to disbelieve fo obvious a Truth, purely because we have not fenfible Demonftration of it, is an Argument, in Point of Reasoning, too weak to deserve an Anfwer; but confidering the Subject, which is thus triflingly handled, it is too impious to pass uncenfured: This, as I just mentioned, was putting the Holy Scriptures upon the fame Foot with common Writings; and this Argument mayferve to confute the Weakness of those Men who make Reason the top, the fole Rule of judging even in Spiritual Matters: But let a Person who is well difpofed to Religious Knowledge attentively confider those Sacred Writings, and he will perceive that unaffected Simplicity of Narration, that majestick Plainnefs of Stile, that, powerful Force of Inftruction, that heavenly Purity of Doctrine, thofe bleffed Tendencies of promoting God's Glory and Man's Happiness, that admirable Connection of every Part, and fuch-like Circumftances, to be fuch bright Indications of Truth, fuch glorious Strokes of Divinity itself, as fet them above the Poffibility not only of Imposture and Falfhood,

Falfhood, but even of human Invention
and Composure. Thefe Sentiments will
inspire a Faith modeft and humble, but
ftrong and lively, far fuperior to the
Stubborn Stupidity of Senfe, the difpu-
tative Weakness of Reafon; Faith found-
ed upon Infallibility itself, not to be
fhaken by any Difficulties, or undermin'd
Thefe
by Science, falfely fo called.
are the Blessed here spoken of in the
Text; but upon what Grounds they are
pronounced thus blessed, comes now in the

2d Place to be confidered; wherein
I proposed to show the fuperior Blessed-
nefs of those who have not feen, and yet
kave believed, above those who require
fenfible Evidence to engage their Affent
to the Articles of Faith. Articles of fuch
Importance as thofe contained in the
Gofpel, ought regularly to engage our
Closet-Application to discover the Truth
of them; but Truths of fuch Comfort
ought to engage our heartieft and most
joyful Affent, when once discovered.
The Nature of the Christian Dispensation
abfolutely required fuch Facts to be
tranfacted as are there recorded: The

Incarnation

Incarnation of the Son of God was a Means abfolutely neceffary to bring about Man's Redemption; by our Blessed Saviour's Death and Paffion an Attonement was made for our Sins, and the Punishment due to their Demerits was removed; by our Saviour's Resurrection a compleat Victory was gained over the great Enemies of Mankind, Sin and Death; and a firm Belief of thefe and other Articles are made in their Nature, a Condition of our obtaining the blessed Effects of them. Now there is nothing in any of thefe Facts themfelves which may not be thoroughly embraced, but the Duties confequent on our Belief are the mighty ftumbling Blocks in our Way; the crucifying the old Man, the mortifying our Members, the dying unto Sin, and the fitting loose to this World, are the Doubts and Scruples which clog and damp the Evidences afforded us : Paffions and Prejudices clap a Biafs upon the Mind and incline it to believe contrary to the Dictates of right Reason and the common Rules of Judging. It is plain therefore that in Matters of Faith the Will must be pre

pared

pared as well as the Judgment inform'd ; and the Bleffedness here spoken of is confequent upon that Preparation of the Will, upon a pious Difpofition of Mind to receive the facred Truths of Divine Revelation, like little Children: He that requires fenfible Evidence for his Conviction, and allows only fo much Affent for fo much Demonstration, believes not out of Virtue, but Force; and fuch a neceffary Faith can no more avail him than necessary Actions: Our Obedience to God is as much fhewn by believing what he declares, as by doing what he commands; and it is an Argument of no great difference to the Almighty to require, that whatever He proposes to our Affent fhould be fully proved. Our Religion would be unworthy its Author, if Senfe and Reason were compleat Judges of the Truth of it: Such contracted Principles would be productive of no other than a narrow Degree of Happinefs; but Chriftianity, which is intended. in an eminent Degree to enlarge and exalt our Soul, makes Faith the Principle of our Actions, and God's Word the

Foundation of our Faith. A true Be liever therefore thankfully accepts the Doctrines of Chriftianity upon fuch Evidence as the Almighty hath vouchfafed, Reason directs him to the Discovery of what God hath revealed, and then his Faith takes place, and gives its entire Affent; an humble Modefty, a tractable Meeknefs, are the Tempers of Mind which recommend God's Word to his Belief, and likewise his Belief to God's Acceptance; and thus it is that his Faith, by being attended with the entire Choice and Approbation of the Mind, is counted unto him for Righteousness.

THAT fullen Obftinacy, which stands out against every thing less than Demonftration, it is to be feared, will act even against Demonstration; that Hardness of Heart which prevents the renewing of our Minds by the Purity of Faith, will prevent likewise the renewing of our Lives by the Purity of Holiness. The Jews many of them were fufficiently perfwaded of the Truth of our Lord's Refurrection, but wanted Integrity to confefs him the Son of God, because they

wanted