Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-07

Holiness is another mark. Apart
from the consideration Of the lines OF in
d;y;dual members, either Protestant or
Catholic. il is very evident that the
doctrines and practices OF the Catholic
Church are in many respects better cal
culated to draw men away from selfish
Indulgence to the observance OF higher
Christian virtues. Such, prominently,
ia the doctrine OF the real presence of
Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and the
doctrine of the indissolubility OF chris
tan marriage. Such, too, the practices
of confession, fasting, &c; also, the
sanction given by the Church to those
who voluntarily forsake the lawful pleas
ures of life and band themselves togeth-
er in communicable to practice the
evangelical counsels-poverty, chastity
and obedience. There is no human
suffering for which provision has not
been made in the encouragement which
the Church has given TO her religious
orders. But, combining ourselves strict
" to the principle of holiness, We easily
perceive the immense advantage the
Catholic Church has over all her
rivals. She contends, that while indi-
vidual members of her communion may
become as wicked and corrupt as any
outside her fold, vet will Christ, who Is
the Divine Head of His Church, pre-
serve her from such corruptlon-pre-
serve the great mass OF the faithful from
vice and error. Professionalism rests on
the very opposite assumption-that the
uhole Church may become corrupt, nay
has become corrupt and forfeited her
holiness. On no other plea can separa-
ton from the parent Church be justified,
except that sanctity is not a permanent
and essential quality of Christ's spouse,
as St. Paul calls the Church.
Catholicity has been always consid-
cred a mark of the true Church.
Christ stamped this character on
the Church when he appointed
her to teach all nations.
all truths for all time. st. Paul himself
saw this characteristic OF the church
verified: since in writing to the Romans,
he gave thanks to God that their faith
was spoken of in the whole world.
The Bishop read extracts from the
works of st. Cyrel, Jerusalem, ST.
Augustine and 1t. Pacian, fathers OF the
first centuries, to show that the appella-
ton Catholic was then in familiar use to
designate the orthodox church. Chris
tain is my name. Catholic is my sur
name" wrote st. Pacian. His argument
is required to show what church, and
what church alone is now known rs
the Catholic church. She is Catholic,
because universal; Roman because pos
sessing centre Of unity. Roman
Catholic very well expresses her claim
to bethe one Universal Curch.
Apostolic is the fourth title OF the
true church. In giving her this title
the fathers of the First General Council
of Nice i'm 325 meant that she was the
same church that was founded by Christ
on the apostles, and especially on st.
Peter, and that she came down by lineal
descent from them. We must therefore
be able to trace back, in unbroken sue
cession, the ministerial powers OF her
pastors i'm any age 10 the apostles them
selves. The exposition OF the evidence
of the true church is simplitied by con-
fining our historical investigation to the
succession of Supreme Pastors, as may
easily he done, from Pope Leo Nil to-
st. Peter This was the line OF argu-
ment pursued by the early fathersi in de-
Tending the church against the hercsies
of their days. 81. lrenacus thus writes:
"To Peter succeeded Linus, Ia Linus
Anacetus," and continuing the cnumer
alton to Eleuthcrius, he adds,
"the twelfth from the apostles, who now
governs the church" lady. Haer. l..
III. &. b.
Some Protestant theologians place
this work of the true church, not in
apostolic succession, but in preaching
the true doctrines of faith. But il true
doctrine be the ESSENTIAL form at the
church, the church must be, as We
hold, infallible; because by the loss OF
true doctrine she loses that which il
essential TO her existence. Either their
the church has all along iniallibly
taught true doctrine, sr she has per-
ished entirely. II the former, the es-
adjustment Of Professionalism cannot Ice
justified: but il the latter, then there is
no true church OF Christ upon earth.
For we cannot be expected to believe
without proof, that through the instru-
mentality of Luther, or Calvin, or
Wesley, or Cummins, Christ has resus-
citated his church.
The four marks Of the church, given
by the Counsel OF Nice, can be found
realized in the Roman Catholic Church
alone. Indeed, she alone now even
claims 10 be the one Holy Catholic and
Apostolic Church. The conclusion is
irresistible 1.-The Roman Catholic
Church is the Church Of Christ" BY
legitimate succession, her ministry goes
back to the Apostles, and derives all it's
powers from Christ through them. As
the apostolic teaching was the test 81
truth in the beginning, 50 is il contin-
ued in the church, the test Of truth still.
The church then il the divincly ap-
pointed and divincly directed teacher,
without whose testimony men cannot
know the revelations Of God-cannot
have faith. Ii bchooves all, therefore,
who by faith expect eternal salvation,
10 examine well the evidences by which
she certifes her claim 10 their obedi-
ence. For she that belieyeth shall be
saved; but he that believcth not shall be
cnndpmnpd