s innumerable perils by sea and
land; the noble Ambrose, a high and dry churchman; and Basil, a mere
monk. I do not dispute these points; though I claim "the right of
private judgment," so far as to have my own very definite opinion in the
matter, which I keep to myself.

6.

Such being the plain teaching of the Fathers, and such the duty of
following it, Vincentius proceeds to speak of the misery of doubting and
change:--

"Which being so, he is a true and genuine Catholic that loveth the
truth of God, the Church, the body of Christ; that preferreth
nothing before the religion of God; nothing before the Catholic
faith; not any man's authority, not love, not wit, not eloquence,
not philosophy; but contemning all these things, and in faith
abiding fixed and stable, whatsoever he knoweth the Catholic Church
universally in old times to have holden, that only he purposeth
with himself to hold and believe; but whatsoever doctrine, new and
not before heard of, such an one shall perceive to be afterwards
brought in of some one man, beside all or contrary to all the
saints, let him know that doctrine doth not pertain to religion,
but rather to temptation, especially being instructed with the
sayings of the blessed Apostle St. Paul. For this is that which he
writeth in his first Epistle to the Corinthians: 'There must (quoth
he) be heresies also, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you.' ...

"O the miserable state of [waverers]! with what seas of cares, with
what storms, are they tossed! for now at one time, as the wind
driveth them, they are carried away headlong in error; at another
time, coming again to themselves, they are beaten back like
contrary waves; sometime with rash presumption they allow such
things as seem uncertain, at another time of pusillanimity they are
in fear even about those things which are certain; doubtful which
way to take, which way to return, what to desire, what to avoid,
what to hold, what to let go; which misery and affliction of a
wavering and unsettled heart, were they wise, is as a medicine of
God's mercy towards them.

"Which being so, oftentimes calling to mind and remembering the
selfsame thing, I cannot sufficiently marvel at the great madness
of some men, at so great impiety of their blinded hearts, lastly,
a