SECT. IV.

OF THE TERMS OF SALVATION.

WF have seen in the foregoing fection the greatnefs of the rewards and punishments of a future life. Now this is a point of infinite importance to us to be practically and duly confidered. It is of infinite

practical importance to come within the terms of falvation at the day of judgment. Though all God's creatures should be made happy at last indefinitely, yet still there is in the way in which we do, and muft, and ought to conceive of these things, an infinite practical difference, whether at the refurrection we enter into the new Jerufalem, and the kingdom of heaven, or whether we be caft into the lake of fire, whofe fmoke afcendeth up for ever and ever. Let us inquire therefore, what are the terms of falvation after this short life is ended, i. e. what degree of purity and perfection is required of us here, in order to be refcued from the miseries of another world, and advanced into the glorious manfions of the bleffed.

PROP. XCI.

It follows from the foregoing Theory of our intellectual Pleafures and Pains, that the Bulk of Mankind are not qualified for pure unmixed Happiness.

FOR the bulk of mankind are by no means fo far advanced in felf-annihilation, and in the love of GOD, and of his creatures in and through him, as appears, from the tenor of the foregoing obfervations, to be required for the attainment of pure happiness. There are few, even in Christian countries, that fo much as know what the true religion and purity of the heart is; at least, that attend to it with care and earneftness: and in pagan countries ftill fewer by far. How exceedingly few then must that little flock be, whofe wills are broken and subjected to the divine will, who delight in happiness wherever they fee it, who look upon what concerns themselves with indif. ference, and are perpetually intent upon their father's bufinefs, in any proper fenfe of these words! And as experience thews us, that men are not carried from worldly-mindednefs to heavenly-mindednefs, nor advanced from lower degrees of the last to higher in general, but by paffing through pain and forrow; fo there is the greatest reafon from the mere light of nature to apprehend, that the bulk of mankind must fuffer after death, before they can be qualified for pure and spiritual happiness. If what we have felt here do not cure us of fenfuality, felfishness, and malevolence, there is the greatest reason from analogy to apprehend, that feverer punishments will be ap plied hereafter for that purpose.

PROP. XCII.

It follows from the Declarations of the Scriptures, that the Bulk of Mankind are not qualified for the Manfions of the Blessed.

FOR, according to the fcriptures, the gate that leadeth to life is straight, and there are few who find it, even though they feek to enter in. The righteoufness of the Scribes and Pharifees, of the formal profeffors, who yet are no adulterers, extortioners, &c. will not be in any wife fufficient. Many are called, and but few chofen; and, agreeably hereto, the first-fruits, which are a fcripture type of the chofen or elect, are fmall in comparison of the lump. In like manner, the Jews are few in comparison of the Gentiles; the 144,000, in comparison of all the tribes; the Ifraelites, in comparison of all Abraham's feed; Elijah, and the 7000, in comparison of the priests and worshippers of Baal. Thus alfo Noah, and his family, alone, were preferved at the deluge; and of the Ifraelites a remnant only is faved, whilst the rest are rejected. And the reason of this smallnefs of the elect, the thing here typified, appears from the conditions. For we must take up our cross daily, hate father and mother, and even our own lives; else we cannot be CHRIST's difciples. We cannot serve GoD and Mammon together. We must seek the kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness, first; hunger and thirst after it; and leave all to follow CHRIST. We must be born again, i.' e. have quite new difpofitions, and take pleasure in works of piety and charity, as we formerly did in fenfual enjoy. ments, in honour and profit; we must be transformed

by the renewal of our minds, walk according to the Spirit, have our hearts in heaven, and do all to the glory of GoD. We must pray always; rejoice in tribulation; count all things as dung in comparison of the knowledge of CHRIST, and him crucified; clothe the naked, feed the hungry, vifit the fick, preach the gofpel in all nations. If there be ftrife or vain-glory, fchifms or divifions, amongst us, we are still carnal. If there be wrath, clamour, evil-speaking, covetoufnefs, we cannot inherit the kingdom of GOD. If we govern not our tongues, we deceive ourselves; our religion is vain. The luft of the flesh, the luft of the eye, and the pride of life, are inconfiftent with the love of the father, i. e. with happiness, with freedom from tormenting fear. Though we give all our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burnt, even fuffer martyrdom, it profiteth nothing, unless we have that charity, that love, which feeketh not her own, but rejoiceth in the truth, &c. i. e. unless we become indifferent to ourfelves, and love GOD, and his truth, glory, and goodness, manifefted in his creatures, alone. This world, with the bulk of its inhabitants, is all along in fcripture reprefented as doomed to deftruction, on account of the degeneracy, idolatry, wickednefs, which every where prevail in it. The true Jews and Chriftians are a feparate people, in the world, not of the world, but hated and perfecuted by it, because they fhine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverfe generation, which cannot bear the light, &c. &c. for it would be endless to transcribe texts to this purpose. If a man has but courage to fee and acknowledge the truth, he will find the fame doctrine expreffed or implied in every part of the bible.

PROP. XCIII.

To apply the foregoing Doctrine, as well as we can, to the real Circumftances of Mankind.

HERE we may obferve, First, That, left the best of men, in confidering the number and greatnefs of their fins, and comparing them with the purity of the fcripture precepts, and the perfection of God, fhould not dare to look up to him with a filial trust and confidence in him; left their hearts fhould fail; CHRIST our Saviour is fent from heaven, GoD manifest in the flesh, that whofoever believeth in him fhould not perish, but have everlafting life; that, though our fins be as fcarlet, they should by him, by means of his fufferings, and our faith, be made as white as wool; and the great punishment, which muft otherwise have been inflicted upon us according to what we call the course of nature, be averted. Faith then in CHRIST the righteous, will fupply the place of that righteousness, and finlefs perfection, to which we cannot attain.

Secondly, And yet this faith does not make void the law, and strict conditions, above defcribed; but, on the contrary, establishes them. For no man can have this faith in CHRIST, but he who complies with the conditions. To have a fenfe of our fins, to be humble and contrite, and in this ftate of mind to depend upon CHRIST as the mediator between GOD and man, as able and willing to fave us, which is true faith, argues fuch a difpofition as will thew itself in works. And if our faith fall fhort of this, if it do not overcome the world, and fhew itself by works, it is of no avail; it is like that of the devils, who believe and tremble. Men mult labour there