The trial which tries all

“‘Scripture is the trial which tries all’ – all except the manuscript evidence, of course.” – Rebater Jim R. Whiteout

“Seeing there is nothing to be practiced, believed, or taught, which is not agreeble to the mind of God, Let us make the Word of God our Judge.

“The Scriptures (as is granted by all that I write to) are the touchstone by which all religious Principles and Acts are to be tryed. To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not according to this rule, ’tis because there is no light in them, Isa. 8:20. Let nothing pass for current coine, which hath not this stamp upon it.

“Certainly no Christian will refuse to make the truth of God contained in the Scriptures the judge of all he holds and practiceth, it being the basis of both, if they be laid on their true foundation; ’tis the tryal which tryes all; and therefore bring your opinions to the light, to see whether they be of God or no.

“If the Scriptures write jus divium, divine right upon any opinion, ’tis then authentick; but all other authority is not sufficient to command either faith or practice. The Bereans [Acts 17:11] were call’d more noble than they of Thessalonica, because they did not take things upon trust, and believe implicitly, but searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. If any man of an Angel from Heaven bring you any other Doctrine, let him be accursed, Gal. 1:8.

“Certainly these are the undoubted, perfect, and infallible rule, for all matters of faith and practice, or God could not judge the world by them at the last day.

“Let us do therefore as the wise men, when they saw the starre, go up to Jerusalem, that is, the Law and to the testimony, and willingly acquiesce in the Answer we receive from the Oracles of God.”

Ralph Venning, Mysteries and Revelations (London: Printed by John Rothwell at the Sunne and Fountain in Pauls Church-yard, 1652), pp. 31-32.