ROMANISM AS IT WAS AND NOW IS.
By G. W. E.
The fixed and declared purpose of Rome is to subjugate our government to the pope, to destroy our free schools, and to destroy all reverence for the word of God if possible. Let no one cry persecution by Protestants. We must not be deluded into silence. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Well did Bro. Campbell assert in his debate with Purcell that no bishop or priest can take the oath of allegiance to our government without the guilt of perjury. Such a statement should not be made without proof. That proof I will furnish from other sources as his book is not before me. “I, G. N., elect of the Church of N., from henceforth will be faithful and obedient to St. Peter the Apostle, and to the Holy Roman Church, and to our Lord, the Lord N., Pope N., and to his successors canonically coming in. I will neither advise, consent nor do anything that they may lose life or member, or that their persons may be seized, or hands otherwise laid upon them, or any injuries offered to them under any pretense whatsoever. The counsel which they shall intrust me withal, by themselves, messengers, or letters I will not knowingly reveal to any to their prejudice. I will help them to defend and keep the Roman Papacy, and the royalties of St. Peter, saving my order against all men. . . . Heretics, schismatics, and rebels to our said lord, or his aforesaid successors, I will to the utmost of my power prosecute and oppose.” I have given all that is of special interest to the people at large. This is the oath of every Romish priest in the world. Read it, Protestants. “I, A. B., do acknowledge the ecclesiastical power of His Holiness and the Mother Church of Rome as the chief head and mother above all pretended churches throughout the whole earth, and that my zeal shall be for St. Peter and his successors as the founder of the true and ancient Catholic faith against all heretical kings, princes, states, or powers repugnant to the same, and although I, A. B., may follow in case of persecution, or otherwise to be heretically despised, yet in soul and conscience I shall hold, aid, and succor the Mother Church of Rome, as the true, ancient and Apostolic Church. I, A. B., further do declare not to act or control any matter or thing prejudicial unto her sacred order, doctrines, tenets or commands without leave of its supreme power or its authority under her appointed, or to be appointed; and being so permitted then to act and further her interests more than my own earthly good and earthly pleasure, as she and her Head, His Holiness, and his successors, have, or ought to have, the supremacy over all kings, princes, estates, or powers whatsoever, either to deprive them of their crowns, scepters, powers, privileges, countries or governments, or to set up others in lieu thereof, they dissenting from the Mother Church and her commands.” Here is perjury and rank treason in our midst. Every bishop, priest, and layman of Rome is there bound. Indeed, bishops and priests are not only at liberty to swear in court, if called upon, that some things he knows as God, but not as a man. Let this be denied, and we have the proof at hand. Is it not high time that Americans should awake to our danger? We may see the fixed purpose of Rome to destroy our school system, to rob us of God's word, and thus step by step prepare us for higher acts of insult. Let us awake. Let us calmly look at her insolent and lordly claims before it is too late.—G. W. E. in Christian Review.