mething
was said of the repentance of the heart and the confession of the
lips."(477) The applicants for the Indulgence knew well that, no matter
how munificent were their offerings, these would avail them nothing
without true contrition of heart.

No traffic or sale of Indulgences was, consequently, authorized or
countenanced by the Head of the Church, since the contributions were
understood to be voluntary. In order to check any sordid love of gain in
those charged with preaching the Indulgence, "the hand that delivered the
Indulgence," as D'Aubigne testifies, "could not receive the money: that
was forbidden under the severest penalties."(478)

Wherein, then, was the conduct of the Pope reprehensible? Certainly not in
soliciting the donations of the faithful for the purpose of erecting a
temple of worship, a temple which today stands unrivalled in majesty and
beauty!

"But thou of temples old, or altars new,
Standest alone, with nothing like to thee;
Worthiest of God, the holy and the true,
Since Sion's desolation, when that He
Forsook His former city, what could be
Of earthly structures, in His honor piled,
Of a sublimer aspect? Majesty,
Power, Glory, Strength, and Beauty, all are aisled
In this eternal ark of worship undefiled."(479)

If Moses was justified in appealing to the Hebrew people, in the Old Law,
for offerings to adorn the tabernacle, why should not the Pope be equally
justified in appealing for similar offerings to the Christian people,
among whom he exercises supreme authority, as Moses did among the
Israelites?

Nor did the Pope exceed his legitimate powers in promising to the pious
donors spiritual favors in exchange for their donations. For if our sins
can be redeemed by alms to the poor,(480) as the Scripture tells us, why
not as well by offerings in the cause of religion? When Protestant
ministers appeal to their congregations in behalf of themselves and their
children, or in support of a church, they do not fail to hold out to their
hearers spiritual blessings in reward for their gifts. It is not long
since a Methodist parson of New York addressed these sacred words to
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the millionaire, who had endowed a Methodist
college: "Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in
remembrance in the sight of God."(481) The minister is more _indulgent_
than even the Pope, to whom were given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven;
for th