The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 573

Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints,
they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable
opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry.
A large class, even of those who look upon Romanism with no favor,
apprehend little danger from her power and influence. Many urge that
the intellectual and moral darkness prevailing during the Middle Ages
favored the spread of her dogmas, superstitions, and oppression, and
that the greater intelligence of modern times, the general diffusion of
knowledge, and the increasing liberality in matters of religion forbid a
revival of intolerance and tyranny. The very thought that such a state of
things will exist in this enlightened age is ridiculed. It is true that great
light, intellectual, moral, and religious, is shining upon this generation.
In the open pages of God’s Holy Word, light from heaven has been shed
upon the world. But it should be remembered that the greater the light
bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert and reject it.
A prayerful study of the Bible would show Protestants the real
character of the papacy and would cause them to abhor and to shun
it; but many are so wise in their own conceit that they feel no need
of humbly seeking God that they may be led into the truth. Although
priding themselves on their enlightenment, they are ignorant both of the
Scriptures and of the power of God. They must have some means of
quieting their consciences, and they seek that which is least spiritual and
humiliating. What they desire is a method of forgetting God which shall
pass as a method of remembering Him. The papacy is well adapted to
meet the wants of all these. It is prepared for two classes of mankind,
embracing nearly the whole world—those who would be saved by their
merits, and those who would be saved in their sins. Here is the secret of
its power.
A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable
to the success of the papacy. It will yet be

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