Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/547

 you trace it up to the Apostles. In truth, your doctrine began with you, or at least with your immediate teachers: where was it before? Was it hidden from the Church, that doctrine which Christ commanded should be set up on high among the faithful, like a light within a house? Impossible: it plainly began with you: we can put our finger on the date of its birth; and therefore it is false: for Christ and His Apostles "planted" (1 Cor. iii.) the true Gospel, according to the will of the Father; and he says, 'Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.'" Such is the argument of the work from which the following passages are extracted; which obviously contain an instructive lesson for this day.

[The Separatists of Tertullian's age urged the words of our Lord, "Seek, and ye shall find," in proof that they might allowably strike out their own views (though novel) from the sacred text: he says upon this:—]

"Let us grant it has been said to all, 'Seek and ye shall find;' yet even as to these very words it is convenient to discuss their meaning with some guide of interpretation. No divine saying is so vague and extended, that its mere words are to be adhered to, and their real drift not determined. Now, in the first place, I lay down this proposition: that doubtless some one certain faith was instituted by Christ, which the nations ought by all means to believe; and, in seeking to find it, to seek with the purpose of believing when they had found it. The inquiry after one certain definite appointment (of God) must surely have an end some where or other. You are to seek until you find, and believe when you have found. After this, there is no more to do, but to keep what you have believed; this being in fact one part of your belief, viz. that there is nothing farther to be believed, nor therefore to be sought; inasmuch as you have found and believed that which was appointed by Him, who does not set you to seek any thing else but what he has appointed. I will presently make