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	good_a	scripture_n	2,095	5	5.9073	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96858	Gnōston tou Theou, k[a]i gnōston tou Christou, or, That which may be knovvn of God by the book of nature; and the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ by the Book of Scripture. Delivered at St Mary's in Oxford, by Edward Wood M.A. late proctor of the University and fellow of Merton Coll. Oxon. Published since his death by his brother A.W. M.A.	Wood, Edward, 1626 or 7-1655.; Wood, Anthony à, 1632-1695.	1656 (1656)	Wing W3387; Thomason E1648_1; ESTC R204118	76,854	234

other mysteries they were darkely and emblematically as I may so speake hinted only in the Old Testament God thus ordering it that his people might more eagerly desire and pray for their fuller revelation But now to us under the New Testament these things are more cleerly layd open unto us so that we ought not to exspect farther revelation of them then what we have in the Word already for saith the Apostle All the Promises of God in him are yea and Amen that is they are throughly accomplish't and perfected in him and therefore they must needs be more plain and evident unto us now then they were unto the Fathers of old time the Old Testament then and the matter therein contained was not altogether so perspicuous unto the faithfull before Christ as now it is unto us after him and this shall suffice for the second point and so much also shall suffice briefely for the perspicuity of the Scriptures We shall now speake something concerning the perfection of them as the Scriptures are perspicuous so also they are most perfect that is necessary to be known of us in relation both to our faith manners this is plain from the end of them here set down Namely that the man of God may be made perfect throughly furnished unto all good workes from whence we may conclude that if the Minister of the Gospell for he is the man of God may out of the Scriptures furnish himselfe with all things necessary both for his Salvation his office it will follow that they are fully perfect for instruction of all men both in Doctrine and manners this will farther appeare from Ps 19. 7. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soule and Ps 119. 96. I have seen an end of all perfections but thy commandement is exceeding large and so Luk. 16. 29. Abraham there sheweth in the Parable that Moses and the Prophets were sufficient to keepe men from damnation even the doctrine of the Old Testament contains in it al things necessary for mans Salvation whoever denyeth the truth of this point must of necessity say that either first God did not perfectly and fully reveale his will to the Prophets and Apostles which how absurd it is the Scriptures teach for Joh. 14. 26. 't is said there that the spirit should teach them all things and Joh. 16. 13. the Spirit will guid you into all truth or else they must say that the Prophets and Apostles did not set down the full and perfect substance of what was revealed unto them which Saint Paul doth plainely seeem to contradict for Act. 20. 27. I have not shunned saith he to declare unto you all the counsell of God Or else thirdlly he must be forced to say that it seemed not good to the Spirit fully and perfectly to reveale the will of God and so in writing to transmit it unto posterity for thus the Papists say in defence of their traditions that God indeed did reveale to the Prophets and Apostles his whole will concerning our Salvation but yet all was not written but some things were communicated say they viva voce unto the rest of the Church which never were written but still were derived unto posterity but doth not this opinion plainely accuse the Scriptures of falsehood when it is said Deut. 12. 32. Whatsoever things I command you observe to do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it Gal. 1. 9. If any man Preach any other Gospell unto you then that ye have received let him be accursed which two texts being compared with that of Exod. 24. 4. Where 't is said that Moses wrote all the words of the Lord and with that forementioned place of the Acts where Paul saith that he did not shun to declare unto them all the Counsell of God these places I say compared with one another do evidently shew that all things necessary for Salvation were written that this written word alone ought to be the rule canon of our faith for since by them we attaine unto Eternall Life we are made wise unto Salvation since by them also the man of God is made perfect and throughly furnished Without controversy they containe in them all things necessary to be knowne of us either in regard of our faith or manners all things necessary I say for otherwise many other things there might be traditionally conveyed unto the Church such as are the perpetuall virginity of Mary the names of Jannes and Jambres mentioned by Paul only the Prophesy of Enoch Jude 14. part of the Gencology of Christ Luk. 3 Sathan striving for Moses body Jude 9. and other the like which things they may be known or not known without any prejudice to our Salvation and being not doctrinall may very well be received from hand to hand and not mentioned in Scriptures but how say the Papists can ye know Canonicall bookes from Apocriphall but by the tradition of the Church We answer that these may be distinguish't from the other by that innate light majesty and truth that is in them besides though a new convert and beginner may first learne it from the Church yet afterwards they know it upon grounds of Scripture thus an ignorant man may be told of the Kings coine but it is not that telling but the Kings stampe that maketh it currant good coyn Again for the maintenance of their unwritten traditions they urge that of the 2 Thes 2. 15. Therefore brethren stand fast hold the traditions which ye have been taught whether by word or our Epistle then which saith Whitaker Nullum probabiliorem Papistae locum inveniunt but unto this we answer that they were the same things which Paul spoke and writ so that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not signify a diverse doctrine from that which afterwards was written and so also the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not alwayes a note of disjunction but sometimes also of conjunction as may appeare by comparing the Originall of the 1 Cor. 13. 8. Besides this it appeares that the Canon of the new Testament was not yet established Yea saith the same Whitaker I affirme that there was no book unlesse it were the Gospell of Mathew before the Epistles to the Thessalonians wherefore though the Apostle did bid the Thessalonians hold fast that Doctrine or those Traditions which he delivered unto them yet they might very well be indeed according to substance were set down in writing afterwards by the same Apostle wherefore briefely to conclude this point since these Scriptures are purposely written for our learning and to be are witnesse of Christ and to teach the way unto everlasting life doubtlesse God will have no Doctrine received of us but what is in them or consonant unto them Traditions then however in point of ceremony discipline or other lesse substantiall matters may be received yet in points of faith and Doctrine they are in no wise to be obtruded upon

only know but also confute such errours as are repugnant unto sound Doctrine and the Analogy of Faith the Word of God is called a light Psal 119. 105. and therefore as by light only we know what darkenesse is so by the same word may we understand what is erroneous and false in religion As we say that a right thing is a sufficient judge of its own straitnesse and the crookednesse of another body so that there is an elencticall power as I may so speak in the very Scriptures themselves to stop the mouthes of gainsayers and to quash put to silence the impious opinions and errors of ungodly men 3. 'T is profitable for correction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the reformation that is for an amendment of all things amisse either in life or manners there is not the least deviation from the Law of God either in thought word or deed but it doth espye and correct A man can never sinne soe closely but it will find him out for the Word of God tryeth the reines the heart it is a two edged sword dividing betwixt this joynts the marrow is a discoveres of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4. 12. As it doth teach what things are right so it doth correct amend what things are out of order 4. 'T is profitable for instruction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instruant Patriarchae etiam errantes The title of the 32. Psalme is a Psalme of instruction the word seemes to me to imply the great profit of the Scriptures even for the instruction of Children and young men so farre was our Apostle from forbidding any of what sort soever the reading of the Scriptures that he makes it one of the main ends and uses of the written Word to instruct all men even unto Children hence it is that v. 15. the Apostle approves in Timothy that from a Child he had read the Scriptures and I am verily perswaded that the Romanists withhold the reading of Scriptures from the people more out of a point of policy then Religion or ground they have for it out of the Word it selfe for it seemes altogether repugnant first to the Commands of God who enjoyned Moses to read the Law before all Israel Men Children and strangers within thy gate without any distinction Deut. 31. 12. And who bids us search the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39 and who commands that the Word of God should dwell in us richly and abundantly Had not laymen and ordinary people soules to be saved as well as the greater Cardinalls and Priests there were some reason that these precious things should not be cast unto such doggs these Jewells to such Swine but they expecting life from the same Christ as greater Schollars why should they not with them have the same meanes to obtaine it if the command of God lye thus indefinitely upon all men why should they be debarred from obeying that command Secondly 't is repugnant to the very designe of God in revealing his will in the Holy Scriptures for whatsoever things were written a foretime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 15. 4. why was the word written but that we might have hope and shall not a lay-man have hope of Salvation will you exclude the common people from the hope of Heaven if not why then shall they not have this hope through patience and comfort of the Scriptures againe Ephes 6. 12. 17. the Apostle there shewing how that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalites and powers c. bids them therefore take to themselves the Helmet of Salvation the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and now ought not poore ignorant soules thus to wrestle thus to fight against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against Spirituall wickednesse in high places why then shall they not have this comfort Why should they not be armed with that sword of the Spirit the Word of God When a Prince setteth forth a Proclamation 't is penned in a language that all his Subjects may understand it and doubtlesse 't is the intent and end of God in proclaiming his Will and Word unto mankind that all his People should read and understand what wonderous things he there revealeth for their Salvation for otherwise what a vaine unprofitable thing would it be to kindle a light meerly to put it under a bushell to bestow a rich treasure upon us for so the Word is called to be hid and clasped in a box to give us a rule whereunto we should square our lives even his Holy Word only that it should be shut up and cabineted in an unknown language it is in my judgement the highest piece of injustice in the Church of Rome thus to deprive the people of the bread of life and instead thereof to obtrude upon them their own hypocriticall leaven their fopperyes and traditions to obstruct and seale up the fountaine and then to feed them with the muddy streames of their own inventions yea indeed to damne mens souls meerly out of a divelish kind of policy to secure their own state and interest but say they there is no such necessity certainly for the common peoples reading the Scriptures when as in the times of the old Testament there were many Believers as Job his friends who yet living not among the Jews to whō then only were committed the Oracles of God were destitute of the holy Scriptures we answer that as for Job his friends they lived by computation of the best divines before the Law and the written Word whereas had they lived after it they had been bound to have the Scripture after it was delivered besides what if it be granted that some believers there were under the Old Testament who de facto had not the Scriptures must it therefore now de jure be true that the commonalty ought not to have them under the Old Testament perhaps God might by vision or some other extraordinary way reveale his will unto some of the Gentiles as unto Job others before their Conversion which ways being not now to be expected reason it is that all People should now fetch their knowledge of God from the Scriptures Againe they object that Paul writ not his Epistle unto the Romans in Latine which was their vulgar tongue but in Greek therefore to put the Scriptures in a vulgar tongue is not needfull we answer that the reason of this was that those sacred monuments of Paul being to instruct all people besides the Romans the Spirit thought it most convenient to write it in such a language which might most universally be understood now that the greek was then most known unto all Nations appeares not only out of prophane Authors but also out of the Scriptures themselves as from Rom. 1. 16. and other places where the Apostle under the name of Greeke comprehends all

us or entertained by us And thus much briefely for the Authority Perspicuity and Perfection of the Scriptures concerning which I might have spoken far more largely out of the Fathers Common-places Catechists and Polemicall Divines but intending brevity upon this point I thought it more usefull for you and my selfe wholy to examine the aforesaid points by Scripture yet so that I have given you a short glance and view of what they have said too I shall only now shut up all with a use or two of what hath been now and heretofore spoken Hence then 1. We may learne the excellency Vse 1 of holy Scriptures above all other bookes and writings whatsover we usually esteem of writings according to the eminency and worth of their Authors why now all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and therefore we should have them in so much account by how much the nobler the contriver of them is for as David said of Goliah his sword there is none to that 1 Sam. 21. 9. So may we say of the Scriptures there is none to them the word of God is as a two edged sword dividing between the Joynts and the Marrow so that what Aristotle said of the knowledge of the soul that a little of it was better then a great deal of another science We may also say of the knowledge of the holy Scriptures a little knowledge of them will stand us in more steed then all the vaine and perishing knowledge of prophane Writers Could the time and shortnesse of our lives suffer us to swallow up and devoure whole Libraries as bigge as that of Alexandria or this of our own were it possible for us critically to go over and examine all those elaborated pieces of humane invention could we perfectly Anatomize and trace nature in all her secret windings and operations yet all this knowledge in it selfe however it may place us above the clouds in mens opinions may for all that be an occasion for God to hurle us deeper into Hell But behold here a Book that is able to make us wise unto Salvation that directs and points us out a way unto eternall Life yea which raiseth our minds up unto the contemplation of those mysteries which the Angels themselves did desire to peep into a Book that unlocks unto us the very Cabinetand secret Counsells of God himselfe that revealeth and layeth open those mysteries of Godlinesse those hidden things of God which were before from all eternity clasped up in the hosome of the Almighty that gives a landskip as 't were and map of Heavenly Joy that out of darkenesse brings us into marvellous light that maketh us from Children of wrath to become heires of Heaven from slaves freeborne from Divells to become Saints All other bookes either by the teeth of time are worne out of memory or in the ruines of Kingdomes receive their graves but not one jot or tittle of this shall passe away 'till all things be fulfilled It hath been hitherto for some thousand yeares preserved amid'st the hatred of all the world against it the persecutions of Tyrants the malice and fury of Divells and shall so unto the end of the world continue though wicked men Tyrants and Divels should all combine their joynt forces to extinguish it they may with more successe and easinesse goe about to blot the Sunne out of the Firmament then to take this glorious Light from the Church people of God so that it was not without much reason that a holy Man once said That he had rather all the books beside in the world should be burnt than that one leafe of Gods Word should be destroyed for doubtlesse the least sentence therein comprised is more worth then all the voluminous Ofsprings and workes of mans braine Wherefore 2. This should exhort every one Vse 2 of us to a diligent reading and studying these holy Scriptures search the Scriptures saith our Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word implyes a kind of a ●●nting after them or a narrow and painfull seeking into them as men doe for Gold and Silver and let the word of God dwell in you that is let it be as familiar unto you as he that dwells under the same roofe with you and not only so but dwell in you richly let your minds be as throughly adorned with them as a great mans house is with rich utensills hangings and now let us examine our selves whether we do thus earnestly search after them whether our hearts be thus furnished with them are we not rather like those Canonists of the Church of Rome who some say will confirm their Law text this too taken upon trust from others or like that Bishop mentioned in the booke of Martyrs who thanked God he never knew what was meant by the Old or New Testament doubtlesse there is no greater folly or madnesse in the world if we rightly consider it then to hanker after humane knowledge and to be carelesse of divine understanding greedily to devoure huskes and yet to loath Manna and like those Indians to preferre toyes and baubles before Gold pretious treasure But I need not I hope accuse any here of any such ignorance or neglect all that I desire is a more diligent studying of the word and more conscionable practice of it for reading knowing without practice will but aggravate our damnation however we ought to be stirred up to so necessary a duty as this is especially in such times wherein the meanest sort of people will upbraide our neglect of it amongst many of whom to our shame be it spoken the Bible according to the letter is better known then ever Aristotle was amongst us and will it not then much redound unto our disgrace if the Apron shoud pose the Gown in those things which most concerne them if poore illiterate Mechanicks should in the Doctrine of the Scripture confound a Learned Rabbi My Brethren you cannot be ignorant what prejudices some of the meaner sort of people have against us in this respect and therefore besides the Salvation of our soules which should be the main end of all even politick respects should engage us to double our diligence in studying of the Holy Scriptures for believe me however easy they may seem to some yet the full and clear understanding of them may very well take up our whole care and studyes there are Originalls to be known consulted withall antiquity to be searcht into and discussed severall places to be reconciled various acceptations of words and phrases to be weighed and compared together there are besides these many things without the Scriptures very needfull Grammer to know the propriety of words Rhetorick to understand the severall Tropes and figures contained therein Logick to deduce consequences and artificially to open places of Scripture and all three together properly and distinctly to analyse resolve and open the particular chapters and Bookes thereof which I conceive to be the nearest and most