CilA,l'. �.] ? IPATIIZRB. reetioo. Tho? errors that imperceptibly crept into the church in an uge of ignorance and superstition receive the sanction that belongs to trmth. And truths themselves that have Been obscured or overlooked iu the (!ay? of ignorance are kept from the world, merely Because those pretending to exemption from error have not seen fit to re�ognise them. And this does not apply to doctrines only; it has a powerful effect on morals. For when, previous to the (lays of Luther, tke re. fo?nat/o? of tk? clmr�k in it.? Aead and 9?nber#, that is,.the/?pe and clergy, was earnestly desired by all good men, yet the intrigues and wickedness of tho?e who governed the church were such that nothing advantageous em!id be effected. As proofs that the Church of Rome needs reformration, and that her claim of infallibility has gone far toward producing errors and immo- rality, we can adduce the testimony of her own children. We refer tm the te? gr/eea,wes of the German nation.* We may also refer to the memorable letter presented to Paul III., in 1538, by nine distinguished I?alates, in which there is contained a catalogue of vices of the most Slm, ing description. Nevertheless, no reformation could be effected.t CHAPTER V. THE ANCIENT FATHERS?THEIR AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH OF ROME. 1. Some of them have been corrupted by the intermixtures of heretie?: 2. Words aed !dsmse? have been altered: 3. The Church of Borne, by her expurg?tory indices, ham ? them: 4. ?nne of the fathers have tau?rht false doctrines: �he Council of Trent decreed many things contrary to the dectalons of the f?hers: 6. They ca? tmdict each other in many things: 7. Their character as interpreters: 8. Opinions of lq, oman Catholics respecting the authority of the fathers: 9. Their una?imm? con, sag erasidereal: 10. Uses of their testimony. Taz writings of the ancient fathers form the standard of interpreta- tion in the Church of Rome. ? the creed of Pope Plus IV. affiru? that Scripture is to be interpreted "according to the unanimous consent of the fathers." Accordingly Roman Catholic disputants have recourse to their writings on almost every occasion to prove their peculiar views. They consider the unanimous consent of the fathers sufficient to esta- blish any doctrine or moral rule. Their authority, however, is allowed to be nothing more than a brst?ch of tradition. But as tradition is infal- lible in their estimation, the concurrence of the fathers is viewed in the same light. The following are among the masons which satisfy Protestants that, as infallible guides, the fathers are overrated; while at the same time their writings have important uses, and they can be ahown to be more in accordance with the views of Protestants than -with the dogmas and institutions of Romanism. /?ret/c?. Many false books were ismlad in their names, ? their writings were l(mt, which would have exp]nined their sense. The fathem were made to speak, nbt wlMt themselves thought, but what
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