Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/293

 CRAP. V,] SACRIFleS Or Tllm MASS. 28 speak llve words with my understands, that by n voice I might teach othera also, than ten thousand words in an unanown tongue," ! Cor. xiv, ! 9. The testimony of the apostle is in direct contradiction to the custom of celebrating mass in an unknown tongue. The voice of history is to the same purpose. Like the ancient wizards, who "peeped and muttered,"the Roman Catholic rieat recite8 a consider- able part of' the service in a low, murmuring voice, entirely unintelligi- Me to the people. If it be said that they ire allowed the use of trans- hitions, it may be replied that those translations comprise only detached portions of the service, and that it is obviously impracticable to derive any benefit from them during the time of worship. The rapid succes- sion of ceremonies, the frequent changes of posture, the constint ap- peal to the senses, cannot but divert the attention, and present an immperable obstacle to all attempts of the kind; to say nothing of the difficulty of reading to advantage, while at the same time the service is being carried on in another tongue. Of this Roman Ctholic in- m'ucter8 are fully aware. Their books of devotion contain no direc- tious for the use of translated Missal, but rather aim to recommend what is termed rp/r/tual communion, that is, meditation on what the priest is supposed to be saying. 8. The sacrifice of Christ has this glorious peculiarity, that all the benefits of it are bestowed gratuitously; wheresa the Church of Rome makes her members pay immense 8urns for her mu8 sacrifice. The priest professes to offer the body and blood of Christ in sacrifice daily, but no sinner shall receive the benefit of it without money. The clergy of Rome profess to have entirely in possession the sacrifice of Christ, and can apply it to the benefit of particular persons, or not apply it, as they please; for if they do not intend to apply it to particular persons, it is not applied; if they do intend to apply it, then it is applied. The ecacy of any mass for the pardon of the people's sins depends upon the intention of the priest. This being the case, it will be found ne- cessary to get the good-will of the priest; and that this can be found, tim exactions for saying masses can testify. The language of Scrip- turo is the following: "He, every one that thisteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy wine and milk, wthout money and withOUt price," Isa. Iv, 1. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely,** Rev. xxil, 17. This is in the true character of kindness and mercy, and is therefore worthy of C_ed; but to set up spirit-aM blessings to sale, and extort money for them, is worthy of a corrupted religion. 9. The following extracts from the Roman Missal will furnish & complete refutation of the mass. We leave this without comment, as o. shocking profanation and superstition manifest in this infallible de- ctmon of the Roman Church must appear %lear to all. "R,SPECTING DEFECT800CUR!tINO Ilq THB MASS, u Mass may be defective in the matter to be consecrated, in the form to be used, and in the officiating minister. For if in any of these there be uny defect, namely, due matter, form, with intention and priesj orders in the celebration, no sacrament is consecrated. "Of &fect, i. rb ,.el. u If the bread be not of wheat, or, if of wheat, it be mixed with such. tfmtity of other grain that it doth not remain wheaten bread, or ff it in my way corrupted, it doth not make a norsmerit. 1

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