Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 17:65 (Jan 1860)
Article: The Religious Life And Opinions Of John Milton
Author: A. D. Barber

BSac 17:65 (Jan 1860) p. 1

The Religious Life And Opinions Of John Milton

(Concluded from Vol. XVI., pp. 557-603.)

Rev. A. D. Barber

Comparison Of The “Christian Doctrine” With Milton’s Other Works

Christian Doctrine assumes the entire credibility of revelation, and the absolute authority of the word of God; also personal and individual responsibility in all matters of faith and practice. No one is known to hold these doctrines with a firmer grasp than John Milton. He relied upon reason and faith as fully competent, when enlightened by the word and the Spirit of God, to ascertain everything man needs to believe and practise, or know and do. Reason he makes submit to faith; and faith stand upon the word of God. In other words, Milton would have belief limited and practice determined by a manly exercise of the understanding and the reason upon the scriptures, as the “common rule and touchstone,” or “the only sufficient and infallible guide.”

“The Christian Doctrine” he says, in the opening of the treatise, “is that Divine Revelation, disclosed in various ages by Christ (though He was

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not known under that name in the beginning), concerning the nature and worship of the Deity, for the promotion of the glory of God and the salvation of mankind. This doctrine, therefore, is to be obtained, not from the schools of the philosophers, nor from the laws of man, but from the holy scriptures alone, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” (Prose Works, Vol. IV. pp. 10, 11. Bohn’s Edit. Lond. 1853.) “The rule and canon of faith is Scripture alone.” “Scripture is the sole judge of controversies.” “Every man is to decide for himself, through its aid, under the guidance of the Spirit of God. The Scriptures, partly by reason of their own simplicity, and partly through the Divine illumination, are plain and perspicuous in all things necessary to salvation, and adapted to the instruction even of the most unlearned, through the medium of diligent and constant reading.” “It is not, therefore, within the province of any visible church, much less of the civil magistrate, to impose their own interpretations on us as laws, or as binding on the conscience; in other words, as matters of implicit faith.” (Id. pp. 440, 444, 445.)

Throughout all his works, Milton places the same reliance on the authority of the scriptures. He appeals to them for the settlement of the question. In the last work he published, he uses words stronger, if possible, than those already-quoted.

“True religion,” he says, “is the true worship and service of God, learned and believed from the word of God only. No man or angel can know how G...