temper; and the second is, to govern his practice : for if it do not mend men's spirits and regulate their lives, it is much inferior to any principle in nature, which is sufficient to, and doth attain its effect. But the grace of God, superadded to the reason of our minds, is of strength sufficient to subdue all the temptations to evil," Ibid. Pref. p. 26.

"The Scripture doth everywhere speak of moral virtue, as the foundation of all revealed and instituted religion; and therefore our Saviour, when he was asked which was the first and great commandment of the law, answers, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.' A Jew would have thought, that he would have pitched upon some of those things which were in so great esteem among them, sacrifices, circumcision, or the sabbath: but he overlooks all these, and instances in the two principal duties of morality, the love of God, and our neighbour; and these moral duties are those which he calls the law and the prophets, and which he came not to destroy, but to fulfil: for the judicial and ceremonial law of the Jews was to pass away, and did so, not long after, but this law of moral duty was to be perpetual and immutable; which, whosoever neglects, he can never please God with any instituted or positive part of religion. And throughout the Old Testament, nothing is declared more abominable to him than sacrifices, as long as men allowed themselves in wicked practices: and in the New Testament, the Christian religion chiefly designs to teach mankind righteousness, godliness, and sobriety; and for this end was the glorious ap

pearance of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," Ibid. p. 408, 409.

"In the description of the day of judgment, men are represented by our Saviour, as called to an account, both as to the practice and neglect of moral duties; and no others are instanced in, to show what place he intended they should have in his religion. All positive institutions must give way to moral duties; because God hath declared, that he would rather have mercy than sacrifice; and whosoever violates any natural law, he undermines the very foundation of religion," Ibid. p. 410.

"Piety towards God, righteousness, justice, and charity, towards men, are more pleasing to God and more valuable, than if we should offer to him all the beasts of the forest, or the cattle upon a thousand hills; for to the first observance of these duties, we are directed and obliged by our very nature, and the most sacred laws, which God hath written upon our hearts; and that we might have no pretence to take us off from them, God hath freed us in the gospel from those many observances and burdensome ceremonies, wherewith the religion of the Jews was incumbered, that we might better mind moral duties, and live in the practice of them," Ibid. p. 411, 412.

If these writings shall be instrumental to the instruction or establishment of any, in the ways of truth and righteousness; let the glory of all be asscribed to the great Lord and fountain of light and

life, who of his own free grace, gives ability for every good word and work; and the exaltation of whose name and praise, is the aim and view of his faithful servants, and the centre and period of all their labours.

THE END.

INDEX.

ABRAHAM, an example of faith and obedience, page 288.
Absolution, merely formal, an encouragement to sin, 6.
Antichrist, the Pope so called by the first Reformers, 218.
Apostasy, on just occasion, no crime, 201.

Baptism, 84, 96, 122, 263, 303.

Baptists, R. C.'s joining them, 16; and his leaving them, and
why, 28, 84, 169.

Bishops in primitive times earned their livehood by labour, 225.
Book of Common Prayer, 6, 10, 138, 156.

Cathari, a Christian people who disused water-baptism and the

outward supper, 100.

Children, duties of, 247.

Christ's inward appearance, 69, 107.

Church of Christ, a spiritual body, 113.

Church of England, (so called,) R. C. examines its doctrine, &c.

His reasons for leaving it, 10, 14, 202, 220.

Church rates, (so called,) 140, 154.

Conversion, 132, 168, 186.

Conviction, 7.

Covetousness testified against, 272.

Death, preparation for, recommended, 260, 265.

Disconsolate state, 274.

Election, 74.

Faithfulness, 240, 287.

Gospel, 58, 86.

Grace, R. C.'s experience of it, 7, 226; free grace exalted, 133,

284; every good thought, &c. attributed thereto, 232.

Y