The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

15. When you are once persuaded of the truth of Christianity, and the holy Scriptures, think not that you need not study it any more, because you do already confidently believe it: For if your faith be not built on such cogent evidence as will warrant the conclusion (whether it be at the present sound or not) you know not what change assaults may make upon you (as we have known them do on some ancient eminent Professors of the strictest Godliness, who have turned from Christ, and the belief of immortality.)

15. When you are once perswaded of the truth of Christianity, and the holy Scriptures, think not that you need not study it any more, because you do already confidently believe it: For if your faith be not built on such cogent evidence as will warrant the conclusion (whether it be at the present sound or not) you know not what change assaults may make upon you (as we have known them do on some ancient eminent Professors of the strictest Godliness, who have turned from Christ, and the belief of immortality.)

Take heed how you understand the common saying of the Schools, that Faith differeth from Knowledge, in that it hath not Evidence: It hath not evidence of sense indeed; nor the immediate evidence of things invisible, as in themselves; but as they are the conclusions which follow the principles which are in themselves more evident. It is evident that God is true; and we can prove by good evidence, that the Christian Verity is his Revelation: And therefore it is evident (though not immediately in it self) that the matter of that word or revelation is true. And as Mr. Rich. Hooker truly saith [No man indeed believeth beyond the degree of evidence of truth which appeareth to him, how confidently soever they may talk.] I remember that our excellent Usher answered me to this case, as out of Ariminensis, that [faith hath evidence of Credibility, and science hath evidence of Certainty.] But undoubtedly an evidence of Divine Revelation, is evidence of Certainty. And all evidence of Divine Credibility, is evidence of Certainty; though of humane faith and credibility, the case be otherwise.

Take heed how you understand the common saying of the Schools, that Faith differeth from Knowledge, in that it hath not Evidence: It hath not evidence of sense indeed; nor the immediate evidence of things invisible, as in themselves; but as they are the conclusions which follow the principles which are in themselves more evident. It is evident that God is true; and we can prove by good evidence, that the Christian Verity is his Revelation: And therefore it is evident (though not immediately in it self) that the matter of that word or revelation is true. And as Mr. Rich. Hooker truly saith [No man indeed believeth beyond the degree of evidence of truth which appeareth to him, how confidently soever they may talk.] I remember that our excellent Ʋsher answered me to this case, as out of Ariminensis, that [faith hath evidence of Credibility, and science hath evidence of Certainty.] But undoubtedly an evidence of Divine Revelation, is evidence of Certainty. And all evidence of Divine Credibility, is evidence of Certainty; though of humane faith and credibility, the case be otherwise.