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made for a conftant fucceffion of perfons, bound to fupport that intereft, which is the fupport of themselves and all their pretenfions.

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As thefe are bound by affection, and by finding their own account, to a constant fubmiffion, fo the proper methods have been taken for fubjecting the laics in that church also to fuch an obedience as they cannot well break through. Amongst the fe we may reckon auricular confeffion, maffes for the dead, the direction of female confciences, the opportunities they have of working upon perfons in their dying moments; and many more circumstances that might be mentioned, favourable to their interest, afford us a reasonable probability that the papal authority will not decline much more than it has already done, especially if fucceeding popes imitate the moderation of their immediate predeceffors, and endeavour to support their influence rather by address than by the force of ecclefiaftical cenfures, which is a fort of artillery that no longer does the execution it did in the darker ages when the little learning there was remained entirely among the priests and the monks.totalj

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The reader will apprehend this more clearly, if he takes a short view of the European powers, that still profefs obedience to the fee of Rome. In Poland the clergy are numerous and well provided for, having a great fhare of power allotted them by the conftitution, and are for the most part composed of the younger fons of the nobility. In Germany it is vifible, that the popish religion rather prevails than declines, and the ecclefiaftical electors and other prelates are fo formidable a body in the diet, as not to be apprehenfive of any future fecularizations. It is, befides, the intereft of feveral great houses to fupport the church, as it is now conftituted, on the score of the preferments, which are in a manner entailed on the younger fons of their family, fo as not only to afford them noble establishments, but also render them capable of fupporting the head of their house, instead of being a burthen upon him, as would be the cafe if thofe dignities were fecularized.

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-The hereditary countries of the house of Austria remain ftrictly attached to the fee of Rome. --- The. French, or Gallican church has, indeed, always claimed a kind of freedom, which having been improved by the ftruggles that have been heretofore made against them, the modern popes have wifely had recourfe to another, method, which feems to have had a better effect, and, whilft the courts of Rome and Verfailles agree, both will find their account in the reciprocal fupport of each. other's power. In Spain and Portugal the papal authority ftands upon a much stronger foundation, as appears from the amazing wealth of the clergy in the former, and the joy with which the fovereign of the latter accepted very lately, from the pope, the title of Moft Faithful, (conferred by a bull from the pope, Jan. 1749) as well as many inftances of a fuperftitious re-. gard to the doctrines and practices of that church. --In Italy the influence of the pope extends every where, and he is fo able to make either his favour or his dif pleasure felt, that all the princes and ftates of his communion, find it their intereft to live upon good terms with his holiness, and as none understand their own interest better, are like to continue in the fame inclinations, received from their ancestors, in that refpect.

It has been generally fuppofed, that one of the maxims of the fee of Rome has been, attaching itself to the fuperior intereft, and always courting that power moft which is uppermoft; and, in proof of this, much has and may be faid: but at the fame time it is very certain, that the true intereft of the holy fee confifts in fupporting the balance of power, because its influence depends chiefly upon an equality among the princes of that communion, and if any of these should gain an entire, afcendency, the fee of Rome could, not fail of feeling the first effects of it. This is not only evident in fpeculation, but from experience likewife. The truth is, that while the court of Rome continues famous for policy, we can never expect her falling from this maxim; for as, in decency, it imports the holy

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father to fhew an equal affection for all who profefs themselves his children, whereby he may best secure their reciprocal affection, duty and confidence.

These points may be further illuftrated, were we to confider his temporal authority, which the Roman pontiff enjoys in confequence of his dominions in Italy and elsewhere. He is lord of confiderable territories, and poffeffed of gold and filver, which St. Peter, even admitting him to have been bishop of Rome, certainly did not bequeath to the fee. What the dominions of the pope are, what his revenues and riches, nor whether thefe are lawful poffeffions, is not my province to enquire. It is not only probable, but unqueftionable, that these are more the fupport of his fupremacy and authority in the church, than any real persuasion of his infalibillity and divine right; though to establish fuch fentiments hath been made the study and business of the Jefuits.

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1713. Pope Clement XI. was prevailed with by the Jefuits at Paris, to iffue the bull Unigenitus, which chiefly relates to points of difpute between the Jansenifts and the Dominicans, and for eftablishing the pope's authority. This bull, befides being an evidence that the pope may err, both in matters of faith and hiftorical facts, proved the means of greatly endangering the authority of the pope; it kindled a flame in France which fpread over the whole Romish church: broke out more violently after the death of Lewis XIV. The new king of Sicily would not part with his monarchy; and the zeal which the pope manifefted, served only to increase the papal penfioners, among whom was now the Pretender, as he could no longer stay in France; for the bull, which begins with the paftoral office, made no impreffions in France; and from the growing oppofition that was made to it, not only in France, but in the Low Countries and Germany, he found it neceffary to ufe his best efforts in its defence; but

* Abftract from the prefent State of Europe, p. 423.

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finding himself unequal to the task, he confented at length to fome overtures.

Benedict XIII. difcovered a more pacific difpofition, and was much difappointed in the great good he expected from the Jefuits; for he found them more active in fupport of the bull Unigenitus than he could have wifhed. However, notwithstanding cardinal de Noailles, and cardinal Fleury, &c. fubfcribed it, Benedict always continued a ftaunch Dominican. He publifhed the bull Petiofus, which the Jefuits will hardly admit to be a juft expofition of the doctrine of grace. We must not omit this pope's pacific difpofition, to reconcile the Roman, Greek, Lutheran, and reformed parties; and is more famous for perfonal endowments, efpecially learning, than for the profperity of his pontificate.

The intrigues and clafhings among the feveral Roman catholic courts, and the ambitious fchemes of the cardinals (who now obtained the title of Eminences), the artifice and industry of the Jefuits and other orders of priests, ferved to weaken the power and influence of the popes. The occurrences of latter times convince us, that the measures, particularly of the Jefuits, rendered them fufpected of being fo entirely the emiffaries of the pope, as to difturb the peace and tranquillity of kingdoms.

The late extirpations of the order of Jefuits, in Portugal and in France, are undeniable proofs that the pope's authority is no longer abfolute, but limited and reftrained, where the Jefuits have attempted an undue influence, or their principles, and their numbers, riches, and unconstitutional measures, have been found inconvenient, or prejudicial to the civil ftate of the kingdom.

In latter times the progress of arts and sciences, and of learning in general, may reasonably be fuppofed to be a very confiderable means of limiting that unbounded power and authority of the pope, fo long ufurped, and to weaken and deftroy fuch attempts as were made

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upon the rights of princes; and at the fame time to remove that unreasonable fuperftition that too generally prevailed in the minds of the common people for whatever had the fanction of papal authority; and this is equally applicable to thofe errors and corruptions in doctrine, worship, and ceremonies, that have in procefs of time prevailed in that church; many of the groffeft of them fprung up in the darkest and most barbarous ages of christianity, when learning degenerated into fabulous legends and monkish ftories, when to understand Greek, and other languages, was fufpected, and to believe the Antipodes was efteemed herefy; then was the time to impofe on an undiscerning age, and to obtrude upon their understanding the belief of miracles performed by the relics of departed faints, and many doctrines, fuch as purgatory, tranfubftantiation, &c. which are not only unfcriptural, but repugnant both to reafon and common fenfe.

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In the two laft centuries the increase of knowledge, hath produced various effects among perfons of different ranks: thofe, whofe intereft or prepoffeffions have not rendered them the friends and abettors of papal authority, and impofitions on the confciences of men under various pretenfions, and have seen the inconfiftency of many of their doctrines, practices, and ceremonies, with genuine Chriftianity, have paid only an external regard to their ceremonies, to avoid ecclefiaftical or civil penalties: fome have looked with indifference on all the outward forms and modes of religion, whilst many have fallen into direct infidelity; and deifm is now too general among the politer part of the inhabitants both in Italy and France.

This may fuffice as a preliminary to the present ftate of religion in the church of Rome, conftitution, doctrine, &c.

CHAP.

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