Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-13

whatsoever sins we retain, JheY are reIainou'
John Xxx, %.
In regard to the first text, Dr. Lightfoot has
shown the meaning beyond doubt. 1t was
well-known expression among the jewish
teachers, and if one of these declared thing
right or true, he was said TO have loosed 1T.
II he declared thing false, he was said to
have bound it. 1t was then, as Dean Stan
ley has said, the promise of spiritual insight
to the disciples, like that other saying, the
comforter shall lead you into all truth.
And this promise has indeed been III Titled:
for among all classes of men the morality
of these first teachers has never been question
ed. 1t is the imperial standard by which the
deeds of men and States are still judged.
What they bound is bound; what they loosed
is loosed The second passage opens with
duty and promise. eff the Father sent me,
send you.' Thus we find that the revela-
ton given by Jesus Christ, who came into
the world to save sinners, was committed to
his followers, so that upon their faithfuiness
depended the worlds hope. Thus, and in
this sense was given to them power over the
worlds sin.
But there was a promise and gift: ere
ceive We the Holy Ghost" sa i'd the master So
he promised that in this W DIRK they should
have asustaining grace, SO hat If they went
for victory This promise was also fulfilled
to them, for the apostolic age has been indeed
unrivalled in the worlds history in its power
over SIM So that in the case of those too
abandoned to receive the help then afforded,
no otherage might hope to reach. "Whoseso-
ever sins we retain they are retained" thus
| 1t is asserted that moral helpfulness reaches
| its flood in the gospel so that they who are
| not reached by the simple hearted proclaim
ers of the worlds redeemer, are not to be
| reached. So the test in question, judged by
| It's surroundings and it's subsequent history,
reveals not power, but an office. But sup
pose to these even was given specific power
| to forgive sins, which they never for mo-
| ment maintained.
How can anyone dare to assert that this
power was continued to those who pretend to
have succeeded them? When they can heal
| the blind and raise the dead it will be time
enough for them to lay claim to the fulness
of apostolic power
awe see, then, these texts do not teach the
power claimed by priests to have been given to
anybody; but if it was given to the apostles,
| it cannot be shown to have been transmitted to
others, and above all, to have come down
through the historic defements which, we
have seen cover over with filth the priesthood
of the middle ages.
| But what has all this to do with the sacra-
ment of penance? Nothing. And yet it is
all the support the Romanist has. Where did
Jesus Christ inculcate confession of SIN to a
priest as prerequisite to pardon? Nowhere.
There is not a passage OF scripture that can
be tortured into auricular confession. There
| is deep instinct in the soul that if we have
wronged man we should acknowledge our
fault to him. This is sustained by scrip.
ture Not only so, but we must, so far as Lies
| in our power, atone for our wrong and make
it good. This is the voice of God and man
requires.
But must confess to another, however high
his office? No. And yet the Roman church
tells it votaries you must, or be damned.
In the ancient church confession was re-
qulred of those VIII had publicly scandallzed
the church, and humiliation was demanded
before they were received again. But this
confession was not in private box, into the
ear of priest, but to the offended church as
a matter of discipline, and the pretended
notices of the sacrament of penance by the
Fathers refer TO this and to this alone. Lei
us look into this matter of absolutloN LITTLE
further. The Romanists are careful to say, ii
argument, that the priest does not claim tt
forgive sins by his own power, but as repre-
sentative. But what says Carolina
Bellarmine: ''Christ has made his priests
judges upon the earth, with such power that
without this sentence, no person falling into
sin can be reconciled. If they could be for
given without the sentence of the priest, ther
the promise of Jesus Christ would not be true
know too well that the priest refuses absolu
ton and threatens eternal palms if his orders
are not obeyed in the premises.
| This is holding the keys with vengeance.
l have not the time tonight to take you
| through all the absurdities of satisfaction, moi
| can unveil to you all the mockery of indul
gencies, by which We are taught that Chris
| made more of an atonement than was necessa
nv, and kindly gave the surplus to the Roman
/ oh for oil how
| they use it, let their treasures tell now. Bu
| if YOU would know the fullness of this a5Omi
nason,g and look upon the splendOrs of st
Peters at Rome. Its adOrning tells of crimes
linnumerable; for it was built from the SALE
| of pardons for sins. Its beauty fades as vol
look upon it, enlightened by history, 1t be
| comes then huge pile of murders, adulteries
robberies, broken oaths and dishonored deeds
And this building Is called temple, and il
built in the form of cross. 1t cannot rep
resent the one upon which he suffered who
gave himself for the life of the world. But lie
| it still stand as cross, the fit memorial o
| the two thieves who were crucifed with him
And this is the place where papal infalibilli
was decreed. A fit place for fitting deed.
/ have said that you cannot judge of the
spirit and crimes of the Roman church by
their professions, or even by their actions, il
this country where they are hopeless minor
|
country or age when they have not had full
swing. But go to Italy and Spain, and in the
horrors of their history learn what the riot
Gus spirit of lust and greed will do. i'm
peach this confessional of crimes against boil
God and man. In the first place, notice lts
terrible power. All the secrets of heart arc
life are but at the disposal of single man.
What material is there here for ambition or
lust, If that man should by any chance be bad
| No Romanist will affirm that all priests are
and have been good men.
The human heart which knows its Owl
weakness will affirm the danger to the best Of
men, which turks in this monstrous system
The day of eternity alone can recall the nu m
Der of priests who have been wrecked here.
shall never forget the shrill of horror that
passed drought Protestant England, wher
four years ago there was published the priest:
instructions for the confessional, which had
been prepared from Roman authorities by
those in the Church of England, who ape the
| ceremonies of Rome. Nor can l forget the