nd that after Tertullian had remained a presbyter
of the Church to middle age, he was driven, by the envy and revilings of
the members of the Roman Church, to fall from its unity, and espouse
Montanism. Bellarmin calls him a heretic, and says he is the first
heretic who denied that the saints went at once and forthwith to glory.
[Hieron. edit. 1684. tom. i. p. 183.]

[Footnote 47: The words of Jerome, who refers to the
circumstance more than once, are very striking: "I saw one
Paulus, who said that he had seen the secretary (notarium) of
Cyprian at Rome, who used to tell him that Cyprian never passed
a single day without reading Tertullian; and that he often said
to him, 'Give me the Master,' meaning Tertullian."--Hieron. vol.
iv. part ii. p. 115.]

A decided line of distinction is drawn by Roman Catholic writers between
the works of Tertullian written before he espoused the errors of
Montanus, and his works written after that unhappy step. The former they
hold in great estimation, the latter are by many considered of far less
authority. I do not see how such a distinction ought to affect his
testimony on the historical point immediately before us. If indeed he
had held the doctrine of the invocation of saints whilst he continued in
the full communion of the Church, and rejected it afterwards, no honest
and sensible writer would quote his later opinions against the practice.
But we are only seeking in his works for evidence of the {129} matter of
fact,--Is there any proof in the works of Tertullian that the invocation
of saints formed a part of the doctrine and practice of the Catholic
Church in his time[48]? His works will be found in the note, arranged
under those two heads, as nearly as I can ascertain the preponderating
sentiments of critics[49].

[Footnote 48: The reader, who may be induced to consult the work
of the present Bishop of Lincoln, entitled, "The Ecclesiastical
History of the second and third Centuries, illustrated from the
writings of Tertullian," will there find, in the examination and
application of Tertullian's remains, the union of sound
judgment, diligence in research, clearness of perception,
acuteness in discovery, and great erudition mingled with
charity.]

[Footnote 49: Works of Tertullian before he became a
Montanist:--

Adversus Judaeos.
The Tract ad Martyres.
The two Books ad Nationes.
The Apology,