Selected quad for the lemma: tradition_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
tradition_n	church_n	doctrine_n	unwritten_a	1,841	5	12.2029	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A32801	The divine trinunity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or, The blessed doctrine of the three coessentiall subsistents in the eternall Godhead without any confusion or division of the distinct subsistences or multiplication of the most single and entire Godhead acknowledged, beleeved, adored by Christians, in opposition to pagans, Jewes, Mahumetans, blasphemous and antichristian hereticks, who say they are Christians, but are not / declared and published for the edification and satisfaction of all such as worship the only true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all three as one and the self same God blessed for ever, by Francis Cheynell ...	Cheynell, Francis, 1608-1665.	1650 (1650)	Wing C3811; ESTC R34820	306,702	530

rabble will not wonder that the Socinians call the Doctrine of 3. Persons and one God into question when the Papists who were baptized in the name of the Trinity professe that they beleeve the equality of three distinct Subsistences in the same divine Essence do yet notwithstanding in their writings grant as much as the Socinians need prove namely that the Doctrine of the distinction and equality of Persons in the same Divine Essence cannot be proved but by unwritten Traditions by the testimony of the Church of Rome c. and yet diverse Papists undertake to defend the doctrine of the Trinity against the Socinians though they know that the Socinians do not at all value traditions or the testimony of the Church of Rome and therefore though divers Papists write against the Socinians yet they do promote Socinianisme by their vaine doctrine of unwritten traditions Stapleton is not ashamed to deny that it can be proved out of Scripture that the Holy Ghost is God or that he is to be worshipped But Salmeron deserves commendation in this point The Scriptures saith he are therefore said to be written by divine inspiration because they instruct us in divine mysteries concerning the Vnity of God and Trinity of Persons Photius in his Bibliotheca shews that Ephraeni did not dispute of the consubstantiall Trinity out of the Testimonies of Fathers but out of the Holy Scriptures Iustin Martyr Athanasius Basil Irenaeus Cyrill Cyprian Tertullian Epiphanius Theodoret and many other of the Fathers did assert the doctrine of the Trinity and some of them did confute the Valentinians Eunomians Sabellians Photinians Arrians Macedonians Samosatenians c. out of the Holy Scriptures The Nicene Synod did urge Scripture for the maintenance of the truth which they declared in the Confession of their Faith and the Synod which met at Constantinople did the like as is most evident to such as have perused those learned and ancient Records Athanasius confounded the Arians by cleare Testimonies of Scripture and in his Book of the Decrees of the Nicene Synod he saith that the true disciples of Christ do clearly understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity preached by divine Scripture I shall not trouble or amuse the Reader by quotations out of Cyrill Ambrose Hilary Augustine Nyssen Nazianzen or any of those Worthies but now mentioned whose labours have been ever famous in the Church of God yet I must not omit one pregnant proofe out of Augustine who appealed from the Nicene and Ariminensian Synods and challenged Maximinus to dispute with him about the great point of consubstantiality out of the Scriptures Bellarmine himself is forced to confesse that Augustine had good reason to do so because that point is cleare by Scripture but then we must likewise consider what Augustine saith upon this Argument that the thing or sense of any word may be in Scripture though the word it self be not to be found there though the words Trinity Trin-unity Consubstantial are not found in Scripture yet that which is signified by those words may be clearly proved by the holy Scriptures These three are one I and my Father are one Behold a Trinity Trin-unity Consubstantiality and all quickly proved That Rule is of great concernment and very pertinent to the point in hand which Augustine delivers in his third Book and third Chapter against Maximinus the Arian Out of those things which we read in Scripture we may collect some things which we do not read and so both understand and beleeve the thing which is delivered in other words in Scripture then those which we are now forced to use that we may confirme the Orthodox Christians and refute the gain-sayers But I am weary of this task and therefore call upon my Reader to joyne with me in searching the Scriptures that we may find out the truth for reason cannot demonstrate or comprehend these mysteries of faith and the Rule is Rationum fulcro dissoluto humana concidit authoritas CHAP. IV. This single and Eternall Godhead doth subsist in Father Son and holy Ghost without any multiplication of the Godhead WHen Gregory Nyssen undertook to confute the artificiall blasphemy of Eunomius he desired that the true God the Son of the true God and the Holy Spirit would direct him into all truth I have likewise implored the Divine assistance of the Father Son and Holy Ghost that I may open this Mystery of the single Godhead in three distinct Subsistences with faith and prudence perspicuity and reverence I consider that the Godhead is Spiritual and therefore I desire to avoid all carnal expressions in a Treatise of this nature There is a twofold knowledge of God Absolute and Relative the Absolute knowledge of the Eternal Power and Godhead is in part discovered by the works of God as hath been shewen in the first chapter but the Relative knowledge of God I speak of inward relations between the three Subsistences is not nay cannot be attained unto by the light of nature no example can illustrate no reason Angelical or humane comprehend the hidden excellency of this glorious Mystery but it is discovered to us by a Divine Revelation in the written word and therefore our faith must receive and our piety admire what our reason cannot comprehend It is fit therefore that this Grand Mystery of the Divine Trinunity should be soberly explained that it may be stedfastly beleeved and reverently applyed in all Evangelical administrations We read of the Godhead the Nature and Subsistence of God in the holy Scriptures 1. The Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coloss. 2. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17. 29 I am not at leasure to play the Critique upon the words it is enough for my purpose simply to declare the truth in the most plaine and simple manner 2. The Nature of God is held forth to us in the holy Scriptures which forbid us to give Divine honour to any of those things which are not Gods by Nature Gal. 4. 8 For the Apostle in that place reproves their Idolatry and tels them that when they knew not God that is the only true God who is God by Nature because truly God they did service to them which by Nature are no Gods from whence it is easie to conclude that the only true God whom we ought to serve is God by nature and we read of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. of which all that are regenerate are said to be partakers because they bear his Image for else it is evident that there is an infinite distance between God grace which is not only finite but imperfect also and if it were perfected is but an accident Nay there is an infinite distance between the Nature of God and nature of man in respect of Excellency even then when the two natures are most intimately united as they are by an Hypostatical union in the person of the Lord Jesus 3.

say a Councell without the Pope 3. Others the Pope and Councell both together it seems the Pope is not sent as Peter to strengthen his brethren but his brethren must be sent for to strengthen him 4. Some say both together is not sufficient either in point of manners or matter of Faith unlesse the acceptation of the Church Vniversall be superadded 5. We are not able to reckon up the number of those who deny the infallibility of the present Church and Pope of Rome 6. They cannot give us in a perfect Inventory of all written verities unwritten Traditions and Church-definitions which the whole succession of Popes have upon the credit of their infallibility determined to be necessary for all Christians to know and beleeve I need say nothing of the Papall Reservations Provisions Mandates and all postnate Dictates and Decrees which Bishops Metropolitans are by their* Oath made to the Pope at their confirmation obliged to observe Nor will I trouble my Reader with the distinction of Supremacy of knowledge in resolving Church questions because that they say belongs to the Fathers who excelled the Popes in expounding of Scriptures and Supremacy of Power to decide Church causes For this latter Supremacy is that which Popes and Cardinals and all must live by in the Court of Rome and the former Supremacy is purposely claimed for the support of this But it was a long time before the Popes presumed to challenge the power of deciding all the greater causes of the Church thorowout the world For the Bishops of Rome were at the first but Bishops within their own City then Metropolitans within their own Province afterwards Arch-Bishops or Patriarks over Metropolitans within their Princely Diocesse and last of all their pride and policy being crowned with successe did swell them up to be Popes and Lords over all the Christian or rather Antichristian world The Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Supremacy or Soveraignty of Popes is condemned by Reason and History by Fathers and Councels as others have proved at large let us not therefore be put off with that ridiculous piece of Sophistry which is so common The Pope is infallible and supream Head of the Church and Lord of the World because the Scriptures meane so and the Scriptures meane so because the Pope saith so who doth not see that the Scriptures are only put in for a meer stale and therefore the Argument had been as strong if they had proved the Popes Infallible Authority and Princely Supremacy by an ipse dixit at first The Pope saith he is Infallible ergo he is so I am not at leasure to heare what the Pope who hath endeavoured to dethrone Christ and depose the Holy Ghost saith in his owne behalfe at Rome for if he once bring this great question to be resolved in his owne Consistory he will soon bring all causes to be decided there also where he himselfe is Plaintiffe Witnesse and Iudge only in prudence and modesty he hath entertained a company of Cardinals who are to divide the spoiles with him for his Grand Inquest The Popes Supremacy is unwritten and therefore he is a fit Judge to decide all controversies amongst the Traditionaries whose faith is not written in either Testament But since the Pope doth strive with the Holy Ghost for the Chair and Christ for the Throne let us heare what Christ and the Holy Ghost do both speake in the Holy Scriptures of Truth and we shall quickly decide this grand controversie and many more Christ is the only Pastour of his Church he is to continue so and have no successor We find in holy Scripture that Christ is the only Head and Saviour of his whole Church Ephes. 1. 22. Colos. 2. 19. he doth and will continue with his Church alway even unto the end of the world to give life sense and motion to it and to rule and governe the whole and every member of it by the effectuall councell and working of his Holy Spirit The Apostles were but Ministeriall Heads or Principall Members who had a preheminence over the inferiour members for perfecting of the Saints by the worke of the Ministry 1 Cor. 12. 21. 28. First Apostles this eminent ministry or Headship did belong to all the Apostles and not to Peter only the power of remitting and retaining sins was given to the other Apostles aswel as Peter Io. 20. 21 22. 23. We deny not Peter to be the first Apostle in time as Andrew was the first Disciple and therefore Peter is first reckoned Mat 10. 2. Nay we will not deny him to be most eminent in grace and for both reasons grant him to be first in Order but we deny that he was chiefe in dignity or Supream in power Because we know the Apostles had all equall power For Christ sent them all as his Father sent him they had all of them power to open heaven to beleevers and shut it against unbeleevers The power of the Keyes was given upon the confession which Peter made in the name of al the rest Mat. 16. 16. 18. as he was wont to do Ioh. 6. 69. The confession was common to all the promise common to all the performance common to all Ioh. 20. 21 22 23. I need say no more but this 1. The Papists do entitle Peter to that Supream Soveraignty which belongs to Christ But Peter and the rest of the Apostles were joynt foundations built on Christ the only proper head and foundation Ephes. 2. 20. 2. They entitle the Pope to that power which did belong to Peter but Peter had no successour in his extraordinary and Apostolick power the Pope is no Apostle and when Peter speakes of his ordinary power he tells the Elders that he is their Fellow-Presbyter I who am also an Elder exhort the Elders 1 Tim. 5. 1. But that Peter was an ordinary Bishop of one City First of Antioch for seven yeers and then of Rome for twenty-five cannot be proved by Scripture no nor by any credible Historian I know they rely upon Eusebius his testimony But it is enough for me to reply that Eusebius his History doth dissent from his Chronicle and his Chronicle doth dissent from Scripture 3. Christ hath many Ministers to preach his Gospell but he hath no Catholick Vicar besides his Spirit who can challenge the Supream Soveraignty of deciding controversies by an infallible Sentence It is the Spirit that makes the word to be effectuall 1 Cor. 3. 7. As Christ workes by his Spirit he hath no Vicar for he himselfe is with his Disciples alwayes to the end of the world Mat. 20. Christ himselfe doth Baptize with the Holy Ghost he himselfe did open the heart of Lydia 4. The Pope challenges this power over the Gentiles but Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles by the appointment of the Holy Ghost and Peters own consent Rom. 11. 13. Act. 13. 2. Gal. 2. 9. Paul was chief