THE PREFACE.

DOubtless, it would more conduce to the honour of Christ, the Peace of Chri∣stendom, and the Welfare of Souls, if Christians would a∣gree at the least in this; ra∣ther to live as becomes the Gospel we all believe; than curiously dispute, Why we be∣lieve? For nice tamperings with, and eager contests a∣bout the Foundation of Re∣ligion are apt rather to shake, than to strengthen the Su∣perstructures. It may prove Page  [unnumbered]a Snare to the profane, or unstable; who, when they shall see the Ground of their Belief, and Eternal Hopes, not to be agreed on after so many Ages, perhaps may be tempted to doubt, whe∣ther their whole Profession be not aery, and have no Ba∣sis at all.

Yet notwithstanding, if some will attempt to displace the true One, and to justle in a false and ruinous Ground of Christian Faith and Practice, a due regard to a matter of so great Im∣portance may justifie an ap∣pearance against so dange∣rous a Commutation.

The Basis of Christian Be∣lief suffers from more than one sort of Adversaries. The injuries done to the Sacred Oracles of God by the im∣pious Drollings, and perverse Disputings of Profane and Atheistical Men are too no∣torious. The Foundation of Faith has no part in the Value and Care of those Men, who scorn Believing. But this Crew is abhorr'd by all, who have any ordinary sense of Religion; or have not de∣bauch'd even their Reason. Indeed, the danger is more sly and spreading from those who seem to be more serious, and Friends to Religion.

Among such, the Enthu∣siasts undermine the Holy Scriptures by pretence to an extraordinary illuminating Conduct, and Incitations by the Holy Spirit of God. But the Mode of this Sect com∣monly suites but with the more Melancholy and Mu∣zing Natures; and the Ex∣perience of their follies and risques within a while exposes the Vanity of their Preten∣ces.

The Romanists way is the more generally plausible and winning. They present the World with a Conveyance of Religious Truths, and a Rule of Faith. Whose Page  [unnumbered](a) Virtue (they say) is grounded on a far stronger Basis, than all material Na∣ture. Such they affirm the vir∣tue to be,

And whereas (as seems by Cardinal (b) Bellarmine) they formerly divided the ho∣nour of being the Foundati∣on of Faith between Holy Scripture and Tradition; of later years, Oral Tradi∣tion has quite carried away the Credit; and has been by some Zealous Asserters cry'd up for the infallible Conveyance, (c) and only Page  [unnumbered]Rule of Faith; That, from which we are to receive the (d) Sense of Scripture, which without This would be (e) quite lost to all in the uncer∣tainty of the Letter.

That which is undertaken in the ensuing Papers, is an Enquiry after the Nature of Oral Tradition, and its best strength, especially in Religious Affairs; as also the full Force of Writings, espe∣cially of the sacred Scriptures; in point of Conservation, and Conveyance of what is committed to them: Ʋp∣on which Enquiry it will appear, which of them is the most sufficient, and sure Page  [unnumbered]for that purpose. And that of the (a) two, which after Examina∣tion shall be found to be so, preserves to us (and materi∣ally considered, is) the Rule of Christian Faith; foras∣much as bringing down to suc∣ceeding Times the Christian Faith unvaried and entire; which was primitively com∣mitted to the Church by the divinely inspir'd Planters of it; it may satisfie, and com∣mand our Belief; secures us from assenting to any thing, but what is true. Whereas that which approves not it Page  [unnumbered]self to be such a faithful Depository, and Convoy, provides us not with a Rule of Faith; deserves not that Authority over our Souls; may betray us to believe a lie.

Hence therefore Oral Tra∣dition's errability and de∣fectiveness in Conveyance (which shall be proved) disa∣bles it for being the over-ru∣ling Standard of Christians Belief and Practice in all Ages. And on the other side, the sureness and safety of Conservation, and Transmissi∣on of Divine Truths by the Holy Scriptures (which shall be prov'd likewise) qualifies them for the Trust and Ho∣nour Page  [unnumbered]of being the Rule of Christian Faith through all Generations.

The Author is sensible, that the Competition between Oral Tradition and Scrip∣ture has been already so ex∣cellently manag'd by Reve∣rend and Learned Persons, that this present Ʋnderta∣king by an obscure man may be judg'd Supernumerary, or worse. But he has ob∣serv'd, that it was (a) Cardi∣nal Bellar∣mine's Opinion; and he quotes and commends St. Augustine, Page  [unnumbered]wishing, that in the Church's danger all, who in some measure could, should Write; tho' they wrote not only of the same thing, but also the same in other words.—Fas est & ab hoste doceri: It may be fit sometimes to take Ad∣vice from an Adversary, es∣pecially when he has so great and pious a Second.

This the Author hopes may be an excuse of his Adventure into the Publick, and that even his Glean∣ings after others plentiful Page  [unnumbered]Harvest (their Learned Labours and Success) may yet be not altogether unac∣ceptable, or useless to the Christian Church.