A53726:130
The reason of faith, or, An answer unto that enquiry, wherefore we believe the…
The reason of faith, or, An answer unto that enquiry, wherefore we believe the scripture to be the word of God with the causes and nature of that faith wherewith we do so : wherein the grounds whereon the Holy Scripture is believed to be the word of God with faith divine and supernatural, are declared and vindicated / by John Owen ...
London: printed for Nathaniel Ponder, 1677
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.
And this the Scripture is express in beyond all possibility of Contradiction. Neither is it that I know of, by any as yet in express terms denied. For indeed that all which is properly called Faith with respect unto divine Revelation, and is accepted with God as such, is the Work of the Spirit of God in us, or is bestowed on us by him, cannot be questioned by any who own the Gospel. I have also proved it elsewhere so fully and largely as that I shall give it at present no other Confirmation, but what will necessarily fall in with the Description of the Nature of that Faith whereby we do believe, and the Way or Manner of its being wrought in us.
And this the Scripture is express in beyond all possibility of Contradiction. Neither is it that I know of, by any as yet in express terms denied. For indeed that all which is properly called Faith with respect unto divine Revelation, and is acceptted with God as such, is the Work of the Spirit of God in us, or is bestowed on us by him, cannot be questioned by any who own the Gospel. I have also proved it elsewhere so fully and largly as that I shall give it at present no other Confirmation, but what will necessarily fall in with the Description of the Nature of that Faith whereby we do believe, and the Way or Manner of its being wrought in us.
The Work of the Holy Ghost unto this purpose consists in the saving Illumination of the Mind, and the Effect of it is a supernatural Light, whereby the Mind is renewed, see Rom. 12. 1. Ephes. 1. 18, 19. chap. 3. 16, 17, 18, 19. It is called an Heart to understand, Eyes to see, Ears to hear, Deut. 29. 4. The opening of the Eyes of our Vunderstanding, Ephes. 1. 18. The giving of an Understanding, 1 John 5. 20. Hereby we are enabled to discern the Evidences of the divine Original and Authority of the Scripture that are in it self, as well as assent unto the Truth contained in it; and without it we cannot do so. For the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can be know them because they are spiritually discerned,