BX 1767 .Ks. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. / m^Mm^^s^m' .i^ ^^^^. V^^L^^"- '^ntf. Thoughts OF A Roman Catholic WHILE READING THE DouAY \ c^?ho"lic \ Testament. . ^U U{ ^^cUc^n^ o ERIE, PA.: Economy Printing Company, 320 State Street, Printers. 1880. 7h ■p^^i. LC Control Number tmp96 028025 Trf HE Scripture quotations in this pamphlet were taken from the ^^^ Douay (Roman Catholic) Testament, which has the following- recommendation from Bishop Troy, also an extract from His Holi- ness Pope Pius YII: I Certify that the sacred text of the New Testament, in this Edi- tion of it,* is conformable to that of former approved Editions ; and particularly to that of the Douay English Version sanctioned by me, and published by R. Cross, in the year 1791. Dublin, 9th Feb., 1820, f J. T. TROY, D. D., &c. Translation. AN EXTRACT OF A RESCRIPT, ADDRESSED BY HIS HOLINESS PIUS VII. TO VICARS APOSTOLIC OF GREAT BRITAIN. "VICARS Apostolic labouring in the Vineyard of our Lord, "Direct all your zeal and attention to this, that all the faithful 'whom we have committed to your pastoral care, love one another 'in Charity, Sincerity, and Truth: that in the present general ag- "itation, tliey shew themselves an example of good Avorks: that "they obey the King, and be so dutiful and faithful to him, that "our adversaries may fear, (not having it in their power) to speak "ill of us; that they abstain from reading vicious books, by which "in these most calamitous times, our holy religion is in all direc- "tions assailed: that bv reading pious books, and above all the '\HOLY SCRIPTURES, m the Editions approved by the Church, they "conform in faith and good works to you, as their pattern in pre- "cept and practice. While we trust from your lidelity and proved "veneration for us, that this duty shall be duly performed, we im- "part to you the Apostolic benediction. "Given at Rome at the College of Holy Marv the Greater, on the •'18th of April. Year of Grace, 1820, of our pontificate, 21." ^t. jV^attl^Ew's €fnspEl. St. Matt.6thch.-7. And when But the chiirch tells me vou are praving speak not , .i i t. much, as the heathens. For tO say the lODg litany tO they think that in their much fhp Viro-in Wonlrl not n speaking they may he heard. ^f ^ ^ l^§l"- ^ ^^^^^^ I^Ot a short, heartfelt prayer to God be better, and be in accordance with this scripture ? St. Matt. 8th ch~u. And ^^hen What! Peter have a Jesus was come into Peter s ^ v, c* house, he saw his wife's moth- Wlie I VV hy, Peter waS er lying, and sick of a feyer ; ^i fi^^^. p^vi-vi^ TVion wIttt 15. And he touched her '^ue nist ropc. inen wuy hand, and the feyer left her, don't the PoDCS have their and she arose, and ministered . i i, t-»- i to them. Wives, also the Bishops, aad Priests ? Surely, if it was not a sin for St. Peter to have a wife, it would not be for his suc- cessor the Pope. St. Matt, nth ch.-2S. Come to me. all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will re- fresh you. 29. fake up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart : and you shall find rest to your soul's. 30. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light. "Come to me." This is Jesus who is speaking. He tells us to come to him, not to his mother or any of the saints, but di- rect to him. And that word '^alV means Protestants as well as Catholics. So he wants "aZZ" to come to him. Then Protestants will be saved by coming to him, without joining the Catholic church. But the Priest tells me all out of the Eoman Catholic church will be lost. THOUaHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Jesus sa3"s not. Now who shall I believe Jesus or the Priest ? But I must read on to the end. St. Matt, mh ch.-47. And one said unto him, Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee. 48. But he answering him that told him, said : Who is my mother, and who are my brethren ? 49. And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said : Behold my mother and my brethren. 50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven ; he is my brother, and sister, and mother. The^e are the words of Jesus, not from a Protes- tant Testament, but from m}^ own Doua}^ Testa- ment. It certainty seems in this last verse, as though Jesus would rath- er have us do the will of his Father in heaven, than pay aii}^ attention to his mother or brother or sister. Then why does the church tell me to say the "Hail Mary" and other prayers to the Virgin ? , St. Matt. 15th ch-8. This people honoureth me with their lips : but their heart is far from me. 9. And in vain do they ivor- ship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men. 10. And having called togeth- er the multitudes unto him, he said to them : Hear ye and understand. 11. Not that which goeth in- to the mouth, defilethaman : but what Cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Jesus says in this last verse that no matter what I eat, it cannot defile me. But how about eating- meat on Friday? The church forbids it, and calls it a sin, Jesus says not; I can eat what I please. Now who shall I obey ? Who am I to believe ? ''The doctrine and commandment of men," or the words of the Son of God ? Oh Lord open thou mine eyes and heart, for Jesus' sake. Amen. St. Matt. 16th ch.— 22. And Pe- ter taking him, began to re- buke him, saj'ing : Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee. What ! Jesus calling Peter Satan ! Why, I thought Peter was infalli- THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 9 23 Who turning said to Pe- l^le aS the PopeS are in- ter : Go behind me, satan, n ^^^^ i t ^i thou art a scandal unto me : lailible and cousequently because thou savourest not ponnnt f^rr "Rnt nprhqivs the things that are of God, cannoi en. isut peinapfe but the things that are of men. the Popes who Succeeded Pope Peter were better men than poor Peter, hence their infallibility. But the church is built on Pe- ter, as I read in my catechism and here Christ calls him Satan ! What, the church built on Sa- tan! But would it not have been better for the Fath- ers to have selected St. Paul, or St. John ? But Jesus Christ would be better than an}^ of them as the foundation. St. Matt 2 1st ch.-22. And all Well, if I kneel things whatsoever you shall , ' . i i ask in prayer believing, you dOWU now, right here shau receive. where I am sitting, and ask for the pardon of all my sins, without going to the Priest to confession, will he pardon my sins? I will read it again. "And all things" that in- cludes the pardon of my sins, of course it does, Priest or no Priest. Thank God for that. St. Matt. 26th ch. —bl. And he- This was one of Jesus hold one of them that were ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ eJesus with Jesus, stretching forth disciples, Peter himself, his hand, drew out his sword: „,i,^ ^4,i 4-u^^. «^ t «,. ^i ,'-^ and striking the servant of ^^^ ^^^ thlS: as 1 find lU thelii^^P^i^st, cutoffhisear. St. John 18:10, that o2. Then Jesus saith to him : -r» ^ i i i i Put up again thy sword into Peter had a sword and its place for all that take the a\a fhiQ \av\r thino' Tf sword shaU perish with the ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^y ,1: sAvord. would seem that the Popes have followed Peter in this respect; for had not they their armies and soldiers, who fought against Garibaldi and others? But the Pope has none to-daj^; he has lost his temporal power. Has not this prophec}^ been ful- filled in this respect? 10 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. St. ]Vfai]5's €fcspel. Well, well, here in the very first chapter I find Peter's wife again. Would it not have been a good idea for the Popes and Priests to have imitated well as taking np the on. Here St. Mark refers to the same thing that St. Matthew did. I wonder if Jesus wants us to pray to his mother? If he did he would have set the example b}^ promptly obeying her. But I have not found so far in reading the Bible* that we are commanded to worship the Virgin or even pray to her. And if one man prayed to her in Ireland, another in Mex- ico, another in Italy, another in Spain, and anoth- er in America, all at the same time, (and this oc- curs every day in the week,) could she hear all their prayers? if so, she would be omnipresent! equal to God ! ! St. Mark 1st c/i.— 30. And Si- mon's wife's mother lay in a fit of a fever : and forthwith they tell him of her. 31. And coming to her he lifted her up, taking her by the hand : and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. Peter in this respect, as sword? But I must read Mark 3 ch. — 31 And his moth- er and brethren came; and standing without sent unto him, calling him. 32. And the multitude sat about him; and they say to him : Behold thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33. And answering them, he saith Who is my mother and my brethren? 34. And looking round about at them who sat about him, he saith, Behold my mother and my brethren. 35. For whosoever shall do the will of God; he is my brother and my sister and mother. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 11 St. Mark, 7th ch.-% Well did Here ao^ala the Saviour Isaiali propnesv of you nvpo- ^ , . . crites, as it is written: This speaks Oil thlS important people honour eth me with their nnp«;tinn of Pfitino' C'f^r lips, hut their heart is far from quefeUOn 01 eailUg. V_er- me. tainly nothino: can be 7. And in vain do they wor- i • ^u x^T i ship me, teachina doctrines and plainer than these WOrcls precepts of men of ^he Savioiir, So it 8. For leaving the command- , ^ . ^, ment of God, you hold the makes 110 diiierence tradition of men, the washings wh Pthpr T P^t mpqt nn of pots and of cups: and many wneinei i eai meai on other things you do like to Friday or not, SO Jesus- 9.^ And he said to them: SajS. Now who shall I Well do yoQ make void the obev the Priest or Jesim*^' commandment of God, that ^^^^^} ^ ^^^ iriiesi oruesus. you may keep your own tradition. 13. Making void the word of God by your own tradition, which you have given forth. And many other such like things you do. 14. And calling again the multitude unto him He said to them:: Hear me all and understand. 15. (There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him.) But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man. 16. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17. And when he was come into the house from the multitude, hi& disciples asked him the parable. 18. And he saith to them: So are you also without knowledge?* understand you not that everything from without, entering into a man, cannot defile him: 19. Because it entereth not into his heart, butgoeth into the belly. and goeth out into the privy, purging all meats? r>5f^'^;^^i^^^-~T.?"'/^5 Well if he is not the God of Abraham, and the God r>, -, z. i i -it of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God 01 the dead, DUt the 27. (He is not the God of the liTTino* wViof ic fhp noo r.f dead, but of the living.) You livmg, wnat IS tne lise 01 therefore do greatly err. my father paying the Priest any more mone}^ to get my mother's soul out of Purgatory. She has been dead now twenty years. But I have not come to Purgator}^ in reading the Bible so far. I wonder how soon I will. Perhaps St. John 'says something about it, or St. Luke. I must hurry on, I am anxious to see what is said about Purgatory. 12 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Peter seems very much in earnest, and he is. But let us read a little further. St. }fark lUch—2d. But Peter saith to him: Although all shall be scandalized in thee, yet not I. 30 And Jesus saith to him: Amen I say to thee, to-day even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31. But he spoke the more vehemently: Although I should die together with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all. 69. And again a maid-ser- vant seeing him, began to say to the standers by: This is one of them. 70. But he denied again. And after a while they that stood by said again to Peter: Surely thou art one of them; for thou art also a Galilean. 71. But he began to curse and to swear, sailing, I know not this man of w'hom you speak. 72. And immediately the cock crew again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: Before the cock croAV twice, thou shalt thrice deny me. And he began to weep. pardon for all their sins. But I must read on, this Testament is very in- ter estiog , What, Peter! 3^ou on whom our church is built! to curse and to swear! and you infallible into the bargain! But poor Peter never claimed to be infallible; its only Peter's successors that claim this. Oh, how much better for Popes, Bishops, Priests and people to acknowl- edge they are sinners; come to Jesus and get St. Mark 16th ch.—15. And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that believeth and is l)aptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not, shall be condemned. 17. And these signs shall f ol- loAv them that believe : In my name they shall cast out dev- ils : they shall speak with new tongues, 18. They shall take up ser- pents : and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick and This finishes the gospel of St. Mark. And these words spoken here are the last Jesus spoke to his disciples: and what are the words: "Go ye unto the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature." Why did he not tell them to say mass, hear confession, shut THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 13 themselves up in con- vents and monasteries. I wonder if St. Peter or any of the other disciples, ever said mass, or heard auricular confession, or forgave anybody their sins. St. Matthew is silent on the subject. So is St. Mark. But perhaps St. Luke, or St. John says says something about these important things. they shall recover. 19. And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sit- teth on the right hand of God. 20. But they going forth preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed. 4 •#• » ^t. liU^E's €{0SpEl. St. Luke Wi ch.—^S. And Je- sus rising up out of the syna- gogue, went into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever, and they besought him for her. this respect? Here St. Luke as well as St. Matthew and St. Mark, speak of St. Peter's wife. Now why don't the Priests follow Peter in St. Luke 9th ch.—i9 And John answering, said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, because he fol- loweth not with us. 50. And Jesus said to him: Fovhid him not: For he that is not against you, is for you. Here the Saviour teach- es John a lesson about sectarian bigotr}^ And would not these verses apply equally as well to us Catholics? because we believe all Protestants will be damned. But somehow I don't like to believe that, for I know plenty of good kind people who are Protestants, and a great many of them help poor Catholics. 14 THOUGHTS OP A ROMAN CATHOLIC. And then to think they will be damned simply be- .cause the}^ don't belong to the Catholic church. I somehow can't believe it. Here Jesus gives his disciples power to heal the sick, tread on serpents, &c., but not power to for- give sins. He alone said, "thy sins be forgiven thee." you: but rejoice in this that your St. Luke 10th ch.—Vi. And the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, the devils also are subject to us in thy name. 19. Behold,! have given you power to tread upon serpents, and scorpions, and upon all ♦the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20. But yet rejoice not in ^his that spirits are subject unto names are written in heaven. St. Luke nth Ch.—9. And I* -say to you. Ask, and it shall :be' given you: seek, and you shall find:' knock, and it shall •be opened to you. 10. For every one that ask- reth, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him ;that knocketh, it shall be opened. 11. And which of you if he -ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12. Or if he shall ask an egg, -w^ill he reach him a scorpion? 13. If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from .heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him? In this tenth verse the Saviour says: "every one that asketh receiveth;" this includes Protestants as well as Catholics. And if Protestants go direct to the Father, as we read in the 13th verse, and are told to do : Why do I as a Catholic, go to the Vir- gin and the Saints and first ask them to intercede for me : Or even to the Priest. It looks like employing an agent to do what I should do myself. So the Saviour would teach those around him, on this occasion that it would be ^ore blessed for a person to hear the word of God, and keep it, than to be his Mother. Why does Jesus all the time, St. Luke nth ch.—'^ * A cer- tain woman from the crowd lifting up her voice said to him: Blessed is the womb -that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. 28. But he said: Yea rather, Messed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 15 whenever anyone mentions his Mother, try to get the minds of the people away from her, and fixed on God instead? This is certainly significant, and should be remembered by us Catholics. How often during lent do we say, ''Hail,, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; oar life, our hope, our sweetness, to thee do we cry, poor banished sons of Eve, &c." ^t. Jo][|n's {^nspel. St. John 1st ch— 29. The next ■day John saw Jesus coming to him and he saith: Behold the lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. it, but Jesus only. St. John 3d ch.—S. Jesus an- swered and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, un- less a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. chapter may explain. * * I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost he can- not enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit. 7. Wonder not, that I said to thee, you must be born again. 8. The Spirit breatheth where he will; and thou hear- est his voice, but thou know- est not whence he cometh and whither he goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Not doing penance tak- eth away sin, but Jesus, the lamb of God. Well, then, the Priest can't do "Born again;" what does this mean? being born again ; perhaps some of the verses in this same Oh yes, here it is. Born of the spirit. This means what Protestants call conversion and regen- . eration. Let me see what the catechism says on this thing. Under the head of Baptism, I find it washes away original sin, remits all actual sin, infuses the habit of 16 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. divine grace into the soul: In a word, regenerates. Well, how do I know it does all this, because I was an infant when baptized. It certainly looks as though baptismal regeneration and the ''habit of di- vine grace infused into the souF' worked the wrong wky in many of us Catholics. For if we read the daily papers correctly, we find that more than half the criminal cases in our Courts are Catholics, who had the habit of divine grace infused into their souls: But I must read on. Same ch.-U. And as Moses Qh what o'lorious WOrds lifted up the serpent m the , , ^ i i x desert so must the son of man these are, spokcu by JcSUS ^f TMrwhosoeverbeiiev- J^imself:^ "whosoever be- eth in him, may not perish, lieveth in him may not but may have life everlasting. ,^^i,-;oK Knf moTr h^i^r^ ]\fa 16. For God so loved the pCllSU, DUt may UaA C ilie world, as to give his only i3e- evcrlastius:. That word gotten Son; that whosoever ,, , ^,, beiieveth in him, mav not ^'whosoevcr" means every- Iveriastin^^ '^^•' ^""''^ ^'^^ "^^^^3^ whether they be- long to our church or not. It includes. Catholic, Jew, Protestant, Heathen and everyone. And do not Protestants believe on Christ? Of course they do. Well, then they will be saved, just as well as us Catholics. And is it not presumptuous for us to appropriate heaven to our- selves, and say all outside the Eoman Catholic church will be damned. Here the query comes again: Whom am I to believe? Jesus saj's '^who- soever believes will be saved." The Roman Catho- lic church says not. Well I think the word of Jesus Christ is above that of the church. And is it not when we believe on him, with our whole heart that divine grace is infused into the soul, and not in baptism when we were infants. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 17 Same ch-zs. He that hath These are plain words received his testimony, hath ^ .... /. . i set to his seal that God is true. and a Continuation 01 the 34. For he whom God hath oomp fhaiifpr Snrplv a sent, speaketh the words of same cnapier. ^ureu a God: for God doth not give child Can understand '"^^.'^The "^aTherioveth the them. He that believcth in Son: and he hath given aU the Son hath life evcrlast- thmgs into his hand. . ,^^ i ., . .i 36. He that believeth in the mg; ("hath m the pres- Son, hath life everlasting: but pnf fp^qp orirl TinQ«;p«iCiivp he that believeth not the Son, eni lense, ana possessiie shau not see life, but the case, )which means "now," wrath of God abideth on him. xu* -i ^ ^.i. this side of the grave. Well, then, if we have life everlasting this side the grave, what is the use of us all passing through Purgatory? For no matter how good we are, after we die, "masses" have to be said for our souls in Purgatory. And if we can't pay the Priest, pre- cious few "masses" are said. SL John Wich.-2^. But the ^^i [j^ ceremonv or hour Cometh, and now is, -^ when the true adorers shall empty pomp or parade, adore the Father in spirit and i . • ^^\y\4. j,^^ 4^ truth in truth. For the Father also ^^^ 1^ spiril ana in iruiU. seeketh such to adore him. 24. God is a spirit, and they that adore him must adore him in spirit and in truth. St. John 5th ch.—S9. Search That is iust what I am the scriptures, for vou think , . ,, , . ,? .i, in them to have life everlast- doing, "searching the Ihli give tl^sumon? oTral''''' scriptures. And would it 40. And vou will not come to not be a good thing for me that you may have life. ^^ Catholics tO obey the Saviour in this respect and search the scriptures for themselves? We would then be obeying the Saviour and also Pope Pius VII. St. John 6th ch.-A7. Amen, Be he Jcw or Gentile, amen I say unto vou : He that \^ i £• believeth in me; hath ever- DOnd Or tree, lasting life. 18 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. St. John 8th c/i.— 10. Then " TKui nnr i^hnrph r1$imn« Jesus lifting up himself, said „^^,^ ^^^ Ctiurcn aamns to her: Woman, where are all WHO leave the CQUrch, they that accused thee? Hath -i ii u ,i:flpp,. wifh no man condemned thee? ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ Uinei WltH 11. Who said: No man, Lord. uS. Is this rio^ht? How And Jesus said: Neither will -i t/y. . .. I condemn thee. Go. and vastly different it waS now sin no more. ^y^th JeSUS. St Johnuthch.-^b. Thomas jesus uses the defiuite saith to him: Lord, we know ^. , ^^^, -,•, ^ -, not whither thou goest; and article "the. i am the how can we know the way? ^«,. ^^^a fj.^ frnth qtiH 6. Jesus saith to him: I am wa>, ailQ me tlUlll, ana the way, and the truth, and the life. So there is no the life. No man cometh to . i i. i. i a the Father, but by me. Other Way to heaven but by Hiin it seems; going to Purgator}^ won't do. The Priest can't save us. The church can't save us. Nothing can save us but Jesus. The sacra- ments won't do it. Had Jesus said, I am a way and a truth, (fee, then we would be justified in be- lieving that there were other ways beside Christ. But, no; the Saviour settles the thing for time and eternity, that he is the onl}' way. Then if these words be true, what use in me doing penance, or torturing my bod}^? For in doing such things I am robbing Jesus of his glory. As much as to say : "Jesus, your sacrifice on Calvary's Cross was not sufficient, therefore I must suffer and do penance for my sin. 1 must go to Purgatory and finish the atonement." Certainl}^ this is not consistent with his complete sacrifice. St. John 15th ch.—l. If you a ^b- Trrhat T will anri it abide in me, and my words ^^^ wuat 1 wm ana 1\ abide in you, you shall ask shall be doUC. Well, if I whatever you will, and it s/ia/i i ^^„ ^u^ ,^^„,i^., ^v .^^^ be done unto you. ask for the pardou of my sins, without going to confession, will that be done? I will read this verse again. "You shall ask what- ever 3?ou will and it shall be done." Then I ask THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 19 blessed Jesus that all mj^ sins be pardoned, direct- ly by himself without going to the Priest to confess. St. John 16th ch.—23. And in This is the Same as in that day you shall not ask me . , . . ohai^tpr anything. (Amen, amen I say tuc i1ptplv rlPTnnliQh nnr whereby we must be saved. COmpieiei} aemoiisn OUr prayers to the saints. Peter is very much in ear- nest, when he says, "There is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. '^ It was Jesus St. Peter was talking about, and not the Virgin or any of the saints. Pope Pius IX did not possess much of the spirit of St. Stephen, that is spoken of in these verses, when he cursed "Victor Emanuel and General Garibaldi, yet they did not want to take his life, only deprive him of his temporal power; yet Pius IX was infallible! But I'll be dammed if I don't believe him to be infalli- ble. Not by God, though, that is one consola- tion; but only by the Pope. "Curses, like chick- ens, come home to their roost." Acts 7th ch.—5S. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 59. And faUing on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying; Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death. Acts 10th ch,— 25. And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored. 26. But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man. When I studied my catechism, this question was asked me: "Who is the Poper" and the fol- lowino^ was the an- THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 21 swer. ''He is successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth." Now why does the Pope make people approach him on their knees and allow them to kiss his feet? If St. Peter were Pope at Rome to-day, would he permit this? Would he not say as he did on this occasion : Arise, I myself also am a man." Has hot pride crept in, even into the Vatican since the days of Peter? Acts lUfh ch.—l. And there sat a certain man at Lystra impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 8. This same heard Paul speaking. Who looking upon him. and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 9. Said with a loud voice: Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walk- ed. 10. And v/hen the multi- tudes had seen what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice in the Lycaonian tongue saying: The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 11. And they called Barna- bas, Jupiter: but Paul, Mer- cury: because he was chief speaker. 12. The priest also of Jupiter that was before the city, bringing oxen and garlands before the gate, would have otfered sacrifice with the peo- ple. 13. Which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul had heard, rending their clothes, they leaped out among the people crying. 14. And saying: Ye men, why do ye these things? We also are mortals, men like unto you, preaching to you to be con- verted from these vain things, to the living God who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them: 17. And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them. Here again Paul and Barnabas condemn the very thing that Pe- ter did, viz: ''Saint Wor- ship." They seem to get very angrj^ as we read in the 13th and 14th verses. Now if they would not permit these people to worship them, would they not equall}^ reprove us Catholics to-day, that is, if Peter, Paul and Barna- bas could come on earth? These verses are veiy em- phatic. Like praying to the Virgin, how can Pe- ter, Paul and the rest of the Saints, hear one man who prays in Ireland, an- other in Rome, another in America, and all at the same time? 22 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Acts 17th ch.-io. But the p^ul speaks very high- Drethren immediatelv sent , ^ ^ i t» ^ away Paul and Silas by night Ij 01 these JBereans. Be- untoBerea. Who when they p^nop fhpv npnrnhpfJ fhp were come thither went into causetney searcnea me the synagogue of the Jews. scriptures daily, to prove 11. Now these were more no- t^x, > ^ / j. -u bie than those in Thessaioni- oy the scriptures, (not by ca who received the word traditioD, Or by the with all eagerness, dailv t-, ^ , < i . i . i searching the scriptures, leathers,) whether the whether these things were so. preaching of Paul and Si- las was sanctioned by scriptures or not. This is the very thing I am now doing, searching the scriptures. And what the Apostle Paul commands, why does our church condemn? Would not we Catholics be more benefited by reading the Bible, and studying God's pure word, than spending our Sabbath afternoons drinking whisky and playing cards? God grant that the day may not be far distant, when every Roman Catholic family will have a Bible, and read it daily as did these Bereans; and every doubtful doctrine taught in the church, test it by scripture. We will have the approval of heaven in doing so as did those people, the approval of St. Paul. Acts 18th ch.--27. And where- Shewing by the scrip- as he was desirous to go to i ^ t • i Achaia, the brethren exhort- tures that Jcsus IS the ing wrote to the disciples to rhri^t- not hv trnrlitinTi receive him. Who, when he ^nilSt,not Oy traaition was come, helped them much or anvthino^ else, but by who had believed. .i • x x- ^v 28. For with much vigor he the SCriptures. i\0W, then, convinced the Jews openly, to everything that I read shewing by the scriptures, . ^ . ^i . i -, that Jesus is the Christ. in my catechlsm, would it not be well to apply the same test — the scrip- tures — and see whether it is scriptural or not. ^c^8;^is^c/i.~8. And the next Thi« Pripftf nr pv^tjo-pI- day departing we came to . ^^^^ -fliest Or eiangei- Cesarea. And entering into ist was married it SCems the house of Philip the evan- i u i ^ r rl p n o-h f PrQ gelist, who was one of the ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ aaugnters. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 23 seven, we abode with him. 9. And he had four daugh- ters, virgins, who did prophe- sy. Would it be a sin in our Priests to have their wives and daughters also? First Epistle of St. Paul to the Eomans. Bomans5thch.-i Being ]us- Xot throuo'h the vir^n tified therefore bv faith let us n ^ ^ have peace with God through 31arv Or anv 01 the saiuts, our Lord Jesus Christ. ^^^^ through JesUS Christ. Then we can't have peace with God by praying through any saint or angel or any other being, but through Jesus Christ. Then why do I read so many prayers in vciy prayer book such as, Ark of the Covenant, Gate of Heaven, Morning Star, Queen of Angels, )> Pray for us. Queen of Saints, St. Peter, ■ St. Paul, "Hail, Hcly Queen, mother of merc}^, our life, our hope, our sweetness, to thee do we cry poor ban- ished sons of Eve. To thee do we send up sighs, mourning and weeping, &c." Why all this? where is the scriptural warrant for such prayers? Here St. Paul makes no distinction between one class more than another, and concludes by saying, "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." That in- RoraanslOth ch.—S. But what saith the scripture? The word is nigh thee, even in thi/ mouth, and in thy heart. This is the word of faith which we preach. 9. For if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from tlie dead, thou shalt be saved. 24 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 10. For, with the heart, we believe unto justice; but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 11. For the scripture saith: JVhosoever belie veth in him, shall not be confounded. 12. For there is no distinc- tion of the Jew and the Greek : for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him. 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. sending all to perdition Romans Uth ch.—2. For one believeth that he may eat all things: but he that is weak let him eat herbs. 3. Let not him, that eateth, despise him that eateth not: and he. that eateth not, let him not judge him that eat- eth. For God hath taken him to him. 17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but justice, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. eludes Protestants. Then wh}^ am I taught to be- lieve they are damned? Simply because they don't belong to my church? Their lives are certainly as pure and good as- Catholics. Has not our church made a mistake in who are not of our church. There were disputes then it seems, as there are to-da^^ Catholics believe in fasting; Pro- testants do not. How does Paul settle this dif- ficulty. In the 17th verse he tells us, that the king- dom of God is not meat or drink, but justice and peace and jo}^ in the Ho- ly Ghost. So that whether we eat or fast, it has nothino^ to do with our salvation. First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. 1 Cor sth ch.-s. But meat Here again St. Paul doth not commend us to God. .^ ^ ^^ ,^ . .i . For neither, if we eat, shall writes tO the Coruithians, S nX ZVwe"hTve"thI t^^ Same as he did to the less. Romans. And his words are plain enough for a child to understand. Why so many fast da^^s in our church. Who invented them? We don't find it in the Bible. THOUGHTS OF A ROMA^ CATHOLIC. 25 1 Cor, 9th ch.-i6. For if I ^i^y ^[^ n^t Paul sav, preach the gospel: it is no . -^ -^ ' glorj' to me: for a necessity WO IS UUtO me II 1 Say HOt lieth upon me: for wo is unto i'rnfiQQ " incsfpnri of csav me if I preach not the gospel. uiass, iiifeieaa Ui say- ing, ''wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel." Would it not be a good thing for some of our Priests to feel as Paul did on this important sub- ject? Give us more preaching and less ''mass." Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. r^c!^- Pi"^-^^}^ ^I'^':Z^^^ ^^ How often I find the Christ died for all; that thev . , . , , also who live, may not now same idea lu every book live to themselves, but unto j Uot-p rporl en fi\v ^f himwho died for them and ^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^' ^^' rose again. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John, spake of it: "Whosoever believ- eth shall be saved," and "Christ died for all." "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, &c.," and many oth- er passages of similar meaning. Then these verses of scripture, knock the props from under us Catho- lics in appropriating heaven to ourselves onl}^ How ridiculous this seems. I do really think when I get to heaven, I will see many Protestants there. I have found no scripture so far, sustaining the idea that everybod}^ will be damned but Catho- lics. What a heaven it will be! when the fourth and sixth wards of New York is poured into it; also first ward of Erie, Pa., Mar3^bone, of Liverpool, Eng- land; and a certain section of Chicago, 111., called the "stock yards." I do think many Protestants would prefer to be excused from going to such a heaven. 26 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. Gal. 2d ch.-ll. But when Ce- phas was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, be- cause he was to be blamed. 12. For before that some came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles : but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fear- ing them who were of the cir- cumcision. 13. And to this dissimulation the rest of the Jews consent- ed, so that Barnabas also was led by them into that dissimu- lation. 14. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all. If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as the Jews do, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews. gt. Paul believed Peter to be infallible, why did he rebuke him? But Peter or Paul never claimed to be infallible. St. Peter being the first Pope and not infallible, how comes it that the Popes were infallible who succeeded him? But some Catholic Bishops say he is only infallible in matters of faith and doctrine. Well its in this very thing that Peter made a mistake, for which Paul hauls him over the coals. This is St. Paul who is rebuking Cephas, (or Pe- ter) (Cephas and Peter are the same.) Now if Peter was chief of the Apostles, as our church claims he was, why did he permit Paul to rebuke him. Has not the Ro- man Catholic church made a mistake by plac- ing poor, weak Peter at its head? Now then, if the Pope is infallible, Pe- ter was infallible also. If Gal. Itth ch. — 10. You observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am afraid of you lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you. have. Surely our church ob- serves days, more than any other church. See how many saint days we St. Paul seems to condemn this. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 27 Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. Eph.Mch.-s For hygmee Well, if we are saved yon are saved through faith, . ^, ' ^- i n .^^ if and that not of yourselves, for by "grace through faith" it is the gift of God; «"^ ''not of nnrQp1vp«^ '^ 9. Not of works that no man ^"^ ^^^ ^^ ^"^ ^^^^ ^^' may glory. what is the iise of me doing penance, or going to confession, or even mass? Why didn't St. Paul mention penance, mass, confession and so on? When we Catholics do those things, are we not trying to save ourselves? Thus making the sacrifice of Christ of none effect; really ignoring the above words of St. Paul. o>^o Epistle of St. Paul to the Oolossians. coj sd c^ -9. Lie not one to xhe last clause of the another: stripping vourselves , ^ ^ . . of the old man with his deeds. last versC doCS away With i.^^'^'i^^'^i the idea that Eoman knowledge, according to the Catholics will have heav- image of him that created i • i i. xi. him en exclusively to them- 11. Where there is neither selves. Qentile nOr Jew, circumci- sion nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all. and in all Col. 3d ch -27 I charge you How often is it read in by the Lord that this epistle ^^ .^ .i t i i be read to aU the holy breth- Eoman Catholic church- ^^^- es? Scarcely ever ! "Well, hardly ever." 28 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians. ^o 2d Thess. u C/1.-3 Let no xhis is what many man deceive you by any ^r^ , , n . means: for unless there come Frotestants Say refers tO a revolt first, and the man 4.^ ^i T>c,^f^ Thp Vrc\ of sin be revealed, the son ^^ ^^^ .rope. J. lie rio of perdition, testaats say that the Pope 4. Who opposeth, andislift- -^ • -r> j • i ed up above all that is called Slts in Kome and IS al- God or that i^s worshiped, so niost worshiped by pil- that he sitteth in the temple , t n V; of God, shewing himself as if grims and all Koman ^I'who^e'^omingis accord- Catholics, that he claims ingtothe working of satan, tO he infallible, SUCCeSSOr lying rnTrs""" ''*'''' ''°'' of St. Peter: Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, &c. Certainly we Catho- lics can't but admit that no other ever claimed such powers as the Pope. The lying wonders re- ferred to in the 9th verse, Protestants sa}^ are the relics, and the miracles the relics have performed, that is referred to in this verse. Well, what are those relics? In looking over an old Roman Catho- ilc publication I find the following: "Pieces of the true Cross." "Teeth of St. Peter." "Some of the Blessed Virgin's milk." "Hairs out of the tail of Balaam's ass, (fee." Of course Protestants laugh at all this. In con- versation with some intelligent Catholics a short time ago, we were talking about those relics. The general conclusion arrived at were, that we wish- ed such things would be banished from churches altogether ; for we had our doubts as to the genu- ineness of such things. I see by to-daj^'s daily pa- THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 29 pers that Pope Leo has forbidden the sale of relics at the Vaticaa, stating, as a reason, such sales have been abused by the monks and others. o>^.o Pirst Epistle of St, Paul to Timothy. > Pray for us. ^ 1st Tim. 2d ch.-5. For there xhis destroys the medi- is one God, and one media- ^. _ ^- V» • ^ i tor of God and men, the man atlOn 01 the Priest, also Christ Jesus: the pra^^ers found in our prayer-books, "Key of HeaTen" and "Garden of the Soul" — St. Peter, St. John, St. Thomas, St. Michael, Ark of the Covenant, Gate of Heaven, Morning Star, Queen of Angels, Queen of Saints, &c., Now, if Christ is the only mediator between God and us, why not go direct to him, instead of em- ploying an agent, (the Priest.) Are not Protes- tants right in this respect, and Catholics wrong? Protestants believe in one mediator, and that is Jesus Christ. We believe in as many mediators as there are canonized saints. istTim 3d ch.-i. A faithful What! a Bishop have saymg. If a man desire the .„ ^ ,.11 • -».x office of a bishop, he desireth a Wife and children I JSOW ^ f if hehoveth therefore a ^^ ^he apostle recommends 30 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. T>ishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, 3. Not given to wjne, no striker, but modest, not quar- relsome, not covetous, but 4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his chil- dren in subjection with all chastity. 5. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how of God? 1st Tim. Uth ch.~l. Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils, 2. Speaking lies in hypocri- sy, and having their con- science seared. 3. Forbidding to marry, to abstain, from meats, which God hath ordained to be re- ceived with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the triith. 4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be re- jected that is received with thanksgiving a Bishop to have a wife, why does our church for- bid what St. Paul recom- mends? Are not Protes- tants right and we wrong in this thing also? Their Bishops have wives, ours have none. shall he take care of the church This describes the Ro- man Catholic church; for are not Priests for- bidden to marry? Are we not forbidden to eat meat on Fridays? Now if this sciipture were tak- en from a Protestant Bi- ble, instead of a Catholic (Douay,) we might have some doubts; but here it is, in black and white in the Douay. The query now is; who shall we be- lieve, the Apostles or the Priests ; the command- ments of God, or the commandments of the church? o>^o Epistle of St. Paul to Titus. Titus 1st ch.^4.. To Titus my beloved son, according to thie common faith, grace, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Sa- viour. Here St. Paul tells Ti- tus, that before he ordains a Priest that the candidate for ordination must be THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 31 5. For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and shouldst or- dain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee: 6. If any be without crime, the husband of one wife, hav- ing faithful children, not ac- cused of riot, or unruly a married man. But our church ignores St. Paul's instruction. If the church ignores St. Paul's commands, why does it ask us to pray to him now? Is not this inconsistency of the worst kind? Either St. Paul is wrong or the Roman Catholic church is wrono^. -^>o>y j. to another; and prav ©ne for tClJ tnem tO COnieSS tO tavJd.^"' *^^^ ^'''' ""^'^ ^^ ^i^ ^^ *^ ^^^^^^ Pa^l ^^ any of the other Apostles. 1st Peter. ^ 1st Peter, 1st ch.-is. Know- This opposcs the prac- mg that you were not redeem- ,. n - .i -rT • .l ed with corruptible things as tice 01 paying the Priest gold or silver, from your vain moripv tn%flv ma^^p^ for conversation of the tradition money tO sa} masses lOr of your fathers. souls in Purgatory; for biooAf cC\ '^^oFri^b then those souls would be unspotted and undefiled. redeemed with silver or gold. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 33 1st John. 1st John 1st cli.—l. My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just: 2. And he is the propitia- tion for our sins : and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 22. And whatsoever we shall ask we shall receive of him : because we keep his com- mandments, and do those things 1st John 3d ch.—lo. Whoso- ever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abi- deth in him and he in God. ''We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ." How much bet- ter to go direct to Him instead of first going to the Priest, or any of the Saints? Wh}^ so much red tape? which are pleasing in his sight. Do not Protestants do this as well as Catholics? Then why say Protestants will be damned, and Catholics saved? The Apocalypse of St. John. Eev. Sd ch.— 20. Behold, I stand at the gate and knock. If any man shaU hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me Eev. 18th ch.—9. And he said to me: Write: Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me: These words of God are true. 10. And I fell down before his feet, to adore him. And he saith to me: See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-ser- vant, and of thy brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Adore God. For tlie testimo- ny of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Yes, be he Protestant or Catholic, bond or free, black or white. Here St. John is for- bidden to worship this angel and commanded to worship God. Why did he not tell him to worship the Blessed Virgin or some of the saints, as the church commands us to do to-da}^? 34 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Bev. 22d ck.—S. And I John Avho have heard, and seen these things. And after I had heard and seen, I fell down to adore before the feet of the Angel, who shewed me these things. 9. And he said to me: see thou do it not: fori am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the words of the prophecy of this book. Adore God, in heaven? Here again St. John tries to worship the angel, and is again forbidden and commanded to wor- ship God. This is the last chapter in the Bible. Then why, O why, does the Priest tell me to do that which is condemned Bev. 22d ch.—Vl. And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that heareth, let him say: Come. And he that thirsteth, let him come: and he that will, let him take the water of life, freely. This is almost the last verse in the bible. Ev- eryone is enjoined to come and take of the wat- er of life freely. This finishes the reading of the Douay Bible, and oh, how much I find in it that condemns the teaching of the Roman Catholic church. I cannot but come to this conclusion: That either Christ and his Apostles were wrong, or the Roman Catho- lic church is wrong. In conclusion I have failed to find purgatory, is not even mentioned. It The last time the author went to confession, he put the following questions to the priest, who got angT}^, but failed to answer them from a scriptural standpoint: 1. Point out in the Bible where I can find the word purgatory? THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 35 2. Show me where any of the Apostles ever for- gave a person their sins? 3. Tell me where and when an^^ of the Apostles ever heard auricular confession, as you are now doing? 4. Where is your warrant for holy water ? 5. Where are we told to worship Saints, Angels, or even the blessed Virgin ? Is it not condemned by St. Peter, St. Paul, and other of the Apostles ? And Christ himself condemns it. 6. You say you have power to change a wafer made of flour and water into the real body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Now then, suppose after changing it thus, we go to Mr. 's drug store; he is a Roman Catholic, and a thor- ough chemist. We will have him analyze it, and see whether any flesh composes a part of it ; much less a whole. 7. Or, suppose you allow me to mix arsenic in the wafer, then change it into the body of Christ and eat it yourself. One thousand dollars will be given to any priest who will do this. We are taught in the bible that God made man, but not that man made God. 8. You say j^ou have power to forgive sins, and that it comes down by apostolic succession, and that Christ gave his disciples power to forgive sins, heal the sick, raise the dead to life, etc. Prove to me or an3'body else, that 3^ou can heal the sick, raise the dead to life, and I will believe you can pardon my sins. If you have power to do the one, you have power to do the other also. 36 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. Go, said he (the Priest) and say the litany of the blessed Virgin, night and morning, until next Saturday evening, then come to me and confess again. No sir, I will not say the litan3^; nor will I come to you any more; but, henceforth, I go to Jesus Christ direct, which promise I have kept now ten years, and intend to do so the remainder of my life. Man}^ Roman Catholics think and believe that every doctrine and sacrament taught in the church were established b}^ Christ and his Apostles, but such is not the case. Man}^ of the most important doctrines were not even thought of for centuries after the death of all the Apostles. The following are some of the most prominent and dates of their introduction into the churches: IMAGES. The exposure of images and paintings was in- troduced in the churches in the 4th century. CONFESSION. Auricular confession to priests was established by Pope Leo I, surnamed the Great, about the mid- dle of the 5th century. PURGATORY. The doctrine of purgatory is not mentioned, nor does it appear to have been thought of (as after- ward held) during the first four centuries. It be- gan to obtain belief in the fifth and sixth ages, and was established in the church by Pope Gregory I, about the end of the latter century. THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 37 KEYS OF ST. PETER AND THE SUPREMACY OF THE ROMAN SEE. The same Pope concentrated with the Bishopric of Rome the claim to the power of the keys of St. Peter and (though with some appearance of cau- tion) evidently aimed at establishing the suprem- acy of the Roman See, though both these arro- gant assumptions were stoutly and permanently resisted by the Patriarchs of Constantinople on behalf of the Eastern and Greek church. THE MASS. Gregory also introduced the Mass, regulated the prayers, &c. THE BIBLE. The Holy scriptures were withdrawn from the jjeople about the 7th century, and kept so until the reformation in the 16th centur3\ We now in conclusion compare the conversion of one whom our church recognizes as the greatest and most illustrious saint since the days of the apostles. ST. AGUSTINE. We give it in his own language, and ask the reader to compare it with the conversion and re- generation as taught in our church to-day. "I was sitting with my friend (Ambrose); my whole soul was shaken with the violence of the in ward conflict — the conflict of breaking away from my evil habits and associates, to a life which seem- ed to me poor and profitless. Silently we sat to- gether, when deep reflection had brought to my 38 THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. mind all m}^ sin and miser}^ there arose a mighty storm of grief, bringing a 'mighty shower of tears.' I left my friend that I might weep in solitude. I threw myself down under a fig-tree in the garden, (the spot is still pointed out in Milan) and I cried in the bitterness of my spirit, 'How long — how long ? To-morrow, to-morrow ? Why not now — wh}^ not now, and here get pardon of my sins.' So was I speaking and weeping in contrition of m}^ heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighboring house a voice as of a child, chanting and oft repeating, 'Take up and read, take up and read!' Instantly my countenance altered. So checking my tears, I rose, taking it to be a command of God to open the Book and read the first chapter I should find. I opened and read part of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. 'Not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness; not in strife and env}^- ing; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof.' No further could I read, nor needed I, for instant- ty, at the end of this sentence, by a serene light infused into m}^ soul, all the darkness, sin and doubt vanished away." We know how he was baptized by the great Am- brose, and how they sang together asthej^ came up out of the baptismal waters, the hymn, Te Deum Laudamus. But, Oh: how this has changed since the days of St. Agustine. As the following is the process in our church to-day, done in baptism and by the following method, as ever}" Catholic knows: "There must be god-fathers and god-mothers; the Priest blows in the face of the subject of bap- tism thrice, to drive satan out of him ; then blessed THOUGHTS OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. 39 salt is put in his mouth ; then exorcism is performed to drive the devil out of him; then when the devil is scared away, the child is introduced into the church, where prayers are said, then the Priest puts his spittle on his ears and nose; then he is anointed with Holy oil, blessed on Maunday Thursday, and then he is baptized; then he is anointed at the top of the head with holy chrism ; then a white linen cloth is placed on his head; then a lighted candle is put in his hand; then the ceremony is ended, the plate passed around for the contributions of the godfathers, the person is dismissed, his sins all washed away, the habits of grace infused into his soul ! Re-generated ! ! Oh, Rome, thou inconsistenc3^ The nearer to thee, the farther from God. ^.^^^^1^==^^=^^^^ l^yi'^f'7 — ^ajft. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 021 231 299 A