Luftre in every Page of the Gofpel, and there is no Cloud to obfcure it.

༤

The Advantages procured for us, and the Discoveries made to us by the Gospel of Chrift, do fo correfpond to the Sentiments of Nature within us, that it is wonderful to find the Pretenfions of Nature set in Oppofition to the Chriftian Revelation. The moral Duties of the Gospel are but the Dictates of Reafon and Nature carried into their juft Conclufions: The Promises of the Gospel contain the very Hopes of Nature confirmed and made fure to us. If the Gospel has promised Pardon to Sinners, it is but what Nature teaches all her Children to feek for And if Nature teaches you to hope for Mercy, is your Cafe become the worse, because God, through Chrift, has promised it? Natural Confcience tells us we are accountable to him who made us: Is it not the fame Declaration made in the Gospel, That God hath appointed a Day in which he will judge the World? Is not Nature ever looking out, and with unutterable Groans panting after Life for evermore? Has fhe any Reason then to fly from him, who hath brought Life and Immortality to light through bis Gospel?

Go

Go then, and learn of Nature to value these great Gifts: Attend to her filent Voice within you: It will speak in the Language of the Apostle, and tell you, This Saying is worthy of all Acceptation, That Chrift Jefus came into the World to fave Sinners.

DISCOURSE

枣粥

DISCOURSE IV.

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I THESSALONIANS i. 9, 10. For they themselves fhew of us what Manner of entering in we had unto you, and how turned to God from Idols, to ferve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the Dead, even Jefus which delivered us from the Wrath to come.

I

6N the Verfe before the Text the Apostle tells the Theffalo

nians, that not only the Word of the Lord had founded out

from them in Macedonia and Achaia, but their Faith alfo towards God was spread abroad in every Place; fo that there is no Occafion, adds the Apostle, for me to fay any thing of the Doctrines deli

vered

vered by me, and received by you: The Thing is well known, and notorious to all, the World: They themselves fhew of us what Manner of entering in we had unto you.

ན་

It is evident from hence what Notion the World entertained of the Chriftian Religion, and the principal Doctrines of it, in the earliest Days. All who had heard of our Apoftle's Teaching knew his Business to be to turn Men from Idols to ferve the living God, to give Evidence of the Refurrection of Chrift Jefus from the Dead, and to establish a certain Expectation of his coming again with Power and Glory, to judge the World. This common Report St. Paul allows to be fo just and adequate an Account of his Doctrine, as to leave no Room to enlarge or correct it: In every Place your Faith to Godward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

If we confider this early Account of the Christian Religion, fo univerfally received, and fo well approved by the Apostle, we fhall find it to confift of two principal Parts: The first relating to the Service owing to the living God: The fecond to our Faith in Christ, and our Hope and Expectation grounded on that Faith.

Religion,

Religion, confidered under the Notion of a Service we owe to God, can be no other than Natural Religion, or true uncorrupted Deifm. This was the old original Religión of Mankind, but had been fo corrupted and abused, that there was hardly any Sign of it left when our Saviour appeared in the World. However rightly fome few might think, yet they found themselves obliged to follow the World, and practise with the Vulgar. Not many attempted, and none fucceeded in a Reformation of the public Religion. No Antiquity affords an Instance of any People, great or small, who served God upon the Principles of Natural Religion. The only general and effectual Reformation of the World was brought about by the preaching of the Gofpel; which revived and introduced the true antient Religion of Nature, and prepared Men for the Reception of it; and has, by the additional Supports of Revelation, maintained it for many Ages, and probably will maintain it to the End and Confummation of all Things.

Thefe additional Supports make the second great Branch of Chriftian Doctrine: They are revived upon the Authority of Revelation,