(1.) The disposition of our salvation we know not through any other persons, than those by whom the Gospel has come to us: which then, indeed, they themselves orally preached; but which afterward, according to the will of God, they traditionally handed down to us IN THE WRITTEN WORD, as the future basis and column of our faith. {34} (2.) When the Gnostics are confuted from SCRIPTURE, their answer is: that, _By those who are ignorant of_ UNWRITTEN TRADITION, _truth cannot be discovered from_ THE WRITTEN WORD; _for truth was __delivered_, _not_ (merely) _through letters_, _but through the living voice_. {35a} 2. Let us next hear Tertullian in the second and third centuries. As for Hermogenes, let his shop produce THE WRITTEN WORD. If he be unable to produce THE WRITTEN WORD in substantiation of his tenets; let him dread that scriptural _Woe_, which is destined to those who either add to it or detract from it. {35b} 3. Let us next hear Hippolytus in the third century. There is one God, whom we know from no other authority, than THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.—Whatsoever matters, then, THE DIVINE SCRIPTURES declare; these let us learn: and, whatsoever matters they teach; these let us recognise:—not according to our own humour or according to our own mind, neither with any wresting of the things delivered from God; but, even as he himself wished THROUGH THE HOLY SCRIPTURES to shew us, thus let us learn. {35c} 4. Let us next hear Cyprian in the third century. Whence is that pretended TRADITION? Does it descend from the authority of the Lord and the Gospels: or does it come down from the mandates and letters of the Apostles? God testifies, that those things are to be done, which are WRITTEN.—If, then, any such precept can be found, EITHER IN THE GOSPEL OR IN THE EPISTLES AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:—let this divine and holy (written) tradition be observed. {35d} 5. Let us next hear Cyril of Jerusalem in the fourth century. Respecting the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not even a tittle ought to be delivered without the authority of THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Neither ought any thing to be propounded, on the basis of mere credibility, or through the medium of plausible ratiocination. Neither yet repose the slightest confidence in the bare assertions of me your Catechist, unless you shall receive from THE HOLY SCRIPTURES foil demonstration of the matters propounded. For the security of our faith depends, not upon verbal trickery, but upon demonstration from THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. {36a} 6. Let us next hear the great Athanasius in the fourth century. (1.) The holy and divinely inspired SCRIPTURES are sufficient for the declaration of the truth. {36b} (2.) Let a person solely learn the matters, which are set forth in THE SCRIPTURES: for the demonstrations, contained in them, are, in order to the settling of this point, quite sufficient and complete. {36c}