them strong delusion； that they should believe a lie。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：10；
11。
Those who oppose the teachings of spiritualism are assailing； not men alone；
but Satan and his angels。 They have entered upon a contest against
principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places。 Satan will not
yield one inch of ground except as he is driven back by the power of
heavenly messengers。 The people of God should be able to meet him； as did
our Saviour； with the words： 〃It is written。〃 Satan can quote Scripture now
as in the days of Christ； and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his
delusions。 Those who would stand in this time of peril must understand for
themselves the testimony of the Scriptures。
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Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved
relatives or friends and declaring the most dangerous heresies。 These
visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies and will work miracles to
sustain their pretensions。 We must be prepared to withstand them with the
Bible truth that the dead know not anything and that they who thus appear
are the spirits of devils。
Just before us is 〃the hour of temptation； which shall come upon all the
world； to try them that dwell upon the earth。〃 Revelation 3：10。 All whose
faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and
overcome。 Satan 〃works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness〃 to gain
control of the children of men； and his deceptions will continually
increase。 But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his
temptations。 Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and
are striving to purify their souls through obedience； thus doing what they
can to prepare for the conflict； will find； in the God of truth； a sure
defense。 〃Because thou hast kept the word of My patience； I also will keep
thee〃 （verse 10）； is the Saviour's promise。 He would sooner send every angel
out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him
to be overcome by Satan。
The prophet Isaiah brings to view the fearful deception which will come upon
the wicked； causing them to count themselves secure from the judgments of
God： 〃We have made a covenant with death； and with hell are we at agreement；
when the overflowing scourge shall pass through； it shall not come unto us：
for we have made lies our refuge； and under falsehood have we hid
ourselves。〃 Isaiah 28：15。 In the class here described are included those who
in their stubborn impenitence comfort themselves with the assurance that
there is to be no punishment for the sinner； that all mankind； it matters
not how corrupt； are to be exalted to heaven； to become as the angels of
God。 But still more emphatically
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are those making a covenant with death and an agreement with hell； who
renounce the truths which Heaven has provided as a defense for the righteous
in the day of trouble； and accept the refuge of lies offered by Satan in its
steadthe delusive pretensions of spiritualism。
Marvelous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this
generation。 Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief and with
eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan。 Skeptics and scoffers
denounce the bigotry of those who contend for the faith of prophets and
apostles； and they divert themselves by holding up to ridicule the solemn
declarations of the Scriptures concerning Christ and the plan of salvation；
and the retribution to be visited upon the rejecters of the truth。 They
affect great pity for minds so narrow； weak； and superstitious as to
acknowledge the claims of God and obey the requirements of His law。 They
manifest as much assurance as if； indeed； they had made a covenant with
death and an agreement with hell as if they had erected an impassable；
impenetrable barrier between themselves and the vengeance of God。 Nothing
can arouse their fears。 So fully have they yielded to the tempter； so
closely are they united with him； and so thoroughly imbued with his spirit；
that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare。
Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world。 The
foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden： 〃Ye
shall not surely die。〃 〃In the day ye eat thereof； then your eyes shall be
opened； and ye shall be as gods； knowing good and evil。〃 Genesis 3：4； 5。
Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in
the development of spiritualism。 He has not yet reached the full
accomplishment of his designs； but it will be reached in the last remnant of
time。 Says the prophet： 〃I saw three unclean spirits like frogs； 。 。 。 they
are the spirits of devils； working miracles； which go forth
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unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world； to gather them to the
battle of that great day of God Almighty。〃 Revelation 16：13； 14。 Except
those who are kept by the power of God； through faith in His word； the whole
world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion。 The people are fast
being lulled to a fatal security； to be awakened only by the outpouring of
the wrath of God。
Saith the Lord God： 〃Judgment also will I lay to the line； and righteousness
to the plummet： and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies； and the
waters shall overflow the hiding place。 And your covenant with death shall
be disannulled； and your agreement with hell shall not stand； when the
overflowing scourge shall pass through； then ye shall be trodden down by
it。〃 Isaiah 28：17； 18。
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Chapter 35
Liberty of Conscience Threatened
Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in
former years。 In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy；
and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence；
there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate
the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy； the opinion is gaining
ground that； after all； we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has
been supposed； and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a
better understanding with Rome。 The time was when Protestants placed a high
value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased。
They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony
with Rome would be disloyalty to God。 But how widely different are the
sentiments now expressed！
The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned； and
the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement。 Many urge that it
is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities
that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness。 They
excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times and
plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments。
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Have these persons forgotten the claim of infallibility put forth for eight
hundred years by this haughty power？ So far from being relinquished； this
claim was affirmed in the nineteenth century with greater positiveness than
ever before。 As Rome asserts that the 〃church never erred； nor will it；
according to the Scriptures； ever err〃 （John L。 von Mosheim； Institutes of
Ecclesiastical History； book 3； century II； part 2； chapter 2； section 9；
note 17）； how can she renounce the principles which governed her course in
past ages？
The papal church will never relinquish her claim to infallibility。 All that
she has done in her persecution of those who reject her dogmas she holds to
be right； and would she not repeat the same acts； should the opportunity be
presented？ Let the restraints now imposed by secular governments be removed
and Rome be reinstated in her former power； and there would speedily be a
revival of her tyranny and persecution。
A well…known writer speaks thus of the attitude of the papal hierarchy as
regards freedom of conscience； and of the perils which especially threaten
the United States from the success of her policy：
〃There are many who are disposed to attribute any fear of Roman Catholicism
in the United States to bigotry or childishness。 Such see nothing in the
character and attitude of Romanism that is hostile to our free institutions；
or find nothing portentous in its growth。 Let us； then； first compare some
of the fundamental principles of our government with those of the Catholic
Church。
〃The Constitution of the United States guarantees liberty of conscience。
Nothing is dearer or more fundamental。 Pope Pius IX； in his Encyclical
Letter of August 15； 1854； said： ‘The absurd and erroneous doctrines or
ravings in defense of liberty of conscience are a most pestilential errora
pest； of all others； most to be dreaded in a state。' The same pope； in his
Encyclical Letter of December 8； 1864； anathematized ‘those who assert the
liberty of conscience and of religious