SERM". L7 NATURAL RELIGION, ITS USES AND DEFECTS. 7 it, Why hast thou made me thus ?" Shall the vessel say to the potter, Why didst thoumould me in such a form ? Whywas I disposed of in such a station ? and why was I appointed for such a purpose ? And the force of this ar- gument grows yet much stronger, when we consider, that the great God not onlygives his creatures their form and manner of being, but he created the very substance as well as the qualities of every thing, and gave them their whole nature and all the being they have. 4. The light of nature teaches us, that though God is the absolute and natural Lord of all things that he has made ; yet " he is pleased to deal with his rational crea- tures in a way ofmoral government, that he rules them by a law, and will some time or other reward them in equity according to their works." The conscience which he hath formed in man, may discover to him so much of the natural law andwill of his God, as a righteous Go- vernor of the world, if it be properly and wisely employ- ed : Rom. ii. 14, 15. " The gentiles which have not the written lawwhich the Jews enjoyed, yet theydo bynature the things contained .in the law, that is they are inwardly excited to do them these having not the law, are a law to themselves, which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing them." This lawwritten in their hearts, and which they may find out by a diligent use of their reason, not only teaches them that adoration and worship, prayer and praise, are duties which they owe to God ; but it instructs them also to distinguish between vice and virtue, good and evil, as it relates to their neighbours and themselves. It shews them the difference between sobriety and intem- perance, between kindness and malice, between honesty and knavery, truth and falsehood and it teaches them also to expect somevengeance to fall upon transgressors. So Acts xxviii. 4. " Surely this man is a murderer, said the barbarous inhabitants of Melita concerning St. Paul, when a viper fastened on his hand ; and though he bath escaped the sea, yet vengeance doth not suffer him to live." Reason and conscience might teach mankind, that since God has Given theman understanding and freedom V Q AA
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