History Of The Cross The Pagan Origin And Idolatrous Adoption And Worship Of The Image Etc PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... INTRODUCTION. Above forty years ago, passing by the open door of the Catholic church then standing in Ann Street, New York, and seeing its interior draped in black on the morning of Good Friday, I took a proffered seat near the chancel, to behold the scenes never before nor since witnessed. The movements, the prayers in Latin, the smoking incense, the melodies, the candles, the bowings, and the chancel performances, were closely observed without being well understood. But the sermon which followed was in plain Saxon, glorifying the wood of the cross, which the preacher said " ought to be worshipped." I was surprised, for the Latins deny their worship of idols, and I, charitably believing it, was astonished at the preacher's language in presence of the thronged house. It seemed to me unguarded, and rashly to place a weapon in their enemy's hands. The preacher proceeded, however, in full earnest, to show and to urge the reasonableness, and to enforce the duty, of worshipping the mood of the cross! First, Because it was miraculously preserved, and found with the crosses of the two thieves, after having lain buried in the earth for three hundred years nearly. Secondly, Because when found, it was distinguished from the crosses of the two thieves by the miracles it wrought, while the crosses of the thieves wrought none. (The father of this quite overreached himself by finding the crosses of the two thieves.) Thirdly, Because the wood of the true cross multiplied itself for distribution over the whole world without diminution or loss of the original wood. A This emphatic and logical preaching was next practically illustrated before all eyes. For the preacher, officiating clergy, and clerks within the chancel, first approached singly in...