114 The Fundamentals temples and priests and rites were incorporated with the Chris tian Church, and Rome became “baptized heathenism.” “They feared the Lord and served graven images.” The Bishop of Rome naturally had great influence among them. At his sugges tion the lost unity of the Western Empire was restored in recog nizing him as the official ecclesiastical head. The Greek Em peror at Constantinople, Phocas, desired to strengthen his authority in the west and invoked the aid of the Roman bishop. Boniface III saw his opportunity and made a deal. If the Byzantium Emperor would acknowledge him as 'uni versal bishop, he would accede. Phocas recognized Boniface III in 606 A. D. The pagans worshipped the Caesars. Roman Catholics pay Divine honors to the pope. They ascribe to him the names, titles, attributes, words and works of God. The name of God and His works have been as cribed to the pope by their theologians, canonists, councils and the popes themselves. By the authority of canon law the pontiff is styled the Almighty’s vicegerent. This is treason. The second commandment forbids worshipping of God by images, and yet Rome Papal has introduced the image worship of Pagan Rome, only changing the names. The Virgin Mary is substituted for Venus;' The image of Christ takes the place of Jupiter. The idols of the pagan temples were not so numerous as the idols of the Romish cathedrals today. Pope Pius IV called the Council of Trent, which issued its creed in 1564. This creed of Pius IV, together with the decree of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, pro mulgated in 1854, and that of the pope’s infallibility, issued in 1870, mark the doctrinal status of Rome today. Let us note a few facts in regard to this. 1. Rome restricts the use of the Bible. The fourth rule of the congregation of the “Index of Prohibited Books”, ap proved by Pius IV and still in force, runs as follows: “Since it is manifest by experience that if the Holy Bible in the vulgar tongue be suffered to be read everywhere without dis-
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