§3Et quamdiu per hanc lineam serram reciprocabin(??), habendes observationem inveteratam, quae praeveniendo statum fecit? Hanc si nulla scriptura determinavit, certe consuetudo corroboravit, quae sine dubio de traditione manavit.
And how long shall we saw back and forth along this line, having an ancient observation which, by anticipating, has established its position? If no Scripture has determined this, custom has certainly strengthened it, which without doubt flowed from tradition.
Quomodo enim usurpari quid potest, si traditum prius non est? Etiam in traditionis obtentu exigenda est, inquis, auctoritas scripta.
For how can anything be used, if it has not been handed down first? "Even in the plea of tradition, written authority is to be demanded," you say.
Ergo quaeramus an et traditio nisi scripta non debeat recipi.
Therefore let us inquire whether even tradition ought not to be received unless it is written.
Plane negabimus recipiendam, si nulla exempla pra(??)iudicent aliarum observationum, quas sine ullius scripturae instrumento solius traditionis titulo et exinde consuetudinis patrocinio vi(??)dicamus.
Clearly we shall deny that it should be received, if no precedents of other observations prejudge the case, which we maintain without the instrument of any Scripture, by the title of tradition alone, and thence by the patronage of custom.
Demque ut a baptismate ingrediar, aquam adituri ibidem, sed et aliquanto prius in ecclesia sub antistitis manu, contestamur nos renuntiare diabolo et pompae et angelis eius.
Finally, to begin with baptism, when we are about to enter the water, on that very spot, but also somewhat earlier in the church under the hand of the bishop, we solemnly declare that we renounce the devil and his pomp and his angels.
Dehinc ter mergitamur amplius aliquid respondentes quam dominus in evangelio determinavit, Inde suscepti lactis et mellis concordiam praegustamus, exque ea die lavaero quotidiano per totam hebdomadem abstinemus.
Thereafter we are immersed three times, answering somewhat more than the Lord has defined in the gospel. Having been received therefrom, we taste beforehand the concord of milk and honey, and from that day we abstain from the daily bath for a whole week.
Eucharistiae sacramentum et in tempore victus et omnibus mandatum a domino etiam antelucanis coetibus, nec de aliorum manu quam praesidentium sumimus.
The sacrament of the Eucharist, commanded by the Lord both at the time of food and to all, we receive even in assemblies before dawn, and from the hand of none other than those who preside.
Oblationes pro defunctis, pro nataliciis annua die facimus.
We make offerings for the deceased, and for the birthdays on an annual day.
Die dominico ieiunium nefas ducimus vel de geniculis adorare Eadem immunitate a die Paschae in Pentecosten usque gaudemus.
On the Lord's day we deem it a transgression to fast or to worship on our knees. We enjoy the same immunity from the day of Easter even unto Pentecost.
Calicis aut panis etiam nostri aliquid deeuti in terram anxie patimur.
We suffer with anxiety any part of our cup or even of our bread to be cast to the ground.
Ad omnem progressum atque promotum, ad omnem aditum et exitum, ad vestitum et calciatum, ad lavacra, ad mensas, ad lumina, ad cubilia, ad sedilia, quacumque nos conversatio exercet, frontem signaculo terimus.
At every forward step and movement, at every entry and exit, at clothing and putting on shoes, at baths, at tables, at lights, at beds, at seats, whatever conversation occupies us, we wear away our forehead with the sign.
§4Harum et aliarum eiusmodi disciplinarum si legem expostules scripturarum, nullam leges.
If you demand a law of the Scriptures for these and other such disciplines, you will read none.
Traditio tibi praetendetur auctrix, consuetudo confirmatrix, et fides observatrix.
Tradition will be held out to you as the author, custom as the strengthener, and faith as the observer.
Rationem traditioni et consuetudini et fidei patrocinaturam aut ipse perspicies, aut ab aliquo qui perspexerit disces.
You will either perceive yourself, or learn from someone who has perceived, the reason which will patronize tradition, custom, and faith.
Interim nonaullam esse (??) cui debeatur obsequium.
Meanwhile, you will believe that there is some reason to which obedience is due.
Adicio unum ad(??) enempl(??), quatinus et de veteribus docere conveniet.
I add one more example, in so far as it is also fitting to teach from ancient things.
Apud Iudaees (??) sollemne est feminis eorum velamen capitis, ut inde noscantur.
Among the Jews it is a solemn custom for their women to have a veil on their head, so that they may be recognized by it.
Quaero legem.
I look for the law.
Apostolum differo.
I set aside the apostle for the moment.
Si Rebecca conspecto procul sponso velamen invasit, privatus pudor legem facere non potuit, aut causae suae fecerit.
If Rebecca, when her bridegroom was seen from afar, snatched her veil, private modesty could not have made a law, or she did it for her own particular case.
Tegantur virgines solae, et hoc nuptum venientes, nec antequam cognoverint sponsos.
Let virgins alone be covered, and that when coming to be married, and not before they have known their bridegrooms.
Si et Susanna in iudicio revelata argumentum velandi praestat, possum dicere; et hic velamen arbitrii fuit.
If Susanna also, being unveiled in her trial, furnishes an argument for veiling, I can say: here too the veil was a matter of choice.
Rea venerat, erubescens de infamia sua, merito abscondens decorem, vel quia timens iam placere.
She had come as an accused person, blushing at her infamy, deservedly hiding her beauty, or because she was afraid of pleasing now.
Ceterum in stadio mariti non putem velatam deambulasse quae placuit.
Otherwise, in her husband's walking-place, I should not think that she who pleased him walked about veiled.
Fuerit nunc velata semper.
Let her then have been veiled always.
In ipsa quoque legem habitus requiro, vel in quacunque alia.
In her case also I require a law of dress, or in any other case whatever.
Si legem nusquam reperio, sequitur ut traditio consuetudini morem hunc dederit, habiturum quandoque apostoli auctoritatem ex interpretatione rationis.
If I find no law anywhere, it follows that tradition has given this practice to custom, which was to have in time the apostle's authority from the interpretation of reason.
His igitur exemplis renuntiatum erit posse etiam non scriptam traditionem in observatione defendi, confirmatam consuetudine, idonea teste probatae tunc traditionis ex perseverantia observationis.
By these examples, therefore, it will have been declared that even an unwritten tradition can be defended in its observation, being strengthened by custom, a suitable witness of the then approved tradition from the perseverance of the observation.
Consuetudo autem etiam in civilibus rebus pro lege suscipitur, cum deficit lex, nec differ, scriptura. an ratione consistat, quando et legem ratio commendet.
Moreover, custom is accepted as law even in civil affairs when law is wanting, nor does it matter whether it consists in writing or in reason, since reason commends even law.
Porro si ratione lex constat, lex erit omne iam quod ratione constiterit a quocunque productum.
Furthermore, if law consists in reason, everything that shall consist in reason will already be law, by whomsoever produced.
An non putas omni fideti licere concipere et constituere, dumtaxat quod deo congruat, quod disciptinae conducat, quod saluti proficiat, dicente domino, Cur autem non et a vobis ipsis quod iustum iudicatis? Et non de iudicio tantum, sed de omni sententia rerum examinandarum dicit et apostolus, Si quid ignoratis, deus vobis revelabit, solitus et ipse consilium subministrare, cum praeceptam domini non habebat, et dicere a semetipso, spiritum dei habens deductorem omnis veritatis.
Or do you not think that it is permitted to every believer to conceive and to establish, provided only that it is agreeable to God, conducive to discipline, and profitable to salvation, since the Lord says, "But why do you not also of yourselves judge what is right?" And not of judgment only, but of every opinion on matters to be examined, the apostle also says, "If you are ignorant of anything, God will reveal it to you," being accustomed himself also to afford counsel when he had no commandment of the Lord, and to speak of himself, having the Spirit of God as the guider of all truth.
(??)taque consilium eius divim iam praecepti instar obtinuit de rationis divinae patrocinio.
Therefore his counsel obtained the likeness of a divine commandment from the patronage of divine reason.
Hanc nune expostula salvo traditionis respectu, quocumque traditore censetur, nec auctorem respicias, sed auctoritatem, et inprimis consuetudinis ipsius, quae propterea colenda est, ne non sit rationis interpres, ut, si et hanc deus dederit, tunc discas non an observanda sit tibi consuetudo, sed cur.
Demand this now, with respect for tradition preserved, by whatever hander-down it is reckoned; and do not look at the author, but at the authority, and especially of the custom itself, which for this reason is to be cherished, lest it should not be the interpreter of reason, so that, if God should grant this too, you may then learn, not whether custom is to be observed by you, but why.