The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-17

e it might be the worst of bondage. This
: Ultramontanism, or the liberty of the sou
divinely guaranteed by an infallible church
1t is clear that the civil power cannot defn
, how far the circumference Of faith and NOR
ais extends -. If, then, the civi
power be not competent to decide the limit
of the spiritual power, and if the spiritua
power can define with certainty its own lin
its it is evidently supreme. =. Lee
us, then, ascertain somewhat further what il
the meaning of supreme. Any power which
is independent and can alone fix the limits
of its own jurisdiction, and can thereby fz
the limits of all other jurisdictions, is spst
facto supreme. But the Church of Jesus
Christ within the sphere of revelation of faith
and morals is all this, or is nothing, or worse
than nothing, an imposture and an usurpa.
ton, that is, it is Christ or Antichrist. If
it be Antichrist, every Caesar from Nero to
this day is justified. If it be Christ, it is
the supreme power among men," In the
same connection DR.. Begg quotes from the
works of Liguori, by Charles Seager, with
preface by DR.. Wiseman: "That we may in
all things attain this truth, that we may not
err in anything, we ought ever to hold it a
fixed principle that what see white, be-
I;oro - h. hIo Il, &c ~ u;o,o,oh;oo1 Nh,,nh
define it so to be-" The great Roman Con.
troversalist, Bellarmine, also says: f" If the
Pope should SO far err as to commend vices
and to prohibit virtues, the church would be
bound to believe that vices are good and vir-
tues are evil, unless she would sin against
her conscience" That all this absolute do
minion over Romanists may be used for po.
litical purposes will be admitted, and that it
is so used has been demonstrated. Father
.O'Hanlon is asked: "Would he (the priest)
be warranted in Withholding any sacraments
Of the church from man by reason of his
preferring one candidate to another?" He
answers, Absolutely speaking, he would,
because priest is not only warranted, but
bound to Withhold the sacraments from man
who is disposed to commit mortal sim" ;.
In leading Romish journal it is said, GA
Catholic should never attach himself to any
political party composed of heretics. No
one who is truly at heart thorough and
complete Catholic can give his entire adhe-
sion to Protestant leader, be he Wing or
Tory, for in SO doing he divides the ale
glance, and in some instances destroys it al |
together which he owes to the Church"
In view of these and other facts, DR..
Begg remarked, GO There can be no doubt |
therefore that Popery claims, on behalf Of
its Head at Rome the most unlimited power,
and that every Romanist is held bound in po-
litical life to make the interests of the Rom |
ish Church the highest object at which he |
aims, to the exclusion of every other con-
sideration. The practical effect of this, if |
generally introduced, would be entirely tot
destroy our whole liberties, as Rome knows
nothing of liberation when her power is par
amount"
The whole speech of DR.. Begg is full of
interest, and | wish all your readers could
see it, and indeed the "Full Report" but
valuing these proofs of Rome's usurpation
very highly myself, l have thought many
readers would be more interested in them,
than in the speech. itself. A. G. 81.