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An Abridgment of the Doctrine of the Fourth AGE of the Church.
THO' there was nothing taught in the Fourth Age of the Church, which was not believed in the Three First, yet it must be confess'd that in it the chief Mysteries of Religion were very much clear'd up and explain'd. As to the Divinity and Attributes of God, there was nothing almost added to what was said by the ancient Fathers, and they were even less handled in this Age than in the pre∣ceding. But the Mystery of the Trinity, as we have seen, was the Subject of an infinite number of Books written by the Authors of this Age, and of many Synodical Decisions. The Divinity of the Son of God and the Holy Spirit was established. It was proved, That these Two Persons are of the same Substance with the Father; Essence and Substance was carefully distinguished from the Person; many Arguments were urged whereon to ground this Doctrine; and the Objections which the Here∣ticks propos'd against it, were answer'd.
There was some Difference among the Catholicks about the Word, Hypostasis; Some would have it said, That the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were Three Hypostases, and others maintain'd that we ought to say, That they were but one and the same Hypostasis; but this seeming Difference consisted only in a Question about a Word, which depended upon the signification of the Word Hypo∣stasis, which one Party took for the Person, and the other for the Nature. All the Fathers of this Age acknowledged, that the Word was a Person distinguished from the Person of the Eternal Father, and that his Generation was Eternal; but they did not think of explaining how this Generation is made; and they confess'd, That it is ineffable and incomprehensible: Neither did they insist upon a multitude of subtle Questions concerning the Mystery of the most Holy Trinity, and they always continued in the Simplicity of the Faith, which they established upon the Authority of Scripture and of Tradition. They taught also that the Word appeared to the Patriarchs, and in this sence they said that he was visible. Tho' they treated not so much in this Age of the Mystery of the Incarnation as in the next, yet it was explained very clearly, and not only the Errors of Arius and Apollinarius were condemned, who denied that Jesus Christ had a Soul or Humane Understanding different from the Di∣vinity; but even the Errors of Nestorius, Eutyches, and all the other Hereticks were rejected before-hand, who either distinguish Two Persons in Jesus Christ, or confound the Two Natures and their Properties. They believ'd the Incarnation to be necessary for the Redemption of Mankind, and ac∣knowledged that none can be sav'd without Faith in Jesus Christ. Some taught also that Jesus Christ preach'd the Gospel to those in Hell, but this Opinion was rejected by many. They affirm'd that there were great numbers of Angels and Devils. They determined nothing about the Day of Judg∣ment, and they did all almost confess, that Men are wholly ignorant of it. They looked upon what the Ancients said concerning the Reign of Jesus Christ upon Earth for the space of a 1000 Years as a mere groundless Imagination. They almost all acknowledged that the Souls which are innocent and purified from their Sins, enjoy Happiness before the Day of Judgment, and that the Souls of the Wicked are condemned to Eternal Fire immediately after their death: Yet they confess'd that af∣ter the Resurrection, their Happiness or Misery should still be encreased. They believed that the Souls of Men were Spiritual and Immortal, but they doubted, Whether they were immediately crea∣ted by God, or produced by the Souls of their Fathers and Mothers. They spoke more of Grace than those who lived in the preceding Ages, and yet they ascribed always very much to Free-Will. Origi∣nal Sin, begun to be better known. They excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven, Children who died without Baptism; but they did not affirm that they should endure the Torments of Fire. They ac∣knowledged the Efficacy and Necessity of Baptism. The Imposition of the Hands of the Bishop, or the Anointing with Holy Chrism, was looked upon as a Sacrament which brought down the Holy Spirit upon the Baptized. They maintain'd against the Novatians, that the Church had power to impose Penance, and to forgive the most Enormous Sins. They taught clearly, That the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist were changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. They gave the Name of a Sacrifice to the Celebration of the Eucharist, and performed it with particular Ceremonies. They were persuaded that Men ought to be Ordain'd to make them capable of discharging the Eccle∣siastical Functions. They approved of Marriage, and would have the Persons to be married, contra∣cted in the face of the Church, and in the presence of a Priest who gave a Blessing. They honoured Virginity, and commended those who profess'd it; and look'd upon those as Sacrilegious Persons who violated that Profession. They had much Reverence and Veneration for the Blessed Virgin and for the Saints; they prayed to them, and also honoured their Reliques. They prayed for the Dead. We have often taken notice of their Opinion concerning the Authority of Holy Scripture and Tradition. They taught that there was but one Catholick Church, out of which there was no Salvation, and to whose Authority all Men ought to submit, because it can neither cease to be, nor Err in Matters of Faith.
Wherefore one may say in general, That the Doctrine of the Fourth Age was the Belief of the Church of that Age, and so the Church not being capable of changing her Belief, it necessarily follows, That the Doctrine of that Time, is not at all different from that which the Church teaches still at this Day.