They formed a force which they could neither govern nor resist.

They made it powerful.

They made it fanatical.

As if military insolence were not of itself sufficiently dangerous, they heightened it with spiritual pride,--they encouraged their soldiers to rave from the tops of tubs against the men of Belial, till every trooper thought himself a prophet.

They taught them to abuse popery, till every drummer fancied that he was as infallible as a pope.
"Then it was that religion changed her nature.