A53737:186
A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux
A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux wherein the principles of the Roman church, as to moderation, unity and truth are examined and sundry important controversies concerning the rule of faith, papal supremacy, the mass, images, &c. discussed / by John Owen.
London: printed for Ph. Stephens, 1664
A Vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat Lux. › Chapter 7
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.
This is that which I told you before, you must either acknowledge our Principle in this matter to be firm and certain, or open a door to Atheism, and the Contempt of Christian Religion; seeing you are not able to substitute and thing in the room thereof, that is able to bear the weight that must be laid upon it, if we believe. For how should you do so; shall man be like unto God, or equal unto him? The Testimony we rest in is Divine, fortified from all Objections by the strongest humane Testimony possible, namely Catholic Tradition. That which you would supply us with, is merely Humane and no more. And 4. your Importunity in opposing this Principle, is so much the more marvellous unto us, because therein you openly oppose your selves to express Testimonies ⟨p. 141⟩of Scripture and the full Suffrage of the Ancient Church. I wish you would a little weigh what is affirmed, 2 Pet. 1. 19, 20. Psal. 119. 152. Joh. 5. 34, 35 36, 39. 1 Thess. 2. 13. Act. 17. 11. 1 Joh. 5. 6, 10. 1 Joh. 2. 20. Heb. 11. 1 Tim. 1. 15. Act. 26. 22. And will you take with you the consent of the Ancients? Clemens Alexand. Strom. 7. speaks fully to our purpose, as he doth also lib. 4. where he plainly affirms that the Church proved the Scripture by its self• and other things, as the Unity of the Deity, by the Scripture. But his own words in the former place are worth the recital, [Greek or Hebrew], saith he, [Greek or Hebrew]. For the beginning of Faith, or Principle of what we teach, we have the Lord; who in sundry manners, and by divers parts, by the Prophets, Gospel, and holy Apostles, leads us to knowledge. And if any one suppose, that a Principle stands in need of another (to prove it) he destroys the nature of a Principle; or, it is no longer preserved a Principle. This is that we say: The Scripture, the Old and New Testament, is the Principle of our Faith. This is proved by its self, to be of the Lord who is its Author; and if we cause it to depend on any thing else, it is no longer the Principle of our Faith and Profession. And a little after, where he hath showed that a Principle ought not to be disputed, nor to be the [Greek or Hebrew] of any debate, he adds, [Greek or Hebrew]: