pression. But when this is taken away, he will endeavor to take the vacant throne, and to get possession of all power both divine and human."

It is easily seen now who has tried to appropriate to himself all power both divine and human.

He Sitteth in the Temple of God as a God.

"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 19

No one can sit in the temple of God and show himself to be God more than the pope has already done. According to his profession, he is a Christian bishop. His sitting in the temple of God indicates clearly that he has taken his seat in the Christian church. The church of Rome. was from the beginning a Christian church. In this the pope sits as God, especially when he is ordained. Then he sits on the high altar in St. Peter's church, making the altar his footstool, and in this position he announces the blessing.

The pope exercises at all times divine authority in the church. He claims to be God and appropriates to himself divine titles and prerogatives, such as holiness and infallibility. He claims that the power of the pope is greater than all human power, and extends over heaven, earth, and hell. The pope can do whatsoever he pleases, even unlawful things, and he is greater than God.

Just as Satan through paganism deceived men, and led them to worship and exalt created things and the work of their own hands above the Creator, so he introduced a system of Christianity equally idolatrous. The pope was called God on earth, and was worshiped as the vicar or representative of Christ. In other respects the form of service was also far more pagan than Christian.

Concerning this we read in the Lutheran articles of

faith:

"This thing shows clearly that he is the true antichrist who has opposed and exalted himself above and against Christ, since he will not suffer the Christian to be saved except by the help of his power, which nevertheless is nothing, neither ordained nor commanded by God. This is exactly to oppose and exalt himself above God as St. Paul says in 2 Thess. 2: 4. Such things are not done, neither by the Turk nor the Tartar, however great enemies they are to the Christians, but they suffer those who please to believe in Christ, and exact outward taxes and obedience of the Christians.

But the pope will not allow this faith. He says the people must obey him, then they will be saved. This we will not do, but rather die in the name of God. All this comes from the fact that he is supposed, according to divine rights, to be the head of the Christian church. It was therefore necessary that he should exalt himself to be like unto and even above Christ, and receive honor as the head, and after that as the lord of the church, and at last, of all the world just like a god on earth, until he even ventured to command the angels in heaven.

"When we separate the doctrine of the pope from the Holy Scriptures, or place and hold them opposite to each other, it appears that the doctrine of the pope in the first place is taken from the imperial pagan court and treats on temporal questions of law and judgments which his decrees show. In the next place it treats of ceremonies concerning churches, dress, food, persons, and all kinds of children's play, mummery, and nonsense above all measBut with all this is found nothing at all about Christ, faith, and the commandments of God.

ure.

"At last nothing is found there but sheer deviltry, when he, above and contrary to God, exalts his falsehood about the mass, purgatory, monastic system, self-chosen works and worship, which all together make up the true papacy; condemning, killing, and tormenting all Christians who do not exalt and honor these abominations of his above all things.

"Therefore, no more than we can worship the devil himself as Lord or God, no more can we suffer his apostle, the pope or antichrist, as head or Lord in his rule. For to lie, to murder, to

destroy both body and soul eternally is really his papal rule as I have shown in many books." 20

Of the power and supremacy of the papacy, we read in the same book:

"The pope glories in several things: 1. That he by divine rights is the head of all the other bishops and priests in all Christendom. 2. That he has by divine rights both swords, that is, he has power to instate and depose kings, arrange temporal govern. ments, etc. 3. He says that it is our duty to believe this or we will lose eternal bliss. And this is the reason why the pope calls himself and glories in being the vice-gerent of Christ on earth. We believe and are of the opinion that these three articles are erroneous, wicked, tyrannical, and very destructive to the Christian church." 21

What better proof do we need that the papal power is the man of sin who "as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God"? Who can truly believe in Christ the humble Nazarene who never used temporal power, and never did anybody any harm, but went about doing good to all, and at the same time believe that the pope is his representative empowered to use all ecclesiastical and temporal authority? And this they say it is our duty to believe under pain of the loss of eternal bliss.

The Papacy Exalts Itself above God and His Worship. Another evidence showing that the papal power is the man of sin, is the fact that this power has assumed the right to make void the commandments of God and the worship ordained by him, and to introduce other commandments and an entirely different worship.

The bishop of Rome began to show his power at the close of the second century. According to the Bible the passover was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first 20❝Schmalcaldian Articles," par. ii, art. 4, part 5; "Konkordiebogen,"

P. 192.

21 Appendix to "Schmalcaldian Art.," par. I; "Konkordiebogen," p. 211.