The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 463

The European Union in Prophecy
to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from
every pledge inimical to her interests.
History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the
affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the
ruin of princes and people. In the year 1204, Pope Innocent III extracted from Peter
II, king of Arragon, the following extraordinary oath: "I, Peter, king of Arragonians,
profess and promise to be ever faithful and obedient to my lord, Pope Innocent, to his
Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and faithfully to preserve my kingdom
in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith, and persecuting heretical pravity." --
John Dowling, The History of Romanism, b. 5, ch. 6, sec. 55. This is in harmony with
the claims regarding the power of the Roman pontiff "that it is lawful for him to depose
emperors" and "that he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous
rulers."--Mosheim, b. 3, cent. 11, pt. 2, ch. 2, sec. 9, note 17. (See also Appendix .)
And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The
principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still the principles of the Roman
Catholic Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as
much vigor now as in past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when
they propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation. While they
are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is aiming to reestablish her
power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the
United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that
religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of
church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this
country is assured.
God's word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded,
and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when
it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are
exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men.
She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her
former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is
strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to
strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We
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