b'erm. CL,XXI. and our i`Ìbltatton to.rer.ezv;°,tt, Tbird;y, That the Miracles related in the Gofpel, are a proper and futhcient Means, or Argument, CO bring Men to Chriftian Faiths For this is the narroweft and molt reflrained fenfe in which we can take the words ; . Thefe things, that is There Miracles are written that ye might believe,, &c.. Now if Sr. John by the Spi- rit Of God did record Miracles to this end, we may conclude that they are proper and fufficient for this end. Fourti.y, That a credible Hiftory does give; Men fufficient .afÏurance of matter of fad, and fuch as we may fafely build a Divine Faith upon. For if thereMi racles were recorded for this end, that. Men might believe then a credible Hiftory or Relation that fuch Miracles were done, is fufficient to allure us that fuch :MiraS des were wrought ; and upon this Affurance, we may build our Faith : other- wife it had been in vain to have recorded there. Miracles to this end. Fifthly, That we are not now a days deflitute of a fufficient ground of Faith becaufe wehave there Writings credibly conveyed to us, which contain the Do- &tine of the Gofpel, and the Relation of the Miracles written for the confirma- tion of it. Sixthly, That Men now adays, thofe to whom the Gofpel comes, areunder an Obligation to believe ; or which is all one, that now a.days Men may be guiltyof h fuca Sin as Unbelief : for now a days we may have fufficient grounds of Faith. Seventbly, That to believe that Jeff's is the Chrifi, the Son of God, is truly and properly Chriflian Faith. This is the Defcription which is here givenof ir, that it is a believing, that left's is the Chrifl, the Son of God. Eighthly, That to believe that yefas is the Chrifl the Son of God, is ,truly and properly findifying, and jaflifying, and Paving Faith, by this Faith we have Life: There things were written, that ye might believe that yefu,o is the Chrift, the Son of God5 and that believing, ye might have Life through his Name. There Obfervationsare all virtually contained in the words. The greateft part of them I [hall very lightly pafs over, and fpeakbut briefly to them, becaufe I intend mainly to infilt upon the two lafl; in the handling of which, 1 than open to you the Nature of Chriftian Faith, and Phew you, that the Faith which is here defcribed, is that which is truly and properly juftifying and fatting. Firfl, That Writing. is the way which the Wifdom ofGod hath pitched upon; as the (landing wayofconveying the Knowledge of the Gofpel to the World. This is matter of Fart, and for the proof of it we have the evidenceof the thing. The Gofpel de fallo was written, and this Writing is conveyed down to us, and is the In(trument which God hath in all Ages frnce the Apofiles times, that is Gnce the Eye and Ear Witnefíes of the Miracles of Chrift and his Do&rine ceafed, made ufe of to convey to the World the Knowledge of the Gofpel. And here it were proper to [hewwhat advantage this way of conveyance of the Gofpel hath above Oral Tradition : but that i havealready done in force former Difcourfes where 1 See ski [hewed at large; that this way of conveyance is a more univerfal and diffufive, of regotng more certain and liable to lefs impoflure and falfification, a moreequal and uniform, ermon' and a more humane way of conveyance than Oral Tradition 5 fo that I [hall notvoiyt infili longer upon this. Secondly, That all things neceffary to be believed by Chriflians in order to Sal- vation, are contained in the Written Gofpel : or, elfe how could Sr. john in rea fon fay, that thefe thingi were written, to this end, that Men might believe and k' laved 5 if there things be not fofcient to this end ? which certainly they are nor, . if any thing neceffary to be believed in order to Salvation be left out. The Pa- pills being urged with this Text, to prove the fufficiency of the written Word; in oppofition to thofe Traditional Do&rines which they pretend to be neceffary over and betides the written Word, tell us, that Sr. John doth not here fpeak of the Do &rive of Chrift 5 but only of his Miracles; Thefe were written to confirm our Faith of the Melia:5 but the Doflrine of Chrift was not all written, but left to the Apoftles to be deliver'd by mouth to their Succeftors, and fo down to Pofterity. But I have (hewn before, that theneceffary Do&vines of the Gofpel, as well as the Miracles, are comprehended in thefe things which St. john Pays were written. Befides that it will be very hard for any Man todevife a convenient Kea. (on
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