Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Secondly, if the person be suspected of novelty, he may produce an Author to show that what he saith is not new, but that which was used before. This reason Augustine ⟨p. 309⟩gives, why he uses Cyril and Optatus, in his Book against the Pelagians, not to confirm, but to show that he neither spake nor taught any other doctrine, but that they did before. And therefore it is observable, that Fathers in their Sermons did not quote them. And well were it if those that followed them so much in other things, would follow them in this. But in case of controversy, so they did, and that with this caution, to show that it was no new doctrine they taught; so we may show that we teach no new thing, not only by modern Writers, but also by ancient.

Secondly, if the person be suspected of novelty, he may produce an Author to shew that what he saith is not new, but that which was used before. This reason Augustine ⟨p. 309⟩gives, why he uses Cyrill and Optatus, in his Book against the Pelagians, not to confirm, but to shew that he neither spake nor taught any other doctrine, but that they did before. And therefore it is observeable, that Fathers in their Sermons did not quote them. And well were it if those that followed them so much in other things, would follow them in this. But in case of controversie, so they did, and that with this caution, to shew that it was no new doctrine they taught; so we may shew that we teach no new thing, not onely by modern Writers, but also by antient.

Thirdly, in case of singularity; to remove that, we may produce the confession of Churches, Canons, and Councils, and the consent of Orthodoxal Fathers.

Thirdly, in case of singularity; to remove that, we may produce the confession of Churches, Canons, and Councels, and the consent of Orthodoxal Fathers.