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

458 INFLUENCE OF POPERY ON NATIONS.stab to their adversary, and yet do no murder, provided, inthe moment of striking, they can so far control their mentalemotions as to think, not of vengeance, but of the stainv^^hich they avert from their reputation.They may purlointhe wealth or steal the property of others, and yet standclear with the eighth commandment, if they can suppressthe avaricious wish, and keep steadily before their mind thegood they may be able to do with their increased means.They may lie, and yet be guilty of no falsehood, if they canonly invent some imaginable good which they may accomplishby prevaricating.* Such is the moral code of Rome'scasuists. Its utter contrariety to the law given on Sinai,and written on stone, we need not point out.It confoundsthe essence of things ; it annihilates all distinction betweenright and wrong; it exiles truth from the world. And yetthis morality the Romish doctors have taught with applause.Need we wonder that the popish world has become a vastlazar-house, filled with all sorts of moral plagues,—its verystones and timber rotten with the leprosy ? The corruptionof public faith in papal Europe is notorious and admitted.Peculation and bribery are rife in all departments of government.Tricks, manoeuvres, and frauds are the main machineryby which it is carried on. This is notoriously the caseas regards France, Spain, and Austria. The stereotypedand immemorial abuses of the pontifical court we leave altogetherout of view. How rare is it to find in the serviceof any of these states, one who displays an honest adherenceto the oath of office, or who forms his public acts on anyhigher principle than the good of family or of party, or whodescends from power without the stain of the epidemic corruptionupon him ! The gross scandals which disgraced theclose of the reign of Louis Philippe in France are yet fresh* ScG Dr IM'Crie's " Pascal," p. 93 et seq. It is there shown how murders,thefts, falsehoods, duels, bankruptcies, &c. may all, in certain circumstances,be not only lawful, but dutiful. The same morality is taughtby Liguori.