1. That the Doctrine of Christianity is a Tradition, I prove it by two Arguments; First, Matters not evident by the Light of Nature, nor immediately revealed to us by God, must be either an Invention or a Tradition; an Invention is something in Religion not evident by natural Light, nor agreeable to sound Reason, but is some cunningly devised Fable, invented by one or more, and obtruded by various Artifices upon the belief ⟨p. 322⟩of the World. Inventions in this kind were Man's Disease, not his Remedy; Eccles. 7.29. God made Man upright, but they sought out many Inventions. As when the Philosophers sat abroad upon Religion, a goodly Chimaera it was they hatched and brought forth! Rom. 1.21, 22. They became vain in their Imaginations, and their foolish Heart was darkened; and professing themselves to be wise, they became Fools. The Inventions little became the Nature of God; nor were they profitable to Man, for still the great Sore of Nature was unhealed, which is a fear of Death, and the righteous Wrath of God, Rom. 1.32. So that neither Man's Comfort nor Duty was well provided for. Surely the Gospel is none of this fort, not an Invention of Men, but a Revelation of God; and a Revelation not made to us in Person, but brought out of the Bosom of God, by Jesus Christ, and by him manifested to chosen Witnesses, who might publish this Mystery and Secret to others. Well then, since the Gospel is not an Invention, it is a Tradition, or a delivery of the Truth upon the Testimony of one •hat came from God, to instruct the World, or reduce it to him: not an Invention of Man, but a Secret brought out of the Bosom of God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore 'tis said, Heb. 2.3, 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation, first spoken by the Lord himself, ⟨p. 323⟩and then confirmed to us by them that heard him; The Lord bearing them witness, &c. Christ delivered it to the Apostles, and the Apostles delivered it to others; 2 Tim. 2.2. Those things which thou hast heard from me among many Witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful Men, who shall be able to teach others also. The Apostles received the Gospel from Christ; and the Churches and Ministers from the Apostles; and they delivered it down to others until it came to us; which is the Means of our believing the Truth, and confessing the Name of Christ.
1. That the Doctrine of Christianity is a Tradition, I prove it by two Arguments; First, Matters not evident by the Light of Nature, nor immediately revealed to us by God, must be either an Invention or a Tradition; an Invention is something in Religion not evident by natural Light, nor agreeable to sound Reason, but is some cunningly devised Fable, invented by one or more, and obtruded by various Artifices upon the belief ⟨p. 322⟩of the World. Inventions in this kind were Man's Disease, not his Remedy; Eccles. 7.29. God made Man uprigh•, but they sought out many Inventions. As when the Philosop•ers sat abrood upon Religion, a goodly Chymaera it was they hatched and brought forth! Rom. 1.21, 22. They became vain in their Imaginations, and their foolish Heart was darkned; and professing themselves to be wise, they became Fools. The Inventions little became the Nature of God; nor were they profitable to Man, for still the great Sore of Nature was unhealed, which is a fear of Death, and the righteous Wrath of God, Rom. 1.32. So that neither Man's Comfort nor Duty was well provided for. Surely the Gospel is none of this fort, not an Invention of Men, but a Revelation of God; and a Revelation not made to us in Person, but brought out of the Bosom of God, by Jesus Christ, and by him manifested to chosen Witnesses, who might publish this Mystery and Secret to others. Well then, since the Gospel is not an Invention, it is a Tradition, or a delivery of the Truth upon the Testimony of one •hat came from God, to instruct the World, or reduce it to him: not an Invention of Man, but a Secret brought out of the Bosom of God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore 'tis said, Heb. 2.3, 4. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation, first spoken by the Lord himself, ⟨p. 323⟩and then confirmed to us by them that heard him; The Lord bearing them witness, &c. Christ delivered it to the Apostles, and the Apostles delivered it to others; 2 Tim. 2.2. Those things which thou hast heard from me among many Witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful Men, who shall be able to teach others also. The Apostles received the Gospel from Christ; and the Churches and Ministers from the Apostles; and they delivered it down to others until it came to us; which is the Means of our believing the Truth, and confessing the Name of Christ.
