Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/173

Rh character, had not elevated him to the rank of Prince of Einsiedeln, rather than, erudition and other gifts. His little court, which, equally with himself, took part in the conversation, which I desired, had evidently no great respect for these. Father Brandis frequently replied for him; nay, in his vivacity, even interrupted him without any ceremony. Father Gallmorell made, without any regard to him, his profound, half-sarcastic remarks, which seemed sometimes to have reference to us altogether.

My first question concerned the indulgences which I had bought for a few pence.

“They are issued,” said I, “from your printing-press. Do you approve of their promise of forgiveness for sin for two hundred days, for such as purchase here these writings, and offer the prescribed prayers?”

The abbot seemed at a loss to know how to answer.

“Observe, I pray you,” said Father Gallmorell, pointing to the little paper, “that it here states, for such as shall, with their whole heart, pray this prayer. The indulgence is merely for those who pray with the heart.”

“But why, then, only for two hundred days? or for any fixed number of days? We Evangelical Protestants believe that God forgives the sins of the whole life to those who, with their whole heart, pray for it.”

The spiritual gentleman said that the forgiveness here referred to, applied only to temporal or ecclesiastical punishment. I could not understand their