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 of Humane Nature, and the End which Christianity is intended to promote, do accordingly (if they are serious in their Religion) instruct their Children much better than those abovementioned are wont to do theirs; at least, they design it: For it is true that the performance does often fall short; because (as has been said) their Actions correspond not with their Instructions; and also from hence That Zeal for Morality makes some, in recommending thereof, too forgetful of that Doctrine of Faith, without which, as works avail not, so also the greatest encouragement to, and inforcement of Morality, is lost. And when any who are profess’d Teachers of the Christian Religion do this, such Men do frequently confirm in their wrong Apprehensions concerning it, those whom they would convince of mistaking the design of the Gospel; since Faith is so evidently therein the Doctrine of Salvation, that They who never preach it, are not altogether without Reason suspected either of not understanding Consequences, or else of not being in earnest Christians, but conceal’d Deists, and Betrayers of the Christian Religion. Altho’ the Truth herein for the most part is, that one Error unhappily produces another, and the partial regard of some to the Doctrine of Faith (which yet they misrepresent) as if the whole business of our Salvation consisted in That, has been an occasion to other Men of as partially espousing the Doctrine of Good Works; whilst in their heat against what is contrary to Truth in respect thereof, they establish not sufficiently that Justifying Faith of the Gospel, by which alone Men shall obtain Eternal Life, and not by their Works: the best Men’s Obedience having (as has been already observ’d) imperfection in it; from whence all are necessarily condemn’d by the Rigour of the Law, and must accordingly be found Guilty, by him, Who is of Purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity; had not God, in Mercy to Mankind, been pleas’d to establish a New Covenant of Grace in compliance with the Terms whereof, viz. Faith in his Son, they may obtain Eternal Life. A Doctrine (as has been seen) the most highly conducing that is possible to the making Men labour after the perfectest Obedience. The Exalters of Faith therefore in opposition to Good Works do not more undermine Morality, than the Advancers of the Doctrine of Good Works to the Exclusion of Free Grace, do undermine Reveal’d, and in consequence thereof, Natural Religion also. The which two sort of Men divide, if one may so say, a good Christian betwixt them; the latter whereof take the Soul and Spirit of Christianity, but cannot be acquitted of neglecting what is not less essential in the Doctrine of our Salvation; and that not only because what God has joyn’d Man


