We stand as a nation at one of the most solemn crises in our history. The nation which, over four hundred years ago, threw off the yoke of Popery is poised to welcome into its midst the Head of that Anti-Christian system which Luther declared to be “the masterpiece of Satan”. This is a remarkable turn of events for a nation liberated from the darkness and bondage of Popery by God’s Almighty hand. Yet it is not a sudden turn of affairs. The portents were there for all who had eyes to see, and we must recognise it as the inevitable outcome of what has gone before.
First among these factors was the gradual Romanising of the Churches in our land, and the consequent loss of Protestant spirit and fervour in these Churches. Firm Protestantism and a watered-down Gospel cannot stand together, so the rejection of the true Gospel of God’s grace inevitably led to an emaciated Protestantism. It became the hall-mark of this type of Protestantism to bewail the divisions in the Churches and to try to establish a bridge between itself and Roman Catholicism.
A second factor leading to the present situation was the undervaluing and despising of the great blessings of the Reformation. The decline in the spiritual life of the Church in recent times caused men to lose sight of the true value of Gospel blessings so that the nation is now ready to part with its heritage so dearly bought and all for a mess of popish pottage. Christ and the benefits of the Gospel are no longer valued as they ought to be. Is it any wonder then that they appear ready to be wrung from our hands?
A third factor, which we must never lose sight of, is that the Roman Catholic Church has, over a long period, laid its plans for the subjection of Protestant Britain to the Papal throne. The Roman Catholic Church has not been idle but has been seeking by every means in her power, to bring our nation away from her Protestant constitution and cause her to embrace Romanism once more. Many look on the visit of the Pope as of no consequence. The Romanists do not so regard it and in this their judgment is more correct. They see it as a unique opportunity to present to the people of Britain, in the most impressive way possible, the claim of the Roman Catholic Church to be the one true Catholic Church and that of the Pope to be the Universal Ruler and the Vicar of Christ. For confirmation of this we have only to think of the preparations being made for his reception — preparations far beyond anything made for visiting kings, queens or presidents.
No ruler on earth has made more startlingly blasphemous claims than the Pope of Rome. It is alleged that the Pope holds “upon the earth the place of God Almighty”, that he is “the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged of no one, God himself on earth”, “the father of princes and kings, Ruler of the world, the Vicar of our Saviour Jesus Christ.” These blasphemous claims of the Pope and the idolatry of the Romish system show him to be the Anti-Christ of Scripture. Yet Britain as represented in her Head, Her Majesty the Queen, and also the vast majority of her subjects appear ready to receive and welcome this enemy of Christ and of His Cause, and of our nation. The only hope of averting this serious catastrophe appears to be divine intervention.
Can Britain as a nation expect divine intervention at this juncture in her history? We know that Britain has been favoured in the past by many instances of the divine favour in interventions made by the Lord on her behalf. This is no guarantee, however, for such interventions to be repeated in the future, as we have in large measure forfeited our right to such blessings through turning our back as a nation on the Lord and on His worship and service. Yet there is still a remnant of the Lord’s people in our land and if they cry to Him in their time of need, His ear is open to hear their cry. It is not on the basis of anything in us that the Lord will appear for us but only out of His grace and mercy and for His own Name’s sake. May poor, backslidden Britain receive such a favour in this her hour of need.