Ag inft Knot,

part 1.chap. 2. P. 46.

Church, will fay, that those must have put out their
Eyes who can't difcern it.

But yet after all that Bellarmin, and other Popish Au-
thors have faid of the Obfcurity of the Scriptures, and
their making them a mere Nofe of Wax,to be turned this
way or that way as their Church pleaseth; and the
fcandalous Infinuations against them, and fometimes
broad Invectives, which are found in their Books, we
muft ftill believe, (if we will take their own Word for
it) that they (Good Men) have no less a Veneration for
them than our selves. And they muft needs be aware
how highly neceffary it is, if it be poffible, to make us
think fo. But I will answer them in the Words of our
Learned Chillingworth, with which I will conclude, viz.
This being once fettled in the Minds of Men, that unwritten
Traditions, if propofed by the Church of Rome, were to be
received with equal Reverence to thofe that were written;
and that the fenfe of Scripture is not that which feems to
Mens Reafon and Understanding to be fo, but that which
She should declare to be fo, feemeth it never fo unreasonable
and incongruous. The matter being once thus ordered, and
the Holy Scriptures being made in effect not your Directors
and Fudges (no farther than you please) but your Servants
and Inftruments, always preft and in readiness to advance.
your Defigns; and difabled wholly with Minds fo qualified to
prejudice or impeach them: It is fafe for you to put a Crown
upon
their Head, and a Reed in their Hands, and to bow
before them, and ary, Hail King of the Jews! To pretend
a great deal of Efteem and Refpect and Reverence to them,
as here you do. But to little purpofe is verbal Reverence
without entire Submission and fincere Obedience. And as our
Saviour faid of fome, fo the Scripture, could it (peak, 1
believe would fay to you; Why call ye me Lord, Lord,

and

and do not that which I command you? Caft away the vain and arrogant pretence of Infallibility, which makes your Errors incurable. Leave picturing of God, and worshipping him by Pictures. Teach not for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Debar not the Laity of the Teftament of Chrift's Blood, &c. And I add, Acknow. ledg what one would think thofe of you that have read the Scriptures must needs fee, viz. That they are far from being obfcure in Matters neceffary; and whatfoever the Scriptures command you, do; And then we fball willingly give you fuch a Teftimony as you deferve; but till you do fo, to talk of Eftimation, Refpect and Reverence to the Scripture, is nothing else but Talk.

THE EN D.

LONDO N,

Printed by J. D. for Richard Chifwel at the Rofe and Crown in. St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1688.

The TEXTS examined which Papifs citè out of the Bible, for the Proof of Their Doctrine,

CONCERNING

The Infufficiency of Scripture, and
Neceffity of Tradition.

IMPRIMATUR.

Mart. 24. 1687.

Guil. Needham.

A

Mongft all the Controverfies now depending between the Reformed Churches and the Church of Rome, there is none of greater importance than that which concerns the Rule of Faith, where all things neceffary to Salvation are to be found.

Both agree that there are things thus necessary, and that there is a certain Rule by which they are to be determined.

Both agree that the written Word of God is a Rule of that kind. So Bellarmine faith, that in the first plage is to be determined, that the Prophetical and poftolical De verbo 1. Books are the true Word of God, and a certain and frable §. Quari. Rule of Faith.

I

H

Both

C. 1.&.c.2.

Both agree that the Evidence for it is unquestionable; for as a Rule of Faith ought to be certain and known; fo nothing is more certain, nothing more known than the &at facris. Scriptures, faith the fame Author.

C. 2. §. deinde

SECT. L

De Verbo 1. 4.

Both agree, that if there were an Unwritten Word, or that if there was as much certainty of an Unwritten Word, as there is of the Written Word, the Unwritten would be of as good Authority as the Written.

But those that thus far agree, do afterward divide upon it beyond any poffibility of Accommodation. For the Church of Rome holds,

1. That the Written Word of God is not compleat nor fufficient to direct us in all matters neceffary to Salvation, which concern Faith and Manners.

2. That an Unwritten Word, or Tradition is neceffary to make the Scripture, an intire, compleat, and fufficient Rule of Faith.

3. That there is an Unwritten Word, which is as much the Word of God,is of as good Authority, and is equally to be received with the like Faith, Piety and Reverence as the Written Word; and which with the Written makes a compleat Rule of Faith, &c.

These things are all denied by the Proteftants. And because they are denied by them, therefore the Writers of the Church of Rome have endeavoured to prove each of these by Scripture, as being the only Authority their Adverfaries allow in this cafe. And these Proofs I fhall confider and examine.

Their first Affertion is, That the Scripture doth not contain all things neceffary to Salvation; or, is not a Rule fufficient to guide us therein.

This Cardinal Bellarmine undertakes to justify, and 8. 3. init. c.4. prove from Scripture; but, how faintly, we may judg S. quod autem. by what he elsewhere afferts. As,

1. That