Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/451

 CHAP. XIV.] EXTREME USCTXOW. 445 to the faithful by the apostle St. James." Here they say it was but by whom they cannot tell; for they say that Christ only iv. sinuated it, not instituted. Nor do they say that they have any express Scripture proof for it, but that the church learned it from apostolic tradition; or, as we would say, from mere hearsay. Notwithstanding all this, they have on record a canon confronting and contradicting themselves; a canon insisting that Christ himself did positively isstitut extreme unc- tion as a true and proper sacrament. The canon is, "If any shall say extreme unction is not trnly and properly a sacrament Xss'rx?U?ED by Christ our Lord, and preached by the apostle St..lames, but that it is a human in'ention, let him be accursed." Here they add an anathema for calling it a human invention, or forgery, which shows it was even then so called. And, as a farther proof of their confusion, when they were instituting extreme unction, they changed the word which they first put into the decree, and inserted the word because they saw plainly it ws not instituted in the place referred to. But, to make ample amends for the change, they added their canons, and inserted anathemas, with such confidence, that those who will not believe the institution is found there, and that it confearace, are conlemned without mercy. All their writers are puzzled con- fused when they endearour to find this doctrine in Scripture; andShis is no wonder, when it is not to be found there. So we see that c6nfu- sion and perplexity attend this nw doctrin of the Council of Trent. This sacrament of extreme unction is contrary to several doctrines of the Church of Rome. It is contrary to the doctrine of purgatory. If by this unction all those great things are accomplished which they ascribe to it; that every fault or sin which remained on the soul is entirely removed for ever; why then go to purgatory after all to atone for them again ? And why so many masses to hasten persons out of it 7 This does not look well. Moreover, if by absolution of the priest
 * all the person's sins are pardoned, why is extreme unction brought in

to have that done which has been done already ? It is, therefore, in- consistent with other doctrines of the Church of Rome. 10. The sacrament of extreme unction is not only a uprat/t/m rite, but it is also the means of extortion by the clergy. It is regarded by every Roman Catholic as one of extreme importance. He feels, in a dying hour, that if the priest refuse to anoint him his soul must be lost. The priest stands at his bed-side, and the dying sufferer raises his eyes to him for the performance of the last ceremony of religion. Who could think that at such an hour any man could have the heart to make a bargain ? But so it is. The following is the statement of priest Croly, of Ireland, who gives the exact account of the practice ofhis coun- try, in a pamphlet which he published, in order to show that the Church of Rome, in Ireland, should be supported by government in the place of money from the miserable and poor, extorted by the priests for bap- tisms, confessions, marriages, extreme unction, &c. His words are: "Extreme unction is considered in this country to be of the last im- portance; so much so, that no misfortune is accounted greater than for a poor mortal to depart this life without its reception. Th/s rite is often administered under most distressing circumstances, amid sick- ness, lamentation,' destitution, and want; yet money is demanded in most cases, particularly in the country; and instances occur of pay-

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