J. H. W by John Harvey Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 6, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 14.

J. H. W

By John Harvey Waggoner

of Norway and Sweden, and the kingdom of Italy. At present it would be difficult to make anything of Italy but Catholic or infidel; she has too long been robbed of the facilities for general education. But the Italians have had enough of Papal civil rule; of all people they most dread a restoration of the Papal temporal power.

The call for the restoration of the kingly authority of the Pope comes loudest from Austria, where the tide is setting heavily in that direction. This would not be difficult to bring about. No matter where, or however small, his dominion might be, he would be recognized as a king, and then all nations would receive his ambassadors. For this the Pope is planning, and it is safe to say that Europe to-day has no more wily politician than Leo XIII. He has thus far shown consummate diplomatic skill in every emergency, in every move, and has every time obtained the advantage he sought.

Some years ago we published a series of articles on the subject of the future of the Pope, and then said that the nations of Europe would look to him as the pacificator in times of trouble and perplexity. And what do we now see? When the Ultramontane priests refused to yield to the demands of Prussia, considering them an infringement on their loyalty to the Pope, Leo promptly caused them to yield, assuring them that Bismarck was right. At least this was his assurance before the public. And Bismarck has been untiring in his devotion to the Pope ever since. To the Pope was soon committed an important matter for arbitration. Now he is pursuing the same policy with England. He resists the pleadings of the highest officials of his church, refusing to interfere in the affairs of Ireland. But matters are becoming very serious in Ireland, and when the call comes distinctly from the British throne, he will find a way to make his influence felt.

In "Protestant Switzerland," the President of the Council, the President of the Confederation, is an ardent Catholic. He represents Geneva, "the city of Calvin." In Prussia, not long since, a Protestant minister was fined and imprisoned for speaking against "Catholic institutions." A meeting in Berlin was closed because the minister spoke too decidedly against the Catholic Church. A German paper states it as a fact that no man can obtain or retain any important office in the Government unless he secures the favor of the Catholic element. It is our firm conviction that, should a priest presume to nail to a church door in Germany such an indictment of the Papacy as Luther nailed to the church in Wittemberg, he would find no power ready to shield him from popular indignation. The saying of one of the most vigorous Protestant writers in Switzerland is neither strange nor untruthful, that "Protestants there are, but Protestantism is dead."

In Rev. 18, the doom of great Babylon is foretold, and if we compare the late encyclicals of the popes, in which they bewailed the divorcement of the church from the kings who had upheld their power, with verse 7 of this chapter, we can be at no loss to read the issue of the present craze in favor of the Pope. "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."

Even now the church of Rome sees this triumph before her, when the nations which now bestow their compliments shall do her more substantial honor; when kings shall restore her from her widowhood, and she will be able to boast of her old-time prosperity. That day will surely come, and all can see it coming; but the sight only presages her speedy downfall. Her boasting is followed by this declaration of the Lord: "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."