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

POPES INFALLIBLE L\ CATHEDRA. 255nistrator is absolutely necessary to the validity of thesesacraments,* So it is quite possible for some evil-mindedpriest,—some Jew, perhaps, in priesfs orders, of which therehave been instances not a few in the Church of Rome,—toplace a mere Sham in Peter's chair,—to place at the headof the Roman Catholic world, not a genuine pope, but, asCarlyle would say, a Simulacrum, Not only is the Catholicworld exposed to this terrible calamity, but, before theRomanist can avail himself of the infallibility, he mustmake sure that such a calamity has not actually befallenit in the person then occupying Peter's chair. He mustassure himself of the right intention of the priest who admittedthe Pope to orders, before he can be certain that heis a true Pope.But on such a matter absolute certainty isimpossible, and moral assurance is the utmost that is attainable.But, granting that this difficulty is got over,there are twenty behind, Romanists do not hold that thePope is infallible at all times and under all circumstances.He is not infallible in his moral conduct, as history abundantlytestifies. Nor is he infallible in his private opinions,for there have been popes who have fallen into the worstheresies. In the theses of the Jesuits, in the college ofClermont, it was maintained, " that Christ hath so committedthe government of his Church to the popes, that he hathconferred on them the same infallibility which he had himself,as often as they speak ex cathedra. ''''f" The Pope,"says Bellarmine, " when he instructs the whole Church inthings concerning the faith, cannot possibly err ; and,whether he be a heretic himself or not, he can by nomeans define anything heretical to be believed by the wholeChurch ;" j a doctrine which has given occasion to some toremark, that it is no wonder that they can work miracles atRome, when they can make apostacy and infallibility dwell* See Stillingfleet's Rational Account, part. iii. chap, iii.f Quoted in Free Thoughts on Toleration of Popery, p, 200.J Bell, de Rom. Pont., lib. iii. c. ii.