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The mo

ral Ten

dency of the more

obvious

anity.

mility and Godly Reverence; and, upon the whole, have Reason to believe, that it could not have been better, nay probably not near fo well, if either lefs had been difcovered to us, or lefs concealed from us.

I have infifted the longer upon fuch Doctrines, as are purely Chriftian, and not discoverable by the Light of Nature, in order to make it appear, that, for good and weighty Caufes, they were inferted in the Chriftian Syftem; that, upon due Confideration, they are far from being disagreeable to found and unprejudiced Reafon; and, confequently, that they little deferve the Contempt and Ridicule, that fome, in their Writings, have neither been ashamed, nor afraid to put upon them.

The other Doctrines, which, in fome measure, were difcoverable by the Strength of Reafon, but have been fet in full Light, and cleared of all their Doctrines Ambiguity and Doubtfulness by the of Chrifti- Revelation of the Gofpel; fuch as that of the Being of a God, the Inspection of his Providence, the fupreme End of Man, the Immortality of his Soul, the Refurrection of his Body, a future Judg ment, and an eternal State of Happi ness or Misery hereafter, are fo rational in themselves, and have fo natural a

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Tendency to what is the great End of all Religion, the Reformation of Mens Lives and Tempers, that a very fmall Illuftration will fuffice to recommend them. For

f What can be a more neceffary and excellent Foundation of true Religion, than that Doctrine, which the Christian Religion clearly and diftinctly teaches us, concerning the Nature and Attributes of the only true God, who inhabits Eternity, and yet humbleth himself to behold the Things that are in Heaven and Earth? What can afford more Comfort and Security in all Conditions of Life, than the Senfe of a Providence (by which the very & Hairs of our Head are numbered) concerning it felf for our Welfare, and, for that Reason, bidding us h to be careful for nothing, but, in every thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, to make our Requests known unto God? What can be a more effectual Means to wean us from the Love of the World, and the Allurements of Sin, than to confider, that the proper and ultimate End of Man is the Fruition of God, and that, though i it does not yet appear what we shall be, yet this we know, that when he shall appear, we fball

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'Clarke's Evidence. Matt. x. 30. Phil. iv. 6. 1 Joh. iii. 2.

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be like him, for we shall fee him as he is? What a greater Incitement to Purity and Holinefs, to Love and Hope, and Heavenly-mindedness, than the Affurance given us in the Gofpel, that, when we are diffolved, we fhall immediately be with Chrift; that this Corruptible ball 1 put on Incorruption, and this Mortal put on Immortality; that our Souls, when they go hence, return to the God that gave them, and our Bodies, when laid in the Duft, after a fhort Repose, are to be raised in Power, and m fafhioned like unto Chrift's glorious Body? In fine, what stronger and more powerful Motive to deter us from Vice, and allure us to all kind of Virtue, than the Discovery we have of God's having appointed a Day, wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness, and render unto every Man according to his Works; to them, who by patient Continuance in welldoing, Jeek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, eternal Life; but unto them, that are Contentious, and obey not the Truth, but obey Unrighteousness, Indignation, and Wrath; Tribulation and Anguifh upon every Soul of Man that doeth

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Evil. So that the Articles of our Chriftian Faith, you fee, are far from being

* Phil. i. 23. Rom. ii. 7, &c.

I Cor. xv. 54.

arbitrary

Phil. iii. 21.

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arbitrary Impofitions, calculated for the Exercife of our Credulity, or the Gratification of our idle Curiofity, but have an immediate Relation to Practice. They are indeed the genuine Principles and Foundations of all humane and divine Virtues; and, taken all together, make a far more rational and confiftent Scheme

of Belief, than what the wifeft antient Philofopher ever thought of, or the most opiniative Modern Unbeliever ever yet

contrived.

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But befides these Doctrines, there are The Reatwo Ordinances, peculiar to the Chrifti-Sonableness an Religion, which have an equal Ten- Chriftian dency to Practice, and are fo far from Sacrabeing avain or fuperftitious, that they ments. carry their own Plea and Juftification along with them. For what reasonable Man can pretend to fay, that it is any way fuperftitious, for every Member of the Society to be folemnly admitted into his Profeffion, by a plain and fignificant Rite, intitling him to all the Privileges, and charging him with all the Obligations, which belong to the Members of that Society, as fuch? which is the Defign of one of the Sacraments : Or that it is unreasonable or fuperftitious, for Men frequently to commemorate,

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Archbishop Sharp's Serm. P Clarke's Evidence. Vid. Chriftianity as Old, &c. c. 1II.

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rate, with all Thankfulness, the love of their greatest Benefactor, and humbly and folemnly to renew their Obligations, and Promises of Obedience to him? which is the Design of the other. 'Tis a known Practice among Men, that Covenants are not entered into without the Formality of Witneffes, of Hands, Seals, and Delivery, in folemn and exprefs Words: And if Men know themfelves too well, to truft one another without this Solemnity, it may reafonably be expected, that when God is pleafed to permit them to enter into Covenant with him, he should not receive them under lefs Obligations of Caution and Security for their Integrity, than they are wont to use among one another; fince every Breach of Covenant with him is infinitely more affronting and finful, than any Breach of Covenant with Man can poffibly be. And as these outward Signs do ferve to raise our Attention, to fix our Minds, and put us in Remembrance, that Heaven and Earth, Angels and Men are Witnesses against us, if we prove treacherous and unfaithful in this Covenant; fo are they Tokens and Pledges to us of God's Love and Favour, and give us fenfible and visible Affurances

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Fenkin's Reasonableness of Chriftianity.

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