there are occasions in the New Testament, in which they might have been exhibited in practice. But did the doubting Thomas or the denying Peterk undergo such penance, or receive the consolation of such an indulgence? Or is any mention made of an indulgence granted to the incestuous Corinthian, after he was excommunicated and restored1? or to those who were "weak "and sickly," in consequence of their disorderly celebration of the Supper of the Lord? The Romanist will in vain endeavour to deduce the right to which he pretends, from any promise of Christ, from any doctrine or history of the Bible, or even from the power of absolution which Christ gave to his Apostles", unless he is prepared to compromise or to arrogate their extraordinary inspiration.

10. The doctrine of Indulgences coincides with another article of Catholic belief," that there is a purgatory, that is to

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say, a place or state, where souls depart

k Matt. xxvi. 75. John xx. 27.

m 1 Cor. xi. 30.

n Matt. xvi. 19.

1 2 Cor. ii. 6. 10. xviii. 18. John xx.

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'ing this life with remission of their sins

as to the guilt or eternal pain, but yet "liable to some temporal punishment, of "which we have just spoken, still remain

ing due; or not perfectly freed from the "blemish of some defects, which we call “venal° sins, are purged before their ad"mittance into heaven, where nothing that "is defiled can enter P." Certainly not:

"for we must all appear before the judg❝ment seat of Christ." And for what purpose shall we appear? "That every one 66 may receive the things done in his body, "according to that he hath done, whether "it be good or bad." Romanists" also "believe, that such souls so detained in "purgatory, being the living members of “Christ Jesus, are relieved by the prayers " and suffrages of their fellow members "here on earth," even "by the suffrages

of the faithful"." Such suffrages have no authority of canonical Scripture; and the text' which is principally cited in their

• Quere venial. P Berington, p. 351.. 9 2 Cor. v. 10. Berington, p. 351, 352. Creed of Pius IV. t 2 Macc. xii. 43-45.

behalf, is not only that of an apocryphal writer, but of a writer who places no confidence in his own statement, and whose narrative, in this respect, is probably a misrepresentation of the fact related.

11. From prayers for the dead, we proceed to the doctrine, "that the saints reigning with Christ are to be honoured " and invocated, and that they offer prayers "to God for usu;" "that God may be in"clined to hear their requests made in our

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behalf, and for their sakes may grant us 66 many favours-therefore" they "believe "that it is good and profitable to invoke "their intercession ;" and they ask, "Can "this manner of mediation be more inju"rious to Christ our Mediator, than it is "for one Christian to beg the prayers of "another here on earth?" To this question we answer in the affirmative; because the intercession of a man for his brother is a duty frequently enjoined; and whatever other mediating demons' may be set up,

u Creed of Pius IV. Berington, p. 430. y 1 Tim.

yet to us there is but "one Mediator be"tween God and men, the man Christ

a

Jesus." Though therefore prayers are offered to God, by the merits, by the intercession, and by the prayers of many a departed saint, we know that the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ', and that the angel of God, refused the religious worship which was offered to them, and commanded their mistaken votaries to worship God.

12. That" relics are to be had in vene"ration"," "" that honour and respect are “due to the Bible, to the Cross, to the "name of Jesus, to Churches, &c. as things

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peculiarly appertaining to God," and "to the representations of Christ, of the "mysterious facts of their religion, and of "the saints of God, beyond what is due to

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every profane figure," are doctrines concerning which the Romanists themselves ad

z 1 Tim. ii. 5. a See the Roman Missal for the use of the laity, containing the masses appointed to be said throughout the year. b Acts x. 26. xiv. 14, 15. c Rev. xix. 10. d Creed of Pius IV. Berington, p. e Berington, p. 415. *f Ibid. p. 414.

414.

mit, that they cannot "believe any virtue to "reside in them for which they ought to be "honoured, but because the honour given "to pictures is referred to the prototype, or "the thing represented," and that honour may be given to them" without any derogation from the majesty of God, or that "divine worship which is appropriate to " him "."

13. Romanists are not agreed whether "the rich dresses of their ministers, and "the decorations of their Churches, and "the general pomp of service, set off by "incense, lights, and music," do or do not exceed the bounds of Christian simplicity. It is curious also to contrast the ingenuity with which the introduction of the Latin tongue is vindicated, with the earnestness with which the use of a vernacular language is recommended, without any reference on either side to the argument of the Apostle'.

8 Berington, p. 414, 415. h Compare Eustace, vol. iv. p. 265. with vol. ii. p. 165. 178. and with Berington, i Berington, p. 403-406. k Eustace, vol. ii.

p. 394.