,transcribed from the #ahbg ,third edition ,m4 ,goodwin edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,pamphlet cover ,a ,,plain ,,statement ,,of ,,the ,,doctrines ,,objected ,,to ,,in ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,rome1 ,,and ,,the ,,reasons ,,fairly ,,assigned ,,for ,,separating ,,from ,,her ,,communion4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,joseph ,,reilly1 ,late a ,roman ,catholic ,student4 99 99 99 99 99 8,the ,ancients are to be followed not one step further than they follow ,truth40--,just4 ,mart4 c4 i4 ad4 ,ant4 ,imp4 8,prove all things1 hold fast that which is good40--,st4 ,paul4 ,,third ,,edition4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,dublin ,,printed ,,by ,m4 ,,goodwin1 #bi1 ,,denmark-,,street4 #ahbg4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,to ,,the ,,reader4 ,,having never before had any necessity of appearing before the ,public1 especially on such an occasion as this1 it is with much reluctance ,i am1 in defence of my character1 now compelled to give a fair and candid statement of the motives that induced me to leave the ,church of ,rome2 which ,i did not do1 until ,i tried every means to quiet an anxious mind1 and troubled conscience1 and after many private and public interviews with my ,pastor1 each of which only augmented1 nay1 confirmed my doubts of several of the doctrines of the ,church of ,rome1 7hereafter stated17 because ,i found by such interviews ,i had nothing from ,god's word to rely upon2 nothing but tradition and the assertions of interested men to rest my hope of salvation upon2 and even these when fairly examined could not afford me any plausible authority for the articles of religion doubted of4 ,i little thought1 after having acted as ,i did1 by continuing to meet the ,priest at every time and place he appointed1 to remove my doubts of certain doctrines which ,i conceive were unauthorised by ,god's ,holy ,word1 and therefore not taught by our ,lord and his ,apostles2 7these interviews ,i continued1 until he candidly told me he was not able to satisfy me1 and said he could not blame me to follow the dictates of my conscience47 ,i say1 then1 ,i little thought that after this ,i would be obliged to vindicate myself from aspersions1 resorted to evidently to deter others from pursuing a similar course2 that1 at the expense of my reputation1 they might suppress the general and so much dreaded inquiries of the public mind after truth4 ,i therefore lay before the public and the candid reader a plain statement of facts1 and let my motives1 and necessity for so doing1 be my apology for its inaccuracies4 ,,the ,,author4 ,a ,,plain ,,statement1 c4 ,,having been intended by my parents for a ,clergyman of the ,church of ,rome1 ,i was brought up and educated for that purpose1 under the immediate care of my late uncle1 the ,rev4 ,edmund ,reilly4 ,p4,p4 of ,killesandra1 until his decease in #ahad4 ,i persevered1 however1 and having finished the studies requisite for admittance to ,college1 ,i was recommended to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,reilly1 ,bishop of ,kilmore1 for admittance on the establishment of ,maynooth4 ,i received for answer1 that in consequence of the many applications1 prior to mine1 his ,lordship could not then procure me a place2 but being desirous for that office1 7as intended17 ,i renewed my application for the ,american mission1 and obtained from my ,bishop an 8,exeat10 and recommendatory letter for that purpose as follows3 8,fargalus1 ,dei et ,apostolic sedis gratia ,kilmoriensis ,episcopus in ,hibernia1 c4 8,testamur per presentes1 ,dominum1 ,josephum ,reilly1 nostr prdict ,dioecesis alumnum1 natum ex legitimo thoro1 hactenus ibidem probe1 and ,chrsitiane vixisse1 et multa solid pietatis specimina dedisse1 cum autem educationis et missionis gratia ,americam 7seu allo7 proficisci decreverit1 eundem omnibus et singulis intime commendamus1 c4 c4 datum hoc die decimo septimo junii4 8,anno ,domini ,nostri ,jesu ,christi1 millessimo octingentessimo decimo octavo4 ,,fargalus1 qui supra40 99 99 99 99 99 8,fargalus1 by the ,grace of ,god1 and of the ,apostolical ,see1 ,bishop of ,kilmore in ,ireland1 c4 8,we testify by these ,presents1 that ,mr4 ,joseph ,reilly of the aforesaid ,diocese1 legitimately born and brought up1 has hitherto lived there in an honest and ,christian manner1 and has given many proofs of solid piety4 ,but having for his learning and mission's sake resolved to proceed to ,america or elsewhere1 we earnestly recommend him to all and every one of our brethren1 c4 c4 8,dated ,june #agth1 in the ,year of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ #ahah4 ,,fargalus1 qui supra40 ,during my preparation to go on said mission1 ,i was informed by several clergymen of the ,church of ,rome1 who had correspondence with the then ,roman ,catholic ,bishop of ,new ,york1 that no person would be received there as a clergyman1 unless well qualified to preach and defend the ,gospel2 as in that free country every person has the liberty of objecting to any doctrines unauthorized by the ,gospel4 ,this led me to apply myself seriously to the study of the ,scriptures1 in order to be capable of vindicating the religion ,i was about to teach2 to whose sacred contents1 till then1 ,i was nearly as great a stranger as to the ,koran of ,mahomet4 ,why1 oh6 why should any person1 designed to teach the ,christian religion1 remain so very ignorant of the foundation of all true and saving knowledge1 as if the knowledge of that which alone can make men wise unto salvation1 were of minor importance1 if not altogether unnecessary8 ,but1 alas this is the case with regard to candidates for the ,roman ,catholic ,priesthood4 ,i also had several conversations with some of my ,protestant neighbours1 on many of the controverted points of doctrines taught in the ,church of ,rome1 which still made me feel more forcibly the necessity of being well versed in ,scripture1 in order to be able to withstand and confute every objection that might be raised against my creed1 which was the sole object of my pursuit thus far4 ,in the course of my reading the ,scriptures1 ,i was particularly struck with our ,lord's last charge to his disciples1 as in ,matt1 xxviii4 #ai1 #bj4 ,also the following passages1 8,go ye and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost2 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you1 and lo6 ,i am with you always even to the end of the world10 c4 ,mark xvi4 #ae1 #af4 8,go ye into all the world1 and preach the ,gospel to every creature2 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned40 ,luke xxiv4 #dg1 #dh4 8,and that repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached in my name to all nations1 beginning at ,jerusalem40 ,gal4 i4 #h4 8,though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other ,gospel1 let him be accursed40 ,col4 iii4 #af4 8,let the word of ,christ dwell in you richly1 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns10 c4 ,acts xiii4 #ch1 #ci4 8,be it known unto you1 men and brethren1 that through this ,man is ,,preached ,,unto ,,you ,,the ,,forgiveness ,,of ,,sins1 and by him all who believe are justified from all things40 ,acts v4 #ca4 8,him ,god hath exalted a ,prince and a ,saviour1 to give repentance to ,israel1 and forgiveness of sins40 ,compare with ,acts x4 #dc4 ,and ,acts x4 #ce4 with ,rom4 ii4 #h-aa4 8,glory1 honour1 and peace to every man that worketh good1 to the ,jew first1 and also to the ,gentile4 ,but indignation and wrath upon every soul of man that doeth evil1 of the ,jew first and also of the ,gentile1 for there is no respect of persons with ,god40 8,the ,gentiles having not the law1 are a law unto themselves2 their conscience in the mean time accusing or excusing them40 ,from all these testimonies of holy writ1 ,i saw with great astonishment1 #ast4 ,that to the end of time1 every preacher sent of ,christ1 and really belonging to him1 must preach diligently to all people1 every thing which ,he preached1 and must not add nor diminish ought1 on pain of eternal wrath2 and that in the ,,gospel alone are to be found all these things which must be so taught4 #b;dly4 ,that 8repentance and remission of sins10 appear to be the essence of the ,gospel4 #c;dry4 ,that the people are to be informed of this1 or 8that this is to be made known and preached to them40 ,that in order to obtain these great gifts of ,god1 and be saved1 they must repent1 believe in ,christ1 and earnestly ask them by importunate prayer to ,god1 and to ,god alone2 which if they neglect not1 they shall succeed1 8for every one that asketh receiveth40 ,matt4 vii4 #h1 and vi4 #ab4 8,our ,father--forgive us our trespasses10 c4 and thus shall they1 according to the ,gospel1 this message from ,god delivered them1 8be loosed0 by the ,holy ,ghost 7whom ,god given to all who thus obey his ,gospel7 from all their sins1 condemnation1 and liability to punishment3 and this1 through the alone infinite merits and 8blood of ,christ1 which cleanseth from all sin40 #a ,john i4 #g4 ,but that such as will neglect or not believe this ,gospel1 this divine message1 8must be bound10 7i4e47 be condemned2 and therefore1 that it is ,god himself1 not his servants1 that will most assuredly confirm to all believers severally1 the message thus delivered by his faithful messengers1 and will loose or bind them1 forgive or condemn them1 severally1 according to his ,gospel2 and therefore1 that in the ,gospel it is no where found1 that any power1 farther than this1 is given to the servants of ,god4 ,for though ,jeremiah was commissioned of ,god 8to build and to plant kingdoms and nations1 to pull down and to destroy them10 7,jer4 i4 #aj4-xvii4 #g1 #h1 #aj7 yet he never did any such thing in whole or in part1 actually1 but declaratively only2 he delivered his message from ,god1 and according as it was obeyed or rejected1 so were those to whom it was sent planted or destroyed--rewarded or punished4 ,and in this sense were the apostles1 by preaching the ,gospel1 to forgive sins1 to bind and loose2 and also to remove1 in conjunction with the members1 from the society or church1 incorrigible offenders1 or to receive them again on true repentance4 #a ,cor4 v4 #a1 #e4-b ,cor4 ii4 #g1 #aj4 #dthly4 ,that1 whereas ,christ commanded his ,gospel to be given and carefully taught to every creature1 that it might dwell richly in them2 so every creature1 therefore1 should1 above all books and things have the ,gospel1 and that1 to prevent this in any wise1 it not to obey ,christ1 but to contravene his will1 which would1 of course1 be the designation of false and antichristian prophets4 ,to claim1 then1 an authority from ,christ1 to prevent even children from hearing1 learning1 or having the ,gospel1 7for ,timothy from a child knew the ,scriptures7 is claiming authority from ,christ1 to contradict himself1 which it blasphemy4 ,contrasting these impressive charges1 which we must believe1 and these doctrines and observations so plainly and so legibly contained therein1 with many of the present doctrines and practices of the ,church of ,rome1 ,i found them in my mind so incongruous1 that it became a matter of serious and anxious inquiry how to reconcile such mighty difficulties4 ,hearing that the ancient ,fathers had authorised the doctrines and practices of the church1 ,i had recourse to their writings1 and to my astonishment found that they had exalted the authority of the ,holy ,scriptures1 and extolled their divine precepts as the only true and unerring guide to eternal happiness4 ,this led me to inquire the reason why the present ,church of ,rome1 which professes to be the only true1 infallible1 holy1 and apostolic guide to heaven1 differed so essentially both from ,scripture and the ,ancient ,church2 and why1 instead of following the parting injunctions of our blessed ,lord1 her priests teach many contrary doctrines1 to the injury of many piously disposed minds1 leading them from the essential truths of salvation1 by faith in the atonement alone1 to church authorities lately invented1 7to say no worse17 which cannot profit1 and to ceremonies and forms of worship unknown in the ,primitive ,church of ,christ8 ,i anticipate the inconceivably awful condition of a dying sinner1 knowing scarcely any thing of the religion of the ,lord ,jesus but what is represented to his senses by the ceremonies of the mass1 the gestures of the ,priest1 and some vague notions he may form from what is repeated for him in a strange tongue1 and ,i could not but conclude that such ceremonies were ill calculated to give sinners a well grounded hope of salvation2 and this ,i was convinced of1 even from seeing the ,roman ,catholics scramble on ,sundays after mass for holy water1 holy candles1 palm1 ashes1 c4--,i found on the other hand that the ,holy ,scriptures reveal ,jesus ,christ to be the only true1 and yet an all sufficient ,saviour4--,acts iv4 #aa1 #ab1 and ,heb4 vii4 #be4 ,that he is made unto all believers1 wisdom1 and righteousness1 and sanctification1 and redemption1--#a ,cor4 i4 #cj4 ,and that they who ask from our heavenly ,father for his ,son's sake1 shall receive this salvation1 and the fruits of their having received it1 will be afterwards manifested in their life and conversation4 ,no ,christian will deny that this is the ,gospel way of salvation from sin2 and if so1 why lead the unwary into the labyrinths of useless ceremonies8 ,one who knows the value of souls cannot but feel deep concern and regret for the delusion of a generous1 zealous1 and unsuspecting people4 ,these considerations urged me to state some of the many errors which caused me to separate from a people1 whose welfare ,i shall ever have at heart4 ,i have experienced many signal favours from them1 and know the unbounded confidence they place in him1 to whom they intrust their salvation4 ,my heart's desire and prayer for them is1 that they may be saved2 for ,i bear them record1 they have a zeal for ,god1 but not according to knowledge4 ,to them also were committed the oracles of ,god1 but they have preferred the traditions of men1 and awfully surrender their ,bible1 their only unerring guide1 and submitted to learn the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ1 not from his holy word and that of his ,apostles1 but from men in general very deficient in ,scriptural knowledge4 #i ,could ,i address them1 it would be thus3 ,believe no teacher that comes in the shape of man1 or angel2 but try the spirits2 consult the word of ,god1 that cannot deceive you2 compare the words and the actions of men with what you read there1 and he who comes nearest to the doctrines of ,christ1 listen to him1 for the ,apostle ,paul has said1 8,though we1 or an angel from heaven preach any other ,gospel than that already delivered unto you1 let him be accursed40 ,from all the above considerations and many others which cannot be contained in the limits of a small pamphlet1 a serious impression was made on my mind for years1 which was increased by being sometimes called on to defend the doctrine of ,invocation of ,saints1 ,purgatory1 c4 on all such occasions1 ,i found ,i had not ,scriptural1 not even rational arguments to support their authenticity2 but being still strongly prejudiced in favour of the mother church1 ,i considered her authority was founded by ,jesus ,christ1 and that doubting of her doctrine1 would be a glaring breach of the faith of our blessed ,lord4 ,let me now for a moment advert to that which held me so long in suspense1 namely1 being instructed from my infancy to believe1 8that to doubt of any article of faith taught by the church1 would be dangerous to my salvation20 and this1 ,i know1 keeps many from following that plain and most necessary direction of the ,apostle1 8examine yourselves whether ye be in this faith or not2 know ye not yourselves1 how that ,christ ,jesus dwelleth in you1 except ye be reprobates40 ,it appeared a most necessary duty for the ,apostle to impress on his flock1 to examine themselves1 to prove and try whether they were now in the faith or not2 whether they enjoyed it1 or whether they might not be resting in the name1 without the power or practice of experimental religion1 as taught by him2 he knew the name availeth nothing without the spirit of genuine religion1 influencing both the heart and life of its professor4 ,may this salutary1 and most necessary command be no longer overlooked2 and the mere name 7which is but the shadow17 be no longer vainly substituted in its stead4 ,i again had recourse to ,scripture1 tradition1 c4 to be able to defend her doctrines1 but in every attempt to do so1 ,i was secretly forced to feel my incapacity to withstand the convincing truths of ,god's word4 ,here the reader may easily imagine what anxiety of mind ,i felt1 on discovering errors in my mother church1 so manifest1 that all endeavours to gloss them over with far-strained arguments1 and make them appear plausible1 to individuals even of ordinary capacities1 proved ineffectual1 and recoiled with double force on my own conscience4 ,thus1 after various perplexities of mind1 ,i communicated my sentiments to a near relative1 7now in ,college7 whom ,i considered more competent in such important matters1 whose superior knowledge ,i presumed would be capable of removing my doubts1 without any further exposure of what ,i then considered so dangerous to entertain4 ,oh6 what infatuation--the offspring of prejudice was this2 how many blessed religious enquiries are thus stifled by bigotry6 ,how preferable was the conduct of the noble ,bereans1 ,acts xvii4 #aa4 who1 when they heard ,paul and ,silas preach to them the ,gospel1 searched the ,scriptures daily whether these things were so1 and many of them believed4 ,but the fear of man1 a false notion of honour1 and a reluctance to forsake a system1 though evidently erroneous1 and supported by hereditary custom alone1 deter many from yielding to conviction4 ,i must say1 my friend equally felt the importance of our inquiry2 we spent whole days together1 comparing the texts of the ,douay and ,protestant versions2 but this proved ineffectual1 to support the doctrines ,i doubted of1 and only contributed to increase the anxiety of my mind4 ,the idea of having so many of my relatives connected with the church of ,rome from time immemorial1 often induced me to imagine my doubts originated in some weakness of mind and want of understanding2 it would be endless to describe all the various fluctuations of mind ,i underwent1 and the different means resorted to1 to quiet such4 ,at length1 unable to sustain a burdened mind any longer1 ,i went to my ,clergyman1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,m#8,gouran1 for whom ,i had the highest veneration and esteem1 stating plainly to him the situation of my mind1 and the particular articles of his creed ,i doubted of2 solemnly avowing 7which was the case7 that ,i only sought instruction1 if ,i were in error1 as ,i believed ,i was2 for1 after reading the ,scriptures and a great part of the ancient and modern works on the authenticity of the ,roman ,catholic ,religion1 ,i could find no tenable proofs for these following doctrines1 viz4 ,invocation of ,saints1 ,purgatory1 ,indulgences1 ,transubstantiation1 ,auricular ,confession1 and the ,sacrifice and the ,ceremony of the ,mass in an unknown tongue1 substituted for the ,preaching of the pure ,gospel2 but that1 which of all other doctrines shocked and disgusted me most was1 the ,adoration of the ,host1 or ,wafer1 in ,masses1 ,processions1 c4 ,i therefore humbly appealed to him to satisfy me from any part of ,god's word on the above articles1 declaring to him ,i wanted only to be convinced of the above doctrines2 and if so1 ,i would remain an obedient son of the church during life1 or if not1 that as my salvation was dearer to me than life1 ,i would separate from his church4--,in this the searcher of hearts knows ,i had nothing in view more than to rest my belief and hope of salvation on ,jesus ,christ1 and to be guided by his doctrines contained in his holy word4 ,in justice to this ,gentleman1 ,i must say he tried every possible means with me1 at different times and places1 but to no purpose4 ,at length1 seeing my uneasiness1 and feeling for my situation1 he requested me to go to his house1 and if he could not succeed in removing my doubts1 he would allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience4 ,accordingly ,i went repeatedly1 and he very patiently heard all my objections to his creed1 produced various authorities1 chiefly from the ,holy ,fathers1 all inconclusive1 and insufficient to maintain the above doctrines4 ,in vain we sought for ,scriptural authority from them in any part of the sacred volume2 7for such were my convictions1 that no inferior or after devised authorities could satisfy my inquiry after truth17 at the same time ,i asked him1 how could ,i be blamed for separating from him and following the dictates of my conscience8 ,to which he then agreed1 and so we parted with the same candour and friendship that ever existed between us1 deeply sensible of the favour he had conferred on me1 by patiently hearing my objections to the doctrines and practices of his church4 ,my doubts being now confirmed1 the situation of my mind cannot be easily conceived4 ,to follow the dictates of conscience ,i was fully resolved1 ,god being my helper2 yet1 ,i could not but foresee the difficulties that lay before me2 my mother a widow1 in a great degree dependant on me2 my friends and acquaintances who1 ,i knew1 did not see or feel as ,i did1 but on the contrary would look on me as mad1 and consequently must consider myself as separated from them for life2 ,i felt all this to its utmost extent4 ,i thought on that saying of our blessed ,lord1 8he that loveth father or mother1 or houses or land1 more than me1 it not worthy of me40 ,i considered my salvation dearer than all the world beside2 with these views and reflections ,i resolved to commit my cause to him who has said1 8cast your burthen on the ,lord and he will sustain you10 and leave the event to him1 who has also said1 8fear not them who kill the body1 but are not able to kill the soul1 but rather fear him who it able to destroy both soul and body in hell40 ,thus far1 having laid before you1 candid reader1 and my dear fellow-countrymen1 whom1 at ,god knows1 ,i love1 a true statement of the origin1 progress and confirmation of my doubts of the doctrines ,i objected to in the ,church of ,rome1 together with the various means ,i had recourse to for instruction and certainty on these matters1 till the final interview as above mentioned4 ,after this ,i little thought of ever hearing the voice of calumny raised against me1 and sinister conjectures put on the motives that induced me to act at ,i did1 this being a matter that could be judged only by him who reads the secrets of all hearts4 ,no slanderous insinuations that could be devised against my person1 nor fear as to their consequence where ,i am known1 could induce me to take any notices of such on my account2 but ,i feel myself called upon as a duty ,i owe to my merciful ,god and his holy truth1 and for the sake of others that may be in similar circumstances1 to vindicate the propriety of leaving the ,church of ,rome1 a ,church whose doctrines ,i saw could not be supported by divine truth4 ,and many such ,i know there are on whose minds the light of truth is beginning to dawn1 therefore if this humble1 unadorned1 yet true statement may prove useful to any of those1 the object ,i have in view will be fully attained1 and outweigh all the sneering invectives that may be poured on this artless production4 ,the narrow limits of this small tract do not allow me to dwell as extensively as ,i wish1 en the above controverted points1 so ,i shall only request the seriously inquiring reader to compare all the present doctrines1 ceremonies and practices of the ,church of ,rome with the ,gospel1 and find out their origin and authenticity in the ,scriptures1 7to which nothing may be added for ever27 and in the practice of the ,primitive ,church1 before he passes the rash opinion on me1 that ,i then left the ,church of ,christ1 8,judge not that ye be not judged10 is written in holy ,scripture4 ,i beseach you read attentively the #bnd and #aeth chapters of ,st4 ,paul to the ,romans1 and consider that the ,scripture is the rule to direct the ,church of ,christ1 and that no particular ,church or people can arrogate and usurp the power of establishing or retaining any thing incongruous with1 or contrary to the sacred texts4 ,any ,church thus counteracting the authority of ,god's law1 cannot be the ,church of ,christ1 but must be ,antichristian1 and should be forsaken by all that are willing to take the divine counsel of ,christ for their guide to eternal life4 ,is it not the bounden duty of every rational mind1 to prefer the will of ,god to his own or any other man's1 to discover error and reprobate sin1 in whatever shape or form it may appear2 let the name and pretensions of any ,church be what they may1 a mere name is nothing4 ,reader1 let not your own1 nor the will of any man1 or party be the model of your life1 and actions1 but 8be ye holy as ,i am holy1 saith the ,lord10 and hearken not to the counsel of any man who does not in all things comply with1 follow1 obey1 and practise the law of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i am afraid that deep-rooted prejudices formed and nurtured by undue influence will prevent many from embracing the plain truths of the ,gospel4 ,every ,christian reader must allow that our ,lord has done all things necessary for our salvation1 and expressly ordered his followers to neither add to1 nor diminish from the ,gospel4 ,adding any thing would be superfluous1 taking from it1 blasphemous4 ,all ,christians1 and the ,council of ,trent too1 ,sess4 ,,iv4 agree that the holy ,scriptures are the fountain of all saving truth and good morals1 written by divinely inspired men1 under the immediate instructions of our ,lord1 as ,st4 ,augustine and ,st4 ,irenus testify4 ,if this is believed by all1 and as they say they believe it1 why do some exclaim against them and prohibit their general use1 yea1 and anathematize any who dare look into their sacred contents8 ,is it because they know that if the ,bible be read1 its superior light will dispel all the darkness of superstition1 and ignorance8 ,if this volume were not prohibited1 in vain would they even by mere sophistry1 attempt to build the invocation of ,saints1 on the message and salutation of the ,angel ,gabriel1 mentioned in the #ast chapter of ,luke1 #bf1 and the five following verses4 ,do they not understand that our ,lord did not then begin his mission1 which they might easily learn by reading the ,new ,testament4 ,but how can it be expected they would allow a book to be read that the ,bishops of ,benonia said1 8was the cause of all the storms and tempests1 that almost ruined the ,roman ,catholic ,church40 ,i do not wonder that they should prohibit and vilify the reading of that book1 which contains all that is sublime in doctrine and holy in tendency--all that is consolatory to the human heart--all that is requisite to make men wise unto salvation--that militates against all doctrines and inventions of men1 and the unedifying and unscriptural ceremonies of masses1 and prayers in ,latin1 so contrary to the revealed will of ,god4--#a ,cor4 xiv4 ,why are they not as zealous to expunge the unauthorised abuses that stain almost every page of their common prayer-books1 called the 8,key of ,paradise10 8,poor ,man's ,manual10 c4 a few extracts whereof ,i shall lay before the reader4 ,i ask them can they meet the approbation of any rational mind having any just views of the atonement of ,jesus ,christ8 ,nos cum prole pia benedicat ,virgo ,maria4--8,virgin ,mother we humbly crave thy blessing1 and thy ,son's10--8,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph grant us rest1 peace1 pardon and glory10--8,hail1 holy queen1 mother of mercy1 our life1 our sweetness1 our hope2 to thee we cry1 poor banished sons of ,eve2 to thee do we send up our sighs1 mournings and weepings2 turn1 thou most gracious advocate1 the eyes of mercy towards us1 and after this miserable pilgrimage receive us10 c4 ,see the ,litanies of ,st4 ,francis and the ,virgin ,mary1 the ,golden ,litanies1 c4 ,let me here pause1 and ask the reader1 does he believe did ,jesus ,christ1 the lamb slain from the foundation of the world1 make a full1 free and satisfactory atonement to ,god1 for fallen man8 ,is he now the only mediator between ,god and man8 ,does he need other advocates to procure the pardon of our sins from ,almighty ,god8 ,if he did make full atonement1 to attribute the mediatorial office to any created being1 is blasphemy2 if he did not1 then the whole of the ,christian religion is destroyed4 ,but he did make a full and ample atonement1 therefore the mediatorial office cannot be invaded nor in any wise attributed to any other1 without awfully and irreverently confounding the infinite atonement of the ,son of ,god1 with finite man4 ,it may be said1 by way of evasion1 not their mediation but intercession is solicited by their votaries4 ,does the above 8,virgin ,mother1 we humbly crave10 c4 and 8,jesus1 ,mary and ,joseph10 c4 imply nothing but intercession8 ,is it not evident that the name of the adorable ,jesus is blasphemously confounded with his creatures1 ,mary and ,joseph8 ,do we not read above1 8,most ,gracious ,advocates10 c4 and many such in the ,rosary of the ,blessed ,virgin1 c48 ,oh6 what narrow views must they have of the infinite mercy of ,jesus ,christ1 that suppose he must be influenced by saints or angels to hear our supplications2 they forget what is said in ,mat4 chap4 vi4 #f1 #g4 8,for your father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him10 but not one sentence of either asking or soliciting the interference or intercession of any saint departed1 or angel1 is ever sanctioned or mentioned in holy writ1 nor1 even when our ,lord resided on earth1 it was never known that the ,blessed ,virgin's intercession was solicited by any sinner1 though then it might appear a natural occurrence2 yet1 he publicly avowed1 8,no man cometh unto the ,father1 but by me40 ,and as this doctrine of intercession of angels and departed saints is an addition to the gospel1 so it must be1 according to ,st4 ,paul1 ,gal4 i4 #h4 8accursed40 ,if your prejudice be strong enough to make you believe the above prayers intimate only intercession1 ,i will prove at once the absurdity and utter impossibility of this man-devised system4 ,do you believe in the omnipresence and omniscience of the ,holy ,trinity1 and that no other being possesseth these attributes8 ,it must be answered1 yes1 for none dare believe otherwise4 ,therefore1 omnipresence1 7i4e4 being every where present at the same instant of time17 it follows that being the attribute of ,god alone1 no saint or angel can hear1 at the same time1 millions of votaries praying in different places of the earth4 ,hence1 the inconsistency 7to say no worse17 of such prayers1 and of attributing as it were1 omniscience1 that is1 knowing the secrets of the hearts of all men at the same time1 to any creature whatever4 ,consequently1 as they cannot know the secrets of the heart1 they cannot be intercessors for man4 ,how absurd the idea6 how fruitless the attempt1 to pray or to solicit their intercession1 as it cannot be known but some of those prayed to1 might have died in sin4 ,from all these plain reasons1 it is easily seen1 how slippery is the path they tread in1 who do not follow the plain road marked out by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,how easily may every system1 not founded on the rock of ages be upset1 when looked at through the gospel glass4 ,let me particularly address myself to my ,roman ,catholic brethren4 ,have ,i not laid before you a plain statement of facts as a sufficient cause1 founded on ,scripture1 reason and common sense1 for my separating from your church8 ,but not in the mean time particularly touching1 by way of argument1 on any but this one point of doctrine1 leaving that to abler pens4 ,i am sure it will be told you that ,i am among the followers of false prophets2 you will allow our ,lord must be the best judge of this2 let us hear him--,he declares 8there shall arise false prophets that if it were possible shall deceive the very elect40--,mat4 xxiv4 #bd4 ,he does not leave us in the dark to know and ascertain them1 and that by his usual and unerring guidance1 and his short but comprehensive rule 8by their fruits ye shall know them20 that it1 by their lives and doctrines agreeing with what he commanded and taught1 or the contrary1 their adding to or taking from his word1 for he that does so1 ,god declares 8he shall add to him all the plagues in his book40 ,see ,rev4 xxii4 #ah1 #ai4 ,and by taking away any of the words of his book1 he also declares1 8he shall take away his part out of the book of life40 ,now1 if none of the aforementioned tenets1 to which ,i object1 were ever taught by our ,lord or his ,apostles1 in the ,gospel1 consequently by such additions or false teaching1 the teachers may be easily discovered1 and these awful plagues must ensue4 ,and if withholding the ,scriptures1 commanded to be searched1 read1 and taught1 is taking from his words1 this may create strong suspicion that the dreadful curse of 8taking away his part out of the book of life0 must follow4 ,but if the ,gospel be ,god's truth1 they who strictly adhere to1 and teach it1 must of course1 be true1 and cannot be false prophets4 ,oh6 my friends1 think of these things3 judge for yourselves1 for no man will stand for you in the judgment of the great day4 ,i well know the effects of prejudice in favour of long customs and habits2 but this1 you are aware1 will be no apology in that dread day4 ,i am also aware you have been told 8that ,i was bribed for turning40 ,believe it not1 nay1 ,i am certain you do not1 cannot believe it4 ,you have long known me1 and you can now say1 if ,i have ever acted any part that was base1 or could leave room for suspicion4 ,no1 no1 my soul ,i shall never sell--,god forbid4 ,nothing but conscientious motives1 causing any man of character to do as ,i have done1 could ever be thought of by any man of common sense or piety1 much less by that ,god who will shortly judge you and me4 ,such were my motives1 and no other object had ,i1 or have ,i now in view1 as the searcher of hearts knoweth4 ,you see ,i did not do so from influence1 or the impulse of a moment4 ,i examined and tried every matter with the utmost caution and deliberation1 and from the best authorities4 ,seriously reflect and examine for yourselves1 before you rashly condemn2 and my sincere prayer to ,god is1 that in all things you may be directed agreeably to ,his will2 that at the last we may meet at ,god's right hand1 where dissentions and differences shall for ever cease4 ,,joseph ,,reilly4 ,,footnotes4 #i ,i have known several ,roman ,catholic ,priests1 who even have not had a ,bible or testament in their possession4