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THeir Bible teacheth, that there is a Rule, Rom. 12. 6. Gal. 6. 16. This Rule one and the same, Phil. 3. 16. Now that this Rule is the holy Scriptures, which is the written Word of God, it is cleare by the same Bible.
I. It maketh the Word written, to bee the rule and guide in matters of controuersie, Deut 17 11. In this place the Priests and Iudges are bound to proceed according to the Law. But that Law was written in a booke, called The booke of the Law of the Lord: which the Priests and Leuites had with them in Iehoso∣phats dayes, to teach the people, 2. Chron. 17. 9. Bellarmine, lib. de Verbo Dei, cap 2. saith on this place: Holy Moses teacheth here, that controuersies arising among Gods people, are to bee iudged according to the Law.
II. Their Bible teacheth, that God vrgeth, To the Law, and to the testimony (which is written as aforesaid) and condem∣neth them that speake not according to this Word, Esay 8. 20.
III. By it we are taught, that the Church is straightly char∣ged, to keepe to the written Word, as in Iosh. 23. 6. Onely take courage, and be carefull that you keepe all things, which be written in the volume of the Law of Moses, and decline not from them, nei∣ther to the right hand, nor to the left, Iosh. 1 8. Let not the volume of this Law depart from thy mouth: but thou shalt meditate in it dayes and nights, that thou mayst keepe and doe all things that bee written in it. Is not this testimony cleare? What can be spoken more plainely? These places vrge to keepe to the written Word, and withal, not to decline from it. S. Paul hauing spoken against diuision, schisme, and syding with teachers in the Church of Corinth, some of them holding of one, some of another: to re∣medy this euill, he warnes them not to be puffed vp one against another, aboue that which is written, 1. Cor. 4. 6. To these pla∣ces may be added, Deut. 30. 10. The Lord promised great bles∣sings vnto Israel, with this annexed condition, saying; If thou heare the voyce of thy Lord thy God, and keepe his precepts: where their obedience is commanded, and his voyce made the rule thereof. Now, lest they should doubt, where to find this his voyce, and these his precepts, Moses addeth these words; which are written in this Law: which Law he wrote, and commanded the same to bee read before all Israel, for this end, to learne to feare the Lord, and to fulfill all his words in that Law, Deut. 31. 9, 12. yea, a curse is denounced against such as keepe not to the Written Word, Deut. 27. 26. Gal. 1. 10. and a plague is threat∣ned
for not obseruing the same, Deut. 28. 58. Hence is it, that we shall find the prayses of holy men very often in Scripture, That they did according as it was written, 2. Chron. 35. 12. they couenanted, that they would doethe things that were written, 2. Chron. 34. 31. See out of their owne Bible more for this, 2. Chr. 23. 18. 1. Esdr. 3. 2. 4. and 6. 18. 2. Esdr. 8. 14 15. and 10. 34, 36. 4 King. 23. 21. 3. King. 2. 3. 2. King. 1. 18. And not to doe as was written, was a sinne, for which they were to humble them∣selues, and beg pardon of God, 2. Chron. 30. 6, 18.
1. By their owne Bible we learne, that Iesus Christ, the chiefe Shepheard and Bishop of our soules, did nothing regard traditi∣ons, he neuer named them but with dislike, but aduanced very highly the dignitie of the Scriptures, as the only and alone rule, and meanes of our instruction in all things necessary to eternall life: for thus their Bible telleth vs;
1. That hee tooke for the ground of his teaching, Scripture, Luk. 4. 17. but wee reade not any where, that hee taught vpon tradition.
2. That he interpreted the Scriptures, and out of them taught the things concerning himselfe, Luk. 24. 27. not for traditions, nor any thing out of them.
3. That he opened the vnderstanding of his Disciples, that they might vnderstand the Scriptures, Luk. 24. 25. Hee neuer did so concerning traditions.
4. That he often cited the Scriptures, Mark. 7. 6, 10. Matth. 9. 13. and 12 3. and 13. 14. and in many other places; but neuer traditions.
5. That he exhorteth to the searching of the Scriptures, Ioh. 5. 39. but neuer to the searching of traditions.
6. That hee cleared the Scriptures from abuse and corrupt expositions, Mat. 5. 21, 22, 27, 28, 33. 24. 25, 36, 37, 38, 39. &c. but neuer traditions.
7. That he vsed the Scriptures in disputing with Satan, Mat. 4. and in confuting his aduersaries, Mat. 22. 31. and 19. 4. Luk. 10 26. neuer traditions.
8. That he defended his owne doctrine and his manner of teaching by the Scriptures, Mat. 13. 10, 15. and also the act of his
Disciples in plucking eares of corne, Mat. 12. 3, 4, 5. but neuer by traditions.
9. That hee tooke care alwayes in euery thing to fulfill the Scriptures, Ioh. 12. 14, 15, 16. Mat. 4. 14. Luk. 24. 44, 46. yea, so farre as to suffer death, to make good the truth of them, Matth. 26. 54. Luk. 22. 37. but no such regard had he to traditions.
10. That he did oppose Scriptures against traditions, Mat. 15. 4. but neuer traditions against Scriptures, or for interpretati∣on of Scripture in matter of faith.
11. That he preferred the witnesse of Scripture before the witnesse of men, Ioh. 5. 34, 39, 41. yea, the power of them for in∣struction, before the voyce of any that should be raised from the dead, Luk. 16. 27. neuer so traditions.
12. That he put the triall of himselfe to Scriptures: so true and sure a Iudge he tooke them to be, Ioh. 5. 39. not to traditi∣ons.
IV. Lastly, he taught, how his owne words could take no place, if the written Word were not regarded, Ioh. 5. 47. What traditionall word is there then of any mortall man, or of all the mortall men in the world, which may receiue so much as equall authoritie; how much lesse then supreme authoritie ouer the Scriptures?
V. Their owne Bible teacheth, that the Apostles taught not an vnwritten, but a written Word: for the Gospell was that which they preached: but that was written, Rom. 1. 1, 2. and was made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets, Rom. 16. 26. Our Sauiour taught his Disciples out of Moses, Prophets and Psalmes. Luk. 24. 27. in which bookes his Names, his Na∣tures, his Offices, his Birth where and when, and of whom; his Life, Doctrine and Miracles; his Death, Buriall, Resurrection and Ascension; his sitting at Gods right hand, and what benefit we reape by him, are liuely depainted and written. The Apostles Sermons were taken out of the Scriptures, Act. 2. 16, 25, 35. and 7. 2, 51. and 8. 35. and 10. 34, 35, 43. and 13. 16, 23, 27, 33, 36, 40. by which Scriptures they confirmed what they did teach, and thereby confounded the aduersaries, Acts 17. 2. and 18. 28. the decrees of the Councell at Ierusalem, made by the Apostles
and whole Church were grounded vpon Scripture, Act 15. 15 19 Saint Pauls faith and seruice to God, was the written Word in the Law and in the Prophets, Act. 24. 14. And those Euangelicall doctrines found in his Epistles, which are so full of comfort to a true beleeuer, though our aduersaries spurne at them, he found written in the old Testament: There could hee finde the Kingdome of Christ, Act. 28 23. There hee found written, that the workes of the Law before God iustifie not, Rom 4. 2 6. and 3 20. That election is of meere grace, without respect to will, or worke of man, Rom. 9 11, 16. That man is blessed by imputation through faith, without workes of the Law, and freely iustified by grace through faith, Rom. 3. 21. for all these he gathereth out of the old Testament, as in the quoted places may be seene. Saint Peter taught out of the Scriptures remission of sinnes through faith in Christs name, Act. 10. 43. Yea the Saluation of our soules, and the grace which should come by Iesus Christ, 1. Pet. 1. 9. 10, 11. There∣fore he commendeth to the whole Church, in his second E∣pist, 2. Pet. 1. 19 20, 21. the holy Scriptures, to which they doe well to attend, as to a candle, saith he, shining in a darke place. This he calleth a Propheticall Word most sure. Now, that this might not be taken for an vnwritten Word, first, he telleth them in vers. 20. what he meaneth hereby, euen the Prophecie of Scripture, a Word written, and then giueth a reason, why hee calleth it a most sure Word: for that, saith he, it was not by any priuate interpretation, nor brought by mans wil, but it was that which holy men taught, inspired with the holy Ghost, Psal. 20 21. All Scripture therefore being inspired of God, (2 Tim. 3. 16. is this most sure Word, which is to bee attended vnto. And if it be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Word surer then any other, then e∣uery other word must be ruled by it. No other word then can equall it, (for two superlatiues of the same thing there cannot bee) much lesse a word to ouer-top it. This is the rule then, and not any traditionall word, which is but a meere popish fiction, and subtill deuice to deceiue by.
VI. Their owne Bible telleth vs by way of commendati∣ons, that the Church of Berea did hold the Scriptures to be the
rule to examine doctrine by, Act. 17. 11. which heard the Word deliuered by preaching, and receiued it, but no other∣wise then they found it written in the Scriptures, by which they did trie it, daily searching the Scriptures, if those things were so. Where note, 1. That the Bereans held not themselues tyed to the Priests lips. 2. That they heard that which was taught them with relation to the written Word. 3. That they held the Scriptures to be the triall of the truth of their Teach∣ers doctrine. 4. That they hauing heard, did bring that which they had heard, to the touchstone of holy Writ, for their grea∣ter confirmation in the truth; which things are written for their praise, for our instruction also in imitation. For if the holy Scriptures of the old Testament, were then the rule to trie the Apostles preaching, is not both the Old and New, the rule to try mens teaching now?
VII. And lastly, Our Aduersaries grant vs, that the Word of God is that one only and infallible rule of Faith, which is vn∣doubtable true; for what can be the rule to vs of Gods seruice, but Gods will? And how can wee know what is his will, but by his Word? Therefore this Word, now being no where to be found, but in holy Scriptures, as is proued by their own Bible, they must needs yeeld, that the Scriptures are then the one one∣ly infallible rule of our faith: which if they will yet obstinately deny, they must deny antiquity, which they so vainely boast of.
Their owne Clement telleth vs, lib. 1. Recog. That from the diuine Scriptures the firme and sound rule of Faith must be ta∣ken.
Tertul. contra Hermog. calleth the Scriptures the Rule of Faith.
Saint Basil. lib. 1. Contr. Eunom. calleth the Scriptures the Canon of that which is right, and the rule of Truth.
Saint Ierome, lib. 1. cap. 1. in Mat. The holy Scriptures are the Limits of the Church, out of the which we may not goe.
Chrysostome, Hom. 3. in 2. Cor. calleth them a most exqui∣site Rule, and an exact Square and Balance to trie all things.
Saint Augustine, lib. de bono viduit. cap. 1. The holy Scrip∣ture hath fixed the Rule of our Doctrine, that wee may not presume to bee more wise, then we ought.
Greg. Nyssen. in orat. de eis, qui adiêrunt Hieros. calleth the Scriptures, a right and inflexible Rule.
Gregory, the great, Hom. 4. in Ezechiel, compareth the Scrip∣tures to a measuring Reed, which meteth out both the actiue and contemplatiue life of man.
By which testimonies of the Fathers, wee may see how they contrary our Aduersaries tenent: for in plaine termes the Fa∣thers call the Scriptures a Rule, right, exquisite, and inflexible, and the onely Rule, the Limits of the Church. But our new Ro∣mane Masters sticke not to slighten and vilifie the same, by calling the Booke of God, a piece of a rule, a Lesbian crooked rule, a leaden rule, a nose of waxe; and we must be Heretikes, for not partaking in such blasphemies. We may therefore con∣clude with the words of Isiodorus Pelusiota, lib. 1. Epist. 369. who saith, We ought to refuse whatsoeuer is taught, vnlesse it be contayned in the volume of the Bible; and with that of Cy∣ril. Hier. in 4. Catech. Concerning, saith he, the Diuine and holy mysteries of our Faith, not any the least thing must be tendered, without warrant of diuine Scripture.
Gerson de commun. sub vtraque specie: The Scripture is the Rule of our faith. And the same man saith, Li. de examin. doct. part. 2. cons. We must take heede whether the doctrine bee agreeable to holy Scripture, as well in it selfe, as in the manner of deliuery.
Petrus de Aliaco, the Cardinall, calleth the Scriptures, the Sa∣cred Canon.
Clemangis, loc. 3. cap. 29. affirmeth the Scripture to be the infallible Rule of Truth, yea, the measure, and Iudge of all Truth.
Durand. Episcopus, praefat. in lib. sent. The holy Scripture, saith he, setteth out the measure of Faith: wee may not write, or speake any thing, which may differ from the same.
Picus Mirand. in Apologia, was bold to say, that there was no infallible truth without the Bible.
Our faith (saith Aquinas) doth stay vpon the Canonicall books, and the Church doth not decree but of things not neces∣sary to Saluation.
Ferus, on Mat. 13. saith, that the holy Scriptures are the sole Rule of verity, and whatsoeuer differs or contradicteth the same, it is error and Cockle, with whatsoeuer shew it commeth forth.
Franciscus à Ʋictoria, de Sacra. pa. 120. saith, I doe not thinke it sure and certaine, although all Writers agree thereto, because it is not to be found in the holy Scriptures.
Ʋilla Vincentius teacheth, that the doctrine of the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles is alone the Rule and foundation of Truth.
Their Canon Law tels vs, that the diuine Scriptures con∣taine the whole and firme Rule of faith.
Andradius, lib. 3. Defens. Trid. Con. in initio. Their opinion dislikes me not, who say, that therefore the Scriptures are called Canonicall, because they containe the most ample Canon, that is the Rule and Square of Piety, Faith, and Religion.
Bellarmine lets fall this truth; that the sacred Scripture is the most certaine, and most sure Rule of Faith.
If so in the Superlatiue degree; then nothing there is to ouer∣rule or equall it: and therefore we may more safely cleaue to it, onely as the most sure and the most certaine Rule. For nothing (saith the same man, a little before in the same place) is more knowne, nothing more certaine then the holy Scriptures, which are contained in the Propheticall and Apostolike wri∣tings.
Besides these testimonies so cleare, as no Protestant can speake better in this point; I adde their owne practice against themselues; For whatsoeuer they conceit to be a Rule, whether a Traditionall word, or their Popes Definitiue sentence, they
are constrained to runne vnto the Scriptures for the ground of their assertions, and to procure credit to their supposed rule.
The Gagger hath obiected no Scriptures to disproue the Scriptures to be the onely Rule of Faith.
See Treneus, lib. 4. cap. 66 in fine: and a little booke intitu∣led, The Messi∣ab already come, for the particulars.
In sum. part. 1. q. 1. Art. 8. & 10.
Li. 2. de form. Conci. ca. 2.
Dist. 37. 6. Re∣lat.
De Verbo Dei, lib. 1. ca. 2.