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truth_n	church_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	4,605	5	9.4382	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A14435	A very Christian, learned, and briefe discourse, concerning the true, ancient, and Catholicke faith, against all wicked vp-start heresies seruing very profitably for a preseruatiue against the profane nouelties of papists, Anabaptists, Arrians, Brownists, and all other sectaries. First composed by Vincentius Lirinensis in Latine, about twelue hundreth yeares ago. And now faithfully translated into English, and illustrated with certaine marginall notes. By Thomas Tuke.; Pro catholicae fidei antiquitate libellus. English	Vincent, of Lérins, Saint, d. ca. 450.; Tuke, Thomas, d. 1657. aut	1611 (1611)	STC 24753; ESTC S102090	49,335	192

taketh away the sinnes of the world Who are rauening Wolues but the sauage and rauening opinions or conceits of heretickes which alwaies annoy the Foldes of the Church and rend assunder the Flocke of Christ on what part soeuer they are able But that they may steale more slily vpon the vnwary sheepe retaining still their woluish cruelty they lay aside their shape of a Wolfe and wrap themselues within the sentences of the holy Scriptures as it were within certaine Sheepe-skinnes that when a body hath felt afore the softnesse of the wooll hee might not bee afraid of the bitings of the teeth But what saith our Sauiour Yee shall know them by their fruits That is when they shall begin not only now to vtter those sayings but also to expound them nor as yet to cracke of them only but also to interpret them then that bitternesse thē the sourenesse and madnesse is perceiued then this new deuised poison will bee breathed out then are prophane nouelties disclosed then may ye see the bounds of the Fathers to be remoued the Catholicke faith to be then but chered and the doctrine of the Church torne in peeces CHAP. 37. SVch were they whom the Apostle Paul reproueth in his second Epistle to the Corinthes saying For such false Apostles saith hee are crafty workmen transforming themselues into Apostles of Christ What meaneth this transforming themselues into the Apostles of Christ The Apostles alledged examples of the Law of God and so did they The Apostles cited the authorities of the Psalmes and so did they the Apostles produced the sayings of the Prophets euen so did they too not a iot the lesse But when they had begun to expound those sentences diuersly which they had alike alledged then were the simple Apostles discerned from the subtill Apostles the sincere from the counterfeite the right from the peruerse and finally the true from the false And no wonder quoth he For Sathan himselfe transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light it is no great thing therefore though his Ministers bee transformed as Ministers of righteousnesse Therefore by the Apostle Pauls doctrine so often as euer either false Apostles or false Prophets or false Teachers all edge the sentences of Gods word with the which being vnderstood amisse they seeke to maintaine their owne errors there is no doubt but that they follow the crafty deuises of their Author which he would neuer without doubt deuise but that hee knowes that there is no way at all more ready to deceiue then that where the deceit of a wicked errour is vnderhand introduced There the authority of Diuine sentences should bee pretended But some man will say how is it proued that the Diuell is wont to vse proofes of holy Scripture Let him read the Gospels in the which it is written Then the Diuell tooke him that is the Lord and Sauiour and set him vpon a pinacle of the Temple and said vnto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy selfe downe For it is written that hee hath giuen his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies and with their hands they shall lift thee vp least it may bee thou shouldest dash thy foote against a stone What will this Fiend do to silly men that set vpon the Lord of glory with testimonies of Scripture If quoth hee thou be the Son of God cast thy selfe downe Why so For saith he it is written The doctrine of this place is to bee diligently marked and reteined of vs that when we shall see some alledge the words of the Apostles or Prophets against the Catholicke Faith we should in no wise doubt considering such a remarkeable example of Euangelicall authority that the Diuell speaketh by them For as then the Head spake to the Head so now also the Members speake vnto the Members to wit the members of the Diuell to the members of Christ the vnfaithfull to the faithfull the sacrilegious to the religious finally Heretiques to Catholickes But what I pray you saith hee If quoth he thou bee the Sonne of God cast thy selfe downe That is to say thou wilt be the Son of God and wilt receiue the inheritance of the kingdome of heauen Cast thy selfe downe that is throw thy selfe off from the doctrine and tradition of this high Church which is also counted the Temple of God And if any man should aske some hereticke which perswades him to doe thus How dost thou prooue vpon what ground dost thou teach that I ought to forsake the vniuersall and ancient faith of the Catholicke Church Hee would presently answer For it is written And forthwith hee prepares a multitude of testimonies examples and authorities from the Law frō the Psalmes from the Apostles from the Prophets through the which being after a new and naughty manner interpreted the vnhappy soule might bee plunged headlong into the gulfe of heresie And now with those promises following the hereticks are wont to deceiue vnwary men For they presume to promise and to teach That in their Church that is in the conuenticle of their communion there is a great and special and in truth a certaine personall grace of God so as that they whosoeuer they bee that are of their company without any labour without any study without any trauell though they neither seeke nor aske nor knocke are yet for all that so ordered by God that being lifted vp in the hands of Angels that is being preserued by Angelicall protection they can neuer dash their foote against a stone that is they can neuer be scandalized or offended CHAP. 38. BVt some man doth say If the Diuel and his Disciples do vse Diuine speeches sentences and promises amongst whose Disciples some are Fals-apostles False-prophets and False-teachers and all of them generally heretiques what shal Catholicke men and the Children of the Church our Mother do How shall they discerne the truth in the holy Scriptures from falsehood Surely they shall haue speciall care to doe this which wee haue in writing set downe in the beginning of this aduertisement to haue beene deliuered vnto vs by holy and learned men namely that they doe interprete the holy Scriptures according to the traditions of the vniuersall Church and by the rules of Catholicke doctrine wherein also it is necessary that they follow the vniuersality antiquity and consent of the Catholique and Apostolique Church And if at any time a part shall rebell against the whole if nouelty shall thwart antiquity if the dissention of one or of some few erronious persons shall crosse the consent of all or surely of the greatest number of Catholickes let them preferre the soundnesse of the whole to the corruptnesse of a part in the which same vniuersall body let them make more account of religious antiquity then of profane nouelty in like manner in the same antiquity let them first and foremost afore all thinges preferre the generall decrees if there

only possible or probable but certaine that he vsed a table gesture at that his last Supper 5. That because Christ vsed a table gesture therefore it is vnlawfull for vs to vse any other then a table gesture 6 That to receiue the bread and wine kneeling is vnlawfull is Idolatry Which me thinkes is very strange For what is the Idoll wee kneele not vnto the Elements but vnto God in testimony of reuerence and humblenesse of spirit Secondly if wee Must receiue the Sacrament with reuerence and humility of heart as who dare gainsay thē vndoubtedly wee May receiue it with a reuerend and humble gesture Thirdly if our kneeling be idolatry then are wee idolaters as if oppression bee theft and oppressors are Theeues if to take the Cure of soules and to take no Care of soules be murder then they that take the Cure of soules and take no Care of soules are Murderers yea and resolute Idolaters for we do not onely kneele but stand to defend it and we practise it daily yea and charge them with ignorance that do condemne it as vnlawful Now what wil follow If we be idolaters then they must not eate with vs. If any saith S. Paul that is called a brother bee an Idolater with such one eate not And againe If wee be Idolaters how dare they communicate with vs What with Idolaters Either therefore these conceits must be for saken or else I see not how wee can but swarme with Iacobites But I am perswaded better things of many of them such as accompany Saluation and tend not to Separation A. Fuluius once sayd to his sonne I begat thee not for Catiline against thy Country but for thy Country against Catiline so may I say they were not begotten by the Gospel for Iohnson for Iacob for any turbulent and phantasticke Doctor against the Church but for the Church against them And be they well assured that this sleight stuffe will shrinke when it comes to wetting this counterfeit coine will not indure triall The greatnesse of men their learning their godlinesse are no arguments to moue vs to receiue their owne conceipts for doctrines No an Angell must not be heard against the truth But mee thinkes I heare some man say How may I be resolued in this difference of opinions what shall I doe to finde out the truth I answer First giue diligent care to the voyce of God in the Scriptures what it saith that receiue though it crosse thee neuer so much and where it hath no tongue haue thou no care Do not first entertaine a conceit and then look out Scripture to draw it by the haire to thee Secondly be not ouercaried with any preiudicate opinion of thine Opposite neither let the reuerend conceit of thy Teacher that hath taught thee such a doctrine couer thine eye from beholding reason and do not thinke that because hee is a good man therefore all must needes bee good that hee hath taught thee or that his doctrines are sounder thē another mans because his life is better Thirdly be not proud or selfe-conceited For God resisteth the proud God and Pride saith Bernard cannot dwell together in the same heart which could not dwell in the same heauen And the History of the Church sheweth that Arrius of very pride fell into wicked and open heresie But the Lord giueth grace to the humble and teacheth him his way If yee aske saith Augustine what is the first step in the way of truth I answer Humility If yee aske what is the second I say Humility If yee aske what is the third I say the same Humility fourthly pray earnestly with Dauid that God would bee pleased to Giue thee vnderstanding and to teach thee good indgement and knowledge Finally bee not easily perswaded to beleeue Doctrines specially against the vnanimous consent of a true Church which neither the ancient acknowledged neither are allowed by any present approoued Church but are the conceipts of some particular persons In one word I pray thee diligently to read this Treatise ouer For it teacheth how to continue in the faith against all the fraudes and fallacies of Imposters It is not great but good learned though but litle and as sweete to them that are intelligent as short The Lord blesse it to thee and giue thee an vnderstanding head and an obedient heart April 14. 1611. Thine in Christ THOMAS TVKE A TREATISE OR Disputation of VINCENTIVS LIRINENSIS for the Antiquity of the Catholicke faith against the profane Nouelties of all Heresies The Preface FORASMVCH as the Scripture speakes and warnes vs thus Aske thy Fathers and they will shew thee thine Elders and they will tell thece And againe Apply thine eare to the words of the wise In like manner also My Son forget not these sayings and let thine heart keepe my words It seemeth to me Peregrinus the least of all the seruants of God that it will not be a little profitable through the Lords assistance if I shall set downe those things in writing which I haue faithfully receiued of the holy Fathers sure I am very necessary for mine owne infirmity seeing I may haue in readinesse whereby the weakenesse of my memory may bee relieued with continuall reading Vnto which taske not only the benefite of the work doth mooue me but the consideration also of time and the oportunity of Place The time for seeing all things are carried away therewith it behoueth vs also to catch something therefrom againe which may further vnto eternall life especially because the expectation of Gods terrible iudgement requireth the studies of Religion and the subtilty of nouell Heretiques asketh much care and diligence The Place also because auoiding the throngs multitudes that are in Citties we liue in a little Village more remote and are there inclostred in a Monastery where without great distraction we may do that which the Psalmist sings of Be still and know that I am God But indeed the reason of our purpose is agreeable thereunto as who because wee haue some while bene tossed with diuers and grieuous troubles of a secular warfare haue at the length through the fauour of Christ hidden vs within the hauen of Religion most faithful alwaies vnto all that there the blasts of vanity and pride being laid downe and appeasing God by the sacrifice of Christian humility we might escape not onely the Ship-wracks of the life present but the flames also of the future But now will I in the name of the Lord set vpon this businesse to wit set downe in writing the things that haue ben deliuered from our Elders and committed to our keeping intending to be a faithful Relator of them and not presuming to be their Author Neither meane I to set downe all but to touch those onely that are necessary that not in any polished and curious stile but in a plaine and familiar speech that the most of them may

seeme to bee pointed at rather then vnfolded Let them write delicately and with accuratenesse that are led thereunto through confidence of their wit or by reason of their office but for me it shall be sufficient that I haue prepared a Remembrancer for my selfe to helpe my memory or rather to preuent my forgetfulnesse the which yet I will endeauour through the Lords assistance to mend and perfite dayly by reuoluing and calling to mind the things that I haue learned And this I haue said before hand that if happily ought of ours shall come into the hands of the Saints they would reprehend nothing therein rashly which they may see by promise yet to be amended CHAP. 1. INquiring therefore oftentimes with great care and very singular diligence of very many excellent men both for holinesse and learning how I might by some certaine and as it were generall and regular way discerne the truth of the Catholicke faith from the falsehood of wicked heresies I receiued this answere alwaies from them all almost That if either I or any other would finde out the wiles of vpstart Hereticks and escape their snares and continue sound and whole in a sound faith he must fortifie his faith through the Lords assistance with a two-fold fence namely first with the authority of Gods word and then also with the tradition of the Catholicke Church CHAP. 2. HEre it may be some man will aske Seeing the Canon of the Scriptures is perfect and that it is aboundantly sufficient of it selfe to all things what need is there that the authority of the Churches vnderstanding should be ioyned therunto Surely because al mē do not after one manner vnderstand the holy Scripture according to the height thereof but diuers men interpret the sentences thereof diuersly that there may seeme to be as many meanings thereof almost as men For Nouatian expounds it one way Photinus another way Sabellius thus Donatus otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other waies Appollinaris Priscillianus by themselues Iouinianus Pelagius Celestius another way and finally Nestorius hath a sence by himselfe And therefore by reason of so great deceipts and windings of so different errours it is very necessary that a man should interpret the Prophets and Apostles according as the Catholicke Church doth vnderstand them CHAP. 3. IN like manner euen in the Catholike Church wee must haue a speciall regard that we hold that which is Euery where beleeued alwaies of all for this is truly and properly Catholike as the very force reason of the name declareth which comprehendeth al things truly vniuersally Now this we shall doe if we follow Vniuersality Antiquity and Consent And wee shall follow Vniuersality thus namely if we do confesse this one faith to be true which the whole Church through out the world confesseth We shall follow Antiquity if by no meanes we reiect those interpretations which we know to haue bene vsed and esteemed of our holy Elders and Forefathers And Consent in like sort also if euer in Antiquity we follow the determinations and iudgements of all or surely of almost all Priests and Doctors CHAP. 4. VVHat then shal a Christian Catholicke do if some few members of the Church shall cut themselues from the fellowship of the Catholicke Faith Surely what else but preferre the soundnesse of the whole body before a noysom and corrupt member And what if some new contagion shall indeuour the corruption not of some small part of the Church onely but euen of the whole body thereof also In like manner then he shall bee carefull to cleaue fast vnto Antiquity which cannot now wholly be seduced by any nouell deceipt And what if euen in Antiquity it selfe the errour of two or three or of a Citty or of some Prouince be found out Then his whole care shall be to prefer the decrees of the Vniuersal Church vniuersally of old maintained to the rashnesse or ignorance if any such be of some few persons But what if some such thing breake out where nothing of that nature may be found Then shall hee compare the sentences and opinions of the Fathers together and take Counsell of them of those Fathers or Elders I meane onely which though they liued not in one age and place did yet continue in the fellowship and faith of one Catholicke Church were laudable Teachers and whatsoeuer he shall perceiue that not one or two alone but that all alike with one and the same consent did openly commonly and constantly hold write and teach let him know that the same of him also is without any scruple to bee beleeued But that those things which wee say may be made more plaine they are each of them to be cleered by examples and to be a little more enlarged least through affectation of too much breuity the weight of things bee not perceiued by reason of passing so swiftly ouer them in our speech CHAP. 5. IN the time of Donatus from whom sprang the Donatists when as a great part of Aphrica had throwne themselues headlong into his furious errours and when vnmindfull of their honour religion and profession they did preferre the sacrilegious headines of one man to the Church of Christ then those Africans could of them all alone be safe within the sanctuaries of the Catholicke faith which hauing that wicked Schisme in detestation adioyned themselues to all the Churches of the world leauing in truth a notable paterne to them that should come after namely how and that also well the soundnesse of all might be preferred before the fury of one or but a few CHAP. 6. IN like manner when as the poyson of the Arrians had now corrupted not some fewe but almost all the world so as that well neere all the Latine Bishops being deceiued partly by force and partly by fraude knew not well by reason of a certaine kinde of blindnesse which had inuaded their vnderstandings what course they were best to follow when things were so confused then whosoeuer was a true Louer worshipper of Christ the same by making more accoūt of the ancient-faith thē of nouel-falshood was preserued from all infections of that contagious doctrine The danger in truth of which time hath aboundantly shewed what great calamity the bringing in of that vpstart doctrine caused For then were shaken not small things onely but euen the greatest also For not onely alliances kindreds friendships and houses were dissolued but also Cities People Prouinces Nations yea and the whole Romane Empire was vtterly shaken and put out of order For when that profane noueltie of the Arrians as a certaine Bellona or Furia had first captiuated the Emperour and then brought all the chiefest about him vnder new lawes it ceased not afterwards to trouble disorder all things priuat and publicke facred and profane and to haue no regard of that which was good and true but whomsoeuer

with them Yea but perhaps these precepts belong only to the Galatians Then these things also are commanded to the Galatians onely which are mentioned in the same Epistle after such as are these If wee liue in the Spirit let vs also walk in the Spirit let vs not be desirous of vaine glory prouoking one another enuying one another and the rest Which if it bee against sense and if they be commanded vnto all alike it standeth with good reason that as these commandements concerning manners so those also concerning faith should equally belong to all CHAP. 14. ANd as no man may prouoke or enuy one another so no man may receiue ought besides that which the Catholike Church doth alway preach or else perhaps it was at that time inioyned that if any did preach otherwise then was already preached hee should bee accursed but not at this time there is no such commandement Then that also which hee likewise speaketh in the same Epistle And I say walke in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh was at that time onely commanded and is not now inioyned But if it be both impious and pernicious so to thinke it doth necessarily follow that as these things ought to be obserued of all ages so those things which are decreed concerning the keeping of the faith without alteration are commanded also to all ages To preach any thing therefore to Christian Catholikes besides that which they haue receiued was neuer lawfull is no where lawfull and neuer shall be lawfull and to accurse them which preach any thing besides that which was once receiued hath beene euer behoouefull is euery where behoouefull and shall alwaies be behoouefull Which things seeing they thus stand is there any man either so bold as to preach otherwise then hath ben preached in the Church or so light as to receiue otherwise then that hee hath receiued of the Church Let him cry and cry againe and againe let him in his letters cry both vnto all and alwaies and euery where euen that vessell of election that teacher of the Gentiles that Apostolique Trumpet that Preacher of Men and who knew the will of God That if any one preach a new doctrine hee shall be accursed On the contrary also certaine Frogs and Gnats and Flies that shall perish such as are the Pelagians cry out against him and that vnto Catholikes We say they being Authors Leaders and interpreters Condemne ye those things which yee did hold hold yee those things which yee did condemne Reiect yee the ancient faith the Fathers ordinances and those things which the Elders haue committed to your trust and Receiue ye What things I pray you I tremble to speake them for they are so insolent that mee thinkes they cannot be without some vile offence affirmed no nor intruth somuch as refelled CHAP. 15. BVt some man will say Wherefore then doth God very often suffer certaine excellent persons in the Church to broach new matters vnto Catholikes It is a good question and worthy to be diligently largely answered Which yet we must make answere to not of our owne head but by the authority of Gods word and by the instruction of an Ecclesiasticall Teacher Let vs therefore heare holy Moses and let him teach vs wherefore learned men and such as by reason of the grace of knowledge be called also Prophets of the Apostle are sometimes permitted to publish new doctrines which the old Testament vseth allegorically to call Strange Gods to wit because Heretiques worship their owne opinions as the Gentiles doe their gods Blessed Moses therefore in Deuteronomy writeth If there arise among you a Prophet or which saith hee hath seene a vision that is to say a Teacher constituted in the Church who is thought of his Schollers and Hearers to teach by some reuelation What followeth And shall giue thee a Signe or Wonder and the Signe or Wonder which he hath spoken of shall come to passe Doubtles some great I know not what Teacher is vnderstood and indued with such knowledge as who may seeme to his owne followers not onely to know things that are within the reach of man but also to foreknow things which are aboue him such almost as Ualentinus Donatus Photinus Appollinaris and the rest of that rabble were by their Disciples crakt of to haue bene But what followes And shall say quoth Moses vnto thee Let vs go and follow after other gods which thou knowest not and let vs serue them What are those strange Gods but strange errours which thou hast not knowne that is to say new and not-heard-of And let vs serue them that is let vs beleeue thē follow thē But what saies he last of all Thou shalt not hearken quoth hee vnto that Prophet or dreamer of dreames And why I pray thee doth not God prohibite that to bee taught which hee doth forbid to be receiued Because saith hee the Lord your God prooueth you that it might appeare whether you loue the Lord your God withall your heart and withall your soule The reason is cleerer then the light why the prouidence of God doth sometimes suffer certaine Teachers of the Churches to broach some new doctrines that the Lord your God quoth he might try yee And indeed it is no small temptation when as he whom thou countest a Prophet the Disciple of the Prophets and a teacher and defender of the truth and whom thou dost exceedingly reuerence loue Shall on the suddaine closely bring in some hurtfull errours which thou art neither able quickly to perceiue as long as thou art led by a fore-stalled iudgement concerning his old maisterlike authority neither dost thou easily thinke it lawfull to condemne them whilst thou art hindred by thine affection towards thine ancient Maister CHAP. 16. HEre some man may perhaps desire that those things which are in the words of holy Moses affirmed may be by some Ecclesiasticall Ensamples cleered The desire is iust and not long to be put off For that we may beginne with the neerest and those that are manifest what a temptation was that of late suppose wee when as that wretch Nestorius being suddenly turned from a Sheepe to a Wolfe had begun to rend the Flocke of Christ At which time the very same persons whom he did teare for a great part of them as yet did verily think him to be a sheep and therefore lay the more open to his teeth For who would easily imagine him to erre whom he saw chosen with such iudgement of the Empire and so highly fauoured of the Priests Who being continually honoured with the great loue of the Saints and very great good will of the people did openly preach the word of God and confute also the hurtfull errours of Iewes and Gentiles By the which meanes I pray you would hee not perssade any man that hid doctrines preaching and iudgement were right

that goes about to prohibite that But yet let it be so that it may be indeed a proceeding not a changing of the Faith For that is to profite that euery thing bee increased in it selfe but that is changing when a thing is altered from one thing to another It behoueth therefore that the vnderstanding knowledge and wisedome as well of each as of all as well of one man as of the whole Church should by the degrees of ages and times increase and profite much and greatly but yet in their owne kind onely to wit in the same doctrine in the same sense and in the same iudgement CHAP. 29. LEt the religion of soules resemble the state and nature of bodies which although in the processe of yeares they declare and finish their proportions and degrees yet do they continue still the same which they were at first There is much difference betwixt the flower of Child-hood and the ripenesse of Old-age but yet the very self-same men become old which had bene yong that albeit the very state and quality of one and the same man bee altered yet is he neuerthelesse one and the same nature one and the selfe-same person The members of sucking children are small but of young men great yet are they the very selfe-same As many as are the ioynts of little ones so many are there of men and if those be any which come forth in riper yeares they be now already planted in the nature of the seede so that no new thing comes out in old men after which did not now before lye within them hid in their childhood Whence it is manifest that this is the lawful and right Rule of profiting that this is the certaine and most excellent order of increasing if so be that the number and degrees of age do alway discouer those parts and formes when wee are greater or elder which the wisedome of our Creator did forme before when wee were little If that the shape of man should afterwards be changed into the shape of another kinde or if at the least wise the number of the members should be increased or decreased the whole body must of necessity either perish or become monstrous or at the least be weakened So also it is fitting that the doctrine of Christian religion should follow these rules or fashions of increasing namely that it should bee strengthened by yeares inlarged by time extolled with age but yet remain incorrupted and pure and bee compleat and perfect in all the measures of her parts and in al her owne members as it were and senses as which more ouer admitteth no change no losse of property nor indureth any variety of definition CHAP. 30. FOr examhle sake our Elders sowed of old the Wheaten seedes of the faith in this Corne field of the Church it is vniust and vnbeseeming that wee their Posterity instead of the naturall and true Wheate should make choice of the Cockle of errour put into the roome thereof But this rather is right and agreeable that the beginnings and the endings being correspondent to each other we should reape and enioy of the increasings of a wheaten institution the fruit or graine also of wheaten doctrine that whenas somthing out of those beginnings of the seeds is by processe of time shot vp it may now both flourish and be trimmed vp by husbanding yet so as that nothing of the property of the sprout bee changed though forme shape and distinction bee added that yet the nature of euery kinde abide the same For God forbid that those rosy plants of Catholicke iudgment should bee turned into Thistles Thornes Farre be it I say that in this spirituall Paradise Darnell and Woolfe-bane should all vpon the sudden come from the sets and shootes of Cynnamon and Balme Whatsoeuer therefore is faithfully sowen of the Fathers in the Church which is Gods Husbandry it behooueth that by the labour of the children the very same should be husbanded and lookt vnto it is fitting that the very same should flourish and ripen that the same should grow come to perfectiō For it is lawfull that those ancient doctrines of heauenly Philosophy should in processe of time bee exactly handled trimmed and polished but it is vnlawful that they should be changed it is vnlawfull to mangle and to maime them They may lawfully receiue clearenesse light and distinction but it is needfull that they should reteine fulnesse soundnesse and property CHAP. 31. FOr if this licentiousnesse of wicked deceit be once permitted I tremble to vtter what great danger may ensue of rooting out and abolishing of religion For when any part of the Catholicke doctrine shall be reiected others also and others after them one after another will now as it were by custome and lawe be reiected and done away Moreouer also when the parts are each of them seuerely reiected what will follow at the last but that the whole should in like manner be refused Yea and contrariwise if nouelties shall begin to be mingled with antient doctrines and forreine with domesticall and profane with sacred it cannot be but that this fashion will spread it selfe ouer all that nothing in the Church wil hereafter bee left vntouched nothing sound nothing vncorrupted but that the Stewes of wicked and filthy errours should afterwards be there where there was aforetime the Sanctuary of the chast and vndefiled truth But let godly deuotion driue this wickednesse from mens minds and let this rather bee the fury of the wicked CHAP. 32. BVt the Church of Christ being a diligent and wary Keeper of the Doctrines that are cōmitted to her doth alter nothing in them at any time diminisheth nothing addeth nothing shee cuts not off things that are necessary she ads not things superfluous she looseth not her owne she vsurps not strangers but this one thing she studies with all diligence namely that by handling the antient doctrines faithfully and discreetly she might perfit and polish those if any that haue bene shaped and begun of old and if any be already perfectly declared and made manifest that she might confirme strengthen them and that if any be now confirmed and defined she might conserue and keepe them To conclude what else did she euer labour by the Decrees of Councels then that the selfe-same thing which was simply beleeued afore might more carefully bee beleeued after that the very same thing which was more slackly preached before might be more diligently preached after that the very same thing which was more carelesly kept before might more carefully be husbanded after This thing I say she hath aimed at alwayes and at nothing else being stirred vp with the nouelties of Heretiques The Catholicke Church be the decrees of her Councells hath done nothing but that what she had receiued before of the Elders onely by tradition she might moreouer set the same thing downe in hand-writing for those also that shold come after comprehending a

be any of an vniuersall counsell vnto the rashnesse of one or of some very few Then secondly if that be not let them follow which is the next thing to it the iudgements of many great Teachers that are agreeable one vnto another the which being faithfully soberly and carefully obserued by the Lords assistance we shall easily perceiue all the hurtfull errours of the heretickes which rise vp CHAP. 39. HEre now I see it meete that I should shew by examples how the profane nouelties of Heretickes may bee both found out and condemned when the iudgements of ancient Teachers agreeing one with another are produced and compared Which ancient consent of the holy Fathers wee should with great labour search out and follow yet not in all the petty questions of Gods word but onely at the leastwise especially in the rule of faith But neither are heresies alwaies nor all of them thus to be impugned but those onely that are new and fresh namely when as they doe first arise before they falsifie the Rules of the ancient faith whiles they bee let with the straitnesse of the time it selfe and before that the poyson spreading it selfe farther about they do attempt to corrupt the writings of the Elders But heresies that haue gathered much ground and are waxen old must not this way be assailed because that by reason of long continuance of time they haue had opportunity offered them a great while to steale the truth And therefore it behooueth vs either to confute those more ancient wicked Schismes or Heresies by no meanes but by the sole authority of the Scriptures if neede be or else verily to auoid them being now of old confuted condemned by the generall Councels of Catholike Priests Therefore so soone as the rottennesse of euery wicked errour beginnes to breake out and to steale for the defence of it selfe certaine sentences of Gods word and to expound them falsely and deceitfully the sentences or iudgements of the Elders are presently to bee gathered together for to interpret the Canon by the which that nouell and therefore profane opinion whatsoeuer it be which shall start vp may without any coyle presently be descried without any retractation condemned But the iudgements of those Fathers onely are to be compared together which liuing teaching cōtinuing holily wisely cōstantly in the Catholike Faith and Fellowship obteined either to dye faithfully in Christ or to be slaine happily for Christ Whom to notwithstanding we must giue credit with this condition that that be accounted vndoubedly true certaine and sure whatsoeuer either all of them or the most haue manifestly commonly and constantly with one and the same meaning as in a certaine vnanimous Councell of Teachers confirmed and established by receiuing holding and deliuering it But whatsoeuer any man shall conceite or thinke otherwise then all men or else contrary to all men though he be o holy and learned though he be a Bishop though he bee a Confessour and Martyr let it be put apart from the authority of the commune publicke and generall iudgement amongst proper hidden and priuate opinions and let vs not with very great hazzard of our soules after the wicked fashion of Heretiques Schismatiques follow the nouell errour of one man forsaking the truth of Catholike doctrine CHAP. 40. THE holy and Catholicke consent of which blessed Fathers least any man should vnaduisedly it may be thinke for to contemne the Apostle saith in the first epistle to the Corinthians And God indeede hath ordeined some in the Church as first Apostles of which ranke he himselfe was one secondly Prophets as we reade in the Acts of the Apostles that Agabus was thirdly Teachers which are now called Treatizers Tractators which by this same Apostle are sometimes called Prophets because they open the mysteries of the Prophets to the people Whosoeuer therefore doth contemne these men being set by God in sundry ages and places in the Church of God whiles in the name of Christ they do determine or iudge some one thing according to the meaning of the Catholicke doctrine he doth not contemne Man but God And from whom that no man should dissent whiles with one consent they speake the truth the same Apostle doth very earnestly desire saying Now I beseech you Brethren that ye All speake one thing and that there be no Schismes or dissentions among you but be ye knit together in the same mind and in the same iudgement If so be that any man shall goe from their commune iudgement he shal heare what the same Apostle saith God is not the God of dissention but of peace that is to say he is not his God which departeth from them that doe ioyntly consent vnto the truth but theirs that continue peacably consenting with them as saith he I teach in all the Churches of the Saints that is of the Catholickes which Churches are therefore holy because they abide in the fellowship of the faith And least any perhaps the rest beeing vnregarded should arrogate to bee heard himselfe alone and that he alone should be beleeued he saith a little after Came the word of God out from you either came it vnto you onely And least this should as it were for fashion sake be receiued he hath added saying If any man thinke himselfe to be a Prophet or Spirituall that is a teacher of spirituall things let him be with all diligence a louer of equality and vnitie that in truth he do neither preferre his own opinions to the rest and that he go not from the iudgements of all The commaundements of which things he which knowes not saith he that is hee which either learnes them not beeing vnknowne or which contemnes them being knowne he shall not be knowne that is he shal be counted vnworthie to be by God respected among them that are knit together in the faith and made equall by humilitie then which euill I wot not whether any cā be thought to be more grieuous Which yet we see to haue befallen as the Apostle threatned that Pelagian Iulianus who either neglected to agree in iudgement with his Fellows or else presumed to diuide himselfe from them But it is now time that we should produce that example promised wherein and after what manner the iudgements of the Fathers are gathered together that by them the Rule of ecclesiasticall faith might be established by the decree and authority of a Councel Which that it may be done more handsomely let this be the end now of this Aduertisement that we may begin the rest of the things that follow with another beginning The second Aduertisement hath fallen betweene neither hath any thing more thereof remained then the last parcell that is onely a briefe rehearsall of that which hath bene more largely handled which is also added after CHAP. 41. THe which things seeing they thus stand it is nowe time that we should rehearse the summe of those things