Body hanging on the cross, in pointed oppofition to the fecond Commandment in the Decalogue: they enjoin'd the invocation of Saints and Martyrs, as Interceffors with God, in manifeft contradiction to the fole interceffion of Jefus, whom the Scriptures declare to be the One and only Mediator between God and Man: they afcrib'd to the Virgin Mary a worship and reverence fuperior to that which they allow'd to the Saviour of the world; praying her in their addreffes to lay her authoritative maternal commands on her Son to grant their petitions. In confequence of the plenary power of forgiving fins, faid to be vested in the Pope, a moft fhameful and fcandalous traffic was inftituted in difpenfations and indulgences; fo that for ftipulated fums of money may be obtain'd not only permiffion to omit the practice of any moral or christian duty, but still farther, abfolution and pardon for all fins already committed, or to be committed hereafter; without any the least regard to the Gospel-terms of Forgiveness, Repentance and Amendment. And not to tire and disguft you with a recital of the trumpery of Relics, and other fuch dregs of fuperftition, they invented a moft fingular and unscriptural doctrine, which they also exalted into an indifpenfable article of faith, respecting an imaginary Purgatory, or state of the dead; wherein the fouls

1

of the deceas'd were to undergo the most horrible torments, till liberated by prayers and Maffes; all of which had their fet and stated prices.

Though I have endeavour'd to comprefs into as fmall a compass as poffible this imperfect detail of the manifold and grofs corruptions of Popery, yet has it fwell'd to a length abundantly fufficient for a fingle difcourfe. It appears 1 imagine pretty plainly, that the Fabric of the Romish Church, however fplendid and glorious in external appearance, had long ceas'd to be free from spot or wrinkle; and that it was high time to liften to the scriptural injunction, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her fins; that ye receive not of her plagues. Bleffed be God, we of this nation have long fince come out of her; but in what manner and to what degree, must be referv'd for my next difcourfe on the fame Text.

Now to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory for evermore. Amen.

SERMON

25

SERMON III.

PREACH'D ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 21, 1794.

IN my laft difcourfe on these words I laid before you a concise, but I hope tolerably accurate detail of the corruptions of Christianity which prevail'd in the Church of Rome. The firft beginnings of these corruptions may be thofe early times when the Conftantine, renouncing the

trac'd as far back as to

Roman Empire under idolatry of Paganism,

embrac'd the religion of Chrift. But their advances being progreffive, and at first flow, though rapid afterwards, they did not attain to their full growth till somewhat more than five hundred years fince; at which time fuch was their prevalence and univerfality, that true and genuine Chriftianity was not only defac'd and obscur'd, but well nigh extinguish'd: or to adopt the very fignificant metaphor of the

Text, the bridal garment was fo fpotted and wrinkled, that its original form and texture could no longer be discoverd. Not but that as in the most corrupt Era of the Jewish Religion God declar'd there were still left in Ifrael feven thousand faithful who had never bowed the knee to Baal; fo in the times above defcrib'd there were always fome few who faw and regretted the prevailing errors; and both in our own and in foreign countries fome bold oppofitions were made to them even in the darkest ages; but they were foon crush'd by the iron rod of power; and perfecution drench'd the altar of Chrift with the blood of his faithful witneffes.

In this deplorable state did all Christendom_remain for about two Centuries; when a fortunate discovery was made, accidentally to outward appearance, but which, when we confider it's most extenfive and beneficial confequences, we cannot fcruple to attribute to the benign interpofition of an all gracious Providence; I mean the invention of the Art of printing. Antecedently to this period fuch was the scarcity and dearnefs of Books, as to render them wholly unattainable by any but the great and opulent; and fuch was the barbarism, fuch were the manners of the times, that thofe great and opulent who alone were able to pur

chafe,

Looking upon

chafe, neglected and defpis'd them. War as the only honourable employment, and alone worthy of the Gentleman, they gloried in their ignorance of Letters; and among Sovereign Princes and dignified Ecclefiaftics, it was no ordinary attainment for a man to be capable of writing his own name. But no fooner had the art of printing, by multiplying copies, reduc'd the purchase of Books within the compafs of moderate incomes, than learning began to revive; and a new and powerful light burfting upon the world, penetrated and by degrees difpers'd the black darkness of ignorance. Copies of the holy fcripture now began to find their way into private hands; tranflations of them were made into the vernacular tongues of each nation: the Clergy studied them with avidity; numbers among the Laity, in spite of the Church's prohibitions, did the fame: and the minds of men, gradually awaken'd from that torpid lethargy, or rather deep fleep, in which they had flumber'd for fo many fucceffive ages, were prepar'd to exercise their inherent and unalienable prerogative of thinking for themselves. In fhort, the Age both requir'd, and was prepar'd for,-a Reformation.

It was in Saxony, a province of the German Empire that this Reformation first took its rise. That country