g6 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



and with unsparing devotion, ministered to the 

 people the truths of God. It is as hard, too, to 

 see the likeness between some aspects of the 

 Church that then existed, and the band of disci- 

 ples, first called Christians at Antioch. 



Doubtless if we could have the history of this 

 period written out for us fully, there would be 

 many a redeeming feature found in it. God's 

 truth and God's Church cannot be in the world 

 without begetting holy lives, and holy deeds ; 

 and there never has been a time, even in the 

 darkest periods, when there have been none to 

 worship Him in sincerity and truth. 



It would be strange, indeed, if, among the 

 myriads who at this time named the name of Christ, 

 there were not a goodly number who were better 

 than the average, and more free from the debasing 

 superstitions that prevailed. 



When, however, superstitions and corruptions 

 become united with the holding of power, it is 

 hard to rise superior to them or to shake them off. 

 The arrogant assumptions of the popes of Rome 

 were connected very closely with the prevalence of 

 corrupt doctrines and practices. 



Without recounting all the errors that were then 

 spread, we may specify : 



First, The virtual subjugation of all temporal 

 governments to the dominion of the pope. There 

 seemed to be no escape from his grasp. He 



