the great controversy-第103章

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there　is　an　increasing　indifference　concerning　the　doctrines　that　separate
the　reformed　churches　from　the　papal　hierarchy；　the　opinion　is　gaining
ground　that；　after　all；　we　do　not　differ　so　widely　upon　vital　points　as　has
been　supposed；　and　that　a　little　concession　on　our　part　will　bring　us　into　a
better　understanding　with　Rome。　The　time　was　when　Protestants　placed　a　high
value　upon　the　liberty　of　conscience　which　had　been　so　dearly　purchased。
They　taught　their　children　to　abhor　popery　and　held　that　to　seek　harmony
with　Rome　would　be　disloyalty　to　God。　But　how　widely　different　are　the
sentiments　now　expressed！

The　defenders　of　the　papacy　declare　that　the　church　has　been　maligned；　and
the　Protestant　world　are　inclined　to　accept　the　statement。　Many　urge　that　it
is　unjust　to　judge　the　church　of　today　by　the　abominations　and　absurdities
that　marked　her　reign　during　the　centuries　of　ignorance　and　darkness。　They
excuse　her　horrible　cruelty　as　the　result　of　the　barbarism　of　the　times　and
plead　that　the　influence　of　modern　civilization　has　changed　her　sentiments。

564


Have　these　persons　forgotten　the　claim　of　infallibility　put　forth　for　eight
hundred　years　by　this　haughty　power？　So　far　from　being　relinquished；　this
claim　was　affirmed　in　the　nineteenth　century　with　greater　positiveness　than
ever　before。　As　Rome　asserts　that　the　〃church　never　erred；　nor　will　it；
according　to　the　Scriptures；　ever　err〃　（John　L。　von　Mosheim；　Institutes　of
Ecclesiastical　History；　book　3；　century　II；　part　2；　chapter　2；　section　9；
note　17）；　how　can　she　renounce　the　principles　which　governed　her　course　in
past　ages？

The　papal　church　will　never　relinquish　her　claim　to　infallibility。　All　that
she　has　done　in　her　persecution　of　those　who　reject　her　dogmas　she　holds　to
be　right；　and　would　she　not　repeat　the　same　acts；　should　the　opportunity　be
presented？　Let　the　restraints　now　imposed　by　secular　governments　be　removed
and　Rome　be　reinstated　in　her　former　power；　and　there　would　speedily　be　a
revival　of　her　tyranny　and　persecution。

A　well…known　writer　speaks　thus　of　the　attitude　of　the　papal　hierarchy　as
regards　freedom　of　conscience；　and　of　the　perils　which　especially　threaten
the　United　States　from　the　success　of　her　policy：

〃There　are　many　who　are　disposed　to　attribute　any　fear　of　Roman　Catholicism
in　the　United　States　to　bigotry　or　childishness。　Such　see　nothing　in　the
character　and　attitude　of　Romanism　that　is　hostile　to　our　free　institutions；
or　find　nothing　portentous　in　its　growth。　Let　us；　then；　first　compare　some
of　the　fundamental　principles　of　our　government　with　those　of　the　Catholic
Church。

〃The　Constitution　of　the　United　States　guarantees　liberty　of　conscience。
Nothing　is　dearer　or　more　fundamental。　Pope　Pius　IX；　in　his　Encyclical
Letter　of　August　15；　1854；　said：　‘The　absurd　and　erroneous　doctrines　or
ravings　in　defense　of　liberty　of　conscience　are　a　most　pestilential　errora
pest；　of　all　others；　most　to　be　dreaded　in　a　state。'　The　same　pope；　in　his
Encyclical　Letter　of　December　8；　1864；　anathematized　‘those　who　assert　the
liberty　of　conscience　and　of　religious

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worship；'　also　'all　such　as　maintain　that　the　church　may　not　employ　force。'

〃The　pacific　tone　of　Rome　in　the　United　States　does　not　imply　a　change　of
heart。　She　is　tolerant　where　she　is　helpless。　Says　Bishop　O'Connor：
'Religious　liberty　is　merely　endured　until　the　opposite　can　be　carried　into
effect　without　peril　to　the　Catholic　world。'。　。　。　The　archbishop　of　St。
Louis　once　said：　'Heresy　and　unbelief　are　crimes；　and　in　Christian
countries；　as　in　Italy　and　Spain；　for　instance；　where　all　the　people　are
Catholics；　and　where　the　Catholic　religion　is　an　essential　part　of　the　law
of　the　land；　they　are　punished　as　other　crimes。'。　。　。

〃Every　cardinal；　archbishop；　and　bishop　in　the　Catholic　Church　takes　an　oath
of　allegiance　to　the　pope；　in　which　occur　the　following　words：　'Heretics；
schismatics；　and　rebels　to　our　said　lord　（the　pope）；　or　his　aforesaid
successors；　I　will　to　my　utmost　persecute　and　oppose。'〃Josiah　Strong；　Our
Country；　ch。　5；　pars。　2…4。

It　is　true　that　there　are　real　Christians　in　the　Roman　Catholic　communion。
Thousands　in　that　church　are　serving　God　according　to　the　best　light　they
have。　They　are　not　allowed　access　to　His　word；　and　therefore　they　do　not
discern　the　truth。＇*　PUBLISHED　IN　1888　AND　1911。　SEE　APPENDIX。＇　They　have
never　seen　the　contrast　between　a　living　heart　service　and　a　round　of　mere
forms　and　ceremonies。　God　looks　with　pitying　tenderness　upon　these　souls；
educated　as　they　are　in　a　faith　that　is　delusive　and　unsatisfying。　He　will
cause　rays　of　light　to　penetrate　the　dense　darkness　that　surrounds　them。　He
will　reveal　to　them　the　truth　as　it　is　in　Jesus；　and　many　will　yet　take
their　position　with　His　people。

But　Romanism　as　a　system　is　no　more　in　harmony　with　the　gospel　of　Christ　now
than　at　any　former　period　in　her　history。　The　Protestant　churches　are　in
great　darkness；　or　they　would　discern　the　signs　of　the　times。　The　Roman
Church　is　far…reaching　in　her　plans　and　modes　of　operation。　She　is　employing
every　device　to　extend　her　influence　and　increase　her　power　in　preparation
for　a　fierce　and　determined

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conflict　to　regain　control　of　the　world；　to　re…establish　persecution；　and　to
undo　all　that　Protestantism　has　done。　Catholicism　is　gaining　ground　upon
every　side。　See　the　increasing　number　of　her　churches　and　chapels　in
Protestant　countries。　Look　at　the　popularity　of　her　colleges　and　seminaries
in　America；　so　widely　patronized　by　Protestants。　Look　at　the　growth　of
ritualism　in　England　and　the　frequent　defections　to　the　ranks　of　the
Catholics。　These　things　should　awaken　the　anxiety　of　all　who　prize　the　pure
principles　of　the　gospel。

Protestants　have　tampered　with　and　patronized　popery；　they　have　made
compromises　and　concessions　which　papists　themselves　are　surprised　to　see
and　fail　to　understand。　Men　are　closing　their　eyes　to　the　real　character　of
Romanism　and　the　dangers　to　be　apprehended　from　her　supremacy。　The　people
need　to　be　aroused　to　resist　the　advances　of　this　most　dangerous　foe　to
civil　and　religious　liberty。

Many　Protestants　suppose　that　the　Catholic　religion　is　unattractive　and　that
its　worship　is　a　dull；　meaningless　round　of　ceremony。　Here　they　mistake。
While　Romanism　is　based　upon　deception；　it　is　not　a　coarse　and　clumsy
imposture。　The　religious　service　of　the　Roman　Church　is　a　most　impressive
ceremonial。　Its　gorgeous　display　and　solemn　rites　fascinate　the　senses　of
the　people　and　silence　the　voice　of　reason　and　of　conscience。　The　eye　is
charmed。　Magnificent　churches；　imposing　processions；　golden　altars；　jeweled
shrines；　choice　paintings；　and　exquisite　sculpture　appeal　to　the　love　of
beauty。　The　ear　also　is　captivated。　The　music　is　unsurpassed。　The　rich　notes
of　the　deep…toned　organ；　blending　with　the　melody　of　many　voices　as　it
swells　through　the　lofty　domes　and　pillared　aisles　of　her　grand　cathedrals；
cannot　fail　to　impress　the　mind　with　awe　and　reverence。

This　outward　splendor；　pomp；　and　ceremony；　that　only　mocks　the　longings　of
the　sin…sick　soul；　is　an　evidence　of　inward　corruption。　The　religion　of
Christ　needs　not　such　attractions　to　recommend　it。　In　the　light　shining　from
the　cross；　true　Christianity　appears　so　pure　and　lovely　that　no

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external　decorations　can　enhance　its　true　worth。　It　is　the　beauty　of
holiness；　a　meek　and　quiet　spirit；　which　is　of　value　with　God。

Brilliancy　of　style　is　not　necessarily　an　index　of　pure；　elevated　thought。
High　conceptions　of　art；　delicate　refinement　of　taste；　often　exist　in　minds
that　are　earthly　and　sensual。　They　are　often　employed　by　Satan　to　lead　men
to　forget　the　necessities　of　the　soul；　to　lose　sight　of　the　future；　immortal
life；　to　turn　away　from　their　infinite　Helper；　and　to　live　for　this　world
alone。

A　religion　of　externals　is　attractive　to　the　unrenewed　heart。　The　pomp　and
ceremony　of　the　Catholic　worship　has　a　seductive；　bewitching　power；　by　which
many　are　deceived；　and　they　come　to　look　upon　the　Roman　Church　as　the　very
gate　of　heaven。　None　but　those　who　have　planted　their　feet　firmly　upon　the
foundation　of　truth；　and　whose　hearts　are　renewed　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　are
proof　against　her　influence。　Thousands　who　have　not　an　experimental
knowledge　of　Christ　will　be　led　to　accept　the　forms　of　godliness　without　the
power。　Such　a　religion　is　just　what　the　multitudes　desire。

The　church's　claim　to　the　right　to　pardon　leads　the　Romanist　to　feel　at
liberty　to　sin；　and　the　ordinance　of　confession；　without　which　her　pardon　is
not　granted；　tends　also　to　give　license　to　evil。　He　who　kneels　before　fallen
man；　and　opens　in　confession　the　secret　thoughts　and　imaginations　of　his
heart；　is　debasing　his　manhood　and　degrading　every　noble　instinct　of　his
soul。　In　unfolding　the　sins　of　his　life　to　a　priest；an　erring；　sinful
mortal；　and　too　often　corrupted　with　wine　and　licentiousness；his　standard
of　character　is　lowered；　and　he　is　defiled　in　consequence。　His　thought　of
God　is　degraded　to　the　likeness　of　fallen　humanity；　for　the　priest　stands　as
a　representative　of　God。　This　degrading　confession　of　man　to　man　is　the
secret　spring　from　which　has　flowed　much　of　the　evil　that　is　defiling　the
world　and　fitting　it　for　the　final　destruction。　Yet　to　him　who　loves
self…indulgence；

568

it　is　more　pleasing　to　confess　to　a　fellow　mortal　than　to　open　the　soul　to
God。　It　is　more　palatable　to　human　nature　to　do　penance　than　to　renounce
sin；　it　is　easier　to　mortify　the　flesh　by　sackcloth　and　nettles　and　galling
chains　than　to　crucify　fleshly　lusts。　Heavy　is　the　yoke　which　the　carnal
heart　is　willing　to　bear　rather　than　bow　to　the　yoke　of　Christ。

There　is　a　striking　similarity　between　the　Church　of　Rome　and　the　Jewish
Church　at　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent。　While　the　Jews　secretly
trampled　upon　every　principle　of　the　law　of　God；　they　were　outwardly
rigorous　in　the　observance　of　its　precepts；　loading　it　down　with　exactions
and　traditions　that　made　obedience　painful　and　burdensome。　As　the　Jews
professed　to　revere　the　law；　so　do　Romanists　claim　to　reverence　the　cross。
They　exalt　the　symbol　of　Christ's　sufferings；　while　in　their　lives　they　deny
Him　whom　it　represents。

Papists　place　crosses　upon　their　churches；　upon　their　altars；　and　upon　their
garments。　Everywhere　is　seen　the　insignia　of　the　cross。　Everywhere　it　is
outwardly　honored　and　exalted。　But　the　teachings　of　Christ　are　buried
beneath　a　mass　of　senseless　traditions；　false　interpretations；　and　rigorous
exactions。　The　Saviour's　words　concerning　the　bigoted　Jews；　apply　with　still
greater　force　to　the　leaders　of　the　Roman　Catholic　Church：　〃They　bind　heavy
burdens　and　grievous　to　be　borne；　and　lay　them　on　men's　shoulders；　but　they
themselves　will　not　move　them　with　one　of　their　fingers。〃　Matthew　23：4。
Conscientious　souls　are　kept　in　constant　terror　fearing　the　wrath　of　an
offended　God；　while　many　of　the　dignitaries　of　the　church　are　living　in
luxury　and　sensual　pleasure。

The　worship　of　images　and　relics；　the　invocation　of　saints；　and　the
exaltation　of　the　p