Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-19
Fyom The ProtestGHs PiadieGtor.
THE TERN ROMAN CATHOLIC.

yindicator Of April2O, BY DR.. Brownlee,
respecting the constant use of the words
aRoman Catholic Church" in his wri-
tings concerning Popery, and ! candidly
confess that am not satisfied either with |
Bis practice Or his defence Of il. The
former believe TO be improper, and the L
lafter Is not convincing. Its admitted
that the terms Roman Catholic, In the
way in which DR.. Brownlee has explain-
edthem, are contradictory; but the fact is
this, they are never used or understood in
that sense by any protestants or papists.-
Recently prctestants have used the title
BY q mischievous courtesy, to express all |
persOnswho Acknowledge the supremacy
ofthe Pope; and papists mean by that APP
pellafive, that Roman Catholics are ex-
elusively the followers Of the Lord Jesus
Christ and that they comprise all the
Christians in the world. In my view,
both those defnitiors are highly excep-
tionahle; and DR.. Brownlee's exploitation
does not at all relieve my objections, but
rather strengthens them. because he does
not adopt then-in any sense in which they
are commonly apprehended. Let us con-
siderthis topic. . 80 .-."
I. Cizreh There is no more gospel,
in my view, and no more sense, in apply.
ing the word church to the papists, or in
the use ofthe phrases the Roman Caiho-
lie Church, and the Church Of Rome, than
there Is in talking of the Mohammedan
Church, or the Hindoo Church, or the
Church Of Ccnfucius, or the Church of
Japan. That the Greek word Ecclesia,
means any assembly is true; but the term
isnot 80 used, nor is it SO understood by
any persons IN reference to popery. When
we speak Of "a church in modern balance,
and especially in didactic or polemical
theology, we intend by the word a body of
the faithful disciples Of the Lord Jesus
Christ and that is the only sense in which
the word is applied in the New Testament
inits strict ecclesiastical meaning, and to
which, in all religious controversies, it
must evidently be restricted. The titles,
the Roman Catholics Church &the Church
Of Rome, therefore imply, that popery is
still an Integral part Of the Church of
Christ, which position DR.. Brownlee most
strenuonsly denies. Therefore contend
that the term church, as applied to the
Romanists, is not only fallacious, but that
It's haught with evil, and directly sane
tons their fundamental heresy, the usurp-
ed supremacy and infallibility ofthe Pope
upon which Babylon the Great is erected
q Roman Catholic. cannot perceive
ia this phrase either the contradiction OIL
the absurdiiy to which DR.. Brownlee al
ludes. II i meant nothing more than tha
/. . man is one Of the universal multitude
: who acknowledge that the Roman Pom
tiff Is sVicar Of Christ and God upor
EARTH" | should not disapprove oft.
The objection is in the appropriation o
theterm Catholic; which from long usag,
implies a member Of Christs universe
church, OF which church a Papist canno
be acknowledged a consistent member
neither in doctrine, ritual, profession, no
morals. II DR.. Brownlee were under
stood only according to his own ,explana
ton, It would be Of no consequence. Blu
he neither Is, nor Is it possible he ever cal
be apprehended according to his owl
CONSTRUCTION Of the terms; because the We
ry words themselves in their legitimat
sense will not admit ofthat definition
/. The term Roman Catholic means that
man is Christian believer after the fah
and usages ofthe Court Of Rome--wheth
erthere is more or less or how much {
Christianity in the contradictory nonsens
isnot demanded; but that the man is a di:
ciple Of Jesus in some sense is admitted i
the very adoption Of the term. Il is Their,
fore eyidentto me, that to use theterms Rc
man Catholics, Roman Catholic Churcl
and Church Of Rome, counteracts all e
forts against Popery. am also convint
ed, that five would efficiently combat Ii
Jesuits, we must 90 back both to the spir
and the language ofthe Reformers of Il
Sixteenth Century. The term Romani
is good. because Il expresses thatthe pc
son Is q devotee ofthe Pontif of Rome;-
asa Mohammedan declares that he is
follower ofthe Arabian impostor; but ii
term Catholic, has always been used I
designate member Of the mystical bod
ofGhfisl. A genuine Papist is an. Idol
tor an lncessant transvressor of the fir
great commandment: and therefore il
equally objectionable to use the name R
niah Catholics. as i would be to talk
Pagan Catholics, or Juggernathan Gait
olics; and there is no more Dronrietv
abe phrases Roman Catholic C6u-c6
Church Of Rome, than there Is IN the !,
ties Brahman Catholic Church, or Il
Church OF Mecca. 80 d
-nna9.l II SrIcK TO THE TExr.
Secenih Commandment Society.-W
shall present full account Of the We