A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

4. Godliness takes down the great disturbing and dividing Principle in mans soul; and that is, Selfishness: And it both commandeth and worketh self-denial. Every ungodly man hath a private End, and a private Spirit, and Interest, that is dearer to him then any other. So many ungodly men as there are, so many Ends and Interests: And how then can there be a Possibility of Unity? The wisest Law-givers could never yet contrive an effectual course for the uniting of all these. If Selfishness were down, I scarce know what should trouble the peace of Kingdoms, Cities, Families, or any other Societies. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self: Or, [Thou shalt not covet] is the sum and conclusion of all the Law of God, concerning our carriage one to another. And it is Godliness and nothing else that perfectly teacheth, and truly (though imperfectly here) effecteth this Self-denial: (But of this elsewhere.)

4. Godliness takes down the great disturbing and dividing Principle in mans soul; and that is, Selfishness: And it both commandeth and worketh self-denyal. Every ungodly man hath a private End, and a private Spirit, and Interest, that is dearer to him then any other. So many ungodly men as there are, so many Ends and Interests: And how then can there be a Possibility of Unity? The wisest Law-givers could never yet contrive an effectual course for the uniting of all these. If Selfishness were down, I scarce know what should trouble the peace of Kingdoms, Cities, Families, or any other Societies. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self: Or, [Thou shalt not covet] is the summe and conclusion of all the Law of God, concerning our carriage one to another. And it is Godliness and nothing else that perfectly teacheth, and truly (though imperfectly here) effecteth this Self-denyal: (But of this elsewhere.)

5. Godliness hath the most perfect Righteous Laws; and therefore is […] all Societies. If God can make better Laws then man, then this is past all question. His Laws require nothing but what is for mens good. They prescribe nothing that is dishonest or unjust: They promise the greatest Rewards to the obedient: They drive on the backward by the threatening of the greatest punishments. Their Authority is highest and most unquestionable. They all proceed from one absolute Sovereign, and are the same to all the people of the world: They change not, but are to endure to the worlds end. Whereas all the Laws of men, are limited to their own Dominions, and endure but while their power can enforce them. They are subject to error and injustice; and are not the same in one Country as in another; or in one age as in the former: and their Rewards and punishments are but temporal: and therefore though under the Laws of God, they are necessary for the Government of Common-wealths, yet without Gods Laws they would be utterly insufficient.