IN CHURCH HISTORY. 97 



could direct the armies of one nation against 

 another, and remove the crown from a king's 

 head. Whatever was promulged by his authority, 

 whether in matters temporal or matters spiritual, 

 must be received without question. This thorough 

 subserviency to papal rule would not have been so 

 fraught with evil, had the popes always been good 

 men. Unhappily some of them were warriors, 

 others were reckless evil livers, and some were 

 almost, if not quite, infidels. 



Second, A second error was the belief in the 

 efficacy of the intercession of saints and angels foi 

 sinners. There is but one Mediator between Go<* 

 and man, Christ Jesus ; but as time went or.,, 

 prayers began to be addressed to the Virgin Marr. 

 and to others ; and their intervention in behalf a 

 sinful men was implored. 



Third, The belief in purgatory led to many at 

 abuse of the primitive faith. Claiming that the 

 souls of the departed needed purification before 

 they could be admitted to heaven, there grew up 

 the offering of masses for the dead, and the pvi 

 chase of favor in their behalf. 



Fourth, A superstitious regard for relics, image*, 

 and the like, made the worship of some resemb.i 

 the old idolatry which had been overthrown. 



But the list of errors is too long to be recited 

 her-e. We will see it again as it will come before 

 us in the account of the Reformation. Suffice it 



7 



