THE Life of GDD ΙΝ ΤΗΕ SOUL of MAN: OR, THE NATURE and EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. WITH The METHODS of attaining the Hap- ALSO An Account of the Beginnings and Advances of a With a PREFACE, By GILBERT BURNET, Eph. iv. 18. Alienated from the Life of GOD. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Chrift, nevertheless I live; Rom. viii. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of GOD, The ELEVENTH EDITION, carefully corre&ted. LONDON: Printed for JOHN RIVINGTON, Bookfeller to The Society THE PREFACE. T HIS age groans under fuch a furcharge of new books, that though the many good ones lately published do much balance the great fwarms of ill, or at least needless ones; yet all men complain of the unneceffary charge and trouble many new books put them to: the truth of it is, printing is become a trade, and the preffes must be kept going; fo that if it were but to fhuffle out an ill book, a man may be tempted to keep them at work. AND for books of devotion and piety, we have seen so many excellent ones of late in our own language, that perhaps no age or language can fhew the like in these the Chriftian Religion is proposed in its own true and natural colours, and rescued from those false representations many are apt to make of it; as if it consisted either in external performances, or or in mechanical heats of the fancy, or in embracing fome opinions or interefts. It is and can be nothing elfe, but a defign to make us like God, both in the inward temper of our minds, and in our whole deportment and converfation. For this end did Chrift both live and die: this he taught by his discourses, and discovered in his life. He died that he might take away fin, and not only or chiefly to procure our pardon; which was done by him for a further end, that an univerfal indemnity being offered through his death, all mankind might be thereby encouraged to enter into a course of holy obedience, with all poffible advantages, having the hopes of endless happiness, and the fears of eternal mifery before them; having the cleareft rule, and the most unblemished example proposed to them; being alfo fure of conftant inward fupplies to fupport and strengthen their endeavours, and an unerring Providence to direct all things that concern them. Nor are there any precepts in this whole doctrine, whose fitness and true excellency, befides the authority of the lawgiver, has not fully been made good : and the truth of the principles of natural religion, and of the revelation of the counsel of God in Scripture, was never, fince miracles ceafed, demonftrated with fuller and clearer evidence than in our age, both for ftopping the mouths of all daring hectors, and for filencing the fecret doubtings of more inquifitive minds. though fo grave a fubject fhould have been rather prejudiced than adorned, by artificial and forced strains of wit and eloquence, yet as our language was never chafter than now, fo these fubjects have been handled with all the proper decencies of cafy wit and good language. A 3 And BUT |