The pope; considered in his relations with the church....

Front matter

QassJRXi^^ Book —

CONSIDERED IN

HIS RELATIONS WITH THE CHURCH,

Section I

It may appear surprising that a man of the world should assume the right to treat of questions, which, until our time, have seemed to belong exclusively to the zeal and science of the sacerdotal order. I trust, nevertheless, that, after having weighed the reasons that have determined me to enter the lists in this honourable cause, every candid and well-disposed reader will approve them in his conscience, and absolve me from all baseness of usurpation.

In the first place, as our order was during last century egregiously criminal in regard to religion, I do not see why the same order should not present ecclesiastical writers with some faithful allies, who shall array themselves around the altar to keep at a distance from it every rash assailant, without embarrassing the Levites.

I doubt even whether, in these times, such an alliance has not become necessary. A thousand causes have weakened the sacerdotal order. The Revolution has plundered, exiled, massacred the priesthood ; it has practised every species of cruelty against the natural defenders of the maxims which it held in abhorrence. The ancient warxii

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

riors of the sacred camp have departed to their rest ; young recruits are indeed coming forward to fill their places, hut they are still necessarily few in number, the enemy having, by anticipation, cut off their supplies with the most fatal ability. Who knows, besides, if Eliseus, before taking wing for his heavenly country, cast his mantle on the earth, and if the holy garment may have been immediately gathered up ? It is, no doubt, probable, that as no human motive could have influenced the determination of the young heroes who have entered their names among the new levies, everything may be expected of their noble resolution. And yet how much time must they not spend in acquiring all the knowledge requisite for the combat which awaits them ? And when they shall have become masters of the necessary learning, will they have sufficient leisure to employ it? The most indispensable polemics scarcely belong to any other times than those of profound peace, when labours can be freely distributed according to strength and talents. Huet would not have written his " Demonstration Evangelique " whilst exercising his episcopal functions ; and if Bergier had been condemned by circumstances to bear during his whole lifetime, in a country parish, " the burthen of the day and of the heat," he would not have been able to present religion with that multitude of works which have entitled him to rank among the most excellent apologists.

In such laborious occupations, holy, indeed, but overwhelming, are now more or less engaged the clergy of all Europe, but more particularly those of France, who were more directly and more violently struck by the revolutionary tempest. As regards them, all the flowers of the sacred ministry are withered ; the thorns alone re-

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

Xlll main. As regards them, the Church is beginning anew, and by the very nature of things, confessors and martyrs must precede doctors. It is not easy to foresee the moment when, restored to its former tranquillity, and sufficiently numerous to bring into full operation all the resources of its immense ministry, it may yet astonish us by its science, as well as by the sanctity of its morals, the activity of its zeal, and the prodigious success of its apostolic labours.

I see no reason why, during this interval, which in other respects will not be lost to religion, men of the world, who from inclination have applied to serious studies, should not number themselves among the defenders of the most holy of causes. Even although they should only fill up the broken ranks of the army of the Lord, they could not be justly denied at least the merit of those courageous women who have been known sometimes to mount the ramparts of a besieged town, in order, if they could do no more, to strike terror into the enemy.

All science, besides, always owes, but especially at a period like the present, a kind of tithe to him from whom it proceeds, for he is the God of sciences, and for him are all thoughts prepared* We are approaching the greatest of all religious epochs, in which every man is bound, if it be in his power, to bring a stone for the august edifice, the plans of which are obviously fixed. None ought to be deterred by mediocrity of talents ; by this, at least, I have not been dismayed. The poor man, who, in his narrow garden, sows only mint, anise, and cummin, b may confidently present the first leaf to Heaven, as sure of being

a Deus scientiarum Dominus est, et ipsi prseparantur cogitationes. — 1 Reg. ii. 3. b Matt, xxiii. 23.

xiv PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

accepted as the opulent owner of vast fields, who pours in abundance into the temple of God, the strength of bread and the blood of the vine*

Another consideration has tended in no small degree to encourage me. The priest who defends religion does his duty, no doubt, and deserves our highest esteem ; but, in the eyes of a multitude of frivolous or preoccupied persons, he appears to defend his own cause ; and although his good faith be equal to our own, every observer may have often perceived that the wicked and unbelieving mistrust less the man of the world, and allow themselves to be approached by him, not unfrequently, without the least repugnance. Now, all who have attentively examined this wild and sullen bird, know also that it is incomparably more difficult to approach than to seize him.

May I be permitted to say, moreover, if the man who has employed his attention, all his lifetime, on an important subject, who has devoted to that subject every moment he could dispose of, and directed towards it all his knowledge ; if such a man, I say, experiences within himself a certain indefinable power which makes him feel it necessary to communicate his ideas, he ought, no doubt, to be on his guard against the illusions of self-love ; but, nevertheless, he is, perhaps, in some degree, entitled to believe that this kind of inspiration is really something, especially if it is not wholly without the approbation of other men.

It is now a long time since / considered France* and, if I am not completely blinded by the honourable ambition

a Robur panis . . . sanguinem uvae. — Ps. civ. 16 ; Isaias iii. 1. b Considerations sur la France, in 8vo. Bale, Geneve, Paris, 1795, 1796 ; Lyon, 1830.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

XV of pleasing that country, my work, it appears to me, has not been disagreeable to it. Since, in the midst of its most terrible calamities, it listened with kindness to the voice of a friend who belonged to it by religion, by language, and by those hopes of a higher order which always remain, why should it not agree still to favour me with an attentive hearing, now that it has made so great a step towards happiness, and that it has so far recovered tranquillity as to be able to examine itself and judge itself wisely ?

Circumstances have, indeed, much changed since the year 1796. At that time all honest men were at liberty to attack the brigands at their own risk and peril. Now that all the powers of Europe are restored, error having divers points of contact with politics, there might happen to the writer who should not be constantly on his guard, the same misfortune which befel Diomedes under the walls of Troy, — that of wounding a divinity, whilst pursuing an enemy.

Happily, there is nothing so evident for conscience as conscience itself. If I were not conscious of being penetrated with universal benevolence, absolutely free from all spirit of contention, and from all polemical anger, even in regard to those men whose systems are most revolting to me, God is my witness, I would throw down the pen ; and I venture to hope that every sincere man who reads me will have no doubt of my intentions. But this consciousness excludes neither the solemn profession of my belief, nor the distinct and dignified expression of faith, nor the cry of alarm in presence of a known or disguised enemy, nor that honest proselytism, in fine, which proceeds from persuasion.

xvi

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

After a declaration, the sincerity of which will, I trust, be fully justified by every page of my work, I would not experience the least disquietude, even although I should be in direct opposition with other creeds. I know what is due to nations and to those by whom they are governed, but I do not think I derogate from this sentiment by telling them the truth with all due consideration. The first lines of my book make known its object ; he who might dread being shocked by it is earnestly entreated not to read it. To me it is demonstrated, and I would most willingly prove the same to other men, that without the Sovereign Pontiff" there is no real Christianity, and that no sincere Christian man, separated from him, will sign upon his honour {provided he be well informed) a clearly defined profession of faith.

All the nations that have withdrawn from the authority of the Holy Father, no doubt, if taken in the aggregate, possess the right (the learned possess it not) to denounce me as paradoxical, but none are entitled to charge me with insulting them. Every writer who restricts himself to the sphere of a severe logic is wanting to nobody. The only honourable revenge that can be taken on him is, to reason against him, and better than he.

Section II

Although in the whole course of my work I have confined myself as much as possible to general ideas, it will, nevertheless, be easily perceived that I have given particular attention to France. Until that country understand how deeply it is in error, there is no safety for it ; but if it be yet blind in this respect, Europe is still more so, perhaps, in regard to what it has to expect from France.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

xvii

There are privileged nations that have a mission in this world. In a former work I endeavoured to explain that of France, which appears to me as visible as the sun. There is in the natural government, and in the national ideas of the French people, a certain theocratic and religious element, which is never lost sight of. The Frenchman stands in need of religion more than any other man. If he wants it, he is not only weakened, but mutilated. Consider his history. To the government of the Druids, which was all-powerful, succeeded that of the bishops, who were constantly, but much more in ancient times than in our days, the counsellors of the king in all his counsels. The bishops, and Gibbon remarks it, made the kingdom of France. 3, There is nothing more true. The bishops constructed this monarchy as bees construct a hive. The councils of the Church in the first ages of the monarchy were really national councils. The Christian Druids, if I may use the expression, performed in them the principal part. The forms had changed, but we always find the same nation. The Teutonic blood, sufficiently mingled with it to give a name to France, disappeared almost entirely at the battle of Fontenai, and left only the Gauls. We have the proof of this in the language — for when a people is one, their language is one ; b and if it be mixed in

b Gibbon, Hist, of the Decline and Fall, &c. vol. vii. ch. xxxviii. Paris, Maradan, 1812, in 8vo.

b Hence, the more we penetrate into antiquity, the more radical, and consequently the more regular, do we find languages. In starting from the word maison, for instance, as the root, the Greek would have said maisonniste, maisonnier, maisonneur, maisonnerie, maisonner, emmaisoner, demaisonner, &c. The French, on the other hand, are obliged to say, maison, domestique, econome, xviii

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

any way, but particularly by conquest, each constituent nation produce portion of tbe national tongue, the syntax, and what is called the genius of the language, belonging always to the predominating people ; and the number of words contributed by each nation is always exactly in proportion to the amount of blood furnished respectively by the divers nations composing the whole and joined together in national unity. Now, the Teutonic element is scarcely perceptible in the French language ; considered in the aggregate, the French are Celtic and Roman. There is nothing so great in the world. Cicero said, " Let us natter ourselves as we will, we shall never surpass either the Gauls in valour, or the Spaniards in number, or the Greeks in talents, &c. ; but by religion and the fear of the gods, we excel all the nations of the world/'

This Roman element, naturalized in Gaul, admirably agreed with Druidism, which Christianity stripped of its errors and of its ferocity, whilst it allowed to remain a certain root, which was good ; and from all these elements there resulted an extraordinary nation, destined to act an astonishing part among the other nations, and especially to hold for the second time the first place in the religious system of Europe.

Christianity obtained among the French people at an early period, and with a facility which could only be the result of a particular affinity. The Gallican Church scarcely

casanier, magon, hdtir, habiter, demolir, &c. We here discover the dust of divers nations, commingled, and amalgamated by the hand of time. I do not believe that there can be a language which does not possess some element of those which have preceded it ; but there are, for the most part, great constituent masses, which may, as it were, be touched.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

xix had an infancy; it was, so to speak, at its birth, the first of national churches, and the strongest support of unity.

The French people enjoyed the singular honour, which they have by no means sufficiently appreciated, of constituting (humanly speaking) the Catholic Church in the world, by raising its august chief to the rank indispensably due to his Divine functions, and without which he would only have been the miserable sport of Christian sultans and Mussulman autocrats.

Charlemagne, the modern Trismegistus, erected, or caused to be recognized, the pontifical throne, which was destined to ennoble and consolidate all other thrones. As there has not been a greater institution in the universe, there is undoubtedly none in which theShand of Providence has more obviously shown itself; but ifis highly honourable to have been selected by Divine Providence as the enlightened instrument in accomplishing a worK so truly wonderful and without example.

When, in the middle ages, we repaired to Asia, and endeavoured, sword in hand, to break on its own territory that formidable Crescent which threatened all the liberties of Europe, the French were likewise at the head of this immortal enterprise. A private individual, who bequeathed to posterity only his baptismal name, adorned with the modest surname of Hermit, with no other aid than his faith and indomitable will, moved Europe, terrified Asia, destroyed the feudal system, ennobled the serfs, removed from under its bushel the torch of science, and completely changed the European world.

Bernard seconded the Hermit — Bernard, the miracle of his age, and, like Peter, a Frenchman, a man of the world

XX

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

and mortified cenobite, orator, wit, statesman, solitary, who had more external occupations than most men will ever have ; consulted by the whole world, intrusted with an infinite number of important negotiations, pacifying states, called to the councils of the Church, advising kings, instructing bishops, reprimanding Popes, governing an entire order, the preacher and oracle of his time?

We are constantly told that none of these celebrated enterprises succeeded. Undoubtedly no single crusade succeeded ; this even children know ; but all the crusades succeeded ; and this men even will not see.

The French name made so great an impression in the East, that it has there remained synonymous, as it were, with that of European ; and the greatest poet of Italy, writing in the sixteenth century, hesitates not to employ the same expression. 5

The French sceptre was illustrious both at Jerusalem and Constantinople. What great things was there not reason to expect of it ? It would have aggrandized Europe, vanquished Islamism, and extinguished schism ; unfortunately, however, it was not able to keep its ground.

A considerable portion of the literary glory of the French, particularly in the great century, belongs to the clergy. Science being generally contrary to the propagation of families and of names, c there is nothing more conformable

a Bourdaloue, Semi, sur la Fuite du Monde, premiere partie. b H Popol Franco (the Crusaders, the army of Godefrey). — Tasso.

c Hence arises, no doubt, the ancient prejudice as to the incompatibility of science with nobility, — a prejudice founded, like

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

xxi to order than a hidden direction of science towards the sacerdotal and consequently the celibatory state.

No nation has possessed a greater number of ecclesiastical establishments than the French, and no sovereignty has employed more advantageously for itself a greater number of priests than the court of France. Ministers, ambassadors, negotiators, teachers, &c, are found in every department of the public service. From Suger to Fleury, France has only had credit by them. It is regretted that the ablest and most illustrious of them all was sometimes inexorably severe ; but he never passed the bounds of severity ; and I am inclined to believe, that under the ministry of this great man the punishment of the Templars, and other events of a like nature, would not have been possible.

The highest nobility of France held it an honour to possess the great dignities of the Church. What was there in Europe superior to that Gallican Church, which possessed all that pleases God and captivates men — virtue, learning, nobility, and opulence ?

Do we desire a representation of ideal grandeur ? Let us imagine, if we can, anything that surpasses Fenelon. We shall not succeed.

Charlemagne in his will bequeathed to his sons the guardianship of the Roman Church. This legacy, repudiated by the German emperors, had passed as a kind of feofment of trust to the crown of France. The Catholic Church might have been represented by an ellipsis : in one of the focuses was St. Peter, and in the other Charlemagne.

all other prejudices, on some hidden cause. No learned man of the first class has been able to found a house. Already, even the names of the sixteenth century that were celebrated in literature and science no longer exist.

b

XXII

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

The Gallican Church, with its power, its doctrine, its dignity, its language, its proselytism, appeared sometimes to bring the two centres into contact, and confound them in the most magnificent unity.

But, human weakness! deplorable blindness ! detestable prejudices, which I shall have occasion to speak of more at length in the course of this work, had wholly perverted this admirable order, this sublime relation between the two powers. By means of sophistry and criminal manoeuvres, one of the brightest prerogatives of the most Christian king, that of presiding (humanly) over the religious system, and of being the hereditary protector of Catholic unity, was too successfully concealed from him. Constantine, of old, gloried in the title of temporal bishop. That of temporal Sovereign Pontiff flattered not the ambition of a successor of Charlemagne, and this post offered by Providence was vacant ! Ah ! if the kings of France had been inclined to lend the strength of their arm to truth, what would they not have accomplished ? But what can a king do when the lights of his people are extinguished ? It must even be said, to the immortal glory of an august house, the royal spirit with which it is animated has frequently and most happily been more learned than the academies, and more just than the tribunals.

Overthrown at last by a preternatural tempest, we have seen this mission, so precious for Europe, restored through a miracle, which promises other miracles, and which ought to inspire all Frenchmen with religious courage ; but the height of misfortune for them would be to believe that the revolution is at an end, and that the column is replaced, because it has been raised up anew. It must be believed, on the contrary, that the revolutionary spirit is, beyond

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

comparison, more powerful and more dangerous than it was a few years back. The mighty usurper made use of it only for himself ; he knew how to compress it in his iron hand, and reduce it to be only a monopoly for the benefit of his crown. ' But since justice and peace have embraced, the genius of evil has ceased to fear ; and, instead of agitating at one point, it has reproduced a general ebullition over an immense surface.

May I be permitted to repeat that the French revolution is not like to anything that was ever witnessed in the world in bygone times. It is essentially satanical? Never will it be wholly extinguished except by the contrary principle, and never will the French people resume their place until they have acknowledged this truth. The priesthood ought to be the principal object of the sovereign's care. If I had under my eyes the table of ordinations, I might predict great events. The French nobility are now presented with an opportunity of offering to the state a sacrifice worthy of them. Let them, therefore, give their sons \o the altar, as in days of old. In these times it will not be said that they covet only the treasures of the sanctuary. The Church, in earlier times, conferred on them riches and honour ; let them now make a return for her gifts, by bestowing upon her all they have yet in their power — the influence of their illustrious names, which will maintain the ancient opinion, and determine a multitude of men to follow standards borne by such worthy hands : time will do the rest. In thus sustaining the priesthood, the French nobility will pay an immense debt they have contracted towards France, and also perhaps as regards all

a Considerations sur la France, ch. x. sect. 3. b 2 xxiv

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

Europe. The greatest mark of; respect and of profound esteem that can be shown them, is to remind them that the French revolution — which they would, no doubt, have redeemed with the last drop of their blood — was, nevertheless, in a great measure their own work. So long as a pure aristocracy (in other words, an aristocracy professing, with enthusiasm, national dogmas) surrounds the throne, it is immoveable, even although it should happen to be filled by weakness or error ; but if the baronage becomes apostate, there is no longer any safety for the throne, even if it were occupied by a St. Louis or a Charlemagne ; and this is more true as regards France than any other country. By their monstrous alliance with the bad principle during last century, the French nobility ruined everything. It is now their duty to repair all the evil they occasioned. Their destiny is certain, provided they be well persuaded of the natural, essential, necessary French alliance of the priesthood and the nobility.

At the most disastrous period of the revolution, it was said : " This is for the nobility only a well-deserved eclipse. It will resume its place. It will escape at last, by receiving with a good grace children that had no claim to belong to it."

Des enfants qu'en son sein elle n'a point portes. a

What was said twenty years ago is now in course of being verified. If the French nobility are under the necessity of recruiting, it lies with them to prevent their renewal from being anywise humbling to the ancient houses. When once they shall have understood why this renewal had a Considerations sur la France, ch. x. sect. 3.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

XXV become necessary, it can no longer be offensive to them or hurtful ; but this remark must only be made, as it were, by the way, and without entering into learned details.

I return to my principal subject, by observing that the anti-religious fury of last century against all Christian truths and institutions, was directed against the Holy See. The couspirators were sufficiently aware — they knew, unfortunately, much better than the multitude of well-intentioned men, that Christianity is wholly based upon the Sovereign Pontiff. Against this foundation, therefore, they directed all their efforts. If they had proposed to the Catholic cabinets measures directly anti- christian, fear or shame (in the absence of more noble motives) would have sufficed to repel them ; for all the princes, therefore, they laid the most subtle snares.

" The wisest of kings, alas ! they contrived to lead astray."

They represented to them the Holy See as the natural enemy of all thrones ; they environed it with calumnies, made it be mistrusted in every way, and endeavoured to place it in opposition to the welfare of states. In short, they forgot nothing that was calculated to connect the idea of dignity with that of independence. By means of usurpation, violence, chicanery, and encroachments of every kind, they rendered the policy of Rome jealous and slow, and then accused it of deficiencies, which it owed entirely to themselves. In a word, they succeeded to a degree that causes the greatest alarm. The evil is such, that the consideration of certain Catholic countries may have sometimes scandalized parties that were strangers to truth, and averted them from it. Nevertheless, without the Sovereign Pontiff the whole edifice of Christianity is undermined,

XXVi PRELIMINARY 'DISCOURSE,

and only requires, in order to be utterly demolished, the development of certain circumstances, which will be shown in their true light.

Meanwhile, facts are not silent. Were Protestants ever known to amuse themselves writing books against the Greek, Nestorian, or Syriac churches, which profess dogmas that Protestantism abhors ? They do no such thing. On the contrary, they protect those churches, they compliment them, and show themselves ready to unite with them, always holding as a true ally every enemy of the Holy See. a

The infidel, on the other hand, laughs at all dissenters, and makes use of them all, quite sure that all, more or less, and each one of them in his way, will forward his great work, the destruction of Christianity.

Protestantism, philosophism, and a thousand other sects, more or less perverse or extravagant, having prodigiously diminished truths among men, b it is impossible mankind should continue long in the state they are in at present. They are in agitation and labour, they are ashamed of themselves, and are seeking, with an indescribable convulsive energy, to make head against the torrent of errors, after having abandoned themselves to them with the systematic blindness of pride. It has appeared to me useful, at this memorable time, to set forth in all its fulness a theory no less vast than it is important, and to disencumber it of the obscurities with which men have obstinately persisted

a See the Asiatic Researches of Dr. Claudius Buchanan, in which he proposes to the Anglican Church to ally itself in India with the Syriac, because it rejects the supremacy of the Pope. In 8vo. London, 1812, p. 283 to 287.

b Diminutse sunt veritates a filiis hominum. — Ps. xi. 2.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE.

XXVL1 in enveloping it for so long a time. Without presuming too much on my endeavours, I trust, however, that they will not be altogether fruitless. A good book is not one which persuades everybody ; if so, there would be no good book. It is one which completely satisfies a certain class of readers, to whom it is more particularly addressed, and which, moreover, leaves no doubt in any mind of the perfectly honest purpose of the author, and the indefatigable toil he has subjected himself to, in order to become master of his subject, and even to find for it, if possible, some new points of view. I flatter myself, in all simplicity, that in this respect, every equitable reader will decide that I am not out of order. I am convinced that it was never more necessary to surround with every ray of evidence a truth of the first class, and I also believe that truth stands in need of France. I am not without hope, therefore, that France will read me once more with kindness ; and I would consider myself fortunate, above all, if its great personages of every order, reflecting on what I expect of them, should make it a point of conscience to refute me.

OF THE POPE IN HIS RELATIONS WITH THE CATHOLIC "CHURCH.

Chapter I. Infallibility

What has not been said about infallibility in a theological point of view ! It would be difficult to add new arguments to those which the defenders of this high prerogative have already accumulated, in order to support it by undoubted authorities, and to disencumber it of the misrepresentations with which it has pleased the enemies of Christianity and of unity to surround it, in the hope of rendering it odious, at least, if it was by no means possible to do worse.

But I am not aware it has been sufficiently remarked, with regard to this great question, as well as so many others, that theological truths are no other than general truths manifested and divinized within the sphere of religion, in such manner that it is impossible to attack one without attacking a law of the world.