recommended. 413 cording to our power and their need to do SE R M. good offices not only to our friends but even XV. our bittereft enemies; in fine to raife our `"Yj virtue and goodnefs far above the common pra &ice of men, extending our benevolence univerfally in imitation of the bounty of God, who maketh his fun to rife upon the evil and the good, and fendeth rain on the full and the unjufl. Thefe precepts are fuch as every un- prejudiced mind muff acknowledge to be high improvements of morality, and a con - verfation becoming them muff be an excel- lent one in that branch of it, and it is a very comprehenfive one, which relateth to our behaviour towards men. Laftly,The duties we owe to God himfelf or whereof he is the objet, included in godli- nefs, are a very confiderable part of our con - verfation, or the bufinefs of men confidered as reafonable and moral agents. Accordingly, all nations have regarded it, agreeing in this, that the Deity is to be worfhipped. But, as I have already obferved, the notions which generally prevailed among men as to this point were very abfurd, and fo was their pratice ; fuch barbarous fuperffitution and idolatry were ufed in moft places of the world as are really reproachful to intelligent creatures. Now, the gofpel hath taught us to
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