I have given you instances enough, to prove that many may be Christians and have a certain faith, who are not certain of all things in the Scriptures: And therefore though all these persons are herein defective or erroneous, yet that Christianity may be otherwise known and proved: Yea though the ⟨p. 24⟩case of the Scriptures were as these mistaking persons think. And I told you how many ways, besides Scripture, the sum and necessary substance of the Christianity is delivered down from the Apostles to the world; Reas. of Christ. Rel. pag. 336, 337. First, in the very successive Being of Christians and Churches, who are the Professors of this Doctrine. Secondly, In a succession of Pastors, whose office was to preach it. Thirdly, In a succession of Baptism, which is that solemnizing the Christian Covenant, in which the sum of the Gospel is contained. Fourthly, In the three breviates or symbols of the Christian Religion, the Creed, Lords Prayer and Decalogue, which all the Christian Churches still used. Yea every one that was baptized at age (and the Parent for the Infant) did openly make profession of the Christian faith, and of Religion in all the essential particulars. Fifthly, In the Churches use of Catechising those who were to be baptized, that they might first know that Religion which they were to enter. Sixthly, In that constant Communion ⟨p. 25⟩of all the Churches in their solemn Assemblies, and setting apart the Lords day to that use; where in their worshipping of God, they expressed and exercised their Religion. Seventhly, In the constant preaching of the Gospel by the Pastors. Eighthly, In the constant Celebration of the Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood; wherein the sum of the Gospel was recited and expressed. And the custom was also to repeat the profession of their Belief. Ninthly, The frequent disputations of the Christian Pastors for their Religion against all Heathens, Infidels and Heretics. Tenthly, The writings of the said Pastors, Apologies, Doctrinal, Historical, Commentaries, Devotional. Eleventhly, The Confession and Sufferings of the Martyrs. Twelfthly, The Decrees, Canons and Epistles of Councils or Assemblies of the Christian Pastors. Thirteenthly, And after these the Decrees and Laws of Christian Princes: in all which we have no need of any peculiar Tradition of the Church of Rome.
I have given you instances enough, to prove that many may be Christians and have a certain faith, who are not certain of all things in the Scriptures: And therefore though all these persons are herein defective or erroneous, yet that Christianity may be otherwise known and proved: Yea though the ⟨p. 24⟩case of the Scriptures were as these mistaking persons think. And I told you how many waies, besides Scripture, the summe and necessary substance of the Christianity is delivered down from the Apostles to the world; Reas. of Christ. Rel. pag. 336, 337. First, in the very successive Being of Christians and Churches, who are the Professors of this Doctrine. Secondly, In a succession of Pastors, whose office was to preach it. Thirdly, In a succession of Baptism, which is that solemnizing the Christian Covenant, in which the sum of the Gospel is contained. Fourthly, In the three breviates or symboles of the Christian Religion, the Creed, Lords Prayer and Decalogue, which all the Christian Churches still used. Yea every one that was baptized at age (and the Parent for the Infant) did openly make profession of the Christian faith, and of Religion in all the essential particulars. Fifthly, In the Churches use of Catechising those who were to be baptized, that they might first know that Religion which they were to enter. Sixthly, In that constant Communion ⟨p. 25⟩of all the Churches in their solemn Assemblies, and setting apart the Lords day to that use; where in their worshiping of God, they expressed and excercised their Religion. Seventhly, In the constant preaching of the Gospel by the Pastors. Eightly, In the constant Celebration of the Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood; wherein the summe of the Gospel was recited and expressed. And the custome was also to repeat the profession of their Belief. Ninethly, The frequent disputations of the Christian Pastors for their Religion against all Heathens, Infidels and Heroticks. Tenthly, The writings of the said Pastors, Apologies, Doctrinal, Historical, Commentaries, Devotional. Eleventhly, The Confession and Sufferings of the Martyrs. Twelfthly, The Decrees, Canons and Epistles of Councils or Assemblies of the Christian Pastors. Thirteenthly, And after these the Decrees and Laws of Christian Princes: in all which we have no need of any peculiar Tradition of the Church of Rome.
