[§. 14.]
Prot. Not yeilding what you say for truth; but for the present, supposing it; yet the Judgment of so small a party may by no means be adhered to by you, it being inconsiderable in respect of the whole Body of the Catholick Church declaring against you.
Soc. If the consent of the much major part is to be taken for the whole, then the Reformed cannot maintain their dissent from the much more numerous body of Christianity, that opposed their opinions, and sense of Scriptures at the beginning of the Reformation, and do still oppose them. But not to stand upon this, I would willingly conform to the unanimous, or most general judgment of the Church Catholick; if I were secure that she could not be mistaken in it. But [31]The sense of the Church Catholick is no infallible rule of interpreting Scripture in all things which concern the Rule of Faith—[32]Nor may she usurp that royal Prerogative of Heaven, in prescribing infallibly in matters questioned.
Prot. You may be secure, that she never erreth in any point necessary.
Soc. But you tell me, that though she never err in necessaries, yet it follows not, that she is an unerring Guide or Witness therein[33] or, that she must unerringly declare what points are necessary and what not; and I must first learn, whether this point of Consubstantiality is to be numbred among necessaries, before I can be assured, that the sense of the Church Catholick errs not therein.
[§. 15.]
Prot. But [34]It is a sufficient prescription against any thing which can be alledged out of Scripture, that it ought not to be looked on as the true meaning of Scripture, if it appear contrary to the sense of the Church Catholick from the beginning; and therefore such doctrines may well be judged destructive to the rule of Faith, which have been so unanimously condemned by the Church Catholick.
Soc. Why so?
Prot. [35]Because nothing contrary to the necessary Articles of Faith can be so held by the Catholick Church; for its very Being depends on its belief of necessaries to salvation.
Soc. This last is most true; but then, if you mean to make your discourse cohere, you must say, it is a sufficient prescription, &c. if it appear contrary to the sense of the Catholick Church, viz. in a point necessary: for, the reason you give carries, and secures you no further; and then that which you say is no great matter: For, here we are still to seek, whether the point we discourse of is in the affirmative such a necessary.