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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 87

Chiniquy Vindicated

Chiniquy Vindicated.

In another column we give an extract from an American paper, which will be perused with interest just now as bearing on the character and work of Pastor Chiniquy. Our readers will see that the Pastor has been successful in his long and expensive suit against the Popish Bishop Foley, who attempted not only to degrade the Pastor as an apostle from the Romish Church, but to dispossess him and his people of the Church property which they held. The Pastor therefore has taught the Bishop a lesson which he will probably remember for many a day. It must be humiliating to him to acknowledge defeat; but the defeat which he has sustained in the law courts is not half so humiliating and crushing as that which is involved in the exposure which the Pastor compelled the Bishop to make of himself and his Church when being examined. When the Bishop was put in the box Chiniquy put a few ugly questions to him which he did not like to answer. The Bishop, in fact, declined to answer them. But the judge told him he must answer. As he had come to the Court against Chiniquy, he must answer Chiniquy. As he had appealed to American law, he must submit to American law. Whatever he might think of the Pope and his Church and of the canon law, by which the Church desires to rule the world, he must remember that American law ruled the States. Therefore he must answer Chiniquy, and Chiniquy made him wish a hundred times that he had never ventured outside the walk of his episcopal palace. It was a grand and laughable sight to see Chiniquy holding in his grip the great Bishop, and compelling him to answer the questions which he put to him. The questions were about the authorities which rule in the Church of Rome. He wanted the Bishop to say whether or not the doctrines of St. Thomas and St. Liguori were the doctrines which are taught in the Church of Rome. He wished to get, on oath, an admission or denial that the teachings of those two saints are the teachings which the Romish bishops and priests give to their people. The bishop refused to answer. He contended that lie was not bound to tell such a mighty secret in the Church. He stood long silent and refused to say a word; but at last it came out! And the bishop admitted that St. Thomas and St. Liguori were the authorities; and that the principles and doctrines of those two saints were the principles and doctrines in which the Roman Catholic people were now being trained.—We urge our readers to study what the Bishop had good reason to conceal, but what he was compelled under oath to admit, The principles are atrocious. They contain all the violence, murder, and persecution of which we read when the Papal Church was in page 47 power. They therefore show what the Church would do again if power were given it. No wonder that the people who are taught to believe such principles are trouble-some and overbearing. You must not know an excommunicated man, neither eat with him, nor do business with him. nor pray with him! You must not tolerate heretics, and you must help to hand them over to the secular power to be exterminated! Heretics deserve the sentence of death. And Catholics who are especially zealous in opposition to heretics will get special indulgences—a high place in the kingdom of heaven!—Will our Protestant people consider that what is here stated is not a "Protestant slander," but the admission of a Popishbishop under oath? Will our silly talkers about charity see here that charity to such people is thrown away? Men who believe, that you ought to be burned—who; believe that you are weeds—who are taught that there is merit in exterminating such heretics as you, are traitors; such in tolerant enemies of civil and religious liberty ought not to be tolerated.—In bringing these facts out to the open day, Pastor Chiniquy deserves the thanks of the whole Protestant world. With immense labour he has won his cause. At immense cost of time and thought, and money he has succeeded in beating off Popish wolves who had gnashed at him with their teeth. A brave old man has, single handed, as Luther did, beaten his enemies into small dust.