the Laws of Chrift 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 Christ 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 Establish'd Church of England declares in her Liturgy, that it is God, (b) from whom all holy defire, all good counfels, and all just 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 bim cannot but fall, &c. and therefore the praies him (g) to ftir 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 promife, and that (k) we plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good Works may of him be plenteously rewarded; with many other Expreffions of the like Nature.

(6) 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 he4th. Sunday after Eafter. (k) Collect for the 25th. Sunday tfter Trinity.

2

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 Chriftian Faith without immediate Revelation. Because 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 saving Christian Faith may be built upon either immediate or mediate Revelation; because the Grace of God may follow after either of them. And if a faving Christian 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 Christian 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 saving Christian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Christian Faith either of thefe waies; therefore there is no neceffity at all of immediate Revelation in order to a faving Chriftian Faith, arifing from the Nature of a faving Chriftian Faith.

CHAP.

CHA P. III.

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

II. IM

Muft now fhew, that there is no necessity 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 Chriftian 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 immediate Revelation of thofe Truths, the belief of which is a Chriftian 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 Chriftian Faith without immediate Revelation; yet he fhall not favingly believe thofe things which Jefus Chrift has revealed, or have a faving Chriftian Faith, without immediate Revelation. Whereas I fhail 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 thefe accounts; either as 'tis a Chriftian Faith in general, or as 'tis a faving Chriftian Faith in parpicular.

For

For in that account which the holy Scriptures have given us of the Requifites to a faving Chri-ftian Faith, no mention is made of immediate Rcvelation. We read indeed, that by the Ministry of the Word men are convinced of the Truths of the Gofpel, and confequently have a Christian Faith: and that if their Faith be accompanied with Obedience, it is then a faving Chriftian Faith, or fuch a belief of the Truths of the Gospel, as is neceffary in order to Salvation. But there is not the leaft hint in all the Bible of the Neceflity of immediate Revelation, in order either to the belief of the Truths of the Gospel, or to that Obedience which makes the belief of them faving.

'Tis true, our Adverfaries pretend, that that Obedience which makes a Chriftian Faith faving, is an Obedience to the immediate Dictates or Teachings of the Spirit. This is fo manifeft to every Person that perufes their Books, that inftances of it are needlefs. And truly, if they could prove what they fo confidently affert, then it must be confeffed, that God has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that a faving Chriftian Faith fhall be alwaies built upon immediate Revelation. Becaufe fuch immediate Teachings or Dictates of the Spirit, as they fuppofe, would really be an immediate Revelation of the Will of God to Man. And if God has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that that Obedience which makes a Chriftian Faith faving, fhall alwaies be an Obedience to fuch immediate Dictates or Teachings of the Spirit; then he has made immediate Revelation neceffary in order to that Obedience, which makes a Chriftian Faith faving; and confequently he has made it neceflary in order to a faving Chriftian Faith,

But

But then we utterly deny, that God has refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that that Obedience which makes a Chriftian Faith faving, fhall alwaies be an Obedience to fuch immediate Dictates or Teachings of the Spirit, as our Adverfaries pretend. For tho' we moft readily grant, that God may, if he pleafe, immediately teach, and dictate to whomfoever he pleafes; yet we fay, that God has not declared in his Word, that he will immediately teach, and dictate to, all true Chriftians, and that he will reveal his Will to them after that manner. He has given them the Holy Bible to inftruct them in their Duty; and thereby he mediately teaches, leads, guides and directs his Servants; and thofe who are obedient to fuch his Orders, tho' mediately delivered to them, have a faving Chriftian Faith. But as for immediate Inftructions from the Mouth of God himself, there is no promise that the Saints fhall enjoy them: and therefore we are not to expect them, much lefs to account them neceffary in order to that Obedience which makes our Faith faving.

I thall now proceed to eftablish the Doctrine I have laid down, and fhew, that God has not refolved and fo difpofed Matters, that a faving Chriftian Faith fhall be alwaies built upon immediate Revelation. This I fhall do, by anfwering all thofe Arguments, which have been thought to prove, either that the Truths of the Gospel muft be immediately revealed to a Man, before he 'can believe them, or elfe that all true Chriftians are led and taught by immediate Revelation, and confequently that immediate Revelation is neceffary in order to that Obedience which makes their Faith Saving.

Thefe