%, v%^. - .^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) fe // y i^\. ,f^^ *•% .v..t ^■^^. f/ ^' 1.0 I.I 1.25 liU Ui m 25 iii 1.8 iA 11 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-450? r<\^ v"^ iV ^'\ ^^""^.^ ^..\. '^O^ % '^ f/ ^^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibiiographic Notes/Notas techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographicaily unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. E2! D D n n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couieur [~n Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou peliiculAs I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couieur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Ehcre de couieur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) f I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur Bound with other material/ Relii avec d'autras documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le lo.ig de ia marge intiriaure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais. lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ixi filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires: The toti L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a itt possible de se procurer. Les details de crt exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de fllmags sont indiquis ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couieur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ D Pages restauries et/ou pellicuides Pages discoloured , stained or foxe< Pages dicolories, tachetdes ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages ditach^es Showthroughy Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti inigale de I'impression Includes supplementary materis Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible |~~~7I Pages discoloured , stained or foxed/ r~n Pages detached/ f~7| Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ nn Includes supplementary material/ r~l Only edition available/ Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de facon ^ obtenir la meilleure image possible. The pos oft film Ori( beg the sior othi first sior or II The sha TIN whi Mai diff enti beg righ reqi met This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de rMuction indiquA ci-dessous. 18X 22X 10X 14X 2ex 30X J_ r'.r.Vfc.ai 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Bibliothdque nationale du Quebec L'exenoplaire fiim6 fut reproduit grikce A la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Qiidbec The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iteeping with the filming contract specifications. Las images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la netteti de I'exemplaire iWmi, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the bacit cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimde sont fiim^s en commen9ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmis en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symboi — »> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole —► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottonn, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de rMuction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seui clich6, il est film6 d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 " /.. C849 . -= -^ ^- ./' m «nr m.: ^1 mpxt anb Crabition. A REPLY TO MR. MATURIN'S LETTER us " Ii]e m^» of ii|e 6^fl)olfc e^i\ix^:' By J. M. CRArfP, D. 3J. ^ 'S! « d7 A REPLY C S -ff 4 \ V TO % MR. MATURIN'S LETTER ON "Il]e 6lt|Iii)3 of ii|e Siiiljolic 6i]iji-cl)." ADDRESSED TO "THE PARISHONERS OP St. PAULS, HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA." By J. M. CRAMI, D. D. " What 18 the oliaff to the wheat ? saith the Lord. la not my word like fts a fire ? saith the Lord : and like a hammer that breakelh the rook in jiieites?" — JEUE\fiAH xxiii. 28, 29. <•♦• • •■ . 1 1 * I • ''• • * * -* * > * I . * ■ • • • i « ' • « » * * t » • 4 • -. r- •• ;' HALIFAX, N. S., PRINTED AT THE " CHRISTIAN MESSENGER " OFFICB, 1859; .V. . » t • ^ * •i » • « m I < • • • * • • • • « ' • « • ft SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. I should not have thought it necessary to take any public notice of Mr. Maturin's pamphlet, if it had merely announced his abandonment of the Church of England for the Church of Rome. Some will say that there was not a long journey before him ; and certainly, from the point to which he had advanced, some time before he openly changed sides, he had not far to go. Nor would the transfer of his allegiance from the Queen (as Head of the Church) to the Pope have occa- sioned any remonstrance or rebuke, as though he had dono what he had no right to do. Our country is free. If any of its inhabitants choose to renounce the opinions they formerly professed, to exchange Protestantism for Romanism, or the contrary, or even to become Mormons or Mahommedans, no one can call in question their liberty, and no Protestant would restrain it. However we may regret their choice, and how- ever perilous to their souls, as we think, the course they have taken, we cannot interfere with them, except in the way of ar- gument or persuasion ; and in all civil matters they are just where they were, so long as they conduct themselves peaceably and obey the laws. Under British rule all good subjects pos- sess and enjoy equal rights. It is not so in Spain nor in Aus- tria — nor in Italy — nor in France. And how great a blessing is freedom of discussion ! If, in any of the above-mentioned countries, a pamphlet should be published in explanation or defence of Protestantism, the author would expose himself to fine and imprisonment, at least — perhaps to peril of life or limb. But here he may write, and teach, and preach, as he pleases, so long as he ab- 4 SCIIIPTLUE AND TRADITION. Btains from sedition or libel. No pollcenion will seize his hook or touch his person. xVo judge will entertain a charge against him. He is under the guarilianship of the law. His liberty is guaranteed. Thanks be to (iod for the rights of English- men ! In becoming a convert to llonianism, however, ^Ir. 3Iaturin has forsaken not oidy the connuuin'on of the (Jhurch of F^nrr. land, but of Protestantism itself. He has abandoned the prin- ciples which are connnon to all Protestant Churches. Hia reasons for so doing are contained in his pamphlet, and they arc entitled to serious and iin^jartial consideration. He commences by giving a sketch of his religious history. It is an affecting narrative. The perusal of it has led mo irresistibly to the conclusion that Mr. Maturin ought never to have become a clergyman of the Church of England. By his own showing his mind was in an unsettled state shortly after the close of his university studies, and in 1840, he was troubled with " doubts as to the true position of the Church of Eng- land." He entered on a course of inquiry. The canons and decrees of the Council of Trent, and the Roman Missal, were carefully studied ; they were his " constant companions," and " a great part of them was committed to memory." Thus he obtained "a cleaAnd comprehensive view of the Catholic sys^ tem in all its proportions," and " could not help admirin.r iis beauty and consistency." Still ho was not quite satisfied. His." peace was broken," his "soul was restless," and he found " little comfort in the Protestant worship." Then he read the Rhemish Testament, with all the original notes (no light task !), and his former opinions were " completely shaken." Desirous of becoming - more fully acquainted with the practical working of the system," he attended Ilio-h Ma^s "on the 12th December, 1841, in the Church of the Immacu' late Conception, Marlborough Street, Dublin," and that event, he says " constituted a new era " in his religious history' Yet he could not decide. Ho - continued in the same uncoml MR. m\turin"s early doubts. o lortabl.; fstato, month aflor month— reading, praying, doubting and bclioving— without being able to come to any final determi- nation." Having " set apart the whole season of Lent, 1842, for a special examinatioti of the subject, with fasting and prayer," he read Cardinal Wiseman's " Lectures on the prin- cipal Doctrines and Practices of the Catholic Church," by which his mind was " still further disturbed." I do not won- der at it ; the sophistry of that work, its perversion of some facts and suppression of others, arc likely enough to occasion mental disturbance in the case of any one situated as Mr. Ma* turin then was. lie " went on in the same way for several months, frequent- ly joining in the services of the Catholic Church, till the end of inly, 1«42." Then, he says—" I tacitly decided on remain- ing where I was." The grounds of that decision are not as- vsigned. It is only stated that he " yielded to the solicitations of friends," and received ordination in the Church of England. Having ministered successively in three country parishes in Jreland, he canie to Halifax, and officiated for eight years as curate of ^t. I'aul's. But his mind " was not free from its former difficulties," He had only " a moderate preference for the Church of England." It appears that during the whole period of his public ministry he was " halting between two opinions," and that a large portion of his time was spent in studying the Fathers, and controversial writings on the points in dispute between Protestants and Roman Catholics, giving the preference, evidently, to Roman Catholic works, and care- fully a})staining from all mention of his doubts to any of his brethren, or asking their advice and aid. xVt length he made up his mind to quit the Church of England, and without im- parting his intention to any of his friends in this country, pro- ceeded to England, in order to be admitted into the Roman Catholic Church by Cardinal Wiseman, which was easily accomplished. Seldom has the Cardinal found a neophyte so well prepared. 6 SCRmt'RK AND m.iDinnv. When Mr. iMahirin was ordaii.ccl \Vwh\, the lii.«ho|, haid h/ him— " J)o voii think in your heart that you ho truly eaUea according to the will of our l^ord JenuH ChrJHt, anVoe be to that Priest yborn, TliLt will not cluanly weed his corn, .AjkI prcaeh his ohiivgo auioni; ; Woe be to that shepherd, I say, ° That w.ll not watch his fold alway, As to his office ;!otL belong, Woe be to him that doJi not keep From Romish wolves fas s/icrp, With Ktafl" and weapon strong." THE EARLY AND MODERN ROMAN CHURCH. 9 In the warmth of his zeal Mr. Maturin ventures on the assertion that " the Church of Rome in the nineteenth century is essentially the same in doctrine with the Church of Home in the first century." This is an astounding discovery. But we question if even his new friends will endorse the statement. They know better. They know that the ecclesiastical develop- ment had not theu begun. Home in the first century had a much shorter creed than Home will now consent to receive or prescribe. AH we have to do is to compare Paul's Epistles to the Romans with the canons and decrees of the Council of Trent, and especially the third and fourth chapters of the Epistle with the Council's decisions on justification. The co- - trariety between the two authorities Is so manifest that no further consideration of Mr. Maturin's statement is needful. "The Protestant Canon," says Mr. 3Iaturin, "does not agree, in all it« parts, with the sacred bocks enumerated by anv one ancient Council or Father of the Christian Church." This is boldly put. We shall see what credit is due to the assertion. One authority will suffice. Whoever will read Jerome's Proloyus Galeatus, as it is sometimes called, and his Frfpfatio in Libros Salomonis, will find that the Canon of Scripture, as held by that learned Father, was precisely the same as the Protestant Canon, and that he explicitly affirms of the Apocryphal books that they are "not canonical." Jerome died A. ])., 420. Speaking of the first four General Councils, Mr. Matur-i says that "it is a remarkable fact that every one of these Councils contain", a clear and unequivocal testimony to the supremacy of the Pope in the universal church." "Remarka- })lc" enough, it would })e, no doubt, if it could be proved that beiore the close of the fifth century the "supremacy of the Pope" had become an :v»''' ««"»'ituti„g the divine, complete, and unchangeable Rule. It Wiis not to be supposed that God wouW leave his Church, ttnder he new dispensation, worse provide,! for than under thj o d I„ g,v,ng us the New Testan.ent he has dealt with us a» be deal with h,s ancent people. They Imd the Old Testa- men* ; they wanted nothing more ; it was sufficient for all the purpo,,cs of that dispensation. We have, in addition, the New Testament. Is ,t not sufficient? Ought it to be imagined hat there would be a perfect Eule nnder the preparatory economy, and an nnperfect one afterwards •> Mr. Maturin endeavors to show that the Scriptures do not ela,m for them.selves that exclusive authority which is claimed for them by Protestants. It is not difficult to di..p„,,o of such assert,o„s. The cjucstion is settled as regards the Old Testa- ment, by the aulhonty of our Lord, in the pa.ssage before etted John V. 39 Understood as a command, seardung the feenptttres ,s enjomed ; understood as an affirmation, it is com- mended Let the reader seriously consider the following pas- sages of the New Testament :— We have received, not the sp.rjt of the world, but the .spirit which is of God ; that we Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wis- J ... tllE KPtSTLES l>IVtNKI,V INRl'lllED. 19 I I (loni teachcth, but which the Holy fihost tcachcth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."—" Wc have the mind of Christ," — '1 Oor. ii. 12, l.'i. •' The (iospcl which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ," — Gal. ii. 11, 12. " Ho therefore that dcspiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit," — 1 Thess. iv. 8. " That ye may bo mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy Pro|)hets, and of the connnandmcnt of us the Apostles of the Lord and Sa- viour." " Our beloved brother Paul also, according to tho wisdom given unto him hath written unto you ; as also in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are un- learned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scrip- tures, unto their own destruction," — 2 Peter iii. 2, IG. " Wo are of God ; he that knoweth God, heareth us ; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error," — 1 John iv. 6. Here, the Apostles claim for their teachings that respect and reverence which wo owe to the Word of God. The only inquir3'' is, where are their teachings to be found ? That thev are in the New Tes" tamcnt, is admitted on all hands. To the New Testament, then, we are bound to submit. It contains the words of those of whom the Lord said, " He that reccivcth you reeeiveth me, and him that recciveth me reeeiveth Him that sent me," — • Mat. X. 40. But are not certain teachings of the Apostles found else- where ? To this I reply, that those who make the assertion are bound to prove it. The onus probandi rests upon them, Whatever words or teachings of the Apostles can be produced, derived from other sources than the New Testament, all Pro testants will receive, on sufficient proof. But mere assertion will not be admitted as proof. And no amount of testimony can countervail the authority, already established, of the Apos m- liO fiCIlIl'TUllE AND TRADITION. 1'^ if tolic m-hhv^H. To thoni, thcroforo, wo yiohl the mmo .lefcr. cnco winch aruMout Jews jloldcd to the Old Tcstarnont. And ot'fhcn wo Hiiy, in porfoct harmony with the drift and .spirit of tiioir instructionn, " Add thou not unto his wordn, h^Ht he re- prove thee, and thou be found u liar,"— J»rov. xxx. 6 In them wo have, connnitted to the security of writing, such of the Traditions, or teachings of the Apostles, as it has ploased thoJIoly .Spirit to preserve, for the use and beneflt of hi.s Church. By his gracious direction and influence they wrote as they did, and the Church re.juiros nothing more than is contained in those writings. Had anything more been needed, It would have been given to us in the fixed, written form Granting that Apostolic Tradition, if recoverable, would bo authoritative, there is another consideration to be taken into account, and it is of no small moment. God's laws must bo consistent with each other. His word is •• not yea and nay." We have the inspired book. There is certainty. It is fixed and unchangeable. x\othing can be true or binding which con- flicts with it. If, for instance, it is said to us-" We have a tradition in our Church, handed down to us from Apostolic times, by which we are taught to receive the Lord's Supper in the form of bread only, and to pray to the saints in heaven, and to angels "-we are warranted to reply-- That tradition of yours IS a forgery. It contradicts the teachings of Paul, and I eter, and John, as given us in the book. We must abide by the book." And it is a very noticeable thing that they who plead for what they call Apostolic Tradition, ad(luce the .aid tradition as the authority for doctrines, ceremonies, and modes of government, which are not only not to be found in the bcriptures, but are inconsistent with the principles inculcated m them, and with the spirit and design of the Gospel dispen- .«Mion. It was not without reason that the Apostle Paul said : * (Hnvaro of dogs, beware of evil workers "—Phil, ili 2 •— " i>owarc lest any man spoil you through philosopj^y and v'ain deceit, aft^r the tradition of men, afte; the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ "—Col. ii. 8. 1 TIIK AI'OCRYIMIAL IJOOKS. 21 ' snino (Icfor* iiiu'iit. And and Hjjirit of ) l«'st he ro* XXX. G. Ill ing, such of has pleased niefit of his I they wrote lore than ia been iieuiled, ri form. lo, would bo ! taken into ws must bo )a and nay." It is fixed ? which con- We have a n Apostolic s Supper in in heaven, tradition of ' Paul, and ist abide by t they who ce the said and modes )und in the inculcated pel dispen- ! Paul said : il. iii. 2 ; — y and vain )nts of the But how do we know that Vfo have the book, and neither more nor less than tiie book ? On what authority do wo re- ceive it? Are we not indebted to the Church for the (^anon? And has not the same (Miurch tau«.dit us to receive Tradition ? There is a good deal of mystitication on this ([uestion. Mr. Maturin tells us that the Council of Carthage, A. D. 31)7, published a list of the canonical books, which was afterwards received ))y the universal church ; and that the list has been sanctioned by the Council of Trent. We therefore owe tho Canon to the Church, and receive it on the authority of tho Church. Not quito so fast. There are two parts of the Canon — tho Old and the New Testaments. It is matter of history that the books of the Old Testament, r.s we have them in the Eng- lish version, were the only books held sacred by the Jews. The Apocrypha was not received by them. Our Old Testa- ment is the identical collection which was regarded in the timo of our Lord as containing " the oracles of Cod." The Jews had examined the Apocryphal books, and found them destitute of the marks of divine inspiration. They rejected them, and retained only the books which now constitute our Old Testa- ment. The Saviour used and referred to that book as God's book. He sanctioned the decision of his countrymen. Our Old Testament was Jesus Christ's Bible. We are not in- debted to the Council of Carthage for that part of the Scrip- tures ; nor can we receive its list, because it includes the Apocrypha, which formed no part of the Saviour's Bible. The process was the same under Christianity as under the Law. Certain writings were issued, professing to be Apos- tolic, and therefore divine. They were examined. Some were ascertained to be genuine, and were received. The tokens of spuriousness appeared in others, and they were re- jt^ctcd. It was a careful exercise of sound criticism, conducted on correct principles. The evidence has been re-examined, and the decision revised and rc-afiirmed. W^e receive the New 22 SCllIPTURE AND TRADITION. W! w-^ Tostamenf, not on the authority of the Council of Carthar^o or of any other Council, but on independent .round, w!^ satisfied that the Looks of which it i .„ T " K„ .1, 1 * '^ composed wore written by those who.e names they bear, and that they wrote -rfthev ^IZIt' :''""'' '''''''■" ^-'^ --'—thee no! lert ned nl T' " "" ^""°" "' *^ ^'"^ Testament, ascertained in a similar manner by Christion m^n i, u abundantly confirmed and honored ty 1?^";^ r" '^ Jtan. the truth by which the Spirit operates on th hear s mners .n eonver.ion, and sanctifies and sustains believc^T It IS mamfestlv God'y wnrri „^i u n '^ ^^^ucvus. submission. ^ '^' "^ "'""'™S'^' °" ■"««' bearty satlficrrr'"'"' "''''' '''* "" "'■• "f '"■""■l*- =»« tbough a satisfactory answer were altogether out of the question how we can know that we have the real word of ,, ,'1""':°"' ^'^ are so many various readings in the lllf; ' J^f, I^ adopted by c„t,cs differ from one another V Ld how Tt mav mer r V^?:;ro'"cr ^"-' *»* - '-- *o real trt'o' H^ bio withon 'the ? """• ^' "™"* '"'™ •>-" "»P»-i- bo, wrthou the mtervention of a constant miracle, to preserve all manuscripts free from corruption, passing thro;.h TZ v hands, and the majority of the copyil being ig ^ "» God did not see fit to intornose in th-t fc""™'" men. 1 • , , "'ii-rpose m that manner on behnlf nf ..word, but allowed it to be subject to the same cas It a, other books with this circumstance, however, in is favor tha t^estoemm which it was hold operated as 'a check "n 'o n ' , I" '''"" '■'• "^'" ""= '«t of tbe sacred volume is the nul :r™"^ '■"^'•"S^- "'-g'' ™'y numerous, becalm the nuinbe, of manuscripts of the Scriptures is much gre.ter l^hrist. And ,t ,s observable that the boasted security THE CLAIM TO INFALLIHILITY, Carthargo, s. We are ere written te " as they the Canon ceived the Testament, i has been Spirit. It the hearts believers. )st hearty though a tion, how 3ing there the texts w, it may :t of Ho- swer will inipossi- preserve so many >nt men. ehalf of alties as ^or, that )n carc- 'lume is '• book ; because greater ootrine, servant ecuri ty afforded by the authority of the Church fails altogether here. Take, for instance, the disputed portions of 1 John v. 7, 8 : — " For there are three that bear record [in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth], the spirit, and the water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one." (The disputed words are included in brackets.) The Latin Vulgate, constituted authentic and authoritative by the Council of Trent, contains that passage as it appears in our English version, with this slight difference, that instead of " agree in one " it has '• are one." But the disputed portion is found in no ancient Greek manuscript whatever, and by the common consent of critics, Protestant and Catholic, is rejected as spurious. The authority of the Council of Trent cannot make it genuine — cannot alter the manuscripts — cannot change the judgment of critics. It may dictate opinions, and compel feigned submis- sion to its dictates, but it cannot alter facts. There they are still, in all their significance. I may add, that the loss of these words does not in the least affect the Scripture doctrine of the Trinity, which is found in Mat. xxviii. 19, 2 Cor. xiii. 14, and a host of other passages. A pretty fiction is founded on Mat. xvi. 18. In that pas- sage our Saviour promises that his Church, however assaulted and imperilled, shall survive all opposition. A blessed promise it is ; it has had what Lord Bacon calls " a springing and ger- minant accomplishment," and will continue to have till " all things shall be subdued " to the llcdee;;:er. But this by no means satisfies some men. They find in that text the suprem- acy of Peter, and not only the perpetuity, but also the mfal- Uhility of the Church , and, tacking the latter notion to Scrip- ture — and — tradition theory, they pleasantly enough persuade themselves, first, that the llule of Faith is Scripture and Tra- dition ; secondly, that the Saviour has appointed an infallible judge and interpreter of the rule ; thirdly, that this preroga- tive is vested in the Church ; and fourthly, that by " the ..f ii4 SCIIIPTURE AND TRADITION . verilj, all th.s is a myth, a shadowy fable; for thoi-e is not o«e word about it i,. Uod'„ book. And then furthor .1:.:: rChurfhT Tf ™':^ " ''''"''' " ""^" "" *^ ■»-'«=- of ttte thurch ? If so, they are all infallible, aecording to the a ove-noted uU.pretion. But if not, who are includ,^ ■ The Clergy or „nly the Bishops ? In either case, are they 'separ! ^0 ly ,nfalhble, or only when they meet together in Cound ? luust the Pope be personally present ? Tn ih,. ; , i between Councils, is the infalit^ vcsL in' i,nt a 7:: i^ mpnf wi . ^^'^' '" ^^°^*' un<^er the arranL'e- ment, whatever it may be i*^ n rh,.i.r 4. . ^ii^u^l- auin^lliblee.^^^^^^^^^^^^ TeetZ : ; a "r;! '"""•'^' ' ^^'>- 'bo^o questions have mo fX Ti,':'"'?™^ ^"™S''"' Oi-u-ss the subject r um df „ ' *"";. ''' r''^ "'"■' " Search the Scriptures " Spirit "Llr'^'■ ""^ ""S'^' •™'' g™» of 'be Holy Mr ' ^r ? ' ■" " ^""^ P^^»'""^«'l i" bis own mind " M,. JIatunn remarks that the prin,itive Christian, nit have understood Apostolic teachin.., and formed to — ngly tbose opinions ije be'ef p"!:^ "^Z tne Kule of Fa.th. I doubt not that the servants of the Apr.:s":n T T """"'"'■"'' '"^ — .nt. o/tt Apostles, and that there was a common thcolo.,y in the Chnrch chtch autii ; '„:':: "r™' ri ^"T^' '^ f..^,„ +u ^Jt^Cciuso bods people have derived it KAllLY CHRISTIAN AUTlIOllS QUOTE SCIIII'TUHK. 25 •ver first by ssors. But lere is not T, there are can be al- lembers of ing to the ded? The hej separ- Council ? ible body ? intervals and under dinals, or e arrange- vho wants direction ;ions have e subject 'iptures " 'he Holy 1 mind." ms must opinions by the I portion s of the of the Church, present ited by ■ivcd it ke guid- ^e have do we not also need, on this theory, an authoritative explanation of the Tradition — and then again, an explanation of the explana- tion — and so on, axl infinitum ? The primitive Christians, Mr. Maturin wishes us to believe, did not regard the Scriptures with the reverence which ive yield to them, but hold the unwritten Traditions in equal honor. The Bible was not the only llule of Faith, he affirms, in those times. He even ventures to assert that the Protestant doc- trine on that subject was unknown for 1500 years. I must content myself with a simple denial of the fact asserted, no proof of it being given ; and I presume that my affirmation is entitled to as much credit as Mr. Maturin's. I add to the denial the statement of a singidar fact, viz. : — that scanty as are the works of Christian authors during the first three cen- turies, the whole of the New Testament might be recovered from them, should any marvellous accident deprive us of all ]n-inted and manuscript copies of the book. This does not look like want of respect for Scripture.* * The following interesting anccdoto was ooinniunicn.te™ f'.und it; ,0 that any per..,n ..1°. ™ "'"'' """• "I"™ I ^avo »c.nany discovered therto :Z;ie':r "; T "" """■"'"■'• ' I'"- seve.. or elere,, verse,, (I t -It ,rhfoh>'r- ,'■'''"" •"'""«'' "°-=P' Oiseover tl,e„. also. N„„ : ^^ ," , * ""' '"««''»""' 'Lai I couM cealed.orhid the treasure' of hi lid tlLT,' ""', '" "'"'* «'"' ~"- and other e..emies of Christ .vho wi I , . '"' " "''""""^ ^^raperor, »or,d, ..ever w„„,d hat t. L^l ; Id" C:':,""" ?"""■' '■™" '""•' ;vo..id have eireeted their destr^ctior,;. "- « ."f ., '°', "'"• 1"°' ""■" '-a*. tfe, IMlOTESTAiNT AND CATHOLIC WOllSIIll* CONTllASTKI). 27 Lichiirist " — urch to the Ir. Maturin iimcnt, but i*al iiistruc- hen, What liave ike 7 historical doctrine of ine of the arc mine). Jitl all un- to restrai)! is made. ■e Church eh in the a nearer 1 the pro- imagine t it is so, d, to au- "! I had all I em tliiit r 'f'lJg to a, tlit'se two the Now re I have • I have s, except I could God cori- Etnperor, rom the ;y never n Cam p. thority, and renounced the right of judging for himself, he hazards an assertion which neither he nor any other man can substantiate. There is another view of the subject, which ought not to bo overlooked. I refer to its religious aspect, and the argument founded on it. By one class of professing Christians the Word of God is held in little honour. They are not taught to search it for themselves, and make use of it for their personal comfort and growth in religion. They are attached to d system under which they are trained to expect everything from their spirit- ual advisers, and to connect peace and safety with the diligent performance of services prescribed by those advisers, in ac- cordance with the traditions of their Church. We see in another class the adoption of a different course. They love the Bible, amd constantly ijead it, with prayer for the enlightening, sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. The church to which they belong recognises the Bible only as the rule of faith and practice. Tradition is repudiated. Will-worship is unknown. The religious services of the first Church arc splendid and and imposing. The gorgeous vestments of the priests, the exrpiisitely adapted music, the paintings, the powerful appeals to the senses and the imagination — even the frerjuent changes of posture — all combine to make a deep impression. There is nothing of the kind in the other Church. There is simple, earnest nraycr — appropriate singing — reading of the Scriptures — preaching of the Gospel. The one is the religion of priests ; the other, of the people. The first holds with Scripture — and — tradition ; that is, ninc- tenths tradition — one-tenth, or a fraction of it, Scripture. The second looks to Scripture only. Which of these Churches is most like a Church of Christ ? In which of them is the ideal of Christianity most clearly and fully exemplilicd. In which in there the largest amount of -\S f»<-"iai''ruj{K a>:d mADrnos. I r ! [t. « «-»r].l t,, that M^^^'-.H..^s^w;~r:: ;'5r' ;;, '^r vine ongni and authoritv nf ^ • . , . "^^'P^"^^- -I'lo di- a- such co„ee«i„„ .l,ou « p,te^ t ' 7'""' '^ «™"'"''" ture, it iinist nf .w..^ -^ i 'lurnoiity ot herip- ,7 i^^ciiptare were iiitrodufPf^ tv ,i *«, it is i,„po..,ible ,„ ,„.„ve the, o be A / r^ "'" '"" vine, aiul if thov .„■„ ,,„. A , Apostolic and di- no business J^[ Z^^ "'' '"" ''''""' "'» ^"■•-■' '>a» ble, and the eo ' „ 0^0; 0, T""' "'"^ ''" '''=''■"»'' l''™»i- -.J as such they arc to be ." L d n" , T "''™'""'»' the eon.so.iuenee, fh-,t mLT , ' "™ '^ ""^ f^"' "f astaten,e t. I i ,: L';"'"'"*;,' *" '""«- "PO" suel. eon.„p,i„n, of the C f ^ "'' "?" t'. '^^ '^«"'""S »" the '-Have no. been 'tX"Trtrr:^7;;r""'- appears more elearly than ever P,„/ '"Ihhnent into aeeount as welf „«;;„;. ! "";:'■ " '" '" '"^^" a state of dee sio„ J,7 T ? ^'"'■'' ''"»-*lf foretold ^^ee Mat. «i v 0- '•- i " ^'"":: "!,-;"-«% I-Jieted it .- '■' ' • -IV'— 1_( Acts Yv ''„„.o lawof tl.o,oexo,.ei«c.,y„„ viil«,„l „„, r,. tl.cm. (JM Carcu, c. 4.) Tc-.ullia., .Ii.d „b„„t ,h„ ^,„, .vc. It wns n„t.„.,„u» th.t there was a g,-,,., denaduro Jrom pniiilt.ve siiiiplic-ilv anil nruitv Tl .. '''•'"""' general olwi-rvanee stood inste-,,! nf « ■ . ™"»'"-al oi were „ul,ll^, and 'avenly iiicenl; )iinded a pre- drift- et, all 4 through the period now noticed the most prorouiid regard lor Scripture was prort'sct'd ; and none of tiie writers of the first t()ur centuries would have spoken of it as sonie Koinanist authors have ventured to do in the nineteenth. The novelties ol Homo wore not then in being. It may lie ol)served in tiic next place, that the theory now utid(!r discussion is altogether nnsafisfnrlory in its oi)eration. It fails to give (piietness and certainty. Jlero and there a poor creature may bo found, too idle to use his intellect, yet anxious to still the upbraidings of his conscience, who allows himselfto bo soothed into repose by this sjjiritual magnetism, and then congratulates himself on having found a religion which saves him the trouble of thinking ; but a reliecting iii- ({uirer after truth cannot be so easily satistied. lie is bidden to hear the Church, and submissively to be- lieve and obev. He is williii"- to huml)le himself to any rcas- enable extent; and he would refrain from reflection, if he could, lie cannot. His mind yearns for light and evidence. Can that be wrong ? Ought he not to be furnished with such, proof as will remove every doubt, and convince him that the claim on his mental subjection is righteous, necessary, and toemino; with advantas-e ? The proof is not supplied. Uncertaiiity stares him in the face in every direction. On the one hand, he is assured that the Church, tlu> divinely-appointed depositary of Christian truth, is one and unchanged, and that, committed at first to the charge of the A[)ostle Peter, she has been presided over by his successors, in an unbroken line, till the present day ; so that he may be said to receive the truth from Peter's own hands. But history, should he venture to look into its j»ages, tells ;i. diflf'erent tale. It shows him the Bishop of Home, meek as a lamb in the first aijes, chan\. - ":: " , i"r~' ""■'"« "- »i>oio wi,i, ti„. .1,,. L ■ "..wluc-hhas l,a..„,l,„H ,«pro«,l by ArchlMshop AVl,„„.|v ttttan, to h„ op,«,.„p„| offieo) an.l ™ on, without o,„l Tl poisonous tiihit of iiitbniiilltv ic ;. "^ cno. iho >vill , 1 ., y '"'"""''"'J. It 't once ei-eop in undctoftcii :i::K,frt"'-;,:^^-'";"'''f-n.ij:i -u..wn,.,u.t.n,p::;::;::-;:;:-:-~ Ages, 1,0 such taint was ever introduce.l -^ T. , -H,,.,,oon.,o,,o.e,u.j:s:;;?;;;:r:r^^ • i;;l: ;:r '::::t''"*'''™"'^'«'-"■--- tHo.oa,e,,,we«n.,«o.«!,o:i:;:i::;sr:^^^^^^^^ foun. ,.„„,.,,ueo, and p,.„fli,.a.y of life, of u.any of th j " c c, ,1 of U.shops consoc-ratoil when more cliil.l,.,.,, • -0 ...ono. c.a.tin.,vhoba,.ol, know thei.. Jotto. .l! '^ ; tiio Apost e eniniiK 7f : ,. : • .. -^ "uitii -.H^t .li ...is confusion and j^:;;^:, It:;:.;;^ ;■":*' was, .„ every instance, st,.i,.t,y adL.-cI to, b^ Z „ "' .J I'OI'KS (IINTUADKT KACII (ITIIKII. 88 ion of tlu! oetriiie ol' » osHoiitinl fio coiiclu. Whiitely ^Icr in all eh to rcr- H ]Ji.slioj) I'oviously, thc! mill- ii'ordin.i- '1 '».y liim kI. Tlu; •letoctc'il, 1 ii'i'oiiio- I'oiiouueo 10 Dark i OS could uiraclc ; ive oven (loctrino , durinir he pro- clergy, iiio and ildreii ; of pre- rice ; — •ds, i>d- r every which 2 even , that, s form ny of Ihem openly prollmo and secular, unrestrained hy publit? opin- ion, thri)iip;li thc gross ignorance of the po[)ulatioi. among whieii they lived ; and that no one, not duly consecrated or ordained, was admitted to sacred offices." * And with regard to thc Council of Trent, to which rcferenco has buon nuide, history unfolds to the in([uirer such a scene of base intrigue and trickery, that he involuntarily exclaiais — " Can this be the fountain of truth ? Is it possible that tho decisions of such an assembly can rightfully claim the sanction of heaven ?" That Council enjoined thc reception and use of the Latin A''ulgate. It was denominated thc " authentic " edition of the Scriptures, Our inquirer is acfjuaintcd with the Ijatin language, and he devoutly sits down to the perusal, lie notes on the title-page the names of two Popes, t^ixtus V. and Clem- ent VIII. Curiosity leads him to ac(piaint himself with the literary history connected with thc publication of those names. He tinds that an edition of the Vulgate was issued under the auspices of Sixtus V., in 151)0 ; that the Pope professed to have ta-.cn great pains with it, having corrected many of the proof-sheets with his own hand ; and that in his Bull, accom- panying tho publication, he announced and proclaimed its cor- rectness, recjuiring all persons to receive it, on pain of anath- ema. I'ursuing his investigations, the in(|uirer discovers that Sixtus's edition swarmed with errors, and that in 15'.)2 Clem- ent V^in. caused another edition to be published, in which those errors were corrected, and his Bull declared that edition to be the only true and faithful one. Is it wondcirful that sore perplexity follows these discoveries ? If the infallible Sixtus was right, Avhy did Clement correct him ? If Clement was riglit, what becomes of tiie infallibility of Sixtus? According to Mr. Maturin, the successive decisions of Coun- * Edsuys on tho Kingdoiu of Christ, pp. '_'lT-'21t). 84 SCllII'TniK AM) TUADITION. p » c,ls r,.sp,vt„,.. ,|„e,n„.., w„r,sl,i|, ,„■ dis.-ipii,,,., ,li,l „„, i„,i„„„„ ll|.'.tt.„|,o,„t,,l«.i,l,»l„„w.ro then first hrou^rKt |,efi„.„ „„. Iliurc-h, Imt only (lu,t t|„.y were from time to time ,l,.Hne,l '""■■0 elearly, in o,-,lef that new h,a-e,ie.s mi-ht he h,.tter Kna,-,le.I against, lie w,a,Kl have n, helieve that when the (-ounetl ot Morenee, A. I). 14:i!., -Jefine,! the I'ope's snnren,- acy, seven »ae,-am,.r,ts, pnrjralory, eanon of Senpture, and other ,l„etr,ne.s," those doetrines had he™ i„ the Chureh from he hegnnnnj;, and wore then more ,U>fi„itely expressed than they had been before, on aeeount of various opposing opinions hat had nsen up. He tnalce., the satne re.nark re.speeting the Counetlot N,ee, A. 1). 32.5, which "defined the divinity of our Wd;" the seeond Couneil of Nice, A. ]). 787, whieh defined tho proper honor due to holy itnagos ;" and the ourth Uune, of Latcran, A. D. 1215, which "defined the doctrnje of the Kucharist," and " enforced the practice of auncnlar confession." These being deemed General Councils, he,r authority ,s binding; and all they did, if Mr. Maturin is be credited, was to e.nploy new expressions for the c-rplana- ion of old truths, " without any cl.ange in the doctrine held by the C lurch from the begi ng." And so we are actually told, m defiance of m history, that the .seven sacraments, pur- giitory, the adoration of images, to whicli may be added com- munioi, ,11 one kind, as finally enacted by the Council of Tront have been " hel.l by the Church from the begiimi,,.-.- These things mast be extremely puzzling to the honest scLlier after _ I pass on to u fi>urth observation. It is thi.-that subniis- sion to the rule h.id down by Mr. Maturin involves a state of Intel ectual degradation to which no man ought to subnut. God hnnself does not re.juire it of hin.. It is not the condi- .on on wlueh he has given the J^ible to n>an. True, it is the du y all men to believe Cod. True again-there are many iaets, .sates of existence, prineiples-eall then, what you will -which cannot be cuinprchended. It is useless to speculate HKXKHTS OF KX.V.MIMN*! SCHll'TLUK. af) and upon thorn. All wo know is that they are. Tho natnral at- trihiitoH of (lod-rovoalcd diMtinetionH in Doity— and othor topi(\s, may lie nickonod anjong them. Yet tsven these uro not coldly pi-oj.ounded, in the fewest possihU; words— in creed- .stylo — to b(! arranged among articUis of l)elit;t, and then to ho let alone, (lod does not say, "Believe this — believe that" — and leave us there, lie presents to us the great and glorious, yea, the incompreliensible truths relating to himself, his provi- dence, and his grace— not in stiff, repulsive forms — hut enrobed in beauty— etnblazoned in splendour — interwoven with our d('ar(!st intm-ests and our hopes — and thus inviting in(iuiry and thou'dit, and eonnnanding admiration. He even condescends, sometimes, to reason witii his creatures, and to convince them, not by mere assertion, but by irreiragable i)roof, of the wisdom mid righteousness of his ways. Whatever navy be understood is set before us, that wo may investigate, compare, believe and adore. And though, as I said, some truths and facts elude our grasp, and essences and modes are unknown, there is a wide field open to exploration. What the doctrines of tho ]Jible are — what their individual and relative importance — what their nnitual connections — what their practical bcj'.rings, can only be ascertained by repeated examination. That ex- tvmination is at once the duty and the privilege of every chris- tian. It is an exercise productive of tho highest enjoyment. How beautifully does the Tsalmist write !—" Tho law of tho Jiord is perfect, converting the soul ; the testimony of tho Lord is sure, making wise the sim])lo. Tho statutes of tho Lord are ritdit, reioicino- the heart ; the conntiandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is dean, enduring for over : the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 31 ore to bo desired are they than gold, yea, than nuich fine gold ; sweeter also than honey and tho honey-comb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned ; and in keeping of them there is great reward." — Psalm 19, 7-11. Here, the (.'hurch of Home intei-poses. There are dangers, • 1.1 SCllU'TUKK AND TltADITIO.V. '■^1 «lie wishes her chiMren to believe, of which thev eve not aware 1 boy must not venture to exercise their own iudrnnent. The ^loetnnes to be believed and the services to "be Vendei^d are exactly d.tined, and may bo met with in her own .Manual. ihcre 1. htrle or no occasion to read the Bible: and if rhev do (havmg obtained the consent of the priest), thev nui^t mt venture to nnerpret, except under certain limitations, and they must bear in n.ind that the Bible itself contains onlv part of he truth. The ren.aindcr is in the Church's keepin,-not to he exannncd. but received. Ought a Christian freenmn to submit to this ? The- follv of the proceeding is strikingly se-n when the Church conn,„,s ,, scientific blunder. She had given her -.d- l.es.on, ages .go, to the Ptolemaic system of a.stronon,v, ac cording ,„ >W„ch the, Sun and the other heavenlv bodfes go round , e j. ,, ,,,;,,, .^^,, ^^.„,_ .,^^ .^^^^^^^-^^ ^^^^^ teaches the Coi,ern,can. du,t is, the true doctrine, that the ^arth tnoves round the . . Is ,t not abon»nable cruelty > And do we not pitv ro„, our hearts the learned Jesuits who published an edi'.io of.T Isaac .Newton s works, a„d found it nece^sarv to an,,e„d a note, s,at,ng with reference to the wCl known -decisi;, Z W „i , ,3 Ptolenade astronomy, that thev subn.i.ted , « hole to the jndgnnent of the f 'hurch ■.• Th.; ,,,,,, that Xew '"" «-as r,gl„. li,., „,, ,,„„.,,, ^,„, ,„,,j^, „; ; 5CRIPTCUE-AND-TRADITI0N THEORY I. .PRACTICABLE. not aware, nts. The •lered are 3Ianua].s. il if thev must not , and they ^" part of [ — not to eeuian to vhen the her ad- oniv, ae- odies go Galileo that the wn axis, :'elieving 1 i.s the east to entre of mpelled need to 1 issued :he In- once a 'pleable ot pity edition iipjiend >ion in 'd the New- fbr as- tronomical discoveries. The Church is one and unchangeal)le. Scientific truth must yield to exploded theory, because the Church wills it. How is it that men possessing any manJiuess "will bow under such a yoke ? I will briefly observe, in the fiftli place, that the Scripture- and-Tradition theory is impracticable. It cannot be suc- cessfully worked out. How is it to be proved that the Church of Home is the one, only, Apostolic Church, whose behests all Christians are to obey ? Is the Roman Catholic to take this, too, on the Church's own assertion ? Is he to be reduced to this pitiabk condition, that when asked why he believes that Ims Cimrch is the only true one, all the answer he has to give is, " Tiie Church herself has told me so ?" Or, suppose the case of an intjuirer, such as Mr. Maturin represents himself to have been for many years. He is desirous of knowing which is the true Church, and he applies himself to an examination of the evidence. What rights has he, according to Home? 3Iay he analyze, and compare, test quotations, weigh arguments, hold himself in readiness to follow the leadings of truth, whi- thersoever she may iruide him ? No such thiuL'. He has nothing to do but to believe. Where, then, was the need of examination ? What is that man's submission worth ? And is not Home, in demanding it, putting herself in the place of God, and requiring a surrender which no man or body of men has power to exact ? But Mr. Maturin says that " there is a wide diiference be- tween the exercise o^ personal resiMjnsihUitij and private judg- 7nent, though they are often confounded together," and that " Catholics strongly hold the one, while they utterly deny the other." He then goes on to state that it is " the duty of every individual " to " examine the grounds of his faith and the evidences of religion, with the sincere desire of joining that Church which he believes in his conscience to have the strong- est claims to divine authority." So far good. But he adds, th.it ill conducting \\\r oxaininatinn '• private judgment " must 38 nn I SCmPTURE AND TRADITION. bo cast aadc : the m.™ must not "ibm l.fe religious opimo.g ft 2 1^- own private interpretation of the moving oT H y hoCUu,^.h,- Aec„r,li„gton,y .-private interpretation -^ of th..s passage, the religious i„<,„irer is in a very si., X po irue uiiuch. How IS he to act? Ho immt » n^o • ., grounds of his faith and the evidences of ^t-on'sar Mr'' Maturn, hut he n,ust not judge for himselfAe n>u7!. ^ nut to the author ty of tho Chumh " i, \ How clear the Iff ' ' ' ^^''""'■"W" ■ule .' and ",riv. f "" '"*"■'•■'"' "r^™""! vesponsibility" ana private judgment !" ^ ^^'mj/ But i„,praeticability appears on tho very lace of tho thi„. Tl.at ,n,,u,rer cannot help exercising his j,nl.,„c„t iii,. f wrong, he must third; ni« vo.„ . T ■ ' = ^"'- ■•*'#'■ "' 1"» iud..„,nt hi ^ ™l>n..ss,on nuist be a„ .act of son, iv" • ", ""V-™*" J»Ign,e„t-„nloss, indeed, by oC fl,„ * "''' ''"'''• 'P *''»"' it l)clo,i.rs to iudo-P the unaZous'rrrtlltir '""" "-"-^ *» prcfr.':::;:S;::;::,*''™'.°^''^-'>''"-' "o„,ustintcr- i strange I ° t ^"""V'r'" °' ""-' '^"--" " measure tho ^:,J^t2^: f\ *"" " '» the cloth by the vard A , ' '""'"' "' ">"»«»™S labor of cJn h,,,"^ ^ ,|,f 'h "',""""'"« "' "'^ ""'»-»"« consent ?" I Z^t ,1 ' i TV "''" " ""'^ """""""o- every umvctsity, and almost igion. every man, Lath a sundry diviu- ROMANISM LEADS TO INFIDELITY. 39 ! opinioTig of Holy hority of tion" of ;ular 230- mo is the nine the ays Mr. 't "sub- 'ievc the n order lo rule .'• ibility " • tiling., ight or 1 act of '0(1, by liimsolf :an be, I also uothcr judge s; nor ing to inter- iors." is to urinir ers, of tlie ^-^/cnrrenCThe " taes concern ,g Apostolical usages and institutions Ad girded at best ,n an n.tern.cdiate state between Christianity infideu;; v^:t:m2. TTr" <""''^" ^"■'"•"^ ^"°''''> thPvo ".'^^o/^iwit doubts the most sincerely pious if uav, sougiit It from such instructors " * It may be objected, that the herculean toil of cxaminin,. the Fathers ,.s not required of every one, and that the w I ^ been done by competent men, who have thus ascerta n d iZ . "^^ "' ",'° «'--b. We ask, .ken, and 1 ' tW 7' ■' '"'•""""' "' ""^ <^''"-'' ^ Where is t^^ aui thomed commentary „„ the Scriptures, comprising the xp" -ttons declaratory of the " unanimous cons „tr° K„„"ht Td?: "fn't ^'^"^■— "■ «c,vonth.attet;w we o'rS^ il^r h"' -mined-that the quotation. ^ "ij teivui— that their meaning was correctlv i^r-or tamed and clearly and fully reportcdland that ^^ri" tlv nn erstoo to explanation. Biflieultics n.ultiply It t y' 'cp. It s utterly unpossible, in the manner prescribed bv IWand those who follow Hon.e's example, 'to a",! a Arohbi,shop AVhatcly, as above, pp. 100-171. NVANT OF UNITY IN THE R. C. CIIllRCII. 41 kiiowlodgo of the will of God Irom his word ; and it is cqucally impossible to obtiiin a definite and complete understanding of utterances of tradition. The inquirer finds himself at .sea, without compass or rudder, and the rocks of infidelity close at hand. This leads me to a sixth observation. The Scripturc- and-Tradition theory has been on its trial for ages, and has signally failed. The infallible Church has had a family of most um-uly children. Professing, all of them, to obey their mother's voice, to think as she bids them think, and to do her will in all things, they have proved provokingly rebellious. Thomas Aquinas, the " Angelic Doctor," agreed with Augus- tine, maintaining, generally, the doctrines now called Calvinis- tic ; Duns Scotus, the " Subtle Doctor," was a semi-Pelagian ; Dominicans and Franciscans, the Realists and Nominalists, Jesuits and Janscnists, ranged themselves on opposite sides in various matters of controversy. Even Popes, in spite of their infallil-.ility, have sometimes uttered strange things. Libcrius (died A, D. 360) subscribed an Arian creed, and consented to the condenmation of the great Athanasius. ITonorius (died A. D. 6IJS) expressed his approbation of Monothelitism, and was condennie*^ by several Councils. John XXIII., besides his enormous crimes, denied the innnortality of the soul. < Hher instances of unsoundness in the faith might bo cited. Where now is the boasted unity of the Church ? Once more. What is the natural tendency of the system under consideration ? It is to make " the word of God of none effect." The Jews had a similar invention. All thin<>-s, they said, had not been written. Moses had spoken as well as written, and his sayings were to be kept as well as his re- corded injunctions. The " traditions of the elders " wero more numerous by far than the IMosaic precepts, and much more burdensome. What was their cflfect on the Jewish mind? They superceded God\s v/oid. Depraved man ever prefers his own work, and presumes to think that he can even 42 SCIUI'TUllE AND TllAWTIO.V. ¥!) i {%' f5- ■".prove divine eonnnanj,, or .up,,Iy ,|,eir acfieicncio,,, Tf,c„. ^nZZr '•'""'"?• "" '"■™'"' •'■'™'^ out, .he divine.' Christian history presents similar result.,. The evil bcmn to appear at an early jK'riod. Wc moct witi, ■„■. .1. (.Ml . ... jvti.j.i, '* i^ meet With It in the n:mp*j :* ;■ »■""■■■""""•!'"'—•«• invention wa. ^ •it work, .b ornis, corcinonios •> ■ ■ ' • „.,. • , "^ t ; ,"'■"'"' "'"' "" ■•••■ -J •"•tn.dition; some „ f h .n tac. y adnnttd by the Chureh, others peren.p orily „ J ned ; ttll the con,plicated ritual beenn.e as unlik the si - pie servce of prnnitive Christians. a,s the ponderous, nnin I and attu d its most sacred exercises. On what are the woi- hippers intent ? To what is the most devout regard givin ? fa t that from the u,se of the holy water at the entrance t^ institntinn • .,„ 1 *i *'*' '*• •'o"'' '» 0* hfmaii institution , und the most exact compliance with rule in evorv mmute particular, is essential to val iilv The ,b !' r • 7 Koman a.th„,io is directed and governed in I kc ^ ",: .s controlled by the precepts of the Church. She bi J; h m down to strict obedience to the very least of tliem Zt Tft: toTr"^. '"' .^'^"■'""" ^'««-- •'^ «~ exactions Shh° T"'*" "'*''"'""'^" <"• ^^'i"^" '» ''or exactions fehe has - made the word of (Jod of none ellect through her tradition." '''''■ And how carefully does she guard that '• tradition '" TTo„ - i-.iicn. It la nimiilcst Iroiu experience," TRADITION \ HUSL'S SCUIPTUUE. 43 bcgari Hiip the i'ourlli rule of the " Coiigre-,nitIon of the IirIox," pub- ILshca ill 15G4, '^ that it' tlio Holy Bible, translated into tho vulgar tongue, be indiscriminately allowed to every one, the temerity of men will cause more evil than good to arise from it." Dr. Wiseman tells the people that this reading of tho Scriptures leads men astray. Archbishop M'Halo talks about " the poison of the Scripture Lessons," and assures Lord John llussell that he will preserve the children under his care from it. The " Catholic i]ishops, the Vicars Apostolic and their coadjutors in Britain " issue a " Declaration," in which they affirm that " the unauthorized reading and circulation of the Scri[)ture.«, and tho interpretation of them by private judg- ment, are calculated to lead men to amtradktory doctrines on thep'imary articles of Christian belief; to inconsistent forma of worship, which cannot all be constituent parts of the uniform and sublime system of Christianity ; to error arid janaticisvi ill relifjion, and to seditions and the (greatest disorders in states and Jdmjdoms /" This policy is uniformly observed. If Scripture be allowed, tradition will foil ; therefore, discoun- tenance Scripture, that tradition may be uppermost. So, after all— it is not Scripture-a?w/-tradition, but tradition versus Scripture ; and tho Church, which assumes authority to an* nouncc the divine rule to Christians, while she declares that the rule consists of Scripture and tradition, and that both arc to be received "with equal piety and veneration," always contrives, in practice, to disparage the former and to exalt the latter. The perusal of the Bible is fettered by irksome con- ditions; but there is no restraint on an acfjuaintance with Church laws and ordinances. The Church " makes the word of God of none elfect," and " teaches for doctrines the com- niandments of men." I must go further. BL-. Maturin thinks he can identily Protestantism with inlidelity. Thus he speaks : — " The inevit- able tendency of Protestant principles, both in theory and practice, must always be to Socinianism and infidelity.*' * 44 SCim'TUIlli AKU TUADITION. *i There .» no rod altornativo hctwcon the pn««>* of »«. ,;?'"'.' 'n'- ™'';"'' "'"""' ''^ "^ '"^'"^'^ »o»Jomncd. If "., we .should expect to fi,Kl that Socinian, or Unitariar, port on there arc not more than two hundred eongrLtions .t , e,n exeeedin.,, .,..„. ..he strength of L V.^! um .s n, the Un.ted States. I„ that country, the Protestant ,.opuhU,,™an,ounted, by the ,a.t census, ta^en in l,;;t •^^'-i-i,-/ 1 persons : of f,h(^«r> 1 'i7 v^k? , , ' "^ t'"^^'- i^<,'ju7 nre reported as TTnif. 8::;u^'t'r-''"'-'.r;'™'="'""^ "^-- ''-^« « '"*« - wo n '"»"''''''" t«'"lo»cy." The study of statistics would be very benefleial to careless writers clearly beloved in cLt." sl^^ Wi iat r:Xf:t; uc naa in every laiKniatvo nn,^ +iiof f ,, , . -^ ""oi^i'*!:,^, ana that ot every man For T thought tnat no n,an hud been so blind to ask why li-dU honh bo shewed to the.n .n„. ,valk in darkness, wl../th:y c , ' I ut stumble, and where to stun.ble is the danger ot' " ;;..™|.on; other H so despiteful that he wo'uld eu^y J "^.n (I speak not h,s brother) so necessary a, bin.- or so l.edla„Mnad to aflirn, thai good is the natur,^ cause oVov 11 j-,iuuuaea ni trutli and veritv • -uid nnf ,..,+i . ♦1 i. I- 1 . i '^'^i'j J 'iiKi not rather clean conti-irv uotl>„,g. feo the sturdy old Protestant argued n-ainst the I.„,„a„,»ts of those time., who would keep th'e S r pt re f^e people, under the pretence that injurious eonS::: * Doctrinal Treatises, as above, p. 7. FllKNCII REVOLUTION CAUSED BY ROMANISM. 45 CCS ^voul'.l follow their general dissemination. We may accept his verdict, although expressed in homely language, and de- clare that man " Bedlam mad " who teaches that l*rotestant- isri, the religion of " the Bible, the Bible only," tends to in- fidelity. As well might he say that knowledge tends to ignor- ance, and freedom to slavery, and food to death. The asser- tion is as audacious as it is absurd, and totally destitute of foundation in fact. Mr. Maturin has read a great deal, but he is profoundly ig- norant on this subject, or he conceals his knowledge, because it controverts his theory. Has he read the history of Franco previous to the first llevolution ? If he has, he must have learned that the infidelity of the French philosophers was the natural growth of llomanism. They confounded it with Christianity— it was all the Christianity they knew, for Home kept the Bible from them, and they said, " Christianity is a fable." Thousands of the sons of the Church have come to the same conclusion. You may meet with them in all the cities of Europe, and of this Western Hemisphere, especially among the educated classes. They still maintain a nominal connection with the Church, and now and then, to save appear- ances, enter its temples (not a few, in Southern Europe, wear the robes of the priesthood) ; but they have long ago rejected its teachings, and they do not hesitate to avow the contempt with which they regard the entire system. They arc literally " without God." They have never studied his word : that formed no part of their training. They were taught from their childhood that Christianity was embodied in their Church, and nowhere else. As soon as they began to think they doubted— and then denied— and then despised. Scarcely had some of them reached manhood's prime, when they cast tiway their bonds, and threw themselves into the arms of infi- delity. I may be told, that unljelief is the fruit of man's depravity, that it is to be met with among all classes and persuasions, 46 SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. K 111 1 and that it is unfair to ascribe it solely or peculiarly to the in- fluence of Konuinisni. lJuoHcd, they flow irojn the same source, and constitute together one religion — with this peculiarity, that the unwritten must be carefully studied and practised, while to the written, small importance, if any, is attached. (Ian wo wonder that he pronounces the whole " a mockery, a delusion, and a snare,"— and prefers unbelief to faith on such terms ? Thus it is that infidels are manufactured by the thousand. There is groat truth in the saying of a friend of mine in Eng- land, who departed this lii'e not long ago, that " hifiddUy is Popery run to seed:' This is the true " inevitable tendency." Many cases might be produced, illustrating these observa- tions. The following narnitives arc selected, because I was personally acquainted with the parties. The late Dr. Cot(!, of the (Jrando Ligno Mission, Canada, was a. nafivo of Qnob(!c. IJis ancestors were among the Aca- dians who wore driven from Nova. Scotia in M^^U. Ifo was educated in llio Uoirian Catholic (!ollego, Montroal, and xxWv.v- wards studi«'.d medicine, lie prat^Msod succossiully as a phy- sician for several years, and was so much ■ 'spcctcd by the in- habitants of the County of L'Acadie, in which I e had settled, that he was chosen to represent that County in the Canadian Legislature. Having joined the patriot party, as it was called, he was com])roniised in the rebellions of 1837 and I808, and compelled lo flee to the United States, whore he tained under either species, so that as under the species of bread, are con- tained not only the body, but also the blood and Christ entire ; so, in like manner, under the species of wine are contained not only tho blood, but al;i() the body and Christ entire." * * * " The pastor will also inform the faithful, that Christ, wliole and entire, is contained not only under either species, but also in each particle of either species." — Catechism of thr. Ciiuuril of Trint. Trans] nt id intf> F.n'jUsh by the Krv. J. Donovan, I'rofesnor, ^c, Jioyal Culliye, Muymwlh, pp. 220, 227. Dublin, l«2t). •If 48 SCnil'TURK AND TIlADlTrON, l-r:^ rcmaino.! tlil Iho piihUcjition of an Jimncsty enahlod him to ro- tuni to his Tuitivo country. All that time ho was without relijxion. 'nmught up in Catholicism, in its most rij^^ifl forms, ho became disgusteil, even in early youth, with the sy.stem. The ntress laid on outward observances, the restrictions imposed on intellectual exercises, the want of a genuine spiritual clement, tho tyranny of the priesthood, repelled him from Komanism ; and as ho had been taught that llonianism was Christianity, he determined to re- nounce it. " He deplored the influence of tho clergy on his iellow-countrymen." says his biographer, «« and could not think that a religion, whose ministers keep their people in ig- norance, fcuperstition, and al)jcct misery, had emiinated from Cod. Tie conceived of religion as a noble system, destined to enlighten and elevate the people ; but he found just the re- verso in I'opery. Aud as a natural consequence of confound- ing tho religion of iho. Cosp(>l with that of the Pope, he was led to Fiilidcllty ; hoping to find in J)eism the light he was seeking, to enable him to worship and serve Cod aright. De- jsirous of being enlightened on the subject of religion"^ he com- meneed a correspondence with distinguished Deists, and road their works ; by whicli almost fatal step he was more and more confirmed in their pernicious errors." During his exile ho fell into a state of great mentd dis- tress. Infidelity gave him no relief, no hope. Attending some religious meetings in the place where he resided, he was much struck with the indications of peace and happiness which appeared among the Christian people who met together there. This led him to adopt a course which was ultimately blessed to his soul. " His mental sufFerings now became intolerable, and convinced that his system of philosophy had deceived him, he resolved to read the Diblc, of which, alas ! he was almost totally ignorant. This he did in order to study our religion at its very fountain, the teachings of Jesus Christ and^'his Apostles. Although he ron.l tho JJiblo with great prejudice. nauhatim: ok iu;v. \v. ii. dkniiam. 49 yet ho was Htnu-k with tlio divine mujcsty whicii is cnthroiiod on its i»u^'fs, and with the beauty of its instruction. Alth()u;^h it spoke to liiiu with siij»roino uulliority, lie dis})uted with it ; he reasoned ; lu; compared it witli tlie works of Diiisls ; but this divine word, mi.i^htier than any human book, sharper tiian any two-edged sword, pierced ids heart ; his soul was aston- islied at its searching power, he groanisd at the siglit of him- Helf; violent doubts aroao in hi-s heart ; lie was overwhehiied with anguish and weeping. IIo experienced one of the most .subtle Mttacks of the natural unbelief of the human heart against the truth ; and the Wicked One, who did not remain inactive, tem[)t(.'d him violently to abandon every religious thought." At length his doubts and diflicultics were re- moved, lie l)eeanie a firm believer in the Gospel, and a !usion ? T was emphat- ically without Cod, without On-ist, without hope in the world ! What was I to do ? To read the Scriptures, I dared not. To meet his arguments, I could not. In this state of mind I remained, and settled down in infidelity.' " Dr. Cote w^as driven by Romanism into infidelity. Mr. Denham found the system ineai)able of preserving him from it. In both instances the word of God was the means of deliver- ance. The narrative of IVlr. Denham's life proceeds thus :— ''Mr. Denham, nevertheless, maintained his usual attend- ance on liomish Avorship. Having no religious principle, he was not prepared to make a stand for his new creed, or rather unbelief. In this state of mind he remained till the year 1830. The manner in Avhich a change of heart was effected he relates in the followinir manner o SAKUMIVE or r.EV. W. 11. DESIIAM. 51 intcrostcd in n.y welfare bogged n,o to no™,„pany lum to tho CKapol of whieh ho was ^ "^f-J^^lT " bIoW to to, ty of the discourse. I felt tl,at I had never p^.J-^l ::: I snLl wltU i,.wa.a eonte,npt when ^s P,1 c. to ^ ,5^ „„j i„b<,,ed, ary service, under the l.ap^ '^ ; ^fti,,,,, at Seraniporo, first in !"^"'?-, 7;^*^^ ^'' ^::.,. o„ his return to India, with distinguish d "^>=»'-^- i,,a liin. to stop at after a visit to l.igland .hen 1 i.e.. 1 ^. ^^ ^^^^^^^ Ccyhiii, wiiore « ^;" • ,^J. J ;„^ ,,„„,,„. „f the station missionary, and the i^^'^f}^''' ,,,„.,„ ,,t,„,,ti„n in his last (Point do (iaiie) ^':"^-^' ^:;^'::^:'^;^Z:, ^,. ^.^u. moments. The missionary sa» •- ^ "'^ .^,^,„i y, 1,0 conversed ireely 0,1 religious -f'^^J^ ^ „„^,,,„„ ,„ ,,„, reliance on the atonenient, and ' - ^ ^^ ^.„„, ,,,, the will of his Ikavenly i-ad.er. H..- n.imU 52 SCRirTURE AND TRADITIOI^- i joy and peace in believing. When I first visited hiin, I ques- tioned him on these subjects, and he replied, ' These things are not a question of to^lay or to-morrow with me ; it has been the gi-eat purpose of my life for many years to give my heart wholly to God, and now I have no new resolutions to form. I am His in life and death.' " * Educated in Komanism, Mr. Dcnham fell into infidelity. The despised Bible was the means of bis conversion. But it did not lead him back to Rome. I have now accomplished the purpose with which I under- took to reply to Mr. Maturiu's pamphlet. I have endeavored to show that his theory must be rejected, because it is opposed to Scripture ;— because it is a novelty ;— because of its unsatis- factory results ;— because of its degrading influence ;— because of its impracticability ;— because it has signally failed ;— and because of its tendencies and effects. Mr. iMaturin's production is very defective in point of order and arrangement. This occasions numerous repetitions, and gives an air of confusion to the whole, so that the reader feels much like a man in a fog, who wanders about eccentrically, and' not mifrcquently finds himself at the very place from which he had started some time before. It may be further observed, that the fallacy called petilio principii, or begging the cpicstion, is cxemplifi.ed in every part of the work. JMr, Maturin is continually taking for granted the very thing that is to be proved, and then arguing from it as if it were proved. Thus, in order to prove that Scripture and Tradition united constitute the divine rule of faith and practice, he brings for- ward the decree of the Council of Trent, and thou adds, " This is the public declaration of the Church in her last General Council." But the claims and authority of tlie so-called Church are the very points at Issue, and therefore the de- cree of the Council of Trcjit is perfectly valueless. It nmst * EaptLst Magazine, January IS J'J, y ^'2. SEW TIS'IAMEST CUUBCIIES. 53 il>,t 1,0 pvovod that the Church of Homo ,a "'« t™ ' ^^ "^f Ohuvch and then that the .aid Council was a lawful and i U a nbly of that Church. Mr. Hatnrin's attcnpt to evade the Tg L™,only brought against the Ho-n CathoUc a,^- ,l,t that it 18 " reasoning in a circle," entn-ely fads Thoo I circif is! »d he and hS friends arc whirling round .t, any thin., he may say to the contrary notwithstandnig. 1; h rvatio'n n,ay be made here on the na.nner n> w^eh the word "Church" is constantly -n-'o^ed by Mr. M^» • He uses it in a sense in which it was never r,sed by Isew ic» tan,c„t writers, nor for son.e time after *>- »P oi^* ^ A- ,l„s Theoretically, he seems to intend by the v oid the cnt (t'istian body, as at any one time existing, with power to c i". tc capao^y, by means of General Coune ;;HHou,i^indtationhasb.nm.oWni,^^^ :t't;:^c rictrir^i'c^:.. .ut nothing of tms U d'i t« found in the New Testament. There, we read f .L Ckunl.s^ the saints," -ry Chi st.an assem ly o- ..ituted in accordance with the Saviour's laws, bcnig a CI u h. 54 SCKIPlX'Ri! AND TIlADITtOS'. the Church of the City of Rome, ov the Christian congi-cgatioft there existing-— and nothing more. All beyond was foreign ground, on which other Cluirches might be gtationed, each of them independent of Rome and of one another, and each answering the purposes of the Christian institution, in diffus- ing the truth and promoting mutual edification. If Peter was Bishop or pastor of that Church, which cannot be proved, his jurisdiction extended only to the indi\iduiils composing it, as a particular society, aiid not to any other place ; and bis succes- sors could have no other rights and privileges than he himself enjoyed. Whatever special power or prerogative was granted to him by our Lord was altogether personal in its nature, and ceased at his death, if not before. As an Apostle, he had no successor. When, therefore, we speak of " the Church of Christ on earth," we mean thereby, if our language be in agreement with the New Testament, all Christians ; or we use the word in a ffeneral sense, including all Churches, each of them carry- in(^ into effect the designs of the Saviour, and thus, taivcn col- lectively, being regarded as the Church InstituU of Christian- ity. The oneness, or unity of the Church docs not consist in its being one visible body, but in the fiict of the agreement of all Christians in the fundamental points of faith, and in the uniformity of Christian character, produced by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But, as I have already observed, there ii* no provision in the New Testament for the action of the whole Christian body, as one Church. No powers are entrusted to such a supposed Church— no privileges given—no duties en- joined. How the separate and independent Churches of Apos- tolic times were at length developed into what is called the " Catholic Church," to the loss of their individuality and free- dom, it is the province of the ecclesiastical historian to un- fold. I have confined myself, in the preceding observations, to one intention to follow Mr. Maturin, step sii Libject. was my EARLY TIIADITIUN INSATISFACTOKV. 55 by step, nor to reply to every objection which he has udduccd ■against Protestuntism, or against any of its forms. I do not undertake to be the apologist of Luther, uor to defend the leaders of the English Reformation. AVhatever opinion may be formed respecting the conduct and policy of Hein-y YIII. or Elizabeth, the controversy between Protestants and Ro- man Catholics is not in the least aftected by it. Nor am I in the slightest degree interested in the discussion, as it regards meinbiTrs of the°Church of ]':ngland ; they will manage their own quarrel. My attention has been solely given to certain principles in Avhich Protestants, as such, generally agree. Much that has been advanced by Mv. Maturin has no bear- ing on the Denomination to which I have the honor to belong. Those who arc aggrieved will know how to defend themselves, if they feel incUned to do so. The position we have taken saves us from some of the thrusts to which others are exposed. We do not find diocesan episcopacy in the New Testament— nor inlunt baptism— nor confirmation— nor priestly absolution ; all these, with baptismal regeneration, which, in our opinion, lies at the root of the manifold evils with which Christendom is burdened, we have rejected. We repudiate all Church usages, as binding on Christians, which are not enjoined in the New Testament, or clearly sanctioned by its principles. What- ever can be fairly proved to have been the universal and con- tinued practice of Apostolic Churches, we think ought to bo followed now, without deviation ; but we cannot go beyond the Apostolic age and the inspired record, for corruption was at work before Christianity was a hundred years old. There is no safety (such is mir finding) in taking for patterns the Churches of even the second and third centuries. There was among them such a mingling of weakness, and superstition, and ignorance of the true method of Scripture interpretatioi and such a disposition to borrow adornments from other sys- tems, that if we conform ourselves to their modes of faith, wors^'r.p, and government, we shall find that we have un- 56 SCRtl'TUnE AND tUADIIlON. li ■onsclou^ly ad.nittod ,,rin.i|,los of vcvy ,kngc.ous tou.lcncy.* Our c„ilu.io„ is. that .ho Scriptures ana the bcr,,,.,n-c only, arc the rule of faith and practice, ^o one knows .vhet or the ipostles delivered any instn,etions to the Church s. e- l,ed to be of perpetual oldigation, which are not cn.bod.ed i;tho,r writings. The presumption is n. the ^f'^'^'J^ „rc warranted in the conviction that the Holy bpmt ^udul :.„ in writing, as ho did in speaking, so that Jl- ^™J- - ,uont constitutes a con,plete and suftcont hody of C t 1,,«- Not that exact provision was n.ade for al the mt,mUx of Jevvico-such as, wd.en, how often, or in what order we ludpray, sing, or road the Scriptures. That was no re- Sunder a Spiritual dispensation. There s no book ot lI iticus in the New Testament. The ou.bne .s drawn , yandboldiv; the tilling up is left ,o the d.scre u,n o he C lurches. AVo have ample directions for the const.tu k,u and general ixov m«.ent of the Chnvcbes, n. the precepts, p.c- ede^ts, andV.,„eiples of the holy book : and we wan no a^ dUional legislation, no.>pp".dix of rules '-l orders o, who o direct commands or c.an.ples tail us, the true Aj""^ -"-'! t'"'" ons coa,e to our aid. See 1 Cor. x. lil, x.v. 'ib, 40, xvu U , '^ Wreannot, dare not, go beyond the book. If we adopt other laws and rules than those which arc contan.cd ur the New Testan,ent, we as,s„n,e a power whic^; has not been con,- ,nitted to us, and which, in the hands of Ibnne, u,s orgcd 1 o chains of spiritual despotism ; and wc vu-.ually cha gc e lledeemer with having nu.de insufficient prov.s.on for the sc - vice of the Church. The Spirit being g.vcn to the Apostles to ..brin. all things to thoir renu-mbrance, whatsoever Chnst «d ^id rmto then," and to " gnide then, unto all nUh, tlrat ,.mie divine influence led them to comndt as much to wntu.g • Soe Isaac Ta;-lot's "Ancient Christianity,- an the Traotaiians have not attemptcJ to answer. aainirable work, which SUFFICIENCY OF THE NEW TESTA3IENT. 57 as would bo needful for the wants of the flhurchcs. We iind no difficulty in carrying on Church govcrmnent by this means. But wo arc convinced, that if wc should appeal to Christian anti(piity, on the supposition that Apostolic plans and usages had been handed down from the beginning, a. principle would be admitted which would lead us straight to Kome. For who can distinguish between the presumed Apostolic custom and the new invention ? The only way, therefore, to preserve our- selves from the condemnation prono\mced on those who " made the word of God of none effect," is to cleave to the great Pro- testant declaration—" The Bible, the Bible only." If it be maintaineJ that " the Church hath power to decree rites and ceremonies," we reply, firsl, that we want them not, for the ceremonial of the New Testament, simple as it is, is suf- ficient for us ; secondly, that in reference to worship, the man- ner, being indifferent, must not be im}toscd, and therefore no " decree " is needed, the Churches jiaving full lil)crty to adopt any proposed mode, or not, at their pleasure ; and thirdly, that we camiot concede such a rig] it to any Churcli or Churches, because of the consequences that would follow. Wc desire no alliance with Rome, Jior with any monibcr of her family. In the conclusion of his letter jMr. Maturin adverts, with great warmtii and ardour, to tlie "marks of the true Church." The Church of Home is " one— holy— cntholic— and apostolic," I cannot trespass on the patience of my readers by lengtliened animadversions on these " marks," and will only say, that every sentence Mr. iMaturin lias penned on this subject is capa- ble of full and satisfactory refutation, i'et on one point a word or two nuist !)e offered. Mr. i\Iaturin avers that " the Homan Church is holy — in the means of holiness and in' the fruits of holiness — in the tendency of her doctrines and the l>rofession of her members— by the sanctifying grace of the Holy Cliiost bestowed upon all Iier children, through the iie- strumentality of her divinely appointed sacraments." lie cautiously adds, that " wc ear not always judge of the sanctity 58 SCUIPTUllE AND TRADITION. of a Church by the lives of its members "-a very nee.llul, hut remarkable proviso iu the present ease a theugh .t har.lly snuares with the divine axiom, " By then- fru.ts ye shall know hem " I will charitably suppose that Mr. Maturm is senous, td'hat L has brought limself to believe that ^; the Cathol.e Church stands immeasurably high in this respect, m comparison with all others." But how has he read history t Perhaps he has not noticed the lamentations of Cardina 13aronius. I will transcribe them for his iiitoriiiatioii. J hat was then the face of the holy Boman Church ! How h thy when most vile and powerful prostitutes ruled at Komc ! by whose will dioceses were changed, bishops were consecrated, and-whieb. is inexpressibly horrible to be spoken and hcard- false popes, their paramours, were thrust into the chair ol bt Pctei who, in being numbered as Popes, serve no purj™ except to fill up the catalogues of the popes of Borne. Lor who can say that persons thrust into the popedom without huv, by harlots of this sort, were legitimate Popes of Koine ! Perhaps he has never read Marsilius of Padua, whoso "De- fi,uorPacis:' published in the sixteenth ceutm-y, was a won- derfully bold protest against the eorreptions of the times. H the present corrupt state of the church." says he, " the great ,„aiirity of the priests and bishops are but l.tt e, and if we may speak freely, .luite insufficiently experienced in the sacred Scriptures; because they hanker after the benefices to which anibltious, covetous aspirants, skilled in caiiomca law attau, by services vciidered, by petition, by money, or the aid of the secular power. I call God and the multitude of believers to witness, that I have seen and heard of very many pric.s and abbots, and some prelates, incapable even of Foachnig a ser- mou according to the rules of gvammar." He mentions the case of a young man, not yet twenty years el age, and abso- lutely ignorant of religion, consecrated a bistiop, without pas»- > * Ad Aim. 'J 12, § 12 § 8. Also, All Ann. 'JUO, § 1. ClIAUACTRU or I'Ol'ES, ETC. 59 > mcr thvoimh the infbiior gradoH of the ministry ; and ho says tkit the Topes had oCteii done this, "^vith a view to secure the favor of the powerful." * r.;rhaps the compU.itits and remonst ranees of NiehoL'is do Chmian-is have never met his eye. In his eehil.ratcd work, <^ Be ruina Ecrleslwr published iu 1401 , he draws a melan- choly picture of the state of religion at that time. He spc^aks of tiie " scandalous btirgaiuing away of benefices " iit Hemic ; of the luxury, pri.Ie, and worldly pomp of the Cardinals and of the iirnoranee of the priesthood, many of whom " could not even read," anIaii, partie.davly the latter, 'l-;'' « encon,i,..ns that have bee,, lavished on the.n. bat I la.nu t nen of snch talent and genins should have '-» "'--^ sbnckled by the restraints of the Ohurch, and subjected to tl e tjiradiugLllucecs inseparaUly co.n.eeted w,th s..h.n,ss,cn to '"'Trigret, too, tho fall of Mr. Maturin. He was at one i^ .icen,e,Taferveot, e>.e.-etie, evangelical pveachev of the Oos- nol What has he gained by the change .' ^ no as joi,.ed a Church which declares ta.at the " wr.t o, books" comprised in the Bible, the Apocrypha be.ng ,..c uded -ltd the "unwritten traditious,"-are to be reee.ved " w.th ecmal piety a..d veneration ;"-and asserts, contrary to the ev.- Ice'ofLtory, that the said traditions >-e _»■,'• ..ve- served in the Catholic Chuvch by continual succession , -thus poisoning .he strea.us of t,-.,th at the vevy source^ ' He hifs joined a Ch,.rch which will not allow h.„, to • .. , *• , . 1, i-.„.j-M +Ur» -Hrm-d n (xO(l. but mar ■k, leavTi, au'l inwardly aitrest" the word of God, but places insuperable obstacles in tbo way- — venuires him to i l|UU' INTOLKU.VNCE OF THE UOMAN rATUOLlC CllUUCn. 61 ', renounce the ri(;ht of juaging fi>r hin.self, and even the desire of ^ulgoeting tmtl. to dcmo..»tra.i.>"," and demands hl» unliositating assent to whatever the Churcli may teu.-h. He has joined a Chun* which denies justitieat .e,i l.y laith only-ineuleates the doctrine of human merit-mutdates one of the ordinances of Christ-teaches that the sacraments eon- fer grace, and that •' i.i them exists the power ot the Onnnpo- tent "-and in.pious'.j pretends to renew from ti.ne to tm,e .n " the saerilice of the u.ass," the " one oflering " hy wh.ch the Saviour has " perfected forever then that are sancfhed He has joined a Church which excludes h,«. from the tellow- ship of the learned and wise of other religious persuas.ons, forbidding him to read (unless hy special lieens.. «1>"=1' "'">' be .t any time revoked) the works of the llefortners of the rixteenth century, liritish and Foreign, and of the urUann and Nonconfornnsts of the seventeenth ccntury-and the wn - i„^ of Lord IJacon, Locke, Milton, Addtson, <;'"'-• ^'^ Mttthew Hale, Mosheim, Helden, Jeren.y Taylor, Young (the poet), Macauley, Roscoe, Uobertson, and many niorc-pro- scribed because they are Protestant. He has joined a Church which teaches hm> to forswear all the kindly -feelings he once entertained .owar,ls "*- P-f^; i„g Christians, and tells him that as they are out of her pale th^y cannot be saved. Members of the Creek ™n.munK,n- Protctants of every class a..d denominat.on-our Le,ghto.«, and Hebers and Martyns-our Owens, and Baxters, and Howe!lo ^MiUonsand'Lockes-our Whitefields and Wea- leys-our Bunyans and Howards-our Miss,o«r,es of every name-are all included in the same condemning sentence INo matter what were their excellencies ; their p.ety m.ght be ^hic, their benevolence Codlike, their faith hke the " sh,„- in.liAt" that illmninates and gladdens all nature; but haT- ": committed the unpardonable sin of refusing to pay homage 7L n>a„ of the triple erown, the Roman CathoUe u bound to believe that they are lost forever. 62 SCMUl'TUHK ANl> THAl'ITION. 1 f...„.Mn(r the very c iildrcn to m> uh} p" licr— teaclung uit >i.i^ ..o^HOSsod power all ctonutj "-but lu. _" J ■^^ ' ,„„.,.,,,, ,,„„i.l,™cntB, „r inftuence, consigned thnn to t ic .„rtu.ln, ..„>. ao.ro,ing then, y ■;-•;;;,''•:,::;;:'';; .HO unt.,1.1 nunil.e,-8 ;-"> -)« ""''l- ""- In conclusion, 1 bog to ahK uii. of the Ko ().t„„ne „o..sua»io„ ...o „,.y ^^^ P^- Ku(,jeet under d.KCUsMon " "' , ^^^^,, ^f duty. .„ doing I have -'-'f r'-'/. tT:^;!,., er,or, as I.hh.k ""^'''*'i;,:: ; a io;;;;:nci:>tho,ie.vega..dingeaeh you M'C. 1 lotouuiirs an i ,..w.li u-ituval V dcKU'C !tho,. as in a .ate "^ ^^^"^^'''.^ ^^ sll^l'in this '°***-7'';: ''"y^'^;,./,t Lvo. to convert us to country to -ch eflo, K J» ". ^ ^.^,„^.„,, , ,« »«. «m(r views, and we are at lull hihU) euntcmnlatcs The puWication ot our .entin.en.s, on e, he, ^ ^ • ™ ' ' tUis result, and not .nerely .he -M''"";' -^ , ^ 1 a La .cspective sys,c„,s. If any o, «« ■■»■;;" ^..t «e shall by Mr. >'';7;:';'::J ;,;,,•;:, that aeceu,,t, however tr„,";' or,hci a 'eelion, and trouble for their souls; them in an> A\ay. .vii mat nv. r^v-.v tor them, and 1 «. wnnld he to pity the wanderers, pi ay tor uitu, r ,:;r::ii :nri,i;u,.. .nca„s fo,^their ,—- ;.LLpbsorv,,li.swm,.^t„^^^^^^ ^^tZrri:: ".cSion. is us .„ean and cowardly asi. i„ opposed to Christian teachings. \ ROMAN C-ATIIOLICS INVITKD TO IN^iUIUY. 63 li Yot tlio...'l. our religious aifforcnco- ,.rc of a soriouB charao- d.M,u„-ca.io„ bctweo,, „.. Wo live um.-r a consU.ut.on «...ch guar ee. .,,ua. ri,.,.» to a... an,l „ro»cr.b.» no jnan » that we can ..iflW IVon, one auot.,or on ,,o."tH o "'» g>;"-* mon,.n., and stil. act toget.,or as fc..o*.«o.,ject» and ello;^ :^.-,„.n. and even co-operate for the good ot n.ank.nd .n ^ variety of ro»pect». -'Wide a» tl,e p„le« asunder n. ro- ligious n,attcr«, «e n.uy fi.al cnnn.o,. gn.und, w.,cro you • nl tlTo various Ueno„m,a.ion» of l>roto,tant» u.ay ,nee , and »ork togCuT for the general weal. It i» obv,o».ly de»,rablc to .nultiplv such points of contact, so far as it can bo dou. wT'hlt' eon,pro'n.ise ol prh.ciple. Tnat wil. bo rcpud.atea ""Mo:t to press upon you the in.portancc of pergonal i„<,uirv into the claims of diilcring systems, and the gr«und|. „' vhich that rests to whiel> you are professed.y attae c,l Take your own translation of the Scriptures, a>,d read t. ! eLu, bered with notes or conm,e„ts. In,perfeet as ,s the t US tion (tor it will be remen.bcred that it is only the tran^ ti.:^^f a translation, being the Vulgate Latin rendered U..0 Clish) you will not fi,.d in it the pecuhar dodr.ncs anJ ;^t':s wllh distinguish the Uo n Catholic Cl.rch^ N-.^n if your Cmrch re^ ^^ ""V r Ltradict or n;if.W&H..^^tKo:unw^..c»>r^m^. J.^™- ineand comp»«e them. »>ithout..h.e5it.tion: -aijd -wiHiout fear, earnestly prayirtg'W.t.fi«;tq guiop.-JMW-. .« ^ SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. pretensions. A sert yo P ^^^^^ ^^ ^ ^_^,^ ^ ^""ar:7:r 7you tu Usdon,, let hiu. asU of God God. it any oi ^ uDbraideth not ; and it «>- g-A to an me„J.be.^ y, and ^ ^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^, flhall be <^iven him,'— James i. .j. j *:! account of himself to God."-Bom...v. 12. TUB END. I , T K if^ BY THE SAiME AUTHOR. 1. A Text Book of Poper^^, Comprising a History of the Council of Trent, and a com- plete view of the Theological Systfem of the llomau Catholic Church. 8 vo. 2. The Reformation in Knrope. 18 mo. Published by the Religious Tract Society. Prepariny for publication, in one volume, 12 mo., Bapti§t History, From the Commencement to the Present Time. In a Series OF Letteks.