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need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to
civil and religious liberty。
Many Protestants suppose that the Catholic religion is unattractive and that
its worship is a dull； meaningless round of ceremony。 Here they mistake。
While Romanism is based upon deception； it is not a coarse and clumsy
imposture。 The religious service of the Roman Church is a most impressive
ceremonial。 Its gorgeous display and solemn rites fascinate the senses of
the people and silence the voice of reason and of conscience。 The eye is
charmed。 Magnificent churches； imposing processions； golden altars； jeweled
shrines； choice paintings； and exquisite sculpture appeal to the love of
beauty。 The ear also is captivated。 The music is unsurpassed。 The rich notes
of the deep…toned organ； blending with the melody of many voices as it
swells through the lofty domes and pillared aisles of her grand cathedrals；
cannot fail to impress the mind with awe and reverence。
This outward splendor； pomp； and ceremony； that only mocks the longings of
the sin…sick soul； is an evidence of inward corruption。 The religion of
Christ needs not such attractions to recommend it。 In the light shining from
the cross； true Christianity appears so pure and lovely that no
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external decorations can enhance its true worth。 It is the beauty of
holiness； a meek and quiet spirit； which is of value with God。
Brilliancy of style is not necessarily an index of pure； elevated thought。
High conceptions of art； delicate refinement of taste； often exist in minds
that are earthly and sensual。 They are often employed by Satan to lead men
to forget the necessities of the soul； to lose sight of the future； immortal
life； to turn away from their infinite Helper； and to live for this world
alone。
A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart。 The pomp and
ceremony of the Catholic worship has a seductive； bewitching power； by which
many are deceived； and they come to look upon the Roman Church as the very
gate of heaven。 None but those who have planted their feet firmly upon the
foundation of truth； and whose hearts are renewed by the Spirit of God； are
proof against her influence。 Thousands who have not an experimental
knowledge of Christ will be led to accept the forms of godliness without the
power。 Such a religion is just what the multitudes desire。
The church's claim to the right to pardon leads the Romanist to feel at
liberty to sin； and the ordinance of confession； without which her pardon is
not granted； tends also to give license to evil。 He who kneels before fallen
man； and opens in confession the secret thoughts and imaginations of his
heart； is debasing his manhood and degrading every noble instinct of his
soul。 In unfolding the sins of his life to a priest；an erring； sinful
mortal； and too often corrupted with wine and licentiousness；his standard
of character is lowered； and he is defiled in consequence。 His thought of
God is degraded to the likeness of fallen humanity； for the priest stands as
a representative of God。 This degrading confession of man to man is the
secret spring from which has flowed much of the evil that is defiling the
world and fitting it for the final destruction。 Yet to him who loves
self…indulgence；
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it is more pleasing to confess to a fellow mortal than to open the soul to
God。 It is more palatable to human nature to do penance than to renounce
sin； it is easier to mortify the flesh by sackcloth and nettles and galling
chains than to crucify fleshly lusts。 Heavy is the yoke which the carnal
heart is willing to bear rather than bow to the yoke of Christ。
There is a striking similarity between the Church of Rome and the Jewish
Church at the time of Christ's first advent。 While the Jews secretly
trampled upon every principle of the law of God； they were outwardly
rigorous in the observance of its precepts； loading it down with exactions
and traditions that made obedience painful and burdensome。 As the Jews
professed to revere the law； so do Romanists claim to reverence the cross。
They exalt the symbol of Christ's sufferings； while in their lives they deny
Him whom it represents。
Papists place crosses upon their churches； upon their altars； and upon their
garments。 Everywhere is seen the insignia of the cross。 Everywhere it is
outwardly honored and exalted。 But the teachings of Christ are buried
beneath a mass of senseless traditions； false interpretations； and rigorous
exactions。 The Saviour's words concerning the bigoted Jews； apply with still
greater force to the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church： 〃They bind heavy
burdens and grievous to be borne； and lay them on men's shoulders； but they
themselves will not move them with one of their fingers。〃 Matthew 23：4。
Conscientious souls are kept in constant terror fearing the wrath of an
offended God； while many of the dignitaries of the church are living in
luxury and sensual pleasure。
The worship of images and relics； the invocation of saints； and the
exaltation of the pope are devices of Satan to attract the minds of the
people from God and from His Son。 To accomplish their ruin； he endeavors to
turn their attention from Him through whom alone they can find salvation。 He
will direct them to any object that can be substituted for the One who has
said： 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and
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are heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matthew 11：28。
It is Satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God； the
nature of sin； and the real issues at stake in the great controversy。 His
sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men license to
sin。 At the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God so
that they regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love。 The cruelty
inherent in his own character is attributed to the Creator； it is embodied
in systems of religion and expressed in modes of worship。 Thus the minds of
men are blinded； and Satan secures them as his agents to war against God。 By
perverted conceptions of the divine attributes； heathen nations were led to
believe human sacrifices necessary to secure the favor of Deity； and
horrible cruelties have been perpetrated under the various forms of
idolatry。
The Roman Catholic Church； uniting the forms of paganism and Christianity；
and； like paganism； misrepresenting the character of God； had resorted to
practices no less cruel and revolting。 In the days of Rome's supremacy there
were instruments of torture to compel assent to her doctrines。 There was the
stake for those who would not concede to her claims。 There were massacres on
a scale that will never be known until revealed in the judgment。 Dignitaries
of the church studied； under Satan their master； to invent means to cause
the greatest possible torture and not end the life of the victim。 In many
cases the infernal process was repeated to the utmost limit of human
endurance； until nature gave up the struggle； and the sufferer hailed death
as a sweet release。
Such was the fate of Rome's opponents。 For her adherents she had the
discipline of the scourge； of famishing hunger； of bodily austerities in
every conceivable； heart…sickening form。 To secure the favor of Heaven；
penitents violated the laws of God by violating the laws of nature。 They
were taught to sunder the ties which He has formed to bless and gladden
man's earthly sojourn。 The churchyard contains millions of
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victims who spent their lives in vain endeavors to subdue their natural
affections； to repress； as offensive to God； every thought and feeling of
sympathy with their fellow creatures。
If we desire to understand the determined cruelty of Satan； manifested for
hundreds of years； not among those who never heard of God； but in the very
heart and throughout the extent of Christendom； we have only to look at the
history of Romanism。 Through this mammoth system of deception the prince of
evil achieves his purpose of bringing dishonor to God and wretchedness to
man。 And as we