FATHERS.
CENT. II.
St. IRENÆUS, L. C. “ Paul says : 'God appointed in his Church Apostles, Prophets, and Doctors.' Where therefore are the holy gifts of God, there must the truth be learned : with them is the succession from the Apostles; and there is the society, whose communication is sound and irreprove able, unadulterated and pure. These preserve the faith of one God, who made all things; increase our love towards his divine Son; and expound, without danger, the Scriptures to us, not blaspheming the name of God, nor dishonouring the Patriarchs, nor contemning the Prophets.” Adversus Hær. L. iv. c. xxvi. p. 263.—“To him that believeth that there is one God, and holds to the head, which is Christ to this man all things will be plain, if he read diligently the Scriptures with the aid of those who are the priests in the Church, and in whose hands, as we have shewn, rests the doctrine of the Apostles. Ibid. c. xxxii. p. 269, 270.
TERTULLIAN, L. C. “We are not allowed to indulge our own humour, nor to choose what another has invented. We have the Apostles of our Lord for Founders, who were not themselves the inventors nor authors of what they have left us ; but they have faithfully taught the world the doctrine which they received from Christ.” De Præscrip. p. 331. See the quotation, p. 66.
ST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, G. C. " Those who seek,” &c. See p. 12.
CENT. III.
ORIGEN, G. C. “ Let him look to it," &c. See p. 14.
