TO THE saving perception of spiritual things as revealed, with- out the especial aid of the Spirit of God in illumination. If this be denied by any, as we acknowledge our dis- sentfrom them, so we know that we do no injury to reason thereby, and will rather suffer under the imputa- tion of so doing, than by renouncing of the scripture to turn infidels, that we may be esteemed rational. But we cannot conceive how reason should beprejudiced by the advancement of the rational faculties of our souls, with respect unto their exercise towards their proper objects; which is all we assign unto the work of the Ho- ly Spirit in this matter. And there are none in the world more free to grant than we are, that unto us our reason is the only judge of the sense and truth of pro- positions drawn from the scripture, or proposed there- in, and do wish that all men might be left peaceable un- der that determination, wherewe know they must abide whether they will or no. But the inquiry in this matter, is what reasonableness appears in the mysteries of our religion when revealed unto our reason, and what ability we have to receive, believe, and obey them as such. The latterpart of this inquiry is so fully spoken unto in the ensuing discourses, as that I shall not here again insist upon it; the former may, in a few words, be spoken unto. It cannot be, it is not, that I know of, denied by any, that the Christian re- ligion is highly reasonable. For it is the effect of the infinite reason, understanding and wisdom of God. But the question is not, what it is in itself, but what it is with relation unto our reason, or how it appears there- unto. And there is no doubt but every thing in the Christian religion appears highly reasonable unto reason enlightened, or the mind of man affected with that work of grace in its renovation, which is so expressly ascribed unto the Holy Spirit in the scripture. For, as there is a suitableness between an enlightened mind andspiritual Mysteries, as revealed; so, seeing them in their proper light, it finds by experience their necessity, use, good- ness and benefit, with respect unto our chiefest good and supreme end.' It remains therefore only, that we inquire how reasonable the mysteries of the Christian religion are unto the minds of men, as corrupted; for, that they are so by the entrance of sin, as we believe, so we have proved in the ensuing treatise. And it is in vain to dispute with any about the reasònableness of evangelical faith and obedience, until the state and con- e dition of our reason be agreed. Wherefore, to speak plainly in the case, as we do acknowledge that reason in its corrupted state is all that any man path in that state, whereby to understand and judge of-the senseand truth ofdoctrines revealed in the scripture, and in the use of such aids and means as it is capable to improve, is more and better unto him, than any judge or inter- preter that should impose a sense upon him not suited thereunto; so, as to the spiritual things themselves of the gospel, in their own nature, it is enmity against them, and they are foolishness unto it. If therefore it be a crime, if it be to the impeachment and disadvan- tage of reason, to affirm that our minds stand in need of the renovation of the Holy Ghost to enable them to Understand spiritual things in a spiritual manner, we do acknowledge ourselves guilty thereof. But other- wise, that by asserting the efficacious operations of the Spirit of God, and the necessity of them unto the dis- charge of every spiritual duty towards God in an accept- able manner, we do deny that use and exercise of our own reason in things religiousand spiritual, whereof in any state it is capable, and whereunto of God it is ap- pointed, is unduly charged on us, as will afterwards be fully manifested. But it is moreover pretended, that by the operations we ascribe unto the Holy Spirit, we expose man to be deceived by Satanical delusions, open a door to enthu- siasms, directing them to the guidance of unaccount- able impulses and revelations, so making way 'unto all folly and villany. By what means this charge can be fixed on them who professedly avow that, nothing is good, nothing duty unto us, nothing acceptable unto God, but what .is warranted by the scripture, directed unto thereby, and suited thereunto, which is the alone perfect rule ofall that God requires of us in the way of obedience, but only ungrounded clamours, bath not yet beenattempted to be made manifest: For all things of this nature are not only condemned by them, but all things which they teach concerning the Holy Spirit of God, are the principal ways and means to secure usfrom the danger of them. It is true, there have beenofold, and unhappily do still continue amongsome, Satanical delu- sions, diabolical suggestions,and foul enthusiasms, which have been pretended to proceed from the Spirit of God, and to be of a divine original. For so it is plainly affirmed in the scripture, both Under the Old Testa- READERS. ix
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