Scripture and tradition compared in a sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chapel, Novemb. 27, 1687 / by Edward Stillingfleet ...
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
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             Scripture and tradition compared in a sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chapel, Novemb. 27, 1687 / by Edward Stillingfleet ...
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [4], 32 p.
           
             Printed for Henry Mortlock ...,
             London :
             1688.
          
           
             Marginal notes.
             Errata: p. 32.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Authority -- Religious aspects -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           SCRIPTURE
           AND
           TRADITION
           COMPARED
           ;
           IN
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           
             Guild-Hall
             Chapel
             ,
             
               Novemb.
            
          
           27.
           1687.
           
        
         
           By
           EDWARD
           STILLINGFLEET
           ,
           D.
           D.
           and
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           .
        
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           for
           
             Henry
             Mortlock
          
           at
           the
           
             Phoenix
          
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-yard
           .
           1688.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           Imprimatur
           ,
        
         
           
             Guil.
             Needham
             Rmo
             in
             Christo
             ac
             D.
             D.
             Wilhelmo
             Archiep.
             Cant.
             a
             Sacris
             Domest
             .
          
           
             
               Nov.
               28.
               1687.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           
             I
          
           Intend
           ,
           God
           willing
           ,
           to
           publish
           in
           a
           little
           time
           ,
           a
           full
           Answer
           to
           
             J.S.
          
           his
           
             Catholick
             Letters
             ,
          
           so
           far
           as
           I
           am
           concerned
           in
           them
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           while
           ,
           
             I
          
           thought
           it
           not
           unfit
           to
           Print
           this
           Sermon
           I
           lately
           Preached
           ,
           that
           I
           might
           give
           a
           General
           View
           of
           
             Scripture
          
           and
           
             Tradition
             ,
          
           as
           to
           the
           Way
           of
           conveying
           Matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           before
           I
           come
           to
           the
           particular
           Debate
           with
           
             J.S.
          
           Wherein
           I
           do
           not
           doubt
           ,
           but
           I
           shall
           be
           able
           to
           shew
           that
           we
           have
           ry
           good
           Grounds
           for
           the
           Certainty
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           have
           none
           either
           as
           to
           
             Faith
          
           or
           
             Tradition
             ,
          
           as
           to
           the
           main
           Points
           in
           Controversie
           between
           us
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
           nestly
           as
           he
           doth
           to
           them
           ?
           Must
           we
           think
           ,
           as
           some
           do
           ,
           that
           he
           uses
           these
           Expressions
           as
           gentle
           
             Methods
          
           of
           
             Insinuation
             ,
          
           and
           commends
           them
           for
           that
           ,
           which
           he
           would
           perswade
           them
           to
           ?
           But
           this
           doth
           not
           seem
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Apostles
           
             simplicity
             and
             godly
             sincerity
             ,
          
           
           which
           he
           elsewhere
           sets
           such
           a
           value
           upon
           .
           But
           it
           is
           far
           more
           probable
           that
           hitherto
           they
           had
           been
           very
           
             orderly
          
           and
           
             stedfast
             :
          
           but
           
             Epaphras
          
           going
           to
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           had
           informed
           him
           throughly
           of
           their
           condition
           ,
           
             viz.
          
           That
           they
           were
           like
           a
           Garrison
           closely
           besieged
           on
           all
           sides
           ;
           and
           although
           hitherto
           they
           had
           held
           out
           with
           great
           Courage
           ,
           yet
           he
           did
           not
           know
           what
           earnest
           Sollicitations
           ,
           and
           fair
           Promises
           ,
           and
           tempting
           Motives
           might
           do
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Apostle
           writes
           this
           Epistle
           to
           encourage
           them
           in
           their
           
             stedfastness
             ,
          
           and
           to
           warn
           them
           against
           Temptations
           .
           Which
           he
           doth
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           shews
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           
             That
             he
             had
             a
             more
             than
             ordinary
             Apprehension
             of
             the
             danger
             they
             were
             in
             .
          
           And
           this
           I
           say
           ,
           
             saith
             he
             ,
          
           lest
           any
           man
           should
           beguile
           you
           with
           enticing
           words
           ,
           
             v.
          
           4.
           and
           beware
           lest
           any
           man
           spoil
           you
           with
           Philosophy
           and
           vain
           deceit
           ,
           after
           the
           traditions
           of
           men
           ,
           after
           the
           rudiments
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           not
           after
           Christ
           ,
           
             v.
          
           8.
           
           Let
           no
           man
           beguile
           you
           of
           your
           reward
           in
           a
           voluntary
           humility
           and
           worshipping
           of
           Angels
           ,
           
             &c.
             v.
             18.
             
             All
             which
             expressions
             do
             imply
             ,
             that
             he
             had
             just
             reason
             to
             fear
             and
             to
             give
             them
             caution
             in
             time
             ,
             that
             while
             they
             did
             yet
          
           think
           that
           they
           stood
           ,
           they
           should
           take
           heed
           lest
           they
           fall
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           that
           which
           the
           Apostle
           aims
           at
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text
           ;
           
             As
             ye
             have
             therefore
             received
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             ,
             so
             walk
             ye
             in
             him
             .
          
        
         
           Receiving
           Christ
           Iesus
           the
           Lord
           ,
           
             doth
             not
             here
             relate
             to
             his
          
           Person
           ,
           
             but
             to
             his
          
           Authority
           ,
           
             and
             to
             his
          
           Doctrine
           ;
           
             so
             the
             Apostle
             himself
             explains
             it
             in
             the
             next
             verse
             ,
          
           rooted
           and
           built
           up
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           established
           in
           the
           Faith
           ,
           as
           ye
           have
           been
           taught
           .
        
         
         
           
             Walking
             in
             him
          
           is
           an
           Eastern
           way
           of
           speaking
           and
           supposes
           both
           an
           adhering
           to
           that
           Faith
           they
           had
           then
           received
           ,
           and
           living
           according
           to
           it
           ,
           looking
           on
           Christ
           and
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           as
           their
           
             only
             way
          
           to
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           
             And
             as
             ye
             had
             received
             him
             ,
             so
             walk
             ye
             in
             him
             ,
          
           implies
           that
           the
           manner
           of
           their
           receiving
           Christ
           and
           his
           Doctrine
           at
           first
           was
           different
           from
           that
           which
           the
           false
           Apostles
           endeavoured
           to
           bring
           in
           among
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           were
           bound
           to
           keep
           close
           to
           that
           pure
           and
           Primitive
           Doctrine
           which
           they
           at
           
             first
          
           received
           .
        
         
           From
           hence
           we
           may
           consider
           a
           double
           Obligation
           lying
           upon
           them
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             To
             keep
             stedfast
             to
             that
             Faith
             which
             they
             first
             received
             ,
          
           without
           being
           seduced
           from
           it
           by
           the
           Arts
           of
           Deceivers
           ,
           who
           were
           then
           busie
           among
           them
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           
             To
             live
             according
             to
             it
             ,
             ;
          
           by
           making
           that
           
             Faith
          
           the
           Principle
           of
           a
           Christian
           Life
           ;
           and
           so
           
             walking
             in
             him
             ,
             as
             they
             have
             received
             him
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           former
           ,
           the
           Reasonableness
           of
           it
           cannot
           but
           appear
           from
           the
           supposition
           here
           made
           ,
           
             viz.
             that
             they
             had
             received
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord.
             
          
        
         
           For
           ,
           thereby
           they
           declared
           ,
           that
           
             they
             received
             him
             as
             the
             Christ
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           as
           him
           who
           was
           anointed
           of
           the
           Father
           to
           Teach
           and
           Instruct
           his
           Church
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           were
           bound
           to
           adhere
           to
           his
           Doctrine
           ;
           there
           being
           no
           other
           ,
           whom
           
             the
             Father
             hath
             sealed
          
           and
           appointed
           to
           declare
           his
           Will
           ;
           
           and
           
             in
             him
             were
             hid
             all
             the
             Treasures
             of
             Wisdom
             and
             Knowledge
             .
          
        
         
           They
           received
           him
           
             as
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
          
           
           that
           is
           ,
           they
           
             hoped
             for
             Redemption
             through
             his
             Blood
             ,
             even
             the
             forgiveness
             of
             sins
             .
          
           And
           if
           their
           hopes
           of
           Heaven
           depended
           upon
           his
           Mediation
           ,
           they
           had
           the
           greatest
           Reason
           to
           adhere
           only
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           They
           received
           him
           
             as
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           and
           therefore
           they
           ought
           to
           submit
           to
           his
           Authority
           ,
           to
           obey
           
           his
           Commands
           ,
           and
           to
           observe
           his
           Institutions
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           Circumstances
           of
           Life
           to
           keep
           stedfast
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           which
           he
           delivered
           .
        
         
           But
           here
           arises
           the
           great
           Difficulty
           ,
           how
           they
           should
           know
           by
           any
           Certain
           Rule
           ,
           what
           was
           the
           true
           and
           genuine
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           himself
           delivered
           ?
           For
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           false
           Teachers
           among
           them
           pretended
           to
           deliver
           the
           true
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           which
           they
           at
           first
           received
           was
           no
           certain
           Rule
           .
           For
           the
           false
           Teachers
           might
           have
           been
           before
           them
           .
           And
           first
           Possession
           gives
           no
           Title
           in
           Religion
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           
             Apostle
          
           doth
           not
           put
           the
           whole
           Tryal
           meerly
           upon
           their
           Judgments
           or
           Memories
           ,
           or
           Capacities
           ;
           
             viz.
          
           What
           they
           thought
           ,
           or
           remembred
           was
           at
           first
           taught
           them
           for
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           For
           ,
           it
           was
           very
           possible
           for
           them
           to
           have
           mistaken
           ,
           or
           to
           have
           mis-remembred
           ,
           what
           was
           at
           first
           delivered
           .
        
         
           Nothing
           can
           be
           more
           weak
           than
           to
           imagine
           that
           the
           Judgments
           of
           People
           in
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           must
           be
           formed
           according
           to
           the
           skill
           and
           excellency
           of
           their
           Teachers
           .
           For
           the
           hearers
           of
           Christ
           himself
           ;
           
             although
             he
             spake
             as
             never
             Man
             spake
             ,
          
           yet
           did
           very
           often
           mistake
           his
           meaning
           .
           Aud
           at
           one
           time
           so
           remarkably
           ,
           that
           although
           he
           took
           care
           to
           rectify
           their
           misapprehension
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           said
           ,
           
           
             From
             that
             time
             many
             of
             his
             Disciples
             went
             back
             and
             walked
             no
             more
             with
             him
             .
          
           So
           that
           the
           highest
           infallibility
           in
           the
           Teachers
           ,
           doth
           not
           prevent
           the
           possibility
           ,
           or
           the
           danger
           of
           mistaking
           in
           the
           hearers
           .
           And
           whatsoever
           any
           vainly
           pretend
           ,
           nothing
           can
           do
           it
           ,
           but
           
             Transfusing
          
           the
           
             Spirit
          
           of
           
             Infallibility
          
           into
           all
           .
        
         
           If
           we
           look
           over
           the
           
             Apostolical
             Churches
          
           while
           they
           were
           under
           the
           Care
           and
           Conduct
           of
           an
           
             Infallible
             Spirit
             ;
          
           yet
           this
           did
           not
           prevent
           their
           running
           into
           great
           errours
           and
           mistakes
           ,
           as
           appears
           by
           the
           Account
           we
           have
           of
           them
           ,
           given
           by
           that
           Spirit
           which
           cannot
           deceive
           in
           the
           Apostolical
           Writings
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Rome
          
           it self
           ,
           even
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           when
           
             its
             Faith
             was
             spoken
             of
             throughout
             the
             World
             ,
          
           
           yet
           there
           were
           dissensions
           and
           differences
           there
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           were
           
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
          
           which
           was
           delivered
           .
           And
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           bids
           them
           
             to
             mark
             such
             which
             caused
             them
             ;
          
           
           he
           doth
           not
           say
           ,
           it
           was
           impossible
           for
           them
           to
           introduce
           any
           thing
           
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
          
           which
           they
           had
           learned
           by
           
             Tradition
          
           from
           the
           Apostles
           ;
           but
           he
           not
           only
           supposes
           it
           very
           possible
           ,
           but
           he
           bids
           them
           have
           a
           particular
           Eye
           to
           them
           ,
           lest
           they
           should
           be
           deceived
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           Church
           of
           
             Corinth
          
           was
           
             planted
             by
          
           Paul
           ,
           
             and
             watered
             by
          
           Apollos
           ;
           and
           there
           were
           Disciples
           of
           
             Cephas
             and
             of
             Christ
             himself
             .
          
           And
           yet
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           so
           many
           Infallible
           Teachers
           ,
           they
           had
           like
           to
           have
           lost
           all
           their
           Faith
           ;
           as
           one
           of
           them
           tells
           them
           .
           
           
             How
             say
             some
             among
             you
             there
             is
             no
             Resurrection
             of
             the
             dead
             ?
          
           
           
             And
             if
             Christ
             be
             not
             risen
             ,
             then
             is
             our
             Preaching
             vain
             ,
             and
             your
             Faith
             is
             also
             vain
             .
          
           Could
           not
           they
           remember
           to
           day
           what
           was
           taught
           them
           yesterday
           ,
           and
           so
           what
           the
           Apostles
           at
           first
           preached
           to
           them
           ?
        
         
           The
           Churches
           of
           
             Galatia
          
           had
           such
           an
           opinion
           of
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           
           upon
           his
           first
           preaching
           the
           Gospel
           among
           them
           ,
           
             that
             they
             received
             him
             as
             an
             Angel
             of
             God
             ,
             even
             as
             Christ
             Iesus
             ;
          
           yet
           presently
           after
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             am
             I
             therefore
             become
             your
             Enemy
             beause
             I
             tell
             you
             the
             Truth
             ?
          
           
           What!
           
             Of
             an
             Angel
             of
             God
             ,
          
           or
           of
           one
           received
           
             as
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
          
           to
           
             become
             their
             Enemy
             ,
          
           and
           that
           
             upon
          
           the
           most
           unjustifiable
           account
           ,
           
             because
             he
             told
             them
             the
             Truth
             !
          
           But
           ,
           where
           truth
           can
           make
           Enemies
           ,
           errours
           may
           easily
           gain
           Friends
           .
           And
           so
           we
           find
           it
           was
           in
           the
           Apostolical
           Churches
           ,
           even
           under
           the
           Conduct
           and
           Teaching
           of
           the
           Apostles
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Colossians
          
           were
           not
           yet
           so
           far
           gone
           ;
           but
           they
           were
           in
           such
           danger
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostle
           writes
           this
           Epistle
           with
           great
           concernment
           for
           them
           .
           He
           tells
           them
           
             v.
             1.
             he
             had
          
           
           a
           sharp
           
             Conflict
          
           in
           his
           own
           mind
           about
           them
           .
           
           
             They
             had
             not
             yet
             seen
             his
             Face
             in
             the
             Flesh
             ,
          
           being
           converted
           by
           some
           sent
           by
           him
           ,
           of
           whom
           
             Epaphras
          
           is
           most
           taken
           notice
           of
           ;
           but
           he
           was
           present
           
             with
             them
             in
             Spirit
             ,
             v.
             5.
             i.
             e.
          
           He
           was
           deeply
           affected
           with
           their
           Condition
           ;
           for
           he
           understood
           the
           Designs
           and
           Artifices
           of
           the
           Seducers
           among
           them
           .
           He
           knew
           what
           fair
           and
           plausible
           pretences
           they
           had
           ;
           
             viz.
          
           that
           they
           went
           about
           not
           to
           undermine
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           to
           advance
           it
           ,
           by
           taking
           in
           some
           Jewish
           Customs
           ,
           and
           some
           Gentile
           Observances
           ,
           and
           Modes
           of
           Worship
           which
           might
           easily
           be
           Accommodated
           to
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ;
           and
           so
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           the
           Ammosities
           both
           of
           the
           
             Iews
          
           and
           Heathens
           would
           be
           removed
           ;
           and
           Christianity
           would
           thereby
           gain
           more
           Friends
           ,
           and
           meet
           with
           fewer
           Enemies
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostle
           finding
           how
           necessary
           it
           was
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           if
           possible
           ,
           to
           keep
           them
           
             Stedfast
             in
             the
             Faith
             ,
          
        
         
           1.
           
           He
           assures
           them
           ,
           that
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           was
           of
           it self
           so
           sufficient
           for
           the
           good
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           that
           it
           needed
           no
           Additions
           ,
           either
           from
           the
           Law
           of
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           or
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           the
           
             Gentiles
             ,
          
           which
           might
           introduce
           several
           things
           ,
           with
           a
           specious
           Appearance
           of
           
             Wisdom
             ,
             Humility
          
           and
           
             Mortification
             ;
          
           but
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           assured
           ,
           that
           from
           Christ
           they
           had
           all
           that
           was
           necessary
           or
           useful
           for
           Salvation
           ;
           
           
             For
             in
             him
             are
             hid
             all
             the
             Treasures
             of
             Wisdom
             and
             Knowledge
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           this
           Doctrine
           was
           at
           first
           truly
           delivered
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           stedfast
           in
           it
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           design
           of
           the
           Text.
           
        
         
           But
           they
           might
           object
           ,
           that
           
             Epaphras
          
           was
           no
           Apostle
           of
           Christ
           himself
           ;
           and
           if
           he
           were
           ,
           yet
           there
           were
           many
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           the
           false
           Apostles
           pretended
           to
           be
           true
           ones
           ;
           and
           although
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           interposed
           his
           Authority
           ;
           yet
           he
           was
           but
           one
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Iudaizers
          
           would
           not
           yield
           to
           
           it
           ,
           but
           were
           ready
           to
           suggest
           ,
           that
           the
           other
           Apostles
           were
           more
           favourable
           to
           the
           Jewish
           Customs
           than
           he
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           was
           necessary
           some
           more
           general
           and
           common
           Rule
           be
           found
           out
           ,
           whereby
           to
           distinguish
           the
           Original
           and
           Genuine
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           from
           that
           of
           Pretenders
           and
           Seducers
           .
        
         
           The
           clearing
           of
           this
           is
           in
           it self
           a
           matter
           of
           great
           consequence
           ;
           and
           not
           only
           was
           to
           those
           of
           that
           Age
           ,
           but
           is
           so
           in
           every
           Age
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           where
           the
           same
           Question
           may
           be
           put
           :
           What
           was
           the
           true
           Primitive
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           ;
           and
           by
           what
           means
           may
           we
           come
           to
           it
           ?
           which
           concerns
           us
           this
           day
           as
           well
           as
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           Answer
           lay
           in
           two
           particulars
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           clear
           .
        
         
           1.
           〈…〉
           the
           Apostles
           did
           in
           common
           deliver
           to
           〈…〉
           by
           them
           ,
           was
           the
           Genuine
           Doctrine
           〈…〉
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           which
           they
           have
           left
           in
           their
           Writings
           ,
           after
           it
           came
           to
           be
           contested
           which
           was
           the
           true
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           which
           the
           Apostles
           did
           in
           common
           deliver
           to
           the
           Churches
           planted
           by
           them
           .
           For
           ,
           we
           have
           all
           the
           reason
           in
           the
           World
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostles
           delivered
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Faith
           to
           all
           the
           Churches
           ;
           having
           the
           same
           Infallible
           Spirit
           to
           direct
           them
           .
           There
           was
           no
           need
           for
           them
           
             to
             meet
             together
             before
             their
             dispersion
             ,
             and
             to
             agree
             upon
             some
             common
             Articles
             of
             Faith
             ,
          
           
           as
           
             Russinus
          
           imagins
           ,
           
             lest
             they
             should
             differ
             from
             each
             other
             ;
          
           For
           how
           could
           they
           differ
           ,
           
           who
           had
           the
           same
           
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             to
             lead
             them
             into
             all
             Truth
             ?
          
           And
           we
           find
           nothing
           like
           a
           Combination
           among
           the
           
             Apostles
             ,
          
           as
           to
           matters
           of
           Doctrine
           :
           And
           if
           there
           had
           been
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           rendred
           the
           Faith
           they
           delivered
           more
           suspitious
           ,
           in
           that
           they
           durst
           not
           trust
           particular
           Persons
           with
           delivery
           of
           it
           ,
           without
           an
           antecedent
           Confederacy
           among
           themselves
           ,
           which
           would
           have
           
           
           cerning
           him
           ;
           and
           
             the
             Disciples
          
           when
           they
           first
           heard
           him
           
             were
             amazed
             ;
          
           
           after
           this
           ,
           he
           took
           a
           course
           by
           himself
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           go
           up
           to
           
             Ierusalem
          
           to
           the
           College
           of
           
             Apostles
          
           there
           resident
           ,
           
           but
           went
           into
           
             Arabia
             ;
          
           so
           that
           ,
           if
           any
           one
           might
           be
           thought
           to
           set
           up
           another
           Doctrine
           ,
           it
           was
           he
           ;
           but
           he
           was
           so
           far
           from
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           established
           and
           confirmed
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           they
           delivered
           ,
           and
           was
           very
           successful
           in
           his
           Apostleship
           in
           all
           places
           .
           And
           when
           there
           had
           been
           some
           whispers
           concerning
           him
           ,
           as
           though
           he
           proceeded
           not
           in
           the
           same
           way
           with
           the
           rest
           ,
           he
           went
           up
           to
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
          
           and
           there
           upon
           full
           examination
           ,
           James
           
             and
          
           Cephas
           ,
           
           
             and
          
           John
           ,
           
             who
             were
             the
             leading
             Apostles
             ,
             gave
             him
             the
             right
             hand
             of
             Fellowship
             ;
          
           in
           token
           of
           their
           full
           consent
           in
           the
           same
           Faith.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           truth
           of
           the
           Gospel
           was
           the
           more
           plainly
           discovered
           .
        
         
           All
           this
           while
           ,
           the
           
             Apostles
          
           only
           preached
           and
           delivered
           their
           Doctrine
           to
           the
           several
           Churches
           by
           verbal
           Instructions
           ;
           but
           after
           these
           had
           been
           received
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           such
           multitudes
           ,
           that
           there
           could
           be
           no
           suspition
           that
           a
           false
           Representation
           of
           Christs
           Doctrine
           or
           Actions
           could
           be
           received
           by
           those
           Churches
           ,
           then
           the
           Wise
           Providence
           of
           God
           took
           care
           for
           Posterity
           ,
           and
           imploy'd
           several
           Persons
           in
           distant
           Places
           and
           Times
           to
           write
           the
           History
           of
           our
           Saviour
           .
           And
           there
           was
           this
           advantage
           to
           the
           Church
           that
           the
           
             Gospels
          
           were
           written
           no
           sooner
           .
           For
           all
           the
           Churches
           planted
           by
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           were
           then
           made
           Judges
           whether
           the
           Gospels
           written
           were
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           which
           the
           Apostles
           had
           taught
           ;
           and
           if
           not
           ,
           there
           would
           have
           been
           just
           reason
           to
           have
           question'd
           either
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           had
           been
           taught
           them
           ,
           or
           what
           was
           delivered
           in
           the
           Gospels
           .
        
         
           But
           when
           they
           found
           the
           main
           to
           be
           fully
           consonant
           to
           what
           they
           had
           been
           taught
           ,
           the
           Testimony
           of
           every
           
           one
           of
           these
           Churches
           did
           shew
           the
           concurrence
           of
           all
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           contained
           in
           the
           several
           Gospels
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           which
           adds
           to
           the
           strength
           of
           this
           proof
           is
           ,
           that
           when
           the
           true
           Gospels
           were
           written
           ,
           there
           were
           several
           false
           and
           counterfeit
           
             Gospels
          
           dispersed
           abroad
           ,
           under
           the
           Names
           of
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           .
           As
           of
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           St.
           
             Thomas
             ,
          
           
           St.
           
             Matthias
             ,
          
           and
           others
           ;
           as
           
             Eusebius
          
           informs
           us
           ;
           and
           as
           we
           have
           the
           genuine
           
             Acts
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
          
           so
           there
           were
           the
           pretended
           
             Acts
             of
          
           Paul
           ,
           
             of
          
           Andrew
           
             and
          
           John
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           Apostles
           .
           How
           came
           these
           to
           be
           rejected
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           to
           be
           carefully
           received
           ?
           Here
           lies
           the
           true
           Advantage
           of
           
             Original
             Tradition
          
           before
           the
           
             written
             Gospels
             ,
          
           that
           by
           it
           the
           several
           Churches
           were
           enabled
           to
           pass
           a
           true
           judgment
           concerning
           them
           when
           they
           came
           to
           be
           dispersed
           among
           them
           .
           For
           they
           could
           presently
           tell
           ,
           whether
           what
           they
           read
           were
           agreeable
           to
           what
           they
           had
           heard
           and
           received
           from
           the
           
             Apostles
             .
          
           As
           suppose
           the
           Gospel
           of
           St.
           
             Matthew
          
           being
           published
           in
           
             Iudea
             ,
          
           were
           carried
           into
           
             Mesopotamia
          
           or
           
             Persia
             ,
          
           where
           many
           Christian
           Churches
           were
           very
           early
           planted
           ;
           these
           being
           throughly
           instructed
           by
           the
           
             Apostles
          
           in
           all
           things
           relating
           to
           the
           Life
           ,
           Death
           ,
           Resurrection
           and
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           ,
           could
           presently
           judge
           whether
           St.
           
             Matthews
          
           Gospel
           agreed
           with
           what
           they
           had
           heard
           or
           not
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           holds
           as
           to
           all
           the
           Churches
           in
           the
           
             Roman
          
           Empire
           .
           So
           that
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Churches
           so
           soon
           ,
           while
           the
           memory
           of
           the
           Apostles
           Doctrine
           was
           so
           fresh
           in
           their
           minds
           ,
           is
           in
           effect
           the
           consent
           of
           
             all
             the
             Apostles
          
           who
           taught
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           very
           different
           from
           the
           case
           of
           particular
           Persons
           in
           some
           Churches
           ,
           who
           might
           mistake
           or
           forget
           what
           was
           taught
           ;
           for
           this
           is
           a
           concurrent
           testimony
           of
           all
           the
           Apostolical
           Churches
           ,
           who
           could
           not
           agree
           to
           approve
           
           an
           error
           in
           the
           Gospels
           contrary
           to
           the
           Faith
           delivered
           to
           them
           .
           And
           that
           while
           some
           of
           the
           Apostles
           were
           still
           living
           .
           For
           the
           other
           Gospels
           were
           received
           and
           approved
           ,
           before
           St.
           
             Iohn
          
           wrote
           his
           .
        
         
           The
           case
           had
           been
           far
           otherwise
           ,
           if
           no
           
             Gospels
          
           had
           been
           written
           in
           that
           Age
           ;
           for
           then
           it
           might
           have
           been
           suspected
           ,
           that
           either
           the
           Impressions
           of
           the
           first
           Teachers
           were
           worn
           out
           ,
           or
           they
           had
           been
           by
           degrees
           alter'd
           from
           their
           first
           Apprehensions
           by
           the
           cunning
           craftiness
           of
           those
           who
           lay
           in
           wait
           to
           deceive
           them
           .
        
         
           After
           the
           decease
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           the
           common
           Tradition
           of
           the
           
             Apostolical
             Churches
          
           was
           useful
           in
           these
           cases
           ;
        
         
           1.
           
           To
           convey
           down
           the
           Authentick
           Writings
           of
           the
           Apostles
           or
           Evangelists
           ,
           which
           were
           delivered
           to
           any
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           To
           bear
           Testimony
           against
           any
           pretended
           Writings
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           first
           received
           by
           the
           
             Apostolical
             Churches
          
           to
           which
           they
           were
           said
           to
           be
           written
           .
           For
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Negative
           Testimony
           of
           more
           force
           than
           that
           ;
           it
           being
           improbable
           to
           the
           utmost
           degree
           that
           such
           a
           Church
           should
           not
           know
           ,
           or
           not
           make
           known
           any
           true
           
             Apostolical
             Writings
             .
          
        
         
           3.
           
           To
           overthrow
           any
           pretence
           to
           a
           secret
           Tradition
           from
           the
           
             Apostles
          
           different
           from
           what
           was
           seen
           in
           the
           
             Apostolical
             Writings
             .
          
           
           And
           to
           this
           purpose
           
             Irenaeus
          
           and
           
             Tertullian
          
           make
           very
           good
           use
           of
           the
           
             Tradition
          
           of
           the
           
             Apostolical
             Churches
          
           against
           the
           pretenders
           to
           such
           a
           
             Tradition
             ,
          
           
           which
           those
           Churches
           were
           not
           acquainted
           with
           .
        
         
           But
           they
           agree
           that
           the
           Apostles
           committed
           
             the
             same
             Doctrine
             to
             Writing
             which
             they
             preached
             ,
             and
             that
             it
             might
             be
             a
             Foundation
             and
             Pillar
             of
             Faith
             ;
          
           that
           this
           Doctrine
           was
           contained
           in
           the
           
             four
             Gospels
             ;
          
           and
           that
           the
           Apostolical
           Churches
           did
           receive
           them
           from
           those
           who
           first
           
           wrote
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           within
           the
           compass
           of
           the
           Apostolical
           Age.
           
        
         
           It
           was
           therefore
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Infinite
           Wisdom
           of
           God
           in
           providing
           for
           a
           constant
           Establishment
           of
           the
           Faith
           of
           his
           Church
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           neither
           to
           permit
           the
           Gospels
           to
           be
           written
           till
           the
           Churches
           were
           planted
           ,
           nor
           to
           be
           put
           off
           to
           another
           Generation
           .
           For
           ,
           then
           it
           would
           have
           been
           plausibly
           objected
           ;
           
             if
             these
             things
             are
             true
             ,
             why
             were
             they
             not
             recorded
             ,
             when
             there
             were
             Persons
             living
             who
             were
             best
             able
             to
             have
             either
             proved
             ,
             or
             confuted
             them
             ?
             Then
             we
             might
             have
             been
             satisfyed
             one
             way
             or
             other
             ;
             but
             now
             the
             
               Iews
            
             are
             dead
             ,
             and
             the
             Apostles
             are
             dead
             ;
             and
             although
             there
             are
             many
             left
             who
             believe
             their
             Doctrine
             ,
             yet
             this
             can
             never
             reach
             to
             the
             Testimony
             of
             those
             who
             saw
             and
             heard
             the
             things
             themselves
             ,
             or
             whose
             Doctrine
             was
             attested
             by
             those
             who
             did
             so
             .
          
           And
           this
           is
           now
           the
           mighty
           Advantage
           of
           the
           Church
           ever
           since
           that
           the
           things
           concerning
           Christ
           were
           written
           by
           such
           Persons
           .
           With
           what
           another
           kind
           of
           Authority
           do
           those
           words
           command
           our
           Assent
           ,
           
           
             That
             which
             was
             from
             the
             beginning
             ,
             which
             we
             have
             heard
             ,
             which
             we
             have
             seen
             with
             our
             eyes
             ,
             which
             we
             have
             looked
             upon
             ,
             and
             our
             hands
             have
             handled
             of
             the
             Word
             of
             Life
             ;
             For
             the
             life
             was
             manifested
             ,
             and
             we
             have
             seen
             it
             ,
             and
             bear
             witness
             ,
             and
             shew
             unto
             you
             that
             Eternal
             Life
             ,
             which
             was
             with
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             was
             manifest
             unto
             us
             ,
             that
             which
             we
             have
             seen
             and
             heard
             declare
             we
             unto
             you
             ;
          
           then
           if
           all
           the
           Testimony
           concerning
           Christ
           were
           to
           be
           resolved
           into
           those
           who
           heard
           some
           say
           ,
           that
           others
           told
           them
           ,
           they
           had
           it
           from
           such
           ,
           who
           saw
           those
           who
           conversed
           with
           them
           who
           saw
           Christ
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ?
           At
           such
           a
           distance
           the
           Authority
           of
           a
           Testimony
           is
           extremely
           lessen'd
           ;
           which
           is
           not
           like
           a
           River
           which
           grows
           greater
           by
           running
           ;
           
           but
           like
           a
           Mineral
           Water
           which
           loses
           its
           strength
           by
           being
           carried
           too
           far
           .
           We
           find
           in
           the
           time
           of
           
             Papias
          
           who
           lived
           but
           in
           the
           second
           Century
           ,
           the
           Authority
           of
           bare
           Tradition
           was
           mightily
           sunk
           ;
           
           For
           ,
           
             Eusebius
          
           saith
           ,
           
             he
             conversed
             with
             the
             Disciples
             of
             our
             Lord
             and
             his
             Apostles
             ,
          
           he
           saith
           of
           himself
           ,
           
             that
             he
             went
             up
             and
             down
             to
             them
             to
             get
             what
             he
             could
             from
             them
             ,
             having
             a
             greater
             esteem
             of
             what
             he
             could
             learn
             from
             them
             than
             of
             what
             was
             written
             .
          
           And
           what
           Advantage
           did
           this
           bring
           to
           the
           Church
           ?
           
             It
             brought
             some
             idle
             opinions
             into
             reputation
             ,
          
           saith
           
             Eusebius
             ;
          
           for
           afterwards
           they
           thought
           it
           enough
           to
           fix
           them
           upon
           
             Papias
             .
          
           But
           how
           was
           it
           possible
           for
           him
           to
           mistake
           ?
           
             Eusebius
          
           saith
           ,
           
             that
             being
             a
             Man
             of
             mean
             capacity
             ,
             he
             might
             easily
             misunderstand
             the
             meaning
             of
             what
             was
             spoken
             .
          
           But
           if
           Tradition
           might
           fail
           after
           such
           a
           manner
           so
           near
           the
           Apostles
           times
           ;
           then
           we
           must
           be
           assured
           of
           the
           
             Capacity
          
           as
           well
           as
           
             Integrity
          
           of
           those
           of
           every
           Age
           through
           whom
           a
           Tradition
           passed
           ,
           or
           else
           they
           might
           deceive
           ,
           or
           be
           deceived
           about
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           provide
           better
           for
           the
           security
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           by
           causing
           the
           Gospels
           to
           be
           written
           either
           by
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           ,
           as
           St.
           
             Matthew
          
           and
           St.
           
             Iohn
             ,
          
           or
           by
           the
           Disciples
           of
           the
           chief
           Apostles
           ,
           while
           the
           others
           were
           surviving
           ,
           as
           St.
           
             Mark
          
           and
           St.
           
             Luke
             ;
          
           and
           the
           latter
           gives
           this
           account
           of
           his
           undertaking
           to
           write
           it
           ,
           
           viz.
           
             That
             thou
             mighest
             know
             the
             certainty
             of
             those
             things
             wherein
             thou
             hast
             been
             instructed
             .
          
           His
           instruction
           was
           by
           an
           Oral
           Tradition
           ;
           but
           that
           it
           seems
           wanted
           something
           to
           strengthen
           and
           confirm
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           was
           by
           St.
           
             Lukes
          
           writing
           his
           Gospel
           .
           How
           could
           they
           add
           any
           assurance
           to
           him
           ,
           if
           all
           the
           ground
           of
           his
           certainty
           were
           to
           be
           taken
           from
           Tradition
           ?
           St.
           
             Luke
          
           thought
           it
           necessary
           then
           ,
           that
           those
           things
           which
           concerned
           the
           Life
           and
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           should
           be
           put
           into
           Writing
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           
           be
           more
           certainly
           convey'd
           ;
           and
           that
           while
           they
           had
           the
           Testimony
           of
           those
           ,
           
             who
             were
             eye-witnesses
             and
             Ministers
             of
             the
             Word
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           And
           so
           I
           come
           to
           the
           second
           Rule
           of
           discerning
           the
           Primitive
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           ;
           
             viz.
          
           The
           Writings
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           when
           matters
           of
           Doctrine
           came
           to
           be
           contested
           ,
           were
           the
           Infallible
           Rule
           ,
           whereby
           they
           were
           to
           judge
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           true
           and
           genuine
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           There
           are
           some
           who
           pretend
           ,
           that
           the
           Apostles
           Writings
           were
           meerly
           
             Accidental
             and
             Occasional
          
           things
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           main
           design
           was
           to
           lodge
           the
           great
           Assurance
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           in
           
             Tradition
          
           from
           one
           to
           another
           ;
           and
           what
           they
           wrote
           was
           not
           to
           make
           any
           
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             ,
          
           but
           only
           to
           give
           some
           good
           Advice
           to
           those
           Churches
           they
           wrote
           to
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           shall
           now
           prove
           that
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           
             Apostles
          
           were
           intended
           by
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           to
           be
           a
           
             standing
             Rule
             ,
          
           whereby
           the
           Church
           was
           to
           judge
           which
           was
           the
           true
           and
           genuine
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           From
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Occasions
           of
           writing
           the
           
             Books
          
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           
             Gospels
             ,
          
           we
           must
           distinguish
           the
           
             General
             Reason
          
           of
           writing
           them
           ,
           from
           the
           
             particular
             Occasions
          
           as
           to
           the
           several
           Gospels
           .
           The
           
             General
             Reason
          
           is
           to
           be
           drawn
           from
           the
           Divine
           Wisdom
           which
           inspired
           and
           guided
           them
           ;
           the
           particular
           
             Occasions
          
           relate
           to
           the
           circumstances
           of
           writing
           them
           .
        
         
         
           
             The
          
           General
           Reason
           
             is
             that
             which
          
           Irenaeus
           
             gives
             ,
          
           
           viz.
           That
           the
           Gospel
           which
           they
           had
           first
           preached
           ,
           was
           by
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           put
           into
           Writing
           ,
           that
           it
           might
           be
           a
           Foundation
           and
           Pillar
           of
           our
           Faith.
           
             Not
             meerly
          
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           Remembrance
           of
           it
           ,
           
             which
          
           Fevardentius
           
             yields
             ,
             and
             thereby
             overthrows
             the
             Infallibility
             of
          
           Oral
           Tradition
           ;
           
             but
             that
             so
             it
             may
             be
             a
             certain
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             to
             all
             Ages
             .
             The
          
           Evangelists
           
             saith
             St.
          
           Augustin
           ,
           
           were
           but
           Christs
           Hands
           ,
           which
           himself
           as
           the
           Head
           ,
           directed
           in
           writing
           the
           Gospels
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           are
           to
           look
           on
           the
           Gospels
           as
           his
           own
           Hand-writing
           .
           The
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           
             saith
             he
             ,
          
           directed
           the
           Minds
           of
           the
           Evangelists
           ,
           
           as
           to
           the
           order
           and
           manner
           of
           their
           Writing
           .
           
             Which
             varied
             according
             to
             the
             particular
             Occasions
             ,
             but
             yet
             were
             all
             subservient
             to
             the
             General
             Reason
             .
          
        
         
           
             St.
          
           Matthew
           wrote
           the
           first
           Gospel
           ,
           
           
             saith
          
           Eusebius
           ,
           to
           the
           
             Jews
          
           to
           whom
           he
           had
           preached
           ,
           because
           going
           into
           other
           parts
           he
           would
           supply
           the
           want
           of
           his
           Presence
           among
           them
           by
           his
           Writing
           .
           
             What
             need
             this
             ,
             if
             Tradition
             were
             a
             certain
             and
             infallible
             way
             of
             conveying
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Christ
             ?
             St.
          
           Chrysostom
           
             saith
             ,
          
           
           the
           
             Jewish
          
           Christians
           desired
           him
           to
           put
           into
           Writing
           what
           they
           had
           heard
           him
           Preach
           .
           
             Did
             not
             they
             understand
             the
             force
             of
             Tradition
             better
             ?
             Or
             why
             should
             St.
          
           Matthew
           
             put
             them
             out
             of
             an
             Infallible
             Way
             ?
             The
             Authority
             of
             the
             Imperfect
             Work
             on
             St.
          
           Matthew
           
             saith
             ,
          
           
           they
           desired
           him
           to
           write
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           that
           where
           ever
           they
           went
           they
           might
           carry
           an
           Account
           of
           their
           Faith
           with
           them
           .
           Clemens
           Alexandrinus
           ,
           
             saith
             ,
          
           the
           occasion
           of
           writing
           St.
           
             Marks
          
           Gospel
           was
           ,
           
           that
           the
           people
           were
           not
           satisfied
           with
           an
           unwritten
           delivery
           of
           the
           Holy
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           therefore
           importuned
           
             Mark
             ,
          
           who
           was
           the
           Disciple
           of
           St.
           
             Peter
             ,
          
           that
           he
           would
           leave
           a
           Monument
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           in
           Writing
           ;
           which
           St.
           
             Peter
          
           understanding
           by
           Revelation
           ,
           approved
           and
           confirmed
           his
           Gospel
           for
           the
           use
           of
           the
           Churches
           .
           Origen
           
             saith
             ,
          
           he
           
           wrote
           it
           according
           to
           St.
           
             Peters
          
           directions
           .
           
           Epiphanius
           
             saith
             ,
          
           by
           his
           Authority
           ,
           Athanasius
           
             saith
             ,
          
           it
           was
           dictated
           by
           him
           at
           
             Rome
             .
          
           
        
         
           It
           seems
           that
           
             Peter
          
           himself
           did
           not
           think
           fit
           to
           leave
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           to
           an
           
             Oral
             Tradition
             ,
          
           even
           at
           
             Rome
             ,
          
           but
           
             Irenaeus
          
           thinks
           it
           was
           written
           after
           St.
           
             Peters
          
           decease
           ,
           
           who
           therein
           differs
           from
           the
           rest
           ,
           and
           shews
           how
           uncertain
           meer
           Tradition
           is
           .
           
           
             Tertullian
          
           saith
           ,
           
             St.
          
           Marks
           
             Gospel
             was
             attributed
             to
             St.
          
           Peter
           ,
           
             and
             St.
          
           Lukes
           
             to
             St.
          
           Paul.
           St.
           
             Ierom
          
           mentions
           the
           Opinion
           of
           some
           ,
           that
           when
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           saith
           
             according
             to
             my
             Gospel
             ,
          
           he
           means
           that
           of
           St.
           
             Luke
             .
          
        
         
           But
           St.
           
             Luke
          
           himself
           plainly
           gives
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           occasion
           of
           his
           Writing
           .
           
           St.
           
             Ambrose
          
           thinks
           by
           those
           
             who
             had
             taken
             in
             hand
             to
             write
             of
             those
             things
             which
             were
             firmly
             believed
             among
             us
             ,
          
           
           he
           means
           the
           
             Authors
             of
             the
             counterfeit
             Gospels
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             the
             Twelve
             Apostles
             and
             St.
          
           Matthias
           .
           But
           we
           have
           no
           evidence
           that
           these
           were
           older
           than
           St.
           
             Luke
             ;
          
           his
           meaning
           is
           ,
           that
           in
           those
           parts
           where
           he
           was
           ,
           there
           were
           some
           who
           did
           undertake
           to
           give
           an
           Account
           of
           the
           Life
           and
           Actions
           of
           Christ
           ,
           who
           wanted
           the
           Advantages
           which
           he
           had
           ;
           having
           had
           great
           opportunities
           of
           knowing
           circumstances
           from
           
             the
             Eye-witnesses
             ;
          
           and
           therefore
           he
           set
           himself
           to
           give
           an
           exact
           Relation
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           not
           only
           
             Theophilus
             ,
          
           
           but
           every
           one
           that
           answers
           his
           name
           
             might
             know
             the
             certainty
             of
             those
             things
             wherein
             they
             had
             been
             instructed
             .
          
           But
           ,
           did
           not
           they
           know
           the
           certainty
           of
           these
           things
           by
           the
           Apostles
           Preaching
           ?
           Yes
           ,
           but
           the
           things
           they
           heard
           might
           slip
           out
           of
           their
           Memories
           ;
           and
           to
           prevent
           this
           ,
           saith
           
             Theophylact
             ,
             St.
          
           Luke
           
             wrote
             his
             Gospel
             ,
          
           
           
             that
             they
             might
             retain
             these
             things
             with
             greater
             certainty
             .
          
           And
           words
           that
           are
           only
           spoken
           are
           more
           easily
           
           misunderstood
           ;
           
           which
           
             Maldonat
          
           assigns
           ,
           as
           one
           great
           Reason
           of
           the
           Evangelists
           writing
           their
           several
           Gospels
           .
        
         
           St.
           
             Iohn
          
           likewise
           gives
           an
           account
           himself
           of
           the
           Reason
           of
           his
           Writing
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           greatest
           imaginable
           .
           
             But
             these
             are
             written
             that
             ye
             might
             believe
             that
             Iesus
             is
             the
             Christ
             ,
          
           
           
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             that
             believing
             ye
             might
             have
             life
             through
             his
             Name
             .
          
           Why
           
             written
             that
             ye
             might
             believe
             ?
          
           Did
           the
           Apostle
           in
           his
           old
           Age
           mistrust
           the
           understandings
           or
           the
           Memories
           of
           Christians
           ?
           Was
           not
           the
           Apostles
           Teaching
           sufficient
           to
           keep
           up
           the
           Principles
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           in
           the
           hearts
           of
           the
           people
           ;
           no
           ,
           not
           while
           St.
           
             Iohn
          
           himself
           was
           yet
           living
           ?
           He
           had
           certainly
           a
           very
           mean
           Opinion
           of
           Tradition
           ,
           that
           thought
           it
           necessary
           for
           him
           to
           write
           that
           they
           might
           believe
           that
           
             Iesus
             is
             the
             Son
             of
             God.
          
           For
           there
           was
           no
           point
           of
           Faith
           more
           necessary
           than
           this
           ,
           which
           was
           required
           of
           all
           Persons
           to
           be
           owned
           before
           Baptism
           .
        
         
           Yet
           for
           all
           this
           ,
           and
           whatever
           else
           can
           be
           said
           ,
           St.
           
             Iohn
          
           thought
           it
           necessary
           
             that
             these
             things
             be
             written
             that
             they
             might
             believe
             .
          
        
         
           He
           lived
           the
           longest
           of
           any
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           therefore
           saw
           how
           little
           Tradition
           was
           to
           be
           trusted
           ;
           for
           it
           was
           already
           corrupted
           in
           so
           weighty
           a
           point
           as
           the
           Divinity
           of
           Christ.
           
        
         
           
             Cerinthus
          
           and
           his
           Followers
           allow'd
           the
           general
           Tradition
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           
             Iesus
             was
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ;
          
           but
           then
           they
           gave
           their
           own
           sense
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           extraordinary
           Favour
           and
           Adoption
           .
           
           And
           from
           hence
           the
           Fathers
           agree
           that
           St.
           
             Iohn
          
           took
           occasion
           to
           write
           his
           Divine
           Gospel
           ,
           to
           clear
           this
           Fundamental
           point
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith.
           
        
         
         
           And
           withal
           observing
           that
           the
           other
           Evangelists
           insisted
           chiefly
           on
           the
           Actions
           of
           Christ
           for
           one
           year
           ,
           
           
             viz.
             after
          
           Johns
           
             Imprisonment
          
           he
           resumes
           the
           whole
           matter
           ,
           
           and
           adds
           those
           things
           which
           were
           omitted
           by
           the
           rest
           ;
           
           that
           so
           the
           Church
           might
           be
           furnished
           with
           a
           full
           Relation
           of
           all
           that
           was
           necessary
           to
           compleat
           and
           establish
           the
           Faith
           of
           Christians
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           As
           to
           the
           
             Epistles
             .
          
        
         
           The
           first
           
             Epistle
          
           we
           read
           of
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           (
           and
           in
           probability
           the
           first
           writing
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           )
           was
           the
           
             Decretal
             Epistle
          
           of
           the
           
             Council
          
           of
           
             Ierusalem
             .
          
           
        
         
           What
           should
           make
           the
           Apostles
           put
           these
           Decrees
           into
           Writing
           ?
           They
           were
           very
           short
           ,
           and
           concerned
           the
           practices
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           withal
           were
           sent
           by
           
             Barnabas
          
           and
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           and
           
             Iudas
             ,
          
           and
           
             Silas
             .
          
           Were
           not
           these
           sufficient
           to
           deliver
           the
           Apostles
           sense
           to
           the
           Churches
           ,
           without
           Letters
           from
           them
           ?
           What
           a
           pitiful
           thing
           did
           they
           take
           Oral
           Tradition
           to
           be
           ,
           if
           they
           thought
           such
           Men
           could
           not
           by
           it
           give
           full
           satisfaction
           to
           the
           Churches
           of
           
             Syria
          
           and
           
             Cilicia
             ,
          
           unless
           they
           sent
           it
           under
           their
           hands
           ?
        
         
           The
           
             Epistle
          
           to
           the
           
             Romans
          
           was
           written
           by
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           on
           purpose
           to
           clear
           some
           main
           points
           of
           the
           Christian
           Doctrine
           ,
           which
           were
           then
           warmly
           disputed
           between
           the
           Jews
           and
           the
           Christians
           ,
           and
           between
           the
           Judaizing
           Christians
           and
           others
           ,
           as
           about
           
             Iustification
             ,
             Rejection
             of
             the
             Iews
             ,
          
           the
           
             difference
          
           of
           
             Meats
             ,
          
           &c.
           And
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           took
           very
           needless
           pains
           in
           writing
           that
           excellent
           Epistle
           ,
           if
           he
           knew
           of
           Christs
           appointing
           a
           
             Iudge
             of
             Controversies
          
           there
           ;
           or
           if
           he
           thought
           Writing
           were
           not
           a
           certain
           way
           to
           
           make
           a
           Rule
           of
           Faith
           ,
           whereby
           they
           were
           to
           judge
           in
           those
           matters
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           
             Epistle
          
           to
           the
           
             Corinthians
          
           was
           written
           not
           meerly
           to
           reprove
           their
           Factions
           and
           Disorders
           ;
           but
           to
           direct
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           establish
           and
           prove
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           
             Resurrection
             ,
          
           
           which
           was
           then
           contested
           among
           them
           .
           The
           
             Epistle
          
           was
           sent
           by
           
             Stephanus
          
           and
           
             Fortunatus
             ,
          
           who
           could
           have
           carried
           the
           Apostles
           sense
           without
           his
           Writing
           ;
           but
           there
           are
           many
           weighty
           things
           ,
           besides
           the
           particular
           occasions
           which
           are
           of
           lasting
           concernment
           to
           the
           Church
           in
           all
           Ages
           ;
           as
           there
           are
           likewise
           in
           his
           second
           Epistle
           to
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           
             Epistle
          
           to
           the
           
             Galatians
          
           was
           written
           on
           occasion
           of
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           points
           of
           controversy
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           
             viz.
          
           the
           Use
           and
           Obligation
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           
             Moses
             .
          
           And
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           sound
           by
           sad
           experience
           among
           them
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           very
           possible
           for
           those
           who
           had
           the
           best
           Instructions
           ,
           either
           to
           forget
           them
           ,
           or
           to
           grow
           out
           of
           Love
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           fond
           of
           a
           change
           ;
           else
           he
           would
           never
           have
           said
           ,
           
           O
           
             foolish
          
           Galatians
           ,
           
             who
             hath
             bewitched
             you
             that
             ye
             should
             not
             obey
             the
             Truth
             ?
          
           And
           
             I
             marvel
             that
             ye
             are
             so
             soon
             removed
             from
             him
             that
             called
             you
             into
             the
             Grace
             of
             Christ
             into
             another
             Gospel
             ,
          
           
           How
           was
           it
           indeed
           possible
           for
           them
           to
           be
           
             removed
             ,
          
           and
           to
           be
           soon
           
             removed
             ,
          
           who
           had
           received
           the
           Faith
           by
           the
           Delivery
           of
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           himself
           ?
           Then
           ,
           for
           all
           that
           I
           can
           see
           ,
           human
           Nature
           taken
           with
           all
           its
           Advantages
           and
           Motives
           ,
           and
           Evidences
           ,
           is
           a
           very
           sallible
           thing
           ;
           and
           if
           then
           it
           might
           be
           deceived
           ,
           and
           that
           so
           easily
           and
           grosly
           ;
           then
           much
           more
           in
           any
           following
           Age
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           unless
           human
           Nature
           be
           mightily
           changed
           for
           the
           better
           ,
           since
           the
           Apostles
           times
           ;
           or
           any
           Teachers
           since
           be
           more
           effectual
           ,
           than
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           
           and
           especially
           than
           
             St.
          
           Paul
           ,
           
             who
             laboured
             more
             abundantly
             than
             they
             all
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             The
          
           Epistle
           
             to
             the
          
           Ephesians
           ,
           
             though
             written
             upon
             a
             general
             Argument
             ,
             yet
             doth
             suppose
             that
             they
             were
             in
             continual
             danger
             of
             being
             deceived
             ;
          
           
           and
           tossed
           up
           and
           down
           ,
           and
           carried
           about
           with
           every
           wind
           of
           Doctrine
           by
           the
           sleight
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           cunning
           craftiness
           whereby
           they
           lie
           in
           wait
           to
           deceive
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           he
           advises
           them
           to
           be
           upon
           their
           guard
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           their
           Armour
           about
           them
           ,
           and
           one
           choice
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           
           
             is
             the
             Sword
             of
             the
             Spirit
             ,
             which
             is
             the
             Word
             of
             God.
             
          
        
         
           The
           
             Philippians
          
           were
           assaulted
           by
           a
           rude
           ,
           violent
           ,
           head-strong
           Faction
           of
           Judaizers
           ;
           
           which
           the
           Apostle
           bids
           them
           to
           beware
           of
           ;
           and
           writes
           his
           Epistle
           to
           them
           for
           that
           purpose
           ,
           and
           he
           exhorts
           them
           
             to
             stand
             fast
             in
             one
             Spirit
             ,
          
           
           
             with
             one
             mind
             striving
             together
             for
             the
             Faith
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
        
         
           In
           the
           second
           Epistle
           to
           the
           
             Thessalonians
             ,
          
           and
           in
           both
           Epistles
           to
           
             Timothy
             ,
          
           
           he
           gives
           notice
           of
           a
           great
           Defection
           from
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ;
           he
           describes
           the
           manner
           of
           it
           ,
           
             that
             it
             shall
             be
             with
             signs
             and
             lying
             words
             ,
             and
             with
             all
             deceiveableness
             of
             unrighteousness
             in
             them
             that
             perish
             ,
          
           
           
             because
             they
             received
             not
             the
             love
             of
             the
             truth
             ;
          
           
           
             that
             they
             shall
             speak
             lies
             in
             hypocrisie
             ,
             and
             forbid
             to
             marry
             ,
             and
             command
             to
             abstain
             from
             meats
             ,
          
           
           
             being
             evil
             men
             ,
             having
             a
             form
             of
             godliness
             ,
             and
             denying
             the
             power
             of
             it
             .
          
           I
           meddle
           not
           now
           with
           the
           time
           when
           this
           Apostacy
           began
           ;
           but
           from
           hence
           ,
           it
           is
           evident
           that
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           supposed
           ,
           that
           those
           who
           at
           first
           received
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           by
           Tradition
           from
           the
           Apostles
           themselves
           ,
           might
           notwithstanding
           through
           their
           own
           weakness
           and
           folly
           ,
           and
           the
           Artifices
           of
           Deceivers
           be
           drawn
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           to
           prevent
           such
           mischievous
           consequences
           ,
           he
           knew
           no
           better
           means
           than
           a
           Written
           Rule
           ,
           
           which
           he
           tells
           
             Timothy
             was
             able
             to
             make
             him
             wise
             to
             Salvation
             ;
             and
             to
             make
             the
             Man
             of
             God
             perfect
             ,
             throughly
             furnished
             to
             every
             good
             Work.
             
          
        
         
         
           And
           to
           name
           no
           more
           ,
           the
           
             Colossians
          
           were
           set
           upon
           by
           some
           who
           thought
           to
           refine
           Christianity
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           to
           make
           it
           more
           passable
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           therefore
           would
           have
           introduced
           into
           it
           some
           Rites
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           some
           Austerities
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           some
           ways
           of
           Worship
           which
           would
           recommend
           them
           to
           their
           Adversaries
           ;
           and
           upon
           this
           occasion
           he
           writes
           this
           Epistle
           to
           them
           to
           convince
           them
           that
           Christianity
           alone
           was
           far
           beyond
           any
           mixtures
           of
           the
           Fancies
           or
           Traditions
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           could
           give
           them
           no
           better
           Advice
           ,
           than
           as
           they
           had
           first
           received
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           to
           continue
           in
           it
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             As
             they
             had
             received
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             so
             to
             walk
             in
             him
             .
          
        
         
           The
           design
           of
           what
           I
           have
           said
           is
           ,
           that
           although
           the
           
             Gospels
          
           and
           
             Epistles
          
           were
           written
           upon
           particular
           
             occasions
             ;
          
           yet
           those
           
             occasions
          
           were
           so
           great
           and
           considerable
           ;
           and
           the
           Assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           did
           so
           direct
           the
           Hands
           and
           Pens
           of
           the
           Evangelists
           and
           Apostles
           in
           writing
           them
           ,
           that
           what
           they
           have
           therein
           delivered
           contains
           a
           compleat
           Rule
           of
           the
           true
           and
           genuine
           Faith
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           at
           first
           delivered
           to
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           
             But
             against
             this
             ,
             it
             is
             objected
             ,
          
           that
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           himself
           charged
           the
           
             Thessalonians
          
           to
           stand
           fast
           and
           hold
           the
           Traditions
           which
           they
           have
           been
           taught
           either
           by
           word
           or
           by
           his
           Epistles
           .
           
           From
           whence
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           other
           Traditions
           to
           be
           held
           ,
           that
           were
           not
           written
           .
        
         
           The
           force
           of
           all
           this
           will
           be
           taken
           away
           ,
           if
           we
           consider
           when
           that
           Epistle
           was
           written
           ;
           
             viz.
          
           one
           of
           the
           first
           which
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           wrote
           ,
           and
           soon
           after
           the
           former
           Epistle
           to
           the
           
             Thessalonians
             ;
          
           which
           was
           some
           time
           before
           St.
           
             Lukes
          
           Gospel
           ,
           which
           was
           first
           received
           in
           the
           Churches
           of
           
             Greece
          
           planted
           by
           St.
           
             Paul.
          
           Therefore
           all
           the
           proper
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           himself
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           relates
           to
           his
           Life
           and
           Actions
           were
           then
           but
           Traditions
           among
           them
           ;
           
           and
           therefore
           St.
           
             Paul
          
           had
           great
           Reason
           then
           to
           require
           them
           
             to
             stand
             fast
             to
             the
             Traditions
             they
             had
             been
             taught
             ;
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           they
           had
           received
           in
           that
           manner
           .
        
         
           
             But
             it
             is
             urged
             ,
          
           
           that
           he
           mentions
           before
           ,
           something
           he
           had
           said
           about
           Antichrists
           coming
           when
           he
           was
           with
           them
           ,
           
             v.
          
           5.
           
        
         
           If
           this
           be
           allow'd
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           more
           against
           than
           for
           
             Tradition
             .
          
           For
           ,
           what
           is
           become
           of
           that
           
             Tradition
             ?
          
           If
           it
           be
           lost
           ,
           then
           it
           follows
           that
           
             Tradition
          
           is
           no
           
             Infallible
             Way
          
           of
           conveyence
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           have
           more
           Reason
           to
           adhere
           to
           a
           written
           word
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Which
           leads
           us
           to
           the
           second
           Reason
           from
           which
           I
           designed
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           there
           ought
           to
           be
           a
           written
           Rule
           for
           discerning
           true
           primitive
           Christianity
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           from
           
             the
             notorious
             uncertainty
             of
             meer
             Tradition
             .
          
           I
           say
           ,
           
             notorious
             ,
          
           because
           there
           never
           was
           any
           Tryal
           made
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           it
           failed
           ,
           even
           when
           it
           had
           the
           greatest
           Advantages
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           insist
           upon
           the
           
             Tradition
          
           of
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           when
           mens
           Lives
           were
           so
           long
           ,
           and
           the
           principles
           of
           the
           Natural
           Religion
           so
           few
           ;
           and
           yet
           both
           before
           and
           after
           the
           Flood
           ,
           mankind
           was
           strangely
           degenerated
           from
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           insist
           on
           many
           instances
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ;
           so
           many
           ,
           that
           scarce
           one
           can
           be
           produced
           wherein
           they
           pleaded
           meer
           Tradition
           ,
           but
           they
           were
           mistaken
           in
           it
           ;
           As
           about
           the
           
             Millennium
             ,
          
           the
           
             Age
             of
             Christ
             ,
          
           the
           
             time
             of
          
           Easter
           (
           on
           one
           side
           or
           other
           )
           the
           
             Communicating
             Infants
             .
          
           
           For
           St.
           
             Augustin
          
           quotes
           
             Apostolical
             Tradition
          
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           shall
           wave
           all
           these
           ,
           and
           only
           mention
           a
           very
           necessary
           and
           important
           thing
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           long
           time
           trusted
           to
           
             Tradition
             ,
          
           and
           yet
           they
           differ'd
           so
           much
           about
           
           it
           ,
           as
           evidently
           proved
           ,
           that
           meer
           Tradition
           was
           no
           Infallible
           Means
           of
           conveyance
           .
           And
           that
           is
           about
           the
           
             Apostles
             Creed
          
           which
           was
           to
           be
           repeated
           by
           all
           that
           were
           to
           be
           Baptized
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           many
           plain
           Testimonies
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           this
           was
           not
           to
           be
           written
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           conveyed
           from
           one
           to
           another
           ,
           by
           an
           
             Oral
             Tradition
             ;
          
           a
           St.
           
             Hierom
             ,
          
           b
           St.
           
             Augustin
             ,
          
           c
           
             Ruffinus
          
           all
           affirm
           it
           .
        
         
           And
           the
           
             Creed
          
           was
           commonly
           then
           called
           d
           
             the
             Rule
             of
             Faith
             ;
          
           which
           shewed
           that
           they
           looked
           on
           all
           the
           Articles
           therein
           contained
           ,
           as
           the
           standard
           of
           necessary
           points
           .
        
         
           And
           yet
           there
           is
           a
           plain
           and
           considerable
           difference
           in
           the
           Antient
           Creeds
           ;
           some
           Articles
           being
           in
           some
           which
           were
           not
           in
           others
           ;
           although
           we
           have
           Reason
           to
           believe
           the
           necessary
           points
           were
           at
           first
           the
           same
           in
           all
           .
           Or
           else
           the
           several
           Churches
           must
           have
           different
           Rules
           of
           Faith.
           
        
         
           The
           Church
           of
           
             Ierusalem
          
           was
           called
           c
           
             the
             Mother
             of
             all
             Churches
          
           by
           the
           General
           Council
           of
           
             Constantinople
             ;
          
           and
           in
           the
           Creed
           there
           delivered
           to
           the
           
             Catechumens
             .
          
           d
           St.
           
             Cyril
          
           mentions
           the
           
             Eternal
             Generation
             of
             the
             Son
             before
             all
             Worlds
             ;
          
           and
           so
           doth
           e
           
             Eusebius
          
           at
           
             Caesarea
          
           in
           the
           Creed
           ,
           which
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             he
             learnt
             at
             his
             Baptism
             ,
          
           which
           was
           long
           before
           
             the
             Nicene
             Creed
             .
          
           f
           
             Cassian
          
           makes
           it
           a
           part
           of
           that
           Creed
           which
           the
           Apostles
           delivered
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           was
           particularly
           received
           in
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Antioch
             .
          
        
         
           But
           no
           such
           thing
           was
           delivered
           in
           the
           
             Western
             Creeds
          
           
           as
           far
           as
           now
           appears
           ,
           by
           what
           St.
           
             Augustin
             ,
             Ruffinus
             ,
          
           and
           others
           say
           in
           their
           expositions
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           St.
           
             Ierom
          
           writing
           against
           the
           Bishop
           of
           
             Ierusalem
             ,
          
           urges
           him
           with
           the
           
             Creed
             ,
          
           g
           (
           no
           doubt
           that
           which
           was
           received
           in
           his
           own
           Church
           )
           and
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             it
             consisteth
             of
             three
             main
             points
             ,
             the
             Confession
             of
             the
             Trinity
             ,
             the
             Unity
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             the
             Resurrection
             of
             the
             Flesh.
             
          
        
         
           And
           the
           Creed
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Aquileia
          
           went
           no
           farther
           ,
           saith
           h
           
             Ruffinus
             ;
          
           nor
           some
           old
           Copies
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Creed
             .
          
        
         
           But
           
             Marcellus
          
           of
           
             Ancyra
          
           had
           
             Eternal
             Life
          
           in
           his
           i
           Creed
           ,
           and
           so
           had
           k
           
             Cyril
          
           of
           
             Ierusalem
             ;
          
           so
           had
           the
           
             African
          
           Church
           in
           St.
           l
           
             Augustins
          
           time
           ;
           so
           had
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Ravena
             ;
          
           but
           not
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Turin
             ;
          
           nor
           the
           
             Gallican
          
           Churches
           ;
           if
           
             Maimus
             Taurinensis
             ,
          
           and
           
             Venantius
             Fortunatus
          
           explained
           all
           the
           Articles
           of
           their
           Creeds
           .
        
         
           
             Ruffinus
          
           confesses
           the
           Article
           of
           
             Descent
             into
             Hell
          
           was
           not
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             ,
          
           nor
           in
           any
           of
           the
           
             Eastern
             Creeds
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Creeds
           of
           
             Ierusalem
          
           and
           
             Aquileia
          
           had
           not
           the
           
             Communion
             of
             Saints
             ;
          
           nor
           those
           of
           
             Marcellus
          
           and
           m
           
             Epiphanius
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Title
           of
           
             Catholick
          
           was
           not
           added
           to
           the
           
             Church
          
           in
           the
           Creed
           in
           St.
           n
           
             Augustins
          
           time
           ;
           for
           he
           makes
           it
           a
           
             Periphrasis
             ,
             utique
             Catholicam
             ,
          
           from
           whence
           probably
           it
           came
           to
           be
           added
           afterwards
           .
        
         
           
             Ruffinus
          
           takes
           no
           notice
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           it
           was
           not
           extant
           in
           the
           old
           Copies
           of
           the
           
             Roman
          
           Creed
           ;
           nor
           in
           that
           of
           
             Marcellus
             Ancyranus
             .
          
        
         
           These
           things
           I
           mention
           ,
           not
           in
           the
           least
           to
           shake
           the
           Faith
           of
           the
           Articles
           of
           the
           
             Apostles
             Creed
             ;
          
           which
           o
           St.
           
             Augustin
          
           saith
           
             was
             gathered
             out
             of
             Scriptures
             ,
          
           and
           is
           agreeable
           to
           them
           ;
           but
           to
           shew
           what
           an
           uncertain
           way
           of
           conveyance
           meer
           Oral
           Tradition
           is
           ,
           when
           a
           thing
           so
           easily
           remembred
           ,
           so
           constantly
           used
           ,
           of
           so
           much
           weight
           and
           
           consequence
           fell
           into
           such
           varieties
           in
           the
           greatest
           .
           Churches
           ,
           while
           they
           were
           so
           scrupulous
           about
           the
           writing
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           What
           cause
           have
           we
           then
           to
           be
           thankful
           to
           God
           ,
           that
           hath
           taken
           so
           much
           care
           of
           his
           Church
           ,
           as
           to
           provide
           us
           an
           Infallible
           Written
           Rule
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           whereby
           we
           certainly
           know
           ,
           what
           the
           true
           Primitive
           Christianity
           was
           ,
           which
           was
           delivered
           by
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ?
        
         
           But
           here
           is
           a
           great
           difficulty
           to
           be
           removed
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Written
           Word
           .
        
         
           How
           can
           we
           be
           certain
           ,
           we
           have
           it
           ,
           if
           not
           by
           Tradition
           ?
           and
           if
           Tradition
           be
           so
           uncertain
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           be
           made
           certain
           by
           it
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           that
           written
           Word
           which
           the
           Apostles
           delivered
           ?
           For
           might
           not
           that
           fail
           in
           this
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Creed
           ?
           And
           then
           what
           security
           can
           we
           have
           for
           our
           Faith
           ?
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           this
           ,
           I
           shall
           shew
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           What
           Advantage
           things
           that
           are
           written
           have
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           certainty
           of
           conveyance
           above
           things
           meerly
           committed
           to
           Memory
           and
           Tradition
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           What
           Advantage
           the
           Scriptures
           have
           ,
           above
           any
           other
           things
           committed
           to
           Writing
           as
           to
           the
           certainty
           of
           their
           conveyence
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           the
           Advantage
           things
           Written
           have
           above
           those
           committed
           to
           Memory
           and
           Tradition
           only
           .
           Which
           will
           appear
           by
           these
           things
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           It
           was
           the
           way
           God
           himself
           made
           choice
           of
           ,
           where
           the
           Reason
           for
           Tradition
           was
           stronger
           ;
           I
           mean
           as
           to
           the
           Ten
           Commandments
           ,
           which
           were
           short
           and
           plain
           ,
           and
           easy
           to
           be
           remembred
           ,
           and
           very
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Sense
           and
           General
           Interest
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           yet
           the
           Wise
           God
           who
           perfectly
           understood
           the
           Nature
           of
           Man
           ,
           would
           not
           leave
           the
           Ten
           Commandments
           to
           an
           Oral
           Tradition
           ,
           but
           God
           delivered
           to
           
             Moses
          
           Two
           Tables
           of
           Stone
           written
           
           with
           the
           Finger
           of
           God
           ;
           
           and
           on
           them
           he
           wrote
           the
           Ten
           Commandments
           .
           What
           a
           vain
           and
           superstuous
           thing
           were
           this
           ,
           if
           Oral
           and
           Practical
           Tradition
           were
           Infallible
           ?
           But
           Gods
           own
           pitching
           upon
           this
           way
           ,
           after
           so
           long
           a
           Tryal
           of
           Mankind
           in
           the
           other
           ;
           is
           a
           Demonstration
           of
           the
           greater
           certainty
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           we
           suppose
           that
           God
           aimed
           at
           the
           benefit
           of
           Mankind
           by
           it
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           When
           Religion
           was
           corrupted
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           the
           only
           way
           of
           restoring
           it
           was
           by
           a
           Written
           Book
           of
           the
           Law.
           
        
         
           As
           we
           find
           in
           the
           case
           of
           
             Iosiahs
          
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           was
           made
           by
           the
           Book
           of
           the
           Law
           ,
           
           which
           was
           found
           in
           the
           House
           of
           the
           Lord.
           
        
         
           This
           was
           the
           Rule
           by
           which
           
             Hilkiah
          
           the
           High
           Priest
           ,
           thought
           it
           necessary
           for
           
             Iosiah
          
           to
           go
           by
           ;
           and
           not
           by
           any
           Tradition
           left
           among
           them
           concerning
           the
           Law
           which
           God
           had
           given
           by
           
             Moses
             .
          
        
         
           3.
           
           This
           was
           that
           which
           our
           Saviour
           appealed
           to
           in
           all
           his
           Disputes
           ;
           
           
             search
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
          
           saith
           he
           to
           the
           
             Iews
             ;
          
           not
           run
           to
           your
           Traditions
           ,
           for
           those
           were
           then
           very
           corrupt
           ,
           especially
           about
           the
           Messias
           ,
           as
           that
           he
           was
           to
           be
           a
           Temporal
           Prince
           ,
           
             &c.
          
           which
           was
           then
           a
           dangerous
           and
           fundamental
           mistake
           ;
           and
           therefore
           Christ
           appeals
           from
           them
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           
             And
             they
             are
             they
             which
             testifie
             of
             me
             .
          
           
           
             Had
             ye
             believed
          
           Moses
           ,
           
             ye
             would
             have
             believed
             me
             ,
             for
             he
             wrote
             of
             me
             ;
             but
             if
             ye
             believe
             not
             his
             Writings
             ,
             how
             shall
             ye
             believe
             my
             words
             ?
          
           
           And
           our
           Saviour
           severely
           checks
           the
           
             Pharisees
          
           for
           regarding
           their
           own
           Traditions
           more
           than
           the
           Written
           Law.
           
           And
           yet
           they
           pretended
           to
           an
           Oral
           Tradition
           down
           from
           
             Moses
             ;
          
           as
           the
           Jews
           do
           to
           this
           day
           ;
           and
           none
           are
           more
           grosly
           deceived
           than
           they
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           general
           Sense
           and
           Experience
           of
           Mankind
           agrees
           herein
           ,
           that
           all
           matters
           of
           consequence
           are
           more
           certainly
           preserved
           by
           Writings
           than
           by
           meer
           words
           .
           There
           is
           
           no
           Invention
           hath
           been
           more
           valued
           by
           the
           Wiser
           part
           of
           Mankind
           than
           that
           of
           
             Letters
             ;
          
           because
           it
           is
           of
           such
           excellent
           use
           for
           conveying
           the
           sense
           of
           our
           minds
           at
           a
           distance
           to
           others
           .
           All
           men
           have
           so
           great
           a
           mistrust
           ,
           either
           of
           the
           capacity
           or
           memory
           ,
           or
           fidelity
           of
           others
           ;
           that
           what
           they
           would
           have
           done
           with
           security
           they
           commit
           to
           Writing
           .
           And
           whatever
           we
           truly
           understand
           of
           the
           Ages
           before
           us
           ,
           we
           are
           beholden
           to
           Writing
           for
           it
           ;
           all
           those
           memorable
           Actions
           ,
           and
           Institutions
           ,
           either
           of
           
             Philosophy
          
           or
           
             Religion
          
           which
           were
           not
           written
           ,
           are
           long
           since
           buried
           in
           Oblivion
           ,
           without
           possibility
           of
           a
           Resurrection
           .
        
         
           But
           where
           they
           have
           been
           committed
           to
           Writing
           they
           are
           preserved
           after
           so
           many
           Ages
           ;
           and
           by
           it
           we
           certainly
           know
           the
           History
           of
           the
           
             Patriarchs
             ,
          
           and
           the
           strange
           Revolutions
           that
           happened
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           World.
           By
           it
           ,
           we
           converse
           with
           the
           Wisest
           persons
           of
           former
           times
           ;
           and
           were
           able
           to
           justifie
           the
           Scriptures
           by
           the
           concurrent
           Testimonies
           of
           other
           Writers
           .
           By
           it
           ,
           we
           are
           enabled
           to
           interpret
           Prophecies
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           plain
           their
           accomplishments
           ,
           which
           without
           it
           ,
           we
           could
           never
           make
           out
           .
           Yea
           by
           it
           ,
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           those
           is
           preserved
           for
           the
           benefit
           of
           mankind
           ,
           who
           thought
           fit
           to
           write
           nothing
           themselves
           ,
           as
           
             Socrates
          
           and
           
             Pythagoras
             ,
          
           but
           their
           Disciples
           took
           care
           in
           time
           to
           Write
           their
           Doctrines
           .
           So
           that
           we
           have
           the
           general
           Consent
           of
           the
           wisest
           part
           of
           mankind
           ,
           that
           writing
           is
           a
           far
           more
           certain
           way
           of
           conveyance
           than
           meer
           Tradition
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           And
           especially
           in
           our
           case
           where
           there
           are
           so
           many
           particular
           advantages
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           
             Holy
             Scriptures
             ,
          
           above
           any
           other
           Writings
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           From
           the
           special
           Providence
           of
           God
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           them
           ;
           for
           since
           it
           is
           agreed
           by
           all
           Christians
           ,
           that
           these
           were
           written
           by
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           reasonable
           
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           a
           more
           than
           ordinary
           care
           would
           be
           taken
           to
           preserve
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           to
           suppose
           any
           Books
           of
           Scripture
           to
           be
           lost
           ,
           which
           contained
           any
           necessary
           points
           of
           Faith
           is
           a
           great
           Reflexion
           on
           Divine
           Providence
           .
           For
           ,
           if
           God
           watches
           over
           his
           Church
           ,
           he
           cannot
           be
           supposed
           to
           let
           such
           Books
           be
           lost
           which
           were
           designed
           for
           the
           universal
           and
           lasting
           Benefit
           of
           his
           Church
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           From
           the
           mighty
           esteem
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           had
           always
           for
           them
           ;
           for
           ,
           they
           built
           their
           Hopes
           of
           Heaven
           upon
           the
           promises
           contained
           in
           them
           .
           The
           Book
           of
           Scripture
           was
           their
           Evidence
           for
           their
           future
           Inheritance
           ;
           the
           Foundation
           of
           their
           Hope
           ,
           and
           Rule
           of
           their
           Faith
           ;
           their
           Defence
           against
           Assaults
           and
           Temptations
           ;
           their
           Counseller
           in
           cases
           of
           Difficulty
           ;
           their
           Support
           ,
           under
           Troubles
           ;
           and
           their
           surest
           Guide
           to
           a
           happy
           Eternity
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           chose
           rather
           to
           endure
           any
           Torments
           than
           basely
           to
           betray
           it
           ,
           and
           give
           it
           up
           to
           their
           Enemies
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           From
           the
           early
           disputes
           that
           were
           about
           them
           .
           Which
           shews
           that
           they
           were
           no
           Invention
           of
           after
           times
           ;
           nor
           were
           brought
           into
           the
           World
           by
           Stealth
           and
           Art
           ;
           for
           ,
           they
           endured
           the
           greatest
           shock
           of
           Opposition
           at
           first
           ,
           while
           the
           matters
           of
           Fact
           concerning
           them
           were
           the
           most
           easily
           proved
           .
           And
           having
           passed
           the
           severe
           Scrutiny
           of
           the
           first
           Ages
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           counterfeit
           Writings
           were
           sent
           abroad
           ,
           the
           following
           Ages
           could
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           call
           their
           Authority
           in
           question
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           From
           the
           general
           consent
           of
           divided
           Churches
           about
           them
           .
           It
           might
           have
           pleased
           God
           to
           have
           kept
           his
           Church
           from
           those
           unhappy
           Breaches
           which
           have
           been
           in
           all
           parts
           of
           the
           Christian
           World
           ;
           but
           the
           East
           ,
           and
           the
           West
           ,
           the
           North
           and
           the
           South
           can
           all
           bear
           Testimony
           to
           the
           sad
           Divisions
           of
           Christendom
           ;
           and
           those
           
           of
           many
           Ages
           standing
           .
           But
           yet
           ,
           we
           have
           this
           considerable
           Advantage
           by
           them
           ;
           that
           we
           can
           have
           no
           Reason
           to
           mistrust
           a
           conspiracy
           where
           the
           several
           Bodies
           are
           so
           much
           divided
           .
        
         
           5.
           
           From
           the
           great
           internal
           satisfaction
           which
           the
           minds
           of
           good
           Men
           have
           concerning
           them
           ;
           and
           which
           no
           other
           writing
           can
           pretend
           to
           give
           .
           For
           here
           we
           read
           of
           the
           Promise
           of
           Divine
           Assistance
           to
           sincere
           and
           humble
           minds
           .
           And
           that
           Assistance
           carries
           a
           
             Lumen
             Fidei
          
           into
           the
           mind
           ;
           as
           
             Aquinas
          
           calls
           it
           2.
           2.
           
           
             a
             3
             ad
             2.
             and
             by
             that
          
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             the
             mind
             is
             united
             to
             Truth
             ,
             that
             its
             assent
             is
             only
             fixed
             upon
             it
             ;
             and
             therefore
             there
             is
             no
             danger
             of
             Damnation
             to
             those
             who
             are
             in
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
             and
             are
             thus
             illuminated
             by
             Faith
             in
             him
             .
          
           Not
           that
           this
           is
           an
           Argument
           to
           convince
           others
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           that
           inward
           sense
           which
           they
           have
           ;
           but
           the
           same
           Holy
           Spirit
           which
           did
           at
           first
           indite
           them
           ,
           may
           give
           such
           an
           inward
           and
           effectual
           Testimony
           as
           to
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           matter
           contained
           in
           them
           ;
           that
           from
           thence
           they
           may
           firmly
           conclude
           these
           Books
           to
           contain
           the
           word
           of
           God.
           And
           that
           Assurance
           which
           the
           minds
           of
           good
           Men
           have
           from
           the
           Influence
           of
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           may
           be
           more
           effectual
           and
           powerful
           in
           them
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           pretended
           Infallibility
           or
           Demonstration
           in
           the
           World.
           It
           is
           certain
           those
           cannot
           be
           deceived
           whom
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           teacheth
           ;
           and
           the
           best
           and
           wisest
           of
           the
           Antient
           Schoolmen
           did
           make
           the
           great
           firmness
           and
           certainty
           of
           Faith
           not
           to
           depend
           on
           outward
           Motives
           ,
           but
           on
           inward
           Grace
           ;
           which
           so
           inlightned
           the
           Mind
           ,
           and
           fixed
           the
           Inclinations
           of
           the
           Soul
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           able
           to
           remove
           it
           .
           This
           sort
           of
           Faith
           is
           no
           blind
           Assent
           ;
           but
           after
           all
           the
           Evidence
           which
           it
           hath
           to
           make
           its
           Assent
           Reasonable
           ;
           it
           takes
           so
           fast
           a
           hold
           of
           Divine
           Truths
           by
           discerning
           the
           excellency
           and
           value
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           he
           that
           hath
           it
           is
           willing
           to
           let
           go
           any
           thing
           rather
           than
           that
           ;
           and
           although
           
           the
           Apprehension
           of
           Faith
           be
           not
           so
           clear
           as
           that
           of
           Science
           ;
           yet
           the
           
             Hypostasis
             ,
          
           as
           the
           Apostle
           calls
           it
           ,
           may
           be
           so
           firm
           ,
           
           that
           no
           Temptations
           may
           be
           able
           to
           shake
           it
           .
           And
           he
           that
           can
           die
           for
           his
           Religion
           hath
           a
           stronger
           and
           better
           Faith
           ,
           than
           he
           that
           thinks
           himself
           never
           so
           Infallible
           in
           the
           Grounds
           of
           it
           .
           That
           is
           a
           true
           Divine
           Faith
           which
           
             purifies
             the
             Heart
             ,
          
           
           and
           thereby
           enlightens
           the
           mind
           ;
           which
           
             works
             by
             Love
             ,
          
           
           and
           not
           by
           cavilling
           and
           wrangling
           about
           the
           Grounds
           of
           it
           ;
           
           
             which
             overcomes
             the
             World
             ,
          
           and
           not
           that
           which
           overcomes
           the
           Temptations
           of
           it
           .
           And
           such
           a
           Faith
           ,
           and
           only
           such
           a
           one
           will
           carry
           us
           to
           Heaven
           ;
           when
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           possible
           for
           us
           to
           have
           the
           utmost
           Infallibility
           in
           the
           Act
           of
           believing
           ;
           yet
           if
           it
           did
           not
           work
           effectually
           on
           our
           Hearts
           and
           Lives
           ,
           we
           might
           go
           infallibly
           to
           Hell.
           
        
         
           And
           so
           I
           shall
           conclude
           this
           Discourse
           with
           the
           second
           sense
           of
           the
           Obligation
           which
           lies
           on
           those
           
             who
             have
             received
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             so
             to
             walk
             in
             him
             :
             i.
             e.
          
           to
           improve
           their
           sound
           Faith
           into
           the
           Practice
           of
           a
           good
           Life
           .
        
         
           For
           alas
           !
           What
           advantage
           will
           it
           be
           to
           us
           ,
           to
           have
           the
           most
           Primitive
           and
           Apostolical
           
             Faith
             ,
          
           if
           our
           
             Works
          
           be
           not
           answerable
           to
           it
           ?
           
           
             Why
             call
             ye
             me
             Lord
             ,
             Lord
             ,
          
           saith
           Christ
           ,
           
             and
             do
             not
             the
             thing
             which
             I
             say
             ?
          
           Why
           do
           we
           pretend
           
             to
             receive
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           if
           we
           do
           not
           observe
           his
           Commands
           ?
           
             It
             is
             good
             ,
          
           
           saith
           S.
           
             Paul
             ,
             to
             be
             zealously
             affected
             always
             in
             a
             good
             thing
             .
          
           And
           no
           doubt
           our
           
             Faith
          
           is
           such
           ;
           but
           then
           let
           us
           be
           
             zealous
             of
             good
             Works
             too
             ,
          
           that
           we
           may
           shew
           our selves
           to
           be
           
             that
             peculiar
             people
             who
             are
             redeemed
             by
             Iesus
             Christ.
          
           
           So
           that
           our
           Obligation
           arises
           every
           way
           from
           
             Christ
             Iesus
             the
             Lord
             ,
             to
             walk
             in
             him
             ;
          
           if
           we
           consider
           him
           as
           
             our
             Lord
             ,
          
           so
           we
           are
           to
           obey
           him
           ;
           if
           as
           
             Christ
             Iesus
             ,
          
           so
           he
           died
           for
           us
           
             to
             redeem
             us
             from
             all
             iniquity
             .
          
           We
           can
           have
           no
           pretence
           to
           live
           in
           our
           sins
           ,
           if
           we
           have
           received
           him
           who
           commands
           us
           to
           forsake
           them
           ;
           for
           then
           
           we
           receive
           and
           reject
           him
           at
           the
           same
           time
           .
           
           
             Let
             every
             one
             that
             names
             the
             name
             of
             Christ
             ,
             depart
             from
             iniquity
             ,
          
           saith
           St.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           what
           should
           those
           then
           do
           that
           profess
           
             to
             receive
             him
             as
             their
             Lord
             ,
          
           who
           are
           thereby
           bound
           to
           yield
           obedience
           to
           his
           Laws
           ?
           one
           of
           the
           great
           causes
           of
           the
           Degeneracy
           of
           the
           Heathen
           World
           was
           the
           separating
           
             Religion
          
           and
           
             Morality
             ;
          
           when
           this
           was
           left
           to
           the
           Schools
           of
           Philosophers
           to
           instruct
           men
           in
           ,
           whereas
           their
           Religion
           consisted
           only
           of
           some
           Solemn
           Rites
           and
           Sacrifices
           .
           Let
           us
           have
           a
           care
           of
           as
           dangerous
           a
           Separation
           between
           
             Faith
          
           and
           
             Works
             ,
          
           or
           which
           is
           all
           one
           ,
           between
           
             receiving
             Christ
             ,
             and
             doing
             his
             Will.
          
           For
           those
           are
           the
           proper
           
             Works
          
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           wherein
           we
           own
           
             Christ
          
           as
           
             our
             Lord
             ,
          
           and
           do
           them
           because
           he
           commands
           us
           .
           And
           the
           Apostle
           hath
           summ'd
           up
           the
           
             whole
             Duty
          
           of
           
             Christians
          
           in
           those
           comprehensive
           words
           ,
           
           
             Teaching
             us
             that
             denying
             ungodliness
             and
             worldly
             lusts
             ,
             we
             should
             live
             soberly
             ,
             righteously
             ,
             and
             godly
             in
             this
             present
             World
             ;
          
           
           
             looking
             for
             that
             blessed
             hope
             ,
             and
             the
             glorious
             appearance
             of
             the
             great
             God
             ,
             and
             our
             Saviour
             Iesus
             Christ.
          
           To
           whom
           ,
           
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           PAge
           8.
           line
           18.
           for
           
             Days
          
           read
           
             Places
             .
          
           p.
           25.
           l.
           15.
           r.
           
             Matim●●
             .
          
           p.
           28.
           l.
           18.
           for
           
             were
             ●
             .
             are
             .
          
        
         
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61596-e330
           
             2
             Cor.
             1.
             12.
             
          
           
             Col.
             2.
             3.
             
          
           
             Col.
             1.
             14.
             
          
           
             John
             6.
             66.
             
          
           
             Rom.
             1.
             8.
             
          
           
             16.
             17.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             15.
             
          
           
             12.
             14.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             14.
             
          
           
             16.
             
          
           
             Ch.
             1.
             v.
             7.
             
             ●●
             12.
             
          
           
             v.
             3.
             
          
           
             Russia
             .
             in
             Symbol
             .
          
           
             Joh
             ,
             16.
             13.
             
          
           
             Acts
             9.
             13
             21.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             1.
             17.
             
          
           
             2.
             9.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             Hist.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             25.
             
          
           
             Iren.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             3.
             4.
             
          
           
             Tertul.
             de
             Praescript
             .
             Haer.
             
          
           
             1
             John
             1
             ,
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             Hist
             l.
             3.
             c.
             39.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             1.
             4.
             
          
           
             I●●n
             .
             l.
             3.
             c.
             1.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             de
             Con.
             ●ers
             .
             Evang.
             l.
             1.
             c.
             54.
             
          
           
             l.
             2.
             c.
             53.
             
          
           
             Euseb
             Hist.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             2.
             
          
           
             〈…〉
             
          
           
             〈…〉
             .
             in
             Mat.
             in
             Pr●●ogo
             .
          
           
             Euseb.
             l.
             2.
             c.
             15.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             l.
             6.
             c.
             25.
             
          
           
             Epiphan
             .
             Haer.
             51.
             
             Athanas.
             in
             Synopsi
             .
             p.
             155.
             
          
           
             T●t●l
             .
             c.
             Marc.
             l.
             4.
             c.
             5.
             
          
           
             Hieron
             .
             de
             Script
             .
             Eccles
             .
          
           
             Ambros.
             in
             Luc.
             
          
           
             Luke
             1.
             1.
             
          
           
             Epiph.
             Haer.
             51.
             
          
           
             Theophyl
             .
             in
             Luc.
             
          
           
             Maldonat
             .
             Com.
             in
             Evang
             .
             prol
             .
          
           
             Joh.
             20.
             31.
             
          
           
             Hierom.
             Proem
             .
             in
             Matth.
             De
             Script
             .
             Eccles.
             
          
           
             Epiph.
             H●
             .
             51.
             
          
           
             Chrys.
             hom
             .
             1.
             in
             Matth.
             
          
           
             Euseb.
             l.
             3.
             c.
             24.
             
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             23.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             15.
             2.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             3.
             1.
             
          
           
             1.
             6.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             15.
             10.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             4.
             14.
             
          
           
             6.
             17.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             3.
             2.
             
          
           
             1.
             27.
             
          
           
             2
             Thess.
             2.
             3.
             
          
           
             10.
             
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             4.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             3.
             1.
             5.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             3.
             16
             ,
             17.
             
          
           
             2
             Thess.
             2.
             15.
             
          
           
             Bell.
             de
             verbo
             .
             l.
             4.
             c.
             5.
             
          
           
             Aug.
             de
             Peccat
             Meritis
             .
             l.
             1.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             a
             In
             Symbolo
             Fidei
             &
             Sp●i
             nostrae
             ,
             quod
             ad
             Apostolis
             traditum
             ,
             non
             scribitur
             in
             Charta
             &
             Atramento
             ,
             sid
             in
             tabulis
             cordis
             carnalibus
             .
             
               Hieron
               .
               ad
               Pammaclu
               :
               advers
               .
               Errores
               Joh.
               Hierosol
               .
            
          
           
             b
             Nec
             ut
             eadem
             verba
             Symboli
             teneatis
             ,
             ullo
             modo
             debetis
             scribere
             ,
             sed
             audiendo
             perdisctre
             ;
             nec
             cum
             didic●ritis
             scribere
             ,
             sed
             memoria
             semper
             tenere
             &
             recolere
             .
             
               August
               .
               de
               Diversis
               Serm.
            
             75.
             
          
           
             c
             Iacirco
             denique
             haec
             non
             scribi
             Chartulis
             &
             membronis
             ,
             sid
             requiri
             credentium
             cordibus
             tradiderunt
             ,
             ut
             certum
             esset
             haec
             neminem
             ex
             lectione
             ,
             quae
             interdum
             〈…〉
             ad
             infideles
             solet
             ,
             sed
             ex
             .
             Apostolorum
             traditione
             didicisse
             .
             
               Ruffinus
               in
               Symbol
               .
            
          
           
             d
             Tetul
             de
             Prascrip
             .
             c.
             12
             ,
             13
             ,
             14
             ,
             21.
             
             De
             Virgin.
             V●l.
             c.
             1.
             
             Adv●s
             .
             Pra●●am
             .
             c.
             2.
             
             August
             .
             Som.
             59.
             186.
             213.
             215.
             
             Retract
             .
             l.
             2.
             c.
             3.
             
             En●i●i●
             .
             de
             Fide
             ,
             n.
             15.
             
             De
             Symbol
             .
             ad
             Ca●●c●
             .
             R●ffin
             .
             in
             ●●oem
             .
          
           
             c
             Theod.
             l.
             5.
             c.
             9.
             
          
           
             d
             Cyrill
             .
             〈◊〉
             .
             11.
             
          
           
             e
             Theodo
             .
             l.
             1.
             c.
             12.
             
          
           
             f
             Cassian
             de
             〈◊〉
             .
             l.
             6.
             c.
             3
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             g
             Hi●●on
             ad
             Pammach
             
          
           
             h
             Ruffin
             in
             Symbol
             .
             p.
             191.
             
             V.
             Vsser
             .
             de
             Symb.
             p.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             i
             Epiph.
             〈◊〉
             Haeres
             .
             72.
             
          
           
             k
             Cyrill
             .
             Catech.
             18.
             
          
           
             l
             August
             .
             de
             Symb.
             l.
             1.
             
             Petr.
             Chrysol
             ,
             Serm.
             57
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             m
             Epiph
             Ancor
             at
             
          
           
             n
             Augustin●
             de
             Fide
             &
             Symbolo
             .
             Et
             de
             Symbolo
             Serm.
             243.
             
          
           
             o
             De
             Symbolo
             ad
             Catech.
             c.
             1.
             
          
           
             Deut.
             9.
             10.
             10.
             4.
             
          
           
             2
             Kings
             22.
             8.
             23.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             John
             5.
             39.
             
          
           
             46.
             
          
           
             47.
             
          
           
             Matt.
             15.
             3.
             9.
             
          
           
             Heb.
             11.
             1.
             
          
           
             Act.
             15.
             9.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             5.
             6.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             5.
             4.
             
          
           
             Luk.
             6.
             46.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             18.
             
          
           
             Tit.
             2.
             14.
             
          
           
             2
             Tim.
             2.
             19.
             
          
           
             Tit.
             2.
             12.
             
          
           
             13.