part in your Charitable Interceffions.

Chap. XVIIL
Againji the Nice Difputes concerning this Sacrament]
Chrifr,'] T F thou would'il preferve thy Faith incor- X rupt, and thy Devotion from diftracftion, content thy felf with reverencing and admiring thefe holyMyfteries ^ and do not indulge a bufy Curiofity, in bold and unprofitable Enquiries concerning them. For this is the way to damp a godly Zeal, and to per- plex thy Mind with intricate and endlefs Doubts. Remember, it is the Glory of God to con- Prov. XXV. 2. ceal a things and his fupereminentWifdom and Power procures it felf juft Veneration, by doing more than Man is able to comprehend. I do not mean by this to exad a blind Obedience, but exped and commend the Ufe of Reafon in the Search of Divine Truths. Provided always, that it be temperedwith Sobriety and Modefty, with Teachablenefs, and a due Refpecl to what I my felf have revealed in my Word, and what my Church hath faithfully delivered in her Dodrinesand Expofitionsuponit.
Happy is that Meeknefs and Poverty of Spirit, which induftrioufiy declines the rugged thorny Paths of Controverfy and captious Difputes ; and walks iri the plain fmooth Way of Duty, and pradical Reli- gion 5 which'ftudies God's Commands/and labours t©
under-
BooklV. of J E s u s C H R I s T.. ^^y
underftand things of a fize with its Capacity , with- out troubling it felf about his Doings and Decrees. Too many Inftances there are of daring iMen, who, by prefuming to found the deep Things of Religion, have cavilleu and argued then-.felves out cf all Reli- gion. Thefe Men miftake their Bu'lneO., For the thing required of a Chriftian, is not Penetration, and Subtilty of Wit, nice Diitindion , or fublime Noti- ons ,♦ but vigorous Faith, and an honeft holy Life: Sobriety, and Temperance, and phaftity, Juftice and Charity, Piety and Devotion. How oft is Reafon puzzled, even in Matters relating to Creatures inferior to thy felf ? And will not this Reflection controul, and cure an Expec^-adcn fo extravagant and abfurd, as that of being able to give a clear Account of thines above thee ; nay, of perfeaiy underftanding thy Great, thy Infinite Creator hiuifelf .^ Submit thy Rea- fon to Revelation, and let Humility and Deference to God recommend thy Faith ,- and then, though thou canft not attain all Knowledge, yet thou fhalt be fure not to want mj ^ that is necenary or profitable for thee.
Many Men are much diffatisfied in their Minds, with Doubts concerning the Nature of true Faith, and Diffi- culties which arife concerning my Prefence in the Sa- crament. But thefe Doubts are not always finful, nor always from themfelves , but frequently owing to the Temptations of the Devil, and induftrioufly fcattered by Him, with wicked i\rtifice, and malicious Defign. Be not therefore too anxious upon thefe Occafions. Trouble not thy felf to argue nicely, nor employ thy Thoughts upon the Matter ,• nor hold thy felf con- cerned to be able to anfwer every Cavil which he puts into thy Head : But keep clofe to Scripture, and do thy Duty ; and the Enemy will foon retreat, when he finds thee negled his Attempts. Think not thefe in- ward Diftra(ftions a Sign that thou art forfaken of
God,
338 Of tt(z ^mimtion Book iv.
God. They are rather the contrary^ and a Mark of Grace. God fafFers chem to exercife thv Patience^ to try thy Condancy, to promote thy Spiritual Advan- tage. Wer't thou a Reprobate, thou would'fl not thus be affaulted ; for fuch the Devil is fure of already, andTemprations are throv^^n away uponThem. They are tl e Faithful, the Sincere, the Devout Chriftians, whom he teazes and torments ,• for, in fo doing, he hopes to enlarge his Dominion, and to feduce thofe who were notiiis before.
Proceed then in thy Chriftian Courfe with Refo- lution and Patience, and fliil frequent the Sacrament with ftedfaft Faith , and humble Reverence. What- ever there thou findeit to exceed thy Underilanding, put it to God's Account ; and leave Him to make it good, tho' thou canft not conceive how it fhould be clone. He will not deceive thee ; but they, who re- ly upon their own Underftandings^are fure to deceive themfelves. Remember God hath faid, that he walks and dwells with the Humble^ and jhtws his Ways to the Meek ; that he re'ueals himfelf to Babes ; that he opens the Eyes of the Honeil and Sincere, but hides his Grace and Knowledge from the Proud, and Wife in their own Sight. Reafon (Experience proves) may both deceive,and be deceiv'd; for it is but human. But Faith has God for its Foundation, and cannot err^ be- caufe depending upon One who is Truth itfelf, inca- pable of miftaking, or of impofmg upon others.
'Tis therefore highly fit, and, in Matters of Religion, abfolutely necellary, that thefe two Principles fliould know their Order, and refpedive Stations ; and each contain it felf within its proper Sphere. Faith (which fuppcfes a Revelation received and acknow- ledged) challenges the higheftPlace,- andReafon ought to keep her didance, to ferve and follov*^ after, not to fet Bounds to, or alTume, and encroach, and ufurp over the Other. For Faith and Charity are the two
Pii-