On resistance to lawful authority-The doc- trines of the Council of Constance on the assassination of a king-A reflection on the inviolability of kings-Extreme cases-Doc- trine of St. Thomas of Aquin, Cardinal Bel- larmin, Suarez, and other theologians-The imagining that his doctrine, condemned by The Church and political forms - Protestantism and liberty--Language of M. Guizot-The state of the question better defined-Europe at the end of the fifteenth century-Social movement at this epoch-Its causes- - Its ON MONARCHY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. The idea entertained of monarchy at this period ON DEMOCRACY IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. The opinion entertained of democracy - The prevailing doctrines of that epoch-The doc- trines of Aristotle neutralised by the teaching of Christianity-On castes-A passage from M. Guizot on castes-Influence of the celi- bacy of the clergy in preventing an hereditary succession-The consequences resulting from a married clergy-Catholicism and the peo- ple-Development of the industrial classes in Europe- The Hanseatic Confederation Establishment of the trades-corporations of Paris-Industrial movement in Italy and Spain - Calvinism and the democratic ele- - NOTE PAGE 20 21 22 § 2. Canons intended to defend the freed, and to protect those who were recommended to the Church. § 3. Canons and other documents relating to the redemption of captives. § 4. Canons relating to the protection of the freed. § 5. Canons concerning the slaves of Jews. § 6. Canons concerning the enfranchisement of the slaves of the Church. § 7. Conduct of the Church with regard to modern slavery Apostolic letters of St. Gregory XVI. — Slavetrade-Doctrine, conduct, and influence of the Church with regard to the abolition of the trade, and of slavery in the Colonies - Passage from Robertson. 382. Doctrines of Plato and Aristotle touching infanticide-Their doctrine on the rights of society. 385. Degradation of women in ancient times, especially in Rome. 385. The Germans of Tacitus judged according to subsequent events. 386. Corruption of ancient manners. 386. Different opinions of religion and philosophy on the power of ideas --How far it is true that every idea requires an institution. 387. Christianity is still in our days the source of mildness of manners. 388. Influence of the Church on barbarian legislation-Councils of Toledo- What the indulgence of the criminal code among the barbarians proves. 23,, 390. Constant intervention of the Church in the administration of public beneficence-Regulations of the с NOTE 24 26 26 27 PAGE Council of Trent on this subject— 392. Reference to the following note. 394. Passages from old laws relative to the 28,, 403. Remarkable texts explaining the passage of St. Paul in the 13th chap. ter of his Epistle to the RomansCicero-Horace. 39 40 frequent. 428. Indication of historical sources for the confirmation of certain facts. 428. Texts of St. Thomas on political forms-Other texts of St. Thomas to prove that the law, and not the will of man, should govern-Opinions of P. Mariana-Opinions of the venerable Palafox on the subject of imposts, taken from his Memoir to the King-Severe language of the same author against tyranny and those who advise or excuse it - - Passage from P. Marquez on the right of levying tributes in general; its particular application to Castile. -The opinion of the same author relative to the right of the supreme authority to the property of his subjects-A case in which, according to him, that authority may dispose of this property. 433. Reference to historical sources to ascertain the march of the develop ment of monarchical power in the different provinces of Spain. 433. A just observation of Count de Maistre on the conduct of the Popes compared to that of other sovereigns. 41,, 434. Passages in which St. Anselm expounds his views on religious subjects-Intellectual movement arising in the bosom of the Church without transgressing the bounds of faith-Another passage proving that the demonstration applied by Descartes to the existence of God had been discovered by St. AnselmCorroborative Documents in support of a refutation of M. Guizot's errors on the doctrines of Abelard. Protestantism compared with Catholicity. CHAPTER I. NATURE AND NAME OF PROTESTANTISM. THERE is a fact in existence among civilised nations, very important on account of the nature of the things which it affects- a fact of transcendent importance, on account of the number, variety, and consequence of its influences—a fact extremely interesting, because it is connected with the principal events of modern history. Like a clap of thunder, it attracted at once the attention of all Europe; on one side it spread alarm, and on the other excited the most lively sympathy: it grew so rapidly, that its adversaries had not time to strangle it in its cradle. Scarcely had it begun to exist, and already all hope of stopping, or even restraining it, was gone; when, emboldened by being treated with respect and consideration, it became every day more daring; if exasperated by rigour, it openly resisted measures of coercion, or redoubled and concentrated its forces, to make more vigorous attacks. Discussions, the profound investigations and scientific methods which were used in combating it, contributed to develope the spirit of inquiry, and served as vehicles to propagate its ideas. By creating new and prevailing interests, it made itself powerful protectors; by throwing all the passions into a state of fury, it aroused them in its favour. It availed itself by turns of stratagem, force, seduction, or violence, according to the exigences of times and circumstances. It attempted to make its way in all directions; either destroying impediments, or taking advantage of them, if they were capable of being turned to account. doing so every where. After having obtained vast establishments in Europe-which it still retains—it was transported into other parts of the world, and infused into the veins of simple and unsuspecting nations. In order to appreciate a fact at its just value, to embrace it in all its relations, and to distinguish properly between them, it is necessary to examine whether the constituting principle of the fact can be ascertained, or at least whether we can observe in its appearance any characteristic trait capable of revealing its inward nature. This examination is very difficult when we have to do with a fact of the kind and importance of that which now occupies our attention. In matters of this sort, numbers of opinions accumulate in the course of time, in favour of all which arguments have been sought. The inquirer, in the midst of so many and such various objects, is perplexed, disconcerted, and confounded; and if he wish to place himself in a more advantageous point of view, he finds the ground so covered with fragments, that he cannot make his way without risk of losing himself at every step. The first glance which we give to Protestantism, whether we consider its actual condition, or whether we regard the various phases of its history, shews us that it is very difficult to find any thing constant in it, any thing which can be assigned as its constituent character. Uncertain in its opinions, it modifies them continually, and changes them in a thousand ways. Vague in its tendencies, and fluctuating in its desires, it attempts every form, and essays every road. It can never attain to a well-defined existence; and we see it every moment enter When introduced into a country, it never new paths, to lose itself in new labyrinths. rested until it had obtained guarantees for Catholic controversialists have pursued its continued existence; and it succeeded in and assailed it in every way; ask them B |