mately follow or be in any way promoted by a definition of the infallibility of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, speaking ex cathedrâ, in matters of faith and morals. Such a definition belongs to a higher order, with which the ordinary pastoral office of bishops can rarely have any immediate contact. Questions of faith and morals, on which the Church has not already judged, very rarely arise in any diocese. The infallibility here in question has no relation to the multifarious administration of dioceses. Such a definition as we speak of would either have no appreciable influence on the ordinary administration of bishops; or if any, only in the way of giving certainty and solidity to the judicial acts and pastoral jurisdiction of the Episcopate throughout the world.
For these reasons, it appears to some that the objections to such a definition have no sufficient weight to dissuade the Council from making it.
III. Reasons for the Definition.
Such then, reverend and dear brethren, is a brief statement of the arguments for and against, as to the question whether such a definition be opportune. Thus far we have weighed only the objections and the answers. Those who believe that such a definition would be not only opportune, but is urgently required by the circumstances of these times, give their reasons as follows:—
1. They think such a definition would be opportune because the doctrine is true; for if true, can it be said with prudence that to declare it is not oppor-
