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can be deceived himself, nor will deceive us in any SERM. thing that he reveals to us. I say the testimony or authority of God some way or other revealing things to us, is the argument whereby a faith of any supernatural revelations is wrought in us: but if we restrain all supernatural revelations to the bible, as I told you we know of no other; then the particular kind of testimony whereby this faith is wrought in us, is the written word of God.

III. As to the degrees of this faith. Supposing men sufficiently fatisfied that the scriptures are the word of God, that is, a divine revelation; then all those who are sufficiently satisfied of this, do equally believe the things contained in the scriptures. For if men be once fully fatisfied that God hath spoken any thing, I think no man makes the least doubt but what God says is true. Now there can be no degrees of faith, where there is no doubt of the contrary; all the degrees that are in faith, arising from a greater or less mixture of doubting. So that those who do not at all doubt but that the fcriptures are the word of God, have the same degree of perfuasion concerning the matters contained in them: and that no man doubts whether what God says is true, ariseth from the fixed and conftant notion which men universally have of God, that he is infallible and true. Therefore we find, Matt. xxi. 25. when our SAVIOUR puts the dilema to the Pharifees, concerning the baptifm of John, "whether it were " from heaven, or of men ? that they reasoned with "themselves, saying, if we shall fay, from heaven; " he will fay unto us, why did ye not then believe "him?" Which kind of reasoning imports thus much, that it is universally acknowledged, that no man can in reason make the least doubt of that which

SERM. he believes to be from Gop. Therefore a man

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would wonder what Becanus the jefuit meant, unless it were to abuse the prophets and apostles, when he says, tom. iii. of his school-divinity, that the prophets and apostles had evidentiam revelationis, non autem evidentiam prime- veritatis: tametfi enim evidenter cognofcerent Deum effe, qui ipfis revelabat mysteria fidei, non tamen evidenter cognofcebant Deum effe fummè veracem, qui nec falli potuit nec fallere; that is, " Though it was sufficiently evident to the " prophets and apostles, that those revelations which " they had were from God; yet it was not evident "to them, that divine revelations are true: for

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though they did evidently know that there was "a God, who revealed to them the mysteries of "faith; yet they did not evidently know that God

was infallible and true, who could neither deceive, nor be deceived." By which he doth not only make the prophets and apostles ideots, and deftitute of one of the most common notions of human nature, which is, "that God is infallible and true;" but he doth likewise make all divine revelation ufeless, and to no purpose. For to what purpose is it for a man to be fatisfied that God reveals such a thing to him; if he be in the mean time unsatisfied, whether what God reveals is true? for no man that is unsatisfied, whether what God reveals be true, can upon any tolerable ground of reason yield a firm assent to a divine revelation. But it is pity to fpend time in confuting any thing which confutes itself by it's own absurdity, and it's direct contradiction to the common notions of human nature. I proceed

therefore.

Supposing any man be unsatisfied, and do make any doubt whether these books called the holy fcrip

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tures, or any of them, be the word of God, that is, SERM. 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 merely upon the credit or testimony of such a person, so much reason as he hath to doubt, whether fuch a person did speak, or testify fuch a thing; so much reason he hath to doubt whether the thing be true.

And upon this account I think it is, that the scripture speaks of degrees of faith, of growing and increasing in faith, of a strong faith, that is, such a faith, as was either wholly, or in a great measure free from doubting; and of a weak faith, that is, such a faith, as had a great mixture of doubting; by which we are not to understand, that they doubted of the truth of any thing of which they were fatisfied 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 said.

IV. What are the proper and genuine effects of this faith? The proper and genuine 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 such perfons, and to live such lives as it becomes those, who do heartily believe, and are really persuaded of the truth of the scriptures. And if this be a constant and abiding perfuafion, it will produce this effect; but with more or less difficulty, according to the disposition of the fubject, and the weakness or strength of contrary habits and inclinations. More

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For

SERM. More particularly the effects of this faith are according to the nature of the matter believed. If it be a hiftory or relation of things past, or prophecy of things to come; it hath an effect upon men so far as the hiftory or prophecy doth concern them. If it be a doctrine; it hath the effect which the particular nature and tendency of such doctrine requires. instance, the doctrine of God's goodness is apt to inflame us with love to him; of his power and justice, with a fear and awe of him. This doctrine, that CHRIST is the SAVIOUR of the world, the proper effect of it, is to make men rely upon him for falvation; and fo of the rest. If it be a precept; the proper effect of it is obedience: and hence it is that unbelief and disobedience are frequently put for one another in fcripture: and disobedience is oppose to faith, I Pet. ii. 7. " unto you therefore which be"lieve, he is precious: but unto them which be "disobedient, &c." where "the disobedient" are opposed to " them that believe." And so likewife those who neglect any duty of religion, and do any thing notorioufsly unworthy of their profession, are faid to " deny the faith," 1 Tim. v. 8. " but if any " provide not for his own, and especially for those of "his own house, he hath denied the faith." How does he " deny the faith?" In disobeying the precept of the christian religion, which chargeth us with fuch natural and moral duties. If it be a promife; 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 difobedience.

V. In what sense this faith of things fupernaturally revealed, may be faid to be a divine faith? Answer, not only in respect of the matter and object of it,

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which are divine things, such as concern GoD andSERM. religion; and in respect of the divine effects it hath upon those who believe these things; (for in these two respects a perfuafion 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 testimony. As for the efficient cause, › the Spirit of God, that does not immediately belong to this: for the Spirit of GOD doth not, speaking : properly, perfuade us immediately of the truth of : things supernaturally revealed; but mediately by perfuading us of the truth of the revelation: for to believe a thing to be true, which we are perfuaded is revealed by God, is so natural and confequent upon such a perfuafion, that it doth not seem to require any new work of the Spirit. And if this be all the work of the Spirit, to perfuade men that such a revelation is divine; it will be most proper to speak of this, when I come to the third fort of faith, which is a perfuafion of a divine revelation, that it is such; which because it hath many difficulties in it, it deserves a more large and particular confideration.

SERMON

CCXXI.

Of the faith or perfuafion of a divine

revelation.

HEB. xi. 6.

But without faith it is impofssible to please GOD.

Have observed that a religious and divine faith

I comprehends under it three things.

SERM.
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