326                The Deity of Jeſus Chriſt                      Sect. VI

ced on our minds, by ſin, could never be diſſipated. For
how ſhould reaſon, proud of her own pretended abilities, and
reſolved to correct Revelation itſelf, be inlightened, Accord-
ing to this arrogant and ſelf ſufficient notion, faith in the Di-
vine teſtimony is entirely ſet aſide; reaſon being reſolved on
following her own light, in preference to that of God in the
Scriptures. So that, inſtead of ſaying, I believe ſuch a pro-
poſition, how incredible ſoever it may ſeem, becauſe God has
revealed it ; we muſt ſay, Though God has revealed it in the
moſt plain and expreſs terms, we will not believe it, becauſe
it appears incredible to us.-Again: Were we thus to ex-
alt reaſon, what is uſually called Divine faith, would be much
inferior to that which is human: becauſe we ſhould not pay
ſo great a regard to the declarations of God, as to thoſe of
our parents, maſters, and tutors ; on whoſe bare authority we
receive a great number of truths, relating to the affairs of com-
mon life. But, in ſuch a caſe, where is humillity, where is
that filial, teachable ſpirit, which is one of the marks of our
adoption and regeneration. What need of ſubmitting to the
dictates of Inſpiration, becauſe it is the Eternal Sovereign who
ſpeaks ; when we have nothing to do but convines ourſelves
of all neceſſary truths, by their own internal characters; and
to reject, or embrace them, in exact proportion as they agree
or diſagree with the light of our own underſtanding.

Reaſon, our opponents will ſay, reaſon is the foundation
' of faith; conſequently, faith cannot be more certain than
' reaſon.'—Reaſon, I confeſs leads to Revelation : becauſe we
are taught by it, that God is infallibly wiſe, and that we are
liable to err ; that we cannot, therefore, do better than re-
gard the light of Revelation, in preference to the uncertain
conjectures of our own minds, But then, as reaſon leads us
to this infallible rule, which was given by uncontrollable au-
thority; ſhe requires us to receive, with ſubmiſſion, whatever
the Great Revealer aſſerts, as a fact; commands, as a duty;
or propoſes, as an object of faith —We may diſtinguiſh three
things in faith; and theſe are, the principle, the diſcretion,
and the concluſion of it. That fundamental maxim and firſt
idea in Revealed religion, ' Whatever God ſays is true :' I
call the principle of faith. Its diſcretion, is that examination
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