14. Revelation must be judged of by reason.
He, therefore, that will not give himself up to all the extravagances of
delusion and error must bring this guide of his light within to the trial. God when he makes the prophet does not
unmake the man. He leaves all his faculties in the natural state, to enable him to judge of his inspirations, whether
they be of divine original or no. When he illuminates the mind with supernatural light, he does not extinguish that
which is natural. If he would have us assent to the truth of any proposition, he either evidences that truth by the
usual methods of natural reason, or else makes it known to be a truth which he would have us assent to by his
authority, and convinces us that it is from him, by some marks which reason cannot be mistaken in. Reason must
be our last judge and guide in everything. I do not mean that we must consult reason, and examine whether a
proposition revealed from God can be made out by natural principles, and if it cannot, that then we may reject it:
but consult it we must, and by it examine whether it be a revelation from God or no: and if reason finds it to be
revealed from God, reason then declares for it as much as for any other truth, and makes it one of her dictates.
Every conceit that thoroughly warms our fancies must pass for an inspiration, if there be nothing but the strength
of our persuasions, whereby to judge of our persuasions: if reason must not examine their truth by something
extrinsical to the persuasions themselves, inspirations and delusions, truth and falsehood, will have the same
measure, and will not be possible to be distinguished.
