The Church of Man OR The Church of Jesus Christ ? P : BY REV. JOHN J. O’HARA, | BBCTOa OF THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, Bradley Beach, N. J. vtf' £' v'f J[k , £ { j/W'J : ' pm 4 | msf! DeaddMMf NIHIL OBSTAT, ARTHUR J. SCANLAN, S. T. D. Censor Librorum IMPRIMATUR. JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK. New York, April 19, 1918. This pamphlet is dedicated to Jesus Christ crucified. That all peoples of all countries may come to know and love Jesus; that they may search out His teachings, embrace His Holy Church and after a faithful service, through this vale of tears, merit the joys of Heaven which is the reward promised to all who faithfully follow the teachings of' Jesus. THE AUTHOR. THE PREFACE. It has been the experience of priest and laity that there are numberless good non-Catholics who have not studied -the origin of the churches. They may not wish to read a lengthy book or pamphlet. Besides they may choose the line of least resistance and thereby avoid controversies. These few pages may be examined by any non-Catholic without taking the least offense or without any controversy being aroused. Some of th-e main misunderstandings, held by our non-Catho- lic friends, are here cleared away. If views they thought ture are erroneous, may it not be that all they heard against the Catholic Church is false f I have endeavored to put forth a brief pamphlet that will arouse the reader to seek further information. No one need hesitate to hand a copy to a friend. It is my hope that this little work will be of aid to priest, laity and earnest minded non-Catholics. In other words that both sides of the religious question be heard and then the decision rendered. THE AUTHOR. wfsrr • i K ’ . ' -V V WHICH The Church of Man or The Church of Jesus Christ? -o- CREATION. God made you to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven. BELIEF IN GOD. Generally speaking, all peoples who ever existed be- lieved in a Supreme Being. TEACHER NEEDED. You seek instruction, information or a teacher for every- thing that concerns affairs of the world. Why do you make an exception on religious matters?1 YOU NEED TRUE CHURCH. Which church have you chosen and are you right? If not a member of any, which one must you select to be right? Claiming the title Christian, you believe Christ established a church. He said 1 ( Thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church (Christ did not say my churches. He used the singular number) and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Could the Church of Christ fail?1 Could man produce a better one? 3 CHRIST IS DIVINE. By His life, example and works Christ proved Himself to be the Son of God. Study His miracles and consider the Resurrection, which placed the seal of Divinity on His claim. **% THE CHURCHES DIFFER. It is evident that the churches differ one from the other. The Methodists from the Baptists; the Presbyterians from the Episcopalians; the Episcopalians from the Catholics and so on with the many religions. While there may be good and bad in every church, that is not the question. Many a good family has a bad son or daughter. It is the origin of the churches that concerns us. i _ / - . CAN CHRIST BE THE AUTHOR OF OPPOSITES? Can you logically and candidly assert that Christ found- ed all the churches with their divisions and sub-divisions and diverse teachings? Can He be the author of opposites? CHRIST’S CHURCH IS EASILY FOUND. If you admit He founded a church, then it must neces- sarily be discoverable. It is your bounden duty to investi- gate the origin and claim of all the churches to decide which one (singular number) can be traced back to Christ. Have you made a study of the various claims? GOOD SHEPHERD. Christ said, “I am the Good Shepherd . ” The picture comes to your mind of the Shepherd watching carefully. Is the flock exposed to poisonous pastures? Would Christ es- tablish a church, and then leave the people to whims, fancies, poisonous doctrines and uncertainties, or would He impose on them the obligation of seeking His church and Him who said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life?” 4 OBJECTIONS OR RATHER EXCUSES. Some say we are all going to Heaven but by different roads. Do people on the ferry to New York assert they are all on the way to business but it doesn’t make any differ- ence which road they select or which means or method they use? They do not. They have positive and determinate views on the best means to success. Why be negative or in- determinate on the all important question of selecting the sure road to Heaven?1 It has been stated, “provided we go to Heaven, it matters not what we believe.” Yes, of course, * ‘ provided.* ’ But remember, according to the Bible, we are judged immediately after death. Another has said, “I have no use for turn coats.” Very well then, what use have you for the Apostles? They were “turn coats.” What about Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Henry the YIII? They were born Catholics. A person once remarked, “I am as good as those who go to church; in fact better than many of them.” This is no argument against the church. Because there are counterfeit dollars, you will surely not argue that there are no genuine dollars. Do autoists say it is all the same which road they use to reach Philadelphia? Do normal people in affairs of life go about aimlessly? Don’t you think you ought to be at least as active in seeking the church of the Saviour as you are in worldly matters? God has laid out The Road; we must follow it. BEST GUIDE AND TRUE CHURCH. If you had a choice of a number of guides to show you about Washington, would you be indifferent, or would you be anxious to have the best? Which is the true and best church? One of the ones established by man or the one founded by Jesus Christ? History—whether Catholic or nou- Catholic plainly states the origin of the various religions. 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