which is not Exprefs'd in plain Scripture Terms and that all thofe, who order their Converfations according to the Holy Scriptures fhall be faved. This Sacred Volume is the Book which we Testify our Efteem and Value of, by our frequent Reading of, and Meditating therein; and conftant Endeavour, through the Affiftance of Divine Grace, to conform our Lives and Actions to. And 'tis our Earnest Defire, that all others, who have the Opportunity of them, would do the like: That both we and they, by the Mercy of God, and the Merits of Chrift, the alone Saviour, may be made Partakers of the great Salvation that comes by him; namely, Salvation from Sin, and which is the certain Confequence of that, Deliverance from the Wrath to come.. This is the first thing I offer to Confideration, the great Efteem that both the Author and We have of the Holy Scriptures; can it then Reafonably be thought that We fhould have any Defign to Introduce Deifm, in Prejndice of, or in Oppofition to ScriptureRevelation. H. Secondly,

II. Secondly, The next thing I fhall offer to Confideration is, the Harmony and Agreement that is between the Law written upon the Heart, and the Doctrines and Precepts of Piety, and Vertue, deliver'd in the Books of the Old and New Teftament. Which he that feriously Confiders, cannot but. acknowledge, that it tends exceed. ingly to Magnify the Goodness of God to Mankind, and to Commend the Holy Scriptures; when it appears that God requires nothing of us in Them, but what is moft agreeable to the Law written upon the Heart. For the Law written upon the Heart, and the Law deliver'd in the Holy Scriptures, are not two Contrary Laws, but they are one and the fame Law for Subftance. Hence it is, that the fame. Moral Duties, which are injoyn'd us in the Holy Scriptures, are, as to the Substance of them, to be found in their Books, who had not thofe Writings to inform them. But tho' they were deftitute of those Outward Means, yet God was pleased, in his Love to Mankind, to afford them an Inward Means: He wrote his Law upon their

Hearts.

Hearts. And this Law was the fame with that which was written upon Adam's Heart before his Fall; for what elfe is the myftical Signification of the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden? Gen. 2.9. And who was and is the Tree of Life, but Chrift Fefus? The Tree of Life, faith the Spirit, which is in the midst of the Paradife of God, Rev. 2.7. Adam had an Outward Tree of Life in the Garden, but. that was a Type or Figure of the Inward Tree of Life, Chrift Fefus. In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men, John 1.4.. Had Adam Eaten of this Tree, he had been perferved from Falling But he Eating of the Forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, fell by his Tranf greffion. But God, who is abundant in Mercy, took pity upon him, and wrote his Law again upon his Heart, which Adam had defaced by his Difobedience. The firft Account we have of this Renewed Love, is deliver'd in the Promifed Victory of the Seed of the Woman over the Serpent, It fhall bruife thy Head, Gen. 3. 15. Where he, that was called the Tree of Life

before,

before, is now called the Seed of thei Woman. And this Promife being truly Evangelical, contains the Good News or Tydings of Man's Restoration by our Lord and Saviour Fefus Chrift: For he is the Seed of the Woman that bruifes the Serpent's Head. Under this Pro mise all Mankind are Comprehended. And tho' the Words are fpoken as a:: Threatning to the Serpent, yet they contain a Gracious Promife of Mercy unto our First Parents, and in them to all Mankind. For they were as much the Parents of all Mankind after, as they were before the Fall: And there fore look what Spiritual Mercies they would have Enjoy'd, and their Po fterity after them, had they stood in Innocence the fame are all Mankind put into a Capacity of Enjoying, by Virtue of that Evangelical Promise made to them after the Fall, Gen. 3.154 For the Promife is Univerfal, and all People ever fince its Promulgation have been under the Benign Influence of it. Chrift Fefus, the Sun of Righteousness; hath Rifen upon them; and as they all had Light, fo as many as were Faithful and Obedient to it, Enjoy'd

f

Healing

Healing alfo in his Wings. For he being the Light and Saviour of the World, all that ever were or shall be Illuminated and Sayed, were and mut be Illuminated and faved by him, The True Light which Lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John 1. 9. The Word-God, v. 1. The Word of God, Rev. 19.13. The Word of the Father, The Only Begotten Son, which is in the Bofom of the Father, he hath declared him, John 1. 18. He hath made known his Mind and Will, and been the Teacher of Mankind in all Ages of the World. By Him, the Word; the Father Spake to our Firft Parents; to the Patriarchs before and after the Flood; to Jew and Gentile; and at this Day continues to Speak to them, if they would hearken to his Voice. For the Word is nigh thee, even in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, faith the Apostle Paul, Rom. 10.8. as Mofes teftified long before, Deut. 30. 14 Nigh thee; that is, not Thee only, but to Every Man; For there is no Difference, in this refpect, between the Jew and the Greek: For the fame Lord over all, is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom,

L

10.12.