Images de page
PDF
ePub

XXII.

OF PURGATORY.

The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory, pardons, worshipping and adoration, as well of images as of reliques, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the word of God.

Q. What is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded on no warranty of Scripture?

A. The Romish doctrine of Purgatory, pardons, worshipping, and adoration, as well of images as of reliques.

Q. What else?

A. Invocation of saints.

Q. What is rather the character of this doctrine? A. It is repugnant to the word of God.

Scripture Proofs.

Luke xvi. 22. The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom- [not into Purgatory.]

Romans viii. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

1 John i. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

F

Luke xxiii. 43. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. John v. 24. 2 Cor. v. 8.

Revelation xiv. 13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours.

Philippians i. 23. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.

Daniel ix. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses.

Exodus xx. 4, 5. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.

Matthew iv. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

1 John v. 21. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Dr. Watts says of Purgatory, "that it was a gainful contrivance of the priests of Rome, to erect a building between heaven and hell, where to dispose of good Christians after death, till they are completely fit for heaven: this is purgatory-a place where the remaining vices of the dying man are purged out with fire. Those souls for whom the priest is hired to say most masses are soonest freed from the relics of iniquity, and get the speediest release to the heavenly regions." But where is purgatory? Is it not altogether an invention? and where is limbo? where are these two places? Finding that Lazarus, at death, was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom; that the dying thief received the Saviour's promise, "to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise;" and that St. Paul considered that "being absent from the body, he

should be present with the Lord "-surely we are clearly taught by the word of God, that there is no such place as the one or the other. With respect to" Pardons," otherwise called Indulgences, I can find no passage in scripture in support of them; and if I bow the knee in invoking departed saints (who cannot hear a single word that I say), to intercede for me, I reject the sole Mediator who stands between man and his offended God, and place my soul in jeopardy.

L

XXIII.

OF MINISTERING IN THE CONGREGATION.

It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the sacraments in the congregation, before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work, by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard.

Q. What is not lawful for any man to take upon him?

A. The office of public preaching, or ministering the sacraments in the congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same.

Q. Whom ought we to judge lawfully called, and sent ?

A. Those which be chosen and called to this work, by men who have public authority given unto them, in the congregation, to call, and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard.

[ocr errors]

Scripture Proofs.

Hebrews v. 4. No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Matthew xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye and teach all nations, bap. tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

2 Timothy ii. 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Acts xiv. 23. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Titus i. 5. For this cause left 1 thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.

No particular mode of ordination, says the late bishop of Lincoln, is here declared to be a necessary object of faith; nor are any persons specified by whom ministers are to be ordained to their sacred function it is only asserted in general terms that they are to receive their appointment from the authority prescribed by the church to which they belong. We who live in this country have the satisfaction of knowing that we live under a form of ecclesiastical polity, founded in apostolical authority, and under a form of civil government of unparallelled excellence; and these constitutions in church and state are admirably suited by their

« PrécédentContinuer »