controversy between ourselves and our Roman Catholic brethren. The Scripture, which I am about to read to you as a text, is found in the twenty-second chapter of the Apocalypse, at the eight and ninth verses. reads in the Douay Bible thus:

It

"AND AFTER I HAD HEARD AND SEEN, I FELL DOWN TO ADORE BEFORE THE FEET OF THE ANGEL, WHO SHEWED ME THESE THINGS.

"AND HE SAID TO ME: SEE THOU DO IT NOT: FOR I AM THY FELLOW-SERVANT, AND OF THY BRETHREN THE PROPHETS, AND OF THEM THAT KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, ADORE GOD."

In addressing myself to this delicate and confessedly difficult task, I distinctly avow my intention of advancing no statement in reference to the Roman Catholic view of the subject, except upon the testimony of authorized Catholic expositors or liturgies. It is scarcely needful to remind you that the discussion will embrace one of the strongest grounds upon which the Reformed Churches have protested, and still protest against the Church of Rome. If the charge which Protestants seek to bring home to her, in connexion with religious adoration, can be sustained, then will she stand convicted of a most fearful violation of the law of God. Protestants think that the principles and practices of Roman Catholicism are idolatrous in their nature and tendency. My desire is, that it may be found impossible to make good the charge: great would be my delight if the argument should fail, and if Protestants should, after all, be convicted of injustice to their "Catholic" friends. Let then Protestants and Catholics,

in investigating this subject, consider, at the very outset, those particulars in which they agree.

1. We all acknowledge the existence of one Supreme God, in whom we live, move, and have our being, who created all things by the word of his power, and who upholds all things by the same almighty word. I take up any of the numerous prayer books which are in use amongst the members of the Church of Rome, and I read in one of the acknowledged creeds of that Church, the Nicene: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible." I open the prayer book of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and I read the same words in one of their Confessions of Faith. I look into the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and I find that form of faith usually designated the apostles creed, in which occur the words, "I believe in God the Father Almighty Maker of heaven and earth." "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord," saith the Catholic, and the Protestant, taking up the same orthodox note, responds, "The Lord our God is one Lord."

2. Protestants and Catholics equally acknowledge the mysterious, but, as they think, Scriptural doctrine of the Triune character of Jehovah. This doctrine I do not feel it necessary to defend this evening, because between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, it is not a disputed point. It may be well, however, and it will be only fair, to acknowledge that, in the Protestant community, there are some few, I use the expression comparatively, who adhere to the tenets of Arius, and still fewer who follow the more extreme opinions of

E

Socinus; but it will be conceded, I think, that between Roman Catholics and the great mass of Protestants, there is a perfect agreement in respect of this sublime mystery of our common Christianity.. I have more than once read, and with delight too, upon the altars of Roman Catholic Churches in Spain, Malta, Sicily, and elsewhere, "Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, filium Dei'unigenitum," &c.; and I have rejoiced to see it rendered into the vulgar tongue in the devotional books of the Catholic Church;-"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and born of the Father before all ages; God of God; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made consubstantial to the Father; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man," &c. I go into a Protestant Episcopal Church, and in the course of the morning service, I hear, repeated by the minister and people, with a little verbal alteration, the same beautiful passages. I go into a Presbyterian Church during the ordination of a minister, and I find him subscribing to a confession of faith, in which the following passage is found: "In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son." On this second subject, therefore, there exists a general unanimity. The Roman Catholic Church chaunts

66

forth the praises of the Triune God, in the words, 'Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost"; and the Reformed Churches rejoice to respond, "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

3. Protestants and Catholics acknowledge also the obligation of every man to worship, adore, serve, and love this exalted Three-One Jehovah.

Indeed, each of the two systems is based upon this elementary truth: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God." This is tacitly acknowledged in all those prayers and anthems of praise which are offered to the Divine Being by members of both communities. For instance, I find in a Roman Catholic book of devotion, entitled, "The Key of Heaven," and which received the imprimatur of the late Roman Catholic Archbishop, Dr. Murray, the following devotional exercises :

"O God, to whom every heart is open, every will declares itself, and from whom no secret lies concealed, purify by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the thoughts of our hearts; that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily serve thee: through," &c.

66

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee, we bless thee, we adore thee, we glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty."

Now I am free to acknowledge that more orthodox evangelical or fervent prayers and thanksgivings, could not be put into the mouth of any Christian, and I rejoice

to state that many such are to be found in the devotional books of our Roman Catholic Friends.

There is, then, no question of dispute here: We all acknowledge that God is a Spirit, and that they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth; that indeed we ought to love him with all our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.

4. Protestants and Catholics are generally agreed as to the fearfully evil character of idolatry in the sight of God.

I open the Douay Bible, on the second commandment, and I read :

"Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth.

"Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

To which I find appended the following note:

"All such images or likenesses, are forbidden by this commandment, as are made to be adored and served; according to that which immediately follows, thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them. That is, all such as are designed for idols or image-gods, or are worshipped with divine honour. But otherwise images, pictures, or representations, even in the house of God, and in the very sanctuary, so far from being forbidden, are expressly authorised by the word of God."

I take up Dr. Butler's Catechism, recommended by