Besides a sinful union with the world , the churches that separated from Rome present other of her characteristics . A Roman Catholic work argues that " if the Church of Rome were ever guilty of idolatry in relation to the saints , her daughter , the Church of England , stands guilty of the same , which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one dedicated to Christ ." -- Richard Challoner , The Catholic Christian Instructed , Preface , pages 21 , 22 . And Dr . Hopkins , in " A Treatise on the Millennium ," declares : " There is no reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices to be confined to that which is now called the Church of Rome . The Protestant churches have much of antichrist in them , and are far from being wholly reformed from . . . corruptions and wickedness ." --Samuel Hopkins , Works , vol . 2 , p . 328 .
Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome , Dr . Guthrie writes : " Three hundred years ago , our church , with an open Bible on her banner , and this motto , ' Search the Scriptures ,' on her scroll , marched out from the gates of Rome ." Then he asks the significant question : " Did they come clean out of Babylon ?" --Thomas Guthrie , The Gospel in Ezekiel , page 237 .
" The Church of England ," says Spurgeon , " seems to be eaten through and through with sacramentarianism ; but nonconformity appears to be almost as badly riddled with philosophical infidelity . Those of whom we thought better things are turning aside one by one from the fundamentals of the faith . Through and through , I believe , the very heart of England is honeycombed with a damnable infidelity which dares still go into the pulpit and call itself Christian ."
What was the origin of the great apostasy ? How did the church first depart from the simplicity of the gospel ? By conforming to the practices of paganism , to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen . The apostle Paul declared , even in his day , " The mystery of iniquity doth already work ." 2 Thessalonians 2:7 . During the lives of the apostles the church remained comparatively pure . But " toward the latter end of the second century most of the churches assumed a new form ; the first simplicity disappeared , and insensibly , as the old disciples retired to their graves , their children , along with new converts , . . . came forward and new-modeled the cause ." --Robert Robinson , Ecclesiastical Researches , ch . 6 , par . 17 , p . 51 . To secure converts , the exalted standard of the Christian faith was lowered , and as the result " a pagan flood , flowing into the church , carried with it its customs , practices , and idols ." --Gavazzi, Lectures , page 278 . As the Christian religion secured the favor and support of secular rulers , it was nominally accepted by multitudes ; but while in appearance Christians , many " remained in substance pagans , especially worshiping in secret their idols ." -- Ibid ., page 278 .
263