preach that the religion of Mahomet is so widely diffused, consider it with all its sects: and hence it is right against them thus to consider the religion of Christians; but if the Christian religion be regarded with all sects, heretics, and schismatics, the number of those who glory in the Christian name will exceed the number of Jews, Mahometans, and idolaters together.

"Obj. II. The Jews are scattered over the whole earth, therefore, &c.

"Ans. It is true that the Jews are almost every where, but by the dispersion of their nation, not by the propagation of (their) faith and hence every where wretched and despised, they bear about with them the punishment of the blood of the Son of God. Besides, there was no necessity that their religion should be either scattered in every place, or embraced by every nation, like the Christian religion."

The prophecies of Scripture plainly predict that the Church of Christ is eventually to extend the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus over the whole world; and the Signs of the Times evidently point to this great and glorious consummation as near at hand. The wide diffusion of the principles of the Romish Church is in itself no proof that she is Catholic. Infidelity prevails to a fearful extent, and is to be found in every country which has been or now is under the influence of Popery; but the simple fact of its diffusion is no substantial argument either for or against it. The Bible teaches that truth is eventually to prevail; the kingdom of darkness is to be finally destroyed, and all the delusions of the Man of Sin are to perish with it; and the providence of God plainly indicates that "the time of the end" is very near. The wane of Popery throughout Europe, and in almost every part of the world, except on the continent of America, and the corresponding increase of Protestant influence, show that the days of Popery are numbered. France is already irretrievably lost; and even Spain is bursting from her shackles; in Italy the very name of the Pope is execrated, and nothing sustains his throne but the bayonets of Austria;

whilst the great cardinal doctrines of the gospel as taught in the word of God and the Protestant Churches, instead of being confined to some few corners of the earth, are daily proving to be the power and wisdom of God to the salvation of multitudes throughout the whole world. The missionaries of Christ are proclaiming salvation through faith in the Redeemer's blood to the kindreds and nations of the earth, and the mighty angel having the everlasting gospel to preach, is flying through the midst of heaven. Moravians and Methodists, Presbyterians and Reformed, are scattering the precious seed of revealed truth stripped of Romish inventions, and however industriously the enemy may sow tares with the wheat, he cannot stay the approach of the harvest. It is ripening amid the snows of Greenland and on the burning sands of Africa; India and China and the isles of the Sea are stretching forth their hands to God, and we look and long for the dawn of the day when the heathen shall be given to Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.

Concerning the Mark of the Church, by which she is called Apostolic. (78.)

"The fourth mark is that the true Church is apostolic, concerning which, as Christ says, Matt. xvi. 18: Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;' and Matt. xxviii. 20: I am with you always, even to the consummation of the world;' likewise the apostle, Eph. ii. 20: Built upon the foundation of the apostles;' and ch. iv. 11: ‘And some, indeed, he gave to be apostles, and others pastors and teachers;' and ver. 12: for the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, unto the edification of the body of Christ.'

"For what reason is the Church called apostolic?

"Ans. 1. On account of the doctrine received from the apostles, the same which our church always has received, and always will receive, so THAT FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES UNTIL NOW, IT CANNOT BE SHOWN, IN WHAT RE

SPECT, WHEN, WHERE, AND BY WHOM ANY THING CONCERNING DOCTRINE HAS BEEN CHANGED.

"2. Because it was propagated by the apostles.

"3. Because it has a legitimate and uninterrupted succession of bishops, especially in the very seat itself of Peter, concerning which St. Aug. says: The succession of priests from the very seat of the apostle Peter, to whom the Lord entrusted his sheep to be fed, down to the present Episcopate, keeps me in the church.'

4. Because she adheres inseparably to the chair of St. Peter, or to the Roman See, founded by Peter; and hence she is called Papal by her enemies, &c.

"From the mark of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, it will be proper to use the argument of Tertullian in his book concerning Prescriptions, ch. 37, and to accost them in his words: Who are you? When and whence do you come? The possession is mine; I possess it of old, I possess it before (you), I have firm origins from the authors themselves.' And ch. 32. Let them publish the origins of their churches, let them develope the order of their bishops, running through successions from the beginning, so that the first bishop shall have some author from the apostles or apostolical men.'

"From these remarks you will gather, that NOVELTY IN THE CHURCH IS ODIOUS, and antiquity venerable; and therefore that the antiquity of the church is not a sign of debility or defect, but of strength, firmness, and perfection."

There are several remarks in this section, which are calculated to startle by their boldness even those who are prepared for the exhibition of no small degree of assurance on the part of Romish writers. There is not a greater farce extant than the pretensions of the Papal Church to apostolicity, as we hope to show in the course of this chapter. We join issue on the following proposition, "that from the time of the apostles until now, it can not be shown, in what respect, when, where, and by whom anything concerning doctrine has been changed."

A comparison between the doctrines taught in Paul's

Epistle to the Romans and those now maintained by the Church of Rome, and prescribed as articles of faith by the Council of Trent, will suffice to show the impudence and absurdity of her claim to apostolicity.

1. The Church of Rome represents the Eternal Father, the first person in the Trinity, under the figure of an old man, and teaches that it is proper to bow down to images representing the Deity. Paul condemns it as heathenish idolatry, and as entailing the judgments of God. Rom. i. 23-32.

2. The Church of Rome teaches that the Virgin Mary was without sin. Paul asserts no such doctrine, but on the contrary, affirms, of both Jews and Gentiles, that "all are under sin ;" and that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. iii. 9 and 23. From this charge he exempts no common member of the human family.

3. The Church of Rome teaches that the "faithful" are justified by works; Paul, on the contrary, proves that we are justified freely by grace. "For we conclude a man to be justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Rom. iii. 28.)

He tells us explicitly that Abraham's faith was counted to him for righteousness, and then adds, "Now, it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Whilst he uniformly teaches that good works are the fruit of faith, he as uniformly denies that they can have any share in our justification.

4. The Church of Rome would have us believe, not only that a man may perfectly fulfil the law, but also do works of supererogation, and thus make Almighty God his debtor, and that a draft upon this fund of merit will always be honoured by Him. Whereas, Paul in all his writings accords with the doctrine taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, that

when we have done all things that we are commanded to do, we have done no more than our duty, and are unprofitable

servants.

5. The Church of Rome teaches that holiness consists, in some considerable measure at least, in the observance of festival days of her own appointment, and in abstinence from meats at certain times, under pain of mortal sin. But Paul declares that "the kingdom of God is not MEAT and DRINK, but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost," Rom. xiv. 17. We commend this whole chapter to the devout attention of those "who command to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. iv. 3.

6. The Church of Rome teaches that the reading of the Scriptures by all classes, is productive of more harm than good; and that the invariable tendency of this practice is to make men proud, discontented, and conceited. But Paul tells us, that "whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Rom. xv. 4.

7. The Church of Rome teaches that the sufferings of the saints upon earth are worthy of eternal glory. Paul affirms that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Rom. viii. 18.

8. The Church of Rome enjoins upon the faithful the worship of saints and angels, and of the Virgin Mary; and prescribes that the same veneration be paid to the consecrated host which is due to God; and that divine images, holy relics, &c., are also to be worshipped. Paul inculcates the contrary, and shows that the judgments of God were inflicted upon the Gentiles on account of their idolatry. (Rom. i.) He never desired the brethren to secure an interest in the prayers of the saints in heaven in his behalf, but he be