Men have ever been solicitous, to reconcile Pardon of Sin to the Purity of God’s Nature, which has expos’d them (as we have seen) to divers Delusions, and to wearisome and costly Superstitions; even sometimes to the giving the Fruit of their Bodies to attone for the sins of their Souls.  All the Forms of Pagan Religion have abounded with Institutions of this Nature; and that of the Jews consisted very much of tiresome and unpleasant performances; which being Types and Shadows of him that was to come, were practis’d to the same purpose.  All which things we are freed from by the Gospel; Christ having offer’d up himself once for all, through whom forgiveness of Sin is preached to as many as believe in him, truly repenting of their past Sins, and walking in newness of Life, conformably to the Law of him their Master; but and if, thro’ humane Weakness or Imbecillity, we do Sin, he is our Advocate with the Father, who for the sake of him his Beloved Son, will justify, or accept as Righteous, those who truly believe in him, whence we are justify’d by God’s free Grace or Favour, and not by the Works of the Law, against which all have transgressed, and fail’d of a perfect Obedience.

The great end then of Christianity is (in short) to teach us effectually to renounce all Ungodliness and every evil work, by declaring to us, that if we sincerely repent of our Sins past, and indeavour, for the time to come, to obey the Law of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, which is no other than the Law of Reason, or the eternal Rule of Right, we need not despair of God’s Mercy from the Imperfection of our Obedience; since he will for the sake of his Son, pardon their Sins who believe in him:  Sincere indeavours after perfect Righteousness being accepted in those who believe in Christ as if they attained it, which is call’d, the Righteousness of Faith.  And thus our Blessed Lord, that he might purchase to himself a peculiar people zealous of good Works, has propos’d to his Followers the strongest Motives and Encouragements that are conceivable to induce free Agents to Obedience, putting them at once upon using their utmost Diligence to fullfil the Law; yet, at the same time, delivering them from the fear that their defective Righteousness should render their Labour vain in the Lord, by assuring them that he will be merciful to their Sins.

The which Christian Doctrine concerning the forgiveness of Sins (contrary to that of other Religions) effectually obliges Men to use their utmost care not to commit Sin, and leaves no room for the Lusts of their Hearts, or devices of cunning Men to deceive them by any Superstitious Inventions of expiating or attoning for Transgression; whereby Vertue (as we have seen) was always undermin’d.  For, tho’ in the Christian Religion, there is an abatement of the rigour and severity of the Law, which could not but require an unsinning Obedience; yet we are therein taught, that Jesus Christ is the