Dialogue Between a Catholic Priest and a Protestant, by Matthew Poole, published by Northampton Press, hardback, 168 pages, \$16.00.
The name of the author of this book is already well known. In 1685, he provided for Bible readers a Commentary. C H Spurgeon declared that, if in his studies he was restricted to consulting only one commentary, he would choose Poole’s. Surely therefore we ought to be interested in the Dialogue if we care for our own souls, and if one so learned and so conversant with the Scriptures as Matthew Poole was, wrote it – and he makes use of the Bible to highlight the distinction between what is precious and what is vile. In particular, Poole here examines the doctrines and practices of the apostate Church of Rome and does so by way of a supposed dialogue between a Popish Priest and a Protestant.
Poole seems to have lost no time in refuting and condemning the errors systematised in the canons of the Council of Trent, which had finally completed its deliberations in 1653, only four years before this book was written. Rome’s semper eadem (always the same) would now apply for all time coming and her anathema was pronounced on any who would dare to alter or differ from what were now the official, authorised doctrines and practices laid down by Trent.
Numerous authors who wrote in support of what this conclave produced are cited by Poole and their arguments demolished. In his letter to the reader, he anticipates being charged with managing the work with partiality and deceit and of making the Romanist say what he wants him to say; Poole’s response is, “I do not care what men think. . . . God is my witness that I diligently endeavoured to pick out the strongest arguments I could find in the Romanists’ best authors on each point. Nor have I willingly avoided anything of significance in the questions here debated; if any Romanist thinks otherwise, let him search for arguments of greater strength, and I hope he shall find that the issues have been fairly examined.”
If Poole was writing in 2023 he would surely note that Rome’s doctrines remain substantially the same and that any changes made have been only cosmetic. What is on record, condemned and detested in the National Covenant remains unchanged; the Pope is still the “Roman Antichrist” and, among other things, these errors continue: “his devilish mass; his blasphemous priesthood; his profane sacrifice for sins of the dead and quick [living]; his canonisation of men; calling upon angels or saints departed”. Add to this what is now public knowledge in regard to the abusing of children by priests and others – estimated to be a third of a million in Europe alone. How gross and strong that delusion must be when so many of our fellow creatures still maintain that we have here a branch of the Christian Church!
The Pope was expected to visit Scotland in November 2021, ostensibly to attend the international conference on climate change, but Scotland was mercifully spared from having the Antichrist and man of sin set foot on her soil again. That he, through one of his minions in Westminster, recently claimed that all marriages not performed, or celebrated, within the Roman Church are invalid reveals that the arrogance of the past still remains. Such apathy prevails that this outrageous claim did not make bold headlines.
This useful, informative book was first published in London in 1667 under the title Dialogue between a Popish priest and an English Protestant, and we are very grateful that the Northampton Press have made it available again. We hope and pray that it will receive a wide circulation. It is a pity that the original title was not used and that the claim of Rome to be the catholic, or universal, Church would be, even in this instance, repudiated.
(Rev) J MacLeod