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

422 INFLUENCE OF POPERY ON THE INDIVIDUAL MAN.influence of Rome, on these general grounds ; but we shallgo a little into particulars, and show, first, from the doctrines^and, second, from the practice, of the Church of Rome, thatthe practical tendency and working of the system is ruinousin no ordinary degree.We take first the doctrine of infallibility. Can anythingbe conceived more fitted to crush all intellectual visrour thansuch a doctrine ? As an infallible Church, Rome presentsher votaries with a system of dogmas, not a few of whichare opposed to reason, and some of them even to the senses.These dogmas are not to be investigated ; the person mustnot attempt to reconcile them to reason, or to the evidenceof his senses ;he must not attempt even to understand them;they are simply to be believed.If he demands grounds forthis belief, he is told that he is committing mortal sin, andperilling his salvation. Here is all action of the mind interdicted,under the highest sanctions. The person is taughtthat he cannot commit a greater crime than to think ;thathe cannot more grievously offend against his Creator thanby using the powers his Creator has endowed him with.Thus, while the first effectof Christianity is to quicken theintellect, the first effect of Romanism is to strike it withtorpor. She inexorably demands of all her votaries thatthey denude themselves of theirunderstandings and theirsenses, and prostrate them beneath the wheels of this Juggernautof hers.While the Protestant is occupied in investigatingthe grounds of his creed, in tracing the relations ofits various truths, and in following out their consequences,the mind of the Roman Catholic is all the while lying dormant.As the bandaged limb loses in time the power of motion,so faculties not used become at length incapable of use.A timid disposition, an inert habit, is produced, which is notconfined to religion, but extends to every subject with whichthe person has to do. His reason is shut up in a cave, andinfallibility rolls a great stone to the cave"'s mouth.Not less injurious to the intellect is the doctrine of absoluteand unreserved submission to ecclesiastical superiors.