The Novelty of Popery Discovered, Chapter 3
CHAPT. III.
Of the Noveltie, then, first, of the doctrine of vnwritten traditions, whereon the mayne bodie of Poperie is built altogether.
THE first vrgers, then, of vnwritten Traditions in the Christian Church, wee finde to hauehave beene some Heretickes,Iren. Lib. 3 Cap. 2 who arose in IRENEVS dayes, Anno 180; of whom hee wryteth thus, When they are convinced by the Scriptures, they fall out into the accusation of the Scriptures, (sayth hee) as if they were not rightlie alleadged, or of authoritie of themselues: and because they are ambiguouslie set downe, and that the trueth can not bee found out of them, by those who knoweth not Tradition, which was not delyvered by writ, but by word; for which cause Paull himselfe sayde, Wee speake wisedome amongst these that are perfect.
In which wordes is not onelie set downe, what Armour onelie the Orthodox Fathers then vsed, for convincing of Heretickes, to wit, the holie Scriptures; but also in these ancient Heretickes, is seene the true picture of our new Romanistes, who when they are in lyke-manner convinced by Scripture, they fall out lyke-wyse into the accusation of the Scriptures; that they are not rightlie translated by vsus, and are not of sufficient authoritie of themselues: without the Churches declaration, that they are also ambiguous and obscure, and that the trueth in all poynts of Doctrine can not be had out of them,1 Cor. 2. 6. Bel. l. 4. de vorbo …. 8. without vnwritten Tradition, bringing also for the mayntayning thereof, this same place of Scripture, adduced by these ancient Heretickes.
The same doeth Tertu…ian lykewyse testifie of the Heretickes in his tyme,T…rtal l. de praescript. adv. …ret. c. 25. who would not graunt (sayeth hee,) that the Apostles revealed all thinges to all men, but some thinges they taught secretlie, and to a few, (even as Bellarmine speaketh) which were to bee preserved from age to age,Bel. l. 4 de …rbo c. 11. by vnwritten Tradition: for which cause the Apostle sayeth to TIMOTHIE, O Timothie, keepe that which was committed to thee.
The Author also of that Booke, de Vnitate Ecclesie, Lib. de unitate Eccles in Tom. 1….(thought to bee Waltram Bishop of Na…rg) showeth, that this …aven sp…ed most and prevayled in the Romane Church, w…en the Papacie came to an hight in Hildibrandes tyme, about the yeare 1072,script. germā a M. fr…hero Edit. p. 233. et 228 by the monasticall sort of that age; of whom hee (beeing living in that same age) sayeth, That despysing these doctrines that are of GOD, (to wit, in holie Scripture) they affect other doctrines, (sayeth hee) and bringeth in into the Church commandementes of humane institution. And agayne, hee showeth why they suffered not their Novices, (as they ought) to exercise themselues diligentlie in Scripture; to wit, that their vnpolished myndes might bee fedde with the huskes of Devils, which are (sayeth hee) the customes of the traditions of men.
And which thing was so farre contratie to the ancient custome, vsed at first in Monasteries,Duarenus de sacris Ecclesiae minis… l… 1. c. 20. that their owne Duarenus testifieth, they were nothing else but Seminaries of Divinitie, wherein they studied (sayeth hee) diligentlie the Scriptures: and out of which, as out of a Seminarie, these were chosen and taken out, for vndergoing Ecclesiasticall charges, who were amongst them of best lyfe and learning.
Whence it is lyke-wyse that venerable Beda testifieth,Beda l. 3. Hist. Eccles. Angli …. 4. that this was the exercyse of those who were in that Famous and Religious Monasterie of our Land, called Colmekill; to wit, that they might onelie learne these Doctrines, which were in the Propheticall, Evangelicall, and Apostolicall Scriptures (sayeth hee.)
Which thing is farre different from the Doctrine of the Romane Church now, who teacheth, that the Scripture is the least part of revealed trueth,Charroneus verit. 3. c. 4. Hosius c. 9 …. conf…ss. and the farre greater part of the Gospell is come to vsus by vnwritten tradition, (as sayeth Hosi…s,) of which sort Petrus à Soto granteth these to bee, to wit, the sacrifice of the Masse, invocation of Saynctes, the Popes Supremacie, Prayers for the Dead, the fiue Sacramentes, beside Baptisme and the LORD'S Supper.Canisius catec… c. 5. Lind… nus l. 4. panopo c. 100. Luke 1 4. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Wherevnto their Canisius joyneth, worshipping of Images, and their Bishop L…ndan… addeth Transubstantiation, the Communion vnderunder one kynde, Indulgences and Purgatorie: so that by their owne confession, the mayne bodie of Poperie, is not built vponupon the sure foundation of Propheticall, and Apostolicke writ, as on the Rocke, but vponupon the sandie and vnsure foundation of pretended vnwritten tradition.