Mahometans, with a view to recover Palestine out of their hands. These expeditions commenced, A. D. 1996. The foundation of them was a superstitious veneration for those places where our Saviour performed his miracles, and accomplished the work of man's redemption.

Palestine having been conquered by the Turks, Jerusalem was now in their hands, which rendered it unsafe and vexatious to the pilgrims who flocked from all parts to visit the tomb of our Saviour.

Peter, the hermit, a native of France, on his return from this pilgrimage, complained in loud terms of the grievances the Christians suffered from the Turks. He conceived the project of leading all the forces of Christendom against the infidels, and driving them out of the Holy Land. Being encouraged in his project by Pope Urban 2d, Peter went from province to province and succeeded in arousing princes and people to undertake this holy warfare. All ranks of men now deeming the Crusades the only road to heaven, were impatient to open the way with their swords to the holy city. Nobles, artizans, peasants, and even priests enrolled their names, and to decline this service,

was branded with the reproach of impiety or cowardice. The infirm and aged contributed by presents and money, and many attended it in person; being determined, if possible, to breathe their last in the sight of the holy city. Even women concealing their sex under the disguise of armour, attended the camp; and the greatest criminals were forward in a service which they considered as an expiation, for all crimes.

In the first Crusade, an army of 80,000 men, a disorderly multitude led on by Peter, were destroyed; but the army which followed consisting of 700,000 men, under Godfrey, conquered Syria and Palestine, and took possession of Jerusalem, which they held for several years. The Crusaders however weakened their power by dividing their conquests into four separate states.

In this situation they found it necessary to solicit aid from Europe, and accordingly, in 1146, an army of 200,000 men under Hugh, brother to the French king, set out upon another Crusade. But these met with the same fate as the army of Peter. Another army of 300,000 soon followed, and were soon destroyed or dispersed.

Palestine having fallen into the hands of the infidels, under the great Saladin, Europe felt the

indignity, and France, England, Germany, each sent forth an army headed by its own sovereign. Richard First, of England, bore the weight of the contest, and he defeated Saladin, on the plains of Ascalon.

The Fourth Crusade took place in 1202, and was directed against the Greek Empire. The Fifth was against Egypt, in revenge for an attack on Palestine by its Sultan. But this expedition, like the rest, was ruinous in the end.

It is computed that, in the whole of the Crusades to Palestine, two millions of Europeans were buried in the East.

When Jerusalem was taken, the Crusaders were guilty of the most shocking barbarities, the numerous garrisons were put to the sword, and the inhabitants were massacred without mercy, and without distinction. No age nor sex was spared, not even sucking children. What shows the blind enthusiasm which animated those ferocious conquerors, is, their behaviour after this terrible slaughter. They marched over heaps of dead bodies, towards the Holy Sepulchre ; and while their hands were polluted with the blood of so many innocent persons, sung anthems to the common Saviour of Mankind!

14.

SUPREMACY OF THE POPE OF ROME.

The Roman Catholics believe the Pope of Rome is under Christ, supreme pastor of the whole church, and has a power and jurisdiction over all Christians. He is called the successor of St. Peter, and is believed to be infallible, that is he cannot err, when he addresses himself to the faithful on matters of doctrine, &c. The Pope is believed by the Protestants, to be the Antichrist, the Man of Sin, mentioned in 2d Thess. 2d, and Rev. 13th.

"In ages of ignorance and credulity" says a celebrated writer, "the ministers of Religion are the objects of superstitious veneration. When the barbarians who overran the Roman Empire first, embraced the Christian faith, they found the clergy in possession of considerable power; and they naturally transferred to those new guides, the profound submission and reverence which they were accustomed to give to the priests of the Pagan religion, which they had forsaken.

It was about the year 606 that Pope Boniface Third, by flattering Phocas, the Emperor

of Constantinople, one of the worst of tyrants, procured for himself the title of Universal Bishop. From this time, he was raised above all others, and his supremacy was by imperial authority: it was now also that the most profound ignorance debauchery and superstition reigned. From this time the popes exerted all their power in promoting the idolatrous worship of images, saints, relics, and angels. The Popes now took the most blasphemous titles, such as Christ's Vicegerent, His Holiness, Prince over all Nations and Kingdoms, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Lord God the Pope, &c.

About the year 751, the Pope began to estab lish himself as a temporal Prince, and to dethrone kings, and put others in their places. Henry Fourth, Emperor of Germany, having displeased Pope Gregory Seventh, the Roman Pontiff summoned a council, and passed the following sentence upon him. "In the name of Almighty God, and by your authority" said Gregory, addressing the members of the council, “I prohibit Henry from governing the Teutonic kingdom and Italy, I release all Christians from their allegiance to him; and I strictly forbid all persons to serve or attend him as king.”