A53737:191
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.
It may be that this is a reason of our firm adhering unto it, that the Truth in it is more solid, though not more clear (than in any other way of proposal) and all truth hath a power to incline unto belief; the greater the Truth the greater its power, and the greatest Truth must have the greatest power so to incline us. But, why then do not all believe the Gospel? I answer, because all are not drawn of God. There is then in the holy Scripture somewhat more sublime than Nature, that is, the Divine Inspiration from whence it is, and the Divine Irradiation wherewith it is accompanied. This is the Principle of Protestants. The Sacred Scripture is credible as proceeding from the first Verity: this it manifests by its own Light and Efficacy; and we are enabled to believe it by the effectual working of the Spirit of God in our hearts. Whence our Saviour asks the Jews, Joh 5. If you believe not the writing of Moses, how will you believe my words. They who will not believe the written Word of the Scripture, upon the Authority that it hath in its self, would not believe if Christ should personally speak unto them. So saith Theophylact on the place; [Greek or Hebrew]?
It may be that this is a reason of our firm adhering unto it, that the Truth in it is more solid, though not more clear (than in any other way of proposall) and all truth hath a power to incline unto belief; the greater the Truth the greater its power, and the greatest Truth must have the greatest power so to incline us. But, why then do not all believe the Gospell? I answer, because all are not drawn of God. There is then in the holy Scripture somewhat more sublime than Nature, that is, the Divine Inspiration from whence it is, and the Divine Irradiation wherewith it is accompanied. This is the Principle of Protestants. The Sacred Scripture is credible as proceeding from the first Verity: this it manifests by its own Light and Efficacy; and we are enabled to believe it by the effectuall working of the Spirit of God in our hearts. Whence our Saviour asks the Jews, Joh 5. If you believe not the writing of Moses, how will you believe my words. They who will not believe the written Word of the Scripture, upon the Authority that it hath in its self, would not believe if Christ should personally speak unto them. So saith Theophylact on the place; 〈non-Latin alphabet〉?