Rome’s sins cannot be justified by pointing to the sins of others. My ancestors were Separatists, so I’m no defender of England, but her sins were nothing compared to Rome.
Popes and potentates don’t seem to know that no man can be converted at the point of a spear. From beginning to end, salvation is of the Lord. It takes an act of God to regenerate the dead heart of a sinner.
“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (Revelation 17:6)
That works both ways.
"...but her sins were nothing compared to Rome."
Oh really? Well, thank goodness that's cleared up.
"Popes and potentates don’t seem to know that no man can be converted at the point of a spear."
And kings, queens, dictators, preachers, elders, generals, caliphs...In short, a universal problem. What's your point?
The Edict of Nantes that Henry IV signed comprised four basic texts, including a principal text made up of 92 articles and largely based on unsuccessful peace treaties signed during the recent wars. The Edict also included 56 "particular" (secret) articles dealing with Protestant rights and obligations. For example, the French state guaranteed protection of French Protestants travelling abroad from the Inquisition. "This crucifies me," protested Pope Clement VIII, upon hearing of the Edict.
In October 1685, Louis XIV, the grandson of Henry IV, renounced the Edict and declared Protestantism illegal with the Edict of Fontainebleau. This act, commonly called the 'revocation of the Edict of Nantes,' had very damaging results for France. Intense persecution of Protestants took place. All Protestant ministers were given two weeks to leave the country unless they converted to Catholicism and all other Protestants were prohibited from leaving the country. In spite of the prohibition, the persecution including many examples of torture caused as many as 400,000 to flee France at risk of their lives.
Many generations ago my grand father was one who was forced out, "open season" on protestants having been declared on protestants, he fled to England to fight for England against France. As a reward for his service he was given a land grant in Virginia, in 1695. Yes, I'm a Hugenot and am forever thankful to Rome and it's minion, Louis XIV, without which, I'd be typing in French right now.