3 52 Of the Neeefty of good Works. Vol. IL is ,restyfexlas) the end of the Gofpel declaration is charity out of a pure heart, and a good confcience, and of Faith unfeigned._ So that a fincere Faith, is thegreat principle of Charity, which is the fulfilling of the Lew, and comprehends in it the Duties of both Tables. And here I might particularly Phew, what influence the feveral Articles of the Chriftian Faith have upon the pra&ice of 1- Iolinefs and Virtue in our lives : but this would be too large a field ofDifcourfe, and the thing is very plain and obvious to every Man's confideration ; and therefore I (hall con- tent my felf with what I have faid in general concerning the influence of Faith upon a good Life. 2. The Duties enjoyned by the Chriftian Religion do likewife tend moré im- mediately to the fame end and defign; I mean the Laws and Precepts of the Go- fuel, which are nothing elfe but fo many Rules of good life, and in the main fubftance of them are the Laws of Nature clear'd and perfe&ed. For Chrifl came not to del roy the Law, which was in force before; but to explain and clear it, where, through the corruption and degeneracy of Mankind, is was grown obfcure and doubtful, and to perfe& it by fuperadding fome Rules and Precepts of greater gobdnefs and perfe&ion, than feem to have been enjoined by it; as to abftain from all kind of revenge, to love our enemies, and not only to be ready to forgive them the greateft injuries they have done us, but to do them the greateft good, and even to be perfe&ly reconciledto them after the higheft provocations, when- ever they are in a meet capacity and difpofition for it. So that the Precepts of the Chriftian Religion are a plain and perfe& Rule of all Virtue and Goodnefs, and the belt and molt abfolute fyftem of Moral Philofophy that ever was in the World, containing all the Rules of virtue and a good Life, which are fcatter'd and difperfed in thewritings of the Philofophers, and the wife Men of all Ages, and delivering them to us with greater clearnefs and certainty, in a more fimple and unaffe&ed manner, with greater authority, force and efficacy upon their Minds, than any Philofopher and Lawgiver ever did ; teaching us how to worfhip God in the belt manner, and molt fuitable to his Nature and Perfe&ions; how to de- mean our felves towards others with all meeknefs and humility, juftice and inte- grity, kindnefs and charity ; and how to govern our felves and our own unruly appetites and pallions, and to bring them within the bounds ofreafon, much bet- ter than any Law or Inftitution that ever was in theWorld ; and all thefe Duties and Virtues ftri&lycommanded and enjoined in the Name and Authority of God, by one evidently impower'd and commiffioned by him, and feat from Heaven on purpofe to inftru& us in the nature and `pra&ice of them. So that the Do&rine of the Gofpel, in refpe& of the Laws and Precepts of it, is a plain and perfe& Rule of a good life. And then, 3. The Chriftian Religion contains the molt powerful Arguments and Encou- ragements to this purpofe; and thefe are the threatnings and promifes of the Gofpel. (a.) The terrible threatnings of eternal Mifery and Punilhments to all thewor- kers of iniquity, and wilful and impenitent tranfgreffors of thefe Laws. And this is anArgument which taketh the fafteft and fureft hold upon human Nature, and will many times move and affe&, when no other confiderations will work uponus. Many Men that could not be wrought upon by the love of God and Goodnefs, not' by the hopes of everlafting Happinefs, havebeen affrighted and reclaimed from an evil courfe by the fear of Hell and Damnation, and the awe of a Judgment to come. To think of lying under the terrible wrath and difpleafure ofAlmighty God to eternal Ages, of being extremely and for ever miferable without intermif- fion and without end, mutt needs be a very difmal confideration to any Man that can think and confider : for who knows thepower of God's anger ? who can dwell with everlafling burnings? And yet to this horrible danger, to this intolerable tní- fery, do all the workers of iniquity, everyone that lives in the wilful contempt and difobedience of the Laws.of the Gofpel, expofe themfelves; and thisas exprefly revealed and declared to us, as it is poffible for words to declare any thing. Mat. 13. 40, 41, 42. So Pali it be in the end cf the World. The Son of Man fhallf end 4
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=