Chapter II. How Holy and Sacred is the Authority of Universal

COUNCILS.

We are speaking then here of a Council such as that, in which there is the authority of S. Peter, both in the beginning and in the conclusion, and of the other Apostles and pastors who may choose to assist, or if not of all at lettst of a notable part; in which discussion is free, that is, in which any one who chooses may declare his mind with regard to the question under discussion; in which the pastors have the judicial voice. Such, in fact, as those four first were of which S. Gregory made so great account that he made this protestation concerning them: " I declare that like the four books of the Holy Gospel do I receive and venerate the four Councils.* Let us then consider a little how strong their authority should be over the understanding of Christians. And see how the Apostles speak of them: It has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us. Therefore the authority of councils ought to be revered as resting on the action of the Holy Ghost. For if against that Pharisaic heresy the Holy Ghost, doctor and guide of his Church, assisted the assembly, we must also believe that on all like occasions he will still assist the meetings of pastors, to regulate by their mouth both our actions and our beliefs. It is the same Church, as dear to the heavenly Spouse as she was then, in greater need than she was then, — what reason therefore can there be why he should not give her the same assistance as he

• Ej;ust. 24.

gave her then on like occasion? Consider, I beg you, the importance of the Gospel words: And if he will not hear the Church, let him he to thee as the heathen and the jpnUican* And when can we hear the Church more distinctly than by the voice of a general Council, where the heads of the Church come together to state and resolve difficulties? The body speaks not by its legs, nor by its hands, but only by its head, and so, how can the Church better pronounce sentence than by its heads? But Our Lord explains himself: Again I say to you^ that if tioo of you shall agree on earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them hy my Father who is in heaven.... For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. If two or three being gathered together in the name of Our Lord, when need is, have so particular an assistance from him that he is in the midst of them as a general in the midst of his army, as a doctor and regent among his disciples, if the Father infallibly gives them a gracious hearing concerning what they ask, how would he refuse his Holy Spirit to the general assembly of the pastors of the Church?

Again, if the legitimate assembly of the pastors and heads of the Church could once be surprised by error, how would the word of the Master be verified: The gates of hell shall not prevail against it if How could error and hellish strength more triumphantly seize upon the Church than by having subdued doctors, pastors, and captains, with the general? And this word: I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world:i — what would become of it? And how * Matt, xviii. f lb. xvi. i8. t lb. xxviii. ult.

ART. IV. c. II.] The Rule of Faith. 225 would the Church be tlu 'pillar and ground of truth ^' if its bases and foundations support error and falsehood? Doctors and pastors are the visible foundations of the Church, on whose ministry the rest is supported.

Finally, what stricter command have we than to take our food from the hand of our pastors? Does not S. Paul say that the Holy Ghost has placed them over the flock to rule us,t and that Our Lord has given them to us that we may not he tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine! | What respect then must we not pay to the ordinances and canons which emanate from their general assembly? It is true that taken separately their teachings are subject to correction, but when they are together and when all the ecclesiastical authority is collected into one, who shall dispute the sentence which comes forth? If the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be preserved? If the chiefs are blind, who shall lead the others? If the pillars are falling, who shall hold them up? In a word, what has the Church more grand, more certain, more solid, for the overthrow of heresy, than the judgment of General Councils? The Scripture,— Beza will say. But I have already shown that " heresy is of the understanding not of the Scripture, the fault lies in the meaning, not in the words." § Who knows not how many passages the Arian brought forward? What was there to be said against him except that he understood them wrongly? But he is quite right to believe that it is you who interpret wrongly, not he, you that are mistaken, not he; that

• I Tim. iii. 15. f Acts xx. 28. X Eph. iv. 14.

§ Hilar, de Trin. ii III. P his appeal to the analogy of the faith is more sound than yours, so long as they are but private individuals who oppose his novelties. Yes, if one deprive the Councils of supreme authority in decision and declarations necessary for the understanding of the Holy Word, this Holy Word will be as much profaned as texts of Aristotle, and our articles of religion will be subject to never-ending revision, and from being safe and steady Christians we shall become wretched academics.

Athanasius says * that " the word of the Lord by the Ecumenical Council of Mce remains for ever." S. Gregory Nazianzen, speaking of the ApoUinarists who boasted of having been recognised by a Catholic council: — " If either now," says he,t " or formerly, they have been received, let them prove it and we will agree, for it will be clear that they assent to the right doctrine, and it cannot be otherwise." S. Augustine says \ that the celebrated question about Baptism pressed by the Donatists made some Bishops doubt, " until the whole world in plenary council formulated beyond all doubt what was most wholesomely believed." " The decision of the priestly Council (of Nice)," says Eufinus (i.), " is conveyed to Constantine. He venerates it as settled by God, in such sense that if any one were to oppose it he would be working his own destruction, as opposing himself to God." But if any one supposes that because he can produce analogies, texts of Scripture, Greek and Hebrew words, he is therefore allowed to make doubtful again what has already been determined by General Councils, he must bring patents from heaven duly signed and sealed, or else he must

• ad Ejpisc. Afric. f ad Chelid. + de Bap. Contra Don. i.

ART. IV. c. III.] The Rule of Faith. 227 admit that anybody else may do as he does, that everything is at the mercy of our rash speculations, that everything is uncertain and subject to the variety of the judgments and considerations of men. The Wise Man gives us other counsel: '"'' The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd. More than these, my son, require not.