Holy Ghost to know all truth, unless they be invested with divine authority over the faithful in matters of faith?

5. We are obliged, by Christ, to believe what the pastors of his Church teach us, under pain of eternal damnation, according to those words of Christ: "Going, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand....And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city." (Matth. x. 7-14-15.) "Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not, shall be condemned." (Mark xvi, 15-16.) Hence, St. John, in his first epistle, considers submission to the pastors of the Church as a mark of distinction between the spirit of truth and of error, and as a clear sign of our belonging to God. "We are of God," he says. "He that knoweth God heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." (1 John iv. 6.) Now, does not such obligation imply that the pastors of the Church are authorized by Christ to declare his doctrine to the faithful, and that the faithful are obliged to follow their direction?

6. St. Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, says that God "gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God

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into a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ: that henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.”(Ephes.iv. 11-14.) But how could the pastors confirm the faithful in faith, were they not authorized by Christ to judge and decide controversies touching faith? How could the faithful be confirmed by the pastors were they not obliged to follow their decisions?

7. The same apostle, in the first epistle to Timothy, calls the Church of God "the pillar and foundation of truth." (iii. 15.) Upon her, therefore, devolve the office and prerogative of directing the faithful in the path of truth, and, consequently, of removing their doubts and deciding all questions on matters of faith.

8. The pastors of the Church of Christ, according to the holy scriptures, are the Angels of God, who are to make known to us his law." I preached the gospel to you heretofore," says St. Paul; "...and you received me as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus." (Gal. iv. 13-14.) They are, moreover, the ambassadors of Christ, sent by him to declare to us his will and reconcile us with God. "For Christ, therefore," says St. Paul, "we are ambassadors; God, as it were, exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. v. 20.) They are also the organs of Christ, by whom he speaks to us. "He that heareth you,' says Christ to his apostles, "heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me." (Luke x. 16.) To them, therefore, it belongs to teach the faithful the word of eternal salvation, and to determine all points appertaining to the deposit of faith,

9. Jesus Christ ordains, in the gospel, that incorrigible brethren be denounced to the Church, and in case they refuse to hear her, that they be looked upon as heathens and publicans." If thy brother shall offend against thee," says he, "go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them : tell the Church. And if he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican." (Matth. xviii. 15-18.) Whoever deeply considers these words of our Redeemer, will not be surprised that Catholics lay great stress upon them; for how could the faithful be obliged under the severest penalties to hear the Church, were she not endued with divine authority to instruct and direct them? Why are they who refuse to hear the Church to be considered as heathens and publicans, but for having shaken off, by such an act, the yoke of legitimate authority?

10. Christ's Church is described by the prophets and evangelists as a great kingdom, a universal empire. (Ps. xxi. lxxi.; Luke i. 32-33.) Now, does not a kingdom imply a sovereign, a code of laws and an authority to enforce its observance, explain its meaning, and decide all questions that may arise relative to it?

11. In the Church of Christ there must be a supernatural means for teaching his supernatural doctrines to the people; because they are to be saved by believing and following them. This supernatural means cannot be the supernatural light of the Holy Ghost communicated immediately to individuals; 1st, because, in this case,

it were useless for Christ to send his apostles to preach the gospel all over the world, and for the apostles to comply with this injunction; 2dly, because men would be acquainted with the doctrines of the Christian religion, independently of any exterior influence, that is, without having heard any thing about them, which is clearly not the case. Neither can any writing be such supernatural means; 1st, because no writing can be known as containing the divine word, and, consequently, as invested with divine authority, independently of the supernatural testimony of God, or of those who are enlightened by God; therefore, the knowledge of any book, as divinely inspired, is posterior to the knowledge of a speaking-supernatural authority, by which we are assured that it really contains the word of God; 2dly, because every writing is a silent teacher, which cannot of itself explain the true meaning of its words when we do not understand them. Where, then, is this supernatural means to be found? Consider this point well, and you will see that such means cannot be found, but in a visible teaching authority assisted by the supernatural light of God. "How, then," asks the apostle Paul, "shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher? And how shall they preach, unless they be sent ?....Faith then cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Rom. x. 14-18.) In fact, if you trace on your atlas every portion of the world which has at any period been favoured with the light of christianity, you will find the grand and splendid work of the conversion of nations, from their evil ways to the path of truth, invariably carried into effect by the ministry of an eternal teaching authority particularly assisted by God.

12. In the Church of Christ there must be a sure means for preserving the integrity and purity of her doctrines, this being absolutely necessary for the attainment of her end, which is to bring mankind to salvation by believing and practising them. And as such a means must be proportionate to the nature of those doctrines which are to be preserved, it is clear that it must be supernatural. Now, where shall we find such a means? Not in any writing, for the above stated reasons, and also because no writing may decide on those questions which arise amongst parties concerning points of doetrine which it contains; not in private judgment, because this judgment is the source of numberless dissensions on the most essential points of faith, which are diametrically opposite to the integrity and purity of christian doctrine. It is, therefore, to be found in the teaching authority of the pastors assisted by the Holy Ghost, because this authority only can exact obedience from christians in matters of faith, and thus preserve amongst them pure and immaculate the doctrine of Christ.

13. In the Church of Christ there must be only one faith. "I...beseech you," says St. Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians, "that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called....careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism." (iv. 1-5.) But how is such unity of faith possible, unless there be in the Church an external and living authority for explaining to the faithful the real doctrines of Christ, and deciding their controversies on this subject?

"A very excellent and elegant christian writer, admiring the excellence of the truths of christianity, and observing that many millions of men, of different dispositions, conditions and nations, were