^i^ffrf-.v- % My' SU. **<> X.vv'^ %^ IMAGE EVALUATrON TEST TARGET (MT-3) 'y fc .-^V A V > /fc. W^ fA y. 1.0 I.I ■- IIIIM ■ 50 " fir IIM Mi 1^ M 2.2 lis 10 1.8 11'^ 1114 ill 1.6 6 ' — V] '&ii IT may be necessary to state, that the following controrer- sy arose out of a letter addressed by the Revd. J. S. Christ- mas (Minister of the American Presbyterian Church of Mon- treal,) to Doctor 3|ijing of New-york, extracts of which were republished in the Montreal Herald, as printed in the New- York Observer— as parts. of this letter refered tothe Eoma» Catholics, the occasion was seized upon with avidity by mem- bers of that persuasion to come forward in defence of their Church ; and how far their exertions have proved, or will prove effectual, is left for the reader to determine. JUL 21 1931 Wfc \ REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN MONTREAL. ontroyer- S. Christ- h of Mon- hich were the New- [le Romas f by mcm- ;e of their id, or wili {From the New-York Observer.) The cheering account contained in the following Narrative, •fthe revivalin Montreal, was derived from a letter addrcs- ■ed to the Rev, Dr. Spring by the pastor of the Fresbytenaa ehurch in that city, of which the following is an extract : Montreal, April 6, 1827. Reverend and Dear Sir.— I believe it will not be unaccepta- ble for you to hear what God has been doing with rae since I raw you la^t.- On iliy return, I spent a few days both in Al- bany and Hadley, being detained by business ; and there I had the opportunity of seeing the work of grace that was go- ing on in those places. 1 had never before been within the precincts of a revival. I reached Montreal about^ the first of February, with a desire that a similar work might commence among my people. In this I was strongly seconded by one of the Elders who had spent a few days in Northampton. Our new church was so far finished as to be tenantable, and we commenced worshiping under our own vine and tsjj- ti-ee. It is almost as large as the Brick Church in New- York, pnd was the ground floor nearly filled with pews, though the gallery is not supplied with seats, and the pulpit has but a temporary erection. Here I began to preach for the first time, with the expectation^ I may say, of a revival. A church meeting was called. They had been, in my absence, coqfes- sedly in a most stupid and lamentable state. They began to Btart from their slumbers. Two or three days of fasting were observed,~-a right state of feeling increased. Visiting from house to house, and dealing faithfully with the people, was commenced by myself and several of the most active charch members. Two or three cases of awakening were ascertain- ed. The last Sabbath in February, I appointed a Meeting of inquiry at my house in the evening. It was the first meeting of the kind, for aught that I know, ever held in Lower Cana- da. Six persons came ; and while I conversed with them ir> dividually, a few Christians were praying for us in an adjoin- ing room. One person found peace in believing during the meeting, and rose and exhorted the rest to flee to O^rist. Taitt iiigut uiiuthef gave her huuit to Goa ; ana by vvcuatjj- t \ Religious Controversial Discussion, Ay noon, the irhole six, and one more, were rejoicing in tht ope of pardoned sin. ^he change in the converts wa? mark- . l and decided ; and made a great impression on others. From at period the work went forward. In two weeks time there ere thirty hopeful conrersionji. The divine spirit wrought ith such energy, that few had occasion to attend more than lie Inquiry Meeting, which occurred twice in a week. And vhatia remarkable, a large number of the conversions took lace in the Inquiry Room, 9nd that sometimes while I was •nversing r ith the indiyidual. I have almost seen the foot- 'ps of the Almighty, and have witnessed what ought to have >nvfnced any Atheist. Our evening meetings, which are held in my house, are crowded and solemn. Many who have come to hear ranti-.g :md witness confusion, have been surprised to hear the words of truth aud soberness, and see still attention in every coun- cnance. Besides the anxious look and brimful eye» and face liid in silent anguish, there has been no manifestation of feeU ng in our meetings, excepting on one occasion. Just as I had dismissed them, one female who came there under deep con* victions, said to those about her. ** Oh ! what a Saviour I have found ;^* At that moment a second person whom I did not know to have been distressed^ expressed her joy. And no sooner had I spoken to her, than I was called to a third,-* a young man who was rejoicing in hope, and conld no longer conceal his feelings. A scene of weeping and rejoicing then took placCp such as I never before witnessed. After two op three prayers more wore offered, they were begged to retire. For the last three weeks that worii has not been so power- ful. The hopeful conversions now amount to between siily and seventy. Some Christians have felt their hopes shaken, ind others who were in a blackslidden state, have been re- covered and brought forward. I begin to fear a decline, and have tried to alarm the church. With thankfulness I record the very ready co-operation of the church members, through- out. We have hoped that the work would extend to other congregations in this city. There have been persons from all the four Protestant, and the Roman Catholic Ohurch. to converse with me under spiritual concern. One Catholic wo- vc\\t\ Viitti n«T'or VkO«>n in ». PpAtpsfnnf Chlirr.h in hcr Ufft nian. ^«pj-^-. Sio- SWk- :ing in tht fva? mark- ers. From ime there t wrought norc than ek. And iions took hilc I was \ the foot" ht to have owse, are ar ranti.g the words ery coiin- if and face Da of feel' ;t as I had deep con- Saviour I hom I did toy. Aad a third»— * DO longer icing thea ter two or to retire* so power- veea siity es shaken » been re- cline, and s I record , through- td to other sons from Church, to (tholic wo- in her lifft ReUgiout Controvental Diteutsion* $ ttnd went away with an arrow of conviction in her heart. She returned the following Sabbath, when we trust Jesus extract- ed it, and healed and bade her live. If I could only procure flome proper person who could preach in French, 1 belitve that a great and effectual door would be opened for the con- version of poor Papists ; — though he that undertakes it, must begin with the courage of a martyr, and feel prepared for the jforst. Our Sabbath School consists of above 200 rhJldren, and 40 teachers. Three of the scholars and 12 of the teachers have been hopeful subjects of the revival. Among others is a young man who was graduated at Yale College last year, and was stu- dying law in this city. He has consecrated himself to the min- istry of reconciliation, and I hope will be a burning and shin- ing light in the church. Five or six persons belonging to St. Andrews, a town about 45 miks west of this,, have been subjects of this out- pouring of the holy Spirit. One of the raost influential residents of that place, who carae here to have his own feelings revived, had all his hopes struck dead ; and after four or live days of deep bistres?,- amerged in the^clear shining of the Gospel day, and with these feelings returned home. The minister of St. Andrews, a very worthy man from Scotland, came here mere- ly to seewhat these things meant, and returned convinced Jthat the finger of God was in the work, and desirous of a simi- lar blessing on his own people.. I am rejoiced to learn that hopeful intimations of it are already appearing. I have written for assistance in different directions, but have obtained none. I might perhaps have had more assistance from good men near me, but it is not every pious minister^ who is tited to promote a revival. I have thought it hard that ao important a work, should devolve on an inexperienced youth. My labours have been above my strength, and the physician now tells me, I must desist. What to do I cannot tell. I feel sometimes almost overwhelmed with discourage- ment. — I would that my brethren would remember one who is far off, and alone, and stir up their people to pray that these uttermost parts of the earth may be given to Christ for hi« possession. From yours affectionately and truly. JOSEPH S, CHRISTMAS. ( ■ .^iiW*^ 4 4 Rcligioui Contfovertial Discmsion, To the -Editor of the Montreal Herald. Sir,— Religion is that virtue, by which we give to God th<5 honour and worship "which is due to him nlone as the first bc- jjinning, the sovereign lord, and the last end of all things* — Dr^ Some theologians derive the word religion from relcgendo^ which is, to.repeator to read a second time ; to signify or im- ply the necessity of bringing the acts of religion often to our mind, and thereby render ourselves more agreeable to the Lord. Others, (and perhaps) with more propriety, derive it from the word reli^ande, to signify, that the virtue of pure religion binds, in love and fidelity, the soul of man to hi4 Maker. Whereas the contrary, such as irreligion, only teud» to estrange the creature from the Creator, in whom rnust be concentrated the entire happiness of m;m. Hence it followi, that when there is a question of religion, it ought to be trea- ted of only by those whose wisdom being guided by right ren- flon, and matured by experience, can render them adeqipite to the performance of a like undertaking ; and 2dly. with the holy composure of soul which invites reflection aud meditv tion, and gives a masterly power or capability to treut of 9>i- credthmgs— a power which true religion can excite and whicJt the Almighty alone can bestow. Hence we- can reasonably infer, that the medium ofa pubhc Journrd would not;appcBr as the most beseeming manner of introducing such subjects to the attention of the public. Such is invariably my opmion ; fjuch is the opinion which you have also intimated in 0"e cl your Journals, some time ago. I beg^to explain mysell. Sir* I do not mean to say or insinuate that either you or I har«; and tbe title of the [liece will become beautifully opposed -Tis this ingenious Fcusteror-proterors, or figurative inversion. w hich you must have at once perceived, that renders your , ublicaticn of that article not only sufiiciently warr;inta!ilc, but also highly commendable ; and which, at the sanic tim«, proves my exnmination of the same not less justifiable. Joseph S. Christmai we (ind signed as the author of that piece. I hear he is pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this city. I do not know that Gentleman, nor am 1 rcsolfed to comment on his public conduct as a Minister, nor on bi« private life as a father of a family, (if such he may b.) ;) My intention is mainly to examine the article, and not the merits •r demerits of tlie individual who framed it. I have many reasons which induce me to believe that he is not the authors And first, it is only reasonable to require, as a Minister of the Presbyterian Church, that he follow its rules and ordinan- ces— this he has not done if he be really the author of that ar- licle, and the ancient rules be yet in force. In the directory for public worship, used by the Presbyterians, the following is the rule, viz : — " When the congregation is to meet for pnbHc worship, Lc. the people ought all to join therein.'* If the meeting held was a public one this ride hm been gross- ly -Molated, Mace some were praying in a room ; if the meet- ing mentioned was pri. :te it should be of no concern to the public, nor will I enter on the private concerns of the ao- tlior. 2d. In the same directory, p. 5:35 under the title of Preaching of the IVord, we read : '* it is presupposed that tha minister is, in sosne good measure, gifted for so weighty a service by his skill in the original languages^ by his know- ledge in the whole body of theology." How can it be said that this rule has been observed, since that article s?\id. one individual arose to address the others. I would know whether the above rules are no longer to be observed, and whether any person can become a preacher without the aboTft requisites, viz : theology, scriptures, &c. &:c. I must con- fess my utter ignorance on this head. Whether the dii-ectory for public worship is not to be followed when there be ques- tion of a revival, I caniipt say ; but I assert, that the waat aC i Jteligioui Controversial DifC«i9irii^ in otheri ;- canse cli- IS trouble- I vaj opin- 2. 1 haT« ,iere ittelf nd her ns- more folly lie and tri- lace. 3d»- 4th. Be- llied piety, ration, and animation )rove their requisite. le one, and , it will be ition; We ; order of lolid devo- I simperine term here) ition of the the danger- 1, and self- is is to b« of the peo- ■ turned in- it we could ;8 were no the writer, )n to attend ting genius ! J the Holy ►w do you the opera- riour I have late qualm* ng man who Rcligiout Controversial Discussion, 9 befofft, came to hear me, their slumber, said the revival ; 2 or 3 days of fasting were observed ; a right state of feehngmcrea*- cd ; visiting from house to house, and dealing faithfully with the people was commenced by myself and severalof themoit active members of the church. Quere, if three days of fasting could be considered a necessary requisite to advance in the spiritu- al work of reviving, it must be admitted, that those who ob- ifirve the 40 days of lent, to comply with the precepts of their Church, anu th« better to prepare themselves for the reception of the body and blood of the Lord at Easter, must be now a good distance before the triserMron fast^rs for a re- vival. 2d. Quere, and dealing faithfully with the people com- menced by myself, &c. is it to be understood that the poor people have been deceived all along, anct unfaithfully dealt with until now ? Oh 1 one Catholic woman, siad the revival, who had never been in a Protestant Ch\irch before, came to hear me, and went away heating an arrow of conviction in her heart. It would teem surprising why no more than one low- ly poor woman could be found present at the reviving system ; tiie reason for that may be as follows -.—Whether ethecal or otherwise, those who can have pure and wholefl)me diet in their own houses, must evidently be labouring under some mental aberration, if they beg from their neighbours, a diet condemned by the medical faculty ; and which they only can . make use of with the risk of their lives, and at the hazard of their reputation. 1 would be glad to learn wheth^l* that reviv- ed convert, from the Catholic religion, be a person endowed with a sound mind and understanding. 1 feel much inclined to think the contrary. I may be permitted to suppose a case, let it be the following : suppose, of the Catholic religion, that is (nominally so) there be found a woman who may not, and hough she may, would not, adhere to the admonition of her pastor, when it became necessary to advertise her respecting her religion, and I will freely add, her moral conduct also. Such woman could say, that she has liberty to act as' she thinks proper, though, at the same time, she were to act im- properly, she cauld not, rea«onably, be any longer consider- ed a member of the Church whose tenets she disavowed, and ■ whose maxims she disregarded. Since those are only Catho* »• • rf A ,1-1^ j.i_ - 1 _rAU_ /""u-.^-u :c iu^i». ~ iiC9 iu ivao Oui>i;rve ^mC iUWS Vi lUv vuuioui u vucu t 10 Religious Controversial Discussioru- h { lives be immoral, they pronounce themselves not memljert, except in name, because irreligion and immortality cannot find place in the fold. Provided Mr. Christmas would revive a woman of that stamp, he could talk of arrows, and darts as he pleased ; but I deny his capability to revive, unless this be changed, in rnelius.^'Th why 1 peremtorily call upon that congregation^and its minister to give the name of thatindividu- M, and her place of abode. They can have no just objection to this, since we have on record the names of illustrious in- dividuals, who have not hesitated tt render, as publicly as may be, their conversion to th« Catholic religion ; nor should any man be ashamed of his beli^.f, or woman of her revival, provided they be not wilfully in error. There are some who, deceiving themselves, and Willing to deceive others, can be (although really of no religion) for a time of all the religious —we have a well attested example of the kind of double deal- ing in the con/ersion at Farnhara, at the rate of 6 pounds a head ; where one woman said she cam« to abjure the errors 6f popery, though s)ie never belonged to the Catholic reli- gion ; but the moment she received b pounds and a suit of clothes, she filed off gaily, having still her errors to abjure, and her religion to chuse.— The writer ?aid, could he pro- cure some proper person to preach in French, he would opea a door to the poor Papists. It seems the French must be free- ly dealt witii, and have proper preachers ; because, until wow;, th' writer has not questioned tlie merits of the preacher, since every one of the meeting had that permission occasion- ally. Surely the time is yet fresh in the memory of most of' the people here, when a French preacher ^Ud come, and rant, and preach, and labour ; but gained not one solitary convert ;• he, however, gained something tlse, in another way. and not entirely so encouraging, • The writer would make U8 under- stand, that all pjous preachers are not fit for the work of re- viving.. I will not dispute the merits of that qviestion. — He ithen piously concludes by offering an ardent prayer,, ihat the uttermost parts of the earth be given to Christ for his irxheri-- tancc I do not mean to terminate this letter to you, Mi. E- ditor, in like manner, since we read that the earth is the Lord's, and who will rob him of his omnipotence. My fervent pray- er is, and will be, to God— that he may grant true faith and Religious Controversial Discussion. 11 t membert, ility cannot ^ould revive and darts as , unless this ill upon that lat individu- ist objection instrious in- publicly as ; nor should her revival, e gome who, lers, can be tiie religious double deal- f 6 pounds a e the errors Jatholic reli- md a suit of rs to abjure, )uld he pro- i would opea nust be free- icause, until iie preacher, on occasion - •y. of most of ne, and rant, ary convert ; way, and not le us under- ; work of re- lestion. — He yer,. ihat the or his inheri- you, Mi. E- is the Lord's, Fervent pray- lue fdith ai«i^ .^t^rnai salvation to all mortals ; and appealing, as I do now, to the good sense and understanding which now pervades all dasses of society (and may it always remain among us) in this city—I beseech them to have a regard for themselves, for theii honour and understanding, and such a sense of religion as will always be found sufficient to discountenance such pro- ductions as cannot merit the sanction f^tfJSj ^^^ ^^^''lyp?:!^ A CATHOLIC/ xJtllJj40J.* To THE Editor. Sir,— From disposition averse to newspaper litigation, in which my pen has never been engaged, it is from no love of the employment, that I am induced to address you with this communication. The article in your last week's paper, in which my name is so freely used, I read with little interest when it appeared, and pitied the man, whose heart dictated language so vituperative. I believed it would produce little , other impression, than to make its writer's folly manifest. It, however, contains statements which may need correction, and affords me an opportunity of making some explanations, which justice to myself demands. I thank you, Mr. Editor, for informing the Revd. Gentle- man, that I am not responsible for being called THE Presby- terian Minist^^r of Montreal, by the Editor of the New- York Observer ; but I must correct you in saying, that I pay no regard to the Directory of Worship. The Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, the Books of Discipline, the Directory for Worship of che National Church of Scotland, and the Presby- terian Church of the United States, are the same, excepting a few verbal alterations, which the circumstances of the coun- try render proper I must now beg you iiey. Correspondent to excuse me, if I mistake the meaning of some of his remarks ; for the little sagacity which I possess, after all my pains, does not enable me to unravel the meanh/;' of many of his sentences. Indeed I could scarcely believe that an article which betrays such a manifest want of skill, in a perspicuous communication oi m 12 Religions Controversial Discussion, thought, such a pedantic display of the learned language iuch strength of accusation, with such weakness of proof, cou^ be the production of one of those men, whom the multitud revere for their learning and sanctity. I can assure the Gentleman, that 1 am the author of the ar- ticle he attacks, and that it was extracted from a private let- ter, which I wrote to a clerical friend in the city of New- York. 1 am free to confess that it contains one or two passages which I should have omitted, had I eipected that publicity would have been given them, passages which are calculated to give unnecessary offence, and wound feelings that I would not wan- tonly iniure. Who hai not whispered into the ear oflriend- ■hip, what he would not choose to have proclaimed on th-- house-stops r But since the letter has been made public, I am ready to defend the truth of every syllable it contams. And I can certify this eacerdotal reviler, that had I been writing for the press of Montreal. I should not have omitted ttie pas- «age that was probably most offensive to him-that which res- pTcts the Papists-and that had the letter been written two weeks later, I should have added some facts which would stil! more have moved his choler— facts, whose occurrence has, I believe, spread *ere this, a thrill of joy among the angels ^ Uisno part of my character, to conceal my sentiments Ko person acquainted with the tenor of my Ministry , can b* ignorant of the light in which I viev the Romish Religion Whatever I may hope for some ot its adherents, I have non. ©fthat sickly charity which looks with indifference or com plecency on the principles of the system. . It may be imprudent so freely to declare my convictions , but I shall be imprudent so long as fidelity demands it. may be bigotted, but it is a bigotry in which 1 share with e ▼ery Protestant who understands the grounds olhisreigion I have observed with regret, a criminal laxncss of sentimen among the Christian denominations of Canada, and » pusiiia n;nioust»esertion of the high ground of the Reformation. Whaf that ground is, will be evident, from one or two quotation from the public standards of two national Churches, whicf » L-i:- *K« ^n/^tmnA rtf ^verv Protestant dcnomi nation of Europe, or America. In the confession ot t aith, i Kdigious Controversial Dtsmssion. 13 which every Minister of the Church <>f Scoth.nd assents at lu, Ordination, We lind the following p.^sage, f »r- p.'' • ^^4^, .. There is no other head of the Church, but the L"™ •'«f^» Christ Kor can the people of Rome in any sense, be head « erclf ; but is that Anti^Christ, that man of sm, and son o( I'^rdUion, thatexaltet!, himself in the Churcii agamst Chn.t, '"Ltl'ctS- o'-'h^ Chnrch of England, solemnly snb- .-ribe. to the thirty-nine articles of religion, which not only St- te that the " Ch^urch of Rome hath erred," but flatly con- tndic every doctrine on which the Papists ms.st m the.r CO t^over'y with Protestants. One of these arfcles/v.z : the Teh, refer, us to the Homilie,, as a more extensive explana- tion of the faith, and containing '■ Godly and wholesome doc- riiTe, and necessary for those times." I',""? «"^7'" ?!"^ s„lt these authorities, to ascertain the °P""°" "' "%^.^,^X of En.dur«l on the' subject, let him, amonfi others, road th.. homily, atrainn peril of idol^fry, and the foliowmg quo at.cn frW the lath homily,>r H'hit-SHnday, second par . Hul ow herein standeth the controversy :- whether al men ao iustly arro?ate to themselves the Holy Ghost, or not ? fhe Bishops of'Rome have for a Ion,, time made a sore challenge thereunto reasoning for themselves afier tus sort. 1 he Holy Ghost," say they, was promised *» '''<^, ^';"''='',' '" never forsaketh the Church ; bnt we arc the fuef heads an principal part of the Church : therefore we have the Holy Ghost forever : and whatsoever '•""?» ^^ r^t;; " The doubtedly verities, and oracles of the Holy Ghos . 1 he homily, after defining the true Church, and showing sor^ I^ints^of its disagreement with the Church of R",";^; I'™<=.«^«^^ " But as the lion is known by h« claws let us '«»" '» kn°*^ thpse men by their deeds. What shaU we say ofh.m that rni e the noble King Dandalus to be tied by the neck with a "in, and to lie &!t down before his table, there to gnaw bones like a dog-shall we think that he hadGod's Holy Sp r- it within him, and not rather the spirit of the devil ? Su(h^ a tyrant was 'Pope Clemeut kU« 6lh. What shafi we say of him that proudly and contemptuously trod Frederr.- he Eir.- peror unSer his feet, applying that ,ers, »['he l-salm onto bimself, " thou shall go upon the Uon aad th« adder> tUe ;i.:.;^ d. '■''! l^ Beligious Controversial Discussson, youn« lion and the adder, thou slidt tread under foot," (Psalra XClf 13.)— -shall we sny that he had God's Holy Spirit with- in hiw, and not rather the spirit ol'the devil ? Such a tyrant was Pope Alexander the 3d. What shall we say of him, that armedand animated the son against the father, causing hmi to be taken and craelly ftunishcd to death, contrary both to tlie law of God and also of nature— shall we s;.y that he had God's Holy Spirit within him, and not rather the Fpnit of the devil / Such a tyrant was Pope Paschal the 2d. What shall we say of him, that came into his Popedom like a fox, that reigm-d like a lion, and died like a dog-shall we say that he had God's Holy Spirit, and not rather the Spirit ol the Devil f Such a tyrant was Pope Beneface the 8. What shall we say of him that made Henry the Emperor, with his wife and his vQuns child, to stand at the gates of the city in the rough win- ter, barefooted and barelegged, only clothed in hnsey-wool- eey, eating nothing from morning tonight, and that lor the -^pace of three days— shall we say that he had God s Holy Hmrit, and not rather the spirit of the devil ? Such a tyrant ^vus Pope Hildebrand ; most worthy to be called a lirebrand, if we shall term him as he hath best deserved." " Many other examples might be here alledged, as of i ope Joan the harlot, that wa. delivered ' ' a child in the high street, going, solemnly in procession— of Pope Juhus the 2d, that wil- fully cast St. Peter's keys into the Iliver Tiberis-ot Pope Urban the 6th, that caused five Cardinals to be put m sacks and cruelly drowned--,of Pope Sergius the 3d, that persecu- ted the dead body of Formosus, his predecessor, when it had been buried eight years-.of Pope Jolm the I4th of thatnaine, who having his enemy dehvcred i-.to his hand., caused hiin f^rst to be stripped stark naked, his beard to be shaven, and to be hanged up a whole day by the hair than to be set upon an ass, with his face backward towards the tail to be can ed round about the city in despite : to be imserably beaten w ih rods; last of all, to be thrust out of his country, and to be '^^^tit:;;^! the Popes and Prelates of Rome, for the- mast part, as doth well appear in the story ot their lives, and therefore they are worthily accounted among the number or ^be Prophet, aud fuUe Christs, which de;<3ived the world.a. ■I h Religious Controvertial Discussion^ IS U" (Psalra pirit with" h a tyriint fhim, that iing him to oth to the had God's the devil ? lall we say at reigTic>d lit he had le Devil ? I all we say ife and his rough win- nsey-wool- lat lor the 5od's Holy- tch a tyrant u firebrand, , as of Pope high street, 2d, that wii- s — ^of Pope put in sacks lat pcrsocu- when it had )f that name, caused him shaven, and be set upon be carried beaten with y, and to be omc, for thf». iir lives, and le number of 1 the \Torld.ai long while. The lord of Heaven and Earth defepd us from thetr tyranny and pride : that they n^ver enter into hi8 vme- yard again, to the disturbance of his silly poor flock ; but that they may be utterly confounded and put to flight in all parts of Ihe world. Antl he of his great mercy, so work in all xiicn^ hearts, by the Mighty Power of the Holy Ghost, that the con- fortible Gospel of his Son Christ, may be truly preached, truely received, and trnely followed in all places, to the beat- ing down of sin, death, the Pope, the devil, and all the King- do°n of Anti-Christ : that the scattered and dispersed sheep being at length into one fold, we may in the end rest altoge- iiier'in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ; there to be partakers of eteriTaland everlasting life, through the merite and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour." Such is the langirigc of the accredited standards of th;^ Church 0^ England, and which I quote to remind some tiuiid, and inconsistent Protestants, that I am not alone in my bigotry. There are, Mr. Editor, '-numerous vulnerable points in ih<\ communication of " a Catholic Priest," to^ which lean no more than advert, without trespa'ising too far upon your co- lijmn.^. I did intend to tell your Rev. Correspondent, ihtt though it is not the first time I have heard it, yet, I never could comprehend why youth should be imputed as a crime, }»!ul live in the hope,' that it is afmlt, which unhke mr.ny o- thor.'*, time will cure. I did intend to tei! him, that coarse as- aerlions prove nothing : atlea^t, with that part of the eoii.mu- i^ity who wish to see with their o?, as violating the directory for Worship, worn not the public ni^sijtr.'.u}'?:'! of the SaUbath, but were heM in my own houit, i>nd which the' Scriptures asiuro ut; to be essential to salvation.; bat it i.-* evident tk-it your correspoi^dent, though he professes himself to be " a guide to the blind — a light to them* which are in darkness," is a stronger to such experience ; t'.nd 1 mfty also add, a stranger to the Scripture, if we may judge from Ihe fact of his cavilling with a sentence wkich is a literal quctatioa ./■ if ,j lieti^icKS Ctmirorersial Di$CMsior.. from ihe 1<\ Psr.lm, Cth verse. I A\,\ -nten.! to osk him vhcr-^ was his pru.lence, «hcn he s.5ortc "was .unicicntlv bhisphcmous to w.-.rn-.nt a prosecu- Zu " nnd uhere «as his h»mility. ^vhcn he .neers at a case of conversion, because the snhjcct was " ■' 1°"'? T'OO"" ""j ,nan ;" an.1 v.here his fear of God, ^vhen he desecrates s.crel hino4 by vulgar ridicule ? Oftlicsc and other topics, 1 »- "fed to remind hin, ; hut I am conviueed, .1 «e may judge oAe ho, dance of the heart, by v.hat.lhe njoutl, speaks he does not possess suflkicnt relisious sens.hihly to leel thcr '"'l h-.ve no wish to perplex my own fcelin-s, or those of vo . id vs by vex!.tioL .lisp.tation :-n,y "-h ard mtcn- ion i.quielyti do my Ma=ter's,w.ll, encouraged ly (he o- 1 °,"; of my Master-s appVobatlon ; and irdo,„?th... be v, e. I Jro :« ,o\e v.ler sti'if;- and should I he t),e »t' O; -f -u > inl the theme of mi.-representalion, W;h..!l ie5;„rd ii as e ';;y honourable bad.e a Christian Mhus.cr '■■•»---!;« post suii.~ficlory loUcu thai u.y n.nocnco i=; hcMi.e to t.m Lin"uon) of dailajCsS. 1 am, Sir. ^ jc?^F.FH ?. rj:nisTMA^, Pastor oflhe ^y.,^^\c^^n Vn^^hyicnm Montreal, May 25, 1827. TO THE F.PlTOn. Sin _u your paper oflaFt SnturcVav, 1 cbpcrvfd n c^^ Dumcation from the Kev. -^ ^""Xl^ \r .., ^ v. Orb of Lii;ht,** :;^;;^r;^t:^h^rlii!::^rt;9i cd^j..ns^ ;;,'pired in the ^^^:i^z^^^;:J.:7^::^:::i will al o\v me a ?horl ^pace m >cui i- i ^ ■ntafew, reo,arUs on the P- "^'i^Is f preli;;ina;; ob- .consider V>-ea h '.o^ /„ in -test W the'pro- ,erval.on l^ust enter my ^^^^^^^^^ ceedings of" ^ t'-'thoUc l r,. ^_^^^ ^^ importance ,etter, m_thchrst__.n,_ta,^.e, h.s g.^^^^ ^^ ^^^ remarks on a, to it vvhicn it "iu uvi, liiT^xiv. jiieliglous Controversial ' Discussion, 17 -) ask hlt» f commii- i prosecu- s ut a case poor wo- pic?, 1 'n\' may judge :])eaks, he i'ecl their • those of ni\d intcn- I \y the to- LiO vile, "I of •. Idiciile., rd it as the wear — th.o tile to tha ST MAS, n\«]»yteri5Ui ;n;l anotl^cf , '. of Li^ht," :ms — both i:n ;csr,"'vv hi cU reOj»iest \cm I a few, i'.nd the other inunury ob- nst the pro- Christaias's ' importance jmarks on i^j it Nvaa looked on as nothi^:g more than the wild ravings of a phrensied imagination, which, in truth, is its on y desert; he reioinder is little better-hut as from the author sopeu avowal of his hostility to Catholics, it merits a castigation, I will proceed to notice some of its most striking features. In the first instance it will be observed, that although it pretends to be an answer to the communication of '* A Ca- tholic Prie«^t," the Revd. author has carefully avoided reply- inn to any of the queries contained in the former communica- tion • but has raked i^p a parcel of tattered objections to catho- licitv, which no enlightened Protestant of the present day would advance. Finding, however, that the narrow ground* upon which hia religion itself stands, would be untenable, ho has artfully attempted to enlist the Protesfcmts at large on hi;-? bide and has pitched his fragile tent under shelter of the wide fortress of Protestantism. Detestable subterfuge ! But -l think I can very easily draw him out from his lurking-place, and show to the respectable body of Protestants, the viper- like individual who would fly to them for protection. It will be readily acknowledged that the first reformers from Catholicity ht^ld her doctrines as damnable ere they seceded from her;— this is perfectly consistent, however u-e may think them acting erroneously in so doing. But npon what other plea could Mr. Christmas or his ffiUow-sectarians have senerated themselves from the Protestant Church to which they ori-inally belonged ? unless they believed her ways would lead to damnation must they not have been madmen to with- draw ? Was it seeking a nearer way to Heaven ? or m the name of common sense what excuse cauld they offer ?— Per- haps 'twas to shun purgatory I I The Revd. Mr. Christmas and his adherents, 1 contend, must hold every other Protes- tant religion as much accursed as they do the Catholics, (whicli, bv the by, he has ere now pretty broadly asserted) ; or give up" all pretensions to consistency — The parent church can extend charity to the froward child.; but the off-spring that quits the ways of the parent on account of her supposed errors, can not be consistent and have any charity towards the parent. Mr. C. therefore, need not have told us that he considers the Catholic religion damnable— but he should not B 2 M i8 Jleligiovs Controversial Discussion. « hwG so (rtfuUy disguised his sentiments with respect tothc Protestant Churches that diflfer >vith him. I have thus separated him from those he would, in puhlic, wish to claim as his kinsmen, (though in private he would execrate them,) because I would not wish to make an obser- ralion which would injure the feelings of any other Frotea- tant denomination ; nor indeed will I intentionally hurt those of Mr. Christmas's adherants. I am onlj on the defensive. Mr. Christmas declares as hii opinion that the- Cathohcs will he damned— this is the belief o." his Congregation also. With such an evident want of charitj, can he turn to the 13th chap- ter of 1st Corinthians, v. '2^ in that book which he professes to expound, and there read. " If 1 should have all faith so •IS to remove mountains, and have no charity. I am nothing." —Slender indeed must he his hopes -of salvation^ if charity be so requisite to procure it." St. Augustine somewhere re- marks. " The house of God is founded on faith, raised up by hope, and perfected by charity ;" which opinion I think wiU be found perfectly consonant with Scripture — Taking this position for granted, neither Mr. C. nor his adherents can hope to roach Heaven — as his mode of faith and worshi]) can only lay the foundation, and partly raise the superstructure of the Heavenly edifice, (for I will allow them hope,) the sin- ftil amongst them must go where he would consign all who differ with him, and the j«st, (like Mahomet's coffin,) must dangle between earth and heaven for all endless eternity. One point more I will at present touch on, and with that conclude my communication, viz. the allusion to the conduct of the Pope«. I might answer that by giving, as a set-oflf a« njainst it, the conduct of several of the leaders of those who ftrst opposed Popery — buf "that would be to deviate from my determination of not injuring the feehngs of any of the mauy who diifer with Catholics in opinion—whom as men 1 respect, and as Christians, (though Roman Catholics are accused of want of charity,) 1 would' not, in my opinion, consign to damnation. It should be recollected that amongst those cho- sen twelve who followed our Saviour, one was a Judas. Could it then be supposed, that since .the establishment of Catholici- ly, no vicious men should have professed that religion ? Sure- ly not. The comparison between the Pope (or Popes) and 'S^Mik Jldigious Controversial Discussion. H Antichrist, I should not expect from any man in his right j »Klg ment. The Catholics hoast of a succession of Popes from the t'\me of our Saviour ; but were such behef absolutely er- ronious, the length of time which almost any single one has filled the papal chajr would give the lie direct to the assertion. Three several texts of Scripture affirm that the man Anti- christ shall contin le but three years and a half : take one for example, Rev. c. ^3, v. 5, " there was givi^n to it a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies-^iiud power was given to it to act forty-two months,'^ Now with such a direct text staring him in the face, the manmustbe possessed of unblush- ing elfrontery, who -would make such a base perversion of the holy Scriptures, or who would atteiTipt to bring one part to oppose another-' — it i« absolutely making the whole of no credit. I have already occupied more space than I intended at the commencement, and will now bring my subject to a conclusion., — I do not say that I leave the subject for ever : when Mr. C. answers, or, attempts to answer, the queries contained in the communication of " A Catholic Priest," I will hold myself ready again to oppose him with all my capaci- ty. But until then, I advise this disturber of public tranqui- lity — this trumpeter to the persecuting legions of purilanism — to cease his futile attempts to raise discord amongst the in- habitants of Montreal. A cordiality of feeling prevails be- tween the Protestants and Catholics of this place which is vex- atious to this puritanical persecutor, and will continue, not- withstanding his vain attempts to remind the *' timid and in- eonsist eni Vrotcsinnts,^* that he should not be left " alone in his bigotry," .1 am. Sir, &c. &;c. A CATHOLIC LAYMAN. To THE Editor. SiR,.7-When I take my pen to indite an article which, asi expect, may fill one of the columns of your Journal, 'tis by no means my intention, either to adopt a style, or select ex- pressions, whieh could appear, in striy sense, better calcu^»- led to wound the feelings of the honest-hearted than diu . the misguided. The contrary, howev.cr, would soem to be the meaning, and direct tendency of the article whicli appeared 20 9 ^ @K ■ i r I Wr> Religious Controversial Discussion, in one of your late numbers, and signed by. the Rev. Mr. Christmas. . I feel much averse to such like productions, tor many rea- •ons ; and principally, because the tone of those which have already come under my eye renders them completely con- temptible, while they stand in need of every thm?; that could make them nsreeablc to any body. 'Tis remarkable, how what they want in being not leas dismgemus than dishonoura- ble, is amply supplied by their being more f\matical than f ational. •« , . i ,i m i i. It may not, however, be urtfair to admit, that the miideet language is often misconstrued, and that the mere dictates ot charity arc not always found sufficient to impede the progress of a perverted prejudice. There is, notwithstanding, (as we read in Horace) a mean in afiliirs, at either side of which, we are told, rectitude cannot subsist — est modM ; in rebus sunt terti deniquejints, quos ultra citraquc nequit considers rectum. Whoever, therefore, for the pretended justice of his cause, would exceed those limits, could afterwards have but a tri- fling claim to what, on the one side, (for the beneht of socie- ty at large) moral r^titude could establish, or truth on the other. It was only in proportion as they observed those rules, that men have been in every age distinguished for wit and ta- lent. In order that a just consistency mark our proceedings, we should invariably maintain and observe the principles o;i which it is wont to be founded : should there be question of religion, before we arraign others for its violation, we should be mindful that we observe its rules and ordinances: should a person be desirous to maintain the good-will of that society of which he is a member, he should be cautious not wantonly to wound the teelings of any.— Since the Revd. Mr. C. has * submitted his remarks to the investigation of an enlightenecl and discerning public, it does not become me, as an individu- al, todet .mine whether the Rev. Gentleman has tound it at' all necessary strictly to observe the foregoing rules. I can, however, without violating the rules of justice, have recourse to some few of the maxims already sufhciently established-- and which the learned of the present age have not deemed it advisable to invalidate. *Tis, sir, an acknowledged axiom that the truth is known by itself. It could be admitted, on ReUgiovsControrcrsial. Dincnnioti SI the same score, tliat error nnd misrei)resenf alien reqnirc^ riorc cosily ntlire than ordinary pcri-oii^ can I'lirnish, bcibre Ihey co;iM be made, in any-v.it^e, agreeable to nicnofbononr Mid integrity ; how dosirablc would it then be, if men \yere in ;:^enoral as solicitous for the y)ropagation oftruth as tliey feel Mixior.3 for ll.:: /^stnbli.-^bnient of error and falsehood. Il was in order the better to pccure the former, by a suj proy-viiin oi lh«; litter, tliat I requireil an explanition on iiie revivinti; sys- tem, with the name ortlie female or persons Avilling to feel lis influence. To these demands we received no an'nver ; the following reasons may account for such silence : if it be the duly of every man to be as serviceable to the community as he )u-)3sibly can, in every loj^al way, and that we consider the T»ev. Gertleman as iMriipable of a dlrelicii^n of principle as a iK'glect of public dur.y ; we must, I say, from these premises concl'jde — that cither the aljove questions could have no di- rect or indirect tendency to the. public good, or that Mr. C. h not f ivourTible to its advancement. But to suppose the lat- ter would be ^n impiety ;"lotui, Vnen, charitably take the ibrmer, and return him, in good earnest, our sincere thanks for i\ sib-iuce v, hich. becomes so serviceable. 'Tis not for this jdonc lli'it we .have reason to return him our most unfeigned r.oknowledgments — bis Homily respecting the popes, merits the first claim to our gr.itiiude : it proves, beyond a demon- «f ration, the s-^netity and inviolahiHty. of that Church whose dontrincs and tenets are stiil the same, whose purity remains vui.^ulliod amidst the corruption of eighteen hundred years i.^vl Uioro ; but, in order to elucidate Ibis subject, we can, v.iihoist injury to ourt^eivos, or the cause we advocate, give our o])j)oncai a wider frjld thsn he required. Ifis proposi- tion is simply this, that the coi. duct of many popes was im- moral, ergo, the Holy Gbpst did not remain to guide the Ca- tholic Churcli — an unfair conclusion from a poor argument. While all human institutions have been changed, or newly modelled, according to fancy of the founders or the caprice df their successors during the lapse of so many centuries, the Catholic, either in her dogmas or tenets, has underwent no •uch material changes. Under the most vicious of its pastors, its doctrines always retained their purity ; but, provided we »rent fnrthftr. in «;nnnoy tho power of the divinity, promising -to rcmuiu with hf»r until the end of time, Is it not then surpti-'inf; how men of Ics^rnin^r can a(!', ance wh:it reason will not (iictaio, or charity support P \\ e may allow that they sooietimcs under- stand the contrary to what they advance, while, notwithstiinn- ing, thoy have recourse to the grossest means hy which thrj conduct of their dissentinj; hrethren can pop-sibly he mi«>repre- ponted. lam ready to acknoule(iroved in the Mouse of Lords, la.st year — it has bet-n proved oa oath l)y the Archbishops uij(i.Bishoi»s of Ireland. Such i unfounded assertions are disgraceful — we could wish they were discountenanced. Let us, then, entoi tain a hope that jiietice v.iii oe day triumph over iniquity, and ilu»t falsehood and :(«'•■>?!•: eutatiou, throughout all the Avalks of life, niay always meet the meriltd reprobation of the worthy and the good. Sir, I beg to renv<\in your very humble serv.mt, AFSEUDOUMENOS. To THE Editor. "^ Srn,-— I sh:dl o-ft't* a few observations .cu<:gested by the let- ter of " a Catholic Layman ;" nut l.ecausc I am ariibitious to have the last v,'ord in a dispute, nor ber.ause I i'-el ex'-^spera- ted by abuse, wliich it were want of dignity particularly to notice. '• A Catholic Priest,*' may for reasons bc^■t known, teillUlSCll- cllOOse to dis^l^uise hi^ Mntvln'r t-nl./^q l»rt!,infh '^ ii ; *, i« v<*. t 1 the 2'4 Eeh'iriGus Controversial Discuzsion, .„,.H clothe, of a CthCic I-yX;;-ilr'iT';"m' V iner I am content so long as 1 do not pos^i-ss lu Aa uthority which we muy not '^y-^f^^,, ■!" a",! der r.ilin/ror r.,ilinS ; ^1"" ^^X m..eir " Uear.nc« in 'lithurawing from a -■'-'-■ til -ncl a acte"^^^^ invins .le,cneratecl „.to an f^'-'^'^^^o the Reformer,, he prove ,t •f^™^'»'«'f„^'V''?,t'CH™ si. Church be come to continue the separation ? Has .'»f 'j" ; '" , ^r did not ,„„r3 scriptural in its doctrmcs »'»;«''';'■' /^."t; rivet it. the Council 'f T^entcon^'ened to fo„ ^]^^-^ ^^^^^ prror« an;l 2 ve ecclesiastical sanction lo pti^ i-i *U:^:;;^ould^lead no Idgher .u«,o„ty an us.^^^^ What docs Layman "O-'" l-T 'Vi f ^ -• CI nrch to which separated thom^elvcs from '«« r.>^^« -t 2;^ltt..o,.. thov ori-iuaily be ionge H ''""":?.";,", Greek Church old'or thao the Preshytenan un.ess it ^^ 'j , '(^;"\.h„,cl,cs, to which we never belonsed, .""|""> "' *:;;h™ whici. t^iose in-ccious romaants of primitive ^'ii,'^'.'''"''>' '\, . ..,,, i we havl never diffcre.l iu doctrine, or d.»c,pl.oe. -O' <=;» ' per <^elv what process of argument tne '--y^^" "l^ ' | ,^^ ^i™;^/ bai because 1 belong to a particular P" f »' '';^'', ^0., I -u^te^teem every .te^. one occu.«l,-r,^^^ r:::eS'u:"^it'ss^'r;y.n:i^istry\vi^^^^ ir;;^;:rt„nity of hea™. ^i^^^^^^'z:::^'^ ^ ^;:^htfSr:?'tsffa5:'-'tr:i;:^^^^ Hierarchy forming no !•■-';, '»",;r,,;< lent to oe comman- ■ .eparate battalion?, but all ma^ehin;, ''^f ™," , ^, ,y,fyy.. der-the Ci.ptain of their salvation : that l"!'«f ^^'^^ .; ■^^^, t:c.,whichVbtain.amonsP^-cJ^^^^^^ walls of the edifice, they sbU ">«. «"'^;- ^ZZj. ,bey are agreed about the »;?'SM'« "; « ^^ ,tn' dtTall :^.rrror^elx;:;;US^^^^^ Reli'^ious Controversial Discussion, tt ie venom. } '♦ to ren- ng." Ami and allo\v •onsistently msidered dj? , bow sliiill Reformer. •. rch b( corne , or (lid not ;9, rivet iti ions, ivliich • tcrians hare i]i to which 1 of Europe, eek Churcli a Churches, , from which . Kor c:in I nan makes it iestant done- id ; nor urn I pretty hvoiul- who all have ression of my d the visible ' the Rotnish firsh ailed into one comman- rh the ditVer- ; rents in tbe bundation,Rril e and cummin, i of judgment I consider all )art of it futtda- mertal, and that this part, exceptmg Unitarians and Unrers;^. lists every Protestant denomination of any importancp with which 1 am acquainted, are agreed, and that accordingly I embrace them in the arms of brotherly affection, and am ac- customed on sacramental occasions to invite Christian people of these denominations to sit'bwn with us at the table ol our common Lord ; and thus ii is that we hold and enjoy " the communion of Saints." . ^ ,, v -n v The Layman asserts that I declare " that Catholics will be aamnr^d." Where does he tind that declaration ? In my last communication ? There I intimated my chanty for many of the members of an Antichristian Community, and it Layman will look aT'iiu he will find no such universal proposition, " the Catholic will be damned." Personal inducements, if no other, would lead me to hope that there are some true lovers of our Lord in that corrupt communion, and I am warranted in thia hope by the prophetic admonition *' Come ye out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and her plagues fall notuDonyou." Rev.xviii 4. Whether it be through ignorance, prejudice, crimhi.ility or the three united that they continue within the forbidden. enclosure, still I maintain they cannot bft genuine Papists. Every Christian embraces the Scriptural doctrine of Salvation through faith in the atonement of the Re- deemer. His is the only name- given under Heaven among raen whereby we can be saved; Yet this way of salvation is - directly and systematically opposed by Popery. V\ orks of supererogation, the expiatory power of penance, the atoning virtue of alms, prayers, fasting and processions, the purifying fires of purgatory, the overplus of the saints' i^ients applied for the benefit of the church, with such peculiar munificence this year of jubilee, by its dispenser the Pope ; the weekly unbloodly sacrifice of the mass ; displace the one great sacri- fice of Jesus Christ, by which, he hath forever perfected them that are sanctified. Truly if the Popish methods of atonement be Valid ; then has Christ died in vain, or, at bost^ shareUhe glory of a Saviour, with innumerable competitors! \his is that other Gospel of which the apostle Paul said that though he. or an angel from heaven should preach it—Iet him be ac cursed. This is the radical defect, the damning blot ot Po- l^ery, compared with which the inexpediency of prayinr in -n «a I^ehgtous Controversial Discusiion, m '§ xinltno WD- tongue, and the rJdiciiloug multiplication, of c€rc« monies, and mnny other things-. which most obviously strike the eye of the spectator, are pardonable trifles. Tor all practical purpose?, you may as \;veiruncl,eiry the Saviour, a« tiiipercede his atonement.. The Layman refers me to the beautiful description of Cha- rity, in the 13th ch. of 1 Cor. to prove that I can have no well grounded hopes of salvation. Be that as it may, lam afr-aid the Layman has yet to, learn the , true meaning of that Charity., which the apostle commands, as the very keystone in the arch of Christian graces.. We need not go to the Greek Tcstamcyit to learn that it is not charUy,, in the most meagre sense of tb.o word — bestowing our goods to feed the poor, nor, that ckaritij for which the world is so fierce, that latitudinaria- nism of sentiment, that lieentiousness of princ;iplc, that indif- ference, which gays ** let me alone in my sins and J will nev- er disturb your guilty repose— -be content to let me hug mj. delusions, and J wilF never expose your un»criptural hopes.'* The Chaiity the apostle commenJs is simply benevolence or- love, and is it inconsistent with love to believe that errencoui sentiments are erroneous sentiments, and to feel for those- who hold them ? Must love necessarily shut our eyes to the truth, and the convictions of our understanding,? Did I indeed' wja/i'e it dangerous to embrace delusion, it would be a trans- gr^ssiea of the law of love, but to see the danger and point it out where it exists,, bo far from being contrary to love, is ita most natural expression. The Layraau speaking of- Protestants says " whom as men Irospect, and as Christians I would not, in my opinion con- sign to damnation.'* Were 1 sufficiently credulous I should }Kiil such Catholicism in Catholicity, but no accurate .obscrvl?^"^ iQ their religious controversies rr.im mn " "^ Piotestant^s .cud the prehensions of Can ^athX^r sS n" 7^? establishins 'he r own dirert cl lim tr. ir ^ ■''>iV''t'on, than in liering th.Ht is on the ru nVo "c tl.oMv l"' 'T'"' '"'■ fain hope can be founded ortlu if b ,^ T "v" •" *="■ her shoulders they c„n reach 1, tt .-B cn!:,:^.^?™'" "" =atz;tt^^n^r^r.Kr<;^ir-^«'^ Ce'n-f :- ctT;f ^d ih";'r r '^^^- =«= t V.11 VI a ftcnoia. , and that feclin2:3 more jintirlii-la'.o,. u man" are one and the same. I am sure th ,f ,■ " ^''-'" .=..ed of commo. di.crhnination, o hu 'e b v , ■" StT:"" '"T. lof a moment suppose that th.y were fl'o', fi e i^,, V,,; ""''' person ; I most solemnly ,M f !'..te of aJ,riration to Hk e or n"e of conrri'r"' '" F'^ ^ *"- )l expression in whi<-,h Mv. C shoTo-l fho'' '" ''"■i """'"'?' :l.^«.Sed callings, by ,ho Bin.p otoce s of S':;'''* V'i^^ ' iry muntle" in mv « =.,,.,ii i,,.u V, * °' ''"''■* "J " flow. ' C2 30 Jldip-ious Controversial Discussion. He ilien proceeds to sliow the falsity of my argument, that " he must hold all other Protestants accursed as he does the Catholics" — but " what a falling oft" is there my countrymen !" — a more complete failure 'twould be unnecessary to desire he must yet remain caged up " alone in his bigotry," And s«igh " 1 can't get out," like Yorick's starling. Cut, lest it would appear that he had nothing to say in his delence, he throws out a parcel of general charges against the Catholic (-'hurch, some of which I shall notice en passant, hut to enter into the minutiae of the whole wouldjrequire a greater space than could be afforded in a newspaper. He asks, where do I llndhis declaration that Catholics will be damned F Sure- ly he has plainly enough already told us that in his writings, but if further proof be necessary, let him look to the para- graph immediately preceding the one in which he asks the .question: speaking of the visible Church of Christ, and he Will llnd that he considers the Roman Hieraiichy to form no part of il — now " out of the Church it is impossible to be sav- ed," is th'e declaration of Holy writ ; connect these, and w hat ^ will be the deduction ? Lord what a cut he gives the Catho- lics, with respect to their mode of reconciliation to an offend- ed God, when he gently touches on the hacknied expression - that " there is no njcdiator between God and nian but Jesus Christ." Every Catholics believes that Jesus Christ is the te Mediator ; and that through him all prayers must pass to :4hroncof grace : but has Christ himseli' never appointed ijtsk inierrnediatc Mediator, (if the oipression maybe used) ? Let us examine : John c.Jl'O, v. 22, 23 — " Receive ye the Ho- ly Ghost, whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained"— from which promise it v/ould appear, that Chiist has appoint- ed a Mediator upon earth. To say that that pcwer ceased with ihe.Apostlcs, would be to say that all the mission and ])Ower which was delegated to them ceased, that the link v.'hich con- nected lowly m;;n with his exalted God was swept away, and that the whole Church had become extinct with that essential part of it. But 1 shall require to touch on this again, before 1 conclude — and this be it remembered, is what be terms the ' damning blot of Popery." I now come Id the main point of attack, viz. his endeavour Religious Controversial Discussion. 31 he does the s endeavour the prove the Pope and Antichrist one. The English language ijould fail to lend an epithet opprobrious enongh to apply to the man who would set forth his attempt to prove it, when, if he had consulted plain scripture instead of intruding his hypo- critical whining and false prophecy upon the public, he could easdy have ascertained it to be utterly repugnant to revelation. —1 no;v com^e to try this argument by the test of scripture— and although a Layman, and, as I have before stated, occu- pied with a business that gives me little time to refresh mv memory With the Scriptures, preparatory to a eontroversy ; and, with all these disadvantages, having to cope with a per- son who has made it is hobby-horse, and who, I presume, has every text on his tongne^s end like a parrot ; (but, unfor- tunate for him--fortunate for me, in the present instance- knows as little of its true meaning as the parrot knows of its own prating) I say with such disadvantages in point of oppor- unity, I fad not at all discouraged but rejoice in the oppor- tun.ty now afforded me.- . t. There have been several Popes ---Anticlmst is one parti ..ar man : (II. Thess. c. ii. v. 3.) ' i//e manofsm, ^Ac son of perdition."— 2d. (II. Thess c 11. y. 4.) "That he is Ufted up ohove all that is called God —now, does the Pope acknowL^dge a Cod ?— if he does, he IS not hftod above God.— Gd. (Rev. c. xiii. v. 13.) -And he doeth great signs, so that he maketh even lire to come down Irom heaven m the siglit of men." Mr. Christmas will not concede the Pope the power to work miracle?, ern-o, he is not Ant.carist !-4th. (Rev. c. xiii. v. 17.) - TluU in those dnys no man^iall buy or sell, but he that hath the mark or name ol the beast, or the number of his name." Mr Christ- mas can buy and sell to-day in the open streets, without a mark, ergo, ihe days of Antichrist have not yet arrived.— 5th. (Mark c. xui V. 24, 25.) - That in these days, after the tribula- lon the sun shall be darkened, and >.nt s.iine in all their lustre— er-o, these are not the days of Ai^ti- rhrist.-6th (Mat. c. xxiv. v. 22.) " That for the sake of the elect, Antichrist's days shall be shortened." 1221 years the papal chair has been filled, by Mr, Q.'s account, a few wmmamm 31 Religiout Controversial Discussion, hundred years longer by our's— in either case *(is a pretty long time, for a man to live whose days were to have been §horiened. Thus far saith Scripture I have now to point out " a slight mistake" in the date tvhich Mr. C. has given us for the rise of the Roman Antichrist Mr. C. asks " must a Lay- man be told, in prophetic language (prophetic indeed when coming from Mr. Christmas) that a day is the symbol of a ye?.r ?" He need not be told so — he knows that day and year may be called synonimous, as there is but the one term fur both words in the original Hebrew, — but then that speaks as much on one side as the other, and as the argument is unsup- ported by any other text, but completely contradicted, it were preposterous to advance it. "However, dating the rise of Po- pery at the time Mr. C. gives— 606, (or 766, he does not exactly know which) of course Christianity llvas pure until then.-— Now, St. Cyprian wrote in thayear of our Lord 250, and gives us, as the universal doctrine of the Christian cliuroh at that period, the sacrament of Penance as (he Catholic Church now holds it, *' that damning blot of Popery," accord- ing to Mr. Christmas. So much for Antichrist ! ! !— I am as little disposed to religious controversy as any person, because I consider that good seldom results from it ; but, when I sec my religion so basely and unjustly attacked, so long as I am able I shall resent the attack, with all the arguments with which Tkuth shall furnish me. It would appear, to hear the opponents of Catholicity whin- ing about that Church withholding the Scriptures from the laity, (which she does not) that the moment a Catholic would opei3 the inspired volume, the transcendant light of Protes- tantisn (I beg pardon, Americnn-Presbyterianism) would sparkle on his benighted mind like the meridian sun on the diamond that is exposed to its rays on some barren waste ; notwithstanding, Mr. Christmas may premise from the fore- going quotations that Ihave *< opened the book, and read," that 1 have attentively perused it—not with the desire of find- ing texts wherewith to condemn the religion of others, but to search for the truth, (for Mr. Christmas will see that I have noryet uttered a syllable against the tenets of his faith— I have merely defended my own) and, notwithstanding my attentive ' t remain Sirnn^G lu sa J' i y ^ ' I Vi A CATHOLIC LAYMAN. Tlcligious Comroversial Discusn&n. To the Editor rf the Montiibal Hrrald. Si SrR,--Tn your paper of the Cth inst. -..ppearod a com- nninicatmn signed - Ap.eudonmenos." The intention of tuat nritor as expressed in one of "his prelirninarv re- marks, is certainly highly praiseworthy ; and, we have on- m y to express a re^^^rct, that he was not enabled to put hat intention into execution. In communications intended for ? he pu d.c eye ^' style " as well as " expressions" shouW be studied ; and, that adopted, and those selected, which are o.the most easy apprehension, ar^d intended for instruction v.ther than ciitsvce. How f.r the writer has succeeded in ei- ihoroi these points, it is only necessary to refer to the com- municatiort lo form a correct decision, "it struck me as beinir not a itlle singulir, that an individual should attempt to pawn himself upon «.e public as a scholar, conversant with the . '^;="'ned kngiiages," and yet not be enabled to write his own inte.iigibly. Phis however 4ippears in strict accortknce with many parts of the services in that ch:irch to v4)rch A. belongs iTrpUL'Tf -'' fr^'"'^ being the least int^^liigible, the Lathi s reported tarm- the mere ready spprehensiea of all classes, ilowevcr much we may admire the writer's apparent candour, we cannot but regret the ^reat cbliquity in his mental vision, i lie expression cf aversion.to the Gontraversy as thus far .iianngcd, comes with a very bad grace from " Apseudoume- n-)3 ; as it is to himrelf principally, that is charga^le th3 ven- om and rancour which has as yet been exhibited. And be- «.des, who hrst threw down the gauntlet ? who first assumed tae pen ol warfare ? :>,o other than this, same being under the signatures of " a €athalic," and a '^Catholic Priest.^' Who was it that offered himself the champion of the public, the defender of the rights of this community ; whether politi- cal, religious, or civilno other then - Apseudoumenos" under the garb of '; a Catholic." Thus much for the very oomph- cent and pacifac comn^encementof his present communication. 1 here IS such a jumhie of premises and deductions, ofposi- /wM . ^?"^V^e^'PO«itions, of inferences direct and indirect, that the task of answering grows more weighty as I proceed • and I am fain, to cry out, O Logic, how miserably art thou Idllen—thine once was the province to guide the mind in ratio- CiiiatlOn : hnf nrviw fh/Mi i^^^f 'k..f >. r. i i •• ^ - , — ,,,...^^ .^^31 „„^ ^^y^„2j. ^J^^^ uewiiaer. in coa» 34 jReligious Coniroversial Discussion, firmation of this, I have but to refer the reader to tliat part, where *' Apseudoumenos,' remarks upon the request made to Mr. Christmas for the name of the female who had become & subject of revival in Mr. C.'s church. Other causes than those assigned by •' Apseudoumenos, ' have been the means of the extension find present empire of Ins Mother Church. Had it depended solely upon "its sano tity, i'ts puritv, its disinterestedness, and the unanimity of iti members respecting points of doctrine," it would scarcely have entered upon the burning sands of Africa ; or have crow- ed the Inlus ; or have surmounted the biltows of the Atlantic, pnd become seated in these western confines. It was a bound- less ambition for temporal power and aggrandizement, rather thnitfor spiritual good, that gave sitmnlus to the propagator! of the Romish religion. It was her idolatry that caught hold of the congenial feelings of the heathen world ; and the splen- dour of her ceremonies served to rivet the fetters, which o- ther than her heathenish forms could not have bound. Be- sides, her rule has been extended by the sword and the faggot, and sustained partly by ignorance and terror. Wherever the thunders of the Vatican ha\e been found insirfiicicnt to cower down andk^epin subjection, the glittering steel, and the plumed helmtv have been put into requisition — and when these began to lose their terrors, the inquisition came into ex- istence and in all Roman Catholic countries wherever practi- cable, this iniquitous establishment assumed its f.arful svyay. *♦ Apseudoumenos" should not hold back the truth, if he wish- es to retain his assumed title oi Truth teller. The ♦' Sanctity" of the Romish Church is displayed in de- throning Christ ofhis mediatorship, and •?)f placing fdilibU:; moa in his stead* ; and its " purity" in the many corriipt.oni •which have crept in since the assumption of vioegerency on •the part of their Popes in the seventh century. — Such as th4 doctrines of Image and Saint worship, Purgatory, Transub- ftantiation, &c. &c. ; and its ** disinterestedness" in laying de- •olatethe vallies of Piedmont, and blanching the Alps with the * See a discourse delivered upon the last Anniversary of .fit. Patrick's Day in this City, in which it is expressly 8t«te4 4hat St. Patrick was sent as a mediittor between Uod .and tuaii^ lleliucer,ho. assumes dominion over portions ofcountric- where onr^e the banner otJier cros3 wuved triumphimtlv • but where at the. present time she scarcelj can count an adherent — looic to Alnca.. Italy m.ty indeed be termed'* all Catholic •" m^ It I. undoubtedly, in a very considerable de-ree, attribrV table to her religion, that she row exhibits a fearful de-ene- racy. Pcr.iaps no part of the civilized world can bo pc^nted out, w.iero cnwe is more prevalent, and where vice rei-n* uiore triumpbant—tbcse in conjunction with the marar'ia. (bad a.rj are desolating the fair adds of Uiat once fairer por- ion of he earth. Rome is the centre of the region over which the mal ana prevails ; andthe habitible parts of that city aro hecoming, annually, more and more circumscribed. The «.i** of ancient Rome has already been given up ;and the very heart of the mo Jern city is now invaded. . Her approaching doom it chMinctly legible upon herdaserted manstons. >* Three fourths ol the space withm the walls of the city" sayMbe North ^ m2no;m Review for January l.C2'3,.:- have been given uuir )3 (the malaria) desolation ; and eren in the Vemaindr^- tltough <:rowded with Churches, that would be Cathedruii idsewherei and with Palaces, such as transalpine kings do not dv9eh m,. the unseen pestilence still goes forth unjnolested.- And when the Pontilf becomes ousted from thi» place of'th* primeval glory and:, establishment of the Romish Church a imracle, probably, will be found requisite to re-establish tho »'Mt iier empire in some mora favoured spot. Wherever indeed the Roman Catholic Religion prevails, there ignorance i» to be tound as its mseperable concomitant; This rirrnm* Bt4nce might be^ considered as desin.ble, by otliers than Pa. pisti. provided the doctrine held by Cardinal Bellarmine was correct, that ignorance is the mother of devotion.'' Whr tloes m^t - Apsamloumenos," when he contradicts ihe asser- tion of the Christian Sentinel relative to the use of the Scrip. .ure« m his own^ Church, quote the decree of some Council t<> show that other than the Vulgate is allowed to be put into riio hands ot the laity. What English or French translation t H^ Eeligious Controversial Discussion.. Mch as her Priests would willin-ly, and J > put into drc^b- Zn. A knowledge of this cirrumstance hns lci>g hcen a de- 8ideralun» ; and wc hope now to be put .vj V<^^^^^^-^ ^ fact without dehiy or ecpiivocation. The charge o/the Ch n^ tian Sentinel mu/t be considered as wt-11 grounded until this .• done. The hope expressed by - Aps^eudoumenos in con- clusion, is such a. we feel m.cb pleasure m comcd.ng in~ may the d.y n^H U distant, wh.n " uHcjuity" shull cease, and -falsehood and misrepresenlr.tion- meet with its nieriteU contempt. CONSTAT. • To the Editor of the Mo.vtreal Herald. Sir —Through the medium of your useful journal, we noir hold :n our possession three lengthened and elubo.ate con.mu- nications, eich-sigued J. S. Christm.s. We cull those pre- cioufi articles, invaluable docurrK^nts, and well worthy of n distinct place in the colonial archives, U ,s the opinion of others that those prodiTctions are of an insipid kind savouring of a home spun wit, insolent in many ways, but everyway - insupportable, and those are iudividuals, remarkable tor acute- ness of discernment of deep research and profound erudi- lion ; men respectable in society, of c>:penenced worth, inea Tv'hose principles are. not biased by prejudice, whose integrity i« not swayed by interest. , ^ . .. . r U is with so«i^ reluctance thAt I duTer in sentiment trom such charactcr«,>et I doubt not, if they consider my motives, but thev may feel warrantablii in justifying my argument. 1» it not necessary to know t^ic manner in which and the persons. by whom falsehood and misrepresentation are so wide ycircu- lated f Surely, this is important. It is by a knowledge oi •uch, that people am be?t guard against their baneful influ- ence. In order to conceive to extent to which lalschood is now wont to bfe carried, we need only have recourse to the above mentioned article The following are extnic ts. from L private communication, of the Revd. Mr. Christmas to the Revd. Mr. Spring, on the MontrealTcvn'ing system. - AChureh meeting was called, - They had been in my "absence confessetiiy lu a most siupui uuu /•"""""•'r^' • "" • liey, began to start from their slumbers. ; two or three days- •*-kiiW*. 4'*v|r Religious Controversial Discussion, 37 )cen a de- on of this [he Chri?- ]ntil this it 9" in con- fiding in — cease, iiu(i IS merited ISTAT. n]y we noxr ite coniuiU" hose, prc- orthy of n opinion of I savouring every way ! for iicute- )und erudi- vorth, nnen se integrity ment from ly motives, ;ument. h the persons idelycircu- owiedge of" meful influ- alschood is urse to the :ract9. from tiristmns to system, been in my three days- of fisting wr?ro obiervcfl, a right stute of feeling increased, dealin;^ f lithfuily with the people was commenced." Those are be.mtiful, f«ir but unfounded assertions. " My labours (said the writer) have been above my strength, the physician tells mc I must desist,'* and I say it would be prudent to Uika bis advice. " I hive almost seen the footsteps of the almighty, and have witnessed what ou^ht to have convinced an Atheist," a great assumption. The next are from the K^tterto the Editor of the Herald. *' I am free to confess th it it contiinsd one or two passages which I should hive omitted, hid I expected that publicity would h ive been (;iven them — passages which are calculated to give unnecessary oflf.^nce. and wound feelings, I would not wantonly injur\" ' Whit a liberiy to privnte correspondents to wound what feelings they please, provided it be inprivate. ** I have observed with regret a criminal laxness of senti* ment among the Chnsti-m cienominaticns of Canada, and 4 pusillanimous desertion of the hig!. ground f the reformation ;" insolent assertion, puerile. — '' 0:v(»ry.clergym;m of the church of England solemnly subscribes to the thirty nine articles. If any one will consult those authorities to ascertain the opinioo of the Church* of England on the subject, let him a^ mongKt others read the Homily against peril of Idolatry, and the following from the 2ath Homily." These arguments are no arguments, they are insidious in their tendency, illogical, unfounded ; he does not know the Church of England, nor her tenets, nor her usages. It is a flouncing argument to Irmge a bad cause. The Holy Ghost, say they, was promis- ed to the Church, and never forsakoth the Church ; but we are the chief heads and principal p^rts of the Church—ergo— and," false and disgusting logic. All the other assertions, respecting the popes contained 'ia the same column, are foul allegations, having no more the semblance of truth than a place in the breast of any honoura- ble man. " Such is the language of the accredited standards of the Church of England, and which I quote to remind some timid and inconsistent protestants, that I am not alone in my bigotry." Extremely profound, maliciously so. cannot be uue by accident, but goes entirely to prove "the very con*^,. i ' ■ '1.^- 7l\ 11 1 RdigioutControveraial Discussion 38 TV of what the logician would intend. KnoHy science, not obtainable by every person ! ! ! Now Mr. Editor, 1 majn- tain it is conducive to the well being of a people to discover from whence snch unhallowed sentiments flow in order t» euard against an indiscriminate mixture.— Who could .magmo, that any inau could be capable of such premeditated slander. as we find in the above. It wears a most melancholy aspect in one sense, while it becomes truly r.diculous on the other. In this letter since it brings to our remembrance, a story. ivhich is told concerning a gcntteman and his parrot.^ he tcu „artial to those birds and indulged the one he had by g.ving- it its liberty, and allowing it lo accotni,;my him ^ «;^ ' '«"; ent apartments, of his dwelling house, and frequently o he eai-den, &c. when a certain lady who came on a visit to the lentleman's fhce, observed it wr,o usual to l^^^ f'";'^ '" cases, the gentleman accordingly procured one, batthe par- rofwas scarce in the cage, when he began to inveigh apin his master most bitterly in the language he acqnired. He felt ouite restless. The gentleman asked one o, the servants, (a Coloured hoy,) what was the cause of his parrots uneasiness. he received the following as an iuisv.er, he vant he be enlarge „ J^ and 1 wish the same, said another servan , he c.n- Ws to b 'lly »H' ^i^ce master put him there.-So he was Sged. Indeed Mr. Editor the only revenge which we re- nu ire and which can be had of those who knew not how to rea- ITby reason's rules, s either to enlarge them entirely, or r no attention to them when they speaK. W'f ^« _';^*^^" nnd relirion say yes, they are sure to say, no ! ! '• Hut su . 1 now en er on the third act, I hope thereii.re shortly to hav. done truly I had no idea that Mr. Ch. i.tmas would have refuse' an e^pl""^""*'" °" "'^ ^^"^•'"•' '^f"°- ^l" T'^Z leZi^eAiL he refused because it could have no tfiidency to Ihe uWc good ; be it so. We required the na;ne of the re.- Ject'^le clmnict'er. he rece;>^d into tl,e s,:.U^, he refused nn the same ground, and on the s?nie luinciplcs. V\ e_^ tMidency to ne of the res- n, he refused , We did not t-as a Catholic le ! ! ! he on lan, he would nts explained ESS. I feci ia ' IleH((tous Controversial Discussion. sd a doable difficulty resp9ctinghim.-T cannotdemonstrate nor will I pretend to r,;iy whether he was led by principle, or influen- ced through inti rest, into the nnode of proceeding, he observ- ed throughout. If by principle one half the foul allegations advancetl would be sufficient, but where, was his interest ? He had none. There is one leading feature in his last ; it is the desire the gentleman has of talking of religious subjects. We beg to assure him we desire to stigmatize irrebgion, we do not wish lo give quotations in news papers from Holy Writ. We wish to apprise him that our discourses are generally held on matters of religion with those who give explanation whers called for, h^^fore these who are able to determine on the ac- curacy of logical definitions. We do not desire to force peo- ple to receive the plan of an individual as a form of religion before i'ley can learn its meaning. Indeed we understand that nuch could be alfacted by the knowledge of Geometry in the re/iving way, i. e. by imaginary circfes. True a point is that w'-.ich hath neither parrs or magnitude according to Simpson's Iv.iclid, but the author on revivals say« it is something, 'o they do not agree and how to make a religion of the thing I 'know not. li.i will find this prob.ihly, with more ease than he can observe the directory for public worship. He howe- ver tells us that he is ready to held a public discussion either written or oral, and thereby to prove that the word of God was violated by Catholics, &c. Snre, if such an expression ■ were mi^lB use of by ariy of ihe students of a University-, 4he v^v,-y ston^y? ^voul 1 fill for shime from thoir places in the walls* 'Oh piety ! learning ! bui oh ! degenerate age ! ! '. Let mr^ now beg of the llev/i'd of a ditfarent religion. I esteem thtem for their wart'S the^r are well bred gentlemen, men of honor, not revivers. I vatuM wish the Rev. gentleman would have their opinion on the propriety of t'>e measure before he would enter the list. Should he obtain this, the Layman will fael suiTiciently prepjrred to answer for h'mself and religion ; hht not fir a revival. And sir I shall cone hide this article by re^uestiiJi; of the Revd. Gentleman to turn the least part of m "■flp" ■•■ i 40 Relifrious Controversial Discussion, h\9 attention to an article in a late number of the Montreal Herald the title is as follows. Amrican Missionaries in the Sandwich Islands from the NeW'York Enquirer. A consideration of this article may be of more immediate use, than to enter on subjects for the discussion of which, I find him rather coarsely prepared. The Catholic is smart, active, and sometimes too, nimbly impolite, when he finds a man not wishins; to hear the truth. The article I allude to terminates in the following manner, " These are by no meant gratiiying statements. They prove the unfittmgness of those missionaries for their task and alarm the philanthropist for the effects of their foolishness. The best way for the Sandwich- ers, would be, the first fine day .to put them, when the wind blows off land, on board some vessel bound for Europe or A- merica. What right had they to plant the seeds of dissentioa, • social misery, and civil war in this way ?" Sir, I beg to remain. Your Obedient humble Servant APSEUDOUMENOS. To the Catholic Layman. Sir,— We live in an age of wonders— an age which is cot only distinguished by the most astonishing improvoments in me- chanics and in general literature, but also in religion : and la which a •' Catholic Layman" is allowed to contend for Catho- lic verities. As in your recent attempt to defend Cotholicity, as you are pleas',^ to designate the Romish Faith— you have made a few statements which* I do not understand; and a» I am one of those dull travellers in the path of learning and re- ligion, who have often to stand »till, and enquire the way of others ; 1 beg permission to i)ut a few questions to you for my information : and as ♦* a Catholic Priest" is at present very actively employed in Riving " a word to the wise," perhai>i ♦* a Catholic Layman" cannot do better, than devote one of his mid-night hours to the ignorant. What, Sir, is the meaning of the phrase " intermediate mediator.!'" The Greek word for mediator, is, 1 believe. Mntes, from mears, the middle ; and the Hebrew term^ if / / Religious Controversial Discussion* 41 esh banamjim, that is, a ina>i betzveen, or a middleman, ,vhich is, perhaps, the best dotinitloii that can be given of a mediator. Now, Sir, what is a middle middle-man ? Please to point out the connection between John XX. 22 23, and the doctrine of mediation, for my editication ; and in the mean time, instead of quotinj; a " hacknied expression" of Scripture, I will tell you a atory cormected with this subject, as a small remunera- tion for the trouble which I am givin<; you. A tenint of one of the Dulvcs of Alhol, hid been oppressed by one of His Grace's dependants, and applied to the stewards and flictors belonging to the estate, for redress ; but all his applications to thei, having been unsuccessful, he resolved to hiy the aflfHip before the Duke himself. He did so, and succeeded. His Grace, being pleased with the man's convcrsatjon, took him into his picture gallery, and alio into his chipel ; there were several paintings in the chapel, representing different saints, and the man enquired why they were there ? O ! replied his Grace, these are saints to whom I pray, that they may inter- cede with the Saviour for me. Oii ! replied the honest far- mer, you'll not succeed, unless you goto the only Mediator Christ Jesus, yourself ; for 1 went for a long time to muckle Sandy, and little Sandy, but I could obtain no redress till! xame to your Grace ! So much for intermediate mediators. Did not our Redemer carry his human nature into Heaven with him ? Does ho not still possess it ? Shall itnot exist for ever ? Is it not stated in the Deuay translation of that book, which you say yen " hive attentively perused" that Christ assumed oar nature, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest before God in behalf of the people ? How- then can the '♦ link that connects lowly man with his exalted God, be swept aw.iy" by the destruction of what I conceive to be your uu^oriptural doctrine of " intermediate mediator.'^' Where did you learn that there is but " one term i6v day nnd year in the original Hebrew ?" Surely the learned gentle- man, who gives " words to the wise," and who condemns in «ach unquahlied terms our translation of the Bible, could tell you that there are such words as " skanaW and " mow" in the Hebrew Scriptures ; and that the first of these signifies a ■year, and the second a day ? Ho^v then do you prove that D 9t it Rehgtoua Controversial Discussion, " there is but one term lor day and year in the Hebrew Scrip- tiires." Where is it stated in the Bible, as you have said it is, that *' out of the Church it is impossible to be saved ?'* Mention the version, the book, the chapter, ai^d the verse, if you please, as 1 am anxious to find it ; and when you are weary of searching for it, refresh yourself with reading over the Acts, X. 34, 35. , .t. J- .Unless you can furnish a satisfactory reply to the preceding enquiries, I -appeal to your judgment and candour, whether it may not be said to you, as yo. have said to the Rev. Mr, C. that *' you know as little of the meaning of Scripture, ai the parrot knows of its own prating ;" nay, more, Sir, that you even have not " every text on your tongue's end hke a parrot." I am, Sir, an older man than you are, and would advise you to be " swift to hear, slow to speak, and slower ttill to write." I admire your candour and courage in vo- luntarily coming forward to defend what you believe to he the truth • but you have been more ardent than prudent on thij occasion. - Leave your Priests to defend your religion, if the/ deem it necessary, and as you say • — -" the day Ilath duties which require the vigorous hand Of steadfast application :" employ your leasure hours at night, in reading, markins, lo;.rning. and inwardly digesting the Sacred Scriptures, to pro- ij o'ce your personal salvation, rather than to promote religtooi controversy. n ♦ 1 did intend to have made a few remarks on your nllu&km to the Christian Sentinel, but jis " a word to the wise" is suf- ftcicnt» I add no more, but remain, Yours, &c. A CATHOLIC. JJuT NOT A ROMANIST 'To the Editor of the 't^Evr Mostreal Gazette. Parhaps, Mr. Editor, it may hayc .been your mischance . more than once in the journey of hfe. %o enter inU? ^^^^^f digcussion with a stranger, whose appearance iBdicated the rulk of a gentleman, and before you had proceeded far, to be «iQdeceiirad, by th« |?f^ane and coarse languase ory^ lescn then enq jire now tar they correspond witn the Komish H»e- . rchy. Of course, I cm but briefly touch upon so many im- portant coinci'lences, and having adduced the prediction, shall only glance at its fulfdment. 1. *' The mm of sin" it was foretold " should not be re- vftaied" until ha who now letteth, (or hindereth), betaken out of the way," 2 Thess. 27. frenneus, in the second centu- ry, says thit he who for a prudential reason is thus obscurely described as *' he who now letteth" is the PajGjan Roman Em- pire. — This is' the general interpretation of the primitive Church. Tho' the mystery of iniquity beg:m to work even in the Apostle's days, yet political reasons checked the rahk- uess of its growth, ontil the downfrll of the Western empire, when the man of sin was flpeedily revealed, and soon reached Ihe maturity of corruption, ^l^very one versed in Ecclesiasti- cal History', knows how exactly this describes the rise, and progress of the Romish Heresy. 2. It wae foretold that he should bean ecclesiastical power "Hesitteth in the Temple of God" 2 Thess. II. 4. Tha popish application of Antichrist, then to Pao;an Rome, the Kings of France, ^c. is but an useless attempt to apply else where, what belongs to-tbcmselves. 3. He opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or worshipped, 2. Thess. 11. 4. An I there was given unto him a mouth speaking great tjdngg and blasphemies, &c. Rev. XIII. {). One of the titles of pontiff was, Djminm Deu» noster papa. Our LoiVl God the Pope. At his inaugurnt. Of these 5 had fdlei) before the Apostles' time, viz. th.it of kings, coQsuis, dictators, decemvirs, and military tribune:^ one then existed — that of emperors ; and the 7th, which (^ouki. continue but a short space, was the eiRirchate of Ra- Jiaii|» which was soon followed by the 8th, or papal tbrm of Govelikmeiit, which is of the seven. The beast on which the I lUCS iiS lUC i.V M uMjf«;ru«icui,| u$tui;A xu UMUVA Xl,» Religious Controversial Di$ci,ssion, 47 lost form, nnrl th \t, it must be .illovved, is not imperial, but pnp;il. — ' ani th(3 10 horns wliich thou s;nvest are 10 kings which iMve ivctilved no dontiinioii as yet" — Ch;ip. xvii. 12. This prophecy of the ten kings^ or kinn;..lo!ns into which the old Roiivan Fi npii-e wis aftonvards dlvulefl, his been remarka- bly fulliiled, and llxcs the existence of the profligate woman to a period sul>se In this gaudy attire,, well contrasted with, the 6ne linen, clean and, white, with whjch the Bride, the Lamb's* wife, is arrayed, we have a striking descnijtimi of the magni- ficent decorations, and splendid ritual, of the Romish Church. The very purpbe and scarlet vestments of the Cardinals and .Pope are foretold. Speaking of the splendour of the Papal Gourl, Mr. Addison says, " This is beyond description, and as much surpassed my expectation, as other sights have gen- erally fallen short of it. Silver can scarcely find an admittance., and gold itself looks but poorly amidst an incredible number of precious stones,-" 9. Let hira that hath understanding count the rrumber of the beast; for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred three score and six— Rev. xiii. 13. Before the in- troduction of the Arabic figures now in use, the letters of the alphabet were used for numbers.. It was also usual to sum up- the letters of their nam<;, and call the result the number of their name. Now take the appropriate title of the Pope *' Vi- c:iriu8 liiii Dei," Vicar of the son of God, and sura them upla the following manner :• — V. 1. C. A. R. L U. 6, - - 6 - - 1 - 100 - - - - - - 1 - - 5 - • 4> Maki \g the exact number 1 4e Religious Controversial Discussion. Or lest it be said th.lt as Ihc new Testament was written in the Greek Im-uigc, tint the experiment should be tried with aGreek ^^;or(l, take a Greek won', Lateinos, the Latin man, or He Lnfeine icmleia, the Latin kingdom, titles eminently applicable to the Popish Church, which was Rome, the Latin crty, for its metropolis, the Latin Bible for its standard : and the Latin I, nguage, the vehicle of their reiigiouH devotion; and, according to the Greek notation, the sam\» number is the result! !— Or let the appeal he made to the Hebrew, the most sacred of all ton«;ues, and, to our perfect astonishment, we tihd the word Romiith, which applies to either the Uoman Church, orthenoman State, according to the Jewish njode of reckoning, contiin precisely the ill-omened mimber 666 ! I You may search till your eyes jK:row dim with ape, and you will not find another such wronderlul corncidence. The Papists have indeed found the same number in a few other names, a- mong which they mention LCDOVICUS, Lewis ; but it is plam, upon theirown principles, that if they are the true Church the Bourbons cannot be Antichrist ; for they have al- ways shown such an attachment to the Papacy, that the Kings of France have had the title uf Eldest Son of the Church, ever 1 since the time of Charlemagne. 10. And the v.oman which thdu sawest is that great city which reigneth over the kings of ihe earth— Rev. xvii. 18. It IS needless to say what ci»y exercised dominion over the earth in the days of the Apostle. Popish commentators them- selves allow that Rome is meant, but confine the inter- pretation to Rome Pagan. To this, however, there are inseparable objections. The Pagan Rome Empire did not I continue above 300 years after the promulgation of Chiistia- 1 mty, but the dominion of the beast was not to begin tillafter I the downfall of the Pagan Erupire, and was to continue 1260 I years, 'til the dawn of the Millenium. Besides, the appella- I tion harlot, or adulteress, given to the woman, is the Scriplu- I ral emblem of a Church once pure, but afterwards become a- I postate, or idolatrous, and could not with any propriety be I applied to Rome Pagan, which always had been idolatrous, I but how perfectly it is fitting to Rome Papal remains to be I - -wn. Besides, Rome, as she existed before she received I tianity, never reduced the kings of the earth to icin in I 5iie aiiowed them the worship of their anciftot ^miuiumes. I. as written in be tried with e Latin man, is eminently le, the Latin .ndjird : and r8 devotion; nmber is the iebrew, the stonishment, r the Uoman cwish Hiode mber 666 ! I pe, and you The Pjipists ir names, a* is ; but it is re the true icy have al- at the Kings hurch, ever It great city V. xvii. 18. )n over the tatoFs them- the inter- there are pire did not J of Chiistia- ;in till afler itinue 1260 he appella- he Scriptu- i become a- ropriety be idolatrouf, mains to be e received h to jcia ID iieir aDci<^Dt Migioua Controveraial Diicussum, 49 ima^'ifl, and by Imporllnrr thoir idoTi in many c«8«!», bcewn* the Berlvetii !U\& not Xhc seducer ^ aa the Mother of Harlots if r; proa^utcd to be. It yv^s left to npbstate Roftie, to' the great whor2, to intoxicnte the world tythfe wm<^ of her Tomicatio!*, bysnbtlo insiiiualiofw, hnd polit'ic tnanfagcment, by artifiret and blandishments, to obtrn*n and preserve ber fisoepdeocyt without any adcqwile tGrtij)ora] force. '. " 11. Another mar?c -is. the extensive Influence of the nnti- christinn Ghiirch. And power \Vafs given unto him over all kinireds, and toncjut^s^andnaUong— Rev. xii». 7. For all na« ti^ii3 hivft drunk ofthe winebf tha wrath of her fornication— Ruf. W'ii'u 3. As a good innstratiofi of thi«, ] quote the wordiof Apsaudoumenos. •* The Catholic religion knows not its boundaries.'* ** It dy is all C.itholic, France, Spaing Portu- gal, Bohamxa, Polmd, with sortie exception ; the most weal- thy of the States of the Netherlands, the Cantons of Switzer- land, for the most part ; in Syria, in Persia, on the banks of the Indus, from the Gulf of Siberia to Cape Comorin, and in the most distant pirta of Asia, we find the inflnence of Catho- lic* daily to extend. Enter the confines of Aby9;ijnia, search the extensive regions of Africa, you will find them there. Do you say they arc not numerous in America ? Have you exa- mined from the mountains of Matan all along that exteaaire country to Mexico, Peru and Chili ?'* 12. And I saw the womandrantc with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the' martyrs of Jesus. Kf>v. xvii. 6. And it was given unto him (the befwl) to jn;\k#> war with th^ Saints, ar^l to overcome them. Rev. xni, -7. In the war made by the Papists, upon the Albigenses and W-ddenscs, a million ^f these witnesses for the truth wfih'y} of nocQcbPro- 2 revocation ohift<>t':<1ij5i oi A^inics^n testantaj wcTfi drivf;rr?>utof FrancG, yod nn immense number . filaughterod irrits soulh«ntciifttrieU- — .x 4rMnsaction celebnite4 by an rlhimination ..f»t Uorwe ii* soon us the news atriycd, . These are not merely cj(cor.se« which b-ivehech permille4i ." but jrfiow tiic f^pirlt by which the IlierarGhy has. been systerict' iicaliy j\ziitmtQ(L in the 6lh counGil of 'J'oledo, Can. 3, tb^ . HolyfutherH say, *' VVetho4jply council^ promuige this sen- tence, or. decree j?iea?inj;to €o(l. ' 'rhat-whosoevcr hereaAer, f-hall succeed to the Kingdom, ^Rhall not mount the throne, till he hfls sworn amouj: '^'th'^r odths, 4o permit po man to live in Ju!» Uingdom,; who is not a C«thoiic. (NULLl/M NON.CA- THOLfCUM.) Mv\ if « Ac r he has taken4he rtMns oCgov- * rnnicnt ho flj;*]! vtohte this promise, let |mn be anathemi rinrar.ilha in the £4;;ht af foe Kternal God, and become fuel nfthectcrndfire.^V (PAliULUM IGMS yF.TERKl.) By the rV)uneii oCLntoran under Poj^c Innocent III, Princes are required to puni^.-h h'Tct.ics . under severe penalties, and. the fir»crcc9 of the Lfteran council, were established by that of Trent, now iij full ibrcc. ■ : 13. The lut mirk which I sh;dl adduce iJentiryihg. the ChinTu of Roi^c v/ith Antichrist, is its heresy and idolatry. It. i& pr3:V nUa Jcpcirtiftg from the faith f ':ifaUi^g aTeay^ or aptKstr.y, ;in4 the < 'hurch tlins apoatatisnc!, is called, the mcHher oi' lil irjois, a lil'e certainly iaiplying theg'.jiH of idola- try. The Chirch of Kica* h .& departed from iha Catholic. filth, ^iy corr^ptiojC the c.trdio d doctrine of justJfiCJtion by ftith, tKrooj;h the aloaeuient of thi Redeemer, and substitur I'n:^ pf^jn-snce?, v^crki?, & -. in its stead ; by Ruperceding the n»;;h Pric?ihond cfour Ley rJ with inaunjenihle ** inUrmc.diaU inpdiatorn ;'' hy eKte'.i'l'n^ the period pt bnsiatj probotioa to the p'» *j 'j 'vntio^^-* of the Fathers «n authority para- mount to theScrtp'or^a ; by ac'optiiij; the Apocryphal writings info iU'i sacred awoa ; by aary univurr.jntcd aiifUtioms to pri- oMtivi ritc^3» •)» th il of o ptiii /», and the introduction of othersi, -lor ivhich IhtM't'ii ri> Scriptoful precedent, f j ertrmie unc* thhold- •ay! by .tt mmr.**. ^.u* Helijiotu Con)'/':>Dtt5lnl DUcusntm^ II inj Trom the Mity in th* Lor ra Htipp:jr thi chm'»nt of wine, which Christ directed a// 1m>» dii^cipl.'s to drink of, and then bj. . protstiding to tnrn tho breid iiiio th:; rc.d body an:l blood of Christ. Tojdl thcsa an I otl):;r errors the Church of Rome -, Hm added t\\e crime of idol itry. I know th it Piipisla »»rc in- dignimt ,flt tVw clur^;;, b.u ii to give thi creiture the honour (iaa th3 Creator b.» iilolitry, th 'n it nny be suh-jtantiated. Do they not aiddrea* thj ble<4ed Virgin wiih the blasphttinouf . titles of Mother of Go I an I Q,icjn ol' He iven ? Are not more S'jppUcations ndlresjad to her, tU.i:i to thi He:»r<»r of Pntycr^ t) whom all flesh should co;o2 ? Does not cdlin» npor- an,,:? abiaat and iavisiblc bein^ by imfHic ition a3crib3 to it the at- . tributca of Oinni presence nnJ omniscience ? Did time allow, I could produce quotations fro.n Popish wntingH, and manuals ofdev^tion in vrhich the works, attributes, nnl honours of the Divinity, arc ascribed to the mother of Jesus. You ha? 9 probably heird oftha famous Psilter of Bon, iventilre, in which all the addresses mide lo God, are applied to the Virgin. Ils.i authf^r w;is canonized by th^ Churchy and is hi-.nself admitted lo the tionoiur of bain^ worshipped anron^ the fraternity of Siiiots. Take, a quot.ition from it. *' Come nnto Mary, all. 3 n that Iribo If and are heavy ladon^ and she sh dl refresh your «o'aU. vXtome .iinto her in your temptation, and the serenity rrh3r CO mtenance sh-ili 'establish you. ti L-KJy ! in thee do I put my trjst, deliver my soul from my en'jmif.s. Ogive (hnnks unlo the Lord for hi* good. 0.givc thfinks unto his tnolher, for her mercy endureih forever.'* Much is jiaid con- ceding Latria, dtilia, and hyperdnlia^ the degrees of religiotis RCirvice due to God, M iry and the Sjiint^ ; but these nice dis- criminations, if intelligent to the learned, cannot be so to the ignorant, in onti of thf?ir great churches, yon mny see « proup of worshippers prostrate before i*n altar, praying '* Ho- ly Jesus, hare m ;rcy on us" — before another, h j?ercy oo u^" — Ha '.hirri iltalr, another company, 5>r»yinc;** Holy l^eter ! have nfcrcy jo us,** •— N.aw, wh'in the 8am«* individti.jl; prays wt those .•.uccessire- aitard^ith apparently the 3 ime devotion at each, bo-.v m h ui*ft\m\ ^n 'i riitltu U.kfrt/rMnrr' t\\n ^VAtA '* W/v* i.n •>«•<■»«_ * ta-ant is adv«Kicod byll^jerxi in d'coMr of iia-tga war^Mp, whicb a.\ i JfleHgiousControwTsiaiDisctissioR, coulil floi arvc l>een n?f>d with th^ s ime propriety, hy the an- cient Pagiins in behalf of their idols. '< !f the Catholic Layman or any dispassionate render crm c- ▼»i!e this body of evidence, identiryipor the Romish Chore?* with the Apostate Anti-Christ of Prophecy, he will relieve my ondemtandinj; of a conviction I cannot but cntertu'n, and which is «»nt(?rt:!ined by the great body of conscientious and enlightened Protestants. Should any error he detected in the detuil ; still it will not ipvalidite the evidence en masse. The marJjs arc so nomerotjs. obvious, nnd impplicable to any thin;; elae»' th.it to me they are irresistible. Lord B;iGon remarked^ that were the Romish Hierarchy arraigned nt his bar on the* charge of being Anti-Christ, he should be obliged from the c- ▼idence to commit him. I leave this communication for the serious consideration of your Catholic re ?d,^r». It is not my wish to irritate or accu«c ; but my heart's i.^ire and prayer to God for them is, thit they miy corne to the, knowledge of the truth. For this purpose, I am an\iou3 that your Catholic correspondents should deal in argamepti, cot invective ; and discuis, principles — not per- •onaliticji. It v;i!l be more djgnitied for themselves, and more advant^eoua for the tn;th, on which ever side it may be. 1 Jim, Sir, reipactfully, i* S. CHRISTMAS. in i ■x/^j-a. 4.;a.s lidisim, Controvcnial DUcusmn. £3 To the Editor of the N.w Mc^a... G.z.xt.. Revival, conceraipfw^ch Z' / ' "" *'"= "^'""-^ o*" » of the Lord." It i, j'/tifieT ,°[7*f '""Sf™'" the preseni writers. - O toAC^^;^ "^^^f <^''^'^ l^frea 'A'^o- itself i,m;„-nly Cor' w -mi v'f kT' '"'= "*=• ""« cr.be in its usual /rm?of t cu^roiee" Tr" '"7^^ ''^^- j' eonerMy precede,) by a .evTvToftt i !" •"'"'''? "'^S'"^'"' I'gious people. They are arn, Jl r "''i <'?'^''"'»S Piety, of re-. n«s, and in diifereTce to r'Tze H?'" ,7 ''"''''' '•"^«>'«^'»- •nan, to turn unto the Lord bvf,' f'^'^f-""' '» God and er. They deplore mstZ, I «•' '."""'Nation, and pray- .upplicatin'g th'e .■nfl^uet^'Tf Xl f S,? '';';'^' =""'! ""''«'"■ convert, thoughtless, and nenlh!. ■'^^ ^'"""o '"vaken, and '3 seldom until fuithfuHnd T^' • = """'"■" ''™™J "lem. It •bat the work of confer o„ 1 ^;"£.}!7^f: '^f '"=,=" "^'^• tnte preserving spirit of »r-,vpr''."-T"''' ''"'"'"«• con- heaven, and conveys " tlul^tr,' °'\'""' ""^ "''"''"'vs of one and another are d .covert,! f"'"'™''^ »'"'■'!''•" Now cerning their eternal weTf"rc Th'/ TT"," ™^'<='y' ^O"" " •■aners condemned by a Ho v Gorl ^1 u ">'"'««''--'=s to be tamhisfwour Th'vrf ^ ,?' ""'"'■"'<= "<> 'v-iy to ob- Act. that their helrt^^a rrn^ij^lir/'ft'c'ri "''^"^^ V" ''''' ' chriracter and covernm,.ni '^ "■'" »t God, opposed to his 'till their rnor.rnat„r™is .'h nit" "P "7'' '■"' ''^ happ^ contemplated this coid, on ™fh' f 'T "''-^ *'^"'« P^""''" "j ^retchedn,: a, n "ver c'^ ^^:'^ '^'' «"=.'' » vievv of their oag.'^r in some esses fl,™ ol-r' ■<7"/'""' ''^«P" »»<» hght to shine out ofd irU?- °~ '""' '*"" commanded 'h« iisht of the fflorv ;--r't- ",'"'? '"'* "'<'"• "«"«'. fo give 7( 64 Religious Controversial Discussion. the justice that condemned them, embnice the Saviour whom they rejected, and choose the paths of piety which they for- merly considered tedious and disgusting. Now what takea place in one or two individuals, takes place in numbers, the demand for public and private instruction is increased, and the pastor'^ labours are multiplied. Prayer meetings are thronged — " those who fear the Lord speak often to one ano- ther," and again, and again, the solemn, and interesting inquiry, reaches the ear, " men and brethren what must we do.*' Meetings expressly for persons of the latter description are held, in which the pastor converses with, and prays for them. These meetings have been terrjied, meetings o\ inquiry for the ana:icu3. Olten a single individual in a f;miily is made a par- taker of divine grace, and the latent enmity of the heart is de- veloped by holiness brought so near, and he becomes the butt of reproach and disaffection among the rest of the members of the household. The profligate, and many of the seemingly moral, are aroused to a strenuous opposition to the work of God, and some become outrageous in their blasphemies, re- vilings, and misrepresentations. Sometimes a solemn impres- sion pervades a whole neighbourhood, religion is the only to- pic of conversation, prayer meetings the only places of resort, opposition is silenced, not a murmur of gainsaying is heard, while the Lor'Iin his majesty is bowing the hearts of sinners, and filling his people with adoring joy. Such is a revival of religion It usually comes in answer to prayer, is carried on by the instrumentality of truth faithfully exhibited by man, and powerfully applied, by God, and results in the conver- sion of a congiderable number from the ways of sin, to paths of righteousness, and the wisdom of the just. Will any serious man say that such an event is not desirable ? And have they not taken place in hundreds of instances ? Wc speak what we do know j we te.^lify whatt we hare seen. Has not the Church of God in all ages been beau- tified by Ziou's King? Among others we might mstance the sudden conversion of the Israelites, as with the heart of one man, from the deep declensions, in the reigns of Asa, Jehoshaphet, IJezekiah, and Josiah. After the Bahvloni^jh captwity, Ezra was iHstrumental in turning the Jews from their iniquities, with a powerful impulse. During the minis- try of John the Baptist the Kingdom of heaven appears to Religious Controversial Discussion. 65 have sustained an unusual pressure. On the day of Penticost, about 3000 persons, the enemies and murderers of the Re- deemer, experienced that alternation of conviction and joy and peace in believing, which I have described. A few days after, about 5000 more were added to the company of believ- ers, in the same way When the persecution arose against the Church, which was at Jerusalem, the disciples that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word, and revivals of religion ensued at Samaria, Antioch, and other places.— Indeed the whole book of Acts, is but a history of Primitive revivals. The Ecclesiastical Historian may trace them through the whole process ofthe Church as the princi- pal way in which Gori has enlarged its borders. In the six- teenth century surprising revivals followed the labours ofthe Reformers in Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, Eng- land, and Scotland, where numbers were not merely convin- ced of the errors of Popery, which would have been a small matter, but were brought to an experimental knowledge ofthe truth. In the year 1625, there was a great turning unto the Lord, in the VVesfern part of Scotland. In 1630, at a com- munion season in Shotts, a small town between Glasgow and Eflinburgh the divine power, was manifest in the awakening of 500 persons, who afterwards gave evidence of true conver- sion. The year 1633, is one long to be remembered by the Church of Scothind. In 1628 there was a great revival thro* the Province of LTlster, in Ireland. And during the plague of London, lo65, it is known that thousands, and thousands' were brought to a serious consideration of ; leir eternal interests. For a fullor account ofthcse and other revivals, you may eon- «u't th^ *♦ Historcal Collection" of Dr. Gillies, long a minis- ter of Glasgow, and son-in-law ofthe celebrated McLaurin, Fleming's - Fulfilling of the Scripture" III. part, and Dr. Calamy's Life of fiaxter. You need not be reminded ofthe extensive revivals which followed the labours of Whittield, Wesley, and Iheir coadjutors. Under a single sermon of >\ hitfield preached in Moorficlds, three hundred persons be- came hopefully pious ; and at one place in particular in Scot- land, I cannot now recollect its name, and have no opportu- mty of referring to it, there occurred one of the moat won- derful displays of divine grace in modern times. In the life ofthe Kev. JohnBerridge of Overton, England, you may see i r .^.f,! 66 Religious Controversial Dhcnssion. a mention of a revival in which about 4000 persons in a single parish, within the space of a year, were brought into the Kingdom of God through the preaching of that good man and an asbistant. But it is the Western continent which the Most High in biter times has especially visited with the outpouring of the spirit, and which seems to mark it " as the land of pro- mise." From 1680 till 1714 the Colonies of New England were blest with a succession of revivals. A narrative of the revival in Northampton, Mafrachusetts, in which tl:ree hun- dred souls were added to the Church, by President Edwards, who was then pastor of that place, was republished in Eng- land, with a recommendatory pref'.ce. by Dr. Watts, nnd Dr. Giiyse. Since the com.mcncemcnt of the present century, the United States has been uoculiarly the land en wliich the show- ers oi' divine grace have descended.. AlmoL^ every section of this vast republic, has been visited with revivals of religion. In the month of April it was stited thnt above 'iOO towns were at th:!t time experiencing the pcrulinr blessing ot'the Spirit. Many of those awakenin<;s are extensive, and powerful. From 300, to 500 persons, are frequently converte!-! in a single town, in the coi-rse of a f-vv vvec!;s. It la vi) exhilar;ifing Ihought, that these manifestations of divine power shalj. y:;rly, be growing more frequent in tiioir occurrence, and more exten- sive in their influence, till tlie l,!tterd;iy glory dawn upon thf» world, and the man of sin be consumer! by the " spirit of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming." Then the earth shall be one vast theatre of n-vival, and all the outj^oriringa of the Spirit, v.hkh h;ive hilherlo t:;kcn place sludl be:ir nocom- parisoii with the wonders of tl>,*t approaching day. I am, Sir, respectful Iv, JOSEPH S. CiJIilSTMAS. Rutland County, Vermont, July 17, 101'7. To the Editor of the Nkw Mo \t real Gazittf.. Sir, — We have read over a commiinioalion which appear- ed in the last number of the Herald, signed by the Hev. Mr. Christmas. — If he be the writer of tb^it piece, we must say tliat the good gentleman has reasoned himself otit of reason. He has given his own arguments, wiihont the proofs of any person — numberless fdschoods — and ach;an of inconsistencies. Such is the. only subterfuge for those who dispisc an:] adhero l:k -m s in a single ht into the )od man and :h the Most outpouring hind of pro- G\v England ative of the tl:ree hun- it Edwards, ?d in Eng- tls, nnd Dr. nnlnrv, the h the show- y pcction of of religion, towns were "the Spirit, rful. From ingie town, \^, I bought, y:;rly, be ioi'o e-xten- n npon thf» ipirit of his n the earth ponringa of Mr no com- STMAS. •' nr. ch fppear- ; Rev. Mr. e must say of reason. oofs of any nsistencics. an] ndhero Religious Controversial Discussion, W not to the truth. Such worn out calumnies against Catholici- ty, have been a thousand times proposed — ten thousand times have the same been refuted, and nmde fall with double wci«^ht on their adherents— see the works of the Right Rev. Dr. Mil- ner, Dr. England, Challenor, Hay, Horneyhold, &c. &c. If I now prove to the satisfaction of every unbiassed, well mean- ing and honourable mind, that his assertions are both utterly false in their meaning, and disingenious in their construction : —will it not then be sufficieoi to make such productions only acceptable to the vulgar and the stupid ? Surely they do not claim, nor shall they have in future the least of our attention. First, I would observe that Mr. Christmas, though called up- on, has not answered any of the questions we have put to him, concerning the revival, X:c. H. In that point he has acted prudently, ^n his last, he asserts that one of the titles of the Roman Pontiff, was dominus deus noster papa. This is a piona lie. No Pope ever had such title. The Pope, said he, claims infallability. The learned gentleman here betrays his want of research in ecclesiastical history. His assertion is fales as he understand it. The Pope, said he, sells absolutions and premission to commit sin. This is utterly false—a disgrace to any man pretending to be a minister. Will he prove that as- sertion ? Will he deny he has made it ; and will he then be ashamed of it. Again, he says, «* I have not asserted, as Layman says, that the Pope 13 Anti-Christ ; but I shall now adduce some direct evidence to identify the Romish Church and hierarchy, with the Anti-Christian powers. This is an argumentum ad absurJum^so disino-enius so childishly stupid in its kind, as that in the English lanffuaee I defy the best orthoepist to provide a name for it. I ani not n.)w, at all surprised why Sectaries are now so numerous since a Minister attempts to take by his own private iudire- ment, a meaning from the texts of Holy Writ, which it can by no means bear. He goes to identify the Church of Christ with the man of sin ;— he means to intimate thai jl;/^ Church can be considered as one individual, or he tne? n.-; nn(hir>- but js this possible ? 'I >as he, or r-ll tiiat by the word Chuich. k meant the inilhful ? and that iba nnmhit.oitl her of the man's name, v»'as to fcu h '» ■•• I.-; I te be'ast eoifgregation of- thi ^ J, -I «8 Religious Controversial Discussion. finding it railier difficult to establish that the Pope is Anti- Christ, he brings to his assistance a whole train of circumstan- CCS, every way irrevalent ; wishing to make it appear, that he comes to the conclusion of a well spun argument ; but ht lost liimselt' ; and a^^ainst his inclination, he goes to prove what be before denied. He does not say that the Pope, is An- ti-Christ, yet he 'goes to prove it. Mark the candid integrity of the man! but mark his proofs. The title of the Pope is, ■aid he, Vicarius Filii Dei : but some of the letters of this ti- tle, when arranged according to modern revivers, will answer the numbor of the beast or Anti-Christ— 666. Here Mr. Christmas tells the world, that even a reviving punister can stray away from the truth — from the analogy of norda and sentences he shows how he can confound the vvordi tillc and name together. Let us beg to remind him, that ac- cording to Scripture, it is the number of the name of the man cf sin which is required, and not the title ; but ricarius Filii Dei, is not the name of our present Pope, nor has such ever been the name of any Pope ; therefore his proposition has not •o strong a claim to right reason or argumentation, as it has to ioivn right nonsense and irreligion. I am sorry the gentle- H)Hn has not taken time to consider the weight his own argu- 2ients were likely to bring on his own head, he should, whiU lio stands in a glass house, not break other people's windows. If th»i gentleman only consult, the old Irish and Arabic alpha- betic, he will lind his own name to run thus, Ullug, and seem io picture, the man of sin in a far more plausible manner than he made out for the Pope — Mr. Christmas is not fortunate, when he makes the Pope his subject. Now the name Christ- mas, is no title, it is ISocl in the French language, Ullug in kho Arabic and old Irish, and will answer the number in thd -iianner, which is very plain. U. L. G. 300 1^-30 I L. U, - 30 - 300 G66 Now i hold it that Mr. Christmas will not find the name of '.ny of Uic' 252 Popes, v/ho necessively filled the chair of St. •fter, to signify any surh thing ; let him then study a little ,!ure candour, and sincerity, and sound reasoning, before h« : in IhiuL to aujcced in hoodwinking an ho..est hearted peoplu. \ N Religious Contrcversial Discussion, 69 ent : but ht The glaring inconsistencies which are found in the sequel of his pr fluctiens, are really better calculated to excite more the pity than the censure of any. What surprises us most, ii the nimbleness of that gentleman, in turning the state of the question, and forming it according to his own inclination, ivhethor true or fiilse— right or wrong. He looks to the sha- dow of a letter, while he tramples on whole sentences — he •eems to be naturally inclined to unravel the sacred text, after a manner solely pecuHar to himself— we beg of him to be more cautious ©n that occasion. We hope he shall not think iis impolite, if we say, and say it boldly, that he seems to in- jure the cause he would seemto espouse ; and that we never considered him adequate to such a task ; for which reason, we never looked upon the question in the same light Avith him. We respect the sacred text-^wc are unfond that it should ap- pear in public journals— we explain religion to the ignorant, and give them a bible too when we can — we discuss its princi- l)les with all those desirous to know the truth, and then ad- here to it. I wish it were the desire of all men of all persua- sions, anxiously to seek after the God of truth, in order to live amicably in society, and help each other mutually. Fride, ambition and irreligion, prevent and stifle that sociul harmony ; it is the duty of every good man to patronise the former, and warn society of the evil tendency of the latter. I remain. Sir, Sincerely yours, APSEUDO0MENOS. To tht Editor of the New Montreal Gazktte. Sir,— I perceive, that my paper on the marks of Antichrist^ huscilled forth a reply trom Apseudoumenos, though I regret, that the subject is in future, to have no more of his attention. Ho seems to be recovering from the infatuation of controver- ij» and returning to the usual, and well known policy of Ro- luanists to avoid discussion and rather smart in silence under attack, than endure the disclosures of investigation. It is in- dsid a convenient method of summing the busrness, to term arguments '♦ worn out calumnies"— and \hen refer us to the volumes of Popish Champions— -I shall only touch upon two or throe points of the communication oFApsendoumenos, which »e*ini to demand a notice First of''« \-% t^ tt> d >i. x/« 4 1^ . uii xiif \^uiiipiuii:3 liiai I r 69 Jltligloui Controversial Discussion, have never answered the (Questions he proposed in the begin- ning of the controvci .y under the signature of a Catholic Priest, i hose questions were something like the following : if three days fasting produced such results, what will 40 days fasting produce ?— I confess myself not sufficiently skilled in spiritual arithmetic to solve the Query. I have seen forms of prayer in Catholic Manuals of devotion in which it was stated that the reoetition of them for 30 days— would insure salvation, but ! have T^ot been accustomed to graduate the moral condition of the heart, by the amount of " bodily exercise,'' which an in- spired authority assures us " profiteth little." Another Que- ry was whether the commencement of faithful dealing, (after an absence of five months) did not imply that the poor people had been deceived, and unfaithfully dealt with all alongi-I leave candour to decide, whether this is the fair construction • and freely add there are seasons when I feel my responsibilil ties with a peculiar emphasis ; and that, at the period refer- red to I felt them as I never had before. In the next quere. he demands the name and place of abode of the ** poor lowly woman," as he terms her, who had been converted. Though every one is exhorted " to give a reason of the hope that is in them," was it my duty to blazon in the newspapers, the nan>e of an individual, who wasjust beginning in the spiritual world to "see men as trees walking," and expose her trembling hope to the snares of sophistry, and the terrors of denunciation ' Does a wise and faithful shepherd not only leave his lambs unguarded, but lure the ravening wolf into his fold ?— So much for unanswered questions. In the third mark of Anti-f.'hrist, I stated one ol the titles of the Pontiif to have been Dominus Deus noster Papa. Our Lord God the Pope. This Apseudoumenos briefly answers by calhng It a '* pious lie." T cannot substantiate the quotaticm by reference to Roman Catholic works, because 1 have not access to a 1 ^rge library, but I can produce other indisputa- ble assertions equally blasphemous. For instance the Pope assumes *' to hold the place of Jesus Christ on earth." (P Innocent IF. in Concil Ludg.) to be " deemed as terrestrial God ~(Gre^. XL Epis. 1, Bin. Tom. 6, p. 608.) - to give and t^ka away empirr- kingdom, and whatsoever mortals can possess, and toju(|o:e -;ngel3 who govern {)rinccs."—(/'ia/i«a W» ■-■■■' • V*-. 4W,.w 7 p, yJi,^ X OpG inicct.;t lii. "«-.4«l;r in the begin- holic Priest, ig : if three days fasting i in spiritual IS of prayer ited that the ation, but I condition of vhich an in- lother Que- lling, (after 3oor people ill along — I nstruction ; esponsibili- jriod refer- lext quere, poor lowly d. Though )e that is in ^ the nan^e iiual world ibling hope unciation ? his Iambs — So much he titles of ipa. Our nswers by 1 quotation I have not indisputa- the Pope th." (P. terrestrial " to give ortals can C£ ;i lil. Religious Contrrversiul Diacvssion, CI affirms (DccrcL Grcrr. 9, 77/. 7, cap. Qucwrlo Personam ) that the i ope on earth hvUh tho place not of u mere man, but ofGofJ ; and tho Doctors on this have suid "lie may dispense above the l;uv, and make of ivjnsticc, jvstice. " Mo is true God, am] tnie man !" In llin !io;ht of ti.rso qnotntions and references the " pious lie," looks too much i:ko arj awfu! truth. In the same mark I have stated that tho pope has sohl both absolutions ami permissions for money. This Apscndoumencs states to be al>.«olntoly false. It is devoutly to be wished that* mcontrovorfihlo facts did not -ive me an extraordinary facility m provino' ulter fdrtclicods. Bonitace VIH. -ranted a plena- ry m'lulgcnc? to all who in the 1st year of each century should visit St. Pcter\s and St. Paul's in Rome. His words are " wo wdl grant and do srant to them not only a full but a larKcr yea, thr^ very fuliost pardon of their sins'." After him Pope Clement (ivpfi the Grand Imtvlgcnce to every 50th year. Pope Urban VI. to ovcry .i3d and Paid II. that he might" accelerate the goMcM harvest allotted the Jubilee to every 2()th year, when immense multitudes enrich Rome by their visits, or compensate for their absence by forwarding money. Can'any one be ignorant of the gainful traffic in absolutions so unblush- ingly dnvon by Leo X. and v.'hich iirst roused the honest spir- it of Lr.thcr ? So Hiamofully iiotcrious Iiad the practice be- come by the mi.-Kil- of t!ie IGtli century, that the Council of Trent to a,])ate lU odionpness, forl;ade it to be applied to the exaction of Jeprnved F^ain (Sossio 25.) Yet during the ses- ■lon of that council Paul III. and Julius III. granted 775,700 years <,f y)ardon to all such of the Fraternity of the Holy Mar as should visit the Church of St. Hilary of Chartres durino- the •IX wooks of Lent. I know it is denied that indulgence is granted tor the commission of future sin, but it teaches the recipient that he has it in his own power to absolve himself from merited punishment by a compliance witfi specified con- ditions. Thus is heaven bartered for gold, and the wounded consci:mce healed with the balm of indulgence ! In the same diagnostic of Anti-Chrisf, I have placed tho Pope's claim to infillibility, which Apseudomenos likewise states to be fdse, and betraying a want of research in Eccle- siastical liistory. infdlibility.is the constant boast of the Ro* mish Churnh, but >vhere it resides, her members nrp nn# themselves agreed, with all their pretensions to unanimity. pf i'''ii'i '. { ^^ Rdsgious Controversial Discussion. The Jesuits, most of the monastic orders, tors, and the mf.jority of the people, lodge it in"th many of her doc* 1' I' , „ ^ ., — I — ,-•>., -^,..5^^ IV ,1, mc; person 01 the / op« In proof 01 this, Cardinal Dellarmine quotes seven J opes. Theophylact, Peter Chrjsologns, and Bernard, (D. nam. Pan. L. 4, c. 2.) To this there are many objections; Adrian Vh honestly owned that Popes were fallible. If his acknowledgement is correct, the point is conceded—if not. at east one Pope was fallible. Again, the Popes have repeated- ly contradicted one another, even when decreeing ..r cathedra. fttephon VI. rescinded the decrees of Formosus I. John X anmdied fhose of Stephen, and restored those of Formosus' J^ergmslii. held Formosus in such abhorrence, that he ob- hged Priests, whom he had ordained, to be reordained. 1 ope Lihenus was an Arian, Ilonorius was condemned for heresy by three general councils. John XXIIl. denied the imniortahty of the soul. Gregory the Great, himself a Pope condemned as Antichristian the title Universal Bishop, .ince claimed by all the Popes. These contradictions it will be found not a little d.fticnlt to reconcile with the infallibility of he Pope Many Papists {e^\ it, and therefore place infallibi- lity in a General Councl. But how does it follow that f.v« ■ r"n''u, *^<^c*««'^^'*iics, who taken single are fallible, become inlallible tue moment they sit in company ? We ni^^ht as well expect any number of cyj)her., tomake a positive mm. It'i. now 270 years since the last General Council sat, ami where during all this perled has been the Church's Infldlibility ? \n ih^ Decrees of Councils? Why not sny in the Scripture's ? For the written decisions of Councils are as rauch:iial;io to pcrver- 8.on as the written dictates of the Holy Ghost. T3<.;ides, coun- cils have contradicted Councils, and Popes and Councils uni^ !n\u'' ^®"'^^'«<^"ctcd the decisions of Popes and Councils- All these statements may be suh«tan(iatcd from Popish hi'^to- iians, lor instance, Baroniusand Platina. I am notable to see the force of (he 'objection which An- seudoumenos makes against the inconsistency of n^y arnlvin* he number 666 to the Pope, after havir.g declined stntinVl^ the Pope exclusively wns Antichrist. 1 still prefer applying hat title to the whole Komish ^hurch and Piierchy, though the Pope as its head must not be overlooked in chaiT.cterisiL the system. W can I see the propriety of confining ihe man v« oin iO~an rnaiviauai, and not a succession of individuals. He must certamlj he a greyheaded individual who ehall hare ^■M\m n. y of hor floc* the ]>ersoii of qnotes seven Bernard, (De ly objections. Ilrble. Uhii ed — if not, at iverepeated- ^ex cathedra. I. John X. of Formosus. that he ob- rc ordained. Klonined for . denied the jself a Pope, Ushop, since IS it will be ifdlibility of ace infallibi- vy that fiv« )Ie, become light as well sum. It it , aiid where ibility ? Iq jturea ? For ,> to pcrver- ■'idc.s, coun- ouncils urn- Councils opish histo- which Ap- stating that B»- applying by, though iraclerising Dg ihe man iduals. He shall have Religioui Controversial Ducussion. eift reached his ^260th jrcar—thc lifetime of Antichrist !— Apseu- i^""f "?'^. ^^i'nnot seriously think that 1 suppose that Vicariut l-ihi Uei Id the name of the present or any former Pope but It 13 a title which designates the Popes, and contains the num- ber ol the beast, though of the three titles 1 think the Greek one is to be preferred. I have no disposition to notice the cab;>Jisirc trifling with my name It 13 such as ! have hon.vslly loiscrited frJm a leu-' Ine of Popish ancestors ; and I little expected that it wai* re- served for the savaiis of Canada, to discover that it was the subjcct of prophecy, and contained, the fatal number of the beast. I. hoped that the communicatioL on the Antichristian char- acteristics, would have elicited sober argumentation, on tho various topics there introduced; I am disappointed— and perceive that there is no disposition on the part of my Catho- lic opponents to continue the discussion in a profitable man- ner.— As I am about to leave the country, that I may recover m a more propitious climate, the health I have lost in servi- ces too arduous for my constitution,, my correspondence shall close with this letter. I desire in this place to express my regret for one or two expressions which I perceive on a ir- view of the papers have escaped my pen, such as - sacenio- tul reviler,*' &c.~not that I think them unjust, but because he, whose authority I profess to regard, has enjoined " not to render evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing. With regard to the Catholic Ck^rgy, they wdl (io J?ie the juglice to snp| ot^e th;it while I abhor the religion «nd the sy.^tem of which they are ministers, l bear ..ot a purticle ot rnahce towards their persons. On the contrary, I wish them the best of blessings the Almighty cm conlur— the know- ledge of the truth. 1 know in what light they regard l^rotrs. tunts and Protest:int mioisters.— I wish thev had less occasion to doubt their piety and consistency. —I think 1 can in some measure appreciate thi force of early education, tho delusion ot plausible argument, and believe that many of them are sin- cerein their errors, an i verily think, that they ouoht to do a- ny things against that way of worshipping the God of the pn- m>tive Christians which is calleil Protestantism. If 1 had any h'pe that they would iisten to a man whom thf^v dlviif.P r wcu'd s * ■ 'iy» " Brethren I search the Scripturcd. ' U they are ss If m ReUgious Controversial Diicusuon, forbidden Inymon, they are accessible to yon — if yon object to our transliilions, you can road the origimil. Exercise the '•ight of private jud^cmont, which God expects of every man when lie m dies each responsible for himself. Vou do exer- cise it when yon decide that t!ie Roman Catholic is the true Church ; wby not then in the interpretation of the word of God ? 1 am aware of the results to which such a submission of the ravlcrstan lin:; to the authority of revealed truth would Iriad, b'.it bo wil!itit«; to follow out those results, if you would not stand coiivict('