Semi. CL,XX. 4-19 SERMON 1.1 LXX. The Efficacy, Ufefulnefs, and Reafonablenefs of Divine Faith. H E Bs XI 6. The Sixth Sermonon this Text. But without Faith it is iinpoJbill to pleafe God. TN Difcourfing on thefe words, I have difpatch'd thefrfl thing which I propos'd, viz. to give an account of the Notion and Natureof Faith in general 5 under which I have largely treated of a Religious or Divine Faith in particular. The Second thing which I propos'd, and to which I now proceed, is to confirm the truth of the Propofition which I laid down from the words, viz. That Faith is the great Principle of Religion. I told you that thefe words, Without Faith it is impofble to pleafe God, do not only imply that Faith is a neceflary condition, without which Men cannot be,Religious : but likewife that it is a Cade and Principle of Religion. Without Faith a Man cannot be Religious : and where çhere is true Faith, it will have this Effe& upon Men to make them Religious. Therefore I (hall difinetly fpeak to thefe two Things. Fir/t, That without Faith there can be no Religion. Secondly, That where there is a true Faith, it will have this influence uponMen co make them Religious. Firfl, That without Faith there can be no Religion. And this will appear by enquiring into the Nature of all humane A&ions, whether Civil, or Religious : and this is common to both of them, that they fuppofe fome kind of Faith or Perfwafion. All human Allions have an order and reference to fome end, and confequently fuppofe fome knowledge of the end, and of the means whereby it may be attained. So that unlefs a Man do believe and be perfwaded that fuch a thing is Tome way or other good for him, and confequently defireable and fit to be propounded as an End, and that this End is attainable, and the Means which he ufeth are probable and likely for the attainingof this End, he will fit fill and donothing at all about it. So that without Faith it is impoffibleto do any thing ; he that believes nothing, will do nothing. Tp inflance firf in Civil A&ions, and the common Affairs and Concernments of Life ; all thefe are done by virtue of forne Faith or Perfwafion concerning them. For Example, Husbandry, or Merchandife 5 no Man will apply himfelf to thefe, but upon fome Beliefor Perfwafion of the Poffibility and Neceflìty, or at leaf Afefulnefs and Convenience of thefe to the ends ofLife. No Man would Plow or Sow, if he did not believe that there were fuch a thing as the growing of Corn, and that it is neceffary for the fupport of our Lives, and if he were not perfwaded of the probability of reaping forne Fruit and Benefit of his Pains and Indufry. No Man would Traffick to Turkey or the Indies, if he did not be- lieve there were fuch Places, and that they afforded fuch Commodities, and that he might have them upon loch Terms as migfit recompence the Adventure of his Charge and Pains. And fo in all other A&ions of Life. So it is in Divine and Religious things, nothing is done without Faith. No Man will worfhip God, unlefs he believe there is a God ; unlefs he he perfwaded there is _Inch a Being, which by reafon of its Excellencyand Perfe &ion, may chal- lenge our Veneration 5 and unlefs he believe the goodnefs of this God, that he will reward theft that diligently ffrve him. For all A&s of Religion being reato-. nable, they fuppofe at leaf an Obje& and an End ; that there is a God to be N n n 2 Wor-
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