POWERS OF THE P01/.



civil constitution, and laws Of the times, now passed
away, perhaps forever, may be regarded as less
likely to displease non-Catholics and to offend the
sensibilities of power, than to defend it on the
ground of divine right, and as inherent in the
divine constitution of the Church ; but even on the
low ground of policy, we do not think it the wisest
in the long run. Say what we will, we can gain
little credit with those we would conciliate. Always
to their minds, will the temporal power of the Pope
by divine right loom up in the distance. and always
will they believe, however individual Catholics here
and there may deny it, or nominally Catholic
governments oppose it, that it is the real Roman
Catholic doctrine, to be reasserted and acted the
moment that circumstances render it prudent or
expedient. We gain nothing with them but doubts
of our sincerity, and we only weaken among ourselves
that warm and generous devotion to the Holy Father
which is due from every one of the faithful, and
which is so essential to the prosperity of the Church,
in her increasing struggles with the godless powers
of' this world ."
  But you have defended these claims to temporal
power, on a " lower ground than that of divine
right, and as an inherent in the divine constitution."
Your defence, therefore-if you had detended it on
these grounds he would call, "RATHER AN EVASION
THAN A FAIR, iHONEsT, DIRECT, AND SATISFACTORY REPLY."
But what would he say, what can this community sav,
when you deny its very eistence! Such a denial
was wvorse than all evasion; it was_aything " rather
than a fair, hurst, and 8a(tti8fwtory" statement.
You have heard of Paul Sarpi, recognized as one of
the great pillars and expounders of the papal system,



 Brownson's Review, January, 1854.



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