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XVIII.

CHAP. But if none of thefe has leffen'd or varied, nor can leffen or vary to the latest Ages; then the Truth will be as well teftified to the latest Pofterity (confidering the Affiftance of Printing) as it was at first, one Day in that Cafe certifieth another: As it was in the Beginning, is Now, and ever fhall be. If they were Eye-Witnesses of the Facts at firft, they will continue the very fame, before the Eyes of all the reading, and to the Ears of all the hearing World, to the Confummation of all Things. If they were not only capable, but honeft, faithful, confiftent Witneffes; not only honeft, and confiftent among themfelves, but confirm'd from Heaven by the Power of working Miracles; not only confirm'd from thence, but, like Lambs among Wolves, endur'd all Affliction and laid down their Lives for the Teftimony: If their Teftimony was not only not contradicted, but co-attefted by co-temporary, foreign Hiftory of other Nations: And if all these were the ratifying Reasons, and ascertaining Circumstances of the Truth at first, they will continue in the fame Force of Perfuafion and Conviction for ever; nor will they ever be fpent, or exhaufted: Because they remain recorded and reprefented in the fame unvaried State, for ever.

NOT to mention from Progrefs of Time the increafing Addition of Atteftations, from the gradual fulfilling of Prophecies, which remotest Pofterity will have the Advantage of; and confequently that Progress of Time, inftead of invalidating, will accumulate Strength to the Evidences of Chriftianity, and banish Infidelity from off the Earth, by the all convincing Luftre of its Truth, in the Experience of fo many Ages.

The

The farther the Stream of Prophetick and Even-C HAP tual Truth runs from its Spring Head, the first XVIII. Promife of God to Man, the larger it grows, it bears down all Denial, and drowns Scepticism, (laying hold of every Twig to fave itself) very deep.

THAT mathematical Book therefore of a Reverend Author alluded to in the Margin, though I have not the Opportunity of feeing it, if it fhould happen to be calculated to make out the Truth of that Text, Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, fhall be find Faith on Earth? If that End is mistaken, the whole Process muft be a Mistake; or at leaft an egregious Impertinence, as being founded upon a wrong Hypothefis, (though I rather prefume that fuch an Author could not be in earnest.) Nor can Mathematicks have any thing to do in the Affair, any farther than common Arithmetick counting up the aforefaid attefting Circumftances, and the gradual Diminution of their Credibility, in Time; the contrary of which I have made appear. For the Faith there spoken of cannot be understood, and ought not to be extended to any other fort of Faith, than what our Lord was then difcourf ing about, or its fimilar Cafe; and that is plainly the Son of Man avenging the Elect Speedily by the Destruction of the Jews: Yet they began to think the Delay fo long, that many cried out, Where is the Promife of his coming? Many forfook the affembling themselves together, and reverted to Judaism; and there were but few left, who believed the Speediness of that Vengeance or Coming of the Son of Man, till they were furpriz'd

Luke xviii. 8.

CHAP. with the Suddennefs of it. So likewife at the XVIII. Day of Judgment, there will be but little Faith as to the Suddenness and Unexpectedness, though premonifh'd of it; Men will be equally furpriz'd, all too careless, and. too many unprovided.

ICONCLUDE therefore with Respect to the Scepticks, that they are not only inexcufable to themselves, but Criminals against God, and Society; by confidering fuch important Truths and fuch fufficient Evidences of them carelefly and negligently; fufpending all proper Refolution, and affecting always to doubt the Truth. Tho' if they allow any one thing to be certain, suppose their own Existence, if they have not the Affurance to doubt of that, that is fufficient to confute and confound the Abfurdity of their Humour. The Certainty of their own Existence unavoidably proves the certain Existence, the Nature, and Attributes of God; whence follows the Truth of Religion, the Refutation of what is falfe, the fixing and ascertaining, and the clearing up of all Doubtfulness, in what is moft valuable and concerning. But it is certain they are fecret, tho' undeclar'd Enemies of the Faith, not openly throwing off Friendship to it, whilst they retain Hatred at the Heart, and confe quently in their Actions and Conduct are worse than the Deift, who is an open avow'd Adversary. And therefore it is inconfiftent in the latter, after they have openly declar'd themselves Enemies and Rejecters of Faith, to put on the Sceptick in their Argument; for that is rejecting abfolutely and retaining it, at the fame time, at least in the appearance of Sufpence.

IV. THERE

CHAP.

IV. THERE are NEGLECTERS of this XVIII. Faith, among the outward Profeffors of it. As the three former are guilty of Immorality thro' a vicious Will, rejecting, or corrupting, or fufpending Affent to the Faith, fo these are guilty, by fufpending Practice fuitable to it. These are the moft numerous, and too many of them the Seminary of the other; having a Tendency and Difpofition to grow up in time into fome of the former. When an Age is very much degenerated in Practice contrary to its Principles, it is naturally inclin'd and prepar'd to receive Principles that are more favourable to fuch Practices, and People fo difpos'd can hardly miss of them, as they so openly proffer themselves every where; and as they spread and are imbib'd, the Overflowing of Ungodlinefs rifes fo much the higher in its Stream, and will bear no Controul.

ALL the holy Truths and Duties of Chriftianity, deriving from their Fountain-Head, Faith in the Mediator, operate always, in all Perfons, in proportion as they are heartily affented to, understood, confider'd, and used as the Religion of the Means for carrying on the Religion of the End, i. e. the fulfilling all obligations to God, our Neighbour, and Ourselves; those true practical Ends, for the fake of which, the other become our Profeffion and Denomination. The degree of Piety and Good-works may answer up to, and be in the Proportion of Thirty, Sixty, or an Hundredfold; but can't exceed: Therefore there must be the like degrees and proportion in Faith caufing thofe Productions, by a more or lefs Confideration, or hearty Application of thofe ever neceffary Motives and Springs

CHAP. Springs of Christian obedience, where-ever that XVIII. Faith is fufficiently promulg'd.

A DUBIOUS Life made up of Ebbs and Flows of Virtue and Vice may very well become a dubious Faith of a future State, as was the Cafe of the Heathen Philofophers. But, without all doubt, it ought to be otherwise settled with Chriftians.

THE primitive Chriftians confider'd them, understood them, and apply'd them vigorously as the most divine Means, true in Proof, potent in Effect to that End; which made their Lives and their Faith fo gloriously fhine before Men, zealous of good Works; fuffering any thing for its fake, and fo adorning the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; neither being ashamed of Chrift, nor a Shame to him, in any thing* ; then did his Religion personally shine forth in a convincing, divine, irrefiftible Evidence. Their Baptifm, as it ought, did indeed represent to them their Profeffion, which is to follow Chrift and be made like unto him, dying unto Sin and rifing to Righteousness, and daily proceeding in all Godli nefs and Virtue; and the Lord's Supper, or breaking of Bread frequently, refresh'd them, comforted them, and help'd to make them fervent in Spirit ferving the Lord. Faith in the mediatorial Kingdom had a defpotick Rule over those hearty Subjects, for Improvement and Perfection in Godliness, and Goodness; it had a Lordly

* Dicimus et palam dicimus, et vobis torquentibus lacerati vociferamur, Deum colimus per Chriftum, Tertul. Apol. c. 21. Hæc omnia faciunt, non propter ardorem inanis Gloria, fed propter caritatem Felicitatis eterna. Augustin.

Dominion

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