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

DIFFICULTIES OF THE INFALLIBILITY.2oi)vour to ascertain that the Pope has sought and obtainedthe prayers of the universal Church for the infallible guidanceof the Holy Spirit in the matter. This he may possiblydo, though not without a good deal of trouble. Hohas next to assure himself that the Pope has been atpainsto obtain all possible and desirable information in regard tothe subject of the bull, and more especially from personsliving in the district to which that bull has reference. Now,unless he is pleased to take his information at second hand,he has no possible means of attaining certainty on thispoint, unless by leaving his occupation, and perhaps also hiscountry, and making personal inquiries on the spot as tothe Pope's diligence and discrimination in collecting evidence.Having satisfied himself as to this, he has next toassure himself that the bullhas been universally accepted,that is, that all the bishops of the whole Church have receivedit as an authoritative and infallible decision. Thisopens up a wider sphere of inquiry even than the former.On nothing is it more difficult to obtain certain information,for on nothing are the bishops of the Roman Church sodivided, as on the infallibility of particular bulls. It is afortunate decision indeed which carries along with it theunanimous assent of the Romish clergy. A bull may beheld to be orthodox in Britain, but accounted heretical inFrance ; or it may be accepted as most infallible in France,but repudiated in Spain ; or it may be revered as the dictateof inspiration by the Spanish bishops, but held ascounterfeit by those of Italy. Not a few bulls are in thispredicament. Thus the person finds that this infallibility,instead of being a catholic, is a very provincial affair ; thatby crossing a particular arm of the sea, or traversing a certainchain of mountains, he leavesthe sphere of the infallible,and enters into that of the fallible ; that as he changeshis place on the eartVs surface, so does the pontifical decreechange its character ; and that what is binding uponhim as the dictate of inspiration on the south of the Alps,he is at liberty to disregard as the effusion of folly, of igno-