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

Prop. 4. The true method of one that would arrive at certainty, and not deceive himself and others, is to begin at the bottom, and discern things in their nearest, intrinsical and most certain evidences: and afterwards to try the by-objections as he is able: And not to pore first upon the objected difficulties, and judge of all the cause by those.

Prop. 4. The true method of one that would arrive at certainty, and not deceive himself and others, is to begin at the bottom, and discern things in their neerest, intrinsecal and most certain evidences: and afterwards to try the by-objections as he is able: And not to pore first upon the objected difficulties, and judge of all the cause by those.

The plain truth and case of Christians is, that if God had not done more for them by giving them his Spirit by the Gospel, and experience of its truth in the effects, than their Teachers have done by a right instructing them in the evidences of Faith, or than the Reason of the most doth in a clear discerning of those evidences in the thing or word it self; it were no wonder if Apostates were more numerous than they are, ⟨p. 70⟩when so many build on the sand, and are strangers to the true foundation, and will never see the evidences of the Christian Verity in it self; no wonder if poor Objections shake them, that never understood the nature and Reasons of their own Religion. If the Tree grow all in top, which exposeth it to the winds, and little in the roots which must hold it fast, no wonder if it be overthrown. When men never knew the great clear evidences of the Christian Religion, but take it up by Custom, Education and on the Credit only of the time and place in which they live, no wonder if every seeming weakness, error or contradiction in Scripture make them doubt.

The plain truth and case of Christians is, that if God had not done more for them by giving them his Spirit by the Gospel, and experience of its truth in the effects, than their Teachers have done by a right instructing them in the evidences of Faith, or than the Reason of the most doth in a clear discerning of those evidences in the thing or word it self; it were no wonder if Apostates were more numerous than they are,