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

—lySUNITY OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.to abandon all other positions as untenable, comes at last torest the argument in behalf of his Church*'s unity upon this,even the unreasoning and unquestioning submission of theconscience to the teaching of the Church. In point of fact,this " one comprehensive article*" sums up the entire creedof the Papist : the Church inquires for him, thinks for him,reasons for him, and believes for him ; or, as it was expressedby a plain-speaking Hibernian, who, making his last speechand dying confession at the place of execution, and resolvednot to expose himself to purgatory for want of not believingenough, declared, " that he was a Roman Catholic, and died inthe communion of that Church, and believed as the CatholicChurch ever did believe, now doth believe, or ever shall believe.*"'''Put out the eyes of men, and there will be onlyone opinion about colour ; extinguish the understandings ofmen, and there will be but one opinion regarding religion.This is what Rome does. With her rod of infallibility shetouches the intellect and the conscience, and benumbs theminto torpor. There comes thus to reign within her pale adeep stillness, broken at times by ridiculous disputes, furiousquarrels, and serious differences, on points termed fundamental,which remain unsettled from age to age,—the famousquestion, for instance, touching the seat of infallibility ; andthis profound quiescence, so like the repose of the tomb, accomplishedby the waving of her mystic rod, she calls unity .[-* Free Thoughts on the Toleration of Popery, p. 12. Similar is tliecollier's catechism, or, as it is called in Italy, fides carbonaria,—collier'sfaith,—from the noted story of a collier, who, when questioned concerninghis faith, answered as follows :Q. What do you believe ? yl. I believewhat tlie Church believes. — Q. What does the Church believe ? A. TheCiiurch believes what I believe. Q. Well, then, what is it that both youand the Church believe ? A . We both believe the very same thing.t That Church which makes unity her boast dare not at this momentconvene a General Council. Why ? Because she knows the conflict ofopinions and parties would issue in a break up of the popedom. The unityof the Church of Rome is not an organism, but a petrifaction.