Christianity, Protestantism and popery, compared and contrasted : which is shown the whole doctrine of the Romish Church, as taught at the present day : also, the origin of every invention of that church which popery has introduced, and the means employed at the Reformation to establish the Protestant religion on the firm basis of primitive Christianity

Front matter

Ene eis © ae Spe Bs a Paves! LE AIG5 a a OO OS a BX veneumoM oe | MacDonald, W. R. 1787-1854.

Christianity, Protestantism |

and popery, compared and a

Dedication

TO THE REFORMED AND ROMISH CLERGY AND LAITY

OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND THIS WORK IS INSCRIBED,

IN THE HOPE

Contents

Page PREFACE ‘ : 3 S : : g ; ‘ > Tap a INTRODUCTION , d ‘ a hai |

An elucidation of Trutu, the object of the work. Early impressions, and a restraint of the progress of intellect, the strength of Popery. Papists invited to disprove the assertion (if they can do so), and to examine the facts stated as proved by the Scriptures. Characters of Protestant and Popish clergymen, as resulting from a strict adherence to their respective doctrines. Jesuits: origin and object of their Order. Indelicacy of Popish books.

* GRouNDs OF Faitu,” &c. Extract FROM THE CREED oF ATHA- NASIUS |. : . : » : ° ° ‘ . 13-14

Chapter I.—of The Church

Sect. I.—Tuar Curist HAS ALWAYs A TRUE CHURCH UPON Eartu : : : ; ? : : o) iae p 19 Who are the members of whom it is composed, as declared by the Scriptures. The Apostles’ Creed not declaratory of the faith prescribed by the Romish, but by the Protestant Church.

Szcr. UH. Tuar Curist’s [meaning the Popish] Cuurcn upon EARTH IS ALWAYS ONE . , : g ¥ ‘ enii2e

Unity of the Curistran Catholic Church broken by Popery. Her Doctrines pernicious—Haxamples. Popish perversions of, and Protestant appeals to, the Scriptures. Blasphemy of the Papal Class Books.

Sect. IJ].—Tuat tue Cuurcu or Curist 1s ALWAYS HOLY IN HER DocrRINES, AND ALWAYS FREE FROM PERNICIOUS ERRors : is ated cag s : : > Samer ee . 34

Additions of Popery to the doctrines of Christ. What degree of faith necessary for good Papists to profess, as extracted from

b

Vill

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

Or tHE Mass 5 Easy method prescribed by Popery for. Gea nsiie her followers of sin. Mass, whence derived, and not to be found in the Scriptures: first instituted, when, and by whom. Protestants receive the spiritual gifts of their Saviour’s sacrifice. Popish references to unwritten Scripture. ‘The ceremony of the Mass opposed to the Doctrine of Christ. Administration of the Lord’s Supper in the first ages of Christianity, similar to the Protestant Rite of the present day. Solitary Masses. Papal advantages of performing the service of a Church in an unknown tongue, exemplified. Origin of this unscriptural practice.

CHAPTER VII.

Or PuRGATORY .

Protestants pray for a dead. “Witticism: of the late Father O'Leary. Purgatory invented for purifying Papists of venzal

OF THE VENERATION AND INVOCATION OF SAINTS sins. Of the “Great Honour” due to Priests. St. Paul’s prediction verified in Popish executions of their fellow beings. Petrarch’s prayer for the return of civil monsters to free the land from the curse of Popery. Character of Cyprian. Jewish Sects. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper denied by Popery to those who listen to the doctrines of Christ preached by a Protestant clergyman. Limbo, a place of rest for Popish Saints in

Page > 132

. 144

Hell. Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament not received , into the Jewish Canon. Jerome's opinion of them. Origin of Purgatory.

CHAPTER VIII.

Pagan and Papal deities ‘of similar creation. Popery cae the

Sect. IJ.—TuHat tHe SAINTS AND ANGELS PRAY TO GOD FOR US breach of the third commandment. Papists taught to call ten times upon the Virgin Mary, and once upon their Maker. False quotations of the Pope. Origin of Popish Saint-making. The rosary and crown introduced, and divine honour paid to the Virgin Mary. Of the Index Expurgatorius. Papal Saints assigned to peculiar provinces—from parish patrons to the care of pigs.

Going to Mass no surety that Angels pray for Papists. The

Pope’s definition of charity in heaven, with a hint how he might have employed himself in showing Ais own charity on earth. Persecution of Martyrs, Addison’s Syllogisms in Papal Logic. Saints in heaven ignorant of our state on earth. God and Mammon.

ree

« 156

CONTENTS, 1X fi Page

Sect. II.—Or tue Invocation or Saints fg) BRL 72 Popery well provided with the Saints of her own making. Wherein the difference in the rule of faith between Protestants and Papists. Saints rejoice over repentant sinners, and (as the Scriptures inform us) when. Protestants do not invoke their intercession, and why. Jacob sought the blessing of God. St. John’s

prediction of Antichrist.

Or REtics ; 178 Diffidence of the Pope j in spealinds of Relics ver Miracles Beak Hermits. Origin of Monkery. The Cross first worshipped, when and by whom, and consequent impostures of the Romish Priests. Frauds practised upon Relic-hunters. Of Miracles in general—Dr. Milner’s Miracles, &c. Heresy of Mr. Charles Butler. An admonitory hint to Romanists. More Miracles. Of Francis, Dominic, and the Tutelars of France, Spain, &e. Of the Legends of Montferrat, Loretto, and of a Miracle not contained in the Legends. The venerable Bede. Papists have no right to reject any of their own miracles whilst they believe in others proceeding from the same source :— of those performed by Priests Murphy and Roche—Miraculous cure of Winifred White—Miracles at a stand-still in Rome when the Pope was

imprisoned by Bonaparte.

CHAPTER IX.

OrImMacEs .. 2) 195 Images addressed in eres 4 a trcbinped The Btazen Berpent Illustration of the “ relative honour” of Popery. Origin of tmage-worship. Of talking Crucifixes, and Father Crasset’s opinion of Images in general.

CHAPTER X.

Or INDULGENCES . . 203

Running accounts of Crime onened betweon the Popisl ‘Clany and Laity. Indulgences for sin according to price—Murder cheaper than a denial of the Pope’s supremacy — Examples. The keys of Heaven, when, and to whom given by our Saviour. Falsehood of the Pope in asserting that St. Paul had granted an Indulgence. Origin of Indulgences. Extract from the Bull of Leo XII., 1825-6,

CHAPTER XI.

Or THE Supremacy oF St. Peter AND HIS SuccEssoRS . 210 Supremacy of the Apostles forbidden by our Saviour, and denied by St. Peter himself. The Doctrines of Christ and those of Popery summarily contrasted. Of the Bulla in Cana Domini, and Extracts of the original—Popes declared Governors of the

Page x CONTENTS.

World upon their Coronation. Of their forged Decretals. Origin of Sanctuary, Saint-making, and changing their names, CoNCLUSION j ‘ Ry bewatig , .

Every Christian commanded to prove his own work. Of Papal Jurisprudence.

APPENDIX : ‘ ‘ ‘ ¥ ‘ i

Dr. Challoner’s “‘ Rational Inducements” to Popery. Vincent of

I Roce caws

Lerins—Luther—Henry VIII.—Queen Elizabeth—Philip II. of Spain—The Doctor’s historical inaccuracy: his political doctrines, under the guise of religion, unjustitiable. The Reformation restored to Britain its ancient independence. William I.’ denied the authority of the Pope. William IIl—Henry I. The evils, as stated by Dr. Challoner attendant on Protestantism. Erasmus: his sentiments of Luther and of the Reformation. Dangerous admissions of Mr. Charles Butler, How Popish Priests seek to catch dying men, and why. ‘ Holy Solitaries”—female duties in, and out, of a Cloister. Antiquity of Error no excuse for its continuance. Protestants’ treatment of ‘‘ heretics.” The practice of Christ’s Precepts only necessary to Salvation. Of Popish Unity.

RaTIONAL INDUCEMENTS TO ROMANISTS TO JOIN THE’ PRO- TESTANT REFORMED CuuRcH, by a French Convert, in 1825.

» 227

ERRATA.

Throughout the running head, after and,read ; vp. Roman. — 17, after Scriptures, read themselves.

Dy 123 11, after consecrated, insert ). 26, for those, read these. _ — 17, for Pascasius, read Paschasius. 3, read Christian Catholic, delehyphen. | 160 20, for days of their obligation, read 13, for the restraint, read a restraint. their days of obligation. 25, for depends, read depend. 161 16, dele and. 9, for whence, read which. ‘ 168 18, after means, read of. 3, (from foot of the page) for judge | 169 7, for soul’s, read souls’. fromPopish extractsfrom the Scrip- | 177 15, dele not. tures, read judge by Popish extracts | 178 15, for has, read have. of the Scriptures. 182 (note +), for Exceptiones Legales, 1, (of text) read, it may be presumed read Haceptions Legales. this section is—dele to understand | 185 90, for favourable, read favoured. the meaning of; and “ it,” second | 190 5, for Monserrat, read Montferrat. word of second line. — 20, after about, readin. 1, for Rome, read Romish Church. —_— 2, (of note), for know, read knew. 7, for it has, read she has. 208 =13, for defects, read effects. 10, read Note on Luke. 216 6, (from foot), for his, read this. 17, read Note on John. 233 6, (of note *), for those, read indivi- 1, (of note), after the 17th of March, duals. read 1826. [tants. | 237 1, (of note). for The somewhat, read 1, (of note), for men who, read Protes- These somewhat. 16, after without, read making. 239 —s-.33, for set, read sat.

Preface

—PrEFACEs are passed over by thousands, unread, — although every reader looks for, if not at, a Preface. We trust, however, the one we have just commenced will meet with a more favourable reception, since we have sat down deliberately to state a few general remarks on the subject treated of; and also on the abuse which we feel, by anticipation, will be cast by a particular party upon this, our humble offering, at the shrine of Common Sense. Perhaps this hint may not be thrown away upon the party alluded to—we hope it will not ; and, to add to its weight, we beg to remind them that mere abuse in the present case will be unavailing, unless they can first prove by the Scriptures that Popery ts the pocrrine or Curist. We have, throughout the present work, denied it; and if our assertions be not fully borne out by the copious extracts of Holy Writ which we have adduced, it will be no difficult matter for the Romish clergy to show the misapplication of them. .

In the present age of liberality it is impossible —at least, we have found it so—to open a Popish book which teems not with a most liberal portion of condemnatory asseverations against all Protestants, who must, they are assured, be damned in the next xii PREFACE.

world, and who are in the same sentence, perhaps,

gravely complained of, for their ‘heretical prejudices ”

against the Region that has denounced them.— Popery

is ever “‘ up in arms”’ when the terms “‘ bigotry ” and

*‘ superstition ’’ are applied by any writer to the most bigoted and superstitious, save and except only when urged by those of her own communion; who, at least,

when addressing themselves to Roman Catholics, bestow a general sprinkling of these and similar expres-

sions throughout their pages upon all who dissent. from her. !

If there be any persons who really are superstitious and bigoted—since we never knew any who so acknowledged themselves—it is such only, we presume, of whom we can expect to hear of their own “« infallibility ’ none that we ever read or heard of who are not chargeable with these’ prejudices either think or profess themselves to de ‘ infallible.’’

Bigotry and superstition, then, be the epithets used by whom they may, can only apply to the superstitious and the bigoted ; and, if the tenets of the Romish Church be not calculated to engender them, the extreme folly of those who charge her with false devotion and intolerance must be the more apparent, from its injustice. However, mankind are generally apt to be more tenacious of hearing unpleasant truths of themselves than the most palpable falsehoods. When Protestants aver that the frail basis of Popery 7s ‘“ superstition and bigotry,” their Romish brethren appear to be more angry than they would be were the former to declare them rank Atheists ; when Papists tax the Protestant

PREFACE Xill

Church with these vices, the latter smiles at the inconsistency of the charge. ;

In the course of the following) pages, we have applied these terms where as we think, the subject strictly warrants our doing so—not in the way. of retaliation, but simply because we knew of no others in which more clearly to express what we really meant. If we have used them unjustly, we know and will chance the consequences ; but still think we have nothing to apprehend on this score, although we cannot, with Dr. Milner, pronounce the ‘‘ Admonition ” of Dr. Porteus to be “ empty declamation,” merely ‘* calculated for the stwpid and the bigoted,’ which concludes thus: ‘‘ Let others build on Fathers and Popes, on traditions and councils, what they will: let us continue firm, as we are, on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Curist himself being the chief corner-stone.”—(Ephes. ii.)

The chief object of the following sheets is to induce such Romanists, as may peruse them, to attentively READ THE ScrIPuRES, as we have repeatedly urged them to do throughout our comments ; and, surely, if the Papal Church be the “true and only Church of Christ,” as her Priests assert, the only authentic Hise tory of Curist’s Docrrines and Acts must confirm them in their present faith? Protestants are never afraid that the Worp of Gop will induce Christians to turn to Paganism ;—by their circulation of it’ they daily witness its effects in turning the Unbeliever to Christianity :—the Church of Rome denounces Protestants as more “ invincible heretics” than Pagans

Xiv PREFACE.

(having an opportunity of joining communion with her which they reject)—and why, therefore, ought she to fear that by reading the Scriptures her flock would forsake her, wnlesss he feel conscious that her doctrines are erroneous ? Who, of her British followers, will say, if he were satisfied that they were so, he would still hold communion with her? Of this fact the Romish clergy are too well aware to permit them to read the Gospel of Christ, whilst their ‘‘ Church” declares, as Dr. Milner has it, “ the whole business of the Scriptures belongs to herself.”

In speaking of Roman Catholic writers of the present age, we name those whom we deem the greatest English bulwarks of Popery, as the late Dr. Milner, Mr. Charles Butler, &c. But as we always do this in commenting upon their own writings, which we quote, unless it be shown that their statements do not warrant our remarks, we deem no apology necessary either to the living or to the memory of the dead. With the political writings and orations of the Roman clerical politicians we have made it a point not to interfere.

We trust that our readers, whether of the Reformed or Romish Church, will do us the justice of acknowledging we are not of the description of “‘ bigots” so bitterly complained of by Dr. Milner, when he says, that Protestant writers ‘‘ dress up a Hingous Ficure, composed of their own misrepresentations, or else of those undefined opinions, and unauthorized practices, which they call Popery, and then amuse their readers or hearers with exposing the enormity of it, and pulling it to pieces !”

PREFACE, xV

We submit that the “‘ Hideous Figure,” the “ deformity ” of which we have, in the ensuing pages, held up to the public gaze, appears as she has “ dressed up” herself? ‘To any person possessing the least degree of candour, it must be evident that we have put forward no “ wndefined opinions’ of “ unauthorized practices” for the purpose of ‘* amusing our readers ;”’ but that, on the contrary, we have exhibited “ Poprry,” such as she declares herself to be—precisely in her own words, to the very letter. Neither do we think this public and strictly correct exhibition of her in the least calculated to “ amuse” our Protestant readers, however it may disgust them. The origin of all the new and superstitious points of Popish faith, adduced from the very best authorities we could procure, may, indeed, cause a smile of contempt at the motives which have led interested and ambitious men to force them upon the ignorant as essentials to salvation ; yet, not, we should hope, unmingled with pity, that the darkness of those ages—when, as Baronius says, it seemed as though Christ had slept in the ship of his Church—should have favoured the introduction of the gross impieties which, from the first existence of Popery to the very hour in which we write these observations, have disfigured, and still continue to disfigure, the pure religion of Jesus Curist;—which have turned the best feelings of the heart to the most debasing and implacable hatred, and have exchanged the tears of charity to drops of blood. This “ Hideous Figure,” which has called forth all the evil passions of humanity into action throughout the whole Christian world, will,

Xvl PREFACE.

doubtless, dwindle on for some time longer in the sickly condition to which her own impurities have reduced her, however Falsehood may endeavour to disguise her monstrosities. :

A thorough ‘‘ Reformation” in religion and morals can only be accomplished by striking at the root of the evil to be subdued; and that the blow has been struck with a well-directed aim, look now at England, and as history shows her to have been, when, crushed by clerical intolerance, her vigorous powers lay prostrate in the dust, enslaved by the galling manacle of minp, forged by the foreign despot of the Vatican !-—-Look now, we say, at England, where every individual may freely breathe his conscious aspirations to his Gop, after that form which is most consonant to his own feelings, and where the noblest Con- STITUTION upon earth is so deeply imbued with the spirit of Justice and Christian Charity towards all mankind, that he who basks in the radiant beams of its protection fears not those dark clouds, which enshroud the “ Hideous Figure’ that would annihilate him, should burst upon his head :—no, those only apprehend the evil consequences of this “‘ Figure,”’ whose subserviency of mind has been cherished by its agents whilst they led them to worship it ; and who are, even now, exerting themselves, to the very uttermost, to increase the number of its blind adorers. Popery has been taught to know, by dear-bought experience, that “‘ knowledge is power ;” and hence it is that her most favoured agents are unremitting in their efforts to withhold and to subdue the power of knowledge. But in

PREFACE. | XVil vain is the dark attempt :—the labourer who can read. a newspaper, scoffs at her denunciations, though embellished by the wood-engraver with “ faithful” illustrations of the “ Torments of Hell” for those who laugh at or oppose her *.

When we commenced the Introduction to our subject, we determined to adhere to it as closely as possible, and to avoid every expression that might fairly be deemed unjustifiable, or that ought to be considered offensive by any advocates of the cause of Trutn; but that those should think so to whose “ Profession of Faith ” we are opposed, is beyond our hope, although we have not stated, knowingly, one single circumstance throughout our comments upon the “ authorized practices’ of Popery, which Truru would bid us disavow.

We now more particularly address ourselves to our fellow-Protestants, and simply ask if, «amidst the daily calumnies which assail their Church—or, more

* Speaking of these edifying compositions, The Times (Dec. 1825) says, “ It appears that body (the Roman Catholies) are active in distributing Tracts m support of their faith; in truth, we have met with such. But could they not offer a pretty little relic of some kind or other, of which the religion of our forefathers had such abundance, along with the Tracts ? —a nail out of the real cross, a thorn out of the crown? Or even a crucifix would be a handy thing, or a little image like a tobacco-stopper, of the Goddess whom they worship, the Queen of Heaven, with the bambino in her arms; which objects of idolatry are in all their churches, where there are no Protestants to turn them into deserved ridicule. Above all, why cannot they compass a miracle or two? The religion of our forefathers could work you a miracle or two every day ; and Popery, they tell us, never alters. Miracles, also, are incessantly performed at Rome to convince the faithful who have no need to be convinced. We treat, this subject with mockery, because we think it the best way of putting’ an end to the foolish stir which the Papists are making in support of the religion of our forefathers.”—The just remark with which the sentence concludes, as it is political, we decline quoting. We could refer to the Herald, Chronicle, Post, Courier, Globe, in short, every respectable London Journal, for similar opinions of the purity of Popery, however different their politics. .

XVill PREFACE properly speaking, the religion of Christ, in which they have been taught to believe—if, whilst it is every day averred that their tenets, drawn from that unpolluted source THe Worp or Gop HimseEtr, are “ heretical,” ‘*illiberal,” “ intolerant,’’ &c. &c. &c.—have Protestants, weask, no duty to perform toward the Church of which they are members, and to society in general? Are the inflammatory declamations against those Institutions which Protestants hold most sacred, to be tacitly considered as mere Papal figures of rhetoric, and their recorded falsehoods to be disseminated without a contradiction, lest it be deemed illiberal to refute and expose them? If there be those in this enlightened age who affect such superlatively-refined notions of liberality as thus to sacrifice TruTH anp THE EvipENcE OF THEIR OWN SENSEs to the prejudices of an implacable hierarchy which has already condemned them (with all its power of doing so—to eternal perdition /) --we must confess that our own humble ideas are of a more comprehensible stamp ; and whilst we regard all mankind as our brethren, we are not inclined to give up our birthright—rHe PLAIN USE oF ouR REaAson— merely because some fanatical foreigner may choose to declare we cannot appreciate its value, nor profit by its exertion.

To ourselves, who have, with some patience and attention, compared Primitive Christianity with Protestantism, and contrasted it with Popery, it would appear somewhat strange that the sheer abuse which is every day ‘‘ levelled at heretics’’ should be deemed by the enlightened and liberal as the mere vitupera-. tion of ignorance, did we not know that thousands of

PREFACE, xix honest men cannot imagine but that gentlemen of the Romish Church speak the truth when they affect to deplore these attacks. We say, affect to regret them, because, if the practice were objectionable to the learned and most influential of that body, rr wouLD, aT once, CEASE,

The Christian faith, as professed by Protestants, is as open to comment as the profession of the Romish Church ; and if it can be proved contrary to the doctrines of its Divine Founder, let the Popish clergy fairly exhibit the whole of it, and the Scriptures (if they can find them) to which it is opposed. It is not msisting that the tenets of Protestantism are “ pesirferous,” &c. that is calculated to convince a reflecting man; and this leads us to think that quantity rather than quality is the great object of Papal conversion— more of Papist, if less of Christian.

For our own parts, the only difference we perceive in the writings of the Jiberal and the learned—the ridiculous and the vulgarly ignorant of Romish authors, is in the style and language of their works—whether it be in the theological compositions of Mr. Charles Butler, Bishops Milner, Poynter, Doyle, &c., or the disgusting trash of the most humble order of their tract-writers :—still, we say, they all breathe the Same immutable spirit of Popery. How can it be otherwise when they atu (see p. 17) * promise true obedience to the Bishop of Rome”—when they ALL “ profess aux other things” the Church of Rome commands ; and when they atx “ condemn, reject, and anathematize”’ atu that she deems inimical to her temporal and secular interests ?

xX PREFACE,

It may, in conclusion, be observed that, had we felt it necessary to do so, we could have filled our pages with quotations from the “ ancient fathers,” in proof of their opposition to the inventions of Popery, which - she has, at her own peril, introduced into the Romish Church as essentials to salvation. But we rely upon the ScRIPTURES ALONE as our best authority for the refutation of these; and, as we think we have extracted sufficiently from Papal authorities to corroborate every assertion we have made, we deemed further references to any secondary source a useless labour, as it would have been equally unprofitable to our readers.

Of the modern authorities, we have chiefly cal Mosheim; since, independent of his own individual research, he gives us his references to, and accounts of the most respectable ecclesiastical writers, from the Apostolic age down to that in which he lived; and as the very sword-in-hand controversialists of the Romish Church refer to this acknowledged meritorious author, our Popish friends will perhaps credit the authority of our extracts.. We have also (as we stated, in our Introduction, we intended to do) referred to many writers, some of whose observations are thrown into the text, and, where they are of a general tenor, are unacknowledged.

CHRISTIANITY AND CATHOLICISM

CONTRASTED.

“ Popery, in its proper, colours, is so unlike Christianity, that it is in vain ever to hope to promote it if it appear in its own shape, It is necessary, therefore, that this religion be made to look as orthodox as possible. Some things are denied, others mollified, all disguised ; anda double benefit is thereby obtained. Popery is to be received as a very innocent, harmless thing ; and the Protestants, especially the ministers and first reformers, are to be represented to the world as a sort of people who have supported themselves by calumny and lies; and made a noise about errors and corruptions, which are nowhere to be found but in their own brains or books, but which the Church of Rome detests as well as we.”—ABP. WAKE.

“From the several conversations which it has been my chance to have with unbelievers, I have learned that ignorance of the nature of our religion, and a disinclination tostudy both it and its evidences, are to be reckoned among the chief causes of infidelity.”—Bratriz’s Evidences, v. i, p. 6,

‘*-Men readily believe what they wish, and the CurrsriAw religion being opposite to fraudulent dealings in our intercourse with others—to intemperance in the gratification of our own appetites; to all the sins, crimes, and vices which men are prone to, it cannot be a matter of surprise that many profligate—many thoughtless persons, should listen with greediness to whatever tends to free them from its influence.” ——Br. Watson’s Apol. for the Bible.