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INTELLIGENCER.

The Bible our rule of faith !-The right of private judgment our privilege.
Hier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders;-Gott helfe mir! Amen !--LUTHER.

VOL. V.]

MARCH, 1830.

[No. 1.

TO OUR PATRONS.

Protected and preserved, by a wise and merciful Providence, we have been permitted to commence the 5th volume of the Evangelical, Lutheran Intelligencer. During the four years of its existence, we have been gratified by assurances, that our feeble efforts were crowned with some degree of success, and that it has been productive of good, to that portion of the vineyard of the Lord Jesus, with which we are connected. We have the happiness to know, that it has been a channel, through which much necessary and important knowledge has flowed to the members of that particular Church, to which it is especi ally devoted, whilst Protestants of different denominations, have been enabled to obtain interesting information, upon subjects, which concern them all.

But, though the Intelligencer hitherto has been productive of much good, and imparted interesting facts relative to the most ancient Protestant Church, viz. the Lutheran, we believe, that its sphere of useful. ness might be greatly enlarged, if our friends would exert themselves, to increase our subscription list. It will be observed, that entire new type has been procured, and we hope, that our effort to improve the Intelligencer, will be, not only appreciated, but acknowledged, by punctual payment, in current money, for, all we ask is, a sufficiency to pay the paper and our printer. We shall as heretofore, conduct

the work, upon the liberal principles of Lutheranism; do unto others as we wish to be done by, and, deliberately candidly and fearlessly expose the errors of Popery, which, is now attempting the destruction of our liberties.

We are directed "to cast our bread upon the waters" and in the publication of the Intelligencer thus far, we think, we have followed the injunction. A meagre subscription list, meagre in point of numbers, yet embracing almost the whole Geographical extent of the Union, presents, at the close of each year, a deficit in the financial concern. We sent our work forth, into every section of the vast region which is claimed as the domain of liberty and independence, wherever it has been ordered, happy in the idea, of satisfying such, as hunger for the bread of life, without enquiring into the manner, by which we should collect the sum requisite, to perform the work, devolving upon us. We trusted entirely, to the honor and integrity of ou subscribers, (who know, that we have no pecuniary advantages) in carrying on the work. In many instances we have failed in our hopes -an indifference, not by any means creditable, has been manifested on this point. But, we will not, cannot, abandon the hope (distres sing as such contemplations are) that "in due time it shall return to

us."

Agreeably to our plan, we shall impart to our work, a varied character; we shall notice important transactions of government-casualities which constantly occur, and evince the mysterious movements of an Allwise God, and especially those operations, which Lutherans, and other christian denominations are carrying on, for the amelioration of the condition, and the happiness of mar.

Our motto, speaks language that cannot be misunderstood, and if Lutherans, if real and sincerc Protestants, will aid us, the pledge is given, that neither things high nor low, nor life nor death, shall cause us, to shrink from the discharge of our duty.

DAVID F. SCHEFFER,

Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

THE PROTESTANT.

We published the Prospectus of the work entitled "The Protestant," and recommended it, to the patronage of Protestants generally. We rejoice, that some at least, have listened to us, and subscribed for it. Although we have no idea, that it will command a general support, as it deserves, yet it will have its influence upon some, and if a few are duly enlightened and impressed, the Lord Jesus Christ, may plead with success for us and our beloved country, for their sakes. We extract the following, from the Protestant, for January.-Editor.

CODE OF THE JESUITS.

Of the morality which the Papist Doctors teach, a few specimens are now adduced-hereafter, the substance of the SECRETA MONITA SOCIETATIS JESU shall be published. They distinguish philosophical

sins from sins of probability, thus-"Philosophical sin is an action or course of actions repugnant to the dictates of reason, and yet not offensive to the Deity." Every possible criminality is sanctified by this axiom. An opinion or precept may be followed with safety when taught by only one Doctor of considerable reputation, even though contrary to the judg ment of him who gives, and of the person who takes the advice." This definition of "the sin of probability" accommodates all classes of the ungodly, from the profoundest falsifying hyprocrite to the most licentious profligate.

"Actions intrinsically evil and directly contrary to the divine law, may be innocently performed by those who have so much power over their minds as to join even ideally, a good end with the wicked action." Thus all lying; every perjury; all robbery and uncleanness; and every murder perpetratated for the good of the Papacy, are transformed into innocent or rather meritorious deeds.

"A person who takes an oath, or enters into a contract, to prevent their being binding, may add to the words used to express them certain mental clauses and its reservations. One may swear that he has not done a thing; although in fact he may have done it, by understanding in his own mind, that he did not do it on a certain day, or before he was born, or any similar circumstance, without the words which he uses having any sense that would let it be known-and this is very convenient in many situations, and is always very just, when it is necessary, or useful for health, honor or property." Hence every Romanist can obtain absolution for falsehood and perjury, however "wilful and corrupt," if he will pay the penance satisfactory to the Priest. But if he commits these crimes for the good of the Popedom, to promote their interest or conceal their enormities, he may assert any fiction, with or without an oath, and no confession and pardon are necessary, because he is de facto entitled to all the indulgences and blessings which the Pope chooses to bestow, both now and forever; and his honour and emolument will be exactly proportioned to the number and ingenuity of his falsifications, and to the persevering effrontery with which he endeavors to corroborate them.

A practical illustration of this subject will not be superfluous. James I. of England framed an oath for the Papists, which tied the Gordian Knot so fast; that it was supposed, no wit of man could loose it; and that if they once took the obligation they could not be released for they not only confessed the King's rightful authority, abjured the Pope's supremacy, and denied his power to abrogate the oath, but also solemnly disavowed all equivocation, mental evasions and reservations, and saying one thing and thinking and intending the contrary. It did not however subserve the design. "How egregiously was the King deceived, not considering the persons and the system he had to do with. His boasted Kingcraft was overmatched and outwitted by Jesuistical Priestcraft. If they had not art enough to unite the knot, they had a spiritual sword ready to cut it. Accordingly they derided his folly, for imagining that the consciences of Papists were to be bound with such ropes of straw, or be caught and held by such cobwebs. Paschenius and Bellarmine, the oracle of modern Papists

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wrote against the King, and in condemnation of the oath; hear them ❝sed vide in tanta astutia, quanta sit simplicitas! &c. See in so great craft what great simplicity doth betray itself. James thought he had found such a manner of oath, knit with so many circumstances, that it could not, by any means, be dissolved by any man. But he could not see, that if the Pope did dissolve that oath, all the tyings of it, whether of performing fidelity to the king, or admitting no dispensation, would be dissolved together-and I will say another thing which is more admirable! An unjust oath if it be evidently known, or openly declared to be such, bindeth no man, but is ipso facto null. That the King's oath is unjust hath been sufficiently declared by the Pope himself-therefore the obligation of it is vanished into smoke; so that the bond, which by so many wise men was thought to be of iron. is become less than straw." This is the infallible, immutable doctrine of Popery, which still retains all its force and authority—if therefore there be a Protestant so stupid as to give credence to the oaths, however multiplied, of all the Mass-men whose names are prefixed to the Irish Douay Testament, he deserves a station by the side of the wave-counting Coræbus.

Bellarmine also thus announces the pre-eminence of the successors of Judas. "Christ gave to Peter the power of making sin to be no sin, and that which is no sin to be sin. Hence, if the Pope commands vice, and prohibits virtue, the Church is bound to believe vice to be good, and virtue to be evil. The Pope hath a heavenly power, coeleste arbitrium, and therefore changes the nature of things, applying the essential attributes of the one to the other. He can make something of nothing; his will is instead of reason; he can dispense with all law; he can make injustice, justice, by changing and correcting laws; in a word, he hath a plenitude of power, nor is there any one who can say to him, what

doest thou?"

In conformity with these assumptions, Pope Martin V. was styled"The most Holy and most Blessed, who hath the heavenly empire, who is Lord on earth, the Master of the Universal world, the Father of Kings, the Light of the world, the most High and Sovereign, Martin," &e. &c. This unparalelled blasphemy and arrogation of divine prerogatives, "above all that is called God," is the corner stone of Popery; and this total extinction of all decorum, virtue and religion, is the ever to be abhorred Jesuitical superstructure.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA A few days ago, we received the minutes of the Synod of South Carolina from a brother, of said Synod, to whom we would here present our unfeigned thanks.

The Synod convened, on the 20th of November, A. D. 1829. The Clerical members are, Rev. J. Bachman, G. Dreher, S. A. Mealy, C. F. Bergman, M. Rauch, J. Y. Metze, J. Moser, J. Wingard, J. G. Schwartz, W. D. Strobel, J. D. Sheck, J. C. Hope. Seven Lay-delegates were present.

Rev. J. BACHMAN, was elected President.
C. F. BERGMAN, Secretary.
G. DREHER, Treasurer.

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