Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

SCRIPTURE AND THE FATHERS. 149
**
of error. This is what we Catholics under-
" stand by infallibility.*'
The establishment of this doctrine is of the
last importance to Papists. Without it, they
have
no resting place for the sole of their foot,
even in the scriptures themselves. Of this, the
R. is sensible j and, therefore, he labours hard
to prove its existence. Before entering upon
an examination of his proofs, it may be proper
to inquire, where this prerogative is lodged, and
belongs.
to whom it
Upon this point, the R.
has been very explicit.
*' Some 1750 years ago,'' says he, " 'twas
*'
a settled doctrine that infallibility in doctrinal
" decisions is claimed by the body of the Pas-
" tors united to their head on the promise of
•
Jesus Christ to be with them till the end of
" time. Mat. iilt, and the assistance of the
" Holy Ghost who was sent to teach them all
*'
truth.—John xvi. 13. On this article of doc-
" trine there never was a shade of disagreement
" among Catholics *."
This point, which, he says, has been settled
so many ages ago,
appears, like other sublunary
things, to have undergone various revolutions
since that period. Infallibility has been sometimes
claimed by Councils, and sometimes by
Popes ;
and Protestants have not hesitated heretically
to declare, that it belonged to neither.
Upon
* P. 69.