A53737:210
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 8
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.
1. Your first Principle to this purpose is, That Peter was the Prince of the Apostles, and that in him the Lord Jesus founded a Monarchy in his Church. So pag. 360. you call him, the head and Prince of the whole Congregation. Now this we think no meet Principle for any one to begin withal, in asserting the foundation of Faith and Religion: Nor do we think that if it were meet so to be used, that it is any way subservient unto your design and purpose.
1. Your first Principle to this purpose is, That Peter was the Prince of the Apostles, and that in him the Lord Jesus founded a Monarchy in his Church. So pag. 360. you call him, the head and Prince of the whole Congregation. Now this wee think no meet Principle for any one to begin withall, in asserting the foundation of Faith and Religion: Nor do we think that if it were meet so to be used, that it is any way subservient unto your design and purpose.
1. A Principle, fundamental, or first entrance into any way of Settlement in Faith or Religion, it cannot possibly be; because it presupposeth the knowledge of, ⟨p. 164⟩and assent unto many other great fundamental Articles of Christian Religion; yea upon the matter all that are so: For before you can rationally talk with a man about Peters Principality, and the Monarchical state of the Church hereon depending, you must suppose that he believes the Scripture […] be the Word of God, and all things that are taught therein concerning Jesus Christ, his, Person, Nature, Offices, Work, and Gospel, to be certainly and infallibly true: for they are all: supposed in your Assertion; which without the knowledge of them is uncouth, horrid, insignificant, and foreign to all notions that a man can rationally entertain of God or Religion: Nay no attempt of proof or confirmation can be given unto it, but by and from Scripture, whereby you fall directly into the Principle which you seek so carefully to avoid: namely that the Scripture is the only way and means of settling us in the Truth; since you cannot settle any man in the very first proposition which you make to lead him into another way but by the Scripture: So powerful is Truth, that those who will not follow it willingly, it will lead them captive in Triumph, whether they will or no.