Peace without the Gospel

The pompous semi-Romish ceremonial which has been introduced into many churches, has prepared men's minds for changes. An extravagantly theatrical and idolatrous mode of celebrating the Lord's Supper has paved the way for transubstantiation. A regular process of unprotestantizing has been long and successfully at work. The poor old Church of England stands on a downward-sloping plane. Her very existence, as a Protestant Church, is in peril. I hold, for one, that this Romish movement ought to be steadily and firmly resisted. Notwithstanding the rank, the learning, and the devotedness of some of its advocates, I regard it as a most mischievous, soul-ruining, and unscriptural movement.

To say that reunion with Rome would be an insult to our martyred Reformers, is a very light thing; it is far more than this: it would be a sin and an offence against God! Rather than be reunited with the idolatrous Church of Rome, I would willingly see my own beloved Church perish and go to pieces. Rather than become Popish once more — she had better die!

Unity in the abstract is no doubt an excellent thing: but unity without truth is useless. Peace and uniformity are beautiful and valuable: but peace without the Gospel — peace not based on a common faith, is a worthless peace, not deserving of the name. When Rome has recanted her false and unscriptural doctrines — when Rome has formally renounced image-worship, Mary-worship, and transubstantiation — then, and not until then, it will be time to talk of reunion with her.

Until then, there is a wide gulf between us which cannot be honestly bridged. Until then, I call on all Churchmen to resist to the death this idea of reunion with Rome. Until then, let our watchwords be, "No peace with Rome! No communion with idolaters!"

JC Ryle - Idolatry (1879)