That this _absolute_, and _infallible_ authority of preaching and teaching, was not to be limited merely to the _persons_ of the Apostles, nor merely to the _period_ of their ministry, but was also to extend to _their_ successors in office, and _to all future ages_, I will now prove. Our Saviour tells His Apostles, that they are to go, and teach _all nations_, and that He will be with them, _even until the end of the world_; and that the Spirit of truth, shall remain with them _for ever_. Now, as the Apostles, _did not_ teach _all nations_, in their _own_ persons, and were not to continue on earth, until _the end of the world_, it was manifest, that the commission was not to be confined to _their persons_, but was to be given to _their office_, that is, to them and their successors _in office_, who shall continue _until the end of the world_, to _complete_ the great work of teaching all nations, which the Apostles _first began_. That this was _actually_ the intention of _our divine Saviour_, we learn in positive, and distinct terms, from these words of St. Paul: "And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some pastors, and doctors for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." "That henceforth we may be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive." (iv. 11, 14.) _Such is_, most Reverend Gentlemen, and _such always was, the visible, the infallible, and incorruptible_ Church of Christ, which was to be perpetuated _from age to age_, with time for its duration, and the world for its boundaries. Oh, but you will reply, this Church once fell into error, at least so say the first Reformers. If, most Reverend Gentlemen, I were to assert that _you_ all once committed _murder_, you would very sharply ask, _when_, _where_, and _how_? And if I could not prove _when_, _where_, and _how_, I think you would deem me (and justly too) a very near relation to the father of lies. Now, your first Reformers _said_, indeed, that the Catholic Church once fell, but _most unfortunately_, they _forgot_ to prove _when_, _where_, and _how_. As, therefore, these first Reformers, forgot to prove these _most essential_ circumstances, you must excuse _us Catholics_, if we prefer _God's infallible_ word, to the _mere ipse dixit_ of these _first celestial_ lights of the Reformation. You know God says, heaven and earth, _shall_ pass away, but His word _shall not_ pass away.