Sure Footing in Christianity, Preface
THE PREFACE TO THE Intelligent READER. EXAMINED.
HE that would walk safely through this Discoursers Labyrinth of Tradition needs be wary, lest he stumble at the Threshold of his Preface; For it is a kind of a bogling step made up of even and odd: Some things are smooth and handsome at which none may fear to trip: but other things are rough and uncouth like an heap of stones, or filth or rubbish lying at the door, over which it were better to leap, than to step upon a loose stone, and indanger a fall.
That which we look upon as something equal, is a general Rule of Reason, That there is a necessity of laying down a first Principle▪ scientifically to infer any Conclusion: Here we stand firm. The rugged and uneven stuffe as an heap is made up. 1. Of unjust and untrue Reflexions upon the Prote…tants, and the Articles of the Church of Eng…and, as if they contained not, nor stuck un…o any Infallible Principle, no not the Scrip…ure it self as of sufficient Authority to settle True Faith or overthrow the false: He chargeth them withall to be adverse to self-evident Principles which are the direct way to screne and to transfer disputes to a kind of spatium Imaginarium, &c. So making them witless Fellows. Ss. 1.2.
2. His Apologie for his Romish Catholicks for yielding to dispute with Protestants not holding their first Principle of Tradition and so commends their Art, Prudence, and Charity in such condescension unto their Protestant Adversaries: Adv…sing them to force them to some first Principle; which will, 1. Advantage the world in the method of concluding something with Evidence. 2. The Romish Catholick Religion: For it is Impossible, that by reason strained to the utmost, they can invent any other in this matter, but that of Tradition, viz. (Popish.) Most confident man! Who will dare to grapple with him? His words may startle Punies: Yet he is not so formidable; words are but wind. Ss. 3, 4.
3. Another job here is, a modest excuse of himself, for his immodest confidence in methodizing others for scientifical discourses; yet he hopes he doth but second nature in it; and so far it is well, with a jerk to Dr. Pierce and his Abettor, who he saith complains of the same fault in Papists, which he chargeth on Protestants, that they put one to answer that which hath been an hundred times said before. And all this happens (as he saith) through the not first settling of his Tradition, as the first Principle, which if done, than Citations of Fathers would be distinct, and hereby security and Interpretation of Scriptures-letter; and then victory would accrue to truth, &c. And Testimonies of Romish Catholicks would be irresistable. Ss. 5, 6. He begins to begg betimes, and had the Protestants no more wit than to grant him: They themselves might be begg'd for fools. Here is a great deal of Rubble and uncomely stuffe lyeth at the Entry; dirty reproaches and Parasitical flatteries and self-Indulgence, and pr…ud Confidence he…pt up together: We are resolved to leap over this dunghil at once; and then stand still a little and consider what in this preface is worthy of reply, and thereunto to answer. 1. His Postulatum, or cla…m for laying down a First Principle. 2. His Dilemma, or catching Argument to Protestants; whereby he hopes to hitch them upon the one side, or the other.
To both these we shall make reply, after we have shortly premonish't the Reader of this Discoursers Art in laying down his first Principle, and of his groundless Confidence, That no other can be laid to give down the knowledge of Christ and his Doctrine, but his Popish Tradition. Let these things be noted.
1. In his Scientifical method (unto which he most highly pretends) the conclusion which he aimeth to make known throughout all his Discourses seemeth to be this, That the Traditionary-Faith of the Romish Church, as stated in their Trent-Council, whereof they stand now possessed, is truly the Faith of Christ, which they have uninterrupted…y received from him unto this day, only by the living voice of his Church which is Tradition. This the Intelligent Reader will discern to be the drift of his whole book: Tradition then as noting the Romish Faith delivered is the matter, by him to be concluded.
2. In order to infer this, he useth his first self-evident Principle as his Medium, which is Oral-Tradition only, the living voice of his Church, and not Scriptural; This is Tradition (as he styleth it) sine re Traditâ: and seemeth hence to reason thus; The Traditionary faith, whereof Romish Catholicks stand possessed at this day, is truly Christs, descended from him, because it hath been brought unto them by Oral-Tradition alone, or living voice, and not by Scripture: Wherein Tradition is both Principle and Conclusion: Traditionary faith is true, because it is Traditionary, or given down by an Oral-living voice. In this medium is all the strength of this mighty Discourser, which he labours to maintain throughout his Treatise, with all the skill he hath, though all in vain.
3. In his ventilations about this he dodgeth in and out under the equivocal or ambiguous term of Tradition: Sometimes he speaketh of it as natural and general concerning all Mankind, by which things natural of universal and necessary use are given down from man to man: Sometimes he takes it more specially for Tradition Ecclesiastical whereby matters of Religion are given down from Father to Son and th…s he impropriates to his Romish Church to have it through Generation and Generation from Christ, which he madly avoucheth to be as extensively and certainly true, as any natural delivery of those things, which are obvious to every eye: As if voluntary Tradition were not subject to more mistakes then the known dictates of nature. Again, in one place he pretends to speak of Tradition, as the mode of del…vering things by living voice without consideration of matters del vered: In another place he useth it for the doctrine given out under it. Once more we have him one while speaking of Tradition-Oral in his own sence, and another time abusing it in urging the Fathers who frequently understand it of Scriptural-Tradition, and he still transferrs it to delivery by speech; and no way else. Now he shifting under these ambiguities deludes unwary souls: But he may know that his Protestant Adversaries discern him, and can distinguish better of Tradition, than to gran… all to be his, which he vainly claims: Yea and will tell him, That it is po…sible for them, without straining reason to its u…ost to lay down a first Princip e fully demonstrating the truth of their Faith derived from Chr st and not recurr to his Tradition Popish. The man hath never the more Sure-footing by his High presumptions: these are slippery precipices. We leave this Method of his to be considered. And now to reply.
1. He calls loudly upon us to lay down our first Principle in disputing for the Faith of Protestants, against that Faith of Papists; As for his we utterly deny. And for our own, we sh…ll single it out, after we have orderly proposed some Truths which are truly Postulata among Christians, such wherein they agree, or in reason ought to agree.
1. In the Controversie between Protestants and Papists both Parties deal about the Truest, best, and highest of Sciences, even the knowledge of God as he is discovered unto us the Author of Sa…vation. Where…n by the wisedome of God, we have digested into the sweetest o…der both the conclusion to be known, and the Principle demonstrating the same. This is Science purely Metaphysical, Transcend…ntal and Divine, The true Prima Philosophia, which the Papists if Christians, will grant; or upon that account are bound to yeeld together with us.
2. The great and general Conclusion to be demonstrated in this Science, is,2 Cor. 5.19. Act. 4.12. Act. 10.43. That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their sins, or, That there is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved, but only the name of Jesus Christ crucified, and through faith in his Name. This is the great Truth concluded in the Gospel, by the true knowledge whereof is eternal life. Herein the Papists also as professed Christians, do or must agree with us in reason.
3. They will agree (we suppose) in this also, That the Fathers will revealed by his Son the Eternal word, is the proper, and sole cause or Principle making certainly known this way of his Salvation. He is therefore styled the word of the Father discovering him,Joh. 1, 1.18. 1 Joh. 1.1. and the word of life revealing it to the Sons of men.
4. Their agreement we expect in this likewise;Eph. 3.5. 1 Pet. 1.10 11, 12. That the eternal word the Son of God did appoint the preachings and writings of his Prophets and Apostles, as the due means of making known this his Fathers will about the way of Salvation sufficiently unto the world. Christians cannot deny this.
5. The Trent-Council (to which the Discourser subscribes as giving the living voice of his Church) agreeth with us, That the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles in the old and new Testament are the true word of God expressing his will unto us; 2 Pet. 1.16, 19.For (say they) one God is the Author of both. This hath been the Confession of the Christian Church in all ages.
Heb. 11.1. 2 Cor. 413. 1 Cor. 2.14.6. A Christian consent of all, we doubt not of in this: That by the Spirit of Faith, alone, this spiritual Truth, both of Gospel-Principle and Conclusion, can be received and made evident. Natural man cannot receive them, for they are spiritually discerned, and are strange things to the Sciolists of the world;Mat. 11.25, To whom they are not demonstrable by reason of their blindness.
7 This also we lay down as to be agreed on by Christians, That under Gods wise Providence Tradition both Oral and Scriptural of the Doctrine delivered by the Prophets and Apostles from Fathers to Children, Ps. 78.5.6.7.is necessary to make known Gods will revealed as the Rule of their Faith and manners throughout all Generations: To this the Trent-Fathers assent, and no less the Discourser here; saving that, They speak of Tradition in their own sense, as Popish; which we reject as false and fabulous: And we take Tradition genuinly, as that just and honest means by word and writing to give down Gods mind in Christ for salvation from age to age: Wherein it appears, Protestants do not deny but strongly assert that which is Tradition indeed of Divine Institution.
8. In the last place we challenge this as requiring consent from Christians, That the Traditions of Gods will concerning faith unto salvation both oral and Scriptural, are commensurate, and coequal: So that nothing is written but that which was spoken by those holy men of God; neither ought any th…ng to be spoken in the name of God, but that which is written: Herein the Discourser with his Trent-Representative, will draw back, but out of former Concessions, they are held to it: For if the Scripture be the word of God (…s they have granted) It must reveal the will of God fully to salvation; And then any Tradition, which is not found rooted in and expresly issuing there-from, cannot give out the will of God, but is expresly convinced of falshood thereby: Word and Writing then must speak the same mind of God. From all these Truths laid before us, where…nto Christians do and must agree, we shall gather our first Principle which we fix, as our Foundation in Controversie against Papists, and all other Patrons and Abettors of Error who corrupt the Gospel of Christ, This it is.
The will of God revealed from his Son, the Eternal word concerning the way of Salvation through faith in Christ by the Preachings and writings of the Prophets and Apostles, is the only true Rule of Faith, and of obedience issuing there-from.
If therefore the Discourser will let us go to work upon this Foundation, and try whether his Faith or ours will be able to endure the Test thereby: This is that Light, or Fire risen in the Gospel-day which will try all mens Faith, works and superstructures; that which is wood, hay or stubble will be consumed by it; but that which is silver, gold, and precious stones will be burnished and gloriously manifested by this light, and he that builds on this Foundation such sutable, and excellent matter, shall receive his due reward. Why Papists should not agree with us in this First Principle, if they be Christians, we know no reason; especially when their Consent is evinced to be necessary, from their former Concessions: But perhaps the man hopeth to catch us in his Dilemma, and so will shift of this, and force us to accept of his; we shall therefore now try that.
2. His double Catch-pol… Argument he proposeth thus: Either Controversie (or the skill, which enables us to conclude that Christs Faith is certainly derived down to us) is a Science or not; If not, why do we meddle with it? Sinc… without Science all is meer beating the air, an… empty ignorant talking: If it be, Common sence tells us it must be grounded on some First an… self-evid…nt Principle; we must add (whic… Protestants lay not down): So the Infeference intended is, that the Protestants o… both sides are at a loss, take which they will however he thus expresseth it not.
1. We need not fear either wing of this Adversaries power, we shall begin with the …irst, and we must here question his Terms: What is this Controversie? What this Science? As, For Controversie to be a science, is a strange uncouth expression to us: By Controversie we understand a Dissertation or Litigation about matters, wherein men agree not in their judgments whether Humane or Divine, or is in the Art of disputing, which is Logick, an Instrument by which men are enabled to draw Conclusions rightly out of premises. This is usefull indeed in and about Sciences, as Divinity, Physick, &c. to order Principles, thereby to infer conclusions: But that this is a science properly so called, we deny; whatever the Jesuits may hold in theit Schools. For Science genuinly taken is of things naturally digested …nto Causes and Effects; Principles and Con…equents: But Controversie or Logical disserta…ion is in opening, dist nguishing and orde…ing notions, under which these things are …mported, which are objects of Science tru…y so called, that so one thing may be rationally and clearly inferred from another. No reason than is there to acknowledge Controversie a Science, no not as described by the Discourser, to be the skill enabling them to conclud… that Christs Faith is certain…y derived down unto them Yet it is no beating of the air or empty Ignorant talking to make use of this skill of arguing without paralogistical deceits, to bring unto the true science or knowledge of salvation by Christ, which is the main conclusion of the Gospell. This horn of the Argument is then broken that it cannot hurt us; Controversie (as described) is no Science, yet may there be good use of it, when it becommeth a true Contention for the faith of the Gospel. And to retort unto this Dilemmatist; Never was the Apostles-censure more justly applied than to those Romish Controvertists, whose arguings are perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth, pretending oppositions of Science, 1 Tim. 6.5.20.falsly so called.
2. Let us deal a little with the other part of his Gin (though we are safe enough from danger already by the nulling of the first part of his Dilemma.) If this controversie be a science, then must be laid down some first Principle self-evident. We have denied Controversie properly to be a Science, and, therefore have a little to do with this upon those terms. Yet we acknowledg there is the truest and greatest Science, even the knowledge of the main Gospel-Conclusion, That Salvation is by faith alone in Christ Jesus, whereabout this Controversie may be exercised; and so hath been a long time between Protestants and Papists: to discover either who hold this Faith, or how they have had it brought down unto them, each party claims to have possession of it; and denieth it unto the other. The Protestants prove theirs to be the true Faith from the will of God revealed Originally in the Scriptures and delivered by the Prophets and Apostles and the faithful Witnesses of God, who through all Persecutions both Pagan and Antichristian have brought down the Discovery of it unto them. The Papists, as this Discourser represents them, argue the justice of their claim only from Oral-Tradition of their fore-fathers indefectively from Christ; as they most groundlesly pretend, which will evidently appear by that vast distance from, and opposition of the present professed faith of Rome unto that delivered by Christ, and his Apostles.
Now therefore most weakly and absurdly doth this Man make his Oral-Tradition to be the first Principle to prove his present Popish-Faith to be true, arguing thus that it must be true; because Traditionary by word of mouth, for then every thing so delivered, would be true, which is grossly foolish: And as to his pretended Indefectiveness of this delivery from Christ it is a Dream and will be proved a vanity in the after-Examination. And although Protestants urge the Scripture their Principle, yet is it not for the writings or letters sake, but for the will of God contained in it; For voices and letters (as such) cannot be Principles demonstrating any conclusion of Truth; but only remote means to help men to know such Principles, which do infer things issuing from them demonstratively.
To clear therefore this Notion of Principle from ambiguity wherein this Discourser intangles duplicate page duplicate page himself, and perplexeth his Readers, while he styleth his Tradition, sometimes the first Principle, other times the Rule of Faith, elsewhere o…t-times the Rule of Faith, as if these terms were all synonymous: So he confounds them through his discourses; but under gross mistake. We therefore thus distinguish. This notion of Principle is 1. Grammatical, and so it noteth the first Elements or letters in the Alphabet, of which are made syllables, words and sentences, the teaching and knowledge of which are the first and remote means to bring to higher understanding of matters more sublime:foreign. Heb. 5.12. Heb. 6.1. So this notion of Principle is applied to such things as are first helps to lead unto any knowledge; As the voice of speech or Oral-Tradition without matters delivered: In which sence this Man tells us we are to understand him. (Dis. 5. p. 47.) So the Legal-Types are called the Principles of Christ, as being the first helps delivered for the knowledge of him. If this be all his meaning in styling his Tradition by word of mouth a Principle, we shall joyn issue with him, and yield that both letters written, and words spoken are the A, B, C. to faith, or remote helps thereunto; but we deny also that in this sence it is peculiar to Oral-Tradition to be this Principle; for letters are as helpful in their kind: Neither are these means convertible with true Faith as there End; for they are helps to convey falshood as well as Truth.
2. This term Principle is Logical, and so it denoteth, some first proposition of truth, that cannot be denied, from which another subordinate is necessarily and certainly concluded. In this sence have both Protestants and Papists used it in their Disputes for making good their own conclusions. And so do we take it now in dealing with this Discourser, disproving Romish Faith now held by them to be Christs; and proving the faith of the Gospel held by Protestants to be truly his: And to demonstrate this we have laid down our first Principle. viz. That the will of God revealed by the Preachings and writings of the Prophets, and Apostles, is the only Rule of the true Faith in Christ. And laying down this we escape all hurt by the other horn of his Dilemma. Now let this man of science tell us, whether his oral-tradition, separated from the matter delivered in it, be a Principle Grammatical or Logical: He will not, for shame, say the former, to reduce us to the A, B, C. of knowledge this cannot be scientifical of his conclusion; and if he say it is Logical it must be a proposition of a first undeniable truth, which must necessarily conclude that the Romish faith is truly Christs and infallibly de…cended from him: but this it cannot. The …irst Truth indeed which can conclude that Faith in Christ is true, is this that the holy Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles are the word of God, revealing his will for true faith in Christ unto salvation: Hereunto his Trent Fathers agree (unto whom he professeth a…l loyalty): And it being granted by them, as a first Truth; it is a lawful Postulatum from Protestants to Papists, to begin with this as the scientifical Principle to conclude the true faith in Christ. If the true revealed will of God, cannot give sure knowledge of this, what Tradition of man can? These things premised, The Protestant claims and holds possession of the true Faith of Christ; And in the Reformation, they moved nothing of the Truth of the Gospel, but cast out much filth brought in by Popish Tradition. They are fixt therefore upon their first Principle which the Discourser cannot rationally deny. Upon which if he will enter into the lists with them, they are ready to meet him. If not, they do not frankly and more truly declare what the best reason declares to ingenuous wits, not only that the flashy books of his and other Pseudo-Catholicks deserve not a word of answer, but will have the heaviest rebukes from God, who will reprove them, for taking his Covenant into their mouths, and hating to be reformed. None shall deliver them in that day.