Prophets, and the Psalmes, under h the Apocryphall bookes are.

295

as in the next place.

Seut. iv. 2. & c. xii. 32. Prov. xxx. 6. Revel. xxii. 18.

Non aliundè nos habere Scripturam esse divinam, et qui sunt libri sacri, quam ex Traditionibus non scriptis. Bel. de verb. Dei. lib. 4. c. 4.

against us for Freewill, for Purgatory, for Prayer for the dead, for Invocation of Saints, for Wor shipping of Angells, and the like: these things I say rightly considered, and patiently heard on both sides, I shall appeale to their owne learned Cardinall Cajetan's confession, who concludes for the antiquitie of our doctrine, and the Universalitie of the Jewes' Canon, with one and the same reason: All Christians receive a double benefit by the Apostacie and obstinacie of the Jewes; one is to know which are the true bookes of the Olde Testament : for if all the Jewes had been converted to the faith of Christ, then would the world have suspected that the Jewes had invented those promises which are of Christ the Messias: but now for as much as the Jewes are enemies unto Christ, they beare witnesse unto us, that there are no bookes Canonicall, but those only which the Jewes themselves acknowledged to bee Canonicall*.

To conclude therefore this first poynt, since the Scripture is the most certaine and safest rule of Faith, by our adversaries owne confession; since the Canonicall bookes of Scripture, (which are the onely rule of Faith,) are contained in the

* Duas maximas utilitates ex Judæorum obstinacia percivimus: altera est fides librorum sacrorum. Si enim omnes conversi essent ad Christum putaret jam mundus Judæorum ad inventionem fuisse-quod fuerit promissus Messias, sed ubi inimici Christi Judæi perseverant et testantur nullos alios apud Patres fuisse libros canonicè sacres nisi istos. Cajet. Comment. in Rom. c. 11.

↑ Bell. de verbo Dei. lib. 1. cap. 2.

Law

Law, in the Prophets, and the Psalmes, under all or any of which the Apocryphall bookes are not contained; I say, to leave this certaine and safe way, and receive Apocryphall additions to that Word, when it is strictly forbidden by God himselfe, Thou shalt not adde to this Word*: this is Via Dubia, a doubtfull and uncertaine way; this is Via Devia, a wandring and By-way.

But because our adversaries insist upon another ground, (viz.) That by no other meanes wee can know the Scriptures to be divine, nor the bookes to bee holy and (Canonicall,) but onely from unwritten Tradition, I will leave them to their Apocryphall Scriptures, and pursue them in their unwritten traditions in the next place.

* Deut. iv. 2. & c. xii. 32. Prov. xxx. 6. Revel. xxii. 18. + Non aliundè nos habere Scripturam esse divinam, et qui şunt libri sacri, quam ex Traditionibus non scriptis. Bel, de yerb. Dei. lib. 4. c. 4.

SECT.

SECT. VII.

THE

ROMANISTS IN ΡΟΥΝΤ OF TRADITIONS CONTRADICT THE TRUTH, AND THEMSELVES; GROUNDING MOST OF THEIR ER RONIOUS DOCTRINE UPON UNWRITTEN TRADITIONS, AND YET FREQUENTLY ALLEDGE THE WRITTEN WORD FOR THEM,

I

IT is the first Article of the Romane Creed, to which all Bishops and Priests are sworne: admit and embrace the Apostólicall and Ecclesiasticall Traditions, and the other observations and constitutions of the Church*. What are meant by those Observations and Constitutions of the Church, and how the Priests are bound to imbrace them, the Councell of Trent declareth in this manner: "Traditions appertaining to faith and manners, as if they were dictated by Christ himselfe with his own mouth, or by the holy spirit, and preserved by a continuall succession in the Catholique Church, the Councell receiveth with equall reverence and religious affection, as shee receives the holy Scriptures themselvest."

Here was the first alteration made, touching the

Bulla Pii IV. Art. 1.

† Necnon Traditiones ipsas tum ad fidem tum ad mores pertinentes—pari pietatis affectu ac reverentia suscipit et venerantur. Conc. Trid. Sess. 4. Decret. 1.

rule

rule of Faith; and from the Decree of this Councell, Bellarmine's doctrine began to take place. The Scripture is but a partiall, not a totall rule of Faith*: for certainly till this time, Traditions concerning faith and manners, were never reputed of equall authoritie with the Scriptures, nor a part of the Rule of Faith. It was the Tenet of Aquinas, (and the later Schoolemen knew no other doctrine, till the Councell of Trent) "The doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles is called Canonicall, because it is the rule of our understanding, and therefore no man ought to teach otherwise +." But you shall observe from, and after this time, the Romanists performed their oath (Ex abundanti) I may say more then enough. Cardinall Baronius tells us, "Tradition is the foundation of Scriptures, and excells them in this, that the Scriptures cannot subsist, unlesse they bee strengthened by Traditions, but Tradition hath strength enough without the Scriptures." And that the world may know it is usuall with our adversaries, not onely to equall their unwritten Traditions, but also to advance them above the Scriptures, let their sayings bee weighed by any indifferent man, and it will appeare, the Scriptures are of so little use or esteeme with them, as if they were not worthy to be named in poynts of controversie betwixt us.

Regula partialis non totalis. Bell.

+ Aquin. in 1. ad Tim. cap. 6.

Baron. An. 58. n. 11.