1. A Humane Faith, whereby we affent to a Thing, upon the Testimony of Man,

S. Luk. xxiv. 34. Exod. iv. 1. S. Joh. iv.

41.

2. A Divine Faith, fuch as is founded upon the Teftimony of GOD, 1 S. Joh. v. 9, 10. S. Joh. iii. 33.

II. What is that Faith we are bound to act on Christ?

1. Hiftorical, S. Joh. xx. 31.

1. What is this hiftorical Faith? It is a Habit of the Mind, whereby we affsent to whatsoever is recorded in the Holy Scriptures, concerning the Birth, Life, Miracles, Death, Refurrection, Afcenfion, r. of Christ, S. Luk. i. 3, 4.

2. What Ground have we to believe those Things to be true, which were done fo long ago? Becaufe,

1. They were Eye-witneffes that relate them, S. Luk. i. 2. 2 S. Pet. i. 16. 1 S. Joh. i. 1, 3.

2. Their Writings declare them to be ho-
neft and faithful in all their Deal-
ings, and who therefore would not
go about to deceive, 2 Cor. ii. 17.
2 S. Pet. i. 16,

3. Their own Writings difcover their Fi-
delity and Integrity in what they re-
late, inafmuch as they would not
go about to conceal their own Faults,
S. Matt. xxvi. 70, 71, 72, 73, 74. Gal.
ii. 11. nor their Lord's Sufferings,
1 Cor. i. 13. Gal. vi. 14. These are
φιλαλήθες διαθέσεως σαφῆ καὶ ἐναργῆ τεκμή
eix, Eufeb.
4. They

4. They confirmed what they wrote with their Blood, A&t. xxi. 13.

5. Infomuch that not only Christ's Difciples, but others alfo of Learning and Parts, after Inquifition, believed, A&t. xiii.20. Quod fi falfa, ut dicitis, hiftoria illa rerum eft, unde tam brevi tempore totus mundus ifta religione completus eft? Arnob. adv. Gent. l. 1. p. 33. 6. The principal Things are attefted by other Authors; ́as,

1. About Christ.

1. By Heathens, Tacitus, Suetonius, Celfus, Numenius, Hierocles, Porphyry, Lucian and Plinius Secundus.

2. By Mahometans, that He was born of a Virgin, Abul-Pharaj. Dy

naft. 7. p. 109. Hetting. Hift. Oriental. 1. 1. c. 3. n. 6.

3. By Jews, Talmud, Jofephus. 2. About other Things in the Gospel, as about S. John Baptift, Fla. Josephus, and fof. Ben-Gorion ; about Simeon, Gans; about the Star at our Saviour's Birth, Pliny. Et fi verum fatemur,falutare id terris fuit; Nat. Hift. 1. 2. c. 25. about the Children flain by Herod, Jofephus and Macrobius, Saturnal. 1. 2. c. 4. of James the Brother of Jefus, Fofephus; of Herod's Death, Jofephus; of the Sun darken'd, and the Earthquakes in many Places; Phlegon faith, in the 202d Olympiad, a great Eclipfe of the Sun, &c.

7. Their

7. Their Enemies could not deny the
Truth of what they taught, Act. iv.
16. and xxvi. 26, 27.

3. How does it appear a Sin, not to believe
thefe Things?

1. GOD commands the Belief of them,
S. Mar. i. 15.

2. It is a frustrating His Intentions in
Writing them, S. Joh. xx. 31.

3. It is a doing Violence to Reason, these
being the Words of Truth and So-
berness, and fo a reasonable Foun-
dation of Faith, Act. xxvi. 25.

4. He that does not believe, makes GOD
a Lyar, 1 S. Joh. v. 10.

2. Dogmatical.

1. What are the principal Doctrines we are
to believe in the Gospel?

1. That Jefus is the Chrift, or Meffiah,
S. Matt. xvi. 16. S. Joh. XX. 31.
1. The time appointed for the Ap-
pearance of the Messiah, expir'd in
Him, Gen. xlix. 10. Dan. ix. 24,
25. Mal. iii. 1. Hagg. ii. 6, 7, 8, 9.
2. The other Prophecies were fulfilled
in Him, A&t. iii. 24. Rom. iii. 21.
Amongst others, thefe following;
1. That He was to be born of a Vir-
gin, Ifa.vii. 14. S.Matt. i. 22,23.
2. And in the Town of Bethlehem,
Mic. v. 2. S. Matt. ii. 5, 6. S.Joh.

vii. 42.

3. Was to be of the Seed of David,
Jer. xxiii. 5. S. Matt. i. 1. and

ix. 27.

4. Was to have S. John Baptift for

His Fore-runner, M.l. iv. 5,6.

S. Matt.

1

S. Matt. xi. 14. S. Mar. ix. 11,

12, 13.

5. Was to be a Prophet like unto Mofes, and to whom the People were diligently to attend, Deut. xviii, 15. Alt. iii. 22, 23.

6. Was to do many, and great, and highly beneficial Miracles, Ifa. Xxxv. 5,6. S.Matt.xi. 4,5. S.Joh. vii. 31.

Was to fuffer for the Sins of Man

kind, Ifa. liii. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
'S. Luk. xxiv. 20, 21.

8.

8. His Hands and His Feet were to

be pierced,Pfal.xxii, 16. S.Matt. xxvii. 35.

Clavos autem iftos

in manibus pe

dibufq; fuiffe, fatis notum. Nonnus de Servatore, Καὶ ποσὶ καὶ παλάμησι σιδήρεα κέντρα κομίζων. Lipf. de Cruce, l. 2. c. 9.

9. His Side was to be opened, but His Legs not broken, Zach. xii. 10. Pfal. xxxiv. 20. S. Joh. xix. 33, 34, 36, 37.

10. He was to be fcourged, Ifa. 1.6. S. Job. xix. 1.

11. Was to have Vinegar given Him to drink, Pfal. Ixix. 21. S. Joh. xix. 28, 29.

12. Was to have His Garments divided,and Lots caft for His Coat, Pfal. xxii. 18. S.Job. xix. 23,246

13. Was to make His Grave with the Wicked, and with the Rich in His Death, Ifa. liii.9. S.Matt. xxvii. 38, 59, 60.

14. Was

14. Was to rife again from the Dead, Pfal. xvi. 10. A&t. ii. 31. 1 Cor. XV. 4, 5, 6.

15. Was to afcend into Heaven, Pfal. lxviii. 18. S.Luk. xxiv. 51. Aết. i. 9,, 10.

16. Was to extend His Kingdom over the Earth, Pfal. ii. 8. Ifa. xlv. 22. Mal. i. 11. S. Joh. xii. 32. Act. ii. 47.

17. Was to make Interceffion for the Tranfgreffors, Ifa. liii. 12. Rom. viii. 34.

18. Was to be the Saviour of Mankind, Ifa. xlix. 6. and liii. 11. Rom. v. 19. 1 S. Joh. ii. 2.

2. That in this Chrift, the Jewish Rites and Ceremonies are abolished, A&t.

XV. 24.

3. That there is no way to be faved, but by Him, Act. iv. 12.

4. That whofoever believes in Him fhall be faved, S. Joh. iii. 16.

5. That this Chrift is GOD and Man, S.Matt. i. 23. 1 Tim.ii. 5. A&t.xx.28. 6. That He will judge the World, Act. xvii. 3r. 2 Tim. iv. 1.

7. That after Judgment, there will be a Heaven and Hell,2 Tim. i. 10. S.Matt.

xxv. 46.

2. How does it appear to be a Sin not to believe all this?

1. GOD commands to believe it, 1 S. Joh.

iii. 23.

2. He that denies it, is a Liar, 1 S. Joh. ii. 22.
3. GOD has confirmed this Doctrine by
many Miracles, S. Joh. xv. 22.
Y

4. Thefe