PREFACE

THR Council of Trent was assembled by pope Pius III., in 1545. It was continued under several pontiffs; and after several interruptions, it was brought to a close by pope Pius IV. in 1563. It was therefore convoked about sixteen years after the true church of God protested against the Roman Apostasy, and were thence called Protestants.

It was called under the pretence of reforming "the church" in its head and members. But, who ever heard of an assembly of criminal intruders, and robbers of public property assembling to reform themselves, while they were resolved to be what they were; and retain what they had abstracted, by a system of fraud and tyranny! The real object of this council, was to crush the Reformation, so triumphantly going forward in the continent and islands of Europe.

To accomplish this, the Council pursued two courses, while they carefully retained the entire power and supremacy of its pope, and prevented all reformation of the priesthood. First: they laid down their complete system of doctrines, rites, and ceremonies, in direct opposition to the simple and pure, and primitive doctrines, sacraments, and ordinances of Christ, drawn by the Protestants exclusively from the BIBLE. In doing this, they ratified the traditions of the fathers, though not, perhaps, two men present, could tell what they really were. They also confirmed the bulls, and decrees of former popes, with all the legends the most pal

pably absurd and ludicrous; and the opinions and determinations of their doctors and saints, in different ages and countries. These, altogether, exhibit a grotesque compound of contradictions, puerilities, heresies, idolatry, superstitions, and vileness in morals, such as never had match in heathen, or Mohammedan lands! And these, moreover, are all interwoven with a savage spirit of persecution. These councils ratified by that of Trent, invoke the sword of extermination against all who differ from Rome in religion. Nor does their fierce hatred pause at the gate of death. It pursues their victims into eternity; and standing up before the throne of the Eternal Judge, it utters its sentence of damnation on all who die out of its pale! The spirit and anathemas breathed out in the following pages, will reveal this melancholy disgrace on human nature, as still nursed in the Roman church.

Second, Having thus succeeded in making all the votaries of Rome as divers from Protestants; and their faith, as far separated from the faith of the true Church, as Anti-Christ is from CHRIST; or, as Belial is from GOD,-years were spent in gradually maturing a stupendous conspiracy against the Protestant Christian world. This conspiracy produced explosion after explosion in Europe. The war was to be waged to extermination against the Waldenses, and Albigenses of the ancient Apostolic Church against the Huguenots, even to the last man; and even against the last Bourbon who should favour them. Hence, as history tells us, Philip II. of Spain was to exterminate Henry IV. of Navarre. Hence the origin of the famous French League, at the head of which were the bloody traitor, the Duke of Guise, and his guilty associates. These were to aid Spain against Navarre, in the horrid tragedy. The first outbreak took place in 1572, in the atrocious massacre of St. Bartholomew, and the following civil wars which desolated that

land, and drenched it in Protestant and papal blood! Meanwhile, the emperor was to pour in his troops upon the Protestant cantons of the Swiss, and aid the papist cantons in massacring the followers of the immortal martyr Zuingle; who fell sword in hand, in defence of the liberty and religion of his country. Geneva was assigned to the Duke of Saxony, who was, under all penalties, to league with Rome. He was pledged not to leave alive a human being there-man, or woman, or child-who had forsaken Rome, and become a Christian Protestant. England and Scotland were to be overrun by Spain, and converted by fire and sword to Popery; or made one heap of smouldering ruins. Hence the Spanish Armada was constructed and sent to sea. But, God, who watched over Zion, breathed on it, and scattered it! And it sank like lead in the mighty waters! Then, the conspirators were to turn their arms upon that part of the European continent which lies between the Atlantic and the Baltic; and exterminate all the Lutherans, without sparing male, female, or infant'

To aid in this, each of the cardinals, bishops, and priests, engaged to contribute largely out of their revenues to institute this Crusade of extermination. And priests who had no means, were urged to go into the army, and aid in "this Holy War!" See the French author, Discours des Conjurations, &c., from 1565.

The character of the Trent fathers has been drawn not incorrectly, by some writers of their Own sect. Fra Paolo pronounced them very frankly, and we suppose truthfully, to be "A COUNCIL OF INCARNATE DEMONS!" They were proud, ambitious, sensual, immoral men. The pope's Legates presided: they allowed nothing like liberty of discussion. And often the most vio.. lent brawls and indecent scenes took place. One aged bishop rushed upon another bishop, at the

close of a speech, and tore a handful out of his beard. There were a few who seemed to respect religion. But these were usually hooted, and hissed into silence.

These canons and decrees were promulged as the creed and guide of "the Church;" while the Holy Bible was strictly prohibited in the vernacular of the people. And one thing is remarkable. These decrees were not to be subjected to private judgment, or private explanation: and no glosses or explanations were to be made on them, without the leave of the pope!

Finally, the reception of the Council of Trent was various. There was no UNITY on the matter. The papists of Germany, Venice, Savoy, and Portugal, received the decrees without an express limitation. They were received "with a caution" as to discipline, and the authority of their kings, by Spain, Naples, and Sicily. The council was never published in France notwithstanding all the attempts of Rome to effect it. The doctrinal canons were received by the French priests. But the king sustained the superior liberty of the Gallican church. In Scotland, the pope, Pius IV. used his best influences to induce Mary, Queen of Scots, to publish and enforce them. But the stern and successful Reformers there, prevented it. In England, no attempt of this kind was made. Queen Elizabeth, who, to use the pope's own words, "was excommunicated and damned” by the pope, would have caused any man to lose his head, who would have been bold enough to try it.

The original copy of THE ACTS of the Council of Trent has never seen the light. They were eized by Napoleon, in the Vatican, and sent to Paris. Mr. Bulter states, that "it is probable that they were restored to Rome, with the Restoration of Pope Pius VII. and of the Bourbon dynasty."

W. C. BROWNLEE.

THE DOCTRINAL

DECREES AND CANONS

OF THE

COUNCIL OF TRENT.

SESSION THIRD, HELD FEBRUARY 4, 1546.

The Creed of Faith.

"In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

"The sacred, holy œcumenical and general Council of Trent, lawfully assembled in the Holy Spirit, under the presidency of Cardinals De Monte, Santa Croce, and Pole, the three legates of the apostolic see;-considering the importance of the subjects to be discussed, and especially of those which are included in these two articles, the extirpation of heresies, and the reformation of manners, for which causes chiefly the council has been assembled ;moreover, acknowledging with the apostle, that its 'wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the spirits of wickedness in high places,' doth in the first place, after the example of the same apostle, Ι