coâ—sen Euan l. 1. c. ult They were commanded to write saith S. Augustine g Iren. l. 3. c. 1. They wrote the Scriptures by the will of God saith Irenaus h Christus voluit scribi Euangelium Tâ—eoph praefat in Mat. Christ would have them to write the Gospell saith Theophylast And is not his will a sufficient command Inspiration i 2. Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21. whereby they wrote the Scriptures is an internall command Hee sent them to preach his faith and to teach all nations Doth this exclude writing May not a man preach teach by writing The Apostles did k Rom 16 26. preach they did l 2. Thess 2. 15. 2. Tim. 3. 17 teach by their Epistles Clemens Alexandrinus Reply pag. 117 in this spake truly m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 1. Preaching is truly an Angelâ—call Scieâ—câ— in some sort and very profitable both wayes whether it â—â— by the hand or by the tongue Tertullian telleth us how the Apostles preached n Tum vivâ quod aiunt voce tum per Epistolas postea Tertul de praescrip c. 21 Aswell by word of mouth as they say as afterwards by Epistles So that preaching and teaching may be diverse wayes by writing as the Apostles preach by their Epistles by practise as Christ preached in his actions which are all for our instruction and not onely by word of mouth Wee have a commandement to heare his holy word and faith commeth by hearing but none can shew I trow where we are obliged to reade or where any commandement is given to propound the word of God to be read 3. It seemeth the Iesuite is more skilfull in Machiavel then in the Bible for if he had ever read it over and remembred Reply pag. 119 what he read he would never avouch this so confidently when as he may reade o Hab. 2. 2. He that runneth may reade it p Ioh 5. 39. Search the Scriptures q Luc. 10. 26. How readest thou r Rom. 15. 4. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning Å¿ 2. Cor. â— 13 We write no other things unto you then what you read t Col. 3. 16 Lâ—t the word of God dwâ—ll plentifully in you Upon which place S. Chrysostome observeth this u 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chry in Col. c. 3 ho. 9. Harken as many as are and are married have children hâ—w he commaundeth them specially to know the Scriptures Timothy himselfe is commanded to reade and to x 1. Tim. 4. 13. Attend upon reading Neither doth hearing of the word exclude reading of the same seeing it may be heard by reading aswell as by preaching y Revel 1 3. Blessed are they that reade and they that heare z Luc. 16. 29. Moses and the Prophets must be heard They are dead but yet when their writings are read then they are heard Certaine it is that the Primitive Church did abound in Reply pag. 118 faith and godlinesse for many yeares before the writings of the new Testament were perfected even by the meanes of unwritten doctrine 4. This is as certaine as all the rest It was not many yeares before the New Testament was perfected before it was perfected the Church had those Bookes of it which were first penned before any were penned the Church had the Olde Testament which Christ commaunded should be a Ioh. 5. 39. searched And the Bereans were commended for b Act. 17. 11. searching into it The Primitive Church did not continue in faith and godlinesse by the meanes of unwritten doctrine for the doctrine taught by the Apostles was first written in the c Rom. 16. 26. Old Testament and after in the New although it may be said to be unwritten in regard of the manner of delivery of it by the Apostles at the first vivâ voce Howsoever the Primitive Church did yet the Church in succeeding ages stood in need of a written word Children at first are taught many things without bookes yet afterwards they stand in need of bookes for their better learning The Primitive Church might doe well enough without Scripture during the life of the Apostles whose preaching was as infallible as their writing yet the Church in succeeding ages could not doe so well without Scripture because no man living since the Apostles had hath or ever shall have the same gifts power authority to deliver points of faith whose words shall be Gospel as the Apostles had And because writing is the best means to preserve doctrine delivered by word of mouth d Respectâ— nostri commodius utilius per Scripturam corleâ—â—em doctrinam à corruptione oblivione interitu conservari quam absque Scriptuâ—â— Gretzer de sens Bellarâ— l. 4. â— 4. The heavenly doctrine saith Gretzer in respect of us is better preserved from corruption oblivion and decay by writing then without writing S. Chrysostome teacheth us this 1. That the singular gifts which the Apostles had might well serve for these times instead of Scripture 2. That the after-times stood in need of Scripture And then hee concludeth e Extremae esse omninò dementiae post quam co redacti sumus ut Scriptis indigeamus â—e secundo quidem hoc remedio ad salntem nostram uti item magni esse criminis per illud auxilium nolle proficere sed quasi fruâ—â—â—à ac vanè posita scripta despicere chrysost hom 1. in Mat. It is the extremity of madnesse now that wee stand in need of Scripture not to use this excellent helpe for our salvation and that it is the greatest fault that can be not to profite by that helpe but to despise it as written in vaine and to no purpose This fit of frensie hath intoxicated the Iesuites braine hee hath accounted the Scripture needlesse and written in vaine Possevine hath written a whole Chapter f Possev Bibliothec select l. 2 c. 16. De necessitate Scripturarum S. Iude thought it needfull g Iude vers 3 To write to the Saints h Luke 1. 3. It seemed good to S. Luke to write his Gospell to prevent false rumours And S. Paul thought it i Philip. 3. 1. The surest way for the Philippians to write unto them If it were needefull good and the surest way then it is now more needefull to have the written word of the Apostles to prevent your false Traditions fathered upon them And * Iren. l. 2. c. â— Irenaeus doth witnesse that in his dayes many nations lived Christianly without the use of the written word onely by the guide of Apostolicall Traditions Sir I must tell you that if you goe on to alleadge the Fathers as you beginne you will gaine little credite by it In your first testimony you cite a counterfeite In your second you omit the place In your third Reply which is this you mistake the * l. 2. c. 3.
not exclude his knowledge of those bookes which were penned afterwards But why should not we say That the old Testament alone containeth all things necessary to Salvation seeing Christ saith of it l Ioh 5. 39. Search the Scriptures in them yet thinke to have eternall life and they are they which testify of meâ— Then consequently the new Testament is needlesse saith the Iesuite This consequence is false and absurd you hold that the Pope hath os sapientiam a mouth to utter and wisedome to declare all things necessary to Salvation Will you therefore inferre that Universities Doctors Fathers and all other helpes are needlesse If this consequence be true then this Reply of the Iesuite is needlesse because it containeth no new thing but that which hath beene oft objected What need so many bookes be printed of the same subject in every kinde of learning if this consequence have any truth in it The old Testament may containe all things necessary to Salvation and yet the new be very needefull 1. For confirmation of the same truth both of the Scriptures and of the doctrine contained in them God would have many witnesses of the same truth all the penmen of Scripture writing as it were with the same pen speaking as it were with the same mouth and all testifying the same things that out of the monthes of so many with esses speaking the same things at sundry times in sundry places in sundry languages the whole Scripture might be proved to be the word of God In this store house many weapons of the same kinde are needfull m Cant. 4. 4. A thousand sheild hang therein 2. For the better manifestation and explanation of those things that are contained in the old In the old the new is vayled in the new the old is revealed In the Old some things are delivered obscurely to exercise the learned â—n the new the same things are delivered plainely to edifie the simple 3. For the augmentation of our wisdom knowledge for though the old be able to make us wise unto salvatioÌ„ yet because the Lord would not have us be dwarfes and children in knowledge to have no more wisedome then will keep life and Soule together but to abound in wisedome and spâ—rituall understanding and to bâ— men in knowleâ—ge â—herefore he thought it needfull to adde the new unto he old that we may attaine unto a more perfect mâ—asure of wisedome There are many things in the new which are not so necâ—ssary to salvation but that without the knowledge of thâ—m a man may live the life of grace as a man may â—ive he life of nature without some of his ouâ—ward parts but there is nothing in it which is needelesse The fulfilling of the prophecies contained in the old serveth for confirmation of our faith the narration of Christ his life and death kindleth love in our hearts â— the good we reade is for our imitation the evill for our forewarning His 4th shift is this It is well knowne that S. Paul there may be understood to Reply pag. 1â—1 have taught Timothy that the old Testament was able to instruct him as full that salvation commâ—th by saith in Christ Iesus and not by the law of Moses c And in all this he meaneth no more then what he writeth to â—he Romans c. 3. v. 21. Now the Iustice of God is made knowne without the law being tâ—stified by the law and the Prophets The Iâ—stice I say of God by the faith of Christ 9. I know very well that this is one thing which Timothy might learne both by the old Testament and by the new but that is a false glosse upon this place that This is all which the Apostle meaneth in this place The Apostle sheweth that the Scripturâ—s are able to make us wise unto Salvation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus And againe That by them the man of God may be perfectly instructed to every good worke Here we see that the Apostle teacheth us two things which are necessary for him that is made wise unto Salvation Faith and good workes and that the Scripture effecteth both these In regard of faith teaching whaâ— is to be beleeved reproving what is misbeleeved in regard of workes correcting what is evill instructing what is good He sheweth likewise that Christ Iesus must be the object of our faith and untill we know all this we are not made wise unto salvation Now if the Iesuite will stand unto his exposition That by all this the Apostle meaneth no more but that the old Testament was able to instruct Timothy at full that salvation commeth by faith in Christ Iesus then these absurdities will ensue from hence 1. That there was no Scripture but onely the old Testament when Paul wrote unto Timothy 2. That the Scriptures were able to worke this wisdome and to give this instruction unto none other but onely unto Timothy 3. That the knowledge of this Article Salvation commeth by faith in Christ Iesus without any distinction of come or to come and without any other Article of faith might make Timothy wise unto Salvation 4. That without good workes he might be wise unto salvation and perfectly instructed to every good worke His 5. shift is this Againe the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Reply pag. 132 vulgar Latine Translation rendreth instruere to instruct our Adversaries to make wise may there be understood iâ—itiatively or in a beginning So he that catechiseth a heathen that is desirous to becomâ— a Christian when hee instructeth him in the very fiâ—st point of Christian faith may be said to instruct him or makâ— him wise unto Salvation not perfectly but initiatively So the Scripture saith that Apollos was instructed and taught thâ— way four Lord. Act. 18 24 and that hee was poweâ—full in the Scriptures and yet he knew no more but the baptisâ—e of Iohâ— v. 25. 10. The verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is rightly translated to make wise so Cajetan Arâ—as Montanus Salmeron Erasmus with many more doe render it yea the Iesuite himselfe * pag 129. lin 6. confesseth it but here he limitethit with this distinction of initiatively and perfectly So the n Psal 19 1. Rom 1. 20. Heavens may teach an Heathen initiatively the first point of Christian faith but the Scriptures doe more they teach o Prov. 2. 9. Every good way and p 2. Tim. 3. 18. Every good worke They are both for theory and for practise both for faith and for fact they teach reprove correct and instruct the 1. is for confirmation of the truth the 2. for confutation of errors the 3. for correction of abuses the last for direction in good dutyes and all this they doe not onely initiatively but even absolutely perfectly and sufficiently they make the man of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perfect man q Non simpliciter dixit ut homo
A REIOYNDER VNTO WILLIAM MALONE'S REPLY TO THE FIRST ARTICLE Wherein The Founders of unwritten Traditions are confounded out of the sure foundation of Scripture and the true Tradition of the Church By ROGER PUTTOCKE Minister of Gods word at Novan ACT. 24. 14. After the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which were written Theop. Alexand. in 2. Paschal Diabolici spiritus est extra Scripturarum sacrarum authoritatum divinum aliquid putare Printed at Dublin by the Company of Stationers Anno Domini 1632. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS LORD VICE-COVNT VVENTVVORTH LORD DEPVTIE GENERALL of the Kingdome of IRELAND LORD PRESIDENT of his MAIESTIES Councell established in the North parts of England and one of the Lords of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Privie Councell RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE Pope affecting a terrestriall Monarchy to be exalted above all that is called God aspiring to a celestiall Hierarchy as God to sit in the Temple of God had never effected the former * 2. Thes 2. â— if the Pope had not eaten up the Emperour might for ever have despaired of the latter if that Church had not overtopt the Scriptures a Omnium Bibliothecas unus mihi videtur 12. Tabularum libellus authoritatis pondere utilitatis ubertate superaâ—â— Tul de Orat. l. 1. I am of opinion saith the Oratour that the little booke of the twelve Tables farre surpasseth all Libraries whatsoever both for authoritie and for perfection If the two Testaments had as they ought to have beene thus accounted of that Church had never b Is 14. 14. ascended aboue the heights of the clouds to be like the most High in her authority and if that Church had not mounted up so high aboue her owne Spheare unwritten Traditions had never gained the credite to be compared for authoritie with the written word and if unwritten Traditions the pillar of Poperie had not beene set up Popery had long ere this fallen to the ground The Persian Magi found out a law that The Kings of Persia might doe what they list by this generall law they concluded c Herodotâ— in Thaâ—â—a That the Persian Monarch might marry his Sister Soule-cheating Iesuites have likewise found an unwritten law that whatsoever the Church doth it must not be questioned and by this generall law they conclude that a man may eate his God and kill his King by this they prohibite the Scriptures and the Cup in the Sacrament by this they condemne marriage in some in a word by this unwritten law they make new lawes which shall bring a man to greater perfection then the Scripture can This is that Trojane horse out of whose bellie there arise these and many more cursed doctrines This is that sandy foundation of the towre of Babell This little which I bring into the Lords store-house may serve as a mattocke to digge up this foundation or as an engine to batter downe this towre And though it bee but little yet a little mite may well bee cast into the Lordes treasurie Among the Heathens as Plinie writeth hee that had not frankincense to offer might offer milke and hee that wanted milke might offer salt And in holy Writ d Levit. 1â— â— hee that had not a Lambe might offer turtles and hee that had not turtles might offer two yong pigeons Whatsoever it is it is the first fruites in this kinde of my labours and the Prodromus of this Kingdome which commeth to Your Honour for protection as the sparrow sledde for shelter to e Aelian l. 13. c 31. Zeâ—ocrates bosome It commeth not as an informer for Your Lâ—â— is f Act. 26. 3. expert in all customes and questions which are among us Nor as a confirmer for no Bariesus or Iesuite of them all is able to turne away Sergius Paulus a prudent g Act. 13. 8. Deputie from the faith But as an humble suppliant 1. Craving pardon of this bold presumption And yet in this I was directed by a * Pindarus famous Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to beginne with a glorious Preface If then for the beautifying of the frontispice of this Worke I have beene too bold to praefixe the name of so great a Vice-Roy blame not mee but my director Neither in this have I beene so bolde as this blinde Bayard or proud Iesuite who durst presume to dedicate his Reply unto his sacred Majesty in which hee assigneth no other lott to any * pag. 490. Protestant whatsoever but the very pit of hell 2. Some respect and acceptance of the Worke. As for the Workeman if any glimpse of Your favourable aspect and countenance shall at any time shine upon him it is more then hee can deserve The acceptation of the Worke is the full satisfaction of the Workeman or in the wordes of Seneca h Seneca de benefic l. 2. c. 12. Si gratè hoc non beneficium sed officium meum accipias ejus pensionem solvisti This acceptation and approbation of it may proove profitable unto others howsoever it bee unto mee who by Your example though the subject deserve it not may be drawne to doe the same And yet the subject of this little is great and deserveth no little respect and regard If it were a needelesse i Act. 18. 15. question of wordes or of names Gallio the Deputy would not regard it but it is the greatest Question the ground of all Questions the foundation of Poperie not one braunch but the roote of the Romane superstition the Master-veyne which feedeth all the rest the Goliah of Gath with whom if wee k 1. Sam. 17. â— bee able to fight and to kill him they confesse they will bee our servants for ever And in this beholde a sandie foundation a rotten roote a veyne bleeding and a Goliah vanquished All these are nothing to those two Allectives Your personall indowment and Your Honourable imployment which like two attractive Load stones have drawne it to Your Honourable protection God hath honoured you with grace this grace being wrought in you by the holy Scriptures the word of grace he may haue hope of your gracious acceptance that laboureth to vindicate the Scriptures from that disgrace which gracelesse Tradition mongers bring upon them His Maiestie hath graced you with honor to be under him and over us the defender of the faith That faith which you are to defend by the sword that faith I defend by my pen namely the faith which was once delivered to the Saints and is contained in the holy Scriptures Stapleton would have had the Duke of Parma l D. Staplet Epist dedicâ—t before his worke of lustification to cut all knots with Alexanders sword rather then to appease contention with the harpe of Apollo S. Augustine would have both the sword and the harpe joyned together giveth his reason m August Epist 8. Siterrerentur non docerentur
be supplied by unwritten traditioÌ„s do not those crosse the perfectioÌ„ of scripture Pull your considering-cap closer to your cockscombe and thinke better upon it This discovereth his shrinking at the first encounter that by his own confession he is good man no body but a shadow but a very phantasticall Adversary For such Traditions are defended by him as crosse both the veritie and perfection of the sacred Scriptures 1. The verity The denyall of the cup to the Laity crosseth this institution k Math. 26. 27. Drinke ye all of this The Councell of Constance took away this l Concil Constan Sess 13. non obstante mandato although Christ the Apostles and the Primitive Church used it Of this nature is the Popes deposing of Kings and his Dispensations contrary to Gods Law 2. The perfection of Scripture is crossed by adding of many bookes which were never inspired by God unto the Canon of Scripture and of many articles of faith unto the faith at once delivered by the Apostles Of this nature is Pius Quartus his new Creed and many points of Religion with you which are prater legem and so crosse the perfection of Scripture although they are not contra legem and so crosse the verity of it These Law-makers are worse then Law-breakers for men actually breake Gods Lawes because of their weakenesse and the hardnesse of Gods Lawes to doe them but these men make new lawes as if Gods Lawes were but foolish and they wiser then God to know what is meet But they crosse not the perfection or truth of Scripture because Reply pag. 116. they helpe us to finde out the true sense in the obscure and controverted letter â— This is neither true nor to the purpose It is nothing to the purpose because the Question is not whether unwritten Traditions be a good help to expound Scripture but whether they are to be accounted as Scripture and as part of Gods Law It is not true 1. Because the Scripture is not an obscure and controverted letter in doctrinall things m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost hom 3. in 2. Thess All those things which are necessary are manifest in them saith S. Chrysostome n In eis quae apertè in Scriptura posita sunt inveniuntur illa omnia quâ— ad fidem c. August de doctrina Christi l. 2. c. 9â— And in those things which are laid downe plainly in Scripture all those things saith S. Augustine are found which appertaine to faith and direction of life 2. Although the Scripture were obscure yet Popish Traditions cannot helpe to finde out the true sense unlesse we should say o Exod. 20. l. Thou shalt not worship an image The sense is Thou shalt worship images p Math. â—â— â—â— Drinke yee all of this That is All shall not drinke of it q Heb. 13. 4. Mariâ—ge is honourable among all It is not honourable among all These are your cursed glosses which corrupt the text and crosse the sense and meaning intended by the Holy Ghost 3. Although the Scripture were obscure and your Traditions did helpe to finde out the sense yet they doe crosse the perfection of Scripture because they are accounted not onely helpes for the interpretations of Gods written Law but even additions to the written Law Interpretation is for things obscure addition is for things imperfect What then will you call your Traditions additions to the Scripture or helpes for the interpretation of it If they be additions then they crosse the perfection of it for that which is perfect needeth no addition If they be helpes for the interpretation only then you shrinke from the Question from the matter delivered as the word of God to the manner of deliverie or of expounding the same Howsoever the Iesuites argument is most false That which helpeth to expound Scripture cannot crosse the perfection of the same Why goodman noddie Doe not all the Arts Tongues Fathers Commentaries helpe to expound Scripture And yet whosoever shall say that all these are the word of God he denyeth the perfection of the Bible We use commentaries upon Aristotles text but he that bringeth the commentarie into the text thereby to supply the defects of it denyeth the perfection of the text Doe not you deale so with the Scripture making unwritten Traditions a part of Gods word that so you may supply the defects of the written word making every idle interpretation as * pag. 124. Reply authenticall as S. Iohns Gospell Doe you not hereby crosse the perfection of the written word So S. Basil telleth us that * Basil de Spirit sanct c pro If unwritten Traditions be neglected the Gospell will incurre no small detriment So we tell you that if Arts Tongues Fathers Councels Commentaries and the like helpes be neglected the Gospell will incurre no small detriment We yeeld to the pen man of that Booke although it was not Basil but a counterfeit that if all unwritten Traditions be neglected if the testimony lyturgie and doxologies of which the author specially speaketh if the customes constitutions orders and ceremonies of the Church handmaides of the Gospell excellent in their use be slighted of all and every man left to himselfe to doe as he list in the manner of Gods service doubtlesse the Gospell will incurre no small detriment and if nothing be received into the Church but what is totidem verbis written in the Scriptures I wonder what kinde of Church we should have Popish Traditions are of another nature they crosse the truth and the perfection of Scripture if we admit such the Gospell will incurre no small detriment And though the Authour of that Booke would have Tradition respected yet hee would not have them accounted Gospell for in the words alledged he distinguisheth them from the Gospell You make no difference betweene unwritten Traditions and the Gospell you give them the same * Sect. 3. nature and quality the same * credite and authority with the Gospell If wee reject such Traditions the Gospell will incurre no detriment And S. Augustine saith * Sect. 4. Then doe wee hold the truth of Scripture when wee doe that that pleaseth the Vniversall Church Where S. Augustine saith so we may goe seeke Reply pag. 116 for the Iesuite citeth not the place but I thinke the place is this Augustin contra Crescon l. 1. c. 33. In this thing wee doe holde the truth of the Scripture when wee doe that which now pleaseth the Vniversall Church The thing is the point of rebaptization in which the Church held the truth of Scripture and determined this point by the authority of Scripture and not of unwritten Traditions so that S. Augustine might truely affirme this He speaketh not of unwritten Traditions they are a thing not pleasing to the universall Church therefore no man can hold the truth of Scripture nor please the universall Church if he hold with unwritten Traditions 9. And now
of the Lord that which I delivered unto you And againe * The rest will I set in order when I come 11. What a Sr Iohn is this to commit such an Argument unto paper and inke There must bee unwritten Traditions because S. Iohn would not commit all to paper and inke Who ever held that all written doctrines were contained in the 2d. Epistle of S. Iohn I hope there were more Apostles then S. Iohn and Apostles that wrote more then S. Iohn It were a ridiculous thing in mee if I should argue thus No Iesuite ever had any will to handle the Question of Freewill because this Iesuite had no will unto it What then may wee thinke of this William Summers for his wise argument concerning S. Iohn S. Paul handleth two things in that Chapter Prayer and the Eucharist And unto those some things are accidentall as time place gesture vesture as to pray with faces covered or uncovered and some things are essentiall as the matter and forme of those duties The first of these belong not to this Controversie and therefore the Iesuite shrinketh from the Question in alledgeing these Fathers * Epiph. haeres 61. Epiphanius * Basil de Sp. Sanct. l. 1. c. 29. Basill * Chrysost in cor 11. Chrysostome and * Theoph. in 1 Cor. 11. Theophilact who treate not of doctrinall and essentiall things but of things rituall and accidentall Epiphanius first writeth of those things which the Church holdeth as points of faith concerning these we have spoken saith he Then he proceedeth on to reckon up sundry ecclesiasticall rites or Institutions as Monks Exorcists fasting dayes holy dayes and the like concerning which hee saith a Epiph. ibid. All these cannot be taken out of the Scripture Basils drift in that Booke if hee bee the Author of it is to defend a forme of words or of Syllables used by the Church as whether it were better to say Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne with the Holy Ghost or Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne in the Holy Ghost His whole disputation is about the Syllable cum and that this forme of words may be admitted he proveth because many other things as formes of words and rituall Traditions are admitted although they be not written Theophylact saith It is manifest that the Apostles have not delivered all things in writing And Chrysostome saith They delivered many things without writing But withall he sheweth what those things were b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost ibidem Of other things of no great moment Salmeron calleth them minutiora diminitive things these are his words c Non enim dignum erat ut minutiora haec quae cultum divinum exornant quae temporâ—â— progressu erant vel augenda vel minuenda vel mutanda iâ— melius in Sacris literis ponerentur Salmeron disput 3. in 2. Thes â— It was not meete that these diminitive things which are ornaments for divine worship and in time were either to be increased or diminished or altered to the better should be layde downe in writing The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Apostle d Verse 34. useth importeth the same being commonly used as here so in other * 1. Cor. 16. â—â— 1. Tit. 5. places when Ecclesiasticall orders are spoken of and not in relation unto divine doctrines The essentiall things which appertaine unto these two divine dutâ—es they may be written Although this be S. Pauls first Epistle to the Corinthians either by other Pen-men of Scripture as diverse Sermons of the Apostles are penned by S. Luke or by himselfe in other of his Epistles or else in the same in which hee writeth that which he * Verse 23. delivered even all the essentiall things belonging unto the Sacrament of the Supper of the Lord. Reply pag. 1â—â— Eusebius relateth of Egesippus that * Euseb l 4. c. â— he wrote five bookes of such unwritten Traditions as the Apostles lest unto the Church 12. These are the words of Eusebius f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Euseb ibidem In five bâ—okes he wrote an infallible deliverie of the Apostles preaching The bookes are not extant to see what they containe but they seeme to be a divine history rather historicall then dogmatical by Eusebius his citing theÌ„ alwayes in point of g Euseb l. 2. c. 22 l. 3. c. 12 history and by this testimony which S. Hierome giveth of them Hegesippus who lived neare to the Apostles times knitting together all the stories of the Acts of the Church Hegesippus vicinus Apostolorum tempo rum omnes à passione Domini usque ad suam aetatem Ecclesiasticorum actuum texens historias multaque ad utilitatem legentium pertinentia hinc inde congregam quinque libros composuit Hieron in Catalog from the passion of our Lord untill his owne dayes and gathering together in one many things profitable to be read he composed five bookes of them Eusebius saith not that they contained unwritten Traditions there is neither the word Traditions nor unwritten in his words but an Infallible Tradition or deliverie of the Apostles preaching And if an infallible deliverie of the Apostles preaching must needes be of unwritten Traditions then the Acts of the Apostles penned by S. Luke is of unwritten Traditions because it is an infallible delivery of the Apostles preaching A strong lye it is that unwritten Traditions are strongly confirmed by Eusebius either in that or in the next testimony alledged by the Iesuite S. Ignatius was accustomed * Euseb l. 3 c. 30 to exhort all men to adhere unto apostolical Traditions the which Reply pag. 120 saith Eusebius this Father affirmed that formore assurance he had left them in wâ—iting This testimony is most grossely corrupted by the Iesuit Eusebius relateth it in these words Ignatius exhorted to hold fast i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euseb ibidem The Tradition of the Apostles which for more assurance he thought fit to bee practised or expressed in practise even as hee testified by writing Heere is no mention of Traditions but onely of the Tradition of the Apostles and the doctrine delivered in Scripture is their Tradition Heere is not a word of writing unwritten Traditions as if Ignatius had written a booke of them which is a dreame of this Ignatian brat but that Ignatius testified by writing that hee thought it necessary that the Tradition of the Apostles that is their doctrine should be expressed in practise So the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for expressing by action not by writing As Ignatius did so doe we exhort men by word of mouth to hold fast the Tradition or the doctrine of the Apostles and likewise by writing testifie the same unto them that for more assurance they expresse the same in life and conversation Thus have we runne one course of the wilde-goose chase following this Gaggler thorough the
excludeth the Baptisme of those Heretickes which did not baptize in the name of the Trinity but of the rest thus he disputeth The Baptisme of CHRIST is not to bee reiterated but the Baptisme of Heretickes is the Baptisme of CHRIST The Assumption hee prooveth by this medium By the testimonies of Scripture it is plainly prooved that they have the same Baptisme with the Saints Thus S. Augustine determineth this point by the Scriptures Such is the Fast of Lent Reply 9. Fasting is a Christian duety needfull for our salvation such is not the Fast of Lent The i On Mat. 1. Rhemists doe account it to be a written doctrine grounded upon Scriture Hosius the Cardinall reckoneth it among k Hosius in confess Petrocovien c. 4. de caeremonijs the Traditions of the Church The Iesuite is of opinion that it is a Tradition of the Apostles and for this he citeth S. Hierome saying * Hieron epist ad Marcel Wee faste one Lent by Apostolicall Tradition This he calleth Apostolicall not because it came from the Apostles but because it had gained some space of time for the observing of it in the Church for S. Augustine ascribeth the invention of it l Aug. epist 119. unto the Church And though it were an unwritten Tradition comming from the Apostles yet S. Hierome did not thinke it to be a doctrinall Tradition for m Doctrinâ— Ecclesiae quae est domus Dei in librorum repe ritur plenitudine divinorum Hierom. in Epist 155. ad Paulam Vrbicam The doctrine of the Church which is the house of God is found in the fullnesse of the divine bookes saith S. Hierome It must needs be then a rituall Tradition and such are impertinent to this Question Such also is the commemoration and prayer for the dead Reply pag. 126. in the sacrifice of the Masse witnesse S. Chrysostome * Chrysost hom 3. in Phi It was not in vaine ordained by the Apostles that in the celebration of the venerable mysteries a remembrance should bee made of the deceased They knew well that great comfort and profit did from hence arise unto the dead 10. The private conceit of every Doctor is not the publicke tenent of the Church especially in this point of prayer for the dead in which as most of the Fathers differed among themselves so S. Chrysostome dissented from the most of them It was his opinion That wicked livers that such as were not and would not bee baptized might bee prayed for that such as were in hell might receive some benefite by the prayers of the living Concerning such writing upon the same Chapter he saith n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Chrysost in Philip Hom. 3. Let us weepe for such let us succour them according to our power let us finde out some helpe for them little indeede but yet such as may releive them How and after what manner By praying for them Châ—ysostome deserveth to be censured for this for Gregory in his Morals saith o Greg. Moral in Iob l. 34. c. 16 We may aswell pray for the Devill and his Angells as for such and it is the generall tenent of the Romane Doctours that onely those are holpen by the prayers of the living who dye in the state of grace and being dead goe into Purgatory and not unto Hell For thy full satisfaction in this point reade the Article of prayer for the dead which is most learnedly handled by the most reverend Primate unto which I will adde this wee distinguish the point it selfe of praying for the dead from the practise of praying for them at any set time and namely at the time of celebrating the divine Mysteries this is but a custome or p Epiphan in fine Panarij ordinance of the Church by the judgment of Epiphanius of this S. Chrysostome speaketh and such things are as impertinently objected by the Iesuite as this is falsely affirmed by S. Chrysostome Such also is the custome of baptizing Infants before they doe actually beleeve for S. Augustine sayth Reply pag. 126 * Aug. de Genes ad lit l. 10. c. 23. The custome of the Church in baptizing of Infants were not at all to bee beleeved unlesse it were an Apostolicall Tradition And Origen saith * Orig. in Rom. c. 6. The Church received from the Apostles this Tradition to conferre baptisme even unto children 11. None but an Anabaptist would hold this opinion that the baptisme of Children is not warranted by Scripture If he had learned the Catechisme of Trent or if he had read Bellarmines first Booke and eight Chapter de Baptismo hee would not have inserted this into his catalogue of unwritten Traditions That which he produceth out of S. Augustine overthroweth all that which he with so much toile in this and in the former Section hath laboured for to build for if This or that is not to be beleeved unlesse it be an Apostolicall Tradition how then can Ecclesiasticall Traditions be beleeved or how can they be of the same credit and authority with the written word We distinguish betweene the doctrine and the practise in the Sacrament of Baptisme and likewise betweene doctrines expressely written in the Scriptures and by sound inference deduced from them S. Augustine proveth the doctrine by diverse texts of holy Scripture by this q August de peceat merit l. 1. c. 27. He that hath the Sonne hath life By that r Idem de verbis Apostol Serm. 8. He shall save his people from their sinnes And by the Å¿ Idem de Bapt. cont Donat. l. 4. c. 24. Circumcision of Infants As for the custome or practise whereof S. Augustine speaketh we read not of any Children baptised neither doe we read that any Apostles that any old men or widdowes or virgins were baptised but yet the generall precept and practise of baptising the Species under which these Individualls are contained is a sufficient warrant for their baptisme And this custome is to be beleeved * Nec omnino â—redenda est nisi Apostolica osse Traditio esses for esse is crept into the text in S. Augustin to be an Apostolicall Tradition that is a practise according to the written word which is the Tradition of the Apostles In the same sense Origen calleth it a Tradition received from the Apostles He proveth it by this text t Origen Hom. 14. in Luc. Vnlesse a man be borne againe of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Stupleton teacheth the same that we teach concerning this and sundry other points of faith that u Principia in Scripturâ— aperte posita quae plurimorum alioâ—um articulorum â—unt â—ontes seminaria ut de duabns â—atuâ—s una persona in Christo de necessitate baptizandi parvulâ—â— c. de aâ—is multis dogmatihus non aperte Scriptis â—de tamen firmiter deductis Stapleton Relect Princip fidei Contâ—
Lord God of Israel hath entred by it And so are many of our Adversaries who defend that shee vowed perpetuall virginity by these words p Luc. 1. 34. How shall this be seeing I know not man That Sunday ought to be kept holie Reply 14. This is a doctrine warranted by the Scripture S. Augustine thinketh that it was tipisied q August epist 1 9. ad â—anâ—aâ— â— 13. by the â—ight day appointed for Circumcision and that it was taught by Christs resurrection upon that day We finde in Scripture that it is called r Revel 1. 10. The Lords day and upon this Ribâ—â— observeth that I may oppose one Iesuite to another that which this Iesuite cannot see Å¿ Videmus hic etiam tempore Apostolorum Sabbathi solemnitatem mutatam esse in dieâ— Dominicum Riber in Apoc. c. 1. We see even here that in the times of the Apostles the Sabboth was changed into the Lords day We finde that day ordained by S. Paul for t 1. Cor. 16. 1. holy duties so Chrysostome Ambrose Remigius Primasius and many others expound that place And we find the observance of it u Act. â—0 7. by the Apostles themselves in preaching of the word and administring of the Sacrament upon that day That Easter day be celebrated alwayes upon Sunday Reply pag. 126. 15. It is a decent order in the Church to observe the feast of Easter and there is no day fitter then Sunday for it but we deny the observing of it upon Sunday upon another day or upon any day to be a point of faith It is only a custome or ordinance of the Church and therefore commeth not within the compasse of this Question x Controversia de die Paschatis diu â—eterum Ecclesias exercuit Socrat. l. 5. c. 22. This Question about Easter day saith Socrates troubled the Churches a long while The Churches of Asia unto which S. Iohn wrote pleaded his Tradition for the 14. day other Churches observed Sunday alledging the Tradition of Peter and Paul at the last it was determined in the Councell of Nice that it should be kept upon Sunday not as if it were a point of faith but because it was a decent order 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c It is a comely order saith Constantine in his letters written to the Bishops that were absent which the Churches of the West North and South doe observe And Epiphanius saith of the Audians y Epiphan in Anacephal They are of the same faith in all things with the Catholicke Church And yet they kept the Passeover as did the Iewes And truely they that deny this to be sound Doctrine cannot Reply possibly have any sure ground for their Faith For how can they prove that they have any word of God at all but onely by the Tradition and authority of holy Church how will they know which bookes of Scripture be canonicall which not c How shall those Heretickes be disproved who denied the Canticles the foure Gospells c How shall those five Gospels attributed unto Thady Thomas Barnabe Bartholomew and Andrew be disproved c but by the authority of the Church Why then doth he condemne such Traditions 16. Such Traditions we condemne not In the stateing of this Question it doth appeare that we allow modum tradendi the manner of delivery of the volume of Gods written word by the authority or testimony of the Church and all this concerneth the manner of deliverie In this the Iesuite not onely belyeth our Doctrine but also shrinketh from the Question hee should prove that unwritten Traditions are the word of God but he goeth about to prove that by an unwritten Tradition namely by the authority and testimony of the Church a man may know that there is a word of God and which bookes are the word of God and which are not All Questions are not to be disputed of saith z Aristot l. 1. Topic. c. 9. Aristotle Of all things this is most sure and ought to be beleeved that the Scripture is the word of God As he that a Hebâ— 11. 6. Will come to God must first beleeve that God is so he that will come to the knowledge of Gods word must first beleeve that there is a word of God and that the Scripture is this word To doubt of this is to deny a most sure principle and to dispute of this is to take away the very ground of this Question If this Question were given Whether Heaven covereth all things if the opponent should argue thus It doth not cover it selfe therefore it doth not cover all things Wee would judge him a sillie Sophister The trifling Iesuite disputeth after the same manner The Scripture doth not discover all points of faith because it doth not discover it selfe to be the word of God But this point is excepted by the Question it selfe for when the Scripture saith b 1. Cor. 15. 27. That all things are put downe under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put downe all things under him So when we say that the Scripture declareth all points of faith it is manifest that this is excepted it needeth not declare it selfe to be the Scripture or the word of God As the first good is to beloved for it selfe so the first truth is to be beleeved for it selfe saith c Aquinas in Prolog in sent Aquinas The Scriptures are accounted among those things which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be beleeved for themselves yea they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most worthy of beleife being like Principles in an Art which oportet discentem credere the Learner must beleeve as d Basil in Psal 115. Bafill saith So that in this disputation this must be datum a thing granted and taken pro concesso that the Scripture is the word of God e August Confessâ—l 6. c. 5. Heare them not saith S. Augustine who demaund How doe you know the Scripture to be the word of God for that is a thing to be beleeved Yet we wil be content to answere this foolish demaund and to shew by what meanes we know which bookes are canonicall and which are counterfeit We know the Scriptures to be the word of God by those arguments which we finde in them They neede not testify for themselves but it is to be presupposed as a pracognitum that they are the word of God yet they beare witnesse for themselves The Scripture is a witnesse to it selfe saith f Testis est ipsa Scriptura Bellarm de verb Dei â— 1 c. 2. Bellarmine g Humana dicta argumentis testibus cgeâ—â— Dâ—i auâ—em sermo ipse sibi testis est Salvian de gubernatâ— Dei Humane sayings saith Salvian neede arguments and witnesses but the word of God is a witnesse to it selfe h Scotus in prolog in l. 1. sent q. â— Scotus proveth it by eight arguments taken out of the Scripture it selfe the
is lost contained onely leviora things of litle account Å¿ Si canonici ejusmodi libri extitissent ecclesia non fuisset depositi sibi traditi à Deo fidelis custos juxta illud 1. Tim. 6. oh Timoth depositum custodi c. Salmeron prolog 9 caâ— 4 If these bookes saith Salmeron had beene canonicall the Church had not beene a faithfull keeper of that which God committed to her according to that oh Timothie keepe that which is committed to thee It cannot then stand with the care of the Church which is Custes Rotulorum the keeper of Gods oracles that any booke of holy Scripture should be lost t Staplet Defens occles author cont Whitak l. 2. c. 1 It cannot stand with the providence of God which never faileth in things necessary to salvation saith Stapleton And he addeth That the Church is as much to bee blamed if she should lose a booke of Scripture as if she should lose a Sacrament But that we may wrestle the Iesuite with his wrestling argument let him answer this God by his providence and the Church by her care hath preserved the volume of the written word whole and intire so that not one booke of it is lost but many volumes of unwritten Traditions are lost and perished witnesse the five bookes which Egesippus wrote of the unwritten Traditions which the Apostles left unto the Church the which the * Sect. 2. Iesuite alledgeth against us And the booke written by Clemens Alexandrinus of the same subject neither is the Iesuite able to tell us what particular Traditions were contained in these bookes with us therfore the rule of saith remaineth whole intire but part of their rule is lost and perished And thus our Doctrine stands firme and sure notwithstanding all the shifts and cunning windings of this Iesuite there is in the Church perfectio integralis of the whole volume of Scripture not one booke of it is lost and there is in the Scripture perfectio finalis for the Church not one point of faith nor one good worke is there but it may be learned by the Scriptures This one testimony of S. Paul I preferre before the testimony of any Father yet because our Adversaries being convinced by the Scriptures give out that the Fathers are theirs as the Iewes did u Ioh. 8. 39. that Abraham is our Father Wee will therefore bee content to put our selves to be tryed by God and the Countrie not onely by the Scriptures but also by the Fathers whose verdict is returned in the next Section SECT VI. VVherein the Iesuite produceth senselesse exceptions against the Iury of the Fathers giving their verdict against him YOur Masters have told you that you disagree Reply p. 135. from the Doctrine generally received by the Fathers 1. I could tell you if it were not for manners sake that you lye notoriously You read this on the backeside of Constantine his Donation or of some of your golden legends for I am sure none of our Writers tell us so Name one if you can among our many Writers that doth acknowledge our disagreement from the Doctrine generally received by the Fathers in this point and if you cannot wee may easily judge how you will deale with the auncient Fathers when you deale thus with our late writers This is but a Iesuiticall fiction and it is evident that all our writers in combating with you about unwritten Traditions have fought against you at this weapon and have brought into the feild these champions of the truth helping to bring downe to the ground the Tower of Babel this sort of unwritten Traditions 2. Tertullian is the foreman of the Iury concerning whom the Answerer confesseth That hee was an earnest advocate for rituall Traditions unwritten and for doctrinall Traditions written c. In the opinion of the Iesuite this distinction of Rituall and Doctrinall Traditions serveth to no purpose It serveth for the true stateing of this Question It discovereth the Iesuites false stateing of this Question of Rituall Traditions onely And it sheweth his folly in heaping up a number of Fathers defending rituall Traditions unwritten for such are allowed in our Church But why serveth it to no purpose Because both of them may be Apostolicall Reply pag. 135 and are to be regarded as the written word and worthy of the same faith being delivered to the Church by the same Authors Are there no Rituall Ecclesiasticall Traditions to which you give the same credit and authority as to the written word Can those be Apostolicall Or were they delivered to the Church by the Apostles And although all Rituall Traditions were from the Apostles yet they are not to be regarded as the written word All that the Pope saith is not to be regarded as his Cathedrall voyce All that his Majesty saith is not to be regarded as his lawes and statutes The authority of things delivered may bee different although they be delivered by the same authors * Sect. 1. Divil â— the intention of the deliverer or the dignitie of the matter delivered may make the thing delivered more worthy of faith for this is certaine there may be a proposition beleeved in respect of the Author delivering yet the matter delivered may be not worthy to be an article of our faith Yet Tertullian having to deale with Hermogenes the Hereticke in a question concerning the faith presseth him with Answer the argument ab authoritate negativè * Tertul. advers Hermog â— 22. Whether all things were made of any subject matter I have as yet read no where let those of Hermogenes his shop shew that it is written If it be not written let him feare that wâ—e which is allotted to such as adde or take away The Iesuite painteth out an answer unto this and coloureth it with false glosses as if hee had gotten some relicks out of Hermogenes his painting shop It would be too tedious to lay downe all his wordes but the summe is this First this is no thing against us unlesse we should hold that Reply pag. 136. all points of faith are to bee proved by unwritten Tradition onely and none at all by Scripture For what if he presse the Hereticke Hermogenes in one point with the argument ab authoritate negativè must it follow that therefore he thought all points might be proved in the like manner The boyes of the Logicke Schoole doe know that an Inference universall is absurdly deduced from particular Premisses Hath not the Iesuite told us * pag. 126. They that deny unwritten Tradition can have no sure ground for their faith The Popes infallibility is the α and ω the formall reason and onely perswasive demonstration of a Papists faith for although materiale fidei the thing which he beleeveth be a written Doctrine yet firmale fiaei or ratio credendi the reason why he beleeveth it is because the Pope saith it He will not beleeve that there is a written word
custome of that Church what the remedy was so if we should aske you what the practise of the primitive times in all those Churches was If you have no better rule then the practise it selfe in many things you may answer ignoramus It is likewise improbable that the custome and practise of so many Churches being not written though it were never so apparant and common to themselves should with such an uniformitie descend downe unto us What is more common and usuall in dayly practise then speech language Yet all languages are corrupted and have lost their originall puritie notwithstanding the common use of them and the purity of the ancient languages as of the Hebrew and the Greeke is best preserved by the writings of the old and new Testament Traditions were in use from Adam unto Moses and those Traditions might have beene seene in the dayly practise of the Church yet the Lord seeing this was not a sufficient meanes to preserve the purity of those Traditions gave a more ordinary helpe of extraordinary meanes as of Dreames Visions and Râ—velations and as these extraordinary mâ—anes failed so the Lord perfected the Canon of Scripture as the best meanes to preserve the puritie of doctrine And when these meanes failed saith S. Chrysostome Å¿ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost hom c. in Math. It was necessary that there should be Scriptures and written tables and such admonition aâ— is according unto them Were those things sâ—amped in the practise and written in the heart of many men or of one If of many hardly could there be an uniforme consent for so many men so many mindes if of one then when this one dyeth the Church must needes lose a great part of her necessary Doctrine And thus it appeareth that neither mâ—morie nor practise without writing is sufficient but that writing is the surest and the onely sufficient meanes to preserve from time to time and at all times the purity of Doctrine in the Church from oblivion alteration and decay Wherefore God gave this commandement unto Moses t Erod 17. 24. Write this for a remembrance in a booke And to the Prophet Isaiah u Isa 30. 8. Write it before them in a table and note it in a booke that it may be for the last day for ever and ever In perpetuam rei memoriam The Iesuite likewise foreseeing this addeth his 3d. rule in these words God hath ordained that from age to age the said Rituall Reply pag. 17â— or practicall Traditions should be corrâ—borated by the written attestation of the Saints and holy Doctours whose uniforme relation in matters universally practised by the Church of their times whereof they were eye witnesses themselves is a warrant of it selfe infallible 15. I his rule is lyable to more exceptions then the former It is impertinent because he pleadeth the written attestation of the Doctourâ— for Rituall Traditions whereas hee should plead for unwritten Doctrinall Traditions It is improbable that God hath ordained the Doctours of the Church to write those things which he would not have his Apostles to write It is false 1. Because all the Saints and holy Doctourâ— have not given a written attestation for unwritten Traditions 2. An uniform-relation is not found among them that have written of Rituall Traditions 3. All rituall Traditions have not beene universally practised by the Church 4. If all this were tâ—â—e yet this is not a warrant of it selfe infallible An humane testimony is fallible and cannot beget faith for * Rom. 10 17. Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God The testimony of the Doctours is but the word of man and as men they might erre The Apostles could not erre in their delivery yet the choyse men to whom those supposed Traditions were delivered might erre in not understanding the Apostles aright or in not remembring those things which they heard and understood if they to whom those things were delivered by the Apostles immediately did not erre in their relateing of the same things unto others yet those relators after them might erre in processe of time and so at length false Traditions might bee fathered upon the Apostles Yea they did erre in relateing false Traditions What say you to Irenaus his Tradition that Christ lived 50. yeares And to Clemens Alexandrinus that hee preached but one yeare Their warrant therefore is not of it selfe infallible who were themselves fallible and sometimes deceived by their owne errours or by false relators It is likewise an impossible rule to be knowne because some Saints and Doctours did not write all that did write we have not all that wee have is not truely from them many counterfeit things have beene fathered on them and many true things corrupted in them all that are truely theirs doe not declare the universall practise in every age all that declare the universall practise doe not declare any practise of many Popish Traditions which are observed in this age All of them he cannot name if hee can name them yet he never saw them if he saw them yet he never read them These things we write not to contemne the testimonie of the Church nor her practise nor the writings of the Fathers for both the testimonie and the practise of the Church and the writings of the Fathers plead for our cause but to give that honour unto the Scripture which is due to shew the shortest and easiest way to enâ— thiâ— and all other Controversies and to manifest to the world the thrasonicall bragges and great boastings of thousands and millions of this bankrupâ— Iesuiticall merchant wâ—o answereth an objection and objecteth one thing moâ—e and so concludeth with a curse He fâ—ameth his objection and answere in this manner How idle and ridiculous an objection iâ— it to say that if Reply pag. 171 way be given unto Apostolicall Traditions unwritten there is nothing so â—bsurd but may be broght in by this gate As though iâ— lay in the power of any whosoever to make a new invention to mount vp against the current of Antiquitie to gaine the attestation of all the ages of the Church The like argument may be urged against the writings of the Apostles for why may not false Scripture he invented but only because it is impossible for the like frand to recâ—ile back through former ages 16. We dispute not against Traditions meerely because they are not written but because they are not from the Apostles yet are preteÌ„ded by you to be froÌ„ the Apostles If we give way unto such there is nothing so absurd but it may enter in at this wide gate which leadeth to perdition â—f this do â—rin be sound in the general whatsoever the Râ—maÌ„ Church saith is an Apostolicall TraditioÌ„ is so indeed then any particular evill may enter thereby This is a budget wide enough to hold all the devillish devises that can be as deposing of Kings adoring of Images forbidding of marriage unto Priests