For, First, Through all the Scriptures we may observe, That the Manifestation and Revelation of God by his Spirit to the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, was Immediate and Objective, as is above proved; which they did not examine by any other Principle, but their own Evidence and Clearness.
The Self-Evidence of the Spirit.Secondly, To say that the Spirit of God has less Evidence upon the Mind of Man than Natural Principles have, is to have too mean and too low Thoughts of it. How comes David to invite us, to taste and see that God is good, if this cannot be felt and tasted? This were enough to overturn the Faith and Assurance of all the Saints, both now and of old. How came Paul to be persuaded, that nothing could separate him from the Love of God, but by that Evidence and Clearness which the Spirit of God gave him? The Apostle John, who knew well wherein the Certainty of Faith consisted, judged it no ways absurd, without further Argument, to ascribe his Knowledge and Assurance, and that of all the Saints, hereunto in these Words, Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit, 1 John iv. 13. And again, Ver. 6. It is the Spirit that beareth Witness, because the Spirit is Truth.
Observe the Reason brought by him, Because the Spirit is Truth; of whose Certainty and Infallibility I have heretofore spoken. The Spirit contradicts not the Scripture, nor right Reason.We then trust to and confide in this Spirit, because we know, and certainly believe, that it can only lead us aright, and never mislead us; and from this certain Confidence it is that we affirm, That no Revelation coming from it can ever contradict the Scripture’s Testimony, nor right Reason: Not as making this a more certain Rule to ourselves, but as condescending to such, who not discerning the Revelations of the Spirit, as they proceed purely from God, will try them by these Mediums. Yet those that have their Spiritual Senses, and can savour the Things of the Spirit, as it were in prima Instantia, i. e. at the first Blush, can discern them without, or before they apply them either to Scripture or Reason: Natural Demonstrations from Astronomy and Geometry.Just as a good Astronomer can calculate an Eclipse infallibly, by which he can conclude (if the Order of Nature continue, and some strange and unnatural Revolution intervene not) there will be an Eclipse of the Sun or Moon such a Day, and such an Hour; yet can he not persuade an ignorant Rustick of this, until he visibly see it. So also a Mathematician can infallibly know, by the Rules of Art, that the three Angles of a right Triangle are equal to two right Angles; yea, can know them more certainly than any Man by Measure. And some Geometrical Demonstrations are by all acknowledged to be infallible, which can be scarcely discerned or proved by the Senses; yet if a Geometer be at the Pains to certify some ignorant Man concerning the Certainty of his Art, by condescending to measure it, and make it obvious to his Senses, it will not thence follow, that that Measuring is so certain as the Demonstration itself; or that the Demonstration would be uncertain without it.
§. XVI.
Immediate Revelation the Immoveable Foundation of all Christian Faith.That which all Professors of Christianity, of what Kind soever, are forced ultimately to recur unto, when pressed to the last; That for and because of which all other Foundations are recommended, and accounted worthy to be Believed, and without which they are granted to be of no Weight at all, must needs be the only most true, certain, and unmoveable Foundation of all Christian Faith.
But Inward, Immediate, Objective Revelation by the Spirit, is that which all Professors of Christianity, of what Kind soever, are forced ultimately to recur unto, &c.
Therefore, &c.
The Proposition is so evident, that it will not be denied: The Assumption shall be proved by Parts.
Papists Foundation, their Church and Tradition, Why?And First, As to the Papists, they place their Foundation in the Judgment of the Church and Tradition. If we press them to say, Why they believe as the Church doth? Their answer is, Because the Church is always led by the infallible Spirit. So here the Leading of the Spirit is the utmost Foundation. Again, if we ask them, Why we ought to trust Tradition? They answer, Because these Traditions were delivered us by the Doctors and Fathers of the Church; which Doctors and Fathers, by the Revelation of the Holy Ghost, commanded the Church to observe them. Here again all ends in the Revelation of the Spirit.