The divine authority of the scriptures a sermon peached at St. Martin's in the Fields, May 4. 1695 : being the fifth of the lecture for this present year, founded by the honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
         Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
      
       
         
           1695
        
      
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             The divine authority of the scriptures a sermon peached at St. Martin's in the Fields, May 4. 1695 : being the fifth of the lecture for this present year, founded by the honourable Robert Boyle, Esquire / by John Williams ...
             Williams, John, 1636?-1709.
             Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691.
          
           [2], 36 p.
           
             Printed for Ri. Chiswell, and Tho. Cockerill, Senr & Junr ...,
             London :
             1695.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Half title: Dr. Williams's fifth sermon at Mr. Boyle's lecture, 1695.
             Errata: p. 36.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           D
           r
           
           WILLIAMS's
           FIFTH
           SERMON
           AT
           Mr.
           BOYLE'S
           Lecture
           ,
           1695.
           
        
      
       
         
         
           IMPRIMATUR
           ,
        
         
           
             Guil.
             Lancaster
             .
          
           
             
               May
               1.
               1695.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           
             The
             Divine
             Authority
             of
             the
             Scriptures
             .
          
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           at
           St.
           
             Martin's
             in
             the
             Fields
          
           ,
           May
           4.
           1695.
           
           BEING
           THE
           Fifth
           of
           the
           LECTURE
           For
           this
           present
           YEAR
           ,
           Founded
           by
           the
           Honourable
           
             ROBERT
             BOYLE
          
           ,
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           By
           
             JOHN
             WILLIAMS
          
           ,
           D.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           His
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Ri.
             Chiswell
          
           ,
           and
           
             Tho.
             Cockerill
          
           ,
           Sen
           r
           &
           Jun
           r
           :
           At
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ;
           and
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Legs
          
           in
           the
           Poultrey
           .
           MDCXCV
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             HEB.
             I.
             1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             spake
             in
             time
             past
             unto
             the
             Fathers
             by
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             hath
             in
             these
             last
             days
             spoken
             unto
             us
             by
             his
             Son
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           IN
           these
           words
           ,
           there
           is
           contained
           (
           as
           I
           have
           before
           shewed
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           A
           description
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           't
           is
           God's
           speaking
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Certainty
           of
           it
           ,
           't
           is
           by
           way
           of
           declaration
           ,
           
             God
             who
             at
             sundry
             times
          
           ,
           &c.
           
           'T
           is
           taken
           for
           granted
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Order
           observed
           in
           delivering
           this
           Revelation
           ,
           it
           was
           
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             ,
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           Perfection
           and
           Conclusion
           of
           all
           ,
           't
           is
           in
           
             these
             last
             days
             by
             his
             Son.
             
          
        
         
           Under
           the
           Second
           I
           have
           shewed
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           God
           has
           actually
           revealed
           his
           Will
           
             at
             sundry
             times
             ,
             and
             in
             divers
             manners
             .
          
        
         
         
           2.
           
           What
           are
           the
           Characters
           of
           true
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           I
           am
           now
           in
           order
           to
           prove
           that
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           
             New
             Testament
          
           do
           contain
           the
           Matter
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           have
           upon
           them
           the
           Characters
           belonging
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           In
           which
           there
           are
           two
           things
           to
           be
           considered
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Matter
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Books
           containing
           that
           Matter
           .
        
         
           Which
           two
           will
           admit
           of
           a
           distinct
           Consideration
           .
           For
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           These
           two
           ,
           the
           Matter
           and
           the
           Books
           ,
           were
           originally
           distinct
           ;
           for
           the
           Matter
           was
           revealed
           before
           it
           was
           written
           ,
           and
           would
           have
           been
           of
           the
           same
           Authority
           ,
           if
           unwritten
           ,
           as
           written
           .
           The
           writing
           not
           being
           essential
           to
           the
           Authority
           ,
           but
           only
           made
           use
           of
           as
           a
           fit
           means
           for
           the
           conveyance
           and
           preservation
           of
           the
           Matter
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           These
           two
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           different
           proof
           :
           For
           the
           matter
           of
           Scripture
           was
           confirmed
           by
           Miracles
           ,
           and
           had
           a
           Divine
           Attestation
           given
           to
           it
           :
           But
           we
           don't
           find
           the
           like
           Testimony
           given
           to
           the
           Books
           .
           There
           were
           Miracles
           upon
           Miracles
           ,
           to
           confirm
           the
           truth
           ,
           suppose
           ,
           contained
           in
           the
           
           Four
           Evangelists
           ;
           but
           none
           to
           prove
           those
           Four
           Gospels
           to
           be
           wrote
           by
           Persons
           inspired
           ,
           or
           that
           these
           were
           the
           Books
           wrote
           by
           them
           .
           For
           that
           has
           another
           sort
           of
           Evidence
           ,
           to
           be
           hereafter
           inquired
           into
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           'T
           is
           fit
           these
           two
           should
           be
           considered
           apart
           .
           For
           ,
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           If
           we
           were
           to
           discourse
           with
           a
           professed
           Infidel
           ,
           we
           must
           begin
           with
           the
           Truth
           of
           the
           Matter
           ,
           and
           then
           proceed
           to
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Books
           :
           And
           we
           may
           make
           Converts
           (
           as
           the
           Apostles
           and
           others
           in
           those
           primitive
           times
           did
           )
           from
           the
           proof
           we
           are
           able
           to
           make
           of
           the
           Truth
           and
           Authority
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           though
           at
           the
           present
           we
           have
           not
           the
           Books
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           It
           's
           of
           no
           little
           advantage
           .
           For
           by
           handling
           the
           Matter
           apart
           from
           the
           Books
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           for
           the
           present
           concern
           our selves
           in
           the
           Doubts
           and
           Objections
           about
           the
           Books
           ;
           such
           as
           the
           supposed
           Inconsistencies
           in
           Scripture
           ;
           the
           various
           Readings
           ;
           the
           uncertainty
           of
           the
           Authors
           ;
           the
           Subject
           of
           Inspiration
           ,
           whether
           words
           as
           well
           as
           matter
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           These
           being
           laid
           aside
           for
           the
           present
           ,
           by
           this
           distinct
           consideration
           of
           the
           Matter
           and
           the
           Books
           ,
           will
           shorten
           our
           Work
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           prove
           
           the
           matter
           to
           be
           of
           Divine
           original
           ,
           we
           also
           gain
           a
           great
           point
           toward
           the
           proof
           of
           the
           Books
           themselves
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           to
           begin
           with
           the
           Matter
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           Now
           that
           is
           of
           a
           diverse
           nature
           ,
           and
           therefore
           according
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           it
           ,
           so
           is
           its
           Authority
           .
           For
           there
           is
           matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           and
           Historical
           Relations
           of
           things
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           say
           these
           are
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           we
           thereby
           mean
           they
           were
           recorded
           and
           committed
           to
           writing
           by
           the
           Appointment
           ,
           Direction
           or
           Command
           of
           God.
           Again
           ,
           there
           are
           Matters
           of
           a
           moral
           nature
           ,
           which
           might
           be
           found
           out
           by
           ,
           and
           are
           the
           Dictates
           of
           pure
           Reason
           ;
           and
           when
           we
           say
           these
           are
           of
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           we
           thereby
           understand
           that
           they
           are
           authorised
           by
           the
           Divine
           Command
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           their
           own
           nature
           obligatory
           .
           In
           which
           cases
           
             holy
             men
             of
             God
             spake
          
           ,
           and
           wrote
           ,
           
             as
             they
             were
             moved
          
           ,
           incited
           ,
           
             by
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           ,
           2
           Pet.
           1.
           21.
           
        
         
           But
           the
           more
           especial
           way
           was
           when
           the
           Matter
           was
           purely
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           wholly
           proceeding
           from
           it
           ;
           and
           though
           this
           were
           not
           to
           be
           learned
           ,
           and
           found
           out
           by
           Reason
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           shewed
           )
           yet
           't
           is
           agreeable
           to
           it
           ;
           as
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           prove
           ;
           and
           that
           I
           shall
           do
           in
           this
           order
           .
        
         
         
           1.
           
           I
           shall
           consider
           ,
           The
           Claim
           which
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           hath
           to
           Revelation
           and
           Inspiration
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Characters
           upon
           which
           that
           Claim
           is
           grounded
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           The
           Proof
           by
           which
           that
           Claim
           to
           Revelation
           is
           made
           good
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           I
           shall
           consider
           the
           Claim
           ,
           &c.
           
           And
           that
           is
           ,
           if
           the
           Matter
           contained
           in
           the
           Scripture
           be
           not
           a
           Revelation
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           True
           Revelation
           ,
           then
           there
           neither
           is
           ,
           nor
           ever
           was
           ,
           nor
           can
           be
           such
           a
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           If
           That
           be
           not
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Revelation
           ;
           for
           as
           That
           denies
           and
           rejects
           all
           Revelation
           besides
           it self
           ,
           so
           there
           is
           none
           other
           that
           can
           produce
           such
           Evidence
           for
           it
           :
           And
           consequently
           ,
           if
           notwithstanding
           the
           Evidence
           producible
           for
           Scripture
           ,
           That
           is
           not
           to
           be
           admitted
           for
           Divine
           ,
           then
           there
           is
           no
           Revelation
           existent
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           since
           no
           other
           has
           the
           Evidence
           which
           That
           appears
           to
           have
           .
           This
           we
           may
           leave
           to
           any
           indifferent
           person
           to
           judge
           of
           ,
           by
           comparing
           the
           Alcoran
           with
           the
           Bible
           ;
           and
           the
           Chinese
           Divinity
           of
           a
           Confutius
           ,
           with
           that
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           If
           this
           be
           not
           a
           Revelation
           from
           God
           ▪
           then
           there
           never
           has
           been
           such
           a
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           
           that
           for
           the
           Reason
           before
           given
           ,
           viz.
           That
           there
           is
           no
           other
           Revelation
           extant
           save
           this
           .
           But
           if
           there
           ever
           had
           been
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           a
           Revelation
           design'd
           for
           all
           Mankind
           (
           as
           that
           of
           the
           Gospel
           apparently
           is
           )
           ,
           what
           was
           once
           ,
           would
           always
           and
           for
           ever
           afterwards
           have
           been
           existent
           ;
           since
           the
           same
           reason
           there
           was
           once
           for
           a
           Revelation
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           the
           same
           would
           have
           been
           for
           the
           Continuance
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           Divine
           Goodness
           that
           took
           care
           there
           should
           be
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           would
           certainly
           have
           taken
           the
           like
           care
           for
           the
           preserving
           of
           it
           .
           But
           if
           there
           be
           no
           Revelation
           ,
           (
           as
           there
           is
           not
           ,
           if
           the
           Scripture
           be
           not
           that
           Revelation
           )
           then
           there
           never
           was
           a
           Revelation
           ;
           and
           so
           all
           that
           has
           been
           before
           said
           upon
           this
           Argument
           ,
           about
           the
           Existence
           ,
           Usefulness
           ,
           and
           Necessity
           of
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           must
           go
           for
           nothing
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           If
           the
           Scripture
           be
           not
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           then
           there
           never
           can
           be
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           such
           a
           Revelation
           as
           shall
           oblige
           us
           to
           receive
           and
           believe
           it
           :
           Since
           there
           can
           be
           no
           stronger
           Evidence
           produced
           for
           the
           Proof
           of
           it
           ,
           than
           there
           is
           for
           that
           of
           Scripture
           .
           And
           therefore
           he
           that
           will
           ▪
           pretend
           not
           to
           believe
           the
           Scripture-Revelation
           for
           want
           of
           sufficient
           Evidence
           ,
           can
           never
           be
           convinced
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           any
           Revelation
           .
           
           For
           what
           better
           Evidence
           can
           be
           given
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Matter
           ,
           the
           Persons
           Inspired
           ,
           the
           Supernatural
           Proofs
           of
           Miracles
           and
           Prophecy
           ,
           &c.
           than
           what
           we
           have
           for
           the
           Scripture
           ?
        
         
           Admit
           then
           that
           there
           is
           ,
           or
           ever
           was
           ,
           or
           may
           be
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           certain
           that
           the
           Matter
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           is
           of
           that
           nature
           .
        
         
           But
           though
           this
           must
           be
           allowed
           to
           be
           a
           good
           step
           toward
           the
           Proof
           of
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           yet
           it
           remains
           to
           consider
           what
           that
           Evidence
           is
           which
           is
           thus
           peculiar
           to
           Scripture-Revelation
           ,
           and
           that
           none
           besides
           ever
           have
           or
           can
           have
           :
           And
           this
           is
           the
           Subject
           of
           the
           Second
           General
           :
        
         
           Which
           is
           to
           consider
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Characters
           belonging
           to
           Revelation
           ,
           upon
           which
           that
           Claim
           is
           grounded
           .
        
         
           That
           Revelation
           may
           be
           distinguished
           from
           Imposture
           and
           mere
           Pretence
           ,
           there
           must
           be
           proper
           Characters
           that
           are
           essential
           to
           Revelation
           ;
           without
           which
           Marks
           of
           distinction
           ,
           we
           must
           do
           by
           it
           as
           few
           have
           done
           ,
           and
           totally
           reject
           it
           ;
           or
           else
           as
           the
           Romans
           did
           by
           the
           Deities
           of
           other
           Countries
           ,
           that
           admitted
           all
           into
           their
           Calendar
           ,
           we
           must
           refuse
           none
           .
           But
           since
           there
           has
           been
           
           a
           Revelation
           (
           as
           all
           Mankind
           have
           been
           inclined
           to
           believe
           )
           ,
           and
           several
           Pretences
           to
           it
           (
           as
           the
           experience
           of
           all
           Ages
           has
           shewed
           )
           ,
           we
           must
           follow
           the
           direction
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           
           which
           not
           only
           warns
           us
           of
           
             false
             Prophets
          
           ,
           
           and
           exhorts
           us
           to
           
             try
             the
             Spirits
          
           ;
           but
           doth
           also
           furnish
           us
           with
           such
           Characters
           ,
           as
           will
           enable
           us
           to
           distinguish
           the
           true
           from
           the
           false
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           direction
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           may
           pass
           for
           one
           Character
           ,
           according
           to
           that
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           Joh.
           3.
           20
           ,
           21.
           
           
             Every
             one
             that
             doth
             evil
          
           ,
           or
           speaketh
           falsly
           ,
           
             hateth
             the
             light
             ,
             lest
             his
             deeds
             should
             be
             reproved
             ,
          
           and
           his
           Pretences
           discovered
           .
           
             But
             he
             that
             doeth
          
           and
           speaketh
           
             truth
             ,
             cometh
             to
             the
             light
             ,
             that
             his
             deeds
             may
             be
             made
             manifest
             ,
             that
             they
             are
             wrought
             in
             God
          
           ;
           or
           that
           what
           he
           saith
           ,
           may
           appear
           to
           be
           a
           Revelation
           from
           him
           .
        
         
           Now
           when
           the
           Revelation
           so
           called
           doth
           thus
           offer
           it self
           to
           an
           impartial
           trial
           ,
           and
           exhorts
           and
           requires
           all
           persons
           to
           examine
           and
           make
           enquiry
           ,
           and
           lays
           down
           such
           Rules
           ,
           Principles
           ,
           and
           Characters
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           opinion
           of
           all
           men
           are
           sufficient
           to
           distinguish
           the
           true
           from
           the
           false
           ,
           't
           is
           an
           undoubted
           sign
           that
           it
           is
           able
           to
           justify
           it self
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           out
           its
           Claim
           to
           a
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           by
           a
           correspondence
           to
           those
           Characters
           .
        
         
         
           By
           this
           the
           Scripture
           is
           distinguished
           from
           all
           others
           ;
           for
           though
           there
           were
           several
           among
           the
           Heathen
           Lawgivers
           that
           pretended
           to
           derive
           their
           Laws
           from
           the
           direction
           of
           their
           gods
           ,
           yet
           it
           was
           rather
           to
           prevent
           Enquiry
           ,
           than
           encourage
           it
           ;
           and
           to
           oblige
           the
           people
           to
           an
           absolute
           submission
           :
           For
           who
           might
           dispute
           that
           which
           the
           gods
           commanded
           ?
           Or
           who
           durst
           so
           much
           as
           enquire
           ,
           
           where
           the
           
             Fear
             of
             Religion
          
           restrained
           them
           ?
        
         
           But
           to
           expose
           it self
           to
           a
           trial
           ,
           and
           to
           require
           that
           men
           examine
           before
           they
           receive
           and
           believe
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           them
           such
           signs
           as
           shall
           serve
           to
           describe
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           detect
           Imposture
           ,
           is
           peculiar
           to
           the
           Scripture
           .
           From
           thence
           therefore
           it
           is
           that
           I
           shall
           produce
           such
           Characters
           as
           will
           give
           that
           a
           Title
           to
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           and
           oblige
           us
           to
           a
           belief
           of
           it
           .
           And
           what
           are
           such
           ,
           if
           these
           are
           not
           ?
           viz.
           That
           it
           could
           come
           only
           from
           God
           ,
           is
           worthy
           of
           him
           ,
           and
           has
           a
           Divine
           and
           Supernatural
           Evidence
           to
           attest
           it
           .
           Where
           these
           are
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           Revelation
           .
           And
           these
           I
           shall
           shew
           do
           belong
           to
           what
           the
           Scripture
           proposes
           as
           such
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           It
           is
           a
           Character
           belonging
           to
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           a
           sign
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           when
           it
           apparently
           has
           God
           for
           the
           Author
           ,
           and
           can
           proceed
           from
           none
           but
           him
           .
           This
           is
           a
           Character
           ,
           I
           presume
           ,
           
           will
           upon
           examination
           be
           found
           to
           belong
           to
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           As
           I
           shall
           now
           attempt
           to
           prove
           ,
           by
           considering
           that
           which
           is
           the
           chief
           subject
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           the
           Revelation
           of
           God's
           Will
           to
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           Here
           I
           shall
           premise
           and
           take
           for
           granted
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           God
           having
           created
           Man
           ,
           created
           him
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Innocency
           and
           Purity
           ;
           for
           being
           infinitely
           Good
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           conceived
           that
           he
           made
           any
           thing
           evil
           in
           it self
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           Man
           fell
           from
           this
           happy
           state
           ;
           of
           innocent
           he
           became
           guilty
           ;
           of
           a
           pure
           ,
           he
           became
           a
           depraved
           creature
           ,
           as
           the
           experience
           of
           all
           Ages
           shews
           him
           now
           to
           be
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           That
           Almighty
           God
           was
           disposed
           to
           pardon
           and
           admit
           him
           again
           to
           favour
           .
        
         
           Upon
           this
           state
           of
           things
           the
           Scripture
           proceeds
           :
           And
           because
           it
           was
           impossible
           for
           Man
           to
           find
           out
           of
           himself
           the
           way
           and
           means
           by
           which
           he
           might
           be
           restored
           ,
           there
           needed
           a
           Revelation
           to
           inform
           him
           in
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           grant
           there
           is
           a
           Natural
           Means
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           reason
           of
           the
           thing
           supposes
           to
           be
           necessary
           to
           our
           Reconciliation
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           Repentance
           .
        
         
           But
           that
           this
           is
           of
           it self
           a
           Means
           sufficient
           ,
           and
           upon
           which
           alone
           God
           will
           be
           reconciled
           to
           the
           Offenders
           ,
           has
           been
           always
           doubted
           of
           ;
           as
           is
           
           evident
           from
           the
           several
           ways
           of
           Atonement
           ,
           and
           especially
           of
           Sacrifices
           ,
           practised
           in
           all
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           .
           For
           since
           God
           is
           the
           Governor
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           it
           seems
           no
           more
           reconcilable
           with
           his
           Justice
           ,
           and
           consistent
           with
           that
           Authority
           he
           is
           to
           maintain
           ,
           to
           pardon
           all
           Offenders
           upon
           Repentance
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           ends
           of
           Government
           among
           men
           ,
           to
           accept
           of
           the
           Offenders
           Penitence
           as
           a
           full
           Satisfaction
           to
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           to
           remit
           the
           Penalty
           threatned
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           an
           Instance
           to
           the
           contrary
           ,
           in
           this
           very
           case
           ;
           when
           notwithstanding
           a
           supposed
           Repentance
           in
           Mankind
           ,
           God
           inflicted
           the
           Penalty
           threatned
           ,
           
             In
             the
             day
             thou
             eatest
             therof
             ,
             thou
             shalt
             dye
             .
          
           Now
           therefore
           ,
           since
           the
           natural
           Means
           of
           propitiating
           Almighty
           God
           was
           not
           sufficient
           ,
           there
           is
           somewhat
           further
           in
           reserve
           ;
           and
           what
           that
           is
           ,
           none
           could
           tell
           ,
           but
           he
           who
           had
           it
           in
           his
           own
           power
           what
           to
           accept
           ,
           and
           what
           to
           refuse
           ;
           it
           was
           for
           him
           to
           reveal
           ,
           that
           was
           to
           institute
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           we
           take
           a
           view
           of
           the
           Scheme
           of
           what
           the
           Scripture
           sets
           before
           us
           as
           to
           this
           matter
           ,
           it
           will
           abundantly
           confirm
           what
           I
           have
           proposed
           as
           a
           Character
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           only
           from
           him
           .
        
         
           The
           Sum
           of
           which
           is
           ,
           That
           since
           Mankind
           had
           thus
           lapsed
           into
           a
           Preternatural
           State
           ,
           in
           which
           
           through
           the
           Infirmity
           and
           Corruption
           of
           their
           Nature
           ,
           they
           themselves
           neither
           were
           ,
           nor
           could
           do
           what
           was
           acceptable
           to
           God
           in
           order
           to
           a
           Restitution
           and
           Reconciliation
           ,
           it
           was
           designed
           that
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           himself
           should
           become
           a
           Mediator
           by
           a
           present
           Stipulation
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           prefixed
           time
           ,
           by
           an
           actual
           Undertaking
           to
           dye
           for
           us
           .
           That
           accordingly
           ,
           in
           testimony
           of
           God's
           acceptance
           of
           the
           Atonement
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           Reconciliation
           ,
           the
           Son
           rose
           from
           the
           dead
           ,
           and
           ascended
           into
           Heaven
           ,
           is
           there
           our
           Intercessor
           ,
           and
           the
           Dispenser
           of
           all
           those
           Gifts
           ,
           and
           that
           supervenient
           Grace
           which
           is
           necessary
           to
           the
           reforming
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           the
           fitting
           them
           for
           that
           state
           he
           is
           now
           invested
           in
           ,
           and
           has
           promised
           to
           bestow
           upon
           such
           as
           are
           qualified
           for
           it
           .
        
         
           Now
           who
           is
           there
           ,
           that
           upon
           a
           Review
           of
           these
           several
           Particulars
           that
           do
           constitute
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           and
           make
           up
           the
           chief
           Subject
           of
           Scriptural
           Revelation
           ,
           can
           pretend
           that
           this
           was
           to
           be
           found
           out
           by
           Human
           Consideration
           and
           Enquiry
           ;
           or
           rather
           ,
           that
           must
           not
           grant
           it
           proceeded
           from
           God
           ?
           Especially
           if
           it
           be
           observed
           what
           a
           wonderful
           Intermixture
           there
           is
           in
           this
           Scheme
           ,
           of
           the
           Divine
           Mercy
           and
           Justice
           ;
           of
           his
           Mercy
           in
           pardoning
           the
           Sinner
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           Justice
           in
           requiring
           an
           Atonement
           .
           
           What
           a
           representation
           of
           his
           Hatred
           to
           Sin
           on
           one
           hand
           ,
           when
           God
           established
           so
           valuable
           an
           Atonement
           as
           the
           Blood
           of
           his
           own
           Son
           ;
           and
           of
           his
           Favour
           and
           Love
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           when
           
             he
             spared
             not
             his
             own
             Son
             ,
             but
             delivered
             him
             up
             for
             us
             all
             ?
          
           What
           a
           foundation
           for
           our
           Hope
           on
           one
           hand
           ,
           when
           he
           accepted
           of
           the
           Propitiation
           ;
           and
           what
           a
           dread
           of
           offending
           is
           there
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           when
           
             he
             that
             knew
             no
             sin
             ,
             was
             made
             a
             sin
             offering
             for
             us
             ?
          
        
         
           All
           which
           laid
           together
           ,
           do
           confirm
           the
           Truth
           of
           this
           Character
           ,
           and
           the
           Title
           that
           the
           Scripture-Revelation
           hath
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           is
           somewhat
           further
           to
           be
           added
           in
           Proof
           of
           this
           Point
           .
           That
           it
           was
           a
           Revelation
           from
           God
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           The
           many
           Prophecies
           that
           are
           interwoven
           with
           it
           in
           Scripture
           ;
           which
           could
           proceed
           from
           none
           but
           Him
           who
           alone
           has
           all
           Causes
           and
           Events
           in
           his
           Power
           ,
           and
           so
           alone
           could
           foretell
           how
           those
           Causes
           would
           operate
           ,
           and
           what
           should
           be
           the
           Events
           of
           such
           Operation
           .
           These
           being
           the
           chief
           part
           of
           the
           Revelation
           concerning
           the
           whole
           Scheme
           of
           Man's
           Salvation
           ,
           confirm
           what
           I
           have
           before
           said
           ,
           That
           it
           was
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           from
           Him
           alone
           .
           But
           this
           must
           be
           reserved
           to
           its
           proper
           place
           ,
           under
           the
           Third
           General
           Head.
           
        
         
         
           To
           go
           on
           ,
        
         
           II.
           A
           Character
           necessarily
           belonging
           to
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           it
           be
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           becomes
           the
           Majesty
           of
           Heaven
           to
           make
           known
           to
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           When
           we
           say
           it
           is
           to
           be
           worthy
           of
           him
           ,
           thereby
           is
           meant
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           suitable
           to
           the
           Perfections
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           to
           his
           Holiness
           and
           Justice
           ,
           his
           Goodness
           and
           Mercy
           ,
           his
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           ,
           &c.
           
           To
           which
           ,
           and
           all
           of
           which
           ,
           a
           Revelation
           truly
           so
           ,
           can
           no
           more
           be
           repugnant
           ,
           than
           God
           himself
           can
           be
           other
           than
           he
           is
           ,
           and
           destitute
           of
           those
           Perfections
           which
           are
           essential
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           In
           discoursing
           upon
           which
           ,
           we
           may
           observe
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           it
           cannot
           be
           denied
           ,
           but
           the
           Revelation
           of
           himself
           to
           Mankind
           is
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           an
           Infinite
           Condescension
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           an
           Infinite
           Condescension
           in
           the
           Deity
           ,
           that
           had
           all
           in
           himself
           ,
           to
           make
           such
           a
           Creature
           as
           Man
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           no
           more
           unworthy
           of
           God
           to
           reveal
           himself
           to
           him
           ,
           than
           it
           was
           to
           make
           him
           .
           For
           what
           other
           reason
           ▪
           was
           there
           for
           the
           making
           such
           a
           Creature
           ,
           and
           the
           enduing
           him
           with
           the
           Light
           of
           Reason
           ,
           but
           that
           he
           might
           own
           ,
           honour
           ,
           and
           serve
           the
           Author
           of
           his
           Being
           ?
           And
           since
           to
           know
           and
           acknowledge
           God
           ,
           is
           the
           
           chief
           end
           for
           which
           Man
           was
           made
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           much
           becoming
           Almighty
           God
           to
           reveal
           himself
           to
           him
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           to
           make
           him
           for
           the
           knowledge
           of
           himself
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           is
           a
           thing
           worthy
           of
           God
           to
           reveal
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           thing
           worthy
           of
           God
           to
           do
           :
           And
           such
           is
           the
           Recovery
           and
           Restoration
           of
           Man
           to
           the
           like
           condition
           he
           was
           created
           in
           ,
           and
           unhappily
           fell
           from
           ;
           for
           that
           is
           a
           kind
           of
           Re-making
           him
           ,
           and
           giving
           him
           a
           New
           Being
           :
           And
           since
           a
           New
           Being
           is
           to
           a
           Depraved
           Being
           ,
           what
           Being
           was
           to
           No
           Being
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           much
           becoming
           Almighty
           God
           from
           a
           depraved
           state
           to
           raise
           him
           to
           a
           state
           of
           Purity
           and
           Holiness
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           at
           the
           first
           to
           give
           Him
           a
           Being
           that
           before
           had
           none
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           is
           the
           great
           Subject
           of
           what
           we
           call
           Divine
           Revelation
           ;
           which
           as
           it
           respects
           Man
           ,
           may
           come
           under
           a
           Twofold
           Consideration
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           the
           Perfection
           of
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           Happiness
           of
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           It
           will
           be
           a
           needless
           undertaking
           ,
           to
           prove
           that
           these
           Ends
           are
           worthy
           of
           God
           ;
           but
           that
           which
           rather
           becomes
           us
           is
           to
           shew
           ,
           That
           as
           it
           is
           the
           great
           design
           of
           the
           Scriptural
           Revelation
           to
           represent
           this
           ,
           and
           to
           acquaint
           us
           with
           the
           Method
           that
           the
           Almighty
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           thought
           fit
           to
           observe
           ;
           so
           the
           Method
           as
           there
           
           laid
           down
           ,
           is
           worthy
           of
           such
           Wisdom
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           as
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           shew
           in
           the
           two
           Instances
           given
           .
        
         
           1st
           .
           The
           Method
           Almighty
           God
           is
           in
           Scripture
           said
           to
           take
           for
           the
           purifying
           and
           the
           perfecting
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           is
           highly
           worthy
           of
           so
           glorious
           a
           Being
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           Threefold
           ,
           Cautionary
           ,
           Moral
           ,
           and
           Supernatural
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           That
           which
           I
           call
           Cautionary
           ,
           is
           the
           way
           Almighty
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           take
           for
           the
           representing
           his
           Displeasure
           against
           Sin
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           Mankind
           cautious
           of
           offending
           .
           The
           Means
           made
           use
           of
           before
           the
           Fall
           was
           a
           Penalty
           threatned
           ,
           
             In
             the
             day
             thou
             eatest
             thereof
             thou
             shalt
             dye
             .
          
           But
           because
           that
           had
           proved
           of
           so
           little
           force
           to
           restrain
           mankind
           ,
           and
           for
           fear
           lest
           when
           God
           had
           received
           them
           into
           Favour
           after
           such
           a
           Threatning
           ,
           his
           Mercy
           and
           Indulgence
           might
           be
           abused
           ,
           and
           become
           an
           Encouragement
           to
           Sin
           ,
           God
           added
           thereunto
           an
           Expiation
           (
           as
           has
           been
           before
           said
           )
           ,
           and
           that
           to
           be
           made
           by
           his
           own
           Son
           ;
           who
           from
           the
           Dignity
           of
           his
           Person
           ,
           and
           the
           voluntary
           Oblation
           of
           himself
           ,
           should
           be
           reputed
           as
           a
           Representative
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           be
           esteemed
           to
           suffer
           with
           him
           .
           By
           which
           means
           ,
           as
           God's
           Mercy
           would
           be
           abundantly
           testified
           in
           a
           design
           for
           redeeming
           
           them
           ;
           so
           his
           Justice
           would
           be
           exemplified
           ,
           when
           he
           that
           had
           no
           sin
           of
           his
           own
           ,
           should
           yet
           be
           made
           a
           Sin-offering
           ,
           and
           suffer
           for
           them
           .
           For
           how
           could
           they
           presume
           after
           this
           to
           offend
           the
           Almighty
           Father
           ,
           when
           rather
           than
           suffer
           his
           Laws
           to
           be
           violated
           ,
           his
           Authority
           slighted
           ,
           his
           Holiness
           and
           Justice
           disparaged
           ,
           or
           leave
           Mankind
           under
           a
           temptation
           so
           to
           do
           ,
           he
           would
           express
           his
           hatred
           against
           sin
           ,
           and
           his
           resolution
           to
           punish
           it
           ,
           by
           requiring
           and
           substituting
           such
           a
           Sacrifice
           as
           that
           of
           his
           Son
           in
           their
           stead
           ?
           This
           is
           the
           apparent
           Reason
           of
           such
           an
           Institution
           ;
           and
           both
           the
           Institution
           and
           Reason
           of
           it
           are
           worthy
           of
           the
           Divine
           Counsel
           ;
           since
           there
           is
           no
           way
           in
           which
           these
           things
           can
           be
           represented
           to
           greater
           advantage
           ,
           than
           by
           the
           Scripture-Scheme
           of
           Man's
           Redemption
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           There
           is
           the
           Moral
           Means
           ,
           that
           serves
           the
           same
           end
           ,
           viz.
           the
           purifying
           and
           perfecting
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           to
           which
           Revelation
           gave
           the
           last
           and
           finishing
           hand
           .
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           these
           Moral
           Principles
           are
           no
           other
           than
           Natural
           Maxims
           ,
           and
           which
           were
           Nature
           ,
           unassisted
           ,
           sufficient
           for
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           extracted
           out
           of
           it
           .
           But
           Mankind
           were
           no
           more
           able
           to
           attain
           to
           that
           skill
           of
           themselves
           ,
           than
           an
           unexperienced
           person
           ,
           and
           unacquainted
           with
           the
           Art
           of
           Chymistry
           ,
           
           can
           extract
           such
           Exalted
           and
           Generous
           Spirits
           out
           of
           the
           Bodies
           of
           Plants
           and
           Animals
           ,
           as
           upon
           trial
           we
           find
           they
           are
           endued
           with
           .
           It
           is
           another
           Light
           we
           view
           Nature
           by
           since
           the
           communicating
           of
           the
           Evangelical
           Revelation
           to
           the
           world
           .
           Nature
           and
           Reason
           now
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           Nature
           and
           the
           Reason
           they
           were
           before
           ,
           or
           are
           still
           where
           that
           Revelation
           has
           not
           been
           known
           :
           And
           therefore
           if
           we
           would
           know
           what
           the
           force
           of
           those
           Principles
           are
           ,
           and
           how
           far
           they
           operated
           by
           their
           own
           power
           ,
           and
           of
           themselves
           ,
           the
           way
           is
           not
           to
           judge
           of
           it
           as
           it
           appears
           to
           us
           ,
           where
           the
           Gospel-Revelation
           is
           ,
           but
           as
           it
           was
           in
           the
           state
           of
           pure
           Heathenism
           ,
           not
           excepting
           the
           finer
           part
           of
           it
           (
           as
           it
           flourished
           in
           Greece
           it self
           )
           and
           as
           it
           is
           now
           in
           some
           of
           the
           remote
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           West-Indies
           ,
           &c.
           
           For
           Gentilism
           it self
           apparently
           mended
           upon
           the
           Publication
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           and
           then
           their
           Moralists
           wrote
           with
           another
           strein
           ,
           than
           those
           of
           their
           own
           Sect
           did
           before
           that
           time
           .
        
         
           For
           in
           the
           Scripture
           there
           is
           such
           an
           entire
           and
           compleat
           System
           of
           all
           things
           requisite
           to
           the
           perfection
           of
           Human
           Nature
           (
           as
           far
           as
           in
           this
           state
           it
           is
           capable
           of
           it
           )
           that
           nothing
           is
           wanting
           for
           direction
           and
           obligation
           .
        
         
           There
           we
           find
           the
           most
           Natural
           Characters
           
           of
           Good
           and
           Evil
           traced
           along
           from
           the
           first
           rise
           in
           all
           their
           tendencies
           ,
           and
           the
           just
           bounds
           of
           both
           described
           .
           There
           we
           have
           on
           one
           hand
           the
           most
           enforcing
           Encouragements
           to
           Virtue
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           and
           on
           the
           other
           the
           most
           necessary
           Cautions
           and
           Admonitions
           against
           Sin
           ;
           and
           both
           fortified
           with
           proper
           Instances
           and
           Examples
           .
        
         
           There
           we
           find
           the
           noblest
           Principles
           ,
           and
           exactest
           Rules
           ;
           and
           the
           great
           Lines
           of
           our
           Duty
           plainly
           set
           forth
           in
           their
           utmost
           extent
           ;
           and
           that
           as
           well
           for
           the
           Regulation
           of
           the
           Thoughts
           and
           Desires
           ,
           as
           the
           Government
           of
           our
           Actions
           .
        
         
           There
           we
           find
           that
           Duty
           enforced
           by
           the
           highest
           Obligation
           ,
           by
           no
           less
           Authority
           than
           that
           of
           God
           himself
           ,
           whose
           Precepts
           and
           Injunctions
           they
           are
           declared
           to
           be
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           mere
           results
           of
           our
           own
           Nature
           and
           Reason
           .
        
         
           And
           whereas
           Nature
           falls
           as
           short
           in
           its
           Sanctions
           (
           having
           only
           Conscience
           to
           enforce
           them
           )
           as
           its
           Authority
           ;
           when
           these
           Moral
           Principles
           become
           God's
           Laws
           ,
           they
           have
           Rewards
           and
           Punishments
           of
           another
           kind
           annexed
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           as
           everlasting
           as
           our
           Souls
           ,
           to
           bind
           them
           upon
           us
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           as
           far
           as
           Nature
           thus
           directed
           and
           excited
           can
           go
           ,
           we
           have
           the
           most
           effectual
           means
           in
           our
           power
           for
           the
           amendment
           and
           purification
           of
           it
           .
        
         
         
           But
           because
           it
           is
           only
           so
           far
           in
           our
           own
           power
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           the
           issue
           we
           prove
           too
           remiss
           in
           the
           exerting
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           after
           all
           ,
           Nature
           flags
           and
           recoils
           ,
           and
           is
           too
           much
           Nature
           still
           .
           Therefore
           ,
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           There
           is
           a
           Supernatural
           Means
           to
           render
           the
           other
           effectual
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           encouragement
           and
           success
           to
           our
           endeavours
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           a
           Power
           as
           Divine
           as
           the
           Authority
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           assistance
           of
           the
           Holy
           Spirit
           of
           God.
           Look
           we
           upon
           the
           Morality
           of
           the
           greatest
           Philosophers
           ,
           how
           poor
           is
           that
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           our
           Saviour
           and
           the
           Apostles
           ?
           Look
           we
           upon
           the
           fruits
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           there
           we
           shall
           find
           them
           short
           of
           their
           Principles
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           case
           was
           much
           with
           them
           as
           with
           the
           Stoical
           Posidonius
           ,
           that
           would
           not
           allow
           Passions
           in
           Human
           Nature
           ;
           that
           when
           invaded
           by
           the
           Gout
           ,
           might
           chide
           both
           that
           and
           himself
           for
           his
           sensation
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           the
           Disease
           and
           Nature
           ,
           kept
           on
           their
           course
           ,
           and
           would
           own
           no
           such
           Authority
           .
           So
           it
           was
           with
           them
           that
           had
           only
           Nature
           to
           correct
           Nature
           ;
           that
           while
           they
           pretended
           to
           be
           the
           Physicians
           of
           it
           ,
           could
           not
           cure
           themselves
           ,
           nor
           alter
           so
           much
           as
           Custom
           ,
           which
           had
           alter'd
           that
           .
        
         
           The
           Instances
           they
           give
           of
           a
           Philosophical
           Cure
           ,
           are
           as
           rare
           as
           the
           Miracles
           they
           pretend
           to
           
           have
           been
           wrought
           in
           the
           Temple
           of
           Aesculapius
           ,
           or
           by
           a
           Vespasian
           ,
           few
           and
           questionable
           ;
           a
           Phoedon
           ,
           or
           a
           Polemon
           ,
           to
           credit
           the
           Schools
           of
           a
           Socrates
           or
           a
           Xenocrates
           .
           But
           the
           Instances
           of
           such
           as
           were
           converted
           by
           our
           Saviour
           and
           Apostolical
           Persons
           ,
           were
           like
           his
           Miracles
           ,
           numberless
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           disputed
           .
           When
           the
           Gospel
           flew
           like
           Lightning
           through
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           became
           as
           successful
           in
           reforming
           ,
           as
           teaching
           the
           world
           ;
           Nature
           by
           it
           was
           changed
           ,
           and
           the
           Temper
           became
           subject
           to
           the
           Divine
           Power
           .
           So
           that
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Christ
           
             did
             turn
             those
             that
             were
             immersed
             in
             wickedness
             ,
          
           
           
             to
             a
             life
             agreeable
             to
             Reason
             ,
             and
             the
             practice
             of
             all
             Virtue
          
           ;
           as
           Origen
           shews
           ,
           and
           appeals
           to
           his
           Adversary
           in
           .
        
         
           And
           what
           was
           then
           done
           ,
           would
           always
           be
           done
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           not
           some
           obstruction
           on
           our
           part
           ,
           either
           as
           to
           asking
           that
           Assistance
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           not
           improving
           it
           ;
           according
           to
           that
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           
             Matth.
             13.
             12
             
             ▪
             Whosoever
             hath
          
           and
           useth
           it
           ,
           
             to
             him
             shall
             be
             given
             ,
             and
             he
             shall
             have
             more
             abundance
             .
          
        
         
           2dly
           .
           It
           is
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           becoming
           the
           most
           Benevolent
           as
           well
           as
           the
           most
           powerful
           of
           Beings
           ,
           to
           consult
           what
           may
           be
           for
           the
           happiness
           of
           the
           reasonable
           Nature
           ,
           and
           to
           propound
           this
           as
           an
           encouragement
           to
           them
           in
           the
           Performance
           of
           that
           Service
           he
           expects
           and
           requires
           of
           them
           .
        
         
         
           And
           what
           can
           make
           them
           happy
           ,
           if
           the
           Order
           and
           Method
           of
           Salvation
           revealed
           in
           Scripture
           be
           not
           sufficient
           for
           it
           ?
           Whereby
           they
           are
           not
           only
           assured
           of
           the
           Protection
           and
           Blessing
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           in
           this
           Life
           ,
           but
           also
           of
           a
           State
           of
           Immortality
           in
           the
           Life
           to
           come
           :
           Where
           they
           shall
           be
           taken
           into
           the
           Enjoyment
           of
           their
           Ever-blessed
           Creator
           ;
           and
           be
           fitted
           both
           in
           Body
           and
           Soul
           ,
           by
           the
           Divine
           Power
           ,
           for
           such
           a
           Participation
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           as
           worthy
           of
           God
           to
           reveal
           the
           Way
           by
           which
           that
           Happiness
           is
           to
           be
           attained
           .
           I
           grant
           that
           by
           the
           use
           and
           power
           of
           Reason
           ,
           and
           the
           sense
           we
           have
           of
           the
           difference
           between
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           we
           may
           learn
           ,
           though
           obscurely
           and
           very
           imperfectly
           ,
           what
           is
           acceptable
           to
           God
           :
           But
           yet
           without
           Revelation
           we
           are
           much
           in
           the
           dark
           ,
           and
           can
           as
           little
           know
           what
           is
           on
           our
           part
           necessary
           toward
           the
           attainment
           of
           that
           Happiness
           ,
           as
           we
           do
           what
           the
           Condition
           of
           the
           Future
           State
           is
           ,
           and
           wherein
           the
           Happiness
           of
           it
           consists
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           as
           much
           difference
           between
           what
           is
           only
           supposed
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           necessary
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           between
           what
           we
           hope
           for
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           certain
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           as
           there
           needs
           a
           Revelation
           to
           assure
           us
           of
           that
           which
           without
           Revelation
           we
           only
           
           hoped
           for
           ;
           so
           there
           is
           as
           much
           need
           of
           Revelation
           to
           inform
           us
           of
           what
           is
           necessary
           to
           our
           Acceptance
           with
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           our
           Happiness
           in
           another
           world
           ;
           and
           without
           which
           we
           are
           left
           to
           Conjecture
           only
           .
           So
           that
           as
           far
           as
           Certainty
           is
           to
           be
           preferr'd
           beyond
           Hope
           and
           Imagination
           ;
           and
           the
           Knowledge
           of
           what
           is
           necessary
           ,
           is
           beyond
           Conjecture
           ;
           so
           much
           is
           the
           Comfort
           of
           Revelation
           beyond
           that
           of
           Nature
           ;
           and
           so
           much
           is
           it
           becoming
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           who
           gave
           us
           our
           Nature
           and
           Being
           ,
           to
           acquaint
           us
           with
           what
           may
           both
           make
           us
           happy
           ,
           and
           lead
           us
           to
           it
           .
           Especially
           was
           this
           necessary
           ,
           considering
           how
           far
           the
           World
           had
           wandred
           out
           of
           the
           right
           way
           ;
           and
           what
           superstitious
           and
           infamous
           Rites
           had
           been
           taken
           up
           ;
           and
           what
           Practices
           dishonourable
           to
           the
           Deity
           and
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           had
           been
           used
           .
           And
           this
           way
           to
           Happiness
           the
           Scripture
           has
           plainly
           reveal'd
           .
        
         
           3dly
           .
           It
           is
           a
           Design
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           reveal
           Himself
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           Mankind
           a
           right
           Notion
           and
           Representation
           of
           his
           Nature
           .
           The
           Being
           of
           God
           ,
           is
           what
           the
           whole
           Creation
           proclaims
           ;
           and
           there
           are
           some
           Attributes
           of
           his
           lye
           open
           to
           all
           ,
           and
           are
           conspicuous
           in
           their
           effects
           ,
           such
           are
           his
           Wisdom
           and
           Power
           .
           But
           there
           are
           others
           that
           we
           rather
           know
           by
           Inference
           ,
           and
           need
           a
           farther
           and
           brighter
           Light
           to
           
           inform
           us
           in
           ;
           and
           such
           are
           his
           Goodness
           and
           his
           Mercy
           .
           And
           since
           these
           are
           as
           essential
           Perfections
           of
           the
           Deity
           as
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           exceed
           them
           in
           the
           influence
           they
           have
           upon
           mankind
           ,
           as
           to
           our
           Love
           and
           Adoration
           of
           him
           ;
           and
           yet
           are
           not
           so
           legible
           in
           the
           Frame
           of
           Nature
           ,
           nor
           so
           observable
           in
           the
           Course
           of
           his
           Providence
           as
           the
           other
           ;
           we
           cannot
           conceive
           but
           that
           it
           is
           as
           becoming
           our
           Creator
           to
           represent
           himself
           to
           be
           a
           God
           Gracious
           and
           Merciful
           in
           a
           Revelation
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           a
           God
           Great
           ,
           Powerful
           ,
           and
           Wise
           in
           the
           Creation
           .
           We
           see
           how
           confused
           the
           Gentile
           World
           was
           in
           their
           Notion
           of
           the
           Supreme
           Power
           ;
           how
           inconsistently
           they
           thought
           ,
           and
           how
           low
           their
           Representations
           were
           of
           the
           Deity
           :
           And
           at
           best
           they
           had
           a
           very
           imperfect
           Notion
           of
           those
           Divine
           Attributes
           of
           Love
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           of
           Pity
           and
           Compassion
           ,
           of
           Indulgence
           and
           Condescension
           ,
           of
           Patience
           and
           Forbearance
           ,
           of
           Mercy
           and
           Forgiveness
           ,
           which
           the
           Scripture
           represents
           with
           Life
           and
           Perspicuity
        
         
           There
           it
           is
           that
           we
           find
           the
           Almighty
           Creator
           stooping
           to
           the
           Creature
           ,
           condescending
           to
           their
           Condition
           ,
           bearing
           with
           their
           Infirmities
           ,
           pitying
           their
           Miseries
           ,
           forgiving
           their
           Sins
           .
           There
           we
           find
           him
           reproving
           ,
           arguing
           ,
           following
           Sinners
           with
           importunity
           ,
           and
           leaving
           nothing
           undone
           ,
           
           that
           was
           consistent
           with
           his
           Nature
           and
           Honour
           to
           do
           ,
           toward
           the
           Salvation
           of
           Mankind
           .
           And
           above
           all
           ,
           
             In
             this
             was
             manifested
             the
             love
             of
             God
             towards
             us
             ,
             because
             that
             God
             sent
             his
             only
             begotten
             Son
             into
             the
             world
             ,
             that
             we
             might
             live
             through
             him
             ,
          
           1
           Joh.
           4.
           9.
           
        
         
           So
           that
           if
           to
           reveal
           what
           was
           not
           otherwise
           to
           be
           known
           ,
           concerning
           God's
           Reconciliation
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           the
           Terms
           upon
           which
           he
           is
           reconciled
           ;
           if
           to
           restore
           Man
           to
           the
           state
           he
           is
           fallen
           from
           ,
           and
           to
           promote
           him
           to
           a
           state
           of
           Purity
           ,
           Perfection
           ,
           and
           Happiness
           ;
           if
           for
           God
           to
           reveal
           and
           to
           render
           himself
           acceptable
           to
           mankind
           by
           the
           most
           obliging
           Characters
           of
           Love
           and
           Favour
           ,
           be
           worthy
           of
           him
           ;
           lastly
           ,
           If
           to
           reveal
           what
           is
           most
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           a
           Character
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           Then
           the
           Scripture
           is
           such
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           therein
           contained
           must
           be
           from
           God.
           
        
         
           III.
           A
           Character
           necessarily
           belonging
           to
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           by
           which
           the
           True
           is
           to
           be
           distinguished
           from
           the
           False
           and
           Pretended
           ,
           is
           a
           Divine
           and
           Supernatural
           Evidence
           ;
           which
           is
           the
           same
           with
           the
           Third
           General
           Head
           ,
           viz.
           The
           Proof
           by
           which
           the
           Scripture's
           Claim
           to
           Divine
           Revelation
           is
           to
           be
           made
           good
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           next
           to
           be
           considered
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           there
           are
           Three
           Instances
           of
           this
           kind
           ,
           viz.
           Prophecy
           ,
           Miracles
           ,
           and
           the
           wonderful
           Success
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Preservation
           of
           it
           under
           the
           most
           Potent
           Opposition
           ,
           and
           greatest
           Discouragements
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           Prophecy
           .
           That
           is
           of
           it self
           a
           Revelation
           ;
           
           and
           as
           it
           is
           what
           all
           Nations
           ,
           as
           well
           Learned
           as
           Barbarous
           ,
           have
           acknowledged
           ;
           so
           being
           an
           Instance
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           good
           Proof
           of
           that
           Revelation
           which
           it
           doth
           accompany
           ,
           and
           is
           interwoven
           with
           .
           And
           this
           is
           the
           case
           before
           us
           ;
           for
           the
           Scripture
           being
           composed
           of
           matters
           of
           a
           different
           kind
           ,
           cannot
           have
           the
           same
           sort
           of
           Evidence
           :
           But
           Prophecy
           being
           self-evident
           (
           when
           the
           Event
           has
           apparently
           answer'd
           the
           Prediction
           )
           and
           a
           Supernatural
           Evidence
           ,
           is
           a
           good
           Proof
           to
           what
           has
           no
           such
           Evidence
           ;
           and
           which
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           that
           Proof
           is
           as
           much
           a
           Matter
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           as
           credible
           ,
           as
           the
           Prophecy
           it self
           ;
           because
           such
           a
           Testimony
           being
           a
           Testimony
           from
           God
           ,
           cannot
           be
           applied
           to
           the
           support
           of
           a
           Falshood
           .
           So
           that
           where
           there
           is
           Prophecy
           truly
           so
           ,
           we
           may
           conclude
           that
           to
           be
           true
           ,
           and
           to
           come
           from
           God
           ,
           to
           which
           that
           Testimony
           is
           given
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           Testimony
           be
           Divine
           ,
           the
           Doctrine
           confirmed
           by
           it
           must
           be
           Divine
           also
           .
        
         
         
           In
           discoursing
           upon
           which
           ,
           I
           premise
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Prophecy
           ;
           that
           things
           future
           have
           been
           predicted
           :
           Tully
           saith
           ,
           
             This
             all
             Nations
             have
             agreed
             in
          
           ;
           as
           has
           been
           aforesaid
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           Prophecy
           is
           a
           good
           Testimony
           to
           what
           it
           is
           given
           (
           as
           I
           have
           proved
           already
           )
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           there
           is
           nothing
           remains
           ,
           but
           to
           shew
           that
           the
           Revelation
           in
           Scripture
           hath
           had
           this
           Testimony
           .
        
         
           And
           of
           this
           there
           are
           two
           sorts
           ,
           Near
           ,
           or
           Remote
           .
           Of
           both
           which
           we
           have
           an
           Instance
           in
           the
           Prophet
           sent
           to
           Jeroboam
           ,
           1
           Kings
           13.
           2.
           
        
         
           The
           Remote
           was
           ,
           That
           a
           Child
           should
           be
           born
           ,
           Josiah
           by
           name
           ,
           about
           330
           years
           after
           ,
           who
           should
           burn
           mens
           bones
           upon
           that
           Altar
           .
           The
           Proximate
           (
           which
           we
           may
           otherwise
           call
           a
           Sign
           )
           was
           ,
           That
           at
           that
           time
           
             the
             altar
             should
             be
             rent
             ,
             and
             the
             ashes
             poured
             out
             .
          
           If
           the
           Remote
           had
           been
           alone
           ,
           it
           would
           have
           had
           little
           influence
           upon
           them
           who
           were
           most
           nearly
           concerned
           ;
           and
           therefore
           there
           needed
           some
           present
           Sign
           to
           verify
           it
           .
           But
           otherwise
           ,
           the
           Remote
           is
           the
           stronger
           ,
           especially
           when
           at
           such
           a
           vast
           distance
           of
           time
           ,
           as
           shall
           render
           it
           impossible
           for
           Men
           or
           Angels
           to
           foresee
           ,
           or
           by
           any
           practices
           of
           theirs
           to
           accomplish
           ;
           when
           it
           depends
           upon
           Voluntary
           as
           Natural
           Agents
           ,
           and
           is
           in
           the
           conclusion
           answered
           by
           a
           
           Parallel
           Event
           ,
           it
           is
           to
           After-Ages
           a
           certain
           and
           indisputable
           Evidence
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           if
           we
           add
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           both
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           a
           Chain
           and
           Series
           of
           Prophecies
           near
           and
           remote
           ,
           in
           a
           certain
           and
           continued
           order
           following
           each
           other
           ,
           the
           first
           looking
           forward
           to
           others
           that
           are
           to
           succeed
           ,
           and
           the
           latter
           having
           a
           retrospect
           to
           the
           former
           ;
           there
           is
           no
           reasonable
           nor
           possible
           exception
           to
           be
           made
           against
           the
           matter
           thus
           testified
           ,
           without
           excepting
           against
           the
           Testimony
           of
           Prophecy
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           sense
           of
           all
           mankind
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           Instance
           ;
           if
           there
           be
           a
           Prophecy
           or
           Prophecies
           in
           several
           Ages
           ,
           from
           which
           it
           plainly
           appears
           ,
           that
           at
           such
           a
           precise
           time
           ,
           in
           such
           an
           Age
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           some
           Hundreds
           or
           Thousands
           of
           Years
           after
           ,
           there
           should
           arise
           a
           certain
           Person
           ,
           born
           at
           such
           a
           place
           ,
           and
           in
           an
           extraordinary
           way
           ,
           and
           descended
           from
           such
           and
           such
           Progenitors
           ,
           who
           should
           come
           to
           reform
           Mankind
           ;
           and
           in
           confirmation
           of
           his
           Doctrine
           ,
           should
           perform
           many
           astonishing
           Acts
           ,
           and
           do
           many
           supernatural
           Works
           ;
           that
           at
           a
           certain
           time
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           certain
           determined
           year
           ,
           he
           should
           be
           put
           to
           death
           by
           his
           own
           Nation
           ,
           and
           upon
           it
           that
           Nation
           should
           be
           captivated
           and
           destroyed
           ,
           and
           the
           Countrey
           desolate
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           Testimony
           not
           to
           be
           disproved
           .
        
         
         
           And
           yet
           setting
           aside
           the
           many
           Prophecies
           in
           Scripture
           relating
           to
           particular
           Persons
           and
           Families
           ,
           to
           the
           Jews
           and
           other
           Nations
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           instance
           in
           some
           of
           those
           concerning
           our
           Saviour
           ;
           and
           others
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           himself
           :
           The
           former
           of
           which
           will
           appear
           to
           be
           exactly
           parallel
           to
           the
           Case
           proposed
           .
        
         
           The
           first
           of
           these
           is
           the
           Prediction
           immediately
           after
           the
           Fall
           of
           Adam
           ,
           and
           4000
           years
           before
           the
           actual
           Completion
           of
           it
           ;
           That
           there
           should
           be
           one
           born
           
             of
             the
             seed
             of
             the
             woman
             ,
          
           
           and
           supernaturally
           made
           of
           her
           alone
           (
           as
           Adam
           was
           out
           of
           the
           Earth
           without
           a
           Woman
           )
           that
           should
           
             bruise
             the
             serpent's
             head
          
           ,
           
           who
           had
           
             beguiled
             Eve
             through
             his
             subtilty
          
           .
        
         
           About
           2000
           years
           after
           which
           Prophecy
           ,
           and
           so
           2000
           years
           before
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           it
           was
           revealed
           to
           Abraham
           ,
           
           That
           in
           his
           Seed
           ,
           and
           by
           one
           who
           should
           descend
           from
           him
           ,
           
           
             all
             the
             families
             of
             the
             earth
             should
             be
             blessed
          
           ;
           and
           which
           was
           afterward
           renewed
           to
           Isaac
           and
           Jacob.
           
        
         
           Again
           ;
           about
           1700
           years
           before
           Christ
           ,
           it
           was
           prophesied
           by
           Jacob
           ,
           That
           Shiloh
           ,
           or
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           
           should
           descend
           from
           his
           Son
           Judah
           .
        
         
           About
           1000
           years
           before
           our
           Saviour's
           Birth
           ,
           David
           was
           exalted
           to
           the
           Throne
           ,
           of
           whose
           Family
           the
           Messiah
           was
           to
           be
           a
           Branch
           ;
           whence
           it
           
           was
           that
           he
           was
           commonly
           known
           among
           the
           Jews
           ,
           
           by
           the
           Character
           of
           
           David's
           Son.
           
        
         
           In
           the
           same
           Royal
           Prophet
           have
           we
           the
           Prediction
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           Death
           ,
           Resurrection
           ,
           and
           Glorification
           ;
           and
           in
           very
           minute
           Circumstances
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           first
           of
           these
           ,
           Vid.
           Psal.
           16.
           10.
           22.
           1
           ,
           7
           ,
           8
           ,
           14
           ,
           16
           ,
           18.
           110
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           This
           is
           also
           the
           great
           Theme
           of
           
           Isaiah's
           Prophecy
           ,
           700
           years
           before
           the
           Accomplishment
           ,
           That
           there
           should
           be
           
             a
             root
             out
             of
             Jesse
          
           ,
           the
           Messiah
           ,
           who
           should
           dye
           for
           the
           Sins
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           be
           rejected
           by
           his
           own
           Nation
           ,
           but
           be
           believed
           in
           by
           the
           Gentiles
           .
           Isa.
           11.
           10.
           42.
           10
           ,
           &c.
           53.
           
        
         
           In
           the
           same
           Age
           lived
           Micah
           ,
           who
           foretells
           the
           very
           Place
           he
           should
           be
           born
           in
           ,
           
           
             viz.
             Bethlehem-Ephrata
          
           .
        
         
           Lastly
           ;
           About
           500
           years
           before
           our
           Lord's
           Incarnation
           ,
           Daniel
           directly
           points
           to
           the
           Time
           and
           the
           Year
           the
           Messiah
           should
           suffer
           in
           ,
           
           which
           was
           to
           be
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           the
           Seventieth
           Prophetical
           Week
           ,
           
           (
           each
           of
           which
           consists
           of
           Seven
           Years
           )
           that
           is
           ,
           the
           490th
           .
           Year
           ,
           from
           the
           Decree
           of
           Artaxerxes
           for
           the
           Rebuilding
           of
           Jerusalem
           .
           As
           may
           easily
           be
           computed
           by
           
           Ptolomy's
           Canon
           ,
           and
           reckoning
           the
           Years
           backward
           from
           the
           Death
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           (
           which
           was
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Tiberius
           )
           to
           some
           fixed
           year
           of
           Artaxerxes
           .
        
         
         
           In
           consequence
           of
           which
           ,
           the
           City
           and
           Sanctuary
           were
           to
           be
           destroyed
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           Countrey
           laid
           desolate
           ,
           as
           with
           a
           Flood
           .
        
         
           This
           Conclusion
           leads
           us
           on
           to
           the
           Second
           Branch
           of
           Prophetical
           Observations
           ,
           viz.
           our
           Saviour's
           own
           Predictions
           ,
           which
           are
           very
           many
           ;
           but
           a
           most
           remarkable
           one
           is
           his
           Prophecy
           of
           the
           Destruction
           of
           that
           People
           ,
           City
           ,
           and
           Countrey
           ,
           foretold
           by
           Daniel
           as
           to
           the
           very
           time
           ;
           and
           which
           our
           Saviour
           describes
           so
           particularly
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           it
           at
           that
           instant
           before
           his
           eyes
           ,
           when
           he
           discoursed
           of
           it
           to
           his
           Disciples
           .
        
         
           There
           he
           foretells
           ,
           *
           The
           preceding
           Signs
           ,
           as
           Famines
           ,
           and
           fearful
           Sights
           ,
           &c.
           *
           that
           many
           False
           Prophets
           should
           arise
           .
           *
           That
           there
           should
           be
           barbarous
           Slaughters
           one
           of
           another
           .
           *
           That
           Jerusalem
           should
           be
           closely
           besieged
           ;
           but
           withal
           ,
           that
           at
           that
           time
           there
           should
           be
           an
           opportunity
           for
           escaping
           ;
           which
           he
           advises
           them
           to
           take
           ,
           and
           to
           fly
           to
           the
           Mountains
           for
           present
           security
           .
           *
           That
           the
           Enemy
           should
           at
           last
           cast
           a
           Trench
           about
           it
           ,
           and
           keep
           them
           that
           remained
           in
           on
           every
           side
           .
           *
           That
           he
           should
           finally
           take
           the
           City
           ,
           and
           lay
           it
           even
           with
           the
           ground
           ;
           and
           that
           not
           one
           stone
           of
           the
           stately
           Structure
           ,
           the
           Temple
           ,
           (
           which
           they
           then
           were
           admiring
           )
           should
           be
           left
           upon
           another
           .
           *
           That
           the
           surviving
           
           Jews
           should
           be
           led
           Captive
           into
           all
           Nations
           ,
           and
           never
           return
           again
           to
           that
           Land
           as
           Proprietors
           .
           *
           And
           that
           all
           this
           was
           because
           they
           knew
           not
           the
           time
           of
           their
           visitation
           .
           *
           And
           that
           this
           should
           happen
           in
           that
           very
           Age.
           
        
         
           Never
           was
           any
           Prophecy
           more
           express
           ,
           never
           any
           Sentence
           more
           terrible
           ,
           nor
           more
           punctually
           fulfilled
           ,
           as
           to
           all
           the
           Particulars
           before-recited
           ;
           and
           for
           which
           we
           may
           appeal
           to
           Josephus
           the
           Jew
           ,
           who
           was
           an
           Eye-witness
           of
           all
           ,
           and
           as
           exactly
           describes
           it
           as
           to
           those
           Instances
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           was
           writing
           a
           Comment
           upon
           our
           Saviour's
           Prophecy
           ▪
           
             Joseph
             .
             de
             Bell.
          
           l.
           4
           ,
           5
           ,
           6
           ,
           7.
           
        
         
           And
           accordingly
           ,
           as
           the
           Temple
           ,
           though
           attempted
           by
           Julian
           the
           Apostate's
           Order
           ,
           never
           could
           be
           built
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           Heathen
           Historian
           
             Ammianus
             Marcellinus
          
           relates
           ,
           Hist.
           l.
           23.
           )
           so
           that
           People
           to
           this
           day
           remain
           Vagabonds
           ,
           without
           any
           certain
           place
           ,
           dispersed
           over
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           Having
           traced
           this
           Subject
           thus
           far
           ,
           we
           may
           proceed
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Another
           way
           by
           which
           we
           prove
           the
           Claim
           that
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           hath
           to
           a
           Divine
           Authority
           ,
           is
           Miracles
           ;
           of
           which
           kind
           there
           is
           nothing
           wanting
           that
           can
           reasonably
           be
           desired
           ;
           and
           that
           either
           as
           to
           the
           Judaical
           ,
           or
           Christian
           Dispensation
           .
        
         
         
           As
           for
           Instance
           :
           If
           a
           Person
           should
           pretend
           that
           he
           comes
           from
           God
           with
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           requires
           us
           to
           hearken
           to
           ,
           on
           peril
           of
           Damnation
           :
           What
           Satisfaction
           should
           we
           desire
           ?
        
         
           Surely
           if
           the
           Doctrine
           he
           teaches
           be
           in
           it self
           credible
           ,
           and
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           what
           in
           the
           nature
           and
           tendency
           of
           it
           proves
           to
           be
           useful
           and
           beneficial
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           we
           have
           as
           much
           Evidence
           as
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           will
           bear
           .
           And
           farther
           ,
           if
           the
           Person
           upon
           whom
           we
           are
           to
           rely
           ,
           doth
           openly
           and
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           all
           ,
           even
           of
           Enemies
           that
           watch
           him
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Friends
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           most
           Publick
           Assemblies
           ,
           cure
           all
           manner
           of
           Diseases
           ,
           though
           naturally
           incurable
           ,
           by
           a
           Word
           ,
           or
           a
           Touch
           ,
           and
           even
           at
           a
           distance
           .
           If
           he
           commands
           the
           Winds
           and
           the
           Seas
           ,
           the
           Good
           and
           the
           Evil
           Angels
           ,
           feeds
           Thousands
           in
           a
           Desart
           with
           no
           more
           than
           what
           would
           satisfy
           a
           few
           ,
           and
           raises
           the
           Dead
           .
           If
           he
           tells
           the
           most
           secret
           Thoughts
           ,
           Inclinations
           ,
           and
           Practices
           of
           his
           Enemies
           as
           well
           as
           Followers
           .
           Lastly
           ,
           If
           when
           himself
           is
           put
           to
           a
           violent
           Death
           ,
           he
           in
           a
           few
           days
           ,
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Prediction
           ,
           rises
           again
           ,
           appears
           to
           ,
           and
           converses
           with
           those
           that
           knew
           him
           when
           alive
           ,
           and
           saw
           him
           dead
           :
           And
           afterwards
           in
           the
           view
           of
           many
           ascends
           bodily
           into
           Heaven
           ;
           and
           within
           a
           few
           days
           ,
           as
           a
           farther
           
           Testimony
           of
           his
           former
           Mission
           and
           present
           Glorification
           ,
           confers
           the
           same
           or
           like
           Power
           upon
           his
           Disciples
           :
           Who
           can
           reasonably
           doubt
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           he
           has
           taught
           ?
        
         
           I
           need
           not
           here
           draw
           the
           Parallel
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           the
           Question
           should
           be
           put
           ,
           as
           it
           was
           by
           those
           whom
           John
           the
           Baptist
           sent
           ,
           
             Art
             thou
             he
             that
             should
             come
             ?
          
           Our
           Saviour's
           Answer
           will
           serve
           for
           one
           here
           ,
           
             Tell
             John
             what
             things
             ye
             have
             heard
             and
             seen
             ,
             how
             that
             the
             blind
             see
             ,
          
           &c.
           Luke
           7.
           19.
           
        
         
           There
           needs
           no
           greater
           Evidence
           to
           convince
           Mankind
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           Another
           Proof
           of
           the
           Divine
           Authority
           of
           the
           Matter
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           is
           the
           Event
           and
           Success
           ,
           correspondent
           to
           former
           Predictions
           .
           Such
           was
           that
           of
           the
           Israelites
           in
           
             Canaan
             ▪
          
           And
           much
           more
           ,
           the
           wonderful
           and
           astonishing
           Progress
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           without
           any
           of
           that
           Assistance
           and
           Force
           which
           that
           People
           had
           ,
           and
           when
           it
           had
           the
           Force
           of
           Emperors
           and
           Kings
           to
           oppose
           it
           .
        
         
           Could
           it
           be
           thought
           possible
           ,
           that
           a
           few
           simple
           and
           timerous
           Persons
           ,
           who
           had
           been
           bred
           up
           to
           a
           mean
           Employment
           ,
           and
           had
           never
           been
           out
           of
           their
           own
           Countrey
           ,
           should
           each
           by
           himself
           undertake
           perilous
           and
           remote
           Journeys
           ,
           among
           People
           they
           had
           no
           knowledge
           of
           ,
           and
           to
           whose
           
           Tempers
           ,
           Customs
           ,
           and
           Language
           ,
           they
           were
           altogether
           strangers
           ;
           and
           should
           prevail
           with
           them
           to
           change
           their
           gods
           and
           their
           Religion
           ,
           their
           Customs
           and
           their
           Lives
           ?
        
         
           Could
           it
           be
           thought
           that
           Men
           of
           no
           Authority
           nor
           Interest
           ,
           of
           no
           Learning
           ,
           Depth
           of
           Judgment
           ,
           nor
           Subtilty
           in
           Arguing
           ,
           should
           be
           able
           to
           maintain
           and
           propagate
           a
           Doctrine
           that
           seemed
           to
           be
           foolish
           and
           absurd
           ,
           a
           Doctrine
           of
           a
           Crucified
           Saviour
           ,
           a
           Doctrine
           opposite
           to
           the
           sensual
           Inclinations
           and
           Interests
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           state
           of
           the
           world
           then
           was
           )
           a
           Doctrine
           that
           obliged
           them
           that
           believed
           it
           ,
           to
           profess
           it
           with
           the
           Hazard
           of
           all
           that
           was
           dear
           to
           them
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           and
           upon
           no
           other
           Encouragement
           than
           a
           Reward
           in
           another
           ?
        
         
           And
           yet
           even
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           so
           meanly
           attended
           ,
           became
           so
           successful
           ,
           that
           according
           to
           our
           Saviour's
           Prediction
           ,
           Matth.
           24.
           14.
           before
           the
           Destruction
           of
           Jerusalem
           ,
           and
           within
           Forty
           years
           after
           his
           Death
           ,
           
             the
             sound
             of
             it
             went
             out
             into
             all
             the
             earth
             ,
          
           Rom.
           10.
           18.
           
           Not
           to
           proceed
           further
           in
           this
           Argument
           than
           Scripture
           ;
           in
           those
           early
           times
           we
           find
           Converts
           ,
           if
           not
           Churches
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           frequented
           Cities
           for
           Trade
           ,
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Dominion
           ;
           in
           Corinth
           and
           
             Ephesus
             ,
             Athens
          
           and
           Rome
           ;
           in
           the
           Courts
           of
           Princes
           ,
           even
           of
           a
           Herod
           
           and
           a
           
             Nero
             :
             Acts
             13.
             3.
             
             Phil.
          
           4.
           22.
           
           And
           where
           not
           ?
        
         
           Now
           if
           there
           had
           not
           been
           Truth
           in
           the
           Doctrine
           ;
           If
           it
           had
           not
           been
           a
           Doctrine
           worthy
           of
           God
           ,
           suitable
           to
           the
           Desires
           and
           Expectations
           of
           Mankind
           ;
           If
           it
           had
           not
           had
           a
           Supernatural
           Evidence
           and
           Testimony
           ,
           and
           an
           Assistance
           as
           great
           as
           its
           Evidence
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           in
           those
           Circumstances
           have
           made
           its
           own
           way
           ,
           nor
           have
           proved
           in
           the
           Event
           so
           powerful
           and
           successful
           .
           No
           ,
           it
           was
           
             God
             that
             chose
             the
             foolish
             things
             of
             the
             world
             to
             confound
             the
             wise
             ,
             and
             the
             weak
             things
             of
             the
             world
             to
             confound
             the
             things
             which
             were
             mighty
             :
          
           And
           it
           must
           be
           a
           Revelation
           from
           him
           alone
           ,
           that
           had
           all
           these
           Testimonies
           on
           its
           side
           to
           confirm
           it
           .
           So
           that
           we
           may
           conclude
           as
           we
           began
           ,
           That
           if
           ever
           there
           was
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           the
           Revelation
           contained
           in
           Scripture
           is
           a
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           the
           only
           True
           Revelation
           now
           in
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           And
           if
           so
           it
           be
           ,
           then
           what
           an
           Obligation
           is
           there
           upon
           us
           to
           observe
           it
           ?
           When
           't
           is
           
             God
             speaking
          
           to
           us
           ,
           
             we
             ought
             to
             give
             the
             more
             earnest
             heed
             to
             the
             things
             we
             have
             heard
          
           from
           him
           ,
           
             lest
             at
             any
             time
             we
             should
             let
             them
             slip
             ,
          
           Heb.
           2.
           1.
           
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           
             In
             the
             License
             to
             this
             Sermon
             ,
             for
          
           May
           1.
           read
           May
           4.
           
           P.
           10.
           l.
           5.
           r.
           Good-will
           .
           P.
           12.
           l.
           3.
           after
           God
           
             put
             a
          
           (
           ;
           )
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A66395-e310
           
             2
             Pet.
             2.
             21.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             4.
             1
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Justin.
             Hist.
             l.
             3.
             
          
           
             Contr.
             Cels.
             l.
             1
             ,
             &
             2.
             
          
           
             Cic.
             de
             Divin
             .
             l.
             1.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             2.
             14.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             4.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             3.
             16.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             12
             ,
             3
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Gen
             49.
             8.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             22.
             42.
             
          
           
             Mic.
             5.
             2.
             
          
           
             Dan.
             9.
             24
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Lev.
             25.
             8.