474
ESSAYS ON LIBERTY
the theory of pre-existence, and against the common opinion that each soul is created directly by Almighty God, defending the theory of Generationism by the authority of several Fathers, and quoting, among other mödern divines, Klee, the author of the most esteemed treatise of dogmatic theology in the German language I t was decided at Rome that his book should be con- demned, and he ,,'as informed of the intention, in order that he might announce his submission before the publica- tion of the decree. His position \vas a difficult one, and it appears to be adrnitted that his conduct at this stage was not prompted by those opinions on the authority of the Church in which he afterwards took refuge, but must be eXplained by the known facts of the case. His doctrine had been lately taught in a book generally read and approved. He was convinced that he had at least refuted the opposite theories, and yet it was apparently in behalf of one of these that he was condemned. Whatever errors his book contained, he might fear that an act of submission \vould seem to imply his acceptance of an opinion he heartily believed to be \vrong, and would therefore be an act of treason to truth. The decree conveyed no conviction to his mind. It is only the utterances of an infallible authority that men can believe without argument and explanation, and here was an authority not infallible, giving no reasons, and yet claim- ing a submission of the reason. Dr. Frohschammer found himself in a dilemma. To submit absolutely would either be a virtual acknowledgment of the infallibility of the authority, or a confession that an ecclesiastical decision necessarily bound the mind irrespectively of its truth or justice. In either case he \vould have contradicted the law of religion and of the Church. To submit, \vhile retaining his own opinion, to a disciplinary decree, in order to preserve peace and avoid scandal, and to make a general ackno\vledgment that his work contained various ill-considered and equivocal statements which might bear a bad construction,-such a conditional submission either
