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

;520 NEW CATHOLIC LEAGUE.pare for one of a more physical kind. It is infallibility orthe sword that Rome now offers to Britain. The exigenciesof the times have forced this course upon the Papacy.Rome must advance. To stand still were, in her case, andin that of the absolutist powers, irretrievable ruin. Theyhave an infidel democracy behind them ; and, to conquer it,they must precipitate themselves upon protestantBritainfor such despotisms as they are now attempting to set upcannot co-exist on the same globe with British constitutionalismand the protestant faith. Self-preservation, then,dictates this course,and numerous and unequivocal indicationspoint to it as resolved upon. When Cardinal Wisemanarrived in the country, all the papal powers sent himtheir congratulations. What was this but a defiance toProtestantism? Numerous hints have been dropped byRomanist preachers and organs, that if their rights aredenied,the arms of the Catholic powers will enforce them.But the Univers has the merit of speaking frankly out.This is the leading popish organ in Europe, and doubtlessexpresses the sentiments of its friends, when itpreaches, asit now does, a new crusade against Protestantism. " Aheretic examined and convicted by the Church," says V Unimrs*" used to be delivered over to the secular power, andpunished with death. Nothing has ever appeared to usmore natural or more necessary. More than one hundredthousand persons perished in consequence of the heresy ofWicliffe ; a still greater number by that of John Huss ; itwould not be possible to calculate thebloodshed caused bythe heresy of Luther, and it is not yet over. After threecenturies, we are at the eve of a re-commencement."Suchis the dreadful tragedy which is plotted, and the plottersare not at the pains decently to veil their enormously diabolicalpurpose. One great St Bartholomew in Britain, andthe reign of absolutism will be established, and the triumphsof the Vatican complete. From Naples, with its twenty• " L' Univers;' Aiignst 1851.