The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

And his Law requires us not to mortify, but to purify, consecrate, and employ them for spiritual and honourable uses.

And his Law requires us not to mortifie, but to purify, consecrate, and employ them for spiritual and honourable uses.

4. Philosophy is ineffectual by all its Rules to form the Soul to true Patience and Contentment under sufferings. Now considering the variety and greatness of the changes, and calamities to which the present life is obnoxious, there is no Virtue more necessary. And if we look into the World before Christianity had reformed the thoughts and language of Men, we shall discover their miserable errors upon the account of the seeming confusion in humane affairs, the unequal distribution of temporal good and evils here below. If the Heathens saw Injustice triumph over Innocence; and crimes worthy of the severest punishment, crowned with Prosperity; if a young man dyed who in their esteem deserved to live for ever, and a vicious person lived an age, who was unworthy to be born, they complained that the World was not governed according to Righteousness: but rash fortune or blind fate ruled all. As the Pharisee in the Gospel, seeing the Woman that had been a notorious sinner so kindly received by Christ, said within himself, If this Man were a Prophet, he would know who it is that touches him. So they concluded, if there were a Providence, that did see and take care of sublunary things, that did not only permit, but dispose of all affairs, it would make a visible distinction between the Virtuous and the Wicked.

4. Philosophy is ineffectual by all its Rules to form the Soul to true Patience and Contentment under sufferings. Now considering the variety and greatness of the changes, and calamitys to which the present life is obnoxious, there is no Vertue more necessary. And if we look into the World before Christianity had reform'd the thoughts and language of Men, we shall discover their miserable errours upon the account of the seeming confusion in humane affairs, the unequal distribution of temporal good and evils here below. If the Heathens saw Injustice triumph over Innocence; and crimes worthy of the severest punishment, crown'd with Prosperity; if a young man dyed who in their esteem deserved to live for ever, and a vicious person lived an age, who was unworthy to be born, they complained that the World was not governed according to Righteousness: but rash fortune or blind fate ruled all. As the Pharisee in the Gospel, seeing the Woman that had been a notorious sinner so kindly received by Christ, said within himself, If this Man were a Prophet, he would know who it is that touches him. So they concluded, if there were a Providence, that did see and take care of sublunary things, that did not only permit, but dispose of all affairs, it would make a visible distinction between the Vertuous and the Wicked.