Page:Faithcatholics.pdf/178

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p. 430.-“ All these silly heretics, who wish to be called Christians, varnish over their wild fancies with the words of Christ, when he said to his disciples : (John xvi. 12.) I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now; as if the imaginations of these men were the things which the disciples could not then bear. ") This the Apostle foresaw: (11 Tim. iv. 3, 4.) For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but, according to their own desires, they will keep to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and will turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned to fables.” Tract. xcvii. in Ioan. Ibid. p. 738.

Wherefore, though on this subject (concerning baptism) there should not be any clear decision from the Scriptures, yet, even here, the truth of those Scriptures is held by us, when we do that which the Universal Church approves. This Church the divine authority commends, and as it cannot deceive us, he who fears to be imposed on, under the obscurity of the present question, will consult the Church, which without any ambiguity, the Scriptures establish.) Contra Crescon. L. 1. c. xxxiii. T.ix. p. 407.—“No one, certainly, can attribute to the sacred writings, the many and various errors of heretics; though they all endeavour to rest their false and fallacious opinions on that authority.” De Trinit. L. 1. c. iii. .T viii. p. 753.—“ Whence came Donatus ? From what country did he spring ? Out of what sea did he rise? From what sky did he descend? De Bapt. L. iii. Con. Donat. T. ix. p. 109.

Notwithstanding the caution which this great man recommends to all readers of the Scriptures, on account of the bad use that has been made of them, he is ever earnest in pressing their perusal; while no one has written so much to elucidate