THE

PREFACE.

T

HE ensuing Treatise is sufficiently recommended to the World by the Name of the Author, and needs nothing else to make way for its Entertainment. I shall only therefore give a fhort Account of thefe Remains of that Learned and Excellent Perfon, and of the particular Design and Intention of them.

He was pleased by his Laft Will to commit his Papers to my Care, and out of his great Friendship, and unde ferved good Opinion of nie, to leave it wholly to my Difpofal, whether any, or what part of them, fhould be made publick. This Treatife, I knew,

he always defigned for that purpose, and if God had been pleafed to have granted him but a little longer Life, he would have published it himself: And therefore though a confiderable Part of it wanted his laft Hand, yet neither could I be fo injurious, to deprive the World of it, because it was lefs perfect than he intended it ; nor durft I be fo bold, to attempt to finish a Piece designed and carried on fo far by fo great a Mafter.

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The first Twelve Chapters were written out for the Prefs in his Life-time. The Remainder hath been gather'd and made up out of his Papers, as well as the Materials left for that purpose, and the Skill of the Compiler would allow: So that it cannot be expected, that the Work fhould be of equal Strength and Beauty in all the Parts of it. However, fuch as it is, I hope it may prove of confiderable use and benefit to the World, and not altogether unworthy of its Author. The

The Defign of it is Threefold.

First, To eftablish the great Prin ciples of Religion, the Being of God, and a Future State; by fhewing how firm and folid a Foundation they have in the Nature and Reafon of Mankind; A Work never more necessary than in this degenerate Age, which hath been fo miferably over-run with Scepticism and Infidelity.

Secondly, To convince Men of the natural and indifpenfible Obligation of Moral Duties; thofe I mean, which are comprehended by our Saviour under the Two General Heads of the love of "God and of our Neighbour. For all the greatTM Duties of Piety and Justice are written upon our Hearts and every Man feels a fecret Obligation to them in his own Confcience, which checks and restrains him from doing contrary to them, and gives him Peace and Satisfaction in the Discharge of his DuA 4

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ty;

ty; or in cafe he offend against it, fills him with Guilt and Terror.

And certainly it is a Thing of very confiderable use, rightly to understand the natural Obligation of moral Duties, and how neceffarily they flow from the Confideration of God and of our felves. For it is a great Mistake, to think that the Obligation of them doth folely depend upon the Revelation of God's Will made to us in the Holy Scriptures. It is plain that Mankind was always under a Law, even before God had made any external and extraordinary Revelation; else, how fhall God judge the World? How shall they to whom the Word of God never came, be acquitted or con demned at the Great Day? For where there is no Law, there can neither be Obedience nor Tranfgreffion.

It is indeed an unfpeakable Advantage which we who are Chriftians