Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-07-17

As well mIgft queue Inc 3IueienI S'Pii
ions of the various sects in the church OF
Rome. as authority against the creed of
Pope Plus 9Th. When the grave charge
of corruption by design to suit the Prot
estant creed" is made, I cannot be satisfied
with bare assertion; | want argument dnc'
proof, authority and demonstration.
The End part of your correspondents
communication, affirmed that the Lay
members of tho church of Rome, had the
free reading Of the Bible. In his last let
ter, he re-affirms the statement, and adds
that "the church argos tee Laity to read
it," He then advises me with all Protes-
tants to read the authorities Of bis church
for information. Well | have looked fol
the last two days, into some Of these au.
thorities, and find the matter to stand just
thus. Your correspondent says 81 he
church urges the Laity to read it," l. e. the
Bible. The church says the Laity shall
not read 1t.
Your correspondent tells US, what OF
course we knew, that there were several
editions of the Bible in circulation, in
Europe soon after printing was invented
that great numbers were in the vernacu|ar
tongue and were accessible to all. That is
a true historical fact: additional historical
facts show, that this free circulation Of, and
access to the scriptures was SO undernln-
ing the authority of the Hierarchy of
Rome,-so disclosing the eorruptions Of
religion, and opening the eyes of the peo-
pie to see their spiritual bondage, that til"
Council of Trent, which sat in the 10th
century, and therefore the very latest au-
thority, prohibited the reading Of THE
SCRIPTURES by the Laity. Not the au-
thorized English version, that was not
then printed; but the ''Ioly Bible itself.
CLEAR THE cHURCH.!!'
The 4th session of the Council OF
Trent instituted what is termed "the
congregation Of the Index" to decide
as to prohibited books. 1t drew up the
celebrated 40 rules of prohibited books, ,
approved in bull, issued on the Gath
march, 1864, by Pope Plus 4th.
The 4th rule says "Inasmuch as it Is
manifest from experience, that if the Holy
Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue.
be indiscriminately allowed (discs5naane
pernaittqntur) to every one, the ternerity
of men cause more evil than good to arise
from it, it is, on this point referred to tie
Judgment of the Bishops, or iuquisitors,
| who may by the advice of the Priest OF
confessor, permit the reading Of the Bible,
translated into the vulgar tongue by Cath
Ole authors, to those persons whose faith
and piety, they apprehend will be aug
mented and not injured by it, and this
permission they must have in writing =
But if any one shall have the presumption
to read or possess it, without such written
permission, he shall not receive absoution
until he have first delivered up such Bible
to the ordinary
If your correspondent is not satisfied
with t e translation give, can furn, h
him with the original Latin, and be may
give LIS q translation.
Some few wears ago, when the National
education of Ireland was under discussion.
and the Bible was urged as a school book,
the Roman Catholic Bishops set them
selves in opposition. DR.. Doyle in pub
lished letter to Lord Wellesley SAYS: "The
Catholic church believes the scriptures is
net essential to Christianity. The read
ing Of the scriptures without note or com
| ment does no. appear to US necessary to
make men virtuous citizens, or good chris
tians. Or chWrch claims the authority
to remove tie Bible," p. So. Again he
says, p. II: They, the Bishops, consider
that the reading of the scriptures in this
country, and at this time, is an abuse.
evil IN its principle, and dangerous IN its
consequences"
DR.. Miner, in his end Of controversy,
says: "If Christ intended that mankind
should learn their religion from Books, he
himself would have written that book"
Dr.-Doyle, on oath, before the House
of Lords in London, stated ''that be would
not allow any one, who would read the
Bible, after being forbidden by his clergy,
to be admitted to the sacrament"
Dr.. Gother, who wrote in defense OF
Popery, in his "Papiss misrepresented and
represented" say in his 10th chap, seth
p: "'Tis true be (the Papist) does not
think it (the Bible) fit to be read general
ly by all without License, or in the vulgar
tongues" "'Tis not convenient, be says,
for the scripture to be read indifferently
to (by p all men, but only such as have
express license, and good testimony from
their Curates; that they are humble, dis
Greet and devout persons; and such as are
waling to observe directions in the perus-
ing of this sacred volume"
Let this suffice tor the present.
Your correspondent says: the church
(of Romeo urges the Laity to read the
Bible. ! have shown that the latest and
most authoritative Councils of that church
has forbidden its free and universal read
ing Of it by the Laity, under certain pains
and penalties.
Of other Ecclesiastical authorizes
one says the bishops of Ireland, considered
the reading Of the Scriptures by the Laity
an abuse, and dangerous in its conse-
| 1. IL L.