Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 53
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING TRADITIONS. LIII.
1 HAuing laſt of al diſputed concerning the written Worde of God, this preſent Treatiſe is to bee touching Traditions, which ſome call by the name of vnwritten word and doctrine.
2 Thoſe which the Greek cal foreign are commonly called Traditions amongſt the Latines: which they affirme not to bee contained in writing, but to hauehave beene conueied by word of mouth, & as it were, from hand to hand deliuered from one to an other.
3 Now, there are two ſorts of Traditions mentioned in the Scriptures, whereof ſome are commendable, as proceding from the Spirit of God, of which ſort are thoſe which are mentioned to hauehave beene receaued from Chriſt & his Apoſtles: others were inuented by the wit of man, as thoſe which Chriſt calleth the Traditions of the Fathers, and the commandements and doctrines of men.
4 The former of theſe were not at the firſt, as being in the infancy of the church, committed to writing: but now, ſince that time, that they hauehave beene put into the writings of the Apoſtles, they are not to be taken as vnwritten, but to hauehave credit amongſt all, as being the verie written word of God.
5 Of theſe there are two ſorts: for ſome do appertaine vntounto the record of the hyſtorie, and the things that were done, as that which LVKE ſpeaketh cap. 1. 2. of the things that were done by Chriſt: ſome do appertaine vntounto doctrine, and that in a twofold difference.
6 For ſome were concerning the Doctrine it ſelfe, as thoſe things touching the Lords Supper, which PAVL affirmeth to hauehave deliuered, as he receiued them of the Lord: Some are concerning the rites and the good order of the Church; as that touching the blood of thinges that were ſtrangled, the couering of womens heads, that men ſhould not bee couered in the time of praier, and ſuch like.
7 Thoſe thinges, which are concerning the ſubſtaunce of doctrine, are to be perpetually obſerued in the Church: but as for the things which apertain to outward rites, they in conſideration of diuers circumſtāces, as of time, place, & perſon may bee chaunged: yet ſo, as regard be alwaies had (which muſt be generally obſerued in al indifferent things) vntounto that which maketh moſt for the glorie of God, & the aedification of the Church.
8 As touching other traditions which hauehave riſen from the bare will of man, though they hauehave neuer ſo glorious a ſhewe of antiquitie, holines and wiſedome; yet if they agree not with Gods word, they are to be accounted for no better then will-worſhip, and ſo they are to be vtterlie caſt out, with all other ſuperſtitions, that are either directlie or indirectlie againſt Gods word. Of this ſort, are the obſeruations of the difference of meat, garments, & daies, praier for the dead, invocation of Saints departed, Mouckery, ſingle life, and a thouſand ſuch like; either fooliſh or impious toyes, wherewith Chriſtians are now much more burthened, then the Iewes were in times paſt with their Ceremonies.
9 For in the worſhippe of God, this hath bene, is, and ſhall be the onelyonly rule: Whatſoeuer is without faith is ſin; and that faith dependeth not vponupon the inuentions of men, but vponupon the hearing of Gods worde; and that there can be no obedience, where there is no commandement.
10 And ſeeing the minde of the Lord, is onelyonly knowen vntounto himſelfe, it belongeth not vntounto man to ſet downe, what is acceptable, or what is odious in his ſight, but vntounto God onelyonly; who hath therefore taught vsus, how hee will be worſhipped, and would not leaue that point to our choiſe.
11 The word of God furthermore, is eueryevery way perfect, and thervnto nothing is to be added or detracted; for it is able to make the man of God abſolute. Wherefore, we do conſtantly affirme, that we are bound onelyonly to cleaue vntounto it, rightly vnderſtoode; and that wee muſt not depart one jote from the ſame. The vnderſtanding of it, is to be drawen from the analogie of faith, and the conferences of other places of Scripture.
12 We hould, that it is lawfull neither for counſellors, nor Biſhops, nor for anie man to impoſe lawes vppon the conſciences of men, which onelie belongeth to the alone Biſhop of our ſoules, and our Law-giuer Chriſt, or vntounto the Apoſtles, hauing his commaundement. For, although true Paſtors and Doctors of the Church, hauehave beene and are in the place of the Apoſtles, yet hauehave not they the ſame commiſsion that the Apoſtles had. For the Apoſtles being immediatlie inſpired by the ſpirite of God, could not erre, and we are bound in euerie point to beleeue them. But as for Paſtors and Teachers, they may (ſuch is mans weakeneſſe) oftentimes ſlipp, and therefore they are onelie to be followed, ſo farre as they followe Chriſt and his Apoſtles.
Wee condemne therefore the olde Phariſies, and thoſe which hauehave followed them, as the Iewes, who hauehave coined vntounto vsus their CABALA, and manie other dotages of their TALMVD: the Papiſts, and all other falſe Chriſtians, who hauehave polluted the ſeruice of God, with their own dreames and inuentions, and as it is written, ISAY 29. MAT. 15. doe worſhip God in vaine, in teaching mens traditions.
Defended by IOHN RVE of CADOMA in Normandie.