All Articles For Contending for the Faith

We introduced our preceding article with the observation that great significance was attached to the sacrament of Baptism during this second period of the history of the Church of God in the New Dispensation. By it both original and actual sins (committed before baptism) were removed. That this power was ascribed to this sacrament appears from several quotations. We concluded our preceding article with the promise that we would quote Augustine in connection with his views on this subject.

Confirmation, or a service attending the introduction of those baptized in infancy into full communion in the Church, was instituted early and continued for a long time among Protestants as well as among the Romanists. In fact, the word “Confirmation” had lately also come into existence among our churches recently. Those who had been baptized in their infancy had their standing then in the Church on the ground of the profession of faith and the engagements which had been made in their name, by their parents or sponsors.

VIEWS DURING THE THIRD PERIOD (750-1517 A.D.)  A BRIEF RESUME. 

Hildebrand elected Pope. His Views on the Situation.

We concluded our preceding article with a quotation from Hodge in which he criticizes the Roman Catholic view of the Popish Mass. And that writer had begun his criticism with the remark that no doctrine than the Popish Mass is more destitute of even a semblance of Scriptural support. The words of Christ, “This do in remembrance of me,” are n made to mean, “Offer the sacrifice which I myself have just offered.” And the Romanists also appeal to the fact that Christ is said to be the priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Among his favorite Scripture quotations, besides the prophecy about Peter (Matt. 16:18, 19), are two passages from the Old Testament: the words of the prophet Samuel to Saul, which suited his attitude to rebellious kings (I Sam.

The celebration of the eucharistic sacrifice and of the communion was the centre and summit of the public worship of the Lord’s Day, and all other parts of worship served as preparation and accompaniment. The old liturgies are essentially, and almost exclusively, eucharistic prayers and exercises; they contain nothing besides, except some baptismal formulas and prayers for the catechumens. The word liturgy (leitourgia), which properly embraces all parts of the worship of God, denotes in the narrower sense a celebration of the eucharist or the mass. 

In our preceding article we called attention to the Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation by quoting from the Council of Trent, and we quoted from that council as it positively set forth that doctrine. Now we will quote the Canons of that council, those articles in which they set forth the errors of those who oppose this doctrine. These articles in which these heresies are set forth are called canons. 

VIEWS DURING THE SECOND PERIOD (300-750 A.D.)  THE LORD’S SUPPER The Sacrifice by Philip Schaff.  The doctrine of the sacrifice of the mass is much further developed in the Nicene and post-Nicene fathers, though amidst many obscurities and theoretical extravagances, and with much wavering between symbolical and grossly realistic conceptions, until in all essential points it is brought to its settlement by Gregory the Great at the close of the sixth century. These points are the following: 

Continuing our quotation of Augustine, in connection with his views on baptism, we quote the following: “For that sins which have been remitted do return upon a man, where there is no brotherly love, is most clearly taught by our Lord, in the case of the servant whom He found owing Him ten thousand talents, and to whom He yet forgave all at his entreaty. But when he refused to have pity on his fellow servant who owed him a hundred pence, the Lord commanded him to pay what He had forgiven him.