His opinion is that no Protestant does really know it; they are all of them full of prejudices, and believe certain external and remediable abuses in its practices to be essential to Catholicism.

There was a basket of apricots standing near, and he chose one which had been very fine, but which was beginning to rot.

"Here," said he, "is an apricot, which is slightly rotten.

If I offer this apricot to one who does not know, but who wishes to be amiable, he will tell me that part of it is indeed firm and good, but that, unfortunately, part of it is diseased, and therefore, though he much regrets it, he cannot accept it.

Thus this illustrious Protestant speaks of Catholicism.