Basic HTML Version
Roman Church
31
religion is a masterpiece of Satan’s power,—a monument of his
efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to
his will.
Satan once endeavored to form a compromise with Christ. He
came to the Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and, showing
him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered to
give all into his hands if he would but acknowledge the supremacy
of the prince of darkness. Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter,
and forced him to depart. But Satan meets with greater success in
presenting the same temptations to man. To secure worldly gains
and honors, the church was led to seek the favor and support of the
great men of earth, and having thus rejected Christ, she was induced
[53]
to yield allegiance to the representative of Satan,—the bishop of
Rome.
It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the
visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme
authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More
than this, the pope has arrogated the very titles of Deity. He styles
himself “Lord God the Pope,” assumes infallibility, and demands
that all men pay him homage. Thus the same claim urged by Satan
in the wilderness of temptation is still urged by him through the
church of Rome, and vast numbers are ready to yield him homage.
But those who fear and reverence God meet this Heaven-daring
assumption as Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: “Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
[
Luke 4:8
.] God has never given a hint in his word that he has ap-
pointed any man to be the head of the church. The doctrine of papal
supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the Scriptures. The
pope can have no power over Christ’s church except by usurpation.
Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the
charge of heresy, and willful separation from the true church. But
these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who
laid down the banner of Christ, and departed from the faith once
delivered to the saints.
Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men
to discern his deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the
word that even the Saviour of the world has resisted his attacks. At
every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal truth, saying,
[54]