Thus, of three marks, which in the Creed we view, Not one of all can be applied to you: 577 Much less the fourth; in vain, alas! you seek The ambitious title of Apostolic: God-like descent! 'tis well your blood can be Proved noble in the third or fourth degree: For all of ancient that you had before, (I mean what is not borrow'd from our store) Was error fulminated o'er and o'er; Old heresies condemn'd in ages past, By care and time recover'd from the blast. 'Tis said with ease, but never can be proved, The Church her old foundations has removed, And built new doctrines on unstable sands: Judge that, ye winds and rains: you proved her, yet she stands. 590 Those ancient doctrines charged on her for new, Show when and how, and from what hands they grew. We claim no power, when heresies grow bold, To coin new faith, but still declare the old. How else could that obscene disease be purged, When controverted texts are vainly urged? To prove tradition new, there's somewhat more Required, than saying, 'twas not used before. Those monumental arms are never stirr'd, Till schism or heresy call down Goliah's sword. 600 Thus, what you call corruptions, are, in truth, The first plantations of the Gospel's youth; Old standard faith: but cast your eyes again, And view those errors which new sects maintain, Or which of old disturb'd the Church's peaceful reign; And we can point each period of the time, When they began, and who begot the crime; Can calculate how long the eclipse endured, Who interposed, what digits were obscured: Of all which are already pass'd away, 610 We know the rise, the progress, and decay.