Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	scripture_n	tradition_n	unwritten_a	4,497	5	12.9092	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A63826	A good day vvell improved, or Five sermons upon Acts 9. 31 Two of which were preached at Pauls, and ordered to be printed. To which is annexed a sermon on 2 Tim. 1. 13. Preached at St. Maries in Cambridge, on the Commencement Sabbath, June 30. 1650. By Anthony Tuckney D.D. and Master of St Johns College in Cambridge.	Tuckney, Anthony, 1599-1670.	1656 (1656)	Wing T3216A; ESTC R222406	116,693	318

Scripturis cogantur quaestiones suas sistere Tradition is their Helena and Venus which they so paint and trim up They are modest men amongst them that will afford the Scriptures an equall share of dignity and respect with them for it 's as little as they can give them to be equall with the Scriptures Aequè sunt observandae saith Eckius and pari pietatis affectu In Enchiridio reverentia suscipit c. saith the Council of Trent like him in Nicephorus whom they call Beatus Lib. 16. cap. 33. Theodosius two names too good for such a blasphemer who getting into the Pulpit denounced an Anathema si quis quatuor Synodos quatuor Evangeliis non exaequet pronounced that man accursed who did not make the four first Synods equal with the four Gospels which yet he might better do then the Cardinal Julianus Fox Acts and Mon. Tom. 1. pag 863. in the Council of Basil exhort them to give no less credit to the Council then to the Gospel Or the Council of Trent anathematize all that did not thus equal their vain Traditions with the books of the Old and New Testament But they stay not here it is not enough with them to have their Traditions equalled with the holy Scriptures if they be not much preferred before them 1. For their Antiquity as being Bellarmine de Verbo Dei non Scripto cap. 4. before any Scripture was written and therefore as first born must have the preheminence of primogeniture 2. Hereupon in point of necessity as though the Church had more need of Traditions then of the Scriptures and accordingly Bellarmine in that chapter whose title is Ostenditur Necessitas Traditionum in which he should prove Traditions to be necessary doth take a great deal of more pains to prove that the Scriptures are not necessary 3. In point of authority which they say the Scripture hath onely from the Tradition of the Church without which some of them are not afraid to say it would be of no more authority then Aesops Fables and the same Pighius who durst call it a nose of wax when over shoos over boots and therefore durst go on and say haec Scripta non praeesse nostra religioni sed subesse and as Caranza adds that the Scripture is to be regulaby the Church and not the Church by the Scripture 4. In point of extent Traditions according to them containing much more of the word and will of God then the Scriptures for although Andradius be so modest and that is a wonder for he is not usually wont to be found in that fault as to grant that maxima pars the greatest part of Gods revealed will is contained in Scripture yet others of his Fellows cannot but account him herein to have been over liberal for on the quite contrary Hosius saith that multò maxima pars that the greatest part of it by far is contained in Traditions and others of them say that minima particula it is the very least part of all that is contained in Scripture whilest Traditio omnem veritatem in se habet containeth all the mysteries of faith and Religion if you will beleeve Coster 5. For point of continuance The same Author would have you beleeve that this unwritten word is more safely kept in their hearts and not to be rased out of the Popes their high Priests breast-plate whilest moths and worms may soon consume these written papers and parchments 6. And so also in point of incorrupted certainty whilest the written word is but a dumb letter speaks not its own sense is a nose of wax and leaden rule which every heretick may bend to his purpose on the contrary their Mufti is a live Judge and the Tradition of the Church is safely lockt up in his breast he gives the true authentick sense of it and so preventeth both the Catholicks error and the Hereticks depravation 7. In point of transcendent worth and usefulness The unwritten word is of more moment say some of them and multis partibus superat scripturas saith Coster as much as the fleshly tables of Beleevers hearts in which no doubt their Traditions are written exceed the Tables of stone or papers or parchments in which the Old and New Testament are written And for use Corn. à Lapide from those words of the Covenant of Gods writing his Law in our hearts Jer. 31. 33. would make such weak men and silly Novices as we are beleeve that Traditions are more proper for the N. T. then the Scriptures Hoc si animadverterent Haeretici magis proprias esse N. Testamento Traditiones quàm Scripturas intelligerent Euge Jesuita en pietatem Romanam In this his bold and blasphemous expression we hear the voice of the Beast and see the whores brasen forehead that blusheth not to prefer their own dreams before the visions of God and their lying Cabala before that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Scripture of truth which alone is able to make us wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. 8. In particular Canus and most of them hold and say that although things of more common nature and concernment were written by Moses and other Pen-men in Scripture yet the Arcana Imperii the higher mysteries those holy things were not to be cast to dogs for so they speak when they mean these rarities of their should not be exposed to publick view as it was with the Heathen with their Abdita in Adytis and as Pythagoras and some other Philosophers and the Dryades would not have their Dictates written for all but onely communicated to their Scholars such mysteria to their Mystae So Christ and his Apostles besides their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their more ordinary and common doctrine which they either spake or wrote to all had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their more secret mysteries of So also our Enthusiasts Castellio vide Beza in 2 Tim. 3. 17. more high and abstruse nature which were onely delivered by word of mouth to their greater Intimates and Confidents To which purpose Canus feareth not blasphemously to apply that 1 Cor. 2. 2. but I determined to know or make known nothing but Christ Jesus and him crucified i. e. to you vulgar and ordinary hearers howbeit we speak wisdome amongst them that are perfect No doubt their high-flown perfectionists Profane Blasphemer as though Christ crucified whom in the foregoing Chapter v. 23. he had said was the wisdome of God and the power of God were but his ordinary and course every day doctrin which he preached to the meaner vulgar but that he had higher speculations which he imparted to those of an higher Form or as our new minted word is dispensation and attainment which our Enthusiasts boast of in their Revelations and the Papists as it seemeth promise us in their Traditions 9. And therefore accordingly Lib. 4. de verbo Dei c. 4. in their practice as the Jewes if you will believe

fair weather as I said before is the fittest time to build both our own and Gods house in Solomon saith There is a time to break down there is a time Eccles 3. 3. to build We have had a time of too much breaking down in time of war and therefore now if ever is a time to build up in time of peace A clear shining after rain 2 Sam. 23. 4. makes a growing season such is ours for the present and therefore let us up and be doing Gods Temple was built without axe and hammer 1 King 6. 7. but it was beat down by both Psal 74. 6. War hindreth the building of Gods house 1 King 5. 3. but Peace should further it v. 4. 5. And therefore let us lay hold of this happy opportunity In Heathen Rome Janus his temple stood open onely in time of war to sue to their gods for peace which they then wanted most disingenuous like a man that openeth the door onely so far to his friend as to put out his hand to take in something from him which he standeth in need of and then to shut it upon him again But true Christians are more ingenuous and therefore would have the Church doores opened as much in time of Peace that they may go in and return thanks for mercy received Thus we read of Asa 2 Chron. 14. 5 6. That the kingdom was quiet before him and the land had rest and he had no war in those years because the Lord had given him rest whereupon it 's immediatly added v. 7. Therefore he said unto Judah Let us build while the land is yet before us for we have sought the Lord our God and he hath given us rest on every side and so they built and prospered And so let us say and do who have the like occasion that we may have the same blessing Thus let us build and so let us prosper and this in building not so much our own houses as Gods This was wont to be the care of Gods people in former times upon the like occasions Israel when got out of Egypt and through the Red sea and have not we reared up the Tabernacle Solomon when in peace and no evill or adversary occurrent builds God a Temple which although afterward their sins ruined yet upon their return from Babylon it was their first work to build it again the second time and the like was the Christian Churches care upon the ceasing of the primitive persecutions And so God now by our present rest from former troubles tryeth Both our ingenuity and gratitude whether when he hath thus wrought for us we will work and build for him And also our wisdom whether we will take the fittest time for so needfull a work What more necessary to be done then to build up Gods house that thereby we may edifie our selves in faith and grace to salvation and what fitter time can we either have or wish to do it in then when the coast is clear and we may be at leisure for it and have nothing but our own naughty hearts to hinder us in it But when shall we set about it if not now God hath given us Rest but not to be restive rest from outward trouble that so we might be more expedite and ready thus to set upon his work and so to work out our own salvation Having Rest as there is a fit season of it so there is all reason that we should labour to be edified which was one Reading of the Words And being edified we shall Motive 3. have rest which was the other Reading of them and affordeth another strong argument to inforce the duty If edified it will be a certain pledge and meanes of the continuance settlement and establishment of our begun rest and peace Read over Judahs story and you shall ever finde that all prospered while the Temple and Ordinances of God were upheld and honoured and it is to be observed that when David had settled the Ark 1 Chron. 16. 1. how in the sequele of that Chapter he calleth upon heaven and earth Sea and fields and trees of the wood to rejoice v. 31 32 33 c. and how he puts together many parcels out of severall other Psalmes unto that one as though all were not sufficient to praise God for such a mercy into which so many are crowded And how v. 30. when the Ark and Church was thus settled he makes account that the whole world with it were established and no wonder Isa 48. 18. seeing that for its sake it is continued in this case the Prophet Isaiah saith Their peace should be not as a brook which is soon dried up but as a River continually flowing and their righteousnesse as the waves of the sea one still coming on in the neck of another Were it our case we might expect an uninterrupted series of mercies But never shall I expect that at the long run it shall be well with the State if the Church continue to fare ill or that our houses will stand firm whiles Gods lieth waste we may in that case build castles in the air or upon a sandy foundation which will not abide when the storm cometh with Cain Gen. 4. 7. 15. 5. and Nimrod we may build Nods and Babels which according to the signification of those names will end in unsettlement and confusion They shall build and I will throw down saith the Lord Mal. 1. 4. The Jews tell us that the three last Prophets died all on one day and that on the very same day See Schinler ad vocem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alexander as a Conquerour entred Jerusalem whether true or not we may make this use of it to think and conclude upon it that when thorugh the unworthines of a people true Prophets cease outward peace useth to cease with them and when the Church is not edified fear lest the State be not thereby ruined But work we with God as the Scriptures phrase is and God will 1 Sam. 14. 45. work for us Build we up our selves in our holy faith and build up his house according to his holy Word and then prove him if he will not open to us the windows of heaven and pour us out such a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3. 10. Build upon it that he will Ier. 42. 10. then build us and not pull us down plant us and not pluck us up even plant us assuredly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in truth and stability 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with his whole heart and with his whole soul Let but the Churches of God be edified and then according to the Text we shall have rest and that continued and established and our Churches not onely settled but also multiplied Were multiplied THis was the second choice blessing which accompanied The 3d Sermon preached at St. Maries in Cambridge Feb. 25. 1654. or followed upon their

forth and grow as calves of the stall and Mal. 4. ● they are planted in the house of the Lord who flourish in the Courts Psal 92. 13 14. of our God and still bring forth fruit even in old age and are fat and flourishing As on the contrary it is but bad soile in which good plants are starved or cankered Is it likely to be wholesome diet which men otherwise well and healthfull do not thrive on But it is no other then heavens shine and showers that make the plants of righteousness grow and bud and flourish and bring forth fruit for I cannot in this respect assent to the Remonstrants dictates Ex fructibus aestimandi sunt homines non semper doctrina it 's a good tree our Saviour Mat. 7. 17. tells us which bringeth forth good fruit and the same may be said of good doctrin too and al though by the corruption of mens hearts good doctrine may not al wayes bring forth good fruit in their lives yet it 's bad doctrine which naturally bringeth forth what is bad and and abominable But wholsome food even the bread of life let us ever esteem that by which the man of God liveth and thriveth cheerfully doth and suffereth Gods will and constantly holdeth on in Gods way and in the strength of it with Elijah 1 King 19. 8. walketh 40. days and 40. nights through the wilderness of this world till he come to the mount of God In a word that is sound doctrine which a sound heart relisheth and thrives by But because man liveth not by bread only Matth. 4. 4. but by every word that cometh out of the mouth of God it is not sufficient that these sound words have mans approbation if not withall Gods institution that as they are acceptable words so also words of truth words of the wise Eccles 12. 10 11. but withall given by one Shepheard Which leads to the 3d. particular 3. Which thou hast heard of me in the Text viz. the Speaker by whom they were delivered in those words which thou hast heard of me Non à quocunque magistro as Lombard and Espencaeus paraphrase it not from every dogmatizing Master but from an Apostle of Christ infallibly directed by the Spirit of Christ Such truths as have been delivered to us by Christ himself the Prophets and Apostles immediately inspired by the Spirit of God and now recorded in the Scriptures of truth either expressed in them or plainly and directly by good and strong consequence drawn from them these are those words and formes of sound words which we are to hold fast and abide by as a light to our feet Psal 119. 105. 2 Pet. 1 19. the rule of our faith and life Gal. 6. 16. and therefore called Canonical the Foundation on which we are to build Ephes 2. 20. that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that mould of doctrine into which we are to be cast Rom. 6. 17. that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Form of knowledge and truth by which we are to be informed No other fallible Land-mark but the holy Scriptures Card and Compass and Pole-star which we are to steer our course by if we would not make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience These these onely are the words of this life Act. 5. 20. what ever therefore either they expressely affirm or is from them soundly and directly gathered and commended to us whether by whole Churches or particular Persons although they be not expressed wholly in Scripture words yet if according to the Analogy of faith for the further clearing of Scripture sense and the better discovering of errors and heresies as they arise we willingly accept and carefully hold fast But what ever Creeds Canons Confessions Constitutions Catechismes c. either of private men or of whole Churches yea of that Church which now nameth it self Catholick shall obtrude upon us any thing directly or by good consequence contrary to the Scripture in any thing yea or but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besides what the Gal. 1. 9. 10. Scripture teacheth us in the parts and essentials of Gods worship or in any thing in doctrine or practise pretended as necessary to salvation eadem facilitate contemnitur Hieronym in Matth. qua probatur we stick not easily to reject it and being backed with the Apostles authority to pronounce him whether man or Angel Anathema who shall teach and impose it and in hoc sensu we particularly especially reject 1. All humane unwritten Traditions 2. All feigned Divine Revelations For humane unwritten Traditions Bellarmine indeed applieth Traditions De verbo Dei non scripto cap. 5. to them this Text and maketh them at least a part of that Depositum in the following verse nor can I deny but that Chrysostom upon the Text and other Greek Interpreters after their manner following him run their descant upon the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which thou hast heard as relating to what Paul had delivered to Timothy by word of mouth from which Canus loc com lib. 3. Corn. à Lapide Estius Alii in Textum Popish writers take a rise to cry up their unwritten Traditions which being the strongest stake in their rotten hedge they most highly cry up and most earnestly contend for In their Elogiums which they give them they are their Homericum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their Antidote against all infections Lydius Lapis by which they will try all doctrines Sacrum Thesei filum safely to guide you in all Labyrinths and Meanders Gladius Goliath non est similis ei the sword of their Goliah Pope to offend and strike down all opposors Ajacis Clypeus to defend them and to ward off all blows from eheir enemies Nay Fidei fundamentum the very foundation of their Popish faith and the onely foundation of it so far as Popish which if overturned their Babel cometh down and take but away what partly we hold with them agreeable to Scripture and what they maintain only by Tradition and what is besides left of Popery would be a poor thin nothing and therefore here they fight tanquam pro aris focis or if you will we may leave out the tanquam Elabor andum est ut hic locus quàm diligentissimè Loc. com lib. 3. cap 6 ad fiuem explicaretur muniretur saith Canus and good reason when he had before cap. 3. said Traditiones majorem vim habere ad Haereticos refellendos quàm Scripturas good reason that they should so earnestly fight for Traditions because by them they can better confute us whom they call Hereticks then by Scriptures We kindly thank him for this fair acknowledgement they are not so much the Scriptures as their Traditions which they must knock us poor Hereticks down with By which they rather appear to be the Hereticks for of such Tertullian of old said Lib. de Resur carni nec stare se posse si de solis