A discourse of the excellency of Christianity
         Hallywell, Henry, d. 1703?
      
       
         
           1671
        
      
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             A discourse of the excellency of Christianity
             Hallywell, Henry, d. 1703?
          
           [2], 91 p.
           
             Printed for Walter Kettilby,
             London :
             1671.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Apologetics -- Early works to 1800.
           Apologetics -- History -- 17th century.
           Church history -- 17th century.
           Christianity -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           THE
           EXCELLENCY
           OF
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           
             I.
             THESS
             .
             v.
             21.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           at
           the
           Bishops-head
           in
           St.
           
             Pauls
             Church-yard
          
           .
           1671.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           THE
           EPISTLE
           TO
           THE
           READER
           .
        
         
           
             READER
             ,
          
        
         
           THese
           Papers
           having
           lain
           by
           me
           for
           some
           years
           in
           scattered
           Parcels
           ,
           I
           was
           at
           last
           perswaded
           to
           unite
           in
           this
           small
           Discourse
           ;
           the
           Subject
           is
           great
           and
           glorious
           ,
           viz.
           To
           set
           forth
           Christianity
           in
           all
           its
           native
           Beauty
           and
           Lustre
           ,
           which
           has
           been
           too
           much
           sullied
           by
           the
           Atheistically
           given
           :
           for
           whilst
           the
           speculative
           Infidel
           soars
           aloft
           ,
           and
           thinks
           to
           dispute
           God
           out
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           laughs
           at
           Religion
           by
           Pretences
           and
           Shews
           of
           Reason
           ,
           (
           though
           indeed
           he
           declares
           the
           greatest
           and
           vilest
           Folly
           )
           the
           Practical
           Atheist
           sits
           beneath
           in
           a
           Crowd
           of
           Lusts
           and
           Passions
           ,
           Profits
           and
           Interests
           ,
           and
           though
           he
           believe
           there
           is
           a
           God
           and
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Religion
           ,
           
           yet
           by
           reason
           of
           that
           firm
           bold
           Sin
           and
           the
           Devil
           have
           upon
           his
           mind
           ,
           he
           acts
           in
           Repugnancy
           to
           his
           Faith
           ,
           and
           frames
           wrong
           notions
           of
           God
           and
           Religion
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           may
           sleep
           securely
           in
           those
           sins
           he
           most
           delights
           in
           ,
           he
           is
           well
           contented
           and
           at
           ease
           .
           And
           to
           reduce
           both
           these
           sorts
           of
           Persons
           to
           a
           sober
           and
           fixed
           Love
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           whatever
           is
           virtuous
           and
           excellent
           ,
           that
           Christianity
           might
           not
           be
           an
           idle
           and
           fruitless
           Notion
           ,
           but
           an
           inward
           Principle
           of
           Life
           ,
           daily
           perfecting
           the
           Souls
           of
           Men
           ,
           till
           it
           bring
           them
           to
           their
           highest
           and
           most
           complete
           Happiness
           ,
           is
           the
           Aim
           and
           only
           Design
           of
           this
           present
           Discourse
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           THE
           EXCELLENCY
           OF
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           REligion
           in
           its
           usual
           and
           obvious
           sense
           is
           a
           Devoting
           ourselves
           to
           the
           Worship
           and
           Service
           of
           the
           Deity
           .
           For
           God
           ,
           when
           he
           first
           made
           Man
           ,
           wrote
           this
           Truth
           on
           his
           heart
           ,
           That
           he
           was
           a
           Creature
           ,
           and
           beholden
           to
           something
           without
           him
           for
           his
           Life
           and
           Being
           ,
           and
           therefore
           ought
           to
           worship
           and
           adore
           God
           as
           his
           only
           Happiness
           ,
           and
           by
           whose
           ever-present
           Power
           he
           is
           as
           it
           were
           daily
           created
           anew
           ,
           and
           kept
           and
           preserved
           in
           Being
           .
           And
           indeed
           
           there
           is
           no
           man
           who
           searches
           into
           the
           Perfections
           of
           Human
           Nature
           ,
           that
           can
           find
           any
           Principle
           or
           Power
           in
           Man
           of
           conserving
           and
           maintaining
           his
           own
           Existence
           ;
           wherefore
           his
           Existence
           being
           drawn
           through
           all
           the
           parts
           of
           time
           (
           which
           have
           no
           Connexion
           or
           Dependence
           one
           upon
           another
           )
           by
           some
           other
           more
           perfect
           Essence
           ,
           he
           must
           necessarily
           acknowledge
           that
           to
           be
           self-existent
           and
           sufficient
           ,
           and
           consequently
           adore
           it
           as
           the
           Author
           and
           Conservator
           of
           his
           present
           and
           particular
           Subsistence
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Hence
           it
           is
           that
           Religion
           is
           not
           a
           thing
           which
           is
           merely
           instilled
           into
           us
           by
           Instruction
           and
           Education
           :
           For
           let
           us
           be
           never
           so
           impiously
           diligent
           in
           rasing
           the
           venerable
           Name
           of
           the
           Deity
           out
           of
           his
           Temple
           ,
           and
           blotting
           his
           Inscription
           out
           of
           our
           Souls
           ,
           't
           is
           manifest
           to
           all
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           never
           totally
           rid
           our
           Minds
           of
           the
           Apprehensions
           and
           Fears
           of
           a
           supreme
           Numen
           :
           And
           that
           some
           men
           have
           so
           far
           debauched
           their
           Minds
           ,
           and
           stifled
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           Reason
           ,
           that
           they
           can
           swallow
           down
           the
           grossest
           Impieties
           ,
           as
           Sacriledge
           ,
           Rebellion
           ,
           Murder
           ,
           and
           Adultery
           without
           the
           least
           Regret
           ;
           proves
           no
           more
           that
           Religion
           is
           not
           a
           Principle
           of
           Nature
           ,
           than
           it
           doth
           of
           the
           Non-existence
           
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           that
           some
           men
           wilfully
           live
           in
           Darkness
           ,
           and
           shut
           up
           themselves
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           not
           see
           his
           Beams
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           such
           Persons
           have
           put
           themselves
           into
           a
           preternatural
           State
           ,
           and
           forced
           their
           Minds
           and
           Reasons
           to
           a
           Constitution
           far
           different
           from
           the
           Universal
           Nature
           or
           Reason
           of
           Mankind
           .
           Nor
           can
           it
           be
           eluded
           by
           fancying
           Religion
           to
           be
           a
           piece
           of
           State-Policy
           invented
           only
           to
           keep
           People
           in
           awe
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           better
           cementing
           Governments
           together
           ,
           and
           so
           derived
           from
           one
           Generation
           to
           another
           by
           the
           Custom
           and
           Example
           of
           their
           Progenitors
           .
           For
           if
           there
           were
           no
           such
           Faculty
           inherent
           in
           us
           ,
           and
           contemporary
           with
           our
           very
           Beings
           ,
           which
           had
           a
           Natural
           Propensity
           and
           Inclination
           to
           a
           Religious
           Veneration
           and
           Worship
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           be
           but
           that
           in
           time
           Nature
           would
           return
           and
           cast
           off
           whatever
           is
           contrary
           to
           it
           .
           As
           a
           Spring
           has
           always
           a
           Conatus
           to
           unbend
           it self
           ,
           and
           if
           at
           any
           time
           the
           Impediment
           be
           removed
           ,
           will
           infallibly
           reduce
           itself
           to
           its
           proper
           state
           ;
           So
           our
           Faculties
           ,
           though
           they
           may
           be
           long
           distorted
           and
           forced
           out
           of
           their
           due
           Position
           ,
           yet
           they
           have
           still
           an
           Endeavour
           to
           free
           themselves
           and
           cast
           off
           that
           uneasie
           Load
           which
           constrains
           
           and
           oppresses
           them
           ,
           and
           will
           undoubtedly
           upon
           any
           due
           occasion
           offered
           return
           to
           their
           first
           and
           true
           state
           .
           And
           if
           there
           were
           no
           such
           Being
           as
           God
           ,
           the
           wiser
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           would
           soon
           discover
           the
           Falshood
           and
           Imposture
           ,
           and
           chalk
           out
           a
           fair
           Way
           and
           Method
           for
           the
           Natures
           of
           men
           to
           recover
           from
           that
           Error
           and
           Prejudice
           they
           lay
           under
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           own
           genuine
           Effort
           and
           Strength
           reassert
           themselves
           into
           their
           ancient
           Liberty
           .
           But
           besides
           this
           ,
           the
           Peace
           and
           Tranquillity
           of
           Kingdoms
           and
           States
           Politick
           might
           sufficiently
           be
           conserved
           without
           the
           invention
           of
           Religion
           ,
           by
           severe
           Laws
           and
           Penalties
           .
           For
           although
           there
           were
           no
           immaterial
           Being
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           yet
           every
           Person
           being
           so
           well
           satisfied
           with
           himself
           ,
           and
           contented
           with
           the
           exercise
           of
           those
           Faculties
           he
           finds
           in
           himself
           ,
           no
           man
           would
           seek
           his
           own
           Ruine
           and
           Torment
           ;
           and
           therefore
           there
           would
           be
           little
           or
           no
           need
           of
           instilling
           into
           the
           minds
           of
           men
           such
           a
           Notion
           as
           Religion
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           In
           the
           first
           Times
           and
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           the
           Law
           of
           Nature
           ,
           which
           God
           hath
           equally
           implanted
           in
           all
           men
           (
           and
           by
           which
           I
           mean
           nothing
           but
           Reason
           ,
           or
           that
           Power
           in
           man
           which
           teaches
           him
           
           to
           distinguish
           and
           put
           a
           difference
           between
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           Beauty
           and
           Deformity
           ,
           Purity
           and
           Impurity
           )
           was
           the
           only
           Rule
           and
           Guide
           to
           direct
           them
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           help
           of
           this
           they
           knew
           God
           and
           served
           him
           .
           For
           God
           being
           in
           himself
           an
           infinite
           Rectitude
           and
           Perfection
           ,
           delineated
           himself
           and
           copied
           out
           his
           own
           Nature
           in
           all
           moral
           Agents
           so
           far
           as
           they
           were
           capable
           of
           receiving
           it
           .
           And
           herein
           God
           left
           not
           himself
           without
           witness
           ,
           in
           that
           all
           Mankind
           had
           Means
           and
           Helps
           sufficient
           to
           come
           to
           the
           knowledge
           of
           a
           Deity
           by
           an
           inspection
           into
           the
           Book
           of
           Nature
           ,
           wherein
           God
           has
           displaid
           himself
           in
           plain
           and
           legible
           Characters
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           were
           wholly
           without
           excuse
           .
           For
           if
           the
           Law
           written
           in
           their
           hearts
           and
           discriminating
           between
           Good
           and
           Evil
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           obvious
           Reflections
           from
           the
           Natures
           and
           Proprieties
           of
           things
           ,
           had
           not
           been
           enough
           to
           demonstrate
           and
           point
           out
           the
           Existence
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           men
           could
           not
           have
           been
           accountable
           ,
           nor
           rendred
           obnoxious
           to
           Punishment
           .
           But
           although
           this
           Law
           sealed
           on
           the
           Tables
           of
           mens
           Hearts
           were
           sufficient
           to
           teach
           them
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           that
           which
           might
           be
           known
           of
           God
           ,
           if
           they
           
           would
           have
           given
           heed
           to
           it
           ;
           yet
           in
           process
           of
           time
           it
           so
           came
           to
           pass
           ,
           that
           through
           the
           Iniquity
           and
           Perversness
           of
           mens
           minds
           ,
           whereby
           they
           gave
           themselves
           wholly
           up
           to
           their
           own
           Lusts
           and
           Passions
           ,
           this
           Light
           of
           Nature
           became
           dull
           ,
           faint
           ,
           and
           obscure
           ,
           and
           men
           were
           governed
           only
           by
           the
           Dictates
           of
           their
           corrupt
           and
           lawless
           Wills
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           Earth
           was
           filled
           with
           Violence
           and
           Oppression
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           Mankind
           became
           so
           brutish
           in
           their
           Imaginations
           ,
           that
           they
           made
           themselves
           Gods
           of
           Gold
           and
           Silver
           ,
           Wood
           and
           Stone
           ,
           and
           served
           the
           Creature
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             beside
             the
             Creator
          
           ,
           who
           is
           God
           blessed
           for
           ever
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           Wherefore
           when
           this
           way
           proved
           unserviceable
           and
           ineffectual
           for
           Mans
           Restauration
           ,
           God
           entred
           upon
           a
           new
           Dispensation
           ,
           and
           revealed
           himself
           more
           plainly
           to
           the
           Jews
           ,
           chusing
           Jacob
           for
           his
           Portion
           ,
           and
           
             Israel
             for
             the
             Lot
             of
             his
             Inheritance
             ,
          
           and
           communicated
           to
           them
           Laws
           and
           Statutes
           and
           Judgments
           ,
           fencing
           and
           hedging
           in
           the
           impure
           Eruptions
           of
           their
           Natures
           by
           Judicial
           Decrees
           ,
           and
           besieging
           Vice
           and
           Iniquity
           by
           the
           actual
           Promulgation
           of
           a
           Law.
           But
           this
           Religion
           of
           the
           Jews
           lying
           altogether
           in
           
           the
           Performance
           of
           external
           Duties
           ,
           in
           Types
           and
           outward
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           ,
           was
           not
           able
           to
           perfect
           the
           Nature
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           bring
           him
           to
           that
           happy
           state
           he
           was
           possessed
           of
           before
           his
           Fall
           ,
           (
           for
           as
           the
           Apostle
           tells
           us
           ,
           Rom.
           xiv
           .
           17.
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           God
           consists
           not
           in
           meat
           and
           drink
           ,
           but
           (
           which
           is
           far
           more
           valuable
           )
           in
           true
           Righteousness
           and
           Peace
           and
           Joy
           in
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ;
           and
           Man
           being
           a
           Man
           by
           his
           Soul
           ,
           and
           not
           by
           his
           Body
           ,
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           both
           that
           the
           Religion
           whose
           grand
           Purpose
           and
           Intent
           is
           to
           instruct
           and
           perfect
           the
           Mind
           ,
           is
           much
           superior
           to
           that
           which
           concerns
           the
           Body
           ,
           and
           also
           that
           there
           is
           some
           degree
           of
           Perfection
           that
           the
           Nature
           of
           Man
           is
           capable
           of
           which
           is
           not
           attainable
           by
           the
           observation
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Moses
           )
           therefore
           it
           is
           necessary
           that
           there
           be
           some
           other
           way
           sound
           out
           to
           recover
           all
           Mankind
           from
           that
           sad
           and
           calamitous
           condition
           of
           Vice
           and
           Sin
           they
           now
           lie
           under
           .
           For
           we
           must
           know
           that
           the
           Soul
           of
           Man
           consists
           of
           a
           perceptive
           and
           plastick
           Part
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           same
           with
           St.
           
           Paul's
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           and
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             the
             inner
             and
             outward
             man
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Judaical
           Oeconomy
           being
           wholly
           fitted
           for
           the
           gratification
           of
           the
           Plastical
           or
           Animal
           Life
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           it
           
           should
           refine
           and
           purifie
           that
           more
           spiritual
           part
           of
           Man
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Scripture-Phrase
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             make
             him
             perfect
             that
             did
             the
             service
             .
          
        
         
           5.
           
           Wherefore
           when
           the
           fulness
           of
           time
           came
           ,
           and
           mens
           minds
           were
           in
           some
           measure
           prepared
           for
           the
           reception
           of
           so
           heavenly
           a
           Doctrin
           ,
           Almighty
           God
           resolved
           to
           put
           in
           execution
           his
           last
           and
           most
           perfect
           Determination
           ,
           which
           was
           to
           send
           down
           his
           beloved
           Son
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           who
           should
           by
           a
           plain
           and
           familiar
           way
           teach
           and
           instruct
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           recover
           the
           lapsed
           World
           to
           a
           state
           of
           Righteousness
           and
           Truth
           .
           Now
           then
           ,
           God
           walks
           no
           more
           at
           a
           Distance
           ,
           nor
           hides
           himself
           any
           longer
           under
           the
           obscurity
           of
           Types
           and
           Shadows
           ,
           but
           hath
           dispelled
           the
           Clouds
           and
           Adumbrations
           of
           the
           legal
           Services
           ,
           by
           the
           full
           and
           bright
           approach
           of
           the
           Sun
           of
           Righteousness
           ,
           who
           hath
           pitched
           his
           Tabernacle
           amongst
           us
           ,
           and
           teaches
           us
           his
           Will
           by
           a
           way
           of
           condescending
           Wisdom
           ,
           suiting
           and
           proportioning
           himself
           to
           the
           most
           shallow
           Capacities
           .
           This
           is
           that
           which
           the
           Apostle
           1
           Cor.
           i.
           21.
           calls
           the
           
             Foolishness
             of
             Preaching
          
           ,
           wherein
           God
           hath
           stooped
           down
           to
           us
           ,
           clothing
           himself
           in
           the
           frailties
           of
           human
           Nature
           ,
           and
           
           adapting
           the
           results
           of
           his
           Will
           to
           our
           narrow
           and
           weak
           Apprehensions
           .
           And
           this
           is
           that
           Oeconomy
           which
           in
           Dan.
           ix
           .
           24.
           is
           called
           an
           
             everlasting
             Righteousness
          
           ,
           which
           the
           Messias
           should
           bring
           into
           the
           world
           :
           For
           when
           the
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           those
           various
           Schemes
           and
           exteriour
           Dispensations
           of
           Religion
           wax
           old
           ,
           pass
           away
           ,
           and
           vanish
           ,
           this
           shall
           remain
           for
           ever
           ,
           and
           never
           be
           abolished
           ,
           as
           being
           nothing
           else
           but
           the
           essential
           Prescriptions
           of
           Holiness
           ,
           those
           eternal
           Rules
           of
           Righteousness
           and
           Goodness
           that
           are
           founded
           in
           the
           very
           Nature
           and
           Being
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           6.
           
           The
           Gospel
           then
           being
           of
           so
           great
           Consequence
           and
           inestimable
           Benefit
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           necessary
           for
           every
           man
           to
           know
           and
           enquire
           into
           the
           Reasons
           of
           his
           Belief
           ,
           upon
           what
           Grounds
           he
           gives
           credit
           to
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           that
           his
           Faith
           being
           built
           upon
           a
           solid
           and
           sure
           Foundation
           ,
           he
           may
           not
           be
           ashamed
           of
           his
           Profession
           ,
           but
           according
           to
           the
           holy
           Apostles
           Advice
           ,
           ready
           at
           all
           times
           and
           upon
           every
           occasion
           to
           give
           an
           Answer
           to
           every
           man
           that
           asketh
           him
           a
           Reason
           of
           the
           Hope
           that
           is
           in
           him
           ,
           1
           Pet.
           iii.
           15.
           
        
         
         
           Now
           the
           Excellency
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           appears
           ,
           
             
               I.
               That
               it
               is
               intelligible
               .
            
             
               II.
               That
               it
               is
               true
               .
            
             
               III.
               That
               it
               contains
               nothing
               light
               and
               trivial
               ,
               but
               grave
               and
               sober
               Truths
               ,
               delivered
               in
               that
               decorous
               and
               becoming
               Majesty
               ,
               as
               well
               suited
               with
               that
               Blessed
               Spirit
               which
               inspired
               the
               Prophets
               and
               Apostles
               .
            
             
               IV.
               That
               it
               is
               every
               way
               fitted
               and
               accommodated
               for
               an
               effectual
               Recovery
               of
               lapsed
               and
               degenerated
               Mankind
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             I.
             
          
           
             THat
             the
             Gospel
             is
             intelligible
             ,
             cannot
             but
             appear
             to
             every
             one
             that
             is
             acquainted
             with
             it
             ;
             for
             though
             there
             may
             be
             some
             things
             wrapped
             in
             Clouds
             and
             Difficulties
             ,
             yet
             they
             are
             such
             as
             do
             not
             so
             nearly
             relate
             to
             Practice
             ,
             but
             are
             of
             a
             more
             speculative
             Consideration
             :
             But
             as
             for
             the
             whole
             Duty
             of
             Man
             in
             order
             to
             Holiness
             ,
             and
             a
             good
             and
             pious
             Life
             ,
             it
             is
             laid
             down
             in
             such
             easie
             and
             plain
             terms
             ,
             that
             no
             man
             can
             have
             any
             reasonable
             excuse
             for
             himself
             ,
             if
             he
             
             do
             not
             know
             and
             practise
             the
             Will
             of
             God.
             For
             the
             Divine
             Wisdom
             foreseeing
             that
             the
             greater
             number
             of
             Believers
             throughout
             the
             World
             would
             not
             be
             men
             of
             deep
             Reason
             ,
             but
             rather
             of
             great
             Love
             and
             Faith
             ,
             and
             such
             as
             would
             cordially
             adhere
             to
             their
             Saviour
             against
             all
             Oppositions
             ,
             though
             they
             could
             not
             syllogistically
             maintain
             the
             Reasonableness
             of
             every
             part
             of
             the
             Doctrin
             they
             professed
             ;
             God
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             foreseeing
             this
             ,
             hath
             suited
             the
             Gospel
             to
             the
             meanest
             Capacity
             ,
             and
             there
             needs
             no
             great
             Skill
             to
             be
             a
             good
             Christian
             ,
             but
             rather
             an
             hearty
             and
             sincere
             applying
             ourselves
             to
             the
             Practice
             of
             what
             is
             so
             fully
             discovered
             to
             us
             .
             The
             Goodness
             of
             Almighty
             God
             is
             such
             ,
             that
             he
             considers
             the
             several
             States
             and
             Conditions
             of
             men
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             makes
             allowance
             for
             those
             whom
             his
             Providence
             hath
             so
             placed
             ,
             as
             that
             they
             are
             not
             in
             a
             capacity
             of
             attaining
             to
             any
             great
             measures
             of
             Knowledge
             ,
             and
             accepts
             of
             the
             constant
             and
             sincere
             Inclination
             and
             Bent
             of
             their
             Wills
             in
             practising
             what
             they
             know
             ,
             and
             they
             shall
             never
             be
             called
             to
             an
             account
             for
             what
             they
             had
             no
             opportunity
             of
             gaining
             .
             And
             although
             he
             that
             knows
             much
             and
             apprehends
             
             the
             Reasons
             of
             things
             ,
             and
             makes
             this
             Knowledge
             instrumental
             to
             the
             purifying
             and
             purging
             his
             Soul
             from
             Vice
             ,
             be
             far
             more
             excellent
             than
             he
             whom
             Nature
             has
             made
             of
             a
             slower
             Apprehension
             ,
             yet
             this
             man
             is
             in
             no
             wise
             contemptible
             ,
             but
             dear
             and
             acceptable
             in
             the
             sight
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             never
             fails
             to
             reward
             honest
             Simplicity
             and
             Innocency
             ,
             and
             to
             recompense
             every
             degree
             of
             hearty
             Love
             with
             a
             suitable
             proportion
             of
             Glory
             .
          
           
             But
             that
             we
             may
             see
             before
             our
             eyes
             the
             Plainness
             and
             Perspicuity
             of
             the
             Gospel
             in
             all
             matters
             that
             concern
             the
             Salvation
             and
             future
             Happiness
             of
             a
             Christian
             ,
             we
             may
             take
             a
             brief
             Abstract
             or
             Sum
             of
             our
             Duty
             ,
             which
             is
             this
             ;
             
               To
               love
               the
               Lord
               our
               God
               with
               all
               our
               hearts
               ,
               and
               to
               have
               a
               firm
               and
               radicated
               Faith
               in
               his
               Goodness
               declared
               to
               the
               World
               by
               his
               only
               begotten
               Son
               Jesus
               Christ
               ;
               an
               universal
               Abstinence
               from
               all
               Wrong
               and
               Injustice
               ;
               a
               hearty
               Love
               and
               Good-will
               to
               all
               men
               whatever
               ;
               to
               hold
               fast
               that
               which
               is
               Good
               ,
               and
               to
               abstain
               from
               all
               appearance
               of
               Evil
               ;
               to
               be
               of
               a
               compassionate
               and
               forgiving
               Spirit
               ,
               and
               if
               we
               have
               received
               an
               Injury
               ,
               not
               to
               recompense
               it
               again
               in
               any
               kind
               ;
               to
               abstract
               and
               withdraw
               
               our
               hearts
               and
               minds
               from
               earthly
               Goods
               ,
               and
               make
               Treasures
               for
               ourselves
               in
               Heaven
               ,
               and
               to
               be
               no
               more
               solicitous
               for
               worldly
               concernments
               than
               the
               Lilies
               of
               the
               field
               or
               the
               Fowls
               of
               the
               air
               ,
               but
               that
               having
               food
               and
               raiment
               therewith
               to
               be
               content
               ;
               to
               keep
               ourselves
               pure
               and
               undefiled
               ,
               not
               only
               from
               outward
               and
               grosser
               ,
               but
               inward
               and
               more
               refined
               Pollutions
               ;
               to
               be
               ready
               to
               do
               good
               and
               distribute
               to
               the
               Necessities
               of
               our
               Brethren
               ;
               to
               live
               peaceably
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               possible
               ,
               with
               all
               men
               ;
               In
               a
               word
               ,
               whatever
               things
               are
               true
               ,
               whatever
               things
               are
               honest
               ,
               just
               ,
               lovely
               ,
               and
               of
               good
               report
               ;
               if
               there
               be
               any
               virtue
               ,
               if
               there
               be
               any
               praise
               ,
               to
               think
               on
               such
               things
               .
            
             What
             can
             be
             plainer
             and
             easier
             than
             this
             ?
             Nor
             is
             the
             Simplicity
             of
             the
             Gospel
             any
             derogation
             from
             it
             ,
             though
             that
             impious
             Epicurean
             Celsus
             deride
             it
             upon
             that
             account
             ,
             extolling
             the
             Writings
             of
             Plato
             above
             the
             Scriptures
             :
             For
             ,
             as
             Origen
             acutely
             enough
             replies
             ,
             
             the
             Design
             of
             God
             in
             the
             Gospel
             being
             to
             make
             men
             good
             and
             virtuous
             ,
             it
             was
             necessary
             the
             Precepts
             tending
             to
             that
             end
             should
             be
             delivered
             plainly
             and
             perspicuously
             ,
             suitable
             to
             the
             Capacities
             of
             the
             illiterate
             Vulgar
             ,
             who
             are
             better
             
             allured
             and
             won
             by
             a
             common
             and
             usual
             form
             of
             Speech
             ,
             than
             by
             the
             artificial
             Deckings
             and
             gay
             Schemes
             of
             Rhetorick
             :
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             And
             therefore
             Christ
             and
             his
             Apostles
             did
             much
             more
             advance
             that
             which
             was
             their
             chief
             aim
             ,
             the
             Life
             and
             Nature
             of
             God
             in
             the
             World
             by
             that
             (
             as
             Celsus
             calls
             it
             )
             rude
             and
             rustical
             manner
             of
             speaking
             ,
             than
             all
             the
             elegant
             Writings
             of
             Plato
             ,
             which
             if
             they
             ever
             were
             advantageous
             for
             the
             rectifying
             and
             amending
             the
             Lives
             of
             men
             ,
             it
             was
             only
             to
             such
             whose
             Intellectual
             Faculties
             were
             raised
             and
             elevated
             above
             the
             Plebeian
             Strain
             .
             Therefore
             did
             the
             Holy
             Jesus
             on
             purpose
             make
             choice
             of
             ignorant
             and
             illiterate
             Persons
             ,
             that
             it
             might
             appear
             that
             the
             things
             which
             they
             spake
             were
             not
             in
             the
             
               words
               which
               mans
               wisdom
               teacheth
            
             ,
             
             but
             which
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             teacheth
             ,
             and
             that
             
               by
               the
               foolish
               things
               of
               the
               world
               God
               might
               confound
               the
               wise
               ,
               and
               by
               the
               weak
               destroy
               the
               things
               that
               are
               mighty
               .
            
          
           
             Object
             .
             But
             you
             will
             say
             ,
             
               To
               what
               purpose
               is
               that
               Intricacy
               and
               Perplexity
               which
               is
               found
               in
               many
               Places
               of
               Holy
               
               Scripture
               ,
               and
               wherefore
               are
               many
               of
               the
               chiefest
               of
               its
               Doctrines
               involved
               in
               such
               Darkness
               and
               Obscurity
               ?
            
          
           
             Answ
             .
             1.
             
             It
             was
             in
             some
             measure
             requisite
             that
             the
             Scripture
             should
             be
             obscure
             to
             conciliate
             Reverence
             ,
             and
             to
             beget
             a
             greater
             Esteem
             of
             its
             Worth
             and
             Dignity
             .
             For
             the
             Gospel
             is
             often
             called
             a
             Mystery
             ,
             which
             supposes
             somthing
             venerable
             and
             secret
             ,
             and
             hidden
             from
             the
             eyes
             of
             vulgar
             Persons
             .
             And
             God
             as
             in
             Nature
             ,
             he
             hath
             hid
             many
             pretious
             things
             in
             the
             Bowels
             of
             the
             Earth
             ,
             which
             cannot
             be
             obtained
             without
             great
             Labour
             and
             Diligence
             ;
             in
             like
             manner
             hath
             he
             veiled
             many
             inestimable
             Treasures
             in
             the
             Christian
             Mystery
             ,
             which
             are
             only
             attainable
             by
             the
             diligent
             Search
             and
             sincere
             Endeavours
             of
             pious
             men
             :
             For
             should
             the
             Divine
             Wisdom
             have
             displayed
             at
             once
             all
             the
             Glories
             and
             Beauty
             of
             this
             sacred
             and
             recondite
             Method
             of
             recovering
             Souls
             ,
             it
             would
             appear
             contemptible
             and
             worthless
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             easie
             purchase
             of
             every
             profane
             and
             impious
             Person
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             Reason
             of
             the
             Obscurity
             of
             Christianity
             lies
             not
             so
             much
             in
             the
             Nature
             of
             the
             thing
             itself
             ,
             as
             in
             the
             incongruity
             of
             mens
             Minds
             and
             Understandings
             with
             so
             high
             and
             raised
             an
             Object
             .
             
             The
             Eye
             cannot
             behold
             the
             Sun
             unless
             it
             have
             some
             Resemblance
             and
             Similitude
             of
             it
             within
             itself
             ;
             for
             like
             is
             known
             by
             its
             like
             ,
             and
             if
             mens
             Minds
             be
             not
             purified
             and
             brought
             into
             some
             Cognation
             and
             Likeness
             with
             the
             Truths
             offered
             to
             them
             ,
             it
             is
             impossible
             they
             should
             ever
             have
             any
             true
             and
             genuine
             Apprehension
             of
             them
             .
             There
             is
             a
             Learning
             and
             Knowing
             the
             Truth
             as
             it
             is
             in
             Jesus
             ,
             in
             that
             God-like
             ,
             meek
             ,
             and
             resigned
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             till
             mens
             Tempers
             be
             plain'd
             and
             smooth'd
             from
             the
             ruggedness
             of
             their
             Passions
             ,
             and
             the
             stubborn
             Asperities
             of
             their
             Lusts
             ,
             and
             won
             to
             the
             embracing
             of
             the
             Truth
             in
             the
             love
             of
             it
             ,
             in
             that
             Christ-like
             Nature
             of
             Humility
             and
             Self-Denial
             ,
             they
             may
             fill
             their
             heads
             with
             sapless
             and
             lean
             Notions
             ,
             windy
             and
             turgent
             Fancies
             ,
             but
             never
             nourish
             up
             their
             Souls
             with
             solid
             and
             substantial
             Knowledge
             .
             The
             true
             sense
             of
             Religion
             and
             Christianity
             arises
             out
             of
             a
             mind
             devoid
             of
             Passion
             ,
             and
             in
             which
             the
             Life
             of
             God
             has
             taken
             deep
             root
             and
             flourishes
             and
             spreads
             itself
             throughout
             all
             the
             powers
             of
             the
             Soul
             ,
             giving
             a
             tincture
             ,
             relish
             and
             savour
             of
             itself
             to
             every
             Thought
             ,
             Word
             ,
             and
             Deed
             in
             the
             whole
             course
             of
             a
             mans
             Life
             .
             And
             without
             
             this
             purified
             sense
             ,
             we
             feed
             upon
             nothing
             but
             the
             Husks
             and
             Shells
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             fall
             in
             love
             with
             Shadows
             instead
             of
             lasting
             and
             durable
             Substances
             .
             And
             this
             is
             no
             more
             than
             what
             the
             Scripture
             speaks
             of
             itself
             .
             1
             Cor.
             ii
             .
             14.
             
             
               The
               natural
               man
               receiveth
               not
               the
               things
               of
               the
               Spirit
               of
               God
               ,
               for
               they
               are
               foolishness
               unto
               him
               ;
               neither
               can
               he
               know
               them
               ,
               because
               they
               are
               spiritually
               discerned
               .
            
             There
             is
             required
             a
             spiritual
             Sense
             ,
             a
             Life
             of
             Holiness
             and
             Justice
             ,
             of
             Benignity
             and
             Righteousness
             ,
             to
             the
             true
             discrimination
             of
             Good
             and
             Evil.
             And
             further
             ,
             to
             the
             Knowledge
             and
             Understanding
             of
             Divine
             Mysteries
             ,
             there
             is
             necessarily
             required
             the
             Aid
             and
             Assistance
             of
             that
             Almighty
             and
             Omnipresent
             Spirit
             ,
             who
             by
             his
             fostering
             Incubation
             brought
             into
             Being
             the
             goodly
             frame
             of
             Heaven
             and
             Earth
             ,
             and
             that
             this
             Holy
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             may
             begin
             the
             Efformation
             of
             the
             new
             and
             heavenly
             Nature
             (
             a
             considerable
             part
             of
             which
             is
             Divine
             and
             Spiritual
             Wisdom
             )
             there
             must
             be
             some
             previous
             Preparations
             ,
             and
             men
             must
             be
             morally
             good
             and
             virtuous
             ,
             or
             else
             they
             will
             be
             perfectly
             incapable
             of
             the
             illapse
             of
             his
             Celestial
             Influence
             .
             And
             therefore
             it
             is
             no
             marvel
             ,
             if
             to
             brutish
             and
             immoral
             
             Persons
             the
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
             be
             hid
             and
             obscure
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             That
             there
             might
             be
             somthing
             still
             reserved
             for
             the
             gratification
             of
             all
             degrees
             of
             Christians
             in
             all
             Ages
             of
             the
             World.
             There
             are
             both
             weak
             and
             strong
             Christians
             ;
             some
             that
             are
             Babes
             in
             Christ
             and
             are
             fed
             with
             Milk
             ,
             others
             that
             are
             of
             full
             Age
             ,
             and
             have
             a
             discriminating
             sense
             of
             Good
             and
             Evil.
             For
             the
             one
             there
             was
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             a
             rudimental
             way
             of
             instruction
             ,
             whereby
             men
             were
             led
             ,
             as
             it
             were
             ,
             by
             the
             hand
             through
             the
             Principles
             of
             Religion
             ,
             as
             the
             Author
             to
             the
             Hebrews
             intimates
             ,
             Heb.
             vi
             .
             where
             the
             first
             thing
             required
             of
             them
             that
             embraced
             Christianity
             ,
             was
             Repentance
             from
             dead
             works
             ,
             and
             Faith
             towards
             God
             ,
             and
             upon
             this
             followed
             Baptism
             ,
             then
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             which
             I
             take
             to
             be
             Catechizing
             ,
             and
             after
             that
             Confirmation
             by
             the
             Bishop
             ;
             agreeable
             to
             this
             Apostolical
             Custom
             is
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             Church
             of
             England
             ,
             who
             after
             Baptism
             appoints
             Children
             to
             be
             instructed
             in
             the
             Church-Catechism
             ,
             and
             then
             brought
             to
             the
             Bishop
             to
             receive
             Confirmation
             :
             For
             others
             whose
             intellectual
             Capacities
             were
             fit
             for
             the
             reception
             of
             higher
             Mysteries
             ,
             there
             was
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             a
             
             full
             and
             rational
             Explication
             of
             the
             several
             Dogmata
             of
             Christianity
             ;
             and
             of
             these
             St.
             Paul
             is
             to
             be
             understood
             when
             he
             says
             ,
             
               We
               speak
               wisdom
               among
               them
               that
               are
               perfect
               ,
            
             even
             the
             wisdom
             of
             God
             in
             the
             Mystery
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
             And
             St.
             John
             distinguishes
             the
             several
             Ages
             and
             Growths
             of
             Christians
             ;
             
               I
               write
               unto
               you
               little
               Children
               ,
            
             
             
               because
               your
               Sins
               are
               forgiven
               you
               for
               his
               names
               sake
               :
               I
               write
               unto
               you
               young
               men
               ,
               because
               ye
               have
               overcome
               the
               wicked
               one
               :
               I
               write
               unto
               you
               fathers
               ,
               because
               ye
               have
               known
               him
               that
               is
               from
               the
               beginning
               .
            
             Now
             that
             the
             Stewards
             of
             the
             Mysteries
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Heaven
             may
             give
             every
             one
             his
             meat
             in
             due
             season
             ,
             it
             is
             necessary
             there
             should
             be
             a
             diversity
             in
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             that
             every
             proportion
             and
             degree
             in
             Grace
             may
             receive
             somthing
             which
             may
             both
             strengthen
             and
             gratify
             the
             knower
             .
             A
             man
             is
             not
             satisfied
             with
             that
             which
             will
             nourish
             and
             content
             an
             Infant
             ,
             and
             and
             he
             that
             is
             well
             grown
             in
             Piety
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             leaving
             the
             Rudiments
             and
             Principles
             of
             Christianity
             ascends
             to
             higher
             Notions
             ,
             and
             is
             infinitely
             satisfied
             and
             ravished
             with
             the
             Contemplation
             of
             the
             Works
             of
             Nature
             and
             Providence
             ,
             in
             beholding
             the
             Divine
             Goodness
             and
             Wisdom
             in
             the
             Manifestation
             of
             that
             Mystery
             
             which
             lay
             hid
             from
             Ages
             and
             Generations
             ,
             and
             whose
             only
             Design
             being
             revealed
             ,
             is
             the
             complete
             Restauration
             and
             Perfection
             of
             Human
             Nature
             .
             And
             in
             this
             is
             the
             Saying
             of
             the
             wise
             man
             verified
             ,
             Eccles
             .
             2.26
             .
             
               God
               giveth
               to
               a
               man
               that
               is
               good
               in
               his
               sight
               ,
               wisdom
               and
               knowledge
               and
               joy
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             CHAP.
             II.
             
          
           
             
               Of
               the
               Truth
               of
               Christianity
            
             .
          
           
             THe
             second
             Illustration
             of
             the
             Excellency
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             is
             ,
             That
             it
             is
             true
             ;
             which
             will
             best
             be
             evidenced
             by
             these
             Gradations
             :
          
           
             1.
             
             It
             is
             certain
             that
             there
             was
             such
             a
             Man
             as
             Jesus
             in
             the
             World
             :
             And
             here
             I
             would
             desire
             the
             Enemies
             of
             this
             Truth
             ,
             whether
             Jews
             or
             Heathens
             ,
             to
             give
             me
             liberty
             to
             make
             use
             of
             the
             same
             Arguments
             they
             themselves
             do
             in
             proving
             the
             Truth
             of
             their
             Histories
             ;
             For
             how
             are
             they
             assured
             that
             there
             were
             any
             such
             men
             in
             the
             World
             as
             Moses
             and
             Aristotle
             ?
             If
             they
             say
             they
             have
             it
             from
             a
             constant
             and
             unquestionable
             Tradition
             ,
             we
             can
             bring
             
             the
             same
             proof
             for
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             the
             Truth
             of
             which
             hath
             been
             delivered
             successively
             from
             one
             Generation
             to
             another
             for
             above
             these
             sixteen
             hundred
             years
             .
             If
             they
             appeal
             to
             the
             Writings
             of
             those
             who
             were
             contemporary
             with
             them
             ,
             the
             Christians
             have
             the
             same
             Plea
             :
             For
             the
             very
             Enemies
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             such
             as
             Celsus
             the
             Epicurean
             ,
             and
             Julian
             the
             Apostate
             never
             questioned
             his
             Existence
             and
             Being
             upon
             Earth
             .
             The
             words
             of
             Celsus
             we
             have
             in
             the
             second
             Book
             of
             Origen
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             And
             Julian
             confesses
             as
             much
             ,
             as
             we
             find
             by
             Cyril
             in
             his
             sixth
             Book
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             I
             might
             here
             bring
             in
             the
             Testimony
             of
             
               Tacitus
               ,
               Pliny
            
             ,
             and
             Numenius
             the
             Pythagorean
             who
             in
             his
             third
             Book
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             (
             as
             Origen
             tells
             us
             )
             relates
             a
             certain
             piece
             of
             the
             History
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             which
             he
             afterwards
             allegorizes
             ;
             
             but
             I
             need
             not
             be
             copious
             in
             this
             ,
             the
             Jews
             themselves
             who
             never
             thought
             they
             could
             sufficiently
             detest
             and
             hate
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Holy
             Jesus
             ,
             yet
             could
             not
             deny
             but
             he
             once
             lived
             among
             them
             ,
             and
             therefore
             call
             him
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             as
             Lucian
             in
             derision
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             
               him
               that
               was
               hanged
               on
               a
               Tree
               .
            
          
           
           
             2.
             
             It
             is
             likewise
             as
             unquestionable
             that
             Jesus
             wrought
             many
             notable
             Miracles
             while
             he
             conversed
             with
             men
             ;
             and
             they
             are
             such
             ,
             as
             if
             we
             look
             into
             the
             Quality
             and
             Design
             of
             them
             ,
             do
             evidently
             prove
             his
             Mission
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             therefore
             that
             all
             men
             ought
             to
             believe
             on
             him
             .
             And
             this
             miraculous
             Power
             ought
             to
             have
             convinced
             the
             Jews
             by
             their
             own
             Law
             ,
             for
             this
             was
             the
             Sign
             or
             Token
             left
             by
             Moses
             to
             discern
             between
             the
             true
             and
             false
             Prophet
             ,
             Deut.
             xviii
             .
             21
             ,
             22.
             
             
               And
               if
               thou
               say
               in
               thine
               heart
               ,
               How
               shall
               we
               know
               the
               word
               which
               the
               Lord
               hath
               not
               spoken
               ?
               When
               a
               Prophet
               speaks
               in
               the
               name
               of
               the
               Lord
               ,
               if
               the
               thing
               follow
               not
               nor
               come
               to
               pass
               ,
               i.
               e.
            
             if
             he
             do
             no
             Miracles
             ,
             
               that
               is
               the
               thing
               which
               the
               Lord
               hath
               not
               spoken
               :
            
             And
             consequently
             ,
             if
             there
             shall
             come
             one
             whose
             Doctrine
             tends
             to
             the
             establishing
             the
             pure
             Worship
             of
             the
             true
             God
             ,
             and
             delivers
             nothing
             but
             what
             is
             for
             the
             promotion
             of
             Piety
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             and
             shall
             confirm
             this
             his
             Doctrine
             by
             Miracles
             ,
             both
             Jews
             and
             Gentiles
             ought
             to
             believe
             in
             him
             .
             But
             if
             any
             one
             come
             and
             seek
             to
             draw
             men
             from
             real
             and
             substantial
             Holiness
             and
             the
             Worship
             of
             the
             true
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             gain
             credit
             to
             his
             pernicious
             Design
             ,
             shall
             work
             a
             Miracle
             ,
             we
             
             are
             not
             to
             believe
             him
             ,
             because
             God
             sometimes
             permits
             such
             things
             to
             be
             done
             to
             try
             the
             Constancy
             and
             Stedfastness
             of
             men
             .
             Deut.
             xiii
             .
             1
             ,
             2
             ,
             3.
             
             To
             this
             the
             Jews
             object
             and
             say
             ,
             that
             our
             blessed
             Saviour
             performed
             his
             Miracles
             by
             magical
             and
             diabolical
             Arts
             ,
             for
             so
             they
             tell
             him
             ,
             that
             
               he
               cast
               out
               Devils
               by
               Beelzebub
               the
               Prince
               of
               Devils
               .
            
             To
             this
             impious
             Cavil
             we
             may
             return
             (
             1.
             )
             the
             Answer
             which
             our
             Saviour
             made
             them
             ,
             Mat.
             xii
             .
             25
             ,
             26.
             
             
               Every
               kingdom
               divided
               against
               itself
               is
               brought
               to
               desolation
               ;
               and
               if
               Satan
               cast
               out
               Satan
               ,
               he
               is
               divided
               against
               himself
               ,
               how
               shall
               then
               his
               kingdom
               stand
               ?
            
             For
             the
             Doctrin
             of
             Christ
             being
             so
             exactly
             opposite
             and
             destructive
             of
             the
             kingdom
             of
             Unrighteousness
             and
             Darkness
             (
             as
             Porphyry
             himself
             acknowledged
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             
             )
             If
             the
             Head
             and
             Prince
             of
             this
             wicked
             Polity
             should
             abet
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             so
             far
             as
             to
             impower
             him
             to
             cast
             out
             his
             associates
             from
             their
             usurped
             Habitations
             ,
             it
             would
             undoubtedly
             beget
             an
             intestine
             War
             ,
             and
             the
             Powers
             of
             Hell
             would
             be
             at
             an
             eternal
             Variance
             and
             Dissension
             with
             one
             another
             ,
             which
             at
             last
             would
             be
             the
             cause
             of
             the
             ruine
             of
             their
             Kingdom
             .
             (
             2.
             )
             This
             were
             an
             invincible
             Tentation
             put
             upon
             Mankind
             ,
             
             for
             there
             can
             be
             no
             surer
             manifestation
             of
             the
             Presence
             and
             Approbation
             of
             the
             Deity
             ,
             than
             when
             a
             man
             is
             inabled
             to
             work
             Miracles
             :
             And
             it
             were
             irreconcileable
             with
             the
             Goodness
             and
             Wisdom
             of
             Almighty
             God
             to
             suffer
             the
             most
             innocent
             and
             harmless
             Persons
             in
             the
             world
             to
             be
             fatally
             and
             inevitably
             deluded
             .
             (
             3.
             )
             The
             great
             Synedrium
             consisting
             of
             the
             High-Priests
             ,
             the
             Elders
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             and
             the
             Scribes
             or
             Lawyers
             as
             their
             Assistants
             ,
             whose
             Office
             and
             Right
             it
             was
             to
             try
             the
             Prophets
             ,
             are
             said
             by
             the
             Jews
             to
             be
             skilled
             in
             Magick
             Rites
             for
             the
             better
             and
             surer
             Exploration
             of
             those
             who
             pretended
             to
             be
             true
             Prophets
             ,
             but
             wrought
             their
             Wonders
             by
             the
             help
             of
             Apostate
             Spirits
             ;
             which
             ,
             if
             it
             were
             so
             ,
             is
             a
             very
             pregnant
             Testimony
             that
             Jesus
             performed
             his
             Miracles
             by
             the
             Divine
             Power
             and
             Approbation
             ;
             for
             otherwise
             his
             Fraud
             would
             soon
             have
             been
             detected
             by
             that
             great
             Council
             .
             (
             4.
             )
             That
             there
             are
             prestigious
             and
             Satanical
             Miracles
             ,
             is
             an
             Evidence
             that
             there
             are
             likewise
             True
             and
             Divine
             ,
             as
             in
             Nature
             the
             being
             of
             Worse
             argues
             the
             existence
             of
             Better
             ,
             Sophisms
             and
             Falshood
             the
             reality
             of
             Truth
             ,
             and
             the
             operations
             of
             Second
             Causes
             lead
             us
             to
             the
             knowledge
             and
             being
             of
             a
             First
             ;
             wherefore
             
             if
             it
             be
             granted
             that
             evil
             and
             lapsed
             Genii
             can
             work
             Miracles
             ,
             it
             is
             apparent
             that
             the
             first
             and
             best
             Cause
             of
             all
             things
             may
             and
             does
             produce
             Effects
             of
             a
             Divine
             Power
             and
             Virtue
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             Miracles
             of
             the
             blessed
             Jesus
             were
             such
             ,
             appears
             partly
             from
             the
             Holiness
             and
             Purity
             of
             his
             Life
             and
             Manners
             ,
             in
             all
             parts
             of
             them
             blameless
             and
             irreprehensible
             ,
             and
             partly
             from
             the
             Design
             and
             Intention
             of
             his
             Miracles
             ,
             namely
             to
             confirm
             and
             give
             credit
             to
             that
             sublime
             and
             heavenly
             Doctrin
             he
             brought
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             whose
             End
             was
             to
             correct
             and
             reform
             the
             Lives
             of
             men
             ,
             and
             disseminate
             the
             blessed
             Life
             and
             Nature
             of
             God
             upon
             Earth
             ;
             which
             Considerations
             are
             sufficient
             to
             beget
             a
             firm
             and
             undoubted
             Perswasion
             that
             the
             immaculate
             Soul
             of
             Jesus
             was
             extraordinarily
             assisted
             and
             acted
             by
             a
             Divine
             Power
             and
             Efficacy
             which
             enabled
             him
             to
             perform
             those
             stupendious
             Operations
             that
             are
             recorded
             in
             the
             Gospels
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             We
             have
             reason
             to
             believe
             that
             there
             was
             a
             timely
             History
             of
             the
             Life
             and
             Transactions
             of
             Jesus
             compiled
             .
             For
             we
             can
             no
             ways
             doubt
             but
             that
             the
             Disciples
             of
             our
             blessed
             Lord
             ,
             bearing
             so
             tender
             and
             dear
             a
             Love
             to
             their
             Saviour
             ,
             and
             being
             so
             fully
             convinced
             and
             satisfied
             in
             
             their
             Minds
             that
             he
             was
             the
             promised
             Messias
             ,
             who
             should
             regenerate
             and
             renew
             the
             World
             ,
             did
             compose
             and
             draw
             up
             an
             Abstract
             or
             Compendium
             of
             his
             Life
             :
             And
             if
             we
             consider
             likewise
             how
             much
             it
             would
             conduce
             to
             the
             carrying
             on
             the
             Design
             they
             were
             setting
             on
             foot
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             all
             men
             should
             believe
             in
             the
             Holy
             Jesus
             ,
             and
             imitate
             his
             immaculate
             and
             faultless
             Example
             ,
             we
             cannot
             readily
             believe
             that
             they
             were
             so
             stupid
             as
             to
             neglect
             such
             an
             effectual
             Instrument
             for
             the
             promoting
             their
             purpose
             ,
             or
             so
             uncharitable
             as
             to
             envy
             Mankind
             so
             great
             a
             Good.
             
          
           
             4.
             
             That
             the
             Histories
             of
             the
             Gospel
             were
             compiled
             by
             those
             whose
             Names
             they
             bear
             in
             the
             forefront
             .
             And
             for
             this
             we
             have
             no
             greater
             Reason
             to
             doubt
             ,
             than
             we
             have
             to
             question
             whether
             the
             Pentateuch
             or
             five
             first
             Books
             of
             the
             Bible
             were
             written
             by
             Moses
             ,
             or
             whether
             those
             Writings
             which
             bear
             the
             Names
             of
             Cicero
             and
             Virgil
             as
             their
             Authors
             ,
             were
             ever
             composed
             by
             them
             .
             Suppose
             now
             we
             would
             know
             who
             was
             the
             Author
             of
             some
             very
             antient
             Writing
             ;
             to
             prove
             this
             ,
             one
             Testimony
             must
             be
             taken
             from
             those
             who
             were
             contemporary
             with
             the
             Author
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             very
             little
             distant
             from
             him
             ,
             and
             
             from
             the
             perpetual
             Consent
             of
             wise
             and
             learned
             men
             ;
             and
             in
             this
             the
             sacred
             Volumes
             have
             infinitely
             the
             advantage
             above
             any
             other
             Writing
             whatever
             .
             Tertullian
             affirms
             that
             the
             Archetypal
             Copies
             written
             with
             the
             Apostles
             own
             hands
             were
             extant
             in
             several
             Churches
             in
             his
             time
             .
             
               Age
               jam
               ,
               qui
               voles
               curiositatem
               melius
               exercere
               in
               negotio
               salutis
               tuae
               ,
            
             
             
               percurre
               Ecclesias
               Apostolicas
               ,
               apud
               quas
               ipsae
               adhuc
               Cathedrae
               Apostolorum
               suis
               locis
               praesident
               ,
               apud
               quas
               ipsae
               Authenticae
               Literae
               corum
               recitantur
               .
            
             And
             is
             it
             any
             more
             incredible
             that
             the
             very
             Autographa
             of
             the
             Apostler
             should
             be
             seen
             in
             
             Tertullian's
             time
             ,
             than
             that
             
             Cicero's
             hand
             should
             be
             shown
             in
             
             Quintilian's
             or
             
             Virgil's
             in
             Gellius
             his
             age
             ?
             But
             beside
             that
             ,
             we
             have
             the
             concurrent
             Testimony
             of
             
               Justin
               Martyr
               ,
               Irenaeus
            
             ,
             and
             
               Clemens
               Alexandrinus
            
             ,
             all
             of
             which
             were
             the
             very
             next
             to
             the
             Apostolical
             Age
             ,
             we
             never
             find
             any
             Controversie
             moved
             either
             by
             Jews
             or
             Pagans
             whether
             those
             Writings
             were
             theirs
             whose
             Names
             they
             bear
             .
             Julian
             in
             Cyril
             acknowledges
             that
             the
             Epistles
             of
             Peter
             and
             Paul
             ,
             the
             Gospels
             of
             
               Matthew
               ,
               Mark
            
             and
             Luke
             are
             the
             very
             Writings
             of
             those
             Persons
             with
             whose
             Names
             they
             are
             adorned
             .
             Add
             to
             this
             further
             ,
             that
             amidst
             the
             early
             Differences
             
             and
             Dissensions
             amongst
             Christians
             ,
             we
             never
             find
             any
             sober
             and
             grave
             Person
             questioning
             this
             Truth
             :
             Indeed
             we
             read
             of
             the
             Ebionites
             ,
             a
             sort
             of
             Judaizing
             Christians
             who
             rejected
             the
             Epistles
             of
             St.
             Paul
             ,
             but
             yet
             they
             denied
             not
             that
             he
             was
             the
             Author
             of
             them
             ,
             but
             refused
             them
             because
             they
             thought
             St.
             Paul
             an
             Undervaluer
             of
             and
             Apostate
             from
             the
             Law
             of
             Moses
             .
             But
             suppose
             the
             Author
             of
             any
             of
             the
             Books
             of
             the
             New
             Testament
             be
             to
             us
             unknown
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             of
             the
             Epistle
             to
             the
             Hebrews
             ,
             yet
             ought
             it
             not
             to
             be
             of
             any
             less
             Credit
             and
             Authority
             with
             us
             for
             either
             the
             Doctrin
             or
             History
             contained
             in
             it
             ,
             because
             the
             Matter
             and
             Substance
             of
             the
             Book
             is
             more
             to
             be
             regarded
             than
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             Author
             ;
             and
             therefore
             because
             for
             example
             we
             find
             nothing
             in
             the
             Epistle
             to
             the
             Hebrews
             which
             may
             rationally
             invalidate
             our
             Belief
             of
             the
             things
             contained
             in
             it
             ,
             and
             over
             and
             above
             have
             sufficient
             evidence
             that
             it
             was
             never
             repudiated
             by
             the
             Christians
             who
             succeeded
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             we
             deservedly
             receive
             it
             as
             Canonical
             Scripture
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             That
             we
             have
             all
             imaginable
             Reason
             to
             ground
             our
             Faith
             upon
             those
             Histories
             of
             the
             Gospel
             delivered
             to
             us
             .
             And
             this
             appears
             ,
             1.
             
             Because
             't
             is
             not
             likely
             those
             who
             wrote
             them
             should
             be
             deceived
             .
             
             2.
             
             Neither
             is
             it
             probable
             they
             would
             deceive
             others
             .
          
           
             There
             is
             no
             likelihood
             they
             should
             be
             deceived
             ,
             because
             they
             were
             either
             Eye-witnesses
             of
             the
             things
             they
             delivered
             to
             Posterity
             ,
             or
             else
             wrote
             them
             from
             the
             mouths
             of
             those
             who
             were
             Spectators
             of
             them
             ;
             and
             we
             never
             find
             a
             Miracle
             recorded
             which
             Christ
             did
             alone
             ,
             without
             the
             Company
             of
             two
             or
             three
             of
             his
             Disciples
             ;
             When
             he
             was
             transfigured
             ,
             he
             took
             with
             him
             
               Peter
               ,
               James
            
             ,
             and
             John
             ;
             when
             he
             raised
             the
             Ruler
             of
             the
             Synagogues
             Daughter
             ,
             he
             carried
             the
             same
             three
             with
             him
             .
             Matthew
             was
             one
             of
             them
             who
             perpetually
             accompanied
             our
             blessed
             Lord
             ,
             and
             saw
             the
             greatest
             part
             of
             those
             things
             which
             he
             wrote
             .
             Mark
             ,
             it
             is
             thought
             ,
             was
             an
             Associate
             of
             St.
             Peter
             ,
             and
             wrote
             his
             Gospel
             from
             his
             mouth
             .
             And
             Luke
             ,
             beside
             that
             he
             was
             one
             of
             those
             who
             travelled
             about
             with
             St.
             Paul
             ,
             who
             had
             his
             Commission
             and
             Revelation
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             he
             also
             in
             his
             Dedicatory
             Preface
             to
             his
             Gospel
             ,
             professes
             himself
             to
             have
             had
             perfect
             Understanding
             of
             all
             things
             from
             the
             very
             first
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             delivered
             to
             him
             from
             those
             who
             were
             Eye-witnesses
             of
             them
             .
             St.
             John
             was
             the
             beloved
             Disciple
             ,
             and
             always
             followed
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             where-ever
             
             he
             went
             ,
             and
             setting
             aside
             the
             Metaphysical
             Sermons
             recorded
             in
             his
             Gospel
             ,
             he
             relates
             very
             few
             miracles
             or
             new
             things
             ,
             but
             what
             are
             confirmed
             by
             the
             Testimony
             of
             some
             one
             of
             the
             other
             three
             .
             As
             for
             that
             notable
             Miracle
             of
             raising
             Lazarus
             from
             the
             dead
             after
             four
             days
             burial
             ,
             omitted
             by
             all
             the
             rest
             ,
             it
             is
             capable
             of
             this
             account
             ;
             St.
             John
             lived
             long
             after
             all
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Apostles
             and
             Evangelists
             ,
             even
             to
             the
             Destruction
             of
             Jerusalem
             ,
             and
             Lazarus
             being
             then
             alive
             when
             the
             others
             wrote
             their
             Gospels
             ,
             they
             purposely
             omitted
             it
             ,
             lest
             the
             reciting
             and
             recording
             so
             eximious
             and
             convictive
             a
             Miracle
             ,
             might
             exasperate
             the
             Jews
             against
             him
             ,
             and
             bring
             him
             to
             ruine
             ,
             but
             being
             dead
             ,
             St.
             John
             might
             safely
             transmit
             it
             to
             Posterity
             in
             his
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             Again
             ,
             It
             is
             very
             improbable
             they
             would
             deceive
             others
             ;
             For
             ,
             
               Cui
               bono
            
             ,
             to
             what
             end
             or
             purpose
             ,
             or
             what
             Design
             could
             they
             aim
             at
             in
             deceiving
             the
             World
             ?
             Honours
             and
             Preferments
             they
             could
             not
             expect
             ,
             they
             being
             all
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             the
             Pagans
             or
             of
             the
             Jews
             their
             bitter
             Enemies
             ,
             who
             hated
             the
             holy
             Jesus
             with
             an
             implacable
             hatred
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             very
             reason
             persecuted
             all
             his
             Adherents
             ;
             nor
             could
             they
             hope
             for
             Riches
             ,
             when
             the
             Profession
             of
             Christianity
             exposed
             them
             to
             the
             Loss
             of
             
             all
             temporal
             Goods
             ,
             neither
             could
             the
             Gospel
             be
             preached
             without
             the
             neglect
             of
             mundane
             affairs
             .
             But
             perhaps
             some
             will
             say
             ,
             they
             imposed
             upon
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             they
             might
             be
             the
             Authors
             of
             a
             new
             Sect
             ;
             But
             (
             1.
             )
             either
             they
             believed
             the
             Doctrins
             which
             they
             taught
             to
             be
             true
             ,
             or
             they
             did
             not
             ;
             if
             they
             did
             not
             believe
             them
             ,
             we
             cannot
             easily
             imagine
             they
             should
             so
             far
             forth
             put
             off
             all
             Humanity
             and
             good
             Nature
             ,
             which
             they
             so
             seriously
             and
             frequently
             inculcate
             in
             their
             Writings
             ,
             as
             to
             expose
             so
             many
             thousand
             innocent
             Persons
             to
             Death
             upon
             their
             Assertion
             of
             a
             Falshood
             :
             yet
             if
             they
             could
             be
             so
             prodigiously
             cruel
             to
             others
             ,
             would
             they
             be
             so
             prodigal
             of
             their
             own
             Blood
             as
             to
             throw
             it
             away
             upon
             an
             uncertain
             Delusion
             ?
             If
             they
             thought
             them
             to
             be
             true
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             most
             likely
             they
             did
             ,
             their
             Writings
             shewing
             that
             they
             were
             in
             good
             earnest
             ,
             then
             't
             is
             certain
             that
             it
             was
             not
             the
             poor
             and
             trifling
             Glory
             of
             being
             the
             Authors
             of
             a
             new
             and
             unheard
             of
             Sect
             ,
             but
             the
             real
             Good
             and
             Advantage
             of
             Mankind
             which
             animated
             and
             encourag'd
             them
             to
             such
             an
             Undertaking
             .
             (
             2.
             )
             It
             is
             not
             the
             manner
             of
             Cheaters
             to
             provoke
             to
             so
             many
             Witnesses
             ,
             as
             we
             find
             the
             Apostles
             did
             .
             St.
             Paul
             asserting
             the
             Resurrection
             of
             our
             blessed
             Lord
             ,
             beside
             the
             Testimony
             of
             the
             
             twelve
             Apostles
             ,
             brings
             in
             five
             hundred
             upon
             the
             Stage
             at
             once
             to
             confirm
             the
             same
             Truth
             ,
             the
             major
             part
             of
             which
             were
             then
             alive
             when
             he
             wrote
             that
             Epistle
             .
             1
             Cor.
             xv
             .
             Add
             to
             this
             that
             a
             Lie
             is
             strictly
             forbidden
             by
             their
             Writings
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             delight
             in
             it
             menaced
             with
             eternal
             Destruction
             .
             Eph.
             4.25
             .
             Col.
             3.9
             .
             Rev.
             21.8.3
             .
             (
             3.
             )
             Suppose
             men
             could
             be
             so
             wicked
             ,
             yet
             would
             the
             Goodness
             of
             God
             suffer
             such
             a
             Cheat
             to
             be
             put
             upon
             the
             World
             ?
             If
             we
             look
             upon
             the
             whole
             frame
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             it
             is
             such
             ,
             that
             the
             more
             good
             any
             man
             is
             ,
             the
             more
             likely
             to
             adhere
             to
             it
             ,
             and
             the
             most
             harmless
             and
             innocent
             Persons
             in
             the
             world
             are
             most
             apt
             to
             be
             charmed
             and
             overcome
             by
             it
             :
             But
             surely
             to
             them
             that
             believe
             a
             just
             and
             righteous
             Providence
             governing
             the
             affairs
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             it
             is
             apparent
             that
             God
             would
             not
             have
             suffered
             an
             Error
             so
             universally
             to
             prevail
             ,
             nor
             those
             who
             most
             of
             all
             resemble
             his
             blessed
             Nature
             in
             Justice
             ,
             Mercy
             ,
             and
             Compassion
             ,
             to
             be
             involved
             in
             Obscurity
             and
             Ignorance
             ,
             and
             eternally
             to
             perish
             in
             a
             Delusion
             ;
             since
             he
             may
             ,
             and
             acting
             according
             to
             his
             Nature
             must
             ,
             necessarily
             detect
             it
             .
          
           
             Now
             because
             the
             glorious
             Resurrection
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             dismantling
             
             the
             Prisons
             of
             Death
             ,
             and
             freeing
             himself
             from
             the
             Chains
             and
             Fetters
             of
             the
             Grave
             ,
             is
             the
             great
             Pillar
             and
             Foundation
             of
             the
             Christian
             Doctrin
             ;
             therefore
             it
             will
             be
             requisite
             to
             wipe
             off
             those
             Spots
             the
             mouth
             of
             Envy
             and
             Detraction
             hath
             cast
             upon
             it
             .
             To
             this
             end
             I
             shall
             examine
             that
             Objection
             of
             the
             Jews
             ,
             who
             seeing
             the
             clear
             and
             evident
             Proofs
             of
             the
             Resurrection
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             invented
             this
             Elusion
             of
             it
             ,
             
               That
               his
               Disciples
               came
               by
               night
               ,
               and
               stole
               him
               away
               while
               the
               watch
               slept
               .
            
             To
             which
             ,
             the
             many
             improbable
             and
             unlikely
             Circumstances
             it
             is
             attended
             withal
             will
             be
             a
             sufficient
             Answer
             and
             Reply
             :
             As
             (
             1.
             )
             how
             unlikely
             is
             it
             that
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             who
             just
             before
             fled
             every
             one
             from
             him
             ,
             should
             now
             resume
             such
             Courage
             as
             to
             venture
             to
             steal
             his
             Body
             from
             a
             Guard
             of
             Souldiers
             ?
             (
             2.
             )
             It
             is
             not
             likely
             that
             all
             the
             Watch
             should
             be
             asleep
             at
             one
             time
             .
             (
             3.
             )
             If
             they
             were
             ,
             yet
             't
             is
             hard
             to
             imagine
             that
             his
             Disciples
             should
             come
             just
             at
             that
             time
             .
             (
             4.
             )
             How
             could
             they
             roll
             away
             the
             Stone
             and
             take
             out
             the
             Body
             (
             which
             surely
             would
             have
             made
             no
             small
             noise
             )
             and
             yet
             none
             of
             the
             Guard
             hear
             them
             ?
             (
             5.
             )
             Suppose
             they
             had
             taken
             away
             the
             Body
             ,
             
               Quid
               ex
               cadavere
               emolumenti
            
             ?
             what
             benefit
             could
             they
             have
             expected
             from
             a
             dead
             
             Carcase
             ?
             would
             the
             dead
             and
             infamous
             Body
             of
             an
             Impostor
             be
             a
             sufficient
             Motive
             to
             induce
             them
             to
             deny
             Friends
             and
             Relatives
             ,
             worldly
             Interests
             and
             Profits
             ,
             yea
             ,
             Life
             itself
             to
             maintain
             his
             Credit
             by
             telling
             the
             World
             a
             fair
             Story
             of
             his
             Resurrection
             ,
             if
             indeed
             there
             were
             no
             such
             thing
             .
          
           
             This
             being
             then
             sufficiently
             evidenced
             ,
             that
             Christ
             rose
             from
             the
             dead
             ,
             it
             is
             an
             undeniable
             Confirmation
             that
             all
             his
             other
             Miracles
             were
             true
             :
             And
             indeed
             it
             could
             not
             suit
             with
             the
             Justice
             of
             God
             to
             leave
             his
             Soul
             in
             Hell
             ,
             or
             suffer
             his
             Flesh
             to
             see
             Corruption
             :
             For
             the
             Innocence
             of
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             was
             bright
             as
             the
             noon-day
             ,
             and
             all
             his
             Sufferings
             being
             undergone
             upon
             our
             account
             ,
             and
             having
             made
             a
             full
             and
             perfect
             atonement
             for
             Sin
             ,
             the
             righteous
             Providence
             of
             God
             was
             engaged
             to
             raise
             him
             up
             ,
             and
             instate
             him
             in
             that
             blessedness
             which
             he
             merited
             for
             himself
             by
             his
             voluntary
             Humiliation
             and
             Condescent
             .
             According
             to
             what
             the
             Apostle
             affirms
             of
             him
             ,
             Acts
             ii
             .
             24.
             
             
               Whom
               God
               hath
               raised
               up
               ,
               having
               loosed
               the
               pains
               of
               death
               ,
               
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
                 〈◊〉
              
               ,
               because
               it
               was
               not
               possible
               ,
            
             i.e.
             it
             was
             not
             meet
             ,
             suitable
             or
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Justice
             of
             God
             ,
             
               that
               he
               should
               be
               holden
               of
               it
               .
            
          
           
             We
             have
             seen
             the
             Objection
             of
             the
             Jew
             ,
             
             and
             I
             shall
             now
             conclude
             this
             Particular
             by
             considering
             what
             the
             Heathen
             and
             Atheist
             hath
             to
             say
             against
             the
             Resurrection
             of
             Jesus
             ;
             and
             he
             brings
             his
             Exception
             after
             this
             manner
             ;
             
               If
               Jesus
               did
               really
               rise
               from
               the
               dead
               ,
               why
               did
               he
               not
               then
               shew
               himself
               alive
               to
               all
               ,
               or
               at
               least
               to
               the
               chief
               Priests
               and
               Rulers
               of
               the
               Jews
               who
               condemned
               him
               to
               be
               crucified
               ,
               and
               not
               only
               to
               his
               own
               company
               ,
               and
               that
               not
               constantly
               to
               them
               ,
               but
               like
               a
               Spectrum
               or
               Ghost
               appearing
               and
               then
               vanishing
               away
               ?
            
          
           
             But
             it
             is
             no
             wonder
             if
             impure
             and
             Atheistical
             men
             do
             not
             apprehend
             the
             Divine
             Dispensation
             of
             Jesus
             in
             the
             Flesh
             ,
             since
             there
             is
             a
             perpetual
             Antipathy
             between
             their
             gross
             and
             feculent
             Souls
             and
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             of
             heavenly
             Wisdom
             :
             but
             to
             them
             that
             are
             sincere
             there
             is
             nothing
             in
             this
             instance
             but
             may
             admit
             of
             a
             fair
             Apology
             :
             We
             must
             know
             then
             that
             the
             Soul
             of
             the
             Holy
             Jesus
             being
             vitally
             united
             to
             the
             eternal
             Logos
             ,
             and
             never
             lapsed
             from
             the
             pure
             and
             immaculate
             Regions
             of
             Blessedness
             with
             the
             rest
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             but
             so
             qualifying
             his
             Glory
             as
             to
             fit
             himself
             for
             an
             Union
             with
             a
             terrestrial
             Body
             ,
             must
             have
             even
             in
             these
             earthly
             Habitations
             a
             very
             efficacious
             Principle
             of
             Life
             and
             Virtue
             within
             him
             ,
             which
             though
             shut
             up
             and
             
             constrained
             by
             the
             encumbrances
             of
             Flesh
             and
             Blood
             ,
             yet
             shone
             through
             the
             Veil
             ,
             and
             sometimes
             broke
             forth
             into
             pure
             Light
             and
             Glory
             ;
             wherefore
             through
             the
             Plenitude
             and
             Perfection
             of
             this
             high
             and
             exalted
             Life
             ,
             it
             so
             came
             to
             pass
             that
             in
             the
             time
             of
             his
             converse
             with
             Mortals
             before
             his
             Death
             ,
             he
             was
             not
             seen
             alike
             and
             after
             the
             same
             manner
             by
             all
             ,
             but
             according
             to
             the
             Measure
             and
             Model
             of
             their
             frail
             Capacities
             :
             And
             some
             such
             thing
             Judas
             ,
             who
             betraid
             him
             ,
             seems
             to
             intimate
             by
             giving
             a
             Sign
             to
             the
             Apprehenders
             of
             Jesus
             to
             know
             him
             ,
             when
             yet
             it
             was
             true
             what
             Christ
             said
             ,
             that
             he
             
               was
               daily
               with
               them
               teaching
               in
               the
               Temple
               .
            
             And
             certainly
             ,
             we
             cannot
             but
             think
             somthing
             extraordinary
             to
             be
             in
             the
             blessed
             Jesus
             ,
             when
             the
             Scripture
             tells
             us
             that
             the
             children
             of
             Israel
             were
             not
             able
             to
             behold
             the
             glorious
             Visage
             even
             of
             Moses
             when
             he
             descended
             from
             his
             converse
             with
             God
             in
             the
             Mount.
             Although
             then
             in
             the
             frailties
             of
             his
             Flesh
             ,
             when
             he
             was
             a
             Man
             of
             Sorrows
             ,
             and
             had
             not
             yet
             spoiled
             Principalities
             and
             Powers
             ,
             nor
             died
             for
             Sin
             ,
             he
             suffered
             himself
             to
             be
             seen
             of
             all
             ,
             yet
             when
             he
             had
             broken
             the
             Powers
             of
             Hell
             ,
             and
             rose
             as
             a
             triumphant
             Conquerour
             from
             his
             Bed
             of
             Darkness
             ,
             the
             Grave
             ;
             he
             was
             not
             then
             the
             Object
             of
             
             every
             mans
             sight
             ,
             his
             Divinity
             being
             more
             refulgent
             when
             the
             Oeconomy
             he
             undertook
             in
             the
             Flesh
             was
             finished
             ;
             but
             to
             those
             who
             were
             capable
             of
             his
             Presence
             he
             appeared
             and
             shewed
             himself
             alive
             to
             confirm
             and
             strengthen
             their
             Faith
             ,
             and
             yet
             spared
             their
             Imbecillity
             and
             Imperfection
             by
             staying
             but
             a
             little
             with
             them
             at
             a
             time
             .
             For
             even
             his
             Apostles
             were
             not
             all
             capable
             of
             beholding
             him
             at
             all
             times
             ,
             and
             therefore
             he
             selected
             
               Peter
               ,
               James
            
             and
             John
             ,
             who
             alone
             were
             able
             to
             bear
             that
             glorious
             Spectacle
             of
             his
             Transfiguration
             ,
             and
             behold
             Moses
             and
             Elias
             in
             their
             celestial
             Robes
             ,
             and
             hear
             not
             only
             their
             Discourse
             ,
             but
             the
             voice
             which
             came
             to
             them
             from
             the
             clouds
             .
             And
             hence
             we
             gather
             that
             he
             would
             not
             appear
             to
             those
             who
             insulted
             over
             him
             in
             his
             misery
             ,
             and
             were
             the
             Authors
             of
             his
             ignominious
             Death
             ,
             out
             of
             compassion
             towards
             them
             ,
             lest
             they
             should
             be
             struck
             with
             Blindness
             ,
             as
             the
             wicked
             Sodomites
             who
             sought
             to
             abuse
             those
             Angelical
             Personages
             that
             were
             hospitably
             received
             into
             the
             House
             of
             Lot
             :
             And
             thus
             we
             read
             that
             Saul
             in
             his
             Journey
             to
             Damascus
             ,
             was
             struck
             blind
             by
             that
             excellent
             Glory
             ,
             which
             yet
             became
             an
             innocuous
             and
             recreating
             Splendor
             to
             St.
             Stephen
             a
             little
             before
             his
             Death
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             
               CHAP.
               III.
            
             That
             Christianity
             contains
             nothing
             light
             and
             trivial
             ,
             but
             grave
             and
             sober
             Truths
             ,
             delivered
             in
             that
             decorous
             and
             becoming
             Majesty
             as
             well
             suited
             with
             that
             Blessed
             Spirit
             ,
             which
             inspired
             the
             Prophets
             and
             Apostles
             .
          
           
             THe
             third
             Particular
             to
             be
             proved
             in
             order
             to
             the
             Declaration
             of
             the
             Excellency
             of
             Christianity
             is
             ,
             that
             it
             treats
             of
             no
             small
             and
             trifling
             things
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             are
             of
             the
             greatest
             importance
             in
             the
             world
             .
             For
             what
             is
             more
             noble
             and
             generous
             than
             that
             which
             concerns
             the
             Happiness
             and
             Welfare
             of
             the
             whole
             Creation
             ?
             What
             more
             sublime
             and
             excellent
             than
             that
             which
             tends
             to
             the
             unmasking
             the
             cloudy
             and
             obscure
             face
             of
             Providence
             ,
             and
             discovering
             the
             unsearchable
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             in
             the
             harmonious
             Order
             and
             Symmetry
             of
             the
             World
             ?
             But
             to
             descend
             more
             particularly
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             The
             Gospel
             teaches
             us
             ,
             that
             the
             true
             and
             genuine
             Felicity
             of
             Mankind
             is
             the
             Participation
             of
             the
             Nature
             of
             God.
             That
             the
             Souls
             of
             men
             are
             in
             an
             undue
             and
             
             wrong
             estate
             in
             this
             World
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             that
             their
             Natures
             are
             by
             some
             means
             or
             other
             corrupted
             and
             vitiated
             and
             forced
             from
             their
             proper
             Bent
             and
             Inclinations
             ;
             needs
             no
             other
             confirmation
             than
             the
             great
             Inquietude
             and
             Dissatisfaction
             they
             find
             in
             the
             best
             terrestrial
             Joys
             and
             Delights
             ,
             and
             their
             diligent
             and
             indefatigable
             Inquisition
             after
             some
             noble
             and
             permanent
             Good
             ,
             which
             may
             be
             commensurate
             with
             the
             vastness
             of
             their
             Capacities
             and
             Desires
             .
             And
             although
             as
             men
             come
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             their
             Animal
             Powers
             and
             Faculties
             (
             whose
             proper
             Objects
             are
             the
             Results
             of
             Sense
             and
             corporeal
             Motion
             )
             are
             fully
             awake
             ,
             and
             usurp
             the
             Throne
             of
             Reason
             and
             Intellect
             ,
             yet
             those
             Lordly
             Powers
             like
             an
             oppressed
             Prince
             still
             lay
             claim
             to
             the
             Soveraignty
             and
             Dominion
             ,
             and
             whenever
             any
             due
             occasion
             is
             offered
             ,
             give
             an
             evident
             proof
             of
             their
             heavenly
             Birth
             and
             Extraction
             ,
             and
             strive
             to
             free
             themselves
             from
             their
             unjust
             Captivity
             ,
             and
             regain
             their
             native
             Liberty
             and
             Command
             .
             And
             if
             by
             a
             favourable
             Assistance
             and
             timely
             Aid
             the
             Minds
             of
             men
             conquer
             and
             suppress
             the
             rebellious
             Passions
             and
             Desires
             of
             the
             mortal
             Body
             ,
             and
             become
             in
             any
             measure
             healthy
             and
             strong
             to
             relish
             their
             proper
             Food
             and
             Nourishment
             ,
             and
             amidst
             
             all
             the
             flattering
             Appearances
             and
             fine
             Shows
             presented
             to
             them
             from
             this
             outward
             World
             ,
             discriminate
             between
             real
             Good
             and
             Evil
             ,
             and
             select
             true
             and
             substantial
             from
             false
             and
             adulterate
             Joys
             ,
             they
             behold
             with
             Pleasure
             and
             Enravishment
             a
             perfect
             Union
             and
             Harmony
             between
             whatever
             Truths
             shall
             duly
             be
             propounded
             to
             them
             and
             their
             rational
             Natures
             .
             For
             the
             Souls
             of
             men
             being
             in
             their
             general
             Strictures
             and
             Lineaments
             Intellectual
             ,
             it
             cannot
             be
             but
             that
             their
             highest
             Felicity
             and
             truest
             Accomplishments
             must
             flow
             from
             the
             exercise
             of
             their
             higher
             and
             more
             immaterial
             Powers
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             spiritualiz'd
             and
             refined
             they
             are
             from
             baser
             Alloy
             ,
             the
             more
             tender
             and
             apprehensive
             are
             they
             of
             whatever
             is
             Noble
             and
             Excellent
             ,
             and
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Purity
             of
             their
             Natures
             .
             Albeit
             therefore
             our
             Faculties
             be
             depraved
             and
             debased
             as
             we
             appear
             upon
             the
             Stage
             of
             this
             World
             ,
             yet
             there
             being
             in
             us
             a
             strong
             Propension
             to
             return
             to
             our
             first
             and
             primitive
             state
             ,
             out
             of
             which
             we
             were
             forced
             by
             the
             unjust
             Usurpation
             of
             Iniquity
             and
             Sin
             ,
             Truth
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             and
             all
             those
             beautiful
             Forms
             and
             Ideas
             which
             shone
             in
             our
             Souls
             before
             their
             unhappy
             Lapse
             and
             Revolt
             from
             the
             blessed
             Laws
             and
             Government
             of
             Gods
             
             own
             Life
             ,
             will
             upon
             a
             congruous
             Proposal
             renew
             their
             antient
             League
             and
             Friendship
             ,
             and
             conspire
             the
             utter
             Subversion
             of
             all
             irregular
             Appetites
             and
             Desires
             ,
             and
             reduce
             the
             whole
             Man
             into
             a
             strict
             Obedience
             and
             Observance
             of
             the
             Dictates
             and
             Prescriptions
             of
             that
             holy
             and
             exalted
             Principle
             of
             Life
             ,
             which
             being
             once
             fully
             seated
             and
             radicated
             in
             our
             Minds
             and
             Spirits
             ,
             is
             alone
             able
             to
             make
             us
             perfectly
             happy
             and
             blessed
             .
             For
             the
             Souls
             of
             men
             are
             not
             devoid
             of
             innate
             Knowledge
             ,
             but
             are
             essentially
             stored
             through
             the
             gracious
             Bounty
             and
             Liberality
             of
             the
             first
             and
             blessed
             Author
             of
             all
             things
             ,
             with
             the
             Principles
             of
             all
             manner
             of
             Science
             and
             Wisdom
             whatever
             ,
             and
             hence
             cannot
             but
             embrace
             and
             receive
             every
             thing
             that
             hath
             any
             Cognation
             and
             Affinity
             with
             those
             first
             Inscriptions
             on
             their
             Natures
             .
             Now
             the
             great
             Happiness
             ,
             Delight
             ,
             and
             Satisfaction
             of
             every
             degree
             of
             Life
             in
             the
             World
             consisting
             in
             and
             arising
             from
             the
             kindly
             and
             agreeable
             Actings
             of
             its
             chiefest
             and
             best
             Faculties
             and
             Capacities
             ,
             and
             the
             Nature
             of
             Man
             so
             far
             forth
             as
             it
             is
             capable
             of
             moral
             Good
             and
             Evil
             ,
             being
             made
             up
             of
             such
             Principles
             as
             are
             wholly
             Intellectual
             ,
             he
             will
             not
             only
             esteem
             the
             Effluxes
             and
             Emanations
             of
             the
             Rational
             Life
             to
             be
             the
             
             Foundations
             of
             his
             Felicity
             ,
             but
             seek
             the
             Amplification
             and
             Diffusion
             of
             it
             ,
             and
             reduce
             all
             exorbitant
             Motions
             to
             its
             Rules
             and
             Determinations
             .
             And
             if
             we
             will
             not
             impose
             upon
             ourselves
             ,
             nor
             degrade
             our
             Minds
             below
             the
             Folly
             and
             Triflingness
             of
             Children
             ,
             but
             act
             like
             Men
             who
             prefer
             Things
             before
             empty
             Sounds
             and
             Names
             ,
             the
             eternal
             Rules
             of
             Justice
             ,
             Righteousness
             ,
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             will
             appear
             infinitely
             more
             eligible
             than
             any
             thing
             else
             in
             the
             World
             beside
             ;
             for
             let
             a
             man
             be
             possest
             of
             the
             most
             glorious
             and
             splendid
             Advantages
             and
             Satisfactions
             that
             possibly
             can
             grow
             out
             of
             the
             Earth
             ,
             and
             let
             him
             extract
             the
             Flower
             and
             Quintessence
             of
             Sublunary
             Delights
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             find
             them
             at
             the
             best
             very
             dilute
             and
             flashy
             ,
             and
             too
             base
             and
             disproportionate
             Objects
             of
             a
             pure
             ,
             active
             and
             indefatigable
             Mind
             .
             And
             were
             it
             not
             that
             men
             are
             cheated
             into
             an
             Esteem
             and
             Approbation
             of
             them
             ,
             partly
             from
             the
             Example
             of
             others
             ,
             who
             daily
             run
             the
             greatest
             Hazards
             and
             Labours
             in
             their
             Acquisition
             and
             Purchase
             ,
             and
             partly
             ,
             from
             the
             innate
             Pravity
             and
             Iniquity
             of
             their
             own
             Spirits
             ,
             which
             being
             preingag'd
             in
             an
             early
             Contention
             after
             the
             things
             of
             Sense
             ,
             are
             more
             forcibly
             struck
             and
             moved
             by
             the
             Emissions
             and
             Radiations
             of
             the
             Corporeal
             
             World
             ;
             it
             were
             exceeding
             improbable
             they
             should
             forego
             such
             valuable
             and
             excellent
             Pleasures
             as
             those
             of
             Virtue
             and
             Holiness
             ,
             for
             the
             small
             and
             inconsiderable
             ,
             though
             the
             most
             refined
             Joys
             of
             this
             Region
             of
             Mutability
             ,
             especially
             when
             they
             are
             perpetually
             attended
             with
             such
             instant
             Satieties
             and
             afflictive
             Circumstances
             .
             That
             blessed
             Author
             of
             our
             Felicity
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             ,
             who
             both
             knew
             the
             Soveraign
             Good
             of
             our
             Spirits
             ,
             and
             designed
             the
             Cementing
             and
             Restauration
             of
             the
             broken
             and
             distracted
             World
             by
             entring
             into
             it
             ,
             makes
             it
             his
             first
             care
             and
             business
             to
             purge
             and
             refine
             our
             Minds
             from
             the
             Dross
             and
             Pollution
             of
             material
             Concretions
             ,
             by
             bringing
             down
             the
             Price
             of
             terrestrial
             Love
             ,
             and
             setting
             a
             low
             Estimate
             upon
             what
             the
             World
             calls
             Happiness
             ,
             Riches
             and
             Honours
             and
             all
             the
             choicest
             Gratifications
             of
             the
             inferior
             Life
             ,
             and
             propounding
             not
             only
             such
             Precepts
             as
             in
             their
             own
             nature
             tended
             to
             the
             raising
             and
             elevating
             the
             Powers
             and
             Faculties
             of
             our
             Souls
             to
             their
             highest
             and
             most
             enlarg'd
             Perfection
             ,
             and
             which
             by
             our
             Conformity
             to
             them
             should
             fully
             satisfie
             all
             our
             rational
             Thirsts
             and
             Appetites
             ,
             but
             likewise
             revives
             our
             languishing
             Resolutions
             ,
             and
             reinspirits
             our
             Minds
             with
             new
             Strength
             and
             Vigour
             
             by
             his
             own
             Example
             ,
             as
             the
             most
             attractive
             and
             powerful
             Means
             that
             possibly
             can
             be
             offered
             to
             an
             ingenuous
             Nature
             .
             All
             the
             time
             that
             he
             conversed
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             he
             went
             about
             doing
             good
             ,
             transcribing
             the
             fairest
             and
             most
             amiable
             Perfections
             and
             Attributes
             of
             the
             moral
             Essence
             of
             God
             for
             our
             Imitation
             ,
             redressing
             and
             healing
             the
             Imperfections
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             and
             casting
             a
             benign
             and
             auspicious
             Influence
             upon
             the
             distempered
             World
             ,
             by
             propagating
             and
             diffusing
             the
             holy
             Life
             of
             God
             into
             all
             capable
             Receptacles
             .
             And
             that
             he
             might
             shew
             us
             what
             a
             small
             and
             mean
             Valuation
             he
             puts
             upon
             mundane
             and
             temporal
             Felicities
             ,
             and
             how
             little
             they
             contribute
             to
             the
             Advancement
             of
             that
             which
             is
             the
             Flower
             and
             Summity
             of
             our
             Souls
             ,
             he
             commands
             great
             Temperance
             and
             Moderation
             both
             in
             the
             Prosecution
             and
             Use
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             declares
             a
             high
             Dislike
             against
             all
             Exorbitancy
             and
             Excesse
             ,
             condemning
             all
             anxious
             and
             solicitous
             Thoughts
             about
             these
             momentany
             Concernments
             as
             criminous
             and
             faulty
             .
             And
             what
             he
             enjoined
             upon
             his
             Disciples
             and
             Followers
             ,
             he
             himself
             always
             observ'd
             and
             practis'd
             ,
             never
             disquieting
             his
             holy
             Breast
             with
             doubtful
             and
             corroding
             Cares
             ,
             nor
             charging
             Heaven
             with
             Partiality
             and
             Unkindness
             ,
             though
             
             he
             became
             so
             poor
             for
             our
             sakes
             that
             he
             was
             forced
             by
             a
             Miracle
             to
             pay
             his
             Tribute-penny
             to
             the
             Roman
             Governour
             .
             His
             blameless
             and
             immaculate
             Soul
             no
             impure
             touch
             of
             Pleasure
             ever
             defiled
             ,
             nor
             unjust
             and
             unhallowed
             Action
             ever
             stained
             and
             sullied
             its
             native
             Brightness
             ,
             but
             remained
             to
             his
             dying
             upon
             the
             Cross
             a
             spotless
             Temple
             eternally
             consecrated
             to
             the
             Divinity
             residing
             in
             it
             .
             But
             that
             which
             did
             most
             of
             all
             allure
             and
             attract
             the
             Hearts
             and
             Spirits
             of
             men
             ,
             was
             his
             exceeding
             and
             superlative
             Charity
             ,
             which
             not
             only
             burnt
             bright
             within
             its
             own
             Orb
             ,
             but
             by
             a
             sacred
             Influence
             and
             Communication
             melted
             and
             thaw'd
             the
             benum'd
             and
             frozen
             World
             into
             a
             soft
             ,
             pliable
             ,
             and
             sequacious
             temper
             ,
             and
             set
             abroad
             a
             Godlike
             Spirit
             of
             universal
             Tenderness
             ,
             Pity
             ,
             and
             Compassion
             upon
             the
             Earth
             .
             And
             that
             so
             illustrious
             a
             Person
             might
             want
             nothing
             to
             recommend
             his
             Life
             to
             Mankind
             as
             the
             most
             complete
             Pattern
             of
             the
             Divine
             Nature
             ,
             his
             Patience
             exhibited
             in
             a
             noble
             sufferance
             of
             all
             those
             Ignominies
             and
             Disgraces
             put
             upon
             him
             ,
             made
             him
             no
             less
             conspicuous
             than
             those
             other
             radiant
             Virtues
             rendred
             him
             acceptable
             to
             God
             and
             Man.
             And
             if
             there
             be
             any
             thing
             more
             that
             is
             worthy
             and
             decorous
             ,
             and
             perfective
             of
             the
             Nature
             of
             Man
             ,
             
             it
             was
             eminently
             contained
             in
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             ,
             whose
             glorious
             Mind
             was
             too
             large
             and
             great
             to
             bring
             forth
             any
             poor
             and
             abject
             Design
             ,
             but
             took
             the
             whole
             World
             into
             his
             Care
             ,
             and
             folded
             the
             Creation
             within
             the
             Arms
             of
             dear
             Compassion
             .
             By
             all
             this
             and
             much
             more
             we
             are
             taught
             wherein
             consists
             the
             greatest
             Excellency
             ,
             Beauty
             and
             Dignity
             of
             our
             Souls
             ;
             namely
             ,
             in
             the
             Acts
             of
             Goodness
             ,
             Righteousness
             ,
             and
             Mercy
             ,
             in
             profound
             Humility
             ,
             and
             Self-Denial
             ,
             in
             Patience
             ,
             Longanimity
             ,
             and
             uncorrupted
             Purity
             of
             Body
             and
             Spirit
             .
             For
             these
             and
             such
             like
             Heroical
             Exertions
             of
             our
             Minds
             bring
             not
             only
             a
             present
             Delight
             and
             Gratefulness
             with
             them
             ,
             but
             pervade
             by
             a
             secret
             and
             insensible
             Influence
             all
             our
             Animal
             Powers
             ,
             and
             diffuse
             a
             certain
             Savour
             and
             Relish
             of
             themselves
             throughout
             our
             inferior
             Faculties
             .
             As
             it
             is
             with
             Vice
             and
             Sin
             ,
             every
             pitiful
             and
             degenerate
             Production
             of
             which
             spreads
             its
             contagious
             Nature
             ,
             and
             leavens
             our
             whole
             Man
             with
             its
             poysonous
             and
             infectious
             Inspirations
             :
             so
             much
             more
             will
             Truth
             and
             Righteousness
             disseminate
             a
             healthful
             Efflux
             ,
             and
             hallow
             our
             vital
             Capacities
             ,
             as
             being
             the
             most
             congenerous
             and
             agreeable
             Objects
             of
             our
             intellectual
             Parts
             .
             The
             Life
             of
             God
             which
             alone
             ought
             to
             have
             the
             Soveraign
             
             Command
             over
             the
             whole
             rational
             Creation
             ,
             and
             which
             will
             in
             due
             time
             conquer
             and
             triumph
             over
             the
             dark
             and
             apostate
             Principality
             ;
             that
             Life
             ,
             I
             say
             ,
             of
             universal
             Sanctity
             and
             Righteousness
             is
             an
             immortal
             thing
             like
             its
             great
             Source
             and
             Parent
             ,
             and
             is
             always
             passing
             through
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             will
             not
             rest
             any
             where
             but
             in
             such
             a
             fit
             and
             congruous
             Subject
             ,
             as
             bears
             some
             Analogy
             and
             Similitude
             with
             itself
             :
             And
             being
             once
             seated
             there
             (
             unless
             it
             be
             forcibly
             driven
             out
             by
             rebellious
             Lusts
             ,
             to
             which
             it
             proclaims
             an
             irreconcileable
             War
             )
             it
             will
             continually
             dispread
             its
             lovely
             Nature
             ,
             and
             enlarge
             its
             Kingdom
             by
             the
             total
             Consumption
             or
             Conversion
             into
             its
             own
             Likeness
             and
             Quality
             ,
             whatever
             resists
             and
             hinders
             its
             Progress
             ,
             and
             at
             last
             ,
             when
             freed
             from
             the
             sluggish
             weight
             of
             Mortality
             ,
             like
             a
             quick
             and
             active
             Flame
             carry
             up
             the
             Soul
             with
             Joy
             and
             Triumph
             into
             Heaven
             ,
             to
             which
             it
             always
             breaths
             and
             aspires
             .
             Heaven
             itself
             is
             nothing
             but
             the
             blessed
             Mansion
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             a
             State
             of
             pure
             and
             undefiled
             Light
             ,
             whose
             happy
             and
             glorious
             Inhabitants
             are
             perfectly
             delivered
             from
             the
             Bondage
             and
             Servility
             of
             Corruption
             ,
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             and
             Justice
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             Moral
             Excellencies
             of
             Divinity
             enthron'd
             within
             their
             sacred
             Breasts
             .
             And
             
             every
             good
             Man
             does
             not
             only
             presage
             ,
             but
             really
             possesses
             in
             this
             Life
             a
             part
             of
             his
             future
             Happiness
             ,
             when
             the
             Divine
             Nature
             throughly
             informs
             ,
             possesses
             ,
             and
             actuates
             the
             Powers
             and
             Faculties
             of
             his
             Mind
             ,
             and
             he
             faithfully
             attends
             to
             ,
             and
             is
             guided
             and
             governed
             by
             its
             Laws
             and
             Suggestions
             .
             And
             he
             whose
             Soul
             and
             Spirit
             ,
             thus
             becomes
             an
             Habitation
             of
             Righteousness
             ,
             is
             in
             a
             sense
             Deified
             ,
             and
             God
             dwells
             in
             him
             ,
             and
             he
             is
             united
             to
             that
             Omnipresent
             Spirit
             of
             Love
             and
             Purity
             .
             For
             that
             Divine
             Nature
             ,
             the
             Participation
             of
             which
             is
             the
             End
             and
             Design
             of
             the
             whole
             Gospel
             ,
             is
             not
             Power
             and
             Wisdom
             ,
             but
             something
             more
             precious
             and
             soveraign
             :
             for
             if
             a
             man
             had
             all
             Power
             ,
             that
             he
             could
             remove
             Mountains
             ,
             and
             with
             his
             breath
             stop
             the
             constant
             Gyres
             and
             Circulations
             of
             the
             Earth
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             had
             all
             Wisdom
             and
             Knowledge
             ,
             to
             understand
             the
             abstrusest
             Theory
             in
             Nature
             and
             Providence
             ,
             and
             could
             perswade
             with
             the
             Rhetorick
             and
             Oratory
             of
             an
             Angel
             ;
             yet
             if
             he
             had
             not
             Charity
             ,
             the
             Bond
             of
             Perfection
             which
             not
             only
             consolidates
             and
             holds
             together
             the
             great
             Body
             Politick
             of
             Heaven
             and
             Earth
             ,
             but
             is
             the
             Root
             and
             Center
             in
             which
             all
             the
             lines
             of
             Beauty
             and
             Excellence
             in
             Human
             Souls
             unite
             and
             meet
             ;
             he
             would
             
             have
             no
             more
             of
             the
             true
             Life
             and
             Spirit
             of
             Christianity
             in
             him
             ,
             than
             a
             tinkling
             and
             sounding
             Piece
             of
             Brass
             .
             Love
             is
             the
             Joy
             of
             Men
             and
             Angels
             ,
             the
             Glory
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             and
             the
             first
             pregnant
             Spring
             and
             Source
             from
             whence
             issued
             all
             the
             numerous
             Productions
             of
             the
             Spiritual
             and
             Corporeal
             Life
             .
             For
             God
             is
             Love
             ,
             and
             Love
             is
             that
             (
             to
             speak
             with
             Reverence
             )
             makes
             the
             Divinity
             a
             Uniform
             Being
             ,
             all
             other
             Modes
             and
             Attributes
             being
             too
             fluctuating
             ,
             arbitrary
             ,
             and
             unsetled
             to
             be
             the
             Basis
             and
             Foundation
             of
             that
             ever-to-be-adored
             Author
             of
             all
             things
             .
             And
             as
             Goodness
             is
             the
             most
             pretious
             thing
             in
             the
             Deity
             ,
             and
             for
             that
             reason
             alone
             obtains
             the
             first
             place
             in
             acting
             ,
             so
             is
             it
             that
             which
             consummates
             and
             completes
             all
             moral
             Agents
             that
             derive
             from
             him
             ;
             Power
             and
             Wisdom
             and
             all
             other
             Modes
             being
             nothing
             but
             the
             several
             Explications
             and
             Diffusions
             of
             absolute
             Goodness
             .
             But
             that
             we
             may
             not
             mistake
             ourselves
             ,
             the
             Philosopher
             tells
             us
             of
             a
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             a
             Harlotry
             as
             well
             as
             a
             Heavenly
             Venus
             ,
             whereby
             the
             Soul
             is
             enamour'd
             with
             these
             fading
             Beauties
             ,
             and
             ensnared
             by
             the
             powerful
             Inescations
             of
             Sense
             and
             Corporeity
             ,
             and
             this
             weakens
             and
             destroys
             the
             Soul
             ;
             but
             't
             is
             the
             celestial
             Venus
             that
             is
             the
             beautiful
             and
             perfective
             
             Object
             of
             Human
             Minds
             ,
             and
             by
             its
             Union
             with
             it
             changes
             and
             transforms
             the
             Soul
             into
             its
             glorious
             Image
             .
             And
             what
             we
             have
             hitherto
             said
             ,
             is
             no
             more
             than
             what
             the
             natural
             Sentiments
             of
             our
             own
             Souls
             bear
             witness
             to
             ,
             and
             all
             the
             moral
             part
             of
             Ethnick
             Philosophy
             attests
             ,
             which
             was
             wholly
             employed
             in
             laying
             down
             Rules
             and
             Precepts
             for
             the
             regulating
             mens
             Lives
             ,
             and
             putting
             a
             stop
             to
             the
             bold
             Intrusion
             of
             Vice
             ;
             and
             this
             was
             universally
             acknowledged
             the
             only
             way
             to
             acquire
             a
             Cognation
             and
             Affinity
             with
             God
             :
             And
             what
             was
             judged
             laudable
             and
             decorous
             then
             ,
             and
             approved
             as
             most
             excellent
             ,
             is
             made
             much
             more
             so
             by
             the
             Christian
             Oeconomy
             ,
             which
             sets
             the
             Attainments
             of
             a
             rational
             Soul
             at
             a
             higher
             pitch
             ,
             than
             the
             secular
             Wisdom
             and
             Philosophy
             of
             the
             Gentiles
             could
             arrive
             to
             .
             For
             what
             more
             ennobles
             and
             inspirits
             the
             Mind
             of
             Man
             with
             true
             Glory
             and
             Magnanimity
             ,
             than
             the
             captivating
             his
             irrational
             Desires
             ,
             and
             suppressing
             all
             inordinate
             Lusts
             and
             Appetites
             ,
             and
             the
             introducing
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Love
             ,
             Meekness
             ,
             Temperance
             ,
             and
             Sobriety
             ?
             What
             more
             Divine
             and
             Godlike
             than
             Charity
             ?
             to
             bind
             up
             an
             aking
             head
             ,
             and
             dry
             up
             watry
             eyes
             ,
             and
             relieve
             him
             who
             was
             fighting
             with
             the
             Pressures
             of
             Want
             
             and
             Poverty
             ?
             What
             greater
             Pleasure
             can
             we
             reasonably
             imagine
             ,
             than
             that
             which
             results
             from
             an
             Act
             of
             Goodness
             and
             Bounty
             ,
             whether
             it
             respect
             the
             Souls
             or
             Bodies
             of
             our
             fellow-Creatures
             ;
             in
             extricating
             him
             who
             was
             involved
             in
             a
             Labyrinth
             of
             Misery
             ,
             and
             bringing
             the
             cheerful
             Day
             to
             him
             who
             sate
             in
             a
             Night
             of
             Ignorance
             and
             Error
             ?
             Which
             things
             ,
             if
             duly
             considered
             ,
             as
             they
             are
             very
             agreeable
             and
             proportionate
             to
             our
             higher
             and
             rational
             Soul
             ,
             so
             they
             depretiate
             the
             grosser
             Satisfactions
             of
             our
             viler
             parts
             ,
             and
             make
             good
             this
             first
             Proposition
             ,
             
               That
               the
               true
               Felicity
               of
               Human
               Souls
               ,
               results
               from
               their
               Participation
               of
               the
               Divine
               Nature
               .
            
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             Gospel
             shews
             us
             the
             true
             way
             to
             obtain
             this
             complete
             Perfection
             of
             our
             Spirits
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             by
             an
             universal
             Purification
             of
             our
             Minds
             from
             all
             Pollution
             whatever
             ,
             and
             an
             entire
             Resignation
             of
             ourselves
             to
             the
             Conduct
             of
             the
             Divine
             Life
             and
             Light.
             But
             it
             will
             be
             said
             that
             Philosophy
             teaches
             as
             much
             as
             this
             ,
             and
             the
             
               Pythagoreans
               ,
               Platonists
            
             ,
             and
             Stoicks
             asserted
             the
             highest
             Perfection
             of
             the
             Soul
             to
             consist
             in
             her
             Union
             with
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             obtained
             by
             a
             perfect
             Extirpation
             of
             all
             irregular
             Motions
             ,
             and
             an
             abstraction
             of
             
             the
             Soul
             from
             her
             Love
             and
             Sympathy
             with
             the
             Body
             ,
             and
             transforming
             her
             wholly
             into
             Intellect
             ;
             For
             the
             Passions
             and
             sensual
             Affections
             being
             once
             subdued
             ,
             and
             the
             Rational
             Life
             excited
             ,
             the
             Soul
             becomes
             presently
             like
             unto
             God
             ,
             as
             Porphyry
             speaks
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             
             And
             Hierocles
             shews
             us
             the
             Scope
             and
             End
             of
             this
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             or
             Purgation
             of
             the
             Mind
             ,
             namely
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             Wherefore
             although
             the
             Heathens
             by
             the
             Light
             of
             Nature
             proceeded
             to
             the
             eradication
             of
             Vice
             out
             of
             their
             Minds
             ,
             yet
             they
             retained
             still
             an
             arrogative
             Life
             ,
             ascribing
             the
             Attainments
             and
             Perfections
             of
             their
             Souls
             ,
             and
             their
             whole
             Progress
             in
             Virtue
             to
             their
             own
             solitary
             Endeavours
             ,
             and
             this
             their
             Spiritual
             and
             subtle
             Pride
             tainted
             and
             infected
             the
             best
             of
             their
             other
             Performances
             ;
             So
             that
             though
             they
             were
             glorious
             Lights
             in
             their
             Generations
             ,
             yet
             they
             fell
             short
             of
             the
             Character
             of
             a
             true
             Christian
             ,
             which
             is
             an
             entire
             Subjection
             of
             a
             Mans
             self
             to
             the
             Government
             and
             Command
             of
             the
             Life
             of
             God
             ,
             being
             perfectly
             dead
             to
             
             all
             Self-seeking
             and
             Interest
             ,
             and
             no
             otherwise
             affected
             to
             ourselves
             than
             if
             we
             were
             not
             :
             And
             this
             heavenly
             Temper
             the
             Divine
             Providence
             reserved
             for
             the
             meek
             and
             humble
             Soul
             of
             the
             Messias
             to
             bring
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             who
             hath
             resumed
             that
             as
             the
             most
             compendious
             way
             to
             Blessedness
             ,
             which
             was
             rejected
             by
             the
             wise
             men
             of
             the
             World.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             He
             that
             shall
             impartially
             and
             without
             Prejudice
             peruse
             the
             Evangelical
             Histories
             ,
             shall
             find
             that
             there
             is
             not
             any
             thing
             recorded
             in
             them
             vain
             and
             trivial
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             is
             of
             the
             highest
             moment
             and
             importance
             ,
             and
             some
             way
             or
             other
             useful
             and
             advantageous
             for
             the
             Propagation
             of
             Christianity
             in
             the
             World
             :
             and
             for
             those
             things
             which
             seem
             most
             liable
             to
             the
             Exceptions
             and
             Cavils
             of
             vile
             and
             prophane
             Persons
             ,
             I
             shall
             endeavour
             to
             shew
             their
             Reasonableness
             ,
             and
             how
             becoming
             and
             decorous
             it
             was
             to
             insert
             them
             in
             the
             Histories
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
             It
             is
             too
             well
             known
             that
             there
             are
             a
             sort
             of
             Men
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             whose
             Minds
             are
             so
             deeply
             tinctured
             with
             Sadducean
             and
             Atheistical
             Principles
             ,
             that
             ,
             being
             otherwise
             furnished
             with
             a
             quaint
             Volubility
             of
             Speech
             ,
             and
             some
             Smatterings
             of
             Philosophy
             in
             this
             knowing
             Age
             ,
             deem
             it
             the
             highest
             Improvement
             of
             their
             Wit
             to
             
             laugh
             and
             jeer
             at
             that
             profound
             Wisdom
             which
             is
             found
             in
             Christianity
             ,
             now
             accusing
             its
             Dogmata
             of
             Impossibilities
             and
             Contradictions
             ,
             and
             then
             scoffing
             at
             the
             Historical
             Part
             as
             Fabulous
             and
             Romantick
             ,
             clearly
             discovering
             that
             their
             grand
             Drift
             is
             to
             leaven
             the
             Minds
             of
             men
             with
             that
             pernicious
             and
             venomous
             Doctrin
             ,
             
               That
               there
               is
               nothing
               but
               Matter
               in
               the
               World.
               
            
          
           
             To
             begin
             therefore
             with
             the
             Birth
             of
             the
             blessed
             Jesus
             and
             the
             Circumstances
             attending
             of
             it
             ,
             as
             of
             the
             Star
             which
             led
             the
             Wise
             Men
             to
             him
             ,
             and
             of
             their
             Adoration
             of
             him
             ,
             that
             these
             things
             are
             not
             indecorous
             and
             ridiculous
             ,
             nor
             impertinently
             recorded
             ,
             but
             sutable
             and
             agreeable
             to
             the
             Nativity
             of
             so
             great
             a
             Person
             .
             That
             a
             Virgin
             should
             conceive
             and
             bring
             forth
             a
             Child
             ,
             
             ought
             to
             be
             no
             such
             strange
             thing
             to
             the
             Jew
             ,
             since
             their
             Prophets
             have
             foretold
             that
             it
             should
             so
             come
             to
             pass
             ,
             particularly
             in
             Isa
             .
             vii
             .
             14.
             
             
               Behold
               a
               Virgin
               shall
               conceive
               and
               bear
               a
               Son
               ,
               and
               shall
               call
               his
               name
               Immanuel
               .
            
             And
             if
             this
             were
             not
             to
             be
             understood
             of
             a
             pure
             and
             immaculate
             Virgin
             ,
             where
             were
             that
             Sign
             which
             God
             by
             his
             Prophet
             ushers
             in
             with
             such
             Solemnity
             ;
             
               Ask
               thee
               a
               sign
               of
               the
               Lord
               thy
               God
               ,
               ask
               it
               either
               in
               the
               depth
               ,
               or
               in
               the
               
               height
               above
               :
            
             for
             nothing
             is
             more
             ordinary
             in
             the
             World
             than
             that
             a
             young
             Woman
             should
             bring
             forth
             a
             Child
             :
             Add
             to
             this
             ,
             that
             the
             Jewish
             Rabbins
             teach
             ,
             that
             the
             Generation
             and
             Nativity
             of
             the
             Messias
             shall
             not
             be
             after
             the
             manner
             of
             other
             Creatures
             by
             carnal
             Copulation
             ,
             but
             after
             an
             extraordinary
             manner
             ,
             and
             his
             Father
             shall
             be
             unknown
             till
             he
             himself
             reveal
             him
             .
             Nor
             ought
             it
             to
             be
             thought
             a
             thing
             impossible
             by
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             since
             they
             affirm
             many
             of
             their
             Heroes
             to
             be
             the
             Sons
             of
             the
             Gods
             ;
             and
             Plato
             is
             said
             to
             be
             begotten
             on
             Perictione
             by
             Apollo
             ,
             who
             forbad
             Aristo
             to
             have
             any
             familiarity
             with
             his
             Wife
             ,
             till
             Plato
             was
             born
             .
             But
             to
             them
             that
             believe
             a
             just
             and
             righteous
             Providence
             governing
             all
             the
             Affairs
             of
             the
             Universe
             ,
             it
             is
             obvious
             to
             conceive
             ,
             that
             all
             Souls
             are
             sent
             into
             the
             World
             according
             to
             their
             Demerits
             in
             a
             former
             Life
             ;
             and
             therefore
             as
             a
             deeply
             lapsed
             Soul
             descends
             into
             an
             inequal
             and
             monstrous
             Body
             ,
             from
             which
             Adunation
             can
             result
             no
             other
             than
             a
             brutish
             ,
             cruel
             ,
             and
             intemperate
             Life
             ,
             and
             a
             Pronity
             to
             all
             other
             Vices
             arising
             from
             such
             an
             Asymmetral
             and
             inhospitable
             Society
             ;
             so
             the
             pure
             and
             immaculate
             Soul
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             must
             assume
             a
             terrestrial
             Body
             after
             an
             unusual
             manner
             ,
             more
             pure
             than
             the
             rest
             ,
             that
             it
             
             might
             be
             free
             from
             Sin
             and
             Pollution
             as
             well
             as
             fitted
             to
             converse
             with
             Men
             ,
             and
             that
             he
             might
             in
             it
             teach
             an
             extraordinary
             Temperance
             ,
             Justice
             ,
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             and
             all
             other
             Virtues
             by
             his
             Life
             as
             by
             his
             Doctrin
             .
             For
             neither
             would
             the
             Justice
             of
             God
             precipitate
             so
             great
             a
             Soul
             into
             an
             unfit
             and
             incongruous
             Habitation
             ,
             nor
             its
             eximious
             Purity
             admit
             of
             an
             Union
             with
             an
             inquinated
             and
             filthy
             Body
             .
          
           
             
             Nor
             is
             it
             any
             whit
             incongruous
             that
             an
             unusual
             Star
             should
             attend
             the
             Rising
             of
             the
             glorious
             Sun
             of
             Righteousness
             ;
             for
             though
             it
             be
             commonly
             said
             of
             Comets
             ,
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             that
             no
             one
             appears
             to
             the
             World
             but
             portends
             some
             Mischief
             ,
             which
             Historians
             plentifully
             observe
             ,
             and
             hence
             is
             that
             of
             Claudian
             ,
             
               
                 Nunquam
                 futilibus
                 excanduit
                 ignibus
                 Aether
                 ,
              
               
                 Et
                 nunquam
                 coelo
                 spectatum
                 impune
                 Cometen
                 .
              
            
             Yet
             Origen
             in
             his
             first
             Book
             against
             Celsus
             affirms
             ,
             that
             Chaeremon
             the
             Stoick
             in
             his
             Treatise
             of
             Comets
             proves
             by
             several
             Instances
             out
             of
             Histories
             that
             Comets
             sometimes
             presage
             the
             Approach
             of
             good
             things
             *
             .
             If
             then
             those
             great
             and
             wandring
             
             Globes
             be
             looked
             upon
             as
             the
             Presignificators
             of
             great
             Changes
             and
             Alterations
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             what
             wonder
             is
             it
             that
             the
             Birth
             of
             Jesus
             who
             should
             work
             so
             mighty
             a
             Mutation
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             and
             introduce
             a
             Religion
             universal
             and
             common
             to
             all
             Mankind
             ,
             should
             be
             declared
             by
             a
             new
             and
             stranger
             Star
             ?
             And
             if
             it
             be
             said
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             impossible
             for
             a
             Star
             in
             the
             Heavenly
             Regions
             ,
             to
             design
             punctually
             so
             small
             a
             place
             as
             a
             particular
             House
             upon
             Earth
             ;
             I
             answer
             ,
             that
             the
             Magi
             found
             the
             House
             wherein
             Jesus
             was
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             the
             disappearing
             and
             vanishing
             of
             the
             Star
             over
             it
             ,
             but
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             ,
             by
             a
             diligent
             Search
             and
             Inquisition
             after
             the
             Child
             ,
             perhaps
             of
             the
             Shepherds
             who
             were
             not
             far
             distant
             keeping
             watch
             over
             their
             Flocks
             .
          
           
             It
             remains
             now
             ,
             that
             we
             Apologize
             for
             the
             other
             part
             of
             the
             History
             ,
             viz.
             
             The
             coming
             of
             the
             Wise
             Men
             from
             the
             East
             to
             Jerusalem
             ;
             to
             which
             purpose
             it
             will
             be
             requisite
             to
             consider
             the
             Quality
             of
             these
             Magi
             ,
             who
             probably
             were
             none
             of
             these
             grosser
             sort
             of
             Sorcerers
             that
             make
             an
             express
             Compact
             with
             the
             Devil
             ,
             but
             such
             as
             receiving
             from
             others
             certain
             forms
             and
             mysterious
             Conjurations
             ,
             use
             them
             as
             they
             were
             delivered
             to
             them
             ,
             without
             enquiring
             
             further
             into
             their
             Nature
             :
             And
             perhaps
             the
             black
             Society
             may
             oblige
             themselves
             to
             attend
             such
             dark
             and
             hidden
             Mysteries
             ,
             whether
             the
             Transactors
             of
             them
             know
             them
             to
             be
             theirs
             or
             not
             .
             But
             whether
             these
             Magi
             were
             such
             ,
             or
             had
             a
             more
             open
             and
             visible
             Commerce
             with
             evil
             Spirits
             ,
             it
             matters
             not
             ,
             since
             this
             is
             certain
             ,
             that
             the
             airy
             Principality
             can
             act
             no
             further
             ,
             where
             a
             more
             divine
             and
             excellent
             Power
             intervenes
             .
             Wherefore
             through
             the
             mighty
             Virtue
             of
             the
             Divinity
             residing
             in
             the
             Soul
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             and
             the
             unexpected
             descent
             of
             a
             glorious
             Host
             of
             Angels
             to
             these
             terrestrial
             Regions
             ,
             singing
             an
             Anthem
             of
             Praise
             at
             the
             Birth
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             it
             came
             to
             pass
             that
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             airy
             Principality
             was
             on
             a
             sudden
             restrained
             ,
             and
             an
             universal
             Chilness
             and
             Horror
             ran
             through
             the
             dark
             Kingdom
             ,
             so
             that
             they
             were
             unable
             to
             attend
             their
             own
             Hellish
             Mysteries
             ,
             which
             the
             Magi
             perceiving
             ,
             their
             usual
             Incantations
             not
             succeeding
             ,
             nor
             the
             accustomed
             Effects
             following
             their
             secret
             Rites
             and
             Ceremonies
             ,
             they
             began
             to
             think
             the
             Cause
             of
             this
             unexpected
             Accident
             to
             be
             extraordinary
             ,
             and
             knowing
             the
             Prophecy
             of
             Balaam
             ,
             that
             
               a
               star
               should
               come
               out
               of
               Jacob
               ,
               and
               a
               scepter
               rise
               out
               of
               Israel
               ,
            
             conjectured
             that
             the
             Man
             foretold
             to
             come
             
             with
             the
             Apparition
             of
             a
             Star
             ,
             was
             now
             born
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             believing
             him
             to
             have
             a
             transcendent
             Power
             over
             the
             aereal
             Agents
             ,
             resolved
             to
             come
             and
             worship
             him
             ,
             presenting
             him
             with
             the
             choicest
             Gifts
             of
             Arabia
             ,
             Gold
             and
             Myrrh
             and
             Frankincense
             ,
             as
             to
             a
             King
             ,
             a
             Man
             ,
             and
             a
             God.
             And
             if
             any
             man
             desire
             a
             further
             Mystery
             ,
             he
             may
             take
             the
             learned
             Grotius
             his
             Observation
             ,
             that
             by
             these
             three
             are
             denoted
             those
             three
             Evangelical
             Sacrifices
             which
             through
             Christ
             we
             offer
             unto
             God
             ,
             viz.
             Works
             of
             Charity
             and
             Mercy
             ,
             Phil.
             iv
             .
             18.
             
             Incorrupted
             Purity
             of
             Body
             ,
             Rom.
             xii
             .
             1.
             and
             Prayers
             ,
             Psal
             .
             cxli.
             2.
             
          
           
             We
             that
             are
             Christians
             are
             taught
             in
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             that
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             the
             Saviour
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             is
             God
             as
             well
             as
             Man
             ;
             
             and
             this
             Truth
             being
             of
             so
             high
             and
             great
             concern
             ,
             we
             not
             only
             believe
             ,
             but
             are
             ready
             to
             give
             all
             possible
             Satisfaction
             to
             the
             Jew
             and
             Heathen
             :
             To
             the
             Jew
             we
             say
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             long
             ago
             declared
             by
             their
             own
             Prophets
             ,
             Isa
             .
             ix
             .
             6.
             
             
               For
               unto
               us
               a
               child
               is
               born
               ,
               unto
               us
               a
               son
               is
               given
               ,
               and
               the
               government
               shall
               be
               upon
               his
               shoulder
               ;
               and
               his
               Name
               shall
               be
               called
               Wonderful
               ,
               Counseller
               ,
               the
               mighty
               God
               ,
               the
               everlasting
               Father
               ,
               the
               Prince
               of
               Peace
               .
            
             This
             the
             more
             antient
             Rabbins
             always
             interpreted
             of
             the
             Messias
             ,
             and
             't
             is
             
             but
             a
             groundless
             Conceit
             of
             R.
             Solomon's
             to
             transfer
             it
             to
             Hezekiah
             ;
             for
             who
             sees
             not
             that
             these
             Appellations
             of
             the
             mighty
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             everlasting
             Father
             ,
             cannot
             possibly
             agree
             to
             Hezekiah
             ?
             Again
             Chap.
             vii
             .
             14.
             
             
               Behold
               a
               Virgin
               shall
               conceive
               and
               bear
               a
               son
               ,
               and
               shall
               call
               his
               name
               Immanuel
               :
            
             i.
             e.
             God
             with
             us
             ,
             God
             dwelling
             and
             conversing
             in
             Human
             Nature
             .
             And
             by
             the
             Heathens
             this
             Mystery
             was
             not
             thought
             impossible
             ,
             since
             Julian
             believes
             that
             Aesculapius
             the
             Son
             of
             Jupiter
             descended
             from
             Heaven
             and
             was
             incarnate
             ,
             appearing
             first
             at
             Epidaurum
             ,
             then
             in
             many
             other
             places
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             cure
             the
             Bodies
             and
             restore
             the
             Souls
             of
             men
             to
             their
             pristine
             Rectitude
             and
             Perfection
             .
             And
             is
             there
             any
             greater
             Difficulty
             in
             believing
             that
             the
             Word
             ,
             the
             blessed
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             was
             once
             incarnate
             and
             dwelt
             among
             us
             ?
             But
             further
             to
             make
             out
             this
             great
             Truth
             to
             those
             that
             already
             believe
             the
             Histories
             of
             the
             Gospel
             to
             be
             true
             :
             1.
             
             We
             may
             take
             a
             view
             of
             those
             many
             Operations
             Jesus
             performed
             in
             the
             Nature
             he
             assumed
             ,
             some
             of
             which
             were
             incommunicable
             and
             only
             proper
             to
             the
             Deity
             ,
             such
             are
             ,
             to
             work
             a
             true
             and
             real
             Miracle
             ,
             to
             forgive
             Sins
             ,
             and
             to
             institute
             true
             and
             religious
             Worship
             .
             He
             was
             hungry
             ,
             which
             shewed
             him
             to
             be
             a
             
             man
             ,
             and
             yet
             fed
             above
             five
             thousand
             with
             five
             loaves
             and
             two
             fishes
             ,
             whereby
             he
             manifested
             his
             Divinity
             .
             He
             thirsted
             ,
             yet
             to
             others
             he
             gave
             rivers
             of
             living
             waters
             to
             fertilize
             their
             Souls
             ,
             and
             quench
             and
             allay
             their
             Thirst
             .
             He
             was
             weary
             ,
             yet
             he
             calls
             to
             him
             all
             those
             that
             are
             weary
             and
             heavy
             laden
             ,
             and
             promises
             Refreshment
             :
             though
             he
             were
             dumb
             and
             opened
             not
             his
             mouth
             ,
             yet
             was
             he
             that
             Word
             by
             which
             all
             things
             were
             made
             :
             He
             lays
             down
             his
             Life
             ,
             yet
             had
             he
             Power
             to
             take
             it
             up
             again
             .
             2.
             
             There
             is
             nothing
             in
             the
             Divine
             Nature
             to
             contradict
             or
             prejudice
             this
             Union
             ,
             but
             very
             much
             to
             be
             drawn
             from
             thence
             for
             it
             .
             For
             Divine
             Goodness
             willing
             universally
             to
             communicate
             itself
             in
             measures
             and
             degrees
             ,
             assisted
             by
             an
             eternal
             Wisdom
             ,
             found
             out
             this
             way
             of
             Union
             with
             Human
             Nature
             ,
             as
             most
             fit
             for
             an
             Universal
             Communication
             ,
             wherein
             the
             Divine
             Life
             is
             perfectly
             exhibited
             ,
             and
             all
             Perfection
             is
             as
             it
             were
             epitomized
             .
             3.
             
             There
             is
             a
             mighty
             Congruity
             and
             Sutableness
             in
             this
             Mystery
             with
             the
             Design
             of
             perfecting
             and
             restoring
             lapsed
             Souls
             .
             For
             the
             eternal
             Logos
             bringing
             out
             of
             his
             Ideal
             Fecundity
             into
             actual
             Existence
             the
             whole
             Rational
             Creation
             ,
             it
             is
             highly
             agreeable
             with
             Divine
             Wisdom
             ,
             that
             by
             the
             same
             Word
             all
             
             fallen
             Beings
             should
             be
             again
             restored
             ;
             that
             the
             first
             and
             blessed
             Cause
             of
             their
             Existence
             should
             also
             be
             the
             Author
             of
             their
             Recovery
             and
             Return
             to
             the
             perfect
             Law
             of
             Gods
             own
             Nature
             .
             And
             if
             beside
             we
             consider
             that
             all
             the
             Creatures
             are
             but
             the
             Effects
             and
             Emanations
             of
             that
             mighty
             and
             potent
             Word
             ,
             outwardly
             produced
             and
             brought
             into
             actual
             Life
             and
             Being
             ;
             the
             Conjunction
             and
             Union
             of
             the
             eternal
             Mind
             with
             Human
             Nature
             will
             appear
             exceeding
             congruous
             .
             4.
             
             No
             Dishonour
             can
             accrue
             to
             the
             blessed
             Nature
             of
             God
             by
             such
             a
             state
             in
             which
             there
             is
             no
             Evil
             ,
             Turpitude
             ,
             or
             Defilement
             .
             The
             Brightness
             of
             the
             Divine
             Sun
             is
             no
             whit
             obscured
             by
             the
             adjunction
             of
             the
             Humanity
             ,
             but
             the
             Humanity
             is
             made
             more
             glorious
             and
             transcendent
             by
             being
             exalted
             into
             the
             Fellowship
             of
             the
             Divinity
             .
             5.
             
             The
             Obscurity
             and
             Incomprehensibleness
             of
             this
             Mystery
             ought
             not
             to
             prejudice
             our
             Belief
             of
             it
             ,
             since
             that
             many
             things
             in
             Nature
             are
             in
             the
             dark
             to
             us
             ,
             and
             that
             faint
             and
             glimmering
             Knowledge
             which
             we
             have
             of
             them
             is
             only
             cojnectural
             ,
             not
             demonstrative
             ;
             we
             know
             there
             is
             an
             Union
             between
             Soul
             and
             Body
             ,
             but
             the
             manner
             of
             it
             is
             unknown
             and
             hid
             from
             us
             ,
             and
             if
             we
             believe
             no
             further
             than
             we
             can
             comprehend
             ,
             we
             must
             
             be
             Scepticks
             in
             Religion
             as
             well
             as
             Philosophy
             .
             Yet
             somthing
             we
             may
             collect
             from
             the
             Union
             of
             Soul
             and
             Body
             ,
             as
             also
             of
             other
             Natural
             Compositions
             ,
             that
             forasmuch
             as
             they
             are
             extremely
             distant
             and
             unlike
             in
             their
             Nature
             and
             Proprieties
             ,
             and
             yet
             united
             to
             the
             making
             of
             one
             Compositum
             ;
             therefore
             the
             Immensity
             of
             the
             Divinity
             can
             be
             no
             hindrance
             from
             taking
             Humanity
             into
             an
             Union
             and
             Association
             with
             it
             .
             6
             We
             cannot
             doubt
             ,
             but
             that
             God
             who
             is
             immense
             and
             omnipresent
             ,
             may
             manifest
             a
             peculiar
             Presence
             in
             this
             or
             the
             other
             particular
             place
             ,
             as
             seems
             best
             to
             himself
             .
             That
             infinite
             Nature
             which
             pervades
             and
             is
             extended
             through
             the
             vast
             Capacities
             of
             immense
             Space
             ,
             can
             as
             easily
             actuate
             ,
             inhabit
             and
             fill
             a
             Human
             Soul
             and
             Body
             ;
             nor
             is
             the
             Divinity
             contracted
             or
             diminished
             by
             being
             united
             to
             a
             Creature
             ,
             but
             being
             diffused
             through
             all
             places
             ,
             manifests
             itself
             by
             a
             more
             special
             Inhabitation
             in
             the
             sacred
             Temple
             of
             the
             Soul
             of
             Jesus
             .
             We
             see
             the
             Soul
             of
             Man
             dilating
             itself
             through
             our
             corporeal
             Fabrick
             ,
             expressing
             its
             Activity
             and
             Presence
             by
             the
             exceeding
             quick
             Sensibility
             of
             every
             part
             ,
             and
             yet
             hath
             its
             peculiar
             Center
             and
             Residence
             in
             the
             Brain
             ;
             and
             cannot
             God
             ,
             in
             whom
             are
             found
             all
             possible
             Perfections
             ,
             manifest
             his
             peculiar
             and
             Divine
             
             Presence
             to
             the
             ever
             faithful
             and
             obedient
             Soul
             of
             the
             Messias
             ?
          
           
             Hitherto
             I
             have
             declared
             the
             great
             Excellency
             and
             Becomingness
             of
             the
             Truths
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             shall
             conclude
             this
             general
             Head
             with
             the
             Recitation
             of
             two
             or
             three
             Objections
             more
             ,
             made
             by
             the
             Jews
             against
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             and
             recorded
             in
             the
             Histories
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             Object
             .
             1.
             
             The
             first
             we
             find
             in
             John
             vii
             .
             48.
             
             
               Have
               any
               of
               the
               Rulers
               ,
               or
               of
               the
               Pharisees
               believed
               on
               him
               ?
               But
               this
               People
               who
               knoweth
               not
               the
               Law
               are
               cursed
               .
            
          
           
             Answ
             .
             1.
             
             To
             this
             I
             return
             ,
             that
             inasmuch
             as
             the
             great
             Synagogue
             and
             Rulers
             of
             the
             Jews
             rejected
             Jesus
             ,
             and
             would
             not
             acknowledge
             him
             to
             be
             the
             expected
             Messias
             ,
             the
             more
             reason
             had
             others
             to
             believe
             in
             him
             :
             for
             their
             own
             Prophets
             long
             ago
             predicted
             the
             Rejection
             of
             the
             Messias
             by
             the
             Jewish
             Nation
             ,
             who
             should
             be
             so
             obstinately
             blind
             ,
             that
             they
             should
             not
             know
             him
             when
             he
             came
             into
             the
             world
             ;
             as
             we
             read
             in
             Psal
             .
             cxviii
             .
             22.
             
             
               The
               stone
               which
               the
               builders
               refused
               is
               become
               the
               head
               stone
               of
               the
               corner
               :
            
             so
             likewise
             in
             Isa
             .
             vi
             .
             10.
             
             
               Make
               the
               heart
               of
               this
               people
               fat
               ,
               and
               make
               their
               ears
               heavy
               ,
               and
               shut
               their
               eyes
               ;
               lest
               they
               see
               with
               their
               eyes
               ,
               and
               hear
               with
               their
               ears
               ,
               and
               understand
               with
               their
               heart
               ,
               and
               
               convert
               and
               be
               healed
               .
            
             To
             which
             purpose
             is
             that
             Saying
             of
             
               R.
               Judas
            
             in
             the
             Talmud
             ,
             
               That
               when
               the
               Son
               of
               David
               shall
               come
               ,
               there
               shall
               be
               few
               wise
               men
               in
               Israel
               ,
               and
               the
               wisdom
               of
               the
               Scribes
               shall
               stink
               ,
               and
               the
               Schools
               of
               the
               Prophets
               shall
               become
               Brothel-houses
               .
            
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             holy
             Jesus
             wanted
             not
             Disciples
             even
             among
             the
             wise
             men
             of
             the
             Jews
             ;
             such
             was
             Simeon
             the
             Just
             ,
             the
             Scholar
             of
             Hillel
             ,
             who
             was
             filled
             with
             the
             Holy
             Ghost
             ,
             and
             after
             whose
             Death
             ,
             that
             Divine
             Spirit
             which
             inspired
             the
             great
             Synagogue
             ,
             departed
             from
             them
             .
             John
             the
             Baptist
             who
             not
             only
             acknowledged
             Christ
             himself
             ,
             but
             sent
             his
             Disciples
             to
             him
             ,
             as
             to
             that
             Lamb
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             came
             to
             take
             away
             the
             sins
             of
             the
             world
             :
             and
             Gamaliel
             is
             said
             to
             have
             followed
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             to
             have
             been
             
             Simeon's
             Scholar
             :
             And
             St.
             Paul
             who
             was
             a
             man
             of
             great
             Repute
             and
             Esteem
             with
             the
             Jews
             ,
             and
             sate
             at
             the
             feet
             of
             Gamaliel
             ,
             yet
             was
             afterward
             an
             Apostle
             of
             the
             holy
             Jesus
             :
             and
             Josephus
             further
             informs
             us
             ,
             that
             the
             more
             sober
             and
             serious
             Jews
             ,
             who
             were
             Lovers
             of
             the
             Truth
             ,
             were
             such
             as
             followed
             Jesus
             ,
             and
             those
             that
             were
             studious
             and
             zealous
             for
             the
             Law
             ,
             sharply
             rebuked
             Ananus
             the
             High
             Priest
             for
             commanding
             the
             Disciples
             of
             Jesus
             to
             be
             stoned
             .
          
           
           
             Object
             .
             2.
             
             Acts
             i.
             6.
             
             
               Lord
               ,
               wilt
               thou
               at
               this
               time
               restore
               again
               the
               Kingdom
               to
               Israel
               ?
            
             It
             was
             a
             current
             Opinion
             among
             the
             Jews
             in
             our
             Saviours
             time
             ,
             that
             the
             Messias
             should
             be
             a
             Temporal
             Monarch
             ,
             and
             redeem
             them
             from
             the
             yoke
             of
             the
             Romans
             ;
             as
             appears
             from
             this
             Question
             of
             the
             Disciples
             ,
             who
             doubtless
             spake
             the
             general
             sense
             of
             the
             Jews
             ;
             but
             they
             finding
             nothing
             in
             the
             Attempts
             and
             Actions
             of
             Jesus
             tending
             that
             way
             ,
             hence
             they
             could
             not
             believe
             him
             to
             be
             the
             promised
             Messias
             .
          
           
             Answ
             .
             Christ
             came
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             such
             as
             he
             was
             foretold
             to
             be
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             humble
             and
             meek
             ,
             not
             with
             the
             Splendor
             and
             Glory
             of
             an
             earthly
             Prince
             ,
             but
             poor
             and
             despicable
             ,
             a
             man
             of
             sorrows
             ,
             and
             without
             form
             and
             comliness
             ;
             as
             it
             is
             predicted
             by
             Zechariah
             the
             Prophet
             ,
             Zech.
             ix
             .
             9.
             and
             Isa
             .
             liii
             .
             The
             End
             and
             Design
             of
             his
             coming
             was
             to
             appease
             the
             Anger
             of
             God
             ,
             by
             devoting
             himself
             for
             the
             Sins
             of
             men
             ;
             to
             destroy
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             the
             Devil
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             one
             body
             of
             Jews
             and
             Gentiles
             ,
             of
             which
             he
             himself
             should
             be
             the
             Head.
             And
             't
             is
             no
             way
             fit
             and
             agreeable
             for
             such
             an
             Undertaking
             to
             appear
             in
             earthly
             Splendor
             and
             Glory
             ,
             filling
             the
             World
             with
             Blood
             and
             Slaughter
             like
             another
             Alexander
             or
             
             Caesar
             ,
             by
             the
             Puissance
             of
             mighty
             Armies
             .
             Wherefore
             the
             holy
             Jesus
             being
             to
             disseminate
             and
             promote
             the
             blessed
             Life
             of
             God
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             shewed
             his
             Divinity
             more
             refulgent
             by
             Vileness
             and
             Contempt
             ,
             his
             Power
             by
             Weakness
             and
             Infirmity
             ,
             his
             Glory
             by
             the
             Scorns
             of
             men
             ,
             and
             his
             Almighty
             Life
             and
             Virtue
             by
             Death
             and
             the
             Grave
             .
             And
             if
             he
             had
             otherwise
             descended
             from
             the
             celestial
             Mansions
             ,
             than
             the
             Scriptures
             relate
             ,
             Man
             had
             entituled
             himself
             to
             part
             of
             the
             Glory
             of
             his
             Undertaking
             ,
             and
             the
             more
             splendid
             the
             Divine
             Life
             had
             appeared
             to
             outward
             view
             ,
             with
             the
             fainter
             Lustre
             had
             it
             shone
             in
             itself
             .
             Besides
             that
             that
             Doctrin
             which
             Christ
             was
             to
             bring
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             render
             acceptable
             to
             men
             by
             his
             own
             Example
             ,
             was
             quite
             contrary
             to
             the
             Gratifications
             of
             the
             Animal
             Life
             ,
             and
             too
             vile
             and
             base
             to
             be
             essential
             to
             the
             Perfection
             of
             Human
             Nature
             .
          
           
             Object
             .
             3.
             
             Mat.
             xxvii
             .
             40.
             
             
               If
               thou
               be
               the
               Son
               of
               God
               ,
               come
               down
               from
               the
               Cross
               .
            
          
           
             Answ
             .
             He
             that
             came
             into
             the
             World
             clothed
             with
             human
             Flesh
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             several
             Actions
             of
             his
             Life
             manifested
             himself
             to
             be
             a
             true
             Man
             ,
             would
             now
             in
             this
             last
             Act
             keep
             a
             Decorum
             ;
             that
             as
             he
             was
             born
             into
             the
             world
             like
             other
             men
             ,
             partaking
             really
             of
             Flesh
             and
             Blood
             ,
             and
             all
             
             the
             Frailties
             and
             Infirmities
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             Sin
             only
             excepted
             ;
             so
             he
             would
             die
             like
             other
             men
             ,
             and
             suffer
             a
             real
             Separation
             of
             his
             Soul
             from
             his
             Body
             ,
             that
             we
             might
             be
             conformable
             to
             him
             in
             his
             Death
             ,
             and
             die
             unto
             Sin
             ,
             crucifying
             all
             our
             inordinate
             Lusts
             and
             Affections
             ,
             and
             descending
             into
             the
             Grave
             with
             him
             by
             a
             profound
             Humility
             and
             Mortification
             ;
             which
             is
             a
             sufficient
             Answer
             to
             this
             insulting
             Cavil
             of
             the
             Jews
             ,
             that
             if
             Jesus
             were
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             he
             must
             needs
             demonstrate
             it
             by
             a
             miraculous
             Descent
             from
             the
             Cross
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               CHAP.
               IV.
            
             That-Christianity
             is
             every
             way
             fitted
             and
             accommodated
             for
             an
             effectual
             Recovery
             of
             lapsed
             and
             degenerated
             Mankind
             .
          
           
             TO
             this
             purpose
             we
             must
             consider
             Man
             as
             a
             rational
             Being
             ,
             endued
             with
             Liberty
             of
             Will
             ,
             and
             a
             Lord
             of
             his
             own
             Actions
             ,
             and
             consequently
             must
             be
             treated
             according
             to
             those
             Faculties
             and
             Qualifications
             bestowed
             upon
             him
             by
             the
             gracious
             Bounty
             of
             his
             Creator
             .
             And
             this
             being
             the
             Nature
             of
             Man
             ,
             he
             is
             not
             to
             be
             dealt
             withal
             like
             a
             Stock
             or
             Stone
             ,
             that
             is
             
             wholly
             inert
             and
             sluggish
             ;
             nor
             like
             a
             Beast
             that
             is
             acted
             and
             led
             only
             by
             the
             impulse
             of
             Sense
             ;
             but
             as
             indued
             with
             Reason
             and
             Intellect
             ,
             and
             capable
             of
             discriminating
             between
             real
             Good
             and
             Evil
             ;
             and
             this
             Principle
             in
             Man
             cannot
             be
             forced
             without
             the
             Destruction
             of
             his
             Nature
             ,
             but
             is
             allured
             and
             drawn
             by
             moral
             Arguments
             .
             Wherefore
             the
             Design
             of
             God
             in
             the
             Gospel
             being
             to
             wind
             men
             off
             from
             Sin
             to
             a
             serious
             pursuit
             of
             Virtue
             and
             Goodness
             ,
             he
             makes
             use
             of
             such
             Arguments
             as
             are
             most
             powerful
             and
             efficacious
             for
             that
             end
             ,
             and
             most
             sutable
             to
             the
             Nature
             of
             Man
             :
             As
          
           
             1.
             
             What
             can
             more
             deter
             men
             from
             Wickedness
             and
             Vice
             ,
             than
             the
             sober
             pressing
             upon
             them
             the
             Consideration
             of
             a
             future
             day
             of
             Judgment
             ,
             wherein
             the
             just
             Judge
             of
             Heaven
             and
             Earth
             will
             impartially
             look
             into
             their
             Lives
             ,
             and
             dispose
             of
             them
             according
             to
             the
             moral
             Frame
             and
             Disposition
             of
             their
             Spirits
             ?
             To
             them
             who
             by
             patient
             continuance
             in
             well
             doing
             ,
             seek
             for
             Glory
             ,
             Honour
             and
             Immortality
             ,
             eternal
             Life
             :
             But
             to
             them
             who
             do
             not
             obey
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             he
             will
             recompense
             Tribulation
             and
             Wrath.
             He
             that
             is
             convinc'd
             that
             the
             Scriptures
             are
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             must
             likewise
             believe
             ,
             that
             
             though
             God
             be
             patient
             and
             long-suffering
             ,
             not
             willing
             that
             any
             should
             perish
             ;
             yet
             he
             is
             likewise
             just
             ,
             and
             hates
             all
             Sin
             whatever
             ;
             and
             to
             convince
             all
             unbelieving
             and
             Atheistical
             Persons
             of
             his
             Displeasure
             against
             Wickedness
             and
             Vice
             ,
             he
             has
             appointed
             a
             Day
             wherein
             he
             will
             judge
             the
             World
             ;
             a
             Day
             wherein
             Jesus
             Christ
             the
             blessed
             Son
             of
             God
             shall
             visibly
             descend
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             accompanied
             with
             innumerable
             Legions
             of
             mighty
             Angels
             ,
             before
             whose
             Throne
             all
             wicked
             Men
             and
             Devils
             shall
             stand
             with
             Paleness
             and
             Horror
             ,
             expecting
             the
             Pronuntiation
             of
             that
             dreadful
             Sentence
             ,
             
               Go
               ye
               cursed
               into
               everlasting
               fire
            
             ;
             which
             final
             Doom
             and
             Sentence
             shall
             presently
             be
             executed
             upon
             them
             ;
             for
             through
             the
             stupendious
             Operation
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             the
             infernal
             Treasures
             of
             Fire
             shall
             be
             opened
             ,
             and
             an
             universal
             Deluge
             of
             Flame
             shall
             spread
             itself
             over
             the
             Face
             of
             the
             aged
             Earth
             ,
             which
             shall
             be
             cleft
             and
             riven
             by
             terrible
             Eruptions
             of
             sulphureous
             Matter
             ,
             breaking
             forth
             with
             horrible
             Rage
             and
             Fury
             from
             the
             lower
             Regions
             ,
             and
             this
             together
             with
             Showers
             of
             Fire
             raining
             down
             from
             thick
             and
             pitchy
             Clouds
             ,
             shall
             wrap
             Universal
             Nature
             in
             a
             sheet
             of
             Flame
             ,
             and
             complete
             an
             external
             Hell
             ,
             where
             the
             Worm
             dieth
             not
             ,
             and
             the
             Fire
             
             is
             not
             quenched
             .
             Tell
             me
             then
             ,
             O
             Man
             ,
             thou
             that
             thinkest
             Righteousness
             but
             an
             idle
             Name
             ,
             on
             whose
             hard
             and
             stubborn
             soul
             a
             Discourse
             of
             another
             Life
             can
             make
             no
             Impression
             ;
             where
             will
             be
             the
             Objects
             of
             thy
             Love
             and
             Joy
             ,
             when
             the
             Heavens
             shall
             be
             dissolved
             ,
             the
             Elements
             melt
             with
             fervent
             Heat
             ,
             and
             the
             Earth
             with
             all
             the
             works
             therein
             be
             burnt
             up
             ?
             What
             shall
             support
             and
             bear
             up
             thy
             dying
             Hopes
             ,
             when
             all
             sensible
             things
             shall
             perish
             in
             this
             dreadful
             Conflagration
             ?
             Thinkest
             thou
             that
             the
             Holes
             of
             the
             Rocks
             ,
             or
             the
             secret
             Caverns
             of
             the
             Mountains
             can
             hide
             thee
             from
             his
             Eye
             which
             pierceth
             through
             Obscurity
             ;
             who
             is
             every
             where
             present
             by
             his
             mighty
             Power
             ,
             and
             to
             whom
             the
             Night
             is
             as
             bright
             as
             Noon-day
             ?
             Or
             will
             that
             just
             Judge
             ,
             who
             sits
             upon
             the
             Life
             and
             Death
             of
             all
             the
             Sons
             of
             Adam
             ,
             be
             bribed
             with
             thy
             Gold
             and
             Silver
             ,
             when
             the
             whole
             World
             is
             his
             ,
             and
             the
             Fulness
             thereof
             ?
             Surely
             nothing
             but
             Righteousness
             will
             then
             deliver
             from
             Death
             ,
             nothing
             but
             Innocence
             and
             Purity
             ,
             white
             as
             the
             Beams
             of
             Light
             ,
             can
             save
             the
             Souls
             of
             men
             from
             eternal
             Destruction
             :
             Wickedness
             and
             Sin
             like
             a
             Talent
             of
             Lead
             shall
             sink
             down
             those
             Souls
             that
             have
             delighted
             in
             it
             ,
             into
             that
             sulphureous
             Lake
             where
             a
             most
             acute
             
             and
             searching
             Pain
             shall
             stick
             close
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             unspeakable
             Torments
             weary
             their
             restless
             Ghosts
             for
             ever
             .
             A
             sad
             and
             pitiable
             Calamity
             !
             but
             as
             just
             as
             great
             ;
             for
             the
             blessed
             Author
             of
             all
             things
             does
             not
             make
             Laws
             to
             ensnare
             the
             Creation
             ,
             nor
             does
             he
             directly
             and
             primarily
             intend
             Punishment
             ,
             but
             has
             entailed
             that
             upon
             Disobedience
             ,
             that
             men
             might
             consider
             and
             beware
             ,
             and
             in
             time
             provide
             for
             their
             Reception
             into
             all
             that
             Happiness
             God
             made
             them
             for
             ,
             and
             which
             he
             by
             threatning
             Punishment
             ,
             so
             affectionately
             desires
             they
             should
             enjoy
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             That
             there
             might
             be
             nothing
             wanting
             to
             enforce
             the
             foregoing
             Consideration
             ,
             the
             Scripture
             manifestly
             resolves
             our
             good
             or
             ill
             Being
             in
             the
             other
             Life
             to
             depend
             upon
             our
             Deportment
             in
             this
             .
             It
             is
             in
             this
             life
             that
             we
             lay
             the
             trains
             of
             our
             future
             Happiness
             or
             Misery
             ,
             and
             every
             moral
             Action
             has
             an
             Influence
             either
             good
             or
             bad
             upon
             Eternity
             ;
             and
             here
             it
             is
             that
             we
             have
             a
             vital
             Union
             and
             Conjunction
             either
             with
             Hell
             or
             Heaven
             .
             To
             be
             born
             into
             this
             World
             ,
             is
             not
             only
             a
             Punishment
             ,
             but
             a
             state
             of
             Probation
             to
             us
             Mortals
             ,
             wherein
             he
             that
             acquits
             himself
             generously
             and
             nobly
             ,
             fighting
             manfully
             against
             the
             World
             ,
             the
             Flesh
             ,
             and
             the
             Devil
             ,
             and
             returns
             
             with
             the
             Spoils
             and
             Trophies
             of
             his
             conquered
             Enemies
             to
             his
             beloved
             Lord
             ,
             shall
             be
             crowned
             with
             an
             eternal
             weight
             of
             Glory
             ;
             but
             he
             that
             through
             faint-heartedness
             and
             cowardice
             yields
             himself
             a
             willing
             Captive
             to
             his
             Lusts
             and
             Corruptions
             ,
             sparing
             those
             rebellious
             Sins
             and
             Affections
             ,
             with
             whom
             the
             Captain
             of
             our
             Salvation
             has
             sworn
             War
             for
             ever
             ,
             he
             combines
             and
             unites
             himself
             to
             a
             living
             Hell
             ;
             and
             no
             sooner
             is
             his
             Soul
             dislodg'd
             from
             its
             earthly
             Fabrick
             ,
             but
             it
             descends
             into
             those
             Regions
             of
             Bitterness
             and
             Sorrow
             ,
             with
             which
             it
             so
             wilfully
             sought
             a
             Cognation
             and
             Affinity
             in
             this
             Life
             .
             And
             he
             that
             will
             but
             patiently
             lend
             an
             ear
             to
             this
             ,
             cannot
             so
             obstinately
             forsake
             his
             own
             good
             ,
             nor
             delay
             and
             put
             off
             his
             Repentance
             by
             imagining
             the
             day
             of
             Judgment
             a
             great
             way
             off
             ,
             and
             not
             likely
             to
             overtake
             him
             :
             For
             no
             sooner
             has
             Death
             disseized
             him
             of
             his
             terrestrial
             Tenement
             ,
             but
             that
             universal
             Nemesis
             which
             pervades
             the
             whole
             World
             ,
             will
             fatally
             convey
             him
             to
             such
             a
             Place
             and
             Society
             ,
             as
             he
             had
             prepared
             and
             accommodated
             himself
             for
             here
             on
             Earth
             .
             And
             he
             that
             obstinately
             rejects
             the
             Counsel
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             sets
             at
             nought
             all
             his
             Reproofs
             ,
             will
             find
             that
             the
             Wrath
             of
             the
             Lord
             can
             reach
             him
             ,
             and
             he
             will
             have
             
             little
             or
             no
             Possibility
             left
             to
             better
             himself
             in
             the
             other
             World.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             For
             the
             more
             ingenuous
             sort
             ,
             who
             are
             rather
             attracted
             and
             won
             by
             the
             Expressions
             of
             Kindness
             and
             Love
             ,
             than
             the
             Fear
             of
             external
             Punishment
             ;
             what
             can
             more
             prevail
             with
             them
             ,
             than
             to
             behold
             the
             ever-blessed
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             lived
             in
             the
             boundless
             Tracts
             of
             Truth
             and
             Righteousness
             ,
             forsake
             those
             celestial
             Mansions
             ,
             and
             come
             down
             and
             take
             a
             Body
             of
             Flesh
             and
             Blood
             ,
             and
             here
             lead
             an
             obscure
             and
             evanid
             Life
             ,
             persecuted
             and
             afflicted
             ,
             never
             seeing
             good
             days
             ,
             but
             always
             carrying
             an
             heart
             full
             of
             Pensiveness
             and
             Sorrow
             ,
             and
             at
             last
             die
             a
             painful
             and
             ignominious
             Death
             upon
             the
             Cross
             ;
             and
             all
             this
             to
             recover
             and
             free
             the
             race
             of
             Mankind
             from
             the
             Tyranny
             and
             Slavery
             of
             Sin
             ?
             What
             can
             this
             but
             beget
             a
             suitable
             return
             of
             Love
             in
             every
             ingenuous
             Soul
             ?
             What
             kind
             heart
             is
             there
             that
             this
             Spectacle
             will
             not
             fill
             with
             Tears
             of
             Love
             and
             Joy
             ,
             and
             with
             the
             most
             endearing
             Expressions
             devote
             itself
             to
             a
             faithful
             Obedience
             of
             so
             compassionate
             a
             Saviour
             ?
          
           
             4.
             
             The
             Promises
             of
             the
             Gospel
             are
             most
             suitable
             means
             for
             the
             reinstating
             men
             in
             the
             Possession
             of
             Gods
             own
             Life
             ,
             that
             possibly
             can
             be
             offered
             to
             the
             World.
             
             For
             he
             that
             considers
             how
             deeply
             Vice
             and
             Iniquity
             are
             radicated
             in
             our
             very
             Natures
             ;
             and
             what
             great
             Diligence
             and
             Care
             is
             required
             to
             extirpate
             even
             a
             single
             Habit
             ,
             which
             of
             a
             long
             time
             hath
             gotten
             an
             entire
             and
             full
             possession
             of
             our
             minds
             ;
             and
             withal
             reflects
             on
             the
             crazy
             and
             sickly
             state
             of
             our
             most
             generous
             and
             manly
             Faculties
             ,
             how
             bedwarfed
             and
             unable
             they
             are
             to
             resist
             ,
             through
             a
             continued
             imbibition
             of
             a
             sweet
             Poyson
             from
             Sense
             ;
             cannot
             but
             conclude
             the
             Evangelical
             Oeconomy
             would
             be
             very
             lame
             and
             imperfect
             ,
             were
             it
             not
             instructed
             and
             furnish'd
             with
             Arguments
             sufficient
             to
             countermand
             and
             outbalance
             the
             importunate
             Solicitations
             of
             the
             degenerate
             Principles
             of
             Unrighteousness
             and
             Sin.
             And
             indeed
             were
             not
             a
             Crown
             of
             Glory
             the
             great
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             of
             our
             holy
             Faith
             ,
             were
             not
             Virtue
             countenanced
             with
             an
             appendent
             Felicity
             ,
             the
             Face
             of
             the
             World
             would
             now
             appear
             as
             squalid
             and
             deformed
             ,
             as
             in
             its
             first
             and
             greatest
             Brutishness
             and
             Barbarity
             :
             For
             who
             would
             seek
             the
             Renovation
             of
             decayed
             Righteousness
             ,
             or
             who
             would
             entertain
             afflicted
             and
             oppressed
             Holiness
             ,
             if
             its
             Reward
             did
             not
             fully
             answer
             and
             compensate
             whatever
             Troubles
             ,
             Difficulties
             ,
             and
             Molestations
             do
             attend
             it
             ?
             Who
             would
             
             buy
             Religion
             with
             the
             Expence
             of
             all
             his
             temporal
             Interests
             ,
             nay
             of
             his
             Life
             itself
             ,
             if
             he
             were
             not
             assured
             the
             Happiness
             laid
             up
             for
             holy
             and
             incorrupt
             Souls
             ,
             did
             infinitely
             transcend
             and
             exceed
             the
             choicest
             Pleasures
             and
             Gratifications
             that
             are
             to
             be
             met
             withal
             in
             this
             Region
             of
             Mutability
             ?
             And
             that
             such
             a
             Course
             and
             Order
             of
             things
             should
             be
             taken
             ,
             is
             not
             only
             a
             merciful
             Provision
             of
             the
             good
             and
             wise
             Creator
             of
             all
             things
             towards
             us
             Sons
             of
             Sense
             ,
             but
             gives
             us
             a
             full
             Evidence
             and
             Assurance
             that
             his
             Intentions
             for
             the
             Recovery
             of
             the
             World
             are
             real
             and
             sincere
             ,
             and
             renders
             unsuspected
             the
             grand
             Dispensation
             of
             Christianity
             .
             For
             had
             the
             Gospel
             propounded
             only
             intellectual
             Notions
             ,
             and
             solicited
             our
             choice
             by
             things
             most
             remote
             from
             Sense
             ,
             while
             we
             were
             so
             fatally
             entangled
             and
             opprest
             with
             the
             Incumbrances
             of
             dull
             Mortality
             ;
             such
             a
             Design
             would
             rather
             confound
             and
             amaze
             the
             Faculties
             and
             Capacities
             of
             men
             ,
             than
             prove
             any
             whit
             serviceable
             for
             the
             regaining
             their
             antient
             Liberty
             and
             Command
             ;
             like
             a
             potent
             and
             vigorous
             Light
             set
             before
             weak
             and
             distempered
             Eyes
             ,
             which
             rather
             blinds
             than
             affords
             them
             a
             true
             and
             faithful
             discrimination
             of
             Objects
             .
             Wherefore
             Divine
             Wisdom
             hath
             treated
             the
             
             Sons
             of
             men
             after
             a
             sensible
             manner
             ,
             and
             engaged
             them
             by
             Arguments
             that
             more
             forcibly
             strike
             their
             Fancies
             and
             Imaginations
             ,
             and
             have
             a
             greater
             Influence
             for
             the
             promoting
             the
             indispensable
             Duties
             of
             Sanctity
             and
             Truth
             ,
             than
             any
             terrestrial
             Pleasure
             can
             possibly
             be
             allective
             to
             the
             contrary
             .
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             if
             Religion
             could
             consist
             with
             Avarice
             ,
             Vain-Glory
             ,
             and
             Ambition
             ,
             the
             covetous
             Miser
             who
             rips
             up
             the
             Bowels
             of
             the
             Earth
             for
             Treasure
             ,
             and
             spins
             out
             his
             Life
             in
             a
             golden
             Thread
             ,
             would
             become
             a
             Proselyte
             ;
             and
             he
             who
             seeks
             to
             ride
             upon
             the
             shoulders
             of
             the
             Multitude
             ,
             and
             lives
             upon
             the
             Air
             and
             Breath
             of
             Popular
             Applause
             ,
             would
             need
             no
             Inducements
             to
             turn
             Christian
             :
             But
             when
             things
             go
             directly
             contrary
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             will
             be
             a
             sincere
             Disciple
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             must
             crucifie
             his
             rebellious
             Lusts
             ,
             and
             descend
             into
             the
             Grave
             of
             Mortification
             ,
             and
             cashier
             every
             inordinate
             Motion
             and
             Desire
             that
             hinders
             or
             any
             way
             obstructs
             his
             approach
             to
             so
             inestimable
             a
             good
             ,
             as
             the
             Possession
             of
             the
             blessed
             Life
             of
             God
             ;
             and
             this
             not
             to
             be
             done
             without
             indefatigable
             Industry
             and
             Care
             ,
             and
             as
             it
             were
             a
             Dilaceration
             of
             himself
             from
             himself
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             a
             forcible
             Subjection
             of
             that
             grand
             Principle
             of
             our
             
             Apostasie
             and
             Deviation
             from
             God
             ,
             which
             is
             so
             mischievously
             powerful
             ,
             to
             the
             Commands
             and
             Laws
             of
             our
             superior
             Life
             ;
             there
             is
             no
             man
             can
             doubt
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             Promises
             of
             the
             Gospel
             are
             infinitely
             necessary
             ,
             in
             order
             to
             that
             weighty
             Design
             eternal
             Wisdom
             seeks
             to
             carry
             on
             by
             the
             Promulgation
             of
             them
             to
             the
             World.
             
          
           
             Which
             Promises
             we
             may
             refer
             to
             these
             three
             general
             Heads
             ,
             1.
             
             Pardon
             of
             all
             our
             Sins
             upon
             a
             true
             Repentance
             and
             sincere
             Conformity
             of
             our
             Minds
             and
             Spirits
             to
             the
             Will
             of
             God.
             And
             this
             was
             the
             great
             End
             of
             Christs
             coming
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             he
             might
             reconcile
             it
             unto
             God
             ,
             and
             assure
             guilty
             Sinners
             who
             had
             made
             themselves
             obnoxious
             to
             Divine
             Wrath
             and
             Displeasure
             ,
             that
             if
             they
             will
             return
             to
             their
             Loyalty
             and
             Obedience
             ,
             and
             express
             an
             unfeigned
             Repentance
             by
             sincere
             Purposes
             and
             Resolutions
             of
             a
             new
             Life
             ,
             God
             will
             forgive
             their
             past
             Trespasses
             ,
             and
             remember
             their
             Iniquities
             no
             more
             .
             The
             whole
             Gospel
             ,
             what
             else
             is
             it
             ,
             but
             a
             free
             and
             gracious
             Declaration
             of
             Pardon
             and
             Forgiveness
             to
             the
             World
             ?
             which
             ,
             as
             it
             takes
             away
             all
             direful
             and
             jealous
             Thoughts
             ,
             which
             criminal
             Persons
             through
             a
             Conscience
             of
             their
             own
             Guiltiness
             and
             Sin
             ,
             and
             frequent
             Presages
             
             of
             Divine
             Vengeance
             ,
             are
             apt
             to
             retain
             of
             God
             ;
             so
             it
             gives
             them
             a
             true
             and
             faithful
             Representation
             of
             his
             Nature
             ,
             that
             he
             is
             no
             dreadful
             and
             hurtful
             Being
             encircled
             with
             Tempests
             and
             devouring
             Flames
             ,
             no
             Tyrant
             whose
             arbitrary
             Love
             or
             Hate
             are
             the
             Rules
             and
             Laws
             of
             his
             Government
             ;
             but
             an
             Almighty
             Goodness
             whose
             pregnant
             Fecundity
             gave
             Life
             and
             Being
             to
             the
             whole
             Creation
             ,
             and
             studiously
             endeavours
             the
             Conservation
             of
             all
             things
             in
             all
             that
             Happiness
             their
             Natures
             are
             capable
             of
             .
             This
             was
             it
             to
             which
             the
             holy
             Jesus
             bare
             witness
             ,
             and
             published
             to
             the
             Sons
             of
             men
             by
             going
             about
             doing
             good
             ,
             and
             diffusing
             a
             Spirit
             of
             real
             Righteousness
             throughout
             the
             World
             :
             He
             took
             it
             upon
             his
             Death
             that
             this
             was
             true
             ,
             that
             God
             did
             infinitely
             desire
             the
             Reconciliation
             of
             the
             World
             to
             himself
             ,
             and
             that
             not
             for
             any
             Self-Ends
             or
             Designs
             (
             for
             what
             can
             accrue
             to
             him
             who
             is
             infinite
             Life
             ,
             and
             eternally
             possessed
             of
             whatever
             speaks
             Perfection
             ?
             )
             but
             for
             the
             sole
             Good
             and
             Welfare
             of
             things
             themselves
             ,
             that
             every
             Being
             might
             obtain
             that
             Place
             and
             Order
             in
             the
             Universe
             ,
             and
             enjoy
             all
             that
             Felicity
             to
             which
             it
             was
             at
             first
             intended
             ,
             and
             from
             which
             nothing
             but
             its
             own
             wilful
             Wretchedness
             
             could
             degrade
             it
             .
             For
             Gods
             Justice
             is
             nothing
             but
             his
             Goodness
             ,
             Power
             ,
             and
             Wisdom
             imployed
             for
             the
             Maintenance
             and
             Conservation
             of
             what
             is
             eternally
             just
             and
             right
             ;
             and
             if
             this
             may
             be
             done
             without
             Extremity
             and
             Rigour
             ,
             his
             Goodness
             doth
             as
             much
             oblige
             him
             to
             take
             the
             gentlest
             and
             mildest
             Course
             ,
             as
             any
             man
             can
             pretend
             his
             Justice
             for
             exact
             Punishment
             and
             Severity
             .
             But
             that
             all
             the
             Attributes
             of
             the
             Deity
             might
             be
             at
             once
             secured
             ,
             and
             fallen
             Man
             restored
             to
             a
             Capacity
             of
             being
             made
             happy
             again
             ,
             Christ
             appearing
             in
             human
             Nature
             hath
             undertaken
             the
             Cause
             of
             Man
             ,
             and
             given
             himself
             a
             Ransom
             for
             all
             ,
             the
             Punishment
             due
             to
             us
             being
             transferred
             on
             him
             ,
             and
             through
             the
             Sacrifice
             and
             Death
             of
             Jesus
             ,
             God
             is
             upon
             terms
             of
             Peace
             and
             Friendship
             with
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             proclaims
             a
             free
             Indulgence
             to
             all
             who
             will
             lay
             down
             their
             Hostility
             and
             Rebellion
             ,
             and
             become
             obedient
             Subjects
             to
             his
             Kingdom
             .
             God
             takes
             no
             advantage
             against
             any
             man
             to
             destroy
             him
             ,
             and
             't
             is
             a
             horrid
             Impiety
             in
             us
             ,
             to
             suspect
             him
             of
             Treachery
             and
             Deceit
             ;
             and
             to
             represent
             God
             to
             our
             minds
             in
             such
             a
             fearful
             Garb
             and
             Image
             ,
             as
             eternally
             wishing
             the
             Destruction
             of
             the
             greatest
             
             part
             of
             his
             Creatures
             ,
             is
             no
             less
             Idolatry
             ,
             than
             to
             fall
             down
             and
             worship
             the
             Works
             of
             our
             own
             hands
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             powerful
             Assistance
             of
             Gods
             Spirit
             to
             enable
             us
             to
             perform
             his
             Commands
             .
             When
             the
             great
             Love
             the
             holy
             Apostles
             bare
             to
             the
             Lord
             Christ
             ,
             made
             them
             sorrowful
             for
             his
             Departure
             ,
             they
             supposing
             he
             would
             then
             leave
             them
             to
             the
             Mercies
             of
             a
             faithless
             and
             perverse
             Generation
             ;
             he
             takes
             Compassion
             on
             his
             Charge
             ,
             and
             assures
             them
             that
             when
             the
             time
             comes
             that
             his
             bodily
             Presence
             should
             be
             withdrawn
             from
             them
             ,
             he
             would
             not
             leave
             them
             destitute
             and
             forsaken
             ;
             but
             send
             the
             Comforter
             ,
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             unto
             them
             ,
             who
             should
             not
             only
             perform
             the
             Office
             of
             an
             Advocate
             ,
             in
             pleading
             and
             maintaining
             the
             Justice
             of
             his
             Cause
             against
             the
             unrighteous
             World
             ,
             but
             be
             a
             Principle
             of
             Love
             and
             Purity
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
             and
             conduct
             them
             through
             the
             various
             Windings
             and
             Obliquities
             of
             Error
             and
             Falshood
             into
             the
             plain
             and
             easie
             Paths
             of
             Truth
             and
             Righteousness
             .
             And
             for
             a
             Confirmation
             of
             this
             Promise
             ,
             he
             appeals
             to
             common
             Sense
             and
             the
             Evidence
             of
             all
             Mankind
             ;
             
               If
               ye
               who
               are
               evil
               know
               how
               to
               give
               good
               gifts
               to
               your
               children
               ,
               how
               much
               more
               shall
               
               your
               heavenly
               Father
            
             (
             from
             whom
             all
             Creatures
             proceed
             ,
             and
             upon
             whom
             they
             depend
             more
             intimately
             ,
             than
             Faculties
             and
             Actions
             upon
             the
             Principles
             from
             whence
             they
             flow
             )
             
               bestow
               his
               Holy
               Spirit
               upon
               them
               that
               ask
               it
               of
               him
               ?
            
             Wherefore
             that
             no
             man
             might
             despair
             ,
             and
             count
             it
             an
             impossible
             thing
             to
             atchieve
             a
             perfect
             Victory
             and
             Conquest
             over
             his
             Lusts
             and
             Corruptions
             ;
             God
             has
             promised
             ,
             that
             the
             Business
             shall
             not
             be
             transacted
             by
             our
             own
             single
             Effort
             and
             solitary
             Endeavours
             ;
             but
             that
             we
             shall
             have
             the
             powerful
             Aid
             of
             his
             blessed
             Spirit
             ,
             than
             which
             nothing
             can
             be
             a
             more
             vigorous
             Encouragement
             .
             For
             what
             can
             resist
             his
             Almighty
             Energy
             and
             Virtue
             ?
             or
             what
             can
             be
             so
             stubborn
             and
             refractory
             ,
             that
             he
             cannot
             render
             sequacious
             and
             obedient
             ,
             who
             at
             first
             brought
             all
             things
             out
             of
             nothing
             ?
             Be
             our
             Lusts
             never
             so
             mighty
             and
             gigantick
             ,
             and
             the
             Powers
             of
             Darkness
             never
             so
             resolutely
             armed
             against
             us
             ,
             yet
             the
             Strength
             and
             Assistance
             derived
             to
             us
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             is
             able
             to
             put
             to
             flight
             all
             our
             Enemies
             ,
             and
             make
             us
             perfectly
             victorious
             .
             The
             Spirit
             of
             God
             is
             no
             dull
             and
             sluggish
             Principle
             ,
             but
             a
             quick
             and
             active
             Life
             ;
             and
             into
             whatever
             Soul
             it
             enters
             ,
             it
             is
             perpetually
             
             cleansing
             ,
             and
             purifying
             ,
             and
             refining
             it
             ,
             till
             it
             have
             wholly
             extirpated
             and
             destroyed
             whatever
             beats
             no
             similitude
             with
             itself
             ,
             and
             rendred
             the
             whole
             Man
             an
             immaculate
             Temple
             for
             the
             Manifestation
             of
             its
             own
             glorious
             Presence
             .
             Let
             no
             man
             then
             pretend
             an
             invincible
             Infirmity
             ,
             or
             that
             he
             is
             fatally
             bound
             and
             enslaved
             to
             Sin
             and
             Vice
             ;
             for
             if
             we
             would
             but
             excite
             those
             Powers
             God
             has
             given
             us
             ,
             and
             by
             ardent
             Breathings
             invocate
             the
             gracious
             Auxiliaries
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             Wonders
             wrought
             upon
             our
             Souls
             ,
             the
             Strength
             of
             our
             Corruptions
             would
             abate
             ,
             and
             our
             furious
             Passions
             be
             restrained
             and
             reduced
             into
             Discipline
             and
             Order
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             The
             last
             general
             Head
             is
             the
             Promise
             of
             a
             future
             and
             blessed
             Immortality
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             when
             this
             present
             Life
             is
             ended
             .
             The
             blessed
             Jesus
             ,
             while
             he
             lived
             upon
             Earth
             ,
             did
             not
             wholly
             obscure
             his
             Glory
             in
             the
             mantle
             of
             Flesh
             and
             Blood
             ,
             but
             gave
             a
             notable
             Specimen
             of
             that
             efficacious
             Life
             and
             Power
             ,
             which
             as
             he
             himself
             was
             already
             possessed
             of
             ,
             so
             all
             those
             that
             believe
             in
             his
             Name
             should
             hereafter
             be
             endued
             withal
             ,
             which
             should
             melt
             their
             Corruptible
             into
             Incorruption
             ,
             and
             translate
             them
             to
             the
             quiet
             and
             peaceful
             
             Regions
             of
             Immortality
             ;
             in
             his
             Transfiguration
             upon
             Mount
             Tabor
             ,
             which
             was
             enough
             to
             call
             off
             the
             Thoughts
             and
             Cares
             of
             men
             from
             the
             trifling
             Concerns
             of
             this
             World
             ,
             and
             teach
             them
             ,
             that
             there
             was
             a
             better
             Portion
             to
             be
             expected
             for
             all
             the
             Sons
             of
             God
             and
             Virtue
             in
             the
             pure
             and
             undefiled
             Mansions
             of
             Heaven
             ,
             where
             dwells
             nothing
             but
             Truth
             and
             Goodness
             :
             But
             the
             most
             lively
             and
             pregnant
             Evidence
             of
             the
             future
             Subsistence
             of
             our
             Souls
             ,
             was
             his
             glorious
             Resurrection
             from
             the
             dead
             ,
             whereby
             as
             he
             was
             declared
             to
             be
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             with
             Power
             ;
             so
             it
             gives
             us
             a
             full
             Assurance
             and
             convictive
             Demonstration
             ,
             even
             to
             outward
             Sense
             ,
             that
             the
             comfortless
             Chambers
             of
             the
             Grave
             shall
             not
             for
             ever
             detein
             us
             ;
             but
             that
             when
             he
             who
             is
             our
             Life
             ,
             shall
             appear
             and
             summon
             Earth
             and
             Sea
             to
             deliver
             up
             their
             dead
             ,
             and
             open
             the
             secret
             Receptacles
             of
             Souls
             ;
             then
             shall
             all
             holy
             and
             righteous
             Persons
             appear
             with
             him
             in
             Glory
             ,
             and
             take
             possession
             of
             their
             long
             expected
             Joy
             ,
             and
             receive
             the
             just
             Recompence
             of
             all
             their
             Pains
             and
             Labours
             ;
             an
             Inheritance
             incorruptible
             ,
             undefiled
             ,
             and
             that
             fadeth
             not
             away
             ,
             reserved
             by
             a
             gracious
             Providence
             in
             the
             Heavens
             for
             them
             .
             All
             Power
             is
             
             committed
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             Christ
             ,
             who
             hath
             vanquished
             Death
             and
             Hell
             ,
             and
             captivated
             all
             the
             Powers
             of
             Darkness
             ,
             and
             begotten
             us
             to
             a
             lively
             Hope
             ,
             that
             when
             we
             shall
             put
             off
             our
             Mortality
             ,
             and
             be
             released
             from
             all
             terrestrial
             Pressures
             and
             Incumbrances
             ,
             he
             will
             cloth
             us
             with
             an
             heavenly
             Body
             like
             unto
             his
             own
             Body
             of
             Light
             and
             Glory
             .
             But
             lest
             we
             should
             undo
             ourselves
             with
             fruitless
             Expectations
             ,
             and
             flie
             to
             Heaven
             in
             our
             vain
             Dreams
             of
             Salvation
             ,
             before
             our
             sincere
             Conformity
             to
             Gods
             blessed
             Will
             and
             Commands
             has
             rendred
             us
             capable
             of
             that
             pure
             and
             holy
             State
             ,
             fancying
             we
             can
             read
             our
             Names
             written
             among
             the
             Stars
             ,
             before
             we
             have
             learnt
             the
             Precepts
             of
             a
             holy
             Life
             ,
             God
             hath
             annexed
             Conditions
             of
             Obedience
             to
             all
             his
             Promises
             ,
             and
             resolved
             that
             no
             man
             shall
             be
             crowned
             ,
             but
             he
             that
             with
             Courage
             and
             Perseverance
             maintains
             the
             War
             against
             Sin
             and
             Hell.
             And
             indeed
             the
             Reward
             that
             is
             promised
             to
             all
             virtuous
             Persons
             in
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             hath
             so
             great
             Affinity
             and
             Agreement
             with
             Holiness
             ,
             the
             Condition
             of
             it
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             Nature
             of
             the
             thing
             itself
             ,
             he
             cannot
             be
             capable
             of
             the
             one
             ,
             who
             is
             not
             aforehand
             invested
             with
             the
             other
             :
             For
             what
             is
             Heaven
             ,
             but
             a
             state
             of
             spotless
             
             Love
             and
             Purity
             ,
             where
             no
             Envy
             nor
             Malice
             straitens
             and
             contracts
             the
             boundless
             and
             enlarged
             ,
             no
             clouds
             of
             Passion
             or
             disordered
             Lust
             obscure
             the
             Brightness
             of
             that
             eternal
             Day
             ,
             where
             the
             Sun
             of
             Righteousness
             neither
             rises
             nor
             sets
             upon
             the
             Horizon
             of
             Time
             ,
             but
             remains
             Vertical
             for
             ever
             ?
             And
             now
             what
             Concord
             can
             possibly
             be
             imagined
             between
             such
             transcendent
             Beauty
             and
             Glory
             ,
             and
             the
             Deformity
             and
             Ugliness
             of
             the
             Frame
             and
             Temper
             of
             an
             unrighteous
             mans
             Spirit
             ,
             where
             every
             thing
             lies
             cross
             and
             untoward
             ;
             and
             his
             unruly
             Desires
             ,
             like
             the
             boisterous
             Waves
             enraged
             by
             a
             sudden
             Storm
             ,
             sweep
             the
             bottom
             of
             his
             polluted
             Soul
             ,
             and
             throw
             up
             so
             much
             Mire
             and
             Dirt
             ,
             that
             it
             defaces
             whatever
             is
             comely
             ,
             and
             leaves
             not
             the
             least
             Emblem
             of
             Heaven
             to
             be
             discerned
             in
             it
             ?
          
           
             This
             is
             the
             grand
             importance
             of
             the
             Promises
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             which
             is
             enough
             to
             demonstrate
             the
             prudent
             Care
             and
             dear
             Affection
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             to
             the
             Children
             of
             Men
             ,
             and
             a
             sufficient
             Manifestation
             of
             the
             great
             Ingratitude
             and
             Unworthiness
             of
             those
             who
             do
             not
             believe
             in
             him
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             the
             Want
             of
             Reasons
             or
             convictive
             Arguments
             ,
             but
             their
             own
             careless
             and
             wretchless
             Neglect
             of
             Consideration
             ,
             
             that
             makes
             them
             deaf
             to
             such
             Charms
             of
             Love
             ,
             and
             stupid
             and
             unmindful
             of
             so
             important
             Interests
             .
          
           
             But
             men
             seldom
             want
             Objections
             against
             that
             which
             they
             have
             no
             mind
             to
             believe
             ;
             against
             this
             therefore
             't
             is
             said
             ,
             
               That
               if
               the
               Promises
               of
               that
               eternal
               Reward
               ,
               Christ
               has
               made
               to
               us
               in
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               be
               so
               framed
               as
               to
               be
               inevident
               to
               men
               ,
               and
               leave
               them
               place
               of
               doubting
               ;
               it
               will
               be
               no
               such
               great
               Crime
               in
               wicked
               Persons
               ,
               not
               to
               believe
               those
               Promises
               ,
               and
               so
               not
               to
               embrace
               them
               .
            
          
           
             To
             this
             I
             say
             ,
             (
             1.
             )
             That
             the
             Gospel
             leaves
             no
             such
             place
             of
             doubting
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             Infidelity
             or
             a
             Disbelief
             of
             it
             excusable
             .
             For
             Unbelief
             can
             then
             only
             be
             excusable
             ,
             when
             there
             are
             really
             wanting
             such
             Arguments
             ,
             as
             may
             beget
             Faith
             in
             a
             rational
             and
             unprejudic'd
             Person
             :
             But
             the
             Gospel
             and
             the
             Promises
             thereof
             being
             sufficiently
             confirmed
             by
             such
             prevalent
             Reasons
             ,
             as
             are
             apt
             to
             acquire
             Belief
             and
             Credence
             from
             an
             unbias'd
             Nature
             ,
             the
             pretended
             Inevidence
             ,
             where
             there
             is
             no
             just
             Cause
             or
             Suspicion
             of
             Doubting
             ,
             cannot
             at
             all
             patronize
             Infidelity
             ,
             nor
             be
             a
             reasonable
             ground
             to
             act
             contrary
             to
             what
             Belief
             would
             otherwise
             incite
             them
             .
             It
             s
             true
             ,
             were
             the
             Arguments
             for
             
             the
             Disbelief
             of
             the
             Promises
             of
             Life
             and
             Salvation
             equal
             to
             ,
             and
             strong
             as
             those
             that
             perswade
             us
             to
             the
             Belief
             of
             them
             ,
             there
             would
             be
             some
             Colour
             and
             Appearance
             of
             Reason
             for
             rejecting
             them
             ;
             but
             when
             there
             can
             be
             no
             such
             Doubting
             or
             Fluctuation
             of
             Judgment
             ,
             as
             proceeds
             from
             an
             Equilibration
             of
             Arguments
             on
             both
             sides
             ,
             it
             is
             impossible
             that
             Infidelity
             should
             have
             any
             rational
             Apology
             .
             For
             what
             can
             be
             more
             convictive
             ,
             than
             to
             have
             some
             holy
             and
             divine
             Person
             come
             into
             the
             World
             ,
             who
             should
             by
             many
             infallible
             Miracles
             ,
             Wonders
             ,
             and
             Signs
             ,
             give
             an
             evident
             Proof
             that
             he
             came
             from
             God
             ;
             and
             for
             a
             full
             Confirmation
             of
             his
             Doctrin
             ,
             rise
             from
             the
             dead
             the
             third
             day
             after
             the
             suffering
             a
             painful
             and
             ignominious
             Death
             ;
             and
             to
             shew
             that
             he
             was
             no
             Spectrum
             or
             illusive
             Phantasm
             ,
             conversing
             with
             his
             Disciples
             for
             the
             space
             of
             forty
             days
             ,
             and
             afterwards
             ascending
             in
             their
             Presence
             into
             the
             highest
             Heavens
             ,
             there
             to
             rule
             and
             govern
             his
             Church
             till
             the
             End
             of
             the
             World
             ;
             to
             testifie
             which
             his
             Apotheosis
             ,
             he
             sends
             down
             his
             holy
             Spirit
             upon
             his
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             enables
             them
             to
             speak
             with
             Tongues
             and
             do
             Miracles
             :
             which
             Scheme
             of
             Providence
             doth
             so
             palpably
             evince
             the
             Interposition
             and
             Efficiency
             
             of
             a
             Deity
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             these
             things
             hapned
             by
             his
             actual
             concurrence
             ,
             that
             he
             must
             on
             purpose
             blind
             his
             eyes
             ,
             who
             will
             not
             see
             it
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             All
             the
             place
             of
             doubting
             ,
             which
             is
             left
             to
             us
             in
             the
             Belief
             of
             the
             Promises
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             is
             no
             other
             than
             what
             may
             be
             in
             the
             highest
             moral
             Certainty
             imaginable
             .
             It
             only
             leaves
             a
             Possibility
             that
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             the
             Arguments
             brought
             to
             confirm
             it
             ,
             it
             may
             yet
             be
             otherwise
             .
             Every
             thing
             is
             not
             capable
             of
             a
             Mathematical
             Demonstration
             ,
             but
             the
             ways
             of
             Probation
             are
             different
             according
             to
             the
             Diversity
             of
             Subjects
             .
             And
             certainly
             ,
             he
             will
             be
             a
             very
             imprudent
             man
             ,
             that
             will
             neglect
             an
             important
             Affair
             ,
             to
             the
             Undertaking
             of
             which
             he
             hath
             highly
             probable
             Reasons
             ,
             only
             because
             't
             is
             possible
             it
             may
             be
             otherwise
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             It
             was
             a
             great
             piece
             of
             Divine
             Wisdom
             ,
             so
             to
             order
             the
             Gospel
             that
             the
             Promises
             of
             Life
             and
             Salvation
             should
             not
             be
             so
             evident
             ,
             as
             those
             things
             that
             are
             known
             by
             Sense
             or
             Demonstration
             ;
             but
             only
             so
             far
             as
             might
             conciliate
             Faith
             in
             a
             rational
             Person
             ,
             that
             thereby
             the
             wicked
             Tempers
             and
             Dispositions
             of
             men
             might
             the
             more
             plainly
             be
             discovered
             .
             If
             the
             Gospel
             had
             been
             so
             demonstratively
             
             certain
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             exclude
             all
             Doubting
             ,
             
               i.
               e.
            
             Possibility
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             all
             men
             would
             have
             been
             forced
             and
             necessarily
             good
             ,
             and
             all
             that
             Praise
             which
             is
             due
             to
             the
             embracing
             of
             Virtue
             ,
             would
             have
             been
             lost
             ;
             but
             now
             that
             men
             believe
             ,
             when
             notwithstanding
             there
             is
             a
             Possibility
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             the
             Trial
             of
             their
             Faith
             will
             be
             found
             unto
             Praise
             and
             Honour
             and
             Glory
             at
             the
             appearing
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             .
             For
             what
             Praise
             is
             due
             unto
             him
             ,
             that
             believes
             not
             out
             of
             Choice
             ,
             but
             from
             the
             necessary
             and
             demonstrative
             Truth
             of
             the
             Thing
             itself
             ?
             Let
             not
             any
             man
             therefore
             flatter
             himself
             with
             hopes
             ,
             that
             this
             will
             patronize
             and
             defend
             his
             Infidelity
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             possible
             the
             Evangelical
             Promises
             might
             be
             uncertain
             ;
             but
             let
             him
             consider
             ,
             upon
             what
             account
             his
             Faith
             induces
             him
             to
             act
             in
             the
             Affairs
             of
             the
             World.
             Will
             a
             human
             Faith
             be
             sufficient
             to
             perswade
             the
             Merchant
             to
             commit
             his
             Life
             and
             Fortunes
             to
             the
             flattering
             Waves
             ,
             when
             he
             knows
             not
             but
             a
             merciless
             Pyrat
             or
             the
             next
             succeeding
             Storm
             may
             bereave
             him
             of
             both
             ?
             Will
             the
             Souldier
             march
             all
             day
             scalded
             with
             Heat
             ,
             or
             pinched
             with
             the
             Northern
             Cold
             ,
             and
             expose
             his
             Body
             to
             a
             Storm
             of
             Bullets
             and
             Swords
             
             drunk
             with
             his
             Companions
             Blood
             ,
             and
             all
             for
             the
             Spoils
             of
             an
             uncertain
             Conquest
             ?
             Shall
             this
             be
             able
             to
             put
             us
             upon
             Action
             ,
             and
             shall
             not
             the
             Belief
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             which
             is
             not
             half
             so
             uncertain
             or
             inevident
             as
             this
             ?
             We
             need
             no
             such
             firm
             ground
             to
             build
             our
             Faith
             upon
             in
             matters
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             therefore
             we
             are
             utterly
             inexcusable
             ,
             if
             we
             do
             not
             believe
             in
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             ,
             who
             hath
             brought
             Life
             and
             Immortality
             to
             light
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A45356-e190
           
             Lib.
             7.
             contra
             Celsum
             .
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             2.13
             .
             &
             1.27
             .
          
           
             1
             John
             2.12
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Lib.
             4
             contra
             Celsum
             .
          
           
             Euseb
             .
             Praepar
             .
             lib.
             5.
             
          
           
             De
             Praesc
             .
             adv
             .
             Haereticos
             .
          
           
             Lib.
             3.
             
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Christ
             why
             born
             of
             a
             Virgin
             .
          
           
             Of
             the
             Star.
             
          
           
             *
             The
             same
             the
             Colledge
             of
             Priests
             affirmed
             of
             the
             Comet
             that
             appeared
             at
             the
             
               Ludi
               Veneris
               Genet●icis
            
             instituted
             by
             
               Augustus
               .
               Plin.
               l.
            
             2
             c.
             25.
             
             And
             
               Virg.
               Ecl
            
             4.
             
             
               Ecce
               Dionaei
               processit
               Caesaris
               Astrum
            
             .
          
           
             Of
             the
             VVise
             Men.
             
          
           
             Christ
             God
             and
             Man.