ment of his efforts to seat himself
upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.

Satan once endeavoured to form a compromise with Christ. He came to the
Son of God in the wilderness of temptation, and showing Him all the
kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, offered to give all into His
hands if He would but acknowledge the supremacy of the prince of darkness.
Christ rebuked the presumptuous tempter, and forced him to depart. But
Satan meets with greater success in presenting the same temptations to
man. To secure worldly gains and honors, the church was led to seek the
favor and support of the great men of earth; and having thus rejected
Christ, she was induced to yield allegiance to the representative of
Satan,--the bishop of Rome.

It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the
visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme
authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world. More than
this, the pope has been given the very titles of Deity. He has been styled
"Lord God the Pope,"(71) and has been declared infallible. He demands the
homage of all men. The same claim urged by Satan in the wilderness of
temptation, is still urged by him through the Church of Rome, and vast
numbers are ready to yield him homage.

But those who fear and reverence God meet this Heaven-daring assumption as
Christ met the solicitations of the wily foe: "Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."(72) God has never given a hint in
His word that He has appointed any man to be the head of the church. The
doctrine of papal supremacy is directly opposed to the teachings of the
Scriptures. The pope can have no power over Christ's church except by
usurpation.

Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of
heresy, and wilful separation from the true church. But these accusations
apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of
Christ, and departed from "the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints."(73)

Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern his
deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the Word that even the
Saviour of the world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ
presented the shield of eternal truth, saying, "It is written." To every
suggestion of the adversary, He opposed the wisdom and power of the Word.
In order for Satan to maintain his