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mi dpe nathsitbes 3a Poteeey
_ a4 qos «of
f pmery teeye peepee ye yep gy
st wast : Aaah
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in the agsembly, and with the ‘counsel of: his brethren, the inferior clergy,
over Whom he presided.:: ‘The ‘Bishops: ofeach’ province: semi-annually
assembled to deliberate in common’ on:the means of: promoting truth and
- piety throughout the flocks committed to their. charge;: and when: the! doc-
_ trines of: faith were’ powerfully assailed,:or other: general :interests of the
christian world at stake, the representatives ‘of the:whole church were con-
gregated to: testify'the faith, and’ legislate:for ‘the utility:.of Christendom:
‘The tyranny of the Caesars, andthe ‘fury of their persecution, could not:en-
tirely prevent:assemblies so congenial’to:christianity : iand-when Rome had
seen her Constantine raise the victorious:bannerof the cross, Nice soonibe-
of the 318 :Pontiffs, venerable for théir:learning, sanctity, and ‘sufferings,
concurring to proclaim the faith of the universe in the triumphant divinity
of Christ Jesus. -.eceelud momodia of oaeild ydlneilinieens-oy ahh villen
In these assemblies the most»perfect freedom of discussion isiadmitted,
and moderation and: condescension mark» the decisions,:;which generally
are made’ with almost unanimous:suffrages.', No:idoctrine:is defined, un-
less on’.examining the Scriptures, ‘and. consulting.the: monuments of.the
faith of the preceding: ages, it is: clearly: ascertained to. belong ito» the ori~
ginal deposit’of Revelation. +)» No laws: enacted, except.ssuch -as'the uma-
jority deem expedient: for the purity of christian morals, and the advance-:
‘ment of piety... :In: them'we ‘have the -freedom':and moderation, svithout
the instability,: of popular institutions.: Hence, thotigh the:government of
the church:may appear absolute.and arbitrary to:one' who:regards'the high
powers of her functionaries, it: Will be found to: be moderate:and:just;since
the ‘canons, or: Jaws of those. assemblies;‘directiand'-restrict:each Bishop in
the exercise of' his‘authority, so'that! hes scarcely. more than: the executive
of their decreés, 1/90! binuy of goin oa Walbenatiosoong eden od’ vas!
='In the religious orders, which the church regards.as'states of perfection;
we discover. the same equality, the:same elective system, the same delibers
-ative bodies, and:even the popular: and democratic principle of rotation:in
office. ‘The: young: Noble’ who ‘figured’ .in «the: courts:‘of \Princes,!:and
the Monarch himself who directed the’ destinies‘of. riations, are; after their
entrance within the gates of the cloister, undistinguished from the peasant
and ‘the mechanic. © ‘Their habiliments:-are: exchanged ‘forthe : poor! habit
worn by every member ofthe institute:. their titles. dre forgotten; and the
affectionate appellation of brother is alike addressed :to the peasant and ‘the:
noble. An Aloysius-of: Gonzaga, andia‘:Francis: Borgia; ‘are: distinguished
in religion, not by the titles.and:honors ofi:the» Princedom,. or» Dukedom,
which ‘they once’bore, but by the heroism’ of their:virtue./? No, one:is‘in-
corporated in ‘the order, by’.admission to:the solemn profession; unless:a
majority of the actual members approve his: merit.::| None-are elevated to
the most responsible offices, unless by:the suffrages ofa like- majority. ‘The
son'of a cottager: may be chosen to goyern.a body wherein courtiers are en-
rolled, ‘if learning and’ virtue ennoble him;.'The* powers: of the: superiors
are confined within the: limits of the rule-and constitutions, far from being,
as is too often supposed, capricious and despotic. In many important af-
cee pe OI