Sure Footing in Christianity, Discourse 9
THE Ninth Discourse EXAMINED.
IN this Discourse the Author endeavours to better his Demonstration by the strength of the Churches Testimony un…o his Tradition, wherein occurre unto observation.
1. A preface unto his Discouse. S. 1.
2. A discovery of the Churches Humane Authority. S. 2, 3, 4.
3. A narration of her div…ne Assistances in testifying, S. 5, 6, 7. &c.
1. In his preface he personates an objecter, who should say, that by all his former discourses, (they being but Nature) a Heathen by his natural wit may become a good Christian: To which hav ng in his loose fashion returned; He t…lls us it was out of his road, and only that hence he might take his rise to shew how far Christian Trad…tion is strengthned above the greatest humane Testimony, &c.
Not to repeat his many words, we shall only note somethings in his reply.
1. Seeing he wonders what else should be supernaturality, but supernatural motives laid before natural men, to be considered and received by natural faculties; we cannot but wonder that such a Master in his Church should be so ignorant of Supernaturality, or a state of Grace above nature; Nicodemus was not so dark in this business. We therefore shall shortly suggest.
1. That nothing beneath Regeneration, Joh. 3.3.can put a man above the state of nature, or make him supernatural or spiritual.
2. The objective Power of supernatural motives, is not of it self sufficient to regenerate, being apprehended only by the scantling of natural reason: but the Almighty Spirit of God must come upon souls to make them be born Spirit of Spirit, to effect this.Joh. 3.6. Moral perswasion may make almost a Christian, as Agrippa was, but not a Christian truly and throughout.
3. No extraordinary Inspiration is expected for each particular man, as to this effect, but the Ordinary work of Gods spirit by his word, which is so far from unraveling the order of Gods best Providence in bringing men to salvation; that nothing doth more magnifie and confirm it. And if this be the very Notion of Fanatickness, let our souls be under that Character, to which the Discourser must come if ever he be saved, although now he jeers it.
4. All this is out of his road, (as he saith) and indeed it is as many other things, needless and inapt unto his present business; but he excuseth it, that it was but to take his rise, to shew Traditions strength by the humane Authority and div…ne Assistances of his Church: He were best to beware, lest (as the Schollar) he mount on the wrong side of the horse, and tumble over. He offers to rise to the Assistances of the Holy Ghost, which he saith are built upon Perfections of will in the Faithful, or on Virtues, the effects properly attributed to that Divine Person How? The Assistances of the Holy Gho… built upon mens wills, and its own Effects? He attempts his rise most sillily, we judge the Effects of the Spirit to be built upon his Person, and not this, c… its Operation upon them; and man… will to be the subject of the spirits infl… ence, and not the Basis on which it… built. This fore-bodes but a bad expedition; yet we shall try what he will do Although the sum of all expressed here hath been handled heretofore.
2. Before he declareth these Assista… ces of the Holy Spirit, he adventureth to she… first the Churches Humane Authority for testifying, to exceed any other in the world; which he doth by comparing it with the vast number of Turks, Testifiers of Tradition from their Mahomet; in Sect. 2, 3, & 4th. This may be shortly presented to one view in this form of Argument. If the humane force of the Churches Testimony that their Faith descended from Christ unto them by indefective Tradition, farre exceed the witness of the Turks concerning their Mahomets existence, then its Authority is to be beleeved before theirs, But
The humane force of the Churches Testimony far exceeds that of the Turks, Therefore, The Churches witness is much more to be beleeved, &c.
The Assumption is expresly laid down, averred by the Author S. 2. The Proposition is supplied to form the Argument; The proof of the Assumption is given, S. 3. And the Conclusion drawn. S. 4.
Now having the whole matter so laid forth before us, we shall both animadvert upon and answer to the whole Argument.
1. When he urgeth the Churches Testimony we must understand him speaking of the Romish Church, whose Authority he maintains.
2. We note also that he speaks not of this Church, as Such, but only of them as Men; for here he urgeth only their humane Testimony.
3. We wonder at the Mans artificial Logick in this, as in other places, to prove circularly Idem per Idem: Elsewhere he tells us, that his infallible and Indefective Tradition only can make men fit witnesses in our present controversie, and here he urgeth Humane Testimony to make good indefectiveness of his Tradition; So he may make us giddy by rounding us in a circle; but rather then so, we will stand still, and m…ke a retrograde motion in denying the whole form of his Argument, as foolish and ridiculous, not shewing him to be the Man, which he would seem to be: In the next help of his Assistances, we shall see him in the same fault.
4. To the matter of his Argument, we deny his Assumption, That the Huma…e Authority of his Churches Test mony f…r their Tradition, doth far exceed the Testimony of the Turks for the…r Tradition about the Existence of th…ir Mahomet: For as men they are equally sinners, and may equally be deceived and deceive. So were Jews and Gentiles. He hath no cause therefore to charge Protestants as unjust to grant that to a body of Turks, which their Passion makes them question, and even deny to a Church of Christians; for here he speaks of his Church, not as Christian, but as Humane; only as they are men and not Christians. Moreover the Protestants do yield the same to both; That under the just judgement of God the Mahometans may maintain their Trad…tion o… Mahomets Existence indefectively; but not as des…ended from Go…. And no lesse under Gods sen…ence of justice may the Papists convey the Tradition of their false faith, and …dolat…ons worship indefect vely to the r own per…ition: but not …s descen ed from Christ. He must therefore prove what he averts, before that his con lusion will get credit.
5. As to his proof, S. 3. It is but an empty sound, to which we ret…rn.
1. The credibil ty of witnesses depends more upon the Quality, than the Q…antity of Testifiers, both for matters of Faith and of Fact. One Elijah testifying unto Gods Truth, is of more value than the Test of 4…0 Priests for Baal: Numbers therefore will not help h m against Truth.
2. Suppose there were vast multitudes, whom the Apostle… and Disciples converted in many distant Nati…ns, and there were but an han…ful o… men about Mecha, and some other places where Mahomet conquered and pl…nted his Doctrine; the Turks will tell him, t…at the Apostles converted them to be Christians, and not to be Papists: Neither did any of them give testimony unto Popish Tradition: And also that as many of theirs, saw their Mahomets existence as of those multitudes converted, who saw Christ in the flesh. The Discourser were best to provide an answer for them.
3. It is more than probable, that it was easier for a single company of Arabians, and Syrians to conspire in a lye for Mahomet, than it was for such a multitude converted, as suckt in Christianity at first, to conspire in a lye for Christ; Nay we say they did not, they durst not, yet this hinders not, but that it was as easie for a multitude of Popish Fore-fathers as they were men, to conspire to a lye as much as Arabians and Syrians, as they are such: We see no difference in this Case.
4, As to his repeated sensations to know Christs Doctrin, we say no more but this, that the Turks sensations may be as good and as quick, and as oft repeated about their fabulous doctrins of Mahomet, as the Papists in reiterating their many fables in their Religion unto their Posterity: And if so, this Argument of sensation (wherewith he nauseates his Readers) is little worth. The Turks Testimony for the Traditions of his Mahomet, may be as firm as the humane Testimony of the Romish Church, for their Popish Tradition given down to this day. However we will be no Umpires between them. Let them make good their Authority one against another; They will joyn issue at last: For their Traditions will destroy them. See the strength of the Humane Authority of his Church for his Tradition.
6. From this exceeding Humane Authority of his Church (having lasht frantick and stark mad Opiniasters, who deny it) he concludeth no greater evidence can be to ascertain the conveiance of their Faith from Christs time unto them. Unto the support whereof he ingageth Scripture and Metaphysicks, S. 4.
We need trouble our selves about this; for the premises being false, the Conclusion must fall; yet but to glance.
1. It is no strange thing for Frantick and mad men to think all others like themselves. Surely if this man were master of his reason, he must needs see the weakness of his Argument, and unreasonableness of his conclusion; and not cast firebrands at his opponents; and say they are mad. Himself will prove the Opiniaster.
2. Is there no greater Evidence of their indefective Tradition than the Humane Authority of their Church? Why then doth he add the Assistances of the Holy Ghost as greater. So he seems to advance his reasoning from that as the less and lower unto those helps as better and higher.
3. What his Metaphysicks do demonstrate of the perfect method and waies of essential Wisdome, in laying this indefect…ve Tradition, as such a means (unto mans salvation, that all Gods other preservation of natural things in their kinds, scarce deserves the name of a Providence in comparison of that; We must desire him to shew us, before we can see it. Our M…taphysicks re…ch not th…t Mistery of Salvation. But perhaps he is Hyper-Hyperph…sic…l.
4. How he brings in Scripture by Head and shoulders, to help the humane Authority of his Churches Testimony for the indefectiveness of his Tradition, it is st…ange to us; And how he ingageth the Lord Jesus, Joh. 3, 16. Matth. 6.26. To adv…nce his Tradition together with Gods sp…r…t in the Apostle, 1 Cor. 9.9. and in David that holy Meditator on Go… L…w. Ps. 93.5. Where his vulgar Transl…tion corru…ts the Text too, and in stead of Thy Testimonies O Lord are very sure, do render it, Thy Testimonies are made too much credible. It may astonish sober and understand ng Readers: For what hath Gods love in giving his only beg…tten Son to love sinners, or, his Care over his Children, more than over Fowls and Oxen, to do with Romish Tradition, which is a Lye, and contrad…cts Scripture-Truth? The Lord abhorrs it. And did David ever th…nk th…t the Testimonies of God, were Popish Trad…tions? Or, did he prophesie of them? Never did man more grosly abuse, and misapply Scripture than this. If this be his Church-Traditional-Interpretation; Reason must loath it. But the best is, he giveth his quotations in Latin, that the vulgar should not understand them. Here we have the close of his Churches humane Authority, testifying to his Tradition. Let this piece of Latin answer his, Traditiones & ineptiae Pontificiae incredibiles factae sunt nimis.
3. He proceeds to shew those Assistances of the Holy Spirit superadded to nature, given to his Church, which he leavs to be scanned by the leasurely thoughts of Attentive considerers, S 5.
We wish all the leasure and attentiveness unto the Intelligent considerers of him; the more they be, they will cast him in this point of his Assistances, which we leave to Trial. But in the interim he is guilty of the crime again of proving Idem per Idem. Must his Tradition testifie to those Assistances to make them such, or else they are false? And the… must these Assistances testifie to the truth and perpetuity of his Tradition? If this be good Logick; The Discourser will carry all before him: But men will laugh at him for such reasoning; much more may understanding Christians have him in Derision. And indeed this is enough to answer to the end of this Discourse: But least he clamour, that we do not hear him out, we shall consider what follows.
1. In general, S. 6. He asserts, the Effect wrought by these assistances, in his witnesses, to be veracity, beyond all others, who have not the same: Now to leave out his bombast stuffing of Phantasms, &c. I shall cast his Assertion by adding a Proposition to it into this form of Argument.
If Popish Christians by grace are far more fixt to Veracity, than others not imbued with those Heavenly Tenets (who yet naturally speak Truth, if design hinder not; yea even Fools and Drunkards) then a multitude of them incomparably exceeds in point of testifying the same number of others, unfortified by Christs Doctrine. But
Popish Christians are far more fixt to veracity by Grace than others, &c. Ergo, These Popish Christians must exceed in point of testifying unto their Tradition. This is the general sum.
There is no wrong done to him by forming his discourse thus. It is true Popish here is added to Christians; for such only he can intend, seeing he denieth such Assistances to any Christians out of his Church: and yet he deludes his Readers under the general notions of Christians, as if his witnesses were all professed Christians. This by the way
To the Argument, 1. Seeing the Proposition is Hypothetical, including many particulars, though we may grant it in the whole; yet several things supposed by him, and included in it, are false; As
1. That it is natural for every man to speak Truth, if d…sign hinder not. True it is, man was created Truth in Gods Image, and so did necessarily speak truth: But after the Father of lyes had deceived him, and he was fallen from the Image of God, Every man became a lye; and naturally speaks not Truth but falshood, as their Father doth; and that from the womb without design.
2. As to his instance in Fools and Drunkards speaking Truth without artifice. Let his Popish witnesses be like them or go beyond them, he gains little by it; for those witless Creatures speak no truth of God at all, with which we have to do. And what Truth they do bewray, it is out of weakness or wickedness; and let the Authority then of such advance the veracity of Popish Testifiers, so much as may be, (for with those he doth compare them.) And indeed they will prove spiritual Fools, and Drunkards all. Whence may be judged easily, what truth they will testifie for Christ. In a word if Design may hinder men from speaking truth, none are more to be suspected than Popish witnesses, whose Religion hath been carried on from the first Defection to this day upon Papal Designs, most inconsistent with the Faith of the Gospel.
2. But letting go the Proposition, we deny his Assumption, Pop…sh Christians are not far more fixt to Veracity by their Tenets, or pretended Grace, than other men not imbued with them; for they may be imbued with better. Were there nothing but their own Trent Testimony-work opened about this, a clearer Demonstration, cannot be given to prove the Averseness of Popish witnesses to Veracity, as to declaring Christs pure Doctrine and the way of his Salvation. This therefo…e must be proved by the Discourser, or else his witness is not worth a straw.
2. In special he laboureth to prove this Veracity of his Testifiers, by his formentioned assistances of the Holy Ghost, whereof he giveth an account in all the sequel of this discourse; numbring many.
1. In S. 7. The first Assistance to Veracity in his Witnesses (as he saith) is the cure of Original Corruption in them by Grace, so that they incline not to the undue love of Creatures, nor the injuring of Gods ten Comm…ndements; But it implants in their hearts an over-powring Love of Supreme spiritual Goods, which leaveth their natural disposition to Truth, free to do its Effect, and renders needless, that crafty way of design, &c.
1. Here we must note, that this is but Actum agere, to say over the same thing again; for this he had ascr…bed unto his Tradi…ionary Christians before. Needless therefore is it so to repeat it: there is enough there answered to it.
2. Though we grant the power of Grace sufficient to take off hearts from the love of creatures, and to fix hearts upon the love of spiritual goods; Yet we deny this Effect wrought upon Popish Witnesses.
3. It is apparent, that they have done the greatest inj…ry to known rational, Orders, even the Ten Commandements, laid for the subsistence of the Universal well-being of M…nkind; that they have excluded the second Command forbidding their Image worship, and turned the whole Law from the Spirituality of it to become meerly literal and external, as the Pharisees did by their carnal glosses.
4. As to design, it hath been said and we say it again, The whole Popish Religion since the Roman Empire, was changed from Temporal to Spiritual, hath been carried on meerly upon the Papal Design. Histories proclaim it against all Contradiction, that the Pope by his Religious Emissaries hath enhanced K…ngdoms, and brought the powers of the Earth under to promote his worldly designs; Hereupon their prosperity became one of the great Characters of the True Church: The Mystery of Jesuitism hath revealed much of this. These witnesses then are more to be suspected than other men: Neither are their Natures by all they hold, set free unto Veracity. This Assistance then is nothing, the Holy Ghost will not own it. Moreover, were this a fit place to ingage upon a corrupt passage here used, it should be made appear, that Grace doth not only leave mans natural disposition free to veracity, but makes a reall change in mans nature from a Lye into Truth. Let it pass here.
2. The next supernatural Assistance unto the Veracity of his Testifiers, is in S. 8. by him made to be supernatural Motives of Eternal goods and harms, subjected to mens hopes and fears, much more powerful than natural to oblige unto Veracity in natural matters, which the sufferings of the Martyrs in all ages declare; therefore his witnesses having such motives, must needs speak truth.
1. That this is a supernatural Assistance objectively and externally to some, who may have an impression of it from Gods spirit, may be granted.
2. But why doth the Discourser weary us with his Battisms, to tumble over the same things so often? The force of this hath been repulst before.
3. We deny that these motives have prevailed with his Popish witnesses to speak Truth for Christ: For their Trent-Canons injoyn many lies and fables instead of Gospel-Truth: Whatever force therefore those motives may have upon such, who duely receive them, to perswade them unto veracity, they have had none upon those Popish Testees; natural Tests concerning matters of Fact are much mo…e true. The inward work of the spirit is that only which makes men to speak truth for God: Neither Heaven nor Hell will perswade without this.
3. In S. 9. He giveth us to consider another supernatural Assistance unto his Testifiers for Tradition, which is the ingaging of them unto veracity by the Sacraments of the Church, held to have been instituted by Christ himself. Now if oaths and other Ceremonies, do keep natural men to their Trust which are made by them; how much more must the Sacraments of Christ, both general to all Christians, and special to Officers, oblige all not to prevaricate from the Faith held, nor belye their Fore-fathers, nor betray their Deposition?
1. We have had this help also to Tradition once before pressed, whereunto answer enough was made. Yet we are put to it once again.
2. These Sacraments which are Christs, are indeed supernatural external means, ingag…ng men to be Truth, speak Truth, and do Truth as unto God; but these may be used (as some Papists themselves confess) without the Assistance or Cooperation of the Holy Ghost. And in such case they do indeed de jure oblige men to speak truth, but not de facto; for many use falshood, who do receive them,
3. The supernatural virtue of these also, is peculiar only to those two Sacraments, which the Lord himself instituted, viz. Baptisme and the Lords supper, (whatever Papists do hold otherwise) For he had no more; they have made the rest; which being of humane Institution, are no Assistances of the Ghost.
5. The Corruption which they have made in Christs own Sacraments by adding to Baptism, and taking away half from his Supper, together with the addition of five other Sacraments appointed to be peculiar to several Conditions and Orders men (which the Lord never intended) are all ineptae Tesserae, very unseemly pledges to oblige men to Veracity, being Falshood themselves.
5. These may by the efficacious workings of Satan, ingage souls not to prevaricate from their Faith held (though false) nor belye their Fore-Fathers, but take for truth all that they have told them (though nothing but Fables) nor to betray their Depositum or Trust whatever it be. But what is all this to Veracity? We can tell him, that his Sacrament of the Altar was used to obl…ge some of his Profession to be true to their Trust in …onceal…ng Powder-plots for execuitng most barbarous and unheard of Massa…res. Was this to ingage unto Veracity? The good Lord keep poor Souls from being deluded, by such deceits of these supernatural Assistances. Procul, Proculite, Profani.
4. In S. 10. He suggesteth this among his supernatural Assistances: That Christian Fathers (that is, Popish) cannot misteach their Children unreceived doctrine for received, contrary to their own knowledge; and that without the least good to themselves, to debar them Heaven and send them unto Hell gratis. Which could not enter into the most depraved nature to harm another without any good to himself. Besides their Sanctity and number and Chr…sts Law of Charity with them, will not suffer them to do such a thing, but keep them to Veracity.
1. We have here another Crambe-recoction, but we must labour to digest it, and rid it off; that it offend not too much.
2. Is this a Supernatural Assistance to deny, that wh…ch could not enter into the most depraved nature to do, even to harm another without any good unto ones self? What doth the man mean by this? Surely his Super-naturality is become very low.
3. We question the Sanctity of Popish Fore-Fathers, (as we have just cause to do) and of making Heaven their first Love, and of their looking on Spiritual goods, as their main concern. We must see their progeny, who have received their Faith from them, walk in more spiritual waies, before we can trust this report. Neither doth their number avail with us; for the most may be the worst, as hath been already declared.
4. Christ's Law indeed is the Law of charity, which when written in hearts, inableth▪ them to love Neighbours, and Children in their order; neither will it suffer them to debar any from Heaven, or to send them to Hell gratis: But in Idolatrous souls, though Parents, no such law is written; but being deceived themselves they have also deceived their Ch ldren, and have barr'd them out of Heaven and sent them to Hell gratis. This hath been shewed already: And so it may be still with them that follow lying Tradition. Quantum, Quantum? O how great is this supernatural Assistance? Miserable children of miserable Parents so misguided.
5. In S. 11. He adds another Assistance as Supernatural unto Veracity given to his Testifiers of Tradition, and that is, the great Recommends, which Christian Doctrine had received from Fore-Fathers; both by the Faithful transmission of its serious import, the Universality, conceited wisedom, goodness &c. of the Recommenders: In comparison of which all Recommendation of Natural or Civil Truth, doth lev…tate like an inconsiderable Fe…ther or Air. These Recommends then must keep them to speak truth.
1. As to this may we mind the Discourser, these Recommends are not in his terms of the Method of delivering by speech, but only of Christian Doctrine, which is the matter delivered, and was waved heretofore.
2. These Recommends at highest, were but from men, whose Ʋniversality, conceited wisdome and goodness in speaking for Tradition, are very questionable. How then comes this to be a supernatural Assistance to Veracity?
3. Whatever this Recommendation be, it hath not kept Romish-Tradition-Deli, verers unto Truth; for they have given down deceits and Falshood from Fathers to Children: therefore it hath been no help unto Veracity as to them.
4. If the H…ghest Recommends may fix unto Truth, we shall give the Discourser to consider the Recommends of God himself given unto Scripture-Tradition, Jer. 23.28.in comparison of the vast poize and weight whereof all the Recommendation mentioned by him, lev…tates indeed like Air and an inconsiderable Feather: Yet neither he nor his seduced Papists will receive this Truth of God before their Tradition. Wo unto them self-condemned souls!
6. In S. 12. He giveth another Supernatural Assistance unto Veracity, which is Christian Affection of Parents unto Children: This is so efficacious in them to bring their Children to everlasting and infinite Bliss in Heaven, and to keep them from intolerable and endless miseries in Hell, that they must needs speak truth unto them in giving down their Tradition.
1. Why doth the man so trouble his Readers with vain and useless repetitions. We have had Parents Affections once and again urged and answered, their sanctity also superadded, which here he stileth Christianity: and yet all this proved ineffectual to make Fathers speak Truth to their Children; for they have left them lyes in stead thereof, given down by their Tradition.
2. All the Christian Affection, which Popish Fore-fathers do express unto their Children is, but to make them Papists; and in this way they labour to bring them to bliss in Heaven, and keep them from miseries in Hell, or leave them in Purgatory. And in this way Parents and Children may perish together, as deceiving and being deceived, with a form of Christianity for the very truth and power of it: And if sensation be enough (as he saith) to make such Christians, there need no supernatural helps, to compass this Effect: Neither indeed is this Christian Affection, an ingagement to speak truth, it self being a delusion.
7. In S. 13. He addeth this as a supernatural Assistance to Veracity, even the Credit and Repute, which his Testifyers look unto in the world among men, that must needs keep them from lying: This he amplifieth by comparing it with other mens converse in the world, whose credit for Truth speaking, is their life in society; and their discredit for lying their undoing: And at last tells us, That the Advantage, which the natural care of Credit, giveth to the preserving Tradition inviolable, is incomparable, and in a manner infinite.
It is boldly spoken: but let us try, whether it be as truly asserted.
1. Is Credite or Repute with men moving us to speak Truth, a supernatural Assistance? What is natural then? The very Gentiles that knew not Christ, were upon this Account perswaded to Veracity: They were ashamed, some more Moral of them, to tell lyes upon that account.
2. There is a Credit indeed, and a good Report with God, which may be a supernatural help unto Veracity; but the Discourser speaks not a word of that: After this did all the Saints look, and they had a good report in heaven, from Abel to the last of all as that Catalogue sheweth which the Apostle mak…th.Heb. 11.2.39 Rom 2.29 2 Cor. 10.18. And it is written, That only is Creditable Religion whose praise is not of men but of God; And he alone is approved, whom the Lord commendeth. To this we should yeeld, that such as expect Credit, or Praise with God, will think and speak, and do truth.
3. This being none of that Credit which the Author speaks of, as aimed at by Testifiers, We assert it is neither supernatural nor can it effectually oblige unto Veracity: For what is man to man, but as one lyar to another, who doubtless will applaud; or if the lye be too loud, at least excuse one another. But as to his Testyfiers for h…s Tradition, if Histories may h…ve any cred…t, the most debauched fellows and Devils incarnate have not been more-brazen faced and impudent in any sorts of lies, than some of them: Men having Consciences seared with a hot iron, Mr. Mead Apostasie of latter daies.have been exercised in giving down lying Traditions of false Mediators. It is not fit here to relate all Histories; We referre therefore to the faithful Relaters of them.
This prop of Credit then among men, is no supernatural help to Popish Fathers, or Pastors unto Veracity in their Traditions, notwithstanding all other ingagements binding them thereunto. It is therefore Incomparable boldness, and an Evil in a manner Infinite against the most infinite God, who is Truth it self, in this Disputer thus to vent his own vain fancies for Christs Doctrine, and falseshood for Truth.
8. Lastly in S. 14. Having laboured thus far to support the Veracity of his Testifiers unto the Indefectiveness of his Tradition, with his pretended supernatural Assistances (though with a very unhappy success) He now musters up a number of Arts and Sciences contributing to his former witnesses; telling us withall, that each vertue contributes to shew the inerrable Indeficiency of his Tradition: And after an hint upon their several assistances, he concludeth, that he hath proved his Tradition to be an inerrable Rule, and m…de the Indefectibleness of it Scientifically Evident, and as strong as nature and grace strained to their uttermost, can make it.
O confident man! Who in his w…tts, that hath seriously read and considered his arguments, can beleeve him? Hath he made his Demonstration of his Traditions Indefectiveness as strong as Nature and Grace strained to their uttermost, can make it? Surely Nature is a stranger to Popish Tradition, and Grace truly so called is an enemy to it, if ever Grace dropt from the lips of Christ in the Gospel; For he hath thrown down all Tradition contradicting the Spirit of Scripture among the Jews; And would he set it up again among Christians? It is impious to think, much more with such boldness to utter it.
As to his Muster of Arts for his help, it is so sapless and ridiculous that to name them in this great business in hand, is to shew the Author to be scarce himself in reason; when he call'd them in to his Assistance. It would make a pretty Theme for a Pasquil, or a Romance to be fram'd upon, or to make a new Comedy of the Arts attending one Complementing, with the Tripple-cround Papal Tradition, and at last all vanishing and leav…ng it to shift for it self: But it is a hard tasks to answer seriously such frivolous allegations. Whoever doth it must suppose.
1. That Arithmetick can only give the number of his false witnesses.
2. That Geometry by its lines, can only measure them as earthly minded ones.
3. That Logick indeed, will discover all the Parologi…ms of his Testees.
4. That Natures Law w…ll condemn their forged inventions and Actions.
5. That Morality will discover his Tradition to be gratis, to no purpose.
6. That History for several ages proves his Tradition deficient.
7. That Politicks, if they do favour him, it is in the worst sense, that is, with subtilties and deceits.
8. That Metaphysicks, can give no Entity to that which is not, and thar is the indefective descent of Popish Tradition from Christ.
9. That Divinity, which is truly the knowledge of God in Christ revealed in the Scripture, is so farre from demonstrating Popish Tradition worthy of God, or to bring Mankind to bliss, that it damns to Hell every way and practice contradicting Scripture-Truth.
10. As to Controversie he doth a little puzzle us; For Popish Controversie will settle and unsettle any thing for Truth or no Truth at their pleasure: But if he will stand to the Apostles expression of contending for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, we shall make it good,Jud. 15.3. there was no such Principle delivered by Christ or his Apostles, that Oral-Tradition must be the first upon which all others depend. Nay more, that Scripture needs no security from his Tradition, nor any thing else that can mainly concern salvation; but that all Tradition Orall must be made good by Scripture, or else it cannot guide to salvation, but to destruction, being false and erroneous.
To close: Why doth this Discourser so palpably dissemble at last, to tell us that he hath many other Testimonies of his Traditions Infallibleness, but it is not his Task to pursue them? Hath he not repeated the same proofs over and over to turn up our stomacks, if we were squeamish? Was it not his intended work from the beginning to prove the infallibleness of his Tradition to his utmost, and yet he saith it was not his task? Who can beleeve him? Notwithstanding the man is content from what he hath said, to conclude that he hath proved it self-Evident, That Romish Tradition is an Inerrable Rule, and not only Indefective but Indefectible from Christ to this day, and that by the utmost strained strength of Nature and Grace. Lord open this Mans eies. We conclude too: Nothing but the utmost of Satans Efficacy, and Ma… Lust, could work such delusion.