We must indeed take things upon trust, but it is upon the testimony of God if we must take it upon trust from man only, that would be hard: but it is not hard to take it upon trust from God: we have more for it, than against it: we have nothing against it but vain conjectures and surmises: the things themselves are not incredible: this way of salvation, is neither contrary to the justice of God, nor beyond the mercy of God, no man was ever able to give any demonstration against this way of salvation. Men scare themselves with many vain scruples and ignorant imaginations of their own, and are such conjectures and guessings to be set against the testimony of God? God has sent us word from heaven that we may have salvation by Christ; he gives his witness unto it, and that may well satisfy us: what God speaks he will make good: if we receive the witness of men, the Witness of God is greater, and we may▪ safely venture our souls upon his Word, God assures us that it is so, and gives a large account in his Word how the thing is brought about, he gives us an account of the reason of it, the means and method of accomplishing it, and the design that is upon his heart, in such a way as is exceeding agreeable unto right reason: removing all weighty objections that can arise in your hearts: if you will hearken unto cavils and the pretences of reason, and stand off from Jesus Christ, you must expect to rue it another day: but if you desire the good of your souls, ⟨p. 309⟩and to escape those miseries that shall come upon an unbelieving world, reject temptations, and cast away all the vain arguings of your hearts, and accept of this glorious call, and build upon this sure foundation; you need not have any greater assurance than Gods Word, which will endure when Heaven and Earth shall fail: it is well for those men and women that have Word of God for their salvation: it is bad building hopes of heaven upon mens fancies: but it is safe building them upon Gods Word.
We must indeed take things upon trust, but it is upon the testimony of God if we must take it upon trust from man only, that would be hard: but it is not hard to take it upon trust from God: we have more for it, than against it: we have nothing against it but vain conjectures and surmises: the things themselves are not incredible: this way of salvation, is neither contrary to the justice of God, nor beyond the mercy of God, no man was ever able to give any demonstration against this way of salvation. Men scare themselves with many vain scruples and ignorant imaginations of their own, and are such conjectures and guessings to be set against the testimony of God? God has sent us word from heaven that we may have salvation by Christ; he gives his witness unto it, and that may well satisfie us: what God speaks he will make good: if we receive the witness of men, the Witness of God is greater, and we may▪ safely venture our souls upon his Word, God assures us that it is so, and gives a large account in his Word how the thing is brought about, he gives us an account of the reason of it, the means and method of accomplishing it, and the design that is upon his heart, in such a way as is exceeding agreeable unto right reason: remoxing all weighty objections that can arise in your hearts: if you will hearken unto cavils and the pretenses of reason, and stand off from Jesus Christ, you must expect to rue it another day: but if you desire the good of your souls, ⟨p. 309⟩and to escape those miseries that shall come upon an unbelieving world, reject temptations, and cast away all the vain arguings of your hearts, and accept of this glorious call, and build upon this sure foundation; you need not have any greater assurance than Gods Word, which will endure when Heaven and Earth shall fail: it is well for those men and women that have Word of God for their salvation: it is bad building hopes of heaven upon mens fancies: but it is safe building them upon Gods Word.
