GOD'S SENDING JESUS CHRIST. 277 those documents which were given by philosophers of old, the nature of no one individual person was ever re.. newed, what change soever was wrought on their con- versation. But that this is plainly and directly required in the doctrine of obedience, taught by Jesus Christ, as the great prophet of the church, I have sufficiently proved in this whole discourse. (2.) Very few of the precepts of it are certain, so as that we may take them for an undoubted and infallible rule. There aresome general commands, I acknowledge, so clear in the light of nature, as that no question can be made, but that whatis required in them is our duty to perform: Such are they, that God is to be loved, that others arenot to be injured, and that every one's right is to be rendered unto him, whereunto all reasonable crea- tures do assentat their firstproposal. Andwhere any are found to live in an open neglect, or seem to be ignorant of them, their degeneracy into beastiality is open, and their sentiments not at all to be regarded. But, go a little further, and you will find all the great moralists at endless uncertain disputes about the nature of virtue in general, about the offices and duties of it, about the rule andmeasures of their practice. In these disputes did most of them consume their lives, without any great endeavours to express their own notions in their con- versations. Sect. 14. And from the same reason, I suppose, in part it is, that our present moralists seem to care for no- thing but the name; virtue itself is grown to bea strange and uncouththing. But what is commanded us by Jesus Christ, there is no room for the least hesitation whether it be an infalliblerule for us to attend unto or no. Every precept of his, about the meanest duty, is equally cer- tain, and infallibly declarative of the nature and neces- sity of that duty, as those of the greatest, and that have most evidence from the light of nature. If once it ap- pears, that Christ requires any thing of us by his word, that he bath taught us any thing as the prophet of the church, there is no doubt remains with us, whether it beour duty or no. (3.) The whole rule of duties given by the most im- proved light of nature, setting aside those that are pure- ly evangelical which some despise, is obscure and par- tial. There are sundry moral duties which I instanced in before, which the light of nature, as it remains in the lapsed depraved condition of it, never extended itselfto the discovery of. And this obscurity is evident from the differences that are about its precepts and directions. But, now, as the revelation made by Christ, and his commands therein, is commensurate unto universal obe- dience, and gives bounds unto it, so that there is noduty of it but what he bath commanded;and it is sufficient to discharge the most specious pleas and pretences of any thing to be a duty towards God or man, by skewing that it is not required by him; so hiscommands and directions are plain and evidently perspicuous.' I dare challenge the greatest and most learned moralists in the world, to give an instance of any one duty of morality, confirmed by the rules and directions of the highest and mostcontem- plative moralist, that I will not shew and evince, that it is more plainly and clearly required by the Lord Christ in the gospel, and pressed on us by far more effectual motives than any they areacquaintedwithal. It is there- fore the highest folly, as well as wickedness, for men to design, plead, or pretend the learning duties ofobedience from others, rather than from Christ, the prophet of the church. Sect. I5. (Secondly,) The manner of teaching, as to powerand efficacy, is also considerable unto this end. And concerning this also, we may say, who teacheth like him? Thete was that eminency in hispersonal ministry, whilst he was on the earth, as filled all men with admi- ration. Hence it is said, that he taught with authority, and not as theScribes, Matth. vii. 29. and another while they wondered at the gracious words which he 'uttered, Luke iv. 22. And the very officers that were sent to apprehend him for preaching came away astonished, saying, Never man spake like this man, John. vii. 46. It is true, it was not the design of God, that multitudes of that hardened generation should be converted by his personal ministry, John xii. 38, 39, 40. as havingano- ther to fulfil in them, by them, and upon them; yet, it is evident from the gospel, that there was Moe se, a di- vine power and glory accompanying his ministerial in- structions. Yet this is not that which I intend, but his continued and present teaching of the church by his word and Spirit. He gives that power and efficacy un- to it, as that, by its effects every day, it demonstrates itself to be from God, being accompanied with the evi- dence and demonstration of a spiritual power put forth in it. This the experiences, consciences, and lives of multitudes bear witness unto continually. They do and
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