ers of the Soul, that it is utterly uncapable to recover itself to fuch a State of Purity and Holinefs, as may prepare it for the Enjoyments of Celestial Blifs.

HOW this great Change is effected, is clearly revealed by OUR SAVIOUR'S Difcourfe with Nicodemus, when he tells him, Except a Man be BORN again, OR FROM ABOVE, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The grofs Conceptions which this Pharifee entertained of this Divine Doctrine, is feverely reproved by our Saviour: for, how could he pretend to be a Teacher in Ifrael, who was ignorant of that COVENANT of GRACE, which in the Books of Mofes, and the Prophets, was fo often mentioned? Which Covenant in Miniature contains the Sum of the Chriftian Religion; and was typified by the Circumcifion instituted in the Jewish Church, as appears from Deut. xxx. 6. The Lord thy God will CIRCUMCISE thine HEART, and the Heart of thy Seed, to love the Lord thy GOD with all thine HEART, and with all thy Soul, that thou mayeft live which is explained in Jeremiah xxxi. 33, 34. This fhall be the COVENANT that I will make with the House of Ifrael: After those Days, faith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts, and will be their God, and they fhall be my People. And they shall teach no more every Man his Neighbour, and every Man his Brother, Jaying, Know the Lord: for they fhall all KNOW me, from the leaft of them, unto the greatest of them, faith the Lord: for I will FORGIVE their INIQUITY, and I will remember their Sin no more.

IN this Evangelick Covenant is contained many rich and precious PROMISES, that by them we might be Partakers of the Divine Nature, and thereby escape the Corruption that is in the World through Luft. To this the Apoftle in his elegant Epistle to the Hebrews often alludes, as may be seen in the VIIIth, IXt, and Xth Chapters.

THE Precepts contained in the Gospel, are in themfelves moft HOLY and RIGHTEOUS, and to the Obfervance of which is annexed the greatest REWARDS.

WITH respect to our DUTY to the ALMIGHTY, we are inftructed to SERVE, HONOur, LOVE, and ADORE the Divine Majefty, with all the Powers and Faculties of the SOUL: In the fenfe of our great GUILT and Weakness, to implore with humble Reverence his GRACE and MERCY, through the INTERCESSION of Chrift Jefus our REDEEMER; to make Him our Fear and our Dread; and to live under an awful fense of the DIVINE PRESENCE, and determine all the Defires and Powers of our Minds to obtain the Divine Favour and Mercy, which we are to feek with our whole Hearts; and to BELIEVE and CONFIDE in the PROMISES contained in the Gospel.

THE Precepts laid down for the Direction of our Lives, comprehend all the Moral Virtues that relate either to God, our Neighbour, or our Selves. The Gospel has cleared what was doubtful by the Light of Nature, and has

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made the Improvements of it neceffary Parts of our Duty.

IN the Writings of the Philofophers, are found many excellent Rules and Precepts of Morality, and fine Encomiums upon VIRTUE; but how very few of their Difciples, or themfelves, were reclaimed from their Vices, is too evident from the enormous Wickedness that prevailed in the World, at the very time when the Philofophick Schools were in the highest Vogue.

THERE never was fo noble a Draught of Morality; fuch a Scheme of Duty, delivered in fo full and plain a Manner, and preft upon Mankind with fuch Authority, as is found in our Saviour's SERMON on the Mount: which is not only conducive to the Happiness of every particular Perfon practising the fame, but alfo upon the Obfervance of which, the PEACE and FELICITY of all Societies depend.

THIS Divine Discourse begins with a Defcription of thofe internal Habits and Difpofitions that are to be implanted in the Soul, and whereby it is purified from all those corrupt Inclinations, Pride, and Paffions, with which the human Nature is vitiated; and from whence an Obfervance of all Moral Precepts does neceffarily fpring.

AS the Moral Law prohibits MURDER, fo our Saviour forbids all MALICE, ENVY, and Uncharitableneís; not to render EVIL for EVIL, but to forgive them that defpitefully use us; and do to others as we would they should do

unto us.

ALL Acts of UNCLEANNESS and Impurity are not only abfolutely prohibited, but

all

all UNCHASTE THOUGHTS and DESIRES are to be fuppreffed.

AS all unjust and dishonest Practices, either by Fraud or Force, are the direct Violations of the Moral Law; fo the Luft of CoVETOUSNESS, from whence thefe fpring, is abfolutely condemned.

THESE, and many other Precepts contained in that Divine Sermon, and in other Difcourses of our Saviour, are enforced and illuftrated by the Apoftles, in their Epiftles, which in this ESSAY are referred to.

THE Promises contained in the Gofpel, relate to the Things of this Life, but principally to that Life which is everlasting.

AS to the Things of this Life, altho' we have no affurance of enjoying Profperity, Riches, and Honours; yet we are promifed what is infinitely better, the PARDON of our Sins; the FAVOUR, MERCY, and PROTECTION of the Almighty; that Peace of CONSCIENCE and Joy in the HOLY GHOST, which furpaffeth all human Knowledge, and and can be perceived only by those who enjoy it.

AS to the Life to come, it represents that State of endless REST, PEACE, and Joy, which Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, nor ever entred into the Heart of Man to conceive: In the Divine Prefence there being fulness of Joy, and Pleasures for evermore. This is that INHERITANCE that is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fades not away, but is reserved in the

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Heavens for all that BELIEVE and OBEY the GOSPEL.

AS we are thus allured to embrace that which alone can make us happy here and hereafter; fo the Gospel denounces tremendous WRATH and Vengeance against all UNGODLINESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS of Men, who DESPISE that Mercy, Long-fuffering, and Patience, which fhould lead them to Repentance: For, Chrift Jefus our Redeemer fhall be revealed from Heaven in FLAMING FIRE, to take Vengeance on them that KNOW NOT God, and that OBEY not his Gofpel; who must be punished with EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power.

THE Mifery to which all impenitent Sinners are DOOMED, is reprefented by our Saviour himself in most affecting Expreffions. To awaken our Fear, Torments moft exquifite and eternal are threatned; which are fet forth by fuch Representations, as may make the deepest Impreffions upon the Mind. HELL is defcribed as a Worm preying upon the Vitals, to fignify the furious REFLECTIONS of a GUILTY CONSCIENCE: 'Tis reprefented by Fire and Brimftone, that burns with the most intenfe Heat; and this infinitely encreases the Torments, that the condemned Soul knows that these shall be everlasting.

WHAT can more powerfully reclaim Men from Sin, than thefe Terrors; and fortify the Soul against the Contempt and Fear of Men?

THUS our Saviour animated his Difciples against all Perfecutions; Fear not them which kill the Body, but are not able to kill the Soul:

But