Serin. XXXV, againfi dangerous Miflakes in Religion. 249 an Infallible Definition, if we know it to be fo, lays an Obligation to believe it, whether it be receiv'd by the Univerfal Church, or not. Arid if fuch Definitions are not Infallible 'till they be received by the Univerfal Church, they cannot be- come Infallible afterwards ; becaufe if the Definitions were not. Infallible before, they cannot be received as fuch by the Univerfal Church, nor by the meer Reception of them, be made to be Infallible Definitions, if they were not fo before. But if we fhould pafs over all thefe Difficulties, there is a greater yet behind, and that is, Suppofing the Definitions of General Councils confirmed by the Pope to be Infallible, particular Chriltians cannot be fecured Infallibly from Error without the Knowledge of thofe Definitions. And there are but Two ways imaginable of conveying this Knowledge to them : Either by the living Voice of their. parti- cular Paftors, whom they are implicitely to believe in thefe Matters ; but parti- cular Paftors are Fallible (as they themfelves grant) and therefore their Words, can neither be an Infallible Foundation of Faith, or an Infallible Means of conveying it ; and it is unreafonable, they fay, for Men that own themfelves to be Fallible, to require an implicite Belief to be given to them : Or elfe the Knowledge of the Definitions of Councils mutt be conveyed to particular Chriftians by Writing; and if fo, then there will only be an Infallible Rule, but no living Infallible yudae. And if an Infallible Rule will ferve the turn, we have the Scriptures, which we are fire are Infallible, and therefore at leap as good as any other Rule. But they fay, that the Definitions of Councils give us an Infallible Interpretation of Scrip- ture, and therefore are of greater Advantage to us. But do not theDefinitions of Councils fometimes alfo need Explication, that we may know the certain. Senfe of them, without which we cannot know the Doctrines defined ? Yes certainly, they creed Explication as much as Scripture, if there be any Difference about the Meaning ofthem ; and there have been, and ftill are, great Differences among thole . of their own Church abciut /the Meaning of them. And if the Explications of General Councils need themfelves to he explained, then there is nothing got by them, and we are but where we were before : For Differences about the Meaning of the Definitions of General Councils, make as great Difficulties and Uncertainties in Faith, as the Differences about the Meaning ofScripture. Well, but the People have the living Voice of their particular Paftors to ex- plain the Definitions of Councils to them. But this does not help the Matter neither, for thefe two Reafons. t. Becaufe particular Paftors have no Authority to explain the Definitions of General Councils, The Council of Trent hath by exprefs Decree, refereed to the Pope, and to him only, the Power to explain the Definitions of the Council, if any Difference arife about the Meaning of them. So that if there be any Difference about the true Senfe and Meaning of any of the Difinitions. of the Council, particular Paftors have no Authority to explain them ; and where there is no doubt or difference about the Meaning ofthem, there is no occafion for the Explicationof them. 2. But fuppofe they had Authority to explain theín, this, canbe ho Infallible Security to the People, that they explain them right; both becaufe particular Paftors are Fallible ; and likewife becaufe we fee in Experience, that they differ in their Explications; witnefs the Bifhop of Condom's Expofition of the Catholick Faith, and of the Definitions of the Council of Trent, which is in many Material Points very different from that ofBellarmine, and many other famous Do&ors of that Church. And which is more, witnefs the many Differences betwixt Am- bro/ius, Catharinus, and Dominicus Afoto, about the Definitions of that Council, in which they were both prefent, and heard the Debates, and themfelves bore a great part in them. Now if they who were prefent at the framing oftheDefi- nitions of that Council, cannot agree about the Meaning of them, much lefs can it be expelled from thofe that were abfent. Secondly, This Provifion which I have mentioned, is likewife as good a 'way to prevent and put an end to Controverfies in Religion, fo far as it is neceffary they fhould be prevented, or have an end put to them, as any Infallible Church K k would
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