The old religion demonstrated in its principles, and described in the life and practice thereof

CHAP. I. The Wisdom of being Religious.

THE Holy Scripture (that Book of Books, and Trea∣sury of Divine Wisdom) expresses it self thus concerning Religion,

Psal. III. V. 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding have all they that keep his commandments.

Eccles. 12. 13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole (duty or business) of man.

S^t Luke 13. 23. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, &c.

2 Pet. 1. 10. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.

S^t Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous∣ness, and all these things shall be ad∣ded to you.

S^t John 6. 27. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth to eternal life.

S^t Mat. 16. 26. What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.

By all which, and abundance of other such like passages, it ap∣pears, that Religion is as much our interest as our duty; and that Piety and Care of another World, are not only the Commands of God, and his impositions upon us, but the upshot and result of the best and truest Wisdom. For Wisdom doth not consist in scep∣tical jealousies and suspicions, but in a determinate knowledge and resolution what is fit to be done; not in a superficial smattering of many things, but in a clear and distinct apprehension of the just nature, value, and moment of them; not in an endless hunting after curiosity, but to know where to stick and fasten; not in pilling a flint, or laborious beating out of unprofitable diffi∣culties,

but in applying a mans self to such things as are savoury and useful; not in tricks of wit, sophistry, or eloquence; and least of all in a jest or a repartee; but to discover what is fit to pro∣pound to a mans self as his end and design, and by what means to attain it; to have great things in a mans thoughts, and to despise and scorn little and petty designs: in a word, to see a great way be∣fore him, and to be well provi∣ded for the future.

Now all this is verified in Re∣ligion more than in any other thing in the whole World; for here a mans mind is taken up with the greatest thoughts and sublimest objects, God and Eter∣nity; he takes care to secure the main stake, his own Soul; he im∣ploys himself about things of the greatest moment and consequence; by inquiring about another

World, he gives proof of the greatest foresight; in considering of it, he gives evidence of a sa∣gacious temper; in resolving up∣on it, he shews judgment; in pursuing it by the means appoint∣ed, he demonstrates the com∣mand he hath over himself, and that he is led by his reason, not ridden by his passions; and by persevering in this course, he ar∣rives at true tranquillity of mind, the Crown and Glory of Wis∣dom.

Accordingly we find by expe∣rience, that commonly where-ever there is a grave, thoughtful, sedate, Person, such an one as is either fit to give or to take advice, he is seldom destitute of a sense of Re∣ligion: But on the contrary, where-ever you see an incogitant shatter-brain'd fellow, that knows not himself enough to make him modest and civil, that hath not

so much reason as to weigh an argument, nor so much Arithme∣tick as to value any thing but what is present; that is so much under the power of his Senses, as scarcely to know whether he hath such a thing as a Spirit within him, or hath so much Drink a∣bout him, that his head works nothing but yest and froth; here is a man cut out to be an Advocate for Scepticism or Atheism; this is the Person that will be captious against Religion, and malapert to∣wards God Almighty.

But let such men enjoy their humour as long as they can, they will be sure sadly to repent, or rue it at last: and in the mean time, they only betray their own shame and folly, for their tongue will prove no slander to Reli∣gion; the mighty concern of which, is not only declared by God Almighty, confirmed by our

own reason, and justified by our experience, but also affectionate∣ly recommended to us by all wise and good men; by those whose sagacity and discretion is such, that we have no reason to suspect they are deceived or imposed up∣on themselves; and whose since∣rity and integrity is such, that we can as little think they should have any design to impose upon us.

And therefore those Persons, who being either prevailed upon by the evil examples of the World, or discountenanced by the lewd sayings of such as we mentioned even now, and (declining the ways of Piety and Devotion) give themselves up to a loose and irreligious life, are in the first place errant Cowards towards men, whilest they are insolent towards God: And in the next place, they are false to the com∣mon

reason of mankind, which obliges men to provide for the fu∣ture. In the third place, they are false to their own interest of self-preservation. And lastly, they are false and ingrateful to their best friends, whose counsels they forsake, and abandon them∣selves to the conduct of the most silly and profligate Wretches.

But if any shall think to ex∣cuse themselves from this cen∣sure, by suggesting, that they look upon Devotion, as either the effect of a weak judgment, or of a melancholy and timo∣rous constitution. I add, that this makes the matter so much worse, as that it involves them, not only in the guilt of all the former, but also of extream rude∣ness and incivility towards the best of men.

To make all this more clear and convincing, and to lay the

surer foundation of all that is to be said hereafter, we will now in the next place shew the grounds upon which Religion stands.