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

CHOICE OF A SEAT. 407feet all other dominion. The object surpassed in grandeurall to which man had ever before aspired, and the meansbrouo-ht into operation were vast beyond all former example.A policy unmatched in dissimulation and craft,—a sagacitydistino-uished alike by the largeness of its conceptions andthe precision and accuracy of its conclusions,—a quiet irresistibleenergy,—a firm unalterable will,—a perseverancewhich no toil could exhaust, which no difficulty could discourage,which no check could turn from its purpose, whichmade all things give way to it, and which proved itself invincible,—avast array of physical force when an antagonistappeared whom its other arts could notits favours upon its friendssubdue,—lavishingwith boundless prodigality, andvisiting with vengeance equally unbounded its incorrigibleenemies,—wielding these qualities, the Papacy saw its effortscrowned at last with a success which was as astonishing asit was unprecedented.In the first place. Popery was exceedingly fortunate inthe choice of a seat, when it selected Rome. The possessionof such a spot was almost essential to it. It was itself atower of strength.In no other spot of earth could its giganticschemes of dominion have been formed, or, if formed,realized.Sitting in the seat which the masters of the worldhad so long occupied, the Papacy appeared the rightfulheir of their power. Papal Rome reaped the fruit of thewars and the conquests, the toils and the blood, of imperialRome. The one had laboured and gone to her grave ;theother arose and entered into her labours. The pontiffs perfectlyunderstood this, and were careful to turn the advantageit offered them to the utmost account. By heraldicand symbolicdevices they were perpetually reminding theworld that they were the successors of the Caesars ; thatthe two Romes were linked by an indissoluble bond ; andthat to the latter had descended the heritage of glory anddominion acquired by the former.that extraordinary sagacity which fixedHerein we may admireon this spot,—thefirst, and certainly not the least striking, indication of the