Hence, as the Platform charges the Confession only with favoring the _Ceremonies of the Mass_, the charge is not only sustained, but falls short, of what we have established in the preceding pages: and all the vituperation aimed at us by different individuals, who have studied the subject imperfectly, or not at all, we cheerfully forgive, conscious that the aim of all we have published on this subject has been the prosperity of the church, and assured that it will be blessed by the Master to this glorious end.
_Reference to the author's former works containing representations_ of this subject.
In view of these indisputable results of a careful investigation of the original sources, it may not be amiss to cast a glance at the representations of this subject in our former publications during the last quarter of a century, as we have frequently been charged, not indeed by the author of the Plea, but by superficial writers, with self-contradiction and misrepresentation.

It would indeed have been in perfect unison with the habit of the best authors of Europe and America, to change our opinions as we extended our investigations, and freely to profess such change.

Nor should we feel any reluctance in following such distinguished authorities, if we felt that our case required it.

But in reperusing our former statements, we cannot see that they differ, in any material point, from the results of our latest investigations above given.
In the Popular Theology, (page 406 of the seventh edition,) first published in 1834, speaking of the article of the Augsburg Confession on the Mass, we find the following:--"On this subject, (the mass,) the language of the Confession was less condemnatory, than that which they soon after employed.

In the Smalcald Articles, which were published seven years after this Confession, in 1537, Luther declares the Papal mass to be a most momentous and abominable corruption; because it militates directly and powerfully against the fundamental doctrine, (justification by faith in Jesus Christ.") We then add several extracts from the Augsburg Confession, showing that the confessors rejected the _sacrificial_ and _vicarious_ nature of the mass, as well as other objectionable features of it.