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in systems of religion and expressed in modes of worship。 Thus the minds of
men are blinded； and Satan secures them as his agents to war against God。 By
perverted conceptions of the divine attributes； heathen nations were led to
believe human sacrifices necessary to secure the favor of Deity； and
horrible cruelties have been perpetrated under the various forms of
idolatry。
The Roman Catholic Church； uniting the forms of paganism and Christianity；
and； like paganism； misrepresenting the character of God； had resorted to
practices no less cruel and revolting。 In the days of Rome's supremacy there
were instruments of torture to compel assent to her doctrines。 There was the
stake for those who would not concede to her claims。 There were massacres on
a scale that will never be known until revealed in the judgment。 Dignitaries
of the church studied； under Satan their master； to invent means to cause
the greatest possible torture and not end the life of the victim。 In many
cases the infernal process was repeated to the utmost limit of human
endurance； until nature gave up the struggle； and the sufferer hailed death
as a sweet release。
Such was the fate of Rome's opponents。 For her adherents she had the
discipline of the scourge； of famishing hunger； of bodily austerities in
every conceivable； heart…sickening form。 To secure the favor of Heaven；
penitents violated the laws of God by violating the laws of nature。 They
were taught to sunder the ties which He has formed to bless and gladden
man's earthly sojourn。 The churchyard contains millions of
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victims who spent their lives in vain endeavors to subdue their natural
affections； to repress； as offensive to God； every thought and feeling of
sympathy with their fellow creatures。
If we desire to understand the determined cruelty of Satan； manifested for
hundreds of years； not among those who never heard of God； but in the very
heart and throughout the extent of Christendom； we have only to look at the
history of Romanism。 Through this mammoth system of deception the prince of
evil achieves his purpose of bringing dishonor to God and wretchedness to
man。 And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself and accomplishing
his work through the leaders of the church； we may better understand why he
has so great antipathy to the Bible。 If that Book is read； the mercy and
love of God will be revealed； it will be seen that He lays upon men none of
these heavy burdens。 All that He asks is a broken and contrite heart； a
humble； obedient spirit。
Christ gives no example in His life for men and women to shut themselves in
monasteries in order to become fitted for heaven。 He has never taught that
love and sympathy must be repressed。 The Saviour's heart overflowed with
love。 The nearer man approaches to moral perfection； the keener are his
sensibilities； the more acute is his perception of sin； and the deeper his
sympathy for the afflicted。 The pope claims to be the vicar of Christ； but
how does his character bear comparison with that of our Saviour？ Was Christ
ever known to consign men to the prison or the rack because they did not pay
Him homage as the King of heaven？ Was His voice heard condemning to death
those who did not accept Him？ When He was slighted by the people of a
Samaritan village； the apostle John was filled with indignation； and
inquired： 〃Lord； wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven；
and consume them； even as Elias did？〃 Jesus looked with pity upon His
disciple； and rebuked his harsh spirit； saying： 〃The Son of man is not come
to destroy men's lives； but to save them。〃 Luke 9：54； 56。 How different from
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the spirit manifested by Christ is that of His professed vicar。
The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world； covering with
apologies her record of horrible cruelties。 She has clothed herself in
Christlike garments； but she is unchanged。 Every principle of the papacy
that existed in past ages exists today。 The doctrines devised in the darkest
ages are still held。 Let none deceive themselves。 The papacy that
Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in
the days of the Reformation； when men of God stood up； at the peril of their
lives； to expose her iniquity。 She possesses the same pride and arrogant
assumption that lorded it over kings and princes； and claimed the
prerogatives of God。 Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when
she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High。
The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be； the apostasy of
the latter times。 2 Thessalonians 2：3； 4。 It is a part of her policy to
assume the character which will best accomplish her purpose； but beneath the
variable appearance of the chameleon she conceals the invariable venom of
the serpent。 〃Faith ought not to be kept with heretics； nor persons
suspected of heresy〃 （Lenfant； volume 1； page 516）； she declares。 Shall this
power； whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of the
saints； be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ？
It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant
countries that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in
former times。 There has been a change； but the change is not in the papacy。
Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists；
because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the
Reformers。
As the Protestants churches have been seeking the favor of the world； false
charity has blinded their eyes。 They do not see but that it is right to
believe good of all evil； and as the inevitable result they will finally
believe evil of all good。
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Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints；
they are now； as it were； apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion
of her； begging pardon for their bigotry。
A large class； even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor； apprehend
little danger from her power and influence。 Many urge that the intellectual
and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages favored the spread of
her dogmas； superstitions； and oppression； and that the greater intelligence
of modern times； the general diffusion of knowledge； and the increasing
liberality in matters of religion forbid a revival of intolerance and
tyranny。 The very thought that such a state of things will exist in this
enlightened age is ridiculed。 It is true that great light； intellectual；
moral； and religious； is shining upon this generation。 In the open pages of
God's Holy Word； light from heaven has been shed upon the world。 But it
should be remembered that the greater the light bestowed； the greater the
darkness of those who pervert and reject it。
A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real character of
the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun it； but many are so
wise in their own conceit that they feel no need of humbly seeking God that
they may be led into the truth。 Although priding themselves on their
enlightenment； they are ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of
God。 They must have some means of quieting their consciences； and they seek
that which is least spiritual and humiliating。 What they desire is a method
of forgetting God which shall pass as a method of remembering Him。 The
papacy is well adapted to meet the wants of all these。 It is prepared for
two classes of mankind； embracing nearly the whole worldthose who would be
saved by their merits； and those who would be saved in their sins。 Here is
the secret of its power。
A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the
success of the papacy。 It will yet be
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demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for
its success。 In past ages； when men were without God's word and without the
knowledge of the truth； their eyes were blindfolded； and thousands were
ensnared； not seeing the net spread for their feet。 In this generation there
are many whose eyes become dazzled by the glare of human speculations；
〃science falsely so called；〃 they discern not the net； and walk into it as
readily as if blindfolded。 God designed that man's intellectual powers
should be held as a gift from his Maker and should be employed in the
service of truth and righteousness； but when pride and ambition are
cherished； and men exalt their own theories above the word of God； then
intelligence can accomplish greater harm than ignorance。 Thus the false
science of the present day； which undermines faith in the Bible； will prove
as successful in preparing the way for the acceptance of the papacy； with
its pleasing forms； as did the withholding of knowledge in opening the way
for its aggrandizement in the Dark Ages。
In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the
institutions and usages of the church the support of the state； Protestants
are following in the steps of papists。 Nay； more； they are opening the door