The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

THE MASS A SACRIFICE. 321a dispositionon the part of the Papists of the present dayto explain away the doctrine of Trent on this head. In theirmodern catechisms they no doubt state that the mass is atrue propitiatory sacrifice, for otherwise they would impugntheir 01iurch''s infallibility ;but when they come to describeits effects, they state in a cursory way, " the remission ofsins," and dwell largely on itsefficacy in applying to us themerits and benefits of the sacrifice of Christ.*speak of thesacrificeBut, not toabsurdity of supposing that the merits of oneare applied to us by another sacrifice, the attemptto limit the nature and design of the mass to this is utterlyinconsistent with all their other statements and reasoningsrespecting it. Why not also call baptism a " propitiatorysacrifice," seeing the benefits of Christ's death are appliedto us by it ? The very same flesh and blood. Papists hold,are offered in the mass which were offered on the cross : itis the same person who offers, even Christ, who is representedby the priest : it is one and the same sacrifice, the Churchof Rome teaches, which was offered on the cross, and is nowoffered in the mass; the inference is therefore inevitable, thatits design and effects are the same. It made a real atonementin the first instance; and, if still the same sacrifice, muststill be, what the authorized expositors of the Romish creeddeclare it to be, a true propitiatory sacrifice.The Council of Trent pronounces an anathema against theman who shall affirm that the sacrifice of the mass blasphemesor derogates from the sacrifice of Christ upon thecross.-f- But despite its anathema, we maintain that themass is in the highest degree derogatory to the sacrificeChrist,—is so derogatory to it as virtually to supersede italtogether. The glory of the cross lies in its efficacy, andthe mass makes void that efficacy. Rome here is emphaticallythe enemy of the cross. As oft as this sacrifice isof* See Keenan's Cat. on the Sacrifice of tlie Mass, chap. iii. ; and Butler'sCat. lesson xxvi.+ Concil. Trid. sess. xxii. can. iv.Y