tion ceased, and in its stead were substituted
the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity and worldly honor.
Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Christian faith, while they
rejected other essential truths. They professed to accept Jesus as the Son
of God, and to believe in His death and resurrection; but they had no
conviction of sin, and felt no need of repentance or of a change of heart.
With some concessions on their part, they proposed that Christians should
make concessions, that all might unite on the platform of belief in
Christ.

Now the church was in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and sword were
blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Christians stood firm,
declaring that they could make no compromise. Others were in favor of
yielding or modifying some features of their faith, and uniting with those
who had accepted a part of Christianity, urging that this might be the
means of their full conversion. That was a time of deep anguish to the
faithful followers of Christ. Under a cloak of pretended Christianity,
Satan was insinuating himself into the church, to corrupt their faith, and
turn their minds from the word of truth.

Most of the Christians at last consented to lower their standard, and a
union was formed between Christianity and paganism. Although the
worshipers of idols professed to be converted, and united with the church,
they still clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their
worship to images of Jesus, and even of Mary and the saints. The foul
leaven of idolatry, thus brought into the church, continued its baleful
work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites, and idolatrous ceremonies
were incorporated into her faith and worship. As the followers of Christ
united with idolaters, the Christian religion became corrupted, and the
church lost her purity and power. There were some, however, who were not
misled by these delusions. They still maintained their fidelity to the
Author of truth, and worshiped God alone.

There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers
of Christ. While one class study the Saviour's life, and earnestly seek to
correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the
plain, practical truths which expose their errors. Even in her best
estate, the church was not composed wholly of the true, pure, and sincere.
Our Saviour taught that those who wilfully indulge in sin are not to be
received into th