Nothing can be conceived more directly repugnant to the benevolence which the religion of Jesus inculcates, than the temper and conduct of those who arrogated to themselves the character of being God's vicegerents on earth, and who assumed the supreme direction and control

which he dismissed the people, brayed three times like an ass, and the people, instead of the usual response, "We bless the Lord," brayed

in the same manner. This ridiculous ceremony was not a mere farcical entertainment; but an act of devotion, performed by the ministers of religion, and by the authority of the church.-Robertson's "History of Charles V." vol. 1.-In accordance with such foolish ceremonies, were the ideas which prevailed of the qualifications requisite to constitute a good Christian. "He is a good Christian," says St. Eloy, a canonized saint of the Romish church, "who comes frequently to church; who presents the oblation which is offered to God upon the altar, who doth not taste of the fruits of his own industry until he has consecrated a part of them to God; who, when the holy festivals approach, lives chastely even with his own wife during several days, that with a safe conscience he may draw near to the altar of God; and who, in the last place, can repeat the Creed and the Lord's prayer. Redeem, then, your souls from destruction, while you have the means in your power; offer presents and tithes to churchmen; come more frequently to church; humbly implore the patronage of the saints; for, if you observe these things, you may come with security in the day of retribution to the tribunal of the eternal Judge, and say, 'Give to us, O Lord, for we have given unto thee.""-Here we have an ample description of a good Christian, in which there is not the least mention of the love of God, of resignation to his will, obedience to his laws, or of justice, benevolence, or charity towards men.- Mosheim's Church History.

The following are the terms in which Tetzel and his associates described the benefit of indulgences, about the beginning of the 16th century, a little before the era of the reformation. "If any man," said they, "purchase letters of indulgence, his soul may rest secure with respect to its salvation. The souls confined in purgatory, for whose redemption indulgences are purchased, as soon as the money tinkles in the chest, instantly escape from that place of torment, and ascend into heaven. That the efficacy of indulgences were so great, that the most heinous sins, even if one should violate (which was impossible) the Mother of God, would be remitted and expiated by them, and the person be free both from punishment and guilt. That this was the unspeakable gift of God, in order to reconcile men to himself. That the cross erected by the preachers of indulgences, was as efficacious as the cross of Christ itself. Lo! the heavens are open, if you enter not now, when will you enter? For twelve pence you may redeem the soul of your father out of purgatory; and are you so ungrateful that you will not rescue your parent from torment! if you had but one coat, you ought to strip yourself instantly, and sell it, in order to purchase such benefits, &c."-Robertson's Charles V. vol. 2,

of the Christian church. In persons who laid claim to functions so sacred and divine, it might have been expected, that the appearance at least, of piety, humility, and benevolence, would have been exhibited before the eyes of the Christian world. But the history of the popes and their satellites, displays almost every thing which is directly opposed to such heavenly virtues. Their avarice, extortion, and licentiousness, became intolerable and excessive almost to a proverb. To extend their power over the kingdoms of this world, to increase their wealth and revenues, to live in opulence and splendour, to humble kings, to alienate the affections of their subjects, and to riot in the lap of luxury and debauchery, seemed to be the great objects of their ambition. Instead of acting as the heralds of mercy, and the ministers of peace, they thundered anathemas against all who called in question their authority, kindled the flames of discord and of civil wars, armed subjects against their sovereigns, led forth hostile armies to the battle, and filled Europe with confusion, devastation, and carnage. Instead of applying the mild precepts of Christianity, and interposing the authority they had acquired for reconciling enemies, and subduing the jealousies of rival monarchs, they delighted to widen the breach of friendship, and to fan the flame of animosity and discord. Dr. Robertson, when adverting to the personal jealousies of Francis I. and Charles V. remarks, "If it had been in the power of the Pope to engage them in hostilities, without rendering Lombardy the theatre of war, nothing would have been more agreeable to him than to see them waste each other's strength in endless quarrels."* The Son of man came into the world, not to destroy men's lives, but to save them; but, in such instances, we behold his pretended vicars, preparing and arranging the elements of discord, laying a train for the destruction of thousands and tens of thousands, and taking a diabolical delight in contemplating the feuds, the massacres, and the miseries which their infernal policy had created. The decrees of the papal throne, instead of breathing the mildness and benevolence of Jesus, became thundering curses, and san

* Robertson's Charles V. vol. 2.

guinary laws, and a set of frantic enthusiasts, or a lawless banditti, were frequently appointed to carry them into effect.

Not contented with the insurrections and the desolations they had produced among the European nations, they planned an expedition for the purpose of massacring the inhabitants of Asia, and ravaging their country. Urban II. about A. D. 1095, travelled from province to province, levying troops, even without the consent of their princes; preaching up the doctrine of "destruction to the infidels ;" and commanding the people, in the name of God, to join in the holy war. St. Bernard ran from town to town, haranguing the multitude, performing pretended miracles, and inducing all ranks, from the emperor to the peasant, to enrol themselves under the banners of the cross. Peter the Hermit, a man of a hideous figure and aspect, covered with rags, walking barefooted, and speaking as a prophet, inspired the people every where with an enthusiasm similar to his own. Thousands of wicked and abandoned debauchees were thus collected; bishops, priests, monks, women and children, were all enrolled in the holy army. A plenary absolution of all their sins was promised; and if they died in the contest, they were assured of a crown of martyrdom in the world to come. With hearts burning with fury and revenge, this army of banditti, without discipline or provisions, marched in wild confusion through the eastern parts of Europe, and, at every step of their progress, committed the most dreadful outrages. So inveterate was their zeal against the Jews, wherever they were found, that many of those unfortunate beings, both men and women, murdered their own children, in the midst of the despair to which they were driven by these infuriated madmen; and when they arrived at Jerusalem, and had taken that city by assault, they suffered none of the infidels to escape the slaughter. Such was the way in which the successors of the Apostle Peter displayed their general benevolence, and their love to the souls and bodies of men.

The establishment of the Inquisition, is another mode in which the tyranny and cruelty of the Romish church has been displayed. This court was founded in the 12th century, by Father Dominic, and his followers, who were

sent by Pope Innocent III. with orders to excite the Catholic princes and people to extirpate heretics. It is scarcely possible to conceive any institution more directly opposed to the dictates of justice and humanity, to the genius of Christianity, and to the meekness and gentleness of Christ, than this infernal tribunal. The proceedings against the unhappy victims of this court, are conducted with the greatest secrecy. The person granted them as counsel is not permitted to converse with them, except in the presence of the Inquisitors; and, when they communicate the evidence to the accused persons, they carefully conceal from them the names of the authors. The prisoners are kept for a long time, till they themselves, through the application of the torture, turn their own accusers; for they are neither told their crime, nor confronted with witnesses. When there is no shadow of proof against the pretended criminal, he is discharged, after suffering the most cruel tortures, a tedious and dreadful imprisonment, and the loss of the greatest part of his effects. When he is convicted and condemned, he is led in procession, with other unfortunate beings, on the festival of the Auto da Fe, to the place of execution. He is clothed with a garment, painted with flames, and with his own figure, surrounded with dogs, serpents, and devils, all open-mouthed, as if ready to devour him. Such of the prisoners as declare that they die in the communion of the church of Rome, are first strangled, and then burned to ashes. Those who die in any other faith, are burned alive. The priests tell them, that they leave them to the devil, who is standing at their elbow, to receive their souls, and carry them with him into the flames of hell. Flaming furzes, fastened to long poles, are then thrust against their faces, till their faces are burned to a coal, which is accompanied with the loudest acclamations of joy, among the thousands of spectators. At last fire is set to the furze at the bottom of the stake, over which the criminals are chained so high, that the top of the flame seldom reaches higher than the seat they sit on; so that they seem to be roasted rather than burned. There cannot be a more lamentable spectacle; the sufferers continually cry out, while they are able, "Pity for the love of God;" yet it is beheld by all sexes and ages, with

transports of joy and satisfaction; and even the monarch, surrounded by his courtiers, has sometimes graced the scene with his presence, imagining that he was performing an act highly acceptable to the Deity!!*

And what are the heinous crimes for which such dreadful punishments are prepared? Perhaps nothing more than reading a book which has been denounced as heretical by the holy office, such as "Raynal's History of the Indies,"-assuming the title of a freemason-irritating a priest or mendicant friar-uttering the language of freethinkers-declaiming against the celibacy of the clergy-insinuating hints or suspicions respecting their amours and debaucheries-or throwing out a joke to the dishonour of the Virgin Mary,t-or, at most, holding the sentiments of a Mahometan, of a Jew, or of the followers of Calvin or Luther. In the year 1725, the Inquisition discovered a family of Moors at Grenada, peaceably employed in manufacturing silks, and possessing superior skill in the exercise of this profession. The ancient laws, supposed to have fallen into disuse, were enforced in all their rigour, and the wretched family was burnt alive. On the entry of the French into Toledo, during the late Peninsular war, General Lasalle visited the palace of the Inquisition. The great number of instruments of torture, especially the instruments to stretch the limbs, and the dropbaths, which cause a lingering death, excited horror, even in the minds of soldiers hardened in the field of battle. One of these instruments, singular in its kind for refined torture, and disgraceful to humanity and religion, deserves a particular description. In a subterraneous vault adjoining

*See Ency. Brit. Art. Act of faith, and Inquisition, and Bourgoing's "Modern State of Spain," Vol. I. The "Instructions for the office of the Holy Inquisition given at Tobda in 1561," may be seen in the Appendix to "Peyron's Essays on Spain," which forms the fourth volume of Bourgoing's work.

†The Chevalier de St. Gervais, was imprisoned in the Inquisition on the following occasion.---A mendicant having come to his chamber, with a purse, begging him to contribute something for the lights or tapers to be lighted in honour of the Virgin, he replied, "My good father, the Virgin has no need of lights, she need only go to bed at an earlier hour."

Bourgoing's State of Spain, Vol. I. p. 349.