A53726:143
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.
1. Since the finishing of the Canon of the Scripture, the Church is not under that Conduct, as to stand in need of such new extraordinary Revelations. It doth indeed live upon the internal gracious Operations of the Spirit, enabling us to understand, believe, and obey the perfect complete Revelation of the Will of God already made, but new Revelations it hath neither need nor use of. And to suppose them, or a necessity of them, not only overthrows the Perfection of the Scripture, but also leaveth us uncertain whether we know all that is to be believed in order unto Salvation, or our whole Duty, or when we may do so. For it would be our Duty to live all our days in expectation of new Revelations, wherewith neither Peace, Assurance, nor Consolation are consistent.
1. Since the finishing of the Canon of the Scripture, the Church is not under that Conduct, as to stand in need of such new extraordinary Revelations. It doth indeed live upon the internal gracious Operations of the Spirit, enabling us to understand, believe, and obey the perfect compleat Revelation of the Will of God already made, but new Revelations it hath neither need nor use of. And to suppose them, or a necessity of them, not only overthrows the Perfection of the Scripture, but also leaveth us uncertain whether we know all that is to be believed in order unto Salvation, or our whole Duty, or when we may do so. For it would be our Duty to live all our days in expectation of new Revelations, wherewith neither Peace, Assurance, nor Consolation are consistent.
2. Those who are to believe, will not be able on this Supposition to secure themselves from Delusion, and from being imposed on by the Deceits of Satan. For this new Revelation is to be tried by the Scripture, or it is not. If it be to be tried and examined by the Scripture, then doth it acknowledge a superior Rule, Judgment and Testimony, and so cannot be that which our Faith is ultimately resolved into. If it be exempted from that Rule of trying the Spirits, then (1.) It must produce the Grant of this Exemption, seeing the Rule is extended generally unto all Things and Doctrines that relate unto Faith or Obedience. (2.) It must declare what are the Grounds and Evidences of its ⟨p. 97⟩