PREFACE

TO THE

CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE.

THE general objects of the "Library of the Fathers," have been already summarily stated. It may however be well, before entering on the particular work with which the series is commenced, to make a few observations with reference to such misapprehensions, or errors, as are not unlikely to arise. For though certainly it should seem, that the writings of men, ever venerated by the Church on whom they were bestowed, ought to be received with thankfulness; yet, in the present state of things, some will perhaps rather be suspicious of the gift, through want of familiarity with the Fathers themselves, and the principles of our Church, with regard to their value. A few words then may here be said, for the sake of such as are honestly in doubt on the subject. More will be avoided, lest we should seem to wish to be heard ourselves, when our only wish is to obtain a hearing for those ancient witnesses of Catholic truth, and ourselves also to listen to them. At the same time, it must be said in the outset, that "authority" is not put forth as the use of the Fathers; it is dwelt upon thus prominently, only because it is an use, about which many misapprehensions exist.

These misconceptions may be referred to three heads. 1. The amount of authority claimed: 2. For whom : and, 3. For what that authority is claimed. For it seems by some to be thought, that, 1. The authority of the Fathers will interfere with the paramount authority of Holy Scripture. 2. That it a Prospectus. See end of the vol.

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involves ascribing undue authority to men fallible like ourselves, and exalting the dicta of one or the other Father, which may be erroneous. 3. That the appeal to the Fathers entails a disparagement of the authority of our own Church, and innovations upon her discipline or doctrine.

They, who so think, are of course right to be jealous for these things,-if only they be careful that they are jealous for the authority of Holy Scripture and of our Church, not for their own constructions of either;-every Churchman should be careful that he place not any private authority, whether of ancient or modern, Father or recent teacher, domestic authority or foreign, Churchman or Sectarian, above that of his Church, or put any human authority on a par with Holy Scripture. Our Church, however, once, solemnly met, did ascribe considerable authority to the Fathers, and it will be plain, both from the circumstances, and from the tenor of the words which she used, that she therein neither derogated from her own legitimate authority, nor from the supreme authority of Holy Scripture. It is plain from the circumstances, because it was the act of the Convocation of A.D. 1571, the same Convocation, which enforced Subscription to our Articles,— an act certainly evidencing their sense of the power of a particular Church, and one involving the claim of considerable authority; and those Articles decidedly recognizing Holy Scripture, as the sole ultimate source of authority. In this very Convocation, in which she exerted her own authority, she secured also the legitimate authority of the Fathers. then enacted,

She

CLERGY SHALL BE CAREFUL NEVER TO TEACH ANY THING FROM THE PULPIT, TO BE RELIGIOUSLY HELD AND BELIEVED BY THE PEOPLE, BUT WHAT IS AGREEABLE TO THE DOCTRINE OF THE OLD OR NEW TESTAMENT, AND COLLECTED OUT OF THAT SAME DOCTRINE BY THE CATHOLIC FATHERS, AND ANCIENT BISHOPS.

Thus at the same time that she was, by enforcing subscription to the Articles, fencing herself round, as a particular