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

;408 GENIUS OF THE PAPACY.profound and unrivalledgenius of Popery,—showing whatthat genius would become when fully developed and matured.The Seven Hills were the home of empire and the holyground of superstition ; and when the barbaric kings andnations approached the spot, they were fascinated and subduedby its mysterious and mighty influence, as the pontiffshad foreseen they would be. Thus the young Papacy hadthe penetration to discover that the sway of old Rome hadby no means ended with her life, and, by serving itself heirto her name, continued to exercise her power long after shehad gone to her grave.The genius that could turn to sogreat account the traditional glory of a departed empirewas not likely to leave unimproved the existing resources ofcontemporary monarchies.In the second place, the pontiffs claimed to be the successorsof the apostles. This was a more masterly stroke ofpolicy still. To the temporal dominion of the Csesars theyadded the spiritual authority of the apostles. It is herethat the great strength of the Papacy lies. As the successorof Peter, the Pope was greater than as the successor ofCsesar. The one gave him earth, but the other gave himheaven. The one made him a king ; the other made him aking of kings. The one gave him the power of the swordthe other invested him with the still more sacred authorityof the keys. The one surrounded him w^ith all the adjunctsof temporal sovereignty,— guards, ambassadors, and ministersof State,—and set him over fleets and armies, imposts andrevenues ;the other made him the master of inexhaustiblespiritual treasures, and enabled him to support his power bythe sanctions and terrors of the invisible world. While hehas celestial dignities as well as temporal honours wherewithto enrich his friends, he can wield the spii-itual thunder aswell as the artillery of earth, in contending with and discomfitinghis foes. Such are the twin sources of pontificalauthority. The Papacy stands with one foot on earth andthe other in heaven. It has compelled the Ccesars to giveit temporal power, and the apostles to yield it spiritual au-