354 The Counterfeit of Inherent Grate. S n c r. VII, ven, prefentlyCome hearers cryedout, Lordgive us evermore of this bread, John 6. 34. Here were humane affe&ions, and a naturali devotion; they didnot under. fiend, or gracioufly difcern , what this bread of lifewas. It may be¡only reared, that the Gofpel or WordofGod bathlittle power over mens lives, only an hu. mane, or natural) piety leads on men to doe what theydoe; For if they were fan. &ified and moulded by the word, then that would carry them to all Gods corn. mandements, theywould havea refpe l to every duty ; befides they would ina fpi. rituall and heavenly manner beaffcfted, and in a confiant perfevering manner: Whereas naturali Piety is feenonly in fome (traits and extraordinary difficulties; as the Heathens, whocarried Iona in their Ship, fought all to theirgods, when they were inextream danger by a violent tempe(. Therefore neither Sunor Water is fo nectffary ( as they fay)as this truth is ;: for this will only teach thee the true Cha- ra&eriflical difference between that which is humane and divine inthee. This will difcover Sibbolethor Shibboleth. Thirdly, We havejut? caufe to preach of this even to C: rifl:.ens , becaufe they are eut.ftripped inmany things by the heathen,. TheyOblirved their Idols and falle Gods with more fear and care, than thou dollthe true. What a wondetfull fpeech was that of Antonin,uPius, and Eng:wins, who being very clement, and excellive in forgivingMore enemies that made warm againft him , and being admonifhed that this clemency of his would undoc him,and imboldenadverfaries themore a- gainft him, we read this Anfwer, Nos nonfir colimae Deos,ec. We doenotfoferns or worfhip the gods, that our enemies fhould overcome su. Alas, what Chriftians may ttuely (ay fo ? Howmany times have the Barbarians, the favage and fierce: na. tinesof the world overcome the Church, and deftroyed Chriftians becaufe they have ferved God bodily and negligently , Vain softrisbarbari funtfortes ; our wickednefe and firmes made the adverfaries flrong ; fo that here is great cattle to hear theee things with attention, knowing we !rave too much Heathenifm in us, we have littleofthe Gofpel mould in us. Demonfrari- Thefe things laid down, we come todemonftate that no natural! excellencyde- ons that no ferns tobe called grace ; and for themore orderlyproceeding ; as the Apoftle di. natural) excel- videth the whole work of a man in reference to 'falvation, into their three parts, fancy deferveth Tit, a. To live righreoafly, inrefpea of others ; foberly, in regard of our feines; to bracecalled and Godly, inrepack of God, I (hall fiat data the infufficiency ofNaturalipiety, then Natural! Honefly, and fattly, NeutralSobriety and temperance ; wherein we (hall whollyrejea that pofitionoffome,making a threefold Piety,fudaica, of the Jewer, Ethuica, of the Heathens, and Chrifiiana, of theChriftians; for as Extra Ecclefam none(1 Jahn ; fo it mutt needs follow, non eft Pietas, without faith, it being impoffible to pleafe God, Hebr, n. For their Piety and Devotion co God. Fieft, How farro(never it may carry a man, yet it ie accompanied with great Natural" piety blindnefe, ignorance, and coefafiotoof mired ; that whatfoever reverence, oroffedtians and Devotion they have towards god, yet lach adar(neffe is upona man, that hecan doenothingac- not grace.For, ceptably. The Apatite 9'auldock notably confirm this, by that Df courfe he had, when atAthens, Adis 17.3 z. &e. Ifound ansAltar with this Infeription,To the its. lus blinde. known God: Whom thereforeye ignorantlyworfhip, him Ideclare unto yen. They did ignorantly worfhipGod, evenchofe Athenians, that wererenowned for learning, and intelleahall abilities ; and verlee 2.7. That they fhould Peek after the Lord, if haply theymight feel after him, 'andfindhim, Its a full expreffìon, to thew that all men naturally are like the Egyptiansin a thick darkneffe, that are forced to grope and feel with their hands,not knowing what to doe : and thus it is with everymar, though a Chriftian, if he order not his (cepsaccording to the fupeenaturalllight of the Word; he clothbut grope, and is in great confuten about God, and Chrdt; not onely upon the Heathens Altars, but upon Come Chrillians folemn worfhip may be this Infcription, Tothe unknown God. Thou prayeft to an unknown Chrift; it is an unknown HolyGhott unto thee ;.Regeneration isanunknown viledge;
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