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and by some of the Professors of Maynooth College. But will those gentlemen confront Pope Pius II. and Bellarmine on the subject; the highest authorities in their Church? The former says, *"that even to speak the truth in opposition to the Pope would be contrary to the episcopal oath; while the latter

deemed by them infallible, when there are no reclamations; or but few in comparison to those, who assent to his decisions. The validity of this denial may be judged of from the explanations given by themselves in the Eighth Report of the Commissioners of Education. They there assert (p. 275) that the Pope enjoys THE SAME jurisdiction as God was pleased to confer on St. Peter, that his power is paramount to the Canons, and Decrees of General Councils; and although there is no possible way of ascertaining the collective judgment of the faithful on doctrinal points, each of them is bound to receive the Pope's decision provisionally, until it be ascertained, (a thing totally impossible,) whether they be reclaimed against, or not. Here is his personal Infallibility admitted de facto, although denied in words. Neither Pope Pius II.; nor Bellarmine, has gone farther than this.

The case is not much improved by ascribing Infallibility to General Councils, which consist of fallible materials; of men subject to human frailties and imperfections, led on by the address of a few able, and talented individuals. The Council of Trent supplies us with a happy illustration of the point, governed as it was by the cabals, and intrigues of men of this description.

* "Quod etiam verum dicere contra Papam; sit contra Episcoporum Juramenta." EPIST. ad Mogunt.

observes, that if the Pope should err in commanding vices, and forbidding virtues, the Church would be bound to believe, that vices were virtues, and virtues, vices, unless she wished to sin against conscience." And again, the Cardinal observes, *"Catholics are agreed, that the Pontiff alone, or in conjunction with his own particular Council, deciding any thing in a doubtful matter, whether he can err, or not; MUST be dutifully obeyed by all the faithful.”

In conclusion, although this small volume almost exclusively treats of the external polity of the Church; yet, it should be observed, that during the many centuries, through which it runs, God was never left at any time, even in the age of the grossest darkness, without a faithful witness; and that an invisible Church, and Christ's spiritual kingdom always existed. Should the miniature of hu

+ "Si autem Papa erraret, præcipiendo vitia, vel prohibendo virtutes, teneretur ecclesia, credere vitia esse bona, et virtutes, malas; nisi vellet contra conscientiam peccare."DE PONTIF. Lib. iv. cap. 5.

* "Conveniunt Catholici Pontificem solum, vel cum suo particulari concilio, aliquid in re dubiâ statuentem sive errare potest, sive non, esse ab omnibus fidelibus obedienter audiendum." IBID.

man frailty, which it presents to the reader's mind, in any degree, prove to him the weakness of our fallen nature, and direct his thoughts to the only Infallible Guide, through this vale of sin, and error;-to the WORD OF LIFE itself: it will have been instrumental in effecting a most important object. May it lead to this blessed result, so that by tasting of the living stream, he may desire to ascend to the divine source itself; to the Rock of Ages;-the CHRIST;

THE SAVIOUR.

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