Of the Faith or Per/vafion, Vol. 1I. pretends to, he bath not the moadty of a Creature, but does by a lacrilegious Ambition attempt the Throne of God, and equal himfelf to the mofl High. And t herefore it is no wonder that the Popes of Rome, after they had once affirmed ro ihemfelves to be Infallible, did prefently arrogate to themlelves the titles of God, there being fuch strict connexion between the Attribute of Infallibility, and the Divine Nature, that whoever challengeth the first, may with equal Keaton claim the other. 1 shall only add this, that nothing (rah been more pernicious to Chriftian Relict gion, than the vain pretence of Meo to roarer of-lilt-once concerning things relating to ìt, than they can make good ; the It/hi-chief of which is this ; that when dill corning and inquiltive Men find that Men pretend to greater Matters than they can prove, this makes them doubt of all they fay, and to call in queuiion the ttuth of Chriftianity it fell. Whereas if Mot would be contented to fpeak jeflly of things, and pretend to no greater AiTuranee than they can bring Evidence for ; confiderate Men would be apt to believe them. Every knowing Man being more ready to liften ro a modelt Man, whole confidence bears a proportion to the Rea- tons and Arguments he brings for what he fays, than to a confident Pretender, who calls every weak Paying a Demonflration. And indeed lush Men are but jufily dealt withal, Since the experience of the World hails fufficiently taught us, that ufually thofc who fpeakmoddily of things, are fúrnilh'd with the belt Argu- mentsttor their Af ertions g and that thofe who have made the ttrongeft Pretences to Infallibility in any thing, have the wcakefl Reafons fcr what they have faid ; of which this account may be given, that good Reafons and Arguments are re- quifite to beget in a Man a rational Affurance 3 but a strong conceit is fufficient tet beget in Men an opinion of Infallibility. VI. What is the proper and genuin Elie& of this Faith of a Divine Revelation? I Anfiver : A Compliance with the Defign and Intention of it. VII. In what refpe& this may be call'd a Divine Faith ? To this I Anfiter : Not only in refpeét of the Objeft of it, and the Argument whereby it is wrought, and the EffPe of it : but likcwife in relpedt of the Author and Efficient of it, which is the Divine Spirit. And here, if time would permit, I fhould fpeak ofthe Tefli- mony of the Spirit ; not as an Argument wherebya perfwafion of a Divine Reve- lation, viz. That the Scriptures are the Word of God, is wrought ; but alto as he is the Author and efficient Caufe of ir. I do molt readily grant thegreat Influence that the Spirit of God bath upon the Minds of Men in this work of Faith, as well as in every Spiritual Al : But it is to be enquired, how the Spirit of God may be laid to work this Faith in us 5 whether by firengthning the Faculty Or by holding the Mind intent upon the Argument, whereby this Perfwafion is wrought g or difcovering the Object ; or removing the Impediments 3 or farther- Mg and helping forward theefficacy of it upon our Hearts and Lives. But of this, God willing, in my next Difcourfe. SER-
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