ROME AND HER CHURCH. 135 



system, that its precepts, prohibitions, doctrines, and examples, are all 

 directly calculated for the restoration of human nature, as might hs 

 shown at large, were it necessary, — it is not necessary. Those with 

 ■whom we are concerned in the present argument profess to agree with 

 us, that the gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, and immediately 

 adapted to promote it ; but now we say, that they have so adulterated 

 this doctrine, as to pervert it entirely from its genuine character and 

 original use, • making void the commandments of God, by the traditions 

 of men ;' we say that, in place of the mystery of godhness, they have 

 framed and adopted a mystery of iniquity — an astonishing compound of 

 wicked opinions and observances, suited to keep men in ignorance and 

 corruption, and, by nameless illusions, to conceal from them their 

 danger. In a word, we say, that the system of Popery is a direct 

 apostacv from the religion of Christ, and the practice of popery a direct 

 revolt from the kingdom of Christ ; and all this under the impudent 

 pretext of alone retaining that religion, and alone defending that 

 kingdom. 



" It is thus that we explain, at least in part, the prophecy with 

 respect to the dragon's giving her power to the beast. We consider 

 the church of Rome as the chief retainer, or prime-minister, if I may be 

 allowed the phrase, to the prince of the dark kingdoms ; employed and 

 supported by him, and, in return, upholding and propagating his 

 dominion over the children of disobedience, ' who are dazzled with a 

 phantom of liberty, while in truth they are taken captive by him at his 

 pleasure.' We should not be understood to mean by this, that all are 

 slaves to Satan who are votaries of Rome : God forbid. It were a 

 strange want of understanding not to allow a possibility of being pious 

 or virtuous in that communion, corrupt as it undoubtedly is. It v/ere 

 equal want of candour not to acknowledge that it hath, in fact, pro- 

 duced many persons of unquestionable piety and virtue, and some who 

 have soared to as noble heights in the spiritual life as ever were attained 

 by uninspired mortality. This, I think, is certain, that a man may be 

 mistaken greatly — mistaken in many things relating to his religious 

 principles, and yet be perfectly sincere in his religious practice : the 

 goodness of his affections, the strictness of his education, the influence 

 of those truths which he retains, and the assistance of that grace 

 which is never denied to the conscientious, may well be supposed suffi- 

 cient to overbalance the ill eiFects even of tenets exceedingly erroneous. 

 It is manifestly the j udgment of an apostle, formed in consequence of an 

 heavenly vision, vouchsafed him to overcome his prejudices on this 

 subject, that there are persons ' who fear God, and work righteousness 

 in every nation,' and, of course, under every form and aspect of 

 religion. We Protestants condemn the church of Rome for her want 

 of charitv ; let us never imitate her in the most anti- Christian ot all 

 dispositions : but still we cannot help thinking, that the native tendency 

 of her religious system is to make men irreligious under a specious mask 

 of zeal, by leading them to pursue an imaginary righteousness, to the 

 neglect of a real one ; this we affirm in general, and we endeavour to 

 prove it from the whole composition and genius of Popery. At pre- 

 sent, we can only give a sample of our proofs, with respect to some 

 particulars ; from which, however, it will not bo dillicult to judge the 



