Gentile Divinity and Morality Demonstrated

Chap, 2. 14, 15. For when the Gentiles, which have not the Law, (or vutward Rule) do by Nature the things contained in the Law, thefe having not the Law, are a Law unto themfelves; which fhew (faith be) the Work of the Law written in their Hearts, their Confciences also bearing withefs, and their Thoughts the mean while accufing, or else excufing one another; which implies, that they were inwardly either Fuftified or Condemned, according as they either Obeyed er Rejected that Divine Gift; and agrees. with John. 3.20, 21.

Tis readily granted, that none of the Gentiles were or could be faved, but by Jefus Chrift; there being no other Name under Heaven given among Men, by which we can be faved, Acts 4. 12. But as the bare Letters of Adam's Name were not the Mediums of conveying Condemnation and Death into the World, but his Sin and Tranfgreffion were; and many partake of the fad Effects thereef, who never heard of Adam, nor of his Falling, by Eating of the Forbidden Fruit; fo Life and Salvation being not ・• fimply and neceffarily convey'd to any,

by the meer Literal Knowledge of the Name of Jefus Chrift, but by that Power and Vertue which fpring from him; therefore why may not they be made Partakers of the Benefits of Chrift's Outward Appearance (by the Powerful Operation of his Light and Spirit in their Hearts, Sanctifying and fuftifying of them) who never heard of his Name, as outwardly, nor that he was born of the Virgin Mary, c?

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So what I have here done, is not because we want Examples, Precepts and Doctrines of Chriftian Writers to produce, (this Book being not altogether without, as Ambrofe, Auguftin, Chryfoftom, and fome others) but rather to Exalt the great Love of God through Fefus Chrift; that as Peter faid in the Cafe of that devout Gentile, Cornelius, fo may I fay, that God is no Refpecter of Perfons; but in every Nation, he that feareth him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him, Acts -10-34,35. And I believe many of these Gentiles, and others, by the fame Means, have and may attain to the like Acceptance: For by what is written of them, they were of Sober and Self-denying Lives,

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and maintain'd Truth, Equity, Juftice, and the like excellent Vertues, as may appear by this Brief Collection; and par ticularly in the Life and Death of that Eminent Gentile Philofopher, Socrates, which is here more fully defcribed than the reft, being one of the Principal Au thors herein named, as is demonftrated in about Eighty of his weighty Sayings, on feveral Subjects and Occafions.

Thus defiring that a Bleffing may ate tend my Small Labour, in Collecting and Methodizing this Manual, that it may not only be for the Information, Benefit and Edification of those that have good Inclinations begotten in them, to prefs after thofe Vertues, fo much Recommended herein; but also that it may be a Motive to Excite others to abstain from Vice, fo much contrary thereunto; then will they bring Honour to God, and their Chriftian Profeffion; which none can do, by only Talking, and Bearing a Name thereof, and the mean while delighting in Impiety and Immorality, and fuffering it to prevail over them, which is a going in the Broad Way that leadeth to Deftruction, Mat. 7. 13. For if we fall fhort of the Nature of true Chriftians,

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the bare Name thereof will avail us no more than it did thofe that faid to Christs we have Eat and Drank in thy Prefence, and in thy Name have caft out Devils, and done many wonderful Works, Mat. 7.22,23. Luke 13. 26, 27. Yet at laft were shut out of his Kingdom, as Workers of Iniquity, which was a difmal thing, and deferves the ferious Confideration of all those that are called by his Name.