infringed by the ambition of no man; for so great is the respect I bear to the Nicene Canons, that I will not permit, nor suffer them to be violated by any innovation. The merits of ministers may vary; but the rights of Churches remain.- Wherefore should any thing be necessary for the defence of the privileges of your Church, let me be informed by yourself, that I may be able to reply positively, and with precision." Ep. xcii. al. lxii. p. 621,622. Edit. Paris. 1675. -About the same time, writing to Theodoret, the learned Bishop of Cyrus in Syria, he says :-“ To this we entreat your attention, that you will speedily inform us of the progress of divine truth in your churches, in order that we may lend our assistance as it may seem necessary.”[1] Ep. xciii. al. lxiii. p. 627.
As the marks or qualities of the Church of Christ, above recited, have been shewn, on the authority of the early Fathers, to belong to that Church which unanimously they denominate Catholic; and as this Church, on the evidence of the same authority, is evinced to be that which holds communion with, and acknowledges the jurisdiction of the Roman See; the truth of the second part of the Proposition is proved, which states—That to the Roman Catholic Church are applicable the qualities Unity, Visibility, Indefectibility, Apostolical Succession, Universality, and Sanctity.
- ↑ It must be admitted, agreeably to the received rules of human testimony, that the assertions of a Roman Bishop, however exalted his character, taken singly in the cause of his own prerogative, should be listened to with much caution : but when those assertions, as in the present case, not only are not contradicted by other Churches, who all were interested in opposing every undue assumption of power, but were explicitly avowed by some, and acquiesced in by all, they form a body of irresistible evidence, and exhibit the real sentiments of the age.
