Exomologesis, or, A faithfull narration of the occaision and motives of the conversion unto Catholick unity of Hugh-Paulin de Cressy, lately Deane of Laghlin &c. in Ireland and Prebend of Windsore in England now a second time printed with additions and explications by the same author who now calls himself B. Serenus Cressy, religious priest of the holy order of S. Benedict in the convent of S. Gregory in Doway.

CHAP. V.

Weaknesse of Protestants proofs for only-Scripture.

Texts of Scripture alleadged by Catho∣liques vainly eluded by Protestants.

1. AS I said before, since Protestants and all other Sects doe against their nature and custome so unanimously conspire to forsake the old•• and good wayes, by travelling wherein, even themselves being judges, so many glori∣ous Saints, Confessors, Martyrs, Bishops, &c. were renowned not onely in their owne, but all succeeding times, dissipated armies of Haeretiques, propagated the Kingdome of Christ over the world, subdued Idolatry, and made it utterly to vanish though supported with the force of the whole Roman world, and in fine arrived to a supereminent degree of glory in Paradice; And since in stead of this so successefull a way, they have chosen to walke every man in a severall path through those narrow, crooked and at least very dangerous, (because new) wayes of a proud selfe-assuming presumption in interpreting only-Scripture each man according to his own fancy & interest, fol∣lowing the example of no antiquity, but only ancient Heretiques; in all reason they should have taken order to have justified themselves herein after a more then ordinary manner, they ought to have contributed all the invention and skill of all the best wits in each Sect to for∣tifie

this common foundation of only Scripture, and no visible judge, beyond all other points of difference.

2. And so no doubt they have to the utmost ca∣pacity of the subject: But no skill can serve to build a firme secure edifice upon sand: and private reason, or fancies of inspiration are more weake and sandy then even sand it selfe. For proofe hereof let us consider the pre∣tended proofes and reasons which they alleadge to assert this their fundamentall position, viz. that the entire Rule of Faith is the written word of God, of which there is not extant any visible authori∣tative interpreter. Proofes hereof produced by them are 1. Negative, invalidating such Texts of Scripture as are alledged by Catholiques, and expounded by Fathers to prove Traditions un∣written: and 2. Positive, drawne from other Texts expressing the sufficiency and perfection of Scripture.

3. Some Texts by Catholiques produced to prove Traditions, and those concerning points of Doctrine as well as practise or ceremonies, be∣sides what is written in the Evangelicall books, are among others these following out of S. Paul, (2 Thes. cap. 1. ver. 15.)

Observe the Traditi∣tions which you have received from us, whe∣ther by word, or by Epistle,

And againe, (2 Tim. c. 2. ver. 13.)

Have before thine eyes the patterne of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Jesus Christ: Conserve that good thing committed to thy charge by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.

And againe, (1 Tim. cap. 2. ver. 2.)

The things which thou hast heard of me in the presence of many

witnesses consigne them to faithfull men, which may be capable to teach oth•••• also,

And lastly, (1 Tim. cap. 3. ver. 15.)

The Church (is) the pillar and ground of truth.

4. To elude such Texts as these so expresse in themselves, so stringent and convincing with∣out any leave given to any rationall contradi∣ction, so unanimously acknowledged by the ancient Father•• in the plaine importance of them (for there was no need to call their com∣mentaries interpretations, there being not the least difficulty or obscurity in them to be clear∣ed) Protestants, especially the Calvinists (for the Church of England hath been more inge∣nuous) have been forced to make use of the poorest guiltiest shift imaginable, which is, to translate the word〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉enseignements, instructions, or by any other word, but what reason and rules of Grammar would require, namely, Traditions. That which moved them hereto was apparently a resolution to seduce the people: for nourishing them up in the hatred of the Church, in contempt of her autho∣rity, in rejecting all her Traditions, so far that whatsoever is proposed under that title of Tra∣dition is not only not accepted, but scornfully rejected by them as supposed most certainly false and superstitious; if it should appeare that the Scripture it selfe should referre us to Christi∣an doctrines under the notion of Traditions, the very sound of that word in Scripture would perhaps make them suspect that their Ministers had abused them.

5. But moreover for a helpe, if this poore subtility should come to be discovered by their

Proselites, it is further answered by them, that S. Paul might very well referre Timothy or the Thessalonians to the summe of Christian doctrine by him before preached, and not yet reduced to writing, because the entire Canon of Scripture was not yet compleated and sealed up; but when that was finished, afterward Christians were not to trust to their memories, but to have recourse to expresse Scripture, as is implyed by severall Texts of Scripture denoting its abun∣dant sufficiency for all uses and necessities.

6. For answer to this way of arguing it will be sufficient to say, that whatsoever is here al∣ledged by Protestants is meerly gratis dictum, there being not the least intimation given by S. Paul, or any other Evangelicall Author, that the Apostles had any intention to write among them a body of the Christian law, searce any booke of the New Testament having been written, but only upon some particular occa∣sion, and for the use of some particular person and Church: and on the contrary it appearing expresly both by Scripture and Tradition that the Apostles, in all the Churches founded by them, left a depositum both of the doctrines and discipline of Christianity uniforme and compleate, not relating at all to any thing alrea∣dy, or afterward to be written.