Popery. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM.-HISTORICAL NOTICES. How delightful must have been the sight of a Christian church in the apostolic age! It was a congregation of "believers," an assembly of "faithful" men and women, professing their entire trust in the Saviour, and their resolution to obey all His commands, and maintaining the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" a lovely and most interesting simplicity characterised all their proceedings. In their intercourse with each other, they exemplified "godly sincerity" and brotherly affection; their "yea was yea, and their nay, nay :" and they felt that they were "all one in Christ Jesus." In their solemn assemblies, spirituality of devotion and mutual benefit were the grand objects of desire: hence resulted the chaste simplicity of their services. The reading of the Scriptures, the exhortations of the brethren, the commemoration of the Redeemer's love, with united prayer and praise -these were the constituent parts of their worship. There was no display; nothing to attract the senses; all was spiritual: and doubtless they often left these assemblies, whether held in an upper room, a cellar, or a cave in the wilderness (for to place the primitive Christians attached no importance), saying, "This is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven." The laws by which the first churches were governed, were con 66 tained in the information and instructions communicated by the Apostles, and afterwards collected in the book now called the "New Testament." And as the Apostles were but the interpreters of the will of the Lord Jesus, by whose Spirit they were inspired, by Him the Christian community was governed, and the whole church was subject to Christ." He only was Lord and Master, and no authority but His was acknowledged. Church government was very simple; there were the pastors, to "preach the word;" and there were the deacons, "to serve tables." Other ecclesiastical orders were unknown; nor did the churches interfere with each other's concerns; each Christian community, as well as the entire body, were "subject to Christ." Would we could say that this happy state of things was of long continuance! But truth compels the acknowledgment that corruption was very early at work. We find that priestcraft and superstition were making rapid strides, even before the close of the second century; how awful their progress has since been, every one acquainted with ecclesiastical history well knows. The following brief digest will assist the memories of our readers : Judaizing teachers were the first to corrupt Christianity: see the Epistle to the Galatians. Bowing to the East, the celebra tion of Easter, the use of the sign of the cross, and of sponsors-with some other inventions, were established in the second century. Councils, which were frequently held in the third century, much increased the power of the priesthood, and gave the weight of their authority to pernicious innovations. The number of church offices was enlarged; a regular hierarchy was fast forming; and idle ceremonies were invented in abundance. A.D. 306. Constantine the Great ascended the throne, and very soon new modelled Christianity, as to its external form, and made it a stateengine. Wealth and power flowed in apace; magnificent buildings, splendid decorations, and rites, often borrowed from paganism, were thought suitable to the religion of Him, who was "meek and lowly of heart:" and the gradation of rank in the church was assimilated, as much as possible, to that adopted in the State. A.D. 325. The Council of Nice. Here Christians first learned to curse and persecute those who differed from them-and the lesson is scarcely yet forgotten. The fourth and fifth centuries were distinguished by the increasing prevalence of superstition-such as, pilgrimages to supposed holy places, relic-hunting, monasticism, numerous fasts and feasts, auricular confession, prayers to the saints, &c. A.D. 606. The Bishop of Rome assumed the title of "Universal Bishop." A.D. 754. The Pope became a temporal prince, by acquiring the Exarchate of Ravenna. A.D. 787. Image-worship sanctioned by the seventh general council, held at Nice. Transubstantiation was first taught by Paschasius Radbertus, in the ninth century. In the eleventh century, Gregory the Seventh assumed supremacy over princes as well as prelates, and arrogated to himself the right of disposing of crowns. He also interdicted the use of liturgies in any other language than the Latin. The traffic in indulgences began in the twelfth century. A.D. 1215. Communion in one kind established. A.D. 1229. The Inquisition formed, and the Scriptures in the vernacular languages prohibited. A.D. 1414. The Council of Constance, at which it was agreed that faith is not to be kept with heretics. A.D. 1517. Commencement of the Reformation in Germany. A.D. 1540. The order of Jesuits instituted. A.D. 1546. The Council of Trent opened its deliberations, terminated in 1563. By this council the errors and absurdities of the Papal system were solemnly authorized. A survey of ecclesiastical history will lead to the conclusion that almost every corruption in Christianity may be traced to the lust of power, and the pride of false philosophy.-The former induced men to become, "lords over God's heritage," first manifesting itself in the arrogance of an ambitious, assuming pastor, and then gradually advancing till every trace of New Testament simplicity was worn away, and the very names and titles known Popery. tained in the information and instructions communicated by the Apostles, and afterwards collected in the book now called the "New Testament." And as the Apostles were but the interpreters of the will of the Lord Jesus, by whose Spirit they were inspired, by Him the Christian community was governed, and the whole church was 66 'subject to Christ." He only was Lord and Master, and no authority but His was acknowledged. Church government was very simple; there were the pastors, to "preach the word;" and there were the deacons, "to serve tables." Other ecclesiastical orders were unknown; nor did the churches interfere with each other's concerns; each Christian community, as well as the entire body, were "subject to Christ." THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM.-HISTORICAL NOTICES. How delightful must have been the sight of a Christian church in the apostolic age! It was a congregation of "believers," an assembly of "faithful" men and women, professing their entire trust in the Saviour, and their resolution to obey all His commands, and maintaining the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" a lovely and most interesting simplicity characterised all their proceedings. In their intercourse with each other, they exemplified "godly sincerity" and brotherly affection; their "yea was yea, and their nay, nay:" and they felt that they were "all one in Christ Jesus." In their solemn assemblies, spirituality of devotion and mutual benefit were the grand objects of desire: hence resulted the chaste simplicity of their services. The reading of the Scriptures, the exhortations of the brethren, the commemoration of the Redeemer's love, with united prayer and praise -these were the constituent parts of their worship. There was no display; nothing to attract the senses; all was spiritual: and doubtless they often left these assemblies, whether held in an upper room, a cellar, or a cave in the wilderness (for to place the primitive Christians attached no importance), saying, "This is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven." The laws by which the first churches were governed, were con Would we could say that this happy state of things was of long continuance! But truth compels the acknowledgment that corruption was very early at work. We find that priestcraft and superstition were making rapid strides, even before the close of the second century; how awful their progress has since been, every one acquainted with ecclesiastical history well knows. The following brief digest will assist the memories of our readers : Judaizing teachers were the first to corrupt Christianity: see the Epistle to the Galatians. Bowing to the East, the celebra tion of Easter, the use of the sign of the cross, and of sponsors-with some other inventions, were established in the second century. Councils, which were frequently held in the third century, much increased the power of the priesthood, and gave the weight of their authority to pernicious innovations. The number of church offices was enlarged; a regular hierarchy was fast forming; and idle ceremonies were invented in abundance. A.D. 306. Constantine the Great ascended the throne, and very soon new modelled Christianity, as to its external form, and made it a stateengine. Wealth and power flowed in apace; magnificent buildings, splendid decorations, and rites, often borrowed from paganism, were thought suitable to the religion of Him, who was "meek and lowly of heart:" and the gradation of rank in the church was assimilated, as much as possible, to that adopted in the State. A.D. 325. The Council of Nice. Here Christians first learned to curse and persecute those who differed from them-and the lesson is scarcely yet forgotten. The fourth and fifth centuries were distinguished by the increasing prevalence of superstition-such as, pilgrimages to supposed holy places, relic-hunting, monasticism, numerous fasts and feasts, auricular confession, prayers to the saints, &c. A.D. 606. The Bishop of Rome assumed the title of "Universal Bishop." A.D. 754. The Pope became a temporal prince, by acquiring the Exarchate of Ravenna. A.D. 787. Image-worship sanctioned by the seventh general council, held at Nice. Transubstantiation was first taught by Paschasius Radbertus, in the ninth century. In the eleventh century, Gregory the Seventh assumed supremacy over princes as well as prelates, and arrogated to himself the right of disposing of crowns. He also interdicted the use of liturgies in any other language than the Latin. The traffic in indulgences began in the twelfth century. A.D. 1215. Communion in one kind established. A.D. 1229. The Inquisition formed, and the Scriptures in the vernacular languages prohibited. A.D. 1414. The Council of Constance, at which it was agreed that faith is not to be kept with heretics. A.D. 1517. Commencement of the Reformation in Germany. A.D. 1540. The order of Jesuits instituted. A.D. 1546. The Council of Trent opened its deliberations, terminated in 1563. By this council the errors and absurdities of the Papal system were solemnly authorized. A survey of ecclesiastical history will lead to the conclusion that almost every corruption in Christianity may be traced to the lust of power, and the pride of false philosophy. The former induced men to become, "lords over God's heritage," first manifesting itself in the arrogance of an ambitious, assuming pastor, and then gradually advancing till every trace of New Testament simplicity was worn away, and the very names and titles known Popery. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SYSTEM.-HISTORICAL NOTICES. How delightful must have been the sight of a Christian church in the apostolic age! It was a congregation of "believers," an assembly of “faithful” men and women, professing their entire trust in the Saviour, and their resolution to obey all His commands, and maintaining the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;" a lovely and most interesting simplicity characterised all their proceedings. In their intercourse with each other, they exemplified "godly sincerity" and brotherly affection; their "yea was yea, and their nay, nay :" and they felt that they were "all one in Christ Jesus." In their solemn assemblies, spirituality of devotion and mutual benefit were the grand objects of desire: hence resulted the chaste simplicity of their services. The reading of the Scriptures, the exhortations of the brethren, the commemoration of the Redeemer's love, with united prayer and praise -these were the constituent parts of their worship. There was no display; nothing to attract the senses; all was spiritual: and doubtless they often left these assemblies, whether held in an upper room, a cellar, or a cave in the wilderness (for to place the primitive Christians attached no importance), saying, "This is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven." The laws by which the first churches were governed, were con tained in the information and instructions communicated by the Apostles, and afterwards collected in the book now called the "New Testament." And as the Apostles were but the interpreters of the will of the Lord Jesus, by whose Spirit they were inspired, by Him the Christian community was governed, and the whole church was “subject to Christ." He only was Lord and Master, and no authority but His was acknowledged. Church government was very simple; there were the pastors, to "preach the word:" and there were the deacons, "to serve tables." Other ecclesiastical orders were unknown; nor did the churches interfere with each other's concerns; each Christian commanity, as well as the entire body, were "subject to Christ.” Would we could say that this happy state of things was of long continuance! But truth compels the acknowledgment that corrup tion was very early at work. We find that priestcraft and superstition were making rapid strides, even before the close of the second century; how awful their progress has since been, every one acquainted with ecclesiastical history well knows. The following brief digest will assist the memories of car readers : Judaizing teachers were the first to corrupt Christianity: see the Epistle to the Galatians. Bowing to the East, the celebra |