20 INTRODUCTION. Such have been the doctrine and behaviour of popes in reference to their power. § V. This doctrine of the pope's universal power over all persons in all matters may reasonably be supposed the sentiment of all popes continually for a long time, even for more than five hundred years, unto this present day. For, - 1. If this doctrine be false, it implies no slight error, but one of a very high nature and most dangerous consequence, which involves great arrogance and iniquity, which tends to work enormous wrongs and grievous mischiefs; whence, if any pope should conceiveit false, he were bound openly to disclaim, to condemn, to refute it, lest the authority of his predecessors and his connivance should induce others into it or settle them in it; as it is (in regard to Pope Honorius) charged upon Pope Leo II., " who did not, as it became the aposto- lical authority, extinguish the flame of heretical doctrine beginning, but did, by neglecting, cherish it."' In such a case a pope must not be silent; for, " No small danger," says Pope Gelasius, " lies upon popes in being silent about what agrees to the service of God ;"3 and, " If," says Pope Paschal, "a pope by his silence suffer the church to be polluted with the gall of bitterness and root of impiety, he should nowisebe excusable before theeternal Judge ;"3and, "Error," says Pope Felix III., " which is not resisted" (by those in eminent office) " is approved; and truth which is not defended is oppress- ed;" and, " He is not free from suspicion of a close society in mis- chief who ceases to obviate it ;"5 and, " We," says Pope Gregory I., " greatly offend if we hold our peace at things that are to be cor- rected.' But all popes since the time specified have either openly declared for this doctrine or have been silent, and so have avowed it by tacit consent. 2. Any pope disapproving that tenet were bound to renounce com- munion with those that hold and profess it, or at least to check and discountenance it. But, on the contrary, theyhave suffered it to be maintained in their presenceand audience, and have hugged that sort of men with especial favour as their most affectionate and sure 3 cum Honorio, qui flammam hseretici dogmatis non, ut decuit apostolicam authoritatem, incipientem extinxit, sed negligendo confovit.P. Leo II., Ep. ii. a Non leve discrimen incumbit pontiflcibus siluisse pro divinitatis cultu quod con- gruit.P. Gelas. I., Ep. viii. (ad Anastas. Imp.) 3 Si vero nostro silentio pateremur ecclesiam felle amaritudinis et impietatis radice pollui, qua ratione possemus apud sternum Judicem excusari ? P. Paschal. II. Ep. iii. (ad Anselm. Cant.) 4 Error cui non resistitur, approbatur; et veritasqum minime defensatur, opprimi- tur. P. Felix III., Ep. I. (ad Acaeium.) 5 Non caret scrupulo societatis occults, qui evidenter facinori desinit obviare. Id. ibid. 6 Si ea qum nobis corrigenda stint tacemus, valde delinquimus._P. Greg. I., Ep. ii. 37.
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