The Holy Scripture - english version B.indd - Sabbat

Official Statements of the Clergy.235the Scriptures to all, yet the selfsame principle which was maintained by Romeprevents multitudes in Protestant churches from searching the Bible for themselves.They are taught to accept its teachings as interpreted by the church; andthere are thousands who dare receive nothing, howeverplainly revealed in Scripture, that is contrary to their creedor the established teaching of their church.*Note: Withholding the Bible From the People.--The reader will recognize that the text of thisvolume was written prior to Vatican Council II, with its somewhat altered policies in regardto the reading of the Scriptures. Through the centuries, the attitude of the Roman CatholicChurch toward circulation of the Holy Scriptures in vernacular versions among the laity showsup as negative. See for example G. P. Fisher, The Reformation, ch. 15, Page 692, par. 16(1873 ed., pp. 530-532); J. Cardinal Gibbons, The Faith of Our Fathers, ch. 8 (49th ed.,1897), Pp. 98-117; John Dowling, History of Romanism, b. 7, ch. 2, Sec. 14; and b. 9, ch. 3,secs. 24-27 (1871 ed., pp. 491-496, 621-625); L. F. Bungener, History of the Council of Trent,pp. 101-110 (2d Edinburgh ed., 1853, translated by D. D. Scott); G. H. Putnam, Books andTheir Makers. During the Middle Ages, vol. 1, pt. 2, ch. 2, pars. 49, 54-56. See also Index ofProhibited Books (Vatican Polyglot Press, 1930), pp. ix, x; Timothy Hurley, A Commentary onthe Present Index Legislation (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1908), p. 71; Translation of theGreat Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1903), p. 413.But in recent years a dramatic and positive change has occurred in this respect. On theone hand, the church has approved several versions prepared on the basis of the originallanguages; on the other, it has promoted the study of the Holy Scriptures by means of freedistribution and Bible institutes. The church, however, continues to reserve for herself theexclusive right to interpret the Bible in the light of her own tradition, thus justifying thosedoctrines that do not harmonize with biblical teachings.The Great Controversy, pp. 596, 597“The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by manyas decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever bemade. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, astrong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon commonpoints of doctrine. To secure such a union, the discussion of subjectsupon which all were not agreed--however important they might be from aBible standpoint--must necessarily be waived. ...ECumenISMAnother general council! A world‘s convention! Evangelicalalliance, and universal creed!“--Sermon on „The Bible a SufficientCreed,“ delivered at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 22, 1846. When this shall begained, then, in the effort to secure complete uniformity, it will be only a stepto the resort to force.When the leading churches of the United States, uniting uponsuch points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shallinfluence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustaintheir institutions, then Protestant America will have formedan image of the Roman hierarchy [the Roman priesthood], andthe infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitablyresult.The Great Controversy, pp. 444, 445