for thirty crowns.

Shortly after, the monk set out from Leipsic. The gentleman, attended by his servants, laid wait for him in a wood between Jüterbog and Trebbin,— fell upon him, gave him a beating, and carried off the rich chest of indulgence-money the inquisitor had with him. Tetzel clamored against this act of violence, and brought an action before the judges. But the gentleman showed the letter signed by Tetzel himself, which exempted him beforehand from all responsibility. Duke George who had at first been much irritated by this action, upon seeing this writing, ordered that the accused should be acquitted." 32

What a shameful delusion these indulgences were! Such a work cannot be from God; it must be from the father of lies, and no better proof is needed that the papacy is indeed that man of sin of whom the apostle has prophesied in 2 Thess. 2: 1-8.

Let us give heed to the word of God. Kindly and lovingly he speaks to sinners and invites them to come to Christ. May none of us reject his invitation, but with all our hearts seek him who is able to save our souls without money and without price.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." 33

32 Dowling's "History of Romanism," p. 445.

33 Isa. 55: I.

CHAPTER III.

THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY.

FOR the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he

way. And then shall that wicked be revealed." 1

As already shown, the mystery of iniquity became fully developed when pagan Rome, or the dragon, gave his power and his throne to the bishop of Rome." Paganism was full of iniquity, and the papacy was just as bad. But the last named power endeavored to hide its iniquity or throw a veil over the mystery of it. It placed a mask of godliness on its face, and put on the mantle of sanctity. The most wicked of men were called holy fathers, and they have not only exalted themselves above one of the commandments of God, but above all of them.

Impure and Anti-Christian Theology.

From the writings of the Catholics themselves we can learn best how they have tried to change all the commandments of God.

Oaths. They teach that a criminal or a witness under certain circumstances should deny or conceal the truth. Concerning this, Liguori (one of the principal theologians of the Catholic Church, whose testimony in such things is considered valid) says:—

"He may swear that he knows nothing, when he knows that the person who committed the crime committed it without malice."

1 2 Thess. 27, 8.

2 Rev. 13: 2.

"When a crime is well concealed, the witness and even the criminal, may and even must swear that the crime has not been committed."

Adultery.-Liguori asks whether a woman, accused for the crime of adultery, which she has really committed, may deny it under oath? He answers: "Yes; provided that she has been to confess, and received the absolution; for then," he says, "the sin has been pardoned, and has really ceased to exist.

Liguori maintains that one may commit a minor crime in order to avoid a greater crime. He says:

"It is right to advise any one to commit a robbery or a fornication in order to avoid a murder."

Robbery.—"A servant has the right to rob his master, a child his father, and a poor man a rich."

A poor man who has concealed the goods and effects of which he is in need, may swear that he has nothing."

Stealing."If any one steals small sums at different times, either from the same or from different persons, not having the intention of stealing large sums, nor of causing a great damage, his sin is not mortal; particularly if the thief is poor, and if he has the intention to give back what he has stolen."

"If several persons steal from the same master, in small quantities, each in such a manner as not to commit a mortal sin, though each one knows that these little thefts together cause a considerable damage to their master, yet no one of them commits a mortal sin, even when they steal at the same time."

Lying. The theologians of Rome assure us that we may, and even that we must conceal and disguise our faith.

"Though lying is forbidden, we may be allowed to conceal the truth or to disguise it under ambiguous equivocal words or signs, for a just cause, and where there is no necessity, to confess the truth."

Murder. The Roman Catholics have not only the right, but it is their duty to kill heretics.

"Though heretics must not be tolerated because they deserve it, we must bear with them till, by a second admonition, they may be brought back to the faith of the church. But those who, after a second admonition, remain obstinate in their errors, must not only be excommunicated, but they must be delivered to the secular powers to be exterminated.

"Though the heretics who repent must always be accepted to penance, as often as they have fallen, they must not in consequence of that always be permitted to enjoy the benefits of this life. When they fall again, they are admitted to repent. But the sentence of death must not be removed." 3

Auricular Confession.

One of the most abominable and pernicious doctrines and customs of the Roman Catholic Church is the auricular, or secret, confession. The Catholic priests teach and require of those who come to the confession that being alone with the priest in the confessional they shall confess before him all their sins, all their secret and impure thoughts. If they are reserved, he places before them such questions that it is impossible for them not to reveal everything that is in their heart if they will speak the truth. They teach that he who does not reveal everything to his spiritual guide and obtain forgiveness will be eternally lost. Boys and girls, as well as men and women, must confess all the secrets in their hearts without any exception.

This auricular confession was first instituted at the twelfth general council A. D. 1215. This council was the fourth Lateran synod and was assembled in Rome. Pope Innocent III was chairman. The twenty-first canon (or rule) decreed that the faithful of both sexes should confess before the priest at least once a year. It was also decreed that the sacrament of the Lord's supper should be partaken of at the time of Easter. The sacraments were given immediately after the confession. Of the pernicious consequences of this secret confession, the historian says:

3 Fifty Years in the Church of Rome," pp. 120-125.