8. True knowledge[1] is [that which consists in] the doctrine of the apostles, and the ancient constitution[2] of the church throughout all the world, and the distinctive manifestation of the body[3] of Christ according to the successions of the bishops, by which they have handed down that church which exists in every place, and has come even unto us, being guarded and preserved,[4] without any forging of Scriptures, by a very complete system[5] of doctrine, and neither receiving addition nor [suffering] curtailment [in the truths which she believes]; and [it consists in] reading [the word of God] without falsification, and a lawful and diligent exposition in harmony with the Scriptures, both without danger and without blasphemy; and [above all, it consists in] the pre-eminent gift of love,[6] which is more precious than knowledge, more glorious than prophecy, and which excels all the other gifts [of God].
9. Wherefore the church does in every place, because of that love which she cherishes towards God, send forward, throughout all time, a multitude of martyrs to the Father; while all others[7] not only have nothing of this kind to point to among themselves, but even maintain that such witness-bearing is not at all necessary, for that their system of doctrines is the true witness [for Christ], with the exception, perhaps, that one or two among them, during the whole time
- ↑ The following section is an important one, but very difficult to translate with undoubted accuracy. The editors differ considerably both as to the construction and the interpretation. We have done our best to represent the meaning in English, but may not have been altogether successful.
- ↑ The Greek is σύστημα; the Latin text has "status."
- ↑ The Latin is, "character corporis."
- ↑ The text here is, "custodita sine fictione scripturarum;" some prefer joining "scripturarum" to the following words.
- ↑ We follow Harvey's text, "tractatione;" others read "tractatio." According to Harvey, the creed of the church is denoted by "tractatione;" but Massuet renders the clause thus: ["True knowledge consists in] a very complete tractatio of the Scriptures, which has come down to us by being preserved ('custoditione' being read instead of 'custodita') without falsification."
- ↑ Comp. 2 Cor. viii. 1; 1 Cor. xiii.
- ↑ i.e. the heretics.
"Secundum quas (dispositiones) aderat generi humano." We have endeavoured to express the meaning of both.
