The New York herald., 1845-01-13

thc carly reuneKo, ana the f'roct1ce Oh tne
Universal Church, Defended; and the Ca
Wis OF Modern Reformcrs Answered.
LECTURE DELivEnxD Rev. DR PIsE, IN ST. PETERS
CHURCH, SUNDAY, JAN IL, ls46.
Else vhat shall they dsyso bantizsd for III. dead if
NE dead rise not at aA Why they then bdptixed for
dead!-lst Corinthians, 18th chap 2pln
1t was my intention this evening to have entered
upon the scrptural arguments vindicating and con-
rmins the doctrine of praying for the dead; but on
investigating the subject, find that there still re
mains SO much traditionary proof, that il would
not be doing justice to the Importance of the sub
ect, were to pass it over in silence SBut what do
sayl Have notsbeen arguing in all my preceding
lectures, especially from the authority of The sacred
Scriptures contend that the whole form
OF my preceding arguments have been established
ano founded upon the authority Of the sacred
Scriptures; tor when quoleda the second book Of
Maccabees, where il is distinctly stated that .. II
- good and wholesome thought TO pray for the
dead, thar they may be loosed from their sins"- !
contend that quoted canonica Scripture For |
quoted mass OF evidence, il appears to me- suffi.
Gent 10 satisfy The most incredulous, that we have
ample testimony on which to found the canonicity
of The books OF the Maccabees; and that all the
arguments that have adduc-d In vindlcaton Of
the books OF the Mace 4bees are precisely The same
that any Christian must in viudica cation of any
portion of inspired Scripture. For il ask any
Christian why he believes inltheloook Of Genesis,
splratlon, he certainly must have recourse 10
the same mode of argument as | have used
In relation TO the books of the Maccabees-n or.
der to establish their canonicity-they must have
recourse 10 tradition, and enquire whether their
predecessors believed so-whether the fathers OF
the church in primitive ages admitted them, and
whether the universal church in the present ages
OF Christianity said they were OF divine inspra-
i'm md ~ mo hnA hvno -
the canonlcity OF the books of the Maccabees,
contend then have every right to argue from them
as canoaical and inspired, and no individual OF
any other religious denomination has just right to
dispute my claim, and my arguments founded
upon them as divinely inspired books But i,
is said that there are lnsuperable objections to the
canonicty ofthese books. In like manner the inf
del raises his voice and proclams that there in
objections against the other books of the
holy Scriptures Not therefore, because objections can
% offered are we TO- reectmuch less repudiate theil
books recognized canoncal by all are much
than those advanced against the divine inspiration
books Of the Maccabses what though they are moi
found in the Canon of Esdras and rejected by the
authority Of the synagogue1 How could they be ouns
in the Canon Of Esdras; when they not brought
they were rejected BY the Synagogue it was because
they not in that Canon. con-end therefore, tha,
II = more pru lent and consistent with the prn
ciples Of Christianity to admit these books on the a
thorisy of the church, than to reject them on the
authority Of the Synagogue. And have proved from
third Council 81 Carthage, and Others Of unquestioned
veraciy that these books admitted that they were
primitive Church; and therefore, in following the exam
pie Of the early Church, adherng to doctrine and
usage to which am entitled to adhere the present
day But let us over their canoncity us take
them again, a. said before, mere books Of historic
evidence and believe can produce sufficient argument
and 70 be q Of most exalted authority nd
that they were held IN the highest veneration from the
sa.iss, thine. IN ssa M they are nov O. suthoryto use
Canoncal Books-with regard to HE and manners,
and SO respected BY Protestant. Of every denomna.
spected by st. Paul himself more by the Son Of
God Jesus Christ-then there lie Christian Who will
most venerable kind and should not he rejected Al least
high historic evidence st Paul. in the lh chapter OF
the epstle to the Hebrews, commencing with the 35b
the particulars Of the tortures these martyrs endured and
in so doing makes use Of the very term in the Greek
which refers the narrative onlyo be found ID tho books
OF the Maccabees. Others were tortured. y he saws
Ec that they %s
good report through faith, received not the pro.
mise G,d having provided some better thing rior
u.s. that they without should not be made perfect
chapter 27 verse; you will fnd st. Paul refers to the
martrydom Of the cradle Ee war which Ia me TONED
by the author OF the Maccabees and in the chapter 80
Of I'd Maccabces You will find from the prayer of
Eeazar this doctrine established And that this is no far
fetched attempt at argument you may be sat fo
the editors Of the ancient Genoese edition Of the
Bible admit the reference of st. Paul to the pas are in
Msccabees and p them together ackno wedgipg that
st. Paul did here really refer to the event and
of the martrydom OF Eleazar the authority Of th
hook OF the Maccabees Consequently we fnd st Psul
quoting historically the books Of the Maccabss II this
So II We find st Paul quoting them and appaudne the
conduct OF Eleaz what will prevent me from quoting the
books OF the Maccabees, applaudng the conduct OF
iadas Maccaosus; and he: ! am informed in thA book
who had fought ny in, the cause Of their country
And the author OF these books after narrating that i'm
A wholesome fnrt thod dood
they may be loosed from their sns and therefore, on
This authority merely a. an historic reference alone
urge the argument that "it is good and wholesome
thought to pray for the Dead" sc. And il be 80. il
cannot be for the dead in heaven we pray nor II nno,
IN middle hsrs Ua, 0s n.9 ,ae S dead
middle state-or what we style by the name Of Pnr.
sstory. But ! saia that net only Saint Paul
made reference to these books but that our divine a
vior himself established their authority and vindicated
by his own example, the proprety OF complying with
only in the books Of the Maccabees / refer vou to
the hrt book Maccabees, to different portions Of
the 4h chapter commenting with the 44h verse; 1t re.
Secondly to the purfcation of that altar by the rites
and ceremonies religion Thirdly by anew dedication
festival in honor Of that event. and then will show Won
from the New Testament that divine Savior Jesus
Christ went in person to the temple and celebrated that
anniversary established bv no authority but that OF the
books Of the Maccabees Dr Pse here read several
from the Maccsbees 90 above quoted and then
Here then there s festival to be
for the Jewish people, and do we an
Of the establishment Of this festival but IN the
books OF the Maccabees Now il Aud that the Jews
even before the subversion Of the synagogue
this celebration and that Divine Saviour ss
must It not follow that these books were respected by
them and even our Lord himself thought proper to COM
ply with the injunction nowhere but BY these
books, which are now denied BY all other denominations
as Of anthOriy Turn to the 10th chapter Of ST. Johns
gospel 2at and asa verses where the Evangelist saws
was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication and
It was winter And Jesus walked In the temple in solo.
mons porch1" This feast of dedication thef sti
val enacted and recorded as have read and
upon no authority other than that Of the Maccabess The
festival then continued to be observed and here We
have our divine Saviour himself condescending TO cee
brate it and where do learn was established Not
in any Of those books said to he inspired by those who
differ rem us but in the Maccabees and therefore tho
conclusion must strike every candid mind, and con.
vim every true enquirer that the hooks o the Maoca
bees were OF the highest respectable ty Of the highest
authority and referred TO by st rau and our sayiou,
himself Now these books which established the dedca
toa OF the Altar, and madeth sval sacred and ob
ghory a. to be perpetuaed i, books I say, inform
me- that Judas Maccabeua, the brave and enlightened
General Of the jewish people. who knew well
that his religion would disdsn superstition hs
vas true to his country and 20 his God he vent to the
and had sacrlf