because all his neighbours tell him fo; and if the holy fcriptures tells me that there are three perfons in the unity of the divine nature, and that the divine and human nature are joined together in the fingle perfon of Chrift, why ought I not to give my affent to these things, although I do not understand the manner of them?

And thus have I given fome account of the first thing which God requires from us; namely, to believe what he has made known, which is called faith. I proceed therefore to the fecond thing which he requires from us: which is, to live according to those rules or laws which he has given us, which is called obedience.

The way whereby we come to know what the laws of God are, is partly by our own reason, and more fully by the holy fcriptures: most of the things which God commands, are in themselves fo very reasonable and plain, that they who have not the light of his word, may yet very easily know them, even by the guidance of their own understanding, as will prefently appear, when we come to take a view of the particulars and for the further directing and affifting our reason, as also for the teaching us fome part of his will, which otherwife of ourselves we could never come to know; he has given us a full account of his laws in his revealed word: and this

is fufficient reafon to oblige us to keep them, best cause he who is our creator, and redeemer, ou

fupreme Lord, our master and our judge, requires it from us.

The chief and moft fundamental of the laws of God (and under which all the reft may be comprehended) are thofe which are commonly known by the name of the Ten Commandments: but for the more eafy taking a full view both of these and all the reft of God's laws together, they are generally divided into three forts; the first whereof contains all thofe laws which teach us our duty to God: the fecond contains thofe laws which teach every man his duty towards himself; and the third contains those laws which teach us our duty towards other men: under which divifion I fhall endeavour to give as short, yet plain and comprehensive an account as I çan of them.

First, then, as for the duty which we owe unta God; the chief parts or branches of it are these, namely, to acknowledge and believe all those things which he has made known (of which I have already spoken :)

To own that whatever he commands or threatens is very juft and fit.

To hope for, and expect the performance of all his promifes to us upon thofe very terms and condi

tions that he has fet down; neither prefuming upor God's mercy, as if he would blefs us, although we continue in our fins; nor despairing of his goodness and favour towards us, if we repent of them and ferve him faithfully.

To love God above all things, because he is fo excellent and perfect in himself, and so good and gracious to us; and to manifeft this our love towards him, by our earnest endeavours to do all things which may please him, and by fstriving to enjoy and be with him, as much as we can, here in this life by prayer and meditation, and also in the life to come by preparing ourselves to be for ever happy with him in heaven.

To fear God above all things, because he is most just and powerful, and will certainly punish us for our fins, if we do not repent of them; for which reason, we should be more afraid to offend him, than to difoblige all the men in the world.

To put our trust in God, in all manner of danger or distress, affuring ourselves, that if we continue to ferve him faithfully, he will give us grace and spiritual frength, whereby we shall be enabled to refift temptations, and to perform our duty; and also that he will either deliver us from the troubles and afflictions of this world, if he fees it beft for us, or elfe willgive us ftrength and patience to bear them, and

make

make them ferviceable, in the end, to our eternať happiness.

To bumble ourselves before God, in a due confideration of his greatness and goodness, and our own weakness and unworthiness; fubmitting ourselves to his holy will and pleafure; in all things chearfully obeying whatever he commands, and not only patiently, but thankfully bearing whatever be, in the course of his providence, fhall think fit to lay upon us; and the more we are afflicted, endeavouring the more to be fruitful, and abound in all the works of virtue and piety.

To honour God inwardly by acknowledging his infinite greatness and goodness, and to express that honour towards him, in our outward actions: coming to the place of his worship with seriousness, and behaving ourselves there with gravity and decency; paying a due refpect to his minifters for the fake of their function, being ready to contribute what in us lies, to the advancement of his glory; employing his own day in works of exercises of piety and charity; reading, or hearing, or meditating upan his holy word, and endeavouring to get the best inftructions we can of it; giving due attendance upon, and obedience unto, thofe ordinances which he has appointed, fuch as preaching, catechifing, baptifm, and the holy communion; often calling to mind the

yow which we enter into at our baptifm, whereby we are admitted into the visible society and fellowfhip of Chrift's church:

To prepare ourselves conftantly and diligently by prayer, meditation, felf-examination, and repentance, that we may be fit to come and eat of that bread, and drink of that cup, which Christ has appointed as a remembrance of his death and fufferings for us; and also as the means whereby we partake of and communicate in the merits of his paffion; for which reafon it is called the holy communion.

Never mentioning God's holy name but with ferioufnefs and reverence; abftaining from all vain, profane, and false fwearing, cursing, and blafpheming; always making a confcience of performing faithfully whatever we have bound ourselves to by an oath, and never making a jest or a by-word of any thing that relates to God, or wherein religion is concerned :

And laft of all, to worship God both publickly and privately; that is to fay, to praise him for his goodness and excellency; to give thanks unto him for his bleffings both fpiritual and temporal, which we have received from him; to pray to him for all things neceffary, both for our fouls and for our bodies; to confefs our fins unto him, and to beg the pardon of them from him; offering up all these our devotions in the name and through the mediation of

Fefus