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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 takes a
conciliatory course to gain influence, the opinion is gaining ground
that 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 better
understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants taught
their children that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty
to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed!
Defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been ma-
ligned, that it is unjust to judge the church of today by her reign
during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her
horrible cruelty as the barbarism of the times.
Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth
by this power? Rome asserts that the “church never erred; nor will
it, according to the Scriptures, ever err.
The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility.
Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed
and Rome be reinstated in her former power, and there would speed-
ily be a revival of her tyranny and persecution.
It is true that there are real Christians in the Roman Catholic
communion. Thousands in that church are serving God according
to the best light they have. God looks with pitying tenderness upon
these souls, educated in a faith that is delusive and unsatisfying. He
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will cause rays of light to penetrate the darkness, and many will yet
take their position with His people.
But Romanism as a system is no more in harmony with the
gospel of Christ now than at any former period. The Roman Church
is employing every device to regain control of the world, to re-
establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done.
Catholicism is gaining ground on every side. See the increasing
1
John L. von Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, book 3, century 11, part
2, chapter 2, section 9, note 17.
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