"
"Say on," said the priest, something flattered by this modest appeal to
his opinion.
"Our Lord took the cup and blessed it, of which He then drank, and
afterwards His disciples?"
"Yes. But this doth not sanction its being sent round to the laity,"
replied the priest, not aware of the drift and true bearing of the
inquiry.
"Then He took the bread and brake, and did eat likewise with His
disciples?"
"Of a truth," replied the unwary disputant. "For these questions need
but a plain and simple answer."
"Then," said Marsh, "of a surety He must have ate and drank
Himself!--Nay," continued he, seeing the priest turn pale with rage and
vexation, "I can find none other alternative. For, unlearned and
unpractised as I am; the absurdity of your belief is manifest."
"Thou art a child of perdition--an impious and pestilent heretic! Thou
eatest and drinkest damnation to thyself; and the Holy Church consigns
all such to the flames, and to the fire of eternal wrath hereafter!"
roared the infuriate priest, whose choler waxed hotter in proportion as
he felt unable to withstand the conclusion of his opponent.
"For," as it has been observed, even by some of the most enlightened
Catholics themselves,[18] "theological animosity, so far from being an
argument of men's conviction in their opposite sects, is a certain proof
that they have never reached any serious persuasion with regard to these
sublime subjects.
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