Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DANGER IN THE DARK. 249
gences, such as were granted to the Crusaders. Bishop
Hughes says: 'It was not a doctrine, but only an
opinion of the Church, that the civil powers ought to
punish incorrigible heretics by death.' But civil
magistrates were compelled to obey the bloody decrees
of the ,Pope and council, or forfeit their crowns, and
meet the thunders of the Vatican.
" Allow me to read another extract from this Catholic
work; here I find tho creed of Pope Pius IV.,
published after the meeting f th un il f T1'nt,
and which was designed to mb dy th doctrines of
the council. The following profesaiona are required
of all who join the Ohurch: 'I acknowledge the holy
Catholic and Apostolical Roman Church, the mother
and mistress of all ehure7tes; and I promise and
Swear true obedience to the Roman Bishop, the sueeesaor
of St. Peter, the prince of the Apostles and
Vicar of Jesus Christ. I most truly admit and embrace
apostolical and ecclesiastical traditions, and all
other constitutions and observancesof the same Church.
I also admit the sacred Scriptures according to the
sensewhich the holy mother church has held and does
hold-to whom it belongs, to judge of the true sense
and interpretation of the Scriptures; nor will I ever
take or interpret them otherwise than according to the
unanimous consent of the fathers.'
"You then may here discover, that the Church
claims to be the only divinely appointed expounder of
GOd's revelation to man, and forbids, under severe
penalty, anyone to understand that revelation other-
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