Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	book_n	holy_a	scripture_n	2,474	5	6.0561	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64986	An explicatory catechism: or, An explanation of the assemblies shorter catechism Wherein those principles are enlarged upon especially, which obviate the great and growing errors of Popery; useful for those families that desire to hold fast the form of sound words.	Vincent, Thomas, 1634-1678.	1675 (1675)	Wing V434; ESTC R220763	119,453	302

extraordinary success it hath in the world which will convince a very Infidel that it is the very Word of God Q. What is the first witness of the Spirit A. 1. Antecedently The Spirit of Prophecy Q What mean you by that A. A continuance of wonderful Prophecies foretelling things to come so long before marked with their circumstances not doubtful like the Oracles of the Heathen or Merlins Prophecies but such as expressed the things and Persons by their Names which had all in their times their certain performance and therefore unto what can we attribute these infallible Predictions but to the inspiration of God Q. What is the second witness of the Spirit A. 2. Constitutively or inherently The Image and superscription of God as Coin is known by the Image and superscription it beareth or that unimitable character of Divinity not only imprinted on it but intrinsecally animating and constituting it Q. Wherein is the Image and superscription of God or that unimitable character of Divinity which animates and constitutes this Doctrine apparent A. It is apparent in the matter and the method and the stile Q. How is the Image of God apparent in the matter A. 1. As this Doctrine contains supernatural verities such Divine and wonderful Truths as could never enter into the heart of man to conceive them and the things the very Angels desire to look into Q. Declare this by some particular Instances A. It explicates unto us the Nature Properties and high Acts of God purely and holily 2. It describes the Person of Christ so fitly excellently and conveniently that if the mind of man consider it attentively it must acknowledge it doth exceed the reach of a finite understanding 3. It discovers to us the corruption and misery of man by nature the incomprehensible Love of God in Iesus Christ towards man that happy reconciliation if we may so speak of his Iustice and Mercy by his infinite wisdom ordaining Iesus Christ to be our Mediator 4. It unfolds the Covenant of Grace which God made with man after his fall all which can be drawn from no Fountain but Divine Revelation 5. It teacheth also the whole Duty of Man having Statutes and Iudgements incomparably wise and good the Gentiles themselves being Iudges Q. How is the Image of God apparent in the Method A. 2. As the Method of the whole Doctrine of the holy Scriptures set together is the most admirable and perfect in the world beginning with God in unity of essence proceeding to his Trinity of essential active Principles and of Persons and so to his Trinity of works Creation Redemption and Regeneration great things past finding out and wonders without number and all chiefly with special relation to mankind both in the estate of Innnocency and Apostasie Q. And how is the Image of God apparent in the stile of this Doctrine A. 3. As it is spiritual powerful and divine suited to holy ends and to the world of Persons to whom it is sent who are commonly ignorant and unlearned and so more generally useful than any other Doctrine in the world But withal containing such weighty concerning truths and profound mysteries as will belong to the most learned and to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil Rom. 7. 12 14. Gal. 5. 19 to the end 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Rom. 13. 13 14. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. 11. and Matth. 5 Psal. 19. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 18 23 24. Psal. 119. 50. Joh. 6. 63. Acts 6. 10. Jam. 1. 21. 1 Thes 1. 5. and 2. 13. 1 Cor. 15 32 33 34. Mal. 2. 15 16. Matth. 19. 4 5 6. and 22. 25 31. 1 Tim. 1. 5 12. Psal. 19. 8 9. and 119 9 10 11. Joh. 7. 48 49. Luk. 1. 78 79. Matth. 4. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Acts 9. 15. with 26. 17 18. Q. What is the third Witness of the Spirit A. 3. Concomitantly The Multitude of evident uncontrolled Miracles wrought for this very end to confirm it Miracles being the effect of Gods own power and the Seal and Signet that may be set upon no other Doctrine than that of the holy Scriptures will convince any that are not willfully blind that these two Ta●les of Testimony the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as those Tables of Stone were written with the finger of God and were of divine Authority Q. But the gift of Miracles is ceased A. Although it be yet 1. The History of them is so certain from natural Principles that its unpossible there should be any deceit about them And 2. There need not be new Miracles to confirm the former and oblige men to believe them Q. Why so A. For then there must be m●re Miracles to confirm those and so on to the end of the world and then God could not govern the world by a settled Law which 〈◊〉 both absurd and blasphemous Q. What therefore is the fourth Witness A. 4. Subsequently The success of the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures to the Regeneration of a great part of the world is a surviving witness to the end of the world of its divine Authority Q. Of what use is this Testimony A. Of great use Q. Why so A. For he that is not able to examine the History which reports the Miracles to him may be able to find upon his Soul the Image of God imprinted by the Gospel and to know that the Gospel hath that in it self which it imprints upon others and that it cometh from God which leadeth men so directly to God And it is certainly Gods own means which he blesseth to so great and excellent ends Q Can we receive sufficient direction from our own Wisdom or the Light of Nature to come to glorifie and enjoy God A. No Q. Can we receive sufficient direction from Gods works of Creation and Providence A. No Q. Are not the Apocryphal Books Scripture nor any other but the Books of the Old and New Testament A. No. Q. Are not the Traditions of the Church to be received with equal reverence to the holy Scriptures A. No Q Must we call no man Father or Master upon the Earth A. No for one is our Father which is in Heaven and one is our Master even Christ. And all Christians being taught of God by Christ are appointed to acknowledge no Father or Master upon the Earth Q. Is there not an infallible Judge of Controversies upon the Earth A. Christ and none else hath A●thority to give Laws unto us and punish the refractory And it is not for any Man living upon the Earth to impose Observances where Christ hath given liberty Q. What would you say to such as should require you to follow the Judgement of Fathers Councils and learned Divines when you find it not agreeable to Scripture A. To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to

or they do not If they do then they worship false Gods and are guilty of gross Idolatry there being no similitude or likeness of the true God If they do not then is ignorance the Mother of that D● votion and with the Samaritans they worship they know not what Or if they do worship the true God they worship him ignorantly and know not the manner of the God that made the Heavens and the Earth Deut. 4. 12 15. Isa. 40. 18. Ioh. 4. 22. Acts 17. 23. 2 Kings 7. 26. Q. Why can there be no manner of similitude of the true God A. Because he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands and is the unapproachable invisible God Acts 17. 24. 1 Tim. 6. 16. Q. The Papists worship God by Images the Protestants worship God without them which way therefore are we to worship the true God A. The way the only infallible Judge of Controversies hath declared unto us Q. Is the Pope this infallible Iudge A. There is no infallible Judge upon Earth and the Pope being but the H●ad of a Party the supream Head of the Romanists neither he nor they can be Judge in their own Cause Iam. 4. 12. Mat. 23. 9 10. Prov. 18. 17. Q. Who then is the infallible Iudge of Controversies A. Christ the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father He is the only infallible Judge of Controversies who hath told us all things and w● have his Determinations upon Record Q. Where are his Determinations Recorded A. In the holy Scriptures Q. What are his Determinations concerning God and the manner of his worship A. They are 1. Negative that God dwelleth not in Temples neither is to be worshipped by Images made with mens hands Acts 17. 24. with 1 Kings 8. 27. Acts 17. 25. 2. They are affirmative viz. That God is a Spirit and that they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4. 23 24. Q What other sin is chiefly forbidden in this Commandment A. Superstition Q. What is Superstition A. Superstition in the proper and strict notion of the word is the worshipping of Idols or dead men Act. 17. 22. But this is the same with that Idolatry the giving that worship and glory to others which is due to God alone which is forbidden in the first Commandment Q. What is therefore Superstition in the 〈◊〉 generally received notion and as it is forbidden in this Commandment A. It is when things are either abhorred or observed with a zealous or fearful but erroneous relation to God by means of which the superstitious serve either the true God with needless Offices or defraud him of necessary Duties or bestow such honours and service upon others as is proper for and should be peculiar for him only Or More plainly thus It is the worshipping of God in any other way or by any other means than what he hath appointed in his Word called Ordinances the Commandments and Doctrines of men Q. How manifold is this Superstition A. Twofold Affirmative and Negative Q. What is Affirmative Superstition A. That whereby the Superstitious serve the true God with needless Offices Q. And what the Negative A. That whereby men out of a s●●●pulous Conscience or ignorant fear of displeasing God abstain from things lawful and laudable as sinful and ungodly Q. Doth the Scripture warrant this distinction A. Yes Q. 1. What is the Idolatry and Superstition of the Church of Rome A. The worshipping of the Bread and Wine in the Eucharist out of a false and groundless perswasion that they are substantially changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. 2. The worshipping and invocation of Saints and Angels and particularly of the Virgin Mary which hath now for some Ages been a principal part of their Religion 3. Their worshipping of Images Which practice notwithstanding all their distinctions about it which are no other but what the Heathens used in the same case flies as full in the face of the second Commandment as deliberate and malicious killing of a man is against the six●h Acts 17. 29. Rom. 1. 23. 4. Their superstitious Fasting and ab staining from Flesh in Lent Their superstitious Holy-daies Their adding Cream Oyl and Spittle to the water in Baptism and their Baptizing of Bells Their praying upon Beads and mary more superstitious customs For which there is not the least command in the Scriptures Q. What if the Doctrine of Transubstantiation be not true A. Then by the confession of several of their own learned Writers they are guilty of gross Idolatry Q. Doth not the Bread in the Communion remain Bread after the words of Consecration A. Yes the Scripture expresly calls it so after the words of Consecration 1 Cor. 11. 26 27 28. Q. But what if the Bread be transubstanti●te and turned into the very Body of Christ A. Then all mens senses are deceived in a plain sensible matter wherein 't is as hard for them to be deceived as in any thing in the world Q. Why so A. For two things can hardly be imagined more different a little bit of Wa●er and the whole Body of ● man Q. But what if the Testimony of sens● be not to be relied upon A. Then no man is sure that Christian●ty it self is true Q. Why so A. For the utmost assurance that the Apostles had of the Truth of Christianity was the Testimony of their own senses concerning our Saviours Miracles Q. And what if the Testimony of sense 〈◊〉 to be relied upon A. Then it plainly follows that no man no not the Apostles themselves had more reason to believe Christianity to be true than every man hath to believe Transubstantiation to be false Q. But if the case be so plain a man would think that at least the Teachers and Guides of that Church should be sensible of it A. Why they are so and afraid the People should be so too and therefore by their corrupt Glosses and Ph●risai●al Traditions in their interpreting the holy Scriptures they tye up and keep the P●ople in ignorance of the true meaning of those places which do more expresly condemn their damnable Idolatrous practises and their superstitious customs and in their ordinary Ca●●chisms and Manuals of Devotion they leave out the second Commandment and divide the tenth into two to make up the Number lest if the common people should know it their Consciences should startle at the doing of a thing so directly contrary to the plain command of God Q. And is it not well observed by the learned from Deut. 11. 28. That he that professeth Idolatry is as if he denied the whole Law A. Yes Q. But because after all the unanswerable Objections and Arguments of the Protestants against Transubstantiation that Monster a●d shame of humane nature and the other Blasphenies and absurd Doctrines of the Papists they do all unanimously betake themselves to the authority of their Church as their main and last Refuge and tell us