And again, how should we be assured that those traditions which they call Apostolical, be Apostolical, considering them not written by the Apostles? Augustine speaking hereof, saith thus: Si qua retinuit Jesus Christus, 1quis nostrum dicet hoc vel illud esse? Et si quis hoc dicat, quomodo probabit? That is, If Jesus Christ have kept any thing close, which of us shall say that it is this or that? And if any say it is this, how wil• he prove it? For all the errors of the Church of Rome, shroud themselves under the harbour of traditions. And Chrysostom saith flatly, whatsoever is requisite for our salvation, 2is contained in the Scriptures. And again he saith, All things be clear and plain in the Scriptures, and whatsoever things be needful be manifest there. And Jerome in the prologue of the Bible to Pauline, after he had recited the books of the new Testament and the old, saith thus:3 I pray thee (dear brother) among these live, muse upon these, know nothing else, seek for none other thing. And again upon the books of the old and new Testament: These writings be holy, ⟨image 52⟩these books be sound, there is none other to be compared to these, whatsoever is beside these, may in no wise be received amongst these holy things. 4And again he saith, All other things which they seek out or invent at their pleasure, without the authority & testimony of the Scriptures (as though they were the traditions of the Apostles) the word of God cutteth off. Let us therefore stand fast to the written word of God, and as for their traditions, which they cannot prove but obtrude unto us without testimony of Scriptures, let us contemn them.5 For as Athanasius saith, the holy Scriptures inspired from God, are sufficient to all instruction of the truth. And as for the other point of the Papists in equalling and adding of their traditions, their decretal Epistles and Canons, to the pure and divine word of God, it is a blasphemy intolerable, and who can endure it? For doth not God say thus,6 Ye shall put nothing to the word which I command you, neither take ought there from.7 Deut. 4. And again he saith, whatsoever I command you, that take heed ye do only to the Lord, put nothing thereto not take ought therefrom. And doth not S.
And againe, how should we bée assured that those traditions which they call Apostolicall, be Apostolicall, considering them not written by the Apostles? Augustine speaking hereof, saith thus: Si qua retinuit Iesus Christus, 1quis nostrum dicet hoc vel illud esse? Et si quis hoc dicat, quomodo probabit? That is, If Iesus Christ haue kept any thing close, which of vs shall say that it is this or that? And if anie say it is this, how wil• hee proue it? For all the errors of the Church of Rome, shrowd themselues vnder the harbour of traditions. And Chrysostom saith flatly, whatsoeuer is requisite for our saluation, 2is conteined in the Scriptures. And againe hee saith, All thinges bee cleare and plaine in the Scriptures, and whatsoeuer thinges be needfull be manifest there. And Ierome in the prologue of the Bible to Paulyne, after hée had recited the bookes of the new Testament and the old, saith thus:3 I pray thee (deare brother) among these liue, muse vpon these, know nothing else, seeke for none other thing. And againe vpon the bookes of the olde and new Testament: These writings be holie, ⟨image 52⟩these bookes bee sound, there is none other to bee compared to these, whatsoeuer is beside these, may in no wise bee receaued amongst these holy things. 4And againe hée saith, All other thinges which they seeke out or inuent at their pleasure, without the authority & testimony of the Scriptures (as though they were the traditions of the Apostles) the word of God cutteth off. Let vs therefore stand fast to the written word of God, and as for their traditions, which they cannot prooue but obtrude vnto vs without testimonie of Scriptures, let vs contemne them.5 For as Athanasius saith, the holy Scriptures inspired from God, are sufficient to all instruction of the truth. And as for the other point of the Papists in equalling and adding of their traditions, their decretall Epistles and Canons, to the pure and diuine word of God, it is a blasphemy intollerable, and who can indure it? For doth not God say thus,6 Yee shall put nothing to the word which I commaunde you, neither take ought there from.
- 1August. in epist ad Januar.August. in epist ad Ianuar.
- 2Chrysost. in Math. 24. hom. 4: Chrys. in 2. Thes. 2.
- 3Jerome in his prologue of the Bible.Ierom in his prolog of the Bible.
- 4Jero. upon Ag, 2.Iero. vpon Agge, 2.
- 5Athana•, contra gentiles▪
- 6Deu. 4.
- 7Deu. 12.
