Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

the lands in Europe, become the property of the Church and the estates of the Church were considered sacred; and to withdraw any part of it from the object of its appropriation, was deemed to be the height of impiety. On the pretext that their prayers would avail to redeem a soul from purgatory, the clergy made bargains with the deluded people for the benefit of deceased friends. A given amount of money was paid for the redemption of the soul of a departed relative from punishment; and the sum was always proportioned to the wealth of the family which was a party to the contract. The sale of indulgencies was another productive branch of revenue to the Church; but we shall have occasion to mention this in another place. By these means the Papal Church amassed immense wealth.

One efficient measure to accomplish the ambitious designs of the Roman pontiff, was the claim of infallibility. As the vicegerent of Christ on earth, the Pope claimed the possession not only of power to rule the Church universal, but also the authority to determine the true meaning of scripture, to decide all controversies, to judge on every doctrinal publication, and to settle all questions of conscience. The people were never to use their own judgment on religion, but implicitly to bow their understandings to the wiser decisions of their spiritual fathers; and though the truth of a position should appear to their minds as clear as the light of the meridian sun, yet if it was pronounced by the infallible judge untrue, they must with heart and

soul acquiesce, and sincerely believe as the Church decreed. Having an infallible teacher, the bible was not thought necessary for the laity; and on the plea that they had not judgment to understand its communications, it was withholden from their perusal.

As though all this was not enough for the purposes of delusion, the Papal Church held the doctrine of tradition: that is, they maintained that the apostles of our Lord, from prudential considerations, did not commit to writing, the whole system of divine revelation, but transmitted, by oral tradition, certain principles and rules, which are of equal authority with the written will of God. These traditions were committed, from generation to generation to the safe keeping of ecclesiasticks, who in reality composed the Christian Church; and the laity are solemnly bound to receive these from their priest, on the authority of God. From this secret treasury the Papal clergy could draw any order, precept, or rule, calculated to subserve the designs of their ambition, avarice, or sensuality; and no one, on the penalty of his salvation, must question its validity.

Excommunication was used as a powerful instrument to subserve the designs of Papal usurpation. The Pope fulminated the sentence of excommunication against all who manifested a spirit of opposition to the requisitions of the Church, or made the slightest resistance to the execution of her decrees. This sentence deprived the excommunicated of every religious privilege, excluded them from a participation in the rights of humanity, and made them forlorn outcasts in society. Their

bodies were denied Christian burial; and the ignorant and superstitious wretches died in the full expectation that the Papal sentence would be ratified at the tribunal of heaven, and would prove the seal of their eternal perdition. Sometimes a whole kingdom was excommunicated for an act of insubordination in its sovereign. This sentence closed every Church in the realm, and suspended the exercise of every Christian office through the whole community. It was received by the mass of the people with astonishment and terrour, like that which would be experienced, should the sun cease to shine, and the elements of heaven be made the ministers of divine vengeance on a guilty nation.

To complete this system of spiritual imposition and tyranny, the Papal Church established the court of inquisition, to guard against the very semblance of opposition to its authority. On mere suspicion of the want of allegiance to their sovereignty, the officers of this court, in the midnight hour, and with the silence of the thief, invaded the mansion of the citizen, and dragged the master of the household from the bosom of his family to, a dungeon, where he was not confronted with. his accuser, where no charge was laid against him, nor measures of defence allowed; but where he was tortured and forced to a confession against. himself; and where, when policy dictated, he expired on the wheel. Still his dearest relative dared not inquire for the cause of his arrest; nor his best friend lisp the story of his sufferings and destruction. Is it then possible that the liberal institutions of the gospel should be thus perverted to

purposes of domination and cruelty? Is it possi ble that the religion of love and benevolence should be made the instrument to accomplish the designs of human pride and ambition? While we review the terrifick features of Papal tyranny, our blood becomes cold, and our minds, in detestation, recoil from the contemplation of the hateful picture.

But this complicated apparatus of means, this immense engine of power, fully answered the in. tended design of aggrandizement. The minister of the lowly Jesus assumed the loftiest titles, and decorated himself with a triple crown. He appeared in all the magnificence, and was surrounded with all the splendour and pomp of royalty. Encircled by his cardinals, the Pope issued decrees which not only regulated the religious affairs of every Church, but also effected the most important interests of the civil governments of Europe, and not unfrequently disposed of the thrones of kings. and emperors. Here he arrogated the attributes of Divinity, and presumed to exercise the prerogative of God. He exalted himself above all that is called God he as God, sat in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

This must suffice to show the rise and extent of the usurpation of the Bishop of Rome. The corruptions and abuses of the Papal Hierarchy will be more fully considered on a future occasion.

SERMON IX.

THE CORRUPTIONS AND ABUSES OF THE PAPAL

HIERARCHY.

2 THESSALONIANS ii. 9.

Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all pow er, and signs, and lying wonders.

IN the last discourse, we reviewed the manner in which the Bishop of Rome usurped power and dominion. From the passage of scripture before us, I shall direct your attention to

The corruptions and abuses of the Papal Hierarchy.

It has already been mentioned that the Bishop of Rome was originally a parish minister, elected to office by the members of his society. As Christian converts were multiplied, new Churches were formed in Rome and its vicinity, and pastors were established to administer the ordinances of the gospel among them; but the minister of the parent Church was considered as the first among equals : he summoned the meetings of the clergy, and pre sided in them. When the Roman government be

« ZurückWeiter »