First Sentence

"I. THE chriftian religion being the means, which God has appointed for the reftoring mankind to his favour, which man had forfeited by his wilful difobedience; and for his recovering the image of God; the Almighty does therein give us a new hope and title to that everlafting happinefs, for which man was at firft created: but this is only to be hoped for on certain conditions, namely, our lively faith, and fincere and hearty endeavours to obey his will; on the performance or neglect whereof depend our eternal happinefs and mifery: therefore it is of the greateft importance for us to inquire, what that faith is, and what thofe feveral things are to which God requires our obedience."