The Explanation of the Problem.. 4
The Explanation of the Problem By the faith of the Roman Church, I mean the doctrine concerning the way and means of salvation, propounded in the Council of Trent, in the Roman Catechism to the parish priests, and in the Missal and Breviary, which are reformed and printed by the command and authority of Pope Pius IV.
Catholic, I take in that sense which Vincent of Lérins does in his book against heresies, chap. 3: "There must be a special care," says he, "in the Catholic Church, that that only be believed and taught, which has been held in all places, at all times, and by all professors, for that is truly and properly called catholic, as the very force and derivation of the word itself declares, comprehending all things truly universal."
And again, chap. 25: "He is rightly and truly a catholic, who has resolved with himself to believe and profess that only which he knows the Catholic Church in ancient times did universally hold. And what novelty or unknown doctrine he shall perceive anyone afterward to bring in, either varying from, or contrary to all the saints and fathers, let him know that that doctrine has no reference to religion any way, but rather wholly belongs to temptation." So Saint Augustine, writing of baptism against the Donatists, in his 4th book, chap. 24: "Whatsoever the Church has universally, and continually professed (having not the institution thereof from some of the councils), that we must assuredly believe to have had its original from no other means but the ordination of the apostles."
Now let us consider Saint Augustine and what Vincent of Lérins held to be ancient. It is twelve hundred years since either of them lived, wherefore what could seem ancient unto them, but such things as
were received in the apostles' times, and the age next succeeding?
They doubtless thought not those ancient things which had their first entrance into the church in their time, or about a hundred or two hundred years before. Much less did they hold that of antiquity, which was neither found out, nor received into the church, till after their days. Therefore not all antiquity of doctrine is to be approved, but that only which Vincent of Lérins, Augustine, Ambrose, Jerome,
Cyprian, etc., held to be of and from antiquity, and which they commended unto their posterity, as also that universality is to be accounted true, and only that, which took place in all churches in the apostles' times, and in the ages next going before Vincent of Lérins and Augustine.