Diverse effect of persecution.--Imprudent zeal of some.--Return to idolatry by others.--"Libels" attesting individual apostasy.--Sad condition of the Church in third century.--Testimony as to conditions of apostasy at this period.--Decline of the Church antedates the conversion of Constantine.--Departure from Christianity.--Specific causes of the growing apostasy. CHAPTER VII. _Internal Causes.--Continued_. First specific cause: "The corrupting of the simple principles of the gospel by the admixture of the so-called philosophic systems of the times."--Judaistic perversions.--Admixture of Gnosticism with Christianity.--Gnosticism unsatisfying.--New platonics.--Doctrine of the Logos.--"The World."--Sibellianism.--Arianism.--The Council of Nice and its denunciation of Arianism.--The Nicene Creed.--The Creed of Athanasius.--Perverted view of life.--Disregard for truth. CHAPTER VIII. _Internal Causes.--Continued_. Second specific cause: "Unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the Church, and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances."--Simplicity of early form of worship ridiculed.-- Formalism and superstition increase.--Adoration of images, etc.-- Changes in baptismal ordinance.--Time of its administration restricted.--Ministrations of the exorcist introduced.--Immersion substituted by sprinkling.--Infant baptism introduced.--Changes in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.--Fallacy of transubstantiation.--Adoration of the "host."--Proof of apostate condition of the Church. CHAPTER IX. _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. CHAPTER X. _Results of the Apostasy.--Its Sequel_.