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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A39770	The confirming work of religion, or, its great things made plain, by their primary evidences and demonstrations whereby the meanest in the church may soon be made to render a solid and rational account of their faith / written by R. Fleming ... ; now published by Daniel Burgess.	Fleming, Robert, 1630-1694.; Burgess, Daniel, 1645-1713.	1693 (1693)	Wing F1279; ESTC R6736	83,701	146

THE Confirming Work OF RELIGION OR It s Great Things made plain By their Primary Evidences and Demonstrations Whereby the meanest in the Church may soon be made able to render a Solid and Rational Account of their Faith Written by R. Fleming Author of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures Now Published by Daniel Burgess LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns the lower end of Cheapside 1693. THE Publisher to the Reader THE highest Angels are most humble Creatures the Church of God is full of their Services but knoweth next to nothing of their Names Their Works praise their Lord and ours but not Themselves And if the Evangelical Author of this Book could have had his Will the Churches of C●rist should not have had his Name He would have kept himself together a Benefactor and a sort of stranger unto them Against his will it came to be known that his book of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures w●s his And by the Divine Providence it was made necessary that his latter Works should bear his Name Obscurity was his Ambition tho' his Gifts and Graces prove too big and too bright to be covered And in short it hath pleased the Supream Ruler and Fountain of Honour to honour him whether he would or no. The Book first named is followed with the Eulogies of greatest Divines and is a Manna sweet to the Tast of all serious Christians His Epistolary Discourse dedicated to the Queen's Majesty as most graciously accepted by Her and highly valued by those that I must think of the best of her Subjects Being as is his Discourse of Earthquakes a Treasure of things Old and New Michtam's golden Jewels Arguments several not so much as touched by any Pen within her Dominions or beyond them save Mr. Flemming's Nevertheless it is of this his Treatise that I would say with submission to better Judgments There is none like it Herein it is that I think he hath singularly honoured his God and I believe his God will very singularly honour him For is any Disease more Morial or more Epidemical than Popish Implicit Faith And is there any to be named against which we are so destitute of Medicines Is there extant in English or any European Language any one Rationale of Christianity in Method suited to them who do most need it Hath any one Writer beside our Author set himself to teach Minors the primary Evidences and reasonable Demonstrations of Christian Faith I will con him my best thanks who shall name me so much as one How sound and how ●enerous a Medicine this Treatise is let the Wi●e judge I declare it to be the only one that on no slight ●nquiry I have heard of Being so I no sooner read it but I blessed it and its unknown Author Privately and publickly I praised it and finding it not to be had in our Shops nor but from Holland if from thence to be gotten I presently resolved to Reprint it Soon after hearing who was the Author and where he was I sent him notice of that my fixed Resolution whether he consented to it or no. For thus I argued that if he were of the heavenly spirit breathing in his Book he could not gainsay it and if he were of another spirit for the Churches service it would be innocent and praise-worthy to cross it But blessed be God and blessed be he from his Lord and mine he readily forgave me this wrong and cheerfully I proceeded No Lion found I in my way but a sorry Worm I counted the Exclamations of some nice Folk against the Phrase and Style of this confessedly excellent Work Dutifully I compassionated the weak and no less the many sick of curiosity Who have such Ulcers in their Palats that they cannot without cruel pain swallow the most desirable Dainties unless they may take them in Oil and Sugar Cannot prevail with themselves to read Periods that require an attentive mind and the least strain of their Understanding Wherefore I used my Spunge and took out as many expressions of my Author 's Native Language as I thought would disturb an English Reader Substituting ●●●h as appeared sufficiently intelligible Which being done the Bookseller was wise enough to set the Press going I signified my purpose to Catechise Youth publickly in the Positions and Characters of this Book one Lords day as in W. Assembly's Catechism on the other by course Which practice other Ministers soon told me that they would take up As I trust many more will do forasmuch as none can be unsensible what multitudes of men do go to Grass on this side the Alps as well as on the other and what a fantastick Faith common Protestants do rest in as well as Romanists Making show of a Faith as the Moon of a Light whereof not any is in themselves rooted Brit is painted Tain is a Nation Sadly it is seen of all how too too properly we are still named Brittains the Faith of most being such a Paint as cannot but melt and vanish in any Trial that is fiery Memorable are the words of the Learned unhappy Spalato to this effect as I remember To say that I do not my self know why I do believe a Religious Article but yet I do believe it because the Church in which I am doth believe it it is the self same as to say I do not my self open one of my Eyes but yet I do see the thing spoken of because the Company in which I am doth see it The good Lord lessen among us the number of Men so Absurd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so plainly void of Faith He hath already made the Leaves of this Book so healing unto some that in great hopes I commend them unto all And especially to the Societies of Young Men that hold weekly stated Meetings for Edifying Conference In which as I tell those of my own Charge they shall not find more Eligible Arguments than this Book stores them with Happy they if in the best sense they do make them their own Lord encrease holy Faith and quench fiery Faction so prayeth Bridges-street near Covent-Garden Feb. 28. Daniel Burgess POSTSCRIPT UNderstanding the Forreign Churches want of this Work as well as our own I purpose ere long to Translate and send it forth in the Latin Tongue Vnless some good hand of more leisure do prevent me THE JUDGMENT OF SOME London Ministers CONCERNING THIS TREATISE THings of unquestionable Excellence in themselves and of greatest Importance unto our welfare have not always the Deepest and most Constant Thoughts bestown upon them Witness the Satisfaction of our Minds about the Matter and about the Foundations of our Holy Christian Faith It seems too little observed but it can never be sufficiently Lamented what we do observe of Protestants neglect of the Matter of their Faith And yet our sad Experience certifies us that they are incomparably more heedless of acquainting themselves with the Reasons thereof We have very

Book as the Bible in the Earth than that it came from Heaven and is the alone rule of Religion and of Divine Revelation for the governing of Mankind Qu. VII How is the secure conveyance of the Scripture demonstrable amidst all the changes of times past and that there could be no possible tendency to its corruption Answ I. That it 's so undeniably the first rule which ever was given to mankind about Religion and the alone publick standard of Truth that hath endured the trial and inquiry of all times past so as no pretences in the matter of Antiquity could yet ever be to the contrary II. That there is so exact an Harmony betwixt the Old and New Testament as the one is a visible transcript of the other in its accomplishment that I can be no more sure of such a venerable record as the Old Testament and its unalterable conveyance to the Church to which the whole race of the Jews is yet a standing witness than how it is continued and perfected in the revelation of the Gospel and but one intire frame III. That its deliverance was by no private deed but by a publick trust to the whole Universal Church so as it were more easie in the way of reason to question the most fundamental statutes and laws of any Nation by which mens private right and property is secured than the truth hereof IV. That under the Gospel it hath been so fully dispersed over the World and in such various languages that an innumerable company of Christians these 1600 years past have been as common living Books of the same V. That those numerous Versions and Commentaries written thereon in diverse Languages do fully evidence they had the same Scripture and no other than what we have this day VI. That this was delivered to the Church not only in writing but in that form of sound words for keeping close thereto as could admit of no possible tendency to corrupt or alter the same besides the continued and publick reference that hath been since the first Ages of the Gospel to its decision which all these sharp controversies that have been in the Church on all sides do inevitably require Qu. VIII What doth confirm the fall of man and entry of sin into the World this way from clear and unavoidable evidences of reason Answ I. That there is such a thing as sin and evil in the World with the sence and conscience of guilt arising hereon amongst all mankind can need no proof nor evidence II. That it is simply impossible this should have been originally created with man or essentially belonging to his first frame and constitution since then there could be no conscience of guilt or remorse for what was given to be a part of himself in his first frame nor could it be any sin to act thus suitably to their own original state III. That it were not conceiveable also how one part of man should be in such opposition to another IV. Nor that such a thing as inherent shame could be in the nature of man upon the sence of guilt and by so natural a result follow the same or that such should be ashamed of any part of his own being if this were not upon an undoubted apostacy from what once he was and that inevitable conviction of Conscience that he now is what he ought not to be so as the certainty of Mans Fall though alone revealed in the Scripture as to the true cause thereof yet may be as evident to reason as the truth of his being now is SECTION II. Qu. I. ARE there such assistances to the Christian Faith upon that great and astonishing mystery of the Revelation of Christ to the World as can fully answer the greatness thereof from clear and infallible evidence to Mens Judgments Answ It is sure there could nothing possibly be desired more to satisfie the most doubtful and suspicious mind than is given for the furthest certainty hereof I. That such a glorious person as the Messiah was to come and be anointed to that great work of redeeming mankind from sin and misery and bring man back again unto God and that this promise is the alone foundation whereon the church was founded since man fell II. That all the numerous types and sacrifices under the Law did so expresly tend to confirm their Faith of that one blessed Propitiatory Sacrifice which was to be offered up III. That long ere the New Testament was written there was so clear and exact a protraicture of the Messias drawn forth in the Old with such peculiar marks whereby he should be known to the church and infallibly take place in the event as men could not upon any Scripture evidence expect his coming in another way IV. That his humiliation and sufferings were so expresly held forth and foretold with the peculiar circumstances thereof in the 53. chap. of Isaiah and 9. of Daniel as if they had been Eye witnesses of the accomplishment thereof V. That even the special season and period of time for accomplishing this great promise was so far made known as upon diligent search and inquiry its near approach might be discernable and clear to what or what manner of time this did specially relate for which both the Fall of the Monarchies and Daniels seventy weeks were set up as High-way marks to guide mens Faith herein VI. That it 's simply impossible according to the Scripture how the promised Messias could be yet to come except the Jews were put in the same state they were in at his coming when now for these 1600. Years there hath been no Scepter not Lawgiver no Temple or daily Sacrifice VII That this great mystery could never possibly have entred in our thoughts or be devised by any created understanding Qu. II. But are there as clear and infallible evidences of the truth of this great promise in the event that surely the blessed Messias of the World is now come as that it is sure he was promised Answ It 's beyond all possible debate I. That so Divine and Wonderful a Person was in the days of Tiberius Caesar manifested to Israel with no outward shew or observation who did so great and marvellous things before all the people as were above all created power yea that he was Crucified at Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate is a truth in the matter of fact that both Jews and Heathens have been enforced to confess it II. That this special season of his coming into the World is the great Epocha and period of time from which the Christian Church hath ever since to this day reckoned her state and succession is undoubted and clear also III. That the time of his appearance unto the World did so exactly suit that which was foretold by the Prophets that the Jewish Church was at that time with greatest intentness looking after the Messias so as some remarkable Impostors took occasion from hence to deceive the People herein IV. That in him who

Eternal State on the known certainty thereof do Reason their Souls to a stedfast adherence to the Truth when they are called to sacrifice their Lives thereto to wit from the Rare Experiments and Proofs they have oft had of the same in their own Tryal 4. It doth more specially call for a demonstrative clearing of the Credit of this Testimony as one of the Services of Religion to promote the Kingdom of Christ amongst men which seems least improved of any with respect to the general State of such who are within the Church who are so great strangers to the same yea should be judged one of the great wants of this day when Atheism is now at so astonishing a height that it is not more studied to have the Experimental part of Religion which in it self lies deep and hid and is a secret betwixt God and the Christians Soul with such clearness and by that manner of Evidence demonstrated to the World as might tend to beget some more Awful Sense and Conviction hereof when such clear and unanswerable grounds might be improved for this end on those who look thereon as some strange and dark Riddle so as they could no more deny or withstand the Evidences hereof than that they have a Living Soul which yet they never saw or could ever be the Object of Human Sense And how sad a prospect should this give of the greatest part of the Christian World who not only know nothing of the True Glory and Spiritual Powers of Christianity but have not the very Notion or any Sense of the reality of such a thing But in the 2d place it is thus that each Christian for being solidly confirmed in the Way of Religion may as clearly see as he does sensibly feel the Truth of his own Experience and have his Faith as fully established by this inward and great demonstration of the things of God as his Affections are quickened upon such strong and demonstrative grounds of the certainty hereof as these are 1. By considering his present and former State that not in a dream but in the most deep and serious composure of spirit he knows that once he was blind and wholly estranged from this Mystery of Christian Experience which now he does see and once had the same sentiment hereof with such who do never at all reflect on the same but no sooner did the Truth and Power of Religion seize on his Soul than he found himself entred into a new World to know the dawnings of this marvelous Light and what belongs to these Enjoyments and Vital Acts of Christianity that have not the least dependance on any Natural Cause 2. By considering the marvelous Superstructure of Experimental Religion which from the inward observation of Christians in all Ages is such as the World could not almost contain the Books that might be written hereof which yet is so entirely founded on one and the same Foundation and does in all the Lines of this great Circumference still meet in the same Center yea thus how entire and harmonious a thing Religion in all the parts thereof is within upon the Soul as well as without so as every step in this way of the Experience of the Saints is no groping in the dark but what is by Line and by Rule with as sure and demonstrable a connexion with the External Testimony of the Word as there is in Nature betwixt the Cause and the Effect which affords a more wonderful assistance to his Faith than the greatest External Miracles could ever do and tho' the Spirit of God does sometimes in an extraordinary manner reveal himself to men as acts of his Soveraign Prerogative which make no Rule yet with the Established Constitutions of his Word does the continued Experience of the Saints most harmoniously ever correspond 3. By considering thus also the Being and Reality of Grace not in its Effects only but in its proper Cause and Original and how the Truth of Holiness in the Life of a Christian is so express a Transcript of the Gospel in its External Revelation that the Impress doth not more clearly answer the Seal on the Wax than it doth beget the same Form and Image of it self in such as believe yea also that conformity it bears to the ever blessed Archetype as well as to the Revealed Rule and how bright a discovery is this of so glorious a Being and Nature to which it 's conformed Who is the alone Pattern and Example of all Truth and Holiness which is so great a discovery as he is made to wonder that men in this Age are so much awaken'd to find out the true Phoenomena of Nature tho' in its own room a most choice study and specially desirable and will be as in a Transport upon some rare Natural Experiment as made one in that manner cry out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have found I have found whilst here is another kind of demonstration and of more transcendent interest than all these could ever amount to on which the Eyes of most are this day shut 4. By considering that Unchangeable Congruity which is betwixt the nature of these things enjoyned in the whole Institutions of the Gospel and mens being made happy thereby now in their present state and how great a Temporal Revenue of the Fruits of Religion as inward Confidence Peace and Serenity of Mind doth as natively follow the life and practice hereof as the Fruit of a Tree answers to its kind and is ever found the alone true relief of Mankind against all the griefs and bitterness of time yea that it 's no distance of place but of mens spirit by impurity and corruption that makes so sad a distance betwixt God and Man here in the Earth 5. He is thus further confirmed upon this great Testimony of Experimental Religion by considering that it 's sure such as do bear this witness are known 1. To be such who are of the most discerning and judicious in the things of Reason as well as any else 2. Whose walk and practice use to have the greatest Authority over mens Consciences with whom they converse 3. Who are found most intensly taken up in the retired work and duties of Religion that can have no respect to the witness and observation of others 4. Who seek no Implicit Credit from any herein but do pray men to come and see and prove the same in their own Experience with an appeal to the most exact Inquiry and rational Tryal of all Mankind if here be any casual thing and if that Testimony of the Doctrinal and Experimental part of Religion be not still one and the same 5. Who also out of the most remote places of the Earth and otherwise strangers amongst themselves do yet most harmoniously meet in the same Witness and are thus mutually disclosed to each other by a near and feeling intercourse of their Souls from such an Oneness in a Spiritual State and those Specifick Properties of a Spiritual