The Sacrifice of the Eucharist, and Other Doctrines of the Catholic Church Explained and Vindicated (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1875. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter 1. unity in multiplicity. 1-It was not always necessary to declare and define every truth contained in the record of the revelation of God. 'Many things, ' wrote S. Augustine, 'were lying hidden in the Scriptures; and when heretics were cut off they disturbed the Church with their crafty restlessness: then those matters which had been hidden were laid open, and the will of God was understood' (In Psal. liv. n. 22). 'Many things, indeed, which belong to the Catholic faith, and are stirred up and down (exagitantur) by their crafty restlessness, are, in order that they may be defended against them, considered more diligently, understood more clearly, and preached more urgently, so that a question set in movement by the adversary becomes an opportunity of learning' (De Civ. Dei, lib. xvi. c. ii.). Heretics strike with hostile hand at the doctrine of the Church, and the only result is that, contrary to their intention, a copious stream of truth flows forth from the smitten rock, to their confusion, and to the increased edification of the faithful. When Protestants affirm that the promulgation of the twelve articles in the Creed of Pius iv., and of the two more recent dogmatic decrees about the Immaculate Conception.and the Infallibility of the Sovereign Pontiff, are real changes in the faith of the Catholic Church, they confound things which ought ever to be kept as distinct in the mind as they are distinct in reality. The word ' change' is ambiguous, and in matters of religion especially its meaning ought to be strictly defined. By a change in the faith we may mean that the very idea itself of what was once believed to be revelation has been altered. To take an illustration from ordinary matters, I might at one time suppose that a certain object was ina...