ghly agreeable to
God's holy word, and all Christian piety: neither are they to be counted
among the doctrines and commandments of men; because they proceed not
from mere human authority; but from that which Christ has established in
his church; whose pastors he has commanded us to hear and obey, even as
himself. St. Luke 10. 16; St. Matt. 18. 17.

15:10. And having called together the multitudes unto him, he said to
them: Hear ye and understand.

15:11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what
cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Not that which goeth into, etc... No uncleanness in meat, nor any dirt
contracted by eating it with unwashed hands, can defile the soul: but
sin alone; or a disobedience of the heart to the ordinance and will of
God. And thus when Adam took the forbidden fruit, it was not the apple,
which entered into the mouth, but the disobedience to the law of God
which defiled him. The same is to be said if a Jew, in the time of the
old law, had eaten swine's flesh; or a Christian convert, in the days of
the apostles, contrary to their ordinance, had eaten blood; or if any of
the faithful at present should transgress the ordinance of God's church,
by breaking the fasts: for in all these cases the soul would be defiled;
not indeed by that which goeth into the mouth; but by the disobedience
of the heart, in wilfully transgressing the ordinance of God, or of
those who have their authority from him.

15:12. Then came his disciples, and said to him: Dost thou know that the
Pharisees, when they heard this word, were scandalized?

15:13. But he answering, said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath
not planted, shall be rooted up.

15:14. Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if
the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit.

15:15. And Peter answering, said to him: Expound to us this parable.

15:16. But he said: Are you also yet without understanding?

15:17. Do you not understand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth,
goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the privy?

15:18. But the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from
the heart, and those things defile a man.

15:19. For from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

15:20. These are the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwashed
hands doth not defile a man.

15:21. And Jesus went f