Conformities of St. Francis---Popish miracles---What re- quired to the composition of these saints---Monastic vows--- Supposed evangelical councils---Objections made by Pro- testants to these and the like practices---Why insisted upon by the popes---Popish doctrine of traditions... Withholding the Scriptures from the laity---Prayers in an unknown tongue ---Persecution---Particularly a doctrine and practice of this church---The fact established---The church of Rome the only power that has adopted and pursued it as a system---Traced up, and shewn so to be---Answer to the question where our church was before Luther---Transubstantiation, a novel doc- trine---Always some description of Christians who denied it---Fourth Lateran council---Dr. Milner's assertions re- specting its authority---Alleged distinction between canons of doctrine and of discipline...Other allegations---That it is the laity who persecute---That the clergy cannot, even in- directly, concur in the shedding of blood---Persecution the most sure mark of Antichrist---Variations among Protestant churches no argument against reformation in religion---Such variations have always existed---Even in the church of Rome Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and OBSERVATIONS on the text---Weakness of human nature Disputes upon points of doctrine---Consubstantiation---Pre- Others not---The first properly heretics---The term now each other---Liberties with Scripture taken by the Unita- SERMON VIII. JAMES iii. 1. My Brethren, be not many Masters, knowing that TEXT explained, and commented upon---Applicable par- are spoken of by the dissenters---Objection to the church, SERMON I. LUKE xii. 51. Suppose ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather division. Of all the calamities under which the church of Christ has suffered, there is none which has produced such pernicious and lasting effects, as the dissentions by which in all ages it has been torn. Even the cruelties and oppressions, to which it was exposed at the beginning from the fury of its persecutors, may be said to have been harmless in comparison of these. Indeed, in many respects, it was found, that persecution. rather increased than repressed the zeal of the first disciples. It seems to have operated like that temporary pressure upon certain wellcompacted bodies, which always produces a powerful re-action. It was only when the principle of disorganization was at work on the B |