Out of Hell and Purgatory
By Editor
"Out of Hell and Purgatory," by Ex-Priest P. A. Seguin. Published by The Home of Rest, Stevens Point, Wis. Cloth. The "hell and purgatory" from which Mr. Seguin has been delivered, as would be inferred from the title of his book and from the fact that he signs himself "ex-priest," is the Catholic Church. We can do no better, in giving an idea of the volume, than to quote a few sentences from the preface: "The primary object of this book is to arouse Protestant Christians in America from the lethargy into which they have apparently fallen in regard to the spiritual welfare of their popish neighbors, in the hope that they themselves, if truly converted, saved, and sanctified, may become interested in the conversion of said deluded neighbors, from a religion of empty formalities, false doctrines, and lies, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats,' as Paul has it in 1 Tim. 4:1-3." "As it can be seen readily, the secondary object of this 'red pepper book,' which the author kept constantly in view, is to show that popery has its origin and seat in the corrupt principles of our depraved nature. The very essence of Romanism is alienation from God in His revealed character; and it operates, like all other idolatry, in the way of loving and serving the creature in preference to the Creator." The foregoing sentences tell the author's own purpose in writing. Having been a priest himself, he can certainly speak from the standpoint of experience. But we wish that he spoke in a more kindly strain, not having quite so much of the "red pepper" in what he says. It is true that the Bible itself speaks very plainly in talking of the great apostasy at the head of which the Church of Rome is standing. But we must take into account that most of those who are in that church have been filled from their infancy with prejudices concerning the church, and we will have to use the greatest skill in getting them to open their minds to receive the truth of God's Word. More can be done to help them by showing them what Jesus Christ actually is than by trying to show them what the Church of Rome really is. But nevertheless the book is written in great earnestness and from the depth of a deep and strong conviction, and the sentences quoted from the preface show that the author holds correct views of the matter.