and other Duties, recommended. 269 them into the way of virtue and happinefs, S ER M. by an exprefs revelation and pofitive inftitu- XI. tions, which he bath publifhed to them with `"v"--° all neceffary folemnity. However amiable and excellent wifdom may appear to con - fiderate minds, in her molt fimple and na- tural form, and whatever force there may be apprehended in reafon to overcome pre- judices againft the things which are pure, and juft, and true, and honeft, and virtuous; yet mankind were become fo degenerate, fo univerfally depraved, even dead in trefpages and fins, that to reclaim them there need- ed, and we ought to efteem it an invaluable advantage, and a very great favour that there is granted, a fpecial interpofition of hea- ven, a plain and direct call from God by a pofitive law, with encouragements beyond what human underftanding could devife, and affiftance above the mere force of iaa- ture. The divine revelation bath indeed ap- peared in different forms, and the Taft is the moll perfect, I mean the gofpel, Heb. i. i, 2. God who at fundry times, and in divers manners, fpake in times paft unto the fathers by the prophets, bath in thefe laß days fpoken unto us by his Son. And we may be fure the moil compleat fyfiem, with the greateft ad- vantages of every fort, the moil powerful fancion,
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