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Show , I Prtf4ce. mind ' and {h111 not go with~ut re· ward. synodical c_a,zons' whtch are right, are Col1edtons out of t~e. ge· neral fentences of the Law Dtvlne, firreq unt" the prcfc:nt Occurrence~. Thefe alfo either {hew what the Dl· . vine Law commandeth , or exhort to that which God perf wades. An~ this is the office of the true C?n· {han Church, to delive~ thofe thmgs which are delivered to Her from God and after the fame manner wher~in they are deliver' d. More· over , the cujloms among thofe ola Cht:ifiians, who filled up the mea· fure of fo great a name , either re· ceived or praifed, juRiy· h~ve th( force of Canons. Next to th.efe , is their Authority, who floun01ea among the Chrifiians in _fev~ral A ge·s, Men renowned for the1r P1~t~ and Learning , and noted for no grievous Errour. For, wh~t thef( men fay with great affcverauon, a1 certain, ought to have no fmall ~o· ment for interpreta~ion of thm~l that f~em obfcure in Holy Sen· ptures : and the mQre, by how m~1cn greatel greater is their Confent, and nea(er aced~ . to the times of the firft pu .. rity , when neid 1er domin2tion as yet, nor any Fa elton, cou'ld adulter te the Pfimitive Truth. The School-men. that fucceeded the Fathers, often thew what good Wit's they had : but they fell into unhappy times , and ignorant of good Arts : . the lefs caufe we have to wonder, if, among m.tny things to be praifed, they have fome things to be pardoned. Yet, when they agree in matter of morality , they feldome erre: having very clt!ar eyes to percejve what was awry in the SJyings of other men. N ev~rthclefs, in thl~ contentious fiudy, they give us a commendable pattern of Modefty , oppofing one another with Reafons, not (which is a fafhion of }Jte times rifen up to the difgrace of Learning) with reproaches, the unhanfome iifue of an impotent and unruly · mind. The Roman Lawyers are of ·three forts. Firft arc they ·whofe labours appear in the Pandect, the Codes of · .* * 2 Thee- ~ . |