which pertains to the truth; and everyone whosoever wishes draws from
her the drink of life. For she is the entrance to life, while all the rest are
thieves and robbers. That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while
cherishing with the utmost diligence the things pertaining to the Church,
and to lay hold of the tradition of truth. What then? If there should be a
dispute over some kind of question, ought we not have recourse to the most
ancient Churches in which the Apostles were familiar, and draw from them
what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the Apostles
had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the
order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted
the Churches?”
Tertullian, The Demurrer Against the Heretics 28, 1 (c. 200 AD)
“Grant, then, that all have erred; that the Apostle was mistaken in bearing
witness; that the Holy Spirit had no such consideration for any one Church
as to lead it into truth, although He was sent for that purpose by Christ,
who had asked the Father to make Him the Teacher of truth; that the
Steward of God and Vicar of Christ neglected His office, and permitted the
Churches for a time to understand otherwise and to believe otherwise than
He Himself had preached through the Apostles: now, is it likely that so
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