which pervades, sometimes a large proportion, sometimes the whole population, subject to their civil rule. The Church pervades at least one-fourth, if not a third, of the population of Great Britain and its colonies; about a fifth of the United States; nearly a half of the Prussian monarchy; and almost the entire population of other great kingdoms; and the influence of religion is that which most deeply affects the loyalty and fidelity of nations. It is of the highest moment to the civil powers of the world to readjust their relations with the Catholic Church; for so long as the public laws are at variance with its divine rights and liberties, internal peace and fidelity are hardly to be secured. Poland and Ireland are proofs beyond question.
Again, the Church has at all times endeavoured to sustain the Christian society of nations from the downward tendency which is always carrying it towards the mere natural order. Human society is the creation of God in the order of nature. But Christian society is the creation of God in the order of grace. Political society, in its natural state, rests upon humanity and the moral law known by the light of nature. Christendom rests upon the Incarnation; and was created by the faith, sacraments, unity, and authority of the Church. The confederation or family of nations is natural society elevated to the order of grace, and governed by laws which flow from both natural and supernatural fountains. The union of these two laws and jurisdictions, and the supreme
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