OR A BRIEF AND PLAIN EXHIBITION OF THE INCONGRUITY OF THE PECULIAR DOCTRINES OF The Church of Rome WITH THOSE, BOTH OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES, AND OF THE EARLY WRITERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH CATHOLIC. BY GEORGE STANLEY FABER, B.D. RECTOR OF LONG-NEWTON, AND PREBENDARY OF SALISBURY. It is the part of mere triflers to propound and to speak the things which are not written. Athanas. Epist. ad Scrap. Oper. vol. ii. p. 29. LONDON: PRINTED FOR C. J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, Booksellers to the Societ

It has been suggested to me, that A brief and plain Exhibition of the utter Incongruity of the peculiar doctrines of the Church of Rome with those both of the Sacred Scriptures and of the early writers of the Christian Church Catholic might be useful as a small Tract for general circulation. This suggestion has given rise to the present little manual. As for those, who either desire more copious information on the subject, or who may wish to see my authorities in the original Greek and Latin: I

The great and constant boast of the Latin Clergy is: that The Catholic or Universal Church of Christ from the very beginning , has ALWAYS taught the doctrines which are now taught by the Church of Rome ; that These doctrines are revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures , and that They have ALWAYS been set forth and maintained by those early ecclesiastical writers who are commonly styled the Fathers . I. On these points lest we should labour under any mistake, let us hear the positive declarations o

I SHALL begin with subjecting, to the test proposed by the Council of Trent itself, the doctrine of Transubstantiation. I. The following, as defined by the Council of Trent, is the doctrine of the Roman Church with respect to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. 1. In the sacrament of the Eucharist , after the consecration of the bread and wine , our Lord Jesus Christ , true God and true man , is , truly and really and substantially , contained , under the species of those sensible objects : so t

From the Romish doctrine of Transubstantiation, I shall pass on to the Romish doctrine of Purgatory. I. Respecting a Purgatory, into which the souls of all, save those who are immediately conveyed to Hell, pass forthwith after death; in order that, by its fiery pains, they may be purified from the remainder of their corruption, and at the same time by personal suffering may make satisfaction to God for their hitherto unexpiated offences: the Church of Rome, speaking through her organ the Council

I SHALL next proceed to examine the Romish assertions respecting Unwritten Tradition and the Insufficiency of the Written Word alone. I. Although the Church of Rome, speaking through the Council of Trent, claims the Written Word of God as a voucher for her doctrines; yet, as if conscious, that, from Scripture ALONE , her peculiarities cannot be established as a part of divine revelation, she asserts: that Unwritten Tradition ought to be had in EQUAL reverence with the Written Word ; so that , wh

From the perfect equality of Unwritten Tradition and the Written Word of God, we may next proceed to the doctrine of Meritorious Satisfaction. I. The Church of Rome lays down her decision, respecting what she calls Works of Satisfaction , in manner following. So great is the abundance of divine munificence , that we are able to make satisfaction to God the Father through Jesus Christ , not only by punishments either spontaneously undergone by ourselves for the avenging of sin or imposed upon us

I SHALL next examine the doctrine and practice of Saint-worship, Image-worship, Relic-worship, and Cross-worship. I. In exhibiting the tenets of the Romish Church and Clergy on these several points, I shall successively give: the decision of the council of Trent; the comments of some of the most approved Latin Doctors; and the actual practice of the Romanists themselves as the best explanation of their received tenets. 1. Let us first hear the decision of the Council of Trent. All Bishops , and

The doctrine of Papal Supremacy shall next be brought to the legitimate test of Scripture and Historical Evidence. I. We find the claim of this supremacy authoritatively propounded, in manner following. 1. The Roman Church is the mother and mistress of all other Churches . [55a] 2. I acknowledge the holy catholic and apostolic Roman Church to be the mother and mistress of all Churches : and I promise and swear true obedience to the Roman Pontiff , the successor of the blessed Peter Prince of the

So far as respects the evidence upon which stands the alleged apostolicity of the peculiar doctrines and practices of Romanism, it will now be useful to hear the various acknowledgments which have been made by the Latin Clergy themselves. I. Let us begin with that cherished dogma of the Roman Church, the tenet of Transubstantiation. 1. On this point, the theologians of Trent assure us: that The words of Christ , as recorded by the Evangelists , SO PLAINLY AND SO DISTINCTLY propound the doctrine

Remarkable as are the acknowledgments made by the Romish Clergy, their theological practices will be found not less worthy the attention of the honest and conscientious inquirer. I. The general PRINCIPLE , on which these practices are constructed, is very clearly and distinctly laid down by the Professors of Douay. In managing the old catholic writers when in disputation opposed to us by our adversaries , say they, we endure very many errors . Sometimes , we extenuate them : sometimes , we excus

At the close of this brief manual, it may perhaps be useful to state the question as it now presents itself. I. Upon those who assert , rests the duty and incumbency of proof . Yet, in regard to what by a single comprehensive word may be styled Popery , the question stands negatively , in manner following. The peculiar doctrines and practices , which the Clergy of the Roman Church pertinaciously inculcate upon their Laity , and to which they would proselyte the unthinking and uninformed Protesta