104 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



those who were bold enough to condemn the exist- 

 ing corruptions. The history of the Inquisition 

 makes sad reading, when we think of its horrid 

 work as done in the name of the religion of Christ. 

 To be suspected of having any sympathy with the 

 views of those who were styled heretics, was suffi- 

 cient ground for exposure to the savage proceedings 

 of this cruel court. 



The opening of the fifteenth century witnessed 

 the rise of Martin Luther as a reformer, and a good 

 Providence made him the agent for carrying on the 

 mighty work. Luther was an Augustinian monk 

 in Saxony, and came into conflict with Rome by 

 declaiming against the sale of indulgences by Tetzel, 

 the pope's agent. Pope Leo was then building 

 St. Peter's Church in Rome, and needing money, 

 offered indulgences to all who would contribute to 

 this purpose. These indulgences were based upon 

 the fancied power of the Pope to secure benefits to 

 the souls in purgatory, although the popular notion 

 applied them to permission to commit sin here. 

 Tetzel hawked the Pope's indulgences about from 

 place to place. 



Luther's attacks at first were directed against these 

 abuses, but as time went on he was led to declaim 

 against the supremacy of the Pope, and the other 

 errors which had been introduced. He and his 

 followers, upon refusing to retract their expressions, 

 were excommunicated. They were not silenced, 



