Serm. CXC. the ChriflianRevelation. came fo foon, andwho have enjoyed it fo long : Let us walk in the light, while we bave it ; leH darknefr overtake us. And thus much may fuffice to ,have fpoken ofthe Secondparticular which I ob- ferved in the Text, namely, the univerfal Influenceofthis .Light ; Light is come into the world. I proceed to fpeak briefly to the Third particular I mentioned , viz. the Excel- lency andAdvantages of this Doftrine.of the Chriflian Religion, above anyother Doftrtneor Inflitution, even that of the 7e12,0 Religion , which was likewife im- mediately fromGod. Theyare all but darknefs in comparifon ofit. Light is come into theworld. But in this I have in a great meafure prevented my felf, in what I have alreadyDifcourfed upon the two former heads, and therefore I fhall fay the lefs upon it : for by what I have already faid, it will in good meafure appear, how obfcure and impeded the difcoveries both ofnatural Light, and ofthe jewh Re- ligion were, in comparifonofthe clear andbright Revelationof the Gofpel ; and that both concerning the Nature of God, and the Worfhip which is molt fuitable and acceptable to him ; and likewife concerning the Ruleofour Duty, and the Re- wards and Punifhments of another Life, which are the great Motives and Argu- ments to Obedience, and 'which as to the greateft part of Mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, had but a very weak and faint influence before. And how could it well be otherwife, fine theApprehenfions ofMankind concerning thefe things were dark and doubtful. What grofs and impeded notions the Heathen had concerning God, we may judge by their univerfal and abominable Idolatry. How uncertain their .Morality was (which yet was much the beft part ofHeathenifm) we may fee by their end_ lefs differences and difputes concerning moral Duties. How wavering they were concerning the Immortality of Souls , and the Rewards of another World , we may judge by the differentand contrary Opinions ofthe greateft Philofophers about thefe points. So that Heathenifm was plainly defeaive, both in the Knowledge of God, which is the great Foundation ofall Religion i and the Precepts ofa good Life, which are the Rule ofit ; and the affurance of Immortality, which is the great Motive to Religion , and the only folid Comfort and Support of the Mind of Man under the Evils and Aflhiflions of life, and againft the Fears of death. And the7ewifh Religion likewife, tho' it had manifold Advantages ofPaànifin, yet was it very fhortand impede& in manyof theferefpe&s which I have-mentioned : hefides That gave no clear and wellgrounded affutanceofthe_ Pardon andFotgivenefs of fins; and the Rewards of another World were very obfcurely revealed under that Difpenfation. So that well might the Apoftle, upon comparifon of the Law and the Gofpel, fay, The Lawmade nothingperfea : but the bringing in ofa better hope did. And as forEvidence which thofe Religions had, Paganifm pretended tono other Authority for their Idolatrous worfhip , but the long cuflom and praf ice of the World. This Symmachus the Heathen infifts upon, infteadofanother Arguments, Sequimur Majores nojiros, qui feliciter fecuti funtfuos , We follow ourforefathers; who happily followed theirs. The jewifb Religionindeed produced good Evidence thatit was fromGod : hutit is very defìituteéfArguments to prove, that it was either anuniverfal, orperfeSc, or final revelation of God's Will toMankind; nay it was exprefly faid in their Law, that God would raife up another Prophet among them, to whom they were to hearken, and to be obedient in all things. The Me7ias was plainly foretold, and fpoken of both in the Law and theProphets, as one that was to be the Author ofa moreper- k} Law and Inftitution, which in due time was to be revealed to the wholeworld, to be a Light to lighten theGentiles, as'well as to be theGlory ofthepeoplebflfrael and accordingly in thefulnefsoftime he came, and bya greater Confirmation ofMira- cles, than the fewifh Religion had, he/ put aperiod to that weak and imperfe& In- flitution : and to Phew that the Law ofMofes was at an end, God hath now for above z600 years taken away their Place and Nation, deflroyed their Temple, and laid waft their Country, and difperfed them over the world ; fo that they are not capa- ble ofobferving a great part oftheir Religion. By all which it appears, that what 2 ever+ S'97
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