This proves that there must have been an uninterrupted series of such successors of the Apostles in every age since their time; that is to say, successors to their Doctrine, to their Jurisdiction, to their Orders, and to their Mission. Hence it follows, that no Religious Society whatever, which cannot trace its succession, in these four points, up to the Apostles, has any claim to the characteristical title, APOSTOLICAL.

Conformably with what is here laid down, we find the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Doctors of every age referring to this mark of Apostolical Succession, as demonstrative of their belonging to The True Church of Christ. St. Irenæus of Lyons, the disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself appears to have been consecrated by St. John the Evangelist, repeatedly urges this argument against his contemporary heretics. We can count up,' he says, those who were appointed Bishops in the churches by the Apostles and their successors down to us, none of whom taught this doctrine.-But as it would be tedious to enumerate the succession of Bishops in the different churches, we refer you to the tradition of that greatest, most ancient, and universally known Church, founded at Rome by St. Peter and St. Paul, and which has been preserved there, through the succession of its Bishops, down to the present time.' He then recites the names of the several Popes down to Eleutherius, who was then living. (1) Tertullian, who also flourished in the same century, argues in the same manner, and challenges certain heretics, in these terms: Let them produce the

(1) Lib. iii, advers. Hær. c. 3.

origin of their Church; let them display the succession of their Bishops, so that the first of them may appear to have been ordained by an apostolic man, who persevered in their communion.' He then

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gives a list of the Pontiffs in the Roman See, and concludes as follows: Let the heretics feign any thing like this.' (1) The great St. Augustin, who wrote in the fifth century, among other motives of credibility in favour of the Catholic Religion, mentions the one in question: I am kept in this Church,' he says, by the succession of Prelates from St. Peter, to whom the Lord committed the care of his sheep, down to the present Bishop.' (2) In like manner St. Optatus, writing against the Donatists, enumerates all the Popes from St. Peter down to the then living Pope, Siricius, with whom,' he says, 'we and all the world are united in communion. Do you, Donatists, now give the history of your episcopal ministry.' (3) In fact, this mode of proving the Catholic Church to be Apostolical, is conformable to common sense and constant usage. If a Prince is desirous of showing his title to a throne, or a Nobleman or Gentleman his claim to an estate, he fails not to exhibit his genealogical table, and to trace his pedigree up to some personage whose right to it was unquestionable. I shall adopt the same precise method on the present occasion, by sending your Society a slight sketch of our Apostolical Tree; by which they will see, at a glance, an abridgment of the succession of our chief Bishops in the Apos

(1) Fingant tale aliquid hæretici.' Præscript. (2) Contra Epist. Fundam.

(3) Contra Parmen, lib. ii.

tolical See of Rome, from St. Peter up to the present edifying Pontiff, Leo XII., as likewise that of other illustrious Doctors, Prelates, and Saints, who have defended the apostolical doctrine by their preaching and writings, or who have illustrated it by their lives. They will also see the fulfilment of Christ's injunction to the Apostles and their successors, in the conversion of nations and people to his Faith and Church. Lastly, they will behold the unhappy series of heretics and schismatics, who, in different ages, have fallen off from the doctrine or communion of the Apostolic Church. But as it is impossible, in so narrow a compass as the present sheet, to give the names of all the Popes, or to exhibit the other particulars here mentioned, in the distinct and detailed manner which the subject seems to require, I will try to supply the deficiency by the subjoined copious note.

Within the first century from the birth of Christ, this long expected Messiah founded the kingdom of his Holy Church in Judæa, and chose his Apostles to propagate it throughout the earth, over whom he appointed Simon, as the Centre of Union-and Head Pastor; charging him to feed his whole flock, sheep as well as lambs, giving him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and changing his name into that of PETER or ROCK; adding: On this Rock I will build my Church. Thus dignified, St. Peter first established his See at Antioch, the head city of Asia, whence he sent his disciple, St. Mark, to establish and govern the See of Alexandria, the head city of Africa. He afterwards removed his own See to Rome, the capital of Europe and the world. Here having, with St. Paul, sealed the Gospel with his blood, he transmitted his prerogative to St. Linus, from whom it descended in succession to St. Cletus and St. Clement. Among the other illustrious Doctors of this age

are to be reckoned, first, the other Apostles, then SS. Mark, Luke, Barnaby, Timothy, Titus, Hermas, Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna. From the few remaining writings of these may be gathered the necessity of unity and submission to Bishops, Tradition, the real Presence, the sacrifice of the Mass, veneration for relicks, &c. In this age Churches were founded in the abovementioned places, as also in Samaria, throughout lesser Asia, in Armenia, India, Greece, Egypt, Ethiopia, Italy, Spain, and Gaul. In this Apostolical age, also, and as it were under the eyes of the Apostles, different proud innovators pretended to Reform the doctrine which the latter taught. Among these were Simon the Magician, Hymeneus and Philetus, the incontinent Nicolaites, Cerinthus, Ebion, and Menander.

CENT. II.

The succession of Chief Pastors in the Chair of Peter was kept up through this century by the following Popes, who were also, for the most part, martyrs: Anacletus, Evaristus, Alexander I, Xystus I, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius I, Anicetus, Soter, Eleutherius, who sent Fugatius and Damianus to convert the Britons, and Victor I, who exerted his authority against certain Asiatic Bishops, the Quarto-decimans, so called from their keeping Easter at an undue time. The truth of Christianity was defended in this age, by the apologists Quadratus, Aristides, Melito, and Justin, the philosopher and Martyr; and the rising heresies of Valentinian, Marcian, and Carpocrates, were confounded by the Bishops Dionysius of Corinth, and Theophylus of Antioch, in the East; and by St. Irenæus and Tertullian, in the West. In the mean time the Catholic Church was more widely spread, through Gaul, Germany, Scythia, Africa, and India, besides Britain, which then became Christian.

CENT. III.

The Popes who presided over the Church in the third age, were all eminent for their sanctity, and almost all of them became Martyrs. Their names are Zephyrinus, Calixtus I, Urban I, Pontianus, Antherus, Fabian, Cornelius,

Lucius, Stephen I, Xystus II, Dionysius, Felix I, Eutychian, Caius, and Marcellinus. The most celebrated Doctors of this age were St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Minutius Felix; St. Cyprian and St. Hypolitus, both Martyrs; and St. Gregory, surnamed for his miracles, Thaumaturgus, Bishop of Neocesaria. At this time Arabia, the Belgic Provinces, and many districts of Gaul were almost wholly converted: whilst Paul of Samosata, for denying the Divinity of Christ, Sabellius, for impugning the distinction of persons in the B. Trinity, and Novatus, for denying the power of the Church to remit sins, with Manes, who believed in two Deities, were cut off as rotten branches from the Apostolic Tree.

CENT. IV.

St. Marcellus, the first Pope in this century, died through the hardships of imprisonment for the faith. After him came Eusebius, Melchiades, Silvester, under whom the Councils of Arles, against the Donatists, and of Nice, against the Arians, were held, Marcus, Julius, in whose time the right of appeal to the Roman See was confirmed, Liberius, and Damasus. The Church, which hitherto had been generally persecuted by the Roman Emperors, was, in this age, alternately protected and oppressed by them. In the mean time, her numbers were prodigiously encreased by conversions throughout the Roman Empire, and also in Armenia, Iberia, and Abyssinia, and her faith was invincibly maintained by St. Athanasius, St. Hilary, St. Gregory Nazianzen, St. Basil, St. Ambrose of Milan, &c., against the Arians, who opposed the Divinity of Christ, the Macedonians, who denied that of the Holy Ghost, the Aerians, who impugned episcopacy, fasting and prayers for the dead, and other new heretics and schismatics.

CENT. V.

During this age, the perils and sufferings of the Church were great; but so also were the resources and victories by which her Divine Founder supported her. On one hand, the Roman Empire, that fourth great dynasty, compared by Daniel to iron, was broken to pieces by numerous hordes of Goths, Vandals, Huns, Burgundians, Franks, and Saxons,