The law unsealed

What are the reasons and causes of the present general defection, from the Truth, Power, Holiness and Glory of the Gospel or Christian Religion, I have enquired into and declared in a peculiar Treatise designed unto that end. Some few things suited unto the present occasion may be here observed. All decays in Religion begin in individual persons, though it extend it self unto families, and so the infection spreads unto greater societies, Ecclesiastical and National. For such also is the order in the genuine progress of the power of Religion whereunto it is opposed. The testimony that God gave unto Abraham was, that keeping the way of the Lord himself, he taught and commanded his Children and household after him so to do. And if the living power of Godliness expressed in the History of Christ, and the Gospel in an holy Conversation, be not preserved in Individual Persons; the Profession of the purest Religion in Churches, or the highest Pretence unto it in Public, National Acts are neither useful to the Souls of men, nor do any way tend unto the Glory of God. And the sole use of all outward Religious Order and Profession is lost, where they are not applied unto the Ingenerating and promoting of Holiness, or Evangelical Obedience in particular Persons. Wherefore if any Revival of the Power of Religion in the World may be yet hoped for; if any stop may be put unto the Fatal Declension, which it suffers under, the forming and restoring of the Principles of it in the Hearts and Consciences of such Persons is the way whereby it must •e attempted; from and by them must it be diffused into Families, and greater Societies: Here must all Reformation begin, or in the use of means suited thereunto. How this may be effected, we have one instance among many, proposed unto us in the ensuing Discourse.

What are the reasons and causes of the present general defection, from the Truth, Power, Holinesse and Glory of the Gospel or Christian Religion, I have enquired into and declared in a peculiar Treatise designed unto that end. Some few things suited unto the present occasion may be here observed. All decays in Religion begin in individuall persons, though it extend it self unto families, and so the infection spreads unto greater societies, Eclesiasticall and National. For such also is the order in the genuine progresse of the power of Religion whereunto it is opposed. The testimony that God gave unto Abraham was, that keeping the way of the Lord himself, he taught and commanded his Children and household after him so to do. And if the living power of Godlinesse expressed in the History of Christ, and the Gospel in an holy Conuersation, be not preserved in Individual Persons; the Profession of the purest Religion in Churches, or the highest Pretence unto it in Publick, National Acts are neither useful to the Souls of men, nor do any way tend unto the Glory of God. And the sole use of all outward Religious Order and Profession is lost, where they are not applyed unto the Ingenerating and promoting of Holyness, or Evangelical Obedience in particular Persons. Wherefore if any Revival of the Power of Religion in the World may be yet hoped for; if any stop may be put unto the Fatal Declension, which it suffers under, the forming and restoring of the Principles of it in the Hearts and Consciences of such Persons is the way whereby it must e attempted; from and by them must it be diffused into Families, and greater Socities: Here must all Reformation begin, or in the use of means suited thereunto. How this may be effected, we have one instance among many, proposed unto us in the ensuing Discourse.