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and the greater part of the lectures is devoted to a minute
examination of this subject。 There is no passage in Scripture；
Manning pointed out； relating to the coming of Christ more
explicit and express than those foretelling Antichrist； it
therefore behoved the faithful to consider the matter more fully
than they are wont to do。 In the first place； Antichrist is a
person。 'To deny the personality of Antichrist is to deny the
plain testimony of Holy Scripture。' And we must remember that 'it
is a law of Holy Scripture that when persons are prophesied of；
persons appear'。
Again； there was every reason to believe that Antichrist； when he
did
appear； would turn out to be a Jew。 'Such was the opinion of St。
Irenaeus； St。 Jerome； and of the author of the work De
Consummatione
Mundi； ascribed to St。 Hippolytus； and of a writer of a
Commentary
on the Epistle to the Thessalonians； ascribed to St。 Ambrose； of
many
others； who said that he will be of the tribe of Dan： as； for
instance；
St。 Gregory the Great； Theodoret； Aretas of Caesarea； and many
more。 Such
also is the opinion of Bellarmine； who calls it certain。 Lessius
affirms that
the Fathers； with unanimous consent； teach as undoubted that
Antichrist will be a Jew。 Ribera repeats the same opinion； and
adds that Aretas； St。 Bede； Haymo； St。 Anselm； and Rupert affirm
that for this reason the tribe of Dan is not numbered among those
who are sealed in the Apocalypse。。。 Now； I think no one can
consider the dispersion and providential preservation of the Jews
among all the nations of the world and the indestructible
vitality of their race without believing that they are reserved
for some future action of His judgment and Grace。 And this is
foretold again and again in the New Testament。'
'Our Lord；' continued Manning； widening the sweep of his
speculations； 'has said of these latter times： 〃There shall arise
false Christs and false prophets； insomuch as to deceive even
the elect〃； that is； they shall not be deceived； but those who
have lost faith in the Incarnation； such as humanitarians；
rationalists； and pantheists； may well be deceived by any person
of great political power and success； who should restore the Jews
to their own land； and people Jerusalem once more with the sons
of the Patriarchs。 And； there is nothing in the political aspect
of the world which renders such a combination impossible； indeed；
the state of Syria； and the tide of European diplomacy； which 'is
continually moving eastward； render such an event within a
reasonable probability。' Then Manning threw out a bold
suggestion。 'A successful medium；' he said； 'might well pass
himself off by his preternatural endowments as the promised
Messiahs。'
Manning went on to discuss the course of events which would lead
to the final catastrophe。 But this subject； he confessed； 'deals
with agencies so transcendent and mysterious； that all I shall
venture to do will be to sketch in outline what the broad and
luminous prophecies； especially of the Book of Daniel and the
Apocalypse； set forth without attempting to enter into minute
details； which can only be interpreted by the event'。 While
applauding his modesty； we need follow Manning no further in his
commentary upon those broad and luminous works； except to observe
that 'the apostasy of the City of Rome from the Vicar of Christ
and its destruction by the Antichrist' was； in his opinion；
certain。 Nor was he without authority for this belief。 For it was
held by 'Malvenda； who writes expressly on the subject'； and who；
besides； 'states as the opinion of Ribera； Gaspar Melus； Viegas；
Suarez； Bellarmine； and Bosius that Rome shall apostatise from
the faith'。
IX
THE death of Pius IX brought to Manning a last flattering
testimony of the confidence with which he was regarded at the
Court of Rome。 In one of the private consultations preceding the
Conclave； a Cardinal suggested that Manning should succeed to the
Papacy。 He replied that he was unfit for the position； because
it was essential for the interests of the Holy See that the next
Pope should be an Italian。 The suggestion was pressed； but
Manning held firm。 Thus it happened that the Triple Tiara seemed
to come； for a moment； within the grasp of the late Archdeacon of
Chichester； and the cautious hand refrained。 Leo XIII was
elected； and there was a great change in the policy of the
Vatican。 Liberalism became the order of the day。 And now at last
the opportunity seemed ripe for an act which； in the opinion of
the majority of English Catholics； had long been due the
bestowal of some mark of recognition from the Holy See upon the
labours and the sanctity of Father Newman。 It was felt that a
Cardinal's hat was the one fitting reward for such a life； and
accordingly the Duke of Norfolk； representing the Catholic laity
of England； visited Manning； and suggested that he should forward
the proposal to the Vatican。 Manning agreed； and then there
followed a curious series of incidents the last encounter in
the
jarring lives of those two men。 A letter was drawn up by Manning
for the eye of the Pope； embodying the Duke of Norfolk's
proposal； but there was an unaccountable delay in the
transmission of this letter； months passed； and it had not
reached the Holy Father。 The whole matter would； perhaps； have
dropped out of sight and been forgotten； in a way which had
become customary when honours for Newman were concerned； had not
the Duke of Norfolk himself； when he was next in Rome； ventured
to recommend to Leo XIII that Dr。 Newman should be made a
Cardinal。 His Holiness welcomed the proposal； but； he said； he
could do nothing until he knew the views of Cardinal Manning。
Thereupon； the Duke of Norfolk wrote to Manning； explaining what
had occurred； shortly afterwards； Manning's letter of
recommendation； after a delay of six months； reached the Pope；
and the offer of a Cardinalate was immediately dispatched to
Newman。
But the affair was not yet over。 The offer had been made； would
it be accepted？ There was one difficulty in the way。 Newman was
now an infirm old man of seventy…eight； and it is a rule that all
Cardinals who are not also diocesan Bishops or Archbishops
reside； as a matter of course； at Rome。 The change would have
been impossible for one of his years for one； too； whose whole
life was now bound up with the Oratory at Birmingham。 But； of
course； there was nothing to prevent His Holiness from making an
exception in Newman's case； and allowing him to end his days in
England。 Yet how was Newman himself to suggest this？ The offer of
the Hat had come to him as an almost miraculous token of renewed
confidence； of ultimate reconciliation。 The old； long； bitter
estrangement was ended at last。 'The cloud is lifted from me for
ever！' he exclaimed when the news reached him。 It would be
melancholy indeed if the cup were now to be once more dashed from
his lips and he wa