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see of Rome。 And no other power could be so truly declared 〃drunken with the
blood of the saints〃 as that church which has so cruelly persecuted the
followers of Christ。 Babylon is also charged with the sin of unlawful
connection with 〃the kings of the earth。〃 It was by departure from the Lord；
and alliance with the heathen； that the Jewish church became a harlot； and
Rome； corrupting herself in like manner by seeking the support of worldly
powers； receives a like condemnation。
Babylon is said to be 〃the mother of harlots。〃 By her daughters must be
symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions； and follow
her example of sacrificing
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the truth and the approval of God； in order to form an unlawful alliance
with the world。 The message of Revelation
14； announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious
bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt。 Since this message
follows the warning of the judgment； it must be given in the last days；
therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone； for that church has
been in a fallen condition for many centuries。 Furthermore； in the
eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to
come out of Babylon。 According to this scripture； many of God's people must
still be in Babylon。 And in what religious bodies are the greater part of
the followers of Christ now to be found？ Without doubt； in the various
churches professing the Protestant faith。 At the time of their rise these
churches took a noble stand for God and the truth； and His blessing was with
them。 Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the
beneficent results that followed an acceptance of the principles of the
gospel。 In the words of the prophet to Israel： 〃Thy renown went forth among
the heathen for thy beauty： for it was perfect through My comeliness； which
I had put upon thee； saith the Lord God。〃 But they fell by the same desire
which was the curse and ruin of Israelthe desire of imitating the
practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly。 〃Thou didst trust in
thine own beauty； and playedst the harlot because of thy renown。〃 Ezekiel
16：14； 15。
Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of iniquitous
connection with 〃the kings of the earth〃the state churches； by their
relation to secular governments； and other denominations； by seeking the
favor of the world。 And the term 〃Babylon〃confusionmay be appropriately
applied to these bodies； all professing to derive their doctrines from the
Bible； yet divided into almost innumerable sects； with widely conflicting
creeds and theories。
Besides a sinful union with the world； the churches that separated from Rome
present other of her characteristics。
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A Roman Catholic work argues that 〃if the Church of Rome were ever guilty of
idolatry in relation to the saints； her daughter； the Church of England；
stands guilty of the same； which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one
dedicated to Christ。〃Richard Challoner； The Catholic Christian Instructed；
Preface； pages 21； 22。
And Dr。 Hopkins； in 〃A Treatise on the Millennium；〃 declares： 〃There is no
reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices to be confined to
that which is now called the Church of Rome。 The Protestant churches have
much of antichrist in them； and are far from being wholly reformed from 。 。
。 corruptions and wickedness。〃Samuel Hopkins； Works； vol。 2； p。 328。
Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome； Dr。 Guthrie
writes： 〃Three hundred years ago； our church； with an open Bible on her
banner； and this motto； 'Search the Scriptures；' on her scroll； marched out
from the gates of Rome。〃 Then he asks the significant question： 〃Did they
come clean out of Babylon？〃Thomas Guthrie； The Gospel in Ezekiel； page
237。
〃The Church of England；〃 says Spurgeon； 〃seems to be eaten through and
through with sacramentarianism； but nonconformity appears to be almost as
badly riddled with philosophical infidelity。 Those of whom we thought better
things are turning aside one by one from the fundamentals of the faith。
Through and through； I believe； the very heart of England is honeycombed
with a damnable infidelity which dares still go into the pulpit and call
itself Christian。〃
What was the origin of the great apostasy？ How did the church first depart
from the simplicity of the gospel？ By conforming to the practices of
paganism； to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen。 The
apostle Paul declared； even in his day； 〃The mystery of iniquity doth
already work。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：7。 During the lives of the apostles the
church remained comparatively pure。 But 〃toward the latter end of the second
century most of the churches assumed a new form； the first simplicity
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disappeared； and insensibly； as the old disciples retired to their graves；
their children； along with new converts； 。 。 。 came forward and new…modeled
the cause。〃Robert Robinson； Ecclesiastical Researches； ch。 6； par。 17； p。
51。 To secure converts； the exalted standard of the Christian faith was
lowered； and as the result 〃a pagan flood； flowing into the church； carried
with it its customs； practices； and idols。〃 Gavazzi； Lectures； page 278。
As the Christian religion secured the favor and support of secular rulers；
it was nominally accepted by multitudes； but while in appearance Christians；
many 〃remained in substance pagans； especially worshiping in secret their
idols。〃Ibid。； page 278。
Has not the same process been repeated in nearly every church calling itself
Protestant？ As the founders； those who possessed the true spirit of reform；
pass away； their descendants come forward and 〃new…model the cause。〃 While
blindly clinging to the creed of their fathers and refusing to accept any
truth in advance of what they saw； the children of the reformers depart
widely from their example of humility； self…denial； and renunciation of the
world。 Thus 〃the first simplicity disappears。〃 A worldly flood； flowing into
the church； carries 〃with it its customs； practices； and idols。〃
Alas； to what a fearful extent is that friendship of the world which is
〃enmity with God；〃 now cherished among the professed followers of Christ！
How widely have the popular churches throughout Christendom departed from
the Bible standard of humility； self…denial； simplicity； and godliness！ Said
John Wesley； in speaking of the right use of money： 〃Do not waste any part
of so precious a talent； merely in gratifying the desire of the eye； by
superfluous or expensive apparel； or by needless ornaments。 Waste no part of
it in curiously adorning your houses； in superfluous or expensive furniture；
in costly pictures； painting； gilding。 。 。 。 Lay out nothing to gratify the
pride of life； to gain the admiration or praise of men。 。 。 。 'So long as
thou doest well unto thyself； men will speak good of thee。' So long as thou
art 'clothed in purple and fine linen；' and farest 'sumptuously
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every day；' no doubt many will a