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

CATHOLICITY OF THE CHURCH OF ROME. 199CHAPTER V.CATHOLICITY OF THE CHURCH OF ROME.Catholicity, apostolicity, and infallibility, are other marks,borne only, as Papists affirm, by the Church of Rome, andattesting her claim to be the true Church. Let us brieflystate these marks in their Roman sense ; and still morebriefly inquire whether, in truth, they are to be found inthat Church.Finding numerous passages in the Psalms and the prophetspromising universal and perpetual dominion to the Church,Papists infer that the Church must be catholic or universal,at least since the age of the apostles ; and that any diminutionof her numbers, or any contraction of her limits, so asto leave her in a minority, would invalidate her claim to bethe true Church. " The Church," says the Catechism of theCouncil of Trent, " is rightly called Catholic, because, as StAugustine saith, from the east even unto the west it hasshed abroad the splendour of one faith. Nor is the Churchconfined to the commonwealths of men, or the conventiclesof heretics; it is not bounded by the limits of a single kingdom,or composed of but one tribe; but it embraces all withthe bond of love, whether they be Barbarian or Scythian,bond or free, male or female."* " The term Catholic im-* Catecliismus Romanus, p. 82 j Antverpice, 1596.