A95413:147
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.
S. Peter exhorts us to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 3.18. And S. Paul would not have us stand at a stay, but grow forward unto perfection There is a plerophory and fullness of faith that we should strive unto, and of knowledge as well as of holiness: For this life is our way to heaven, and still we must draw nearer thitherwards, by knowing all that we can know by the Word, Deut. 29.29. It is revealed to that purpose, and it is able to make the man of God perfect ⟨p. 120⟩to every good work, 2 Tim. 3. last. Add unto virtue knowledge, saith Peter, 2 Pet. 1.5. and Paul prays on the behalf of the Colossians, that they might be fulfilled with the knowledge of Gods Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, Col. 19. that they might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, v. 10. Why then should we take offence at the multiplying of Articles? In all professions men that delight in knowledge are never satisfied, nothing is more congruous to our intelligent natures than light of knowledge, while we live here on earth we shall never come to ripeness of age in Christ, therefore we must be growing still, and edifying our selves, and one another in our most holy faith; the body of Christ must be edified till we come to fullness of age; and as we ⟨p. 121⟩must increase in knowledge, so being obnoxious to error, it behoves us to labour for the discovery of it more and more. That error in taking the number of the Beast 666. to denote only [Greek or Hebrew] hath endured ever since the days of Ireneus, that is from the next age after the Apostles; and it is now lately discovered, and the true meaning substituted in the place thereof, as never the like before; and it is commendable for men to see their former errors, much more to confess them. Of all Austins works there are none more tending to his honour and renown than his Retractations, wherein he retracts the errors of his Faith, and his Confessions, where he acknowledgeth the errors of his life, and this is most Christian ingenuity, and I think never was any man more renowned in this kind than he. It is necessary for every Christian to strive