the Violent take it by Force. He fays alfo in an other Place, If thou wilt enter into Life, keep my Commandments. Now, in order to enable us to do these good Works, I believe the Grace of God to be neceffary for us; and this Grace of God is obtain❜d by the Fervency of our Prayers, and the Steadiness of our Faith.

XL. I proceed to the Authority of the Visible Head of the Church: By this Head I understand, as I have already faid, the Pope, who is the lawful Succeffor of St. Peter; and, as fuch, I believe, that he is infallible, not only in the Government of the Church, but alfo in all Matters of Faith I rely folely upon what Jefus Chrift faid upon this Subject, when he gave the Keys to St. Peter, Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church, Matt. xvi. Ver. 18. By this Act Jefus Chrift establish'd St. Peter for the Head and Prince of the Church: The following Words of Jefus Chrift are an intire Confirmation of this Truth, Matt. xvi. Ver. 18. And the Gates of Hell fhall not prevail against it, that is to say, against the Church, and by Confequence againft its Head. 'Tis therefore true, that God granted an abfolute Authority to St. Peter and his Succeffors, which Authority has a Refemblance with that which God granted under the Old Law, to Aaron and his Family.

In Confideration of this fupreme Dignity I believe, that I cannot pay Refpect and Submiffion enough to the Pope; and I think what I advance is prov'd in the first Place, because to honour the Vicar of Jefus Chrift, is paying Devotion to himfelf Secondly, 'tis honouring St. Peter, to ho nour his Succeffor; and laftly, I believe, that I

am

am' the more worthy to be a Member of the Church, when I honour him who is the Head of it..

I therefore kifs his Feet, as I would thofe of Jefus Chrift himself: I fall proftrate before him, as I would before St. Peter; and am intirely perfuaded, that this Token of Adoration, fo far from being liable to the Charge of Idolatry, as the Heretics think, can, on the contrary, be only deem'd a Thing agreeable to God, and what tends to his Glorification. We are told in the Old Testament, that Jacob bowed himself to the Ground to Efau feven times, Gen. xxxiii. Ver. 3,7. His Children, with Leab and Rachel, also ador'd him Jofeph was ador'd by his Brethren: Abigail ador'd David, and Bathsheba Solomon. None of thefe Acts of Adoration were made to God, but to Men; why then fhall we refuse to adore the Head of Christendom? Tho' St. Peter refus'd to be ador'd by Cornelius, 'twas because he was very fenfible, that Cornelius, being a Gentile, would pay him Obeifance and Worship little inferior to that which was due to God; but this is no Argument that St. Peter did not receive the Honours that were due to him, as being the Head of the Church: In fine, when I caft myfelf at the Pope's Feet, I have a Share in his Benediction, I humbly defire it, and I adore in him the Power which he has to blefs me. I am alfo perfuaded, that none but the Pope has a Right to affemble a Council; and I believe, that every Affembly which is held by the Name of a Council, without the Participation of the Pope, cannot be deem'd an Oecumenical Council A Body is incapable of acting without its VOL. IV. Head,

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Head, for 'tis the Head by which the Body i always directed: Confequently the Church cannot affemble, act, nor decide, without the Pope, who is its Head, and who, by Confequence, has the fole Right of Decifion; because he is the Rock on which Jefus Chrift has founded his Church, and because without him there would be no Church. I therefore with Submiffion receive all the Decifions of a Council where the Pope either prefides in Perfon, or by his Legates; and I look upon all Affemblies of Priefts that are met, or are held by the Command of any other Power than the Pope, as mere Affemblies of the Clergy.

Thus, my Lord, have I given you the fincere Declaration of my Faith, fuch as it is imprinted on my Heart: I believe it Holy, and I believe it Canonical; and hope, that when your Lordship fees it in Writing, you will give it the fame Approbation that you were pleafed to honour it with when I had the Favour of making it to you by Word of Mouth. If, contrary to my Intention, I have deviated from the Track of Truth, I intreat you, my Lord, to lend me your Hand, to vouchfafe to be my Guide, and to lead me to that Piety which you profefs, and by which all Mankind is edified: Make me worthy of the Dignity of the Priesthood, of which I am ambitious. But this is trefpaffing too far upon your Eminency's Attention, and 'tis high time to put an End to a Letter, which nothing can excufe the Length of, but the Sacredness of the Subject whereof it treats. I shall think myself exceeding happy,

if

if I have explain'd myself with fufficient Perfpicuity, and if the Sentiments I lay before your Lordship can render me deferving of the Honour of your Efteem. I am, with infinite

Respect,

My LORD,

Tour LORDSHIP'S

Moft Humble, and

Moft Obedient Servant,

Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz.

END of VOL. IV.