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The Sacraments among the Protestants.
A Protestant prince of Saxony, looking for a preacher for his court, had him published in his states, adding that he wanted to examine the candidates himself. Three preachers presented themselves. The duke asked the first one: “How many Sacraments are there?” He answered, “Two: baptism and the word.” The prince sent him away and sent for the second: “How many Sacraments are there? – There are three Sacraments,” he answered, “Baptism, the word and communion.” The duke dismissed him as the first and sent for the third, to whom he put the same question. The preacher replied, “Sire, there are as many as you please.” Delighted with this answer the prince entrusted him with the post, saying, “This is good; you know how to accord religion with the desires of your temporal sovereign.”
True religion cannot conform to the desires of the powerful of the earth, for truth is invariable. Religion is like mathematics: 2 X 2 = 4; and as long as we are able to prove that a religion varies, it is not the true religion.
The doctrine of the Protestants on hell and their contradictions.
Louise Hensel of Berlin, a writer and poet of great piety (+ 1876), was the daughter of a Protestant pastor in the Duchy of Brandenburg. After the premature death of her father, Louise Hensel came to Berlin with her mother. She showed an early interest in religion, began to read religious books and often attended preaching. But when she saw that the Protestant preachers contradicted themselves, she began to doubt the truth of their doctrine. She then also heard Catholic sermons in the church of Saint Hedwig to see where the truth lay. In vain her mother tried to keep her in Protestantism, in vain she had several Protestant ministers invited to strengthen her faith. When they asked her why she went to Catholic sermons, she replied, “Because I hear the same truths there, whether the pope preaches or some other priest.” The pastor said to her, “Isn’t it the same with us? – No,” Louise replied, “because you recently declared that there was a hell and your colleague took an hour to prove the contrary.” At this point the two pastors began to argue and forgot the purpose of their visit. From that moment on Louise felt more and more drawn to the Catholic faith, and at the age of 20 she returned to the bosom of the Church (1818).
A religion that admits unlimited freedom in the exegesis of the Bible and recognizes contradictory doctrines cannot be the true religion. The true Church of Christ is one in all places and at all times, for the truth is one, therefore the only true Church is the one that preaches the same doctrines everywhere and always.
