A discourse relating to the much-lamented death and solemn funeral of our incomparable and…

Our Light about these things is so clear, they are so little disputable, and so difficult it is to form any argument to the contrary, that few ever set themselves, by any explicit or formed thoughts, to oppose or contend against ⟨p. 26⟩them. It is not (at least, not generally) so much as attempted to disprove them, or assert contrary Principles in opposition to them. Therefore that the dispositions and common Practice of men do so little agree with these Principles, is not that their Notions are herein doubtful, but spiritless; their Light is not uncertain, but weak and impotent. And hereupon their Knowledge signifies as little to its proper End, as if their apprehensions touching these things were none at all, or quite contrary to what they are.

Our Light about these things is so clear, they are so little disputable, and so difficult it is to form any argument to the contrary, that few ever set themselves, by any explicite or formed thoughts, to oppose or contend against ⟨p. 26⟩them. It is not (at least, not generally) so much as attempted to disprove them, or assert contrary Principles in opposition to them. Therefore that the dispositions and common Practice of men do so little agree with these Principles, is not that their Notions are herein doubtful, but spiritless; their Light is not uncertain, but weak and impotent. And hereupon their Knowledge signifies as little to its proper End, as if their apprehensions touching these things were none at all, or quite contrary to what they are.

They as much neglect and slight the Blessed God, or decline to be concerned with him, as if they denied all the things of him which his Idea contains; or as if they affirmed all the things of him which it most directly excludes. They shun, they fly from him, as if they thought him the Worst of Beings, while they acknowledge him the Best and most Excellent Good: Disobey and affront him, as if they thought he had no Right to rule them; while they confess him the Sovereign Lord of all the World. And steer their course both towards him and one another, in as direct repugnancy to his Rules, as if they thought them all ranvers'd, and that the most opposite System of Laws and Precepts were given them by some undoubted Authority, to regulate all their Practice.