The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

d-i'FOUNDATION AND EXTENT OF THE SUl'UEMACY.CHAPTER V.FOUNDATION AND EXTENT OF THE SUPEEMACY.This is the favourable point for taking a view of the characterof the Papacy,—its lofty pretensions and claims, and thefoundation on which all these are based. The conflict wagedby the seventh Gregory, and which ended in disaster to himself,but in triumph to his system, brings out in striking reliefthe essential principles, the guiding spirit, and the unvaryingaims, of the popedom. When intelligently contemplated,the Papacy is seen to be a monarchy of a mixedkind, partly ecclesiastical and partly civil, founded professedlyupon divine right,and claiming vmiversal jurisdictionand dominion. The empire which Gregory VII. strove toerect was of this mixed kind ; the dominion he arrogatedand exercised extended directly or indirectly to all thingstemporal and spiritual ;and this vast power he claimed/«r(3divino. This it now becomes our business to show.The Pope had now made himself absolute master in theChurch. There was, in fact, but one bishop, and Christendomwas his diocese. From this one man flowed all ecclesiasticalhonours, offices, acts, and jurisdiction. The pontiffspresided in all councils by their legates ;they were thesupreme arbiters in all controversies that arose respectingreligion or church discipline. " Gregory VII.," remarksD'Aubigne, " claimed the same power over all the bishops