A95413:106
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.
The trial whereof we make by the Touch-stone of Gods Word, according to the counsel of God himself, To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speak not according to this, it is because there is no light in them, Isaiah. 8. Yet we study Scriptures and Fathers too as well as they, and we have them amongst us that yield to them not a jot; nay do we not study their writings too, much more than our own? I willingly profess, I have done so all along, that I might come acquainted with ⟨p. 64⟩their best strength and fastness, in all which I find nothing but illusions in the maintenance of those Tenets wherein we differ from them. As for interpreting of Scriptures, it is well known they have been brought unto it per force, so was Cajetan in his old years, after he had tasted of Luther's course, who would admit of no other Authority in dispute but the Word of God. And their Commentaries for the most part, are but a Mass of Collections out of others, yet I despise them not, I am content to use them as soon as any of our own, not so much to learn by them as to observe how they strain their wits to quench that light of truth, which in most places breaks forth to the discovering of their Errors. Well they may talk of bringing no sense to the Scriptures, but their practice is nothing answerable.
The triall whereof we make by the Touch-stone of Gods Word, according to the counsel of God himself, To the Law and to the Testimonies if they speak not according to this, it is because there is no light in them, Esai. 8. Yet we study Scriptures and Fathers too as well as they, and we have them amongst us that yeeld to them not a jot; nay do we not study their writings too, much more than our own? I willingly profess, I have done so all along, that I might come acquainted with ⟨p. 64⟩their best strength and fastness, in all which I find nothing but illusions in the maintenance of those Tenets wherein we differ from them. As for interpreting of Scriptures, it is well known they have been brought unto it per force, so was Cajetan in his old years, after he had tasted of Luthers course, who would admit of no other Authority in dispute but the Word of God. And their Commentaries for the most part, are but a Mass of Collections out of others, yet I despise them not, I am content to use them as soon as any of our own, not so much to learn by them as to observe how they strain their wits to quench that light of truth, which in most places breaks forth to the discovering of their Errors. Well they may talk of bringing no sense to the Scriptures, but their practice is nothing answerable.