Simon Patrick

“And if they urge you farther, and say, that the very credit of the Scripture depends upon Tradition: tell them that it is a speech not to be endured, if they mean thereby that it gives the Scripture its authority (and if they mean less, we are agreed, as hath been al∣ready said) for it is to say, that Man gives authority to God's Word. Whereas in truth, the holy Scriptures are not therefore of Divine Authority; because the Church hath delivered them so to be: but the Church hath delivered them so to be, because it knew them to be of such authority. And if the Church should have conceived, or taught otherwise, of these Writings, than as of the undoubted Oracles of God; she would have erred damnably, in such a Tradition.”
― Simon Patrick, A Discourse about Tradition: Shewing what is Meant by It, and what Tradition is to be Received ... 1685 [Leather Bound]