CXXVUl. PROLEGOMENA. 



the hearts of a number of catholics being cor- 

 rupted, they soon became a prey to the tempta- 

 tions held out to the venal at the expense of the 

 good people of England! Hence I infer the 

 necessity of keeping up all these institutions of 

 discipline, as the Jesuits and Mendicants do : for 

 the horrible scenes of the Reformation, a period 

 which for obscurity of thought, wickedness, and 

 superstition, exceeded every other, and resem- 

 bled the darkness spread over Calvary on the 

 crucifixion of our Lord ; and all the profligacy, 

 and the whole train of ills that have followed, 

 began with luxury, which is and always will be 

 the great obstacle to Christian perfection. 



Objection 6. That we encourage celibacy, 

 and defeat the procreative power of nature. 



Answer. We do so only in those persons 

 whose vocation it is and that there are such 

 persons there can be no doubt. Those, who 

 knowthepower of sensual enjoyments and worldly 

 honours, should reflect on the great proof of 

 sincerity which Hermits and Anchorites evince, 

 by the sacrifices they make in order to constitute 

 and exhibit an example of a holy life. Moreover, 

 these institutions are one distinguishing mark of 

 Christianity ; the virtue of the Greek and Roman 

 and other nations of antiquity, was at best only 

 an ennobled sensuality. But Christians, with 

 a Virgin Mother of the church, recognise in 

 celibate establishments a divine character. 



