About Tradition, Conclusion
CONCLUSION.
I Shall end this Diſcourſe with a brief Admonition, relating to our Chriſtian practice.
And what is there more proper or more ſeaſonable than this? While we reject all ſpurious Traditions, let us be ſure to keep cloſe to the genuine and true. Let us hold them faſt, and not let them go.
Let us not diſpute our ſelves out of all Religion while we condemn that which is falſe: Nor break all Chriſtian Diſcipline and Order; becauſe we cannot ſubmit to all humane impoſitions.
In plain words, let us not throw off Epiſcopacy, together with the Papal Tyranny.
We ought to be the more carefull in obſerving the Divine Tradition delivered to us in the Scripture; and according to the Scripture; becauſe we are not bound to other.
While we contend againſt the half Communion; let us make a Conſcience to receive the whole frequently. It looks like Faction, rather than Religion, to be earneſt for that, which we mean not to uſe.
In like manner, while we look upon additions to the Scripture, as vain; let us not neglect to reade and ponder thoſe holy Writings.
When we reject Purgatory as a fable; let us really dread Hell fire.
And while we do not tye our ſelves to all uſages that have been in the Church, let us be carefull to obſerve, firſt all the ſubſtantial duties of righteouſneſs, charity, ſobriety and godlineſs, which are unqueſtionably delivered to us by our Lord himſelf and his holy Apoſtles: and ſecondly all the Ordinances of the Church wherein we live, which are not contrary to the word of God. For ſo hath the fame Divine Authority delivered; that the people ſhould obey thoſe that are their Guides and Governours; ſubmitting themſelves to their authority; and avoiding all contention with them, as moſt undecent in it ſelf, and pernicious to Religion; which ſuffers extremely, when neither Eccleſiaſtical Authority, nor Eccleſiaſtical Cuſtome can end diſputes about Rites and Ceremonies.
Reade 1 Theſſ. V. 12. Heb. XIII. 17. 1 Cor. XI. 16. and reade ſuch places, as you ought to do all the other Scriptures, till your hearts be deeply affected with them.
For be admoniſhed, in the laſt place, of this; which is of general uſe, and muſt never be forgotten: becauſe we ſhall loſe the benefit of that celeſtial Doctrine, which is delivered unto us, if we do not ſtrictly obſerve it. That as this Evangelical Doctrine is delivered down to us, ſo we muſt be delivered up to it. Thus Saint Paul teaches us to ſpeak in VI. Rom. 17. where he thanks God that they who formerly had been ſervants of ſin, did now obey from the heart that form of Doctrine, unto which they were delivered. So the words run in the Greek (as the Margin of our Bibles inform you) foreign.
This is the Tradition which we muſt be ſure to retain, and hold faſt above all other; as that without which all our belief will be ineffectual.
This is the very end for which all Divine Truth is delivered unto us, that we may be delivered and make a ſurrender of our ſelves unto it.
Obſerve the force of the Apoſtles words: which tell us firſt, that there was a certain form of Chriſtian Doctrine which the Apoſtles taught, compared here to a mould (ſo the word foreign, form, may be tranſlated) into which metal or ſuch like matter is caſt; that it may receive the figure and ſhape of that mould.
2. Now he compares the Roman Chriſtians to ſuch ductile, pliable matter: they being ſo delivered or caſt into this form or mould of Chriſtian Doctrine, that they were intirely framed and faſhioned according to it: and had all the lineaments, as I may ſay, of it expreſſed upon their ſouls.
3. And having ſo received it, they were obedient to it: for without this, all the impreſſions, which by knowledge or faith were made upon their ſouls, were but an imperfect draught of what was intended in the Chriſtian Tradition.
4. And it was hearty obedience; ſincere compliance with the Divine will: ſuch obedience as became thoſe who underſtood their Religion to be a great deliverance and liberty from the ſlavery of ſin (before ſpoken of) into the happy freedom of the ſervice of God.
5. All which laſtly he aſcribes to the grace of God, which had both delivered to them that Doctrine, and drawn them to deliver up themſelves to it; made their hearts ſoft and ductile to be caſt into that mould; and quickned them to Chriſtian Obedience; and given them a willing mind to obey chearfully. All this was from God's grace, and not their merits; and therefore the thanks was to be aſcribed to him, who ſucceeds and bleſſes all pious indeavours.
Now according to this pattern, let us frame our ſelves: who, bleſſed be God, have a form of Doctrine delivered to us in this Church, exactly agreeable to the holy Scriptures: which lie open before us; and we are exhorted not onelyonly to look into them, but we feel that grace which hath brought them to us, clearly demonſtrating that we ought to be formed according to the holy Doctrine therein delivered, by the delivery of our ſelves unto it. By the delivery of our mind, that is, to think of God, and our ſelves, and of our duty in every point, juſt as this inſtructs us. And by the delivery of our wills and affections, to be governed and regulated, according to its directions. And when we have conſented to this, we find the Divine grace repreſenting to us the neceſſity of an hearty obedience, to what we know and believe and have embraced as the very Truth of God. To this we are continually drawn and mightily moved; and if we would ſhew our thankfulneſs for it, let us follow theſe godly motions, and conform our ſelves in all things to the heavenly preſcriptions of this Book: being confident that if we do, we need not trouble our ſelves about any other model of Religion, which we find not here delivered.
For if you deſire to know what form of Doctrine it is, to which the Apoſtle would have us delivered; it is certain it is a Doctrine directly oppoſite to all vice and wickedneſs. For herein the grace of God was manifeſted, he tells the Romans, in that it had brought them, from being ſlaves of ſin, heartily to obey the Chriſtian Doctrine: which taught, that is, vertue and piety.
Now to this the preſent Romaniſts can pretend to add nothing. All the parts of a godly life are ſufficiently taught us, in the holy Scriptures. And if we would ſeriouſly practiſe and follow this Doctrine, from the very heart; we ſhould eaſily ſee there is no other but what is there delivered. For whatſoever is pretended to be neceſſary beſides, is not a Doctrine according unto godlineſs (as the Apoſtle calls Chriſtianity) but the very deſign of it is to open an eaſier way to heaven, than that laid before us in the holy Scriptures; by Maſſes for the dead, by Indulgences, by Satisfactions, and the merits of the Saints, and ſeveral other ſuch like inventions: which have no foundation in the Scriptures; nor in true Antiquity.
That is a word indeed which is very much pretended. Antiquity they ſay is on their ſide; but it is nothing different from what hath been ſaid about Tradition. And if we will run up to the true Antiquity, there is nothing ſo ancient as the holy Scriptures. They are the oldeſt Records of Religion: and by them if we frame our lives, we are ſure it is according to the moſt authentick and ancient directions of piety, delivered in the holy Oracles of God. So both ſides confeſs them to be. And if the old Rule be ſafe, that is true, which is firſt, we are ſafe-enough: for there is nothing before this to be our Guide; and there can be nothing after this, but muſt be tried by it. According to another Rule, as old as reaſon it ſelf; the firſt in every kind, is the meaſure of all the reſt. And, as ſure as that there is a Goſpel of God's grace, they that walk after this Rule (this Divine Canon) peace ſhall be upon them, and mercy; they being the true Iſrael, or Church, of God.
THE END.