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；
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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 pope are devices of Satan to attract the minds of the
people from God and from His Son。 To accomplish their ruin； he endeavors to
turn their attention from Him through whom alone they can find salvation。 He
will direct them to any object that can be substituted for the One who has
said： 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and
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are heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matthew 11：28。
It is Satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God； the
nature of sin； and the real issues at stake in the great controversy。 His
sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men license to
sin。 At the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God so
that they regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love。 The cruelty
inherent in his own character is attributed to the Creator； it is embodied
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