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alone, or in Councils alone, or in the assent of both ?"

"That I believe to depend very much upon the nature and importance of the matter at issue. The question is a very intricate one, nor can I pretend satisfactorily to solve it.”

"Indeed I think you had better leave it alone," said Lady Templedale laughing, "and we also, my dear."

"Don't misunderstand me," resumed Cécile in the same tone. "Because the highest authorities may differ on minute points of jurisprudence, because the most learned in the land are required to expound the simplest of our laws, or to obtain its proper application, does it follow that that law is too obscure and complicated to deserve the respectful assent of the enlightened? After all, it is the will of God that spiritual and ecclesiastical affairs should, like all others here below, be administered, not by angels, but by men, the holiest and most inspired of whom have never been fully exempted from human weakness and from human error. To this supreme jurisdiction of our Church, as to many others, I humbly and confidently bow, though I may feel myself all incompetent to define its every degree and

attribute, satisfied as I am that none other which has been devised has ever been so efficient for the outward peace and the religious unity of so many millions. I hold the last true recourse, in spiritual differences, to rest at Rome, as you believe that the last appeal to Justice may safely be borne to Westminster Hall. And yet, I think I heard you say the other evening, that one page of Blackstone's Commentaries was enough to perplex you for a week."

"There might be some sense in all this, to be sure, most philosophical Saint, if you were satisfied not to attach so immutable and incontrovertible a character to the decisions of your highest tribunal. I never saw so clearly until now, what a millstone around your necks is this alleged infallibility of your Church. But even if we clearly knew where it resides, we should yet have to consider as especially inspired those whose crimes and follies have too often been clearly repugnant to every principle of religion. Don't be offended, my dear: I have named no one."

"I am not the least offended, dear Lady Templedale," replied Cécile, pensively. "And, I will fairly own, that if I have ever felt

strangely perplexed and bewildered, it is by the very argument which you have last invoked. Yes, it is a mournful reflection, that the annals of the Church should be sullied by crimes so dark, and by the formal promulgation of such detestable doctrines. Often has my faith thereby been terrified; and yet, I trust that it is all unimpaired."

"Ah! let us hear how that may be ?"

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Well, but you can have no idea," resumed Cécile, laughing, "how fearful is the ordeal to which you are subjecting me. You really

should allow me, in my turn, to address a very

few questions to you?"

"There is now some reason in that request, to be sure. What have you to

ask?"

"In the first place, then, do you hold that we can hope to be saved by the law or sect which we profess, so that we be diligent to frame our lives accordingly ?"

"Let me see, my dear; I suppose that I do."

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Indeed!" cried Cécile, smiling; “and yet you belong to the Established Church."

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"I trust so."

Then, you do not remember that, in one of her Articles, she declares those to be accursed, I think that I am using her very words, who say what has just fallen from you.'

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"Nay, but you took me unawares, you execrable little daughter of Loyola! I thought, of course, that you were speaking of Christian sects."

"It matters not very much for my present purpose. It is sufficient that we should both agree in regarding, as an indispensable condition, the clear perception of certain doctrinal truths. Now, for my second question: do you consider the unworthiness of the minister to impair the authority of the doctrine, or to hinder the effect of the Sacrament ?"

"Ah! I am ready for you now," answered Lady Templedale. "We have an Article, if I remember right, which very distinctly answers your question in the negative, upon the ground that the evil will ever mingle with the good, and even sometimes predominate in the Visible Church."

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more. You regard, I presume, the Mosaic dispensation, as proceeding no less directly from God than our own?"

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"And yet you see some essential differences between the two, at all events, in their practical results ?"

Well, such differences, I should deem, cannot wholly be denied, notwithstanding so many able efforts to reconcile them."

"That's a good child," resumed Cécile, laughing; "I will release you now, and attempt to draw some definite conclusions, for my purpose, from your replies. We believe then, in common, that there are certain Sacred Truths, which even the purest and holiest in life are bound to receive; that the evidences and authority of these Truths can in no wise suffer from the unworthiness of their appointed ministers; and that these Truths themselves, though equally revealed from above, and concordant in all their essential points, have yet varied at different periods, in their effects and bearing upon the conduct of men. Such points being granted, is our Catholic credulity so blind, so unimaginable, when we profess:

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