SOME THINGS IN THE LAST BULL OF THE POPE.
POPE Leo XIII. has issued a bull decreeing that the year beginning with Dec. 25, 1899, and ending a year from that date, shall be a jubilee year, holy to the faithful. There are some things in this document worthy of note regarding fact and doctrine, a few of which we briefly notice. The pope tells us in the beginning (we quote from the Catholic Mirror, of June 3, with its capitalization):— We have gladly determined in accordance with the custom of Our predecessors, to pass a decree which may be a source of salvation to Christian people. How this decree may be a "source" of salvation to "Christian people" we know not. A Christian is a disciple of Christ, saved in Christ. He needs no other source or end of salvation. He possesses all in Christ Jesus, "the Beginner and the Finisher of our faith." In the above utterance is the virtual claim, the blasphemous assumption, to the vicegerency of Christ. He says again:— We Ourselves were witness in Our youth how helpful to salvation was the last Jubilee decreed in solemn form during the Pontificate of Leo XII. at a time when Rome was the greatest and safest theater for a public act of religion. During this time (Leo XII., we believe, took the papal throne 1822) the Papacy ruled Rome. "Rome was [then] the greatest and safest theater for a public act of [the Roman Catholic] religion;" but heresy, which may have been the truest religion, had no rights which Rome was bound to respect. The pope contrasts that time with the present:— There is now, in the changed state of Rome, either no opportunity of organizing, or the permission depends on a will other than Our own. But there are the same liberties for Roman Catholics as for other sects or denominations. Why should she ask more? In speaking of the great darkness in the world and the lack of faith, the pope remarks:— It can scarcely be estimated what ruin has already issued from this dark source and invaded the principles upon which states are founded. For the spirit of revolt so widely spread, the stormy outbursts of popular discontent, the perils that no one can foresee, and the crimes of tragic horror are discerned, by those who look into their causes, to be nothing else than a sort of lawless and unbridled endeavor to gain and enjoy the things of this world. The italics are ours. All these things exist. There are causes. The greatest is the innate selfishness of the natural heart of man. The antidote for this is the obedient faith of Jesus Christ manifest in His church. But the greater part, numerically, of the professed church—the Roman Catholic—which has made of living faith a "body of doctrine," has presumed to put man in the place of God, and by authority claimed from God, has assumed to set aside the very precepts of God. This is notably true as regards the Sabbath law. God says: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Rome says, "Sanctify the Sunday." She thus sets aside the authority of God simply and solely on her own authority, while claiming to be the church of God. She thus becomes "the mystery of iniquity," or lawlessness, and justifies thereby every other act of lawlessness that may be committed. If God means not what He says in the Sabbath precept, who can say that He does in the precepts prohibiting theft, adultery, and murder? The church stands as the chief law-breaker. "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers." Of what use is it for a man to preach the sacredness of law and the necessity of submitting to proper authority, when he himself is a notorious transgressor? Here is matter for Protestants also to meditate upon. Following are two more vital errors inherent in the Papacy:— During its [the "Holy Year's"] months our Holy Mother, the Church, mindful alone of mercy and forgiveness, strives with all her zeal and strength to turn the minds of men to better things, and that penitence, the great source of amendment of life, may wash out the faults which each one has committed. With this object in view, multiplying her prayers and increasing her devotion, she endeavors to appease the outraged divinity of God, and to call down from heaven an abundance of divine blessings. "Penitence" does not wash away sin. The blood of Jesus Christ alone can do this. It is well to be penitent for sin; nay, it is necessary. But man's sorrow or penitence or repentance or penance can not wash out the stain. God's mercy and grace alone can do this. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." And it does this without any intermediary. The second point: "She [the church] endeavors to appease the outraged divinity of God, and to call down from heaven an abundance of the divine blessings"! Think of it! Where does the church obtain her mercy? Who is the source of it? Think of the picture: God, the infinitely loving and merciful, who is Himself love, needing to be appeased by poor selfish, sinning mortals! and that because they endeavor, and try, and do penance, and pile up prayers and devotions! This is not the God of the Bible. "He delighteth in mercy;" He is "pleased" with "them that hope in His mercy;" He is the merciful God. While He pities those deceived, His curse is upon the system which thus deceives. Wherefore, beloved children, however many and wherever you may be, if you are able to visit her, Rome invites you most lovingly to her arms. . . . Alone from amongst all others, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, chose the city of Rome for a most high destiny above all human thought, and hallowed it to Himself. Here, not without much long and mysterious preparation, He placed the seat of His Empire; here He commanded that the throne of His Vicar should stand for all time; here He has willed that the light of heavenly doctrine should be piously and inviolably kept, and hence, as from a most sacred center, should be shed abroad over every land; so that the man who shall separate himself from the faith of Rome, shall separate from Christ Himself. The city's sanctity is increased by its ancient religious monuments, the singular majesty of its churches, the shrines of the princes of the Apostles and the tombs of the bravest martyrs. How poorly Rome has met her "most high destiny"! What a perverted idea has she given us of Christ's "hallowed" things! What a (?) strange "preparation" the Lord used to fit her for "His seat of empire" during the centuries of her heathendom and bloodshed—which have never ceased! How "inviolably" and "piously" the light of heavenly doctrine has been kept there by this dominating power! O what a travesty on fact and truth is this concerning Rome, yet the pope doubtless believes it. We impugn not his motives; but we would undeceive the misled, and warn the unwary. Rome was wicked in her heathendom; she has multiplied her crimes and sins under the false, more deceptive, system of the Papacy. Truly the Lord said to that church which was being led away in the apostasy of Rome, "I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat [throne] is." God gives us a better city, even the New Jerusalem, where He dwells. There is no city of earth specially hallowed by His presence. It is not in Jerusalem or Samaria or London or Rome that great blessings wait the children of God. They ever come, anywhere, to those who seek Him "in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him."7
"God's love and blessing then and there
Are now and here and everywhere;"
And this comes in the close of this decree:— No one, therefore, may change the terms of this Our declaration, promulgation, concession and will, or rashly oppose it. But if any one shall have presumed to attempt it, let him be aware that he will thus incur the anger of God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.
What a blessed thing it is to know that "the curse causeless" will not come. We bear only the kindliest thoughts toward all men; but the Lord has said: "Cry aloud and spare not." We would point out the error. We would point to Jesus, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Would that all knew Him.