7. Can the Superstructure be firm where the Foundation is Sandy? And can our Affections and Actions be sound and strong, when our belief of Scripture is unsound or infirm? Sure this Faith will have influence into all. For my own part, I take it to be the greatest cause of coldness in Duty, weakness in Graces, boldness in Sinning, and unwillingness to die, &c. that our Faith is either unsound or infirm in this point. Few Christians among us for ought I find, have any better then the Popish implicit faith in this point;1 nor any better Arguments then the Papists have to prove Scripture the Word of God. They have received it by Tradition; godly Ministers and Christians tell them so; it is impious to doubt of it, and therefore they believe it. And this worm lying at the root, causeth the languishing and decay of the whole: ⟨p. 177⟩yet is it usually undiscerned,2 for the root lieth secret under ground: But I am apt to judg, that though the most complain of their uncertainty of salvation, through want of assurance of their own Interest, and of the weakness of the applying Act of Faith, yet the greater cause of all their sorrows, and that which shakes the whole building, is the weakness of their faith about the truth of Scripture, though perhaps the other be more perceived, and this taken notice of by few. There may be great weakness and unsoundness of belief, where yet no doubtings are perceived to stir. Therefore though we could persuade people to believe never so confidently, that Scripture is the very Word of God, and yet teach them no more reason why they should believe this then any other book to be that Word; as it will prove in them no right way of believing, so is it in us no right way of teaching.
7. Can the Superstructure be firm where the Foundation is Sandy? And can our Affections and Actions be sound and strong, when our belief of Scripture is unsound or infirm? Sure this Faith will have influence into all. For my own part, I take it to be the greatest cause of coldness in Duty, weakness in Graces, boldness in Sinning, and unwillingness to die, &c. that our Faith is either unsound or infirm in this point. Few Christians among us for ought I finde, have any better then the Popish implicit faith in this point;1 nor any better Arguments then the Papists have to prove Scripture the Word of God. They have received it by Tradition; godly Ministers and Christians tell them so; it is impious to doubt of it, and therefore they believe it. And this worm lying at the root, causeth the languishing and decay of the whole: ⟨p. 177⟩yet is it usually undiscerned,2 for the root lieth secret under ground: But I am apt to judg, that though the most complain of their uncertainty of salvation, through want of assurance of their own Interest, and of the weakness of the applying Act of Faith, yet the greater cause of all their sorrows, and that which shakes the whole building, is the weakness of their faith about the truth of Scripture, though perhaps the other be more perceived, and this taken notice of by few. There may be great weakness and unsoundness of belief, where yet no doubtings are perceived to stir. Therefore though we could perswade people to believe never so confidently, that Scripture is the very Word of God, and yet teach them no more reason why they should believe this then any other book to be that Word; as it will prove in them no right way of believing, so is it in us no right way of teaching.
- 1See this more fully in Dr. Preston on the Attributes, pag. 61, 62, 63, 64.
- 2Yet we acknowledge it belongs to the Church; first, To be a Witness and Keeper of the Scriptures: secondly, To judg and discern betwixt Scriptures which are true and genuine, and which are false and supposititious or Apocryphal: thirdly, To divulge and preach the Scriptures: fourthly, To expound and interpret them. Dr. Whitaker, De Sacra scriptura Q. 3. contr. 1. cap. 2. pag. 203, 204.Yet we acknowledg it belongs to the Church; first, To be a Witness and Keeper of the Scriptures: secondly, To judg and discern betwixt Scriptures which are true and genuine, and which are false and supposititious or Apocryphal: thirdly, To divulge and preach the Scriptures: fourthly, To expound and interpret them. Dr. Whitaker, De Sacra scriptura Q. 3. contr. 1. cap. 2. pag. 203, 204.
