And as no special aim at Roman Catholic doctrine need be supposed to have given a direction to the inquiry, so neither can a reception of that doctrine be immediately based on its results. It would be the work of a life to apply the Theory of Developments so carefully to the writings of the Fathers, and to the history of controversies and councils, as thereby to vindicate the reasonableness of every decision of Rome; much less can such an undertaking be imagined by one who, in the middle of his days, is beginning life again. Thus much, however, might be gained even from an Essay like the present, an explanation of so many of the reputed corruptions, doctrinal and practical, of Rome, as might serve as a fair ground for trusting her in parallel cases where the investigation had not been pursued. FOOTNOTES: [9:1] Church of the Fathers [Hist. Sketches, vol. i. p. 418]. [12:1] Proph. Office [Via Media, vol. i. pp. 55, 56]. [13:1] [Ibid. p. 181.] [13:2] [British Critic, July, 1836, p. 193. Vid. supr. vol. i. p. 130.] [16:1] This of course has been disputed, as is the case with almost all facts which bear upon the decision of controversies. I shall not think it necessary to notice the possibility or the fact of objections on questions upon which the world may now be said to be agreed; _e. g._ the arianizing tone of Eusebius. [16:2] σχεδὸν ταυτησὶ τῆς νῦν περιθυλλουμένης ἀσεβείας, τῆς κατὰ τὸ Ἀνόμοιον λέγω, οὗτος ἐστὶν, ὅσα γε ἡμεῖς ἴσμεν, ὁ πρῶτος ἀνθρώποις τὰ σπέρματα παρασχών. Ep. ix. 2. [16:3] Bull, Defens. F. N. ii. 12, § 6. [17:1] "The authors who make the generation temporary, and speak not expressly of any other, are these following: Justin, Athenagoras, Theophilus, Tatian, Tertullian, and Hippolytus."--_Waterland_, vol. i. part 2, p. 104. [17:2] "Levia sunt," says Maran in his defence, "quæ in Sanctissimam Trinitatem hic liber peccare dicitur, paulo graviora quæ in mysterium Incarnationis."--_Div. Jes. Christ._ p. 527. Shortly after, p. 530, "In tertiâ oratione nonnulla legimus Incarnationem Domini spectantia, quæ subabsurdè dicta fateor, nego impiè cogitata." [17:3] Bishop Bull, who is tender towards him, allows, "Ut quod res est dicam, cum Valentinianis hic et reliquo gnosticorum grege aliquatenus locutus est Tertullianus; in re ipsâ tamen cum Catholicis omninò sensit."--_Defens. F. N._ iii. 10, § 15. [18:1] Adv. Praxeam. [18:2] Defens. F. N. iv. 3, § 1. [18:3] Basil, ed. Ben. vol. 3, p. xcvi. [19:1] Ante-nicene Test, to the Trinity, p. 69. [20:1] "Quia et Pater Deus est, et judex Deus est, non tamen ideo Pater et judex semper, quia Deus semper. Nam nec Pater potuit esse ante Filium, nec judex ante delictum. Fuit autem tempus, cum et delictum et Filius non fuit, quod judicem, et qui Patrem Dominum faceret."--_Contr. Herm._ 3. [20:2] Vid. infra, towards the end of the Essay, ch. x., where more will be said on the passage. [22:1] Of Justification, 26. [22:2] Works, vol. ix. p. 396.