Luther quotes

“Although the fathers were often wrong, they ought nevertheless to be honored on account of their testimony to faith. So I venerate Jerome and Gregory and others inasmuch as one can sense [from their writings], in spite of everything else, that they believed as we do, as the church from the beginning believed, and as we believe. So Bernard was magnificent when he taught and preached. However, when he engaged in dispute, he assailed what he had before preached. Consequently the fathers aren't worth much for controversy, but on account of their testimony to faith they ought all to be honored.” Martin Luther, Tabletalk, Deitrich #584, summer/fall 1533, LW, AE, 54:104-5