Discourse on the Errors of Popery [1805] - By Thomas Thacher

8/13/2019 Discourse on the Errors of Popery [1805] - By Thomas Thacher

1/46

1' .,.:,


2/46

{LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.j FORCE COLLECTION.] |

0, Ai UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f


3/46


4/46


5/46


6/46


7/46

DISCOURSEON THE

ERRORS OF POPERY,DELIVERED IN THE

Chapel of the university in Cambridge,MAY 3, i8o.j 5

AT THE ANNIVERSARY LECTURE,FOUNDED BY THE

Hon. $aul DtUrtep, Esq,

BY THOMAS THACHER, A. JVLMINISTER OF A CHURCH IN DEDHAM.

'

i f

CAMBRIDGE,PRINTED BY WILLIAM HILLIARIX1805.


8/46

^ v


9/46

DISCOURSE.


10/46

preme dominion ; disarm and chain its ferocious conquer-or ; and finally, by the influence of a fascinating super-stition, cramp every energy of the human mind, and ex-tinguish every ray of genius, opposed to its design.But, however marvellous, or even incredible the factmay appear ; yet it is most evident. From the ruinsof ancient Rome there has arisen a power, and a tyrannymore dreadful, than the first. It has extended its con-quests to regions, where the Roman eagle never flew,and finally, to borrow the language of a celebrated wri-ter,* it has produced a monster vast and tremendous,* c in a far more terrific guise, than ever before overpow-ered the imagination, or subdued the fortitude ofman

If it be possible in contemplating this subject, that a-ny circumstances can excite additional amazement, it isthis ; that this terrible empire laid its foundation on thepurest system of religion and morality, ever known, oruttered to mankind. Why the Deity should permit theGospel, the Sun in the intellectual and moral universe,to be eclipsed for ages ; why he suffered that legacy offaith and mercy and salvation to be contaminated anddefaced, and eventually converted into an empire of despo-tism more false, sanguinary, and destructive to his crea-tures, than any evil tyranny, than any superstition andidolatry before existing ; we may add than any earth-quake, famine, or pestilence, which convulsed the natur-al world, and peopled with human victims the regionsof silence and of death ; these are questions, which do notadmit of our solution. We must admire and adore thatwisdom, which we cannot comprehend ; it is our part toremember, that the way of God is upon the great deep, hispath, upon the mighty waters, and the secrets ofhis counsel,shrouded with impenetrable darkness.

The subject however as far as it relates to mankindis interesting and important. It is necessary and useful 2

* Burke on regicide peace,


11/46

that we should discover the arts and falsehood, by whichthis empire of superstition was erected, that we shouldbe warned against future delusion ; for, though withina few years we have seen the seat of this capital of reli-gious tyranny laid in the dust ; yet, since that late peri-od, it has risen like the phoenix from its ashes. Its fall-ing columns have been propped up and repaired, by themost brilliant and successful villain, that ever appearedin any age or country. If this ancient superstition canbecome an efficient instrument of hig attibition, the wholeinfluence of his fortune will be employed in its support.The protestant churches, knowing from experiencethis formidable monster, have long since explored thearts, by which it rose, the imposition it has practiced, andthe tendency of its doctrine and discipline, both to cor-rupt and enslave mankind. Suspecting that these de-lusions would be repeated, they have left many solemntestimonies to posterity, to guard them from the snare.Among other pious and benevolent cares of this kind,was the design of the honorable founder of this lecture,in providing for a periodical dissertation on the errorsand corruptions of the Romish Church. As these can-not be even* enumerated in a single discourse, the gen-tlemen, who have preceded me, have endeavoured to con-fute some glaring falsehood, some disingenuous art, orsome .flagrant corruption of the Papal church. Follow-ing their example, we shall at this time offer some re-marks on the power of working miracles, claimed by thischurch. In this age of light and information, it will notbe expected, that we go over with a particular narrationof their ridiculous legends ; wre shall therefore contentourselves with some general evidence of the falsehoodof their pretensions.A subject of this nature is pointed out by the lan-guage of the text. It contains a prophecy of the claimsof the Roman church to a power, granted and exercisedin the Christian lera by none, but Jesus Christ and


12/46

se, especially commissioned and appointed by himself.We grant, the prophecy was partially fulfilled before orat the time of the destruction of Jerusalem ; but it mustbe admitted, that it has been more completely realized inthe church of Rome, whose chief has claimed divine hon-ors and authority. Seating himself in the temple of God,he commands himself to be worshipped as God. Pretend-ing to support this impious claim, he has exhibited signs,wonders, and miracles, unfounded either in fact or rea-son ; but yet efficient to obscure the understanding, andbeguile the senses of mankind.We shall pursue our proposed subject by offering inthe first place,

I. Some general remarks on the nature and designof miracles,

II- The marks of truth and authenticity in those, re-corded in the sacred scripture.

III. Contrast those with the miracles^ exhibited inthe church of Rome, whencewe infer the decisive evi-dence of fraud in the latter.

I. We are briefly to consider the nature and designof miracles-A miracle has been well defined M An event either con- tradictorv to the usual course of causes and effects, or so unusual and unlike what we have known either from expedience, or well authenticated report, that we cannot account for it on the laws and principles, by which the world is governed/

5 * Now we suppose, that theselaws and principles originated from a Being infinitelywise and supremely powerful. We must consider themthen, as the manner, in which he exhibits his administra-tion to finite beings. We must believe, that he neverwould vary from them, unless from some important and

raordinary reasons, and in such instances, that those* The reader, who wishes to see the subject of miracles more minutely inves-

tigated, and their credibility vindicated from the objection of Hume, will find hisiity gratified by referring to Farmer on miracles, Campbell's dissertation,

mid above all, Pistorius notes on Hartley,


13/46

\vise and good regulations, adapted to the genera] ad-vantage, are never suspended or varied, unless byimmediate or mediate operation of the Deity. Id thelatter case permission is granted to finite beings to displaysuch extraordinary manifestations of divine power as areproper and necessary to demonstrate this power, to intel-ligent creatures. We suppose however, that thoughmiracles are different from, yet they never militate againstthe general plan, by which the Almighty governs theuniverse. But whether God acts by a private exhibitionof his will in signs and wonders, or whether he acts byhis usual dispensations, each part of his conduct harmo-nizes with everlasting wisdom and fitness*The generality of christians have divided miracles intotwo classes ; the first, such as are executed by the Al-mighty himself, or by ministers or agents acting by hisdirect command ; the second, those which are executedin the manner, that natural and moral evil is permittedby demons or evil angels, whose power and capacity ren-der them equal to the work. On this principle theyaccount for many of the miracles, said to be wrought inthe heathen world, and for several in the old and newtestament, which seemed to be allowed by the Deity ;but yet are unconnected with, and in some sort opposed tothose, wrought by himself. Such as those of the Egyp-tian magi in opposition to Moses ; some of the falseprophets and sorcerers against which the people of Is-rael were cautioned ; the ghost of Samuel conjured fromthe invisible world by the witch of Endor. The prophecyin the text, and other passages of holy writ, which seanto indicate, that beings of a malignant kind have been atleast permitted to exercise power, adds strength to thesupposition.A late celebrated and ingenious writer has supposedthat theory to be false, which ascribes miraculous powerto any malignant beings, or in fact to any, except the Su-preme Being, and his immediate agents- He thinks, that


14/46

8those parts of the scripture, which seem to support ikdopinion, ought not to be taken in a literal, but in a figur-ative sense ; and that when interpreted they will bear avery different meaning. The author has fortified his o-pinion with many arguments, drawn from the attributesof God, and from natural religion. It is foreign to ourpresent purpose to attempt to determine the merits ofeither supposition. Enough it will be for us to observe,that every other relation of miracles, performed by ma-lignant beings, is wholly unsupported. With respect tothose incidents recorded in the scriptures, if they are tobe taken in a literal and not in a figurative sense, yet wemust suppose, that these characters were permitted to ap-pear only for the sake of contrast and comparison, in or-der that the power of the Divinity might be the moresplendidly elucidated. There were always marks andindications given, which the meanest understandingsmight not mistake. In a word, it never has appeared,that such miracles have been wrought, unless in an age,when miracles transcendent and undoubted were wroughtby the finger of God.From the nature, let us next review the design of mir-acles. This seems evidently to be to keep up a corres-pondence between the Deity and his creatures, whilethe infantile state of the latter, in the very early ages ofthe world, rendered it necessary, to establish the doc-trine of the Divine Unity, and his pure worship, afterthe world had become corrupted by the polytheism ofthe Gentiles j* to give unquestionable evidence of di-vine mission and authority to those, appointed to dis-pense religion and morality to the world ; and lastlyfor the conviction of pofterity as well, as those,whose senses were addressed, the gift of prophecy wasadded. From these reasons for the existence of miracles

* It is very evident, that the world was corrupted before, and at the aera of thepatriarchs. This we may learn from some few incidents in the book of GenesisOf the father of Abraham and his cotemporaries (in the book of Joshua) it is said.that tbey served other gods. There are strong inferences from the lTook of Job, that,the practice of idolatry was then frequent in the world.


15/46

Vte infer, that they never originated from a good beingmerely to gratify curiosity ; but that the support of re-ligious truth and moral virtue was the sole cause ; andthat even for this they were not exhibited, unless wherethe ordinary laws of nature, and the common dispensa-tions of Providence were inadequate to that end. Butthis will be more fully illustrated by considering thescripture miracles, and their evident design to promotethe last named purpose,

II. We come now therefore to consider the marksof aiithenticitv and truth exhibited in the miracles, re-corded in the sacred scriptures.Though in their nature above every human exertionor contrivance, yet they were not eccentric or extrava-gant. There \^as a unity, a consistency of design. Bytheir operation holy men were protected in executing thecommands of God ; by those wonders the idolatry of theheathen was reproved, and by them the best system ofpiety and holiness ever known was founded equally onthe evidence of sense and of reason.The miracles recorded in the scripture were generallyperformed in a very public and open manner, and wit-

nessed and acknowledged even by those, who were in-terested both in treating them, as fraud, and in defeatingtheir success. As a proof of the justice of the last re-mark, let u$ recur to those, exhibited by Moses in Egyptand in the wilderness at the head of his countrymen. Inboth instances we affirm^ that there could be no possibil-ity of falsehood or collusion. Admitting that Moseshad obtained a blind confidence from the stupid shep-herds, as the emperor Julian was pleased to call them ;admitting that he had gained such an ascendency overthat people, as was necessary to invest him with supremepower ; still, would those delusions have succeeded withPharaoh ? With the Egyptian court ? With a nation themost polished and enlightened of any then existing in theknown world ; whose interest, whose pride, whose con-venience and hope wTould all be interested in detecting

B


16/46

iothose pretended miracles ? Suppose an itinerant teach-er, in the full glow of enthusiasm and philanthropy, wereto travel to the West Indies, or to the southern states?and on his arrival were to proclaim from God libertyand citizenship to the Africans. Suppose he should at-tempt to justify his divine mission by slight of hand, orsome dextrous juggling. That he might delude theslaves, I can very easily believe. They nattirally wouldhear with pleasure of a day ofjubilee, and would neitherbe able nor v/illing to detect the fraud or falsehood.But that such an enthusiast or impostor should deceivetheir masters, who were interested in the continuance ofthe servitude and depression of the slaves, is totally in-credible. Were the effect of his pretensions so power-ful, as to oblige the masters to drive both the slaves andthe prophet out of their country, there would be a proofamounting to a moral certainty, that the prophet wasno impostor, and his' miracles were of divine original*Could then Pharaoh and the court of Egypt be persuad-ed by any magical delusion, that the water of the riverNile was converted into blood ? That frogs and verminhad multiplied beyond all former example ? That diseaseshad fallen upon man and upon beast ? That there waspalpable darkness for three days ? That the whole nationof the Hebrews should be in health, and the whole ofthe first born ofEgypt should expire in one sight ? Thatthere should be a passage through the red sea, by whichthose fugitives passed safely, while a great part of theEgyptian army was overwhelmed in the deep ? No onecan deny, that such a power of delusion would be equalto the power necessary to produce the same prodigies.*

* The most public and best attested of any of the miracles of the church ofRome, within the knowledge of the author, are those, said to have been wroughtat the tomb of the Abbe de Paris in 1725. Though they offer no conclusion morefavorable to his claims, yet candor may require us to give a brief statement froma late writer.

The Abbe de Paris was a zealous Jansenist, and a warm opposer of the bull, or constitution of pope Clement XI, called Unigenitus, by which all the doctrines of his sect were expressly condemned. He died and was buried in theurch of St. Medard, in Paris ; whither the great reputation of his sanctity


17/46

IIThe observations, which we have made on the open

and public manner, in which the miracles of Moses werewrought before Pharaoh in Egypt, may be pertinentlyapplied to those, performed in the wilderness before allthe nation of the Jews ; a multitude much greater, thanall the people of this commonwealth collected. Thesame nation was supported for forty years by the super-natural bounties of the Deity ; and with prodigies,equally remarkable and open, they were introduced tothe land of Canaan.We might ask similar questions respecting the mira-cles of the new, that we have already done respectingthose of the old testament. When we hear of five thou-sand men fed with a few loaves and fishes, or of an illus-trious character publicly and openly performing super-natural deeds, such as healing the sick, calming thestorms and tempests with his breath, passively sufferinga violent death ; after displaying his resurrection fromthe dead, ascending into heaven, and leaving to his fol-lowers the same divine authority, which was as publiclyexercised. Can we possibly suppose any fraud or collu-sion in this latter case would have deceived the piercing,penetrating suspicion and jealousy of the Jewish nation ?

2. It may be remarked of the scripture miracles, thatthey were followed by such important consequences, asgives collateral evidence of truth almost as great andsatisfactory to posterity, as to the age, in which theywere displayed. We infer the truth of the Mosaic histo-ry from the existence of a people, sovereign and indepen-dent for several centuries ; from the excellence and sub-limity of their law itself ; from the prophecies delivered drew many people to visit his tomb, and pay their devotion to him, as a saint ;?{ and this concourse gradually increasing made him soon be considered, as a subject proper to revive the credit of the party, now utterly depressed by thew power of the Jesuits, supported by the authority, of the court. Within six years after his death, the confident report of miracles, wrought at his tomb, began to alarm not only the whole city of Paris, but the whole nation ; while infinite


18/46

12among them, foretelling events correctly fulfilled manynges after, in which were included the history of thatpeople, and their fortunes to the present day. The sameinference can be dra\vn from the preservation of theirreligious rites and customs to the present time, and theircontinuance, through almost every obstruction, a distinctand separate society. The author of this system diedon the cross, confirming his own testimony. His confi-dential friends and associates proclaimed his system tothe world, and many of them died by extreme tormentrather, than retract their opinion. *For three hundredyears the same sect maintained against every oppositiontheir religious sentiments. They had nothing to hope,they had every thing to fear by their consistent obsti-nacy. Yet with these disadvantages, they made innu-merable proselytes. They organized churches and as-semblies under a government within themselves, *and inless than four centuries became the established religionof the Roman empire. \ The influence and consideration,which they gained without either the aid of genius orlearning,* certainly must be considered, as an evidence,that they were divinely protected. What could attract,in the period I have mentioned, such numbers to unitewith their despised' and persecuted society, when noreturns of an earthly nature could be made for their sac-rifice, unless the testimony of a pure, convinced con-science, and the hope of a future reward by life and im-mortality ? In a word, upon a review of the scripturemiracles, they never can be charged with having for theirobject any purpose of ambition or avarice. The simple,unadorned manner too, in which they were related, givesthem additional credibility. Could they be proved false,yet it would be very difficult to charge any sinister orbase view on the author of the falsehood. This facttoo must be admitted even by the enemies of revealedtruth ; that, of all prodigies, recorded in the whole histo-ry of man, they appear most moral in the design, mostworthy the hand of the Supreme Governour of earthand heaven.


19/46

*3III. We are now to contrast the miracles recorded

in the sacred scripture with those, exhibited by the churchof Rome ; whence we infer a decisive evidence of fraudin the latter.The far greater part of them were transacted in pri-vate ; they had neither the scrutiny of enemies, nor eventhe public assent of indifferent and properly qualified wit-nesses. No small proportion of these were the dreamsof some eremite or recluse, whose gloomy imagination,deranged by the rigor of long and severe penance, raisediip wonderful and terrific spectacles. On his relation ofhis vision to some partizan as weak and credulous, ashimself, it was received as a special revelation from heav-en to a highly favored saint.We might safely challenge the church of Rome toproduce any one of her miracles, now offered in support

of her claim, before any number of witnesses, * who ei-ther had light sufficient to detect, or influence or powersufficient to oppose the falsehood. Most of these win-ders rest upon the single testimony of some obscure, vis-ionary, and credulous individual,

In cases, where their miracles have been supported bythe testimony of numbers, yet it is very easy to traceout a conspiracy in favor of the delusion, and assign itsmotives. And where and when, from the earliest periodof the usurpation of the Roman church to the time ofthe reformation, has there been an opportunity for in-vestigation and detection of her false miracles similar tothat, which existed in respect to those of Moses and ofJesus Christ ? Where was the nation, government, oreven association of individuals, with both will and pow-

* Dr. Middleton, in his well known treatise, has very ahly shewn not only thfalse and ridiculous pretences of the church of Rome to the power of workingmiracles, but the false account given of miracles by the fathers of the church forseveral centuries before the usurpation of the Roman Pontiff. Though his ac-count of the miracles of the id. century may be liable to a harsh construction andto unfavorable inference ; yet his narration of the miracles of the subsequent pe-riod exhibits a very fair display both of the weakness of the evidence, and the con-temptible character of those, who pretended to supernatural power, as well aathose, who aided them in their pious frauds,


20/46

i4er to detect the artifice ? The friends of popery willplead, that the different orders of their church wereso much at variance, that they were both disposed andqualified for the duty. But admitting such disputesoften existed, and certainly they did, yet no conclusioncan be drawn, that there was a fair opportunity for dis-covery. If the order of St. Francis objected to the mir-acles of that of St. Dominic, or the Jesuits, to those exe-cuted by the disciples of Jansenius ; yet still all theirdisputes were under the control of an infallible head,who decided what should or should iiot be admitted andestablished. Whenever a power of examination, as atthe time of the reformation existed, like the spear of Ithu-riel, it stripped falsehood of its mask. The den of Ca-cus was laid open ; their pretensions became the scornof the multitude ; they vanished in a moment, as thespectres of the night at the dawning of the day. Shouldthey further object, that their miracles were received and acknowledged in every part of the christian world for a long period of time, and that this sanctifies thef* facts with a rational probability ; who were those,who wrought the wonders ? Who were they, who be-lieved them I The first, unworthy of belief ; the last,incapable of judging. What marvellous accounts havebeen given of prodigies among enthusiasts of every de-scription ? We might mention those in the time of CharlesI ; those among the French prophets in the time ofqueen Anne ; or, to speak of facts in our own country,the history of the witchcraft at Salem is supported bymore authentic evidence, than any one miracle wroughtin the church of Rome. Had there been opposed toeach of their delusions one enlightened mind, like Ca-lef, in a situation to detect, the charm would have van-ished ; the dark repository of superstition, unveiled ; andthe chains of the human mind happily rent asunder.*

* Iceland, in his view of deistical writers, has very ably and sufficiently shewn,th it all these pretended wonders (for many it s< re related, and a multi-

aid to be cured by the Virti om the tomb,) may be


21/46

*5The miracles of the church of Rome are extravaga

and romantic ; they are repugnant to every idea of de-corum, without cause or motive worthy the interpositionof the Supreme Being. What motive, worthy of divinewisdom, could there be in protecting the body of Poly-carp from the fire ? What purpose, worthy Divinity, inenabling a Monk to fast forty days in each year ; or tostand on a column of immense height, exposed to the fu-ry of the elements for many years ; or to perform suchacts of abstinence, as are beyond the ability of a mortal ?.What worthy purpose in summoning an audience offishes to hear the sermon of St. Anthony ? In enabling** St. Patrick to heat an oven with snow ? Or in enabling St. Dominic to force the devil in the shape of a monkey to hold his candle till Satan bellowed with thecc pain, and his fingers were burnt to the bone ? Or inu liquifying the blood of Januarius, at the anniversarycc of his martyrdom ? In a word, giving a divine heal-cc ing virtue to the bones of men, whose whole lives nev-u er witnessed any more, than the common protections of divine providence. Admit, I say, that those andother legendary tales were true ; yet, so far from givinga rational idea of God, they gave an idea of him, asa being, acting capriciously and absurdly, and in manycases immorally communicating the special and unu-sual manifestations of his power.

3. The evidence of their miracles is lessened by theplain indications of avarice and ambition, in almost everyinstance of supernatural power, which they claim. Dida holy hermit see a vision, or a deranged fanatic dreamaccounted for on natural causes, and very pertinently asks, whether, if God haddesigned to sanctify the place, and render it a theatre for the display of his divinepower, he could be prevented by regal authority ? He adds,


22/46

isa dream ; did he fall into a trance and receive some in-spired communication ; was he caught up to heaven bykn angel, or suspended on Jacob's ladder -between heav-en and earth ; some monastery was to be founded ; neWservices were to be performed ; new attendants and newrevenues to be appointed for their support. Were dis-eases and wounds healed by the energetic remedy of themartyr relicks ; shrines and temples were erected tohis memory ; and pilgrimages ordered to his tomb. Thetreasury of the churcli, a gulf absorbing in those agesthe wealth of the habitable world, was augmented bydelusive hopes ; the sick, following them to the veryarms of death, by the ardent piety of the saint, wish-ing to honour the merndry of the past ; by the liberal of-fering rif the sinner, content and happy to expiate hiscrime without the labor of penitence or reformation.

That we may shew still more forcibly, how totally des-titute of credibility are the signs and wonders of theRomish church, let us state a case parallel and obvious*Let us suppose Jesus Christ, born in the humble condi-tion, in which he actually was ; that in the same corrupt,but enlightened age, he had uttered the same sublimedoctrine ; that by him the Divine Unity had beenproclaimed to the heathen nations ; that by his own ex-ample he had exhibited ardent piety and holiness, with-out spot or suspicion ; that his pretensions had been con-firmed by the same miracles, which he actually perform-ed ; but that in the end, instead of retiring from, he hadsought with cupidity the honors of the world ; insteadof commanding Peter to put up his sword into its sheath,he had directed him to draw it in his defence and forhis ambition ; instead of dying on the cross, he had cru-cified Pontius Pilate ; the high priest Caiaphas ; and byhis supernatural power dethroned Tiberius, and becomelord of the Roman empire ; and, after he had lived in thehighest grade of splendor and prosperity, have left, likeAlexander, the civilized earth to be parted among thepoor fishermen, who were the companions of his enter-


23/46

prise. Suppose even farther, that after his death therehad been equal proof of his rising from the dead, andfinally, that he had been apotheothized by the Romansenate, and his statue seated in the capitol in the chair ofJupiter. I ask this learned audience, whether such asupposition would not give so just and reasonable a sus-picion of his motives, as to impair the credit of his sys-tem, because ambition and human applause crowned thelast act of the drama.

Yet under these circumstances the gospel, and the su-pernatural evidence attending it, would be far more \vor-thy belief, than those of the church of Rome. Mightit not be pleaded in favor of Jesus Christ, that in assum-ing supreme dominion he had fulfilled the propheticstrains of David and Isaiah, who in sacred song hadpredicted the grandeur of his destiny ? That, the ambition,he displayed, was rather a divine philanthropy, than acrime ? That, by ridding the earth of a cruel, pollutedmonster, he made way for the highest degree of moralexcellence, to be dignified with supreme power? That, asthe extent of his goodness was superior to every otherpatron and benefactor of mankind, so the most exaltedcondition, and the noblest spot on the globe was theproper theatre, on which his splendid virtue should bedisplayed ? Might it not be farther argued, that thegreater the transition of his fortunes, the more the fin-ger of God was witnessed in his promotion ? In additionto all these, it might also still be reasoned, a priori, fromthe morality of the gospel, containing truths never be-fore investigated, that it was communicated by a directinspiration of Heaven, and its author was truly the sonof God. Since it was impossible, that a system of eth-ics so superior to what had ever proceeded from thesublime genius of Plato, or from the dignified virtue orthe philosophical Aurelius, could arise from an unletteredJew, born in an obscure part of an obscure country,If under these advantages the gospel would still be liableto suspicion, because its author had exhibited a wc

c


24/46

i8iy motive, what can we say of the church of Rome, act-ing for ages with such mercenary motives, such abom-inable falsehoods and delusions, without even pretendingto have for its object the promotion of piety to the Su-preme Being, peace oil earth, or good will to men ?

4. The miracles of the church of Rome are intheir nature not cnly contrary to the wisdom of Godto permit, and the reason of man to believe ; but theyare directly against the evidence of the senses. Otherimpostors and deluders are content with beguiling menby cunning slight of hand, or magical deception. Butthe church of Rome displays greater intrepedity. Thedoctrine of transubstantiation is made an article of theirfaith, and exhibits a standing miracle. In order to es-tablish this absurd doctrine, they have prosecuted withlire and sword ; they have led to the stake men of thebest erudition, and of spotless morality ; they have tor-tured their bodies with protracted pain, hi order to o-blige them to acknowledge, that they believed againstsense and reason. They have inflated the minds of thecommonalty with such ferocious zeal and malignity,that they have been upon such occasions more, than thepassive instrument of their atrocity. We do not wishto call up against this church a spirit of persecution.God forbid, that we should deny them that toleration,w7hich ought to be extended to every description of menin society, who violate no civil or municipal law. . Wereprobate, in this age of light and knowledge, the imita-tion of the precedents, they have given in darker ages.To speak however of their excesses, and of their disinge-nuous arts, is a duty more necessary, than we imagine.For, while they studiously hide their absurdity and cruel-ty, they address themselves to the thoughtless and theignorant, by a fascinating eloquence. They recommenda religion with all the brilliant decorations calculated toallure the senses ; and, by offering an easy pardon to thesinner, they engage the heart at the expence of the un-derstanding. We readily and cheerfully pay that tribute


25/46

19of respect, due to science, literature, and many amiablequalities of the heart, which we find among many indi-viduals within the pale of their church. That such men,as Bacon the elder, father Paul of Venice, the archbish-op of Cambray, Massillon, and others more, than can beenumerated, have immortalized themselves by- the excel-lence of their genius and their private virtues, is readilyadmitted. Still however, had they closely adhered tothe spirit of the principles and institutions of their church,they had been as gloomy bigots, as merciless persecu-tors, as Gardner, Bonner, or queen Mary, We also incharity believe, that, among the lowest grades of societyin their communion, there are many sincerely honest,and, according to their knowledge, pious. Amidst somuch ignorance, there is unquestionably some devotion ;and we entertain not a shadow of doubt, that the erro-neous worship, springing from a pure heart, will be ac-cepted by a Being infinitely wise and good, though con-veyed through the medium of superstition and idolatry.But still we admit no inference in favor of idolatry andpersecution. If some few in a time of raging pestilenceare preserved from the infection by the vigor of theirconstitution and their careful regimen, still it is no com-mendation of the atmosphere, they breathed, nor of thecity, where they were forced to reside. Is there thenany impropriety, any indecorum, or breach of christiancharity in warning mankind against the absurd and im-pious claims of the church of Rome ?, Though the pro-gress of truth, light., and reformation has unnerved andpalsied her arm ; yet she has never disavowed, but stillretains her doctrines, and makes them a necessary articleof her faith.prom what has been already observed, it appears, thatno weapon she has wielded has been more formidable toprimitive Christianity, more efficient in erecting her fabricof religious tyranny, than the power of working mira-cles. This has extended her authority even to the re-gions of death, and to the world of disembodied spirits.


26/46

20To the infallible successor of St. Peter, the key of heav-en is committed. The purifying, expiatory punishmentof the wicked, in the life to come, is measured in its du-ration by his sovereign pleasure. Castigat auditque dolos. The iron gates ofTartarus object no limit tohis dominion. To the one of its dreary attendants hesaith, Go, and he goeth ; and to another, come, and he co?n-eth. By his nod the devoted victim is snatched fromthe black ministers of vengeance, and transported to theregions of eternal day. By him, a favored mortal, risesto Divinity, is honored and worshipped with religioussolemnities, made a partner in supreme power, and ad-mitted to the table of the Gods. 'But time, and probably the patience of my hearers in-timate, that we should close the discourse with a few in-ferences and reflections, deduced from our subject.

i st. From the uncertainty, attending the evidenceaddressed to our senses, and our liability to impositionby the delusive arts of wicked and interested men weinfer, that a standing revelation is the best mean forconviction ; and that such proofs, as are deduced fromnatural religion, reason, and the best historical evidencein favor of the scripture, are better adapted to the presentgenius, temper, and moral interest of mankind, than ifthe same holy and divine system was confirmed daily bysome new prodigy from heaven. There is a wish nodoubt in the pious as well, as in the curious mind, towitness by the senses some Shehinah or visible manifes-tation of the divine presence. Contemplating this impi-ety, profligacy, and unbelief, the serious, devout chris-tian earnestly and anxiously wishes, that the Almightywould address language to his creatures more impressiveand efficient, than he now does in the modes, which hiswisdom has adopted. But a more close examination ofthe subject will convince them, that the remedy probablywould be far worse, than the disease. We have already-seen from our review of the papal church, in which thebelief of miracles has among their deluded followers


27/46

21been firmly established, that from that very circumstancereligion has been defaced ; corruption and moral profli-gacy have augmented; the distinctions between good andevil have been obliterated from the mind ; and the am-bition and avarice of the vilest men have found this be-lief a forcible instrument in effecting their designs. Itwill I conceive be admitted as a truth, that mankindwere never more ferocious, immoral, more confused andunhappy, than in those periods, in which the papal su-perstition was completely triumphant. From whichfact we have a clear demonstration, that the voice of theDeity addressing mortal beings, though loud as thethunder of his power, uttered to the Jews at the foot ofSinai, might be as easily counterfeited and perverted, asthe usual and ordinary medium, through which he com-municates divine instruction to mankind. Should it how-ever be objected, that the miracles described, were?' false and delusive ; that probably many of the morecc wise and rational of men, though they were silent, yetf c were not satisfied by them ; that the Deity would nev-f* er suffer the illumination of his spirit, or the energy of his grace to accompany or assist such frauds, evenf-c those of them, that might be more harmless, and uttered with a good intention. But should he exhibitf the same wonderful operations, which were performedV- in establishing the scripture, the effect would be univer- sal in reclaiming the vicious, converting the heathen and mahometan, and in convincing the sceptic. Inreply we observe, that, as the evidence addresseddaily to the senses of men in respect to their moral con-duct is liable to no kind of exception or of fraud, we caneasily determine how they would conduct, were thesame evidence multiplied in other instances. What clear-er proofs can be given to man, than those arising fromthe administration of Providence in favor of moral vir-tue, and in opposition to vies ? Those we well know aredirected to the sense as well, as to the reason of mankind,Who is there so ignorant, as not to discern, that tern-


28/46

%%perance, chastity, frugality, a pure heart, and benevolentaffections, contribute to health, to delightful sensa-tions, to long life, reputation, and happiness ? Couldthe Almighty promulgate any law more clearly, thanthat plain principle just named, which he has engravedon the human heart in indelible characters ? But yet,has it the effect, we should imagine ? Common sense an-swers the question. Do we not see daily victims of in-temperence ? Of lewdness ? Of prodigality ? Of malig-nity and fraud ? Do not their appearance indicate, thatthey carry with them a hell, while they exist ? But yetthe experiment, demonstrated a thousand times, producesin them neither a reform of the habit, nor in others, a-'voidance of their example.

Should we admit, that frequent communication withcc the world of spirits, and a succession of miracles could have an irresistible influence in perfecting the moral - and religious character of mankind ; still we reply tothe argument, that the Almighty, in the constitution ofthe natural and moral world,' has created and treatedman as a free moral agent ; and according to this consti-tution it is necessary, that both virtue and vice shouldbe the result of his free and unbiassed choice. Werethere therefore an intercourse between the dead and theliving so frequent and so clear of all fraud and imposi-tion, that a future state, and every attendant circumstancecould be made as plain to man, as the objects' of sightand sense, with which he is familiarized ; were there su-pernatural operations wrought everyday, so that it wasimpossible he could be deceived, man would no longer bea free or accountable being. He would be bribed to vir-tue by the delights of heaven, and frightened from viceby so near a view of the torments of the damned.

2d. The destructive and terrible consequences of su-perstition and false worship are very naturally inferredfrom the perversion of the best and purest religion, everknown to human kind. We find by those abominabledelusions practiced by tire church of Rome, that the very


29/46

*3truth ofGod has been changed into a lie ; the civil and re-ligious rights of men have been for centuries destroyedby her power, and, if these evils were too small, she hathwaged war with arts and sciences ; with the noblest mon-uments of genius and learning ; in a word, with every de=gree of refinement, light, and human happiness, whichthwarted her progress. Can we possibly suppose, thatfor the whole period of the middle ages, containing aspace of nearly a thousand years, there was less ge-nius or capacity for knowledge, for useful arts, than inthe preceding and subsequent periods ? Yet in the for-mer we find everlasting memorials of genius and learn-ing in the immortal labors of Greece and Rome ; in thelatter mankind have progressed farther in every kind ofuseful knowledge, than in the most brilliant sera of an-tiquity. To the last evil may be added the rivers of hu-man blood, which have flowed ; the tortures and ago-pies, suffered by the best and most excellent of men ; theCimmerian darkness, which overspread the world, qual-ifying it for the iron age and extreme calamities, whichthis pest has introduced. .

3d. What gratitude is due to the. Almighty Parentof light and truth for the reformation and its conse-quent blessings ? For the peculiar felicity of the age, inwhich we live ? What mortal honors are enough fox-Luther, Melanchton, for the noble army of martyrs andconfessors, who dissolved the charm, which these infer-nal ministers of superstition had spread over mankind ?Unappalled by death or danger, inspired by heavenwith the purest piety, with a love of truth stronger thar\deaths with divine philanthropy they combatted, andsmotewithadeadlywound this terrible, this execrable mon-ster; andrent asunderthe veilof this temple of superstition*If the founders of cities, the inventers of useful arts, andthe destroyers of civil tyranny have a claim to the ever-lasting gratitude of posterity, much more have they, whohave broken the religious as well, as civil chains of man-kind j who have become the day star, ushering in the


30/46

Hglorious morning of science as well, as the pure andbright rays of the sun of righteousness , long obscured bythe clouds of ignorance and bigotry. Can we expresstoo great thanks for the religious, moral, and literaryadvantages of the age, in which we live ? An age, ofwhich without hyperbole, we may use the language ofthe immortal historian, Rura temporum felicitate, ubi sentire qu^ velis, et quae sentias dicere licet ; an age,in which the best and noblest present, the blessed gos-pel, is published and declared to mankind in its primitivepurity, and worthy its celestial origin ; an age, in whichevery science, which embellishes, and every art augment-ing the happiness of man is daily progressing. Even ofMilton,- Locke, a:nd Newton illustrious names, death-less in the annals of learning and philosophy, it may besaid, that they desired to see the days^ which we behold^and saw them not.

4th. From the review already taken of the falsehoodand cruelty of the papal church w^e should receive a so-lemn caution against every kind of extravagant enthusi-asm as well, as every innovation and delusion, offeredunder the pretext of religion. There may be many,who, though their theoretical sentiments are diametrical-ly opposite to popery, yet are possessed of the same prin-ciple and spirit. When men are ready to call for thevengeance of the civil arm against heresy ; when theyare ready to denounce the best and worthiest charactersas incapable of public trust, because, upon humble in-quiry into the scriptures, they differ in religious appre-hension from themselves ; when they hold them up asobjects of public execration ; such men may, whatever betheir zeal for religion, 4whatever they may pretend forthe advancement of the kingdom of Christ, be pertinent-ly rebuked in the language of him, who was mildnessitself ; ye know not what spirit ye are of Thank God,in this age of light and information, I cannot name suchcharacters ; but were there any to appear of any denom-ination, even were they of my own favorite theological


31/46

\25

'opinions ; were they to attempt to crowd their own dog*mas and doctrines, or those of the most admired class oftheological writers, as articles of faith, or as a supple-ment to divinely inspired wisdom in the scripture, I shouldfeel it a solemn and holy duty to protest against suchUsurpation. I should make no scruple to address myfellow men with regard to each of them in the languageof the Roman poet

Hie niger est ; hunc tu Rdmane caveto.Wherever, saith the great Dr. Foster, mystery be- gins, there religion ends. Wherever the opinion offallible, and' perhaps interested men is received, as ofequal authority with the scripture, the supporters of suchimpiety deserve severe censure. They may shed croco-dile tears ; they may heave deep sighs from a hollowheart, under the pretence of the decay of religion, andwith the view of fortifying it with human penalties ; butstill their secret motive, undoubtedly however with someexceptions, is ambition and avarice. Trust them not ;for in each tear they shed, in each sigh they utter, thereis more concealed venom, than in any serpent of Africa-The young gentlemen, residing in this school of theprophets, the venerable and splendid monument of the

sagacious liberality as well, as the ardent piety of ourforefathers, will be reminded, from what has been said,of the literary and religious advantages, they enjoy ; andwill cultivate each to such advantage, as will shew theirgrateful sensibility to the author of every good andperfectgift. Contemplate, my young friends, your happinessin such an age of light and knowledge, of civil and re-ligious liberty, when the mind, unshackled by narrow,bigoted systems, is at liberty to range the fertile field ofscience, wherever genius or inclination may direct. Whilethe monster persecution has received a fatal wound, ofwhich we hope it will never recover, the true and prim-itive religion of the gospel has been so ably defended bya display of its external and internal evidence, as to claimthe attention, and demand the assent of every candid,D


32/46

/ranonal mind. We hope you will never be corruptedby the arts or seductions of the infidel j nor yet infla 3mh pestilential enthusiasm, dishonorable o^u e worahjp, abhorrent to reason, and pernicious to soXile, from the character of your instructors,Sirm belief in the gospel, unblemished reputat on? andsaenufic knowledge, we**ge the best hopes, that youwi 1

1be exposed to neither of these extremes We rejoS the increase of erudition and science through the wor dSto?^ PrPOrtl0Tn greatCr D ^refthan in titseat of the muses. Let me entreat you to cultivate theadvantages you enjoy, and unite with a polished under-standing, the most correct moral discipline. In a worda you are now the hope, may you be hereafter the safe-guard and ornament of your country ----tn^ ? ^lmiShtJ.P^en t of light and truth prosperthe efforts of every friend to our holy religion,' in devel-oping the arts and unnerving the arm not alone of theil^V ' bU^f Clery ther kind f corruPtio and supostmen. May his eyer watchful providence so direct-every event in the natural and moral world, that mankindmay be prepared and qualified for the kingdom of theredeemer ; that the whole earth may bea temple conse-crated to the Supreme Being ; in which all nations shallworship him according to the unity and purity of his na-ture ; that theJDeriod may approach, when, in respect tothe progress of truth, virtue, and happiness, the noblethough figurative language of the prophet shall be veri-'fied the l.ght of the moon shall be as the light ofthe sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,


33/46


34/46


35/46


36/46


37/46


38/46


39/46


40/46


41/46


42/46


43/46


44/46

Deacidified using the Bookkeeper processNeutralizing agent: Magnesium OxideTreatment Date: Jan. 2006PreservationTechnologiesA WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION

111 Thomson Park DriveCranberry Township, PA 16066(724)779-2111


45/46

mi


46/46

Date post:	03-Jun-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	recuperatedbyjesus
View:	231 times
Download:	0 times

Discourse on the Errors of Popery [1805] - By Thomas Thacher

Documents