THE WORD.

In a word, there is no sufficient certainty but of Scripture only, for any considering man to build upon. This, therefore, and this only have I reason to believe. This I will profess. According to this I will live, and for this, if there be occasion, I will not only willingly, but gladly lose my life, should any take it from me. Propose me any thing out of this book, and require whether I believe or no, and seem it ever so incomprehensible to human reason, I will subscribe it with hand and heart, as knowing no demonstration can be stronger than this; God has said so, therefore it is true. In other things, I will take no man’s liberty of judgment from him, neither shall any man take mine from me. I will think no man the worse Christian; I will love no man less for differing in opinion from me. And what measure I mete to others, I expect from them again. I am fully assured that God doers not, and therefore men ought not to require any more of any man than this, to believe the Scriptures to be God’s word, to endeavour to find the true sense of it, and live according to it. —Chillingworth.