Southern Christian Advocate

INFALLIBILITY OF THE CHURCH.

We are not going into the absurd question of the church's infallibility, until it be proved which, of all the bodies in Christendom claiming the exclusive right, is the church. But we will offer for the consideration of lecturers on this subject, the following statute in the reign of King Henry VIII. as constituting, with a little alteration, a picture of the consequences of the church's infallibility, whenever it shall be decided, according to Mr. Brownson's and the Pope's wishes, as the attribute of the Romish sect.

Imprimis: "Recourse must be had to the Roman Catholic and apostolic church for the decision of controversies; and therefore all books of the Old and New Testament in English, or [books] comprising any matter of Christian religion, articles of faith or Holy Scripture contrary to the doctrine set forth by [the church,] or to be set forth by [the church.] shall be abolished. No person shall sing or rhyme contrary to the said doctrine. No person shall retain any English books or writings against the holy and blessed sacrament of the altar, or [shall keep] other books abolished by proclamation. There shall be no annotations or preambles in Bibles or New Testaments in English. The Bible shall not be read in English in any church. No women, artificers, apprentices, journeymen, sewing-men, husbandmen, or labourers, shall read the New Testament in English. Nothing shall be taught or maintained contrary to [the church's] instructions. If any spiritual person shall be convicted of preaching or maintaining any thing contrary to [the church's] instructions already made, or hereafter to be made, he shall for the first offence recant, for the second bear a fagot. and for the third be burnt."

The infallibility of the Romish Church ends in burning. That is the last and perfect argument of infallibility. If infallibility cannot purify the world by doctrine, it will by fire. Knocking down men in book stores. imprisoning men in dungeons. racking men under inquisitions, are arguments of infallibility not in themselves absolutely infallible; though they may be a first resort, as gentle experiments, they do not always settle the question. But there is nothing to be said against fire. A man cannot well make answer after he is fairly burned. The argument of burning, therefore, is a poser : it is unquestionable, infallible, and leaves nothing to be said against the church's infallibility. There is no reason why so sure and favourite an argument in past ages should not come into use again, the moment you have settled the question to which party, as the argument of infallibility it belongs. The infallible church, we may be perfectly sure, will be a burning and a shining light.-N. Y. Evangelist.