So  is  it  alfoin  matters  of  common  belief  5  whereunto  neither  can  we  in
dubitably  affent,  without  the  co-operation  of  our  fenfe  or  Reafon,  wherein
confiftthe  principles  of  perfwafion.  For,  as  the  habit  of  Faith  in  Divinity.
ts


314  Enquiries  into  Vulgar  Book  VII.
is  an  Argument  of  things  unfeen,  and  a  ftablealTent  unto  things  ineyident,
upon  authority  of  the  divine  Revealer :  So  the  belief  of  Man  which  de
pends  upon  humane  teftimony,  is  but  a  Daggering  atlent  unto  the  affirma
tive,  not  without  fome  fear  of  the  negative.  And  as  there  is  required  the
Word  of  God,  or  infufed  inclination  unto  the  one,  fo  muft  the  actual
fenfation  of  our  fenfes,  atleaft  the  non-oppofition  of  our  reafons  procure
our  aflent  and  acquiefcence  in  the  other.  So  when  Eufebim  an  holy  Writer
affirmeth,  there  grew  a  ftrange  and  unknown  plant  near  the  ftatue  of
Chrift,  erected  by  his  Hxmorrhoidal  Patient  in  the  Gofpel,  which  attain
ing  unto  the  hem  of  his  vefture,  acquired  a  fudden  faculty  to  cure  all  difeafes :
Although  he  faith  he  faw  the  ftatue  in  his  days,  yet  hath  it  not  found  in
many  Men  fo  much  as  humane  belief.  Some  believing,  others  opinion-
ing,  a  third  fufpecting  it  might  be  otherwife.  For  indeed,  in  matters  of
belief  the  underftanding  aflenting  unto  the  relation,  either  for  the  authority
oftheperfon,  or  the  probability  of  theobjeft,  although  there  may  be  a
confidence  of  the  one,  yet  if  there  be  not  a  fatisfaction  in  the  other,  there
will  arife  (ufpenfions  ;  nor  can  we  properly  believe  until  fome  argument
ofreafon,  or  of  our  proper  fenfe  convince  or  determine  our  dubitations.
