§. XIII.
Answ.But this bespeaketh much Ignorance in the Opposers; for we distinguish between the Thesis and the Hypothesis; that is, between the Proposition and Supposition. For it is one Thing to affirm, that the true and undoubted Revelation of God’s Spirit is certain and infallible; and another Thing to affirm, that this or that particular Person, or People, is led infallibly by this Revelation, in what they speak or write, because they affirm themselves to be so led, by the inward and immediate Revelation of the Spirit. The first is only asserted by us; the latter may be called in question. The Question is not, Who are, or are not so led? But, Whether all ought not, or may not be so led?
The Certainty of the Spirit’s Guidance proved.Seeing then we have already proved, that Christ hath promised his Spirit to lead his Children, and that every one of them both ought and may be led by it; if any depart from this certain Guide in Deeds, and yet in Words pretend to be led by it, into Things that are not good, it will not from thence follow, that the true Guidance of the Spirit is uncertain, or ought not to be followed; no more than it will follow, that the Sun sheweth not Light, because a Blind Man, or one who wilfully hurts his Eyes, falls into a Ditch at Noon-day for want of Light; or that no Words are spoken, because a Deaf Man hears them not; or that a Garden full of fragrant Flowers has no sweet Smell, because he that has lost his Smelling doth not Smell it. The Fault then is in the Organ, and not in the Object.
All these Mistakes therefore are to be ascribed to the Weakness or Wickedness of Men, and not to that Holy Spirit. Such as bend themselves most against this certain and infallible Testimony of the Spirit, use commonly to alledge the Example of the old Gnosticks, and the late Monstrous and Mischievous Actings of the Anabaptists of Munster; all which toucheth us nothing at all, neither weakens a Whit our most true Doctrine. Wherefore, as a most sure Bulwark against such Kind of Assaults, was subjoined that other Part of our Proposition, thus; Moreover these Divine and Inward Revelations, which we establish, as absolutely necessary for the founding of the True Faith, as they do not, so neither can they at any Time contradict the Scriptures Testimony, or sound Reason.
By Experience.Besides the intrinsick and undoubted Truth of this Assertion, we can boldly affirm it, from our certain and blessed Experience. For this Spirit never deceived us, never acted nor moved us to any Thing that was amiss; but is clear and manifest in its Revelations, which are evidently discerned by us, as we wait in that pure and undefiled Light of God, that proper and fit Organ, in which they are received. Therefore if any reason after this Manner,
That because some Wicked, Ungodly, Devilish Men, have committed wicked Actions, and have yet more wickedly asserted, that they were led into these Things by the Spirit of God:
Therefore, No Man ought to lean to the Spirit of God, or seek to be led by it;
The Absurdity of the Consequence.I utterly deny the Consequence of this Proposition; which, were it to be received as true, then would all Faith in God, and Hope of Salvation, become uncertain, and the Christian Religion be turned into mere Scepticism. For after the same Manner I might reason thus:
Because Eve was deceived by the Lying of the Serpent: