A Learned Treatise of Traditions, Treatise · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII. of the multitude of Traditions in the Church of Rome.
THe ſaying of Cornelius Tacitus Ann lib. 3. In corruptiſſima republtca plurima leges.is very true, that the worſt and moſt corrupted Republiques are thoſe, which have moſt lawes. For in the ſame proportion that vices waxe ſtrong, the lawes alſo are multiplyed: eſpecially when the Lawes themſelves become vices, and miſchieſes are applyed for remedies.
If this bee true in humane affaires, much more in Divine, and in the Doctrine of ſalvation. It is certaine that in civill affaires poſterity inſtructed by experience, hath often redreſſed the occurrences, changing them into better, and hath cured old evills with new lawes. But as for the Doctrine of ſalvation delivered by God himſelfe, this will admit of no alteration without infinite impiety. It is not for Subjects to adde to the lawes of their Soveraigne, nor for Men to preſume to bee wiſer then God.
It will be found that all the Traditions which men have added to the Scripture, are ſo many infringements of the Law of God, which under the colour of adding thereunto, doe overturne that which God hath eſtabliſhed; and are ſo many artificiall meanes, through a glorious pompe, to dazell the eyes of the People, and to amuſe them, whilſt they are ſeduced; and laſtly to enrich and exalt the Clergie. For the Prelates of the Church of Rome carneſtly bent to their profit, have taken ſufficient notice, that the Goſpell in its ſimplicity could not ſerve to build up their Empire.
And although this numberleſſe rhapſody of Traditions ſhould not bee woven by a fraudeulent workemanſhip yet the confounding multitude of new ordinances ſmothereth the old, and cauſeth that things neceſſary cannot bee diſcerned from ſuperfluous, and that Ieſus Chriſt is ſcarce knowne among the Saints: and the abſurdity of many new inventions by their addition, doe call the ancient Doctrines into ſuſpicion, and weaken their certainety. Eſpecially when they make the true knowledge of Divine doctrine, to depend upon the authority of humane Tradition, and God to bee beleeved, becauſe men have ſo ordained it, as it is now practiſed in the Church of Rome.
Adde to this the inclination of man to worſhip his owne proper inventions, and to till and improve that moſt induſtriouſly, which hee himſelfe hath planted. For as the earth nouriſheth nettles which her ſelfe hath produced, much better then good plants that are ſtrange and brought from farre: ſo the ſpirit of man is reſtleſſe in taking care, that the lawes be obſerved which he of himſelfe hath invented, much more then thoſe which Ieſus Chriſt hath brought from heaven; eſpecially when theſe new Doctrines are gainefull to the projectors, and a prop to their dominion. Hence it commeth to paſſe, that in the Church of Rome, the doctrine of the Goſpel (which conſiſteth of rules few & eaſie) is a claſped book to the people, and the commandements of God are of little moment; but the Traditions (though toileſome, and almoſt innumerable) are moſt religiouſly obſerved, and with marvellous obedience.
Amongſt all the Religions that ever were in the world, the Romiſh in multitude of Lawes and Traditions beareth the Bell away, the number of them being ſo great, as ſcarce an age will ſuffice to learne them. And it had beene very requiſite, that when the Councell of Trent did eſtabliſh Commiſſaries to attend the cenſure of prohibited bookes, it ſhould have eſtabliſhed other Officers immediatly, to collect together the unwritten Traditions, and to put them in order: for ſeeing that by the authority of this Councell, the Romiſh Traditions were declared, to be of equall authority with the Scripture, it was convenient that theſe Traditions being digeſted into a body, ſhould have beene annexed to the Scripture, to the end to have the body of Chriſtian Religion entirely together. But they gave their minds to be neglectfull in this point, for feare of affrighting the people with many myriads of Traditions, of prodigious length: as alſo leſt the people ſhould compare the vanity of theſe Traditions, with the ſanctity and excellence of the holy Scriptures, which our Adverſaries hinder to bee read, with all their might and diligence. Moreover, our Adverſaries doe ſay, that the Pope and the Church of Rome can adde to the Creed, and eſtabliſh new Articles of faith. Wherupon it followeth, that if Chriſtian Religion may ſuffer yet more additions to bee matters eſſentiall, the Fathers did vainly labour to make a perfect body of the Chriſtian Religion, ſeeing that it is as yet imperfect.
I (being moved with theſe conſiderations, which doe altogether hinder them) did deſigne with my ſelfe, to make a collection of all the Traditions of the Church of Rome, and to lend helpe to their negligence. But being entred therinto, I perceived the labour to bee endleſſe, and was overwhelmed with the multitude. It hath happened to mee, as to thoſe that ſettle themſelves in an evening to count the firſt ſtarres that appeare, and whilſt they are counting the firſt, others appeare, & then more, ſo as all their reckoning is interrupted. This labour increaſing underhand, dulleth the edge of a mans deſire, and ſo much the rather, ſeeing there is no man but is ſoone weary of gathering uſeleſſe droſſe together.
If I were diſpoſed to make a perfect Catalogue of the Romiſh Traditions, it would bee neceſſary for me to decipher, and paint forth the infinite diverſity of Maſſes; the Services and Suffrages of the dead; the Rubriques and Proviſo's to ſupply the defects of the Maſſe, ariſing either from ſome defect in the perſon of him that celebrateth, or from the place, or from the time, or from ſomething in the matter, or in the intention.
It would be needfull for me to inſert all the lawes touching the adminiſtration of the Seven Sacraments, and the diſciplines of the Romiſh Pontificallity, that direct the collation of the ſeven Orders. The Conſecration of the Biſhops, the Archiepiſcopall garment, the benediction of Abbots, Abbeſſes, and Nuns; the Dedication of the Churches, the Conſecration of the Altars, whether fixed or portative; together with the veſſell and moveables of the Church and Churchyards: the reconciliation of the Churches and Churchyards, in caſe of pollution, by effuſion of blood, or by other diſhoneſt act, or by the interrement of an Hereticke: the benediction of the Images, Croſſes, Corporalls, Reliques, Bels, and Standards: the Conſecration of the Chryſme, and the Fonts; the Admonitions, Excommunications, and Reconcilements of Penitents on Maundy Thurſday: the forme of Degradings and Exorciſmes, the ſingle and double ſhaving, the infinite variety of Monkes and their Orders, & of the divers priviledges and ſpirituall graces, which the Pope hath granted unto them.
It would like wiſe bee needfull for mee, to repreſent the lawes of the booke of holy Ceremonies, wherein the forme of the Popes Obſequies and Funerals, and of the Election and Coronation of a new one is preſcribed. The ſubmiſſions which the Kings owe in the Proceſſion that is made at his Coronation, and at the Feaſt. The Coronation of the Emperor by the hand of the Pope, with his ſhamefull homages and ſubmiſſions to his Holineſſe. The benediction of the Knight of the Church. The benediction of the Roſe on our Lords day Laetare, and of the ſword on Chriſtmas night. The Conſecration of the Agnus Dei. The Creation of Cardinals. The power of Apoſtolike Legats. The Order of the Conſiſtory, and of the Conclave, and of the Councel when the Pope is reſident there in perſon, or by his Nuntio's. The Papall Maſſe, and how the Pope receiveth the Communion. The Popes Habits, his Epiſcopall Miter, his Royall Crowne, and a thouſand the like things, whereof the very names doe terriſie us, and the Lawes and Diſciplines, for quantity, doe ſurpaſſe the Bible in thickneſſe.
It would have beene needfull, to adde a thouſand villanous and ignominious precepts, touching buſie and unchaſte interrogations which the Confeſſors make, & the determinations touching the caſes of conſcience. But modeſty hath hath not permitted it, and I was loath to ſtaine my booke with ſuch infamous rules, which teach vices under the ſhadow of examining and reprehending them.
Therefore to put ſome bounds to this trouble, I have contented my ſelfe to bring traditions which concerne the Doctrine, that is to ſay, which in ſome ſort thruſt at the Law of God, and the Doctrine of the Goſpel, & that concerne the Sacraments, and the Orders, and the Eccleſiaſticall charges, with ſome ſuperſtitions where the abuſe is moſt groſſe and apparant.
I have drawne all theſe Traditions from the publike practice, from the Councels approved by the Popes, from the text of the Maſſe it ſelfe, and from the Decrees, Decretals, and Extravagants of the Popes. And from ſome of the more famous Authors, as Lombard and Thomas, two Princes of the Schoole, Bellarmine, Vaſquez, Gregory of Valence, Tolet, Emanuel Sa, that are Ieſuites, Navarre the Popes Penitentiary: the three later I quote moſt often, becauſe they maintaine their ſayings by a multigude of other Doctors: ſo as under the name of one Authour, I alledge many.
All ſuch as have hearts diſpoſed to learne, ſhall here ſee with admiration, mixed with griefe, (as in a ſmall contracted table) the whole maſſie body of Papiſme, varied with a hundred thouſand colours, and ſhall be able thereby to profit. For the ſimple recitall is enough for refutation, and to leade foorth into view the myſtery of iniquitie.
FINIS.
End of the text · Peter du Moulin Jr, A Learned Treatise of Traditions (1631)