, Rev. Heman, D. D., Rotation in the Pastoral Office .. 346 Importance of a Resolution to Serve God Infant Baptism, Review of Shepard and Adams on Ives, A. W., v. F., on Medical Empiricism. 386 572 521 282 |