1. These Ecumenical Councils with the Pope at their head are believed by the Romanists to be, like the Divinity himself infallible and incapable of error.
2. Yet the learned Albert Pighius scruples not to assert: that General Councils are, not of divine, but of merely human, institution; that They originate only from a dictate of right reason, because doubtful matters may be better debated by many than by few, more especially when the many are prudent and experienced persons; that In the canonical Scriptures there is not a word about General Councils, nor from the institution of the Apostles did the primitive Church of Christ receive any thing special respecting them: and that From theological grounds it is impossible to demonstrate that the whole Church ought to be represented by a General Council. [61d]
V. Pass we next to the evidence upon which all the manifold peculiarities of Romanism claim to repose.
1. The members of the Council of Trent declare: that, In settling and defining the doctrines and practices of their Church, they follow the UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND TESTIMONY of the Holy Fathers. [62a]
2. Yet a modern romish doctor, Mr. Husenbeth, has been driven to confess: that, Although the Latin Clergy OUGHT to be able to trace every point of what he calls Catholic Faith up to the Apostles, they, in truth, CANNOT trace their peculiarities up to the Apostles THROUGH THE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS OF THE THREE FIRST CENTURIES. [62b]
IV. How persons, who make such acknowledgments, can still have adhered to the communion of the Church of Rome, I pretend not to comprehend, and therefore cannot explain.
Suffice it to say: that the acknowledgments have been made, and that the individuals have nevertheless most unaccountably maintained and defended their unsubstantiated and confessedly unsubstantiable peculiarities.
CHAPTER IX.
EXTRAORDINARY THEOLOGICAL PRACTICES OF THE ROMISH CLERGY.
Remarkable as are the acknowledgments made by the Romish Clergy, their theological practices will be found not less worthy the attention of the honest and conscientious inquirer.
I. The general PRINCIPLE, on which these practices are constructed, is very clearly and distinctly laid down by the Professors of Douay.