christ_n doctrine_n we_o mean_v that_o which_o be_v general_o preach_v by_o the_o apostle_n and_o contain_v all_o such_o point_n as_o be_v necessary_a to_o the_o salvation_n of_o the_o world_n not_o only_o in_o particular_a to_o single_a person_n but_o for_o government_n of_o the_o church_n and_o bring_v multitude_n with_o convenience_n to_o perfection_n in_o this_o life_n and_o felicity_n in_o the_o next_o which_o be_v establish_v they_o immediate_o proceed_v to_o this_o general_a position_n that_o all_o christ_n teach_v or_o the_o holy_a ghost_n suggest_v to_o the_o apostle_n of_o this_o nature_n be_v by_o a_o direct_a uninterrupted_a live_n entire_o and_o full_o descend_v to_o the_o present_a church_n which_o communicate_v with_o and_o acknowledge_v subjection_n to_o the_o roman_a add_v also_o the_o conver_n of_o that_o proposition_n viz._n nothing_o be_v so_o descend_v but_o such_o truth_n nor_o any_o thing_n hold_v by_o this_o tenure_n but_o what_o be_v so_o descend_v which_o be_v cast_v up_o amount_v to_o this_o great_a conclusion_n no_o error_n be_v ever_o or_o can_v be_v embrace_v by_o the_o church_n in_o quality_n of_o a_o matter_n of_o faith_n the_o proof_n consist_v in_o this_o since_o it_o be_v confess_v the_o catholic_a church_n go_v upon_o this_o maxim_n that_o her_o doctrine_n be_v receive_v from_o christ_n and_o still_o hand_v along_o to_o the_o present_a generation_n they_o who_o cavil_v at_o this_o assertion_n shall_v assign_v some_o age_n when_o they_o conceive_v a_o error_n creep_v in_o and_o the_o maintainer_n shall_v prove_v it_o enter_v not_o in_o that_o age_n because_o that_o age_n hold_v nothing_o be_v to_o be_v admit_v as_o of_o faith_n except_o what_o be_v deliver_v to_o it_o by_o the_o former_a but_o the_o objector_n themselves_o say_v this_o suppose_a error_n be_v not_o deliver_v by_o the_o former_a since_o they_o put_v it_o to_o be_v now_o first_o believe_v therefore_o the_o age_n in_o which_o they_o imagine_v this_o error_n creep_v in_o 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on_o this_o truth_n that_o the_o great_a part_n of_o mankind_n some_o through_o dulness_n of_o understanding_n some_o by_o the_o distraction_n of_o seek_v necessary_n for_o their_o subsistence_n or_o at_o least_o convenience_n for_o their_o accommodation_n and_o other_o for_o the_o diffluence_n of_o nature_n to_o pleasure_n and_o vanity_n be_v to_o their_o very_a depart_a hour_n whole_o incapable_a of_o search_v out_o their_o religion_n either_o by_o their_o own_o contemplation_n or_o the_o learned_a book_n of_o other_o i_o can_v doubt_v but_o such_o a_o considerer_n will_v without_o the_o least_o difficulty_n or_o hesitation_n conclude_v that_o be_v it_o his_o design_n to_o set_v up_o a_o religion_n which_o he_o will_v have_v constant_o and_o universal_o propagate_v he_o must_v of_o necessity_n pitch_n upon_o this_o way_n and_o so_o with_o a_o resolute_a and_o pious_a confidence_n pronounce_v if_o god_n have_v not_o already_o take_v this_o course_n certain_o he_o shall_v have_v do_v it_o to_o these_o consideration_n give_v my_o pen_n leave_v to_o add_v the_o confession_n of_o our_o adversary_n who_o bold_o acknowledge_v the_o roman_a church_n have_v have_v universal_a tradition_n for_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o its_o faith_n ever_o since_o st._n gregory_n day_n which_o be_v now_o a_o thousand_o year_n and_o very_o near_o two_o part_n of_o the_o three_o that_o christian_a religion_n have_v endure_v they_o confess_v those_o doctrine_n which_o be_v common_a to_o we_o and_o they_o remain_z in_o our_o church_n uncorrupted_a and_o have_v still_o descend_v from_o father_n to_o son_n by_o virtue_n of_o tradition_n since_o the_o very_a time_n of_o the_o apostle_n they_o will_v not_o deny_v the_o age_n betwixt_o constantine_n and_o st._n gregory_n flourish_v with_o a_o infinity_n of_o person_n famous_a both_o for_o piety_n and_o learning_n and_o the_o church_n never_o more_o vigilant_a never_o more_o jealous_a be_v continual_o alarm_v by_o such_o troop_n of_o powerful_a and_o subtle_a heretic_n so_o that_o there_o be_v no_o likelihood_n gross_a error_n such_o as_o idolatry_n and_o superstition_n import_v can_v creep_v in_o undiscerned_a in_o those_o day_n and_o perhaps_o much_o less_o betwixt_o constantine_n and_o the_o apostle_n the_o time_n be_v so_o short_a that_o it_o scarce_o exceed_v the_o retrospection_n of_o those_o who_o live_v with_o constantine_n at_o least_o that_o age_n can_v evident_o know_v what_o be_v the_o faith_n of_o christendom_n in_o the_o age_n of_o the_o apostle_n great_a grandchild_n and_o they_o again_o be_v certain_o assure_v of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o apostle_n disciple_n their_o grandfather_n which_o be_v a_o evidence_n beyond_o all_o testimony_n of_o writer_n that_o since_o constantine_n time_n it_o be_v know_v by_o a_o kind_n of_o self-sight_n what_o the_o grandchild_n of_o the_o apostle_n hold_v and_o it_o can_v not_o be_v doubt_v of_o they_o but_o they_o know_v and_o hold_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o
the_o former_a age_n more_o pure_a than_o the_o late_a since_o we_o admit_v no_o error_n in_o either_o but_o make_v no_o question_n that_o the_o universality_n of_o father_n in_o any_o two_o age_n hold_v the_o same_o doctrine_n and_o so_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o second_o tricentury_n be_v know_v we_o account_v that_o of_o the_o former_a undoubted_a especial_o we_o all_o believe_v the_o latter_a father_n receive_v their_o doctrine_n from_o the_o former_a not_o by_o read_v their_o book_n which_o belong_v to_o few_o but_o by_o be_v instruct_v from_o their_o mouth_n who_o have_v receive_v it_o from_o they_o but_o he_o think_v his_o reformer_n very_o probable_o maintain_v that_o christian_a religion_n have_v long_o be_v in_o a_o dangerous_a consumption_n decline_v still_o by_o little_a and_o little_a and_o lose_v in_o every_o age_n some_o certain_a degree_n of_o its_o primitive_a vigour_n and_o native_a complexion_n to_o which_o purpose_n he_o cite_v the_o word_n of_o hegesippus_n out_o of_o eusebius_n that_o this_o infirmity_n begin_v as_o soon_o as_o the_o apostle_n be_v dead_a this_o position_n sound_v to_o i_o as_o if_o the_o opinion_n they_o cry_v out_o against_o for_o abomination_n enter_v so_o early_o into_o the_o church_n and_o have_v continue_v in_o it_o so_o long_o that_o they_o can_v now_o reckon_v fifteen_o century_n nor_o can_v i_o desire_v either_o a_o more_o ingenuous_a confession_n or_o strong_a proof_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o those_o doctrine_n which_o the_o nature_n of_o christianity_n have_v preserve_v with_o such_o exact_a care_n and_o constant_a tenderness_n that_o in_o so_o many_o age_n not_o one_o of_o they_o have_v be_v forget_v not_o one_o of_o they_o ever_o oppose_v by_o those_o who_o in_o all_o generation_n have_v still_o be_v account_v the_o sound_a party_n of_o christian_n beside_o i_o shall_v expect_v that_o so_o foul_a a_o blemish_n as_o these_o bold_a accuser_n lay_v upon_o the_o church_n viz._n that_o she_o have_v be_v a_o idolatrous_a and_o abominable_a harlot_n ever_o since_o the_o death_n of_o the_o apostle_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v ground_v on_o bare_a probable_a conjecture_n but_o evident_o convince_v under_o penalty_n that_o otherwise_o the_o calumniator_n shall_v suffer_v at_o least_o as_o heavy_a a_o censure_n as_o they_o attempt_v to_o pass_v against_o the_o church_n but_o because_o for_o the_o maintenance_n of_o this_o odious_a slander_n he_o chief_o rely'_v on_o hâ—gesippus's_n testimony_n let_v the_o witness_n be_v fair_o examine_v and_o that_o according_a to_o the_o author_n own_o citation_n which_o run_v to_o this_o effect_n after_o the_o apostle_n death_n the_o master_n of_o seduction_n begin_v public_o and_o profess_o to_o vent_v their_o false_o name_v science_n against_o the_o preach_n of_o the_o truth_n which_o in_o plain_a english_a signify_v no_o more_o than_o that_o heretic_n rise_v up_o against_o the_o church_n and_o be_v so_o far_o from_o argue_v the_o church_n corruption_n that_o it_o strong_o conclude_v her_o purity_n since_o the_o doctrine_n which_o falsehood_n contradict_v must_v necessary_o be_v itself_o true_a thus_o clear_o it_o follow_v from_o these_o word_n that_o the_o wrong_n impute_a corruption_n be_v out_o of_o the_o church_n and_o soundness_n of_o faith_n in_o her_o communion_n but_o if_o we_o look_v into_o the_o text_n exact_o the_o meaning_n of_o that_o passage_n be_v this_o after_o the_o apostle_n death_n the_o consistence_n of_o heresy_n take_v its_o beginning_n that_o be_v heretic_n grow_v into_o a_o body_n dare_v to_o show_v their_o head_n where_o before_o they_o lurk_v for_o fear_n of_o the_o apostle_n which_o expression_n manifest_o prove_v they_o begin_v to_o make_v congregation_n distinct_a from_o the_o true_a church_n and_o this_o be_v evident_a we_o can_v be_v trouble_v with_o those_o word_n go_v before_o in_o higesippus_fw-la which_o say_v till_o then_o the_o church_n be_v a_o virgin_n and_o uncorrupted_a for_o it_o be_v a_o phrase_n natural_a enough_o to_o call_v the_o body_n corrupt_v who_o putrified_a part_n be_v cut_v off_o or_o rot_v away_o as_o those_o degenerate_a member_n be_v from_o the_o church_n of_o god_n and_o so_o this_o very_a daillè_fw-la can_v cite_v upon_o another_o occasion_n these_o selfsame_a innovator_n under_o the_o direct_a notion_n of_o heretic_n when_o he_o think_v it_o may_v better_o serve_v his_o turn_n the_o three_o survey_n of_o his_o 3d._o and_o 4_o the_o chapter_n wherein_o he_o object_n forgery_n and_o corruption_n of_o the_o father_n work_n as_o to_o the_o three_o point_n of_o forgery_n our_o monsieur_n dilate_v himself_o exceed_o but_o how_o much_o to_o the_o purpose_n some_o few_o note_n will_v discover_v first_o he_o object_n many_o counterfeit_a book_n that_o be_v not_o now_o extant_a nor_o have_v be_v these_o many_o age_n and_o think_v you_o not_o there_o must_v necessary_o arise_v a_o strange_a obscurity_n in_o our_o controversy_n from_o such_o forgery_n then_o he_o complain_v that_o transcriber_n have_v put_v wrong_a name_n to_o book_n either_o for_o the_o better_a sell_v they_o or_o out_o of_o ignorance_n and_o in_o some_o of_o they_o the_o question_n be_v about_o author_n almost_o of_o the_o same_o age_n all_o which_o be_v likewise_o little_a to_o the_o point_n for_o where_o the_o age_n opinion_n and_o not_o the_o particular_a credit_n of_o the_o author_n learning_n be_v require_v the_o authority_n of_o one_o understanding_n writer_n ought_v general_o to_o weigh_v as_o much_o as_o another_o and_o this_o be_v the_o case_n in_o controversy_n where_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o church_n not_o that_o of_o private_a doctor_n be_v the_o subject_n of_o our_o inquiry_n neither_o must_v i_o forget_v his_o defamation_n of_o the_o ancient_a christian_n as_o counterfeiter_n of_o the_o sibyl_n prophecy_n out_o of_o the_o calumny_n of_o the_o wicked_a celsey_n which_o nevertheless_o we_o see_v lactantius_n stand_v upon_o to_o the_o heathen_n face_n he_o omit_v not_o for_o a_o notorious_a piece_n of_o forgery_n that_o the_o canon_n of_o the_o council_n of_o sardica_n be_v cite_v as_o of_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a wherein_o nothing_o be_v more_o certain_a then_o that_o the_o canon_n be_v true_a though_o not_o admit_v by_o the_o greek_n who_o be_v call_v will_v not_o come_v to_o the_o council_n so_o the_o question_n stand_v mere_o upon_o this_o whether_o they_o ought_v to_o be_v call_v the_o canon_n of_o nice_a be_v make_v by_o a_o council_n gather_v afterward_o to_o confirm_v the_o former_a which_o the_o latin_n defend_v and_o the_o greek_n dislike_n doubtless_o a_o main_a forgery_n to_o be_v urge_v by_o this_o temperate_a man_n who_o charity_n no_o question_n will_v have_v wink_v at_o small_a fault_n yet_o because_o no_o ordinary_a satisfaction_n will_v content_v he_o though_o those_o pope_n be_v all_o both_o commend_v by_o the_o age_n in_o which_o they_o live_v and_o repute_v saint_n by_o the_o ensue_a church_n and_o one_o of_o they_o that_o great_a saint_n leo_n who_o oracle_n be_v so_o high_o esteem_v in_o the_o council_n of_o chalcedon_n i_o will_v brief_o set_v down_o the_o case_n the_o arian_n emperor_n constantius_n though_o yet_o for_o fear_v not_o declare_v such_o summon_v a_o general_n council_n of_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a church_n to_o a_o town_n call_v sardica_n there_o assemble_v betwixt_o 3_o and_o 4_o hundred_o bishop_n the_o arian_n see_v themselves_o like_a to_o come_v to_o the_o worst_a by_o the_o number_n of_o the_o orthodox_n party_n upon_o seek_v pretence_n go_v to_o another_o place_n call_v philippopolis_n where_o make_v a_o assembly_n of_o their_o own_o they_o term_v it_o from_o the_o emperor_n summons_n the_o council_n of_o sardica_n and_o partly_o by_o their_o diligence_n and_o send_v circular_a letter_n through_o christendom_n partly_o by_o join_v with_o a_o great_a faction_n of_o donatist_n but_o chief_o as_o it_o may_v be_v just_o believe_v by_o the_o power_n of_o the_o emperor_n officer_n 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