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generation! I say, again, I cannot relate these heart-stirring scenes; and I shall only say, that historians and martyrologists variously give the aggregate from fifty to sixty-eight millions of human beings, that have been sacrificed and devoured by this Moloch; this insatiable demon of persecution, as taught in theory and carried out in practice, by her who calls herself HOLY MOTHER!!! What a scarlet, crimsoned, cruel mother she is! On her will be avenged the blood of all martyrs. Even the persecutions of those whom she taught to persecute, lie justly chargeable against her. What guarantee, then, have we that this being the native spirit of the system, it would not again repeat the same tragic scenes, in any country where it obtains an ascendancy? 'Tis true, indeed, that the Protestant powers in Europe hold it now in check. But, were these removed, from what premises would we infer, that the same means would not be resorted to in this and every Protestant country, so soon as this kind mother should feel it a duty, "to extirpate heresy" out of the land?!

The doctrine is actually taught in her New Testament, in the notes appended to the Rhemish version. I will give you a passage or two.

And when his disciples James and John had seen it, they said, Lord wilt thou we say that fire come down from heaven, and consume them? And turning, he rebuked them, saying, you know not of what spirit you are." Luke ix. 54, 55. "Ver. 55. He rebuked them. Not justice nor all rigorous punishment of sinners is here forbidden, Elias' fact reprehended, nor the church or christian princes blamed for putting heretics to death: but that none of these should be done for desire of our particular revenge, or without discretion, and regard to their amendment, and example to others. Therefore, Peter used his power upon Ananias and Sapphira, when he struck them both down to death for defrauding the church.' Rhem. N. Test. p. 109.

This is a mistake. Peter struck not Ananias and Sapphira for defrauding the church, (as these purblind commentators say ;) but the Lord himself struck them dead, for lying against the Holy Spirit. Christian princes, thus, in reading the Roman Testament, are taught to put heretics to death.

"And many of them that had followed curious things, brought together their books and burnt them before all: and counting the prices of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pence." Acts xix. 19.

"Ver. 19. Books. A christian man is bound to burn or deface all wicked books of what sort soever, especially heretical books. Which though they infect not him always that keepeth them, yet being forth coming, they may be noisome and pernicious to other that shall have them and read them after his death, or otherwise. Therefore hath the church taken order for condemning all such books, and against the reading of them where danger may ensue: and the christian emperors, Constantius, Magnus, Valentinian, Theodosius, Marcian, Justinian, made penal laws for the burning or defacing them." Ib. p. 207.

This proscription of heretical books is of the same spirit, a part of the same system, and explains the march of papistical uniformity and unity!

"As we have said before, so now I say again, if any evangelize to you, beside that which you

have received, be he anathema." Gal. i. 9.

"Hierome useth this place, wherein the apostle giveth the curse, or anathema to all false teachers, not once, but twice, to prove that the zeal of Catholic men ought to be so great toward all heretics, and their doctrines, that they should give them the anathema, though they were never so dear unto them. In which case, saith this holy Doctor, I would not spare mine own parents." Id. p. 292. This is stronger still. "I WOULD NOT SPARE MINE OWN PARENTS!" This is the spirit, the naked spirit of the system, pure and unmixed. Remember, then, my friends, that children ought to inform against

their own parents, and brother against brother, for the extirpation of heresy !

"And I saw the woman drunken of the blood of the Saints and of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." Rev. xvii. 6.

Ver. 6. Drunken of the blood. It is plain, that this woman signifieth the whole corps of all the persecutors that have and shall shed so much blood of the just of the prophets, apostles, and other martyrs, from the beginning of the world to the end. The Protestants possibly expound it of Rome, for that they put heretics to death, and allow of their punishment in other countries: But their blood is not called the blood of saints, no more than the blood of thieves, mankillers, and other malefactors: for the shedding of which by order of justice, no commonwealth shall answer." Id. p. 430.

No commonwealth, consequently no member of it, shall suffer for killing heretics. If I have not sustained this proposition, I can prove nothing. If these facts and documents can be set aside by rhetorical declamation, or reckless denial; then are history, and testimony, and fact, of no value in controversy.

Another specification comes under this proposition. I have too many of them for the occasion. I must be brief. This is the divorcing, repelling, disorganizing, and demoralizing dogma, that “no faith should be kept with heretics."

Gregory VII., in a council at Rome, declares :

"We following the statutes of our predecessors, do, by our apostolic authority, absolve all those from their oath of fidelity, who are bound to excommunî-" cated persons, either by duty or oath; and we unloose them from every tie of obedience, till the excommunicated persons have made proper satisfaction." Decret. 2 part. caus. 15. quest. 6.

Urban II. teaches the same doctrine :

"You are to discharge the soldiers who have sworn fidelity to count Hugo, from paying any obedience while he is excommunicated: for they are not obliged to keep that fidelity inviolate, which they have sworn to a christian prince, who opposes God, and his saints, and despises their precepts." Ibid.

Gregory IX. has laid down the general principle, with the greatest care and precision:

"Be it known to all who are under the dominion of heretics, that they are set free from every tie of fidelity and duty to them; all oaths or solemn agreement to the contrary notwithstanding." Decret. Greg. lib. 5, tit. 7.

Hear now the decree of the council of Constance, in the case of John Huss, and Jerome of Prague; who appeared there under the solemn pledge of the imperial protection.

"Council of Constance, 1414, did solemnly decree that no faith is to be kept with an heretic. The person who has given them the safe conduct to come thither, shall not in this case be obliged to keep his promise by whatever tie he may have been engaged, when he has done all that has been in his power to do." Bruce. Free Thought, p. 120.

The council of Constance then, not only so decided; but caused those men, who appeared before them under an imperial pledge, to be. taken and burned. Thus faith was not to be kept with heretics according to said decree, and the practice under it by these "holy fathers ?"

To confirm the whole with the utmost brevity I would add, the holy, infallible, and last council of Trent formally recognized this decree of the council of Constance. It is then the standing and unrepealed doctrine of the Roman Catholic church, which must be as immutable and infallible as the council of Trent.

Next we must notice the proscription of books as another specifi

cation.

The council of Trent in its 25th session, decreed that a council under the pope should draw up and publish an index of books which

were to be prohibited in the church. Thus commenced and keeping pace with the introduction of liberal, or Protestant, or anti-Roman Catholic volumes it has grown into a respectable volume; so that one of the finest libraries might be collected out of these proscribed books. Among these is the bible, which is said to have been the first prohibited in the council of Toloso. In the 4th of the 10 rules concerning prohibited books established by the Holy Fathers of the council of Trent, a license to read the bible is put into the control of bishops and inquisitors. But he that presumes to "read without such license cannot receive absolution of sins." Among these prohibited books also are those of Locke, Milton, Bacon, Grotius, Galileo, Claude, Saurin, Sir Matthew Hale, Jeremy Taylor, Luther, Calvin, Melarcthon, and, indeed, all the standard Protestant authors.

Touching the liberty of the press, a decree of the 10th session of the Lateran council A. D. 1215, even Leo X. presiding expresses the Roman Catholic views of that chief root of the tree of liberty. The decree of the Lateran council was sanctioned by Trent and is now the orthodox faith of Rome.

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By order of the holy council, we, in fine, ordain and decree, that no person shall presume to print, or cause to be printed, any book or other writing whatsoever, either in our city (Rome) or in any other cities and dioceses, unless it shall first have been carefully examined, if in this city, by our Vicar and the master of the holy palace, or if in other cities and dioceses, by the bishop or his deputy, with the inquisitor of heretical pravity for the diocese, in which the said impression is about to be made; and unless also it shall have received, under their own hand, their written approval, given without price and without delay. Whosoever shall presume to do otherwise, besides the loss of the books, which shall be publicly burned, shall be bound by the sentence of excommunication." Caranza, p. 670.

The council of Trent has also confirmed the doctrine of Leo X. and his Lateran council of 1515. Their first rule concerning proscribed books is: All books condemned by the supreme pontiffs, or general councils before the year 1515 and not comprised in the present index are condemned.” The creed of this said council of Trent moreover compels every Roman Catholic "to receive undoubtedly, all things delivered, defined, and declared by the sacred canons, and general councils and particularly by the Holy council of Trent."

This church is as much opposed to the freedom of the press and free discussion, and the circulation of the bible, as ever she was; but she has to yield a little to that irresistible innovator, called custom. Still however a Roman bishop cannot, as a good and liege subject of the pope, but oppose, freedom of thought, speech and action in all matters religious. Listen to the following little bull of the bishop of New York, published the other day against free discussion.

In this document the bishop writes, in his address to the editor of the "Truth Teller," Sir, I consider it my duty to request you to publish the following copy of my letter to the editor of the "Catholic Diary," in order to obviate as soon as possible, the mischief which such a Society, if countenanced, might produce. You know my opposition to controversial disputes on religion, particularly in debating societies or newspapers."

From the letter alluded to, we extract the following:

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To the Editor of the Catholic Diary

:

In the Catholic Diary of Saturday last, October 1, I find a notice from you, of a Society, calling itself the New-York Catholic Society, for the promotion of religious knowledge. Of the existence of that Society, I was utterly ignorant, and feel surprised that you, who ought to know better, would think of encouraging and drawing public attention to such a society, without first ascertaining the sentiments of your Ordinary on so important a subject. The Church wisely

ordains that nothing of the nature of this society can be established without the approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese, where it is meant to introduce it, and that permitted, it should be governed by such rules and regulations as to him may seem proper, for it obviously partakes of the nature of a Theological school. Far be it from me to impede the progress of religious knowledge; nothing could be more dear to my heart than to encourage whatever contributes effectually to its promotion; but placed as I am, as a sentinel over the sacred ark of religion, it is my imperative duty to prevent it from being touched by profane or unpractised hands.

So far from viewing this society in the light you see it, it is my decided conviction that it ought not to be sanctioned by me; how can it be supposed that young men, whose education is chiefly mercantile or mechanical, can come with sufficient preparation to the discussion of a question that requires vast erudition, with a degree of research, which they cannot possess; you cannot be ignorant of the severe mental discipline to which students are subjected in our Theological Seminaries, before they are allowed to commence the study of theology. You know also that this study is regulated by experienced and able professors, that young men are not allowed to grope their way with only their own feeble light, through the dark mazes of deceitful cavil, and infidel sophistry.

The members of this society, who thirst so much for religious knowledge, can read our elementary works, and also, the masterly productions of Milner, Fletcher, Bossuet's history of the Variations, lately printed, and others, where they are sure to find the tenets of our faith explained with a precision and elegance that cannot fail to satisfy the sincere inquirer after truth. The precision of ideas, and elegance of expression in the imparting of religious knowledge, their preamble sets forth to be the main objects of this society, and it covers the desire and intention of acquiring that species of tact and dexterity in theological debate, which would enable them to follow into the arena the fanatics of the day. All this I must condemn as well as a publication of the crude essays of tyros among us. Let us dispute less and practice more.

The church in the most positive manner prohibits all laymen from entering into dispute on points of religion with sectarians, inhibemus," says Pope Alex ander IV., "ne unquam Laica Personæ liceat publice vel private de fide Catholi ca disputare; qui vere contradicerit, Excommunicationis laqueo innodetur."* Had you recollected this sentence, I am sure you would be far from calling on the Catholic young men of this city to become members of a debating society on religious subjects, open to so many serious objections.

"JOHN, Bishop of New-York." After having read you a bishop's bull against "The New York Catholic society for the promotion of religious knowledge," I will, while on this subject, read you also a bishop's curse against a refractory priest in Philadelphia. I quote it from one of the News-papers of that day. It happened some twelve or fifteen years ago. I have several such cases in the books around me: but they are some two or three centuries old, and in foreign countries; and therefore, I select this modern one which is almost a copy of them, because a little acclimated. [From a Philadelphia Paper.] We have at length obtained a correct copy of the excommunication of William Hogan, Pastor of St. Mary's Church, of this city. It is as follows:

By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the undefiled Virgin Mary, mother and patroness of our Savior, and of all celestial virtues, Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Cherubims and Seraphims; and of all the Holy Patriarchs, Prophets, and of all the Apostles and Evangelists of the Holy Innocents, who, in the sight of the Holy Lamb are found worthy to sing the new song of the Holy Martyrs and Holy Confessors, and of all the Holy Virgins, and of all Saints, together with the Holy Elect of God-may he, William Hogan, be damned.

We excommunicate and anathematize him, and from the threshold of the Holy Church of God Almighty, we sequester him, that he may be tormented, disposed

*The English of which Bull is:-"The Church prohibits laymen, either publicly or privately, from arguing on subjects appertaining to the Catholic faith, and whosoever shall violate this prohibition, let him be bound with the cord of Excommunication."

and be delivered over with Athan and Abiram, and with those who say unto the Lord, "depart from us for we desire none of thy ways;" as a fire is quenched with water, so let the light of him be put out forevermore, unless it shall repent him, and make satisfaction. Amen!

May the Father, who created man, curse him! May the Son, who suffered for us, curse him! May the Holy Ghost, who suffered for us in baptism, curse him! May the Holy Cross which Christ for our salvation, triumphing over his enemies, ascended, curse him!

May the Holy and Eternal Virgin Mary, mother of God, curse him! May St. Michael, the Advocate of the Holy Souls, curse him, May all the angels, principalities, and powers, and all heavenly armies, curse him!

May the praiseworthy multitude of Patriarchs, and Prophets, curse him! May St. John the Precursor, and St. John the Baptist, and St. Peter, and St. Paul, and St. Andrew, and all other of Christ's Apostles together, curse him! and may the rest of our Disciples and Evangelists, who by their preaching converted the universe, and the holy and wonderful company of Martyrs and Confessor, who by their holy works are found pleasing to God Almighty. May the holy choir of the Holy Virgins, who for the honor of Christ have despised the things of the world, damn him! May all the saints from the beginning of the world to everlasting ages, who are found to be beloved of God, damn him!

May he be damned wherever he be, whether in the house or in the stable, the garden or the field, or the highways; or in the woods, or in the waters, or in the church; may he be cursed in living and in dying!

May he be cursed in eating and in drinking, in being hungry, in being thirsty, in fasting, in sleeping, in slumbering, and in sitting, in living, in working, in resting and blood letting!

May he be cursed in all the faculties of his body.

May he be cursed inwardly and outwardly; may he be cursed in his brains and in his vertex, in his temples, in his eye-brows, in his cheeks, in his jaw bones, in his nostrils, in his teeth and grinders, in his lips, in his throat, in his shoulders, in his arms, in his fingers.

May he be damned in his mouth, in his breasts, in his heart and purtenance, down to the very stomach!

May he be cursed in his reins and in his groins; in his thighs, in his genitals and in his hips, and his knees, his legs and feet, and toe nails!

May he be cursed in all his joints, and articulation of the members; from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet, may there be no soundness.

May the Son of the living God, with all the glory of his majesty, curse him! And may heaven with all the powers that move therein, rise up against him and curse and damn him; unless he repent and make satisfaction!

Amen. So be it. Be it so. Amen.

Ridiculous as this may appear-laughable or profane; it is nevertheless, but the echo of one of the one hundred anathemas commanded in the council of Trent-one of the greater excommunications due to an obstinate heretic.

As still more indicative of the present views and feelings of the Roman see, on the subject of civil and religious liberty, I shall give you a few more extracts. I had laid off several modern documents of much point, and bearing on this proposition; but unfortunately, they were misplaced in my library, and I find them missing among the books I have brought with me. I hold in my hand, however, a little work in which I find some of them. This little volume containing "Dr. Beecher's Plea for the West," ought to be in every family, and read by every adult in the great valley, who feels any interest in the preservation of our free and happy institutions. I wish I had time to read much of it. I can only read a few passages of the documentary data which it contains:

I am about to read from Gregory XVI. the present successor of Peter, under date of 1832, the present faith of Roman Catholics on the subject of conscience, and liberty of the press.

"From this polluted fountain of indifference, flows that absurd and erroneous

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