A09453:235
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Doctrine 7 › Objections for Traditions.Doctrine 7 › Obiections for Traditions.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First they allege, 2. Thess. 2. 15. where the Apostle bids that Church keep the ordinances which he taught them either by word or letter. Hence they gather, that beside the written word, there be unwritten traditions, that are indeed necessary to be kept and obeyed. Ans. It is very likely, that this Epistle to the Thessalonians was the first that ever Paul writ to any Church, though in order it have not the first place; and therefore at the time when this Epistle was penned, it might well fall out, that some things needful to salvation were delivered by ⟨p. 144⟩word of mouth, not being as yet written by any Apostle. Yet the same things were afterward set down in writing, either in the second epistle or in the epistles of Paul.
First they alleadge, 2. Thess. 2. 15. where the Apostle biddes that Church keepe the ordinances which he taught them either by worde or letter. Hence they gather, that beside the written worde, there be vnwritten traditions, that are indeede necessarie to be kept and obeied. Ans. It is very likely, that this Epistle to the Thessalonians was the first that euer Paul writ to any Church, though in order it haue not the first place; and therefore at the time when this Epistle was penned, it might well fall out, that some things needefull to saluation were deliuered by ⟨p. 144⟩word of mouth, not being as yet written by any Apostle. Yet the same things were afterward set downe in writing, either in the second epistle or in the epistles of Paul.
Object. II. That, Scripture is Scripture, is a point to be believed, but that is a tradition unwritten; and therefore one tradition there is not written, that we are to believe. Answ. That the books of the old and new Testament are Scripture, it is to be gathered and believed not upon bare tradition, but from the very books themselves, on this manner. Let a man that is endued with the spirit of discerning, read the several books, withal let him consider the professed author thereof which is God himself, and the matter therein contained, which is a most divine and absolute truth full of piety: the manner and form of speech, which is full of majesty in the simplicity of words. The end whereat they wholly aim, which is the honour and glory of God alone, &c. and he shall be resolved that Scripture is Scripture, even by the Scripture it self. Yea, and by this means he may discern any part of Scripture, from