[90] Such the Fathers call Faith, terming it, "the beginning and foundation," "the greatest mother of virtues," "the principle of salvation," "the prelude of immortality," "the clear eye of Divine knowledge," "the foundation of all wisdom." See Suicer, art. pistis. [91] After having gone through this search for ten long years, it may be allowed to express how great its danger, and how great too the blessedness of those who are not exposed to it. It is worth the experience of half a life to receive the truth, without personal enquiry, from a competent authority. Protestantism begins its existence by casting away one of the greatest blessings which man can have. [92] De Symbolo, Diss. 1, 39, and Hist. Symb. Apostol. cap. 6. 16. [93] Pacian, Ep. 1, n. 4. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. 18, n. 23. Eusebius on Isai. xxxii. 18. Chrysostome on Colos. hom. 1, n. 2, on 1 Cor. hom. 32, n. 1, Jerome on Matt. xxiv. 26. [94] Augustine on Ps. 41, n. 7; Epist. 49, n. 3-52, n. 1, and elsewhere. [95] Council of Antioch, quoted by Euseb. Hist. Lib. 7, c. 30. Origen on Romans, Lib. 8, n. 1; Cyprian, Epist. 52; Acts of S. Fructuosus, n. 3, and of S. Pionius. n. 9. [96] Irenaeus, Lib. 3, c. 17, and Epistle on martyrdom of S. Polycarp, n. 19. [97] Epis. to Smyrneans, n. 8. [98] Augustine, Ep. 52. n. 1, Serm. 238, n. 3. [99] As Optatus, Lib. 2, Aug. de Unitate Ecc. c. 2. &c.; cont. Cresconium, L. 2, c. 63, Contr. Petilian. L. 2, c. 12-55-58-73; on Ps. 21, 47, 147, and on 1 Ep. John, Tract, 1, 2. [100] Pacian, Ep. 3, Jerome cont. Luciferianos. [101] Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat. 18. [102] Irenaeus, Lib. 1, c. 10; Lib. 4, c. 19, Tertullian adv. Judaeos, c. 7, Bernard in Cantica, serm. 65. [103] Clement, Stromat. L. 7, Sec. 15-17. [104] Tertullian de praesc. c. 30. [105] Alexander, apud Theodoret. H. E. Lib. 1, c. 4. [106] Coelestinus, homil. in laud. eccles. [107] Leander, Cont. Origenistas in Actis Synodi V. [108] Justinianus, epist. ad Mennam Constantinopolitanum. [109] Council of Nice, in the Creed, and Canon 8. [110] Sardica in letter to all bishops, quoted by Athanasius, Apol. 2. [111] 22nd Canon of Codex Africanus. [112] The Nestorian profession of faith, in fifth act of Council of Ephesus. [113] Pacian, Ep. 1. [114] Cyril, Catech. 18. [115] Aug. de vera relig. c .6, de utilit. credendi, c. 7. [116] Pacian, Ep. 3, "The Church is a full and solid body, diffused already through the whole world. As a city, I say, whose parts are in unity. Not as you Novatians, an insolent particle, or a gathered wen, separated from the rest of the body." [117] Such as are grammata koinonika, Euseb. H. E. lib. 7, c. 30. epistolai koinonikai, Basil. Ep. 190, or kanonikai, Ep. 224, letters of peace commendatory, ecclesiastical, &c. [118] See especially Chrys. Hom. 30 on 1 Cor. [119] Irenaeus, Lib. 3, c. 3.