commanded His
Apostles to write a word,(139) or even to circulate the Scriptures already
existing. When He sends them on their Apostolic errand, He says: "Go
_teach_ all nations."(140) "_Preach_ the Gospel to every creature."(141)
"He that heareth you heareth Me."(142) And we find the Apostles acting in
strict accordance with these instructions.

Of the twelve Apostles, the seventy-two disciples, and early followers of
our Lord only eight have left us any of their sacred writings. And the
Gospels and Epistles were addressed to particular persons or particular
churches. They were written on the occasion of some emergency, just as
Bishops issue Pastoral letters to correct abuses which may spring up in
the Church, or to lay down some rules of conduct for the faithful. The
Apostles are never reported to have circulated a single volume of the Holy
Scripture, but "they going forth, _preached_ everywhere, the Lord
co-operating with them."(143)

Thus we see that in the Old and the New Dispensation the people were to be
guided by a living authority, and not by their private interpretation of
the Scriptures.

Indeed, until the religious revolution of the sixteenth century, it was a
thing unheard of from the beginning of the world, that people should be
governed by the dead letter of the law either in civil or ecclesiastical
affairs. How are your civil affairs regulated in this State, for instance?
Certainly not in accordance with your personal interpretation of the laws
of Virginia, but in accordance with decisions which are rendered by the
constituted judges of the State.

Now what the civil code is to the citizen, the Scripture is to the
Christian. The Word of God, as well as the civil law, must have an
interpreter, by whose decision we are obliged to abide.

We often hear the shibboleth: "The Bible, and the Bible only, must be your
guide." Why, then, do you go to the useless expense of building fine
churches and Sabbath-schools? What is the use of your preaching sermons
and catechizing the young, if the Bible at home is a sufficient guide for
your people? The fact is, you reverend gentlemen contradict in practice
what you so vehemently advance in theory. Do not tell me that the Bible is
all-sufficient; or, if you believe it is self-sufficient, cease your
instructions. Stand not between the people and the Scriptures.

I will address myself now in a friendly spirit to a non-Catholic, and will
proceed to show him that he c