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

S2PROGRESS OF ECCLESIASTICAL SUPREMACY.the hydra that was to strangle the empire !Power, whenonce it has begun to grow, enlarges its volume like therolling river, and accelerates its speed like the falling avalanche.On a sudden all things become favourable to it.At every turn, it finds, ready-made to its hand, helps tospeed it onward. Its faults, be they ever so great, neverlack apologists ; and its excellencies, however small they be,always find willing and eloquent panegyrists. Its wealthconverts enemies into friends ; the timid grow courageousin its cause ;and the indifferent and lukewarm find a hundredreasons for being active and zealous in its service.The cause of Rome was the rising cause, and thereforeit enjoyed all these advantages, and many more besides.With a dexterity and skill which have never elsewherebeen equalled, the Vatican could manufacture, out of materialsthe most heterogeneous and unpromising, propsand defences of its ill-gotten supremacy. The incautiousadmission of an opponent, theexaggerated and high-flownlanguage of a eulogist, were alike accepted by Rome as formaland measured acknowledgments of her right.The hyperbolicaland sycophantish terms in which a prelate suedfor protection, or a heretic implored forgiveness, were registeredas documentary proofs of the prerogatives andpowers of the Roman see. The sectary was encouragedor put down, just as it suited the policy of the pontiffs; andthe shield of the vanquished heretic Rome hung up as atrophy of her prowess. Monarchs were incited to quarrelwith one another : Rome stood by till the conflict wasended; and then, siding with the stronger party, she dividedthe spoils with the victor. The clergy even, who mightnaturally have been supposed to be averse to the rise ofsuch a domination, were conciliated by being taught to findtheir own dignity in that of the Roman see, and to sharewith the pontiff" dominion over the laity. By these, and anhundred other arts, which triumphantly vindicate to theRoman pontiffs an unquestionable supremacy in knaveryand hypocrisy, it came to pass, that in process of time, the