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

——VERDICT OF HISTORY.47oa career of progress in all that relates to the greatness andhappiness of man,—in letters, in science, and in arts,—ingovernment, in industry, in manufactures, and in commerce.For the past three centuries Protestantism has been steadilyelevating those countries into which the Reformationfound entrance ;Popery has been steadily sinking those inwhich Rome continued to bear sway. The difference betweenthe two is now so great as to foi-ce itself upon the attentionof the whole world. Could the two rival systemshave had a fairer trial,—three centuries of time, and westernEurope for an arena ?and could anything be more strikingor conclusive than the issue,—a progress steadily upwardin the one case,—steadily downward in the other ? The differencemay be summed up in two wordsAdvance andRetrogression. The solemn verdict of history is this :Popery is the barrier to progress, and the foe of man's temporalwellbeing.Wherever we look, we find this evil system bearing theWherever we meet Popery, there we meetsame evil fruits.moral degradation, mental imbecility, indolence, unskilfulness,improvidence, rags, and beggary. No ameliorationsof government,—no genius or peculiarities of race,—no fertilityof soil,—no advantages of climate,—seem able to withstandthe baleful influence of this destructive superstition :it is the same amid the exhaustless resources of the newworld as amid the civilization and arts of the old : it is thesame amid the grandeur of Switzerland and the histoi-icglories of Italy, as among the bogs of Connaught and thewilds of the Hebrides. The first glance is sufficient to revealthe vast disparity between the two systems, as shownin the external condition of the nations that profess them.Let us compare Britain and America,—the two most powerfulprotestant countries,—with France and Austria,—thetwo most powerful popish countries. What a difference asregards the present state and future prospects of these countries!Or, let us take Austria, the daughter of Charles V.,