The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...

SECT. I.

* 1.1ANd here it is necessary that we first distin∣guish, betwixt 1. The subject matter of Scripture, or the doctrine which it con∣tains; 2. And the words or writings con∣taining or expressing this doctrine. The one is as the blood, the other as the veins in which it runs. Secondly, We must distinguish betwixt 1. the substantiall and fundamentall part of Scripture•• doctrine, without which there is no salvation, and 2. the circum∣stantiall, and less necessary part, as Genealogies, Successions, Chronology, &c. Thirdly, Of the substantiall fundamentall part 1. Some may be known and proved even without Scripture, as being written in nature it self; 2. some can be known onely by the assent of Faith to Divine Revelation. Fourthly, Of this last sort, 1. some things are above Reason (as it is without Divine Re∣velation) both in respect of their Probability, existence and fu∣turity: 2. others may be known by meer Reason, without Divine Testimony, in regard of their Possibility and Probability; but not in regard of their existence or futurity.

Fifthly, Again matter of Doctrine must be distinguished from matter of fact.

Sixthly, Matter of fact is either 1. such as God produceth in an ordinary way: or 2. extrordinary and miraculous. Seventhly, History and Phophesie must be distinguished. Eighthly, We must

distinguish also the books and writings themselves: 1. between the maine scope and those parts which express the chief contents, and 2. particular words and phrases, not expressing any sub∣stantialls. Ninthly, Also its one question 1. whether there be a certain number of books, which are Canonicall, or of Divine Au∣thority? and 2. another question, what number there is of these? and which particular books they are? Tenthly, The direct expresse sense, must be distinguished from that which is only implyed or consequentiall. Eleventhly, We must distinguish Revelation un∣writen from that which is writen. Twelfthly, and Lastly, We must distinguish that Scripture which was spoke or written by God immediatly, from that which was spoke or writ immediatly by man, and but mediatly by God. And of this last sort 1. Some of the instruments or penmen are known: 2. Some not known. Of those known 1. Some that spoke much in Scripture, were bad men: 3. others were godly. And of these some were 1. More eminent and extraordinary, as Prophets and Apostles, 2. Others were per∣sons more inferiour and ordinary.

Again, as we must distinguish of Scripture, and Divine Testi∣mony, so must we also distinguish the apprehension or Faith by which we do receive it.

1. There is a Divine Faith, when we take the Testimony to be Gods own, and so believe the thing testified as upon Gods word. Secondly▪ There is a Human Faith, when we believe it meerly upon the credit of man.

2. Faith is either first, implicit, when we believe the thing is true though we understand not what it is, or secondly, explicit, when we believe, and understand what we believe. Both these are again Divine or humane.

3. It is one thing to believe as Probable, another thing to be∣lieve it as certain.

4. Its one thing to believe it to be true conditionally, another to believe it absolutely.

5. We must distinguish betwixt the bare assent of the under∣standing to the truth of an Axiome, when it is only silenced by force of Argument (which will be stronger or weaker as the Ar∣gument seemeth more or lesse demonstrative) and secondly, that deep apprehension and firme assent which proceedeth from a well stablished, confirmed Faith, backed by experience.

6. Its one thing to assent to the truth of the Axiome, another to taste and chuse the good contained in it, which is the work of the Will.

Notes

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