True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-11-19
POpery IN its Dotaee. A..

If such is the strength and numbers
Of the Romish Church at the presen.
time, it may be asked. why we consider
" "Popery in its Dotage." To this we
reply, that its apparent increase, in some
countries, is more than counterbalanced
BY it's rapid decrease in others, as well as
in number as in influence and in power.
The one hundred thousand annually
swelling, by immigration, the Romish
ranks in America, are only transfer Of
SO many from the old and priest ridden
countries in Europe; and if It be true that
the foundations of the throne of the papal
anti Christ are being laid, broad and
deep, onthe western shores, still it is
cause Of joy and gratitude TO the friends
Of truth, that in Europe that throne is
tottering to its fall; and while it behoVes.
America to-be walchful against the ad-
vances of that dangerous and ipsidious
power which is aiming to control her des-
tinies, still il is consoling 10 reflect that
the strength and influence Of the papal
anti. Chris, is, upon the whole, gradually
yet certainly diminishing; and that it has
been growing weaker and weaker, with
each succeeding century from the time
when Gregory, an Innocent, or a Boni,
face, by the force Of their spiritual thun'
ders, hurled monarchs from their thrones,
or an Alexander W., by a single dash
of his pen, granted 10 The Catholic King
Of Spain the whole continent of America,
North and Sonth, and all beyond ga line
drawn hundred leagues west Of the
Azores, and extending from the South to
the North Pole" .
Most heartily, then, do we join in the
eloquent words Of HalIam "A calm,
comprehensive study Of ecclesiastical his.
tory, not in such scraps and fragments
as the ordinary partisans Of our ephemer'
al literature obtrude upon US is perhaps
the best anlidote to ex,ravagant appre-
tensions. Those who know what Rome
has once been, are best able to appreciate
what she is, those who have seen the
the thunderbolt in the hand of the
Gregories and the Innocen,s, will hardly
be intimidated at the saIlies of Decrepi'
tude, the impotent dart Of Priam amid
the cracking ruins Of Troy |"
Yes in spite Of its spasmodic efforts
for enlargement, POpery is in its dotage
1t is not aud never can be, what i. onct
was; and compared with the Popery Of tht
middle ages, notwithstanding its boastet
and frequently exaggerated numbers. tits
a Pigmy compared with Giant. Pc
perry is in its dotage and therefore al
its struggles to regain its former power
shall prove only like the convulsive
throes Of dying man; for, sure as th'
unerring word of prophecy, anti-Chris
is destined to fall, and the signs of tht
times indicate that the day cannot b.
very far distant, when The shout of jo!
and exultation shall be heard" Babylon
the Great is fallen, is fallen -
Let the Protestants Of the present ag'
only be vigilant, active, persevering ant
prayerhl |! let them sleep not awhile thu
enemy is sowing his tares, and some o
their children may yet live to see th'
day when the Romish Babylon shall b
} destroyed, and to join in the shout o
triumph which shall burst from Olsen
thralled and regenerated world over it
3 final downfall and destruction ID
! Doubling.