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in his Natural state, without the gracious Influences of God's holy Spirit, be now fuppofed to be fo much blinded, that it cannot perceive the Evidence of thofe Truths which Jefus Chrift has revealed; and confequently there is now fuppofed a Neceffity of the Grace and immediate Power of God, to cure the Natural Blindnefs of his Understanding, and make it capable of perceiving the Evidence of Chriftian Truths yet that immediate operation of God upon Man, which is now fuppofed neceffary to remove the Natural Blindnefs of his Understanding, and make him capable of perceiving the Evidence of Chriftian Truths, is not an immediate Revelation of Chriftian Truths to his Understanding; but only a gracious removal of thofe impediments, which wou'd not have fuffer'd his Understanding to perceive the Evidence of thofe Truths, when reveal'd to him, whether mediately or immediately. So that this operation of God upon Man, which is now fuppofed neceffary in order to a Christian Faith, does not affect the manner of the Revelation of those Truths, the belief of which is a Christian Faith: but it affects the faculty, wherewith alone we can believe thofe Truths, after what manner foever they be reveal'd.

However, if any perfon be refolved to call that immediate operation upon our Minds, whereby the Holy Spirit is now fuppofed to enable us to perceive the Evidence of Chriftian Truths, when revealed to us either mediately or immediately, an immediate Revelation of Christian Truths; I anfwer, that tho' it were granted, that this fuppofed immediate operation were an immediate Revelation; yet 'tis not that immediate Revelation which our Adverfaries contend for. This appears from Mr. Bar

clay,

clay, who (a) oppofes thofe perfons who fay, that the Spirit does now lead and influence the Saints, by enlightning their Understandings to understand and be lieve the Truth, but not by prefenting it to the Mind by way of Object. And then he endeavors by diverfe Arguments to prove and establish the Neceffity of that immediate Revelation which the Quakers mean, viz. the Spirits not only helping us to difcern Truths already delivered, but prefenting thofe Truths to

our Minds.

Thus then it appears, that altho' it be granted,' that no Man can have a Chriftian Faith without the Grace and immediate power of God; yet, fince that immediate operation of God upon Man, without which 'tis now fuppofed, that a Chriftian Faith cannot be wrought in him, is not what our Adverfaries themselves do understand by an immediate Revelation of Chriftian Truths to his understanding; therefore it can't be faid, that the nature of a Chriftian Faith does neceffarily fuppofe (because it cannot be wrought without) immediate Revelation. And therefore a Man may be endued with a Chriftian Faith, or believe thofe things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, without immediate Revelation.

2. I must now prove, that a faving Christian Faith, or fuch a belief of thofe things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, as is neceffary in order to Salvation, may be had without immediate Revelation.

For that which makes a Chriftian Faith faving, or fuch as is neceffary in order to Salvation, is its working by Love, or fruitfulnefs in Good Works; and confequently, that Chriftian Faith which is accompanied with Obedience to the Laws of Christ, is a faving Chriftian Faith. Becaufe Obedience to

(4) Apol. prop. 2. p. 285, &c.

the

the Laws of Christ is that very working by Love, or fruitfulness in Good Works, which makes a Chriftian Faith faving.

Now that a Chriftian Faith may be accompanied with Obedience to the Laws of Chrift, it is neceffary, 1. That the Will do chufe, 2. That the executive Powers do perform, Obedience to the Laws of Chrift. Which choice and performance of Obedience to the Laws of Chrift are to be afcrib'd to the gracious Affiftance of Almighty God, who by the bleffed Influence of his Holy Spirit worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2. 18. and accordingly, the Eftablish'd Church of England declares in her Liturgy, that it is God, (b) from whom all holy defires, all good counfels, and all juft works do proceed; that (c) he by his special grace preventing us doth put into our minds good defires; that (d) he alone can order the unruly wills and affections of finful men; that (e) thro' the Weakness of our Mortal Nature we can do no good thing without him; that (f) the frailty of Man without him cannot but fall, &c. and therefore the praies him (g) to stir up the wills of his faithful people, and (h) make us continually to be given to all good works, that (i) we may love the thing which he commandeth, and defire that which he doth promise, and that (k) we plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good Works may of him be plenteonfly rewarded; with many o ther Expreffions of the like Nature.

(b) 2d. Collect at Evening Prayer. (c) Collect for Eafter. (d) Collect for the 4th. Sunday after Eafter. (e) Collect for the ft. Sunday after Trinity. (f) Collect for the 15th. Sunday after Trinity. (g) Collect for the 25th. Sunday after Trinity. (b) Collect for the 17th. Sunday after Trinity. (i) Collect for the 4th. Sunday after Eafter. (k) Collect for the 25th. Sunday after Trinity.

From

From hence then it appears very plainly, that if a man may have any Chriftian Faith at all without immediate Revelation, then he may have a faving Christian Faith without immediate Revelation. Becaufe that which makes a Chriftian Faith faving, is not any new or different Revelation; but the Grace of God enabling a man to will and act conformably to that Revelation which he has already enjoy'd, whether it were mediate or immediate. So that, that which diftinguishes a faving Christian Faith from fuch a Chriftian Faith as is not faving. is not the manner of the Revelation, but that Grace which follows after it. And confequently a faving Christian Faith may be built upon either immediate or mediate Revelation; becaufe the Grace of God may, follow after either of them. And if a faving Chriftian Faith may be built upon either Sort of Revelation; then it is manifeft, that a man may have a faving Chriftian Faith, or fuch a belief of thofe things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, as is neceffary in order to Salvation, without immediate Revelation.

Thus then have I fhewn, that there is no neceffity of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith, either as it is a Chriftian Faith in general, or as 'tis a faving Chriftian Faith in particular. And fince there is no neceffity of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith either of thefe waies; therefore there is no neceffity at all of immediate Revelation in order to a Saving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith."

CHAP.

CHA P. III.

That there is no neceffity of immediate Re velation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Will of God.

II. I

Mult now fhew, that there is no neceffity of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Will of God; That is, God has not refolved, and fo difpofed Matters, that a faving Chriftian Faith fhall be alwaies built upon immediate Revelation. This I fhall make appear in the following manner.

'Tis very plain, that if God has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that a faving Christian Faith fhall be alwaies built upon immediate Revelation; then either, 1. he has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that a Man fhall not have any Chriftian Faith at all (whether faving or not faving) without an imme diate Revelation of thofe Truths, the belief of which is a Christian Faith: or, 2. he has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that tho' a Man might believe. thofe things which Jefus Chrift has revealed, or have a Christian Faith, without immediate Revelation; yet he shall not favingly believe those things which Jefus Chrift has revealed, or have a faving Chriftian Faith, without immediate Revelation. Whereas I fhall fhew, that God has not refolved and fo difpofed Matters, as that a faving Chriftian Faith fhall be alwaies built upon immediate Revelation upon either of these accounts; either as 'tis a Chriftian Faith in general, or as 'tis a faving Christian Faith in particular.

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