I, and II. The things that are main and principal in religion, in those things all that are of growth and proficiency in religion, do mind the fame things : and wherein they may be otherwife minded, i. e. either otherwise one than another, or than the truth is, or otherwise than they ought, and should be; these are things of less moment, weight, and con

cernment.

Now that I might fhew you the great things of religion wherein there is an universal harmony, confent and agreement; it is not neceffary for me to remove from the text: I mean from those things that have been spoken to you out of this chapter. The things that the apostle had insisted upon, are thefe.

(1.) He had declared Christ for justification, from those words, that I may be found in him: for this is the chriftian foundation, that finners are accepted in and through the beloved. This is the chriftian fpirit, to hold the head, to go to God in and through Chrift; to depend upon his mediation, recommendation, interceffion; and not to look for acceptance for our own worthiness; to have no confidence in our felves, or in our own righteousness, but in that righteousness which God hath declared and established; even that righteousness which is of God by faith, as the apoftle expreffeth himself, when he disclaims hisown righteousness, that was of the law, and flies for juftification to that righteousness which God had declared; even gospel righteousness, or the righteousness which is of God by faith.

(2.) And

(2.) And then another thing declared by the apoftle in this chapter, is Chrift Jefus to the effects and purposes of mortification, regeneration, and divine and spiritual life. That I might know him, and the power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings being made conformable to his death. From which words I have declared unto you, that the death and refurrection of Chrift must all be verified, and made true in us, as in Christ. We must be planted into the likeness of his death, which is done by our dying to the world, and selfishness; and by mortifying the flesh with the affections and lufts. And we must have in us, the power of his refurrection; which is expreffed by our nativity from above, by fpirituality, heaven-mindedness; by fubordinating all things in life, to the hopes of the future ftate: If by any means we may attain to the refurrection of the dead, Thefe are great and important forms of words, and do contain in them, the great things of religion. And though I might refer you to those yet, in fo weighty a matter as this, that I may be exact, and speak diftinctly; I will put things into their forms and modes, that you may the better un→ derftand them.

The great materials of natural light, are first in reason, and then reinforced in fcripture. The articles of faith are first in scripture, and being there revealed, are after justified in reason: there is no true reafon against them, but there is full satisfaction in them.

1. The great things in religion are those in the firft place that concern God and those things

which concern God, I refer to two heads. (For, all things that relate to God are not equally neceffary for us to determine; but fome things are ne ceffary for our happiness; and to found in us religion and confcience, to determine and refolve concerning God.) viz.

First, The neceffary perfections of the divine nature; whereon all religion in us doth depend.

And now I will fingle out two: for divers of the divine perfections are incomprehenfible, as his omnipotency, eternity, ubiquity, and divers other attributes which we admire and adore, but we can. not comprehend. But fome of his perfections are fuch, that the knowledge of them is fundamental to religion and confcience in us. And,

I will inftance in two, which are neceffary for every one to refolve himself in, or else his religion will not be grounded; and they are these. The holiness of God, or his righteousness: and the truth of God and his faithfulness. I name but two, because by holiness and righteousness I mean the fame; as alfo, by his truth and faithfulness I understand one and the same thing. 'Tis fundamental in religion to know thefe, and acknowledge them, and to be refolved in a man's mind about them: for otherwise we shall have no right conceptions of God nor make due applications to him; nor will our hope and confidence in God, be fufficiently encouraged, or grounded. As for any other attribute of God we are not fo much concerned to understand and determine: but religion is without ground and foundation, if a man doth not know God to be holy and righteous,

righteous, and cloath him with truth and faithfulnefs: if we do not give God the honour of his truth, and veracity, who will believe him? If any one doubt whether God be holy and righteous, he hath not an example for his imitation; for we must imitate God in his holiness and righteousness; in his truth and faithfulnefs. And therefore thefe perfections are neceffary for us to know, and underftand otherwife religion in us, hath not an original. For it is religion to imitate God in thefe; in holinefs, in righteoufnefs, in truth, and faithfulness. This is the first thing concerning God, that we are concerned throughly to understand, and to be well fatisfied about; or else we have no copy for our imitation, nor no encouragement to build our faith upon him, or to depend upon what he hath declared. But, as for the other attributes and perfections of God, as his eternity, his immensity, his omniprefence, and the like; none can grafp them, or comprehend them, or declare about them; but here we are glad rather to admire and adore. But as for his holiness and righteoufnefs, &c. what thefe are we do know, and are concerned to know; and there is nothing in these that doth confound human apprehenfions, and these are fundamental to our religion. But then

Secondly, Concerning God, it is neceffary that they to whom divine revelations are made, do entertain them, acknowledge, and fubmit to them. As for them to whom they are not revealed, there can be no more than negative infidelity; which is not the foundation of any man's condemnation: but to them to whom they are revealed, it is neceffary

to

to them, in point of confcience, and upon account of their future happiness, that they to whom God doth declare himself, that they do entertain his revelations, acknowledge, and fubmit to them. And here comes in the chriftian faith; the fum of which is this, that we owe our falvation to the grace and goodness of God, declared by Jefus Chrift. this is the fum of the chriftian faith, and this is that which every body is concerned to know, and understand, retain and believe: and these things are neceffary and fundamental, and in which all good men do harmonize and agree, as necessary to be believed concerning God.

And

2. There are things which are according to human nature, which may be diftinguifhed thefe three ways.

1. The things that are founded in our state, and relation to God, do import,

Firft, Our reverence of the deity.

Secondly, Faith and affiance in God.

Thirdly, Obedience to him, and conformity to his will. And these are founded in our relation to God, and that capacity which we stand in to him: for we are made intelligent and voluntary; and have notions of God and apprehenfions of him; and internal fentiments. And this fpeaks our capacity, above the creation below us; and by these are we able to take cognizance of God, and to make acknowledgments to him and to perform duty towards him and to make returns unto him. These things are founded in our capacities, and in the relation that we ftand in to God, as his creatures. For thisis fundamental in reafon, that if I be in the

ftate