Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the Treasury — John Shaqi
Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the TreasuryCarlile, Richard
Religion
Church Reform: The Only Means to That End, Stated in a Letter to Sir Robert Peel, Bart., First Lord of the Treasury
Carlile, Richard
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Church and state -- Church of England; Rationalism
It is very clear to me that the Bishops of that time, the sixteenth
century, did not know how to read Holy Writ. I could defend the entire
doctrine of transubstantiation, in its fullest application, from the
language of the Gospel according to Saint John. This subject affords
me another proof, that the doctrine of transubstantiation is much older
than any of the books of the New Testament: for, where understood,
there is nothing in theology more dear than this doctrine, or that comes
nearer to a physical and moral truth.
First, let us understand that the root of the word _Sacrament_ is a
secret in the mind; and _Transubstantiation_ is a change of substance
from one to another thing. Now the secret in the mind is, where
understood, and where not understood there is no Sacrament, that,
like the Trinity, all the appearances of God are in the principle
of transubstantiation or change from one to another thing. All
is motion.--Nature knows no rest. All is change, all is
transubstantiation. It is like the Trinity,--one of the attributes of
Deity, one not to be doubted,--because everywhere visible. The present
Church of England calls it a damnable doctrine; but it is so called
through ignorance. Like that of the Trinity, it is a doctrine much older
than the Christian era; and so also was that of the Lord's Supper, as a
practised ceremony.
When the name of Christ was set up to personate all the attributes of
Deity, the various names of the Pagan gods were decried. It had become
a matter of wisdom thus to set up the name of Christ as a personation
of all the gods and goddesses: it was a concentration of philosophy, to
unite mankind in one form of religion and for one great purpose, that
of progressive and perpetual improvement. The plan was good; but the
principle has never been rightly developed. Teaching by mystery is a bad
system. The mass of the people are not so to be taught. We must begin
and teach by revelation. The Christian Religion, when revealed, will be
eternal, and realise all its real promises of peace on earth, good-will
among men, and a land flowing with milk and honey.
Before the name of Christ was used, Bacchus was called a Saviour, as
were many other if not all the gods, as Jehovah is declared the only
Saviour in the Old Testament. And this Bacchus had the name of Jesus,
or Saviour, inscribed on his altar pieces, in the very letters now
inscribed in our Churches, the three Greek letters Iota, Eta, Sigma,
I.H.S., not Jesus Hominum Salvator, in initials, though so in meaning;
but Yes, which is the same as Jesus, and signifies Saviour. Isis is of
the same root, one of whose names was Ceres. Ceres personated corn or
bread, and Bacchus personated wine. It was a Pagan custom, in religious
ceremonies, to break and eat bread in honour of Ceres, and to pour and
drink wine in honour of Bacchus, as the bread and wine or body and blood
of salvation, of both physical and moral salvation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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