A Learned Treatise of Traditions, Treatise · Chapter 21

A Learned Treatise of Traditions · Treatise · Chapter 21

p. 267CHAP. XXI. A proofe of the ſufficiency and perfection of the Scriptures, by the Teſtimony of God himſelfe, ſpeaking in the Scriptures.

WEe hauehave offered to your vnderſtandings, both the novelty, and falſhood of Romiſh Traditions, and have proued that they are neither Diuine, nor Apoſtolicall. p. 268It is therefore to be concluded, that we ought entirely to adhere to the word of God, contained in the Holy Scriptures: for in two wayes, when the one is blocked vp, there remaineth but the other that is paſſable. Our aduerſaries themſelues aide vsus in this point. The Popes hauing made ſo many decrees, and decretals, and extravagants; yet they dare not call theſe decrees the word of God. Yea, they produce no other booke then the Scripture, that beareth this title of the word of God, or of the Teſtament or Couenant of God. This ſingle prooſe may ſuffice, vnleſſe we would embrace the word of men for a rule of faith.

Our aduerſaries againe tell vsus that the Holy Scripture cannot teſtifie of it ſelfe, and when it is…aile 'Ieſuite … 1. traitt… de ſon Catechiſme. Bellarm. lib. 4 de Verbo Dei, cap. 4. § Quart…. called Holy and Divine, It is … more to be credited then Titus Livius p. 269or Mahumets Alcoran. But let them know that this is Gods true Prerogative, to be Iudge and witneſſe in her cauſe, who being the party offended, will not forget at the laſt day to be Iudge of thoſe that have offended him. Hearken to that of Ieſus Chriſt, ſpeaking at the 8. of S. Iohn 14. Though I beare record of my ſelfe, yet my record is true, and worthy to be beleeued. For God is not therefore to bee the leſſe beleued, becauſe there are ſo many incredulous and vnbeleeuing; and the perverſity of man ſhall neuer deſpoile God of his right. It is a non ſequitur, and an vnjuſt inference that becauſe of the malice and depravednes of man, the dominion of God ſhould ſuffer dimunition. Therefore wee will not feare to alledge the Scripture, for proofe of the perfection of the Scripture; Wee know that the authenticke p. 270Teſtimony which God giueth to his word, can be no way taxed, or iuſtly ſuſpected.

The Apoſtle Saint Paul, in the 2. to Tim 3. 15. ſpeaketh thus to his diſciple Timothy. From thine in▪ fancie thou haſt knowne the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wiſe vntounto ſaluation, through faith which is in Chriſt Ieſus. Now what need we ſeeke any further then to bee ſo inſtructed, as that wee may be able to attaine vntounto ſaluation by our beleefe in Ieſus Chriſt?

To ſhif… off this paſſage of Saint Paul to Timothy, our aduerſaries tell vsus, that Saint Paul ſpeaketh not in that place, but onelyonly of the bookes of the old Teſtament; and yet at that time the greateſt part of the new was written. But I am contented to gr…t what they ſay, for it maketh againſt them: being aſſured that if the ſole bookes of p. 271the old Teſtament can make a man wiſe to ſaluation, much more, and with ſtronger r…aſon ſhall the old and the new coupled together, make vsus wiſe to ſaluation. The Holy Scripture neuer ſaith, that vnwritten Traditions can make vsus wiſe to ſaluation. The Apoſtle had neuer ſayd that the Scripture can make vsus wiſe to ſalvation, if it inſtructed vsus but by halfes, and if it were needfull for vsus to ſeeke the other part of our inſtruction, in another word that is vnwritten.

Where they ſay that Timothy could not learne out of the olde Teſtament, the immortality of the ſoule, nor Paradiſe, nor the reſurrection, &c. It hath bin formerly confuted. Of the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt, and of his death, the Prophets ſpeak… ▪ moſt clearely, and all the ſacrifices lead thereunto. And when theſe things were p. 272leſſe plainely and expreſſely ſet downe, yet God required not of our forefathers (before the comming of Chriſt) a greater knowledge, then that which was reuealed vntounto them.

There are thoſe who play the Sophiſters vponupon this word, foreign, vſed by the Apoſtle, and doe render it to instruct, and not to make wiſe. Wherein their owne Bible…ſ… l… 18. an Gr…c. Phan… …ni l…x…con, foreign. teacheth the contrary, for at the 19. Pſal. 7. There is in the Greeke, foreign, which is the vulgar tranſlation Sapientiam praeſtans parv…lis, that is to ſay, giuing wiſedome to the ſimple. And at the 119. Pſal. 98. foreign, Where Pagnin rendreth it, tu me ſ…pienti…rem reddidiſti inimicis meis. Thou haſt made mee wiſer then min… enemies. But vponupon the point it commeth all to one: for it ſufficeth vsus to bee inſtructed to ſaluation, p. 273Saint Paul ſpeaketh not of any curtal'd or halfe inſtr…ction. Hee is inſtructed to ſalvation, who hath ſufficient inſtruction to bee ſaved: and whoſoever is not wiſe to ſalvation, is not inſtructed to ſalvation; ſo are they one and the ſame thing. But if the Scripture could make Timothy wiſe to ſalvation, why ſhould it not be as well ſufficient to make others wiſe to ſalvation? For if any man profit therein leſſen then Timothy, the reaſon is not, becauſe it is more perfect for one then for another; but becauſe one bringeth to it more light of ſpirit, more affection, and more attention then another: and becauſe God conferreth his knowledge more abundantly upon thoſe that feare him, and humbly crave the giſt of underſtanding.

2. The Apoſtle Saint Paul at 1 Cor. 4. 6. limiting the power of p. 274the Paſtors of the Church, ſaith,foreign. Let no man thinke above that which is written, there it is, above that which is written, and not above that which I have written. And whoſoever imputeth to Beza, that he tranſlated it, above that which I Iehan. Iaubert. pa. 306.have written, is a detracting Calumniator.

3. The ſame Apoſtle at Act. 26. 22. proteſteth, Hee never taught any thing, ſave onelyonly ſuch things as the Prophets and Moſes had foretold ſhould come to paſſe. He then confined his preaching to the Scriptures. And he ſhall be a good Miniſter of Chriſt, who (after the example of Saint Paul) ſhall bee able to ſay, that hee never taught any thing, except thoſe things which Moſes and the Prophets and Apoſtles (diſciples of the Prophets) have taught. If it be moreover objected, that Saint Paul being reſtrained p. 275to the writings of the Prophets, it ſhall follow, that the writings of the Apoſtles (who have written ſince the Prophets) are unprofitable. I will anſwere that the Apoſtles have written the ſame things that the Prophets have written, for as much as concerneth the ſubſtance of ſalvation, but they have added thereunto much more cleereneſſe and light.

4. Yet the ſame Apoſtle at Act. 20. 27. ſpeaketh to the Epheſians, I have not ſhunded to declare unto you all the counſell of God. Whereupon it followeth, that the eſſentiall things of faith, which Salmeron formerly told us were added ſince the Apoſtles time, and not taught of them either by mouth or by writing, are not of the counſell of God. Of which additions in matters of religion of the greateſt importance, we p. 276have already vouched many examples, eſpecially out of the confeſſion of our Adverſaries themſelves.

It would bee impertinent to reply, that by the ſame reaſon it ſhould bee ſaid, that the Goſpel of Saint Iohn, and the Apocalypſe are not of the counſell of God, becauſe they were no… then written, when Saint Paul ſaid, he had declared all the counſell of God. For theſe two bookes containe not any doctrine which is not found in the other bookes of the new Teſtament, and which the Apoſtles have not taught by mouth and by writing.

5. At Deut. 4. 2. and 12. 3. God ſpeaketh thus, Ye ſhall not adde to the word which I command you, neither ſhall you diminiſh ought from it. Hee doth not ſay, you ſhall not change or alter any part, or you ſhall not teach any thing to the contrary: but you ſhall adde nothing, and p. 277diminiſh nothing. As to diminiſh & defalſe ſomething from the Law of god, is not to foiſt in a contrary c…mandement: ſo alſo to adde doth not ſignifie to impugne. Put the caſe it were not forbidden to adde, and that it ſhould bee ſpoken thus: You ſhall change nothing of my word, yet the Pope would ſtill be culpable of having infringed this reſtraint, by attributing to himſelfe the power of changing the Lawes and Ordinances of God, and of diſpenſing againſt the Apoſtle. In the bookes of the hourely prayers of our Lady (according to the cuſtome of Rome) the ten Commandements of God are placed in the entrance. The third is couched in theſe termes, Remember that thou keepe holy the Sabbath and feſtivall dayes. Can any thing bee more plainely added to the Commandement of God? Therefore if it p. 278were prohibited to adde to the Law of Moſes (without which was then no Doctrine of ſalvation) there is no colour or appearance that at this time the Law of Moſes, the Prophets, the Evangeliſts, and Apoſtles are not ſufficient, and that it is lawfull to adde unwritten Traditions thereunto. And let it not ſeeme ſtrange, that the bookes of Moſes alone were then ſufficient unto ſalvation: for whoſoever will examine the books of Ioſhua, of the Iudges, & of the Prophets, who did ſet forth their writings afterwards, ſhall finde that they adde nothing to the Doctrine of ſalvation, which is contained in the bookes of Moſes: onelyonly they adde ſome confirmatory examples of the promiſes and menaces of God, ſome hiſtories of the chaſtiſements, judgements and deliverances of the Chu…ch, ſome Prophecies and future p. 279events, ſome particular expoſitions of that which the law of Moſes ſpake in generall, and ſome commaundements made to ſome particular one, which were not generall Lawes nor perpetuall in the Church. As for the Oracles which God gave amongſt the Cherubins, they were not Doctrines nor Canons of Religion, but anſweres upon future ſucceſſes, or upon the eſtate of the preſent affaires, of peace or warre. It is true that Ieſus Chriſt and the Apoſtles have ſince given a more ample inſtruction: but I ſay that whilſt the Church had no other divine bookes, but thoſe of Moſes, they were ſufficient to ſalvation: for the Church ought to be contented with that meaſure of knowledge which God hath revealed. But in ſucceeding ages, if God revealeth ſomething more then he had done before, and p…eſenteth p. 280himſelfe more obviouſly to humane underſtandings; this falleth out neceſſary for thoſe, unto whom Gods pleaſure is to have himſelfe manifeſted.

That Noſes hath not diſtributed unwritten Traditions to the people, ſee his owne teſtimony at Deut. 31. 24. in theſe words, And it came to paſſe, when Moſes had made an end of writing the words of the Law in a booke, untill they were finiſhed, that he commanded the Levites, which bare the Arke of the Covenant of the Lord, ſaying, Take this booke of the Law, and put it in the ſide of the Arke &c.

6. After the death of M…ſes, God gave to Ioſhua no other precept or document …hen this very booke, as hee himſelfe ſpeaketh to Ioſhua in the firſt Chapter: Be ſtrong and courageous, that thou mayeſt obſerve to doe according to all the Law, which p. 281Moſes my ſervant commanded thee; turne not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayeſt proſper whitherſoever thou goeſt. This booke of the Law ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein day and night. Surely God in this Law of Moſes, commandeth to obey the Soueraigne ſacrificing Prieſt, as alſo the Leuites, and the Iudges, not when they ſhould adde to the Law of God, but when they ſhould teach this Law: as it is ſaid at the 17. of Deut. 9. and 11. Where alſo the Kings are commanded to hauehave the booke of the Law of God alwayes before their eyes, and to read therein all the dayes of their life, verſe the 18. and the 19.

7. None of our adverſaries durſt yet deny, that the doctrine of the Goſpell is ſufficient to ſalvation, or gaine-fay that the Goſpell is found whole and entire in the new p. 282Teſtament. Otherwiſe the title were falſe, and we ſhould be forced to change the inſcription, and ſet it downe part of the Goſpel, untill the Pope doth publiſh the ſecond part; or elſe bee compelled to ſeeke the other part of the Goſpel in the unwritten word, which is not to bee found. For our aduerſaries would never ſuffer it to bee compiled and reduced into one body, nor doe they divulge any booke which is called the word of God, except the Holy Scripture.

Some anſwere, that the bookesIehan Iaubert. p. 308. of the Goſpell, which are in the new Teſtament, doe containe all the Goſpel but implicitely, that is to ſay, after an involued and imbroyled manner, the force of conſcience hath extorted thoſe words from them, for if the ſervice of Images, adoration of Reliques, Pardons of one hundred thouſand p. 283yeeres, ſingle life of Prieſts, ſucceſſion of the Pope in the Apoſtleſhip of Saint Peter, reſtraint of reading the Scripture, &c. are contained in the bookes of the new Teſtament, they muſt bee lurking after an inveloped and obſcure manner, for no man could euer deſcry them to bee therein. Thoſe that extract oyles and ſalts, out of the ſtones, would idly imploy their knowledge therein. For to ſpeake in generall, without any ſpecification, that the Scripture approoueth Traditions, is but a mockery, under this vaile or ſhaddow, there is neither tyranny, nor idolatry, nor bartering traffique, but may abound, and bee practiſed in the Church, preſuppoſing without proofe, that theſe are the Traditions which the Scripture meaneth, for the Pope ſo iudgeth of them, who cannot erre in the Faith, p. 284though all theſe Traditions tend onelyonly to his profit.

8. I affirme the ſame of the title of the whole Bible, being called the Teſtament or Covenant of God, which Title muſt bee changed, if the Scripture be but a part of Gods Teſtament. It were deluding of the World, to call contract of marriage a parchment that containeth but the moyetie of the clavſes of the contract: or to call Teſtament, that which is but a part of the diſpoſall of the laſt will.

9. Towards the concluſion of the Apocalips, the Lord Ieſus ſpeaks as followeth: I teſtifie vntounto eueryevery man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this booke; If any man ſhall adde vntounto theſe things, God ſhall adde vntounto him the plagues that are written in this booke. VponUpon which paſſage the Councell of Friuly ſpeaketh thus:Concilium Porojulienſe Nam in Apocalypſi Iohannes Apoſtolus ſub vnius libri appellatione de tota vtriuſ que Teſtamenti ſe is conteſtatus eſt, dicens, Si quis appoſuerit ad hac, apponet Deus omnes plagas ſcriptas in libro hoc. In the Apocalips, Iohn the Apoſtle p. 285vnderunder the name of one booke, hath proteſted concerning the whole ſeries or proſecv…ion of both Teſtaments, ſaying; If any man adde to theſe things, God ſhall adde to him the plagues that are written in this booke.

10. The Apoſtle Saint Iohn at the 20. Chapter of his Goſpell. 31. ſaith. Theſe things are written, that yee might beleeue that Ieſus is the Christ, and that beleuing, yee might hauehave life through his Name. VponUpon which paſſage, Cyrill of Alexandria Cyrill. lib. 12. in Iohā. cap. ultimo. Non igitur omnia qua fecit Dominus cōſcripta ſunt, ſed qua ſcribentes tā ad mores quā ad dogmata putaverunt ſufficere, vt recta fide & operibus as virtute rutil ātes, ad regnum coelorum perv…niamus.ſpeaketh in this maner. All things which our Lord hath done are not written, but thoſe things onelyonly, which they that did write them, ha…e beleeued to be ſuff…cient, to the end, that ſhining in true faith, workes, and vertue, wee may attaine to the Kingdome of heauen.

11. Our Lord Ieſus at the 15. of Mat. 3. ſpake to the Phariſees, Why doe ye tranſgreſſe the commandement of God by your Tradition? Obſerve p. 286here that hee ſaith not yee contradict, but ye tranſgreſſe the commandement of God by your Tradition. Fo… indeed the Phariſaicall Tradition… were for the moſt part ſimple aditions to the Law of God, having appearance of devotion, & thing… no otherwiſe forbidden, but a… God forbiddeth to adde to hi… word: as to faſt twiſe in a weeke to lengthen out their fringes an… Phylacteries of their garments, t… waſh themſelues at returne fro… market, ſcrupulouſly to cleane th… pots, and to accompt their pac… vponupon the Sabbath.

12. The Apoſtle to the Colo… chap. 2. 8. Beware leſt any man ſpo… you through Philoſophy and vaine … ceit, after the Tradition of men. A… that our aduerſaries may not com… here to diſtinguiſh humane Tr… ditions, from thoſe which … Church of Rome will have to … p. 287imbraced for divine and Apoſtolicall, the Apoſtle ſpecifieth, and chiefely condemneth certaine traditions, found to be amongſt thoſe that are taught by the Church of Rome: to wit, ſervice of Angels, obſervation of Feaſts, and the ordinance of thoſe, who vſing a diſtinction of meats did ſay, eate not, touch not, taſt not. And this not becauſe they thought the meates to be hurtfull or polluted in their nature, but (as the Apoſtle ſaith) teaching theſe doctrines through voluntary deuotion, and humbleneſſe of ſpirit, in that they no way ſpare the body, nor hauehave they reſpect to the fulneſſe of the fleſh.

13. The ſame Apoſtle to the Epheſians 2. chap. 20. groundeth our faith upon the Prophets and the Apoſtles. Being built (ſaith he) vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles. If our faith be grounded p. 288upon the unwritten word, it is behouefull there be another foundation then the Prophets & Apoſtes. For if our adverſaries ſay that S. Paul underſtandeth the Church to be grounded upon the word of the Apoſtles aſwell written as unwriten, they oblige themſelues to ſay the ſame of the doctrine of the Prophets, and alſo to forge unto us Prophetical Traditions unwritten, which were never mentioned or ſpoken of about Saint Pauls time, mor…ouer we have formerly heard our adverſaries maintaining, that there are more things eſſentiall in Religion, then the Apoſtles have taught by mouth or writing.

14. At the 16. chapter of Saint Luke 26. the wicked rich man being in hell, requeſteth Abraham, that one amongſt the dead ſhould be ſent to his brethren, to give them advertiſement, and warne p. 289them of their duties, leaſt that they ſhould tumble into the like torment; to whom Abraham maketh anſwere, They hauehave Moſes and the Prophets, let them hearken to them. Which is cleerely to ſay, that they ought to content themſelves with the Doctrine of Moſes and the Prophets, which was read in the Synagogues every Sabbath without expecting other revelation. For Ieſus Chriſt ſpeaketh of …he unhappie rich man, as of a man that had lived under the old Teſtament, during the time that the Church hadforeign. no other Doctrine, but that of the bookes of Moſes and the Prophets.

Chryſoſtome doth ſo underſtand it in his Commentary upon Galat. 1. Abraham being required to ſend Lazarus, anſwereth, they have Moſes and the Prophets, if they hearken not to them, n…ither will they beleeve the dead raiſed up to life. Now Ieſus Chriſt p. 290bringeth in Abraham ſpeaking thus, to declare that hee would have more faith aſcribed to the Scriptures, then if the dead were called backe to life.

15. At Gal. 1. 8. Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Goſpel unto you, then that which wee have preached unto you, let him be accurſed. The vulgar tranſlation of our Adverſaries interpreteth this paſſage as we doe: Licet nos aut Angelus de coelo evangelizet vobis, praeterquam quod evangelizavimus vobis, anathema ſit. Conſider now that this tranſlation which the Councell of Trent declareth to be onelyonly authenticall, rendereth it praeterquam not contra, that is to ſay, other then, but not contrary. For though this word praeter ſometime ſignifieth contra, yet praeterquam cannot be ſo taken; and praeterquam quod can import nothing elſe, but other then that. So though the Prepoſition p. 291foreign uſed by the Apoſtle,foreign. Theoph. in Ep. ad Gal. N… que enim ſi contraria ſolū praedicaverint intulit, ſed ſi Evangeliſaverint praeter id quod ipſi evaengeli ſavimus, hoe eſt, fi pluſculum quippiam ipſi adiecerint. Tertull. de praeſcr. ca. 8 Hoc …rius credimus, non eſſe quod vltra credere debeamus. Et cap. 14. Nihil vltra. ſcire omma ſcire eſt. Et cap. 29. Etſi Angelus de coelo aliter evangeliſaverit vltra quā nos, anathema ſit. ſignifieth ſometimes contra, yet our Adverſaries tranſlation admitteth not this expoſition. Chryſoſtome in his Commentary upon Gal. 1. underſtandeth it the ſame way, ſaying, The Apoſtle ſaith not, if they declare things contrary, or if they pervert all, but if they preach never ſo little other then we have preached, or if they have altered any thing, be it never ſo little. And Theophilact after him: The Apoſtle hath not ſaid, if they preach onelyonly things contrary but if they preach other then that which wee have preached, that is to ſay, if they adde never ſo little more thereunto.

Tertullian in his booke of Preſcriptions at the eight Chapter, ſpeaking of the Scripture: In the firſt place wee beleeve, that wee ought not to beleeve other then this. And at Chap. 14. To know no other then this, is to know all. And at Chap. 29. If p. 292an Angel from heaven preach other then, &c. And truly the reaſon is plaine, for if our Adverſaries confeſſe, that Saint Paul hath preached all that is neceſſary to ſalvation, as well by mouth as by writing, it followeth that hee not onelyonly forbiddeth here to teach contrary to that which he hath taught, but alſo that he forbiddeth to adde thereunto.

It is objected, that Paul himſelfe hath added to that which hee did preach, when he wrote more Epiſtles after that to the Galathians; and that Saint Iohn after him wrote the Apocalypſe, and are not therefore accuſed. The vanity of this objection anſwereth it ſelfe; for nothing can appeare wherein Saint Paul in his laſt Epiſtles, or Saint Iohn in the Apocalypſe, have added to the Doctrine of ſalvation, which Saint Paul had preached by p. 293mouth, and digeſted into writing; and which was already contained in the bookes of the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts, written before this Epiſtle.

In ſumme, what availeth it to diſpute, whether the Apoſtle condemneth thoſe that preach other then, or contrary to that w^ch S^t. Paul had preached, ſeeing that whatſoever is other then the Doctrine of the Goſpel concerning our ſalvation, is alſo contrary, in as much as God forbiddeth to adde thereunto? It is an unn…ceſſary worke to rehearſe the paſſages of the Fathers, who affirme that the Apoſtle condemneth thoſe, who taught contrary to that which he himſelfe hath taught: no man denieth it; for whoſoever preacheth contrary to that which Saint Paul taught, preacheth alſo other then the Doctrine of the Apoſtle: and addeth p. 294contrary things thereunto; contractions being alſo additions to the Scripture.

Our Adverſaries being repulſed from this refuge or ſtarting hole, finde out another, and ſay that Saint Paul condemneth thoſe who taught other then, or contrary to that which hee had taught concerning the Doctrine of the Goſpel: but Saint Paul himſelfe hath not ſet downe all in writing which hee hath taught: this is that which they ſay without proofe or reaſon. For who told them that Saint Paul was tender, and forbare to booke downe all the Doctrine of the Goſpell in writing? Did hee it in ſpleene, or was it of forgetfulneſſe, or fearing leſt the people might become too expert in the Doctrine of the Goſpel? Surely they that ſpeake thus, are bound to open unto us ſome particular points, that p. 295make a part of the doctrine of the Goſpell, which Saint Paul would not ſet downe in writing. Is it invocation of Saints, or papall Indulgences, adoration of reliques, ſucceſſion of the Pope in the Apoſtleſhip of Saint Peter, religious ſ…rvice of Images, ſingle life of Prieſts, prayer in a tongue which the ſupplicant underſtādeth not, or Maſſes to free ſoules out of Purgatory? no Chriſtian will beleeve it of theſe, unleſſe it bee ſuch a one as hath a mind to bee deceived: And this inconſiderate preſuppoſition muſt be countenanced by ſome other proofe, beſides the teſtimony of our adverſaries.

Saint Auguſtine gave no credit toAuguſt lib. 3 contralue…as Petiliani cap. 6. Si quis ſiue do Chriſto, ſive de eius Eccleſia, ſiv… de quacun que alia re qua pertinet ad fidē vitam que noſtr…m, non d…am ſi nos, ſed quod Paulus adiecit, ſi Ange us …e coelo vobis annuntiaverit pra…erguam quod in ſcripturu legalibus et Evangelicis accepiſtu, anathema ſit. foreign. it: for he expoundeth this paſſage unto us by way of paraphraſe. If any man whether it concerneth Chriſt or his Church, or any other thing appertaining to faith, or government of p. 296life (I ſpeake not, if any of us; but that which Paul hath ſuggeſted, if an Angell from heaven) declare unto you, other then you have received in the Scriptures, concerning the Law and the Goſpell▪ let him be an Anathema. And Chryſostome in his expoſition upon the 1. chap. to the Galathians, Saint Paul prefe…reth the Scriptures before Angels deſcending from heaven, and that moſt juſtly. And a little after. Wherefore he denounceth, that if any man preach unto you other then I have preached unto you, &c.

To conclude, how ſhould thoſe poynts before recited have beene preached by Saint Paul, conſidering that in his Epiſtles there is found a flat condemnation of their doctrines?

If beſide the holy Scripture there be ſome other word of God, it were fit our adverſaries ſhould lay them in view fairely above p. 297board, for the better avoidance of ail ſtrife and controverſie ariſing from them. But they cannot. Only they would have the Church of Rome to be beleeved, and eſpecially the Pope; who is circumſpect enough not to pronounce his owne condemnation, nor to aboliſh the Traditions that are ſo beneficiall unto him. Yea our adverſaries themſelves refute this, when they ſay that the Apoſtles have not taught by mouth, nor compoſed in writing all that is eſſentiall to Chriſtian Religion.