By REV. JAMES MACLEOD, Greenock.
THE Mass of the Roman Priest is the most blasphemous form of religion even invented by the devil. It is clear from historical records that the “Mass,” “The Adoration of the Host,” “Altars,” etc., were unknown in the Christian Church for the first three or four hundred years of the Christian era. It was in the 9th century that the doctrine of “transubstantiation” was invented by the priests of Rome. The only sacraments known to the Christian Church are recorded in the New Testament: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And that is all that will be given to the Church of God in this world to the end of time. The “Mass” is one of the most lucrative methods of collecting money also ever known or invented! It is, of course, the “Stock Exchange” of the Vatican. Let the “Mass” vanish, and the bottom is out of Popery! When the people cease to attend Mass, and pay for “saying Mass” for the living, and for the dead, the papal religious plague disappears for ever. The 11th chapter to the Romans is very solemn where the Apostle of the Gentiles warns them, “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.” There is no doubt that the great apostacy of the Church from the 4th century to the dawn of the Reformation in the 16th century was foreseen, and hence the warning that they might be “cut off” which actually happened, and like the Jews who rejected Christ, are outside the pale of the true Church of God. The Jews were not spared because of their unbelief, and are to this day grouping in darkness looking for a Messiah that will never come in the way that they are looking for Him. How pathetic! The poor Papists dreaming, and looking for a heaven that is not higher than their own blind imagination. Here they are hovering between Confessions, Masses, Purgatory, praying to saints, and paying money to the Church. No hope left! It is “work, more work, or black despair!” It is not with them “If therefore the Son make you free ye shall be free indeed,” but, if the priest, the bishop, and the poor blind pope “make us free, and pardon us,” we may not be left too long in the fires of purgatory before we get to heaven! How dreadful to be deprived of the Gospel that sets the sinner free from hell, death, the wrath which is to come, the curse of the law, the guilt and dominion of sin! “His mouth is most sweet.” The poor Jews; the poor Papists; and doubly poor the miserable Protestants that have cast off the easy yoke of the Gospel for the subterfuge of the “World Council of Churches.” What madness! The Scottish Reformers saw this danger, and prepared the people against it by Acts of Parliament in 1560.
We give the exact words as then used which the majority of our people will not find difficult to follow, and understand the meaning of by a little study, and attention.
The year is 1560. The Scottish Parliament was sitting in Edinburgh. John Knox was present at this meeting.
“THE ACT AGAINST THE MESSE.”
The title in the Acts of Parliament, 1567, is, Anent the Messe abolishehit, and punisheing of all that heirs or sayis the samin.—Cap V.
“In the Parliament haldin at Edinburgh, the tent of Julij, the year of God JM fyve hundreth threeseoir yearis, the said Parliament being continewed to the first of August nixt thair-after following with continewatioun of dayis, upon the twenty-four day of the said moneth of August, the Thre Estaitis then being present: The whiche day, forsamekle as Almychtie God be his maist trew and blessed worde, has declaired the reverence and honour quhilk should be gevin to Him; and, be His Son Jesus Christ, has declaired the trew use of the Sacramentis, willing the same to be used according to His will and worde; Be the quhilk it is notour and perfetlie knawin that the Sacramentis of Baptisme and of the body and bloode of Jesus Christ, hes bene, in all tymes bygane corrupted be the Papistieall Kirk, and by their usurpit ministeris; (by the Priests,) and presentlie, notwithstanding the Reformation allready maide according to Gods Word, yit nonetheless thair is some of the same Papis Kirk that stubburnelie perseveris in thair wicked idolatrie, sayand Messe, and Baptizand conform to the Papis Kirk, prophanand thairthrow the Sacramentis foirsaidis, in quyett and secreatt places, regardand thairthrow nowther God nor His Word: Thairfoir it is status and ordeaned in this present Parliament, that na maner of persone nor personis, in ony tyme euming, administrat ony of the Sacramentis foirsaidis secreatlie, or ony other maner of way, but thei that are admitted, and have power to that effect; nor say Masse, nor yet hear Masse, nor be present thairat, under the pain of confiscatioun of all their goods, (moveable and unmoveable,) and punishing of their bodies at the discretioun of the Magistrattis, within whais (whose) jurisdiction sich personis happens to be apprehended, for the first fault; banishing of the Realme, for the second fault; and justifying to the dead, for the thrid fault: And ordainis all Schireffis, Stewartis, Bailleis, and thair deputtis, Provestias, and Bailleis of Burrowis, and other judges whatsumever, withtin this Realme, to take diligent suyt and inquisition within thair bounds; whair any such usurped ministerie is used; Messe saying, or thei that beis present at the doing thairof, ratifieand apprevand the samyn, and tack and apprehend thame, to the effect that the panis above wrettin may be execut upon them.
Extractum de libro Parliament, per me, etc.
(Sic subscribitur,)
JACOBUS MCGILL.”
This Act applied to the whole of the Realm of Scotland. We do not believe that Papists should be tortured in any way, or their goods confiscated, while we do believe that their religion should be strictly prohibited, and the people set free, who are under the mental, and spiritual tyranny of the said priest. The Church of Rome is very faithful to her own wicked religion, and is absolutely intolerant where she has the power to exercise her cruel will on other people: viz. in Spain, Columbia, etc. Her Satanic logic is that she is the only Church, that the world is her sphere of labour, and dominion, and all who resist, or stand in her way must be destroyed. “We are the holy Roman, and Catholic Church, and no other Church. State, or Dominion must resist our will,” saith the Pope! That is what Protestant Britain is up against. That is what the Parliament saw, in 1560, Luther, Calvin, Knox, and all the Reformers, and Protestant Divines saw ever since. She speaks meekly, and smoothly of toleration in Britain at the moment, but how? And what is she saying in Spain, and acting in Columbia? Her wicked laws have not been changed, or revoked by any Pope since the days of the Council of Trent! Never! This is the “Church” that is admired by many of the Clergy in the Church of England, hearing Confession and muttering Masses, and “admiring the mellow light of her candles.”
The Church of Scotland hankering after her ritual, through Iona, and the Lambeth Conferences! Surely they are gone mad! “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad!” These are the judgments of the Lord upon men for departing from the truth of God (Jer. li. 7). Are they really sane men? Morally, and mentally they may appear sane but spiritually they are mad! Who but one who was spiritually mad should ever seek the popish rituals of the Romanisers of the Church of England, via Iona, and Lambeth Conferences. They appear to be like King Saul when he went to the witch of Endor for “light, guidance, comfort, and hope.”
It is painful to think that our Presbyterian Brethren would entertain the thought for one second, far less conferring with a view “of a better understanding with their Episcopal Brethren, the Bishops” who have a seat in the LORDS! No doubt many of the “Leaders” of the Church of Scotland would like a seat in among “The Lords Spiritual” however destitute they might be of the Holy Spirit. We hope and pray that the people of that Church shall assert their ancient rights, and tell “The Edinburgh Leaders,” “If you wish to join the Episcopal Bench of Bishops, we have no such desire to forsake the Presbyterian Form of Government which we believe is the most scriptural that the Word of God reveals to us, and because of that no change, and no surrender.” They tell you that although they would “join the sister, Episcopal Church, and co-operate in a Christian way that they would retain their own form of Presbyterian Church Government, and practice?” That was said before 1929, but what happened? Where is the historic Reformed Church of Scotland? Where is the Church of the Revolution Settlement? Where is the Church of Henderson, Rutherford, and Thomas Chalmers? It cannot be traced in the present Church of Scotland but in name only that she is Presbyterian. Are her people to give up the last resemblance to the Reformed Church—namely Presbyterianism for Episcopacy? It is to be feared that her people have ceased to care what may happen—deep, deadly apathy blanketing their minds towards the Word of God, the Gospel, and spiritual values as that their “Leaders” can lead them into any sort of position! Oh, for a Boanerges that would declare death on their altars, death in their pots, death on their false religion. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (I. Kings xviii. 21). Elijah went on: “And call ye on the names of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. The people answered and said, it is well spoken” (I. Kings xviii. 24). “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood” (Jer. xlviii. 10). What a heinous sin it is departing from the Word of the Lord! The people of Scotland have departed from the Word of God (with few exceptions here and there), and however thoughtless politicians may put the evil day from them, “No war, and peace in our day,” and the Churchman calls for unions, and one world Government for all Churches, and States, that shall not keep for one hour back the vials of God’s wrath from a sinful generation! It is the council of despair, just like the prophets of Baal in I. Kings xviii. Let all Free Presbyterians keep close to their Church, their Bible, secret prayer, and attending the public worship of God, which is conducted in your Church according to the Word of God (Psalm xxvii. 14).