The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1914-02-19

composed of Christ'S own
Ii words. 1t is His offer, to all
Al who will come to Him, or
soul-rest.
| believe that all members of Ro-
man Catholic churches who approach
their affairs through various indul-
gences are SEEKING SOUL-REST-
peace with God. | shall, therefore,
contrast the whole system Of INDUL-
GENCES in the Roman Catholic
church with the simple, beautiful in
vitation Of our Lord, and see how
millions of souls are seeking Christ
and finding their way to Him OBJ
structed by many unscriptural, in
effectual, deceptive promises of in
dulgences. l shall then show the
simple way of approach to Christ,
and its certain and satisfying results
in the soul, and leave it with you as
to which path of approach you will
take-PrOtestant or Roman Catho-
lie.
IndulgGnCes--Tnd
This is an institution peculiar to
the Roman Catholic church It orr
ginated from the Confessional, at
the confessional In order to make
the absOlution effective the sacra-
ment Of confession must comprise
"Contritio Cords '-Contrition) Of
heart, "Confessio Oris"- Confess
sion in words: and Satisfaction
and Satisfaction" consists of So
called good works, penances, by
which you pay for your sins and
wrong dOings. In the ancient Ro-
man Catholic church the amount of
satisfaction was measured alone by
the space Of time one spent in PENI-
TENCE. Later, the custom grew up
Of substituting specific good works,
pilgFimages, aims giving and special
various deeds, gifts and sacrifices
for the general state of penitence.
Then, an elaborate scheme of ac-
counts was drawn UP by which these
ponances were transformed into
ayments-varying according
to the wealth or poverty Of the sin
ner. On the basis Of this practice
the scholastic theology Of that church
developed it's doctrine Of 'Indulgen-
tia" 1t was completed by Thomas
AQuinas, 1224-74, and was finally
retained and confirmed by the Coun-
Gil of Trent whose sittings lasted at
various times from A, d. 1916 to
1868. (Hertzog's Encyclopedia of
Religion, Art. Indulgencies: Column
bian Cyclopedia, Act. Trent, and
practically all Churchs Histories.)
with respect, to the natural con-
sequences of sin, such as disease, in
fanny, etc., the Roman church claims
no power. But with respect to those
punishments which God inficts on
sinners, either in this world or in
PURGATORY, she claims to have
ABSOLUTE jurisdiction conferred
upon her by Christ and the keys
And the Council Of Trent Illuminated
it's anathema against any one who
should venture @ denial
So, salvation depended upon PER-
SONAL SATISFACTION for sins, in
good works; then, there was worked
out a balance sheet Of equivalents
for good works in penances, gifts,
pilgrimages, etc. And these all be-
came vested in the "Infallible Pope"
and he, through his hierarchy, can
give, or sell, from these funds just
such an amount of good work as is
necessary to cOunter-balance q GER
tain quantity of sin. (Hertzog's
Cyclopaedia of Rel. Vol 2, Art In
dulgencies.)
So, the institution of indulgentia
became established after long
gradual growth, great debate, and
growing assumption of power on the
part of Popes, most of whom were
worldly Politico-Religious rulers.