Christianity is incomprehensible without Judaism, as Judaism
is incomplete; without Christianity. What has Rome to do with
its completion; what with its commencement? The law was not
thundered forth from the Capitolian mount; the divine
atonement was not fulfilled upon Mons Sacer. No; the order of
our priesthood comes directly from Jehovah; and the forms and
ceremonies of His church are the regulations of His supreme
intelligence. Rome indeed boasts that the authenticity of the
second Testament depends upon the recognition of her
infallibility. The authenticity of the second Testament
depends upon its congruity with the first. Did Rome preserve
that? I recognize in the church an institution thoroughly,
sincerely, catholic: adapted to all climes and to all ages. I
do not bow to the necessity of a visible head in a defined
locality; but were I to seek for such, it would not be at
Rome. I cannot discover in its history however memorable any
testimony of a mission so sublime. When Omnipotence deigned
to be incarnate, the Ineffable Word did not select a Roman
frame. The prophets were not Romans; the apostles were not
Romans; she, who was blessed above all women, I never heard
she was a Roman maiden.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209