A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

To this end hath the Lord Jesus given us his holy word, a perfect and sure Revelation of all that he would have us to believe or do in the worship of God. ⟨image 7⟩This he commands us diligently to attend unto, to study, search, and enquire after, that we may know his mind and do it. It is true in their enquiry into it, various apprehensions concerning the sense and meaning of sundry things revealed therein have befallen some men in all ages; and Origen gives this as one occasion of the differences that were in those days amongst Christians, [Greek or Hebrew]. Lib. 3. Con. Cel•. 1. When many were converted unto Christianity, some of them variously understanding the holy Scripture which they jointly believed, it came to pass that heresy ensued. For this was the whole rule of faith & unity in those days; the means for securing of us in them imposed on us of late by the Romanists, was then not heard of, not thought of in the world. But moreover to obviate all danger that might in this matter ensue from the manifold weakness of our minds in apprehending spiritual things, the Lord Jesus hath promised his holy spirit unto all them that believe in him, and ask it of him, to prevent their mistakes and miscarriages in the study of his word, and to lead them into all that truth, the knowledge whereof is necessary, that they may believe in him unto the end, and live unto him. And if they who diligently and conscientiously without prejudices, ⟨image 8⟩corrupt ends or designs in obedience to the command of Christ, shall enquire into the Scriptures to receive from thence the whole object of their faith and rule of their obedience, and who believing his promise shall pray for his Spirit, and wait to receive him in and by the means appointed for that end, may not be, and are not thereby secured from all such mistakes and errors as may disinterest them in the promises of the Gospel, I know not how we may be brought unto any certainty or assurance in the Truths of God, or the everlasting consolation of our own souls. Neither indeed is the nature of man capable of any further satisfaction in or about these things, unless God should work continual miracles, or give continually special revelations unto all individuals, which would utterly overthrow the whole nature of that faith and obedience which he requires at our hands.

To this end hath the Lord Jesus given us his holy word, a perfect and sure Revelation of all that he would have us to believe or do in the worship of God.