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learners, to affume to themselves the authority of judges, even in the most doubtful and difputable matters.

The tyranny of the Roman church over the minds and confciences of men is not to be justified upon any account: but nothing puts fo plaufible a colour upon it, as the ill ufe that is too frequently made of this natural privilege, of mens judging for themselves in a matter of fo infinite concernment, as that of their eternal happiness. But then it is to be confidered, that the proper remedy in this cafe, is not to deprive men of this privilege, but to use the best means to prevent the abuse of it: for though the inconveniencies arifing from the ill use of it may be very great, yet the mifchief on the other hand is intolerable. Religion itself is liable to be abused to very bad purposes, and frequently is fo; but it is not therefore beft that there fhould be no religion : and yet this objection, if it be of any force, and be purfued home, is every whit as ftrong against religion itself, as against mens liberty of judging in matters of religion. Nay, I add farther, that no man can judiciously embrace the true religion, unless he be permitted to judge whether that which he embraces be the true religion or not.

4. When, upon due trial and examination, we are well fettled and established in our religion, let us hold faft the profeffion of our faith without wavering; and not be like children, toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, through the fleight of men, and the cunning craftiness of thofe who lie in wait to deceive. And, above all, let us refolve to live according to the excellent rules and precepts of our holy religion; let us heartily obey that doctrine which we profefs to believe. We who enjoy the Proteftant religion, have all the means and advantages of understanding the will of God, free liberty and full fcope of inquiring into it, and informing ourselves concerning it. We have all the opportunities we can wifh of coming to the knowledge of our duty. The oracles of God lie open to us, and his law is continually before our eyes: His word is nigh unto us, in our mouths, and in our hearts, (that is, we may read it and meditate upon it), that we may do it. The key of knowledge is put into our hands; fo that, if we do not enter into the kingdom of heaven, it is we our

felves that fhut ourselves out. And where there is nothing to hinder us from the knowledge of our duty, there certainly nothing can excufe us from the practice of it: for the end of all knowledge is, to direct men in their duty, and effectually to engage them to the performance of it. The great bufinefs of religion is, to make men truly good, and to teach them to live well. And, if religion have not this effect, it matters not of what church any man lifts and enters himself; for, most certainly, a bad man can be faved in none. Though a man know the right way to heaven never fo well, and be entered into it; yet if he will not walk therein, he fhall never come thither: nay, it will be an aggravation of this man's unhappinefs, that he was loft in the way to heaven, and perished in the very road to falvation. But if we will in good earnest apply ourselves to the practice of religion, and the obedience of God's holy laws, his grace will never be wanting to us to fo good a purpose.

I have not time to recommend religion to you at large, with all its advantages. I will comprise what I have to fay in a few words; and mind them at your peril. Let that which is our great concernment be our great care, to know the truth, and to do it; to fear God, and keep his Commandments. Confidering the reasonableness and the reward of piety and virtue, nothing can be wifer. Confidering the mighty affiftance of God's grace, which he is ready to afford us, and the unfpeakable fatisfaction and delight which is to be had in the doing of our duty, nothing can be easier: nothing will give us that pleafure while we live; nothing can minifter that true and folid comfort to us when we come to die. There is probably no fuch way for a man to be happy in this world; to be fure, there is no way but this to escape the intolerable and endless miferies of another world.

Now, God grant that we may all know and do, in this our day, the things that belong to our peace, for his mercies fake in Jefus Chrift: To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The end of the First Volume.

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