A53677:72
The church of Rome, no safe guide, or, Reasons to prove that no rational…
The church of Rome, no safe guide, or, Reasons to prove that no rational man, who takes due care of his own eternal salvation, can give himself up unto the conduct of that church in matters of religion by John Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1679
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The present Question is, Whether of these two Guides such Persons ought to betake themselves unto? I am on the ⟨p. 28⟩consideration of one directive Reason only, others shall be afterwards spoken unto. And this is, that the Scripture, which all acknowledge to be the Word of God, to speak in his Name, expressly supposing this case, and all the circumstances of it before laid down, doth thereon, frequently direct and command us, to make use of this latter Guide, if we desire to be saved; and doth no where, no not once, on a supposition of this case, send us unto the Guidance of the Church or Pope of Rome, or any other Church whatever. Wherefore for men to suffer themselves to be inveigled, their souls to be perverted, and their Faith overthrown by a few captious Sophistical Reasonings of men of perverse minds, pursuing their own secular Interest; to turn aside from the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles, in so plain, evident and indisputable a case and Duty, is such a folly in it self, such an impiety against God, such a contempt of the Lord Christ, his Wisdom, Authority and Care, as must be eternally accounted for.
The present Question is, Whether of these two Guides such Persons ought to betake themselves unto? I am on the ⟨p. 28⟩consideration of one directive Reason only, others shall be afterwards spoken unto. And this is, that the Scripture, which all acknowledge to be the Word of God, to speak in his Name, expresly supposing this case, and all the circumstances of it before laid down, doth thereon, frequently direct and command us, to make use of this latter Guide, if we desire to be saved; and doth no where, no not once, on a supposition of this case, send us unto the Guidance of the Church or Pope of Rome, or any other Church whatever. Wherefore for men to suffer themselves to be inveagled, their souls to be perverted, and their Faith overthrown by a few captious Sophystical Reasonings of men of perverse minds, pursuing their own secular Interest; to turn aside from the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles, in so plain, evident and indisputable a case and Duty, is such a folly in it self, such an impiety against God, such a contempt of the Lord Christ, his Wisdom, Authority and Care, as must be eternally accounted for.