The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-09-28
TFrom the Presbyterian.
Sturgeon on the Growth of Popery in
ENGLAND.

Messrs. Elitors,-The following, extract is
taken from Surgeons celebrated sermon on
"Baptismal Regeneration" found IN the
Eighth Series of his Sermons, just published
by Sheldon & Co. 1t tells how rapidly
Popery has advanced in England during the
last few years
"It is most fearful fact" says he, "that,
In no oqe since the Reformation, has POpery
made such fearful strides in England as
during the last few years. l had comfortably
believed that Popery was only feeding itself
upon foreign subscriptions, upon u few titled
perverts, and imported monks and nuns.
dreamed that its progress was not real. In
fact, l often smiled at the alarm of many OF
my brethren at the progress Of Popery. But,
nv dear friends, we have been mistaken,
grievously mistaken. If you will read
valuable paper in the magazine called 'Ctris-
tiqn Work. those of you who are acquainted
with it will be perfectly startled at Its reye
lations. This great city is now covered with
a network of monks, and priests, and sisters
of mercy, and the conversions made are not
by ones or twos, but by scores, till England
is being regarded as the most hopeful spotfor
Romish missionary enterprise in the world:
and at the present moment there IS not a mis-
sion which is succeeding to anything Ike the
extent which the English mis- is 1ccrev
not their money; despise their sophistress
but l marvel at the way in which they gain
their funds for the erection of their eccleslas-
teal buildings 1t is really an alarming mat
ter to sec so many of our countrymen going
off to that superstition which, as nation, we
once rejected, and which it was supposed we
should never again receive. Popery Is making
advances such as you would never believe,
though a spectator should tell it to you
Close to your very doors, perhaps even in
your own houses, you may have evidence, ere
long, of what a march Romanism Is making.
And to what is it to be ascribed? say,
with every ground of probability, that there
is no marvel that Popery should Increase
when you have two things to make 1t grow
first of all, the fasehood of those who profess
faith which they do not believe, which Is
quite contrary to the honesty Of the Romanist
who does, through evil report and good re-
port, hold his faith; and then you have, Sc
eondly. this form of error known as Baptismal
Regeneration, and commonly called Puseyism,
which is not only Puseyism but Church-of-
Engandism, because it is in the Prayer
Book as plainly as words can express it-you
have this Baptismal Regeneration preparing
steppinn-stones to make it easy for men to 90
70 Rome. * We want John Knox back
again. Do not talk to me of mild and gentle
men. of soft manners and squeamish words.
We want the fiery Knox, and though his We
hemenc6 should ding our pulpits into blads,'
it were well if he did but rouse our hearts to
action. We want Luther, to tell the men
the truth Enthusiastically in hOmely phrase.
The velvet has got into our ministers mouths
of late, we must uurobe ourselves OF soft raj
ment, and truth must be spoken, tor OF all lies
which have dragged millions down to hell, l
look upon this as being one Of the most afro
cious-that in a Protestant church there
should be found those who swear that bap-
tism saves the soul Call man a Baptist,
or a Presbyterian, or a D.sseufer, Orss7o 'iurcd-
man, that is nothing to me. If he says that
baptism saves the soul, out upon him, out
upon it; he states what God never taught,
what the Bible never laid down, and what
never ought to be maintained by men who
profess that the Bible, and the whole Bible,
is the religion of Protestants. 1 pray you do
not rest in Baptism.
sNo outward forms can make you clean,
The leprosy lies deep Within"