semble. All these, with the cardinals, abbots, mitred abbots and
generals of religious orders, who were also members of the great assembly,
made up the goodly number which has already been adverted to.(8)

SUBJECTS WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO DISCUSS IN THE COUNCIL.

The subjects for discussion were expressed in _schemata_, or draft
decrees, which were drawn up by a "congregation," or, as we should say, a
committee of one hundred and two ecclesiastics, who were cardinals and
others learned in theology and canon law, selected from many nations on
account of their superior wisdom and experience. By these alone the
_schemata_ were prepared. They bore not so much as the shadow of the
supreme authority. So the council was perfectly at liberty to accept or
reject, to change or to modify them, as it should deem fit and proper. Of
this we are assured by the words of the Pope, who, in his "Constitution,"
at the commencement of the council, informed the bishops that he had not
given any sanction to the _schemata_, and that consequently in regard to
them there was complete freedom.

The _schemata_, six in number, were very comprehensive. It is deeply to be
regretted that the council was not allowed time to discuss them all. They
concerned:

1. Catholic doctrine in opposition to the manifold errors flowing
from rationalism.

2. The Church of Christ.

3. The office of bishops.

4. The vacancy of sees.

5. The life and manners of the clergy.

6. The Little Catechism.

The _schema_ on the Church of Christ necessarily involved the question of
infallibility. As this question, more than any other subject, appears to
have disturbed the equanimity of the outside world, it may not be
inappropriate to consider the preliminary labors, as regarded it, of the
great theological commission. The _schema_ on the Church of Christ
extended to fifteen chapters. Having treated, at length, on the body of
the church, the commission or committee of 102 theologians could not fail
to treat also of the Church's Head. On this point they prepared two
chapters. The one spoke of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, the other of
his temporal power. In treating of the primacy, its endowments also
necessarily came under discussion. Among these claimed the first place the
Divine assistance in matters of faith which was promised to Peter, and in
Peter to his successors. This is nothing less than infallibility.

On the 14th and 2