6. Though we blame this in papists, yet we reject not all tra- ditions : —
134 THE THIRTEENTH SERMON. [2 TlIES. II. 1.5.
[1.] Becfiupo scripture itself is n tradition, as we ])roved before, and is conveyed to ns by tlie most credible means, which we have no rea.sou to doubt of. The scriptures of the Old Testament were preserved by the Jews, ' to whom were committed the oracles of God,' Rom. iii. 2. Protestants received all the books which they admitted into their canon. And for the books of the New Testament, the Chiistian church hath received them as the writinfi;s of those whose names they bear. And by the constant universal tradition of the church they are transmitted to us ; and we have no more reason to doubt of them than we do of statutes and laws made by kin<^s and parliaments who lived long be- fore we had a being. Yea ; we may be much more confident, as the matter is of greater weight and consequence, and these writings have the signature and stamp of God's Spirit on them, and have been ])lessed by God to the converting and sanctifying of many souls ; and have been delivered down to us by a succession of believers unto this very day. And by them Christianity hath been preserved in the world, notwithstanding the wickedness of it, and hath held up head against all the encounters of time. The persecutions of adverse powers have not suppressed it, nor the disputes of enemies silenced the pro- fession of it ; but still from age to age God's truth is received and transmitted to posterity.
[2] Because the truth of Christianity depending upon matter of fact, chiefly Christ's rising from the dead, it can only be proved by a testimony which, in so extraordinary a case, must be made valuable, and authorised to the world by the miracles accompanying it. Now the notice of these things is brought to us by tradition, which, being unquestionable, giveth us as good ground of faith as it did to them that lived in the apostles' time, and heard their doctrine and saw their miracles. God's wonderful works were never intended for the benefit of that age only in which they were done, but for the benefit also of those that should hear of them l)y any credible means what- soever, Ps. cxlv. 4 ; Joel i. 3 ; Ps. Ixxviii. 3-7 : these things were told them ' that they might set their hope in God,' &c.
[3.] Because there are some doctrines drawn by just consequence from scripture, but are the more confirmed to us when they are backed with constant church usage and practice ; as baj)tism of infants, Lord's-day, singing of psjilms in our public worship, <fec.
[4.] Because there ai-e certain words which are not found in scrip- ture indeed, yet agi-ecnble thereto, and are very useful to discover the frauds of heretics; as Trinity, divine ])rovidence, consubstantial, proces- sion of the Holy Ghost, satisfaction, <fec.
[.').] We reject not all church history, or the records of ancient writers concerning the providences of (iod in their days in owning the gospel, which make much for our instruction in manners, and help to encourage us to ])ut our trust in God.
[6.] There are certain usages and innocent customs or circum- stances, common to sacred and other actions, which we despise not, but acknowledge and receive as far as their own variable nature and condition requiieth ; not rejecting them, because anciently practised ; nor regarding them, when the general law of edification requiretli the omission of them. But that which we detest is, that the traditions of
2 TilES. II. IG, 17.J THE FOURTEENTH SERMON. 135
men sliould be made equal in dignity and authority with the express revelation of God ; yea, that manifest corruptions and usurpations, — as makin<^ Kome the mistress of other churches, and superinducing the Pope as the head of the universal visible church, and the vicar of Christ, without his leave and ai)pointment, and such like other })oints, — shoukl be obtruded upon the world as apostolical traditions, and to be received with like relii^nous reverence as we do articles of faith set down in scripture. This is that we cannot sufficiently abhor, as apparently false, and destructive to Christianity.
SERMON XIV.
Noiu our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope, throufih grace, comfort your heai'ts, and stablish you m every good word and work— 2 Thes. II. 16, 17.
The apostle — 1. Giveth thanks for their election and vocation, vers. 13, 14.
2. Exhorteth them to stick fast to the truths delivered by epistles, or word of mouth, ver. 15.
3. Prayeth for them, in the words now read. So that is the third means of confirming their faith in the truth of the gospel ; prayer to God for them. Now in a prayer all things are plain ; we must put off our shoes when we draw nigh to God, appear before the Lord with naked and bare feet. Therefore here nothing of difficulty will occur ; our prayers, the more simply and plainly they are expressed, the more sincere they are.
In this prayer observe : —
I. The persons to whom this prayer is addressed : noiu oitr Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father.