CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE POPEDOM.

History of the Development and Establishment of the Superstitious Opinions, Idolatrous Ceremonies, and Ecclesiastical Power of the Pontificate, and of the Papal Hierarchy; from the Apostolic Age to the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century.

THE annals of the Christian Church impressively teach us, that the most perfect gift of "the Father of Lights," when transferred to man, necessarily becomes deteriorated. That kingdom of God which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," and which Immanuel condescended to appear upon earth to establish, was scarcely founded, when, through Satan's wiles, ungodly men began to pervert and corrupt it. Even Apostles themselves, and in the presence of their glorious Lord and Master, engaged in "strife, which of them should be accounted the greatest."

Jesus Christ also predicted that an early defection should arise in his Church, which departure from the truth should be promoted by false and seducing teachers. Matthew 24: 11. The Acts of the Apostles, and the Epistles written by them, are replete with testimony which certifies the melancholy fact. Peter, in his second Epistle, 2: 1, announces the progress of the evil. "There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies;" and Paul imbodies the working of Satan in one general declaration concerning that corruption in doctrine and morals, which renders the application precisely and only descriptive of the Papal hierarchy. "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats." 1 Tim

othy 4: 1-3. Had the inspired writer been directed to insert Popery, instead of those remarkable and extraordinary attributes, as Isaiah was commanded to personify and name Cyrus, the prophecy would not have been more evident, and would have been far less convincing.

Paul also declared that it then
The tares were sown, and a

Of that "mystery of iniquity," worked. 2 Thessalonians 2: 7. harvest of anti-christian fruits might be anticipated. To which John adds in his first Epistle, 2: 18, "Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now there are many Antichrists." The Man of Sin, the great head of the Apostacy, had not appeared; but his pioneers, imbued with his impious spirit and motives, were preparing for his manifestation. "Many false prophets are gone out into the world," says John, in his first Epistle, 4: 1; which truth was verified by those pretended Christians who always endeavored to conjoin the law with the gospel, and the Jewish ceremonial with the spiritual devotions of Messiah's Church.

The fundamental principle of all impiety and irreligion, "will-worship," or the service of God according to men's own inventions, had commenced within thirty years after the effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Paul describes that abhorrent substitution of "the doctrines of men, and rudiments of the world" for the commandment of God, as "the worshipping of angels," the effect of a pretended "voluntary humility;" but which was, in truth, the result of a "fleshly mind puffed up;' and "neglecting of the body," or a submission to excessive severities from the fallacious hope of meriting the Divine favor by those unauthorized penances. That "will-worship" is the grand characteristic of Popery; and so early did the adversary commence his attempts against the Church of God, that the Apostle warned "the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colosse," against that incipient development of the grand apostacy. Chapter 2: 16-23.

There is another remarkable Scriptural illustration of the existence in men of "an evil heart of unbelief in departing from

the living God." Hebrews 3: 12. In his first Epistle, 5: 21, John thus admonishes the Churches: "Keep yourselves from idols." It is therefore evident, that false principles were then inculcated under the Christian name, which immediately tended to idolatry; and Simon Magus, that arch-heretic who was condemned by Peter, it is believed, maintained that angels and their images ought to be adored. Justin Martyr testifies, that a statue had been erected to that impostor; which, with images both of himself and of Helen, his female associate, were extensively honored as sacred objects. Therefore, image-worship, which is one of the grand distinguishing marks of Romanism, may clearly be traced to the primitive heretics.

But the backsliding of the early transgressors was not restricted merely to erroneous theories; it was also accompanied by practical corruption. The Apostle Jude cautioned his Christian brethren against "filthy dreamers," or impure seducers, who fascinated the people by false and sensual doctrines. Of a similar character is the authoritative testimony of the Lord Jesus himself, in his Epistles sent by John to the Churches of Ephesus, Pergamos, and Thyatira: Revelation 2. Those hypocritical teachers professed Christianity, but mixed Judaism with their system, and also tolerated the utmost sensuality. Popery combines all those varied corrupt mixtures, carried out into their full operation and amplitude, with the worst characteristics and abominations of Paganism.

A concise review of the Christian Church, during the primitive centuries, and then of the Popedom, after the Roman Pontiff was generally recognized by the European nations as their spiritual infallible, will convince us that the community of which the Pope is the chief is that modern anti-christian Babylon the great, which "the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming." 2 Thessalonians 2: 8,

CENTURY I. Although the foundation of that long degeneracy called Popery was firmly laid prior to the death of John the Apostle, and many errors and delusions were widely propagated and believed, yet the purity and simplicity of evangelical

truth, worship, and discipline, were so predominant and univer sal, that Hegesippus thus characterized the Christian Church of that period : « Παρθενος καθαρα και αδιάφθορος εμεινεν η εκ Anoia." In the first age, "the Church remained a pure and uncorrupted virgin." Eusebius, Hist. Eccles., Lib. 3, Cap. 32. That testimony is ratified by the Apostle, even in reference to "the called of Jesus Christ in Rome, beloved of God;" of whom Paul recorded, that "their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world." Romans 1: 8.

The Sacred Volume comprises the only surviving narrative of the first century and the Apostolic age. "Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, who is the faithful witness," seems purposely to have interposed an impassable gulf between the close of the sacred canonical books and the earliest authentic writings of uninspired authors. In addition to which very important consideration, it must be subjoined, that to ascertain with any confidence the genuineness of those parts of the writings extant which bear the names of the earliest martyrs of the second century, is almost impossible.

It must be recollected, therefore, as of the utmost moment in the controversy with Papists, that none of the authors of the New Testament, neither Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, nor Peter himself, nor Paul, nor James, nor Jude, nor John, even in his prophecies adverting to the condition and state of Christians until "the holy city, New Jerusalem, shall come down from God out of heaven, and the tabernacle of God shall be with men"-not one of those inspired writers gives us the least intimation concerning the universal Pontificate of Peter; his journeys and residence at Antioch and Rome; his bishopric at Antioch, and his episcopate at Rome during twenty-five years; which facts are utterly impossible according to Scriptural chronology; the acts of Peter at Rome; his Pontifical throne; his contest with Simon Magus; his appointment of a successor; and the place and time of his martyrdom. "Quod tamen," says. Godavius, Pref. Hist. Eccles., "cognoscere nostra vehementer intererat." But if all those topics cannot be demonstrated, the

All the grades of ecclesiastical dignities, with which posterior ages were oppressed, were unknown during the second century. Popes, cardinals, patriarchs, metropolitans, archbishops, &c., then had no existence, even in imagination. However, a basis was laid for the Pontifical throne; for the minister of the principal congregation, in the chief cities in the different countries and provinces, began to assume an unhallowed jurisdiction; and the title bishop was gradually losing its primitive meaning; and becoming more restricted to him who generally presided at the meetings of the ministers and deacons within the vicinity: although bishops and presbyters, after apostolic example and practice, were chosen by popular suffrage. Blondel de Jure plebis in eccles. regim. Yet the office and power of bishop, in the novel sense of the appellative, were not universally adopted ; because Polycarp, in his Epistle to the Philippians, mentions only presbyters and deacons.

CENTURY III. It is demonstrable, that the perversion of the Scriptures and the corruption of Christianity, by incorporating heathenish principles and customs with it, fearfully advanced during the third century, notwithstanding all the storms of persecution with which the followers of the Lamb were scathed. The testimony of Cyprian, Epist. ad Pomp., is very affecting :"Ad hoc malorum devoluta est Ecclesia Dei et sponsa Christi, ut ad celebranda sacramenta celestia, disciplinam lux de tenebris mutuetur, et id faciunt Christiani, quod Antichristi faciunt. The Church of God and Spouse of Christ is fallen into that evil state, that to celebrate the heavenly mysteries, light borrows discipline from the darkness, and Christians do that which Antichrist performs."

The truth of that martyr's melancholy complaint appears in the increase of festivals; for in addition to the observance of the Lord's resurrection, the Churches commemorated the nativity of Christ, Nicephorus Lib. 7, Cap. 6; and the descent of the Holy Ghost. Days were also dedicated to honor the martyrs; Tertullian de Coron. Milit. To which was added, the superstitious practice of kneeling or standing when engaged in