Statements of the fathers.
Statements of the fathers.
§ 400. Here we can cite those statements from the fathers: (1) That bear witness regarding the perfection of Scripture, for the necessity of traditions cannot stand with that perfection.
(2) In which they testify that the apostles secretly taught nothing that they hid from some people. Irenaeus, bk. 3, c. 14, p. 199: “Simply and envying no one, the apostles taught to everyone what they had learned from the Lord.” This he concludes from the words of the apostle: “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Chapter 20, p. 200: “The teaching of the apostles is clear and firm, and it takes nothing away. They did not teach one thing secretly and something else openly, for this is the endeavor of counterfeiters and corrupt seducers and hypocrites.” ** Book 4, c. 36: “No other traditions that are vaunted under the title or name of the apostles are to be accepted than those that are included in Scripture and agree with it.” Cyprian, Epistle 10 ad Pomp.: “Where does that tradition of yours come from? Does it come from the authority of the Lord? For God bears witness that we must do those things that are written.” Augustine, De bapt. contra Donatist., bk. 5, c. 26: “What Cyprian admonishes—that we go back to the fountain, that is, to the tradition of the apostles, and from it direct a canal into our times—is best and should undoubtedly be done.” ** Tertullian, De praescript., c. 25, p. 208: “It is the same madness when they admit that the apostles were ignorant of nothing and that they did not preach different things among themselves, but that they did not want to reveal all things to everyone, for they entrusted some things openly to everyone and some things secretly to a few.” This he refutes there in great detail.
(3) In which they testify that it is a characteristic of heretics to leave Scripture and seek refuge in traditions.
(4) In which they list traditions of the sort that the Papists do not observe today.