Bates - BT775 B274 1675

fnConiribíng an'l Xleaeittpííota4 I 29 dons and doubts, ( concerning fupernatural Verities) Ch. VIÌ the thadows of JarknedReafon, and of dying Faith. ,.4 -v-- If any Divine Myftery feems incredible, 'tis from the corruptionofour Reafon, not fromReafon it Pelf; from its darknefs, not its light. And as Reafon is obliged to correct the Errors of Senfe, when 'tis deceived either by force vicious quality in the organ, or by the diftance of theobjeît, or by the falfnefs ofthe medium, that corrupts the image in conveyingof it : So 'tis the office of Faith to reform the judgment of Reafon, when either from its own weaknefs, or the height of things Spiritual, 'tis miftaken about them. For this endfupernatural Revelation was given,not toextinguifh Reafon, but to redrefs it, and enrich it with the dif- covery of Heavenly things. Faith is called Wifdom and Knowledge : it doth not quench the vigourof the Faculty wherein 'tis feated, but elevates it, and gives it a fpiritual preception ofthofe things that are molt di- frant from its commerce. It doth not lead us through a miff to the inheritance of theSaints in light. Faith is a rational Light: For I. It arifes from the confideration of thofe Argu- ments which convince the Mind, that thescripture is a Divine Revelation. I know, faith the Apoftle, whom T z Tim. I. 12 have believed. And we are commanded Always to be r Per.3. is ready to give an account of the hope that is in us. Thofe that owe their chriflianity meerly to the Feli- cityof their Birth, without a fight of that tranfcendent excellency in our Religion, which evidences that it came from Heaven, are not true Believers. He that abfolves an innocent Perron for favour, without conti- dering fufficient proofs offer'd, though his fentence be juft, is anunjuft Judge. And the Eye that is clouded with a sufufon, fo that all things appear yellow to it, when it judges things to be yellow that are fo, yet 'tis S Erroneous;

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