Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/114

 106 ?RADmO. [BooE I. equinox, boast for that purpose the tradition of St. John and St. Philip; and the rest of the church hold by apostolic tradition that it ought to be celebrated on the Sunday of our Lord's resurrection. The Greeks, Armenians, Nestorians, Abyssinians, Latins, &c., have their contrary traditions; for tradition is ever changing. One sort hold for apostolic tradition three immersions in baptism, and the use of unleavened bread in the eucharist; while others reject these. One believes a purgatory by tradition, while others do not. Some, according to tradition, cir- cumcise their children, while others reject it as a relic of Judaism. Some, by tradition, fast on Saturday; others do not. Some sacrifice lambs; others detest the custom.  �here are many ancient traditions, formerly authorized by public use, which time has so abolished, that there remains not a vesti of them among the Latins themselves. O7 this description are the fol- lowing, viz.: not baptizing except in urgent cases, only at Easter and Whitsuntide; giving milk and honeyto the baptized; administering the eucharist to little children ai%r baptism; praying standing on Sunday, and from Easter till Whitsuntide; celebrating the communion on the evening of fast days; communicating every Sunday; every one's carrying home with him a piece of the bread of the communion; dis- tributing the cup to all the faithi'd; receiving the communion standing; mutually kissing one another before the commatalon; and _m_My others which the Lagns have abrogated. 6. The Church of Rome has invented many new traditions. How many Latin traditions are there which the Church of Rome now autho- rizes, of which we cannot find a trace in the primitive church, and which are therefore new, and consequently false and not apostolical Such are worshipping of images; invocation of saints; transubstan- tiation; sacrifice of the mass; adoration of the host; the use of an unknown tongue, altars, tapers, jubilees, pilgrimages, &c., &c.; aari- cular confession; the sovereign authority of the Church of Rome over all others; and many others of which the primitive church knew nothing; from whence it follows that they are not apostolical. There is nothing, therefore, more improper to be the rule of faith tlum traditions which are not established on any certain foundation; which serve as a pretence to heretics; which are continually chsng- ing and often contrary the one to the other; and which 'may be em- ployed to establish the greatest absurdities. 7. Traditions present many more difficulties in point of cleaezs, to say nothing of cerny, than the Scriptures do. All the intricate perplexity which the Romanists pretend to 6nd in the way of Scripture falls backs again with increasing force on the way of tradition. It is necessary to discern a true tradition from a false one; it is necessary to consult the originals; it is necessary to know the diCerent ways of reading passages; it is necessary to see divers interpretations of both sides; and a variety of other things too numerous to notice here.t Besides, we may demand, whether they would not give the Scrip- tures the honour of reckoning it for one 's of tradition, since it con- rains the first sermons of the Lord and aposdes, and many other things from which much light may be derived for the decision of the t Consult Chude on the Refomtion, vol i, p.
 * 8es Claude, vol i., p. 816.

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