the_o reasonableness_n and_o necessity_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n manifest_v in_o a_o sermon_n preach_v before_o the_o right_n honourable_a the_o lord_n mayor_n at_o guildhall_n chapel_n oct._n 17._o 1697._o by_o john_n hitchcock_n m._n a._n london_n print_v by_o tho._n warren_n for_o walter_n kettilby_n at_o the_o bishop_n '_o shed_n in_o st._n paul_n be_v churchyard_n 1697._o heb._n xi_o 6._o the_o former_a part_n of_o the_o verse_n but_o without_o faith_n it_o be_v impossible_a to_o please_v he_o this_o chapter_n be_v a_o panegyric_n upon_o faith_n and_o all_o its_o holy_a champion_n and_o martyr_n from_o the_o very_a beginning_n of_o the_o world_n down_o to_o the_o apostle_n time_n in_o the_o first_o verse_n we_o have_v a_o description_n of_o faith_n in_o its_o general_a notion_n it_o be_v the_o substance_n of_o thing_n hope_v for_o the_o evidence_n of_o thing_n not_o see_v that_o be_v faith_n be_v a_o confident_a expectation_n of_o those_o good_a thing_n we_o hope_v for_o 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the_o cunning_a and_o force_v of_o its_o enemy_n which_o it_o can_v never_o have_v do_v if_o the_o providence_n of_o god_n have_v not_o most_o illustrious_o appear_v for_o it_o and_o attend_v the_o preach_v of_o it_o with_o a_o extraordinary_a blessing_n and_o influence_n upon_o the_o mind_n of_o men._n last_o the_o christian_a religion_n carry_v the_o evidence_n of_o its_o divine_a original_a in_o its_o own_o nature_n and_o constitution_n for_o it_o propose_v a_o spiritual_a and_o rational_a worship_n such_o as_o be_v most_o agreeable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n and_o reason_n of_o man_n in_o opposition_n to_o all_o idolatry_n and_o useless_a ceremony_n it_o prescribe_v the_o best_a rule_n of_o life_n teach_v we_o internal_a righteousness_n and_o perfect_a virtue_n which_o if_o we_o practise_v we_o must_v be_v happy_a and_o then_o it_o offer_v the_o strong_a motive_n to_o the_o performance_n of_o our_o duty_n everlasting_a reward_n and_o punishment_n all_o this_o it_o do_v with_o the_o great_a accommodation_n and_o simplicity_n the_o doctrine_n be_v frame_v for_o the_o use_n of_o all_o man_n be_v adapt_v to_o the_o understanding_n of_o all_o it_o be_v suit_v to_o all_o relation_n and_o fit_v to_o all_o capacity_n no_o man_n be_v leave_v to_o seek_v his_o duty_n or_o a_o loss_n to_o understand_v it_o what_o now_o can_v be_v more_o worthy_a of_o our_o belief_n and_o entertainment_n than_o this_o excellent_a religion_n of_o the_o truth_n whereof_o we_o have_v the_o high_a moral_a evidence_n the_o best_a proof_n that_o the_o thing_n will_v bear_v and_o it_o be_v very_o unreasonable_a to_o expect_v any_o other_o he_o that_o will_v not_o believe_v a_o thing_n that_o be_v only_o moral_o certain_a and_o do_v not_o exclude_v all_o doubt_n must_v reject_v all_o ancient_a history_n and_o believe_v nothing_o but_o what_o he_o see_v which_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o judgement_n and_o practice_n of_o mankind_n and_o if_o sceptic_n be_v to_o manage_v their_o temporal_a affair_n with_o the_o same_o humour_n that_o they_o treat_v religion_n they_o will_v be_v look_v upon_o as_o man_n out_o of_o their_o wit_n and_o only_o fit_a to_o live_v in_o a_o dark_a room_n by_o themselves_o beside_o a_o faith_n that_o be_v ground_v upon_o sensible_a evidence_n and_o exclude_v all_o manner_n of_o doubt_n have_v nothing_o in_o it_o that_o be_v excellent_a or_o rewardable_a i_o can_v see_v no_o more_o virtue_n in_o such_o a_o faith_n than_o in_o believe_v the_o truth_n of_o colour_n or_o mathematical_a demonstratious_a there_o be_v no_o resist_v such_o evident_a truth_n and_o a_o man_n can_v but_o believe_v they_o which_o be_v the_o reason_n that_o i_o do_v not_o wonder_v at_o those_o man_n believe_v in_o christ_n who_o hear_v he_o speak_v and_o see_v he_o act_v after_o his_o divine_a and_o astonish_a manner_n and_o christ_n himself_o seem_v to_o make_v but_o little_a account_n of_o such_o a_o faith_n when_o he_o say_v unto_o thomas_n joh._n 20.29_o because_o thou_o 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fail_v and_o vanish_v into_o ignorance_n religion_n in_o such_o a_o state_n must_v be_v a_o supernatural_a thing_n and_o supernatural_o know_v some_o thing_n must_v then_o be_v reveal_v which_o can_v never_o be_v know_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n such_o as_o the_o inclination_n of_o god_n to_o forgive_v sinner_n and_o the_o mean_n of_o appease_v his_o wrath_n and_o the_o manner_n of_o serve_v and_o please_v he_o other_o thing_n must_v also_o be_v reveal_v which_o though_o knowable_a by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n yet_o through_o the_o degeneracy_n of_o mankind_n be_v almost_o utter_o lose_v and_o extinct_a such_o be_v right_a notion_n of_o god_n and_o his_o providence_n the_o principle_n of_o morality_n and_o distinction_n of_o virtue_n and_o vice_n together_o with_o the_o immortality_n of_o humane_a soul_n and_o another_o life_n after_o this._n these_o thing_n be_v necessary_a to_o be_v reveal_v when_o the_o nature_n of_o man_n be_v lapse_v and_o deprave_v and_o if_o we_o be_v to_o take_v a_o view_n of_o the_o religion_n and_o morality_n of_o the_o gentile_a world_n we_o shall_v soon_o be_v convince_v that_o nothing_o but_o the_o light_n of_o revelation_n and_o the_o power_n of_o divine_a grace_n can_v ever_o recover_v they_o out_o of_o their_o dark_a and_o miserable_a estate_n of_o ignorance_n and_o vice_n thus_o the_o necessity_n of_o some_o revelation_n be_v ground_v upon_o the_o fall_n and_o degeneracy_n of_o mankind_n for_o because_o some_o thing_n be_v absolute_o necessary_a to_o salvation_n which_o man_n can_v have_v no_o natural_a knowledge_n of_o as_o i_o observe_v and_o instance_a just_a before_o therefore_o it_o be_v necessary_a that_o those_o thing_n shall_v be_v make_v know_v in_o a_o supernatural_a way_n that_o be_v by_o revelation_n this_o be_v a_o fair_a step_n towards_o prove_v the_o necessity_n of_o the_o revelation_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o it_o will_v effectual_o be_v do_v if_o i_o can_v make_v good_a my_o second_o point_n which_o be_v 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and_o wide_o as_o humane_a nature_n but_o now_o the_o religion_n of_o the_o jew_n be_v to_o spread_v no_o far_o which_o be_v a_o argument_n of_o its_o insufficiency_n for_o we_o can_v think_v that_o god_n will_v have_v confine_v it_o to_o that_o one_o people_n if_o it_o have_v be_v fit_v for_o the_o salvation_n of_o mankind_n second_o the_o religion_n which_o god_n give_v the_o jew_n be_v imperfect_a i_o will_v instance_n only_o in_o their_o worship_n which_o have_v no_o excellency_n or_o usefulness_n any_o far_a than_o as_o it_o bear_v a_o relation_n to_o christ_n the_o law_n make_v nothing_o perfect_a say_v the_o author_n to_o the_o heb._n 7.19_o and_o 10.1_o it_o can_v not_o with_o all_o it_o sacrifice_n make_v the_o comer_n thereunto_o perfect_a that_o be_v expiate_v their_o sin_n ano_fw-la sanctify_v their_o nature_n the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o jewish_a worship_n be_v mere_a shadow_n and_o rudiment_n design_v for_o no_o more_o than_o to_o prefigure_v christ_n and_o train_n 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the_o term_n of_o salvation_n to_o itself_o but_o if_o man_n can_v be_v save_v any_o other_o way_n than_o by_o the_o faith_n of_o the_o gospel_n what_o will_v become_v of_o those_o who_o never_o do_v nor_o can_v hear_v of_o a_o messiah_n before_o christ_n come_v nor_o since_o of_o he_o i_o answer_v they_o must_v be_v leave_v to_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n for_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o determine_v any_o thing_n about_o they_o to_o say_v that_o they_o must_v unavoidable_o be_v damn_v reflect_v horrible_o upon_o the_o goodness_n and_o justice_n of_o god_n to_o say_v that_o they_o may_v be_v save_v without_o the_o faith_n of_o christ_n the_o saviour_n of_o the_o world_n be_v against_o the_o word_n of_o god_n to_o say_v that_o the_o knowledge_n of_o christ_n might_n by_o a_o particular_a revelation_n be_v communicate_v to_o they_o some_o time_n before_o they_o die_v be_v to_o speak_v by_o guess_n and_o without_o a_o warrant_n it_o must_v therefore_o be_v leave_v a_o secret_a till_o the_o day_n of_o judgement_n but_o now_o this_o be_v as_o true_a as_o the_o gospel_n itself_o that_o whosoever_o reject_v the_o gospel_n when_o it_o be_v propound_v to_o he_o in_o a_o sufficient_a manner_n shall_v himself_o be_v reject_v at_o the_o last_o day_n he_o can_v possible_o escape_v the_o sentence_n of_o damnation_n for_o this_o be_v the_o unalterable_a decree_n which_o christ_n subjoin_v to_o the_o commission_n he_o give_v his_o apostle_n mar._n 16.15_o 16._o and_o he_o say_v unto_o they_o go_v you_o into_o all_o the_o world_n and_o preach_v the_o gospel_n to_o every_o creature_n and_o then_o follow_v the_o decree_n he_o that_o believe_v and_o be_v baptize_v shall_v be_v save_v but_o he_o that_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v thus_o i_o have_v explain_v the_o nature_n of_o religious_a faith_n in_o general_n and_o prove_v the_o reasonableness_n and_o necessity_n of_o the_o christian_a faith_n there_o remain_v but_o one_o thing_n more_o for_o i_o to_o do_v which_o be_v to_o show_v the_o influence_n of_o faith_n upon_o our_o practice_n and_o for_o a_o quick_a dispatch_n i_o will_v consider_v faith_n only_o as_o it_o respect_v thing_n future_a the_o different_a state_n of_o good_a and_o bad_a man_n in_o the_o other_o world_n and_o what_o a_o operative_a principle_n this_o faith_n be_v will_v appear_v in_o these_o three_o particular_n 1._o it_o be_v the_o plain_a principle_n for_o all_o man_n to_o live_v and_o act_v by_o the_o innate_a loveliness_n of_o virtue_n and_o its_o agreeableness_n with_o our_o rational_a nature_n the_o excellency_n of_o the_o christian_a law_n and_o its_o conduciveness_n to_o our_o well-being_n in_o this_o world_n these_o be_v very_o great_a truth_n and_o may_v be_v use_v as_o argument_n to_o persuade_v man_n to_o a_o life_n of_o virtue_n and_o obedience_n yet_o they_o can_v be_v make_v so_o plain_a to_o the_o common_a people_n as_o to_o lie_v level_a with_o their_o low_a understanding_n there_o be_v something_o in_o they_o too_o 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as_o the_o apostle_n advise_v unless_o we_o understand_v the_o ground_n and_o reason_n of_o it_o ourselves_o and_o we_o can_v do_v this_o without_o the_o exercise_n of_o our_o faculty_n in_o the_o examination_n of_o they_o as_o compare_v the_o quality_n of_o our_o saviour_n person_n with_o the_o character_n of_o the_o messiah_n deliver_v by_o the_o prophet_n weigh_v the_o credibility_n of_o the_o apostle_n testimony_n and_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o church_n tradition_n by_o which_o the_o revelation_n of_o christ_n be_v hand_v down_o to_o we_o these_o and_o the_o other_o argument_n of_o our_o religion_n must_v be_v due_o examine_v before_o we_o can_v be_v convince_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o it_o and_o believe_v it_o as_o men._n a_o implicit_a be_v a_o irrational_a faith_n and_o a_o blind_a assent_n to_o religion_n be_v a_o contempt_n of_o reason_n god_n indeed_o do_v not_o expect_v the_o same_o use_n of_o reason_n and_o the_o same_o degree_n of_o conviction_n in_o matter_n of_o 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the_o cross_n by_o his_o triumphant_a resurrection_n 2._o it_o be_v also_o to_o be_v consider_v that_o a_o perfect_a pattern_n of_o virtue_n be_v to_o be_v set_v for_o the_o imitation_n of_o mankind_n and_o that_o must_v have_v be_v do_v in_o a_o state_n of_o poverty_n and_o suffer_v man_n be_v natural_o more_o apt_a to_o live_v by_o example_n than_o by_o rule_n because_o example_n be_v a_o visible_a thing_n and_o do_v powerful_o incline_v the_o will_n through_o the_o sense_n the_o beauty_n of_o virtue_n be_v more_o lively_a and_o charm_a in_o practice_n than_o in_o idea_n and_o therefore_o a_o example_n of_o consummate_v virtue_n be_v high_o requisite_a and_o useful_a to_o man_n for_o the_o more_o correct_a conduct_n of_o their_o life_n and_o such_o a_o example_n be_v the_o life_n of_o christ_n it_o be_v a_o perfect_a original_a of_o all_o virtue_n he_o be_v humble_a and_o condescend_v though_o he_o be_v he_o son_n of_o god_n he_o comply_v with_o the_o infirmity_n and_o weakness_n of_o humane_a nature_n be_v meek_a and_o patient_a under_o affront_n and_o injury_n do_v the_o great_a good_a for_o the_o great_a evil_n resign_v himself_o up_o to_o the_o disposal_n of_o his_o heavenly_a father_n and_o submit_v to_o his_o will_n in_o every_o thing_n all_o which_o excellent_a and_o useful_a virtue_n christ_n can_v not_o have_v exercise_v if_o he_o have_v not_o live_v in_o a_o mean_a condition_n and_o undergo_v want_n and_o pain_n the_o person_n of_o a_o prince_n and_o a_o prosperous_a condition_n will_v not_o have_v suit_v the_o design_n of_o christ_n in_o give_v a_o example_n to_o mankind_n but_o by_o appear_v under_o such_o circumstance_n as_o he_o do_v by_o be_v the_o son_n of_o god_n in_o the_o form_n of_o a_o servant_n he_o be_v a_o example_n to_o the_o great_a and_o rich_a as_o well_o as_o to_o the_o poor_a and_o distress_a he_o practise_v the_o virtue_n that_o belong_v to_o every_o condition_n and_o lead_v every_o man_n the_o way_n to_o the_o performance_n of_o duty_n as_o to_o those_o doctrine_n which_o go_v under_o the_o name_n of_o mystery_n viz._n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o trinity_n and_o of_o the_o incarnation_n why_o shall_v we_o dislike_v they_o the_o worse_a for_o be_v mystery_n when_o there_o be_v nothing_o in_o the_o world_n but_o what_o have_v something_o in_o it_o unknown_a to_o we_o nay_o although_o we_o can_v perfect_o understand_v the_o nature_n of_o all_o create_a being_n yet_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n will_v still_o remain_v incomprehensible_a there_o be_v a_o infinite_a distance_n and_o disproportion_n between_o his_o perfection_n and_o our_o faculty_n and_o it_o be_v as_o impossible_a for_o we_o to_o comprehend_v god_n we_o for_o a_o bucket_n to_o contain_v the_o ocean_n it_o be_v not_o then_o a_o doctrine_n be_v above_o reason_n but_o contrary_a to_o reason_n that_o make_v it_o unreasonable_a for_o we_o to_o believe_v it_o all_o the_o part_n of_o revelation_n be_v equal_o true_a and_o a_o obscure_a doctrine_n have_v 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revelation_n and_o this_o will_v be_v make_v evident_a by_o clear_v these_o two_o point_n 1._o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o revelation_n in_o general_n 2._o the_o insufficiency_n of_o all_o revelation_n before_o the_o gospel_n for_o the_o salvation_n of_o mankind_n 1._o the_o necessity_n of_o a_o revelation_n in_o general_n appear_v from_o the_o impossibility_n of_o please_a god_n and_o obtain_v happiness_n without_o one_o for_o by_o sin_n we_o lose_v the_o favour_n of_o god_n and_o forfeit_v immortal_a life_n and_o although_o we_o know_v by_o the_o light_n of_o nature_n that_o god_n must_v be_v atone_v before_o we_o can_v be_v restore_v yet_o we_o can_v not_o from_o thence_o learn_v whether_o god_n will_v be_v atone_v or_o not_o and_o what_o kind_n of_o atonement_n he_o will_v accept_v of_o this_o depend_v upon_o his_o free_a grace_n and_o therefore_o can_v only_o be_v discover_v to_o we_o by_o himself_o have_v we_o continue_v innocent_a there_o will_v have_v be_v no_o need_n of_o any_o 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