ential ! We might then venture, with greater confidence, into the labyrinths of controversy. We should also give a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Instead of this, we often argue in the spirit of petulance and self-confidence; or fight under the Christian banner as mercenaries, calculating upon the success of a campaign for our own advantage. No wonder that we are so frequently thrown into disorder, and return from the combat with loss and disgrace! The employment of irony and satire, and of arguments grounded upon motives exclusively human, is indeed justified by many, on the plea of what may be found of a similar character in the writings of the Apostles, and even in the recorded example of their Lord. It may be yet expedient to abstain from imitation, where the originals are few, and of an equivocal nature. In the present angry and protracted debate, the temptation to disregard the regulations of civilized war is not easily resisted. To this I have already adverted; but leave others to judge how far I have escaped the snares by which numbers, on both sides, have been entangled. *, Yoxall, Sept. 1, 1828. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAP. I.-The Identity of the World's Opposition to Page. 1 23 CHAP. II.—Application of the Principle to the present 36 CHAP. III.-The same Subject continued--The Author's personal Apology 56 CHAP. IV.-Embarrassments attending the present Discussion 66 CHAP. V.-The Origin and Object of the Roman Catholic 76 CHAP. VI.-Assumed Infallibility of the Roman Catholic 90 CHAP. VII.-Application of the Subject to the Protestant Church..... 104 CHAP. VIII.-The Sacrifice of the Mass--Perversion of the Eucharist in Anti-papal Communions CHAP. IX.-A Death-bed Sacrament ..... CHAP. X.-Continuation of the Subject CHAP. XI. The Antichristian Doctrine of Purgatory-- CHAP. XII.-Pseudo-sacraments of the Latin Church— 192 162 ANTICHRIST, PAPAL, PROTESTANT, AND INFIDEL. INTRODUCTION. I do confidently believe, that all the particular national churches, throughout the whole Christian world, are no other than sisters, daughters of the same Father, God; of the same mother, the spiritual Jerusalem which is from above: some of them are elder sisters, others younger; some more tall and large spread, others of less stature; some fairer in respect of holiness of life and orthodoxy of judgment, others fouler in respect of corruptions, both of doctrine and manners; still sisters; and if any of them shall usurp a mistress-ship over the rest, or make herself a queen over them, and make them subjects and slaves to her; or a motherhood to the rest (otherwise than in a priority, and aid of conversion), and make them but daughters and punies to her, she shall be guilty of an high arrogance and presumption, against Christ and his dear spouse the church; since, with the just and holy God, there is no respect of persons or places, but in all nations those that serve him best are most accepted of him.-BISHOP HALL'S Shaking of the Olive Tree. 1660. 407. THE principal aim of the author, in the following sheets, is to do something towards supplying what he considers to be a strange deficiency, on the part of Protestant writers engaged in the current controversy. A subject B essentially religious has been almost entirely secularized. It has been made matter far more of rivalry, than of humiliation and spiritual usefulness. The consequence already is, that the churches of the Reformation are rapidly losing what remained to them of the credit they once possessed. If this account be but partially true, we are arrived at a very serious crisis; and, although it may not be too late to repair our loss, yet we shall do well to apply to ourselves what was said on a different occasion, " What thou doest, do quickly." Neither the Roman Catholics themselves, nor the Infidel World, which is so eagerly watching the manœuvres of a Reformed communion, will give us back what we have forfeited; unless we return to our principles, and prove, by our lives, that we really embrace them. This may, indeed, be expecting too much from the Protestant body at large; but there is no reason why some of its members should not make an effort to convince mankind, that the question may still be argued on the basis of Christianity itself; and not in its connection with ecclesiastical interests. With regard to what is advanced in the sequel against the doctrines of the Church of Rome, many misapprehensions may probably |