PREFACE. It is easy to understand upon what principle the Idolatry and Superstitions of Paganism were at first adopted, and are still continued, by the Church of Rome; they present something tangible and visible for the external senses to rest upon, in the place of that spiritual Religion, which the Bible, in all its parts, supposes as essential to salvation. Christianity, in its pure and primitive structure, had no charms for those Pagans who had been accustomed to those imposing exteriors of forms and ceremonies, which, while they amused their minds, and pacified their consciences, required no particular sacrifices, and left them in undisturbed possession of their former pleasures. The Church of Rome, aware of this fact, entered accordingly into a compromise with the old Idolatry. Her object was secular dominion, and while this might be attained, she regarded the illumination and conversion of the world but as secondary objects, or rather, as things more likely to obstruct her schemes of worldly policy, than to advance them. No writer has better established this fact than the celebrated Gale, who, after proving, with extensive erudition, how Paganism and Popery symbolized in a variety of particulars, observes, "The carnal professors of Christianity, who were most numerous, were not content to part with their Pagan rites; wherefore, to compromise the matter, they turned their Pagan rites into Christian solemnities, and so christened their dæmon festivals under the name of some Christian Martyr and Saint; and that which made this design more plausible was this :-some groundless hopes, by such symbolizing with the Pagans, to gain them over to embrace the Christian Religion, which vain attempt was so far blasted by God, as that it proved but a door to let in Antichrist and all his Idol worship into the Church of Rome." Human nature being the same in every age, there is no doubt that the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Romish Church have, from the earliest period of her history, had the force of retaining within her visible pale a vast majority in succession, who, if they had not been nominal Christians, would have been professed Infidels, but who found in the round of external and pharisaical observances which Popery prescribes, a sedative for their fears, and a substitute for their piety. In reading the following pages, the true Christian will in vain look for that which constitutes true and acceptable service-here is nothing of that spiritual worship which is alone acceptable in the sight of God -that humility which a broken heart inspires-or of that holy fervor which a sense of the divine goodness kindles. The whole of the Roman Ceremonial may be scrupulously gone through, and the soul remain unaffected by the sense of its guilt—the evil of sin— or the greatness of the love of God. The Priesthood, indeed, are elevated to the level of Deity, but Jesus and His love are but little regarded. Forgetting God, the poor blind devotees of this degrading superstition worship they know not what: disregarding the divine assurance, that there is but one Mediator between God and men, they bow with stupid adoration before dumb idols, invoking their intercession; and trust to an arm of flesh for that protection which the Mighty God alone can give. Surely, as we read of such heartless, cold, formal service, every pious mind will ejaculate a fervent prayer to the God of all grace, that His Blessed Spirit may revive these dead, and breathe into them the breath of that spiritual life which can alone enable them to offer unto Him true and acceptable service. |