Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

What could be more easy than to lift up the Eye to the Brazen Serpent, to be Cured of a fiery Sting? What could be more facile than a glance, which is done without any pain, and in a moment? 'Tis a Condition may be performed by the weakest as well as the strongest: Could those that were bitten in the most Vital part, cast up their Eyes, though at the last gasp, they would arise to health by the expulsion of the Venom.

What could be more easie than to lift up the Eye to the Brazen Serpent, to be Cur'd of a fiery Sting? What could be more facile than a glance, which is done without any pain, and in a moment? 'Tis a Condition may be perform'd by the weakest as well as the strongest: Could those that were bitten in the most Vital part, cast up their Eyes, though at the last gasp, they would arise to health by the expulsion of the Venom.

2. As 'tis Easy, so 'tis Reasonable. Repent and Believe is that which is required by Christ and the Apostles for the enjoyment of the Kingdom of Heaven: 'Tis very reasonable that things so great and glorious, so beneficial to Men, and revealed to them by so sound an Authority, and an unerring truth, should be believed. The Excellency of the thing disclosed could admit of no lower a Condition than to be believed and embraced. There is a sort of Faith, that is a Natural Condition in every thing: All Religion in the World, though never so false, depends upon a sort of it; for unless there be a belief of future things, there would never be a hope of Good, or a fear of Evil, the two great Hinges upon which Religion moves. In all kinds of Learning, many things must be believed, before a progress can be made. Belief of one another is necessary in all acts of Humane Life; without which Humane Society would be unlinked and dissolved. What is that Faith that God requires of us in this Covenant, but a willingness of Soul to take God for our God, Christ for our Mediator, and the Procurer of our Happiness^*? What Prince could require less upon any Promise he makes his Subjects, than to be believed as true, and depended on as good? That they should accept his Pardon, and other gracious offers, and be sincere in their Allegiance to him, avoiding all things that may offend him, and pursuing all things that may please him: Thus God by so small and reasonable a Condition as Faith, lets in the Fruits of Christs Death into our Soul, and wraps us up in the fruition of all the Privileges purchased by it. So much he hath condescended in his Goodness, that upon so slight a Condition we may plead his Promise, and humbly challenge by virtue of the Covenant those good things he hath promised in his Word: 'Tis so reasonable a Condition, that if God did not require it in the Covenant of Grace, the Creature were obliged to perform it: For the publishing any Truth from God, naturally calls for Credit to be given