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Introduction.
9

which he has gained for himself a sad renown amongst the enemies of the Church. This pamphlet, published at Prague, has the interminable title: "The Power of the Roman Popes over Princes, Countries, Peoples, and Individuals examined by the Light of their Doctrines and their Acts since the Reign of Gregory VII., to serve for the appreciation of their Infallibility, and set face to face with contradictory doctrines of the Popes and the Councils of the first Eight Centuries."

'On the appearance of this pamphlet there was a burst of admiration from all the "free-thinking" journals of Austria and imperial Germany. One Vienna newspaper, the Press, declared that all the attacks which had been hitherto directed against the doctrine of Infallibility were but as the pricking of a pin in comparison with the terrible blows dealt by the mace of Dr. Schulte.

'This pamphlet Mgr. Fessler thought it his duty not to leave unanswered, which gave rise to the composition of the work which is now presented to our readers.

'In this refutation the able prelate follows step by step, chapter by chapter, the reasoning of his opponent, pointing out the unfair treatment which the instruction given by the Council meets with at his hands; explaining at the same time the true doctrine, re-establishing the true import of the facts adduced, and cautioning his readers against false interpretations of them. When, with a somewhat slow, perhaps, but sure progress, he has arrived at the end of his elucidations, he draws his inevitable conclu-