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

1. We suppose herein all the Motives of Credibility before mentioned, that is, all the Arguments ab extra, which vehemently persuade the Scripture to be the Word of God, and wherewith it may be protected against Objections and Temptations to the contrary. They have all of them their Use, and may in their proper place be insisted on. Especially ought they to be pleaded when the Scripture is attacked by an Atheism, arising from the Love and Practice of those Lusts and Sins which are severely condemned therein, and threatened with the utmost Vengeance. With others they may be considered as previous inducements unto believing, or concomitant means of strengthening Faith in them that do believe. In the first way, I confess, to the best of my Observation of things past and present, their Use is not great, nor ever hath been in the Church of God. For assuredly the most that do sincerely believe the divine Original and Authority of the Scripture, do it without any great ⟨p. 113⟩Consideration of them, or being much influenced by them. And there are many who, as Austin speaks, are saved simplicitate credendi, and not subtilitate disputandi, that are not able to enquire much into them, nor yet to apprehend much of their Force and Efficacy, when they are proposed unto them. Most Persons therefore are effectually converted to God and have saving Faith whereby they believe the Scripture, and virtually all that is contained in it, before they have ever once considered them. And God forbid we should think that none believe the Scripture aright, but those who are able to apprehend and manage the subtle Arguments of learned men produced in their Confirmation. Yea we affirm on the contrary, that those who believe them on no other Grounds have indeed no true Divine Faith at all. Hence they were not of old insisted on for the ingenerating of Faith in them to whom the Word was preached, nor ordinarily are so to this day by any who understand what is their Work and Duty. But in the second way, wherever there is occasion from Objections, Oppositions, or Temptations, they may be pleaded to good use and purpose. And they may do well to be furnished with them, who are unavoidably exposed unto trials of that Nature. For as for that Course which some take in all places and at all times to be disputing about the Scriptures, and their Authority;

1. We suppose herein all the Motives of Credibity before mentioned, that is, all the Arguments ab extra, which vehemently perswade the Scripture to be the Word of God, and wherewith it may be protected against Objections and Temptations to the contrary. They have all of them their Use, and may in their proper place be insisted on. Especially ought they to be pleaded when the Scripture is attacked by an Atheism, arising from the Love and Practice of those Lusts and Sins which are severely condemned therein, and threatned with the utmost Vengeance. With others they may be considered as previous inducements unto believing, or concomitant means of strengthning Faith in them that do believe. In the first way, I confess, to the best of my Observation of things past and present, their Use is not great, nor ever hath been in the Church of God. For assuredly the most that do sincerely believe the divine Original and Authority of the Scripture, do it without any great