A95413:142
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. In all professions, whether liberal or mechanical, the learned have a prerogative above the unlearned, and what inconvenience is there if it be so in Christian Religion also? Doth not S. Peter tell us that the unlearned pervert the Scripture to their own destruction, ⟨p. 110⟩2 Pet. 3. yet this prerogative is in learning only, not in holiness, the unlearned may be as holy as the learned, and have as great an interest both in sanctifying grace and in saving glory. What said Austin of himself, and such like Scholars in comparison of his mother Monica, and such like holy, though simple women, Mulierculae istae lacrimis suis caelum nobis praeripiunt, when we have done all we can with all our learning, these women with their tears will get heaven before us. And as for holiness, so for faith, an unlearned man may have faith as well as the learned; nay, that faith which is called fides infusa, may be found in a man unlearned, when the faith of him that is learned is found to be no better than fides acquisita, a faith natural; and they that have true faith by the inspiration of the holy Ghost shall not want gracious wits; howsoever ⟨p. 111⟩that Religion which is by faith natural, be accompanied with better natural wits; yet an idle wit, be it never so good will hardly prove learned, and be it never so learned if it be without grace, such a mans Religion will prove but vain, and though he be able to worst another in disputation, yet shall he never pull true Religion in any child of God (be he never so weak and unlearned) out of socket, because our Faith and Religion consists not in wisdom of words, but in the power of the Spirit, as S. Paul speaks, saying, My word and my preaching stood not in the enticing speech of Mans wisdom, but in plain evidence of the Spirit and Power; That your Faith should not be in the wisdom of Men, but in the power of God, 1 Cor. 2.4, 5. Nay, were my Faith only natural, and I had good evidence out of the Scripture for it, though ⟨p. 112⟩that knowledge be no other than such as is annexed to the common profession of Christianity; yet the Philosopher tells me, that I must not be beaten out of my hold in such a case, because I am not able to answer every Sophism or Argument that is brought against it: