The Absurdity OF Praying to " the Virgin"
ana the +" Salnts''-Jesus Christ the only
Intercessor for Sinners.

LECTURE DELIVERED BY REV. MR. sTILLwELL, In
THE cHRYsrIK STREET METHODIST CHURCH, SUM-
DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 8, l845.
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ALRcTuRE DELIVERED BY REV. MR. srLLwELL, IN


THE cHRYsrIE STREET METHODIST CHURCH, SUM-


DAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 8, 1S45.


find the third day there marriage in Cana of Cali


ess I s"s snS % sSf s mSa:s as :a ss saa & ss


oan:a 'o1s the ., mother q Iesns 18th unto hare
% s ysa%s ss esss 70
&s rs s M s ~ ,s aS e. S
ssss ssss @ts Ken .Ass& x. % s .s& &


s ad Ssa @ e. a% Ssa *. S M .s. @
tasted me made oine and kns,D not wHsee L
tss .sass ss .s &


Ct y ss St ssss g
hast kcpthe good yne until This beginning Of mira
ss esis 81 s IT.
Verses l to IL. f -


The marriage at which this miracle of the con-
version of water into wine occurred, is supposed to
have been that Of John, the brother of Jesus. We
have already considered the object Of Christ in
performing the miracle-to show forth his own
glory, and establish the truth Of his divine mission
to the earth. Without much preface, therefore,
desire this occasion to direct your attention to
a few considerations connected with subjects that
have, until recently, been lying dormant and not
much conversed about or thought of amongst those
who are not Roman Catholics, bat which have
lately been spread abroad and attained more than
ordinary publicity, to give the fullest possible
intimation to all that are.wlng to hear, that these
dogmas which have been SO often protested against
are still retained in all their length and BREADTH


by the Romish Church. And as there is at the
present time considerable excitement in relation to
this subject, and as the sophisries and mis-
representations of the sacred writings put forth


of oh a of,,rA N
them into what is falsely called the spirit of char


ty, which is misinterpreted as meaning that We
ought not to condemn any, and also that all may
be saved according to their own belief, provided
to be regarded with approbation. This kind Of
charity that covers up error, and supposes that er
ror may be the salvation of sinners, is altogether
at variance with the scriptures of divine truth. II
lary. by the light Of revelation, all the doctrines
and dogmas which are set forth in any quarter as
Of decisive authority. In sermon preached at
St. Peters Church, and published to the world,
testant doctrine he had perfect right to give his
own Interpretation Of the sacred scriptures, and
then ne goes on to bring forward the opinions Of
men called saints, who had rec lived them, as ie
contends, from the apostles themselves. Now, that
is all assumption. That Is not proof There is no
evidence given that those sfathers received their
opinions from the apostles The only sure and safe
have We have the writings Of the apostles. We
have the scriptures Of truth That is given to us to
be light to our feet and lamp to our path ] can
teach nothing that is not in that work. To that
lead me to knowledge Of the truth as it is in
Jesus We need not 60 to the ssfathers"-to any
OF those that have preceded us-the word of God
is an open book, and it is profitable for instruction
Christian faith. And thanks be to God that his
blessed word is now within the reach of all, be-
cause from it men can judge for themselves, and
wit, with that sacred volume in my hand, ! make
did-"I speak ms unto wise men, Judge ye
what I say" That there were such persons
as Joseph. and Mary, and Jesus, is allowed
fore, go into any further proof Of that than that
the scriptures declare it, Joseph was of the royal
line of David, although sunk to state Of compa-
ratlve poverty. But one of the evangests has
in regular line from David. It is evident,
therefore, when we come to the genealogy OF
sceptcal writer's have disputed because
both If them belonged to the lineage of David-but


relates unto Mary herself have reason to suppose
any than any other that had an sxs,ance
upon the earth The declaration is made that ser she
had been bctrohs to this Joseph that the angel Of the
Lord appeared and addressed her in terms used in
the form OF prayer by the Romish church." Hail Mary
highly favored Of God d"snd informed that when
proclamng that she had been chosen the proms
ed" virgin shall conceive and bear son Now,
purHOrt a0dr6ee
ply call attention the consideration Of that which
was to be done and when he proclaimed that she was
highly favored she merely replied with the declaration,
garded ths miraculous conception only subject of
rdicue and object that it improper to be spoken Of


said ths "He might eli conceive the impury to be
in his mind in the declaration he might as
reasonably have considered 1t obscene when It is said
that the spirit Of God moved upon the face of the waters
at the creation" Jesus Christ therefore, 90 the Of
tn Ieorl
cd with any power from on high but he grew up is
said in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
parents to feast at Jerusalem and when his parents
returned, he remained behind When they sought him
and found him the doctors Of the law
putting aud answering questions and there wonder
at his wisdom. When his mother came to him, she
asked why is this r. Jesus answered, wst thou
that should be about my iathers business p Then,
at the age Of twelve years he hears rsmonstrance
that he would have shown perfect obedence to her will


and when excuse could be given for his refused to sub
mt implicitly to her direction and guidance There was
heart When this the nrst Of his miracles. was peror
that occasion came to him, and said They have no
wnen He replied. " Woman, what have / t. do with
thou and to do with this ~ Now, il does not appear
here as II Mary had much influence with her With
respect to Joseph we hear no Of him after the time
when Jesus twelve years Of age But relates
unto Mary he does appear to have conceded to her
interccssion because the answer seems to imply
proof that she had been In haseas she had proposed
what was not then necessary to be DONE In the fret
place then, person o common understanding must
perceive reading this Scripture that Jesus was not
have supposed that perhaps he would have given money
to procure vne she and he related to the persons


in honor Of whose marriage the feast given, which
had now lasted three daysand they usually lasted
but there nothing whatever to indicate that she sup
posed ne would be induced, or was about TO- perform
the remarks made this point in the lecture given
81 Petsn The lecturer said" Because the Catholic
reiigon alone las always held natrimony of divine
orgn has made 1t one Of the sacraments Of religion,
looks upon as no longer thing Of earth. but of hea.
ven by which we are benefited, consoled, and
THIS surely s msstatement What sect of Christians
denies that msrriege is Of divine origin We Christians
thoc church the sole merit Of regarding masrimony as
Of divine crigni They alone. indeed make marriage
resting as this topic would be az subject for NV dis
courses time doek not print enterlnx