A95413:95
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.
Ans. This were a very grievous sin, and that men ought not to presume that they would falsify and corrupt the Letters and Commands of their Lord to his sons and subjects, much less that they do maliciously err, and lead themselves and others into ⟨p. 50⟩the danger of their salvation; and to say the truth, it is not likely that so many hundred thousands of men would come to that pitch of malice, though one should, especially seeing they dare confirm their honest meaning with an Oath; wherefore unless they be convicted of maliciously wilful error, we shall seem injuriously to slander them.
Ans. This were a very grievous sin, and that men ought not to presume that they would falsifie and corrupt the Letters and Commands of their Lord to his sons and subjects, much less that they do maliciously erre, and lead themselves and others into ⟨p. 50⟩the dauger of their salvation; and to say the truth, it is not likely that so many hundred thousands of men would come to that pitch of malice, though one should, especially seeing they dare confirm their honest meaning with an Oath; wherefore unless they be convicted of maliciously wilfull error, we shall seem injuriously to slander them.
Consid. I see no reason why such a censure should be passed upon the Calvinians more than upon the Lutherans, more speciously it should be passed by them that are Orthodox upon them that are not, though I justify not this censure whosoever makes it; and certainly there is no just cause to pass it upon them who are in the right, and charity will forbid us rashly to pass this censure upon them who are in the wrong. And as I find defect of love in them who pass such censures hand over head upon their opposites; so I find want of judgment ⟨p. 51⟩in this Author, who puts it upon a mans Oath to clear himself of going against his conscience in the Tenets he maintaineth; for he that saith a thing against his conscience is next door by to the swearing of it. But these are such idle and addle conceits that it causeth no small indignation in me to wast precious time in them, which might be better spent on worthier subjects.