Seim. LVIII. the Light of Nature and Revelation: way more agreeable to the obvious fenfe of the words, and the fcope of the Apoftle's Argument. For he plainly fpeaks of the Heathen, and proves them to be inexcufable, becaufe theyheld the truth in unrighteoufnefs, and having a Natural Knowledge of God, from the contemplation of his Works, and the things which are made, they did not glorify him as God. And therefore I (hall not trouble my felf togive any other Anfwer to it; for by the abfurd violence of it in everypart, it confutes it felf more effeEtually than any Difcourfe about it can do. I have been the larger upon this, becaufe it is a Matter of fo great Confequence, and lies at the bottom of all Religion. For the Natural Knowledge which Men have of God, is, when all is done, the furettand faiteft hold that Religion bath on Humane Nature. Befides, how lhould God judge that part of the World whoare wholly deftituteof Divine Revelation, ifthey had no Natural Knowledge of him, and confequently could not be under the direction and government of any Law ? For where there h no Law there is no Tranfgreffion ; and where Men are guilty of the breach of no Law, they cannot be Judged and Condemned for it 5 for the Judgment ofGad is according to truth. And now this being eftablif it, that Men have a Natural Knowledgeof God if they contradi'c it by their Life and Praftice, they are guilty of detaining the truth of God in unrighteoufnefs. For by this Argument the Apoftle proves the Heathen to be guilty of holding the truth in unrighteoufnefs, becaufe notwith(tan- ding theNatural Knowledgewhich they had of God by the things which are made, they lived in the pra6tice of grofs Idolatry, and the molt abominable Sins and Vices. And this concernsus much more, who have the glorious Light of the Gofpel added to the Light of Nature. For if they who offended againft the Light of Nature, were liable to the judgment of God, of how much forer Punifbment (hall we be thought worthy, if we neglect thofe infinite advantages which the Revelation of the Gofpel hath fuperadded toNatural Light; He bath now fet our Duty in the cleareft and ftrongeft Light that ever was afforded to Mankind, fo that ifwe will not nowBelieve and Repent, there is no Remedy for us, but we muff die in ourfins ; if we fin wilfully, after fo much knowledge of the truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin ; but a fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation to confume us. The Sumof what bath been faid on this Argument, is briefly this ; that Men havea Natural Knowledgeof God, and of thofe great Duties which refult from the Knowledgeof him ; fo that whatever Men fay and pretend, as to the main things ofReligion, the Worfhip of God, and Mice and Righteoufnefs towards Men, Petting afide Divine Revelation, weare all Naturally convinc'dofour Du- ty, and of what we ought to do, and thofe who live in a bad Courfe, need only be put in mind of what they naturally know, better than any Body elfe can tell them, that they are in a bad Courfe, fo that I may appeal to all wicked Men from themfelves, rain, and heated, and intoxicated with Pleafure and Vanity, tranfported and hurried away by Luft and Paillon ; to themfelves ferions and compofed, and in a cool and confiderate temper. And can any fober Man for- bear to follow the Convictions of his own Mind, and to refolve to do what he inwardlyconfents to as belt ? Let us but be true to our (elves, and obey the Di- dates of our own Minds, and give leave to our own Confcience to Counfel us, and tell us what we ought todo, and we (hall be a Law to our felves. I proceed to the Sixth and lall Obfervation, namely that the clear Revelation of the wrath of God in the Gofpel, againft theimpiety and unrighteoufnefs of Men, is one prin- cipal thing, which renders it fo very powerful and likely a means for the Salva- tion ofMankind. For the Apoftle inftanceth in two things, which give the Gofpel fo great an advantageto this purpofe, theMercy of God to Penitent Sin- ners, and his Severity toward the Impenitent; both which are fo fully and clear- ly revealed in the Gofpel. The Gofpel is the power ofGod to Salvation, to every one that believeth, becaufe therein the Righteoufnefs of God is revealed; that is, his great 407
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