Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/70

 02 scin*TUa. [BooE I. without entering into the controversy with the'Church of Rome on that subject. The principle of confidence in God alone is sufScient to make them reject the invocation of saints and angels, and a reliance on their merits. The principle of the one only sacrifice of Christ on the cross is sufficient to lead them to reject human satisfactions, pur- gatory, and the indulgences of the pope. The principle of the media- lion of one only Jesus Christ is sufficient to make thom reject the intercession of sai.ts and angels. The principle of the truth of the human nature of Christ like unto us in all things except sin is suffi- cient to make them reject the real presence, transubstantiation, the sacrifice of the mass, and the adoration of the host. Besides, in consequence of the connection there exists between the truths of the gospel and their repugnance to every destructive error, there is scarcely one error but what is in opposition to m:tny truths. For example, transubstantiation, which is repugnant to the integrity of God, is also repugnant to the human nature of Christ; to the formation of his body of the substance of the blessed virgin; to the state of that glory in which he is at present in heaven; to the manner in which he dwells in us, which is by his Spirit and by our faith; to the nature of that hunger and thirst which we should have for his flesh and for his blood, which are spiritual; to the character of both the sacraments, wherein there never is any transubstantiation made; and to the per- petual order which God observed when he wrought miracles, which was to lay them open to men's eyes and senses. VI. The Holy Scriptures we'e put into tlte hands of t faityul uitl, an obligation to read them. That the promiscuous reading of them is of importance to the church and the world, we can give sufficient reason to satisfy impartial Pot- sons. To present this subject in as clear a light as we can, we shall notice what is the doctrine of the Church of Rome on this Point; pre- sent the Protestant doctrines and the proofs of them; and then give the objections to and arguments against the Catholic doctrines. 1. We give the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church on the pro- miscuous reading of Scripture from their own authentic land acknow- ledged standards. We refer to the fourth rule of the Index already quoted on this subject. This rule prohibits the reading of the Scrip- tUfTS in one's own native tongue, except to such as will obtain a wr/tte license for that * purpose from his bishop or an inquisitor. The person who receives such permission must be piously disposed: and if any read without such a license, he is to be refused absolution till he deli- vers up his Bible. Thus all, except persons reputed pious, i.e., con- firmed Catholics, and all young persons, are absolutely prohibited from reading the Scriptures in their own tongue. And those who read them are to understand them in that sense only in which the Church of Rome understands them. The versions of all Protestants are prohibited books, and no Romanist can be licensed to read them on any account. The original Scriptures, too, are omitted in the number of books to be read. And the reason for prohibiting the general reading of Scripture is, that tfaith and piety of most would be injured, and, as a general course, promiscuous reading of Scripture would cause more evil tlum good. Such is the doctrine of the Church of Rome, as established bv the Council of Trent; and if her doctrines be undumgeable, her doctrine must be 1

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