It becomes therefore our more imperative duty to show them the errors which either neutralise or contradict the truths. As no notice was taken of my letter by the individual who invited the examination, who I now perceive did. not desire his books to be tried by the Bible, but only by themselves, as if it was only ambiguity and not error which was the point at issue, and as if the theology of the Church of Rome stood upon as sure ground as the Word of God, I can have little expectation that this will be read by Roman Catholics in general; but there are a few who are open to conviction, and who have begun to feel anxious as to their own position in an anti-scriptural Church: these are sincere in the endeavour to gain light from Protestants; and some discussions which they of themselves have brought on, have issued in making them renounce all mediators between their own souls and the Saviour of sinners, for they have perceived that the errors that have been instilled into their minds depreciate His mediatorial work, which they now accept in all its fulness. Some of the readers of my former work thought me too indulgent, and (as Dean Howson observes in his interesting Essay on Party and Party Spirit, in the valuable volume "Principles at Stake," in which he evinces Amidst many writers there are various opinions; and therefore, instead of only comparing one writer with another, we must judge of the doctrines of the Church of Rome by what she looks upon as the voice of the Church speaking authoritatively in the decrees and definitions of her Councils, and above all in her last Council, when she anathematises all those who question her statements. the candour and calmness so desirable for gaining attention) some turned away from it and would have nothing to say to what seemed to them to favour agreement with Rome, not from passion, but from righteous indignation at the corruptions introduced by her. Others thought me too severe, and two really treated the effort with contempt. Nevertheless the majority hailed it with pleasure, and expected it would do good, and a fresh spring has been given to my mind in looking back to their encouraging letters, especially one from a very superior mind, from which I give the following extract: "I trust your Calm Investigations' will have weight with those minds who are disposed to lay so much stress on our agreement with the Church of Rome in the main articles of Christianity, as to consider her errors comparatively unimportant. No mean names have taken. this view of the case, and therefore your attempt cannot be unnecessary. As for myself, not only they appear to me to be under a dangerous mistake, but it strikes me that such an argument is quite beside the question. There is no persuasion of religion that has not some foundation of truth, or it would deceive no one. error and mischief lies in what is 'added or diminished,' so as to make the truth of none effect, and this is preeminently the case with the additions of the Roman Catholic Church. Every article of faith is practically rendered inoperative in this manner; as the Divinity of Christ by the exaltation of the Virgin, His mediation by that of the Saints, &c., &c. I fully believe that it is the very master-piece of His invisible but inveterate The enemy, to the reality of whose existence we are not sufficiently awake, thus to nullify the Christian religion without denying it. Our Reformers saw this, but the liberality of our times has lost sight of it." Thus encouraged, I now make a fresh endeavour, before I leave this world, to reproduce all that may promote the exercise of a wise discrimination and firm adherence to revealed truth. As the copyright of the edition of 1859 now before me is reserved, I cannot again print the Catechism in full, but must adopt the simpler plan of extracts and observations, marking the most questionable passages in italics, the truths misapplied in SMALL CAPITALS, and throwing the minor points of difference into an Appendix. |