True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-15

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lustration of the close and indiss1lubls
union of the Romish Church with the
State-Of the oneness of her religion and
her politics. Against her assumptions Of
temporal power not less than against her
ecelesiastical abuses and usurpations was
the spirit Of the Reformation reused. II
was part Of the mission of Protestantim'
to break the spirit Of this influence, to give
men civil liberty as the basis of spiritual
freedom. The famous Protest addressed
to the Diet Of Spires in 1929, which gives
the name of PROTESTANT to the follow
ers Of the new Faith, denounces, in its very
first paragraph, this arbitrary usurpation
of civil power Luther, at the gate Of
Wittenberg, declared: The Pope has
three crowns; the first is against God, for
he condemns religion; the second is against
the Emperor, for he condelns the secular
power; the third is against society, for he
condemns marriage To his followers he
said, IF you do not contend with your
whole heart against this impious govern
ment of the Pope, you cannot bs saved
Again, speaking, in letter to Melancthon,
Of the dangers and abuses of this double
despotism, he says, thus Satan is always
harping on the same string, and tho
strength of the civil power is the only one
which the myriad-wiled spirit is able to end
against Jesus Christi ~. N,<
Even the mild Melancthon said the
great cause of our grief is, that the law Of
the POntifs and the reign!of the Pope not
only endanger the souls of men but TO
vive them temporarily In his defence
before the Diet Of Worms, Luther said -
'The human doctrines and laws Of the
popes entangle, torment and vex the
consciences of believers, while the crying
and perpetual extortions Of Rome swallow
up the wealth and riches of Christendom.'
Thus is this American principle of hostili.
ty to the monstrous pretensions and world.
wide usurpations of Popery so fully accor.
dant with the spirit Of the Reformation
of Professionalism, that it does but echo
the solemn warnings and the lofty pstri.
otism that, in their hour of trial, burst
from the hearts Of their immortal champi.
ons.
Speaking of the Reformation, Mr.. Wise
says: The translation of the Bible was the
chief engine in the great work 1t wss
thrown open to all ranks and conditions to
own and to read He speaks exultingly
of its influence and power. Yes, for ages
the Romish Church had shut this fount alp
Of light from the people. But, during bis
captivity in the Castle of Wartburg, Lu.
ther was preparing to unseal it. The day
of his release he finished his translation Of
the new Testament. The people, tired Of
scholastic theology, eagerly welcomed the
simple Christianity which thus arose from
the oblivion of centuries.
The Reformation now left the Church
and the cloister to make it's abode in the
hearts and at the hearths Of the people.
But as they rejoiced, Rome trembled.
The tiara of the papacy was shaken by the
roar Of their exultation. The priest in his
confessional, and the prince in his palace,
were startled at the sound. The dominion
of both is threatened--Each arouses to the
rescue. 1fTrpth is established, their pow
er is departed. The Reformer work-ths
peoples hope-is doomed. The king Of Eng.
land denounces it. Bavaria. Brandep.
burg, Saxony, and all the states in vasal,
age to the Vatican, decreed that svcry
copy of the Bible shall be seized by the
magistrates. .-Sacriligious bonfres blass
with the sacred pages but the deep heart
of the people is touched and quiokened,
and the mysterious power that gives energy
to their faith battles the reach of their uey-
secutors.
Thus did Papal Rome essay to stihe the
renovated Faith as fifteen hundred years
before pagan Rome had sought to crush
that Greed in its birth-hour. Since it decree,l
Luthcrs Bible to the flames it has abatei
nothing Of its hatred to tho Book that op.
poses its simple and sublime truths to the
traditions of the fathers and the author.
ties of Councils. Pope Plus TX. in his
evangelical letter, says, THE absurd doc.
trine or rawlings in defence Of liberty Of
conscience, is most pestilential error-a
!, pest of all others most to be dreaded in !
) State" Thus Papacy would shut light
. from her victims. Her weapon in dark
4 ness. Her power is the ignorance of he,
t subjects, Shall America nourish, will
: Freedoms blood, this spawn of despotisms
k Has she not sought to Danish that Bibl,
: from our Common Schools? Our schools
f the boast, the glory of our system, tn,