of the PFRSorr Of CHRIST. II wards theirperniciouswar, arealfo evident unto all who have any concern- ment in or for religion. But this argument I have laboured in on other occafions. a. Many who exprefly deny not his divine perfon, yet teem to grow weary ofany concernment therein. A natural- religion, or none at all, pleafeth them better than faith in God by Jefus Chrift. That any thing more is neccffary in religion, but what natural light will difcover and con- duit us in, with the moral duties of righteoufnefs and honefty which it di- reds unto, there aretoo many that will not acknowledge. What is beyond the line ofnature and reafon is ere&ed as unintelligiblemyfteries or follies. The perfon and grace of Chrift are fuppofed to breed all the diflurbance in religion. Without themthecomtnon notions ofthe divine being and good- nefs, will guide men fuf}ìcientlyy unto eternal bleffednefs. They did fo before the comingof Chrift in the flefh, and may do fonow he is gone to heaven. 3. Thereare fome who have fo ordered the frameof objective religion, as it is very uncertain, whether they leave any place for the perfon of Chrift in it or no. For betides their denial of 'the hypofiatcal union of his nature, they afcribeall that unto a light within them, which God will effe& onlyby Chrift as a mediator. What are the internal adings of their minds, as unto faith and truft towards him, I know not; but from their outward profeflion he feems to be almoft excluded. ¢. There are not a few who pretend high unto religion and devotion, who declare no erronious conceptions about the doctrine of the perfon of Chilli, who yet manifeft themfelves not to have that regard unto him, which thegofpelpreferibes and requires. Hence have we fo many difcourfes publifhed about religion, the practical holinefs and duties of obedience, writtenwith great elegancy of hile, and ferioufnefs in argument, where- in we can meet with little or nothing wherein Jefus Chrift, his office or his grace are concerned. Yea it is odds, but in them all we (hall meet With force refleUions on thefe who judge them to be the life and center of our religion. Thethings of Chrift beyond the example of his converfation on the earth, are of no ufe with fuch perfons unto the promotion of piety and gofpel obedience. Concerning many books of this nature, we may fay what a learned perfon did of one of old ` There were in it many things laudable and deleitable, fed nomen Jefa non eras idi. g. Suited unto thefe manifeft inclinations of the minds of men, unto a neglect ofChrift in the religion they flame unto themfelves, dangerous and noxious infinuatiors concerning what our thoughts ought to be ofhim, are made and tendred. As (t.) It is fcandaloufly propofed and anfwered, of what ufe is the confideration of the perfon of Chrift in our religion, Such arethe novel enquiries of men who fuppofe there is any thing in chrifti- an religion wherein the perfon ofChrift is of no confideration; as though it were not the life and foul that animates the whole of it, that which gives it its efpecial form as chriflian; as though by virtue of our religion we received any thing from God, any benefit in mercy, grace, privilege or glory, and not through the perfon of Chrift; as though any one duty of ait of religion towards God could be acceptably performed by us, with- out a refpedunto, ore confideration of the perfon of Chrift ; or that there were any lines of truth in religion as it is chriftian, that did not relate thereunto. Such bold enquiries with futilousanfwers annexed unto them, fufficiently manifeft what acquaintance their authors have either with Chrift himfelf, which in others they defpife, or with his gofpel which they pretend to embrace. (a.) A mock fcheme of religion is framed ro reprefent the folly of them who defign to learn the mind and will of God,
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