The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Introduction
• Advertisement
• The Divine Feudal Law Represented
• §1.
• §2.
• §3
• §4
• §5
• §6
• §7
• §8
• §9
• §10
• §11
• §12
• §13
• §14.
• §15
• §16
• §17
• §18
• §19
• §20
• §21
• §22
• §23
• §24.
• §25
• §26
• §27
• §28
• §29
• §30
• §31
• §32
• §33
• §34
• §35
• §36
• §37
• §38
• §39.
• §40
• §41
• §42
• §43
• §44
• §45
• §46
• §47
• §48
• §49
• §50
• §51
• §52
• §53
• §54
• §55
• §56
• §57
• §58
• §59
• §60
• §61
• §62
• §63
• §64
• §65
• §66
• §67
• §68
• §69
• §70
• §71
• §72
• §73
• §74
• §75
• §76
• §77
• §78
• §79
• §80
• §81
• §82
• §83
• §84
• §85
• §86
• §87
• §88
• §89
• §90
• §91
• §92
• §93
• §94

§56

And to do good, and practice the Christian virtues.But as for positive Holiness, which consists in the Christian Virtues, and good Works, or Actions, that is every where in general requir’d and enjoyn’d, Mat. 3:8. 5:3, &c. 16:20. Chapters 6 and 7 throughout. 12:35. 18:6. 24:42, 44, 46. 25:21. Luke 1:74, 75. 3:8, 9. 8:15. 11:28. John 15:2, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17. Acts 24:16. Rom. 6:4, 19. 12: throughout, 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. 6:19, 20. 2 Cor. 7:1. Gal. 5:16, &c. 6:10. Eph. 1:4. 2:10. 3:16, 17, 19. 4:1, &c. 25, &c. 5:15, 16. 6:10, &c. Phil. 1:11. 4:8. Col. 1:10, 22. 1 Thess. 5:23. Tit. 2:12. 14:3, 8. Heb. 10:22, 23, 24. 12:1, 14. 2 Pet. 3:3, 4. 1 John 2:4, &c. 15, 16. 3:3, &c.

But among the several Virtues, Charity is the most eminent, as the main Test or Mark of the Christian Profession, Luke 6:35. 12:33. John 13:34, 35. 15:12. 1 Cor. 13. throughout, Gal. 5:6, 13, 14, 15. Eph. 4:15, 16. 5:1, 2. Col. 3:14. 1 John 4:11, 20, 21.

Hope Romans 5:5. 12:12. 15:4, 13. 2 Thess. 2:16, 17. Rom. 8:24. 1 Tim. 4:10. 5:5. Eph. 1:10. Heb. 1:6.

Patience, Job 5:17, &c. Mat. 5:39. Rom. 5:3, 4. 12:12. 15:4. 2 Cor. 6:4. Eph. 4:2. Col. 1:11. 1 Thess. 5:14. 1 Thess. 1:4, 7. 1 Tim. 6:11. 2 Tim. 2:3, 12. 2 Pet. 1:6. Heb. 10:36. 11:25. 12:7. James 5:7. Rev. 1:9. 13:10. 14:12.

Humility, Mat. 11:29. 18:1, &c. 20:26. 21:5. 23:7, 10, 11, 12. 14:11. 16:15. Gal. 5:26. Mark 9:34, &c. Luke 1:51, 52. 9:47, 48. 18:13, 22, 26. John 13:14. Acts 10:26. Rom. 11:20. 12:16. 1 Cor. 4:6, 15. 8:9. Phil. 2:3. Col. 3:12. 1 Pet. 5:5. Rev. 4:10. 19:10.

Meekness, Mat. 5:5, 11, 29. Gal. 5:22, 23. 6:1. Eph. 4:2. Col. 3:12. 2 Tim. 2:24. Tit. 3:2.

A Readiness to forgive Offences, and abstinence from Revenge. Mat. 5:24. 18:15, &c. Luke 6:12, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29. 17:3, 4. Mark 11:25, 26. Eph. 4:26, 32. Col. 3:13. 1 Pet. 3:8, 9. Rom. 12:19. 1 Thess. 5:15. Heb. 10:30. James 5:9. Rev. 6:10.

The Love and Endeavour for Peace. Mat. 5:9. Mark 9:50. Rom. 12:18. 1 Cor. 1:10. 3:3, 14, 33. 2 Cor. 13:11. Eph. 4:3. Phil. 2:1, 2, &c. Col. 3:15. 1 Tim. 2:2. 1 Pet. 3:11. 1 Thess. 4:11.

Contentment, and Acquiescence in the Condition assign’d us by God, and the avoiding Covetousness. Psal. 62:10. Mat. 6:25, &c. Luke 12:15, &c. Mark 8:17. John 12:5, 6. Acts 8:20, 24, 26. 1 Cor. 6:10. Eph. 3:5. Phil. 4:11. Col. 3:5. 1 Tim. 6:6, &c. 17. Heb. 13:5.

Acquiescence in the Will of God, Job 1:21. 2:10. Mat. 26:39, 42. 19:21. Mark 10:21. John 12:26. Phil. 1:29. 3:7. Acts 21:13, 14.

The Denial of ones self. Mat. 10:37, 38, 39. 11:29. 16:24. Mark 8:34. Luke 9:23. 14:26, 27, 33. John 8:54. 1 Cor. 7:29, 30, 31.

Chastity. Job 31:1, 9. Acts 15:20. Rom. 1:26, 27. 1 Cor. 5:1, 11. 6:9, 13, 15, 18, 19. 10:8. Eph. 5:5. Col. 3:5. 1 Thess. 4:3, 4, 5. 1 Tim. 1:10. Heb. 13:4.

Temperance. Luke 2:37. Rom. 13:13. 1 Cor. 5:11. 6:10. 7:5. Gal. 5:21. Eph. 5:18. 1 Pet. 1:13. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:9.

The Love of Prayers. Mat. 6:5, &c. 7. 7:18, 19. Mark 11:24. Luke 11:1, &c. 18:1, &c. 22:40. 1 Cor. 14:15. Eph. 6:18. Col. 4:2. 1 Thess. 5:17. 1 Tim. 2:1. 1 John 5:14.

To these are added the most Holy Precepts which relate to Duties of the Principal States and Orders of Men, and the Relations which they stand in to one another, which are very frequent and obvious in St. Paul’s Epistles.

Concerning this Sanctity of Manners, enjoyn’d by Christian Religion, we may by the way observe, Not only that all those things which are deliver’d by the Philosophers for the Regulation of Manners, if compar’d with them are plainly insipid, and unsavory: But also that if all Men would universally endeavour to entertain and practice it as they ought, this would increase the Felicity of this Life to all Men, as far as is consistent with the present Frailty of our mortal Nature. For since the greatest part of the Evils with which this mortal Life is infested, proceed from the Vices of Men which are opposite to the Virtues enjoyn’d, and taught by Christian Religion: Such as Avarice, and Ambition, Pride, Hatred, Envy, the Thirst of Revenge, Fierceness, James 4:1, 2. And on the other hand, a great part of the Inconveniencies to which our present frail Condition is obnoxious, might be either remov’d, or much alleviated by Patience, Charity, and the other Christian Virtues: Certainly, if Men would live according to the Rules of Christian Love, there would be no Wars waged among Christians, which bring with them always a vast Inundation of Woes and Miseries; and on the other hand Peace would always flourish among them, and with Peace, Plenty, and the Abundance of all things. So also how many Troubles and Cares might we set aside, and be free from, if Men knew how to measure the things of this World by the Rule of the Christian Law! How many Weaknesses and Diseases might be prevented, if Men would govern their Appetites, and the Motions of their Minds, by the Virtues which are recommended to Christians. These things, and many more of like sort, any one must be sensible of who can conceive what the present Life and Condition of Men would be, if all did duly endeavour to conform themselves to the Precepts of Christianity, and what Evils proceed from hence; That the greatest part of Men suffer themselves to be govern’d by their wicked Lusts, and the Manners of the Age, or the Craft of prophane Politicks. So that if ever there is to be a better Condition of Mankind, and a happier State of the World, it is not to be expected but from a serious and universal Practice of Christian Piety and Virtue.