An answer to a challenge madeAn ansvver to a challenge made

The same course did S. Augustine take with the Pelagians: against whom he wanted not the authority of the Fathers of the Church. ^bWhich if I would collect (saith he) and use their testimonies, it would be too long a work, and I might peradventure seem to have less confidence then I ought in the Canonical authorities, from which we ought not to be withdrawn. Yet was the Pelagian Heresy then but newly budded: which is the time wherein the pressing of the Fathers testimonies is thought to be best in season. With how much better warrant may we follow this president, having to deal with such as have had time and leisure enough to falsify the Fathers writings, and to teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans? The method of confuting heresies by the consent of holy Fathers, is by none commended more then by Vincentius Lirinensis who is careful notwithstanding, herein to give us this caveat. ^cBut neither always, nor all kinds of heresies are to be impugned after this manner, but such only as are new, and lately sprung: namely, when they do first arise, while by the straitness of the time it self they be hindered from falsifying the rules of the ancient faith; and before ⟨p. 12⟩the time that, their poison spreading farther, they attempt to corrupt the writings of the ancient. But far-spread and inveterate heresies are not to be dealt withal this way; for as much as by long continuance of time, a long occasion hath lien open unto them to steal away the truth. The heresies with which we have to deal, have spread so far, and continued so long, that the defenders of them are bold to make Universality and Duration the special marks of their Church: they had opportunity enough of time and place, to put in ure all deceivableness of unrighteousness; neither will they have it to say, that in coining and clipping, and washing the monuments of Antiquity, they have been wanting to themselves.

The same course did S. Augustine take with the Pelagians: against whom he wanted not the authority of the Fathers of the Church. ^bWhich if I vvould collect (saith he) and use their testimonies, it would be too long a worke, and I might peradventure seeme to haue lesse confidence then I ought in the Canonicall authorities, from which we ought not to be withdrawen. Yet was the Pelagian Heresie then but newly budded: which is the time wherein the pressing of the Fathers testimonies is thought to be best in season. With how much better warrant may we follow this president, having to deale with such as have had time and leisure enough to falsifie the Fathers writings, and to teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans? The method of confuting heresies by the consent of holy Fathers, is by none commended more then by Vincentius Lirinensis who is carefull notwithstanding, herein to give us this caveat.