Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/62

 Calm when  fiercest  storms  prevail. See the  Ship  of  Peter  sail; Still unharmed  from  age  to  age Though wild  winds  and  storms  may  rage. Fashioned by  a  hand  all-wise, Hell's worst  onslaught  she  defies.

OW small  and  insignificant  was  the Church in  its  origin! Twelve poor fishermen and  a  handful  of  disciples,  how  should they convert  the  world? But protected  and strengthened by  their  divine  Master,  the  Christian community  continually  increased,  in  spite of the  bloody  persecutions,  in  the  course  of which  the  all-powerful  rulers  of  the  mighty Roman Empire  caused  hundreds  and  thousands of the  Church's  children  to  be  slain. After the lapse of  a  few  brief  centuries  the  Roman  Empire was shattered  to  pieces,  but  the  Church  had conquered the  world.

Fresh enemies  arose;  heresiarchs  appeared and strove,  to  rob  the  Church  of  the  true  faith, or at  least  to  falsify  it. They were  often  most learned and  talented  men,  protected  by  princes, kings, and  emperors. At first  they  counted  a great  number  of  adherents,  they  endeavored  to found  churches  of  their  own;  but  the  protection and blessing  of  the  Saviour  was  not  with  them but with  His  own  Church;  hence  their  work came to  nothing.

Thus has  it  ever  been,  down  to  the  present day, and  thus  will  it  continue  to  be  until  time shall be  no  more;  all  who  repudiate  or  attack the faith  of. the Church,  cast  themselves  headlong into  the  raging  billows  of  a  stormy  ocean,