| If we desire to understand the determined cruelty of Satan, manifested for hundreds of years, not among those who never heard of God, but in the very heart and throughout the extent of Christendom, we have only to look at the history of Romanism. And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself, and accomplishing his work through the leaders of the church, we may better understand why he has so great antipathy to the Bible. If that book is read, the mercy and love of God will be revealed; it will be seen that he lays upon men none of these heavy burdens. All that he asks is a broken and contrite heart, a humble, obedient spirit. {4SP 386.2} |
| Appendix, note to page 77. EDICT AGAINST THE WALDENSES. -- A considerable portion of the text of the papal bull issued by INNOCENT VIII in 1487 against The WALDENSES (The original of which is in the Library of the University of the UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE) is given, in an English translation, in JOHN DOWLING's HISTORY OF ROMANISM (1871 ED.), B. 6, CH. 5, SEC. 62. {GC 685.5} |
| Appendix, note to page 340. Through the centuries, the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church toward circulation of the HOLY SCRIPTURES in vernacular versions amonf the laity shows up as negative. See fore example G. P. FISHER, THE REFORMATION, Chapter 15, Paragraph 16 (1873 ED., page 530-532); J. CARDINAL GIBBONS, THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS, CH. 8 (49TH ED., 1897), page. 98-117; JOHN DOWLING, HISTORY OF ROMANISM, B. 7, CH. 2, SEC. 14; AND B. 9, CH. 3, SECS. 24-27 (1871 ED., PP. 491-496, 621-625); L. F. BUNGENER, HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT, PP. 101-110 (2D EDINBURGH ED., 1853, TRANSLATED BY D. D. SCOTT); G. H. PUTNAM, BOOKS AND THEIR MAKERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES, VOL. 1, PT. 2, CH. 2, paragraphs 49, 54-56. See also INDEX OF PROHIBITED BOOKS (VATICAN POLYGLOT PRESS, 1930), page IX, X; TIMOTHY HURLEY, A COMMENTARY ON THE PRESENT INDEX LEGISLATION (NEW YORK: BENZIGER BROTHERS, 1908), P. 71; TRANSLATION OF THE GREAT ENCYCLICAL LETTERS OF LEO XIII (NEW YORK: BENZIGER BROTHERS, 1903), P. 413. {GC 691.5} |
| If we desire to understand the determined cruelty of Satan, manifested for hundreds of years, not among those who never heard of God, but in the very heart and throughout the extent of Christendom, we have only to look at the history of Romanism. Through this mammoth system of deception the prince of evil achieves his purpose of bringing dishonor to God and wretchedness to man. And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself, and accomplishing his work through the leaders of the church, we may better understand why he has so great antipathy to the Bible. If that book is read, the mercy and love of God will be revealed; it will be seen that he lays upon men none of these heavy burdens. All that he asks is a broken and contrite heart, a humble, obedient spirit. {GC88 570.1} |
