The defects of preachers reproved in a sermon preached at Northampton, May 19th. 1723

6. If any teach men to build their faith about the Divine Authority of the Scripture upon Probable Signs, that is not good Preaching. There be many probable Arguments for the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures; As the Eminency of the Penmen, and they have had a mighty Efficacy to make a change in the Hearts of men; it is said there were many Miracles wrought for the confirmation of the Doctrine of them; there has been an ⟨p. 19⟩accomplishment of many of the Predictions in them. These Arguments are preponderating and do outweigh all Objections that are brought against the Authority of them: These Considerations may well strengthen the Faith of the People of God; but these things cannot be the Foundation of our Faith: it is only the certain Knowledge of their Authority, that can be the foundation of Faith or any other Grace. Men cannot believe them to be infallibly true upon probable Arguments: Probable Arguments must be looked on but as Probable and not Convincing. Men must have infallible Arguments for loving God and believing His Word; the foundation of Believing the Divine Authority of the Scripture, is the manifestation of the Divine Glory in them. There is a Self-evidencing Light in the Works of God: The Creation of the world shows God's Power and God-head, Rom. 1.20. It is impossible that the World should be made by any but an infinite God. So there is a Self-evidencing light in the Word of God; there are such things Revealed there as can be made known by none but God: 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for them that love him. Those Eternal Rewards that are ⟨p. 20⟩spoken of in the Scripture, those perfect Rules that are laid down there, those accounts that are given of the Mercy of God, and the Justice of God, manifested in the way of our Salvation, would never have entered into the Heart of Man to conceive, if it had not been Revealed by God; Men would never have thought of such a way of Salvation, if it had not been declared by God.

6. If any teach men to build their faith about the Divine Authority of the Scripture upon Probable Signs, that is not good Preaching. There be many probable Arguments for the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures; As the Eminency of the Penmen, and they have had a mighty Efficacy to make a change in the Hearts of men; it is said there were many Miracles wrought for the confirmation of the Doctrine of them; there has been an