so that on this account St. Augustine says, that this continuous succession from the very seat of Peter kept him in the Catholic Church. "This succession, down to this day in which Gregory XVI. reigns, is continued in a series of 258 Pontiffs. "As the primacy of the church is by divine right, has it also been annexed by divine right to the Bishopric; so that the particular Roman Episcopate cannot be separated from the Supreme Pontificate, but to the end of the world, is the succession of Supreme Pontiffs to continue in the Roman Bishops? "Ans. This is a controverted point: some suppose that the primacy is annexed to the Roman Episcopate only by human right; they say indeed that it has been merely ordained by Christ, that the Episcopate should have the pri macy, which the church should designate: but the church has designated the Roman Episcopate; and hence, they say, it may happen by the disposition of the Church, that the primacy may be taken away from the Roman Episcopate. "But it is more commonly maintained that the primacy has been annexed to the Roman Episcopate by divine right; because, although the most weighty reasons were urgent, such as were the persecutions of the Gentiles, and the devastations of Rome, yet the thought never was harboured of separating the Pontificate from the Roman Episcopate; therefore the church has thought that the primacy has, by divine right, been annexed to the Roman Episcopate. "Observe, that this question is different and independent from these two, which are settled in the faith, that the primacy of the church is of divine right, and that this primacy should continue in the Roman Bishop, or Pope." Concerning the Power of the Supreme Pontiff. (93.) "From whom does the Pope, legitimately elected, receive his power and jurisdiction? "Ans. He receives it immediately from Christ as his Vicar, just as Peter received it. "Nor is it any objection that the pope is elected by cardinals; for their election is only an essential requisite, which being supplied, he receives power and jurisdiction imme diately from Christ. "From whom do the Bishops receive the power of jurisdiction? "Ans. The French contend that they receive it immediately from Christ; but it seems that it ought rather to be said that they receive it immediately from the Roman Pontiff, because the government of the church is monarchical, &c., &c. What and how great is the Power of the Supreme "What power has the Roman Pontiff? "We reply with St. Thomas, &c.: THE POPE HAS PLENITUDE OF POWER IN THE CHURCH;' so that his power extends to all who are in the church, and to all things which pertain to the government of the church. "This is proved from what was said before: because the Roman Pontiff is the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the whole church, the pastor and teacher; therefore, &c. "Hence it follows, that all the faithful, even bishops and patriarchs, are obliged to obey the Roman Pontiff; also, that he must be obeyed in all things which concern the Christian religion, and therefore, in faith and customs, in rites, ecclesiastical discipline, &c. 66 Hence, the perverse device of the Quesnellites falls to the ground; namely, that the pope is not to be obeyed, except in those things which he enjoins conformably to Sacred Scripture. "Has the Supreme Pontiff not only directive, but also compulsory power over all the faithful? "Ans. Yes; because, Matt. xvi. 19, the power of binding, which pertains to compulsory authority, is given to Peter and his successors. Perpetual custom also confirms this; hence, the power of suspending, excommunicating, &c., belongs to the Supreme Pontiff. Obj. Christ says, Luke xxii. 25, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them'-v. 26, 'But you not so;' therefore, coercive power does not belong to ecclesiastics. "Ans. I deny the inference: for it is merely forbidden that they govern in the manner of Gentile kings; and hence he adds: But you not so;' that is, they should not rule tyrannically and haughtily, seek their own advantage, glory, &c. in ruling." The following section (95) discusses the question whether the Pope is superior to a general council. "The question is not concerning a council assembled together with the Pope: for in this case the pontiff cannot be above the council, as he must then be superior to himself; but he is of equal authority with the council. "It is asked, therefore, whether a general council taken by itself without the Pope, but yet lawfully assembled, is above the pontiff? "The French maintain the affirmative: out of France it is commonly affirmed that the Pope is superior to a general council, so that he may transfer, dissolve it, &c. "This is proved: Christ said to Peter, not to the council: 'I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; feed my sheep,' &c. Peter, therefore, and his successors are the head and pastor, not only of the church in its dispersed state, or of single believers, but, also, of the church assembled in council: for the head is superior not only to each member particularly but taken together: the shepherd governs and is superior not only to each sheep in particular, but to the whole flock: and hence the Chalcedonian Council in a letter to Pope Leo acknowledges him as their head and father," &c. Concerning the Infallibility of the Supreme Pontiff. (96.) "It is to be premised that the Pope is sometimes said to speak or determine ex cathedra, but sometimes not, but as a private doctor, or as replying to a particular question or case. "He is regarded as speaking ex cathedra, (from the throne) when he speaks from the plenitude of power, prescribing to the whole church anything as a doctrine to be believed by faith, or observed in customs, or accepted as good or religious. "Is the opinion of the Supreme Pontiff of infallible authority? "The Supreme Pontiff just as an entire general council may err in mere facts, or in things not concerning faith or customs: because infallibility in such things is not necessary for the government of the church, nor does a mistake injure the integrity of religion. "He may also err, when he does not speak ex cathedra: and thus, if a work on theology or law is published by the Supreme Pontiff, there may possibly be errors in it: because it bears no other authority before itself than that of a private doctor; as Benedict XIV. declares concerning his own works in a brief to James Facciolatus, which he wished to have prefixed to the first volume. A mistake may possibly be found in some decrees entered upon the canonical law: because, although those decrees are entered upon the canonical law, that the judges might have some rule in judging, yet the pontiffs do not present them all as definitions of the faith. "The Supreme Pontiff determining from the throne matters relating to faith or customs is infallible: which infallibility proceeds from the special assistance of the Holy Spirit." The three following passages of Scripture are then adduced as proofs that the pope is infallible. Matt. xvi. 18. "Thou art Peter," &c. Luke xxii. 32. "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not, and thou, when once thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren;" where Christ promises Peter indefectibility that he may confirm his brethren in the faith which belongs to the office of pastor and head, and thus, also, to the successors of Peter. "It is proved 3d from John xxi. 17., where it is enjoined upon Peter and consequently on his successors that they feed and rule the whole church: therefore the whole church is bound to hear and to follow the doctrine of the pontiff: and hence if he can err, the whole church will err, which cannot happen, according to No. 80, &c., &c. Obj. I. The Pope may err in matters of faith and customs if he does not apply the necessary diligence: but it is possible that he may not apply the necessary diligence : therefore he may err. "Ans. The same arguments may be framed against the infallibility of a general council, which yet by the confession of our adversaries would not be conclusive: therefore, it is also not conclusive against the infallibility of the pope. : "We say, therefore, that the Pope, just as the general council, ought to apply the necessary diligence to proceed prudently but yet that the infallibility neither of the pope nor of the council depends on the condition that they have proceeded carefully: it is justly taken for granted, however, that all diligence has been applied in determining. "Obj. II. Therefore, general councils are useless: for the Pope, as he is infallible, may by himself determine all controversies about faith and customs by a judgment that cannot be improved. "Ans. I deny the inference: by way of proof, it is to be remarked that, although the Pope is infallible, yet he ought not to neglect human and ordinary means, by which he may arrive at the knowledge of the truth of the thing in debate but the ordinary means is a greater or less council as the importance of the case demands, &c., &c. "Various pontiffs are cited as objections, who are accused of error in decrees concerning the faith or customs. "Ans. It is to be observed generally for the solution (of this difficulty,) that this error is either in mere facts, or in things not pertaining to faith and customs, or in decrees which are not ex cathedra, and, therefore, they do not at all hinder the conclusion, just as, also, the personal failings of the Popes are no objection." Whether the Pope at least as a private person may be a heretic? (97.) "Although this would be no impediment to the preceding conclusion, as has been said, yet the negative opinion seems the more probable, so that the privilege of Peter, Luke xxii. 32: I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not,' may also be transferred to the successors of Peter: and it is agreeable to divine providence, that he who is a teacher of the faith, should himself not fail from the faith. "It is proved also by this, that it could never yet be proved concerning any Pope, that he was a formal heretic; and this, St. Augustine, Epist. 165, concerning the Popes, attests up to his own times. Obj. I. Marcellinus, under Dioclesian, burnt incense to an idol, therefore, &c. "Ans. Augustine, and after him, Baronius, Bellarmine, |