of Paul at Jerusalem c. But the Instances of supernatural Power exercised in healing of Diseases raising the dead g confounding the Opposers of their Doctrine and in several other kinds by the Apostles and their Companions and Adherents the Preachers and Writers of the Doctrine of the Gospel are so abundantly delivered in the New Testament that I shall not offer at particulars In the 4. of the Acts we find all the Apostles praying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that God would stretch forth his hand to heal that signs and wonders might be done by the Name of his holy Child Jesus And immediately the place was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and with Power The particular Miracles of particular persons are recorded In one word they went and preached every where the Doctrines which are written in the Gospel the Lord working with them and confirming their words by mighty signs and wonders and gifts of the Holy Ghost This is the state of the matter of Fact as it is propounded in the New Testament I conclude therefore that supposing matters of Fact to be truly delivered in the New Testament there is no reason to doubt of the Doctrines delivered by Christ or his Apostles relating to faith or manners And I come to the consideration o◠the last and extreme Opinion of the Anti-scripturists IV. The last Opinion is of those who deny the truth of the Relation of matters of Fact delivered in the New Testament and in consequence reject the whole body of the Scriptures I could wish there were no such as these and that what I have yet to say were altogether needless for that reason But what means then the publick Rumors which we hear and whence is an Opinion gone into the world that some great Philosophers and men of generous reason are dissatisfied concerning the truth of Scripture and believe the Authority of it to be wholly derived from the Magistrate In reference to these I shall endeavour 1. Briefly to shew that the ground upon which these Wisemen and Philosophers reject the Scriptures is contrary to the Reason of mankind 2. To evince that the belief of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures is most agreeable to Reason 1. As for the Argument and ground of those amongst us Christians that reject the body of the Scriptures I do not remember to have heard of other than this They have often called upon Believers Pastors perhaps or Doctors in the Church for a clear and undeniable evidence of the truth of the story of the Gospel and they have not afforded it therefore they conclude the Scriptures are to be rejected But is this the reasoning of generous Wits and men of mighty deeds in Disputation of men pretending to the depths of Reason and Philosophy To give a man a clear and undeniable evidence of any thing there are but two ways viz. To convince either his Senses or his Vnderstanding the former whereof is to be done by Experiment the later by Demonstration Would they have now an Experiment whether such or such a thing were done 16 or 1700 years ago Would they have a demonstration of particulars in their nature indifferent to be done or not to be done depending upon the liberty of Causes Well were it for the world if these Beaux Esprits would have the patience and endure the fatigue of acquainting themselves with the ways of knowledge Experiment and Demonstration it would not then be troubled with the dangerous Impertinency of such Pretenders Then these men would not call for Experiment in a subject uncapable of it and being instructed that Demonstration is only of Vniversal Propositions in materia necessaria whose contrary Positions imply a contradiction they would know that to demand this kind of evidence of the truth of the story of the Gospel is to be absurdly injudicious and to act contrary to the Reason of mankind For seeing we may not with civility suppose this principle to be advanced only for the destruction of Religion and the ruine or at least undeniable hazard of the Souls of men We ought to believe that these Philosophers intend this as a general Maxim that in matters at least of moment men ought not to adventure to act but upon clear and undeniable evidence and speaking properly that wise men ought to believe nothing at all Wherefore let us suppose this for a general principle and consider what will follow Setting aside the knowledge of the Affections of a few Lines and Numbers is not all learning to be cast away Must not the Civil World of mankind be brought to swift confusion must not mankind it self in a few days come to an end Suppose a Subject should not yield his Obedience or a Tenant his Rent till Titles be made out by Experiment or Demonstration Suppose the Husband-man and the Merchant the Artificer the Souldier the Banker and the Judge should not adventure but stay for the assurance of Experiment or Demonstration would not the whole world be confounded Suppose men should not marry nor take Physick nor eat or drink till they should have clear and undeniable evidence that all these things are what they suppose and shall succeed according to expectation would not mankind quickly be spent and brought to an end If the management of all humane concernments Political Oeconomical Personal proceed upon the grounds of Belief and Hope and rational but not demonstrative inference If neither these Philosophers if they would consider nor any other Person either ever did or possibly could perform any one action upon such evidence as these men require concerning the truth of the stories of the Scripture then to reject them for want of such evidence is repugnant to the Reason of mankind I proceed therefore to my second assertion that the Belief of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures is most agreeable to reason That the Divine Authority of all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are undeniably concluded from supposition of the truth of the Relation or History of matters of fact in the New Testament I have already shewn And that the rejection of all History is against the Reason of mankind is evident because all mankind receive some History or other wherefore I shall briefly shew 1. That the History of the New Testament hath all those advantages whereof any History is capable 2. That it hath greater advantages than any other History 1. The Arguments inducing men to the belief of any historical Relation are all of them Either Ab intra Internal from the 1. Credibility and Scibility of the Object 2. The Knowledge and Integrity of the Writers 3. The way and manner of writing Ab extra External The 1. Reception of it in the world 2. Concurrent testimonies of strangers 3. The Concessions of Adversaries and the like In all which particulars no History in the world can justly pretend any advantage above that of the New Testament 1. For the Credibility
rather to dye than to deliver them In comparison of these they counted not their lives dear to them the love of them was stronger than Death many waters could not quench it neither could the flouds drown it This was Testimonium Rei and an advantage above all other Histories or Writings in the World 2. Moreover they had Testimonium Dei Indeed all that is already spoken is an evidence of a Divine assistance But more particularly God gave Testimony to these Books by 1. Their operation upon Believers of them 2. His co-operation with Believers of them 1. The Gospel which they contein was the power of God to every true Believer That which no Institution in Philosophy nor Initiation in the Mysteries of any of the Gods was ever able to accomplish that was every where atchieved by the belief of the Gospel in a moment Like a charm from Heaven it stilled the passions and mortified the lusts of men What a Beadroll doth Paul reckon up in the Corinthians But ye are washed saith he but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Notwithstanding all the calumnies thrown upon Believers and the prejudice wherewith they were loaded the unpropitious and relucting world were forcibly convinced that the Believers of these Books were effectually taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world through the cloud of ignominy wherewith they were encompassed their innocency broke forth as the light and their just dealing as the noon day the piety loyalty justice charity magnanimity patience meekness and purity of Believers of these Books convinced the unbelieving world that God was in them of a truth for they teach as having Authority and Power and not as the writings of other Scribes 2. But beside the operation of these Books upon the Believers God was pleased to give testimony to them by his co-operation with them in signs and wonders and mighty deeds The History of the Gospel tells us that when Christ was even now leaving the world he left this Legacy to Believers for confirmation of the truth of the Gospel These signs said he shall follow them that believe In my name they shall cast out Devils Speak with new tongues Take up Serpents If they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them They shall lay hands on the Sick and they shall recover Now that this was made good and that these signs so long as there was need were continued among Believers we have as good assurance as we can have of any thing beyond our own memory or experience They have been delivered to us by a Cloud of Witnesses by men of the greatest Wisdom and Learning in their Generations by persons of such integrity that they laid down their lives in testimony of their veracity delivered not by hear-say but upon their certain knowledge delivered in their Disputations with and Apologies to the Adversaries of Christianity with a challenge to the examination of the truth or a conviction of the falshood of them Instances are very numerous I shall produce only a very few Justin the Martyr who suffered Anno 165 affirms to Trypho the Jew that these supernatural gifts were found in his time among Christians Irenaeus an Auditor of Polycarp who was a Disciple of S. John suffered circa 206 affirms upon his own knowledge that the gift of Prophesie was then frequent in the Church that many had the gift of tongues ipsi audivimus Others cast out Devils Others healed Diseases Others raised the dead and those raised persons continued many years amongst them pro certo Tertullian in his Apologetica adversus Gentes affirms that Jam de vobis Daemonas ejiciunt Origen against Celsus saith that he himself had seen by invocation of God and the Name of Jesus very many that were delivered from grievous maladies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alienatione mentis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not to mention others S. Augustine in his Book de Civitate Dei begun about 410 but many years in writing l. 22. c. 8. gives an account of very many Miracles done at Hippo Carthage and other places of no great distance noting times places persons occasions appealing to the Country delivering them under terms of the greatest assurance Scio ego cognosco ego nos interfuimus oculis nostris aspeximus And in his Retractations Ea quae cognoscimus neque referre neque enumerare possumus Other Histories and Writings and the Authors and Believers of them can pretend no higher than to the testimony of men these have the testimony of God also If we believe the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater I conclude therefore that there is greater Reason to believe the History of the New Testament than any other History in the world The sum of all is this The Divine Authority of the Scriptures is the great fundamental and comprehensive Principle of Christianity which being admitted it stands and being removed it presently falls to the ground Against this therefore the great Enemy of Religion in these later days under pretence of Reason and Philosophy directs his Forces and is said to have found a success very pernicious and deplorable I humbly conceive that the Resolution of the belief of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures into the Decrees of Popes or Determinations of Councils with those who call themselves Roman-Catholicks into private impulses and dictates of the Spirit with the Enthusiasts and into the Laws and Edicts of Princes and Magistrates with our new pretenders to Reason and Philosophy is that engine whereby the Devil hath prevailed to scandalize the world and cast it into Antiscriptural infidelity It is for this cause that I have conceived it requisite after many others who have done worthily to have recourse once more to the Original Reason of things and the common grounds whereupon mankind doth proceed in matters of this nature Where hoping that I have escaped the absurdity of begging the matter in Question discoursing in a circle and the inconveniences of some other methods I have endeavoured to demonstrate That supposing the truth of the New Testament both 1. The Old Testament and 2. The New Testament are to be received as of Divine Authority 3. And supposing matters of fact to be truly related the Doctrinal parts are to be believed 4. For the Historical Relation of matters of fact that there is no ground to dis-believe it That for the Reception of it it hath 1. All the advantages whereof an History is capable 2. Far greater advantages than any other History Wherefore I conclude that All the Scriptures i. e. the Canonical Books of the Old Testament and the Books of the New Testament were given by inspiration of God Quod erat demonstrandum FINIS CONCERNING THE Sinfulness Danger Remedies of Infidelity A SERMON Preached at Whitehall Feb. 16.
them He saved others himself he cannot save let him do one more miracle let him come down from the Cross and we will beleive him So Vain is the pretence of those who think to excuse their Infidelity because they cannot see a miracle So false are the Grounds of that opinion 3. Briefly to bring this Argument to an issue If it were granted to these persons to see a miracle what kind of miracle would they chuse to convince their understandings and settel them in religion We are here I confess in loco Conjecturali and no man can tell what miracle another man would chuse but I am perswaded that which most men would agree upon as most conducing to that purpose whereof we are speaking would be this that to assure them of the Immortality of the Soul and of the rewards and punishments of the world to come and to satisfy their Curiosity in some other doubts and scruples They might once be allowed to see and converse with some one that might rise from the dead who might resolve their Questions concerning the condition of those that are in Hades 3. I say then that our Saviour who knew what was in man and needed not that any one should tell him foreseeing this Phantastical conceit hath shewed the folly of it and preoccupated this vain resort In the 16 of Luke 27. Dives makes it his request to Abraham that he would send Lazarus from the dead to testify to his brethren those things which these men dream of Abraham refers them to the Scriptures which were in the same manner recommended to them as our Scriptures are to us They have Moses and the Prophets c. let them hear them He saith unto him Nay father Abraham but if one went to them from the dead they would believe And he Abraham said If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead This I take to be a clear and a full determination of the matter in Question And if any one should imagine that this determination was but Conjectural Our Saviour afterward tries the Experiment and raises another Lazarus from the dead What was the effect of this mans coming from the dead did it Convert the High Priest or the Scribes the rulers or the people nay but from that very day they took counsel together how they might put Jesus to death And the Chief Priests Consulted how they might put Lazarus to death Also Upon these Considerations we may infallibly Conclude that Infidelity in Such times as ours is no more excusable then it was in the dayes of Christ or his Apostles the times of miracles and phrophesies So much of the first Supposition in the Caveat of the text the Sinfulness of Infidelity in General at all times And the Inexcusableness in our times which makes it our Duty to take heed of it I pass to the second supposition concerning the Danger of falling into it which makes it our concernment and Interest to beware of it For if this be clear the Exhortation will be powerful take heed brethren c. Now the Danger of falling into infidelity is in it self so conspicuous and made so sensible by every day ' s experience that I wish the proof of it were difficult so as to Justify a studious laborious demonstration of it At once to shorten my discourse and to remove the suspicion of any Satyrical reflexion upon those that hear me I shall shew that the Greatest Advantages have not preserved the best of men from sometimes falling into Infidelity Take heed therefore brethren The greatest Helps and Advantages against unbelief I conceive to be these ensueing 1. Evidences of Gods Presence 2. Or these lighting on a good understanding 3. At least upon the Ablest of men 4. Such as have held Communion with God 5. Or have been eminent for the habit and exercise of faith 6. or these with warnings to prevent the Danger of falling 7. And those reiterated Yet all these have not preserved good men from sometimes falling A word of each 1. First then to begin with the persons in the Context What greater Evidences of the Presence of God can be Imagined then they enjoyed In Egypt in their passage over the red Sea in the Wilderness my presence saith God shall go along with you They were conducted by a Pillar of a Cloud c. they were Supported and Corrected by Visible and palpable instances of Gods power and presence Yet they tempted and grieved the Spirit of God by their Infidelity for they believed not for all his Wondrous Works 2. But these Jewes were a dull and stupid people If God should once manifest himself to a wise and understanding person Such as we take our selves to be We may think it impossible to fall into unbelief I suppose it will be no disparagement to these Objectors to say that Solomon might be as Wise and Knowing as Wary and Philosophical as they And as for the manifestation of Gods presence the Scripture tells us Expressly that God appeared to him at Gibeon Where he made a promise to him which he performed Yet Solomon fell into the grossest Infidelity to think there were Gods and Goddesses To worship Asteroth the Goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the Abomination of the Ammonites 3. But it may be yet Objected that Solomon did this in the Dotage of his years and his Dotage upon his Idolatrous wives which turned away his heart but that it could not have preceeded from him before his understanding was empayred Behold then a greater then Solomon even Adam in his full strength when he was newly made after the similitude of God a little lower then the Angels God several times appeared to him in the Garden Yet he fell through unbeleif and drew all his posterity into his ruine 4. But Adam though he had perfection of Nature yet he wanted Grace whereby he might have held Communion with God which having been once enjoyed would for ever have kept him from infidelity or deliberate sin which alwayes proceeds from it Consider then the case of David of whom it is said that the Spirit of the Lord God came upon him That God himself made a Covenant with him and Sware unto him by his holiness that he would not fail him And as for David who was like unto him for Devotion and Zeal for spiritual Communion and intercourse with God He was the sweet singer of Israel and how often do we find his Spirit inebriated and transported in the Celebration of his divine and ravishing enjoyments Yet we find him falling from all this height and great and terrible was his fall he went mourning for it all his days and bowed down his head continually 5. But perhaps it may be thought that though David was an Excellent man yet seeing his Eminency lay not in the gift of Faith but in Zeal or in some other Grace the danger