Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

218 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREof the Ciitliolic creed, that it is not more true that a testament without witnessesis of no validity, than it is true that the testimony of witnessesclaiming under the will, cannot ho admitted. A document written afterthe death of the testator would not be considered in a court of justice asentitled to the name of a testament. But were persons to write a willafter a man's death, and bring it forward, claiming under it supremacy,would their claim produce any result beside derision?1146. The distinguished prelate justly treats the gospel as resting onthe traditionary evidence of the church ; since, as he truly urges, thechurch existed before the gospel, having been instituted at the time whenhis instructions were given tothe apostles by Christ.1147. But how much value is to be attached to the testimony of thechurch, may be learned from the following opinion of the learned clergymanto whom I have alluded as the other party in the controversy, (pages35, 36 :)1148. '' The unwarrantahle liberties of your cliurch icitli the icord ofGod show her fallible to a deplorable degree.1149. ^^Your ride Jif observed, requires miplicit faith in the decretalsand interpretations offallible men, ichich is subversive of the very natureand end of religion in the soul. Faith supposes knowledge, conviction onevidence, and trust in God, founded on a belief of divine truth ;but yourrule requires unconditional submission to the dicta of the church in thelump. The ^Carbonaria fides' or faith of the collier, is the very faithrequired. It is as follows : When asked, ' What do you believe V heanswered, ' I believe what the church believes.''What does the churchbelieve?' Ans. ^What I believe.' 'Then what do you and the churchtoirether believe V Ans. ^ We both believe the same thing.' This is thegrand catholicon for believing every thing, without knowing any thing.In this soil crew the maxim that ' ie;norance is the mother of devotion,'It is believing by proxy, or rather not believing at all, in the true sense.Here is the secret of the unity of your church,"1150. To conclude, I agree with the right reverend able and learnedarchbishop, that Christianity has no witnesses but those disciples of Christwhom he calls the church ; but I also concur with his able, learned, andreverend opponent, that the said church is neither competent as a witness,nor reliable as a foundation for Christianity.1151. Breckinridge does not perceive that the gospel on which he relies,and the recorded traditions which ascribe that work to inspiration,have no better foundation than the testimony oi fallible men,1152. Manifestly, however, the authority of the church of Rome cannotbe overset without oversetting the authenticity of the Christianreligion.1153. Could any one believe that an experienced farmer would sow afield with garlic when intending to have a crop of wheat ? Would not the