Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

THE NEW PUBLIC :

ASTOR, LENOX AND
EN FOUNDATIONS.

2492

THE

HISTORY OF ROMANISM:

FROM THE EARLIEST CORRUPTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY

TO THE PRESENT TIME.

WITH FULL CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE, ANALYTICAL AND ALPHA-
BETICAL INDEXES AND GLOSSARY.

LLUSTRATED

BY

NUMEROUS ACCURATE AND HIGHLY FINISHED EN-
GRAVINGS OF ITS CEREMONIES, SUPERSTITIONS, PERSECUTIONS,
AND HISTORICAL INCIDENTS.

BY REV. JOHN DOWLING, A.M.

PASTOR OF THE BEREAN CHURCH, NEW YORK.

Μυστήριον ! Βαβυλὼν ἡ μεγάλη, ἡ μήτηρ τῶν πορνῶν καὶ τῶν βδελυγμάτων τῆς γῆς.

UNION COLLEGE FOURTH EDITION.

SCHENECTADY

NEW YORK:

REV. xvii., 5.

EDWARD WALKER, 114 FULTON STREET.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by
EDWARD WALKER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

R. CHAIGHEAD'S Power Press,

113 Fulton Street

24192

B. C. Valentine, Stereotyper,

45 Gold Street.

PREFACE.

THE present work is intended to supply a chasm that has long been felt by ministers, theological students, and other intelligent protestants, in the historical and religious literature of the age.

While a multitude of works have been published (many of great value) on the subjects of controversy between protestants and papists, or on special topics illustrative of particular periods in the history, or particular traits in the character of Popery, the need has long been felt of a complete, yet comprehensive History of Romanism, through the whole period of its existence, which, in the compass of a single volume, might present, in chronological order, the origin and history of its unscriptural doctrines and ceremonies, the biography of its most famous (or infamous) popes, the proceedings and decrees of its most celebrated councils, with so much of the details of its tyranny over monarchs and states in the days of its glory-of its inquisitions, massacres, tortures, and burnings-and of the successful or unsuccessful efforts of reformers, in various ages, to rescue the world from its thraldom, as might be necessary for a full exhibition of its unchanging character.

There are comparatively but few ministers or private Christians who can spare either the leisure or the expense to procure and to study the library of works-Roman Catholic as well as protestant, Latin as well as English-through which are scattered the multiplicity of facts relative to this subject, a knowledge of which is necessary to all who would understand the true character of Popery, and be prepared to defend against its Jesuitical apologists and defenders the doctrines of Protestantism and of the Bible. Hence the desirableness of a work which should collect together all such facts as might be necessary for this purpose from these sources, and present them in systematic order, and in as striking a point of light as the importance of the subject might demand.

Such a work is attempted in the present volume. The subject has for years past occupied the attention of the author, and much of his reading and research has been directed into this channel.

« PreviousContinue »