A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

For answer whereunto, I shall first of all distinguish a twofold¹ certainty, even in reference to the mind of man, or in his conscience, (for I speak not heare de •ertitudine entis, but mentis) the one may be called [Greek or Hebrew], when the conscience is in tuto, may be secure; needeth not fear and be troubled. The ⟨p. 250⟩Graecians have used the word [Greek or Hebrew], when they were speaking² of giving security and assurance by safe conducts, or by pledges, or by sureties, or the like. The other is [Greek or Hebrew], a full persuasion, when the soul doth not only stir a right and safe course, and needeth not fear danger, but sail, before the wind, and with all it's sails full. So there is answerably a double uncertainty, the one may be called [Greek or Hebrew], when a man is in himself perplexed and difficulted, and not without cause, having no grounds of assurance; when a man doth doubt and hesitate concerning a conclusion, because he hath no reasons or arguments to prove it, when a man is in a wilderness where he can have no way, or shut up where he can have no safe escaping. The other is [Greek or Hebrew], which is a doubting that ariseth not from want of arguments, or from the inextricable difficulty of the grounds, but from a disease of the mind, which makes it suspend or retain it's assent, even when it hath sufficient grounds upon which it may be assured. Now 'tis the evidence of signs or marks of grace, which giveth that first kind of certainty, and removeth that first kind of uncertainty: But 'tis the testimony of the Spirit of the Lord, which giveth the second kind of certainty, and removeth the second kind of uncertainty. Take a simile two or three for illustration. The Scripture is known to be indeed the word of God, by the beams of divine authority which it hath in it self, and by certain distinguishing Characters, which do infallibly prove it to be the word of God, such as the heavenliness of the matter; the Majesty of the style, the irresistible power over the conscience; the general scope, to a base man, and to exalt God, nothing driven at but Gods glory and mans salvation;

For answere whereunto, I shall first of all distinguish a twofold