Page:Petri Privilegium - Manning.djvu/260

Rh quote S. Augustine's well-known words: Finita est causa rescriptis Apostolicis,' &c.

In the year 1660 the bishops wrote again, if possible, in stronger language. They declare: 'In thee, as in the Successor of Peter, is firmly seated the strength of us all.'

Lastly, in the encyclical letter of the assembly of the clergy, on October 2, 1665, they declare: 'The circular letter which the General Assembly of the clergy of France wrote to all the bishops of the kingdom on the 15th of July 1653 shows that the submission which we have been used to render to the Holy Father is an inheritance of the bishops of France, who, in a synod held under Charlemagne and Pepin, made a solemn declaration of their will to preserve their unity with the Roman Church, and to be subject to S. Peter and his Successors to the end of their life.' They add, that all the Churches of France were in a perfect will to follow all that the Pontiff should order in matter of faith;' and add: 'This is the solid point of our glory, which renders our faith invincible, and our authority infallible, so long as we hold the one and the other inseparably united to the centre of religion, by binding ourselves to the See of S. Peter,' &c.

We have here six solemn acts of the French bishops and assemblies, recognising in the most explicit terms the stability of the faith of the See and