PROGRESS OF ROME'S RESTORATION.
By G.
TIME was when the Papacy controlled the world. Through excessive corruption it broke with its own weight, and reaction set in. The spirit of reaction and reform was started by the attention of isolated individuals being called to the Word of God. The Lord never had allowed Himself to be wholly without the witness of His Word. There were copies here and there, even in some of the monasteries. Through these the sparks of reformation were kindled in Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and various nooks and corners, until a flame of reformation broke out. Its luminous glare was seen, and the warmth of it was felt, throughout northern Europe. Refugees from Old World tyranny fled to the wilderness of America, that they might find freedom to worship God as conscience dictated. In time a government was founded upon the principle of civil and religious liberty, and the influence of it went back to Europe. Under this influence the grip of tyranny and intolerance was to a great extent slackened. Rome lost her hold upon the reigns of government—direct temporal sway being reduced to the few square miles comprised in the Vatican grounds. But the prophetic Word has said that the power of the Papacy would be restored, and the process is also in operation, and, strange as it may seem and hard as it is to believe, the United States becomes the leader in the grand return march of nations. This country is really looked to by Rome as the one strong national arm on which she can mostly depend. Europe will follow, is following, her lead; but some of the countries are as yet far behind in the process of cutting loose and marching around the circle to renewed allegiance. England and Germany are close on the heels of the United States. France, as a political government, has just nominally cut loose from Rome, but most of the people are Catholic to the backbone; so that reaction is a question of a very short time. In fact, Rome's influence is dominant in all but political formality. Italy, as to political connection with the state, cut loose in 1870, but is making amends as fast as she can gracefully. But poor Spain is almost in the rear of the procession. Being the country of the Inquisition, it was a long, hard road for her to the point of political severance from Rome. But she is now in the throes of making the breach. A Madrid despatch of the 10th inst. says: "The government continues to maintain a firm attitude on the church-and-state question. A minister to-day declared that while the government was desirous of avoiding a breach with the Vatican, it had determined to defend the supremacy of the state. At the first sitting of Parliament the government will introduce a bill making the religious orders amenable to the law controlling industrial corporations, and will also introduce a bill providing that members of orders recently expelled from France will be required to become naturalized to leave Spain. The minister said that the cabinet was determined to carry these measures and did not fear papal excommunication." As soon as Spain closes this formal separation she will fall in behind the procession around the circle on the return; and it is fair to assume that she will return in much greater haste6than she has shown in severing political allegiance. The rapid pace at which the United States and apostate Protestantism are making the round toward the embrace of Rome is telling with as wonderful effect upon the nations of Europe, as did their one-time influence in the other direction; and erelong those that are just now formally cutting the political ties will be doubling and trebling their efforts to regain favor at Rome. The world is being greatly deceived by the action of such governments as France, Italy, and Spain in severing political allegiance with Rome. They imagine that it is evidence of a weakening influence of the Papacy. But they seem to overlook the conspicuous efforts of Great Britain, Germany, and the United States to curry favor with the Vatican—practically vieing with one another for first place in favorable consideration. The restoration of papal power in the world does not require the formal temporal supremacy of the world, as a universal temporal kingdom. Prophecy represents the apostate church as being sustained by various nations all unitedly carrying out her will and contributing to her support. And the time is near at hand. See Revelation 18. Men are being deceived by a few apparent losses and temporary defeats that Rome is suffering. They note losses of membership here and there that go to the nominal Protestant churches, but they overlook the great fact that these same churches are themselves on the road to Rome, having adopted her specific mark of spiritual authority, the Sunday-sabbath. They overlook also that such European governments as are just now taking, or have recently taken, steps to separate politically from the Vatican do so against the conviction of the masses of the people, and will eventually be compelled to retreat in some form or other. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it that the restoration is coming, and "the Scripture can not be broken."
G.