this assembly is a priest unto God. | be sacrificing priests; and in the No minister, Protestant or Roman New Testament Church there is not Catholic, is so exclusively and dis-one solitary passage, from the Alpha tinctively. of Matthew to the Omega of Revelations, in which the minister of Christ is described as officially and exclusively a iepeus, or "sacrificing priest."

Mr. FRENCH.-What was the text?

"Ye also, as lively stones" it is 2 Peter chap. v. [to Mr. F.] "are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacri fices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." "I beseech you, by the mercy of God, that ye present your bodies Rev. J. CUMMING. The text I as living sacrifices." Now, then, I last quoted was Hebrews v. 4. Let repeat my statement, that the words us look at the institution of the presbyteros, episcopus, and diaconus, Lord's Supper (1 Cor. xi. 26), and are the words used in the New Tes- see if there is any intimation of a tament, to describe the ministers of sacrifice, or sacrificing priesthood, Christ, and there is not an officer in there :-" As often as ye eat this the New Testament Church distin- bread and drink this cup, ye do show guished from the body of the faithful the Lord's death till he come.' by the name of iepeús, or "sacri- The words are not, ye do offer up ficing priest;" and I therefore tell the "the body and blood, soul and reverend gentlemen who sit beside divinity of Christ till he come." Mr. French [the Rev. T. Sisk, of The Lord's Supper, therefore, is an the Roman Catholic Chapel, Chelsea, institution to show forth the death who, with another priest, was present of Christ "till he come," not inon the preceding and subsequent tended to perpetuate the offering evenings that he is NO sacrificing up the "body and blood, soul and priest Mr. Sisk bowed] in the sense in which he holds it. Mr. French is as much a iepeús as he. I should rejoice to hail him as coadjutor in the Gospel of Christ; but, to enable me to do so, he must abjure the fearful assumption of any power to bring from heaven and immolate upon his altar the Lord of glory. There is no iepeús in this room separate from the whole body of the faithful, save that High-priest, that Great High-priest, who said to all his followers, "Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

We read in Hebrews, v. 4, "No man taketh this honour unto himself" (that is, "the honour" of being a sacrificing priest, as the context will show you), "but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Now I have shown you that God has not called, or appointed, any to

divinity of the Son of God." When our Lord was instituting the communion, it is recorded in the twentysecond of Luke, that "he took bread, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you." Now the Mass is a "propitiatory sacrifice," or something offered by the priest To God, but here is something given BY GOD TO US; or in a sacrifice something is offered by man to God, but a sacrament is something given by God to man. When our Lord instituted the Eucharist, we read of no altar, on which was to be offered up his body and blood, soul and divinity. no sacrificial priest; we find no intimation that there was propitiation made in the Last Supper by our Lord, or that he asserted that the Eucharist was henceforth to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead. If the Last Supper

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was the propitiatory sacrifice of by reason of death;" but this priest, Christ, I ask why did he offer him- Christ, hath an unchangeable priestself again? If the Last Supper hood. The Church of Rome has was the sacrifice that satisfied High rendered the word "eternal" priestHeaven and saved lost mankind, hood; but I appeal to my friends what means the fearful and agoniz- whether the Greek word ȧnapáßatov, ing cry-" Father! if it be possible, derived from a maрaßaivw, to pass let this cup pass from me, but never-over, compounded of rapa, beyond, theless, not my will, but thine be and Bavo, to go, does not mean a done ?" If the sacrifice was made priesthood that cannot pass from one when the Last Supper was insti- to another—a priesthood incommututed, then must we blasphemously nicable and intransmissible, exclusinfer from this fact, that the last ive and peculiar. The Greek is sacrifice of Christ on "the accursed explained in Parkhurst (Rose's editree" was a work of superero- tion):-" What passeth not from gation, uncalled for and unneces-one to another," as the Jewish high sary. But if the Last Supper priesthood did from the father to was what we believe it to be an his son and successor. Theodoret affecting symbol of that solemn and momentous sacrifice, a symbol of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, about to be offered up upon the cross, then we feel the absolute necessity of his last great sacrifice, because the truth is inscribed in the records of the Jewish economy, and re-echoed in the oracles of the church, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin"-and, "The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin." God himself must suffer, bleed, and die, before the guilty sinner could be redeemed.

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, vii. 23, you will find the following important truth:-"They truly," the priests of Levi, under the law,

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were many priests" (and the same necessity of reason applies to the soi disant priests of Rome), "because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; but this Man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood." Now

explains it, adiado xov. This epithet, arapásarov, denotes that Christ has an incommunicable, intransferable priesthood."

[Mr. French, appearing to deny it, and appealing to the Rev. Mr. Sisk. Rev. J. CUMMING.-My friend, I perceive, doubts me!

Mr. FRENCH (in reply).—“ A priesthood that does not pass away."

Rev. J. CUMMING.-The Greek word, I assert, from its composition, its definition in Parkhurst, and its synonyme in Theodoret, means what I have stated — which passeth not from one to another.

Mr. FRENCH, and another voice [which the reporter understood to be the Rev. Mr. Sisk's.]-False! false! bad! bad! it is παρα and βαίνω"that does not pass away.'

Rev. J. CUMMING.-Very well, as you choose. I have given you the original word and definition of the Lexicon, and I now leave it with every Greek scholar in this assembly to decide whether the word does not mean " unchangeable," or that passeth not from one to another, and Rev. J. CUMMING.-Hebrews vii. not as the Roman Catholics now 23, 24. You observe, there were define it, that "cannot pass away." 'many priests" under the law-I am not at all surprised that my "they were not suffered to continue friend is obstinate on this point, and

Mr. FRENCH.-The reference, if you please.

He

contends strenuously for a diluted the Roman Catholic priesthood; that meaning, because if it be a charac- their functions are gratuitous; their teristic of Christ that his priest-office is unhallowed; their order hood is essentially and inseparably derogatory to Christ and ruinous to interwoven with his other sacred men's souls. The ministers of the functions and glorious offices, and Gospel are not sacrificing priests in can no more be passed away from any sense different from the laity. himself to another than his omnipre- Heb. vii. 26, 27:-"For such an sence or omnipotence can be trans-High-priest became us, who is holy, ferred, the assumptions of the harmless, undefiled, and separate Roman priesthood are blasted by from sinners, and made higher than that epithet as by a thunderbolt, the heavens; who needeth not daily; and the Mass proved a fabulous as those high priests, to offer up deceit. One reason of the per- sacrifice, first for his own sins, and fection of his priesthood is, because then for the people's, for this he did he continueth ever. Observe, one ONCE when he offered up himself." peculiarity of Christ's priesthood The Greek word is épárat-once is, it continueth ever. The feature in for all-perfectly, completely, not contrast with this, and characteristic to be done again. I contend that if of the Mosaic economy, is that St. Paul had been professedly comthe priesthood passed from one to bating the doctrine of the Mass, he another, that when one priest died could not have used stronger or another succeeded him; but Christ more exterminating language. continueth ever. There is neither says, "We have not a High-priest room nor necessity for any other who needeth daily to offer up sacrifice." priest; the completeness of his But in the Church of Rome they sacrifice, the fulness of his inter- have priests who need daily to offer cession, and the continuance of, up sacrifice. It is a fact, that at least and impassable origin of his func- 400,000,000 of masses have been tions, render other sacrificing priests offered up since the year 1801. A unnecessary and inadmissible. Their calculation below the mark, is that assumptions are intrusory; their there may be about 30,000 priests claims are blasphemy; their exist-in the world; suppose they offer a ence, an attempt to defeat the ends Mass a day, that will be 210,000 a of the Gospel. We have all we week, and 10,920,000 a year, or, can want in the complete and during the last ten years, in round glorious priesthood of our Lord numbers, 100,000,000, and during and Saviour Jesus Christ. the portion of the century that is I may mention that one of the now expired, and by the same arithfathers, to whom my learned friend metic, nearly 400,000,000 of masses. has referred, expresses the Greek Monstrous! almost (I speak it with word anaрáßarov, by having no suc- every kindness towards my antacessor. We have an explanation gonist) blasphemous statement! from one of the fathers of this word What is the language of St. Paul? confirmatory of ours, if that were" This he did ONCE for all." He needed. If this be the fact-and I needs not to offer up himself am prepared with references abun- 400,000,000 of times, for "this dant from the Greek and Scripture to show that that is the meaning-then Mr. French knows there is an end of the claims and proud assumptions of

he did ONCE for all." The apostle, drawing a contrast between the priesthood of Christ and the priests under the Jewish economy, or any

Rev. J. Cumming.

SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.

similar economy, says, "he needeth tions on Mr. French's part was, not daily, as did their priests, to offer that Mr. Cumming was obliged to up sacrifice for the sins of the people, make the quotations so rapidly, on for this he did once for all," when account of the shortness of his time, he offered himself as the victim that it was almost impossible coron the cross. I implore you to read rectly to record them without havthe 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th chap-ing the references again stated.] Rev. J. CUMMING.-I quoted ters of the Epistle to the Hebrews; and if ever there was a splendid from Heb. ix. 13, 14. Now, then, and overpowering confutation of you observe, I am not giving my the doctrine of the Mass, it is con- own private interpretation-I am tained in those four chapters, and laying the Mass and Scripture side you will find the word anag re- by side, that you may deliberately peated at least seven times-"once see if this propitiatory sacrifice is a for all" and this completeness of doctrine that enjoys the patronage Through Christ's sacrifice and perfection of of the apostle St. Paul. Here priesthood sweeps away for ever the Eternal Spirit he offered himself without spot or blemish." the claims of a sacrificing priest. Christ is at once the ALTAR, and the VICTIM, and the PRIEST. His Godhead was the altar that sanctified and sustained the majestic offering; his humanity-his "spotless" "humanity-was the victim; and the Lord Jesus Christ was the great High-priest. He offered himself, the victim, on the altar of his Godhead.

Again, I quote Heb. ix. 11:"But Christ being come, an Highpriest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands-that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in ONCE into the holy place"-ONCE FOR ALL, you observe, never to come Again, in verse 22:-"Almost all out again to be sacrificed on the altar, having obtained ETERNAL things are by the law purged with REDEMPTION FOR US," and, there-blood, and without shedding of blood fore, no need of any other sacrifice there is no remission." I have told to be added, as if our redemption you that in the Mass there is no could be exhausted and die, or to shedding of blood, that it is, by the make more satisfactory and com- definition of Dr. Doyle, an bloody" sacrifice; and, therefore, plete, than that which is eternal. this statement at once exterminates its pretension to be a propitiatory offering for the sins of the living and the dead.

Again, I read from the same chapter (Heb. ix.), verses 13, 14:For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the Eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!" Now, in this passage we find

Mr. FRENCH.-The reference, if

you please.

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un

The twenty-fifth verse of the same ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews:-"Nor yet that he should offer himself OFTEN, as the Highpriest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others." Now, mark, it is not required that Christ should offer himself OFTEN ; but, in the Church of Rome, (as my learned antagonist can testify,) it is

The reason of these interrup-required that Christ offer himself

often by the priest. Yes, four hun- " offered often" on Roman Catholic dred million of times during the last altars, he must have often suffered” forty years. The Bible says it is at the hands of Roman Catholic NOT REQUIRED that he should offer priests. The Church of Rome dishimself OFTEN, but the Church of claims, I believe, the idea that Christ Rome says it is REQUIRED that he undergoes any suffering in the Sacrishould offer himself OFTEN. [Turn-fice of the Mass. But if she dising to Mr. French.]

Mr. FRENCH.-Yes.

Rev. J. CUMMING.-The learned gentleman most candidly acquiesces. All I need add is, that the Church of Rome, in the pride of her folly, says one thing, and St. Paul, the inspired penman, says another! Do you admit the inspirations of St. Paul's Epistle? Do you hold it to be the word of God?

[An intimation of assent from Mr. French.]

Rev. J. CUMMING.-Then I call upon the learned gentleman, when ne stands up, to reconcile these two extraordinary facts the apostle says, it is not necessary that Christ should often offer up himself; the Church of Rome says it is necessary. I anticipate every possible reply, and remind this assembly of an extinguisher on such opposition:"Let God be true, though every man a liar."

claim the idea that he suffers, she must also disclaim the opinion that he is offered on her altars. But if Christ be often offered, he must, according to the inspired declaration of the apostle, often suffer; if the Church of Rome maintains he does not often suffer, I must infer with St. Paul, he is not often offered, and therefore, that the Mass is, in the words of the Church of England, "a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.' It must be so, my Roman Catholic hearers, if the words of the true God are truth; and, oh! I implore you, my deeply deluded fellow-countrymen, and you, my learned opponent, to weigh these solemn and eternal statements, for we must each give an account before the judgment bar of God of what we have said and heard this evening! I implore you, my Roman Catholic friends, while I see many intelligent and inquiring countenances I read on to the twenty-seventh around me, to lay these sentiments verse of this chapter, and quote the seriously to heart, and resolve this words; "for then must he often have night to receive or to reject the suffered, since the foundation of the doctrine of the Mass, according to world; but now ONCE, in the end the verdict of this infallible tribunal. of the world, hath he appeared to This holy volume must root up every put away sin by the sacrifice of him-plant that is not of our Father's piant self." The apostle has just said, ing. Revere, receive its records. "It is not necessary that he should I turn to Heb. ix. 27, 28:offer himself often." Why? (I spe"And it is appointed unto men cially call your attention to this.) once to die, but after this the judg. "It is not necessary," says the ment. So Christ was once offered apostle, "that he should OFFER to bear the sins of many; and unto himself OFTEN." He assigns the them that look for him shall be reason: because then must HE appear the second time, without OFTEN HAVE SUFFERED." In other sin, unto salvation." Is there anywords, the apostle says, every time thing between man's dying and the that Christ is OFFERED he MUST judgment? "No," says the aposSUFFER; and mark! if he has been tle, as a man once dies, and cannot

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