do enjoy, both in respect of the more clear and certain Knowledge of our Duty in all the Branches of it, and likewifçin regard of the powerful Motives and Affistance which our bleffed Saviour in his Gospel offers to us, to enable and encourage us to the dif charge of our Duty. But yet it is nevertheless very useful for us to confider the primary and natural Obliga tion to Piety and Virtue, which we commonly call the Law of Nature; this being every whit as much the Law of God, as the Revelation of his Will in his Word; and confequently, nothing contained in the Word of God, or in any pretended Revelation from Him, can be interpreted to diffolve the Obligation of moral Duties plainly required by the Law of Nature. And if this one Thing were but well confider'd, it would be an effectual Antidote against the pernicious Do&rines of the Antinomians, and of all other Libertine-Enthu fiafts whatsoever: Nothing being more in incredible, than that Divine Revelation fhould contradi&t the clear and unqueftionable Dictates of Natural Light nor any thing more in that tefan cy that the Grace of God does release Men from the Laws of Nature... This the Author of the following Difcourfes was very fenfible of, and wifely faw of what Confequence it was to establish the Principles and Duties of Religion upon their true and natural Foundation; which is fo far from being a Prejudice to Divine Revelation, that it prepares the way for it, and gives it greater Advantage and Autho rity over the Minds of Men. Thirdly, To perfuade Men to the Practice of Religion, and the Virtues of a good Life, by fhewing how natural and direct an Influence they have, not only upon our future Bleffedness in another World, but even upon the Happiness and Profperity of this pres Sent fent Life. And furely nothing is more likely to prevail with wife and confiderate Men to become Religious, than to be throughly convinced, that Religion and Happiness, our Duty and our Intereft, are really but one and the fame thing confidered under feveral Notions. J. TILLOTSON. CONTENTS ΒΟΟΚ Ι. Of the Reasonableness of the Principles Two Schemes of Principles, relating to Pra- &tical things, whether Natural or Moral; propofed in the Method used by Mathe- Concerning the Existence of a Deity; and the Arguments for it. I. Arg. From the Univerfal Confent and Agreement of Man- СНАР, |