Richmond planet., 1894-02-03
Who CAN FORGIVE SIM
Confession.
An Answer To Certain Objections
Raised by Rev. z. ID. Lewis.

On Jan. 18th, a short article of mine
appeared in the PLANET, in refutation 81
n statement made by the Rev. Mr.. Welle
on the previous Sunday. Two weeks
| went by. and the readers of the PLANET
all wondered If any reply was forth-com-
ing. That gentleman, however, taught
no doubt, by the sad experience of that
great champion of Petersburg and one
| OF the shining iigks.s % tsscnuoRd, cor
sidered il wiser not to open his mouth,
lest he too might put his foot in it.
Here was a fine chance for the Rev.
Mr.. Lewis to show his chivalrous spirit,
and at the eleventh hour, he determined
| to como to the rescue of bis brother
knight. With what result the readers of
the PLANET may judge
"The mountains labor with main and
might
A ridiculous mouse is brought to light. -
HoRAcE.
We are gravely Informed that "those
versed in Roman Catholicism have long
since ceased submitting their nefarious
doctrines to the scrutiny of an intelli-
gent public, as is evidenced by their dis
couragement of others than the priests
to read Gods word"
Now, Bro. Lewis, when you penned
those lines you either knew what you
we're writing about, or you did not. If
you did not, you ought to stop till you
do know. If On the other hand you did
know, then you are at the best but a
wretched iibeller. Take hold of either
horn of the dilemma.
The Catholic Church is no secret socie.
| ty whose doctrines can only be learned
| by listening at the key hole they are
ell down in black and white. BY writ
ing to Benziger Bros, Barclay ST.. New
York, you or any one else may get any
Catholic book published on this globe.
| If this be too muck trouble for you, ap-
ply TO Randolph and English of this city
who will get them for you.
| Your "untutored neophy te' also,
hereby offers you the use OF his library,
in which you may find all tie secrets and
"nafarious doctrines of the Catholic
Church. You will find him at 700 1st
| ST., Richmond, Va. So far from being
1 afraid to submit her doctrines to the
scrutiny of sn intelligent public, she
courts the fullest inquiry, always ready
| to give reasons for ''the hope that ie In
u.s." Are we not always inviting people
to read our books, to come and hear
and ask questions, while you are doing
all in your power to keep people frorl
| coming to our schools and Churches, lest
| the charges brought against Us are
false II we are afraid of this scrutiny,
| tell me, why is il that at the pesent time
the Rev. W. Elliott rs going through the
! ~''i9s, speaking everywnere I" protestant
1isnees snd asks th -
are afraid, WY do force TINS question
before the public ? TO show the readers
| of the PLANET moreover, how baseless
..k ~<~., h.ro1u r,laler r,1u urnrfi
/ that am ready to explain and defend
| any and every doctrine Of the Catholic
| Church in the columns of this paper.
/ What authority have you Tor saying
/ that others than the priests are discour
aged from reading Gods word when you
may get any amount of Catholic Bibles
| in this city ? Catholics are not only not
forbidden, but are exhorted to frequent
ly read at least the New Testament. the
| Psalms etc, while there is absolutely no
prohibition against their reading the
whole Bible. This charge OF yours is a
vile slander. Do you know q certain
commandment which says Thou shalt
not bear false witness against thy neigh
bor?" Speaking of "nafarious doctrines
let me ask you: can there be q more
"nafarious'' more destructive and dia-
bolicsL doctrine, than that doctrine o
yours which says, that If man is oncs
converted he cannot do bad enough
again to lose heaven
Before proceeding to answer the OBJ
iections raised against my arguments
let me state the catholic doctrine OF
confession.
Has man the CREATURE power to for
give sins against God the Creator o
course not man the cREATuRE. but IN.
church has believed for the last 19O(
wears, that God haa commissioned Ger
| tain men as HIS AGENTS and minister
to forgive sins by His power and in HI
name TO those who confess them witt
true faith and repentance.
When we remember how, both In tn
old and in the new Law, God sometime
allowed certain men to do things whicl
He alone has has the power to do, sucl
as to heal the sick and even to raise thu
dead to life again it can no longer b
considered impossible that God may al
SO give the power to forgive sins. On
and the other requires the same diVin
: power, and after all it is only Con wb
, works through his ministers. That Go
actually did give this power to certai
( mer is perfectly plain from the Bible.
, 1. From Matthew 1918, wheF
/ Christ says to his Apostles Amen,
| to you, Whatsoever you shall bind upo
! earth, shall be bound also In heaven
and Whatsoever you-ehah loose upo
| earth, shall be locsed aien in heavAn
In these words Christ .0ixes his Apostle
the fullest power, including also that
forgiying sins.
2. From John 20--2l, ~, 23 whel
Christ thus addresses His Apostles, an
!. ! | be it remembered. His Apostles ALONE
< "As the Father has sent me / also sen
y | you. When he had said this he breathe
on them and he said to them, recei'
. We the Holy Ghost whose sins &c
shall forgive they are forgiven them an
whose sins you shall retain, they are I
8 I tanned"
8 Here we are informed that ''the trV
z | meaning of that passage Is that who's
t | eyer sins ye DECLARE or PRONOUNCE 10
= given . they shall be forgive
l also whosUever sins ye DECLARE unfo
given they are unforgiven.'
answer. This is what YOU say and m
Christ. What right have you to tamp
with the words of the Saviour and gl
0f them a meaning which was practical
4 unheard of for 1900 years
Of That Christ rally meant to confer {
n power of forg.vng siI on his Apostle