The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

68 THE FAITH OP OUB PATHEB&From this brief historical tableau, we find that allthe Christian sects now existing in the United Stateshad their origin since the year 1500. Consequently,the oldest body of Christians among us, outside theCatholic Church, is not yet four centuries old. Theyall, therefore, come fifteen centuries too late to haveany pretensions to be called the Apostolic Church."But I may be told :Though our public historyas Protestants dates from the Reformation, we cantrace our origin back to the Apostles."This I sayis impossible. First of all, the very name you bearbetrays your recent birth for who;ever heard of aBaptist or an Episcopal, or any other Protestantchurch, prior to the Reformation? Nor can yousay: "We existed in every age as an invisiblechurch." Your concealment, indeed, was so complete, that no man can tell, to this day, where youlay hid for sixteen centuries. But even if you didexist, you could not claim to be the Church ofChrist; for our Lord predicted that His Churchshould ever be as a city placed upon the mountaintop,that all might see it, and that its ministersshould preach the truths of salvation from thewatch-towers thereof, that all might hear them.It isequally in vain to tell me that you were allied in faith to the various Christian sects that wentout from the Catholic Church from age to age ;forthese sects proclaimed doctrines diametrically opposed to one another, and the true Church must beone in faith. And besides, the less relationship you