IN CHURCH HISTORY. 99 



there fell many usages which had prevailed for 

 ages. 



A mighty revolution, too, was carried on by the 

 general employment of the art of printing. Before 

 printing became so general, books were copied out 

 by the pens of the monks and others, and the pos- 

 session of a manuscript or illuminated copy, was 

 possible only for the wealthy, or for some public 

 institution. The rapid multiplication of copies of 

 books, by printing, helped to popularize learning, 

 and to put the truths of revelation and of science 

 into the hands of the many. 



Then came the use of the mariners' compass, 

 enabling seamen to make longer voyages than had 

 ever been attempted before, and encouraging the 

 daring exploits of Columbus, which led to the dis- 

 covery of a new continent. With the discovery of 

 this continent there seemed to be a widening of 

 the conceptions of men, and a shaking loose from 

 the petty views which had hitherto influenced 

 them. Although it was many years before any 

 permanent settlements were made in America, yet 

 from the time of its discovery there began to spread 

 a spirit of adventure and love of exploration, which 

 had their influence subsequently over the condition 

 of the whole world. 



The Decline of Feudalism. — It will readily be 

 seen that the growing earnestness of the times was 



