The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving…The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving…

I confess this Doctor allows us pretty fair quarter in comparison of many others of his party. If they will but give us such Open public universal certain Tradition, which must be known to the very outward senses of every Christian, we shall be very ready to comply with them in receiving such a Testimony. But if all the Romish Traditions had been such, they would be known to all Christians as well as to the Pope, and not locked up in his Cabinet, and our selves should sure have known them before now, if we be Christians.

I confess this Doctor allows us pretty fair quarter in comparison of many others of his party. If they will but give us such Open publike universal certain Tradition, which must be known to the very outward senses of every Christian, we shall be very ready to comply with them in receiving such a Testimony. But if all the Romish Traditions had been such, they would be known to all Christians as well as to the Pope, and not lock't up in his Cabinet, and our selves should sure have known them before now, if we be Christians.

Quest. 5. To proceed, I am very desirous to ⟨p. 287⟩know whether it be upon the credit of the present Church (Pope or Council) or of those former that are dead and gone, that we must receive our faith and the Scriptures? Or upon both? If it be on the credit of any former Church, then would I know of which age? whether of the nearest, or the middle, or of the first and remotest age, that is, from the Apostles and the Church in their days? If from the last age, then 1. How know we their Testimony? If it be by their writings, Canons or Decrees, why cannot other men who are much wiser and better, understand these as well as the Pope? And why do they not refer us to those writings, but to their own determinations? If it be by the Fathers telling the children what hath formerly been believed, then, why cannot I tell what my Father told me, without the Pope, and better then the Pope that never knew him? 2. And then it must be known upon whose credit the former ages did receive that faith and Scripture which they deliver down to us? Doubtless they will say, from their predecessors; and they again from their predecessors, and so up to the Apostles. And why then may not we take it immediately on the credit of the Apostles as well as the first ages did? supposing that we have the mediation of a sure hand to deliver to us their writings, without meditation of the like inspired prophetical persons, or of any privileged infallible judge of the faith; And if it be on this Testimony of former ages that we must receive the Scripture as the word of God, I shall then proceed further to demand.