Serm. LVII. the Light of Nature and Revelation. 403 it is expeaed Men fhould look before them, and difcern their way. That Na- tural Light which the Heathenhad, tho' it was but comparatively dim and imper- feet, yet the Apoftle takes notice of it as a great aggravation of their Idolatrous and AbominablePrabtices. Thofe natural Notions which all Men have of God, if they had in any meafure attended to them, and govern'd themfelves by them, might have been fufficient to have preferved them from difhonouring the Deity, by havedifcovered to the the vil ofthole lewd d light nnatturalpraftíes, enough which many of them were guilty of, but they detained and fuppreîi the truth moft inju- rioufly, and would not [offer it to have its natural and proper influence upon them 5 and this is that which left them withdut excufe, that from the light of Nature they had knowledge enough to have done better, and to have preferved them from thofègreat Crimes which were fo common among them. And if this was fo great an aggravation of the impiety and wickednefs of the Heathen, and left themwithout excufe, what Apology can be made for the impie- ty and unrighteoufnefsof Chriffians, who have fo thong and clear a light to difcover to them their duty, and the danger of neglefting it, to whom thewrath ofGod is plainly revealed front Heaven, againfl all ungodlinefs and unrighteoufnefs of Men ? The Truthsof the Gofpel are fo very clear and powerful, and filch an improvement of Natural light, that Men mutt uie great force and violence to fupprefs them, and to hinder theefficacy, of them upon their lives. And this is a certain Rule, by how much the greater our Knowledge, by fo much the leis is our Excufe, and fo much the greater Punifhment is due to our faults. So our Lord hath told us, Luke 12. 47. That Servant which knew his Lord's will, andpre- pared not himfelf, neither did according to his will, (hall be beaten with many firipes. And john 9. 4e. If ye were blind (lays our Saviour to the Jews) ye /Gould have nofn. So much ignorance as there is of our Duty, fo much abatement of the wilfulnefs of our faults : but if wefin wilfully, after we have received the know- ledge of the truth, there remains no more Sacrificefor fin, but a fearful expee ation of judgment andfiery indignation, Pays the Apoflie to the Hebrews, Chap. Ica. 26, 27. If roefin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth 5 implying, that Men cannot pretend ignorance for their faults, after fo clear a revelation of the will of God, as is made to Mankind by the Gofpel. And upon this Confideration it is, that our Saviour doth fo aggravate the im- penitency and unbelief of the 7ews, becaufe it was in oppofition to all the ad- vantages of Knowledge, which can be imagined to be afforded to Mankind, John 15. 22, 23, 24. If Ihad not come and fpoken unto them, they had not had fin; that is, in Companion their Sin had been much more excufable 5 but now they have no cloak for their fin. He that hateth me, hateth my Father alfo. If Ihad not done among them the works which none other Man did, they had not had fin ; but now have they both feen, and hated both me, and my Father. How is that? Our Saviour means, that they had now finned againft all the advantages of know- ing the Will of God, that Mankind could poflibly have : at once oppofing Natural Light, which was the difpenfation of the Father ; and the cleareft reve- lation of God's Will, in the Difpenfation of the Gofpel by his Son; Now have they both feen and hated both Me andmy Father. The two remaining Obfervations I (hall referve to another Opportunity. Ff.£2 SER
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