lished in the Council itself, ruined the fourth and fifth sessions from their base.
In order to appreciate correctly the real nature of those sessions, we may recall to mind what were the theological opinions taught at that time by Gerson, in Paris. We shall readily see, first, of how little weight is the authority of his name; and next, how analogous was the course of erroneous opinions in France with that of the opinions which issued in Anglicanism in this country.
The following propositions are a sample of much to be found in his writings:—
'The decision of the Pope alone, in matters which are of faith, does not as such bind (any one) to believe.'[1]
'The decision of the Pope binds the faithful not to dogmatise to the contrary, unless they see that manifest error against faith, and great scandal to the faith, would arise from their silence if they should not oppose themselves. … If persecution of their opinions, and punishment should ensue against them, let them know that they are blessed who suffer persecution for justice sake.'[2]
'A simple person, without authority, might be so excellently learned in Holy Scripture that more confidence is to be had in his assertion, in a doctrinal case, than in the declaration of the Pope; for the Gospel is to be trusted rather than the Pope.'[3]
