The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-12-03

A Blind Butcher Restored to Sight by Touch
ing st. Stephens Thigh-bOne.
Luther afflicted with a sort Of ST
Vitus' Dance.
A WORD TO HIRAM KETCHUM.
A LECTURE,
Delivered In st. Peters Church, on Sunday
Evening, Dec. LIST, Is44.
By the Rev. c. Pise, ID.

TEXT Bat continue thou in The things chich thou hast learn
ed aud hast been assured Of knocing Of mhom thou hast
learned mem.-2nd Timothy 3rd chopter, l4h verse.
The exhortation addressed by the Apostle to
Timothy, is spoken to the ministers of the Church
in all ages. Its solemn warning comes to me
and to all my brethren who minister at the altar.
We are bound to hold the truth, and transmit it
with the strictest fidelity to Yemolest generations.
Among the dogmas which we are thus to teach
and guard with the most Jealous care, is that OF
the invocation Of the saints. In the former part Of
my argument in support Of this dogma, | have
proved that the practice OF invoking the Saints
was prevalent from the days OF the Apostles 1t is
necessary in proceeding to another branch OF the
argument, 10 remove every doubt and obscurlty
which may exist in Hmine. The Church does not
absolutely obge the faithful, under the penalty OF
being regarded as heretics, to pray to the Saints.
But the Church has merely decided, that TO
pray to the saints is useful and salutary act OF
devotion. Again, the Church does not pres
cribe to what SAINT you shall, and to what
saint you shall not pray. You may pray to all
the just in heaven-aot only 10 a canonized saint
mot merely to parsonage who has been placed
on the register of saints, and exhibited as model
for your imitation-but the church teaches you
that with the same propriety you may offer up your
prayer 10 your mother in heaven, TO your brother,
your wife, your husband, your friend, your child
and that they, il they be in heaven, can hear aad
aid you. What beautiful, consolatory, and sub
lime doctrine is this! II is what is meant in the
Apostles creed by "the Communion of Saints.'-
Lest some might regard me as not rigid enough in
my doctrine, will cite in vindicaion Of my
view tho words of one of the best modern authori-
ties in the church-the Bishop OF StIatzburgh-
"The Council Of Trent" says this great divine and
standard author, does not teach that it is neces-
sary, but simply, that it is good and useful to in
woke the saints Il does not impose upon US as a
general precept, to invoke them, but merely esta-
bllshes the utility of praying TO them; but he
who does not invoke them IS not therefore
hereto" This then Is the explanation OF this
tenet by one Of the best authorities in the Church
have already appealed to leading fathers in the
Church, and cited other individual opinions; will
now call them into convocatlon, and ask them
what they declare on this dogma | call then upon
the Council of Nice. where three hundred bishops
assembled, and the Council OF Calcedon, where Six
hundred bishops assembled. First call upon the
Council OF Nice. When mention that Council,
mention a Council whose authority il respected
and admitted by Christians of the present day, Of
almost every denOminatiOn-by the Lutherans, by
the Calvnsts, and certainly by the Church OF
England, which has Incorporated in her creed the
very doctrines adopted by this CouncIl-the " Nj
ceia a creed This Council convened in the
4th century, and was the first General Council not
taking into consideration the Council at Jerusa-
lem, held by the Apostles themselves. The spirit
OF the Council of Nice was 10 vlndlcate the dvi-
nifty Of Jesus Christ against the Arians who called
lt in question. 1t assembled at the city of Nce and
was convoked by the authority Of Sylvester. with
the appreciation of Constantine the great. Three
hundred Bishops attended, OF whom one of the
most venerable was ST. Cyril, Of Alexandria, the
Patriarch of that city. After they had decided the
great question of the divinity Of Christ, ST. Cyril
arose IN the midst OF those venerable psrsonages,
and appealing to the Holy Evangelist ST. John, has
left upon record testimony, not to be called III
question, to the proprety OF invoking the Saints,
and which was agreed 10, and concurred in by all
the Bishops assembled in that great council. These
are his words" Open this mystery, Holy Evan
gelist Tell US something grand and sublime =
You who are called the Son OF Thunder, commits
stoned to send the truth throughout the world,
see this assembly-this multitude Of persons con-
voked TO seek truth from the well OF llfe-en
able to draw from 1t after your example, or ra-
Their conduct to your own sprin2!' Thus we
fad ST. Cyrl addressing this solemn prayer to the
Notwithstanding on him TO assist in revealing
the doctrine which they had met to establish
Now how could this great Bishop have invoked
st. John, If st. John could not hear him How
could he have invoked St. John, il % invoke him
had nst been useful and sautary practice OF the
universal church? How could he have invoked
him, il to do SO were superstitous and idoatrous
Were those who had Just met 10 vindicate the di-
vinity OF Christ likely to fall into doatry? Were
those who had vndlcated the prerogatlves OF the
only mediator likely to der0gate from his merits ?
Thus, thee we have the example DIST Cyrl, prove
that this practice useful and salutary, and not at
all supersltious. But to strengthen this argument
in the minds of those belonging to other denomina-
tons, will call upon John Calvin Even he ad.
mits the authority OF the Council of Nice--he ad
mlts that II held In the golden days OF Chris-
tlanity," and recognises the statements and DEGREES
of that assemolage. 'Tnese ancient synods," he
knI Nina Lnro tulo 9th.
such, assembled 10 Combat errors, ! willingly en-
brace. "-lnstitutes, Book Nv. CHI 3. Unless, then,
the authority Of the Counci OF Nice, be- set alto
gether aside, we must believe that it indicated the
dogma OF invoking the saints. ! come now to tine
Council OF Calcedon, at which six hundred bishops
attended. Ia their midst there was also one, no
arose, and thus prayed TO saint: " The martyr
lives after his death-may the Father pray for us -
Calvin and all his followers, they be consIste nj,
must admit the authority also OF this council. Now
| would, with all possible respect, pace on one
side certain convention, held In the city OF PHI
ladel phia, and on the other side the venerable
councils of Nice and Cacedon and while one
hurls the thunderbolt of anathema against the
church, the others approve OF the doctrine, and
therefore condemn the useless and innocuous una
therna ! appeal again from that decision END
TO the three hundred bishops VI Nee and sx
hundred bishops OF Calc don .Tne tribunal held
the golden days OF christianity )" the other
modern day. | am sustained by the COUNCILS Of the
primitive times of Christianity, and what then il
be SO ncsusiously condemned guilty OF leading all
VINO near me iuto ldoldtry pass now IRON aICien
Kome-from Egyp-iIom Syria-ircm Grosce--,o Eng.
land, and hnd myself there amongst the Aug
he ancestry If many who inhabt the world al
this late period Dad they pray to the sents They did
fhe doctrine carried by missionaries IRON the city o. the
Seven Hills fad planted amongst the ancient Aug
and they also practised th dogma OF the church
Dr then quoted from the writings OF the venerable
bede Tor the purpose of showing that the practice Of
voking the prevailed in the ancient 'Irsh Church
and contended this additional proof Of the uni
versatility and apostolic authority OF the dogma now
enter Dr Pse continued on another argument that may
seem extraordinary II may appear to some, that III,
whole fabric Of my previous argument Will be upset BY
curing such proof that which about I,
submit But all ask to be heard fully, ngenuously
drpassonaely and after tue argument is concluded
may be regarded ridiculous in the 10Th century
Tor man to have MIRACLES in order prove
pray to the saints "a marked alton in the church
II the saints have wrought miracles alter death
evident that they do hear the prayers addressed
them by those in whose behalf The miracles wrought
IL is nen evident that God stomps with his eternal
Of appreciation the dogma OF invoking the saints Blu