1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

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::
,
- -
:
*
* A
* .
A
*
-
w *A R N I N G
acaiNST
P o P E Ř r.
Drawn up, and
publiſhed,
by Order of the
A s s o c I A T E SY N o D, at their Meet
ing on the 2d of September 1778.
To which are ſubjoined,
oBSERVATIONs on the Nature of the
I.Aws now in force against PoP e Ry; and
on the danger and impropriety of repealing
them.
E D I N B U R G H:
Printed by G A v 1 N A L s T o N.
Sold by W I L L 1 A M G R A Y, front of the
Exchange; and by the bookſellers in
town and country.
M, Dcc.Lxxix.
A}
-
Edinburgh, Sept. 2. 1778 -
The Synod being met ani čonſtituted:–agreed t.
a propofal made by the committee of overtures
That a judicious and well-ſupported warning a
gainſt Popery be ſpeedily publiſhed :-appointed a
committee, (any fix of them being a quorum),
to meet in the festion-houſe this day, to prepare faid #
warning;–and empowered them to appoint any -
« heir number as a ſub committee, with power :
to adjourn themſelves, as they may find ne- * .
ceffary, till they have finiſhed this bufineſs.
–And the Synod further recommend, to all the mi
nifters under their infpe&tion, carefully to inſtruct
and eſtabliſh their hearers in the truths of the goſpel,
in oppoſition to the abominations of Popery.
Extracted by John Brown, Syn. Cl
-
Edinburgh, Sept. 2. 17
The Committee appointed, for drawing up an
bliſhing a warning gainit Popery, met :–
prayer,–Mr BRows was chofen clerk. Appointed fub-committee.
-
-
Edinburgh, Dec. 1. 1778.
over a draught of a
met.–Read
The Committee
Warning againſt Popery, and made general obſerva
tions thereon. .
Eodem loco, Dec. 2. 1778.
Read again the draught of a Warning againſt Po
pery, paragraph by paragraph, and made corrections
Unanimoufly approved the fame, and or
dered it to be publiſhed with all convenient ſpeed; as
a means of awakening the generation, and dirèćting
them, in the preſent alarming crifis, to guard, againſt
*f that Antichriſtian fystem.
t'
thereon.
John BRowN, Comm. Cl.
*
wA RNING
Y
A G a in s t
P O P E R
has pronounced a
O ""“ woeLorduntoJeſus
the world becauſe of of
“ fences; for,” ſays he, “ it must needs be
** that offences come,” Matth. xviii. 7. And
the apoſtle fays, “ there muſt be herefies in
* the church,” 1 Cor. xi. 19.---- Hiſtory tells
us, that theſe predićtions have been realized.
The apoſtolic writings ſhow what quick and
đangerous advances corruption and defection
made, in the ſpace of a very few years, after
the firſt establiſhment of the Christian church.
Faćtion and ſchifm prevailed at Corinth,
1 Cor. iii. : the doćtrine of a finner's free ju
ftification in the fight of God, by the righ
teoufnefs of Christ, imputed to him, and te
ceived by faith aloné, was oppoſed among
the Galatians: the obligation of the morại
1aw upon the conſciences of believers was re
fuſed, James ii. : the Godhead of Christ was
denied, John i. I John ii. 22, z2. : the reiur
restion of the dead was impugned, I Cor. i.
A
-
.
( 2
)
5.; and thc man of fin, the fon of perdition,
who exalteth himſelf above all that is call
ed God, or that is worſhipped, was even then
working, as the myſtery of iniquity, 2 Theſſ. ii.
THE error, idolatry, and tyranny founded
on ambition and uſurpation, which wrought,
with leſs ſhow and ſucceſs, during the firſt
three ages of Chriſtianity, while oppoſed by
the imperial Pagan government of Rome, be
came, in time, an united ſyſtem of abomina
tion, under the indulgence and protećtion of
the emperors who favoured Chriſtianity: and
then was that wicked one gradually revealed, .
who poſleffed all the charaćters of the fecond
beast, which the apoſtle faw rifing out of the
fea, Rev. xiii. This mystery of iniquity be
came at length fo powerful, and fo exceed
ingly corrupt, that it was juſtly called, “ The
“ mother of harlots, and abominations of the
“ earth,” Rev. xvii. 5. The kings of the earth
committed fornication with her, and the in
habitants of the earth were made drunk with
the wine of her fornication, Rev. xvii. 2. ;
yea, all the world wondered after the beaſt,
Rev. xiii. 3.
Is furveyine
hominations that have
(
8 )
made the Christian church deſolate, it is not
neceſſary to examine the partial and growing
deviations of this or that church or party,
from the original ſystem of divine truths and
institutions, which had been delivered to the
fints, An enquiry of this fort would be te
dious, the principles uncertain, and the re
fult of it offmall importance to us. But the
word of God has fo particularly deſcribed the
charaćter of that apoſtate church which was
to ariſe in the latter times; and the cleareft
facts, correſponding with divine predićtions,
have fo remarkably exemplified every part of
the odious charaéter in the church of Rome,
that there can be no doubt about the appli
cation of it.
"
*
. .
*
Protest ANts,intheirpreſentlukewarm and
fleepy condition, being liable to be corrupted
from the fimplicity that is in Christ, by the aćti
vity and craftineſs of the emistaries of Rome,
who have crept into the Britiſh iſlands, and lie
in wait to deceive; the Committee lay hold on
the occafion, to fet before the public eye the
errors and corruptions of popery, with the
incorrigibleneſs of that enormous body, by
whoſe intrigues and artifices this ſystem of
tyranny and abomination is upheld ;---and
theimpreſſions of divine agency, on the rife
ºnd progreſs of the reformation from it,
A 2
-
( 4 )
I. The corruptiens of popery, and the in
corrigibleneſs of that enormous body, by
whoſe intrigues and artifices this ſystem
of tyranny and abomination is upheld.
To investigate all the various steps, where
by the church of Rome, fo clearly deſcribed,
in the facred writings, as the man of fin, rofe
to that power and influence, which threaten
ed the civil, as well as religious interests of
mankind, might gratify curiofity; but our
preſent buſineſs is only to delineate the cha
raếter of that monster of iniquity, as it “ treads
** the holy city under foot,” Rev. xi. 2.; and “as
“ God, fitteth in the temple of God,” z Theſi.
ii. 4. This church, in its complex ſtate, is
called the kingdom of the beaſt, Rev. xvi. 1o.
in oppoſition to the church of Chriſt, which is
called his kingdom, John xviii. 36, and the king
dom of heaven, Matth. xiii.----»To juſtify this
cenfure, the following articles of impeach
ment are exhibited againſt the faith and man
ners, the worſhip and diſcipline of the Romiſh
church. .
. . Ak r. 1. THE doćtrines of the church of
Rome are most corrupt and pernicious.
Nofoonerhadthe Lord Jeſus fown the good
feed of his word in the apostolic churches,
( 5 )*
than the devil, who was a murderer from the .
beginning, and abođe not in the truth, em
ployed all his helliſh influence to corrupt them,
by any means, from that ſimplicity which is
in Christ, and to change the truth of God in
to a lie. His fucceſs was very conſiderable,
even during the life of the apostles; and after
they had fulfilled the peculiar and extraordi
nary fervice, whereunto they were appointed,
and had rested from their labours, his affidui
ty did not abate. The confequence was, that :
herefies, on every article of the Chriſtian faith,
were advanced, revived, and propagated, by
different perſons, and with different views,
for upwards of three hundred years. But,
through the manifestation of the truth, and
the fupplies of the Holy Spirit, thefe errors
were confoundeđ, and the doćirine öfČhrift
triumphed. In proceſs of time, many of theſe
detestable errors were methođized in the
ehurch of Rơine, and formed into an establiſh
ed ſystem. It is not denied, that, in her
worst state, ſhe still maintained many precious
truths, and affected to be called the chureb of
*
Christ: for without döing fo, fhe could hôtbe
faid to fit in the temple of God. But ſhe has itnprifoned theſe truths ſhe maintains, by pla
cing them in the most diſhonourable connec
( 6 )
tions with her own inventions, and by affu.
ming the fole power of dominion over the
faith and conſciences of mankind. She makes
the ſcripture to depend wholly on her own
teſtimony, for the authority, truth, and fenfe
of it; and the oral traditions of the church,
fhe affirms, are to be received, with equal piety
and reverence, as the books of the Old and
New Testament. * She pretends to be infal
lible in all her deciſions, and eſtabliſhes her
own authority, as the reafon of all Christian
faith and obedience.---Having laid theſe foun
dations, ſhe has raiſed a fuperstrućture, that
is perfećtly agreeable to fuch corrupt prin
ciples, in “ her erroneous doctrine against
** the fufficiency of the written word, the per
“ fećtion of the law, the office of Christ and
« his bleffed goſpel: her corrupted doćtrine
“ concerning original fin, our natural inabi
“ lity and rebellion to God's law, our juſtifi
“ cation by faith only; our imperfect ſanctifi
** cation and obedience to the law, the na
“ ture, number, and uſe of the holy facra
“ ments: her five bastard facraments; with
«“ all : her rites, ceremonies and falfe doç
. « trine, added to the miniſtration of the true
* Pope Pius' creed, Article 1 3. 14. Decrees of the
*- council of Trent coneerning the ſcriptures.
( 7 )
“ ſacraments without the word of God: her
* cruel judgment againſt infants departing
“ without the facrament: her abſolute necef,
“ fity of baptiſm : her blaſphemous opinion
“ of tranſubſtantiation, or real preſence of
“ Chriſt's body in the elements, and receiving
“ of the fame by the wicked, or bodies of
“ men: her difpenfation with folemn oaths,
“ perjuries, and degrees of marriage forbid
“ den in the word: her cruelty againſt the
“ innocent divorced : her deviliſh maſs: her
“ blaſphemous priefthood : her profane ſacri
“ fice for the fins of the dead and the quick :
“ her canonization of men; calling upon an
“ gels or faints departed; worſhipping of i
“ magery, relics and croffes ; dedicating of
“ kirks, altars, days ; vows to creatures: her
“ purgatory, prayers for the dead; praying
“ or ſpeaking in a strange language; with her
“ proceſſions and blaſphemous litany, and
“ multitude of advocates or mediators: her
“ manifold orders, auricular confeſſion: her
“ deſperate and uncertain repentance: her
“ general and doubtfome faith : her fatisfac
“ tion of men for their fins: her juſtification
“ by works, works of fupererogation, merits,
“ pardons, peregrinations and ſtations: her
“ holy water, baptifing of bells, conjuring of
“ ſpirits, crofing, fayning, anointing, conju-
“ ring, hallowing of God's good creatures,
( 8 )
“ with the ſuperstitious opinion joined therē
“ with.”------Theſe are a catalogue of fome of
the corrupt and pernicious doćtriaes of the
church of Rome, expreſsly mentioned and ab
jured, upon the clearest grounds, in the na:
tional covenant of Scotland*.
*
Arr. 2. Ttre manners of the church of
Rome are, in many points, exceedingly in:
pious and wicked.
·
· -
-
, ,
,
,, ,
:*
TH É words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt arę
wholeſome, and contain doctrines which arę
according to godilinefs. The faith, once deli
vered to the faints, is holy and fan&tifying;
though, it must be confested, the apoſtolic
churches foon begaa to leave their first love,
Rev. ii. 4. The çorruption of their morals
was the effećt of the corrupt opinions propa»
gated among them. The vices, which pre
vailed for feveral of the carliest ages of Chri
itianity, were fo various, that they cannot be
brought under any particular arrangement.
Conformity to the world, joining its influ
ence to the errors that occaſionally ſprung
up, gave particular forms to immorality in
different plaçes.---However, if we conſider
the condition of the church, it muſt be ae
knowledged, that the firſt ages of Christi
* See the national covenant, Page 2d.
( 9 )
-
inity were very pure, in comparifon of the
following : and the farther removed from the
apostolic age, the morals of Chriſtians became
ítill more and more degenerate. When error.
obtained an establiſhment under the papacy,.
then iniquity affumed a certain ſhape, corre
fponding to the pernicious doćtrines fhe held,
and to the felfiſh purpoſes of her intereſt and
ambition. Then the church of Rome was vi
fbly impreſſed with that infamous charaćter,
---the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul ſpirit ; a cage of every unclean and
hateful bird, Rev. xviii. 2. She did not only
commit all uncleanneſs with greedineſs, but
was bold enough to establiſh it by a law. Not
fatisfied with breaking the commandments of
God, ſhe taught men to do fo: and very
many of her groffeſt abominations are the
fault of ber religion. Popery is fubverſive of
practical religion. It teaches thofe doćtrines,
and allows thoſe liberties, which naturally :
produce all kinds of ſenſuality, and boldneſs
in doing evil. It invests the Pope with an ab
Jalute power of difpenfing with feveral of the :
commands of God; of abſolving men from
the moſt folemn oaths, vows, and covenants ;
of reverfing lawful marriages, and confecra
ting inceſtuous connećtions; of granting li
cences to commit any fort of fins, for a very
finall expence; of pardoning the moſt flagi
-
B
( . Io )
tious rebels against the light both of reafon
and revelation, upon the payment of a mode
rate fine to the church; and of transferring
the merit of fome, who are fuppoſed to be
more righteous than the law of God requires
them to be, unto fuch as live and die in the
neglećt of every religious duty. To crown
the whole, the poor deluded vulgar are taught
to confider the Pope, in all thefe tranfaćtions,
as the Vicar of Christ, and to reckon him infal
lible in all his determinations. The praćtical lan
guage of fuch doćtrine is,---“ Every one that
“ doth evil, is good in the fight of the Lord,
“ and he delighteth in them,” Mal. ii. 17.
ART. 3. THE church of Rome, which is
rent with the moſt diſgraceful fchifms, main
tains an appearance of unity, upon principles
that are altogether inconfiftent with the ſpi
rit of the goſpel.
THE union of the apostolic churches was
founded in the common /alvation, which was
preached to them, and believed by them.
A profeffion of their faith in the perfon and
mediation of Chriſt, and of their obedience
to all his commandments, was a fatisfying
recommendation of all who profeffed this
good profestion, to be baptiſed and joined
to thoſe holy focieties, wherein faith and
love were the powerful principles of u
(
11 . )
nion and harmony. Their fellowſhip was
not ſupported by external violence; it did
not depend upon the determinations and au
thority of a viſible head : but it was main
tained folely under the influence of the truths
they believed and obeyed, upon the credit òf
divine authority. This was their happy and
advantageous fituation, until their minds were,
by fome means, corrupted from the fimpli
city that is in Christ. By lofing fight of the
authority, and love of the truth, as it is in Je
fus, the primitive Christians became attached
to men of reputation; fome faying we are of
Paul, others, we are of Apollos, and others, we
are of Cephas, while many cast off all regard
both to ministers and ordinances of divine ap
pointment, and pretended they were of Christ,
whoſe Spirit immediately taught them all
things, without any other iństrućtor, i Cor. i.
1o. I 1. 12. and chap. iii. 1.---1 1. Theſe fac
tions were principally occafioned by faffe teach
ers, who crept into the churches, and gained
credit, by foothing corrupt views and paſſions;
as we fee in the cafe of the churches of An
tioch, Galatia, and Corinth. Such diffentions,
Produced by artful, bold, and ambitious men,
were too much encouraged by many who
really loved the truth; and made dangerous
advances for feveral ages. The advantages
B 2
( 12 , )
truth obtained in fair diſputation were great;
but humanly ſpeaking, theſe animofities muſt
have been fatal to the caufe of Christ, had not
fucceflive ſcenes of perſecution prevented the
ruin of his church, by compelling her to “ re
“ member how ſhe had received and heard”
her
principles in the oracles of God, Rev. iii.
3. Selfiſhnefs and pride could not ſtand the
fhock: and thus the blood of martyrs be
came the feed of a new vigour and union to
the church, which was hereby refined and
tried, reſtored and fettled,
-
WHEN Roman Antichrift was revealed, he
eſtabliſhed a political union among his delu
ded votaries, whereby they are joined toge
ther in an unlimited attachment to the Pope,
-as the viſible head of the cburch. The kings of
the earth having agreed to give their power
and strength unto the beaſt, Rev. xvii. 13, he
cauſed all, both ſmall and great, rich and
poor, free and bond, to receive a mark, in
their right hand, or in their foreheads ; and -
that no man might buy or fell, fave he that
had the mark, or the name of the beaſt, or
the number of his name, Rev. xiii. 16. 17.
This is an exaćt abridgement of the beast’s aft
of uniformity, as one calls it *; and the forego
ing verfe informs us, how it is enforced : for
* Robertſon in loc,
-
--1
( 13 )
“ as many as would not worſhip the image of
“ the beast, ſhould be killed.”---Does the
church of Rome boaſt of the union of her mem
bers among them/elves, and with the Pope, their
viſible head, as an infallible proof of her being
the only true church*? Let us not marvel at
the matter : for her union is neither founded on
the fame principles, nor promoted by the fame
means, which produced and preferved the u
nity of the Spirit in the bond of peace a
mong the apoſtolic churches. (1.) It is not
founded on the fame principles. The faith
and duty of Roman Catholics are entirely
built on the authority of their church. The
word of God has no authority with them,
but what it derives from the testimony of the
church ; and it has no other meaning, but
what ariſes from her determinations.
In the
apoſtolic churches, the ſcriptures were recei
ved, not on the credit of the apoſtles teſti
mony, but on the powerful evidence of their
intrinſic authority, I Cor. ii. 5. ; not in a
partial narrow fenfe, but in their own great
and obvious meaning, 2 Pet. i. 2o. (2.) It is
not promoted by the fame means. Their u
nion has been all along maintained, either by
the terrors of the civil fword; by maſſacres,
dragooning, and the cruel mercies of the in
quiſition: or elfe, by keeping their people in
* Be'larmine de noțis ecclefiæ.
4
4
(
14 )
the moſt wretched ignorance of the word òf
God, that they may not have eyes to fee, òr
ears to hear, and hearts to underſtand, that
A
they might be converted and faved. Where
- as, in the apostolic churches, the love of the
faints to each other abounded in knowledge,
and in all judgment, Phil. i. 9. 1o. 27.----To
all which it may be added, that the church of
Rome is only anxious to fupport her own au
thority, and defend her own credit, to promote
her own intereſt, and to propagate her own
opinions. Indeed it would be unreafonable
to expećł any thing better, in that Antichri
ftian church, where pride and covetoufneſs
uſurp the throne of God himſelf, 2 Theff. ii. 4.
ART. 4. THE church of Rome has altogether
changed the ordinances of Chriſt, concerning
the diſcipline and government of his church.
Derections from theappointmentofChrist,
concerning the order of his houfe, began even
in the apoſtolicage. Ambition, and lust of pow
er, promptedfome to aſpire after degrees of pre
eminence, that are inconſiſtent with the perfećt
equality of New-Teſtament elders. Diotrephes
affumed it by a fort of violence, 3 John ix. 1o. ;
while others courted it by an infinuating
addreſs, Gal. vi. 12. 13. 2 Tim. iii. 6. Some
(
15 ) .
times, diſcipline was fcrewed up, on the moſt
ſcandalous pretences, torigorous feverity; and
on other occaſions, it was moſt fhamefully TC--
laxed. Diotrephes received not the brethren,
and forbade them that would, and cast them
ont, 3 John Io. The churches of Corinth,
Pergamos, and Thyatira, were finfully negli
gent, 1 Cor. vi. Rev. ii.---For feveral ages that
followed the death of the apoſtles, piety, learn
ing, prudence, age, and experience, were the
only means of procuring fuperior influence to
any miniſter. But Christianity having obtain
eda legal eſtabliſhment in the reign of Constan
tine the Great, the emperor's generoſity openeda
large field, for the emulation of fuch ambitious
churchmen as regarded their own honour and
worldly interest,more than the honour that co
meth from God only. As gratification only
fervesto strengthen luft, and impela proud ſpi
ritto purſue its purpoſes, in more daring paths
to wealth and preferment, we need not won
der, that ſucceſsful ambition and uſurpation,
under the patrơnage of civil power, puſhed
forward without stopping, till the biſhop of
Rome obtained a general fubmiſſion to his arro
gant claim of being univerſal biſhop in the Chri
ftian church, and herfupreme viſible bead. This
Antichriſtian title was first conferred by the
emperor Phocas on Baniface III, for himſelf
( 15 )
and his ſucceſſors, in the fee of Rome, by ati
abſolute decree, which paſſed, for that purpoſe,
about the year 6o 6 or 6o8.
Then the Roman
Antichrist was revealed in “ bis worldly monar
tly, and wicked bierarchy*;” confiſting of many
orders of miniſters, loaded with wealth, ho
nours, and powers ; altogether inconſiſtent
with the institution of Christ, with the pro
fperity of the church, with the rights of civil
magistrates, and with the liberty of the con
fciences of men. † This heavy charge againſt
the church of Rome is founded on the strong
eſt evidence. For, (1) The popiſh hierarchy,
confisting of cardinals, primates, patriarchs,
archbiſhops, diocefan biſhops, fuffragans, &'č.
érc. with the Pope at their head, is manifeſtly
contrary to the institution of Chriſt, Luke °
xxii. 24.---3o. When the apoſtles and elders
fat in the fynod of Jeruſalem, they had equal
authority in deciding upon the bufineſs that
came before them, Aćts xv.: and our Lord :
Jeſus faid to his diſciples, “ One is your ma
“ ſter, even Christ, and all ye are brethren,”
Mat. xxiii. 8. The pretenſions of popery de
ftroy the equality of power which Chriſt hath
committed to church-rulers. (2.) It is deeply in
jurious to the proſperity of the church, which
is God's heritage and property, I Pet. v. iii. .
Thofe who bear offices in the church, muſt be
* National covenant of Scotland. .
+ Ibid.
(
17 )
-
«alled to them by the church herfelf: and e
very call which comes from any other quar
ter must be effentially defećtive.
Oppreſſion
and tyranny are the neceſſary confequence
of all the acceſſions arifing to the church, from
its combination with the kingdoms of this
world. When ſhe ceaſes to be independent,
her proſperity ceaſes in courſe. (3.) It is e
verfive of the rights of civil magiſtrates, be
ing a worldly monarchy. The constitution
of the church of Rome is entirely adjuſted to
the felfiſh views of the covetous and ambitious
mind. It was establiſhed under the pretence
of an authority purely ſpiritual, but has ever
been applied to purpoſes the moſt different
imaginable. Its fecular magnificence, its earth
ly original, its unſupportable pride, its inſa
tiable avarice, its notorious encroachments on
civil power, its carnal policy, and its deteſt
able cruelty, evidently prove, that the votaries
of the Roman church are enemies both to
the kingdom of Chriſt, and to the juſt rights.
ofcivil magistracy. (4) The popiſh diſcipline
and adminiſtration are fatal to that liberty
inreligious matters wherewith Chriſthath made
all his diſciples free. They impoſe all their errors
that have been defined by their canons and
councils; and requirean implicit faithandblind
obedience to thoſe oracles. Their ſubjećts muſt
fay they believe what church believes,whe
( 18 )
ther they do or not. They muft underſtand with
her underſtanding, and contrary to their own;
or elfe,----What?----Not that which every rea
fonable man would think, and has a right to
expećt;---not ſcripture-argument, reaſon, and
the repreſentațion of truth, in a fair and con
vincing light;---but, opprobrious names, fo
lemn curfes, a fentence of excommunication,
and then cruel ufage, corporal puniſhment, and
every wholeſome feverity, that is, all kinds of
perſecution in their turns, and every degree of
it. But nature fickens at the ſtory, while re
ligion turns away her ear with abhorrence,
and groans for her fuffering and bleeding
children. Such is the ſpirit, and ſuch are the
destruếtive meaſures of the church of Rome!
Art. 5. THE worſhipofthechurch ofRome is
groſsly corrupted with idolatry and ſuperstition:
SoME of her deteſtable doćtrines on this
head have been mentioned on the firſt arti
cle; and a larger enumeration could not an
fwer our preſent purpoſe. Two things are
certain, in particular, concerning her wor
ſhip: (1) She preſcribes the worſhip of faints,
of the Virgin Mary, of angels, of confecrated i
mages, of relics, and of the facramental elements.
And, (2.) Her worſhip is clogged with fo
many
pompous ceremonies,
borrowed partly
F = F = = = = ===------
(
19 )
from the Jews, but moſtly from Heathens,
that it has no appearance of the ſimplicity
which is in Chriſt. Her worſhip is fo entirely
modelled by : the commandments of - men,
that it is abominable in the fight of God,
Matth. xv. 9.
,
-
,
:
ART. 6. The ſystem of the popiſh doctrine,
and even the holy ſcriptures, must only be
received by her members in that precife fenfe
and form, wherein the church has explained
and defined them.
-
-
Hence the fourteenth article of Pope Pius’ creed
runs in theſe words: “ I admit the holy ſcrip
“ tures in the fame fenfe that holy mother-church
“ dath, whoſe bufineſs it is to judge of the true
“ fenfe and interpretation thereof; and I
“ will interpret them according to the unani
“ mous conſent of the fathers.” Thus the au
thority andevidenceofthetruths of Godare fet
afide, in order to make room for the authority
and wiſdom of men. Surely this faith does not
fand upon the foundation of the apoſtles and
prophets: for, contrary to the deſign of the
apostolic confeffons and articles of faith, which
was to fix the attention and faith of the church:
es folely upon the word of God, the popiíh
church deſignedly carries the attention and
y from that word, arsi
faith of her members
- *
- -
- A:
2 '
,
- , ' ’
( 2o )
engages them wholly for herfelf: ſo that a
Romiſh confeſſor is only allowed te profefs
his belief of the ſcriptures under this redupli
cating limitation, “ as they are received and
“ explained by the church :” or, in other
words, He believes the church, and not the word
of God.
ART. 7. THE cliurch of Rome, under the
papacy, is fo univerfally corrupted, fo incor
rigible, and fo violent in impofing her errors,
idolatries, and blaſphemies, on the conſciences
of mankind, that an attempt to promote re
formation, by leaving her communion, is ab
folutely neceſlary.
*
WHEN error, corruption, and vice, become
intolerably grofs, and general in any particu
lar church ; and when ſhe is deaf to all regu
lar means of convićtion,---the constitution of
the apoſtolic churches has provided, as an
expedient for a reformation, that the leífer
number in her communion, who retain their
integrity, ſhall withdraw from the corrupt
body.----Perhaps the proſecution of this mea
fure may not bring about a general reforma
,
, tion in the church, that has departed from
: the faith, obedience, and liberty of the truth;
-
, ét;
.
yet hereby the leffer number will, like the few
--
names Chriſt had even in Sardis, preferve
their own garments undefiled, Rev. iii. 14.
–
--~----
––
( 21 )
Every degree of defećtion, error, and miſ
condućt, will not warrant ſeparation from a
church. There were fome very groſs irregulari
ties in many of the churches, even during
the apoſtolic age. Diforders and corruptions,
indoćtrines and morals, worſhip and diſcipline,
did much abound at Corinth ; in Galatia;
in the church where Diotrephes was minister,
3 John; at Epheſus, Rev. ii. 4. 5.; at Pergamus,
Rev. ii. 14. 15. i 6.; and in feveral other church
es: yet apoſtacy was not come to that pitch in
them which would juſtify a ſeparation. To
fuppofethat a few instances of defećtion would
authorize a ſeparation from the greater part
of a church, is a principle of the moſt perni
cious tendency in fociety; and, if admitted,
would unhinge its conſtitution, and throw eve
rything into confufion. Yet it is plain, that a
church may go fuch lengths in apoſtacy from
the constitution, order, and worſhip of the
houſe of God, as to render a feparation from
her communion not only innocent, but ho
nourable and neceſſary. The peace of the
church, and the unity of her members, are
certainly objects of the utmost importance in
the view of Chriſt and his faints ; but the
peace which Chriſt commands us to purfue,
and the unity which his members ſhould en
deavour to keep, are founded in truth, and e
stabliſhed in holineſs.
The ſcripture every
/
( 22 )
where inculcates peace and unity upon this
principle; and aflures us, that ſeparation is
the lait expedient in a deſperate cafe. This
meaſure muſt be criminal, where communion
can be preferved, without being obliged to
do manifeſt injury to a good conſcience, either
by neglećting manifest duty, or committing
fin.
Where the conditions of church-com
munion are lawful, feparation muſt be fin
ful.
-
1 '
BUT, from the foregoing articles, it appears,
that the doĉtrines of the church of Rome are
moſt corrupt and pernicious; that her man
ners are, in many points, exceedingly impious
and wicked, and many of her grofleſt abomi
nations are the fault of her religion ; that ſhe is,
in faćt, rent with the moſt diſgraceful ſchiſms,
and only maintains the appearance of union,
by the terrors of the civil fword, compelling
her members to confeſs her authority, or
elfe, by the ignorance of the heedleſs multi
tude, attached to her pompous name; that
fhe has altogether changed the ordinances of
Chriſt, relating to the government and difci,
pline of his church, and has establiſhed a
worldly monarchy and wicked hierarchy, upon
principles which are contrary to the insti
tution of Christ, injurious to the proſperity
of the church, everſive of the rights of civił
( 23 )
magistrates, and fatal to Christian liberty;
that her worſhip is groſsly corrupted with i
dolatry and fuperſtition, both in regard to
its objećt, and the manner of performing it #
and that her members are obliged to re
ceive the holy ſcriptures upon the credit
of her own authority only and in her own
fenfe. Thefe abominations have made the
church defolate, and have troden the holy city
under foot, Rev. xi. 2. ; and therefore, to conti
que in her communion, can
neither be ſafe nor
prudent, nor conformable to the main pur
poſes of Chriſtian fellowſhip in a church-state.
Rev. xiii. 15. 16. 17. “ And he had power to
“ give life unto the image of the beast, that
“ the image of the beaſt ſhould bóth ſpeak,
“ and cauſe that as miany as would not wor
“ ſhip the image of the beaſt ſhould be kill
“ ed. And he caụfeth all, both finall änd
“ great, rich and poor, free and bond, to re
“ ceive a mark in their right hand, or in their
“ foreheads: and that no man might buy or
“ fell, fave he that had the mark, or the name .
“ of the beaſt, or the number of his name?*
2 Cor. vi. 14.---18. “ Be ye not unequally yo
“ked together with unbelievers: for what
“ fellowſhip hath righteoufneſs with unrigh
“ teouſneſs? and what communion hath
“ light with darkneſs ? and what concord
“ hath Christ with belial? or what part hath
( 24 )
-
“ he that believeth with an infidel ? and what
“ agreement hath the temple of God with i
“ dols ? for ye are the temple of the living
“ God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in
“ them, and walk in them; and I will be
“ their God, and they ſhall be my people.
“ Wherefore come out from among them
“ my people, and be ye ſeparate, faith the
“ Lord, and touch not the unclean thing,
“ and I will receive you, and will be a Fa
“ ther unto you, and ye ſhall be my fons
“ and daughters, faith the Lord almighty.”
Compared with Rev. xviii. 4. “ And I heard
“ another voice from heaven, faying, Come
“ out of her my people, that ye be. not par
“ takers of her fins, and that ye receive not
“ of her plagues.” .
When a church, in her repreſentative cha
raćter, becomes fo corrupt and imperious, fe
degenerate and incorrigible, ſhe stands in the
fame fituation as an individual member would
do in a pure church, who ſhould obstinately
maintain the fame dangerous opinions, or do
the like things. The warrant for cutting off
that member from communion with the bo
dy is preciſe and evident, Matth. xviii. 15.
to 18. Rom. xvi. 17. 18. 1 Tim. vi. 3. 4. 5.
2 Tim. iii. 1 o. 1 I. : and, upon the fame prin
eiples, it is the duty of the lefter number in
.
( 25 )
an incorrigible corrupt church, to withdraw
from the communion of the body.
A fepa
ration, proceeding on fuçh grounds, is not
made from the conſtitution of the Chriſtian
church, its principles, or adherents; but, be
ing made by the ſmaller number, is to be conftrued a reſolved attachment unto that con
ftitution, which they fee, with concern, ren
dered ufeleſs, by the weight of power in the
poffestion of its dangerous enemy, though
affećting to bear the name and appearance of
a friend.
-
When therefore the papists ſcornfully cry
out, and aſk us : Where was your church before
Luther and Calvin ? The anfwer is obvious:
That the doćtrine of our church was in the
writings of the inſpired apostles, where theirs
is never to be found; 'twas the fame as was
taught by Chriſt himſelf, whom they have
forſaken, and whoſe faith they have corrupt
ed. And as to the profeſſors of our doc
trines, they were to be found amongſt thoſe
martyrs and confeſſors, whoſe blood their
church hath cruelly ſpilt; who had, from
their biſhops, and clergy, and monks, like
the ancient worthies, the trial of cruel mock
ings, and fcourgings, and bonds, and impriſon
ment, who were stoned, /awn afunder, /lain with
the fword, wandering about, being destitute, afli 7
-
D
-
( 26 )
ed, and termented, of whom the world was net
worthy, wandering in defarts, and in mountains,
and in dens, and caves of the earth. we willingły
acknowledge theſe were our predeceſſors, e
ven theſe perſecuted diſciples of the crucified
Jeſus, who protested againſt the abominations
of their church, and were put to death for
the testimony of Jeſus,
BEF or E we leave this article, it muſt be ob
ferved, that the proviſion for attempting and
effećting a reformation, by a ſeparation of the
fmalleſt part of the members from the cor
rupt majority of a church, who impoſe their
own meaſures and notions, as conditions of
their communion,----is an expedient peculiar
to the ſcheme of the New-Teſtament church.
Under the Jewiſh diſpenſation, there was but
one tabernacle, one temple, one altar of burnt
effering, one altar of incenſe, and one mer
cy-ſeat. Then the qualifications of church-offi
cers turned much upon natural lineage and
ceremonial purity. The Jews were an holy
nation, and obliged to keep the feaſts of the
Lord at the time and in the place he was
pleaſed to direćt. It was evidently the deſign
of heavén to concenter the public and folemn
fervices of their worſhip in one point, and to
- provide againſt any religious ſeparation from
the congregation. To have ſeparated from.
( 27 ) .
the Jewiſh church, would have been to leave
the church of God altogether. But who
dare fay, unleſs he determine, at the peril of
his own underſtanding or candour, that theſe
who ſeparate from the church of papal Rome,
in order to cleave more clofely to the ordi
nances of Christ, are unchurched by this step?
Separation from the ordinances and doctrines
of Christ is a moſt grievous ſin, John ii. 19.;
but ſeparation from a church, proved to be the
apostate, Antichriſtian church, predićted by the
prophets, both of the Old andNew Teſtaments,
in order to return to the faith and obedience
of divine truth, is an incumbent duty, Rev.
xviii. 4 and ii. 5. In fuch a cafe, the ap
peal may be left with every man’s conſcience,
“ whether it be right in the fight of God, to
“ hearken unto men more than unto God,
“ judge ye,” Aćts iv. 19.
-
II. THE impreſſions of divine agency, on
the rife and progreſs of the reformation from
Popery.
-
The word reformation looks back to an ori
ginal rećtitude, eſtabliſhed by God, and de
clared by thoſe whom we are fure he em
powered and qualified to publiſh his will. It
fuppofes that this eſtabliſhment is contradićt
ed and overthrown, by the unbelief and dif
-
D 2
( 28 )
obedience of ſuch as will not hearken to his
voice, but walk in their Own counfels: and
it may be defined, “ a refering the truths, er
dinances, and duties of revealed religion, that had
been Perrerted and corrupted, and direćling them
to their proper Jrºpe and end.”---In this view,
reformation has two estential and comprehen
five Parts, which can never be feparated in a
truly reformed church : (1.) Diſclaiming and
renouncing, forſaking and detesting all falfe
authority, and every corruption of the
ge
nuine doctrines and institutions of religion ;
and, (2.) An actual returning to that fimplici
ty of ſubjection and obedience, which are due
only to the Author and Finiſher of faith.
The word of God being the standard
of all
true religion, every holy reformation
muſt
imply an immediate and direct acknowledg
ment of the fcriptures, as the only rule to di
reċt us how we may glorify and enjoy God.
Every other test of truth aid holineſs is pre
carious and
unfatisfaćtory, and therefore
ought not to be establiſhed as a standard of
reformation.
WHEN the iniquity of the church of Rome
was grown to that monftrous pitch we have
feen, it pleaſed God to work a glorious deli
verance for his people, and to break te
Power of Antichriſtian oppreſſion.
Christ
(
29
)
has had his faithful fervants, whom he raiſed
up from time to time, in a fucceflion of ages,
to bear witnefs to his truths, and to remon
ftrate againſt the grofs corruptions of that a
poſtate church. Their number is competent,
though ſmall; and their work is ſtill carried
on, though generally under much difcou
ragement : hence they are defcribed as “ two
“ witneſſes, who prophefy clothed in fack
“ cloth,” Rev. x. 3: Theſe have obtained
help of God to continue to this day; and
íhall continue to bear a noble teſtimony to
Chriſt and his cauſe, through the whole term
of Antichrist's reign.--But when the kingdom
of the beaſt feemed to be moſt fecure, and its
partifans had no apprehenſion of danger, the
Lord faw the miſerable condition of his : peo
ple, and brought falvation to them, with his
right hand and his holy arm. The reforma
tion from Popery was, on every account, re
markable: the preparations for it were great;
the inſtruments of it were weak; the prin
ciple of it was glorious; and the effećts of it
were extenſive and laſting. In all theſe views, .
it appears to be the “ doing of the Lord,” and
ſhould be “ marvellous in our eyes.”
(1.) THE preparations, which the providence
of God made for accompliſhing the reforma
tion from Popery, were great.---The court of
( 3o )
Rome had thrown off every appearance even
of decent reſpect to the Holy Scriptures: ſhe
was, at the beginning of the reformation, un
commonly licentious, and, on that account,
liable to be both expoſed and hated: ſhe was
deeply fecure, and therefore ready to venture
on rafh and unguarded meaſures: ſhe was
miſtrefs of feveral religious orders, which ha
ted and envied one another, and her finances
were fcarcely equal to the purpofes of her
ambition. This was the ſtate of the church,
or rather of the court of Rome.---Printing
had been invented before the middle of the
fifteenth century; and by this means learn
ing, which had been almoſt entirely confined
to monasteries for feveral ages, became gene
ral; the taſte for Greek and Latin authors,
which deſcribe the amiable models of free go
vernment, was daily on the increaſe; man
kind were improving in the knowledge of
truth, and of their own effential rights and
importance in fociety; fcholastic divinity was
generally fallen into contempt; and the dan
gerous influence of the church of Rome upon
the liberties of mankind began to be percei
ved. This was the fituation of the world at
the commencement of the reformation.
THe ſtate of the kingdoms, which had gi
ven their power to the beaſt, was no lefs par
( 31
)
ticular. Their connexions, alliances, and in
terests, were fo preciſely adjusted, by the dif
pofal of an all-wife Providence, that the refor
mation was much more effećtually promoted
by the arrangement, than the deepeſt politi
cian could have imagined. Thus it appears,
that all things pertaining to the church of
Rome, to the fituation of the world, and to.
the arrangement of the popiſh kingdoms, were
fitly diſpoſed to work together in promoting
a reformation; whereby it is manifest, that
Chrift is far above all principality, and pow
er, and might, and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but
alfo in that which is to come; and that he is
the head over all things to the church, which
is his body, the fulneſs of him that filleth all
in all, Eph. i. z 1. 22. 23. His kingdom ru
leth over all, Pfal. ciii. 19. (2.) The instru
ments employed in estećting the reformation
were weak, as well as the occaſion of it unex
pected. Pope Leo X. having occaſion for mo
ney to build St Peter's church at Rome, pu
bliſhed indulgences in the 1517, containing ample
promifes of the full pardon of fins, and of e
ternal life, to all who ſhould purchafe thema
at the affixed price. Theſe indulgences were
fent into every kingdom, and the Dominican
friars were antborized to preach up their ne
cestity and v. orth, and to colleft the money
( 32 )
arifing from the fale. Such indulgences had
frequently been granted by former Popes, and
had commonly been bought by the people
with great avidity.
On the preſent occafion,
the Dominicans fliewed an ardour, that was
only equailed by their folly.
ỹohn Hetzel, one
of their number, among other things, taught,
---that he had fo great power from the Pope,
“ that if a man had even deflowered the Vir
“ gin Mary, he could pardon the crime for
“ money :” and his aflociates were no lefs
extravagant. Luther, who was an Auguſtine
friar, fet himſelf to oppoſe thefe indulgences,
with great ability and warmth. In the pro
greſs of this controverfy, his mind became en
lightened in the doćtrine of a finner's free ju
flification before God, only through the righ
teouſneſs of Chriſt received by faith. Then
he openly attacked the Pope and the church
of Rome, expoſed the errors they maintained,
charged home the immoralities of their cler
gy, and, with great learning and fortitude,
fuftained all the aflaults of their malicious re
fentment. The evidence of the truth prevail
ed through a great part of Germany, and foon
fpread into diſtant countries, commending it- felf to every man's conſcience in the fight of
God. Perhaps this power of indulging and
pardoning is the moſt impious claim of pre
rogative the man of fin ever made : for in
( 33 )
that bold invaſion upon the ſupremacy of Je
Hovah's throne, he oppoſeth and exalteth
himſelf above all that is called God, or that is
worſhipped; fo that he, as God, fitteth in the
temple of God, ſhewing himſelf that he is
God, 2 Theſſ. ii, 4.
But behold the righ
teous judgment of God, who ſhowed himſelf
above that wicked monſter, in the very point.
wherein he behaved molt proudly! The Lord
is known by the judgment which he execu
teth: the wicked is inared in the work of his
own hands, Pſal. ix. 16. Granting venal in
dulgences was the boldeſt fin of the 1on of
perdition ; and this very fin became the occa
fion of his greatest calamity. It alſo ſhould
be confidered, that the inſtruments of this re
formation had no intention to ieparate from
the church of Rome, when they first began
their oppoſition in Germany, to the corrupt
meaſure that has been mentioned: nay, they
were far from wiſhing any other reformation,
but what concerned the lives of the clergy,
the liberties of the people, and the diſcipline
of the church. It was only in the
Progrefs
ºf the diſpute, that they beganto perceive the
blaſphemies, errors, and idolatries of Rome,
which became afterwards the Principal points
ºf their testimony---The cafe was not much
"ent in Switzerland, and in other places.
“When theſe things are confidered, we have
E
|
(
34 )
1eafon to fay,---Great and marvellous are thy
works, Lord God Almighty, juſt and true are
thy ways, thou King of faints, Rev. xv. 3.
Hitherto the Lord hath helped us, 1 Sam.
V 11.
I 2.
(3.) THE principle, upon which the refor
mation was condućted and eſtabliſhed, was
glorious. It is impostible to particularife the
variety of helliſh devices, that have been fa
bricated by the church of Rome, to raze out
all convićtion of pure Christianity, and to eſta
bliſh her own dominion over mankind.
Her
grand device was to erect a kingdom of her
own, in oppoſition to that of Chriſt; and to
obtain an implicite obedience from all men, e
unexamined deciſions, for the mere
authority’s fake. This great authority being
ven to her
once acknowledged, gave an authentic fanc
tion to all the abominations and ufurped claims
of Antichrift. By this one principle, ſhe was
enabled to make her damnable herefies, her
moſt idolatrous fuperstitions, and all the doc
trines that ferve to aggrandiſe her clergy,
paſs current for the truths of Chriſt.
Fraud
and violence are the mighty engines, by which
fhe enlarged her territories, and preſerved her
conquests.------In oppoſition to all theſe, the
reformation, fo far as it went, is founded
on the
up
abſolute perfetion of the word of God. The
---| '
'
!
( 35 ) .
thurch of Rome has been often oppoſed upon
|
|
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|
:
|
principles different from this; but theſe con
tests were no reformation.
Even Luther and
his aſſociates, in their first efforts, were un
worthy of the facred name of reformers,
until they began to hear the voice of Chriſt in
his word, and became his devoted followers
in faith and love.
Before this became the
rule of their condućt, and the motive to their
zeal, they were not building on the founda
tion which God hath laid in Zion.
But when it pleaſed God to turn them from
darkneſs unto light, immediately they conferred
not with fleſh and blood, Gal. i. 16. They in
ítantly withdrew their appeal from the Pope's
tribunal, they rejećted the traditions of meń;
and they neither reſpected the deciſions of
councils, nor the writings of the fathers, as
a standard of truth and holineſs. Then they
began to fearch the friptures, John v. 39.; and
their great concern was to know, and obey
from the heart, that form of doćtrine, which
is contained in the writings of the prophets
and apoſtles. In every diſpute, they made a
bold and direćt appeal to the word of God,
and the unđerſtandings of men. Their mea
fures in condućting and establiſhing the refor
mation of the church, were founded on this
fingle principle, that the ſupreme Judge, by
E 2
(
36 )
whom all controverfies of religion are to be
determined, and all decrees of councils, opi
nions of ancient writers, doćtrines of meh,
and private ſpirits, are to be examined, and
in whoſe fentence we are to acquieſce,---can
be no other but the Holy Spirit ſpeaking in the
fcriptures. Upon this principle, they uſed the
greateſt openneſs and candour in their doc
trine and manners, requeſting the people to
fearch the ſcriptures daily, and bring every o
pinion and praćtice to an impartial trial, at
that deciſive tribunal. They adopted the fen
timents, and profecuted the meaſures of the
miniſters of Chriſt, who have renounced the
hidden things of diſhonesty ; not walking in
craftineſs, nor handling the word of God de
ceitfully, but, by manifeſtation of the truth,
commending themfelves to every man's con
fcience in the fight of God, 2 Cor. iv. 2. They
gloried in the abſolute perfection and fuffi
ciency of the fcriptures; and thought it was
only competent to them to make profelytes
to their opinions, by the fair and generous
methođs of information, and convićtion to the
conſcience, according to the word of God.
THER E was much oppoſition made to the re
formation, almoſt every where; and it was a
long time before the Protestants enjoyed an op
portunity to lead a quietand peaceable life inali
*
* * * * ** ==
-
-
-
( 37 )
godlineſs and honesty, 1 Tim. ii. 2. When the
woman eſcaped out of herbondage in the Anti
christian church, and fled into the wildernefs,---
the ferpent cast out of his mouth water as a
flood after her, that he might caufe her to be
carried away of the flood, Rev. xii. 15. He not
only propagated errors and deluſions to defeat
the reformation, but armed the powers of the
earth to overwhelm it with violence. But
his malice was unſucceſsful : for the earth
helped the woman, and the earth opened her
mouth, and fwallowed up the flood which
the dragon caſt out of his mouth,
Rev. xii. 1.6.
So far as this relates to the vigoroụs efforts of
fecular powers to fupport the Protestant cauſe,
it implies, that, while each of them aćts on its
own principles, fome, from an unfeigned love
to the goſpel, fome, from a warm regard to
çivil and religious liberty, and others, in con
formity to their temporal intereſts, the wif
dom of heaven fo nicely adjusts the political
balance, as to employ their interpoſition for
the protećtion of his faithful fervants and
people, from the fury of the Antichristian
powers. All this was literally exemplified in
the preſervation of the protestant intereſt,
immediately after it began to appear in a state
of ſeparation from the church of Rome. But
from theſe meaſures it cannot be justly infer
red, that the reformation was promoted by
{
( 38 )
worldly influence: for the earth only helped
the woman, by affording her fafety and protec
tion ; and it is the birth-right of mankind to
be protećted in the liberty of private judg
ment, according to the fcriptures.
There
fore, in perfect confistency with this interpo
fition of providence, and with the truth of
history, we ſtill affirm, that the principle, up
on which the reformation, fo far as it went,
was truly glo
was condućted and eſtabliſhed,
rious, and entirely of a ſpiritual nature. (4.)
The effećts of the reformation were extenstve ;
not only as they were diffuſed through many
countries, but eſpecially becaufe the reforma
tion was the happy means of entailing many
great bleffings upon mankind : for thereby
the ſcriptures were brought into the hands of
the public, with many excellent commentaries
upon them; thereby the faith once deliver
ed to the faints, which had been groſsly cor
rupted in the church of Rome, was restored;
* thereby the law of God was explained, and
enforced, in its fpiritual meaning, and in
diſpenſible obligation upon the confcience;
thereby a fair opportunity was given to exa
mine the ſcriptures, concerning that order of
diſcipline and government which Chriſt hath
appointed, for the ufe of his
church;
thereby
the worſhip of God was purged of the groſs
idolatries, and, in many places, of the vile
MI MERE
I Immmmmmmm
===
( 39 )
fuperſtitions that polluted the Antichristian
church ; thereby the minds of mankind were
opened to free enquiry concerning the doc
trines and duties of religion; thereby the
truths of God were exhibited in many clear
and ſhort abridgements, drawn out of the
word of God, and holding forth its moſt im
Portant fubjects, with precifion and perſpicui
ty; and thereby the people of God were fe
parated from dangerous difgraceful mixtures
with heretics and idolaters, and were put in
a fituation to enjoy the ordinances of Chriſt
according to his own appointment.
Having repreſented the errors and corrup
tions of popery, with the incorrigibleneſs of
the ſecular and tyrannical body, by whoſe in
trigues this mystery of iniquity is upheld ; and
the impreſions of divine agency on the rife .
and progreſs of the reformation; the com
mittee call the people under the inſpećtion of
the Affociate Synod, and all others into whoſe
hands this warning ſhall come, to guard a
gainſt the principles and ſpirit of popery.
,
THE Britannic iſles were once amongſt the
moſt Pope-ridden provinces of Antichrift's do
minion ; and though he ſhould never be fuf
fered to reconquer them, we need, in our pre
|
( 4o )
Jent lethargic ſtate, strong and stimulating ap
plications, to reanimate Protestant zeal, and
promote a quicker circulation of witneffing
graces. The deſpotic fupremacy, claimed and
exerciſed by the Biſhop of Rome in all reli
gious concerns, and the direct enmity and op
poſition he maintains to Chriſt, his truths,
his worſhip, his institutions, and laws, cer
tainly bring him within the line of the pro
phetic deſcription, and constitute him Paul's
man offin; and whoever adopt the fame prin
ciples, or purſue the fame meaſures, are, ac
cording to the degree of their conformity, in
volved in the fame guilt and cenſure. A pro
feffed attachment to the Pope of Rome is, in
fuch cafes, but an inconfiderable circumstance.
There are different degrees of corruption in
the church of Rome itſelf; and many who are
called protestants, hold not a few of the fame
opinions,
and do feveral of the fame
things,
which belong to the charaćter of the Roman
Antichrift.
Error and
fuperstition, perfecu
tion and vice, are things that admit not of an
exclufive application to any one place or party ;
though they are, in all places, and among all
parties, diametrically oppofite to the holy
fcriptures, which delineate the religion of Je
fus, and are the alone infallible ſtandard of
Chriſtian faith and obedience. Therefore the
,
-
----
7.
(
41 - )
-|
picture that has been exhibited of the church
of Rome in theſe ſheets, is not drawn for her
fake only, to fet forth her anti-ſcriptural de
formity ; but for the uſe of others alſo, that
we may have a perfećt image of an apostate
church, retaining indeed the name of Chriſtian,
but in doćtrine and works denying it. Perhaps in other portraits of corruption and apo
ftacy, in churches or communities, the mem
bers may not befo complete, nor fo perfećtly
joined together, the colouring may not be fo
lively and ſtriking, and the features may not
be fo well proportioned, norfo strongly mark
ed; and yet the ſpirit, the principles, the mea
fures, and the purpoſes of a degenerate religious
body, may clearly ſhew a general conformity
of their nature. To complete the form of the
church of Rome, was the advancing work of
many ages, and depended upon a number of
circumſtances, that contributed, under the
diſpoſal of an all-wife and holy Providence,
to bring it to maturity. Though the begin
ning of her apostacy was ſmall, her latter end
did greatly increaſe; but the governing prin
ciple, in ali her meaſures, WaS invariably the
fame. And if fome other churches and focie
ties do not proceed as far in apoſtacy, it is ra
ther owing to the want of opportunity, than
to the difference of their leading principles,
-
F
|
( 42
)
Let it therefore be fettled in your minds, that
there can be no laſting fecurity againſt the
tyranny of popery, unleſs we throughly re
nounce all the principles of it.
AUT HoR1TY and blind ſubmiſſion, are the
foundation and very effence of popery, and
the two grand cauſes to which all its ſuper
ftitions and abuſes are owing: and all
thoſe who tyrannically invade the religious
rights and liberties of conſcientious Chri
ftians, who uſurp fuch a fupreme authority, in
matters of religion, as belongs to God alone,
and inculcate a blind ſubmiſſion to the prieſt
as the duty of the Chriſtian people, are,
whatever difguiſes they may wear, enemies
to the Protettant religion and liberties, and
avow the moſt dangerous and pernicious
principle of all popery.
The ſystem of Arminius, is popery without
her hierarchy; and though believers in it, are
well known frequently to fubſcribe doćtrine
fubverſive of it, it is plain they muft fub
fcribe on principles of the looſest cafuiftry,
and with equivocating and mental referves.
Swearing by diſpenſation, and vowing with
mental referves, praćtices allowed in the pro
festion of popery, ſheath the ſword in the vi
* *
( 43 )
-
tals of fimplicity and godly fincerity; and the
Inan,
though calling himſelfa Proteſtant, who
vows, in the preſence of God, angels, and
men, his bclief of a confeſſion, against his con
viếtions, wounds integrity in the fame hoftile
and mortal manner, and is liker a Loyola than
a Nathaniel. :
Iris not from our having dominion over your
faith, but becauſewe are helpersofyourjoy, and
fellow-helpers to the truth, that we are bold in
Chriſt to preſcribe antidotes againſt the princi
plesand ſpiritof popery; praying, that, through
the illumination and influence of his Holy Spi
rit accompanying the uſe of them, he would,
even as we with the teſtimony of Chriſt to be
confirmed in you, Inake them effećtual means
of confirming you ; to the end, that ye may be
blameleſs in the day of our Lord Jeſus Christ. .
Believe that you are in danger of being fe
duced, and led away by them ;---in danger
from yourſelves;---in dánger from deceivers;--in danger from falfe-hearted friends.
Fron:
you felves. The principles of popery are the
natural dićtates of our depraved minds, fyfte
matiſed by the councils and lords of an impe
rious church; which ſcorns to prove her doç:
trines, except,
fiat,
- i
miem, and theri
2
-
( 44 )
by curfes and blows. The ſpirit of popery is
the vindićtive and fanguinary temper of our
deſperately wicked hearts, intoxicated and
rcndered formidable by the acceflions of wealth
and power. An antiehrift lies entrenched in
our conſtitutions as fallen creatures.
Our
own hearts are a mother of abominations.
When a kingdom is threatened with invafion,
found policy keeps a jealous eye upon the mo
tions and correſpondence of traitors, and dif
affećted perſons at home; and if we would be
popery-proof, we ſhould watch the motions
of an evil heart of unbelief, and look diligent
ly, left we fail of the grace of God, left any
root of bitterneſs ſpringing up trouble us, and
thereby many be defiled. From deceivers. Some
of the agents of the man of fin, expelled his
own territories, for ſeditious praćtices, by the
kings who have given him their power, have
hid themſelves in our proteſtant iflands; and
being posteſſed of all that ſubtilty and crafti
nefs, which enable the deceiver to impoſe up
on the ignorant and the weak, industriouffy
watch every opportunity of creeping into
houſes, and leading captive filly women, laden
with fins, led away with divers lufts, ever
learning, and never able to come to the know
this
Your weakneſs
ledge of the truth.
O Il
fide is/not imaginary, your danger is real afid
|
( 45 )
great. But there were falſe prophets alſo a
mong the people, even as there ſhall be falſe
teachers among you, who privily ſhall bring
|
in damnable herefies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon them
felves ſwift destrućtion ; and many ſhall follow
their pernicious ways, by reafon of whom the
way of truth ſhall be evil ſpoken of, and
through covetoufneſs ſhall they, with feigned
words, make merchandife of you; whoſe judg
ment now of a long time fingereth not, and
their damnation flumbereth not. From falf
hearted friends. The man who fays we are
born innocent, and make ourſelves finners by
imitation; who lays down the works of righ
teouſneſs we have done, as the ground of our
juſtification and acceptance before God, in
conjunĉtion with the merits of Chriſt; who be- - lieves, that Chriſtis revealed in the ſcriptures,
not as a propitiation, but as a martyr; and
that the faith in his blood which justifies,
fanátifies and faves us, is the imitation of his
example, and not receiving the atonement by
him--; is half catholic already: and though he
WC1T a protestant garrnent, and have a lively
zeal agaiaſt popery, his creed is dangerous,
offenſive, and pestilential, as really, though
perhaps in an inferior degree, as the doćtrine
of the frogs, which were feen in viſion co
|
(
46 )
ming out of the mouth of the dragon, and
out of the beast, and out of the mouth of the
falſe prophet.
*
You R danger being inconteſtibly real and
great, we commend unto you the uſe of the
holy ſcriptures. Search the fcriptures. Com
pare the ſcriptures with the fcriptures. Pray
for the ſpirit of wiſdom and revelation, to
teach you the knowledge of the fcriptures,
that while you fee their glorious light, you
may likewife feel their divine impreſson;
and
may take all your religion from them. Walk
by the rule of the ſcriptures, as your only fuf
ficient and undcceiving direćtory of faith and
obedience. In the following Paflages and
many others, are ſtrong antidotes against the
fpirit and principles of Popcry, Eph. iv. i 1. to
16. “ And he gave fome, apofiles: and fome,
prophets: and fone, evangelists: and fome,
pastors and teachers; for the perfcétin g of the
faints, for the work of the miniſtry, for the e
difying of the body of Chriſt : till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
- of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
meaſure of the ſtatt:re of the fulneſs of Christ :
that we henceforth be no more children, toff
ed to and fro- and carried about with cvery
!
' '
*
j
-
|
|
|
| | |
( 47 )
:'
*
;
-
:
*
wind of doctrine, by the flight of men, and
cunning craftineſs, whereby they lie in wait
;
|
,
!
to deceive: but ſpeaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things, wher
|
|
is the head, even Chriſt: from whom the
whole body fitly joined together, and com
paếted by that which every joint fupplieth,
according to the effećtual working in the
|
| |
meaſure of every part, maketh increaſe of
.
the body, unto the edifying of itſelf in love.”
1 !
i
Eph. vi. 1 o.-- 18. “ Finally, my brethren, be
ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to stand againſt the wiles
of the devil.
For we wreſtle not againſt fleſh
and blood, but againſt principalities, against
powers, againſt the rulers of the darkneſs of
this world, againſt ſpiritual wickedneſs in
high places.
wherefore take
U Il tO
you
the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done
all to stand Stand therefore, häving your
loins girt about with truth, and having on
the breast-plate of righteoufneſs; and your
feet ſhod with the preparation of the goſpel
of peace; above all, taking the ſhield of faith,
wherewith ye ſhall be able to quench all the
fery darts of the wicked.
And take the hel
|
*
i
-
( 48 ) .
rnet of falvation, and the fword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God: praying always
with ali prayer and fupplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all perſeve
rance, and ſupplication for all faints.” Col.
ii. 6.----23. “ As ye have therefore received
Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, fo walk ye in him:
rooted and built up in him, and ſtabliſhed in
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding
therein with thankſgiving. Beware leſt any
man ſpoil you through philoſophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
for in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the God
head bodily. And ye are complete in him,
which is the head of all principality and
power. In whom alſo ye are circumciſed with
the circumciſion made without hands, in put
ting off the body of the fins of the fleſh, by
the circumciſion of Chriſt: buried with him
in baptiſm, wherein alſo you are rifen with
him through the faith of the operation of
Gọd, who hath raiſed him from the dead.
And you being dead in your fins, and the
uncircumciſion of your fleſh, hath he quicken
ed together with him, having forgiven you
all trefpaſſes, blotting out the hand-writing
of ordinances that was against us, which was
( 49 )
contrary to us, and took it
out of the way,
nailing it to his croſs : and having ſpoiled
principalities and powers, he made a fhew of
them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat or
drink, or in reſpect of an holy-day, or of the
new-moon, or of the fabbath-days: which
are a fhadow of things to corne; but the bo
dy is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of
your reward, in a voluntary humility, and
worſhipping of angels, intruding into thoſe
things which he hath not feen, vainly puft
up by his fleſhly mind; and not holding the
head, from which all the body by joints and
bands having nouriſhment miniſtered, and
knit together, increaſeth with the increafe of
God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Chriſt
from the rudiments of the world; why, as
though living in the world, are ye ſubjećt to
ordinances, (touch not, taſte not, handle not:
which all are to periſh with the ufing) after
the commandments and doćtrines of men ?
Which things have indeed a fhew of wiſdom
in will-worſhip and humility, and neglećting
of the body, not in any honour to the fatis
fying of the fleſh” 2 Theſſ. ii. 1;.---17.
“ But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord,
becaufe God ħath
fo, the beginning chofen
( 5o )
you to falvation, through fanátification of
the Spirit, and belief of the truth: whereun
to he called you by our goſpel, to the ob
taining of the glory of our Lord Jefus Christ.
Therefore, brethren, ſtand faſt, and hold the
traditions which ye have been taught, whe
ther by word, or our epiſtie. Now our Lord
Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Fa
ther, who hath loved us, and hath givenus e
verlaſting confolation, and good hope through
grace, comfort your hearts, and ſtabliſh you
in every good word and work.” 2 Tim. iii.
12.---17. “ Yea, and all that will live godly
in Chriſt Jeſus, ſhall fuffer perſecution. But
evil men and feducers fhall wax worfe and
worfe, deceiving, and being deceived. But
continue thou in the things which thou haft
learned and haft been aflured of, knowing of
whom thou haft learned them ; and that from
a child thou haft known the holy ſcriptures,
which are able to make thee wife unto falva
tion, through faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus.
All ſcripture is given by inſpiration of God,
and is profitable for doćtrine, foi reproof, for
correćtion, for inſtrućtion in righteoufneſs:
that the man of God may be perfect, through
ly furniſhed unto all good works.” Rev. xiv.
9.----12. “ And the third angel followed them,
taying with a loud voice, If any man worſhip
\
\
,
r--,
!
,
*
-,
'
i
-
*
,
i
,
-
|
( 51 )
*
-*
,
!
the beast and his image, and receive his mark
-
, !
in his forehead, or in his hand, the fame íhall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God which
4
i
-
:
,
i
.
.
; :
fcendeth up for ever and ever: and they have .
no rest day nor night, who worſhip the beaft
.
: .
:
ed with fire and brimftone, in the preſence of
the holy angels, and in the preſence of the
!
|
is poured out, without mixture, into the cup
of his indignation; and he ſhall be torment
Lamb : and the ſmoke of their torment a
i
|
!
and his image, and whoſoever receiveth the
mark of his name. Here is the patience of
the faints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jeſus.”
STUDY the confeſſions of the proteſtant
churches; and- eſpecially that of our own,
which exhibits a fummary of the faith deliver
ed in the holy ſcriptures, concerning the doc
*
| -i
trine, worſhip, difcipline, and government,
!
authoriſed by the king of Zion ; and live un
der lively impreſſions of our covenant engage
ments, to contend earnestly for it, againſt the
preſent and former defećtions. Instrućt your
families in the knowledge of the fame faith,
|
i
and the fame engagements. Hide not from
them the expence of blood and treaſure, at
vi
which the reformation teſtimony is come into
cur hands, Pfal, lxxviii. 4.---7.
G 2
|
.
;
*
----
*
( 52
)
BE well eſtabliſhed in the grounds of the
proteſtant religion.
An implicit affent, not
founded in knowledge and understanding, is
neceſſary to be adopted in the church of Rome;
but faith founded in a blind attachment to an
unknown doĉtrine, is not the fruit of the Spi
rit of wiſdom and revelation. He that heareth
the word of Chriſt, muft understand it, in or
der that he may enjoy it through faith, Mat.
xiii. 23. It is indeed furprifing to think, what
grofs ignorance of the meaning and authority
of the truths they profefs to believe, prevails
at preſent among many, notwithſtanding the
excellent opportunities of inſtrućtion which
they have in their offer. Nay, even among
thoſe who are inſtrućted in feveral branches of
human fcience, it is aftoniſhing to think, what
ignorance there is of every thing that relates
to the religion they profeſs.
BE more fenſible of the danger of groſs er
rors in religion, eſpecially fuch as popery con
tains. Among many looſe and pernicious prin
ciples, which are zealouſly ſpread, and blind
ly eo braced in this age, one of the moſt pre
va ling and dangerous is, the innecence of
error
“ Q, fay fome, every man is to en
« quire freely, and each will embrace what ap
( 53 )
“ pears to him to be the truth. It is no mat
“ ter what a man believes, if his life be good
“ Even he who miſtakes, may be as accept
“ able to God as his oppofite, if he is equally
“ fincere.” Now there is no doubt, that li
berty to enquire freely is an ineſtimable bleſ
fing, and impartiality in religious enquiries an
indiſpenſible duty. But the above maxim be
comes falfe and dangerous, by being carried to
an exceſſive length; and it is carried to this
exceſs, by the favour of two ſuppofitions,
which are falſe and groundleſs. To ſupport
the maxim, it is neceſlary to fuppofe, that falſe
opinions will have as good an influence upon
the heart as true. If this is the cafe, the boaſt
ed privilege of free enquiry is not worth
having, and all the labour beſtowed on the
fearch of truth is entirely thrown away. An
other fuppoſition contained in the above max
im is, that a perfon may be as fincere in em
bracing groſs falfhood, as in adhering to the
truth. If this be true, our Creator has not gi
ven us the means to diſtinguiſh the one from
the other, which is the higheſt impeachment
both of his wiſdom and goodneſs. Befides it
deſerves particular attention, that a corrupt
inclination in the heart, brings a bias on the
|
( 54 )
judgment; and that when men do not “ like
“ to retain God in their knowledge,” he
frequently, in his righteous judgment, gives
them up to a reprobate mind. Nay, when
they rejećt his truth, from an inward hatred of
its purity, he is faid to fend them “ strong
“ deluſions, that they ſhould believe a lie,”
2 Theff. ii. Io. I 1. 12.
TAKE heed of favouring that general unbe
lief of revealed religion, among the higher
orders of our countrymen, which hath, by a
neceſſary confequence, produced, in vaſt num
bers, an abſolute indifference as to what they
believe, either concerning truth or duty, a
ny farther than it may comport with their
worldly views. The abuſing liberty to licen
tiouſnefs, naturally prepares the way for fla
very; and when perſons are indifferent to all
religions, they will, when danger threatens
them, intereft invites them, or delufive ap
pearances draw them, be ready to receive
any, however fabulous, falfe, blaſphemous, and
idolatrouj.
WATcH and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation.
When popery, like a dying
monster, is exerting its last effort; and by the
miniſtry of the frogs, forming military affo
----
* zamassamma====
—–
F;
*
*
( 55 )
}
-
ciations among the kings of the earth, for its
preſervation, this admonition is given, “ Be
hold I come as a thief, blefied is he that
|
watcheth, and keepeth his garments, left hé
walk naked, and they fee his ſhame !” Rev.
xvi. 15.
CARE FULLY abide by the gofpel of Chriſt,
|-*
which is the power of God to falvation to every one
that believes; and wherein is revealed the righteouf
nef of God from faith to faith : and be careful to
live up to it, endeavouring to adorn the doc
trine of God your Saviour, by being exemplary
in the practice of every virtue ; eſpecially, with
all lowlineß and meekneſs, with long-fuffering, for
learing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Were
Proteſtants, like the primitive Christians, of one
heart and ſpirit; did they, like them, ftedfastly
continue in the apoſtles doćtrine, and were
they but careful, more generally, to praćtife the
virtues of the Chriſtian life, the Proteſtant re
ligion could not fail to triumph over all the
fopperies, cheats, and impostures of Rome;
and the moſt fubtle attempts of her miſſiona
ries, to corrupt and enflave us, would be ab
folutely ineffectual
As this publication
may happen,
under the
|
!|
-
( 5ổ )
direction of Providence, to come into the
hands of fome of the members of the church
of Rome, our benevolence prompts us not to
neglećt the opportunity of addreſſing them in
a few words:
-
For what end, O ye fons of deluſion, was
your reafon given you? For what purpoſes
were the holy ſcriptures revealed? Was your
reaſon given you to be the dupe of your
priesthood? Were the ſcriptures revealed to
be the engine of their power? Surely not.
And yet, do not your priests inculcate upon
you doćtrines repugnant to reaſon, and ye
acquieſce in them ? Do they not withold from
you the fcriptures of truth, explain them as
they chuſe; nay, even enjoin practices oppo
fite to their purity; and ye dare not com
plain? Do they not teach you to believe, that
they can change into a wafer the fubſtance
of the living God, and you rejećt not the
abfurd idea ? Do they not enjoin you to eat
it in this belief; and ye comply with the
blaſphemous requeſt? Do they not ſhow you
bones, and pieces of timber, telling you they
are bones of the apoſtles; and pieces of
Chriſt's croſs, and ye piouſly believe them?
Do they not pretend to cure difeafes, raife the
dead, and work other miracles, by the means
-
-
I
s
·\,
-;|
:-
( 57 )
of theſe trifles, and ye venerate and adore the
facred relics? Do they not teach you, to truft
to the mediation of faints and angels, while
reaſon dićtates the vanity and folly of all
fuch dependence ; and the ſcriptures poſitive
ly affirm, that there is but one Mr DIATor be
tween God and man, the MAN Chriſt Jeſus ?
|
Do they not teach you, to worſhip pićtures of
the inviſible God, and images of faints and
angels, in defiance of the expreſs words of
God himſelf, Thou /halt not make unto thee any
graven image. or any likeneß of any thing,---Thou
/halt not bow down thyſelf to them, nor ferve them,
Exod. xx. 4. 5. ?
|
Do ti.ey not teach you, in direct oppoſition
to the mild, gentle, and charitable doćtrines
of the goſpel, to deal damnation to all thoſe
}
that die withơut the pale of your church ?
-
|
And, in fine, having thus nurfed you in ig
ntrance, and tutored you in delufion, do they
not affume the prerogative of the Deity; and
with unparallelled audacity, diſpenſe, to the
rich and liberal finner, pardon and abſolu»
tion for the greateſt crimes?-----How can
you be fo stupid, as to believe doctrines fo
very evidently repugnant to reafon? How can
you be fo careleſs of your immortal fouls, as
H
--
–=
-
----
( 53 )
to conform to praćtices, unſupported by fcrip
ture, and fo ridiculous and impious in them
felves. As men aćtuated by the purest prin
ciples of benevolence, we cannot, without pi
ty, behold you thus given up to fo ſtrong delu
fions, and fettered with the chains of ſo de
testable a flavery. As Christians, we cannot
read the dreadful effect, that they all fhall
be damned, who, in their hearts, believe not
the truth, fo as to receive the love of
it,---but have pleaſure in unrighteoufneß, with
out warning you to flee from the wrath
tO COme.
RENοUN ce therefore, we earnestly beſeech
you, that blind allegiance to the diGates of
your prieſthood.---Confider them no longer as
infallible, but men of like pastions with your
felves. Let reafon affume the guidance of
your condućì, and take the holy ſcriptures,
unpolluted with the traditions of men, for
the foundation of your faith. Fear not to
read the ſcriptures. Think not there is any
thing in them, that will lead you into errors
and herefies, as your prieſts teach you.---The
doćirines they contain are pure, ſimple, and
engaging; the privileges they convey are va
luable; the obligations they enforce are rea
fonable; and the praćtices they enjoin are ea
( 59 )
fy and pleaſant.---Chriſt has commanded all
men to fearch them; and has pointed them out
as the only channel through which falvation
may be obtained, “ For in them, fays he,
“ are the words of eternal life, and they are
“ they which testify of me.” Be affured of
it, that the whole word of God is profitable both to
finners and believers.---It is profitable unto fin
neri, being the word of falvation God hath
fent unto them, wherein he declares the ex
ceeding finfulneſs of their fin, the dreadful
puniſhment of every offence they are charge
able with, and the inflexible juſtice of the fo
vereign Lawgiver and Judge of all. All things
written in the book of the law, in its holy
precepts and awful threatenings, conſpire to
give them an undeceiving view of their real
character, and to deſtroy every ground of hope
that ignorance and pride would establiſh in
their own works of righteoufneſs. To them
the grace of God opens its boundleſs ftores,
revealing to them a fufficient and fuitable re
medy in Jeſus Christ, and affuring them, that
the finner who cometh to him /ball never hunger,
that the wretched foul which believeth on bim
/hall never thirst. Hereby finners receive the
knowledge of ſin, as a tranſgrestion of the di
vine law; and hereby they receive the know
H 2
( 6o )
edge of falvation, mercifully provided in
Christ, and revealed in the goſpel, for the im
mediatebenefit of the guilty and felf-deſtroyed,
-- The whole word of God is alſo profitable to
believers, that they may stand perfeći and complete
in the faith and obedience of all the revealed
will of God. When the apofile exhorts Timo
thy to continue in the things which he had learned,
and had been affured of, he congratulates him
upon his early acquaintance with the word of
God; reminding him that from a child he had
known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make
him wife unto falvation, through faith which is
in Christ Jeſus. He then gives a preciſe ac
count of the original and uſefulneß of the ho
ly oracles, affirming, that all ſcripture is given
by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for dećirine,
for reproof, for carrestion, for instrućiion in righ
teoufneß : that the man of God may be a com
plete Christian, or an accompliſhed minister;
and, in either of theſe charaćters, may be per
feći, throughly furni/ed by all the inſpired wri
tings, unto all gºed works.
*
AT this alarming juncture of time, when it
,
is generally allowed, that popery is advancin 8s
:
.
. .
-
with large ſtrides, into the nation, and nume
TOUS COINVerts are
brought into the commu
(
61 )
nion of the church of Rome, we durft not be
filent : but animated with zeal for found doc
trine, and fimplicity of worſhip, diſcipline,
and manners, we judged ourſelves peculiarly
called upon, as ministers of the goſpel, to
make the most vigorous oppoſition, in our
power, to the incroaching evil; by attempt
ing a ſeaſonable and cloſe application of fcrip
ture-truths, for manifeſting to the judgment,
the true state and condition of the Roman ca
tholic church; which glories in her ſhame, in
teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men: whereby it clearly appears, that ſhe
is fo totally different, not only in her ce
remonies, and many of her doćtrines, but
in her very ſpirit and conſtitution, from the
church of Chriſt; that ſhe gan no more be
called a Chriſtian church, than Pagan Baby
lon herſelf; and that her religion, inſtead of
being agreeable to the truth of the goſpel of
Chriſt, is a catholic apoſtacy from it, to a
mysterious, blaſphemous, idolatrous fuperstition; un
der the delufive influence of which, the people turn away their ear from the truth, reject
found datirine, and adopt fables and falfehood
in its room; and therefore all approaches to
her communion must be highly dangerous to
the fouls of men.
=------
ä
( 62
)
We have done, when we have added, that
popery is a religion, not only fundamentally
and totally wrong,---a religion destrućtive of
true Chriſtianity; but containing principles
dangerous in regard to the peace and fafety
of the state. Among other doćtrines of this
fort, which have been openly taught and pro
pagated in the church of Rome, the follow
ing are too notorious for any man, ever fo
moderately converfant with her history, to
doubt of; viz. That the Pope has a direct do
minion over all Christians, as to ſpirituals; and
an indirećt or confequential dominion, as to
temporals:---that no faith is to be kept with he
petics, in matters where the interests of pope
ry are concerned:---that force is lawful, and
ought to be uſed in matters of religion:---nay,
that no other fyſtem ofopinions, ought to beto
lerated in any Christian ſtate, but the ſyſtem of
the church of Rome:---moreover, that it is the
duty ofChristian-rulers to extirpateall othersby
fire and fword, and by every other inſtrument
of cruelty, or method of opprestion:---and that,
in fhort, the plea of conſcience is not to be ad
mitted, where-ever the members of this
church happen to be the ſtrongeſt, and can
enforce obedience.
( 63 )
How dangerous fuch opinions, as theſe are,
to ſociety, muſt be too level to every appre
henfion, to need being enlarged upon! They
are utterly inconfiſtent with the peace, ſafety,
and liberty of mankind; and therefore e
very ſtate, and every fociety, has an undoubt
ed right to guard againſt tħem. It has an
undoubted right; becauſe it has an undoubt
ed right to defend itſelf, and becauſe the prin
ciple of felf-preſervation is the firſt law of all
created beings.
-
THAT hardſhips ſhould be laid, or continu
ed when laid, upon Protestant-ſubjects, whoſe
attachment to government hath been long
manifested, and experienced, and whoſe,
principles lead them to acknowledge a moral,
---a divine, obligation upon men to keep their
promiſes, to fulfil their contraćts, and to per
form their oaths, no viſible reaſon can be af
figned: but that Papists ſhould both be laid,
and continued under reſtrićtions, reaſon will
allow, and in fome fenfe, demands; becauſe
they are not capable of proper allegiance tơ
the government, nor of giving proper fecu
rity to their proteſtant neighbours, as own
ing a foreign juriſdiction, which in their
view, is empowcred, to diſpenſe with the ob
ligation of all laws, human and divine.
-
|
( 64 )
As faithful protestant-ſubjeếts, warm with
the fincere love of liberty, legal and regular
Britiſh liberty, we cannot therefore forbear,
publicly declaring our apprehenſions of the
bad confequences, which may refult from re
pealing the laws, which the prudence of our
forefathers enađed, againſt popery; not to
perſecute, but to defend themſelves againſt
perſecution. This is undeniably a matter
which may prove of the utmoſt confequence
to the welfare of theſe kingdoms; and there
fore is justly regarded as a matter of very fe
rious, and very uneafy confideration, by ma
ny wife and good men of different denomi
nations, as well as by us, and the people of
our connećtions. .
IT is no
fecret, that there is a great number
of emiffaries of the church of Rome diſguiſed in
Scotland : and ſhould they be allowed, fup
ported, and countenanced in the public ex
ercife of their religion, by a legal toleration, a
mong us: who can tell what harveſt, a clergy
fo numerous, fo ſubtle, and fo well furniſhed
with arguments proper to work on vulgar,
uneducated, and unprincipled minds, may
be able to make in a country, now, through
the prevalence of infidelity, ignorance, luxu
-
*
-*
-
(
65 )
ry, and venality, fo much deſpoiled of all
religion, and feeling the want of it? And
|-
when their numbers and power are increaſed,
ćan we doubt but they will recover the ſpirit
of their religion, and aćt accordingly?
Besides, long and invariable experience
has (hewn,
that Proteſtant-ſtates
cannot,
(confittently with juſtice, and the rights of
conſcience), be too much on their guard, a
gainſt thoſe who are zealouſly attached to a
fyſtem, which has ever proved a powerful en
gine for the fupport of arbitrary power;
and
conſeqüently, in the higheſt degree, perni
cious to freedom, civil and religious.
IT is true indeed, that the Engliſh Papists,
before they can receive any benefit from the
late alteration of the law in their favour, arc
obliged to ſwear, that it is an impious tenet to
believe that faith may be broken with here
tics, &c. And it is equally true, that many
of them have fworn it. - And this is faid to
be a ſufficient fecurity for their being good
fubjećts, and good members of fociety. But :
if an oath does not fo aſcertain to us the fin
cerity of the fwearer, that we may reafonably.
i
= -----
( 66 )
niiles, it is a plain cafe, that it is no oath for
confirmation, and can afford no folid ground
of fecurity. And that the oath ſworn, on the
preſent occafion, by the Roman Catholics, is
of this nature, will appear to be no falfe, no
ill-natured imputation, when it is confidered,
that Papists are obliged to believe, that the
deciſions of general councils are
infallible with
reſpećt to faith and morals;---that it is an un
queſtionable matter of faćt, proved to be fuch,
by the moſt incontestible evidence, that the
general council of Conſtance eſtabliſhed the
lawfulneſs of breaking faith with heretics;--that confequently Papists are bound, by their
received and avowed principles, to believe
that doĉtrine.---And that therefore, when they
fwear they do not believe it, they muſt fwear
against principle.
And when people are
known to ſwear againſt principle, it can ne
ver be the part of wiſdom to truft them.
It is faid that Popery is greatly changed
from what it was in former times; but a due
attention and confideration, will, we pre
fume, diſcover this to be a groendleſs imagi
nation.
Does not the claim to infallibility,
which has long been madę by the church of
Rome, give uniformity, stability, and perma
nency to all her doctrines? and has it been
( 67 )
given up? Or have any of the late Popes ani
councils renounced thefe horrid errors which
their infallible predeceſſors taught? No fuch
thing can be pretended, far leſs proved. But
her cruelties are at least leſs fevere, and leſs
frequent than formerly ; and France is often
referred to, as an example of
the mildneſs
of modern Popery, wc must obſerve, how
ever, that Popery in France, during the laſt fix
ty years, has appeared, not with the name, but
with the iniquity and vengeance of the inqui
fition. Of this affertion, two edićts, revived
in 1745, and executed with the utmoſt ri
gour, afford most affecting proofs. Theſe e
dicts the clergy purchaſed, by making a very
large advance in their free gift : for, we are
told, that though the utmost ſtretch of their
liberality had not exceeded fixteen, their zeal
againſt herefy worked them up to twenty
four millions of livres. And the utmoſt miſe
ry and defolation to the diſtrićt of MoNTAUBAN,
and to the adjacent countries, were the ſpeedy
confequences of theſe revived EdIcTs.
we conclude, with
heartily wiſhing that
( 68 )
zeal and ardour for their religion, which is ne
cellary to check, and to counterbalance the tor
"ent, and the effećts of that fiery violent zeal,
which animates the priestly tribe of Romiſh
emiflaries: who, as if they did believe their
compounded ſyftem to be the pure, the true,
and only religion, are moſt artful and molt
induſtrious, by all poſſible means, to propa
gate, and make it univerſal.
Notes on the
Warning against Popery.
Page 44. The ſpirit of Popery is the vindi&ive and
fanguinary temper of our deſperately wicked hearts, Sc.
Facrs are the fairest and clearest proofs of an impeach
ment. Their evidence can neither be overturned by argu
inent, nor traverſed and negatived by impudence. That
our readers may perceive the juſtmeſs and vigour of the epi
thets vindictive and fanguinary, and fome others in the bo
Ny of the Warning, we fet before them the following ex
traćts concerning the execution of heretics, at the instiga
tion of the holy inquiſition, commonly called Auto-de-f,
or af? offaith.
THE priſoners being given up by the inquifition, are
loaded with chains, and hurried before the fecular judge,
religion they do intend to die ?
If they fay, They will die in the Proteſtant, or in any o
ther faith contrary to the Roman, they are called profeſ.
who aſks them, In what
ed and fentenced to be burnt alive. At the place of exe
cution, two Jefuits, mount the ladder with them and ex
4
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hort them to be reconciled to the church of Rome. If they
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refuſe, the executioner aſcends, and having chained their
bodies to a stake, leaves them. The Jeſuits go up a fe
cond time, to renew the exhortation, and at Parting tell
them, that they leave them to the devil, who is ſtanding at
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their elbow to receive their fouls, and carry them with him
to the flames of hell-fire, fo foon as they are out of their
bodies. Upon this a fhout is raiſed, and the cry is, Let
the dogs beards, let the dog3 beards be made : which is
done by thruiting flaming furzes fastened to a long pole
againſt their faces. The beards being made, or trimmed, as
they inhumanly and wantonly call it, and the faces of the
fusterers burnt to a coal, fire is fet to the furz, at the
bottom of the stake, above which they are chained fo
high, that the top of the flame feldom reaches higher than
the feat they fit on. If the day be calm, the ſufferers are
commonly dead in about half an hour after the fire is kind,
led; but if the day be windy, they fometimes live an hour
and a half, or two hours ; fo that they are really roaſted to
death. This dreadful ſpeétacle is beheld by people of both
ſexes, and all ages, with tranſports of joy and fatisfaction ;
ſo that a bull feaſt or farce are dull entertainments, in com
parifon with the burning of heretics, Dr Geddes's Tracts,
Vol. I. page 447. The fame author obferves, page 55o,
That the reader may not think that this inhuman joy is the
effect of a natural cruelty, that is in thofe peoples difpofi
tion, and not of the ſpirit of their religion ; he may rest
astured, that all public malefaćtors, except heretics, have
their violent deaths no where more tenderly lamented, than
amongſt the fame people ; and even when there is nothing,
in the manner of their deaths, that appears inhuman or cruel.
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Saliſbury, fays of an Autº-de-fè about that time. The wo
man was alive in the flames half an hour, and the man above
an hour. The king and his brethers were feated at a win
dow, fo near as to be addreſſed a confiderable time, in very
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moving terms, by the man as he was burning. But though
the favour he begged was only a few more faggots, yet he
was not able to obtain it. Being fastened to the fake fx
fcet higher than the faggots, and the wind a little freſh, his
hinder parts were perfectly wasted, ahd as he turned himſelf
his ribs opened before he left fpeaking, the fire being re
cruited as it wasted, to keep him just in the fame degree of
heat. But all his entreaties could not proeure him a larger
allowance of wood to ſhorten his miſery and diſpatch him.
To which we add. Theſe are the ſpirit, the principles, the
tender mercies of popery.–Our readers may fupply the
reſt.
Page 67. Of this affertion, two edicts, revived in 1745.
and executed with the utmoſt rigour, afford
moſt af
fećting proofs.
The French King's Ediã against the protestants in
France, February 1. 1745.
:
*g
W Herea, notwithstanding the feveral edi&s, de
clarations, and ordonnances, prohibiting the ex
ercife of the pretended reformed religion, his Majeſty is af
fured that affemblies have been frequently held of late with
in the điftriết of Montauban; he, being defirous to prevent
them for the future, has ardained, and does hereby ordain,
that agreeably to the faid edićts, &c. proceſſes ſhall be istued
out, and carried into execution, againſt all preachers, whº
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egher have heretofore called together, or ſhall hereafter af-
femble ſuch meetings, within the faid district ; or have al
ready preached, or exerciſed therein any function, or íhali
do fo from this time. He ordains the like, moreover, a
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gainst all and every one of his fubjects, of every rank and
condition, who ſhall either have been already discovered to
have been in the faid aſſemblies, or ſhall hereafter be dif
covered, or ſhall be there taken in the fa& ; commanding
that they be condemned to the pains and penalties of the
faid edicts, Sfc. It is moreover, his Majeſty’s will and plea
fure, that the intendant and commiſſary of the faid distrićt,
do order all the men who ſhall be known to have affifted at
the faid affemblies, but were not feized upon the fpot, to be
hand, without fo much as the formality, or even
f : out of
appearance of a tryal, to his majesty’s gallies for life, there
to ferve as flaves; and the women and girlf to be for ever
fhut up in places which ſhall be appointed for them.
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It is moreover, his Majesty’s expreſs command, to the
faid intendant and commiſſary of the diſtrićt of Montauban,
and to his bailiffs, feneſehals, and other officers and justi
des, in their feveral stations, as it ſhall reſpectively belong
to them, punctually to obferve this preſent ediết, which
ſhall be read, publiſhed, and fixed up wherever it ſhall be
neceſary, fo that no one may plead ignorance thereof.
Done at Verſailler the first day of February of the year
1745.
Signed, “ Lewis.
And lower,
- By the King Phelypeaux.”
’
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ed Ås, declarations, and ordonnances, that have been pü
bliſhed against fuch as affiſt at the unhKwful affemblies of
the new converts, have been
fufficiereið put a ſtop to
fuch
meetings; feeing the fear of punistimeħ
makes but a light
imprestion on minds fo filled with efors, whilst each indi
vidual flatters himſelf that he ſhalf eſcape ; his Majeſty be
ing defirous to put an effectuaf flop to thefe difforders, which
would of themfelves etitirely ceafe, were they not favoured
and encouraged, by the evil counfels, connivance, and fi
lence of thoſe, who, having knowledge always of theſe af
femblies, and fearing themfelves to be furpriſed in the af.
femblies, do neverthclefs permit their children and fervants
to attend them, and even fend them thither; by all which
they are not leſs guilty of difobedience, thán they who afat
at them ; he has deterinined to oblige all the new converts,
for their own intereſt, either to forfake, or to make known
fuch affemblies, of which they have always information ; or
clfe to puniſh them as accomplices of the faid affemblies, by
fettling arbitrary penalties of money, to be paid hereafterin
diſcriminately by all the new converts of the feveral cantons:
of the district of Montauban, wherein fuch affemblies ſhall,
be held. To theſe purpoſes his Majesty has ordained, and
does hereby ordain,
*
... : - · , , ,
1. “ THAT, the whole district of Man'auban being di
vided into feveral circuits or divifions, each of which ſhall .
particular number of communities, according to a
contain a
flate which is to be taken of the feveral divifions, by his
Majeſty’s intendant of the diſtrict appointed for that pur
poſe, all the new converts, through the whole of each cir
cuit or diviſion, ſhall be reſponſible for every affembly that
fhall be held within the limits of any of the communities of
which each circuit or divifion fhall be compoſed.
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2. “ The new converts of each divifion, within whoſe
limitsit ſhall appearihặt any affemblies have been held, ſhall
bg condemned, without fo much as the formality, or even
the appearance ofatryèl, by the faid intendant, to pay fuch a
fine, as he ſhall arbitrari; determine, proportioned to their
abilities; as likewife all the charges incurred by the feveral : ·
meaſures taken on account of the faid aſſemblies. And the
affeſinent of the faid fines and charges, ſhall be made by
*.
him, upon all the new converts contained in the lifts of
the poll-tax, throughout the feveral communities of the di
vifion.
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3. “ It is his Majesty’s pleaſure, that they of the new
sonverts, who as Catholicks fulfil their duty, and have this
testified by the certificates of their biſhops, or their grand
ricars, vouching that they frequent the church and the fa
traments, and that, for at leaft the three immediately fore
going and fucceſſive years, they have regularly executed all
their pafchal duties, ſhall be exempted from the above de
mands; provided always that there is no proof of their ha
ving been affifting in, or their favouring the above mention
ed affemblies.
4. “ The new converts of any one of theſe communities
ºf any divifion, within whoſe limits an aſembly ſhall be
held, who ſhall inform and give proof of fuch affembly, ſhall
likewife be excepted from the above demands. And if the
information ſhall be given fo feaſonably, that the aſſembly
"y be ſurpriſed, then all the inhabitants of that communi
ty ſhall be difcharoed from the fine and their ha-- -h-...--
1
}
ä
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Š. “ Îfit ſhall happen that any aſſembly is héld upºn i
ſpot, whoſe right is contested between two communities of
different diviſions, in that cafe, the fine ſhall be paid by the
divistens nearest to the contosted place, to be regulated like.
wife at the will of the intendant.
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7. “ In the fettlement of the demands,
every
particular
member who ſhall be fined, ſhall be compelled to pay their
fhares, by a fufficient military/3rce appointed for that pur
poſe.
8. “ And forafmuch as the ready reception the new
converts afford within their houfes, notwithſtanding all our
former prohibitions, to fuch preachers as come from abroad,
or are educated in the country, and who are the chief au
thors of the aſſemblies, is what enables thofe preachers to
keep them up, his Majesty ordains that all the new converts |
of the communities of any divifion, within whoſe limits any
preacher ſhall be taken, ſhall be condemned in a fine of 3ooo
Livres, payable to the informers who occafioned his being
taken ; and that, ſeparate from the proceſs that ſhall be
begun, and completed according to the rigor of the for
mer edicts, Sfc. againſt him in whoſe houfe ſuch preacher
fhall be found.
9. “ His majesty would not be understood in the leaft te
derogate, by the preſent edict, from the tenor of former
edićts, &c. given out on account of the above named affem
blies; and eſpecially not from that of February Ist, of the
prefent year, which ſhall be executed according to the full
tenor thereof. And his Majesty ſtrictly enjoins the inten
dant of the district of Montauban, carefully to attend to the
execution of this preſent edićt, which ſhall be publiſhed and
fixed up wherever it ſhall be judged neceſſary, that no one
may pretend ignorance thereof. Given at Verfailler Febru
, ary 16. 1745.
And lower,
' Signed, “ Lewis.
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By the King Phelypeauž
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