! / "" :1 V: t : ~ 4 ~ ,_ « / ,. ~ I\ .. / " ·~ J • I, \ 4 • I· "~ .;. ... ,. .. ,~ ·j . t-~ .. " '· "' ··• ' · . ~ ... 1 ,.., ~ ..
_THE ·· ·CONFIRMING WO ·RK OF ' . ' ' RELIGION': .. .. 0 R, Its great Things made ··plain, - \ .. By their Primary ·:' , EviDEN~Es . and DEMONsTRATIoNs; ; ... ·• Whereby the 1neanefi in th~ <;:hurch, may foo11 be n1ade able to rende1· a rational · Account of their Faith. 1 , By the late - Reverend Mr. RoBER'r FL~MI N a~ Author of the Fuljillt'ng <?f the Scriptures. · · -. G L A S c· 0 W,
- .. · · ·· THE 'I ., JUDGEM~NT OF SOME ' , . . I j Concer.ning. this . · I r '1 ~ ' .. ,TREATISE. . . Tf-Iings 'of unqueftionable Ex- . cellence in then1felves, and· of . greateft l1npprtance unto our Welfare, have not always the deep– eft and moft conitant Thoughts be- , ftown up6ii the1n. Witnefs the Sa-· '· • • of .. rt ~V a .2 . . tls a~~..on ·. ~
, ~ [ iv ] tisfacrion of ·our l\1inds about the Matter, and about the Foundations .of our holy Chrifiian Faith. · · It feen1s too little obferved, but it · can never be fufficiently lan1ented, -· what we do obferve of Proteftants Negfecr of tl1e !vfatter of their Faith~ _ ., _ A~d, ·yet our ',fad E·xperience cerfi– fies us; that tpey are inco1nparably more .heedl~fs _of acquainting them– felves with the Reafons thereo£ -'vVe J J1ave very-many that do co1npetently - know, what it is-tq be a Chriftian, for every fingle- M~n that can ·render ~a Jleafon, why he ought to be fo. Stor1ns do make 'Men look to their Anchors; and vve do not kno·w·, but ·awful Judginents are hafrening on us, · (being re1note Ones do not a-vvaken us,) to beat us out of.oui· inconfider– a~ely' chofei1, Refuges. Our precari- ~ ·ous and unexamined Cgnfidences, which in veryPropriety are but ~ancy, and not Faith built upon-any fo 4 . 1· · licLGrounds. However, we muft all– needs
I I · · ,' [ V ) I ' .. - · needs die:; and it: is ·more than pro- ·bable, that a .near ProfpeCl: of the f~l. ture , State, n1ay convinciiigly fhew .·the 1noft obflinate,. th8t,t th~ Kiiig 0£ : Terrors is not to be conquered, · and · · no Miracl0s are to be w:rough.t by an implicit Faith*· . Or_~ by a Way of Religion, that is taken/ t1p· and walk– ed. in, .n1,erely for Gompany. , Wherefore w.e give otlr · g~egt.Thanks to the Author of every good · Gift; \vho hath drawn this his richly . furnifhed Scribe to fupply us with fo ·."' · v~ry ~eedful a Treat~e as is he-re ~f- . fered. r Some of us do. profefs, that In readin~g it, we \vere furprized with Joy aud.with Wonder, that a Topic·. fo 'little .vvritteh,difcourfed, or thought of, ihoirld · be treated on witli f'-1ch. \- Depth of Judgment, and )with· fi1cb. · Experi~nce, as is rarely found in the moft la_udible \Vriters~ a 3 Thro" . . * Pecudmn. ritu. euntes., non c_JUa eundGm/e.ft, fe~ ~ .qua. ~ur. . Sin~. . . r
.. [ • Vl J .. ~hro' the . divine Bleffihg, which 've 111). plore, we hope, that we, and ~ur B~4ethren, throughou~ thefe N a– tlons, fhall find good Succefs of our Peoples Ufe of this moft inftruclive Work·. For which, with the excel- · ·1ent Author;:.(who did but confent to this Edition of it;) we are indebted unto * the Reverend and Worthy Publifher, · * Mr. Daniel Bu~_geft, whofe -' Charatl:er is well known ; ~is Recommertdato_r.y Preface follows~ The higpeft Angels are moft humble Creatures ; the Church of God is full of -their' Services, but kn_oweth next to nothing of th'eir Names. Their Works praife their Lord and ours, but not themfelves. Arid if the– Evangelical _Author of this Book could have haal his Will, the Churches of Chrift fhould nof have had his Name. He would 'have kept himfelf together a Be– .nefattor, and a Sort of Stranger unto them. · .·4gainft his Will, it came to be known, that ·his ]Jook of the Fulfilling of the Scriptures was his. And , · - by the divine Providence, it was made neceffary, that his latter' Works fhould bear his Name. Oofcurity was· 'his Ambition; tho; his Gifts and Graces -prove - , ~oobig and too bright t9 be covered. · And~;~- ~ort, 1t hath ple-afed the Supream Ruler and F~utth\~11 :0( _ Honour, to honour him, whether he would or no. _, · The Book fidl named, is followed with the Eufu- , , &ies of greateft Divines ; and is aMal}lla fweet to thl "' / -- · Tafte ~· ' '
[ •• Vll '-. t .... - Publifher, -by whofe /Means · we re- - ceive it. We join with both of them, in Prayer to th~ moft High, tha.t ·this - rich Seed of the Sower may be made Bread of Life to the Eater. · - _ WI~LIAM B.A:TES, ' •' MATTHE\V' MEAD, . ~ THOMAS COLE, - ·'- JOHN H9\VE, '~,~ 1\tf A .TT HE'\V 5/y LVESTER, DANIEL -WILL I AMS, JOHN SHO,VERS. -_ . . Tafte of all feria us __Chriilians. · His Epifio!ary- Dif courft, dedic~ted to the ~een~s Majefty, hath be~n moft gracioul}y ,accepted by her; and h!ghly valued by thofe that I muft think of the beft of her Subjects. · Being, as his Difcourfe of ~arthquake~, a Treafure of ·Things old and new; ,Michfam's golden Jewels. Ar- . " guments, feveral, not fo much as touched by any Pen within her Dominions, pr beyond them, fave Mr.." Fleming's. _ · . :. . ·. , - Nevei:thelefs, it_ is ·of this ·his Treatife, that I would . fay, with Submiffion to better Judgments, there · is ' " - none like it. Herein it is, ·that l think he hath fingulafly honoured, his God, ang, I .believe, his God will yery fingularly honour him. For, is any Difeafe . , • . 1_ more mortal o.r more epidemical, than Popifo implicit t- --,-~;; -{ Faith ?.And is there any to be named, againft. which, ... • - 'we are fo deftitu.te -of Medicines ? Is there extant, in Englifoli f - "
[ J / ... Vlll Englifo, or any Bur.opean Language, any one raflfJ.. nafe.of Chriftianity, in Method .fuited to them, who do moft need it? Hc:.th any one Writer, befide our Author, fet himfelf to teach Minors the primary Evi– dences and reafonable Demonftrations qf Chrifrian ' Faith ?, I will con him my ... beft Thank~ who fhall name me fo much as one. ~ How found, and how generous a Medicine this Treatife is, let 't~e Wife judge, I declare it to_be the only one, that on rio flight Enquiry I have. heard of. Being fo, I no fooner read it;, but I bleffed it, and its. unknown Author. Privately and public}dy I praifed . it, and iinding it not't9 be had in our Shops, nor but froth Holland, if from thence, to be gotien,. I pre– fently reiol~ed to re-prin~ it. Soon after, hearing. who was the Author, and where he was, I fent him notice of that ·my :fixed Refolution, whether he con– fented to it or no. For thus, I argued, tha~ if he _ were of the ~ave~l~ Spirit_, breathing ·in his Book,1 .~e / ' could not gamfay it; and' tf ~e were .of ·an.other Spx.. Jit;_- for the Church's Service, it would be innocent' and praife-worthy to crofs it. But,. bletred be God~ and bleffed be he from: his Lord ~nd mi~, .. he readily ' forgave me this Wrong,.. and cheerfully I prqceeded. No Lion found.I in my Way; but a forry Worm I counted the Exclamations of fome nice Folk, againft· the Phrafe and Style of this confe~edly excellent Work. Dutifully I compaffionated the Weak;· and no lefs the many Sick, of Curiofity. Who have fuch Ulcers in th~ir Palates,_ that they cannot, withont cruel Pain:, fwallow the moft defireable Dainties, unlefs they may take them in Oil and Sugar. · Cannot prevail with– felves to read Periods, that require an attentive Mind:, .and the leaft Strain of th~ir Under.fiandinz. Where- . ' · , , ·-- - ~-- ~ - -· - · fore ' ' . , -~ , I
.. •. /'- I · · [ ix ] 'f~e I u~d my. Spunge, .and took 'Out as many Exptei– fions-of my Author's native Language, as I thought would difturb ~n Englijh Reader. -subftituting fuch as a£peared fufficiently intelligible. Which being done, the· Bookfeller was wife enough to fet the Prefs going~ I fig_nified my Purpofe to tatechife Youth publickly in the Pofitions .and Characters ·of this· "Book, one · Lord's-Day; as in Weftminjler :Ajfemhlj'.s Catechifm, on the other by Courfe. Which Pr~~ice other Mini- - fters foon told ·me, that .they would take up. As_, I truft m~y more would do , forafmuch, as none can be unfenfible what Multitudes of Men do go to grafs op this Side the .Alp.r, as well as on the other; and .what a fantaftick Faith common Pi'oteftants do reft in, _as well as Romanifts.~ Making Sho\v of a Faith, _.as the J.Yloon ·of a.: L~ght, whereof not any is in thernfelve_s t66ted. Sadly it is feen ofall, how Brit, is painted, too too properly we are ilill na, 'lain, is aNation. med Britains.; the Faith of moft · _· · be_ing fuch. a P~int, as Cafi!lOt but melt and vanifh in any TriaJ that i~iiery. Memorable , ary the Words of the learned unhap– py Spalato, to this- Effe8 a.s I remember. r'o Jay, that I do not myfelf !mow, why I dq helieve a Re– ligiou, .Article, hut yet I do helieve it, hecauft the Church in : which 1__ am doth helieve it ; it i the filf-Jame •a.r to fay, I do ·not myfelf open one of my Eyes, hut yet I do fee tbe CJ'hing jpo~en of, hccauft · the Copzpany in which lam doth fee -it. The good Lord leffel) among us the NJimber of Men fo abfurd, and fo plainly void of Faith r l-Ie hath already made the Leave~ of this Book {o · ATO'lf'Ot. _healing unto fome, 'that in great Hopes I commend - them unto all. And efpecially t() the Societies ofyoung ' . · lVlen,
i \ [ X J J • Men, t,hat h~ld weekly ftated Meetings for edifying Conference. In which, as I tell thofe of my own Charge, they fhall 1 not find more eligible Arguments tha11 this Book ftQres them with. 'Happy they, . if, in the beft Senfe, they do make them their own1 Lord - encreafe holy Faith, and quench fiery Faction; fo I prayeth, \ · .Bridgesjlreet, n~ar Co– q}ent-Garden, Feb• .z8 ~ / DANIEL BuRGEss . P 0 S T S C R .I P T . Underflanding the Foreign Churches want of this Work, as well as our own, I purpofe ere long to tranjlatt, and fend it forth in ..the Latin .Tongue. llnlefl fome goodHand of more Leifure do precv_ent me. ) / \ / 1THE r
;. [ xi ] , . . . / ~THE AUTHOR'S .. · , t ' ·, - ' I " ... - &~···:· I-I ISJtrzall Treatife here offer~ T ed, is one of the 'greatefl Sub , ~~-~~- jeBs,_ that can fall under _ the G"'onjideration of Mankind; and is a Study, 'which was never more . -prefftng£y calle_d for, t&!uz in theft Days · for making Peace 71Jith God, and g.airl– ing fuch an .Affurance of his Truth, a~ 11zq_y fully quiet and Jupport _the Soul, tho' all fenftble Props Jhould.be broken and foil. ·Great Changes do Jure[y ' haften 'on:th.is Generation, _and the Life .... ' I' of Faith, is:in an:other Manner like to , · - - · . · be . (
xii The A:uthor's · Preface. - be _put. to Trial, than fince .the ChurI ' ' ches Rife and Recover:_y from Anticliri– ·fiian Bondage. The Storrn now.'1J~fibly . grows upon the Churche.r ·of Chr.ifl, tha' nothing ought to .fai~t or jhake the .. Spirits ofar~y, who kno.~ th.eir Anchor is fore and caji within the Vail; but the flrongefl Difficulties, in following the · Lord, when overcpme,yield the greatefl .-– Villory, and will be .not on~y .Ma~ter ~f Joy here,_ ~ut to all Eterni~y'· in having with Pa_ttence and I-fope endured, and got well througl? a Throng of Te'J!tpta– tions and Affaulu, in a .refolute Adhe– rence to the :cy-ruth. . lf Men lhink it their Wifdorn ·to fecure their private In– ter eft, 'by dividing it in ~(uch -a Tinze from the p_ublic ·Caufe 'of the Reformed Church, and nzake L ·ight of the great– eft Truths Of God now af!au.lted, of~the Blood of the ·Mar~y'rs, .-'2ea, . of their own eternal State; by any Cooln~(s or jhrinking fr01n the fame j they rr.vill find no .temporal Motives can ever compen– fate th(lt Lofs 'and Ruin which ine~vita- ,' ' - -- . . - ' bb
.The _Author's Preface. " .. Xlll bly ·will nzeet .fitch in the Iffue. Yea, that theft Words of Mordecai to .E;_ft– her, (Eflh_. iv. I 3, 14.) have the · farne Voic~ / and T!(ei4ht i1i ~his D.t!J~ · What is held .forth tn the.-fil!owzng ,Work, I -mqy · with huJJ:tble Confidence J~y, was _under forne P reJ!Ur.e to · have fiteh clear Evzdence and quiettng Per– fua_(ton of divine Truth; as_made· it left eajj to ·have· m._y own Spirit fatisfted · ·herein, than poJlibfy it 11lC£Y be to others; , · for, if it· 7vere not frorn that ble_([ed Ajfitrance of the Lord'~ /being God, of -. the Re·velatzon of-Chrifl, and of the ·. Glory to come, I Jhould not kno·-zv rzvhat could be comforting, or make a rational _Being diJFreable. Sonze .fingular En..:. gagements I judge myfelfalfo to flancl ttnder_, fir- putting to n~y Seal to the " .'Truth ,and Faithfulnefs -of God in hii Word, froJn many .fignal .Corz.firnzations J:e_reof tn·the Cour[e ofm): Pilgri1nag~, if fuch apoor Teflnnon_y mzght be of aJ~Y .. lf/eight. - Let the ble/fed Lord, P"raci.. · ·: oufly accept this finall Offering t~ hhn, .b . for
-- ~iv The Author's Preface. for the lnterejl- ofhis Truth, ~Y fo rnean an lnjlrun1ent, and give fome Fruit hereqf, ihat may abide, and _be found in the Day of ChrijL I hope .·the Reader n1iy find, by a · P~rufoal of the fir~ -chapter, ofwhat l feriaus llfe · and Intent 1-he Second is; • ~yea, ·that in this Day, . it was not unftafoSnabb~e ~r i7h'tcong_ruohus 1 dtofithehf?regho- 1 zng u7JCb, w at zs e art tn ·· t e tl1ird Chapter. But, Oh ! it · is fad , ~ a1id .a1nazing to think, ho~ft·w are un- · der that /Weight of Religion, 'as once to ~: have a feri)Jus f.·nquir.Y on 'th'e .Grou~ds .and Reafons thereof, and to account the 1 nofl fpecial Ajft_(fances to their Faith, to' be ~the greatejl I-Ielpers of their Joy .within Tin2e. * - I .. I • / .. , . THE ", ..
. ' • ( XV ] ( I ··, . ' ___ ,.......,_.......-----.----,~--- ; . I . . - CONTENTS.' . / ' C l-I A P T E R I. I . ' . . ·~ • J . qhe Pri11zitiYe Conftrnzatlotf, held forth and" , clet;red in Je-v,en Poj#ions. , · , ' • 1 ,; ' .V . ·. ' \\ . . PAGE . POSI_1\ I~ Sad is ' the Afpe~, : which _ . the implicit and tr~ditional Profeffion ' of this Day- bath. upon the prefent · State of Religion.~ ·. , , I POSIT. II. .It is a great Service for the / Church to .have a clear Founding of the Faith , of Alfent, up.on known and' (olid Grounds lre.rein, n1ore u1-liverfally pro– moted. · 4 POSIT. lii. .The tl'Ne prin1itive Confir– \ mation, as it \vas in the ~'in1es of t!1e ApmHes, is held forth and cleared ·fronl . · 'the Scripture. 7 I;, \ b 2 " POSI~,. . .
:xvi The C 0 N -T E N T S. I . I' PAGE• .. . .POSIT. IV. T!1e , continued Neceffity thereof, .is ·no lefs convii?-cing now for the Church's Ufe, than in thofe prin1itive Times. -- .. _ 1-1 POSIT. V. Sl.1ch a confirm.atory Work; .refpeCl:s not only the more knowing and .... · inquifitive Part of Men, but ·the mea~- , efi within the Church. - , . I 4 POSIT. VI.- What is fpecially called for in the practical Ufe of this prin1itive ·Confirn1ation, is held forth ·in fome fe– -rious Propofals for this End. / I 8 .· PQSJT. VII. Special Exciten1ent \Ve are ·.. uader ·for promoting the' fame in fo re– markable a Period of Tin1e· as this, and - frotn the Hope of a greater re~viving yet 'Of fuch a Catholick Spirit, to advance the high~ft Ends of Religion amo1;1gll Men. 23 - C H A r, T E R . II. For giving [o11te clear Vz"ew oftheft prima~ ry .·Evide;zces and Demonjlrations of our Faith, that the meanefl Chriflian jhould /<no1v, and with the leafl Expence of qinte, ntay i1npro-ve for their jlaity Ufi , on rhefo greatejl-Principles. SEC· I '· .
i. .. ' . / I .. . \ .. . ' . .. \ The t o N T EN T S'. •• XV11 S E C T r· 0. N I. / I PAGE. I. OF -the gloriou~ Being of God~ whic~ is the firfi Foundation of all Reh- - gion. . ~6 II. Of the Original of the W. orld, ~nd ~ts not being eternal. . # 3<i Ill. Of a Supren1e Providence in the Con~ fervation and Govenfn1ent of the · World. · · 32 IV. Of that fpbcial Providence, which in its continued Adrninifhation of hun1an - Affairs, doth · ~nchangeably difference . bet\vixt the ·Righteous and the Vlicked. , - · 34, '3) ·v. Ho\v fuch a wond.erful Record, ~s that . . of an in1n1ediate Revelation of God un– to Men, -is fo den1onfirably Extant in1the "\Vorld. , . : / 3B · VI. Ofthe fpecial Evidences ·of the Scrip· ture.s Divinity, \vhich Ivien n1uft needs _ fee to be infallible. 40 -VII. Of the fecure Cor:veyance of the Scripture through aU the Changes of T~n~es ,paft. · 4'3 \ / . b 3 VIII. Of . ' /
\ . xviii The C 0 N T . E N T S. . VII!. Of the Fall of 1Vfan, ana Entry of S1n into the Worlg, as it is · fu11y de.. n1onfl:rable to Reafon, - as .well as by the · , Certainty of Faith. 4) - -. ~ S E· C T I 0 N II. 'I. HOlding forth thofe great Affifl:ances .- to the Chrifiian Faith, and of the • ,_ Meffias being furely promifed to the Church before his con1ing. 46 li. Of the Ti·uth and Accompliflun~nt of this gre~t Pron1ife of the Meffia-s, and how it is now, a_s furc in the Event, as 'ris clear he was pron1ifed. - 48 III. Of the fpec_~al Advantage for Confir– n1ation of our Faith-herein, that for Four thoufand Years ~he pron1ifed con1ing of the Me"ilias was deferred. · ')I , IV.. Of the Nature an·d internal Excellency ofChri~iani.ty, to bear fu~thefi: Evidence to the Truth thereof. · 52, 53 ... ~- V. That this is the fan1e Gofpe1 we now - receive and enjoy, which from the fir!l:. · ' Promulgation thereof, bath had· fo great Effeets on the World. · 5) Vt. That the Sufferings of the Saints in _Titnes pafi:, was ·fo ,d,emon!hably above tl1c. Ailiftance of :t~ature. >7 SECTI- ! ·. ;.
- . \ - The C 0 N T E -N T S. S -E C T I 0 N -III. ·· I ' - PAGE..· I. F 0 Rho!ding forth 9~ \vhat Grounds . the F2:1th of 'a-Deity· mufi deter· mine Men to lie Chrifiians. )9 IJ. What Confirn1ation the ChriHian Rcli.. . · gion hath ·from that vifible State of tli~ · Yews. · ~ . · ·.. 6 I III. The vVaY' and Manner of its prevail~ ' ing on the World, · ·which no P11ofeffion elfe could ever pretend to. . . - 63 IV. The-Nature of that great Ev1dence, which Chrifr hath hin1(elf given to the ·World, . of his divine Miffion in the . . ~· Love and- Unity of his People, 7oh11, ' f • xvii. 2 I. · " 6-) V. How the Strength offuch a -.Den1onfira. tion, flands fiill clea·r and evident in . thefe divi<dingTimes of the ~hrirch. 67 VJ. What in thefe Iafi Tin1es is under ou1; Hand to .con1penfate fuch a Confirrnation oy Miracles, which ,vas in the firf1: \.. Tin1es-of the Gofpel. ' 6 9 · / - - . SE.CTI- / ' I I .. "
xx . The C 0 N T E N T S~ I S E C T I 0 .N . IV. PAGE. I. F 0 R .holdi!lg forth with the furtheft ratio11;l Gertain~y and Evidence, . the Truth and 'DoCtrine of Ghrifr ' ' to be a Soul:quickning and experitnental ,Rvligion. _ · .7r; 72 'II. .The Tt·uth alfo of Convedion · of Men, fi·om. a State ' of Nature to a new State of Grace~ · . , . 74 Ill. Of fo great an·Experin1ent of Religi- . on, as Con1munion betwixt God apd Men here on Earth. . - · 77 · . , IV.-- Offo great a Demonfir~tion of Religi.. · · on . h1 the Power and Wotkings. of the C'onfcience. · · 79 V. Of that fpecial Confirmation to our Faith, -which cloth refult fi·om fuch a De- . monfrration of ·this Power of the Confci- ; .. I ; ence over Men~ ~ 8 I · ".. SECT I 0 N V. . . / - 1: FOR .holding forth the Truth of a. -Kingdom of.Darknefs in th~ World, · in oppo!ition to the Kingdo).l1 of Chd!t. . 83 \ (II. What .. . \ ' I •
( . I The C 0 N T E N T S. . ' XX1 PAGE.'' 11. What Confirmation to our Faith, the Certainty hereof, and of thefe Powers ·or - Darknefs, .doth clearly afford. , ·85 . .. · Ill. That greaLTruth of the I111n1ottality of the Soul, with the clearefi ·Evidence to Reafon, as \vell ' as by the· Certainty of Faith~ . · . _ - , . 87 ;IV. -How confirming a Seal to the Scrip– ture, · that great Change which paffeth on all Men ·by_Death is, and how 'tis no natural Accident. . -. 90 V. Son1e fpecial Affifiances to theChrifiian's · · Faith of an _eternal Gfory .in Heaven, . :~,.~-- ."' and to fe1~¥~~,a;n unavoidable ConviClion - 011 the gr-e-atcfr Athe-ifts. -,.-- - :._ -· ·92 · VI. Some~hing of a vifible Hell, in fome near .Approach hereof, _even to Mens - Senfes, held forth to awake and con· vince the World of fuch a St-a.te ofHot– ror and T.orment in another Wodd. · . 96· . ,. VII. Son1e Affiflances ,to aur Faithof that great rfru-th of the Refurreetion -of the . J3ody. . 99 ' CHAP /
I I '1 r · xxii ~he C 0 / N T E N T S. ' ' ' C H A P T E R · Ill. ··. The confirthing Work of Religion further · impro_-ved, with rejpeft to 'this difmal , · '.and_anzafing Time we are now fallen in. · SECT I 0 N I . r ..-'}"I< PAGE \ y . . . ' ... :T- ·. 0 ?.old forth \vhat 1).1al be both . f~r . L1ght and Co~fit~mat1on upon thts great Difl:refs the Churches of Chrifi are · ' now under. · ... 101, IOZ / S E C T I 0 N . ·JI. -;· . ~-- ! "' ~~ t . . \ . ' \ ·H ...... 0 V£-greatr'Falent we ftand account., . · able for in this Day of fuch immedi– ate and extraordinary Appearances of ~he Lord for .confirming t)le f~id publick Caufe of the Refonn.ed Chut~ch .fince , die Refonnation, · ·whiGh we; are now #, called to adnere to. • . , . 104 / · ' ./ , . ) i· S E C T I 0 N III. ' ' ··V WHAT Manner ofTime ·is the pre- ~ fent Lot of the Church ·now fallen .~ I in, and what Judgtnent weoughl} to have i . · · hereof ( / \
. . '. The C 0 N T E N T S. • xxiit I · ' •. PAGE• hereof ·fi·om the Scripture, for our fur• thefi confirming in fuch · a Day. 1I~ SECT·ION IV. . S 0 ME fpecial _Service that w.e arc now . called to, and accountable for ; inbe,half of the rftuth, and for fanetifyi1;1g the Lord in the Eyes of others, who are ., under [q great a 'falent ofLight andC-on· £.r-n1ation in the fame. , ' 1 24 I / ' \ . !. - / . ' !.....:::'. ~ \ ' ·. ·• I .,. ' ' .,#. • / . .. THE - ~· , I " • I ' . "
I .... ~ l . J I
~ -- THE • TRUE A-ND INFALL-IBLE w \ y For attaining a confirmed State i~1 RELI.GI 'ON.: C H A P. I. T/;e Printiti-ve Conftrmation,itz the Truth of CH R I s 'f I A N I T Y; held forth and – cleared; in its continued lvecejfity and Uje to ~ this . Day, itt. SEvEN Pos 1:.. .. .. T IONS. - --, ,- PosIT, I. r... man,;·~·. HAT nothing can be _ ~>~ ~ li~l of a more fad and · ; ".: threatning AJf;eft . ·. · :·c · ··"·~~~-,j·.- on the prefent Stat~,:- ij:Rf!ltgton 1n all theChurchf!so[CHR.Is T ·· _ . A _, tha~ ' -
2 · The ~cotifirJJz ing ll7 ork · than that utter Ejlrangem(!nt, 111ojl are ~uzder, _to·the t-rue Gro'unds ofFaith, and . / to tk~fr J!t~zda111entitl 'lJijferences betw~xt Chrijltanzty, and e-very falfo Way, whtch .no pretended ReligioJZ can lay clai1n io. The Reafons ·of the P.os1T 1oN, are theie, . I. THAT it is too vifibly manifeft, how no Men in the Worldknow fo little of th~ir own Profeffion, of ~ny hutnan Art or·· Science,- as fuch ,who bear th'e · , / Nan1e of Chriflia;zs. Or are fo generally Strangers to the Truth and Fitmnefs of the Principles thereof, for maintaining .either 'a due Valuation? or 1)owerful ~ Senfe of tl~e fame on t~e1r Soul ; fo that· an · implieit and trai/it:ional Pi·ofeffion is the only Part and Propriety which moft can clai111 in the Truth, ai1d Doctrine they pr,ofef:,". , · - · . II. rr HAT very·rarely alfo is any fe .. rious, p_erforlal Eqquir.y and Trial, if there be indeed fuch aThiQg, as an Ex.. perfn·zentP~l and oul-quickning Religion in the Earth. That can bear ·the Expence · of the moft difrnal and affiifting Titnes, !' ' and hafh 16 great .a t~tnporal Rev ue, a-8 Peace with G-OD,an i1n~ediate b~n-. lUUlllOD I \ , , I ' . - . .I i - . ' ' •
' ~ of RELIGIOi'l~ ; n1nnion with him, the Joy arid Gorn· forts of the H··OL y GHosT, vthen \ve are under fuch Pre!fures of 'Trouble as are above the Support of Nature. I II. THAT the furt heft Account, why 1noft~ go under the N~une of Ghrijlia1ls_, rather than ofanyqther Fonn, can rife no higher than Cufto1n and Education, that .; it did befpfak ··t he1n -frotn their Birth, and \vas the Rengionof their Ar1ceftors 1 yea, becutne in Jhat Manner natu1~al to thetn, as the Cufto ~11 S and Lant5"Jage of theit Country. \\"hit.:h are Grounds that would detennin_e to the very oppofite • Profeffion, 1f they were ftated under ~ "the fatne Circumftances, and 'hacl the fame l\1otives to be Mapometans; fince / it is fure thefe can found no ·other .Af- ' . ... I . . . ' / ·· fent, than is fuitable to the Na'ture and Strength thereof. _ . IV. 1, HAT, thu$ it i~ p'lain; the moll: numerous Part of vifible Profe:flors, are deftitute of any Defence 'from intern~! .~ -Motives, and folid Conviction o.f the 1'ruth they profefs, upon its own Evidence; and there was never tnore Caufe - to fear fon1e unuf~al Apofl:acy fron1 the very vifible ProfeHion ofCHR1sT, upon any violent Trial and A(Tault this Way. . _ A .2 , When ... .. \
,/ , 4 The conjir11zi;tg I Work 1Vhen. fuch .fi1!d it more eafy to render " up the1r Rebg1on, than to adherfr' to the . fc.nne, under .itrong 'fetnptations, whol yet never knew that Subftance, Aclvan- , tage, or Certainty her~in,' as co~ld pr~l)onderate \vi th th~ Want of a1l external _.i\1otives .for fuch a Profeffion. _ PosIT. II. ·THAT thus oJte of th? highefl Ser1lic~s of thefe 'Tinzes, )for the public G~od of the Church, does convinc– ingly lie here j to h-ave the Faith of Affent -to the Truth and Oo8rine ofCHR is :r, in a ,clear and firm Certainty of the ·7udg114ef?t, on its OWJt E-vidence, more -vigor·· I ouflyprom-oted, and t!Je proper Means and AJJtflances, .which the LORD hath given, for this End, in fonze other Manner yet inzproved, tha;z foenzs to be at tbis DCf)', for a m'ore unive'rfal Uft. THE Grounds_ to inforce the Nec·effity hereof, are there; · · . I.- 1' HAT 'tisfure wherever the Gof- • r. pel is revealed to Ail: en, it corne~ with fo Jull an .Aflurance of UnderH:and1ng, and SuffiGiency oh 0 bjeC1i ve E-vidence, as c~n adn1it of no polli-ble Doubtfulnefs herein~ "\Vhieh is the Credit and Glory of our Religfon, , .. ..
;/ 'of R -E L I G I 0 N. ,~- . R:eligiori, that in no other ·way it ,doth ~~ .-require Acceptarice, but with th€ fur• -, . theft Coi1viction of Evidence. I • ~- If. ·BECAUSE the exprefs 'Defign and · Tenden~y of thi~ · b~effed Revelation, isno lefs to fo~tnd fucli a rational Aiforance ~ in the Judgtnent, of its Truth, than td · ingage · the . Will aqd Confent for etn.:. • · bracing thereof; and tho' fuqh great J)e– monfirations for this End can only, in fuo genere, have a convincing Influence to rerfuade the Underftanding, yet are. ' they of fuch Weight here, as next to the ~ Defnonfiration of the Spirit of GOD, , they are the greateft Means to bring \up Mens J\flent to a full and quieting Reil on that Security to :vvhich theymuft t~uft the.mfelves forever, and to let thetn f<e, that this even here by the Way, is af.. · ·· furedly full, though not yet their EqjoyInent .. ~ / , . ~ · _ III. ~ECAusE this Faith of 4ffent, ib.ould be ·firft: followed in -the Order of N4ture, as being the very firit Principle " ·of Converfion, 'to know and be fure, ' that GOD hath fent his Son into th~ World to fa~e Sinners; wherei11 as the ~ Holy Ghofi is not the Objec.live, .but the efficient Caufe of our Faith~ fo is not the , · A ·3 internal
, ,_ ,_ / 6 ,( ·T'he' con.firnzi(zg 'IJ7ork .i"nternal Work and Tefiilnony, he gives on the Soul the firft Teflitnony, but tnuft ftill 'have ~efpetl: to the Revelation of ~he Word without, and fuch demonftra· tive EviJences thereof, wherewith it is - revealed to the '\Vorld. Nor lnay any ever ; fep~rate, that which GOD bath -hitnfelf {o indifTolubly joined,. . r\r. T ·HAT there is fo cobvincing a Neceility and Ufe hereof to the Church;. and in a fpecial Way with r~fpeet to 'the Youth, for a tnore finn laying of the Ground-work 9f their Chriftian Profeffi... oi1, and for tne Seed-plot of a bleffed -: and defirable qrowth atnong{l fuch · in this f)ay; that. they tnight thus .~now - early, fotnethnJg of thefe pr11nary Grounds and Den1onftrations of their Faith ; fO alfo is it a Study of that high In1portance, as ·I humbly ~judge fuould - be of notable.Ufe for aManudU:crion; in · / the firft Place) to Students of .Divinity, before they launch forth in that vaft ~nd immenfe Ocean of the ij1ecnlative-Part , thereof; and for being at fome greater Advantage thus for carrying on fuch a ; totrfirming Work jn the Church in their future Service. ~ I . I v. YEA, 1.. .• . . I:-- . I •· ·r -~ ' ·r;
... •• , of RE L I G I 0 N. . , ·7 V. YEA, of \V hat Ufe tnight .this be, with refpecr to tnany, \vho 1nay l)e fore haunted, withhidden and dreadful Tetnp· tat ions toInfidelity, and to weake.n t hen1 in the very Foundations of their Faith;. who are \vho1ly unfurnifhed of any fuch ". Grounds and Argqtnent~ in -their J uclg– ·ment to repel the fame: And it is cer.. . ·tain, that to believe finnly the l-lifl:ory of the Go(pel, that GODwas tna'njfeft.. eo in our Natnre, to fave Man, is with refiJect to -the ObjeEt , a much higher -AB: of Faith, than to believe, that he 1\vill · - fave us; fince ·as the one cloth unfpeak– , ably tnore·tranfcend all hutnan Re-afon . tha·n the othe_r; fo dot11 the AiJofile thus ·; argue fro1n the greater to the lefs, Rrnn. viii. 3'2. that he who gave his own Son ~· ~ to t~e Death ;. wilt,be not alfo with hitn give us all Things? · / . Pos r·T. III. THAT' fuch--a cottjirnzing Work, was mojl Jpecz'ally followed t"n th~ Praffice of the Prirniti-ve Tinzes, andone .– of thegreat Ends of the Mi,;iflry of the Apoflles at1d Evangelifts, to have - this , Faith of.Ajfent and Dotfrinal Certainty thereof, on its proper Grounds and E-vi. ~ences, deeply founded in Mens /Judg- .. mtnt; •
/·· 8 Cihe confirming Work 1 ment ; is fo clear as cannot conze under Debate. · · / I ' I \ I. THAT this Way did the great Au· thor. of our Profefiion hitnfelf taR:e, not only by the Authority of his Word, and the Power and Energy of Grace, but with that conyincing Evidence and De– Inonftration of his : rruth to Mens Un• derfta.nding, as might found alfo a firm and rational 'Affurance hereof. - · · II. THAT for this End he did pray the Father, 7ohn xvii. 21. ~nd was fo mt1ch prc=ffed herein, that fo great an ex– ternal Demonftration ofthe Truth ofthe Gofpel, in the Concord and Unity 'of his -People, might be kept c~ear, that the "\V.,.orld might thus believe that he was fent of GOD, and have a deeper Convi– ction hereof wrought in them, by fuch ' an Evidence. I II. THAT one ij1ecial Intent of the Gofpel of Luke, was for this 'End, L.uke i. 4• ~fhat Men might know, not only the Things themfelves by. a naked Re.... lation,_but the Ceitainty/ofthefe T.hings, \Vherein they had been forrperly 1nftru... cted. ·1v. THAT ....... \ ' J
-of R_ELIGIO J.V. 9 . IV. THAT herein did th~ Mini-ftry of Apollos [o bright}y ihine forth, Atls xviii. 28. Ana .was then of tnoft fingular Ufe to the Church, by that Clearnefs ot rational Conviction and de.rnon{J:rative Argutnents for the. Tr}ith of CHRI S'T, / as the greatefl: Gainfayers could uot withftand. · · - V. TH -AT 'tis fure, it \vas then with– ~ out ~xception, exprefly·required of the meanefi \Vithin the Church, tb be always · ready tCY render the Realons of their ·Hope to all who asked: And not only to ~ know "'~bat they did believe., but \vhy · they did fo, as is ·clear, l' Pet. :iii. I 5'. l'his cnnld not be by -bringing forth of , interrial Evidences~ - for Convittion -of o... ' thers, but by·giving them.an Account of the 111oft cogent Gro_unds and De– monftrations of the .Gofpel, as tnight ~~ tnoft prevalent, ~nd confirn1ing to the . Weak, and leave others 1nexcufable ·: And iee1ns to- have been then ipecially lJreifed in thefe Pritni.tive I'imes, as a proper Teft of their ChriH:ian Profeilion. VI. ANn we fee herein alfo, how much thefe excellent Bereans \Vere taken up, · an~l were fo -highly c~mtnended of the Holy G.hofl, Ac1s xvii. II. rfo know f ~ , the
/ I 1 f lo 17Je conflr1ning ~rk the deJnonflratz"ve· Part of Chr.iftianity, and by its own Evidence with that intire Harmony a'nd Confent ~£ the :Scripture ' . !herein, and their beiijg thus diligently 1~tent in that comparing Work of Reli– ·gion, to fee the Truth thereof, not fingly, ·and apart by the1nfelves alone, but in that .jointUnion and .Coherence wherein,they fiand, each in their own -:I).obm, for con– firniing and giving Light to other. ' -,rll. .T H .A'T th1~ \~vas the Way alfo, wher~in -the Gofpel did .come to the . Genttle Ckurch, is clearly fhewed, I Thefs. i. ) . i'lot in Word only, but as -in , J>ower, and in the Holy Ghofl, fo alfo itt 1nuch Aj!itrance of UnderftandinJ, tfpon • its o·wn-Eyidcnce, which was that Way, it ~1id fo wondtrfully prevail over the World· ao-ain11: Nature, and the Streatn of Flefh 0 and Blood, that frood in the furtheft Oppofition thereto. * ' , · VIII. 1' HAT one of the greateft Ser• vices of the ApoJlles in their vifiting the Chun~hes, did expref1y... lie here ~ ~ Acts xiv. 2 2. "ro confirm the Souls of the 1 • Difciples, in the firft Place, in the Cer- . , .taint y of their Faith,. and .then in ex– hort.ing ·then1 to cont1nue 111 the fan:e, io as they 1night follow the Loan, wtth ' · the •
if RELIGION. ' 11 the furtheft .Light . and Atlurance of Mind, atnidft the great Trials of fuch a: Time~ I I IX. THA·T 'tis this \\rayalfo·the v:r orld is rendered inexcufable for their Mifbe– lief of the Gofpel., when unde~r fuch Suf– ficiency ·ofMeans gi ;en for this End, by , fo great a Difcovery of the.coi1finning· Evidences of its Truth, fo as they can. , have no Pretence he~ein, but an Obfti- / . .. nacy and.Re!olution not to be ~on vi need; on ·which Ground cloth our bleffed Lo R o teftify, tha·t it \vas no Want ofLight, -up– on the Certainty lof his Truth_, why Men . did .not receive it, 'but ·that they loved. Darknefsbetter than Ljght, becaufe their Deeds were evil; and when fuch clear, rational, and .convincing Evide~ces are laid open to their View, how moft Men . poffibly can get thefe put by or rejetl:ed·, is not eafy to comprehend, but that a . real Irrit6Jtion and torment of Spirit, fron1 fuch Clearnefs of Evidence, cloth· thus more tend to harden than convince. / / PosiT. IV. 'I HA er there .Is a conti– nued Necej[ttv of fuch a Confinnation ih - the Faith, to ~his Day, whatever can be, objefted of fo lo1!g a Conftnt and Pre- . _ " _ fcriptirJn
1 2 1he conjirmt.ng Work fcription of Time i11.-the Proftffiop the'reof, is fully demonflrable on.theft Grounds. ' ~ I_ BEeAusE, it is fure, the Chriflian . ~ Fa ith cloth ftill need thefe A1l1fl:ances, " ~. and it 'is a ftra1ige Mifta~e, that only · for Heathens and Atheifls, fuch confinn-· ing Evidences br fhe fan1e ihonld be proJ _) . . 1vofed, but not for any under a vifible ProfeifiQn, when the whole of Divin#y, and Dollrine,of our-..tli'az.th, is fo full of detnonfirative Argntnents, for the daily UJe of the tnofi eilablifhed Chriftians in their Pa1fage through 'Time. , II. THAT as the higheft Motives to all ferions Godli11efs, and the 1noral Du- ~ ties of Chriftianity, muft needs be fron1 its kno\vn Certainty to us, fo is the con– tinued Ufe there'ot to be ftill the fame. IlL rH AT thefe 11Ulnerous~Trials and C<)nflic1s of Chrifiians now, do no lefs call for fotne higher Efiabliihn1ent in the Truth, on .which they muft alone reft, when all vifible :rrops fail in their. · J udg.~nts, t h~n .of fupporting Grace.; nor 1s 1t conceivable, how·Men can t h1s Day walk in the Light of al}y true Joy and Co1nfott, without a 1nore folid -Af. . f~.uance
I / cf RELIGJO,N. furance ·of their being on ·_fafe Grounds herein thar{ moft feem to reckon. ·. rv. BEcAusE the Revelation of the Gofpel, ancl of an etern~.l State in ano· · ther World, is fo great and wondet;"ful, · as 'tis ftrange how this is,not the higheft Intereft of Mens Life, to have thei~ Faith n1ore deeply confirtned on the fur– theft Trial of their Security now, by · the Way herein; who muft.ihortly rnake fo .great a Trial thereof at Death ; (for, if we were but once come thus far, as to ·afk our ow!1 .Soul, what .the Chrifliatz. Faith, indeed is, that \Ve are tl1us called to believe, it could not poif1bly>but be– get fon~e Extafy ·of wondering at the Greatneis .thereof 1 and to reclcon any ' Light and itnplicit Aflet1t to the fame, as a Degree both of .Athetfm and Indiffe– rency in this Matter. V. THouGH there be no Conflict wit~ Heathens, as in the firfl:, Titnes, yet .was fuch a Spirit hever at a higher Pitch ,than .it i 1 s no\v, to take off all lfinn Afi~nt to the greatefi: Princii-,les of'frut·h, when Atheifin feetns to be at its 1aft Atte1nHt in .the vr orld, and we are fallen in fo a111azing an Hopr of the Power of Dark· ,nefs,1as makes thefe latter Ti1ne~ 'tno(e ' · \ . B .· remark.· . . . • \. '' 1. /
,- 14 The confirming lFork ren1arkably pe~ilous and trying than the firft. . · ' · - VI. YEA, if fnch a .confirn1ing.Work be 9ne of the greateft Means to advance . · the Repnte and Honour of Religion, · vvhen its \\panted Awe and Veneration is fo far loft, and t_o awake ,Men to deeper In1preiiions ·of 1ts 'truth, when fo few fee1n now under any {uch Weight; then it is /certain, there was neve-r ni.ore . ~ed of the fa1ne than in this l)ay. Po~I T. V. __ q HA 'I fuch aService to fhe Ch1Jrch, doth not.. only refpec1 the nzore + 'knowing, inquijitive and judicitJus Part · thereof, but the l'neartefl ProfeJ!ors of Religion alfo, ofwhonz this is nec~ffarilJ' required; 1·s e1Jident o.n tbefo Grounds. I. BEcAusE each ·Chr-ifi:ian fhould have - '/ -undoubtedl)rfuch a Ballafl on their own Soul, of the folid and rational Grounds . of their Faith, as \vell.as thofe ofgreater . , · Parts and Endowtnents: 'rhe pro1:poting .gf w'hich, were it rhore deeply confider- .. -ed, I dare ·!·1un1bly adventure 'to fay, / . · would· be found one of the cho1ceft ~. · Means to , protnote . Chriil:ianity this Day. · ' r / II. BE· . '- / '
of RE.LJ(JJON. I) - II. BEc A u,s E this is not to drive any · to doubt or queftion the leafi: fincere I)e- . gree of Affint, tho' i't be t)Ot with fuch Strength of Evidence as in others, nor can by -that fonnal Argun1entation give the fatne Account · thereof; fince a fe\V Grounds tnis Way n1ay fpe~ially help to fom~ iolicl Convidion, and confinuing of _ their Mind, when they tnay .be ignorant ofmany other cogent Argntnents for this - · End; ·but it is certain Hlfo', the greater Clearnefs of Evidence, cloth ftilL in the appointed Way of 11eans lead in to a more firn1 and ftrong Affent of the Judg– lnent, to the Truth of our Religion. I II. BEcAusE the Strength of the Foundation · in itfelf cannot be enough, . jfit be not \V it h fiich a kno\vn Evidence, as Men 111ay build fir~1ly and '.Vith Af- 1 furance theseon: Nor bath the LORD thus only defigned to give his People an infallible and fqre rfeftin1ony to adven· ture on, but that 'it ihould be n1ade fure alfo to then.l. . IV. BEcAusE none can in Truth fa)'~ ·_ that 7cfus- £s~ the L--ord, but by the Holy Ghofl, I Cor. xxii. 3 by which is not to.. be nnder11:6od fo tnuch the _Neceffity of fupernatural Grac,e, fat' a {aving Faith, ~ B 2 , . · but /
• t 6/ 1.-'be confirniing Work b.,ut th~! none can gi \ 7 e a true -:Affen! and Confeiuon of the fan1e, but fron1 thefe I Grounds and Argtllnents, which are re.. , _veal eel by the Holy Ghoft unto Men for this End ; and, as 'tis certain, that thefe Cha_ra8ers and EYidence ~~ l)z"Yi1Zity, I · vvluch ate jn1printed en -the whole Reve- , lation of the G_ofpel, tnay be tlear a1ld , demanfl:rative to our Judgment, fo are I · they as truly Divine, as the Dotl:rine vvhich is confirn1~d thereby.. . . V. BEc.AusE there can be nopoffib!e Caufe for U nbelief of the Truth frotn :1ny intricate Obfcureneis of the Jatne, when the LoRD hatJ1 given [uch great .AHiH:ances to our Faith, to he as 1V.lifk jor Babes,--- as \ve1l qs At/eat to flrong Men~ And tho' it be objected, that the furthefl: objective Evidence of the Gof... .. pel, with {o clear and ftrong a Convey– ance thereof, is yet fo little operative 6i1 1noft; the fanie 1night be fa id alfo of the whole Letter of the "Scripture; but, tho' this tends riot in the leaft to refol ve . our Religion into-any n1eer Exercife of H.eafon, and leaves the whole Work of the Spirit, in its Energy anA O_pe~ation " therew:ith on Mens Souls, 111t1re ; yet doth it ' fully 1 evince fuch a Sufficien~ I • \I cy , (
/ ·: ,, of RELIGION. 17 : ·_ cy of Evidence with the Chriftian Faith, .~· as tnakes any l)onbtfulnefs herein filn– l)ly _impoffible, throtigh want 'of the / greateft Advantage of Means; yea, fuch ' as are of anot her Kind than ·to induce ' only a probable Perfwojion of the fan1e. -vi. BEeAusE -it is one of the fad-. deft Sympto1ns of the prefent State of Religion, I that :fo few altn~ft in whole Congregations, can give any clear Aifent to the Truth and Certainty thereof, but to Amazement, both live and die Stran– gers to t~e fame; yea, 'how tnany of -thefe who ate otherwife ferions in Reli- - gion, yet have their :Filith flarfed this Way, and are deft~tute of any fuch Sup– port, but, as it is not the Nunzeroufizefs of Profejfors, hut the Strettgth and So– lidity of thefr Faith, ·\vherein the Chur– ches Strength moff lies, and hath tnore flourifhed .in a few fuch to beget a grea.. ter Awe·and Veneration of .Religion a- , Inongft Men, than ; at other rfitnes in the greateft Multitude; fo is 'it the_ fJ1ory of Divine·Truth, that it can fubfift by its own proper Evidence, and preferve .its Station in the worH of Ti;ne-s, when . all external Arguxnents do moft vifibly ceafe. B 3 ,· p0 s IJ' ~.
\ . . IS The ,co!ifir7t-zing Work , PosIT. VI. '1 f] A.' 'I 'tis fully dt~i 1nonjh~able and clear, how no jinz-ple ·In- . Jlruclzng of Men, itz the general Princi1 ples 1 of Religion, can be the proper and adequatd Me-ans for ft.tch ·a Faith of AJ– , Jent to th~ Truth thereof, on ·its ow;z ·E-vz: gence·,.or anfwer that AppH:olick Pahen~ ·of lay.1ng the Foundation, He"b. vi. 2.· .But tjatfome [pecial Duties elfe' are cal· . led for to fo high an 1-t.:nd; fuch wherein, 1tot only that true prinzitive Co11.jirnzation ~n the Chr{jlian F{lith, might have fonte praElical f!Je, but we 1night alfo hoj.e therewith, for a more re1narkable out-lettingof cqtifirnting(lnjluences_of the ,Spirit· of God. ·_· ·- -"' I • wHAT is to be underftood herein, r fuall humbly offer in a few , Part~Gu· · lars, ., ' 'L 'rH~T it is one of the greatefl: · Concerns of )heIJ\;finiflerial ,Work, and -of the Key of Doctrine, ,to have all who hear tbe Gofpel ) in,the jirfl Place, pre!– ied to take Religion fo far to Heart, as to make a feriqus Enquiry into the · 'Grounds and Reafons here<;>f, and thus . to know their being on fure GroQnd herein, tiot becaufe they' lt1~ow not an6- . . ther j ! / ' ' ( I (
of RELIGION. / ther Way, but becaufe they know this is the alone Way of Truth~ to \vhich . they ~ dare trufl: their I1nn1ortal Souls. 2. That for this E11d the fupream Truths of Religion be ref)refented· with that Certainty of Evidence, and Detnonftra- , ~ • tion, as both fuch great and niarvellous · ·. rfhings do require 1 and the Ten1per of / fuch ,a ·gain-faying Age now /calls .for; and to have this preffed n1ore on Mens J udgment and Confcience, that the · ' J hings of God, \vhich are.o'f the higheft· · Confequence, ·ReaHty and Subflance, can have no · poffiple Receptio11 by any in1· plicite or ·probable Belief thereof, t1or -– can admit any Pretence ~or the fatne, when the.Lo R D bath"given filch Kind of Proofs and Evidence, as leaves Mens Darknefs·herein) without any Shadow of Excufe. . · . - . . · II ·THAT ·it peculiarly belongs to the Catecpetic~-1l Work of Religion, to take fotne Account of ,the tneau'eft Profeffors thereof, and 'vith a fpecial Refpect to the Youth; ol their FaJth 'of Aj[ent to the - Doctrine of CHRIsT , on what Grounds and Certainty, of Evidence this is found· ed, and for t beir inftrucl:ing therein, as ,well as in the general Principle-s.of ~eli. · / gton; /
20 The co1!ftrnzing Wo;::k gi~n ; when one of the moft - ruining rhings to th_e Church lies here, that the Profeffion of moftis laid in fo deep_ an Ignorance, as they have altnoft nothing to fay for the fan1e, but a naked Affirma.. tion. I kno\v the Difficulty hereof, for the Weak may be objected, but without juft Caufe; fince .as the Pritne ·rru.ths of Religion ar.e few, eafy and plain ·-for , the 1neaneft Capacity, fo alfo are the pri~nary Evidences and Den1onftrations · .. of our Faith, if fuch once with- that -ue... fire did feareh after the fatne, as for , a hidden and invaluable Trea{ure ·; wherein this Refpecr ihould be ftill had to di'f.. ference betwixt \vh_at is Initial and of a more fundamental Concern for the > Weak, and what may tend to an higher Growth and _ Increafe of others. - I II. IT ihonlcf_~e of greatefl: Ufe and ·Advantage alfo· for -the fam,e End, that 1 the young Growth now cotning up in ~h~. Chur(~h, were l)ut to give jfotne explicit . E-vidence of their Cd t. fent and Choice of the Profeilioo ·of CHRIS ·r, fe far as tnay witnefs a Ratification, of the Ba.pti/mal Co-vetiant, now as their own pro1~er lJeed, w-herein- they / were ifl!plicitel}' engaged in their lnfanQy. Sotne.fpecial 7 GrDunds • .'-- / I
Grounds and Reafons for this, are, I. Be- , caufe GOD will have his Service freely entred)n and Uf)Oll Cho1ce, as/. that Way , which is tnoft agreeable to his Honour ; for, as the Covenant binds ' nl~Hually, fo do the Seals thereof alfo, and therefore upon our Part is Bapttfm a Sacranzental Oath· of Allegiance to God. 2 . Becaufe it tends to a n1ore reiolute and firn1 Ad– herence to the Ser\tice ofGOp~ that this Eufinefs fhoulcl be _perfor1a1Iy _brought Hotne to Me1:ts Confcience, ~fpeciall y before their firH Admittc:n1ce to. the -Sa– cran1ent of the Lo R n's Supper, and thus/ to engage then1 as .7ofhua did, Chap., XJ:iv. 22. 1/}; are 11/itneffis,·againfl yot~r"! [elves herein, 'and they jaid, we are lfzt-' neffes. 3· Becanfe ttis is e~prefly he,ld ., forth, I Pet. iii. 2 1 .. o/here Bapttfin is called the Arzf;ver of a (good c;onfticnce to;. ' ward God, -upon this Ground,.: that .fi1ch then who were co111e to Yearsof Know– ledge, were-perfonally' brought to cou– firtn 'by their own Confent that fole1nn ·Engagement and Dedication by Baptiftn . to1 be the LoRn's, and therefore it is · / called €'Jref~TJH~~, which is -vpxjurz·s, aJ1d, , fignifies, .fponfio, & Jlipulatio publica ~in.. • ter ·Chrijlian!ttn~ & · ponzin_un~ Chrijlut,~t, I \ as I
~~ · 'Ihe confirming Work I . as the tnofi judicious Cotnmentators o!l that SGripture do, clear1y render it ' ; and fo this was a fpecial Part of the pritni- ,tive Pt,:ac~ice, nut only with refl)etl to fuch, who were co11verted frotn Heathe– itifm., but were born ·within the Churc·h, ~nd Partakers of that Seal of Baptifit?_ uz their Infancy; to bring thetn to anfwer to that great Detnancl of the Covenant, Do yon now Confent uponE-vidence and Choice, to be the Lo R n's, and to be a SubjeCt of his Kingdotn, and {Onbrace · the La\vs thereof; and ' do vou thus in Sincerity and Trqth, declare 1the fame, wherein you have a good Confciencer-be·– fore GOI) ? And of- what blefiecf Fruit ·and ""t\dvantage llioulci _this be bo~t.h for the Increafe and I-Ionour of the Goipel, if this tvere tnore deeply taken to Heart fi1r .fotne practical Ufe, _accordi~ng to the Rule, and prt"ntitt"ve ·Pattern in'the Chur– ·ches of CHRI'S T 1 -_ ·_ IV. IT were fpecially defireable alfo, that there be fon1e clear Vt'ew artd Sum11taryby i tfelf, of t11e tnoflcogent Groutzds _a;id Demonjlrations of the Chr_ijlt'an Faith, with refpet1: both to the doElrinal, hijlo– rical,- and prophetical Part thereof, and in that Manner accolnmod·ated, _as the ,... - meanefl:-
of -RE L I G I . o N. 23 I-· meaneft within the Church might have / fuch a .Help fti11 at their Hand, and thus 1 with the leafi Expence of 'f'ime, be pro- -· vided of fuch Arguments. and Reaio~1S; as fhnuld tend (through. the"~leffing of GOD) not only to the fur theft ration(!L Affent, and Certainty of the rrruth Of I their Profefiion, but to give a tuoft flie– cial Support of Mind againft that inward rfrial of Satan's Te1nptations and fiery - Darts this Way; yea, is fuch a Mean, , .that i'n the ferious In1pr6ven1-ent hereof, by having fuch Evidences .once brought · in on Mens J udgtnent 6lnd Confcience, fo as to fee with their owi1 Eyes the .Truth qf the fame,~ niui1: hutnbly judge, ·there is ii~thing, next to the _internali .Work of- theSl?irit, of 'this Kind, tnight te.nd tnor~ to .11ro}note the Kingdo1n of · CHiti_S·T 1n th1s Day. · . PosIT .~VII. , THAT as there are [ome .more .fignal Periods of Ti1ne, to which a greater Brigh.tnefs a.na Increafe of Light httth R-efp~[t underthe New Teftament; ' fo doth there now fe·em to be-fome remark– able Call and Excitement, to fuch a con– firming Work, in this qjay about the ·Chriflian .Faith; wh~11 we may hope, that / a more / .. ' - '
. " ~4 _ '1he confirming Work -~ a nzorefolemn and reftoring Ti1ne 'ofRe: ·]igion in t~~ _World, is_ on ~a near Ap- . p~oach, (tho ,all fen.fible .E-vtdence would · jee1n to controul this,) ,and may be now 11zor~ looked after, and prepared for, un– !fer a fu£table Jmprejfion of theft Grounds for tf;e fnne. , '. . , · \ I · I. · THA .T the l)fomi!ed Titne of 'he · Con'Vefjion of the- Jews cloth affuredly dra-vv near"; and whatever be judged by_~ fon1e of the LoRn's immediate .Appear– ance herein by a Mt"racle ~ yet it is 1 un.... ~- queftionable that n~thing in the W.ay of . Means, c~Juld be more promifing and ho11{jul to pron1ote this great,End, than by proH1oting fo grea~ a Service as this for the Chriftian Church. , _ JI. T.HIs. T a greater Extent a1fo of tl1e . · Profeffion ofCHR Is T atnongft the Gen– tiles, and rending of the '\rail that is now over n1any dark Nations, feetneth clear1y infurecl thei~ e\vith; .and ~hat a hope– ful Evidence fhonld th1s be 1£ fuch a Prtt-: , blick and Catholt'ck Spirit were 1nore feen, hoyl to advat~ce the higheft E~1ds cif Re– ligion on fuch . an Accoul}t w1thout Ref– l)ect to any 1)artial or/divided Intet:eft .? ):ea, that this bleflZe~l of GOD, 1njg~1t 111 I < . "' I '
I \' ' oJRELIGIOJ.Y. · 2) ' in that N1anne_r ·appear to have the_ dark W,orld, get a n1ore clear and convuJcing, ,ProfpeB:-of .the h(ghefl rational Denzonjlra-:– tiofzs ofChriftia:zity, as Injght through the Lord's gracious Concurrence bring Men ; once to an inq'uifitive and ferious Spirit about the fatne. Oh ! t hat-fuch may be rai- _fedlup in thisdifinalHour,with fomething . the ancient Spirit, to tr~vel with Defire ··· .for the Salvation of Mankind, and of . wholn it may be fajd, as of blefi Nehe- ,. · .• 1n.z'dh, thofe are indeed corne to feek the _. J17elfare of their People, in their greateft IntereH:. - ,- Ill. .A:Nn this further Excitement we' are now l;lnder for this End, in a Tizne when Popery feetns to be upon one of its )aft. and greateft Affaults, againft the Church ; fince 'tis fo clear, that ·what– ever tends to confirmMen in Chriflia– nity;_frotn their own Trial"ana Enqui– ry upon the confirming Evidences there– of, tnnft have the fan1e· native Refult \ to n1ake fuch confirmed Proteftants ; yea,_ nothi.ng is more demonftrable than that the Method and Grounds that are taken., both' to engage a]Jd fix Men jn t_he Popi{h Profeffion, have the ·fame ratio– nal Tendency to promote Atheifin, and ' -~ ; C to . ~ '
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