ROME PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord."—Isaiah lv. 8.
Father Chiniquy had been for some years lecturing on teetotalism, in addition to his usual priestly labours, and his success had been so great that he had received the title of "Apostle of Temperance" in Canada, and the gift of a splendid medal and crucifix from the Pope of Rome; and his reputation as a popular influential priest was therefore well established, when he was requested to become the leader of a great movement.
Emigrants were constantly leaving Europe and Canada for the United States, and many of them became connected, on their arrival there, with Protestant associations. Some far-seeing bishops consequently felt that, if they could divert that tide to places of their own choosing, under the direction of their own loyal priests, a splendid triumph would be gained for Popery, and in the course of time they would secretly, yet surely, rule the United States of America.
Some small colonies had been already formed, and the whole of the Mississippi valley and the adjoining country was so fertile and rich, even in its wild state, that Chiniquy's warmest hopes were kindled, as he saw that beautiful land; and, sitting down, he wrote a glowing description of it, and invited intending emigrants to come and see for themselves. The result exceeded all anticipations. In a very short time fifty families arrived at the chosen spot, and pitched their tents around his own. They soon set to work to build small, strong wooden houses under their priest's directions, then a larger one for a parsonage and school; and, as fresh emigrants were continually arriving, they soon became a flourishing, happy community, and objects of the bitter jealousy of surrounding priests. Many difficulties arose. When his wooden church was just finished, it was maliciously set on fire the very night after the first services were conducted in it. A new bishop came into power, whose tyranny and greediness were unbearable, and Father Chiniquy appealed against him to Napoleon, the French Emperor, and the Pope, getting him at length removed from the position he had so greatly abused.
But the crowning difficulty, which was designed by God to be the crowning blessing of His servant's life, was yet to come, and thus it came to pass that the Bible-loving priest forsook his false position, and "came out of Babylon."
When Rome's new doctrine, the perfect holiness of the Virgin Mary, was first published in 1854, a farmer called on Chiniquy to ask him whether the Scriptures taught such a thing, and he honestly confessed that they did not, but rather said the opposite, and that the holy fathers had not believed or taught it either, but it was with the greatest pain that he, as a priest, said this.
On another occasion, the immoral conduct of a priest caused many to ask our friend whether the Word of God really forbade the ministers of Christ to marry, and he replied, "I will put the Gospel in your hands, that you may see for yourselves what the Holy Book says about these matters." He accordingly ordered a large number of New Testaments, which had been printed by the sanction of one of their own archbishops, and soon they were being eagerly read and studied by his large congregation.
And now the decisive hour drew near. Another bishop, who had taken the oppressor's place, kindly asked and accepted Chiniquy's submission to his authority. But, as that document contained the words, "According to the Word and commandments of God, as we find them expressed in the Gospel of Christ," the Jesuits found fault. The bishop demanded the withdrawal of the words, and upon his refusal to alter them, angrily said, "If it be so, sir, you are no longer a Roman Catholic priest." "May God Almighty be for ever blessed," was the brave reply, given in a loud, determined voice.
But the wrench was a terrible one, and when alone in his hotel, the full consequences of his words came forcibly before him, and he felt alone and desolate. But God, who had thus mysteriously led him into liberty, did not forsake him now. He spoke to his heart, and confirmed him in the determination he had made; and when all his sins seemed like a mountain to rise before him, Jesus appeared as his perfect, all-sufficient Saviour, and the troubled heart was filled with joy unspeakable, so that he could and did exclaim, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!" as he hastened home to tell his dear people all that he had experienced of the wrath of man and the love of God.
May we, with him, be favoured to "taste and see that the Lord is good," and we also shall say, "O Lord God of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee!"—Jottings on "The Life and Work of Father Chiniquy," by Cousin Susan.