The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 449

The European Union in Prophecy
35. Liberty of Conscience Threatened
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former
years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists
are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing
indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the
papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, 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 a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants
placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased.
They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome
would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now
expressed!
The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned, and the
Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to
judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign
during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as
the result of the barbarism of the times and plead that the influence of modern
civilization has changed her sentiments. Have these persons forgotten the claim of
infallibility put forth for eight hundred years by this haughty power? So far from being
relinquished, this claim was affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater
positiveness than ever before. As Rome asserts that the "church never erred; nor will
it, according to the Scriptures, ever err " (John L. von Mosheim, Institutes of
Ecclesiastical History, book 3, century II, part 2, chapter 2, section 9, note 17), how
can she renounce the principles which governed her course in past ages?
The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility. All that she has
done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to be right; and
would she not repeat the same acts, should the opportunity be presented? Let the
restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed and Rome be reinstated
in her former power, and there would speedily be a revival of her tyranny and
persecution. A well-known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy
as regards freedom of conscience, and of the perils which especially threaten the
United States from the success of her policy:
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