Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity . When the Scriptures are suppressed , and man comes to regard himself as supreme , we need look only for fraud , deception , and debasing iniquity . With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God . Those were days of peril for the church of Christ . The faithful standardbearers were few indeed . Though the truth was not left without witnesses , yet at times it seemed that error and superstition would wholly prevail , and true religion would be banished from the earth . The gospel was lost sight of , but the forms of religion were multiplied , and the people were burdened with rigorous exactions . They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator , but to trust to works of their own to atone for sin . Long pilgrimages , acts of penance , the worship of relics , the erection of churches , shrines , and altars , the payment of large sums to the church--these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of God or to secure His favour ; as if God were like men , to be angered at trifles , or pacified by gifts or acts of penance !
Notwithstanding that vice prevailed , even among the leaders of the Roman Church , her influence seemed steadily to increase . About the close of the eighth century , papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the church the bishops of Rome had possessed the same spiritual power which they now assumed . To establish this claim , some means must be employed to give it a show of authority ; and this was readily suggested by the father of lies . Ancient writings were forged by monks . Decrees of councils before unheard of were discovered , establishing the universal supremacy of the pope from the earliest times . And a church that had rejected the truth greedily accepted these deceptions . ( See Appendix ). The few faithful builders upon the true foundation . ( 1 Corinthians 3:10 , 11 ) were perplexed and hindered as the rubbish of false doctrine obstructed the work . Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah ' s day , some were ready to say : " The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed , and there is much rubbish ; so that we are not able to build ." Nehemiah 4:10 .
Wearied with the constant struggle against persecution , fraud , iniquity , and every other obstacle that Satan could devise to hinder their progress , some who had been faithful builders became disheartened ; and for the sake of peace and security for their property and their lives , they turned away from the true foundation . Others , undaunted by the opposition of their enemies , fearlessly declared : " Be not ye afraid of them : remember the Lord , which is great and terrible " ( verse 14 ); and they proceeded with the work , everyone with his sword girded by his side . Ephesians 6:17 . The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired the enemies of God in every age , and the same vigilance and fidelity have been required in His servants . The words of Christ to the first disciples are applicable to His followers to the close of time : " What I say unto you I say unto all , Watch ." Mark 13:37 .
The darkness seemed to grow more dense . Image worship became more general . Candles were burned before images , and prayers were offered to them . The most absurd and superstitious
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