Sin is the greatest error of any church; but popery has the most deeply involved herself by (among her other absurdities) her claim to infallibility in this her notoriously corrupt state-applying to her Church whatever is said of the Church of CHRIST in its perfect, glorious, and triumphant state. These are assumptions that have been often lamented by the pious and well-informed of her own communion. The Church of Rome certainly requires infallibility to prove her imperfections perfections; otherwise, the most illiterate of her followers would tremble for their salvation. But when "CHRIST shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity,” (Matt. xiii. 41,) then, and not till then, must man seek impeccability on earth.

SECT. IV. That the Church of Christ is Catholic or Universal.
What do you understand by this?

Not only, that the Church of Christ shall always be known by the name of CATHOLIC, by which she is called in the Creed; but that she shall also be called Catholic or Universal, by being the church of all ages, and of all nations.

How do you prove that the true Church of Christ must be the church of all ages?

Because the true Church of Christ must be that which had its beginning from Christ; and, as he promised, was to continue to the end of the world. See Sect. I. and III.

How do you prove that the true Church of Christ must be the church of all nations?

legate has withdrawn from them, declaring them no longer lawful councils but "schismatical conventicles," as was said of the councils of Constance, and Basil or Basle)—and because, among many other reasons assigned, human passions not consistent with infallibility have generally influenced these "infallible councilsfor these and other reasons a fourth party place it neither in Pope nor council separately nor together, but in the church militant,—i. e. in the whole body of her followers who serve and obey her, wherever or however dispersed throughout the world!

"When the Council of Constance had determined that the cup should be taken from the laity, the Bohemians were so much dissatisfied, that the Council of Basle restored it to them. Which council was infallible? Which decree is to be undoubtedly received? The Council of Basle, in 1431, decreed that a general council is above the Pope; but the Lateran Council, in 1546, declared this decree to have been the source of corruption and abuse. The Council of Constantinople forbade the worship or reverence paid to images; the second Nicene Council enjoined it; the Council of Frankfort prohibited it; and it was finally re-established by the Coun cil of Trent."-BP. BLOMFIELD's Letter to Mr. Butler, p. 21.

From many texts of scripture, in which the true Church of Christ is always represented as a numerous congregation spread through the world. Gen. xxii. 18. "In thy seed shall all the nations of the

earth be blessed." Ps. ii. 8. “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathens for thine inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Ps. xxii. 27. "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee." Isa. xlix. 6. "It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob-I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Isa. liv. 1, 2, 3. 'Sing, O barren thou that didst not bear, break forth into singing, and cry aloud thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate, than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitation: spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes: for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, &c." Malachi i. 11. "From the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles." See Isa. ii. 2, 3; Micah iv. 1, 2; Daniel ii. 31, &c.

"That the Church of Christ is Catholic or universal," we readily admit; but protest against the Popish Church so calling herself, whilst so many of her own doctrines are arrayed against those of true Christianity. Protestants pray every day for the Catholic Church in their liturgy; but Roman Catholic or Papist are synonimous terms, which distinguish that class from every denomination of Christians whatsoever. We will show, presently, how they came to be so called, and how their Church obtained that portion of universality she possesses; but we must, in accordance with our plan, first notice the "scriptural proofs" adduced in support of the claim.

Until the third question, we are referred by retrogression to what the Pope had already told us in the first and third sections; and to which our readers can turn if they please. We then come to a line extracted from Genesis :—“In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." We cannot see how this blessing to Abraham has anything to do

with Popery; but think we can perceive a systematic disinclination to give any cause, as stated by the prophets, for the peculiar favours of GOD towards his people: and this, it naturally strikes us, arises on the part of the Romish Church, from the caution necessary to preserve her very existence; since, were she to state the reasons and conditions assigned and commanded, it would place her own practice in direct contrast with the commands of the SUPREME. Thus, (as will be proved) when Popes were heading armies and excommunicating each other, as they were opposed to the Gospel of Christ, and as it would not be for the interest of their Churches to touch upon such unpleasant subjects, so would it appear contrary to Popish practice, to give the reasons and conditions assigned for God's promised grace. When the ALMIGHTY made the promise to Abraham, he added, "because thou hast obeyed my voice." The Pope, no doubt, had his own cogent reasons for omitting the latter part of the verse. The next text applied (Ps. ii. 8.) tells of the Kingdom of Christ, but not of a Pope-although the inferences of the latter, in respect to his title to "the heathens for HIS inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth for HIS possession ;" and, (Psa. xii. 27.) that "all the kindreds of the nations" ought to worship HIM, are too flimsy to be mistaken. The passage from Isaiah (xlix. 6.) is also a promise of CHRIST-not of a Pope; as are the other texts. What these extracts have to do with the "universality" of the Church of Rome, we really cannot imagine.

We have already said, that there can be no dispute among Christians as to the universality of the Church of CHRIST; and we have proved, according to CHRIST's Own word, that this Church is always to be distinguished by her "good works." The Pope, however, without hesitation, declares that his is the Church promised in the Old Testament; and, as he has thought fit to call her the "Mother and Mistress

of all Churches*," it may not here be deemed improper to give some account of her from her commencement. FACT is the surest test to try the pretensions of assertion; and the frame and government of the Church of Rome is a fact to be determined, not by the bare assertions of Popes and Bishops, but by histories and records.

To commence with the "Mother Church :"-Notwithstanding the positive assurances of the Papists, that their Church is the "Mother and Mistress of all Churches," we as positively declare that she is not so. We speak thus, upon the present occasion, to show the folly of unsubstantiated assertion without proof on either side, our own, or the assertions of any other person, would be entitled to as great credence as the Pope's. But we contend that the Church of Jerusalem was the Mother Church; and for which we have our SAVIOUR's own words. (Luke xxiv. 47.) In that city, Christ himself first planted the Gospel; and commanded that, from thence, it should be preached to all nations, "beginning at Jerusalem." The Apostles travelled, "preaching the word unto none but the Jews, only." (Acts xi. 19.) So that the Jewish Christian Church was, for some time, the only Church of CHRIST ;-she it was who converted the Gentile nations; and who was, therefore, the mother, or first of them all. But we defy our Popish friends to show us any scriptural authority in support of Rome being the first Gentile Church; since "the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts xi. 26.) The Greek Church was before the Latin; and the New Testament was originally written in Greek, for its use. Are the Roman Catholic clergy prepared to prove that their Church was Catholic before there was a Christian in Rome? If not, how came the appellation to have been transferred to her from some other Church? St. John speaks (Rev. ch. i.) of

*See chap. xi.

"the seven Churches of Asia," but makes no allusion to the Church of Rome, unless Babylon the Great (Rev. xvii. 5.) be so interpreted. The Gentile Churches are often mentioned; but nothing is said of the "Church of Rome" either as existing or promised! With the authentic history of the Acts of the Apostles to refer to, were Papists not prohibited from reading the Scriptures, they would soon perceive the danger of relying for their salvation upon men not even alluded to in those "Acts," rather than upon CHRIST

HIMSELF.

In the first age of Christianity the Apostle Paul informs us (1 Tim. ch. iii. and v.) to whose guidance the Church of CHRIST was to be entrusted, and whom he names as Bishops, Deacons, and Elders. Societies of pious Christians met; forms of prayer were introduced; and, as they related to the administration of the Lord's Supper, and in many other instances corresponding with our own; bishops were appointed by the Apostles as their immediate successors, over the presbyters, or elders, to prevent any confusion arising 'from a perfect equality; and in every city† a bishop was to preside.

We have already shown, by Christ's own word, what good qualities he desired should be cultivated by the members of his Church, the "faith and good works" of which were to distinguish her from all others. But before we proceed farther in showing how vain is the assumption of the Romish Church in this respect, and that our readers may not be led into an erroneous supposition that CHRIST's Church was not established until the appointment of bishops, &c. it may be proper to state that those meetings were called His Churches wherever a few sincere Christians assembled in his name. Thus Paul, in his 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, says,

*See Cave's Prim. Christ. vol. i. c. 11. Also Chillingworth's Safe Way, &c. p. 321. Lond. 1674.

+ Titus i. 5.