A confession of faith made by common consent of divers reformed churches beyond the…A confession of fayth made by common consent of diuers reformed churches beyonde the…

As for the name of Traditions, the ¹which some also that fear nothing more then the trial of the Scripture, do hold forth as the terrible face of Gorgon, what is it else I pray you, but a bare visor? for if it be understand of the doctrine, seeing we have the word written, what need we any thing unwritten? for surely this unwritten is ⟨image 22⟩more uncertain than that written, and no man may seek a proof at the uncertainty of that which is certain. How be it here I do see, that many things may be objected against us. For first of all they will say, that they understand by the name of Tradition, ²not that which was not written by no man at all, and only delivered from hand to hand, but that which though it be not comprehended in those holy books which men call Canonical, yet may be proved by some other worthy writers: so that though at the first it was unwritten, yet may now worthily be called written: and such they call the Traditions of the Apostles. Moreover they will also allege that they understand by this name Traditions, certain plain and manifest explications of the Christian Faith, which were received in the old Church, as of Christ, how he is of the same Substance with the Father: and of the uniting of these two natures, and such like: for these men use to choose forth such things as are certain and most ⟨image 23⟩plausible. Now though I suppose that I have sufficiently answered unto these things heretofore, when I did speak of the Councils and of the writings of the Fathers: yet have I more ³to answer. For first of all, they them selves will grant that all such Traditions are not to be received without exception. What rule then shall we keep herein? Again if we depend of mens writings and authority, when the ⁴question peradventure is of the rites and ordinances, how many things shall we find not only diverse one from another, but clean contrary? when that controversy of keeping the feast of Pasche or Easter was in the Church of most ancient time, which proved & tried most manifestly the vain jangling, the ambition, the ignorance, and the frowardness, of the most part of the Bishops of the whole world: so that the whole world was shaken together, none otherwise then if the controversy had been of the whole Substance of our faith: and both parties do allege the Traditions of the Apostles: