The charge of Pascal has been completely verified, by the discovery of the “Secreta Monita,” or private manual of the Jesuit Confessor. Of course the authenticity of this remarkable book has been denied; for the Jesuit, as we shall soon learn, can deny anything; but yet it has been found in so many independent Jesuit institutions, that it is almost impossible to doubt the evidence of its authenticity. In these secret instructions may be found such passages as the following:—“Princes and distinguished persons must by all means be so managed, that they (the Jesuits) may gain their ear, which will easily secure their hearts . . . Since ecclesiastics secure the greatest favour, by winking at the vices of the great, as in the case of incestuous marriages, &c., such persons must be led to hope, that through their aid, a dispensation may be obtained from the Pope, which he will no doubt readily grant,” &c. Again, “Their confessors must allow greater latitude than those of other orders, in order that their penitents, being allured by such freedom, may relinquish others, and entirely depend on their direction and advice.” {17} By such awful practices have they sought to secure the ear of the great in the confessional; nor can we wonder if a power so gained is used in many cases for the foulest purposes. Duller asserts that the confessions of sovereign princes are at all times communicated to the General, and something nearly approaching to this is directed in the ordinances of the Society, where it is said that “the confessors of princes should consult with their Superiors in doubtful cases,” {18a} a regulation which, of course, enables them to lay anything they please before the General. The use made of the information, when obtained, may be gathered from the “Secreta Monita,” where, amongst other similar passages, it is said, “The Society will contribute much to its own advantage by fomenting and heightening (but with caution and secresy) the animosities that arise amongst princes and great men, in order that they may weaken each other.” {18b} Such are the maxims of this professedly Christian institution, which claims to be pre-eminently devoted to the service of God, and even calls itself the “Society of Jesus.” Is it possible to imagine a more flagrant insult to that holy name by which we live?