contains is unknown. Its- date is fixed by Gieseler between 829 and 845. These decretals u were soon circulated," says that his- torian, " in various collections, appealed to without suspicion in public transactions, and used by the popes, from Nicolaus I., im- mediately after he had become acquainted with them (864), without any opposition being made to their authenticity, and continued in undiminished reputation, till the Reformation led to the detection of the cheat. On these false decretals were founded the pretensions of the popes to universal sway in the Church; while the pretended 'donatio Constantini M.,' a fic- tion of an earlier time, but soon adopted into them, was the first step from which the papacy endeavoured to elevate itself even above the state."1 The authenticity of these documents was first seriously attacked by the Magdeburgh Centuriators, who were answered by the Jesuit Turrianus. " The question was decided by Dav. Blondelli Pseudoisidorus et Turrianus vapu- lantes, Genev. 1628. The Ultramontanists, though they admit the deception, deny the revolution of ecclesiastical principles caused by it." 2 These decretals attribute to the pope absolute supremacy over the Church, over patriarchs, bishops, and priests. To him an appeal lies in all questions of doctrine, and his de- cisions are final. The gift of Constantine conferred on the pontiff more than imperial dignity and power. It conveyed the sove- reignty of the city of Rome, of Italy, and of the western prov- inces. Among other things it says, " Et sicut nostram terrenam imperialem potentiam, sic ejus (Petri) sacrosanctam Romanam Ecclesiam decrevimus veneranter honorari, et amplius quam nos- trum imperium terrenumque thronum, sedem sacratissimam b. Petri gloriose exaltari: tribuentes ei potestatem et gloriae dig- nitatem, atque vigorem et honorificentiam imperialem. Unde ut pontificalis apex non vilescat, sed magis quam imperii dignitas, gloria et potentia decoretur, ecce tarn palatium nostrum, ut praedictum est, quam Romanam urbem, et omnes Italiae, seu occidentalium regionum provincias, loca et civitates praefato beatissimo Pontifici nostro Sylvestro, universali papae, contradi- mus atque relinquimus: et ab eo et a successor ibus ejus per hanc divalem nostram, et pragmaticum constitutum decernimus disponenda, atque juri sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae concedimus per- mansura."3
1 Gieseler, Ecclesiastical History, Per. m. ii. 1. 1. § 20; edit. Edinburgh, 1848, vol. ii. pp. 331-336.
2 Ibid. p. 335, foot-notes.
8 Quoted by Gieseler, ut supra, vol. ii. p, 337, from the Decreta Gratiam.
452 PART JH. Ch. XIX. — THE LAW.
False Miracles.
The second great class of pious frauds by which the Church of Rome has for ages endeavoured to sustain its errors and confirm its power, is that of pretended miracles. On this subject it may be remarked, —
1. That there is nothing in the New Testament inconsistent with the occurrence of miracles in the post-apostolic age of the Church. The Apostles were indeed chosen to be the witnesses of Christ, to bear testimony to the facts of his history and to the doctrines which He taught. And among the signs of an Apos- tle, or necessary credentials of his commission, was the power to work miracles. (Rom. xv. 18, 19 ; 2 Cor. xii. 12.) When the Apostles had finished their work, the necessity of miracles, so far as the great end they were intended to accomplish was con- cerned, ceased. This, however, does not preclude the possibility of their occurrence, on suitable occasions, in after ages. It is a mere question of fact to be decided on historical evidence. In some few cases the nature of the event, its consequences, and the testimony in its support, have constrained many Protestants to admit the probability, if not the certainty of these miraculous interventions.1 Among the controversial writings which the great questions in debate in the late Vatican Council have called forth, there are two of special interest which have already been trans- lated and circulated in this country. The one is entitled " The Pope and The Council," 2 a series of papers written by German Catholic scholars of distinction. It is a historical argument against Ultramontanism. Among other things it demonstrates that the claims of the Ultramontanists have been sustained by a regular system of forgeries in all ages of the Church.3
The other work is by the late Abbe Gratry,4 one of the most
1 Grotius in his annotations on Mark xvi. 17, says: "Cum vero multo etiam seriora secula plena sint testimoniis ejus rei, nescio qua ratione moti quidam id donum ad prima tantum tempora restringant; quibus ut uberiorem fuisse miraculorum copiam, ad jacienda tanti aidificii fundamenta contra vim mundi, facile concedo, ita cum illis expirasse hanc Christi promissionem cur credamus non video. Quare si quis nunc etiam gentibus Christi ignaris (illis enim proprie miracula inserviunt 1 Cor. xiv. 22). Christum, ita ut ipse annun- tiari voluit, annuntiet, promissionis vim duraturam arbitror. Sunt enim ojnerajuieXrjTa tow ©«o0 Smpa (sine poenitentia dona Dei). Sed nos cujus rei culpa est in nostra ignavia aut indifferentia id solemus in Deum rejicere." Works, edit. London, 1679, tome n. vol. i. p. 328, b, 18-32.
, 2 The Pope and the Council, by Janus. Authorized Translation from the German. Boston, 1870.
8 See especially chap. in. § 7, pp. 76-122.
4 Papal Infallibility Untenable. Three Letters by A. Gratry, Priest of the Oratory, and member of the French Academy. Hartford, 1870.