THE PAPACY AN IMAGE OF PAGANISM
By M. E. Cornell
Interesting Extracts. No. 10.
THE power, and the capitol of Pagan Rome was transferred to Papal Rome. Rev. xiii, 2. Gibbon, speaking of the Roman power, declares that they "disclaim the necessity or even the wish of continuing the Imperial succession in Italy, since, in their opinion, the majesty of a sole monarch is sufficient to pervade and protect at the same time both the east and the west. In their own name and in the name of the people they consent that the Seat of Universal Empire shall be transferred from Rome to Constantinople; and they basely renounced the right of choosing their Master, the only vestige that yet remained of the Authority which had given laws to the world."—Gibbon Vol. iii, p. 512. "A new and powerful monarchy rose on the ruins of the German Empire—that of the Roman Pontiffs, which monopolized both spiritual and temporal dominions, and extended its influence over all the kingdoms of Christendom."—Koch. p. 36. THE PAPACY AN IMAGE OF PAGANISM.
"The copious transfusion of heathen ceremonies into Christian worship, which had taken place before the end of the fourth century, had, to a certain extent, paganized the outward form and aspect of religion."—Waddington. Dr. Middleton says of the Papacy, "All whose ceremonies appear plainly to have been copied from the rituals of primitive Paganism, as handed down by an uninterrupted succession from the priests of old Rome." The learned Papist, Ludovicus Vives, acknowledges "that no difference can be found between Paganism and Popish image worship but this,—that names and titles are changed." Bervaldus says, "When I call to mind the institutions of the holy mysteries of the heathen, I am forced to believe that most things appertaining to the celebration of our solemnities and ceremonies are taken thence; as for example, from the Gentile religion are the shaven heads of priests, turnings round at the altar, sacrificial pomp, and many such like ceremonies which our priests solemnly use in our mysteries. How many things (good God!) in our religion, are like to the Pagan religion! how many rites common?" Another advocate of Popery, Baronius, says: "In many things, there is a conformity between Popery and Paganism. That many things have been laudably translated from Gentile superstition into the Christian religion, hath been demonstrated by many examples and the authority of Fathers. And what wonder, if the most holy bishops have granted that the ancient customs of Gentiles should be introduced into the worship of the true God, from which it seemed impossible to take off many, though converted to Christianity." NOTE. As Papacy is only a new form of Paganism, so Protestantism, is a new form of Papacy for the same reason. There is a striking family resemblance between the daughters and the mother, Babylon, Both are mixed up with the world. They agree in doctrine and practice, in many things. The anti-Bible doctrine of Immortal-soulism, Conscious state of the dead, Endless misery, Rewards and punishments at death, World's conversion, Sunday-keeping for the Sabbath, Sprinkling for baptism, Communicating with the Spirits of the dead, Trinity-creeds and articles of faith, &c, &c. Paganism, Papacy and Protestantism, have all in their turn manifested more or less of the same spirit of persecution toward dissenters.