The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…

First, The first and chief Reason was, even good Men did not improve their Father-Abraham's-Covenant, nor their Infant-Baptism Covenant, as they ought. Hence not improving these, they did not experience the goodness of God in them, and our advantage by them; Then no wonder tho' Men in times of Dispute and Temptations, be at a loss, and come at last to deny that, which others, who have improved and experienced, have found to be a greater privilege, advantage, and support to their Souls, under their fears, and other temptations.

First, The first and chief Reason was, even good Men did not improve their Father-Abrahams-Covenant, nor their Infant-Baptism Covenant, as they ought. Hence not improving these, they did not experience the goodness of God in them, and our advantage by them; Then no wonder tho' Men in times of Dispute and Temptations, be at a loss, and come at last to deny that, which others, who have improved and experienced, have found to be a greater priviledge, advantage, and support to their Souls, under their fears, and other temptations.

Experiences (you say) unless well grounded upon Scriptures, are but deluding Fancies; I know it very well, therefore the grounds have been well weighed. On the other side, tho' the Scriptures be plain, yet the Gospel, and things apprehended only by Faith, are such, and Temptations about them [especially in some Men] so strong, that if a Man hath not attained to some experience of what he doth believe, if his Faith hath not brought in some Spiritual Sense, in the Hurricanes of long and strong Temptations, a Mans Faith will be terribly shaken in the very Gospel it self. The wind having blown at that Door before. I could not but take special notice of what the worthy Author ⟨p. 5⟩of the Book, Entitled, The fulfilling of Scriptures, hath told us concerning that Holy Man, and Eminent Servant of Christ, Mr. Bruce, telling his People, I think it to be a greater matter to believe there is a God, than people judge, p. 430. The same Author speaking about Experience [from his own Experience I doubt not] how it helps to Witness that great Truth of Godhead, p. 111. in the next Page, 112. speaks thus, It is not the Contemplation of Nature in its highest flight, can answer such an Assault of the Devil, which may try the most Established Christian Adult in the being of a God, &c. but then he shows how Experience of God helps the Soul. Whether these be not Truths, I leave it to those who have been long exercised with these Temptations; now if in that Point, as to the being of a God, than much more as to Gospel Truths: that no wonder the Apostle Prays, that Believers may abound in all Knowledge and Sense, [Greek or Hebrew] 1 Phil. 9. we read Judgment, but the Greek word, and so the Margin tells you, is Sense. The Arabic word is very significant, Grotius and Gomarus, understand by Sense, Experience: Hemmingius and Zanchie, opens the word excellently.