Pagan Origin of Partialist Doctrines

by John Claudius Pitrat

The Pagans believed that the guardian spirit of each man, who had accompanied him through life, and had kept a record of all his good and bad actions, would testify to Minos in his favor, or against him: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the guardian angel of each man, who has accompanied him through life, and has kept a record of all his good and bad actions, will testify to Jesus Christ in his favor, or against him. The Pagans called the meadow of the general judgment, the field of the truth: likewise the Church of Rome calls the valley of Josaphat, the valley of the truth. The Pagans believed that the crimes for which Minos was to inflict the severest punishment were those against religion, against its hierophants, and against other ministers: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the crimes for which Jesus Christ is to inflict the severest punishment, are those against the Church, against its Pope, against its bishops and its priests. The Pagans believed that the neglect or omission of lustrations, and other practices and teachings of the priests, would be severely punished by Minos: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the neglect or omission of the practices, ceremonies, and other prescriptions of the priests, will be severely punished by Jesus Christ.

The Pagans believed that those found righteous would be placed at the right hand side of Minos, but the wicked at his left hand side: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the righteous will be placed at the right hand side of Jesus Christ, but the wicked at his left hand side. The Pagans believed that the righteous would be destined, by Minos, to eternal bliss in the Elysium; but that the wicked would be sentenced, by Minos, to endless misery in the Tartarus: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the righteous will be destined, by Jesus Christ, to eternal bliss in Paradise; but that the wicked will be sentenced, by Jesus Christ, to endless misery. The Pagans believed that the wicked would carry on their back their sentence of condemnation, and the enumeration of all their crimes: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the wicked will carry on their back their sentence of condemnation, and the enumeration of all their crimes.

The Pagans believed that the guardian spirits of the righteous would lead them to the Elysium: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the angels of the Lord will lead them to heaven, in a procession preceded by Jesus Christ. The Pagans believed that Furies, and other evil spirits, would drag the wicked to the Tartarus: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the devils will drive, with whips, the wicked to hell. The Pagans believed that, after the general judgment, the earth would be destroyed by fire: likewise the Church of Rome believes that the earth will be destroyed by fire, and that then will the world end.

Therefore there is a striking similarity between the particularities of the doctrine of a general judgment, as held by the Pagans, and the doctrine of a general judgment as held by the Church of Rome.

3d. We prove that the Church of Rome did not hold the doctrine of a general judgment from the apostles of Jesus Christ.

The Church of Rome did not hold the doctrine of a general judgment from the apostles of Jesus Christ, 1st, If the Roman Catholic theologians did not understand the 24th chapter of Matthew, and the last sixteen verses of the 25th; the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th verses of the 13th chapter in Mark, and also the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th verses of the 21st chapter in Luke, as meaning a general judgment; 2d, If nearly all the Christian sects, or denominations, of the first and of the second centuries, did not believe the doctrine of a general judgment; and, 3d, If the doctrine of a general judgment is irrational.

But, 1st, The Roman Catholic theologians did not understand the 24th chapter of Matthew, and the last sixteen verses of the 25th; the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th verses of the 13th chapter in Mark; and also the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th verses of the 21st chapter in Luke, as meaning a general judgment; 2d, Nearly all the Christian sects, or denominations, of the first and of the second centuries, did not believe the doctrine of a general judgment; and, 3d, The doctrine of a general judgment is irrational.

1st. We prove that the Roman Catholic theologians did not understand the 24th chapter of Matthew, and the last sixteen verses of the 25th; the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th verses of the 13th chapter in Mark; and also the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th verses of the 21st chapter in Luke, as meaning a general judgment.

Remark.—To save the reader the trouble of referring to his Bible, we insert here the above passages of the Gospel, which the Partialists suppose to teach the doctrine of a general judgment.

Matthew, chap. 24.-1. "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.