DIGRESSION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ROME by Percy T. Magan

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 5, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 18.

DIGRESSION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ROME

By Percy T. Magan

A REVIEW OF SUNDAY LEGISLATION IN CENTURY NINETEEN. NO. 13.

BY PERCY T. MAGAN.

DIGRESSION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ROME.

What are the principles of the Roman Catholic Church? What are the fundamental laws that have governed her whole career? These are pertinent questions, which may be studied with especial profit at the present hour. In the light of what I have shown in Nos. 11 and 12 of this series of papers, what “she [Rome] will do for the United States,” a correct understanding of her primary polity becomes absolutely necessary to every man who will not be ensnared by her insidious devices.

The principles of Papal Rome are undeniably the same as the principles of Pagan Rome; for Papal Rome in its conception and birth in century four was nothing else but a fusion of paganism with apostate Christianity, in the persons of an avaricious emperor (Constantine), backed by a clamorous rabble, and mercenary bishops, seconded by world-loving congregations. Says Macaulay:—

In the fifth century Christianity had conquered paganism, and paganism had infected Christianity. The church was now victorious and corrupt. The rites of the Pantheon had passed into her worship, the subtleties of the academy into her creed. In an evil day, though with great pomp and solemnity—we quote the language of Bacon—was the ill-starred alliance stricken between the old philosophy and the new faith.

Hear, also, the solemn and preëminently truthful accusation, made by the pagan Faustus to the celebrated Augustine:—

You have substituted your agaphæ for the sacrifices of the pagans; for their idols, your martyrs, whom you serve with the very same honors. You appease the shades of the dead with wine and feasts; you celebrate the solemn festivals of the Gentiles, their calends, and their solstices; and as to their manners, those you have retained without any alteration. Nothing distinguishes you from the pagans except that you hold your assemblies apart from them.

These are facts of adamant, which history faithfully reveals. It has been well said by a writer of intelligent wit that “new presbyter was but old priest writ large.” With equal truth may it be affirmed that Holy Roman Church is only paganism spelled long, for all the principles of paganism may be found in full bloom in the papal system. Now, what were the principles governing the birth and history of Pagan Rome?

In Dan. 11:14 the founders of the Roman nation are introduced:—

“In those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the children of robbers [margin] shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.”

The Revised Version reads: “The children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision.” Both renderings taken together make the meaning very obvious. It is a historical fact, and a well-authenticated historical fact, that Rome, the great Roman nation, was founded by a band of robbers, and “violent” robbers at that.

And, moreover, it is equally true, and also a matter of historical record, that the Roman nation was perpetuated by the children of these robbers, born to mothers who had been stolen by these robber fathers. And, lastly, it can be clearly shown, if proof be necessary, that these children inherit the “violent” and thieving disposition of their ancestors, and that they did in verity “exalt themselves,” as Holy Writ said they would.

It therefore follows that the fundamental principles of Rome and Romanism are robbery and self-exaltation; for these are the principles in which, and upon which, Rome was founded. These, therefore, are logically the principles of the Roman Catholic Church.

Now Romulus himself was a bandit chief, but he, says Arnold—

found that his people were too few in numbers; so he set apart a place of refuge [on the Palatine Hill, in Rome] to which any man might flee and be safe from his pursuers. So many fled thither from the countries round about,—those who had shed blood, those who were driven out from their own homes by their enemies, and even men of low degree who had run away from their lords. Thus the city became full of people; but yet they wanted wives, and the nations round about would not give them their daughters in marriage. So Romulus gave out that he was going to keep a great festival, and there were to be sports and games to draw a multitude together. The neighbors came to see the show, with their wives and their daughters; there came the people of the Cæ nina, and of Crustumerium, and of the Antemna, and a great multitude of the Sabines. But while they were looking at the games, the people of Romulus rushed out upon them, and carried off the women to be their wives.

This confirms the origin of the Romans, as stated by the Bible. So does the following, taken from a letter written by Mithradates, king of Armenia, to Arsaces, king of the Parthians:—

That to look back to their foundation and origin, whatever they have, they have from violence,—homes, wives, lands, and dominions. A vile herd of every kind of vagabond is, without country, without forefathers, they established themselves for the misfortune of the human race. Neither divine nor human laws restrain them from betraying and destroying their allies and friends, remote nations or neighbors, the weak or the powerful. They reckon as enemies all that are not their slaves, and especially whatever bears the name of king.

(To be continued.)