Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/144
the perversity and malice of men, and by a universal corruption of manners. Then there came a day of sad and sorrowful memory, the most dismal and dolorous that the world has ever seen since the creation; when an enraged and insensate people arose in the madness of their wrath, made their God an object of derision, and covering him with contumely and subjecting him to every ignominy, crucified him between two thieves. Then the cup of divine wrath was filled to overflowing, and the sun withdrew his rays, and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, and the rocks were burst asunder, and the entire earth was abandoned to terror and dismay.
Many other examples might be adduced as evidence of the mysterious agreements between physical and moral perturbations, and in confirmation of the universal tradition which marks and proclaims them; but the limits which we have proposed to ourselves, and the grandeur of the examples we have already given, alike induce us to terminate the investigation of this subject.
CHAPTER VI.
Of the angelical and human prevarication; greatness, and enormity of sin.
We have now exposed the Catholic theory respecting evil, the child of sin; and with regard to sin, the offspring of human liberty, which has a free movement within its limited sphere, under the eye, and with the consent of that sovereign Lord who, disposing all things