A Treatise Concerning the Right Use of the Fathers in the Decision of the Controversies That Are at This Day in Religion (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1651 edition. Excerpt: ... them speaking only as Witnesses, and testifying, what thebeliefe of the Church was, in their Time: In the other, they propose to you, like Deilors, their own Private Opinions. Now, there is a world of difference, betwixt these two things: For in a witness, there is required only Faith/fullness, and Truth; but in a Doftor, Learning, and Knowledg. The one perswadeth us, by the opinion we have of his Ueracitv; the other, by the strength of his Arguments. The Fathers are witnesses only, when they barely tell us, that the Church in their times held such, or such Opinions: and they are then Dofiors, when getting up, as it were, into the Chaire, they propose unto us their own Opinions; making them good either out of the A a a Scripture, Scripture, or out 9s Reason. Now as concerning the Testimonies that they give, touching the Faith held by the Chnrch in their time j I know not, whether we ought to receive all they bring, for certain Truths, or not: But this I am sure of, that though they should deserve to be received by us for such', yet nevertheless would they stand us in very little (lead, as to the business now in hand. The Reason which moveth me to doubt of the former of these, is, because I observe that those very men, who are the greatest Admirersof the Fathers, do yet confess, that although they erre very little, or not ac all, in matter of Right, yet nevertheless-they arc often out, and have their failings in matter of Fail: because that Right is an Vrtiversall thing, which is every way Uniform, and all of one sort; whereas, matter of Fact is a thing which is mixed, and as it were enchased with divers particular Circumstances;which may very easily escape the knowledgof, or at ieast be aot so rightly understood, by the most clear and piercing...