SOME WRITTEN TO A GENTLEMAN Which contain the AUTHOR’S AIM, At Detesting and Refuting the DEISM (As it is called) Or, Athcifm and Libertinifm Of our T I M E. n'x ED I N BV n G Hi Printed by gioljn IKtEfman, andM^. ^ame.^ JlE*'(Euen»' and fold at Mr. John Macky Pookieller, his Shop in ih^VArUamtnt'Cbfsi I7i8» r '•*■ ' •' '■ ^ * f vU * •••» » PoVV-t^r^ PcN^v-p Piets V, /i ■ J' M ■: f., it* To the Candid READER, Had no Defign to puhlifl thefe few Sheets when my poor ‘Thoughts were carried to the Purpofes contained in them. Neither did I allow my felf to think my weak Abilities proportioned to an Interpriz^e of this Nature. Not.withfland- ingi as I found my Mind delighted<}andfweetened in writing the fever al Mijfves, fo it was furpriz-ing ^ to me to underfiand that they were more acceptable to fome Perfons of good Note for Learning and Ex- perienccy than I could have expeBed. ‘The Pur¬ pofes are Great and Sweetj and do much want to he better treated : Tet 1 would fain hope my fin- A 2 eere cere Aimihall he hleffed to fome} Forafmuchas it pleajeth the Lord to chiife the t weak Things o£ the VVorld.^ T'his fupports me under an affliUing Senfe of my Rudenefsy both in Speech and Know¬ ledge. T'he Method wherein the Matter is handled^ ^ will he joimd New, for what I know. I have i 'made all the inquiry 1 could, and have confulted Psrfons of DiflinBion and Learning, who all de¬ clared that it is New to them alfo. Had any of the :\ judicious, and renowned Patrons of Chrifiianity in Oppojhion to Deifni, treated thefe Matters in the \ fame Order, no Room would have been left for my , fimple Remarks, feeing^ in fuch an Event, I am \ perfuaded the feveral Purpofes would have been handled focompleatly, that Icouldnothave.adven- tured to glean after fo full a Harveft. I pretend r- \ not to have managed that Controverjy at any Lengthy Excellent Authors have done that, and written Jo largely in the Defence of Chrifiianity, that my poor Shreds are ?iot to be compared with their great Per¬ formances. It is hut one of many Arguments that s treated in the following Mi [fives, and I proceed therein, from that upon which fundry of our Antago- nifls do value tkemfelves, viz. Moral Integrity, and Honefiy, unto which the Obligations which ly upon us are univerfally acknowledged. Lhat this Morality, under food aright, will ^ Corruption of Nature, and the neceffity of Revela¬ tion and Regeneration, I humbly judge, will appear to the honefi Reader by the enfuing Letters. 1 take not I Cor. I. 17* mt upon me to give the ChnraSier either of the Matter or Method, and am deeply confcious to my feljthat fuch choke Purpofes do much dejiderate a more judicious and experienced Author. I Jhall only jay, that this Method in managing the Argu¬ ment again ft is, in my judgement, much the fame vchich our gracious Lord ufeth, for the ^ only efeBual defeating this grand Evil, by taking f the Vail of' from the Heart, and tran fating the Sinner into a State of Light: And the real truth is, that, until then, vce are xvithout Gody or Atheifts (as the Original bears) in the World. T"hat holy, jufi and good Law-, vohich is a Schoolmafier unto Chrifi (as the Original hath it) is an excellent Hammer for demolijhing the weak Fabricks of Deilm. It is owing to a debauchednefs of ConfcF ence thro^ a cuflom of Vice, and to a detaining * the Fruth in Unrighteoufnefs, that thefe Matters ^ clear in themfelves, are yet fo clouded to Wretches d) enched and immerfed in known Wickednefs : Or,to take the Matter by the better Handle, thef e Shades are the refult of inaccountable Sloath, while Duties abundantly manifef, and beyond all de¬ bate, are yet neglelled. Fhis, I think, is pointed at by what our Lord fefus exprefly teacheth us. My Doctrine (faith he) is not mine f but his that fent me. If any Man will do his Will, he lhall knowoftheDo6trine,whetherit be of God, ^ or whether I fpeak of my fell. I have full Confi- 3 dence t Ifa. 25. 7. 2 Cor. 3. _i8. Aft. 28. 18. Col. i. 13. VI dence to put the infuing Purpofes upon this IJfue^ and can 'very refolutely fayy That -whofever lays to Heart, and is really concerned about praclifmg the incontefled Duties mentioned in the Miffives, will . find, that revealed Religion, and particularly the Revelation of Chrifi f in the Soul, is abfolmely necejfary to the PraElice : Tho’ I proceed upon Reafon, in order to whaPs afterwards obferved concerning Revelation, yet I have put Jome fcrip-- tural Places on the Margin, for that it spleafant to view that Set in a clear Light there by the Spirit of God, at which TLafure s Glimmerings obfcurely grope. That this Mite may be accepted by the Lord, and blejjed to thee, is the Prayer of Thy fincere Well-wifher. Ja. Hog. ^ t GaJ„ I. iC. Matth. jd. 17. a Cor, 4. 3, 4, 5, d„ and XI. ( I ) I. Letter Introdu6tory. S I R, 1 Remember that when we were communing ferioufly about this, and lome other affliding Matters in thefe Dregs of Time, wherein the foyereign Lord of Heaven and Earth hath ordered our Lot; It was mutually regreted by us, that many of all Ranks and Ages, and efpe- cially of the younger Sort, have declined to a kind of fluduaring Scepticif?n, are unfixed in Principle, and ready to embrace (if they have not adiially adopted) the moft dangerous Notions, fubverfive even of the Foundations of Reli¬ gion ; And more efpecially when thefe ap¬ plauded Dete6lions are fet off in fuch Dreffes as are < i ) arc fit to recommend them to our vain Minds.^ It is now become Modifh, and is reputed a Gentlemany Part to call in queftion received *rruths, and even fuch of them as are of the greateft Weight and Influence. The Spirit of God giveth the true Portraiture of fuch Men, and denounceth jufl: Wrath againfl: them, as ^ Perfons contentious f, and who do not obey the Truth, but obey Unrighteoufnefs. The chief Source of all this is a fad D^feft as to the right Settlement in the Faith that * God is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently feek him. On this fad occafion, I find Free¬ dom and Inclination (which I hope are of the lord) to enlarge by fundry Miffives that v/hich was more overly touched in our con- verfe about the Matter, and I defign to pro¬ ceed in the following Method, i. Ipurpofe, ' after feme large Preliminaries, to lay dov/n for a Foundation a few remarkable and incon- teUzd Maxims of moral Integrity and Honefty. I intend to fliew in fundry Particulars the Croflhefs and Contrariety of our Natures unto thefe Maxiras,*while we are in this our corrup¬ ted Eftate. 3. It will be proper,with fome Clofe- nefs,' to demonflrate, that the forementioned Contrariety is infurmountable, fave only through a converting and renewing Work upon the whole Man, 4. This will open the Way to fhew clearly t Rom. z. 8. Hoft_4. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 8. * Heb. n* 6 , Rom. 14. 23. clearly that fuch a Change beareth in its Na¬ ture, and hath in-laid with it, the Principles and Myfteries of repealed Religion, the only efteftual Mean for that End, being a difplay f of the Glory of Chrifl to the Soul. I greatly honour the elaborate Works of learned Men, wherein they have excellently refuted the rampant Atheifm of this profane Age, under its various Difguifes j and fhall be loath to enter upon their Labours, my Rude- nefs rendring me utterly unfit to write after fuch fair Copies. That which I defign, lliall be carried no further, fave to the Refults of what it pleafed the Lord to teach me, (may I fay fo far) under my own Toffings about the feveral Heads, and therefoe I can have no other Copy in View, fave the Traces of a Pillar of Cloud, and Fire *, in the merciful Condud: of a poor Weakling, fome Length through the Wildernefs j and that I may juft .enter upon the Purpofe, I incline to offer a few Confiderations relating to the Moral Law in general, and then to give a feort Abftraa: of fome Parts of moral Equity that is difeoyered, and authoritatively enjoined therein. This will lay the broader Foundation to fome moral Axioms, which are deftinated to prepare the Way for the chief Subjed of thefe Miffives. And throughout the wholo of this, I intend to guard t a Cor. 4. 5 , 4, 5. Mat. 13. 44 > 45 - Cal. i. J 6. &C. + Pfal. 115. J05. z Pet. 1.19. Pfal. 19. h 8, ( 4 ') guard againft the unnecefTary repeating of any Thing that may be found to much better Pur- pofe in the Works of renowned Authors, who have treated Matters of this Sort Touching the Moral Law in genera], and as the fame is comprehended fummarly in the ‘Ten Commandments^, or ten Words. I know our Deifls (or Atheifts) will have little Regard to it, as it is now written, and maketh a Part of the facred Canon. I enter not upon the Debate on that Head, for the Time^ but afl'uredly Matter of Faft in this Cafe cannot be queftion- ed, viz.. That fuch a Law there is, fo much is extant, and under the View of every one. This is all I prefuppofe in the prefent Matter, and do hereupon affert, that this Law known and publifhed, where ever Chrifiianity is pro- feffed, this Law, I fay, hath fo many Stamps of its Author imprinted upon it, with fo much of Relucence, that it may compete with, yea, and hath a manifold, and clear Brightnefs- of Character, that giveth it a Preference to all the Laws which ever were enaded in the World. The Subject here is very large, and therefore I dare not adventure to dip far into it: I only tender a few Particulars to your more ferious, and deliberate Confideration. i fl. The whole and every Part of this divine Abftrad is com- pleatly juft, and f equal, the Author of it hath fhewed * Exod. 20. I. 2, 9, &C. Mat. 22. 57, 38. Rom, 13. 8, 9, 10. Mat. 19. 18, 19, QPc . t 7. 12. ( 5 ) fnewed ns therein what is * good to the full Compafs. The beft of humane Laws, when compared with this, are but mean and empty Inventions: Befides, that many of rhefe have Iniquity mingled in with them, in more, or lefs. It were eafy to compile a Catalogue of many ^ Inflances, more than fufficienr, to evince what I have advanced. But eminent Authors have done this to good Purpofe, as Occafions re¬ quired, and I love not to repeat. Only I re¬ mind you, that the politeft Nations have made, and are daily making Changes in their Laws from Time to Time, and thefe Conflitutions are altered, and amended in this Event, not only becauie of Inconveniencies, but alfo from Views of Iniquity, fometimes inlaid with them. But in the prefent Cafe, which refpefts that perfect, tho’ fncit Syflem j there is no Occafion for any, no. not the leaft Alteration, feeing thefe holy, juft, and good Laws do exactly fuit thecircumftanced Cafes of all Man¬ kind, and of every one of them, all is juft, and equal here, and the heavenly Equity fhineth with fo much of illuftrious Fulgor, as fur- pafl'eth the Light of Demonftration. 2d/jy, This holy, juft, and good Law is ad- , mirably full: It is exceedingly f broad, and extenfive, nothing is omitted here that belongs ^ to moral Equity. Take that Equity in its largeft: * Micah Souls and Bodies, with all the Faculties and Powers of the fame, are required to be blame- lefs, having that Stamp of Purity upon them^ which is fuitable unto this perfed Rule. It cannot be called in queftion, but that a reafon- able Nature is capable of moral Beauty and Purity, and therefore the Obligation of all reafonableCreatures thereunto,andto the Perfe- dion thereof, is plain, and beyond allException. And for as much as the f Compleatnefs, and Contents of the Law, bear its Extenfion to ’ our Natures, and way, our Thoughts, Words and Deeds in their whole Compafs ; it clearly ____ fol- t Mat. 5. 48, * I Theft t Pfth 85 7> ( 10 ) that in all thefe we ought to be conformable 2. Prefuppofing that we are thereby re¬ quired to have a juft Confideration of, and Deference unto the God of Glory, our only Law-giver: As alfo, that we are therein en¬ joined to be under a fuitable Concernment a- bout our felves, and our fellow Subjects under this glorious Lord and Legiftator i it is mani- feft from the Tenor and Periedion of this Law,- that we are therein taught and enjoined the juft and equal Meafures of Behaviour that s due in all the forementioned Regards; and therefore I defign to point at fome few Things^ with Reference to each of them, referring you for larger Accounts unto fuch Authors as have treated Purpofes of this Sort particularly and exprefly. And firft, as to the Lawgiver, the following Clafl'es of Duties are plain, and beyond Controverfy. I. It'is evident from the Firfl Command, That all * Honour and Homage becoming God’s glorious Excellencies, are due unto him from rational Creatures, made by their Lord and Creator, with a Capacity to know and ac¬ knowledge him. He is God, the alone inde¬ pendent, and felf-fufficient Being; and every Creature hath as much of Dependence upon him, as it hath of Being \ Hence, forafmuch- as rational Creatures depend upon him in a rational Way, fuiting their rational Being; they ought, as fuch, or in that Capacity, to acknowledge this Dependence in every Ad of Worftiip and Obedience that cometh within the Verge oi the perfed Rule. i. It is no lefs highly reafonable, and re¬ quired Command Semid, That the Homage, Worfliip, and Service due to our fovereign Lord, fhall be wholly under the Rules * which he hath preferibed. They amongft Men, who are dignified with Sovereignty, do all chal¬ lenge a Right in this Matter: And the Law of Nations provides, That the Homage, Defe- rence^ and Obedience which are given to Kings, {hall not depend upon the Difpofal and Arbitrement of their Subjeds; fuch Acknow¬ ledgments are brought under a higher and au- ' thoritative Regulation, by thefe in whom So¬ vereignty is lodged, according to the Nature and Limits of the feveral Civil Governments, And forafmpch as this is reckoned amongft the Regalia^ with the Princes and Potentates of the Earth; the Purity of Reafon demandeth. That tho^Kingof KiiigSy hnd Lord of LordsythQ Prince of the Kings of the Earth, be acknow¬ ledged and honoured, as having the intire and foie Difpofal of his own Worfhip, in all the Farts and Pertinents of the fame, as alfo of the ‘ Obedience that is due unto him, in the whole B Ex- * Ifa. ap, 13. Mat. 15.9. Col. a. ( 12 ) Extenfion thereof. No Creature hath any Right to make Appointments in thefe Mat¬ ters: And, if they pretend to a Power of this K-ind, it muft needs be by Delegation ; in which Cafe, it is the Right of every one, and a Part of the Honour they owe to the God of^ Glory, to require their Credentiah. Other-" wife, a fubmitting our Necks, yea, and our Souls to human Yokes, as to Worlhip, or any Part of Obedience, is a moft unreafonable Servitude. It is memorable, that a Heathenifh Monarch expreifcd a juft Concernment about this weighty Bufinefs, when he gave Order, That wbatfoever * veas commanded by the God of Hearuen^ JJjould b§ done in hisHoufe. There is no Place then for making new Laws about thefe Matters, unlefs we advance a Pofttion whichi highly refleds upon the Honour of our alone Lord, and Lawgiver i namely. That thefe Things are not fufHcicntly provided for, by his own Laws and Inftitutions: For, if they be, (and it would border upon Blafphemy, to al¬ ledge they are not) there is no Room left for Conftitutions, not founded upon the perfed Rule. 3, It is highly reafonable, plainly required Command Tfhirdy and Reafon it felf (howfoever weak and imperfed in our prefent State) doth, alfo challenge it as an incontefted Right of a Deity, "*1 Ezr. 7, 2$, ( IJ ) Deity, That in all our Acknowledgments of him, and Concernments about every Thing whereby he is pJeafed to make himfelf known, our Souls fhould be impreifed with profound * Reverence, from forae juft Senfe of his glo- ^ rious Majefty; and in particular. That all our Endeavours at Obedience to his Will, be inlaid with the deepeft V'eneration. This the very Notion of a Deity demands ; Him we ought to fee in all Things, and to point towards him as the great and ultimate End f in every Thing : Forafmuch as it belongs to him to be our Omega and laft End, upon the very fame Grounds that inftrudc his,being our Alpha, the Author of what we are, and who hath us en¬ tirely under the Care of |iis Providence. Thus to Jet him continually'* hefoye our Eyes,.XQ live and breathe ftill in the Fear of his Naine, is a Life truly rational. 4. InFke Manner, Reafon alfo faith what’s required Command Fouyth, That the Gpd of our Beii^,unto whom w^ owo pur Life,Bi^ath, and all Things, ought to be acknowledged and adored, not only in more fecret and retired Ways, but alfo by f Societies and Cpinmuhities, with all poflible Solemnity. Every Pprfon, and each Society, of whatfoever, Kind, hath as S much of Dependence upon the God of the Spirits _ _ ^ _ of * Job 28. 28. Pf. III. 10. Eccl. 12. 13. Pfal. 89. 7, t Pf. 27. 4.. & 73. 24,. Rom. II. 3(5. Rev. u 8._ ♦ ^f. 36 . 8. f Pi. i(5c» I, 2j 3 ) 4 * 12. 22,23. ( H ) ofaUFIeJh, as it hath of Being; or (which amounts to one} is in every Thing dependent upon our fovcreign Lord: And that this De¬ pendence fliould be acknowledged in the moft folemn Ways, is capable of a manifold De- monftration, even from the Glimmerings of" Nature, were it neceflary to enlarge upon a Head fo very plain. It were a heavy Impu¬ tation upon the Reafon of any fober Perfon, Ihonld I think that he wanted to have a Pofi- tion proven to him, which no Man can deny, unlefs his Confcience were debauched to fuch a high Pitch of enormous Wickednefs, as to procure his out-facing, and daring God himfelf, the God, and fovereign Lord of Men, in every Capacity, and oi all Societies. I fhall only take the Freedom to deduce a Corrolary^ or two from the preceeding AfTcrtions, both becaufe the Import of the Matter re^uireth, and the Evidence thereof pointeth at them; befides that they are of a neceflary Confidera- tion, with Refpedt to fome circumflanced Cafes in our Day. Corrolary i. It appeareth hence, that the Worftiip of God in Families, * is a Part of thefe Acknowledgments which are due to our Sovereign Lord, in Regard every Society, as fuch, hath as much of Dependence on him," as it poifeffeth of Being ; and is, as to this De- * jof« 24. 15. Pfal. loi. I, i. Jer. 10. 25. ( 15 ) Dependence, upon the fame Level with private Perfons, and bound, upon the very fame Grounds, to acknowledge that Dependence in Woifhip and Obedience, fuitably to its Cir- cumftances. The Proportion holds, as any judicious Perfon may eafily fee: And hence the ^Worfliip of the Lord in a Family Relation, hath a clear Foundation in rhefe Notices of a Deity, which even Nature’s Glimmerings do fugged. Neither were the Heathens them- felves Strangers to fo much, as appears by the Idolatry of their Penates^ or Houfhold Gods : Some Notices of this Kind were at Bottom with them, tho’ dreadfully corrupted, as other Things were. Corrolary 2. As Reafon it felf would fay, that it is mod becoming for the Heads of the refpeftive Families to perform the feveral Parts of Worfliip competent to them, (forafmuch as their Relation to the Family bears Authority, and demands a reprefenting the Family there¬ in) fothejud Notions of a Deity, will clear¬ ly evince, that it is far from carrying any Dif- paragemenr, but is upon the contrary truly honourable for the f greated amongd Men to go about fuch focial Duties. Near Admiffion to crowned Heads is generally much valued, and the Perfons are thought highly privileged ^ who have accefs unto them, and occafions to deal with them, whether for themfelves, and __B 3 yet t z Sam. 6. 20, Pf. 13S, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, ^c, ( i<5 ) yet more, in fo far as they reprefent others. It's reputed a great Honour unto any for fovereign Princes to fpeak unto them, and to allow them accefs to utter their Minds unto Princes ; hence the Confequence is plain and eafy, ’viz.. That a Prciidency in foleinn and focial Worfhip, as Perfons are called, and have , accefs thereunto, is a mofc honourable Work. Hereupon I cannot efcape to infer with fome fuitable Commotion in my own Mind, that a defpifing fuch Exercifes as unworthy of, and below Perfons even of no great Note, refled- erh deeply upon the true God whom we pre¬ tend to Worfhip, and I tremble to mention from what Sources the contemptuous vilify¬ ing of them mud neceflarily proceed. CoYrolary 3. ThoM dare not adventure to fay, That Nature's glimmerings deteft the Proportion of Time, which is to be regularly confecrated unto the Lord, and employed^fo- Icmnly andintively in the Duties of his Wor¬ fhip, namely a feventh Part of the Week, whether the lad or fird Day thereof, tho’ I dare not fay, that Nature's Light can poffibly determine this, in its prefent corrupt Edate, whatever it might have reached to, if it had remained intire : Yet I can take upon me to adert, That the Proportion being now re¬ vealed, appeareth manifedly to be mod equal. But waving in this Abdrad every ^Thing that may be reputed Matter of doubtful Difputa- tion. C 17 X tion, I only reprefent it as moft reafonabic; and clearly deducible from Nature’s Light, efpecially at the Advantages of its Improve¬ ment by Revelation, namely that Worfliip whether Sccrety Social^ or more Publick and Solemuy ought neceffarly to have its fee Times. The Nature of Man is now become moft ir- reo^ular, and therefore that which hath no cer- tam Time aflighed to it, cannot readily fail to be negleded. Whatfoever Time then our fovereign Lord hath fet apart for his Worfhip, muft needs be obferved punclually. So much by way of Corrolary. I return now to the main Purpofe, and reprefent 5 . That the fumm of this Part of the Moral Law, as declared in the Scriptures, is clearly founded on Reafon, 'viz,. We are obliged to love the Lord with all our Hearts, with all our Soul, and with all our Strength. What we are, and have, Life, Breath, and all Things we owe wholly unto him ; and feeing he is the God of Glory independent, and infinitely Per- feft, infinite Honour and Homage would be due unto him, were it pcfTible for finite Crea¬ tures to pay that Regard: Bur forafmuch as their finite Natures cannot allow fuch a Defe¬ rence, affuredly the moft complete that Crea¬ tures can be capable of belongs unto him : Let ' this fuffice for a glance at fome Generals with relation unto what we owe in point of Duty to our fovereign Lord. J’he next fliall ac¬ count ( i8 ) count for the Duties we owe unto God, with reference unto our own Perfons, and to our Neighbours. I remain, letter III. Which containeth Regulations founded on Reafont with RefpeB to our fehes and our NeighbourSj fuiting the fecond "Table ofth^ Lavj, Sin, P Leafe without any preamble to take my poor Thoughts about this Matter in the following Pofitions. ^ I. Man is not his own. All he hath or Being, the Advantages he enjoycth of any Sort, and the Qualities he is endowed with, whatfoever thefe be, he holdeth them all of his Lord, and oweth them intirely unto him. We can claim nothing as ours fave the Sinfulnefs, De- ■ficience, and Deordination of our Natures. It was often obferved before, that every Crea¬ ture hath as much of Dependence upon its Creator and fovereign Lord, as it hath of Be¬ ing, or (which is the fame) dependeth upon him in every thing, t oj this God, and through him, and to him are all Things. To this, right Realon giveth its Suftfage. Hence 2. Crea- a.Creatures endowed with Rearon,and who alfo have othewife their AU from their tor, and the Author of their Being ; fiich Creatures I fay, are plainly obliged to acknow¬ ledge fo much, and feeing they are not their t own, they may not without the moft lacnlegi- ous Prefumption arrogate unto themfdves the difpofal of themfelves, and of any thing that is given them by their bountiful Lord. Even common Senfe faith. That no Perfon can have Right to difpofe according to his own plealiite, of that which is not his. What we are and have is intirely the Lords, and we owe it •wholly to him,-therefore thevery glimmerings of Nature would fay, that it fhould be uled. and improve!! for him. ^ 2 Our Creator and fovereign Lord, who hath given us a Being, and a Nature more ex¬ cellent than that of the other fubliinary Crea¬ tures : That God, I fay, who hath fo far honoured us, doth thereby undoubtedly re¬ quire, that not only the ultimate, but like- wife all fubordinate Ends we prop(^e to our (elves, Ihould be anfwerable to the Dignity or our Natures, as the God of Glory did at nrft conftitute them. Afluredly it is for no mean Work that the Lord did make Man wifer than the Bealls of the Earth, and the Fowls of Heaven. And therefore, ^ Pfal. IDO. 5. (, 20 > 4* I obferve with fome more of clofcriefs to the Purpofe under prefent View, That foraf- much as our Deportment, with Refpeft to our felves and others, Ihould be ordered in every thing according to Rule, becaufe we are not our own, but do belong intirely to our Lord and Maker ; it is then manife/l beyond all poflibility of Controul, that we are indifpen- fibly obliged to advert unto, and obferve the Regulations our fovereign Lord hath preferib- ed to us in all thefe Refpecls. The Purpofe here is large, ibut I fliall conejefeend only upon a few of many Particulars, and all of them clearly founded upon Reafon. Firfl, It is plain in Faft, clear from Com¬ mand 5th, and denyed by no body. That e- ▼ery one of the Children of Men is placed by our fovereign Lord, in fome one Relation or ^ another, or in more than one towards his Neighbour. We are according to our feveral Stations, either Superiors, Inferiors, or upon an Equality of Level with our Neighbours. Hence, as the ten Words, to which thefe Notes re¬ late, do contain a complete Account of the whole Concernements of thefe f Relations, with the feveral Sins and Duties that refped the fame, fo I would only reprefent it as a clearly rational and incontefted Truth, that wc are ' obliged by the great and only Law-giver ' to demean our felves according unto the Exi¬ gences t I Pet. 2.7. Rom, 12. 10. Eph. y. zi. C 21 ) genccs*of thefe Relations, as it hath pica- fed him to declare the fame. ^ It is not my Bafinefs to enter upon a Detail of them, they lliine with an aftoniihing Brightne^ oi Luftre, as contained in, and held forth from this perfea Law. Allow me only to repre- ^ fent a Remark or two which do both pertain to this Head, and are alfo of a larger E^ent and Improvement, i. It would be the Hap- pinefs, as much as it is the Duty of Man¬ kind, exadlyto keep Rank, and faithfully to acquit themfelves in a diligent and clols Per¬ formance of the plain and _ incontroverted Duties which manifeftly pertain to thefe Re¬ lations, and fundry whereof belong to their very Ellence. It wants not to be demonftra— ted, being Matter of Fad, which no fober A Perfon will, or can deny, njiz,. That our Ruins, with refped to Societies of whatfo- ever Kind, do iflue from Difturbances and Violations of the comely Order, which our fovereign Lord hath fet and enjoined to be obferved amongft Men ^ and particularly with Reference to our divers Stations, and the Relations wherein we feverally hand towards one another. It is evident that the Ruins > of particular Perfons, Families, Incorpora,- tions. States and Nations, and in a Word, ^ of all Societies, do chiefly proceed from a breaking of this beautiful Order; Vfliereas, were it pundually obferved (even in fo far as ( 22 ) as is manifefl by^ Nature’s Light) thefe Places which now are worfe than a confufed Chaos, would upon the contrary be found like an earthly Paradife. 2. Imuft obferve. That it were the Inrereft, as well as it is the Duty of Mankind, and particularly of thofe who are in Authority amongft them, to lay out themfelves all they can for fuppreffing Atheifin and Libertinifm^ forafmuch as the abetters of fuch Abominations decry, and prefume to deny the divine Obligations which ly upon us to lay to Heart the Duties of thefe Relations. They may be juftly reckoned (as to the Ten¬ dency of the Thing) Murderers of the whole Race of Mankind, who take oft' the Juft, and eftedual Bar againft the Violations of this Order, namely a fubmiftive and intire Re- fpeft unto the Laws and Conftitutions of our fovereign Lord, and the righteous Judge of all the Earth, and who allow no higher Regard unto that comely Order he hath fer, than what proceeds from the Love a Perfon will have to his own Safety, becaufe the grofs Tranfgreflions thereof might bring them to condign Puniftiment, and fomewhat of Duti- fulnefs, with Refped: thereunto procureth Advantages to him. The manifeft Language of fuch deteftable Sentiments (which yet are infinuated astheProdud of Wit) is plainly this. That in cafe a Perfon attain fome Elevation f amongft t £xod. 5. 2, C ) amonaft Men. and do think himfelf out of theit Reach he may freely do all the Mifchief he fan &Wy de^vife, kpeemlly if he have the Profpeas of Advantage thereby, idly. As it is prefumable. That in a fober and fedate Exercife of our intellectual Faculties, we may know that which is due unto us from our Neighbour, according unto our Stations, and the Relations wherein the Lord ha^ placed us; fo Reafon it felf plainly faith. That wc owe the like Confideration to our Neighbour, and are in the fame Manner bound unto a be¬ coming and dutiful Behaviour towards them. So much for this firft Particular, with the Cor- rolaries trom it. _ . idly Our Lives, whether amntal or rational, are not our own, they belong intirely to our Lord, the Author of our Being, who hath given us Life, Breath, and all Things, and un¬ to whom we owe our Prefervation, Suftenance, and all the Advantages of Life, in whatf^ver Kind, natural Light faith, and Hea¬ thens have obferved, That we are all his Off- fprinz; afluredly in him live t, move^ and have our Being. From this I infer, that all that pertaineth to the Prefervation and Iinprove- ment of Life, whether as to quiet and fedate Temper of Mind, and a well regulated Ule^ pt + Acts 17. from z 4 ’ forward. * i Kings i8. 4* ler. 2d. 15, id. Aas 2^. 12.-^id. 17.-- 2 - 7 * a Sam. 2. 22. Deut. 22. 8. Eph. 4. 2d, 27, Kc. /( =4 D the Means of Life, together with a profitable Exercife of the Faculties of the Soul, and the Members of the Body, &c. whatfoever, I fay, is within the Gompafs of thefe, and the like Heads, belongeth certainly to this perfect Law, and Rule; all which are fo manifeil;, that Na¬ ture it felf proclaims, and a Confcience not de- ■ bauched, muft needs acknowledge the Obliga¬ tion. - 1 enlarge not further upon this Purpofe, ■ but fhall only reprefent in a Word, that the Obligation we are under towards our Neigh¬ bour, is of the fame Sort ; and therefore we ought to have the like tender Regard unto the Lives of others, and unto all chat belongs unto thefe Lives, and may be beneficial, or hurtful unto them, of which we ought to have fuch a Confideration, and are obliged to fuch a Con¬ cernment about them in our Neighbour’s Cafe, as we would think jufi: and proper to be had in our own. This, and more appears from Command 6th. This Law comprifed in ten.Words bearethj the fevemh Command alfeceth, and Reafon giveth its Suffrage to thatChaftity t and Purity in- Body, Mind, Aftea:ions, Speech, Geff:ure,and Behaviour, which is generally pro- fefled amongft the better,and more modeff Size of People; and that every Luff, together with the I I Cor. 7. 2, 4, 5, 34. 36'. r Pet. 3. a. Col. 4. 6 . i Thef. 4. 4. Job 31, I, Pf 07 . 2. 17, 18, &c. aai 5.19, 20, the leaft Inclinations, orStirings in Thought^ Word, or Deportment, which arc cont.tary thereunto, ought to be had in a juft Deteftati- on. The fame Rule with the Grounds and Reafons thereupon founded, do equally hold, with Refped to our Neighbour: And hence we ^ ought to have the like Regard towards the Prefervation and promoting of the fore-menti¬ oned Purity and Chaftity in others, which we ftioLild deftre, and endeavour to attain in out own Perfons. Our Deifts, I know, do rage, ridicule, and banter this, as if Luft belonged to our very Conftitution, I only fay to them for the Time, that Luft in the moft grofs Ads, and the Motions towards them, are of the fame Kind, as a Drop is homogeneous to the Ocean. 2di^, The worft of them would be fenlibie of ^ Injuries done to themfelves in this Kind, and fure they owe the fame Coniideration to their Neighbour. ^thly, Prefuppofing Property amongft Men,’ which I prefume none of our Deifts will deny; ! I' may afllime it as abundantly mahifeft in'Rea- fon, as well as required in this perfed Law, Command viii. That Equity and Mercy fhoiild be diligently fought, carefully looked to, and obferved pundually in all our Bufinefs. In all thefe Regards, our Affairs, as to t Con^- ^ traSis t Pfal. 15. 2. Zech. 7. 9, 10. & 8. 16 , 17. Rom. 13. 7. Lev. 6. 2, 3, 4, 5. Luke 19. 8. & 6 , 30, 38. i Tim. 5. ProY. 2.7. from 23, ^c. iratis and tlommene, or whatfoevcr elfe falleth to be done betwixt Man and Man, ought to be exadly adjufled to the Exigencies of Equity, Mercy, and a truly rational and noble Gene- rofity, which every one would defire to be ufed towards themfelves in the feveral Exi¬ gences which require the fame. Moreover, I need notinftrudt the particular and clear Obli¬ gations which ly upon us to a provident Care and Concernment about fecular Goods, name¬ ly to purchafe, keep, ufe, and to difpofe of thefe Things which belong to the Suftentation of Nature, and the Conveniencies of Life, in fuch a Manner as may afford Peace in our Con- fciences, being free from extremes on^either Hand. Allow me only to fubjoin. That as we are required to endeavour a procuring and furthering our own IVealtb and outward Eflats^ by all jufl and lawful Means^ fo we ought to carry the like Affedion, and to exprefs in all poflible and proper Ways the like tender Care towards our Neighbour, and all that is his. 5. Of the fame Evidence, and Strength is our Obligation frohi Command ix. unto what- foever comes within the Compafs of that ex¬ cellent Virtue of Veracity. The Obligation that lyeth upon us to fpeak the t Truth in _and t Zech. 8. 16. Pf. 15. 2. Lev. 19. 15. Prov.14. 5. ^ Cor. I. 17, i8. Eph. 4. 25. I Sam. 22. 14. Prov. z6. 24.25. Pf. 101. 5. Prov. 22. I. Pf. 15. 4. Phil. 4. 8. Lev. 39. 15. Hab. I. 4. Prov. 6. 16, 19. 6c 19. 5. Aft. 35. 8 tc. See. ( 27 ) and from our Hearts, is plain, and indifpiiN able. Neverthelefs, Reafon faith. That all tills muft be managed and tempered with Chri- ftian Prudence, as Cafes diverily circumftanced render advifable. All Truths are not to be difclofed, for he is a Fool who uttereth all his Mind. It is a reafonable Part to obferve carefully, what the feveral Occafions require, and the Circumhances of Things, and Perfons can bear. Every one would demand that, as Right in his own Cafe, and fure he oweth fo much to his Neighbour. Neverthelefs no un¬ truth ought to be fpoken upon any pretext whatfoever,- and moreover. Truth muft be preferved and promoted betwixt Man and Man in all the Affairs of Life. But in a pe¬ culiar manner this ought to be adverted unto, when we are regularly called to Witnefs-hcar- ing. Admit once that Truth may be encroach¬ ed upon, fpecious Pretences will never be want- ; ing, and allow it in Witnefs-hearing no Man is henceforth fure of Life, or any Thing. Allis at the Mercy of the worft of Men : No So¬ ciety can ftand without this Veracity j and for I as much as a perfons Credit and Reputation in the World is of great Import in all the Con¬ cernments of Life, It is no lefs manifeft that we ought to have a fpecial Regard thereunto, ' and fhoLild be very tender of our own good I Name, and in the fame manner, of that of G our our Neighbour with the like Affcdlon, as if it were our own. , n i Finally, 6 . This fuccinft and moral Rule bears, the Fmth Command requires, as alfo Reafon and Confcience (if not utterly debauch¬ ed) will add their Suffrage, that we are under the ftrongefl; Obligations to be well t fatisfied with the Condition our fovereign Lord hath ordered for us in the World, whatfoever it may be, and that it is moft Iniquous in any to be difpleafed with the better Eftates of his Neighbour, and to bear the leaff: fecret Grudge againft him upon any pretext whatfoever. I have infifted perhaps too long upon a plain Purpofe, and it was not without inward ffrucrgline that I prefumed upon your Patience in glalcihg thefe Generals. My Defign in a great part, was to (hew how eafy it were for a judicious Perfon under divine Conduft, to raife a choice Syffem of ^Morals on thefe Grounds, and of ffich Evidence, that none could offer any Contradidion thereunto, with¬ out doing the utmoff: Violence to Reafon it felf. I alfo thought fo much not improper for introducing the Moral Axioms^ upon which the chief Pbrpofes I have in View, are defigned to be founded, and to which I proceed in the following Miflives, I remain, (jTc. LET- ^ Heb. 15. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 6. Job 51. 29. Rom. is. 15* Eft. 5. 13. Gal. 5. 26. Ja. 3. 14. 6cc. Pf. 112* Neh. s. 10. Rom. 7. 7, 8, 6cc. ( 2<7 ) LETTER IV. Cmaini'Ag Moral Axioms. S I R, I Think not that any judicious, fcber, and honeft Perfon, would look upon it as a Stretch, fhould I reckon the Pofitions of the former Miffives, at leaft the moft of them, to be Moral Axioms : Neither do I exped: that any whofe Confciences are not much violated, and extinguifhed, would move any Debate a-* bout them. Neverthelefs I incline not to go to Work fo very largely, but do rather chufe to raile the Superfirudure intended, upon a more clofe and near Foundation : And there¬ fore I fhall make choice of a few, and do purpofe deliberately to pretermit fundry o- thers. The following occur to me ; and as I doubt not but others of equal Weight and E- vidence may be in your View, fo I fliall be very glad to be your Scholar in fuch a delici¬ ous, weighty and ufeful Matter. Pleafe in the mean while to take my little Mite. Axiom I. Whatever * zve have jufl caufe to * thiaky that others pjould do to us, voe are obliged to deal in the Jame manner with them. It is true the Atheijls and Libertines of the Age will have -_ ^ 2. i;|Q Mat. 7. la. ( ?o > no regard to this as part of the facred Canon; vet the Thing is full of Evidence in its Na- iure and was in fuch Repute amongft the moli refined and famous Heathens, that no Man can deny, but that it challengeth the createft Confideration from its own intrinfical Truth, Value and Evidence. It wants not to be inftruaed, feeing it is a Maxim nrlt Principley and to be fure, a notable Expedien for Safety amongft Mankind, which every one will defire. Notwithftanding I think it pro¬ per to offer a few Remarks for its fnreher II- luftration. i. It is not to be doubted but that in our Concerns, we may in the Ufe ot ordinary Means eafily know what s within the Limits of Equity t and Mercy, and how far the Obligations unto the one and other ought to be extended in our circumftanced Cafes. And in the Event of our erring,(for we are not infallible any way) it is fairly prefumable, the Error will fway towards the more favourable Side in that which relateth to our felves Howfoever, I may juftly alfert that Right and Wrong, in moft of the Concerns of Life, are not fo clouded, but that they may be difcern- ed and the Marches may be conveniently rid betwixt the one and other i fo that any Perfon of ordinary Capacity, ftiall intheUfe of Means, be brought to a fatisfying Point about them, without much Difficulty. And tho m ^ome t Mic. 6 . 8. Ja* I- ^ 7 * ( ) Cafes, the Strait were not eafily cxtricable; yet, as fnch arc rare, fo the juft meafiires of Condu(S: depend not much upon them. 2. Whatfoever we juftly think is due unto us by any, upon whatfoever account, whether of more ftridt Juftice, Mercy, Generoftty, or in any other valuable Regard, we have the like Caufes to conclude that the very fame Things, are upon the fame Grounds, equally due by us unto others, in whatever Relation we ftand, or may be brought into, towards them, andl whereinfoever we have accefs to deal with them in the Bufinefs of Life. 3. Hence it is^ manifeft, that in our whole Condudt, and e- very part of our Management amongft Men, we ought to have a clear Confcience that we jneafure nothing to them but what we fincere- ly, and as before God, do think fiiould, and would accordingly defire to be meafured out to our felves. In one Word, I take the Senfe of the Axiom to amount unto this, namely we ought to put our Neighbours, juft in our own place, and to confidcr them, as if they were our felves, and in all our Dealings about them, to treat them as we have juft Ground to defire that we our felves may be treated. Here’s a clear Rule of Equity, Mercy, Generofity, and every Thing valuable in Morals, a Maxim fo highly rational, that it cannot be difputed nor denyed, unlefs we abandon Reafon it felf. And yet any Perfon may fee how great a Com- C 3 pend ( 52 ) pend of Bufinefs it would happily make, and what a vaft Number of Debates might be jflued by a due adverting thcreunro. I need not remind you, how that almoft all the Con- tefts which have place amongft Men, and do hll the World with fo much Icjullicc, Cruelty, Op- preffion,Confufion, Wars, Tumults, and every evil Thing, do clearly proceed from a regard- leifnefs of, and Oppofition unto this plain ^ociotyi • Axicm 2 d, T'be Meafure of Duty ’ive et- the'/ Tito/e hyuTiedidtely unto Gody 0/ to A'lnn by hif Ccmmandy is that Declaration of Righty mr foenfo to them : And every Body knows, that none would de¬ fire any Hurt to be done to them. Nothing can be excepted againft this, unlefs it be in- ftru£led, that in cafe of thefe Injuries, our Obligation ceafeth ; which, I think, not any . fober Perfon will aflerr. And feeing his inju¬ rious Behaviour againft us, is finful on his Parr, the like Returns from us, cannot be free of Sin. In this Cafe, Sin is fertile, and the Commiffion thereof by him, brings forth the like, and often a more plentiful Brood in us. Reafon, if not byafied, would fay. That the Wickednefs of our Neigh bout, in the fore-mentioned Re- ^ffkfds, renders him an Objeft of Compaflion, ^^ut not of Revenge. Further Axioms I referve ^ till the next. I remain, &c. LETTER V. Containing more Axioms. Sir, W ithout any Preface, I go on in laying down yet more Axioms of incontefted Morality. Axiom 3. In the Bufmejjes of Life, more * pu~ hliok Good fjould have the Preference to that •which * See Scriptures afterward in the Comparifon, •v:hi(h is psrfonal and private. The Nature ot Things bears, that the one fhould be fub- ordinated to the other; for our private Good is fo interwoven with the publick, and depends fo upon it, that in the Preference of the Pu¬ blick to the Private, the Interefts of private Perfons, Conftituents of the Publick, will be found: Thus, by a Rebound, the publick proves our private Good. All grant this in T hefi. Men of publick Spirits, and who fa- crificed, or at lead fubjedted private Interefts tp thefe of their Country, have been in great and juft Eftimation, not only amongft Chri- jftians, but alfo amongft the very Heathens. The Maxim then may be afllimed ; and, being amongft the firft Principles of Morality, it re¬ quires no Probation. I fliall only (according to my ufual Method) annex a Corrolary or two, for illuftrating it further. Cor. ifl. It is then contrary to Reafon, for any, fo much as in his Heart, to deftre (but it is yet far worfe, from private Views, and the Profpecls of pri¬ vate Advantage, to give Confent to) any Thing which he knows to be unjuft, and of a Tendency, in the Nature of the Thing, pre¬ judicial unto fome publick intereft. And if fo, it is utterly unaccountable to demolifti publick Interefts for building our own Houfes. Cor. ^d. In the Competition, when either a whole Society fliall rifque the being brought low, and gradually ruined, or private Perfons muft forego fome ( 37 ) feme Conveniencies of Life,* yea even tho’ its Necefl’aricsfhould be impaired to fome degree, while yet we may Jii^e, tho^ not fo convenient¬ ly or plentifully : Unbyafl'ed Reafon will give a clear Suffrage, namely let rhefe Convenien¬ cies rather go, yea, and let us generouhy and -cheerfully comply to be ffraitned as to fome ■Neceffaries, and let not a whole Community^ fuffer ior gratifying our Eafe, the Vanity of our Minds, or any other Luff Whatfoever. Cor. '^d. It belongeth unto the Eflimation we owe to the publick Good, or the welfare of So- -cieties, whereof we are Members, of whatever Nature they be ,♦ and it is alfo incumbent up¬ on us in point of Duty, that every Member thereof lay outhimfelf under divine Influence, fo far as can come within his reach, for pro- moving their Good. No advantageous State, as to the Means and Accommodations of this Life,can exempt one or other from the Obliga¬ tions that ly upon him, by the Relations he ^ands in towards the Society. It is indeed generally neceffary, to have and ufe a lawful Calling for affording Subfillance, to thofe who are not opulently (fated. But tho' thefe Grounds and Motives had no place, and that the Perfon did fwim in Wealth, yet the Tyes I fpeak of, are not only the fame, but do alfo receive a confiderable increafe from the Han¬ dles which great Wealth and Eafe do afford, for being manifoldly iifeful. Nature dictates ( 38 ) . fo much, and every one lays it to Heart,' with Refpca: to the Concerns of his own Body. Each Member of our Bodies, yea, even the fmaJleft and moft inconfiderabic of them,contributes, in Conjunction with the reft, more or lefs, for the Behoof and Benefit of the whole Body ; And affuredly the fame Rea- fon holds, as to Bodies politick, or of what- foever Nature they may be. Cor. 4. True Morality muft then affuredly prove a great Blefling to Mankind. Societies of all Sorts would flourifti, and be ftrengthned by a Con- du6t, and Improvement of this Kind: Where¬ as, upon the contrary, they gradually decay, and are carried to Ruin, when fuch as belong unto them, and efpecially they who have the Rule and Overfight of them, are wholly fwayed by private and felfifli Views, without any due Regard unto the publick Good. And I know not any one Thing that more diferediteth Religion, and ftrengtheneth the Prejudices of Libertines and Atheifts more againft it, tha^ when a felfifti, unjuft, unkindly, and an un¬ profitable Converfation, is covered with a great and fpecious Profeffion of Religion. It cannot efcape to give fad Umbrage in this Matter, that Perfons who pretend much high¬ er, ftiould be unable to ftand, and would be eaften as ufelefs and hurtful at fuch a Bar, as even the Glimmerings of Nature might fufEce to ere6t. Axiqm ■ ( 39 )' Axiom 4. It is in no Cafe jufi'and lawful, to have our Minds * evil affeBed towards our Neighbour. I mean, it is contrary to Reafon, and an Incroachment upon moral Equity, to entertain the leaft Inclination towards his Hurt, or to omit, yea, and even to be remifs in wifliing his Good, and endeavouring to pro¬ move it in all poffible Ways; and that becaufe of Refentments we entertain upon the Ac¬ count of Provocations "given us by him. For Explication of this Maxim, pleafe confider, ifi. That (which was before obferved) the Law ftates our Duty, as otherwife, fo parti¬ cularly in all that is incumbent upon us to¬ wards our Neighbour; and the Obligation we are under to perform thefe Duties, hath no Dependence upon his Deportment towards us. 2^/)',Howfoever Injuries done to us by him,do indeed render the Performance of the Offices ot Love and Kindnefs due to him, propor¬ tionally difficult ; yet this is intirely owing unto the Perverfenels of our Natures. Not- withftanding, as the pretended, or real Inju¬ ries, do not in the leaft impair the Obligation that’s upon us, as aforefaid, fo they render thefe kindly Offices the more difinterefted and generous, '^dly. The excellent and golden Rule of Benignity and Equity (mentioned in a former Axiom) holdeth equally here, viz.. Wc ought * Jam. 5. Eft. 5. 13. I Kings 11. 4. Gal. 5. li. ( 40 ) ought to deal with others, as we have Juft Warrant to defire that they ftould deal with us i afluredly none of us can well endure that our Neighbour fliould entertain any Rancour againft us, and we are ready to think our felves injured, fo far as we are brought to fuffer by him in this Manner, at leaft we think we have good and juft Caufes to defire, that he would wholly lay afide his evil Mind towards us; and therefore we ought to have the like Con- fideration of him, and do owe him the fame Tendernefs which we would defire to be fliew- ed to us in our own Cafe, Secret Grudges, Rancour, Irritation, and Heart- Rifings, whether againft God or Man, are in- trinfically, or in their own Nature, moral Evils,' and therefore no pretext can joftifie them. What¬ ever we may alledge to have been provoking unto us, can never amount to a Reafon for what is evil in it felf, and therefore muft con¬ tinue fo to be, fo long as it hath a Being. Our Pretexts and Apologies can never alter the Na¬ ture of Things. Prudence requires that we be aware of trufting thefe who deceive us, and we have no caufe for a cow/7to??^m/Love,where the Objedl doth not challenge it j but nothing can be juftly excepted againft a Love of Benevolence and CompaffiOn. So much ftiall fuffice for the 4th Maxim. Axiom 5. 'The Recreations and Plea fantries of ^ife^ of vihatfoever Naturej ought ftill to be fuch m ( 41 ) (U come ’Within the Compafs of the perfeEl Rule. Allow me to add another Branch, which might be a Axiomy but for brevities Sake, and in regard it belongeth to the fame Purpofe, I fhall take in with the preceeding, viz. T^hefe Recreations ought never to interfere f ’with the •weighty and fer ions Bufmefs of Life : They fhould wholly Vail to thefe v/eighty Matters, where- unto they muft not only be fubordinated, but alfo fubfervient. For opening this complex Maxim, ( which I prefume needs no Proof) I offer the following Notes, ly?, The Pertedi- on of the Rule contained in the ten Wordsy (of which before) doth necefiarly bear, that it muff extend unto every Concern of Life. Our great Law-giver has left none of them without the Verge of this perfeaLaw,andforarmuch as the recreative Parts do, amongff others, chal¬ lenge their own regular Confideration,they muft needs come within the Compafs of that ade¬ quate Rule. Hence zdty^ The Nature, Dig- ! nity, and proper Work of reafonable Creatures, do all declare, that Diverjion and Sport, ( or whatever Name you give it) may not jiifUy be made the Bufinefs of any Man ; it is for more 1 noble Ends, and a more excellent Work, that our Maker has given us a rational Being, nei¬ ther will the Light of Nature, or juft and un- byaffed Reafon allow, that too much either of Strength or Time fhall be beftowed upon Re¬ creations ; t I Cor, 10, :5i. Col. 3. 17. ( 42 ) creations ; our Souls and Bodies ought to be imployed in Wotk becoming their Lord, agree- able unto our rational Natures, and luiting our feveral Charafters and Stations. It is true the Bow cannot be Hill in Bent.our Frailties both in Body and Mind, require the flacking that In- tenfenefs for aTime, which otherwife is neceflary for plying Affairs of Weight,and more elpecially fuch wherein the mind is imployed chiefly ,never- thelefs, even the faint Light of Reafon declares, that whatfoever is recreative fliould be entirely calculated, for advancing the more ferioi^, and important Bufinefs of Life, ^dly. No Recre¬ ation then, may in Ute leaft intrench »Pon, or be prejudcial unto Things All Reafon condemns whatfoever is unfuitable un^ the profound Veneration that^s dim unto a Dmty, or hath in the Nature of the Thing any Ten¬ dency to undifpofe us for the Acknowledg¬ ments we owe unto the God of Glory, whe¬ ther by more direft Worfliip, or throughout the Strain of our Goverfation. They come into the Account of Profanenefs, and approach to¬ wards Blafphemies, which incroach upon Things.of fo excellent a Nature ^ and there¬ fore, may not be reckoned )ufi: Pleafantrip. The reverential Awe we fliould have to tv., I prefume is fo clear to any fober, and un- byafl'ed Mind, that fuch will be at no Demure, towards condemning whatfoever hath an hurt¬ ful Influence thereupon, as Irreligious or Fro-- ( 4 ? ) fane, ^thly. The fame Axiom alfo bears, that Recreations, and Diverfions, as well as other Bufinefl'es of Life, firould be adjufted unto the great End, and other fubordinate Aims we are required to propofe unto our felves. None of thefe Recreations are juft, which (as we arc ftated) have in their Nature a Tendency to feed, and ftrengthen the * Vanity of our Mindsy or to prove Incentives unto any Lufi. Right Reafon demands, that they be Helps, and Ad- mincles to Vertue, and not Cherifhers of Vice^ or of any malign Influence that Way. In a Word, Religion and Reafon require, that all the Recreations of Life fliould be both of that Nature, and alfo confined within thefe Limits, which render them profitable, being of ufe to difpofe us for the great Bufinefs of Life, both as to Worfhip and Converfation, and in no* thing prejudicial unto that which is facred, and ferious in the Concerns of our feveral Sta¬ tions. Were I inclined to dilate this Head, I have a large Field opened for deteding the Unreafonablenefs, as well as other Enormities of many Things, which are in Vogue amongft the Pleafures of Life, as the moft generally e- fteemed Plays, Comedies, Tragedies, and other fuch Stuff, wherein many Wickednefles are re- prefented in an alluring Drefs, and cloathed D with * Eph, 4. 17. Tit. 3, 3. ( 44 ) with polltci and enticing Cliara(S:ers. The towring Pride, and other exorbitant AfFedi- ons, and Paflions, with a manifold Fewel of vain, and corrupt Minds, are painted out with fuch Colours, and fet in fuch Poftures therein, as are moft exadly fitted to recommend them; whereas they ought, and Reafon challengeth, that they ftiould be had in a juft Deteftati- on. I might alfo enlarge upon the Incroach- ments which are made therein, upon Matters moftferious, and facred; for, if any Thing that hath the leaft Relation unto Piety be thought fit to come in, it is for the moft Part (in the prefent State of thefe Shows, and Inter¬ ludes) rather adjufted to a recommending of Heathenifm, than fitted for any End, or Ufe tru¬ ly religious. But I enter not upon a Purpofe which many great Men have moft fully treated. The fame Maxim might alfo lead me to a de- teding the Unreafonablenefs of 'uain Talkings^ * foolijh JeJlings, and whatfoever elfe belongs unto a 'vain Converfation. I enter not into this Puddle; thefe Vanities and Wiqkednefles can¬ not ftand at the Bar of the forementioned Axi¬ om, and fo do run crofs unto Reafon. _ Should enter upon a Detail of the Contrarieties, I am afraid I would find the Field too large; and therefore, I fiiall only remind you of one Matter * Eph. 5. 4. I Pet. I. 18. C 45. > Matter of Faft^ that is fufficiently known from the concurring Hiftories of primitive Times, namely that Perfons come to Age, and who were received by Baptifm into the Bofom of the Church did, together with their Heathen- ifm, folemnly abjure the Devil, with his Pomp %'ain Shows j and other fuch Trumpery, as be¬ longing unto his Kingdom, and unworthy of Chriflians. So much for the 5 th Maxim. Axiom < 5 rh. No Perfons whatfoever, ought to come under fuch Regards^ or be fofar confider 'ed f by us, as to procure a fwerving from the way oj Duty injotned by this Law, jrom the Confidera- tions we haue of them in any RefpeBs, or from ProfpeBs of whatfoever Nature we may have about them, or any "Thing we think performable by them. For illuftrating this Maxim, the following Af- fertions may be pondered, i. I freely and heartily acknowledge, that in our Bufinefs and Managements amongfl: Men, all juft Confide- rations of Perfons ought to be had, as they are diverfty circumftanced, and varioufly re¬ lated to us. Honour is to be cheerfully and given* unto them to whom it is due, ac¬ cording to their diverfe Places, Qualities, Sta¬ tions, and the Relations wherein we ftand towards them. Moreover, right Reafon ftiews that we ought in f I.ove to ferve one another, and and to ufe every * lawful and proper Mean, D 2 both t II** 2,. 22. Gal. I. lo. I Cor. 7. 23. * Rom. I3. 7. I Gal. 5. 13. * Cor. 19, 20, 2i« .'1 C 46 ) both for engaging our Neighbours into the Ways of Virtue, and alfo for procuring and maintaining Friendftiip with them. It is alfo an Efteft of Chrifhian Prudence to gain in juft and generous Ways the Favour of thefe who are Perfons of Worth, and may be ufeful unto us. In one Word, a humane t afiable, and gaining Deportment, is both a Duty and Orna¬ ment, and alfo of manifold Ufefulnefs in Life. Notwithftanding 2. The Authority oj the great and only Law-giver our Sovereign Lordy challen- geth fo much of Regard from every rational Creature, that our Duty in its whole Com- pafs, and in every circumftanced Cafe, is to be determined by the Interpolition of his Autho¬ rity, and only thereby. Nothing befides that, may juftly come under any Confideration, as decifive, and ftating either Sin or Duty. 3. Ileafon then faith, as well as Religion de- mandeth, that in all and each of the Concern¬ ments of Truth and Error, Equity and Iniqui¬ ty, and in every Aftair that belongs unto Piety towards God, or Juftice and Mercy towards Man, the Nature of Right and Wrong fiiould be examined and pondered with fuch Im¬ partiality, as if at that very Moment we were to account to the righteous Judge of the whole Earth, and with as little Regard to any Per- fon or Party, and in particular to thefe who other- t Jam. 3. 17. ( 47 ) btherwife might Byafs US the wrong Way, as if they never had been in the World. ^ Axiom, yth. Moral Evil is the t tuor/? of Evils. Penal Evil is indeed ftraitning, and af- feds us deeply, but as inflided by the righte¬ ous Judge, it is good, and carrieth his Stamp upon it. It is a notable Mean for difplaying and vindicating his lefed Honour, and is often necefl'ary, and ufeful for the good of thefe who thereby fuffer. However, the Lord * maketh hbnfelj knoixin thereby, and his Work in this, and in every thing elfe is honourable f and glo¬ rious. But for what concerns Moral Evil, that’s wholly and only Evil, and hath nothing of Good in it: Befides, that it’s dricking a- gainft the Majefty of an infinitely glorious God, rendereth it in a Sort of an infinite E- normity. For further Illuflration of this Maxim, I fubjoin the following Corrolaries, or Confequences. i. It is plainly conneded with this Axiorn, and even inlaid with it that the Hetedion of Moral Evils in us, together with the Sources from whence they proceed, and every thing elfe belonging to them, and a war¬ ning us faithfully and honcftly, according to the Exigences thereof, fuch dealing I fay, muft needs be an Office not only of real Kindnefs, but alfoofthe moft true and greateft Friend- Ihip, and when it is performed from fincerc D ? Love __ _ _ ____j t Ifa. I. 4. d'. Rem. 7. 24. * Pf. 9. id. t Pf Ill. 9. ( 48 ) Love, it ought to be valued highly. Nothing fhould excite higher Strains of Thankfulnefs, both to God and Man, than fuch Expreflions of real Tendernefs and Kindnefs. A Treat¬ ment of this Kind, as to what concerns the Body and outward Eftate,would be juftly look¬ ed upon with fuch an Eye by every wife Per- fon, and aflliredly this honeft Dealing, as to what concerns the Soul, is a Benefit fo much the greater, that the SouPs Worth is incom¬ parably beyond that of the Body, and outward Eftare, and the exercife of Love, in the fore- mentioned Events is truly the more generous, that it may readily be prefumed much, if not intirely difinterehed : For tho^ fuch Offices be in reality the moft friendly, as of a Ten¬ dency to delii'er us from the greateff of Evils : Yet they are rarely intertained with Kindnefs, and do ordinarly excite thehigheft Difideafure, and heaviefl Refentmenrs, tho' yet truly they are the moft obliging Offices. 2. Forafmuch as Moral Evils are undoubtedly the greateff, not to be compared, or put on a Level with any other, it is contrary to Reafon for any Perfon fo to Balance them with Troubles whatfoever, as to give Way unto, or intertain the leaff Motion, orinclination towards a going into the choice of any thing that’s Evil morality when the Competition betwixt Sin and Suffer¬ ing is ordered in fovereign and wife Provi¬ dence. In no Cafe may the leaff Moral Evil ( 49 ) vif any fuch Evil may be called little) be chofen as a juft Expedient for cviting the great- eft of Troubles. So much for Moral Axioms, A greater Number might have been affigned, and I queftion not but fome more of them have occurred to you, or may be found out upon a further Search. Notwichftanding, I lhall reft fatisfyed with thefe which I have mentioned, and I expe( 51 : they will abundantly fuffice for fupporting the Sirudure I defign ' to raife upon them. I intend by the follow¬ ing Miflives, to inftitute an ingenuous Com- parifon betwixt humane Nature in its pre- fent State, and the little Abftraft of Moral Piety and Equity I formerly laid down. In this I defign to be Brief: But do refolve to dwell fome longer upon the Axioms, and I doubt not but that in the lifue, it will be made to appear incontroulably that the Na¬ ture of Man, as now ftated, is crofs, and contrary to the one and other. I add no more at the Time, but that I remain, &c. s ' * hEX I ( 5 ° ) LETTER VI. Containing a Comparijon betwixt humane Nature, and fome Parts oj the Abjlra^ of Morality^ before-mentioned. Sir, I Prefume our Way is now prepared for a more near Approach to the main Defign of this Correfpondence, viz.. To bring the prefent State of humane Nature unto the Touch-ftone of incontefled Morality, as before fet down, both in the Abftradt and Axioms. I think ‘not that any fpber Perfon y/ijl entertain the lead: Jealoufy about the Solidity and Strength of the Foundation ; and therefore I may, with the greater Alfurance, proceed to raife the in¬ tended Building upon it. Should I touch all the Pofitions of the Abflraft, in Order to this Comparifon, it would be a long and laborious Work; and I cannot incline to a launching out into fo yaft a Sea ; Neverthelefs, I think it proper to glance at a few Pofitions, for fliewing how eafy the Progrefs might be, in t a. 5. * Pliil. 39. 9. I Sam. 3.18. 2 Sam. 15. 25, 26, t Ifa. 8. 21. I Cor. 10. lo. ( 57 ) more in thefe who enjoy the moft deiirabls Means for Knowledge, fuch Ignorance, I fay, f iveth the greateft Caufes of Juft and heavy Legret ,* fo much I think is beyond Debate ; As alfo, that it is a Matter of the higheft Im¬ port, and a moft Juft Concern and Intereft of reafonable Creatures to have their Sentiments and Impreifions concerning the God of Glory well adjufted to the Difeoveries he hath given ofhimfelf, of whatfoever Nature they may be : let fad and incontefted Experience veri- fieth, that many Thoufands, and fundry of thefe in Repute, who likewife have accefs to the choiceft Means of Inftrudtion, do yet live fecurely in giofs Darknefs and Ignorance, not only without Juft Notions concerning a Deity, but alfo under a ftrong Averfion from, and Enmity againft the cleareft f Mean-s for at¬ taining Light. Many alfo, and fome of the greateft Note amongft Men, are fo far under the Sway of their Lufts, as to take up fecurely, and to fettle upon fuch Notions and Seis of Re^ ligion, both as to Dodtrine and Pradice, which they find moft agreeable to thefe Lufts, and do think will beft fuit their feetdar Interefls without further Inquiry, or giving the leaft In- tertainment unto any Motion leading that way, as if Religion were nothing clfe but a folitick Engincy or Machine. From this Source it t Hof. 4. I, 2. John 3. 20. a Thn. 4. 3. if* 30. p, 10, n. ( 58 ) it is, that great and unaccountable Blundeis in religious Matters are maintained by whole Societies, and propogated from one Ge^ra- tion to another in a dong Trad of ^icceffion, and the leaft Morion towards a retorming of thefe, is often oppofed,and crufhed bv the higher Powers, not much, d at all, ac leaft not ftill from the Convidion ot but meerly left a political, tho wicked Kepole, fliould be difturbed. So much as a Touch at what relates to the firft Pojiulatumi or Gon- clufion mentioned in the Beginning or this Miffive. , r ui I go on to the 2^, Namely, that reafonable Creauires are- under the cleareft and ftrongeft Obligations to have and maintain habitu¬ al Impreffidn of Reverence, to that God, who is the * God of Glory, and whofe glorious Ex¬ cellencies challenge fo much. Beftdes, that cur Breath is in his Hand, and every Thing that concerns us, is intirely at his Difpolure. "None, can call in Queftion the Obligation that lieth upon us hereunto, unlefs he deny all B.ea- fon, and go deliberatly, and willfully, againil it. The fcriptural Dodtrine about this Mat¬ ter, is moft purely rational, I need not en¬ large thereupon, a Touch may fumce, the Thing being inconteftible. To fear God, and to keep his Commandments, is the All of Man, • Thus + Afts 7.' 2. Pftl. 2.9. I, 2-, cff. ( 59 ) Thus the Original hath it. It is the beginning offVifdom: Unto Man the Lord faith * the fea'^ of the Lord is Wifdom, and to depart from Evi^ is JJnderflanding. Let us then fairly compare the prefent State of humane Nature (before that great and merciful Change, of which in the Sequel.) Let us, I fay, compare our pre¬ fent State, with plain and incontefted Duty in this Matter, and it will be found as evident as any F»6: can be, that this is not the natu¬ ral Set, and Bent of our Spirits, and that our native Propenfion goeth the quite contrary way with a mighty Current. I do indeed con- fefs, that fudden Difplays of the Majefty of God, Providences alarming by fomewhat great and unufual, and other fuch Occurrences: apart, or together, will procure and imprefs the Spirit with fome AwRilnefs, but this is of a very tranfitory Nature, it cometh quickly and goeth fpeedily off, like a Morning Cloud, and the early Dew: But fo remote are we from a rooted Habit of Veneration for the Majefly of God, 'as the leading Principle of Life, which yet right Reafon doth plainly demand, fo far are we, I fay, from having this as the firft and chief Principle of Motion influencing our Wor- fhip and Walk, that we don^’t fo much as un- derfland fuch a Temper of Spirit. And, ac¬ cording to the poor and empty Notions wc E have ( <5o ) have of it. Nature accounts it an intolerable Bondage. Reafon and Scripture require, that no Intertainment be given to the lead irreve¬ rent Thought of the God of Glory, or to the ^ leaft Motion or Inclination unfuitable to his ' «lorious Excellencies ; No rational Creature without the greateft Violence done to Reafon, can debate the Obligation here, and yet the real Echo, or true Return we hereunto give, is this in fum. It is a hard fayingj luho can hear it ? I acknowledge that fome there are whofe Lite iind Element it is, to be ftill imprefled with this holy, humble and reverential Fear : Ne- verthelefs, as this is wholly and only owing to a fupernatural Change and Influence, with¬ out which it neither is, nor can be kept up, even for a Moment, . fo Nature in thefe excellent Terfons, when left to it felf, declineth quicki/ to its old Byafs. So much for the 2d Concef- fion. Iftiall for brevities fake knit the 3d and j^th together, wx.. That it becomes us to take from our fovereign Lord, and to fubmit unto whatfoever Rules he hath prefcribed to us for 'modelling our Worftiip, and regulating our Con- verfation, and are obliged to a cautious ob- fervance of our Hearts, and Way, left we tranfgrefs thefe Rules ; I cannot expert that s.ny reafonable Mian will queftion the Truth and Equity of this Poflulatum^ and the Scrip¬ tures declare the Matter fo fully and pointed¬ ly, that it were fuperfluous to ^tet upon the - ^ Pe- (61) Demonftration or a Portion, which is fo very plain, "vizj. That God is -to be worJJnpped * and Jerked only in the luay he hbnfelf hath prefcribed. It^’s proper that we next compare the prefent State of humane Nature, with this Conceffion, and the following Particulars will afford us heavy Views, i . We quickly weary to keep Touches with the Lord, as to his Inflitutions of whacfoever Kind ,* plain Experience hath difcovered the irregular Sett of our Natures in all Ages fince the beginning of the World, The Account which the God of the Spirits of all Flelh hath given concerning us, iSj^ontinual- ly verified by innumerable RecefEons from the prefcribed Rule, namely, that tho'’ God made Man ttpright, f yet he hath fought out many 'ventionSi and continueth to do fo. 2. The •pureff Societies have never kept their Integrity for any confiderable meafure of Time, every Age is Fertile o^Complyancesand Accommodations^ whereby the Lord’s Truths, and Worfhiphave been corrupted, and the Converfations of Men polluted .and poyfoned. 3. Deceitful and wicked Hearts have prompted many to Stretches, beyond all jufl and modeft Boun¬ daries, whether in compliance with an * itching Humour, and other Luffs, or for accomodat¬ ing themfelves in what they thought to be the Exigences of their fecular Interefis, that a par- E 2 . ticulac ♦ Mat. 15. 9. Ifa. 29. 13. Col. 2. 23. t Eccl. 7. 8, 9« * z King. 12, throughout, a Tim, 4. 2. ( 62 ) ticular Enarration might cover us with Blufhesi’ 4. I might appeal to the fedate Thoughts and afnid:ing Reflexions of the befl: oi Men,- whether they find the natural Byafs exceed¬ ing flrong for carrying them off from the Rule, notwithftanding all the Reftraints our ‘ fovereign Lord hath laid upon us, and con¬ trary unto thatfirxere Approbation,and hearty Refped thereunto, with which the Lord has endued them. In one Word I mufl fay. They are utter Strangers unto themfelves, who know not the mighty Propenflon of Nature to Ir¬ regularities^ which the choiceft of Men, not¬ withftanding the utmoft Caution, do never wholly efcape. So much for the Comparifon of humane Nature, with the moral Abftraa:. I remain, '&c. LETTER VII. Containing a Comparifon of the prefent State of humane Nature^ with the moral Axioms. Sir, M y laft gave fome Touches at compar¬ ing the State of Mankind with the little Abftrad of Morality I had re- prefented in fome former Miflives. I go on Tiow'to t\\t moral Principles, or Nlay^ims, and intend to ply the Comparifon in that Part fomC'; ( 6 ? ) 'fomewliat more dofly. Pleafe review them in the fame Order'wherein I had fet them ’ down: I am not anxious about Method, which no doubt might have been adjuRed bet¬ ter than I have done, or can do. The firfl: of thefe Principles was this, v/z." Whatfoever lue have jufi Caufe to think that o- thers Jhould do to us, zve are obliged to deal in the fame manner with thetn. See Miffive IV. Axiom I. with the Expofition and Corrolaries\ Let us then make a fair and ingenuous Com- parifcn of humane Nature, with that plain Maxim, and it will be found utterly degene¬ rated from, and contrary thereunto. I fhall not accomplifh a diligent Search to find out this, nor do I incline to dilate upon it, a few of many particulars may be confidered. We arenow intirely off from thefe Re¬ gulations, the God of our Being hath given, and injoined us, with Refpedt to our felves. Sundry of thefe I have mentioned before, and love not to repeat. In fumm, it^’s manifeft that we are not our own, but do belong unto God as his Creatures, and therefore our Love to, and Care of our felves ought not to be Arbitrary, but muft be conformed to the Rule which our fovereign Lord hath prefcribed us. All centereth chiefly here, viz. The juft Con¬ cernment wefhould be under as to our felves, confifts in a pointing aright towards our E 3 Eord ( 64 ) Lord and Maker, as our ultimate f End, and prefling towards that End under Heavens In¬ fluences, with all poflible Vigour. And for- afmuch as we are recjuired to bear the like tender Regard to our Neighbour, it followeth inavoidably that we are obliged to fliow it, in laying out our felves to perfuade him, and to be otherwife Afliftant to hirii, as we can have accefs towards his pointing aright to that great End, andpreflTing accordingly after it. Other Regards, whether to our felves or our Neigh¬ bours, arc Dcftru^iive, and Self-feeking, other- wife, is but Self-deftroying *. Let us here¬ upon inflitute the Comparifon, and I may ap¬ peal to the Confciencc of any fober Perfon, whether this be theprefent Mould of humane Nature, namely in all the Concernments about our felves and our Neighbours, to be regulat¬ ed by the Regards we ought to have to the great End, and to every juft Mean which leads thereunto, Aifuredly the Stream and Current runs generally out in a quite other and con¬ trary Channel. We make Provifion for the F/eJh, we ierve diverfe Lufts and Pleafures in our own Perfonst, and do accordingly carry others alongft with us to the like Evils. Were it not fo, the World would be an Eden of excellent Virtues, and pkafant Delights, whereas up¬ on t Mat. 6. zi. Pf. 27 - 4 - Euk. lo. 42. Pf. VV ^4. * Hof. 13. 9. 2 Tim. 3. I. tR-om. 13. 14. Tip C ) on the contrary, it is •('with very little of Exception) a Chaos of Wickednefs and Troubles. 2. It is a Debt every one would readily think to be due unto himfelf, or at leaft all of us judge we have good reafon, and are not in the wrong to defire that Bowels f 0/ Kind- nefs 3.nd CompaJJion be extended towards us, and Help atiorded us, as our Neceflities and Troubles, of whatfoever Nature may require, and in fo far as, it can be within the reach of our Neigiibours to aflifi: us, This fure, is a mofi juft Demand, founded upon right Reafon, every one is perfuaded of fo much in his own Cafe, and the Axiom clearly bears, that the very fame good Offices are due by him to his Neighbour. Let us now compare herewith the prefent State of Mankind, and the Com- parifon 'will give us moft difraal Views. I might inftance in diverfe particulars, but that would carry me too far : Take only thefe two. ly?, Tho’ every one doth challenge eftedtual Companion as a juft Debt to himfelf, yet de¬ generated and corrupt Self-love is in many fo very ftrong, that fuch Compaflion towards our Neighbours, is little found, and exprefled, where, befides the more common Relation ot Neighbourhood, the neareft Tyes 'whether of Nature, Blood, and Affinity, or other fuch, do t Job. 6. 14. Col, 3, iZ) 13. Pf. 41, I, Zj 3. Job, 151, zi, &;c. (. 66 ) • do manifeftly require it. Natural AffeBion is frequently fubdiied and fwallowed up by Lufts, and befides its great Weaknefs which hinder- eth its going any juft Length; it is caften off t by many, and giveth place to its Contraries. id. When true, and iometimesheroical Virtue conflifteth with great Straits, the Purity of Reafon would fay. That all poffible and com- paflionate Afliftances are a juft Debt unto it, upon the moft virtuous, honourable, and gene¬ rous Accounts. A Perfon fo happily endued and ftated, would be but too ready to think that more of Help is due unto him than he can rcafonably expeft. To be fure the Indigencies which often accompany true Piety, ought to'be lookM to in a peculiar manner. Neverthelcfs the moft part of Mankind is fo far wanting to fuch noble Exigences, that they will be found utterly deftitute * of that Kindnefs and Tender- nefi, when the Secrets of all Mens Hearts iliall be judged at the great accounting Day. J was Sick and in Prifon, and ye njijited me not, 6 cc. I need not infill: upon a plain Head. Moreover 3^, Were it not from unaccount¬ able wants of this Companion and Tendernefs (which yet every one thinketh due unto him- felf) the DiftrelTes in the World v/ould be at leaft very few in Comparifon of what they really are. If the Food, or rather Fewcl of _j_ Luft s, t Rom. I, 51, z Tim. 3. i, 2, 3, 6tc. * Mat. 25. 4 *> 43 ’ ( 67 ) Lufts, were imployed for charhaWe, Juft, and generous Ufes, and if Men would fatisdc themfelves wirh the true Exigences of Necef- fity and Decency, fuitable to their fevreral Sta¬ tions : And efpecially did each of us lay out himfelf to be as ufeful unto others, in his Sta¬ tion as poffibly he can, all real 'Indigencies might be fupplyed conveniently, and (excep¬ ting Judgments extraordinary) no Perfons needed to want what^’s needful, and the dint even of extraordinary Strokes would at leaft be much leflened. The Axiom under View will bear all that I have faid, and yet much more. Every Perfon in Straits would think it a juft Defire that his Neighbour not only abridge himfelf in his Superfluities, but alfo make fome ftretch even in Neceflaries, rather than that his Fellow rational Creature fliould perifli. So much we think owing to us, and the very fame do we owe to others. Thus the Miferies which abound in the V/orld, do ifllie in a great part, from the want of that Sympathy which every Body would think the moft juft Debt in his own Cafe, and the ferip- tural Dodrine in the Matter is highly Ratio¬ nal, Wbojo hath this Worlds^ Goodsy^and feeth his Brother hath needy and fimtteth up his Bov:ds of Comp afjion from-him y hovo dwelleth the Love of God in him ? So much for Inftances up¬ on the 2 J Particular. I add but a. ^d Branch * I Job. 3. 17. Jam, z. 15, 16, Luk. 3. ii. 6tc. ( 68 ) of Comparifon, wherewith I conclude what I intend to reprefent upon the firft Axiom. It^s manifeft that each of us would think the Defire mofi: juft in fucii circumftanced Cafes of our own, as requires it, vix.. That no Perfon take any Advantage againft us, and to our Hurt, from Weaknefs and S ips on our Part, through Inadvertancy, and otherwife : As alfo that no Handle be taken againft us from any humane Laws, or Conftitutions, to the Prejudice of that, \yhich upon the ftrideft, and moft impartial Inquiry, we would think, as before God, to be material, and moral Juftice in our Concerns. And in cafe our Neighbour pofleft'es what's ours, and to which he hath no Title valid, before the Lord, we would juftly think that Juftice and Confcience require a Reftitutiop in fuch Cafes, and the Scripture is clear, Luk.xix. 8. Exod. xxn. i. The fame Meafure then is due by us unto our Neighbours, according to the Maxim. The Scriptures are full of the fweeteft Strains oi material 'Juflice., unto which it is moft pro¬ per that humane Laws do vail, f The Fruit of the Spirit is in all Righteoufnefsj and Goodnefs, and Truth. He hath Jhewed thee, O Man, luhat is Good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juflly, to love Mercy^ and to walk hiimhly with thy God, &c. &c. Let us now herewith compare the general Set of Mankind, and the __ many t Eph. 5.9. Mic.6. 8. Tit. s. ii, 1-. Gal. 5. 2s. &c' ( 69 )• many unjuft, unmerciful, and ungenerous Praftices, which'abound not only with the more openly wicked, but are alio round a- mongft diei'e who have the faireft Pro&ffmn, and a oicmhed Ways, and manifold Stretches, contrary to all this, have not only filled the World, but even the .9iurches ot Chrift, as the Ruins declare, with Inch Evi- , dence, that it would afford a large Field .• for heavy Lamentation ,• but I love not to enter upon fuch a melancholy Subjeft. I now CO on to x.hc'idAxio7n a true removal thereof^ and to make fome par-' ticular Condefcendance on what’s neceflary for that Efied-. 3^, All will iffue into this. That our Natures muft be changed for calling them (fliall I fo fay) into the Mould of true Mo- 7'ality. As to the firft of thefe, I 'reprefent the fol¬ lowing Particulars, ijiy Notwithflanding the flrong Tendency of our Natures to all manner of Evil, yet they are under the Reftraints * and Checks of fovereign and merciful Providence, Every Imagination j of the "thoughts of our Hearts is only Evil continually. All who know themfelves can, and will bear Teflimony to this fad Truth, and were it not that the Lotd puts in fome Ear, thefe Waters would flow with a Current fo violent, as would carry all before them. Humane Societies could not Hand, and Men, as Fiflies of the Sea, would deftroy on another, Such Reflraints and fundry Degrees of a Sort of Conformity to the Rule are alfo procured, and influenced by inward Motives, fuch as the * Impulfes of Ccnfcience informed to fome Degree, and Im- preffions made thereupon by remarkable IVar- nings, and awful Providences^ as alfo by the profpeds of a folemn Account, and by other Means, which grave and worthy Authors have * Pf. ■j 6 . To. 6c 65. 7. I Gen. 6 . 5. 8c 8. 21. Mat. 15. 19. * Rom. 2. 14, 15, i 6 , 17.18. Dm 4. throughout. . ( 91 ) flave particularly narrated, and want nde to be treated in this Manner. 3. Diverfe Mo ral Vmues have been alfo praaifed, and fome have been much lignalized on thefe Heads, who yet had not the inefteemable Bene¬ fit of revealed Light. And greater Attain¬ ments have had place at the Advantages T* Revelation, as I might particularly inftruft but that praftical Divines have done that at good Length. So much for the firft Poinr Neverthelefs, ad/y. None of thefe or thelike Attainments remove this Contrariety of Na SeratiOTf’liTr Con- liaerations. i/. They are not to be alcribed to any Sufficiency in Man, but are int rdv owing to the divine Wifdom, and Benignitv as was j uft now obferved. Hereof I offer th& fingle and decifive Proof, namely. That the very bed of Men, when left to the fwav of their Natures, have fo far given place to the fheL Temptations, which have carried them to very great and dangerous Slips a manifell and undoubted Evidlnce thafsi, ture m the bed of Men, being left to ft ftlf Hefthfs'of «orbitam’ S^^enSuetd fohd'’" cal Virtue, would never dem that^Tide, with- ^ out C ?2 ) iiiit a highet Influence. Inftances of fuch Hevo’s an/their Falls we find in Hiftory, and Kriptures are t clear to this Ettefl ad/y As to the forefaid Conformities, I fliall noc darken the judicious Obfervations of Divines about them by any Refumption I could make They have largely demonftrated that Sev come not up the length of removing this Contrai'iety.Notwithftanding I ofter a very few Remarks, which, I think, may ifl«e the Debate. iH As little Rivolets keep their Waters, rho they difappear and become indifcernable, when a i^ultitude of them runs into feme great River, and are therein fwallowed up ; fo, fuch Rivolets of vicious Inclinations may be quite loft, when yet ‘hey continue in to fnll Strength, only they run into, and tol ow the Courfe of fome Cardinal Vice, which like a mighty River carrieth them alongft with the Cmrrat^ Thus a Sort of refined Ambition, takes off a great deal of Fuel from other Lufts forfeedmgits felf, which otherwife would be liberally enough beftowed on thefe Lufts In the mean while the Heart is not taken off. nor are the Inclinations, weaned even from di- Zk more fenfual Lufts, as any "ngenuous Peifon fpeaking his own Exprience, will teaddy • ^knowledge. Only thefe more for- ■— -- , 9 am II. A. Mat. 2.6. 69,^0* t Gen-9. .1 1 4 ^ Exod. 3 ^* 3 * ^ •- I Pet. 2. II* I I . ( 93 ) ^iicl Lulls cannot be gratified in this Events in regard they muft give place to their Superi¬ ors, tho not without uncafy Violences offered to them. 2^/j. In this Situation of Matters, the famed MoraJift is but like a painted * pulchve^ the out-fide is indeed fair, yet within there is nothing but dead Jdones.^ and R.ottenncfs. Men have not occafions for every Lufl at all times, and yet thefe which deep for a while do come to be ferved in their Xurn, but where there are no Conflicts there can be no Vi£loryj and to be fure it’s no removal of this Contra¬ riety when meaner Lufts vail to thefe which are greater, and truckle it under them for a Time, yea tho it fliould be for altogether. ^dly. The more refined that Luds be, they are the ftronger, like the Spirit of a Thing didilled and extracted, which are much ftronger than' a vaft deal of the Subje( 5 f: from whence they i were drawn out. Thefe more polifhed Vices^ I being as it were the Spirit of Vice, are truly the more vigorous ; And tho’ more grofs, and fenfual Lufts, predomine not in this Cafe, yen others which vifibly reign, are fo much the ftronger, fuch as deteftable f Pride, Envy, Ma¬ lice, Revenge, and more fuch of the Brood of Hell, which alfo exceedingly refemble their Author. Hence in all Ages it has been found, that the Conquefts of fuch Perfons unto the G a moft * Mat. 13. 25. a;, j i Tim, 3. 6. Tit. 3. 3. C 94 , hPMiitiful Virtues, fuch as Bowels of ^ Mercy, Kindnefs, humblenefs of Mind, Meeknefs, Long-fuffering, and the like ; the I fayf of fuch Perfons to true hive been in all Ages the moft difficult. O rhers lav more open to convincing Means, wtoeL that lucifetian Hetd ofptoud Boafters. were almoft intirely out of reach. This wi 1 be found clearly built upon Reafon, foraimuch L' tdt v^in Jorions Wretches are M of h.gh Self-conceits, and therefore ^he Scrip iires are alfo clear in thp Matter. Scrips and Pharifees were the kecneft Ene¬ mies o( Chrift, as is known, and refined Hea- thcnilh Moralifts were the moft ingrained Ad verfariesof Chnftianiry, -when anevtl Sp-r’t re¬ turns to a Houfejvteept t and Zr^rn^het ^^ not to bring in more Store, ^hly. The great Fret nces and big Words, which fundry ot the mme renowned Sloralifts ufed, whether thefe X were famed amongft Heathens, or fuch as did fet up their Heads within the Church; their high ^ little more than empty Sounds, for the belt o them lived in the Pradice of fome notour Vtces, and became an eafy Prey to ““e 'vjien fuit- able Temptations did caft up. The Fact m this Cale has been abundantly cleared by Au¬ thors, who give us Accounts of Eph. 4. 31, 32» Mat. II. 17 * * Col. 5. la, 13* r Luk, II. 2 5) 2^. We have divine Authority interpofed here. The Scribes and Pharifees covered jfundry, moll unaccountable * Immoralities^ under their relki^ ous Vail. * come more clofely home to the main Purpofe, it will appear (which is the Head) upon a juft View, that a change of Nature is neceftary for removing this Contrariety, if we impartially weigh the following and the Omega * of him, and through him, and to him, are all Things. This is a Maxim which nothing but utter Profanity and Irreligion can contradia. Our great Aim then, and Concern in Life, and in all the Buftnefs thereof, ought to be a t pleafmg God in ei^ery thing, without any Exception or Referve. 2d, It is firmly connected, and even inlaid herewith, that all our Morions in whatfoever Station, fhould be fubordinated and fubfervient to this great and G 3 I. 10. I Thef. 2. 12. & 4, I, 1 Cor. 3. 17. * Mat. 25. 14. t ^ev. I. 8. Rom. ii. - 6 . . 3 ^' * Col. 10. 31, Coh ^ \ . • leading Aim, and of a Tendency that carries them intirely that way. But as none of ^ former Lengths amount to this, being wholly calculated for the Meridian oi Selj, and lilt- there ; I'o the tollowing particulars plamlv and obviouflv contained in iuch a MouM ot Soul, will fully make out the Point, lake them in a very few Words. I refer the En¬ largement to your riper Thoughts, for that I haften to bring this Correfpondence to Icme IlTue. ifi, A \-^Ucwg om Happinefs m a. Deity intirely and only *. Sure it is the All of reafon- able Creatures to have Things rightly dated with them in this weighty Regard. zdly. K through Satisfadion with every Thing udiich our fovereign Lord and Lawgiver hath declar¬ ed to be jud and right, without intertaining . the lead contrary Thought f or Inclination. xdh That the Stream of our Thoughts, and Attcaions, and the whole Strength of Soul and Body, v/hich formerly was employed m Ur^Am diverfe Lujh and PleafureSy that all thefe Motions, I fay, do now change their Sphere and Channel, and dow out towards a Jicity zs the great and ultimate Endy with a fweeter and dronger Current, than heretofore they did run the contrary Way. ^thljy Jhat m the mod agliBmg Events, a Revelation of theDe- ^ cree Pfal- * Pfal. 7;. Col. 5. II. iCor.a.i,a. is. Aom. 7. ko. 5. 17 - &c. » Rora. $ tfj. Pf, a?. 4- 2 c h *• a 63. i, 2.> 3 * f 97 ) aee by Providence, be humbly and quietly fub- mitred to, and the Declaration of the Will of a fovereign Lord intertained and acquiefeed in * with that Reverence and Obfervance which fuits our Condition as finful Creatures, and are anfwerable to the fcveral Circumftanccs wherein our fovereign Lord hath placed us. Aflhredly a Converfation made up of the fore- faid, and the like Ingredients, isuuiy rationaly fo much alfo belongs to the calling our Natures into a Mould really Moral, and that this re¬ quires a change of Nature, or of the ultimate End, is, I would hope, fo very evident, that I need not bellow more Words upon it. I re¬ main. LETTER X. Concludes the Correfiondence, hy pinting at the the Neceffity oj revealed Religion, Sir, A Fter all that I have hitherto reprefented, I think it is manlfell, ifl, 'iThat it is ne- ceflary we be delivered from this Contrariety of our Natures to true Morality, both as to Worlhip and Walk, "idly. That it is utterly impolTible for us, either by our felves, or any Help * Job. I. 21. Pf. 35. 9, 1 Sam. [3. 18. Ifa, 39. 8. a Sara, 15. 25, iC, ( 98 ) Help, that Creatures can afford us,- to remove this Contrarietyi and to bring up our Souls into a Temper, truly Rational, and MoraL.We want both divine Revelation, and alfo the Exertion of omnipotent Power, for that Efieft. It is a greater Work to raife the Soul into this Conformity, than that which at hrjfl gave us a Being. Here a vaft Field opens for evincing the Neceffity oj Revelation. The Topicks are fo full, clear, and numerous, that I need not enter upon them. The whole of the Premifes direds unto them, and I intirely refer the rang¬ ing, to your Wifdom and Direction. Never- thelefs, I pretend not to demonftrate the Go- fpel, or to give any Accounts thereof by the Light of Reafon. It fhineth with fuch Relu- cence by its own. Light, that the adducing any other Proof would be much like to the lighting a Candle, for deferibing the Sun. That the Lord will reftore any of Adajns loft Race, and the Way wherein he doth, and will recover them, thefe Things, I think, we owe purely to Revelation. I know Men of Learning have advanced fomc Conftderations Rational, and Moral, from whence they projeded to con¬ clude, that God wnll not ftifter the whole Race of Mankind to perifii in this their utter¬ ly degenerated and fallen Eftate, and I might give Inftances of the chief Topicks on which they proceeded, but that I love not to repeat. For my Parr, I coud never fee any thing in thefe ( 99 ) thcfc Speculations beyond probable Conje^urel And whatfoever they advanced on the Heads of divine Wi/dom, Benignity and Mercjy &c. in a way of rational Dedudtion, might be ba¬ lanced by the Confideration of the divine yu- flice, and HcUnefs, the Enormity of Sin, and other fiich* Topicks, which (for what I know) could not be eafily, if at all, refitted. Thus by our empty and blinded Reafonings, we would but involve our felves into many a Labyrinth from whence I fee not how any Threed of our weak and corrqpt Reafon, could ferve to lead us out. Let it fulfice, that the whole Matter, being now fet in clear Evi¬ dence, by revealed Light, every Thing belong¬ ing thereunto, howfoever ahve Reafon, yet is purely and highly reafonable. That I may now iifuc thefe Mifiives into that which was chiefly intended by them from the Beginning, I prefume (not to repeat the whole Series) that fome few Things of Weight, are fefin a plain and convincing Evidence. I have en¬ deavoured to fliew the of Nature in its prefent State ', yea, and its Enmity againfl: the plain Notions of a Deity. I have alfo deteded in fome Meafure, the vile and poyfoncus Streams, which proceed from that dark and deep Source, and evinced that both Nature, and the Scriptures declare, that they who do fuch things are worthy * of Death. It hath been alfo * Rom. 1.31. Deut. 5 , Gal. 3. IQ. ( 100 ) al/b evinced, that a change of Nature .is necef- Tary, we muft be made New, fhall we be caft into the Mould of Mafculini, true, and highly rational Morality. I need not again remind you that we are all atrocioufly and hainoufly Guilty, xoe ha^e finned, and come fort * of the glory of God. We have offered the greateft In- aignities to his glorious Majefty, and there¬ fore are obnoxious to his pure and fpotlefs Juhice, and the Honour of God is interefted, the Majefty, Juftice and Holinefs, of the God of Glory, do all demand Reparation^ I inlarge not. It's plain, and obvious, that we are worthy of Death. What fhall then Attone for Evils, each of which is a Kind of infinite Enor- rnityy as flricking againft infinite Majefty? T'houfands * of Rams, and ten thoufands of Ri¬ vers of Oyl, yea the Fruit of the Body, can never be a valuable Sacrifice. The whole Univerfe, tho made a Burnt-offering, could not amount to an expiating the Guilt of any one of thefe (in a fort) infinite Evils, and far lefs of an in¬ numerable multitude of them. I pretend not to deduce any, even the leafi: part of Gofpel Myfteries, from the weak and dark Taper of Nature, yet I am bold to fay. That the little I have jull now advanced concerning the Enor¬ mity of Sin, and the Majefty, Juftice and Holi- iiefs of God, &c. is purely Rational, and all this is fet in a bright and noble Evidence by fcrip- ^ Rom. t Mic. 6. 6) 7* ( lOI ) fcnprnral Light. Sure Impreffions of this, ri¬ veted. upon ail awakned Confcience by 2 higher Power, would be of forae Ufe, thro the divine Bleffing, to prepare the way for a i grateful Reception of the high Myfleries of Re- i %mptmh which yet are intirely the OhjeEi of t Faith. Moreover, a Senfe of our Impurities, j together with the great ftrength of Lufts, even ) fi'ch Notices hereof as are deduciblc from 1 Nature’s Light, efpecially as the fame is fully i declared in the Word, fuch Impreffions, I fay,' * may be of good XJfe, clearly and fully to evince, that more is required for efcaping out of that puddel, and breaking the Iron Sinews of mani¬ fold Rebellions againfl God, more I fay is re- , quired than can be performable by all created Strength, and the Eftects, are certainly above the reach of Creatures wholly drenched into, and inlaid with Sin. Thus the Way may be paved in fome meafure, for demonftrating the ibfolure Neceffity of a Newt Creation^ or the JSlew Binh. And if we further confider the flrong Byafs which carrieth the bed of Men with a mighty current out of the Road of Chnftian Virtue, the Neceffity of a continued Induence oi omnipotent Power, Goodnefs, and Mercy, for preferving and carrying on the Chriflian in thefe Ways, will be manifelt. Thus it appears that, Gofpel liolinefs derived from the Lord Jefus, the only enlivening Head, is no ^^hing, and is mod purely and < *02 ) highly Pvational, in regard all the Efforts of thechoiceft Men to wreftle thorow the Crowds of contrary Lufts, and Temptations, do prove but vain and abortive, without a fpecial guid¬ ing, ftrengthning, and determining Lifiuence of the Spirit of God by the IVordy unto whom e- very good Thing is intirely and only owing. I fear, leaft in this manner, I debafe and dif- parage the Myfteries of Religion by my poor Reafonings j they are to be received meerly by Faith. I lhall juft ftnifti thefe Miffives, after that I have reprefented, or refumed a few Particulars, which have all the Evidence, Matter of Fad in this Kind, are capable of. ifl. Nature’s Glimmerings difcover fo much of Moral Beau¬ ty, as more than fufficeth to render the Tranf- greflbrs of what’s plain, from thence utterly * inexcufeable. 'idly. The j‘uft Dedudions from it at the Advantages of its Improvement by Re¬ velation, go a great way further, and upon Grounds fo clear, that they cannot be exept- ed againft, unlefs we abandon Reafon, Confcience, and all that s facred. Thefe Detedions are carried yet a greater f Length, when the Law-giver, himfelf unvails his own Laws, and carrieth them in upon the Confcience, in their more full Meaning, and vafi Extent, ^dly. The Lord’s holding this Glafs to the Eye, difcovers ____ *Rom. r. 11. 6c 2. 14, 15. y Rom, 7. 8, p, 10 Pf. up. p( 5 . ( 10 ? ) beyond controul, the contradiaory Crofenefs of our Natures to true Morality, ^thly, The fincereft Endeavours, the greateft and clofeft Application, of the moft ferious and concern¬ ed, cannot overcome this * Contrariety. Our Struggles to wrcftle out of that Pit, engage us more deeply into it. A change^ oj Nature^, a Renovation of the luhole Man^ is of abfolute Neceflity, for true, and Chriftian Morality. ^thly. This Change cannot be produced by Moral Stvafion, nor can it be the Produa of the ftrongeft Inforcements of the Moral Law! 6thly, It is only the Effed of a deflroying the Face of the t coverings or a removal of the Vail from our Hearts by inlightning of the Mind in the Knowledge of Chrift. That this is a Method, tho’ fupernaturai; yet purely, and fublimely Rational, I humbly think the intrinfical Reautyy and Glory of the Thing may fhew, and will evince to thefe whofe Eyes are not wholly fhut. The Scriptures alfo declare the whole Matter at full Length : And if our Adverfaries can be perfuaded to have any regard to the Teftimony of thefe, who have found this Change of State in their own Experience, all of them will fet their Seal to that which I have advanced, without a contrary Voice. If thefe Perfons can find no Credit * Jer. 15. 23. 2 Cor. ^. 5 , 6. Ja. %. 2 . Heb. 5 . 6, •I" If. 25. 7. 2 Cor. 3.18. Job. 5. I, 2. 6cc. Jam. i. iS, a Cor. 5 . 17 . Att. 25. 18 . Col. !♦ i3* ( 104 ) Credit, who, I am fure, do beft deferv'e it of any upon the Face of the Earth ; I fhall only fay, it is the defire of my Soul, that the Lord would perfuade, enable, and derermine our bittereft Antagonifts to come and fee. Thus I end my fimple Remarks. No Per- fon can be fo fenfible of the Weaknefs of this, « and of all my Performances, than I my felf am. Yet folid and weighty Truths have been ad¬ vanced, and the Method is fweet, tho* unpre¬ cedented, for what I know. I am not with¬ out Hope, but that this mean Eflay fhall en¬ gage feme one or more eminent Divines, to undertake the Work I have been aiming at, . and to manage it a great deal better. And tho’ in that Event, this little Work fhall be darkned, yet I will find Caufe to rejoyce, that ^ God will be glorified ; and fome of our Adver- ^ faries, may, I hope, be gained; or, at lealf, have their Mouths by thefe Means, more ef- feftualy flopped. I remain, &c. F I N I s. ERRATA. 6. 17. before quiet r. «». p. 30. t. i. r, a icis part. p. 4'a. t. 1 /. ur 27. r. Deity, ibid. 1 . 23. r. Converfation. ibid. 1 . 29. r. demurr, p. 53./. 5. df/efome. p. ^ 6 . 1 . 14. r. difpofiires. f. At foot £ccle. 7. 8,9. r, 29. ^ 99. h 8. r. refeUeth. Soob fold hy Mr. John MackyJ S Ome Miffives written to a Gentleman ^ gainft Deifm. Three Miffives againft the Sefaratifisl Notes about the Spirits Operation __ t Some felea Notes towards deteding a coyer^ \ ed Mixture of the Covenant of Works, and I of Grace. , r t ■ I The Right of Church Members to chufe thcii Overieers. I Propofals for Peace. I The French Convert. The Marrow of Modern Divinityr Gilbert on the Guilt and Pardon of Sln^ Young’s Carnal Man AnatomuU V . ^ \?'>^' —- \ '’’ . \ i '