The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-02

~ baptlzed, anu most sahualously uii-
washed. Rome has come down very
much from the seven ILLS, and now at
fects the Tiber. which occasionally rises
in food of Indignation and as often re-
tires, to prove that only fire could effect
the needed publication.
But if baptism in Rome does not mean
the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
it certainly has a significance. Let us
trust that in many souls it means not
merely the ceremonial introduction to the
visible church. but the answer of good
conscience towards God. Of this, how
ever, Christ is judge. To us there is
opinion and faith Let me speak of what
can be known. Rome baptized, signed
with the cross, and called Christian, has
historic significance for all the world.
Occupying the very citadel of pagan pow
er, with wealth and splendor Of ceremo-
NAL Christianity equalled nowhere-a very
kingdom of priests-Rome is the symbol
of the new age, the era of Christ, of the
world regenerate and progressively sancti-
fed through the truth.
| SAY symbol. l mean symbol. l do
not say that Rome is transubstantiated.
do not affirm that in this visible hierar-
chy is more than elsewhere, or as much as
elsewhere, the real presence of the New
Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all.
Here is her sign-so much | say. A great
sign, no matter how much it may be spo-
ken against Or spoken for. l speak OF
Rome as a symbol She carries about her
the marks of the Lord Jesus. The cross
is her standard If she bears it now in
triumph, it is because she bore it once
through great tribulation, and the conflict
is not yet over. Rome is like the tree
whose roots went as far into the neither
world as It's branches reached towards
heaven. Suppose her to be dead, root
and branch-one great inanimate relic
she is still wonder. She has motion.
She opens the door and takes us down
through the seven stages of her catacombS,
shows us the endless galleries, the innu-
merable loculi. the altar-eravcs. the chap
els under ground with their furniture and
frescoes, types Of the basilicas that now
lift their domes to heaven she tells us
the story of her slaughtered saints, and
when their bones were translated from the
cemeteries to other shrincs. and why
she is the somewhat doting heir of MANY
generations. and her house is full of clos
cts containing fragments of skeletons will
all strange and apocryphal relics of apps.
ties and martyrs, which she exhibits or
occasion. and really does not seem to sus-
pcct that she loves the departed worthics
less because she vencrates their mcmoric,
more. Day by day. in more than tire,
hundred churches. she is making her sac
rilice, burning her incense, pouring iortl
praise and supplication in music the angel
might pause to overhear: and all this sht
does as if for the lo7e of it. affluently
through successive hours of unhagging cx
clcisc. as if she would remind the faithful
who come in and kneel for a while bcfor,
her affairs that the service of the Lord i
perfect freedom. more acceptable to Go,
for being the joy of men. What sem
blance at least in all this of a victoriou
church enthroned in the city of the Ca
sars, while those who opposed her Of oil,
are as ashes under the soIes of her feet
What a type of more glorious triumph
when all power and art and treasure. hap
TIED by the spirit of truth, shall be with
out controversy, holiness unto the Lord
Christian Rome pays her debt to tin
Rome that has passed away. by collectin,
ard conserving what is discovered of TIN
buried city, plously purging her monu
ments OF their pagan corruption, while sh
acknowledges herself debtor to all TIN
world, gives even the infidelS and hereto
access to her halls of art, and is willing t.
make disci pies of all nations. and wcIcom
them TO her proloundest mysteries
; OF one thing | am sure, that if there
any good hope, any noble future for Rome
it is in regeneration : not baptismal bu
spiritual-the being born not of waite
) merely but of the Holy Ghost. She need
, what all need, the ever new life. the lif
} which being eternal is just equal to ever
moment as it comes, leaving no choice t
, the living soul but to follow its Twin
Lord, and let the dead bury their dead
We tire of traditions and crypts and dea
, mems bones. Heaven send Christia
Rome deliverance from-herself. Th
G Lord save us all from ourselves.
: | wish my young friends, for whose re
e membranes | am very grateful, woul
write it down that they are to ask m