possession of so much wealth, that in Germany more than one-half of the national property was in their hands, while by their fees and exactions, often wrung from the people by vile imposture, they had impoverished every Christian country. They claimed exemption from the jurisdiction of the laity, and could therefore commit crime with comparative impunity, in which they were further indulged by the easy terms on which pardon or dispensation could be procured at Rome. The venality of the pontifical court was so notorious, that the sale of offices was open and public. The detestable traffic in indulgences had given rise to the most scandalous impositions, and legalized every species of avarice and fraud. Finally, the popes had subdued to their will the whole hierarchy, leaving to the bishops little more than the shadow of power, and exalting above them the monastic orders, the sworn and faithful vassals of the papacy; and so far from being examples of virtue and religion, they were generally destitute of both, and too frequently patterns of the most horrible vices.*
With these abuses were connected the most awful corruptions in doctrine and worship. Human merit was substituted for justification by faith. Fastings, penances, idle ceremonies, and the outward observance of the sacraments, were put in the place of sanctification by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The Virgin Mary and the saints had, in great measure, supplanted Jesus Christ, and robbed him of his honours. The Scriptures were carefully withheld from the people, and little studied by the priests, many of whom were, in fact, totally ignorant
* See Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, Century xvi. sect. 1. chap. i., and Robertson's Charles v. book ii.