Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia - James Aitken Wylie
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He could boast the ref<strong>in</strong>ed manners, liberal<br />
sentiments, <strong>and</strong> humane disposition which the love<br />
<strong>and</strong> cultivation of letters usually engender.<br />
Nevertheless the marvellous <strong>and</strong> mysterious power<br />
of that system of which he was so dist<strong>in</strong>guished a<br />
champion asserted its superiority <strong>in</strong> the case of this<br />
richly endowed, highly cultivated, <strong>and</strong> noblem<strong>in</strong>ded<br />
man. Instead of impart<strong>in</strong>g his virtues to his<br />
Church, she transferred her vices to h<strong>in</strong>t. Hosius<br />
always urged on fitt<strong>in</strong>g occasions that no faith<br />
should be kept with heretics, <strong>and</strong> although few<br />
could better conduct an argument than himself, he<br />
disliked that tedious process with heretics, <strong>and</strong><br />
recommended the more summary one of the lictor's<br />
axe. He saw no s<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> spill<strong>in</strong>g heretical blood; he<br />
received with joy the tid<strong>in</strong>gs of the St.<br />
Bartholomew Massacre, <strong>and</strong> writ<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
congratulate the Card<strong>in</strong>al of Lorra<strong>in</strong>e on the<br />
slaughter of Coligny, he thanked the Almighty for<br />
the great boon bestowed on France, <strong>and</strong> implored<br />
him to show equal mercy to <strong>Pol<strong>and</strong></strong>. His great<br />
underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g he prostrated at the feet of his<br />
Church, but for whose authority, he declared, the<br />
Scriptures would have no more weight than the<br />
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