powerful words of Christ, changed into the substance of his blessed body and bloud, the species or accidents of bread and wine still remaining. Thus, 8. Christ is not present in this sacrament, according to his natural way of existence, that is, with extension of parts, in order to place, &c., but after a supernatural manner, one and the same in many places, and whole in every part of the symbols. This therefore is a real, substantial, yet sacramental presence of Christ's body and bloud, not exposed to the external senses, nor obnoxious to corporeal contingences. 9. Neither is the body of Christ in this holy sacrament, seperated from his bloud, or his bloud from his body, or either of both disjoyned from his soul and divinity, but all and whole living Jesus is entirely contained under either species; so that whosoever receiveth under one kind, is truly partaker of the whole sacrament, and no wise deprived either of the body or bloud of Christ. True it is, 10. Our Saviour Jesus Christ left unto us his body and blood, under two distinct species or kinds; in doing of which, he instituted not only a sacrament, but also a sacrifice; a commemorative sacrifice distinctly shewing his death or bloudy passion, until he come. For as the sacrifice of the cross was performed by a distinct effusion of bloud, so is the same sacrifice com memorated in that of the altar, by a distinction of the symbols. Jesus therefore is here given not only to us, but for us; and the Church thereby enriched with a true, proper, and propitiatory sacrifice, usually termed mass. 11. Catholicks renounce all divine worship, and adoration of images or pictures. God alone we worship and adore; nevertheless we make use of pictures, and place them in churches and oratories, to reduce our wandring thoughts, and enliven our memories towards heavenly things. And farther we allow a certain honour and veneration to the picture of Christ, of the Virgin Mary, &c. beyond what is due to every prophane figure; not that we believe any divinity or vertue in the pictures themselves, for which they ought to be honoured, but because the honour given to the pictures is referred to the prototype, or things represented. In like manner, 12. There is a kind of honour and veneration respectively due to the Bible, to the cross, to the name of Jesus, to churches, to the sacraments, &c., as things peculiarly appertaining to God; also to the glorified saints in heaven, as domestick friends of God; yea, to kings, magistrates, and superiors on earth, as the vicegerents of God. To whom honour is due, honour may be given, without any derogation to the majesty of God, or that divine worship appropriate to him. Furthermore, 13. Catholicks believe, That the blessed saints in heaven, replenished with charity, pray for us their fellow-members here on earth; that they rejoyce at our conversion; that seeing God, they see and know in him all things suitable to their happy state; that God is inclinable to hear their requests made in our behalf, and for their sakes granteth us many favours; that therefore it is good and profitable to desire their intercession; and that this manner of invocation is no more injurious to Christ our Mediator, nor superabundant in itself, than it is for one Christian to beg the prayers and assistance of another in this world. Notwithstanding all which, Catholicks are taught not so to rely on the prayers of others, as to neglect their own duty to God; in imploring his divine mercy and goodness; in mortifying the deeds of the flesh; in despising the world; in loving and serving God and their neighbour; in following the footsteps of Christ our Lord, who is the way, the truth, and the life to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen." : It will appear, upon examination, that the doctrines contained in the foregoing extract are strictly conformable to the decisions of the Council of Trent; the Creed of Pius IV.; the Exposition of Bossuet; Gother's Papist Misrepresented; the writings of Bishop Challoner; the acknowledged Cathechisms, and other books of public instruction in the Catholic Church. From these various sources of information, therefore, I will lay before the reader a more detailed account of the leading articles of the Catholic faith. But, first, let us briefly notice a few points in which the Church of Rome agrees with all other Churches that have separated from her communion; and also remark that leading article of all religion which immediately regards the Supreme Object of divine adoration, in which, likewise, Roman Catholics agree with a majority of the Reformed Churches, but differ from some of them. The points in which the church of Rome is agreed with all other churches, are more in number and importance than many Protestants are apt to suppose, or willing to allow. Indeed, if each distinction of Christians" would follow the excellent advice of Mr. Butler,* and "earnestly wish to find an agreement between themselves and their fellow Christians," the points of dispute would be considerably lessened; and, even wherein they should still continue to differ, much of that acrimony by which a large majority of religious disputants are at present so shamefully characterized, would be effectually destroyed. It is sufficient to the present purpose to transcribe, from the little work * Life of Fenelon, p. 236. just quoted, what the enlightened and truly Catholic author has said on the "essential articles of the Christian religion," in which all Christians, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, and Unitarians, are agreed:-" All Christians," says he, "believe-1st. That there is one God: 2d. That he is a Being of infinite perfection 3d. That he directs all things by his providence: 4th. That it is our duty to love him with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves: 5th. That it is our duty to repent of the sins we commit: 6th. That God pardons the truly penitent: 7th. That there is a future state of rewards and punishments, when all mankind shall be judged according to their works: 8th. That God sent his Son into the world, to be its Saviour, the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him: 9th. That he is the true Messiah: 10th. That he worked miracles, suffered, died, and rose again, as is related in the four gospels: 11th. That he will hereafter make a second appearance on the earth, raise all mankind from the dead, judge the world in righteousness, bestow eternal life on the virtuous, and punish the workers of iniquity." When it is considered, that, though Roman Catholics, in common with all other Christians, maintain all the above-named "essential articles of religion;" and that they hold no other tenet in direct opposition to any one of them, it is unaccountable that so much mistake should have gone abroad, on the subject of the Catholic faith. |
