A N ESSAY ON INSPIRATION. In Two PART s. The First, Shewing what Proofs are neceffary The Second, Shewing what Proofs are neceffary By BENJAMIN BAYLY, M.A. Rector of Placetne igitur Humanitatis expertes habere Divinitatis Auctores? The Second Edition very much Corrected and Enlarged. LONDO N: Printed by J. M. for John Wyat, at the Rofe in D. THE PREFACE. T HE Occafion of writing this Treatife was firft as an Exercife of my own Thoughts, and for my own Satisfaction and Ufe: For being in an Employment, which obliged me to hear other Peo ples Opinions in Matters of Religion, to concern my felf about them, and on fome Occafions to endeavour to confute them; I found one infuperable Barr to any thing I could fay, (and fure it must be own'd one ftrong Hold of Error) that they were infpired. Although upon entring into ferious Difcourfe and Acquaintance with thefe Men, it did not appear that this Inspiration enabled them to Think better, to Reafon better, and (which is much worse) I doubt, fometimes not to Live better than others. Methought therefore fuch an Inspiration was infignificant, difbonourable to the Divine Nature, to be exploded as unworthy of GO D, and befides was fruitful of innumerable Errors, the Ground frequently of Mens rejecting the clearest and most convincing Reafon and the very Authority of the Word of GOD; or at leaft was what abated very much of the Force and Convicti on that thefe Authorities, viz. Clear Reafon and Sacred Scripture would otherwife have on their Minds. Would one not think that all fober Chriftians should easily agree as to the Lawfulness and Expediency of a Form of Prayer in Publick Worship? That the Precept and Example of our Saviour should not recommend, or at least extreamly difpofe and reconcile all Chriftians to the Use of it? What the meaning of this, that the Command and Example 42 of |
