Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsDeuteronomy 4

You shall not add.

^[1] Moyses cannot mean, that no more should be written, nor commanded; for then the last chapter of this book, and the rest of the Bible should not have been written after his death; neither ought the Priests or Prophets to have commanded any thing not expressed in the law. And whereas Protestants say that all other Scriptures are included in the law, or pertain to the explication or performance thereof: we also answer that unwritten Traditions both in the old and new Testament are likewise implied, included, or pertain to the explication or performance of the law. For even as the written doctrine of the Prophets, yea and of Christ, and his Apostles, in general is contained in the law of Moyses, so also are certain fasts, feasts, rites, ceremonies and other traditions proved and confirmed by general speeches and axioms written in holy Scriptures, as by our Saviour's words to his Apostles Luc. 10. He that heareth you, heareth me. S. Paul's to other Christians (1. Cor. 10.) other things when I come I will dispose (2. Thess 2.) Hold the traditions which you have learned: and the like. Whereupon S. Augustin Li. 1. cont. Crescon. c. 33. giveth this rule, that albeit an evident example cannot be produced of holy Scripture, yet the truth of the same Scriptures is holden by us, when we do that pleaseth the whole Church, which the authority of Scriptures commendeth ^[2]. The same he teacheth Epist. 80. and in many other places. So do S. Epiphanius in compend. fidei Cathol. S. Hierom Dialog. cont. Lucifer. c. 4. S. Chrysost. ho. 4. in 1. Thessal. 4. S. Basil. de Spiritu Sancto, c. 39. S. Ireneus li. 3. c. 4.

• 1 As other Scriptures are included in the law, so also Traditions are contained in the Scriptures.
• 2 The Church, commanded by Scriptures, approveth Traditions.