"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. "But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, there appeared the tares also. "So the servants of the house-holder came and said unto him: Sir, dist not thou sow good seed in the field? From whence then hath it tares? "He said unto them: The enemy hath done this." (Mat. xiii, 24-28.) Yes, the Good Master tells us that the enemy sowed those tares in his field during the night--when men were sleeping. But he does not tell us precisely the hour of the night when the enemy cast the tares among the wheat. If any one likes to know how fearfully dark was the night which covered the "Kingdom," and how cruel, implacable and savage was the enemy who sowed the tares, let him read the testimony of the most devoted and learned cardinal whom Rome has ever had, Baronius, Annals, Anno 900: "It is evident that one can scarcely believe what unworthy, base, execrable and abominable things the holy Apostolical See, which is the pivot upon which the whole Catholic Church revolves, was forced to endure, when princes of the age, though Christians, arrogated to themselves the election of the Roman Pontiffs. Alas, the shame! alas, the grief! What monsters, horrible to behold, were then intruded on the Holy See! What evils ensued! What tragedies they perpatrated! With what pollutions was this See, though itself without spot, then stained! With what corruptions infected! _With what filthiness defiled! And by these things blackened with perpetual infamy!_ (Baronius, Annals, Anno 900.) "Est plane, ut vix aliquis credat, immo, nec vix quidem sit crediturus, nisi suis inspiciat ipse oculis, manibusque contractat, quam indigna, quamque turpia, atque deformia, execranda, insuper et abominanda sit coacta pati sacrosancta apostolica sedes, in cujus cardine universa Ecclesia catholica vertitur, cum principes saeculi hujus, quantumlibet christiani, hac tamen ex parte dicendi tyranni saevissimi, arrogaverunt sibi tirannice electionem Romanorum pontificum. Quot tunc ab eis, proh pudor! proh dolor! in eandem sedem, angelis reverandam, visu horrenda intrusa sunt monstra! Quot ex eis oborta sunt mala, consummatae tragediae! Quibus tunc ipsam sine macula et sine ruga contigit aspergi sordibus, putoribus infici, quinati spurcitiis, ex hisque perpetua infamia denigrari!" * * * * * CHAPTER X. GOD COMPELS THE CHURCH OF ROME TO CONFESS THE ABOMINATIONS OF AURICULAR CONFESSION. * * * * *