II. dicted, that the thoughts of many hearts might be SERM. revealed; and, There must be heresies, saith St. Paul; why? that they which are approved (oi dó-1 Cor. xi. KIμ, persons that can bear the test) may be mani-John ii. fested. 19. 19.) cv.cvi. God dealeth with us as he did with his ancient Ps. lxxviii. people. He, to assure them of his gracious protection and providence over them, or to persuade them of the truth of what he by Moses taught them, did before their eyes perform stupendous works in their behalf, affording them miraculous deliverances from their enemies, and prodigious supplies of their needs; the sight of which did extort a temporary belief; Then, it is said, they believed his words, and sang Ps. cvi. 12. his praise; and, When Israel saw that great work Exod. xiv. which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, the people31. feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. Yet withal God suffered divers things to fall out, to humble them, as it is said, and Deut. iv. to prove them, and to know what was in their heart, 32. viii. 2. whether they would keep his commandments, or no: the result of which dispensations was, that they being inconsiderate, impatient, and refractory, be- Ps. lxxviii. lieved not in God, and trusted not in his salva-&c. tion; they despised that pleasant land, and gave Neh. ix. 16. no credence to his word: so God dealt with that Deut. i. 32. typical people; and in like manner doth he proceed with us he hath ministered signal attestations to the gospel; he hath dispensed arguments abundantly sufficient to convince well disposed minds of its truth; but he hath not cleared it from all scruples, which may disturb the froward or the delicate; he hath not exempted it from all scandals, which may disgust the perverse and stubborn; he hath not pre 22, 32, 56. Ps. cvi. 24. 8. SERM. vented all exceptions or cavils devisable by curious II. or captious wits against it; he hath not guarded it wholly from the malicious opposition of those, whose interest it might seem, in favour of their vices and follies, to impugn it: just it was, that to such the 1 Pet. ii. 7, gospel should be a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; who stumble at the word, being disobedient, unto which they were appointed, (that is, God having so purposely ordered the evangelical dispensation, that such persons should not approve it, or comply with it;) just it was, that they should be debarred from a knowledge of that truth, which Rom. i. 18. they should abuse, and detain in unrighteousness; just it was, that they should be punished with such 2 Thess. ii. temptations unto doubt and error, who would not 10, 11, 12. receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 28. 14. Indeed, more abundant light of conviction, as it would deprive good men of much praise and reward, so it might be hurtful to many persons; who having affections indisposed to comply with truth, would outface and outbrave it, however clear and evident; Job xxiv. they would, as Job speaketh, rebel against the light, although shining on them with a meridian splendour; they would plunge themselves into an inexcusable Heb. x. 29. and incorrigible state of impiety, doing despite to the Spirit of grace, and involving themselves in the unpardonable sin; as we have many instances in Luke xiii. the evangelical history of those, who beholding unJohn xi.47. questionable evidences of divine power attesting to our Lord's doctrine, which they could not but acknowledge, did yet oppose it, did blaspheme against. it, did outrageously persecute it. Matt. xii. 31, 45. ix. 34. xii. 24. 17. xii. 37. ix. 28. Acts iv. 16. Should God, as he once did in a dreadful manner,. II. 18, 26. 28. thunder out his laws, and shake the earth with his SERM. voice, yet many would little regard them; should God, in confirmation of his will, perform every day Heb. xii. as many miracles, as he did once in Egypt, yet there would be Pharaohs, hardening their hearts against it; should God himself descend from heaven, as once John xii. he did, and converse with us, instructing us by discourse and practice, displaying among us conspicuous evidences of his power and goodness, yet who Rom. x. 16. would believe his report, to whom would the arm of the Lord be revealed? how few cordially would embrace his doctrine, or submit to his law! As it was then, so it would be now; he would be hated, be scorned, be affronted, and abused, by persons qualified with like affections, as those were, who so then did serve him; for in all times like persons will do like things as then only his sheep (that is, well dis-John x. 27. posed persons, like sheep, simple, harmless, and duc tile) did hear his voice, and follow him; so others would not believe him, because they were not of his John x. 26. sheep, being imbued with swinish, currish, wolvish dispositions, incapacitating them to follow his conduct there would be persons like to those, of whom it is said, Behold, ye scorners, and wonder, and Acts xiii. perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (It is with instituted religion as it is with natural; the works of nature are so many continual miracles of divine power and wisdom; in the common track of Providence many wonderful things do occur; yet who by them is moved to acknowledge and adore God? notwithstanding them, how many atheists and Epicureans are there! So will it be in regard to di 41. SERM. vine revelations, which however clearly attested, will II. yet be questioned.) Those indeed whom sufficient reasons (such as God hath dispensed to us) will not convince, upon them the greatest motives would have small efficacy; Luke xvi. so father Abraham told the rich man; If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 31. (John v. 47.) 42. They may pretend, if they had more light, they Matt. xxvii. would be persuaded; like those who said, Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe; but it would not in effect prove so, for they would yet be devising shifts, and forging exceptions; or, however, they would oppose an impudent face and an obstinate will against the truth. Wherefore it was for the common good, and to Divine wisdom it appeared sufficient, that upon the balance truth should much outweigh falsehood, if the scales were held in an even hand, and no prejudices were thrown in against it; that it should be conspicuous enough to eyes, which do not avert Acts xxviii. themselves from it, or wink on purpose, or be clouded with lust and passion; it was enough that infidelity is justly chargeable on men's wilful pravity; and that πρόφασιν οὐκ ἔχουσι, they have not, as our Saviour saith, any reasonable excuse for it. 27. John xv. 22. But so much for the causes and adjuncts of faith; the effects and consequences of it I reserve for another occasion. • Γνώμης χρεία εὐγνώμονος· κἂν μὴ αὕτη παρῇ, σημείων οὐδὲν ὄφελος. Chrys. in Matt. Or. 43. I Believe, &c. SERMO N. III. OF THE VIRTUE AND REASONABLENESS OF 2 PET. i. 1. III. -to them that have obtained like precious faith with us. OF all Christian virtues, as there is none more ap- SERM. proved and dignified by God, so there is none less considered or valued by men, than faith; the adversaries of our religion have always had a special pique at it; wondering that it should be commanded, as if it were an arbitrary thing, or in our choice to believe what we please; why it should be commended, as if it were praiseworthy to be subdued by reason; either by that which is too strong for us to resist, or by that which is too weak to conquer us. But that faith worthily deserveth the praises and privileges assigned thereto, we may be satisfied, if we do well consider its nature and ingredients, its causes and rise, its effects and consequences. In its nature it doth involve knowledge, or the possession of truth, which is the natural food, the proper wealth, the special ornament of our soul; knowledge of truths most worthy of us, and important to us, as conversing about the highest objects, |