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velation. But 'tis pity to spend time Volume in confuting any thing which confutes XII. it felf by its own abfurdity, and its direct contradiction to the common notions of human Nature. I proceed therefore.

Suppofing any Man be unfatisfied, and do make any doubt whether thefe Books call'd the Holy Scriptures, or any of them, be the Word of God, that is, a Divine Revelation; proportionably to the degree of his doubting concerning the Divine Authority of the Scriptures, there will be an abatement of his Faith, as to the things contained in them: for he that believes a thing meerly upon the Credit or Teftimony of fuch a Perfon; fo much reafon as he hath to doubt, whether fuch a Perfon did speak, or teftifie fuch a thing; fo much reafon he hath to doubt whether the thing be true.

And upon this account I think it is, that the Scripture fpeaks of Degrees of Faith, of growing and increasing in Faith, of a strong Faith, that is,

fuch

fuch a Faith, as was either wholly, or in a great measure free from doubting; Sermon and of a weak Faith, that is, fuch a II. Faith, as had a great mixture of doubting; by which we are not to underftand,that they doubted of the Truth of any thing of which they were Satisfied by a Divine revelation; but that they doubted whether fuch things were Divine revelations, or not. So that the great doubt of the Disciples was, whether Christ were the true Meffias, and really the Son of God: for fo far as they were fatisfied of that, they could not doubt of any thing he faid.

IV. What are the proper and genuin Effects of this Faith? The proper and genuin Effects of the Belief of the Scriptures in general, is the Conformity of our Hearts and Lives to what we believe; that is, to be fuch Perfons, and to live fuch Lives as it becomes those, who do heartily believe, and are really perfwaded of the truth of the Scriptures. And if this be a conftant and abiding pefwafion, it will produce this Effect; but with more or less difficulty, according to the difpofition of the Subject, and the weakness or strength of

of contrary habits and inclinations. Volume More particularly the Effects of this XII. Faith are according to the Nature of the matter believed. If it be a Hiftory or relation of things paft, or Prophecy of things to come; it hath anEffect upon men fo far as the History or Prophecy doth concern them. If it be a doctrine; it hath the Effect which the particular nature and tendency of fuch a Doctrine requires. For inftance, the doctrine of Gods goodness is apt to inflame us with Love to him; of his Power and Juftice, with a fear and awe of him. This Doctrine,thatChrift is the Saviour of the World, the proper Effect of it, is to make men rely upon him for Salvation; and fo of the reft. If it be a Precept; the proper Effect of it, is obedience and hence it is that unbelief and difobedience are frequently put for one another in Scripture; and disobedience is opposed to Faith, 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore which believe, he his precious: but unto them which be difobedient,&c.where the disobedient are oppofed to them that believe. And fo likewife those who neglect any duty of of Religion, and do any thing notorioufly unworthy of their Profeffion, are faid to

deny

I

II.

deny the Faith, 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any provide not for his own, and Specially for Sermon thofe of his own houfe, he hath denied the faith. How does he deny the Faith? In difobeying the Precepts of the Chriftian Religion, which chargeth us with fuch Natural and Moral Dutys. If it be a Promise; the proper Effect of it is, encouragement to Obedience by hopes of the thing Promised. If a Threatning; the proper Effect of it is to restrain men from fin and disobedience.

V. In what fenfe this Faith of things fupernaturally revealed, may be faid to be a Divine Faith? Anfw. not only in respect of the Matter and Object of it, which are Divine things, fuch as concern God and Religion; and in refpect of the Divine Effects it hath upon those who believe these things; (for in thefe two respects a Perfwafion of the Principles of natural Religion, may be faid to be a Divine Faith:) but likewife in respect of the Argument whereby it is wrought, which is a Divine Teftimony. As for the efficient caufe, the Spirit of God, that does not imme

diately

diately belong to this: for the Spirit of Volume God doth not, fpeaking properly, perXII fwade us immediately of the truth of things Supernaturally revealed; but mediately by perfwading us of the truth of the Revelation: for to believe a thing to be true, which we are perfwaded is Revealed by God, is fo natural and confequent upon fuch a Perfwafion, that it doth not feem to require any new work of the Spirit. And if this be all the work of the Spirit, to perfwade men that fuch a Revelation is Divine; it will be moft proper to fpeak of this, when I come to the Third fort of Faith, which is a perfwafion of a Divine Revelation, that it is fuch; which because it hath many difficulties in it, it deferves a more large and particular confiderati

on.

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