A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

and a gracious saving spiritual perception of them, and assent unto them with faith Divine and Supernatural; and this we say is the especial work of the Holy Ghost in the hearts of the Elect. And I know not how many other exceptions you make to keep your selves from a right understanding of our intention in this Inference; but, as your self elsewhere learnedly observes, who so blind as he that will not see? I shall therefore once more, that we may proceed, declare unto you what it is that we intend in this Assertion. It is, namely; that the things which are revealed in the Scripture, to the end that by the belief of them, and obedience unto them, we may please God, are so proposed and declared, that a man, any man, free from prejudices and temptations; in and by the use of the means appointed him of God for that purpose, may come to the understanding (and that infallibly) of all that God would have him know or do in Religion; there being no defect or hinderance in the Scripture, or manner of its revealing things necessary, that should obstruct him therein. What are the means appointed of God for this purpose, we do not now enquire, but shall anon declare. What defect, blindness, or darkness, there is, or may be, in and upon the minds of men in their depraved lapsed Condition, what disadvantages they may be cast under by their prejudices, Traditions, negligences, sins, and profaneness, belongs not unto our present disquisition. That which we assert concerns merely the manner of the proposal of the Truths to be believed, ⟨p. 154⟩which are revealed in the Scripture; and this we say is such, as that there is no impossibility, no nor great difficulty, but that a man may come to the right understanding of them; not as to the comprehension of the things themselves, but the perception of the sense of the Propositions wherein they are expressed. And this Assertion of ours, is, as the former, grounded on the Scripture its self. See if you please, Deut. 30. 11. Psal. 1. 19. 9. and 119. 105. Prov. 6. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 3. 2 Pet. 19. And to deny it, is to pluck up all Religion by the roots, and to turn men loose unto Scepticism, Libertinism, and Atheism; and that with such an horrible reproach unto God himself, as that nothing more abominable can be invented.