CHAP. II. Other iniquitous means to Papal pre tensions. CENT. X. : His religion, though blessed and blessing, as a fable "cunningly devised" by its priesthood to hold the world in bondage.' Why the Redeemer so long endured this indignity, we presume not to inquire but we will praise Him for at length breaking the spell that for so many ages bound the western nations to the Roman yoke; and we will implore Him to keep His true Church in the light of His word, lest mankind, walking in their own ways, should provoke Him again to bring them under so grievous a bondage. 13. Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made by Nicholas, Gratian, and other popes, support the to establish the authenticity of these decretals, the opposition to them was at times so violent and so well directed, that it was found necessary to have recourse to other iniquitous expedients in defence of the papal pretensions. In the eighth century image worship was sanctioned. In the ninth century were invented the first legends, or lives of Saints, who were made to appear to sanction the popes' supremacy. These were soon followed by the canonization of saints, in reward for their zeal in the cause of Rome. the tenth century was introduced the baptism of bells; the festival in remembrance of souls departed in unity with the Roman Church; the institution of the rosary; together with a long catalogue of rites and superstitions which, in days of Gospel light and freedom, are justly deemed most dishonourable to God, outrageous to the human understanding, a mockery of the feelings of the contrite and of the aspirations of In 1 It is too well known to require confirmation, that this was the cause of the impious treatment of the Name and the religion of Jesus Christ by the French, at the period of their revolution. the devout, and insulting to every sentiment of CENT. true and undefiled religion.' Papal Rome now differed from Pagan Rome in nothing but the names of her idols. When the murderous usurper, Phocas, to conciliate pope Boniface, gave him the celebrated pantheon at Rome, it was nominally converted into a Christian Church; but it effectually retained its original character, the Virgin Mary succeeding to Cybele, the mother of the gods; Peter, to Jupiter; 2 and the other heathen deities. giving place to the statues of canonized saints and martyrs. The Majesty of Jehovah was dethroned; the mediation of Jesus superseded; and the pope exalted as King of kings, and Lord of lords:" while he actually assumed also the proudest title of the heathen emperors of Rome, Pontifex Maximus.3 At the same time, the darkest superstitions and the foulest practices were enlisted in support of his wicked usurpation. In the eleventh century pope Gregory VII. had the impiety to arrogate the attribute of infallibility; asserting in council, But In the Roman Church these superstitions, absurd and wicked as they are, continue to be regarded with undiminished reverence. For some years past it has been the policy of her priests, in England, to keep such abominations as secret as possible; and hence the hesitation of many persons in this country to believe in their prevalence at the present day. of late they have been exhibited more publicly; and all who have hitherto been incredulous on the subject, may now be convinced, without leaving England for the purpose, that Romanism, in her essential character, is wrapped in the darkness of the middle ages, notwithstanding the light of the nineteenth century that is shining around her. 2 It is well known that the statue of Peter in the cathedral at Rome was originally that of Jove, the keys being substituted for the thunderbolts in his hand, when the image was transferred to the Apostle. 3 The Christian Emperors had discontinued this pagan title for some time, when it was adopted by the Pope. L X. CENT. XI. CHAP. Pope resist ed by sovereigns of Europe: dawn of Re formation. Inquisition to extin guish it. that the Church of Rome neither ever had erred, nor ever could err !! 14. So rapidly grew into rank maturity the grossest imposition that ever darkened and enslaved the human mind. But where was the Church of Christ all the while-that Church established which is composed of "a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments be duly administered according to Christ's ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same?" 2 Though such a Church no where appears to have existed in the middle agesthough for many years no witness for "the truth as it is in Jesus" raised his voice against the abominations of Rome; yet it will not be doubted, by a believer in the Word of God, that "the true Shepherd" still had a little flock, in whose hearts He ruled, though "in the midst of His enemies." And as Cyrus was called by the Lord to deliver His Church from the captivity of Babylon; so, in the fulness of time, did He raise up several sovereigns of Europe to emancipate His Church from the bondage of Rome. Cyrus knew not the Lord; and he was executing his own schemes of conquest, when his triumph was rendered subservient to the purposes of Jehovah for His people's good : so also the immediate object of the European monarchs who resisted the pope, was, probably, the defence of their own power against his encroachments but their bold protests against that haughty pontiff's claims to temporal dominion in their respective kingdoms, led, under 1 In the sixteenth century this doctrine was confirmed by Pope Leo X. as a bulwark against the opinions of Luther. See Roscoe's Life of Leo X. * Article XIX. of the Church of England. the superintending Providence of the Almighty, to the deliverance of the true Church from the ashes in which she had for ages smouldered. In This resistance was offered so early as the eleventh century, by the emperors of Germany, Henry I., II., III., and IV.; by William I. of England, and several of his successors in the following century; and by Philip of France, together with some minor sovereigns. While they were opposing the secular domination of the pope, the churches established in their respective dominions were scarcely less active in resisting his ecclesiastical usurpation. the twelfth century this contest was renewed by Frederic Barbarossa, Emperor of the West, against pope Adrian IV., and carried on with great spirit: and about the same period the light of the Reformation began to dawn on the Waldenses in Germany, and on several persons of eminence in England and France. To extinguish these rising beams, which are as odious to Rome, as light is to those who "love darkness rather, "because their deeds are evil; the Inquisition was established-a court that has been truly designated, the depth of Satan; for Satanical it is by the conjunction of three qualities; indefatigable diligence, profound subtilty, and inhuman cruelty." object was, to destroy any one, whoever he might be, that should presume to act, or even speak, against the Church of Rome; and many of the Waldenses, and other reputed heretics, were subjected to the tortures of this, so called, Holy tribunal. " "The adoration of the Transubstantiation," "Auricular Con host, Its 1 Trapp's Popery Stated, &c. p. ii. § 12. Quoted in Johnson's Dictionary. See also "A View of the Court of Inquisition in Portugal," &c.-Geddes' Tracts, vol. i. CENT. XI. CENT. CENT. fession," and other abominations, were instituted about the same time, and thereby a deeper shade was added to the gloom that shrouded the western world-so many additional links forged for its chains. These chains, however, were ere long to be broken, no more, we trust, to be riveted. 15. Such was the policy of Rome, in order to reclaim or put to death, on the one hand, all that ventured to think and act as rational and responsible beings; and, on the other, to retain such as were dreaming of security while surrendering their consciences to the church. But God soon turned these counsels to foolishness; and in the following, the 14th century, He raised up suitable agents to vindicate the temporal and spiritual liberties of mankind. Philip the Fair, king of France, carried on an active opposition against the imperious pretensions of the pope to a temporal jurisdiction over the sovereigns of the world. He boldly accused Boniface VIII. of heresy, simony, and several other atrocious crimes; and actually demanded a general council, with a view to his deposition, a demand that was always deemed by the pope tantamount to a declaration of war against his assumed prerogatives. From this time the papal authority began to decline; and the next step which the infatuated pope took in order to arrest its retrogression, tended rather to accelerate its fall. He removed his residence to Avignon, on the Rhone, in the South of France, merely to escape, no doubt, from the turmoils in which he was involved in Italy but this step gave an advantage to his adversaries, which they were not slow to employ against him. They set up a rival pope at Rome, so that the church had two popes at the same |