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LECTURE VII.

ON THE GENERAL TENDENCY OF THE

ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to he received with thanksgiving, of the which believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. iv. 1-3.

It is impossible to read the first pages of ecclesiastical history, without feelings of grief, and astonishment at the early and extreme corruption of the pure doctrines, and simple ordinances of Christianity. But how much greater is our amazement as we proceed to see the various errors that arose to deface the beauty and tarnish the purity of the primitive church, embodied in one great anti-christian system-exalting itself above all authority, human or divine, and claiming submission to its rule as the one true, infallible, and universal apostolical church! The permission

of so flagrant and extensive an apostacy may appear to us mysterious; and would have seemed far more mysterious had no allusion been made to it in Scripture; but we know that it was not unforeseen. It is plainly predicted in the New Testament; its existence is but the fulfilment of prophecy. In the verses we have read, the apostle sketches its leading features with graphic fidelity. He here predicts a great and general apostacy-a departure from the faith; by which we understand the introduction of errors affecting some cardinal truths. Whatever aimed to supersede the office of the one Mediator, or would lead to the corruption or denial of the all-important doctrine of justification by faith, would be thus described;such errors striking at the foundation of human hope. We have obtained abundant proof, that the doctrines and ceremonies of the church of Rome militate against both the mediation, and righteousness of the Redeemer. It should however be remembered that the errors of Romanism consist more in additions to admitted doctrines, than in the denial of any essential truths. The Romanist boasts of his faith in the one Lord Jesus as the true Mediator, but increases the number of his advocates by invoking the prayers of saints and angels, till the one Mediator is forgotten amidst the crowd. He professes to believe in the one sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins, and in the meritorious obedience of the Saviour

as the ground of acceptance; but to the former he adds innumerable masses and offerings, and the latter requires the addition of the meritorious works of the sinner to render it effectual to his justification. But the apostle proceeds to describe more minutely the characteristics of this enormous defection. Heed would be given to false teachers, "seducing spirits," who would introduce "doctrines of devils" or rather demons-the word used in this instance (Daimonia) is not the word generally used to designate Satan or the Evil One; nor are we to understand doctrines invented or taught by demons; but doctrines respecting demons. Demons, according to the theology of the ancient heathen, were middle powers between the Gods and mortal men. The Greeks applied the term to their deities. It was the word used when Paul, preaching at Athens, is accused as a setter forth of strange Gods (Daimonia) because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Generally the term was applied to the spirits of departed heroes-the good or the great who were exalted to the ranks of demi-gods, and who, though invisible, were supposed to exert an important influence in favour of mankind. These beings the heathen worshipped. They supposed that they took a deep interest in human affairs; they invoked their aid; they set apart days in their honour. Now, if any such practices as these can be found in any church professedly Christian, and once the depositary of a purer

faith, without question it is in that apostate church we are to look for the fulfilment of the prediction.

After what we have recently heard of the worship of the Virgin Mary and the invocation of saints, where can we expect to find a more literal accomplishment of this part of the prophecy? Bishop Newton says-when comparing the demon worship of the heathen with the saints' worship in the Roman church, "The promoters of this worship were sensible that it was the same, and that one succeeded the other; and as the worship is the same, so likewise it is performed with the same ceremonies; nay, the very same temples, the very same images, the very same altars which once were consecrated to Jupiter and the other demons, are now re-consecrated to the Virgin Mary and other saints. The very same titles and inscriptions are ascribed to both; the very same prodigies and miracles are related of these as of those. In short the whole almost of Paganism is converted and applied to Popery; the one is manifestly formed upon the same plan and principles as the other." The Apostle further describes by what means and by what persons, this apostacy shonld be propagated and established in the world. It would be by "the hypocrisy of those speaking lies." And has not the great idolatry of Christians, and especially the worshipping of the dead, been diffused by lying books, forged under the names of apostles and saints, and pretended mira

cles said to be wrought by their relics? To describe any of the fabulous legends and miracles, which have been avowed by even sovereign Pontiffs of Rome, and the most eminent of her clergy, would be a desecration of this sacred service, and would excite ridicule and mirth, on a subject that rather calls for lamentation and mourning. Can we persuade ourselves that sensible and educated men really believe half the legends and miracles which they encourage the people to venerate? And if not, then, severe as the conclusion appears we cannot apply to their conduct milder terms than those employed by the Apostle in these instances. Another remarkable peculiarity of this prophecy is the direct manner in which it refers to the celibacy of the clergy, and the regulations of the nunnery. "Forbidding to marry." The

10th article of the decree of the council of Trent in relation to marriage will show the general views of the Papacy on that subject. "Whosoever shall say that the married state is to be preferred to a state of virginity or celibacy, and that it is not more blessed to remain in virginity or celibacy than to be joined in marriage-let him be accursed!" And finally the apostle concludes this prophetic portrait by an exact allusion to one of the most common and undeniable practices and ordinances of the Church of Rome, which he speaks of as "commanding to abstain from meats," &c.

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