We shall therefore conclude this brief Discourse on this Subject, with those excellent Words of a Learned Man upon the some occasion: — Let this remain and be received as an established Truth, That those whom the Spirit hath inwardly taught, do solidly acquiesce in the Scripture; And that the same is [Greek or Hebrew] Self-credible, or for its own sake worthy of belief, and that it obtains that Certainty which it justly deserves with us, by the Testimony of the Spirit: For tho its own Majesty does of itself conciliate a Reverence, yet then only does it seriously affect us, when by the Spirit it is sealed in & upon our hearts. With whose Truth being enlightened, we no longer believe that the Scripture is from God by our own Judgment, or that of other Men, but most certainly above all humane Judgment, we are assured thereof no otherwise, than as if there we beheld the very Voice of God, by the Ministry of Men, flowing from the Mouth of God to us. No longer do we then seek for Arguments, and probable Proofs, whereon our Judgment may rely, but subject our Judgment and Understanding thereunto, as to a Matter already out of all doubt or debate; yet not so, as wretched Men are wont to addict their captive Minds to Superstitions, but because we find and feel the undoubted Power of God there to breath and flourish; To obey which, we are drawn and inflamed, knowingly and willingly, but more livelily and efficaciously, than either humane Will or Knowledge could affect us. 'Tis therefore such a Persuasion as does not require Reasons, (and yet it does not want them neither); such a Knowledge, to which the best Reason appears and agrees, as being such as therein the Mind can acquiesce more securely and constantly, than in any Reasons. 'Tis, in fine, such a Sense, such a Taste, as can proceed from nothing, but a Revelation Divine. Nor do I speak any thing but what every true Believer can bear witness to from his own Experience, save only that Words are too short and unable to express a just Explication of the thing.—Calv. Instit. lib. 2.
We shall therefore conclude this brief Discourse on this Subject, with those excellent Words of a Learned Man upon the some occasion: — Let this remain and be received as an establish'd Truth, That those whom the Spirit hath inwardly taught, do solidly acquiesce in the Scripture; And that the same is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Self-credible, or for its own sake worthy of belief, and that it obtains that Certainty which it justly deserves with us, by the Testimony of the Spirit: For tho its own Majesty does of itself conciliate a Reverence, yet then only does it seriously affect us, when by the Spirit it is sealed in & upon our hearts. With whose Truth being enlightned, we no longer believe that the Scripture is from God by our own Judgment, or that of other Men, but most certainly above all humane Judgment, we are assured thereof no otherwise, than as if there we beheld the very Voice of God, by the Ministry of Men, flowing from the Mouth of God to us. No longer do we then seek for Arguments, and probable Proofs, whereon our Judgment may rely, but subject our Judgment and Understanding thereunto, as to a Matter already out of all doubt or debate; yet not so, as wretched Men are wont to addict their captive Minds to Superstitions, but because we find and feel the undoubted Power of God there to breath and flourish; To obey which, we are drawn and inflamed, knowingly and willingly, but more livelily and efficaciously, than either humane Will or Knowledg could affect us. 'Tis therefore such a Persuasion as does not require Reasons, (and yet it does not want them neither); such a Knowledg, to which the best Reason appears and agrees, as being such as therein the Mind can acquiesce more securely and constantly, than in any Reasons. 'Tis, in fine, such a Sense, such a Taste, as can proceed from nothing, but a Revelation Divine. Nor do I speak any thing but what every true Believer can bear witness to from his own Experience, save only that Words are too short and unable to express a just Explication of the thing.—Calv. Instit. lib. 2.
