,,the  ,,church ,,of ,,england          
,,cleared ,,from  ,,the ,,charge ,,of   
,,schism1  ,,upon  ,,testimonies ,,of   
,,councils  ,,and  ,,fathers ,,of ,,the 
,,first ,,six ,,centuries4  ,,by        
,,thomas ,,william ,,allies1 ,m4 ,a4    
,,rector ,,of ,,launton1 ,,oxon4        
,,london3  ,,james ,,burns1 #ag1        
,,portman ,,street1  ,,portman ,,square4
  #ahdf4         99       99       99   
99       99   ,,london3 ,r4 ,,clay1     
,,printer1 ,,bread ,,street ,,hill4     
99       99       99       99       99  
,,advertisement4         99       99    
99       99       99  ,the writer of the
 following pages is more and more       
convinced that the whole question       
between the ,roman ,church and          
ourselves1 as well as the ,eastern      
,church1 turns upon the ,papal          
,supremacy1 as at present claimed1 being
 of divine right or not4 ,if it be1 then
 have we nothing else to do1 on peril of
 salvation1 but submit ourselves to the 
authority of ,rome3 and better it were  

to do so before we meet the attack1     
which is close at hand1 of an enemy who 
bears equal hatred to ourselves and to  
,rome2 the predicted ,lawless ,one1 the 
,logos1 reason1 or private judgment of  
apostate humanity rising up against the 
,divine ,logos1 incarnate in ,his       
,church4 ,if it be not1 then may we take
 courage2 for the position of the       
,church of ,england being tenable1 all  
the evils within her pale1 which we are 
now so deeply feeling1 will1 by ,god's  
blessing1 be gradually overcome4 ,as to 
practical abuses in her1 who will       
venture to say they are so great as in  
the ,roman ,church of the tenth century1
 when the ,first ,see was filled        
successively by the lovers of abandoned 
women1 who made and deposed ,popes at   
their will8 ,our cause being good1 all  
that we have to deplore of actual evil  
should lead to more earnest             
intercession1 more continued striving   
after that love which breathes itself   
forth in unity1 but should not shake the

 confidence of any obedient heart in our
 mother's title4 ,when the ,donatists   
made the crimes of individuals an excuse
 for breaking unity1 ,st4 ,augustin     
reminded them1 that the crimes of the   
chaff do not prejudice the wheat1 but   
that both must grow together till the   
,lord of the harvest send forth his     
angels to make the separation4  ,the    
writer will not conceal that he took up 
this inquiry for the purpose of         
satisfying his own mind4 ,had he found  
the ,councils and ,fathers of the first 
six centuries bearing witness to the    
,roman supremacy1 as at present claimed1
 instead of against it1 he should have  
felt bound to obey them4 ,as a ,priest  
of the ,church ,catholic in ,england1 he
 desires to hold1 and to the best of his
 ability will teach1 all doctrine which 
the undivided ,church always held4 ,he  
finds by reference to those authorities 
which could not be deceived1 and cannot 
be adulterated1 that while they         
unanimously held the ,roman primacy1 and

 the patriarchal system1 of which the   
,roman pontiff stood at the head1 they  
as unanimously did not hold1 nor even   
contemplate1 that supremacy or monarchy 
which alone ,rome will now accept as the
 price of her communion4 ,they not only 
do not recognise it1 but their words and
 their actions most manifestly          
contradict it4 ,this is1 in one word1   
his justification of his mother from the
 sin of ,schism4 ,if true1 it is        
sufficient3 if untrue1 he knows of no   
other4  ,but should any opponent think  
these pages worthy of a reply1 the      
writer warns him1 at the outset1 that he
 must in fairness discard that old      
disingenuous trick of using testimonies 
of the ,fathers to the primacy of the   
,roman ,see in the episcopal and        
patriarchal system1 in order to prove   
the full papal supremacy1 as now        
claimed1 in a system which is nearly    
come to pure monarchy4 ,by this method1 
because the ,fathers recognise the      
,bishop of ,rome as successor of ,st4   

,peter1 they are counted witnesses to   
that absolute power now claimed by the  
,roman pontiff1 though they recognise   
other ,bishops1 in just the same sense1 
to be successors of the holy ,apostles2 
or though they call every ,bishop's see 
the see of ,peter1 as the great type and
 example of the episcopate4 ,what such  
an one has to establish in order to     
justify the ,roman ,church1 and to prove
 that the ,english and the ,eastern are 
in ,schism1 is1 that ,roman doctrine1 as
 stated by ,bellarmine1 which is really 
the key-stone of the whole system1 that 
,bishops succeed not properly to the    
,apostles1 for they have no part of the 
true apostolic authority1 but that all  
ordinary jurisdiction of ,bishops       
descends immediately from the ,pope1 and
 that the ,pope has1 full and entire1   
that power which ,christ left on the    
earth for the good of the ,church4#a    
,let this be proved on the testimony of 
the first six centuries1 and if it be   
true1 nothing can be more easy than to  

prove it1 as the contradictory of it is 
attempted to be proved in the following 
pages1 and all controversy will be at an
 end4 ,we claim that it should be       
proved1 for even ,de ,maistre1 who has  
put forward this theory with the least  
compromise1 declares1 ,there is nothing 
new in the ,church1 and never will she  
believe save what she has always        
believed4#b         99       99       99
       99       99   ,,the ,,church ,,of
 ,,england ,,cleared ,,from ,,the       
,,charge ,,of ,,schism4  ,the course of 
events1 for some time past1 has been    
such as to force upon the most faithful 
sons of the ,church of ,england the     
consideration of questions which they   
would rather have left alone1 as long   
ago settled2 for the nature of these    
questions is such1 not to speak of their
 intricacy and painfulness1 as almost to
 compel the student to place himself1 as
 it were1 ab extra to that community1   
which he would rather regard with the   
unreasoning and unhesitating instinct of

 filial affection4 ,one of these        
questions1 perhaps the first which      
directly meets and encounters him1 is   
the charge of ,schism brought against   
the ,church of ,england on account of   
the events of the sixteenth century1 and
 her actual state of separation from the
 ,latin communion1 which has been their 
result4 ,time was1 and that not long    
since1 when it might have been thought a
 sort of treason for one who ministers  
at the altars of the ,church of         
,england1 and receives by her           
instrumentality the gift of ,life1 so   
much as to entertain the thought1       
whether there was a flaw in the         
commission of his spiritual mother1 a   
flaw which1 reducing her to the         
condition of a sect1 would invalidate   
his own sonship4 ,and certainly the     
treatment of such a question must be    
most painful to any one1 who desires to 
be obedient and dutiful1 and therefore  
to be at peace4 ,how can it be          
otherwise1 when1 instead of eating his  

daily portion of food in his ,father's  
house1 he is called upon to search and  
inquire whether indeed he have found    
that house at all1 and be not rather a  
fugitive or an outcast from it4 ,such1  
however1 is the hard necessity which is 
come upon us4 ,let no one imagine that  
it is our choice to speak on such       
subjects4 ,we are in the case of a      
beleaguered soldier in an enemy's       
country2 he may not think of peace2 he  
must maintain his post or die2 his part 
is not aggression1 but defence3 the     
matter at issue is the preservation of  
all that he holds dear1 or              
extermination4 ,the question of schism  
is a question of salvation4  ,but over  
and above the general course of events  
which forces us to reconsider this      
question1 circumstances have taken place
 in the past year which we may boldly   
pronounce to be without a parallel in   
the history of the ,church in ,england  
since she became divided from ,catholic 
communion4 ,those who have followed with

 anxious sympathy that great restorative
 movement which1 for twelve years1 has  
agitated her bosom1--those who have felt
 with an ever increasing conviction1 as 
time went on1 and the different parties 
consolidated and unfolded themselves1   
that it was at the bottom a contest for 
the ancient faith delivered to the      
saints1 for dogmatic truth1 for a       
visible ,church1 in whom1 as in a great 
sacrament1 was lodged the presence of   
the ,lord1 communicating ,himself by a  
thousand acts of spiritual efficacy1    
against the monstrous and shapeless     
latitudinarianism of the day2 against   
the unnumbered and even unsuspected     
heresies which have infected the whole  
atmosphere that we breathe2 against1 in 
fine1 the individual will of fallen man1
 under cover of which the coming        
,antichrist is marshalling interests the
 most opposite1 and passions the most   
contradictory2 and further1 those not   
few nor inconsiderable1 we believe1 who1
 by ,god's grace1 owe to the teaching of

 one man in particular a debt they never
 can repay1--the recovery1 perchance1 of
 themselves from some form of error     
which he has taught them to discern1 or 
the building them up in a faith whose   
fair proportions he first discovered to 
them1--these will feel with deeper      
sorrow than we can express the urgency  
of the occasion to which we allude4 ,for
 how1 indeed1 could the question1       
whether the ,church of ,england is      
fallen into schism1 or be1 as from the  
laver of their regeneration they have   
been taught to believe1 a member of that
 one sacred ,body in which ,christ      
incarnate dwells1--how could this       
question be so forced upon their minds1 
as by the fact that her ,champion1 whom 
they had hitherto felt to be invincible1
 who had seemed her heaven-sent         
defender1 with the talisman of victory  
in his hands1 of whom they were even    
tempted to think                    ,si 
,pergama dextra   ,defendi possent1     
etiam hac defensa fuissent1  that he1   

who fighting her battles1 never met with
 his equal1 unsubdued by any foe from   
without1 has surrendered to his own     
doubts and fears2 self-conquered1 has   
laid down her arms1 and has gone over to
 the camp opposed4 ,henceforth she has  
ranged against her those powers of      
genius and that sanctity of life1 to    
which so many of her children looked as 
to a certain omen of her ,catholicity4  
,they felt that she who bore such       
children1 must needs be the spouse of   
,god4 ,it is no wonder that many others1
 of no mean name among us1 and whom we  
could ill afford to spare1 have had     
their doubts and disquietudes determined
 by such a fact as this4 ,for the first 
time1 ,i repeat1 in the history of the  
,church of ,england have earnest and    
zealous children of hers1 who desired   
nothing but their own salvation and the 
salvation of others1 found no rest for  
the sole of their feet within her       
communion4 ,men who set out with the    
most single-minded purpose of defending 

her cause1 nay1 of winning back to her  
bosom alienated multitudes1 of building 
her up in a beauty and a glory which she
 has not yet seen1 and one1 especially1 
who has been the soul of that great     
movement to restore her1--these have    
now1 after years of hard fighting spent 
in her service1 quitted her1 and        
proclaim that all who value their       
salvation must quit her likewise4       
,these are some of the special          
circumstances which force upon the most 
reluctant the question of ,schism4 ,it  
was the privilege of other days to feed 
in the quiet pastures of truth4 ,we have
 to seek the path to ,heaven through the
 wilderness of controversy1 where too   
often the highways are unoccupied1 and  
the travellers walk through byways4 ,but
 it is a question which cannot be put   
off or thrust aside4 ,no instructed     
,christian1 who has any true faith or   
love1 can bear the thought that he is   
out of the one fold of ,christ4 ,the    
question cannot be put off1 for it will 

brood upon him in his daily devotions   
and labours2 a doubt as to the justice  
of his cause will paralyse all his      
exertions4 ,it cannot be thrust aside2  
for the imputation of heresy on another 
has no tendency to answer the charge of 
schism against oneself4 ,it must be met 
openly1 honestly1 and without shrinking4
 ,the charge of ,schism touches         
immediately the ,christian's conscience1
 for this reason1 that1 if true1 it     
takes away from his prayers1 his        
motives1 his actions1 his sufferings1   
that one quality which is acceptable to 
,almighty ,god4 ,here it is most true1  
that all1 which is not of faith1 is sin3
 he who does not believe1 at least1 that
 he is a member of the one ,church1     
whatever outward acts he may perform1   
cannot please his ,judge4 ,in the words 
of one who himself gave his goods to    
feed the poor1 and shed his blood for   
the testimony of ,jesus1#c if such men  
were even killed for confession of the  
,christian name1 not even by their blood

 is this stain washed out4 ,inexpiable  
and heavy is the sin of discord1 and is 
purged by no suffering4 ,he cannot be a 
martyr who is not in the ,church2 he can
 never attain to the kingdom1 who leaves
 her with whom the kingdom shall be4 ,a 
man of such sort may indeed be killed1  
crowned he cannot be4 ,therefore the    
charge of ,schism1 when once brought    
before the reflecting mind1 cannot be   
turned aside1--it must be met and       
answered3 if it is not answered1 at     
least to the conviction of the          
individual1 it leaves upon the whole of 
his obedience the stain of insincerity1 
which is fatal4 ,in this respect it is  
more pressing and imperious1 more fatal1
 even than that of heresy4 ,i observe   
this1 because1 in the comments ,i have  
seen on the painful departures of       
friends from among us1 and in           
exhortations not to follow them1 it has 
not seemed to be always recognised4     
,when men leave us on the ground that we
 are in schism1 surely all censure of   

them1 and all defence of ourselves1 is  
beside the mark1 which does not meet and
 rebut this particular accusation4      
,under this no man can rest3 it is      
useless1 it is sinful1 to ask him to    
rest1 unless you can remove the         
imputation4 ,to talk of disappointment1 
or a morbid desire of distinction1 or   
impatience under deficiencies1 want of  
discipline1 or sympathy in spiritual    
superiors1 and such-like causes1 as     
being those which have impelled a man to
 the most painful sacrifices1 and in the
 middle of his days to begin life again1
 is surely both untrue as regards the   
individual1 and futile as to preventing 
others doing like him1 when the ground  
of schism among others is alleged by    
himself1 and is felt to lie at the      
bottom4 ,could we prove that the ,church
 of ,england is clear both of           
enunciating heresy in her formularies1  
and of allowing it within her pale1 it  
would in no respect answer this charge  
of schism against her1 except so far as 

the a priori presumption1 that she who  
is clear of the one would be clear of   
the other also4 ,but it would remain to 
be met and answered specifically4       
,moreover1 ,i must confess that this is 
a point on which ,i1 for one1 cannot    
write in the spirit of a                
controversialist4 ,i must state1 to the 
best of my poor ability1 and to the     
utmost reach of my limited discernment1 
not only the truth1 but the whole truth4
 ,i cannot keep back points which tell  
against us4 ,gibbon charges ,thomassin  
with telling one half the truth1 and    
,bingham the other half1 in their books 
upon the ancient discipline of the      
,church4 ,whether this be true or not1  
,i cannot1 in my small degree1 do       
likewise4 ,i have found ,bishop         
,beveridge1 in his defence of the #cgth 
,article1 quote1 in several instances1  
part of a paragraph from ancient        
,fathers1 because it told for him1 and  
omit the other part1 because it told    
against him4 ,and1 in considering the   

celibacy of the clergy1 it is usual to  
find ,protestant writers enlarging on   
the fact1 that ,st4 ,peter was married2 
and that the ,greek ,church has always  
allowed its parish priests to be        
married2 while they keep out of view    
that ,st4 ,peter's marriage preceded his
 call1 and that the ,eastern ,church    
never allowed those who were already in 
holy orders1 to marry1 but only to keep 
those wives which they had taken as     
laymen4 ,or again1 in deference to the  
circumstances of the ,english ,church1  
writers conceal the fact1 that the whole
 ,church of the ,east and ,west1 on the 
authority1 as to the first point1 of the
 express ,word of ,god itself1 has never
 allowed a person who married twice1 or 
who married a widow1 to be in holy      
orders at all4 ,i have observed         
,bingham1 when he treats of celibacy1   
alluding triumphantly to the biography  
of ,st4 ,cyprian1 by ,pontius1 to prove 
that an ancient saint1 martyr1 and      
bishop1 of the third century1 was a     

married man2 but taking care to leave   
out the express notice of ,pontius1     
that1 from his conversion1 he lived in  
continence4 ,those who wish to see on   
the ,roman side another sort of         
unfairness alluded to in the            
,advertisement may look to the #fth     
,chapter of the #ast ,book of ,de       
,maistre1 on the ,pope1 where they will 
find a host of quotations to prove the  
,supremacy1 which only prove at the     
outside the ,primacy2 and by far the    
greater number of them might be         
paralleled by like expressions which are
 addressed to other bishops1 but of     
which fact no mention is made4 ,they are
 assumed in a sort of triumphant strain 
to prove the point in question1 while1  
to the student of antiquity1 their      
weakness1 or1 sometimes1 their          
irrelevancy1 only proves the reverse4   
,this sort of disingenuousness is so    
common on both sides1 that it may be    
said to be the besetting sin of         
controversialists4 ,if1 however1 there  

be any question in which perfect candour
 is requisite1 it is surely this of     
schism4 ,would it not be a most         
miserable success to be able to deceive 
oneself1 or others1 as to whether one is
 or is not within the covenant of       
salvation8 ,the special pleader in such 
a case is surely the most unhappy of all
 men2 for he deprives himself of the    
greatest of blessings4 ,he seems to win 
his cause1 while he most thoroughly     
loses it2 for if a man be indeed out of 
the ark of ,christ's ,church1 what      
benefit can one possibly render him     
equal to that of bringing him within it8
 ,i write1 then1 with the strongest     
sense of responsibility on this subject1
 and shall not be deterred from making  
admissions1 if truth require them1 which
 seem to tell on the other side1 and    
which have accordingly been shrunk from1
 or slurred over1 by our defenders in   
former times4  ,and this leads to       
another consideration4 ,the charge of   
,schism against the ,church of ,england 

is1 that by rejecting the ,papal        
authority in the sixteenth century1 she 
lost the blessing of ,catholic          
communion1 and ceased to belong to that 
,one ,body to which salvation is        
promised4 ,now1 in such a matter1 the   
,church of ,england must be judged by   
principles which have been1 from the    
first1 and are still1 recognised by all 
,christendom4 ,whatever obedience we may
 owe1 in virtue of our personal         
subscription1 to articles or other      
formularies1 drawn up in the sixteenth  
century1 it is obvious they can decide  
nothing here4 ,what ,i mean will be best
 shown by an example4 ,suppose a person 
were to take the #fth ,article1 and set 
upon it a meaning1 not at all uncommon  
in these days1 viz4 that the ,church of 
,england therein declares1 that ,holy   
,scripture is the sole standard of      
faith2 and that every man must decide   
for himself1 what is1 or is not1        
contained in ,holy ,scripture2 and that 
he1 searching ,holy ,scripture for the  

purpose1 can find nothing whatever said 
about the ,papal authority2--it is      
obvious1 that such a mode of arguing    
would be utterly inadequate either to   
terminate controversy1 or1 one would    
think1 to quiet any troubled conscience3
 for whether or no this be the meaning  
of the #fth ,article1 the whole ,greek  
and ,latin ,church would reject with    
horror such propositions as the first   
two put together1 as being subversive of
 the very existence of a ,church1 and of
 all dogmatic authority4 ,it is a valid 
argument enough to an individual to say1
 ,you have signed such and such         
documents1 and are bound by them3 but if
 he is in doubt whether the documents   
themselves be tenable1 they cannot be   
taken to prove themselves4 ,the decision
 of a province of the ,church in the    
sixteenth century cannot be quoted to   
prove that that decision is right1 for  
it is the very thing called in question4
 ,it is the ,reformation itself which is
 put on trial2 it cannot appeal to      

itself as a witness2 it must be content 
to bring its cause before a judge1 whose
 authority all will admit1--and that    
judge1 need we say1 must be antiquity1  
and the consent of the undivided        
,church4 ,and the ,church of ,england1  
it must be admitted1 has not shrunk from
 this appeal4 ,her often-quoted canon   
enjoins her ministers1 in that part of  
their duty wherein most is left to their
 private judgment1 to teach nothing     
which they wish to be held and believed 
religiously by the people1 save what is 
agreeable to the doctrine of the ,old or
 ,new ,testament1 and what the ,catholic
 ,fathers and ancient ,bishops1 have    
collected out of that very doctrine4    
,thus she spoke in the year #aega4 ,the 
,church had then passed through fifteen 
centuries of a chequered1 but           
superhuman1 and most marvellous         
existence4 ,her continuous life implies 
a continuity of principles1 ruling her  
from the beginning2 and any controversy 
which affects her well-being1 as does   

that concerning the integrity or loss of
 a great member1 must be judged         
according to those principles4 ,the     
present position of the ,church of      
,england may be merely a provisional    
one1 ,i firmly believe that such is the 
fact2 but if she is to claim the        
allegiance of her children as a part of 
the ,catholic ,church1 it must be proved
 that such her position is tenable upon 
the principles which directed that      
,church when undivided4 ,in short1 ,i   
propose honestly1 though briefly1 to    
meet this imputation of schism by an    
appeal to the authority of the first six
 centuries3 an authority1 which no      
,roman ,catholic can slight or refuse4  
,let us go back to the first period at  
which the universal ,church1 emerging   
from the fires of persecution1 is found 
acting as one body4 ,united1 indeed1 it 
had ever been from the day of           
,pentecost1 in charity1 in doctrine1 in 
sacraments1 in communion4 ,the          
,christian people1 scattered throughout 

the wide precincts of the ,roman empire1
 and speaking its various tongues1 was  
one in heart and spirit--,a peculiar    
people1 like none other3 the ,bread     
which they ate1 and the ,cup which they 
drank1 made them ,one living ,body4 ,but
 so long as the ,church was engaged in a
 fierce and unrelenting conflict with   
the ,paganism and despotism of the      
empire1 she could hardly exhibit to the 
world her complete outward organization4
 ,so1 although in the intervals of      
persecution1 important provincial       
councils had been held1 and though it   
was felt to be necessary for discipline 
that local synods should take place     
twice every year1 yet not until the year
 #cbe1 at the ,council of ,nicea1 does  
the whole ,church meet in               
representation2 the immediate cause of  
that assemblage being a heresy so       
malignant as to threaten her existence1 
and which could be repressed by no less 
energetic means4 ,that is a strongly    
marked and important point in her       

existence1 throwing light upon the      
centuries preceding1 and establishing   
irremovable landmarks for those ensuing1
 at which we have full means for judging
 what her constitution and government   
were4 ,as the decrees of the #cah       
,fathers established for ever the true  
doctrine concerning the ,eternal ,son1  
so do they offer an imperishable and    
unambiguous witness concerning the      
discipline and hierarchy of the ,church4
 ,what was schism then1 is schism now2  
what was lawful and compatible with     
,christian ,sonship and privileges then1
 is so now4 ,what then is the view they 
present us with8 ,we find the ,bishops  
throughout the whole world recognised1  
without so much as a doubt1 to be the   
successors of the ,apostles1 invested   
with the plenitude of that royal        
,priesthood which the ,son of ,god had  
set up on the earth in ,his own ,person1
 and from that ,person had communicated 
to ,his chosen disciples1 and so        
possessed of whatever authority was     

necessary to govern the ,church4 ,thus  
spoke a fresh and unbroken tradition1 so
 universal and so unquestionable that no
 other voice was heard beside4 ,thus the
 ,episcopal power may be safely         
recognised as of divine appointment3 in 
truth it is scarcely possible to have   
stronger evidence than we have of this4 
,one of the most learned of those who   
are opposed to us on the charge of      
schism1 thus sums up the decisions of   
all the ,fathers and all the ,councils  
of the first ages4 ,the ,bishop         
represents ,christ1 and stands in his   
place on earth4 ,as therefore the       
,priesthood of ,christ embraces all     
sacerdotal authority and complete power 
to feed the flock1 so that while we may 
indeed distinguish and define the       
various powers included in that fullness
 and perfection1 yet it is a great crime
 to dissever and rend them in any way   
from each other1 just as we distinguish 
without dividing the attributes and     
perfections of the ,godhead itself2 so  

the ,episcopate in its own nature       
contains the fullness of the            
,priesthood1 and the perfection of the  
,pastoral office4 ,for ,christ received 
the perfection of the ,priesthood from  
,his ,father1 when ,he was sent by ,him4
 ,moreover the perfection of the        
,priesthood1 or both the ,episcopal     
powers1 7i4e4 the ,sacerdotal and the   
,pastoral17 ,he gave at once to ,his    
,apostles when he sent them as ,he      
himself was sent by the ,father4        
,lastly1 that same perfection they      
transmitted to ,bishops1 sending them as
 they themselves were sent by ,christ4  
,whence ,bishops are ,fathers by the    
most noble participation of divine      
,fathership which is on earth2 so that  
here that expression of ,paul is        
true--',from whom every ,fathership in  
heaven and earth is named4' ,for no     
greater ,fathership is there on the     
earth than the ,apostolical and the     
,episcopal4 ,thomassin1 ,part ,i4 ,liv4 
i4 ch4 #b4  ,and1 viewed in itself1 this

 power was sovereign and independent in 
every individual ,bishop1 who was the   
spouse of the ,church1 the successor of 
the ,apostles1 and of ,peter1 the centre
 of unity2 able1 moreover1 to           
communicate this authority to others1   
and to become the source of a long line 
of spiritual descendants4 ,but was this 
power in practice exercised in so       
unmodified a form8 ,would there not have
 been not only imminent danger1 but     
almost certainty1 that a power unlimited
 in its nature1 committed to so large a 
body of men1 who might become           
indefinitely more numerous1 yet were    
each independent centres of authority1  
instead of tending to unity would       
produce diversity8 ,accordingly we find1
 together with the apostolical          
authority1 admitted to be lodged in the 
,episcopal body in general1 a           
preponderating influence exercised by   
certain sees1 viz4 by ,rome in the      
,west1 and by ,alexandria and ,antioch  
in the ,east4 ,under these leading      

,bishops are a great number of          
metropolitans2 and others1 again1 like  
the ,bishops of ,cyprus1 have their own 
metropolitan1 but are not subordinate to
 either of the three great sees4 ,next  
to these1 rank the ,bishops of ,ephesus1
 ,cesarea1 and ,heraclea1 who preside   
respectively over the provinces of      
,asia1 ,cappadocia1 and ,thrace1 and    
were afterwards called ,exarchs4 ,and   
the source of this preponderating       
influence is to be traced to the fact   
that the ,apostles laid hold of the     
principal cities1 and founded ,churches 
in them1 which became centres of light  
to their several provinces1 and         
naturally exercised a parental authority
 over their children4 ,the three great  
,bishops1 though not yet called         
,patriarchs1 or even ,archbishops1 seem 
to have exercised all the power of      
,patriarchs4 ,no general ,council would 
be binding without their presence in    
person1 or by deputy1 or their          
subsequent ratification4 ,moreover1     

among these1 the ,bishop of ,rome1 as   
successor of ,st4 ,peter1 has a decided 
preeminence4 ,what the extent of that   
preeminence was1 had not yet been       
defined2 but it is very apparent1 and   
acknowledged in the ,east as well as in 
the ,west4 ,it does not seem1 indeed1   
that his authority differed in kind1 but
 only in degree1 from that of his       
brethren1 especially those of           
,alexandria and ,antioch4 ,the          
,apostolical ,canons1 more ancient than 
the ,council of ,nice1 and representing 
the whole ,east1 say3--,the ,bishops of 
every nation must acknowledge him who is
 first among them1 and account him as   
their head1 and do nothing of           
consequence without his consent2 but    
each may do those things only which     
concern his own parish1 7i4e4 diocese17 
and the country places which belong to  
it4 ,but neither let him 7who is the    
first7 do anything without the consent  
of all1 for so there will be unanimity1 
and ,god will be glorified through the  

,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,canon #cd4 ,the  
,council of ,nicea mentions the sees of 
,alexandria1 ,antioch1 and ,rome in     
precisely similar terms3--,let the      
ancient customs be maintained1 which are
 in ,egypt and ,libya1 and ,pentapolis2 
according to which the ,bishop of       
,alexandria has authority over all those
 places4 ,for this is also customary to 
the ,bishop of ,rome4 ,in like manner in
 ,antioch1 and in the other provinces1  
the privileges are to be preserved to   
the ,churches4 ,canon #f4 ,that is1 as  
it would seem1 let the ,bishop of       
,alexandria have the power to consecrate
 ,bishops in the three provinces of his 
,patriarchate1 for the ,bishop of ,rome 
does the same in his1 i4e4 in the       
suburbicarian provinces1 or in ,italy1  
south of the province of ,milan1 and in 
,sicily4 ,this precedence or prerogative
 of ,rome1 to whatever extent it        
reached1 was certainly1 notwithstanding 
the famous #bhth ,canon of ,chalcedon1  
not either claimed or granted merely    

because ,rome was the imperial city4 ,it
 was explicitly claimed by the ,bishop  
of ,rome himself1 and as freely conceded
 by others to him1 as in a special sense
 successor of ,st4 ,peter4 ,from the    
earliest times that the ,church comes   
before us as an organized body1 the germ
 at least of this preeminence is        
observable4 ,from the very first1 the   
,roman ,pontiff seems possessed himself1
 as from a living tradition which had   
thoroughly penetrated the local ,roman  
,church1 with a consciousness of some   
peculiar influence he was to exercise on
 the whole ,church4 ,this consciousness 
does not show itself here and there in  
the line of ,roman ,pontiffs1 but one   
and all1 whatever their individual      
characters might be1 seem to have       
imbibed it from the atmosphere which    
they breathed4 ,st4 ,victor1 and ,st4   
,stephen1 ,st4 ,innocent1 ,st4 ,leo the 
,great1 and ,st4 ,gregory1 are quite of 
one mind here4 ,that they were the      
successors of ,st4 ,peter1 who himself  

sat and ruled and spoke in their person1
 was as strongly felt1 and as           
consistently declared1 by those         
,pontiffs who preceded the time of      
,constantine1 and who had continually to
 pay with their blood the price of that 
high preeminence1 as by those who       
followed the conversion of the empire1  
when the honour of their post was not   
accompanied by so much danger4 ,we are  
speaking now1 be it remembered1 of the  
feeling which possessed them4 ,the      
feeling of their brother ,bishops       
concerning them may have been less      
definite1 as was natural3 but1 at least1
 even those who most opposed any        
arbitrary stretch of authority on their 
part1 as ,st4 ,cyprian1 fully admitted  
that they sat in the ,see of ,peter1 and
 ordinarily treated them with the       
greatest deference4 ,this is written so 
very legibly upon the records of        
antiquity1 that ,i am persuaded any one1
 who is even very slightly acquainted   
with them1 cannot with sincerity dispute

 it4 ,i cannot think ,mr4 ,newman has   
the least overstated the fact when he   
says1 ,faint they 7the ante-,nicene     
,testimonies to the authority of the    
,holy ,see7 may be one by one1 but at   
least they are various1 and are drawn   
from many times and countries1 and      
thereby serve to illustrate each other1 
and form a body of proof4 ,thus1 ,st4   
,clement1 in the name of the ,church of 
,rome1 writes a letter to the           
,corinthians1 when they were without a  
,bishop4 ,st4 ,ignatius1 of ,antioch1   
addresses the ,roman ,church1 and it    
only out of the ,churches to which he   
writes1 as 'the ,church which has the   
first seat in the place of the country  
of the ,romans4' ,st4 ,polycarp1 of     
,smyrna1 betakes himself to the ,bishop 
of ,rome on the question of ,easter2    
7but the ,pope1 ,st4 ,anicetus1 and he1 
not being able to agree as to the rule  
of keeping ,easter1 agreed to retain    
their several customs2 a fact which is  
as much opposed to the present notion of

 the ,roman ,supremacy1 as any fact can 
well be47 ,the heretic1 ,marcion1       
excommunicated in ,pontus1 betakes      
himself to ,rome4 ,soter1 ,bishop of    
,rome1 sends alms1 according to the     
custom of his ,church1 to the ,churches 
throughout the empire1 and1 in the words
 of ,eusebius1 'affectionately exhorted 
those who came to ,rome1 as a father his
 children4' ,the ,montanists1 from      
,phrygia1 come to ,rome to gain the     
countenance of its ,bishop4 ,praxeas1   
from ,africa1 attempts the like1 and for
 a while is successful4 ,st4 ,victor1   
,bishop of ,rome1 threatens to          
excommunicate the ,asian ,churches4 ,st4
 ,irenaeus speaks of ,rome1 as 'the     
greatest ,church1 the most ancient1 the 
most conspicuous1 and founded and       
established by ,peter and ,paul1'       
appeals to its tradition1 not in        
contrast1 indeed1 but in preference to  
that of other ,churches1 and declares   
that 'in this ,church every             
,church--that is1 the faithful from     

every side1 must meet1' or 'agree       
together1 propter potiorem              
principalitatem4' ',o ,church1 happy in 
its position1' says ,tertullian1 'into  
which the ,apostles poured out1 together
 with their blood1 their whole          
doctrine4' ,the ,presbyters of ,st4     
,dionysius1 ,bishop of ,alexandria1     
complain of his doctrine to ,st4        
,dionysius1 of ,rome2 the latter        
expostulates with him1 and he explains4 
,the ,emperor ,aurelian leaves 'to the  
,bishops of ,italy and of ,rome' the    
decision1 whether or not ,paul1 of      
,samosata1 shall be dispossessed of the 
see-house at ,antioch4 ,st4 ,cyprian    
speaks of ,rome as 'the ,see of ,peter1 
and the principal ,church1 whence the   
unity of the ,priesthood took its rise1 
444 whose faith has been commended by   
the ,apostles1 to whom faithlessness can
 have no access4' ,st4 ,stephen refuses 
to receive ,st4 ,cyprian's deputation1  
and separates himself from various      
,churches of the ,east4 ,fortunatus and 

,felix1 deposed by ,st4 ,cyprian1 have  
recourse to ,rome4 ,basilides1 deposed  
in ,spain1 betakes himself to ,rome1 and
 gains the ear of ,st4 ,stephen4#d  ,it 
must be observed that the extent of this
 authority1 in the ,chief ,see1 has not 
been defined2 but1 whatever it was1 it  
did not interfere with the divine right 
of the ,bishops to govern each in his   
own diocese4 ,they derived their        
authority by transmission from the      
,apostles1 as the ,bishop of ,rome from 
,st4 ,peter2 the one was as much        
recognised as the other4 ,they were not 
his delegates1 but his brethren4 ,frater
 and ,co-episcopus they style him1 as he
 styles them1 for hundreds of years     
after the ,council of ,nicea2 owing him1
 indeed1 and willingly rendering him the
 greatest deference1 but never so much  
as imagining that their authority was   
derived from him4 ,this fact1 too1 lies 
upon the face of all antiquity1 and is  
almost too notorious to need proof4 ,if1
 however1 any be wanted1 it is found in 

the names which ,bishops bore both then1
 and for a long time afterwards1 and in 
their mode of election and their        
jurisdiction4 ,for their names3 ,it must
 first be confessed1 says a very learned
 ,roman ,catholic1 who1 in his humility1
 shrunk from the ,cardinalate offered to
 him for his services to the papal see1 
that the name of ,pope1 of ,apostle1 of 
,apostolic ,prelate1 of ,apostolic ,see1
 was still common to all ,bishops1 even 
during the three centuries which elapsed
 from the reign of ,clovis to the empire
 of ,charlemagne2 and he adds presently3
 ,these august names are not like those 
vain and superficial titles with which  
the pride of men feeds itself2 they are 
the solid marks of a power entirely from
 ,heaven1 and of a holiness altogether  
,divine4#e ,indeed1 the view which every
 where prevailed was that so admirably  
expressed by ,st4 ,cyprian3 ,episcopatus
 unus est1 cujus a singulis in solidum  
pars tenetur4#f ,the ,episcopate is one2
 it is a whole in which each enjoys full

 possession4 ,st4 ,isidore1 of ,seville1
 says3 ,since also the other ,apostles  
received a like fellowship of honour and
 power with ,peter1 who also were       
scattered throughout the whole world1   
and preached the ,gospel2 whom1 at their
 departure1 the ,bishops succeeded1 who 
are established throughout the whole    
world in the seats of the ,apostles4#g  
,but ,pope ,symmachus 7,a4,d4 #dih-ead7 
has expressed the equality and unity of 
the ,episcopate and ,apostolate between 
the ,pope and all ,bishops1 by the      
highest and most sacred similitude which
 it is possible to conceive4 ,for       
inasmuch as after the likeness of the   
,trinity1 whose power is one and        
indivisible1 the priesthood is one in   
the hands of various prelates1 how suits
 it that the statutes of the more       
ancient be broken by their successors8#h
 ,we are told by the same author3 ,pope 
,hormisdas 7,a4,d4 #ead-ebc7 prescribed1
 and all the ,bishops of the east       
subscribed1 after the ,patriarch ,john  

of ,constantinople1 a formulary of faith
 and of ,catholic ,communion1 where1    
among other remarkable points1 this is  
worthy of particular attention3--that as
 all ,churches make but one ,church1 so 
all the thrones of the ,apostolate1 and 
all the ,sees of the ,episcopate1 spread
 through all the earth1 are but one     
apostolic see1 inseparable from the see 
of ,peter4 ,this is the view of ,st4    
,augustin1 expressed again and again in 
his writings1 especially when he is     
explaining those remarkable words of our
 ,lord to ,st4 ,peter1 on which ,roman  
,catholics ground the scriptural proof  
of his ,primacy4 ,for it is evident that
 ,peter1 in many places of the          
,scriptures1 represents the ,church1    
7personam gestet ,ecclesiae7 chiefly in 
that place where it is said1 ',i give   
unto thee the keys of the kingdom of    
,heaven4 ,whatsoever thou shalt bind on 
earth1 shall be bound in ,heaven3 and   
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth    
shall be loosed in ,heaven4' ,what6 did 

,peter receive those keys1 and ,paul not
 receive them8 ,did ,peter receive them1
 and ,john and ,james not receive them1 
and the rest of the ,apostles8 ,or are  
not those keys in the ,church1 where    
sins are daily remitted8 ,but since in  
meaning hinted1 but not expressed1 7in  
significatione71 ,peter was representing
 the ,church1 what was given to him     
singly1 was given to the ,church4 ,so1  
then1 ,peter bore the figure of the     
,church3 the ,church is the body of     
,christ4#i ,so ,st4 ,chrysostom3 ,but   
when ,i speak of ,paul1 ,i mean not only
 him1 but also ,peter1 and ,james1 and  
,john1 and all their choir4 ,for as in a
 lyre there are different strings1 but  
one harmony1 so1 too1 in the choir of   
the ,apostles1 there were different     
persons1 but one teaching2 since one1   
too1 was the ,musician1 even the ,holy  
,spirit1 who moved their souls4 ,and    
,paul signifying this1 said3 ',whether1 
therefore1 it were they or ,i1 so we    
preach4'#aj ,how little1 on the one     

hand1 the pre-eminence of ,st4 ,peter's 
see derogated from the apostolicity of  
other ,bishops1 or1 on the other hand1  
their distinct descent and jurisdiction 
hindered them from paying due deference 
to the ,chief ,see1 is apparent likewise
 in these words of ,st4 ,jerome3 ,but1  
you say1 the ,church is founded upon    
,peter2 although1 in another place1 this
 self-same thing takes place upon all   
the ,apostles1 and all receive the keys 
of the kingdom of ,heaven1 and the      
strength of the ,church is consolidated 
equally upon them3 nevertheless1 for    
this reason1 out of the twelve one is   
selected1 that1 by the appointment of a 
head1 the occasion of ,schism may be    
taken away4#aa ,thomassin doubts whether
 at the ,council of ,nicea1 or even at  
that of ,antioch1 sixteen years         
afterwards1 the name even of ,archbishop
 was yet in use2 the highest title used 
in those two ,councils being that of    
,metropolitan4 ,st4 ,epiphanius quotes a
 letter of ,arius to ,alexander1 of     

,alexandria1 in which he only gives him 
the quality of ,pope and ,bishop1 but   
nowhere that of ,archbishop4  ,so much  
for the equality of the names of        
,bishops in the fourth century1 which   
recognises the essential equality and   
unity of their office4 ,the laws in     
force respecting their consecration and 
jurisdiction are as decisive4 ,every    
,bishop1 after being elected by the     
,clergy and people1 and the assembled   
provincial ,bishops1 was consecrated by 
the ,metropolitan of his province1      
except1 indeed1 in the ,patriarchate of 
,alexandria1 where the ,primate1 as we  
have seen1 and not the ,metropolitans   
under him1 consecrated all ,bishops4    
,where a ,metropolitan had no immediate 
superior1 in case of a vacancy1 the     
,bishops of his own province consecrated
 him1 as in the case of ,carthage4      
,whatever might be the particular       
privileges of ,patriarchs and           
,metropolitans1 as a general rule1 no   
one ,bishop had direct jurisdiction in  

the diocese of another4 ,the ,bishops of
 the great sees1 specially ,rome1       
,alexandria1 and ,antioch1 announced    
their accession to each other1 together 
with a profession of the orthodox faith4
 ,but as for any jurisdiction emanating 
from ,rome to the great ,bishops of the 
east1 such a thing was never even       
imagined4 ,let us even rest the whole   
question on this important point1 for it
 is absolutely necessary to the ,papal  
theory2 and ,i do not think any vestige 
of such a doctrine can be found in the  
first six centuries4 ,at least1 let it  
be shown2 for1 to assert it in the face 
of ,canons which imply a system the very
 reverse of it1 is merely begging the   
whole question4 ,that in cases of       
difficulty1 or disputed succession1 or  
heresy1 or schism1 the voice of the     
,bishop of ,rome would have great       
weight1 is1 indeed1 indisputable4 ,when 
the ship of the ,church was in distress1
 whom should we expect to see at the    
rudder but ,st4 ,peter8 ,thus ,st4      

,jerome1 himself baptized at ,rome1     
naturally looks to ,rome in this        
difficulty4 ,mr4 ,newman says3#ab ,the  
divisions at ,antioch had thrown the    
,catholic ,church into a remarkable     
position2 there were two ,bishops in the
 see1 one in connexion with the ,east1  
and the other with ,egypt and the       
,west1--with which1 then1 was ,catholic 
,communion8 ,st4 ,jerome has no doubt   
upon the subject4 ,writing to ,st4      
,damasus1 he says3 ',since the ,east    
tears into pieces the ,lord's coat1 and 
foxes lay waste the vineyard of ,christ1
 so that among broken cisterns1 which   
hold no water1 it is difficult to       
understand where the sealed fountain and
 the garden inclosed is1 therefore by me
 is the chair of ,st4 ,peter to be      
consulted1 and that faith which is      
praised by the ,apostle's mouth1 thence 
now seeking food for my soul where of   
old ,i received the robe of ,christ4    
,whilst the bad children have wasted    
their goods1 the inheritance of the     

,fathers is preserved uncorrupt among   
you alone4 ,there the earth from its    
fertile bosom returns the pure seed of  
the ,lord a hundred fold3 here the grain
 buried in the furrows degenerates into 
darnell and tares4 ,at present the ,sun 
of ,righteousness rises in the ,west2   
but in the ,east that fallen ,lucifer   
hath placed his throne4 ,you are the    
light of the world3 you the salt of the 
earth3 you the vessels of gold and      
silver3 but here the vessels of earth or
 wood await the iron rod and the eternal
 flame4' ,therefore1 though your        
greatness terrifies me1 yet your        
kindness invites me4 ,from the ,priest  
the sacrifice claims salvation2 from the
 ,shepherd the sheep claims protection4 
,let us speak without offence3 ,i court 
not the ,roman height3 ,i speak with the
 successor of the ,fisherman1 and the   
disciple of the ,cross4 ,i1 who follow  
none as my chief but ,christ1 am        
associated in communion with thy        
blessedness2 that is1 with the ,see of  

,peter4 ,on that rock the ,church is    
built ,i know4 ,whoso shall eat the     
,lamb outside that house is profane4444 
,i know not ,vitalis 7the               
,apollinarian72 ,meletius ,i reject2 ,i 
am ignorant of ,paulinus4 ,whoso        
gathereth not with thee1 scattereth2    
that is1 he who is not of ,christ is of 
,antichrist4#ac  ,considering all the   
circumstances of the case1 no one can   
wonder at ,st4 ,jerome's application4   
,when it is remembered that the ,roman  
,see1 up to that time1 had been free    
from all suspicion of heresy1 and that  
the ,arian controversy was the one in   
question1 and that he himself1 of full  
manhood1 had been baptized1 and had     
lived at ,rome1 the force of his        
language is hardly surprising4 ,his     
words certainly prove1 what1 ,i suppose1
 no student of antiquity can doubt1 the 
,primacy of the ,roman ,see3 but could  
there be a greater unfairness than to   
apply their bare letter to a state of   
things totally changed8 or to consider  

expressions proving the primacy of      
,rome1 as claimed in the fourth century1
 to prove equally a supremacy as claimed
 in the nineteenth1 which is as         
different from the former as one thing  
can well be from another4 ,this very    
,st4 ,meletius1 a man of pre-eminent    
sanctity of life1 the ordainer of ,st4  
,chrysostom1 dies1 it would appear1 out 
of communion with ,rome1 and has ever   
been accounted a saint in the ,western  
as well as in the ,eastern ,church4     
,but to recur to the point of           
jurisdiction at the time of the ,nicene 
,council4 ,it is beyond question1 both  
from the acts of that ,council1 and from
 the ,apostolic ,canons1 which represent
 the ,eastern ,church in the second and 
third centuries1 that1 whatever the     
pre-eminence of ,rome might consist in1 
there was no claim whatever to confer   
jurisdiction on ,bishops out of the     
,roman ,patriarchate1 then comprising   
,italy1 south of ,milan1 and ,sicily4   
,even differences1 any where arising1   

were to be settled in ,provincial       
,councils4 ,it is necessary to know1    
that1 up to the ,council of ,nicea1 all 
ecclesiastical affairs had been         
terminated in the ,councils of each     
,province2 and there had been but very  
few occasions in which it had been      
necessary to convoke an assembly of     
several ,provinces4 ,the ,council of    
,nicea1 even1 only speaks of ,provincial
 ,councils1 and orders that all things  
should be settled therein4#ad ,the      
testimony and conduct of ,st4 ,cyprian  
will illustrate the ,roman ,primacy1 to 
which ,mr4 ,newman claims him as a      
witness4 ,and such he is beyond doubt4  
,in his fifty-fifth letter1 which       
begins1 ,cyprian to his brother         
,cornelius1 greeting2 he complains      
bitterly to that ,pope that             
,felicissimus and his party dare to set 
sail1 and to carry a letter from        
schismatical and profane persons to the 
see of ,peter1 and to the principal     
,church1 whence the unity of the        

priesthood took its rise2 nor consider  
that they are the ,romans whose faith   
had been praised by the preaching of the
 ,apostle1 to whom faithlessness can    
have no access4 ,this ,mr4 ,newman      
considers a pretty strong testimony in  
his cumulative argument for the         
authority of ,rome4 ,it would be as     
well1 however1 to go on a little        
further1 and see what was the cause of  
,st4 ,cyprian's vehement indignation4   
,it was1 that ,felicissimus ventured to 
appeal to ,pope ,cornelius1 when his    
cause had already been heard and settled
 by ,st4 ,cyprian1 at ,carthage4 ,but   
what was the cause of their coming and  
announcing that a ,pseudo-,bishop had   
been made against the ,bishops8 ,for1   
either they are satisfied with what they
 have done1 and persevere in their      
crime1 or1 if they are dissatisfied1 and
 give way1 they know whither they may   
return4 ,for1 since it has been         
determined by all of us1 and is both    
equitable and just1 that the cause of   

every one be heard there where the crime
 has been committed1 and to every       
shepherd a portion of the flock is      
allotted1 which each one rules and      
governs1 as he is to give an account of 
his doings to the ,lord1 it is certainly
 behoving that those over whom we       
preside should not run about1 nor break 
the close harmony of ,bishops with their
 deceitful and fallacious rashness1 but 
should plead their cause where they may 
find both accusers and witnesses of     
their crime2 unless to a few desperate  
and abandoned men the authority of the  
,bishops seated in ,africa seem less1   
who have already judged concerning them1
 and have lately condemned1 by the      
weight of their sentence1 their         
conscience1 bound by many snares of     
crimes4 ,their cause has been already   
heard1 their sentence already           
pronounced2 nor is it becoming to the   
judgment of priests to be reprehended by
 the levity of a fickle and inconstant  
mind1 when the ,lord teaches and says1  

',let your conversation be yea1 yea2    
nay1 nay4' ,let any candid person say1  
whether he who so wrote to one whom he  
acknowledged as the successor of ,st4   
,peter1 could have imagined that there  
was a ,divine right in that successor to
 re-hear not only this1 but all other   
causes2 to reverse all previous         
judgments of his ,brethren by his single
 authority2 nay1 more1 to confer on all 
those ,brethren their jurisdiction by   
the grace of the ,apostolic ,see4#ae    
,another letter of ,st4 ,cyprian to     
another ,pope1 ,st4 ,stephen1 will set  
forth both his view of the ,primacy1 and
 of the ,episcopal relation to it4 ,he  
wishes ,st4 ,stephen to write a letter  
to the people of ,arles1 by which their 
actual ,bishop ,marcian1 who had joined 
himself to the schismatic ,novatian1    
might be excommunicated1 and another    
substituted for him4 ,this alone shows  
how great the authority of the ,bishop  
of ,rome in such an emergency was4 ,but 
the tone of his language is worth       

considering4 ,it is just such incidents 
as these which are made use of by ,roman
 ,catholic controversialists in late    
times to justify the full extent of     
,papal power now claimed4#af ,cyprian to
 his brother ,stephen1 greeting4        
,faustinus1 our colleague at ,lyons1    
dearest brother1 hath more than once    
written to me1 signifying what ,i know  
has certainly been reported to you also1
 both by him1 and by the rest of our    
brother-,bishops1 in that province1 that
 ,marcian of ,arles1 has joined himself 
to ,novatian1 and has departed from the 
unity of the ,catholic ,church1 and from
 the agreement of our body and          
priesthood4444 ,this matter it is our   
duty to provide against and remedy1 most
 dear brother1 we1 who considering the  
,divine clemency1 and holding the       
balance of the ,church's government1 so 
exhibit to sinners our vigorous censure 
as not to deny the medicine of ,divine  
goodness and mercy to the restoration of
 the fallen and the healing of the      

wounded4 ,wherefore it behoves you to   
write a very explicit letter to our     
fellow ,bishops in the ,gauls1 that they
 may not any longer suffer our order    
7collegio nostro7 to be insulted by     
,marcian1 obstinate1 haughty1 the enemy 
both of piety to ,god1 and of his       
brethren's salvation4444 ,for1          
therefore1 most dear brother1 is the    
numerous body of priests joined together
 in mutual concord1 and the bond of     
unity1 that if any one of our order     
attempt to make a heresy1 and to sever  
and lay waste the flock of ,christ1 the 
rest may fly to the rescue1 and1 like   
useful and merciful shepherds1 collect  
the ,lord's sheep into a flock4444 ,for1
 although we are many shepherds1 yet we 
feed one flock2 and we ought to collect 
and cherish all those sheep which       
,christ sought with ,his own blood and  
passion4444 ,for we must preserve the   
glorious honour of our predecessors1 the
 blessed ,martyrs1 ,cornelius and       
,lucius1 7the last ,popes17 whose memory

 we indeed honour1 but which you much   
more1 most dear brother1 who are become 
their successor1 ought to distinguish   
and preserve by your weight and         
authority4 ,for they being full of the  
spirit of ,god1 and made glorious       
martyrs1 determined that reconciliation 
was to be granted to the lapsed1 and set
 down in their letters1 that1 after a   
course of penitence1 the advantage of   
communion and peace was not to be       
refused them4 ,which thing we all have  
everywhere entirely determined4 ,for    
there could not be in us a difference of
 judgment in whom there is ,one ,spirit4
 ,now1 might it not be stated1 that ,st4
 ,cyprian wrote to ,pope ,stephen1 to   
request him to depose ,marcian1 ,bishop 
of ,arles8 ,but how much is the         
inference from this fact modified by the
 language of ,cyprian himself8 ,it is   
just such a letter as an ,eastern       
,primate would have written to the      
,patriarch of ,alexandria1 or of        
,antioch1 to request his interference at

 a dangerous juncture4 ,it bears        
witness1 not to the present ,papal1 but 
to the ,patriarchal1 system4 ,it tallies
 exactly with the spirit of him who     
wrote elsewhere1 to the lapsed1 ,our    
,lord1 whose precepts and warnings we   
are bound to observe1 regulating the    
honour of the ,bishop1 and the          
constitution of his ,church1 speaks in  
the ,gospel1 and says to ,peter1 ',i say
 unto thee that thou art ,peter1' c4    
,thence1 according to the change of     
times and successions1 the ordination of
 ,bishops and the constitution of the   
,church has descended1 so that the      
,church is established upon the         
,bishops1 and every act of the ,church  
is directed by the same1 its governors4 
,this being established by ,divine      
law1#ag c4 ,it is evident that1 if the  
see of ,peter1 so often referred to by  
,st4 ,cyprian1 means the local see of   
,rome1 it also means the see of every   
,bishop who holds that office1 whereof  
,peter is the great type1 example1 and  

source4  ,but it was reserved for a more
 celebrated controversy1 fully to bring 
out ,st4 ,cyprian's view of the relation
 of the ,bishop of ,rome to the rest of 
the ,episcopal body3 ,i mean1 of course1
 the controversy whether heretics should
 be admitted into the ,church by        
rebaptization or by the imposition of   
hands4 ,i most fully believe1 be it     
observed1 that ,cyprian acknowledged the
 ,roman ,primacy1 that he admitted      
certain high prerogatives to be lodged  
in the ,roman ,pontiff1 as ,st4 ,peter's
 successor1 which did not belong to any 
other ,bishop4 ,it is this very thing   
which makes his conduct the more        
remarkable4 ,he took a very strong view 
on one side of the controversy in       
question3 and ,st4 ,stephen took an     
equally strong one on the other4 ,st4   
,stephen1 we all know1 turned out to be 
right4 ,that fervent ,pontiff1 it may be
 remarked1 when ,st4 ,cyprian would not 
give up his view1 seemed inclined to    
treat him much as ,st4 ,gregory the     

,seventh did a refractory ,emperor1 or  
,st4 ,innocent the ,third1 the dastard  
tyrant ,john4 ,this may be very         
satisfactory to the modern defenders of 
,papal omnipotence1 but ,st4 ,cyprian's 
conduct is not so at all4 ,st4 ,cyprian 
called a ,council of ,bishops of the    
provinces of ,carthage and ,numidia2    
they attended to the number of          
seventy-one1 and decided that heretics  
should be rebaptized4 ,st4 ,cyprian     
informs the ,pope of the decision of    
himself and his colleagues4 ,after      
saying that they had found it necessary 
to hold a council1 he proceeds--#ah;,but
 ,i thought ,i ought to write to you and
 confer with your gravity and wisdom    
concerning that especially which most   
belongs to the authority of the         
priesthood1 and to the unity alike and  
dignity of the ,catholic ,church derived
 from the ordering of a ,divine         
disposition4444 ,this1 most dear        
,brother1 we have brought to your       
knowledge on account both of the honour 

we share with you1 and of our           
single-hearted affection1 believing that
 what is both religious and true is     
acceptable to you also according to your
 true religion and faith4 ,but we know  
that some are unwilling to give up an   
opinion they have once imbibed1 nor     
easily change their mind2 but1 without  
interruption to the bonds of peace and  
concord with their colleagues1 retain   
certain peculiarities which have once   
grown into usage among themselves4      
7,such is the manner in which ,st4      
,cyprian mentions a judgment            
deliberately expressed by a ,pope on a  
matter of high discipline1 which        
involved a point of faith47 ,in which   
matter we too do violence and give the  
law to no one1 inasmuch as every ,bishop
 has the free choice of his own will in 
the administration of the ,church1 as he
 will give an account of his acts to the
 ,lord4 ,st4 ,stephen received this     
decision of the ,african ,council so    
ill1 that he would not even see the     

,bishops who brought it1 nor allow the  
faithful to offer them common           
hospitality4 ,so important in his eyes  
was the matter in dispute4 ,st4 ,cyprian
 reports his answer in a letter to his  
,brother-,bishop ,pompeius1 in which he 
says1 #ai;,although we have fully       
embraced all that is to be said         
concerning the baptizing of heretics1 in
 the letters of which we have sent to   
you copies1 most dear ,brother1 yet1    
because you desired to be informed what 
answer our ,brother ,stephen sent me to 
our letters1 ,i send you a copy of his  
rescript1 after reading which you will  
more and more mark his error1 who       
attempts to assert the cause of heretics
 against ,christians and against the    
,church of ,god4 ,for amongst other     
either proud or impertinent or          
inconsistent remarks1 which he has      
written rashly and improvidently1 c4444 
,but what blindness of mind is it1 what 
perverseness to refuse to recognise the 
unity of the faith coming from ,god the 

,father and the tradition of ,jesus     
,christ our ,lord and ,god4444 ,but     
since no heresy at all1 nor indeed any  
schism1 can possess outside 7the ,body7 
the sanctification of saving baptism1   
why has the harsh obstinacy of our      
,brother ,stephen burst forth to such a 
degree8 c4444 ,does he give honour to   
,god1 who1 the friend of heretics and   
the enemy of ,christians1 deems the     
priests of ,god1 maintaining the truth  
of ,christ and the unity of the ,church1
 worthy of excommunication8 ,st4        
,stephen had inflicted this on the      
,african prelates1 until they should    
give up their judgment on the point in  
question4444 ,nor ought the custom1     
which has crept in among certain        
persons1 to hinder truth from prevailing
 and conquering4 ,for custom without    
truth is but old error4444 ,but it is   
hurried away by presumption and         
contumacy that a person rather defends  
his own perverseness and falsity than   
accedes to the right and truth of       

another4 ,which thing the blessed       
apostle ,paul foreseeing1 writes to     
,timothy and warns1 that a ,bishop must 
not be quarrelsome1 nor contentious1 but
 gentle and teachable4 ,now he is       
teachable1 who is mild and gentle to    
learn patiently4 ,for a ,bishop ought   
not only to teach1 but also to learn1   
because he teaches better who daily     
improves and profits by learning better4
 ,even as we copy this language used    
concerning a ,pope by a great ,bishop   
and ,martyr of the third century1 who   
elsewhere writes1 #bj,that our ,lord    
built ,his ,church upon ,peter alone1   
and though ,he gave to all the apostles 
an equal power1 yet in order to manifest
 unity ,he has by ,his own authority so 
placed the source of the same unity as  
to begin from one2 we feel the contrast 
to be almost overpowering with the tone 
in which the first ,patriarch of the    
,latin ,church1 however good his cause  
might be1 would now venture to address  
the ,supreme ,pontiff4 ,towards the     

conclusion of this letter he says1      
instead of admitting that the ,pope's   
judgment terminated the matter--,this   
now the priests of ,god ought to do1    
preserving the ,divine precepts1 so that
 if in anything truth has been shaken   
and tottered1 we may return to the      
fountain-head of the ,lord1 and to the  
evangelical and apostolical tradition1  
and that the rule of our acting may     
spring thence1 whence its order and     
origin arose4  ,after receiving the     
,pope's rescript1 and his               
excommunication1 ,st4 ,cyprian convoked 
another ,council of the three provinces 
of ,africa1 ,numidia1 and ,mauritania1  
which was held at ,carthage on the #ast 
of ,sept4 #bef4 ,it was attended by     
eighty-five ,bishops1 among whom were   
fifteen ,confessors1 beside ,priests and
 ,deacons1 and a great part of the      
people4 ,st4 ,cyprian opened it1        
observing3 ,it remains for us each to   
deliver our sentiments on this matter1  
judging no one1 nor removing any one1 if

 he be of a different opinion1 from the 
right of ,communion4 ,for no one of us  
sets himself up to be a ,bishop of      
,bishops1 or by fear of his tyranny     
compels his colleagues to the necessity 
of obedience1 since every ,bishop       
according to his recognised liberty and 
power possesses a free choice1 and can  
no more be judged by another than he    
himself can judge another4 ,but let us  
all await the judgment of our ,lord     
,jesus ,christ1 who singly and alone has
 the power both of setting us up in the 
government of ,his ,church1 and of      
judging our proceedings4#ba ,the        
,bishops delivered their judgments      
seriatim1 finishing with ,st4 ,cyprian1 
and unanimously ratified what they had  
agreed upon before1 that heretics should
 be admitted into the ,church by        
baptism1 and not merely by the          
imposition of hands3 and thus an        
,african ,council of the third century  
treated a judgment of the ,pope1 and his
 sentence of excommunication until they 

altered their practice4  ,but these last
 words of ,st4 ,cyprian are so          
remarkable in themselves1 and have such 
a bearing on the present ,papal claims1 
that they deserve further notice4 ,now1 
lest we should imagine that ,st4        
,cyprian was hurried away by the ardour 
of his defence of a favourite doctrine1 
and his sense of the ,pope's severity1  
into unjustifiable expressions          
concerning the rights of ,bishops1 it so
 happens that we possess the comment of 
the greatest of the ,fathers on these   
very words4 ,st4 ,augustin1 writing #adj
 years after1 and fully agreeing with   
the judgment of ,pope ,stephen1 as had  
the whole ,church finally1 quotes the   
whole passage4 ',it remains for us each 
to deliver our sentiments on this       
matter1 judging no one1 nor removing any
 one1 if he be of a different opinion1  
from the right of communion4'#bb ,there 
he not only permits me without loss of  
communion further to seek the truth1 but
 even to be of a different judgment4    

',for no one of us1' saith he1 'sets    
himself up to be a ,bishop of ,bishops1 
or by fear of his tyranny compels his   
colleagues to the necessity of          
obedience4' ,what can be more gentle8   
,what more humble8 ,certainly no        
authority deters us from seeking what is
 the truth3 'since1' he says1 'every    
,bishop according to his recognised     
liberty and power possesses a free      
choice1 and can no more be judged by    
another than he himself can judge       
another3' certainly1 ,i imagine1 in     
those questions which have not yet been 
thoroughly and completely settled4 ,for 
he knew how great and mysterious a      
sacrament the whole ,church was then    
with various reasonings considering1 and
 he left open a freedom of inquiry1 that
 the truth might by search be laid      
open4444 ,i cannot by any means be      
induced to believe that ,cyprian1 a     
,catholic ,bishop1 a ,catholic ,martyr1 
and the greater he was the more in every
 respect humbling himself1 that he might

 find grace before ,god1 did1 especially
 in a holy ,council of his colleagues1  
utter with his mouth other than what he 
carried in his heart1 particularly as he
 adds--',but let us all await the       
judgment of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1   
who singly and alone has the power both 
of setting us up in the government of   
,his ,church1 and of judging our        
proceedings4' ,under appeal then to so  
great a judgment1 expecting to hear the 
truth from his colleagues1 should he    
offer them the first example of         
falsehood8 ,god avert such a madness    
from any ,christian1 how much more from 
,cyprian4 ,we possess then a free power 
of inquiry1 admitted us by ,cyprian's   
own most gentle and true language4  ,who
 can conclude otherwise than that ,st4  
,augustin in the year #djj1 as ,st4     
,cyprian in the year #bef1 was utterly  
ignorant of any such power as is now    
claimed for the ,see of ,rome1 under    
cover of that original ,primacy to which
 both these great saints have borne     

indubitable witness8 ,for the words of  
,st4 ,cyprian1 attested and approved by 
,st4 ,augustin1 contain the most        
explicit denial of that power lodged in 
the see of ,rome as distinct from an    
,oecumenical ,council1 by which alone1  
if at all1 the ,church of ,england has  
been declared schismatical and          
excommunicate4  ,these are ,bishops of  
the ,west speaking1 but the ,east also  
must give its voice4 ,st4 ,dionysius of 
,alexandria1 and many other ,eastern    
,prelates1 among the rest ,firmilian1   
,metropolitan of ,cesarea1 in           
,cappadocia1 supported ,st4 ,cyprian on 
the question of rebaptization4 ,the     
latter had been informed of ,st4        
,stephen's strong judgment and decided  
proceedings in the matter1 who had      
threatened to separate the ,bishops of  
the ,east also from his communion1 if   
they did not comply with his rule4      
,firmilian wrote a long letter to       
,cyprian1 which contains very remarkable
 expressions4 ,he alludes in it more    

than once to the ,primacy of ,st4       
,peter1 and to that of ,stephen as      
descending from him4 #bc;,but what is   
the error1 and how great the blindness  
of him 7i4e4 the ,pope7 who says1       
remission of sins can be given in the   
meetings of heretics1 nor remains in the
 foundation of the one ,church which was
 once fixed by ,christ upon the rock1   
may be hence understood1 because to     
,peter alone ,christ said1 ,whatsoever  
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound 
in heaven1 and whatsoever thou shalt    
loose on earth shall be loosed in       
heaven2 and again1 in the ,gospel1 when 
on the ,apostles alone ,christ breathed 
and said1 ,receive the ,holy ,ghost3    
whose sins ye remit they are remitted1  
and whose ye retain1 they are retained4 
,therefore the power of remitting sins  
was given to the ,apostles and the      
,churches which they1 being sent by     
,christ1 set up1 and to the ,bishops who
 have succeeded them by ordination in   
their stead4444 ,and here ,i am justly  

indignant at this so open and manifest  
folly of ,stephen1 because1 glorying as 
he does in the rank of his ,episcopate1 
and maintaining that he holds the       
succession of ,peter1 upon whom the     
foundations of the ,church were laid1 he
 introduces many other rocks1 and sets  
up new buildings of many ,churches1     
while he affirms1 on his own authority1 
that ,baptism is in them4444 ,nor does  
he perceive that the truth of the       
,christian rock is clouded over by him1 
and in a manner abolished1 who thus     
betrays and deserts unity4444 ,you      
,africans can say against ,stephen1     
that1 when the truth became known to    
you1 you relinquished an erroneous      
custom4 ,but we join custom also to     
truth1 and to the custom of the ,romans 
oppose a custom indeed1 but that of     
truth1 holding from the beginning this  
which has been delivered down from      
,christ1 and from the ,apostles4 ,he had
 said before1 ,one may know that those  
who are at ,rome do not in all things   

observe what has been delivered down    
from the beginning1 and vainly allege   
the authority of the ,apostles1 even by 
this1 that in celebrating ,easter1 and  
in many other sacred rites1 one may see 
there is among them certain variations2 
nor are all things there kept as they   
are kept at ,jerusalem2 just as in very 
many other provinces also1 according to 
the diversity of places and names1 there
 are variations2 nor yet on this account
 have the peace and unity of the        
,catholic ,church ever been departed    
from4 ,which now ,stephen has dared to  
do1 breaking peace towards you1 which   
his predecessors always kept with you1  
in reciprocal love and honour2 casting1 
too1 shameful reproach 7infamans7 on the
 blessed ,apostles1 ,peter and ,paul1 as
 if they had handed this down1 c4 ,the  
letter concludes with an apostrophe to  
,stephen1 which only a regard to truth  
induces us to quote1 so painful is its  
vehemence1 though it proves ex abundanti
 the point we are upon3 ,and ,stephen is

 not ashamed to assert this1 that       
remission of sins can be given through  
those who are themselves in all their   
sins4444 ,but thou art worse than all   
heretics2 for whilst many1 acknowledging
 their error1 come to thee thence to    
receive the true light of the ,church1  
thou assistest the errors of those so   
coming4444 ,nor understandest that their
 souls will be demanded at thy hand1    
when the day of judgment is come1 who to
 the thirsting hast denied the ,church's
 draught1 and hast been the cause of    
death to those who would live4 ,and     
moreover thou art indignant6 ,see with  
what ignorance thou venturest to censure
 those who strive for the truth against 
falsehood4 ,for who had most right to be
 angry at another2 he who supports the  
enemies of ,god1 or he who argues for   
the truth of the ,church against him who
 supports ,god's enemies8 except that it
 is evident that the ignorant are also  
passionate and wrathful1 whilst1 through
 lack of wisdom and discourse1 they     

readily betake themselves to passion1 so
 that it is of none other than thee that
 ,holy ,scripture says1 ',the passionate
 man prepares quarrels1 and the wrathful
 man heaps up sins2' for what quarrels  
and dissensions hast thou caused through
 the ,churches of the whole world6 ,but 
how great a sin hast thou heaped upon   
thyself1 when thou didst cut thyself off
 from so many flocks2 for thou hast     
destroyed thyself4 ,do not be deceived4 
,since he is the true schismatic who has
 made himself an apostate from the      
communion of the ,church's oneness2 for 
whilst thou dost fancy that all can be  
excommunicated by thee1 thou hast       
excommunicated thyself alone from       
all4444 ,this salutary advice of the    
,apostle how diligently hath ,stephen   
fulfilled6 preserving humility of       
feeling and lenity1 in his first rank1  
7primo in loco47 ,for what could be more
 humble or gentle1 than to have         
disagreed with so many ,bishops         
throughout the whole world1 breaking    

peace with one and the other on various 
grounds of discord1 now with the        
,eastern1 as we are sure you are aware1 
now with you in the ,south2 episcopal   
deputies from whom he received with such
 patience and mildness1 that he did not 
even admit them to an interview2        
moreover1 so mindful of the claims of   
charity and affection1 that he charged  
the whole brotherhood1 that no one      
should receive them into his house8 c4  
,concerning this remarkable history1    
,fleury says3#bd ,it is not known what  
was then the issue of this dispute4 ,it 
is certain that it still continued under
 ,pope ,saint ,sixtus1 successor of ,st4
 ,stephen3 this is seen by the letters  
that ,st4 ,dionysius of ,alexandria     
wrote him2 and it does not appear that  
,st4 ,cyprian or ,firmilian changed     
their mind4 7,so that ,st4 ,cyprian died
 under excommunication from ,pope       
,stephen47 ,still ,st4 ,cyprian is      
counted among the most illustrious      
martyrs1 even in the ,roman ,church1    

which names him in the ,canon of the    
,mass1 in preference to ,pope ,st4      
,stephen2 and the ,greeks1 in their     
,menologium1 honour the memory of       
,firmilian4 ,with reason1 since we shall
 see him preside over the first ,council
 of ,antioch1 against ,paul of          
,samosata2 and the ,fathers of the      
second ,council1 writing to the ,pope1  
name ,firmilian1 of happy memory1 as    
they do ,dionysius of ,alexandria4 ,why 
the error of ,st4 ,cyprian and ,st4     
,firmilian hurt not their sanctity is1  
that they always preserved on their part
 the unity of the ,church1 and charity1 
and that they maintained in good faith a
 bad cause1 which they believed good1   
and upon which there had not yet been a 
decision received by unanimous consent  
of the whole ,church4 ,thus ,st4        
,augustin speaks of it1 not counting as 
a final decision the decree of ,pope    
,st4 ,stephen1 though true in its       
matter1 and clothed with all the force  
that he could give it4 ,no one of the   

ancients has accused these holy ,bishops
 of obstinacy for not having obeyed this
 decree4 ,the decision of ,pope ,st4    
,stephen respecting the baptism of      
heretics has prevailed1 because it was  
the most ancient and the most universal1
 and consequently the best4444 ,at      
length this question was entirely set at
 rest by the authority of the universal 
,council1 that is to say1 at the latest1
 at the ,council of ,nicea4 ,most fair  
and just3 ,st4 ,cyprian and ,st4        
,firmilian may have innocently erred in 
such a matter2 but what of the way in   
which they treated the ,pope8 ,could    
they be ignorant of the constitution of 
that ,church of which they were         
,primates1 ,saints1 and one a ,martyr8  
,if his decision was final1 must they   
not have known it8 ,if his primacy      
involved their obedience1 must they not 
have rendered it8 ,but if they were his 
deputies1 as the present ,roman claim   
would have it1 who can express their    
rashness8 ,had they been right1 and the 

,pope wrong1 according to the present   
tenets of the ,latin ,church1 obedience 
had been better than sacrifice4 ,in     
truth1 they would have anticipated the  
noble submission of the ,archbishop of  
,cambrai1 and yielded at once to the    
chair of ,st4 ,peter1 whatever had been 
their conviction as to the truth of     
their views2 but the ,archbishop of     
,carthage1 the sternest defender of     
ecclesiastical unity and discipline     
which even the ,church of the ,fathers  
produced1 knew not that he had any such 
duty towards the ,see of ,st4 ,peter4   
,nay1 and ,st4 ,augustin knew it not    
either4 ,it was no more the belief in   
his day than in ,st4 ,cyprian's4 ,the   
,donatists alleged against him in the   
question of ,baptism the authority of   
,cyprian in this great ,council of      
,carthage4 ,this leads him to make a    
very important statement--,you are wont 
to object against us ,cyprian's letters1
 ,cyprian's judgment1 ,cyprian's        
,council3 why do you assume the         

authority of ,cyprian for your schism1  
and reject his example for the peace of 
the ,church8 ,but who is ignorant that  
canonical holy ,scripture1 as well of   
the ,old as of the ,new ,testament1 is  
contained in its own certain limits1 and
 is so preferred to all subsequent      
letters of ,bishops1 that no doubt or   
discussion at all can be held concerning
 it1 as to whether that be true or      
right1 which is acknowledged to be found
 written in it3 but that the letters of 
,bishops which either have been or are  
written after the confirmation of the   
canon1 may be reprehended both by the   
reasoning1 peradventure more full of    
wisdom1 of some one in that matter more 
skilled1 and by the weightier authority 
and more learned judgment of other      
,bishops1 and by ,councils1 if haply    
there has been in them any deviation    
from the truth2 and that ,councils      
themselves1 holden in particular regions
 or provinces1 yield1 beyond all        
question1 to the authority of plenary   

,councils1 which are made out of the    
whole ,christian world3 and that former 
plenary ,councils themselves are often  
corrected by subsequent ones1 when by   
some practical experience what has been 
hidden is laid open1 and what lay       
concealed is recognised1 without any    
puffing up of sacrilegious pride1       
without any haughty exhibition of       
arrogance1 without any strife of livid  
envy1 with holy humility1 with ,catholic
 peace1 with ,christian charity4#be     
,here1 where1 in a dignus vindice nodus1
 we should have expected some mention of
 the ,chief ,see1 and ,st4 ,peter's     
rights1 all is referred to the voice of 
,bishops in ,council1--that ,see1 in    
which1 according to ,bellarmine1 the    
plenitude of all the power resides which
 ,christ left in ,his ,church1 is not   
even spoken of4 ,he proceeds--,wherefore
 holy ,cyprian1 the more exalted1 the   
more humble1 7in a matter for which he  
was excommunicated by the ,pope1 and in 
which1 if the present ,papal theory be  

true1 his conduct was to the last degree
 insolent1 and unjustifiable17 who so   
loved the example of ,peter as to       
say1--',showing1 indeed1 an instance to 
us of concord and patience1 that we     
should not pertinaciously love our own  
opinion1 but should rather count for our
 own any useful and sound suggestions1  
which at times are made by our brethren 
and colleagues1 if they be true and     
lawful3' he sufficiently shows that he  
would most readily have corrected his   
judgment1 had any one pointed out to him
 that the ,baptism of ,christ might be  
given by those who had gone out 7from   
the ,church7 in the same manner that it 
could not be lost when they went out3 on
 which point we have already said much4 
,nor should we ourselves venture to make
 any such assertion1 were we not        
supported by the unanimous authority of 
the whole ,church3 to which he too1     
without doubt1 would yield1 if the truth
 of this question had at that period    
been thoroughly sifted1 and declared1   

and established by a plenary ,council4  
,for if he praises and extols ,peter for
 having with patience and harmony       
suffered correction from a single       
younger colleague1 how much more readily
 would he himself1 with the ,council of 
his province1 have yielded to the       
authority of the whole world1 when the  
truth was laid open8 because1 indeed1 so
 holy and so peaceful a soul might most 
readily agree to one person 7i4e4 the   
,pope71 speaking and proving the truth2 
and this1 perhaps1 was really the fact1 
but we know not4 ,for not all which at  
that time was transacted between        
,bishops could be committed to posterity
 and writing1 nor do we know all which  
was so committed4 ,for how could that   
matter1 involved in so many clouds of   
altercations1 be brought to the clear   
consideration and ratification of a     
plenary ,council1 unless first for a    
long time throughout all the regions of 
the world it had been thoroughly tried1 
and made manifest by many discussions   

and conferences of ,bishops on the one  
side and on the other8 ,but wholesome   
peace produces this1 that when obscure  
questions have been long under inquiry1 
and1 through the difficulty of          
ascertaining them1 beget various        
judgments in brotherly discussion1 until
 the pure truth be arrived at1 the bond 
of unity holds1 lest in the part cut off
 the incurable wound of error should    
remain4 ,he considers ,pope ,stephen    
here1 even when he was right1 as one of 
many brethren1 who had a right to be    
deferentially heard1 but no more4 ,as in
 another place1 arguing with these same 
,donatists1 he distinctly considers the 
case of the judgment of the ,roman      
,pontiff being erroneous4 ,the          
,donatists1#bf says he1 chose with a    
double purpose1 to plead their cause    
with ,coecilian before the ,churches    
across the sea2 being doubly prepared1  
that if they could by any skilfulness of
 false accusation have overcome him1    
they might to the full satiate their    

desire3 but if they failed in this1     
might continue in the same perversity1  
but still as if they would have to      
allege1 that they had suffered in having
 bad judges3 this is what all wrong     
suitors cry1 though they have been      
overcome by the plainest truths3 as if  
it might not be answered them and most  
justly retorted1--,let us suppose that  
these ,bishops who judged at ,rome1     
7,pope ,melchiades and his ,council17   
were not fair judges2 there still       
remained a plenary ,council of the      
universal ,church1 where the cause might
 have been tried even with those very   
judges1 so that had they been convicted 
of false judgment their decision might  
be reversed4  ,nay1 it appears1 the     
cause of the ,donatists1 after being    
decided by ,pope ,melchiades1 was       
reheard1 and that1 not by a plenary     
,council1 but by other ,bishops of the  
,west1 deputed by ,constantine4         
,know1#bg says ,st4 ,augustin1 that your
 first ancestors carried the cause of   

,coecilianus before the ,emperor        
,constantine4 ,demand this of us1 let us
 prove it to you1 and if we prove it    
not1 do with us what you can4 ,but      
because ,constantine dared not to judge 
in the cause of a ,bishop1 he delegated 
the discussion and terminating of it to 
,bishops4 ,this took place in the city  
of ,rome under the presidency of        
,melchiades1 ,bishop of that ,church1   
with many of his colleagues4 ,they      
having pronounced ,coecilianus innocent1
 and condemned ,donatus1 who had made   
the schism at ,carthage1 your party     
again went to the ,emperor1 and murmured
 against the judgment of the ,bishops in
 which they had been beaten4 ,for how   
can the guilty party praise the judge by
 whose sentence he has been beaten8 ,yet
 a second time the most indulgent       
,emperor assigned other ,bishops as     
judges1 at ,arles1 in ,gaul1 and from   
them your party appealed to the ,emperor
 himself1 until he too heard the cause1 
and pronounced ,coecilianus innocent1   

and them false accusers4 ,did he who    
wrote these words mean to censure       
,constantine for granting a second      
hearing after the judgment of ,pope     
,melchiades8  ,basilides1 says ,mr4     
,newman1 deposed in ,spain1 betakes     
himself to ,rome1 and gains the ear of  
,st4 ,stephen4 ,this1 however1 is only  
half the case4 ,it comes to the         
knowledge of ,st4 ,cyprian that he has  
done so4 ,let us take ,fleury's         
account4#bh ,as ,basilides and ,martial 
still endeavoured to force themselves   
back upon their sees1 ,felix and        
,sabinus1 their legitimate successors1  
went to ,carthage with letters from the 
,churches of ,leon1 ,asturia1 and       
,merida1 and from another ,felix1       
,bishop of ,sarragossa1 known in ,africa
 as attached to the faith1 and a        
defender of the truth4 ,these letters   
were read in a ,council of thirty-six   
,bishops1 at the head of whom was ,st4  
,cyprian1 who answered in the name of   
all by a letter addressed to the ,priest

 ,felix1 and to the faithful people of  
,leon and ,asturia1 and to the ,deacon  
,loelius1 with the people of ,merida4   
,in this letter he says1 ,wherefore1#bi 
according to ,divine tradition1 and     
,apostolic observance1 that is to be    
kept and observed1 which is observed by 
us also1 and generally throughout all   
the provinces1 that in order rightly to 
celebrate ordinations1 the nearest      
,bishops of the same province should    
meet together with that people for whom 
the head is ordained1 and the ,bishop   
should be chosen in the presence of the 
people1 which is most fully acquainted  
with the life of every one1 and has     
observed the conduct of each individual 
from his conversation4 ,and this we see 
was observed by you in the ordination of
 our colleague ,sabinus1 so that1       
according to the suffrage of the whole  
brotherhood1 and the judgment of the    
,bishops1 who were either present1 or   
had sent you letters about him1 the     
,episcopate was conferred upon him1 and 

hands laid upon him in the place of     
,basilides4 ,nor can it invalidate a    
rightful ordination1 that ,basilides1   
after the detection of his crimes and   
the laying bare his conscience even by  
his own confession1 going to ,rome      
deceived our colleague ,stephen1 who was
 far removed and ignorant of the thing  
as it was really done1 that he might    
make interest for an unjust restoration 
to that ,episcopate from which he had   
been rightfully deposed4 ,it comes to   
this1 that the crimes of ,basilides have
 been rather doubled than wiped away1   
since to his former sins1 the crime of  
deceit and circumvention has been added4
 ,nor should he be so much blamed1 who  
through negligence was overreached1 as  
the other execrated1 who fraudulently   
deceived4 ,but if ,basilides could      
overreach men1 ,god he cannot1 c4 ,if   
the appeal of ,basilides to ,stephen    
proves the ,roman ,primacy1 what does   
the subsequent appeal of the people of  
,leon1 ,asturia1 and ,merida1 to        

,carthage1 prove8 ,and if the           
restoration of ,basilides by ,stephen1  
proves that he possessed that power1    
what does the subsequent pronouncing of 
that restoration void by ,cyprian and   
his brother ,bishops1 without even first
 acquainting ,stephen1 prove8  ,in      
truth1 all the acts of ,st4 ,cyprian's  
,episcopate1 of which we have given     
several in illustration1 are an         
indisputable assurance to the candid    
mind that he treated the ,roman ,pontiff
 simply as his brother1--his elder      
brother1 indeed1--holding the first see 
in ,christendom1 but1 individually1 as  
liable to err as himself4 ,and it is    
equally clear that ,st4 ,augustin1 a    
hundred and forty years later1 did not  
censure him for this4 ,what we have     
seen1 is this4 ,in the matter of        
,fortunatus and ,felicissimus1 ,cyprian 
rejects with vehement indignation their 
appeal to ,rome3 in the case of ,marcian
 of ,arles1 he writes as an equal to    
,pope ,stephen1 almost enjoining him    

what to do3 in the question of          
rebaptizing heretics1 he disregards ,st4
 ,stephen's judgment1 and the anathema  
which accompanies it2 and how strong    
,st4 ,firmilian's language is we need   
not repeat1 who declares that ,st4      
,stephen's excommunication only cut off 
himself3 in the case of ,basilides1 he  
deposes afresh one whom ,stephen had    
restored4  ,such are the illustrations  
afforded by the preceding century to    
what we have stated was the unquestioned
 constitution of the ,catholic ,church  
at the time of the ,council of ,nicea2  
viz4 that while the three great ,sees of
 ,rome1 ,alexandria1 and ,antioch       
exercised a powerful but entirely       
paternal influence on their colleagues1 
that of ,rome having the undoubted      
primacy1 not derived from the gift of   
,councils1 or the rank of the imperial  
city1 but from immemorial tradition as  
the ,see of ,st4 ,peter2 yet1 at the    
same time1 the fullness of the          
priesthood1 and with it all power to    

govern the ,church1 were acknowledged to
 reside in the whole ,episcopal ,body4  
,the ,bishop1 says ,thomassin1 quoting  
with approbation a ,greek writer1 as    
representing the doctrine of the early  
,fathers1 and of the universal ,church  
since1 is the complete image in the     
,church on earth of ,him who in the holy
 ,trinity alone bears the name of       
,father1 as being the first principle   
without principle1 and the fruitful     
source of the other ,persons1 and of all
 the divine perfections4444 ,the ,bishop
 communicates the ,priesthood1 as ,he   
who is without principle in the         
,godhead1 and is therefore called       
,father4#cj ,the ,apostolic ,canons1 and
 those of the ,council of ,nicea1 are   
the legislative acts bearing witness to 
this order of things3 the conduct and   
words of ,st4 ,cyprian1 ,st4 ,firmilian1
 and ,st4 ,augustin1 which we have      
instanced1 and an innumerable multitude 
of other cases1 exhibit it in full life 
and vigour2 while1 on the other side1   

there is absolutely nothing to allege4  
,the history of the ,church during the  
three hundred years following the       
,nicene ,council is but a development of
 this constitution4 ,the problem was1   
how to combine in the harmonious action 
of ,one organized ,body those           
,apostolical powers which resided in the
 ,bishops generally4 ,the ,patriarchal  
system was the result4 ,as the ,church  
increased in extent1 her rulers would   
increase in number4 ,this               
multiplication1 which would tend so much
 to augment the centrifugal force1 was  
met by increased energy in the          
centripetal3 the power of the           
,patriarchs1 and specially of the       
,bishop of ,rome1 grew4 ,it is          
impossible1 in my present limits1 to    
follow this out1 but ,i propose to give 
a few specimens1 as before1 in          
illustration4  ,in so vast a system of  
interlaced and concurrent powers as the 
,church of ,christ presented1           
differences would continually arise2 and

 in so profound a subject-matter as the 
,christian revelation1 heresies would be
 continually starting up3 to arrange the
 former1 and to expel or subjugate the  
latter1 the ,bishops1 says ,thomassin1  
having already more than once appealed  
to the ,christian ,emperors for the     
calling of great ,councils1 saw the     
danger of suffering the ,imperial       
authority to intervene in ecclesiastical
 causes1 and sought to establish a new  
jurisprudence on this head4#ca ,the     
,council of ,antioch 7,a4,d4 #cda71 and 
that of ,sardica 7,a4,d4 #cdg71 which   
were held almost at the same time1--the 
one in the ,east1 the other in the      
,west1--set about this in a very        
different manner1 aiming1 however1 at   
the same end4 ,the ,council of ,antioch 
ordered that ,bishops1 ,priests1 and    
,deacons1 who should have been condemned
 by a provincial ,council1 might recur  
to a larger ,council of ,bishops2 but   
that if they carried their complaints   
before the ,emperor they could never be 

reestablished in their dignity4 ,one    
must in good faith admit1 that this     
regulation had much conformity with what
 had been practised in the first ages of
 obscurity and persecution1 for it was  
in the same way that extraordinary      
,councils had been held1 such as were   
those of ,antioch against ,paul of      
,samosata1 ,bishop of that great city4  
,it was the ,metropolitans and ,bishops 
of the neighbourhood who assembled with 
those of the ,province where the flame  
of a great dissension had been kindled4 
,the ,council of ,sardica1 urged by the 
same desire to break through the custom 
which was introducing itself1 of having 
recourse to the ,emperor for judgment of
 spiritual causes of the ,church1       
bethought itself of another means1 which
 was not less conformable to the        
practice of the preceding centuries1 and
 which had1 beside that1 much foundation
 in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,for ,jesus  
,christ1 having given the ,primacy1 and 
the rank of ,head1 to ,st4 ,peter1 above

 the other ,apostles1 and having given  
successors as well to the ,apostles1 to 
wit1 all the ,bishops1 as to ,st4       
,peter1 to wit1 the ,roman ,pontiffs2   
moreover1 having willed that ,his       
,church should remain for ever one by   
the union of all ,bishops with their    
,head1 it is manifest1 that if the      
,bishops of a province could not agree  
in their ,provincial ,council1 and if   
the ,bishops of several provinces had   
disputes between each other1 the most   
natural way to finish these differences 
was to introduce the authority of the   
,head1 and of him whom ,jesus ,christ   
has established as the centre of unity  
of ,his universal ,church4              
,accordingly1 at the ,council of        
,sardica1 attended by ,st4 ,athanasius1 
then in exile1 and about a hundred      
,western ,bishops1 after the secession  
of the ,eastern or ,arian portion1      
,hosius proposed1 ,if two ,bishops of   
the same province have a disagreement1  
neither of the two shall take for       

arbitrator a ,bishop of another         
province3 if a ,bishop1 having been     
condemned1 feels so assured of his      
right1 that he is willing to be judged  
anew in a ,council1 let us honour1 if   
you think it good1 the memory of the    
,apostle ,st4 ,peter3 let those who have
 examined the cause1 write to ,julius1  
,bishop of ,rome2 if he thinks proper to
 order a fresh trial1 let him name      
judges2 if he does not think that there 
is reason to renew the matter1 let what 
he orders be kept to4 ,the ,council     
approved this proposition4 ,the ,bishop 
,gaudentius added1 that1 during this    
appeal1 no ,bishop should be ordained in
 place of him who had been deposed1     
until the ,bishop of ,rome had judged   
his cause4#cb  ,to make the preceding   
,canon clearer1 ,hosius said1 ',when a  
,bishop1 deposed by the ,council of the 
province1 shall have appealed and had   
recourse to the ,bishop of ,rome1 if he 
judge proper that the matter be examined
 afresh1 he shall write to the ,bishops 

of the neighbouring province to be the  
judges of it2 and if the deposed ,bishop
 persuade the ,bishop of ,rome to send a
 priest from his own person1 he shall be
 able to do it1 and to send             
commissioners to judge by his authority1
 together with the ,bishops2 but if he  
believes that the ,bishops are          
sufficient to settle the matter1 he will
 do what his wisdom suggests to him4'   
,the judgment which ,pope ,julius1      
together with the ,council of ,rome1 had
 given in favour of ,athanasius and the 
other persecuted ,bishops1 seems to have
 given cause to this ,canon1 and we have
 seen that this ,pope complained that   
they had judged ,st4 ,athanasius without
 writing to him about it4  ,such is the 
modest commencement of that power of    
hearing episcopal causes on appeal1     
which has been the instrument of        
obtaining the wonderful authority       
concentrated by a long series of ages in
 the see of ,rome4 ,however conformable 
to the practice of preceding centuries1 

as ,thomassin says1 this may have been1 
this power is here certainly granted by 
the ,council1 not considered as inherent
 in the see of ,rome4 ,and this one fact
 is fatal to the present claim of the   
supremacy4 ,to use ,de ,maistre's       
favourite analogy1 it is as though the  
,states ,general or ,parliament         
conferred his royal powers on the       
,sovereign who convoked them1 and whose 
assent alone made their enactments law4 
,accordingly1 like the whole course of  
proceedings in these early ,councils1 it
 is incompatible with the notion of the 
,pope being the monarch in the ,church4 
,we may safely say1 history offers not a
 more wonderful contrast in a power     
bearing the same name1 than that here   
conferred on ,pope ,julius in #cdg1 and 
that exercised by ,pope ,pius the       
,seventh in #ahjb4 ,on the bursting out 
of the ,french revolution1 out of a     
hundred and thirty-six ,bishops more    
than a hundred and thirty remained      
faithful to ,god and the ,church3 some  

offered the testimony of their blood2   
the rest became confessors in all lands 
for ,christ's sake1 in poverty1         
contempt1 and banishment4 ,after ten    
years1 the civil governor1 who had      
lately professed himself a ,mahometan1  
proposes to the ,pope to re-establish   
the ,church1 but on condition of himself
 nominating to the sees1 and those not  
the ancient sees of the country1 but a  
selection from them1 to the number of   
eighty4 ,thereupon the ,pope requires   
those eighty ,bishops and ,confessors   
who still survived1 and whom he         
acknowledged to be not only blameless1  
but martyrs for the name of ,christ1 to 
resign into his hands their episcopal   
powers4 ,of his own single authority he 
abolishes the ancient sees of the eldest
 daughter of the ,western ,church1      
constitutes that number of new sees     
which the civil power permits1 and      
treats as schismatics those few ,bishops
 who disobey his requisition4 ,i do not 
presume to express any blame of ,pope   

,pius2 ,i simply mention a fact4 ,but it
 seems to me1 certainly1 that those who 
would entirely recognise the power and  
precedence exercised by ,pope ,julius1  
are not necessarily schismatics because 
they refuse to admit a power not merely 
greater in degree1 but different in     
kind1 and to set the ,high ,priesthood  
of the ,church beneath the feet of one1 
though it be the ,first of her          
,pontiffs4  ,the restrictions under     
which1 according to the ,council of     
,sardica1 the ,pope could cause a matter
 to be reheard1 are specific4 ,much     
larger power is assigned in the fourth  
,general ,council1 that of ,chalcedon1  
to the see of ,constantinople1 in the   
ninth ,canon1 which says1 ,if any       
,bishop or ,clergyman has a controversy 
against the ,bishop of the province     
himself 7i4e4 the ,metropolitan71 let   
him have recourse to the ,exarch of the 
diocese1 or to the throne of the        
,imperial city of ,constantinople1 and  
plead his cause before him4  ,but1      

between these two ,councils of ,nicea1  
,a4,d4 #cbe1 and ,chalcedon1 #dea1 the  
whole ,patriarchal system of the ,church
 had sprung up1 and covered the         
provinces of the ,roman ,empire with as 
it were a finely reticulated net4 ,the  
system may be said to be built on two   
principles1 recognised and enforced in  
the ,apostolic ,canons1 and consistently
 carried out1 from the ,bishop of the   
poorest country town up to the primatial
 see of ,rome4 ,these principles are1   
the authority of the ,metropolitan over 
his ,bishops in important and           
extraordinary affairs1 and the supreme  
authority of ,bishops in the ordinary   
government of their particular          
bishoprics4 ,with this distinction1 that
 the ,metropolitan even cannot arrange  
important and extraordinary affairs but 
with the counsel of his suffragans1     
whilst every ,bishop conducts all the   
common and ordinary affairs of his      
,diocese without being obliged to take  
the advice of his ,metropolitan4#cc     

,this latter principle1 it will be seen1
 expresses the essential equality and   
unity of the ,high ,priesthood vested in
 ,bishops by descent from the ,apostles1
 to which ,st4 ,cyprian bears such      
constant witness1 so that it may be said
 to be the one spirit which animates all
 his government3 while the former1      
leaving this quite inviolate1 builds    
together the whole ,church in one vast  
living structure4 ,for as the ,bishops  
of the province have their              
,metropolitan1 and their spring and     
autumn ,councils under him1 so the      
,metropolitan stands in a like relation 
to his ,exarch1 or ,patriarch2 and of   
the five great ,patriarchs of ,rome1    
,constantinople1 ,alexandria1 ,antioch1 
and ,jerusalem1 who are found at the    
,council of ,chalcedon to preside over  
the ,church ,catholic1 that of ,rome has
 the unquestioned primacy1 and is seen  
at the centre1 sustaining and animating 
the whole4 ,the most important of all   
the powers of ,metropolitans1 ,exarchs1 

and ,patriarchs1 was the election of    
,bishops1 the confirmation and          
consecration of ,bishops elected4 ,for  
all the other degrees of authority were 
founded on this one1 which rendered the 
,metropolitan the ,father1 ,master1 and 
,judge of all his suffragans4#cd ,and so
 that famous ,canon of the ,council of  
,nicea1 7the #fth17 which seems in      
appearance only to confirm the ancient  
right of the three first ,metropolitans 
of the world to ordain the ,bishops of  
all the provinces of their dependence1  
establishes in effect all the rights and
 all the powers of the ,metropolitans1  
because it establishes the foundation on
 which they all rest4 ',if any one be   
made a ,bishop contrary to the sentence 
of his ,metropolitan1 the great ,synod  
declares that he should not be a        
,bishop4' ,nothing is juster than to    
found the right of a holy and paternal  
rule on the right of generation4 ,for by
 ordination the ,bishops engender not   
children indeed1 but ,fathers1 to the   

,church4 ,this system continued         
unimpaired in the whole ,church1 at     
least to the time of ,st4 ,gregory the  
,great4 ,it offers1 ,i think1 an        
unanswerable refutation to what must be 
considered the strongest argument of the
 ,roman ,catholics for the ,supremacy1  
that there could be no unity in the     
,church without it1 as a living         
organized body2 history says1 there was 
unity1 with five co-ordinate            
,patriarchs1 and an ,episcopate twice as
 numerous as that of the present ,latin 
,communion4 ,in the ,latin ,church      
itself1 this system was only gradually  
overshadowed by another system which    
sprang from the excessive development of
 one of its parts2 in the ,greek and    
,russian ,church1 it continues down to  
this day2 whatever ecclesiastical       
constitution we still have ourselves1 is
 a part of this system4 ,and by         
reference to1 and under cover of this1  
which if not strictly of ,divine right1 
as is the ,high ,priesthood of ,bishops1

 approaches very nearly indeed to it1   
and was the effluence of the ,spirit of 
,god ruling and guiding the ,church of  
the ,fathers1 we must justify ourselves 
from the damning blot of schism4 ,we    
cannot1 dare not1 do this upon          
principles such as the right of private 
judgment--,the ,bible alone is the      
religion of ,protestants1--and the like1
 which lead directly1 and by most       
certain consequence1 to dissent1 heresy1
 and anarchy4 ,god forbid that they who 
profess to be members of the ,one holy  
,catholic ,church should1 urged by any  
unhappiness of their provisional and    
strange position1 take up ,satanic and  
,antichristian arms4 ,no6 if we may not 
hope for that system under which        
,augustin and ,chrysostom laboured and  
witnessed1 we will have nothing to do   
with those who destroy dogmatic faith   
altogether1 and break up the visible    
unity of the ,church of ,christ into a  
multitude of atoms4 ,quot homines1 tot  
voluntates4 ,we cannot so relapse into  

worse than a second heathenism1 and with
 the unity of ,pentecost offered us1    
deliberately choose the confusion of    
,babel4  ,but over and above his natural
 eminence in the ,church1 which ,i have 
attempted to describe1 a concurrence of 
events in the fourth century tended to  
give a still greater moral weight to the
 voice of the ,bishop of ,rome4 ,while  
the other great sees of the ,church were
 vexed with heresy or schism1 his was   
providentially exempted from both4 ,the 
same century witnessed ,coecilianus of  
,carthage1 judged and supported by ,pope
 ,melchiades1 while the ,donatist schism
 all that century long rent ,africa in  
twain2 and ,st4 ,athanasius1 of         
,alexandria1 driven from his see1 and   
persecuted by the whole ,east1 received 
and justified by ,pope ,julius2 and ,st4
 ,john ,chrysostom1 too good by far for 
a corrupt capital and a degenerate      
court1 in life protected1 and in death  
restored1 by ,pope ,innocent4 ,we have  
seen ,st4 ,jerome appeal to ,pope       

,damasus1 to know which of three        
competitors for the ,patriarchal throne 
of ,antioch was the right ,bishop4 ,but 
it is impossible to describe the        
confusion and violence which the ,arian 
heresy1 and the cognate heresies        
concerning the ,person of our ,lord1    
wrought throughout the ,church and      
,empire4 ,in all these the ,roman       
,patriarch was beheld immovable1        
supporting1 with his whole authority1   
what turned out to be the orthodox view4
 ,what ,mr4 ,newman asserts is1         
moreover1 entirely in accordance with   
the ,patriarchal system1 as we have     
attempted to describe it1 that the      
writers of the fourth and fifth         
centuries fearlessly assert1 or frankly 
allow1 that the prerogatives of ,rome   
were derived from apostolic times1 and  
that because it was the ,see of ,st4    
,peter4 ,i confess that these words set 
me upon the search1 and that ,i have    
found such testimonies in abundance2 but
 then they are invariably to the ,bishop

 of ,rome as holding the first see1 not 
as ,episcopus ,episcoporum3 they bear   
witness to the ,patriarchal system1 not 
to the ,papal4 ,for instance1 all lovers
 of truth would be obliged to ,mr4      
,newman to point out1 in all the works  
of ,st4 ,augustin1 a single passage     
which is sufficiently distinct and      
specific to justify the ,papal claims1  
nay1 which does not consider the ,pope  
the first ,bishop1 and no more4 ,it is  
little to say ,i have searched for such 
in vain4 ,but in a ,western ,father1    
whose extant writings are so voluminous1
 and whose personal history is almost a 
history of the ,church during the nearly
 forty years of his episcopate1 and who 
continually gives judgment on all       
matters concerning the ,church's        
government and constitution1 it would   
seem impossible but that such a         
testimony should be found1 if a thing so
 wondrous as is the ,papal ,power then  
existed4 ,on the contrary1 ,st4         
,augustin1 continually explaining those 

often cited passages of ,scripture1 on  
which mediaeval and later ,roman writers
 ground the ,papal prerogatives1 that   
is1 ,thou art ,peter1 c41 ,feed my      
sheep1 c41 says specifically1 that      
,peter represents the ,church4 ,one of  
these passages we have already quoted4  
,take another4 ,and ,i say unto thee1   
because thou hast said to me2 thou hast 
spoken1 now hear2 thou hast given a     
confession1 receive a blessing2         
therefore1 and ,i say unto thee1 that   
thou art ,peter2 because ,i am the      
,rock1 thou art ,peter2 for neither from
 ,peter is the ,rock1 but from the      
,rock1 ,peter2 because not from the     
,christian is ,christ1 but from ,christ 
the ,christian4 ,and upon this ,rock ,i 
will build my ,church2 not upon ,peter1 
which thou art1 but upon the ,rock which
 thou hast confessed4 ,but ,i will build
 my ,church1 ,i will build thee1 who in 
this answer representest the ,church4#ce
 ,again1 in a passage which conveys that
 old view of ,cyprian1 that every       

,bishop's chair is the chair of ,st4    
,peter4 ,for as some things are said    
which would seem to belong personally to
 the ,apostle ,peter1 yet cannot be     
clearly understood unless when they are 
referred to the ,church1 which he is    
admitted1 in figure1 to have            
represented1 on account of the ,primacy 
which he held among the disciples1--as  
is1--,i will give to thee the keys of   
the kingdom of ,heaven2--and if there be
 any such like4#cf ,again3 ,for ,peter  
himself1 to whom ,he entrusted ,his     
sheep as to another self1 ,he willed to 
make one with ,himself1 that so ,he     
might entrust ,his sheep to him2 that he
 might be the ,head1 the other bear the 
figure of the ,body1 that is1 the       
,church2 and that1 as man and wife1 they
 might be two in one flesh4#cg ,again3  
,the ,lord ,jesus chose out ,his        
disciples before ,his ,passion1 as ye   
know1 whom ,he named ,apostles4 ,amongst
 these1 ,peter alone almost everywhere  
was thought worthy 7meruit7 to represent

 the whole ,church4 ,on account of that 
very representing of the whole ,church1 
which he alone bore1 he was thought     
worthy to hear1 ,i will give to thee the
 keys of the kingdom of ,heaven4 ,for   
these keys not one man but the unity of 
the ,church received4 ,here1 therefore1 
the eminence of ,peter is set forth1    
because he represented the very         
universality and unity of the ,church1  
when it was said to him1 ,i give to thee
 what was given to all4 ,for that you   
may know that the ,church has received  
the keys of the kingdom of ,god1 hear   
what in another place the ,lord says to 
all his ,apostles3 ,receive the ,holy   
,ghost4 ,and presently3 ,whosesoever    
sins ye remit1 they are remitted to him2
 whosesoever ye retain1 they are        
retained4 ,this belongs to the keys     
concerning which it was said1 ,what ye  
loose on earth1 shall be loosed in      
,heaven2 and what ye bind on earth1     
shall be bound in ,heaven4 ,but this ,he
 said to ,peter4 ,that you may know that

 ,peter then represented the whole      
,church1 hear what is said to him1#ch c4
 ,for deservedly1 after ,his            
resurrection1 the ,lord delivered ,his  
sheep to ,peter himself to feed2 for he 
was not the only one among the disciples
 who was thought worthy to feed the     
,lord's sheep4 ,but when ,christ speaks 
to one1 unity is commended2 and to      
,peter above all1 because ,peter is the 
first among the ,apostles4#ci ,again3   
,as in the ,apostles1 the number itself 
being twelve1 that is1 four divisions   
into three1--7he seems to mean1 that    
there was a mystical universality       
betokened in the number four1 as a      
mystical unity in the number            
three17--and all being asked1 ,peter    
alone answered1 ,thou art the ,christ1  
the ,son of the living ,god4 ,and it is 
said to him1 ,i will give to thee the   
keys of the kingdom of ,heaven1 as if he
 alone had received the power of binding
 and loosing2 the case really being1    
that he singly said that in the name of 

all1 and received this together with    
all1 as representing unity itself2      
therefore one in the name of all1       
because unity is in all4#dj ,this1      
written at so many different times1 was 
evidently the view preferred by this    
great ,father2#da and be it observed1   
that while1 on the one hand1 there is a 
total silence as to the local see of    
,rome1 on the other hand1 there is in   
these words a specific denial of the    
present ,roman doctrine1 that all       
spiritual jurisdiction throughout the   
whole ,church is derived from the see of
 ,rome alone4 ,that jurisdiction is     
derived from the see of ,rome1 and the  
other ,apostolic ,sees in conjunction1  
is the truth of the ,patriarchal system2
 that it is derived from the see of     
,rome1 as distinct from them1 and       
without them1 is the exaggeration of the
 ,papal system4  ,i may remark here1    
that ,st4 ,leo the ,great does apply    
these passages both to ,st4 ,peter      
personally1 as distinct from the other  

,apostles1 and to the ,roman ,pontiffs1 
as his successors1 distinct from all    
other ,bishops4 ,st4 ,augustin's        
different application is the more       
remarkable4  ,the strongest expressions 
respecting the power of the ,roman see1 
which ,i have been able to find in the  
works of ,st4 ,augustin1 are contained  
not in his proper works1 but in two     
letters of ,pope ,st4 ,innocent1 written
 in answer to the synodical letters of  
the ,council of ,milevi1--who thought   
fit likewise to communicate their       
judgment to the ,pope ,st4 ,innocent in 
order to join the ,apostolical authority
 to their own4#db ,their own words      
are1--,what we have done1 ,sir and      
,brother1 we have thought good to       
intimate to your holy charity1 that the 
authority of the ,apostolical ,see may  
also be added to what we1 in our        
mediocrity1 have ordered1 to protect the
 salvation of many1 and also to correct 
the perversity of some4#dc ,they were   
writing concerning a point nearly       

touching the common faith1 i4e41 in     
condemnation of ,pelagius4 ,the ,pope in
 his answer1 praises them1              
that--,guarding1 according to the duty  
of priests1 the institutions of the     
,fathers1 ye resolve that those         
regulations should not be trodden under 
foot1 which they with no human but      
,divine voice decreed3 viz41 that       
whatever was being carried on1 although 
in the most distant and remote          
provinces1 should not be terminated     
before it was brought to the knowledge  
of this see3 by the full authority of   
which the just sentence should be       
confirmed1 and that thence all other    
churches might derive what they should  
order2 whom they should absolve2 whom1  
as being bemired with ineffaceable      
pollution1 the stream1 that is worthy   
only of pure bodies1 should avoid2 so   
that as from their parent source all    
waters should flow1 and through the     
different regions of the whole world the
 pure streams of the fountain well forth

 uncorrupted4#dd ,and in like manner to 
the ,bishops of ,numidia1 at the same   
,council4 ,ye do1 therefore1 diligently 
and becomingly consult the secrets of   
the ,apostolical honour1 7that honour1  
,i mean1 on which beside those things   
that are without1 the care of all the   
,churches awaits17 as to what judgment  
is to be passed on doubtful matters1    
following in sooth the direction of the 
ancient rule1 which you know1 as well as
 ,i1 has ever been observed in the whole
 world4 ,but this ,i pass by1 for ,i am 
sure your prudence is aware of it3 for  
how could you by your actions have      
confirmed this1 save as knowing that    
throughout all provinces answers are    
ever emanating as from the ,apostolic   
fountain to inquirers8 ,especially1 so  
often as a matter of faith is under     
inquiry1 ,i conceive that all our       
brethren and fellow-,bishops ought not  
to refer1 save to ,peter1 that is1 the  
source of their own name and honour1    
just as your affection hath now         

referred1 for what may benefit all      
,churches in common1 throughout the     
whole world4 ,for the inventors of evils
 must necessarily become more cautious1 
when they see that at the reference of a
 double synod they have been severed    
from ecclesiastical communion by our    
sentence4#de  ,there is certainly an    
indefiniteness about these expressions1 
which may be made to embrace anything2  
but they do not fairly mean more than   
that supervision of the faith which     
belonged to the office of the first of  
the ,patriarchs4 ,moreover1 they come   
from a ,pope2 in ,st4 ,augustin's mouth1
 they would have much more force4 ,they 
show us1 besides1 what a tendency there 
was in the power of the ,patriarch      
continually to increase1 as being the   
centre of appeal to so many1 not only   
,bishops1 but ,metropolitans4 ,nay1 at  
this very time1 within less than a      
century1 a rival power had grown up in  
the ,east1 in the ,see of               
,constantinople1 which1 from a simple   

bishopric1 under the ,exarch of         
,heraclea1 threatened to push aside the 
,patriarchs of ,alexandria and ,antioch2
 and1 by virtue of the ,imperial        
residence at1 or near ,constantinople1  
to exercise as great an influence       
through the whole ,east1 as ,rome did in
 the ,west4 ,if this happened where     
there was no ,apostolic ,see to build   
upon1 but simply the privileges of the  
royal city1 how much more in the case of
 ,rome1 which stood alone in the ,west  
the single object of common reverence2  
since it is well known1 says this same  
,pope ,innocent1 that there were no     
churches founded by any one1 either in  
,italy1 the ,gauls1 ,spain1 ,africa1    
,sicily1 or in the adjacent islands1    
unless by those whom the ,apostle ,st4  
,peter1 or his successors1 had appointed
 ,bishops4#df ,so that the ,pope1 on the
 ,patriarchal theory1 was the common    
father of the whole ,west4  ,in the     
latter years of ,st4 ,augustin's life1  
the important question of appeals from  

,african ,bishops to ,rome was settled4 
,apiarius1 a priest1 had been           
excommunicated by his ,bishop1 and      
appealed to the ,pope4 ,the ,bishops of 
,africa would not agree to the ,pope's  
claim1 that the causes of clergy1       
condemned by their own ,bishop1 should  
be brought before the neighbouring      
,bishops2 nor that ,bishops should      
appeal to ,rome4 ,the ,pope alleged the 
,canons of ,nicea1 7not1 be it observed1
 an inherent power in his see to judge  
,bishops27 the ,bishops of ,africa said 
they could not find those ,canons in the
 copies which they had4 ,they agreed1   
however1 to be thus treated1            
provisionally1 for a short time1 till   
they were better informed of the decrees
 of ,nicea4 ,it turned out that1 by the 
,canons of ,nicea1 the ,pope meant those
 of ,sardica1 to which the ,african     
,bishops refused obedience4 ,the end of 
this was1 that ,pope ,st4 ,coelestine   
restored ,apiarius to communion1 and    
sent him back to ,africa1 with          

,faustinus1 his ,legate4 ,at his        
arrival1 the ,bishops of ,africa        
assembled a ,council1 in which          
,aurelius1 of ,carthage1 and ,valentine1
 ,primate of ,numidia1 presided4        
,thirteen more are named1 but the name  
of ,st4 ,augustin does not appear among 
them4 ,this ,council having examined the
 affair of ,apiarius1 found him charged 
with so many crimes1 that it was        
impossible for ,faustinus to defend him1
 though he acted the part rather of an  
advocate than of a judge1 and violated  
all right in the opposition he          
maintained against the whole ,council1  
under pretence of supporting the        
privileges of the ,church of ,rome4 ,for
 he wanted ,apiarius to be received to  
the communion of the ,bishops of        
,africa1 because the ,pope had restored 
him to it1 believing that he had        
appealed1 though he could not prove even
 the fact of his appeal4 ,after a debate
 of three days1 ,apiarius at last1 stung
 with remorse1 and moved by ,god1       

confessed1 on a sudden1 all the crimes  
of which he had been accused1 which were
 so infamous and incredible as to draw  
groans from the whole ,council2 after   
which he was for ever deprived of all   
ecclesiastical administration4  ,the    
,bishops wrote a synodical letter to    
,pope ,coelestine1 in which they conjure
 him1 for the future1 not to receive to 
his communion those who have been       
excommunicated by them2 since this was a
 point ruled by the ,nicene ,council4   
,for1 they added1 if this be forbidden  
with respect to the minor ,clergy1 or   
,laymen1 how much more did the ,council 
intend its observance in respect to     
,bishops8 ,those1 therefore1 who are    
interdicted from communion in their own 
provinces1 ought not to be restored by  
your ,holiness too hastily1 and in      
opposition to the rules2 and you ought  
to reject the ,priests1 and other       
,clergy1 who are so rash as to have     
recourse to you4 ,for no ordinance of   
our fathers has deprived the ,church of 

,africa of this authority1 and the      
decrees of the ,nicene ,council have    
subjected the ,bishops themselves to    
their respective ,metropolitans4 ,they  
have ordained with great wisdom and     
justice1 that all matters should be     
terminated in the places when they      
arise2 and did not think that the grace 
of the ,holy ,ghost would be wanting in 
any province to bestow on its ,bishops  
the knowledge and strength necessary for
 their decisions2 especially1 since     
whosoever thinks himself wronged1 may   
appeal to the ,council of his province1 
or even to a ,general ,council1 unless  
it be imagined that ,god can inspire a  
single individual with justice1 and     
refuse it to an innumerable multitude of
 assembled ,bishops4 ,and how shall we  
be able to rely on a sentence passed    
beyond the sea1 since it will not be    
possible to send thither the necessary  
witnesses1 whether from the weakness of 
sex1 or of advanced age1 or any other   
impediment8 ,for that your ,holiness    

should send any one on your part we can 
find ordained by no ,council4  ,with    
regard to what you have sent us by our  
brother1 ,faustinus1 as being contained 
in the ,nicene ,council1 we find nothing
 of the kind in the more authentic      
copies of that ,council1 which we have  
received from our brother1 the ,bishop  
of ,alexandria1 and the venerable       
,atticus1 of ,constantinople1 and which 
we formerly sent to ,boniface1 your     
predecessor1 of happy memory4 ,for the  
rest1 whoever desires you to delegate   
any of your clergy to execute your      
orders1 we beseech you not to comply1   
lest it seem that we are introducing the
 pride of secular dominion into the     
,church of ,christ1 which ought to      
exhibit to all men an example of        
simplicity and humility4 ,for as to our 
brother ,faustinus1 since the wretched  
,apiarius is cut off from the ,church1  
we depend confidently on your goodness1 
that1 without violating brotherly       
charity1 ,africa shall be no longer     

forced to endure him4 ,such is the      
letter of the ,council of ,africa to    
,pope ,st4 ,coelestine4#dg  ,i confess  
it was not without astonishment that ,i 
first read this passage of history2 so  
exactly had the ,african ,bishops1 in   
#dbf1 when the greatest father of the   
,church was one of them1 anticipated and
 pleaded the cause of the ,english      
,church1 in #aecd4 ,it is precisely the 
same claim made in both instances1 viz4 
that these two laws should be observed1 
on which the stability of the government
 of the whole ,church ,catholic rests2  
as ,thomassin remarks3--first1 that the 
action of the ,bishop in his own        
diocese1 in matters proper to that      
diocese1 should not be interfered with2 
secondly1 that the action of the        
,metropolitan with his ,suffragans1 in  
matters belonging to his province1      
should be left equally free4 ,who ever  
accused the ,african ,bishops1 and ,st4 
,augustin1 of schism1 for maintaining a 
right which had come down to them from  

all antiquity1 was possessed and acted  
on all over the ,church1 was            
specifically enacted at the greatest    
,ecumenical ,council1 and recognised in 
every provincial ,council held up to    
that time8 ,this was all that the       
,church of ,england claimed2 she based  
her claim on the unvarying practice of  
the whole ,church during1 at least1 the 
first six centuries4 ,we repeat1 it is  
not a case of doubt1 of conflicting     
testimony1 in words elsewhere quoted1 of
 ,popes against ,popes1 ,councils       
against ,councils1 some ,fathers against
 others1 the same ,fathers against      
themselves2 a consent of ,fathers of one
 age against a consent of ,fathers of   
another age1 the ,church of one age     
against the ,church of another age4#dh  
,it is the ,church of the ,martyrs1 the 
,church of the ,fathers1 of ,athanasius1
 ,basil1 ,gregory1 and ,chrysostom1     
,ambrose1 ,jerome1 ,augustin1 and       
,gregory the ,great1 bearing one        
unbiassed indisputable witness1 attested

 in a hundred ,councils1 denied in none1
 for the ,patriarchal system1 and       
against a power assumed by one ,bishop1 
though the greatest1 most venerable1 and
 most illustrious in his own see1 to    
interfere1 dispense with1 suspend1 or   
abrogate1 the authority of the ,bishop  
in his ,diocese1 and of the             
,metropolitan in his ,council2 to       
exercise singly1 by himself1 powers     
which belong only to an ,ecumenical     
,council1 and to annul the enactments of
 at least the first four ,ecumenical    
,councils4 ,had an advocate been        
instructed to draw out the abstract case
 of the ,english ,church1 he could not  
have described it more exactly than the 
,african ,bishops in stating their own4 
,true1 indeed1 it is1 that the ,african 
,bishops were maintaining a right which 
not only had never been interrupted1 but
 was universal2 while the ,english      
,bishops resumed a power which had been 
surrendered1 not only by them1 but by   
all the west of ,europe1 for many       

hundred years4 ,accordingly1 the        
,african ,bishops did not suffer even a 
temporary suspension of communion with  
,rome1 for having both condemned afresh 
,apiarius1 whom the ,pope had restored1 
and explicitly refused permission to the
 ,pope to interfere in the ordinary     
government of their dioceses2 while the 
,english ,church has ever since been    
accused of schism by the rest of the    
,latin communion4 ,this decision of the 
,african ,bishops1 in the year #dbf1 is 
a proof that the ,canon of the ,council 
of ,sardica1 conferring1 in certain     
cases1 the power of ordering a cause to 
be reheard on the ,pope1 and the most   
favourable to his authority of any      
,canon of an ancient ,council1 was yet  
not received even throughout all the    
,west4  ,in the year #djb1 ,st4         
,augustin wrote a letter to the         
,catholics1 commonly called his treatise
 on the ,unity of the ,church4 ,the     
bearing of this book on the controversy 
respecting schism between ourselves and 

the ,roman ,catholics is very           
remarkable4 ,the ,saint refers          
triumphantly to most express passages   
from the ,law1 the ,prophets1 the       
,psalms1 our ,lord's own teaching1 and  
that of ,his ,apostles1 bearing witness 
to the catholicity of the ,church1 an   
,ecclesia toto terrarum orbe diffusa4   
,he challenges his adversaries1 the     
,donatists1 to produce a single passage1
 which either restricted the ,church to 
the confines of ,africa1 or declared    
that it would perish from the rest of   
the world1 and be restored out of       
,africa4 ,his test seems decisive       
against the ,donatists1 and against all 
those who in after times have restricted
 the ,church to one province1 or have   
declared the ,roman ,church to be so    
corrupt that it is not a part of the    
true ,church4 ,for if it be not1 then   
the promises of ,christ have failed4    
,but while it annihilates the position  
of the ,donatists1 and of the ,puritan  
or ,evangelical faction in these present

 times1 it leaves unassailed that of    
,andrewes and ,ken4 ,st4 ,augustin every
 where appeals to the ,church spread    
throughout the whole world1 as being1 by
 virtue of that fact1 the one communion 
in which alone there was salvation1 and 
this upon the testimony of the ,holy    
,scriptures only4 ,to salvation itself1 
and eternal life1 no one arrives1 save  
he who has ,christ for his head4 ,but no
 one can have ,christ for his head1     
except he be in ,his ,body1 which is the
 ,church1 which like the ,head itself we
 ought to recognise in the ,holy        
,canonical ,scriptures1 nor to seek     
after it in the various reports1        
opinions1 doings1 sayings1 and sights of
 men4#di ,but in the whole book there is
 not one word about the ,roman see1 or  
the necessity of communion with it1 save
 as it forms part of the one universal  
,church4 ,it is not named by itself any 
more than ,alexandria1 or ,antioch4 ,any
 one will see the force of this fact who
 has but looked into the writings of    

late ,roman ,catholic authors4 ,he will 
see how unwearied they are in setting   
forth the necessity of the action of the
 ,roman see2 how they consider it1 and  
rightly1 the centre of their system2 how
 they are ever crying1 ,without the     
sovereign pontiff there is no true      
,christianity4--,de ,maistre4 ,the      
contrast in ,st4 ,augustin is the more  
remarkable4 ,the creed of the ,council  
of ,trent says1 ,i acknowledge one holy1
 catholic1 and apostolic ,roman ,church1
 the mother and mistress of all         
,churches3 and ,i promise and vow true  
obedience to the ,roman ,pontiff1       
successor of the blessed ,peter1 ,prince
 of the ,apostles1 and ,vicar of ,jesus 
,christ4 ,this is distinct and          
unambiguous3 just as much so is ,st4    
,augustin's orbis terrarum4 ,for this   
the whole world says to them 7the       
,donatists17 an argument most briefly   
stated1 but most powerful by its truth4 
,the case is1 the ,african ,bishops had 
a contest between themselves2 if they   

could not arrange between themselves the
 dissension which had arisen1 so that   
the wrong side should either be reduced 
to concord1 or deprived1 and they who   
had the good cause remain in the        
communion of the whole world through the
 bond of unity1 there was certainly this
 resource left1 that the ,bishops beyond
 the sea1 where the largest part of the 
,catholic ,church is spread1 should     
judge concerning the dissensions of     
their ,african colleagues1#ej c4 ,no    
doubt the ,bishop of ,rome was one1 and 
the most eminent of these ,bishops      
beyond the sea2 but ,st4 ,augustin      
refers the decision of the ,donatist    
controversy not to him specially1 but to
 the ,bishops generally4 ,this is the   
very principle1 for which the ,eastern  
,church for a thousand years1 and the   
,english ,church for three hundred1 have
 contended against the ,church of ,rome4
 ,i know not whether what ,st4 ,augustin
 says or what he does not say is        
strongest against the present ,roman    

claim2 but ,i think his silence in his  
book ,de ,unitate ,ecclesiae absolutely 
convincing to any candid mind4 ,let us  
hold for an infallible truth his dogma1 
,securus judicat orbis terrarum2 but the
 ,latin communion is not the orbis      
terrarum4 ,in truth1 the papal supremacy
 at once cut the ,church in half2 the   
,west1 where the ,pope's was the only   
apostolical see1 unanimously held with  
him2 the ,east1 with its four           
patriarchs1 as unanimously refused his  
claim1 as a new thing which they had    
never received4 ,even ,de ,maistre      
observes1 7,liv4 #d4 ch4 #d17 ,it is    
very essential to observe that never was
 there a question about dogmas between  
us at the beginning of the great and    
fatal division4  ,again1 ,st4 ,augustin 
has five sermons on the day of the      
,apostles ,peter and ,paul2 he enlarges1
 as we might expect1 on their labours   
and martyrdom2 on the wonderful change  
of life which grace produced in them1   
the one thrice denying1 and then thrice 

loving2 the other1 a blasphemer and     
persecutor1 and then in labours more    
abundant than all4 ,he speaks of their  
being joined in their death1 the first  
apostle and the last1 in the service and
 witness of ,him1 who is the ,first and 
the ,last2 of their bodies1 with those  
of other martyrs1 lying at ,rome4 ,but  
not one allusion is there in all these  
to the ,roman ,pontiff2 not a word as to
 his being the heir of a power not      
committed to the other ,apostles4 ,on   
the contrary1 on the very occasion of   
,st4 ,peter's festival1 he does say1    
,what was commended to ,peter1--what was
 enjoined to ,peter1 not ,peter alone1  
but also the other ,apostles heard1     
held1 preserved1 and most of all the    
partner of his death and of his day1 the
 ,apostle ,paul4 ,they heard that1 and  
transmitted it for our hearing3 we feed 
you1 we are fed together with you4      
,therefore hath the ,lord commended his 
sheep to us1 because he commended them  
to ,peter4#ea ,thus ,peter's commission 

is viewed not as excluding1 but         
including that of all the rest2 not as  
distinguished from1 but typical of1     
theirs4 ,yet at this very time ,roman   
,catholics would have us believe that   
the successor of ,peter communicated to 
all ,bishops their power to feed the    
,lord's flock2 and that such a wonderful
 power and commission is passed sub     
silentio by the ,fathers4  ,the very    
same principles which the ,great ,voice 
of the ,western ,church proclaims in    
,africa1 ,st4 ,vincent of ,lerins       
repeats from ,gaul4 ,take the summary of
 his famous ,commonitorium by ,alban    
,butler4 ,he layeth down this rule1 or  
fundamental principle1 in which he      
found1 by a diligent inquiry1 all       
,catholic pastors and the ancient       
,fathers to agree1 that such doctrine is
 truly catholic as hath been believed in
 all places1 at all times1 and by all   
the faithful4 ,by this test of          
universality1 antiquity1 and consent1 he
 saith all controverted points in belief

 must be tried4 ,he sheweth1 that whilst
 ,novatian1 ,photinus1 ,sabellius1      
,donatus1 ,arius1 ,eunomius1 ,jovinian1 
,pelagius1 ,coelestius1 and ,nestorius  
expound the ,divine oracles different   
ways1 to avoid the perplexity of errors 
we must interpret the ,holy ,scriptures 
by the tradition of the ,catholic       
,church1 as the clue to conduct us in   
the truth4 ,for this tradition1 derived 
from the ,apostles1 manifesteth the true
 meaning of the ,holy ,scripture1 and   
all novelty in faith is a certain mark  
of heresy2 and in religion nothing is   
more to be dreaded than itching ears    
after new teachers4 ,he saith1 ',they   
who have made bold with one article of  
faith1 will proceed on to others2 and   
what will be the consequence of this    
reforming of religion1 but only that    
these refiners will never have done1    
till they have reformed it quite away8' 
,he elegantly expatiates on the ,divine 
charge given to the ,church1 to maintain
 inviolable the sacred depositum of     

faith4 ,he takes notice that heretics   
quote the ,sacred ,writings at every    
word1 and that in the works of ,paulus  
,samosatenus1 ,priscillian1 ,eunomius1  
,jovinian1 and other like pests of      
,christendom1 almost every page is      
painted and laid on thick with          
,scripture texts1 which ,tertullian also
 remarks4 ,but in this1 saith ,st4      
,vincent1 heretics are like those       
poisoners or quacks1 who put off their  
destructive potions under inscriptions  
of good drugs1 and under the title of   
infallible cures4 ,they imitate the     
father of lies1 who quoted ,scripture   
against the ,son of ,god1 when he       
tempted ,him4 ,the ,saint adds1 that if 
a doubt arise in interpreting the       
meaning of the ,scriptures in any point 
of faith1 we must summon in the holy    
,fathers1 who have lived and died in the
 faith and communion of the ,catholic   
,church1 and by this test we shall prove
 the false doctrine to be novel4 ,for   
that only must we look upon as          

indubitably certain and unalterable1    
which all1 or the major part of these   
,fathers have delivered1 like the       
harmonious consent of a general council4
 ,but if any one among them1 be he ever 
so holy1 ever so learned1 holds any     
thing besides1 or in opposition to the  
rest1 that is to be placed in the rank  
of singular and private opinions1 and   
never to be looked upon as the public1  
general1 authoritative doctrine of the  
,church4 ,after a point has been decided
 in a general council1 the definition is
 irrefragable4 ,these general           
principles1 by which all heresies are   
easily confounded1 ,st4 ,vincent        
explains with equal elegance and        
perspicuity4 ,the same rules are laid   
down by ,tertullian in his book of      
,prescriptions1 by ,st4 ,irenaeus1 and  
other ,fathers4--,lives of the ,saints1 
,may4 #bd4  ,but not a word is there    
here of the authority of the ,see of    
,rome deciding of itself what is1 and   
what is not1 error2 or of its ,communion

 of itself being a touchstone of what   
is1 and what is not1 the ,catholic      
,church4 ,these are necessary parts of  
the ,papal ,supremacy2 instead of which 
,st4 ,vincent holds universal consent4  
,now let us hear ,bossuet speaking of   
,st4 ,vincent's rule4 ,these things then
 are understood not by this or by that  
,doctor1 but by all ,catholics with one 
voice1 that the authority of the ,church
 ,catholic agreeing is most certain1    
irrefragable1 and perspicuous4          
,christians must rest on that agreement1
 as a most firm and divine foundation2  
from whom nothing else is required but  
that in the ,apostles' ,creed1 that     
believing in the ,holy ,spirit they also
 believe the holy ,catholic ,church2 and
 claim for her the most certain         
authority and judgment of the ,holy     
,spirit1 by which they are led captive  
to obedience4 ,which entirely proves    
that this indefectible power both lies  
and is believed to lie in consent       
itself2 and this clear and manifest     

voice dwells altogether in the agreement
 of the ,churches2 in which we see      
clearly1 on the testimony of the same   
,vincent of ,lerins1 that not a part of 
the ,church1 but universality itself1 is
 heard3 ,for we follow1 saith he1 the   
whole in this way1 if we confess that to
 be the one true faith which the whole  
,church throughout the world confesses4 
,and a little after1 ,what doth the     
,catholic ,christian1 if any part hath  
cut itself off from the communion of the
 universal faith8 ,what surely1 but     
prefer the soundness of the whole body  
to that pestilent and corrupted         
member8#eb  ,thence floweth unto        
,general ,councils that certain and     
invincible authority which we recognise 
in them4 ,for it is on no other         
principle that ,unity and ,consent have 
force in ,councils1 or in the assembled 
,church1 than because they have equal   
force in the ,church spread through the 
whole world4 ,for the ,council itself   
hath force1 because it represents the   

whole ,church2 nor is the ,church       
assembled in order that ,unity and      
,consent may have force1 but it is      
therefore assembled1 that the ,unity    
which in itself has force in the        
,church1 everywhere spread abroad1 may  
be more clearly demonstrated in the same
 ,church assembled1 by ,bishops1 the    
,doctors of the ,churches1 as being the 
proper witnesses thereunto4  ,hence1    
therefore1 is perceived a double method 
of recognising ,catholic truth2 the     
first1 from the consent of the ,church  
everywhere spread abroad2 the second1   
from the consent of the ,church united  
in ,ecumenical or ,general ,councils2   
both which methods ,i must set forth in 
detail1 to show more clearly that this  
infallible and irresistible authority   
resides in the whole body of the        
,church4  ,he then proceeds to show that
 the type or form of all ,ecumenical    
,councils was taken from the first      
,council held at ,jerusalem by the      
,apostles4 ,he notes these particulars3 

,first1 there was a great dissension1   
the cause of it3 then1 that the chief   
,church1 in which ,peter sat1 was then  
at ,jerusalem2 whence it became a maxim1
 that ,councils should not be regularly 
held without ,peter and his ,successors 
and the ,first ,church in which he sits4
 ,thirdly1 it was as universal as could 
be4 ,fourthly1 all were assembled       
together4 ,fifthly1 the question was    
stated1 next deliberated on1 lastly     
decided by common sentence2 which all   
became rules for future ,councils4      
,sixthly1 the discussion is thus stated 
in the ,acts1 when there had been much  
disputing4 ,seventhly1 the deliberation 
is opened by ,peter1 whence it became a 
custom that the ,president of the       
,council should first give sentence4    
,eighthly1 ,paul and ,barnabas give     
their testimony1 in confirmation of     
,peter's sentence2 and ,james expressly 
begins with ,peter's words--,simon hath 
declared1 whence the custom that the    
rest give their voice at the instance of

 the ,president4 ,they do not1 however1 
so proceed as if they were altogether   
bound by the authority of the first     
sentence1 but themselves give judgment2 
and ,james says1 ',i give sentence4'    
,then he proposes what additions seemed 
good to the principal question1 and     
gives sentence also concerning them4    
,tenthly1 ,the decree was then drawn up 
in the common name1 and adding the      
authority of the ,holy ,spirit1 ',it    
seemed good unto us being assembled with
 one accord1' and ',it seemed good to   
the ,holy ,ghost and to us2' there then 
lies the force1 'to the ,holy ,ghost and
 to us3' not1 what seemed good to ,peter
 precisely1 but1 to us2 and led by the  
,spirit1 not ,peter alone1 but the unity
 itself of the holy ,council4 ,whence1  
too1 ,christ said that concerning the   
,spirit whom he was about to send3 ',but
 when ,he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is     
come1 ,he shall teach you all truth3'   
you1 saith ,he1 the ,pastors of the     
,churches1 and the ,masters of the rest4

 ,hence1 the ,spirit is always added to 
the ,church and the holy congregation4  
',i believe in the ,holy ,ghost1 the    
holy ,church1 the ,catholic ,church3'   
and with reason therefore1 and carefully
 was the maxim which we have mentioned  
laid down of old by our ,doctors3 ',the 
strength of ,councils resides not in the
 ,roman ,pontiff alone1 but chiefly in  
the ,holy ,spirit and in the ,catholic  
,church4'  ,eleventhly3 when the matter 
had been judged by common sentence1     
nothing was afterwards reconsidered1 nor
 any new dissension left to any one2 but
 the decree was carried to the          
,churches1 and the people are taught to 
keep the decrees which were decreed1 in 
the ,greek 'judged1' by the ,apostles   
and ,elders which were at ,jerusalem4   
,this we ,catholics urge with common    
consent against heretics who decline the
 commands and authority of ,councils3   
which would have no force1 unless       
together with the authority we also     
prove the form1 and place the force     

itself of the decree1 not in ,peter     
alone1 but in ,unity1 and in the        
,consent of the ,apostles and the       
,pastors of the ,church4#ec  ,in another
 place he says1 ',in ecclesiastical acts
 we do indeed find that the ,catholic   
,church is affirmed by ,chief ,pontiffs 
and ,councils to be represented by      
,ecumenical ,synods1 which contain all  
its virtue and power1 which we are wont 
to mean by the word represent4 ,but this
 we do not read of the ,roman ,pontiff1 
as affirmed either by the ,pontiffs     
themselves1 or by ,ecumenical ,councils1
 or any where in ,ecclesiastical        
,acts4#ed  ,i have been unable to find  
any testimony of ,st4 ,chrysostom to the
 transmission of ,st4 ,peter's primacy  
over the whole ,church to the ,bishop of
 ,rome4 ,he has1 however1 a passage     
about ,rome which is worth transcribing2
 for sometimes1 as we have just seen1 as
 much is proved by what is not said1 as 
by what is said4 ,speaking then of ,st4 
,paul1 he writes3--,rather if we listen 

to him here1 we shall surely see him    
there2 if not standing near him1 yet we 
shall see him surely shining near to the
 ,king's throne1 where the ,cherubim    
ascribe glory1 where the ,seraphim      
spread their wings4 ,there with ,peter  
shall we behold ,paul--him that is the  
leader and director of the choir of the 
saints1--and shall enjoy his true love4 
,for if1 being here1 he so loved men1   
that having the choice to depart and be 
with ,christ1 he chose to be here1 much 
more there will he show warmer          
affection4 ,rome likewise for this do ,i
 love1 although having reason otherwise 
to praise her1 both for her size1 and   
her antiquity1 and her beauty1 and her  
multitude1 and her power1 and her       
wealth1 and her victories in war4 ,but  
passing by all these things1 for this ,i
 count her blessed2 because1 when alive1
 he 7,paul7 wrote to them1 and loved    
them so much1 and went and conversed    
with them1 and there finished his life4 
,wherefore the city is on that account  

more remarkable than for all other      
things together1 and like a great and   
strong body1 it has two shining eyes1   
the bodies of these saints4 ,not so     
bright is the heaven when the sun sends 
forth his beams1 as is the city of the  
,romans sending forth everywhere over   
the world these two lights4 ,thence     
shall ,paul1 thence shall ,peter1 be    
caught up4 ,think1 and tremble1 what a  
sight shall ,rome behold1 when ,paul    
suddenly riseth from that resting-place 
with ,peter1 and is carried up to meet  
the ,lord4 ,what a rose doth ,rome offer
 to ,christ6 with what two garlands is  
that city crowned6 with what golden     
fetters is she girdled2 what fountains  
does she possess6 ,therefore do ,i      
admire that city2 not for the multitude 
of its gold1 nor for its columns1 nor   
for its other splendours1 but for these 
the pillars of the ,church4#ee ,had ,st4
 ,chrysostom felt like a ,roman         
,catholic could he have stopped there8  
,loving ,rome for possessing the blessed

 and priceless bodies of the two        
,apostles1 could he have failed to      
mention the sovereignty of the universal
 ,church1 which together with his body  
,peter had left enshrined at ,rome8     
,would it not have seemed to him by far 
the greatest marvel at ,rome1 as it has 
to a late eloquent partisan1 that       
,providence has placed in the middle of 
the world1 to be there the chief of a   
religion without its like1 and of a     
society spread everywhere1 a man without
 defence1 an old man who will be the    
more threatened1 the more the increase  
of the ,church in the world shall       
augment the jealousy of princes1 and the
 hatred of his enemies4#ef ,this vicar  
of ,god1 this supreme pontiff of the    
,catholic ,church1 this ,father of kings
 and of nations1 this successor of the  
fisherman ,peter1 he lives1 he raises   
among men his brow1 charged with a      
triple crown1 and the sacred weight of  
eighteen centuries2 the ambassadors of  
nations are at his court3 he sends forth

 his ministers to every creature1 and   
even to places which have not yet a     
name4 ,when from the windows of his     
palace he gazes abroad1 his sight       
discovers the most illustrious horizon  
in the world1 the earth trodden by the  
,romans1 the city they had built with   
the spoils of the universe1 the centre  
of things under their two principal     
forms1 matter and spirit3 where all     
nations have passed2 all glories have   
come3 all cultivated imaginations have  
at least made a pilgrimage from far3    
,rome1 the tomb of ,martyrs and         
,apostles1 the home of all              
recollections4 ,and when the ,pontiff   
stretches forth his arms to bless it1   
together with the world which is        
inseparable from it1 he can bear a      
witness to himself which no sovereign   
shall ever bear1 that he has neither    
built nor conquered1 nor received his   
city1 but that he is its inmost and     
enduring life1 that he is in it like the
 blood in the heart of man1 and that    

right can go no further than this1 a    
continuous generation which would make  
the parricide a suicide4 ,such feelings 
as these are what any ,churchman must   
habitually entertain1 who looks on the  
,roman ,pontiff as at once the governing
 power and the life of the ,church4     
,could1 then1 ,st4 ,chrysostom have     
beheld in ,rome the ,church's heart1    
whence her life-blood courses over the  
whole body1 and have seen no reason to  
love her for that8 or have stated that  
she was more remarkable for possessing  
even the bodies of the blessed ,apostles
 than for all other things together8    
,what ,roman ,catholic would so speak   
now8 ,the power of the ,roman ,pontiff  
in the ,latin ,communion is actually    
such1 that ,lacordaire's words          
respecting the city of ,rome apply to   
the whole ,church2 to destroy that power
 would be to destroy the ,church        
herself2 the parricide would be a       
suicide4 ,but how can this dogma be     
imposed upon us as necessary to         

salvation1 if ,st4 ,augustin1 ,st4      
,chrysostom1 and the ,church of their   
day knew it not8 or let it be shown us1 
how any men who did know it1 could      
either have written as they write1 or   
have been silent as they are silent4    
,we may sum up ,st4 ,augustin's view of 
the relation of the ,roman ,pontiff to  
his brother ,bishops in his own         
beautiful words to ,pope ,boniface3 ,to 
sit on our watch-towers and guard the   
flock belongs in common to all of us who
 have episcopal functions1 although the 
hill on which you stand is more         
conspicuous than the rest4#eg ,my object
 in these remarks throughout has been to
 show1 that a denial of either of these 
truths is a violation of the ,church's  
divine constitution4 ,the ,papacy has   
greatly obscured the essential equality 
of ,bishops2 its opponents have avenged 
themselves by explaining away the       
unquestionable ,primacy of ,st4 ,peter1 
and its important action on the whole   
,church4  ,what this ,primacy was1 and  

how it was exercised at a most important
 crisis of the ,church1 ,i will now     
endeavour to show4 ,five years after the
 decision of the ,african ,bishops about
 appeals1 the third ,ecumenical ,council
 assembled at ,ephesus1--and here1 as in
 other cases1 ,i prefer that another    
should speak1 and he the most           
illustrious ,prelate of ,france in      
modern times4#eh ,in the third general  
,council of ,ephesus1 and in those which
 follow1 our whole argument will appear 
in clearer light1 its ,acts being in our
 hands2 and there existing very many    
judgments of ,roman ,pontiffs on matters
 of faith1 set forth with the whole     
authority of their see1 which were      
afterwards re-considered in general     
,councils1 and only approved after      
examination1 than which nothing can be  
more opposed to the opinion of          
infallibility4 ,and as to the ,council  
of ,ephesus1 the thing is clear4 ,the   
innovation of ,nestorius1 ,bishop of    
,constantinople1 is known2 how1 by      

denying to the ,virgin ,mary the title  
of ',mother of ,god1' he divided into   
two the person of ,christ4 ,pope ,st4   
,coelestine1 watchful1 according to his 
office1 over the affairs of the ,church1
 had charged the blessed ,cyril1 ,bishop
 of ,alexandria1 to send him a certain  
report of the doctrine of ,nestorius1   
already in bad repute4 ,cyril declares  
this in his letter to ,nestorius2 and so
 he writes to ,coelestine all the       
doctrines of ,nestorius1 and sets forth 
his own3 he sends him two letters from  
himself to ,nestorius1 who likewise1 by 
his own letters and explanations1       
endeavoured to draw ,coelestine to his  
side4 ,thus the holy ,pontiff1 having   
been most fully informed by letters from
 both sides1 is thus inquired of by     
,cyril4 ',we have not confidently       
abstained from communion with him       
7,nestorius7 before informing you of    
this2 condescend1 therefore1 to unfold  
your judgment1 that we may clearly know 
whether we ought to communicate with him

 who cherishes such erroneous doctrine4'
 ,and he adds1 that his judgment should 
be written to the other ,bishops also1  
that all with one mind may hold firm in 
one sentence4 ,here is the ,apostolic   
,see manifestly consulted by so great a 
man1 presiding over the second1 or at   
least the third1 ,patriarchal ,see1 and 
its judgment awaited2 and nothing       
remained but that ,coelestine1 being    
duly consulted1 should perform his      
,apostolic office4 ,but how he did this1
 the acts themselves will speak out4    
,and first1 he approves of ,cyril's     
letters and doctrine2 for he writes to  
him thus3 ',we perceive that you hold   
and maintain all that we hold and       
maintain3' and to ,nestorius1 ',we have 
approved1 and do approve1 the faith of  
the ,prelate of the ,church of          
,alexandria3' and he threatens him with 
extremities1 ,if you preach not that    
which ,cyril preaches4' ,nothing could  
be said more marked4 ,nor does he only  
approve ,cyril's doctrine1 but          

disapproves1 too1 the perverse dogma of 
,nestorius3 ',we have seen1' he says1   
'your letters containing open           
blasphemy2' and that distinctly1 because
 he was unwilling to call the ,blessed  
,virgin ',mother of ,god3' and he       
decrees that he should be deprived of   
the episcopate and communion1 unless1   
within ten days from the date of the    
announcing of the sentence1 he openly   
rejects this faithless innovation1 which
 endeavours to separate what ,scripture 
joineth together1 that is1 the ,person  
of ,christ4 ,here is the doctrine of    
,nestorius expressly disapproved1 and a 
sentence of the ,roman ,pontiff on a    
matter of faith most clearly pronounced 
under threat of deposition and          
excommunication3 then1 that nothing be  
wanting1 the holy ,pope commits his     
authority to ,cyril to carry into       
execution that sentence1 'associating1' 
he saith to ,cyril1 'the authority of   
our ,see1 and using our person1 place1  
and power3' so to ,nestorius himself2 so

 to the ,clergy of ,constantinople2 so  
to ,john of ,antioch1 then the ,bishop  
of the third or fourth ,patriarchal     
,see2 so to ,juvenal1 ,bishop of the    
,holy ,city1 whom the ,council of ,nice 
had ordered to be especially honoured3  
so he writes to the other ,bishops also1
 that the sentence given may be duly and
 in order made known to all4 ,cyril     
proceeds to execute his office1 and     
performs all that he had been commanded4
 ,he promulgates and executes the       
decrees of ,coelestine2 declares to     
,nestorius1 that after the ten days     
prescribed and set forth by ,coelestine1
 he would have no portion1 intercourse1 
or place with the ,priesthood4 ,nothing 
evidently is wanting to the ,apostolical
 authority being most fully exercised2  
but whether the sentence put forward    
with such authority1 after a great      
dissension had arisen and mention been  
made of an ,ecumenical ,council1 was    
held to be final1 the succeeding acts   
will demonstrate4  ,we have often       

said--we shall often say--that it is the
 constitution of the ,church only in    
extraordinary cases and dissensions to  
recur1 of necessity1 to an ,ecumenical  
,council4 ,but in the usual order even  
the most important questions on the     
faith1 when they arise1 are terminated  
by the consent of the ,church being     
added to the decree of the ,roman       
,pontiff4 ,this is clearly manifest from
 the cause of ,nestorius4 ,we confess   
plainly that the sentence of ,coelestine
 would have been sufficient1 as ,cyril  
hoped1 to repress the new heresy1 had   
not great commotions arisen1 and the    
matter seemed of such a nature as to be 
referred to an ,ecumenical ,council4    
,but ,nestorius1 ,bishop of the royal   
city1 possessed such influence1 had     
deceived men's minds with such an       
appearance of piety1 had gained so many 
,bishops1 and enjoyed such favour with  
the younger ,theodosius and the great   
men1 that he could easily throw         
everything into commotion2 and thus     

there was need of an ,ecumenical        
,council1 the question being most       
important1 and the person of the highest
 dignity2 because many ,bishops1 amongst
 these almost all of the ,east1 that is1
 of the province of ,antioch1 and the   
,patriarch ,john himself1 were ill      
disposed to ,cyril1 and seemed to favour
 ,nestorius2 because men's feelings were
 divided1 and the whole empire of the   
,east seemed to fluctuate between ,cyril
 and ,nestorius4 ,such was the need of  
an ,ecumenical ,council4  ,to this must 
be added the prayers of the pious and   
orthodox2 here were most pious monks1   
who had suffered much from ,nestorius   
for the orthodox faith1 and the         
expression1 ',mother of ,god1'          
supplicating the ,emperor 'for a sacred 
and ,ecumenical ,council to assemble1 by
 the presence of which he should unite  
the most holy ,church1 bring back the   
people to one1 and restore to their     
place the ,priests who preached the pure
 faith1 before that impious doctrine 7of

 ,nestorius7 crept wider4' ,and again1  
',we have asked you to call together an 
,ecumenical ,council1 which can most    
fully consolidate and restore the       
tottering4' ,here1 after the judgment of
 the ,roman ,pontiff1 a firm and        
complete settling of the tottering state
 of things is sought for by the pious in
 an ,ecumenical ,council4  ,the         
,emperor1 moved by these and other      
reasons1 wrote to ,cyril1--',it is our  
will that the holy doctrine be discussed
 and examined in a sacred ,synod1 and   
that be ratified which appeareth        
agreeable to the right faith1 whether   
the wrong party be pardoned by the      
,fathers or no4'  ,here we see three    
things3 first1 after the judgment of    
,st4 ,coelestine1 another is still      
required1 that of the ,council2         
secondly1 that these two things would   
rest with the ,fathers1 to judge of     
doctrine and of persons2 thirdly1 that  
the judgment of the ,council would be   
decisive and final4  ,he adds1 'those   

who everywhere preside over the         
priesthood1 and through whom we         
ourselves are and shall be professing   
the truth1 must be judges of this       
matter2 on whose faith we rest4' ,see in
 whose judgment is the final and        
irreversible authority4  ,both the      
,emperor affirmed1 and the ,bishops     
confessed1 that this was done according 
to the ,ecclesiastical ,canons4 ,and so 
all1 and ,coelestine himself1 prepared  
themselves for the ,council4 ,cyril does
 no more1 though named by ,coelestine to
 execute the pontifical decree4         
,nestorius remained in his original     
rank2 the sentence of the universal     
,council is awaited2 and the ,emperor   
had expressly decreed1 'that before the 
assembling and common sentence of the   
most holy ,council1 no change should be 
made in any matter at all1 on any       
private authority4' ,rightly1 and in    
order2 for this was demanded by the     
majesty of an universal ,council4       
,wherefore1 both ,cyril obeyed and the  

,bishops rested4 ,and it was            
established1 that although the sentence 
of the ,roman ,pontiff on matters of    
faith1 and on persons judged for        
violation of the faith1 had been passed 
and promulged1 all was suspended1 while 
the authority of the universal ,council 
was awaited4 ,this we have seen acted on
 by the ,emperor1 acquiesced in by the  
,bishops and the ,pope himself4 ,the    
succeeding acts will declare that it was
 approved in the ,ecumenical ,council   
itself4  ,having gone over what preceded
 the ,council1 we review the acts of the
 ,council itself1 and begin with the    
first course of proceeding4 ,after1     
therefore1 the ,bishops and ,nestorius  
himself were come to ,ephesus1 the      
universal ,council began1 ,cyril being  
president1 and representing ,coelestine1
 as being appointed by the ,pontiff     
himself to execute his sentence4 ,in the
 first course of proceeding this was    
done4 ,first1 the above-mentioned letter
 of the ,emperor was read1 that an      

,ecumenical ,council should be held1 and
 all proceedings in the mean time be    
suspended3 this letter1 ,i say1 was     
read1 and placed on the acts1 and it was
 approved by the ,fathers1 that all the 
decrees of ,coelestine in the matter of 
,nestorius had been suspended until the 
holy ,council should give its sentence4 
,you will ask if it was the will of the 
,council merely that the ,emperor should
 be allowed to prohibit1 in the interim1
 effect being given to the sentence of  
the ,apostolic ,see4 ,not so1 according 
to the acts2 but rather1 by the         
intervention of a ,general ,council's   
authority1 7the convocation of which1   
according to the discipline of those    
times1 was left to the ,emperor17 the   
,council itself understood that all     
proceedings were of course suspended1   
and depended on the sentence of the     
,council4 ,wherefore1 though the decree 
of the ,pontiff had been promulged and  
notified1 and the ten days had long been
 past1 ,nestorius was held by the       

,council itself to be a ,bishop1 and    
called by the name of ,most ,religious  
,bishop1 and by that name1 too1 thrice  
cited and summoned to take his seat with
 the other ,bishops in the holy         
,council2 for this expression1 to take  
his seat1 is distinctly written2 and it 
is added1 in order to answer to what was
 charged against him4 ,for it was their 
full purpose that he should recognise1  
in whatever way1 the ,ecumenical        
,council1 as he would then afterwards   
be1 beyond doubt1 answerable to it2 but 
he refused to come1 and chose to have   
his doors besieged with an armed force1 
that no one might approach him4         
,thereupon1 as the ,emperor commanded1  
and the ,canons required1 the rule of   
faith was set forth1 and the ,nicene    
,creed read1 as the standard to which   
all should be referred1 and then the    
letters of ,cyril and ,nestorius were   
examined in order4 ,the letter of ,cyril
 was first brought before the judgment  
of the ,council4 ,that letter1 ,i mean1 

concerning the faith1 to ,nestorius1 so 
expressly approved by ,pope ,coelestine1
 of which he had declared to ,cyril1    
',we see that you hold and maintain all 
that we hold and maintain2' which1 by   
the decree against ,nestorius1 published
 to all churches1 he had approved1 and1 
wished to be considered as a canonical  
monition against ,nestorius3 that       
letter1 ,i repeat1 was examined1 at the 
proposition of ,cyril himself1 in these 
words3 ',i am persuaded that ,i have in 
nothing departed from the orthodox      
faith1 or the ,nicene ,creed2 wherefore 
,i beseech your ,holiness to set forth  
openly whether ,i have written this     
correctly1 blamelessly1 and in          
accordance with that holy ,council4'    
,and are there those who say that       
questions concerning the faith1 once    
judged by the ,roman ,pontiff on his    
,apostolical authority1 are examined in 
general ,councils1 in order to          
understand their contents1 but not to   
decide on their substance1 as being     

still a matter of question8 ,let them   
hear ,cyril1 the ,president of the      
,council2 let them attend to what he    
proposes for the inquiry of the         
,council3 and though he were conscious  
of no error in himself1 yet1 not to     
trust himself1 he asked for the sentence
 of the ,council in these words3        
'whether he had written correctly and   
blamelessly1 or not4' ,this ,cyril1 the 
chief of the ,council1 proposes for     
their consideration4 ,who ever even     
heard it whispered1 that after a final  
and irreversible judgment of the ,church
 on a matter of faith1 any such inquiry 
or question was made8 ,it was never so  
done1 for that would be to doubt about  
the faith itself1 when declared and     
discussed4 ,but this was done after the 
judgment of ,pope ,coelestine3 neither  
,cyril1 nor any one else1 thought of any
 other course3 that1 therefore1 was not 
a final and irreversible judgment4  ,in 
answer to this question1 the ,fathers in
 order give their judgment1--'that the  

,nicene ,creed1 and the letter of ,cyril
 in all things agree and harmonise4'    
,here is inquiry and examination1 and   
then judgment4 ,the acts speak for      
themselves3 we say not here a word4     
,next that letter of ,nestorius was     
produced1 which ,coelestine had         
pronounced blasphemous and impious4 ,it 
is read3 then at the instance of ,cyril 
it is examined1 'whether this1 too1 be  
agreeable to the faith set forth by the 
holy ,council of the ,nicene ,fathers1  
or not4' ,it is precisely the same form 
according to which ,cyril's letter was  
examined4 ,the ,fathers1 in order1 give 
judgment that it disagreed from the     
,nicene ,creed1 and was1 therefore1     
censurable4 ,the letter of ,nestorius is
 disapproved in the same manner1 by the 
same rule1 by which that of ,cyril was  
approved4 ,here1 twice in the same      
proceeding of the ,council of ,ephesus1 
a judgment of the ,roman ,pontiff       
concerning the ,catholic ,faith1 uttered
 and published1 is re-considered4 ,what 

he had approved and what he had         
disapproved1 is equally examined1 and1  
only after examination1 confirmed4      
,these were the first proceedings of the
 ,council of ,ephesus in the matter of  
faith4 ,we proceed to review what       
concerns the person of ,nestorius1 in   
the same proceeding4 ,first1 the letter 
of ,coelestine to ,cyril is read and    
placed on the ,acts2 that1 ,i mean1 in  
which he gave sentence concerning       
,nestorius3 on which sentence1 as the   
,fathers were shortly1 after full       
consideration1 to pass their judgment1  
for the present it was only to be placed
 among the ,acts4 ,in the letter of     
,coelestine there was no special        
doctrine3 it only contained an approval 
of ,cyril's doctrine and letter1 and a  
disapproval of those of ,nestorius2     
concerning which letters of ,cyril and  
,nestorius1 the judgment of the ,holy   
,council was already past1 so that it   
would be superfluous to add anything to 
them4  ,but for the same reason1 the    

other letter of ,cyril being            
read1--that1 ,i mean1 which executed the
 sentence of ,coelestine1--nothing      
special was done concerning that letter1
 but it was only ordered to be placed on
 the ,acts4  ,after these preliminaries1
 judgment was to be pronounced on the   
person of ,nestorius4 ,inquiry was made1
 whether what ,coelestine had written to
 ,nestorius1 and what ,cyril had done in
 execution1 had been notified to        
,nestorius2 it was certified that it had
 been notified1 and that he had remained
 still in his opinion3 and that the days
 had elapsed1 both which were first     
fixed by ,st4 ,coelestine1 and1         
afterwards by the ,emperor1 convoking   
the ,council4 ,next1 for accumulation of
 proof1 testimonies of the ,fathers are 
compared with the explanations of       
,nestorius3 the huge discrepancy shows  
,nestorius to be an innovator and       
heretic4 ,a decree is made in these     
words4 ,the holy ,council               
declares1--',since the most impious     

,nestorius has neither been willing to  
obey our procedures1 nor to admit the   
,bishops deputed by us1 we have1        
necessarily1 proceeded to the           
examination of what he has impiously    
taught3 finding1 therefore1 partly from 
his own letters1 partly from his        
discourses1 that he holds and preaches  
impiety1--compelled by the holy ,canons1
 and by the letters of our most holy    
,father1 our fellow-minister1           
,coelestine1 ,bishop of the ,roman      
,church1--we have come to this sentence3
 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by this most
 holy ,council1 declareth ,nestorius to 
be deprived of his dignity4' ,you see   
the ,canons joined with the letters of  
,coelestine in terms1 indeed1 of high   
honour1 which tend to set forth the     
majesty of the ,apostolic see4 ,you see 
the ,council carry out what ,coelestine 
decreed1 and thus compelled it comes to 
a painful judgment1 but that a new one1 
and put forth in its own terms in the   
name of ,christ2 and after1 by          

legitimate inquiry1 it was evident that 
all had been done rightly and in order4 
,finally1 the sentence pronounced by the
 ,council1 is written to the most       
impious ,nestorius3 ',the holy ,council 
to ,nestorius1 another ,judas3 know thou
 hast been deposed by the holy ,council4
 ,so he1 who before the inquiry of the  
holy ,council was called the most       
religious ,bishop1 after this inquiry1  
is presently set forth as most impious1 
as another ,judas1 and as deposed by an 
irrevocable sentence1 from his episcopal
 seat4  ,thus a most weighty matter is  
completed by the most weighty agreement2
 that same which we have asserted gives 
validity to everything in the ,church3  
and the order of the judgment is plain  
in itself4 ,that is1 sentence is put    
forth by ,coelestine2 it is suspended by
 the ,convocation of a ,general         
,council2 it is heard and examined2 it  
is corroborated by a new and irrevocable
 judgment1 united with the authority of 
the whole ,church4 ,this the ,fathers   

declare in their report to the ,emperor3
 ',we have removed ,nestorius from his  
see1 and canonically deprived him2      
highly extolling ,coelestine1 ,bishop of
 ,great ,rome1 who before our sentence  
had condemned the heretical doctrines of
 ,nestorius1 and had anticipated us in  
giving judgment against him4' ,this is  
that unity1 this that agreement1 which  
gives invincible and irresistible force 
to ecclesiastical judgments4  ,so every 
thing is in harmony1 and our judgment is
 supported4 ,for in that the holy       
,council approves and executes the      
judgment of the ,apostolical see1 on a  
matter of faith and on a person1 it     
does1 indeed1 recognise the legitimate  
power and primacy of the said see4 ,in  
that it does not approve of its         
judgment1 until after legitimate hearing
 and renewed inquiry1 it instructs us   
that the ,roman ,pontiff is1 indeed1    
superior to all ,bishops1 but is        
inferior only to a ,general ,council1   
even in matters of faith4 ,which was to 

be proved4  ,in the mean time1 the      
,bishops ,arcadius and ,projectus1 and  
the ,presbyter ,philip1 had been chosen 
by ,coelestine to be present at the     
,council of ,ephesus1 with a special    
commission from the ,apostolic see1 and 
the whole ,council of the ,west4 ,so    
they come from ,rome to ,ephesus1 and   
appear at the holy ,council1 and here   
the second procedure commences4  ,wolf1 
of ,louvain1 amongst other records of   
antiquity1 has put forth the charge of  
,coelestine to his ,legates1 and his    
instructions1 as ,coelestine himself    
calls them4 ,in these he charged them1  
to defend the dignity of the ,apostolic 
see2 'not to mix themselves with the    
dissensions of the ,bishops1 whose      
judges they should be1' in conjunction1 
that is1 with the ,council3 'to confer  
on proceedings with ,cyril1 as being    
faithful4' ,we shall now review what    
they did1 in compliance with these      
orders3 and by this we shall easily show
 that our cause is confirmed4  ,first1  

they bring forward the letter of ,st4   
,coelestine to the ,council1 in which   
the charge committed to his ,legates is 
thus expressed3--',we have directed our 
holy brethren to be present at the      
proceedings1 and to execute what we have
 ordained4' ,hence1 it is evident1 that 
the ,council of ,ephesus was employed in
 executing the ,apostolical judgment4   
,but of what sort this execution is1    
whether it be1 as they will have it1    
mere obedience1 or by a legitimate      
hearing of the ,council itself1 and then
 by a certain and infallible judgment1  
the ensuing proceedings will show4      
,after reading the letter of            
,coelestine1 the ,legates1 in pursuance1
 say to the ,bishops2--',according to   
the rule of our common faith1 command to
 be completely and finally settled what 
,coelestine hath had the goodness before
 to lay down and now to remind you of4' 
,this is the advantage of a ,council2   
after whose sentence there is no new    
discussion1 or new judgment1 but merely 

execution4 ,and this the ,legates       
request to be commanded by the ,council1
 in which they recognise that supreme   
authority4  ,firmus1 ,bishop of         
,caesarea1 in ,cappadocia1 answers for  
the ,council2--',the ,apostolical and   
holy ,see of the ,bishop ,coelestine    
hath prescribed the sentence and rule   
for the present matter4' ,the ,greek    
words are1 hath first set forth the     
sentence and rule1 or type1 which       
expression is afterwards rendered1 form4
 ,we will not quarrel about words2 let  
us hear the same ,firmus accurately     
explaining what the thing is3--',we1'   
says he1 'have charged to be executed   
this form respecting ,nestorius1        
alleging against him the ,canonical and 
,apostolic judgment2' that is1 in the   
first procedure1 in which1 after        
examination and deliberation1 we have   
seen the decree of ,coelestine          
confirmed4 ,thus a general ,council     
executes the sentence of the ,first     
,see1 by legitimate hearing and inquiry1

 and not as a simple functionary2 but   
after giving a canonical and apostolical
 judgment4 ,let the ,pope's decree1 as  
is due to the authority of so great a   
,see1 be the form1 the rule2 which same1
 after convocation of a ,council1 only  
receives full authority from the common 
judgment4  ,it behoved1 also1 that the  
,legates1 sent to the ,council on a     
special mission1 should understand      
whether the proceedings against         
,nestorius had been pursued according to
 the requisition of the ,canons1 and due
 respect to the ,apostolic ,see4 ,this  
we have already often said2 wherefore1  
with reason1 they require the acts to be
 communicated1 'that we too1' say they1 
'may confirm them4' ,the proceedings    
themselves will declare what that       
confirmation means4  ,after that1 at the
 request of the ,legates1 the acts      
against ,nestorius were given them1 they
 thus report about them at the third    
procedure3--',we have found all things  
judged canonically1 and according to the

 ,church's discipline4' ,therefore      
judgments of the ,apostolic see are     
canonically1 and1 according to the      
,church's discipline1 re-considered1    
after deliberation1 in a ,general       
,council1 and judgment passed upon them4
  ,after the ,legates had approved the  
acts against ,nestorius communicated to 
them1 they request that all which had   
been read and done at ,ephesus from the 
beginning1 should be read afresh in     
public ,session1 'in order1' they say1  
'that obeying the form of the most holy 
,pope ,coelestine1 who hath committed   
this care to us1 we may be enabled to   
confirm the judgment also of your       
,holiness4' ,after these all had been   
read afresh1 and the ,legates agreed to 
them1 ,cyril proposes to the holy       
,council1 ',that the ,legates1 by their 
signature1 as was customary1 should make
 plain and manifest their canonical     
agreement with the ,council4' ,to this  
question of ,cyril the ,council thus    
answers1 and decrees that the ,legates1 

by their subscription1 confirm the acts2
 by which place1 this confirmation1     
spoken of by the ,council1 is clearly   
nothing else but to make their assent   
plain and manifest1 as ,cyril proposed4 
,this true and genuine sense of         
confirmation we have often brought      
forward1 and shall often again2 and now 
congratulate ourselves that it is so    
clearly set before us by the holy       
,council of ,ephesus4  ,but of what     
importance it was that the decrees of   
,ephesus should be confirmed by the     
authority of the ,legates of the        
,apostolic see1 as says ,projectus1 one 
of the ,legates1 is seen from hence2    
because1 although ,cyril1 having been   
named the executor of the ,pope's       
sentence1 had executed it in the        
,council1 yet he had not been expressly 
delegated to the ,council1 of which     
,coelestine had yet no thought1 when he 
entrusted ,cyril to represent him4 ,but 
,arcadius1 ,projectus and ,philip1 being
 expressly sent by ,coelestine to the   

,council1 confirmed the acts of the     
,council1 in virtue of their special    
commission1 and put forth in clear view 
by all manner and testimony the consent 
of all ,churches with the chief ,church1
 that of ,rome4  ,add to this1 that the 
,legates1 sent by special commission to 
the ,council of ,ephesus1 bore the      
sentence1 not only of the ,apostolic    
see1 but also of the whole ,west1 whence
 the ,presbyter ,philip1 one of the     
,legates1 after all had been read       
afresh1 and approved by common consent1 
thus sums up2 ',it is then established  
according to the decree of all          
,churches1 for the ,priests of the      
,church1 7,eastern and ,western17 either
 by themselves1 or by their ,legates1 to
 take part in this consent of the       
,priesthood1 which was pronounced       
against ,nestorius4'  ,hence it is clear
 how the decrees of the ,churches       
themselves mutually confirm each other2 
for all those things have force of      
confirmation1 which declare the consent 

and unity of all ,churches1 inasmuch as 
the strength of ecclesiastical decrees  
itself consists in unity and mutual     
agreement4 ,so that1 in putting forth an
 exposition of the faith1 the ,east and 
the ,west1 and the ,apostolic see and   
,synodical assemblies1 mutually confirm 
each other2 whence1 too1 we read that   
acclamation to ,coelestine1 in the      
,council of ,ephesus3--',to ,coelestine1
 guardian of the faith1 7to ,coelestine 
agreeing with the ,council17 one        
,coelestine1 one ,cyril one faith of the
 ,council1' 7one faith of the whole     
world47  ,these acclamations1 then1 of  
,catholic unity being heard1 ,philip1   
the ,legate1 thus answers3--',we return 
thanks to your holy and venerable       
,council1 because1 by your holy voices1 
as holy members1 you have joined        
yourselves to a holy head2 for your     
blessedness is not ignorant that the    
blessed ,peter is the head of the whole 
faith1 or even of the ,apostles4' ,this1
 therefore1 is the supreme              

authority--the supreme power--that the  
members be joined with each other1 and  
to the ,roman ,pontiff1 as their head4  
,because the force of an ecclesiastical 
judgment is made invincible by consent4 
,finally1 ,coelestine himself1 after the
 conclusion of the whole matter1 sends a
 letter to the holy ,council of         
,ephesus1 which he thus begins2 ',at    
length we must rejoice at the conclusion
 of evils4' ,the learned reader         
understands where he recognises the     
conclusion2 that is1 after the          
condemnation of ,nestorius by the       
infallible authority of an ,ecumenical  
,council1 viz4 of the whole ,catholic   
,church4 ,he proceeds3 ',we see1 that   
you1 with us1 have executed this matter 
so faithfully transacted4' ,all decree1 
and all execute1 that is1 by giving a   
common judgment4 ,whence ,coelestine    
adds1 ',we have been informed of a just 
deposition1 and a still juster          
exaltation3' the deposition of          
,nestorius1 begun1 indeed1 by the ,roman

 see1 but brought to a conclusion by the
 sentence of the ,council2 to a full and
 complete settlement1 as we have seen   
above3 the exaltation of ,maximianus1   
immediately after the ,ephesine decrees 
substituted in place of ,nestorius3 this
 is the conclusion of the question4     
,even ,coelestine himself recognises    
this conclusion to lie not in his own   
examination and judgment1 but in that of
 an ,ecumenical ,council4  ,and this was
 done in that ,council in which it is   
admitted that the authority of the      
,apostolic ,see was most clearly set    
forth1 not only by words1 but by deeds1 
of any since the birth of ,christ4 ,at  
least the ,holy ,council gives credence 
to ,philip uttering these true and      
magnificent encomiums1 'concerning the  
dignity of the ,apostolic ,see1 and     
,peter the head and pillar of the       
,faith1 and foundation of the ,catholic 
,church1 and by ,christ's authority     
administering the keys1 who to this very
 time lives ever1 and exercises judgment

 in his successors4' ,this he says1     
after having seen all the acts of the   
,council itself1 which we have          
mentioned1 so that we may indeed        
understand1 that all these privileges of
 ,peter and the ,apostolic ,see entirely
 agree with the decrees of the ,council1
 and the judgment entered into afresh1  
and deliberation upon matter of faith   
held after the ,apostolic ,see4  ,the   
letter of ,pope ,coelestine1 received   
with all honour as that of the first    
,bishop in the world1 recognises        
likewise the authority of his brethren4 
,it began thus3 ,the assembly of        
,priests is the visible display of the  
presence of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he who   
cannot lie has said1 ',where two or     
three are gathered together in my name1 
there am ,i in the midst of them3' much 
more will ,he be present in so large a  
crowd of holy men2 for the ,council is  
indeed holy in a peculiar sense1--it    
claims veneration as the representative 
of that most holy ,synod of ,apostles   

which we read of4 ,their ,master1 whom  
they were commanded to preach1 never    
forsakes them4 ,it was ,he who taught   
them1 it was ,he who instructed them1   
what they should teach others2 and ,he  
has assured the world1 that in the      
person of ,his ,apostles they hear him4 
,this charge of teaching has descended  
equally upon all ,bishops4 ,we are all  
engaged in it by an hereditary right2   
all we1 who having come in their stead1 
preach the name of our ,lord to all the 
countries of the world1 according to    
what was said to them1 ',go ye and teach
 all nations4' ,you are to observe1 my  
brethren1 that the order we have        
received is a general order1 and that   
,he intended that we should all execute 
it1 when he charged them with it as a   
duty devolving equally upon all4 ,we    
ought all to enter into the labours of  
those whom we have all succeeded in     
dignity4  ,thus ,pope ,coelestine       
acknowledged that it was ,christ        
,himself who established ,bishops in the

 persons of ,his ,apostles1 as the      
teachers of ,his ,church3 ,he places    
,himself in their rank1 and declares    
that they ought all to concur in the    
preservation of the sacred deposit of   
,apostolical doctrine4#ei  ,the         
importance of this testimony will be    
felt by those who remember that         
,bellarmine specifically denies that the
 government of the ,church resides in   
,bishops generally2 and that in this he 
is at least borne out by the last three 
centuries of ,roman practice4  ,bossuet 
proceeds to remark as follows3--,from   
this doctrine of ,st4 ,coelestine we    
draw many conclusions3 first1           
this1--that ,bishops in the ,apostles   
were appointed teachers by ,christ      
,himself1 not at all by ,peter1 or      
,peter's successors4 ,nor does a        
,pontiff1 seated in so eminent a place1 
think it unworthy to mix himself with   
the rest of the ,bishops4 ',we all1' he 
says1 'in the stead of the ,apostles    
preach the name of the ,lord3 we all    

have succeeded them in honour4' ,whence 
it is the more evident that authority to
 teach was transmitted from ,christ1 as 
well to ,coelestine himself1 as to the  
rest of the ,bishops4 ,hence that the   
deposit of sacred doctrine is committed 
to all1 the defence of which lies with  
all2 and so the faith is to be settled  
by common care and consent2 nor will the
 protection of ,christ1 the true        
,master1 be wanting to the masters of   
,churches4 ,this ,coelestine lays down  
equally respecting himself and all      
,bishops1 successors of the ,apostles4  
,then what agrees with it3 that as the  
,apostles1 assembled on the question    
concerning legal rites1 put forth their 
sentence as being at once that of the   
,holy ,spirit and their own1 so too     
shall it be in other most important     
controversies2 and the ,council of the  
,apostles will live again in the        
,councils of ,bishops4 ,which indeed    
shows us1 that authority and the        
settlement of the question lies not in  

the sentence of ,peter alone1 or of     
,peter's successors1 but in the         
agreement of all4  ,nor1 therefore1 does
 ,coelestine infringe on his own        
privilege in reckoning himself with the 
other successors of the ,apostles2 for  
as the other ,bishops were made         
successors to the other ,apostles1 so   
he1 being made by ,christ successor to  
,peter their chief1 everywhere takes    
precedence of all by authority of       
,peter1 as we read set forth and acted  
on in the same ,council4  ,thus in the  
third holy ,general ,council1 and in    
those first ages1 we both prove against 
heretics1 that the power of the         
,apostolical ,see everywhere takes      
precedence and leads all1 and1 what is  
of the most importance1 in the name of  
,peter1 and so as instituted by ,christ4
 ,not less do we show to ,catholics1    
that the final and infallible force of  
an ecclesiastical judgment is seated    
there1 where to the authority of ,peter1
 that is1 of the ,pope1 is added the    

authority and agreement of ,bishops     
also1 who are throughout the whole world
 in the stead of ,apostles2 which alone 
the ,church of ,france                  
demands1#fj--;and1 we may add1 the      
,church of ,england4  ,again2 compare   
the spirit of ,st4 ,coelestine's words  
with the spirit that dictated the       
following to ,de ,maistre1 whom we might
 leave alone1 if he were not the        
exponent of a theory now in the greatest
 vogue in the ,roman ,church2--a theory1
 indeed1 which those must accept1 who   
leave us1 without any chance of         
modification2 for it is not ,bossuet's  
most ,catholic doctrine1 but            
,bellarmine's1 which is acted on and    
taught now4 ,i do not affect to cast the
 least doubt upon the infallibility of a
 general ,council4 ,i merely say1 that  
it only holds this high privilege from  
its head1 to whom the promises have been
 made4 ,we know well that the gates of  
hell shall not prevail against the      
,church4 ,but why8 ,on account of       

,peter1 on whom she is founded4 ,take   
away this foundation1 how would she be  
infallible1 since she exists no longer8 
,unless ,i am deceived1 in order to be  
something1 one must first exist4#fa     
,again3 ,we see that for two centuries  
and a half religion has done very well  
without them 7,general ,councils71 and  
,i do not think that any one thinks of  
them1 in spite of the extraordinary     
needs of the ,church1 for which the     
,pope will provide much better than a   
,general ,council1 if only people knew  
how to avail themselves of his power4#fb
  ,it must not be forgotten that this   
same ,council of ,ephesus1 which allows 
none but heretics to refuse to the      
blessed ,virgin the title and the honour
 of ',mother of ,god1' confirms by its  
eighth ,canon the ,episcopal and        
,patriarchal system1 and bears the      
strongest testimony against the ,roman4 
,it runs thus3 ,the most beloved of ,god
 and our fellow-bishop ,rheginus1 and   
,zeno and ,evagrius1 the most religious 

,bishops of the ,province of ,cyprus1   
have declared unto us an innovation     
which has been introduced contrary to   
the laws of the ,church1 and the ,canons
 of the holy ,fathers1 and which affects
 the liberty of all4 ,wherefore since   
evils which affect the community require
 more attention1 inasmuch as they cause 
greater hurt2 and especially since the  
,bishop of ,antioch has not so much as  
followed an ancient custom in performing
 ordinations in ,cyprus1 as those most  
religious persons who have come to the  
holy ,synod have informed us1 by writing
 and by word of mouth2 we declare that  
they who preside over the holy ,churches
 which are in ,cyprus1 shall preserve1  
without gainsaying or opposition1 their 
right of performing by themselves the   
ordinations of the most religious       
,bishops1 according to the ,canons of   
the holy ,fathers and the ancient       
custom4 ,the same rule shall be observed
 in all the other ,dioceses1 and in the 
,provinces everywhere1 so that none of  

the most religious ,bishops shall invade
 any other ,province1 which has not     
heretofore from the beginning been under
 the hands of himself or his            
predecessors4 ,but if any one has so    
invaded a ,province and brought it by   
force under himself1 he shall restore   
it1 that the ,canons of the ,fathers may
 not be transgressed1 nor the pride of  
secular dominion be privily introduced  
under the appearance of a sacred office1
 nor we lose by little the freedom which
 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the deliverer
 of all men1 has given us by ,his own   
blood4 ,the ,holy and ,ecumenical ,synod
 has therefore decreed1 that the rights 
which have heretofore1 and from the     
beginning1 belonged to each province1   
shall be preserved to it pure and       
without restraint1 according to the     
custom which has prevailed of old1 each 
metropolitan having permission to take a
 copy of the things now transacted for  
his own security4 ,but if any one shall 
introduce any regulation contrary to    

what has been now defined1 the whole    
,holy and ,ecumenical synod has decreed 
that it shall be of no effect4#fc  ,it  
must be allowed that ,de ,maistre has   
very good reasons for disliking ,general
 ,councils4  ,nine years after this     
,council1 ,st4 ,leo the ,great became   
,pope1 whose long and able ,pontificate 
will afford us the best means of judging
 what the legitimate power of the ,roman
 ,see was1 and how it tended to the     
preservation and unity of the whole     
,church4 ,he lived at an important      
crisis1 when the barbarous tribes of the
 ,north were about to burst over the    
,empire and the ,church2 the system of  
which1 had it not been consolidated by  
himself1 his immediate predecessors and 
successors1 might have been dissolved   
and broken up into fragments4  ,i will  
first show1 by a few quotations1 that   
,st4 ,leo had no slight sense of his own
 duty and dignity among his brother     
,bishops4 ,we will then see how his     
actions1 and the way in which they were 

received by others1 supported his words4
  ,in a sermon on the anniversary of his
 consecration1 after noticing with      
pleasure the number of ,bishops present1
 he continues1 ,nor1 as ,i trust1 is the
 most blessed ,apostle ,peter1 in his   
kind condescendence and faithful love1  
absent from this assembly1 nor does he  
disregard your devotion1 reverence for  
whom has drawn you together4 ,and so he 
at once rejoices at your affection1 and 
welcomes the observance of the ,lord's  
,institution in those who share his     
honour2 approving that most orderly     
charity of the whole ,church1 which in  
,peter's see receives ,peter1 and       
slackens not in love to so great a      
shepherd1 even in the person of so      
unworthy an heir4 ,on a like            
occasion1--,although1 then1 beloved1 our
 partaking in that gift be a great      
subject for common joy1 yet it were a   
better and more excellent course of     
rejoicing1 if ye rest not in the        
consideration of our humility3 more     

profitable and more worthy by far it is 
to raise the mind's eye unto the        
contemplation of the most blessed       
,apostle ,peter's glory1 and to         
celebrate this day chiefly in the honour
 of him who was watered with streams so 
copious from the very ,fountain of all  
graces1 that while nothing has passed to
 others without his participation1 yet  
he received many special privileges of  
his own4 ,the ,word made flesh already  
dwelt in us1 and ,christ had given up   
,himself whole to restore the race of   
man4 ,wisdom had left nothing unordered2
 power left nothing difficult4 ,elements
 were obeying1 spirits ministering1     
angels serving2 it was impossible that  
,mystery could fail of its effect in    
which the ,unity and the ,trinity of the
 ,godhead ,itself was at once working4  
,and yet out of the whole world1 ,peter 
alone is chosen to preside over the     
calling of all the ,gentiles1 and over  
all the ,apostles1 and the collected    
,fathers of the ,church3 so that though 

there be among the people of ,god many  
priests and many shepherds1 yet ,peter  
rules all by personal commission        
7proprie71 whom ,christ also rules by   
sovereign power4 ,beloved1 it is a great
 and wonderful participation of ,his own
 power which the ,divine condescendance 
gave to this man3 and if ,he willed that
 other rulers should enjoy ought        
together with him1 yet never did ,he    
give1 save through him1 what ,he denied 
not to others4 ,in fine1 the ,lord asks 
all the ,apostles what men think of     
,him2 and they answer in common so long 
as they set forth the doubtfulness of   
human ignorance4 ,but when what the     
,disciples think is required1 he who is 
first in ,apostolic dignity is first    
also in confession of the ,lord4 ,and   
when he had said1 ',thou art ,christ1   
the ,son of the living ,god1' ,jesus    
answered him1 ',blessed art thou1 ,simon
 ,bar-,jona1 because flesh and blood    
hath not revealed it to thee1 but ,my   
,father1 which is in heaven3' that is1  

,thou art blessed1 because ,my ,father  
hath taught thee2 nor opinion which is  
of the earth deceived thee1 but heavenly
 inspiration instructed thee2 and not   
flesh and blood hath shown ,me to thee1 
but ,he1 whose only-begotten ,son ,i am4
 ,and ,i1 saith ,he1 say unto thee1 that
 is1 as ,my ,father hath manifested to  
thee ,my ,godhead1 so ,i1 too1 make     
known to thee thine own pre-eminence4   
,for thou art ,peter2 that is1 whilst ,i
 am the immutable ,rock1 ,i1 the        
cornerstone1 who make both one1 ,i1 the 
foundation beside which no one can lay  
another2 yet thou also art a rock1      
because by ,my virtue thou art          
established1 so that whatever is ,mine  
by sovereign power1 is to thee by       
participation common with ,me4 ,and upon
 this rock ,i will build ,my ,church1   
and the gates of hell shall not prevail 
against it3 on this strength1 saith ,he1
 ,i will build an eternal temple1 and   
,my ,church1 which in its height shall  
reach the heaven1 shall rise upon the   

firmness of this faith4 ,this confession
 the gates of hell shall not restrain1  
nor the chains of death fetter2 for that
 voice is the voice of life4 ,and as it 
raises those who confess it unto        
heavenly places1 so it plunges those who
 deny it into hell4 ,wherefore it is    
said to most blessed ,peter1 ',i will   
give to thee the keys of the kingdom of 
heaven2 and whatsoever thou shalt bind  
on earth1 shall be bound in heaven1 and 
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth    
shall be loosed in heaven4' ,the        
privilege of this power did indeed pass 
to the other ,apostles1 and the order of
 this decree reached to all the rulers  
of the ,church1 but not without purpose 
what is intended for all is put into the
 hands of one4 ,for therefore is this   
entrusted to ,peter singly1 because all 
the rulers of the ,church are invested  
with the figure of ,peter4 ,the         
privilege1 therefore1 of ,peter         
remaineth1 wheresoever judgment is      
passed according to his equity4 ,nor can

 severity or indulgence be excessive1   
where nothing is bound1 nothing loosed1 
save what blessed ,peter either bindeth 
or looseth4 ,but at the approach of ,his
 passion1 which would disturb the       
firmness of ,his disciples1 the ,lord   
saith1 ',simon1 ,simon1 behold ,satan   
hath desired to have you1 that he may   
sift you as wheat2 but ,i have prayed   
for thee1 that thy faith fail not1 and  
when thou art converted1 strengthen thy 
brethren1 that ye enter not into        
temptation4' ,the danger from the       
temptation of fear was common to all the
 ,apostles1 and they equally needed the 
help of ,divine protection1 since the   
devil desired to dismay1 to make a wreck
 of all3 and yet the ,lord takes care of
 ,peter in particular1 and asks         
specially for the faith of ,peter1 as if
 the state of the rest would be more    
certain1 if the mind of their ,chief    
were not overcome4 ,so then in ,peter   
the strength of all is protected1 and   
the help of ,divine grace is so ordered1

 that the stability1 which through      
,christ is given to ,peter1 through     
,peter is conveyed to the ,apostles4    
,since1 therefore1 beloved1 we see such 
a protection divinely granted to us1    
reasonably and justly do we rejoice in  
the merits and dignity of our ,chief1   
rendering thanks to the ,eternal ,king1 
our ,redeemer1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1
 for having given so great a power to   
him whom ,he made chief of the whole    
,church1 that if anything1 even in our  
time1 by us be rightly done and rightly 
ordered1 it is to be ascribed to his    
working1 to his guidance1 unto whom it  
was said1--',and thou1 when thou art    
converted1 strengthen thy brethren3' and
 to whom the ,lord1 after ,his          
resurrection1 in answer to the triple   
profession of eternal love1 thrice said 
with mystical intent1 ',feed ,my sheep4'
 ,and this1 beyond a doubt1 the pious   
shepherd doth even now1 and fulfils the 
charge of his ,lord2 strengthening us   
with his exhortations1 and not ceasing  

to pray for us1 that we may be overcome 
by no temptation4 ,but if1 as we must   
believe1 he everywhere discharges this  
affectionate guardianship to all the    
people of ,god1 how much more will he   
condescend to grant his help unto us his
 children1 among whom on the sacred     
couch of his blessed repose he resteth  
in the same flesh in which he ruled4 ,to
 him1 therefore1 let us ascribe this    
anniversary day of us his servant1 and  
this festival1 by whose advocacy we have
 been thought worthy to share his seat  
itself1 the grace of our ,lord ,jesus   
,christ helping us in all things1 ,who  
liveth and reigneth with ,god the       
,father and the ,holy ,spirit for ever  
and ever4 ,i have before me similar     
passages in abundance2 but these are    
enough to show how far the teaching of  
,st4 ,leo1 as to his own office1 agreed 
with1 how far went beyond1 that of ,st4 
,augustin4 ,the combination of the      
,patriarch's1 and still more of the     
universal ,primate's1 power with that of

 the ,bishop1 is a nice point4 ,if this 
be pushed too far1 it issues in a       
monarchy2 if the other alone be allowed1
 it converts the one kingdom of ,jesus  
,christ into an unlimited number of     
petty republics4 ,on the one hand there 
is danger pregnant to the high          
priesthood of the ,church2 on the other 
hand1 to the sacrament of unity4 ,the   
one-sided development of ,st4 ,leo's    
teaching has produced the ,papacy1 in   
which the ,bishops1 who represent the   
,apostles1 are no longer the brethren1  
co-ordinate in authority1 but the       
delegates1 of ,st4 ,peter's successor3  
but the one-sided development of ,st4   
,cyprian's teaching has rent into pieces
 the seamless robe of ,christ4 ,yet this
 need not be so3 in the bright days of  
the ,church of ,christ it was not so4   
,surely the first six centuries of her  
existence are not a dream2 and that     
beautiful image of ,st4 ,augustin not an
 imagination1 but what he saw before his
 eyes3 to sit on our watch-towers1 and  

guard the flock1 belongs in common to   
all of us who have episcopal functions1 
although the hill on which you stand is 
more conspicuous than the rest4  ,a     
,pontiff so deeply and religiously      
impressed with the prerogatives of ,st4 
,peter's successor was likely to be     
energetic in discharging his duties4 ,in
 truth we behold ,st4 ,leo set on a     
watch-tower1 and directing his gaze over
 the whole ,church3 over his own ,west  
more especially1 but over the ,east too1
 if need be4 ,he can judge ,alexandria1 
,antioch1 and ,constantinople1 as well  
as ,eugubium1 and is as ready too4      
,wherever ,canons are broken1 ancient   
custom disregarded1 encroachments       
attempted1 where ,bishops are           
neglectful1 or ,metropolitans           
tyrannical1 where heresy is imputed to  
,patriarchs1 in short1 wherever a stone 
in the whole sacred building is being   
loosened1 or threatens to fall1 there is
 he at hand to repair and restore1 to   
warn1 to protect1 or to punish4 ,but    

still they are brethren1 they are       
equals1 they are fellow-apostles1 with  
whom he has to act1 over whom he        
presides4 ,if ,peter was reproved by    
,paul1 and yet the glorious ,apostles   
laboured1 witnessed1 fought together1   
and together rest in ,roman earth1 then 
may the successors of the ,twelve       
remonstrate with1 nay1 reprove and      
resist the successor of the ,chief of   
the ,twelve4 ,if he is vicar of ,christ1
 so are they4 ,we have already seen     
examples of this1 we shall find others1 
without schism4  ,it had become the     
custom of the ,roman ,pontiffs1 at least
 as early as ,st4 ,damasus1 7#cff--chd17
 and ,st4 ,siricius1 7#chd--cih17 to    
charge some one prelate1 in each        
province where their influence extended1
 to represent the ,roman ,church2 to    
report any infractions of discipline1 or
 innovations on the faith2 to announce  
the election and consecration of        
,bishops4 ,thus ,anastasius of          
,thessalonica presided over the ten     

,metropolitans of ,illyricum in ,pope   
,leo's name4 ,the ,primate of ,arles    
represented him in southern ,gaul2 and  
others in ,spain2 and so on4 ,it is even
 said that all the ,primacies of western
 ,europe were in their origin           
derivations thus made from the ,primacy 
of ,st4 ,peter4 ,an authority1 which was
 exercised on the whole for the good of 
all1 seems to have been generally       
submitted to by the ,bishops of the     
different provinces3 doubtless every    
,bishop felt his hands strengthened in  
his particular diocese1 and had an      
additional security against any         
infraction of his rights by his         
brethren1 when he was able to throw     
himself back on the unbiassed and       
impartial authority of the ,bishop of   
,rome4 ,an authority1 however1 which in 
its commencement professed to be the    
especial guardian of the ,canons1 and to
 protect and maintain all in their      
proper place1 was very liable to abuse1 
and had an inherent tendency to         

increase1 and to absorb the power of the
 local ,bishops and ,metropolitans in   
the indefinite pretensions of the       
,patriarch4 ,we have seen the resistance
 offered to the ,pope in the case of the
 wretched ,apiarius by the ,african     
,church1 and now the ,church of ,gaul   
furnishes a defender of the rights of   
,metropolitans against ,pope ,leo in one
 of the holiest and most apostolical of 
its ancient ,bishops4  ,st4 ,hilary of  
,arles1 of noble birth1 of splendid     
ability1 having in the world the highest
 prospects1 was converted to ,god by the
 prayers of ,st4 ,honoratus4 ,thereupon 
he sold his large possessions1 and      
bestowed them on the poor1 and retired  
to the desert of ,lerins4 ,his friend1  
,st4 ,honoratus1 was shortly after made 
,bishop of ,arles1 but he could not     
persuade ,st4 ,hilary to remain there   
with him4 ,within three years he died1  
and ,st4 ,hilary1 who was attending him 
in his sickness1 hastened1 as soon as   
all was over1 to return to his          

monastery4 ,but it was in vain3 he was  
pursued1 brought back by force1 and     
ordained1 in spite of himself1          
,metropolitan of the first ,see in      
,gaul1 at the age of twenty-nine years4 
,at forty-eight he died1 worn out with  
the severe labours and ascetic life he  
had imposed on himself4 ,the nineteen   
years of his episcopate were devoted to 
the most incessant exertions as ,bishop 
and ,metropolitan4 ,unwearied in energy1
 unbounded in charity1 gifted with      
extraordinary eloquence1 a severe       
defender of discipline1 yet winning     
others to follow where he was ready to  
go before himself1 he becomes the soul  
of the three or four provinces over     
which the ,see of ,arles then presided4 
,he is connected in some degree with    
ourselves1 as having probably held one  
of the chief places in that great       
council of the ,gauls in the year #dbi1 
which sent ,st4 ,germanus and ,st4      
,lupus into ,britain to resist the      
,pelagians4 ,he belonged to the same    

monastery as ,st4 ,vincent of ,lerins1  
and at the same time4 ,it is certain1   
also1 that he was a great friend of ,st4
 ,germanus1 and often conferred with    
him4 ,on one of these occasions great   
complaints were brought to the two      
saints against ,celidonius1 ,bishop of  
,besancon1 for having formerly married a
 widow1 and for having condemned persons
 to death4 ,st4 ,hilary judged          
,celidonius in a provincial council1    
which declared that1 having been husband
 of a widow1 he could not keep his      
bishopric1 and that he ought voluntarily
 to quit a dignity which the rules of   
,scripture permitted him not to hold4   
,he was accordingly deposed4            
,celidonius1#fd finding himself deposed1
 had recourse to ,rome1 where he        
complained that he had been unjustly    
condemned4 ,it seems that ,st4 ,leo1    
without further examination1 at once    
admitted him to his communion1 in which 
he may have followed what ,zosimus and  
,coelestinus did in respect of the      

miserable ,apiarius1 priest of ,africa4 
,but ,i know not what ,canon or what    
rule of the ,church justifies such a    
proceeding4 ,st4 ,hilary learnt this at 
the severest time of winter4            
,nevertheless1 all the discomforts and  
dangers of this season gave way to the  
ardour of his zeal and faith4 ,he       
undertook to pass the ,alps1 and to go  
on foot to ,rome2 and this he           
accomplished1 without having even a     
horse either to ride or to carry        
baggage4 ,being come to ,rome1 he first 
visited the relics of the ,apostles and 
,martyrs4 ,next he waited on ,st4 ,leo2 
and having paid him the greatest        
respect1 he besought him very humbly to 
please to order what respected the state
 of the ,churches according to          
immemorial practice4 ,persons were seen 
attending at ,rome on the holy altar who
 had been juridically and justly deposed
 in ,gaul3 he was obliged to address to 
him his complaints of this2 and1 if they
 were found correct1 besought the ,pope 

at least to stop by a secret order this 
violation of the ,canons4 ,if not1 he   
would not trouble him further1 not being
 come to ,rome to bring an action1 and  
make accusations1 but to pay to him his 
respects1 to declare to him the state of
 things1 and to beseech him to maintain 
the rules of discipline4 ,there is      
reason to believe that ,st4 ,hilary     
maintained that ,st4 ,leo had no right  
at all to take cognizance of this cause 
as judge1 meaning1 doubtless1 that the  
,church of ,france was in the same      
condition as that of ,africa1 and had   
the same power to terminate causes which
 arose there1 without an appeal         
elsewhere being allowed4 ,st4 ,leo even 
sufficiently assures us that this was   
,st4 ,hilary's view2 and he takes       
occasion from it to accuse him of       
unwillingness to be subject to ,st4     
,peter1 and to recognise the ,primacy of
 the ,roman ,church3 which would prove  
that all the holy ,bishops of ,africa   
did not recognise it1 and give heretics 

a great advantage4 ,st4 ,leo1 on the    
other hand1 maintained not only that the
 ,churches of the ,gauls had often      
consulted that of ,rome in various      
difficulties--which had nothing to do   
with the matter in question--but1 also1 
that they had often appealed to the     
,holy ,see1 which had either altered or 
confirmed judgments pronounced by them4 
,if we may be allowed to regard the     
depositions of ,st4 ,leo and ,st4       
,hilary as the claims of different      
parties1 and to examine the matter to   
the bottom1 according to the light which
 history sheds on it1 we may say that we
 do not find that the ,gallican ,church 
had hitherto admitted1 up to that time1 
any appeal to the ,holy ,see2 and that  
,zosimus1 having wished to claim the    
right of judging ,proculus1 ,bishop of  
,marseilles1 ,proculus always maintained
 himself1 in spite of all the efforts of
 this ,pope4 ,meanwhile1 as ,st4 ,leo1  
sufficiently jealous of the greatness of
 his ,see1 found himself opposed by ,st4

 ,hilary in a point of this importance1 
it is not surprising that he was        
susceptible of the bad impression given 
him of the conduct of this great saint1 
as we shall see hereafter4 ',i dare not 
examine1' says the historian of ,st4    
,hilary1 'the judgment and the conduct  
of two men so great1 especially now that
 ,god has called them to the possession 
of ,his glory4 ,i confine myself to     
saying1 that ,hilary singly opposed this
 great number of adversaries2 that he   
was not shaken by their menaces2 that he
 laid the truth before those who would  
listen to it2 that he prevailed over    
those who would dispute with him2 that  
he yielded not to the powerful2 in      
short1 that he preferred running the    
risk of losing his life to admitting to 
his communion him whom he had deposed   
together with so many great ,bishops4'  
,had ,st4 ,leo only required to have the
 affair reheard in the ,gauls1 agreeably
 to the ,canons of ,sardica1 the only   
ones which the ,church had hitherto made

 in favour of appeals to the ,pope1 ,st4
 ,hilary would1 perhaps1 have consented2
 that is1 if he were better acquainted  
with this ,council than they were in    
,africa4 ,but it is not apparent that   
such a rehearing was mentioned4 ,and as 
to suffering the matter to be judged at 
,rome1 ,st4 ,hilary1 besides the other  
reasons which he might have1 considered1
 doubtless1 with ,st4 ,cyprian1 that the
 proofs of the facts on which judgment  
must be made cannot be transported      
thither4 ,so the ,gallican ,church has  
always maintained itself in the right1  
that appeals made to ,rome be referred  
back to the spot4 ,though ,st4 ,hilary  
had protested that he was not come to   
engage in any dispute1 nevertheless he  
did not refuse to take part in a        
conference1 in which ,st4 ,leo heard    
him1 together with ,celidonius4 ,several
 ,bishops were there4 ,notes were made  
of all that was said4 ,st4 ,leo says    
that ,st4 ,hilary had nothing reasonable
 to answer2 his passion carried him away

 to say things that a layman would not  
have dared to utter1 and that the       
,bishops could not listen to4 ,he adds  
that this haughty pride touched him to  
the quick1 and that1 nevertheless1 he   
had used no other remedy than patience1 
not wishing to sharpen and increase the 
wounds which this insolent language     
caused in the soul of him who held it3  
that moreover1 having received him at   
first as his brother1 he only thought of
 soothing rather than vexing and paining
 him2 and that indeed he did this to    
himself sufficiently by the confusion   
into which the weakness of his answers  
threw him4 ,it is clear that ,st4       
,hilary would not answer on the main    
point of ,celidonius's affair1 because  
he maintained that ,st4 ,leo could not  
be judge of it4 ,and we must not be     
surprised that the ,romans found much   
insolence in the inflexible firmness    
with which he maintained it4 ,doubtless 
it was this pretended insolence which   
caused him even to be put under guard1  

which may surprise us in the case of a  
,bishop1 and in an affair purely        
ecclesiastical4 ,among the insolent and 
rash expressions of which ,st4 ,leo in  
general complains1 he remarks1 in       
particular1 that ,st4 ,hilary had often 
demanded to be condemned1 if he had     
condemned ,celidonius contrary to the   
rules of the ,canons4 ,he wished1 then1 
that we should judge others by the rule 
which fully justifies ,st4 ,hilary4 ,the
 saint1 seeing that his reasons were not
 listened to1 would not wait ,st4 ,leo's
 sentence4 ,he preferred withdrawing    
secretly1 while this affair was still   
being examined4 ,so he escaped from his 
guards1 and though it was still winter1 
left ,rome1 and returned to ,arles1     
perhaps in ,february 7#dde73 so that    
when they sought for him to speak       
further on this matter1 it was found    
that he was gone4 ,st4 ,leo failed not  
to proceed1 reversed the judgment       
delivered against ,celidonius1 declared 
him absolved and acquitted of the       

accusation of having married a widow1   
and restored him to his rank of ,bishop1
 which he had already done at first1    
without having examined the affair4     
,there were other accusations made      
against ,st4 ,hilary1 into which we need
 not enter4 ,st4 ,leo wrote a very      
severe letter about him to the ,bishops 
of ,gaul3 he accused him of raising     
himself against ,st4 ,peter1 and being  
unwilling to recognise his ,primacy1 as 
if all those who believe that a         
successor of ,st4 ,peter passes the     
bounds of the ,canons were enemies of   
the ,primacy of the ,holy ,see4 ,that   
would be to arm against the ,popes in   
favour of heretics a great number of    
,fathers1 of ,saints1 and of            
,councils4#fe ,the result was that he   
took away from ,st4 ,hilary his rights  
of ,metropolitan1 and conferred them on 
the ,bishop of ,vienne1 who had claims  
upon them4 ,but this measure was so     
disliked by the suffragans of ,arles1   
that he restored the ,see of ,arles to  

most of its privileges under ,ravennius1
 the successor of ,st4 ,hilary4         
,however1 this matter had even more     
important consequences4 ,we will let the
 ,roman ,catholic historian1 as before1 
describe them4 ,st4 ,leo apparently     
feared that the ,bishops of the ,gauls  
would not be sufficiently submissive to 
what he had ordered4 ,and though he had 
made it a charge against ,st4 ,hilary   
that he had employed an armed force in  
affairs of the ,church1 for all that he 
recurred himself to the imperial power  
against him4 ,he represented him to the 
,emperor ,valentinian the ,third as one 
who rebelled both against the authority 
of the ,apostolic ,see1 and the majesty 
of the ,empire1 and obtained of this    
prince1 who was then at ,rome1 a        
celebrated rescript1 addressed to the   
,patrician ,aetius1 general of the      
armies of the ,empire1 by which1 under  
pretext of maintaining the peace of the 
,church1 he forbids undertaking any     
thing whatever without the authority of 

the ,apostolic ,see1 or resisting its   
orders1 which1 says he1 had always been 
observed inviolably up to ,hilarius4 ,he
 orders all ,bishops to hold as law all 
that the authority of the ,pope         
establishes1 and all magistrates to     
compel by force to appear before the    
tribunal of the ,bishop of ,rome all    
persons cited thither1 if they refused  
to go4 ,it may be seen by what happened 
about this time to ,atticus1            
,metropolitan of ,nicopolis1 in ,epirus1
 how scandalous this employment of force
 was1 and how opposed1 according to ,st4
 ,leo himself1 to the gentleness of the 
,church4 ,valentinian adds1 that the    
sentence given by ,st4 ,leo against ,st4
 ,hilary1 had no need of any one to be  
executed in the ,gauls1 since the       
authority of so great a ,pontiff has a  
right to give any order to the          
,churches4 ,he goes so far as to make it
 a charge against ,st4 ,hilary1 to have 
deposed and ordained ,bishops without   
consulting the ,pope4 ,he even names him

 a criminal of ,state on the score of   
his being charged with having employed  
the force of arms to establish ,bishops1
 and to place them on a throne where    
they had only to preach peace4 ,this law
 is dated the #fth of ,june1 #dde1 and  
it is this which fixes the time of all  
this history4 ,it is undoubtedly very   
proper1 as says ,baronius1 to show that 
the ,emperors have greatly contributed  
to establish the greatness and authority
 of the ,popes4 ,this is not the place  
to make other reflections upon it2 but  
we cannot forbear saying that1 in the   
mind of those who have any love for the 
liberty of the ,church1 and any         
knowledge of its discipline1 this law   
will always as little honour him whom it
 praises as it will injure him whom it  
condemns4 ,pope ,hilary quotes this law1
 and avails himself of the authority it 
attributes to the decisions of ,rome4#ff
 ,it would be presumptuous to add a word
 to the judgment of one who has made the
 first centuries of the ,church his     

especial study4 ,st4 ,hilary1 on his    
return to ,arles1 made many attempts to 
reconcile the ,pope to him1 but all were
 fruitless1 as he would not give up the 
point in dispute4 ,it seems1 says       
,tillemont1 that he continued resolved  
to do nothing in prejudice of the rights
 he believed to belong to his ,church1  
but that seeing the two great powers of 
,church and ,state united against him1  
he remained quiet and silent1 occupied  
only in the work of his salvation1 and  
that of his people4 ,during the four    
years he survived1 he redoubled his     
austerities and good works3 he died in  
the odour of sanctity2 and after his    
death1 ,st4 ,leo1 though still persuaded
 that he was a presumptuous spirit1     
calls him 'of holy memory4' ,yet1 we    
have neither proof nor probability that 
he had restored him to his communion1   
from which he had cut him off4#fg ,his  
name occurs in the ,roman ,martyrology4 
,thus an encroachment1 which had failed 
in ,africa1 succeeded through a         

conjuncture of circumstances1 especially
 the intervention of the civil power1 in
 ,gaul4 ,of course it was made the      
stepping-stone to further advances4     
,this one specimen may give us a notion 
how the lawful power of the ,patriarch  
and the recognised pre-eminence of the  
one ,apostolic ,see of the ,west had a  
continual tendency to develop1 and won1 
by degrees1 unlimited control over the  
original and acknowledged rights of the 
,bishops and ,metropolitans4 ,still1    
even in the hands of ,st4 ,leo1 this was
 merely an extraordinary interference4  
,ravennius1 the successor of this very  
,st4 ,hilary1 was elected and           
consecrated by the ,bishops of his      
province1 who then announced it to ,pope
 ,leo1 and received a congratulatory    
answer4#fh ,he says himself to the      
,bishops of the province of ,vienne1 ,it
 is not for ourselves that we defend the
 ordinations of your provinces1 which   
perhaps ,hilarius may1 according to his 
wont1 falsely state to you1 to render   

disaffected the mind of your ,holiness2 
but it is for you we claim them through 
our solicitude4 ,and again3 ,decreeing  
this1 that if any one of our brethren in
 any province die1 he who is known to be
 the ,metropolitan of that province1    
should claim to himself the ordination  
of the ,priest4#fi  ,so long as the     
election and consecration of ,bishops   
and ,metropolitans were thus free and   
canonical1 the greatness of the central 
,see could never depress and extinguish 
the essential equality of the           
,episcopate4 ,let it be remembered that 
,st4 ,leo1 with all his power and       
influence1 consecrated no other ,bishops
 than those of ,southern ,italy1        
,sicily1 and ,sardinia1 which were the  
bounds of his proper patriarchate2 there
 his authority was direct and immediate2
 but in ,africa1 the ,gauls1 ,spain1    
,illyricum1 and the ,west generally1 it 
was only properly exercised in matters  
beyond the range of the ,bishops and    
,metropolitans4 ,we suppose it is       

impossible to define a power which was  
to correct and restore in emergencies4  
,the ,bishops of the province of ,aries 
afterwards besought ,pope ,leo to       
restore the primacy to ,arles1 and      
render1 ,a4,d4 #dej1 this undoubted     
testimony to the ,primacy of the ,roman 
,church1 and to the connexion between   
the rights of the ,metropolitan and the 
,patriarch3--  ,by the ,priest of this  
,church 7,arles7 it is certain that our 
predecessors1 as well as ourselves1 have
 been consecrated to the ,high          
,priesthood by the gift of the ,lord2 in
 which1 following antiquity1 the        
predecessors of your ,holiness confirmed
 by their published letters this which  
old custom had handed down concerning   
the privileges of the ,church of ,arles1
 7as the records of the ,apostolical    
,see doubtless prove27 believing it to  
be full of reason and justice1 that as  
through the most blessed ,peter1 ,prince
 of the ,apostles1 the holy ,roman      
,church holds primacy over all the      

,churches of the whole world1 so also   
within the ,gauls the ,church of ,arles1
 which had been thought worthy to       
receive for its ,priest ,st4 ,trophimus1
 sent by the ,apostles1 should claim the
 right of ordaining to the ,high        
,priesthood4#gj  ,the view on which ,st4
 ,leo acted in these proceedings against
 ,st4 ,hilary is very plainly set forth 
in certain of his letters4 ,thus1 ,to   
our most beloved ,brethren1 all the     
,bishops throughout the province of     
,vienne1 ,leo ,bishop of ,rome4444 ,the 
,lord hath willed that the mystery of   
this gift 7of announcing the ,gospel7   
should belong to the office of all the  
,apostles1 on the condition of its being
 chiefly seated in the most blessed     
,peter1 first of all the ,apostles2 and 
from him1 as it were from the head1 it  
is ,his pleasure that ,his gifts should 
flow into the whole body1 that whoever  
dares to recede from the rock of ,peter 
may know that he has no part in the     
divine mystery4 ,for him hath ,he       

assumed into the participation of ,his  
indivisible unity1 and willed that he   
should be named what ,he himself is1    
saying1 ',thou art ,peter1 and upon this
 rock ,i will build my ,church3' that   
the rearing of the eternal temple by the
 wonderful gift of the grace of ,god    
might consist in the solidity of ,peter1
 strengthening with this firmness ,his  
,church1 that neither the rashness of   
man might attempt it1 nor the gates of  
hell prevail against it4#ga ,so to his  
vicar the ,bishop of ,thessalonica1 whom
 he was erecting into an ,exarch over   
the ten ,metropolitans of ,eastern      
,illyricum3 ,as my predecessors to your 
predecessors1 so have ,i1 following the 
example of those gone before1 committed 
to your affection my charge of          
government2 that you imitating our      
gentleness might relieve the care which 
we in virtue of our headship            
7principaliter71 by ,divine institution1
 owe to all ,churches1 and might1 in    
some degree1 discharge our personal     

visitation to provinces far distant from
 us2 since you can readily ascertain1 by
 near and convenient inspection1 what in
 every matter you might either by your  
own zeal arrange1 or reserve to our     
judgment4 ,for we have entrusted your   
affection to represent us on this       
condition1 that you are called to a part
 of our solicitude1 but not to the      
fulness of our power4444 ,but if in a   
matter which you believe fit to be      
considered and decided on with your     
brethren1 7the ,bishops of the          
province17 their sentence differs from  
yours1 let every thing be referred to us
 on the authority of the ,acts1 that all
 doubtfulness may be removed1 and we may
 decree what pleaseth ,god4 ,for to this
 we direct all our solicitude and care1 
that the unity of mutual agreement and  
the maintenance of discipline be broken 
by no dissension1 nor neglected by any  
slothfulness4444 ,for the compactness of
 our unity cannot remain firm1 unless   
the bond of charity bind us into an     

inseparable whole2 because1 'as we have 
many members in one body1 and all       
members have not the same office1 so we1
 being many1 are one body in ,christ1   
and every one members one of another4'  
,for it is the joining together which   
makes one soundness1 and one beauty in  
the whole body3 and this joining        
together1 as it requires unanimity in   
the whole body1 so especially demands   
concord among ,priests4 ,for though     
these have a like dignity1 yet have they
 not an equal jurisdiction2 7quibus cum 
dignitas sit communis1 non est tamen    
ordo generalis27 since even amongst the 
most blessed ,apostles1 as there was a  
likeness of honour1 so was there a      
certain distinction of power2 and the   
election of all being equal1            
pre-eminence over the rest was given to 
one4 ,from which type 7forma7 the       
distinction between ,bishops also has   
arisen1 and it was provided by an       
important arrangement that all should   
not claim to themselves power over all1 

but that in every province there should 
be one1 whose sentence should be        
considered the first among his brethren2
 and others again seated in the greater 
cities should undertake a larger care1  
through whom the direction of the       
,universal ,church should converge to   
the one ,see of ,peter1 and nothing     
anywhere disagree from its head4#gb  ,i 
think it fair to admit that the germ of 
something very like the present papal   
system1 without1 however1 such a        
wonderful concentration and absorption  
of all power1 is discernible in these   
words4 ,i shall give further on1        
,bossuet's interpretation of their most 
remarkable expression4 ,but it is also  
certain that such is not the view of the
 ,church's government set before us by  
,st4 ,cyprian1 ,st4 ,augustin1 ,st4     
,vincent of ,lerins1 and the ,fathers   
generally1 nor the one supported by the 
acts of the ancient ,church4 ,there is a
 very distinct tone in the teaching and 
acts of ,st4 ,leo1 and the other ,popes 

generally1 from that of the contemporary
 ,bishops and ,fathers who had not      
succeeded to ,st4 ,peter's own see4 ,it 
consists in dwelling on the ,primacy so 
strongly1 as quite to throw out of view 
the apostolic powers of other ,bishops2 
whereas these latter dwell upon the     
apostolic powers of the episcopate      
generally2 and1 while they admit ,st4   
,peter's ,primacy and that of the ,roman
 see1 place the government of the       
,church in the harmonious agreement of  
all4 ,st4 ,leo's view1 rigorously       
carried out1 as it has been by the later
 ,roman ,church1 substitutes ,st4 ,peter
 singly1 for ,st4 ,peter and his        
brethren2 and this usurpation1 ,i       
repeat1 we have to admit afresh1 or else
 be accounted heretics and schismatics4 
,now1 as to the government of which ,st4
 ,leo had the ideal before him1 ,i must 
first remark that it was new4 ,he says  
himself to the ,bishop of ,thessalonica3
 ,the government of ,churches in        
,illyricum1 which we commit in our stead

 to your affection1 following the       
example of ,siricius of blessed memory1 
who to your predecessor ,anysius of holy
 memory then first committed with a     
certain charge the supporting of the    
,churches of that province1 which he    
desired to be maintained in             
discipline4#gc ,that is1 it was scarcely
 sixty years since ,pope ,siricius had  
selected the ,bishop of the ,metropolis 
to keep a watch over the maintenance of 
the canons4 ,and now ,pope ,leo was     
already requiring the ,metropolitans to 
consecrate no ,bishop without first     
consulting the ,bishop of ,thessalonica 
as his vicar4  ,secondly1 this          
proceeding on the part of the ,popes was
 not submitted to generally1 even       
throughout the ,west4 ,the ,codex       
,ecclesiae ,africanae is full of        
prohibitions against even appealing to  
,bishops beyond the sea1 i4e4 the ,pope4
 ,in ,st4 ,augustin's time1 as we have  
seen1 they positively forbad the ,pope's
 interference with their internal       

government1 and only submitted to it    
after they had been enfeebled by the    
irruption of the ,vandals4  ,thirdly1   
this power was set up very much indeed  
by help of the imperial authority4 ,the 
process1 in fact1 of centralizing in the
 ,church1 ran completely parallel with  
that in the ,state4 ,the law of         
,valentinian1 above mentioned1 is a     
strong proof of this4 ,of course the    
object of the emperors was to control   
the action of the ,church through one   
,bishop made the chief4 ,but it is      
somewhat remarkable that that ,church   
which maintains a standing protest      
against the interference of the ,state  
with spiritual matters1 7a protest for  
which she is worthy of all respect and  
admiration17 should owe to the support  
of the ,state1 in different periods of  
her history1 very much more of her power
 than any other ,church4 ,it may be that
 ,god rewards the fearless maintenance  
of spiritual rights by the grant of that
 very temporal power which threatens    

them with destruction4  ,now as we have 
had ,st4 ,jerome in a noted place       
appealing to ,rome1 and acknowledging   
her primacy1 let us take another passage
 of his which1 ,i think1 implicitly     
denies ,st4 ,leo's view4 ,arguing then  
against the pride of the ,roman deacons1
 in which city1 as they were only seven 
in number1 the office was in higher     
estimation than even the priesthood1    
which was numerous1 he observes1 ,nor is
 the ,church of the ,roman city to be   
considered one1 and that of the whole   
world another4 ,both the ,gauls1 and the
 ,britains1 and ,africa1 and ,persia1   
and the ,east1 and ,india1 and all      
barbarous nations1 adore one ,christ1   
observe one rule of truth4 ,if you      
require authority1 the world is greater 
than the city4 ,wherever a bishop is1 be
 it at ,rome1 or ,eugubium1 or          
,constantinople1 or ,rhegium1 or        
,alexandria1 or ,tanae1 he is of the    
same rank1 the same priesthood4 ,the    
power of riches1 and the humility of    

poverty1 make a bishop neither higher   
nor lower4 ,but all are successors of   
the ,apostles4 ,but you say1 how is it  
that at ,rome a priest is ordained upon 
the testimony of a deacon8 ,why allege  
to me the custom of a single city8 ,why 
defend against the laws of the ,church a
 fewness of number1 which is the source 
of their pride8#gd ,the very force of   
,st4 ,leo's view lies in the exact      
contradictory of ,st4 ,jerome's words3  
viz4 the city is greater than the world1
 and this alone justifies and bears out 
the present claim of the ,roman see1 and
 its attitude both to those within1 and 
to those without1 its pale4  ,but       
fourthly1 had this government1 as imaged
 out by ,st4 ,leo1 been submitted to not
 only in ,gaul1 ,spain1 ,africa1 and    
,illyricum1 but throughout the ,west    
generally1 all this would still be      
nothing for its catholicity1 and        
therefore its binding effect1 unless it 
had been allowed by the ,east4 ,now we  
have the strongest proof that it never  

was so allowed4 ,this interference1 and 
much more1 the centralization pointed   
at1 as it never would have been         
tolerated1 so neither was it attempted1 
in the patriarchates of the ,east4      
,there was far less danger of the       
patriarchal power becoming excessive1   
when it was possessed by five1 who were 
a check to each other4 ,st4 ,leo's      
influence and authority in the ,west    
were balanced by the exercise of like   
influence and authority in the ,east1   
originally by the sees of ,alexandria   
and ,antioch1 and at this and later     
times still more by that of             
,constantinople4 ,and though throughout 
the ,east the ,bishop of ,rome was      
reckoned the first of these in rank1 yet
 the ,easterns were governed entirely by
 their own ,patriarchs4 ,so far from    
there being any authority delegated by  
,rome to the ,eastern ,patriarchs1 there
 was no appeal from them to ,rome1 that 
is to say1 in a matter belonging to     
their particular government2 for as to  

the general faith of the ,church1 in any
 peculiar emergency or violation of the 
usual order of procedure1 there was an  
appeal1 if not lawful1 at least         
exercised1 to any of the ,patriarchs4   
,thus ,theodoret of ,cyrus1 unjustly    
deposed by ,dioscorus of ,alexandria in 
the ,latrocinium of ,ephesus1 flies to  
the ,apostolic throne of ,st4 ,leo2 for 
in all things it is becoming that you   
should have the primacy4 ,for your      
throne is adorned with many advantages4 
,it has the sepulchres of our common    
,fathers and teachers of the truth1     
,peter and ,paul4 ,these have made your 
throne exceedingly illustrious4 ,this is
 the height of your blessings4#ge       
,though a supplicant1 he addresses him  
only as first ,bishop of the ,church1   
not as monarch4 ,it is a virtual denial 
of the present ,papal authority1 because
 a silence1 where it would have been put
 forward1 had it been known4 ,so the    
heretic ,eutyches1 before the council of
 his own ,patriarch1 when his deposition

 was read1 appealed to the holy synod of
 the most holy ,bishop of ,rome1 and    
,alexandria1 and ,jerusalem1 and        
,thessalonica4#gf ,thus ,st4 ,isidore of
 ,spain1 in the sixth century1 says3    
,the order of ,bishops is fourfold2 that
 is1 ,patriarchs1 ,archbishops1         
,metropolitans1 and ,bishops4 ,in ,greek
 a ,patriarch is called the first of the
 ,fathers1 because he holds the first1  
that is1 the ,apostolic place1 and      
therefore1 because he holds the highest 
rank1 he has such an appellation1 as the
 ,roman1 the ,antiochene1 and the       
,alexandrine4#gg ,accordingly ,gieseler 
says1 ,at the end of this period1       
7,a4,d4 #dea17 the four ,patriarchs of  
the ,east were held in their            
patriarchates for ecclesiastical        
centres1 to which the other ,bishops had
 to attach themselves for maintenance of
 ecclesiastical unity2 and in           
conjunction with their patriarchal synod
 they formed the highest tribunal of    
appeal in all ecclesiastical matters of 

the patriarchate2 whilst1 on the other  
hand1 they were treated as the highest  
representatives of the ,church1 who1    
through mutual communication with each  
other1 were to maintain the unity of the
 universal ,church1 and without whose   
concurrence no decrees concerning the   
whole ,church could be made4#gh  ,but no
 more certain proof of the independence 
of the ,eastern ,church can be given    
than the ,synodical ,epistle of the     
,council of ,constantinople to the ,pope
 and the ,western ,bishops4 ,this was a 
,synod of purely ,eastern ,bishops1 held
 in #cha1 which afterwards1 by the      
consent of the ,western ,church1 became 
,ecumenical4 ,this ,council arranged1   
without any reference to the ,west1 the 
affairs of the ,oriental ,church1 and   
was even quite openly on the side of the
 party of ,meletius1 rejected by the    
,westerns2 just so the interference     
attempted by the ,italian ,bishops in   
the matter of ,maximus1 the             
counter-,bishop of ,constantinople1     

remained quite disregarded4#gi ,they    
write thus3 ,to our most honoured ,lords
 and pious brethren and                 
fellow-ministers1 ,damasus1 of ,rome1   
,ambrosius1 of ,milan1 ,britton1        
,valerianus1 ,ascholius1 ,anemius1      
,basilius1 and the other holy ,bishops  
assembled in the great city of ,rome1   
the holy ,synod of orthodox ,bishops    
assembled in the great city of          
,constantinople greeting in the         
,lord4#hj ,then after informing them    
what they had decreed concerning the    
highest matters of the faith1 they go   
on--,but as to the management of        
particular matters in the ,churches1    
both an ancient fundamental principle1  
7,greek3 thesmos17 as ye know1 hath     
prevailed1 and the rule of the holy     
,fathers at ,nicea1 that in each        
province those of the province1 i4e4 the
 ,bishops1 and if they be willing1 their
 neighbours also1 should make the       
elections according as they judge meet4 
,in accordance with which know ye both  

that the rest of the ,churches are      
administered by us1 and that ,priests of
 the most distinguished ,churches have  
been appointed4 ,whence in the1 so to   
say1 newly-founded ,church of           
,constantinople1 which by the mercy of  
,god we have snatched as it were out of 
the jaws of the lion1 from subjection to
 the blasphemy of the heretics1 we have 
elected ,bishop the most reverend and   
pious ,nectarius1 in an ,ecumenical#ha  
,council1 with common agreement1 in the 
sight both of the most religious emperor
 ,theodosius1 and with the consent of   
all the ,clergy and the whole city4 ,and
 those1 the ,bishops1 both of the       
province and of the diocese#hb of the   
,east1 being canonically assembled1 the 
whole accordant ,church as with one     
voice honouring the man1 have elected   
the most reverend and religious ,bishop 
,flavian to the most ancient and truly  
apostolical ,church of ,antioch in      
,syria1 where first the venerable name  
of ,christian became known3 which       

legitimate election the whole ,synod    
hath received4 7,and this               
notwithstanding the ,bishop ,paulinus1  
who was received by ,rome and the ,west1
 had survived ,st4 ,meletius1 and was   
then alive4 ,so that they would not1    
even when such an opportunity occurred1 
accept the ,bishop in communion with    
,rome--a fact on the one side1 which ,i 
suppose may weigh against those words of
 ,st4 ,jerome on the other1 ,i know not 
,vitalis2 ,meletius ,i reject2 ,i am    
ignorant of ,paulinus4 ,quoted1 p4 #bf4 
,it seems that though the test of       
communion with ,rome satisfied ,st4     
,jerome1 it did not satisfy an          
,ecumenical ,council47 ,but of the      
,church in ,jerusalem1 the mother of all
 ,churches1 we declare that the most    
reverend and religious ,cyril is        
,bishop1 both as long since canonically 
elected by those of his province1 and as
 having struggled much against the      
,arians in different places4 ,whom1 as  
being lawfully and canonically          

established by us1 we invite your piety 
also to congratulate1 through spiritual 
love1 and the fear of the ,lord1 which  
represses all human affection1 and      
accounts the edification of the         
,churches more precious than sympathy   
with1 or favour of1 individuals4 ,for   
thus1 by agreement in the word of faith1
 and by the establishment of ,christian 
love in us1 we shall cease to say what  
the ,apostle has condemned--,i am of    
,paul1 and ,i of ,apollos1 and ,i of    
,cephas4 ,for all being shown to be     
,christ's1 who in us is not divided1 by 
the help of ,god we shall keep the body 
of the ,church unrent1 and shall stand  
with confidence before the tribunal of  
the ,lord4  ,here is the whole ,east1 in
 the year #cha1 long before the schism1 
announcing to the ,bishops of ,rome1    
,milan1 ,aquilea1 and the ,west1 the    
election of its ,patriarchs1 and        
exercising as an ancient incontestable  
right that liberty of self-government1  
according to the canons1 for continuing 

to do which very thing1 and for nothing 
else1 the ,latin ,church accounts both  
the ,greek and ,english ,church         
schismatic4 ,now the ,eastern ,church1  
as its own rituals to this day declare1 
always acknowledged ,st4 ,peter's       
primacy1 and that his primacy was       
inherited by the ,bishop of ,rome2 but  
it is apparent at once that it never    
received1 nay most strongly abhorred1   
that system of centralization of all    
power in ,rome1 which ,st4 ,leo seems to
 have had before his eyes4 ,its most    
holy and illustrious ,fathers never     
submitted to this domination4 ,st4      
,basil had already complained of the    
,western pride1 7,greek3 dutike         
ophrus47#hc ,st4 ,gregory of ,nazianzum 
is that very ,archbishop by whose       
voluntary cession and advice ,nectarius 
is elected4 ,st4 ,gregory of ,nyssa1 and
 ,peter1 brothers of ,st4 ,basil1 are in
 this council1 and so ,st4 ,cyril of    
,jerusalem4 ,and yet ,bellarmine will   
have it that ,bishops who so wrote and  

so acted received their jurisdiction    
from ,rome2 and what is far more        
important1 if they did not1 the present 
,papal theory falls to the ground4      
,when ,gieseler speaks of the principle 
of the mutual independence of the       
,western and ,eastern ,church being     
firmly held in the ,east generally1#hd  
of course it must be understood that    
there can be no independence1 strictly  
so called1 in the ,church and ,body of  
,christ4 ,independence annihilates      
membership and coherence4 ,accordingly1 
,i am fully prepared to admit that the  
,primacy of the ,roman ,see1 even among 
the ,patriarchs1 was a real thing2 not a
 mere title of honour4 ,the power of the
 ,first ,see was really exerted in      
difficult conjunctures to keep the whole
 body together4 ,i am quite aware that  
the ,bishop of ,rome could do1 what the 
,bishop of ,alexandria1 or of ,antioch1 
or of ,constantinople1 or of ,jerusalem1
 could not do4 ,even merely as standing 
at the head of the whole ,west he       

counterbalanced all the four4 ,but ,i   
accept bona fide what ,socrates and     
,sozomen tell us4 ,i believe they had   
before them neither the ,papal ,empire  
of ,st4 ,gregory the ,seventh1 nor the  
maxims of the ,reformation4 ,they are   
unbiassed witnesses4 ,sozomen then tells
 us1 that when ,st4 ,athanasius1        
unjustly deposed1 fled to ,rome for     
justice1 together with ,paul of         
,constantinople1 ,marcellus of ,ancyra1 
and ,asclepas of ,gaza1 the ,bishop of  
the ,romans1 having inquired into the   
accusations against each1 when he found 
them all agreeing with the doctrine of  
the ,nicene ,synod1 admitted them to    
communion as agreeing with him4 ,and    
inasmuch as the care of all belonged to 
him on account of the rank of his ,see1 
he restored to each his ,church4 ,and he
 wrote to the ,bishops throughout the   
,east1 c41 which they took very ill2#he 
so ill1 indeed1 that they afterwards    
pronounced a sentence of deposition     
against the ,pope himself4 ,again1 ,pope

 ,julius wrote to them1 accusing them of
 secretly undermining the doctrine of   
the ,nicene ,synod1 and that1 contrary  
to the laws of the ,church1 they had not
 called him to their ,council4 ,for that
 it was an hierarchical law to declare  
null what was done against the sentence 
of the ,bishop of the ,romans4#hf ,that 
is1 in matters concerning the state of  
the whole ,church1 as was this cause of 
,athanasius4 ,so ,socrates says1 in     
reference to the same matter1 that ,pope
 ,julius asserted to the ,bishops of the
 ,east1 that they were breaking the     
,canons in not having called him to     
their ,council1 the ecclesiastical      
,canon ordering that the ,churches      
should not make ,canons contrary to the 
sentence of the ,bishop of ,rome4#hg    
,these passages mark the prerogative of 
the ,first ,see3 yet are they quite     
compatible with the general             
self-government of the ,eastern ,church4
 ,no doubt1 when the ,patriarchs of the 
,east were at variance1 all would look  

for support to him who was both the     
first of their number1 and stood alone  
with the whole ,west to back him4  ,and 
thus again in ,st4 ,leo's time a very   
extraordinary emergency arose1 which    
still further raised the credit of the  
,roman ,patriarch4 ,dioscorus of        
,alexandria1 supporting the heretic     
,eutyches1 had1 by help of the ,emperor1
 deposed and murdered ,st4 ,flavian of  
,constantinople3 ,juvenal of ,jerusalem 
was greatly involved in this            
transaction4 ,dioscorus had then        
consecrated ,anatolius to be the        
successor of ,st4 ,flavian1 and         
,anatolius had consecrated ,maximus to  
,antioch1 instead of ,domnus1 who1 too1 
had been irregularly deposed after ,st4 
,flavian4 ,now1 had ,dioscorus been     
otherwise blameless1 his consecrating   
,anatolius1 of his own authority1 to    
,constantinople1 and ,anatolius then    
consecrating ,maximus to ,antioch1      
without the participation of ,rome1 was 
an infringement of the just rights of   

the ,primacy2 as a ,patriarch could not 
be deposed without the concurrence of   
the ,first ,see4 ,thus the whole ,east  
was in confusion4 ,a heretic had been   
absolved2 one ,patriarch murdered1 two  
deposed2 and of the other two1 one was  
chief agent1 and the other not clear1 in
 these transactions4 ,no wonder that at 
the ,council of ,chalcedon1 the ,bishop 
of ,rome appeared at the head of the    
,west1 both to vindicate his own        
violated rights1 for ,dioscorus had even
 deposed him1 and as the restorer of    
true doctrine1 and the deliverer of the 
,church4  ,but ,i must now quote1 at    
considerable length1 the argument of    
,bossuet1 and his statement as to where 
the sovereign power in the ,church      
resides4 ,we have already seen what he  
has said respecting the ,council of     
,ephesus2 and his observations on that  
of ,chalcedon and the four succeeding   
,councils are equally important4 ,his   
argument1 which was intended for the    
justification of the ,gallican ,church1 

really reaches to that of the ,greek and
 ,english ,church also2 and it is of the
 very utmost value1 as it rests upon    
authorities which are sacrosanct in the 
eyes of every ,catholic--the proceedings
 and decrees of ,ecumenical ,councils4  
,let it only be remembered1 that ,i     
quote no ,german rationalist1 no one who
 denies either the doctrine or hierarchy
 of the ,church2 but a ,catholic        
prelate1 the most strenuous defender of 
the faith1 and one who1 in the great    
assembly of his brethren1 cried out1 ,if
 ,i forget thee1 ,church of ,rome1 may  
,i forget myself2 may my tongue dry1 and
 remain motionless in my mouth1 if thou 
art not always the first in my          
remembrance1 if ,i place thee not at the
 beginning of all my songs of joy4#hh   
,the question then at issue is1 whether 
the ,bishop of ,rome be the first of the
 ,patriarchs1 and first ,bishop of the  
whole world1 the head of the ,apostolic 
college1 and holding among them the     
place which ,peter held1 all which ,i   

freely acknowledge1 as the testimony of 
antiquity2 or whether he be1 further1   
not only this1 but the source of all    
jurisdiction1 uniting in his single     
person all those powers which belonged  
to ,peter and the ,apostles             
collectively3 an idea which1 however    
extravagant1 is actually maintained at  
present in the ,church of ,rome1 is     
moreover absolutely necessary to justify
 its acts1 and to condemn the position  
of the ,greek and ,english ,church4     
,bossuet1 who fought for the ,gallican  
liberties1 fought for the ,anglican     
likewise4  ,let#hi us now review the    
,acts of the ,general ,council of       
,chalcedon4 ,the previous facts were    
these4 ,the two natures of ,christ were 
confounded by ,eutyches1 an             
,archimandrite and ,abbot of            
,constantinople1 an old man no less     
obstinate than out of his senses4 ,he   
then was condemned by his own ,bishop1  
,st4 ,flavian of ,constantinople1 and   
appealed to all the ,patriarchs1 but    

chiefly to the ,roman ,pontiff4 ,leo    
writes to ,flavian1 and 'orders         
everything to be laid before him4'      
,flavian answers and requests of ,leo   
'that1 making his own the common cause  
and the discipline of the holy          
,churches1 he should1 at the same time1 
decree that the condemnation of         
,eutyches was regularly passed1 and by  
his own words should strengthen the     
faith of the ,emperor4' ,he added1 ',for
 the cause only needs your support and  
definition2 and you should1 by your own 
determination1 bring it to peace4' ,this
 means1 it is plain and clear1 it has   
yet few followers1 and those obscure1   
and of no great name4 ,he ends1 ',for so
 the heresy which has arisen will be    
most easily destroyed1 by the           
cooperation of ,god1 through your       
letters2 and the ,council1 of which     
there are rumours1 be given up1 that the
 holy ,churches be not disturbed4'      
,this1 too1 is in accordance with       
discipline1 for heresies to be          

immediately suppressed1 first by the    
,bishop's care1 then by that of the     
,apostolic ,see3 nor is it forthwith    
necessary that an universal ,council be 
assembled1 and the peace of all         
,churches troubled4  ,after the         
proceedings had been sent to ,leo1 he   
writes to ,flavian1 most fully and      
clearly setting forth the mystery of the
 ,lord's incarnation1 as he says        
himself1 and as all ,churches bear      
witness2 at the same time he praises the
 acts of ,flavian1 and condemns         
,eutyches1 yet with the grant of        
indulgence1 should he make amends4 ,this
 is that noble and divine letter which  
was afterwards so warmly celebrated     
through the whole ,church1 and which ,i 
wish to be understood so often as ,i    
name simply ,leo's letter4  ,and here   
the question might have been terminated1
 but for those incidents which induced  
the ,emperor ,theodosius the younger to 
call the ,synod of ,ephesus4 ,he was the
 same who had appointed the ,first      

,council of ,ephesus1 under ,coelestine 
and ,cyril4  ,of this ,synod ,st4 ,leo  
writes to ,theodosius1 at first1 'that  
the matter was so evident1 that for     
reasonable causes the calling of a      
,synod should be abstained from4' ,and  
,flavian likewise seemed to have been   
against this4 ,but after the ,emperor1  
with good intentions1 had convoked the  
,synod1 ,leo gives his consent1 and     
sends the letter to the ,synod1 in which
 he praises the ,emperor for being      
willing to hold an assembly of ,bishops1
 'that by a fuller judgment all error   
may be done away with4' ,he mentions    
that he had sent ,legates1 who1 says he1
 'in my stead shall be present at the   
sacred assembly of your ,brotherhood1   
and determine1 by a joint sentence with 
you1 what shall please the ,lord4'      
,here are three points3 first1 that in  
questions of faith it is not always     
necessary for an ,ecumenical ,council to
 be assembled4 ,secondly1 that ,leo1    
great ,pontiff as he was1 did not       

decline a judgment1 if the cause        
required it1 after the matter had been  
judged by himself4 ,thirdly1 that1 if a 
,synod were held1 it behoved that all   
error should be done away with by a     
fuller judgment1 and the question be    
terminated by the ,apostolic ,see1 by a 
joint sentence with the ,bishops1 in    
which he acknowledges that full force of
 consent1 so often mentioned by me4     
,but after ,dioscorus1 ,bishop of       
,alexandria1 the protector of ,eutyches1
 had done every thing with violence and 
crime1 and not a ,council1 but an       
assembly of robbers downright1 had been 
held at ,ephesus1 then1 when the        
,episcopal order had been divided1 and  
the whole ,church thrown into confusion1
 under the name of the ,second          
,ecumenical ,council of ,ephesus1 ,leo  
himself admits that a new general       
,council must be held1 which should     
either remove or mitigate all offences1 
so that there should no longer be either
 any doubt as to faith1 or division in  

charity4 ,therefore he perceived that   
schisms1 and such a fluctuation of minds
 respecting the faith itself1 could not 
be sufficiently removed by his own      
judgment4 ,and the ,pontiff1 no less    
wise and good than resolute1 demanded a 
fuller1 firmer1 greater judgment1 by the
 authority of a ,general ,council1 by   
which1 that is1 all doubt might be      
removed4  ,but the ,emperor ,theodosius 
would not hear of a new ,council1 so    
long as he thought that due order had   
been preserved at ,ephesus4 ',for the   
matter was settled at ,ephesus by the   
deposition of those who deserved it2 and
 a decision having been once passed1    
nothing else can be determined after    
it4' ,here the difference between the   
judgments of ,roman ,pontiffs and of    
,general ,councils is very evident2 the 
judgment of the ,roman ,pontiff being   
reconsidered in a ,council1 whereas     
after a ,council1 so long as it is held 
a lawful one1 nothing can be            
reconsidered1 nothing heard4  ,but as   

,theodosius shortly afterwards died1 the
 ,emperor ,marcian1 upon understanding  
that the ,ephesine assembly had used    
violence1 and acted otherwise against   
the ,canons1 and was therefore refused  
the name and authority of an ,ecumenical
 ,council by most ,bishops1 but chiefly 
by the ,roman ,pontiff1 could not deny  
the calling of a new ,council to ,leo's 
request4 ,so the ,council of ,chalcedon 
took place1 and all admitted that there 
were certain dissensions on matter of   
faith so grave1 that they can only be   
settled by the authority of an          
,ecumenical ,council4  ,all know that   
more than six hundred ,bishops assembled
 at ,chalcedon4 ,the ,bishops           
,paschasinus and ,lucentius presided    
over the holy ,council in ,leo's stead4 
,magistrates were assigned by the       
,emperor to direct the proceedings1 and 
restrain disorder2 but to leave the     
question of faith and all ecclesiastical
 matters to the power and judgment of   
the ,council4  ,but in this ,council two

 things make for us3 first1 the         
deposition of ,dioscorus2 secondly1 the 
sentence of the ,council respecting the 
approval of ,leo's letter4  ,with       
,dioscorus they thus proceeded3 when1   
upon being cited1 he refused to present 
himself to judgment1 and his crimes were
 notorious to all1 ,paschasinus1 ,legate
 of the ,apostolic ,see1 asks the       
,fathers1--',we desire to know what your
 ,holiness determines3' the holy ,synod 
replied1 ',what the ,canons order4' ,the
 ,bishop ,lucentius said1 ',certain     
proceedings took place in the holy      
,council of ,ephesus by our most blessed
 ,father ,cyril2 look into their form1  
and assign what form you determine on4' 
,the ,bishop ,paschasinus said1 ',does  
your piety command us to use            
,ecclesiastical punishment8 ,do you     
consent8' ,the holy ,council said1 ',we 
all consent4' ,the ,bishop ,paschasinus 
said1 ',again ,i ask1 what is the       
pleasure of your blessedness8' ,maximus1
 ,bishop of the great city of ,antioch1 

said1 ',we are conformable to whatever  
seems good to your ,holiness4' ,thus the
 initiative1 and form1 as it was called1
 was to be given by the ,apostolic ,see4
 ,and so the ,legates1 after recounting 
the crimes of ,dioscorus1 thus          
pronounced3 ',wherefore1 holy ,leo1 by  
us and this present ,council1 together  
with the most blessed ,apostle ,peter1  
who is the rock and ground of the       
,church1 and the foundation of the right
 faith1 hath declared him cut off from  
all sacerdotal power4' ,anatolius1      
,bishop of ,constantinople1 said1 ',as  
our most blessed ,archbishop and ,father
 ,leo1 so ,anatolius4' ,the rest to the 
same effect3 ',i agree2 ,i am of the    
same mind2 ,i agree to the condemnation 
made by the ,council2 ,i declare1 ,i    
decree the same3' and the subscription1 
',i1 ,paschasinus1 declare and          
subscribe2' ',i1 ,anatolius1 declare and
 subscribe2' and so the rest4  ,thus    
from ,peter the head and source of      
,unity the sentence began1 and then     

became of full force by common agreement
 of the ,bishops1 just as that first    
,council of the ,apostles is always     
represented4  ,by this is understood the
 letter of the ,emperor ,valentinian to 
the ,emperor ,theodosius3 ',we ought to 
defend with all devotion1 and preserve  
in our times uninjured1 the dignity of  
the veneration due to the blessed       
,apostle ,peter3 so that the most       
blessed ,bishop of the ,roman city may  
have power to judge concerning the faith
 and ,bishops4' ,not1 however1 alone1   
but with the condition added by the     
,emperor1 ',that the aforesaid ,bishop1'
 at least1 in those causes which touch  
the faith and the universal state of the
 ,church1 'may give sentence after      
assembling the ,priests from the whole  
world4' ,that is1 by a common decree1 as
 both ,leo himself had demanded1 and as 
we have seen done in the ,council       
itself4  ,with the same view1 the       
,empress ,pulcheria writes to ,leo      
concerning assembling the ,bishops1     

'who1' she says1 'when the ,council is  
made1 shall decree1 at your instance1   
concerning the ,catholic confession1 and
 concerning ,bishops4'  ,the ,emperors  
,valentinian and ,marcian write the same
 to ,leo3 that1 'by the ,council to be  
held1' every thing should be done at his
 instance3 first laying this down1 that 
he 'possessed the first rank in the     
,episcopate1 as to faith4'  ,hence it is
 very plainly evident1 that1 in the     
usual order1 both the ,pope should have 
the initiative1 and the ,bishops sitting
 with him should be judges2 and that the
 force of an irreversible decree lies in
 agreement3 the very thing to which the 
,empress ,pulcheria bears witness1 in   
her letter to ,strategus the ,consular1 
who was ordered to protect the ,council 
from all violence3 'that the holy       
,council1 holding its sittings with all 
discipline1 what has been revealed by   
the ,lord ,christ should be confirmed in
 common by all1 without any disturbance1
 and with agreement4'  ,meanwhile1 it is

 evident that proceedings are at the    
instance of the ,pontiff1 yet so that   
the force of the decree lies1 not in the
 sole authority of the ,pontiff1 which  
no one then imagined1 but in the consent
 itself and approval of the ,council3   
and that the ,fathers and the ,council  
decree together1 judge together1 and the
 sentence of the ,council is the        
sentence of the ,pope2 which1 when the  
consent of the ,churches is added1 is   
then held to be irreversible and final1 
which is all ,i demand4  ,another       
important point treated in the ,council 
of ,chalcedon1 that is1 the establishing
 of the faith1 and the approval of      
,leo's letter1 is as follows4 ,already  
almost the whole ,west1 and most of the 
,easterns1 with ,anatolius himself1     
,bishop of ,constantinople1 had gone so 
far as to confirm by subscription that  
letter1 before the ,council took place2 
and in the ,council itself the ,fathers 
had often cried out1 ',we believe1 as   
,leo3 ,peter hath spoken by ,leo3 we    

have all subscribed the letter3 what has
 been set forth is sufficient for the   
faith3 no other exposition may be made4'
 ,things went so far1 that they would   
hardly permit a definition to be made by
 the ,council4 ,but neither             
subscriptions privately made before the 
,council1 nor these vehement cries of   
the ,fathers in the ,council1 were      
thought sufficient to tranquillize minds
 in so unsettled a state of the ,church1
 for fear that a matter so important    
might seem determined rather by outcries
 than by fair and legitimate discussion4
 ,and the ,clergy of ,constantinople    
exclaimed1 ',it is a few who cry out1   
not the whole ,council which speaks4'   
,so it was determined that the letter of
 ,leo should be lawfully examined by the
 ,council1 and a definition of faith be 
written by the ,synod itself4 ,so the   
acts of foregoing ,councils being       
previously read1 the magistrates        
proposed concerning ,leo's letter1 ',as 
the ,gospels lie before you1 let every  

one of the most reverend ,bishops       
declare whether the exposition of the   
#cah ,fathers1 and1 after that1 of the  
#aej ,fathers1 agrees with the letter of
 holy ,leo4'  ,since the question as to 
examining the letter of ,leo was put in 
this form1 it will be worth while to    
weigh the sentences1 and1 as they are   
called1 the votes of the ,fathers1 in   
order to understand from the beginning  
why they approved of the letter2 why    
they afterwards defended it with so much
 zeal2 why1 finally1 it was ratified    
after so exact an examination of the    
,council4 ,anatolius first gives his    
sentence4 ',the letter of the most holy 
,leo agrees with the ,creed of the #cah 
and the #aej ,fathers2 as also with what
 was done at ,ephesus under ,coelestine 
and ,cyril2 therefore ,i agree and      
willingly subscribe to it4' ,these are  
the words of one plainly deliberating1  
not blindly subscribing out of mere     
obedience4 ,the rest say to the same    
effect3 ',it agrees1 and ,i subscribe4' 

,many plainly and expressly1 ',it       
agrees1 and ,i therefore subscribe4'    
,some add1 ',it agrees1 and ,i          
subscribe1 as it is correct4' ,others1  
',i am sure that it agrees4' ,others1   
',as it is concordant1 and has the same 
aim1 we embrace it1 and subscribe4'     
,others1 ',this is the faith we have    
long held3 this we hold3 in this we were
 baptized3 in this we baptize4' ,others1
 and a great part1 ',as ,i see1 as ,i   
feel1 as ,i have proved1 as ,i find that
 it agrees1 ,i subscribe4' ,others1 ',as
 ,i am persuaded1 instructed1 informed1 
that all agrees1 ,i subscribe4' ,many   
set forth their difficulties1 mostly    
arising from a foreign language2 others 
from the subject matter1 saying1 that   
they had heard the letter1 'and in very 
many points were assured it was right3  
some few words stood in their way1 which
 seemed to point at a certain division  
in the person of ,christ4' ,they add1   
that they had been informed by          
,paschasinus and the ,legates 'that     

there is no division1 but one ,christ2  
therefore1' they say1 'we agree and     
subscribe4' ,others1 after mentioning   
what ,paschasinus and ,lucentius had    
said1 thus conclude3 ',by this we have  
been satisfied1 and1 considering that it
 agrees in all things with the holy     
,fathers1 we agree and subscribe4'      
,where the ,illyrian ,bishops1 and      
others who before that examination had  
expressed their acclamations to the     
letter1 again cry out1 ',we all say the 
same thing1 and agree with this4' ,so   
that1 indeed1 it is evident that1 in the
 ,council itself1 and before it1 their  
agreement is based on this1 that1 after 
weighing the matter1 they considered1   
they judged1 they were persuaded1 that  
all agreed with the ,fathers1 and       
perceived that the common faith of all  
and each had been set forth by ,leo4    
,this was done at ,chalcedon2 but       
likewise before that ,council our       
,gallic ,bishops1 at a synod held in    
,gaul1 wrote thus to ,leo himself1      

concerning receiving his letter3 ',many 
in that letter of ,leo to ,flavian with 
joy and exultation have recognised what 
their faith was assured of1 and are with
 reason delighted that1 by tradition    
from their fathers1 they have always    
held just what your ,apostleship has set
 forth4 ,some rendered more careful1    
congratulate themselves every way on    
being instructed by receiving the       
admonition of your blessedness1 and     
rejoice that an occasion is given them1 
in which they may speak out freely and  
confidently1 and each one assert what he
 believes1 supported by the authority of
 the ,apostolic ,see4'  ,the ,italian   
7,bishops7 agree1 at the instance of    
,eusebius1 ,bishop of ,milan1 'for it   
was evident that that 7letter of ,leo to
 ,flavian7 had the full and vigorous    
simplicity of the faith2 was illuminated
 likewise by statements from the        
,prophets1 by authorities from the      
,gospels1 and by testimonies of         
,apostolic teaching1 and in every point 

agreed with what the holy ,ambrose1     
moved by the ,holy ,spirit1 put in his  
books concerning the mystery of the     
,lord's incarnation4 ,and inasmuch as   
all the statements agree with the faith 
of our ancestors delivered down to us   
from antiquity1 all determined that     
whoever hold impious opinions concerning
 the mystery of the ,lord's incarnation1
 are to be visited with fitting         
condemnation1 as they themselves agree1 
according to the sentence of your       
authority4'  ,see here an authoritative 
sentence in the ,roman ,pontiff2 and    
also the agreement of the ,bishops to   
the instance of the ,roman ,pontiff1 and
 that granted after inquiry into the    
truth4 ,on these terms they gave their  
approval1 and their subscription1 and   
decreed that a letter1 agreeing with the
 apprehensions of their common faith1   
and found and judged to be such by them1
 was of universal authority by the union
 of their sentences with the ,apostolic 
,see4 ,which wonderfully accords with   

what we have just read in the sentences 
of the ,fathers of ,chalcedon4  ,this is
 that examination of ,leo's letter1     
synodically made at ,chalcedon1 and     
placed among the acts2 of which         
examination ,leo himself thus writes to 
,theodoret3 ',what ,god had before set  
forth by our ministry1 ,he hath         
confirmed by the irreversible assent of 
the whole brotherhood1 to show that what
 was first put forth in form by the     
,first ,see of all1 and then received by
 the judgment of the whole ,christian   
world1 really proceeded from ,himself   
7that in this too the members might     
agree with the ,head47'#ij  ,he         
proceeds3 ',for in order that the       
consent of other sees to that which the 
,lord appointed to preside over all the 
rest should not appear flattery1 or any 
other adverse suspicion creep in1       
persons were found who doubted          
concerning our judgment4444 ,the truth1 
likewise1 itself is both more clearly   
conspicuous1 and more strongly          

maintained1 when after-examination      
confirms what previous faith had        
taught4' ,here he speaks distinctly of  
examination1 and that most free4 ',in   
fine1 the merit of the priestly office  
shines forth very brightly1 when the    
authority of the highest is preserved1  
without the liberty of the lower seeming
 to be at all infringed4 ,and the end of
 the examination profits to the greater 
glory of ,god1 when it has confidence   
enough to exert itself so far as to     
prevail over the opposite opinion4 ,so  
that what is in itself proved to be     
heterodox may not seem overcome1 merely 
because it is passed over in silence1'  
,lastly1 'the letter of the ,apostolic  
,see1 confirmed by the assent of the    
whole holy ,council'#ia is proposed as a
 most certain and perfect rule of faith1
 not again to be reconsidered4 ,here is 
what ,leo considered to be irrevocable1 
or rather not to be mended1 which no one
 can be blamed for holding together with
 the world and the ,fathers of          

,chalcedon3 the form is set forth by the
 ,apostolic ,see2 yet it is to be       
examined1 and that freely1 and every    
,bishop1 the highest and the lowest1 to 
pronounce judgment in a body concerning 
decreeing it4  ,they conceived no other 
way of removing all doubt2 for after the
 conclusion of the synod1 the emperor   
thus proclaims3 ',let then all profane  
contention cease1 for he is indeed      
impious and sacrilegious1 who1 after the
 sentence of so many priests1 leaves any
 thing for his own opinion to consider4'
 ,he then prohibits all discussion      
concerning religion2 for1 says he1 'he  
does an injury to the judgment of the   
most religious ,council1 who endeavours 
to open afresh1 and publicly discuss    
what has been once judged1 and rightly  
ordered4'  ,here in the condemnation of 
,eutyches is the order of               
,ecclesiastical judgments in questions  
of faith4 ,he is judged by his proper   
,bishop ,flavian3 the cause is reheard1 
reconsidered by the ,pope ,st4 ,leo2    

7let it be remembered that ,eutyches    
likewise appealed to ,alexandria1       
,jerusalem1 and ,thessalonica27 it is   
decided by a declaration of the         
,apostolic ,see3 after that declaration 
follows the examination1 inquiry1       
judgment of the ,fathers or ,bishops1 in
 a ,general ,council3 after the         
declaration has been approved by the    
judgment of the ,fathers no place is any
 longer left for doubt or discussion4   
,to the same effect ,leo3 ',for no      
longer is any refuge or excuse allowable
 to any1 on plea of ignorance1 or       
difficulty of understanding1 inasmuch as
 for this very purpose the ,council of  
about six hundred of our brethren and   
fellow-,bishops met together hath       
permitted no skill in reasoning1 no flow
 of eloquence1 to breathe against the   
faith built on a divine foundation4     
,since1 through the endeavours of our   
brethren and representatives1 by the    
help of ,god's grace1 7their devotion in
 every procedure being most entire17 it 

hath been fully and evidently made      
manifest1 not only to the priests of    
,christ1 but to princes also1 and       
,christian powers1 and to all ranks of  
the clergy and people1 that this is the 
truly ,apostolic and ,catholic faith1   
flowing from the fountain of ,divine    
goodness1 which we preach1 and now with 
the agreement of the whole world defend 
pure and clean from all pollution of    
error4'#ib  ,thus at length supreme and 
infallible force is given to an         
,apostolic decree1 after that it is     
strengthened by universal inquiry1      
examination1 discussion1 and thereupon  
consent and testimony4  #ic,we add a    
third point1 important to our cause1    
respecting the restitution of ,theodoret
 to his see4 ,after1 then1 by order of  
the ,bishops1 he had openly             
anathematized ,nestorius1 'the most     
illustrious magistrates said1 all doubt 
respecting ,theodoret is now removed2   
for he hath both anathematized          
,nestorius before you1 and has been     

received by ,leo1 most holy ,archbishop 
of old ,rome1 and has willingly accepted
 the definition of faith set forth by   
your piety1 and moreover hath subscribed
 the epistle of the aforesaid most holy 
,archbishop ,leo4 ,it is fitting1       
therefore1 that sentence be pronounced  
by your most acceptable holiness1 that  
he may recover his ,church1 as the most 
holy ,archbishop ,leo has judged4' ,all 
the most reverend ,bishops cried out1   
',theodoret is worthy of his ,see4 ,leo 
hath judged after ,god4' ,so then the   
judgment put forth by ,leo concerning   
his restoration to his ,see would have  
profited ,theodoret nothing1 unless1    
after the matter had been brought before
 the ,council1 he had both approved his 
faith to the ,council1 and the judgment 
of ,leo been confirmed by the same      
,council4 ,this was done in the presence
 of the ,legates of the ,apostolic ,see1
 who afterwards pronounced that sentence
 on confirming ,leo's judgment1 which   
the whole ,synod approved4  ,let any one

 of candour consider these ,acts of the 
,council of ,chalcedon1 and then say1   
which of these two views agrees with    
them1 viz4 that ,st4 ,leo was first     
,bishop of the ,church1 looked up to    
with great reverence as the special     
successor of ,st4 ,peter1 and           
representative of the whole ,west2 or   
that he was beside this the only ,vicar 
of ,christ1 the source and origin of the
 ,episcopate1 from whom his brethren    
received their jurisdiction1 which is   
the ,papal idea of the middle ages4 ,for
 on the truth of this latter view       
depends the charge1 that the ,church of 
,england is in schism4  ,what follows   
may perhaps assist our solution of the  
question4 ,at this very ,council of #fcj
 ,bishops1 the largest ever held in     
ancient times1 and where the credit of  
the ,roman ,pontiff was so great1 a very
 celebrated ,canon was enacted          
concerning the rank of the ,bishop of   
,constantinople4 ,the ,pope's legates   
attempted1 by absenting themselves1 to  

prevent its being enacted1 but that only
 led to its being confirmed the next    
day1 in spite of their opposition4 ,the 
circumstances were as follows1 and they 
seem to deserve our most stedfast       
consideration1 from their bearing upon  
the great subject we are considering1   
the ,papal ,supremacy4  ,on the same    
day1 being the last of ,october1 the    
fifteenth session was held1 at which    
neither the magistrates nor legates were
 present3 for after the formula of faith
 had been agreed to1 and the private    
business brought before the ,council had
 been despatched1 the ,clergy of        
,constantinople asked the legates to    
join them in discussing an affair       
concerning their ,church4 ,this they    
refused1 saying1 that they had received 
no instructions about it4 ,they made the
 same proposal to the magistrates1 and  
these referred the matter to the        
,council4 ,when the magistrates and     
legates therefore had retired1 the rest 
of the ,council made a ,canon respecting

 the prerogatives of the ,church of     
,constantinople4#id ,to make the scope  
of this clear we must observe1 that the 
,see of ,constantinople had been now for
 at least seventy years the chief ,see  
of the ,east3 at the second ,ecumenical 
,council1 held in #cha1 at              
,constantinople1 it is declared in the  
third canon1 that the ,bishop of        
,constantinople shall have the primacy  
of honour after the ,bishop of ,rome1   
because that ,constantinople is ,new    
,rome4 ,it seems that in the interval   
that ,bishop had not only taken         
precedence of ,alexandria and ,antioch1 
and reduced under him the ,exarchs of   
,pontus1 ,thrace1 and ,asia1 but that   
his authority was very great throughout 
all the ,east4 ,theodoret says1#ie that 
,st4 ,chrysostom governed twenty-eight  
provinces4 ,accordingly1 in its famous  
#bhth ,canon1 the ,council of ,chalcedon
 only confirmed an authority to the     
,bishop of ,constantinople which he had 
long enjoyed and often exceeded4 ,it ran

 thus3 ,we1 following in all things the 
decisions of the holy ,fathers1 and     
acknowledging the ,canon of the #aej    
most religious ,bishops which has just  
been read1 do also determine and decree 
the same things respecting the          
privileges of the most holy city of     
,constantinople1 ,new ,rome4 ,for the   
,fathers properly gave the primacy to   
the throne of the elder ,rome1 because  
that was the imperial city4 ,and the    
#aej most religious ,bishops1 being     
moved with the same intention1 gave     
equal privileges to the most holy throne
 of ,new ,rome1 judging with reason1    
that the city which was honoured with   
the sovereignty and senate1 and which   
enjoyed equal privileges with the elder 
royal ,rome1 should also be magnified   
like her in ,ecclesiastical matters1    
being the second after her4 ,and 7we    
also decree7 that the ,metropolitans    
only of the ,pontic1 and ,asian1 and    
,thracian ,dioceses1 and1 moreover1 the 
,bishops of the aforesaid ,dioceses who 

are amongst the ,barbarians1 shall be   
ordained by the above-mentioned most    
holy throne of the most holy ,church of 
,constantinople2 each ,metropolitan of  
the aforesaid ,dioceses ordaining the   
,bishops of the ,province1 as has been  
declared by the divine ,canons2 but the 
,metropolitans themselves of the said   
,dioceses shall1 as has been said1 be   
ordained by the ,bishop of              
,constantinople1 the proper elections   
being made according to custom1 and     
reported to him4  ,the ,legates1#if     
being informed of what had passed1      
demanded that the ,council should       
assemble again1 and the magistrates be  
present4 ,on the morrow1 therefore1     
being ,thursday1 the #ast ,november1 the
 twelfth sitting#ig was held4 ,the      
magistrates were there with the         
,legates1 and the ,bishops of ,illyria1 
and all the rest4 ,after they had taken 
their seats1 ,paschasinus spoke1 having 
asked permission of the magistrates1 and
 said1 that he was astonished that so   

many things had been done the day before
 in their absence1 which were contrary  
to the ,canons and the peace of the     
,church1 for which the ,emperor was     
labouring with so much application and  
zeal4 ,he demanded the reading of what  
had passed the day before4 ,and ,aetius1
 7,archdeacon of ,constantinople17      
having said that it was the ,legates    
themselves who had refused to be present
 at the deliberation1 presented the     
,canon which had been drawn up with the 
signatures of the ,bishops4 ,after the  
signatures had been read1 ,lucentius    
said the ,bishops had been surprised1   
and compelled to sign4 ,this is what    
,st4 ,leo repeated often in the letter  
which he wrote concerning this          
twenty-eighth ,canon1 accusing          
,anatolius of having extorted the       
signatures of the ,bishops1 or of having
 surprised them by his artifices4       
,nevertheless1 upon the reproach of     
,lucentius1 all the ,bishops cried out  
that no one had been forced4 ,they      

protested again afterwards1 both all in 
common1 and the principal by themselves1
 that they had signed it of their full  
consent4 ,anatolius also maintains to   
,st4 ,leo1 that the ,bishops took this  
resolution of their own accord4  ,the   
,legates continued to oppose the ,canon1
 and showed that they had an express    
order of the ,pope to do so4 ,they      
alleged that the ,canon was contrary to 
the ,council of ,nicea1 of which they   
read the sixth ,canon1 with the         
celebrated heading--',the ,roman ,church
 has always had the primacy1' which is  
also found added in the ancient ,roman  
code4 ,the same ,canon was afterwards   
read as it is in the original ,greek1   
and the ,canon of the second ,ecumenical
 ,council1 to which the ,legates        
answered nothing4  ,the magistrates     
having next begged the ,bishops who had 
not signed the day before1 to give their
 opinion1 ,eusebius1 of ,ancyra1        
represented with much gentleness and    
modesty1 that it was better for the     

,church that ordinations should be made 
upon the spot by the ,council of the    
province4 ,thalassius then spoke a      
single word1 but ,i know not his        
meaning4  ,thereupon the magistrates#ih 
said1--',it appears1 from the           
depositions1 first of all1 that the     
primacy and precedency of honour        
7,greek3 ta proteia1 kai ten exaireton  
timen7 should be preserved according to 
the ,canons for the ,archbishop of ,old 
,rome1 but that the ,archbishop of      
,constantinople ought to enjoy the same 
privileges1 7,greek3 ton auton presbeion
 tes times17 and that he has a right to 
ordain the ,metropolitans of the        
,dioceses of ,asia1 ,pontus1 and        
,thrace1 in the manner following4 ,in   
each metropolis1 the clergy1 the        
proprietors of lands1 and the gentry1   
with all the ,bishops of the province1  
or the greater part of them1 shall issue
 a decree for the election of one whom  
they shall deem worthy of being made a  
,bishop of the metropolis4 ,they shall  

all make a report of it to the          
,archbishop of ,constantinople1 and it  
shall be at his option either to enjoin 
the ,bishop elect to come thither for   
ordination1 or to allow him to be       
ordained in the province4 ,as to the    
,bishops of particular cities1 they     
shall be ordained by all1 or the greater
 part1 of the comprovincial ,bishops1   
under the authority of the              
,metropolitan1 according to the ,canons1
 the ,archbishop of ,constantinople     
taking no part in such ordination4      
,these are our views1 let the ,council  
state theirs4' ,the ,bishops shouted1   
',this is a just proposal3 we all say   
the same3 we all assent to it1 we pray  
you dismiss us3' with other similar     
acclamations4 ,lucentius1 the ,legate1  
said1--',the ,apostolic ,see ought not  
to be degraded in our presence2 we1     
therefore1 desire that yesterday's      
proceedings1 which violate the ,canons1 
may be rescinded2 otherwise let our     
opposition be inserted in the ,acts1    

that we may know what we are to report  
to the ,pope1 and that he may declare   
his opinion of this contempt of his     
,see1 and subversion of the ,canons4'   
,the magistrates said1--',the whole     
,council approves of what we said4'     
,such was the last ,session of the      
,council of ,chalcedon4  ,the remarks of
 ,tillemont on this ,canon are          
significant1 and worth transcribing4#ii 
,it seems1 he says1 to recognise no     
particular authority in the ,church of  
,rome1 save what the ,fathers had       
granted it1 as the seat of the empire4  
,and it attributes in plain words as    
much to ,constantinople as to ,rome1    
with the exception of the first place4  
,nevertheless ,i do not observe that the
 ,popes took up a thing so injurious to 
their dignity1 and of so dangerous a    
consequence to the whole ,church4 ,for  
what ,lupus quotes of ,st4 ,leo's #ghth 
7#ajdth7 letter1 refers rather to       
,alexandria and to ,antioch1 than to    
,rome4 ,st4 ,leo is contented to destroy

 the foundation on which they built the 
elevation of ,constantinople1           
maintaining that a thing so entirely    
ecclesiastical as the ,episcopate ought 
not to be regulated by the temporal     
dignity of cities1 which1 nevertheless1 
has been almost always followed in the  
establishment of the metropolis1        
according to the ,council of ,nicea4    
,st4 ,leo also complains that the       
,council of ,chalcedon broke the decrees
 of the ,council of ,nicea1 the practice
 of antiquity1 and the rights of        
,metropolitans4 ,certainly it was an    
odious innovation to see a ,bishop made 
the chief1 not of one department1 but of
 three2 for which no example could be   
found save in the authority which the   
,popes took over ,illyricum1 where1     
however1 they did not claim the power to
 ordain any ,bishop4  ,now ,i suppose   
any ,roman ,catholic would observe that 
this ,canon is entirely opposed to the  
present ,papal theory3 he would say that
 ,st4 ,leo and the ,west for that very  

reason refused to receive it4 ,the      
opposition1 beyond all question1 is     
such1 that it is quite impossible to    
reconcile them4 ,let any one1 then1 read
 through the #ajdth letter of ,st4 ,leo 
to the ,emperor ,mauricius1 the #ajeth  
to the ,empress ,pulcheria1 and the     
#ajfth to ,anatolius himself1 and he    
will see that ,st4 ,leo bases his       
opposition to it throughout on its being
 a violation of the ,nicene ,canons3    
there is not a word in all the three    
letters about any violation of the      
rights of ,st4 ,peter4 ,may we not      
quote1 alas6 ,st4 ,leo's words1 in these
 letters1 to ,st4 ,leo's successor4     
,he#ajj loses his own1 who lusts after  
what is not his due4444 ,for the        
privileges of the ,churches1 instituted 
by the ,canons of the holy ,fathers1 and
 fixed by the decrees of the venerable  
,nicene ,synod1 cannot be plucked up by 
any wickedness1 or changed by any       
innovation4 ,in the faithful execution  
of which work1 by the help of ,christ1  

,i am bound to show persevering service2
 since the dispensation has been        
entrusted to me1 and it tends to my     
guilt1 if the rules of the ,fathers'    
sanctions1 which were made in the       
,nicene ,council for the government of  
the whole ,church1 by the teaching of   
,god's ,spirit1 be violated1 which ,god 
forbid1 by my connivance2 and if the    
desire of one brother be of more weight 
with me than the common good of the     
whole house of the ,lord4 ,this to the  
,emperor4 ,to the ,empress1             
thus3--,since no one is allowed to      
attempt#aja anything against the        
statutes of the ,fathers' ,canons1 which
 many years ago were based on spiritual 
decrees in the city of ,nicea2 so that  
if any one desires to decree anything   
against them1 he will rather lessen     
himself than injure them4 ,and if these 
are kept uninjured1 as it behoves1 by   
all ,pontiffs1 there will be tranquil   
peace and firm concord through all the  
,churches4 ,there will be no dissensions

 concerning the degree of honours2 no   
contests about ordinations2 no doubts   
about privileges2 no conflicts about the
 usurpation of another's right2 but     
under the equal law of charity1 both    
men's minds and duties will be kept in  
the due order2 and he will be truly     
great1 who shall be alien from all      
ambition1 according to the ,lord's      
words1 ',whosoever will be great among  
you1 let him be your minister1 c4' ,but 
to ,anatolius1 thus3--,those#ajb holy   
and venerable ,fathers1 who in the      
,nicene city established laws of        
ecclesiastical ,canons1 which are to    
last to the end of the world1 when the  
sacrilegious ,arius with his impiety was
 condemned1 live both with us and in the
 whole world by their constitutions2 and
 if anything anywhere is presumed upon  
contrary to what they appointed1 it is  
without delay annulled1 c4  ,but what   
the violation was he likewise states3 it
 is not any wrong done to his own see   
personally4 ,he says to the ,empress3   

,but#ajc what doth the prelate of the   
,church of ,constantinople desire more  
than he hath obtained8 ,or what will    
satisfy him1 if the magnificence and    
glory of so great a city satisfy him    
not8 ,it is too proud and immoderate to 
go beyond one's own limits1 and1        
trampling on antiquity1 to wish to seize
 on another's right4 ,and1 in order to  
increase the dignity of one1 to impugn  
the primacy of so many ,metropolitans2  
and to carry a new war of disturbance   
into quiet provinces1 settled long ago  
by the moderation of the holy ,nicene   
,council1 c4  ,to ,anatolius himself he 
says3 ,i grieve--that you attempt to    
infringe the most sacred constitutions  
of the ,nicene ,canons2 as if this were 
a favourable opportunity presented to   
you1 when the ,see of ,alexandria may   
lose the privilege of the second rank1  
and the ,church of ,antioch its         
possession of the third dignity2 so that
 when these places have been brought    
under your jurisdiction1 all            

,metropolitan ,bishops may be deprived  
of their proper honour4#ajd ,i oppose   
you1 that with wiser purpose you may    
refrain from throwing into confusion the
 whole ,church4 ,let not the rights of  
provincial ,primacies be torn away1 nor 
,metropolitan ,bishops be deprived of   
their privileges in force from old time4
 ,let no part of that dignity perish to 
the ,see of ,alexandria1 which it was   
thought worthy to obtain through the    
holy ,evangelist ,mark1 the disciple of 
blessed ,peter2 nor1 though ,dioscorus  
falls through the obstinacy of his own  
impiety1 let the splendour of so great a
 ,church be obscured by another's       
disgrace4 ,let also the ,church of      
,antioch1 in which first1 at the        
preaching of the blessed ,apostle       
,peter1 the name of ,christian arose1   
remain in the order of its hereditary   
degree1 and being placed in the third   
rank never sink below itself4  ,so then 
it was not ,st4 ,peter's ,primacy1 nor  
his own proper authority in the ,church1

 which ,st4 ,leo conceived to be        
attacked by this ,canon2 but he refused 
to be a party to treading under foot the
 constitution of the ,fathers--to       
disturbing the state of the universal   
,church1 protected of old by a most     
wholesome and upright                   
administration4#aje ,so the ,emperor    
,marcian1 ,anatolius1 ,julian of ,cos1  
beseech ,leo to grant this1 without so  
much as imagining that they are injuring
 his rank by asking it4 ,i see not how  
it is possible to avoid the conclusion1 
that the power of the ,first ,see1 even 
as its most zealous occupant viewed it1 
was quite different from that power     
which was set up in the middle ages4    
,this is only one of a vast number of   
proofs which distinguish the ,primacy   
from the present ,supremacy4 ,and it is 
the more valuable1 because ,st4 ,leo    
certainly carries his notion of his own 
rights as universal ,primate further    
than any ,father of his time4 ,i shall  
have occasion to make a like remark     

presently in the matter of ,st4         
,gregory's protest4  ,but1 indeed1 such 
a ,canon as this being passed in the    
most numerous ,ecumenical ,synod1 in    
spite of the opposition of the ,pope's  
,legates1 speaks for itself4 ,i am well 
aware that ,st4 ,leo refused to receive 
it1 that1 by the authority of the       
blessed ,peter1 he annulled it by a     
general declaration1 as contrary to the 
holy ,canons of ,nicea4#ajf ,accordingly
 it was not received in the ,west2 but  
it nevertheless always prevailed in the 
,east1 and the ,popes ultimately        
conceded the point it enacted4 ,and#ajg 
from the hour it was enacted to this1 it
 has remained the law of the ,eastern   
,church2 and the ,patriarchal power1    
which in the ,western ,church has       
developed into the ,papal1 has remained 
attached to the throne of               
,constantinople in the other great      
division of ,christ's kingdom4  ,the    
ninth ,canon of ,chalcedon also         
says3--,if a ,clergyman has any matter  

against his own ,bishop or another1 let 
him plead his cause before the ,council 
of the province4 ,but if either a       
,bishop or ,clergyman have a controversy
 against the ,metropolitan of the same  
province1 let him have recourse either  
to the ,exarch of the ,diocese1 or to   
the throne of the imperial city of      
,constantinople1 and plead his cause    
before it4 ,i remark this1 because it is
 a far greater power of hearing appeals 
granted to the ,bishop of               
,constantinople1 than was granted to the
 ,bishop of ,rome a hundred years before
 at the ,council of ,sardica4  ,now1 let
 us be fair and even-handed4 ,if the    
great influence and authority exercised 
at the ,council of ,chalcedon by ,st4   
,leo is to be acknowledged as witnessing
 the ,roman ,primacy1 let us also grant1
 that unless the ,acts and the ,canons  
of the first four ,ecumenical ,councils 
are to be swept away as waste paper     
before the omnipotence of ,papal        
prerogative1 then the ancient decrees of

 ,nicea1 ,constantinople1 ,ephesus1 and 
,chalcedon1 offer an insurmountable     
barrier to the present claims of ,rome4 
,but concerning the ,canons of ,nicea1  
,st4 ,leo1 at least1 says3--,i hold all 
ecclesiastical rules to be dissolved1 if
 any part of that sacrosanct            
constitution of the ,fathers be         
violated4#ajh ,st4 ,gregory repeats3--,i
 receive the four ,councils of the holy 
universal ,church as the four books of  
the ,holy ,gospel4#aji ,mr4 ,newman     
says1 that the definition passed at     
,chalcedon is the ,apostolic ,truth once
 delivered to the ,saints1 is most      
firmly to be received from faith in that
 overruling ,providence1 which is by    
special promise extended over the ,acts 
of the ,church4#aaj ,does it not equally
 follow that the ,church government     
recognised as immemorial1 and enforced  
at ,nicea1 ,constantinople1 ,ephesus1   
and ,chalcedon1 and the doctrine which  
is involved therein1 are likewise to be 
maintained1 and that none who appeal to 

them with truth1 as practised by        
themselves1 whatever else they may fall 
into1 can be guilty of schism8  ,the    
hundred and thirty years between the    
death of ,st4 ,leo and the accession of 
,st4 ,gregory1 were years of trouble1   
confusion1 and disaster3 the stars fell 
from heaven1 and the powers of the      
heavens were shaken4 ,the ,western      
empire was overthrown2 barbarians and   
heretics obtained the mastery in ,italy1
 and generally in the ,west2 there was  
but one fixed and central authority to  
which the eyes of churchmen could turn  
with hope and confidence in the whole   
,west1 that of the ,roman ,pontiff4  ,i 
select the following points as bearing  
on our subject3--  ,in the year #ecf we 
have one of those rare instances in     
which the ,primacy of ,rome is seen     
acting on the ,eastern ,church1 but in  
perfect accordance with the ,canons and 
the ,patriarchal system4 ,the ,pope     
,agapetus had been compelled by         
,theodatus1 king of the ,goths1 to      

proceed to ,constantinople1 in order    
that he might1 if possible1 prevail upon
 ,justinian not to attempt the recovery 
of ,italy4 ,not having wherewith to pay 
the expenses of his journey1 he had been
 compelled to borrow money on the sacred
 vessels of ,st4 ,peter's ,church4 ,on  
arriving at ,constantinople he refused  
to see the new ,patriarch ,anthimus1 or 
to receive him to his communion1 both   
because he was suspected of heresy1 and 
had been translated from the ,see of    
,trebisond4 ,anthimus refused to appear 
in the ,council that the ,pope held at  
,constantinople to judge him2 so he was 
deposed1 and returned his pallium to the
 ,emperor4 ,mennas was elected in his   
stead by the ,emperor1 with the         
approbation of all the ,clergy and the  
people1 and the ,pope consecrated him in
 the church of ,st4 ,mary4 ,pope        
,agapetus wrote a synodal letter to     
,peter1 ,patriarch of ,jerusalem1 to    
acquaint him with what he had done in   
this ,council4 ',when we arrived1' said 

he1 'at the court of the ,emperor1 we   
found the ,see of ,constantinople       
usurped1 contrary to the ,canons1 by    
,anthimus ,bishop of ,trebisond4 ,he    
even refused to quit the error of       
,eutyches4 ,therefore1 after having     
waited for his repentance1 we declare   
him unworthy of the name of ,catholic   
and ,bishop1 until he fully receive the 
doctrine of the ,fathers4 ,you ought    
likewise to reject the rest whom the    
,holy ,see has condemned4 ,we are       
astonished that you approved this injury
 done to the ,see of ,constantinople1   
instead of informing us of it2 and we   
have repaired it by the ordination of   
,mennas1 who is the first of the        
,eastern ,church ordained by the hands  
of our ,see4'#aaa ,i find this ,pope    
presently called by the ,easterns1      
',father of fathers1' ',archbishop of   
ancient ,rome1' ',ecumenical            
,patriarch4' ,this latter title is also 
given to ,mennas4 ,i shall have more to 
say about it hereafter2 but it is       

remarkable that it was first given1 so  
far as we have any record1 to           
,dioscorus1#aab by a ,bishop in some    
complaint made to him at the            
,latrocinium of ,ephesus2 but ,justinian
 gives to the ,patriarch of             
,constantinople the title1 to the most  
holy and blessed ,archbishop of this    
royal city1 and ,ecumenical             
,patriarch4#aac  ,the ,pope shortly     
after dies at ,constantinople1 and a    
,council is held1 at which the          
,patriarch ,mennas presides1 the        
,bishops who had accompanied the defunct
 ,pope taking rank after him4 ,he writes
 to the ,patriarch ,peter of ,jerusalem1
 and informs him of the acts of this    
,council4 ,peter assembles his ,council 
at ,jerusalem3 the procedure which took 
place at ,constantinople was there found
 canonical1 and the deposition of       
,anthimus was confirmed4 ,here the same 
facts which prove the ,pope's ,primacy  
refute his ,supremacy3 and this is not  
an isolated incident1 but one link in a 

vast and uninterrupted chain of         
evidence4  ,i find in the laws of the   
,emperor ,justinian just at the same    
time1 looking at them merely as facts1 a
 full confirmation and recognition of   
the ,episcopal and ,patriarchal         
constitution of the ,church4 ,in #ech1  
the ,emperor1 in an edict1 addressing   
the ,patriarch ,mennas1 says1 ,wherefore
 we exhort you to assemble all the      
,bishops who are in this imperial city  
444 and oblige them all to anathematize 
by writing the impious ,origen 444 that 
your ,blessedness send copies of what   
you do on this subject to all the other 
,bishops1 and to all the superiors of   
monasteries4444 ,we have written as much
 to ,pope ,vigilius and the other       
,patriarchs4444 ,the ,patriarch ,mennas1
 and the ,bishops who were at           
,constantinople1 subscribed to this3 it 
was then sent to ,pope ,vigilius1 to    
,zoilus1 ,patriarch of ,alexandria1 to  
,ephrem of ,antioch1 and to ,peter of   
,jerusalem1 who all subscribed to it4444

 ,there are three great laws of the year
 #eaa1 of which the first regulates     
ordinations3 those of the ,bishops were 
still in the hands of the several       
clergy1 laity1 and ,metropolitans4444   
,the second law of the #ahth ,march     
enacts1 that the four ,general ,councils
 shall have the force of law1 that the  
,pope of ,rome is the first of all the  
,bishops1 and after him the ,bishop of  
,constantinople4--,bishops cannot be    
called to appear against their will     
before secular judges for any cause     
whatsoever4 ,if ,bishops of the same    
province have a difference together1    
they shall be judged by the             
,metropolitan1 accompanied by the other 
,bishops of the province1 and may appeal
 to the ,patriarch1 but not beyond4     
,likewise if an individual1 clerk or    
lay1 has a matter against his ,bishop4  
,the ,metropolitan can only be tried    
before the ,patriarch4--,simony is      
forbidden 444 still it is allowed to    
give for consecrations1 according to    

ancient customs1 in the following       
proportion4 ,the ,pope and the four     
,patriarchs of ,constantinople1         
,alexandria1 ,antioch and ,jerusalem1   
may give to the ,bishops and the ,clergy
 according to custom1 provided that it  
exceed not twenty pounds of gold4 ,the  
,metropolitans and the other ,bishops   
may give a hundred gold solidi for their
 enthronement1 c4#aad  ,so1 again3      
,therefore let the most holy ,patriarchs
 of each ,diocese propose these things  
to the most holy ,churches under them1  
and make known to the ,metropolitans1   
most beloved of ,god1 what we have      
ratified4 ,let these again set it forth 
in the most holy ,metropolitan ,church1 
and notify it to the ,bishops under     
them4 ,but let each of these propose it 
in his own ,church1 that no one in our  
commonwealth be ignorant of it4#aae  ,we
 charge the most blessed ,archbishops   
and ,patriarchs1 that is1 of elder      
,rome1 and ,constantinople1 and         
,alexandria1 and ,theopolis and         

,jerusalem4#aaf  ,but ,pope ,pelagius   
,i4 himself says3 ,as often as any doubt
 ariseth to any concerning an ,universal
 ,council1 in order to receive account  
of what they do not understand--let them
 recur to the ,apostolical              
,sees4--,whosoever then is divided from 
the ,apostolical ,sees1 there is no     
doubt that he is in schism4#aag  ,st4   
,augustin had said long before1 ,what   
hath the ,see of the ,roman ,church done
 to thee1 in which ,peter sat1 in which 
,anastasius sitteth now3 or of the      
,church of ,jerusalem1 in which ,james  
sat1 and where now ,john sitteth3 with  
which we are joined in ,catholic unity1 
and from which ye in impious fury have  
separated4#aah  ,we now come to the dark
 and sad history of ,pope ,vigilius4    
,and here ,i am glad that another can   
speak for me4 ,bossuet says3 ,the acts  
of the ,second ,council of              
,constantinople1 the fifth general1     
under ,pope ,vigilius and the ,emperor  
,justinian1 will prove that the decrees 

of the third and fourth ,councils were  
understood in the same sense by the     
fifth as we have understood them4 ,and  
this ,council received the account of   
them near at hand1 and transmitted it to
 us4#aai  ,the three chapters were the  
point in question2 that is1 respecting  
,theodore of ,mopsuestia1 ,theodoret's  
writings against ,cyril1 and the letter 
of ,ibas of ,edessa to ,maris the       
,persian4 ,the question was whether that
 letter had been approved in the        
,council of ,chalcedon4 ,so much was    
admitted that it had been read there1   
and that ,ibas1 after anathematizing    
,nestorius1 had been received by the    
,council4 ,some contended that his      
person only was spared2 others that his 
letter also was approved4 ,thus inquiry 
was made at the fifth ,council how      
writings on the faith were wont to be   
approved in former ,councils4 ,the acts 
of the third and fourth ,council1 those 
which we have mentioned above respecting
 the letter of ,st4 ,cyril and of ,st4  

,leo1 were set forth4 ,then the holy    
,council declared--',it is plain1 from  
what has been recited1 in what manner   
the holy ,councils are wont to approve  
what is brought before them4 ,for1 great
 as was the dignity of those holy men   
who wrote the letters recited1 yet they 
did not approve their letters simply or 
without inquiry1 nor without taking     
cognisance that they were in all things 
agreeable to the exposition and doctrine
 of the holy ,fathers1 with which they  
were compared4' ,but the acts proved    
that this course was not pursued in the 
case of the letter of ,ibas2 they       
inferred1 therefore1 most justly1 that  
that letter had not been approved4 ,so1 
then1 it is certain1 from the third and 
fourth ,councils1 the fifth so declaring
 and understanding it1 that letters     
approved by the ,apostolic ,see1 such as
 was that of ,cyril1 or even proceeding 
from it1 as that of ,leo1 were received 
by the holy ,councils not simply1 nor   
without inquiry4  ,pope ,vigilius       

afterwards1 when consenting to this     
,council1 acknowledges that the letter  
of ,st4 ,leo was not approved at the    
,council of ,chalcedon until it had been
 examined and found conformable to the  
faith of the three preceding ,councils2 
and this avowal is the more important in
 the mouth of a ,pope4#abj  ,again1 in  
the same fifth ,council the acts against
 the letter of ,nestorius are read1 in  
which the ,fathers of ,ephesus plainly  
pronounce1 'that the letter of          
,nestorius is in no respect agreeable to
 the faith which was set forth at       
,nicea4' ,so this letter also was       
rejected1 not simply1 but1 as was       
equitable1 after examination2 and ,ibas 
condemned1 who stated that ,nestorius   
had been rejected by the ,council of    
,ephesus without examination and        
inquiry4  ,the holy ,fathers proceed to 
do what the ,bishops at ,chalcedon would
 have done1 had they undertaken the     
examination of ,ibas' letter4 ,they     
compare the letters with the acts of    

,ephesus and ,chalcedon4 ,the holy      
,council declared--',the comparison made
 proves1 beyond a doubt1 that the letter
 which ,ibas is said to have written is1
 in all respects1 opposed to the        
definition of the right faith1 which the
 ,council of ,chalcedon set forth4 ,all 
the ,bishops cried out1 ',we all say    
this2 the letter is heretical4' ,thus1  
therefore1 is it proved by the fifth    
,council that our holy ,fathers in      
,ecumenical ,councils pronounce the     
letters read1 whether of ,catholics or  
heretics1 or even of ,roman ,pontiffs1  
to be orthodox or heretical1 according  
to the same procedure1 after legitimate 
cognisance1 the truth being inquired    
into1 and then cleared up2 and upon     
these premises judgment given4  ,what6  
you will say1 with no distinction1 and  
with minds equally inclined to both     
parties8 ,indeed we have said1 and shall
 often repeat1 that there was a         
presumption in favour of the decrees of 
orthodox ,pontiffs2 but in ,ecumenical  

,councils1 where judgment is to be      
passed in matter of faith1 that they    
were bound no longer to act upon        
presumption1 but on the truth clearly   
and thoroughly ascertained4  ,such were 
the acts of the fifth ,council4 ,this it
 learnt from the third and fourth       
,councils1 and approved2 and in this    
argument we have brought at once in     
favour of our opinion the decrees of the
 ,ecumenical ,councils of ,ephesus1     
,chalcedon1 and the second              
,constantinopolitan4#aba  ,the point    
here taken up by ,bossuet1 and proved   
upon indisputable authority1 is of the  
greatest importance1 viz4 that the      
decree of a ,roman ,pontiff1 de fide1   
and he1 perhaps1 the greatest of the    
whole number1 was judged by a ,general  
,council1 and only admitted when it was 
found conformable to antiquity4 ,it     
settles1 in fact1 the whole question1   
that the ,bishop of ,rome is indeed     
possessed of the ,first ,see1 and       
,primate of all ,christendom2 but that  

he is not the sole depository of        
,christ's power in the ,church1 which   
is1 in truth1 the ,papal idea1 laid down
 by ,st4 ,gregory the ,seventh1 and     
acted upon since4 ,the difference       
between these two ideas is the          
difference between the ,church of the   
,fathers and the present ,latin         
,communion in the matter of ,church     
government1 in which they are wide as   
the poles asunder4  ,the history of     
,pope ,vigilius further confirms the    
truth of what we have said4 ,bossuet    
proceeds3 ,in the same fifth ,council   
the following acts support our cause4   
,the ,emperor ,justinian desired that   
the question concerning the             
above-mentioned three ,chapters should  
be considered in the ,church4 ,he       
therefore sent for ,pope ,vigilius to   
,constantinople4 ,there he not long     
after assembled a ,council4 ,the        
,orientals thought it of great moment   
that these ,chapters should be          
condemned1 against the ,nestorians1 who 

were raising their heads to defend them2
 ,vigilius1 with the ,occidentals1      
feared lest thus occasion should be     
taken to destroy the authority of the   
,council of ,chalcedon2 because it was  
admitted that ,theodoret and ,ibas had  
been received in that ,council1 whilst  
,theodore1 though named1 was let go     
without any mark of censure4 ,though    
then both parties easily agreed as to   
the substance of the faith1 yet the     
question had entirely respect to the    
faith1 it being feared by the one party 
lest the ,nestorian1 by the other lest  
the ,eutychean1 enemies of the ,council 
of ,chalcedon should prevail4  ,from    
this struggle many accusations have been
 brought against ,vigilius1 which have  
nothing to do with us4 ,i am persuaded  
that everything was done by ,vigilius   
with the best intent1 the ,westerns not 
enduring the condemnation of the        
,chapters1 and things tending to a      
schism4 ,the facts here alluded to1 but 
for obvious reasons avoided by ,bossuet1

 are as follows1 very briefly4 ,vigilius
 on the #aath of ,april1 #edh1 issues   
his ',judicatum' against the three      
,chapters1 saving the authority of the  
,council of ,chalcedon4 ,thereupon the  
,bishops of ,africa1 ,illyria1 and      
,dalmatia1 with two of his own          
confidential ,deacons1 withdraw from his
 communion4 ,in the year #eea1 the      
,bishops of ,africa1 assembled in       
,council1 excommunicate him1 for having 
condemned the three ,chapters4 ,at      
length the ,pope publicly withdraws his 
',judicatum4' ,while the ,council is    
sitting at ,constantinople he publishes 
his ',constitutum1' in which he condemns
 certain propositions of ,theodore1 but 
spares his person2 the same respecting  
,theodoret2 but with respect to ,ibas1  
he declares his letter was pronounced   
orthodox by the ,council of ,chalcedon4 
,bossuet goes on3 however this may be1  
so much is clear that ,vigilius1 though 
invited1 declined being present at the  
,council2 that nevertheless the ,council

 was held without him2 that he published
 a ',constitutum' in which he           
disapproved of what ,theodore1          
,theodoret1 and ,ibas were said to have 
written against the faith2 but decreed  
that their name should be spared1       
because they were considered to have    
been received by the fourth ,council1 or
 to have died in the communion of the   
,church1 and to be reserved to the      
judgment of ,god4 ,concerning the letter
 of ,ibas1 he published the following1  
that1 understood in the best and most   
pious sense1 it was blameless2 and      
concerning the three ,chapters          
generally1 he ordered that after his    
present declaration ,ecclesiastics      
should move no further question4  ,such 
was the decree of ,vigilius1 issued upon
 the authority with which he was        
invested4 ,and the ,council1 after his  
constitution1 both raised a question    
about the three ,chapters1 and decided  
that question was properly raised       
concerning the dead1 and that the letter

 of ,ibas was manifestly heretical and  
,nestorian1 and contrary in all things  
to the faith of ,chalcedon1 and that    
they were altogether accursed1 who      
defended the impious ,theodore of       
,mopsuestia1 or the writings of         
,theodoret against ,cyril1 or the       
impious letter of ,ibas defending the   
tenets of ,nestorius2 and who did not   
anathematize it1 but said it was        
correct4  ,in these latter words they   
seemed not even to spare ,vigilius1     
although they did not mention his name4 
,and it is certain their decree was     
confirmed by ,pelagius the ,second1     
,gregory the ,great1 and other ,roman   
,pontiffs4444 ,these things prove1 that 
in a matter of the utmost importance1   
disturbing the whole ,church1 and       
seeming to belong to the faith1 the     
decrees of sacred ,councils prevailed   
over the decrees of ,pontiffs1 and that 
the letter of ,ibas1 though defended by 
a judgment of the ,roman ,pontiff1 could
 nevertheless be proscribed as          

heretical4  ,compare with this history  
the following remark of ,de ,maistre1   
that ,bishops separated from the ,pope1 
and in contradiction with him1 are      
superior to him1 is a proposition to    
which one does all the honour possible  
in calling it only extravagance4#abb    
,after all this ,fleury says3 ,at last  
the ,pope ,vigilius resigned himself to 
the advice of the ,council1 and six     
months afterwards wrote a letter to the 
,patriarch ,eutychius1 wherein he       
confesses that he has been wanting in   
charity in dividing from his brethren4  
,he adds1 that one ought not to be      
ashamed to retract1 when one recognises 
the truth1 and brings forward the       
example of ,st4 ,augustin4 ,he says1    
that1 after having better examined the  
matter of the three chapters1 he finds  
them worthy of condemnation4 ',we       
recognise for our brethren and          
colleagues all those who have condemned 
them1 and annul by this writing all that
 has been done by us or by others for   

the defence of the three chapters4'#abc 
,nor can ,i think it a point of little  
moment that ,bishops of ,rome were at   
different times deposed or              
excommunicated by other ,bishops4 ,as in
 the second century the ,eastern        
,bishops disregard ,st4 ,victor's       
excommunication respecting ,easter2 and 
in the third ,st4 ,firmilian in ,asia1  
and ,st4 ,cyprian in ,africa1 disregard 
,st4 ,stephen's excommunication in the  
matter of rebaptizing heretics2 so when 
the ,bishops of the ,patriarchate of    
,antioch found that ,pope ,julius had   
received to communion ,st4 ,athanasius1 
and others whom they had deposed1 they  
proceeded to depose him1 with ,hosius   
and the rest4#abd ,this was in the      
fourth century4 ,in the fifth1          
,dioscorus1 at the ,latrocinium of      
,ephesus1 attempts to excommunicate ,st4
 ,leo4 ,in the sixth1 as we have just   
seen1 the ,bishops of ,africa1 ,illyria1
 and ,dalmatia1 all of the ,west1       
separate ,pope ,vigilius from their     

communion1 and the former afterwards    
solemnly excommunicate him4 ,it matters 
not that in all these cases the ,bishops
 were wrong2 ,i quote these acts merely 
to prove that they esteemed the ,bishop 
of ,rome the first of all ,bishops      
indeed1 yet subject to the ,canons like 
themselves1 and only of equal rank4 ,for
 on the present ,papal theory1 such an  
act1 as we have seen le ,pere           
,lacordaire affirm1 would be merely     
suicidal1--pure insanity4 ,it is in     
utter contradiction to the notion of an 
ecclesiastical monarchy4  ,in like      
manner we find portions of the ,church1 
as that of ,constantinople1 again and   
again out of communion with the ,roman  
,pontiff1 but they do not therefore     
cease to be parts of the true ,church4  
,so ,gieseler states that in consequence
 of jealousies about the condemning the 
three ,chapters the ,archbishops of     
,aquileia1 with their ,bishops1 were out
 of communion with ,rome from ,a4,d4    
#efh to #fih4abe ,a reconciliation takes

 place1 and communion is renewed4 ,facts
 of the same nature1 and applying       
closely to our own position1 are        
mentioned by ,bossuet2#abf viz4 that the
 ,spanish ,bishops1 not having been     
present at1 nor invited to1 the sixth   
,general ,council1 did not receive it as
 ,ecumenical1 though invited to do so by
 the ,pope of the day1 until they had   
themselves examined its acts1 and found 
them accordant with previous ,councils4 
,and as to the second ,nicene1 or       
seventh ,general ,council1 the ,gallic  
,bishops1 with ,charlemagne at their    
head1 long refused to receive it1 though
 supported by the ,pope1 because neither
 they nor other ,occidentals were       
present at it4 ,nor were they in the    
mean time held as heretical or          
schismatical1 though they differed on a 
point of the greatest moment1 that is1  
the interpretation of the precepts of   
the first table1 because they seemed to 
inquire into the matter with a good     
intention1 not with obstinate party     

spirit4#abg ,yet ,pope ,adrian had      
himself written against them4  ,now all 
these various facts1 from the first     
,nicene ,council1 converge towards one  
view1 for which1 ,i think1 there is as  
full evidence as for most facts of      
history1--that the ,pope1 to the time of
 ,st4 ,gregory the ,great1 and indeed   
long afterwards1 was but the first of   
the ,patriarchs1 who1 in their own      
,patriarchates1 enjoyed a co-ordinate   
and equal authority with his in the     
,west4 ,i suppose ,de ,maistre          
acknowledges as much in his own way1    
when he says1 ,the ,pope is invested    
with five very distinct characters2 for 
he is ,bishop of ,rome1 ,metropolitan of
 the ,suburbican ,churches1 ,primate of 
,italy1 ,patriarch of the ,west1 and1   
lastly1 ,sovereign ,pontiff4 ,the ,pope 
has never exercised over the other      
,patriarchates any powers save those    
resulting from this last2 so that except
 in some affair of high importance1 some
 striking abuse1 or some appeal in the  

greater causes1 the ,sovereign ,pontiffs
 mixed little in the ecclesiastical     
administration of the ,eastern          
,churches4 ,and this was a great        
misfortune1 not only for them1 but for  
the states where they were established4 
,it may be said that the ,greek ,church1
 from its origin1 carried in its bosom a
 germ of division1 which only completely
 developed itself at the end of twelve  
centuries1 but which always existed     
under forms less striking1 less         
decisive1 and so endurable4#abh ,the    
confession of one who travesties        
antiquity so outrageously as ,de        
,maistre is curious at least3--and now  
let us proceed to the testimony of ,st4 
,gregory4  ,and1 assuredly1 if there was
 any ,pontiff who1 like ,st4 ,leo1 held 
the most strong and deeply-rooted       
convictions as to the prerogatives of   
the ,roman see1 it was ,st4 ,gregory4   
,his voluminous correspondence with     
,bishops1 and the most notable persons  
throughout the world1 represents him to 

us as guarding and superintending the   
affairs of the whole ,church from the   
watch-tower of ,st4 ,peter1 the loftiest
 of all4 ,let one assertion of his prove
 this4 ,writing to ,natalis1 ,bishop of 
,salona in ,dalmatia1 he says1 ,after   
the letters of my predecessor and my    
own1 in the matter of ,honoratus the    
,archdeacon1 were sent to your          
,holiness1 in despite of the sentence of
 us both1 the above-mentioned ,honoratus
 was deprived of his rank4 ,had either  
of the four ,patriarchs done this1 so   
great an act of contumacy could not have
 been passed over without the most      
grievous scandal4 ,however1 as your     
brotherhood has since returned to your  
duty1 ,i take notice neither of the     
injury done to me1 nor of that to my    
predecessor4#abi ,the following words in
 another letter will elucidate his      
meaning here4 ,as to what he says1 that 
he 7a ,bishop7 is subject to the        
,apostolical ,see1 ,i know not what     
,bishop is not subject to it1 if any    

fault be found in ,bishops4 ,but when no
 fault requires it1 all are equal       
according to the estimation of          
humility4#acj ,and again1 writing to his
 own ,defensor in ,sicily1 a part of the
 ,church most under his own control1 ,i 
am informed that if any one has a cause 
against any clerks1 you throw a slight  
upon their ,bishops1 and cause them to  
appear in your own court4 ,if this be   
so1 we expressly order you to presume to
 do so no more1 because beyond doubt it 
is very unseemly4 ,for if his own       
jurisdiction is not preserved to each   
,bishop1 what else results but that the 
order of the ,church is thrown into     
confusion by us1 who ought to guard     
it4#aca ,gieseler says3 ,they 7the      
,roman ,bishops7 maintained1 that not   
only the right of the highest           
ecclesiastical tribunal in the ,west    
belonged to them1 but the supervision of
 orthodoxy1 and maintenance of the      
,church's laws1 in the whole ,church2   
and they based these claims1 still1 it  

is true1 at times1 upon imperial edicts1
 and decrees of ,councils1 but most     
commonly upon the privileges granted to 
,peter by the ,lord4#acb ,and ,i suppose
 if the ,primacy of ,christendom has any
 real meaning1 it must mean this1 that  
in case of necessity1 such as infraction
 of the ,canons1 an appeal may be made  
to it4 ,so undoubtedly ,st4 ,gregory    
understood his own rights4 ,what his    
ordinary jurisdiction was1 ,fleury thus 
tells us3--,the ,popes ordained clergy  
only for the ,roman 7local7 ,church1 but
 they gave ,bishops to the greater part 
of the ,churches of ,italy4#acc ,st4    
,gregory entered into this detail only  
for the ,churches which specially       
depended on the ,holy ,see1 and for that
 reason were named suburbican2 that is1 
those of the southern part of ,italy1   
where he was sole ,archbishop1 those of 
,sicily1 and the other islands1 though  
they had ,metropolitans4 ,but it will   
not be found that he exercised the same 
immediate power in the provinces        

depending on ,milan and ,aquileia1 nor  
in ,spain and the ,gauls4 ,it is true   
that in the ,gauls he had his vicar1 who
 was the ,bishop of ,arles1 as was      
likewise the ,bishop of ,thessalonica   
for ,western ,illyricum4 ,the ,pope     
further took care of the ,churches of   
,africa1 that ,councils should be held  
there1 and the ,canons maintained2 but  
we do not find that he exercised        
particular jurisdiction over any that   
belonged to the ,eastern empire1 that is
 to say1 upon the four patriarchates of 
,alexandria1 ,antioch1 ,jerusalem1 and  
,constantinople4 ,he was in communion   
and interchange of letters with all     
these ,patriarchs1 without entering into
 the particular management of the       
,churches depending on them1 except it  
were in some extraordinary case4 ,the   
multitude of ,st4 ,gregory's letters    
gives us opportunity to remark all these
 distinctions1 in order not to extend   
indifferently rights which he only      
exercised over certain ,churches4#acd   

,now in ,st4 ,gregory's time a          
discussion arose1 which served to draw  
forth statements on his part most       
remarkably bearing on the present claims
 of the ,see of ,rome4 ,in the year #ehi
 ,gregory1 ,patriarch of ,antioch1      
accused of a grievous crime1 appealed to
 the ,emperor and his ,council4 ,he     
accordingly went to ,constantinople1 and
 was tried4 ,all the ,patriarchs of the 
,east in person1 or by their deputies1  
attended this trial1 the ,senate        
likewise1 and many ,metropolitans2 and  
the cause having been examined in       
several sittings1 ,gregory was absolved1
 and the accuser flogged through the    
city and banished4 ,at this ,council    
,john the ,faster1 ,patriarch of        
,constantinople1 took the title of      
,universal ,bishop4 ,immediately the    
,roman ,pontiff ,pelagius heard of it1  
he sent letters by which1 of ,st4       
,peter's authority1 he annulled the acts
 of this ,council1 save as to the       
absolution of ,gregory1 and ordered his 

deacon1 the ,nuncio1 not to attend the  
mass with ,john4 ,but he left the       
contest about the name ,ecumenical1 or  
,universal1 ,bishop or ,patriarch1 to   
his successor ,gregory4 ,we have many   
letters of ,gregory on the subject1 of  
which ,i will give extracts4 ,the ,pope 
foresaw the great danger there was that 
the ,patriarch of ,constantinople would 
reduce completely under him the other   
three ,eastern ,patriarchs1 and perhaps 
attempt to gain the ,primacy of the     
whole ,church2 for this1 among other    
reasons1 neither ,st4 ,leo1 nor any of  
his successors1 had ever allowed in the 
,west the #bhth ,canon of ,chalcedon1   
giving him the next place to ,rome4 ,and
 now this title of ,ecumenical1 combined
 with the fact that the ,bishop of that 
,see was1 from his position1 the        
intermediary between all the ,bishops of
 the ,east and the imperial power1      
seemed to point directly to such a      
consummation4 ,he was the natural       
president of a ,council continually     

sitting at ,constantinople1 which might 
be said to lead and give the initiative 
to the whole ,east4 ,accordingly ,st4   
,gregory appears in this matter the     
great defender of the ,patriarchal      
equilibrium4 ,gregory to ,eulogius1     
,bishop of ,alexandria1 and ,anastasius1
 ,bishop of ,antioch4#ace444 ,as your   
venerable ,holiness is aware1 this name 
,universal was offered by the holy      
,synod of ,chalcedon to the ,pontiff of 
the ,apostolic ,see1 a post which by    
,god's providence ,i fill4 ,but no one  
of my predecessors ever consented to use
 so profane a term1 because plainly1 if 
a single ,patriarch is called           
,universal1 the name of ,patriarch is   
taken from the rest4 ,but far1 far be   
this from the mind of a ,christian1 that
 any one should wish to claim to himself
 that by which the honour of his        
brethren may seem to be in any degree   
diminished4 ,since1 therefore1 we are   
unwilling to receive this honour when   
offered to us1 consider how shameful it 

is that any one has wished violently to 
usurp it to himself4 ,wherefore let your
 ,holiness in your letters never call   
any one ,universal1 lest in offering    
undue honour to another you should      
deprive yourself of that which is your  
due4444 ,let us1 therefore1 render      
thanks to ,him1 who1 dissolving         
enmities1 hath caused in ,his flesh1    
that in the whole world there should be 
one flock and one fold under ,himself   
the one ,shepherd4444 ,for because he is
 near of whom it is written1 ',he is    
king over all the children of pride1'   
what ,i cannot utter without great      
grief1 our brother and fellow-,bishop   
,john1 despising the ,apostolic         
precepts1 the rules of the ,fathers1    
endeavours by this appellation to go    
before him in pride4444 ,so that he     
endeavours to claim the whole to        
himself1 and aims by the pride of this  
pompous language to subjugate to himself
 all the members of ,christ1 which are  
joined together to the one sole head1   

that is1 ,christ4444 ,by the favour of  
the ,lord we must strive with all our   
strength1 and take care lest by one     
poisonous sentence the living members of
 ,christ's body be destroyed4 ,for if   
this is allowed to be said freely1 the  
honour of all the ,patriarchs is denied4
 ,and when1 perchance1 he who is termed 
,universal perishes in error1 presently 
no ,bishop is found to have remained in 
the state of truth4 ,wherefore it is    
your duty firmly1 and without prejudice1
 to preserve the ,churches as you       
received them1 and let this attempt of  
diabolic usurpation find nothing of its 
own in you4 ,stand firm1 stand fearless2
 presume not ever either to give or     
receive letters with this false title of
 ,universal4 ,keep from the pollution of
 this pride all the ,bishops subject to 
your care1 that the whole ,church may   
recognise you for ,patriarchs1 not only 
by good works1 but by your genuine      
authority4 ,but if perchance adversity  
follow1 persisting with one mind1 we are

 bound to show1 even by dying1 that we  
love not any special gain of our own to 
the general loss4 ,so1 likewise to the  
,bishops of ,illyricum he says--,because
 as the end of this world is            
approaching1 the enemy of the human race
 hath appeared in anticipation1 to have 
for his precursors through this name of 
pride1 those very priests who ought by a
 good and humble life to resist him2 ,i 
therefore exhort and advise that no one 
of you ever give countenance to this    
name1 ever agree to it1 ever write it1  
ever receive a writing wherein it is    
contained1 or add his subscription2 but1
 as it behoves ministers of ,almighty   
,god1 keep himself clean from such-like 
poisonous infection1 and give no place  
within him to the crafty lier-in-wait2  
since this is done to the injury and    
disruption of the whole ,church1 and1 as
 we have said1 in contempt of all of    
you4 ,for if1 as he thinks1 one is      
universal1 it remains that you are not  
,bishops4#acf ,to ,sabinianus1 then his 

,deacon1 afterwards his successor--,for 
to consent to this nefarious name1 is   
nothing else but to lose our faith4#acg 
,gregory to the ,emperor                
,mauricius#ach444 ,concerning which     
matter1 my ,lord's affection has        
enjoined me in his commands1 saying that
 scandal ought not to grow between us1  
for the term of a frivolous name4 ,but  
,i beg your ,imperial ,piety to         
consider1 that some frivolities are very
 harmless1 some highly injurious4 ,when 
,antichrist at his coming calls himself 
,god1 will it not be very frivolous1 but
 yet cause great destruction8 ,if we    
look at the amount of what is said1 it  
is but two syllables1 7,deum17 if at the
 weight of iniquity1 it is universal    
destruction4 ,but ,i confidently affirm 
that whoever calls himself1 or desires  
to be called1 ,universal ,priest1 in his
 pride goes before ,antichrist2 because 
through pride he prefers himself to the 
rest4 ,and he is led into error by no   
dissimilar pride1 because like that     

perverse one1 he wishes to appear ,god  
over all men2 so1 whoever he is who     
desires to be called sole ,priest1 he   
lifts up himself above all other        
,priests4 ,but since the ,truth says1   
'every one who exalteth himself shall be
 abased1' ,i know that the more any     
pride inflates itself1 the sooner it    
bursts4  ,gregory to the ,emperor       
,mauritius4#aci 444 ,but since it is not
 my cause1 but ,god's1 and since not ,i 
only1 but the whole ,church1 is thrown  
into confusion1 since sacred laws1 since
 venerable synods1 since the very       
commands even of our ,lord ,jesus       
,christ are disturbed by the invention  
of this haughty and pompous language1   
let the most pious ,emperor lance the   
wound1 c4444 ,for to all who know the   
,gospel1 it is manifest that the charge 
of the whole ,church was entrusted by   
the voice of the ,lord to the holy      
,apostle ,peter1 chief of all the       
,apostles4 ,for to him is said1 ,peter1 
lovest thou me8 ,feed my sheep4 ,to him 

is said1 ,behold1 ,satan hath desired to
 sift you1 c4 ,to him is said1 ,thou art
 ,peter1 c4 ,lo he hath received the    
keys of the kingdom of heaven1 the power
 of binding and loosing is given to him1
 the care of the whole ,church is       
committed to him1 and the ,primacy1 and 
yet he is not called ,universal         
,apostle4 ,and that holy man1 my        
fellow-priest1 ,john1 endeavours to be  
called ,universal ,bishop4444 ,do ,i1 in
 this matter1 most pious ,lord1 defend  
my own cause8 is it a private injury    
that ,i pursue8 the cause of ,almighty  
,god1 the cause of the universal        
,church4 ,who is he1 who1 in violation  
of the statutes of the ,gospel1 in      
violation of the decrees of ,canons1    
presumes to usurp a new name to himself8
 ,would that he who desires to be called
 universal may exist himself without    
diminution to others6444 ,if1 then1 any 
one claims to himself that name in that 
,church1 as in the judgment of all good 
men he has done1 the whole ,church      

7which ,god forbid67 falls from its     
place1 when he who is called ,universal 
falls4 ,but far from ,christian hearts  
be that blasphemous name1 in which the  
honour of all ,priests is taken away1   
while it is madly arrogated by one to   
himself6 ,certainly1 to do honour to the
 blessed ,peter1 chief of the ,apostles1
 this was offered to the ,roman ,pontiff
 by the venerable ,synod of ,chalcedon4 
,but no one of them ever consented to   
use this singular appellation1 that all 
,priests might not be deprived of their 
due honour by something peculiar being  
given to one4 ,how is it1 then1 that we 
seek not the glory of this name1 though 
offered us1 yet another presumes to     
claim it1 though not offered8  ,john had
 been succeeded by ,cyriacus at         
,constantinople3 and he writes          
further1#adj ,gregory to ,anastasius1   
,bishop of ,antioch4444 ,i thought it   
not worth while on account of a profane 
appellation to delay receiving the      
synodical letter of our ,brother and    

,fellow-,priest ,cyriacus1 that ,i might
 not disturb the unity of the holy      
,church3 nevertheless1 ,i have made a   
point of admonishing him respecting that
 same superstitious and haughty         
appellation1 saying that he could not   
have peace with me unless he corrected  
the pride of the aforesaid expression1  
which the first ,apostate invented4 ,but
 you should not call this cause of no   
importance2 because1 if we bear this    
patiently1 we corrupt the faith of the  
whole ,church4 ,for you know how many1  
not only heretics1 but even heresiarchs1
 have come forth from the ,church of    
,constantinople4 ,and1 not to speak of  
the injury done to your honour1 if one  
,bishop be called ,universal1 the whole 
,church tumbles to pieces1 if that one1 
being universal1 falls4#ada ,but far be 
such folly1 far be such trifling1 from  
my ears4 ,but ,i trust in the ,almighty 
,lord1 that what ,he hath promised1 ,he 
will quickly perform3 every one that    
exalteth himself shall be abased4 ,in   

another most interesting letter he      
communicates to the ,bishop of          
,alexandria1 that while the nation of   
the ,english1 placed in a corner of the 
world1 was remaining up to this time in 
unbelief1 worshipping stocks and stones1
 by the help of your prayers ,i         
determined that ,i ought to send over to
 it a monk of my monastery1 by the      
blessing of ,god1 to preach there4      
,after permission from me1 he has been  
made a ,bishop by the ,bishops of       
,germany1 and1 assisted by their        
kindness1 reached the aforesaid nation  
at the end of the world2 and even at    
this present moment ,i have received    
accounts of his safety and labours2 for 
either he1 or those who have gone over  
with him1 are distinguished among that  
nation by so great miracles1 that they  
seem to imitate the powers of ,apostles 
by the signs which they show forth4 ,on 
this last feast of the ,lord's ,nativity
 more than ten thousand ,english are    
reported to have been baptized by this  

our brother and fellow-bishop1 which ,i 
mention that you may know what you are  
doing among the people of ,alexandria by
 your voice1 and in the ends of the     
world by your prayers4#adb--,your       
,blessedness has also taken pains to    
tell me that you no longer write to     
certain persons those proud names1 which
 have sprung from the root of vanity1   
and you address me1 saying1 as you      
commanded1 which word command ,i beg you
 to remove from my ears1 because ,i know
 who ,i am1 and who you are4 ,for in    
rank you are my ,brother1 in character  
my ,father4 ,i did not1 therefore1      
command1 but took pains to point out    
what ,i thought advantageous4 ,i do not1
 however1 find that your ,blessedness   
was willing altogether to observe the   
very thing ,i pressed upon you4 ,for ,i 
said that you should not write any such 
thing either to me or to any one else1  
and lo6 in the heading of your letter1  
directed to me1 the very person who     
forbad it1 you set that haughty         

appellation1 calling me ,universal      
,pope4 ,which ,i beg your ,holiness1 who
 are most agreeable to me1 to do no     
more1 because whatever is given to      
another more than reason requires is so 
much taken away from yourself4 ,it is   
not in appellations1 but in character1  
that ,i wish to advance4 ,nor do ,i     
consider that an honour by which ,i     
acknowledge that my brethren lose their 
own4 ,for my honour is the honour of the
 ,universal ,church4 ,my honour is the  
unimpaired vigour of my brethren4 ,then 
am ,i truly honoured1 when the true     
honour is not denied to each one in his 
degree4 ,for if your ,holiness calls me 
,universal ,pope1 you deny that you are 
yourself what you admit me to be1       
,universal4 ,but this ,god forbid4 ,away
 with words which inflate vanity1 and   
wound charity4 ,indeed1 in the holy     
,synod of ,chalcedon1 and by the        
,fathers subsequently1 your ,holiness   
knows this was offered to my            
predecessors4 ,yet none of them chose   

ever to use this term2 that1 while in   
this world they entertained affection   
for the honour of all ,priests1 in the  
hands of ,almighty ,god they might guard
 their own4  ,as to what ,gregory says  
about the ,council of ,chalcedon        
offering this title1 ,thomassin         
says1#adc ,it authorized at least by its
 silence the title of ,ecumenical       
7,patriarch71 which was given to ,pope  
,leo in several requests there read4 ,it
 appears these requests really were the 
complaints of two ,alexandrian ,deacons 
against ,dioscorus4#add ,how very       
different it was to pass over without   
reprobating a title bestowed in         
documents which came before it1 from    
itself conferring that title1 is plain  
at once4 ,in just the same way it had   
been given at the ,latrocinium to       
,dioscorus4 ,however1 the title         
,ecumenical has been constantly since1  
and is now1 borne by the ,patriarch of  
,constantinople2 no doubt a very        
innocent meaning may be given to it4    

,the remarkable thing is1 that ,gregory 
has pointed out in such precise         
unmistakeable language a certain power  
and claim1 which he inferred1 rightly or
 wrongly1 would be set up on this title 
,ecumenical1 and which he pronounces to 
be a corruption of the whole            
constitution of the ,church4  ,perhaps1 
however1 the most remarkable passage    
remains yet to be quoted4 ,it is in a   
letter to the ,patriarch ,john himself4 
,consider1 ,i pray you1 that by this    
rash presumption the peace of the whole 
,church is disturbed1 and the grace1    
poured out upon all in common1          
contradicted4 ,and in this1 indeed1 you 
yourself will be able to increase just  
so much as you purpose in your own mind2
 and become so much the greater1 as you 
restrain yourself from usurping a proud 
and foolish name4 ,and you profit in the
 degree that you do not study to        
arrogate to yourself by derogating from 
your brethren4 ,therefore1 most dear    
brother1 with all your heart love       

humility1 by which the harmony of all   
the brethren and the unity of the holy  
universal ,church1 may be preserved4    
,surely the ,apostle ,paul1 hearing some
 say1 ,i am of ,paul1 ,i of ,apollos1 ,i
 of ,cephas1 exclaimed1 in exceeding    
horror at this rending of the ,lord's   
,body1 by which ,his members attached   
themselves1 as it were1 to other heads1 
saying1 ,was ,paul crucified for you8 or
 were ye baptized in the name of ,paul8 
,if he then rejected the members of the 
,lord's ,body being subjected to certain
 heads1 as it were1 besides ,christ1 and
 that even to ,apostles themselves1 as  
leaders of parts1 what will you say to  
,christ1 who is1 as you know1 the ,head 
of the ,universal ,church1 in the       
examination of the last judgement1--you1
 who endeavour to subject to yourself   
under the name of ,universal1 all ,his  
members8 ,who1 ,i say1 in this perverse 
name1 is set forth for imitation but he1
 who despised the legions of angels     
joined as companions to himself1 and    

endeavoured to rise to a height         
unapproached by all1 that he might seem 
to be subject to none1 and be alone     
superior to all4 ,who also said1 ',i    
will ascend into heaven3 ,i will exalt  
my throne above the stars of ,god3 ,i   
will sit also upon the mount of the     
congregation1 on the sides of the       
,north4 ,i will ascend above the height 
of the clouds3 ,i will be like the ,most
 ,high4'  ,for what are all your        
brethren1 the ,bishops of the ,universal
 ,church1 but the stars of heaven8      
,whose life and language together shine 
amid the sins and errors of men1 as     
among the shades of night4 ,and while   
you seek to set yourself over these by a
 proud term1 and to tread under foot    
their name1 in comparison with your own1
 what else do you say1 but ',i will     
ascend into the heaven4 ,i will exalt my
 throne above the stars of ,god4' ,are  
not all the ,bishops clouds1 who rain   
down the words of their preaching1 and  
shine with the light of good works8 ,and

 while your brotherhood despises them1  
and endeavours to put them under you1   
what else do you say but this1 which is 
said by the old enemy3 ',i will ascend  
above the heights of the clouds8' ,and  
when ,i see all these things with       
sorrow1 and fear the secret judgments of
 ,god1 my tears increase1 my heart      
contains not my groans1 that that most  
holy man1 the ,lord ,john1 of such      
abstinence and humility1 seduced the    
persuasion of those about him1 hath     
proceeded to such pride1 that in longing
 after a perverse name1 he endeavours to
 be like him1 who1 desiring in his pride
 to be as ,god1 lost even the grace of  
that likeness to ,god which had been    
given him2 and so forfeited true        
blessedness1 because he sought false    
glory4 ,surely ,peter1 the first of the 
,apostles1 a member of the holy         
universal ,church1 ,paul1 ,andrew1      
,john1 what else are they but the heads 
of particular communities8 and yet all  
are members under one head4 ,and to     

comprehend all in one brief expression1 
the saints before the law1 the saints   
under the law1 the saints under grace1  
all these making up the body of the     
,lord1 are disposed among members of the
 ,church1 and no one ever wished to be  
called ,universal4 ,let1 then1 your     
,holiness acknowledge how great is your 
pride1 who seek to be called by that    
name1 by which no one has presumed to be
 called who was really holy4#ade  ,now  
had these passages occurred in the      
writings of some ancient saint1 who was 
generally opposed to the authority of   
the ,roman ,see1 had they belonged to a 
,patriarch of ,antioch1 or              
,constantinople1 jealous of his own     
rights1 they would surely have had their
 weight1 as testimonies to a fact1 not  
mere opinions of the speaker4 ,they     
would have borne witness to no such     
thing as they reprobate having1 till    
then1 been allowed or thought of4 ,or1  
had they been isolated statements1 not  
borne out by contemporaneous or         

antecedent documents1 but standing      
alone1 uncontradicted indeed1 but       
unsupported1 they would still have told4
 ,how1 then1 are we to express their    
weight1 or the full assurance of faith  
which they give us1 as being the        
deliberate1 oft-repeated1 official      
statements of a ,pope1 than whom there  
never was one more vigorous in defending
 or in exercising the rights of his     
,see8 ,as being supported and borne out1
 and in every possible way corroborated 
by the facts of history1 the decrees of 
,councils1 the innumerable testimonies  
of all parts of the world1 the everyday 
life of the living1 breathing ,church   
for six hundred years8 ,in an early     
work1 ,mr4 ,newman had said1 ,what there
 is not the shadow of a reason for      
saying that the ,fathers held1 what has 
not the faintest pretensions of being a 
,catholic ,truth1 is this1 that ,st4    
,peter1 and his successors1 were and are
 universal ,bishops2 that they have the 
whole of ,christendom for their own     

diocese1 in a way in which other        
,apostles and ,bishops had and have not4
  ,in his last work he has retracted1   
saying1 ,most true1 if1 in order that a 
doctrine be considered ,catholic1 it    
must be formally stated by the ,fathers 
generally from the very first3 but1 on  
the same understanding1 the doctrine    
also of the ,apostolic succession in the
 ,episcopal order has not the faintest  
pretensions of being a ,catholic        
truth4#adf  ,now these words of ,mr4    
,newman seem to imply that the          
expressions of ,fathers1 or the decrees 
of ,councils1 look towards this presumed
 ,catholic truth1 tend to it1 and       
finally admit it1 as a truth which they 
had been all along implicitly holding1  
or unconsciously living upon1 and at    
last recognised and expressed4 ,on the  
contrary1 to my apprehension1 they hold 
another view about the ,see of ,rome1   
and express it again and again4 ,it is  
not a point on which there is variation 
or inconsistency among them4 ,i have as 

clear a conviction as one can well have 
that ,st4 ,augustine did not hold the   
,papal theory4 ,i think the words that  
,i have quoted from him prove this4     
,moreover1 the ,fathers generally       
express a view about other ,bishops     
which is utterly incompatible with this 
theory as now received1 which by no     
process of development can be made to   
agree with it4 ,and ,i confess that ,i  
am unable to understand the meaning of  
words1 if this so-called ,catholic truth
 of the ,pope being the universal       
,bishop1 is not distinctly considered in
 these passages of ,st4 ,gregory1       
formally repudiated for himself as well 
as for others1 and the very notion      
declared to be1 in any case whatsoever1 
that of the ,pope being specially named1
 blasphemous and antichristian4 ,could  
heretics say any thing of the kind      
against the doctrine of the ,apostolical
 succession1 out of the first six       
centuries1 they would have an advantage 
against the ,church1 which1 thank ,god1 

they are far from possessing4  ,and it  
is of no small importance that we have  
here speaking a ,pope1 one to whom      
twelve centuries have given the name of 
,great1 one who1 with ,st4 ,leo1 stands 
forth out of the ancient line of ,st4   
,peter's heirs as an especially         
legislative mind4 ,every ,catholic is   
bound to take his words without         
suspicion4 ,now ,st4 ,gregory asserts1  
as we have seen1 the right of his ,see  
to call any ,bishop to account1 even the
 four ,patriarchs1 in case of a         
violation of the ,canons2 declaring at  
the same time that1 when the ,canons are
 kept1 the meanest ,bishop is his equal 
in the estimation of humility4 ,even    
while arguing against this title he     
says1 ,to all who know the ,gospel is   
manifest that the charge of the whole   
,church was entrusted by the voice of   
the ,lord to the holy ,apostle          
,peter1--and yet he is not called       
,universal ,apostle2 but this title1 he 
asserts1 and the theory implied in it1  

is devilish1 an imitation of ,satan1 an 
anticipation of ,antichrist4 ,what else 
can we conclude but that which so many  
other documents prove1 that this        
,primacy over the whole ,church1 the    
ancient and undoubted privilege of the  
,bishop of ,rome1 was something quite   
different from what he is here          
reprobating8 ,for ,st4 ,gregory1 least  
of all men1 was so blind as to use      
arguments which might be retorted with  
full force against himself4 ,and yet1   
any one reading these words of his1 and 
not knowing whence they came1 would     
suppose they were written by a professed
 opponent of the present ,papal claims4 
,for in these letters ,st4 ,gregory     
acknowledges all the ,patriarchs as     
co-ordinate with himself1 acknowledges  
our ,lord to be sole ,head of the       
,church1 declares the title of          
,universal ,bishop blasphemous and      
,antichristian1 expressly on the ground 
that it is a wrong done to the          
,universal ,church1 to every ,bishop and

 ,priest3 ,if one is universal1 it      
remains that you are not ,bishops2      
declares1 moreover1 that ,st4 ,peter    
himself is only a member of the         
,universal ,church1 as ,st4 ,paul1 ,st4 
,john1 ,st4 ,andrew1 were other members1
 the heads of different communities4    
,this may be said to be the precise     
logical contradictory of ,de ,maistre's 
assertion1 that the ,pope is the        
,church1 in which he assuredly only     
expresses the ,papal idea4 ,rarely1     
indeed1 is it that any controversy1     
appealing to ancient times1 can have a  
testimony on all its details so         
distinct1 and specific1 and             
authoritative as this3 and yet it may be
 said no more than to crown the         
testimony of the six centuries going    
before it4 ,that during this period the 
,bishop of ,rome was recognised to be   
first ,bishop of the whole ,church1 of  
very great influence1 successor of ,st4 
,peter1 and standing in the same        
relation to his brethren the ,bishops   

that ,st4 ,peter stood in to his brother
 ,apostles2 this1 on the whole1 ,i      
believe to be the testimony of the first
 six centuries1 such as a person1 not   
wilfully blind1 and who was not content 
to take the witness of a ,father when it
 suited his purpose and pass it by when 
it did not1 would draw from             
ecclesiastical documents4 ,i have set it
 forth to the best of my ability1 as    
well where it seemed to tell against the
 present position of the ,church of     
,england1 as in those many points in    
which it supports her4  ,what then is   
our defence on her part against the     
charge of schism8 ,it is simply this4   
,that no one can now be in the communion
 of ,rome without admitting this very   
thing which ,pope ,gregory declares to  
be blasphemous and anti-,christian1 and 
derogatory to the honour of every       
,priest4 ,this is the very head and     
front of our offending1 that we refuse  
to allow that the ,pope is ,universal   
,bishop4 ,if the charge were that we    

refuse to stand in the same relation to 
the ,pope that ,st4 ,augustin of        
,canterbury stood in to this very ,st4  
,gregory1 that we refuse to regard and  
honour the successor of ,st4 ,gregory   
with the same honour with which our     
,archbishops1 as soon as they were      
seated in the government of their       
,church1 and were no longer merely      
,missionaries but ,primates1 regarded   
the occupant of ,st4 ,peter's ,see1 ,i  
think both the separation three hundred 
years ago1 and the present continuance  
of it on our part1 would1 so far as this
 question of schism is concerned1 be    
utterly indefensible4 ,but this is not  
the point4 ,it may indeed be1 and       
frequently is1 so stated by unfair      
opponents4 ,the real point is1 that1    
during the nine hundred years which     
elapsed between #eif and #aecd the power
 of the ,pope1 and his relation to the  
,bishops in his communion1 had          
essentially altered3 had been1 in fact1 
placed upon another basis4 ,that from   

being first ,bishop of the ,church1 and 
,patriarch1 originally of the ten       
provinces under the ,praefectus         
,praetorii of ,italy1 then of ,france1  
,spain1 ,africa1 and the ,west          
generally1 he had claimed to be the     
source and channel of grace to all      
,bishops1 the fountain-head of          
jurisdiction to the whole world1 ,east  
as well as ,west2 in fact1 the ',solus  
,sacerdos1' the ',universus ,episcopus1'
 contemplated by ,st4 ,gregory4 ,there  
is a worldwide difference between the   
ancient signature of the ,popes1        
',episcopus ,catholicae ,ecclesiae      
,urbis ,romae1' and that of ,pope ,pius 
at the ,council of ,trent1 ',ego ,pius  
,catholicae ,ecclesiae ,episcopus4' ,it 
has been no longer left in the choice of
 any to accept his ,primacy1 without    
accepting his ,monarchy1 which those who
 profess to follow antiquity must       
believe that the ,bishops of ,nicea1    
,constantinople1 ,ephesus1 and          
,chalcedon1 ,augustin and ,chrysostom1  

the ,west and the ,east1 would have     
rejected with the horror shown by ,st4  
,gregory at the first dawning of such an
 idea4 ,and1 whereas ,holy ,scripture   
and antiquity present us with one       
accordant view of the ,universal ,church
 governed by ,st4 ,peter and the        
,apostolic ,college1 and1 during the    
first six centuries at least1 as the    
,bishop of ,rome is seen to exercise the
 ,primacy of ,st4 ,peter1 so his        
brother-,bishops stand to him as the    
,college of ,apostles stood to ,st4     
,peter3 instead of this1 which is the   
,church's divine hierarchy1 instituted  
by ,christ ,himself1 the actual ,roman  
,church is governed by one ,bishop who  
has an apostolical independent power1   
whilst all the rest1 who should be his  
brethren1 are merely his delegates1     
receiving from his hand the investiture 
of such privileges as they still retain4
 ,if ,st4 ,gregory did not mean this by 
the terms ',solus ,sacerdos1'           
',universus ,episcopus1' what did he    

mean8 ,that the ,pope should be the only
 ,priest who offered sacrifice1 or the  
only ,bishop who ordained1 confirmed1 c4
 is physically impossible4 ,nor did the 
title of the ,bishops of ,constantinople
 tend to this3 but to claim to          
themselves jurisdiction over the        
co-ordinate ,patriarchs of the ,east1 as
 the ,popes have since done over the    
,bishops of the whole world4 ,we have no
 need to consider what is the amount of 
this difficulty to ,roman ,catholics    
themselves3 the same ,providence which  
has placed them under that obedience1   
has placed us outside of it4 ,our cause1
 indeed1 cannot be different now from   
what it was at the commencement of the  
separation4 ,if inherently indefensible 
then1 it is so now4 ,but if then 'severe
 but just1' the lapse of three centuries
 in our separate state may materially   
affect our relative duties4 ,i affirm my
 conviction1 that it is better to endure
 almost any degree of usurpation1       
provided only it be not anti-,christian1

 than to make a schism3 for the state of
 schism is a frustration of the purposes
 of the ,lord's ,incarnation2 and       
through this1 not only the ,english1 and
 the ,eastern ,church1 but the ,roman   
also1 lies fettered and powerless before
 the might of the world1 and bleeding   
internally at every pore4 ,how shall a  
divided ,church meet and overcome the   
philosophical unbelief of these last    
times8 or1 the one condition to which   
victory is attached being broken1 crush 
the deadliest attack of the old enemy8  
,but the schism is made2 let those      
answer for it before ,christ's tribunal 
who made it4 ,now that it is made1 ,i   
see not how a system1 which is not a    
true development of the ancient         
,patriarchal constitution1 but its      
antagonist1 according to ,st4 ,gregory's
 words1 can be forced upon us1 on pain  
of our salvation1 who have the original 
succession of the ancient ,bishops of   
this realm1 if any such there be1 and   
the old ,patriarchal constitution1 'sua 

tantum si bona norint4' ,i ground our   
present position simply on the appeal to
 tradition and the first six centuries4 
,not that there is any abrupt break in  
the testimony of history there2 but it  
is necessary to put a limit somewhere4  
,otherwise the seventh century supplies 
us with the remarkable fact of ,pope    
,honorius condemned1 by the sixth       
,ecumenical ,council in #fha1 as having 
connived at and favoured the            
,monothelite heresy1 condemned more than
 forty years after his death2 a fact    
which utterly destroys the new dogma of 
the infallibility of the one ,roman     
,pontiff by himself2 and which          
,bellarmine and ,baronius can only meet 
by attempting to prove that the acts of 
the sixth ,council have been falsified1 
though they had been received for       
genuine by the seventh and eighth       
,councils1 and for nine hundred years2  
and the letter of ,st4 ,leo1 immediately
 after that ,council1 falsified also1 in
 which he condemns the ,monothelites1   

and amongst them ,honorius1 who did not 
adorn this ,apostolical ,see with the   
doctrine handed down from the ,apostles1
 but endeavoured to subvert the         
undefiled faith by a profane tradition4 
,the condemnation of the ,council runs  
as follows3--,having examined the       
letters of ,sergius of ,constantinople  
to ,cyrus1 and the answer of ,honorius  
to ,sergius1 and having found them to be
 repugnant to the doctrine of the       
,apostles1 and to the opinion of all the
 ,fathers1 in execrating their impious  
dogmas1 we judge that their very names  
ought to be banished from the ,holy     
,church of ,god2 we declare them to be  
smitten with anathema2 and1 together    
with them1 we judge that ,honorius1     
formerly ,pope of ancient ,rome1 be     
anathematized1 since we find1 in his    
letter to ,sergius1 that he follows in  
all respects his error1 and authorizes  
his impious doctrine4#adg  ,it appears1 
likewise1 that as the letter of ,st4    
,cyril was read and approved in the     

third ,council1 and that of ,pope ,st4  
,leo in the fourth1 so that of ,pope    
,st4 ,agathon was read and approved in  
the sixth1 and that of ,pope ,adrian the
 ,first in the seventh1 ,a4,d4 #ghg4    
,but here it may be well to give        
,bossuet's summary4 ,this tradition     
7i4e4 that the supreme authority in the 
,church resides in the consent of the   
,bishops7 we have seen to come down from
 the ,apostles1 and descend to the first
 eight ,general ,councils2 which eight  
,general ,councils are the foundation of
 the whole ,christian doctrine and      
discipline1 of which the ,church        
venerates the first four1 in ,st4       
,gregory's words1 no less than the four 
,gospels4 ,nor is less reverence due to 
the rest1 as1 guided by the same        
,spirit1 they have a like authority4    
,which eight ,councils1 with a great and
 unanimous consent1 have placed the     
final power of giving decisions in      
nothing else but in the consent of the  
,fathers4 ,of which the six last have   

legitimately examined the sentence of   
the ,roman ,pontiff even given upon     
,faith1 and that with the approval of   
the ,apostolic ,see1 the question being 
put in this form1 as we read in the     
,acts--',are these decrees right1 or    
not8'  ,but we have seen that the       
judgment of a ,general ,council never   
was so reconsidered1 but that all       
immediately yielded obedience to it4    
,nor was a new inquiry ever granted to  
anyone after that examination1 but      
punishment threatened4 ,thus acted      
,constantine2 thus ,marcian2 thus       
,coelestine2 thus ,leo2 thus all the    
rest1 as we have seen in the ,acts4 ,the
 ,christian world hath acknowledged this
 to be certain and indubitable4  ,to    
this we may add the testimony of the    
admirable ,pope ,st4 ,gelasius3 ',a good
 and truly ,christian ,council once     
held1 neither can nor ought to be       
unsettled by the repetition of a new    
,council4' ,and again3 ',there is no    
cause why a good ,council should be     

reconsidered by another ,council1 lest  
the mere reconsideration should detract 
from the strength of its decrees4' ,thus
 what has received the final and certain
 judgment of the ,church1 is not to be  
reconsidered2 for that judgment of the  
,holy ,spirit is reversed1 whenever it  
is reconsidered by a fresh judgment4    
,but the judgment put forth by a ,roman 
,pontiff is such1 that it has been      
reconsidered4 ,it is not therefore that 
ultimate and final judgment of the      
,church4  ,nor is that sentence of      
,gregory the ,great less clear1         
comparing the four ,general ,councils to
 the four ,gospels1 with the reason     
given2 ',because being decreed by       
universal consent1 whoever presumes     
either to loose what they bind1 or bind 
what they loose1 destroys not them but  
himself4'  ,so then our question is     
terminated by the tradition of the      
ancient ,councils and ,fathers4 ,all    
should consent to the power of the      
,roman ,pontiff1 as explained according 

to the decree of the ,council of        
,florence1 after the practice of        
,general ,councils4 ,the vast difference
 between the judgment of a ,council and 
of a ,pontiff is evident1 since after   
that of the ,council no question        
remains1 but only the obedience of the  
mind brought into captivity2 but that of
 the ,pontiff is upon examination       
approved1 room being given to           
object1--which was to be proved4#adh    
,here the real question at issue is1    
whether the ,bishop of ,rome be ,first  
,bishop1 or ,monarch1 of the ,church4   
,now1 ,i have endeavoured to delineate1 
from the ,fathers and from ,councils1   
what the true ,primacy of the ,roman    
,see is4 ,what is now required from us  
to admit as terms of communion is--,that
 the ordinary jurisdiction of ,bishops  
descends immediately from the ,pope2 the
 government of the ,church is           
monarchical1 therefore all authority    
resides in one1 and from him is derived 
unto the rest2 there is a great         

difference between the succession to    
,peter and that to the rest of the      
,apostles2 for the ,roman ,pontiff      
properly succeeds ,peter not as         
,apostle1 but as ordinary ,pastor of the
 whole ,church2 and therefore the ,roman
 ,pontiff has jurisdiction from ,him    
from whom ,peter had it3 but ,bishops do
 not properly succeed the ,apostles1 as 
the ,apostles were not ordinary1 but    
extraordinary1 and1 as it were1         
delegated ,pastors1 to whom there is no 
succession4 ,bishops1 however1 are said 
to succeed the ,apostles1 not properly  
in that manner in which one ,bishop     
succeeds another1 and one king another1 
but in another way1 which is two-fold4  
,first1 in respect of the holy ,order of
 the ,episcopate2 secondly1 from a      
certain resemblance and proportion3 that
 is1 as when ,christ lived on earth1 the
 twelve ,apostles were the first under  
,christ1 then the seventy-two           
,disciples3 so now the ,bishops are     
first under the ,roman ,pontiff1 after  

them ,priests1 then ,deacons1 c4 ,but it
 is proved that ,bishops succeed to the 
,apostles so1 and not otherwise2 for    
they have no part of the true ,apostolic
 authority4 ,apostles could preach in   
the whole world1 and found ,churches 444
 this cannot ,bishops4 444 ,bishops     
succeed to the ,apostles in the same    
manner as ,priests to the seventy-two   
,disciples4#adi ,again3 ,but1 if the    
,supreme ,pontiff be compared with the  
rest of the ,bishops1 he is deservedly  
said to possess the plenitude of power1 
because the rest have fixed regions over
 which they preside1 and also a fixed   
power2 but he is set over the whole     
,christian world1 and possesses1 in its 
completeness and plenitude1 that power  
which ,christ left on earth for the good
 of the ,church4#aej ,he proceeds to    
prove this by those passages of         
,scripture3--',thou art ,peter1' c42    
',feed my sheep1' c42 which we have seen
 ,st4 ,augustin explaining as said to   
,st4 ,peter in the person of the        

,church1 while he expressly denies that 
they are said to him merely as an       
individual4 ,these keys not one man but 
the unity of the ,church received3 he   
was not the only one among the          
,disciples who was thought worthy to    
feed the ,lord's sheep1 c4 ,what        
,bellarmine here says1 is1 assuredly1   
both the true ,roman view1 and moreover 
absolutely necessary to justify that    
,church in the attitude she assumes and 
the measures she authorizes towards     
other parts of the ,church4 ,and if it  
be the ancient ,catholic doctrine1 it   
does justify her4 ,that it is not the   
ancient doctrine1 ,i think ,i have      
already shown2 but let us hear what     
,bossuet says of it4 ,one objection of  
theirs remains to be explained1 that    
,bishops borrow their power and         
jurisdiction from the ,roman ,pontiff1  
and therefore1 although united with him 
in an ,ecumenical ,council1 can do      
nothing against the root and source of  
their own authority1 but are only       

present as his ,counsellors2 and that   
the force of the decree1 as well in     
matters of faith as in other matters1   
lies in the power of the ,roman         
,pontiff4 ,which fiction falls of itself
 to the ground1 even from this1 that it 
was unheard of in the early ages1 and   
began to be introduced into theology in 
the thirteenth century2 that is1 after  
men preferred generally to act upon     
philosophical reasonings1 and those very
 bad1 before consulting the             
,fathers4#aea  ,but to this innovation  
is opposed1 first1 what is related in   
the ,acts of the ,apostles respecting   
that ,council of ,apostles1 which the   
letter of ,st4 ,coelestine to the       
,council of ,ephesus1 and the           
proceedings of the fifth ,ecumenical    
,council1 proved to be as it were       
repeated and represented in all other   
,councils4 ,but if any one says that1 in
 this ,council1 the ,apostles were not  
set by ,christ to be true judges1 but to
 be the counsellors of ,peter1 he is too

 ridiculous4#aeb  ,secondly1 is opposed 
that fact which we have proved1 that the
 decrees and judgments of ,roman        
,pontiffs de fide were suspended by the 
convocation of an ,ecumenical ,council1 
were reconsidered by its authority1 and 
were only approved and confirmed after  
examination made and judgment given4    
,which things undoubtedly prove that    
they sat there not as counsellors of the
 ,pope1 but as judges of ,papal decrees4
  ,and they must indeed be legitimately 
called together1 that they may not meet 
tumultuously2 but1 when once called     
together1 they judge by the authority of
 the ,holy ,spirit1 not of the ,pope3   
they pronounce anathemas1 not by        
authority of the ,pope1 but of ,christ2 
and we have seen this so often pressed  
upon us by the ,acts1 that we are weary 
of repeating it4  ,add to this that     
expression of the first ,council of     
,arles to ,st4 ,sylvester3 ',had you    
judged together with us1 our assembly   
had exulted with greater joy3' and in   

the very heading of the ,council to the 
same ,sylvester3 ',what we have decreed 
with common consent1 we signify to your 
charity4' ,relying then on this         
authority of their ,priesthood1 they    
judge concerning most important matters2
 that is1 the observation of the ,lord's
 passover1 that it may be kept on one   
day all over the world3 concerning the  
non-iteration of ,baptism1 and the      
discipline of the ,churches4 ,instances 
of this kind occur everywhere4 ,but it  
is a known fact1 that even by particular
 ,councils1 where the ,pope presided1   
his decrees1 even when present1 were    
examined and confirmed by consent2 the  
,fathers equally with him judged1       
decreed1 defined1 and we have seen this 
a thousand times written on the ,acts4  
,but in a matter so clear1 they have    
only one thing to object drawn out of   
antiquity1 the saying of ,st4 ,innocent1
 'that ,peter is the author of the      
,episcopal name and honour4'#aec ,and   
again1#aed 'whence the ,episcopate      

itself and all the authority of that    
name sprung4' ,and of ,st4 ,leo1#aee    
',if he willed that anything should be  
enjoyed by the other heads 7that is1 the
 ,apostles7 in common with him 7,peter71
 he never gave save through ,peter      
whatever he denied not to the rest4'    
,and elsewhere also1 'that ,christ      
granted to the rest of the ,apostles the
 ministry of preaching on this          
condition1 that he poured into them1 as 
into the whole body1 his gifts from     
,peter1 as from the head4'#aef ,whence  
also came that expression of ,optatus of
 ,milevi3 ',for the good of unity1 the  
blessed ,peter was thought worthy to be 
preferred to all the ,apostles1 and     
alone received the keys of the kingdom  
of heaven to be imparted to the         
rest1'#aeg--;and that of ,gregory of    
,nyssa1 ',through ,peter ,he gave to the
 ,bishops the keys of heavenly          
honours4'#aeh ,and that of ,st4         
,caesarius of ,arles to ,pope           
,symmachus3 ',as from the person of the 

blessed ,apostle ,peter the ,episcopate 
takes its beginning1 so is it necessary 
that by suitable rules of discipline    
your ,holiness should plainly show to   
every ,church what they ought to        
observe4'#aei  ,if they push these and  
such like expressions to the utmost1    
they will come to assert that the       
,apostles were appointed by ,peter1 not 
by ,christ1 or by ,christ through       
,peter1 but not by ,him immediately and 
in person3 as if any other but ,christ  
called the ,apostles1 sent them1 and    
endued them with heavenly power by the  
infusion of ,his ,spirit2 and ,peter and
 not ,christ said3 ',go ye1 teach1      
preach1 baptize1 receive1 and1 as ,my   
,father sent me1 even so send ,i you4'  
,i am aware that ,john of ,turrecremata1
 and a few others1 thinking that the    
words now quoted of ,st4 ,leo and others
 cannot be defended by them             
sufficiently1 unless the ,apostles also 
received their jurisdiction from ,st4   
,peter1 have been hurried away even into

 this folly1 against the most manifest  
truth of the ,gospel4 ,which fiction    
,bellarmine himself has confuted4  ,but 
this being the greatest absurdity1 it   
will appear that what follows is the    
teaching of the ,fathers quoted4        
,first2 the episcopal authority and     
jurisdiction is contained in the keys1  
and in the power of binding and loosing1
 which is clear of itself4  ,secondly2  
it is evident from the ,gospel ,history 
that ,peter was the first in whom that  
power was shown forth and appointed4    
,for1 although ,christ said to all the  
,apostles1 ',receive the ,holy ,ghost1' 
7,john xx4 #bb17 and 'whatsoever ye     
bind1' c41 'whatsoever ye loose1' c4    
7,matt1 xviii4 #ah72 yet1 what ,he said 
to ,peter had gone before1 ',i will give
 to thee the keys1' c4 7,matt4 xvi4     
#ai74  ,thirdly2 both these two1 that   
is1 both what was said to ,peter and    
what was said to the ,apostles1 proceed 
equally from ,christ3 for ,he who said  
to ,peter1 ',i will give to thee1' and  

',whatsoever thou shalt bind1' said also
 to the ,apostles1 ',receive ye1' and   
',whatsoever ye shall bind4'  ,fourthly2
 that is therefore true which ,optatus  
says of ,peter3 ',for the good of unity1
 he alone received the keys of the      
kingdom of heaven1 to be imparted to the
 rest4' ,for1 in truth1 these which were
 given to ,peter in the #afth ,matt4    
were to be imparted afterwards to the   
,apostles1 ,matt4 #ahth1 and ,john      
#bjth1 but to be imparted not by ,peter1
 but by ,christ1 as is clear4  ,fifthly2
 that also is true which ,caesarius     
says1 ',the ,episcopate takes its       
beginning from ,peter3' he being the    
first in whom1 through the ministry of  
binding and loosing1 the ,episcopal     
power was shown forth1 begun1           
entrusted4'  ,sixthly2 hence1 also1 is  
true what ,innocent says1--'that the    
,episcopate1 and all the authority of   
that name1 sprung from ,peter1' because 
he1 first of all1 was appointed or set  
forth as ,bishop4  ,seventhly2 for this 

cause1 ,peter is called by the same     
,innocent the author of the ,episcopate2
 not that he instituted it1--not that   
the ,apostles received the power of     
binding and loosing from him1--for the  
,scriptures everywhere exclaim against  
this2 but that from him was made the    
beginning of establishing that power    
among men1 and of appointing or marking 
out the ,episcopate4  ,eighthly2 to make
 this clearer1 and that it may be easily
 perceived what means that expression1  
'through ,peter1' which we read in ,leo1
 we must review the tradition of the    
ancient ,church1 drawn from the         
,scriptures themselves4  ,it is plain1  
then1 that when the ,lord asked the     
,apostles1 ',whom say men that ,i1 the  
,son of ,man1 am8' ,peter1 the chief of 
all1 answered in the person of all1     
',thou art the ,christ3' and afterwards 
,christ said to ,peter1 thus            
representing them1 ',i will give to     
thee1'--',whatsoever thou shalt bind3'  
by which it appears that in these words1

 not ,peter only1 but in ,peter1 their  
chief1 and answering for all1 all the   
,apostles and their successors were     
endued with the ,episcopal power and    
jurisdiction4  ,all which ,augustin     
includes when he writes1 ',all being    
asked1 ,peter alone answered1 ,thou art 
,christ1 and to him is said1 ,i will    
give to thee1 c41 as if he alone        
received the power of binding and       
loosing1 the case really being1 that he 
said that singly for all1 and received  
this together with all1 as representing 
unity4'#afj ,than which nothing can be  
clearer4  ,he then quotes passages from 
,st4 ,cyprian and ,st4 ,augustin1 which 
,i have already brought2 adding1 ,in    
,peter1 therefore1 singly1 ,cyprian     
acknowledges that all ,bishops were     
instituted1 and not without reason2 the 
,episcopate1 as he everywhere attests1  
being one in the whole world1 was       
instituted in one4 ,and this was done to
 establish 'the origin of unity         
beginning from one1' as he says4  ,but  

most of all does ,augustin set forth and
 inculcate the common tradition4 ,for1  
not content with having said that once  
in the place above mentioned1 he is very
 full in setting forth this view of that
 doctrine4 ,hence he says1 ',in ,peter  
was the sacrament of the ,church2' and  
other passages ,i have already quoted4  
,whence1 everywhere in his books against
 the ,donatists1 he says1 ',the keys are
 given to ,unity4'  ,the sum1 then1 is  
this4 ,the ,apostles and ,pastors of    
,churches being both one and many1--one1
 in ecclesiastical communion1 as they   
feed one flock2 many1 being distributed 
through the whole world1 and having     
allotted to them each their own part of 
the one flock2 therefore1 power was     
given to them by a two-fold ratification
 of ,christ3 first1 that they may be    
one1 in ,peter their chief1 bearing the 
figure and the person of unity1 to which
 has reference that saying in the       
singular number1 ',i will give to thee1'
 and ',whatsoever thou shall bind1' c43 

secondly1 that they may be many1 to     
which that has reference in the plural  
number1 ',receive ye1' and ',whatsoever 
ye shall bind3' but both1 personally and
 immediately from ,christ2 since ,he who
 said1 ',i will give to thee1' as to    
one1 also said1 ',receive ye1' as to    
many3 nevertheless1 that saying came    
first1 in which power is given to all1  
in that they are one3 because ,christ   
willed that unity1 most of all1 should  
be recommended in ,his ,church4  ,by    
this all is made clear2 not only        
,bishops1 but also ,apostles1 have      
received the keys and the power from    
,christ1 in ,peter1 and1 in their       
manner1 through ,peter1 who1 in the name
 of all1 received that for all1 as      
bearing the figure and the person of    
all4  ,he then shows that this tradition
 had gone down even to his own times3   
,this holy and apostolic doctrine of the
 ,episcopal jurisdiction and power      
proceeding immediately from1 and        
instituted by1 ,christ1 the ,gallic     

,church hath most zealously retained4   
,therefore1#afa that very late          
invention1 that ,bishops receive their  
jurisdiction from the ,pope1 and are1 as
 it were1 vicars of him1 ought to be    
banished from ,christian schools1 as    
unheard of for twelve centuries4  ,it is
 precisely this very late invention     
which is urged against the ,church of   
,england4 ,unless this be true1 her     
position in itself1 supposing her to be 
clear of heresy1 with which1 at present1
 ,i have nothing to do1 is impregnable4 
,such is the most ,catholic             
interpretation by which ,bossuet sets in
 harmony with the teaching of all       
antiquity a few expressions1 which are  
all that ,i have been able to find that 
are even capable of being forced into   
accordance with the present ,papal      
system1 and which1 as soon as they are  
so forced1 contradict the whole history 
of ,councils1 and the whole life of the 
most illustrious ,fathers4  ,now there  
is no doubt that ,bellarmine's doctrine 

is the true logical development of the  
,papal ,theory2 it alone has consistency
 and completeness2 it alone is the      
adequate expression of that prodigious  
power which was allowed to enthrone     
itself in the ,church during the middle 
ages2 it would fain account for it and  
justify it4 ,grant but its postulate1   
that the ,pope is the sole vicar of     
,christ1 and all which it requires must 
follow4 ,on the other hand1 that school 
which ranks ,bossuet at its head1 and   
which sought to limit1 in some degree1  
by the ,canons the power of the ,roman  
,pontiff1 and maintained that ,bishops  
were1 jure divino1 successors of the    
,apostles1 in a real1 not in a          
fictitious sense1 however well-founded  
in what it maintained on the one side1  
was certainly inconsistent4 ,it gave    
either too much or too little to the    
,roman ,see2--too much1 if its own      
declarations about the succession of    
,bishops and the authority of ,general  
,councils be true1 and founded in       

antiquity1 as we believe2 too little1 if
 the ,pope be indeed the only ,vicar of 
,christ on earth1 and the supreme ,ruler
 of ,his ,church2 for then these maxims 
put their partisans very nearly into the
 position of rebels1 and1 in truth1     
brought the ,gallican ,church to the    
brink of a schism1 in #afhb4 ,however   
this may be1 that school is extinct2 the
 ultramontane theory alone has now life 
and vigour in the ,roman ,church4 ,it   
seems to absorb into itself all earnest 
and self-denying minds1 while the other 
is left to that treacherous conservatism
 which would use the ,church of ,christ 
as a system of police1 for the security 
of worldly interests4 ,what the         
ultramontane theory is1 we see from     
,bellarmine4 ,it proclaims that the     
government of the ,church is a monarchy1
 concentrating in one person all the    
powers bestowed by ,christ upon the     
,apostles4 ,in this the student of      
history is bound to declare that it     
stands in point-blank contradiction to  

the decrees of ,general ,councils1 to   
the sentiments of the ,fathers1 and the 
whole practice of the ,church for the   
first six hundred years2 for much longer
 indeed than this1 but this is enough4  
,well may ,bossuet ask1 if the          
infallible authority of the ,roman      
,pontiff is of force by itself before   
the consent of the ,church1--to what    
purpose was it that ,bishops should be  
summoned from the farthest regions of   
the earth1 at the cost of such fatigues 
and expense1 and ,churches be deprived  
of their ,pastors1 if the whole power   
resided in the ,roman ,pontiff8 ,if what
 he believed or taught was immediately  
the supreme and irrevocable law1 why did
 he not himself pronounce sentence8 ,or 
if he pronounced it1 why are ,bishops   
called together and wearied out1 to do  
again what is already done1 and to pass 
a judgment on the supreme judgment of   
the ,church8 ,would not this be         
fruitless8 ,but all ,christians have    
imbibed with their faith the conviction1

 that1 in important dissensions1 the    
whole ,church ought to be convoked and  
heard4 ,all therefore understand that   
the certain1 deliberate1 and complete   
declaration of the truth is seated not  
in the ,pope alone1 but in the ,church  
spread everywhere4#afb ,this too is     
certain1 that when ,general ,councils   
have been holden1 the sentence of the   
,roman ,pontiff has generally preceded  
them2 for undoubtedly ,celestine1 ,leo1 
,agatho1 ,gregory the ,second1 ,adrian  
the ,first1 had pronounced sentence1    
when the third1 fourth1 sixth1 seventh  
,councils were held4 ,what was desired  
therefore was1 not a ,council for the   
,pontiff about to give judgment1 but1   
after he had given judgment1 the force  
of a certain and insuperable authority4 
,in fact1 on this theory1 as we have    
seen above1 ,st4 ,cyprian1 ,st4         
,firmilian1 ,st4 ,hilary of ,arles1 the 
,african ,bishops in #dbf1 the ,fathers 
of ,chalcedon in #dea1 in passing their 
famous #bhth ,canon1 the ,fathers of    

,ephesus in #dca1 in passing their #hth1
 the ,fathers of ,constantinople in     
#cha1 in passing their #b;d and #c;d    
,canons1 and in the synodal letter      
addressed to the ,pope and the ,western 
,bishops1 the ,fathers of ,nicea1 in    
passing their #fth1 nay1 all ancient    
,councils whatever1 in all their form   
and mode of proceeding1 were the most   
audacious of rebels4 ,but what are we to
 say about the language of ,st4         
,gregory8 ,did he then betray those     
rights of ,st4 ,peter1 which he held    
dearer than his life8 ,when he wrote to 
,eulogius of ,alexandria1 ,if your      
,holiness calls me ,universal ,pope1 you
 deny that you are yourself what you    
admit me to be--universal4 ,but this    
,god forbid3 are we to receive          
,thomassin's explanation1 that he meant1
 as ,patriarch1 he was not universal1   
but1 as ,pope1 he was1 all the time8 or 
when he says to the same1 in rank you   
are my brother1 in character my father1 
was ,eulogius at the same time1 as      

,bellarmine will have it1 merely his    
deputy8 ,in the beginning1 ,peter set up
 the ,patriarch of ,alexandria1 and of  
,antioch1 who1 receiving authority from 
the ,pontiff 7of ,rome71 presided over  
almost all ,asia and ,africa1 and could 
create ,archbishops1 who could          
afterwards create ,bishops4#afc ,and    
this1 it appears1 is the key which is to
 be applied to the whole history of the 
early ,church4 ,those ,bishops1         
,metropolitans1 ,exarchs1 and           
,patriarchs1 throughout the ,east1 who  
had such a conviction of the ,apostolic 
authority residing in themselves as     
governors of the ,church1 who showed it 
in every ,council in which they sat1 who
 expressed it so freely in their        
writings and letters3 ,st4 ,augustin1   
again1 in the ,west1 himself a host1 who
 speaks of a cause decided by the ,roman
 ,pontiff being reheard1 of the         
wholesome authority of ,general         
,councils1 who assents to ,st4          
,cyprian's proposition1 that every      

,bishop can no more be judged by        
another1 than he himself can judge      
another1 with the single limitation1    
certainly1 ,i imagine1 in those         
questions which have not yet been       
thoroughly and completely settled2 who1 
in a question of disputed succession1   
which more than any other required such 
a tribunal as the ,papal1 had it        
existed1 appeals not to the authority of
 the ,roman ,see1 but to the testimony  
of the whole ,church spread everywhere1 
not mentioning that ,see pre-eminently2 
or when he does mention the ,see of     
,peter1 in which ,anastasius now sits1  
mentioning likewise the ,see of ,james1 
in which ,john now sits3--all these were
 nothing more1 at the same time1 than   
the ,pope's delegates1 and received     
through him their jurisdiction4  ,can a 
claim be true which is driven to shifts 
such as this for its maintenance8 ,or   
can the truth of ,christianity and the  
unity of the ,church rest upon a        
falsehood8 ,is infidelity itself in such

 a hopeful position1#afd as regards     
,christianity1 that it is really come to
 this1 that we must either receive a    
plain and manifest usurpation1 or be    
cast out of the house and kingdom of    
,god8 ,that we must reject the witness  
and history of the first six hundred    
years of the ,church's life on the one  
hand1 or be plunged into the abyss of   
infidelity on the other8 ,if it be true 
that the ,pope is ,monarch of the       
,church1 which is the present ,papal    
theory1 the ,church of ,england is in   
schism4 ,if it be not true1 she is at   
least clear of that fatal mark4 ,all    
that is required for her position is the
 maintenance of that ,nicene            
,constitution which we have heard ,st4  
,leo solemnly declare was to last to the
 end of the world1 viz4 that every      
province of the ,church be governed by  
its own ,bishops under its own          
,metropolitan4 ,and who then but will   
desire that the successor of ,st4 ,peter
 should hold ,st4 ,peter's place8 ,will 

the ,patriarch of ,constantinople1 or   
the ,archbishop of ,moscow1 or the      
,primate of ,canterbury1 so much as     
think of assuming it8 ,be this our      
answer when we are accused of not really
 holding that article of the ,creed one 
,catholic and ,apostolic ,church4 ,let  
the ,bishop of ,rome require of us that 
honour and power which he possessed at  
the ,synod of ,chalcedon1 that1 and not 
a totally different one under the same  
name1 and we shall be in schism when we 
do not yield it4 ,at present we have no 
farther separated from him than to fall 
back on the constitution of the ,church 
of the ,martyrs and the ,fathers4  ,but1
 it may be said1 is the ,catholic       
,church unanimous on the one hand1 and  
the ,anglican communion1 restricted to  
one small province1 left alone in her   
protest on the other8 ,did not she1 whom
 they would call the already decrepit   
rebel of three hundred years1 submit    
from #eif to #aecd to that very         
authority which she now denies8 ,it     

would be quite beyond my present limits 
to trace1 as ,i had first purposed1 the 
,roman ,bishop's power from that point  
at which it stood when ,st4 ,gregory    
sent our ,apostle ,augustin into        
,england1 to that point which it had    
reached in the thirteenth century1 and  
which it strove to maintain in the      
sixteenth4 ,i can only now very briefly 
point out a few of the steps in that    
most wonderful rise4 ,the two centuries1
 then1 which succeeded ,st4 ,gregory1   
were even more favourable to this growth
 than those which went before4 ,while   
the confusion and violence of secular   
governments by the breaking in and      
settlement of the various northern      
tribes were greater than ever1--while   
the ecclesiastical constitution was all 
that yet held together the scattered    
portions of the shattered ,western      
empire--the single ,apostolical ,see of 
the ,west1 whose ,bishop was in constant
 correspondence with the spiritual      
rulers of these various countries1 whose

 voice was ever and anon heard striving 
to win and soften into mercy and justice
 those temporal rulers1 would be1 as it 
were1 a light shining in a dark place4  
,the ,bishops1 everywhere miserably     
afflicted by their own sovereigns1 found
 a stay and support in one beyond the   
reach of the feudal lord's violence4    
,the benefit they thus derived from the 
,roman ,patriarch was so great1 that    
they would be disposed to overlook the  
gradual change which was ensuing in the 
relation between themselves and him1 the
 deference which was deepening into     
subjection4 ,or1 if here and there1 what
 ,leo would have called a presumptuous  
spirit1 such as ,hincmar of ,rheims1 or 
our own ,grossetete1 in after times1 set
 himself against the stream1 it would   
all be in vain4 ,however good his cause 
might be1 if he did not yield1 he would 
be beaten down like ,st4 ,hilary of     
,arles4 ,moreover1 as the great heresy  
of ,mahomet invaded and hemmed in three 
of the ,patriarchal ,sees of the ,east1 

their counterpoise to the originally    
great influence of the ,roman ,see was  
removed4 ,political separation from the 
,east1 and the difficulty of            
communication1 would of themselves      
greatly tend to this result4 ,to this   
must be added the great increase of     
power which the house of ,charlemagne1  
for their own political purposes1       
bestowed on the ,roman ,see2 it was     
worth while building up a popedom for an
 imperial crown4 ,de ,maistre says1 ,the
 ,popes reign since the ninth century at
 least4#afe ,but it is a somewhat naive 
confession1 ,the ,french had the        
singular honour1 one of which they have 
not been at all sufficiently proud1 of  
having set up1 humanly1 the ,catholic   
,church in the world1 by raising its    
august head to the rank indispensably   
due to his divine functions2 and without
 which he would only have been a        
,patriarch of ,constantinople1 miserable
 puppet of ,christian sultans1 and      
,musulman autocrats4 ,just1 too1 when it

 was most difficult to detect imposture1
 and to refer to the acts of ancient    
,councils1 that singular counterfeit of 
the false decretals made its appearance1
 which so wonderfully helped the ,roman 
,patriarchs in consolidating the        
manifold structure of their authority4  
,this1 indeed1 assailed the ,bishops of 
the ,west by their most reverential     
feelings1 and added to the force of a   
great present authority1 almost always  
beneficially exercised1 the weight of   
what seemed an ,apostolical tradition4  
,besides these causes1 the ,popes found 
in the several monastic orders          
throughout ,europe the most unceasing   
and energetic pioneers of their power4  
,from the very first there appears to   
have existed a desire to exchange the   
present superintendence of the local    
,bishop for the distant authority of the
 ,pope4 ,the great orders1 indeed1 were 
themselves so many suspensions of the   
,episcopal system4 ,with reason do the  
statues of their founders adorn the nave

 of ,st4 ,peter's1 not only as witnesses
 of the ,church's exuberant life1 but as
 those whose hands1 more than any       
others1 have helped to rear that        
colossal central power1 of which that   
fane is the visible symbol4 ,thus the   
,papal structure was so gradually built 
upon the ,patriarchal1 that no one age  
could accurately mark where the one     
ended and the other began1 but all may  
see the finished work4 ,it requires no  
microscopic eye to distinguish the      
authority of ,st4 ,leo or ,st4 ,gregory 
from that of ,st4 ,innocent the ,third4 
,the poet spake of a phantom what is    
true of a great reality3--              
,mobilitate viget1 viresque acquirit    
eundo1   ,ingrediturque solo1 et caput  
inter nubila condit4  ,that power1 for  
which the heroic and saintly ,hildebrand
 died in exile1#aff if exile there could
 be to him who received the heathen for 
his inheritance1 and the utmost parts of
 the earth for his possession2 for which
 our own ,st4 ,anselm1 forced against   

his will to the ,primacy1 stood         
unquailing in the path of the ,red      
,king1 most furious1 if not the worst1  
of that savage race1 whose demon wrath  
seemed to justify the fable of their    
origin2 for which ,st4 ,bernard1 the    
last of the ,fathers in age1 but equal  
to the first in glory1 wrote and        
laboured1 and wore himself out with     
vigils1 and wrought miracles2 for which 
our own ,st4 ,thomas shed that noble    
blood1 which sanctifies yet our         
primatial ,church1 an earnest of        
restoration and freedom to come2 that   
power1 for which ,st4 ,francis1 the     
spouse of holy poverty1 so long         
neglected since her ,first ,husband     
ascended up on high1 and ,st4 ,dominic--
                    l' amoroso drudo    
,della fede ,cristiana1 il santo atleta1
   ,benigno a' suoi1 ed a' nemici       
crudo2#afg  and one greater yet1 the    
warrior saint1 ,ignatius1 raised their  
myriads of every age and of both sexes1 
armed in that triple mail of poverty1   

chastity1 and obedience1 of whom the    
world was not worthy2--that power1 to   
which have borne witness so many saintly
 ,bishops1 poor in the midst of poverty1
 and humble in the exercise of more than
 royal power1--so many scholars1        
marvellously learned1--so many1 prodigal
 of labour and blood1 who are now       
counted among the noble army of         
martyrs1--so many holy women1 who have  
hidden themselves under the robe of the 
first of all saints1 and followed the   
,virgin of virgins in their             
degree2--that power is1 indeed1 the most
 wondrous creation which history can    
record1 and one to which ,i am not      
ashamed to confess that ,i should bow   
with unmingled reverence1 had not truth 
a yet stronger claim upon me1 and did   
not the voice of the early ,church1 its 
,fathers1 ,councils1 and ,martyrs1 sound
 distinctly in my ears another language4
 ,still1 human and divine1 ambition and 
,providence1 are so mingled there1 that 
,i would not utter a word more than     

truth requires4 ,i should even be       
compelled to give up the strongest      
individual conviction1 acknowledging the
 weakness and liability to err of any   
private judgment2 acknowledging1        
moreover1 that a single province of the 
,church1 if opposed to all the rest1 is 
certain to be in error1 were it not     
that1 besides the voice of antiquity1 we
 have witnesses the most legitimate1 the
 most time-honoured1 the most unswerving
 in their testimony1--witnesses who take
 away from our opponents their proudest 
claim1--nay1 a claim which1 if real1    
would be irresistible1--that of being1  
by themselves1 the ,catholic ,church4   
,let it never1 then1 be forgotten1 that 
any argument which would prove the      
,church of ,england to be in schism     
would condemn likewise the ,eastern and 
,russian ,church4 ,it is not the        
,catholic ,church against a revolted    
province1 as our adversaries would have 
us believe2 it is the one ,patriarch of 
the ,west1 with his ,bishops1 against   

the four ,patriarchs of the ,east1 with 
theirs1 and that great and1 as yet1     
unbroken phalanx of the ,north1 which   
,constantinople won to the faith of old1
 and which now promises to beat back the
 tide of heresy and infidelity from the 
beleaguered ,sees of the ,east4 ,on this
 point of schism1 at least1 they bear   
witness with us4 ,the causes1 adverted  
to above1 which were so influential in  
exalting the great fabric of ,roman     
power in the ,west1 did not act upon the
 ,east1--nay1 acted in the inverse      
direction4 ,the ,see of ,constantinople 
still remains where the ,council of     
,chalcedon placed it1 where the ,emperor
 ,justinian recognised it to be1 the    
second ,see of the world3 and it has    
ever since refused to admit that ,rome  
was first in any sense in which itself  
was not second4 ,this may serve to set  
in a clear light the vast difference    
between the legitimate power of the     
,first ,see1 and the claim to give      
jurisdiction to all ,bishops4 ,the      

systems1 of which these are expressions1
 are in truth antagonistic4             
,constantinople maintains still that    
constitution of the whole ,church which 
,st4 ,gregory accused its ,bishops of   
undermining4 ,the evil which he foresaw 
has come from his own successors3 the   
cause of ,almighty ,god1 the cause of   
the ,universal ,church1 the privileges  
and rights of ,bishops and ,priests1 as 
against one ,universal ,pope1 are borne 
witness to now1 as they have ever been1 
by the immutable ,east4 ,here1 at least1
 are no sympathies with the heresiarchs 
of the sixteenth century3 the ,synod of 
,bethlehem has anathematised ,luther and
 ,calvin as decidedly as the ,council of
 ,trent4 ,here was no ,henry the ,eighth
 fixing his supremacy on a reluctant    
,church by the axe1 the gibbet1 the     
stake1 and laws of premunire and        
forfeiture3 no ,state using that ,church
 as a cat's-paw for three hundred years1
 and ready now to offer it up a         
holocaust to the demon of liberalism4   

,here is the ancient ,patriarchal       
system1 the thrones of ,constantinople1 
,alexandria1 ,antioch1 and ,jerusalem1  
subsisting still4 ,here is the same body
 of doctrine1 the same seven sacraments1
 the same ,real ,presence1 the same     
mighty sacramental and sacerdotal       
system1 which ,latitudinarian and       
,evangelical1 statesman and heretic1    
dread while they hate1 as being indeed  
the visible presence of ,christ in a    
fallen world1--the residence of a       
spiritual power which controls and      
torments the worldling1 while it        
disproves and falsifies the heretic4    
,here is all that the ,roman ,catholic  
claims as tokens of the truth for       
himself3 but there is one thing more1   
the same protest that we make against   
the monarchical1 as distinct from the   
patriarchal1 power1 the same appeal back
 to early ,councils1 and the unambiguous
 voice of those who cannot be silenced  
or corrupted1 the ,fathers of the       
,church4 ,in the ,fathers of the        

undivided ,church1 the ,east and the    
,north and the ,west1 so long severed1  
meet3 we are not alone1 who have with   
us1 on the very point which divides us  
from our ,mother ,church1 the still     
unbroken line of successors from ,st4   
,athanasius and ,st4 ,chrysostom4 ,there
 is no break in the descent or in the   
doctrine of the ,eastern ,churches4     
,there is the same dogmatic1 the same   
hierarchical fabric1 subsisting now as  
when ,st4 ,gregory addressed ,anastasius
 of ,antioch1 and ,eulogius of          
,alexandria4 ,it may suit the purposes  
of unfair ,roman controversialists to   
brand them as schismatics1 and overcome1
 by calling them a name1 their own most 
formidable opponents3 but history cannot
 be so overcome4 ,they have never       
admitted the ,papal sway1 any more than 
the ,fathers who passed the #bhth ,canon
 of ,chalcedon3 they have1 indeed1      
admitted the ,roman ,primacy1 as those  
same ,fathers admitted it2 for the very 
system1 for which they are witnesses1 is

 not complete without the ,bishop of    
,rome stands at the head of it3 the due 
honour of ,rome is involved in the due  
honour of ,constantinople2 and1 we may  
add1 the due honour of ,canterbury3 the 
same temper1 the same persons1 who      
reject the one1 hate the other4 ,what we
 say they never have admitted is1 that  
which has really worked the disunion of 
the ,universal ,church1 as ,st4 ,gregory
 foretold it would1 the doctrine which  
is the centre of the present ,papal     
system1 which alone makes all its parts 
cohere1 and justifies all its acts1 and 
triumphs over all appeal to argument1   
and all testimonies of antiquity1 viz41 
that1 the ,pope is set over the whole   
,christian world1 and possesses in its  
completeness and plenitude that power   
which ,christ left on earth for the good
 of the ,church4#afh ,they have never   
for a moment admitted that the ,bishops 
of the ,universal ,church were the      
,pope's delegates1 and received their   
jurisdiction from him4 ,we fight1 it    

must be admitted1 at some disadvantage  
with our opponents4 ,the long subjection
 which our ,church yielded to ,rome1 the
 manifold obligations under which we lie
 to her1 the complete unsettling of the 
ecclesiastical and doctrinal system in  
the sixteenth century1 the horrible     
vices of those who effected the change1 
the connection with those whose doctrine
 has now worked itself out into         
,socinianism1 infidelity1 and anarchy1  
the inability we have ever since been   
under of shaking ourselves completely   
clear of them1 the thoroughly           
unsatisfactory position of the state    
towards us1 as a ,church1 at            
present1--all these things are against  
us1--all these things tell on the mind  
which really lives and dwells on        
antiquity1 and looks to the pure        
,apostolic ,church4 ,still1 though they 
weaken1 they do not overcome our cause4 
,but from all these objections the      
witness of the ,eastern ,churches is    
free4 ,they were never subject to ,rome1

 but to their own ,patriarchs2 they     
derived not their ,christianity from    
her3 the ,priesthood1 and the pure      
unbloody sacrifice1 and the power to    
bind and to loose1 remain undisputed    
among them3 the ,eastern mind cannot    
conceive a ,church without them4 ,they  
have received no reformation from those 
whose lives were a scandal to all       
,christian men3 they are not mixed up   
with the ,lutheran or ,calvinistic      
heresy3 nor has ,erastianism eaten out  
their life4 ,yet1 if we are schismatics1
 so are they1 and on the same ground4   
,moreover the ,roman ,church has again  
and again treated with them as parts of 
the true ,church4 ,it is only in        
comparatively modern times1 that as the 
hope of re-union became fainter1 the    
line of denying their being members of  
the ,one ,body has been taken up4 ,i    
have seen even so late as the time of   
,clement the ,eighth a letter of that   
,pope to the ,czar1 in which he treats  
him as already belonging to the ,church4

 ,moreover the ,eastern ,church has put 
forth the best and most convincing sign 
of ,catholicity1 life3 to her1 since her
 separation from ,rome1 and to this     
particular attention must be claimed1 is
 due the most remarkable conversion of a
 great nation to the ,faith which has   
taken place in the last eight hundred   
years--,russia with her ,bishops1 her   
clergy1 her monasteries1 her convents1  
her ,christian people1 her ancient      
discipline1 her completely organised    
,church system1 her whole country won   
from ,paganism by the preaching of      
,monks and ,missionary ,bishops1 is a   
witness to the ,greek ,church 7which who
 shall gainsay87 that she is a true     
member of the ,one ,body4 ,the          
,patriarch of ,constantinople exercised 
that charge which the ,council of       
,chalcedon gave him1 and ordained       
,bishops among the barbarians1 and the  
,spirit of ,god blessed their labours1  
and the whole ,north became his         
spiritual offspring4 ,rome cannot show1 

since she has been divided from the     
,east1 a conversion on so large a scale1
 so complete1 so permanent4 ,and on that
 great mass she has hitherto made no    
impression4 ,it is a complete refutation
 of her claim to be by herself          
,catholic1 that there exists out of her 
communion a ,body of ,apostolic descent 
and government1 with the same doctrinal 
system as her own1 with the ascetic     
principle as strongly developed1 with   
the same claim to miracles1--with all1  
in fact1 which characterises a ,church2 
a ,body1 moreover1 so large1 that1      
supposing the non-existence of the      
,roman ,communion1 the promises of ,god 
in ,scripture to ,his ,church might be  
supposed to be fulfilled in that        
,body4#afi ,and this ,body1 like        
ourselves1 denies that particular ,roman
 claim1 for which ,rome would have us   
and them to be schismatic4 ,and it has  
denied it not merely for three hundred  
years1 but from the time that it has    
been advanced4 ,truly all that was      

deficient on our side seems made up by  
the ,greek ,church4 ,and this living and
 continuous witness of a thousand years 
is to be added to that most decisive and
 unambiguous voice of the whole         
undivided ancient ,church4  ,i have1    
throughout these remarks1 considered the
 ,church of ,christ to be what1 at the  
,councils of ,nicea1 ,ephesus1 and      
,chalcedon1 she so manifestly appeared1 
one organic whole2 a ,body1 with ,one   
,head1 and many members2 as ,st4        
,gregory says1 ,peter1 and ,paul1 and   
,andrew1 and ,john2 a kingdom with ,one 
,sovereign1 and rulers1 an ,apostolic   
,college appointed by that ,head1 with a
 direct commission from ,himself4 ,i    
believe that no other idea about the    
,church prevailed up to ,st4 ,gregory's 
time4 ,it follows that all so-called    
national churches1 unless they be       
subordinate to the law of this kingdom1 
are so many infringements of the great  
primary law of unity1 in that they set  
up a member instead of the ,body4 ,st4  

,paul1 in the #abth chapter of the #ast 
,epistle to the ,corinthians1 has       
clearly set forth such1 and no less1 to 
be the unity of ,christ's ,body4        
,certainly it is a difficulty1 that we  
must admit this essential law to be at  
present broken4 ,but ,i do not think it 
fair to argue against a provisional and 
temporary state1 such as that of the    
,church of ,england is confessed to     
be--which1 too1 has been forced upon    
her--as if it were a normal state1 one  
that we have chosen1 a theory of unity  
that we put forth over against the      
ancient theory1 or the present ,roman   
one4 ,nay1 thousands and ten thousands  
feel1 the whole rising mind of the      
,church feels1 that we are torn from    
,faith's ancient home1 that we groan    
within ourselves1 waiting until ,god in 
his good time restore a visible unity to
 ,his ,church1 till the ,east and the   
,west and the ,south be one again in the
 mind of ,christ4 ,who but must view it 
as a token of that future blessing1 that

 public prayers have been offered up in 
,france and ,italy for such a           
consummation8 ,let us begin to pray for 
each other1 and we must end by being    
one4 ,let us1 too1 pray that the clouds 
of error and prejudice1 the intense     
blind jealousy on one side1 the cruel   
and disingenuous temper on the other1   
may be subdued by the ,spirit of ,god1  
who in some great and blessed ,pentecost
 shall draw long alienated hearts       
together1 and mould them into a union   
closer than has ever been1 against an   
attack the last and most terrible of the
 foretold enemy1 the tokens of whose    
coming are at hand4  ,but the ,roman    
,catholic1 who seems to escape this     
difficulty1 and points to his communion 
as one organic whole1 falls into        
another4 ,grant that it is one1 but it  
is at the expense of ceasing to be      
,catholic3 it has lost all the ,east and
 the ,north1 and part of the ,west4     
,thus1 in this choice between           
difficulties1 it seems the least to     

suppose that the unity of ,christendom  
may be for a time suspended1 during     
which the several parts of ,christ's    
,body retain communion with the one     
,head1 and thence derive life1 though   
active communion with each other is     
suspended4 ,a less difficulty1 ,i say1  
than to cut off1 not merely our own     
,church1 but the seventy millions of the
 ,eastern ,church1 having a complete    
inward identity with the ,roman1 from   
the covenant of salvation1 merely       
because that intercommunion is prevented
 by a claim to spiritual monarchy1 which
 was unknown in the best ages of the    
,church1 and has been resisted ever     
since it was set up4 ,if this view be   
true1 we should expect that the several 
parts1 though living1 would yet be      
languishing1 and far from that healthy  
vigour which they ought to possess2 that
 the ,great ,head would give manifold   
warnings of the injury done to ,his     
,body4 ,now1 it is very remarkable that 
the circumstances1 no less of the ,latin

 than of the ,eastern and the ,anglican 
,church1 exactly agree to this          
expectation4 ,i need not speak on this  
point of the second and third2 but ,i   
cannot help thinking that they who have 
suffered themselves to be driven by     
fearful scandals out of our bosom1 who  
have brooded over acknowledged but      
unrelieved wants1 till the duty of      
patient long-suffering has been         
forgotten1 close their eyes to the state
 of ,france1 ,spain1 and ,italy1 under  
what they have now learnt to call by    
itself the ,catholic ,church4 ,yet are  
there tokens abroad which men of less   
spiritual discernment might lay to      
heart4 ,does the obscene rout of ,ronge 
and ,czerski1 bursting forth from the   
bosom of the ,roman ,church1 awake no   
misgiving8 ,fearful1 when viewed by     
,scripture and antiquity1 as the state  
of ,england is1 7an argument which is   
now being used against our communion    
with such effect on tender and loving   
minds17 he must be bold who would       

venture to say that the relation of the 
,french ,church to the ,french nation in
 the last century1 or its relation even 
now1 greatly as the present ,french     
,church is to be admired and sympathised
 with1 does not offer as much ground for
 fearful apprehension1 as much reason to
 dread1 lest the terms on which victory 
is promised to the ,church over the     
world have been essentially broken4 ,i  
fear there is no doubt that two-thirds  
of the ,french capital are not          
,christian1 in any sense of the word2   
and probably the proportion is as great 
in the larger towns4 ,how did this state
 of things arise8 ,how has nearly the   
whole intellect of that country become  
infidel8 ,from the ,french ,revolution1 
it will be answered4 ,but how could that
 great ,satanical outburst have ever    
taken place1 had the ,church of ,christ1
 free from corruption1 as those who have
 left us believe1 and throned in the    
possession of sixteen hundred years1    
with its numberless religious houses1   

its unmarried clergy1 and great         
episcopate1 been discharging its        
functions1 ,i do not say aright1 but    
with any moderate efficiency8 ,surely   
the acts of the ,states ,general were as
 bad as those of ,henry the ,eighth2 yet
 its members were ,catholics1 in full   
communion with the ,roman ,see4 ,surely 
the ecclesiastical legislation of       
,napoleon was as uncatholic as that of a
 ,house of ,commons2 yet it was         
sanctioned by ,concordat with the ,pope4
 ,but if manifold corruptions did not   
unchurch the ,gallican communion in the 
last century1--if the mass of a great   
nation1 which the ,church once          
completely possessed1 but has now       
surrendered to active unbelief1 does not
 invalidate her claim to be a pure      
communion at present1 why are such      
things alleged as so fatal a mark       
against us8 ,god forbid that one should 
mention such things without the deepest 
sorrow2 but when our troubles1 and      
difficulties1 and relations with the    

state1 and the alienated hearts of our  
people1 and the absence of external     
discipline and inward guidance1 and the 
misery of our divisions1 are alleged to 
prove that we are out of the pale of the
 ,church1 these things ought to be      
weighed on the other side4 ,there ought 
not to be different measures on         
different sides of the ,channel4 ,i     
forbear to speak of the state of ,spain1
 ,portugal1 and much of ,italy2 but ,i  
imagine that the worst deeds of the     
,reformation were at least paralleled by
 what the ,church has had to endure     
there from the hands of her own         
children4 ,i believe that our own most  
sad corruptions have1 too1 their        
counterpart among ,churches in communion
 with the ,apostolic ,see4  ,but to     
conclude4 ,as our defence against the   
charge of ,schism rests upon the witness
 of the ancient ,church1 thus fully     
corroborated by the ,eastern ,communion1
 so our whole safety lies in maintaining
 the clear indubitable doctrine of that 

,church4 ,i have avoided the whole      
question of doctrine in these remarks1  
both as leading me into a wider field   
than that which ,i am obliged to        
traverse so cursorily at present1 and as
 distinct from the question of ,schism1 
though very closely connected with it4  
,no one can deny that it is not         
sufficient for our safety to repel one  
single charge3 but this charge was the  
most pressing1 the most specious1 and   
one which requires to be disposed of    
before the mind can with equanimity     
enter upon any other4 ,my conclusion is1
 that upon the strictest ,church        
principles1--in other words1 upon those 
principles which all ,christendom1 in   
its undivided state1 recognised for six 
hundred years1 which may be seen in the 
,canons and ,decrees of ,ecumenical     
,councils1 our present position is      
tenable at least till the convocation of
 a really ,ecumenical ,council4 ,the    
,church of ,england has never rejected  
the communion of the ,western1 and still

 less that of the ,eastern ,church3     
neither has the ,eastern ,church        
pronounced against her4 ,she has only   
exercised the right of being governed by
 her own ,bishops and ,metropolitans4   
,there is1 indeed1 much peril of her    
being forced from this1 her true        
position1--a peril lately pointed out by
 the author of ,the real ,danger of the 
,church of ,england4 ,i need say little 
where he has said so much1 in language  
so well-timed1 so moderate1 and from a  
position which cannot be misrepresented4
 ,i will only add1 that ,i cannot       
conceive any course which would so      
thoroughly quench the awakened hopes of 
the ,church's most faithful children1 as
 that her rulers1 which ,i am loth even 
to imagine1 at a crisis like the        
present1 should seek support1 not in the
 rock of the ancient ,church1 in which  
,andrewes1 ,laud1 and ,ken1 took refuge 
of old1--not in the unbroken tradition  
of the ,east and ,west1 by which1 if at 
all1 the ,church of ,christ must be     

restored1--not in that great system     
which first subdued and then impregnated
 with fresh life the old ,roman ,empire1
 delaying a fall which nothing could    
avert1 and which lastly built up out of 
these misshapen ruins all the ,christian
 polities of ,europe1--not in that      
time-honoured and universal fabric of   
doctrine to which our own ,prayer-book  
bears witness1 but in the wild1         
inconsistent1 treacherous sympathies of 
a ,protestantism1 which the history of  
three hundred years in many various     
countries has proved to be dead to the  
heart's core4 ,farewell1 indeed1 to any 
true defence of the ,church of ,england1
 any hope of her being built up once    
more to an ,apostolical beauty and      
glory1 of recovering her lost discipline
 and intercommunion with ,christendom1  
if she is by any act of her rulers1 or  
any decree of her own1 to be mixed up   
with the followers of ,luther1 ,calvin1 
or ,zuingle3 with those who have neither
 love1 nor unity1 nor dogmatic truth1   

nor sacraments1 nor a visible ,church   
among themselves3 who1 never consistent 
but in the depth of error1 and the      
secret instinct of heresy1 deny         
regeneration in ,baptism1 and the gift  
of the ,holy ,spirit in ,confirmation   
and ,orders1 and the power of the keys  
in absolution1 and the ,lord's ,body in 
the ,eucharist4 ,that is the way of     
death3 who is so mad as to enter on it8 
,when ,protestantism lies throughout    
,europe and ,america a great disjointed 
mass1 in all the putridity of           
dissolution1    ,monstrum horrendum1    
informe1 ingens1 cui lumen ademptum1    
judicially blinded1 so that it cannot   
perceive ,christ dwelling in his        
,church1 while she grows to the measure 
of the stature of the perfect man1 and  
making her members and ministers ,his   
organs--who would think of joining to it
 a living ,church8 ,have we gone through
 so much experience in vain8 ,have we   
seen it develop into ,socinianism at    
,geneva1 and utter unbelief in ,germany1

 and a host of sects in ,england and    
,america1 whose name is ,legion1 and who
 seem to be agreed in nothing else but  
in the denial of sacramental grace1 and 
visible unity2 and all this at the last 
hour1 in the very turning point of our  
destiny1 to seek alliance with those who
 have no other point of union but common
 resistance to the tabernacle of ,god   
among men8 ,a persuasion that nothing   
short of the very existence of the      
,church of ,england is at stake1 that   
one step into the wrong will fix her    
character and her prospects for ever1   
compels one to say that certain acts and
 tendencies of late have struck dismay  
into those who desire above all things  
to love and respect their spiritual     
mother4 ,if the ,jerusalem ,bishopric1  
promoted1 7at the instance of a foreign 
minister1 not in communion with our     
,church1#agj and who has recorded in the
 strongest terms his objection to her   
apostolical episcopacy17 by two ,bishops
 on their private responsibility1       

without any authority from the ,church  
of which they are indeed most honoured1 
but only individual rulers1 be the      
commencement of a course of amalgamation
 with the ,lutheran or ,calvinistic     
heresy1 who that values the authority of
 the ancient undivided ,church1 will not
 feel his allegiance to our own branch  
fearfully shaken8 ,the time for silence 
is past4 ,there is such a thing as      
propter vitam vivendi perdere causas4   
,it must be said publicly that such a   
course will lead infallibly to a schism1
 which will bury the ,church of ,england
 in its ruins4 ,if she is to become a   
mere lurking-place for omnigenous       
latitudinarianism2 if first principles  
of the faith1 such as baptismal         
regeneration1 and priestly absolution1  
may be indifferently held or denied     
within her pale1--though1 if not ,god's 
very truths1 they are most fearful      
blasphemies1--the sooner she is swept   
away the better4 ,there is no mean      
between her being a wall daubed with    

untempered mortar1 or the city of the   
living ,god4 ,i speak as one who has    
every thing commonly valuable to man    
depending on this decision2 moreover1 as
 a ,priest in that communion1 whose     
constitution1 violently suspended by an 
enemy for one hundred and thirty years1 
yet requires that every one of her acts1
 which bind her as a whole1 should be   
assented to by her ,priesthood in       
representation1 as well as by her       
,episcopacy4 ,if the grace of the       
sacraments may be publicly denied by    
ministers of the ,church1 nay1 by a     
,bishop ex cathedra1 with impunity1 in  
direct violation of the most solemn     
forms to which they have sworn          
obedience1 while the assertion of       
,christ's ,real ,presence in the        
,eucharist draws down censure on the    
most devoted head1 the communion which  
endures such iniquity requires the      
constant uninterrupted intercession of  
her worthier children1 that she be not  
finally forsaken of ,god1 and perish at 

the first attack of antichrist4         
99       99       99       99       99  
,r4 ,,clay1 ,,printer1 ,,bread ,,street 
,,hill4         99       99       99    
99       99   ,,notes  #a ,bellarmin4 de
 ,rom4 ,pont4 ,lib4 iv4 #be2 iv4 #bd2 i4
 #i4  #b ,de ,maistre1 du ,pape4 ,liv4  
i4 ch4 i4  #c ,s4 ,cyprian de ,unit4    
,ecc4 #ab4  #d ,development1 c4 p4 #bb4 
#e ,thomassin1 ,part i4 lib4 i4 ch4 #d4 
,de l'ancienne discipline de l',eglise4 
#f ,st4 ,cypr4 de ,unit4 #d4 ,oxford    
,tr4  #g ,quoted by ,thomassin1 ut sup4 
#h ,ibid4  #i ,s4 ,aug4 ,tom4 v4 #gjf1  
,b4  #aj ,s4 ,chrys4 ,tom4 ii4 #eid1 ,b4
  #aa ,st4 ,jerome1 tom4 ii4 #bgi1      
,vallarsi4  #ab ,development1 p4 #bgi4  
#ac ,the words in italics are left out  
by ,mr4 ,n4  #ad ,thomassin1 ,part i4   
liv4 i4 ch4 iii4  #ae ,of a passage in  
this letter1 ,de ,maistre says 7,du     
,pape1 liv4 i4 ch4 #f73 ,resuming the   
order of the most marked testimonies    
which present themselves to me on the   
general question1 ,i find1 first1 ,st4  

,cyprian declare1 in the middle of the  
third century1 that heresies and schisms
 only existed in the ,church because all
 eyes were not turned towards the       
,priest of ,god1 towards the ,pontiff   
who judges in the ,church in the place  
of ,jesus ,christ4 ,a pretty strong     
testimony1 indeed1 and one which would  
go far to convince me of the fact4 ,pity
 it is1 that when one refers to the     
original1 one finds that ,st4 ,cyprian  
is actually speaking of himself1 and of 
the consequences of any where setting up
 in a see a schismatical ,bishop against
 the true one4 ,after this1 who will    
trust ,de ,maistre's facts without      
testing them8 ,the truth is1 he had     
taken the quotation at second hand1 and 
never looked to see to whom it was      
applied4 ,it suited the ,pope so        
admirably that it must have been meant  
for him4 ,but ,i recommend no one to    
change their faith upon the authority of
 quotations which they do not test4  #af
 ,epist4 #fg4 ,de ,marciano ,arelatensi4

  #ag ,s4 ,cyp4 ,ep4 #bi4  #ah ,ep4 #gc4
  #ai ,ep4 #gd4  #bj ,de ,unit4 ,ecc4   
,oxf4 ,tr4  #ba ,op4 ,st4 ,cypr4 p4     
#cbi4 ed4 ,baluz4  #bb ,tom4 ix4 p4     
#aaj4  #bc ,s4 ,cyp4 ,ep4 #ge4  #bd     
,liv4 ,,vii4 sec4 #cb4  #be ,tom4 ix4   
#ig4 ,g4  #bf ,tom4 ii4 #if4 ,f4  #bg   
,tom4 ii4 #bii4 ,c4  #bh ,fleury1 liv4  
vii4 #bc4  #bi ,ep4 #fh4 ,s4 ,cypriani4 
#cj ,liv4 i4 ch4 #b1 sect4 #e4  #ca     
,liv4 i4 ch4 #c1 sect4 #h4  #cb ,fleury1
 ,liv4 xii4 xxix4 ,conc4 ,sard4 ,can4   
#c1 #d1 #g4  #cc ,thomassin1 ,part ,i4  
liv4 i4 ch4 #dj4 sect4 #b4  #cd ,idem1  
ut supra4  #ce ,st4 ,aug4 ,tom4 ,v4     
#ajig4 ,b4  #cf ,tom4 ,,iv4 #abae4 ,e4  
#cg ,tom4 ,v4 #bdj4 ,f4  #ch ,tom4 ,v4  
#aaid4 ,e4  #ci ,tom4 ,v4 #aaie4 ,e4    
#dj ,tom4 ,,iii4 ,part ii4 #hjj4 ,g4    
#da ,he allows that ,peter may be called
 the rock4 ,tom4 i4 #cb1 ,e4  #db       
,fleury #bc1 #cj4 ,oxf4 ,tr4  #dc ,st4  
,aug4 ,tom4 ,,ii4 #fah4 ,b4  #dd ,st4   
,aug4 ,tom4 ii4 #fce4 ,f4  #de ,tom4 ii4
 #fci4 ,b4  #df ,quoted by ,fleury1 #bc1

 #cb4 ,oxford ,tr4  #dg ,fleury1 ,liv4  
#bd1 #ce4 ,oxf4 ,tr4 ,see the original3 
,codex ,eccl4 ,afric4 #ach4  #dh        
,chillingworth1 quoted by ,mr4 ,newman1 
,developement1 p4 #d4  #di ,tom4 ix4    
#cgb4 ,f4  #ej ,tom4 ix4 #cdj4 ,a4  #ea 
,tom4 v4 #aaii4 ,d4 #abjb4 ,f4  #eb     
,def4 ,cleri4 ,gall4 ,pars ii4 lib4 xii4
 ch4 #e4  #ec ,def4 ,cleri4 ,gall4 ,pars
 ii4 lib4 xii4 ch4 #g4  #ed ,ibid4 lib4 
xiii4 ch4 #ai4  #ee ,st4 ,chrys4 ,tom4  
ix4 #geg4 ,a4  #ef ,lacordaire1 ,sur le 
,saint ,siege4  #eg ,st4 ,aug4 ,tom4 x4 
#dab4 ,b4 quoted in ,fleury1 ,oxf4 ,tr4 
#c4 #ic4  #eh ,def4 ,clerc4 ,gall4 ,pars
 ii4 lib4 xii4 c4 #aj4  #ei ,fleury1    
#be-dg4 ,oxf4 ,trans4  #fj ,ut sup4 ch4 
#ad4  #fa ,du ,pape1 ,liv4 i4 ch4 #b4   
#fb ,id4 ,liv4 i4 ch4 #d4  #fc          
,hammond's ,translation4  #fd           
,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #gb4  #fe       
,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #ha4  #ff       
,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #hc4  #fg       
,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #hi4  #fh ,st4  
,leo4 ,ep4 #dj4  #fi ,st4 ,leo4 ,ep4    

#aj4 ,edit4 ,ball4  #gj ,ib4 ,ep4 #fe4  
#ga ,ep4 #aj4  #gb ,st4 ,leo4 ,ep4 #ad1 
cap4 i4 xi4  #gc ,s4 ,leon4 ,ep #f1 cap4
 #b4  #gd ,st4 ,jerome1 ,ep4 #adf4      
,vallarsi4  #ge ,theodoret1 ,ep4 in     
,epist4 ,s4 ,leonis1 #eb4  #gf ,mansi1  
#f1 #hag1 quoted by ,gieseler1 tom4 i4  
part ii4 p4 #aib4  #gg ,isidorus1 ,hisp4
 ,etymol4 #g1 #ab1 quoted by ,gieseler1 
ut sup4 p4 #djf4  #gh ,gieseler1 tom4 i4
 part ii4 pp4 #aia1 #aib4  #gi          
,gieseler1 tom4 i4 part ii4 p4 #bje4    
#hj ,theodoret4 ,hist4 ,eccl4 lib4 v4   
ch4 #i4  #ha ,observe this ,council so  
called by the ,greeks before it was     
received by the ,west4  #hb ,it must be 
remembered that ,diocese1 in the        
language of this time1 means the several
 provinces comprehended in a            
,patriarchate4 ,it was the civil term4  
#hc ,s4 ,bas4 ,m4 ,ep4 #bci4  #hd       
,gieseler1 tom4 i4 part ii4 p4 #bjb4    
#he ,sozomen1 ,hist4 iii4 ch4 #h4  #hf  
,ibid4 ,hist4 iii4 ch4 #aj4  #hg        
,socrates1 ,hist4 ii4 ch4 #ag4  #hh     

,bossuet1 ,sermon sur l',unite de       
l',eglise4  #hi ,bossuet1 ,def4 ,cleri  
,gall4 ,pars ii4 lib4 xii4 ch1 #ae1 #af1
 #ag4  #ij ,s4 ,leon4 ,ep4 #abj4  #ia   
,ib4 c4 #d4  #ib ,s4 ,leon4 ,ep4 #ajb4  
#ic ,ch4 #ah1 ibid4  #id ,fleury1 ,liv4 
xxviii4 #bi4 ,oxf4 ,tr4  #ie ,theod4    
lib4 v4 ch4 #bh1 quoted by ,tillemont4  
#if ,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #gaa4  #ig  
,the sittings are variously counted4    
#ih ,fleury1 liv4 xxviii4 xxx4 ,oxf4    
,tr4  #ii ,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #gjg4 
#ajj ,s4 ,leon4 ,ep4 #ajd1 cap4 #c4     
#aja ,s4 ,leon4 ,ep4 #aje4  #ajb ,ep4   
#ajf1 cap4 #d4  #ajc ,ep4 #aje1 cap4 #b4
  #ajd ,ep4 #ajf1 cap4 #b-e4  #aje ,ep4 
#ajg4  #ajf ,ep4 #aje1 cap4 #c4  #ajg   
,tillemont1 tom4 xv4 p4 #gca4  #ajh ,s4 
,leon4 ,ep4 #ajg4  #aji ,s4 ,greg4 ,ep4 
lib4 iii4 #aj4  #aaj ,on ,development1  
p4 #cjg4  #aaa ,fleury1 liv4 xxxii4 #ed4
  #aab ,gieseler1 vol4 i4 part4 ii4 p4  
#aib4  #aac ,nov4 i4 #a-g1 quoted by    
,gieseler4  #aad ,fleury1 liv4 xxxiii4  
#d1 #e1 #f4  #aae ,nov4 vi4 ,epilogus4  

#aaf ,nov4 cxxiii4 c4 #c4  #aag ,ad     
,valerianum1 ,mansi1 ix4 #gcb4  #aah    
,contra litt4 ,petiliani1 ii4 #ea1 all  
quoted by ,gieseler4  #aai ,bossuet1    
,def4 ,cleri ,gall4 pars ii4 lib4 xii4  
cap4 #ai4  #abj ,fleury1 liv4 xxxiii4   
#eb4  #aba ,bossuet1 ut sup4  #abb ,du  
,pape1 liv4 i4 ch4 #c4  #abc ,fleury1   
,liv4 xxxiii4 #eb4  #abd ,sozomen1 lib4 
iii4 ch4 #aa4  #abe ,tom4 i4 part ii4   
#daj4  #abf ,def4 ,cleri ,gall4 pars ii4
 lib4 xii4 cap4 #bi4  #abg ,id4 cap4    
#ca4  #abh ,du ,pape1 liv4 iii4 ch4 #g4 
#abi ,s4 ,greg4 ,ep4 lib4 ii4 #eb4  #acj
 ,lib4 ix4 #ei1 ,gieseler4  #aca ,lib4  
xi4 #cg1 ,gieseler4  #acb ,gieseler1    
tom4 i4 part ii4 #dja4  #acc ,liv4      
xxxiv4 #fj4  #acd ,liv4 xxxv4 #ai4  #ace
 ,ep4 ,s4 ,greg4 lib4 v4 #dc4  #acf     
,lib4 ix4 #fh4  #acg ,lib4 v4 #ai4  #ach
 ,lib4 vii4 #cc4  #aci ,lib4 v4 ,ep4    
#bj4  #adj ,lib4 vii4 #bg4  #ada ,i     
cannot but consider ,st4 ,gregory's     
words to contain one of the most        
remarkable prophecies to be found in    

history2 for this assuming the title and
 exercising the power of universal ,pope
 has actually led not only to the       
concentration of all executive power in 
the ,roman ,see1 but to the conviction1 
among its warmest partisans1 that the   
whole existence of the ,church depends  
on the single ,see of ,rome4 ,take the  
following from ,de ,maistre3            
,christianity rests entirely upon the   
,sovereign ,pontiff4--,without the      
,sovereign ,pontiff the whole edifice of
 ,christianity is undermined1 and only  
waits1 for a complete falling in1 the   
development of certain circumstances    
which shall be put in their full        
light4--,what remains incontestable is1 
that if the ,bishops1 assembled without 
the ,pope1 may call themselves the      
,church1 and claim any other power but  
that of certifying the person of the    
,pope in those infinitely rare moments  
when it might be doubtful1 unity exists 
no longer1 and the visible ,church      
disappears4--,the ,sovereign ,pontiff is

 the necessary1 only1 and exclusive     
foundation of ,christianity4 ,to him    
belong the promises1 with him disappears
 unity1 that is1 the ,church4--,the     
supremacy of the ,pope being the capital
 dogma without which ,christianity      
cannot subsist1 all the ,churches1 which
 reject this dogma1 the importance of   
which they conceal from themselves1 are 
agreed even without knowing it3 all the 
rest is but accessory1 and thence comes 
their affinity1 of which they know not  
the cause4--,du ,pape1 ,discours        
,preliminaire2 ,liv4 i4 ch4 #ac2 ,liv4  
iv4 ch4 #e4 ,could we have any stronger 
witness to the antagonism between the   
,papal and ,patriarchal or ,episcopal   
,system8 ,or can any words be spoken    
more opposed in tone than these to the  
writings of ,fathers and decrees of     
ancient ,councils8 ,or are they who say 
such things wise defenders of the       
,church or promoters of unity8  #adb    
,lib4 viii4 #cj4  #adc ,part i4 liv4 i4 
ch4 #aa4  #add ,mansi1 vi4 #ajjf4 #ajab1

 quoted by ,gieseler4  #ade ,lib4 v4    
#ah4  #adf ,proph4 ,office1 p4 #bba4    
,development1 p4 #aj4  #adg ,sect4 #ac4 
,march #bh1 #fha1 translated in         
,landon's ,councils4  #adh ,bossuet1    
,def4 ,cler4 ,gall4 pars ii4 lib4 xii4  
cap4 #cd4  #adi ,bellarmin de ,pont4    
,rom4 lib4 iv4 cap4 #bd1 #be4  #aej     
,bellarmin de ,pont4 ,rom4 lib4 i4 cap4 
#i4  #aea ,def4 ,cleri4 ,gall4 pars ii4 
lib4 xiii4 cap4 #aa4  #aeb ,bossuet is  
very moderate4 ,st4 ,chrysostom says1   
7on ,acts1 ,hom4 #cc17 ,james was       
,bishop in ,jerusalem1 and so speaks    
last2 and presently1 ,there was no pride
 in the ,church1 but much good order4   
,and see1 after ,peter1 ,paul speaketh1 
and no one rebukes him3 ,james waits and
 starts not out of his place1 for he was
 entrusted with the government4 ,what   
would ,st4 ,chrysostom say to           
,bellarmine's doctrine8  #aec ,ep4 ,s4  
,innoc42 in ,op4 ,s4 ,aug4 tom4 ii4     
#fah2 see above1 p4 #ei4  #aed ,ibid1   
quoted above1 p4 #fj4  #aee ,st4 ,leo4  

,serm4 in ,anniver4 ,assumpt4 quoted    
above4  #aef ,ep4 #aj4  #aeg ,optat4 l4 
ix4 contra ,parmen4  #aeh ,greg4 ,nyss4 
,t4 #b4 #gdf4  #aei ,caesar4 ,arel4     
,epist4 ad ,symm4  #afj ,quoted above1  
p4 #eh4  #afa ,cap4 xiv4 lib4 xiii4 pars
 #b4  #afb ,bossuet1 ,def4 c4 ,pars ii4 
lib4 xiii4 cap4 #bj4  #afc ,de ,rom4    
,pont4 lib4 iv4 cap4 #bf4  #afd         
,developement1 p4 #bh4  #afe ,du ,pape1 
liv4 ii4 ch4 #f2 and ,discourse         
,preliminaire4  #aff ,see the account of
 his death in ,bowden's ,life4  #afg    
,dante1 ,paradiso1 xii4 #ee4  #afh      
,bellarmine1 quoted above4  #afi ,i owe 
this observation to a friend who has had
 great opportunities of judging about   
the state of the ,russian ,church4  #agj
 ,introduction to ,die ,zukunft ,kirche4
 ,the work advocates the introduction of
 ,episcopacy into the ,german ,church1  
but not the ,apostolical ,episcopacy of 
the ,english ,church1 which ,m4 ,bunsen 
condemns in terms as strong as any which
 have been used by any opponent of the  

,bishopric4 ',if ever and at any time   
the ,episcopate1 in the sense of        
,anglicanism1 should be raised into a   
distinctive mark of ,churchdom among us1
 not constitutionally and nationally 787
 it would1 in my opinion1 be striking   
the death-blow to the innermost germ of 
life in the ,church4' ,he will exert    
every energy1 and shed the last drop of 
his blood in order to preserve the      
,church of the ,german nation against   
such an ,episcopacy1--,english          
,churchman1 ,april #cj1 #ahdf4 ,there   
are solemn words1 which have found an   
echo in many hearts1 ,may that measure  
utterly fail1 and come to nought1 and be
 as though it had never been6