in totttttbn tg 00att ttetttp íon. 409 the great contellations between themfelves, accompa- Chap.2 r. nied with Invectives andSatyrs, being very jealous for t t`,1,1 their Opinions, and paffionate for the interefl oftheir SeEts. Now the Gofpel was in fome things contrary to all of them, fo that being imperious and impatient of contradiaion and toucht in their tenderest part,no won- der they were fo violent again(l it. They were unwil- ling to receive aDo&trinethat difcovered their errours, & leffened their efteem. Our Saviour asks the Jews,Hon, can ye believe which receive honour onefrom "another, and andfeeknot the honour which comesfromGodonly ? He pro- pounds it as an impoffible thing. The Gofpel would flrip themofall theirpretended excellencies, and &vefl them ofmanyvainConceptions adorned with fomuch art,and commanded as its firflArticle,they should humbly refign their underflandings toDivineRevelation;this they lookt on as a fubmiffionunworthyoftheir refined ffrongSpirits. z. They had fatisfaëtion in their own imperfea Verrues. Becaufe they did fome things to recover the Humane Nature from its degenerate (late, they were more confirmed in their Infidelity than thegrolrefl Ido- laters and the moft vicious Perfons. Fothemorepro- bable Arguments theyhad toobtain Happinefs in their own way, the more obfbnately they refufed`any other. They thought there was no needof Supernatural Re- velationto direst, nor of Supernatural Grace to a(fift them; but without the Interceffion of a Saviour, and thepowerof the Holy Spirit, they had felf-fufficiency to obtain perfeEtionand felicity. Like foolifhChym s that have melted away a great part of their Eflates in vain,and little remaining to fupport theirwretched lives; yet in expeEtation ofthe great Elixir create in their fan- cies treafu-res ofGold,and inrich thernfelves.So the Phi. lofophers whowafted their time and fpirits in fearching after Happinefs to little purpofe, although the belt of G g g their
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=