Papalism. A treatise on the claims of the papacy as set forth in the encyclical Satis Cognitum

Front matter

Papalisra

PAPALISM

Digitized by

Section I. The Encyclical Satis Cognititni, i

„ II. The nature of the Church, .... 7 „ in. Did Christ appoint a Visible Head of the Church

here on earth ? . . . . . .10

„ iv. To whom did Christ commit the Supreme Authority

in His Church ? ..... 16

„ v. The Episcopate the continuation of the Apostolate, . 18

Chapter II

WAS ST. PETER APPOINTED BY CHRIST TO BE 'THE HEAD OF THE church'?

Section vi. The Papalist interpretation of the words ' Thou art Peter,

and upon this Rock I will build My Church,' . 27

„ vil. The Patristic interpretation of the words 'Thou art

Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church,' . 29

„ viil. The first appearance of the germ of the Papalist interpretation of the words ' Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church,' . 36

„ ix. What is the true interpretation of the words ' Thou art

Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church ' ? 38

„ x. St. Pacian's alleged witness to the Papalist interpreta-

tion of the words ' Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church,' .... 43

„ xi. St. Cyril of Alexandria's alleged witness to the Papalist interpretation of the words ' Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My Church,' . . .44

„ xii. The conclusion to be drawn from the evidence, . . 50

xiv xv

Chapter III

THE PAPALIST DOCTRINE OF THE SUPREMACY OF PETER OVER THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

PAGE

Section XIII. Of the nature of the 'Primacy' alleged to have been

conferred by Christ on St. Peter, . . .52

,, xiv. Origen on ' The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,' 54 „ xv. ' The Gift of the Keys,' ..... 57 „ XVI. The Injunction ' Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep,' . 65 „ xvii. The Injunction, 'Confirm thy Brethren,' St. Luke xxii. 32, 71

(a) The Papalist interpretation of the text, . 71

(b) The Patristic interpretation of the text, . 73

(c) The Scriptural testimony against the Papalist

interpretation of the text, . . -77

(d) The history of the Papalist interpretation of

Chapter IV

ON THE TITLES BESTOWED UPON ST. PETER

Section xviii. The title 'The Rock,' ..... 81

„ XIX. The title ' The Keybearer,' . . . .83

„ XX. The title ' Pastor,' ..... 84

„ XXI. On the titles given by St. Chrysostom to St. Peter, . 84 „ xxii. The teaching of St. Chrysostom as to the position

„ XXIII. On two statements made by St. Leo and St. Gregory

as to the position of St. Peter, . . . .94

Chapter V

ST. LEO THE GREAT AND THE ' PAPAL PRETENSIONS '

Section XXIV. The alleged Supremacy jure divino of the Bishop

of Rome over the Church, . . . .97

„ xxv. The historical position of St. Leo the Great, . . 98

„ xxvi. The Edict of Valentinian III., . . . .99

„ xxvii. St. Leo and St. Hilary of Aries, . . . .103

„ xxviii. St. Leo's pretensions not admitted in the East, . . 105

Chapter VI The Influence Of Forgeries On The 'papal Pretensions'

Section XXIX. The Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals, . . . 109

„ XXX. Forged passages attributed to the Greek Fathers, . 114 xvi

Chapter VII

THE 'TESTIMONY' OF THE COUNCIL OF FLORENCE AND OF THE FOURTH COUNCIL OF THE LATERAN AS TO PAPALISM

PAC

Section XXXI. The circumstances of the convocation of the Council of Florence, . . . . . .118

xxxii. The proceedings of the Council, . . .119

xxxill. The Council rejected by the Easterns, . . 120

XXXI v. The Decrctum Unionis, . . . .122

xxxv. The Fourth Lateran Council, A.D. 1215, . . 128

Chapter VIII The Witness Of The Council Of Nicea, A.d. 325, As To Papalism

Section xxxvi. Why does not the Sa/is Cbgmtum cite 'the testimony'

of the formal Acts of the early (Ecumenical Councils? 130

„ XXXVII. By whom were the Oecumenical Councils convoked? . 131

„ XXXVIII. (Ecumenical Councils incompatible with Papalism, . 133

„ xxxix. On the Presidency of the Council of Nicasa, A.D. 325, 136 „ XL. Canon iv., . . . . .139

Chapter IX The Witness Of The Sardican Canons As To Papalism

Section xliii. The text of the three Canons on trials of Bishops, . 147 „ XLiv. The meaning of the ' Sardican Canons,' . .148

„ xlv. The ' Privilege ' a ' grant ' and not a ' right ' inherent

in the Roman See, . . . . .150

„ XLVi. Are the 'Sardican Canons' genuine? . . .151

Chapter X

THE WITNESS OF THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE, A.D. 38 1, AS TO PAPALISM

SectionXLVii. The convocation of the Council, . . . 159

„ xlviii. The Presidency of the Council, .... 160

„ XLIX. The case of Maximus the ' Cynic,' . . 161 xvii

Chapter XI The Witness Of The Council Of Ephesus, A.d. 431, As To Papalism

Section Lli. Cyril, Celestine, and Nestorius, .... 166

„ LIII. The convocation of the Council, . . .170

„ Liv. The Presidency of the Council, . . .171

„ LV. The case of Nestorius, . . . . .173

„ LVi. The ' Eighth Canon,' . . . . -179

Chapter XII

THE WITNESS OF THE COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON, A.D. 45 1, AS TO PAPALISM

Section lvii. The convocation of the Council, . . .182

„ LVIII. The Presidency of the Council, .... 184

„ Lix. The case of Dioscurus, Patriarch of Alexandria, . 184

„ LX. The case of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, . . 187

„ lxiii. Canon xvii., . . . . . .192

„ lxiv. Canon xxviil, . . . . . .192

„ txv. The Fathers of Chalcedon and 'The Tome' of St. Leo, 211

Chapter XIII

THE ALLEGED ROMAN EPISCOPATE OF ST. PETER

Section lxvi. The Papalist meaning of the expression 'the legitimate

successors of St. Peter,' . . . .218

„ lxvii. Who founded the See of Rome? . . .219

„ lxviii. Was St. Peter Bishop of Rome ? . . .221

Chapter XIV

'THE TESTIMONY 'OF ST. IREN^EUS

Section LXix. 'The I renasan Passage,' ..... 233

„ lxx. St. Polycarp and Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, . . 249

„ Lxxi. St. Irenasus and St. Victor, Bishop of Rome, . .. 250 „ LXXli. The citation by the Vatican Council of 'the Irenasan b xviii THE PAPAL MONARCHY

Chapter XV

' THE TESTIMONY ' OF ST. CYPRIAN

PAGE

Section Lxxm. The Root and Womb of the Catholic Church, . 260 „ LXXIV. Petri cathedra, ecclesia principalis unde tinitas

sacerdotalis exorta est, .... 264 „ LXXV. The way in which 'communion with the Catholic

Church' is maintained, . . . .271

,, LXXVI. St. Cyprian and the case of Basilides and Martial, 277 „ lxxvii. St. Cyprian and the controversy as to Rebaptism, 280

Chapter XVI

'THE TESTIMONY' OF ST. JEROME

Section Lxxvm. St. Jerome and St. Damasus, .... 285

„ lxxix. St. Jerome and the position of the Apostolate, . 289

Chapter XVII 1 The Testimony ' Of St Augustine

Section LXXX. The Principatus Apostolica" Cathedra:, . . 293 „ lxxxi. St. Augustine and the Donatists, . . .296

„ lxxxii. St. Augustine on 'The Unity of the Church,' . 299

„ lxxxiii. St. Augustine and the case of Apiarius, . . 301 „ LXXXIV. Did St. Augustine make agreement with the Roman

Church the test of being a Catholic ? . .311

„ LXXXV. St. Augustine and Pope Zosimus, . . . 320 „ lxxxvi. St. Augustine and the authority of a General

Chapter XVIII 'the Testimony' Of The Easterns — Part I

Section lxxxvi I. 'The testimony ' of Maximus the Abbot, . . 326

„ lxxxviii. 'The testimony ' of St. Basil, . . 331

„ LXXXix. 'The testimony' of St. Chrysostom, . . . 345

„ XC. 'The testimony' of St. Cyril of Alexandria, . 348

Chapter XIX 'the Testimony' Of The Easterns — Part II

Section XCL Alleged ' Appeals ' of Easterns to Rome, . . 350

„ xcn. The 'Appeal' of St. Athanasius, . . . 353

„ xci 1 1. The 'Appeal' of St. Chrysostom, . . . 359

„ xciv. The ' Appeal' of Flavian of Constantinople, . . 363

„ xcv. The 'Appeal ' of Theodoret, .... 369 xix

Chapter XX

'THE TESTIMONY' OF THE EASTERNS — PART III Section xcvi. 'The Pontifical Legate Philip's' assertion at the

Council of Ephesus, ..... 372

xcvn. 'The pronouncement of the Council of Chalcedon and the voice of the Third Council of Constantinople,' ...... 375

XCVI 1 1. The Formula of Hormisdas, .... 384

XCIX. Liberius and Arianism, .... 384

C. Zosimus and Pelagianism, .... 390

CI. Honorius and Monothelitism, .... 395

cii. How was the Formula of Hormisdas accepted by

the Easterns ?..... 405

cm. The Confession of Michael Palasologus, . . 413

CIV. Conclusion as to ' the testimony ' of the Easterns, . 417

Chapter XXI ' The Master ' Of ' The Episcopal College '

Section CV. 'The power of the Bishops' according to the Sails

„ cvi. The relations alleged to exist jure divlno between

the Bishops and the ' Roman Pontiffs,' . . 422

,, evil. Were any powers conferred on Peter apart from the

„ cviil. Did the Apostles receive their Apostolic powers

through Peter? ..... 429 „ Cix. Do Bishops ' separated from Peter and his successors '

lose all jurisdiction ? .... 432

„ ex. Did St. Cyprian make St. Peter and his successors

the centre of unity ? . . . . . 433

„ CXI. Did St. Optatus of Milevis make St. Peter and his

successors the centre of unity? . . . 438

„ cxil. ' Subjection and obedience to Peter' the test of being

' in communion with Peter,' .... 444 „ cxill. 'The subjection to the Roman Pontiffs of the Bishops

collectively as well as individually,' . . .451

Chapter XXII

GENERAL COUNCILS AND ' THE MASTER ' OF ' THE EPISCOPAL COLLEGE '

Section CXiv. The testimony of the first four CEcumenical Councils, 462 „ CXV. The statement of Hadrian, P. II., with reference to

the judgments of the Roman Pontiff, . . 463 xx THE PAPAL MONARCHY

Section cxvi.

The 'judgments' of the Roman Pontiff not admitted

PAGE

to be decisive, .....

„ CXVII.

The witness of the case of Acacius against Hadrian's

allegation, ......

„ CXVIII.

The witness of the Fourth Council of Constantinople,

A.D. 869, against Hadrian's allegation,

„ CXIX.

Have sentences been passed upon the Roman

Bishops? The case of Vigilius, P., .

„ cxx.

The Bishops of the 'Italian Diocese' and the con-

duct of Vigilius, .....

„ CXXI.

Have sentences been pronounced on the Roman

Bishop? The case of Honorius,

„ CXXII.

The statement of Pope Nicholas I. concerning the

authority of ' the Apostolic See,'

CHAPTER XXIII 'the episcopal college' SUPERIOR TO THE BISHOr OF ROME

Section cxxni. The testimony of the Reforming Synods of the West

in the fifteenth century, .... 495 „ cxxiv. The witness of the Council of Pisa, a.d. 1409, . 499

„ cxxv. The witness of the Council of Constance, A.D. 1414, . 502 „ cxxvi. The witness of the Council of Basle, A.D. 1431, . 514 „ CXXVii. Conclusion from the evidence afforded by the

Councils of Pisa, Constance and Basle, . .521 „ cxxvm. Is 'Papal confirmation' of the Decrees of an (Ecumenical Council necessary?. . . . 522 „ cxxix. Did the First Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325, receive

' Papal confirmation ' ? . . . . 523

„ CXXX. Did the First Council of Constantinople, A.D. 381,

receive ' Papal confirmation ' ? . . . 525

„ CXXXl. Did the Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431, receive ' Papal

confirmation'? ..... 527 „ CXXXii. Did the Council of Chalcedon, A.D. 451, receive ' Papal

confirmation'? ..... 528 „ cxxxm. Did the Second Council of Constantinople, A.D. 553,

receive ' Papal confirmation ' ? . . . 529

„ CXXXIV. Did the Third Council of Constantinople A.D. 680,

receive ' Papal confirmation ' ? . . . 530

„ cxxxv. Did the Second Council of Nicaea, a.d. 787, receive

' Papal confirmation' ? .... 532 „ cxxxvi. The evidence of the 'subscriptions' of the Bishops to

the Acts of a Council, .... 533 „ CXXXVii. The meaning of the confirmation of the Decrees of

„ CXXXVin. The Papalist argument sought to be based on the

rejection by the Roman Bishops of the decrees of

certain Councils examined, . . . • 537 xxi

I'AGE

Section CXXXIX. Why the Church rejected the Council of Ephesus,

„ CXL. Why the Church rejected the Council of Ariminum,

„ CXLI. Why the Church rejected the Council of Constantinople,

A.D. 754, ..... 541 „ CXLII. The position of Canon xxvm. of the Council of

„ cxlii I. Pope Gelasius on the authority of the First See, . 543 „ CXLIV. Value of Papalist assertion as to the relation of the

Roman Pontiffs to Councils, . . . 546

„ CXLV. Value of the Papalist appeal to Holy Writ as showing

the supreme power of the Roman Pontiff over

the Episcopal College, .... 547 „ cxlvi. Papalism asserted to be the belief of the Church in

Chapter XXIV

THE PAPALIST CONCEPTION OF THE POSITION OF THE BISHOPS Section CXLVii. The power of the Bishops 'limited' and 'dependent,' 551

„ cxlviii. The power of the Roman Bishops 'supreme,' 'universal' and 'independent,' . . . .554

„ CXLix. The teaching of St. Thomas as to the relative positions of the Bishops and the Pope, . . . 557

„ CL. The teaching of Pope Innocent III. as to the relative

positions of the Bishops and the Pope, . . 560

„ CLi. The Bishops according to Papalism 'Vicars' of the

Roman Pontiff, ..... 561

„ CLll. The actual position of the ' Roman Pontiff' that of

' Universal Bishop,' ..... 568

„ CLIII. The actual position of the Bishops in the Church

according to Papalism, . . . .586

Conclusion

Section

CLiv. The Papalist claims recapitulated,

CLV. Result of the investigation as to the validity of

the Papalist claims, .....

CLVi. Papalism of necessity must be rejected by Catholics,

Note 1.

On St. Cyprian and the authority of Councils,

„ 2.

On ' Decretals,' ......

» 3-

On St. Peter and the conversion of Cornelius,

„ 4-

On a statement by St. Optatus on ' The Gift of the Keys,' .

„ 5-

On Tertullian's interpretation of ' The Gift of the Keys,'

„ 6.

Some of the Forged Decretals cited by Melchior Cano, xxii

Note 7. On the letter of Pelagius, P. II., to the Bishops of Istria, . 607

„ 8. On the ' old text ' of St. Chrysostom's Homilies on the Arts, 608

„ 9. On the genuineness of St. Chrysostom's Homilies on the Acts, 609 „ 10. On Valentinian's statement as to the 1 Primacy of the

Apostolic See,' ...... 609

„ 1 1. On the Vicariate of Aries, ..... 609

„ 12. On the Donation of Constantine, .... 612

„ 13. The spurious character of the Psendo-Isidorian Decretals

admitted by Roman Catholics, . . . .612

„ 14. Forgeries in the interests of Papalism, . . .621

„ 1 5. On the influence exercised by the Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals

in England at the beginning of the sixteenth century, . 622

„ 16. On the subjects discussed at the Council of Florence, . 622

„ 17. Isidore and Bessarion after the Council of Florence, . 623

„ 18. On the Gallicans and the Florentine Council, . . 623 „ 19. On the phrase Sacro approbante Concilio used at the

Vatican Council, ...... 623

,, 20. On the meaning of the word npoedpois in Eusebius, Vita

„ 21. On the phrase 'by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See,' 624

„ 23. On the title ' Patriarch,' ..... 626

„ 24. On the extent of the ' Roman Patriarchate,' . . . 626

„ 25. On the Council in Trullo and the ' Sardican Canons,' . 629 „ 26. On the interpolation in the Synodal Letter of the Council

„ 27. On the position of the Bishops of Thcssalonica, . . 630 „ 28. Why St. Meletius presided over the Council of Constantinople, . . . . . . .631

„ 29. On the distinction between invalid and irregular Ordinations, 632 „ 30. On the forged passages attributed to St. Cyril of Alexandria,

etc.,. . . , . . . .633 „ 31. On the statement with reference to St. Cyril of Alexandria

in the Synodal letter of the Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431,

to the Emperor, ...... 635

„ 32. St. Basil on Western pride, ..... 636

„ 33. On the convocation of the Latrocinium, . . . 636 „ 33B. On the 'Legates' of the Middle Ages, . . -637 „ 34. On the title Stvrepa avvo&os as applied to the Ephesine

Synod at the Latrocinium, .... 638

„ 35. Innocent, P. ill., on the dignity of the See of Constantinople, 638 „ 36. On the position held by the Latin Patriarch of CP. in the

thirteenth century, ..... 639

„ 37. On the Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians, . . 639 „ 38. On St. Ignatius' statement as to the position of the Church

„ 39. On Funk's allegation as to the reason why every Church must

'resort to' the Roman Church (St. Irenwus in., iii. 2), . 643 xxiii

PACE

Note 40. On Tertullian's expression Pontife.x Maxitnus, . . 645

„ 41. At what date did Milan become a Metropolitical See ? . 648 „ 42. What St. Ambrose meant by agreement with the Catholic

Bishops, that is, with the Roman Church, . . 649

„ 43. On the 'interpolations' in the treatise De Unitatc Ecclesicc

Cal/ioliar of St. Cyprian, . . . . 65 1

„ 44. On the tract De Aleatoribus, .... 662

„ 45. On St. Augustine's statement Scatries judical Orbis

„ 46. On the case of Marcion, ..... 664

„ 47. On the meaning of Canon xvn. of the Sixteenth Council

of Carthage, a.d. 418, ..... 645 „ 48. On P. Innocent i.'s method of advancing his pretensions

„ 49. On two passages from St. Augustine sometimes cited in

support of Papalism, ..... 666 ,, 50. On the position of Theophilus of Alexandria, . . 667

„ 51. On the case of Dionysius of Alexandria and Dionysius of

„ 52. On Sozomen's statement with reference to St. Julius, P. and

St. Athanasius, ...... 670

„ 53. On the case of Paul of Samosata, .... 671

„ 54. On the ' Appeal ' of Eusebius of Dorylaeum, . . 673

„ 55. On Theodoret's letter to St. Leo the Great, . . . 675

„ 56. On Pope Vitalian and the Typus, .... 677

„ 57. On the identical treatment of Pope Agatho's letter and

Macarius by the Sixth Synod, .... 677 „ 58. On St. Augustine's statement with reference to the acquittal

by Zosimus of Ccelestius and Pelagius, . . . 679

„ 59. On the Seventh Synod and Pope Hadrian's letter to the

„ 60. On Baronius and the condemnation of Pope Honorius by

the Sixth Synod, ...... 684

„ 61. On the way in which a Council attains OZcumenical

„ 62. On the Quinquennial Faculties required by Roman Catholic

„ 64. On the foundation of the Church of the English, . . 695

APPENDICES

Appendix A. Epistola Encyclica — Satis Cognilum, . . . 697

Appendix B. Constitutio Prima Dogmatica De Ecclesia Christi — edita in sessione quarta Sacrosancti (Ecumenici Concilii Vaticani, ....... 719

ERRATA

Page 5, footnote I, /or ' 1299' read ' 1296.' ,, 20, footnote I, for ' Life ' read ' Library? ,, 22, footnote 8, for ' 281 ' i-ead ' 581.' ,, 25, footnote 1, for ' 66 ' read ' 61.' ,, 28, footnote 2, for '4' raz^ '484.' ,, 47, line 22, for ' teachings ' read ' teaching. ' ,, 54, line 31, for ' been true, been ' read ' been true, have been.' ,, 79, line 37, for ' (Kensick) ' read ' (Kenrick). ' ,, 85, line 9, for ' prefecturam ' read ' praefecturam.' ,, 98, footnote 3, for ' 763, 777 ' read ' 758 et seq.' ,, 101, footnote 2, for 'op cit' read ' A Compendium of Ecclesiastical History,''

,, 138, lines 6, 9, and 14, for ' Maximus' read ' Marinus.'

,, 182, footnote 2, for ' Mansuetudine ' read ' Mansuetudini. 1

,, 200, line Vj,for ' refuted ' read ' rejected.'

,, 268, footnote I, add 'vide also infra 1 144, footnote I.'

,, 269, line 15, for ' was " original " See ' read ' was the "original " See.'

,, 320, for 'Section LXXXVI ' read' Section LXXXV.'

,, 327, line 31, for ' bases 1 read ' basis.'

i) 333) '>ne i2iJo'' 'described' read' subscribed.'

m 337) footnote I , for 'Church'' read ' Age.'

,, 339, line 7, for 'confession' read 'confusion.'

>) 374) line 4Itfor 'opinions' read' opinion.'

,, 421, line 2(),for 'arguments' read ' argument.1

,, 436, line 37, for ' as ' read ' and.'

,, 505, line 13, for ' repealed ' read ' repeated.'

,, 609, line 4 from bottom, for ' Primatical ' read ' Primatial.'

,, 643, footnote $t for ' Batifol ' read ' Batiffol.'

,, 657, line 40 and footnote 2, for ' Batifol ' read ' Batiffol. '

Chapter I The Supreme Authority Founded By Christ In His Church

Section I. — The Encyclical Satis Cognitum

1. It is clearly a great advantage when any question as to which there is controversy has to be studied, to have access to documents which will authoritatively set forth the point or points disputed. Especially is this the case with regard to the authority and position which is asserted by the Roman Church to belong jure divino to the Bishops of Rome. The real character of the claims thus made is so often apparently ignored or glossed over by interested persons, that there is a very considerable haziness with regard to them prevalent, even amongst those who in other respects are well-instructed Christians ; consequently, when confronted with the allegations of Romanist?, they too frequently find themselves embarrassed by the confidence with which these allegations are advanced, and unable to judge of the accuracy of the way in which the Papalist position is set out in them. Hence they sometimes are led on to accept that of which had they known at first the real character, they would have been able to submit to the test whether or not it was in accord with the evidence afforded by the facts.

2. When therefore Pope Leo xm. published to the world the Encyclical, Satis Cognitu?n, the importance of the document can hardly be overestimated. It is nothing less than a comment on, and explanation of, the Decrees on the subject of the position and authority of the Roman Bishop, contained in the Constitutio Dogmatica Prima, De Ecclesia Christi,1 which was promulgated by Pope Pius ix. in the Fourth Session of the Vatican Council, held on July 18, 1870, an explanation issued by the one authority that on Papalist principles is final, by him who is the ' Teacher of all Christians,' exercising that care for the flock which is his in virtue of his office as Supreme Pastor, speaking ex cathedra as the successor of Peter in the Roman Episcopate. It is thus a document of the highest authority, and must be regarded by all as an exposition of the Roman doctrine as to the Papacy, the accuracy of which it is not possible for any to question.

1 Collectio Laceusis, vii. 482-7.

A

'2

When then such a document has been officially communicated to the whole world, there can be no doubt that it must form a convenient basis for a treatise dealing with the Papal Claims, and that is the course adopted in the following pages.

3. The ' plan ' of the work is very simple. The various statements made in the Satis Cognitum with regard to the Papacy will be discussed in detail, an endeavour made to set clearly out their real significance, and then evidence will be adduced which will show whether these statements are, or are not, in accord with the great principle embodied in the words of St. Vincent of Lerins in his famous Commonitorium : ' In the Catholic Church care is especially to be taken that we hold that what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all : For this indeed is truly Catholic, as the very force and meaning of the word signifies, comprehending as it does in general all truth universally. And this will indeed be ours if we follow Universality, Antiquity, and Consent. We shall follow Universality if we confess that to be the one true faith which the whole Church throughout the world confesses ; Antiquitv also if we in no respect recede from those tenets which it is manifest that our holy Elders and Fathers held ; and Consent, if in this antiquity we follow the definitions and opinions held by all or nearly all the ancient Bishops and Doctors.' 1 This principle is an intelligible one, and will always, when borne in mind, enable any attempt to make the acceptance of any ' novelty ' a condition of membership of the Catholic Church to be successfully withstood.

4. The course, therefore, which is adopted in the following pages will have necessarily one or other of these two results. On the one hand, if the various statements in the Satis Cognitum, in which is embodied and set forth the official teaching of the Roman Church with regard to the position and authority of the Roman Pontiffs, are found, when tested by this principle, to be in accord with it, there will then be no possibility of doubting that this teaching with regard to such position and authority has formed part of ' the venerable and constant belief of every age,' - with the necessary consequence that every 1 real and genuine Catholic ' is bound to accept it ex animo as ' the doctrine of Catholic truth from which no one is able to deviate, his faith and salvation being preserved.'3 On the other hand, if the result of such

1 S. Vincent Lirinensis, Commonitorium Primum adv. Hcereses, c. ii. Migne, Patrolo"kt Cursus Computus, Series Latina, vol. 1. 640. In this work, when references are given to this edition of the Fathers, the Scries Latina will be denoted by the letters P.L. , the Series Graca by the letters P.G.

2 Satis Cognitum, p. 39. Authcised translation, published by the Art and Book Company, London. All quotations in this treatise are from this translation. The text of the Satis Cognitum will be found in Appendix A.

3 Concil. Vatican., sessio iv. c. iii. Collectio Lacensis, vii. 484. The text of the Constitutio is given in Appendix B.

< THE PATRIARCHS '

testing be that the statements in question are found to be in no way ' the same doctrine, the same sense, the same judgment,' held by the Church Catholic everywhere from the beginning, 'which, whilst it has in accordance with the laws of growth in the progress of time developed after its own order and unfolded its proportions, has yet remained the same uncorrupted and entire, full and perfect, with no loss of what is proper to it, no variety of definition,'1 but on the contrary to embody 'novelties,' the introduction and growth of which can be clearly traced, then it is plain that ' a real and genuine Catholic ' is compelled to refuse to admit that any such position and authority belong to the Bishops of Rome, and to reject as uncatholic all claims made by them which have such position and authority as their basis.

5. Before proceeding to discuss the various statements made in the Satis Cognitum in the manner proposed, there are one or two points suggested by its superscription which call for a few remarks. First, the Satis Cognitum is addressed by Leo xm. to his 'Venerable brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries, in peace and communion with the Apostolic See.' It will be noted that all those 'Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries' who are not ' in communion with the Apostolic See ' are pointedly excluded from those to whom the document is addressed. There is no difficulty in discovering the reason for the exclusion ; it is plain from what is stated later that it is because those who are in such communion are alone within ' the fold,' and since the object of the Satis Cogfiitum is to forward the efforts which the Pope had already made ' to bring back to the fold, placed under the guardianship of Jesus Christ, the Chief Pastor of souls, sheep that have strayed,' 2 it is to these alone that the Pope addresses himself with the object that they may aid in the work.

6. The fact that the Pope does thus limit ' the fold ' to that portion of the Church which is ' in communion with the Apostolic See,' whilst it serves to set the keynote for the whole document, serves also to remind thoughtful persons that though ' Patriarchs ' are mentioned amongst those to whom the Satis Cognitum is addressed, yet there are not included amongst them the occupants of the four Eastern Patriarchal thrones, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. It is no doubt true that certain prelates who are called Patriarchs of these Patriarchates did officially receive the Satis Cognitum, as well as those other Bishops of the Latin Church, on whom the Pope has thought fit to confer the title of Patriarch, such as those of Lisbon, and Burgos in Spain,- — but who clearly occupy a different position to that of a Patriarch in the ancient meaning of the word — yet who are these Bishops bearing these lofty titles ? They are mere occupants of those

1 S. Vincent Lirinensis, op. ci/., c. xxiii. ; P. L. 1. 667-668.

titular Sees which have been erected by Papal authority within the limits of jurisdiction of the legitimate holders of the ancient Catholic Sees, and who, consequently, unless the Papalist contentions with regard to the Papacy be true, as is of course assumed by Leo xm., are intruders destitute of all 'mission' and 'jurisdiction.'