7. Thefe are the principal Inftructions neceffary to direct you in the progrefs of a Chriftian Life. All which that you may be able to practise, you must apply your felves to God in hearty Prayer for his Affiftance: Which if you do with Faith, Conftancy, and Importunity; ye fhall certainly obtain whatever ye defire, at leaft fo far, and in such manner and degree, as is needful for you. 8. For whofoever thus prays, with Faith, Earneft nefs, and Perfeverance; God, as a merciful and tender Father, cannot deny him any thing that is neceffary for him. 1 9, & 10. For if even among t you frail and mortal Men, who are Tenacious, Paffionate and Froward, there is no one, who when his Son begs of him any thing useful or neceffaty t The words, svμŵr årdgwn, are very emphatical: What Man? Or, who among yon Men? for Life, can either deny to give it him, or give him any thing hurtful or useless in its ftead: 11. If Men, I fay, who are wicked, and peevish and ill-natured, cannot but give good things to their Children; How much more fhall God, who is infinitely good and merciful, the gracious Creator and Preferver of all things, give fuch things as are needful to those who earnestly pray for them? 12. ¶ And now if God thus deals with Mankind, as to give them whatever they could reasonably expect from a most kind and loving Father; Then ought ye alfo fo to deal with one another, as that every one be willing to do that always to another, which he can in reafon expect another should do to him. This is that great Rule, wherein is contained our whole Duty towards our Neighbour: This is the fum of true Religion, of Righteousness and Equi ty: This is what Nature and the Reason of Things teaches: And this is what all God's Revelations to Mankind in the Law and the Prophets, tend ultimately to establish. 13. Thefe Precepts may perhaps feem hard to Men that are covetous, fenfual, and lovers of the World and there are but few who will be at the pains to pra&tife them fincerely. Tis true: But if ye will attain eternal Happiness, ye must refolve to be Imitators of thofe few, and to be content to follow them in the narrow Path of Virtue. Way to Deftruction is broad, foft and eafie; and 'tis in this that the careless Multitude walk: The 14 Because ftrait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life,and few there be that 14. But the Way to Happiness is narrow, and the Paths of Virtue are rough; and there are but few that can deny themselves the find it. Pleasures, and Vanities, and Gaieties of the World, that they may be able to walk therein. 15 Beware of 15. There are many falfe prophets, which indeed that will pretend come to you in fheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. to conduct you in this Way to Happiness ; But take care that ye be not deceived by false Pretenders. They will come come to you with great fhews of Piety, and fpecious appearances of Humility and Innocence; But their fecret Design will be to pervert you by falfe Doctrines, to serve their Lufts; and promote their own gain, by robbing and devouring you. 16. Ye fhall know them from fincere Preachers of Righteousness, by the tendency of their Doctrine, and by their Works and Actions by their Pride, or their Covetousness, or their Senfuality, or their Contentiousness, or the like. For as Thorns cannot bring forth Grapes, or Thiftles bear Figs; fo the Scope of a Man's Doctrine and the Actions of his Life, will difcover themselves to be fuitable to the Difpofitions of his Mind. 17. As every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit, and every corrupt Tree bad Fruit; fo every good Man doth good things, and every evil Man evil things. 18. A good Man can no more do evil things, than a good Tree can bring forth bad Fruit; and a bad Man, notwithstanding all his Hypocrifie, can no more really and habitually do good things, than a corrupt Tree can bring forth good Fruit. 19. Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit, however it may look fair and be full of Leaves, is yet by Men counted good for nothing, but to be cut down and burnt: In like manner every Man, whose Doctrine tends not to Virtue, and whofe Works are not righteous,and juft, and good; whatever pretences he may make to Piety and Religion; is certainly a bad Man, and if he continues fo, defigned by God to deftruction. |