A59036:482
The doubting believer, or, A treatiseThe doubting beleever, or, A treatise
The doubting believer, or, A treatise containing 1. the nature, 2. the kinds, 3. the springs, 4. the remedies of doubtings, incident to weak believers by Obadiah Sedgwick ...The doubting beleever, or, A treatise containing 1. the nature, 2. the kinds, 3. the springs, 4. the remedies of doubtings, incident to weak beleevers by Obadiah Sedgwick ...
London: printed by M.F. for Thomas Nicols, 1641
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Beloved, we may see what weak creatures we are: when truths fall down amongst us, and when we sit in the Tribunal; alas, what distractions, what several stamps do our several opinions set on them! what distinctions, limitations, qualifications! We will be sure every one of us to handle the question so, that it shall be so far true, as may stand with our own delights, profits, aims and ends; We do many times for personal respects, discourse and determine of truths.
Beloved, we may see what weak creatures we are: when truths fall downe amongst us, and when we sit in the Tribunall; alas, what distractions, what severall stamps doe our severall opinions set on them! what distinctions, limitations, qualifications! We will be sure every one of us to handle the question so, that it shall be so far true, as may stand with our owne delights, profits, aimes and ends; We do many times for personall respects, discourse and determine of truths.
But now reduce them to the first truths, how do our empty and contrary opinions and ⟨p. 217⟩fancies clatter and shiver to dust? they fall down before the word of God, as Dagon did before the Ark of God; for the Scriptures are the touch-stone which will easily decide counterfeit glosses and errors from genuine and proper truths: Genuine truths are like the young Eagles, that can with open eyes behold the light of the Sun, and erroneous glosses and opinions are like sore eyes which cannot behold the Sun without twinkling, and watering, and closing.
But now reduce them to the first truths, how do our empty and contrary opinions and ⟨p. 217⟩fancies clatter and shiver to dust? they fall downe before the word of God, as Dagon did before the Arke of God; for the Scriptures are the touch-stone which will easily decide counterfeit glosses and errors from genuine and proper truths: Genuine truths are like the young Eagles, that can with open eyes behold the light of the Sun, and erroneous glosses and opinions are like sore eyes which cannot behold the Sun without twinckling, and watering, and closing.