Theological Theses · §231 · Louis Le Blanc de Beaulieu

Many Roman traditions directly conflict Scripture — cup, images, Mass sacrifice

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Most Roman traditions are not only beside Scripture (already a kind of conflict as unlawful additions) but often fight Scripture directly.

Example — communion in one kind: Rome says it is lawful and expedient to give the Eucharist under bread alone; yet Christ instituting the sacrament said of the cup, Drink from this, all of you (Matthew 26:27).

Example — images: the second commandment forbids religious worship of any image, and Scripture often forbids fashioning a likeness of God; Rome teaches placing and religiously venerating images of God, angels, and the dead in churches.

Example — the Mass: Rome holds Christ is offered daily as a true and proper sacrifice though He suffers nothing there; Hebrews teaches Christ's offering is once for all and He does not offer Himself repeatedly, because He cannot suffer repeatedly (Hebrews 9:25-28; 10:10-14).

Therefore Rome's supposedly Apostolic and divine traditions are not God's word or a certain faith-rule: God's word cannot contradict itself, and what contradicts undisputed Scripture must not be held as God's word.

Latin

XXXI. Adde quod de plerisque Pontificiorum traditionibus probare facile est illas non tantum esse praeter Scripturam, & Scripturae additas, quod ipsum aliquatenus Scripturae contrariatur, sed etiam directe cum Scriptura pugnare. Nam, verbi causa, juxta Ecclesiae Romanae traditionem, & licet, & expedit Eucharistiae sacramentum sub sola specie panis fidelibus administrare. Et tamen Christus in Evangelio hoc sacramentum instituens expresse dixit de calice, Bibite ex hoc omnes. Similiter Deus in secundo Decalogi praecepto vetat ullam imaginem religiose coli. Et multis in locis speciatim prohibet, ne quis aliquam Dei similitudinem effingere praesumat. Sed traditio Ecclesiae Romanae docet licitum & utile esse Dei & Angelorum, hominumque morte functorum imagines in templis collocare, & coram iis procumbere, illasque venerari & religiosis ritibus colere. Denique eadem traditio perhibet Christum in Missa quotidie offerri in verum & proprie dictum sacrificium, quamvis in ea nihil patiatur. Epistola vero Pauli ad Hebraeos praedicat unicam tantum esse Christi oblationem, & Christum sese saepius non offerre, quia pati saepius non potest. Unde manifestum redditur traditiones quas Ecclesia Romana ut Apostolicas & divinas commendat non esse Dei verbum & certam fidei regulam. Nam verbum Dei sibi ipsi contrarium esse non potest. Adeoque quod est contrarium Scripturae, quae sine controversia ab omnibus Christianis ut Dei verbum suscipitur, Dei verbum haberi non debet.

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