Exercitations concerning the name, original, nature, use, and continuance of a day of sacred…

(2.) The Analogy of Faith in the Interpretation, Exposition, and Application of such Testimonies as are pleadable in this Cause. Hic labour hoc opus; Herein the Writers Diligence, and the Readers Judgement, are principally to be exercised. I have of late been much surprised with the Plea of some for the Use of Reason in Religion and Sacred things; not at all that such a Plea is insisted on, but that it is by them built expressly on a supposition that it is by others, whom they reflect ⟨p. 18⟩upon, denied; whereas some probably intended in those Reflections have pleaded for it against the Papists (to speak within the bounds of sobriety) with as much Reason, and no less effectually, than any amongst themselves. I cannot but suppose their mistake to arise, from what they have heard, but not well considered, that some do teach about the darkness of the mind of man by Nature, with respect unto spiritual things, with his disability by the utmost use of his rational faculties as corrupted, or unrenewed, spiritually and savingly to apprehend the things of God, without the especial assistance of the Holy Ghost. Now as no Truth is more plainly or evidently confirmed in the Scripture than this; so to suppose, that those by whom it is believed and asserted, do therefore deny the use of Reason in Religion, is a most fond imagination. No doubt but whatever we do, or have to do towards God, or in the things of God, we do it all as rational creatures, that is, in and by the use of our Reason. And not to make use of it in its utmost improvement in all that we have to do in Religion or the Worship of God, is to reject it, as to the principal End for which it is bestowed upon us. In particular, in the pursuit of the Rule now laid down, is the utmost exercise of our Reason required of us. To understand aright the sense and importance of the Words in Scripture Testimonies, the nature of the Propositions and Assertions contained in them, the lawful deduction of Inferences from them; to judge and determine aright, of what is proposed; or deduced by just consequence from direct Propositions, to compare what in one place seems to ⟨p. 19⟩be affirmed, with what in others seems to be asserted to the same purpose, or denied; with other Instances innumerable of the exercise of our minds about the Interpretation of Scripture, are all of them Acts of our Reason; and as such are managed by us.