Warning Rejected
321
Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s example of
iniquitous connection with “the kings of the earth”—the state churches,
by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by
seeking the favor of the world. And the term “Babylon”—confusion—
may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive
their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable
sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.
Besides a sinful union with the world, the churches that separated
from Rome present other of her characteristics.
[384]
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 dedi-
cated 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 ap-
pears 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