s of anyone. The Pope
sits in a carriage covered with gold and passes his time in the utmost
splendor, amidst such pleasures and luxuries, such riches and adoration,
as kings have never had.

Christ hurt no one, but some of the Popes killed innocent people: refer to
history. How much blood the Popes have shed merely to retain temporal
power! For mere differences of opinion they arrested, imprisoned and slew
thousands of the servants of the world of humanity and learned men who had
discovered the secrets of nature. To what a degree they opposed the truth!

Reflect upon the instructions of Christ, and investigate the habits and
customs of the Popes. Consider: is there any resemblance between the
instructions of Christ and the manner of government of the Popes? We do
not like to criticize, but the history of the Vatican is very
extraordinary. The purport of our argument is this, that the instructions
of Christ are one thing, and the manner of the Papal government is quite
another; they do not agree. See how many Protestants have been killed by
the order of the Popes, how many tyrannies and oppressions have been
countenanced, and how many punishments and tortures have been inflicted!
Can any of the sweet fragrances of Christ be detected in these actions?
No! in the name of God! These people did not obey Christ, while Saint
Barbara, whose picture is before us, did obey Christ, and followed in His
footsteps, and put His commands into practice. Among the Popes there are
also some blessed souls who followed in the footsteps of Christ,
particularly in the first centuries of the Christian era when temporal
things were lacking and the tests of God were severe. But when they came
into possession of governmental power, and worldly honor and prosperity
were gained, the Papal government entirely forgot Christ and was occupied
with temporal power, grandeur, comfort and luxuries. It killed people,
opposed the diffusion of learning, tormented the men of science,
obstructed the light of knowledge, and gave the order to slay and to
pillage. Thousands of souls, men of science and learning, and sinless
ones, perished in the prisons of Rome. With all these proceedings and
actions, how can the Vicarship of Christ be believed in?

The Papal See has constantly opposed knowledge; even in Europe it is
admitted that religion is the opponent of science, and that science is the
destroyer of the foundations of religion. While the religion of God is t