Of Godlinef . 7 9. expreffion parallel to it which may be SEaM. ftridly interpreted to fignify piety, is fre- VIII. quently ufed to defcribe a good charafter, all that is required to our acceptance with God, it is not to be underftood abftradedly, and as feparated from other branches of our duty, or of virtue ; but that manner of (peak- ing always fuppofes that the fear of God is naturally produétive of, and conftantly ac- companied with, other good difpofitions, and a courfe of ation fuitable to them ; and we find that very often in fcripture, departing from evil, doing good, and fuch like general directions, importing, whatever is morally right and virtuous, are joined with the fear of the Lord ; and juftice, as well as devo- tion, is declared to be a neceffary ingre- dient in a religious character, as in that of Simon *, The fame man was jull and devout, waiting for the confolation of Ifrael. The efficacy of godliness, ftrictly fo called, to the production of all other virtues, appears from the nature of it already explained. For, it imports a difpofition to obey all God's commandments, and to do every thing which he approves. Now, fince his word plainly declares that he requires of man every thing * Luke ii. z§, which
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