the promise of our Lord: 'I have prayed for thee,' &c., and adds, 'What was said to Peter as pastor was said also to the Roman Pontiffs, as has been abundantly proved.'[1]
Nor was this tradition broken, though the depression which followed the Revolution of 1688 reduced the Catholics to silence. In the eighteenth century, the following testimonies will suffice. More might, no doubt, with ease be found; but for our present purpose no more are needed. First, of Alban Butler, who assuredly represents the English Catholics of his times, we read as follows: 'It is evident from his Epitome de sex prioribus conciliis œcumenicis in calce tractatus de Incarnatione, that he had the highest veneration for the Holy See, and for him who sits in the chair of St. Peter; that he constantly held and maintained the rights and singular prerogatives of St. Peter and his successors in calling, presiding over, and confirming, general or œcumenical councils; the Pope's superiority over the whole church and over the whole college of bishops, and over a general council; the irreformability of his doctrinal decisions in point of faith and morals; his supreme power to dispense (when there is cause) in the canons of general councils; in short, the plenitude of his authority over the whole Church without exception or limitation. Nihil excipitur ubi distinguitur nihil. S. Bernard, l. ii. de Consid. c. 8.'[2] What gives additional force to this is, that Alban Butler not only held but
- ↑ Regula viva, seu Analysis Fidei, p. 41. Antwerpiæ, 1638.
- ↑ An Account of the Life and Writings of the Rev. Alban Butler, p. 16. London, 1799.
