Malach 2. 7. Ans 1 Malachie there shewes what is the dutie of the Priests But that the Priests did not their dutie the verie next words following declare But you are gone out of the waye you have caused many to fall by the lawe c. verse 8. 2 This argument changeth the manner of the speech for the words are a commandement teaching what the Priests should doe but the Papists do vniustly turne them into words of promise iust as if a man should say God hath sayde thou shalt not steale therefore no man stealeth CHAP 4. Of Traditions THE word Tradition often times is simply taken for anie kinde of doctrine whether it be written or delivered by word of mouth But by the name of Traditions are such things also meant which were not written but onely delivered by word of mouth and so have beene from hand to hand conveyed to our age These kinde of Traditions are of two sorts Some containe Ceremonies of nature indifferent and changeable according to the circumstances of place and time which though they be not expressed in Scriptures yet because they are not contrarie to the same and are retained in the Church as things indifferent are not called into question But there bee other sorte of Traditions in Poperie which are contrarie to the Scriptures and whereof there appeares not so much as one step in the Scriptures such as are the Canon of the Masse Holy water a set number of prayers holy Candells and an infinite number more which are commeÌ„ded to the World vnder the glorious name of Apostolicke Traditions to the observing whereof as being Apostolicke all Christians are bound if wee will believe the Papists The question The state of the question then is 1. Whether besides the Scriptures the Apostles delivered some things by word of mouth only 2 Whether they delivered those things by word of mouth onely which at this day the Papists bragg of as of Apostolick Traditions We deny both the former wherof wee prove by the sufficiencie of the holy Scripture which containes all things necessary to saluation Whereof we have intreated before the later wee prove by these reasons following Because these their Traditions are contrarie to the Scriptures which we wil prove clearely hereafter But we may not thinke that the Apostles writt some things and delivered by word of mouth other and those contrarie to their writings Because in Pauls time such Traditions began to bee suspected in the Church which appeares by the words of S. Paul 2. Thessal 2 2. Be not suddenly moved from your mind nor troubled neither by Spirit nor by Worde nor by letter as sent from vs. Because it may be proved out of histories that such traditions had their first beginning some ages after the Apostles death Wherof see in particular Polidor Virgill especially concerning the Canon of the Masse de Inuererum lib 5 cap 11 c. It is proved by many manifest reasons that those bookes and Canons wherby they indevour to procure authority and credit to their Traditions are forged and counterfaite such as are the Canons of the Apostles the Decretalls the Decrees of Popes the books of Clement and Dyonisius Areopagita Neither do our aduersaries doubt but that many such Canons bookes are counterfeits Such Traditions of men are condemned by the holy Scripture 1 Because they are in cause as Christ witnesseth that in the mean time the CoÌ„mandements of God are neglected Mat 15 3 2 Because God is worshipped in vaine by the doctrines and precepts of men verse 9. 3. Because the Traditions of men cannot reach into the minde of God for my thoughts are not as your thoughts neither are your waies as my wayes saith the Lord For as the Heavens are higher than the earth so are my waies higher than your waies and my thoughts above your thoughts Isay 55 8 9. Whence it commeth to passe that those things which men admire for their singular holinesse do most of all displease the Lord God 4. Because such plants as are not planted of the heavenly Father shall bee rooted out Mat 15 13. Because wee must rely our selues wholly on the Word of God in worshipping of God and that onely must we doe which he hath commanded Neither may we add or diminish anie thing there from Deut 12. 32 neither may we decline from the commandements of God either to the right hand or to the left Deuter 28 14. Because the Traditions of men are deceipts or trappes Beware sayth Paul least there bee anie man that spoyle you through Philosophie and vaine deceite through the Traditions of men according to the rudiments of the World and not after Christ Colos 2 8. Contrariwise our Aduersaries doe argue 1 Brethren stand fast and keepe the traditions which you haue been taught either by word or by our Epistle 2 Thessal 2 15. Therfore our Traditions to wit the Papisticall are to bee received and kept as Apostolike Traditions Ans 1. All the Propositions are particular and it is such a kinde of absurde reasoning as this The Apostles delivered some things by word of mouth we have some Traditions therefore our Traditions are Apostoâ—ike 2. It is a fallacie from a part to the whole for when Paul wrot these things fewe of those â—hings which appertaine to the Canon of the New Testament were then written That â—herefore which Paul meant in respect of â—hat time when as al were not yet written that the Papists vnderstand simply even of that â—ime when the Canon was perfected when as â—ow wee have all things in the Apostles wriâ—ings which are needefull to bee knowen for â—aluation 3. There are foure termes in the syllogisme in the Maior are vnderstood Traditions doctrinall Apostolicke in the minor forged Traditions inuented long after the Apostles time 2 Christ did not altogether reject the Traditions of the Fathers where he sayth these things ought you to have done and not to have left the other vndone Luke 11 42. Answe Christ there opposeth the strict obseruance of Moses his law not of mens Traditions in outward small matters as in â—ithing of cumime mint the neglect of the principal duties of the first second Table both which should have beene ioyned together obserued as being both the commandements of God This reason therfore 6 is like a rope of land 3 When Paul and Timothy went through the Citties Tradebanteis they delivered or gave them for Traditions the decrees to keepe which were ordained by the Apostles Elders which were at Ierusalem Act 16 4. Ans 1 It followes not The Apostles 7 deliuered somethings therfore the Papisticall Traditions are Apostolicke There is no coherence in this reason 2 Paul and Timothie deliuered not vnwritten verities but those things which were decreed of the Apostles and then comprized in writing sent to the Church of Antioch The Papists therfore dispute from a written to an vnwritten Tradition 4 Paul saith that hee deliuered
certaine precepts to the Corinthians which they did well that they obserued them 1 Corin. 11 2. Answ The same answer which was giuen to the first obiection fits this too that is that there is no sound proofe of all particulars The Papists should prooue that those Traditions proceeded from the Apostles which they bragge so fast to bee Apostolicke 5 The Fathers testifie that certaine Traditions came from the Apostles to them Answ 1. The Fathers many times by the name of Traditions vnderstand such things as are contained in the Scripture according to the sence and meaning thereof though not according to the Letter And in this sence there bee in the reason foure termes the Fathers vnderstanding Traditions contained in the Scriptures the Papists Traditions not at all there contained 2 The Fathers by Traditions Apostolick vnderstand sometimes generall customes and rites of indifference which was in the liberty of the Church to alter as occasion should require 3. If any of the Fathers haue maintained other sort of Traditions as Apostolick then the question is whether they did well in accepting such Traditions for Apostolicke which were not Apostolick neither did coÌ„sent with the holy Scripture 6 That infants should be baptized that the Eucharist should bee deliuered to women c. wee haue receiued from vnwritten Tradition onely Answ 1. The Antecedent is not true for concerning the former wee haue Scripture that Baptisme is needfull for all and that it doth belong vnto Infants Iohn 3 5. Mark 10 14 15 16. 1 Corinthians 1 16 c. 2 The Trent Catechisme proueth the Baptisme of Infants by diuers places of Scripture Part 2. cap. 2 quaest 26. As for the latter that the Eucharist belongeth to the whole Church and so vnto women wee haue Christs commandement Math 26 26 27 28. Mark 14 22 c. Luk 22 19 20. 1 Cor 11 26 27 28. 7 The obseruation of the Lords day is not found in the Scripture Ans Seeing it is acknowledged by both sides by the Papists as well as by the Protestants that to set a certaine time a part for Gods seruice is a morall and immurable law and that the Apostles left to the Church the first day of the weeke which is the Lords day in Parte tertiâ— ca. 4 quaest 4. steede of the seuenth day which the Iewes obserued as the Trent Catechisme proueth out of 1 Corint 16 2 and Reuel 1 10 We ought to acknowledge it as a precept of God grounded on the Scriptures CHAP. 5. Of the Letter and the Spirit THE Papists seeke themselues an other starting hole when as they cannot proue See Fran. Coster in his Enchiridion of CoÌ„trouersies Cap 1 of thâ— holy Scripture out of the holy Scripture many their Idolatrous and superstitious opinions to say that the Scripture is a dead and killing letter but the Spirit that is the meaning of the Scripture is contained in the liuing tables of the heart of the Church that therefore all things ought to be iudged determined not out of the Scrip but by the consent of the Church So for examples sake whereas nothing is found in the letter of the Scripture concerning the worshipping of Images that say they is to bee sought for in the hearts of the faithfull that is of the Pope Cardinalls c Wherein the holy Spirit hath written it that Images are to be worshipped As for vs we acknowledge no other Scripture wherein God doth by writing reueale his will beside the sacred bookes of the Bible and this spirituall Scripture of the Papists we reiect Because the holy Scripture described and comprised in letters deserueth this praise that it can make a man perfect therefore vnto There is one manner of Spirit in the outward Scripture another in the inward which are coÌ„trary one to another concerning the authoritie of the Scripture Note heere the Spirit of Christ and Antichrist perfection there is no neede of any other new spirituall Scripture 2 Because that spirituall Scripture which the Papists forge doth disanull the authoritie of the holy Scripture penned in paper by the instinct of the holy Ghost But the holy Ghost cannot be so contrarie to it selfe as to commend highly the Scripture by the Apostles and Prophets and to diminish the authoritie of the same by an inward Scripture 3 Because this inward Scripture is manifestly proued to bee often ontrarie to the outward Therefore the holâ— Ghost if he be the Author of both should â—â— conuicted either of falshood or inconstanie By this meanes we should it open a wide gap to all errours whiles euey man would brag of the inward writing oâ— the holy Spirit and would compare it witâ— and preferre it before the holy Scripture Besides this sauours strongly of the error of the Enthusiasts and Schweneldians on this wise This inward Scripture or writing is either mediate or immediate if mediate then the Scripture keepes his old standing to be the meanes and Rule of this inward writing if immediate then they manifestly fall into the error of the Enthusiasts but our Aduersaries accept not of the former therfore of the later All the paines which the Euangelists and Apostles did take in penning the Scriptures were bootlesse if wee should take no more heede to their writings than to such a like inward Schwenfeldian writing Contrarily our Aduersaries doe argue 1 The Letter killeth but the Spirit giueth life 2 Corin 3â— Therefore we are not to heede the Scripture wâ—tten with inke but the inward Scripture of thâ— Spirit sealed in the heart of the Church Ans 1. Tâ—â—t Paul doth not speake of any inward or oâ—tward distinction of writing but of the diference of the law and the Gospell the wâ—rdes immediatly going before A view of a Doctour like exposition proceeding froÌ„ the inward writing of the heart doe shew â—od saith S Paul hath made vs able Ministâ—rs of the new Testament not of the â—etter bâ—t of the Spirit 2 So then there are fiue terâ—es taking the word Letter in the Antecedent or former proposition according to Paules meaning for the Lawe and in the consequent or later proposition for the whole body of the holy Scripture according to the Papists meaning and vnderstanding the word Spirit in the Antecedent for the Gospell and in the consequent for Enthusiasme or immediate inspiration from God the argument therefore hangeth together like sand Now S. Paul calleth the law a killing letter because that no man can bee iustified and saued by the law but the Lawe doth rather condemne and spiritually kill But he calls the Gospell Spirit because the Gospel receiued by faith doth giue the holy Spirit which doth quicken our harts create them a new stir them vp to good workes 2 I will put my Lawe in their inward parts and write it in their harts c. Ierem 31 33. therfore the will of GOD is to bee learned not out of the outward but inward Scripture or writing
8 c and 51. 16. Where the true sacrifices are not defined by the worke wrought but such as come from a person contrite and humbled and which is in favour with God Contrariwise our Aduersaries doe reason 1. Though the person bee not in favour yet the worke it selfe is good Answere The worke hath a double respect either as it is considered in it selfe whereof wee speake not heere or as it is considered in an other According to this latter respect the worke is considered together with the worker and so the work which is good in it self is polluted by the impure and impenitent worker Whereof we spoke more afore 2. The worke of Ahab though an hypocrite pleased God when he humbled himselfe 1 Kin. 21 29. Ans As Ahab did not truly repent so neither was there any thing meant as concerning eternall salvation but onely of the diminishing and mitigating of temporall punishments Now our question is of workes which as our Aduersaries thinke merite everlasting life they argue therefore verie fondly Question 2. Whether workes and services of mans choise and tradition having no warrant in the holie Note The state of the Controuersie is not of things indifferent such as pertaine to order in the Church but of the true manner of worshipping God Scriptures doe please God and be to be observed as necessarie to justification Our Adversaries hold this affirmatively laying so great a necessitie vpon those traditions that often times a man shall be judged to haue sinned more greevously for transgressing one of those traditions than for neglecting some of Gods commandements but wee out of the word of God doe reject these wil-worships Hitherto may be applied those arguments which were brought before chap. 4. against traditions Because to appoint and define the service of God belongeth to God alone and not to any creature whatsoeuer 1 Hence it is that the Lord doth set this preface before the 10 Commandements as it were to procure authority to them I am the Lord thy God Exod 20. 2. 2. God not wee hath ordained good workes that wee should walke in them Ephes 2 10. 3 Proue what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God not of men Rom 12. 2. 4. Teaching them to obserue all things whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you Math. 28 20. The will of God is perfectly declared in the holy Scriptures that wee haue no neede to make choise of new services for him 1 For the Scripture doth instruct a man that he may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes 2 Timothie 3 17. God will not haue any man to depart from this his revealed will or to adde any thing thereto or to frame or invent any new things beside 1. Yee shall not doe euery man whatsoeuer seemeth him good in his owne eyes but whatsoeuer I commaund you take heede yee doe it Thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought there from Deut. 12. 8. 3◠2. Take heede that yee doe as the Lord your God hath commaunded you turne not a side to the right hand nor to the left Deut. 5 32. 3 Seeke not after your owne heart nor after your owne eyes Numb 15 39. 4 Thou shalt not turne away frō the law to the right hand nor to the left Iosu 1 7. Because GOD doth witnesse that such works are very displeasing vnto him 1 By the example of the Israelites who of a good intent did erect for Gods glory Groues Temples high places Altars c. 2 So those who would without the cōmaundement of God imitate the fact of Abraham in offering vp his sonne are most sharply reproued by God 2 King 16 3 and 17 17 and 21. 6. and 23. 10 c 3. Saul in sacrificing without the commaundement of God offended 1 Sam 13. 9. 10. 11. 4. In vaine they worship mee teaching for doctrines the precepts of men Matth. 15 9. By these services of mens choise and devising it commeth to passe that the commandements of GOD are neglected as Christ shewes by examples Math 23 16 Contrariwise our Aduersaries doe reason 1. VVhatsoever is done with a good intent cannot displease God but the service of God of mans choise and invention is done with a good intention therefore c. Ans In the first proposition is the begging of the thing in question for that proposition is not onely controversed but also it is very expresly condemned in the places of Scripture before alleaged 2. The holy Ghost which is promised to the Church will not commaund those things which are contrarie to Gods will but those services of God are deliuered of the Church from the mouth of the holy Ghost therefore c. Answere 1. If the CHVRCH did ordaine those things by the instinct of the holy Ghost then would wee graunt them the whole reason but seeing that this same thing is a matter in controversie heere is a begging of the thing in question 2 Christ saith of the holy Ghost hee shall bring all thinges to your remembrance that I haue tolde you Iohn 14 26 Nowe let our Adversaries proue that ever Christ tolde such thinges and wee will beleeue them Likewise the holy Ghost shall glorifie Christ Iohn 16 14 but these services doe obscure Christ with his merites 3 Neither may wee impute that to the Church of Christ whatsoeuer certaine superstitious men haue broached vnder the title and name of the Church bringing heereby the true Church of Christ into bondage and vexing them with the observation of mens traditions 3. Christ saith of his Apostles he that heareth you heareth mee Luke 10. 16. therefore it is all one as if Christ had deliuered those seruices of God with his owne mouth Ans 1. What agreement is there betweene Christ and Belial betweene the Apostles and the Prelates of the Roman Antichrist 2 It is a fallacie of diuision because those necessarie words which are part of the instruction that Christ gaue to his Apostles are omitted to wit teach them to obserue whatsoeuer I haue commanded you Matthew 28. 4 As the doctrine of the Scribes and Pharises sitting in the chaire of Moses was approoued so the constitutions of the Prelates of the Church concerning the seruice of God are to be approued and ratified Answ 1 To sit in Moses chaire is not to frame new deuises of GODS seruice but to teach MOSES It is therefore a fallacie from that which is spoken in some respecte onely to the same taken absolutely and in all respectes For then the Pharises fate in Moses chaire when they taught the law of Moses but not when they broached superstitious and false conceits wherof Christ saide Beware of the leauen of the Pharises meaning their doctrine Matth 16 6 12 2. There is more in the conclusion than in the premisses For there followeth no more but this that the Ministers of Christ that teach well and liue ill are to bee heard if in the meane while they teach that which is truth But