Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 3.djvu/195

182 Omit, for the present, the specialities of the Greek church, which does not now influence the destinies of America, and consider, for a moment, the peculiar doctrine of the Latin and German churches—the other two-thirds of Christendom. To the above fire points common to all Christendom, the Latin or Roman Catholic church adds these two ideas.

1. The Roman church—that is, practically, the clergy thereof—are the sole depository of the miraculous revelation, and are still miraculously and infallibly inspired. They alone have, in its fulness, the traditional part of the ecclesiastical institution—as well oral as written; they alone can produce the original part—which is only a development of the germ in the old. Thus they, and they alone, can interpret the Divine ideas of revelation and administer the Divine institutions thence arising. They continue the state of inspiration, miraculously preserving the old, miraculously developing the new.

2. The Roman church—that is, practically, its clergy—is the exclusive steward of this "salvation by Christ," appointed as the agent of God with a special power of attorney from Him to do all matters and things which He might do were He actually resident on the earth, whence He has now withdrawn and seceded. The Roman church is to dictate the terms on which this salvation shall be served out to nations and individual persons; to bind or loose in doctrine, advancing men to heaven, or relegating them to hell. She is the actual vicegerent and representative of God on earth; substantially is God.

In virtue of these two ideas, the Roman church determines the doctrines to be believed and the deeds to be done as a condition of salvation. She is a finalitv, is the norm of faith and works. Conformity therewith is the exclusive condition of present favour and final acceptance with God. There must be no ultimate free spiritual individuality in religious matters, no private judgment in theology, as she is God's vicar to determine theological thought and religious action, for each individual taking the place of mind and conscience, heart and soul; and as the human faculties are "totally depraved," and she "infallibly inspired," it is a great gain for the human race to