The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-18
CORRESPONDS ENCE.
Rome and the Priesthood.
PETERSBURG, VA, Aug. 10th, 80

MeSSrS. EditorS,-I announced last
week my purpose to discard Rufus" as
an exponent of Roman Catholic doctrine,
and to accept in his stead Father Null
Ter" whose teaching has the strongest en-
dorsement of the dig gnitaries of his Church
as being Sin the true spirit of st. Al lphon-
sus; its theology sound and solid, its
spirit most devout, and its language sim
pie and popular"
| have therefore procured a number of
the works of this divine, and propose to
give you copious extracts from them that
your readers may know what are the real
doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
The first of these works has the follow
ing title page
The CATHOLIC PRIEST. BIZ Michael
Muller, c. s. s. r., Priest of the Conqre-
CATION Of the Most Holy Redeemer. Bazti-
tinaore: Published By Rrenzer Brothers,
80 North street. 1876
1t will be seen that this work is not
written by some neophyte like Rufus, 4"
who does not know what his Church
teaches-or by some lay-rhapsodist, who
in his foolish devotion to the priesthood
of his Church indulges in language whose
extravaganza his own religious teachers
would condemn,-but by priest, one
commended for his orthodoxy, soundness,
and SoIadaty of doctrine. When therefore
ne tells us what the position and power
of the priesthood is, we may accept it as
the authoritative teaching Of the Church
IN which he ministers. Let us then open
the book and read some extracts from it.
Every priest can say in some measure
with Jesus Christ who sent him AL
power is given to me in heaven and
earth" page 7O)
His power reaches to the highest
heavens, 1T penetrates even to the very
gates of hell. The treasures of kings are
silver and gold-perishabl metals-but
the treasures Of the priest are the imper-
!shable merits and graces of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Kings have power onlv
over the bodies of men, but the priest has
power over their souls. Kings have
power only over their subjects, but KINGS
AND ENPERoRs ARE THEMSELVES sUJBJEcT
TO THE PRIEST. (The italics and capitals
except where otherwise specified, are
mine Kings have power to open and
close the prison gates of earth, but the
priest has pooOer to open and to close the
gaSeS 81 OF heoOe'' and Of he'll" Opp. 71-72)
The priest has the power to free the
sinner from the bonds Of sin and hell and
to open to him the gates of heaven. He
mas the power TO transform him from O.
Sz90e Of the deVtI to a child of God."
page 77)
Seek where you will, through heaven
and earth, and you will find but one Gre
ated being who can forgive the sinner
who can free him from the chains of sin
and hell, and that ertraords,aarv bei7ao is
the PRIEST, the Catholic priest. Who
can forgive sins except God?' was the
question which the Pharisees sneerinelv
asked. Who can forgive SINS? is The
questlon which the Pharisees of the present
oay also ask and I anSaOer there IS q
neC'I' m earth that cam tOrqlve sins and
THAT man IS the CathoJic Driest Yos
beloved brethren, the priest not onlv de,
cIares that the sinner is forever ~
realty Jorgl0eS him. (The italics boro
are ms) The priest raises his hand. he
Pronounces the word of absolution. and
m an instant, quick as a fash of kohf The
cto'778 OF hell are burst asuader. and the
9''elaer becomes q child of God. So great
Is tne power Of the priest that THE fUDG- |
aENTs OF HEAVEN ITSELF ARE SUBJECT
10 HIS DECISION" (Pp. 1919.
IL might be supposed that the author
really dld not mean in this last phrase
what 1t plainly signifies, viz, that Gods
forgiveness is conditioned upon that Of
the priest. But his subsequent writings
on the same point leaves no doubt 9s
witness the following:
= II Is to the priest that God gpeal,s
wnen lie says, Judge between me and
ny people. Jndica inter me ct vi11eo12
"'S'"'' u.s. W This man, says God,