Basic HTML Version
260
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
saying, “The Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to
save them. [
Luke 9:54, 56
.] How different from the spirit manifested
by Christ is that of his professed vicar.
The Romish Church now presents a fair front to the world, cov-
ering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed
herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle
of popery that existed in ages past exists today. The doctrines de-
vised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves.
The popery that Protestants are now so ready to embrace and 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
[388]
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.
Popery is just what prophecy declared that she would be,—the
apostasy of the latter times. 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. “We are not bound to keep faith and promises
to heretics,” she declares. Shall this power, whose record for a thou-
sand 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 that
Catholicism is now almost like Protestantism. There has been a
change; but the change is in Protestants, not in Romanists. Catholi-
cism indeed resembles the Protestantism that now exists; but it is
far removed from Protestantism as it was in the days of Cranmer,
Ridley, Knox, and other reformers.
As the Protestant 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. 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.
[389]