Lesson 4

Notes

Note A.—About A. D. 476, the time when the division of the Roman Empire was completed by the establishment of the ten horns, a pretentious power was noticed, seeking acknowledgment of its claims. As early as the beginning of the sixth century, the bishops of Rome had become powerful enough to exert considerable of that influence at the imperial court, which was erelong to exalt them to that station where they could command the kings of the earth. There was only one hindrance to their supremacy, the opposition of the Arian powers to the doctrines of the Catholics, especially to that of the Trinity. These opposing powers were rooted up, the Heruli in 493, the Vandals in 534, and the Ostrogoths in 538. See "Student's Gibbon," pp. 309-319.

Note B.—The pope calls himself "The Vicar of Christ." Leo X. blasphemously styled himself, "The Lion of the tribe of Judah;" Leo XII. allowed himself to be called "The Lord our God," and Pope Martin V. called himself, "The most holy and most happy, who is the arbiter of Heaven and the Lord of earth, the successor of St. Peter, the anointed of the Lord, the Master of the universe," etc. The following is quoted from W. E. Gladstone, in the "Vatican Council," page 201, as a portion of the infallibility dogma:—

"All the faithful of Christ must believe that the holy apostolic see and the Roman pontiff possess the primacy over the whole world, and that the Roman pontiff is the successor of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, and is true vicar of Christ, and head of the whole church, and father and teacher of all Christians."

Note C.—A million of Waldenses perished in France. Nine hundred thousand orthodox Christians were slain in less than thirty years after the institution of the order of the Jesuits. The duke of Alvah put to death, in the Netherlands, 36,000 in the space of a few years. The Inquisition destroyed by various tortures, 15,000 within thirty years. These are a few specimens out of the many which might be quoted from history, of the work of this power against the saints. For further evidence, one may read "Buck's Theological Dictionary," article "Persecution," Dowling's "Romanism," Charlotte Elizabeth's "Martyrology," "Wars of the Huguenots," etc.

Note D.—The Papacy has changed the observance of the fourth commandment, as far as in its power, in order to follow its pagan ancestors in their dedication of a day to the worship of the sun. In a work called "The Sure Way to Find Out the True Religion," we read:—

"The keeping holy the Sunday is a thing absolutely necessary to salvation. And yet this is nowhere laid down in the Bible. On the contrary, the Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy' (Ex. 20:8), which is Saturday, and not Sunday." For further evidence, see Catholic catechisms, also "Plain Talks about the Protestantism of To-day," page 213.

Note E.—In February, 1798, General Berthier entered Rome at the head of a French army, took Pope Pius VI. prisoner, and established a republic in Rome. The pope died in exile the following year, and for two years there was no pope. See Chambers' Cyclopedia, article "Pius."

Note F.—"In September, 1870, Rome, no longer supported by the French, who had been defeated by the Germans, surrendered to Victor Emmanuel, and the possession of the pope's dominion was formally taken, October 2, 1870.—Chambers' Cyclopedia, article "Italy."