***Thus, my statement. The Gospels are true because the Church says that they are.
Nice tagline, isn’t it?
It’s ok. Fake maybe but it sounds nice.***
Not fake, not maybe, but it sure does sound nice.
***In those things which are clearly laid down in Scripture, all those things are found which pertain to faith and morals. (De Doct. Chr. 2:9) ***
Very nice. And true.
***Whatever you hear from them [the Scriptures], let that be well received by you. Whatever is without them refuse, lest you wander in a cloud. (De Pastore, 11) ***
Including the role of the Church and the individuals in authority.
***All those things which in times past our ancestors have mentioned to be done toward mankind and have delivered unto us: all those things also which we see and deliver to our posterity, so far as they pertain to the seeking and maintaining true religion, the Holy Scripture has not passed over in silence. (Ep. 42) ***
No, the Church has no authority to abridge Scripture, a practice not adhered to by the Reformers.
***Whatever our Saviour would have us read of his actions and sayings he commanded his apostles and disciples, as his hands, to write. (De Consensu Evang. 1:ult.) ***
Including the role of the Church.
***Let them [the Donatists] demonstrate their church if they can, not by the talk and rumor of the Africans; not by the councils of their own bishops; not by the books of their disputers; not by deceitful miracles, against which we are cautioned by the word of God, but in the prescript of the law, in the predictions of the prophets, in the verses of the Psalms, in the voice of the Shepherd himself, in the preaching and works of the evangelists; that is, in all canonical authorities of the sacred Scriptures. (De Unit. Eccl. 16) ***
Augustine fought against the heretics better than we in this present age.
***He was a Catholic after all and was faithful to his Church unless they strayed from Scripture!***
Including the role of the Church.
***Remember, novel ideas such as the equality (actually superiority) of Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium hadn’t yet been invented.***
Actually they began shortly after Our Lord had been taken up in order to determine and definitively declare what the faith really is.
Did your friend Augustine say this; "Mary, springing from Adam, died because of sin; and the flesh of our Lord, derived from Mary, died to take away sin." (De Peccatorum Meritis, ii, c. 24).
Including the role of the Church.
This seems to be a favorite of yours. Please explain where the "role of the Church" was to invent new Tradition? Remember, this Tradition ended with the Apostles.
***Remember, novel ideas such as the equality (actually superiority) of Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium hadn’t yet been invented.***
Actually they began shortly after Our Lord had been taken up in order to determine and definitively declare what the faith really is.
Well... if your "shortly" means several hundred years I can't argue with you.