Apostolic See, and being united with her in matters of faith, the inference that she cannot fall into error is manifest.

year

5. Vast numbers of heresies, which have appeared at different times in the Church, were proscribed and condemned by the authority of the Pope alone. In the year 150, Cerdon and Valentine were condemned by Higinus. (Euseb. Hist. lib. i. cap. 10.) In the year 196, Theodotus was condemned by Victor. (apud eumdem, lib. v. cap. 17.) In the year 215, the Montanists were condemned by Zephyrinus. (apud Tertul. lib. de jejun. cap. 1.) After the council of Nice, in the year 390, Siricius condemned Juvinianus. In the year 401, Anastasius condemned Rufinus the Origenist. In the 416, Innocent I. condemned Pelagius. And all these were considered heretics by the Pope's verdict alone. Hence, St. Augustine, in the appendix to his book against the two epistles of the Pelagians addressed to Boniface, says: "A synod is not requisite; for many other heresies there are which have been disapproved and condemned by the Roman See, and from thence have they been exposed through distant lands, that they might be avoided." And Leo IX. in the first epistle to Michael Cerularius and Leo Arcidanus, says: "Will, therefore, any one be so insane as to suppose that the word of him, to whom willing and doing are the same, could fail in one single instance? Is it not from the chair of the prince of the apostles, as well by the same Peter as by his successors, that the devices of all heretics have been reprobated and convicted, and beaten down, and the hearts of the brethren confirmed in the faith of Peter, which never yet hath failed, nor will ever fail to the end of time?"

6. Whenever any Pope issued a decree concerning matters of faith and morality, as head of the Church, namely, for all the Catholic world, it was immediately received by the great body of the pastors, as containing the most solid and wholesome doctrine. Such were, for example, the definitions which Innocent I. and Zozimus published against the Pelagians-Celestine I. against Nestorius-Leo I. against Eutyches-Agatho I. against the Monothelites-Leo X. against Luther. These and other similar decrees, which the Pontiffs published for the whole Catholic world, as the universal doctors and pastors of the Church, were immediately received by the great body of the pastors of the Church, who adhered to them with the highest respect and profound veneration.

7. Acts and definitions of councils require the confirmation of the Roman Pontiff before obtaining effectual force in the Universal Church. "May your holiness," thus speak the fathers of the first Nicene council to Pope Silvester, "confirm our statements, that our regulation may have fixed degrees." The fathers of the council of Chalcedon, praying Pope Leo to vouchsafe to confirm by his consent their decrees, say to the same Pontiff, in relation to the synod: "We pray you, therefore, to honour our decisions by your decrees, and as we harmonize with our head in all good, so may your sovereignty complete for your children what is meet." St. Flavian, in his epistle to the same St. Leo, begs of him to confirm the condemnation pronounced by himself and by the council against Eutyches, "which will suffice," says he, "to destroy the heresy." He requests, at the same time, that he would vouchsafe to notify, under his own hand, that the sentence of condemnation has been regularly pronounced against him (Eutyches); "for the cause," says the saint, " demands only your

solution and defence, by which, of your own accord, all things are to be conducted to tranquillity and peace.'

8. Among the fathers and doctors of the Church, as well as among the saints who in different ages have been canonized, I doubt if there be a single one who ever taught that the Pope is not infallible: while, on the contrary, there are many who have manifestly advocated his infallibility, as we have seen above.

9. The Papal infallibility has been universally taught in the Church of Christ in every century: whereas the contrary opinion took its rise as recently as the fifteenth century, and has been taught only by some divines of certain particular nations. (See Ballerini in appendice de infallibil. Rom. Pont. § xii.)

10. If the judgment of the Chief Pontiff were not infallible in matters of faith, unless after the consent of the bishops, it would follow-1st, That the Sovereign Pontiff borrows, as it were, his infallibility from the bishops, and thus, that the Church is not founded on Peter, but Peter on the Church; that, instead of Peter feeding the sheep, the sheep feed Peter; that Peter is not to confirm his brethren in faith, but he is to be confirmed in it by them. 2dly, It would follow that the Chief Pontiff has no more claim to the privilege of infallibility than the bishop of the least diocese; for the judgment of any bishop, nay of any simple pastor or doctor, is infallible, when supported by the consent of the whole Church. But these consequences are opposed to the doctrine of scripture and tradition; therefore, the Roman Pontiff is infallible.

PROTESTANT.-Then you think that the Pope

is infallible in the decrees of faith, which he addresses to all christians as their head, and that the other pastors may fall into error?

CATHOLIC. In the first place, I think that the spirit of truth will remain until the end of the world with the successors of St. Peter, since they are the visible foundation of the Church of Christ, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail, are endued with full power of binding and loosing, and have received the charge of confirming their brethren in the faith. Undoubtedly the Pope is fallible, not only in what concerns his personal conduct, but also in what he teaches as a private doctor, since it has no essential connexion with the Pontifical charge. But I am firmly persuaded, that, acting as the Head of the Church, and the public doctor of all the faithful in matters of faith and morality, he is shielded from the possibility of error, for the reasons that have been stated above. In this case he is said to speak "ex cathedra," because he addresses the whole Catholic world, as the head of the Church, seated on the chair of Peter, and teaching therefrom all the faithful intrusted to his care.

Secondly, I think that the spirit of truth will reside for ever with the body of the pastors who adhere to the head of the Church of Christ, namely, the Roman Pontiff; so that, though a part of them may fall into error, yet the whole body never can, Jesus Christ having promised the spirit of truth to St. Peter and his successors in particular, and to the body of the apostles and their successors in general, until the end of the world; consequently, there will ever be in the Church of Christ bishops agreeing with their head, the Roman Pontiff, and stanch in the truth; and thus verifying in themselves the promise of Jesus Christ, that his divine spirit will be with the body of the pastors of his Church until the consummation of ages.

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CONCLUSION.

PROTESTANT.-I thank God for the communication of light which he has imparted to me through your instrumentality. The Catholic Church is indeed the Church of Christ, the immaculate Spouse of the Spotless Lamb. How deeply am I indebted to you for the happy change which has been produced in my soul!

CATHOLIC.-Knowing that "every best gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of light" (James i. 17), let us praise and glorify God, of "whose mercy there is no number, and of whose goodness the treasure is infinite." Having approached him with docility of heart, he has not failed to enlighten your understanding and to inflame your will. Hungering and thirsting after justice you have approached him, and he has not failed to feed your soul on the precious invaluable food of truth and heavenly wisdom. If, throughout this our communication, I have caused you a single moment's pain or displeasure, I make every possible apology, assuring you, at the same time, that my great principle is that of St. Augustine: "Liberty in things doubtful, unity in things essential, and charity in all things."

PROTESTANT.-Your remarks, it is true, have occasioned, from time to time, some conflicting feelings, and disquietude in my breast; but, thank God, all has tended to my good. It was a passing storm, to which succeeded a sweet calm.

CATHOLIC.-Then you are firmly persuaded of the truth of the Catholic Church?