The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 57
erection of churches, shrines, and altars, the payment of large sums to
the church—these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the
wrath of God or to secure His favor; as if God were like men, to be
angered at trifles, or pacified by gifts or acts of penance!
Notwithstanding that vice prevailed, even among the leaders of the
Roman Church, her influence seemed steadily to increase. About the
close of the eighth century, papists put forth the claim that in the first
ages of the church the bishops of Rome had possessed the same spiritual
power which they now assumed. To establish this claim, some means
must be employed to give it a show of authority; and this was readily
suggested by the father of lies. Ancient writings were forged by monks.
Decrees of councils before unheard of were discovered, establishing the
universal supremacy of the pope from the earliest times. And a church
that had rejected the truth greedily accepted these deceptions. (See
Appendix.)
The few faithful builders upon the true foundation (1 Corinthians
3:10, 11) were perplexed and hindered as the rubbish of false doctrine
obstructed the work. Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem
in Nehemiah’s day, some were ready to say: “The strength of the
bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we
are not able to build.” Nehemiah 4:10. Wearied with the constant
struggle against persecution, fraud, iniquity, and every other obstacle
that Satan could devise to hinder their progress, some who had been
faithful builders became disheartened; and for the sake of peace and
security for their property and their lives, they turned away from the
true foundation. Others, undaunted by the opposition of their enemies,
fearlessly declared: “Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord,
which is great and terrible” (verse 14); and they proceeded with the
work, everyone with his sword girded by his side. Ephesians 6:17.
The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired the
enemies of God in every age, and the same
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