More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second…

Eighthly, The reason of this necessity of the Spirits operation of faith, and then by saith, is not because the Gospel wanteth due Ascertaining Evidence; or an aptitude to convince and sanctify a soul: For its highly Rational (though mysterious) and ⟨p. 53⟩Good. But because by corruption and pravity the mind of man is so undisposed to know, believe, and love truths of such a nature, as that there is need of a special Internal higher Operator to set home the work as the hand of a man setteth the seal upon the wax, and to do that by it which the bare word alone, with the excellentest preacher, cannot do.

Eighthly, The reason of this necessity of the Spirits operation of faith, and then by saith, is not because the Gospel wanteth due Ascertaining Evidence; or an aptitude to convince and sanctifie a soul: For its highly Rational (though mysterious) and ⟨p. 53⟩Good. But because by corruption and pravity the mind of man is so undisposed to know, believe, and love truths of such a nature, as that there is need of a special Internal higher Operator to set home the work as the hand of a man setteth the seal upon the wax, and to do that by it which the bare word alone, with the excellentest preacher, cannot do.

Ninthly, Yet is no wicked Infidel excusable, that saith, If I cannot believe it, I will not believe it; Because First, It is his pravity which is his disability; Secondly, He is more able for a common superficial belief, than for a special effectual belief. Thirdly, And if he did by the help of that common belief, do what he might, and God appointeth him in the use of means, to obtain a special Faith through grace, he should find that God hath commanded no man to labour and seek after grace in vain; and if any man have not that grace and power which is of necessity to his faith and salvation, it is long of himself, who useth not his commoner power and grace as he might use them. And ⟨p. 54⟩