第77章

MysecondargumentistakenfromthesubjectofthesermonsoftheApostles，bothwhilstourSaviourlivedonearth，andafterhisascension。TheApostlesinourSaviour’stimeweresenttopreachthekingdomofGod：*forneitherthere，norMatthew，10。7，givethheanycommissiontothemotherthanthis，“Asyego，preach，saying，thekingdomofheavenisathand“；thatis，thatJesusistheMessiah，theChrist，theKingwhichwastocome。ThattheirpreachingalsoafterhisascensionwasthesameismanifestoutoftheActs，17。6，“Theydrew，“saithSt。Luke，“Jasonandcertainbrethrenuntotherulersofthecity，crying，Thesethathaveturnedtheworldupsidedownarecomehitheralso，whomJasonhathreceived。AndthesealldocontrarytothedecreesofCaesar，sayingthatthereisanotherking，oneJesus。“Andoutofthesecondandthirdversesofthesamechapter，whereitissaidthatSt。Paul，“ashismannerwas，wentinuntothem；andthreeSabbathdaysreasonedwiththemoutoftheScriptures；openingandallegingthatChristmustneedshavesuffered，andrisenagainfromthedead，andthatthisJesusisChrist。“

ThethirdargumentisfromthoseplacesofScripturebywhichallthefaithrequiredtosalvationisdeclaredtobeeasy。ForifaninwardassentofthemindtoallthedoctrinesconcerningChristianfaithnowtaught，whereofthegreatestpartaredisputed，werenecessarytosalvation，therewouldbenothingintheworldsohardastobeaChristian。Thethiefuponthecross，thoughrepenting，couldnothavebeensavedforsaying，“Lord，remembermewhenthoucomestintothykingdom“；bywhichhetestifiednobeliefsofanyotherarticle，butthis，thatJesuswastheKing。Norcoulditbesaid，asitis，Matthew，11。30，that“Christ’syokeiseasy，andhisburdenlight“：northat“littlechildrenbelieveinhim，“asitis，Matthew，18。6。NorcouldSt。Paulhavesaid(ICor。，1。21)，“ItpleasedGodbythefoolishnessofpreaching，tosavethemthatbelieve“：*norcouldSt。Paulhimselfhavebeensaved，muchlesshavebeensogreatadoctoroftheChurchsosuddenly，thatneverperhapsthoughtoftransubstantiation，norpurgatory，normanyotherarticlesnowobtruded。

*ICorinthians，1。21

Thefourthargumentistakenfromplacesexpress，andsuchasreceivenocontroversyofinterpretation；asfirst，John，5。39，“SearchtheScriptures，forinthemyethinkyehaveeternallife，andtheyaretheythattestifyofme。“OurSaviourherespeakethoftheScripturesonlyoftheOldTestament；fortheJewsatthattimecouldnotsearchtheScripturesoftheNewTestament，whichwerenotwritten。ButtheOldTestamenthathnothingofChristbutthemarksbywhichmenmightknowhimwhenhecame；asthatheshoulddescendfromDavid；bebornatBethlehem，andofavirgin；dogreatmiracles，andthelike。ThereforetobelievethatthisJesuswas，hewassufficienttoeternallife：butmorethansufficientisnotnecessary；andconsequentlynootherarticleisrequired。Again，“Whosoeverlivethandbelievethinmeshallnotdieeternally。“*

ThereforetobelieveinChristisfaithsufficienttoeternallife；

andconsequentlynomorefaiththanthatisnecessary。ButtobelieveinJesus，andtobelievethatJesusistheChrist，isallone，asappearethintheversesimmediatelyfollowing。ForwhenourSaviourhadsaidtoMartha，“Believestthouthis？“*(2)sheanswereth，“Yea，Lord，IbelievethatthouarttheChrist，theSonofGod，whichshouldcomeintotheworld。“*(3)Thereforethisarticlealoneisfaithsufficienttolifeeternal，andmorethansufficientisnotnecessary。

Thirdly，John，20。31，“Thesethingsarewrittenthatyemightbelieve，thatJesusistheChrist，theSonofGod，andthatbelievingyemighthavelifethroughhisname。“There，tobelievethatJesusistheChristisfaithsufficienttotheobtai