The Novelty of Popery Opposed to the Antiquity of True Christianity, Book 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20. Examination of the places of the Ancients which M. du Perron objecteth to this purpoſe.
BEing beaten out of all their reaſons, they have recourſe (as it is their manner) to the Fathers. For it can hardly be but that in ſuch an infinite number of Books of the Antients ſomething may be found, which they may draw to their advantage.
They ſay that the Fathers confute by the authority of the Church thoſe Hereticks that rejected ſome part of Scripture, and that Tertullian in the Book of Preſcriptions would convince them by the authority of the Apoſtolical Churches; That St. Auſtin againſt the Epiſtle of the Foundation, diſputeth thus againſt the Manicheans; It is neceſſary for me to believe that Book if I believe the Goſpel, ſince the authority of the Catholick Church commendeth both the one and the other Scripture.
We anſwer, that againſt thoſe that reject Scripture or part of it, we muſt indeed, out of neceſſity make uſe of ſome other proof or authority then that of Scripture, which they reject. So when we diſpute againſt Pagans that reject all the holy Scripture, we employ humane reaſon to endeavour to make them receive the Scripture. But hence it follows not, that we give authority to humane reaſon over the Scripture.
Secondly, we muſt conſider that Tertullian lived about an hundred and twenty years after the Apoſtles, when it was eaſie enough to prove, that all the Churches founded by the Apoſtles, had alwayes kept the ſame Doctrine; but now after ſo many ages and revolutions, that argument hath no more place. Already in Auſtins time the Orthodox Churches diſſented about the number of the Canonical Books, as he teſtifieth in the 8. chapter of the 2. Book of the Chriſtian Doctrine, where he adviſeth the faithful Reader(a)In Canonicis Scripturis Eccleſiarum Catholicarum quam plurium authoritatem ſequatur. In eis quae non recipiuntur ab omn…bus praeponat eas quas plures gravioreſque accipiunt. to receive thoſe Books for Canonical, which moſt Churches receive; and where the Churches do not agree, to follow thoſe which have the greater authority.
They object alſo this place of Auſtin againſt Creſconius in the 1. Book, ch. 33. The truth of Scripture is kept by us when we do that which the Ʋniverſal Church liketh; which the very authority of Scripture doth recommend. But it is clear, that this text ſets Scripture above the Church, ſince it groundeth the authority of the Church upon Scripture. Beſides, in that place Auſtin doth not ſpeak of matters neceſſary to ſalvation, but of ſome cuſtoms of an indifferent nature, wherein we willingly yield to the authority of a Church which is Orthodox and ſound in the Faith. But that ſoundneſs in the faith is not known but by Scripture. And it is very conſiderable, that by the Univerſal Church Auſtin meant the Churches of Aſia, Africa, and Europe, which at that time agreed, but now they are divided, and excommunicate one another. So that if Auſtin lived now, he could ſpeak ſo no more.
But the place which they moſt brag of, is, that of the ſame Auſtin in the 5. chapter of the Book againſt the Epiſtle of the Foundation, where ſpeaking of himſelf before he was a Chriſtian, he ſaith, As for me, I had not believed the Goſpel, had not the authority of the Church moved me. But I ſee not how they can thence infer that the Church hath more authority over us then the Goſpel. A ſon may ſay, I ſhould not fear God, nor believe his Goſpel, had not my Fathers authority brought me to it. Doth it follow therefore that ſuch a ſon acknowledgeth his Fathers authority greater then that of God, or his Word? Only he ſaith, that God made uſe of that means to draw him to his fear. In the beginnings God many times makes uſe of weak means, and probable reaſons to draw us to himſelf: But after, he gives us ſtronger reaſons, and by his Spirit giveth us a Faith which is not grounded upon the teſtimony of men, but upon his Word.
Obſerve by the way St. Auſtins ſtyle, crederem for credidiſſem, and commoveret for commoviſſet. It is the cuſtom of this Author, and of the Africans: as in the 2. Book of the City of God, chap. 22. Collis Capitolinus ipſe caperetur, niſi ſaltem anſeres Diis dormientibus vigilarent. And in the 2. Book of Perſeverance, ch. 9. Tyr & Sydon crederent ſi viderent haec ſigna: And in a thouſand other places he ſaith, crederent for credidiſſent, as among others in this place, which is thus alledged by(b)Gerſon Tom. 1. pag. 523. Gerſon, Evangelio non crederem niſi me authoritas Eccleſiae commoviſſet. And which is more, Pope Leo the X. in the Bull Exurge, which is in the end of the laſt Council of Lateran, alledgeth the ſame place in this manner, Ʋt dixerit Auguſtinus ſe Evangelio non fuiſſe crediturum niſi Eccleſiae Catholicae interveniſſet authoritas. Andradius in the 2. book of the defence of the Tridentine Faith, picks a quarrel with Durandus, becauſe in that text of St. Auſtin, by the Church, he underſtands only the Church of the time of the Apoſtles. Wherein Durandus ſpeaks not without reaſon.