The reason of faith, or, An answer unto that enquiry, wherefore we believe the…

This being, so far as I can apprehend, the Substance of what is by some learned men proposed and adhered unto, it shall be briefly examined. And I say here as on other occasions, that I should rejoice to see more of such a Faith in the World, as would effectually oblige men unto Obedience out of a Conviction of the Excellency of the Doctrine & the Truth of the Promises and Threatenings of the Word, though learned men should never agree about the formal Reason of Faith. Such Notions of Truth, when most diligently inquired into, are but as sacrifice compared with Obedience. But the Truth it self is also to be enquired after diligently.

This being, so far as I can apprehend, the Substance of what is by some learned men proposed and adhered unto, it shall be briefly examined. And I say here as on other occasions, that I should rejoyce to see more of such a Faith in the World, as would effectually oblige men unto Obedience out of a Conviction of the Excellency of the Doctrine & the Truth of the Promises and Threatnings of the Word, though learned men should never agree about the formal Reason of Faith. Such Notions of Truth, when most diligently inquired into, are but as sacrifice compared with Obedience. But the Truth it self is also to be enquired after diligently.

This Opinion therefore either supposeth what we shall immediately declare, namely, the necessity of an internal effectual Work of the Holy Spirit in the Illumination of our minds, so enabling us to believe with Faith divine and supernatural, or it doth not. If it doth, it will be found, as I suppose, for the Substance of it to be co-incident with what we shall afterwards assert and prove to be the formal Reason of Believing. However as it is usually proposed, I cannot absolutely comply with it, for these two Reasons among others.

This Opinion therefore either supposeth what we shall immediatly declare, namely, the necessity of an internal effectual Work of the Holy Spirit in the Illumination of our minds, so enabling us to believe with Faith divine and supernatural, or it doth not. If it doth, it will be found, as I suppose, for the Substance of it to be co-incident with what we shall afterwards assert and prove to be the formal Reason of Believing. However as it is usually proposed, I cannot absolutely comply with it, for these two Reasons among others.