The Reason of It by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 12, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 19.

The Reason of It.

By Editor

In another column will be found a short article taken from the Advance of February 22, to which we have given the heading, “A Catholic on the Catholic Church.” It presents a true picture. But why is this so? It is an important question. It is not that the Papal Church has not earnest, devoted, zealous workers, for she numbers them by the thousands in all ages, but the secret of it all lies in the wrong principle lying at the very base of her superstructure. Her religion is the religion of the human nature. Read again the article in the SIGNS of February 19, entitled, “Romanism the Religion of Human Nature.” A religion based on human merit, human works, human exaltation, works of supererogation, where human penance or money can atone for sin, must necessarily be a corrupt religion. Humanity, to be lifted above itself, must be lifted from above. Men must be emptied of self, that Christ may fill them, in order that they may do the works and manifest the virtues of Christ. The human nature in Roman Catholicism is just like human nature everywhere else, but when it is set up as the saviour of the world, it becomes deified, the man of sin, the antichrist. But that religion will continue to make converts; it presents an easy way for the carnal heart to ease conscience. It permits continuation in sin at easy prices, which the sensualist is willing to pay. It promises great rewards and high positions to its devotees. It is the politic religion of the world. And, therefore, because it panders to human nature, it will ever manifest the most innate depravity and corruption, while at the same time it will make most marvelous progress; for it is making progress now, and that rapidly, in this country.