St. ATHANASIUS, G. C.—“But you, resting on the foundation of the Apostles, and holding the traditions of the Fathers, pray, that all animosity may cease.” De Synodis, T. 1, parte ii. p. 767.-“If the Arians allow, that these things are new, they will not deny, that this heresy is something foreign, and not received from the Fathers. But what is not thus received, but newly discovered,") of what nature, I beg, is it, but of that, of which the Apostle spoke: In the last times some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to spirits of error? (1 Tim. iv. 1.) Orat. 1, cont. Arianos, T. 1, p. 412. -That is the true doctrine, as the Fathers delivered, (m) that the sound judgment, when all agree among themselves, not differing in anything that has been received.” De Decretis Nicænis, Ibid. p. 211.
St. BASIL, G. C..-“ Among the points of belief and practice in the Church, some were delivered in writing, while others were received by apostolical tradition in mystery, that is, in a hidden manner; but both have an equal efficacy in the promotion of piety ;(n) nor are they opposed by any one who is but slightly versed in ecclesiastical rites. For if we attempt to reject, as matters of little moment, such points as were not written, we shall, by our imprudence, offer a signal injury to the Gospel, confining the whole preaching of faith to a mere name.” He instances many practices, then in use in the Eastern Churches, and asks in what part of Scripture they can be found? “But by tradition,” he adds, “they have been brought down to us. And the day would not suffice me, were I to enumerate all those points which have been thus delivered.” He chiefly alludes to the use of the sign of the cross, and many ceremonies in the administration
