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of_o it_o profess_v from_o generation_n to_o generation_n to_o have_v observe_v it_o from_o the_o first_o plant_n of_o christianity_n among_o they_o and_o wheresoever_o lent_n be_v not_o observe_v its_o non-observer_n do_v profess_v only_o from_o such_o a_o time_n to_o have_v not_o observe_v it_o and_o their_o ancestor_n before_o that_o time_n for_o divers_a generation_n ever_o since_o they_o can_v well_o tell_v when_o have_v blind_o observe_v it_o whence_o it_o be_v manifest_a that_o the_o observation_n of_o lent_n be_v the_o ancient_a christian_a practice_n and_o its_o nonobservance_n a_o novelty_n and_o indeed_o have_v the_o keep_n of_o lent_n be_v a_o novelty_n and_o not_o hear_v of_o in_o the_o primitive_a time_n its_o observance_n be_v so_o burdensome_a and_o contrary_a to_o flesh_n and_o blood_n and_o beside_o as_o its_o opposer_n say_v superstitious_a also_o it_o be_v not_o possible_a it_o shall_v be_v introduce_v not_o into_o one_o but_o into_o all_o the_o christian_a 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year_n and_o indeed_o whosoever_o mature_o consider_v the_o genius_n and_o temper_n of_o the_o christian_a doctor_n and_o bishop_n for_o the_o first_o five_o hundred_o year_n after_o our_o saviour_n will_v find_v it_o impossible_a for_o all_o the_o power_n of_o hell_n to_o impose_v a_o novelty_n upon_o they_o for_o they_o be_v not_o like_o the_o seem_a zelots_n of_o our_o age_n pretender_n to_o new_a light_n but_o their_o profession_n be_v not_o to_o correct_v antiquity_n but_o faithful_o to_o deliver_v to_o posterity_n what_o they_o immemorial_o from_o the_o apostle_n have_v receive_v from_o their_o ancestor_n and_o their_o great_a answer_n to_o introducer_n of_o new_a doctrine_n or_o practice_n be_v nihil_fw-la novandum_fw-la nisi_fw-la quod_fw-la traditum_fw-la est_fw-la we_o must_v innovate_v nothing_o but_o stick_v close_o to_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o by_o our_o forefather_n do_v a_o montanus_n upon_o pretext_n of_o divine_a inspiration_n endeavour_v to_o impose_v 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novelty_n deceive_v a_o country_n which_o be_v resolve_v to_o hold_v fast_o whatsoever_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n be_v teach_v they_o by_o their_o immediate_a progenitor_n who_o receive_v the_o same_o doctrine_n or_o practice_n by_o a_o uninterrupted_a delivery_n from_o father_n to_o son_n from_o the_o apostle_n let_v he_o pretend_v scripture_n and_o bring_v a_o thousand_o place_n out_o of_o the_o law_n psalm_n prophet_n and_o apostle_n what_o will_v the_o reply_n be_v the_o scripture_n you_o allege_v we_o reverence_n and_o have_v ever_o be_v teach_v to_o reverence_n they_o as_o divine_a but_o we_o have_v be_v teach_v to_o interpret_v and_o understand_v they_o in_o another_o manner_n and_o sense_n than_o you_o allege_v they_o let_v he_o pretend_v authority_n of_o doctor_n as_o learned_a as_o origen_n or_o as_o holy_a as_o cyprian_a nay_o if_o he_o will_v a_o whole_a provincial-council_n as_o numerous_a as_o that_o in_o africa_n which_o determine_v rebaptisation_a of_o person_n baptise_a by_o heretic_n they_o reply_v we_o must_v not_o innovate_v we_o must_v hold_v to_o what_o be_v teach_v we_o by_o our_o ancestor_n what_o mean_v then_o to_o make_v person_n thus_o dispose_v to_o leave_v their_o ancient_a faith_n and_o practice_n and_o admit_v of_o a_o novelty_n you_o must_v prove_v to_o they_o that_o you_o and_o they_o and_o other_o christian_n in_o several_a country_n have_v be_v teach_v so_o to_o believe_v by_o your_o immediate_a predecessor_n and_o uninterrupted_o from_o father_n to_o son_n from_o the_o apostle_n but_o than_o you_o cease_v to_o be_v a_o preacher_n of_o novelty_n contrary_a to_o the_o supposition_n apply_v what_o have_v be_v say_v to_o our_o present_a controversy_n now_o that_o the_o study_n of_o the_o christian_a church_n in_o the_o five_o century_n be_v not_o to_o deliver_v to_o posterity_n doctrine_n of_o her_o own_o devise_v but_o careful_o to_o keep_v what_o she_o have_v receive_v from_o her_o fore-elders_a and_o faithful_o to_o teach_v her_o child_n what_o she_o have_v be_v teach_v by_o her_o father_n be_v manifest_a out_o of_o s._n vincent_n cite_v above_o who_o live_v in_o that_o age_n and_o testify_v that_o often_o ask_v of_o very_a many_o his_o contemporary_n famous_a for_o their_o sanctity_n and_o learning_n how_o he_o may_v be_v able_a to_o discern_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o catholic_n faith_n from_o the_o falsity_n of_o heretical_a pravity_n he_o always_o receive_v this_o answer_n in_o a_o manner_n from_o they_o all_o that_o if_o he_o desire_v to_o remain_v sound_n in_o his_o faith_n he_o must_v fortify_v it_o first_o with_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n and_o then_o with_o the_o tradition_n of_o the_o catholic_n church_n that_o be_v as_o he_o explicate_v himself_o afterward_o he_o must_v examine_v what_o have_v always_o all_o over_o the_o christian_a church_n and_o by_o all_o christian_a doctor_n or_o in_o a_o manner_n by_o all_o be_v believe_v and_o hold_v to_o that_o against_o all_o novelty_n though_o defend_v by_o private_a doctor_n never_o so_o holy_a or_o never_o so_o learned_a or_o produce_v never_o so_o many_o scripture_n for_o themselves_o if_o interpret_v after_o a_o new_a manner_n but_o say_v the_o same_o s._n vincent_n chap._n 2._o here_o perhaps_o some_o body_n may_v ask_v see_v the_o canon_n of_o the_o scripture_n be_v perfect_a and_o be_v itself_o sufficient_a and_o more_o than_o sufficient_a for_o all_o thing_n what_o need_n be_v there_o to_o add_v to_o it_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o ecclesiastical_a or_o church_n understanding_n of_o it_o because_o the_o holy_a scripture_n by_o reason_n of_o its_o depth_n be_v not_o by_o all_o take_v in_o one_o and_o the_o same_o sense_n for_o photinus_n expound_v it_o one_o way_n sabellius_n another_o donatus_n another_o arrius_n another_o and_o chap._n 41._o he_o tell_v we_o how_o the_o three_o general_n council_n hold_v in_o his_o day_n at_o ephesus_n proceed_v according_a to_o this_o rule_n condemn_v nestorius_n for_o the_o father_n of_o that_o christian_a synod_n in_o number_n about_o 200._o have_v consult_v the_o sentiment_n of_o their_o predecessor_n the_o eminent_a doctor_n of_o the_o oriental_a and_o western_a church_n s._n peter_n of_o alexandria_n s._n athanasius_n s._n theophilus_n s._n gregory_n nazianzen_n s._n basil_n s._n gregory_n nyssen_n s._n felix_n s._n julius_n s._n cyprian_n s._n ambrose_n concern_v their_o controversy_n in_o debate_n they_o resolve_v to_o hold_v their_o doctrine_n to_o follow_v their_o counsel_n to_o believe_v their_o testimony_n to_o obey_v their_o judgement_n quae_fw-la tandem_fw-la etc._n etc._n what_o be_v at_o length_n say_v s._n vincent_n the_o voice_n and_o vote_n of_o they_o all_o but_o that_o what_o be_v ancient_o deliver_v shall_v be_v keep_v what_o be_v of_o late_o invent_v shall_v be_v explode_v after_o which_o we_o admire_v and_o proclaim_v the_o great_a humility_n and_o sanctity_n of_o that_o council_n in_o which_o so_o many_o priest_n in_o a_o manner_n also_o the_o great_a part_n
be_v so_o many_o metropolitan_o and_o of_o so_o great_a erudition_n and_o learning_n as_o they_o be_v almost_o all_o able_a to_o dispute_v of_o dogm_n to_o who_o when_o their_o gather_n together_o in_o one_o seem_v to_o add_v a_o confidence_n of_o dare_v and_o decree_a something_o from_o themselves_o yet_o notwithstanding_o they_o will_v presume_v nothing_o arrogate_v nothing_o at_o all_o to_o themselves_o but_o take_v all_o possible_a heed_n lest_o they_o shall_v deliver_v to_o their_o posterity_n what_o themselves_o have_v not_o receive_v from_o their_o father_n and_o not_o only_o well_o dispose_v the_o matter_n for_o the_o present_a but_o also_o give_v example_n to_o they_o that_o be_v to_o come_v to_o wit_n that_o they_o shall_v reverence_v the_o dogm_n of_o sacred_a antiquity_n and_o condemn_v adinventa_fw-la the_o additional_a invention_n of_o profane_a novelty_n have_v abstinence_n from_o certain_a kind_n of_o meat_n for_o 40._o day_n before_o easter_n be_v a_o superstitious_a 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be_v lend_v first_o introduce_v in_o the_o three_o age_n but_o that_o can_v not_o be_v neither_o the_o doctor_n of_o that_o age_n be_v no_o less_o zealous_a for_o deliver_v doctrine_n and_o practice_n nor_o less_o opposer_n of_o novelty_n than_o the_o 5_o age_n as_o be_v manifest_a by_o the_o contest_v betwixt_o the_o bishop_n of_o carthage_n and_o the_o bishop_n of_o rome_n and_o his_o colleague_n where_o the_o assertor_n of_o rebaptisation_a want_v neither_o wit_n nor_o eloquence_n nor_o number_n nor_o verisimilitude_n of_o truth_n nor_o oracle_n of_o the_o divine_a law_n but_o understand_v after_o a_o bad_a and_o a_o new_a manner_n as_o s._n vincent_n say_v chap._n 9_o &_o 10._o how_o then_o come_v they_o to_o lose_v their_o cause_n s._n stephen_n and_o his_o colleague_n reclaim_v nihil_fw-la novandum_fw-la nisi_fw-la quod_fw-la traditum_fw-la est_fw-la nothing_o be_v to_o be_v innovate_v beside_o what_o have_v be_v deliver_v to_o we_o agrippinus_n bishop_n of_o carthage_n hold_v 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be_v bring_v into_o the_o christian_a church_n for_o the_o first_o 500_o year_n and_o yet_o its_o manifest_a by_o all_o the_o christian_n write_v of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o age_n that_o it_o be_v then_o universal_o practise_v both_o in_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a church_n whence_o it_o follow_v that_o it_o be_v no_o superstitious_a practice_n but_o true_a christian_a piety_n and_o be_v teach_v the_o world_n by_o the_o first_o planter_n of_o christianity_n although_o our_o learned_a adversary_n deny_v not_o but_o that_o the_o prime_a doctor_n and_o chief_a champion_n of_o christianity_n of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o age_n be_v zealous_a observer_n and_o preacher_n of_o the_o quadragesimal_n fast_o of_o lent_n and_o for_o this_o cause_n appeal_v to_o the_o first_o 300._o year_n yet_o for_o the_o satisfaction_n of_o other_o less_o learned_a i_o have_v think_v fit_a to_o transcribe_v their_o testimony_n as_o they_o be_v cite_v by_o bishop_n gunning_n in_o his_o learned_a treatise_n in_o defence_n of_o the_o paschal_n or_o lent-fast_a hear_v then_o the_o testimony_n of_o the_o christian_a doctor_n of_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o century_n and_o if_o you_o have_v the_o least_o grain_n of_o christian_a modesty_n dread_a to_o call_v that_o superstition_n which_o so_o many_o grave_a father_n extol_v as_o singular_a christian_a piety_n s._n basil_n in_o his_o sermon_n de_fw-fr jejunio_n make_v mention_n of_o lent-fast_a for_o he_o make_v mention_n of_o five_o day_n fast_v together_o command_v to_o be_v observe_v by_o all_o degree_n all_o over_o the_o world_n which_o return_v by_o a_o orderly_a course_n now_o in_o other_o his_o contemporary_n we_o find_v express_v mention_n of_o a_o forty-day_n fast_o nor_o be_v there_o ever_o by_o christian_n fast_v five_o day_n consequent_o but_o in_o lent_n and_o the_o reason_n he_o mention_n five_o day_n be_v because_o the_o grecian_n only_o fast_v five_o day_n in_o every_o week_n in_o lent_n leave_v out_o saturday_n and_o sunday_n hear_v his_o own_o word_n hom._n 1._o let_v we_o as_o become_v saint_n receive_v the_o day_n that_o be_v at_o hand_n not_o with_o a_o sad_a soul_n but_o with_o a_o cheerful_a affection_n be_v not_o sad_a when_o thou_o be_v cure_a whoever_o amid_o sumptuous_a feast_n and_o continual_a delight_n be_v make_v partaker_n of_o any_o spiritual_a gift_n moses_n that_o he_o may_v a_o second_o time_n receive_v the_o law_n need_v a_o second_o fast._n do_v thou_o not_o eat_v flesh_n but_o thou_o eat_v up_o thy_o brother_n do_v thou_o abstain_v from_o wine_n but_o thou_o do_v not_o forbear_v to_o injure_v thy_o neighbour_n thou_o expect_v the_o evening_n before_o thou_o take_v thy_o refection_n but_o spend_v the_o whole_a day_n in_o law-court_n let_v not_o drunkenness_n introduce_v thou_o to_o the_o mystery_n of_o fast_v the_o wrestler_n be_v exercise_v before_o he_o wrestle_v for_o the_o prize_n the_o fast_o be_v prepare_v to_o fast_a by_o temperance_n do_v not_o as_o if_o thou_o will_v revenge_v thyself_o on_o the_o day_n of_o fast_v or_o mock_v the_o author_n of_o the_o law_n lay_v up_o against_o these_o five_o day_n the_o treasure_n of_o surfeit_v our_o lord_n who_o have_v bring_v we_o to_o the_o recourse_n of_o this_o time_n give_v we_o as_o to_o combatant_n throughout_o these_o day_n in_o which_o we_o be_v call_v out_o to_o combat_n to_o declare_v the_o strength_n and_o nerve_n of_o continence_n orat._n 2._o fast_v be_v at_o all_o time_n profitable_a to_o those_o who_o voluntary_o undertake_v it_o but_o much_o more_o at_o this_o time_n when_o the_o denunciation_n of_o fast_v be_v proclaim_v all_o over_o the_o world_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o island_n nor_o continent_n nor_o city_n nor_o nation_n nor_o the_o far_a corner_n of_o the_o world_n where_o the_o edict_n of_o fast_v be_v not_o hear_v s._n gregory_n nazianzen_n orat._n 4._o christ_n fast_v a_o little_a before_o his_o temptation_n we_o before_o the_o paschal_n feast_n and_o orat._n 41_o 42._o yesterday_o i_o be_v crucify_a with_o christ_n to_o day_n i_o be_o as_o it_o be_v glorify_v with_o he_o s._n epiphanius_n in_o expositione_n fidei_fw-la catholicae_fw-la the_o same_o church_n have_v be_v wont_a to_o observe_v lend_v continue_v in_o fast_n but_o the_o 6._o day_n of_o the_o week_n before_o easter_n all_o the_o people_n continue_v in_o dry_a diet_n use_v then_o bread_n salt_n and_o water_n at_o the_o evening_n yet_o those_o that_o be_v very_o devout_a pass_v two_o three_o and_o four_o day_n and_o some_o the_o whole_a week_n until_o cock-crowing_a on_o easter-day_n s._n ambrose_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr helia_n &_o jejunio_fw-la a_o lent_n be_v fast_v with_o we_o all_o day_n except_o saturday_n and_o the_o lordsday_n and_o serm._n 25._o our_o lord_n after_o he_o have_v fast_v 40._o day_n overcome_v the_o devil_n not_o but_o that_o he_o can_v have_v overcome_v he_o before_o his_o fasting_n but_o that_o he_o may_v show_v unto_o we_o that_o then_o
defend_v the_o catholic_n faith_n that_o they_o may_v break_v in_o piece_n your_o argument_n hitherto_o s._n augustin_n l._n 1._o &_o 2._o contra_fw-la julianum_fw-la i_o think_v fit_a to_o adjoyn_v this_o reflection_n of_o s._n austen_n though_o superabundant_a to_o the_o force_n of_o my_o argument_n it_o be_v sufficient_a for_o my_o purpose_n to_o prove_v that_o lent-fast_a be_v general_o practise_v in_o the_o four_o and_o 5_o century_n both_o by_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a church_n and_o so_o much_o evident_o follow_v from_o the_o authority_n above_o cite_v for_o though_o some_o may_v be_v so_o self-conceited_a as_o to_o confess_v that_o s._n hierom_n s._n ambrose_n s._n basil_n s._n crysostom_n and_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o holy_a father_n greek_n and_o latin_a deem_v the_o observation_n of_o lent_n to_o be_v a_o pious_a christian_a practice_n but_o they_o with_o humble_a submission_n judge_v it_o to_o be_v superstition_n will-worship_n and_o the_o doctrine_n of_o devil_n 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be_v first_o teach_v the_o world_n by_o the_o apostle_n for_o if_o the_o first_o convert_v of_o the_o apostle_n all_o over_o the_o world_n have_v not_o only_o be_v teach_v no_o such_o observation_n but_o also_o have_v be_v positive_o instruct_v to_o look_v upon_o abstinence_n from_o certain_a kind_n of_o meat_n as_o superstition_n and_o the_o doctrine_n of_o devil_n and_o with_o all_o have_v be_v charge_v not_o to_o receive_v any_o other_o doctrine_n though_o preach_v to_o they_o by_o a_o angel_n send_v from_o heaven_n and_o they_o in_o like_a manner_n teach_v their_o child_n the_o same_o they_o have_v learn_v as_o none_o can_v doubt_v but_o they_o do_v how_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o the_o christian_n in_o the_o four_o century_n shall_v most_o tenacious_o adhere_v to_o this_o principle_n of_o admit_v no_o new_a doctrine_n or_o practice_n but_o to_o hold_v fast_o to_o what_o be_v deliver_v they_o by_o their_o ancestor_n from_o the_o apostle_n and_o yet_o shall_v themselves_o 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