Page:An Index of Prohibited Books (1840).djvu/219

, found three distinct copies of Indulgences containing precisely the same form — one by Benedict XIII. the other two by Benedict XIV. See iv. 525-8, and Addenda p. 35, ed. Venet. 1782.

And if the Letter-writer had not determined to spoil some sheets of clean paper, he might have eased himself of the labour of collections from various councils condemnatory of the abuses of the Quaestors — all very right, with a good meaning of many individuals, and to save appearances by the rest. We ever admit, that there have been conscientious and even good men at all times in the Roman apostacy, or we should never have had the reformation. The fact contended for is denied by none, and the proof superfluous. Even Trent made bold demonstrations amounting to nothing. The thing was still secured, and the control was all in the hands of the Pope. He and his certainly wished the affair to be managed decently; but fhe rule was

 Rem, Si possis, recte, &c.

To close the first part of the subject, Venal Indulgences, I will simply observe, that Mr. G. has done what is done by most in the same predicament — he has mixed some truth with his fiction, as much as would do him no harm, and would save or assist his credit, and the credit of the prevailing fiction. He has pretty adroitly selected what accorded with this plan. He has performed various contortions to extricate himself from the net in which he felt himself caught. But his main contrivance and refuge has been pretermission. Of the plain grammatical meaning of the indulgences in question — of the necessarily popular interpretation of the expression of that popular interpretation in the jingling, proverbial phrase, tantum donant quantam sonant — of the naturally consequent disputes among the doctors of the church herself respecting the honesty or knavery of that church; and lastly and eminently, of those interesting and little known forms, the Confessionals, of which I have given both a fac-simile specimen and so extended an account, with the priced varieties of spiritual graces contained in them, particularly the optional confessors — he has preserved a profound and very prudent silence. In fact, I fear that Mr. G. has throughout been fighting against his own convictions; and that he inwardly feels, because he knows, that he is incapable of facing, much less of confuting, a single substantial statement in what I have written on the subject of his Church's Veual Indulgences.

At p. 66 and onwards Mr. G., with his two years' preparation, "boldly" enters upon the subject of the Penitentiary Taxes of Rome as presented in my Spiritual Venality. He will readily agree with