r. 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."(632)

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?"(633)

"The Church of England," says Spurgeon, "seems to be eaten through and
through with sacramentarianism; but non-conformity 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."(634) 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 disappeared, and
insensibly, as the old disciples retired to their graves, their children,
along with new converts, ... came forward and new-modeled the cause."(635)
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."(636) 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."(637)

Has not the same process been repeated in nearly every church calling
itself Protestant? As its founders, those who possessed the true spirit of
reform, pass away, their descendants come forward and "new-model the
cause." While blindly clingin