A Learned Treatise of Traditions, Treatise · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Of what ſort, how weake, and how vncertaine the foundations are wheron Traditions of the Romiſh Church are built: and of the three maximes that ſerue for their defence and prop.
THe Traditions of the Church of Rome are of ſo great a number, that a meere Catalogue of them would furniſh out a large volume. The whole rabble of them hath theſe three maximes for their foundation.
1. That the Pope is Succeſſor to St. Peter, in the charge of Head of the univerſall Church.
2. Secondly, that the Pope cannot erre in the faith.
3. That the Apoſtles hauehave not ſet downe in writing all that they did teach by word of mouth.
Hee that will comprehend the nature of theſe maximes, ſhall know that they evert the Chriſtian faith, and conſume all Religion into ſmoke: for if the Maximes wheron all Papiſtry is founded, and all the body of Romiſh Traditions, bee imaginary maximes and purely humane, (not to giuegive a worſe phraſe) it is impoſſible that the Religion which is built thereupon can hauehave the leaſt tittle of aſſurance.
1. The firſt maxime that layeth downe the Pope to bee Saint Peters Succeſſor, in the charge of Head of the vniverſall Church, is deſtitute of all teſtimony of Gods Word; and our. Adverſaries to vphold it, produce nothing but humane teſtimonies. Whence it followeth, that it is not an Article of the Chriſtian Faith, and that it cannot be beleeved for a certaintie of faith, for the Chriſtian faith is grounded upon the Word of God: Faith commeth by …earing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10. 17.
But the Church of Rome giveth his maxime not onelyonly for an Ar…cle of Faith, but alſo for a foun…ation of all the other Articles of …aith, and of the whole Religion. For in the Church of Rome, the Popes authoritie is planted to be a Foundation of the Church, and of all the doctrine of ſalvation, to the very ſubjecting of the Scripture (that is to ſay, the word of God) to his authoritie: and to cauſe that the authoritie of the Scripture depend vponupon the opinion of the Church of Rome; and all this by vertue of that pretended Succeſſion to St. Peter. Briefly, our Adverſaries make all Chriſtian Religion to hang vponupon this poynt: as Bellarmine acknowledgeth, at the entrance of the Preface in his Books of the Pope, ſpeaking thus: To ſay in a word, when mention is made of the Etenim de qua re agitur cum de primatu Pontificis agitur? breutſsime dicam, de ſumma rei chriſtianae. … ent… quaeritur, aebeatne Eceleſia diutius conſiſtere, an vero diſſolui & concidere. Obſerv andic eſt tertia, licet force no ſit de …ure diuno, Romanis̄ Pontificē ut Romanum Pentificem Petro ſuccecere, tamen … ad fidem Catholicam pertinere. Nō enim eſt idem alsquid eſſe de fide, et eſſe de ture divine. Nec enim de oure divine fuit … Paulus h… beret penulā; eſt tamen … ipſum de fide, … penulam. Etſi autem Romanum Pontificem ſuc…edere Petro nō habeatur expreſſe in ſcripturis, &c.Popes ſupremacy, the ſumme of all Chriſtianitie is at ſtake: for the queſtion is, whether the Church ought to ſubſiſt any longer, or whether it muſt bee diſſolved and fall. Thereunto doe all the Controverſies referre, and all the Traditions ayme at the profit and greatneſſe of the Pope; yet the ſame Cardinall at the 12. chap. of the ſecond Booke of the Pope, acknowledgeth, that the Scripture maketh no mention of the Popes ſucceſsion in the place of Saint Peter, and that this poyut is not jure divino. Nevertheleſſe hee affiemeth that this ſucceſſion, though it bee not jure divino, leaueth not to appertaine to the Catholick faith; In the ſame manner as the Catholicke faith beleeueth, that Saint Paul had a Friers weed, though that were not jure divine, and that God had not commanded any thing to that purpoſe.
Hence it is manifeſt, that all the diuine doctrine is founded vponupon a plaine humane Tradition, to weet, a Tradition vnwritten, That God hath ordained the Pope of Rome for Succeſſour in the Primacy of Saint Peter. Thus you ſee Tradition grounded vponupon tradition, that is, vponupon it ſelfe: and this infinite Maſſe of traditions is founded vponupon a Traditions that is no more jure diuino, then Saint Pauls weed, whereof never was any diuine Teſtimony extant.
I will not at this time enter into proofes of the falſity of this matter, which wee hauehave handled in diuers places, eſpecially in my booke that went before, and ſhewed the vntruths by aboundance of reaſon and authority drawne from antiquity. I ſay but this, that the ancient Biſhops of Rome were called Succeſſours of Saint Peter, in the Biſhopricke only of the Citie of Rome; but not in the Apoſtleſhip, nor in the goverment of the vniuerſall Church. Iuſt as the Biſhops of Ieruſalem were called Succeſſors of Saint Iames, and thoſe of Antioch of Saint Peter, and thoſe of Epheſus of Saint Paul and of Saint Iohn: not in the Apoſtl ſhip, but in the Biſhopricke of th… townes, wherein theſe Apoſtles had planted the Church. Our adverſaries produce not any example or paſſage of the ancient Church, whereby it may appeare, that ever the Biſhops of Rome attributed any authority to themſelues, over the Churches that are out of the Romane Empire.
I ſay alſo, that when the Biſhop of Rome was heretofo…e Succeſſor to Saint Peter, in place of head of the Church, ſo it was that the hereſies which infected this ſeat (as our adverſaries themſelues doe confeſſe, and the Popes complaine of it) and the Schiſmes which hauehave rent it, (there hauing beene two Popes at once, ſometimes three at the ſame inſtant, proſecuting one the other to extremity, and calling one the other Antichriſt) did long ſince breake the chaine of this ſucceſſion. In which Schiſmes ordinarily the moſt vicious and moſt cunning caried it; and hee excluded his adverſary, who had the favour of thoſe Emperours and Kings on whom the fortune of warre did ſmile. This continued ſtraine of ſucceſſion, not being poſſibly knowen, but by the multitude of Hiſtories and Authors, both Greeke and Latine (who very often jarre among themſelues, ſo far as not to agree vponupon the next Succeſſours to Saint Peter) it is impoſſible that the people ſhould know any thing in this ſucceſſion, o… ſhould hauehave any aſſurance hereof, but by the Teſtimony of thoſe, who brag of it and liue by it.
Moreover, our adverſaries doe confeſſe, that the Pope and church of Rome may erre in the queſtion de facto. Now theſe queſtions, to weet, whethe… Saint Peter hath left the Biſhop of Rome Succeſſour of his Apoſtleſhip, or of his Supremacy; and whether this ſucceſsion hath not beene interrupted by Schiſmes and hereſies, are queſtions de facto, and conſequently of the nature of thoſe, wherein our adverſaries hold, that the Church of Rome may erre. And the proofes which our adverſaries bring forth are drawne, from books which theirſelues conuince of falſity, and from ſuch fragments as for the moſt part are ſuppoſititious.
I forbeare to cenſure any further the certainty of Romiſh traditions, ſeeing they are all founded vponupon one Maxime, which is, a Tradition humane, not vpheld by any Ordinance of God; a Tradition which is not an Article of the Chriſtian faith, yet at this time is put downe for the ground of Faith; a Tradition which is of the nature of thoſe wherein our adverſaries confeſſe, that the Church may erre; a Tradition whereof the people can hauehave no certainty nor knowledge, but by bookes, both Greeke and Latine of infinite length, wherein they vnderſtand nothing, and by the Teſtimony of thoſe eſpecially who propoſe it, that is to ſay, the Popes, who receiuing not the Scripture for Iudge, cal themſelues ſupreme Iudges and infallible in all controuerſies, more eſpecially in that wherein is pleaded their ſucceſſion, and their owne proper authority and infallibility.
Now it is an eaſie matter, to gueſſe, at what the proceedings of the Enemy of our ſaluation doe levell. Their butt & ſcope is to diſtill (as it were) all Religion into a vapour, and to make it depend vponupon preſuppoſitions, not only vaine and vncertaine, but alſo falſe and imaginary: as he that ſhould beare vp an obeliske vponupon a ſmal feskue. When ſome demand, Wherefore is it behouefull to receive Traditions? the anſwere is, becauſe the Pope hath ordained it. Againe, if it be demanded, whence commeth this authority of the Pope? it is anſwered, Becauſe Saint Peter dying hath left the Biſhop of Rome Succeſſour of his Supremacy, over the Church of the whole world. Moreouer when it is asked, Can you produce any Ordinance of God for this ſucceſsion; for this point being eſtated by you, for the foundation of the Church, and of all the Chriſtian faith, it is not credible that God hath ordained nothing of it? there they ſtand caught by the noſe, not vttering one ſyllable of the word of God, and doe confeſſe, that this ſucceſſion is not lure diuino, nor by the Ordinance of God. Only the Popes will bee therein beleeued, and call themſelues ſupreme and abſolute, in a caſe wherein they are ſo much intereſſed, and wherein it is diſputed of their ſucceſſion and authority. Thus you may ſee all the Ius diuinum founded vponupon a point which is not Iure diuino; and all the divine doctrine founded vponupon humane Tradition, yea vponupon humane Teſtimony, the moſt vncertaine of all, for the certainty of the Popes ſucceſſion is founded vponupon the Teſtimony and authority of the Pope himſelfe, who is party in this cauſe, and who by this Tradition ruleth and vpholdeth his Empire.
Nay, they doe worſe, they make not onelyonly theſe Traditions, but the very authority of the holy Scripture, to depend vponupon this Tradition. Let it bee demanded, wherefore ought we to beleeue that God hath created man after his owne Image, that he hath giuen his Law to Moſes in two Tables, and that the Sonne of God hath taken fleſh in the wombe of the bleſſed Virgine, and is dead for vsus? It is anſwered, that this is to be beleeued, becauſe it is written in the holy Scripture that God hath inſpired his Prophets and Apoſtles. Againe let it bee asked, wherefore ought the holy Scriptures to bee beleeued, and why are wee obliged to put our faith therein? The anſwereBaſilienſis Concilȳ appē dice Eccleſia Romana ſic lequitur: Qued autem verum feret Chriſti Evā ge leum, qu… m…de ſcire poſſetu, niſi illud vobis patefeeiſſem? Audiſtu nō nullos ex Apoſtolu ſcripſiſſe Evangelia. Sed quo…iam quatuer duntaxat approbavi, … Ra vt Evangelia venerantur, alia reſpuuntur. is, Becauſe the Church of Rome hath ſo ordained it, which hath this authority by vertue of her ſucceſsion in Supremacy of Saint Peter. But vponupon this queſtion, hauehave you any commandement from God? they anſwere, the holy Scripture indeed ſpeaks nothing of it, but the church of Rome is ſupreme Iudge and hath more authority over vsus then the Scripture. Nevertheleſſe in this point it is diſputed of the authority of the Church of Rome, wherein it is no reaſonable thing that ſhee ſhould bee Iudge, much leſſe to aſſigne her ſelfe Iudge aboue the Scripture.
Doe but obſerue what becommeth of all Chriſtian Religion in the account of theſe Merchants. Their will is that God ſhould bee beleeued, becauſe men ordained it, and that the diuine truth ſhould hauehave no other foundation, then the evidence and authority of lying men, yea ſuch as will bee Iudges in their owne cauſe, and who hauing invented a thouſand Traditions (all tendi…g to their profit) hold them all vp by one Tradition alone, which hath no other foundation then their owne authority. There is no ſuch pernicious ſtratageme to pervert the Chriſtian Religion, as to confound the things that are certaine by vncertaine proofes, to plead humane Tradition for their higheſt and concluding principle, and to order that the Chriſtian faith ſhould hauehave a Maxime that is no Articie of faith, and is vpheld by no other authority then of thoſe that publiſh it, and ſuch as by this Maxime enrich themſelues, and build them vp an Empire on the earth: yea all the Churches in the world (except the Romiſh) doe reject this Maxime, and laugh at this ſucceſſion, as a ſtory contradicted by all antiquity, and eſpecially by al the Biſhops of Rome; who whilſt the Romane Empire was in floriſhing eſtate, never intermedled in any affaire beyond the limits of that Empire; as I hauehave proued at large in my firſt Treatiſe.
The ſecond Maxime is of the ſame nature, and dependeth vponupon the firſt. Our adverſaries (to maintaine all their Traditions) ſay that the Pope cannot erre in the Faith, and that likewiſe, by vertue of the ſame ſucceſſion. For they will hauehave the Pope Succeſſour not only of the power of Saint Peter, but alſo of his infallibility.
Now if the Pope ſhould be Succeſſour of the Supremacy of Saint Peter, it followeth not thereupon that the Pope cannot erre; for hee that is Succeſſour of the charge of another, is not therefore Succeſſor of his vertue. The Doctors that hauehave ſucceeded in the chaire of Moſes, hauehave often corrupted the Law of Moſes, and hauehave cauſed the people to depart out of the way, and to ſtumble at the Law, Malach. 2. 8. And the Scribes and Phariſees that were in the Chaire of Moſes, taught that Ieſus Chriſt was a Seducer. And wee hauehave formerly ſeene diuers Popes condemned for hereſie and impiety by the Councels, and many Popes complaining of their Predeceſſours hereſies. And ſeeing that our adverſaries confeſſe that there hauehave beene multitudes of profane Popes and of infamous life, it is hard to beleeue that hee which is not Succeſſour of the good life, and of the vertues of Saint Peter, can be Succeſſour infallible of his purity in the Faith. For if the wicked doctrine of the Leaders of the Church bring in errours, their vngodly life bringeth in profaneneſſe and Atheiſme; and as the Canon Si Papa hath it in the 40. diſtinction, it caſteth headlong innumerable troopes of people into hell, it expoſeth the Chriſtian Religion vntounto Scandall, and bringeth errours into the very Faith. It being the cuſtome of lewd Paſtors to change the doctrine, for the better accommodation of their vices, and to make it ſerue their avarice and ambition. Let Saint Peter preaching the Goſpell bee compared with the Pope that preacheth not at all; Saint Peter going on bare foot, with the Pope carried vponupon Princes ſhoulders; Saint Peter not ſuffering Cornelius to worſhip him, Act. 10. with the Pope expecting himſelfe to bee adored, and that Kings ſhould kiſſe his feet; SaintLib. Sacram. ceremon. ſect. 5. c. 1. & 3. Peter reprehending Simon Magus for holding the gift of God purchaſable with money, Act. 8. 20. With the Pope drayning ſo much money to himſelfe by Abſolutions, Diſpenſations, Indulgences, Annates, Archiepiſcopall roabes, &c. Saint Peter recommending chaſtity to women, 1. Pet. 3. With the Pope ſuffering whoredome, and eſtabliſhing brothell houſes publickly at Rome; Saint Peter that was married, Marke. 1. 30. With the Pope forbidding the Clergy to liue in ſtate of matrimony; S. Peter who in his ſecond Epiſtle, Chap. 1. Exhoreth the faithfull to bee attentiue to the word of the Prophets, With the Pope not allowing the reading of Scripture; Saint Peter writing to all the faithfull, and commanding them to obey their Kings, 1 Pet. 2. 3. and 14. With the Pope exempting the Clergy from ſubjection to their Kings; Saint Peter making no mention in his Epiſtles of invocation of Saints, of adoration of Images, of Reliques, of Purgatory, of Indulgences, of the Treaſure of the Church, of Limbus, of the Service in an unknowne tongue, of his Supremacie, nor uſurping any title to himſelfe, that was not common to the other Apoſtles, with the Pope, who teacheth all theſe things, and in his Bulls attributeth to himſelfe ſuch titles as Saint Peter never admitted of in his Epiſtles; then may it eaſily be conjectured what little modicum of aſſurance there is, that the Pope cannot degenerate from the puritie of Saint Peter, nor be alienated from his doctrine.
And note, that although Saint Peter was exempted from errour, by the continuall aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God, which Ieſus Chriſt had promiſed to the Apoſtles, nevertheleſſe neither hee, nor any Apoſtle vſed this arrogant language, vaunting of their impoſſibilitie to erre. As the Pope is the onelyonly Chriſtian Prelate which maketh himſelfe to be called God, ſo is he the onelyonly creature which qualifieth himſelfe with Infallibilitie, to the end to make him reſemble God. Imitating heerein the falſe Doctors who taught the Iewes to ſay: The Law ſhall not periſh from the Iere. 18. 18.Prieſt, nor the Counſell from the Wiſe, nor the Word from the Prophet.
It is not requiſite to prooue this Maxime any further, That the Biſhop of Rome cannot erre in the Faith, to bee falſe and contradicted (in the experience of ſo many ages) by ſo many holy Doctors, who hauehave ſo often condemned the Biſhops of Rome; by ſo many Councels, damning the Romiſh Church, and the Biſhop of Rome for error and hereſie; by the teſtimony of numbers of our adverſaries, who reject this Maxime; and by the confeſſion of the Popes themſelues. This hath beene amply prooved in my firſt Treatiſe.
VponUpon which ſo falſe a Maxime, are grounded all Traditions of the church of Rome, as a multitude of flies ſitting vponupon a floating planke; or a number of Chymera's hanging at a ſpiders thread, which breaketh at a blaſt. It is their plaiſter for all evill. They make new Articles of faith moſt gainfull to his Holineſſe. Idolatry, Merchandiſe, tyranny, corruption of the benefit and nature of Ieſus Chriſt is eſtabliſhed. And in concluſion they pay us with this maxime, that the Church cannot erre; and by the Church they underſtand the Romiſh; and by the Romiſh Church the Pope of Rome. Thus the Romiſh Church forbiddeth all ſorts of errours by an errour, in ſaying, I cannot erre, ſupplying with preſumption that which is wanting in reaſon. Shee is exempted from giving reaſon of her doctrine, for ſhee her ſelfe judgeth that ſhe hath reaſon. Such an errour is the worſt of all; for by this meanes a man becommeth Iudge of the Word of God, and maketh Religion to depend upon his will. And hee that ſaith, I cannot erre, will never reforme his errour, nor ſubiect himſelfe to any rule; for he beleeveth himſelfe to be the Rule. How ſhall he be raiſed vp, who beleeveth hee cannot fall?
The third Maxime whereon our adverſaries ground their Traditions, hath no more certaintie, then the other two precedent. They preſuppoſe without proofe, that Ieſus Chriſt and the Apoſtles hauehave ſpoken many things which they did not commit to writing. VponUpon this preſuppoſition they build another, the moſt inconſiderate and unreaſonable that can bee. For they would hauehave it beleeved, that thoſe things which the Apoſtles did not ſet downe in writing, are the Traditions of the Romiſh Church at this time; and therefore conclude, that when Ieſus Chriſt ſpake ſeverally and apart to his Diſciples, he conferred with them about the ſervice of Images, and adoration of Reliques, about Indulgences and ſuperaboundant ſatisfactions of the Saints, which the Pope ought to locke up in his Treaſury; about Invocation of Saints, about the crowning of his Mother in the dignitie of Queene of heaven, and of the Angels; about private Maſſes, the Communion vnderunder one kind, bleſſed Beades, & Agnus Dei, &c. This is a daring conjecture, whereon if the faith of the faithfull bee founded, all Religion ſhall conſiſt of ſuppoſition: and the Pope ſhall hauehave good recreation to invent Traditions which ſhal turne to his profit; for ſuch conjectures are taken for Oracles, and layd downe for a foundation of the Chriſtian faith.
But they are aſhamed of this, and *contradict themſelues: for knowing that theſe Traditions are new Inventions, they ſpeake freely that neither Chriſt nor the Apoſtles hauehave taught all, either by mouth or by writing, and that the Popes from time to time hauehave added many doctrines eſſentiall and neceſſary, reſerving to themſelues the power of altering that which God hath comanded in the Scripture, of adding to the Creed, of diſpenſing againſt the Apoſtle, and of eſtabliſhing new Articles of faith, a… we hauehave ſhewed by multitudes of proofes, & by the practiſe of the church of Rome. So as now wee are not to conſider what doctrines hauehave been taught from the mouth of the Apoſtles, but it is endeavoured to make us receiue all the Traditions which the Popes hauehave added, not onelyonly to the Scriptures, but alſo to the preaching of the Apoſtles, for inviolable lawes and infallible rules.
Our adverſaries then come back to this, that the Church of Rome cannot erre in her Traditions, for ſhee cannot erre in this Tradition, that ſhee cannot erre. They would hauehave us beleeue the Tradition of the Romiſh Church, becauſe the Tradition of that Church hath ſo ordained it. So as this third Maxime leadeth vsus backe to the ſecond, which holdeth, that the Pope cannot erre: and this Maxime that the Pope cannot erre, leadeth us to the firſt, that is to ſay, to the Succeſſion of Saint Peter, (wherof God ordained nothing) from whence they hauehave made this infallibilitie to ſpring forth.
It is lamentable to heare, how they ſpeake of the antiquitie of their Traditions, yea, when they be freſh and moderne. They heard their fathers ſay, that they heard from others, and they againe from others, that the Apoſtles hauehave taught theſe things by mouth onelyonly, and did diſperſe them amongſt ſome few. Thus they make a brittle cord which bindeth not the conſciences, and their beleefe ſtriving to rove backe through fifteene or ſixteene ages, wherein they ſee not one jot, is loſt in the way; in ſtead of beginning at the fountaine, to wit, at Ieſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and to learne in their writings that which they hauehave taught: for, a Commandement of the Lord, or of the Apoſtles, had in one word freed them from all doubt and difficultie.