To the Text. Act. 8.37.1 he answereth pag. 176 [that indeed he never met with any thing either in Scripture or Reason produced, ⟨p. 156⟩that carries with him so much as any colour for it, this excepted.] Repl. This is not my first Observation, that confidence is not always a sign of a true judgement; and the seeing of no difficulties before us, proves us not to know more than other men. His particular answers are, [1. Philip. may call for that de bene esse when the Eunuch was to be admitted, which was not yet essential to his admittance.] Repl. 1. Its strange that when we are disputing what is of a necessity to a just admittance, that we must turn to dispute of the Essentials of an admittance. I never thought that any thing but admittance was essential to admittance: but there are many things si•c quibus non licet. 2. Philip is determining a question, and giveth this in as the decision, [If thou believe with all thy heart thou mayest.] And to say that this is but de bene esse, meaning that it includeth not the Negative, [otherwise thou mayest not,] is to make Philip to have deluded and not decided or resolved. Use the like liberty in expounding all other Scripture, and you'll make it what you please. The second Answer is, that [Dogmatical faith is truly a Divine faith.] Repl. But not the Christian Faith, nor anywhere alone denominateth men Believers in Scripture: I remember but one Text, John 12.42. where it is called Believing on Christ; and but few more where it is simply called Believing: but none where such are called Believers, Disciples, or Christians, or any thing that intimateth them admitted into the visible Church, without the Profession of saving faith added to this Assent. The rest which he here addeth, we shall take in, when we come purposely to speak of that subject.
To the Text. Act. 8.37.1 he answereth pag. 176 [that indeed he never met with any thing either in Scripture or Reason produced, ⟨p. 156⟩th•t carries with him so much as any color for it, this excepted.] Repl. This is not my first Observation, that confidence is not alwaies a sign of a true judgement; and the seeing of no difficulties before us, proves us not to know more than other men. His particular answers are, [1. Philip. may call for that de bene esse when the Eunuch was to be admitted, which was not yet essential to his admittance.] Repl. 1. Its strange that when we are disputing what is of a necessity to a just admittance, that we must turn to dispute of the Essentials of an admittance. I never thought that any thing but admittance was essential to admittance: but there are many things si•c quibus non licet. 2. Philip is determining a question, and giveth this in as the decision, [If thou believe with all thy heart thou mayest.] And to say that this is but de bene esse, meaning that it includeth not the Negative, [otherwise thou mayest not,] is to make Philip to have deluded and not decided or resolved. Use the like liberty in expounding all other Scripture, and you'l make it what you please. The second Answer is, that [Dogmatical faith is truly a Divine faith.] Repl. But not the Christian Faith, nor anywhere alone denominateth men Believers in Scripture: I remember but one Text, John 12.42. where it is called Believing on Christ; and but few more where it is simply called Believing: but none where such are called Believers, Disciples, or Christians, or any thing that intimateth them admitted into the visible Church, without the Profession of saving faith added to this Assent. The rest which he here addeth, we shall take in, when we come purposely to speak of that subject.
- 1Act. 8.37. vindicated.
