that they either knew not their chiefest Good, or if they had fometimes any Glimmerings of it, were at a Lofs which way to attain it.

Now that the State of the Heathen World was fuch a State of Ignorance, Error, and Confufion, and full of the evil Confequences of them, Fears and Diftrufts, corrupt Opinions, and abominable Practices, before the coming of CHRIST, and the Preaching of the Gofpel, might be made appear from many Confiderations; but I fhall choose at prefent to reprefent it to you under thefe three Heads.

First, THEIR grofs Ignorance of the true GoD, and of the Government of the World by his Providence.

Secondly, THEIR being greatly under the Power of Satan, who blinded their Understandings, and incited them to all Manner of Wickednefs.

Thirdly, THEIR Uncertainty about a Future State.

Firft, THE grofs Ignorance of the Heathen World, as touching the true GoD, and the Government of the World by his Providence, do plainly fhew the State they were in, to have been very wretched and miferable.

BEFORE Our Saviour came into the World, in Judah only was God known, and bis Name great in Ifrael: at Salem was his Tabernacle, and his Dwelling in Sion. He had vouchsafed to make a clear Manifeftation of himself to the Jews, whom he had chofen for his own peculiar People, by many exprefs Revelations, and alfo by many wonderful Difpenfations of his Providence towards them. But these were but a fmall Part in Refpect of the rest of the World, whom they despised, and were themselves generally hated by them. From whom therefore it was not likely, that they either fhould, or indeed would, receive any Information concerning the

true GOD.

No, the far greater Part of the World, which were the Gentiles, were, as it were,

that they either knew not their chiefeft Good, or if they had fometimes any Glimmerings of it, were at a Lofs which way to attain it.

Now that the State of the Heathen World was fuch a State of Ignorance, Error, and Confufion, and full of the evil Confequences of them, Fears and Distrusts, corrupt Opinions, and abominable Practices, before the coming of CHRIST, and the Preaching of the Gofpel, might be made appear from many Confiderations; but I fhall choose at prefent to reprefent it to you under thefe three Heads.

First, THEIR grofs Ignorance of the true GoD, and of the Government of the World by his Providence.

Secondly, THEIR being greatly under the Power of Satan, who blinded their Understandings, and incited them to all Manner of Wickednefs.

Thirdly, THEIR Uncertainty about a Future State.

First, THE grofs Ignorance of the Heathen World, as touching the true God, and the Government of the World by his Providence, do plainly fhew the State they were in, to have been very wretched and miferable.

BEFORE Our Saviour came into the World, in Judah only was God known, and his Name great in Ifrael: at Salem was bis Tabernacle, and his Dwelling in Sion. He had vouchfafed to make a clear Manifeftation of himself to the Jews, whom he had chofen for his own peculiar People, by many exprefs Revelations, and alfo by many wonderful Difpenfations of his Providence towards them. But these were but a small Part in Refpect of the rest of the World, whom they despised, and were themselves generally hated by them. From whom therefore it was not likely, that they either fhould, or indeed would, receive any Information concerning the true GOD.

No, the far greater Part of the World, which were the Gentiles, were, as it were,

that they either knew not their chiefest Good, or if they had fometimes any Glimmerings of it, were at a Lofs which way to attain it.

Now that the State of the Heathen World was fuch a State of Ignorance, Error, and Confufion, and full of the evil Confequences of them, Fears and Diftrufts, corrupt Opinions, and abominable Pra&tices, before the coming of CHRIST, and the Preaching of the Gofpel, might be made appear from many Confiderations; but I fhall choose at prefent to reprefent it to you under thefe three Heads.

First, THEIR grofs Ignorance of the true GoD, and of the Government of the World by his Providence.

Secondly, THEIR being greatly under the Power of Satan, who blinded their Understandings, and incited them to all Manner of Wickednefs.

Thirdly, THEIR Uncertainty about a Future State.