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Christian church。 The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for
a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism。
But as persecution ceased； and Christianity entered the courts and palaces
of kings； she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles
for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers； and in place of the
requirements of God； she substituted human theories and traditions。 The
nominal conversion of Constantine；
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in the early part of the fourth century； caused great rejoicing； and the
world； cloaked with a form of righteousness； walked into the church。 Now the
work of corruption rapidly progressed。 Paganism； while appearing to be
vanquished； became the conqueror。 Her spirit controlled the church。 Her
doctrines； ceremonies； and superstitions were incorporated into the faith
and worship of the professed followers of Christ。
This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the
development of 〃the man of sin〃 foretold in prophecy as opposing and
exalting himself above God。 That gigantic system of false religion is a
masterpiece of Satan's powera 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
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
been given the very titles of Deity。 He has been styled 〃Lord God the Pope〃
（see Appendix）； and has been declared infallible。 He demands the homage of
all men。 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。
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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 appointed 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 which was once delivered unto the
saints。〃 Jude 3。
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 had resisted his attacks。 At every assault； Christ presented
the shield of eternal truth； saying； 〃It is written。〃 To every suggestion of
the adversary； He opposed the wisdom and power of the word。 In order for
Satan to maintain his sway over men； and establish the authority of the
papal usurper； he must keep them in ignorance of the Scriptures。 The Bible
would exalt God and place finite men in their true position； therefore its
sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed。 This logic was adopted by
the Roman Church。 For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was
prohibited。 The people were forbidden to read it or to have it in their
houses； and unprincipled priests and prelates interpreted its teachings to
sustain their pretensions。 Thus the pope came to be almost universally
acknowledged as the vicegerent of God on earth； endowed with authority over
church and state。
The detector of error having been removed； Satan worked according to his
will。 Prophecy had declared that the papacy was to 〃think to change times
and laws。〃 Daniel 7：25。 This
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work it was not slow to attempt。 To afford converts from heathenism a
substitute for the worship of idols； and thus to promote their nominal
acceptance of Christianity； the adoration of images and relics was gradually
introduced into the Christian worship。 The decree of a general council （see
Appendix） finally established this system of idolatry。 To complete the
sacrilegious work； Rome presumed to expunge from the law of God the second
commandment； forbidding image worship； and to divide the tenth commandment；
in order to preserve the number。
The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further
disregard of Heaven's authority。 Satan； working through unconsecrated
leaders of the church； tampered with the fourth commandment also； and
essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath； the day which God had blessed and
sanctified （Genesis 2：2； 3）； and in its stead to exalt the festival observed
by the heathen as 〃the venerable day of the sun。〃 This change was not at
first attempted openly。 In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been
kept by all Christians。 They were jealous for the honor of God； and；
believing that His law is immutable； they zealously guarded the sacredness
of its precepts。 But with great subtlety Satan worked through his agents to
bring about his object。 That the attention of the people might be called to
the Sunday； it was made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ。
Religious services were held upon it； yet it was regarded as a day of
recreation； the Sabbath being still sacredly observed。
To prepare the way for the work which he designed to accomplish； Satan had
led the Jews； before the advent of Christ； to load down the Sabbath with the
most rigorous exactions； making its observance a burden。 Now； taking
advantage of the false light in which he had thus caused it to be regarded；
he cast contempt upon it as a Jewish institution。 While Christians generally
continued to observe the Sunday as a joyous festival； he led them； in order
to show
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their hatred of Judaism； to make the Sabbath a fast； a day of sadness and
gloom。
In the early part of the fourth century the emperor Constantine issued a
decree making Sunday a public festival throughout the Roman Empire。 （See
Appendix。） The day of the sun was reverenced by his pagan subjects and was
honored by Christians； it was the emperor's policy to unite the conflicting
interests of heathenism and Christianity。 He was urged to do this by the
bishops of the church； who； inspired by ambition and thirst for power；
perceived that if the same day was observed by both Christians and heathen；
it would promote the nominal acceptance of Christianity by pagans and thus
advance the power and glory of the church。 But while many God…fearing
Christians were gradually led to regard Sunday as possessing a degree of
sacredness； they still held the true Sabbath as the holy of the Lord and
observed it in obedience to the fourth commandment。
The archdeceiver had not completed his work。 He was resolved to gather the
Christian world under his banner and to exercise his power through his
vicegerent； the proud pontiff who claimed to be the representative of
Christ。 Through half…converted pagans； ambitious prelates； and world…loving
churchmen he accomplished his purpose。 Vast councils were held from time to
time； in which the dignitaries of the church were convened from all the
world。 In nearly every council the Sabbath which God had instituted was
pressed down a little lower； while the Sunday was correspondingly exalted。