the matter and Author of that Testimony: Divine Faith hath ever a Divine Testimony, and supposeth the knowledg of the matter (when the Faith is particular) but always of the Author of that Testimony. An implicite Faith in God, that is, a believing that all is true which he testifieth, though we see no reason for it from the evidence of the matter, this is necessary to every true Believer: But to believe implicitly, that the Testimony is Divine, or that Scripture is the Word of God, this is not to believe God, but to resolve our faith into some humane Testimony; even to lay our foundation upon the sand where all will fall at the next as∣sault.
Its strange to consider, how we all abhor that piece of Popery, as most injurious to God of all the rest, which resolves our faith into the Authority of the Church: And yet that we do for the ge∣nerality of professors content our selves with the same kinde of faith! Onely with this difference: The Papists believe Scripture to be the Word of God, because their Church saith so: and we, because our Church, or our Leaders say so. Yea, and many Mini∣nisters never yet gave their people better grounds; but tell them (which is true) that it is damnable to deny it, but help them not to the necessary Antecedents of Faith.
If any think that these words tend to the shaking of mens faith, I answer: First, Onely of that which will fall of it self: Secondly, And that it may in time be built again more strongly: Thirdly, Or at least that the sound may be surer setled. Its to be under∣stood that many a thousand do profess Christianity, and zealously hate the enemies thereof upon the same grounds, to the same ends, and from the same inward corrupt principles, as the Jews did hate and kill Christ: It is the Religion of the Countrey, where every man is reproached that believes otherwise; they were born and brought up in this belief, and it hath increased in them upon the like occasions: Had they been born and bred in the Religion of Mahomet, they would have beeen as zealous for him▪ The diffe∣rence betwixt him and a Mahometan is more, that he lives where better Laws and Religion dwell, then that he hath more know∣ledg or soundness of apprehension.
Yet would I not drive into causless doubtings the soul of any true Believer, or make them believe their faith is unsound, because it is not so strong as some others; Therefore I add, some may perhaps