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 favour 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 victims who spent their lives in vain endeavours 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 dishonour to God and wretchedness to man . And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself and accomplishing his work through the leaders of the church , we may better understand why he has so great antipathy to the Bible . If that Book is read , the mercy and love of God will be revealed ; it will be seen that He lays upon men none of these heavy burdens . All that He asks is a broken and contrite heart , a humble , obedient spirit .
Christ gives no example in His life for men and women to shut themselves in monasteries in order to become fitted for heaven . He has never taught that love and sympathy must be repressed . The Saviour ' s heart overflowed with love . The nearer man approaches to moral perfection , the keener are his sensibilities , the more acute is his perception of sin , and the deeper his sympathy for the afflicted . The pope claims to be the vicar of Christ ; but how does his character bear comparison with that of our Saviour ? Was Christ ever known to consign men to the prison or the rack because they did not pay Him homage as the King of heaven ? Was His voice heard condemning to death those who did not accept Him ? When He was slighted by the people of a Samaritan village , the apostle John was filled with indignation , and inquired : " Lord , wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven , and consume them , even as Elias did ?" Jesus looked with pity upon His disciple , and rebuked his harsh spirit , 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 Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world , covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties . She has clothed herself in Christ-like garments ; but she is unchanged . Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today . The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held . Let none deceive themselves . The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honour 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
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