Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

II. Because no natural Principle in Man can take in the objects of Faith, Flesh and Blood can't reveal them to us; Faith is an act above Reason; how is it possible for a Man, as a Man, to act above his Reason? 'tis absurd and irrational to think so; Gospel-truths are so deep and mysterious, that they do transcend our humane capacities, and cannot be discerned but by the light of a Divine Faith: What is humane, we may undertake, and count that easy to us; but what is Divine is above us, quite out of our reach; therefore Faith is said to be the work of God, fulfilled by his Power, 2 Thess. 1.11. The knowledge of Faith, by which we are persuaded of that which we conceive not, is higher than all rational understanding; we acknowledge the truth of that, as Christians, which as Men we do not Scientifically know by any Logical Demonstration: Faith gives us the certainty of those things which we comprehend not.

II. Because no natural Principle in Man can take in the objects of Faith, Flesh and Blood can't reveal them to us; Faith is an act above Reason; how is it possible for a Man, as a Man, to act above his Reason? 'tis absurd and irrational to think so; Gospel-truths are so deep and mysterious, that they do transcend our humane capacities, and cannot be discern'd but by the light of a Divine Faith: What is humane, we may undertake, and count that easie to us; but what is Divine is above us, quite out of our reach; therefore Faith is said to be the work of God, fulfilled by his Power, 2 Thess. 1.11. The knowledge of Faith, by which we are perswaded of that which we conceive not, is higher than all rational understanding; we acknowledge the truth of that, as Christians, which as Men we do not Scientifically know by any Logical Demonstration: Faith gives us the certainty of those things which we comprehend not.

III. That which makes believing so difficult, is the seeming contradictory acts of Faith, it seems not to consist with it self. Here I take Faith more generally, as it has for its Object the whole Word of God, the Law and the Gospel, the special Object of Faith, as Saving, is the Promise; Saving Faith seeks Life which is not to be found in Commandments and Threats, but in a Promise of Mercy. Faith acting upon the whole Word of God, seems to contradict it self; for Faith believes a Sinner is to die according to the Law, and that he shall live, according to the Gospel; Faith has the Word of God for both, both for the Death and Life of a Sinner, and both are true; the Law must be executed, and the Promise must be performed; but how to reconcile this is not so obvious and easy to every one: Is the Law then against the Promises of God? God forbid,