IV. Let the patient enquirer now judge for himself: whether the romish doctrine, that Punishments, either self-inflicted, or commanded by a priest, or sent in the course of God’s providence, can make satisfaction to the Father through Christ in our behalf, be the doctrine either of Scripture or of the early Church.
V. But, if no man can make satisfaction for his own sins: still less, according to the monstrous phantasy of Supererogation, can he make satisfaction for the sins of others.
Yet this impious absurdity was openly advanced in the papal bull for the observation of a jubilee is the recent year 1825.
We have resolved, says Pope Leo, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY GIVEN TO US FROM HEAVEN, fully to unlock that sacred treasure, composed of the merits, sufferings, and virtues, of Christ our Lord and of his Virgin-Mother and of all the Saints, WHICH THE AUTHOR OF HUMAN SALVATION HAS ENTRUSTED TO OUR DISPENSATION.—To you, therefore, venerable brethren, Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, it belongs to explain with perspicuity the power of Indulgences: what is their efficacy in the remission, not only of the canonical penance, but also of the temporal punishment due to the divine justice for past sin; and what succour is afforded, out of this heavenly treasure, from the merits of Christ and his Saints, to such as have departed real penitents in God’s love, yet before they had duly satisfied by fruits worthy of penance for sins of commission and omission, and are now purifying in the fire of Purgatory, that an entrance may be opened for them into their eternal country where nothing defiled is admitted.
1. Where is Pope Leo’s PROOF of the validity of his claim to an authority given to him from heaven: by virtue of which authority he fully unlocks a sacred treasure, composed of the merits of Christ and the Virgin Mary and all the Saints, and entrusted by the blessed author of our salvation to the wisdom of his doling out?
Let such PROOF be produced, if the Romish Clergy can produce it, either from the Bible, or even from the received doctrine of the primitive Church Catholic.
2. By what evidence does Pope Leo SUBSTANTIATE his assertion: that Souls in Purgatory are benefited by the supererogatory merits of the Virgin Mary and the Saints strangely associated with the all-sufficient merits of the Redeemer?
Let the Romish Clergy, if they be able, SUBSTANTIATE this most extraordinary allegation.
3. Where is Pope Leo’s PROOF of the very position, upon which the whole of his bull professedly reposes; the position, to wit: that The Virgin Mary and the Saints not only have merit enough to make satisfaction for their own sins, but have even merit to spare for the benefit of less privileged souls in Purgatory?
From the Bible or from the Doctors of the primitive Church, let his venerable brethren, Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and Bishops, bring forward, if they can accomplish such a feat, the PROOF of this very remarkable position.