Chapter 35—Liberty of Conscience Threatened
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor
than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in
the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in
order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concern-
ing 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 ma-
ligned, and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement.
Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abomi-
nations 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.
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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
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