Neither will it be to any purpose to
object here, that the testimonies of many Fathers together do represent to us
the sense of the Church, although the voice of one or two single persons only
is not sufficient to do the same. For, not to answer that what has happened to
one may have happened to many others, and that, if some particular persons
chance to have fallen into some particular opinions, possibly others may either
have accompanied or else have followed them in the same—I say further, that
this objection is of on force at all in this particular. For, seeing that the
church had not as yet declared its opinion publicly on the points at this day
controverted, it is as impossible that many together, that lived in the same
time, should represent it to us, as that one single person should. How could
they possibly have seen that which lay as yet concealed? How could they
possibly measure their belief by such a rule, as was not yet visible to the
world?
The Chiliasts adduce the testimonies,
not of one, or of two, but of a very great number of the most eminent and the most
ancient among the Fathers, who were all of their opinion, as we shall see
hereafter. The answer is that ordinarily made to this objection is that the
church having not as yet declared its sense on this point, the testimonies of
these men bind us not to believe the same; which is an evident argument, that a
great number, in this case, signifies no more than a small one, in representing
to us what the belief of the Church has been; and that it is necessary, that
either by some General Council, or else by some other public way, it must have
declared its judgment on any question in dispute; in other that we may know
whether the Fathers have been of the same opinion or not. So that, according to
this account, we are to raise up again the whole ancient Church, and to call it
to account on every one of these particular points now discussed, on which the
testimonies of the Fathers are adduced; it being impossible otherwise to give
any certain judgment, whether what they say is their own private opinion, or
that of the public; that is to say, whether it be fit to be believed or not. (John
Daillé, A Treatise on the Right Use of the Fathers in the Decision of
Controversies Existing at This Day in Religion [2d ed.; Philadelphia:
Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1856], 183-84)
