A Compend of the Controversies of Religion, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. OF SCRIPTVRE.
…. I. That the Apocrypha are not Canonicke Scripture, or of Divine authoritie to confirme points of fayth.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
LVKE 24.27. And beginning at Moſes, & all the Prophets, hee expounded vntounto them in al the Scriptures the …inges concerning himſelfe.
Not… then, That our Saviour compre…ndeth all the Scripture of the olde Te…ment, in Moſes and the Prophets, of …hom Malachi was the laſt, as 2. Eſdras, 40. is cleare: and therefore Eſdras, …o maketh mention of him as laſt, and the reſt of the Apocrypha books that …re written after him, are no part of …ine Scripture.
Act. 26.22. Having then obtained helpe of GOD, I continue t… this day, witneſſing both to ſma… and great, ſaying, none othe… things than thoſe which Moſes an… the Prophets did ſay, ſhould com… Marke then, that Paul alſo compr… hendeth all divine Scripture in the wr… of Moſes and the Prophets allanerlie,… alleadged none other thing for confirm… tion of his Doctrine, but the foreſay… Scripture: and therefore did not a… knowledge any other apocryphal boo… to bee of divine authoritie, or fit f… that purpoſe.
Rom. 3.2. VntoUnto them (to w… the Iewes) were committ… the Oracles of GOD. Note the… That ſeeing the Apocrypha books w… not committed to them, nor ever… knowledged by them, as divine inſpy… Scripture (as the Papiſtes themſelu… confeſſe, Bellar. lib. 1. de Purg. cap. … §. ad primum.) Therefore it followe… that they are not the Oracles of Go… nor of divine authoritie.
2. Tim. 3.16. All Scriptu… is given by divine inſpiration.
Note then, That the abridgement… lie of another mans worke, and an hu…ane Hiſtorie, done by great paynes, …uch as the Apocrypha bookes of the …achabees are cōfeſſed to be, 2. Machab. … 23.) is no part therefore of canonicke …cripture.
Againe, 2. Pet. 1.21. For …he prophecie came not in olde tyme …y the will of man, but the holie …en of God ſpake, as they were mo…ed by the holy Ghoſt.
Remarke then againe, That Scripture was no private taske vndertaken by the …ill of man, as the Apocryphall booke of …he Machabees is formerlie acknowled…ed. And againe, ſeeing that the holie …pirit ſpake by them, therefore it followeth, that, that Booke cannot be of the …pirits inſpiration, wherein the Author …howeth, if hee hath done ſlenderlie and …eanlie, it is all he could attaine vntounto, as …. Machab. 15.38. hee freelie confeſ…th: for this were blaſphemouſlie dero…atorie to the holie Ghoſt, and to the au…oritie of holie Scripture.
And no leſſe derogatorie is that place …f Eccleſiaſticus, 31.21. againſt both the …odeſtie of the holie Ghoſt, and gravitie …f Scripture, which ſayeth to him that …ath eaten immoderatelie, If thou haſt …ene forced to eate, goe foorth, and ſpew it out, and thou ſhalt hauehave reſt there-after
I omit ſundrie contradictions Trueth, where-of the Spirit of Tr… could not bee Author, as Tobit 5.… where the good Angell is made to… which is onlie proper to Satan, and… evill angels: and againſt Heb. 1.14. t… hee ſayeth, that hee was of a carnall p… creation, whoſe nature are onelie to… created ſpirits.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
THE Church indeede readeth th… Bookes (ſayeth ſainct Ierome)… receiveth them not amongſt Canon… Scripture, Ierom. praef. in Proverb. Wh… remarke, that Ierome ſetteth not do… there his owne private opinion, but generall tenet of the whole Church in time: And therfore his teſtimonie, ac… ding to Cardinall Peron's wordes in… Epiſtle, (Obſervatione quinta) is a ſ… cient evidence of the fayth of the Ca… licke Church at that time: where… ſayeth, that when the Fathers ſpeake… as private Doctors, but as witneſſe… thoſe thinges which the Church did… believed in their time, affirming that ſ… a thing was the Fayth or practiſe of… whole Church: then their teſtimon… ſufficient to declare the vnanim com… of the whole Church. In like man… alſo with Ierome doeth ſainct Greg… acknowledge them not Canonicall, Greg. … 9. Moral in Iob, cap. 17. Nor doeth … ancient Councell of Laodicea, Can. … account them anie wayes as ſuch.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
…Nd, becauſe they are doubtſome, they … are not numbered in the Canon of …pture, ſayeth Cardinall Hugo, de S. …ro, in his Prologue on Ioſua. The …e likewiſe ſayeth Cajetan, and Hugo S. Victore.
…. That the Scripture contayneth all things which are neceſſarie to ſalvation to know, without Popiſh Traditions.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
…SALME 19.7. The Law of … the LORD is perfect, conver… the Soule: The Testimonie of … LORD is ſure, making wiſe the …ple.
…ote then, That Gods worde is called …ect and Sure, (as ſainct Peter alſo cal… it, 2. Pet. 1.19.) in oppoſition to …eceſſitie and nature of Traditions, …ch are both needleſſe and vnſure, …h. 15.9. 2. Theſſ. 2.2.
Proverb. 30.6. Adde thou not to his word, lest hee reprou… thee, and thou bee found a liar.
Note then, That they are pronounce… liars, who accuſe Gods worde of impe… fection, and therefore would adde the… vntounto vnwritten Traditions in matters… ſalvation.
2. Tim. 3.15.16.17. An… that from a child thou hast known… the Scriptures, which are able t… make thee wiſe vntounto ſalvatio… through fayth, which is in Chri… Ieſus.
Note then, If the Scriptures alone b… able to make vsus wiſe vntounto ſalvatio… (which is all we neede) wherefore ſer… Traditions?
Againe, verſ. 16.17. A… Scripture is given by inspiration… God, and is profitable for doctrin… reproofe, correction, and instructi… in righteouſneſſe, that the man… God may bee perfect, throug… lie furniſhed vntounto all goo… works.
Note then, This is all that we can ſeek… what needeth therefore Traditions?
Iam. 1.21. Receiue with meekneſſe the ingrafted word, which is able to ſaue your Soules.
Note then, That it alone, is able to doe, all that, which wee can require. So Act. 20.32. it is ſayde to bee able to build vsus vp by grace heere, and to bring vsus to the inhe…itance of glorie heereafter, and further we cannot wiſh for.
Gal. 3.15. Brethren, I ſpeake to you after the manner of men: tho …t be but a mans testament, yet if it …ee confirmed, no man diſannulleth, nor addeth thereto.
Note then, That it is farre greater impietie to adde to Chriſts owne Teſtament, confirmed by His Blood.
The examples alſo of the Apoſtles …roue this: for as for doctrine, of Sainct Paul, it is written thus, Act. 28.23. That when they had appointed him a day, …here came many to his lodging, to whom hee …xpounded, and teſtified the Kingdome of GOD; perſwading them concerning IESƲS, …oth out of the Law of Moſes, and out of the Prophets. And Act. 26.22. Saying, …one other things than thoſe things which …he Prophets and Moſes did ſay ſhould come. As hee then teached nothing but that which was contained in Scripture before him: ſo neither ſhould Paſtors now teach, but what is contained in Scripture before them: Therefore, Gal. 1.8. H…e is accurſed (altho an Angell) that teacheth beſide that. And in diſputing, it is ſayde, Act. 17.2. And Paul as his manner was, went in vntounto them, and three Sabbath d…yes reaſoned with them out o… the Scriptures. No word of Tradition. See Apollo's lyke practiſe, Act. 18.28. juſt conforme heereto.
In lyke manner, for believing, Act. 24.14. This I confeſſe (ſayeth Paul) that after the way which they call Hereſie, ſo worſhip I the GOD of my Fathers, believing all thinges which are written in the Law and Prophets. No word then of vnwritten Traditions, which he made a ground of his Fayth.
So Act. 17.11. The Bereans ſearched the Scriptures daylie, whether theſe things were ſo, (to wit, as Paul taught) therefore manie believed.
Note then, That it was not for anie warrand of traditions that they believed. but vponupon warrand of Scripture onlie, that they grounded their fayth.
2. Witneſsing of Antiqui…ie.
THe holie and divine inſpired Scriptures, are all ſufficient (ſayeth Athanaſius) for the full inſtruction of trueth, Athan. lib. contra Gentes. Whence alſo ſayeth Tertullian, Take from Heretickes wherein they agree with Heathens, that by Scripture onelie they may debate their queſtions, and they cannot ſtand. Tertull. lib. de reſurr. carn. cap. 3.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
ALL Doctrines of Fayth and Manners (ſayeth Bellarmine) which is ſimplie neceſſarie for all men, are plainlie ſet downe in Scripture. Bell. lib. 4. de verbo, cap. 11. §. vltimo.
§. 3. That the Scripture is plaine in all thinges neceſſarie for ſalvation to know, altho in all places generallie it be not alyke perſpicuous.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
PSalme 19.8. The Commandement of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Pſal. 119.105. Thy word is a lampe vntounto my feet, and a light vntounto my path.
Verſ. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light, and it giveth vnderſtanding even vntounto the ſimple.
Note then, If that the verie entrance giveth light, and vnderſtanding to the ſimple; then what doeth a daylie progreſſe? And if the ſimple get vnderſtanding thereby, how can it bee ſo obſcure, that the learned onelie ſhould reade the ſame allanerlie?
2. Tim. 3.15. From a child thou hast knowne the Scripture.
Note. If children then may attaine to the knowledge of Scripture, then it is not ſo obſcure, that thoſe of perfect age cannot know the ſame.
2. Pet. 1.19. We hauehave alſo a more ſure word of Prophecie, whereto ye doe well in taking heed, as to a light that ſhineth in a darke place, &c.
Note then, That as a ſhyning light can not bee called darke it ſelfe, which illuminateth darke places; ſo neyther can Gods worde, which illuminateth our darke vnderſtandinges.
2. Cor. 4.3. But if our Goſpell be hid, it is to them that are lost, in whom the god of this worlde hath blynded their myndes that belieue not, &c.
Note then, That it is not the fault of Scripture, that it is hid to anie, more than it is the fault of the cleare Sunne, that a blinde man ſeeth it not.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
IN thoſe places which are clearlie ſet downe in Scripture (ſayeth Auguſtine) all thoſe thinges are to bee found which contayne both Fayth and Manners, Aug. lib. 2. de doct. Chriſtiana. cap. 9. Which Chryſoſtome lykewyſe avoweth, ſaying no leſſe, Homil. 3. in 2. ad Theſſ.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
BEllarmine affirmeth, that all doctrines of Fayth and Manners, which are ſimplie neceſſarie for all men, are plainlie ſet downe in Scripture. Bell. lib. 4. de verbo. c. 11. §. vltimo.
§. 4. That the Scripture is to bee read by the People: and therefore that the ſame for that ende ſhould be tranſlated in their vulgar language.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
DEuter. 6.6.7. And theſe thinges which I command thee this day, ſhall bee in thine heart: and thou ſhalt teach them diligentlie to thy Children: and ſhalt talke of them when thou ſitteſt in thine houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, and when thou lyeſt downe, and when thou ryſeſt vp, &c.
Deuter. 29.29. The ſecret thinges belong to the Lord our God: but theſe thinges which are revealed, belong to vsus, and to our children for over, that we may doe all the words of this Law.
Note then, That the People are bound to know Gods worde, becauſe they are bound to obey Gods word. See in lyke manner, Deut. 17.18.19. &c. the booke of the Law commanded to bee read by the King, for the ſame ende that hee may learne to obey the ſame. As alſo (Ioſhua 1.8.) by the Iudge of the people. And laſt of all, by all ſort of people, as is cleare, Deut. 6.6.7.9. And by this ſubſequent teſtimonie: to wit,
Iohn 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them yee thinke to hauehave eternall lyfe, and they are theſe that testifie of mee.
Thoſe of Baerea therefore, Act. 17.11. They ſearched the Scriptures daylie, whether thoſe things were ſo, teaching all people to follow their example.
Epheſ. 6.17. Take the ſword of the ſpirit, which is the word of GOD.
Note then, That all Chriſtians whatſoever, becauſe all are ſpirituall warriours, are bidden arme themſelues with the Scripture: ſo that who forbids them the knowledge thereof, they make them naked before their ſpirituall enemie.
Col. 3.16. Let the word dwell in you plenteouſlie, that thereby yee may teach one another: and be ye filled with Knowledge. Col. 1.9.
Note then, That this is farre from popiſh ignorance, and their forbidding the people to reade the Word of GOD: for …o, how can it dwell in them plenteouſlie, and they bee filled with the knowledge thereof?
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
CHryſoſtome ſpeaking thus of the forbidding thereof: It is (ſayeth hee) the working of the inſpiration of the Divell, not ſuffering to looke in the treaſure, leſt wee ſhould attaine to the ritches thereof: What a Peſt then is it to thinke that the reading of the Scriptures belongeth only to Clergie men? Chryſ. hom. 2. in Matth. Whence hee ſayeth then, I beſeech you all that are ſeculare men, to get Bibles to your ſelues, the medicine of the ſoule: and if ye will not get more, get the New Teſtament. Chryſ. hom. 9. ad Coloſs. Heere-vntounto witneſſeth alſo Theodoret. lib. 5. de curand. graec. affect.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
IT is manifeſt (ſayth Biſhop Espenſeus) by the Apoſtles doctrine, Col. 3.16. and by the practiſe of the Church, that of olde the publicke vſe of ſcripture was permitted to people. And ſo ſayth Alphonſus de castro. verbo. ſcriptura.
§. 5. That the Scripture is the perfect rule of Fayth and Manners, and the infallible ſupreame Iudge in controverſies of Religion.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
ISai. 8.20. To the Law, and to the Testimonie, if they ſpeake not according to this word, it is, becauſe there is no light in them.
Note then, That in Gods worde is the laſt, ſupreame, and onlie infallible deciſion to bee had concerning eyther Fayth or Manners: and therefore the ſentence of all men whatſoever is to bee tryed …hereby, and reduced therevnto.
The Bareans therefore, Act. 17.11. ſearched the Scriptures, whether thoſe things were ſo, that Paul taught vntounto them, altho an Apoſtle, and famous for manie miracles alſo.
Deut. 12.8.32. And yee ſhall not doe everie man what is right in his owne eyes: but whatſoever I command you, obſerue to doe it. Thou ſhalt not adde thereto, nor diminiſh from it.
Ezek. 20.18.19. But I ſayd vntounto their Children in the Wilderneſſe, Walke yee not in the ſtatutes of your Fathers, neither obſerue their judgementes, nor defile your ſelues with their Idols. I am the Lord your God, walke in my ſtatutes, and keepe my judgements to doe them.
Note then, That mens traditions, nor ancient cuſtome, is not the rule of faith, nor manners, but onlie the Lords Word.
Mark. 7.7.8. In vaine doe they worſhip mee, teaching for doctrines, the traditions of men. For laying aſide the Commandement of God, yee holde the traditions of men.
Matth. 22.29. Therefore doe yee erre, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
Note then, that Scripture is the entire rule of trueth, the ignorance whereof is the cauſe of errour amongſt the ſeduced people.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
THis cauſe (ſayth Auguſtine) requireth a judge: and who ſhalbe judge? let the Apoſtle bee iudge, becauſe by the Apoſtle Chriſt ſpeaketh. Aug. de gratia, & lib. arb. cap. 18. Let vsus ſtand therefore to the iudgement of the holie inſpyred ſcriptures (ſayth Baſill) which God hath ſet over vsus. Epiſt. 80. ad Euſtathium.
3. Confeſsion of Partie.
BAſill (ſayeth Bellarmine) willeth, that both parties ſtand to the judgement of Scripture, which none can reiect.
§. 6. That the Scripture is not a dumbe Iudge, but that GOD by it ſpeaketh to His Church.
1. Authoritie of Scripture.
IOhn 5.39. Search the Scriptures, for in them yee thinke to hauehave eternall life; and theſe are they that teſtifie of mee.
Note then, That in the ſame ſenſe, that Chriſt calleth the Scripture a witneſſe, it may bee called a judg, and in the ſame manner to pronounce judgement in controverſies, as it beareth witneſſe. Seeing then a witneſſe muſt hauehave ſpeach, (elſe hee can bee no witneſſe) in that the Scripture then is ſaide to beare witneſſe, it followeth alſo, that the Scripture after a ſort ſpeaketh.
Iohn 7.42. Hath not the Scripture ſayde, that Christ commeth of the ſeed of David? &c. Loe! ſpeach expreſly attributed to Scrip…ure. Againe,
Heb. 12.5. And yee hauehave forgotten the exhortation that ſpeaketh to you, as vntounto Children, &c.
In lyke manner,
Luke 16.29. Abraham ſaith vntounto him, They hauehave Moſes & the Prophets, let them heare them. Ergo, It implyeth that their writs doe …n a manner ſpeake, ſeeing that wee are …idden h…are them.
Heb. 11.4. By faith Abell offered vntounto God a more excellent ſacrifice than Kain, by which he obtained witnes, that he was righteous God teſtifying of his gifts: and by it, hee being dead, yet ſpeaketh, If Abell then being dead, is ſaide ye… to ſpeake by that record of his fayth which is ſet downe in Scripture; eve… ſo may the Prophets and Apoſtle… beeing dead, bee ſaide lykewiſe yet to ſpeake by theſe records of their doctrine of fayth, which is ſet downe in Scripture, and which is the Chriſtian foundation whereon the Church is built. Epheſ. 2.20.
2. Witneſsing of Antiquitie.
GOD himſelfe ſpeaketh to vsus by the Scripture, ſayeth Cyrillus Alex. lib. 11. in Iohn. c. 21. And even Chriſt himſelfe this verie day is crying vntounto vsus in his Goſpels, ſayth Chryſostom. homil. in Pſal. 95.
3. Conſent of Partie.
THE Scripture therefore (ſayeth Bellarmine) both by wordes and ſimilitudes everie where cryeth, that a ſinner in no ſort can diſpoſe himſelfe to receiue grace. Bell. lib. 6. de lib. arb. c. 5. §. huc deni que .