"It is a generally received opinion that the church of Rome is not so wicked now as she was in former ages. I am of a different opinion. I believe her wickedness is greater now than ever it was, and that it will continue to increase to the end. It is true, she does not now exhibit, in general, such gross immoralities as we read of in her history. The knowledge that is now diffused over Europe will not permit things to be done, which were openly practised in the days of darkness. But the existence of this knowledge aggravates the wickedness of those who shut their eyes against it; and what are apparently less enormities committed in the present day, may be greater sins than greater enormities were in former days; for sins committed against knowledge are greater than sins of ignorance, Christ told the scribes and Pharisees, that if he had not spoken to them they had not had sin: they had been comparatively guiltless, they would not have had the sin of rejecting him, which was the greatest of which they could be guilty. This applies to the members of the church of Rome, especially such of them as live in Protestant countries. Some apology may be made for those who lived in the darker ages, and even for those who live at this day in the heart of Spain, where the dense atmosphere of a cruel superstition will not permit one ray of heavenly light to reach the benighted understanding. What can poor sinners do in these circumstances, but trust implicitly to their ghostly fathers, whose interest it is to keep them in darkness? They are sinners, no doubt; and they must perish in their sins, unless divine mercy shall find them out, in spite of their priests, and discover to them the way of salvation. But the wickedness of these is not to be compared to the wickedness of those who live within the sphere of divine illumination, and who shut their eyes against the light."

Ac

"Rome itself cannot altogether exclude the light that now shines in our hemisphere. But Rome will not come to the light, lest her deeds should be reproved. Rome loves the darkness, and not the light, because her deeds are evil. Light has come, light is shining all around; but Rome will not have it: she prefers the darkness;—her language is, Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.' cordingly, the pope has prohibited the formation of Bible societies, and the circulation of the word of God. This is greater wickedness in him, than it would have been in the popes of the dark ages; because the dispensations of divine Providence, and the enlightened state of the public mind, should have taught him better. Maintaining the old superstitions and idolatries, while the light of divine truth is shining around, while the gospel of the grace of God is urged upon them, the Papists of the present day are more wicked than their fathers. The church of Rome is filling up the measure of her iniquities, until the wrath come upon her to the uttermost. Amicus Veritatis will call this bigotry, and uncharitableness. A bigot let me be, if I shall be the means of convincing them of their error, of showing them that they are in the way of destruction, of leading them to renounce all dependance upon fellow-creatures, and to trust in Christ alone for the salvation of their souls. What interest can they have, unless they are priests, in propping up the crazy fabric of Romish superstition, which is an enemy to all social and personal comfort? It is the system that holds both the bodies and souls of men in bondage; and wherever it

prevails, thick darkness covers the people. To the general diffusion of knowledge, popery is hostile. He, therefore, who supports the popish system, is an enemy to the temporal as well as the eternal welfare of his fellow-creatures; and he brings the displeasure of God upon himself." These manly, convincing, and evangelical remarks, clearly unfold the importance and necessity of the present work. Upon no subject does the public mind in America require to be more thoroughly awakened, than upon the principles and effects of popery in all their widespread influence. Were it merely a system of delusion, leading men astray from "the paths of piety and peace," without endangering their eternal welfare, it would be for that cause alone a bounden duty in every Christian to adopt all the legitimate and heaven-ordained means to counteract its progress, and to shorten its existence. But popery enters into all the minutest investigations of the human character, and explores the most secret recesses of domestic society, not less than it assumes to govern nations, and control the world. Therefore, its extraordinary usurpations require to be scrutinized, and its arrogant claims to be impartially examined, that it may be ascertained, whether they are the appointment of Jehovah, or the machinations of that dragon who gave the beast, "his power, and his seat, and great authority." Rev. 13: 2. To this important controversy, Mr. McGavin brought a heart deeply solicitous for the everlasting salvation of impenitent sinners; a conscience tenderly impressed with the sanctity and obligations of revealed truth; an understanding fraught with sterling evangelical doctrines; a treasury of historical knowledge which enabled him to develope "the mystery of iniquity;" a fortitude which was not daunted by the most unjust and sleepless opposition, and an unintermitting ardour which lost none of its intenseness, until the discomfiture and disappearance of his last popish enemy, rendered it superfluous longer to protract a conflict, in which he was "more than conqueror through him that loved us."

The preliminary letters in one of the public journals of Glasgow, which occupy a concise portion of the first volume were preserved to show the origin and progress of the controversy. As it was inconvenient longer to continue the discussion through the medium of a newspaper; and as a peculiar interest was discovered in the energetic assault which was made upon the battlements of "Babylon the great," Mr. McGavin judiciously resolved to issue a series of weekly essays, which should contain a review in a popular form, of all the prominent topics that are controverted between the Protestants and the Romanists. He continued his most acceptable and edifying, but gratuitous labours, during four years; for the larger portion of which period, no advocate for popery appeared either to repel his arguments or to deny his facts. Whether a Christian who "puts on the whole armour of God, that he may be able to stand against the wilės of the devil, and that he may fight the good fight of faith, lay hold upon eternal life, and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints," is necessarily a persecutor, and personally inimical to his Romish opponents, is unequivocally decided by the example of Mr. McGavin; for the whole pecuniary advantages arising from the continual labours of this faithful servant of the Redeemer and the church militant, were generously appropriated to the support of those benevolent institutions, by which the Papists themselves were extensively benefited!

The earlier numbers of the Protestant are more desultory than those which were written after the author had silenced all his cavillers; and after his experience had taught him the advantages and the necessity of displaying popery as it is, in all its native turpitude. A large portion of the papal dominions has been delineated by this Christian surveyor, and no Protestant can accompany him in his exploring tour without being amply instructed and edified.

It is not designed in this introductory essay to expatiate upon the topics which are reviewed by this enlightened advocate of the reformation. But a concise analysis will enable all persons to comprehend the spirit and value of a work, the republication of which in this country was indispensable, and which will indubitably constitute an important circumstance in the annals of American popery. The success which attended The Protestant, when first issued in Glasgow, is a remarkable proof of the mighty effects which can be produced by the unceasing promulgation and enforcement upon public attention, of impressive doctrines and startling facts. At first, its Roman opponents appeared in great array; then they displayed strong indignation; they next proceeded to propagate every species of falsehood and reproach; and finally, they entangled the author in a lawsuit. Through the chicanery that still constitutes a part of that system of litigation which was originally invented by the monks of the dark ages, his papal adversaries contrived to procure a verdict against Mr. McGavin, contrary to common sense, truth, and Christianity. But during this proceeding, all his opposing combatants had vanished; and he continued to prolong the discussion until the prostration of his antagonist, not only in Glasgow, but also in London and Dublin, and throughout Britain and Ireland, by his magnanimous exertions, partially diminished the interest which had been felt in the popish controversy, and he therefore terminated his labours. During four years he had written a weekly essay, the immense circulation of which has probably tended more to awaken Protestants to their danger, from the resuscitation of popery, and to perplex the wily Roman ecclesiastics and Jesuits, in their endeavours to compete and subjugate the inhabitants of those islands, than all the other works which have been presented to the public, during the preceding century. Similar results may assuredly be anticipated from the dissemination of the Protestant in this country; because it displays the Roman hierarchy and the peculiar Roman craft with the minutest and most faithful accuracy, and holds them up unveiled in all their loathsomeness before the Christian community. We therefore devoutly bid these volumes, God speed!

Many persons who are unacquainted with popery are beguiled by its advocates to believe, that it is a part of Christianity, and in alliance with it; and while they admit that there are many appendages to the original gospel, yet they suppose that these traditional errors and vices may safely be tolerated, as merely harmless superstitions! This either betrays the truth, or is a painful evidence of the enemy's deceptions. Popery is antichrist, opposed to Christ in every point: and hence the controversy with the Romanists is coextensive with the whole evangelical economy in its instructions, requirements, and government. Consequently, this discrepancy is not less multiform, and the points of division are not less numerous, than the entire range of Christian

thought and operation. This opposition satisfactorily explains the causes why the papal controversy combines such multifarious topics, and why it has been so long protracted. The conflict never can be terminated, until one of the combatants is utterly vanquished and slain; or rather until that terrific vision of the Apostle John shall be actually exemplified, in the overthrow of the entire antichristian system, and the traitors in arms against the Lord Jesus Christ. "I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together, to make war against him that sat on the horse," the KING OF KINGS and Lord of LORDS, "and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the work of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Rev. 19: 19, 20.

Having replied to his opponents, corrected their misrepresentations, and refuted their heresies; Mr. McGavin commences his fourth number with a discussion concerning the authority and power of the pope; his infallibility; the alleged supremacy of Peter; the intolerance of popery; the doctrine of indulgences for sin, as combined with the Romish discipline and excommunication; the cruelty of Roman priests; and the permission which is granted by the popes to violate the most solemn covenants and oaths. These topics, with a variety of collateral subjects, and many incidental illustrations, occupy twenty-one numbers; which are replete with Christian truth, convincing argument, and powerful historical facts. Very interesting and attractive are these essays; and to persons who have not studied the earlier history of popery, they will thoroughly unfold some of the atrocities with which it is chargeable, in those ages and countries where it has long exercised uncontrolled

sway.

These various subjects having been elucidated, the author commences a course of topics in a more regular form. Five numbers are devoted to that peculiar feature of the Roman policy; the "not keeping of faith with heretics." And with a masterly pencil, Mr. McGavin has exposed the odious duplicity and perjury, which popery not only tolerates but enjoins; combining with his other facts, a concise but impressive specimen of that perfidious profligacy, which ever has characterized the JESUITS.

The thirtieth essay introduces that very important subject;—“the church of Rome withholds the Bible from the common people." This examination is continued through nine successive numbers, and includes a large fund of invaluable scriptural instruction, of incontrovertible argument, and numerous historical testimonies of various kinds, which cannot be too extensively promulged in our republic. All our boasted civil institutions and religious immunities are founded upon the authority of the sacred volume, which is "the light of our feet, and the lamp of our path." The general diffusion of the Bible, the Roman priests have always strenuously endeavoured to interrupt. And the HOLY RECORDS themselves, when they have the opportunity, they destroy with equal constancy and zeal, in the United States, as they do in Spain, and Italy, and Ireland. This single fact, if no other could be adduced, is amply sufficient to excite the unwearied diligence of every patriotic citizen, no less than of every Christian to impede the VOL. I.-B

progress of the papal system which invariably despoils all its deluded followers of "the glorious gospel of the ever blessed God." Mr. McGavin's volumes on this topic, cannot be too closely studied by every American citizen.

From this unchristian attempt by the Roman priests to extinguish the light which came down from heaven, the author of the Protestant proceeds to unfold that great work of darkness which abrogate the first and second commandments. This melancholy but prolific subject, comprises twelve numbers, in which the church of Rome is convicted of the grossest kind of idolatry.-To these persons who have not access to the immense number of volumes containing the Papist legends, this portion of the work will be not less astounding, than painful. An array of fabulous tales is introduced, which demonstrates, to use the language of the Apostle Paul, (2 Thess. 2: 9, 10, 11,) that Romanism is a compound of "lying wonders, all deceivableness of unrighteousness and strong delusions;" and which coerce the application of one decisive question; can a system which nullifies the fundamental law of God, and which, outstripping even Pagan abominations, substitutes saint, image, and relic worship, for that spiritual devotion which he requires, possibly be in communion with the church of Christ? What agree ment hath the temple of God with idols?" This exposition of the idolatrous system of Rome is rich in evangelical truth, and enlivened by very pertinent narratives which are extracted from the books sanctioned by the papal infallibility; and which are published to the world by the Roman authors, as undeniable facts. As these fabrications, worthless in every honest man's estimation, are all believed by the disciples of the pope and his priests, it exactly fulfils the appalling prophecy recorded in 2 Thess. 2: 11, 12. They believe THE LIE, that they all may be damned who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unright

eousness.

Four miscellaneous essays follow, in which the important question; "who is the Saviour of sinners?" is answered; and Mr. McGavin proves, that popery is one entire revolting system of "lying and imposition." The force of argument, and the strength of evidence displayed in this short discussion, are not surpassed by any other section of the work; and especially in reference to the conviction which is produced upon the mind by the impressive delineation.

The author next proceeds to combat the absurdities of Romish transubstantiation and the idolatry of the mass, in a series of thirteen well written and luminous essays. Among the remarkable facts which are adduced respecting this topic, no one is more interesting than the extract of a speech by Earl Grey; which affords a curious but melancholy specimen and confirmation of the truth; that men may enjoy splendid talents, and attain to much worldly knowledge, and yet remain profoundly ignorant of the very first principles of Christianity.

The seven numbers that follow, are of a more miscellaneous character, which comprise numerous facts exhibiting popery in various aspects "the conformity of popish idolatry with heathenism; Patrick's purgatory; the danger which attaches to the intermarriages of Protestants with Papists; the ceremonies which are connected with the baptism of bells; and various absurd superstitions that still exist among the Papists in Scotland and Ireland."