Fifth, from the condition of a judge.
Fifth, from the condition of a judge.
§ 470. (V) From the condition of a judge. “Both parties in the litigation should see and hear the judge, who should also have coercive authority. Otherwise he will not be and cannot be the end of controversies.” We respond. (1) The judgment of the forum is one thing; the judgment of heaven is another. The ecclesiastical ministry is one thing; political rule and magistracy is another. Inasmuch as the Church is not of this world, so also it is not ruled in the manner of this world.
(2) We also concede that there is a visible judge, the ministerium of the Church; however, we add that this judge is the inferior judge. Hence it cannot and should not pronounce judgment autocratically, but rather it should submit its judgment to the Holy Scriptures and conform it to them as to the voice of the supreme Judge and the norm of all true and certain judgment.
(3) Regarding the supreme and authentic judge of controversies of faith, we deny this condition: that the judge must necessarily be seen in his own person and heard in his own voice. Christ says: “He who does not believe has been judged already” (John 3:18), though he may not see that. It is enough that all people hear His voice in the writings of the prophets and apostles. John 12:48: “The word that I have spoken will judge him on the Last Day.”
(4) The Holy Spirit, speaking in the Scriptures, does not compel with external force, yet He does move people effectually with an inner persuasion, and this is sufficient for the illumination, conversion, and instruction of those who do not stubbornly resist the Holy Spirit. Lactantius, Instit., bk. 5, v. 19: “There is nothing so voluntary as religion. If the spirit is averse to it, it is already nothing.” Epiphanius, Haeres. 61: “The worship of God is not a matter of necessity but of will.”
(5) To what Bellarmine urges—”Without some visible, supreme, and authentic judge, no end to controversies can be hoped for”—we respond with the words of Bellarmine himself: “It is not strange if the Church continues without an effectual human remedy, because her salvation does not depend especially on human diligence but on divine protection, since her king is God. The Church can and should pray, and she is certain, that God will be concerned about her salvation” (De concil., bk. 2, c. 19).
(6) The Papists have a visible judge—the Roman pontiff—but have all controversies among them been laid to rest? Practice bears witness to the contrary. And who was the judge when two or three men were fighting bitterly over the papal throne, like vultures battling over their prey, since “a doubtful and uncertain pope is considered as no pope,” according to Bellarmine (loc. cit.)? Also, who is the judge when the pope dies and before a surrogate takes his place?