Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/353

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TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.

a chief part of whose religious worship consists in violent exercise and contortions of the body[1].


III.—Those who teach more than the truth.

Under this head are included all who teach besides the Scriptures, something else as of equal authority with what is contained in them. The chief of these are,—

1. Romanists, or Papists, (so called because they are the followers of the Pope or Bishop of Rome,) who teach that the images of God and of the Saints ought to be worshipped; that the Virgin Mary and other Saints ought to be prayed to; that in the Lord's Supper, after consecration, the bread is no longer bread, the wine no longer wine; that all Churches owe obedience to the Pope of Rome, &c. &c.[2] They have at different times attempted to confirm these doctrines by pretended miracles.

2. New Jerusalemites, or Swedenborgians, so called from their leader, who pretended to have received a new revelation.

3. Southcotians; the followers of Johanna Southcote, who pretended to be a prophetess.

4. Irvingites; so called from one of their chief leaders, who pretend to have received a new Revelation, and a new order of Apostles, which, like the Papists, they attempt to confirm by pretended gifts of unknown tongues, prophecy, and miracles; like all under this head, a mixture of delusion and imposture.




Churchman, whosoever thou art, that readest the list of follies and errors in the 2d and 3d classes, into which the pride of man's heart and the wiles of Satan, have beguiled so many of those who

  1. The Moravians are purposely omitted: for they cannot well be said to be opposed to the Church. They lay claim also to an Apostolic or Episcopal Ministry, though it is believed that they are unable to substantiate the succession.
  2. See Churchman's Manual, pp. 15–19.