The danger of corrupting the faith by philosophy a sermon preach'd before the Right Honble, the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen at Guildhall-Chappel on Sunday, April 25, 1697 / by William Sherlock.
         Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
      
       
         
           1697
        
      
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             The danger of corrupting the faith by philosophy a sermon preach'd before the Right Honble, the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen at Guildhall-Chappel on Sunday, April 25, 1697 / by William Sherlock.
             Sherlock, William, 1641?-1707.
          
           24 p.
           
             Printed for W. Rogers,
             London :
             1697.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Philosophy and religion -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           The
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           PAVL's
           SERMON
           Before
           the
           Lord
           Mayor
           and
           Aldermen
           ,
           On
           APRIL
           25.
           1697.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           
             Clarke
             Mayor
             .
          
           
             
               
                 Martis
                 quarto
                 die
              
               Maij
               1697.
               
               
                 Annoque
                 R.
                 Rs.
              
               Wilhelmi
               Tertii
               Angliae
               ,
               
                 &c.
                 Nono
              
               .
            
          
        
         
           THIS
           Court
           doth
           desire
           Mr.
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           to
           print
           his
           Sermon
           preached
           before
           the
           Lord
           Mayor
           and
           Aldermen
           of
           this
           City
           ,
           on
           Sunday
           the
           25th
           day
           of
           April
           last
           .
        
         
           
             GOODFELLOW
             .
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Danger
           of
           corrupting
           the
           Faith
           by
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preach'd
           before
           the
           Right
           Hon
           ble
           the
           Lord-Mayor
           ,
           AND
           
             Court
             of
             Aldermen
          
           ,
           At
           GUILDHALL-CHAPPEL
           ,
           On
           SUNDAY
           ,
           APRIL
           25.
           1697.
           
        
         
           By
           WILLIAM
           SHERLOCK
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Dean
           of
           St.
           
           Paul's
           ,
           Master
           of
           the
           Temple
           ,
           and
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             W.
             Rogers
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Sun
           against
           St.
           
           Dunstan's
           Church
           in
           Fleetstreet
           .
           MDCXCVII
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             COLOS.
             II.
             8.
             
          
           
             Beware
             lest
             any
             man
             spoil
             you
             through
             Philosophy
             and
             vain
             deceit
             ,
             after
             the
             traditions
             of
             men
             ,
             after
             the
             rudiments
             of
             the
             world
             ,
             and
             not
             after
             Christ.
             
          
        
         
           HAD
           St.
           Paul
           lived
           in
           our
           Age
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           required
           little
           less
           than
           the
           Courage
           and
           Bravery
           of
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Martyrdom
           to
           have
           said
           this
           :
           And
           nothing
           but
           the
           Authority
           of
           so
           great
           an
           Apostle
           (
           which
           though
           some
           men
           do
           not
           much
           value
           ,
           yet
           they
           dare
           not
           openly
           despise
           )
           can
           skreen
           those
           ,
           who
           venture
           to
           say
           it
           after
           him
           .
        
         
           What
           some
           men
           call
           Philosophy
           and
           Reason
           (
           and
           there
           is
           nothing
           so
           foolish
           and
           absurd
           which
           some
           men
           will
           not
           call
           so
           )
           ,
           is
           the
           only
           thing
           which
           those
           men
           adore
           ,
           who
           would
           either
           have
           no
           God
           ,
           or
           a
           God
           and
           a
           Religion
           of
           their
           own
           making
           .
           And
           what
           Attempts
           some
           have
           made
           to
           undermine
           all
           Religion
           ,
           and
           others
           to
           corrupt
           and
           transform
           the
           whole
           Frame
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           upon
           a
           pretence
           of
           its
           contradicting
           Natural
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           ,
           is
           too
           well
           known
           to
           need
           a
           Proof
           .
           That
           thus
           it
           was
           in
           his
           days
           ,
           and
           that
           thus
           it
           was
           likely
           to
           be
           in
           future
           Ages
           ,
           St.
           Paul
           was
           very
           sensible
           ,
           when
           he
           gave
           this
           Caution
           to
           his
           Colossians
           ;
           and
           I
           'm
           sure
           it
           is
           as
           proper
           a
           Caution
           for
           us
           ,
           as
           ever
           it
           was
           for
           any
           Age
           since
           the
           writing
           of
           this
           
           Epistle
           ;
           for
           this
           vain
           Pretence
           to
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           never
           more
           prevailed
           ,
           and
           never
           did
           more
           mischief
           to
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           an
           endless
           and
           fruitless
           Task
           to
           go
           about
           to
           confute
           all
           the
           absurd
           Hypotheses
           and
           wild
           inconsistent
           Reasonings
           wherewith
           men
           abuse
           themselves
           and
           others
           :
           The
           Experience
           of
           so
           many
           Ages
           wherein
           Philosophy
           was
           in
           all
           its
           Glory
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Sects
           disputed
           and
           wrangled
           eternally
           ,
           without
           ending
           any
           one
           Controversy
           ,
           gives
           no
           great
           Encouragement
           ,
           to
           hope
           for
           much
           this
           way
           ;
           at
           least
           it
           can
           never
           be
           expected
           that
           ordinary
           Christians
           should
           be
           better
           instructed
           and
           confirmed
           in
           the
           Faith
           by
           Philosophical
           Disputes
           .
        
         
           The
           Christian
           Religion
           has
           from
           the
           very
           beginning
           been
           corrupted
           by
           a
           mixture
           of
           Philosophy
           :
           Thus
           it
           was
           in
           the
           Apostles
           days
           ,
           and
           thus
           it
           has
           been
           more
           or
           less
           in
           all
           Ages
           of
           the
           Church
           to
           this
           day
           ;
           and
           the
           direction
           the
           Apostle
           gives
           for
           the
           security
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           is
           ,
           Not
           to
           dispute
           such
           matters
           ,
           but
           to
           distinguish
           between
           Philosophical
           Disputes
           ,
           and
           Matters
           of
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           to
           reject
           all
           the
           Pretences
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           when
           it
           does
           or
           seems
           to
           contradict
           the
           Faith
           of
           Christ
           ,
           or
           would
           make
           any
           corrupt
           Additions
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           
             Beware
             lest
             any
             man
             spoil
             you
             through
             Philosophy
             and
             vain
             deceit
          
           ;
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           is
           to
           make
           a
           Prey
           ,
           or
           to
           carry
           away
           as
           a
           Prey
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           seduce
           them
           from
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           Purity
           and
           Simplicity
           of
           it
           :
           
             Through
             Philosophy
             and
             vain
             deceit
          
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           through
           the
           
             vain
             deceit
             of
             Philosophy
          
           ,
           which
           cheats
           men
           with
           a
           flattering
           but
           empty
           appearance
           ;
           may
           unsettle
           weak
           Minds
           ,
           but
           cannot
           lay
           a
           sure
           and
           solid
           foundation
           of
           Faith
           ;
           may
           cheat
           men
           out
           of
           their
           Faith
           ,
           but
           when
           that
           is
           done
           ,
           can
           give
           them
           nothing
           certain
           in
           the
           room
           of
           it
           :
           For
           it
           is
           but
           
             after
             the
             traditions
             
             of
             men
             ,
          
           and
           
             after
             the
             rudiments
             of
             this
             world
             :
          
           Some
           of
           these
           Doctrines
           may
           possibly
           plead
           Prescription
           ,
           as
           having
           been
           so
           long
           received
           that
           no
           man
           knows
           their
           Original
           ;
           or
           if
           they
           have
           the
           Authority
           of
           some
           Great
           Name
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           but
           a
           Human
           Authority
           ,
           and
           they
           are
           but
           
             the
             traditions
             of
             men
          
           ;
           and
           of
           men
           who
           at
           best
           had
           no
           better
           information
           than
           from
           the
           visible
           appearances
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           their
           own
           imperfect
           Observations
           ,
           and
           corrupt
           or
           defective
           Reasonings
           ,
           
             after
             the
             rudiments
             of
             this
             world
             :
          
           And
           is
           this
           an
           Authority
           to
           oppose
           against
           the
           Faith
           of
           Christ
           ,
           which
           both
           wants
           that
           Divine
           Confirmation
           which
           he
           gave
           to
           his
           Doctrines
           ,
           and
           contradicts
           them
           ?
           For
           they
           are
           
             not
             after
             Christ
          
           ,
           neither
           taught
           by
           Christ
           ,
           nor
           consonant
           to
           what
           he
           taught
           .
        
         
           These
           Words
           might
           afford
           great
           Variety
           of
           Discourse
           ;
           but
           I
           shall
           confine
           my self
           to
           what
           is
           most
           Useful
           ,
           and
           reduce
           that
           into
           as
           narrow
           a
           compass
           as
           I
           can
           ,
           by
           shewing
           ,
        
         
           I.
           What
           great
           need
           there
           is
           of
           this
           Caution
           ,
           To
           
             beware
             lest
             any
             man
             spoil
             us
             through
             Philosophy
             and
             vain
             deceit
             .
          
        
         
           II.
           What
           great
           reason
           we
           have
           to
           reject
           all
           these
           vain
           Pretences
           to
           Philosophy
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           opposed
           to
           the
           Authority
           of
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           I.
           As
           for
           the
           first
           of
           these
           ,
           Whoever
           considers
           what
           an
           Enemy
           these
           vain
           Pretences
           to
           Philosophy
           have
           always
           been
           to
           Religion
           ,
           will
           see
           need
           enough
           for
           this
           Caution
           .
        
         
           True
           Reason
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           Knowledge
           of
           Nature
           ,
           which
           is
           true
           Philosophy
           ,
           would
           certainly
           direct
           us
           to
           the
           Acknowledgment
           and
           Worship
           of
           that
           Supreme
           Being
           who
           made
           the
           World
           :
           And
           yet
           we
           know
           ,
           that
           there
           never
           was
           an
           Atheist
           without
           some
           Pretence
           to
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           generally
           such
           loud
           noisy
           Pretences
           too
           ,
           as
           make
           ignorant
           
           people
           think
           them
           very
           notable
           Philosophers
           ,
           and
           that
           tempts
           some
           vain
           empty
           persons
           to
           affect
           Atheism
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           be
           thought
           Philosophers
           .
        
         
           That
           this
           is
           
             vain
             deceit
          
           ,
           all
           men
           must
           own
           ,
           who
           believe
           there
           is
           a
           God
           :
           And
           if
           it
           be
           possible
           to
           pretend
           Philosophy
           for
           Atheism
           it self
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           great
           wonder
           if
           it
           be
           made
           to
           patronize
           Infidelity
           and
           Heresy
           :
           But
           this
           plainly
           shews
           of
           what
           dangerous
           Consequence
           it
           is
           to
           admit
           Philosophical
           Disputes
           into
           Religion
           ,
           which
           if
           at
           any
           time
           they
           may
           do
           any
           service
           to
           Religion
           ,
           much
           oftner
           greatly
           corrupt
           it
           ,
           and
           shake
           the
           very
           Foundations
           of
           it
           ;
           of
           which
           more
           anon
           .
        
         
           At
           present
           I
           shall
           only
           shew
           you
           how
           the
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           stands
           ;
           That
           most
           of
           the
           Disputes
           in
           Religion
           are
           nothing
           else
           but
           the
           Disputes
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           therefore
           according
           to
           the
           Apostolical
           Command
           ,
           to
           be
           wholly
           flung
           out
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           not
           suffered
           to
           affect
           our
           Faith
           one
           way
           or
           other
           .
           To
           be
           a
           Philosopher
           and
           a
           Christian
           ,
           to
           Dispute
           and
           to
           Believe
           ,
           are
           two
           very
           different
           things
           ;
           and
           yet
           it
           is
           very
           evident
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           the
           Arguments
           against
           Revelation
           in
           general
           ,
           and
           most
           of
           the
           Disputes
           about
           the
           particular
           Doctrines
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           are
           no
           better
           than
           this
           
             vain
             deceit
             of
             Philosophy
          
           ;
           that
           were
           the
           matters
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           Disputes
           of
           Philosophy
           truly
           distinguished
           ,
           this
           alone
           would
           be
           sufficient
           to
           settle
           the
           Faith
           of
           Christians
           ,
           and
           restore
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           ,
           at
           least
           in
           the
           great
           Fundamentals
           of
           Religion
           ,
           to
           the
           Christian
           World.
           
        
         
           1.
           
           As
           to
           begin
           with
           Revelation
           in
           general
           .
           The
           Books
           of
           Moses
           are
           the
           most
           Ancient
           ,
           and
           that
           considered
           ,
           the
           best
           attested
           History
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           the
           whole
           Nation
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           whose
           History
           he
           writes
           ,
           pay
           the
           greatest
           veneration
           to
           him
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           believe
           the
           Matters
           of
           Fact
           which
           he
           relates
           ,
           he
           was
           certainly
           an
           Inspired
           Man
           ,
           who
           
           could
           neither
           deceive
           ,
           nor
           be
           deceived
           .
           And
           it
           is
           impossible
           to
           have
           greater
           Evidence
           for
           the
           Truth
           and
           Authenticalness
           of
           any
           Writings
           ,
           at
           such
           a
           distance
           of
           time
           ,
           than
           we
           have
           for
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           
             New
             Testament
          
           ;
           and
           indeed
           the
           Infidels
           of
           our
           Age
           have
           very
           little
           to
           say
           purely
           against
           the
           Credibility
           of
           the
           History
           ;
           and
           then
           one
           would
           think
           ,
           that
           all
           their
           other
           Objections
           should
           come
           too
           late
           ,
           unless
           they
           will
           justify
           Pharaoh
           in
           disbelieving
           Moses
           ,
           and
           the
           Scribes
           and
           Pharisees
           in
           disbelieving
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           after
           all
           the
           Miracles
           they
           did
           :
           For
           if
           they
           will
           disbelieve
           Moses
           and
           Christ
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           nothing
           material
           to
           object
           against
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           Histories
           ;
           nothing
           ,
           which
           they
           would
           allow
           to
           be
           good
           Objections
           against
           any
           other
           History
           ;
           they
           must
           by
           the
           same
           reason
           have
           disbelieved
           them
           ,
           though
           they
           had
           seen
           them
           do
           all
           those
           great
           Works
           which
           are
           reported
           of
           them
           in
           such
           Credible
           Histories
           .
           But
           whatever
           the
           Authority
           of
           these
           Books
           are
           ,
           they
           think
           they
           may
           securely
           reject
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           contain
           any
           thing
           which
           contradicts
           their
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           they
           find
           a
           great
           many
           such
           things
           to
           quarrel
           with
           :
           They
           think
           
           Moses's
           History
           of
           the
           Creation
           very
           unphilosophical
           ;
           That
           the
           Story
           of
           Eve
           and
           the
           Serpent
           is
           an
           incredible
           Fiction
           ;
           That
           the
           Universal
           Deluge
           is
           absolutely
           impossible
           ,
           and
           irreconcileable
           with
           the
           Principles
           of
           Philosophy
           ;
           and
           it
           does
           not
           become
           Philosophers
           to
           have
           recourse
           to
           Miracles
           :
           That
           what
           we
           call
           Miracles
           are
           not
           the
           effects
           of
           a
           Divine
           Power
           ,
           but
           may
           be
           resolved
           into
           Natural
           Causes
           ;
           That
           Inspiration
           and
           Prophesy
           is
           nothing
           but
           Natural
           Enthusiasm
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Pretences
           to
           Revelation
           a
           Cheat
           and
           Imposture
           ;
           That
           Nature
           teaches
           us
           all
           that
           we
           need
           to
           know
           ;
           That
           there
           is
           no
           other
           certain
           knowledge
           but
           this
           ;
           That
           we
           are
           not
           bound
           to
           believe
           any
           thing
           which
           our
           own
           Reason
           cannot
           grasp
           and
           comprehend
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Revelation
           is
           perfectly
           useless
           ;
           and
           God
           himself
           cannot
           
           oblige
           us
           to
           believe
           any
           thing
           which
           does
           not
           agree
           with
           the
           Reason
           of
           our
           own
           Minds
           ,
           and
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           Nature
           .
           Those
           who
           understand
           the
           Mystery
           of
           Modern
           Infidelity
           ,
           know
           that
           these
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           ,
           are
           the
           wise
           Reasons
           for
           which
           they
           reject
           and
           ridicule
           all
           Revealed
           Religion
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           to
           rob
           and
           spoil
           men
           of
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           Blessings
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           A
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
           So
           that
           Infidelity
           is
           resolved
           into
           these
           vain
           Pretences
           to
           Philosophy
           ,
           that
           Men
           will
           understand
           how
           to
           make
           ,
           destroy
           ,
           and
           govern
           the
           World
           better
           than
           God.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           As
           these
           men
           oppose
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           to
           Revelation
           ,
           so
           others
           either
           deny
           the
           fundamental
           Articles
           of
           Christianity
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           some
           Philosophical
           Difficulties
           ,
           or
           corrupt
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           Christianity
           by
           a
           mixture
           of
           Philosophy
           .
           The
           Gospel
           of
           our
           Saviour
           is
           the
           plainest
           Revelation
           of
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           that
           ever
           was
           made
           to
           the
           World
           ;
           all
           its
           Doctrines
           are
           easily
           understood
           ,
           without
           Art
           and
           Subtilty
           ;
           and
           yet
           there
           is
           not
           a
           more
           nice
           ,
           intricate
           ,
           perplext
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           than
           what
           some
           men
           have
           made
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           :
           All
           the
           Subtil
           Disputes
           of
           Philosophy
           are
           brought
           into
           the
           Church
           ;
           and
           Plato
           and
           Aristotle
           are
           become
           as
           great
           Apostles
           ,
           as
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           or
           St.
           Paul
           :
           As
           to
           give
           some
           few
           Instances
           of
           it
           ;
           for
           time
           will
           not
           permit
           me
           to
           discourse
           it
           at
           large
           .
        
         
           What
           are
           the
           
             Arian
             ,
             Socinian
             ,
             Pelagian
          
           Controversies
           ,
           but
           meer
           Philosophical
           Disputes
           ,
           with
           which
           these
           Hereticks
           corrupted
           the
           Catholick
           Faith
           ?
        
         
           There
           is
           nothing
           more
           plain
           and
           express
           in
           Scripture
           than
           the
           Faith
           of
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             or
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Trinity
             in
             Vnity
          
           ;
           and
           that
           great
           Art
           and
           Subtilty
           which
           has
           been
           used
           ,
           and
           to
           so
           little
           purpose
           ,
           to
           pervert
           those
           Texts
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           wherein
           this
           Doctrine
           is
           contained
           ,
           is
           an
           evident
           proof
           ,
           That
           this
           is
           the
           plain
           ,
           natural
           obvious
           sense
           of
           those
           Texts
           ,
           since
           it
           requires
           so
           much
           Art
           
           and
           Criticism
           to
           put
           any
           other
           sense
           on
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           will
           not
           do
           neither
           ,
           till
           men
           are
           resolved
           rather
           to
           make
           any
           thing
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           to
           find
           
             a
             real
             Trinity
          
           there
           .
           If
           then
           this
           Faith
           be
           so
           plainly
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           what
           makes
           all
           this
           dispute
           about
           it
           ?
           What
           makes
           those
           ,
           who
           profess
           to
           believe
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           so
           obstinate
           against
           this
           Faith
           ?
           Truly
           that
           which
           makes
           some
           men
           Infidels
           ,
           makes
           others
           Hereticks
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           a
           vain
           pretence
           to
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           Philosophical
           Dispute
           is
           about
           the
           Divine
           Unity
           :
           We
           all
           own
           with
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           but
           One
           God
           ;
           but
           we
           say
           further
           ,
           as
           the
           Scripture
           teaches
           us
           ,
           
             That
             there
             are
             Three
             ,
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             each
             of
             which
             is
             true
             and
             perfect
             God.
          
           This
           they
           say
           is
           a
           Contradiction
           ;
           and
           if
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           there
           is
           an
           end
           of
           this
           Faith
           ,
           for
           both
           parts
           of
           a
           Contradiction
           can't
           be
           true
           :
           But
           to
           be
           Three
           and
           One
           upon
           different
           accounts
           ,
           and
           in
           different
           senses
           ,
           is
           no
           Contradiction
           ;
           for
           thus
           Three
           may
           be
           One
           ,
           and
           One
           Three
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           all
           the
           Scripture
           teaches
           ,
           or
           that
           we
           profess
           to
           believe
           ,
           whatever
           the
           Mystery
           of
           this
           Distinction
           and
           Unity
           be
           :
           But
           this
           will
           not
           satisfy
           these
           Philosophical
           Wits
           ,
           unless
           they
           can
           comprehend
           how
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           are
           really
           and
           distinctly
           Three
           ,
           and
           essentially
           One
           ,
           the
           manner
           of
           which
           the
           Scripture
           gives
           no
           account
           of
           ,
           and
           therefore
           this
           is
           no
           Dispute
           in
           Faith
           ,
           but
           only
           in
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           Another
           Objection
           concerns
           the
           Divine
           Generation
           ,
           how
           God
           can
           beget
           a
           Son
           of
           his
           own
           Substance
           ;
           which
           the
           Arians
           thought
           inferred
           a
           division
           of
           the
           Divine
           Substance
           .
        
         
           And
           a
           Third
           Objection
           concerns
           an
           Eternal
           Generation
           ;
           how
           it
           is
           possible
           that
           the
           Father
           should
           beget
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ;
           that
           the
           Son
           should
           be
           begotten
           without
           any
           beginning
           
           of
           Being
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Father
           should
           not
           be
           at
           least
           some
           few
           moments
           before
           the
           Son
           ,
           and
           consequently
           the
           Son
           not
           Eternal
           .
           Now
           we
           all
           grant
           that
           we
           can
           give
           no
           Philosophical
           account
           of
           this
           ,
           no
           more
           than
           we
           can
           of
           the
           simple
           Divine
           Essence
           ,
           or
           of
           Eternity
           it self
           ;
           but
           we
           may
           believe
           that
           God
           has
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           that
           there
           is
           an
           Eternal
           God
           ,
           without
           knowing
           how
           any
           thing
           is
           Eternal
           :
           These
           are
           Disputes
           in
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           none
           but
           vain
           men
           will
           dispute
           about
           ,
           as
           being
           acknowledged
           above
           our
           Comprehension
           ,
           and
           therefore
           no
           reasonable
           Objection
           against
           our
           Faith.
           
        
         
           This
           as
           for
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Incarnation
           ,
           nothing
           can
           be
           plainer
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           that
           
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             was
             made
             man
          
           ;
           That
           
             the
             Word
             was
             made
             flesh
             ,
             and
             dwelt
             among
             us
          
           ;
           That
           
             God
             was
             manifest
             in
             the
             flesh
             :
          
           And
           all
           the
           disputes
           about
           this
           Article
           are
           purely
           Philosophical
           :
           Some
           men
           reject
           it
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           understand
           how
           God
           and
           Man
           can
           be
           united
           in
           one
           Person
           :
           Others
           confound
           the
           Divine
           and
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           as
           Eutyches
           did
           ;
           or
           divide
           the
           Persons
           ,
           as
           Nestorius
           did
           ;
           both
           which
           indeed
           destroy
           the
           Article
           of
           the
           Incarnation
           ;
           for
           the
           Word
           is
           not
           made
           Flesh
           ,
           unless
           the
           same
           Person
           ,
           who
           is
           God
           ,
           is
           Man
           too
           ,
           and
           continues
           perfect
           God
           and
           perfect
           Man
           after
           this
           Union
           :
           But
           all
           these
           disputes
           concern
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Divine
           and
           Human
           Nature
           in
           Christ
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           would
           separate
           between
           Faith
           and
           Philosophy
           ,
           such
           disputes
           might
           soon
           be
           ended
           .
        
         
           Thus
           most
           of
           the
           difficulties
           in
           the
           Pelagian
           and
           Quinquarticular
           Controversy
           ,
           are
           ultimately
           resolved
           into
           mere
           Philosophical
           disputes
           about
           Fate
           and
           Prescience
           ,
           Liberty
           and
           Necessity
           ,
           and
           God's
           concourse
           with
           Creatures
           ,
           or
           the
           Powers
           of
           Nature
           and
           Grace
           :
           And
           would
           time
           permit
           ,
           it
           were
           easy
           to
           shew
           this
           in
           most
           of
           the
           Controversies
           of
           Religion
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           not
           what
           God
           has
           revealed
           ,
           and
           what
           
           he
           requires
           us
           to
           believe
           ,
           but
           such
           Nice
           Philosophical
           Questions
           as
           men
           raise
           about
           these
           matters
           ,
           which
           occasion
           all
           these
           disputes
           .
        
         
           It
           has
           often
           been
           proposed
           as
           a
           means
           of
           Union
           to
           silence
           all
           disputes
           ,
           To
           confine
           our selves
           to
           Scripture-Words
           and
           Expressions
           ,
           without
           determining
           the
           signification
           of
           them
           :
           But
           this
           would
           make
           only
           an
           Agreement
           in
           Words
           ,
           not
           a
           Consent
           in
           Opinions
           ;
           nor
           could
           it
           secure
           the
           Peace
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           while
           all
           men
           knew
           ,
           that
           under
           the
           same
           form
           of
           Words
           ,
           they
           had
           very
           different
           and
           contrary
           Meanings
           ,
           which
           would
           still
           make
           them
           as
           much
           Hereticks
           to
           each
           other
           ,
           as
           if
           their
           Words
           did
           as
           expresly
           contradict
           each
           other
           ,
           as
           their
           Faith.
           But
           would
           men
           reduce
           all
           their
           disputes
           to
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           make
           that
           the
           only
           Rule
           of
           their
           Faith
           ,
           without
           intermixing
           any
           Philosophical
           disputes
           with
           it
           ,
           this
           would
           be
           an
           infallible
           means
           of
           Union
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           only
           this
           vain
           pretence
           to
           Philosophy
           ,
           which
           raises
           all
           these
           disputes
           ,
           and
           then
           tempts
           men
           to
           pervert
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           justify
           their
           Philosophy
           .
        
         
           In
           all
           these
           cases
           we
           are
           concerned
           to
           enquire
           what
           the
           true
           sense
           of
           the
           Article
           is
           ;
           for
           this
           the
           Scripture
           teaches
           ,
           and
           so
           far
           our
           Faith
           is
           concerned
           ;
           and
           these
           are
           not
           only
           justifiable
           ,
           but
           necessary
           disputes
           ,
           if
           the
           true
           Faith
           be
           necessary
           :
           And
           such
           were
           the
           disputes
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Fathers
           with
           the
           
             Sabellian
             ,
             Arian
          
           ,
           and
           Photinian
           Hereticks
           ;
           Whether
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           were
           only
           Three
           Names
           ,
           or
           Three
           Appearances
           and
           Manifestations
           of
           the
           same
           One
           single
           Person
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Three
           ,
           but
           Three
           True
           ,
           Proper
           ,
           Coeternal
           ,
           and
           Coequal
           Persons
           :
           Or
           whether
           He
           ,
           who
           is
           in
           Scripture
           called
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           a
           Creature
           ,
           though
           the
           most
           Excellent
           Creature
           ;
           or
           a
           Son
           ,
           and
           God
           by
           Nature
           ,
           truly
           begotten
           of
           his
           Father's
           Substance
           :
           Or
           whether
           Christ
           be
           God
           Incarnate
           ,
           or
           a
           meer
           Man
           :
           And
           their
           ancient
           Creeds
           pretended
           to
           no
           
           more
           ,
           than
           to
           teach
           what
           the
           Catholick
           Faith
           was
           ,
           not
           to
           expound
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           the
           Trinity
           and
           Incarnation
           .
           And
           thus
           far
           we
           must
           explain
           the
           Faith
           ,
           as
           to
           know
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           others
           know
           ,
           what
           it
           is
           we
           believe
           ;
           and
           if
           to
           assert
           the
           ancient
           Catholick
           Faith
           against
           old
           and
           new
           Heresies
           ,
           should
           be
           called
           New
           Explications
           ,
           we
           cannot
           help
           it
           ;
           for
           we
           must
           explain
           what
           the
           Scripture
           teaches
           about
           these
           Articles
           ,
           and
           how
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           always
           understood
           them
           :
           But
           that
           which
           we
           are
           to
           beware
           of
           ,
           is
           ,
           Not
           to
           mix
           Philosophy
           with
           our
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           to
           admit
           of
           any
           mere
           Philosophical
           Objections
           against
           the
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           to
           attempt
           any
           Explications
           of
           these
           Mysteries
           ,
           beyond
           what
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           the
           Faith
           and
           Practice
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           will
           justify
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           the
           Importunity
           of
           Hereticks
           did
           very
           often
           engage
           the
           Catholick
           Fathers
           in
           Philosophical
           disputes
           ;
           but
           this
           they
           did
           ,
           not
           to
           explain
           the
           Christian
           Mysteries
           by
           Philosophy
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           as
           incomprehensible
           as
           these
           Mysteries
           are
           ,
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           their
           Objections
           against
           these
           Articles
           ,
           were
           very
           absurd
           :
           And
           such
           disputes
           as
           these
           may
           sometimes
           be
           absolutely
           necessary
           ,
           and
           of
           great
           use
           to
           shame
           these
           vain
           Pretences
           to
           Philosophy
           ,
           while
           we
           do
           not
           put
           the
           Trial
           of
           our
           Faith
           upon
           this
           Issue
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           Let
           us
           now
           consider
           what
           great
           reason
           we
           have
           to
           reject
           all
           the
           vain
           Pretences
           to
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           ,
           when
           opposed
           to
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           .
           For
           that
           is
           all
           the
           Apostle
           intends
           in
           this
           Caution
           ;
           not
           to
           discourage
           the
           use
           of
           Reason
           ,
           or
           the
           study
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           which
           are
           great
           Improvements
           ,
           and
           a
           delightful
           Entertainment
           of
           Human
           Minds
           ,
           and
           with
           a
           wise
           and
           prudent
           Conduct
           may
           be
           very
           serviceable
           to
           Religion
           too
           ;
           but
           we
           must
           not
           set
           up
           any
           Conclusions
           in
           Philosophy
           against
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           ,
           nor
           corrupt
           the
           Faith
           with
           a
           mixture
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           
           nor
           reject
           any
           revealed
           Truths
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           Natural
           Ideas
           to
           conceive
           them
           by
           .
        
         
           To
           shorten
           this
           Discourse
           as
           much
           as
           I
           can
           ;
           I
           shall
           at
           present
           only
           shew
           you
           what
           reason
           we
           have
           to
           believe
           those
           Doctrines
           which
           are
           thought
           the
           most
           mysterious
           and
           inconceivable
           ,
           notwithstanding
           any
           Objections
           from
           Natural
           Reason
           and
           Philosophy
           against
           them
           .
           And
           the
           account
           of
           this
           must
           be
           resolved
           into
           the
           Nature
           ,
           Use
           ,
           and
           Authority
           of
           Revelation
           ;
           that
           Revelation
           ,
           as
           to
           such
           matters
           as
           are
           knowable
           only
           by
           Revelation
           ,
           must
           serve
           instead
           of
           Sense
           ,
           Natural
           Ideas
           ,
           and
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           That
           we
           must
           believe
           things
           which
           we
           do
           not
           see
           ,
           things
           which
           we
           have
           no
           Natural
           Notion
           or
           Conception
           of
           ,
           things
           which
           are
           not
           evident
           to
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           for
           without
           this
           ,
           there
           is
           little
           use
           of
           Faith
           ,
           no
           Authority
           of
           pure
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           general
           Corruption
           of
           Mankind
           made
           it
           very
           necessary
           for
           God
           to
           revive
           the
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           to
           reinforce
           the
           observation
           of
           them
           by
           his
           own
           Authority
           and
           Command
           ;
           but
           the
           proper
           work
           of
           Revelation
           is
           to
           discover
           such
           things
           to
           us
           as
           Nature
           cannot
           teach
           ,
           of
           which
           we
           have
           no
           Natural
           Notion
           ,
           nor
           any
           Natural
           Evidence
           ;
           At
           least
           ,
           thus
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           if
           God
           knows
           more
           than
           Natural
           Reason
           teaches
           ,
           or
           can
           comprehend
           ;
           and
           thinks
           it
           fit
           to
           reveal
           such
           Supernatural
           Truths
           to
           us
           ,
           when
           he
           sees
           it
           useful
           for
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           Now
           if
           God
           ever
           does
           reveal
           such
           things
           to
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           believe
           upon
           God's
           Authority
           (
           which
           is
           the
           strict
           Notion
           of
           a
           Divine
           Faith
           )
           ,
           we
           must
           believe
           without
           any
           Natural
           Evidence
           ,
           merely
           because
           God
           has
           revealed
           it
           ;
           and
           then
           we
           must
           believe
           such
           things
           as
           are
           not
           evident
           to
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ;
           and
           then
           it
           can
           be
           no
           Objection
           against
           Revelation
           ,
           nor
           against
           the
           belief
           of
           any
           such
           supernatural
           Truths
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           no
           Natural
           Notion
           ,
           nor
           Natural
           
           evidence
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           what
           we
           cannot
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           .
        
         
           To
           believe
           no
           farther
           than
           natural
           Reason
           can
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           ,
           is
           to
           reject
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           to
           destroy
           the
           distinction
           between
           Reason
           and
           Faith.
           He
           who
           will
           believe
           no
           farther
           than
           natural
           Reason
           approves
           ;
           believes
           his
           Reason
           ,
           not
           the
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           is
           in
           truth
           a
           Natural
           Philosopher
           ,
           not
           a
           Believer
           :
           He
           believes
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           as
           he
           would
           believe
           Plato
           and
           Tully
           ;
           not
           as
           inspired
           Writings
           ,
           but
           as
           agreeable
           to
           Reason
           and
           the
           result
           of
           wise
           and
           deep
           Thoughts
           ;
           and
           this
           puts
           an
           end
           to
           all
           the
           disputes
           about
           Faith
           and
           Revelation
           at
           once
           :
           For
           what
           use
           is
           there
           of
           Faith
           ?
           What
           matter
           whether
           the
           Scriptures
           be
           divinely
           Inspired
           or
           not
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           no
           farther
           concerned
           with
           them
           than
           with
           other
           Human
           Writings
           ,
           to
           believe
           what
           they
           teach
           agreeable
           to
           our
           own
           Reason
           ?
           Let
           these
           Men
           then
           either
           reject
           Faith
           and
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           confess
           ,
           That
           Revelation
           ,
           as
           to
           all
           Supernatural
           Truths
           ,
           must
           serve
           us
           instead
           of
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           .
           I
           would
           gladly
           know
           of
           them
           ,
           Whether
           they
           would
           not
           believe
           such
           supernatural
           Truths
           ,
           as
           are
           not
           evident
           to
           Reason
           ,
           were
           they
           sure
           that
           God
           had
           Revealed
           them
           ?
           I
           guess
           they
           will
           not
           be
           so
           hardy
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           they
           would
           not
           believe
           God
           himself
           ,
           should
           he
           Reveal
           such
           things
           as
           their
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           ;
           and
           if
           they
           would
           believe
           God
           in
           such
           matters
           ,
           Why
           will
           they
           not
           believe
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           which
           they
           themselves
           acknowledge
           to
           be
           Divine
           ,
           in
           such
           matters
           ?
           For
           is
           there
           any
           difference
           between
           believing
           God
           ,
           and
           believing
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           ?
           If
           God
           does
           know
           ,
           and
           can
           reveal
           such
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           be
           believed
           when
           he
           does
           reveal
           them
           ,
           and
           such
           Doctrines
           are
           contained
           in
           an
           undoubted
           Revelation
           ;
           then
           the
           unconceivableness
           of
           them
           can
           be
           no
           argument
           against
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           or
           that
           sense
           of
           the
           words
           ,
           which
           contains
           such
           Mysteries
           .
        
         
         
           Let
           us
           then
           consider
           the
           natural
           consequence
           of
           this
           ,
           which
           is
           of
           great
           moment
           in
           this
           dispute
           ,
           viz.
           That
           we
           must
           allow
           of
           no
           Objections
           against
           Revealed
           Mysteries
           ,
           which
           we
           will
           not
           allow
           to
           be
           good
           Objections
           against
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ;
           which
           is
           a
           necessary
           and
           unavoidable
           consequence
           if
           Revelation
           ,
           with
           respect
           to
           supernatural
           Truths
           ,
           stand
           in
           the
           place
           of
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           .
        
         
           Now
           no
           man
           questions
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           he
           sees
           and
           feels
           ,
           or
           what
           he
           can
           prove
           to
           be
           true
           by
           plain
           and
           undeniable
           Reason
           ,
           merely
           because
           there
           are
           unconceivable
           difficulties
           in
           it
           ;
           as
           there
           are
           in
           every
           thing
           ,
           even
           the
           most
           certain
           and
           familiar
           things
           in
           Nature
           :
           And
           if
           Revealed
           Truths
           are
           not
           more
           unconceivable
           than
           many
           natural
           objects
           of
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           Why
           should
           their
           being
           unconceivable
           be
           a
           greater
           Objection
           against
           believing
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           against
           believing
           our
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           in
           matters
           equally
           unconceivable
           ?
           When
           God
           has
           Revealed
           to
           us
           ,
           That
           he
           has
           an
           Eternal
           and
           Only
           Begotten
           Son
           ,
           though
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           the
           Mystery
           of
           the
           Eternal
           Generation
           ,
           Why
           should
           we
           not
           as
           firmly
           believe
           it
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           ,
           that
           Man
           Begets
           a
           Son
           in
           his
           own
           likeness
           ,
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           which
           we
           as
           little
           understand
           ?
           Nor
           can
           we
           any
           more
           conceive
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ,
           than
           we
           do
           the
           Incarnation
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Divine
           and
           Human
           Nature
           in
           one
           Person
           ?
           And
           if
           we
           own
           the
           Authority
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           Why
           should
           we
           not
           as
           well
           believe
           what
           Revelation
           teaches
           ,
           how
           unconceivable
           soever
           it
           be
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           what
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           teaches
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           alike
           unconceivable
           ?
        
         
           All
           men
           are
           sensible
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           very
           absurd
           and
           foolish
           to
           deny
           the
           Being
           of
           any
           thing
           which
           they
           have
           certain
           evidence
           of
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           comprehend
           the
           Nature
           and
           Reasons
           of
           it
           :
           The
           Man
           who
           rose
           up
           and
           walked
           before
           the
           Philosopher
           ,
           who
           was
           disputing
           subtilly
           against
           
           the
           possibility
           of
           Motion
           ,
           put
           a
           scorn
           upon
           all
           his
           Arguments
           ,
           by
           shewing
           him
           that
           he
           could
           Move
           :
           And
           therefore
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           all
           men
           believe
           their
           Senses
           and
           Reason
           against
           all
           the
           difficulties
           in
           Nature
           ,
           and
           will
           never
           be
           persuaded
           ,
           by
           the
           subtillest
           Disputant
           ,
           That
           that
           is
           not
           ,
           which
           they
           certainly
           see
           and
           know
           to
           be
           .
           Now
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           ,
           if
           men
           will
           allow
           the
           Authority
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           they
           must
           believe
           what
           is
           Revealed
           ,
           how
           unconceivable
           and
           incomprehensible
           soever
           its
           nature
           be
           ;
           for
           when
           we
           know
           that
           a
           thing
           is
           ,
           (
           and
           this
           may
           be
           known
           by
           Revelation
           as
           well
           as
           by
           Sense
           ,
           as
           those
           men
           must
           confess
           ,
           who
           acknowledge
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           )
           no
           difficulties
           in
           conceiving
           it
           ,
           must
           persuade
           us
           to
           deny
           that
           it
           is
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           very
           plain
           in
           it self
           ,
           though
           few
           men
           consider
           it
           ,
           That
           to
           disbelieve
           what
           is
           Revealed
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           any
           difficulties
           in
           understanding
           or
           conceiving
           it
           ,
           is
           to
           reject
           the
           certainty
           of
           Revelation
           ;
           For
           what
           other
           account
           can
           be
           given
           of
           that
           difference
           men
           make
           between
           the
           Evidence
           of
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           allow
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           to
           be
           good
           and
           certain
           proofs
           of
           the
           being
           of
           such
           things
           as
           are
           evident
           to
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           how
           mysterious
           soever
           their
           Natures
           are
           ;
           but
           that
           mere
           Revelation
           is
           no
           certain
           proof
           of
           the
           being
           of
           any
           thing
           which
           is
           not
           evident
           also
           to
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           how
           plainly
           soever
           it
           be
           Revealed
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           Revelation
           alone
           can
           prove
           nothing
           ;
           for
           if
           Revelation
           it self
           could
           prove
           the
           certainty
           of
           what
           is
           Revealed
           ,
           the
           difficulties
           in
           Nature
           and
           Philosophy
           could
           no
           more
           disprove
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           confute
           our
           Senses
           .
           Now
           let
           any
           man
           judge
           ,
           whether
           this
           be
           not
           unequal
           usage
           ,
           to
           expect
           more
           from
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           they
           do
           from
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           believe
           Revelation
           upon
           the
           same
           terms
           that
           they
           believe
           their
           Senses
           .
        
         
           Should
           men
           resolve
           to
           believe
           nothing
           which
           they
           see
           ,
           till
           they
           could
           give
           a
           Philosophical
           account
           of
           the
           Reasons
           ,
           
           and
           Causes
           ,
           and
           Natures
           ,
           of
           all
           they
           see
           ,
           as
           they
           refuse
           to
           believe
           a
           Revelation
           any
           farther
           than
           they
           can
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           the
           thing
           Revealed
           ,
           they
           must
           of
           necessity
           be
           as
           great
           Scepticks
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           Infidels
           .
           For
           as
           for
           contradictions
           ,
           it
           is
           an
           easy
           matter
           to
           make
           or
           find
           seeming
           contradictions
           in
           what
           we
           do
           not
           understand
           ;
           for
           when
           we
           know
           not
           the
           Philosophical
           Natures
           of
           things
           ,
           nor
           how
           they
           act
           ,
           and
           yet
           will
           be
           reasoning
           and
           guessing
           at
           them
           ,
           all
           our
           false
           guesses
           may
           be
           full
           of
           contradictions
           and
           impossibilities
           ,
           because
           we
           know
           not
           the
           true
           Mystery
           of
           Nature
           .
           It
           is
           this
           vain
           humour
           of
           Criticizing
           upon
           Nature
           which
           makes
           so
           many
           Atheists
           .
           They
           go
           upon
           the
           same
           Principle
           with
           Infidels
           and
           Hereticks
           ,
           To
           believe
           nothing
           which
           natural
           Reason
           cannot
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           ;
           now
           they
           cannot
           comprehend
           the
           Notion
           and
           Idea
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           which
           they
           say
           ,
           is
           made
           up
           of
           Contradictions
           and
           impossibilities
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           reject
           the
           Being
           of
           a
           God
           :
           They
           cannot
           conceive
           a
           Creating
           Power
           ,
           which
           can
           give
           Being
           to
           that
           which
           had
           no
           Being
           before
           ,
           which
           they
           think
           a
           plain
           Contradiction
           to
           make
           Something
           of
           Nothing
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           reject
           the
           Creation
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           either
           assert
           the
           Eternity
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           the
           Eternity
           of
           Matter
           :
           They
           can
           conceive
           no
           Substance
           but
           Matter
           and
           Body
           ,
           and
           therefore
           reject
           the
           Notion
           of
           a
           Spirit
           ,
           as
           Nonsense
           and
           Contradiction
           :
           They
           will
           allow
           nothing
           to
           be
           wisely
           made
           ,
           which
           they
           understand
           not
           the
           reason
           and
           uses
           of
           ,
           and
           therefore
           they
           fancy
           a
           great
           many
           botches
           and
           blunders
           in
           Nature
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           the
           designs
           and
           contrivance
           of
           Wisdom
           ,
           but
           the
           effects
           of
           Chance
           ;
           and
           then
           the
           consequence
           is
           plain
           ,
           That
           the
           World
           was
           made
           by
           Chance
           ,
           not
           by
           a
           Wise
           Author
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           if
           this
           way
           of
           Reasoning
           be
           allowed
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           impossible
           to
           defend
           either
           Sense
           ,
           or
           Reason
           ,
           or
           
           Revelation
           ,
           against
           the
           Cavils
           of
           Atheists
           and
           Infidels
           ;
           for
           there
           are
           unconceivable
           and
           incomprehensible
           Secrets
           and
           Mysteries
           in
           them
           all
           ;
           and
           if
           to
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           the
           Natures
           of
           things
           must
           be
           made
           the
           measure
           and
           standard
           of
           true
           and
           false
           ,
           we
           must
           deny
           our
           Senses
           and
           Reason
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           our
           Faith
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           do
           and
           must
           believe
           our
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           beyond
           our
           Comprehension
           ,
           Why
           must
           we
           believe
           nothing
           that
           is
           Revealed
           ,
           any
           farther
           than
           we
           can
           conceive
           and
           comprehend
           the
           Nature
           and
           Reasons
           of
           it
           ?
        
         
           The
           Sum
           is
           this
           :
           Humane
           Knowledge
           ,
           whatever
           the
           means
           of
           knowing
           be
           ,
           whether
           Sense
           ,
           or
           Reason
           ,
           or
           Revelation
           ,
           does
           not
           reach
           to
           the
           Philosophical
           Causes
           and
           Natures
           of
           things
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           their
           Being
           ,
           and
           Natural
           Vertues
           and
           Powers
           ;
           and
           as
           a
           Wise
           man
           ,
           who
           knows
           the
           measure
           of
           his
           Understanding
           ,
           expects
           no
           more
           from
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           than
           to
           know
           what
           things
           there
           are
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           what
           they
           are
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           they
           fall
           under
           the
           notice
           of
           Sense
           and
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           so
           we
           must
           expect
           no
           more
           from
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           the
           knowledge
           of
           such
           things
           as
           Sense
           and
           Natural
           Reason
           cannot
           discover
           .
           But
           we
           must
           no
           more
           expect
           the
           Philosophy
           of
           Supernatural
           Truths
           from
           Revelation
           ,
           than
           we
           do
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           Nature
           from
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           .
        
         
           Now
           since
           Human
           Knowledge
           is
           not
           a
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Mysterious
           Natures
           of
           things
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           know
           what
           things
           there
           are
           ,
           and
           what
           they
           are
           ;
           there
           can
           be
           no
           cantradiction
           between
           Sense
           ,
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           Revelation
           ;
           unless
           one
           denies
           what
           the
           other
           affirms
           ,
           not
           that
           one
           teaches
           more
           than
           the
           other
           teaches
           ,
           or
           that
           one
           cannot
           comprehend
           what
           the
           other
           teaches
           .
           Reason
           teaches
           more
           than
           Sense
           teaches
           ,
           or
           can
           comprehend
           ;
           and
           Revelation
           teaches
           more
           than
           either
           Sense
           or
           Natural
           Reason
           teaches
           ,
           or
           can
           comprehend
           ;
           but
           this
           is
           no
           contradiction
           ,
           but
           
           only
           a
           subordination
           between
           these
           different
           kinds
           and
           degrees
           of
           Knowledge
           ;
           but
           as
           for
           Unconceivableness
           and
           Incomprehensibility
           ,
           that
           is
           no
           argument
           against
           any
           thing
           ;
           for
           Sense
           and
           Natural
           Reason
           can
           no
           more
           comprehend
           their
           own
           Objects
           ,
           than
           they
           do
           what
           is
           revealed
           :
           And
           it
           is
           manifest
           perverseness
           to
           make
           that
           an
           objection
           against
           Revelation
           ,
           which
           we
           will
           not
           allow
           to
           be
           an
           objection
           against
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           sufficient
           as
           to
           the
           reason
           of
           the
           thing
           ;
           but
           as
           far
           as
           it
           is
           possible
           to
           remove
           mens
           Prejudices
           also
           against
           believing
           Mysteries
           ,
           I
           shall
           briefly
           answer
           two
           very
           popular
           Objections
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           It
           is
           thought
           very
           unnatural
           ,
           that
           when
           God
           has
           made
           us
           reasonable
           Creatures
           ,
           and
           therefore
           made
           Natural
           Reason
           to
           us
           the
           measure
           of
           Truth
           and
           Falshood
           ,
           he
           should
           require
           us
           to
           believe
           without
           Reason
           ;
           as
           we
           must
           do
           ,
           if
           he
           reveals
           such
           things
           to
           us
           as
           we
           know
           not
           ,
           and
           cannot
           possibly
           know
           the
           reasons
           of
           .
           If
           we
           must
           believe
           with
           our
           Understanding
           ,
           how
           can
           we
           believe
           things
           which
           we
           cannot
           understand
           ?
        
         
           This
           were
           a
           reasonable
           Objection
           ,
           were
           it
           true
           ;
           for
           we
           cannot
           believe
           what
           we
           have
           no
           knowledge
           ,
           nor
           understanding
           of
           ;
           for
           Faith
           is
           Knowledge
           ,
           though
           not
           Natural
           Knowledge
           .
        
         
           But
           do
           we
           not
           understand
           what
           it
           is
           we
           believe
           ?
           Do
           we
           not
           know
           what
           we
           mean
           ,
           when
           we
           say
           ,
           We
           believe
           in
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           do
           not
           our
           Adversaries
           understand
           what
           we
           mean
           by
           it
           ?
           How
           then
           come
           they
           to
           charge
           us
           with
           believing
           Contradictions
           and
           Impossibilities
           ?
           For
           if
           they
           know
           not
           what
           we
           believe
           ,
           they
           cannot
           know
           whether
           we
           believe
           Contradictions
           or
           not
           .
           And
           if
           we
           do
           understand
           what
           it
           is
           we
           believe
           ,
           then
           we
           do
           not
           believe
           without
           understanding
           ,
           which
           
           is
           absolutely
           impossible
           ,
           if
           we
           know
           what
           it
           is
           we
           believe
           .
        
         
           And
           we
           know
           also
           why
           we
           believe
           :
           Our
           Faith
           is
           founded
           in
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           resolved
           into
           the
           Authority
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           highest
           and
           most
           infallible
           Reason
           .
           The
           Miracles
           which
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           wrought
           ,
           were
           evident
           to
           Sense
           ,
           and
           owned
           by
           Reason
           to
           be
           the
           effects
           of
           a
           Divine
           Power
           ;
           and
           the
           Answer
           the
           Blind
           man
           gave
           to
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           when
           Christ
           had
           opened
           his
           Eyes
           ,
           speaks
           the
           true
           sense
           of
           Nature
           :
           
             H●rein
             is
             a
             marvellous
             thing
             ,
             that
             ye
             know
             not
             from
             whence
             he
             is
             ,
             and
             yet
             he
             hath
             opened
             mine
             eyes
             .
             Now
             we
             know
             that
             God
             heareth
             not
             sinners
             ;
             but
             if
             any
             man
             be
             a
             worshipper
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             doth
             his
             will
             ,
             him
             he
             heareth
             .
             Since
             the
             world
             began
             was
             it
             not
             heard
             that
             any
             man
             opened
             the
             eyes
             of
             one
             that
             was
             born
             blind
             :
             If
             this
             man
             were
             not
             of
             God
             ,
             he
             could
             do
             nothing
             ,
          
           9.
           
           John
           30
           ,
           31
           ,
           32
           ,
           33.
           
           And
           all
           Mankind
           own
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           absolute
           Faith
           is
           due
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           those
           who
           speak
           from
           God
           ;
           and
           this
           ,
           as
           I
           take
           it
           ,
           is
           to
           believe
           with
           Reason
           .
        
         
           But
           still
           we
           believe
           such
           things
           ,
           whose
           Natures
           we
           do
           not
           understand
           ,
           and
           cannot
           account
           for
           by
           Natural
           Reason
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           to
           believe
           without
           Reason
           .
           We
           believe
           ,
           that
           God
           the
           Father
           hath
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ,
           and
           an
           Eternal
           Spirit
           ;
           and
           that
           Father
           ,
           Son
           ,
           and
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           are
           but
           One
           Eternal
           God
           ;
           but
           this
           is
           what
           Natural
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           nor
           give
           us
           any
           notion
           or
           conception
           of
           ,
           how
           God
           can
           have
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ,
           and
           an
           Eternal
           Spirit
           ,
           really
           distinct
           from
           himself
           ,
           and
           yet
           with
           himself
           One
           Eternal
           and
           Infinite
           God
           :
           Reason
           can
           give
           no
           account
           of
           the
           Eternal
           Generation
           of
           the
           Son
           ,
           nor
           of
           the
           Eternal
           Procession
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ;
           and
           is
           not
           this
           to
           believe
           without
           Reason
           ,
           which
           a
           reasonable
           Creature
           ought
           not
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           which
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           God
           who
           made
           us
           reasonable
           Creatures
           ,
           expects
           from
           us
           ?
        
         
         
           And
           this
           I
           grant
           would
           be
           a
           material
           Objection
           ,
           were
           Reason
           the
           Judge
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Philosophy
           of
           things
           ;
           and
           did
           Reason
           require
           us
           to
           believe
           nothing
           but
           what
           we
           understand
           and
           comprehend
           .
           But
           then
           we
           must
           no
           more
           believe
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           than
           Revelation
           ;
           for
           we
           do
           not
           comprehend
           the
           Nature
           of
           any
           one
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           how
           evident
           soever
           it
           is
           to
           Sense
           and
           Reason
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           such
           things
           .
           Nature
           is
           as
           great
           a
           Mystery
           as
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           no
           greater
           affront
           to
           our
           Understandings
           ,
           no
           more
           against
           reason
           for
           God
           to
           reveal
           such
           things
           to
           us
           as
           our
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           to
           make
           a
           whole
           World
           ,
           which
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           .
        
         
           When
           we
           make
           it
           an
           Objection
           against
           any
           thing
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           without
           Reason
           ,
           or
           ,
           as
           we
           apprehend
           ,
           against
           Reason
           ,
           and
           contrary
           to
           Reason
           ;
           we
           must
           first
           consider
           whether
           it
           be
           the
           proper
           Object
           of
           Reason
           ;
           otherwise
           it
           is
           no
           Objection
           ;
           as
           it
           is
           no
           objection
           against
           Sounds
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           see
           them
           ;
           nor
           against
           Colours
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           hear
           them
           ;
           because
           Sounds
           are
           not
           the
           Objects
           of
           Sight
           ,
           nor
           Colours
           of
           Hearing
           .
        
         
           Now
           no
           man
           pretends
           ,
           that
           the
           pure
           Natures
           and
           Essences
           of
           things
           ,
           or
           their
           Essential
           Reasons
           ,
           Properties
           ,
           Unions
           ,
           Operations
           ,
           are
           the
           Objects
           of
           Humane
           Reason
           ;
           for
           no
           man
           living
           knows
           any
           thing
           about
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           yet
           this
           is
           all
           the
           Incomprehensibility
           men
           have
           to
           complain
           of
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           the
           Incarnation
           ;
           That
           they
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           how
           God
           can
           beget
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ;
           nor
           how
           Three
           Divine
           Persons
           should
           be
           so
           united
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           essentially
           One
           God
           ;
           nor
           how
           the
           Divine
           and
           Humane
           Nature
           can
           be
           united
           into
           One
           Person
           ,
           God-man
           :
           All
           which
           concern
           the
           Essence
           ,
           and
           Essential
           Properties
           ,
           Operations
           ,
           Unions
           ,
           Relations
           of
           the
           Deity
           ,
           which
           a
           modest
           man
           might
           allow
           to
           be
           incomprehensible
           ,
           if
           God
           be
           infinite
           ,
           though
           he
           could
           comprehend
           
           the
           Natures
           ,
           Essences
           ,
           and
           Essential
           Reasons
           and
           Properties
           of
           Created
           Beings
           ;
           but
           when
           all
           Created
           Nature
           is
           such
           a
           Mystery
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           know
           not
           the
           pure
           Nature
           and
           Essence
           of
           any
           one
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           is
           it
           an
           affront
           to
           our
           Reason
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           comprehend
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ?
        
         
           Such
           Matters
           as
           these
           are
           neither
           without
           Reason
           ,
           nor
           against
           Reason
           ,
           nor
           contrary
           to
           Reason
           ;
           because
           Reason
           has
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           can
           take
           no
           cognizance
           of
           them
           :
           They
           belong
           not
           to
           Reason
           ,
           but
           to
           that
           Infinite
           Mind
           ,
           which
           comprehends
           it Self
           ,
           and
           the
           Ideas
           of
           all
           possible
           Beings
           .
           A
           perfect
           comprehensive
           Knowledge
           of
           Nature
           belongs
           only
           to
           the
           Maker
           of
           all
           things
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           not
           only
           to
           know
           what
           things
           are
           ,
           but
           how
           to
           make
           them
           ;
           which
           would
           be
           a
           vain
           Curiosity
           ,
           and
           useless
           Knowledge
           to
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           a
           Making
           and
           Creating
           Power
           .
           This
           is
           to
           know
           things
           
             à
             priori
          
           ,
           with
           an
           Intuitive
           Ideal
           Knowledge
           ,
           which
           is
           infinitely
           more
           superior
           to
           Reason
           ,
           than
           Reason
           is
           to
           Sense
           :
           And
           it
           is
           the
           affection
           of
           this
           Intuitive
           making
           Knowledge
           ,
           which
           makes
           some
           men
           Atheists
           ,
           and
           others
           Hereticks
           .
        
         
           2dly
           .
           Another
           great
           Objection
           against
           such
           a
           Revelation
           as
           contains
           matters
           which
           Natural
           Reason
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           is
           ,
           To
           what
           purpose
           such
           a
           Revelation
           serves
           ?
           What
           Merit
           there
           can
           be
           in
           believing
           such
           Doctrines
           ?
           And
           of
           what
           good
           use
           such
           a
           Faith
           can
           be
           to
           us
           ?
        
         
           Now
           I
           confess
           I
           cannot
           think
           it
           meritorious
           merely
           to
           believe
           things
           which
           are
           incomprehensible
           ;
           or
           that
           God
           any
           more
           intended
           to
           puzzle
           our
           Faith
           with
           revealed
           Mysteries
           ,
           than
           to
           puzzle
           our
           Reason
           in
           making
           a
           Mysterious
           World.
           Whether
           we
           receive
           our
           information
           from
           Sense
           ,
           or
           Natural
           Reason
           ,
           or
           Revelation
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           we
           must
           believe
           Mysteries
           ,
           if
           we
           believe
           any
           thing
           ;
           for
           all
           things
           have
           something
           mysterious
           and
           incomprehensible
           in
           
           their
           natures
           ;
           what
           natural
           Reason
           cannot
           account
           for
           ,
           and
           what
           God
           never
           intended
           we
           should
           understand
           :
           for
           God
           never
           intended
           to
           teach
           us
           how
           to
           make
           the
           World
           ,
           nor
           how
           every
           Creature
           was
           made
           ;
           and
           therefore
           we
           cannot
           and
           are
           not
           concerned
           to
           know
           the
           internal
           frame
           and
           constitution
           of
           Nature
           .
        
         
           But
           though
           neither
           Natural
           nor
           Revealed
           Knowledge
           extends
           to
           the
           Reasons
           and
           Causes
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           of
           essential
           Properties
           and
           Operations
           ;
           yet
           both
           natural
           and
           revealed
           Knowledge
           is
           of
           as
           much
           use
           to
           us
           ,
           as
           if
           we
           did
           perfectly
           understand
           all
           the
           secret
           and
           incomprehensible
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           natures
           of
           Creatures
           .
           Both
           natural
           and
           revealed
           Knowledge
           are
           alike
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           That
           they
           only
           acquaint
           us
           what
           things
           are
           ,
           and
           what
           ends
           they
           serve
           ;
           and
           then
           we
           know
           what
           use
           to
           make
           of
           them
           ,
           without
           understanding
           the
           secret
           Mysteries
           of
           Nature
           .
        
         
           Is
           this
           World
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           in
           it
           ,
           the
           less
           useful
           to
           us
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           conceive
           how
           God
           created
           all
           things
           of
           nothing
           ?
           Or
           because
           we
           do
           not
           understand
           the
           nature
           of
           Matter
           ,
           nor
           how
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           Matter
           came
           by
           their
           different
           Virtues
           and
           Qualities
           ?
           Is
           Corn
           ,
           or
           Fruit
           ,
           or
           Herbs
           ,
           the
           less
           nourishing
           or
           refreshing
           ,
           because
           we
           know
           not
           how
           they
           grow
           ?
           Does
           it
           require
           any
           Philosophy
           to
           know
           how
           to
           eat
           ,
           and
           drink
           ,
           and
           sleep
           ?
           Will
           not
           our
           Food
           nourish
           us
           ,
           unless
           we
           understand
           how
           it
           is
           concocted
           ,
           and
           turned
           into
           Chyle
           ,
           and
           Blood
           ,
           and
           Spirits
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           is
           it
           of
           no
           use
           to
           know
           that
           God
           is
           an
           Eternal
           ,
           Omnipotent
           ,
           Omniscient
           ,
           Omnipresent
           Being
           ,
           unless
           we
           can
           conceive
           how
           any
           Being
           can
           be
           Eternal
           without
           a
           Cause
           ,
           and
           without
           a
           Beginning
           ?
           Or
           can
           comprehend
           how
           he
           can
           do
           and
           know
           all
           things
           ;
           and
           be
           present
           in
           all
           places
           at
           once
           ,
           without
           Extension
           ,
           and
           without
           Parts
           ?
           We
           may
           make
           all
           the
           use
           that
           can
           be
           made
           of
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           of
           
           every
           thing
           in
           it
           ,
           without
           understanding
           the
           essential
           Reasons
           and
           Causes
           ,
           or
           internal
           Nature
           of
           any
           thing
           ;
           and
           we
           must
           do
           so
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           make
           any
           use
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           we
           know
           God
           to
           all
           the
           ends
           and
           purposes
           for
           which
           Creatures
           ought
           to
           know
           God
           ,
           though
           his
           Nature
           be
           incomprehensible
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           it
           is
           in
           matters
           of
           pure
           Revelation
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           the
           Incarnation
           ;
           how
           unaccountable
           soever
           the
           Mystery
           of
           a
           Trinity
           in
           Unity
           ,
           the
           Eternal
           Generation
           ,
           and
           the
           Incarnation
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           be
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           the
           most
           useful
           Knowledge
           in
           the
           world
           :
           Though
           we
           know
           not
           how
           the
           Eternal
           Father
           begat
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           his
           own
           Substance
           ,
           nor
           how
           this
           Eternal
           Son
           in
           time
           became
           Man
           ;
           yet
           it
           is
           the
           most
           desirable
           knowledge
           in
           the
           world
           to
           sinners
           ;
           to
           know
           ,
           That
           God
           has
           an
           Eternal
           Son
           ;
           and
           
             that
             he
             so
             loved
             the
             world
             ,
             as
             to
             give
             his
             only
             begotten
             Son
             for
             the
             redemption
             of
             mankind
             ,
             that
             whosoever
             believes
             in
             him
             ,
             should
             not
             perish
             ,
             but
             have
             everlasting
             life
          
           ;
           and
           that
           this
           Eternal
           Son
           of
           God
           became
           Man
           ,
           lived
           a
           poor
           ,
           necessitous
           ,
           laborious
           Life
           ,
           and
           died
           an
           accursed
           Death
           for
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Sinners
           ;
           and
           to
           know
           ,
           That
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           proceeds
           from
           Father
           and
           Son
           ,
           dwells
           in
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           and
           quickens
           and
           animates
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           Christ.
           If
           this
           be
           true
           (
           as
           we
           must
           suppose
           in
           this
           Argument
           )
           ,
           all
           Mankind
           must
           confess
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           a
           very
           useful
           Knowledge
           ;
           and
           never
           the
           less
           useful
           ,
           because
           a
           Trinity
           in
           Unity
           ,
           and
           the
           Eternal
           Generation
           ,
           and
           the
           Incarnation
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           are
           great
           and
           inconceivable
           Mysteries
           .
           Could
           we
           give
           a
           Rational
           and
           Philosophical
           Account
           of
           the
           Eternal
           Generation
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Incarnation
           ,
           we
           should
           know
           more
           than
           we
           now
           do
           ;
           but
           Faith
           makes
           it
           as
           useful
           to
           all
           the
           purposes
           of
           Religion
           ,
           as
           the
           most
           perfect
           intuitive
           Knowledge
           could
           do
           .
        
         
         
           This
           is
           a
           sufficient
           Answer
           to
           that
           Objection
           against
           the
           Usefulness
           of
           such
           Mysteries
           as
           have
           something
           incomprehensible
           and
           unconceivable
           in
           their
           Natures
           :
           Which
           is
           an
           equal
           Objection
           against
           all
           created
           Nature
           ,
           which
           is
           but
           one
           great
           Mystery
           ;
           and
           yet
           the
           World
           is
           a
           very
           useful
           World
           ,
           and
           we
           know
           in
           some
           good
           degree
           what
           use
           to
           make
           of
           it
           :
           And
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           those
           Gospel
           Mysteries
           which
           are
           the
           Subject
           of
           our
           present
           dispute
           ,
           are
           manifestly
           of
           infinite
           use
           to
           us
           ,
           if
           the
           certain
           knowledge
           of
           the
           Pardon
           of
           Sin
           ,
           and
           eternal
           Life
           ,
           by
           the
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           Sufferings
           ,
           and
           Death
           ,
           and
           Intercession
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           Incarnate
           ,
           be
           of
           any
           use
           ;
           and
           therefore
           it
           became
           the
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           of
           God
           to
           reveal
           these
           Mysteries
           of
           Salvation
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           Especially
           if
           we
           add
           to
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           lapsed
           state
           of
           Human
           Nature
           makes
           supernatural
           Knowledge
           necessary
           .
           Natural
           Knowledge
           we
           grant
           was
           sufficient
           for
           a
           state
           of
           Nature
           ,
           though
           no
           man
           would
           have
           had
           reason
           to
           complain
           ,
           had
           God
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Innocence
           by
           a
           more
           familiar
           intercourse
           with
           Man
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           frequent
           Conversation
           of
           Angels
           ,
           improved
           his
           Knowledge
           beyond
           the
           mere
           attainments
           of
           his
           Natural
           Faculties
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           not
           improbable
           ,
           but
           this
           might
           have
           been
           ;
           I
           am
           sure
           there
           is
           an
           impatient
           thirst
           after
           knowledge
           in
           human
           Nature
           ,
           and
           such
           a
           great
           curiosity
           for
           secret
           and
           hidden
           Mysteries
           ,
           that
           it
           looks
           very
           unnatural
           for
           Men
           to
           complain
           ,
           that
           God
           Reveals
           more
           to
           them
           than
           Nature
           teaches
           .
        
         
           But
           yet
           I
           say
           ,
           Natural
           Knowledge
           must
           be
           allowed
           sufficient
           to
           all
           the
           ends
           of
           Human
           Life
           ,
           while
           man
           continued
           Innocent
           ;
           for
           that
           is
           the
           Original
           state
           of
           human
           Nature
           ,
           as
           all
           men
           must
           grant
           ,
           who
           believe
           that
           Man
           was
           made
           by
           God.
           
        
         
           But
           when
           man
           sinned
           ,
           he
           forfeited
           the
           Favour
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           natural
           Immortality
           ;
           and
           whether
           he
           should
           be
           restored
           
           or
           not
           ,
           and
           by
           what
           means
           he
           should
           be
           restored
           ,
           depended
           wholly
           on
           the
           Sovereign
           Will
           and
           Pleasure
           of
           God
           :
           And
           therefore
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           ,
           though
           it
           could
           direct
           an
           Innocent
           Man
           how
           to
           Please
           and
           Worship
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           preserve
           himself
           Immortal
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           teach
           Sinners
           how
           to
           make
           atonement
           for
           Sin
           ,
           nor
           give
           them
           any
           certain
           hopes
           that
           God
           would
           forgive
           Sins
           ,
           and
           bestow
           immortal
           Life
           on
           them
           ;
           which
           makes
           it
           necessary
           ,
           that
           the
           Religion
           of
           a
           sinner
           be
           a
           Revealed
           Religion
           .
           And
           if
           God
           in
           infinite
           Goodness
           is
           not
           only
           pleased
           to
           restore
           sinners
           to
           Grace
           and
           Favour
           ,
           but
           to
           advance
           them
           to
           a
           supernatural
           state
           of
           Perfection
           and
           Happiness
           both
           of
           Soul
           and
           Body
           in
           the
           next
           World
           ;
           this
           must
           be
           done
           by
           supernatural
           Means
           ,
           and
           therefore
           requires
           a
           supernatural
           Knowledge
           ;
           for
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           can
           neither
           raise
           us
           above
           Nature
           ,
           nor
           discover
           supernatural
           Truths
           to
           us
           ;
           and
           this
           makes
           it
           necessary
           to
           know
           and
           believe
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           no
           natural
           Notion
           or
           Idea
           of
           ,
           
             Such
             things
             ,
             as
             neither
             eye
             hath
             seen
             ,
             nor
             ear
             heard
             ,
             neither
             hath
             it
             entred
             into
             the
             heart
             of
             man
             to
             conceive
             .
          
           If
           Nature
           can't
           save
           us
           ,
           it
           can't
           discover
           to
           us
           the
           way
           of
           Salvation
           neither
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           must
           be
           saved
           by
           a
           supernatural
           Grace
           and
           Power
           ,
           it
           must
           be
           supernaturally
           Revealed
           ;
           and
           what
           is
           Supernatural
           ,
           is
           the
           Object
           of
           Faith
           ,
           not
           of
           natural
           Knowledge
           .
        
         
           This
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           give
           a
           plain
           account
           ,
           Why
           God
           thinks
           fit
           to
           Reveal
           such
           Mysteries
           to
           us
           as
           Nature
           cannot
           teach
           ,
           and
           as
           we
           have
           no
           natural
           Notion
           of
           ,
           Because
           our
           lapsed
           state
           has
           made
           such
           supernatural
           Revelations
           necessary
           to
           the
           recovery
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           are
           fallen
           below
           the
           relief
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           of
           natural
           Knowledge
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           be
           very
           thankful
           to
           our
           Good
           God
           for
           supernatural
           Knowledge
           ,
           and
           supernatural
           Means
           of
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           To
           God
           the
           Father
           ,
           God
           the
           Son
           ,
           and
           God
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           Three
           Persons
           ,
           One
           Eternal
           God
           ,
           be
           Honour
           ,
           Glory
           and
           Power
           ,
           now
           and
           for
           ever
           .
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .