Twenty sermons preached at Oxford before His Majesty, and elsewhere

Obj. But mine is not Partial obedience, I do my endeavour,¹ as far as I am able to do, what God requires: Here comes in natural reason, and saith, I thank God I do what I can, and I see no reason, why more should be required. I conform my self, as I am able, and I see it needful, to the greatest duties of Christianity; I lead such a blameless life, that no man can tax me in any particular what God hath enabled me to do; and according to moral Philosophy, I know not how more can be required: I go as far as Seneca's rules, and somewhat farther, and sure this is not Partial obedience.

1. 1Obj.

Sol. I speak not against Morality. But yet let me tell thee, if thou hast no more then Morality, it will not bring thee to Heaven.¹ Not but that a moral man is an excellent stock, whereon to graft grace and virtue, it's a good help to Heaven, yet it comes far short of bringing him thither. Natural reason was once a full and fair glass, till it was broken by the fall: but now it is insufficient. The Tables in Moses hands were excellent things, God made the first Tables with his own hand, and perchance they may be therein typical, when these were broken, Moses makes the second, these not so excellent as the former, though I should esteem a piece of these, more excellent, then all the relics of the Papists, for there was something of the first in them, God writes them with his own finger. This glass which then was so perfect, is now broken, and is not so perfect as it was, though there be something yet remaining in it; We may see something of its ancient lustre in the Gentiles, for these having not a Law, are a Law unto themselves. There are practical principles, yet remaining in the Tables of our hearts, so that they that care not for the Law, shall be judged by that natural light, which is in them. We have a conscience to difference between good and evil. This is the truth. It's a part of the Image of God implanted in us, which we are not to despise lest we be judged with those that hold the truth in unrighteousness: The truth is the principle of difference betwixt good and bad: The soul was to have a seat as a Queen to rule all our actions: But now this Queen is taken captive, and all is lost: Morality and inward principles are to be much esteemed, as things which God at first planted, yet do they come short of bringing a man to Heaven. The young man in the Gospel had a good esteem of himself, and was doubtless well esteemed of others, and did many things: but yet our Saviour tells him, how hard a thing it was for one no better qualified than at that time he was, or rather impossible (for he preferred his wealth before the blessed society of Christ) to come to Heaven: Although he thinks himself well enough, though he were rich not only in great outward possessions, but in his moral Virtues too, so that when our Saviour tells him of the Commandments, he replies: