Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/495

 Oav. XVl.] mTmorL is neither Scriptural nor useful, but tends to grot politics] and ooclosimstical evils, as the history of Europe can fully testify. At present there are esversl quemions connected with the validity of mar- risge, as stated and answered by their own divines, which will show the high anumption8 of the Church of Rome, and at the same time prove her perversions of marriage es an ordinance of God, from the creation to the present period of the human race. The following questions and their solutions will throw some light on this point: 2. "Wt to of tb marri, of (Proteresa) arming tkemses ? Aasu'. 1. Their marriages, if celebrated accord- ing to the just laws of their country, are valid in the form of a contract. 2. They poseess not the nature of a sacrament, among thcee heretics who do not observe the rules of the Church of Rome, and have not t priest to celebrate the mm'riages. These heretics, on account of their baptism, are subject to the church. 3. But if the inquiry is concern- ing those heretics who, using the rites of the Roman Ghurch, and the ministry of priests, contract marnage in their own conventicles, or, to shun certain evils in the churches of Catholics, some suppose that they receive the sacrament. But this is in the sense when an external sign, having the power of conferring sacramental grace, is conferred on them. But it is certain that they do not receive the .grace annexed to the sacrament. 4. If these last class of Protestants, or heretics, struck with penitence, return to the Catholic Church, some suppose that they then receive the grace annexed to the sacrament, and their urntriage rises to the nature of a sacrament, although formerly it was not a sacra- ment; but this opinion seems to be uncertain, nor is it supported by any foundation. 5. According to the constant discipline of the church, the marriage8 of heretics returning to the Catholic faith are not to be reiterated in the presence of the church and with the nuptial blessing, if before their conversion they were validly married. This discipline is to be observed in practice, unless the bishop would decree otherwise. But if these heretics contracted marriage invalialy before their conver- sion, without doubt, on their returning to the church, the marriage, with the nuptial blcssng, is to be repeated; otherwise they live in fornication. "� Thq following questions and answera, on the marriages of Roman Catholics by Protestants, are selected from Den :t "WAetAer motrhnoy htwe tm Catludir, i tAe United of Bdium, cntraeed itlu t preenc of a prie, t, elm cm Anver. Netively: becanse the doctors are unanimous,  the lw of the Council of Trent is there sufciendy received in the Cholic community. Catholics indeed are there compelled to contract msiage before a magistrate, or a non-Catholic minister, (otherwise their mar- tinges in civil matters are not valid,) but the mamonial contract be- fore these is not valid: but afterward, in the presence of a priest, they are compelled to be married anew, the rites of the church prescribed by the Council of Trent being observed, and then the marriage is pro* pedy valid." The foregoing will show in what light the marriages celebrated among Protestante are viewed by the Church of Rome. Nothinf, 1
 * Be[fly, de Matr., c. 1, tom. vi, p. 83. $ De Matr., No. 118.

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