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Q. IS the Scripture the perfect Rule of our Faith?
A. Yes, Because all the Articles of Faith, and Doctrines necessary to Salvation are contained therein, and therefore St. Paul, 2. Tim. 3.15. says, That the Holy Scri∣ptures are able to make wise unto Salva∣tion through Faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Q. St. Paul speaks there only of the Books of the Old Testament, for the New was not then writ, so it follows by your reason that the New Testament is superfluous, since the Old is sufficient for to instruct us to Salvation.
A. Upon the contrary St. Paul speaking of the Books of the Old Testament only, for∣tifies strongly our reason for the sufficiency and perfection of the Scripture, for if the Books of Moses and the Prophets were suffi∣cient to make the Church wise unto Salva∣tion, Why may not the Scripture be suffici∣ent now, since to Moses and the Prophets, God hath added the Evangelists and the Apostles? Besides, it follows not that because the Books of the Old Testament were suffi∣cient for the Church then, that the New is Superfluous, since God hath pleased to give it us to manifest the Doctrine of Salvation more clearly, and fully, as 2 Tim. 1.10. Paul says, That Jesus hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel.
Q. Is all Tradition to be Condemned?
A. No, for this word Tradition signifies nothing but a Doctrine given from hand to hand; the Scripture it self is a Tradition, and the Doctrine of Salvation before it was written, was a Tradition, and hath been called Scripture since it was put into Writing, and St. Paul calls the Do∣ctrine
of the Gospel, Tradition, which is writ∣ten, 1 Cor. 15.3. I have given unto you that which I have received, viz. That Christ dyed for our Sins according to the Scriptures.
Q. What Traditions then are to be condemned?
A. All Traditions of men wherewith they pretend to bind the Consciences of men, and give them for Articles of Faith, which S. Paul Colos. 2.8. would that we should take heed of: Beware lest any man spoil you through Phi∣losophy and vain deceit, after the Traditions of men, after the Rudiments of the World, and not after Christ. Such were the Traditions that the Pharisees added to the Law, which Christ condemns, Matth. 15.3. Why do ye transgress the Commandement of God, by your Tradition? applying to them what God says of Hypo∣crites, Esay, 29.13. In vain they do Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of men. Such are the Traditions which the Roman Church hath added to the Gospel, as Wor∣shipping Images, and Praying to Saints, which tho' they have no foundation in the Scri∣pture, but are formally condemned therein, yet the Council of Trent hath commanded them to be received with the same Devotion and Piety, that the Scripture is.
Q. Nevertheless St. Paul, 2 Thess. 2.15. Commands the Thessalonians to hold the Tradi∣tions that they had been Taught by Word or Epistles;
and 2 Tim. 2.2. He recommends to Timothy to commit to faithful men, the things which he had heard in presence of many Witnesses.
A. I Answer, that those Traditions and Instructions of St. Paul, are not Traditions of men, but the Word of God, as he himself says, 1 Thess. 2.13. And the Instructions he gave Believers by Word and Living Voice are the same he hath writ in his Epistles, and that we may be assured that his Doctrine is not Traditions of men, he protests to the Jews, Acts 26.22. That he had said no other things than these which the Prophets and Moses did say should come; and to Teach us that these things did contain all that is Necessary to Salvation, he assures the Ephesians, Act. 20 27. That he had de∣clared unto them all the Counsel of God.
Q. Yet the Church believes many Doctrines which are not contained in the Scripture, as the perpetual Virginity of the Holy Virgin, the Baptism of Chil∣dren, the translation of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, the number of the Sacraments to be but two.
A. For the perpetual Virginity of the Bles∣sed Virgin, the Church receives it not as an Article of Faith necessary to Salvation, but as an Article becoming the honour they think themselves obliged to render to this Sacred Vessel; But for the other points, they are
taught in Scripture, if not in formal terms, at least by necessary consequences. St. Peter Acts 2.38.39. would have all the Jews Baptized, because the Promise was to them and to their Children, and we see that in the time of the Apostles, Acts 20.7. & 1 Cor. 16.2. Rev. 1.10. Believers Assembled themselves for Prayer, and to make Collection the first Day of the Week, which St. John calls The Lord's Day: And the Church may well conclude there are but two Sacraments, since they see not in the Scripture that Jesus Christ hath instituted any more.