and correct knowledge of the late conflict of the church with the French government. "Vaticanism," by Hon. Willian E. Gladstone; "The Age of Reason," by Thomas Paine, invaluable to all seekers of truth, and in reasoning unanswerable; and other well-known writers, to whom the reader will see I have been greatly, yes, well-nigh wholly indebted, and acknowledge my indebtedness and obligations in this manner rather than by detailed references. The second part contains more of my own reflections on the subjects discussed which I have endeavored to treat in a respectful manner, and with kindly regard for the religious education and feelings of those who find spiritual consolation in the teachings of their respective denominations. CONTENTS Page THE PAPAL ATTACK ON FRANCE TOGETHER WITH THE PAPAL AGGRESSION IN FRANCE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR OTHER NATIONS ARE THE CLAIMS AND TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MORALS OF THE JESUITS ADAPTED TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR FEDERAL REPUBLIC? ALSO SOME UNRELIABLE BRIEF SUMMARY OF TEXT-BOOK OF A POPERY S to the record and practices of popes, cardinals, bishops, and priests during the past fifteen centuries, among the interesting and instructive books treating of these is one published the last century, entitled, "The American Text-Book of Popery," being an authentic compend up to that time of the bulls, canons, and decretals of the Roman hierarchy.* It is regretted that only a limited space can here be given to a work of years, containing an enormous amount of valuable information on matters concerning the Roman Catholic Church. The first chapter opens with "Predictions of the Anti-Christian Apostates," and treats of the worship of images, the supremacy of the pope, transubstantiation, penance and purgatory, celibacy, etc.; but as these subjects are taken up later on we proceed to the next chapter, on " The Origin and Progress of the Popedom," from the first century to the Reformation, showing how, when, where, and by whom popes were made in the past, something of their lives, authority claimed and exercised, of which little is known by the majority of mankind, Protestants and Catholics alike, and especially the latter. *Published by Griffiths & Simon, 114 North Third Street, Philadelphia; George G. Jones, Cincinnati; Robert Carter, New York, 1847. THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE POPEDOM It must be recollected, as of the utmost moment in the controversy with papists, that none of the authors of the New Testament, neither Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, nor Peter himself, nor Paul, nor James, nor Jude, nor John, even in his prophecies adverting to the condition and state of Christians until "the holy city, New Jerusalem, shall come down from God out of heaven, and the tabernacle of God shall be with men " - not one of those inspired writers gives us the least intimation concerning the universal pontificate of Peter; his journeys and residence at Antioch and Rome; his bishopric at Antioch, and his episcopate at Rome during twenty-five years; which facts are utterly impossible according to Scriptural chronology; the acts of Peter at Rome; his pontifical throne; his contest with Simon Magus; his appointment of a successor; and the place and time of his martyrdom. But if all those topics cannot be demonstrated the foundation of the papacy is destroyed. The first emission of all the legends respecting Peter's residence and bishopric at Rome was by Jerome, in his translation of the chronicles of Eusebius. In fact, nothing certain is known, or can yet be discovered, respecting the apostles and their immediate successors, except the narratives or intimations in the New Testament. In addition to that fact, which overthrows the usurped pontifical authority, not one expression or implication respecting transubstantiation, the sacrifice of the mass, the adoration of the host, communion in one kind, image worship, Mariolatry, the invocation of saints, auricular confession, papal indulgences, purgatory, the celibacy of priests, etc., or any other |