Theological Theses · §230 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Not only Scripture-contrary traditions — Christ damns human precepts as such

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Rome says Jewish traditions contradicted Scripture, but theirs do not.

Many Jewish traditions were not evil or directly anti-Scripture by nature — only unlawful as additions, since divine law forbids adding to itself.

Hand-washing before meals looks harmless and not directly against Scripture — yet that is the very tradition Christ specially targets.

Calling it empty helps Rome nothing: their traditions are no less empty, and by mere human wisdom Jewish washings look no less wise than most Roman institutes.

Christ's verdict is broader: He damns them not only as empty or contrary, but in general as human commandments and doctrines — and that charge fits Rome's traditions equally.

Latin

XXX. Ad illud vero quod dicunt adversarii Judaeorum traditiones fuisse sacrae Scripturae contrarias, suas vero non item: observandum est multas Judaeorum traditiones non fuisse directe, & sua natura legi divinae contrarias, sed tantum quatenus erant legis additamenta, cum lex divina quicquam sibi addi prohibeat. Ita mos ille abluendi manus religione quadam ante cibi sumptionem ex se nihil mali habere videtur, nec quod sit directe Scripturae contrarium. Et tamen haec est illa ipsa traditio quam speciatim carpit Christus. Quod si dicant Pontificii saltem inanem esse, verum quidem illi dicent. At non minus quadrat in illorum traditiones. Nec enim minus inanes & vanae sunt. Quod si res ex humanae rationis judicio aestimetur, mos ille Judaeorum comperietur non minorem sapientiae speciem habere, quam Pontificiorum pleraque instituta. Sed Christus non damnat simpliciter Judaeorum traditiones, vel quia inanes erant, vel quia erant Scripturae contrariae; sed praeterea in genere, quoniam erant mandata & doctrinae hominum. Quod de traditionibus Pontificiorum non minus verum est.

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