432 Vol. II. SERMON CLXVI. Of a Religious and Divine Faith. HEB. XI. 6. But without Faith it is impofble to pleafe God. The frond 114 MY laft Difcourfe I came to treat of a religious and divine Faith , which, Sermon on I told you, comprehends under it three things, which I now pro- vb. Text. teed to confider diftindly. Firfl, A Perfwafionof the Principlesof natural Religion, which are known by the light of nature. Secondly, A Perfwafion ofthings fupernatural and reveal'd. Thirdly, A Perfwafion of fupernatural Revelation. Firfi, A Perfwafion of the Principles of natural Religion, fuch as the light of Nature could difcover; fuch are the Exiftence of God, the Immor- tality of theSoul, and a future State. The things to be enquired concerning this kind of Faith are thefe. I. Whether this be truly and properly call'd Faith. II. Whatare the Arguments whereby it is wrought. III. Whether it admit of degrees or not, and what differences are obferva- ble in them. IV. What are the proper and genuine effeets of it. V. In what fenfe it may be faid to be divine Faith. I. Whether it may truly and properly be call'd Faith, or not? Yf the general notion of Faith which I have fix'd before, viz. That it is a Perfwa- fion of the Mind concerning any thing, be a true notion of Faith, then there is no doubt but this may as properly be call'd Faith , as any thing can be ; becaufe a man may be perfwaded in his mind concerning thefe things, that there is a God, that our Souls are immortal, that there is another State after this Life: But befides this, if the Scripture fpeaks properly, as we have reafon to believe it does, efpecially when it treats profelfedly of any thing, as the Apöftle -here does; -then this queftion is fully decided : for it is evident to any one that will but read this Verfe, out of which I have taken my Text, that the Apoftle doth here in this place fpeak of this kind of Faith, that is, a belief or perfwafion of the Principles of natural Religion. For af- ter - the Apoftle had faid, that Without Faith it is impoffible to pleafe God ; he immediately inftanceth in the beliefof the Principles of natural Religion, as neceffary to the pleating of God, that is, to make a Man religious. He that cornea to God, niufl believe that he is; there is the Exiftence of God, the firft principle of natural Religion : and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligenly flak him; which implies the other two, the Immortality of the Soul, and a future State; for if good Men (hall be rewarded, there muff be a Subje& capable of fuch Rewards, which brings in the Immortality of the Soul; and there muft be a feafon for thefe Rewards, which becaufe they are feldoin beftow'd in this World, there muff be a Seafon when they thall, which brings in a future State after this Life. So that whoever denies that a perfwafion of thefe Principles of natural Religion may properly be called Faith, he quarrels with the Apoftle, and does not correR me, but the Scri- ptures. 5 II. What
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