The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

168 THE POPISH THEOLOGY.ments, yet it demands that we adduce from the standardworks of theRoman Church the authorities on which webase our portraiture of her S3'stem.We shall mostly permitPopery to paint herself. We shall take care at least toadduce nothing which the Church of Rome may be able ongood grounds to disavow. It also appears to us that this isthe proper place for a distinct exhibition of the system ofPopery. It is necessary to be shown the ingenuity, compactness,and harmony of her system of doctrine, before proceedingto point out the adroitness and vigour with which shemade it the instrument of accomplishing her ambitious andiniquitous designs. The popish theology was the arsenalof Rome. Here hung the bows, and spears, and swords,wherewith she did battle against the armies of the livingGod. Here were stored up the weapons with which shecombated religion and liberty, subjugated the understandingand conscience, and succeeded for a while in subjectingthe world to her iron yoke. The system of Popery isworthy of being made the subject of profound study.It isno crude, ill-digested, and clumsily constructed scheme. Itpossesses an amazing subtlety and depth. It is pervadedby a spirit of fearful potency. It is the product of the combinedintellects of many successive ages, acute, powerful,and crafty, intently occupied in its elaboration, and aidedby Satanic cunning and power. Wo to the man who fallsunder its power! Its adamantine chain no weapon has anedge so keen as to be able to cut through, but the sword ofthe Spirit, which is the Word of God. Once subjected toits dominion, no power but Omnipotence can rescue the man.Its bitings, like those of Cleopati'a's asp, are immortal." There was in some of my friends," says Mr Seymour,speaking of the priests whom he met at Rome, " an extraordinaryamount of scientific attainment, of classical erudition,of polite literature, and of great intellectual acumen ;but all seemed subdued, and hold, as by an adamantinegrasp, in everlasting subjection to what seemed to them tobe the religious principle. This principle, which regarded