Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-26

with you always. even to the consumma- tion of the world"
 So Christ is to rule and govern and continue the work for which he became man through His church. It is the dis penser of Gods most precious treasures It is to be universal and last to the end of time. The church established by Christ could not faithfully represent Him who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" in dispensing the great de- post of Revelations for the good of the faithful if not invested with the gift of infallibility. If her teaching were diff ferent from that of Christ she would have unfaithful representatives and be unfit for her mission. Her mission IS to teach the truths of the religion of Christ and to conduct mankind through her minstrations to eternal life. To fulfill her mission she must teach with uner- ring certainty, and the Holy Ghost was given to her to accomplish that end. And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever Even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither know eth Him; but ye know Him, for He dwell- eth in you and shall be in you. But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to you in remembrance of whatsoever I have said toyou" From these texts of holy scripture we see that although the body of the church is human the soul of the church is God, as the Holy Ghost is God.
 The chief teacher is concealed, yet through human instruments truth and grace are infallibly dispensed to the faithful The church cannot teach err TOT, or fall from the faith, as Christ has said, Behold, am with you always = to assist you and confer on you all that is necessary, that the church for which I she my life's blood may fulfill her mission.
 If thee hurch could err in matters of faith and morals it would make Christ a, false teacher, since he said: Thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and thegates of hell shall not pre- vail against it." That is, error shall never enter into her teaching body. From this and other portions of scripture we must conclude either Christ was a false proph ct or he will never permit his church to err. If the gospel read the gates shall of hell shall prevail against the church we could not claim exemption form err TOT or lay no claim to infallibility. Christ will assist his ministry from heaven as he did when visible amongse them, and will continue to do so to the end of the world. As the promise he made was not to Peter or John personally, so the prom ise reached the successors of the apostles. youI will pray the Father that He shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever, even the spirit of truth.
 Man Is not infallble by nature, but only by privilege in virtue of the abiding presence of Christ and the Holy Ghost with the church, which God has estab- lished as the pillow and ground of truth. Christ will never allow it to fall into er TOT. How could she be the bride of Christ if not spotless and pure? Take the scrip ture from the guardianship of infallible authirity and in a thousand years from now no one living would be able to tell what was or what was not created Those who oppose the doctrine of infalli- blity injure no one except themselves.
 When we say that the pope is infallible do we mean to say by some power he can make no mistake? When this virtue is possessed tosuch a degree that the being cannot err in anything, then he may be said to possess absolute infallibility. Tn this sense God alone is infallible. Infal- libility is often used in a more limited sense to express exemption from failure in something. Do we mean by the nfalli- bility of the pope that he is incapable of committing sin? No Impossibility and infallibility are two things entirely diff ferent. Do we mean by infallbility that the pope knows all things and that when asked question on any subject his an- swer will always be in, conformity with truth? No. Omniscience belongs to God alone.
 Do we mean by infallibility that the pope cannot rule in matters appertaning to faith and morals? Here we must dis tnguish, considering him as a private doctor or head of the church If he speaks or writes as theologian his con clusions have only a weight correspond ing to the reasons he may produce to support them. When he speaks as head of the church, on a question of faith and morals then only is he infallble.
 At Washington the supreme court is infallible in a way-as their is no appeal, no higher court.
 We know from the writings of the fa- thers in every age that all controversies regarding points of faith were referred to Rome for final decision. The words of Christ addressed to St. Peter, and the word said: Simon, simon, behold saten hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And thou once converted confirm thy brethren.
 From the foregoing text we can req son upon three important points. The apostles were to be tempted by satan and by the apostles we may understand the entire church. In order that satan may not triumph the Savior prays for Peter, that his faith fail not; Peter is commanded to confirm his brethren the universal, faithful, the teachers and those who are to be taught