A Learned Treatise of Traditions, Treatise · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. The beleefe of our Churches. The calumny of Regourd a Ieſuite.
THe fift article of our confeſſion expreſſeth, that the holy Scripture is the rule of all veritie, containing all that is neceſſary for the ſervice of God and our owne ſalvation, whereunto it is not lawfull to adde, diminiſh, or change.
Hereby we intend not abſolutely to reject all Tradition: for if there bee a Tradition that addeth nothing to the Scripture, but ſerveth onelyonly to maintaine her authoritie and perfection, wee imbrace that moſt willingly. Such a Tradition is that the Books of the old and new Teſtament are ſacred and Canonirall. This Tradition is ſo far from adding to the Scripture, that on the contrary it ſayeth, that nothing ought to be added thereunto. Neither is it without the compaſſe of the Scripture, ſeeing that it ſpringeth and reſults from the perfection of the Scripture it ſelfe; and the credit or teſtimony that a Church (bee it true or falſe) conferreth upon theſe Bookes, is but a probable and humane teſtimony, vntill God (giving efficacie to this Scripture to touch and ſtirre vp devotion) imprinteth in it a more effectuall perſwaſion. For it is not the Church that giveth faith, but the ſpirit of God that worketh in our hearts by his powerfull word.
As a river that paſſeth through a towne, is ſufficient to refreſh and water it throughout, yet notwithſtanding is it behoouefull that ſome Pipe or channell ſhould conduct it from the ſource into the place: ſo the holy Scripture is ſufficient to inſtruct vsus to ſalvation, nevertheleſſe it muſt come to vsus as it were by the courſe of ſucceſſiue Tradition. Such a Tradition addeth no more to the Scripture, then the channell addeth to the water of the River.
Alſo when wee reject unwritten Traditions, we intend not to reject all the words that are not found in the Scripture, in regard that wee may there finde the matter in ſubſtance and equivalent termes, and that theſe words doe add nothing to the doctrine of ſalvation contained in the Scriptures. Such are the termes of Gods providence, and of the Immortalitie of the ſoule. Likewiſe the words of Trinitie, Conſubſtantiall, and the Proceſsion of the holy Ghoſt, words profitably imployed by our forefathers, to make that perſpicuous which is contained in the Scriptures, and to ſhut vp heretikes into a more narrow ſtrait.
Alſo wee willingly admit of unwritten Traditions which concern not the doctrine, but onelyonly the Eccleſiaſticall pollicie, and outward order, in regard that ſuch Lawes and Cuſtomes are not given for abſolutely neceſſary, and equalled with the doctrine of ſalvation: as alſo, becauſe they ſerue not the Paſtors uſe for traffique, avarice, or ambition; and that in this order and outward pollicie there is nothing diſhoneſt, and contrary to good morality, or that may expoſe the Chriſtian Religion to ridiculouſneſſe; and laſtly, becauſe that with theſe Ceremonies and obſervations the multitude is not exceſſiue, neither doe they divert the piety by poſtures of the countenance, or the ſpirituall ſervice by corporall exerciſe. For as the Romans having conquered a Province, did amuſe the people with Sports and pompous Triumphes, feaſting them with their ſpoyles, whilſt they were then buſie in plotting and aggravating the peoples ſervitude: ſo doth the enemie of our ſalvation amuſe the people by the ſplendour of Ceremonies, whilſt hee then inthralleth conſciences, and tacitely inſinuateth idolatry; to which, the very inclination of the people doth much contribute. For a man naturally loveth rather to recreate his ſenſe, then to inſtruct his underſtanding; to behold publike ſpectacles, then heare wholeſome doctrines; to admire pictures, then edifie by good precepts; and findeth leſſe difficultie to ſhape ſtones to the image of man, then to unſhape or reforme man to the image of God.
Our confeſſion then rejecteth onelyonly the Traditions, that adde ſomething to the doctrine of faith & manners contained in the Scripture, and which are given forth to ſupply that which is thought to be wanting in the doctrine of the holy Scriptures.
The Ieſuire Regourd in his bookePag. 786. & 787. intitled, Catholike Demonſtrations, in the ſixt Demonſtration, propoſeth ſalſely our Beliefe. Hee alledgeth the wordes of the fift Article of our confeſſion of the faith, where hee makes vsus ſay, that the Word of God contained in the Bookes received by vsus, is guided with all veritie, and containeth all that is neceſſary for the ſervice of God, and for our owne ſalvation, and that by it all things ought to be examined and ſquared; Antiquity, Cuſtomes, the Multitude, humane Wiſdome, Iudgements, Sentences, Edicts, Decrees, Councells, Viſions, Miracles. But he changeth the words of our Confeſſion by a moſt notorious falſification: for we ſay only that theſe things muſt not bee oppoſed againſt the Scripture. Marke our very words: It is not lawfull for men nor Angals to adde thereunto, nor diminiſh, nor change. Whence it followeth, that neither Antiquitie, nor Cuſtomes, nor the Multitude, &c. ought to be oppoſed againſt the holy Scripture. We condemne not Antiquitie, nor Councels, as Regourd impoſeth upon vsus; but wee ſay, that hee that would oppoſe theſe things againſt the Scripture, ought not to bee beleeved. Wee affirme this, becauſe our Adverſaries ſay, that the Romiſh Church may change that which God hath commanded in the Scripture, diſpenſe Gods word contrary to the Apoſtle, and eſta…liſh new Articles of Faith: wherof we hauehave ſet downe multitudes of proofes, in the forepart of our firſt Booke, and will produce more here following.