Objeii. Ephefians,Chap. z: Vfilz,i.O, ftru&ion of it felfe , is fufficient for every particular: But though we, or an ingell from heavenpreach unta yowotherwife then that whichwee have preacheduntoyou, let him be accurfed, Gal. r. 8, 9. Betide that whichwe havepreached. infw. Preaching is either by word ofmouthand writing.What- foever he preached,the fubftance thereofwas written,whatfoever was tobe believed unto falvation. They object [Betide] ''I t is contrary. vinfw. Contrary is befide , but befide is not contrary. To preach otherwife,istopreach contrary. Becaufe precepts and doctrines, may be delivered if they be diverfe, and not contrary. As the Gofpell of Iohn and the Apocalyps, werewritten after the Epiftle to the Galati. ans, which are diverfe to it, though not contrary. All the Apoftles are alike in Commisfon,but doenot write. Thisfirft muftbe laid as a ground , That as it was their office to preachbyword of mouth , fo to the world by writing; they were not onelyGods cryers, but regiftersalto. Preach, Iam withyou to theend ofths world,Mat. z 8. zO. Andwhat way foever theyptiblifhed the Gofpell to the world, is here comman- ded: but they publifhedit by writing : The reafon, becaufe theApo- files cannot bee thought to have exceeded their Commiffion; yea more properlywriting then preaching; becaufe this is not with their fading voyce,but with the fubftance ofit written to the end of the world, and a divine inftinâ did lead toit, which prefuppofeth an ex- prefle commandement. Secondly, that they writ all thingsneëeffary to falvation, appeareth, a. From their office. 2. From the endofwritings. 3. From fcrip- ture. The abfolving of it did ceafe all extraordinary inftruments. They that preached nothing the fummewhereof was not in the Old, didmuch Idle preach thofe points of beliefe which are not in the Word: That which 'from the 6rft delivery was fufíicient, that toge- ther ismuchmore fufficient. This being granted, two maine con- clufions follow. r . One, that the fcriptures aloneby themfelves without anyo- ther word, are abundantly fufficient to falvation , whether weregard doctrines offaith or manners. For he that de- livers any doctrine out ofthem, and befide them, as need- faryrobe believed,is accurfed. z. The fecond is, that unwritten traditions, ifthey bee tendred tous,as a part ofGods word,and as neceffaryto falvation, they are abominations', becaufe they are notbuilt upon thisfoundation ofthe Prophets andApoflles. TheRoman Religionthenfalls to the ground: becaufe it is foun- ded on Traditionout of, and betides the written word. Theauthority ofman inmatter of doctrine and Religious obfer- vance, is not tobe refpeded, againft orbefide the word of God. Men ofeftimation have alwayes been offome regard, fo farre that their o- pinions have been entertained, becaufe they were theirs: this made the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=