In what manner. from the gospel, was to this purpose: that on condition of man's stedfast faith, fincere repentance, and perfect obedi. ence, he should be restored thro’Christ to God's favour; and after death, to that life and happiness, which was promised to our first parents, without tasting of death. By this means God and man are brought together again; and man is redeemed from a state of fin and eternal God is re By which death, to a state of holiness, and to the inheritance conciled to of eternal life. And this was the end for which loll man. the Son of God cloathed himself with our fleth, that as man, he might suffer what our sins had de served, and, as he was the Son of God, he might make a full, perfect and sufficient oblation and satisfaction to the divine justice, for the sins of the whole world; who, for the joy of delivering so many millions of souls from misery, endured the death of the cross, and all the afflictions of his bitter passion,which was the perfect facrifice whereby all mankind are restored to the favour of God, and put into a state of salvation ; God having, for his Son's sake, promis. And our care ed to pardon all such as shall repent, and forsake will not be their fins, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance ; and to give his Holy Spirit to all such as shall sincere. ly pray for the same; and after death to make them eternally happy, if during this short state of trial, which is designed to amend our corrupt and disordered nature, they endeavour to observe the rules, which he has revealed in his word, and which are absolutely necessary to make them capable of eternal happiness in the kingdom of heaven. V.Toconclude with the sentiments of a devout and pious divine;The great plea that men do generally make for the wickedness or carelesness of their lives is this, That it really is not in their power to live up to such a state every man's of holiness and virtue, as the law of God obligeth power.no them to: grace is in them too weak, and their na- cessary care tural corruptions too strong, for their ever being in of his soul. a capacity, without more affistance from God, to live strict and religious lives : conversion is the work of God, and cannot be wrought by a man's self, and therefore till God shall please to come upon them, with an irresistible power of his Holy in vain. That it is in take the ne Holy Spirit, they must be contented to live as they do; nay, they must unavoidably live fo. Now it is readily granted, that without God's grace no man can do any thing; and we grant likewise, that it is very probable their circumstances may be such, that it is not morally possible, unless they had greater strength and more grace than they have, on a fudden to live as they ought to do; for, their bad principles are really more powerful than their good ones: but yet, in the mean time, we must needs tell them, that they are not mere stocks and stones. How much reason foever they have to complain of the infirmity or degeneracy of their natures yet some things they can do towards the bettering of them: for instance, though they cannot on a sudden conquer the inward bent and inclination of their minds, so as to hate all fin, and to delight in virtue, yet they must needs confefs that they have a power over their outward actions: they can as well (if they think it reasonable) direct their feet towards a church, as to a house of gaming, or drinking, or lewdness: their eyes will serve them as well to look upon a bible, or a serious discourfe about religion, as to read a {currilous and a prophane book: it is as much in their power (if they please) to yield their ears to the reasonable advice of their sober friends, as to the mad harangues of the diffolute company they keep. These things they must needs acknowledge they can do, if they will: nay, and they can do more than this; for (if they please) they may give themselves time to consider and think of what they read, or what is faid to them, or what their own experience or observation of things will suggest to their minds; and they can further, if they please, add to their consideration their prayers to almighty God to direct them, to assist them, to strengthen them. It is certain, that all this without God's especial grace will not be effectual for their regeneration and conversion; yet, if they will but do as much as this comes to, we can assure them, that in time they shall have this especial grace that they now want. In the same proportion that they use and employ those gifts and powers, which they at present have, God will increase and enlarge them. And the truth of all this is confirmed to us by that memorable saying of our Saviour, which we find in his mouth at several times, and upon upon several occasions : to him that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have in abundance; but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he hath. The Prayer. whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; raise up, I beseech thee, thy power, and with great might fuccour me, that, whereas through my sins and wickedness I ain fore lett and hindered in running the race that is set before me, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver me, through the satisfaction of thy Son; and, that as by thy special grace preventing me thou dost put into my mind good defires, so by thy continual help I may bring the same to good effect : wherefore I humbly pray thee to increase and multiply upon me thy mercy, that thou being my ruler and guide, I may lo pass thro' things temporal, that I finally lose not the things eternal: grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Τ Η Ε THE C Ο Ν Τ Ε Ν Τ S OF THE Which for the sake of its being read over Three Times in a Year is divided into XVII CHAPTERS or SUNDAYS, The Contents of the PRE FACE. Tbe Reason wby the Old Whole Duty of Man is become unsuit- Why difliked by the present Age į the Christian Faith The Author himself bas acknowledged the Defects of that Book, and attempted to supply them, and how his Endeavours have been The fashionable Morality of this Age cannot secure any Man's E- The foregoing Particulars confirmed by tbe Testimony of Archbi- fhop Sharp and the Confession of the Author of the Old Whole An Apology for this New Whole Duty of Man The Ridiculers of Christianity are Men who are not capable of giving it a thorough Examination Their Infidelity does not proceed from any Want of Evidence for the Truth of the Christian Religion Ibe Benefits and Advantages of Christianity The Use and Advantages of written Discourses The INTRODUCTION. mortal Body, page xiii. III. How the State of the Soul is deter- PART Concerning Man's Duty towards God. 1.W Hat we are taught by Natural and Revealed Religion, page 1. II. The great branches of our duty to God and man, page 3. III. Our duty to God, page 3. IV. Of faith, page 4. V. The promises, page 7. VI. Of Hope, page 8. vii. Of presumption, page 9. VIII. of despair, page 10. IX. Love of God, page 11. X. Of fear, page 14 ; and XÌ, Trust in God, page 18. CHAP. II. SUNDAY II. I. Humility, or submision to the will of God, page 23. II. Depen- dence on God, page 24. III. Of Pride, page 26. IV. Of Since- rity, page 27. V. Honour due to God, page 28. VI. In his House, page 28. VII. By Prayer, page 31. VIII. In bis Minisers, page 32. IX. In keeping the Lord's-day, page 34. X. In observing the Feafts, page 36, and XI. Fafts, of the Church, page 37. I. Honour due to God in his word, page 40. II. Of Catechizing, page 42. III. Of Preaching, 43. IV. In bis Sacraments, page 45. V.Of Baptism, page 46. VI. Of Divine Revelation, page 51 ; and more especially, VII. Of our belief in one God and Three Persons in the Godhead, page 55. VIII. Why God is called Al- mighty, page 57. IX. Of the World's Creation, page 58. X. Of God's Providence, page 58. XI. Of the Trinity, page 59. XII. Of the use of reason in matters of Faith, page 62. 1. Of Faith in Christ our Saviour, page 63. II. Why the Chrift, page 64. III. Why our Lord, page 66. IV.Objections answer- CHA P. V. SUNDAY V. 91. III. Of bis Sitting at the Right hand of God, page 93. IV. CHAP . |
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