Papal Persecutions
Thus far our history of persecution has been confined principally to the
pagan world. We come now to a period, when persecution under the guise
of christianity, committed more enormities than ever disgraced the
annals of paganism. Disregarding the maxims and the spirit of the
gospel, the papal church, arming herself with the power of the sword,
vexed the church of God and wasted it for several centuries, a period
most appropriately termed in history, the "dark ages." The kings of the
earth, gave their power to the "beast," and submitted to be trodden on
by the miserable vermin that often filled the papal chair, as in the
case of Henry, emperor of Germany. The storm of papal persecution first
burst upon the Waldenses in France.