Puslapio vaizdai
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refuse to acknowledge that authority, which Christ was pleased to confer on the pastors of his Church, either by despising the internal motions of the Holy Ghost inviting them to examine the foundation on which rests the Catholic Church, or by closing their eyes against the light of truth which shines upon them. For thus they wilfully despise the authority of God communicated to his Church, and, like the Jews, "stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, they resist the Holy Ghost." (Acts vii. 51.)

The want of subjection to the pastors of the Catholic Church, arising from invincible ignorance of that authority, with which they are invested, does not prevent people from attaining eternal salvation. Nevertheless, there are some reasons for which the salvation of those who die in such a state is to be regarded as very perilous; 1st, because the want of subjection to that authority which Christ established in his Church for teaching his doctrine, is sometimes accompanied with the want of true faith on those points which are to be explicitly believed for attaining eternal salvation, as the Incarnation, &c.; 2dly, because the want of subjection to such authority is generally accompanied with the contempt, or at least the neglect, of those means from which we are to derive the necessary grace for sanctifying our souls and attaining eternal salvation-which means are the holy Sacraments.

Hence, I should think, that if amongst those people, who, without any fault on their part, are not subject to the authority of the Catholic Church, there were any individual really and sincerely desirous of doing the will of God in every respect, notwithstanding every sacrifice, Almighty God would not fail to provide some means, from the treasures of his infinite wisdom and goodness, to conduct

such a person to the knowledge of the truth, and to the communion of his holy Church, and would send down, if necessary, even an angel from heaven.

In the Acts of the Apostles, it is said that "the Lord daily added to the Church such as should be saved" (Acts ii. 47), and that " as many as were ordained to eternal life, believed" (Acts xiii. 48); that is, were brought to the true faith which the apostles preached. Now, what the Lord daily performed in the time of the apostles, he will continue to do until the end of the world. And as, at that period, those who were to be saved were added to the Church, and submitted to her pastors, from whom they received the doctrine of truth; so will it be, ordinarily speaking, until the consummation of ages.

46

THIRD DIALOGUE.

PROTESTANT.-Your remarks on the existence of an external and teaching authority in the Church of Christ, are very forcible indeed.

CATHOLIC.-Why then are Protestants so decidedly hostile to Catholics, and so strangely opposed to any one joining their communion? Catholics believers, adhering to that visible and Are not teaching authority which Christ appointed in his Church? Why then persecute them, and those who wish to be united with them? What a singular and unaccountable fact! thousands leave the Church of England, to enlist Thousands and amongst Methodists, Quakers, Anabaptists, and to join the ranks of numerous other sectarians, which abound in this unfortunate nation, without meeting any persecution or opposition; but seldom is there an instance of an individual leaving the Protestant Church to enter the Church of his forefathers, who is not opposed and persecuted by his fellow men of various religious denominations; and most of all by his very friends and nearest relatives. this a fulfilment of those words of our Redeemer : Is not "You shall be hated by all men, for my name's sake"? (Matth. x. 22.)

PROTESTANT.-Were the Roman Catholic Church holy and pure, as in the first centuries, instead of being opposed by Protestants, she would be highly esteemed and favoured by them; but having once deviated from truth, and become infected with so many errors, they cannot but declare hostility against her, and be astonished that any sensible man should remain within her pale.

CATHOLIC.-Were Protestants well informed of the solid reasons by which Catholics are moved to adhere closely to their Church, far from being surprised at seeing any sensible man peacefully remaining within her pale, they would rather be much surprised at seeing any sensible man remaining without it."To say nothing of the wisdom," thus each Catholic may exclaim with St. Augustine, "the existence of which you deny to the Catholic Church, there are many other reasons which most justly detain me in her bosom. I am held in it by the consent of countries and nations. I am held by an authority which miracles have contributed to establish, which hope has fostered, which charity has encreased, and to which time has given stability. I am held by an uninterrupted succession of pastors from St. Peter, to whom our Lord consigned the feeding of his flock, after his resurrection, to the present pontiff. Finally, I am held in her bosom by the name of catholic, which this Church has deservedly retained, by an exclusive right, amidst so many heresies; for though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet, if a stranger should inquire the way to the Catholic Church, none of them would have the assurance do direct the inquirer to his house or temple." (St. Aug. contra Epist. Fundam. c. 4.) But let us direct our attention to the charge brought by Protestants against the Catholic Church, of having deviated from truth and fallen into many errrors,

""Tis said with ease, but never can be prov'd,
The Church her old foundations has remov'd,
And built new doctrines on unstable sands
Judge her, ye winds and rains. Ye prov'd her,
yet she stands."-Dryden,

If it be true that the Roman Catholic Church fell into grievous error after the first centuries,

would you have the kindness to point out the exact epoch of that eventful fall? At what precise period did the Roman Catholic Church deviate from truth, and turn herself to the vain traditions of men? Tell me not that the Catholic Church fell gradually into a state of corruption, for this is impossible. Had she ever deviated from truth, she Iwould have ceased to form the true Church of Christ-which must be essentially pure and holy in all her doctrines-from the very moment in which she deviated in the least from the doctrine of Christ; and, consequently, from that very moment she would have fallen into a state of corruption. Were the assertion, therefore, of Protestants true, namely, that the Catholic Church departed from truth after the first centuries, there must be a certain determinate period of time in which that momentous epoch occurred. Would you point out to me the precise period when such corruption arose ?

PROTESTANT.-Some say that this momentous event happened about the fourth, others the fifth, and others the sixth, while others (with whom I agree) fix upon the seventh century.

CATHOLIC.-Alas! does not this great difference in opinions clearly demonstrate that the charge alleged against the Roman Catholic Church is groundless? Were there existing merely a difference of some years, it would excite less astonishment; but must not every sensible man stand in utter amazement to see the vast difference, the wide gap, of centuries and centuries, upon a subject which affects so great a portion of mankind, and which, had it occurred, would necessarily have excited the feelings and roused the just indignation of every christian throughout the universe?

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