SKETCH

OF

POPERY.

TO THE LAW AND TO THE TESTIMONY:
IF THEY SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD,
1r 18 BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM.

ISAJH Vi.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;

Instituted 1799.

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY; 56, PATERNOSTER ROW,
AND 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD;

AND BY THE BOOKSELLERS.

843.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.-Rise and progress of Popery

CHAP. II. Claims of oral tradition examined-

Writings of the fathers-The Scriptures the only

infallible guide ...

CHAP. III.-The Bible, the religion of Protestants

-The canon of Scripture not determined by

the Romish church-Circumstances of the Pro-

testant in reference to it contrasted with those of

the Papist-Hostility to the word of God ex-

hibited and explained-Services of the Romish

church in Latin

CHAP. IV. The pope the head of the Romish

church-His claims examined and refuted-The

Pontifex Maximus of the heathens............

CHAP. V. Comparison of Popery with heathenism

-Its churches-Altars-Incense-Holy water

-Votive offerings-Dresses-Chaunts, and fes-

tivals

Page

CHAP. VI. The doctrine of venial and mortal sin

Confession

Dispensations-Penance-Pilgrim-

ages-Relics-Their true character

116

CHAP. VII. The mass-Mode of its celebration-

The doctrine of transubstantiation examined and

refuted-The cup forbidden to the laity..

144

CHAP. VIII. The worship of saints and images-

Recent canonization-Alliance of Romanism with

the practices of ancient heathens-Condemnation

of them by the Scriptures

......

.....

CHAP. IX. The doctrine of purgatory-Means by

which it is kept before the mind-Its opposi-

tion to Divine truth

CHAP. X.-Nunneries- -The Romish doctrine of

merit unscriptural and injurious-Object of Eng-

lish monasteries

.....

CHAP. XI.-English monasteries-The designs of

Romanists-The officers, inmates, and apart-

ments of the Benedictines-The practice of

duplicity......

CHAP. XII.-Inducements to a monastic life-His-

tory of a monk -The postulant-The novice-

The profession

CHAP. XIII. The noviciate-The profession-Se-

verity exercised-Exile, the penalty of disobedi-

ence-Close of a priest's earthly career-Prac-

tice of celibacy

.....

Page

172

195

206

216

234

248

CHAP. XIV. Doctrine of intention in celebrating the

sacrament-Opposition of Popery to liberty of

judgment, science, and literature-Persecuting

spirit of the Romish church-The inquisition.. 268

CHAP. XV.-Superstition one result of Romanism

-Baptism of bells-Ceremonies of an English

Tendency to

monastery-Pretended miracles-

infidelity...

..... 278

SKETCH

OF

POPERY.

CHAPTER I.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF POPERY.

No

TRUE religion must be personal. In many cases a proxy is admissible, but here it is not. one can become pious for us: a substitution of others for ourselves is utterly impossible. Religion is often exhibited in the Scriptures as knowledge, affection, and obedience; and these are obviously not relative, but individual. Equally certain, therefore, is it that religion must be personal also. It is, in fact,

a heart of flesh," a renewal in the spirit of the mind, a new nature, a Divine principle, the life of God in the soul of man, a life kindled from above, and rising to the world from whence it came. Not only does true piety operate on the individual, as considered apart from others, but it acts on the whole man. In his understanding, it is light; in his affections, it is love; in his conscience, it is submission to supreme authority; throughout his course, it is habitual conformity to the law of righteousness.

B