A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

Faith, that is wrought and begotten in us not by geometrical enforcements or demonstrations, but by the effectual operations of the Spirit. And both these Principles are excellently expressed by one amongst your selves, even Baptista Mantuanus. Lib. de Patientia, Cap. 32, 33. Saepenumerò, faith he, mecum cogitavi, Unde tam s•adibilis esset ista Scriptura, ut tam potenter insluat in animos auditorum; unde tantum habeat energiae, ut non adopinandum sed ad solidè credendum omnes inflectat. I have often thought with my self Whence the Scripture is so persuasive, whence it doth so powerfully influence the minds of the hearers; whence it hath so much efficacy, that it should incline and bow all men, not to think as probable, but solidly to believe, the things it proposeth. Non, saith he, est hoc imputandum rationum evidentiaequas non adducit, non artis industriae & verbis suavibus & ad persuadendum accommodatis quibus non utitur. It is not to be ascribed unto the evidence of Reasons, which it bringeth not, neither to the excellency of Art, sweet words, and accommodated unto per swasion, which it makes no use of. Sed vide an id in causa sit quod persuasi sumus eam à prima veritate fl•xisse; But see if this be not the Cause of it, that we are persuaded that it proceeds from the prime Verity. He proceeds, Sed unde sumus ita persuasi nisi ab ipsa, quasi ad ei credendum non sua ipsi•• trahat Authoritas. Sed unde quaeso hanc sibi Authoritatem vindicavit? Neque enim vidimus nos Deum concionantem, scribentem, docentem; tamen ac si vidissemus, credimus & tenemus à Spiritu Sancto fluxisse quod legimus: Forsitan fuerit haec ratio firmiter adharendi, quòd in ea veritas sit solidior quamvis non clarior, Habet enim omnis veritas vim inclinativam, & major ⟨p. 147⟩majorem, maxima maximam. Sed cur ergo omnes non credunt Evangelio? Respondeo quod non omnes trahuntur à Deo. And again, Inest ergo Scripturis Sacris nescio quid Natur â sublimius, idest inspiratio facta divinitus & divinae irradiation is influxus certus. But whence are we persuaded, that it is from the First Verity, but from it Self; Its own Authority draws us to believe it. But whence obtains it this Authority • we see not God preaching, writing, teaching; but yet, as if we had seen him, we believe and firmly hold that which we read to have come from the Holy Ghost.