484
The Great Controversy
which she herself employed in bygone days. Those who reject the
light of truth will yet seek the aid of this self-styled infallible power to
exalt an institution that originated with her. How readily she will come
to the help of Protestants in this work it is not difficult to conjecture.
Who understands better than the papal leaders how to deal with those
who are disobedient to the church?
The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout
the world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed
to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants,
in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as
bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their
government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above
all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the
state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving
them from every pledge inimical to her interests.
History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate
herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to
further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people. In the year
1204, Pope Innocent III extracted from Peter II, king of Arragon, the
following extraordinary oath: “I, Peter, king of Arragonians, profess
and promise to be ever faithful and obedient to my lord, Pope Innocent,
to his Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and faithfully to
preserve my kingdom in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith,
and persecuting heretical pravity.”—John Dowling, The History of
Romanism, b. 5, ch. 6, sec. 55. This is in harmony with the claims
[581]
regarding the power of the Roman pontiff “that it is lawful for him
to depose emperors” and “that he can absolve subjects from their
allegiance to unrighteous rulers.”—Mosheim, b. 3, cent. 11, pt. 2, ch.
2, sec. 9, note 17. (See also Appendix note for page 447.)
And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never
changes. The principles of Gregory VII and Innocent III are still
the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the
power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in
past centuries. Protestants little know what they are doing when they
propose to accept the aid of Rome in the work of Sunday exaltation.
While they are bent upon the accomplishment of their purpose, Rome is
aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the
principle once be established in the United States that the church may