American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-06-14
ESTABLISHED IN 1926

hrs spittle, and touches, first, the ears.
saying. "Ephphatba" his nostrils,
saying, "unio the odour Of sweetuess."-
''Be thou put to fight, o Devil" And
when baptized, white cloth is put on his
head, and candle in his hand. Now
whence allthese things? Is this heathen
ceremony, or Christian baptism?
' Bad as all this is, il Is strong com
monsense when compared with your
corruption Of the Lords Supper
The brea4' and wine are rejected for a
wafer-that wafer is converted into God
the wafer God is first worshipped, and
then eatenl And TO believe all this shows
great exal;ation Of faith and piety! Some
things would appear very pious were they
not so absurd and ludicrous.
Now, sir, how far this multiplication
aud corruption Of the sacraments of the
Christian religion enters into the question,
whether or not yours is a church Of Christ,
l submit again to your own decision.
Nor have you permitted single leading
doctrine ofthe Bible to escape your efforts
to prevent them.
The Bible holds up one God as the sole
object of religious worship. You teach
US to worship the Virgin-the host-the
cross; and to adore angcls-departed saints
--relics-and even pictures.
The Bible teaches that our only access
TO God is through a Redeemer, Jesus
Christ, who is made unto US of God, wis
dom and righteousness end sanctifcation.
and redemption, and that through faith in
his name we are made partakers Of the
blessing OF his work Of redemption. You
teach that there are other intercessors to
whom we must apply-that our own works
are efficacious TO save us-that the sacra-
ments have inherent power to save-that
faith in Christ is not the true method of
Justification
= The Bible teaches that we must be born
again, created anew by the Holy Ghost
This You denounce as false and accursed
doctrine, and teach US that we are regen-
Grated by baptism, and kept in state Of
salvation By confirmation, confession, pen
ance. fas.s and aims.
The Bible plainly teaches that when we
die We go TO heaven or to hell, like Lazarus
and the rich man, that our probation is
confined 10 the present state. You teach
us that there is third state, Purgatorv,
where souls are purified from the stains of
venial sins, and thus prepared for heaven.
And so on 10 the end of the chapter.
Such, Reverend sir, is the way in which
some things strike me, bearing on the
question whether yours is, or is not, a
church of Christ. That there are many
papists truly pious, believe. But wheth-
er church fashioned as is yours, as to its
external organization, after the Roman
state whep governed by military despots-
departing, in its public worship, in every
essential particular, from that taught in the
Scri ptures; whether a church which cor
rupts and suppresses the Bible-which cor
rupts its sacraments and its doctrines, is a
church of Christ; this, this, is the grave
question which now submit 10 your de-
cision. 1t is said that question involving
vast amount of property was once sub
mitted to Sir Matthew Hale. Before Civ
ing his opinion he was approached by the
lordly defendant in the case with bribe.
He repulsed him with great indignation.
His lordship complained CT him to the
king; and the reply of his majesty was:--
"Sir Matthew makes his decision without
fear or favour; he would treat me in the
same way"
All | ask ofyou is to decide the above
question with the honesty ofSir Natl ew.
With great respect, yours,
KIRWAN.