For, after that, in the Wisdom of God, the World by Wisdom knew not God, it pleased God fo loved the World, that he gave his only- begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him many other Signs truly did Jefus in the Prefence of his Difciples, which are not written in this Book. But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift Twelve, Will ye also go away? To which St. Peter, in the Name of all, made anfwer, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou haft the Words of eternal Life. And we believe, and are fure, that thou art that Chrift, the Son of the living God. In this Answer there are three Things expreffed, or implied, as the Ground of their Conftancy and Adherence to Christ: I. The first is, The miserable Condition they should be in, if they did forfake him, having no other in whom they could trust: Lord, to whom shall we go? II. The second is, The Excellency of his Religion, and the certain Means it afforded of obtaining that which is the great End of Religion, a bleffed Life after this: Thou haft the Words of eternal Life. III. The third is, TheAuthority and divine Commiffion of Chrift, upon which their Faith and Confidence were built: We believe, and are fure, that thou art that Chrift, the Son of the living God. To believe, because we have fufficient Reafon to determine our Belief, is a rational Faith; and this is what is meant in the Word yvanaμev: We believe, becaufe we have, from the Things we have heard and feen of you, determined with ourselves, That thou art the Chrift, the Son of the living God. Thefe |