When the Holy Book of Scripture was lost, which God restored by Esdras, were there none in all that time, whose hearts had settled rest? What foolish, and absurd doctrine is this?* What if it had pleased God, there had never been letter written of the Old, or New Testament? should not Gods friends have found his peace that passeth all sense,2 as S. Paul sayeth? Had Paul, Antony, Hilarion, Pambus, and many other Holy men living in Wilderness* without letters, no rest, ne quiet at their hearts? Nay, who had the like? And whereas you say, that all things needful for our Salvation be abundantly, and fully comprehended in the Scriptures, this is also as false, as sundry other parts of your Doctrine. For if all things necessary to Salvation be contained in the Scriptures, then what so ever is not in them contained, the same is not necessary: If not necessary, why should we be laden with unnecessary burdens? Then away with all Traditions at a clap, be they never so Apostolic, never so Ancient, never so Healthful, never so long time in the Church continued. Remember you not, what the most renowned Fathers have written of the necessity of Traditions? Or if you remember them, what thought you when you wrote thus? Let Learned and Holy Basil be heard in stead of many, if not to revoke you from your error, yet to discredit you, and stay others in the truth.4 His words be these: Of the doctrines, which be preached in the Church, certain we have out of the Scripture written, certain we have received in secrete Mystery by tradition of the Apostles,* which both be of equal force to Godliness. Neither concerning these any man gainsayeth, be he of never so small knowledge. For if we go about to reject the customs that be not set forth in writing, as being of little regard, then shall we condemn those things also, which we have in the Gospel necessary to Salvation. Yea rather we shall bring the preaching of the Faith but to a bare name. For so they were taken for Heretics, which regarded not the solemn fast of Lent* received at the Apostles,7 as we read in S. Augustine, De Haer. ad Quoduultdeum, cap. 53. and in the Council of Gangra in an Epistle to the Bishops of Armenia. Even so they which denied the* distinction of a Bishop and a Priest, were condemned of Heresy, as we find in S.
VVhen the Holy Booke of Scripture was loste, whiche God restored by Esdras, were there none in al that time, whose hartes had setled reste? VVhat foolishe, and absurde doctrine is this?* VVhat if it had pleased God, there had neuer benne letter written of the Olde, or Newe Testament? shoulde not Gods frendes haue founde his peace that passeth al sense,2 as S. Paule saieth? Had Paule, Antony, Hilarion, Pambus, and many other Holy men liuinge in VVildernesse* without letters, no reste, ne quiet at their hartes? Nay, who had the like? And whereas you saie, that al thinges needeful for our Saluation be abundantly, and fully cōprehended in the Scriptures, this is also as false, as sundry other partes of your Doctrine. For if al thinges necessary to Saluation be conteined in the Scriptures, then what so euer is not in them conteined, the same is not necessarie: If not necessarie, why shoulde we be laden with vnnecessarie burdens? Then awaie with al Traditions at a clappe, be they neuer so Apostolike, neuer so Auncient, neuer so Healthful, neuer so longe time in the Churche continued. Remember you not, what the moste renoumed Fathers haue written of the necessitie of Traditions? Or if you remember them, what thought you when you wrote thus? Let Learned and Holy Basil be hearde in steede of many, if not to reuoke you from your errour, yet to discredite you, and staye others in the truthe.4 His woordes be these: Of the doctrines, whiche be preached in the Churche, certaine we haue out of the Scripture written, certaine we haue receiued in secrete Mistery by tradition of the Apostles,* whiche bothe be of equal force to Godlines. Neither concerninge these any man gainesaieth, be he of neuer so smal knowledge. For if we goe about to reiect the customes that be not set foorth in writinge, as beinge of litle regarde, then shal we condemne those thinges also, whiche we haue in the Gospel necessarie to Saluation. Yea rather we shal bringe the preachinge of the Faithe but to a bare name. For so they were taken for Heretikes, whiche regarded not the solemne faste of Lente* receiued at the Apostles,7 as we reade in S. Augustine, De Haer. ad Quoduultdeum, cap. 53. and in the Councel of Gangra in an Epistle to the Bishops of Armenia. Euen so they whiche denied the
- *A worthy doubt.A vvoorthy doubte.
- 2Philip. 4.
- *Untruth. For S. Augustine saith, Antonius Scripturas Divinas memoriter audiendo tenuit, &c.Vntruthe. For S. Augustine saithe, Antonius Scripturas Diuinas memoriter audiendo tenuit, &c.
- 4Lib. de Spiritu Sancto. ca. 27.
- *Yet now the very same necessary Traditions be quite forgotten, and abolished, yea even in the Church of Rome.Yet novve the very same necessarie Traditions be quite forgotten, and abolished, yea euen in the Churche of Rome.
- *Untruth. Read the Answer.Vntruthe. Reade the Ansvveare.
- 7Fast of Lent.Faste of Lente.
- *Untruth. For hereby both S. P•ule, and S. Hierome, and other good men are condemned of Heresy.Vntruthe. For hereby bothe S. P•ule, and S. Hierome, and other good men are condemned of Heresie.
