Examination of those Plausible Appearances in the Romish Church, Chapter 17
CHAP: XVII. That the only meanes to pr…ue true antiquity, is to hauehave recourse to the begining by the scripture.
NOw that wee alledge St. Cyprian, it is not to authorise the truth, by the authority of men, only wee borrow their words, and fancies to expresse it. Wee wish that it may be considered, not who speakes, but what is spoken. But if better authority here be called for, we wil alledge supreme authoritie; that of the Lord prescribing vsus the rule It was not so from the beginning. Wisely then, and fitly,aTertul. contr. Marcion. l…b. 4 ca. 5. said Tertullian, th…t which is the first, is the truer, and that which is from the beginning is first, and that which is of the Apostles, is from the beginning. To which wee adde, only that which followeth of it selfe, that which is in the scripture, in the writings of the Apostles is of the Apostles.
So then, in respect of this antiquity, doe wee not submit our selues to reason, when wee yeeld that our doctrine should be reiected, if it be not of the Apostles? Are not our proofes authētique to cōfirme …he antiquity of our religion, when they are gathered out of their writings, the writings of the Prophe…s & Euāgelists?
The course which is taken, to proue the antiquity so much talked of in the Church of Rome, is a recourse to Fathers, and Councells. The more ant…ent these Fathers and Councels are, proue t…ey not this antiquity the more euidently? But what fa…hers, what Councells a…e more ancient, then the scripture? what antiquity then, is ancienter then the scriptures? what title more ancient then that which is of the same date with the scriptures? certainely it is an excesse of open blasphemy, to equalize either fathers or councells to Scripture, and yet this is done. But though this be done, yet it will not be said, that the Scripture is of a fresher originall then the fathers, and Councels, Impudency hath not yet ventured so farre. He then of whose side is the doctrine of the scripture, hath gaine… the prerogatiue of antiquity, and by consequent of truth. So then this question about anti…uity is brought to this issue, what wee are to examine which is the doctrine most consonant to Scripture, this being cleared, the controversie of antiquity need to trouble vsus no longer.
It is impossible othe…wise to decide it: for let them alleage fathers, and Councells, as long as they will, this scruple still remaineth, to knowe if the Apostles hauehave so ordained. Vniversall consent cannot be called to witnesse in this case, for to shew that, it would …e requisite to aske all persons of all ages, vntill the Apostles. If the name of vniversall consent, be attributed to that which is beleeued by the greater part, to the most received opinion, yet how shall we knowe and iudge of this kinde of vniversall agreement? Must it be by Councells? Provinciall Councells cannot giuegive vsus sufficient assurance of it, and for generall let them shew vsus that after that at Ierusalem which is registred in the Scripture, there was any one held before that of Nice, which was not celebrated vntill about the yeare 325. shall it be by the writings of the fathers which liued before this Councell? The bJust. Mart. in dial. cont. T…y. Iren. cont. Her. lib. 5. c. 33. Euseb. Eccl hist. lib. 3 c. 36. Tertul de spe fidel prout cita…ur à Hier. in Com. sup 36 c. Ez…ch Vict ap. Hier. ib. & in Catal. script. Ec…les. in nom. Papius Lactan. lib. 7. c 25.greatest part, yea & most ancient of them had this strange conceit, that we are to expect after the resurrection, an earthly happines here below, for the space of 1000 yeares, during which the Lord also shall conuerse with vsus eating, and drinking. A doctrine which those Fathers propose as receaued of all the Church. The Fa…hers then are not sufficient witnesses, the consent of the Church is not a sufficient testimonie of true antiquitie. cAug. lib. 1. de merit. peccat. c. 20 & 24 & lib ad Bonif. cont 2. Epist. Pelag. c. 22. & lib. … c. 4. &. l. cont. Iulia …. c 2. & passim a ibi.But what shall we say of their consent in receiuing little children to the Eucharist? Shall we therefore beleeue this opinion to be ancient? Ancient indeed in respect of vsus, but not of truth, which being truely ancient and Apostolicall, hath condemned it of error, which doubtlesse will be confessed by the Church of Rome. They which came after these ancients, hauehave corrected their errours, concerning the thousand yeares habitation vponupon earth, the worldly de…ights after the resurrection, the admission of children to the Communion. Their comming afterward, hath not preiudiced the priority of truth, which they set vp againe in her ancient splendor and Maiesty. The time which these fathers lived before them, advantaged not their opinions younger then truth.
It is then a reasonable offer which we make, to verefie the antiqu…ty of our religion by the Scripture. It is an easie, necessary, and certaine discovery. For how few are there to be found, which either are versed in antiquity, or can be? Seeing the tedious succession of so many ages, the multitude of volumes which must be read, and pervsed for this purpose. A multitude, if we hauehave regard to the truth of the history we search, defectiue; if to the leasure of ability of the greater sort infinite. Let them which hauehave beene versed in these enquiries speake, if they finde not through every age changes, and alterations? But the Scripture is exposed to the view of every one; it is but one booke in which that which is necessary to salvation is easie to him, who is not preoccupated either with passion, or with a conceit of its obscurity. This wee hauehave elsewhere demonstrated, here we will only recite as appertaining to the matter we hauehave in hand, that which the renowned father dChrys. foreign inacta tom. 4. edit. Sauil…Chrysostome speaketh concerning this. The Pagan saith, I would make my selfe a Christian, but I knowe not which side to fasten on. There are many contentions among you, every one saith, I speake the truth. I knowe not vntounto what, or whom to referre my selfe: both sides pr…tend Scripture. But answere him, this maketh much for vsus: for if wee should say that we beleeue reasons, there would be something to trouble one, but seeing that we stand to the Scriptures se…ing they are plaine, and true, it is very easie to iudge of the matter. If any one consent vntounto them he is a Christian: if he oppose them, he is far from their company.
These are the very words of that father, which in his mouth will finde a great deale more favour, and lesse envy then in ours. Words which advertise vsus, that the Scripture is the most especiall instrument to ha…e recourse to, in t…e search either of antiquity, or truth. Words also, which avouch that the Pagan himselfe, …ay iudge who is he that beleeueth, who speaketh agreeably to Script…re: a…though he cannot iudge of the truth contained in it. For they are very different things to iudge of the truth of a writing, and of the conformity of some discourse to it. The Pagans could not iudge of the truth of the Scripture, but according to Chrys…stome, they might discerne, what tenet and opinion was most confo…mable to it. Now this sufficeth in the question of antiquity: for neither side doub…e…h, but that the Scripture is most ancient, that si…e then which shall be found most conformable to it, shall be the most ancient. The Pagans may iudge of this conformity, saith Chrysostome, how much rather then may the Christians. The shortest cut then to the composing of this difference, is to addresse our selues to the Scripture.
When one would knowe the antiquity of the priviledges of a Colledge, or a soceity, he repaireth no whither, but to the Charter of the foundation. The instrument of the foundation of the Church is the Scripture: if we offer to verifie our antiquity, if we doe verifie it by the date of this instrument: wee proceed ingeniously, and our conclusion is irresistible. Let thē cease then to reproach vsus, that wee hauehave brought in a new doctrine, vnknowne in the times of the Apostles. Let them not for shame boast any longer of antiqu…ty, seeing they refuse to be con…rolled by the Scripture, the most ancient monument of antiquity. Certainely they make but an vntoward enquiry into antiquitie, who measure it by a certaine number of yeares: who dreame that to hauehave beene alwaies extant, whose beginning they are ignorant of.
It is a safer course then, to proue antiquity by truth, then truth by a…tiquity. Custome without truth, as St Cyprian well obserued, is but antiquity of errour. Cypriari. Epist. 74.The proportion, elaborate figure, the beauty of a medaile, statue, or an old peece of building is not knowne by the antiquity, but the antiquity of them is characterised by these conditions as by i…s infallible markes. So the glory and vse of the Sunne, are not discerned by his a…tiquity, but by his glory and vse, hee may bee iudged to be as old as heaven and earth. It is not with time in respect of truth, as it is in respect of nobility, the antiquity of which augmenteth its reverence, making it more illustrious. Time contributeth no growth, nor luster to truth. Shee was as much herselfe, in her cradle, as shee is many centuries of yeares after. We must beleeue that the thing is, and afterward examine since what time it beganne to be. Let vsus proue our religion to be true: and afterward let vsus consider its antiquity: yea by this meanes wee shall hauehave proued it; for vertue is ancienter then vice, trueth then lyes, superstition is after religion as sicknesse after health. So wee are ready to verify both the antiquitie of our religion, by its trueth, and the truth of it by its antiquitie: beginning at the well-head, the times of the Patriarches, Prophets and Apostles; that the processe may be abridged, and speedily ended.