The Primitive use of the Latin Tongue in the worship of God, and translation of the Bible into it in the Western Empire, whilst that Language was usually spoken and read, as the Greek in the Grecian, is an undeniable argument of the Judgement of the ancient Church, for the use of the Scripture, and Church-Liturgies in a known Tongue. What ⟨p. 330⟩ensued on; What was occasioned by that inundation of barbarous Nations, that buried the world for some ages in darkness and ignorance, cannot reasonably be proposed for our imitation. I hope, we shall not easily be induced either to return unto, or embrace, the effects of Barbarism. But, saith our Author, Secondly, Catholics have the sum of Scripture, both for history and dogm, delivered them in their own Language, so much as may make for their salvation; good orders being set and instituted for their proficiency therein; and what needs any more? or why should they be further permitted, either to satisfy curiosity, or to raise doubt•, or to wrest words and examples there recorded unto their own ruin, as we see now by experience men are apt to do. What Catholics have, or have not, is not our present dispute. Whether what they have of story and dogm in their own Language, be that which Paul calls the whole Counsel of God, which he declared at Ephesus, I much doubt. But the question is, Whether they have what God allows them, and what he commands them to make use of? We suppose, God himself, Christ, ⟨p. 331⟩and his Apostles, the ancient Fathers of the Church, any of these, or, at least, when they all agree, may be esteemed as wise as our present Masters at Rome. Their sense is, That all Scripture given by inspiration from God, is profitable for Doctrine; it seems these judge not so, and therefore they afford them so much of it as may tend to their good. For my part, I know whom I am resolved to adhere to, let others do as seems good unto them. Nor where God hath commanded and commended the use of all, do I believe, the Romanists are able to make a distribution, that so much of it, makes for the salvation of men, the rest only serves to satisfy curiosity, to raise doubts, and to occasion men to wrest words and examples. Nor, I am sure, are they able to satisfy me, why any one part of the Scripture should be apt to do this more then others. Nor will they say this at all of any part of their Mass.
The Primitive use of the Latin Tongue in the worship of God, and translation of the Bible into it in the Western Empire, whilst that Language was usually spoken and read, as the Greek in the Grecian, is an undeniable argument of the Judgement of the antient Church, for the use of the Scripture, and Church-Liturgies in a known Tongue. What ⟨p. 330⟩ensued on; What was occasioned by that inundation of barbarous Nations, that buried the world for some ages in darkness and ignorance, cannot reasonably be proposed for our imitation. I hope, we shall not easily be induced either to return unto, or embrace, the effects of Barbarism. But, saith our Author, Secondly, Catholicks have the sum of Scripture, both for history and dogm, delivered them in their own Language, so much as may make for their salvation; good orders being set and instituted for their proficiency therein; and what needs any more? or why should they be further permitted, either to satifie curiosity, or to raise doubt•, or to wrest words and examples there recorded unto their own ruin, as we see now by experience men are apt to do. What Catholicks have, or have not, is not our present dispute. Whether what they have of story and dogm in their own Language, be that which Paul calls the whole Counsel of God, which he declared at Ephesus, I much doubt. But the question is, Whether they have what God allows them, and what he commands them to make use of? We suppose, God himself, Christ, ⟨p. 331⟩and his Apostles, the antient Fathers of the Church, any of these, or, at least, when they all agree, may be esteemed as wise as our present Masters at Rome. Their sense is, That all Scripture given by inspiration from God, is profitable for Doctrine; it seems these judge not so, and therefore they afford them so much of it as may tend to their good. For my part, I know whom I am resolved to adhere to, let others do as seems good unto them. Nor where God hath commanded and commended the use of all, do I believe, the Romanists are able to make a distribution, that so much of it, makes for the salvation of men, the rest only serves to satisfie curiosity, to raise doubts, and to occasion men to wrest words and examples. Nor, I am sure, are they able to satisfie me, why any one part of the Scripture should be apt to do this more then others. Nor will they say this at all of any part of their Mass.
