A95413:135
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.
Consid. Surely if I am in a right way, it is enough for me to be assured of the truth, for me, it is for my salvation; yet because I am bound to seek for the salvation of others also, No man must imitate Cain, in saying, am I my brothers keeper? yet that which is enough for me to be assured of the truth which I maintain, may be enough for another also, to bring him to be assured of the same truth: For if this sufficiency I speak of be in the way of rational discourse out of the Word of God, if it is it self sufficient, it is sufficient for the satisfaction of any that is capable thereof, and all such light being light natural, and in the way of discourse, is of a communicable nature to all rational creatures by a rational discourse: ⟨p. 100⟩But true faith is wrought by spiritual illumination, which is not in my power to communicate unto any other, only the Spirit of God can do this, enlightening whom he will, while others are suffered to sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. And this is the only saving way to be sure of Truths Theological. It is true, that which I believe (whatsoever it be, and in what kind soever it be believed) is not therefore truth, because I believe it; but if I believe by illumination divine, it is therefore truth, because I believe it after such a manner, though this I cannot communicate to another, or make another hereby either be persuaded of it himself, or be persuaded that I am after such a sort persuaded of it. Light natural I may communicate unto another, light spiritual I cannot; and light natural either in way of natural ⟨p. 101⟩discourse is communicative of it self from commonly-known principles by the light of nature, or from principles on both sides agreed, as namely, that the Scriptures are the Word of God: Now when the Spirit of God enlightens me, the thing I embrace is not my opinion, but my faith, and my persuasion herein is in steadfastness, and nothing inferior to natural knowledge but superior rather, light spiritual and divine being superior to light natural, like as knowledge by sense is superior to knowledge by reason, rational knowledge depending upon knowledge sensitive: For general principles do arise from experience and enumeration of particulars. And as I remember, Theologia is said to be non argumentativa, to wit as it is supernatural, and compared rather to sensitive knowledge;
Consid. Surely if I am in a right way, it is enough for me to be assured of the truth, for me, it is for my salvation; yet because I am bound to seek for the salvation of others also, No man must imitate Cain, in saying, am I my brothers keeper? yet that which is enough for me to be assured of the truth which I maintain, may be enough for another also, to bring him to be assured of the same truth: For if this sufficiency I speak of be in the way of rationall discourse out of the Word of God, if it is it self sufficient, it is sufficient for the satisfaction of any that is capable thereof, and all such light being light naturall, and in the way of discourse, is of a communicable nature to all rationall creatures by a rationall discourse: