IV. AS TO ITS PRINCIPLES, IT IS A SELF-RIGHTEOUS
CHURCH.

as

Justification by works, and the necessity of personal
suffering for sin, doctrines of the church of Rome-
These dogmas contrasted with Holy Scripture-
Complete sufficiency of Christ's work-Workings of
the Popish system-Penances and repentance con-
trasted-Fastings, self-torture, and pilgrimages contrary
to the word of God-Almsgiving represented
meritorious in the sight of God; no foundation for it
in Scripture-Voluntary retirement from the world,
giving up of property, monasteries, convents, etc.,
all condemned in Scripture-Martin Luther-His sense
of his own sinfulness in the sight of God-Is deluded
by the monks-Finds in the convent a Bible fastened
by a chain-Decisive epoch in his life.
36-54

V. AS TO ITS MORALITY, IT IS AN UNHOLY CHURCH.
Doctrine of indulgences-Its mercenary spirit-Various
kinds of indulgences-Money-Pilgrimages-Plenary
indulgences-Confession-No warrant for it in the
word of God-Injunctions of the Romish church on this
subject prejudicial to morality, and degrading to the
mind-Absolution-Its delusive and dangerous cha-
racter-Scripture doctrine of repentance and forgive-
ness-The doctrine of mortal and venial sins defined-
Its results on the ignorant and depraved

54-67

VI. AS TO ITS SERVICE, IT IS AN UNSPIRITUAL
CHURCH.

Imposing effect of the Popish service on the senses-
The ceremonial of the priests-Absurd in its character,
and displeasing to the Most High-The Jewish ritual
no argument in favour of Popish rites and ceremonies
-Arguments of the Papists refuted-God requires a
spiritual worship-Resemblance between Popish and
heathen ceremonies-Romanists in the South Sea
Islands-Romish practice of praying in a foreign
tongue not sanctioned by Scripture.
68-77

VII. AS TO ITS WORSHIP, IT IS AN IDOLATROUS AND

BLASPHEMOUS CHURCH.

Prayers of Romanists not addressed to God-Invocation

of saints-Jesus Christ proved from Scripture to be

the only Mediator between God and man-Objections

of papists on this point refuted-The doctrine of the

invocation of saints unscriptural-Its absurdity and

blasphemy-Practice and profession of the Romish

church-Extracts of prayers to the saints-Worship

of the Virgin-Use of images and pictures an idolatrous

practice-Veneration for relics-Their extraordinary

variety-Holy coat at Treves
77-91

VIII. AS TO ITS MIRACLES, IT IS AN INVENTIVE AND

DECEITFUL CHURCH.

a

Idolatrous Romish custom-Adoration of the host-

Ceremony of consecrating the wafer-Absurd custom

in Popish countries-Transubstantiation called

miracle-Romish and Scripture miracles contrasted-

Perversion of Scripture by Romanists-Other Romish

miracles-The "sacred heart of Mary "-Marvellous

stories of cures effected by her intercession-Miraculous

crucifix at Boxley-Imposture detected

91-108

IX. AS TO ITS TEACHINGS CONCERNING THE DEPARTED,

IT IS AN AVARICIOUS AND SOUL-TORTURING

CHURCH.

Romish service of the mass- -The objects it is supposed

to answer-Statements of the apostle Paul on this

subject-Benefit supposed to accrue to the dead-No

basis in the inspired word for this practice-Purgatory

-Admission of Cardinal Wiseman in reference to it-

Examination of the subject-The case of the dying

thief-Hateful and soul-torturing nature of this doc-

trine-Masses a fruitful source of revenue-Contrasted

with the spirit of the gospel

109-121

X. AS TO ITS CHARACTER, IT IS A PRIEST-EXALTING

CHURCH.

Reverence for the "fathers," and undue estimation of the

priests in the church of Rome-Extreme unction-

Sentiments of the apostles on this point -Delusive and

perilous nature of this ceremony- Is made a substitute

for the atouement of Christ

122-128

XI. AS TO ITS TENDENCY, IT IS AN ENSLAVING

CHURCH.

Priestly influence and dominion-A member of the

Romish church portrayed-Results of priestcraft on

his individual character and destiny-Effects on his

domestic comfort-Baneful influence on his civil free-

dom-Retards his intellectual advancement-Galileo

and the Romish Inquisition-Popery the source of

mental ignorance and civil depression-Workings of

Romanism in foreign countries

128-134

XII. AS TO ITS SPIRIT, IT IS A PERSECUTING CHURCH.

The martyrs at Smithfield-Massacre of the Huguenots

in France-The Albigenses-Slaughter of the Vaudois

-Tortures of the Inquisition-The same spirit still

characterizes the Romish church-Priestly denunciation

in Ireland-Persecutions in France, Italy, and Portugal

-The possibility of Popery gaining renewed power in

England--Efforts of the Papists in the Sandwich Islands,

Tahiti, India, and Canada-The Jesuits

134-142

XIII. AS TO ITS FATE, IT IS A DOOMED CHURCH.

Seven sacraments of the church of Rome-Withholding

the cup contrary to the apostles' teaching-Forbidding

of marriage unscriptural-Romanism compared with

Paganism, Mohammedanism, Socinianism, and Anti-

nomianism-Points of resemblance between the Ro-

manists and Pharisees-Other texts to prove the rise of

Popery in the church-Its downfall clearly predicted—

Warnings and exhortation,

142-148

INTRODUCTION.

THE strong and general excitement that prevailed during the year 1850, on the subject of Popish aggression, will not be easily forgotten. The public mind was awake to the startling policy of Rome, and the public voice uplifted against the usurpation of her newly appointed bishops. Such a season could not pass without calling forth some energetic movement on the part of those who had wisdom to know what, in so important a crisis, it was best for the Israel of God to do. The Committee of the Religious Tract Society were enabled, through the liberality of Thomas Thompson, Esq., of Poundisford Park, to offer "a prize of twenty guineas for the best work on the errors of Romanism, with a view to arrest the attention and instruct and fortify the minds of Sunday school teachers and scholars." It was further indicated

that "the work must be written in a plain, simple, and attractive style; and must clearly show the opposition of Romanist doctrine to Scriptural truth. It should describe what Popery has been, what are its present pretensions, and what its ultimate design also its injurious influence on the civil and religious liberties of nations-its inroads on human happiness; and point out, that wherever it prevails, children are, for the most part, left to grow up in ignorance and superstition; that it prevents the free circulation of the Bible, and is a friend to persecution."

The writing and examination of the Essays to which this proposal gave rise necessarily occupied a considerable interval of time; and during that interval, the excitement above adverted to well nigh subsided. The current of public feeling was turned into another channel of exclusively absorbing interest; and the panic of 1850 was greatly lost sight of through the Exhibition of 1851. Parliamentary pro