lingly be thought to be the Holy Church, shew us the origin of your chair.” He presses this point with great force, as they pretended to have some intercourse with Rome; having sent to that city a person who was to represent their African Church. De Schism. Donatist. L. ii. p. 27, 28.
ST. JEROM, L. C. “I could have easily silenced all their assertions; but because we have now discoursed long, and prolixity is tiresome, you shall have my opinion in few words. -The Church to which you should adhere, is that, which having been founded by the Apostles, continues to the sent day.” Adv. Lucif. Pars ii. T. iv. p. 306.
CENT. V.
St. AUGUSTIN, L.C. “In the Catholic Church, to omit that spirit of sincere wisdom which you (the Manichean heretics[1])) do not believe that she possesses, many are the considerations which must keep me in her bosom. The assent of nations; her authority first established by miracles, cherished by hope, extended by charity, strengthened by the lapse of years; the succession of pastors from the chair of Peter, to whom the Lord committed the care of feeding his flock, down to the present Bishop; lastly, the name itself of Catholic. These, so many and so great ties, bind the believing man to the Catholic Church.” He afterwards adds: “But unless the authority of this Church induced me to it, I would not believe the Gospel. As then I obey those
- ↑ Their chief error, and that, which was the source of many others, was the admission of a good and of a bad principle; from which, respectively, proceeded, what good and evil is found in the world.
