by the Savior and builded through
the instrumentality of the apostles. Whatever vestiges of genuine
Christianity may have possibly survived in the church before, were
buried beyond the sight of man by the abuses that followed the elevation
of the churchly organization to secular favor through the decree of
Constantine. The emperor, even though unbaptized, made himself the head
of the church, and priestly office was more sought after than military
rank or state preferment. The spirit of apostasy, by which the church
had become permeated before Constantine threw about it the mantle of
imperial protection and emblazoned it with the insignia of state, now
was roused to increased activity as the leaven of Satan's own culture
flourished under the conditions most favorable for such fungoid growth.

The bishop of Rome had already asserted supremacy over his fellows in
the episcopate; but when the emperor made Byzantium his capital, and
renamed it in his own honor, Constantinople, the bishop of that city
claimed equality with the Roman pontiff. The claim was contested; the
ensuing dissension divided the church; and the disruption has persisted
until the present day, as is evidenced by the existing distinction
between the Roman Catholic and the Greek Catholic churches.

The Roman pontiff exercized secular as well as spiritual authority; and
in the eleventh century arrogated to himself the title of _Pope_,
signifying _Father_, in the sense of paternal ruler in all things.
During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the temporal authority of
the pope was superior to that of kings and emperors; and the Roman
church became the despotic potentate of nations, and an autocrat above
all secular states. Yet this church, reeking with the stench of worldly
ambition and lust of dominance, audaciously claimed to be the Church
established by Him who affirmed: "My kingdom is not of this world." The
arrogant assumptions of the Church of Rome were not less extravagant in
spiritual than in secular administration. In her loudly asserted control
over the spiritual destinies of the souls of men, she blasphemously
pretended to forgive or retain individual sins, and to inflict or remit
penalties both on earth and beyond the grave. She sold permission to
commit sin and bartered for gold charters of indulgent forgiveness for
sins already done. Her pope, proclaiming himself the vicar of God, sat
in state to judge as God Himself; and by such blasphemy ful