Imatges de pàgina
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witness to the Truth of this; for he is. ferved by the Works of Nature: And, though the Works of Nature may serve an hundred Purposes more, yet it cannot be doubted but that they were made to ferve Man, though not him alone. This muft appear upon the ftricteft Inquiry: For, con-fidering this Solar Syftem, of which we are a Part, we have no Reafon to think but that it bears as great Proportion to the whole, as any other System: In this Syftem our Earth is one confiderable Part; and this Part was manifeftly prepared for Man, who has Dominion over it. So that the human Race is no inconfiderable Part of the Creation in this Way of reckoning: And it is reasonable to say, that the World was made, If not for him only, yet as much and as truly for him, as for others.

Being then poffeffed of this Fact, That, weak and infirm as we are, God has abundantly provided for us in this Life; and that, confidered as Part of the natural World, we have a very full Proportion of good Things allotted to us; what Conclufion does it lead us to, if we confider ourselves as Part of the rational and morál World? Is it reafonable to imagine, that God has taken fo much Care of us in his natural Govern

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ment of the World, and that he will neglect us in the morál Part of it? that he regards us as Animals, but has no Regard to us as rational Agents? Can any Man think seriously of God, as a reasonable, just, and upright Being, and fuppofe this to be the Cafe?

Now, thefe Confiderations lay a Foundation for a juft Expectation from the Goodnefs of God of his Affiftance in our Cafe, where it is most wanted; that is, for his Affiftance to us as rational and moral Beings, as capable of being happy or miferable by Virtue or by Vice.

There is a Similitude and Proportion in all the Works of God: And it is reasonable to infer, from the vifible Regard fhewed to us in one Respect, the Regard had for us in all; efpecially in the principal and most concerning Relation in which we stand towards him; that is, as rational Agents. And this leads us directly to fuppofe that God will provide for our Well-being as moral and religious Creatures, with a Care, at least, equal to that fhewn for us in our natural Capacity in this World.

- Join now to this Prefumption what the Gospel has exprefly revealed to us, and see whether

whether the whole is not of a Piece, and confiftent.

The Gofpel tells us, that God has fent

his Son to redeem us: You wonder he 'fhould take fo much Trouble for fuch Creatures: But is it not as becoming his Goodness to redeem us, as it was to make us? You will fay perhaps, we are fince that become Sinners. True; and yet ever fince that he has preferved us, and afforded us the Bleffings of this Life: And is it not of a piece to open to us the Hopes of a better? Mistake not my Meaning: I do not mean to infer from what God does for us in this World, that he is bound in Justice to do as much for us in refpect to another. I know of nothing that he is bound in Justice to do for us. But furely it is fafeft Reafoning upon the Ways of Providence from the manifeft Works of Providence: And by feeing how God has dealt with the Children of Men as Part and as Inhabitants of this natural World, it is reasonable to conclude in what Manner he will treat them as Part of the moral World. And, if we confider what we fee and know of the Works of Nature, and of the Good we enjoy from them, and compare them with the greater Works of Grace, as manifested

in the Gofpel of Chrift Jefus, we may easily discern the Confiftancy and Harmony of God's Dealings in both Cafes; and fee too at the fame time, that the Methods of Providence by which we hoped to be faved, and which we have from Revelation, are liable to no other Objections, than the Methods of Providence by which we live, and which we fee daily with our Eyes. In both Cafes the Works of God are indeed wonderful, and we unworthy of the leaft of them; And we may juftly fay of both, Lord! what is Man, that thou regardeft him? and the Son of Man, that thou vifiteft him?

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DISCOURE

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ACTS X. 34, 35.

Then Peter opened his Mouth, and faid, of a truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Perfons: But in every Nation he that feareth him, and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him.

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THESE Words, if not carefully. attended to, may feem to carry a Senfe contrary to the Meaning of the Apoftle in delivering them. St. Peter in the Text

declares, that God, without refpect to any national or perfonal Privileges, was ready to admit all People into the Covenant made with Chrift Jefus, provided they were duly prepared for fuch Admiffion. Some from his Words have concluded that there is no Neceffity

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