64 Of Conflancy in the Profeffion of the True Religion. Vol.I. be no wonder, if feveral of their Do&rines and Practices cannot be fo clearly made out by Scripture, or perhaps feem contrary to it, as it may be expounded by a private Spirit ; but not as Interpreted by the Tradition of the Church, which can onlygive the true Senfe of Scripture. And therefore they are to underftand, that feveral of thofe Doctrines and Pra&ices, which we obje& againft, are molt clearly proved by the Tradition of their Church, which is of equal Authority with Scripture. In this Obje&ion of theirs, which they defign for the Cover of all their Errors and Corruptions, there are feveral things dtftindly to be confidered, which I!hall do as briefly as I can. Firft, Whereas it is fuggefted, That we delude 'the People, by laying too much ftrefs upon the Scriptures, (which certainly we cannot well do, if it be the Word of God) it ought to be confidered, whether They do not delude and abufe them infinitely more, in keeping the Scriptures from them, and not fuf- fering them to fee That which they cannot deny to be at leaft a confiderable part of the Rule of Chriftian Doctrine and Practice. Doth it not by this dealing of theirs appear very fufpicious, that they are extreamly afraid that the People fhould examine their Doctrine and Practice by this Rule ? For what other Rea- fon can they have to conceal it from them ? . Secondly, Whereas theyaffirm, that Scripture alone is not the Rule ofChriftian Faith and Pra&ice, but that Scripture, and Oral Tradition preferved in the Church, 'and delivered down from hand to hand, make up the entire Rule; I would fain know whence they learn'd this new Doctrine of the Rule of Faith. I know that the Council ofTrent declares it for the Rule they intend to proceed up- on and make ufe of, for the Confirmation and Woof of their followingDetermi- tions and Decrees. But did any of the ancient Councils of the ChriftianChurch lay down this Rule, and proceed upon it ? Did not Conftantine the Emperor, at the opening of the Firft General Council, lay the Bible before them, as the only Rule, according to which they were to proceed ; and this with the Appro- bation ofall thofe Holy Fathers that were affetnbled in that Council? And did not following Councils proceed upon the fame Rule ? Do any of the ancient Fa- thers ever mention any Rule of Chriftian Faith and Pra&ice, betides the Holy Scriptures, and the ancient Creed ; which, becaufe it is an Abridgment of the neceffary Articles of Chriftian Faith contained in the Holy Scriptures, is by them frequently called the Rule ofFaith ? Do not the faine Fathers frequently and exprefly fay, That the Scriptures are a perfe&Rule, and that all things are plainly contained in them, which concern Faith and Life ; and that whatever cannot be proved by Teftimonyof Scripture, is to be rejected ? All this I am fure I can make good, by innumerable exprefs Teftitnonies of the ancient Fathers, which are well known to thofe that are verfed in them. Bywhat Authority then bath the Council of Trent fet up this newRule, unknown to the Chriftian Church for ì goo Years? and who gave them this Authority ? The plain Truth is, the necefiìty of it for the Defence of the Errors and Corruptions which they had embraced, and wore refolved not to part with, forced them to lengthen out the Rule ; the old Rule of the Holy Scriptures being too fhort for their purpofe. Thirdly, Whereas they pretend, that Holy Scripture, as expounded by a pri- vate Spirit, may not feem fo favourable to fame of their Do&rines and Practices -, yet, as interpreted by Tradition, which can only give the true Senfe of Scripture, it agrees very well with them : I fuppofe they mean, that whereas a private Spirit would beapt to underftand fume Texts of Scripture, as if People were to fearch and read the Scripture ; Tradition interprets thofe Texts in a quite other Senfe, that People are not to be permitted to read the Holy Scriptures. A private Spirit would be apt to underftand St. Paul's Difcourfe, in the tçth of the at to the Corinthians, to be againft celebrating Prayer and the Service ofGod in an unknown Tongue, as being contrary to Edification, and indeed to common Senfe :. For he fays, If one fhould come, and find them fpeaking and praying in an unknown Tongue, will they not fay, Teare mad? But now Tradition, which only knows how to give the true Senfe, can reconcile this Difcourfe of St. Paul very eafily with
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