however they vary as to the fubject in which this wonder ful prerogative refides, yet the whole party are agreed that it belongs to the church, as one of her effential and infeparable characters *: and the different modes of explication

"That it is a thing experience bath often confirmed, that a general council 66 may err, and that many councils have actually erred in their decifions." In like manner the infallibility, whether of Popes, councils, or clergy, is rejected by Cardinal D'Ailly, Clemangis, Panormitane, Jacobatius, Occam, Turrecremata, Durand, St. Anthony of Florence, Pie de la Mirendole, &c. Gloff. Caufa xxiv. qu. x. c. 9. Thom. Valdenf. Doar. Fidei, t. i. l. ii. a. x. f. 19. Cufan. Concord. Cath. l. ii. c. 3, et 4. Alliac Card. Camerac. de Auth. Eccl. p. 3. c. 3. Occam Dial. p.ș. l. v. c. 25. et p. 2. l. v. c. 1. Pic. Mir. de Fide et Ord. cred. theor. iv. p. 175, et.3.97, &c.

Father Turberville, in the catechism above mentioned, fays, "That the “holding the infallibility of the church and general councils, in delivering and "defining points of faith, is one thing in which the unity of the church con"fifts, and that it is no matter of indifferency, but a high fundamental.”"The doctrine concerning the catholic church," fays the learned bishop of Meaux," confifts in four points, of which the connection is inviolable: one

is, that the church is vifible; another, that he always fubfifts; a third, "that the truth of the gofpel is always profeffed by the whole fociety; the "fourth, that there is no permiffion to depart from her doctrine, or in other "words, that he is infallible. From the three fift the fourth article clearly "follows, namely, that it is not allowable to say that the church may be in an error, nor to forfake her doctrine: and the fame promife, which fecures that "the church always fubfifts, fecures that the shall always fubfift in the state "which the word church imports, confequently always visible, and always “teaching the truth. Nothing is more fimple, more clear, or more followed, than ‚“ this doctrine.”—“The variations in the Reformation,” adds the same writer, "let us fee what it is; a kingdom difunited, divided against itself, and which "must fall fooner or later: while the Catholic church immovably attached to. "decrees once pronounced, in which it is impoffible to fhew the fmalleft varia❝tion fince the origin of Chriftianity, evidences herfelf to be a church buile upon a rock, always affured of herself, or rather of the promifes which the "hath received, firm in her principles, and guided by a spirit which can never "contradict itself."-The author of a book, entitled, Mercy and Truth, or Charity maintained by Catholics, tells us, "That the denial of the church's infalli. bility is the capital and mother herefy from which all other must follow of “course.”—“ There muft," fays the fame writer, "be fome external, visible, "public, living judge, to whom all forts of perfons, both learned and un "learned, may, without danger of error, have recourse, and in whofe judgment

"

they may rett-and this living judge we will most evidently prove to be no "other than that holy, catholic, apoftolic, and visible church which our Sa

tion make no confiderable difference as to the practical influence, and dangerous tendency of the principle; seeing they are all equally bound by it to unlimited subjection to what they reckon the highest authority of the church: and whatever hypothefis is embraced, the danger is nearly equal, as, upon any of them, fome of the capital and moft pernicious errors must be firmly and invariably efta, blished.

The Romish infallibility is like the copestone, which crowns all the rest of their errors and abfurdities; or like the band of iron and brass which holds them together, fo that not one of them, whether great or fmall, can ever be fhaken or loosed, without destroying the whole fabric. It unites indiffolubly all the paft, the prefent, and the future

"viour purchafed with the effufion of his moft precious blood. If once there efore it be granted, that the church is that means which God hath left for deciding all controverfies in faith, it manifeftly will follow, that the must be infallible in all her determinations, whether the matters of themselves be r great or fmall; becaufe, if it were not infallible in all things propofed by it 66 as truths revealed by God, it could not fettle in our minds a firm and infalli" ble belief of any one.-I do here deliver a catalogue," continues he, "wherein " are comprized all points by us held to be necessary to salvation, in these words: "We are obliged, under pain of damnation, to believe whatsoever the catholic vifible church of Chrift proposeth as revealed by almighty God. If any be of "another mind, ail Catholics denounce him to be no Catholic." Cathol. Fa. et Pract. Boffuet, Hift. des Variat. des Egl. Prot. 1. xv. tome ii. p. 380, 381, be. Char. maint. ch. i. § 9, and 10, ch. ii. § 2. and ch. iii. § 19. ap. Chillingw. Religion of Proteft.

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• A refpectable doctor, in a late Addrefs, has obferved, that it is not just to talk of the Pope's infallibility as a doctrine univerfally received in the church of Rome. But though this be granted, yet cannot ferve the purpose for which it is adduced, unless he could also deny, that infallibility itfelf is universally received by that church. Befides, this is a plea which a true Catholic, upon his principles, cannot avail himself of; for, in all points of faith in which catholic unity confifts, no difference or oppofition can be admitted among the conftituent parts of the church and wherever infallibility hall be supposed to refide, it muft, at last, be found the fame with the pontifical ftrictly fo called, fince the doctrine of Catholic Popes, councils, bishops, and of the faithful multitude, have ever been, and ftill are the fame, according to his fyftem. Dr. Campbell' Addrefs to the people of Scotland, &c. p. 34.

into one; and neceffarily makes the faith of the whole the faith of every part, and the public creed that of every individual. It is an infuperable bar in the way of reformation; it precludes every idea of change; makes a retraction of any error once embraced impoffible; whatever has paffed the mint, and received the indelible impreffion, becomes ever after like a law of the Medes and Perfians, which altereth not. And hence we may evidently conclude, that Popery always is, and ever must be, the fame.. If its principles have at any time been dangerous, feditious, or treasonable, they must continue fo ftill:-that the church of Rome must be destroyed, before fhe can either reform herself, or be reformed; and that what the cannot do for herfelf, none of her children can ever be at liberty to do for themselves,

Such are the characteristic features, fuch the ruling fpirit and principles of the Romish church; fo far as they relate to our prefent inquiry. What a different picture of her is now exhibited to the world by her interested friends, and defigning or mistaken advocates! They would palm upon the credulous a very oppofite scheme of principles, to that which he hath ever held and followed. If we take their word for it, fhe teaches no doctrines, nor ever taught any, but thofe of loyalty, pure morality, meekness, charity, and evangelical peace; the embraces no opinions, authorises no practices, prejudicial to any government whatever, or repugnant to the duties of good citizens *.· All

*The Roman-Catholic peers and commoners of Great Britain, in their address to the throne previous to their obtaining the late act in their favour, make the following profeflions: "We beg leave to affure your M.jefty, that our "diffent from the legal establishment, in matters of religion, is purely conscientious; that we hold no opinions adverse to your Majesty's government, or re" pugnant to the duties of good citizens."-In a petition from the Catholics in the northern part of the kingdom, more lately presented to the Heufe of Commons, they boaft of " their inoffenfive and dutiful conduct to approve themfelves barmless and useful fubjects of the British empire ;-protetting to the “honourable

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the odious things of Popery are now either palliated, or explained away, confidently difclaimed, fpecioufly disguifed, or artfully concealed. Nor need we be furprifed at this. The harlot and her friends have very good reafon

to

"honourable houfe, and to the world, that their confcience acquits them of " any offence either in opinions or actions, which can render them deferving of those laws of extreme rigour to which they fubmit; and that they are perfectly ready to give the most effectual proofs, which the wisdom of the legislature. can fuggeft, of their fidelity to his Majefty, and attachment to the constitution of t of their country."-The fuperior of the clergy in Dublin, in his exhortation printed laft year, declares, that obedience and fidelity to princes (even Proteftant princes) is, and ever was a doctrine of their religion." I congra“tulated myself,” (fays Bishop H.), "and thanked my good God for having "brought me me to the knowledge and communion of that church, who juftly "glories in the fanctity of her doctrine, as well as in the integrity and purity "of her faith; who detefts all those execrable tenets of which the is falfely ac«cused, &c.”—And not only do Roman Catholics thus exculpate themselves, but Proteftants must also manage the fame plea for them. "Their opinions

are harmless and merely speculative," say their advocates in parliament and elsewhere, "and do not in the leaft interfere with the quiet and tranquillity of the ftate."-The author of the Trial of the Roman Catholics, a performance published several years ago, on which we doubt not the guilt of misinforming and misleading our rulers, and impofing on the public as to this matter, may be, in great measure, charged, thus acts the part of folicitor for Rome: You

have already beard the principles imputed to the church of Rome-Be pleafed now to hear the church of Rome in her turn,-Her councils, fynods, • assemblies, academies, doctors, and the individuals both of her clergy and Jaity, affirm, That the Pope hath no authority over the temporal power or jurifdiction of princes--That neither a Papal confiftory, nor even a gene"ral council, can abfolve subjects from their allegiance-That it is impious ❝and damnable in any man to attempt to depose his fovereign on account of

his being an heretic, or excommunicated for herefy-That, fhould the Pope "undertake to abfolve any people from their allegiance to their prince, fuch abfolution or difpenfation would in itself be null and void- That all Catholie fubjects, notwithstanding fuch difpenfation, are bound in confcience to de"fend their king and country, at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, even against the Pope himfelf-That the king killing doctrine, or privilege fur murdering princes excommunicated for herefy, is damnable and heretical, "and contrary to the known laws of God and nature-That no power upon earth can licence any wicked or immoral action, neither difpenfe with lying, perjury, the maffacre of our neighbours, or the damage of our native country, "under pretence of promoting religion or the Catholic caufe-That all pardons "and difpenfations granted, or pretended to be granted, in order to any such • ends or defigas, can be attérded with no other advantage or confequence than

es that

to be ashamed of the ugly, hellish brats which the hath brought forth, though they never can difprove her relation. to them; and were they to acknowledge them at this time, it might spoil the hopeful intrigue, and prove the ruin of their caufe. For if fuch execrable tenets were directly admitted, as they may fairly, upon principles which they still own, be fixed upon them, every one might readily perceive it repugnant to common fenfe and good policy to afford them toleration. If the whole, or any part, of the foregoing charge be juft, no impartial perfon will hesitate a moment to decide the question. Against men of such principles fcarce any laws can be too fevere, even Roman Catholics themselves being judges *.

I know it is objected, that though fome of thefe doctrines have been fometimes adopted and practifed, yet they have never been univerfally received by the Roman Catho lic church, but, on the contrary, fometimes exploded; and therefore they cannot be juftly accounted Catholic principles +. It is not, indeed, very aafy to know what is

meant

that of adding facrilege and blasphemy to the crimes proposed to be licensed→→ "and, that the doctrine of equivocation, or mental refervation, is deteftable "in its principles, is wholly contrary to Chriftian fimplicity and fincerity, and "its confequences, is everfive of truth, justice, and common fociety.'-Now, as thefe are the principles and doctrines that have been invariably avowed, profeffed, and taught by the church of Rome, and all her members, during 'fome centuries last past; I want to know who it is that has a right to fet up another system in her name?' Credat Judeus Apella.-See the public papers; Brooke's Trial of the Roman Catholics, &c.

"If Papists do hold, (fays one of their prefent leaders), " that lying, "treachery, and murder, can ever become lawful, for any end whatsoever, "they are the most execrable wretches on the face of God's earth, intolerable "in any Proteftant state, and justly deferve the odium and abhorrence of all "mankind." Detection of the dangerous Tendency of Dr. Campbell's Serman P. 31.

"It is not juft," fays the author of the Addrefs once already quoted, << te "talk of the Pope's infallibility, difperfing power in respect of oaths, and the "lawfulness of perfidy to heretics, as doctrines, univerfally received in the "church of Rome. These, and feveral other fuch abfurdities, will be found