A collection of essays and tracts in theology - The Preterist Archive

30 FUNDAMENTALS IN RELIGION.
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently
seek him."* And should a man be well
established in these two principles, and the things
which are plainly connected with them, and sincerely
endeavour to know the will of God, and to put in
practice what he did know I ; very much question
whether such a one could remain ignorant of any
principle, which can be proved necessary from the
light of nature.
But revelation goes further, and enjoins some
points to be believed as things necessary to salvation,
and dissuades us from believing others upon pain of
damnation. It tells us, that eternal life is placed in
the knowledge of certain truths ;
that he who believes
them, does please God, is blessed, and shall be saved
;
but he, who does not believe them, shall be
damned, cannot please God, is yet in his sins, and
the wrath of God abides upon him ;
from which
places we may conclude,
that these are fundamental
articles, and necessary to be known of all, to whom
the gospel
is
preached, and who are endued with
sufficient faculties to receive it.
3. But besides those points, which are expressly,
and in so many words, declared to be necessary ;
Those things likewise which flow from
these principles,
by plain and necessary consequence, must be added to
the catalogue of Fundamentals, or things necessary.
For plain and necessary consequences are of the same
* Heb. xi. 6.