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two hundred and three-score days.” [Revelation 12:16.]
The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the be-
gi
deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to
the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgive-
ness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope,
and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They
were taught that the pope was their mediator, and that none could
approach God except through him, and, further, that he stood in the
place of God to them, and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A
deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest
punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders.
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Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible,
erring, and cruel men, nay more, to the prince of darkness himself,
who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb
of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to
regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception,
and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and tradi-
tions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside
the law of God.
Those were days of peril for the church of Christ. The faithful
standard-bearers were few indeed. Though the truth was not left
without witnesses, yet at times it seemed that error and superstition
would wholly prevail, and true religion would be banished from the
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earth. The gospel was lost sight of, but the forms of religion were
multiplied, and the people were burdened with rigorous exactions.
They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator,
but to trust to works of their own to atone for sin. Long pilgrimages,
acts of penance, the worship of relics, the 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 vice prevailed, even among the leaders of the
Romish 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.
The few faithful builders upon the true foundation were per-
plexed 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
[60]
is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to
build.” [Nehemiah 4:10.] Wearied with the constant struggle against
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The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4
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;” [Nehemiah 4:14.] and they proceeded with the work, every one with his sword girded by his side.
The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired
the enemies of God in every age, and the same vigilance and fidelity
have been required in his servants. The words of Christ to the first
disciples are applicable to his followers to the close of time: “What
I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.” [Mark 13:37.]
The darkness seemed to grow more dense. Image worship be-
came more general. Candles were burned before images, and prayers
were offered to them. The most absurd and superstitious customs
prevailed. The minds of men were so completely controlled by
superstition that reason itself seemed to have lost her sway. While
priests and bishops were themselves pleasure-loving, sensual, and
corrupt, it could only be expected that the people who looked to
them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice.
Another step in papal assumption was taken, when, in the
eleventh century, Pope Gregory VII. proclaimed the perfection
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of the Romish Church. Among the propositions which he put forth,
was one declaring that the church had never erred, nor would it ever
err, according to the Scriptures. But the Scripture proofs did not
accompany the assertion. The proud pontiff next claimed the power
to depose emperors, and declared that no sentence which he pro-
nounced could be reversed by any one, but that it was his prerogative
to reverse the decisions of all others.
A striking illustration of the tyra
of infallibility was given in his treatment of the German king, Henry
IV. For presuming to disregard the pope’s authority, this monarch
was declared to be excommunicated and dethroned. In order to
make his peace with Rome, Henry crossed the Alps in midwinter
that he might humble himself before the pope. Upon reaching the
castle whither Gregory had withdrawn, he was conducted, without
his guards, into an outer court, and there, in the severe cold of winter,
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with uncovered head and naked feet and in a miserable dress, he
awaited the pope’s permission to come into his presence. Not until
he had continued three days fasting and making confession did the
pontiff condescend to grant him pardon. Even then it was only upon
condition that the emperor should await the sanction of the pope
before resuming the insignia or exercising the power of royalty. And
Gregory, elated with his triumph, boasted that it was his duty “to
pull down the pride of kings.”
How striking the contrast between the overbearing pride of this
haughty pontiff and the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who
represents himself as pleading at the door of the heart for admittance,
[62]
that he may come in to bring pardon and peace, and who taught his
disciples, “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant.” [Matthew 20:27.]