The Great Apostasy, Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History

CHAPTER IX.

Chapter 974 wordsPublic domain

_Internal Causes.--Continued_.

Third specific cause: "Unauthorized changes in church organization and government."--Early form of church government.--Equality of the bishops.--Origin of synods or church councils.--Bishops of Rome claimed supremacy.--Title of Pope assumed.--Secular authority asserted by the Pope.--Indulgences or pardons.--Infamous doctrine of supererogation.--The traffic in indulgences.--Tetzel the papal agent.--Copy of an indulgence.--The sin of blasphemy.-- Scripture-reading forbidden to the people.--Draper's arraignment of the papacy.