What Rome Gave to India
We will now look at what the church of Rome gave, in the place of that comparatively pure scriptural Christianity it had destroyed on the coast of Malabar. We cannot do better than give the words of Dr. Buchanan as he wrote them on the spot at the beginning of this century, from “Christian Researches in Asia.”
But in the following pages the author will have occasion to show what Rome is, as having dominion, and possessing it too within the boundaries of the British Empire.
In passing through the Romish provinces in the east, though the author had before heard much of the papal corruptions, he certainly did not expect to see Christianity in the degraded state in which he found it. Of the priests it may truly be said, that they are, in general, better acquainted with the Veda of Brahma, than with the gospel of Christ. In some places the doctrines of both are blended. At Augpoor, situate between Trichinopoly and Madura, he visited a christian church, and saw near it (in October, 1806) a tower of Juggernaut, which is employed in solemnizing christian festivals ... Thus, by the intervention of the papal power, are the ceremonies of Moloch consecrated in a manner by the sacred Syriac language.
“What a heavy responsibility lies on Rome, for having thus corrupted and degraded that pure and ancient church.”
Dr. Buchanan was always referred to the Inquisition at God, as the fountain head. He visited it, and found it in full operation. He was permitted, under peculiar circumstances, to see a part of this awful place, and narrates the history of what he saw and learned, but was not allowed to visit its dungeons, or speak to its captives pining in darkness, though they might be Christians, and subjects of the British Empire It was a city of churches; let him describe one for us. “I seldom see a single worshipper but the ecclesiastics. Two rows of native priests, kneeling in order before the altar, clothed in coarse black garments, of sickly appearance, and vacant countenance, seemingly unconscious of any other duty or obligation of life.”
We will not pursue the horrors of the so-called holy office. There it was in this century, and in some respects worse than when such vast numbers of Christians were burnt at the stake in public. Those executions were no longer public; but if a man or woman spoke a word against the Roman church, they were taken and thrown into these dungeons, and the friends of such had no possible means of getting to know whether they were dead or still under torture. Do not say these things are in the far past. We are speaking of this century; and we firmly believe if God were to permit, it would be set up in England with all its horrors. Poor deceived England, what art thou doing, seeking to restore Rome rule? How blessed to be not of this world, though we may have to endure its hatred and persecution, but waiting for Him who said, “On this rock will I build MY church.”
Space forbids us to give further description of the Inquisition. There is no doubt many of the Inquisitors were very learned men; and they sincerely thought they were doing God’s service in destroying these unoffending Christians; just as vast numbers would think today. And what were the charges against these Syrian Christians who had existed there through so many centuries, as we have seen? “They were accused of the following practices and opinions: ‘That they married wives; that they owned but two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s supper; that they neither invoked saints, nor worshipped images, nor believed in purgatory; that they had no other orders or names of dignity in the church than bishop (or) priest (really elder), and deacon.’ In other words, they were Christians who desired to walk according to the word of God. Rome, what hast thou done on the coast of Malabar? How didst thou use thine unlimited power over so many Syrian Christians, who were the true members of the one body of Christ, the only true church or assembly?
We have thus very briefly looked at two things. That which had been preserved for so many centuries; and if we compare what they held and practiced with what Papacy held and practiced, we must perceive that the church, or assembly, was found to be composed of every true Christian wherever found: for we do not for a moment doubt that such may be found even in the church of Rome.
There were, among others, truly converted persons, many such, in the Syrian church, and by their books there evidently had been such from the days of the apostles without a single break. But it would be a great mistake to say that the Syrian church was the church of God. Only true saints or holy ones compose the church of God—that which is built by Christ. This is seen in the address to each assembly in the New Testament. To the saints at Rome, Corinth, &c.
Now why did the church of Rome seek to destroy the very remembrance of this Syrian church? Why did they burn their literature, than which there was no greater evidence of the truth of Christianity? These Christians held the very truth received from the apostles at Antioch. They could not be justly charged with a single false doctrine. No doubt they had lost much truth, such as the heavenly calling of the church; the coming of the Lord for the church; the presence of the Holy Ghost—as seen in the church from which they came (read carefully Acts 13:1-4); at least, Dr. Buchanan does not name these truths, he himself perhaps being ignorant of them.
But they were well acquainted with the history of the church in the early centuries, and distinctly rejected the errors of Arius, Sabellius, Macedonius, Manes, Marcianus, Julianus, Nestorius, and the Chalcedonians. Thus they held the truth, and could ably defend it against all the errors of Rome, whilst Rome had sunk in idolatry, and was full of error which she could not defend, except by falsehood and murder. Can we then question that in this case, so far from Rome being the true church, she has done her utmost to destroy Christianity?
It may be said, This may be true of India, but surely it has never been the case in this country? In another paper we may see as to that.
We will now turn back to Matt. 16:18. Have you noticed one little word, “my?” I will build my church. “If you carefully examine the Acts, you will find when Christ had died on the cross, and risen again, and ascended up on high, He sent the Holy Ghost. And He then by the Spirit began to build His church. This was not begun at Rome, but first at Jerusalem, and then at the very place from whence these Syrian Christians came. You will also find that high priests, and priests of the Jews, hated and persecuted the church of Christ, everywhere. Which do you think Christ would own as His church, the persecuting priests and Pharisees, or the poor downtrodden persecuted Christians whom they called heretics? The priests sent out the chief Inquisitor on a murderous mission to Damascus. You will find the account in Acts 9; 22; 26 And you will find some remarks on this matter in this magazine. The heavenly vision leaves no uncertainty as to which company the Lord Jesus owns as His church. He uses a still more wonderful word than u my church.” He says to the Familiar of the Jewish Inquisition, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Whatever those priests did to the least of Christ’s little ones, they did to Him. He said, as it were, I must let you know this mystery, that every true Christian is part of My very self. Yet that Inquisitor, who fetched the poor victims, thought he was showing zeal for God!
Can any one deny the striking resemblance of the church of Rome to the persecuting priests of. Judaism, except that the Jews were never guilty of the barbarous cruelty of Rome’s Inquisition? indeed the whole world never inflicted such prolonged agony on human beings as that which calls itself the only true church.
Oh, that Rome could hear that voice from heaven. “Why persecutest thou me?” Yes, every Christian she has burnt at the stake, every child of God she has racked in her dark dungeons, was a part of the Christ. What she has done to them, she has done to Him, as part of Himself.
Now if Christ could not surely have owned the persecuting Jews as “my assembly,” or as “my church,” can He possibly own that which for centuries has persecuted Him in His members who have refused the idolatry and gross errors of Rome? But enough; let us have a little personal talk in the workroom. You may belong to the churches of this world: of such there are many. But, are you quite sure you belong to that which Christ calls “my church?” How am I to know? do you say. Turn to the description given of its members in the word of God. They were born of God, partakers of the divine nature (John 1:12-13); they had eternal life (John 5:24; 10:27-28.) Are you born of God? Have you the divine nature? have you eternal life? If not, you do not believe God, and you have no part in what Christ calls to my church.”
They believed on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; “who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Therefore they were justified by faith; they had peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 4:24; 5:1.) Are you justified by faith? Have you peace with God? If not, my friend, do not be deceived any longer. You may belong to the church of the pope, but you certainly do not belong to that which Jesus calls “my church.”
They were written to, as those whose sins were forgiven them for Christ’s sake. (1 John 2:12.) Is that true of you? They knew that they were the sons of God, and that when Christ shall appear they will be like Him. (1 John 3:2.) They knew and believed the love that God had to them. Not a shadow of a doubt. (1 John 4:16.) They believed the record that God had given them eternal life. (1 John 5:10-12.) They could give thanks that the Father had made them meet for the inheritance of the saints in light, and all in Christ (Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 1:4). They needed no purgatory. The one sacrifice of Christ had perfected them forever as to all conscience of sins. They needed no more masses, or sacrifices. (Heb. 10:1-23.) These are undeniable marks in scripture of those who are living stones in the church of which Christ is the builder. Can you in the presence of God, say, “These marks are true of me”? Is there anything on earth that answers to Christ’s assembly or church? Indeed there is, and will be, until He comes. He says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 28: 20.)