The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-02
AurieuIar COnfession-Stnrtiing Strides o
Puyseyism-Thc Church, In Danger.

AurieuIar COnfession-StArtIin Strides of
Puyseyism-Thc Church In Danger.
One OF the principal and fundamental differences
which have formed the subject of issue and
controversy between the Protesants and Catho-
hes, ever since the Reformation of Luther, las
been auncular confession. The latter have through
thick and through thin, through evil report and good
report IN times of adversely well as in times of
prosperity, maintained, and at this very hour
maintain and defend, that aurlcular confession OF
sin is OF divine origin, without which the church
OF which they are members would not be the one
holy and apostolic church of God, which they in
slst II The Protestants, the contrary claim
ing the same spiritual head as the Catholics claim,
maintained for centuries that auricuar confession
was of human origin; that 1t had not divine
sanction; but on the contrary, that 1t was an In
vention Of the wicked priests, to obtain master
ship ever the inward thoughts, as well as the
actions, of the people composing the hocks under
their charge.
slight glance al the subject will show that In
the discussion OF both sides of this question: there
Is an abundance of room for controversy, argu-
ment, and the application of biblical knowledge
Nor has this room been unoccupied-oceans of ink
and torrents of dIsputatlon have been poured out
by the holders of the affirmative and negative of
The proposition whether auncular confession was
was or was not of divine origin. Nay, the dis.
putants ON both sides have gone further than the
harmless waste Of ink and breath. The sword has.
ere this, been sought as an arbiter to decide the
vexed question. Brother has been arrayed against
brother, father against son, son against
mother yea, hundreds of our fellow creatures
have been hanged, drawn and quartered-have
been burned at the stake-have had their hearts
tern from their qulvering bodies, and savagely
thrust down their threats, because forsooth, they
believed the institution Of auricular confession to
be of divine origin; while their tormentors-those
who inflicted these monstrous and inhuman pu-
Misunderstanding the contrary, thought that in
doing so, and vindicating In this barbarous way
the reverse of the proposition, they were doing
service to the great Governor and Ruler Of the
Universe.
Yes, it was through pure love of God, that
great ncomprehensible being, in all of whose
works love, harmony and beauty are the distin-
gushing characteristcs--it was In his alteration
and 10 elorify his name, as well as to exercise an
influence over the heather, and to promote among
them the benign and heavenly principles of faith,
hope and charity, that these atrocious crimes
against all religion, and direct contradiction OF
all love and charity, were committed. In Gods
name what vllany, what brutality, what atrocty
what worse than vandalism, or any thing that the
most fendsh imagination could invent has not
been perpetraied under the cloak and with the pre-
tence Of UNFOLDING that religion which breaches
"peace on earth and good will to men,
But, has the question of the divine origin OF au-
rlcular confession been yet settled This is the
inquiry that the candid and unpreJudced mind
will make
No; IT has not been setled-on the contrary, i,
is TO this hour quest,o verata between the respec
i've dfsputants. There Is, however, some con-
ISOLATION in knowing that the question is
nearer a settlement than II ever was, as may
be gathered from the signs OF the times
which have been developed to a great ex-
tent, we dare claim, by the tolerant and human
izng spirit OF the age-that spirit being evoke ed by
the rapid progress in civilization which has marked
the history Of the world during the last fifty years
Mankind having, after the lapse of centuries, dis
covered that il was not the intention of their
Creator that nation should be arrayed against ma
ton in continual wariare--that their mission on
earth comprised something more than the cutting
OF human throats-setled down In peace, the re-
suit OF which was the cultivation of the arts OF
peace, instead OF those Of war; the promotion OF
mans comfort on earth during his limited stay
there, instead of the devlsng OF means to shorten
his existence. The result of this new order of
things has been a greater degree of forbearance
towards each other; stronger disposition TO over
look each others faults; the advancement of the
arts and sciences; the smelioration OF mans all.
ments and suiierings; the advancement of the
species in all that is good for our temporal well
fare; and though last, not least spirit Of charity
IN fuller and wider sense than ever before exist
ed. The effect Of all this has been, to make man.
knd more thoughtful; 10 make them more ia.