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

—SALE OF INDULGENCES.C,o7power we have attributed to them. Such is the virtueascribed to them by Dens, who tells us that they not onlystay the censures of the Church, but avert the wrath of God,and redeem the spirit from the fires of purgatory.* Thesame is the doctrine of those books which have been compiledby the Church for the instruction of her members. It isasked inButler's Catechism,— " Q. Why does the Church grantindulgences ?A. To assist our weakness, and to supply ourinsufficiency in satisfying the divine justice for our transgressions.itQ. When the Church grants indulgences, what doesoffer to God to supply our weakness and insufficiency, andin satisfaction for our sins ?A. The merits of Christ, whichare infinite and superabundant ; together with the virtuesand good works of his Virgin Mother, and of all the saints.""!-AVe have alluded to the open and shameless manner inwhich this traffic in sin was carried on before the Reformation; and to that period must we go back, in order to seethe awful lengths to which the doctrine of indulgences hasbeen, and still may be, carried ; and that, in point of fact,whatever distinctions Popish writers in modern times maymake, it is an assumption of power on the part of the prieststo pardon all sins, past and present,—to remit all punishment,temporary and eternal,—in short, to act in the matterof pardoning men with the full absolute authority of God.The preachers of indulgences at the beginning of thesixteenthcentury knew none of the distinctions of modern casuists,and for this reason, that they spoke before the Reformation." Indulgences," said Tetzel, " are the most precious andthe most noble of God's gifts. This cross [pointing to thered cross, which he set up wherever he came] has as muchefficacy as the very cross of Jesus Christ. Come and I will* Tlieol. Mor. et Dog. Petri Dens, torn. vi. p. 418, See also Keenan'sCatechism on IndulgcnceSj chap. i. : Grounds of Catholic Doctrine, chap. x.+ Butler's Cat. lesson xxviii. : Delahogue, Tractatus de SacramentoPoenitentioe, p. 321.Z