Peril of Idol., part iii.).  This is a specimen of the way in which God’s promises are set aside, and the Bible misinterpreted by outsiders while professing to make it the foundation of their creed.  Nor was this the teaching of a few irresponsible persons.  It was enforced by the whole Anglican Church.  “All parsons, vicars, curates, and all others having spiritual cure,” were “straitly enjoined” to read these Homilies Sunday after Sunday throughout the year in every church and chapel of the kingdom.  And the 25th Article declares the second book of Homilies to contain “a godly and wholesome doctrine and necessary for these times”!  Probably this “godly and wholesome doctrine” is no longer obliged to be read and taught by Anglicans; probably they no longer consider it either “godly” or “wholesome,” but quite the reverse.  This we are quite ready to admit.  But, in the name of common prudence, who, in his senses, would trust the salvation of his immortal soul to a Church that teaches a thing is white in one century and black in the next, and never knows its own mind?

Here then let us put two very pertinent questions, for our non-Catholic friends to ponder over, and to answer, if they can.  First:  How is it possible for the Church to go astray, if God the Holy Ghost is really guiding?  Second:  How is it possible for the Church to wander away into error, if this same Spirit be leading her into all truth?  Will some one kindly explain that, without at the same time denying the veracity of God?

4.  However, granting the absolute truth of Christ’s promises, we may now proceed to inquire in what way this divine and (because divine) infallible guidance into all truth is brought about?  Is it by the Holy Spirit whispering to each individual priest or to each individual Bishop?  Emphatically not.  Why not?  Because, if that theory were well founded, then every priest and Bishop would believe and teach precisely the same set of doctrines, without any need of an infallible Pope to guide him.  For, clearly, the Spirit of Truth could not whisper “yea” to one, and “nay” to another, nor could He declare a thing to be “black” to one person and “white” to his neighbour.  In fine, we have but two alternatives to choose from.  We must confess either that the promises themselves, so solemnly made, are lies (which were blasphemy to affirm), or else, that God directs His Church, and safeguards its truth, through its head, or chief Pastor; just as we regulate and control the members of the physical body through the brain.  We must either renounce all belief in Christ and His promises, or else admit that His words are actually carried out, and that the prayer has been heard which He made for Peter, and for those who should, in turn, exercise Peter’s office and functions, and should speak in his name.  Harken to the narrative, as given by St. Luke:  “The Lord said:  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you [observe, the plural number] that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed [not for all, but] for thee, that thy faith fail not:  and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren” (Luke xxii. 32) [observe the singular number, “thee,” “thy” and “thou"].