ing with which a Man believes it. And therefore, tho' we do fometimes use these Phrafes, the Natural Understanding, the Spiritual Understanding, &t. and thereby feem to grant a plurality and difference of Understandings; yet we do in reality mean nothing more, than our Understanding (that is, perceiving or believing) Natural or Spiritual Truth, or our believing a Truth upon Natural or Spiritual Evidence, &c.

For as 'tis abfurd to fuppofe, that we have feveral Senfes of Seeing, either becaufe we look fometimes upon bright, and at other times upon dark; fometimes upon white, and at other times upon green, red, or yellow Objects; fometimes on those that are near, and at other times upon those afar off; or elfe becaufe we fee fometimes with the Naked Eye, and at other times thro' a Glafs, by which things very remote are brought near to us, and we can difcover that which is infinitely beyond the Sphere of our unaffifted Sight: And as 'tis abfurd to fuppofe that we have feveral Wills, because we chufe fometimes good, and at other times evil; fometimes material, and at other times immaterial Objects; fometimes fenfual, and at other times intellectual Pleafures: I fay, as 'tis abfurd to fuppofe, that we have feveral Senfes of Seeing, or feveral Wills, for these or the like Reafons; fo 'tis alfo abfurd to fuppofe, that we have feveral Understandings, becaufe we believe natural, fpiritual, and other kinds of Truth, upon either immediate Evidence, or that which is mediate, viz. Authority, either buman, or of any other kind. For, as I have already faid, 'tis the very fame Understanding, wherewith we believe any kind of Truth upon any kind of Evidence whatfoever.

There

These things being premis'd, I fhall now endeavor to state and determine this important Question, viz. Whether immediate Revelation be necessary in order to a faving Chriftian Faith.

Faith and Belief are one and the fame thing. And confequently a Chriftian Faith is a Chriftian Belief, or a belief of thofe things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd. And a faving Chriftian Faith, is fuch a belief of those things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, as is neceffary in order to Salvation, or eternal happiness in the World to come.

Now 'tis confefs'd on both fides, that fome Revelation or other (viz. either immediate or mediate Revelation) is abfolutely neceffary in order to a Saving Chriftian Faith. Because those Truths which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, are fuch as we cou'd not have known, and confequently cou'd not have believ'd, had they not been reveal'd.

'Tis confefs'd alfo on both fides, that 'tis poffible for God immediately to reveal to any perfon now living, thofe Truths which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd. For Jefus Chrift, who is God himself, did immediately reveal thofe Truths to the Apostles; and what was poffible then, is also poffible now. So that there is no doubt, but that immediate Revelation may be even now made ufe of by Almighty 'God, if he pleases, in order to a saving Christian Faith.

But the Question is, not what may be now, or what formerly was; but what must be now, or what actually is. Some Revelation or other is even now abfolutely neceffary; and we confefs, that either immediate or mediate Revelation may be even now us dif God pleafes: but we contend, that God is not now pleas'd to make ufe of immediate Revelation;

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lation; and therefore we do now enjoy a mediate Revelation only. Whereas our Adverfaries fay, that immediate Revelation is, and must be us'd now; and that a faving Chriftian Faith cannot, even in these daies, be had without it. For Mr. Barclay (a) affures us, that they make it abfolutely necessary for the building up of true Faith, which in their Opinion can be obtain'd (b) by no other way, than the inward immediate Manifeftation and Revelation of God's Spirit, fhining in and upon the Heart, inlightning and opening the Understanding. So that according to our Adverfaries (c) inward and immediate Revelation is the only fure and certain way to attain the true and faving knowledge of God.

(a) Apology, prop. 2. p. 269. Printed amongst his Works at London 1692. (b) Ibid. p. 270. (c) Ibid. p. 273. The fame Author has also written a Difcourfe (p. 892. of his Works) to prove not only the Poffibility, but alfo the Neceffity of the inward and immediate Revelation of the Spirit of God towards the foundation of a true Faith.

CHA P. II.

That there is no neceffity of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith.

Now if there be any fuch neceffity, as our

Adverfaries pretend, of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith; 'tis plain, that that neceffity muft arife, either from the Nature of the thing, or from the Will of God. That is, if immediate Revelation be necessary in order to a faving Christian Faith, there must be fome reafon why 'tis necessary; and that reason must be one of thefe two, viz. either, 1. Because the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith is such, that it cannot be built upon mediate Revelation, and therefore requires immediate Revelation, as the Foundation of it: or, 2. Becaufe, tho' a faving Chriftian Faith. might be built (if God pleas'd) upon mediate Revelation, yet God is not pleas'd, that it should be fo built; but has refolv'd, and fo difpos'd matters, that it fhall be always built upon immediate Revelation. I fay, if immediate Revelation be neceffary in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, it must be neceffary upon one of these two Accounts. Whereas I fhall fhew, that it is not neceffary upon either of these two Accounts; and confequently, that it is not neceffary at all.

I. Then, I fay, There is no neceffity of immedi ate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith; that is the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith (or

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fuch

fuch a belief of thofe things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, as is neceffary in order to Salvation) is fuch, as that a Man may be endued with it, altho' those things, which Jefus Christ has reveal'd, be not immediately reveal'd to him.

For this is very plain, that if the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith requires immediate Revelation; the reafon must be, either, 1. Because a Man cannot have any Chriftian Faith at all (whether Laving or not faving) without an immediate Revelation of thofe things, the belief of which is a Christian Faith: or, 2. Becaufe, tho' a Man might believe thofe things, which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, or have a Chriftian Faith, without immediate Revelation; yet he cannot favingly believe those things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, or have a saving Chriftian Faith, without immediate Revelation. Whereas I fhall fhew, that the Nature of a faving Christian Faith does not require immediate Revelation upon either of these Accounts; either as it is a Chriftian Faith in general, or as it is a faving Chriftian Faith in particular.

1. I fay, a Man may be endued with a Chriftian Faith, that is, a Man may believe those things, which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, without immediatę Revelation.

For, that a Man may believe those things which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, nothing more is requir'd, than that thofe truths which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, be propos'd to the Man's understanding; and that he perceive, not only the things themfelves, but alfo the Evidence of them. Now 'tis very plain, that thofe truths which Jefus Chrift has reveal'd, may be propos'd to a Man's Underftanding, and that a Man may perceive the Evidence of them, without immediate Revelation.

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