AND WE OUGHT CAREFULLY TO AVOID,

ATHEISM, or a total Disbelief of a God. The Atheist is reduced to two Suppositions, either, first, that the World was produced by Chance, which implies that Chance is an Agent, and that it existed before the World, which is absurd. Ör secondly, that the World existed from Eternity; which Notion has been satisfactorily, and I believe, irrefragably, confuted by many able Writers. But how any Being can have existed from Eternity, is confessedly beyond our finite Comprehension. But still Nothing is more certain than that if any Thing now exist, Something did always exist; and that Being is God. His Being and Attributes are indeed beyond our Conception, but we are compelled to believe their Existence.

INFIDELITY, DEISM. There are others, who do believe there is a God, who created the Universe, but who, having subjected it to certain Laws, takes no further Care about it, nor exercises any Providence or moral Government over it. Both these Species of Infidels stand upon the same Ground, as far as respects the moral Conduct of the rational Creation, and their future Existence and Accountability; and as they expect Nothing but Annihilation, we must leave them to enjoy the Prospect that lies before them, if haply they may realize it. And others there are, who

Creation of the World, are clearly seen, being understood by the Things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead ;" and this Faith is the Foundation of all true Religion, "for whoever cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is the Rewarder of all that diligently seek Him." And Reason as well as the Gospel informs us, that without Faith it is impossible to please Him. And as His Will must be always agreeable to His Justice, Wisdom, Goodness and Truth, (for. He cannot possibly be influenced by any Thing but His own adorable Attributes,) it must therefore be always most just, wise, good, and true. And, although no human Creature can form any tolerably adequate notion of this stupendous Being, our highest Conception of Him falling infinitely short of His Perfections; yet the highest Ideas we can entertain of Him, we are sure, must come nearest the Truth. It behoves every one, then, to study the Divine Character and Will, that so we may be instructed and enabled to conform ourselves to it, as it is certain that to be as like Him, as our limited Capacities will admit, must be the highest Exaltation and Perfection of the Human Character of which we can form an Idea, and must constitute our supreme Felicity, through the whole Period of our Existence.

But we must never forget, that even this Faith, which is so absolutely necessary, is really of no

Value,

who, though they believe natural Religion, yet have insuperable Objections to Revelation. They suppose Reason to be a sufficient Guide, and that all Revelation is superfluous; and as they suppose the Evidences for it, do not amount to a Demonstration, they reject it. All these, we (Christians) suppose to be in a very dangerous and deplorable Error; and that this Error arises, not from the Deficiency of Evidence, but from a Want of due Attention to that which is laid before them.

IDOLATRY. Paying Religious Worship to some Idol which we know to be ignorant, weak and helpless, argues gross Inattention to the Nature of Deity. But what can equal the Folly and Stupidity of worshipping Pictures, Statues, and Images, (Stocks and Stones) which can neither hear nor act? All Idolatry must be most odious to the great God, and he hath accordingly declared His Abhorrence of it in the strongest Terms. His Glory will He not give to another.

IGNORANCE OF GOD, and INATTENTION TO HIS CHARACTER, must be highly offensive to Him. That there is a God, "all Nature cries aloud through all her Works," and they must be stupidly Inattentive, who do not hear her Voice. And it is our Duty, as well as the noblest Employment of the Human Mind, to

study

Value, except it be followed by a corresponding Behaviour; that is, unless it influences our Thoughts, Words, and Actions, or produces that good moral Conduct, wherein Conformity to the Divine Will consists. For the Devils believe.

As God is the moral Governor of the Universe, we should not for a Moment forget that all Things are ordered by His Providence, and every thing that befalls us is of His Ordinance, and that it is the Height of Impiety to find Fault with any of His Allotments, who orders all Events in infinite Mercy and Goodness for the Whole of His Creation. That Conduct, therefore, which produces Happiness, must be agreeable to the Divine Will.

LOVE, GRATITUDE.

Benevolence and Benefi

cence, which are prominent Attributes of God, are naturally the proper, genuine Subjects of Love; and when these Qualities are exercised towards ourselves, they become the proper Subjects of our Gratitude, and as we are indebted not only for our Being, but also for every other Blessing we enjoy, without a single Exception, to the Benevolence of the Deity, what immense Obligations are we under to that Good Being, to love Him with all our Hearts and Souls, and Minds, and Strength! Especially when we are assured by Revelation that "Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of

man,

study what natural Reason and Revelation inform us of the Divine Character; for all our Religion must be founded upon the Ideas we frame of Him, who is the Object of it. The Heathen World supposed their Gods to be such cruel malevolent Beings, as to delight in Misery, and to be appeased by Human Sacrifices. How anxious, then, ought Christians to be, that they entertain not erroneous Notions of the Attributes, Character, and Will of the Deity they worship.

INGRATITUDE to that Good Being, who is our greatest and best Benefactor, in whom we live and move; and to be regardless of, and inattentive to, the Mercies and Benefits, we every Moment receive from His Hands, shows a thoughtless, or a stupid or perverse State of Mind. But, if, when we are sensible of His Favors, we are still ungrateful, how great must be our moral Depravity! And yet it is probable, (if we may judge from Appearances,) that a large Proportion even of those, who call themselves Christians, are of this Description. How many readily acknowledge the vast Obligations they are under, to this, their greatest and best Benefactor, and yet in the general Course of their Lives, do not appear to act, as if it were any Part of their Duty to make Him suitable Returns, by a constant, steady Obedience to all His Commands, which

is