1. From the Evidence of the thing it felf; as that two and two make four, the whole greater than a part. 2. From Ratiocination, gathering it from the neceffary Connexion of it with fome known Truth. This is not Faith but Science. Scire eft per caufas fcire, Arift. which if it be not certain is called Opinion. There are two forts upon which our Faith may be grounded. 1. Humane. Because Men atteft it. Upon this Faith all civil Commerce is grounded. By this we believe Hiftories and other things which we never faw, Job. iv. 39. 2. Divine. Which is certain and infallible, 1. God is of infinite Knowledge,and there- iv. 13. How hath GOD revealed and attefted any Truth, fo as to make it an Object of divine Faith? 1. GOD fometime revealed his Will im mediately by himself, or an Angel re presenting presenting himself as to Noah, Gen. vi. 12, 14. Heb. 11. 7. to Abraham, Gen. xvii. 1, 2. Heb. xi. 8. 2. Sometime by Mofes and the Prophets, by whom he revealed his Will, and con firmed it by Miracles, 2 Pet. i. 20, 21. 3. By his own Son, Heb. i. 1. 4. By his Apoftles immediately inspired by the Holy Ghoft, Job.xvi. 13. and xiv. 26. Hence what they spake was GOD's Word, 1 Thef. ii. 13. 5. Now by the Writings of his Prophets and Apoftles, 2 Tim. iii. 16. John xx. 31. Hence we are faid to be built upon the Foundation of the Apoftles and Prophets, Eph. ii. 20. Propbete & Apoftoli fuper quos omnium Ecclefiarum fundamenta locantur, Hieron. Hence therefore the whole Word of GOD is the Object of true Faith; which is therefore defined by the Apoftle. The irisaris, the Subftance of all the Promises that GOD hath made, and the Exxos, Evidence of all the Truths he hath revealed, Heb. xi. 1. 1. The Subftance of things hoped for. 1. Though we have but few good things, yet we hope for many. 2. Our hope is grounded upon the Promife of GOD. 3. Faith is the Substance of the things we hope for from the Promises of GOD, fo as to give us Poffeffion of them, being as fully perfwaded that we fhall have them, as if we had them already, Heb. xiii 5,6. Rom. viii. 38. 2 Cor. V.I. 2 Tim. iv. 7,8. 2. It is the evidence of things not seen, 2 Cor. iv. 18. Whether they be, 1. Paft, as the Flood, the Deftruction of Sodom, deliverance from Egypt, &c. Christ's Paffion, Resurrection, Ascen fion. 2. Prefent, as all the Myfteries of our Religion, the Trinity, Chrift's Divine Nature, Interceffion, God's Omnipresence, Omnipotence, &c. 3. Future. As, The Refurrection. Judgment. Hell. Heaven, Mat. xxv. 46. Eph. vi. 16. 2 PET. i. 5. Add to your faith virtue. Hat are we to understand by Virtue? W Hat I. Virtue fignifies, 1. Probity or goodnefs of Manners in general, the whole Duty of Man, the Art of doing good and living well. Ars ipfa bene recteq; vivendi virtus a veteribus definita eft. Aug. So it is taken, Phil iv. 8. So fome underftand it here for Virtue in ral, the particulars being after named. In this fenfe the word implies, gene 1. That to our Faith we must add good Works, do well as well as believe well. They T They are good Works, fam. ii. 14, 18. 1. That are commanded, Ifa. i. 12, 13. Mat. XV. 4, 9. 2. That we do because commanded, 1 Sam, XV. 22. 3. That we do to the glory of GOD, Mat, vi. I. I Cor. x. 31. 2. That we content not our felves with fome few good Works now and then, Mark vi. 20. Ats xxvi. 28, 29. 3. But that we do all manner of good Works that we are commanded, Pfal. cxix. 6. Col. i. 1o. Luke i. 6. 1. There is the fame reafon for all, that there is for one. 2. He that doth not do all, doth none, Jami. ii. 10. 3. The want of one will ruin you as well as the want of all, Ezek. xviii. 30. II. By Virtue is commonly understood the habit of doing good. 1. Wherein doth it confift? Whereby, 1. We are enclined to it, 1 Thess. iv. 9. 2. Why fhould we haye this habit of Vir- 1. The Word fhould be engrafted in us, Jam. i. 21. 2. We should put on the new Man, Col. iii. 10. 2 Cor. v. 17. 3. Be transformed into the Image of Christ, 4. Without the habit the act will foon VOL. I. 5. No 3. III. 5. Nothing is good or acceptable unto GOD, but what proceeds from a good Heart, and fo from the habit of Grace and Virtue, Luke viii. 15. Mat. vii. 18. What must we do to get this habit of doing good? 1. Keep up within your felves a deep and conftant fenfe of your own infirmity, and inability to do good, 2 Cor. iii. 5. 1 Cor. I ii. 18. 2. Beg of GOD his affiftance of you, Fam. i. 5. 3. Believe and truft on Chrift for GOD's anfwering your Prayers, and for fuch fupplies of Grace from him as may habituate you to goodnefs, John i. 16. Phil. iv. 12, 13. / 4. Exercife your felves conftantly in doing good, Tim. iv. 7. Acts xxiv. 16. I 2 PET. i. S. Add to your faith virtue. Irtue is taken for Fortitude and Valour, for Courage and Refolution in the ways of GOD, and good Works, 'Ardçilede, ngalasõde, 1 Cor. xvi. 13. 1. Wherein doth Virtue in this fense especially confift? i. In undertaking and performing whatsoever |