A95414:53
The scriptures sufficiency to determine all matters of faith, made good against the Papist
The scriptures sufficiency to determine all matters of faith, made good against the Papist: or, That a Christian may be infallibly certain of his faith and religion by the Holy Scriptures. By that great and famous light of Gods Church, William Twice D.D. and prolocutor of the late assembly of divines.The scriptures sufficiency to determine all matters of faith, made good against the Papist: or, That a Christian may be infallibly certain of his faith and religion by the Holy Scriptures. By that great and famous light of Gods Church, William Twisse D.D. and prolocutor of the late assembly of divines.
London: printed for Matthew Keynton, 1656
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.
1. Let us inquire, Whether a man can have any certain faith at all? I answer. 1. They may; for many have had it, as it is defined by S. Paul, Heb. 11. to be the evidence of things not seen, the ground of things hoped for; and there the Apostle reckons up a Catalogue of many that had such a faith. I presume the propounder of this, if he be a Christian, makes no question hereof: And that Abraham the Father of the faithful, Rom. 4.18, 19, 20. was such a one, who against hope believed in hope, and being not weak in faith, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and that all the true children of Abraham have the like faith as Abraham had. 2. But then let us distinguish when we treat of possibility, this may be understood either in reference to the power of Nature, or in respect of the power ⟨p. 18⟩of God; and according to this distinction I answer, That it is utterly impossible to believe this by power of Nature, Mat. 16. Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven; and 1 Cor. 2.14. The natural man perceives not the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned; And Esa. 53.1. Who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of God been revealed? And Joh. 12.39. Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah saith again, he hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them; And Rom. 8.8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God, and consequently they cannot have faith, for surely by faith we please God. But then on the other side, it is most true, that by the power of ⟨p. 19⟩