IN CHURCH HISTORY. 8 1 



of the walls of Constantinople itself. Here they 

 were met and checked, although for five years the 

 siege was kept up. Turning from. the city, they 

 poured their hosts along the northern shores of 

 Africa, and upon the ruins of Christian churches 

 built their mosques. Their territories stretched, at 

 length, for 2000 miles, from Syria along the shores 

 of the Mediterranean. 



Resting awhile, they crossed to Europe, and 

 pressed on . through Spain into the interior of 

 France, and then along to the heart of Europe. 

 Their dreams of universal dominion seemed about 

 to be realized. 



But Europe was aroused. The issue was now 

 one in which every interest was staked. If 

 they went further, Christianity must go down and 

 Mohammedanism would be the religion of the world. 

 But God would not suffer His Church to be obli- 

 terated. Charles, the Hammer, son of Pepin, 

 was raised up to protect the imperilled Church. In 

 a. d. 732 the great battle was fought at Tours, 

 between the Saracens, on one side, and the Franks 

 and Germans on the other. 300,000 of the sons 

 of Islam fell. The rout was complete ; and Mo- 

 hammedanism was hurled back. 



The Papal Power. — In the first days of the 

 Church, Jerusalem was honored as the seat of the 

 chief Episcopate, but gradually, through the impor- 

 6 



