首页 >出版文学> Mary—’Gusta>第4章

第4章

  82。Towit:——"Whydoesnotthepopeemptypurgatory,forthesakeofholyloveandofthedireneedofthesoulsthatarethere,ifheredeemsaninfinitenumberofsoulsforthesakeofmiserablemoneywithwhichtobuildaChurch?Theformerreasonswouldbemostjust;thelatterismosttrivial。"
  83。Again:——"Whyaremortuaryandanniversarymassesforthedeadcontinued,andwhydoeshenotreturnorpermitthewithdrawaloftheendowmentsfoundedontheirbehalf,sinceitiswrongtoprayfortheredeemed?"
  84。Again:——"WhatisthisnewpietyofGodandthepope,thatformoneytheyallowamanwhoisimpiousandtheirenemytobuyoutofpurgatorythepioussoulofafriendofGod,anddonotrather,becauseofthatpiousandbelovedsoul'sownneed,freeitforpurelove'ssake?"
  85。Again:——"Whyarethepenitentialcanonslongsinceinactualfactandthroughdisuseabrogatedanddead,nowsatisfiedbythegrantingofindulgences,asthoughtheywerestillaliveandinforce?"
  86。Again:——"Whydoesnotthepope,whosewealthisto—daygreaterthantherichesoftherichest,buildjustthisonechurchofSt。Peterwithhisownmoney,ratherthanwiththemoneyofpoorbelievers?"
  87。Again:——"Whatisitthatthepoperemits,andwhatparticipationdoeshegranttothosewho,byperfectcontrition,havearighttofullremissionandparticipation?"
  88。Again:——"WhatgreaterblessingcouldcometotheChurchthanifthepopeweretodoahundredtimesadaywhathenowdoesonce,andbestowoneverybelievertheseremissionsandparticipations?"
  89。"Sincethepope,byhispardons,seeksthesalvationofsoulsratherthanmoney,whydoeshesuspendtheindulgencesandpardonsgrantedheretofore,sincethesehaveequalefficacy?"
  90。Torepresstheseargumentsandscruplesofthelaitybyforcealone,andnottoresolvethembygivingreasons,istoexposetheChurchandthepopetotheridiculeoftheirenemies,andtomakeChristiansunhappy。
  91。If,therefore,pardonswerepreachedaccordingtothespiritandmindofthepope,allthesedoubtswouldbereadilyresolved;nay,theywouldnotexist。
  92。Away,then,withallthoseprophetswhosaytothepeopleofChrist,"Peace,peace,"andthereisnopeace!
  93。BlessedbeallthoseprophetswhosaytothepeopleofChrist,"Cross,cross,"andthereisnocross!
  94。ChristiansaretobeexhortedthattheybediligentinfollowingChrist,theirHead,throughpenalties,deaths,andhell;
  95。Andthusbeconfidentofenteringintoheavenratherthroughmanytribulations,thanthroughtheassuranceofpeace。