The Epistle of Pope Damasus to Aurelius, Archbishop of Carthage, com-manding him to take care, that the Decretals of the Roman Bishops be preached and published abroad: Wherein the Forgeries of the Church of Rome are Fathered on the Holy Ghost.

Damasus, to his most Reverend Brother, and Fellow-Bishop Aurelius. We have received the Epistle of your Holiness with due Veneration: Wherein we understand how your Reverence and Prudence thirsteth, as is fit, for the Apostolical Decrees. Concerning which Affair, we have sent some of those which you desired, and desire to send more when you shall send unto us. Yet we have past by none of our Predecessors, from the Death of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, of whose Decrees we have not sent somewhat to you under our certain Seal by Ammonius the Priest, and Fælix the Deacon: Which we both desire you to keep, and command to be preached and published to others; that they may inviolably be kept with due Veneration of all, and inviolably observed, and diligently reverenced by all future Ages.

Because the voluntary Breakers of the Canons are heavily censured by the H. Fathers, and condemned by the H. Ghost, by whose Gift and Inspiration they were dictated: Because they do not unfitly seem to blaspheme the H. Ghost, who being not compelled by any necessity, but willingly (as was before said) either do any thing perversly, or presume to speak against the same Holy Canons, or consent to them that will; for such a presumption is manifestly one kind of blaspheming the H. Ghost: Because (as was even now promised) it acteth against him, by whose grace and impulse the same Holy Canons were set forth. But the wickedness of the Devil is wont to deceive many, and so doth very oftentimes delude the imprudence of some by a similitude of Piety, that he perswadeth them to take hurtful things for healthful.