Full and easy satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…Full and easie satisfaction which is the true and safe religion in a conference…

— Nor any Proposition which can be proved only by consequence drawn from Scripture,¹ though the consequences were certain and evident, and deduced from two propositions of Scripture —Yet these doctrines are Certain, when the premises are so. — Gratians decrees — the Papal decrees contained in the body of the Canon Law, none of them do constitute an Article of saith—Nor that which is defined in Provincial Councils, though the Pope preside in person — for the second condition is always wanting in this case, and very often the first—p. 11. I did not say that such definitions were not of faith — but they are not of Catholic faith, ²or which all as Catholics are bound ⟨p. 30⟩to hold as of faith, and the contrary to which is heretical, and removeth from the bosom of the Church.³—p. 12, 13. The Practice even of the Universal Church is no sufficient ground for an Article of Catholic faith, by reason the object of faith is Truth: and oft times the Church proceeds in matter of practice, upon probable Opinions, and this probability is sufficient to justify the practice, which the Church on just cause may change: As e. g. as Vasquez teacheth, the Church did anciently pray in the Mass for Infidels alive, and Catechumens dead, and the Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for them, and yet he — rather inclineth to the contrary, that the Sacrifice of the Mass ought not to be offered, but for the faithful living and dead, by which Opinion the Church seemeth guided at present. But Vasquez answers, that the Church following a probable opinion did practise that which she did not declare to be of faith. — p. 15. So General Councils when they mention any thing in this manner (by way of simple assertion) and do not properly define: For as Bellarmine affirms, it is necessary that General Councils properly define the thing in question, as a Decree which ought to be held as of Catholic faith. Hence Bellarmine adds, they are not properly Heretics, who hold the Pope not to be above all Councils, though he say the last Lateran Council under Leo the tenth Ses. 11. expressly and professedly teacheth that the Pope is above all Councils, and rejects the contrary Decree of the Council of Basil: because it is doubtful whether the Lateran Council defined that doctrine properly as a Decree to be believed