fuch inequalities to go unrectified for ever?

Or may we not rather hope, that this life is not the whole of man? But there will come after it another state, in which the diftinction between the good and bad will be made more confpicuous and complete; and even a peculiar regard be had to the want of this diftinction in the prefent life, fo far as it has been wanting?

This is a fhort abftract of the argument for a future state, and just judgment to come, as it appears by the lightPet.i.19. of nature: a light shining but in a dark Mal.iv. 2. place, till the day dawned, and the fun of righteoufness arofe.

But if unhappily all our arguments be ineffectual, if ftill there be found fome minds too dull to difcern, or too difputatious to admit their validity; we have

yet

yet in reserve one method by which every person, let his capacity or turn of mind be what it will, may bring himself infallibly to the full belief of this great article of our religion: and it is this, let him be a good man. Let him do what he knows in his confcience to be his duty, whether any one will ever bring him to account for the discharge of it, or not: Let him learn not to fear the infpection of a heavenly eye: Let him be just fuch a person as he ought to be, if it were certain he should be called to judgment; and we may be bold to pronounce that his fcruples will foon vanish. If any man John vii. will do God's will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God. This method will help him wonderfully to fee the force of arguments; and make him wiser than the aged because he keeps the Pf. cxix. commandments. It will do more towards the confirmation of his belief than the most persevering ftudy of philofophy, or even of the Holy Scriptures: and it will,

Q2

17.

98.

will, befides, do that for him which belief cannot do: it will fave him. It will exceed the knowledge of myfteries, or gift of tongues, or power of working miracles. It will place him before the Jude 24. presence of his Judge with exceeding joy; and through the mercy of Almighty God, the grace of his Spirit, and the mediation of his Son, fecure to him the poffeffion of that blifs which others indeed of greater ingenuity or eloquence, might prove with more exactness, or preach with more power; but which the good alone have the wisdom to obtain.

SER

NOW THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YE MAY ABOUND IN HOPE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST,

T is not only true, that there is a God

IT

who made us; it is a truth to which we are bound to give affent.

Is it not a duty to be grateful? God hath given us all we have; and should we ૧૩

not

Job xxxv. not thank him for it? He teacheth us

II.

26,28.

more than the beasts of the earth: and will he not require that we know more? He fpeaks to us loudly in all his works: are Job xxviii. we at liberty not to hear? When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightening of the thunder; unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and can we be innocent when we do not fear him? On this fubject, inattention is vice; and ignorance depravity. As Jer. ix. 5, it is written, They have taught their tongue to fpeak lies: through deceit they refuse to know me, faith the Lord.

6.

This belief of the Being of God is also moft highly favourable to the cause of virtue, or even abfolutely neceffary to it: and atheifm ftrengthens every temptation to what is evil. Naked we ftand, and Eph.vi.16. open to all the fiery darts of the wicked one, having caft away the Shield of faith, and put off the whole armour of God.

Secondly,