All Articles For Contending for the Faith

We concluded our preceding article with a quotation of Hodge on the etymology and the classical and patristic usage (usage by the fathers) of the word “sacrament.” Of interest in connection with this subject is the following quotation from the late Dr. H. Bavinck from his Dogmatics, IV, 217-218 (translation by the undersigned): “The widely propagated Greek mystery-essence exercised influence upon the Christian religion. The word musterion in the New Testament is the word for words and acts of God which were formerly hidden but now have become manifest.

VIEWS DURING THE THIRD PERIOD (750-1517 A.D.)  THE SUPREMACY OF THE POPE  Henry demanded from the pope the ban over the robber of his crown, but in vain. He refused him the promised safe conduct to Germany, acted as king, crossed the Alps, and defeated Rudolf in a battle at Lerrichstadt in Franconia, Aug. 7, 1078, but was defeated by him near Muhlheim in Thuringa, Jan. 27, 1080, in a decisive battle, which Rudolf regarded as a divine decision, and which inclined the pope in his favor. 

We concluded our preceding article with the remark that, in spite of the papal bulls that were hurled at him, John Huss continued to preach and to condemn the Church. 

VIEWS DURING THE SECOND PERIOD (300-750 A.D.)  Marcarius the Elder, a gifted representative of the earlier Greek mysticism (died in the year 390), belongs to the same symbolical school; he calls bread and wine the antitype of the body and blood of Christ, and seems to know only a spiritual eating of the flesh of the Lord. 

Rev. Woudenberg is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:19

The Papal Conflict with Frederick II Begun. 

We concluded our preceding article by quoting Chapter VI of the decrees of the Council of Trent on the Roman Catholic doctrine of the sacrament of penance. This sixth article or chapter decrees that absolution must be granted by the priest. It also teaches that even priests, who themselves are in mortal sin, exercise the office of forgiving sins, as the ministers of Christ and through the virtue of the Holy Ghost Who was bestowed upon them in ordination.

We will recall that we concluded our preceding article by calling attention to the treaty which was arranged between Frederick II and Gregory IX at Anagni, Sept. 1, 1230, upon Frederick’s triumphant return from Jerusalem, the holy city. The army of the emperor had been victorious, and the shrewd pontiff evidently considered that prudence was the better part of valor. He deemed it wise to form a truce with the conquering emperor, Frederick II. 

CANON VI.  If any one denieth, either that sacramental confession was instituted, or is necessary to salvation, of divine right; or saith, that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone, which the Church hath ever observed from the beginning, and doth observe, is alien from the institution and command of Christ, and is a human invention: let him be anathema.

We were busy in our preceding article with the Roman Catholic view of the Church as set forth in the decrees of the Vatican Council of 1870. It is worthy of note that this Council, setting forth the Romish view of the Church, lays all emphasis upon the pope. It is evident that Rome simply identifies the Church with pope. We will now continue with chapters III and IV of this Vatican Council. CHAPTER III On the Power and Nature of the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff Wherefore, resting on plain testimonies of the Sacred Writings, and adhering to the...