A treatise concerning the ground of faith. VVritten in Latin, by the reuerend Father Iames Gordon Huntley of Scotland, Doctour of Diuinity, of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English, by I.L. of the same Society. The second part of the second controuersy

CHAP. III. That the Scripture alone is not the ground or rule of fayth. (Book 3)

THAT the Scripture alone is not the groūd of our fayth, we haue already declared by the proper∣ties of the ground of fayth, be∣fore alledged. For of those ten properties the Scripture hath ōly one, to wit, Truth; but al the other properties are wāting vn∣to it. The which we clearly demōstrate in this sort. First of all, a perpetuall duration, and continuance is wanting. For the holy Scripture begun first vnder the old law in Moyses tyme, wheras two thou∣sand yeares before, there were both true beleeuers and a Church. In like manner in the new law the Apostles began to write some yeares after they had receiued the holy Ghost.

2. Secondly, the certaynty on our part* 1.1 is wanting, seeing that we know not which is the Canonicall Scripture by the Scripture it selfe, but by the authority of the Church, as we haue proued be∣fore, and will also more at large declare

heereafter.

3. Thirdly, the foresaid strength & immutability is wanting; for euery parte of the holy Scripture considered in it owne nature, is subiect to many alterati∣ons and falsifications. For it may be de∣stroied,* 1.2 it may be corrupted, it may be wrested to contrary senses, wherof we haue spoken before.

4. Fourthly, that fulnesse and suffi∣ciency is wanting, because all thinges necessary to saluation are not expresly cō∣tained* 1.3 in holy Scriptures, as we haue also declared before.

5. Fiftly, the foresaid necessity is wanting. For without the holy Scrip∣ture there were in the law of Nature for the space of two thousand yeares many true belieuers. And also long after Christ, yea euen till the tyme of S. Irenaeus, that is to say, almost two hundred yeares, there were many Nations who sincerely belie∣ued in Christ, without any holy Scri∣pture,* 1.4 as S. Irenaeus himselfe testifieth. Lastly, albeit Infidels should burne all the Bibles, yet the faith of Christians should not therfore perish, or be wholy o∣uerthrowne. Therfore our faith doth not necessarily depend of the Scripture.

6. Sixtly, the seauenth property is

also wanting: for by the holy Scriptures the true Christians are not distinguished from Infidels, because almost all Here∣tickes do both now receyue the holy Scri∣ptures, and in tymes past also receyued them.

7. Seauenthly, the eight propertie is wanting, for there are many pointes of faith which rely vpon the Traditions of* 1.5 the Church only, without any expresse Scripture at all, as we haue declared before.

8. Eightly, the ninth property is wanting. For Turkes and other Gentills who are only lead by naturall reason, are very seldome or neuer conuerted by Scriptures only: but we add also some o∣ther naturall reasons and perswasions that they may be conuerted. For there are ma∣ny things in holy Scriptures which s•…•…me opposite to naturall reason, as the my∣steryes of the Blessed Trinity, Incarnation, & Resurrection of the dead &c.

9. Ninthly, there wanteth last of all the tenth property, for there is no∣thing extant of the Scripture in the Apo∣stles Creed.

10. The holy Scripture indeed is the ground and reason, why we belieue many points of faith, but not the ground

why we belieue all. Moreouer neyther is it the first ground of all that we belieue by it. For the Scripture it self is proued by some other more generall ground, to wit, by the authority of the Church. VVherfore the Scripture is only a parti∣culer ground and not a generall: a medi∣ate, and not immediate: a secondary, and not the first, and chiefest rule of faith.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Supra cō∣tro. 1. c. 5. & infra hac cōtr. 6. cap. 15.
• * 1.2

  Supra. Controu. 1. cap. 4.
• * 1.3

  Supra Cō∣trouers. 1. c. 26. & sequent.
• * 1.4

  S. Irenaeus l. 3. cap. 4.
• * 1.5

  Supra Contr. 1. c. 26. & 27.