external and extraordinary Revelation; elfe, how fhall God judge the World? How fhall they to whom the Word of God never came, be acquitted or condemned at the Great Day? For where there is no Law, there can neither be Obedience nor Tranfgreffion. It is indeed an unspeakable Advantage which we, who are Chriftians, do enjoy, both in respect of the more clear and certain Knowledge of our Duty in all the Branches of it, and likewise in regard of the powerful Motives and Affiftance which our bleffed Saviour in his Goftel offers to us, to enable and encourage us to the dif charge of our Duty. But yet it is nevertheless very useful for us to confider the primary and natural Obligation to Piety and Virtue, which we commonly call the Law of Nature; this being every whit as much the Law of God, as as the Revelation of his Will in his Word; and confequently, nothing contained in the Word of God, or in any pretended Revelation from Him, can be interpreted to diffolve the Obligation of moral Duties plainly required by the Law of Nature. And if this one Thing were but well confider'd, it would be an effectual Antidote against the pernicious Doctrines of the Antinomians, and of all other Libertine-Enthufiafts whatfoever: Nothing being more incredible, than that Divine Revelation fhould contradict the clear and unquestionable Dictates of Natural Light; nor any thing more vain, than to fancy that the Grace. of God does releafe Men from the Laws of Nature This the Author of the following Difcourfes was very fenfible of, and wifely faw of what Confequence it was to eftablifh the Princi Principles and Duties of Religion upon their true and natural Foundation; which is fo far from being a Prejudice to Divine Revelation, that it prepares the way for it, and gives it greater Advantage and Authority over the Minds of Men. Thirdly, To perfuade Men to the Practice of Religion, and the Virtues of a good Life, by fhewing how natural and direct an Influence they have, not only upon our future Bleffedness in another World, but even upon the Happinefs and Profperity of this prefent Life. And furely nothing is more likely to prevail with wife and confiderate Men to become Religious, than to be thoroughly convinced, that Religion and Happineß, our Duty and our Intereft, are really but one and the fame thing confidered under feveral Notions. J. TILLOTSON. THE Two Schemes of Principles, relating to Practical things, whether Natural or Mo- ral; propofed in the Method used by Ma |