And the same Hilary doth largely persuade to a close adhering to the Gospel,1 and the sum of Faith called the Apostles Creed, without adding or altering, under any pretence of amending, and showeth the divisions and depravations that have followed since the Council of Nice would make one emendation, and on their example other Councils had made and mended, done and undone so oft, that they had marred all by it: and he persuadeth the Emperor *to hearken to the ancient Gospel faith and not to Synods. His words are in Epist. vel Lib. ad Constant. August. pag. (Edit. Paris.) 307.308. where having showed how he had ⟨p. 328⟩erred in looking after Councils, he saith [Recognosce fidem quam, &c. that is, Reacknowledge that Belief which thou desirest to hear from the Bishops but hearest not. For they of whom it is required do write their own things, and do not preach the things of God; they have drawn about an endless and perpetual circle. For the modesty of humane infirmity should have contained all mysteries of divine knowledge in those bounds of conscience only, which he believed in, and not after a Belief confessed and sworn in Baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to doubt or innovate any thing else. — Under the improbable occasion of this necessity *the custom is come up of writing and renewing the Belief. Which after that it began rather to frame new things, then to retain what was received, it neither defended the old, nor confirmed the new, and Belief is now become rather (a belief) of the times than of the Gospels: while it is written according to the years, and not held according to the Confession of Baptism. It is a most perilous and miserable thing, that we have as many Beliefs as Wills; and as many Doctrines as manners; and that as many causes of blasphemy spring up, as there are vices. And when according to one God and one Lord, and one Baptism, there is one Belief, we are fallen from that Belief which is but one, and while many are made, they therefore begin to be, that there may be none. For we are on both sides conscious, that since the meeting of the Council of Nice, we have wrote nothing but Beliefs.
And the same Hilary doth largly perswade to a close adhering to the Gospel,1 and the sum of Faith called the Apostles Creed, without adding or altering, under any pretence of amending, and sheweth the divisions and depravations that have followed since the Council of Nice would make one emendation, and on their example other Councils had made and mended, done and undone so oft, that they had marr'd all by it: and he perswadeth the Emperor *to hearken to the ancient Gospel faith and not to Synods. His words are in Epist. vel Lib. ad Constant. August. pag. (Edit. Paris.) 307.308. where having shewed how he had ⟨p. 328⟩erred in looking after Councils, he saith [Recognosce fidem quam, &c. that is, Reacknowledge that Belief which thou desirest to hear from the Bishops but hearest not. For they of whom it is required do write their own things, and do not preach the things of God; they have drawn about an endless and perpetual circle. For the modesty of humane infirmity should have contained all mysteries of divine knowledge in those bounds of conscience onely, which he believed in, and not after a Belief confessed and sworn in Baptism, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to doubt or innovate any thing else. — Under the improbable occasion of this necessity *the custome is come up of writing and renewing the Belief. Which after that it began rather to frame new things, then to retain what was received, it neither defended the old, nor confirmed the new, and Belief is now become rather (a belief) of the times than of the Gospels: while it is written according to the years, and not held according to the Confession of Baptism. It is a most perillous and miserable thing, that we have as many Beliefs as Wills; and as many Doctrines as manners; and that as many causes of blasphemy spring up, as there are vices. And when according to one God and one Lord, and one Baptism, there is one Belief, we are faln from that Belief which is but one, and while many are made, they therefore begin to be, that there may be none. For we are on both sides conscious, that since the meeting of the Council of Nice, we have wrote nothing but Beliefes.
- 1Hilary ad Constant. Imper. pag. 307. &c.
- *It is a great doubt whether this Book were written in Constantins his life time or since his death: of which see Hieronim. de Scrip. Ecclesiast. Erasm. Baronius tom. 3. Annal. pag. 714, 715. Bellarmin de Scriptor. Eccles. pag. (mihi) 25. But its plain by the Epistle it self, that it was written as to Constantius alive, though its possible, as Bellarmine conjectureth, that he might be dead, and Hilary in France not know it; For its clear that was written a little before or after his death, even the same year that he dyed.It is a great doubt whether this Book were written in Constantins his life time or since his death: of which see Hieronim. de Scrip. Ecclesiast. Erasm. Baronius tom. 3. Annal. pag. 714, 715. Bellarmin de Scriptor. Eccles. pag. (mihi) 25. But its plain by the Epistle it self, that it was written as to Constantius alive, though its possible, as Bellarmine conjectureth, that he might be dead, and Hilary in France not know it; For its clear that was written a little before or after his d•ath, even the same yeare that he dyed.
- *Of keeping the right sense.Of keeping the right sence.
