comparing the decline of the Papal and Jefuitical power with the continued fecurity and real progrefs of Christianity. That policy is crafty and erroneous, which is induced by prefent emergency to facrifice the neceffary resources of the future: that policy is analogous to the divine, by which, while the indirect and narrow artifices are abjured, which are too commonly practised among men, that, eventual fuccefs is obtained, which corresponds with the wisdom of God, and must always follow from his will.

The memorable blow, which deprived the Papal jurisdiction of the greatest portion of its influence, was ftruck at the era of the Reformation. It had been preparing long before. Comparatively dark as those ages may justly be entitled, which intervened between the reign of Theodofius, and the revival of letters in Europe, we should yet form very exaggerated notions of the religious fanaticism by which they were distinguished, were we to suppose that they acquiefced, universally, and without resistance, in the tyranny of the, church. In the most gloomy night of ignorance, temporal princes feem naturally to have opposed themselves with fufficient zeal, though not, in general, with much consistency or pru

dence,

dence, to reprefs the ambition of ecclefiaftics. So foon did the unjust pretenfions and afpiring policy of the Popes give occafion to that just resistance which gradually increased till it destroyed the vitals of their power. So rapid are the steps by which craft advances to its deftruction.

In the ages fubfequent to the reformation, a real diminution has enfued in the authority of the Romish fee, not lefs important than the apparent reduction of its power which was accomplished at that glorious period. Happily for mankind, the countries which continue their adherence to popery have shared in the general increase of civilization and fcience. They have approximated, in a greater or a less degree, to that intellectual vigour, which to every nation is fo much more valuable than the forms even of the happiest constitution. Wherever there is an enlightened public, the practical evils of civil defpotifm are little to be feared much more is the bitternefs of ecclefiaftical tyranny subdued, even though it may preserve its nominal prerogative. Accordingly, the bigotry of the church of Rome has been effentially diminished; its perfecutions, perhaps, have ceafed; and its influence, during the last three centuries, on the various

govern

governments of Europe, has, in general, been far inferior to that which those governments have poffeffed in the councils of Rome itself. We, indeed, in our times, may be faid to have witneffed rather the deftruction than the diminution of the Papal empire, who have seen the remnant of its authority infulted, and its chief reduced to a state of utter dependance by that powerful conqueror, who rules the continent of Europe without a rival".

The deftruction of the Jefuits was prepared, alfo, by that progrefs of knowledge which has had fo important an effect on the tyranny of the Popes. Had the governors of the order poffeffed the fame spirit of moderation, for

b. The actual attacks and infults, which the late and prefent Popes have experienced, are far from being unex-. ampled in the hiftory of the Papal power. But though that power has, on many occafions, recovered its greatnefs, after fhocks not lefs rude than thofe which it has recently undergone, it is to be recollected that the princes, who, in former ages, waged war againft, or offered any other violence to the holy See, profeffed, at the fame time, the most unbounded veneration for it. They attempted not to fubvert the foundations of its prerogative, which were deeply laid in opinion. At present, however, we can hardly suppose that there exist any resources in opinion, from which a restoration of the vigour of the Papal authority can ever be again expected.

which the Papal cabinet has been of late remarkable, its overthrow might have been lefs rude, or reserved, perhaps, to amplify the long series of revolutions, by which the ecclefiaftical, as well as civil hiftory of Europe has recently been diftinguished. But, in the confidence which was infpired by the memory of their past triumphs, they seem at once to have forgotten that accommodating policy by which they had arrived at greatness; blind to the changes in opinion, which liberty or philofophy had introduced, and the incongruity of ecclefiaftical arrogance with the prevailing sentiments of the age.

An ecclefiaftic of this order declared at Lisbon from the pulpit, in the middle of the eighteenth century, that "whoever entered into the Grand Para Company should (c never enter into that of Chrift." Recueil des Décrets Apoftoliques, &c. i. 128. Soon after the Jefuits attacked a rival establishment in Portugal, which had engaged in the culture of vines in the province of Haut Douro; and afferted, "Que les vins qui feroient vendus par la com66 pagnie ne vaudroient rien pour la célébration du S. Sa"crifice de la Meffe." Ibid. 132. "It feems," fays D'Alembert," that, at the period of their destruction, "the Jefuits and their friends were feized with a fort of "vertigo, and precipitated their own ruin; and that "then, for the first time, they showed an inflexibility, " where it was moft their intereft to concede." Sur la Deft. des Jef. p. 157. .

Portugal,

Portugal, once the fcene of their moft abfolute dominion, was the ftate which fet the firft example of the expulfion of the Jefuits from its territory. It fpared not, also, with the ufual inveteracy of feeble-minded revenge, to mix calumny with juft accufation. The Jefuits, in their obfervations on this unmanly policy, are equally reprehenfible; and if, in fome inftances, they may be deemed to have repelled the charges of their enemies, they attempt, in others, either the indirect or open juftification of the most dangerous principles, and the moft fanatic zealots of their fect d.

Their conduct in France was diftinguifhed by acts of ftill more extraordinary temerity. Proud of their victory over the Jansenists, a victory the more flattering, because it had so long been doubtful, they determined to complete the discomfiture of that expiring fect by refufing the last offices of the church to its adherents. But the victim, which they were

d See Appendix XXXII.

• The most important controverfies in which the Jefuits were engaged in France were, firft, their contest with Arnauld and the Port Royal, and, afterwards, that with the Jansenists. A good account of the firft is given in the Hiftoire de Port Royal, which is attributed to Racine,

S