Appendix。）
The Scriptural ordinance of the Lord's Supper had been supplanted by the
idolatrous sacrifice of the mass。 Papal priests pretended； by their
senseless mummery； to convert the simple bread and wine into the actual
〃body and blood of Christ。〃Cardinal Wiseman； The Real Presence of the Body
and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist； Proved From
Scripture； lecture 8； sec。 3； par。 26。 With blasphemous presumption； they
openly claimed the power of creating God； the Creator of all things。
Christians were required； on pain of death； to avow their faith in this
horrible； Heaven…insulting heresy。 Multitudes who refused were given to the
flames。 （See Appendix。）
In the thirteenth century was established that most terrible of all the
engines of the papacythe Inquisition。 The prince of darkness wrought with
the leaders of the papal hierarchy。 In their secret councils Satan and his
angels controlled the minds of evil men； while unseen in the midst stood an
angel of God； taking the fearful record of their iniquitous decrees and
writing the history of deeds too horrible to appear to human eyes。 〃Babylon
the great〃 was 〃drunken with the blood of the saints。〃 The mangled forms of
millions of
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martyrs cried to God for vengeance upon that apostate power。
Popery had become the world's despot。 Kings and emperors bowed to the
decrees of the Roman pontiff。 The destinies of men； both for time and for
eternity； seemed under his control。 For hundreds of years the doctrines of
Rome had been extensively and implicitly received； its rites reverently
performed； its festivals generally observed。 Its clergy were honored and
liberally sustained。 Never since has the Roman Church attained to greater
dignity； magnificence； or power。
But 〃the noon of the papacy was the midnight of the world。〃J。 A。 Wylie；
The History of Protestantism； b。 1； ch。 4。 The Holy Scriptures were almost
unknown； not only to the people； but to the priests。 Like the Pharisees of
old； the papal leaders hated the light which would reveal their sins。 God's
law； the standard of righteousness； having been removed； they exercised
power without limit； and practiced vice without restraint。 Fraud； avarice；
and profligacy prevailed。 Men shrank from no crime by which they could gain
wealth or position。 The palaces of popes and prelates were scenes of the
vilest debauchery。 Some of the reigning pontiffs were guilty of crimes so
revolting that secular rulers endeavored to depose these dignitaries of the
church as monsters too vile to be tolerated。 For centuries Europe had made
no progress in learning； arts； or civilization。 A moral and intellectual
paralysis had fallen upon Christendom。
The condition of the world under the Romish power presented a fearful and
striking fulfillment of the words of the prophet Hosea： 〃My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge： because thou hast rejected knowledge； I
will also reject thee： 。 。 。 seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God；
I will also forget thy children。〃 〃There is no truth； nor mercy； nor
knowledge of God in the land。 By swearing； and lying； and killing； and
stealing； and committing adultery； they break out； and blood toucheth
blood。〃 Hosea 4：6； 1； 2。 Such were the results of banishing the word of God。
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Chapter 4
The Waldenses
Amid the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal
supremacy； the light of truth could not be wholly extinguished。 In every age
there were witnesses for Godmen who cherished faith in Christ as the only
mediator between God and man； who held the Bible as the only rule of life；
and who hallowed the true Sabbath。 How much the world owes to these men；
posterity will never know。 They were branded as heretics； their motives
impugned； their characters maligned； their writings suppressed；
misrepresented； or mutilated。 Yet they stood firm； and from age to age
maintained their faith in its purity； as a sacred heritage for the
generations to come。
The history of God's people during the ages of darkness that followed upon
Rome's supremacy is written in heaven； but they have little place in human
records。 Few traces of their existence can be found； except in the
accusations of their persecutors。 It was the policy of Rome to obliterate
every trace of dissent from her doctrines or decrees。 Everything heretical；
whether persons or writings； she sought to destroy。 Expressions of doubt； or
questions as to the authority of papal dogmas； were enough to forfeit the
life of rich or poor； high or low。 Rome endeavored also to destroy every
record of her cruelty toward dissenters。 Papal councils decreed that books
and writings containing such records should
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be committed to the flames。 Before the invention of printing； books were few
in number； and in a form not favorable for preservation； therefore there was
little to prevent the Romanists from carrying out their purpose。
No church within the limits of Romish jurisdiction was long left undisturbed
in the enjoyment of freedom of conscience。 No sooner had the papacy obtained
power than she stretched out her arms to crush all that refused to
acknowledge her sway； and one after another the churches submitted to her
dominion。
In Great Britain primitive Christianity had very early taken root。 The
gospel received by the Britons in the first centuries was then uncorrupted
by Romish apostasy。 Persecution from pagan emperors； which extended even to
these far…off shores； was the only gift that the first churches of Britain
received from Rome。 Many of the Christians； fleeing from persecution in
England； found refuge in Scotland； thence the truth was carried to Ireland；
and in all these countries it was received with gladness。
When the Saxons invaded Britain； heathenism gained control。 The conquerors
disdained to be instructed by their slaves； and the Christians were forced
to retreat to the mountains and the wild moors。 Yet the light； hidden for a
time； continued to burn。 In Scotland； a century later； it shone out with a
brightness that extended to far…distant lands。 From Ireland came the pious
Columba and his colaborers； who； gathering about them the scattered
believers on the lonely island of Iona； made this the center of their
missionary labors。 Among these evangelists was an observer of the Bible
Sabbath； and thus this truth was introduced among the people。 A school was
established at Iona； from which missionaries went out； not only to Scotland
and England； but to Germany； Switzerland； and even Italy。
But Rome had fixed her eyes on Britain； and resolved to bring it under her
supremacy。 In the sixth century her missionaries undertook the conversion of
the heathen Saxons。
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They were received with favor by the proud barbarians； and they induced many
thousands to profess the Romish faith。 As the work progressed； the papal
leaders and their converts encountered the primitive Christians。 A striking
contrast was presented。 The latter were simple； humble； and Scriptural in
character； doctrine； and manners； while the former manifested the
superstition； pomp； and arrogance of popery。 The emissary of Rome demanded
that these Christian churches acknowledge the supremacy of the sovereign
pontiff。 The Britons meekly replied that they desired to love all men； but
that the pope was not entitled to supremacy in the church； and they could
render to him only that submission which was due to every follower of
Christ。 Repeated attempts were made to secure their allegiance to Rome； but
these humble Christians； amazed at the pride displayed by her emissaries；
steadfastly replied that they knew no other master than Christ。 Now the true
spirit of the papacy was revealed。 Said the Romish leader： 〃If you will not
receive brethren who bring you peace； you shall receive enemies who will
bring you war。 If you will not unite with us in showing the Saxons the way
of life； you shall receive from them the stroke of death。〃J。 H。 Merle
D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century； b。 17； ch。
2。 These were no idle threats。 War； intrigue； and deception were employed
against these witnesses for a Bible faith； until the churches of Britain
were destroyed； or forced to submit to the authority of the pope。
In lands beyond the jurisdiction of Rome there existed for many centuries
bodies of Christians who remained almost wholly free from papal corruption。
They were surrounded by heathenism and in the lapse of ages were affected by
its errors； but they continued to regard the Bible as the only rule of faith
and adhered to many of its truths。 These Christians believed in the
perpetuity of the law of God and observed the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment。 Churches that held to this faith and practice existed in
Central Africa and among the Armenians of Asia。
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But of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power； the
Waldenses stood foremost。 In the very land where popery had fixed its seat；
the