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But does not the holy father,' as he is impiously called, himself occupy rather an unenviable eminence in this matter?

The proclamation of the indulgence granted at the jubilee of 1825, commences thus:

Leo, bishop, servant of the servants of God, To all the faithful of Christ who shall see these presents, health and apostolical benediction.

We have resolved, in virtue of the authority given to us by heaven, fully to unlock that sacred treasure, composed of the merits, sufferings and virtues of Christ, our Lord, and of his virgin-mother, and of all the saints, which the author of human salvation has intrusted to our dispensation...

'We proclaim that the year of atonement and pardon, of redemption and grace, of remission and indulgences is arrived... during which year of the jubilee, we mercifully give and grant in the Lord a plenary indulgence.'

Thus does this potentate boldly assume the entire power to open, or to keep closed, the prison-doors of purgatory. It is at his behest alone, (or at least it is assumed to be altogether in his power to grant release,) that so many thousands or millions of wretched beings are there suffering excruciating torments, which one word from him would terminate. Is this a distinction which a good man would covet? Is it not a responsibility from which any man, knowing his own sinfulness, would revolt with horror?

But the word of God at once sweeps away all these refuges of lies. "No man can by any means redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him." Psalm xlix. 7. The salvation proclaimed in the scriptures is not a scheme devised for the special use and relief

of the prosperous and the wealthy. On the contrary, it is again and again offered, and in the most explicit terms, to the poor and the needy. "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk, without money and without price." Isaiah lv. 1. Is it possible for words to be devised more decidedly condemnatory of the Romish system? "To the POOR the gospel is preached." But Rome

offers no gospel, for to the poor she has nothing to say. The old proverb which described her rule in her most palmy days, describes her practice still, 'No PENNY, NO PATERNOSTER.'

XX.

ROMISH DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES.

PERSECUTION.

THERE is no topic in the whole course of this enquiry, on which the falsehood of the Romish controversialists has been so largely displayed as this; and the reason is sufficiently obvious. The broad and notorious facts of the case are such, as to require the most reckless and unblushing disregard of truth to evade their force. The general voice of history declares, that the believers in Jesus, the adherents to the faith of the Bible, have been persecuted to the death, and destroyed by myriads, alike by Heathens, Mahometans, Romanists, and Infidels; while on the other hand, with the slight exceptions to which we shall presently allude, these Christians, when themselves possessed of power, have not used the sword or the faggot, either to Pagan, Infidel, Mahomedan, or Romanist. The inference is unavoidable: as cruelty and persecution are from beneath, and not from above, it follows that Heathenism, Mahomedanism, Romanism, and Infidelity are all devices of Satan; and that

Bible Christianity, or Protestantism, is that truth of God which all Satan's servants unanimously detest and abhor, and with which alone, true charity and forbearance are indissolubly connected.

But here we are sometimes met by a reference to the 'intolerance' of Moses and the prophets under the Old Testament; and by the question of the Romish annotator, If God gave such power to the church guides of the Old Testament dispensation, can He have given less to the church guides of the New?' Let us, therefore, meet this difficulty without hesitation.

The main feature in this part of the case, which ought never to be lost sight of, is this:-The Jews, in the times of the Old Testament, lived under a Theocracy. JEHOVAH actually walked among them. The people heard and saw the thunder and lightning which heralded his steps; they heard both the awful trumpet of the archangel, and God's more awful voice; and they felt the everlasting hills quake at his terrible presence. And when, after all this, and after hearing the Almighty's voice expressly forbidding any manner of work to be done on the Sabbath-day, a reckless transgressor was found openly breaking this command, and in God's immediate presence pouring contempt upon His express injunctions; what remained to be done, but to "stone him with stones that he died." So obvious is the fitness and propriety of this proceeding, that one really feels at a loss to imagine what objection can be framed to it. If the supreme Lord and Governor condescends to speak audibly to a body of his creatures, after shewing them the most wonderful mercies and kindnesses; and if he prescribe certain rules of living; and they, im

mediately after, openly violate and pour contempt upon his commands, even within the immediate precincts of his visible throne,-it seems difficult to say what else could be done, but to put the delinquents to that death which they had braved.

And the like may be said of the various acts of idolatry committed by the Israelites. Even within sight of the lightnings of Sinai, and with its thunders echoing in their ears, they rush to disobey one of the most explicit of Jehovah's commands! His forbearance is such, that he does not "consume them as in a moment," as might well have been anticipated: when, however, Moses sends the sons of Levi through the camp, and slays at once three thousand men, who shall say that his wrath is other than a holy and a righteous indignation?

And the same remark applies to the acts of Samuel, of Elijah, and of others of the prophets. Wherever God is visibly present in his miraculous power, dwelling in one of his commissioned servants, he who despises and opposes that Almighty power, does so at his own most obvious peril; and the consequences are not to be attributed to the mere human agent in the least degree.

But there is a vast change in the dispensation under which we live. God has withdrawn himself from the view of man, except as seen through the media of his word, his works, and his providence. And by the common feeling of mankind, it will be at once perceived to be far less openly insulting, merely to disregard the message of a king,-perhaps obscurely or doubtfully delivered,—than to violate his personal commands in his very presence. Both deserve, and will receive, their just punishment; but the instant

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