Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/69

prodigies and of those stupendous miracles, in order to accomplish prophecy and teach the nations the signification of what was represented by ancient types and hidden in ancient symbols; at this very time error had spread over the whole world, and had obscured the entire horizon; and all this with the greatest rapidity, and unaided by prophets, symbols, types, and miracles. What a terrible lesson and memorable example for those who believe that the recondite and expansive force of truth will, in itself, suffice to prevail over the radical impotency of error throughout the world!

If our Lord Jesus Christ overcame the world, He did it in spite of being the Truth, in spite of being the one announced by the prophets of old, represented by ancient symbols, and prefigured by ancient types; lle overcame it in spite of his prodigious miracles and most wonderful doctrine. No other doctrine than that of the Gospel could have triumphed with this immense mass of clearest testimony, irrefragable proof, and unanswerable argument. It is true that Mahometanism spread like a deluge over the African, Asiatic, and European continents, but there was nothing in it to embarrass its progress, and all its miracles, arguments, and proofs were established at the sword's point.

Fallen and corrupt man has not been made for the truth, nor the truth for him. Since man's prevarication, God has placed between truth and human reason an unconquerable and imperishable repugnance. Truth, by its very nature, claims supremacy, and cannot consent to solicit obedience as a favor; while, since he rebelled against God, man insists upon being governed by his own will, and refuses to receive any yoke imposed upon him without his consent. Therefore, when truth