Reason are infinite. Under the GospelDispensation we have the immutable Word of God for the Support of our Faith and Hope. We know in whom we have believed; in Him, who can neither deceive, nor be deceived; and, poor as our Services are, we have His Word for it, that our Labour of Love fhall not be forgotten. But to them who rely on Nature only, it is not evident, nor can it be, whether any future Reward shall attend their religious Service. Well therefore did St. Peter say to Christ, Thou haft the Words of eternal Life; for no other Religion can give any Security of Life and Happiness to its Votaries. Whither then fhall we go from Chrift, or to whom shall we feek for Succour, fince he only has the Words of eternal Life?

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE I.

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PART II.

T

HE fecond Thing to be confidered is, That the Excellency of Religion confifts in affording certain Means of obtaining

eternal Life.

Religion is founded in the Principles of Reason and Nature; and, without fuppofing this Foundation, it would be as rational an Act to preach to Horfes as to Men. A Man, who has the Ufe of Reason, cannot confider his Condition and Circumstances in this World, or reflect upon his Notions of Good and Evil, and the Senfe he feels in himfelf that he is an accountable Creature for the Good or Evil he does, without asking himfelf, how he came into this World, and for VOL. I. C what

what Purpose, and to whom it is that he is, or poflibly may be, accountable. When, by tracing his own Being to the Original, he finds that there is one fupreme all-wise Cause of all Things; when by Experience he sees, that this World neither is, nor can be, the Place for taking a juft and adequate Account of the Actions of Men; the Prefumption that there is another State after this, in which Men fhall live, grows ftrong and almost irrefiftible: When he confiders farther the Fears and Hopes of Nature with respect to Futurity, the Fear of Death common to all, the Defire of continuing in Being which never forfakes us; and reflects for what Ufe and Purpose these ftrong Impreffions were given us by the Author of Nature; he cannot help concluding that Man was made not merely to act a short Part upon the Stage of this World, but that there is another and more lafting State, to which he bears Relation. And from hence it must neceffarily follow, that his Religion must be formed on a View of fecuring a future Happiness.

Since then the End that Men propose to themselves by Religion is fuch, it will teach us wherein the true Excellency of Religion confifts. If eternal Life and future Happiness are what we aim at, that will be the best

Religion,

Religion, which will most certainly lead us to eternal Life and future Happiness: And it will be to no Purpose to compare Religions together in any other Refpects, which have

no Relation to this End.

Let us then by this Rule examine the Pretenfions of Revelation, and, as we go along, compare it with the present State of Natural Religion, that we may be able to judge, To whom we ought to go.

Eternal Life and Happiness are out of our Power to give ourselves, or to obtain by any Strength and Force, or any Policy or Wisdom. Could our own Arm rescue us from the Jaws of Death and the Powers of the Kingdom of Darkness; could we fet open the Gates of Heaven for ourselves, and enter in to take Poffeffion of Life and Glory; we should want no Inftructions or Affiftances from Religion; fince what St. Peter faid of Chrift every Man might apply to himself, and say, I have the Words, or Means, of eternal Life.

But, fince we have not this Power of Life and Death; and fince there is One who has, who governeth all Things in Heaven and in Earth, who is over all God bleffed for evermore; it neceffarily follows, that either we must have no Share or Lot in the Glories of Futurity, or else that we must obtain

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them from God, and receive them as his Gift and Favour: And confequently, if eternal Life be the End of Religion, and likewise the Gift of God, Religion can be nothing elfe but the Means proper to be made use of by us to obtain of God this most excellent and perfect Gift of eternal Life: For, if eternal Life be the End of Religion, Religion must be the Means of obtaining eternal Life; and, if eternal Life can only be had from the Gift of God, Religion must be the Means of obtaining this Gift from God.

And thus far all Religions, that ever have appeared in the World, have agreed: The Question has never yet been made by any, whether God is to be applied to for eternal Happiness, or no; but every Sect has placed its Excellency in this, that it teaches the properest and most effectual Way of making this Application. Even Natural Religion pretends to no more than this; it claims not eternal Life as the Right of Nature, but as the Right of Obedience, and of Obedience to God, the Lord of Nature: And the Difpute between Natural and Revealed Religion is not, whether God is to be applied to for eternal Happinefs; but only, whether Nature or Revelation can best teach us how to make this Application.

Prayers,