the word of God without prejudice; or observing any
thing therein that is contrary to the Doctrines of their Sect: that
_Analogy of Faith_ by which they are sure the Scriptures ought always
to be interpreted; the obscurest parts whereof their Teachers insist
the most upon; whence the Ignorantest Persons of these as well as the
more knowing, are usually far less conversant in the plain Doctrines
of Jesus Christ, than in St. _Pauls_ difficult Epistles; which, as
heretofore, _many who are unlearn'd wrest to their own Destruction_,
tho' their needs, I think, no skill but that of Attention to what the
Apostle is speaking of, to see that he teaches none of those Doctrines
which many are taught to believe he delivers to the prejudice of
Morality, or good Works; but quite the contrary.

Now what help can such Instruction as this give to the subduing the
corrupt Affections, and the bridling betimes the inordinate Desires
and Appetites of Humane Nature, whereby Men are inabled to live like
rational Creatures, and to acquit themselves well in all the Relations
they shall be hereafter plac'd in, in the World? When it does not so
much as perswade them, or even allow them to think that these are the
things by which they shall be judg'd at the Last Day; but substitutes
in the place hereof groundless Conceits, and a presumptious, Faith,
which so far teaches them to neglect Obedience as that if they pursu'd
the just consequence of their own Doctrine (a thing few People do)
they would have no Morality at all: And how rarely soever these
consequences are follow'd so far as they would lead Men, yet that they
are too much so, is visible in that little concern which such People
take (as has been now observ'd) in training up their Children betimes
in the knowledge and practice of Vertue; so necessary to the making
them hereafter Vertuous, that rarely are any found eminently to be so,
where this means has been neglected; even many who are always very
sincere in the Profession of Religion, having (thro' the want of this
early care taken of them) their Passions never subjected to their
Reason; which renders them all their Lives long uneasie to themselves,
and others: Whereby also the very profession of Religion is
dishonour'd, and evil spoken of.

In the Church of _England_, (whatever her Articles may be thought to
teach) there are not many now who hold these Opinions; and such as do
not so, rightly looking upon Vertue as the great perfection o