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THE Subject of this Second Address, is the Third End for which it pleases the Di∣vine Bounty to entrust us with an Earthly Portion; and that is the Promotion of the Honour of God, and the making his Perfections, and particularly his Goodness known
to Mankind, that they may with us be induc'd to render him the Ho∣nour due to his Name, and the Tribute of Praise and Thanksgi∣ving. And this by the order of Nature and Reason ought to have claimed the first Place in these Dis∣courses; as his Dues were to be first offered up, and separated a∣mongst his own People, before they were to make use of the remainder. Besides, this is the End of the En∣joyment of our own Part, and the End of our Distribution to others; of Self-preservation and Charity, both ought to aim at his Glory, and therefore it ought first to be trea∣ted of. But in this ungrateful Age, in which we take (like the Beast of the Field) what is bestowed up∣on us, without ever looking up to Heaven and acknowledging the Hand that distributes it; in this prophane Age, in which our Plea∣sures and Profits are only consi∣dered, and God's Honour not at all, or not often; in this bigotted,
and yet irreligious Age, in which 'tis thought Superstition and Priest-Craft, to plead for any thing to∣wards the continuance of God's Service, (because they are to be his Receivers) wherein such Doctrines as these are quite out-dated, and strange to our Ears, and Men think their Estates not concern'd at all to maintain the Worship of God: In an Age wherein 'tis thought that Church-men have too much still, and a covetous Eye is cast upon the large Revenues of Bishops, Deans and Chapters; wherein all chargea∣ble Worship is thought needless, and so many inspir'd Ignorants set up for Ministers, and tender a cheap Worship, or such as will cost nothing: I say, in such an Age as this is, I must be content that God's Cause shou'd come on last, and that he have the least share in our E∣states rather than none at all. And yet tho' it comes last, yet it shall not be least treated of, but be the Sub∣ject of the following Papers; in
which I shall endeavour to main∣tain this Assertion.