p. 10 | Resultant Corruption from Its Divine Claims

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1908

Resultant Corruption from Its Divine Claims

By J. O. CORLISS

Character of the Papacy—No. 7

Resultant Corruption from Its Divine Claims

J. O. CORLISS

WITH the Inquisition finally established in nearly every corner of Europe, and with paid employees of the “holy office” at every turn to spy upon unsuspecting ones, it is little wonder if hypocrisy and deceit became the rule, rather than the exception, among all classes. Not only were Jesuits to watch for heretical expressions in religious gatherings, and so subdue speech there, but, as the policy of the order was to control the world in the interests of the papacy, these secret agents were instructed to become members in all social, educational, and governmental stations. They accordingly were found in all walks of life, serving as public teachers, private tutors, physicians, lawyers, merchants, missionaries, servants, and even as beggars.

No class of people was neglected by these emissaries of the papacy. Not a single person in any calling, or class of society, was supposed to escape the shadow of these papal sleuths. The result of this system of espionage was to beget in every one, old or young, a distrustful nature, and to create in them imitative powers, in order to appear like those in authority, that they might avoid falling under suspicion.

It was not long until “like priest like people,” became the universal condition. Each vied with all the others to secure immunities and privileges, until every district reeked with corruption. Every accent of hope disappeared from the utterances of the church, and men’s minds in general were held in bondage to a low and narrow trend of thought. All seemed to comprehend the fact, however, that reformation was necessary, but of what use would it be for them to attempt so much when the clergy all around them were so corrupt?

History has left on record the awful declaration concerning the church of the fifteenth century that “in whole dioceses and countries of Christian Europe clerical concubinage was so general that it no longer excited any surprise; and it might be said of certain provinces that hardly one clergyman in thirty was chaste.”—“Pope and Council,” page 346. This was the word brought from Rome by every one who returned from a pilgrimage to that head and center of the papacy. It was said, moreover, that when the vicar of Innocent VIII wanted to correct this state of things, the pope forbade him to do so. This from the Roman annalist, Infessura, in his diary given in Eccard. Corp. Hist. 2. Men of no conscience prospered, and rose to the highest positions, because every preferment within the gift of the church was sold to the highest bidder, and so every just and honorable man was ruled out of the race for such honors.

So far indeed were matters carried that Machiavelli was induced to say: “The Italians are indebted to the Roman Church and its priests for our having lost all religion and devotion through their bad examples, and having become an unbelieving and evil people.”—“Discorsi,” 1. 12, page 273, ed. 1843. Indeed, Isidore Chiari, Bishop of Foligno, said: “In all Italy, among two hundred fifty bishops, one could scarcely find four who even deserved the name of spiritual shepherds.”—Quoted by Bishop Lindanus in “Apologet. ad German” (Antwerp, 1568), page 19. With such antecedents how could the people be otherwise than corrupt?

But when “evil men and seducers” had thus gone to the depths of depravity, light began to dawn upon hitherto benighted minds. The art of printing had so far advanced as to produce copies of the Bible, which were quietly circulated, and eagerly read. As the sentiments of the precious volume were absorbed, doubts were entertained as to the doctrines and claims of the church. To heighten this reaction, there was sprung upon the people the controversy about indulgences. These under certain conditions had been granted by various pontiffs, with different objects in view. In papal theology, “an indulgence is a special use of the absolving power [reference is here made to Matt. 16:19]. While in the tribunal of penance, the guilt, and at least the eternal punishment of sin are taken away; an indulgence cancels, wholly, or in part, the remaining penalty still to be borne in this world or in the next. . . . Plenary indulgences release from all penalty, as far as the person, under the unknown laws of God’s providence, is capable of being thus benefited.”—“Systematic Study of the Catholic Religion” (ed. 1906), pages 248, 249.

Until the sixteenth century, indulgences were supposed to be granted only upon sincere repentance, or as stated by Catholics, after having done penance. But when Leo X ascended the papal throne in 1513, he found the treasury of the church almost empty. Some way must be devised by which to carry on the expensive undertakings he had in mind, among which was the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral. In view of this, he determined to issue a grant of indulgences to all who were willing to pay the price demanded.

The full text of these indulgences was as follows: “May our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon thee, and absolve thee by the merits of his most holy passion. And I, by his authority, that of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and of the most holy pope, granted and committed to me in these parts, do absolve thee, first, from all ecclesiastical censures, in whatever manner they have been incurred, and then from all thy sins, transgressions, and excesses, how enormous they may be, even from such as are reserved from the cognizance of the holy see; and as far as the keys of the holy church extend, I remit to you all punishment which you deserve in purgatory on this account, and I restore you to the holy sacraments of the church, to the unity of the faithful, and to the innocence and purity which you possessed at baptism; so that, when you die, the gates of punishment shall be shut, and the gates of the paradise of delight shall be opened; and if you shall not die at present, this grace shall remain in full force when you are at the point of death. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”—“Prescott’s Robertson’s Charles the Fifth,” Vol. I, page 461, note. (Phila. 1881.)

Armed with this formidable document, the Dominican friar, Tetzel, pushed his way through Saxony, as the deputy of the archbishop of Magdeburg, to whom the power of dispensing them throughout Germany had been delegated. A great scandal was created by the immoderate language used by Tetzel when seeking purchasers for these papal exemptions. The sale of these promised absolutions is well authenticated by reliable history, and is not, therefore, an invention of enemies of the papacy, as has been stated sometimes by those who would defend Catholicism.

The voice of Germany’s indulgence hawker proved the death knell of the papacy’s absolute control of the world. People had patiently endured for centuries almost every exaction of the Church of Rome, and still rendered homage to that authority, but this last step was a revelation which called for instant reform. When Luther nailed to the church door of Wittenberg his ninety-five theses, opposing papal merchandise in past and prospective sins, he little saw the outcome of his act. Europe was stirred by the boldness of the man; but when he dared to burn publicly the papal bull which condemned his propositions, and at the same time denounced the pope as the Antichrist of Revelation, the entire country was plunged into a tumult of controversy, which was destined to reveal the wickedness of the “man of sin,” who had so long posed before the world as “God upon earth.” 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.

There was to be a “time” for this revelation (verse 6), and the papacy itself had disclosed it by its crowning act of assumption. From that period its shadowy footsteps have been traced through the Dark Ages, revealing by degrees its sunless course, until the world has stood aghast at the dismal record. Time but waits for the revelation of its final insidious exploit of cunning diplomacy, when we are assured that the Lord will remove him and his work, by the brightness of Christ’s coming. 2 Thess. 2:8.

A study of the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, we believe, justifies this application of the scripture before cited. In this chapter a woman and her nefarious

work form the theme of discourse. The closing verse explains this woman to be “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” No city has ever done this so fully as Rome; hence the application is easy. In verse 3 the woman is seen seated upon a seven-headed, ten-horned beast. Thus she is exhibited as being sustained in her throne by the kingdoms over which she rules, while she holds out to them a golden cup filled with “abominations and filthiness of her fornications.” Verse 4.

One other reference, and the picture of ecclesiastical Rome is complete, according to the history already presented in these papers. With the title of Mystic Babylon, and Mother of Harlots, written across her forehead, and drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus Christ, she yet professes to be the church of Christ, with power from heaven both to forgive sin and to cancel its penalties. Such a sight might well cause angels to weep, as it caused the seer of Patmos to wonder with great astonishment. But like all things earthly, this performance must come to an end. The prophet follows her dark career until he sees her made desolate, by the very kings over whom she ruled as queen. Even while boasting that she sits a queen, and is no widow, though having lost the support of her former associates, and gained their hatred, her plagues, mourning, famine, and death by burning, follow in quick succession. Compare Rev. 17:16 and 18:7, 8.

But as these last have not yet overtaken this apocalyptic woman, she has still a brief history. Let us study it thoughtfully and reverently that we may know whether we ourselves are walking in the light of saving truth, or in the shadow of deceitful error.

Mountain View, Cal.