The practical divinity of the papists discovered to be destructive of Christianity and mens…

Sect. 16. Thirdly, another probable ground is a considerable Authority, or the opinion of one whom we may trust; hence this is their Doctrine, that he who does what is sinful following the judgment of an able Doctor, is excused from sin. This principle is without ground appropriated to the Jesuits, with the pernicious consequences of it: it was currant in the Church of Rome, before the Fathers of that Society where infants. Panormitan thus determines ^(m)he that follows the opinion of any Doctor, not curiously examined, which afterward appears false, is excused from sin; so long as it appears not to be false. In Sylvester, this is confirmed, and he directs to several proofs, out of their Law, for it; ⁽ⁿ⁾removes what, by mistake, is alleged out of Aquinas against it; and shows, that both their great Saint, and their great Abbot agree with others, that this is safe, in points, which concern either faith or manners, when they are not evident (not clearly and manifestly determined). To him, ^(o)one Doctor may be sufficient. In morals we must be satisfied with probabilities, and according to the rule amongst them, ^(*)a man may probably follow one Doctor. And by a multitude of Authors we are not to judge, what is better, or more equal; the opinion of one, and he worse than the rest, may be preferred before many in some particular. So ^(p)he and Angelus ^(q)before him, after others. They conclude ^(r)in reference to Joachim, who was not accounted ⟨p. 381⟩a Heretic (though his opinions were against the faith) because not condemned by the Church: that he is much more to be excused, who follows the opinion of a Doctor, not rejected by the Church, and if he thought it not true would not adhere to it.