A95413:105
The doubting conscience resolved. In answer to a (pretended) perplexing question, &c. Wherein is…
The doubting conscience resolved. In answer to a (pretended) perplexing question, &c. Wherein is evidently proved, that the holy Scriptures (not the pope) is the foundation whereupon the Church is built. Or, That a Christian may be infallibly certain of his faith and religion by holy Scriptures. By William Twice D.D. Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines. Written at the desire of Samuel Hartlib, Esquire, for the satisfaction of his friends beyond the seas; and now divulged in print for more public edification.The doubting conscience resolved. In answer to a (pretended) perplexing question, &c. Wherein is evidently proved, that the holy Scriptures (not the pope) is the foundation whereupon the Church is built. Or, That a Christian may be infallibly certain of his faith and religion by holy Scriptures. By William Tvvisse D.D. Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines. Written at the desire of Samuel Hartlib, Esquire, for the satisfaction of his friends beyond the seas; and now divulged in print for more publick edification.
London: printed for Thomas Matthews, 1652
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.
Papists are great Scholars undoubtedly, not in Logic and Philosophy only, and that in all kinds, but in Divinity also, and ⟨p. 61⟩that in the most learned way, Aquinas a great Divine, his Sums, I have heard Doctor Reynolds call it, that absolute Body of Divinity, but his wit served him to serve that Churches turn in those days, and in maintaining Idolatry he is the most shameful Writer that ever was, for he will have the Image worshipped with the same honour that is due to the thing represented by it, and that by an Argument drawn out of Aristotle, Dememoria & reminiscentia, opposed herein by Durand and Picus Mirandula, and others; I remember what Cicero said of the Grecians, Do illis eruditionem, do Doctrinam; filem & Religionem nunquam Coluerunt: yet I will not say so of the Church of Rome, though one sometimes did. I know it was renowned for faith all the world over in the days of S. Paul, but a degenerate time came, and as at the first preaching of the Gospel men turned from Idols to ⟨p. 62⟩to serve the living God, so in after Ages even Christians and Roman Christians as much as any, if not more, turned from the living God to serve Idols; and the Whore of Babylon who made all Nations drunken with the blood of Gods Saints, is clearly the Church of Rome, as it is at this day, and hath been for many generations, whatsoever their learning be, the greater advantage they have for the countenancing of their Errors, Heresies, Superstitions and Idolatries, which yet we nothing fear. The Apostle hath taught us to esteem no knowledge but this, even of Christ and him crucified, Si Christum descis nihil est si caetera nescis, si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis: And if we fear not their learning, much less have we cause to fear their wit or wisdom either, or whatsoever projects of theirs; likewise none of these should in common reason commend their ⟨p. 63⟩Religion, God usually infatuating the wisdom of the wise. They have all furtherance, I confess, beyond us, yet God hath not tied himself to annex his truth to these furtherances, least of all if they be employed not indifferently to the investigation of truth, but prejudicately to support their own cause, the madness whereof hath been in these later days made known to the world more than ever.