An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

But some of late have used Moral as contradistinct from Holiness or Grace, or from infused Habits, or from Faith and Christianity; and some tell us confidently but falsely, That this is the most fit and famous sense, and the word so to be taken when not otherwise explained. It's the sad case of Mankind, that we have no words but what are liable to ambiguity: And it's the unhappiness of the Church that hath so many Teachers that will dispute, write, and wrangle about words unexplained, and in the end show, that under divers terms they mean the same matter in which they are agreed and know not their Agreement.

But some of late have used Moral as contradistinct from Holiness or Grace, or from infused Habits, or from Faith and Christianity; and some tell us confidently but falsly, That this is the most fit and famous sence, and the word so to be taken when not otherwise explained. It's the sad case of Mankind, that we have no words but what are liable to ambiguity: And it's the unhappiness of the Church that hath so many Teachers that will dispute, write, and wrangle about words unexplained, and in the end shew, that under divers terms they mean the same matter in which they are agreed and know not their Agreement.

§. 22. As Holiness is sometimes taken so largely, as to comprehend all that God commandeth, and sometimes for the natural part of our Duty (Love and Obedience) as distinct from Faith in Christ, which is the mediate Grace, and of supernatural revelation; so is Morality or moral Virtue distinguished.

§. 23. They that take moral Virtue ¹so narrowly and improperly, as to mean no other moral Virtue than Heathens had, or than is taught in Aristotle's Ethics, should first tell us, That this is their sense; and then they may boldly declaim against those Preachers that take this for sufficient; or that preach no other: For Scripture and Christianity were to little purpose if they taught us no more than the Writings of Philosophers do.