I can easily supply another Scheme of Religion in the room of this, which though it have not any such contexture of method, nor is set out with such gaudy words as those which our Author hath at his disposal, yet I am confident in the confession of all Christians shall give a better account than what is here offered unto us both of the Religion we profess, and of the Duties that God requires therein; and this taken out of one Epistle of St. Paul; namely, that to the Romans. And I shall do it as things come to mind in the haste wherein I am writing. He then gives us his Scheme to this purpose. As First, That ⟨p. 209⟩all Men sinned in Adam, came short of the Glory of God, and rendered themselves liable to death and the whole curse of the Law. Then, that they do all, as left to themselves accumulate their Original Sin and Transgression, with a world of actual sins, and provocations of God. That against Men in this condition, God testifies his wrath and displeasure, both in his works and by his word. Hence it necessarily follows, that the first Duty of Man towards God is to be sensible of this condition, of the guilt of sin, with a fear of the wrath and judgement due to them. Then he informs us, that neither the Jews by the Law, nor the Gentiles by the light of Nature, could disentangle themselves from this state, or do that which is pleasing unto God, so as they might obtain forgiveness of Sin and acceptation with him. This bespeaks unto all the great Duty towards God, of their acknowledgement unto him, of their miserable and helpless condition, with all those Affections and subordinate Duties, wherewith it is attended. In this state he declares, that God himself in his Infinite Wisdom, Goodness and Grace, provided a Remedy, a way of relief; on which he hath put such an impression of his Glorious Excellencies as ⟨p. 208⟩[…] ⟨p. 209⟩[…] ⟨p. 210⟩may stir up the hearts of his Creatures, to endeavour a return unto him from their Apostasy; and that this remedy consists in his setting forth Jesus Christ to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood, to declare his Righteousness for the forgiveness of Sin; which he proposeth unto Men for their receiving and acceptance. This renders it the greatest duty of mankind towards God, to believe in the Son of God so set forth, to seek after an Interest in him, or being made partaker of him;
I can easily supply another Scheme of Religion in the room of this, which though it have not any such contexture of method, nor is set out with such gaudy words as those which our Author hath at his disposal, yet I am confident in the confession of all Christians shall give a better account than what is here offered unto us both of the Religion we profess, and of the Duties that God requires therein; and this taken out of one Epistle of St. Paul; namely, that to the Romans. And I shall do it as things come to mind in the haste wherein I am writing. He then gives us his Scheme to this purpose. As First, That ⟨p. 209⟩all Men sinned in Adam, came short of the Glory of God, and rendred themselves liable to death and the whole curse of the Law. Then, that they do all, as left to themselves accumulate their Original Sin and Transgression, with a world of actual sins, and provocations of God. That against Men in this condition, God testifies his wrath and displeasure, both in his works and by his word. Hence it necessarily follows, that the first Duty of Man towards God is to be sensible of this condition, of the guilt of sin, with a fear of the wrath and judgement due to them. Then he informs us, that neither the Jews by the Law, nor the Gentiles by the light of Nature, could disentangle themselves from this state, or do that which is pleasing unto God, so as they might obtain forgiveness of Sin and acceptation with him. This bespeaks unto all the great Duty towards God, of their acknowledgement unto him, of their miserable and helpless condition, with all those Affections and subordinate Duties, wherewith it is attended. In this state he declares, that God himself in his Infinite Wisdome, Goodness and Grace, provided a Remedy, a way of relief; on which he hath put such an impression of his Glorious Excellencies as ⟨p. 208⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 209⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 210⟩may stirr up the hearts of his Creatures, to endeavour a return unto him from their Apostasie; and that this remedy consists in his setting forth Jesus Christ to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood, to declare his Righteousness for the forgiveness of Sin; which he proposeth unto Men for their receiving and acceptance. This renders it the greatest duty of mankind towards God, to believe in the Son of God so set forth, to seek after an Interest in him, or being made partaker of him;
