p. 568 | A Contrast

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 21, 1882

A Contrast.

THE Church of Rome claims to be the church. Its pope is called the vicar of Christ, the representative of God on earth. Read the following description of one who is less than the pope in authority, and see how it compares with the account we have of Jesus, who was so poor that he had not where to lay his head. It is from the description of the dedication of a Catholic church in New York:—

“Bishop O’Farrell, of Trenton, preached the dedicatory sermon. As he concluded, Cardinal McClosky entered the sanctuary from the sacristy. His trailing red silk soutane was covered with a lace surplice, bound about the waist with a heavily-fringed red silk sash. His mantle of red watered silk flowed many yards behind, and was upheld by tiny pages, in white cassocks and albs. The broad, half-opened hood of the mantle was lined with ermine. A jeweled pectoral cross shone upon the Cardinal’s breast, and his signet, a sapphire encircled with diamonds, flashed upon his left hand. His venerable head was covered with a red silk berretta. He ascended his throne,” etc.

As we read this, these words of Christ come to mind: “How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God alone?”