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 OP  THE 
 
 Theological    Seminary, 
 
 PRINCETON,    N.  J. 
 Case, 
 SheJf,       '    - 
 
'^ 
 
SIXTEE-N^;;^p^ 
 
 Formerly 
 
 Now  colledled  into  One    volume. 
 
 Of  the  Evils  falfly  imputed  to 
 
 Chriftianity.     In  Two  Ser- 
 
 tro'hs. 
 Oil  the  Queen's  Acceflion  Day. 
 Of  Subjedion  to  the   Higher 
 
 Powers. 
 The  Unhappinefs  of  Abfolute 
 
 Monarchy. 
 St.   Paul's  Behaviour  to    the 
 
 Civil  Magiftrate. 
 Of  the  Extremes  of  Implicit 
 
 Faith    and    Infidelity.     In 
 
 Four  Sermons. 
 
 The     Delufion     of     Proteft- 
 
 ants. 
 The  Reftoration  made  a  Blef- 
 
 fmg. 
 The  Nature  and  Duty  of  a 
 
 Public  Spirit. 
 The  Nature  of  the  Kingdom 
 
 of  Chvift. 
 At  the  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Kow- 
 
 land. 
 On  Jan.  30,  before  the  Houfe 
 
 of  Lords. 
 
 To  which  are  added 
 
 Six  Sermons  upon   Public  Occafionsj 
 
 Never  before  Printed. 
 
 The  Nature  and  Duty  of  Mo- 
 deration. 
 
 Of  God's  Dealings  with  Sin- 
 ful Nations. 
 
 The  Duty  of  Praying  for  Go- 
 vernours.  ^. 
 
 Of  the  Government  of  God's 
 
 Prcvidence. 
 The    iVjifchief    of    Inteftine 
 
 Quarrels. 
 The  Coniideration  of  our  Lat- 
 
 .ter  End. 
 
 iftTr^J,h4r ^. 
 
 %  Benjamin,  Lord  3i(hop  of  TVinchc(ier. 
 
 The     SECOND     ED  I  T  I  O  N. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed  for  John  Kmapto?^,   in  Ludgate  Streety 
 
 MDCCLVIII. 
 
j;^Qt^^^^^ 
 
 .0 
 
 Short  Account  of  the  followhig  Ser- 
 monSf  nowpublidied  in  the  Ordv:r  of 
 Time  in  which  they  weve  preached, 
 wibf  not,  I  hope,   be  thought  improper. 
 
 The  Twojirji  of  them  were  preached  at  St. 
 \  Swithhis  Church  in  the  Year  1702,    where  I 
 then  officiated  for  Mr.  Hodges,  the  worthy  Rec- 
 tor of  that  Paridi,  during  his  Abfence  at  S>eay  as 
 •  Chaplain-General  of  the  Fleet,  'they  were  occa- 
 iioned    by   the  great    Fury    in  Party-matters, 
 which  //6^«  raged:  And  were  honeftly  deligned 
 j  to  fliew,  that  the  Violences  of  Chrifiians  ought,  | 
 not  to  be  charged  upon  the  Chri/lian  Religion 
 itfelf. 
 
 The  TZi/r^  Sermon  waspreached  2itihe  Church 
 of  iS^.  Peters  Poor,  on  the  Acceffion-day  of  Queen 
 Anne  to  the  Throne,  Mar.  8,  1704-5,  when 
 I  thought  it  my  Duty  to  take  that  firft  Opportu- 
 nity, after  my  coming  thither,  of  declaring 
 againilthe  Abufes  of  that  Day.  The  printing 
 of  it  was  entirely  owing  to  the  earned  Requeft 
 of  fome  of  the  Chief  Parifhioners,  who  heard 
 it.  When  it  appeared,  I  was  much  abufed  in  a 
 Pamphlet,  for  what  T!hey  thought  fo  well  of,  by 
 2ithen  neighbouring  Clergyman^  to  whom  I  gave 
 no  Anfwer  but  by  a  private  Letter  to  a  Friend 
 of  His. 
 
 A  2  The 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The  Fourth  Is,  1'hat  Sermon  about  Magi- 
 ftrates  and  Subje6ls,  preached  at  St.  Lmire?ices, 
 on  Sept.  29,  J  705,  which  was  followed  by  a 
 long  Controverf)\  upon  the  Subjed  of  it.  I 
 was  called  lo  it  by  th',  accidental  Mention  of 
 Me,  by  a  Friend,  to  Sir  Qwcn  Buckingham, 
 then  Lord  Mayor ^  with  whom  I  had  not  xMy- 
 felf  the  lead  Acquaintance.  The  Reader  .^as 
 heard,  if  not  read,  enough  of  this  long  ago. 
 I  iliaii  fay  no  more  of  it  in  this  Place,  than 
 .That,  from  the  Date  of  this  Sermon,  nearF//?y 
 Tears  ago,  a  Torrent  of  angry  Zeal  btgan  to 
 pour  out  itfclf  upon  Me,  which,  ihoyor  the 
 frefent  indeed  very  difagreeable  ;  yet,  opened 
 a  Way  to  fuch  Explications  of  the  Dodrine  of 
 it,  and  Reafompgs  about  it,  as  have  produced 
 What,  at  the  End,  makes  Me  not  to  repent  of 
 having  preached  it. 
 
 The  Fifth  was  preached  at  the  AJjizes,  m 
 March,  1707-8,  ^\.  Hertford,  at  the  Kcquefl 
 of  the  High  Sheriff,  Sir  Richard  Houhl en.  The 
 Subjeds  of  it,  i:he  Happincfs  of  the  prefent 
 Eflabiifncr.t,  and  the  Vnhappinefi  cf  Jbfolute 
 Mo?iarchy,  wcix  pointed  out  to  Me,  too  ftrong- 
 lytobe  negieded,  by  the  public  Writings  of 
 that  Time  j  particularly  Thofe  of  Mr.  Lefly^ 
 then  much  celebrated  by  Many. 
 
 The  Sixth  was  preached  at  the  fame  Place, 
 at  the  Summer  Afjizcs  in  1 70  3,  at  the  Requeft 
 of  the  fame  Gentleman.     The  Subjed  is,   St. 
 
 TauW 
 
P  R  E  F  A'C  E* 
 
 PatiPs  Behavmir  to  the  Civil  Ma giftr  ate:  which 
 4  was  chofen  by  A/f,  on  account  of  many  Fajfages^ 
 \  relating  to  that  Apojlle^   in  the  Political  Contra* 
 \*verjies  \n   thole    Days   very  warmly  handled; 
 ■  and  therefore  not  unjeajonable. 
 i       The  Four  next  Sermons,  about  the  Duty  of 
 !  'Enquiry^    and  the  Extremes  of  Implicit  Faith 
 9.n6,-  Infidelity,   were  preached    at   my   Parijh 
 I  Church,  in  the  Year  1712,   on  occafion  of  the 
 i  many  Writings   publilhed   about    that  Time, 
 which  feemed  on  one  hand,  to  attack  the  C/^r/- 
 Jiian  Religion  itfelf  j   and,  on  the  other,  to  dif- 
 courage  a  Free  Examination  ot  it. 
 
 The  Eleve?2th,  called  The  prefeiit  Delufton  of 
 Many,  &c.  was  preached  at  St  Peter  s  Poor, 
 Nov.  5,  1 7  I  5,  and  was  occalioned  by  the  Re-^ 
 bellion  then  on  foot ;  and  the  unaccountable 
 Conducfl  of  many  Proteftants,  with  relation  to 
 it,  which  futriciently  juilified  the  Title  given 
 to  the  Sermonj  when  it  was,  at  the  Dehre  of 
 Many,   immediately  printed.  | 
 
 The  Tiveifth  was  preached  on  May  29,  | 
 1716,  at  St.  James's  Chapel,  at  the  Requefl 
 of  the  then  Lord  Almoner,  to  whofe  Care  the 
 Sermon  of  that  Day  belongs,  All  that  I  (hall 
 fay  of  it  is.  That  the  SuhjeSi  of  it,  viz.  The 
 Reftoration  made  a  Blejjing  by  the  Proteftant 
 Succeffion,  which  had  then  juil:  taken  Place; 
 I  mull  be  allowed  to  be  as  pertinent  to  the  Day^  ■ 
 as  Any  that  could  poffibly  have  been  thoughtof. 
 A3  Th 
 
VI      j    P  R  E  F  A  C  E,. 
 
 The  Thirteenth  was  preached  to  the  Society 
 of  the  Gentlemen  of  Wales,  March  i,  1716. 
 The  SubjeSi  of  it,  I'he  Nature  ajid  Duty  of  a 
 PubUc  bpirit,  I  thought  particularly  of  Impor- 
 tance at  that  Time  ;  and,  I  can  truly  fay,  was 
 chofcn  without  the  leaft  Thought  of  refle(fling 
 on  any  One  Man  or  Set  of  Men,  more  than 
 Another ;  but  entirely  with  a  View  to  the  i7«- 
 ty  of  ylil  equally,  to  have  a  Sacred  Regard  to 
 the  Good  of  the  Whole,  and  to  facrifice  All 
 their  Paffions  to  T^hat. 
 
 The  Fourteenth  is  the  Sermon  concerning 
 the  Nature  of  the  Kingdom  c?/Chri{l,  which  is 
 known  too  well,  by  the  many  and  public  De- 
 bates occafioned  by  it,  to  need  any  word  about 
 it  here.  At  whofe  Requeft  it  was  commanded 
 to  be  publidied,  1  know  not.  But  I  know, 
 that  it  v/as  not,  either  diredly  or  indiredly, 
 from  any  Deiirc  of  mine. 
 
 The  FifteeJith  was  preached  at  the  Funeral 
 of  an  Excellent  Lady,  Mrs  Ilowland  j  and  de- 
 figned,  as  all  fuch  Difcourfes  ought  to  be,  for 
 the  Ufe  and  Service  of  All  Chrijiians,  But 
 Ifcrc  I  cannot  but  think  it  a  Due,  in  point  of 
 Gratitude,  to  Her  Memory,  publickly  to  ac- 
 knowledge this  Singular  Obligation  to  Her, 
 That  in  the  Year  17  10,  when  Fury  feemed  to 
 be  letloofe,  and  todiftinguifh  Me  particularly  ; 
 She  Herfelf,  unafked,  unapplied  to;  with- 
 out my  having  ever  feen  Her,  or  been  feen  by 
 
 Her  3 
 
4 
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 HerycKofe,  "by'prefentmg  Me  to  tho  ReS?ory 
 •  of  Stretbam,   then  JLift  vacant,  to  ih'zw,  in  her. 
 own  Exprellion,   That  Jhe  ivas  neither  afiamed, 
 nor  afraid,   to  give  Me  that  public  Mark  of  her 
 Regard  at  that  Critical  Time, 
 
 The  Sixteenth  was  preached  on  the  Anniver" 
 fary  Faji'daVj   on  account  of  the  Martyr dofn  of  ' 
 King  Charles  I,  and  pubHflied  by  Order  of  the 
 Ho  life  of  Lords.      It  was  not  calculated  to  pro*  i 
 j  yoke,   but  to    appeafe,   the  Paflions  of  Men.  ( 
 j  And,   as  far  as  pubiickly  appeared,  It  was  re- 
 !  ceived  without  any  Marks  of  much  Difpleafure 
 I  a2;ainfi:  it. 
 
 Of  the  Six  additional  Sermons,  never  before 
 publifhed,  I  need  fay  no  more,  than  that  the 
 T'wo  firfl  were  preached  at  St.  Swithins^  and 
 the  other  Four  at  St.  Peter's  Poor,  upon  Days 
 appointed  for  public  Fafis  or  'Thanfgivings :  \ 
 And  that  they  are  chiefly  upon  the  Subjedis  of 
 Univerfal  Amendment  of  our  Lives  ;  Good 
 Temper,  Union ^  -Love^  and  mutual  Charity,  at 
 Home  :  All,  as  Pra^ical and  Ufeful,  as  I  could 
 make  Them  ;  and  equally  applicable  to  All 
 Men  and  Chrillians,   in  the  Nation. 
 
 If  Any  fl:»a]l  judge,  from  fome  Difcourfes  \ 
 \n  this  Volume,  That  I  ufed  to  entertain  my  j 
 Parifhioners,  in  my  Siinday-Difcourfes,  with 
 Political^  or  Controverfial,  Points,  they  will  be 
 as  much  tni/laken,  as  many  others  were  here- 
 tofore difappointedi  who  came  to  hear  me, 
 A  4  with 
 
PREFACE.  :; 
 
 with  the  fame  Notion.  The  Sermons  on  the 
 ^erms  of  Acceptance^  printed  Isng  ago,  may 
 bed  (hew,  in  how  plain ^  and  how  praSlical,  a 
 Manner  I  endeavoured  to  inftrud;  Thofe  in 
 whom  I  was  moft  nearly  concerned.  — 
 
 The   only  Injerences  in    my   own    Favor, 
 which  1  wifh  to  be  drawn  from  what  is   now 
 publilhed,  are,   That  I  never  omitted  any  One 
 public  Opportunity,  in  proper  Time  and  Place, 
 of  defending  and   flrengrhening  the  true  and 
 only  Foundation  of  all   our  Civil  and  Religious 
 Liberties)   when  it   was   every  Day  moft  zea- 
 loufly  attacked  ;  and  of  doing  all  in  my  Power, 
 that  All  tlj^  SuhjeSfs    of  this  Government ^  and 
 this  Royal  Family^  iliould  underlland,   and  ap- 
 prove of,   thofe  Principles^  upon  which  alone 
 their  Happinefs  is  fixed  ;   and  'without  which,  it 
 could  never  have  been  rightfully  Eflablifhed, 
 and  muft  in  Time  fall  to    the  Ground  :   And 
 alfo,   That  I  was  as  ready,  whenever  Occafion 
 was  offered,  by  the  Writings  and  Attacks  of  Un- 
 believers,  and  by  the  abfurd  Reprefentations  of 
 Others,  to  defend  a  Religion,  mofl  amiable  in  all 
 its  precepts,  and  moft  beneficial  to  HmnanSoci- 
 "'ety,  in  the  only  Way  proper  ;  by  fhewing  it,  in 
 it's  native  Light,    with   which  it  fiiines  in  the 
 Nc'W  Teftament  itfelf,   free  from    all  the  Falfe 
 Pai?jt  with  which  Some,  or  theundeferved  Dirt 
 with  which  Others  have  covered  it. 
 
 CON- 
 
I      i'<  ■*'  I  T  ^11.11   -ftftj 
 
 TO^^^^^^ 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON    I,  11. 
 
 Concerning  the  Divlfions,   and  Cruelties,  falf- 
 ly  imputed  to  the  Chriftian  Religion. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Swithms  Chmchj  in  1702. 
 
 St.  Matthew  x.  34. 
 
 'Tbifik  not  that  lam  come  to  fend  Peace  on  Earth  : 
 I  came  not  tojend  Peace,  but  a  Sword* 
 
 Or,  as  it  is  in  St.  Luke,   Chap.  xii.  51. 
 
 Siippofe  ye  that   I  am    come  to  give  Peace  ojt 
 Earth  f  I  tell  you,  Nay,  but  rather  Divifion, 
 
 Pag.  I,  23 
 SER 
 
X 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON   III. 
 
 Preached  in  the  Parifh  Church  of  St.  Peter\<  Poor^ 
 March  ^^  1704- 5 5  the  Anniverfary  of  Thankfgiv- 
 in  J-  tor  the  Queen's  Accefiion  to  the  Crown. 
 
 Psalm  xcv.  2. 
 
 %et  us  come  hejore  his  Prejlnce  "Ji'ith  T^hankfpv- 
 ing.  pag.'46. 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N   IV. 
 
 Preached  before  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord- 
 Mayor,  i^c.  September  2^^   ^7'^5' 
 
 Romans  xiii.    i. 
 
 Let  every  Soul  bejiibjeci  to  the  Higher  Powers, 
 
 pag,  63. 
 
 SERMON  V. 
 
 The  Happinefs  of  the  prefent  Eflablidiment, 
 and  Unhappinefs  of  Abfolutc  Monarchy. 
 
 ,  Preached  at  the   Affizes    at  Hertford^  March  22, 
 1707-8. 
 
 I    Sam.    viii.   9. 
 
 "bnow  therefore  hearken  unto  their  Voice  :  How- 
 beit  yet  protejl  Jolemnly  unto  them  ;  and  focw 
 them  the  Manner  of  the  King  that  JJjall  reign 
 over  them.  ,  pag.  85. 
 
 SER- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON    VI. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Afiizes  at  Hertford^  July  26,   1708. 
 
 Acts  xxii.  25^ 
 
 A?2d  as  they  bound  him  ivith  Thongs^  Paul/aid 
 
 ur\to  the  Ceiiturion  that  flood  by^  Is  it  lawful 
 
 for  you  to  fcourge  a   Man  that  is  a  Koman^ 
 
 and  uncondemned^  pag.  1 11, 
 
 SERMON    VII,  VIII,  IX,  X. 
 
 Concerning  impartial  Enquiry  in  Religion : 
 and  the  two  Extremes  of  implicit  Subjection, 
 and  Infidelity. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Peto'^s  Poor.,  in  Jan.  1712-13. 
 
 I  Thess.  v.   21. 
 
 Prove  all  T'lmigs :  hold  faft  that  which  is  good* 
 pag.  134.  ^SJy  ^74,  196. 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N    XL 
 
 The  prefent  Delufion   of    many  Proteflants, 
 
 coniidered. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Petefs  Poor.,  ISovemh.  5.  1715. 
 
 2  Thess.  i.  1 1. 
 
 And  for  this  Caufe   God  fiall  fend  them  flrong  \ 
 
 Delufo7i  that  they  Jhould  believe  a  Lie.  j 
 
 pag.  218.  1 
 SE  R- 
 
•Ml  CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON    XIL 
 
 The  Refloration  made  a  Bleffing  to  Us,  by  the 
 Proteftant  Succeffion. 
 
 Preached  before  the  King,  at  the  Royal  Chapel  at 
 St. /amts's,  May  2C),  171 6,  being  the  Anniver- 
 fary  of  the  P.estokation. 
 
 Psalm  cxxvi.  3. 
 
 *TbeLord  hath  done  great  Things  for  Us  j  where- 
 of we  are  glad,  pag.  246. 
 
 SERMON    XIII. 
 
 The  Nature  and  Duty  of  a  Public  Spirit. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  James's,  We/iminfler,  on  St.  David's 
 Day,  March  i,  171 6,  oelore  the  Honourable 
 the  Stewards  and  Others  of  ciie  Society  of  Antient 
 Britons^  Eftablifhed  in  Honour  of  Her  Royal 
 Highnefs's  Birth-Day,  and  the  Principality  of 
 TVales. 
 
 Phil.  ii.  4. 
 
 Look  not  every  Man  on  his  own  Things :  But 
 every  Man  alfo  on  the  Things  of  Others. 
 
 P^g-  263 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
 ■Sf. 
 
CONT  E  N  TS.  xui 
 
 SERMON    XIV. 
 
 The   Nature  of   the  Kingdom  or  Churck  of 
 Christ. 
 
 Preached  before  the  King,  at  the  Royal  Chapel  at 
 
 Si.  James's,  on  Sunday,  March  ^i,   lyiy. 
 
 St.  John  xviii.  36. 
 
 Jefus  anfwered.  My  Kingdom  is  not  of  this 
 PVorld.  pag.  284. 
 
 SERMON    XV. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Funeral  of  Mrs  Elizabeth  Rowland^ 
 in  the  Parilh-Church  of  Stretham  in  Surry,  on 
 Friday,  May  i,   1719. 
 
 Revelations  xiv.  13. 
 
 I  heard  a  Voice  from  Heaven  faying  unto  me^ 
 Write,  Bleffed  are  the  Dead  which  die  in  the 
 Lord^  from  henceforth:  Tea,  faith  the  Spirit y 
 that  They  may  reft  from  their  Labours  ;  and 
 their  Works  do  follow  them.  pag.  307. 
 
 SERMON    XVI. 
 
 Preached  before  the  Houfe  of  Lords  at  St.  Peter^s 
 IVejlmmjler,  on  Jan.  30,  17 ''.0-21,  being  the 
 Anniverfary  of  the  Martyrdom  of  K.  Charles  I, 
 
 I  CoR.  X.  former  Part  of  ver.    1 1. 
 
 Now  all  thefe  things  happened  unto  Tljem  for 
 Enfam.ples»  pag.  ^32, 
 
 SER. 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON    XVII. 
 
 Of  Chriftian  Moderation. 
 
 Preached      at    Swithin's    Church    on    Jan.     30, 
 1702-3. 
 
 c 
 ( 
 
 PhILIPP.    IV.  5. 
 
 Let  your  Moderation  be  known  unto  all  Men. 
 
 pag-  350- 
 
 SERMON    XVIII.  
 
 Preached  at  St.  Swithin's  Church  on  Sept.,  2^- 1 70-2,-  - 
 ~    being  t'.e  Faft-DiLy  obferved  in  Remembrance 
 of  the  Fire  of  London^  1666. 
 
 Luke  xix.  41,  42. 
 
 And  when  he  'was  come  near^  he  beheld  the  City, 
 and   "oept     ever    ir^  Ja\nng^    If   thou  hadji 
 Jknoy:ri,  je^ieii^thoiir  at  leafi  in  this  thy  Day;" 
 the   ring-  tb'^  b  -mg  unto  thy  Peace  I  But 
 now  I  hey  are  uidj^om  thine  Eyes,     pag.  369,- 
 
 ser:. 
 
CONTENT^. 
 
 k% 
 
 SERMON    XIX. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Peter's  Poor,    Mcrch  8,   1708-9, 
 being  the  Anniverfary  of  the  Queen's  AccelTion, 
 
 I  Tim.   ii.   i,    2. 
 
 1  exhort  therefore^  thatfirjl  of  all  Supplicafions^  \ 
 Prayers^  Intercejjions^  and  givingcfT^hanks^'- 
 be  made  for  all  Men  :  for  Kings  ^  and  jar  all ! 
 that  are  in  Authority ;    that  we  may  lead  a 
 
 _£uiet  and  peaceable  Life^  in  all  Godlincfs  and 
 
 Honefty.  pag.   394. 
 
 ^ SERMON    XX. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Parifh-Chiirch  of  St.  Peter'* s  Poor^ 
 on  May  29,   1709. 
 
 PsAL.  cxvii.  former  Part  of  ver.  1. 
 
 T^he  Lord  reigneth,    let  the  Earth  rejoice. 
 
 P«g-  413- 
 
 SERMON    XXI. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Tarilh-Church  of  St.  Peter's  Poor^ 
 on  the  pubHc  Faft-day,  1709. 
 
 Acts  vii.  latter  Part  of  Ver.  26. 
 
 ^ir.i,  ye  are  Brethren^  ivhy  do  ye  Wrong  One  to 
 Another^  pag.  436. 
 
 SE  R. 
 
tyl CONTENTS. 
 
 SERMON    XXII. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Peter's  Poor,  on  the  pubHc  Fafl-, 
 day,  1711-12. 
 
 Deuteron.  xxxli.  29. 
 
 Othaf  They  were  wife,  That  they  underjloodthisy 
 that  They  would conjider  their  latter  End! 
 
 pag.  454. 
 
Conceming  the  Dhijions^^^^md  \G^iim^^^'^^ 
 which  the  Chrijtian  J^igi&L^ltT^ bj:m-inad( 
 the  Occafion. 
 
 i;Ox,-n 
 
 TrTTT 
 
 s  E  R  M  5^a;i; 
 
 Preached  at  S,t,  Swith'm's  Church,  in  1702. 
 
 St.  Matthew  x.    34. 
 
 'T'hink  not  that  I  am  come  tofefjd  peace  en  earth  : 
 I  came  not  to  fend  peace,  but  a  f  word. 
 
 Or,  as  it  is  in  St.  Luke,  Chap.  xii.  51. 
 
 Siipf>ofe  ye  that  J  am  come  to  groe  peace  on  earth  f 
 I  tell  you  ^  Nay^   but  rather  Divifion, 
 
 "^  H  E  full   Meaning  of  thefe   Words, 
 (fpoken  by  our  Lord  to  his  Apojiles^ 
 
 E  R  M, 
 I. 
 
 when  he  was  giving  them  Commiflion  j-^'VNJ 
 to  preach  his  Religion  to  the  World)  we 
 fl'jall  find  to  be  this ,  if  we  confider  the  fore- 
 going and  following  VerJes.  "  You  may 
 *'  imagine,  perhaps,  that  the  Excellence  of 
 **  my  Religion,  and  the  Evidence  that  accom- 
 panies it,  will  effedlually  recommend  it  to 
 the  Underftanding,  and  the  Aftedions  of 
 Mankind  j  that  the  Humility,  and  Meek- 
 B  nefs. 
 
 <c 
 
2 
 
 Of  the  Divifions^  a7zd  Cruelties j 
 
 it 
 
 SERM."  nefs,   which   it  commands,   will   influence 
 I.     '^  the  World  ;    and  that  fach  an  Inftiiution 
 ^-^'^•'^■"   as   this  will  breathe  Peace,   and  an  univer- 
 "  fal  Calmnefs,  into  the  Minds  of  Men.    But 
 "   it  will   not  be  fo.      How  excellent  foever 
 "   it  ,is  in  itfelf  -,    how  much  Evidence  foever 
 "  accompanies  it;     it  will  not  be  received  as 
 "  you  would  exped  :     nor  will  it  efFe(f^ually 
 "  contribute  to  the   Peace  and  Qmet  of  the 
 "   World  J    though  it  tends  very  much  in   its 
 **  own   Nature  to   do  io.     Nay,    This  very 
 "  Religion,   which  I  came  into  the  World  to 
 plant  and  propagate,   (I  forefee,  and  fore- 
 warn you  of  it,)   will  be  made  the  Occa- 
 "  fton,  and  prove  the  Caufe,  of  much  Divi- 
 <*  fion  and  Strife  ,    of  the  ftrongefl:  Paffions, 
 **   Hatreds,  and  Animofities ;  nay,  of  the  ut- 
 "  moft  Pitch   of    Malice   and    Perfecution  , 
 "  and  of  the  greateil:  Barbarities,  and  Cruel- 
 *'  ties :    and  this,   amongll  Men  of  the  fame 
 "  Nation,  of  the  fame  Blood,  of  the  fame 
 Family;    amongfl  Men  who  have  the  Ties 
 of  Nature,  Friendiliip,   Alliance,  Intereft, 
 **  to  make  them  good,  kind,   and  beneficent, 
 **  to  one  another.     Tbi?2k  not  that  I  am  come 
 *'  to  fend  Feace  071  Earth,  that  is,  Think  not 
 that  the  Confequence  of  my  coming  into 
 the  World,  and  preaching  a  new  Religion 
 "  in  it,  will  be  this,  that  Men  will  fmcerely 
 
 *'  embrace 
 
 n 
 
 <c 
 
 <c 
 
'■■■'"     "      -i..- ."  .  -■■  -..-,..  !».(■■ 
 
 falfely  imputed  to  Ghrijlian'ity,_ 
 
 **  embrace  it;    or  that  it  will  tame  the  Paffi-iE  R  M, 
 
 "  ons  of  thofe  who  fliall  pretend  to  eaiibrace       i. 
 
 "  it,  or  that  the  World  will  follow  the  Pre- U^''^ 
 
 *'  cepts  of  Humanity  and  good  Nature,  laid 
 
 **  down  in  it.      No,  /  came  not  to  fend  Peace, 
 
 *'   but  a  Sword,  that   is,   The  Confequence  of 
 
 "  my  coming  into  the  World,   and  promul- 
 
 "   g:Jting  this  Religion,   will  not  be  Peace  on 
 
 "  Eiarth,  and  Good-wiil amongji  Men:  but  this 
 
 **   very  Religion,   this  holy  and  peaceable  In- 
 
 *^   ftivution,   will  (through  the  Perverfenefs  of 
 
 **  Mankind)  be  often  made  a  Cover  and  Pre- 
 
 *'  tence  for  the  greatell:  Barbarities  j  and  often 
 
 *'  prove  the  Occafion  of  Diforder,  and  Pail'ion, 
 
 *'  and  Malice,   and  Violence,   and  of  all  the 
 
 *'   Evils  you  can  imagine/' 
 
 We  mufb  obfervc,  that  our  hord,  in  the 
 ^ext,  doth  not  fpeak  of  his  Defign  in  coming 
 into  the  World  :  for  it  is  very  plain  that  He 
 came  with  defign  to  fend  Peace  and  good| 
 Nature  upon  Earth  ,  and  to  plant  the  nobleft 
 and  moft  extenfive  Charity  in  the  Hearts  oi" 
 Men.  But  he  fpeaks  of  a  mofl  unhappy 
 Confequence  of  his  appearing,  and  inftitu- 
 ting  his  Religion  :  that  it  {hould  be  turned, 
 by  the  Contrivances  of  the  wicked  Part  o  •" 
 God's  Creatures,  to  very  bad  Purpofes,  anc, 
 ill  Ufes;  to  the  Difturbance  of  that  World, 
 which  it  was  defigned  to  compofe  and  mak(; 
 
 B  2  happy. 
 
 ji  _. 
 
Of  the  DivifionSy  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 SERM. 
 I. 
 
 happy.  And  becaufe  much  of  this  hath  been 
 feen  in  all  Ages,  and  all  Nations,  in  which 
 the  Sound  of  the  Gofpel  hath  been  heard; 
 and  a  great  deal  of  it  is  flill  to  be  feen  in  our 
 own  Age  and  Nation ,  and  becaufe  many 
 have  been  offended  at  Chrift,  and  his  Doc- 
 trine, on  this  unhappy  Account,  and  have 
 blamed  Chriftianity  for  the  Sake  of  this, 
 which  it  hath  unwillingly  been  the  Occalion 
 of:  therefore,  it  may  be  proper  and  ufeful  to 
 make  fome  Obfervations  upon  this  Subjedl. 
 And  what  I  defign  upon  it,  is, 
 
 I.  To  obferve  the  Truth  of  what  was  here 
 predi6led  by  our  Lord :  that  Chrifiianity  hath 
 been  made  the  Occafion  of  much  Dlfturbance, 
 and  of  many  fatal  Divifions,  Hatreds,  and 
 Perfecutions,  in  the  World. 
 
 II.     To    vindicate   Chrijlianity   from    the 
 Guilt  and  Blame  of  this  Unhappinefs. 
 
 III.  To  confider  whence  it  hath  proceeded. 
 
 IV.  To  make  fome  proper  Obfervations, 
 and  draw  fome  ufeful  Inferences,  from  what 
 I  fhall  have  faid  upon  this  Subjedt. 
 
 I.  I  fliall  obferve  the  Truth  of  what  is  here 
 predided  by  our  Lord :  that  the  Chrifiian  Re- 
 ligion hath  been  made  the  Occafion  of  much 
 Difturbance;  of  many  fad  Divifions,  Hatreds, 
 and  Perfecutions  in  the  World. 
 
 It 
 
falfly  wiputed  to  Chrijlianity, 
 
 It  is,  indeed,  a  very  moving  and  uneafys 
 Confideration,  that,  from  the  Time  of  its 
 firjfl  Appearance  to  this  very  Day,  fiich  an 
 ufe  hath  been  made  of  it,  or  of  fomething  or 
 other  fuppofed  to  belong  to  it,  as  hath  tempt- 
 ed fome  to  think  that  the  Mifchief  it  hath 
 given  Rife  to,  in  the  World,  is  not  counter- 
 vailed by  all  the  Good  it  hath  hitherto 
 brought  forth.  And  there  needs  but  a  very 
 little  Knowledge  in  the  Hidory  of  former 
 Times,  or  the  Tranfadions  of  thefe  later 
 Ages,  to  make  one  wifh  that  there  were 
 much  lefs  reafon  to  think  fo,  than  there  ap- 
 pears to  be. 
 
 What  our  Saviour  chiefly  had  an  Eye  to, 
 in  the  ^extj  was,  probably  that  Perfecu- 
 tion,  and  thofe  Inftances  of  Malice,  which 
 He  faw  it  would  occafion  in  the  World,  at 
 its  firft  Appearance :  that  Hatred  of  ChriJIians 
 it  would  produce  in  the  Breafts  of  Ujibelievers  -, 
 and  thofe  Storms  of  Perfecution,  which  the 
 Profeffion  of  it  would  raife  againft  them.  But, 
 as  He  could  not  likewife  be  ignorant  of  thofe 
 Hatreds  and  Animofities  it  would,  in  after 
 Ages,  raife  amongft  ChriJIians  themfelves, 
 againft  one  another  j  to  the  Difturbing,  and 
 ruining  their  common  Peace  and  Quiet  :  fo. 
 He  did  not  (we  may  be  fure)  exclude  thefe  ; 
 
 B   3  but 
 
 E  R  M. 
 I. 
 
 i. 
 
Of  the  JDlvifanSj  a7td  Cruelties^ 
 
 SERM  but  had  an  Eye  to  them  all,  in  the  Words  of 
 
 I.      the  T^ext. 
 iy^^      When  Chrtjiianity  firfl:  appeared,   and  firft 
 was  preached  ;    the   Prejudices   and   Paffions 
 of  Men  ran  high  againft  it:    as  it  was  a  Con- 
 tradiction to  their  received  Ways  of  Worfhip ; 
 to  their  former  and  fettled  Principles ;    to   the 
 Dictates  and  Practices   of  their  Forefat<!?ers ; 
 and   to  their  own   indulged   Lufts,  and   evil 
 Habits.     And    fo    the  very  Profeffion   of  it, 
 much  more  the  bold  preaching  of  it,  alarm- 
 ed all   Mankind  againft  the  Men   who  pro- 
 fefTed  and  preached  it.     They  were  hated  by 
 their   neareft   Relations ;     they  were  expofed 
 to  the  greateft  Evils  in  Life  :    and  they  were 
 perfecuted   even    to  Death :      All    Countries 
 were  difturbed  at  them  ;    and  all  Princes,  and 
 Magiftrates    made  it   their  Bufinefs  to  extir- 
 pate   them.       This    was    their   Cafe    almoft 
 coniliantly,  till  their  Numbers  increafed  ;   till 
 Chrijiianity  became  the   eftabliihed  Religion 
 of  whole  Nations  ;    and  Princes  became   the 
 Temporal  Patrons  of  the  Church.     And  thus 
 did  this  Religion  which  ^efus  came  to  plant 
 in  the  World,  give  an  Alarm  to  the  Kingdoms 
 of  it ;   and  was  made  the  Handle  t6  unfpeak- 
 able   Difquiet   and  Difturbance,  Malice,   and 
 Perfecution,  in  it. 
 
 But  when  it  came  to  be  the  fettled  Reli- 
 gion 
 
 •- 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijlicmity. 
 
 gion  ;  to  have  the  Approbation,  and  Counte-  J  e  r  M. 
 nance  of  Princes  ;  and  to  enjoy  the  favoura-  i. 
 ble  Look  of  the  great  Men  of  this  World :  'U^'^v^ 
 what  a  glorious  Scene  would  any  gne  expeft, 
 who  ferioufly  looks  into  the  Defign,  Nature, 
 and  Precepts  of  it  ?  What  a  Scene  of  Calm- 
 nefs  and  Serenity  of  Mind  ;  of  Mortification, 
 and  /Conquefl  of  thofe  Paffions  and  Lufts, 
 from  whence  proceeds  all  the  Mifchief  in  the 
 World  ?  What  a  Scene  of  Love  and  Benefi- 
 cence to  one  another;  of  Joy  and  Delight  in 
 one  another's  Happinefs  \  of  Opennefs  and 
 Freedom  j  of  Sincerity  and  Kindnefs ;  of 
 PJumility,  Condefcenfion,  Humanity,  and 
 Meeknefs  ?  What  could  any  one  expe(ft,  who 
 fearcheth  into  the  Gofpel,  more  than  the  Hu- 
 mours and  Actions  of  Mankind,  but  that 
 Peace  and  Holinefs  fhould  have  kiffed  each 
 other ;  that  Contentment  and  Happinefs 
 fliould  have  flouriflied  in  the  Earth  ;  that  all 
 that  could  contribute  to  the  Quiet  and  Satif- 
 fadlion  of  the  World,  (hould  from  this  Time 
 have  abounded  in  it  ? 
 
 Would  you  think,  That,  as  foon  as  the 
 Chriftians  had  Reft  from  the  World  about 
 them,  their  Paflions  ran  as  high  againft  one 
 another  as  the  Paffions  of  the  unbeh'eving 
 World  had  done  againfl  theni  before?  Would 
 you  imagine  that  they  turned  from  fuffering 
 B  4  e[lori- 
 
8 
 
 Of  the  Divifions^  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 SE  R  M 
 I. 
 
 •  glorioufly,   to  biting  and  devouring  ;  to  hating 
 and   condemning  one  another  ?      That  their 
 ^-'^/^  ftrongeH;    and    moft   avowed   Hatreds,    their 
 moil    fatal   Diviiions   and    Animolities,    took 
 their  Rife  from,   and  had  their  Foundation  in, 
 fome  Point  of  Religion,  fome  Point  of  Faith 
 or   Worfhip  ?       And    that  they  were    often 
 more   concerned  for  forne  infignificant  Mat- 
 ter,  or  fome  Point  of  Speculation,   that  the 
 Gofpel  had  not  fo  abfolutely  determined,    as 
 to  leave  no  Room  for  Diverfity   of  Opinions; 
 That  they  were  too  often,   I  fay,   much  more 
 zealous  to  defend,   or  oppofe,   T!hefe^  than  to 
 preferve  the  Obligation,   and  fecure  the  Prac- 
 tice of  the  weightier  Matters  of  the  Gofpel  ? 
 Yet  thus  it  was :  and  thus  it  hath  been  ever 
 lince,   to  that  Degree,   that  it  is  now  hardly  a 
 Queftion  whether   more  Unkindnefs  and  In- 
 humanity,  more  Malice   and   Hatred,    more 
 Violence  and  Barbarity,  were  heretofore  fhewn 
 by  the  unbelieving  ynws  and  Gentiles  towards 
 Chrijiians^     for  the    Sake  of    their  Religion, 
 than  have  been  fince  fhewn  by  profefTed  Chrif- 
 tians  towards   one  another,  on  the  Score  of 
 fome  religious  Differences. 
 
 The  contending  with  the  Sword  of  the 
 Spirit,  the  Word  of  Truth,  and  Meeknefs, 
 for  the  Purity  of  Faith  and  Worfliip  once 
 delivered  to  the  Saints,  was  truly  commenda- 
 ble and  praifeworthy.    This  Sort  oi  Contention 
 
 for 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijliamty, 
 
 for  the  Gofpel,  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Gofpel,  hathi;  e  r  m. 
 ever  tended  to  the  increafing  of  Charity,  as  i. 
 well  as  to  the  manifefting  of  Truth.  But  aP'VNJ 
 falfe  Zeal  quickly  devoured  it,  and  took  its 
 Place  :  and  very  .  foon  prompted  Men  of  ill 
 Tempers,  and  vi^orldly  Defigns,  to  make  a 
 greater  Diftindion  amongft  ChriJiianSy  than 
 need  ;,  to  fligmatize  honefler  Men  than  them- 
 felves  with  hard  Names,  and  odious  Appella- 
 tions J  and  then,  to  treat  them  contumelioufly, 
 and  as  Perfons  unfit  to  be  dealt  with  in  the 
 Ways  of  Humanity,  and  Candour.  And,  on 
 the  other  Side,  this  fame  Pretenfe  gave  occafion 
 to  Men  of  Parts  and  Paffion,  when  they  faw 
 themfelves  likely  to  be  opprefled,  to  ftrengthen 
 themfelves  in  their  Opinions ;  to  form  Par- 
 ties upon  a  Foundation  diftindl  from  that  of 
 the  flourifhing  Party  j  to  enter  into  clofe  De- 
 ligns  and  Combinations  j  and  fo  to  help  for- 
 ward the  Difturbance  and  Difquiet  of  the 
 Chriftian  Church. 
 
 If  we  pafs  from  thefe  iirfl  Ages  down- 
 wards; who  can  fpeak,  or  hear,  of  fuch  things 
 as  have  been  publickly  tranfaded  amongft 
 Chrijlians^  on  religious  Accounts,  without  a 
 very  fenfible  Commotion  within  ?  We  rnay 
 •read  it  in  Hiftories,  and  we  may  fee  it  with 
 our  Eyes,  that  there  is  an  immortal  Hatred ; 
 an  Uneafinefs  not  ever  likely  to  ceafe,  between 
 Chrijiians  of  feveral  Denominations.  There 
 I  are 
 
lO 
 
 Of  the  DhJfanSj  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 %-E'^y^W^  Inquifnion^  and  Torments  defigned,  and 
 I.      made   ufe  of,   by  Cbrijliam  againft  ChrilUans^ 
 
 U'\^X;  beyond  the  Example  of  former  Agesj  and  be- 
 yond the  Cruelty  of  either  Jewifh  or  Heathen 
 Perfecutors.  We  have  known  Men  tortured 
 and  perfecuted  -,  murthered  and  mafTacred  ; 
 banifhed  from  their  Pofleffions ;  deprived  of 
 their  Eflatesj  expelled  their  native  Land;  fe- 
 parated  from  their  Children  and  Friends,  or 
 their  Friends  and  Children  torn  by  Violence 
 from  them  5  for  the  Sake  of  Religion,  and  un- 
 der Pretence  of  doing  Service  to  the  Church  of 
 God,  by  extending  and  propagating  the  Faith 
 and  Worfliip  of  a  particular  Set  of  Men.  And 
 how  exadly  hath  the  Account  of  this  Matter 
 given  by  our  Saviour  been  verified,  in  feve- 
 ral  Countries,  in  thefe  laft  Ages,  as  well  as 
 the  firft  Times  of  the  Gofpel  ?  A  man  hath 
 been  at  'varia?ice  againji  his  Father -^  and  the 
 Daughter  againfi  her  Mother ;  and  the  Daugh- 
 ter in  law  againji  her  Mother  in  law  ,  and  a 
 Mans  Foes  have  been  thofe  of  his  own  Houjholdy 
 as  it  follows  jufi:  after  the  I'ext  in  St.  Matth. 
 35,  36.  And  as  it  is  in  St.  Luke,  ch.  xii.  52, 
 5  3 .  'There  have  been  five  in  one  Houfe  divided y 
 three  againji  two,  and  two  againji  three.  The 
 Father  divided  againfi  the  Son,  and  the  Son  a- 
 gainft  the  Father ;  the  Mother  againji  the  Daugh- 
 ter^ and  the  Daughter  againfi  the  Mother ;  the 
 
 Mother 
 
faljlly  hnputed  to  Chrijiimtlty, 
 
 XI 
 
 Mother  in  law  againfi  her  Daughter  in  law^  and\  e  R  m« 
 the  Daughter  in  law  againd  her  Mother  in  law,      i . 
 
 We   of   this    Nation,    indeed,    read,    and  ^^^V*^ 
 hear   at  a  Diftance,  of  greater  Barbarities  and 
 Cruelties,  than  we  have  ourfelves  experienced, 
 or  feen  with  our  Eyes  -,  but  yet  we,   amongft 
 others,  may  help  to  prove  the  Truth  of  what 
 I  am.iiow  obferving.      For,  what  Heats,  and 
 Paffions  J   what  Unkindnefles,  and  Incivilities; 
 what  Hatreds   and  Variances ;    what   Parties 
 and  Diftinftions ;   nay,  what  Projeds  and  De- 
 figns  are  there  often  feen  amongft  us,   which, 
 (if  the  Bottom  of  Things  be  fearched  into,) 
 owe  their  Original,   or  their   Profecution,   to 
 fome  real,    or  pretended,   Difference  'in    reli- 
 gious   Opinions,    or    Modes    of    Worfhip  ? 
 Names  are  invented  to  diftinguifh  fome  from 
 others,  and  make  them  odious  and  fufpedted; 
 and  thefe  Names  are  commonly  taken   from 
 fomething  that  bears  a  Relation  to  Religion, 
 and  the  Worlhip  of  God  :    and  the  Church  is 
 too  often  hooked  into   Defigns,    in   which   it 
 hath  little  to  do  j  and  facred  Words  are  made 
 to  ferve  the  Purpofes  of  projeding  Men.   For 
 this  is  laid  down  as  certain,   that  though  True 
 Religion  be  little  regarded,   but   rather  tram- 
 pled on,  by  the  Generality  of  the  World  ;  yet 
 the  Pretences  taken   from  thence  are  moving, 
 and  never  fail  to  alarm  the  Multitude,  and   to 
 forward  a  Deiign.      Any  Dodtrine,  manifeftly 
 
 framed 
 
12 
 
 Of  the  DivifionSy  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 §ER  M,  framed  to  ferve  a  Purpofe,  can  at  any  Time 
 I.     eafily  he  made  the  diflinguiOiing  Mark  of  a 
 
 ti'^'VXJtrue  Chrijiian,  or  the  true  Church  :  and  all 
 that  will  not  yield  to  the  Truth  of  it,  fhall 
 prefently  be  branded  with  fome  religious  Nick- 
 name or  other.  Hcrctick^  and  Schifmaticky 
 at  the  Head  ;  and  Multitudes  of  other  oppro- 
 brious Names  ranked  under  them  5  haye  all 
 been  taken  from  fome  Difference  in  the  hold- 
 ing and  profeffing  the  fame  Religion.  And 
 they  have  been  ufed  fo  freely,  and  after  fuch 
 a  manner,  as  that  they  have  often  effedually 
 contributed  to  the  Deftrudion  of  Chriftian 
 Charity ;  to  the  Overthrow  of  Peace  and  Con- 
 cord ^  to  the  Ruine  of  many  excellent  Deligns; 
 and  to  the  promoting  many  bad  ones. 
 
 It  is  a  Shame  to  fpeak  of  thefe  Things : 
 but  it  is  too  plain  to  be  diffembled,  that  it  hath 
 fared  thus  with  Chrijlianity  ever  fince  it  ap- 
 peared; that  it  hath  not  only  been  made  the 
 Occafion  of  the  bittereft  Perfecutions  from  the 
 Infidel  Part  of  the  World,  but  alfo  of  the  bit- 
 tereft  Hatreds,  and  flrongeft  Malice,  and  moft 
 irreconcileable  Divifions,  amongfl:  CbriJIians 
 themfelves  :  And  thefe,  at  length,  rooted  in 
 the  Hearts  of  Men,  to  that  Depth,  and  with 
 that  Firmnefs,  that  it  appears  next  to  impoffi- 
 ble  to  extirpate  them ;  or  to  reftore  the  World 
 to  the  Spirit  of  Meeknefs,  and  Quiet,  and  to 
 the  Temper  of  reafonable  Creatures.  Next 
 to  impojjibkj  I  fay  :  For  what  can  we  think, 
 „  when 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijlianity , 
 
 when  all  the  Attempts  Almighty  God  hath  feen 
 fit  to  make  towards  It,  have  hitherto  proved 
 ineiFedual,  wlien  even  his  lail:  Difpenfation  by 
 the  Hands  of  his  S>07i^  lent  from  Heaven,  hath 
 been  To  far  from  heal  in?  the  Wounds  and 
 Breaches  in  the  Love  and  Regards  of  Men  to 
 one  another,  that  it  hath  been  abufed  to  the  in- 
 fiaminff  and  widening  them  ?  When  God  him- 
 felf  fpeaks  to  them  of  Peace^  and  yet  they  make 
 ihemj'elves  ready  to  battle  "^  When  they  have 
 taken  occafion  from  this  laffc  Trial  of  his,  de- 
 figned  to  plant  Peace  and  Unity  in  the  Earth, 
 to  be  the  more  quarrelfome,  and  the  more  in- 
 cenfed  againft  one  another  ?  when  they  fearch 
 into  the  Bowels  of  this  very  Revelation,  and 
 fetch  Fuel  out  of  this  moft  peaceable  Inftitu- 
 tion,  to  fet  themfelves,  and  the  Vv^orid  about 
 them,  in  Flames :  What  fmall  Hope,  I  fay,  can 
 we  have  of  the  Refl:itution  and  Re-eftablifh- 
 ment  of  Quiet  and  Harmony  in  the  Minds  and 
 Adiions  of  Men ;  whilfl:  they  are  ever  finding 
 fomething  In  Religion  Itfelf,  to  exafperate  their 
 Minds  againfl  one  another  j  to  make  their 
 Lives  unquiet,   and  Society  unharmonious  ? 
 
 The  Prophets  have  invain  defcrlbed  the 
 Golden  Age  of  their  Mejjiah,  and  invain  ex- 
 tolled his  glorious  and  pacific  Reign ;  unlefs 
 God  himfelf  interpofe.  T^he  Wolf  fiall  dwell 
 with  the  Lamb  (faith  the  Prophet  Ifaiah,  ch,  xi. 
 ^y  7i  S>  9>)  and  the  Leopard fiall  lie  down  with 
 
 the 
 
 E  RM. 
 
 I. 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
 Of  the  DiviJionSy  and  Cruelties ^ 
 
 •S  E  R  mI  the  Kid :  and  the  Calf,  and  the  young  Lion,  an. 
 the  Failing  together,  and  a  little  Child  jlmll  lead 
 \/"\r^them.  And  the  Cow  and  the  Bear  Jlmll  feed, 
 their  you?jg  ones  fiall  lie  down  together :  and  the 
 Lion  fliall  eat  ft  raw  like  the  Ox.  And  the  fuck- 
 ing Child  Jhall  play  on  the  Hole  of  the  Afpe,  and 
 the  weaned  Child  JJjall  put  his  Hand  on  the  Cock- 
 atrice Den.  ^hey  Jhall  not  hurt,  nor  dejlroy  in 
 all  my  holy  Mountain  :  for  the  Earth  Jhall  he 
 full  of  the  Knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  Wa- 
 ters cover  the  Sea. 
 
 If  this  be  a  Defcriptlon  which  relates  to  the 
 Reign  of  Chrijhy  and   to  the  Glories  of  his 
 Kingdom,   when  it   fliould  be   fet  up  in  this 
 World;  we  mufb  with  Grief  remark,  that  ei- 
 ther the  Prophet   fpeaks  only  with  refpe^fl  to 
 the  Nature  and  Tendency  of  Chrifs  Dodrine ; 
 that,  if  Men  would  heartily  receive  and  prac- 
 tice it,   a  glorious  Peace  and  Happinefs  would 
 be  diffufed  over  the  Earth  :    or  eife,   that  He 
 prophecies  of  fome  happy  Times,  , unknown 
 yet,   which  future  Ages  are  to  be  blefied  with. 
 For  the  Earth  is,  indeed,  full  of  the  Kticwledge 
 cf  the  Lord,   in  this  Senfe,  that  the  Profeffion 
 of  Chriflianity  is  very  widely  fprea'd.      There 
 is  Opportunity   enough   for  Knowledge  :    but 
 there  hath  been  yet  but  little  of  this  univerfal 
 Charity  feen,    or  felt,    in  the  World.     T^he 
 Earth  is  full  of  the  Knowledge  of  the  Lord :  and 
 yet  the  WaiJ  dwelkth  not  with  the  Lamb  \  ncf 
 
 doth 
 
 ' 
 
faljl^y  imputed  to  Chrpflianky, 
 
 li 
 
 dotk  the  Leopard  lie  down  with  the  Kid ;  nor 
 do  the  Cow  and  the  Bear  feed  together  j  nor 
 doth  the  fucking  Child  play  upon  the  Hole  of  the 
 Afpe  \  nor  doth  the  weaned  Child  put  his  hand 
 upon  the  Cockatrice  Den  ;  nor  have  thefe  rapa- 
 cious and  terrible  Creatures  left  off  to  hurt  or 
 deftroy  in  God's  holy  mountain.  Nor  hath  any 
 thins;, of  what  was  intended  bv  this  come  to 
 pals :  that  is,  Mens  Tempers  have  not  been 
 univerfally  tamed  and  fubdued ;  but  the  Wild 
 and  Wicked  are  ftili  wild  and  wicked,  flill 
 bite  and  devour  the  Innocent  j  and  ftill  a  War 
 is  carried  on  amongft  Men. 
 
 Nay,  for  what  appears,  and  for  all  thofe  Ad- 
 vances that  have  been  hitherto  made  towards  a 
 firm  Union,  and  a  fincere  and  univerfal  Friend- 
 ihip  amongft  all  Men  j  every  one  of  thefe  figu- 
 rative Expreffions  of  the  Prophet  may  be  lit- 
 terally  fulfilled,  before  an  univerfal  Calmnefs 
 reign  thro'  the  Earth.  And  the  Wolf  and  the 
 Lion,  and  the  Leopard,  and  the  Bear,  may  foon- 
 er  enter  into  Terms  of  Reconciliation  and  A- 
 mity,  with  the  milder  Beafts,  and  with  Man- 
 kind ;  than  the  paffionate  and  violent,  the 
 hurtlul  and  venomous,  the  cruel  and  malici- 
 ous, Part  of  Mankind  (hall  fuff^r  themfelves 
 to  be  tamed  and  fubdued  into  good  N-mre  and 
 Charity ;  or  be  bound  up  by  any  Rules  of  <^i-, 
 €t  and  Harmony.     Bui  tho'  we  fee  fo   Unle 
 
 ^^ign 
 
 RM, 
 I. 
 
Of  the  DiviJio7ts  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 Sign  of  this  hitherto;  yet  we  know  that  not  a 
 Tittle  of  all  that  is  fpoken  fhall  fail. 
 
 In  the  mean  while,  that  it  may  be  no  Ob- 
 jetflion  againft  Chrijiimi'tty  itfelf,  and  no  mat- 
 ter of  Scandal  and  Offence  to  us,  that  it  hath 
 proved  the  Occafion  of  fo  (harp  Swords,  and  fo 
 much  Divifion  upon  Earth  ;  it  becomes  us  to 
 enquire,  as  I  propofed,  ', 
 
 11.  Whether  the  Gofpel  itfelf  be  not  whol- 
 ly free  from  all  the  Guilt  of  this  great  Unhap- 
 pinefs;  or  whether  it  be  poffible,  with  the 
 leaft  Degree  of  Juftice,  to  attribute  this  to 
 the  Docflrine,  or  Defign,  of  ^efm  Chrift  ;  to 
 the  Nature  or  Tendency  of  any  Thing  con- 
 tained in  Chrifiianity.  A  very  few  Words 
 will  fuffice  upon  this  Head.  For  let  any 
 Perfon,  of  never  fo  little  Capacity,  look  into 
 the  Account  of  our  Saviour's  Life,  his  Acti- 
 ons and  his  Words,  recorded  in  the  Go/pels^ 
 or  into  the  Sermons,  and  Epiftles,  and  Be- 
 haviour of  his  Apoflles;  and  fee  if  they  find, 
 through  the  whole,  any  the  leaft  Encourage- 
 ment*given,  either  by  Example  or  Precept,  to 
 any,  even  the  lowefl.  Degree  of  that  Temper 
 of  Mind,  or  Manner  of  Deportment,  which 
 doth  fo  much  as  border  upon  ill  Nature,  or 
 cruel  Ufage  of  our  Fellow-Creatures.  Did  not 
 our  Lord  himfelf  condefcend  to  all  the  Offices 
 of  Love  and  Beneficence  to  all  the  World  of 
 Sinners  about  him  ?    Do  not  all  his  Precepts, 
 
 which 
 
fdtjly  imputed  to  Chrijlianity. 
 
 17 
 
 which  relpedt  human  boclely,  manileflly  Ten3'rE  R  M. 
 to  the  Peace  and  Quiet  of  it  ?  And  would  they  1 
 not  effecftually  procure  and  eftablifli  it,  wereH**^*"^ 
 they  thoroughly  attended  to,  and  univerfally 
 pradtifed  ?  Doth  not  He  command,  upon  pain 
 of  God's  eternal  Dilpleafure  againft  thofe  who 
 negledl  it,  the  Pradtife  of  all  the  peaceable  and 
 quiet;  Virtues ;  and  forbid  the  harbouring  the 
 very  Thoughts  and  Surmifes,  that  may  poffibly 
 tend  to  break  in  upon  the  Happinefs  of  the 
 World  about  us  ?  Meeknefs,  Humility,  Con- 
 defcenfion,  Forbearance,  Forgivenefs,  Tender- 
 nefs,  and  the  like  :  are  they  not  indifpenfably 
 enjoined  ?  And  the  Vices  contrary  to  thefe, 
 Haughtinefs,  Pride,  Revenge,  Unmercifulnefs, 
 Malice,  and  Ill-will :  are  they  not  flridly  for- 
 bidden J  their  Punifliment  declared  to  be  cer- 
 tain, and  intolerable  ?  They  are  forbidden,  in 
 all  Cafes,  and  at  all  Times.  Nothing  can  ever 
 juftify  them  :  nothing  is  fuppofed  in  the  Gof- 
 pel  ever  to  excufe  thofe  who  are  guilty  of 
 them.  Nay,  Love,  and  Beneficence,  and  a 
 Readinefs  to  be  reconciled  to  our  greateft  and 
 mod  violent  Enemies,  are  made  the  fhining 
 and  diftinguidiing  Charaders  of  a  true  Chrif- 
 tian.  And  could  He,  who  came  to  inftitutc 
 fuch  a  Religion,  full  of  inch  Precepts,  and 
 conftantly  recommending  fuch  fort  of  Virtues 
 above  all  others,  be  fuppofed  to  come  on  any 
 other  Defign,  but  to  compofe  the  jarring  Tern- 
 
 C  pers 
 
i8 
 
 Of  the  DivifoftSj  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 SERivr.pers,  and  Adions  of  Men,  into  Concord  and 
 I,     Harmony?     And  can  any  one  charge  fuch  a 
 
 ^i'^'V^  J  Religion,  that  feems  to  be  calculated  in  ail  its 
 Parts,  chiefly  for  the  planting,  maintaining, 
 and  increafing,  Peace  and  Love  in  the  World  ; 
 can  any  one,  I  fay,  charge  this  Religion  with 
 the  Guilt  of  thofe  Heats,  and  DiiTenfions, 
 which  it  hath  been  by  Accident  made  the  Oc- 
 cafion  of?  No,  It  mull  be  plain,  beyond  Con- 
 tradidion,  to  all  who  will  look  into  it,  that 
 Chrijiianity  itfelf  hath  not  the  leaft  Part  in  this 
 Guilt:  but  that  we  muft  feek  for  the  true 
 Source,  and  Foundation  of  all  this  Unhappi- 
 nefs  fomewhere  elfe.  This  is  what  I  now  de- 
 iign,  viz, 
 
 III.  To  confider,  whence  this  great  Un- 
 happinefs  hath  truly  proceded ;  and  where 
 the  Guilt  of  it  is  juftly  to  be  fixed.     And 
 
 I.  This  Unhappinefs  manifeftly  proceded, 
 in  the  firft  Ages  of  the  Gofpel,  from  the  Pre- 
 judices and  Paffions  of  the  unbelieving  World, 
 both  Jews  and  Gentiles.  This  I  mention  firft, 
 becaufe  the  Difturbance  and  Difquiet  that 
 fprang  from  this  Original  was  firft  in  order  of 
 Time,  commencing  immediately  with  the 
 Gofpel  itfelf:  and  was  what  our  Lord  chiefly 
 refpeded  in  the  I'ext ;  which  was  fpoken  to 
 the  Perfons  who  were  themfelves  to  be  the  firft 
 Propagators  of  his  Religion,  and  the  firft  Wit- 
 nefles  to  this  fatal  Confequenee  of  it.  A  Scene 
 
 of 
 
falny  imputed  to  Chrijlianityi 
 
 *9 
 
 of  Violence  and  Fury   immediately  attended siE  R  M* 
 *the  opening  of  the  Gofpel  to  the  World.  The  |    j. 
 ;  Preachers,  and  Propagators  of  it  were  perfe-^v^VNi 
 jcuted,  beyond  what  had  been, known  in  the 
 World  before  ;    and  all  the  nncere  ProfefTors 
 of  it  hated  by  their  very  Friends  and  Relati- 
 ons, and  purfued  by  all  the  Evils  of  this  World, 
 land  all  that   is  terrible  to  Flefh  and    Blood, 
 jindeed  this  Perfecution,   and  thefe  DifTenfions, 
 had  not  happened  in  the  World,  \i  Chrijlianity 
 jhad  not  been   preached  to  the  Nations  of  \i, 
 jBut  fhall  not  God  do  his  part  to  the  reforming' 
 and  amending  the  World  ;     becaufe  there  are 
 fome  in  it  that  will  make  this  very  Attempt  of^ 
 his  an  Occafion  of  their  growing  worfe  ?   bhalF 
 not  God  fend  a  divine  Perfon  into  the  World, 
 I  to  preach  a  pure  and  holy   Religion,  full   of 
 [Charity,  Huviility,  and  PeacCy    becaufe  fome 
 'will  make  this  an  Opportunity  of  their  increa- 
 'fing  in  Fiercenefs  and  Inhumanity  ?    Had  the 
 Chriftian  Religion,   indeed,  given   the   unbe- 
 lieving World  any  Reafon  to  be  fo  incenfed  a* 
 gainft  it,  and  fo  inhofpitable  to  its  ProfefTors  j 
 fomewhat  might  be  faid  in  Vindication  of  their 
 Practice  ;    and  fome  Blame  juftly  laid  at  the 
 Door  of  Chriliia?iity.    But  wicked  Men  rai fed 
 this  terrible  Scene  of  Perfecution  againft  it  j  li  )t 
 becaufe  they  had  no  reafon  to  receive  it  5     but 
 becaufe  they  would  not.     And  they  would  vol 
 receive  it,  becaufe  it  was  againft  their  intertfts, 
 
 C  2  or 
 
20 
 
 Of  the  Divijions^  and  Crudtksy 
 
 SERivr.or  their  Lufts,   or  their  Humours,  to  receive 
 I.      it.  Not  that  it  divefted  any  of  the  Magiflrates 
 W^"V^w.'of  this  World  of  their  lawful  Authority;  or 
 diflblved  the  Obligation  of  Obedience  in  their 
 Subjects.      Not  that  it  concerned  itfelf  with 
 the  Rights  and  Privileges  of  Kingdoms,  and 
 Civil  Societies ;  or  brake  in  upon  the  Govern- 
 ment, or  Difcipline,  of  Nations.     Not  that  it 
 tended  in  its  Nature  to  render  Society  difagree- 
 able :  to  make  Men  ill-natured,  or  morofe,  or 
 uncharitable,  or  unjuft,  or  cruel,  or   hypo- 
 critical J    or  recommended  any  thing  to  Man- 
 kind contrary  to  the  Peace  and  Quiet  of  the 
 State.     Nothing  of  this  could  be  laid  to  its 
 Charge  by  its  greateft  Adverfaries.     But  the 
 Truth   of  the  Cafe    was  this.      They  hated 
 and  derided  it,  becaufe,  if  it  had  univerfally 
 taken  place,  the  Follies  and  Superftitions  of 
 their  received  Forms  of  Worfhip   muft   have 
 vanilhed  ;  and  the  whole  Fabric  of  their  Fore- 
 fathers Religion  been  fhaken,  and  ruined.  Let 
 a  Form  of  Worfhip  be  never  fo  tedious  with 
 pompous  Ceremonies ;    never  fo  full  of  Fop- 
 peries, and  ridiculous  Circumftances ;    never 
 fo  unworthy  of  reafonable  Creatures  to  offer, 
 or  of  God  to  receive;  yet  there  is  1  know  not 
 what  Fondnefs  for  it,  riveted  in  the  Minds  and 
 Affedions  of  Men,   if  it  defcended  down  to 
 them    from   their   Forefathers,    and  can   but 
 plead  Age  and  Prefcription. 
 
 But 
 
Jalfely  ifnputed  to  Chrijlianity, 
 
 But  perhaps  Chriftianity,  with  the  Evidences  e  r  m. 
 
 :2i 
 
 I. 
 
 that  at  firfl:  accompanied  it,    might  have   got 
 over  this  Difficulty ;  and  have  born  down  this  y^^"^ 
 .blind  and  fenfelefs  Veneration   of  Antiquity. 
 But  this  was  not  all  it  had  to  encounter.     It 
 oppofed  the  Paflions,  and  Lufts,  and  prefent 
 worldly  Interefts   of  Men.     The   'Je'ws  faw, 
 it  condemned  and  oppofed  that  Courfe  of  Sen- 
 fuality  and  Covetoufnefs  they  were  generally 
 engaged  in  ;    and  that  it  put  an  End  to  their 
 Hopes  of  Temporal   Profperity,  and  flefhly 
 Pleafure,  and  Triumphs  over  their  Enemies, 
 under  the  Reign  of  their  MeJJiah,     The  great 
 Men  of  the  World  found  it  moft  oppofite  to 
 the  main  Defign  of  their  Lives ;  and  irrecon- 
 clleable  with  that  Ambition,   and  Pride,  and 
 infatiabie  Love  of  Riches  and  Grandeur,  which 
 they  had  entertained,  and  could  not  part  with. 
 A  very  fmall  Part  of  the  World,   as  things 
 went  then,  found  any  the  lead  Comfort  or 
 Satisfadion   in  any  of  its  Propofals.     Thefe 
 were  the  Reafons  why  both  Jews  and  Gentiles 
 made  it  their  Bufinefs  to  crufh  it  in  its  Infan- 
 cy ;  and  to  perfecute,  even  to  Death,   the  firil:  i 
 Preachers  and  ProfefTors  of  it :    becaufe  they  ; 
 carried  fuch  Evidence  along  with  them,  in  the ; 
 Miracles  they  every  where  wrought,  that  they  \ 
 judged  it  mud   prefently  gain  ground,  if  not  \ 
 thus  heartily,  and  inhumanly  refifted.      This 
 is  a  plain  Account  how  it  came  to  pafs,  that 
 
 C  3  the 
 
■22 
 
 Of  the  Divifonsy  and  Cruelties^  6cc. 
 
 fiERM.the  Cbriflian  Religion  was  at  fir  ft  the  Occafion 
 
 I. 
 
 of  much  Difturbance,  and  of  bitter  Perfecu- 
 V'^^^'^tions,  in  the  World  .  And  whether  this  pro- 
 ceded  from  any  thing  blameable  in  itfelf,  or 
 from  the  unreafonable  Prejudices,  and  deep- 
 rooted  Vices,  of  the  unbelieving  World,  may 
 be  left  to  any  one  of  Common  Senfe  to  judge. 
 
 SERMON 
 
Concerning  the  DhiftonSy  and  CrueltieSy  of 
 which  the  Chrijlian  Religion  hath  been  made 
 the  Occafion, 
 
 SERMON  II. 
 
 Preached  at  St,  Swithin's  Church,  in  1702. 
 
 St.  Matthew  x.    34. 
 
 ^I'hink  not  that  I  am  come  to  fend  peace  on  earth  : 
 I  came  not  to  fend  peace,  but  afword. 
 
 Or,  as  it  is  in  St.  Luke,  Chap.  xii.  51. 
 
 Suppofe  ye  that  I  am  come  to  give  peace  on  earth  ? 
 I  tellyoUy  Nay  J  but  rather  Divijion, 
 
 AVING  from  thefe  Words, /r/?,  made: 
 fome  Obfervations  upon  the  Matter  of 
 Fa5},  (here  predicted  by  our  Lord,) 
 that  Chrijiianity  hath  been  made  the  Occafion 
 of  many  bitter  Perfecutions,  fatal  Divifions, 
 and  Hatreds,  in  the  World :  and  having,  in 
 the  fecond  Place,  vindicated  Chrijiianity  it  felf 
 from  the  Guilt  and  Blame  of  it  j  I  propofed, 
 T^hirdly^  To  confider  vi^hence  this  Unhappinefs 
 hath  truly  preceded ;  and  where  the  Guilt  of 
 it  is  juflly  to  be  fixed.  Tht frjl  Obfervation 
 was,  that  the  bitter  Perfecutions,  and  Animo- 
 
 C  4  fities 
 
 ERM. 
 
 II. 
 
^4 
 
 S£RM 
 II. 
 
 Of  the  DivifanSy  and  Cruelties ^ 
 
 .fides,  occafioned  at  its  firft  Appearance,  pro- 
 ceded  entirely  from  the  unreafonable  Preju- 
 dices and  Lufts,  and  Pallions,  of  the  unbe- 
 lieving World. 
 
 Let  us  now  turn  our  Thoughts  from  the 
 unbelieving  to  the  believing  World  ;  from  the 
 Men  that  persecuted  Chrijiicinity^  to  the  Men 
 that  have  embraced,  and  do  profefs  it.  And, 
 as  we  have  before  obferved  how  much  Hatred 
 and  Divifion,  how  many  Barbarities  and  Per- 
 fecutions,  amongft  ChriftiaJis  themfelves,  have 
 taken  their  Rife  from  Religion,  and  been 
 founded  on  a  facred  Principle  :  fo  let  us  now 
 confider  whence  this  Unhappinefs,  amongft 
 the  Difciples  of  the  fame  Mafter,  hath  pro- 
 ceded,  and  from  what  Root  it  hath  (prung. 
 
 2.  Secondly i  therefore.  It  is  very  plain  that 
 much  of  this  Unhappinefs  hath  preceded 
 from  the  Projecfls,  and  Defigns ;  the  Ambition, 
 (Or  Pride,  or  Covetoufnefs,  of  the  wicked  Part 
 of  the  Chrijlian  World.  Chrijiianity  never 
 pretended  to  reform  thofe,  that  are  refolved  to 
 be  wicked :  and  no  wonder  that  fuch  as  thefe 
 (who  have  no  Confcience,  and  no  Principles 
 of  Religion,)  when  they  have  any  of  their 
 own  Contrivances  to  bring  to  efFed:,  make  ufe 
 ^i  the  propereft  Means  to  accomplidi  them. 
 They  know  that  there  is  no  better,  nor  more 
 fppying,  Pieterife,  than  tl^e  Care  of  Religion, 
 
 and 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chnjlianhy. 
 
 25 
 
 and  the  Church  of  God:    and  therefore,  thissJERM, 
 muft  be  the  Engine  to  fet  forward  their  Un- 
 dertakings ;     and  their  unhallowed  Lips  muft 
 profane  holy  Words,   that  thefe   holy  Words 
 may  fandtify  their  unhallowed  Adions.  Thus, 
 for  inftance,  if  the  Bounds  of  Power  are  to  be 
 enlarged  beyond  right  and  juft;  if  a  Number 
 of  Men  mufl  be  extirpated,  banished,  or  de- 
 preffed  J  fomething  in  Religion  and  the  Church 
 is  often  brought   in,  to  colour  over  the  vile 
 Wickednefs,  to  flielter  it  from  Scandal,  and 
 ripen  it  for  Succefs.     If  a  Prince's  favourable 
 Smile  be  to  be  obtained  for  one  Sort  of  Men, 
 and  his  Difpleafure  to  be  kindled  againft  ano- 
 ther;   it  is  often  feen  that  nothing  will  more 
 effe<5lually  do  this,    than  fome  Confideration 
 taken   from  their  Difference   in   Opinion,  or 
 Pradife,  with   relation  to  Religion,  and   the 
 Worfhip  of  God. 
 
 This  Method  is  frequently  made  ufe  of  by 
 thofe  who  mean  nothing  more  than  the  com- 
 paffing  their  own  Defigns ;  the  inlarging  their 
 ov/n  Credit  and  Interefl ;  the  ingratiating 
 thernfelves  with  fome  whofe  Favour  may  turn 
 to  good  Account.  And  fo  the  Peace  of  Hu- 
 man Society  j  the  Quiet  of  the  World ;  and 
 the  Satisfadion  and  Contentment  of  their 
 Neighbours  are  facrificed,  at  all  Adventures,  to 
 their  own  private  Covetoufnefs,  or  Ambition, 
 or  Pride,  or  Revenge,  or  fome  wicked  Humour 
 
 or 
 
26 
 
 Of  the  Divijions  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 SERM.or  other.     And  becaufe  nothing  better  can  be 
 II.     pretended,    Religion  niuft  be  drawn  into  the 
 
 i-'"'*'"'^  Quarrel :  whilfl  thefe  Men  themfelves,  who 
 lare  the  forwardeft  to  hide  their  Defigns  under 
 the  Mafque  of  fomething  holy,  are  of  all  o- 
 thers  the  moft  ready  to  reproach  Religion  it 
 felf  on  this  very  Account ;  and  the  firft  to  ob- 
 je<ft  againfl  it  the  many  Difturbances  and  Dif- 
 quiets,  it  hath  occafioned  in  the  World. 
 
 It  is  indeed  abfurdly  ridiculous,  to  hear 
 Men  of  notorious  Loofenefs,  Men  of  profane 
 and  Atheiftical  Converfations,  folicitous  about 
 the  Honour  of  Go^ :  and  to  fee,  how  Men, 
 who  have  either  never  appeared  at  the  pub- 
 lic Worfhip,  or  never  appeared  there  with 
 Decency,  can,  upon  Occafion,  conceive  a 
 mighty  Concern  for  the  Credit  and  Beauty  of 
 it ;  how  their  Breads  can  labour  with  the  Heat 
 of  a  pious  Zeal ;  and  all  their  Defigns  and  En- 
 deavours, on  a  fudden,  be  directed  to  the  main- 
 taining and  fupporting  the  Church  of  God. 
 But  this  mufl  be  expecfted,  we  fee  plainly, 
 whilft  there  are  wicked  and  defigning  Men, 
 under  the  Covert  of  the  Chriftian  Profeflion, 
 in  this  World.  For  they  that  have  felfifh, 
 and  unchrifl^ian  Defigns ;  they  that  make  no 
 fcruple  of  cheri filing  Ambition,  or  Pride,  or 
 Covetoufnefs,  or  Revenge,  will  never  make 
 any  fcruple  of  ufing  Religion,  and  the  Church, 
 as  Inflruments   to  promote  the  Defigns  fuch 
 
 Tempers 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijlianity, 
 
 27 
 
 Tempers  of  Mind  will  put  them  upon.     Add  $  e  R  M. 
 to  this,  I    II. 
 
 3 .  thirdly.  That  much  of  the  Unhappinefs  K/'VSi 
 we  are  now  fpeaking  of,   may  have  preceded 
 from  the  Paffions,  and  WeaknefTes,  and  Im- 
 prudences,   of  fincere   Chrijiians-,    Chriftiansl 
 that  truly  defign  well,  and  defire  to  promotCj 
 the  Honour  of  their  Mafter,   and  their  Reli-i 
 gion.     A  good  Chrijiian  will    never   indeed j 
 Knowingly  interpofe  in  the  promoting  any  De-j 
 fign,  or  advancing  any  Caufe,  to  the  Deftruc-I 
 tion  of  the  Peace  and  Quiet  of  the  Chrijiian 
 World  i  but  a  good  Chrijiian  is  not  always  ie-j 
 cure,  or  out  of  danger  of  being  impofed  upon;! 
 when  this  Caufe  is  varnifhed  over,  and  painted  ■ 
 before  his  Eyes,  fo  as  to  appear  quite  ano- 
 ther thing.     Honeft  Men  are  often  led  by 
 Knaves  -,  and  made  the  Tools  of  thofe,  whom 
 they  would  abhor,  if  they  knew  their  In  fides. 
 They  are  often  drawn  in,   to  give  Credit  to  a 
 Caufe,  which,  without  their  Prefence,  would 
 not  be  tolerable  :  That  fo  their  Example  may 
 be  urged  in  Defence  of  what   wants  better 
 Arguments., 
 
 Chrijiianity  doth  not  make  Men  more  dif- 
 cerning,  or  more  learned  in  the  Wifdom  of 
 this  World,  than  it  finds  them.  But  yet,  it 
 neither  commands,  nor  difpofes.  Men  to  be 
 cheated,  and  impofed  upon  by  every  Pretenfe. 
 It  doth  not  inftrud  them  to  put  on  an  Air  of 
 {  Uncon- 
 
28 
 
 Of  the  Dlvijmis^  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 o^wl 
 
 SERMiUnconcernednefs,    or    Indifference,   in    what 
 II.    I  refpe(5ts  the  Happincfs  of  Mankind,   or   the 
 Society  they  belong  to :     Nor  doth  it  educate 
 them  in  Stupidity  j    or  a  Difregard   of  every 
 thing  but  their   own    private   Devotion   and 
 Piety.     But,   as  it  is  far  from   fending  them 
 into  Defarts,  and  Solitudes  ;     into  Places  un- 
 frequented by  human  Society  j    as  itncliiefly 
 commends  to  them  the  Pradlife  of  thofe  Vir- 
 tues that  adorn  Converfation,   and  make   the 
 World  about  them  happy :    So  it  recommends 
 to  them  fomewhat  of  the  Wifdom  and  Cun- 
 ning of  Serpents,    as  well  as  the  HarmlelTnefs 
 and  Innocence  of  Doves  J  left  the  wicked  and 
 defigning  Part  of  the  World  fhould  manage 
 their  Innocence  and  Simplicity  to  the  Mifchief 
 of  others,  and  the  Ruin  of  Peace  j  and  render 
 their  HarmlefTnefs  as  fatal  in  its  Influence  upon 
 the  World,  as  if  they  were  cloathed  with  Bar- 
 barity, and  Cruelty.     It   is   no   advantageous 
 Part,  therefore,   of  a  good  Man's  Character, 
 who  is  obliged    to  adt  in  Society,    that   He 
 fees   with  other   Men's  Eyes,  or  hears  with 
 other  Men's  Ears  j    or  that  he  is,  out  of  an 
 affe(51:ed  Negligence,   or  fond  Opinion  of  ano- 
 ther's  Abilities,    or   want   of  Refolution,  led 
 blindfold  by  others  :  becaufe  he  may  often  be 
 furprized  into  Things  of  very  ill  Confequence; 
 and,  when  he  little  thinks  of  it,  bring  a  Scan- 
 dal upon  that  Religion  he  heartily  loveSj  by  an 
 
 unwary 
 
faljily  hnpuud  to  Chrijlianity, 
 
 ^9 
 
 unwary  helping  to  make  it  ferve  the  Purpofes  i  e  rm. 
 of  Hatred,  and  Divifion.  ii. 
 
 What    I   have    faid   under   thefe  two  laft  /VNJ 
 Heads  is,  That  there  are  wicked  and  deligning 
 Men  in  the  World,  who  will,  if  it  be  poffible, 
 contrive  their  Defigns  fo,  as  that  Religion  and 
 the  Church  fliall  be  drawn  in,   to  bear  no  in- 
 conliderable  Part  in  them  ;   and  that  there  are 
 good  and  pious  Men   who  will   not  be  at  the 
 Pains  to  examine  their  Defigns  thoroughly  j 
 or  who  cannot  fee  through  all  the  Colour  they 
 can  lay  upon  them  ;    or   who  are  too  eafily 
 cheated,  and  alarmed  bv  their  Pretenfes :   And 
 that  upon   thefe  Accounts  it  muft  fo  happen, 
 that  fomething  in  Religion  will  be  too  often 
 made  the  Occafion  of  Diforder,  and  Uncha- 
 ritablenefs,  and  DiiTenfions,  and  Perfecutions, 
 in  the  World  of  Chrijliam. 
 
 4.  But,  Fourthly^  Much  of  this  Unhappinefs 
 hath  proceded  from  Mens  not  being  content- 
 ed with  the  Simplicity  of  Chrijiianily\  as  it  is 
 to  be  found  in  the  Gofpels  ;  from  their  making 
 new  Creeds ;  their  adding  new  Articles  of 
 Faith  to  thofe  laid  down  in  the  New  Tefta- 
 ment;  and  laying  new  Impofitions  upon  thi 
 reft  of  ChriJliafJSy  unknown  to  Chriji  and  his| 
 Apoftles.  This  I  may  fafely  affirm,  that  had 
 Chrijlians  been  always  content  with  a  mutual 
 Agreement  in  the  fundamental  Dodrines  of 
 their  Religion,  as  they  lie  in  the  Gojpel  it  felf  j 
 
 and 
 
30  Of  the  DiviJio72Sy  a?td  Cruelties^ 
 
 SER  M.and  the  iBdifpenfable  Obligation  of  the  Prac- 
 II,     tice  of  all  the  Duties  commanded  in  it  j  much 
 
 i^VXJof  this  fatal  Confequence  of  it  might  have 
 been  hindred  j  and  very  much  of  the  Scandal 
 redounding  from  it,  have  been  prevented.  But 
 there  hath  ever  been  an  Itch,  in  fome  or  other 
 of  Power  and  Authority,  to  alter  the  Terms 
 of  Love  and  Concord  fettled  by  Chrijl^  j  by 
 framing  fome  new  Character,  and  fome  frefli 
 Note  of  Diftindtion,  among  Chrijliam  :  And 
 this  hath  ever  begot  Oppofition,  and  Contro- 
 verfies  managed  (on  all  fides)  with  Aggravati- 
 
 f  ons  and  Provocations  ;    and  this  hath  brought 
 
 forth  Variances,  and  Paffion,  and  Hatred,  in. 
 the  Breafls  of  thofe  who  are  fure  to  be  con- 
 demned by  their  own  Law,  for  want  of  Love 
 and  Charity.  And  it  ever  fo  happens,  as  ic 
 hath  been  manifefted  by  coniiant  Experience, 
 that  more  Violence,  (which  hath  now  for  many 
 Ages  palTed  for  Zeal,  That  more  Violence,  I 
 fay,)  is  ihewn  forthefe  Additions,  and  for  thefe 
 kffer,  and  undetermined  Matters,  in  which  the 
 Difference  lies,  than  for  the  moft  fundamen- 
 tal Points  of  Faith,  or  the  moft  neceffary  Points 
 of  Practice.  In  the  Pradlical  Duties,  efpeci- 
 ally.  Men  feem  eafy  enough :  and  would  fain 
 have  it  thought  that  the  vileft,  and  moft  enor- 
 mous Crimes  are  more  tolerable  in  themfelves, 
 and  more  inoffenfive  and  harmlefs  to  public 
 
 Soci- 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrtfllanity, 
 
 11 
 
 Society  j   than  a  Difference  in  the  leaft  of  their  3  E  r  m. 
 Additions.  j     u. 
 
 The  greateft   (I  would  to  God  I  could  fayil-^VNJ 
 the  only)  Inftances  of  this,  are  to  be  feen  where 
 the  Romijh  Religion  is   fpread.      A(k  one  of 
 that  Religion,  Why  fo  much  Barbarity  and  In- 
 humanity is  exercifed  ;    and  an   eternal  War 
 fworn  againft  fome  fort  of  Chrijiiafis?    Why 
 are  they  hated,  tormented,  banifhed,  impri- 
 foned,  and  put  to  Death  ?  Do  they  not  believe 
 in  God   the  Father  Almighty,  and    in   Jefus 
 Chriji  ?    Do  they  not   profefs  it   to    be  their 
 Faith,  that  there  is  but  one  God  ;    that  this 
 God  fent  his  Son  yefus  Chrift  into  the  World 
 to  fave  Sinners ;     that  He  lived  and  died,  and 
 arofe  again  and  afcended  up  into  Heaven  to 
 this  Purpofe  ?     And  that  He  will  come  again 
 to  judge  the  World  ;  and  that  there  is  a  future 
 State  of  Rewards  and  Punifliments  ?     Or,  are 
 they  wicked  and  debauched,  immoral  and  vi- 
 cious to  that  degree,   that  you  fear  the  Ven- 
 geance of  Fleaven  will  fall  on  you,  if  you  do 
 not  (hew  your  Deteilation  of  them  ?      What 
 Anfwer  will  you  receive  from  him  ?  There  are 
 few  of  them  that  would  blufli  to  tell  you :  (and 
 yetwho  could  do  it  without  blufhing?)  "  Thefe 
 "^  are  not  the  Things  we  fo  much  concern  our- 
 **  felves  about.      Thefe  Perfons  you  fpeak  of, 
 **  believe  all  this  and  more;  and  their  Converfa- 
 *'  tions  may  perhaps  be  regular  and  exad.    But 
 
 f*  this 
 
32 
 
 S  £  R  Iv: 
 II. 
 
 Of  the  Divijions^  and  Cruelties ^^ 
 
 ,"  this  is  not  enough.  They  do  not  believe  the 
 "  Change  of  the  Elements  into  Chriji's  natural 
 ^-'O/^  "  Body  and  Blood  in  the  Eucharift.  They  do 
 **  not  hold  themielves  obliged  to  believe  u^hat- 
 "  ever  the  Church  (hall  recommend  to  them. 
 *'  They  do  riot  believe  the  Pope,  or  General 
 **  Councils,  infallible.  They  hold  not  the 
 *'  State  of  Purgatory.  They  will  not  invoke 
 *'  Saints  and  Angels  :  Or  pray  for  the  Dead. 
 **  And  therefore  they  are  thus  ufed."  Now 
 thefe,  and  the  like,  are  their  own  Inventions, 
 and  Additions  to  the  Law  of  Chrijl :  and  yet 
 thefe  Articles  are  the  Standard  of  their  Love, 
 or  Hatred;  and  always  determine  their  Beha- 
 viour to  other  Chrijlians^  whether  it  fhall  be 
 human  or  inhuman,  civil  or  barbarous. 
 
 But  we  muft  not  be  fo  partial  to  ourfelves, 
 as  to  confine  this  Obfervation  to  that  Church  ; 
 or  to  fuch  Additions,  or  Points  not  effential,  as 
 have  been  determined  by  it.  I  fear  it  will  be 
 found,  that  too  many  who  profefs  to  have  re- 
 formed from  that  Churchy  ftill  retain  too  much 
 of  the  Spirit  of  it;  and  too  often  make  their 
 own  Syftems  and  Notions  the  Meafure  of  their 
 Affections ;  and  confine  their  cordial  Love, 
 and  Chriftian  Charity,  within  the  Bounds  of 
 their  own  Creed,  or  Manner  of  Worfhip. 
 It  is  certainly  true,  that  there  have  not  been 
 greater  Hatreds,  or  more  unchriftian  Malice, 
 amongil  Chrijiians,  than  what  have  fprung 
 2L  from 
 
falfy  tjnputed  to  Chrijiianity, 
 
 11 
 
 from  this  Root:  And  therefore,  this  unhappy  jerm. 
 Confequence  of  ChrijVumity  nrnft  be  charged,       ii. 
 in  great  Part,  upon  thofe  Chrijlians^  who,   not  l^^'VNJ 
 being  content  v/ith  the  Simplicity  of  Chrifiia^ 
 nity^  as  they  found  it  in  the  Gofpel,  have  been 
 perpetually  making  Additions  to  it,   according 
 to  their  own  various  Opinions,  or  Defigns. 
 
 5.  Fifthly^  Another  Confideration  near  akin 
 to  this,  is,  that  this  Unhappinefs  amongft: 
 Chridians  hath  chiefly  proceeded  from  Men's 
 miftaking  the  Nature,  and  main  Defign  of 
 Chriftianify.  Did  Men  but  underftand  and 
 conlider  that  it  was  not  the  great  Deljgn  of 
 the  Chrlftian  Religion  to  make  all  the  World 
 of  one  Opinion,  in  Things  of  little  Moment : 
 but  that  it  was  reveled  from  Heaven,  chiefly 
 to  refliore  the  Worfliip  of  the  one  Suprejne  Gody 
 in  Spirit  and  iji  Truth -y  and  to  teach  Men  to 
 deny  JJugodUnefs  afid  worldly  Ltifts^  and  to  live 
 fiber ly,  righteoujly^  and  godly,  in  this  fVorld -, 
 they  could  not  ad  the  Part  they  fo  often  do. 
 Did  Men  but  confider,  that  tlie  great  Branch 
 of  Chriftian  Duty,  is  Love,  and  Good- nature, 
 and  Humanity  J  and  the  diflinguifliing  Mark 
 of  a  Chrijiian^  an  univerfai  Chariry ;  th.y 
 could  not  but  own  that  Jejiis  Chriji  came  io 
 plant  and  propagate  thefe  in  the  World.  And 
 then,  they  would  abhor  the  Thoughts  of  mak- 
 ing any  Thing  in  his  Inflitution  an  Engine  of 
 
 D  Strife 
 
34 
 
 Of  the  Dlvifions  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 SE  RTvj.Strife,  and  Malice,  and  Inhumanity.      Then, 
 ir.     they  would  not  think  all  Things  lawful  againft 
 
 ^^'VS  thofe  that  differ  from  them  ;  nor  themfelves 
 obliged  to  crufli  and  mine  them.  Then,  the 
 Contention  between  Men  of  various  Minds 
 would  not  be,  who  (hould  have  the  Power  of 
 oppreffing  their  Brethren  :  But  "the  Conteft 
 would  be,  who  fliould  love  moftj  ancj  who 
 fhould  give  the  moft  expreffive  Demonftrati- 
 ons  of  an  unconfined  Good-nature,  and  an  un- 
 bounded Charity.  But  thele,  I  fear,  are  but 
 Dreams  and  Wifhes ! 
 
 It  would  found  fometbing  ftrange  to  fay 
 that  the  chief  Defign  of  Chrijlianity  is  too 
 plain  to  be  underftood,  and  too  evident  to  be 
 feen  :  And  yet  it  is  true,  that  the  very  Plain- 
 nefs  of  this  makes  it  the  lefs  attended  to.  Such 
 a  Love  there  is  in  Men  to  fometbing  not  fo  eafy 
 to  be  underftood  ;  nor  of  fuch  Importance  : 
 and  fuch  a  readinefs  to  find  out  other  Defigns 
 of  Chrijiianity^  more  agreeable  to  their  own 
 worldly  Projed:s ! 
 
 Can  any  of  all  the  fiery  Zealots  in  the 
 World  fhew  us  any  Defign  more  worthy  of  the 
 Son  of  God's  defcending  from  Heaven,  than 
 the  planting  of  Love,  and  Peace,  on  Earth  ? 
 more  beneficial  to  the  whole  Race  of  Man- 
 kind ;  more  for  the  Eafe  and  internal  Quiet  of 
 our  own  Breafts ;  or  a  better  Preparative  for 
 the  calm  and  ferene  Joys  of  Heaven  ;  for  the 
 Fruition  of  that  God  who  is  Love,  and  of  the 
 ^ Company 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijlianky, 
 
 35 
 
 Company  of  thofe  bleffed  Spirits,  who  ares 
 the  WitnelTes,  and  Minillers  of  his  Love  ? 
 Can  they  fliew  us  any  Defign  more  plainly  re- 
 veled in  the  Gofpel  j  or  any  one  Duty  there 
 laid  upon  us,  to  which  this  muil  at  any  time 
 give  place  ?  If  they  cannot,  then  nothing  can 
 ever  releafe  us  from  our  Obligation  to  Love,  and 
 Charity;  or  ever  excufe  the  lead  degree  of 
 Hatred,  and  Malice,  and  Violence  j  much  lefs 
 of  Barbarity  and  Cruelty.  Nay,  how  can  it  pof- 
 fibly  be  thought  by  any  Chrijlians,  that  a  Re- 
 ligion, which  lays  fuch  Strefs  upon  Peace,  and 
 Love  i  v\'hich  dwells  fo  eternally  upon  them  j 
 which  was  founded  in  Love,  and  fo  manifeft- 
 ly  defigned  for  the  propagating  and  eftablifh- 
 ing  Good-nature  in  the  World :  Flow  can  it 
 be  imagined,  that  there  is  any  Thing  in  this 
 Religion,  that  can  give  them  occafion  to  hate, 
 or  difturb,  or  perfecute,  any  of  their  Brethren? 
 Unlefs  they  can  think  that  it  felf  is  fo  framed 
 as  to  deftroy  it's  own  Defign  ;  to  oppofe  it's 
 own  main  End,  and  Purpofe ;  and  to  diflblve 
 the  Obligations  of  it's  own  Precepts.  Thefe 
 Things  are  inconfiflent,  and  too  abfurd  to  be 
 faftened  upon  Jefus  Chrift,  by  any  who  believe 
 him  fent  of  God.  And  would  Men  feriouCy 
 attend  to  the  Defign  of  the  Gofpel,  they  coi<;d 
 not  fix  fach  Abfurdities  upon  it :  Religion 
 would  be  free  from  the  Scandal  of  being  the 
 Occafion    of  Hatred,    and   Diftuibance,   and 
 
 D  2  Per- 
 
^ 
 
 Of  the  Dwifio7is^  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 S  ERM 
 II. 
 
 Perfecution,  amongfl:  Men  ;  and  the  World 
 would  be  free  from  the  Trouble  and  Plague  of 
 them  ;  Society  would  be  happy  j  and  God 
 would  be  glorified  in  the  univerfal  Pradice  of 
 Love  and  Peace. 
 
 Having  thus  endeavoured  to  give  fome  Ac- 
 count, by  what  Men,  and  by  what  Methods, 
 Chrijiianity  hath  been  made  the  Occafion  of 
 Quarrels,  and  Hatred,  and  Perfecutions,  in 
 the  World  ;  and  by  what  Means  it  hath  been 
 too  much  verified,  that  Chriji  came  not  to  fend 
 Peace^  but  a  Sword :  I  (hall  now,  as  I  pro- 
 pofed  in  the  laft  Place, 
 
 IV.  Make  fome  proper  Obfervations,  and 
 draw  fome  ufeful  Inferences,  from  what  hath 
 been  faid.      And, 
 
 Firji,  Since  it  is  plain  from  what  hath  been 
 before  faid,  that  Ckrifitanity  hath  been  the 
 Occafion  of  Difturbances,  Hatreds,  and  Per- 
 fecutions, in  the  World ;  not  by  means  of 
 any  Thing  contained  in  itfelf  naturally  tending 
 this  way ;  but  by  means  of  the  Perverfenefs, 
 and  Weaknefs  of  Men,  and  particularly  of 
 Chriftians  themfelves :  Let  us  learn  to  diftin- 
 guifh  between  Chrijiianity^  arid  Chrijiians ;  and 
 not  blame  the  one,  for  the  Faults  of  the  other. 
 Were  there  any  thing  in  the  Dcii?:n  or  Dec- 
 trine  of  the  Gofpel,  naturally  tending  to  dif- 
 turb  and  unfettle  the  World  -,  it  ought  in  rea- 
 
 fon 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Cbrijlianhy. 
 
 37 
 
 fon  to  lie  under  the  Imputation.    But  it  oughts  e  R  m. 
 not  to  fuffer  under  fuch  a  Scandal,   if  it  be  it      ii. 
 felf  wholly  free  from  fuch  a  Tendency.   Not-  '/V>J 
 withftanding  this,   it  hath  fared  with  Chrijlia^ 
 nity^  as  it  hath  done  with  many  other  Profef- 
 fions :   The  Faults  of  thofe  who  have  profef- 
 fed  it,  have  refleded  Shame,  and  brought  an 
 ill  I^ame,   upon  it,   whilft  it  utterly  difcoun- 
 tenances,  and    abfolutely  forbids,   thofe   very 
 Faults. 
 
 Men  take  it  ufually  very  ill,  in  the  Affairs 
 of  this  -World,  that  any  Profeflion  or  Calling 
 amongft  them,  fhould  fuffer  Difgrace,  and  fall 
 in  the  good  Efteem  of  other  Men,  for  the  fake 
 of  the  Crimes,  and  ill  Behaviour,  of  fome  of 
 thofe  who  pretend  to  belong  to  it :  And  they 
 always  argue,  that  it  is  the  mofl:  unjuft  Thing 
 in  the  World,  it  (liould  do  fo,  unlels  it  can  be 
 (hewn,  that  it  does  command,  or  encourage, 
 any  fuch  Pradices ;  much  more,  when  it 
 condemns  and  threatens  Punifliment  to  them. 
 And  yet  they  fcruple  not  to  deal  by  the  Chrif- 
 tian  Religion  after  the  manner  they  think  it 
 hard  their  own  fecular  Profeffions  fhould  be 
 dealt  with  ;  and  draw  up  an  heavy  Accufation 
 againft  that,  made  up  of  a  long  Catalogue  of 
 the  Crimes  of  its  Profeffors. 
 
 Far  be  fuch  unreafonable  Proceedings  from 
 
 all  who  pretend  to  judge  reafonably.     Blame 
 
 not  the  Chrifiian  Religion  for  what  it  moft  un- 
 
 D  3  willingly. 
 
3-8 
 
 Of  the  Divij7G7ts^  aiid  Cruelties^ 
 
 SE  R  iv^.wlllingly,   and  againft  its  own  Injunftions,  is 
 II.    forced  to  be  the  Caule  of;  but  blame  the  Per- 
 
 ^^'O/^  verfenefs  of  thofe,  who,  wittingly  and  willing- 
 ly, oblige  it  to  be  an  Inftrument  to  their  Pur- 
 pofes.  Inveigh  not  againft  a  Religion,  which 
 is  framed  to  conquer  Mens  Paffions  :  But  in- 
 veigh againft  the  Paflions  of  thofe,  who  will 
 not  fuffer  it  to  conquer  them  -,  but  prefsL  Re- 
 ligion itfelf  into  the  Service  of  them.  Say 
 not,  that  Chrijiianity  is  not  good,  and  of  be- 
 neficial Influence  upon  the  Happinefs  of  the 
 World  :  But  fay,  that  Men  will  not  fufFer  it 
 to  fliew  its  Power  upon  them  ;  that  Men  will 
 not  bear  to  be,  what  That  would  have  them  to 
 be.  Be  not  ready  to  be  fcandalized  at  the  Gof- 
 pel,  becaufe  it  hath  thus  fent,  not  Peace^  but  a 
 Sword  upon  the  'Earth  :  But  •  be  offended  at 
 thofe  who  have  brought  this  Evil  to  pafs,  fole- 
 ly  for  their  own  worldly  Intereft  :  in  order  to 
 promote  their  own  wicked  Ends,  and  to  fatisfy 
 their  own  private  Views.  fVo  be  to  the  World 
 hecanfe  of  Offenfes^  for  it  mull  needs  be  that  Of~ 
 fenfes  come ;  but  ivo  to  that  Man  by  'whom  they 
 come.  It  muft  needs  be,  that  the  Paflions  and 
 Wickednefs  of  Men  will  bring  forth  Variance, 
 and  Difturbance,  in  the  World  :  And  this 
 will  reflect  a  Di(honour  upon  the  Religion  it- 
 felf, under  v\rhich  thev  hide  themfelves.  But 
 Wo  to  thofe  Men  who  are  the  proper  Caufe  of 
 this  Unhappinefs  to  their  Fellow- Creatures  j 
 ;:;ind  of  this  ObjcOion  againft  the  Gofpel. 
 ^ I  Hiall 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrifltamty. 
 
 39 
 
 I  fliall  only  here  add  one  Obfervatlon,   thatsp  r  m. 
 it  cannot  be  a  tolerable  ground  of  OfFenfe  a-  ■    ii. 
 galnfl:  -Religion,  that  fomething  in  it  hath  been  yV>J 
 turned  to  evil  Purpofes,  and  to  theDifquiet  of 
 Mankind  ;  becaufe  this  is  really  an  Argument, 
 that  it  is  in  itfelf  good  :  It  being  certain,  that 
 the  better  any  Thing  is,   the  more  willing  are 
 defig^ning  Men  to  hide  their  main  Defigns  un- 
 der the  Cover  of  it;  and  the  more  inclined  to 
 ufe  it  as  an  Inflrument    to  make   the  World 
 about  them  the  more  readily  fall  in  with  their 
 Meafures. 
 
 This  leads  me,  Secondly^  to  obferve  from 
 what  hath  beenfaid,  how  much  the  befl  Things 
 may  be  abufed ;  and  to  what  ill  Purpofes  the 
 Wickednefs  and  Weaknefs  of  Men,  can  turn 
 the  moft  excellent  Inflitutions  of  God  himfelf. 
 In  his  Dealings  with  Men,  Almighty  God 
 doth  not  aduate  their  Wills,  or  Refolutions, 
 with  an  irreiiftible  Arm ;  but  propofes  to  them 
 fufficient  Arguments  to  receive  what  he  offers 
 them,  and  fufficient  AffiRance  to  perform  what 
 he  commands :  Still  leaving  to  them  a  Place 
 for  Reward,  if  they  fubmit  to  him  ;  or  of 
 Punifhment,  if  they  do  not.  Here  we  have 
 an  Inftance  (an  almoffc  incredible,  and  very 
 furprizing  Inftance)  of  the  ftrange  Perverfe- 
 nefs  of  human  Nature,  and  the  Ingratitude 
 of  Men  to  the  Love  of  God.  He,  in  Mercy, 
 propofes  a  Revelation  to  them,  perfectly  qua- 
 
 D  4  Ufied 
 
40 
 
 Of  the  DiviJtonSj  and  Cj^tieltks^ 
 
 Se  R  M 
 II. 
 
 . lifted  to  make  them  eafy  here,  as  well  well  as 
 happy  hereafter.  Some  not  only  reject  it  them- 
 feives,  but  hate,  and  perfecute,  and  extirpate, 
 thofe  who  preach  it,  and  propofe  it  to  them. 
 Others,  indeed,  receive  it,  and  profefs  it :  But, 
 inflead  of  conforming  their  Tempers  and 
 Lives,  to  its  Precepts ;  and  fludying  the  Ad- 
 vantage, and  Happinefs,  of  the  World. they 
 live  in,  they  prefently  turn  their  Thoughts 
 upon  what  private  Advantages  they  can  make 
 of  it ;  what  Account  they  can  make  it  turn 
 to  ',  what  there  is  in  it,  for  their  Ambition, 
 or  Covetoufne/s,  or  Revenge,  to  employ  in 
 their  Service  ;  what  there  is  in  it  proper  for 
 them  to  work  with,  in  order  to  raife  them- 
 felves  and  deprefs  others. 
 
 Thus  have  the  wicked  Part  of  the  World 
 turned  into  Poifon,  and  Ruine,  what  was  de- 
 figned  for  their  Health,  and  Strength  j  and 
 converted  it  into  a  common  Plag-ue  and  Difiur- 
 
 o 
 
 bance,  what  was  exadlv  qualified  to  eflabliCh, 
 and  confirm,  human  Society  in  Qiiict,  and 
 Happinefs.  But  whither  at  length  will  the 
 Ferverfenefs  of  Men  proceed,  when  16  facred, 
 and  ufeful,  a  Thing  hath  not  been  abie  to 
 vvithdand  it  ?  For  what  can  be  thought  of, 
 that  is  more  truly  qualified  for  other,  and  bet- 
 ter Purpofes  J  for  the  univerfal  IntereH:,  and 
 Peace,  of  the  World,  than  the  Chriilian  Re- 
 ligion ?  What  more  worthy  of  God  to  reveal  5 
 
 or 
 
faljly  hnpiited  to  Chi^ifllanity, 
 
 or  of  Man  to  receive,  and  pradtife  ?  And  yet,  i; 
 what  hath  been  ever  more  abufed  j  or  pervert- 
 ed to  worfe,  and  more  deteflable  Purpofes  ? 
 But  this,  as  it  fl^iews  us  the  perverfe  Tendency 
 of  human  Nature,  u'hen  it  is  once  debauched 
 by  worldly  Principles,  and  drawn  afide  from 
 the  Paths  of  ftrijft  Virtue :  So  it  leads  us, 
 
 T^hirdly^  to  confider  what  an  Account  fome 
 Men  have  to  make  :  and  what  a  Punifnment 
 They  have  v/aiting  for  them,  who  are  guilty  of 
 fo  unpardonable  an  Abufe  of  God's  Mercy  in 
 the  Difpenfation  of  the  Gofpel.  Invain  do 
 Thofe  who  are  the  proper  Caufes  of  thefe  un- 
 happy Confequences  of  the  Chrijiian  ReligioJiy 
 think  to  lie  hid,  or  to  efcape  free,  with  all 
 the  private  Advantages  they  procure  to  them- 
 fclves.  Invain  doth  the  Athcijl^  who  puts  the 
 Guife  of  Religion  upon  what  He  undertakes, 
 flatter  himfelf  with  the  Hopes  of  Security, 
 and  Impunity.  Invain  do  the  Sceptics,  and 
 Irreligious  Men,  who  colour  over  their  Defigns 
 with  fomething  taken  from  Chrijiianity,  laugh 
 inwardly  at  the  Multitude,  whom  they  have 
 deceived  with  thefe  Pretenfes.  Almighty  God 
 fees  it  all  :  And  knows  the  unfaithful  Turnings 
 and  Windings  of  their  Hearts:  And  treafures 
 up  all,  againft  the  Day  of  Accounts.  And 
 then,  what  Punishment  can  we  believe  too 
 great,   for  fuch  Hypocrify,   and  fuch  Crimes  ? 
 
 To 
 
 41 
 
42  I         Of  the  DiviJionSy  and  Cruelties ^ 
 
 s  E  R  M.  To  them   belongs  the  Guilt  of  greater  Ingra- 
 II.     titude,  than  can   be  exprelTed  in  Words ;   the 
 
 (•VV)  Guilt  of  perverting  an  Inftitution  from  the  De- 
 fign  of  God,  to  the  Purpofes  of  the  Devil ; 
 from  the  Purpofes  of  Union  and  Quiet,  to  the 
 Purpofes  of  Divifion  and  Unhappinefs.  To 
 them  belongs  the  Guilt  of  fcandalizing  many 
 againft  the  Chriftian  Religion  :  The  Guilt  of 
 bringing  a  Difgrace  upon  it ;  and  of  recom- 
 mending thr.t  to  the  Hatred  and  Averfion  of 
 many  in  the  World,  which,  if  it  had  not  been 
 for  fuch  profeffed  ChriJUans,  might  have  made 
 a  lading  good  Impreffion  upon  them,  and  have 
 prevailed  with  them  to  the  eternal  Salvation  of 
 their  Souls. 
 
 Thefe  Men  indeed  at  prefent  cannot  be  dif- 
 turbed  at  the  Thoughts  of  this :  Becaufe  they 
 can  have  no  Senfe  of  what  they  do  not  believe. 
 And  that  they  do  not  believe  this,  is  plain 
 from  their  Behaviour.  For  how  can  they  per- 
 vert and  abufe  Religion  to  their  own  wicked 
 Purpofes  J  if  they  believe  any  thing  of  the  Pu- 
 nilbments  it  threatens,  and  the  Terrors  it  pro- 
 pofes  ?  But  this  Security,  and  falfe  Peace,  will 
 not  laft  for  ever.  Death  will  put  a  Stop  to  all 
 their  Projeds :  And  after  Death  comes  the 
 Judgment ;  the  Judgment  before  an  All-know- 
 ing and  Almighty  Judge  ,  One  that  cannot  be 
 impofed  upon,   and  cannot  be  refilled  j     and 
 
 One, 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chrijiianhy. 
 
 43 
 
 One,  who  will  certainly  punlfh  them  accord-  ^  e  r 
 ing  to  their  Works.     T^bcy  have  their  Reward  j    it 
 here,  if  their   Pretenfes   take,  and  their  falfeL^^' 
 Colours  delude  the  World,  for  a  while,  at  pre- 
 fent:   But  the  Scene  will  quickly  change,  frortij 
 a  State  of  Defign  and  Hypocriiy,  into  a  State  i 
 of  that  Mifery,  which  hath  been  denounced,  j 
 and  v;ill  certainly  be  executed,  upon  Hypocrites, 
 It  may,  indeed,  be  true  that  they  do  fome  Ser- 
 vice and  Credit  to  Religion^   if  they  be  never 
 difcovcred   by  Men :    But    if  difcovered,    as 
 they  generally  are,  the  Confequence  of  their 
 Hypocrify  is  perhaps  more  fatal  to  Chrijlianity^ 
 than  the  moft  open  and  profligate  Wickednefs. 
 For  their  Hypocrify^  or   pretended   Regard  to 
 Religion,  being  once  feen  through,  neceffari- 
 ]y  brings  a  perpetual  Scandal  upon  the  Reli- 
 gion they  profefs,  when  they  are  once  knov/n 
 to  proflitute  it  to  the  Service  of  their  own  vile 
 Lufts,  and  Paffions ,     or  to  ufe  it  for  the  pro- 
 curing great  Temporal  Advantages  to  Them- 
 felves,  and    numberlefs    Miferies    to    Others. 
 Thefe  Perfons,   therefore,   muft  exped:  fome- 
 what  as  Extraordinary  in   the  Punifliment  of 
 their  Hypocrify,   as  That  hath  been  Extraordi- 
 nary in  its   mifchievous  Influences  upon  the 
 W^orld,  and  its  DiiTervice  to  Religion. 
 
 Fourthly,  Since  this  is  the  Way  of  bad  Men  ; 
 snd  Religion,  and  the  Church,  are  often  made 
 
 the 
 
44 
 
 Of  the  DhifionSy  and  Cruelties^ 
 
 s  E  R  Mi  the  Pretenfe  for  very  bad  Things :  It  concerns 
 II.     others  to  be  upon  their  Guard  not  to  be  de- 
 t»''W  ceived,  as   thefe   are   continually   upon   their 
 watch  to  impofe  upon   them.     Next   to  the 
 not  being  guilty  of  this  themfelves,  the  great 
 Care  of  Men  ought  to  be,  that  they  be  not 
 led  away  by  thofe  that  are  fo  ;   and  fo  contri- 
 bute by  their  Careleffnefs,  or  Eafinefs  of, Tem- 
 per, to,  what  they  would  otherw^fe  abhor,  the 
 Scandal  of  Religion,  and  the  Dilquiet  of   the 
 Society   they  are  related    to.      Why,  indeed, 
 fhould  it  not  be  accounted  a  Duty,   to  be  as 
 watchful  to  prevent   fuch  Mifchiefs,  as  fome 
 are  to  bring  them  to  pafs  ?   To  be  as  prepared 
 to  fence  againft  them,    as  fome  are  always  to 
 forward  them  ?      Or,   why  fhould  honeli  Men 
 incur  fome  Part  of  the  Guilt  of  the  Wicked^ 
 by  not  thinking  it  worth  their  while  eithefto 
 underftand   them   righdy,  or  to  oppofe  them 
 heartily  ? 
 
 Fifthly,  and  Laftly,  Since  the  Guilt  of  thofe 
 who  have  an  Hand  in  making  any  thing  in  Re- 
 ligion fubfervient  to  the  Purpofes  of  DilTen- 
 fion,  Hatred,  and  Perfecution,  is  fo  great:  Let 
 us  take  care  not  to  be  of  the  Number  of  thofe 
 who  do  this,  in  the  leaft  Degree  imaginable. 
 There  hath  been  enough  already  done  to  ve- 
 rify this  Predidion  of  our  Lord's,  that  He  came 
 not  to  fend  Peace  but  a  Swcrd.  He  will  thank 
 us,   if  we  will  at  length  leave  off  to  prove  the 
 
 Truth 
 
faljly  imputed  to  Chriflianity. 
 
 iJ. 
 
 Truth  of  it  by  our  Example.       Enough   of  ^  e  r  m. 
 Perfecution,  and  Violence,  and  Hatred,  hath     ii. 
 been  founded  on  Religion.     Defigning  Men  -^^"VN^ 
 have  cheated  the  World  long  enough  :    And 
 long  enough  hath    the  Gofpel  lain  under  the 
 Scandal  of  the  Vices  of  others ;   and  of  encou- 
 raging thofe  Paffions  which  it  came  to  tame. 
 It  is  time  now  for  Chrijliam  to  confider  that 
 their  Bufinefs   is  Peace-,    and   their  Religion 
 Love  :  And  that  Chrijlianity  is  fufficiently  qua- 
 lified to  make  them  tafte  of  Happinefs,  even 
 here  below,   if  they  do  not  themfelves  hinder 
 it.     Let  us  remember  this:   And  think,  whe- 
 ther We  can  be  too  careful  to  do  our  Parts  to- 
 wards the  retrieving  the  Good  name  of  Reli- 
 gion ;   and  the  reftoring  it  to  its  primitive  and 
 original. Defign. 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON   III. 
 
 Preached  in  the  Parifli  Church  of  St.  Peter 
 Poor,  March  8,    1704-5. 
 
 The  Anniverfary  of  Thankfgiving  for 
 the  Qu  een's  Acceffion  to  the  Crown. 
 
 PSALM  xcv.  2. 
 
 Let  us  come  before  his  Prejhice  with  JhanJf- 
 giving. 
 
 SERW;."^"^  TE  are  this  Day  called  upon  by  Autho- 
 III.       Vw      ^*'^y'   ^°    celebrate   before   God    the 
 
 ;/V>J     ^  Acceffion  of  our  Gracious  Queen  to 
 
 the  Throne  of  thefe  Kingdoms:  A  Queen, 
 whofe  admirable  Prudence  and  Condud ; 
 whofe  tender  Care  of  all  Her  Subjeas,  and 
 hearty  Concern  for  their  common  Intereft, 
 have  made  Her  the  Delight  of  Her  People, 
 and  given  us  abundant  Reafon  to  come  before 
 the  Prefence  of  God  with  7'hank/giving.  And 
 that  we  may  purfue  the  true  Defign  of  this 
 Day's  Solemnity,  without  the  Mixture  of  the 
 
A  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of,  &c. 
 
 47 
 
 leaft  Indecency,  or  of  any  thing"  that  may  beteER  M. 
 jdifpleafing  to  Almighty  God  j  I  defign  to  offers  in. 
 fome  Confiderations,  v/hich  feem  to  me  pro-i^'VNJ 
 per,  and  expedient  for  the  end  of  our  prefent 
 Ajfembly  :  That  we  may  neither  Hiew  our  felves 
 unthankful  for  the  Bleffing  we  truly  enjoy  un- 
 der the  happy  Government  of  fuch  a  Prin- 
 cefs'i  .nor  cxprefs  our  Thankfulnefs  for  theiw 
 ifter  an  improper,  or  unbecoming  manner. 
 It  would  be  bafe  and  unworthy  in  us,  not  to 
 endeavour  to  make  ourfelves  fenfible  of  our 
 Dwn  Happinefs,  in  order  to  our  offering  the 
 Thanks  that  are  due  to  Almighty  God,  and 
 to  our  paying  the  Acknowledgments,  and 
 Returns  we  owe  to  that  Wifdom  which  now 
 preiides  and  governs  in  this  Nation  :  And  on 
 the  other  hand,  it  would  be  much  more  un- 
 worthy of  Men,  and  of  Chriflia?is^  to  exprefl" 
 our  Refentments  of  the  Bleffings  of  this  Day, 
 after  fuch  a  manner  as  is  not  a!2:reeabie  to  a  true 
 Senfe  of  them,  or  doth  not  fuit  with  the  So- 
 lemnity of  our  Appearance  before  God.  It 
 being  my  Defign,  therefore,  to  guard  againft 
 both  thefe  Evils,  I  beg  leave  to  mention  to 
 you  as  well  the  improper,  as  proper  ways  of 
 celebrating  this  Day  ;  that  fo  we  may  take 
 care  to  avoid  the  One,  and  choofe  only  the 
 Other,     And, 
 
 I.  I  Ihall 
 
48 
 
 A  Sermo7t  upcjt  the  Day  of 
 
 sERMJ.      !•  I  fliall  but  jufl  but  you  in  mind,  in  gene- 
 III.    ral,   that  all  manner  of  Vice,  and  Wickednefs, 
 
 V/V^'is  utterly  inconiiilent  with  luch  Solemnities  3 
 and  that  the  fmalleft  degrees  of  Intemperance, 
 Extravagance,  and  Debauchery,   little  become 
 fuch   a   Day   as    this.      It  is  an  unpardonable 
 Contradidion,  to  exprefs  our  Gratitude  to  Al- 
 mighty God  by  forgetting  his  Laws,   and  vio- 
 lating his  Commandments  :  and  an  unaccount- 
 able  iVIcthod  of  T'bcwkfgiving,  to  affront    and 
 difobey    our  great  Bei^efaBor :    And    yet  it  is 
 but  too  oblervable,  efpecially  on  fuch  Fejiivah 
 as  relate  to  the  Civil  Ejtate  Qii\\>i  Kingdom,  that 
 many  think  they  cannot  appear  joyful  enough 
 without  carting  off  all  regard  to  Sobriety,   and 
 letdng  loofe  the  Reins  to  Intemperance.      But 
 all  fuch  Joy  as  difdains  the  Bounds  of  Religion, 
 and  Virtue,  degenerates  into  Madnefs :     And 
 whilft  it  feems  to  exprefs  a  Senfe  of  God's  Fa- 
 vours,  and  a  Love   to  our  Country,   it  is,   in 
 Truth,  the  greateft  Demonftration  of  our  In- 
 fenfibility  of  the  one,   and  our  Enmity  to  the 
 other;    putting  a  (lop  to  the  gracious  Defign  of 
 future   Mercies,    and   helping  only  to  treafure 
 up  V/rath  againft  the  Day  of  Wrath.      There 
 being,  therefore,   nothing  fo  incongruous  and 
 abi'urd,    as  to  exprefs  a  Thankfulnefs  to  God 
 by  wicked  Actions  j  and  a  Love  to  our  Coun- 
 try by  contributing    to  the  Debauchery,   and 
 
 Ruine 
 
Queens  Accejfton  to  the  Crown, 
 
 Rulne  of  itj  let  all  fuch  Behaviour  as  is  con-s 
 trary  to  the  Rules  of  Reafon,   and   the  Laws 
 of  the  Gofpel,  be  far  banifhed  from  all  who 
 truly  rejoice  before  God.     But, 
 
 IL  With  a  more  peculiar  Relation  to  this 
 Day,  I  cannot  but  obferve,  (and  I  hope  with- 
 out Offence  to  any)  that  it  feems  difagreeable 
 to-  a  true  Senfe  of  the  Mercy  of  this  Day,  to 
 celebrate  the  Acceffion  of  Her  prefent  Majefty 
 to  the  Crown,  with  Refledlons,  and  Satyrj 
 upon  the  Memory  of  Her  Royal  Predecefor* 
 It  is  the  only  Thing  that  cafls'  a  Shadow  over 
 the  Brightnefs  of  this  Day,  that  We  could  not 
 enjoy  an  excellent  Princefs^  without  being  de- 
 prived of  an  excellent  Prince  ;  that  the  fame 
 Day,  which  began  the  happy  Reign  of  our 
 great,  and  good,  Queen,  put  a  Period  to  the 
 ufeful,  and  invaluable.  Life  of  a  great,  and 
 good,  King  ;  that  the  fame  Hour  which  de- 
 manded Acclamations  of  Joy  for  the  one,  de- 
 manded Tears  of  Piety  and  Gratitude,  for  the 
 other.  Never  was  there  a  greater,  and  more 
 dubious,  Contefl  known  between  Grief  and 
 Joyy  than  on  this  Day  :  For  never  was  there 
 a  Reign  ended  of  more  beneficial  Influence 
 upon  thefe  Nations,  than  that  which  this  Day 
 ended  ;  and  never  was  there  a  Reign  begun, 
 from  which  we  could  promife  our  Selves  a 
 greater  Progrefs  towards  Happinefs,  than  we 
 
 E  have 
 
50 
 
 A  Sermon  up07t  the  Day  of 
 
 s  £  R  M.have  already  experienced  from  that  which  this 
 III.    Day  began.    If  therefore,  it  were  on  any  Ac- 
 
 t^^"V>..  count  allowable  to  contaminate  a  Day  of  Joy 
 with  any  Marks  of  Grief  j  furely  it  might  be 
 allowed  to  (lied  a  Tear  upon  the  Memory  of 
 a  Prince,  to  whom,  under  God,  we  owe  the 
 Enjoyment  of  all  we  pofTefs.  And  methinks, 
 fuch  a  Tribute  to  his  Name  might  be  thought 
 even  an  Honour  paid  to  this  Day,  on  which 
 We  fhould  not  now  be  Celebrating  the  Accef- 
 fion  of  an  Excellent  Queen  to  the  Throne, 
 had  not  He  firfl  fuflained  the  Shock  of  our 
 'Enemies,  dnd  fettled  us  upon  that  Foundation, 
 which  we  now  think  of  with  fo  much  Plea- 
 fure,  and  Security.  Efpecially,  iince  the  car- 
 rying our  Thoughts  backward,  can  only  ferve 
 to  raife  our  'T'hankfuhefs  to  Almighty  God, 
 that,  after  he  had  deprived  us  of  a  Life,  on 
 which  the  Fate  of  Europe  feemed,  in  human 
 Appearance  to  depend,  He  v/as  pleafed  to  feat 
 upon  the  fame  T^hrone  a  Princefs  fo  wife  -,  fo 
 fKiIled  in  all  the  Rules  of  good  Government  j 
 and  fo  regardful  of  the  true  Intereft  of  Her 
 People,  that  Her  Reign  hath  hitherto  feemed 
 only  a  glorious  Continuance  of  the  former. 
 
 Nothing  indeed,  can  be  more  incongruous 
 to  the  Duty  of  this  Day,  than  to  perfecute  the 
 Memory  j  or  to  rake  into  any  fuppofed  Mif- 
 take.s,  and   Mifmanagements  5    or  to  fix  any 
 
 Blot 
 
the  ^eens  AcceJJton  to  the  Crow7t*     \   5 1 
 
 Blot  upon  the  Reputation  of  Him,  by  whom^ER m. 
 only  it  is,  that  this  Day  bears  thofe  Charadters  '  iii. 
 of  Joy  it  hath  now  put  on.  And  methinks,  ^/VNJ 
 if  nothing  elfe  j  if  neither  Honour,  nor  Gra- 
 titude to  our  late  King  5  yet  Refped:,  and  Vene- 
 ration for  our  prefent  Queen,  if  it  be  real, 
 fhould  fecure  His  Name  from  Reproaches, 
 who  Isid  the  Foundation  of  her  Reign,  and  her 
 Glories.  Her  Throne  is  fettled  upon  the  fame 
 Foundation,  on  which  His  was  fixed :  And 
 can  it  be  a  proper  Method  of  exalting  Hen 
 with  Honour,  to  throw  down  "His  with  In- 
 dignity ?  Upon  Her  Acceffion  to  the  Crown, 
 She  Her  felf  ftyled  Him,  in  an  auguft  Affem- 
 bly,  the  great  Support  not  only  of  thefe  King- 
 doms^ but  of  all  Europe  :  And  can  it  become 
 Her  Day  to  contradidl  that  glorious  Charac- 
 ter ?  Or  can  it  be  accounted  an  Honour  to 
 H<?r,  to  deny  the  Truth  of  her  own  folemn 
 Words  r  And  ever  fince  She  afcended  the 
 Throne,  it  hath  been  her  Glory  to  purfue  the 
 Caufe  of  her  great  Predecejfor  -^  to  infift  in  the 
 Paths  which  he  had  troden  before  Her ;  and 
 to  oppofe  the  fame  common  Adverfary  with 
 the  fame  Zeal,  and  Concern.  How  injurious, 
 therefore,  muft  it  prove  to  the  Glories  of  the 
 Ofie,  to  deprefs,  and  lefTen  the  Glories  of  the 
 Other  ?  1  would  not  willingly  give  leave  to 
 too  fevere  a  Cenfure :  But  there  is  too  much 
 Reafon  to  fear  that  the  fame  Perfons^  who 
 E  2  can 
 
52 
 
 A  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of 
 
 'SE  RM.can  folemnize  this  Day  with  InveSiives  agalnll 
 III.  the  late  King,  may  come  in  time  to  folemnize 
 t/'V^ '  it  v/ith  the  like  Inve&ives  againft  the  prefent 
 Queen  ;  if  She  fhall  continue  unmoveably  to 
 purfue  the  fame  hated  Maxims  of  Government, 
 and  to  fpeak  too  often,  and  too  earneflly,  of 
 Peace  and  Moderation.  ■   . 
 
 But  if  fuch  Perfons  think  that  the  GJory  of 
 fo  great,  and  good,   a  Queen  cannot  be  raifed 
 to  a  fafficient  Highth,   without  deprefling- the 
 Glory  of  her  Fredecejfor  j  this  is,  of  all  others, 
 the  greatefl:  Indignity  they  could  offer  to  her 
 felf,   and  to  her  Day.      For  it  is  one  principal 
 Reafon  of  our  prefent  T^hankfulnefs^  that  our 
 Excellent  ^een  abounds  in  fo  many  Graces, 
 and    fo   many   noble    Accompliihments  j     is 
 adorned  with  fo  great  a  degree  of  Condudl, 
 and  Wifdom  j   and  appears  fo  admirably  fitted 
 for  Government,  that  She  will  ever  fliine  il- 
 luftrioufly  by  her  own  Light ;  that  her  native 
 Excellencies  will  add  a  perpetual  Grace  to  her 
 Name  :    and  that  She  ftands  not   in  need  of 
 any    fuch   poor,  and  inglorious,   Artifices,  to 
 endear  her  to  her  People,  or  to  make  her  Story 
 full  of  Honour  in  future  Ages.    She  pofTeffeth 
 what  is  fufficient  to  recommend  Her  to  the  Af- 
 fections of  all  her  good  Subje<5ls ;    and  owes 
 her  Glories  to  her  felf,  and  not  to  the  Defeds 
 and  Faults  of  Others. 
 
 But  it  is  no  great  Wonder  that  fo  great  an 
 
 Abufe 
 
the  Semens  Accejfwn  to  the  Crown. 
 
 53, 
 
 Abufe  can  be  put  upon  this  Day,  iince  we  finds 
 that  fome  have  their  Underftandings  To  ftrange- 
 ly  turned,  that  they  cannot  imagine  a  Venera-  '^ 
 tion  for  Her  prefent  Majejly,  confident  with  a 
 Refpedl  to  the  Memory  of  Her   Pi^cdeccjjhr, 
 I  fpeak  this  with  relation  to  fnch  amongft  us, 
 as  are  not  content  with  profeffing  themfelves 
 hearty   Friends,    and   Well-widiers,    to   that 
 Queen,   who  began  her  Reign  on  this  Day ; 
 but  are  often  infmuating,  after   fome   manner 
 or  other,   that  Her  fecret  Enemies  arc  many, 
 and  efpecially  amongft  thofe,  who  profefs  the 
 higheft  Refped:  to  the  Memory  of  Her  Prede- 
 ceffor.     This  feems  to  me  fo  hard  a  Cenfure, 
 and  fo  Httle  deferved,   that  I  care  not  to  fpeak 
 as  feverely  of  it,  as  I  juftly  might :   But  I  muft 
 fay,  that  I  think  it  manifeft,   on  the  contrary, 
 that  Thofe  who  were  truly  Frie72ds  to  ihs.  kte 
 Government,   cannot  be  truly  Ejucmies  to  thisj 
 and   that  Thofe,  who  were  hearty  Lovers  of 
 the  late  King,  can  never,  without  renouncing, 
 or  contradicting  their  Principles,   hate,  or  re- 
 vile a  Queen,  who  fucceeds  Him  in  the  fame 
 glorious  Defigns  ;  who  hath  the  fame  Regard 
 to  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  Her  Subjects, 
 and  the  fame  Zeal  againfl:  the  great  Adverfary 
 of  both.       We  know,    many   who  help   to 
 fpread  this  Evil  Report  of  their  Brethren,  are 
 publick,  and  profeffed,   Enemies  to  the  prefent 
 happy  Efiahlifiment .  It  is  wonderful  that  They 
 E   3  fliould 
 
 ERM. 
 
 III. 
 
^ 
 
 A  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of 
 
 S  ERM.fliould  think  themfelves  of  all  others  the  fitteft 
 III.    Perfons  to  give  Informations  of  Friends^    and 
 
 ^'^^\^  Enemies  J  to  a  Government  which  they  cannot 
 themfelves  wifh  well  to.  But  it  is  much  more 
 wonderful,  that  Any  who  ftudy  the  Preferva- 
 tion  of  the  Government^  and  the  Intereft  of  the 
 prefent  Governor,  can  join  in  a  Cenfure,  which  | 
 cannot  but  raife  the  ftrongeft  Jealoufies  ?igainfl  | 
 Thofe  who  have  not  deferved  them;  and  great- ; 
 ly  increafe  thofe  mutual  Animofities,  which 
 are  already  too  violent  amongft  us.  But  I 
 have  fufFered  my  felf  to  be  carried  beyond  my 
 firft  Defign,  in  Oppofition  to  what  feems  con- 
 trary to  Decency,  and  Gratitude,  and  to  the 
 Occafion  of  this  Day.  And  I  fhall  only  add, 
 that  all  I  have  now  faid  hath  proceded,  not 
 only  from  a  great  Regard  to  the  Memory  of 
 our  late  King,  which  I  am  not  afliamed  to 
 profefs ;  but  from  a  profound  Veneration  for 
 our  prefent  Queen,  whofe  Honour  appears  to 
 me  deeply  concerned  in  it. 
 
 III.  Having  taken  Notice  of  the  Abufes  of 
 this  Day,  I  come  now  to  obferve,  that  it  is 
 one  very  proper  part  of  our  prefent  Duty  to 
 make  ourfelves  fenfible  of  the  Mercy  of  God 
 to  us  in  the  Acceffion  of  our  Excellent  Queen 
 to  the  Crown ;  left  we  fhould  feem  to  draw 
 near  to  him  with  our  Lips,  but  to  have  our 
 Hearts,  far  from  him,  whilft  we  pretend  to 
 commemorate  fo  great  a  Bleffing  before  him. 
 
 We 
 
the  Queens  Acceffio7i  to  the  Crown. 
 
 55 
 
 We  need  not  doubt,  but  that,  if  our  great,  s 
 and  common,  Adverfary  had  been  to  wifli 
 what,  of  all  Things,  He  could  have  thought  -/"V^ 
 niofl  conducive  to  the  compafling  the  Ends  of 
 his  boundlefs  Ambition  ;  He  would  have  wifli- 
 ed  a  Period  to  the  Life  of  our  late  King,  who 
 had  fo  long  ftood  refolute  againft  his  conftant 
 Attempts  upon  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of 
 Europe^  and  made  it  his  whole  Employment 
 to  prevent  the  Succefs  of  his  Mijchiej  as  faft  as 
 He  himfelf  could  contrive  it.  And  we  need 
 not  doubt  but  that,  upon  the  Death  of  fuch 
 a  Prince^  (fo  able,  and  fo  refolved,  to  oppofe 
 Him)  He  flattered  Himfelf  with  a  Train  of 
 uninterrupted  SucceiTes  j  and  a  Series  of  future 
 Conquefts  and  Triumphs ;  and  imagined  all 
 Things  bowing  their  Necks  to  his  Authority  j 
 and  no  Refiftance  but  what  He  could  defpife, 
 and  eafily  break  through.  But  Almighty  God, 
 who  fees  not  as  Man  fees,  nor  judges  as  Man 
 judges,  quickly  taught  Him  to  think  otherwife. 
 By  his  good  Providence  our  Queen  was  peace- 
 ably feated  upon  the  Throne  ;  infpired  with 
 the  fame  Zeal  againd:  the  common  Enemy, 
 that  filled  every  Flour  of  the  Life  of  Her  Pic- 
 decejfor  5  and  quickly  began  to  ihew  fuch  Signs 
 of  Prudence,  and  VVifdom,  and  Conduct,  as 
 could  not  but  convince  Him  how  vain,  and 
 groundlefs  his  Confidences  were.  Abroad, 
 Affairs  have  been  managed  with  that  fingular, 
 E  4  and 
 
 E  RM. 
 
 iir. 
 
56 
 
 A  Sci^mo^i  upon  the  Day  of 
 
 and  wonderful  Prudence,  which  hath  drawn 
 after  it  fuch  an  Inftance  of  Succefs,  as  hath 
 been  feldom  known   in  Hiftory.      At  Home, 
 leflthe  unhappy  Temper  ofthisNation  fhouid 
 give  too  much  Advantage  to  the  Funemy^  uni- 
 verfal  Love,  and  Peace,  and  mutual  Benevo- 
 lence, have  been  recommended,  and  cultiva- 
 ted.    Great  and  fignal  Ads  of  Piety  an^Cha- 
 rity  have  been  performed,  to  invite  down  the 
 Bieffing   of    Heaven:     And   we  have   been 
 taught   by  the   higheft   Example,  our  Duty, 
 and  our  Intereft.     Upon  all  which  Accounts 
 certainly  we  have  the  greatefl:  Reafon  to  pay 
 our  hearty  Acknowledgments  to  Almighty  God, 
 and  to  come  before  his  Prefence  'with  'Thankf- 
 giving.      For  by  his  Providence  Princes  reign. 
 He  laid  the  firil  Foundation  of  all  their  Ac- 
 compUrhments,  and  all   their  Defigns.     He 
 orders  the  Scene  of  Affairs  fo,  as  that  all  the 
 Succefs  and   Happinefs  that  follows  is  owing 
 originally  to  his  infinite  Wifdom,  and  Good- 
 nefs.     If  therefore,  He  hath  been  good  to  us 
 after  fo  extraordinary  a  manner  ;    and  difpofed 
 Things  fo,   in  this  Critical  Juncture,   that  we 
 mufl  all  acknowledge,  we  want  neither  Con- 
 dud:  and  Courage  in  our  Armies  Abroad,  nor 
 Wifdom  and  Temper  in  our  Coimfels  at  Home ; 
 let  us  be  fenfible  of  fo  great  a  Blefling  as  the 
 Acceffion  of  a  Queen  to  the  Throne,  who  fo 
 glorioufly  maintains  the  Caufe  delivered  down 
 
 to 
 
the  Queens  Acceffion  to  the  Crown, 
 
 to  Her  ;    fo  wifely  governs  at  Home,   and  fo  s  e  R  M. 
 fuccefsfully  wars  Abroad.  iii. 
 
 And  it  will  increafe  our  Senfe  of  the  Mercy  <..<Vn; 
 of  God  towards  us   in   her  Acceffion    to  the 
 Crown,  to  confider  that  happy  Conftitution, 
 and  Frame  of  Government,   which  is  by  this 
 preferved,  and  confirmed,  to  Us.      She  is  the 
 firft  upon  the  Throne,  fince  the  Settlement  of 
 the  SucceJJion  in  the  Proteftant  Line  :   and  She 
 hath  demonftrated  already  to  the  whole  World 
 her  Hatred  of  tyranny  and  Slavery,  and  her 
 tender  Regard  to  Liberty,     So  that  we  may 
 fay,  we  owe  to  her  Reign  the  Confirmation, 
 and  Eflablifhment,  of  our  happy  Eftate.  Hap- 
 py indeed,  if  we  look  Abroad,  and  compare 
 it  with  the  miferable  Eftate  of  fuch  as  are  un- 
 der no  Law  but  Arbitrary  Will  j  and  know 
 not  what  it  is  truly  to  poflefs  any  Thing;    or 
 fo  much  as  to  enjoy  the  Worship  and  Religion 
 they  approve.      We  can  have  no  proper  No- 
 tion, at  this  diftance,  of  what  hath  been  fuf- 
 fered,  throughout  Europe^  from  the  ungovern- 
 able Excefs   of  Power,   and  the  burning  Zeal 
 of  Popery.     When  we  felt  in    ourfelves    but 
 the  Approaches  towards  what  is  knov/n  in  o- 
 ther  Lands,  there    was  hardly   a  Man  to  be 
 found  that  did  not  difdain  the  unnatural  Prin- 
 ciples of  a  fervile  Obedience  :    Nay,  many  of 
 Thofe  who  afterwards  returned  in  their  Hearts 
 to  Egypt,  permitted  Nature  to  have  fo  much 
 
 force 
 
 57 
 
S8 
 
 A  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of 
 
 SERM  force  upon  them,  as  that  they  invited  Relief 
 III.    and  Affiftance;  and  themfelves  laid  the  Scene 
 
 L/^'xiof  our  Deliverance.  And  could  v^e  fee  what 
 others  at  this  Moment  feel  under  the  Influen- 
 ces of  JJngo'vcrned  Power^  and  Bigotry,  we 
 could  not  but  retain  a  juft  Value  for  our  own 
 Happinefs  >  and  a  jufl  Senfe  of  the  Favour  of 
 God,  in  granting  us  a  Queen  as  truly,  con- 
 cerned for  the  Rights,  and  Liberties,  and  Re- 
 ligion,  of  her  Subjeds,  as  her  Subjeds  them- 
 felves could  wilh.  It  is  an  invaluable  Blefling, 
 and  above  all  the  Grandeur,  and  Magnificence 
 of  Arbitrary  Power,  that  we  can  dare  to  fay, 
 we  enjoy  any  Thing,  and  have  a  Tide  to  it ; 
 that  we  can  demand  it  of  any  that  lay  violent 
 Hands  upon  it,  and  can  call  for  legal  Redrefs 
 of  the  Injuries  of  the  greatefl:  Perfons  amongft 
 us.  And  it  is  an  incomparable  Happinefs, 
 that  we  enjoy  the  Religion  we  approve  j  that 
 we  can  meet  undifturbed  for  the  Worfliip  of 
 God,  and  freely  exercife  our  common  Devo- 
 tions. And  what  is  to  be  feen  anfwerable  to 
 this,  in  any  Country,  where  there  is  not  the 
 Liberty  of  Men's  Perfons,  and  Eftates,  and 
 Religion  ^ .  Nothing  but  a  mock  Outfide  of 
 Greatnefs  (falfly  fo  called)  in  the  Prince,  loved 
 only  by  Slaves ;  but  hated,  and  abhorred,  and 
 perhaps  marked  out  to  Deftrudion,  if  there 
 remain  in  Any  a  Senfe  of  Freedofn,  and  of  the 
 Dignity  of  Human  Nature?  What  can  corn- 
 pen  fate 
 
the  ^uee7is  Accejfton  to  the  Crown »        59 
 
 penfate  the  Lofs  of  fo  fingular  an  Happincfs  asisERM. 
 we  enjoy,  and  how  great  fliould  our  Senfe  of'    m. 
 it  be  ?     The  peculiar  Glory  of  the  Crown  ofi/V^ 
 thefe  Realms  is  this,  that  it  is  enriched  with  all 
 thofe  Powers  which  are  neceffary  for  the  De- 
 fenfe  of  the  Subjedt,  and  the  true  Greatnefs  of 
 the  Frince  -,  and  that  it  wants  only  Thofe  thatj 
 tend  f;o  the  Deilrudion  of  Liberty,  and   thei 
 Unhappinefs  of  thofe  that  wear  it.     As  there- 1 
 fore,  it  muft  be  the  Intereft  of  the  Crown  itfelf, 
 not  to  affedt  New^  and  Illegal  Powers -^   fo  it  is 
 manifeftly  the  Intereft  of  every  Subjedt,   that 
 the  Crown  fhould  never  be  robbed  oiih^Fcwen 
 it  now  poiTelTeth.     For  whenever  this  come.s 
 to  pafs,  it  may  be  found  as  great  an  Injury  to 
 the  juft  Liberties  of  the  Szibje5ls  of  this  King-' 
 dom,  as  Arbitrarinefs  in  the  Crown  itfelf.      For 
 then  the  happy  Balance  is  broken,  that  keeps 
 all  Things  in  an  even  State  :    And  fuch  an  Al- 
 teration in  fo  nice  aConflitution  muft  needs  give 
 a  terrible  Shock  to  the  Publick  Happinefs.  And  i 
 I  may  add,  that  Experience  hath  fhewn,   that 
 nothing  is  fo  agreeable  to  the  Welfare  of  thefe 
 Kingdoms,  as  the  ancient  Conftitution  prefer- 
 ved  unviolated  >  and  that  whoever  have  endea- 
 voured to  break  in  upon  it,  either  by  infring- 
 ing the  Liberties  of  the  SubjeB^  or  by  too  great 
 Encroachments  upon  the  legal  Province  of  the 
 Frince,  have  equally  failed  of  Succefs  ;    have 
 never  been  able  to  eftablilli  their  own  private 
 
 ^cheme^ 
 
^o 
 
 A  Sermon  tipoit  the  Day  of 
 
 „SE  RM 
 III. 
 
 Scheme,  but  fallen  a  Sacrifice  to  their  own  Im- 
 prudence. This  being,  therefore,  our  pecu- 
 har  Happinefs  j  and  an  Happinefs  which  this 
 Day  confirmed  to  us  j  it  becomes  us  this  Day 
 to  fill  our  Minds  with  a  Senfe  of  it,  and  to  ex- 
 prefs  our  Thankfulnefs  for  it.    But  lafl  of  all, 
 
 IV.  If  we  be  truly  thankful  to  Alrriighty 
 God  for  fo  excellent  a  Governor  as  this  Day 
 afcended  the  Throne;  it  is  mofl  agreeable  to 
 this  Solemnity,  to  kindle  in  our  Breafts  aftrong 
 Refolution,  and  a  zealous  Defire,  of  making 
 Her  a  Great,  and  Glorious  Queen.  Not  by 
 proftituting  our  Rights  and  Liberties  to  Her 
 Will ;  (an  Offer  which  She  hath  Greatnefs 
 enough  to  difdain;)  for  that  would  be  to  give 
 Her  only  the  external  Appearance  of  Grandeur : 
 but  by  contributing  all  we  can  to  her  true  Hap- 
 pinefs, and  Satisfadlion.  To  make  ourfelves 
 a  happy  People  by  the  Univerfal  Pra(flice  of 
 all  that  is  virtuous  and  praife- worthy  ;  This  is 
 truly  to  make  our  Queen  happy.  For  how 
 can  it  be  that  the  Ruler  of  a  religious  People 
 fhould  not  be  happy  ?  And  fuch  a  Ruler,  as 
 knows  the  Value  and  Importance  of  Virtue, 
 and  Religion  ?  But  if  You  would  be  more 
 particular,  She  Herfelf  hath  direded  You  to 
 a  Method,  in  which  you  cannot  fail  of  making 
 Hera  happy  and  glorious  Queen.  Purfue  the 
 
 Paths 
 
the  Queens  AcceJJion  to  the  Crown. 
 
 61 
 
 Paths  of  Peace,  and  Union  ;  Love,  and  Con-  s 
 cord  ;  avoid  all  Quarrels,  and  mutual  Diilenii- 
 t)ns  J  entertain  Candour,  and  good  Nature,  and 
 a  true  Chrijlian  Moderation  :  And  as  this  will 
 make  You  2}Ilappy  People,  fo  You  have  Her 
 own  Royal  Word  for  it.  This  'will  make  Her  a 
 Happy  ^ecn.  Indeed  She  feems  to  have  af- 
 cende^d  the  Throne  in  order  to  compofe  the  un- 
 happy Heats  and  Violences  amongft  us :  AncJ 
 if  Her  Hand  do  not  heal  our  miferable  Breaches, 
 I  fear  no  other  may  have  the  like  Advantages; 
 or  any  Pofiibility  of  attempting  it  without  raif- 
 ing  Jealoufies,  and  Paflions,  and  meeting  with 
 infuperable  Difficulties.  She  hath  not  been 
 wanting,  on  all  Occafions,  to  make  this  the 
 Subjecft  of  Her  publick  Converfations  with 
 Her  Subjeds  :  And,  as  if  nothing  delighted 
 Her  more  than  the  Thought  of  Planting,  and 
 Eftablifhing  Peace  amongfl  Her  People,  She 
 conftantly  dwells  upon  it,  and  is  ever  inculcat- 
 ing it.  Peace  was  the  Subjed  of  that  lafl  moll 
 affectionate  Speech,  which  was  the  Legacy, 
 as  it  were,  of  Her  Predecejfor  to  thefe  diftrac- 
 ted  Kingdoms :  And  She  hath,  with  great 
 Zeal  and  Earneftnefs,  purfued  the  fame  Divine 
 Subjedl.  And  can  it  become  thofe  who  pre- 
 tend any  Love  to  Her  Majefty,  to  negled:  all 
 Her  paffionate  Entreaties,  and  inftead  of 
 Peace,  to  fow  the  Seeds  of  Difcord  in  the 
 Land  ?  Far  be  this  from  any  fuch !  If  they  love 
 I  not 
 
 ERM. 
 III. 
 
62  A  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of^  6cc. 
 
 SERM.bot  the  good  Work  of  Peace  inwardly;    yat^ 
 III.   let  the  Refped:  they  profefs  for  that  great  Name 
 t/'WJ  which  gives  Credit  to  it,  engage  Them  not  to 
 oppofe  and  difcourage  it ;  left,  while  they  pro^-^ 
 fefs  a  Veneration  for  the  Queen,  they  fl:iould 
 feem  to  renounce  it  all  in  their  Adions. 
 
 To  conclude  all,  Let  us  value  our  Happier; 
 nefs  in  fuch  a  Queen,  and  pay  the  profoundeft 
 Refpedl  to  fo  much  Merit;  Let  us  affift  Her 
 [with  all  Readinefs  againft  the  common  Adver- 
 jfary  of  Her  Throne,  and  our  own  Peace  ; 
 et  us  make  Her  the  Queen  of  a  religious 
 nd  united  People  ;  and  Let  us  pray  to  God 
 Jong  to  preferve  Her  a  publick  Bleffing  to  thefe 
 jKingdoms,  and  the  Guardian  of  the  Liberties 
 of  all  'Europe^  and  finally  to  recompenfe  the 
 Cares  and  Labours  of  Her  earthly  Crown, 
 with  a  Crown  of  eternal  Glory  in  the  World 
 to  come. 
 
 Ian 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON  IV. 
 
 Preached   before   the   Right  Honourable  the 
 Lord- Mayor,  ^r.  September  2C)^  ^7^5' 
 
 ROMANS  xlil.    I. 
 Let  every  Soul  befubjeSl  to  the  Higher  Powers, 
 
 ERM. 
 IV. 
 
 IN  the  feven  firil  Verfes  of  this  Chapter ^^ 
 the  Duty  of  SiihjeSls  to  Perfons  in  Autho- 
 rity is  plainly  laid  down  5  and  the  End  ofyVXJ 
 all  Government^  and  the  Duty  of  all  Governors^ 
 plainly  implied.  And  it  is  my  T>t.{\gn.  to  draw 
 fome  ufeful  and  proper  Obfervations  from  what 
 the  Apoftle  hath  here  delivered  upon  thefe  two 
 Heads, 
 
 I.  With  refpe6i  to  Governors.     And, 
 
 II.  With  refpeB  to  Subjeds. 
 
 I,  With  refpedi  to  Governors.     And  here, 
 I.  Th^JirJi  Thing  I  obferve,  is,  That  the 
 Apoflle  declares  that  they  are  ordained  of  God, 
 ver.  I.  That  their  Authority  is  the  Ordinance 
 of  God  J  ver.  2.  That  they  are  the  Mi?iijiers  of 
 God,  ver.  4,  6.    And  fince  an  Apojlle  hath  io 
 
 far 
 
64 
 
 A  Serfno7t  preached 
 
 SERivil.far  concerned  himfelf  with  the  matter  of  Go- 
 IV.     'vernment^  as  to  fay  this  ;  it  cannot  be  amifs  in 
 
 ^/V^'Us,   who  are  to  be  guided  by  his  Diredlions, 
 to  examine,  in  what  Senfe  this  muft  be  under- 
 flood.     Now,  one  would  think  it  next  to  im- 
 poffible,  that  any  fliould  underfland  thefe,  and 
 the  Hke  Expreffions,  to  fignify  that  God  had 
 himfelf  appointed,  for  all  the  Kingdoms  of  the 
 Earth,  one  particular  Form  of  Government  j 
 and  that  all  Deviations  from  that,  or  Alterati- 
 ons  in  it,   are   unlawful,  as   they  are  Tranf- 
 greffions  of  the  pofitive  Inftitution  of  Almighty 
 God.     For  I  may,  I  think,  venture  to   fay, 
 that  there  is  not  the  leaft  Footftep  of  this  di- 
 vine Inftitution   in  all  the  Accounts    we  have 
 of  the  Dealings  of  Providence  with  Mankind , 
 nor  the  leaft  Ground  for  fuch  an  Opinion  from 
 Hijlory,  or  the  Reafon  of  the  Thing.     And 
 in  the  Words  of  the  Apojile  now  before  us, 
 fuppofing  he  had  confined  them  to  the  Form 
 of  Govermiient  then  in  being  at  Rome^  can  any 
 one  imagine  that  he  intended  to  declare  that  the 
 Roman  Emperors^  who  at  firft  manifeftly  ufur- 
 ped  and  maintained  their  Authority  by  force  of 
 Arms,    had    their    Commiftion    immediately 
 from  God  ?      Can  any  one  imagine  that  He 
 would   not  have  faid  the   fame  Things,  had 
 the  Republic  continued  in  all  its  former  Rights, 
 and  antient  Liberty  ?     Or  that  he  would  not 
 
 have 
 
hefo?^e  the  Lord  Mayor 
 
 65 
 
 have  prelTed  Obedience  and  Submiilion  upon  ;erm 
 the  Subjed:,  from  the  fame  Topics  ?  Nay,  iv. 
 that  he  meant  this  of  all  forts  of  Supreme.  f./V*vJ 
 PoiverSj  and  of  Magijlratcs  in  all  Forms  of 
 Government f  is  evident  from  this,  which  he 
 makes,  as  it  were,  the  Ground  of  all  thefe 
 Forms  of  ExprefTion,  ver.  i.  Th^x  there  is  710 
 Powe^  kit  of'  God :  Which  certainly  extends 
 equally  to  all  who  are  pofTeiTed  of  any  fort  of 
 Power,  to  be  exercifed  for  the  Good  of  the 
 Public,  and  to  all  Species  of  Governments.  So 
 that  it  cannot  be  meant  here  of  any  one  Form, 
 that  it  is  of  God,  in  any  other  Senfe,  but  that 
 in  which  it  is  true  of  all.  And  it  being:  true 
 of  all,  in  no  other  Senfe  but  this,  That  no 
 Perfons  are  polTeiTed  of  any  Governing  Power 
 for  the  Good  of  Human  Society,  but  bv  the 
 Providence  of  God,  and  by  his  Will  either 
 permitdng  or  decreeing  it :  It  can  in  no  other 
 Senfe  be  here  meant  of  any  one  fort  of  Go- 
 vernors^ that  they  have  their  Authority  from 
 God.  It  is  his  Will  certainly,  that  there 
 fliould  be  Government  in  Human  Societies,  for 
 the  Peace,  and  Happinefs,  of  Mankind.  And 
 fo  all  Governors,  of  what  fort  foever,  may  be 
 faid  to  be  ordained  by  God,  becaufe  it  is  his 
 Will  that  there  fhould  be  Governors.  They 
 may  be  ftiled  the  Mifiijiers  of  God,  becaufe 
 they  ad  his  Pleafure  whilfl  they  do  the  Duty 
 
 F  of 
 
66 
 
 A  Sermon  preached 
 
 serM.  of    good   Governors.      And   their  Authority 
 IV.     may  be  faid  to  be  the  Ordinance  of  God^  be- 
 
 t/'VN''  caufe  it  is  his  Will  that  feme  Perfons  fhould  be 
 veiled  with  Authority,  for  the  good  of  Hu- 
 man  Society.      And   thus  St.  Peter  feems  to 
 underftand    this   Matter,   in    his   iirfi:  Epijile, 
 Chap.  ii.  13.  where  he  exprefly  calls  the  King^ 
 and  Governors  under  Him,   by  the  Na,me  of 
 an  Hunia?!  Ordinance,    becaufe   the   particular 
 Forms  of  Government  are    of  Human  Deter- 
 mination :    And  makes  them   no  otherwife  of 
 Divine  Appointment,  but  by  faying,  ver.  15. 
 That  it  is  the  Will  of  God  they  fliould  be  obey- 
 ed.   Nay,  it  is  evident  that  what  St.  Paul  faith 
 here,  is  fpoken  of  all  in  Power  and  Authority  j 
 of  the  loweft  De2:ree  of  Ma^iftrates.   as  w-ell 
 as  the  highefi:  Prince  upon  Earth.     They  are 
 all  equally  ordained  by  God  ;    their  Authority 
 equally  the  Ordinance  of  God-,  and  themfelves 
 equally  the  Minijkrs  of  God.      But  thefe  Ex- 
 preflions  cannot  be  meant  of  Inferior  Magif- 
 trates,  in  any  other  Senfe,  than  as  they  are  by 
 God's  Providence  poffelTed  of  Power  and  Au- 
 thority ;  and  as  it  is  God's  Will  they  fliould  be 
 obeyed  in  the  due  Execution  of  their  Office  : 
 And  therefore,  cannot  be  meant  of  the  Highejly 
 in  any  other. 
 
 2.  We  ir^ay  obferve  that  it  is  declared  here. 
 That  the  fole  End  and  Bufinefs  of  all  Govern- 
 ing 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 ing  Powery  is  to  confult  the  good  of  human 
 Society,  by  maintaining  Peace  and  Virtue  in 
 ity  ver,  3.  Riders  J  i.e.  thofe  who  faithfully 
 perform  the  Office  of  Rulers,  are  not.  a  'Terror 
 to  good  Works,  but  to  the  evil.  And  ver.  4. 
 He,  that  is,  One  who  is  truly  a  Governor,  is 
 the  Minijler  of  God  to  thee  for  Good,  and  the 
 Minifier  of  God  likewife  in  another  Senfe,  viz, 
 A  Revenger  to  execute  Wrath  upon  him  that 
 doeth  Evil,  And  ver.  6.  Thefe  Rulers  are 
 faid  to  be  continually  attending  upon  this  very 
 thing.  In  which  account  of  Governors  it  is 
 not  to  be  fuppofed  that  the  Apojlle  meant,  that 
 All  of  them  did  always  perform  this  good 
 Part ;  but  that  this  was  their  great  Bufinefs, 
 and  the  only  End  of  their  Inflitution,  as  He 
 makes  it  the  Ground  of  the  Obedience  to  ht 
 paid  to  them.  You  fee  here,  that  He  doth 
 not  give  an  account  of  the  Princes  and  Gover- 
 nors of  this  World,  as  of  Perfons  exalted  by 
 the  immediate  Diredion  of  Heaven,  to  a 
 highth  above  their  Neighbours,  to  be  Arbitra- 
 tors, at  their  own  Pleafures,  of  the  Lives  and 
 Fortunes  of  their  Fellow-Creatures,  and  to  re- 
 ceive the  fervile  Homage  of  whole  Nations  i  but 
 as  of  Perfons  called  by  the  Providence  of  God 
 to  a  difficult  and  laborious  Tafk ;  not  to  live  in 
 Eafe  and  Delicacy,  but  to  watch  Day  and 
 Night  for  the  good  of  that  Society  in  which 
 
 F  2  they 
 
68 
 
 §  E  R  M, 
 IV. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached 
 
 they  prefide  ;  to  be  diftinguiihed  indeed  from 
 others  by  the  Enfigns  of  Greatnefs  and  Autho- 
 rity, but  this  only  to  make  them  more  capable 
 of  ferving  the  Public,  and  confulting  the  In- 
 tereil  of  the  Whole.  Their  Office  indeed  is  a 
 glorious  Office  :  But  the  Glory  of  it  doth  not 
 confiil:  in  the  outward  Majefly  of  the  Governor, 
 and  the  Servility  of  the  Siihjeci  ;  but  in  the 
 Happinefs,  and  Peace,  that  is  derived  from  the 
 Cares  and  Labours  of  the  Supreme  Head,  to  all 
 the  Members  of  the  Body  Politic.  And  that 
 Governor  who  contradids  the  Character  here 
 laid  down  by  St.  Paz/l;  who  is  not  a  Terror  to 
 evil  Works,  but  to  good :  who  is  not  the  Minijier 
 cfGood  to  the  Virtuous,  and  of  Vengeance  to 
 the  Wicked  only ;  and  who  is  not  continually 
 watching  for  the  Good  and  Happinefs  of  hu- 
 man Society,  is  not  the  Governor  whom  St. 
 Faul  means  in  this  Place,  or  to  whom  He  here 
 prefies  Obedience:  And  much  lefs,  if  he  ma- 
 nifeflly  adl  contrary  to  the  only  End  of  his 
 Inftitution  ;  and  endeavour  to  ruine  the  Hap- 
 pinefs of  that  Society,  over  which  he  is  placed. 
 And  this  may  ferve  to  explain  yet  farther,  in 
 what  Senfe  thefe  higher  Powers  are  from  God, 
 viz.  As  they  ad  agreeably  to  his  Will,  which 
 is,  that  they  fliould  promote  the  Happinefs 
 snd  Good  of  human  Society,  which  St.  Paul 
 all  along  (ijppoks   them  to  do.      And  confe- 
 
 quentlvj 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 69 
 
 ERM. 
 
 IV,  '\ 
 
 quently,  when  they  do  the  contrary,  they  can- 
 not be  laid  to  be  from  God,  or  to  ad:  by  his 
 Authority,  any  more  than  an  inferior  Magi-  '>^VNJ 
 flrate  may  be  laid  to  ad:  by  a  Prince's  Autho- 
 rity, vvhilil  he  adts  diredly  contrary  to  his 
 Will.  Having  thus  laid  before  you  what  the 
 Apoftle  hath  here  delivered,  with  refpedt  to 
 Governors  3   I  come  now,  as  I  propofed, 
 
 II.  To  confider  what  is  here  faid,  With  re* 
 fpeSi  to  Suhje^s,  and  their  Duty,     And, 
 
 I.  The  Duty  of  SzibmiJJion,  and  Non'rejijl" 
 ance,  is  laid  down  in  fuch  abfolute  Terms,  that 
 many  have  been  induced  fron:i  hence  to  think. 
 That  the  Chriftian  Religion  denies  the  Subject 
 ail  Liberty  of  redrefling  the  greateft  Grievances. 
 Thus,  ver.  2.  Whofoever  therefore  refijleth  the 
 Power,  refijleth  the  Ordinance  of  God  %  and  they 
 that  refiftjl:all  receive  to  the mj elves  Damnation. 
 And,  ver.  5.  Wherefore  ye  mufl  needs  be  fubjcB, 
 not  only  for  Wrath,  but  aljofor  Con fcience  fake ; 
 i.  e.  Not  only  for  fear  of  Punifliment,  but 
 out  of  a  Senfe  of  Duty.  Thofe  who  do  not 
 examiine  into  the  Foundation  upon  which  the 
 Apoftle  builds  this  Dodlrine,  and  into  the 
 Whole  of  what  he  delivers,  may  indeed  be 
 apt  to  think,  that  in  thefe  W^ords  there  is  lit- 
 tle Relief  allowed  to  Subjects,  though  lying 
 under   the   greatefl   Oppreffions    imaginable:. 
 
 F  3  "And 
 
J  6} 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  _ 
 
 S.E  R  M. 
 IV. 
 
 And  yet  methinks,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the 
 Apojile  had  done  nothing  but  enforced  the 
 Duty  of  Obedience  upon  the  Subjed:,  it  would 
 be  reafonable  to  judge,  from  the  Nature  of  the 
 Thing,  and  the  Abfurdities  of  the  contrary^ 
 that  He  meant  this  only  as  a  general  Rule  in 
 all  ordinary  Cafes,  rather  than  to  imagine  that 
 He  (hould  abfolutely  conclude  whole  Nations 
 under  Mifery  and  Slavery  without  hopes  of 
 Redrefs.     But  I  obferve, 
 
 2.  That  the  Apojile  doth  himfelf  fo  explain 
 his  own  Doctrine  in  this  very  Place,  by  the 
 Reafons  he  gives  for  this  Obedience  in  SubjeBs, 
 and  the  Account  he  gives  of  the  Duty  of  Go- 
 'vcrnorSj  as  to  leave  Subjedls  all  the  Liberty 
 that  they  can  reafonably  defire.  For  tho'  he 
 doth  at  firft  prefs  upon  them  in  unlimited 
 Words,  an  Obedience  and  Non-rejijlance  to  the 
 higher  Powers  j  yet  he  afterwards  manifeftly 
 limits  this  Obedience  to  fuch  Rulers^  as  truly  an- 
 fwer  the  End  of  their  Inflitution.  The  Reafon 
 He  gives  for  Submijjion  is  this,  I'er.  3.  For  Ru- 
 lers are  not  a  terror  to  good  Works ^  but  to  the 
 EiVil ;  and  wr.  4.  Their  Bufinefs  is  declared 
 to  be  the  Execution  of  Wrath  upon  him  that  do- 
 eth  Evil ;  and  the  Neceffity  of  Submiffion  is 
 inferred  from  hence,  vcr.  5 .  Wherefore  ye  muft 
 needs  be  fiibjeB^  not  only  for  Wrath,  but  for  Coti- 
 fciencefake :    that  is,  it  is  your  Duty  to  obey 
 
 the 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 71 
 
 the  Supreme  Power ^  becauie  the  great  End  of  s  e  R  m. 
 all  human  Authority  is  the  Good  of  the  Public;  j  iv. 
 that  honeft  Men  may  be  proteded  in  their  ^>^^^\^ 
 Properties ;  and  all  Violence,  and  Diforder,  and 
 I  Unhappincfs  in  human  Society  be  prevented 
 and  punifhed  ;  and  becaufe  it  is  your  Duty  to 
 promote  that  good  End.  Now,  this  being  the 
 Arguraent  of  the  Apojlle,  all  that  we  can  pofli- 
 bly  collect  from  his  Injundions  in  this  Place 
 is  this.  That  it  is  the  indifpenfable  Duty  of 
 SuhjeSfs  to  fubmit  themfelves  to  fuch  Governors 
 as  anfwer  the  good  End  of  their  Inftitution  ;  to 
 fuch  Rulers  as  He  here  defcribes  j  fuch  as  are 
 72ot  a  'Terror  to  good  Works ^  but  to  the  evil ;  fuch 
 fls  promote  the  publick  Good,  and  are  continue 
 ally  attending  upon  this  very  Thi?ig.  To  thefe 
 the  profoundefl:  Reverence,  and  the  loweft 
 Submiffion  is  due,  as  to  the  greatefl  Bleffings 
 a  Society  can  enjoy  ;  and  Refinance  to  thefe 
 is  a  moll:  unpardonable  Sin.  Thus  far  the  A~ 
 pojile's  Reafoning  holds,  and  it  holds  equally 
 under  all  Forms  of  Government.  For  the 
 End  of  all  Government  is  one  and  the  fame, 
 whether  it  be  lodged  in  the  Breaft  and  Will  of 
 a  fingle  Perfon,  or  in  the  united  Counfels  and 
 Decrees  of  many.  And  if  the  End  of  it, 
 which  is  the  public  Happinefs  of  Mankind,  be 
 truly  anfweredj  all  Difobedience,  and  Refift- 
 ance,  is  inexcufable. 
 
 F  4  The 
 
72 
 
 A  Sermon  pf^eached 
 
 SER  M, 
 IV. 
 
 The   Argument   indeed  which  the  ApodU 
 lirfl  ufes  for  this  Obedience  in  SubjeBs^   feenns 
 dlftinct  from   this,  'viz.  that  their  Governors 
 are  of  God,  and  ordai?ied  of  God,  and  the  Mi- 
 nijlers   of  God.     But  having  fhewn   that  the 
 Meaning  of  this   can  only   be,   that  it  is  his 
 Will  that  they  enjoy  this  Powder  for  the  public 
 Good,  it  will  only  follow   from  hence,  that 
 therefore  they  are   to  be   obeyed  in   the  due 
 Execution  of  his  Will.    As  far  as  they  defledt 
 from  his  Will,  fo  far  they  lofe  their  Titles  to 
 thefe  Declarations  of  the  Apojlle ;    and  fo  far 
 are  they  excluded  out  pf  his   Argument,  as 
 He  himfelf  afterwards   explains   it.      It   is   a 
 good  Argument,  Thefe  Perfons  are   the  Ml^ 
 nijiers  of  God  for   the   Happinefs  of  human 
 Society :    Therefore,    they  muft  be   obeyed. 
 But  it  will  not  follow  from  hence,   that  Obe- 
 dience is  due  to   them,  if  they  deftroy,    and. 
 ruine,   the  Happinefs  of  human  Society. 
 
 But  let  us  fuppofe,  that  they  are  of  God  in. 
 the  higheft  Senfe  poffible ;  that  by  his  im-: 
 mediate  Diredlion,  They  particularly  are  ap- 
 pointed to  Rule  and  Govern  in  the  Kingdoms 
 of  this  World.  Well,  let  us  then  confider, 
 for  what  End  and  Purpofe,  they  are  appointed 
 to  this  Honour :  And  that,  it  is  agreed  on  all 
 Hands,  is  the  public  Happinefs  of  Mankind. 
 1  cannot  fee,  even  upon  this  Suppofition  that 
 
 an 
 
 -^ 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 H. 
 
 an  unlimited  Submiffion  is  due  to  them.  For  serm. 
 they  were  placed  in  Authority  for  this  good  iv. 
 End  only  ;  and  they  had  Power  given  them  by  |u^^/VJ 
 God  for  this  Purpole  only.  If  therefore,  They 
 ufe  their  Power  to  any  other  Purpofe  ;  to  the 
 Hurt  and  Prejudice  of  human  Society,  as  they 
 may  do,  unlefs  they  are  immediately  dired:ed, 
 and  tlieir  Wills  forced  by  God  himfelf ;  They 
 ad:  not  in  any  fuch  Inflances  by  Authority 
 from  God,  but  contrary  to  his  Will :  Nor  caa 
 they,  in  fuch  Inftances,  be  called  his  Vicege- 
 rents, without  the  higheft  Profanenefs:  And 
 therefore  to  oppofe  them  in  fuch  Cafes,  can- 
 not be  to  oppofe  the  Authority  of  God.  Nay,! 
 a  PaJJive  NGn-refiflance  would  appear,  upon 
 Examination,  to  be  a  much  greater  Oppofition 
 to  the  Will  of  God,  than  the  contrary.  For 
 though  He  himfelf,  upon  the  prefent  Suppo- 
 fition,  appointed  this  Perfon  to  govern;  yet 
 his  chief  Defign  in  this,  being  the  Good  and 
 Happinefs  of  Society  j  tamely  to  fit  ftill,  and 
 fee  that  entirely  ruined  and  facrificed  to  the 
 irregular  Will  of  one  Man,  feems  a  greater 
 Contradidion  to  the  Will  and  Defign  of  God, 
 than  any  Oppofition  can  be  :  For  it  is  a  tacit 
 Confent  to  the  Ruine  and  Mifery  of  Mankind, 
 whofe  public  Peace  and  Plappinefs  is  the  fole 
 End  of  Governments  as  well,  if  it  be  appoint- 
 ed by  God  himfelf,  as  if  it  be  purely  of  hu- 
 man 
 
^lA- 
 
 A  Sermon  preached 
 
 SERM.  man  Inflitution.  But  ^t  Apojlle  makes  no 
 IV.     fuch  Suppofition  as  this,   but  only  determines, 
 
 C/'VNJ  that  it  is  the  Ordinance  of  Godj  that  there 
 fhould  be  Governors  j  and  that  as  long  as  they 
 a6l  agreeably  to  the  End  of  their  Inftitution, 
 It  is  a  great  Sin  to  difobey,  or  refift  them.  We 
 may  judge  from  what  I  have  faid,  how  little 
 Ground  there  is  from  any  thing  here  delivered 
 by  St.  Paid,  to  argue  to  fo  unlimited  a  Sub- 
 miffion  as  fome  inculcate.  For  we  fee,  he 
 hath  his  Eye  all  the  Way  upon  the  End  of  all 
 Government;  and  founds  his  Precepts  upon 
 this  Suppofition,  that  the  Rulers  anfvver  that 
 good  End.  If  they  do  not,  or  if  they  fet  them- 
 felves  to  contradid:  it  by  Oppreffion,  Violence, 
 and  Injuflice ;  by  invading  and  deflroylng  the 
 public  Happinefs,  and  by  bringing  on  public 
 Miferies ;  the  Apojlle  feems  not  to  think  of 
 recommending  Submiffion  to  the  Subje(5t.  For 
 whilfl  he  commands  SubmifHon,  he  puts  no 
 Cafe  of  Princes  ading  contrary  to  the  Purpofe 
 of  their  Inftitution,  and  the  fole  Bufinefs  of 
 their  Office  j  much  lefs  of  Princes  who  make 
 an  exprefs  Contrail  with  their  People,  and  take 
 folemn  Oaths  to  preferve  their  Rights  and  Li- 
 berties ;  and  afterwards  break  through  all  thefe 
 Ties  to  invade  their  Happinefs.  N6r  doth  he 
 mention  any  tlnng  of  a  Paffive  SubmiJJio7i  in 
 fuch  Cafes  ;  but  plainly  leaves  Nations  to  the 
 
 Didates 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 as. 
 
 DIclates  of  common  Senfe,  and  the  powerful  ^  e  R  M. 
 Law  of  Self-prefervation  :  And  this,  under  j  iv. 
 all  Forms  of  Government  equally.  For  the  U'VNJ 
 niofl  Arbitrary  Prince  in  the  World  hath  no 
 more  Right  to  make  his  Subjeds  Miferable, 
 than  the  moft  Limited ;  though  the  one  may 
 attempt  it  with  greater  Aggravations  than  the 
 other.,  The  former  is  tied  up  by  the  Laws  of 
 Nature  and  Realbn,  and  obliged,  by  the  very 
 End  of  his  Exaltation ;  as  truly  as  the  latter  is 
 by  written  Laws,  or  by  folemn  Promife  :  and 
 Submiffion  to  the  one,  in  Inftances  of  Vio- 
 lence and  Oppreflion,  is  no  more  due,  than 
 Submiffion  to  the  other.  For  though  his  Au- 
 thority in  carrying  forward  the  'End  of  his 
 Power,  cannot  be  refifted  without  the  higheft 
 Guilt ;  yet  his  Power  in  a<5ting  contrary  to 
 that  End  may  be  oppofed  without  the  Shadow 
 of  a  Crime  J  nay,  with  Honour  and  Glory, 
 He  is  fecure  no  farther  than  Force  and  Power 
 fecure  him  ;  and  what  he  gets  by  Violence 
 may  be  demanded  again,  and  can  only  be 
 maintained  by  the  fame  Violence,  which  firil 
 put  him  in  the  pofTeffion  of  it.  "  And  as  this 
 is  true  of  an  abfolute  Pvlonarch  ;  fo  is  it  as 
 true,  that,  (liould  all  who  are  pofTefTed  of 
 Power,  in  any  other  Form  of  Government, 
 confent,  and  agree  to  enllave  the  People  com- 
 mitted by  Providence   to  their  Care,  and  to 
 
 make 
 
76 
 
 A  Sermon  preached 
 
 SERM. 
 IV. 
 
 make  them  miferablej  there  is  nothing  In 
 Nature,  or  in  the  Chriilian  Religion,  that  can 
 hinder  that  People  from  redreffing  their  Griev- 
 ances, and  from  anfv^ering  the  Will  of  Al- 
 mighty God,  fo  far  as  to  preferve  and  lecure 
 the  Happinefs  of  the  public  Society. 
 
 But  fome  may  fay.  Where  then  is  the  great 
 Virtue  of  Siibmiffwi  to  Goverfiors^  if  it.be  to 
 be  pradlifed  towards  none  but  fuch  as  anfwer 
 the  End  of  their  Inflitution  :  But  it  is  eafy  to 
 reply,  That  there  is  an  indifpenfable  Duty 
 upon  all,  Subje5lsy  as  vi^eli  as  Others,  to  regard 
 the  public  Interefl: ;  and  if  their  Submiffion 
 help  to  deftroy  and  ruine  that,  their  Submiffion 
 cannot  be  a  Virtue.  It  is  due  to  Governors, 
 not  for  their  own  fake,  but  merely  for  the  fake 
 of  public  Happinefs ;  and  therefore,  can  only 
 be  praife-worthy  when  it  joins  to  promote 
 that ;  and  muft  degenerate  into  a  Crime,  (tho' 
 it  may  be  accompanied  with  many  Virtues) 
 when  it  forfakes  the  View  of  that,  and  betrays 
 it  into  the  Hands  of  Ambition  and  Violence. 
 The  great  Objection  againft  this,  though  it 
 be  all  founded  upon  the  Will  of  God,  who 
 lincerely  defires  the  Happinefs  of  public  So- 
 cieties, is  this,  That  it  may  give  occafion  to 
 Subjcofs  to  difturb  and  oppofe  their  Superiors. 
 But  certainly,  a  Rule  is  not  therefore  bad,  be- 
 
 caufe 
 
before  the  Lord -Mayor. 
 
 TL 
 
 caufe  Men  may  miflake  in  the  Application  of  uer'm. 
 it  to  particular  In  fiances ;  or,  becaufe  evil  iv. 
 Men  may,  under  the  Umbrage  of  it,  fatlsfy  U^V^J 
 their  own  Paffions,  and  unreafonable  Humours;  | 
 though  thefe  latter,  as  they  are  difpofed  to 
 public  Difturbances,  would  certainly  find  out 
 fome  other  Pretenfe  for  their  Behaviour,  if 
 they  panted  this.  The  contrary  Dodfine  to 
 what  I  have  been  delivering,  we  know,  by  an 
 almoll  fatal  Experience,  may  be  very  much 
 abufed  ;  and  yet  that  is  not  the  Reafon  why  it 
 ought  to  be  rejeded,  but  becaufe  it  is  not  true. 
 Every  Man  is  to  give  an  Account  for  his  Sins : 
 And  the  Guilt  of  thofe,  who,  under  any  Pre- 
 tenfe whatfoever,  diflurb  the  Government  of 
 fuch  as  ad  the  Part  of  good  Riders^  is  fo  great, 
 that  ther€  cannot  be  a  ftronger  Motive  than 
 this  againft  Refiftance  and  Oppofition  to  fuch. 
 Vor  tkey  that  refijl  JJ:aU  receive  to  themfehes 
 'Damnation,  is  pronounced  againft  fuch  Refif- 
 tance ;  and  if  Men  will  not  regard  fuch  a 
 Declaration,  who  can  help  it  ?  The  Truth 
 ought  not  to  be  concealed,  or  to  fuflfer  in  the 
 Opinions  of  Men,  for  the  fake  of  fuch  an  ac- 
 cidental Inconvenience. 
 
 Thus  I  have  endeavoured  to  give  ajuft 
 Account  of  what  St.  Faul  hath,  in  this  Chap- 
 ter^ delivered  concerning  Gcu^T^zcri  2iV\dSuhjeBs» 
 And  though  feme  may  perhaps  be  apt  to  call 
 
 this 
 
ys" 
 
 A  Sermojt  preached 
 
 SERMJthis  by  the  Name  of  Politics -^  and  to  cenfure 
 IV.     it  as  Foreign   to  our  Office,    and  this  Place, 
 
 t/VNJ  (which  they  are  fure  to  do  then  only  when 
 their  own  Notions  are  contradidied  ^  yet  I 
 muft  declare,  that  I  cannot  think  it  an  unbe- 
 coming, or  even  an  unneceflary  Part,  of  our 
 Care,  to  fetde  the  Meafures  of  Chriftian  Duty 
 in  all  Cafes,  or  to  endeavour  to  give  atrye  Ex- 
 plication of  what  fo  great  an  Apojlle  hath  deli- 
 vered with  fome  Vehemence,  and  as  a  Matter 
 of  great  Importance.  Ail  that  I  have  now 
 attempted,  is  to  explain  what  an  infpired  Per- 
 fon  wrote :  And  if  this  Explication  be  juft,  the 
 Cenfure  muft  light  at  laft  upon  the  Apojlle 
 himfelf ;  who,  I  cannot  but  think,  knew  very 
 well  what  became  his  Office,  and  what  be- 
 longed to  his  Province. 
 
 But  though  I  have  finiffied  what  I  at  firft 
 propofed,  yet  I  flill  intreat  your  Patience, 
 whilft  I  offer  to  you  fome  farther  Confiderati- 
 ons  not  unfuitable  to  the  prefent  Occafion. 
 And  theie  are  fuch  as  naturally  flow^  from  what 
 hath  been  difcouried  concerning  the  E?2d  and 
 Piirpofe  of  all  Government,  whether  that  of 
 Princes  J  or  that  of  inferior  Magijlrates ;  and 
 will  ferve  to  give  us  a  compleat  Idea  of  a  good 
 Governor,     As, 
 
 I .  It  is  highly  requifite  that  all  in  Authority 
 fhould  be  happy  in  2.  public  Spirit,  and  a  true 
 
 Regard 
 
hofore  the  Lord  Mayor 
 
 79 
 
 Regard  to  the  public  Intereft.  For  it  being  the  s  e  r  m, 
 only   End  for  which  they  are  cloathed   with     iv. 
 Authority,  to   ferve   the  Public,  and  pron:iote  '-/''VNJ 
 the  Happinefs  of  That :  if  they  be  led  by  pri- 
 vate Interefts  of  their  own  j    if  they  be  Slaves 
 to  Covetoufnefs,  or  Ambition,  or  Effeminacy ; 
 if  there  be  any  thing  in  the  World  which  they| 
 have  rriore  in  their  Eye,  than  the  Advantage  of| 
 human  Society;     This   mull:  warp  them  ex-l 
 tremely  from  the  main  delign  of  their  Inflitu- 
 tion.      And,   as  far  as  they  are  tainted  with  a 
 vicious  Self-interejiy  fo  far  do  they  decline  from 
 the  Dignity  of   their   Charader.      But  when 
 their  Breads  are  thoroughly  fired  with  a  Love 
 to  the    Public   Intereft,    and  a  Refoiution   oft 
 profecuting  that  j    happy  is  the  Nation  that 
 obeys  fuch  a  Prifice,  and   happy   the  Society 
 that  enjoys  fuch  a  Governor.      But, 
 
 2.  There  ought  to  be  alfo  in  a  Governor  a 
 deep  Senfe  of  Religion  ,  of  the  great  Impor- 
 tance of  Virtue,  and  of  the  bad  Influence  and 
 Malignity  of  Vice  and  Immorality.  For 
 fince  one  great  End  of  his  Office  is  the  Funtjh- 
 me.nt  of  thofe  ivho  do  Evil,  and  the  Praife  of 
 them  who  do  Well:  there  will  be  but  little 
 Heart  to  profecute  this,  unlefs  there  be  firfl  a 
 full  Perfuafion  that  there  is  an  efTential  Diffe- 
 rence between  Good  and  Evil ;  that  the  Prac- 
 tife  oi"  all  Virtue  will  make  a  Nation  happy; 
 
 and 
 
So 
 
 IV. 
 
 ^  Sermon  preached 
 
 5ERM.and  the  Pra(5lice  of  Vice  derive  Curfes  and 
 
 Ruine  upon  a  People,  as  well  in  the  Nature  of 
 ^"'^VN.'  the  Thing  it  felf,  as  in  the  Decree  of  Almighty 
 God.  A  Ruler  that  firmly  believes  this,  will 
 a6l  his  Part  with  feme  Zeal  and  Concern  ; 
 and  it  will  tenderly  afFeit  his  Mind,  to  fee 
 his  Country  likely  to  be  undone  by  Debauche- 
 ry: And  He  will  employ  his  Thougl:^ts  Day 
 and  Night,  how  to  reform  the  Manners  of 
 Men  J  or  at  leaft,  how  to  put  a  flop  to  the 
 Impudence  of  thofe  who  will  not  be  reformed. 
 But  particularly, 
 
 3.  There  muft  be  a  great  Love  to  Juftice, 
 and  a  great  Regard  to  Peace.  The  one  en- 
 gages a  Governor  to  do  that  which  is  exadly 
 right  between  Man  and  Man  ;  and  the  other 
 influences  him  to  reconcile  the  contending  and 
 quarrelling  Parts  of  Mankind  ;  and  foften 
 the  Hearts  of  Men  into  Love  and  Friendfliip. 
 This  Juftice,  which  I  here  fpeak  of,  though  it 
 muft  not  adt  blindfold  ,  yet  it  muft  be  blind 
 to  all  outward  Regards,  and  all  Perfons  : 
 And  nothing  of  Intereft,  or  of  Party,  or  of 
 perfonal  Refpect  or  Prejudice,  ought  ever  to 
 fway  in  the  Diftributlon  of  Rewards  and  Pu- 
 nifhments  :  Which  do  but  little  Service  to  the 
 Caufe  of  Honefty  and  Virtue,  unlefs  when  it 
 is  apparent  that  they  are  difpenfed  for  the  fake 
 of  Virtue  itfelf,  and  not  on  any  bafe  and  fordid 
 
 Account. 
 
Tefcre  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 Account.     And  if  the  ftri^ieO;  Juftice  (liould  ;er  M. 
 
 once  be  difregarded,  and  unjud  Judgments 
 come  into  ule  j  the  great  End  of  Magijlracy  is 
 perverted,  and  the  Plappinefs  of  Society 
 fliaken  :  And  every  Step  this  Way  would  be  a 
 Step  to  public  Mifery.  And  then,  where 
 there  is  not  a  facred  Regard  to  Fence,  there 
 vvill  be  no  Compaffion  for  the  Divifions  and 
 Heats  of  a  Nation  j  and  confequently  no  Ad- 
 vances made  towards  an  univerfal  Love  and 
 Friendfliip:  the  want  of  which  alone  muft  cne 
 time  or  other  bring  about  the  Ruine  of  a  Na- 
 tion. 
 
 4.  To  all  other  Qiialifications  there  muft  be 
 joined  a  blamelefs  Example.  The  Reafon  is, 
 becaufe  every  thing  that  tends  to  promote  Re- 
 ligion and  Happinefs  in  a  Society,  is  the  Con- 
 cern of  all  who  have  Authority  in  it.  Now 
 it  is  with  Thofe  who  are  to  puni{h  Vice,  and 
 proted;  Virtue,  juft  as  it  is  with  Thofe  who  are 
 to  teach  the  Practice  of  Virtue,  and  the  Abhor- 
 rence of  Vice.  It  is  an  Obfervation  eafy  and 
 obvious  to  every  Body,  that  thofe  who  are  the 
 Preachers  of  Righteoufhefs  do  no  great  Service 
 to  the  Caufe,  but  perhaps  the  contrary,  if  their 
 Examples  unhappily  contradict  their  Precepts. 
 And  it  is  certainly  the  fame  with  refpedt  to 
 Thofe,  whofe  Bufinefs  it  is  to  punilh  Vice. 
 If,  whilfl:  they  punifh  it  in  Inferiors,  They 
 themfelves  are  known  to  be  guilty  of  it,  the 
 
 G  Cor- 
 
 IV. 
 
.  A  S. 
 
 ennG?t 
 
 preached 
 
 SE  R  M.  Corredion  indeed  may  make  the  Offender  a- 
 IV.    void  the  Light ;   but  it  will  never  make  him  in 
 
 ^/V^  Love  with  Virtue.  He  will  be  apt  to  think, 
 He  is  puniilied  only  becaufe  He  is  Poor;  and 
 not  confiderable  enough  to  be  in  Office  himfelf: 
 And  may  be  hardened  to  Vice,  whilfl  He  fees 
 Men  making  ufe  of  their  Authority  in  punish- 
 ing others,  only  as  it  were  for  a  Screen  to  their 
 own  greater  Indulgence. 
 
 You  fee  from  hence  what  a  Concern  there 
 lies  upon  all  in  Authority  from  the  Higheft  to 
 the  Loweft ;  that  Magijlracy  is  not  a  Matter 
 of  Pomp  and  Retinue  to  attrad:  the  Eyes,  and 
 raife  the  Wonder  of  the  Multitude  j  but  aBu- 
 iinefs  of  Labour  and  Difficulty,  to  be  under- 
 taken with  Serioulhefs,  and  to  be  managed 
 with  the  greateft  Prudence  and  Condud:. 
 
 It  is  the  invaluable  Happinefs  of  this  King- 
 dom, to  fee  all  thefe  ^wlifications  united  in  its 
 Supreme  Governor  ;  who  feems  to  know  no 
 greater  Satisfaction  than  what  arifes  from  the 
 good  Eftatc  of  the  Public,  and  who  directs  all 
 her  Cares,  not  to  make  herfeif  Great,  but  her 
 Subjeds  Happy.  Such  an  Example,  one 
 would  think,  cannot  but  influence  all  who  are 
 in  Authority  under  Her,'  to  promote  the  fame 
 good  End,  the  public  Happinefs.  We  are  in 
 many  Things  the  Envy,  es  well  as  the  Won- 
 der, of  other  Nations.  Our  Liberties  flill 
 prefer ved  ;  Ouf  Conftitlition  flill  happily  tem- 
 pered ^ 
 
before  the  Lord  Mayor. 
 
 H 
 
 pered-  and  the  Profeffion  of  our  Religion  ftlll  feE  r  m. 
 fecure.  But  we  want  many  Things  to  make  iv. 
 the  Pofleffion  of  thefe  great  Bleffings  certain  C/'^^'^J 
 and  lading  to  us;  but  efpecialfy  an  univerfal 
 Practice  of  VirtuCj  and  a  Spirit  of  Peace  and 
 Love..  It  is  your  gre^t  Concern  (I  fpeak  to 
 all  who  bear  any  Office  in  this  great  City)  to 
 promo&e"  the  Pratftlce  of  Virtue,  ani  Peace, 
 The  former  Is  ^difcouraged,  and  endangered, 
 by  every  public  A(ft  of  Prophaneneis  antl  Ir- 
 religion  :  which  ought  therefore,  to  be  fevere- 
 ly  puniflied,  lefl:  the  Poifon  fhoyld  work  ItfeTf 
 infehfibly  from  fome  Parts  into  the  whole  Body. 
 And  the  latter  is  highly  endangered  by  all 
 Men  of  Paflion  and  Violence  ;  by  thofe  who 
 vent  fuch  Principles,  as,  in  effed:,  call  in  quef^ 
 tioh  ""Her'  Majejlys--  Title  to  the  Crown  j  by 
 thofe  who  deride,  and  expofe  the  Principles 
 upon  which  our  prefent  EfrabliOimentj  and  all 
 our  future  HopeS;  are  founded;  and  by  all 
 whofe  Bufinefs  it  is  to  raife  mutual  Jealoufies 
 and  Heats  amongft  us.  Such  as  thefe,  it  is 
 too  well  known,  difcover  themfelves  every 
 Day  in  open  Light.  And  fhall  not  others  be 
 as  ready  to  preferve  the  public  Happinefs,  as 
 thefe  Men  are  to  deftroy  it  ?  Or,  is  there  no 
 Way  of  redreffing  fuch  public  and  fuch  de- 
 flruclive  Evils  ?  It  is  a  Shame  to  a  Nation  not* 
 to  have  good  Laws :  But  it  is  a  much  greater 
 .?5hame  to  have  them,  and  not  to  put  them  ia 
 G  2  Exe-i 
 
w 
 
 A  Sermon  preached^  8cc. 
 
 SER  M.  Execution.      It  is  a  Shame  to  a  Nation,  that 
 IV.   .  there   (hould  be   any  Perfons  belonging  to  it, 
 fo  little  fenfible  of  the  Happinefs  it  enjoys,  as 
 to  libel  and  difturb  fuch  a  Queen,  and  fuch 
 ^.Government :  But  it  is  a  greater  Shame,  that 
 "no  Method  fliould  be  found  of  efFedually  pu- 
 nifliing  what   fo  highly  deferves    it.      Let  it 
 Therefore  appear,  that  you  are  truly  fenfible  of 
 the  Nature  and  End  of  your  Trufts,   by  your 
 hearty  Endeavours  to  promote  the  Happinefs 
 K>f  the   Public.      Let  a   true  Regard   to   that 
 Titfcover  itfelf  in   all    your  Proceedings.     Let 
 your   Examples  allure  to  Virtue,   as   well   as 
 "your  Punifhments  deter  from  Vice.     Let  your 
 Zeal  difcover    itfelf  againfl    the  Enemies   of 
 Religion,  and  of  the  public  Peace.      Let  it  be 
 feen  that  you  bear  not  the  Sword  in  vain.  Thus 
 you  will  make  this  City  a  Praife  in  the  whole 
 Earth,  and  draw  down  Bleflings  from  Heaven 
 upon  the  whole  Nation. 
 
 iilu^ 
 
 fBi 
 
The  Happinefs  of  the  prefent  E/labJiJJment,  and 
 TJnhappinefs  of  ahfolute  Monarchy. 
 
 SERMON   V. 
 
 rs 
 
 Preached  at  the  Afiizes  2X'Rertford,  March  22, 
 1707-8. 
 
 I  SAM.  viii. 
 
 "Now  therefore^  hearken  unto  their  Voice :  How^ 
 beity  yet  protejl  folemnly  unto  them ^  andfiew 
 them  the  manner  of  the  King  that  fhall  reign 
 over  them. 
 
 I 
 
 T  is  my  Defign  to  take  occafion  from  thefe 
 Words, 
 
 IJERM. 
 
 1  " 
 
 I.  To  lay  before  you  the  Hijiory  recorded 
 in  this  Chapter, 
 
 II.  To  apply  it  to  Ourfehes,  and  this  whole 
 Kingdom,  by  fome  proper  and  ufeful  Obferva- 
 tions, 
 
 I.  I  beg  leave  to  lay  before  you  the  Hijiory 
 recorded  in  this  Chapter :  And  this  will  be 
 comprized  under  the  Four  following  Remarks, 
 
 G  3  I.  We 
 
86    The  Happmefs  of  the  prefe?it  EJiabliJlDme?2ty 
 
 SERM, 
 V. 
 
 I .  We  find  the  Jfraelites,  after  all  the  Mira- 
 cles wrought  by  Providence  in  their  behalf,  fo 
 little  fenfible  of  the  Difference  between  Slavery 
 and  Liberty  as  to  betray  the  .greateft  Uneafi- 
 nefs  under  a  Go'vermnent ,  in  which  God  him- 
 felf  prefided,  and  on  all  Occafions  fhewed  him- 
 felf  *in  a  peculiar  manner  their  King,  The 
 Pretenfe  indeed,  was  taken  from  the  Wicked- 
 nefs  of  the  Sons  of  Samuel^  who  took  Bribes^ 
 and  perverted  judgment,  ver.  3,4,  5.  but  it  is 
 manifefi:  that  their  chief  Defign  was  not  to  rec- 
 tify this,  but  to  introduce  the  Scheme  fome  a- 
 mongft  them  had  laid,  and  to  indulge  their  own 
 foolifh  and  weak  Defir^,  of  being  ruled  after 
 the  manner  of  their  Neighbours.  For;  2.  In- 
 stead of  deiiring  a  Redrefs  of  their  Gtievances, 
 or  leaving  it  to  the  Wifdom  of  Almighty  God 
 to  prefcribe  a  Remedy  ;  they  come  to  his  Fro- 
 phet^  peremptorily  demanding  a  King  to  judge 
 them  like  all  the  Nations  round  about,  Ver.  5. 
 that  is,  as  appears  afterwards,  an  Ahfolute  Mo- 
 narchy governing  by  his  fingle  Will,  without 
 the  Reftraint  of  any  Co-ordinate  Legijlative 
 Powers.  The  Prophet^  in  great  Uneaiinefs, 
 applies  himfelf  to  God:\  Upon  this  Occafion 
 therefore,  we  have  the  juileft  Reafon  to  expedt 
 to  know  the  Thoughts  of  Almighty  God  con- 
 cerning Abjolute  Monarchy  ;  whether  thofe  o- 
 ther  Nations  were  fubjeded  to  it  by  his  Origi- 
 nal and  Immediate  Appointment  i  whether  the 
 .. ,.;;  ,  ^  .-  ^_r_' Lineal 
 
ai^d  Unhappinefs  of  Abfolute  Monarchy^  8f 
 
 Lineal  SiicceJJion  of  Males  ought  inviolably  to  s[e  r  ivi' 
 be  prefeived,  upon  Pain  of  incurring  his  Dif-  v. 
 pleafurej  whether  he  created  Thcufands  of  V^vTSJ 
 Men  to  be  Slaves  for  the  fake  of  the  outward 
 Grandeur  of  Oi2e^  as  weak  and  as  mortal  as 
 themfeives ;  whether  this  Form  of  Government' 
 be  the  greatefh  Security  to  the  Liberty  and 
 Happinefs  of  SiibjeBs -y  and  the  like  Opinions 
 and  Notions  embraced  by  fome  Perfons,  iince 
 that  Time.  Now,  upon  enquiry,  we  find, 
 3.  That  Almighty  God  is  fo  far  from  applaud- 
 ing this  Form  of  Go'uernment  as  the  Bejl^  or 
 as  his  own  Inftituticn ;  that  he  gives  by  his 
 Prophet  a  very  fad,  and  lamentable  Account 
 of  the  Miferies  and  UnhappinefTcs  peculiarly 
 belonging  to  it,  and  confequent  upon  the  Ef- 
 tablijldment  of  it :  Such  an  Account  as  muft 
 be  a  Demonjiration  to  all,  who  have  not  the 
 moft  unvv'orthy  Notions  of  Almighty  Godj  that 
 he  could  have  no  original  Dellgn  of  appoint- 
 ing fuch  a  Fdrm  of  Gcoernmenty  facredly  and 
 inviolably  to  he  kept  up  in  any  Nation  \  much 
 lefs,  in  ^// the  Nations,  of  the  World.  This 
 Account  is  fet  before  the  Jfraelites  from  the 
 loth  Verfe  to  the  19th,  in  which  the  PrO' 
 phet  doth  not  intend  to  iniinuate  that  every  par- 
 ticular Abfolute  Monarch  will  ufe  his  Pcu'er  af- 
 ter fo  very  ill  a  manner  as  is  there  defcribed ; 
 but  to  paint  before  their  Eyes  fome  of  the  many 
 
 G  4  fore 
 
88  'The  Uapplmfs  of  the  prefent  Eftablifljment^ 
 
 SERM 
 V. 
 
 fore  Calamities,  which  are  too  probable  Con- 
 fequences  upon  the  Eflablijhment  of  Ahfolute 
 Monarchy  in  any  Nation :  And  ihefe  may  be 
 all  fammed  up  in  one  comprehenfive  Word, 
 and  that  is,  Sla'very.  A  State  oppofite  to  L/- 
 berty^  and  void  of  Property  j  in  the  Defcrip- 
 tion  of  which,  SubjeBs  are  here  reprefented  as 
 Slaves  in  their  Perfons  j  and  their  CkildreUi 
 their  PofTeffions,  and  the  Labour  of  their 
 Hands,  forced  from  them,  ufurped,  and  con- 
 verted to  the  private  ufe  of  their  Monarch. 
 This  is  fet  before  the  Jfraeh'tes,  as  the  Coiidition 
 of  SuhjeBs  under  that  fort  of  Government  which 
 they  were  now  defirous  of,  in  order  to  deter 
 them  from  fo  foolifh  a  Thought.  But,  the 
 People  flill  perlifting,  notwithftanding  fo  plain 
 a  Reprefentationj  Almighty  God,  as  a  Punifh- 
 ment  for  their  Folly,  and  former  Ingratitude, 
 under  the  Beji  of  Governments,  grants  their 
 repeated  Defire  3  and  refolves  to  eflablifh  the 
 Government  among  I'kem,  which  they  fo  much 
 admired  among  their  Neighbour s^  ver.  22. 
 
 But  then  in  doing  this,  it  is  very  remarka- 
 ble, in  the  following  Hijlnry,  that  he  doth  not 
 recur  to  the  Patriarchal  Scheme y  fo  celebrated 
 of  later  Years ;  that  He  doth  not  point  out  to 
 them  (which  He  could  mofl  eafily  have  done) 
 the  Eldefl  Son  of  the  Eldeji  Houfe,  amongfl 
 them,  and  command  them  to  keep  inviolably 
 
 to 
 
and  U?ihafpmefs  of  Abfolute  Monarchy, 
 
 89. 
 
 \.o  \}i\t  Male  hine  in  a  regular  "Def cent ,    butsERM, 
 that,  without    mentioning   any  thing  of  this,      v. 
 He  choofeth  Saul  in  his  Father  s  Life- time,:  n/''VN; 
 after   him,    David^  the   Youngeft   of    many 
 Brethren  5    after  him,   Solomon^  and  hi:^  Pojie- 
 rity.     So  that,  in  this  Kingdom^  eftabiifhed  by 
 God  Himfelf,   it  was   fo   ordered,   that  there 
 never  was  one  King  lineally  defcended  of  that 
 Branchj  which  alone  could  lay  claim  to  Pre- 
 emmence  and  Government  by  Right  of  Primoge- 
 niture. It  is  a  very  unlikely  matter,  therefore, 
 that  the  Jews  could  have  any  ftrong  Imprefli- 
 ons  concerning   this  unalienable,     unalterable 
 Right,  which  They  faw  fuperfeded  for  ever 
 by  God  Himfelf,  without  any  Notice  taken  of 
 it;    and   much  more  fo,  to  be  fure,  that  the 
 Heathen  Nations  (hould  have  any  fuch  Notion, 
 who  had  fo  much  lefs  Light  concerning  the 
 Will  of  God.     But,  to  let  this  pafs,  it  is  cer- 
 tainly very  well  worth  our  obferving,  that,  in 
 this  Part  of  Sacred  Hidory^  and  upon  an  Occa- 
 lion  (the  only  Occafion,  I  may  fay,)  given  to 
 Almighty  God,  by  Mankind,  to  declare  his  Mind 
 plainly  concerning  the  Inftitution  of  Abfolute 
 Monarchy ;    and  the  Ufefulnefs  of  it  to  human 
 Society  ;  and  the  unalienable  Right  of  Primo- 
 geniture-, we  meet  with  nothing  but  what  tends 
 todeprefs  it  lower  than  any  oihQr  Human  Form, 
 and  to  induce  us  to  think  that  it  is  no  Part  of 
 
 God's 
 
go  ''fhe  Happmefs  of  the  prefe7it  EJlabliJhmmt^ 
 
 SERM.  God's  Injiituticn,  that  the  Lives  and  Fortunes 
 V.      of  the  Inferior  Part  of  Mankind   miift  be  fa- 
 
 \y\^Ki  crificed,  at  all  Adventures,  to  tiie  imagined 
 Right  of  Firjl-born  Males,  This  1  could  not 
 help  taking  notice  of,  whilft  the  Reprefenta- 
 tion  of  this  Hijlory^  which  I  have  made,  is 
 frefli  in  your  Minds.  But  now  I  proceed,  as 
 I  propofed,  in  iYiQ/econd  Place,  , 
 
 II.  To  apply  it  to  ourfelves,  and  this  whole 
 Kingdoniy  by  fome  proper  and  ufeful  Obfernja- 
 tions.  And  thefe  fhall  be  fuch  as  are  fuitable, 
 firfii  to  the  happy  EJiablifiment  which  we  live 
 under  J  2ind  fecondiy,  to  the  unhappy  Notions 
 of  fome  amongft  us. 
 
 Firjlj  The  happy  Eflate  of  this  I/Iandy  un- 
 der the  prefent  E/iabliJJjmentt  offers  itfeif  to 
 our  Confideration,  and  deferves,  in  a  particular 
 manner  to  be  reviewed,  and  valued  by  us.  In 
 our  Government^  indeed,  we  do  not  come  up 
 to  that  Happinefs  the  Jews  enjoyed,  before 
 they  extorted  a  Kifig  from  Heaven,  ^bey 
 were  governed,  in  an  extraordinary  and  parti- 
 cular manner,  by  God  himfelf :  And  to  be 
 governed  by  Godj  is  to  be  governed  by  a  Be- 
 ing void  of  all  Paffion,  and  Prejudice,  and 
 Weaknefsj  by  a  Being  that  could  not  injure 
 them,  either  out  of  Malice,  or  Ignorance: 
 and  if  any  Grievances  were  permitted  under 
 I  his 
 
a?id  Unhappimfs  of  Ahfolute  Monarchy, 
 
 his  Infpedion,   by  means   of  frail   Men  em- 
 ployed under  him,  He  himfelf  was  at  hand, 
 free  of  Accefs,   and  mod  willing,  and  able  to 
 redrefs  thern.     To  be   abfolutely  under  the 
 Government  of  fuch  a  Prince,  and  Lcrd,  im- 
 plies in  it  the  trueil  Liberty,    becaufe  it  is  ex- 
 ad:ry  what  reafonable  and  fodable  Creatures 
 ought,  to  wifh  for :     And  Ahfolute  Monarchy^ 
 adminiftered   by  fuch  Power,   and  Wifdom, 
 is  the  flrongefi:  and  mofl  unmoveable  Security 
 of  the  Happinefs  of  thofe  who  live  under  it. 
 But,  fetting  afide  this  extraordinary  Interpofi- 
 tion  of  Almighty  God,  and  fpeaking  of  Govern- 
 ment as  in  the  Hands  of  Mortal  Men  under 
 his  ordinary  Providence,  we   muft   fay,  that 
 that  Form  comes  the  nearefl  to   his  Pattern^ 
 and  his  Will,  which  beft  anfwers  the  E?2ds  of 
 Government;    and  fecures  amd  eftablifhes  mofl 
 efFecftually  the  Liberty  £lnd  Property,  the  ^iet 
 and  Happinefs,  of  the  SubjeB  :    and  that  that 
 is  at  the  greateil  Diftance  from  Him,  which  is 
 moft  of  all  others  likely    to  introduce   thofe 
 Evils,  and  Miferies,  which  it  is  his  Will  fhould 
 be  prevented   by  Government.     The  Defcrip- 
 tidn  he  gives,  by  his  Prophet,  of  the  Evils  con- 
 fequent   upon   the   E/iabiifJjment    of   Abfolute 
 Monarchy  in  the  Hands  of  weak  and  frail  Men, 
 is  as  contrary  to  the  Government  of  God,  or  to 
 the  Government  of  good  Angels,  under  his  In- 
 fpedion, 
 
 91 
 
 SERMj 
 V. 
 
Q  2    'The  Happmefs  oftheprefe?tt  Eftailifhment^ 
 
 V. 
 
 fpedion,  as  the  greateft  Darknefs  and  Slavery 
 is  to  the  trueft  Liberty.  And  therefore,  it  is 
 the  weakcR  thing  in  the  World  to  argue  from 
 Almighty  God''s  Abfolute  Monarchy,  or  from 
 imaginary  Monarchies  amongft  the  good  Angels, 
 to  the  Neceflity  of  the  fame  amongft  mortal 
 Men :  for  tho'  they  may  agree  in  being  Abfo^ 
 hte,  yet  they  may  be  as  contradidory  cs  Ab- 
 folute  Light  and  Abfolute  Darknefs,  But  cer- 
 tainly, it  is  no  fuch  Weaknefs  to  argue  that 
 That  Form  of  Government,  whatfcever  it  be, 
 under  which  the  Civil  and  Religious  Rights  of 
 SubjeBs  are  moft  likely  to  be  efFedually  pre- 
 ferved,  is  the  Form,  which  bears  moft  Refem- 
 blance  to  the  Example,  and  moft  Conformity 
 to  the  Will,  of  God.  Had  it  pleafed  Almighty 
 God  to  have  pointed  out  any  particular  Form, 
 as  of  neceffity  to  be  fubmitted  to  by  all  Na- 
 tions J  I  fhould  certainly  think  i\\2it'this  was  the 
 beft,  and  happieft  that  could  be  devifed,  for 
 the  carrying  forward  the  Ends  of  human  So- 
 ciety. But  fince  he  hath  rather  feen  fit  to  leave 
 Mankind  in  this,  as  in  many  other  Cafes,  to 
 the  Didates  of  their  own  Reafon,  joined  to 
 the  Preffure  of  their  own  Wants,  it  will  be 
 proper  for  us  to  confider,  in  order  to  judge  the 
 better  of  our  own  Happinefs,  the  following 
 Particulars. 
 
 1 .  That  the  great  End  of  Government  is  the 
 Happinefs  of  the  governed  Society. 
 ^  2.  That 
 
andUnhappineJ's  of  Abfolutc  Monarchy. 
 
 93 
 
 *  2.  That  the  Happinefs  cf  a  governed  Society 
 confifls  in  the  Enjoyment  of  L/'i^^'//)',  Property, 
 and  the^r^f  Exercife  of  Religion.      And, 
 
 3.  How  far  this  Happiuejs  ]3  attained  under 
 Qur  prejent  Ejiahlijl'ment. 
 
 I.   I  fav,  The  great  Rnd  of  Government  Is 
 the  Happinefs  of  the  governed  Society.       Let 
 not  any  here  fo  miflake  me,  as  to  tliini^  I  mean 
 by  this  to  exclude  th.e  Happinefs  of  fuch  as  un- 
 dertake, and  truly  difcharge,  the  laborious  and 
 difficult  Ta(k  of  Governing:   For  the  Happi- 
 nefs of  theCe  is  never  fo  efiablilhed,  and  fo  un- 
 moveably  fecured,   as  by  the  Happinefs  of  the 
 People  whom  they  govern.      But  I  mean  it  a- 
 gainft  fuch  as  fliew  a  Vv^iliingnefs  to  dillinguifli 
 between  the  Happinefs  of  the  one,   and  of  the 
 other  J  and  who  argue,  as  if  they  thought  Go- 
 vernment  inftituted   chiefly  for    the  outward 
 Glory  and  Grandeur  of  fome  particular  Mor- 
 tals,  with  fo  little  Regard  to  all  others  of  the 
 fame  Flefli  and  Blood,  as  if  they  had  no  Part 
 in  Human  Society,   and  were  made  for  nothing 
 but  to  gaze,  and  adore,  and  ferve.     Upon  this 
 Foundation,   we  fee,   Monarchs  have  been  in- 
 duced to  engage  in  Wars  merely  for  their  own 
 Glory ;   and  vainly  to  attempt  to  increafe  the 
 Number  of  their  Slaves;,   as  a  pieafing  Sacri- 
 fice  to  their  own  Vanity.     Upon  this  Fcua- 
 dation   Mo?iarchs  have    been    encouraged   to 
 
 break 
 
 5  E  R  M. 
 V. 
 
._24l 
 
 The  Happhjefs  oftJoeprefent  EJJabliJh^nentj 
 
 SEKM. 
 V. 
 
 break  through  all  Laws,  Divine  and  Human-, 
 and  to  extirpate,  or  torment  their  befl:  SubjeBs, 
 for  their  own  imaginary  Honour.  But  the 
 great  Governor  of  Heaven  and  Earth  knows 
 no  fuch  End  of  their  Jnjiitution  as  this ;  and 
 confequently  no  fuch  Reafon  for  the  SubmiJJion 
 of  their  SubjeSfs,  The  Degrees  of  Superiority 
 eftablifhed  in  the  World,  either  by  NaUire  or 
 Cufiom,  are  defigned  for  the  good  of  Families 
 and  Societies  :  And  if  any  Superiority  be  fup- 
 pofed  to  be  eflabliflied  immediately  by  God 
 himfelf,  it  is  flill  more  certain  that  it  is  not 
 poffible  He  fhould  have  any  other  Endrn  wwi 
 but  the  making  Society  happier  than  it  would 
 be  without  it.  I  need  not  be  any  longer  upon 
 this,  becaufe  it  is  feldom  denied,  unlefs  it  .be 
 unwarily  and  confequentially,  by  Men  who  are 
 refoived  at  all  Adventures,  to  defend  the  Cauf^ 
 they  have  once  efpoufed. 
 
 2.  I  come  now,  feco?2dlyi  to  obferve,  that 
 the  Happinefs  of  z  goverjjed  Society  coniiils  in 
 the  Enjoyment  of  Liberty ,  Property,  and  the 
 free  Exercife  of  Religion.  And  under  this 
 Head  there  will  be  little  requifite,  unlefs  it  be 
 to  confider  what  we  mean  by  Liberty,  and 
 Property. 
 
 Now  when  we  fpeak  of  Liberty  in  a  govern-^ 
 ed  Society  J  this  we  mufb  underftand  to  be  fome- 
 thingas  really  different  from  tllUt  Licentioufnefs 
 
 which 
 
.  andUnhappinefs  of  Abfolute  Mo?jarchy. 
 
 \vhich  fuppofeth  no  Gc'ver?7??ient,  as  from  that 
 Siat'ery  which  fuppofeth  T'yranny,  and  confe- 
 quendy  tobs  a  State^  between  Servitude  on  the 
 one  hand,  and  Lawkffnefs  on  the  other  :  A 
 Condition,  perfed:ly  confident  with  the  good 
 Government  of  the  Society  3  and  containing  in 
 it  all  th^t  Freedom  which  is  truly,  and  reafona- 
 bly  to  be  defired  by  any  Member  of  it.  On 
 the  Confines  of  this  State,  I  fay,  on  the  one 
 fids  ftands  Slavery,  which  is  an  abfolute  Suh- 
 je5lion  to  the  Will  of  another,  not  bounded  bV" 
 any  wholfome  and  good  Laws';  which,  we  are 
 alTured  by  the  Propbety  is  not  likely  to  conlifi 
 with  the  Good  and  Happinefs  of  the  governed 
 Society.  On  the  other  hand  ftands  Confiifiouy 
 or  Licentioufnefsy  without  Law,  or  Govern- 
 ment;  a  State  in  which  every  Man  is  his  own 
 'Judge y  and  his  own  Avenger,  Between  the 
 iv70  Extremes  ftands  thit  Liberty y  which  alone 
 ought  to  be  valued  ;  a  FreedofUy  reftrained  by 
 beneficial  Laws,  and  living  and  dying  together 
 with  Public  Happinefs.  It  is  neceffary  to  fay 
 this,  becaufe  many  take  delight  to  mifreprefent 
 ^ki^Caufeoi  Liberty ;  and  to  make  the  World 
 believe  that  nothing  is  aimed  at,  by  the  Advo- 
 cates for  it,  bat  a  Licentious  State  of  Anarchy^ 
 and  Lawlefs  Confitjion :  Whereas  it  is  manifeft, 
 •that  Liberty,  in  sl  governed  Society,  is  fomething 
 -as  different  from  this,  as  from  the  other  5  and 
 
 that 
 
 SER  M. 
 V. 
 
 31 
 
96 
 
 T'heHappmefs  oftheprefent  EJlahliJhment, 
 
 SERM 
 V. 
 
 that  iht  Friends  of  Anarchy  (if  there  be  any 
 fuch)  may  as   Vv'cll   reprefent  the  Patrons  of 
 Liberty y   as  the  Patrons  of  T^yranny  and   Op- 
 frejjion,  becaufe  they  are  in  earneft  for  the  Re- 
 flraint  of  Laws  and  good  Gover?imenf.     Now, 
 if  any  one  pleafe  to  fay,   as  fome  have  done,, 
 that  this  is  but  thePrelenfe  and  Shadow  o^  Li- 
 berty, becaufe  every  Man  in  this  State  cannot 
 do  juft  what  He  always  could  wifh  tocfoj  but 
 is  in  many  Acftions  reftrained  and  curbed  j    I 
 anfwer,  that  this  will  equally  prove  that  Obe- 
 dience to    the  Laws  of  God  is  not  Liberty  ; 
 which  it  may  certainly  with  Juftice  be  called, 
 becaufe  by  Liberty  we   underftand  Something 
 valuable  and  deflrable  j     and  his   Service  is  a 
 Freedom  from   fuch  things,  as  we   ought   in 
 Reafon,  and  true  Love  to  ourfelves,  to  defire 
 to  be  free  from.     So  likewife,  in  the  Cafe  be- 
 fore us,  the  Liberty  we  fpeak  of  is  the  Liberty 
 of  a  Society  refcued   from  the  Inconveniences, 
 and  Evils,  of  Confufion,  and  Equality  :  And  the 
 Liberty   I  have  defcribed,   is  a  Freedom  only 
 from  fuch  Evils  as  it  is  our  Intereft  to  be  free 
 from  ;  not  a.  Freedom  from  fuch  good  Rejlraints, 
 as   it  is  reafonable  for  us  to   wifh  and  defire 
 fociable    Creatures     to    be    under :      Which 
 would  be  a  State  of  Mifery,  not  to  be  defired 
 by  any  reafonable  Creatures  ;  and  fuch  a  State, 
 as,  if  we  were  once  reduced  to  it,  we  fhould 
 
 ftudy 
 
andUnhappinefs  of  Abfohne  Morairchy? 
 
 m- 
 
 -ftudy    and   labour,    as    foon   as    poflible,    to 
 change. 
 
 This  Account  of  true  Liberty,  as  it  refpedls 
 Cmil  Sociei)\   will  lead  us  to  the  like  Account 
 of  Fropertyy  confidered  like  wife  with  relation 
 to  a  well-governed  Society.     This  1  take  to  be 
 fuch  a  Pojfejfion  of  what  we  call  our  own,  as 
 cannot  be  fliaken  by  any  Humour  or  Arbitrary 
 Will  of  One  Man,  or  Party  of  Men  ;  but  yet 
 muft  be  fubje(5l  to  the  Determination  of  fuch 
 Laws  as  are  for  the  common  Good  and  Interefl 
 of  the  whole  Society.     Nor  is  this   Subjediion 
 any  thing  but  what  is  defirable  in  Society  ;   be- 
 caufe,    though  it  be  poflible  that  a  particular 
 Member  of  it  may  accidentally  fuffer  by  them, 
 yet  he  might  expedl  to  fuffer  much  more  with- 
 out them  }   and  indeed  could   have  no  Hopes 
 of  that  fecure  Pofleffion  of  any   thing,    any 
 longer  than  he  could  defend  himfelf  by  Force 
 and  Cimnitig.      So  that  Property,  in  a  well-go- 
 verned Society,   is  fomething  as  different  from 
 Nominal   Pojfeffion    under  Abfolute  Monarchy ^ 
 (which,  according    to  God's  own  Dcfcription, 
 confifls  in  the  being  I'enants  at  Will,    to  one 
 weak,  and  paffionate  Man,  and  in  the  Enjoy- 
 ment of  nothing  any  longer  than  till  he  comes 
 to  imagine  it  neceffary  to  his  private  Pleafure, 
 or  Glory,)  as  it  is  from  that  momentary  Poflef- 
 iion,  which  belongs  to  a  State  in  which  all  are 
 H  equally 
 
^ 
 
 T^e  Happinefs  oftheprefent  EflabUpment^ 
 
 S  E  R  wj.  equally,    without  LaWy    or  Government.     It 
 v'.      ftands  between  the  Two  Extremes^  as  fecure 
 
 l/V^^  as  the  Vncertainties  of  this  World  permit  the 
 Affairs  of  Mortals  to  be  ,  and  guarded,  at  leafl 
 in  moft  Inftances  againft  allAttempts  ol  Mere 
 Viokftce,  and  apparent  Fraud,  from  whatfoe- 
 ver  Hands  the  Injury  may  come.  I  know  this 
 Difference  is  ridiculed  by  fome:  and  it<is  faid 
 that  Subje£is  have  Properties  under  the  moft 
 'Ahfolute  Monarchsy  as  well  as  under  other  fort 
 of  Governments.  I  grant  that  they  may  have 
 Properties  fecure  from  the  Attacks  of  other 
 Subje^s,  unlefs  fuch  as  are  prote(3:ed  by  the 
 Monarch :  but  thefe  Properties  are  only  during 
 his  Pleafure,  which  is  as  uncertain  as  his  Hu^ 
 moury  or  his  Paffions,  and  are  defcribed  by 
 •Almighty  God  himfelf  to  be  fixed  on  fo  pre- 
 carious a  Bottom 3  as  that  the  SubjeBs  Poffef- 
 fion  of  them  is  entirely  at  his  Mercy. 
 
 To  Liberty  and  Property,  I  added  the  free 
 Exercife  of  Religion,  as  neceffary  to  the  Hap- 
 pinefs of  a  governed  Society  ;  becaufe,  as  there 
 is  no  Tyranny  fo  odious  to  God  as  'Tyranny  over 
 the  Conference ;  fo  is  there  no  Slavery  fo  uneafy 
 and  ignominious,  as  a  forced  Religion^  or  a 
 Worjldip  impofed  upon  weak  Men  by  the  iv^r, 
 er  Application,  of  outward  inconveniences ; 
 besides  that  nothing  promotes  the  iiourifliing 
 Condition  cf  a  Nation  more   than   the  Indul' 
 
 gence 
 
andUnhappinefs  of  J^hfolute  Monarchy, 
 
 .V. 
 
 gence  of  this  Freedom  to  all  whofe  Frmcifki  f  s  r  Mi 
 are  not  manifeftly  inconfiftent  with  the  Fub^ 
 lie  Safety,  And  that  this  Freedom^  together 
 with  the  Enjoyment  of  Civil  Liberty^  and  PrO' 
 perty,  as  before  defcribed,  mull:  be  an  inva- 
 luable Happinefs  to  a  Nation^  needs  no  Proof -, 
 unlefs  it  be  to  Thofe  who  are  grown  weary 
 of  theij:  own  Happinefs  by  Ufe^  and  have  for* 
 gotten  what  Terror  there  was  once  in  the 
 Fears  of  the  contrary  Unhappinefs.  But  this 
 may  more  plainly  appear  from  what  will  offer 
 itfelf  upon  the  third  Particular,  under  which 
 I  propofed,  '        i 
 
 3 .  To  confider  how  far  this  Happinefs  is  at- 
 tained, and  fecured,  by  the  prefent  National 
 EjlahUJhment .  Now  here  it  mufl  be  acknc\v- 
 ledged,  that  this  World  was  never  defigned 
 for  a-State  of  Perfecftion  :  and  that  there  can- 
 not be  any  Form  of  Govermnefit  contrived  and 
 managed  by  fallible  Men,  which  will  not  be 
 liable  to  Inconveniences.  But  certainly  it  may 
 be  faid,  that  the  Fnds  of  Government  will 
 hardly  ever  be  anfwered  under  Any^  if  they 
 be  not,  under  that  Excellent  Eftablifmient  we 
 can  at  prefent  boaft  of.  It  is  certain,  there 
 might  be  Liberty  and  Property  under  AbfohUe 
 Monarchs  j  were  they  all,  as  good  Angels^  or 
 as  God  himfelf.  But  we  know,  from  his  Pro- 
 phet ^  that  it  is  not  likely  there  fliould  be  Ei- 
 
 H  2  thery 
 
 SB. 
 
^oa  \thellappinefs of  theprejent  BftaUijljinent^ 
 
 SERM 
 V, 
 
 ther^  where  ^hey  are  once  eftablifhed.  'On  the 
 contrary,  by  the  peculiar  Mercy  of  God^  our 
 Co7iJlitution  is  fo  framed,  that  we  enjoy  all  the 
 Liberty   that  is  confiftent  with  good  Govern- 
 ment ;   without  lying  at  the  Mercy  of  any  one 
 Perfon.   By  the  fame  good  Providence^  we  can 
 much  more  juftly  call  our  Pofleffions,  and  our 
 I^abours,  our  oicn,  than  'They  can,  who  .are  lia- 
 ble to   the  Invafion  of  an  Abfolute  Monarch-, 
 whenfoever  he  pleafeth.      Again,    It  \%  pojfible 
 that  we  might  have  a  Freedon  of  Religion,  un- 
 der a  PopiJJj  Govermnent^  and  a  Popijh  Direct- 
 tion  J   but  I  hope  I  may  fay.  It  is  for  ever  cer- 
 tain to  us.  all,  under  an  Adminiftration  entirely 
 Protejlant.      Some  indeed  feem   to  think  our 
 Liberties  mofl  fafe,  our  Properties  moft  fecure, 
 nay,   our   very  Religion   beft   guarded,   under 
 '  Arbitrary  Power ^  and   PopiJJo  Faith.      But  it 
 is  wonderful  to  Others^  how  they  can  unite  to- 
 gether fuch   disjointed,    fuch    irreconcileable 
 Things.      And  it  is  to  be   hoped  that  Common 
 Senfe  is  not  fo  wholly  Jofl:  amongft  us,   as  that 
 any  fuch  Fallacies  can  be  put  upon   our  Un- 
 derflandings,   as  may  make  us  undervalue  our 
 unparalleled  Happinefs.      Thefe  Bieihngs  are 
 made  more  diffufive,  and  lafting,  by  an  Union 
 of  two  Iii??gdoms,  whofe  Separate  Jjiterefts  ufed 
 to  portend  Public  Calamity  :    And  all  rendered 
 t  more  fecure  to  oufelves,  and  our  latell  Pojl 
 
 terJify, 
 
 J 
 
a?id  Unhappimfs  of  Abfohite  Monarchy, 
 
 xar-- 
 
 V. 
 
 terity,  by  Eflabliiliing  the  SucceJ/ion  in  the  Pro-  >£  R  Mr' 
 teftant  Li?2e  \  without  which  it  is  too. probable 
 that  all  that  we  have  been  hitherto  iabouring, 
 at  great  Expenfe  of  Money  and  Blood,  would 
 be  of  no  Importance  to  fucceding  Generations. 
 So  that  this  great  IfMiid  is  One  Kingdom^  go* 
 verned  after  the  inoft  defirable  manner,  and 
 the  l^aft  liable  to  great  Evils.  True  Liberty 
 flouriihcs ;  Property  is  fecurely  poirefled  ;  and 
 all  enjoy  the  Freedom  of  Worfhiping  God  as 
 their.  Cofifcienccs  dired; :  and  a  Profped:  of  a 
 k?2g  Enjoyment  of  all  thefe  HappinelTes  is  af- 
 forded us  by  the  diflant  View  oi  fucceed'tr,g 
 Princes,  Who,  we  may  hope,  will  learn  from 
 the  prtjl'nt  Example  to  account  it  their  chief 
 Glory  to  preferve  thefe  Blcffings  j  and  their 
 own  greatefl  Happinefs,  to  make  their  People 
 happy.  And  need  1  tell,  to  what  it  is  that 
 we  owe  thefe  lingular  and  invaluable  Happi- 
 nelTes  ?  Is  it  not  too  plain  to  need  any  Proof, 
 that  we  owe  them  all  entirely  to  the  late  Re- 
 volution^  founded  upon  the  Principles  of  Li- 
 berty f  Without  This,  jibfolute  Power  had  been 
 by  this  Time  firmly  fettled,  and  fecured  by 
 Force  of  Arms  ;  and  that  Popiflj  Pretender^ 
 whom  we  all  now  proftfs  to  dcteft,  and  ab- 
 jure, been  the  Eftablij/:ed  Monarch  of  this 
 Kingdom.  Without  T/^/V,  it  had  been  impofli- 
 ble  for  us  to  have  known  the  Bleflings  of  the 
 
 H  3 
 
 prcfent 
 
I  ^'2 
 
 'Tl:)e  Hmpmefs  of  the  prefent  EJldblijhment^ 
 
 V. 
 
 prejtut  Reign,  or  to  have  hoped  for  any  fuc- 
 ceeding  ones  under  \\\^  V rot ejl ant  Line,  In 
 one  word,  Without  T^his^  our  Liberties^  and 
 '(Properties,  had  long  ago  been  nothing  but 
 Words }  and  our  Religion  nothing  but  Pa  five 
 Obedience.  Could  one  think  it  pofTible  for  Any 
 to  be  infenfible  of  our  prefent  Happy  EJlate ; 
 or  of  the  Unhappinefs  of  the  contrary  ?  ^  Yet, 
 the  Notions  of  feme  amongft  us  are  too  plain 
 to  be  covered,  and  of  too  great  Importance  to 
 be  overlooked,  which  leads  me  to  what  I  pro- 
 pofed  in  the  next  Place,  viz. 
 
 Secondly,  To  make  farther  Application  of 
 the  Hi/lory y  which  I  have  juft  now  been  confi- 
 derJng,  to  Ourfelves,  by  fome  Obfervations  ari- 
 fing  from  the  apparent  Uneafinefles  of  fome 
 amongft  us.  For,  as  the  Jeivs  were  ungrate- 
 ful to  the  God  who  ruled  them  j  and  fo  infen- 
 fible of  the  happy  Government  they  were  un- 
 der, as  to  defire  a  Change  from  Liberty  and 
 Property y  to  Slavery  and  Vaffalage :  As  under 
 every  little  Trial  of  their  Faitb  they  repented, 
 and  regre^ed  ihdii  Glorious  Revolution  which 
 freed  them  from  Egyptian  Slavery,  reviling 
 their  great  Deliverer,  Mofes,  and  wearying  out 
 "his  Succejfors  with  their  perpetual  Difcontents, 
 till  they  brought  themfclves  to  a  State  of  Ser- 
 vitude  again :  So  we  find  amongft  ourfelves  but 
 too  much  Ingratitude,  too  much  Infenfibility, 
 ■  too  much  Defire  of  Future  Slavery,  and  too 
 
 litde 
 
■and  Unhappimfs  of  Abfolute  Monarchy ,   J103 
 
 E  R  M. 
 
 little  an  Averiion  to  a  Change  of  the  Happieji  s 
 EJiablifiment  this  IJIand  twtv  yet  enjoyed,  into-  i  v, 
 the  mofl  unhappy.     And  that  this  Com  plaint  ^^V\^ 
 may  not  feem  a  groundlefs  Imagination,  I  mull 
 obferve, 
 
 :t  I .  That  fuch  Schemes  oiGovernment  are  pub* 
 lickly  and  daily  propofed,  and  maintained,  a- 
 mongft  us,  as  are  abfolutely  incoaiiflent  with 
 the  Security  of  the  prefent  EftabliJJitnent^  and 
 thefe  bound  upon  the  Confciences  of  Men  by 
 the  pretended  Will  of  God,  and  the  Terrors 
 of  his  Difpleafure  ;  and  thefe  applauded  and 
 recommended  by  many,  who,  it  is  to  be  ch^* 
 ritably  hoped,  are  not  fenfible  of  their  Confe- 
 quences.  The  Right  of  Primogeniture  in  the 
 Male  Line  is  fet  up  above  any  other  Right,  and 
 above  the  Happinefs  of  Thoulands  of  People 
 united.  This  is  declared  to  be  the  Voice  oiGod\ 
 tho'  where  it  is  to  be  found,  I  know  not,  un* 
 lefs  it  be  in  the  fecret  Whifpers  of  a  Dream. 
 But  what  then  mufl  become  of  the  Title  of 
 our  prefent  Gracious  ^leen,  to  whofe  Support 
 all  Her  good  Subjeds  are  now  offering  theif 
 Lives  and  Fortunes  ?  She  is  in  Fojfejjion  indeed  j 
 but,  according  to  this  Scheme^  there  is  always 
 a  better  Claimer  than  Herfelf.  For,  Can  a 
 Woman  be  a  Male  Heir  ?  Or,  May  not  any 
 Pretender,  whether  Legititnate,  or  not  5  May 
 not  any  neighbouring  Patron  of  Preienden, 
 nay,  any  mad  Pirfi-born  of  her  own  SubjeBs^ 
 
 K  4  upon 
 
Q4  ^The  Happinefs  of  the  prefent  EJiahlifljmenty 
 
 V.;; 
 
 SERMJ.upon  this  ablurd  Scheme,  be  a  better  CLumer 
 than  Herlelf  ?     For  it  is  pcjjible  that  any  fuch 
 Ma7i  that  can  be  named  may  be  the  Eldcji  Son 
 of  the  Right  Branch  even  from  Ncah  himfelf  j 
 but  abfolutely  impoffibie  that  a  Woman  fliould. 
 Behold  at  once  that  Sex  for  ever  cut  off  from 
 all  poffible  Claim,   to  which  this  Nation  muffc 
 own  itfelf  extremely  indebted,   both  foi;  Glory 
 Abroad,  and  IVi/e  Adminijlration  at  Home  1 
 Behold  at  one  Stroke  the  Protejiant  Line  de- 
 feated, and  fet  afide ;  and  the  Popijh  Branches 
 recalled,  by  the  modeft  Pleadings  of  fome, 
 who,  you  are  defired  to  believe,  v/i{h  extreme- 
 ly well  to  their  Country.    But,   lell  this  fliould 
 be  too  grofs   to  be  eafily  fwallovved,    2.  We 
 are  frequently  entertained  with  the  great  Praifes 
 of  an  Abjolute  Monarchy,   as  the  only  Legit i- 
 mate,  and  yure  Divino  Government  j   the  only 
 Form   agreeable  to  the  Will  of  God  j    and 
 affured,  over   and   over   again,  that  all  other 
 Forms  are  no  better  than  Bafard  Go'-oernments, 
 Behold  again,  our  whole Conltitution  abfolutely 
 at  one  Blaft  overthrown !  For  if  fo,  what  have 
 we  to  do,   but,   under  Pain  of  God's  Difplea- 
 fure,  to  diflblve  all  Appearances  of  ParliatnentSy 
 as  only  Encumbrances,  diud  Checks  upon  Abjo- 
 lute Power  ^     But,   left  the  People  fliould  not 
 embrace  this  with  an  Implicit  Faith,  the  Pa- 
 trons of  this  DoSirifie  condefcend  to  argue  from 
 ,    ,  public 
 
and  Unhappbtefs  of  AbfoluU  Monarchy. 
 
 105 
 
 E  RM. 
 V. 
 
 public  Good,  and  even??k>  appeal  to  their  "^udg-  s 
 
 ment^  fo  much  ridiculed  and  expofed  by  them 
 
 on  other  Occafions.     We  are  told  therefore,  i/^sTs^ 
 
 that  Abfolute  Monarchy  is  the  only  Governmetit 
 for  our  Good ,  nay,  the  ilrongeft  Security  to 
 our  Liberties  and  Properties^  againil:  the  Judg- 
 ment even  of  God  himfelf.  But  who  will  not 
 eafily  believe  fo  plain  a  Point  as  this,  that  JVe 
 of  this  Kingdom  are  greater  Slaves  than  the 
 Stibje5is  of  France  ?  And  that  it  is  our  great- 
 eft  Intereft  to  receive  with  open  Arms  the 
 mild  and  gentle  Gover?imenty  under  which 
 They  are  fo  free,  and  happy  ?  Thus  do  fome 
 amongft  us,  like  the  Jeivs^  folicit  Heaven  for 
 an  Abfolute  Monarchy.  But  neither  will  this  fo  ' 
 eafily  be  fwallowed ;  and  therefore,  3.  It  is 
 publickly  taught,  and  inculcated  with  great 
 Earneflncfs,  and  Repetition,  that  it  had  been 
 better  for  this  Nation  never  to  have  departed 
 from  Abfolute  Pajive  Obedience  \  and  that  Non- 
 rejijlance  in  all  Cafes  is  for  the  Intereft  of  Our- 
 felves  and  Pofterity  after  us :  Though  it  be  to 
 Refe/lance  ]u{i\y  called  for,  and  prudently  ma- 
 naged, that  we  owe  our  prefent  ^.een,  and 
 the  Hopes  of  a  good  Succefjion  ;  our  free  Par- 
 liaments, our  Liberties y  our  Properties^  and 
 the  fecure  Profefhon  of  our  Religion.  I  delire 
 therefore  to  know.  What  this  is,  but  to  tell 
 ;us  plainly,  that  it  had  been  for  our  Interefl  to 
 1  have 
 
io6 
 
 TheHapph 
 
 mefs  oftheprcfefUEj^cMifhmeTtt^ 
 
 SERM.  jhave  permitted  a  late  King  to  have  overturned 
 V.     jour  whole  Conjlitution^  and  have  impofed  upon 
 
 tXV^  'us  a  pretended  Son  j  to  have  wanted  the  Blef- 
 Jirigs  of  the  prefent  Reign,  and  the  Hopes  of 
 any  future  Security  j  and  to  have  been,  even 
 |to  this  Day,  under  the  Sway  of  that  Pretender y 
 who  hath  now  allarmed  us  ?  And  what  is 
 this  but  to  tell  us,  at  this  feafonable  Jundure, 
 that  it  is  for  our  Intereft  to  recal,  and  fubmit 
 to,  Him,  returning  with  penitent  Hearts  to 
 that  happy  StatCy  in  which  we  (hould  have 
 'been,  h2.d  Non-refijiance  httn  entirely  pradifed. 
 Others,  who  will  not  go  fo  far  as  this,  yet 
 [join  in  blackening  that  Rejijtancey  and  that  Re- 
 'volutioji,  on  which  our  prefent  EjJabliJlmiefit  is 
 •founded.  Nay,  If  they  deteft  the  Jnvafion 
 threatened  hy  %  pretended  F rime ^  they  think 
 ?they  cannot  fufficiently  do  it,  unlefs  at  the 
 I  fame  Time  they  detefl  that  Refijiancej  without 
 which  the  Invader  had  now  actually  been  up- 
 on the  Throne ;  and  boail  of  their  conflant 
 Adherence  to  fuch  Doctrines  as  condemn  the 
 late  Glorious  Revolution,  and  naturally  tend  to 
 fhake  the  hearty  Affedtion  of  Men  towards  an 
 EJiablifiment ,  founded,  according  to  them,  upon 
 what  was  perfectly  difpleafing  to  jilmigbty  God, 
 It  is  with  Reluctance  that  I  fpeak  after  this 
 manner :  But  why  fhould  fuch  Perfons  take  it 
 <amifs,  if  others  equally  deteft  thofe  Do^rines, 
 
 the 
 
andUnhapph^efs  of  Abfolute  Monarchy,  \  loy 
 
 the  Pradlce  of  which  "would  unavoidably  have  SE  R  m. 
 excluded  our  Excellent  S>ueeji^  and  the  whole  v. 
 Protefta?it  Line  j  and  eftabliflied  that  very  K/^\''\J 
 Pretender  upon  the  Throne,  whofe  Attempt 
 is  now  detefted  ?  Doth  not  our  ^^een  herfelf 
 place  her  Security  in  the  Caufe  of  Liberty 
 which  She  maintains  ?  And  doth  not  She  pro- 
 fefs,  that  her  chief  Dependence  muft  be  upon 
 thofe  who  have,  upon  all  Occafions,  exprefled 
 their  Zeal  for  the  Support  of  the  late  Revolu- 
 tion f  And  Ihall  we  tell  Her  that  S/je  is  ndt 
 fifcj  if  the  Revolution,  which  faveJ  her,  can 
 be  defended  :  or  that  Subje^s  are  not  Diltifiil^ 
 if  they  be  not  Slaves  ?  Whereas  the  prefent 
 RjlabUpmient  cannot  be  fecure^  unlefs  the  Re- 
 volution be  a  good  Foundation  ;  and  the  Duts 
 of  SubjeBs  is  fomething  vaftly  different  from 
 •the  Vajfalage  of  Slaves  j  and  their  Liberty  at 
 'once  the  Ornament  and  Support  of  the  Britifi 
 'Crown.  Pardon  me,  if  Refpe^  for  fo  good  a 
 ^^leen,  and  Concern  for  fo  excellent  an  EJia- 
 blijhmenty  and  Regard  for  the  Happinefs  of 
 ;Ourfelves  and  Pojierity,  have  led  me  toexprefs 
 fome  Zeal  again  ft  Principles  and  Dodirines 
 which  have  of  late  been  as  warmly  efpoufed, 
 as  if  the  Revolution  had  in  its  Confequences 
 proved  the  greateft  Misfortune  to  the  Nation,' 
 and  it  were  now  high  Time  to  get  rid  of  all  the 
 Effedls  of  it  yet  remaining,  by  fubmitting  to 
 
 the 
 
o  8    %he  Happinefs  of  theprefent  RJlahltJhmentj 
 
 SERM, 
 V. 
 
 the  Pretcnfi:m  of  a  Nominal  PrtJice,  fupport- 
 ed  by  a  Monarch,   who  feems  not  much  to  de-  '. 
 light  in  any  other   Obedience  of  SubjcSis   but 
 what   is  Paffive,   and  what   groans  under  the 
 Burthen  either  of  his  Glory,  or  his  Cruelty. 
 
 I  have  now  laid  before  you  feme  Obfervatiom,  i 
 refped;ing  as  well  the  prefcnt  Happinefs  we  en-  ' 
 joy,   as  the  unappy  Notions  of  fome  ^mongft ' 
 us.     Almighty  God  thought  it  a  good  Argu- 
 went  againft  Abjolute  Monarchy,  to   fliew  the 
 Jfraeliies  the    Unhappinefs    and    Servitude  of 
 Suhjeofs,  introduced  by  that  Form  of  Govern- 
 merit.     In  Imitation  of  fo  unexceptionable  a 
 Pattern,  we  can  do  no  lefs  than  protefi  folemn- 
 ly  to  Perfons  like- minded ^  and  fhew  them  the 
 Manner  of  the  King  they  would  have  to  reign 
 over  thetn  ;    and  the  Manner  of  the  Kingdom 
 they  would  gladly  fee  eftabliflied  amongfl  us; 
 And  this  I  thought  peculiarly  agreeable  to  this 
 Time,  when  the  Nation  hath  been  allarmed  by 
 the  Pretenfes  of  One,  whofe  Succefs  muft  have 
 been  accompanied    with  Abfolute  Poisjrr,   and 
 the  Ruine  of  our  prefent  happy  EJiablifl:ment', 
 but  whofe  Attempt  hath   by   this  Time,  we 
 hope,  fufficiently  convinced  Him  of  its   own 
 Weaknefs.     Our   happy  Eflate  therefore,    I 
 have  fet  before  your  Eyes,  that  you  may  the 
 better  judge  of  the  Unhappineffes  of  the  con- 
 trary:  which  I  have  likewife  fl^ewn  as  I  pafled. 
 
 But, 
 
nnd  Unhappinefs  of  Abfolute  Monarchy.. 
 
 109 
 
 But,  without  thefe  Afliftances,  you  may  ea-jjE  r  m,; 
 lily  imagine  to  your  felves  the  bleffed  EfFedts      v. 
 of  French  Injiru5liom^  and  French  Force,  and  ^^yW'\) 
 a  Popip  Faithy    fnould  any    Future  Attempt 
 prove  more  fuccefsful  to  this  Prete?ider  j    and 
 judge  from  former  Precedents,  how  exadtly  he 
 will  anfwer  all  his  Obligations  j    how  fmcerely 
 he  wil'v  promife  to  maintain  the  Church  of  Eng-^ 
 land,  as  by  Laiv  ejlablijhed,  meaning  the  Popijh 
 Church  eftabliflied  in  former  Days  5     how  in- 
 violably he  will  prefer ve  your  Laws,   by  di{^ 
 penfing  with  them  ;    how  flrenuoufly  he  will 
 maintain   your  Properties,   by  efteeming  and 
 ufing  them  as  his  own  ;    how  glorious  he  will 
 make  the  Union,  by  enlarging  it  to  the  Gallican 
 Church,  and  State,  and  how  indulgent  he  will 
 be   to  tender  Confciences,   by  allowing  them 
 the  Liberty  of  chooiing  exquilite  Torments,  or 
 the  Profeffion  of  his  own  Religion.     Let  Men 
 confider  whether  this   be  not  the   very  State 
 they  are  to  expecfl  under  Hi7n ,  and  then,  vo- 
 luntarily choofe  it  if  they  can. 
 
 This  is  a  SubjeSl  of  great,  and  univerfal 
 Importance  :  And,  if  it  be  iieedful  to  add  any 
 Apology,  let  it  be  remembered,  that  it  is  foreign 
 to  no  Man's  Office,  upon  all  juft  Occafions,  to 
 inculcate  fuch  DoSlrines  as  promote  the  Happi- 
 nefs  of  human  Society ;  and  particularly  not 
 Foreign  to  ours,  to  confider  a  SubjeB  to  which 
 
 Almigl^ty 
 
iro 
 
 .  Uapptnefs  of  the  prefe?it  EJlaMiJIi  mmty  Sec* 
 
 SE-R  mJ -'^^^iS^^  G^4  by  his  Prophet,  fo  plainly  leads 
 w    I  our  Thoughts.     But,  to  conclude,  Whatever 
 
 l/VX)  Influence  ihtCoiifi derations,  I  have  urged,  may 
 have  upon  fome  Minds,  1  hope  they  may  at 
 kafl  animate  fuch  as  are  well-aifpored  already 
 to  follow  the  noble  Example  of  our  Firil  Bri- 
 iijb  Parliament,  in  their  Approbation  of  the 
 late  Revolution ;  their  Zeal  for  Her  ^refent- 
 Majejiy ;  their  Concern  to  fupport  the  juft  Ti-_ 
 tie  of  Herlelf,  and  Her  protejlant  Succejfon  f 
 And  their  Refolution  to  do  all  in  their  Power. 
 to  maintain  the  Happi^  efles  we  enjoy,  and  to 
 convey  them  down  unviolated  to  our  Pofterity 
 after  us. 
 
 ::^:.— 4?5  \ 
 
 SERMON 
 
- *-* *-«— 
 
 SERMON  VI. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Afiizes  at  Hertford^  July  26; 
 
 % 
 
 \ 
 
 ACTS  xxii. 
 
 25. 
 
 >^^  ^7x  they  bound  him  with  thongs j  Paul/aid 
 unto  the  Centurio?i  thatjlood  by^  Is  it  lawful 
 
 '  for  you  to  fcourge  a  Man  that  is  a  Roman, 
 and  uncondemned^ 
 
 I 
 
 T  being  my  Defign  to  fpeak  fomething  at  s  e  r  m. 
 this  Time  concerning  the  Nature  oiLaws^ 
 
 and  the  great  Advantage  of  them  to  the  U'^V^sJ 
 ^ell-being  of  Human  Society^  I  think  it  not 
 improper  to  found  what  I  have  to  fay  upon 
 the  Behaviour  of  St.  Faul^  as  it  is  recorded  in 
 the  ABs  of  the  Apojilesy  with  refpe(5t  to  his 
 Civil  Priijikges,  and  to  his  Civil  Superiors,  and 
 Judges.  And  I  choofeto  do  fo,  becaufe  this  will 
 at  once  give  us  feme  Light  into  the  true  Inter- 
 pretation of  the  DoSlrine  delivered  by  himfelf 
 and  others  in  the  New  Tcfiamenty  concerning 
 'Government  i  and  lead  us  into  fome  ufefulO^- 
 
 fervations 
 
 VI. 
 
112 
 
 St,  Paul's  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SER  N  .f^rvations  relating  to  the  Happinefs  of  Hu?nan 
 
 VI. 
 
 Society* 
 
 I.  I  propofe  to  give  you  a  brief  View  of  the 
 Behaviour  of  St.  Fauly  as  it  is  recorded  in  the 
 ABs  of  the  ApoflleSy  with  refpect  to  thofe  C/- 
 vil  Right Sy  and  Privileges^  to  which  the  Laws 
 of  the  Roman,  or  JeiviJJ^i  State  entitled  Hinii 
 and  to  thofe  Civil  Magi/irates^  and  Judges,  be- 
 fore whom  he  had  occafion  to  appear.   And, 
 
 I.  In  the  Chapter  now  before  us,   the  chief 
 Captain,  who   appears  to  have  adted  the  Part 
 of  a  Civil  Magi  Urate,  as  well  as  of  a  Commajid- 
 ing  Officer  in  ferufalem,  refolving  to  find  out 
 what  it  was  that  had   io  much  incenfed  the 
 whole  Multitude  againfl:  St.  Faul,  command- 
 ed him  to  be  fcourged,  in  order  to  his  own 
 Confeilion  of  his  Crime.    St.  Faul  could  have 
 bor'n  this  Ufage  with  as  great  Chriflian  Fati- 
 ence,  and  Roman  Fortitude,  as  any  Man  living: 
 And  no  Man  knew  the  true  Glory  of  fuffer- 
 ing  wrongfully  better  than  He.     But,  inftead 
 of  this,  He  feems   to  think  it  a  much  more 
 becoming  Part  to  infifl  upon  thofe  Civil  Fri- 
 vileges  which   the  Laws  of  the  State  entitled 
 him  to,   as  He  was  free  of  the  City  of  Rome, 
 Js  it  lawful  for  you  to  fcourge  a  Man  that  is  a 
 Roman,  and  uncondemyied  F      was  the  ^efiion 
 which  he  thought  fit  at    that  Time  to  afk. 
 
 If 
 
the  Civil  Ma^ijirate, 
 
 113 
 
 If  a  certain  Sett  of  Notiom  had  been  embraced  j  er  M. 
 in  thole  Days,  fome  of  his  Felb'w-Chrifiians      vi. 
 mrght  perhaps  have  informed  Him,  that  the 
 Laws  were  but  a  dead  Letter ;  ,  that  what  the. 
 Executive  Power  ordained  w^is  Law,  though 
 contrary  to  all  the  Laws  then  In  force  ;    that 
 He  who  was    but  a  SubjeSf,   was    no   proper 
 Judge  of  his  own  Rights,  and   ought   not  to 
 give  fo  ill   a  Precedent   to  other  SubjeBs,  as 
 mieht  encourage  them  to  dare  to  jud2;e  when 
 their    Privileges    were   invaded  -,     and    much 
 more,  that  Ho-,  being  ^ChriJIian,  and  an  Apo- 
 ftle,  a  Follower  of  a   crucified  Mafter,   and  a 
 Preacher  of  the  Do6lrine  of  the  Crofs,  ought 
 not  to  Ihew  any  Concern  about  worldly  Rights 
 and  Privileges;   but  think  it  a  Glory  rather  to 
 give  them  up  to  the  Invafion  of  his  Superiors, 
 Thus,  I  fay,  might  feme  Chrifiians  have  taught 
 St.  Paid  to"  have  behaved   himfelf.     But  He, 
 we  iind,   was  of  another  Opinion  ;     and  had 
 very    different   Sentiments    concerning    thefe 
 Matters.      He  thought   it  no  Ars^ument  of  a 
 Chrijiian  Spirit,  to  fuffer  any  thing  which  he 
 could  honourably  avoid  j    and  He  thought  it 
 honourable  to  plead  the  Privilege  of  a  Subje^ 
 againft    the    Encroachments    of    the    Higher- 
 Powers  :  And  fo  He  :-ip peals  to  the  Laws,  and 
 claims  the  Right  of  being  ufed  by  the  Execu- 
 tive Power,  no  otherwife  than  as  they  direcfl.' 
 
 I  2.  If 
 
ii4j 
 
 Sf.  Paul's  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SERMJ  -  2.  If  we  follow  him   a  little  farther,  we 
 VI.     fhall  find  Hitriy  in  the  next  Chapter^  brought, 
 
 <.^^V\J  by  Order  of  the  fame  Chief  Captain^  before  the 
 Chief  Priefis,  and  Councils  of  the  Jews^  to  fee 
 how  he  could  acquit  himfelf  to  Them.  Upon 
 his  declaring  his  Sincerity,   and  Uprightnefs, 
 the  High-priefl  Ananias  commanded  them  that 
 flood  by^  tofmite  Him  on  the  Mouth.    St.  Paul's 
 Reply  was  very  fevere,   God  JJjall  fmite  thee, 
 thou  whited  Wall :   For  ftteji  thou  there  to  judge 
 me  after  the   Law,  and  commandeft   me  to    be 
 fmitten  contrary  to  the  Law?  ver.  3.  And  tho* 
 He  afterwards   repented   of   the  reproachful 
 Word  he  gave  the  High-prieft   in  his  Anger  ; 
 yet  he  repented  not  of  the  juft  Senfe  he  had,, 
 of  the  illegal  Indignity   offered  him  ;    or  of 
 i  his  Zeal  againfl  all  fuch  Magijirates  as  aded 
 againft  the  End  of  their  Office^  and  againfl 
 thofe  Lawsh^  which  they  ought  to  be  govern- 
 ed in  the  Execution  of  it.     Here  again  it  is 
 evident,    that  this  great  Apofile  had  the  Spirit 
 oi  Liberty  in  himj    and   thought   that   thofe 
 Laws  which  were  made  for  the  Security  and 
 Guard  of  itj  were  not  to  be  difpenfed  with,   at 
 the  Pleafure  of  thofe  whofe  Bufinefs  it  was  to 
 execute  them.     Here  again  we  find  him  pre- 
 tending to  know,  and  judge  of,  his  own  Civil 
 Privileges ;    and  not  tamely  fubmitting  to  the 
 Violation  of  them.     If  fome  Chrijlians  of  later 
 
 Ages 
 
the  Civil  Magiftraie. 
 
 "5 
 
 Ages  had  lived  In  his  Time,  and  been  Wit- 
 neffes  of  this,  they  would  not  only  have  fald, 
 JRevile/l  thou  GoisHigh-prieJl?  but  v^ould  have 
 afked  him,  how  He,  being  a  Suhjeci,  and  a 
 Chrifiian,  could  anfv/er  to  his  own  Confcience, 
 his  thinking  any  SitbjeBs  fit  Judges  of  the  In- 
 vafion  of  their  own  Privileges  ?  They  would 
 have  re^^rehended  him  feverely  for  placing 
 himfelf  above  his  Judges,  and  turning  the 
 World  upfide  down  j  for  making  SubjeBs  RU" 
 krsj  and  Rulers  SubjeBs,  as  they  lov-e  to  fpeak, 
 by  this  prepofterous  Way  of  pleading  his  Pri- 
 vileges, even  whilft  he  flood  before  a  Court  of 
 Judicature.  But  it  is  very  plain,  that,  as  no 
 Man  was  more  zealous  for  the  Honour  and 
 Veneration  of  fuch  Magi  Urates  as  anfwer  the 
 Ends  of  their  Office^  which  is  the  Good  of  Hii- 
 man  Society ;  fo  no  Man  could  exprefs  a  more 
 hearty  Diflike  of  thofe  who  acted  a  contrary 
 Part  J  or  a  greater  Concern  for  the  Temporal 
 good  Eftate  of  SubjeBs,  even  amidft  his  conti- 
 nual Labours  and  Cares  for  the  Eternal  Hap- 
 pinefs  of  all  Men.      Once  more, 
 
 3.  If  we  look  back  as  far  as  the  i6th  Chap» 
 we  fliall  find  a  yet  greater  Proof  of  this.  The 
 Magiftrates  of  Philippi  commanded  Paul  and 
 Silas  to  be  beaten  with  many  Stripes,  and  caji 
 into  Prifony  ver.  23,  but  the  next  Morning 
 fent  to  the  Keeper  of  the  Prifon  to  let  them  go^ 
 
 I  2  ver. 
 
 E  R  M» 
 Vf. 
 
ii6 
 
 Si.  Paul's  Bemviour  itowarJs 
 
 S  ERM 
 VI. 
 
 ver.  35.  St.  PduFs  Anfwer  is  very  obfervable, 
 'They  have  beaten  us  openly  luicondemned^  being 
 RomanSj  a7idhai:e  cajl  us  into  Prifon  :  And  now 
 do  they  thruji  us  out  privily  F      l^Jay^  verily ^  but 
 let  them  come  themfehes^  and  fetch  us  cut.     He 
 was  juil   now  delivered   out  of  Prifon  by    a 
 wonderful  Shock  of  the  Earth  about  it  j  and 
 fo  might  have  efcaped  before  this  Rele/^fe  was 
 brouG;ht  from  the  Magiflrates  :    But  after  fuch 
 a  good-natured  Meffage  from  them,  one  would 
 think,   He  might  have   quietly   departed.      It 
 would  have   been   but    the   Compliance  of  a 
 SubjeSi  With  a  lawful  Requeft  of  his  Superiors^ 
 Yet  this  great  Apoille  did  not  think  it  honour- 
 able to  go  away,  without  expreffing  fome  re- 
 fentment  againft  the  Invafion  of  the  Privileges 
 of  the  SubjeB^  which  the  Magiftrates  had  been 
 guilty  of  J    and  without  pleading  the  Caufe  of 
 injured  Inferiors.      He  continues   refolute  till 
 thefe  Magiftrates  themfelves  had  waited  upon 
 him,   and  dcftred  him  to  depart  out  of  the  Cityy 
 ver.  39.   And  here  again.   Plow  would  fome, 
 who  pretend  to   found  their  Notions  of  thcfs 
 Matters  upon  this  very  Apojlle^  have  reprehend- 
 ed any  other  Man  in  the  fame  Cirrumftances? 
 Anfwereft  thou    the  Vicegerents  ^^'i  'lod    fo  ? 
 "Where  is   the  profound  Refpcd  du^    t.)  that 
 Order  inllituted  by  GcP^'himfelf  ?  Where  i^  the 
 Senfe  of  the  Duty  of  Subjects  f     Nay,  where, 
 
 i& 
 
th&  Civil  Magijlrate. 
 
 117 
 
 IS  Government  itfelf,  if  Subjects  may  be  allowed  s 
 to  judge  of  the  Invafion  of  their  own  Privi- 
 ieges:  \i  LauDS  mufl:  be  placed  above  the  De-^' 
 terminations  of  the  Executive  Power  ?  But  a- 
 bove  all,  where  can  there  be  a  Stop,  when 
 Obedience  is  refufed  to  a  lawful  Injant^iion  of 
 the  Magi/irate,  and  to  v/hat  might  without 
 Sin  be, complied  with?  Whom  therefore  fiiaM 
 we  follow  ?  Thole  who  fpeak  after  this  man- 
 ner, or  St.  Paul,  who  knew,  as  well  as  they, 
 the  Duty  owing  to  Magiftrates,  and  yet  gave 
 not  up  his  own  Judgment  to  them  ?  But  tho' 
 eiSubjtB,  and  acting  the  Part  of  a  SubjeB,  took 
 upon  him  (by  what  thefe  Per  ions  miglit  per- 
 haps call  a  flubborn  Behaviour)  to  bring  the 
 -Magiftrates  themfelves  to  a  Senfe  of  that- In- 
 vafion they  had  made  upon  the  Rights  and 
 Privileges  of  Roman  SubjeBsy  a-nd  this,  tho* 
 the  Invafion  appears  to  have  been  made  merely 
 through  an  hafty  Miftake.  Of  fo  great  Con- 
 fequence  did  He  think  it  to  oppofe  one  finale 
 Inilance  of  illegal  Opprejjwn  ! 
 
 Thus  I  have  given  you  a  true  Account  of 
 the  moft  remarkable  Pafiages  recorded  con^ 
 cerning  St.  Paul's  Behaviour,  with  Refpect  to 
 his  Civil  Privileges-,  and  to  thofe  Magiftrates^ 
 before  whoui  he  had  occafion  to  appear.  It 
 any  one  fay,  that  all  this  relates  only  to  T>e' 
 puted,  or  Inferior  Magiflrafes^  not  to  the  Su- 
 J  3  f rente: 
 
 ER  Mi 
 VI. 
 
ii8 
 
 St.  Paul's  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SE  RM. 
 VI. 
 
 preme  :  I  anfwer  that  it  cannot  relate  to  ong 
 without  relating  to  the  cther^  becaufe  Govern- 
 ment cannot  be  managed  in  the  World  but  by 
 Deputed  and  Inferior  Officers  j  becaufe  the 
 Chrifiian  Religion  (as  St.  Feter  teflifieth)  com- 
 rnands  the  Obedience  required  in  it,  with  Re- 
 fped  to  both  ;  becaufe  otherwife,  the  Argu- 
 ment urged  by  fome  for  the  Magiffrate's  un^ 
 controllable  Authority^  drawn  from  our  herd's 
 acknowledging  the  Tower  oi  Pilate  to  be  from 
 Above,  who  was  but  a  Deputed  Governor,  muft 
 fall  to  the  Ground  j  becaufe  both  Supreme  and 
 Inferior  are  faid,  by  many,  to  adl  as  one  Autho- 
 rity, by  the  fame  Divine  Commiffion  j  and  fo 
 are  equally  bor'n  out  by  it  againfl  all  Oppofi- 
 tion,  or  at  leafl  equally  elevated  above  all  Pre- 
 tenfes  of  SubjeBs  to  judge  concerning  their 
 ConduB:  And  becaufe  it  is  as  impoffible,  ac- 
 cording to  the  Reafoning  of  fome  Men,  to 
 oppofe  in  any  Inilance  the  hwefi  Officer  in  Au- 
 thority, without  oppofing  the  Supreme  j  as  it 
 is  faid  to  be,  to  oppofe  the  Supreme,  without 
 pppofing  God  himfelf,  whofe  Vice-gerent  he 
 js ;      I  proceed,  in  thtfecond  Place, 
 
 II.  To  confiider  if  this  Account  of  St.  Paul's 
 JBehaviour  will  not  give  us  Light  into  the  true 
 Jnterpretation  of  the  DcSfrine  delivered  by 
 Jlimfelf  and  others,    in  the  New  I'ejiament^ 
 
 concerning 
 
the  Civil  Magijlrate. 
 
 IJ9 
 
 concerning  Government ;  and  lead  us  to  fome  se  r  M. 
 Obfervations  of  Importance  to  Governed  So-  \  vi. 
 defies,  and  to  ibat  in  particular  to  which  we  fw^/'XJ 
 belong.  For  can  any  one  think  that  thefe 
 Pajfciges  were  recorded  for  nothing,  but  to 
 ferve  for  an  KmhelUj^nient  of  St.  PauYs  istory  ? 
 Or  can  any  one  think,  that  St.  Paid  had  a  re- 
 gard t«  his  own  particular  worldly  Intereft  in 
 thefe  Parts  of  his  Condud  ?  He^  that  had  fuf- 
 fered,  and  knew  he  was  to  fuffer,  much  great- 
 er Hardfhips  ?  He^  that  was  ready  to  give  up 
 his  Life  for  the  fake  of  Chriftianity,  and  to 
 !  follow  his  Mafler  through  all  Indignities,  and 
 all  Perfecutions,  when  the  Glory  of  God  fliould 
 call  him  to  it  ?  No,  it  was  fomething  more 
 than  his  own  Part  in  this  World  which  en- 
 gaged him  to  fhew  himfelf  after  this  manner; 
 for  this  he  could  with  the  greateft  Eafe  have 
 neglecfled.  But  the  Happinefs  of  Human  So- 
 ciety, and  the  good  Eftate  of  the  Inferior  Part 
 of  Mankind,  moved  his  Soul  to  a  generous 
 Indignation  againft  every  thing  in  Gover?7ment 
 which  favoured  of  T'yranny,  and  kindled  in 
 his  Breaft  a  Zeal  for  every  Thing  which  it 
 was  fit  for  Subjects  to  enjoy.  Let  us  therefore 
 fee,  if  his  Behaviour  will  not  lead  us  to  fome 
 ufeful,  and  important  Thoughts,  relating  to 
 Chrijliam  incorporated  in  Civil  Societies, 
 
 14 
 
 1. 1  need 
 
I20 
 
 iSt,  Paufs  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SERMt      I.  I  need  not  take  particular  Notice  that  St. 
 VI.     Faul  thought  it  not  beneath  a  Chrijlian,  and 
 
 ^^"VN?  an  ApoJIle,  to  concern  himfelf  with  his  Rights 
 and  Privileges,  as  He  was  a  SubjeB  of  the 
 Roman  State.  He  knew,  as  well  as  any  fince 
 his  Time,  that  he  belonged  to  a  City  above, 
 whofe  Builder  is  God  -,  He  knew  that  his  chief 
 Concern  was  Eternity  and  Heaven  y  He  knew 
 that  no  T^yrannical  Magijlrate  could  rob  him 
 of  his  Innocence,  or  of  his  Salvation  :  And 
 yet  he  confidered  himfelf  likewife  as  a  Mem- 
 ber of  Human  Society,  and  aded  the  Part  of 
 one  who  had  a  jufc  Senfe  of  the  Privileges  of 
 his  CitizenJJjip  here  on  Earth,  as  well  as  of 
 that  Citizenjldip  in  Heaven,  which  he  fpeaks  of 
 to  the  Philippians,  and  Ephejia?is.  And  why 
 fhould  it  be  thought  unworthy  of  any  other 
 preachers  of  the  Gcfpel,  to  imitate  fo  great  an 
 Example,  in  the  fame  great  Concern  for  the 
 Good  of  Human  Society  f      To  proceed, 
 
 2.  Let  St-  Paid  himfelf  anfwer  all  thofe 
 >vho  have  on  his  Authority  pretended  to  exalt 
 ^he  Executive  Power  above  all  La'iips ;  and 
 above  the  very  Ends  of  that  Office  for  which 
 they  were  inftkuted.  He,  it  is  plain,  knew 
 nothing  of  this :  Nor  did.  he  carry  the  Obliga- 
 tion of  a  quiet  Submijjlon  to  any  fuch  Inflances 
 38  were  contrary  to  the  Dejign  of  that  Office^ 
 
 Let 
 
the_Clvil  Ma^iftrate, 
 
 t2I 
 
 Let  them  learn  from  bimfelf,  that,  when  hesERM^ 
 fpeaks  highly  of  Magifirates^  it  is  of  fuch  as  vi. 
 are  Gods  indeed  in  Human  Society  -,  fuch  as  yv*Nj 
 maintain  the  Character  and  Dignity  of  their 
 Station,  by  anfwering  the  Ends  of  it  j  and  that 
 when  they  defcend  to  invade  the  Privileges 
 they  were  ordained  to  guard,  He  knew  no  fuch 
 profound  Refped;  to  be  due  to  them.  Let 
 them  learn  from  Him,  that  the  Laws  of  the 
 Roman  State  were  above  i\\Q Executive  Power-, 
 and  that  mere  Authority  of  the  MagiJlratQ 
 could  not  make  That  X.q\>q  Law,  which  was 
 againft  the  written  Laws ;  or  oblige  Him  to 
 comply  with  what  was  injurious  to  his  Civil 
 Privileges',  and  confequently,  that  he  under- 
 ftood  not  his  Mafter's  Doftrine  concerning  the 
 Governors  of  this  World,  to  be  dellrudive  of 
 the  Privileges  and  Happinefs  of  the  gover?2ed 
 Society  ;  and  that  he  himfelf,  in  his  own  DoC'r 
 trine,  delivered  in  other  Places,  meant  nothing 
 contrary  to  thefe.  Let  them  learn  from  his 
 Practice,  which  is  .certainly  the  bejl  Interpreter 
 of  his  own  Do&rine,  and  that  of  his  Mafier 
 and  Fellow- ApojUes,  that  when  He  faith,  there 
 is  no  Power  but  of  God,  the  Powers  that  he  are 
 ordained  of  God;  and  that  when  his  great  Ma- 
 iler acknowledges  the  Power  of  Pilate  to  be 
 from  Above,  no  more  could  be  meant,  than 
 that  it  was  agreeable  to  God's  Will  that  fome 
 
 Perfons 
 
122 
 
 A?/.  Paul's  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SER  M.  Perfons  (hould  be  invefted  with  Power  for  the 
 VI.    I  good  of  Hu?na?i  Society 'j   but  not  that  God  had 
 
 t>'''V^Jimade  them  uncontrollable  in  a6ling  againfi  his 
 Commijfion^  and  to  the  Ruine  of  their  Fellow- 
 Creatures.  And  let  them  remember,  that 
 when  St.  Faul  commanded  Refped:,  and  for- 
 bad Oppojition  to  the  Higher  Powers  j  and  that 
 when  St.  P^/^r  commanded  the  fame  Subjedion 
 both  to  the  Supreme  and  Deputed  Magijirates ; 
 They  were  coniidered  as  adling  the  beft  Part 
 in  the  World  ;  and  nothing  intended  by  this 
 to  oblige  Siibje6is  to  a  ^iet  Sub?7ji(jion  to  fuck 
 illegal  and  unjufl:  ConduSi^  as  affedis  and  fhakes 
 the  Univerfal  Happinefs.     And, 
 
 3.  If  they  fliill  repeat  the  old  ^lefiion,  Who 
 
 fhall  judge  of  the  Invajion  of  Privileges?     let 
 
 the  fame  St.  Paul  anfwer  them,  who,  in  the 
 
 Capacity  of  a  SubjeSi,  more  than  once  is  re- 
 
 jcorded   (in  the  (hort  Hiftory  we  have  of  his 
 
 Actions)  to  have  prefumed  to  judge  concerning 
 
 his  own  Privileges^  againfi:  the  Invaiion  of  the 
 
 \MagiJirate ;     and  to  have  done  this,  as  by  a 
 
 \Right  belonging  to  every  Member  of  the  fame 
 
 [Society.      His  Chrijiianity  did  not   make  him 
 
 Iforget  that  he  was  a  Roman :  And  as  a  Roman, 
 
 he  judged  that  he  had  the  Privileges  of  a  Ro^ 
 
 man  :    And  that  his  Chrijiianity  did  not  oblige 
 
 him  to  give  up  thefe  to  any  Mortal,  as  long  as 
 
 lie   could  with  Honour  keep  them.     The 
 
 Poffibi- 
 
the  Civil  Magtjlrate, 
 
 123 
 
 Poffiblllty  of  his  miftaking  in  this,  in  which  ^erm. 
 he  adted  not  as  an  Apoftle^  was  no  Argument  vi. 
 to  him  againft  this  Right :  Nor  did  the  Weak-  i-^'v; 
 nefs  of  other  Men's  Judgments  prevail  with  1 
 him  not  to  fet  them  an  Example  of  judging  ! 
 in  the  like  Circumftances.  What  Confufion, 
 what  Diforder,  fay  fome,  muft  enfue,  if  Suh^ 
 jeBs  \j%  ''owed  to  judge  concerning  the  Inva- 
 lion  of  their  own  Rights  and  Privileges  F  But 
 let  them  believe  St.  Paul  for  once,  that  much 
 more  Mifery  muft  enfue  upon  Human  Society^ 
 if  it  be  a  fettled  Point  that  the  Executive  Powers 
 may  abfolutely,  and  without  Controll,  deter- 
 mine what  they  pleafe  concerning  the  inferior 
 Part  of  the  World.  If  any  one  afk  where  he 
 faith  this,  I  anfwer,  his  Behaviour  fpeaks  it 
 aloud :  for  he  never  would  have  adted  the  Part 
 which  He  did,  could  he  have  thought  it  more 
 iox  public  Good,  that  Subje5is  fhould  give  up 
 all  their  Judgments  to  the  Determination  of 
 their  Magiftrates,  than  that  they  fliould  judge 
 concerning  the  Violation  of  their  common 
 Rights  after  the  beft  manner  they  could.  Let 
 not  Men  therefore  forget  Modejiy  fo  much  as 
 to  laugh  out  of  Countenance  this  Right  of 
 judging  in  SubjeBs,  which  St.  Paul  himfelf 
 claimed  merely  as  he  was  a  Subjedl. 
 
 4.  Let  thofe  learn  it  from  St.  Paul,  who  will 
 not  bear  it  from  others,  that  Rights  and  Privi- 
 
 leges. 
 
124 
 
 5  E  R  M 
 VI. 
 
 St,  PauFs  Behaviour  towards 
 
 leges.  Liberty,  and  Property^  and  the  like,  are 
 not  M^ords  fitted  only  to  raife  the  Spirits  of  the 
 PeQple,  and  to  foment  Dillurbances  in  Society  ; 
 but  that  they  are  things  worth  contending  for. 
 Some  may  think  (unlefs  Pvcfped:  to  an  Apojl.k 
 a  little  divert  them  from  it)  what  great  Matter 
 ii  St.  Paul  had  bor'n  a  little  Scoiirgiiig  f  Or 
 why  could  not  he  pafs  over  the  Injuriei>  offer- 
 ed him  by  his  Governors  ?  To  which  I  know 
 no  better  Anfwer  than  this,  that  his  Behaviour 
 was  what  it  was,  merely  becaufe  they  were 
 Magiftrates ;  i.  e.  becaufe  it  was  a  Cafe  not 
 gf  Concern  to  Himfelf  only,  but  to  Human 
 Sociefy.  For  he  could  bear,  and  pals  by.  In- 
 jur ie:>  as  well  Scj  any  Man  ;  and  had  they  been 
 private  Perfons  who  had  offered  him  any  as  great 
 Indignities,  I  doubc  not,  He  would  have  bor'a 
 them  without  any  Return  but  that  of  Forgive- 
 Befs.  But  when  the  Civil  Privileges  of  that 
 Society  to  which  he  belonged,  were  invaded  by 
 thofe,  whofe  Duiy  and  Profeflion  it  was  to 
 maintain  them,  He  thought  it  a  juft  Occalion 
 to  fliew  his  Senfe  of  fo  great  an  Evil;  tho'  it 
 immediately  touched  only  himfelf.  The  Con- 
 fideration  of  the  CbaniBer  zn^  Office  of  Thofe 
 who  offered  the  Injuries,  was  fo  far  from  de- 
 termining him  to  pafs  them  over  with  Silence ; 
 (according  to  ,  fome  Mens  Way  of  arguing) 
 that  it  was  the  very  thing  that  made  him  look 
 I  upon 
 
the  Civil  Ma^iftrate, 
 
 111 
 
 upon  them  not  as  private  Injuries  ;  but  with  a  s  e  r  m 
 Refentment  due  to  Injuries  of  a  public  and  U7ii'      vi. 
 verfal  Co?2cern.      And  however  fome  may  ridi-  '-'^'VXi 
 cule  the  Liberties  of  SubjeSfs ;  St.  Paul^^  it  is 
 plain,   was  for  landing  y^,  not   on\y  in  the 
 Liberty  with  which  Chrijl  bad  made  him  free 
 from  the  yewifi  Law  of  Ceremonies  y  btit  alfo 
 in  \}i\'dX  Liberty  with  which  ^h^Laws  of  Nature  ^ 
 and  of  the  Rowan  Stale^  had  made  him  fne 
 from  Oppreffion  and  T^yranny.     For, 
 
 5.  It  is  another  Obfervation  v/hich  we  may 
 make  from  his  Example ^  that  He  thought  the 
 Lnd  of  written  Laws  to  be  the  Securitv^  of  the. 
 SiibjiB  againft  any  Arbitrary  Proceedings  of 
 the  Executive  Power ;  and  that  this  could  not 
 be,  unlefs  the  Executi'ue  were  governed  by  theie 
 LawSj  as  well  as  the  SubjeSf.  If  this  had  not 
 been  his  Opinion  5  it  had  been  frivolous  for 
 him  to  have  urged  his  Privileges  founded  upon 
 the  Laws  :  by  urging  of  which  he  plainly  im- 
 plies, that  they  v/ere  the  Meafure  of  the  Ma- 
 giftrates  Behaviour  tov/ard  the  SubjeB,  And 
 I  hope,  it  is  the  fame  in  all  the  like  Eliablijk' 
 jnents.  But  how  contrary  is  this  to  the  Max- 
 ims of  Some,  who  make  the  Laws  iniiii^nificant 
 Trifles ;  and  place  the  W:ll  of  the  Executive 
 Tower  above  them,  declaring  thct  otherwife 
 there  can  be  no  fuch  thing  as  Government  ? 
 
 *  Gal.  V.  I, 
 
 By 
 
126 
 
 Si»  Paul  s  Behaviour  towards 
 
 By  which  Word  they  generally  feem  to  under-J 
 ftand  fomething  beyond  fuch  a  Government  as 
 is  for  the  good  of  the  governed  Society.  How 
 contrary  is  this  to  Such  as  make  written  Laws 
 only  an  Encroachment  upon  the  Abfcliite 
 Tower  inftituted  by  God ,  and  fludy  to  make 
 their  Power  as  contemptible  as  they  can,  that 
 the  Neceffity  of  Abfoliite  Monarchy  mcy  the 
 better  appear  j  and  boaft  of  their  Services  this 
 way,  as  if  they  were  of  the  greateft  Impor- 
 tance ?  If  thefe  Notions  be  embraced,  what 
 muft  be  thought  of  St.  Faul  under  the  Roman 
 State ^  who  thought  it  his  Happinefs  to  have 
 Rights  and  Privileges  fettled  by  written  Laws  f 
 What  muft  we  think  of  the  wifeft  Nations  m 
 former  Times,  who  could  devife  no  greater 
 Security,  againft  OppreJJion  and  Unhappinefs 
 in  Societies^  than  Laws?  And  if  we  come 
 home  to  our  felves.  What  muft  we  think  of 
 the  envied  Conjlitution  under  which  we  live ; 
 and,  by  the  Virtue  and  Power  of  Laws^  all 
 enjoy  the  chief  HappinefTes  that  Human  Life 
 can  wifh  for  ?  What  muft  we  think  of  that 
 Revolution  in  which  High  and  Low  fo  unani- 
 moufly  joined,  chiefly  to  refcue  our  Laws  from 
 a  Difpenjing  Power ;  and  to  diveft  the  Execu^ 
 five  from  all  Pretenfes  to  a  Superiority  over  the 
 Legijlative  ?  And  what  muft  we  think  of  thofe 
 Magi/irateSy  whom  the  prefent  Age  beholds 
 with  Veneration,  and  Ages  to  come  will  re- 
 member 
 
the  Civil  Magijlrate, 
 
 127 
 
 SERM. 
 VI. 
 
 member   with  Eternal   Honour  ;     who,  tho* 
 
 coiiiniiffioned  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Power, 
 
 yet  acknowledge  no  Rule  of  their  Condud:  but  0''VN; 
 
 what  is  prefcribed  to  them  by  the  LegiJJati'Ve', 
 
 and  account  it   their  chief  Glory,   to   be   the 
 
 Guardians   of  the  Laws,   as   They  are  of  the 
 
 Liberties  of  the  People  ? 
 
 The  judicious  Mr.  Plooker  -•''■  thinks  that  Hu- 
 man Societies  firft  made  a  Trial  of  Go'vernment 
 by  the  Will  of  one  Man  5   (as  their  firfl:  EJJay 
 might  well  be  the  worft  and  moil  imperfedlj) 
 and  that  They  were  conftrained  to  come   to 
 Laws  as  a  Remedy  againft  the  Evils  of  that 
 kind  of  Regi?nen,   after  they  had  found  (as  his 
 ExpreJJion  is)    That  to  live  by  one  Man's  Will 
 was  the  Caufe  of  all  Mens  Mifery.  This  agrees 
 with  St.  Paul,  who  plainly  thought  \\\2iiLaws 
 were  defigned  as  a  Curb  to  the  Arbitrary  Will 
 of  the  Executive  Power.     But  invain  did  He 
 contend  in  his  Days  ;    invain  have  the  wifeft 
 of  Men  difcourfed  in  all  Ages^    and  invain  is 
 Abfolute  Power  controlled  by  Succefs  of  Arms 
 in  our  own  Times  j   if  we  can  live  to  be  per- 
 fuaded,  either  that  there  is  no  Difference  in 
 Governments  j    or  that  there  is   no  Guard  in 
 Laws  againft  Arbitrary  Power ;   nor  any  Force 
 in  them   but  what  muft  bend  to  the  Will  of 
 
 Ecclef.  Polity,  Book  I.    §  10. 
 
 thofe 
 
128 
 
 aSV.  Paul's  Behaviour  towards 
 
 SER  M.thofe  whofe  Office  it  is  to  execute  and  defend 
 VI.     them.  A  lafting  Liberty  is  founded  upon  Laws  ; 
 </VN)  and  is  the  refult  of  a  good  Confiitution  of  Go- 
 vemtnenty  as  Health  is  of  a  right  Conftitiition 
 of  Body,     In  this  alfo  Hke  Health ;   that  it  is 
 valued    moft    by   Thofe   who   have    known 
 the  Tafte  of  it,  under  the  firft  Apprehenfion, 
 or  Senfe,  of  the  Vv^ant  of  it  j    but  littl^,  prized 
 by   thoughtlefs  Men,   under  a  fecure  and  un- 
 fhaken  Enjoyment :   whilft  Slavery,  hke  Sick- 
 nefs^  to  Thole  who  never  tafted  it,   feems  no- 
 thing ;  and  to  Thofe  who  have  been  oppreffed 
 long  enough  to   forget  what  Liberty  is,  be- 
 comes the  more  tolerable,  as  a  Bodily  Indifpo- 
 ftion  doth  to  fuch  as  know  not,  or  defpair  of, 
 a  better  State.     But  is  it  not  very  unaccounta- 
 ble, that  Bleffings  fliould  be   undervalued  by 
 weak  Men,  for   that  Security   which  fhould 
 recommend  them  ;     nay,  that  Curfes   iliould 
 be  invited   down  from  Heaven   in   the  room 
 of  them  ?      That,  when   the  Inconveniences 
 of  Ahfolute  Monarchy  made  Men  firfl:  fly   to 
 Laws  for  Refuge,  they  fhould  ever  fly  back  a- 
 gain  from  what  they  muft  acknowledge  their 
 Happinefs  j.  and  call  for  that  Abjbhte  Power  to 
 difpenfe  with  thefe  Laws,   which   thefe  Laws 
 were   purpofely   defigned,   and   inflituted,   to 
 controll  and  confine.      But  thus  it  is  even  at 
 this  Day,   after   the   Experience    of  fo  many 
 Ages  3  even  amongil:  our  feives,  after  fo  grate- 
 ful 
 
the  Civil  Magijirate, 
 
 I2p 
 
 ful  and  plealhig  a  Taile  of  the  Elefiings  of  asi 
 Legal  Conjiltiiiion  ;     even  under  the  molt  un- 
 corrupt,  unblameable  Admhiiftrationof  yz^///<:(? 
 and  Equity,   that  ever  any  Nation   was  bleiled 
 with.      But,   to  return, 
 
 6.  St  Faidz  Behaviour  (liould,  methinks, 
 upon  fecond  ConfideratioUj  make  fome  Per- 
 fons  a  little  more  cautious  of  affirming  Ahfo- 
 lute  monarchy^  invefted  with  a  Power  above  all 
 the  Encroachments  of  written  Laws^  to  be  the 
 only  Form  agreeable  to  the  IFill  oi  God-^  nay, 
 if  you  can  hear  it  without  fmiling,  the  moft 
 beneficial  to  the  SiibjcB.  For  let  any  one  tell 
 me,  whether  upon  this  Principle  it  had  not 
 been  the  Duty  of  St.  Piiul  to  have  taken  the 
 Opportunity  offered  him  of  owning  tlie  fuperi- 
 or  Power  of  the  Magijlrate  ;  of  acknowledg- 
 ing the  little  ufe  of  Laws  to  Hujnan  Society  -, 
 and  of  fliewing  the  Chrijlian  Religion  to  be  a 
 great  Friend,  tho'  not  to  the  lawlefs  Conjiifion 
 of  the  Pvlultitude,  yet  to  the  lawlefs  Power  of 
 the  Magijlrate.  This  had  been  a  noble  Piece 
 of  Service,  not  only  to  L'ruth,  but  to  Human 
 Society  ;  according  to  fome  :  And  I  prefunie 
 St.  Paul  knew  the  IP^'ill,  and  the  plain  Rrvela^ 
 tion,  of  Codj  as  well  at  leafl:  as  any  Modern 
 Chrijiiau;  and  would  gladly  have  fuffered  a 
 few  Stripes,  m  order  to  bear  Teitimony  to  fo 
 important  a  Part  of  Gods  Law.      Nor  need  Fie 
 
 K  have 
 
 ER  M. 
 VI. 
 
122. 
 
 aSV.  PauFs  Behaviour  towards 
 
 s  E  R  M.  have  doubted  this  way  to  have  turned  the  An- 
 VI.      gcr  of  the  Magijirates  into  Favour,  and  a  kind 
 
 t.'^'VX  Regard  both  tohimfelf,  and  his  ProfeiTjon.  But 
 He  appears  to  have  been  a  Stranger  to  all  this : 
 And  his  Zeal  for  the  Laws  fhews  that  He 
 thought  both  the  Will  of  God,  and  the  Good 
 of  Society,  to  require  another  Scheme  than  ' 
 that  of  an  Unlimited  Executive  Power. 
 
 Thus  have  1  laid  before  you  a  true  Account 
 of  the  Behaviour  and  Notions  of  that  Apofde^ 
 in  favour  of  the  Rights  of  Subje^s,  who  hath 
 been  long,  and  often,  reprefented  by  many,  as 
 the  greatefl  AiTerter  of  an  unlimited  Authority 
 in  the  Executive  Power.  And  tho'  I  have 
 been  treating  of  Civil  and  Secular  Concerns, 
 yet,  I  hope,  I  may  be  fafe  under  the  Patronage 
 of  St.  Paul's  Example,  and  of  thofe  Scriptures 
 which  give  us  this  Account  of  his  ConduB  and 
 Behaviour,  as  of  fomething  not  unufeful  to  Men 
 and  Chrijlians.  Nor  is  it  a  fmall  Satisfadion 
 to  fpeak  upon  this  SubjeB  before  thofe  who 
 underftand  the  Value  and  hnportance  of  whole-' 
 fome  Laws  ;  and  know  how  to  fcorn  all  the 
 Homage  or  Refpedt  of  Men,  but  what  refults 
 from  an  unbiaffed,  and  uninterrupted,  Admi- 
 nifl:ration  of  Juftice. 
 
 And  now,   if  St.   Paul  fliewed   fo  great  a 
 Refped:  to  the  written  Laws  of  that  State  un- 
 der which  He  lived  ;    if  He  thought  it  worth 
 4  his 
 
the  Civil  Ma^ijirate, 
 
 $  E  R  M. 
 VI. 
 
 131 
 
 his  while  (vvhofe  grand  Affair  was  to  propa- 
 gate a  ISSew  Religion,  and  the  Behef  of  a  Fu- 
 ture State)  to  concern  himfelf  fo  much  with 
 this  V/orld,  as  to  infift  upon  his  Rights  and 
 P?'ivileges,  as  He  was  a  SubjeB,  and  to  fliew 
 no  ordinary  Regard  to  them  ;  if  He  thought 
 it  the  Happinefs  of  a  Kingdom  to  have  fuch 
 Privikges  as  are  fit  for  SiibjeBs,  fettled  by 
 Lait\  and  an  Happinefs  not  to  be  fhaken  at 
 the  IVillo'i  the  Executive  Power;  \f  He  thought 
 that  Subje5is  m\ghi  judge  concerning  the  Inva- 
 fion  of  their  PrivihgeSy  and  were  not  brought 
 into  Being  to  fubmit  to  every  thing  impofed 
 upon  them:  Let  us  learn  from  fo  great  an 
 Example,  to  value  our  own  Happinefs  in  that 
 Legal  E/IabliJJ:mer!t  under  which  we  live,  and 
 hve  fo  as  to  enjoy  Life.  His  Example  bids  us 
 plainly  fland  faft  in  our  Liberty  fupported  by 
 Laws.  Let  this  move  us  more  than  the  falla- 
 cious Difputations  of  Tbofe  who  are  continu- 
 ally declaiming  againf!:  this  Happinefs,  and  en- 
 deavouring to  perfuade  us  to  change  it  for  an- 
 other fort  of  Government  j  arguing  the  Benefit 
 of  this  to  ourfelves,  and  the  Right  of  it  in  o- 
 thers.  And,  left  we  fl^iould  not  be  moved  to 
 a  Change,  the  Argument  is  fomelimes  turned 
 and  we  are  to  be  informed  that  our  whole 
 Notion  of  Liberty  is  a  niiftaken  Chimera,  anc 
 Nonfenfe  :  That  whereas  we" think  that  we  hav(t 
 K   2  Laiv. : 
 
aSV.  Paul's  Behaviuur  towards 
 
 S  ERK 
 
 Lc"Ji^s  to  govera  us,  it  is  only  the  Will  of  the 
 Executive  which  rulesj  that,  whereas  we  think 
 thefe  Laws  are  made  by  the  Confent  and  Au- 
 thority of  the  Reprtje'/ifati'ves  of  the  People^  it  is 
 no  fuch  thing  ;   that  it  is  the  Prince  only  who 
 Enacfs ;    that  no  others  have  any  fliare  in  the 
 Legifiature  ;  that  it  bath  all  the  T^reafon  pcjfible 
 in  it^   to  fay  that  the  Parliament  hath  a^  co-or- 
 dinate Power  in  Legijlation',  that  our  Confiitu- 
 tion  abhors  co-ordinate  Legijlative Powers  -,  that 
 our  Conftitution  is  one  Sovereign,   whofe  Su- 
 premacy is  indivifible,  and  both  the  Legijlative 
 and  Executive  are  in  it,   notwithftanding  that 
 all  our  Laws  are  faid  to  be  enaBed  not  only  by 
 the  Prince  J  but  by  the  Authority  of  the  Lords 
 and  Commons,   in  the  fame  Sentence  j  and  con- 
 fequently,  that  the  Executive^   being  the   only 
 Legijlative^  can  difpenfe,  annul,  deftroy  Laws 
 as  it  pleafeth  j     that  the  People,  without  Dif- 
 tindion,  are   the  Sons  of  Belial,   2l  Company 
 of  Vajjals,  that  live  and  fubfifl  by  the  Concejjion 
 of  their  Majier  only,   and  the  like.      Pofitions 
 which  I  would  not  mention,  but  that  they  are 
 expofed  to  Light,   and  propagated  with  Heat, 
 every  D^y:   Tho'  1  hope  not  with  fuch  Force, 
 as  to  difengage  our  Affedions  from  an  Happi- 
 nefs,   without  which,   I  know  not  whether  it 
 had  r.ot  been  as  well  for  us  to  have  been  born 
 to  a  VViiuernefs  and  a  Den. 
 
 As 
 
the  Civil  Ma^iftralc. 
 
 133 
 
 As  Laws  therefore,   have  turned  the  Dcfcrt :;  e  r  M 
 of  this  World  into  a  Faradife,  and  the  Wild-      vi. 
 nefs  of  Mankind  inio  Human  Society  ;    (o,^  let 
 us  of  this  Kingdom  acknowledge   our  Part  in 
 this  Happinefs  to  be  much  above  that  of  others ; 
 and  let  our  Zeal  for   it  rife   in  Proportion  to 
 the  Value  of  the  Thing  itfelf.      Let  our  Go- 
 vernment  by  haws  be  the  chief  Objed:  of  our 
 Worldly  Concern;   and  as  we  value  that,  let  our 
 Value,  and  Eftimation,   rife   for   the  Supreme 
 Head,  and  every  Branch  of  the  Executive  Pciver, 
 under  which  we  live   fo  happy    and   ea(y   at 
 Home,   whilft    they  all  join   in    making  the 
 Laws  the  Meafure  of  their  whole  Admini/lra- 
 tion.     But  above  all,   let  our  Thankfulncfs  at 
 this  Time  rife  to  the   great  Diffofer  of  all  E- 
 vents,.  who  hath  given  us  a  farther  Profpedt 
 of  the  Continuance  of  the  fame  Happinefs  to 
 future  Generations,   by  a  great  and  important 
 Vidory  Abroad,   in  which  Juflice,  Laws,  and 
 Liberty,  have  triumphed   over  Injujiice,   and 
 Arbitrary   Power -j    and  which    we  may  rea- 
 fonably  look  upon   as  a  growing  Security  of 
 our  good  Eftate,  againft  the  Defigns  and  At- 
 tempts of  all   who  fight   againft   it,   both  at 
 Home  and  Abroad:   Which  Go^ grant  it  may 
 be,   for  the  Sake  of  Jefus  Chrifii  &c. 
 
 K  3  Concerning 
 
SERM. 
 VII. 
 
 Concerning  impartial  'Enquiry  in  Religion :  and 
 the  two  Extremes  of  implicit  SubjeSlion  and 
 InjideUty, 
 
 S  E 
 
 T 
 
 J 
 
 Preached  at  St.Peters Poor,  in  Jan.  1712-13^ 
 
 I  T  H  E  s  s.   V.    21. 
 
 Prove  all  Things  :  holdfajl  that  which  is  good. 
 
 I  ^HERE  is  no  greater  Sign  of  the  fin- 
 cere  Intentions,  and  generous  Defign 
 of  the  firfl  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel, 
 than  thofe  frequent  Appeals,  which  we  meet 
 with,  in  their  Preaching  and  their  Writings, 
 to  the  Evidences  and  Supports  of  that  Reh'gion, 
 which  ihty  preached  to  the  World.  It  fliews 
 that  they  neither  knew,  nor  fufpeded,  any 
 thing  hke  a  Clieat,  in  it  :  It  (liews  both  that 
 they  thought  it  true,  as  well  as  irnport,ant  ^  and 
 that  no  Enquiry  or  Examination  of  any  impar- 
 tial Man  could  do  it  a  Prejudice.  When  they 
 preached  to  the  Jews,  who  were  to  be  convinc- 
 ed, in  great  part,  by  their  former  Notions,  as 
 
 far 
 
The  Duty  of  Impartial^  &c. 
 
 ^ZS 
 
 E  R  M. 
 VII. 
 
 far  as  they  were  grounded  upon  former  Pro-  s 
 phccies ;  we  find  that  they  of  Beroca  v/ere  high- 
 ly commended  for  fearching  the  Old  Tejia-  '•^/^VXJ 
 7/ier2t,  to  fee  whether  what  the  j^poftles  report- 
 ed from  thence,  were  true  :  and  that  their 
 Enquiring  T^emper  was  efteemed  an  Inftance  of 
 a  generous  Freedom  of  Soul.  They  of  Berceay 
 faiih  the  Author  of  the  AB?>  of  the  Jjpojlles,. 
 Chap.  xvii.  ^oer,  1 1.  were  more  noble^  i.  e.  of  a 
 belter  Make  and  Difpofition  of  Mind,  than, 
 fome  others.  They  were,  as  the  Word  im- 
 ports, oi  too  generous  and  well-tempered  a  Spi- 
 rit, either  to  embrace  blindly  what  was  pro- 
 poled  to  them  3  or  to  rejedl  it  as  blindly  with-' 
 ou^arthe.r  En.quiry.  St.  Paul^  in  his  Speech 
 before  Agrippa,  makes  the  fame  Appeal  to  the 
 Prophets^  Acis  xxvi.  27.  which  implied  in  it 
 the  fame  Defire  that  the  Matter  fliould  be  de- 
 termined by  an  hnpartial  ILnquiry  into  them. 
 When  He  preached  to  the  Gentiles^  who  had 
 the  natural  Light  of  Reafon  to  direct  them  in 
 their  Searches,  He  did  not  appeal  to  thofe  Pro- 
 phcts^  of  which  they  knew  nothings  but  to  a 
 Matter  of  Fad,  into  which  they  might  enquire. 
 Nor  doth  he  exped;  them  to  believe  that  God 
 fiiall  judge  the  World,  upon  his  o\vn  Word  : 
 but  only  as  they  fliould  find  it  true,  that  he  j 
 had  given  Proof  of  it,  by  raifing  yefus  Chrift 
 from  the  Dead.     A5is  xvii.  3  i . 
 
 K 
 
 When 
 
136 
 
 1 
 
 ne  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 SE  K  M 
 VII. 
 
 When  Chriflians  increafed  ;  and  many  Pre- 
 tenders to  mighty  fpiritual  Gifts  appeared  a- 
 ^-''''^^''^  mongrt:  theni,  fome  oF  which  were  Deceivers 
 and  Impcffors  -,  the  fame  St.  Paul  requires  it  of 
 Chriliians  in  the  T^ext,  to  prove  all  things  that 
 come  to  them,  under  the  Notion  of  Divine 
 and  Spiritual :  which  he  could  not  do  with  any 
 Decency  ;  unlefs  it  were  fo,  that  the  Ckrijnan 
 'Religion  itfelf  defired  and  invited  all  Men  to 
 examine  into  the  Proofs  upon  which  it  flood. 
 St.  ^ohn  requires  the  fame  of  Chriflians^  to  try 
 the  Spirits,  i.  e.  to  examine  all  Pretenfes  to  Mi- 
 racles)  and  lupernafural  Pvcvelation  :  and  to 
 receive,  or  rejcdl,  them  accordingly,  i  j'chn 
 iv.  I.  St,  Peter  is  likev^ife  very  exprefs,  even 
 with  refped  to  ChrilVianity  itfelf;  that  Chrifli^ 
 ans  (hould  he  always  ready  to  give  an  Anjwer 
 to  every  Man  that  ajketh  them  a  Reafon  of  thi 
 Hope  that  is  in  them,  i  Pet.  iii.  15.  v*^hich 
 fuppofed  that  their  Religion  and  their  Faith  in 
 Chrijl  are  built  upon  the  bed  Evidence  ;  and 
 that  their  Faith  was  not  required  of  them,  but 
 upon  that  Evidence ;  and  that  it  is  their  Duty 
 to  enquire  into,  and  remember,  thofe  Grounds 
 upon  which  their  Hope  is  built.  And  this 
 whole  Condudl  was  as-reeable  to  that  of  their 
 Mader,  our  Bk[led  Lord  himfelf :  who  con- 
 ftantjy  called  upon  thofe  about  him  to  examine 
 IniQ  his  Works ;   to  try  him  whether  he  were 
 
 from 
 
'Enquiry  into  Relijyion,  &c. 
 
 121. 
 
 VII. 
 
 from  God  or  not ;  and  who  declared,  that  the  ^e  R  M. 
 Guilt  of  thofe  whorejeded  Him,  confided  in 
 their  rejecting  that  Evidence  He  brought  along 
 with  Him,  and  thofe  Proofs  which  he  gave  of 
 his  Divine  Commifiion.  Neither  did  He,  nor 
 any  of  his  Jpcjiles,  (as  far  as  we  have  any  Ac- 
 counts of  what  they  either  faid,  or  did)  ever 
 require* of  any  Men  to  believe  in  Him,  upon 
 his  own  Authority  or  Aflertion  :  or  upon  any 
 Ground,  feparate  from  that  which  I  have  now 
 mentioned  ;  I  mean,  the  Evidences,  and  Proofs 
 which  He  gave  of  the  Truth  of  his  Pretenfi- 
 ons. 
 
 Now  it  is  very  obfervable,  that  there  are 
 ^ico  Extremes^  which  Men  have  run  into,  with 
 refpedl  to  this  Matter.  The  c?2e  is,  that  of 
 thofe  ProfelTed  ChriliianSy  who,  contrary  to 
 the  whole  Condudl  of  their  Mafter,  and  his 
 Apoftles,  require  the  Allent  of  their  Inferiors 
 to  every  thing  which  they  pleafe  to  define  and 
 fettle  ;  as  to  a  thing  dilated  by  God  himfelf : 
 and  this  under  the  Notion  of  Authority  and 
 Infallibility  5  without  allowing  any  Queftions, 
 •or  Enquiries,  about  it.  The  other  is  the  Ex- 
 treme of  thofe  who,  under  Pretenfe  of  Exa- 
 mination, but,  without  the  Reality  of  the 
 .thing,  explode  all  Belief  in  Jefus  ChriJI ;  and 
 .recommend  Infidelity  to  the  Minds  of  Men. 
 ;In  the  middle,   between  thefe  Two  Extremes^ 
 
 is 
 
138 
 
 T'he  Duty  of  hiipartial 
 
 SE  RM. 
 VII. 
 
 is  that  happy  Temper  of  Mind,  which  renders 
 Men  impartial :  which  is  equally  an  Enemy 
 to  that  Spiritual  I'yranny^  which  commands 
 and  terrifies  Mankind  into  an  open  Profeffion 
 of  any  thing ;  and  to  that  partial  and  unequal 
 Bias,  which  makes  Men  catch  at  any  Trifle, 
 and  fet  up  any  little  Objedion,  as  of  force  e- 
 nough  againft  thofe  moral  Evidences,  arid  plain 
 Proofs,  upon  which  the  Truth  of  the  Gofpel 
 relies. 
 
 In  fpe^king  farther,  therefore,  upon  the 
 Wordsy  1  have  now  chofe,  I  fiiall  be  naturally 
 led  to  thcle  T^hree  Particulars : 
 
 I.  To  make  fome  jufl:  Obfer'vationSy  relating 
 to  that  Impartial  Rnquiry  and  Rxamina- 
 ticriy   fpoken  of  in  the  Tcxt^ 
 
 II.  To  confider  the  unreafonable  Proceed- 
 ings of  Thofe,  who  are  in  either  of  the 
 'TwoExtremeSj  Ihavejuft  now  mentioned. 
 And, 
 
 III.  To  draw  fome  ufeful  and  important 
 ObfcrvationSy  from  what  I  fliall  have  faid. 
 
 I.  I  fliall  endeavour  to  make  fome  juft  and 
 ufeful  Obfervatioiis  relating  to  that  Enquiry  and 
 Examination,  fpoken  of  in  the  T^cxt :  and  this, 
 under  thefe  Three  Heads. 
 
 I.  The  great  Advantage,  and  Necefiity,  of 
 Enquiry  and  Examinationy   into  what  w^e  are, 
 
 in 
 
'Enquiry  Into  Reli^lon^  8cc. 
 
 isa 
 
 in   an  extraordinary  Manner,    called  upon  to 
 embrace,  as  Religion^  and  the  Will  of  God. 
 
 2.  The  Temper  of  Mind,  abfolutely  necef-' 
 fary  to  this  E?iquiry^  without  which,  we  can 
 neither  embrace,  nor  rejedl,  any  thing  propo- 
 fed  to  us,  v;ith  Juftice,  or  Innocence.  And, 
 
 3.  The  SubjeB  of  this  Eiiquiry,  with  refpedt 
 to  the  ©fters  made  to  us  in  that  Religiojt,  in 
 which  we  have  been  educated. 
 
 I .  I  fav,  The  great  Advantage,  and  Necef- 
 fity,  of  Enquiry  and  Examination  into  what 
 we  are,  in  an  extraordinary  Manner,  called  upon 
 to  embrace,  as  Religion,  and  the  Will  of  God. 
 
 That  Almighty  God  hath  a  Right  to  call  up- 
 on his  Reafonable  Creatures  in  any  Method, 
 which  may  feem  befl:  to  his  Wifdom,  cannot 
 be  denied.  That  it  may  poffibly  feem  beft  to 
 his  Wifdom,  to  call  upon  them,  by  a  Perfon 
 fent  into  the  World,  and  commiffioned,  in  an 
 extraordinary  Manner,  muft  be  granted  by  all, 
 who  believe  the  Exiftence  of  any  fuch  Being 
 in  the  Univerfe.  That  it  is  not  only  barely 
 pojjible,  but  probable^  that  he  would  do  fo  5  is 
 what  will  eafily  be  affented  to,  by  any  who 
 know  the  Natwe  of  God,  and  confider  the 
 State  of  Man  in  this  World.  But,  let  us  put 
 it  as  low  as  poffible.  The  bare  Pojfibility  of 
 the  Thing,  is  enough  to  fliew  us  our  Interefl, 
 and  Duty,  in  this  Cafe :     Becaufe  it  is  always 
 
 the 
 
 SE  RM» 
 VII. 
 
140 
 
 ^he  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 s  E  R  M  the  Intereft,  and  Duty  of  Reafonabk  Creatures^ 
 VII.     to  adl  z-ifiich. 
 
 O'^V^       The  Advantage  and  Neceffity,  therefore,  of 
 this  'Enquiry  we  are  fpeaking  of,  is  the  Rea^ 
 fonablencfs  of  it.     And  the  Reafonablenefs  of  it 
 jies  upon  this,  that  it  is  at  leaft  pojjible^  that 
 Ahnighty  God   may  call  upon  his  Reafonable 
 Creatures,  in  an  extraordinary  Manner* ,   that, 
 if  he  fhould  fo  call  upon  them,   it  is  of  the 
 utmoft  Importance  to  them  to  regard  his  Call : 
 that  therefore  it  behoves  them  to  attend  to  what 
 comes  to  them  in  a  very  extraordinary  Manner, 
 under  that  Appearance  and  Profeflionj  that  it 
 is  their  Intereft,    as  well  as  their  Duty  j     that 
 Gratitude,  as  well  as  other  Obligations,  draws 
 them  to  thisj  that,  without  it,  they  may  pof- 
 fibly  lofe  thegreateft  Opportunity  of  being  made 
 happy  in  the  Favour  of  God ;   that  from  it  they 
 cannot  poffibly  receive  any  Harm  or  Detriment 
 either  to  Soul  or  Body;  but  that  they  will  cer- 
 tainly receive  at   leaft  the  Reward  of  a  good 
 Difpofition,   and  reafonable  Temper  of  Mind. 
 From  all  which,  I  fay,  follows  the  great  Rea- 
 fonablenefs,   that  is,   to  Reafonable  Creatures, 
 the  great  Neceffity  and  Advantage,  of  enquire 
 ing   into  what  is  propofed  to  them,   in  a  very 
 uncommon,  and  a  very  extraordinary  Manner, 
 a  Meflaee  from  the  Great  God,  whofe  Crea- 
 tures  thev  are  ;    and  Creatures,  endowed  by 
 
 Him 
 
Enquiry  into  Religion^  &c. 
 
 Him  with  that  Reafon,   which  conftantly  di-  j  e  rm. 
 reds  Them  to  follow  the  fafe  and  fecure  Me-     vii. 
 thod  of  Ading.    This  being  premifed,  I  come  -/^"VNi 
 now, 
 
 2.  To  fpeak  of  the  Temper  and  Difpofition 
 of  Mind  which  is  nccefTary  to  all  Perfons, 
 who  would  behave  themfelves,  in  this  Affair 
 of  ExaTiimation  and  B.nqniry,  after  a  Manner 
 acceptable  to  God.  And  this,  I  think,  in  one 
 word,  mud:  be  a  Difpofition  of  Mind,  removed 
 on  one  fide,  from  Credulity  or  a  foolilh  Rea- 
 dinefs  to  believe  every  flrange  thing  that  offers 
 itfelf :  and,  on  the  other  fide,  from  thofe  out- 
 ward Vices ;  or  that  inward  and  unreafonable 
 ■Bias,  which  are  as  fo  many  Chains  and  Fetters 
 upon  the  judging  Faculties  of  a  Man. 
 
 I.  I  fay,  It  muft  be  a  Temper  of  Mind, 
 removed  from  what  we  call  Credulity  j  or  a 
 Readinefs  to  believe  every  uncommon  and 
 Grange  thing,  that  offers  itfelf,  to  be  really 
 what  it  pretends  to  be.  This  Credulous  Difpo- 
 fition cannot  be  fuitable  to  a  Reafonabk  Crea- 
 ture :  becaufe  it  is  fo  well  known  that  many 
 have  been,  and  many  more  may  be,  the  Cheats 
 put  upon  a  credulous  World,  by  Men  fiued 
 for  that  Purpofe.  Reafon  hath  fome  certain 
 Maxims  to  appeal  to,  in  judging :  and  thcfe 
 are  all  invain,  unlefs  they  are  regarded  by  an 
 Enquirer.      Invain  is  it,    that  we  know  the 
 
 Nature 
 
 141 
 
142 
 
 7^^  Duty  of  Impa7'tial 
 
 Nature  of  Almighty  God,  if  we  muft  not  exa- 
 mine, whether  what  profeffeth  to  come  from 
 Hiin,  be  worthy  oi  Him.  Invain  is  it,  that 
 we  know  Vinue,  and  Vice^  to  be  dired:  Oppo- 
 iites ;  the  one^  the  Happinefs,  the  other,  the 
 Mifery,  of  underftanding  Natures  j  if  we  mufi 
 not  confiucr  whether  the  encouraging  Vice,  or 
 tb.e  difcouraging  Virtue,  be  not  a  fufficient 
 Reafon  for  rejecting  any  Propofal  made  to  us. 
 Invain  do  we  fpeak  oi  Truths  and  Fal/hccd;  or 
 of  the  Differences  of  things ;  if  all  things  be 
 alike  to  us  :  and  We  fwallow  every  thing  that 
 offers,  without  Diftindlon  or  Difference.  True, 
 and  Falfcj  are,  indeed,  but  Mock-founds  to  a 
 Man  that  believes  every  thing  equally,  that  any 
 Man,  or  any  fort  of  Men,  will  put  upon  him 
 for  Divine.  And  if  fuch  an  one  pretends  to 
 enter  into  an  Enquiry ;  it  is  only  a  Search  after 
 fomething  to  fill  his  Head  Vv^ith.  It  is  not  an 
 Enquiry  into  what  is  built  upon  good  grounds; 
 or  what  not:  but  only  a  feeking  after  a  little 
 prefent  Food  for  his  Credulity. 
 
 Nor  can  this  Temper  of  Mind  be  any  more 
 acceptable  to  Gcd;  than  it  is  agreeable  to  the 
 Nature  o'i  Man.  For,  tho'  a  Peifon  of  this 
 Difpolition  will  believe  what  comes  from  Him, 
 and  receive  it  as  fuch :  yet,  this  will  be  by 
 Chance,  and  not  by  Reafon  and  Evidence. 
 This  will  be;  becaufe  he  is  difpofed  and  refolv- 
 
 ed. 
 
'Enquiry  Into  Religion.,  8cc. 
 
 143 
 
 cd  to  believe  every  thing  :  not  becaufe  he  finds  be  r  ivf. 
 this  more  reafonable,  or  more  accompanied  vii. 
 with  Evidence,  than  the  mod  monftrous  Ab-  V^v^sJ 
 furdities,  or  greateft  FaKhoods,  imaginable. 
 And  then,  this  fame  temper  of  Mind  will  lead 
 the  Man  to  believe  the  grofleft  Abfurdities  of 
 Almighty  God  himfelf ;  and  to  embrace  every 
 Pretender  with  a  Zeal  eaual  to  that  which  he 
 fhews  for  the  Perfon  who  brings  the  jufteft 
 Credentials,  and  the  plaineft  Charadlers  of 
 God's  Miffion,  along  with  him.  Now,  what 
 Thanks,  or  Praife,  can  be  due  to  fuch  an  En^ 
 quirer,  with  whom  all  will  be  Equal?  unlefs, 
 perhaps,  which  is  often  feen,  the  more  unac- 
 countable, or  the  more  abfurd  and  monflrous 
 any  thing  is,  the  more  fond  and  tenacious  will 
 he  be,  of  it.  The  Refult  of  fuch  a  Man's 
 pretended  Enquiries^  is  not  v/hat  can  be  called 
 Faith  ;  which  is  a  Virtue^  as  it  is  worked  by 
 due  Means,  and  as  it  is  the  Confequence  of  our 
 attending  to  proper  Evidence  ;  but  rather  Sii^ 
 perfiition^  prompted  either  by  Fear^  or  Folly\ 
 to  take  all  Pretenfes  equally  for  I'ruth  ;  all 
 TJncommon  things  equally  for  Miracles  wrought 
 by  God  3  all  Appearances  equally  for  Realities, 
 This  is  fuch  a  Submiffion  o'i  Reafon  and  Under-' 
 Jianding^  below  the  Dignity  of  Human  Nature, 
 as  They  only  want  to  be  exercifed,  who  have 
 nothing  to  fhew  that  can  bear  an  Enquiry^  or 
 
 Hand 
 
144 
 
 The  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 SE  K  M. 
 VII. 
 
 {land  the  Tefl  of  an  J7npartial  Examiner :  but 
 fuch  an  one,  as  cannot  be  required  by  Almigh- 
 ty God,  who  expeds  that  we  (liould  diftinguiili 
 His  l^ridhs  from  the  FalJJjoods  of  Men;  and 
 ,make  a  Difference  between  His  Works,  and 
 thofe  whicli  are  not  fo  ;  and  receive  with 
 Difcretion,  as  well  as  Humility,  what  He  faith  j 
 difcerning  between  Tricks,  and  Great  Works  5 
 between  the  Perfon  who  truly  bears  his  Cha- 
 raSler,  and  him  who  only  pretends  to  do  fo. 
 But, 
 
 2.  On  the  other  fide,  the  'Tanper  of  an 
 Enquirer  into  any  Offers  made  to  Mankind,  in 
 ia  very  extraordinary  Manner,  in  the  Name  of 
 I  God,  mufl  be  likewife  far  removed  from  thofe 
 Outnvard Vices;  or  that  Inward  Pride,  and  Un- 
 reafonable  Bias  -,  which  are  as  fo  many  Chains 
 and  Fetters  upon  the  judging  Faculties  of  a 
 Man. 
 
 I  here  mention,  not  only  thofe  notorious  o- 
 pen  Vices,  which  will  often  blind  a  Man's  Eyes, 
 and  make  him  rejed:  whatever  contradids  or 
 condemns  them  ;  but  alfo  thofe  more  fecret  Sen- 
 timents of  Pride,  or  Prejudice  ;  Refentment  or 
 Revenge  -,  which  have  often  proved  as  ftrong 
 Bars  ag;ainft  receivins: Truth,  as  the  Profecution 
 of  fenfual  Pleafure  ;  or  the  greatefl  Covetouf- 
 nefs,  or  Ambition,  or  Worldly-mindednefs. 
 And  1  mention  thefe  particularly,  becaufe  there 
 
 have 
 
Enquiry  Into  Relmon,  &c. 
 
 US — 
 
 have  bden  Inftances,  even  in  thefe  later  know- 
 ing Ages  of  Men,  v^^ho,  merely  out  of  an  in- 
 ward Pride  y  or  Refentment  again  ft  others,  have 
 denied  the  Evidences,  even  of  Mathematical 
 Knowledge  it  felf  j  and  rejeded  it,  either  in 
 whole,  or  in  part,  becaiife  it  hath  brought 
 fome  Shame  upon  themfclves,  and  their  own 
 Underljandings.  It  is  really  true,  and  what 
 fliews  the  Corruption  of  Human  Nature,  that 
 Light  (hall  be  Darknefs ;  that  Four  fhall  be 
 more  than  Six ;  or  any  thing  like  to  thefe 
 (hall  be  affirmed  j  nay,  and  pretended  to  be 
 proved  J  by  iMen,  who  have  Pride>  or  Refent- 
 ment, or  Indignation,  working  within.  So 
 that  it  is  not  enough  to  fay,  that  a  Man  is  not 
 what  we  call  com.monly  grofly  vicious  and  im^ 
 morale  in  the  way  of  Pleafure^  or  Worldly 
 mindednefs,  to  prove  him  to  be  impartial^  and 
 free  from  Bias.  For  Pride^  and  Revenge^  are 
 Immoralities  within  ,  which  bend  the  Mind 
 as  flrongly  as  any  other  Fices  in  the  World. 
 Perfonal  Prejudice  will  often  put  a  Bias  upoa 
 it,  as  powerful  as  Debauchei-y  ;  and  Pique ^  and 
 Refentme?it,  will  hinder  Eye-fight  it  felf:  and 
 turn  the  plaineft:  Evidences  into  Doubts,  and 
 often  into  FaKhoods,  with  the  Man  that  is  ac- 
 tuated by  them.  Having  thus  mentioned  the 
 Difpofitions  of  Mind  which  fhould  be,  in  All 
 who  enquire  into  any  Propofals  offered  to  the 
 World  in  God's  Name  j 
 
 L  3,  I 
 
 SER  M. 
 VII. 
 
146 
 
 'The  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 SERM 
 
 vir. 
 
 3.  I  (hall  now  fay  fomething  of  the  SubjeSt 
 Matter  of  our  Enquiry  ^  with  refped:  to  that  Re- 
 ^-'^'N  Hgion  particularly,  in  which  we  have  been  e- 
 ducated  5  or,  the  Propofals  made  to  the  World 
 by  y^fus  Chrifl. 
 
 Theory?  thing  which  offers  itfelf,  is  this. 
 Whether  He  gives  fufficient  Evidence  of  his 
 coming  from  God.  For,  without  thi^  Foun- 
 dation, all  He  faith,  concerning  the  exprefs 
 Promifes  of  God,  and  the  Conditions  of  his 
 Favour  to  us,  will  be,  at  beft,  no  more  than 
 (o  many  probable  Ccnjedures  ;  or  fuch  Argu- 
 ments as  Reafon  and  Philofophy  can  fupply 
 the  World  with.  Under  this  Head,  therefore, 
 you  muft  confider  his  Dodtrine.  If  this  be, 
 in  all  refpedls,  worthy  of  an  Holy,  Juft,  and 
 I  Good  God ;  if  it  tends  to  the  Intereft,  Eafe, 
 I  and  Quiet,  of  Rational,  Intelligent  Creatures; 
 !  if  it  tends  to  the  Intereft,  and  Peace,  of  Hu- 
 man Society,  by  making  the  Members  of  it 
 what  they  ought  to  be ;  in  a  word,  if  it  be 
 the  Revival  of  the  great  Law  of  Reafon,  upon 
 ftronger  Motives  than  ever  it  was  plainly  pro- 
 mulgated upon,  before  :  This  will  incline  you, 
 in  favour  of  fuch  a  Teacher,  to  own  that  his 
 jDoSlrine  is  worthy  of  God;  and  bears  upon 
 it  the  Chara(5ters  of  that  Being,  by  whom  He 
 profelTeth  to  be  fent. 
 
 You  muft,  in  the  next  Place,  confider  the 
 
 Number, 
 
Enquiry  into  Religion^  &c. 
 
 147 
 
 Number,  Nature,  and  Opennefs,  of  his  great 
 Works,  to  which  He  appealed  conftantly  him- 
 felf:  particularly  his  RefurreBion  from  the 
 Dead ;  \vhich  he  foretold,  as  the  Sign,  or  Mark, 
 upon  which  he  would  put  the  Truth  of  his 
 Pretenfions.  You  muft  enquire  into  the  Evi^ 
 dences  that  you  have,  that  the  Hiftorical  Ac- 
 count ci"  thefe  things  is  worthy  of  Credit,  as 
 tranfmitted  down  to  us. 
 
 Thefe  are  the  main  Subjeds  of  Enquiry, 
 under  this  Head,  relating  to  the  Truth  of  our 
 Lord's  Miffion.  And,  bpon  Efiquhjy  it  will 
 be  evident  to  any  one,  that  we  have  fuch  mo» 
 ral  Evidences  of  the  Truth  of  thefe  Hiflories, 
 recorded  in  the  Gofpels,  as  would  be  thought 
 fufficient  to  influence  Human  Condud,  in  any 
 other  refpedt  5  and  that,  from  the  Truth  of  the 
 Fadis  recorded  in  thofe  HiJforieSy  an  Impartial 
 Enquirer  cannot  but  find  ground  to  believe  in 
 yefus  Chriji. 
 
 The  next  Subject  of  Enquiry  after  this,  will 
 be.  What  it  is,  that  He  himfelf  delivers  to  his 
 immediate  Followers,  as  his  Religion,  and  the 
 Will  of  God  :  Becaufe,  if  we  do  not  confine 
 our  felves  to  what  is  his  true  and  pure  Religion^ 
 we  may  wander  eternally  in  Mazes  of  Human 
 Contrivance,  and  never  extricate  our  felves  out 
 of  thofe  Difficulties,  which  may  be  brought 
 upon  us,  in  our  Enquiries,  T^o  whom  can  we 
 L  2  go 
 
 5E  RM. 
 VTI. 
 
■'"f^^ 
 
 ^he'Duty  of  ImparudT 
 
 sTe  k  yi\go  for  the  Words  of  Eternal  Life^  but  to  Him, 
 VII.     who  is   ihQ  Way,   the  ^ruth,  and   ihtLife? 
 
 l/^''^  Whien  we  once  acknowledge  Him  fent  from 
 God,  it  is  at  his  Mouth  only,  that  we  can  feek 
 certain  and  ufeful  Knowledge  ;  to  fetde  our 
 Faith,  and  fecure  our  Pradifc.  It  is  to  no 
 Purpofe  for  us  to  enquire  after  the  Dodrines  of 
 Men,  which  They  would  make  neceffary  to 
 Salvation  j  when  we  have  his  Words,  and  his 
 Decrees,  to  have  recourfe  to.  But,  our  only 
 Great  Concern^  in  order  to  the  fecure  Conduct 
 of  our  felves,  is  to  enquire  what  it  is  that  He 
 himfelf  layeth  upon  us,  as  neceffary;  what 
 He  himfelf  requires  of  us  in  God's  Name,  to 
 believe,  or  pradife,  as  a  Condition,  without 
 which  we  fhall  not  be  happy :  and  what  his 
 Apofiles,  in  their  Efijiles^  or  Converfation,  in 
 the  World,  do  exprefly  lay  upon  us,  as  a  Con^ 
 dition  of  Happinefs  j  and  as  received  from 
 their  Majler,  to  that  very  Purpofe. 
 
 This  Rule  will  be  of  vaft  ufe  to  us,  with  re- 
 fped:,  both  to  fuch,  as  will  be  objedling  Things 
 againft  the  Religion  of  Jefus  Chrijl  j  and  to 
 fuch  as  will  be  impofing  Things,  as  of  Necef- 
 fity  to  Eternal  Sahation,  For,  as  the  Enquiry 
 then  is  natural.  Whether  thofe  Things  objedt- 
 ed  againft  Chriji's  Religion,  be  really  in  it,  as 
 He  delivered  it  to  the  World :  So,  if  we  find 
 them  not  there;  we  cut  off,  at  once,  the  whole 
 
 Ground 
 
Rnquhy  Into  Religion^  &c. 
 
 14.9 
 
 Ground  of  the  ObjeBion.  On  the  other  hand, 
 Are  thefe  Things,  which  others  would  impofe 
 upon  Chriftiam^  as  Laws  of  God  and  Chriji^ 
 any  where  to  be  found  in  the  Go/pel^  as  deli- 
 vered to  the  World,  by  Himfelf  ?  If  not  j 
 the  Anfwer  is  eafy  to  Thofe  who  would  add, 
 to  his  Laws,  unreafonable  Burthens;  and  bind 
 them  upon  Men  under  the  fevereft  Penalties. 
 Thus,  when  we  fee,  in  the  Gofpel  itfelf,  the 
 great  and  only  Defign  of  bringing  Men  to 
 Happinefs,  by  believing  in  'Jefus  Chrift  as  fent 
 of  God,  in  order  to  a  conftant  and  regular 
 Pradlife  of  all  Virtue;  of  whatever  is  reafon- 
 able  and  becoming :  this  will  give  us  fuch  a 
 View  of  Chrijiianity^  as  will  make  us  able  to 
 reply  to  all  ObjeBions  againft  it,  taken  from  any 
 fuch  Reprefeiitations  of  it,  as  are  different  from, 
 or  contrary  to,  this. 
 
 'Thefe  two  are  the  SubjcBs  of  Enquiry^  to 
 all  who  hear  of  the  Offers  made  in  the  Gofpel. 
 Of  thefe  they  are  competent  Judges,  for  the 
 mofl  part;  if  they  will  but  apply  the  fame 
 Care,  and  Diligence,  and  Caution,  which  they 
 ufe  in  any  Worldly  Affair.  But  when  they 
 are  fent  farther  ;  and  called  upon,  to  enter  in- 
 to the  particular  Difputes  between  the  feveral 
 Se(9:s  and  Parties  of  Chriflmns ;  and,  on  every 
 Side,  required  to  give  their  Affenty  with  equal 
 Pofitivenefs  and  AfTurance  :  When  they  are 
 L  5  Carried 
 
 SE  R  M, 
 VI. 
 
150 
 
 He  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 8  E  R  Mf  carried  into  the  Difficulties  of  other  Parts  of 
 VII.     the  Bible,  which   have  exercifed  the  Under- 
 
 •CO/^'  flandings   of  the    moft   learned   Part    of  the 
 World  for  many  hundred  Years,  without  be- 
 ing conquered,   and  explained ;    and  when  an 
 Explicit  underftanding  all  thefe,  in  one  parti- 
 cular Senfe  j     (and  this  never  to  be  fettled,  or 
 eftabliOied,   with  any  Certainty;)    is,  equally 
 required  of  them  :  Then,   I  confefs,  Rnquiry^ 
 and  Examination^  may  well  feem  frightful  and 
 difcouraging.      But  then   the  ^leftion  recurs, 
 for   the   Eafe  and  Satisfadion   of  all  Perfons 
 concerned  :    'oiz.   Did  Chriji  himfelf,  and  his 
 Apofiles,  put  thefe  Matters  upon  the  fame  foot 
 Wah  believing  in  Him  ;  and  doing  the  Willoi 
 hi.  Father^    Did  He  come  into  the  World  to 
 require  Impoffibilities  ?    Either  to  perplex  the 
 Underftandings,  or  to  diftrad  the  Confciences, 
 of  Men  ?     When  the  ^eftion  is  anfwered, 
 What  doth  He  require,  as  a  Condition  of  Hap- 
 pinefs ;    all  fuch  Points  will  be  feen  to  be  but 
 fecondary  ones ;  in  which  Honeft,  and  Under- 
 ftanding Men  may  differ;  without  lofing  their 
 Charity  for  one  another,  or  their  Title  to  the 
 Favour  of  their  common  Mafter. 
 
 If  any  one,  therefore,  fhould  objed,  that 
 Enquiry  and  Examination y  into  Chriji' s  Reli- 
 gion,  are  full  of  endlefs  Difficulties ;  it  is  eafy, 
 upon  this  Foundation,  to  give  a  fatisfadlory 
 Anfwer  to  fuch  an  ObjeBion.     As, 
 
 XJJL- 
 
Enquiry  into  Religiony  &c. 
 
 151 
 
 I.  It  is  a  great  Satisfadion  to  conlider,  that  se  r  m» 
 the  very  Difpofition  of  Mind  ready  to  receive    vii. 
 Truth,   when  it  appears  fo  to  be,  is  highly,  in  ^^^>r^ 
 itfelf,  acceptable  to  Go^ ;   and  will  be  reward- 
 ed by  Him.      So  that,  fuppofing  the   Search^ 
 or  Examination^  into  the  Chrijiian  Difpenfation, 
 to  require  Length  of  Time  j  or  to  be  full  of 
 DifficuUies :    yet,   here  is  a  perpetual  Satisfac- 
 tion,  that  the  Sincerity  of  Mind,  and  Intenti- 
 on, which  every  honeli  Man  carries  about  him, 
 is  it  felf  of  that  value  in  the  Eyes  of  God,  that 
 it  will  make  the  Man  the  Objed:  of  his  Favour. 
 It  is  this  inward  Integrity,   which   God,   who 
 fees  the  Heart,  values  above  all  Things.   Even 
 under  the  Cloud  of  great  Miftakes,  God  mer- 
 cifully looks  upon  this ;  and  is  ready  to  reward 
 it  with  his  Favour.     Otherwife,  How  hard 
 would  be  the  Condition  of  a  weak  and  fallible 
 Creature,  if  his  Eternal  Happinefs  were  to  be  j 
 put  upon  his  being  in  the  Right  in  all  Things ;  ! 
 /,  e.  upon  his  being  Infallible ;     and  not  upon 
 his  Sincerity y  or  Honejly  ;    which  is  the  only 
 thing  he  hath  thoroughly  in  his  own  Power  } 
 The  beft  Human  Underftandings  may  err^  and 
 may  be  very  flow  in  finding  out  and   appre- 
 hending fome Truths;  and  the  meaneft,  much 
 more.     But  then  the  meaneft  Underftandings 
 may  have  Honefty,  and  Sincerity,  and  Integri- 
 ty, accompanying  them.  And  fuppofing  them 
 L  4  not 
 
ISl 
 
 SeR  M 
 VII. 
 
 7%e  Duty  of  Impartial 
 
 not  to  have  arrived  at  the  Knowledge,  or  Per- 
 ception, of  the  Truth,  they  are  fearching  after  : 
 Yet,  the  very  Sincerity,  and  Integrity,  with 
 which  they  are  purfuing  this  Search,  is  the 
 Thing  which  Almighty  God  highly  values  in 
 them  J  and  which  He  will  certainly  reward. 
 So  that,  you  fee,  there  is  nothing  difcouraging 
 in  the  fuppofal  of  the  Length  and  Difficulty  of 
 zferious  Enquiry  into  the  Truth  of  the  Chrijii- 
 an  Religion  ;  becaufe  the  Honejiy^  ajid  Integri- 
 ty, of  the  Enquirer,  will  always  render  Him 
 acceptable  to  God  j  and  intitle  him  to  his  Fa- 
 vour.    But, 
 
 2.  The  Enquiry,  I  am  fpeaking  of,  requires 
 no  length  of  Time  j  nor  contains  any  Difficul- 
 ty in  it,  v^orth  the  naming.  It  cannot  be  long, 
 before  the  Falfhood  of  any  Man's  Pretenfes, 
 who  comes,  without  Authority,  as  God's 
 MefTenger,  mufh  appear  to  a  ferious  Perfon  : 
 either  from  his  Dodrine  carrying  along  with 
 it  the  Marks  of  Falffiood,  and  being  unworthy 
 of  the  Nature  of  God,  or  the  Nature  of  Man ; 
 or  from  his  Want  of  fufficient  and  well-atteft- 
 ed  Works  to  prove  his  MiJJion.  But  where  the 
 pofttive  Proofs  are  plain  and  evident ;  and  the 
 moral  Evidences  fuch  as  convince  Men,  and 
 infiuence  their  Lives,  in  parallel  Cafes  ,  there 
 is  no  need,  either  of  a  great  Capacity,  to  com- 
 prehend thefe  Proofs ;    or  of  a  great  deal  of 
 
 Time, 
 
'Enquiry  into  Religion^  6cc.  _ 
 
 13 
 
 Time,  to  perceive  their  Force.     And  this,  IIerm. 
 fay,  is  the  Cafe  of  Chriftianity  j   as  inftituted  j  vii. 
 by  Chriji,  Lr\r\J 
 
 Nor  ought  thefe  Proofs,  and  Evidences,  to 
 be  efteemed  fo  burthenfome,  or  of  fo  little 
 Importance,  as  to  be  fent  out  of  the  Memory, 
 or  forgotten,  under  the  Notion,  that  they  were 
 once  co^ifidered,  and  found  true  :  but  always 
 remembered,  as  the  Reafons  of  that  Hope, 
 which  is  in  Chrijiians ;  according  to  St.  Peter  s 
 Advice.  For,  What  great  Burthen  can  they 
 be,  to  Men,  who  are  concerned  fo  much  in 
 them,  as  Chrijiians  are  ?  What  great  Talk, 
 to  any  one  of  an  ordinary  Capacity,  if  he  be 
 queflioned.  Why  he  believes  in  Jefus  Chrijiy 
 and  expeds  2i  future  Stated  toanfwer,  Becaufe 
 He  himfelf  arofe  from  the  Dead,  after  a  Life 
 of  Holinefs,  and  great  Works ;  and  after  de- 
 livering a  Dodlrine  to  the  World,  worthy  of 
 God  in  all  Refpedts  ?  And,  if  he  be  afked. 
 Why  he  believes  thefe  Things  ?  to  anfwerJ 
 Becaufe  they  are  Matters  of  Fa5fy  delivered 
 with  the  greateft  Marks  of  Sincerity,  by  Per- 
 fons,  who  profefTed  they  faw,  and  heard,  whal 
 they  relate  j  by  Perfons,  who  had  no  Interefl 
 to  ferve  by  this  Hifiory  ;  who  endured  bittei 
 Perfecutions,  and  Death,  to  atteft  thefe  Mat- 
 ters of  Fa5i :    and  becaufe,  in  any  other  caf€ 
 
 0( 
 
154 
 
 l*he  Duty  of  Impai'tial 
 
 SERM.  of  Human  Coridud,  thefe  would  be  account- 
 VII.     ed  the  moft  prevailing  Evidences  polTible  ?      I 
 
 ^/^Wjfay,  Where  is  the  great  Burthen  of  this,  to 
 the  Memory,  or  Underflanding,  of  any  com- 
 mon Man  ? 
 
 I  doubt  not,  if  the  Riches  and  Grandeur  of 
 this  World,  were  to  be  purchafed  upon  fuch 
 a  Foundation  J  it  would  never  flip  out  of  the 
 Mind  of  the  meaneft  Perfon  :  but  always  be 
 uppermoft  j  and  difcover  itfelf  fuperior  to  all 
 other  Concerns  that  could  come  in  his  Way. 
 And  if  any  Pcrfons  fhould  employ  their  Lei- 
 fure,/and  their  Wit,  to  perfuade  the  World, 
 that  there  is  nothing  in  all  this  :  not  by  inva- 
 lidating fuch  T'ejlimonies  about  Matters  of  Fadl  j 
 but  by  puzzling  Mens  Brains  with  abftrufe, 
 metaphyfical,  Shews  of  Reafon  ;  (of  which  the 
 greateft  Underftandings  are  perhaps  but  very 
 imperfed  Judges,  and  the  vaft  Bulk  of  the 
 World  no  Judges  at  all ;)  I  doubt  not,  but 
 that  if  Worldly  Intereft  were  concerned,  Men 
 would  prefently  anfwer  to  fuch  Niceties ;  that 
 they  are  only  like  fuch  T^riah  of  Skilly  as  fome 
 Pifputers  ufed  of  Old,  to  prove,  that  there 
 could  be  no  fuch  thing  as  Motion ;  that  thefe 
 are  not  the  Arguments,  upon  which  Human 
 Life  ought  to  be  conduced  ;  and  that  the  Mo' 
 ral  Evidences,  upon  which  fuch  Fa^s  rely,* 
 
 are 
 
 ■5#JiRi-i<j^-^- 
 
Enquiry  into  Religion,  8cc. 
 
 155 
 
 are  a  more  lading  and  efFedual  Convidion,  tols  e  r  m. 
 a  Creature  fo  framed  as  Man  is,  than  any,  or   vii. 
 another  fort,  that  can  be  oppofed  to  them.       ((•\'NJ 
 
 But  1  have  faid  enough  to  {hew  you,  upon 
 what  good  Grounds,  and  with  how  much  Juf- 
 tice,  the  Chriftian  Religion  may  encourage,  and 
 demand,  your  ferious  Examination  into  it ; 
 and  with  what  Difpojitions  of  Mind,  it  ought 
 to  be  performed.  I  (hall  proceed,  in  my  fol- 
 lowing DifcourfeSj  to  examine  the  ConduSi,  on 
 one  fide,  of  Thofe,  who  bring  a  Scandal  upon 
 it,  by  putting  their  own  Inventions,  and  Ab- 
 furdities,  upon  an  equal  foot  with  it  j  and  then 
 cry  out  upon  the  Danger ^  and  Impiety ^  of  a- 
 ny  Ejtquiry  into  Religion  :  and,  on  the  other 
 fide,  of  T'hofey  who  rejedl  it,  without  any  ap- 
 parent Reafon  ;  comparable  to  thofe  Eviden- 
 ces which  fupport  it,  and  make  it  a  Matter 
 worthy  of  all  Men  to  be  received.  For  the  pre- 
 fent,  I  {hall  only  add,  that,  if  what  I  have 
 offered,  carries  any  Satisfaction  along  with  it ; 
 if  it  leads  to  the  Difcovery  of  any  thing  fuffi- 
 cient  to  influence  the  ConduB  of  Human  Life, 
 and  to  revive  that  Hope,  and  Expedtation, 
 which  we  have  been  taught  to  have,  in  Chrijl 
 yefus  :  Nothing  remains,  but  that,  when  we 
 have  proved  it,  and  found  it  true.  We  hold 
 fafi  that  which  ii Good-,  and dired:  all  our  pre- 
 
 fent 
 
IS6 
 
 SERM. 
 VII. 
 
 UVNJ 
 
 „ -T"-:^ ■    
 
 The  Duty  of  Impartial^  &c. 
 
 Tent  Views,  and  all  our  Acflions,  by  this  Hope 
 of  Happinefs  to  come  ;  which  God,  that  eaa* 
 not  lye,  hath  promiled  to  Thofe,  who  truly 
 believe  in  his  Son,  and  confcientioufly  obey 
 his  Will. 
 
 ^  ■'■'W  % 
 
 Concerning 
 
Concerning  impartial  "Enquiry  in  Religion  :  and 
 the  two  Extremes  of  implicit  Subje£lion  and 
 Infidelity. 
 
 SERMON   VIII. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  "Peter  i  Poor,  in  Jan.  1 7 1 2- 1 3, 
 
 I  T  HE  ss.  V.   21. 
 
 Prove  all  T'hings :  holdfafi  that  which  is  good» 
 
 I  Come  now,  as  I  propofed  in  the  Second  her  M» 
 Place,  to  examine  the  ConduSi  of  T'hofe, 
 who  are  in  either  of  thofe  Two  Extremes^  j^'VNJ 
 which  I  mentioned  in  my  loft  Difcourfe, 
 
 Thcfirfi  Extreme  is  that  of  thofe  Profejfed 
 Chrijiians,  who  pretend,  with  great  Zeal,  that 
 They  have  a  Right  to  demand  an  Unlimited 
 Submijpon  to  all  their  Dodrines,  and  Appoint- 
 ments :  and  condemn  all  T'rialy  and  Examina- 
 tioUy  in  their  Inferiors,  as  a  Crime  of  very 
 fatal  Confequence.  The  Condudt  of  thefe  Per- 
 fons,  and  the  Grounds  which  they  are  known  to 
 
 go 
 
^s&- 
 
 3ERM. 
 
 vni. 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of 
 
 go  upon,  I  delign  now  to  enquire  into  :  and 
 at  the  fame  time  to  (hew  the  great  Vanity,  and 
 Abfurdity,  of  fuch  monftrous  Prctenfes.  ' 
 
 Now,  in  that  Church,  which  alone  openly 
 declares  this  Blind,  Implicit,  SubmiJJion  to  all 
 its  Decrees,  and  Determinations,  to  be  the  true 
 Faith  of  a  Chriftian,  You  will  prefently  find 
 it  all  refolved  into  that  htf alii  bill  ty,  and  Uner- 
 ring Judgment,  which  is  affirmed  to  be  lodged 
 fomewhere  in  it.  If  you  alk  the  Advocates  of 
 this  Caufe,  how  they  came  by  this  Infallibility^ 
 and  how  they  prove  their  Pretenfes  to  it  to  be" 
 well-grounded:  you  will  receive  fuch  fort  of 
 Anfwers  as  themfelves  would  be  aftiamed  to 
 give,  in  any  Worldly  matter  5  or  any  Affair 
 of  common  Importance. 
 
 I.  Some  of  them  will  tell  you,  that  our 
 Saviour  promifed.  Matt,  xxviii.  20.  to  be  with 
 Ms  Church,  /.  e.  with  ^he?n,  to  the  End  of  the 
 World :  and  confequently,  this  Church  is  In- 
 fallible :  and  may  juflly  claim  an  Implicit  Sub- 
 i  miffion  from  all  Men,  without  any  Queftions, 
 or  Enquiries,  about  her  Impofitions. 
 
 To  this  it  will  be  eafy  to  anfwer,  that  the 
 utmoft  that  can  be  proved  to  be  intended  in  that 
 Promife  of  our  Lord's,  is  this,  that  He  would 
 be  affifting  to  his  Apofiles,  and  thofe  who  {hould 
 fucceed  them,  in  the  Propagation  of  his  Reli- 
 gion, in  their  due  Execution  of  that  great  and 
 
 impor- 
 
Implicit  SuhjeEiton. 
 
 lia. 
 
 important  Office ;  that  He  would  be  their  Sup-  is  e  R  m, 
 porter  and  Protector,  in  it.     And,  befides  that    viii. 
 nothing  more  than  this  can  poflibly  be  proved  '^''VNi 
 to  be  the  Intent  of  this  Promife :   If  you  con- 
 fider  the  Abfurditiei  -which  mnft  follow  from, 
 the  differing  Turn  that  hath  been  given  to  this 
 Paflage,  by  the  modern  Pretenders  to  Infa^li-^ 
 bility,  9r  to  any  Authority  not  to  be  gainfaiti- 
 you  will  be  the  more  convinced  of  the  Weak- 
 nefs  of  this  Proof.      For  they,  who  fix  fo  en- 
 larged  and    unbounded    a   Senfe  upon   thofe 
 Words,  do,   in  effed:,   reprefent  our  Saviour, 
 as  fpeaking  to  this  Purpofe,   *'  Lo^    I  mn  with 
 
 *  you  J    I  vi^ill  not  only  be  your  Diredor,  and 
 
 *  Guide;    but  the  Diredor  and  Guide  of  all 
 
 *  who  fhall  fuccced  you,  in  profeffing  to  teach, 
 
 *  or  propagate,  my  Religion.     I  will  be  with 
 
 *  them,  in  all  whatever  they  fball  fay,  or  in- 
 
 *  culcateupon  Men;  whether  contrary  to  what 
 '  I  have  taught  myfelf,  or  not.   I  will  be  with 
 
 *  them,   in  all  their  Contradidions  of  one  to 
 
 *  another;  in  all  their  Abfurdities  and  Follies; ! 
 
 *  in  all  the  Methods  they  take  of  propagating 
 '  Religion  ;    whether  by  Fire,  and  MalTacre, 
 
 *  or  by  Inftrudion,  and  Argument.    Let  then! 
 
 *  fay  what  they  will,  let  them  do  what  they 
 '  will,   in  their  Zeal ;    let  them  decree  Black 
 
 *  to  be  White,  and  White  to  be  Black;  flill  it 
 **  is  my  doing  >  it  is  my  Will  it  fhould  be  fub- 
 
 "  mitted 
 
i6o 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  bf 
 
 S  E  R  M. 
 VIII. 
 
 "  mitted  to :    For  Xo,  1  am  with  them  to  the 
 "  End  of  the  Worldr 
 
 What  Abfurdities,  We  may  juftly  afk,  what 
 Blafphemies,  may  not  Men  lay  upon  this  T^ext^ 
 if  they  will  put  fuch  an  abfolute  and  unlimit- 
 ed, Interpretation  upon  it  ?  Whereas  the  Of- 
 fice of  the  ApoJileSy  and  thofe  which  fucceeded 
 them,  in  the  Minijiry  of  the  Gofpelj  was  that 
 of  being  faithful  JVitnefes  of  what  they  had 
 fcen  and  heard  of  our  Blefled  Lord  ;  of  his 
 Life,  and  Death,  and  Doctrine.  They  them- 
 felves  had  a  Truft  committed  to  them  ;  and 
 that  was,  to  preach  to  the  World  his  Refur^ 
 reBiofjy  and  his  Religioft  :  the  Religion  deli- 
 vered to  them  by  himfelf.  They  had  no  Au- 
 thority to  add  to  his  Words,  themfelves ;  but 
 their  Commiflion  was,  to  inftrudt  Mankind, 
 as  they  fliould  have  opportunity ;  and  to  im- 
 part to  the  World  thofe  concerning  Truths 
 which  they  had  received  from  Him.  This 
 Promife,  therefore,  could  not  convey,  even  to 
 Them,  any  Authority,  in  faying  or  doing 
 whatfoever  any  of  them  pleafed  j  but  only  an 
 AfTurance  of  Help,  and  Support,  in  their  due 
 Performance  of  that  Office,  which  was  in- 
 truded to  them  ;  that  of  preaching  the  Laws 
 of  Chri/I,  without  adding  to  them,  or  dimi- 
 nifhing  from  them.  And  that  this  was  not  a 
 Promife  of  Infallibility y  even  to  the  Apojiles 
 themfelves,  in  their  whole  Condu(a:,   is  plain 
 
 from 
 
Implicit  SubjeEiion, 
 
 i6i 
 
 from  the  Behaviour  of  St.  Peter ^  after  this,  with  s  e  R  M* 
 refped  ioJeWy  zndGentile-,  and  from  the  Ne-  j  viii. 
 ceiiity  St.  Paul  found,   to  withjland  hitn  to  his  t*'"^'^'^ 
 Face,  in  that  Part  of  his  Conducfl,   which  St. 
 Paul  thought  to  the  Prejudice  of  theGofpelat 
 that  Time.  Yet,  notwithftanding  this,  we  have 
 feen  this  Infallibilityy  even  confined  pccuHarly 
 to  St.  Pj^/fr;   and    to  his  pretended  iSz^rrr^^rj', 
 coniidered  as  fuch :    which  He   himfelf  never 
 claimed,  in  that  abfolute  Senfe,  in  which  T'hey 
 have,  fince  his  Time,   done  it. 
 
 2.  In  the  next  Place,  if  you  be  not  content- 
 ed with  fuch  Interpretations  of  this  Place  of 
 Scripture,  as  are  utterly  inconfiftent  with  the 
 Defign  of  the  Gofpeh,  ^heyvthv  yon  to  another, 
 in  which  Our  Lord  fpeaks,  c^ hearing  the  Churchy 
 and  of  accounting  thofe,  who  hear  it  noty  at 
 Publicans  and  Sinners,  Matt. xwm.  ly.  And  here 
 again,  they  infer  an  abfolute  unlimited  Duty, 
 from  a  very  limited  and  particular  Expreffion  • 
 and  fliew  as  much  Abfurdity,  as  they  can  well 
 {hew,  about  the  Interpretation  of  anyone  'Text 
 of  Scripture. 
 
 Our  Blejjed  Lord  is  here  fpeaking  of  private 
 Quarrels  between  Man  and  Man  j  and  the  Me- 
 thod of  bringing  Perfons  to  Reconciliation  one 
 with  another.  And  they  prefently  interpret 
 what  is  here  faid,  as  if  it  related  to  Articles  of 
 Faith;  and  an  Authority  in  themfelves,  to  make 
 
 M  Terms 
 
l62 
 
 Of  the  Extre7?te  of 
 
 s  E  R  mJ  Therms  of  Salvation  :  Which  Our  Saviour  nevef 
 VI 1 1,    fends  us  to  learn  from  any  Man,   or  any  Col- 
 
 ^•'VN;  kdion  of  Men,  upon  Earth;  any  farther  than 
 as  they  may  faithfully  report,  what  He  him- 
 felf,  alone,  was  authorized  to  require,  and  or- 
 dain. 
 
 The  Word  Church,  in  this  Place,  plainly 
 fignifies  a  Congregation,  or  Aflembly  ,of  Bre- 
 thren, in  whofe  Prefence  the  Matter  is  related^ 
 and  to  whom  it  is  referred  :  And  from  hence, 
 ^hey  prefently  colled:  fomething  about  the 
 Churchy  in  another  Senfe  of  the  Word  ;  as  it 
 fignifies  the  Ecckjiajlical Rulers,  whofe  Bufinefs 
 it  is  to  perform  fpiritual  Offices  amongfl  Chri- 
 fiians  ;  which  was  not  indeed  formed,  or  infti- 
 tuted  at  the  Time  when  thefe  Words  were 
 '  fpoken.  He  that  is  not  willing,  after  the  Me- 
 thod here  propofed,  to  liften  to  the  Determi- 
 tion  of  his  Neighbours  and  Fellows;  and  to 
 come  to  Peace  and  Reconciliation ;  is  faid  to 
 be  0/2^  juftly  to  be  looked  on.  as  a  very  bad 
 Man :  And  from  hence,  T^hey  abfolutely  and' 
 indefinitely  conclude,  that  whoever  fhall  not 
 blindly  give  himfelf  up  to  the  pofitive  Deter- 
 minations which  T^hey,  under  the  Name  of  the 
 Church,  fhall  pleafe  to  make,  about  Articles 
 of  Faith,  and  Terms  of  Salvation  ;  whofoever 
 fhali  not  fwallow  all  their  Decilions,  without 
 any  Queftions,  or  Enquiries,  is  to  be  account- 
 ed 
 
Jinplich    SuhjeEiJQit, 
 
 1^ 
 
 ed  as  an  Heathen ;  and  what  is  more,  to  be  treat-  :;  e  R  M. 
 ed  with  fuch  Severity,  and  luch  Inhumanity,  as    viiil 
 cannot  lawfully  be  pradifed  towards  any  Hea«  'y^'^^ 
 then  ;   and  fuch  as  the  Gojpl  abhors,  upon  any 
 Pretenfe  whatfoever. 
 
 3.  After  this,  they  will  carry  us  to  thofet 
 Texts,  in  which  our  Lord  declares  to  his  Apoftlcs 
 that,  as  liis  Father  fent  him,  fo  fends  he  themy 
 and  that,  He  that  heareth  them,  heareth  Hi?n  ; 
 and  the  like  :  And  from  hence,  T^hey  will  con- 
 clude refolutely,  that  what  they  call  the  Church, 
 hath  the  fame  Plight  to  be  heard  in  whatever  it 
 decrees  about  Religion,  or  that  which  it  pleafes 
 to  call  Religion,  as  the  Apoftles  themfelves  had, 
 in  delivering  that  to  the  World,  which  Chrijl 
 entrufted  to  them.  For,  it  is  but  refolving, 
 that  whatfoever  was  faid  to  the  ApqftleSy  is  to 
 be  interpreted  as  faid  chiefly  to  St.  Peter  ;  and 
 after  him,  to  the  Rulers,  of  one  particular 
 Church  in  the  World  :  And  they  think  the 
 Work  done. 
 
 Now,  there  are  feveral  Ways  of  putting  a' 
 flop  to  fuch  weak  Sophijiry  as  this.  Thtjirfi 
 is.  That,  fuppofing  the  Apoftles  commlffioned, 
 by  fuch  Expreffions  as  thefe,  to  exadl  an  Im- 
 plicit  Belief  of  every  thing  They  (hould  fay  5 
 it  doth  not  follow  from  hence,  that  They,  who 
 fucceded  them  in  fome  Parts  of  their  Office, 
 can  have  fuch  a  Commiffion  ;  Becaufe  their 
 M  2  Affiftances 
 
164 
 
 SERM 
 VIII. 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of 
 
 Afiiftances  and  Powers  from  Above,  were 
 greater  than  can  be  claimed,  lince  their 
 Time  j  becaufe  They  had  the  Power  of  Mira- 
 cleSy  on  extraordinary  Occafions,  to  appeal  to ; 
 in  a  word,  becaufe  many  things  were,  and 
 might  well  be,  faid  to  Them,  which  could  not 
 belong  to  any,   but  Themfelves  peculiarly. 
 
 But  another  thing  is  this;   which,  I  believe, 
 will  be  found  to  be  very  true :  That  the  Apo- 
 Jiles  themfelves   had   no  Authority  to   publifli 
 any  thing,  but  what  they  had   committed  to 
 them   by  Chri/i.     They    were  WitnefTes,  en- 
 trufted    with   what  He    thought   fit.     They 
 were   not  the  Makers,  or   Decreers,  of   that 
 Religion  which  was  to  be   delivered   to   the 
 World.     But  that   was   fettled   by  our  Lord 
 himfelf  before;   and  only  committed  to  them, 
 to  be   reported  to  Mankind  :  And   they  were 
 to  be   heard,  only    as    they  were   the  fincere 
 Preachers   of  what  they   had  received   from  I 
 him.     Befides  this,  as  I  have  already  obferved,; 
 the  Apodki  themfelves  never  claimed,  by  Vir-; 
 tue  of  any  fuch  Words  of  our  Lord,  any  Pow-; 
 er  of   demanding   an  implicit  Belief  of  what 
 they  delivered  :  But   always   referred    to   the 
 Proofs  they  gave  of   the  Truth  of  it ;  always 
 fpake  to  Chridians  (in  the  Way,   little  ufed  by 
 thofe  who  pretend  to   fucceed  them  in  their 
 greatefl  Powers,)  of  ReafG?2s  for  their  Hope-y  of 
 
 tryi?7g 
 
Implicit  SubjeBio7i, 
 
 165 
 
 trying  the  Spirits -,  and  of  proving  all  I'hings^  s 
 and  holding  f aft  only  that  which  is  good.  So 
 that  the  Refult  Is  this.  Suppofing  the  Apo- 
 ftles  had  required  Implicit  Faith  ^  or  an  Im- 
 plicit Submiffion  to  every  thing  they  {hould 
 decree  :  It  would  not  be  a  good  Argument, 
 why  others  (hould  afterwards  do  fo  j  who  had 
 neither, their  Inflrudlions,  nor  their  Affiftances. 
 But  this  Suppolition  is  groundlefs.  For  the 
 ApoUks  claimed  no  Privileges,  but  to  be  heard 
 as  faithful  Relaters  of  the  DoBrine,  and  Reli^ 
 gion,  delivered  to  them  by  their  Lord:  And 
 always  encouraged  their  Auditors  to  examine 
 into  the  Reqfons  of  Things  j  and  .to  try,  and 
 prove,  in  general,  whatever  came  to  them,  un- 
 der the  Notion  of  Divine,  and  Supernatural. 
 
 So  vaft  a  Difference  is  there  between  I'hofe, 
 who  had  no  Intereft  to  fupport,  but  that  of 
 Truth  and  Righteoufnefs ;  and  Thofe,  who 
 have  Worldly  Pomp,  and  Grandeur,  and 
 Riches,  to  procure,  or  preferve,  or  increafe. 
 The  one  is  for  T^ryal,  and  'Examination : 
 Which  never  can  hurt,  nor  injure  Truth. 
 The  other  is  for  an  eafier  Method :  For  yield- 
 ing up  all  Pretenfe  to  Underftanding,  and 
 Reafon  j  and  going  into  that  Way,  which 
 will  encourage  all  the  Abfurdity  and  Folly  in 
 the  World ;  and  make  Truth  and  Falfliood, 
 Light  and  Darknefs,  the  fame  Things,  and 
 M  3  equally 
 
'166 
 
 Of  the  Extre?ne  of 
 
 SERM. 
 VIII. 
 
 equally  eligible.  For,  let  there  be  but  an 
 Univerfal  Readinefs  to  fwallow  whatever  fliall 
 be  ordered ;  the  ^ejlion  among  thofe  who 
 are  to  decree,  will  feldom  be,  what  is  reafo- 
 nable;  or  what  is  fitting}  or  what  is  the  Gof- 
 pel  of  Jefus  Chriji  :  But  what  is  mofl  for  the 
 Advancement  of  their  own  Power,  and  Hon- 
 our,  and  Riches. 
 
 4.  But,  to  return  :  If  thefe  I'exts,  to  which 
 the  Pretenders  to  Infallibility  in  themfelves, 
 and  an  Implicit  Subjediion  m  ethers,  appeal, 
 feem  to  fail  them  at  any  Time  ;  they  then  are 
 forced  to  appeal  to  that  hated  Reafon,  which 
 at  other  Times  they  fo  much  explode.  They 
 will  tell  you,  that  it  is  highly  reafonable  and 
 fitting,  that  there  {hould  be  this  Method  of 
 putting  an  End  to  all  Doubts,  and  all  Contro- 
 verfies  j  that  Men,  being  fubjed:  to  Miftakes 
 and  Errors,  it  is  very  ncceiTary  there  fhould  be 
 fomevv?here  a  Judge,  to  whofe  Determination 
 they  lliould  all  blindly  fubmit;  and  that,  this 
 being  fo  necefiary,  to  be  fure.  Almighty  God  hath 
 been  pleafed  to  take  care,  that  there  fhould 
 be  fuch  a  Judge -,  and  confequently  fiich  a 
 blind  Submiffion  fhould  be  due  from  all  Per- 
 fons:  And  that,  one  Church  only  pretending  j 
 to  this  Infallibility;  it  belongs  to  that,  and  to  | 
 no  other.  But  this  way  of  treating  Mankind, 
 cannot  be  compared  to  any  thing  better,  than 
 
 to 
 
Implicit  SubjeBion, 
 
 167 
 
 to  the  dealing  of  fome  E?npiricksy  who  fiiould  s  e  r  m. 
 fet  up  upon  this  Bottom,  that  Mankind  is  j  viir. 
 fubjed:  perpetually  to  a  Multitude  of  Difeafes,  L^/^W 
 which  render  their  Lives  very  uneafy,  before 
 the  Time  of  their  Natural  Death  comes;  that 
 it  is  highly  convenient,  there  fliould  be 
 an  infallible  Way  of  curing  all  thefe  Difea- 
 fes ;  that,  therefore,  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed, 
 but  that  God  hath,  in  his  Providence,  taken 
 Care  that  there  fhould  be  fuch  a  Way  :  And 
 that,  confequently,  no  other  Perfons  but 
 themfelves,  pretending  to  cure  all  Difeafes 
 infallibly,  I'hey  ought  to  be  looked  upon,  as 
 the  Infallible  DireBors  o^  Phyfick-,  and  all  Per- 
 fons concerned,  ought  to  apply  to  them,  in 
 their  Diftrefs.  But  alas!  this  is  but  infulting 
 the  Misfortunes  of  Mankind,  inftead  of  curing 
 them;  it  is  a  fort  of  triumphing  over  their 
 Miferies,  rather  than  Viewing  them  a  Way 
 out  of  them. 
 
 For,  in  the  Jirft  Place,  fuppofing  Man  fo 
 framed  by  Almighty  God,  that,  after  all  his 
 beft  Enquiries,  and  his  mofl  ferious  Examina- 
 tion of  things,  he  may  err;  this  ought  to 
 teach  us,  that  Error,  in  an  honed  Mind,  is 
 not  that  damnable  thing  which  fome  Men 
 would  make  us  believe ;  that  the  great  Defign 
 of  true  Religion,  refpeds  PraBice,  and  not 
 'I'heory,  and  that  the  Father  of  all  Things 
 M  4  knows 
 
M 
 
 1 
 
 _  —  J  ■ 
 
 S  E  RM 
 VIII. 
 
 Of  the  T^xtreme  of 
 
 • U. _ _ 
 
 .  knows  how  to  make  all  reafonable  Allowances 
 for  the  involuntary,   and  undeilgned,   Miftakes 
 ^^^'V^  of  his  imperfedl  Creatures. 
 
 In    the   next  Place,  the  Argument   is   not 
 good,  that,   becaufe  a  thing  would  be  highly 
 convenient,   therefore  God  hath  certainly  or-  '' 
 dered  it.  For  it  is  plain  in  Fad,  that  there  are 
 Multitudes  of  UnhappinefTes,    and   Inconve- 
 niencies,  belonging  to  weak  and   mortal  Men, 
 for  which  He  hath  appointed  no  certain  Reme- 
 dy. And,  in  the  Cafe  before  us,  it  is  fully  fuf- 
 iicient  to  fay,  That  He  punifhes  Men  only  for , 
 their  wilful,   and  obftinate  Sins ;  and  that  He  : 
 leaves  their  unavoidable  Errors,  and  Frailties,, 
 to  be  the  SubjecS  of  their  mutual  Charity,  as 
 they  are  of  his  own  divine  Compaflion. 
 
 But  then,  in  the  third  Place,  fuppofing  the 
 Frejnifes',  How  fliall  we  know.  Whither  to 
 have  Recourfe?  Suppofing  fuch  2i  Judge,  or 
 fuch  an  hifallible  Church  j  where  fliall  we 
 find  it?  Why,  certainly,  they  anfwer,  Where 
 there  is  but  one,  thatfo  much  as  pretends  to  it, 
 That  muft  be  it.  Which  is,  as  I  faid  juft 
 now,  as  if  an  Empirick  /hould  tell  us,  There 
 is  no  other  Perfon  in  the  World,  that  fo  much 
 as  pretends  to  cure  Difeafes  infallibly,  befides 
 myfelf :  Therefore,  I  certainly  can  ;  and  you 
 ought  all  to  come  to  me.  As  if  the  Modefly, 
 Of  Humility,  of  Others,  who  cannot  thus  in- 
 
 fult 
 
Implicit  Suhje&ion, 
 
 i6q 
 
 fult  the  common  Senfe   of  Mankind,  wereanfeERM, 
 Argument  againfl  them  j    and,    as   if  They^    viir, 
 who   pretended  to   moft,    had   always  moilJi^VNJ 
 Reahty  in  them. 
 
 But,  fuppofing  another  Judge^  or  another 
 Churchy  fhould  fet  up  for  Infallible;  and 
 claim  the  fame  Subjedtion  ;  (which  is  not  an 
 impof^ble  Suppolition  j)  Whither  fhould  we 
 then  go  ?  The  Argument  would  be  deftroyed : 
 And  we  could  take  no  other  Method,  but  to 
 examine,  firjl^  Whether  there  is  Reafon  to 
 expedt  to  find  any  fuch  Infallibility  any  where ; 
 and,  fecondly^  which  of  the  Pretenders  to  it, 
 have  the  re?il  I^itle.  And  this  would  reduce 
 us  to  tha*-  Neceffity  of  Examination,  by  Rea- 
 fon, and  Revelation,  which  I  am  contending 
 for;  and  deilroy  the  End  for  which  this  Ar- 
 gument is  alledged. 
 
 But  again  ;  Suppofing  us  to  come,  ready 
 furniflied  with  all  Implicit  Submlffion^  to  the 
 only  Churchy  which  ever  pretended  exprefly  to 
 fuch  an  Authority  ;  even  in  this  very  Churchy 
 with  all  its  Boafts,  T'hey  cannot  tell  us  exadly, 
 where  to  apply  for  the  Comfort  of  this  Infalli" 
 hie  Authority,  Some  fend  us  to  One  Perfon  at 
 the  Head  ;  fome  to  whole  Councils ;  and  fome 
 to  both.  Whichever  way  they  pitch  upon ;  it 
 is  not  more  certain  that  Light  is  contrary  to 
 Darknefs,  than  that  what  hath  been   decreed 
 
lyo 
 
 SERM. 
 VIII. 
 
 Of  the  Extreme   of 
 
 by  one  Tope,  hath  been  reverfed  by  Another ; 
 that  what  hath  been  determined  in  one  Council^ 
 hath  been  annulled  in  Another  5  and  fo,  for- 
 wards and  backwards,  from  the  Beginning,  to 
 this  Day.  To  what  Diflrefs  then,  would  they 
 reduce  Men;  firft,  to  perfuade  them,  that  a 
 weak  frail  Man,  or  a  Colle6tion  of  fallible 
 Men,  are  Infallible,  and  unerring  in  their 
 Decilions :  And  then  to  lead  them  a  Round, 
 from  Contradidlion  to  Contradidion ;  and 
 from  the  Belief  of  one  Age,  to  the  contrary 
 ^Belief  of  another;  without  Satisfadion,  and 
 without  End  ?  How  much  more  like  Men, 
 and  like  Chrijiiam,  would  it  be,  to  acknow« 
 ledge  themfelves  to  be  but  Men ;  to  leave  the 
 ynavoidable  Errors  of  Mankind  to  the  Mercy 
 of  God,  as  He  himfelf  hath  done ;  and  to 
 claim  no  more  Subjedion,  than  what  Reafon, 
 and  the  Gofpely  give  them  a  Title  to. 
 
 I  muft  not  here  forget  another  Pretenfe^ 
 which  comes  much  to  the  fame  :  viz.  That 
 the  great  Divilions,  and  Differences  of  Opinion, 
 amongfl:  other  ChriJiianSj  are  owing  to  their 
 not  acknowledging  fuch  an  Implicit  SiibjeSiion 
 to  this  Infallible  yudge.  The  Anfwer  is  eafy, 
 and  plain :  For,  i .  That  this  would  be  no 
 certain  Cure,  is  evident,  from  thofe  many  and 
 high  DiviJionSy  amongft  Themfelves,  who 
 plead  for  this  Subjedion:  Which  are,  in  thefe 
 
 lad 
 
Implicit  SubjeElion, 
 
 UJL 
 
 lafl  Days,  come  to  a  very  great  and  flaming serm. 
 Highth,  ill   many  Inftances.     And,   2.  How:  viii. 
 can  it  be  otherwife,  when  in  one  AgQ^  Favour  ^/V>J 
 is   ihewn   to   one  Opinion  3   and    in    another^ 
 Favour  is  fhewn  to  the   contrary :  When  one 
 Infallible  fudge  is  of  one  Party;   and  the  next 
 that  comes,  is  of  another  :  And  when  Deter- 
 minations are  perpetually  made,  according  to 
 Intereft  and  Favour  ?    And   then,   3.  \i  fefus 
 Chrijl,  and  his  Apojlles^  have   not   fo   plainly 
 determined  many  Points :  but  that    there  is 
 room  for  Differences  amongfl  honeji  Believers  : 
 Why  fliould  any  fiidge^    after  them,  pretend 
 to  fettle  Religion,  better   than  They  did  5  or, 
 why  fhould  Chrijliam   be  harder,  and  more 
 fevere,  upon  one   another,    than  God  himfelf 
 will  be   upon   any   of  them  ?  Sincerity,  and 
 Uprightnefs   of   Heart  3     Righteoufinfs,    and 
 Holinefs   of  Life;    Humility,    Charity,    and 
 univerfal  Love  and  Friendfhip :  Thefe  are  the 
 Things,   which  the  Father  of  our  Lord  fefus 
 Chrijly    feeks   after.       And  the    truly  honeft 
 Chrijiian  needs  not  be  afraid  of  the  Terrors  of 
 thofe,  who  take  not  their  Maxims  from   the 
 DoBriney  or    Example   of  Chriji-y  but  from 
 this  World,   and  the  Interefls  of  it. 
 
 I  mention  thefe  Terrors^  becaufe,  when 
 every  Art  fails,  then,  laft  of  all,  the  IgpOf 
 fant  are  to  be  terrified^  into  this  Submiflion : 
 
 And 
 
J^- 
 
 SERM. 
 VIII. 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of 
 
 And  to  be  told,  that  it  is  a  Sin  to  entertain  the 
 leaft  Doubt  about  this  Authority  -,  and  fuch  a 
 Sin,  as  will  be  their  utter  and  eternal  Ruin.  It 
 is  paralleled  with  rejeding  the  Go/pel,  and 
 cppofing  Chriji :  And  fo  T'hey  are  to  make  up 
 by  'Terror,  what  is  wanting  in  Argument. 
 To  which,  I  confefs,  nothing  can  be  replied^ 
 but  that  there  is  nothing  like  all  thisjn  the 
 Gofpel  of  Jefiis  ChriJl.  He  came  into  the 
 World  to  reconcile  Men  to  God,  by  leading 
 them  to  Amendment,  and  to  all  Holinefs. 
 Many  Works  did  he  perform,  to  convince  the 
 World  of  his  Authority,  He  appointed  his 
 Apojiles,  and  Minijters,  to  go  on  in  the  fame 
 good  Defign.  He  feared  not  the  Light  j  and 
 therefore  appealed  to  it.  He  hath  given  no 
 Commijfion  to  any,  to  pretend  to  a  Lordly  Au- 
 thority  (^er  the  Underflandings,  or  Confci- 
 enccs  of  Mankind.  But,  as  his  Religion  con- 
 fifts  not  in  Niceties ;  and  aims  at  nothing  but 
 the  Happinefs  of  Mankind  j  and  is  founded 
 upon  Truth :  He  hath  left  it  to  the  Evidence 
 that  fupports  it,  Vaft  and  unconceivable  Pre- 
 judice hath  been  done  to  it,  by  Men's  pre- 
 tending to  be  wifer  than  He  ;  to  add  to  his 
 Inftitutions,  and  his  Dodrines  :  And  to  impofe 
 upon  Men  their  own  Additions,  under  Pretenfe 
 of  an  Incontejlable  Authority  5  and  under  any 
 fort  of  Worldly  Penalties, 
 •  "  I  have 
 
Lnplicit  SuhjeSiio7j,_ 
 
 I  have  now  fnfficiently  fliewn  you  the 
 great  Abfurdity  of  Thofe,  who  have  run  into 
 this  Extreme  :  And  the  Contradidion  of  it  to 
 the  Behaviour  of  our  LorJ,  and  his  Apojiles, 
 I  {hall  take  the  next  Opportunity  to  fpeak  of 
 the  Other  Extrenifj  I  mentioned  at  firfl. 
 
 ^73 
 
 ERM. 
 VIII- 
 
 Concernh:^ 
 
Preached  at  St.  Peters  Poor,  in  Jan.  1712-13, 
 
 iThess.  v.  21. 
 
 Prove  all  T'htngs :  holdfajl  that  which  is  good. 
 
 5ERM. 
 IX. 
 
 IN  my  laft  Difcourfey  I  conlidered  and  ex- 
 amined, the  Grounds^  upon  which  thofe 
 profefTed  Chrijlians  go,  who  fet  up  Them- 
 felves  for  Guides  to  their  Brethren ;  and  re- 
 quire, under  the  Penalties  of  this  World,  an 
 implicit,  and  Blind  Submiffion,  without  any 
 Enquiries  to  all  their  Determinations.  And, 
 hope  1  {hewed  you,  how  void  of  all  Support, 
 either  from  the  Light  of  Reafon,  or  the  Gof- 
 pel  of  Jefus  Chriji,  fuch  Pretenfes  are  ;  how 
 contrary  to  the  Nature  and  Interefls  of  Truth, 
 which  ever  defires  to  be  looked  into  ;  and  how 
 contrary  to  the  Condudt  of  our  hord,  and  his 
 Apojiles,  who  encourage,   and  applaud,  a  fm- 
 
 cere 
 
 ( Concerning  impartial  Enquiry  in  Religion  :  and 
 the  two  Extremes  of  implicit  Subje5lion  and  \ 
 Infidelity, 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  ht fidelity. 
 
 IZSL 
 
 cere  and  inquifitive  Temper,   with  Refped  to  js  e  r  M. 
 Religion.  ix. 
 
 Secondly^  I  come  now  to  the  Conduct  of  s/^'"\i 
 Thofe  Men,  who  are  in  the  Second  Extreme^ 
 I  mentioned  at  firfl ;  and  to  confider  thofe 
 Grounds^  upon  which  fuch  Perfons  profefs  to- 
 go,  as  under  the  Appearance  and  Pretenfe  of 
 Examination,  but,  without  the  thing  itfelf, 
 jrejed:  the  Gofpel ;  and  recommend  Infidelif^ 
 to  the  World.  And  this  I  fhall  do,  in  fuch 
 a  Method,  as  that  thefe  pretended  Grounds^ 
 which  they  go  upon,  may  appear  j  and,  at 
 the  fame  Time,  the  real  Defign,  and  very 
 great  Partiality  of  thofe  who  go  upon  them. 
 Of  this  ConduBy  I  fliaJl  give  I'hree,  or  Four 
 particular  Injiances :  Which  are  conftantly 
 ■  feen  to  be  the  chief  and  avowed  Supports  of 
 this  Extreme. 
 
 I.  One  principal  Point,  I  fliall  mention,  is 
 this.  When  the  diiFerent  or  contradidory 
 Notions,  or  abfurd  Opinions,  of  Divines^  or 
 other  ChrijiianSy  are  reprefented  fo,  as  to  lead 
 unwary  Perfons  to  make  them  an  Argument 
 againfl  the  Gofpel  itfelf:  It  is  very  evident,  that 
 the  Defign  is  not  to  recommend  T^ruth-.,  but 
 to  prejudice  Men's  Minds  againfl  what  ought 
 only  to  be  propofed  to  their  fair  Examination. 
 
 I  confefs,  it  is  very  fliameful  to  confider, 
 that  Men  (hould  not  be  contented  to  be  Men  ; 
 
 and 
 
176 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 ,  and  to  think  for  themfelves  j  O;^^,  one  Way, 
 and  Another  J  another;  that  fo  many  fliould, 
 with  Violence  and  Paffion,  be  feen  to  lay  the 
 fame  Strefs  upon  their  own  Interpretations, 
 and  Conjeftures,  which  they  do,  upon  the 
 main  Defign,  and  plaineft  Declarations,  of 
 the  Go/pel',  and  others,  to  oppofe  them  with 
 their  own  particular  Schemes ^  of  another  fort, 
 in  the  common  Methods  of  Heat  and  Violence. 
 But  thefe  are  the  Movemefits  of  Human  Nature, 
 got  loofe  from  the  Guidance  of  Reaforiy  as 
 well  as  of  the  Go/pel:  And  therefore,  let 
 ^hem  take  the  Shame  of  this,  to  themfelves, 
 who  deferve  it.  But  what  is  this  to  Chriftianity 
 itfelf:  W^hich  contains  in  it,  neither  their 
 DoSirines,  nor  their  Spirit^ 
 
 If  a  Man  fliould  colled  all  the  contradidory 
 Opinions,  and  abfurd  Notions  of  the  Philofo^ 
 fbers  of  Old  j  and  of  Thofe  who  profefs  to 
 follow  only  Natural  Light ;  and  reprefent  the 
 foolifh  manner,  in  which  the  l!ext  of  Keafon 
 hath  been  explained  by  its  Interpreters ;  and 
 if  thefe  Abfurdities  fhould  be  made  an  Argu- 
 ment againft  Reafon  itfelf,  and  its  plaineft  and 
 moft  uncontroverted  Maxims :  Would  not  this 
 be  more  abfurd,  than  even  thofe  Abfurdities 
 themfelves ,  which  are  pretended  to  give 
 Ground  to  it  ?  Would  it  not  be  eafy  to  reply, 
 that  Reafon  is  very  ill  treated  by    fuch  Oppo^ 
 
 nents  j 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 nenfs ;  that  the  Law  of  Reajon  remains  firm  and  s  E  r  m. 
 
 2Z 
 
 IX. 
 
 ftable,  notwithftanding  that  its  profefTed  In- 
 terpreters have  erred  grievoufly ;  that  it  is  t^/"V"^ 
 highly  abfurd  to  deny  the  firft  Principles  of  all 
 Science,  and  all  Certainty,  becaufe  Some  who 
 profefs  to  build  upon  thcfe  Prir.ciples,  have 
 grody  miftaken  in  the  Confeqiiences  they  have 
 drawn  from  them;  that  it  is  the  mofl  unfair, 
 and  unfincere  Thing  in  the  World,  to  lay  that 
 upon  Reafon  itfelf,  which  ought  to  be  charged 
 folely  upon  the  Weaknefs,  or  Faffion,  of 
 Thofe,  who,  profefiing  to  follow  it,  could  not 
 keep  up  to  it,  either  through  Incapacity,  or 
 Inadvertence,  or  Prejudice,  or  Vice.  But, 
 though  the  fame  Perfons  will  not,  (as  indeed 
 they  ought  not  to,)  allow  this  to  be  a  good 
 Argument  again fl:  the  Vfe  of  Recjoji :  Yet  we 
 find  them,  too  often,  treating  the  Chrijhan 
 Religio?iy    after  this  manner. 
 
 Let  us  then,  upon  this  Occafion,  apply 
 what  hath  been  faid,  in  the  Cafe  o^  Reafn,  to 
 that  of  the  Gofpel  of  Jefis  Chriji :  And  we 
 may  fafcly  put  it  upon  this  TJJiie  ^  which  is  but 
 equitable  and  reafonable.  Let  the  Gofpel  be 
 charged  with  nothing,  but  what  itfelf  con- 
 tains. Let  Jefus  Cbrift,  and  his  Apojiles^ 
 who  were  the  Preachers  of  his  Doctrine,  be 
 charged  only  with  what  themfelves  preached 
 But  let  not  the  Abiurdities,  or 
 N  Follies, 
 
 and  taught. 
 
178 
 
 Of  the  'Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 SER  M. Follies,   of  Chrijiians,   be  laid  at  the  Door  of 
 IX.    :  that  Religion,   which,   in  its  Original,   knows 
 
 L/^W^  them  not.  By  this  means,  the  ground  of  fuch 
 Sort  of  ObjeBionSy  is  wholly  removed.  For 
 the  Anfwer  will  prefently  offer  itfelf ;  when 
 the  Enquiry  is  about  the  Truth  of  our  Blefled 
 Lords  Pretenfionsj  and  not  about  the  Under- 
 flanding,  or  Condud,  of  his  Followers. 
 What  is  this  to  the  Purpofe  ?  What,  if 
 Chrijiians  have  thus  contradicted  one  another? 
 What,  if  they  have  oppofed,  anathematized, 
 and  deftroyed,  one  another,  by  a  furious  Zeal 
 for  their  own  particular  Explications  of  their 
 Mafters  Doftrine  ?  What,  if  many  Abfurdi- 
 ties  have  been  vented,  and  propagated  ? 
 How  very  unfair,  and  unjuft  is  it,  to  charge 
 thofe  upon  our  Blefied  Lordy  or  his  ApoJIlcSy 
 who  have  nothing  like  them  in  their  preach- 
 ings J  who  have  none  of  thefe  Contradidtions  ; 
 none  of  thefe  Abfurdities  j  in  their  Settle- 
 ment of  our  Religion  :  And  never  gave  the 
 leafl:  Encouragement  to  any  fuch  Condud:,  in 
 their  Followers  ? 
 
 I  grant,  indeed,  if  the  Difpute  were  about 
 the  Behaviour,  the  Underftanding,  or  Im- 
 partiality of  all  who  have  profefled  to  inter- 
 pret the  Go/pel 'y  or  to  frame  Schemes  and  Sy- 
 ftems  of  it:  If  our  Faith  were  to  be  made  for 
 us  by  Thefe  j  then,  the  Obje(flion  would  have 
 
 fome 
 
Of  the  Extre7ne  of  Lifidelity. 
 
 12: 
 
 Tome  Force }  and  thefe  Contradidions,  and  serm 
 Abfurditics,  might' well  be  fo  often  brought  ix. 
 in.  But,  God  be  thanked,  this  is  not  the  *'^W 
 Point.  What  hath  been  faid  by  weak,  and 
 fallible  Men,  though  affirmed  with  never  fo 
 much  PolitivenelSi  though  backed  with  never 
 io  much  Worldly  Authority  j  iho'  (Irengthen- 
 ed  \vi;h  all  the  Penalties  of  this  World,  and  of 
 that  which  is  to  come :  All  is  nothing  to  Men 
 heaitily  concerned  about  their  Religion.  The 
 Point  is,  what  our  Lord  himfclf  requires; 
 and  what  his  ApojUes  themfeivcs  deliver,  as 
 from  Him.  This  is  the  important  Enquiry; 
 And  this  ought  to  be  ftri(5lly  obfcrved  by  All, 
 who  profcfs  to  examine  into  his  Dodrine. 
 Jt  is  a  mofl  equitable  Rule,  not  to  lay  That 
 upon  his  Religion,  which  He  never  himfelf 
 put  into  it:  Becaufe  it  was  He  himfelf,  who 
 was  to  deliver  it  from  the  Father^  ready  fra- 
 med ;  and  becaufe  He  never  gave  Authority, 
 even  to  his  Apofiles  thenifelves,  to  make  any 
 Addition  to  that  Sclxnie  oi DoBrine ^  and  Salva- 
 tion, which  He  delivs^red  to-  'Them.  St.  Paul 
 exprefly  affirms  this,  that  the  Aprjlles  them- 
 felves  were  only  Stewards  of  the  Myjleries  of 
 God:  In  whom  He  ii^vn\^  Faithfuh'ieJ]  to  be 
 the  principal  Point.  Moreover,  it  is  required 
 in  Stewards,  that  a  Man  be  found  faithful^ 
 1  Cor.  iv,  2. 
 
 N  2  Nothing,-  - 
 
"iSo 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of  Injidelity, 
 
 NotKirTg 7  indeed,  can  be  more  unjnlt,  than, 
 in  pretended  E?iquiries  after  the  Truth  of 
 Chriftianity,  to  caft  upon  our  Lord  himfelf, 
 and  his  Religion,  all  thofe  ContradiSlions 
 which  have  been  vented  by  any  of  his  profef- 
 fed  Difciples;  or  thoi^  Abfiirdities,  which, 
 weak  Men  have  unhappily  faftened,  as  Inter- 
 pretations,  and  Commentaries^  upon  what  He 
 faid  or  did  :  Unlefs  the  Cafe  were  fo,  that  the 
 World  had  no  Account  of  his  Proceedings,  but 
 what  was  to  be  picked  out  of  the  CommejitarieSy 
 and  Syjiems  of  numherlefs  Writers,  Whereas, 
 it  is  far  otherwife.  His  Gofpel  lies  open.  His 
 own  Declarations  of  what  God  abfolutely  re- 
 quires, are  as  plain  as  well  can  be,  before  Art^ 
 or  PaJJiony  Ignorance ^  or  Learning',  have 
 perverted  them.  If  any  thing  can  juflly  be 
 offered  againft  his  own  Condud,  or  his  own 
 Dodrine  j  He  himfelf  refufeth  not  to  hear  it. 
 But  it  is  but  juft  to  demand,  that  the  Faults  of 
 others  be  not  imputed  to  the  Faultlefs ;  nor 
 the  Follies  of  Men  to  Him^  who  never  encou- 
 raged them. 
 
 They  who  will  not  confent  to  thh  Equitable 
 Rule,  may  as  well  charge  all  the  Vices,  and 
 Villainies,  of  any  profefTed  Chrijlians,  upon  the 
 Gofpel  kklf.  But  then,  the  true  Method  is,  to 
 look  into  that:  And  it  will  be  quickly  found, 
 that  they  are  not  only  not  encouraged,   but 
 
 abfolutely 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, i8i 
 
 abfolutely   condemned,   there.      How   would  pRM. 
 it  be  liked,  by  fome  Perfons,  if  all  the  Luxu-      IX. 
 ry,    and   Intemperance,    and   Wickednefs,   of  ».^^>^'^ 
 thofe  who  have  profeffed  themfelves  Epicure-  | 
 ans,    (hould  be  charged  upon  Epicwus,  their 
 Mafler.      Would  it  not  prefently  be  anfwered. 
 That  this  could  not  fairly  be  done :  Becaufe  He 
 certainty  placed  Pleafure  and  Happinefs,  in  'T'em- 
 ferance^  and  many  of  the  Moral  Virtues :    As 
 is  plain  from  the  moft  Aiithe7itic  Accounts  We 
 have,  of  his  own  Life,  and  Dodlrine:    which 
 ought  to  be  the  Meafure  of  our  Judgment  and 
 Cenfure  of  him.     I  cannot  indeed  deny,  but 
 that  this  is  common  Juftice,   due  to  all.      But 
 if  his  Advocates  will  contend  for  this,   in  his 
 Cafe,  who  certainly  taught  Men  to  caft  off 
 that   Regard   to  any  fuperior   Being,    which 
 might  have  been  a  great  Bar  againll  Vice,  and 
 k'  great  Inducement   to  Virtue^   amongft  his 
 Followers :   Theii,  certainly,  muft  they  them- 
 felves  be  adiamed  of  not  following  the  fame 
 Rule,    in  judging  concerning  a  Greater  than 
 He ;    One,   who  had  all  his  Perfonal  Virtues, 
 in  Perfedion,   with   none  of  his  Follies   and 
 Abfurdities  j   and  One,  who  taught  a  Dodlrine 
 worthy  of  all  Men  to  receive,  upon  Principles 
 able  to  fupport  them  in  the  PraBice  of  it. 
 
 I   grant,  indeed  ;    nay,   I  contend  for  it ; 
 that    thefe    great   Differences    of    Opinion, 
 N  3  amongft 
 
1 82 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 SE  RM.:amongft  many  Honefl:  and  Learned  Enquirers' 
 IX.     'that  theie  Contradidions  to  one  another,   and 
 ablurd  Notions,  fixed  by  many  of  them  upon 
 their  Religion  ;  are  excellent  Reafons  for  mu- 
 tual Forbearance;   great  Arguments  that  God 
 will  not  judge  ChrijlianSy  at  lafl,  by  the  'Truth 
 of  their  Speculations^  but  by  the  Sincerity  and 
 Integrity  of  their  Searches  after  'Truth  :    And 
 ftrong  Inducements  to  all,  to  look  impartially 
 into  the  Gofpel  it'elf  j    in  order  to  know  what 
 our  Lord  himfelf  hath  taught,   and  what  He 
 requires.     Thus  far  thefe  Differences,  and  Ab- 
 furdities   may  juftly  be   urged.      But   when, 
 under  Pretenfe  of  all   this,  thefe  Contradidi- 
 ons have  another  Turn  given  to  them  j   when 
 many  Infmuations  againft  the  Gcjpel  itfelf,  are 
 interfperfed  j    when  fome  of  the  greateft  of 
 thefe  Ahfiirdities  are  reprefented  as  the  Funda- 
 mentals  of  the  Gofpel  itfelf  j  and,  at  the  fame 
 Time,   Injidelity^  and  Atheifm^   artificially  re- 
 commended, as  the  Refult  of  Juft  Reafoning: 
 Then,  it  is  more  than  fufpicious,  that  thefe 
 Particulars  are  fo  carefully  colle6led,  merely  as 
 Argument Sy   or  Prejudices y  againfi:  the  Gofpel 
 itfelf.     But  there  cannot  be  imagined  a  more 
 unjufl  Procedure,   than  this  is:   Which  is  no 
 better   than   cafling   off  a  Religion ^    not   for 
 what   is  in   it :    but  for   what  /;  not  in  it  j 
 
 I  mean. 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  I^fxielity,  |  ^  ^  3 
 
 I  mean,   the  WeaknefTes,   or  Abfurdities,   oF^erm. 
 fome  who  have  profefled  it.      But  again,  |    ix. 
 
 2.  Of  a  piece  with  this  Procedure  is,  the  't/>^sJ 
 picking  up  Multitudes  of  little  Stories,  which 
 have  not  half  that  Evidence  to  fuppcrt  their 
 Truth,  which  the  FaBs  of  the  Gofpel  have ; 
 and  which,  fuppofing  them  true,  lignify  no- 
 thing to  the  iirft  Inftitution  of  Chrijlianity : 
 And  the  embelliihing  and  venting  thefej  in 
 fuch  a  Manner,  as  manifeflly  tends  to  the  Pre- 
 judicing the  Minds  of  unwary  Perfons,  agalnft 
 Chrijlianity  itfelf.  An  Art,  in  which  many 
 of  thofe  excel,  who  feem  difpofed  to  banifh 
 all  Belief  of  the  Go/pel,  out  of  the  World! 
 But,  how  unjufl  this  is,  a  very  little  Confi- 
 deration  will  Ihew  us. 
 
 For,  is  it  a  wonder,  that,  in  the  courfe  of 
 many  hundred  Years,  many  Things  have  hap- 
 pened, in  the  Condud  of  Men,  (who  are  ever 
 weak,  and  often  prejudiced,  and  paflionate,) 
 which  may  be  juftly  enough  turned  into  Ridi- 
 cule-y  or  v/hlch  cannot  be  juftified  by  the 
 Rules  of  th^t  Religion  which  they  have  pro- 
 fefled? Suppofe,  for  Inftance,  th^it  fomey  in 
 procefs  of  Time,  have  turned  Chrijlians,  for 
 low  Ends ;  or  with  falfe  Views,  and  bafe  De- 
 figns ;  for  worldly  Advancement ;  or  to  find 
 a  Refuge  from  the  Sins  which  they  had  com* 
 mitted  in  other  ProfelTions  ;  Or,  fuppofe  that 
 ^  4l Otben 
 
184 
 
 Of  tht  'Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 Others  have  turned  Apojiates  from  Chriftianifyy 
 Decaufe  of  the  vile  Behaviour  of  many  ChnJU- 
 ans'j  and  their  pretending  to  greater  fpiritual 
 Powers,  than  could  be  juftly  claimed  by 
 them:  Or,  fuppofe  that  a  profefled  Chrijlian 
 hath  Ibmetimes  talked,  as  if  he  had  little 
 Belief  of  fome  or  other  of  the  main  Articles 
 of  Chrijiianity  :  I  fay,  fuppofing  thefe,  and 
 the  like  Fads  j  yet,  What  are  thefe  to  the 
 Gofpei,  as  delivered  to  the  World  by  ytfus 
 Cbnji  ?  In  that,  there  may  be  fufficient  Rea- 
 fqns  for  hone/i  Men  to  believe  in  Him-y  not- 
 withftanding  that,  many  Years  after  his  Death, 
 fome  became  Chrijlians  upon  other  Grounds. 
 In  thnty  there  may  be  fuflicient  Reafons  againft 
 2ny  Believer  s  apoftatizing  from  his  Religion-, 
 notwithftanding  that  there  have  been  Apojiates, 
 upon  other  Reafons,  which  do  not  at  all  attedt. 
 his  Religion,  as  He  left  it.  In  that,  there 
 may  be  fufficient  Evidences  of  a  RcfurreBion ; 
 notwithftanding  that  fume  of  his  profeded  Fol- 
 bwers  may  have  talked,  with  fome  Doubtful- 
 nefs,   or  great  Uncertainty,  about  it. 
 
 I  might  here  obferve,  that  fuch  fort  of  Sto^ 
 fies  are  not  always  reported  from  the  mod  cre- 
 dible Authors ;  or  that  they  are  often  reprefent- 
 ed,  and  magnified,  beyond  what  Simplicity, 
 and  Integrity,  can  juflify.  But  1  choofe  to  put 
 it  upon   this,   That,   fuppofing  the  Truth  of 
 
 them. 
 
Of  the  'Extreme  of  Ltjidelity, 
 
 them,  or  of  any  like  to  them  ;  the  Gofpel  may,  s 
 and  doth,  ftill,  ftand  untouched,  and  free 
 from  any  Difadvantage  from  them.  Let  it  be 
 true,  that  it  hath  been  profefled  upon  weak 
 or  worldly  Grounds,  hy  fo?ne  Men;  let  it  be 
 true,  that  fome  Things  in  it  have  been  dilbe- 
 lieved  by  others.  Thefe  are  not  the  Points 
 in  Debatf  between  the  Men  who  believe  itj 
 and  ihofe  who  profefs  to  rejed:  it :  But  whe- 
 ther, there  be  not  great  and  fufficient  Argu- 
 ments for  our  embracing  the  Profeffion  of  it; 
 and  for  receiving  Hi?n^  who  inftituted  it,  as 
 fent  from  God.  Whoever  pretends  to  bring 
 a  Difreputation  upon  it,  ought,  in  Juftice,  to 
 take  his  Arguments,  if  he  can  find  any,  from 
 what  is  really  in  it,  as  it  lies  in  thofe  Books 
 themfelves,  which  profefs  to  acquaint  us  with 
 it,  in  its  pure  Original.  But  when,  inftead 
 of  this,  Men  have  recourfe  to  little  Stories, 
 2LnA  Tales,  of  Men,  or  of  Things,  many  Years 
 after  the  hiJHtntioji  of  it;  as  if  they  were 
 Foints  which  ought  to  affed  the  Gofpel  itfelf : 
 This  is  a  certain  Sign  of  the  utmofl  Prejudice ; 
 and  not  of  any  thing  like  an  impartial  and  juft 
 Examination  ;  which  the  Gofpel  itfelf  never 
 refufeth  to  undergo.      Again, 
 
 When  a  long  and  tedious  work  is  made 
 about  falfe  Miracles,  and  pretended  Wonders, 
 and  Impofitions  upon  the  Senfes,  and  Under- 
 
 flandings. 
 
i86 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of  Injideliiy, 
 
 serm. 
 
 IX. 
 
 ftandings,    of  Mankind ;     and,  at  the   fame 
 Time,  no  Diftindion   allov/ed  in  Favour  of 
 thofe   recorded,    in  the   Gofpel-Hiftory  \    nay, 
 when   many  Infinuations  are  given  as  if  all 
 Pretences  were  alike  j   and  efpecially,    when 
 Infidelity  and  Atheifm  are,  at  the  fame  Time, 
 complemented  as  the  Effedls  of  great  Sagacity, 
 in  thofe  who   have  profefTed  them  :  ,Then  is 
 it  a  plain  Sign,   that  the  Go/pel  is  not  recom- 
 mended to  be  ingenuoufly  and  fairly  examined; 
 but  to  be  condemned,   upon  unjufi:  and  une- 
 qual Grounds,     For,   before  the  Go/pel  Mira- 
 cles can  be  juftly  condemned,  the  Point  would 
 be,  to  fhew,  that  our  Lord  refufed  to  do  his 
 great  Works  before  his  AdverfarieSy  or  thofe 
 who  had  an  Heart  to  examine  them  j   as  Im- 
 pojiors  have  done :  That  He  avoided  the  Light ; 
 and  required  of  his  immediate  Followers  Faith 
 without  Sight :    that  He  did  not  give  fufficient 
 Evidence  to  thofe  about  Him,   that  He  was 
 neither  an  Impojlor^  nor  an  Entkufiafi-y  that  his 
 Condu(5t  was  like  that  of  thofe,  who  refufe  all 
 *Trialy   and  give  manifeft  Proof  that  nothing 
 of  thofe  great  Things  are  true,    which  they 
 pretend  in  their  own  Favour.    For,  how  doth 
 it  follow,  that,  becaufe  there  have  been  many  I 
 Cheats  in   the  World,    therefore  there   is  no 
 fuch  Thing  2l^  Truth?    or,   that  nothing  truly 
 great  and  uncommon,    fuflicient  to   demon- 
 
 ftrate 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 187 
 
 ftrate  the  Favour  of  God,  hath  ever  been  ^erM. 
 wrought  in  Confirmation  of  what  is  excellent      ix. 
 and  good;    becaufe   many  vile  Perfons,  havCjy^'"*^ 
 at  feveral  Times,  for  worldly  Ends,  and  fecu- 
 lar  Purpofes,  played  T'ricks  with  Mankind  ;  and 
 impofed  upon  the  Minds  of  the  Vulgar  ?  Why  j 
 fhould  this  be  produced  as  an  Inlet,  and  In- 1 
 trodudlion,   to  Infidelity?    Or,   what  is  there j 
 like  it,  in  our  Lord's  Condud:,  that  can  juftify  j 
 fuch  a  Procedure  ? 
 
 The   Dejign  of  Impojiors  is  prefently  feen 
 through:   To  keep  up  a  temporal  Authority; 
 to   maintain   or   increafe,   Power,    or  Riches, 
 But  He  could  not  but  be  void  of  any  fuch  De- 
 fign  J  whofe  Low  Eftate,  and  utter  Renuncia- 
 tion  to  every  Thing  in  this  World,  and  cer-| 
 tain  Expedation  of  Death  itfelf  for  his  Pre-i 
 tences,  were  as  remarkable,  as  His  Great  and 
 Mighty  Works  themfelves.     The  DoSlrine  of 
 Falfe  Pretenders  appears  plainly  to  tend  to  mag- 
 nify themfelves;   and  to  fet  up  a  gainful  King- 
 dom over  Men's  Confciences.  BuiHisDoS^rine 
 was  Humility,  and  Contempt  of  this  World ; 
 a  preferring  one  another  in  Love:    It  led  to  a 
 Scene  of  Self-denial,  in  many  Cafes  ;   to  the 
 Expectation  of  Rewards  in  another  State,  and 
 of  Perfecution,  in  this.    He  aimed  at  no  other 
 Kingdom  over  Men,   but  the  Goverment  of 
 their  Paffions,   and  of  their  Adions,   by  the 
 
 Rules 
 
i88 
 
 SER  M. 
 IX. 
 
 Of  the  'Extreme  of .  Infidelity, 
 
 Rules  of  Reafon;  and  the  Hope  of  Glory; 
 and  the  Fear  of  God's  Difpleafure.  And, 
 therefore,  the  Sufpiclon  of  Impofmg  upon  the 
 World  could  not  lie  upon  Him  :  As  the 
 Appearance  of  it  plainly  lies  upon  other  mo- 
 dern Fretenders  to  Miracles.  And,  therefore, 
 His  Works  themfelves,  (hould  be  examined : 
 Which,  neither,  in  their  Number,  nor  Kind, 
 bear  any  more  Refemblance  to  the  Pretended 
 Works  of  Impojlors ;  than  a  vaft  Variety  of  Be- 
 neficent, Divine,  Charitable,  Open,  AcSts,  do 
 to  one  fingle  Trick  repeated  yearly  j  or  to  Emp- 
 ty, Uleiefs  Appearances ;  or  to  Clandeftine, 
 and  Dark  Proceedings,  without  any  WitneiTes, 
 but  fuch  as  have  an  Intereft  to  ferve,  a  worldly 
 Caufe  to  carry  on,  by  endeavouring  to  fupport 
 the  Credit  of  them.  This  makes  a  vaft  Dif- 
 ference: And  fhould,  in  common  Juftice,  be 
 taken  into  the  account,  by  all  who  pretend  to 
 examine  into  fo  important  a  Matter,  as  that 
 of  Religion. 
 
 If  it  fhould  be  replied,  that  it  is  for  the 
 worldly  Intereft  of  thofe  who  have  corrupted 
 Chrifiiamty^  and  made  the  Riches  and  Grandeur 
 of  this  World  a  Part  of  the  Gcfpcl -,  that  it  is 
 for  their  Intereft,  and  for  the  Continuance, 
 and  Support,  of  all  that  they  (hall  think  fit 
 to  put  upon  Mankind,  under  the  Notion  of 
 Chr'ifiianity^  that  the  Miracles  recorded  in  the 
 
 Gofpelj 
 
Uf  the  Extreme  of  Injidelity, 
 
 189 
 
 Uojpely    Ihould  have  Credit  given  to  them  ;  s  e  R  M. 
 and  be  fupported  by  fuch  Perfons:     Which      ix. 
 may  bring  a  juft  Sufpicion  upon  them:    I  an-  ^''VNJ 
 fwer, 
 
 1.  No  Jii/i  Sufpicion  J  certainly,  with  any, 
 who  will  coniider,  that  it  is  plain,  from  all 
 Antient  Writers^  that  the  Gofpeh  were  in  be- 
 ing ;  and  the  Miracles  in  them  recorded,  be- 
 fore any  fuch  Abufes  came  into  Chriflianity\ 
 nay,  long  before  there  was  any  Temptation  to 
 impofe  upon  the  World ;  that  is,  long  before 
 the  Pri?iceSj  or  the  Favour Sy  of  this  World  came 
 into  the  Church-,  whilft  little  befides  Perfecu- 
 tion  could  be  expected  by  Chrifiafis ;  and  little 
 Hopes  could  appear  of  ever  having  it  other- 
 wife  :  That,  from  the  Beginning,  during  all 
 that  Scene,  when  nothing  was  promoted  by 
 thefe  Miracles,  but  Believing  in  a  Crucified 
 Saviour y  ivhofe  Kingdom  was  not  of  this  World-, 
 then,  I  fay,  thefe  Miracles  were  recorded  in 
 the  Gofpel-Hiftory.  From  whence  it  is  plain, 
 that  they  have  no  Relation  to  any  fuch  Cor- 
 ruptions, as  came  not  into  the  Churchy  till  very 
 many  Years  after  thefe  Miracles  were  done ; 
 and  thefe  Books  were  written.      But  then, 
 
 2.  The  Miracles  which  Chrift  himfelf  did, 
 can  confirm  no  Dodrine,  but  what  Chrijl 
 himfelf  delivered  to  the  World.  They  have 
 no    more   relation    to  what    hath    been,    or 
 
 may 
 
I  go 
 
 Of  the  E^trmie  of  Infidelity. 
 
 SERM 
 IX. 
 
 may  be,  fixed  upon  his  Religion,  by  any  whc 
 profefs  to  follow  Him ;  than  if  fuch  Perfons 
 were  not  called  Chriflians.  This  is  very  plain 
 to  all  who  weigh  Things  equally.  For, 
 otherwife,  they  might  be  fuppofed  to  fupport 
 \Pretence5  and  DoBrines^  diredly  oppofite  to 
 his  own :  Becaufe  Cbrtlliam^  fo  called,  (I 
 mean,  many  of  thofe  who  profefs  themfelves 
 fo,)  are  capable  of  being  moved  by  Worldly 
 Confiderations,  to  enter  into  Meafures  diredly 
 oppofite  to  thofe  of  his  Infiiitution  j  and  to 
 contradict  his  good  and  great  Defign,  as  much 
 as  if  they  were  called  by  any  other  Name  in 
 the  World  j  the  Name  ChriJUan  not  altering 
 either  Men's  Principles,  or  their  Manners. 
 It  being,  therefore,  impoffible  that  our  Lords 
 own  Miracles  can  be  the  Support  of  Do(ftrines, 
 or  Defigns,  dire(^ly  contrary  to  his  own  j  it 
 being  certain,  that  they  confirm  nothing  but 
 what  he  defigned  they  fliould  confirm;  viz. 
 His  own  Pretenfions,  and  his  own  Religion, 
 «as  delivered  by  Him  j  and,  confequently,  that 
 they  cannot  fupport  any  thing  contrary  to  the 
 ; Laws  of  God,  and  Univerfal  Righteoufnefs : 
 jThere  can  be  no  Ground  of  Sufpicion  in  Hii 
 Cafe  ,  nor  any  Excufe  for  bringing  them  un- 
 der the  fame  Head,  with  Works  only  pre- 
 tended to  be  done;  and  this,  manifefi:Iy  for 
 the   Support  of  DefignSy    which  neither  He, 
 
 nor 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  htjidelity. 
 
 191 
 
 nor  his  Apofllesy  acknowledged  to  be  agreeable  serm, 
 to  his  Religion.     Nay,  jx. 
 
 3.  Thofe  who  have  taken  upon  them  toj^^'V^ 
 add  their  own  Inventions  to  his  Religion  j  and 
 to  appeal  to  any  fort  of  Tricks,  or  pretendec 
 Miracles,  for  the  Support  of  thofe  Inventions  3 
 and  for  the  keeping  up  a  T'emporal  Inter eji  in 
 the  World  J  have  never  had  the  Aflurance  tc 
 appeal  to  our  Lord's  own  Miracles,  for  the  Sup- 
 port  of  what  they  have  aimed  at;  but  have 
 always  thought  it  neceflary  to  have  additionai 
 Miracles,  for  additional  Articles  of  Faith  j  and 
 New-Wor-ks,  to  fupport  their  New-Defigns. 
 So  that  they  themfelves  give  no  ground  to  anv 
 Perfon  to  fufped:  our  Bhfed  Lord's  Works  3 
 as  having  any  unworthy  Defign  to  fupport : 
 But  plainly  confcfs,  by  this  Procedure,  thai: 
 the  Miracles  which  He  did,  go  no  farther,  anc 
 were  defigned  no  farther,  than  to  fupport 
 the  DoBrine  which  He  himfelf  taught ;  anc 
 to  promote  the  End  for  which  He  came  intc 
 the  World. 
 
 It  is,  therefore,  I  fay,  manifeftly  unjuft,  tc 
 put  the  Miracles  of  our  Ble [fed  Lord,  recordec 
 in  the  Gofpcls,  upon  the  fame  foot  of  Sufpicion, 
 with  Thofe,  which  not  only  want  the  fame 
 fort  of  Tejiimoriy,  as  to  their  Reality,  bu : 
 alfo,  are  profclTed  to  be  done,  in  order  to  fup-' 
 port  Worldly  Ends,  and  fuch  Deiigns,   as  wc 
 
 canno: 
 
JL^ 
 
 Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 SE  RM 
 
 cannot  but  judge  to  be  unworthy  of  God: 
 When,  at  the  fame  Time,  it  muft  be  acknow- 
 ledged, that  no  fuch  Defigns  can  be  fuppoited 
 by  our  Lord's  Miracles  5  nor  any  indeed,  but 
 that  noble  Defign,  worthy  of  God,  of  Re- 
 deeming us,  firfl:  from  the  Fower^  and  then 
 from  the  Pu?jifiment^  of  our  Sins.  To  re- 
 turn, 
 
 4.  When  the  Perfons,  who  pretend  to  be 
 great  Enemies  to  the  Notions,  and  Speculations^ 
 which  have  been  brought  by  fome  Chrijlians 
 into  Religion  ;  neverthelefs,  embrace,  and 
 greedily  catch  at,  any  fubtle,  metaphyfical, 
 and  abflrufe.  Ways  of  Arguing,  about  Necef- 
 lity,  and  Fate  j  or  fuch  like  SuhjeBs;  not  le- 
 vel to  the  Capacities  of  any  Number  of  Men^ 
 and  perhaps  not  certainly  intelligible  to  Men  of 
 great  Underftandings ;  when  thefe  puzzling, 
 and  myfterious  Arguings,  are  advanced,  and 
 fet  up,  againfl  all  the  Moral  Evidences  of  the 
 Gojpely  when,  together  with  the  Pretence  of 
 rejed:ing  every  thing  that  is  not  plain  in  Reli- 
 gion, fine  and  unintelligible  Subtikies  of  jD//^ 
 putation  are  introduced :  Then,  is  there  Rea- 
 fon,  from  fuch  contradidory  Proceedings,  to 
 fufpedt  great  Partiality,  and  little  Love  to  a 
 yuji  Examination  of  Things.  When,  inflead 
 of  thefe  Moral  Evidences  of  Chrijiianity,  other 
 fort  of  Arguings  are  put  into  Men's  Heads ; 
 
 of 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity, 
 
 of  which  they  never  were,  nor  ever  will  be, 
 tolerable  Judges :  This  is  a  partial,  and  un- 
 equal, Procedure;  and  what  the  fame  Perfons  ' 
 would  not  perhaps  be  guilty  of,  in  any  other 
 Cafe,  but  that  of  Religion,  For  the  Condu(ft 
 of  Human  Life  is  guided  and  influenced  by 
 fuch  Moral  Evidences,  as  are  fufficient  to  put 
 Men  beyond  reafonable  Doubt;  by  the  Tefti- 
 mony  of  credible,  and  unexceptionable,  Wit^ 
 nefTes ;  and  the  Abfenfe  of  all  real  Ground 
 for  Stifpicion ;  and  the  like.  Of  which 
 Things,  a  little  common  Serife  makes  mod 
 Men  pretty  good  Judges. 
 
 It  hflth  pleafed  God  to  deal  with  Men,  in 
 the  Chrifiian  DifpeJifation,  in  this  eafy  Me- 
 thod ;  in  which  they  are  fo  well  fatisfied  in 
 many  other  Cafes.  That  our  Blejj'ed  Lord  li- 
 ved, and  died,  and  arofe  again  ;  that,  before 
 his  Death,  He  wrought  many  and  great  won- 
 derful Works ;  and  this  with  a  Delign,  and 
 Do6fri?te,  worthy  of  God ;  we  learn  from  fuch 
 '^efiimony^  as  hath  no  Objedlion  againfl  it,  that 
 would  be  accounted  good,  in  any  other  paral- 
 lel Cafe.  Now,  fuppofing  that  it  had  plea- 
 fed  Him  to  have  taken  another  Method  ;  and 
 to  have  fpoken  to  us  in  an  Abftrufe  and  Subtle 
 Way  of  Reafoning ;  without  any  fuch  Fa5ls  or 
 any  fuch  ^ejlimonies  to  them :  I  {hould  not 
 have  wondered,   if  the  fame  Perfons  (hould 
 
 O  have 
 
 ER  M. 
 IX. 
 
 193 
 
-■T-m-n-ir—  -■—... 
 
 ig^  Of  ih&  Ex t7^ erne  of  J ?1  fidelity. 
 
 have  been  the  firfl  Complainers  j  and  the  firfl 
 to  have  reprefented  this  Method^  as  not  hkely 
 to  come  from  God  -,  as  too  hard,  and  too  un- 
 inteiiigible,  to  the  greatefi  Part^  if  not  the 
 Whole,  of  Mankind.  But  if  this  would  have 
 been  reafonable ;  how  much  more  fo  it  is,  not 
 to  negledl  the  FaSlSy  and  T^eJlimonieSy  upon 
 which  the  Gcfpcl  rehes,  for  the  Sake  of  any 
 of  thofe  fubtle  Speculations,  or  Arguings, 
 which  are  wholly  unintelligible  to  the  greateft 
 Part  of  Mankind  3  and  by  which  the  CcndiiB 
 of  Humanhtfex^  never  guided,  in  any  confide- 
 rable  Inftance :  Not  to  enter  into  a  Method 
 which  cuts  off  all  Eixamination  into  the  'Truth 
 of  Chriftianity,  at  once  j  and  builds  an  hifi- 
 delity  upon  Col^weh,  as  thin,  or  as  intricate, 
 as  any  Modern  Schoolman  ever  wove  for  his  own 
 Syjiem  of  Chrijiianity. 
 
 Thus  have  I  produced  Several  Inflances  of  a 
 ~vef ylJnreafonat)le  Pfdceeding  "againft  Chnjha- 
 nity :  Which  doth  not  tend  at  all  to  the  Exa- 
 mination  of  the  Truth  of  the  Gcfpel \  but  to 
 the  poiitivc  Condemnation  of  it,  upon  fuch 
 Grounds  as,  I  have  fhewn  you,  cannot  reafo- 
 rably  affecft  the  Foundation  upon  which  that 
 is  built.  And,  as  unreafonable,  as  thefe  are  ; 
 yet,  (as  far  as  I  can  fee,  or  hear,)  They  are  the 
 chief  of  the  Modern  Pretences  of  Unbehevers, 
 
 Dif- 
 rcpucation 
 
 whenever  they  are  endeavouring  to  bring  a 
 
Of  the  Extreme  of  Infidelity. 
 
 195 
 
 reputation  upon  the  Gofpel  itfelf.  This  is  fo 
 true,  that,  if  you  take  away  their  little  Stories 
 of  Perfons,  and  Things,  many  Years  after 
 yefus  Chrijl ;  their  Harangues  about  Abfurdi- 
 ties,  and  Contradidlions,  of  fome  weak  and  paf- 
 iionate  Men,  which  are  not  in  the  Gofpe! ; 
 their  long  and  jocofe  Accounts  of  Modern  Mi- 
 racieSj  ^nd  l^ricks^  played 'to  fupport  Defigns, 
 which  the  Gofpel  doth,  not  only  not  own,  but, 
 condemn :  I  fay,  that,  if  thefe  be  all  taken 
 away;  together  -with  a  Word  or  two  of  myfte- 
 rious  Reafoning,  (of  which  the  Bulk  of  Man- 
 kind are  not  Judges ;)  nothing  of  Import- 
 ance will  be  found  to  remain  againil  the  Gofpel 
 itfelf,  or  thofe  Evidences  which  fupport  it. 
 And  this  mufl:  be  ever  accounted  a  vaft  Advan- 
 tage to  Chrifianity  ;  as  it  was  delivered,  by 
 Chrifl,  to  the  World. 
 
 ER  M. 
 
 IX. 
 
 O    2 
 
 Omcerfing 
 
1- 
 
 Co?2cerm?7g  impartial  Enquiry  in  Religion  :  and 
 the  two  Extremes  of  ifnplicit  SuhjeSfion  a?id\ 
 Infidelity .  \ 
 
 SERMON     X. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Peters  Poor,  in  Jan.  1 7 1 2- 1 3 . 
 
 iThess.  v.   21. 
 
 Prove  all  Tubings :  holdfaji  that  which  is  good. 
 
 N  my  Former  Difcourfes  upon  thefe  Wordsl 
 
 I 
 
 I.  I  have,  under  ihtjirji  General  Head, 
 fliewn  you  the  Duty^  and  'Nature,  of  a  Jufl 
 Examination  into  our  Religion.  I 
 
 II.  Under  the  fecond,  I  have  confidered, 
 on  one  Side  the  ConduB  of  thofe  profeffed 
 Chrijiians,  who  would  impofe  their  own  Addir 
 iions  to  the  Go/pel,  as  of  equal  Importance 
 with  it  5  and  this  by  Way  of  fuch  Authority, 
 and  hifallibility,  as  to  demand  an  Implicit  Sub^ 
 jeStioti,  without  any  Enquiries :  And,  on  the 
 other  Hand,  the  Condii£i  of  fome  others,  in 
 the  contrary  Extreme,  who  feem  to  have  rej- 
 jeded  the  whole  of  Qhrijlianity,  under  the 
 -—She^ , 
 
-,  In ferenc.es.  from  the  foregohig  Sermons,,:, .  xQlX  - 
 
 Shew,  but  without  the  Reality,   of  Impartial 
 and  'Juft  Examination,  "    ~^~- 
 
 III.  I  propofe  now,  to  draw  fome  ufeful 
 Inferences^  or  Lcffons,  from  what  hath  been 
 ah-eady  laid.  —  i 
 
 I.  The  frft  that  offers  Itfelf,  is  this,  That 
 it  is  but  too  probable,  that  many,  and  efpeciallyi 
 the  Chief,  of  Thofe  who  are  in  i\^t  former  of' 
 the  'Two  Extremes^  which  I  have  treated  uif, 
 have  no  more  real  Belief  of  the  Truth  of  the 
 Gofpel'j  than  Thofe  who  profeffedly  rejed:  it.. 
 I  would  not  be  underftood  to  mean,  that  there 
 may  not  be  many  fimple,  and  otherwife  honeft 
 Men,  ading,  under  Tbefe,  for  the  bringing 
 all  the  World  to  Implicit  SubjeBion;  who 
 may  think  that  they  truly  believe  the  Gofpel, 
 and  are  doing  God  Service:  Or  that  there  may 
 not  be  many  fincere  Perfons  amongfl;  thofe 
 who  profefs  this  Lnplicit  Subje&ion.  But,  if 
 you  examine  into  the  great  Worldly  Intereft  j 
 the  Riches,  the  Power,  the  Grandeur,  that 
 are  fupported  merely  hy  i\\t{t  Additions -y  as; 
 well  as  into  the  Cunning  and  Underflanding  of 
 Thofe  J  who  enjoy  the  greateft  Share  of  thefe 
 Advantages  j  and  confider  how  plain  a  Contra- 
 didion,  their  whole  Scheme  is,  to  Chriflianity^ 
 itfelf:  You  cannot  forbear  fufpeding,  that  all 
 their  Zeal  againft  others  j   all  their  Perf^cution 
 
 O  3  ofl 
 
 SE  RM. 
 
-^8-  -  Jnfer-£nces  from  the  foregoing  Sermons, 
 
 JERM.  of  thofe  they  call  Heretics -y    all  their  Madnef- 
 X.       fes,    and   Extravagancies ;     their   Inquifnions^ 
 
 \y^r\i  and  'tortures  -,  are  founded  upon  Infidelity :  and 
 that  nothing  could  induce  them  to  be  guilty 
 of  fuch  Proceedings,  but  an  Opinion  that  this 
 World  is  their  all ;  and  that  there  is  no  Ac- 
 count to  be  given  in  another. 
 
 That  'itriith  is  not  their  Concern,  Js  very  . 
 plain  :  Becaufe  ^rntb  neither  wants  fuch  Advo- 
 cates, as  outv^ard  Torments  j  nor  is  ever  help- 
 ed by  them.  An  outward  Profeffion  may  be 
 obtained  and  forced  by  them.  But  then  this 
 will  be  only  Hyfocrify  :  For  the  inward  Per- 
 fuafion  will  be  rather  diverted  another  Way, 
 than  tovv^ards  any  thing  that  is  to  be  worked 
 into  Men  by  fuch  Methods.  Fire  and  Fag- 
 got 3  Imprifonment,  and  Confifcation  of 
 Goods  5  Hardlhip  and  PreiTurej  Hunger  and 
 Thirft ;  Cold  and  Nakednefs ;  may  make 
 Human  Nature  yield  ;  and  extort  a  Confeffion 
 from  the  Lips :  But  the  Heart  will  be  farther 
 from  going  along  with  it,  then  it  would  be, 
 were  the  Methods  of  Gentlenefs,  and  Good- 
 nefs,' applied  to  it.  The  only  thing,  there- 
 fore, aimed  at,  by  the  great  Patrons  of  Im- 
 plicit SiibmiJJion,  is  an  outward,  uniform, 
 Profeffion  of  the  fame  Things ;-  that  is^  an 
 Agreement  in  Sounds:  Which  is  no  more  to 
 ^ruth  itfelf,  than  the  moftdiftant  Thing  in  the 
 .r____ :___ World, 
 
■  ■ — — — r._ 
 
 Inferences  from  the  foregoing  Sermojts, 
 
 199 
 
 E  RM. 
 
 World.     Were  the  Belief  of  the  T'ruth  of  the  s 
 Gofpel,  the  Matter  ain:ied  at;   or  Faith  in  Je-  \   x. 
 fus  Chnfi,  the  great  Defign  j  nothing  of  all  this  '^V^O 
 could  be  feen  in  the  World.      But  becaufe  fo 
 much  of  this  is  feen  j  that  whoever  will  profefs 
 the  fame  Things,   and  utter  the  fame  Sounds 
 in  Public,   is  fafe,  and  well  received   by  thofe 
 who  gaja  mod  by  Implicit  SubjeSlion  :   There- 
 fore, I  fay,  is  there  little  Reafon  to  judge  that 
 any  lincere  Belief  of  the  Gofpel  itfelf  is  either 
 embraced,   or  aimed  at,   by  Them. 
 
 This  is  (o  apparent  in  all  thofe  Countries, 
 where  Implicit  SiibjeBion  is  at  its  Highth, 
 and  yet  Polite  hearning  flouridies  in  any  Dc-  ' 
 gree ;  that  is  a  very  common  and  profefTed, 
 as  well  as  profane,  Notion  amongft  them- 
 felves,  that  Faith  and  Folly  go  together.  The 
 true  Account  of  which,  is  this,  That  they 
 think  of  no  other  Faith^  but  that  which  is 
 converfant  about  the  monftrous  Opinions,  and 
 ridiculous  or  abfurd  Tenets,  which  fupport  the 
 Power  and  Riches  of  their  Ecclejiqflical  Go- 
 vernors :  And  have  loft  all  Regard  to  the  Gof- 
 pelj  in  its  Simplicity;  and  all  Defire  to  en- 
 quire into  it.     For, 
 
 2.   As  there  is  little  Reafon  to  fufpecfl  any 
 
 true  Faith  amongft  thofe,    who,  either  gain 
 
 fo  much  of  worldly  good  Things,   or,  avoid  fo 
 
 many  worldly  Evils,  by  Implicit  SubjeBion : 
 
 O  4  So 
 
20O" 
 
 Infer ejices  fi'oiit  the  foregoing  Scrmdns. 
 
 STERM. 
 X. 
 
 5o  tbepatronlzmg  fucha  Blind  Faith  naturally 
 tends  to  a  T^otal  Infidelity  ;    as  a  Total  Infidelity 
 tends  reciprocally  to    the  Support  of  fuch  a 
 Blind  Faith,  and  Implicit  SubjeBion.     For,  Is 
 it  not  very  evident,  that,   when  Men  are  kept 
 in  fach  Ignorance,   or  in  fuch   Dependence, 
 that  they  hear  httle,  or  nothing  at  all,  of  any 
 other  Rcligionj    but  of  one  which  fets  up  an 
 Infallibility    amongft     weak    and    palTionate 
 Men  J  w^hich  is   big  with  fuch  Dodrines,   as 
 T^ranfubflantiation,  and  the  Woiilijp  of  Saints 
 2.ndAf/gelsj   which  vefts  Men  with  a  Powder 
 of  indulging  Sins   before   they  are  committed, 
 and  abfolutely  releafing  Men   of   their   Guilt 
 after  they  have  been  committed  ;  which  tends 
 diredly  to  nothing  ell'e,   but  to  magnify   the 
 prefent   Grandeur,   and   increafe   the  worldly 
 Pomp  and  Riches,  of  its  chief  Patrons ;   and 
 when   the  ProfefHon   of  fuch    a   "Religion  as 
 this,  is  not  left  to  Men's  Choice,  or  to  be  de- 
 termined by  Argument  \    but  is  to  be  forced 
 upon   them   by   the  Application   of  outward 
 Evils;    which,   in  many  Cafes,    are  terrible, 
 and  next  to  intolerable,  and    yet   not  to   be 
 avoided  :    I  fay,  when  this  is  the  Cafe,  Will 
 not  this  View  of  Things  incline  many  to  wi(h, 
 that  Religion  may  all  be   as    much  without 
 Foundation,  as  thefe  Points  Vv^hichthey  cannot 
 embrace,  or  believe?     Will  not  this  Inclina- 
 tion, 
 
Infer ences frojn  the  forego'mg  Sermons.      Xq. 
 
 tion,   and  WorldTy  Intereft,  carry  them  ftill  s^rm. 
 farther :     And   blind   their   Eyes,     or    their      ^ 
 Hearts,   fo   that   they  will  not   fee  any  Dif-  C/'vx; 
 ference  j     but    condemn    equally,     in    their 
 Thoughts,  all  that  is  called  Religion ;  and  cafl 
 off  that  Belief  of  a  Future   State^   and  that 
 Expectation  of  a  Judgment  to  conae,   which 
 they  fee  others  to  have  caft  off  before  them  ? 
 Will  they  not  thus  be  carried  away,  by  Incli- 
 nation,   and  worldly  Hopes  and  Fears,  to  turn 
 Infidels   iirft ;    and   then   Implicit    Believers  ? 
 Firft,  to  believe  nothings  that  they  may  with 
 the  more  Grace  profefs  to  believe  every  thing. 
 
 It    can  hardly  be   fuppofed  otherwife,   a- 
 
 mongft  thofe  who  will  not  go  out  of  their  Way 
 
 far,  to  fearch  after  I'rutb  j  and  have  been  edu^ 
 
 cated,  or  find  themfelves  placed,  in  the  midfl 
 
 of  a  Religion^  that  impofeth  fuch  Abfurdities, 
 
 and  applies  fuch  terrible  Inftruments  of  Perfua- 
 
 fion  :   And  have  Underftanding  enough  to  fee, 
 
 that  there  can  be  no  Ground  for  fuch  Do6lrines, 
 
 or  for  fuch  Methods  of  teaching  them.   It  can 
 
 hardly  be  fuppofed,  I  fay,  but  that  fuch  Perfons 
 
 muft  incline  to  a  Z) //Z'^/zV/' of  every  Thing  j  in 
 
 order  to  profefs  all  that  is  required  of  them  : 
 
 Which  can  be  done  by  none  but  fuch,  with  fo 
 
 much  Grace,  and  fo  good  an  Appearance.  Thus 
 
 doth  the  Caufe  of  Implicit  ^ubmijjion^  backed 
 
 by  T'errors,  and  I'ormentSj  naturally  beget  In" 
 
 fidelity : 
 
202 
 
 hnerences  from  the  foregoing  Sermons. 
 
 ^'-ERU^Jideliiy  in  the  Mind,   as  well  as  Profe/Jion  from 
 X.      the  Lips :    And  this  lnfidtlit)\   in  order  to  re- 
 
 ^•''W*  quite  the  Kindnels,  gives  itfelf  back  again,  as 
 the  main  Support,  and  Prop,  of  every  thing 
 relating  to  the  Scheme  of  Infallibility,  and  Sub- 
 miffion.  It  teacheth  Some^  to  lay  every  thing 
 they  can  think  of,  upon  their  Votaries^  or  In- 
 feriors. And  it  teacheth  Gibers,  t.Q  bear 
 every  thing  that  can  be  laid  upon  them,  rather 
 than  to  hazard  their  all  in  thi?  World;  which 
 they  take  to  be  their  only  Concern.  It  not 
 only  permits  ;  but  devifeth,  and  frames,  the 
 greateil  Ufurpations  for  the  Benefit  of  Superiors^ 
 And  not  only  this :  But  the  fame  Irifidelity 
 frames  and  faihions,  likewife,  a  Spirit  of  Sla- 
 ijiJJj  SubmiJJionj  and  Outward  Suhjeaion,  in  In- 
 feriors,  ready  to  receive  every  fuch  Vjurpafwn; 
 of  what  Sort,  or  of  what  Nature,  foever  it  be. 
 Thus  is  true  Religion,  between  the  o?ie 
 Extreme,  and  the  other,  ftabbed  to  the  Heart ; 
 and  left  without  Life,  or  Strength.  For  the 
 pleafing  Part  of  Religion  to  Abwghty  God; 
 2ivA  that,  in  which  alone  He  delights,  being 
 the  Voluntary  Reafonabk  Subrmffion  of  a  Man, 
 to  Hiniy  and  to  his  Laws  :  Where  Force  pre- 
 vails, and  the  Argument  is  taken  from  Ter- 
 ror, and  Human  Punifliment  ;  what  Place 
 can  remain  for  any  Freedom  of  Choice  ?  And, 
 Without  Freedom  of  Choice,  where  is  Virtue, 
 ;^\*»h'u-A,  or 
 
Inferences  from  the  fore^om^  Sermons, 
 
 ERM. 
 X. 
 
 or  Honour  ?  And,   v/ithout  Virtue^  where  can  £ 
 be  the  Approbation  of  God  ? 
 
 Is  it  not,  therefore,  an  excellent  'Topic ^  ^-^"VM 
 which  we  often  hear  of,  that  thefe  Methods  of 
 Severity  keep  all  Things  quiet;  that  they  en- 
 force an  outward  XJnijormity;  that  they  pro- 
 cure an  external  good  Appearance ;  that  they 
 banifh  aM  Differences,  and  Difputes ;  and  the 
 like  ?  But,  for  God's  Sake,  What  is  all  this  to 
 Truths  and  'Religion :  Which  are  feated  within; 
 and  are  of  no  Account,  but  as  they  are  chofen, 
 upon  due  Grounds,  by  Men  ?  Not  but  that, 
 with  all  thefe  T'errors,  many  ftill  are,  and 
 muft  be,  the  Differences ;  which  often  are 
 feen  to  flame  out,  to  a  great  Degree  of  Vio- 
 lence. But,  What  if  they  did  not?  Is  Truth 
 Nothing  ?  Is  Religion^  within  a  Man's  Heart, 
 Nothing?  Is  Wickednefs,  or  Cruelty,  ever  the 
 lefs  fo,  becaufe  it  keeps  Men  in  Awe  ?  Is  the 
 Power  of  fome,  and  the  P^ile  Submijjion  of 
 others,  the  Point  aimed  at  by  our  Saviour^ 
 And,  Is  the  Worjhip  of  his  Father^  in  Spirit, 
 and  in  Truths  (which  He  declareth  to  be  what 
 God  Jeeks  after^)  all  dwindled  into  an  'Exter- 
 nal Agreement,  without  any  Regard  either  to 
 Under jianding^  or  to  Truth  ?  Are  his  Spirit ; 
 and  his  Method  of  propagating  his  Religion,  by 
 preaching  his  Dodiririe,  and  Works  ;  found  at 
 iaft  to  be  unworthy  of  God :  And  to  be  ex- 
 changed 
 
204     Inferences  from  the  fores^oi?i^  Sermons. 
 
 S  E  R  ivi 
 X. 
 
 changed    for    the    more    rational    Method    of 
 'Torture J  and  Terror  ?      Is  all  the  Poverty,  and 
 Milery,  caufed  by  thefc  Methods,  to  be  forgot  ? 
 Is  all  the  Atheifm^  and  Infidelity,  and  Wicked- 
 mfs,  which  are  occafioned  by  thefe^  not  to  be 
 charged  to  the  Accoani  ?      But,  a  mer-  Out- 
 ward SubmiJJio?i,  and  tacit  SubjeBion,  of  Terri- 
 fied Creatures^   to  be  magnified,  as  a  Bleffingj 
 ai-'ii  to  be  called  Religion  :  And  the  End  of  the 
 Son  of  G?d's  living,  and  dying,  in  the  World  ? 
 No,   It  is  unpoflible  to  conceive  a  greater  In- 
 dignity to  Reii^^wn,  than  this  is  :    And  impof- 
 iible  for  any,   who  underftand  what  they  fay.  i 
 to  treat  it  after  this  Manner,  without  bavins  ! 
 firft  thrown  off  all  the  Impreffions  both  of  Rea-  ' 
 fonj  and  Revelation. 
 
 Since,  therefore,  this  Implicit  Subje5lio?i  \ 
 to  every  thing  ordained  by  faUible  Men,  can- . 
 not  be  fupported  and  carried  forward,  but  by ' 
 ForcCy  and  Tortures^  and  great  worldly  Incon-  \ 
 veniencies;  and  fince,  when  it  is  fo  fupported, 
 it  fo  evidently  tends  to  worldly  Ends  only  3 
 and  fince,  on  thefe  Accounts,  it  is  the  great  j 
 Introdudiion  to  a  Total  Infidelity^  which  both  I 
 teacheth  fome  to  enjoin  it,  and  others  to  fubmit ! 
 to  it:  It  is  evident,  that  it  is  fo  far  from  be-! 
 ing  a  Part  of  True  Religion^  that  it  is  the) 
 greateft  Enemy  to  itj  and  ends  in  that /'2'j:£;^r^  j 
 
 Infidelity^  \ 
 
Inferences  from  'the  foregoing  Sermons, 
 
 205 
 
 I/T^^/t'TT/}',  the  outward   Profeffion  of  whlch^ 
 it  pretends  to  forbid,  and  put  a  fcop  to. 
 
 3.  The  great  Injury,  therefore,  done  to 
 true  Religion^  by  both  tbefc  Extremes ;  and 
 the  Patrons  of  them  ;  is  plain  and  evident. 
 The  one  fort,  profeffcdly  cafl  it  off:  Charg-; 
 ing  upon  it  Things  which  it  knows  no.hingi 
 of;  and  many  of  them,  tlie  Corruptions,! 
 which  Infidelity  itfelf  hath  fixed  upon  it.  And 
 the  otber^  do  not  indeed  profeffcdly  caff  it  off: 
 But,  under  Pretence  of  fupportnig  it,  deflroyj 
 all  inward  Sincerity,  (without  which  it  is! 
 dead,)  by  outward  Force;  and  introduce  ani 
 Hypocrifyj  which  muft  be  founded  upon  a 
 Difoelief  of  all  T'rue  Religion. 
 
 The  Methods,  in  which  they  Both  deal 
 with  it,  are  highly  injurious.  They,  on  one; 
 Side,  pretend  to  talk  mightily  for  it:  They 
 magnify  its  Glories :  and  are  full  of  Zeal  fon 
 its  Honour.  But  then,  they  will  have  nq 
 ^ejlions  afked  about  it :  Which  is  no  great 
 Honour  to  what  they  profefs  themfelves  tc| 
 believe  as  a  Truth.  But  the  Reafon  is,  be* 
 caufe  by  Religion  they  mean  their  own  W^/7 
 tional DoBrineSy  not  to  be  found  ia  the  Gofpels  j 
 (which,  therefore,  they  v^^ill  not  have  too  gt-ne-^ 
 rally  looked  into:)  And  fuch  Dodrines  as  they 
 think  may  not  ftand  the  Shock  of  an  Enquiry ; 
 but,   when  they  are  weighed  in  the  Balance 
 
 ma} 
 
 3ER  M. 
 X, 
 
Inferences  from  the  foregoi?ig  Sermo7is, 
 
 may  be   found    wanting   in    fome  great  and 
 eflential  Points  belonging  to  Truth.      While 
 the  Others  charge  upon  'Religion^    the  Faults 
 and  Abufes  of  Men  ;    and  bring  it  into  Difre- 
 pute  that  Way.     This  is  highly  injurious,  Be- 
 caufe  Chrijiianity  itfelf  invites,  and  defires,  our 
 JExamination,    and    T^rial -y    and   only  as   it   is 
 found  to   be  T'ruth,  claims    to  be    r^eived  : 
 And  becaufe  nothing  ought  to  fuffer,   in  our 
 Judgments,  for  the  Sake  of  what  doth  not  be- 
 long to  it.      Yet,    I   thinkj   verily,   the  Injury 
 is  greater  to  Religiofi,   from  T'hofe,   vAio  forbid 
 and   hinder  all  Enquiries  j    than    from    T'bofe, 
 who  profefs  to  encourage  them,  though  them- 
 felves  are  notjuft  and  impartial  in  them:    Be- 
 caufe One,  who  is  under  the  Dire(flion  of  the 
 former  Sort,  hath  nothing  left  but  to  profefs  to 
 believe   equally   every  thing   didated    by  his 
 Guides  j   (no  Difference,   in  Matters  propofed 
 to  Him,  being  allowed;)    whereas,  the  gene- 
 ral and  profelTed  Principle  of  the  Others  may 
 lead  a  Man,  without  their  Prejudices,  to  a  iin- 
 cere  Enquiry  into  the  Gofpel\   and  to  an  hear- 
 ty Profeffion  of  it.      E'uf,  though  the  Injujlice 
 of  both  thefe  Methods  of  Proceeding,  be  ma- 
 nifeft ;   yet> 
 
 4.  I  muil  obferve,  that,  amongft  fjch  as 
 think  juftly,  and  will  be  but  at  a  liti-c  Pains 
 in  fo  important  a   Matter,   Chrijiianity  itielf 
 
 will 
 
h^ferences  from  the  foregohig  Sermons, 
 
 will  receive  no  Difadvantage  from  either  of  serm, 
 them.  For,  when  a  Man  comes  to  examine,  x. 
 and  finds  that  the  Gofpel  itfelf  refufeth  not  the  ^/'VNJ 
 Light,  and  loves  not  Darknefs  j  that,  on  the 
 contrary,  it  gives  Encouragement  to  honeft 
 Minds  to  try\  2ii\difee,  whether  i:  be  not  wor- 
 thy of  God :  A  Perfon,  I  fay,  who  finds 
 this,  will  not  put  it  upon  a  Level  with  any 
 Religion,  which  hates  the  Lights  which  re- 
 fufes  and  condemns  all  Examination  into  it ; 
 which  relies  upon  Force,  more  than  upon 
 Argu7ne?it ;  and  allows  not  to  any  the  leafi: 
 Judgment  concerning  what  concerns  them  fo 
 much.  When,  in  the  Profecution  of  this 
 Enquiry,  the  Man  finds  that  the  Do5fri?je  of 
 it  is  fo  far  from  being  abfurd,  that  it  is  highly 
 reafonabie  j  (o  far  from  tending  to  any  bafe 
 worldly  Purpofes,  that  it  only  promotes  the 
 true,  and  lafting,  Intereil  of  all  Mankind  equal- 
 ly :  He  will  not  place  it  to  the  Difadvantage 
 of  fuch  a  Religion,  that  So}7ie,  who  profefs 
 to  own  it,  promulgate  and  enforce  upon  Men, 
 Do5lrines,  abfurd  in  themfelves;  pernicious  to 
 the  World  ;  and  tending  to  aggrandize  the 
 Impofers  only.  When  He  finds  the  Miracles 
 that  fupport  it,  beneficent,  great,  open,  Ads^ 
 done  in  the  Sight,  often  of  Adverfaries, 
 and  always,  of  Competent  Witncfi^es:  They 
 WiU.  not  fuifer,  in  his  Opinion,  for  the  Sake 
 
 of 
 
 207 
 
208 
 
 Inferences  fro?7t  the  foregoing  Ser 7710ns. 
 
 ERM 
 X. 
 
 of  pretended  Miracles  \  done  in  a  Corner  5 
 before  only  Friends  j  and  T^hcfe  whofe  world- 
 ly Intereft  they  fupport.  The  great  Difrer- 
 ence,  I  fay,  will,  by  thefe  Means,  prefently 
 appear,  to  an  Impartial  Man^  between  a  Ke- 
 ligion  that  loves  to  appear  in  the  Light  3  and 
 one  that  worketh  in  T)arh2efs.  Nay,  the 
 unjuft  Procedure  for  the  Support  of  ;he  one, 
 will  be  an  Advantage  to  the  other :  And 
 help  to  fatisfy  him,  that  the  Gofpel,  which 
 ufeth  different  Means,  and  very  contrary  Me- 
 thods, of  recommending  itfelf  to  the  World, 
 hath  not  any  of  thofe  Marks  of  Cheat,  or 
 even  Sufpicion,  upon  it,  which  will  ever  ftick 
 upon  any  Religion,  that  requires  a  Blind  Sub- 
 mijjion  to  every  thing  it  enjoins. 
 
 Again,  When  the  inquiry,  and  Examina- 
 tiony  of  an  honeft  Man,  convinces  him,  that 
 there  are  none  of  thofe  T'ricks,  and  Follies-, 
 Abfurdities,  and  ContradiSliom-,  in  the  Go/pel 
 itfelf,  which  fome  Perfons  generally  fo  much 
 talk  of,  when  they  are  defigning  to  bring  a 
 Difrepute  upon  it:  He  will  think  it  a  great  Ad- 
 vantage to  Chrijlia?iity\  that  They,  who  would 
 difgrace  it,  do  not  think  it  fitting  to  treat  it,  as 
 they  find  it  delivered  by  its  Author  to  the 
 World  5  but  bring  in  Matters,  wholly  foreign 
 to  it  3  and  not  fo  much  encouraged  by  it,  as 
 by  any  Religion^   or   Infidelity,  that  is,  or  can 
 
 be. 
 
Infere72ces  from  the  fore^omg-^  Sermons. 
 
 1^ 
 
 be     fet   up  in    Oppofition    to   it.      And,    asbERM. 
 he  finds  no  fuch  Things  in  the  Gofpel,   as  are  '    x 
 fometimes  urged  as  an  Inducemait  to  a  Bijhe^  y^^ 
 lief  of  it :    So,    He  will  be  apt  to  conclude, 
 that  They,    who  are  Adverfaries  to  it,  could 
 find  but  little  amifs   in  itfclf,   and  but  little  to 
 objed  againft  it,   taken  either   from  the  Life 
 or  Dodrine,  or  Works,  of  its  Author  ;   when 
 they  are  obliged  to  have  Recourfe  to  Dodrines 
 and  Stories,    which   have  no   Foundation   in 
 them,  in  order  to  weaken  its  Credibility. 
 
 Thus  iT^^yih^  Frocedure  of  Men,  which  Is 
 unjuft  in  itfelf,   and  of  bad  Confcquence  with 
 weak  Minds,   tend  to  fettle  the  Judgments  of 
 more  coniidering  Perfons,  in  Favour  oiChnjli^ 
 amty.    That  which  was  defigned  to  overcloud 
 the  Gofpel,  may  make  its  Glory  fl^ine.      That 
 which  was  intended  for  the  Temporal  Ends  of 
 Worldly  Men,  may  advance  the  eternal  Good 
 of  thofe  who  are  fmcere  and  upright :    And, 
 that  which  was  dtfigncd  to  pull  down,    may 
 build  up.      The  Errors  and   Follies  of  So??ie -, 
 the  Infincerity,  ^md  Madnefs  of  Others;    the 
 Partiality,    and   Injuflice  of  Others ;    may  all 
 adminifter  an  Occafion  to  an   honeft  and  fm- 
 cere Enquirer,    to    believe    and    pradife  that 
 Gojpel,   which   He  finds,    in  itfelf,    free  from 
 thofe    Errors,    and    Barbarity,    which    Some 
 would  place  upon  a  Level  with  it;   as  well  as 
 ■^  from 
 
2IO 
 
 Inferences  from  the  fore^oin^  ISermons, 
 
 SERM. jfrom   thole   Follies   and   WickednejJeSy    which 
 X.      Others  would  charge  upon  it. 
 
 5.  One  more  Infer eiice  I  fliall  make,  from 
 what  hath  been  ah*eady  faid  j  and  that  a  verjr 
 interefling  one,  and  very  important  to  all  Chrif- 
 tians  J  VIZ.  Since  we  fee  that  the  greatefl  O^- 
 jeBions  againft  Chrijiiantty  itfelf,  are  taken 
 from  the  ConduB  of  ChriJUanSy  and  qf  T^hofe 
 who  pretend  to  believe  and  receive  it;  fince 
 we  fee  that  the  m.ain  of  what  is  infinuated 
 againft  the  Gofpel,  is  taken  from  the  Behavi- 
 our of  T'hofey  who  profefs  it :  fmce  all  their 
 fooliili  Notions,  or  Additions  to  it;  all  their 
 furious  Zeal  and  Madnefs;  all  the  Violence  and 
 Ill-will  againft  others ;  all  that  is  bad  amongft 
 profefted  ChriJlianSj,  is  perpetually  made  Mat- 
 ter of  QbjcSlion  againft  Chrifi  himfelf,  and  his 
 Keligion:  How  unreafonabie,  and  unjuft  fo- 
 ever  this  be :  yet,  how  much  doth  it  behove 
 us  all,  not  to  give  an  Handle,  or  Occafion, 
 to  any,  who  wiili  not  well  to  the  Gofpel  itfelf, 
 to  attack  it  through  our  WeaknelTes,  Follies, 
 or  Paffions  ? 
 
 We  muft  confider,  that  We  are  not  guiltlefs 
 of  their  Unreafonablenefs  in  thus  dealing 
 with  the  Gofpelj  on  our  Accounts :  If  we  un- 
 neceftarily,  or  unreafonably,  lay  Stumbling- 
 blocks  in  their  Way ;  and  prejudice  them,  by 
 any  Condudt  of  ours,  againft  the  Way  of  Salva- 
 tion. 
 
Inferences  from  tFeJoregomg  Sermons^ 
 
 tion.      For,   as  all  wicked  Chrijiiaits  muft  ex- 
 peft  to  anfvver,  at  the  great  Day  of  Judgment, 
 for  their  Sins,   and  Wickednefles;   not  only  as 
 they  reipe6t  themfelves,  but  others  alfo^  not  on- 
 ly as   they  are    Tranlgreffions    of  their   holy 
 Law,    but   as   they  tend   effedually   to  make 
 Men    blafpheme   that  holy  Name,   by  which 
 they  are  called ;   not  only  as  they  make  Them- 
 fekes  guilty  before  God,    but  as  they  are  feen 
 to    encourage,    or    promote,    what  is   bad   in 
 Others  :    So,   mufl:  all  Chrijiians,   who  teach, 
 for  the  Commandjnents  of  God^  the  Dcdirities  of 
 Men  3    who  make  their  own  Additions  to  the 
 Go/pel,    of  equal  Importance,    and  Authority, 
 with  the  G^y^f/ itfelf  j  who  bind  upon  Men  heavy 
 Burthens  of  their  own  contriving  ;  who  enlarge 
 the  Faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints,  or  contract 
 the  Charity  abfolutely  enjoyned   to  Chrijiians  : 
 So,    muft  all,  I  fay,  who  ad  this  Part,  expedt 
 to  be  judged,   at  the  laft  Day,  not  only  for 
 their  great  Prefumption,   as  it  refpeds  Them- 
 felves ;     but  for   the   evil   Eifed  of  it   upon 
 Others -y    for   the   Infidelity ,    and  Atheifm,    and 
 Wickednejs,   which,  by  means  of  their  Mifbe- 
 haviour,    hath  entered  into  the  World. 
 
 How  little  Prejudice  would  there  be  left,  in 
 the  Minds  of  the  Worft  of  Men,  againft  the 
 Gnfpelo^  Chrift,  if  nothing  v^ere  found  amongft 
 ChrifiianSy   but  what  is  to  be  found  there ;   if 
 
 P  2  the 
 
 SER  M, 
 X. 
 
212 
 
 S  E  KM. 
 X. 
 
 t 
 
 Irijerefices  from  the  foregoing  Sermons, 
 
 the' ~Spini~ of  thQ'~Gofp'eI  ~v/efe  alwayT'leen,"* 
 where  the  Profeffion  of  it  is^  if  the  Go/pell 
 itfclf  were  truly  the  Cteed^  and  the  L^-k',  to  ,i 
 Cbriflians ;  the  only  Meafure  of  their  Faith,  \ 
 and  the  only  Rule  of  their  Adlions^  and  if 
 Love  and  Benevolence  (wallowed  up,  or  co-' 
 vered,  all  lelTer  Differences,  amongft  thofe  ofj 
 the  fame  Denomination:  How  few,  I  fay, ' 
 would  there  then  be  left,  of  ilit  comfnonTo-, 
 picks  againft  Cbriji's  Religion;  and  how  many* 
 of  thofe  Handles,  which  unreafonable  Men' 
 lay  hold  on,  againft  it,  would  then  be  takenj 
 away  ?  I 
 
 '  Bur,  when  another  Scene  is  perpetually  be- 
 fore the  Eyes  of  the  World  ;  when  many  of 
 the  Stewards  of  CbnjYs  Difpenfation,  make 
 themfelves  Lords  and  Majiers,  and  claim  aa 
 equal  Authority  with  Chrijl  himfelf,  whofe 
 Stewards  only  they  are  j  when  Thefe  are  found 
 beating  their  Feliow-fervants,  (as  the  Parabk 
 expieffeth  it,)  and  abufing  them,  when  the^ 
 fliould  be  giving  them  their  Meat  in  due  Seafon; 
 when  Worldly  Ends  are  brought  into  the  moft 
 Heavenly  Religion  that  ever  appeared  amongft 
 Men}  and  any  Dodrine,  though  never  fo  ab- 
 furd,  if  it  be  for  the  Increale  of  Power  or 
 Riches,  is  enforced  upon  Men,  by  the  fevereft 
 Penalties  of  this  prefent  World  ;  and  all,  un- 
 der the  common  Name  of  Him,  whofe  King- 
 dom 
 
 4"- 
 
'.^^=^-^ 
 
 hiferejices  from  the  fore^oi7icr  Sermoiis, 
 
 213 
 
 X. 
 
 dom  is  not  of  this  World;  when  the  Faith  of  Je  r  m. 
 Chrijiians  is   new  fettled,  by  weak  and  faUible 
 Men,   many  hundreds  of  Years  after  Chrifl  left 
 it    fettled   by  Himfelf;    and   the    Charity  of 
 Chrijiians   [o  confined,   by   thefe  new    Settle-i 
 ments,    and     by   the   Decrees   of    thofe   who! 
 make  them,  that  Chrijiians  of  later  Ages  havej 
 been  35  effectually  known  by  their  hating  and^ 
 abufing  one  another,  as  their  great  Majler  defiJ 
 red   they  fliould  be,  by  their  loving  one  anoA 
 ther :    When  this  is  the  Cafe,  I  fay,  then  we 
 find  Infidelity  gaining  Strength,  not  from  an^ 
 Argume7its  of  its  own,  but  from  thofe  which  ic 
 draws  from  the  Condudt  of  profefTed  Believ- 
 ers ;    and  many  induced  to  doubt  of,  or  caft 
 off,  the  Whokj  (which  they  are  not  at  Leifure 
 thoroughly  to  examine,)  for  the  Sake  of  thefe 
 additional  Evils  ;    which,  though  not  belong^ 
 ing  to  Chrifiianity  itfelf,  yet,  will  ever  be  treat-* 
 ed  of,  by  the  Enemies  of  it,  in  fuch  a  Mannerj. 
 as  if  they  did. 
 
 Thus,  it  is  probable  enough,  that  fulian 
 himfelf  became  an  Apoftate^  from,  the  Chrijli. 
 ans  of  his  Time,  rather,  than  from  Chrijiia- 
 nity  itfelf:  1  mean,  that  their  Behaviour 
 growing  then  worfe  and  worfe,  and  efpecially 
 their  Animofities  againfl  one  anotlier,  occafion- 
 ed  his  Relapfe;  and  provoked  the  unthinking 
 Man  to  what  He  could  not  have  been  moved  to, 
 
 P  3  upon 
 
2 J.  4^. 
 
 Infer ences_,  fromjhe  f^ofigomg^Sermons,^ _. 
 
 upon  the  fame  Accounts,  had  he  confulted 
 the  Gofpel  only,  and  the  Condudl  of  that 
 Mafter,  whom  they  profefled  to  follow.  And 
 how  much,  how  very  much,  of  the  Atheifmy 
 and  Infidelity,  of  thefe  later  Ages,  hath  the 
 Church  of  Rome  to  anfwer  for?  Whofe^^^/- 
 tional  Articles  of  Faith,  and  Rules  of  Difci- 
 pline,  backed  wiih  the  Terrors  of  this  ^orld, 
 and  fixed  upon  Chrifi  himfelf  by  his  pretended 
 Vicegerents,  cannot  but,  with  Men  who  think 
 enough  to  fee  their  Falfliood  and  Barbarity, 
 and  yet  not  enough  to  diflinguifli  between  them, 
 and  Chriflianity  itfelf,  weigh  down  the  Scale 
 to  the  Side  of  a  Total  Infidelity  :  Which  muft 
 be  charged,  not  only  upon  the  Infidels  them- 
 felves,  but  upon  all  who  have  given  them 
 this  Handle. 
 
 Chriftians  cannot  too  often  think  of  that 
 Denunciation  of  their  Majlers :  Woe  be  to  the 
 World,  becaufe  of  Ofifences  :  i.  e.  Great  Mif- 
 chicf,  and  Evil,  will  come  to  Men,  by  Stum- 
 bling-blocks, laid  in  the  Way  of  the  Gofpel-, 
 over  which  They  will  fall;  and  be  themlelves 
 condemned,  for  not  taking  more  Care  and 
 walking  with  more  Caution.  lor  it  mufi  needs 
 be  that  Offences  imll  come ;  i.e.  For,  fuch  is 
 the  Corruption ;  and  fuch  are  the  various 
 Pafiions,  and  Defigns,  of  Mankind,  that  they 
 will  often  lay  fuch  Stumbling-blocks  in  the  Way 
 
 of 
 
Inferencesfrom  iSe  fore^om^  Sermons, 
 
 of  their  Brethren.  But,  Woe  be  to  tboFMan 
 by  whom  they  come.  Woe  to  that  Man,  or  that 
 Churchy  ai  Body  ol  Men-,  who,  without  Rea- 
 fon,  and  without  Authority,  caft  in  the  Way 
 fuch  Stumbling-blocks^  as  are  the  Occcafion  of 
 falling  to  Others  j  the  Occafion  of  their  turning 
 out  of  the  Paths  of  Chrijiianity  itfelf.  This 
 one  Declaration  of  ourLord's^  Qiould,  methinks, 
 make  all  Perfons  afraid  of  deviating  one  Step 
 from  thofe  Lines  which  He  hath  marked  out 
 in  his  Gojpei  -J  or  of  venturing  to  enforce  upon 
 Men,  any  thing  which  is  not  truly  and  plainly 
 His. 
 
 Our  Church,  which  was   reformed    from 
 Popery ;  not  upon  the  Bottom  of  Lifallibility^ 
 or  Inconte/lable  Authority y   but   upon  that  of 
 Appealing  to  Chriji  himfelf,    in    his  Gofpel', 
 profefleth  that  the  Scriptures  are  the  Rule  to 
 all  Chrijlians ;  and  that  nothing  can  be  lawfully 
 required  of  them,    to  believe,  or  pradlije,  as 
 peculiar    to    their  Religion,    but    \vhat    is    in 
 Them  plainly  enjoined.     If  any,  therefore,   of 
 the  profefied  Members  of  this  Church,  have 
 gone   farther ;    either    pretending    to  Powers, 
 which  the  Gofpel  gives  them  not;  or  impofing 
 Syjlems   of    Religion,  about  which  the  Gofpel 
 is  not  exprefs  j  cither  enforcing  doubtful  things, 
 as  certain  ;   or  Matters,  not  made  neceilary  by 
 Chrift,  as  of  Neceffity  to  eternal  Salvation :  It 
 is  plain,  the  main  and  general  Principle,  by 
 P  4  which 
 
 )ERM. 
 X. 
 
 215 
 
2l6 
 
 Inferences  from  the  foregoing  Sermo77S. 
 
 which  the  (Jhurcb  itlelt  delires,  and  declares, 
 that  all  ought  to  be  conduced,  doth  by  no 
 Means  bear  them  out  j  but,  indeed,  condemns 
 and  dilapproves  them. 
 
 Let  us,    therefore,   confider,  ferloufly,  that 
 as  often  as  we  forfake  this  Rule-,  as  often  as 
 we  pretend  to  be  IVife  above  what  is  written ', 
 and,    in  any  Degree,    or  any  Sort,   to  add  to 
 Chrift's  Laws,  or  new  model  his  DoBrines  ;  as 
 often  as  we  do,  in  any  Meafure,    approach  to 
 the  Violence^  or  Cruelty^  or  Ccnfure^  which  we 
 conflantly    condemn    in    others^    when    they 
 pradlife  them   again  if    ourfches ;    as   often   as 
 we    abufe    and    vilify  our    Brethren,  judging 
 oihev^JteJore  tbe  -'Q^imey  mdesLd  o^  judging  oiir-- 
 felves ;    as  often  as  we  make,   what  Ihould  be 
 the  Subjcd  of  Charity^  and  mutual  Forbearance^ 
 the  Caufe  of  JJnchrijlian  Fires ^  and  JJnchrijiian 
 Animofities,  againfl  One  another ;  in  a  word,  that 
 as  often  as  our  Lives  contradid:,  in  any  known 
 L:in:ance,  the  Moral  Law i  of  our  Religion -^  or 
 our  Under jlandings  fet  themfelves  up  for  JnfaU 
 lible,  or  Decifive^  Guides  to  all  others:  That, 
 fo  often  we  are  probably  making  our  Religion 
 itfelf  fuller  in  the  Opinion  of  others-,    railing 
 up  new  Enemies  to  God,  or  making  his  old 
 Enemies,  a-new  Blaffdjeme-y    and  laying  fuch 
 'Stumbling-blocks  in  Men's  Way,  as  may  be  fatal 
 to  many  about  us.     Let  us  confider  this  feri- 
 
 ouflys 
 
 "SE  RM. 
 X. 
 
Infere7ices  from  the  foregomg  Sermons, 
 
 ouily;  together  with  the  great  Work  we  have 
 upon  our  own  Hands,  to  prepare  ourfelves 
 for  that  tremendous  Day,  when  we  hope  that 
 God  will  not  be  Kxtrcme  to  mark  what 
 is  amifs  in  ourfelves :  And  We  (hall  not  eafily 
 be  induced  to  have  any  Hand,  upon  any  Pre- 
 tenfe  whatfoever,  in  fetting  Men  at  a  Diftance 
 from  that  Holy  Gofpel,  by  which  otherwife 
 they  might  be  made  happy  j  or,  in  increa- 
 •fing  that  Infidelity,  which  might  otherwife 
 happily  end  in  embracing  the  fame  Faiths 
 and  laying  hold  on  \hQfa?ne  Hope  of  Sahationy 
 which  We  have  ourfelves  embraced,  through 
 Jefus  Chrifly  our  Lord. 
 
 ERM. 
 X. 
 
 Tbt 
 
 217 
 
a  tetraaKsmssatr-  r-r—ss 
 
 SERM 
 XI. 
 
 Tbe  prefent  Delufwn  of  many  Protejiants,  con- 
 fidered. 
 
 SERMON    XI. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Peter's  Poor,  Novemb.  5,  171 5. 
 
 2  T  H  E  s  s.  ii.  II. 
 
 'And  for  this  Caufe  God  (hall  fend  them  Jlrong 
 Delufony  that  they  Jhould  believe  a  Lie, 
 
 TH I  S  Day  hath  fo  juft  a  Title  to  every 
 Sentiment,  and  every  Signification,  of 
 Joy  and  Gratitude,  We  can  poffibly 
 entertain  or  exprefs,  as  We  are  Chriftians,  as 
 We  are  Proteftants,  and  as  We  are  Men ;  that  I 
 could  heartily  wifh  that  every  Thought  and 
 every  Token  of  Uneafinefs,  might  be  baniOied 
 far  from  it.  But  fince  it  is  fo,  that  it  bears  upon 
 it,  not  only  the  Signatures  of  God's  repeated 
 Mercy  to  this  Nation ;  but  the  Marks  of  an  In- 
 gratitude and  Stupidity,  perhaps,  not  to  be  e- 
 qualled  in  all  Hiilory  :  Since  it  doth  not  more 
 ^  effedlu- 
 
^^^ 'The  prefent  Ddufion  qf^_  8cc. 
 
 M^ 
 
 effeQually  call  to  our  Mind  tliat  Great  Won-  ^  e  rm: 
 der  of  Providence,  to  which  it  gave  a  Begin-  1   xi. 
 mng' within"  our  own  Memory,  and  which  our  ^i^'V^ 
 own    Eyes   have   feen    compleated ;     than   it- 
 points  out  to  us  that  Scene  of  Iniquity  and  Re- 
 bellion, which  is  now  opened,  in  order  toper^. 
 plex  and  unravel  that  lovely  Frame  of  Thino-s 
 which   peaven    itfelf  hath   wrought   for  us: 
 The  Comrnemoration  of  the  Bleffings  of  this 
 Day,  cannot  but  lead  our  Thoughts,  at  pre- 
 jfAt^  to  the- Attem pts.  of  Thofe,  who  would; 
 rob  us,  and  all  our  Pofterity,  of  them ;    and 
 rmiflrcre^eln' irsa"n~Aftonifliment,  mixed  witti 
 Pity  and  Indignation,  at  the  Condudt  of  many 
 ^ffiorrgttTrs7~lrom~w]iom'"  the  Ties  of  ReH- ' 
 gion,   the  Solemnity  of  Oaths,  the  Security  of 
 all  that  is  valuable  in  tl]us_VVorld,   the  Interefl: 
 of  their  Native  Country,  and  all  the  Obliga- 
 tions of  Honour,  and  Confcience,  required  and 
 demanded' another  Manner  of  Behaviour, 
 
 It  is  a  Condud,  indeed,  which  can  hardly 
 be  refolved  into  any  thing,  but  a  Fatal  Delii- 
 fion^  fent  down  upon  them,  as  a  juft  Punifh- 
 ment  of  their  Ingratitude  for  the  greatefl  Pub- 
 lic Happinefs  that  ever  any  Nation  enjoyed  ; 
 and  will  at  leaft  give  us  a  fenfible  Demonftra- 
 tion,  that,  as  in  Religion,  according  to  the 
 ApQJile^  a  perverfe  and  a  wilful  Oppofition  to 
 "Truths  naturally,  as  well  as  by  the  Juftice  of 
 
 God, 
 
220 
 
 The  prefent  Delufion  of 
 
 LTV^ 
 
 SE  RM.  God,  leads,  in  the  End,  to  a  Belief,  and  Con- 
 XI.  jfidence,  in  every  Thing  abfurd,  and  unrealon- 
 able:  So,  in  worldly  Matters,  Ingratitude,  and 
 Infenfibility,  under  the  Public  Bleffings  of 
 Providence,  lead  Men,  Step  by  Step,  to  miftake 
 Evil  for  Good  ;  to  court  Mifery  for  Happinefs; 
 and  to  purfue  their  own  Ruin,  under  the  No- 
 tion of  fomething  defireable :  And  ^that,  in 
 both  Cafes,  it  is  but  juft  in  Almighty  God,  to 
 puniih  Men  for  their  wilful  Bafenefs  of  Spirit, 
 by  leaving  them  entirely  to  the  Condudt  of  it ; 
 and,  in  the  Scripture  Phrafe^  to  feud  Them, 
 who  will  not  know  the  Value  of  Truth  or  Hap- 
 pinefs, freely  offered  to  them,  a  jlrong  Delu- 
 fion^ that  they  Jldould  believe  a  hie  \  and  be  led 
 blindfold,  by  the  greatefl  Abfurdities,  againft 
 all  the  Evidences  of  Reafon,  and  Experience, 
 into  the  Paths  of  Ruin  and  Deftruclion.  Nor 
 were  there  ever  indeed,  more  furprizing  Inftan- 
 ces  of  this,  than  what  our  own  Eyes  may,  at 
 this  Time,  behold,   in  this. Kingdom. 
 
 The  Wonder  is  not,  that  the  profelTed 
 Members  of  the  Church  of  Rome^  unite  their 
 Hearts  and  Hands ;  and  leave  no  Methods, 
 whether  of  Deceit  or  Violence,  unattempted, 
 for  the  Service  of  that  Caufe,  which,  in  all  their 
 loweft  Fortunes,  they  never  fuffer  to  be  re- 
 moved out  of  their  Sight ;  that  They  put  on  all 
 the  Forms  of  Complaifance,  and  Diffimula- 
 
 tion. 
 
:22I 
 
 XI. 
 
 many  Prote/iants^  co?2jtdered, 
 tion  ;  of  Civility  and  Good  Humour,  even  to  j  e  r  m. 
 Hereticks  themfelves,  to  inveigle  them  into 
 their  own  Ruin  ;  that  They  flatter,  and  pro- 
 mife,  and  fwear,  every  thing  that  is  good  and 
 kind,  to  their  Fellow-labourers ;  and,  at  the 
 fame  time,  enter  into  all  the  Refolutions  of  De- 
 ftrudion,  and  Defolation,  whenever  the  Od- 
 portunity  of  Power  (hall  come.  This  is  no- 
 thing, btit  what  is  worthy  of  Themfelves,  and 
 of  that  Church,  to  the  Slavery  of  which  They 
 have  devoted  themlelves.  It  is  no  more,  than 
 what  They  fairly,  and  publickly,  profefs;  if 
 Protejiants  will  but  open  their  Eyes,  and  fee  it. 
 It  is  their  Religion,  and  their  Confcience:  It  is 
 inculcated  upon  them,  as  the  Great  Condition 
 of  their  Acceptance  with  God,  That  no  Good- 
 nature of  their  own;  no  Obligations  from 
 others  J  no  Ties  of  Oaths,  and  folemn  AfTur- 
 ances  j  no  Regards  to  Truth,  Juftice,  or  Ho- 
 nour-, are  to  reftrain  Them  from  any  Thing, 
 let  it  be  of  what  Sort  foever,  that  is  for  the 
 Security,  or  Temporal  Advancement,  of  their 
 Church. 
 
 The  Cafe  with  Them  is  not,  as  it  is  with 
 Protejiants,  who,  to  their  Shame,  have  indeed 
 been  unmerciful  to  one  another,  on  all  Sides: 
 But  then,  their  mutual  Violences  have  been  ra- 
 ther the  fudden  Effeds  of  Paffion  and  Revenge; 
 And  itill  there  hath  been  a  Principle  left,  by 
 
 which. 
 
222: 
 
 ^I'he  prejenf  beliljion  of 
 
 s  E  R  M.  which,  in  the  Time  of  calm  and  cool  Reflexion, 
 XI,     there  may  be  Hope  of  curing  fo  great  an  Evil. 
 
 "•^^^^''^  And  every  Sort  of  them,  when  they  are  un- 
 dermoft,  difown,  and  difclaim,  the  Lawfulnefs 
 of  all  fuch  Proceedings. 
 
 But  in  the  Romip  Church,  it  is  firmly  fet- 
 tled, upon  never-altered  Principles  j  it  is  an  Ef- 
 tabliflied  Article  of  Religion;  equally  believed, 
 and  owned,  and  inculcated,  in  their  Adverfity, 
 and  low  Eftate,  as  in  the  Highth  of  their 
 Power.  It  ftands  unrepealed,  upon  Record; 
 and  it  is  confirmed  by  Experience,  that  They 
 are  moft  likely  not  to  fail  of  the  Honours  of 
 Saintlhip,  and  the  Applaufes  of  that  Churchy 
 who  ad:  tlje  mod  uniformly,  and  the  mofl 
 fteadily,  upon  that  Foundation.  Every  Wea- 
 pon they  ufe,  is  fandified  j  every  Inftance  of 
 Fraud,  and  Perfidioufnefs  >  every  Degree  of 
 Violence,  and  Fury  ;  is  conkcrated.  It  is  not 
 only  allowed;  but  firil  recommended,  and  af- 
 terwards rewarded. 
 
 This,  therefore,  is  not  the  Wonder,  that 
 Men  devoted  to  fuch  a  Churchy  keep  up  to 
 their  antient  Character,  and  ProfeUion ;  that 
 They  dont  defied  a  Step  from  the  Glories  of 
 their  Illujlrious  Ancejlors ;  that  They  are  not  at 
 all  moved  by  the  Peace  and  Intereft  of  their 
 Counfry;  nor  by  that  Security  and  Quiet, 
 which  even  Themfelves  might  enjoy,   by  the 
 
 Indul- 
 
7nmy  Frotejlants^  conjtdered* 
 
 Indulgence  of  a  Government  They  will  not  s  e  r  m* 
 
 223 
 
 xr. 
 
 Support ;   that  They  are  (till  the  fame  implaca- 
 ble Adverfaries;   and  ftill  fet  on  Fire,  by  the '-'^V\/ 
 Principles,  and  the  Zeal,  of  their  Religion,  to 
 fcatter  Ruin,    and  Deftrudion,    round    about 
 them;    and   to  deprive    their  Neighbours   of 
 every  Thing  that  is  Good  and  Valuable. 
 
 But  the  Wonder  is,  that  fo  Many  of  Thofe, 
 who  call  themfelves  Proteflants ;  and  of  Thofe, 
 who  have  violently  wrefled  the  Name  of 
 Church-men^  out  of  the  Hands  of  their  Brethren, 
 and  appropriated  it  to  themfelves,  as  its  o'nly 
 Advocates  and  Patriots;  of  Thofe,  whofe  Cares 
 for  its  Intereft,  and  Fears  for  its  Safety,  have 
 been  fwcUed  and  magnified,  above  thofe  of  all 
 around  them,  to  a  Degree  almofl  Romantic; 
 and  even  of  fome,  amongft  them,  who  have  fo- 
 lemnly  given  their  Faith  to  xhtprefent  EJiabliJId- 
 ment^  and  not  only  fworn  themfelves  to  Thafy 
 but  abjured  all  contrary  Pretenfions:  That  fo 
 many,  I  fay,  who  will  take  it  amifs  not  to  be 
 called  ProtejiantSy  and  much  more  amifs,  not 
 to  be  called  Church- men ^  have  (hewn  too  great 
 a  Readinefs  to  join,  fome,  their  Hands,  fome 
 their  Hearts,  and  fome,  their  Indifference,  with 
 the  worfl:  of  Enemies,  in  the  worft  of  Caufes; 
 and  to  be  deluded  themfelves,  as  well  as  help 
 to  delude  others,  into  utter  Deftrudion,  by  the 
 weakeft,  and  moft  groundlefs  Infinuations,  and 
 4  all 
 
224 
 
 77?^  prefefit  Delujton  of 
 
 s  E  i<  m|  all  the  moft  abfurd  Methods, that  ever  any  Caufe 
 XI.      was  fupported,  and  propagated  by.     It  cannot, 
 ^^'^V^   thererore,  but  be  of  Ufe,  at  this  Time,  to  con- 
 fider   more  particularly, 
 
 I.  The  Cauje^  now  openly  avowed  by  our 
 Enemies. 
 
 II.  The  Marks  of  a  Jlrong  Delufion^  in  the 
 Behaviour  of  TljoJ'e,  whom  I  have  juft  now  men- 
 tioned, with  relation  to  it. 
 
 I.  The  Caufe  is  now  openly  avowed.  It  is 
 no  longer  either  denied,  or  dilTembled.  It  is, 
 to  fet  upon  the  Throne  of  thefe  Kingdoms,  a 
 Pretender^  at  whofe  fiiil:  Appearance  in  the 
 World,  the  whole  Nation  of  Proteftants^  of  all 
 Parties,  and  all  Orders,  and  all  Degrees,  was 
 filled  with  univerfal  Diffatisfadion,  and  Unea- 
 iinefs,  by  the  Concurrence  of  all  the  fufpicious 
 Circumftances  that  could  well  be  united  in  one 
 Matter  of  Fa(a  sand  whofe  Imaginary  Title  our 
 Laws  abhor,  as  abfolutely  inconfident  with 
 Themfelves,  and  ruinous  to  our  whole  Confii- 
 lution:  And  not  only  this,  but  a  Pretender^ 
 who,  to  make  Him  the  fitter  to  govern  this 
 Protejlant  Nation,  and  to  be  the  Patron  of  this 
 Protejlant  Church,  hath  received  all  his  firft, 
 and  deepefc  Imprefiions,  from  That  of  RomCy 
 to  which  He  hath  devoted  Himfelf  with  an  un- 
 common Bigotry. 
 
 And 
 
ntan^  ProteflantSy  coiifidered. 
 
 22 
 
 And  this  Churchy  from  which  alone  He  hath  s  e  R  M. 
 learned  all  his  Obligations,  and  every  thing  that     xi. 
 He  accounts  Religion^  is  the  Same,  which  keeps  ^-'''"V^ 
 up  an  eternal  Claim  to   the  Riches^  as  well  as   ! 
 the  Obedience,  of  this  Nation :  The  fame,  which 
 hath  afTured  Him,  with  the  alTumed  Authority 
 of  God  himfclf,  that  He  not  only  ma)\  but 
 muji ;   that  it  is  not  only  lawful,   but  his  Duty^ 
 by  all  the  Methods  of  Diflimulation  and  Force, 
 to  extirpate  Herefy  out  of  our  Religion,  or  Our- 
 felves  out  of  the  World :    The  Same,  which  t 
 hath  taught  Him,   that  Promifes,  and  Profef-  | 
 lions,  made  to  Hereticks,  in  order  to  the  obtain-  i 
 ing   his  End,   are   good,    and    laudablej    but,  j 
 after  that  is  obtained,  become  Sin,  by  being  \ 
 ■  obferved :    The   Same,   in   one  Word,   which 
 knows  no  Virtue,  but,  that  which  is  the  Mean- 
 ell:  Vice  and  Difgrace  of  Human  Nature,    a 
 blind  Submiffion  of  the  Confcience  to  Man's 
 Authority,  where  Man  can  have  no  Authority; 
 and  which  knows  no  Vice,   but,  that  which  is 
 the  Supreme  Virtue  and  Glory  of  an  Under- 
 flanding  Being,  tliQ /landing  fa/l  in  that  Reli- 
 gious Liberty,     with    which  Almighty    God^ 
 both  by  the  Law  of  Nature,  and  the  Gofpel  of  | 
 Jejiis  Chrift,  hath  made  us  Free-,   that  Freedom\ 
 of  Choice,  and  Honelt  Ufe  of  our  Reafon,  (the 
 neglected  Gift  of  God,)  which  alone  tan  ren- 
 
 Oi  dcr 
 
225 
 
 'The  prefe7U  Deluf,on  of 
 
 .  der  the  Religion  of  a^  Man,  acceptable  in  his 
 Eye?. 
 
 If  the  Tmpreffionsof  this,  are  fo  much  de- 
 cayed with  Any  amongft  Us,  that  They  a(k, 
 ^bere,    or  IFbe??,  That  Church  hath   taught   ! 
 Him  all  this:  Let  any  of  its  Advocates,  anfvver,  | 
 and  tell  us,  IVhere,  or  lVhe?i,  that  Church  ever  \ 
 taught   the  contrary :  Let  them  name  any  one 
 Jnftance,    in   which    the  public  Authority,   or 
 the   mod   celebrated  Writers,   of  that  Church, 
 ever    dilappioved  or  condemned;   or  ever  did 
 not    encourage,     and    applaud,    any   Sort   of 
 Wickednefs  for  their  own  Temporal  Intereft: 
 Let  them   fliev/  us,  where   their    Leaders  in- 
 culcate  it,    as    an    Indifpenfable    Duty,    that  j 
 Oaths  taken,-  and  Fromifes  folemnly  made,  to 
 Such  as  they  pleafe  to  account  Hereticks,  are 
 to  be  Religioufly  obferved:    Let  them  produce 
 their  Authentic  Condemnations,  and  Anathe- 
 matizations, of  Thofe  of  their  own   Church, 
 who  have  dealt  in  all  the  Arts  of  Perfidioufnefs 
 and  Cruelty^  to  enlarge,   or  recover,   Domini- 
 on, and  Riches.     This  might  juftly  be  exped-- 
 ed;  if  it  were  juft  to  expcd  what  is  iirpof- 
 fible. 
 
 They  themfelves  know  that  this  is  no  Lna- 
 ginary  Satyr ^  merely  to  embeiliHi  a  Difcourfe; 
 or  to  raifc  the  Pafllons  of  Men:  But  that  it  is 
 too  plain  to  all,  who  will  open  their  Eyes,  and 
 
 fee. 
 
manyTroteJiants.,  conjiderej^ 
 
 22J_ 
 
 Tee.*     It  is'wnt  too  dee  pin  Characflers  of 'ETood,  s  e  r'm.' 
 and  Ruine,  to  be  fo  much  as   denied  even  byl     xi. 
 
 Themfelves,  that  the  Methods,  of  DiJJimula- 
 tio?2,  to  Inveigle  unhappy  Men  into  a  Truft  and 
 Confidence ;  of  PerfidiouJ'nefs^  to  cut  in  fun- 
 der  the  Ties  of  all  Security;  of  Barbarities 
 and  Inhumanities,  in  cold  Blood,  and  upon  ma- 
 ture Deliberation,  have  been  all  confecrated  to 
 Glory;  ^Dlefled,  applauded,  and  rewarded,  by 
 the  Public  Voice  of  that  Church  :  Whofe  true, 
 and  legitimate  Son,  we  acknowledge  Him  to 
 be,  who  now  claims  our  Deflrudion,  as  his 
 Right  ;  and  comes  forth  to  afTert  it,  Sandified 
 by  the  Benedidions,  and  prepared  by  the"  Lef- 
 fons,  of  fo  Holy  a  Mother;  and  fired  with 
 the  Madnefs  of  Revenge,  made  Ten  times 
 Hotter  by  the  Fury  of  fuch  a  Religion.  This 
 is  a  fhort  View  of  that  Scene  of  Things,  which 
 not  only  ma)\  but  ?72iifl  come^  if  the  Caufe  now 
 avowed  by  our  Enemies  (hould  be  crowned  with 
 Power  and  Opportunity. 
 
 One  would  think,  indeed,  if  either  the  Senfe 
 of  Feeling,  or  of  Gratitude,  were  not  wholly 
 dead  amongft  Us,  it  might  be  enough  to  alarm 
 the  coldeft  Breafi,  to  think  only  upon  what 
 the  fame  Caufe  profefieth,  and  attempts,  tol 
 remove  from  Us.  To  deprive  Us,  of  a  K  i  ng, 
 who  is  poffefiTed  of  all  the  Royal  and  Humane 
 Virtues,  that  any  Nation  could  wifli  to  fee  U-l 
 
 i 
 
 0^2  nited 
 
 wOT^J 
 
"^'heprefent  Delufton  of 
 
 $  E  R  Ml  nlfed"  in  a'Governour  ;  and  poiTefTed  of  them, 
 XI.     in  fo  great  a  degree,  that  were  his  People  but  as 
 (•^'nJ  willing  to  be  made  happy,  as  He  is,   to  make 
 them  fo,  nothing  upon  Earth  could  equal  the 
 Bleffings  of  his  Reign ;  of  a  King,  who  hath 
 given  the  World,  the  fenfible  and  certain  De- 
 monflration  of  Experience,  that  no  Highth  of 
 Power  can  corrupt  the  Equity  of  his  Nature, 
 or  diforder  the  Temper  of  His  Soul :    To  de- 
 prive Us  of  fuch  a  King  5  and  with  Him,  of 
 a  Prince,  whofe  Noble  Paffion  for  the  true 
 Intereft  of  this  Nation,  makes  His  Name  dear 
 to  every  true  Britorit  and  every  True  Protejiant : 
 Of  a  Princess,    Whofe  Private  Virtues  give 
 Light,  and  Pleafure  to  all  around  Her  3  and 
 Whofe  Greatnefs  of  Soul  taught  Her  long  ago, 
 to  difdain  the  Allurements  oi  Popery ^  tho'  cloth- 
 ed in  all  this  World's  Majefty,  and   Glory : 
 And  of  a  Numerous  Race,  to  be  formed  for  the 
 fupport  of  our  Religion,  and   Liberties,   by 
 thefe  Examples :  Such  a  Scene  of  Good,  in  Pof- 
 feffion,  as  Few  Nations  upon  Earth  have  ever 
 experienced !  And  fuch  a  View  of  Good  to  come, 
 as  calls  the  Blejjwgs  of  Future  Times  into  our 
 own ;  and  adds  to  the  Happinefs  of  the  Prefent 
 Generation,  a  T^ajie  of  the  Happinefs  of  their 
 Poflerity  1   And,  what  is  this,  in  other  Words, 
 but,  to  deprive  Us  of  every  prefent  Good,  and 
 
 every 
 
many  ProteJla7tts  conjidered^ 2^9 
 
 every  future  Hope,  of  ProteJiantSy  BritofiSy  and  $  e  R  m. 
 M€n  F  XI. 
 
 If  we  fum  It  up,  therefore,  and  {hew  it  in  C/'V^ 
 one  View  j  the   Caufe   now   entered   into,  by 
 our  Enemies,  is.  To  remove  from  Us,  a  King 
 whofe  Right  is  the  very  Eflence,  Band,  and 
 Fundamental  Law,  of  Society ;   and  whofe  In- 
 dinatioa.  Nature,   and  Religion,   all  confpire 
 to  make  Him  the  Father  of  his  People,  delight- 
 ing in  their  Happinefs,  as  in  his  own  :   And  to 
 place  in  his  flead,  a  Pretender,  v/hofe  Imagi- 
 nary 'Title  is  founded  upon  the  very  Suppofition 
 of  our  Ruin  j  and  Who,  if  He  were  pofTefTed 
 of  all  the  Good  Qualities  with  which  His  Befl 
 Friends  could  wifh,  at  this  time,  to  paint  Him 
 out,  yet,   is  Himfelf  poffefTed  by  fuch  a  Reli- 
 gioUy  as   muft  deftroy  them  all  j   fuch  a  Reli^ 
 gioriy  as  teacheth  Him  not  to  exped  either  Fa- 
 vour from  Thofe  who  profefs  it  here,  or  Mer- 
 cy from  God  hereafter,  unlefs  He  makes  the 
 Deftrudion,  both  of  our  Church  and  State,  the 
 Great  Bufinefs  of  his  Life,  whenever  He  hath 
 Power  in  his  Hands :  Nay,  afTures  Him  of  the 
 Wrath  both  of  God  and  Man,  fliould  He  be 
 fo  Wicked,  as  ever  to  think  of  obferving  thofe 
 Protefiatiom,  or  keeping  thofe  Promifes,  which 
 are  only  allowed  to  delude  unwary  Men  into 
 their  own  Ruine.     This  is  the  Afped,  which 
 it  hath  upon  our  felves,  at  prefent. 
 
 CL3      And 
 
...^Jhe.  pzefenLDelufionof_ 
 
 SERM.       And  then,  for  the  future,   It  is  not  only  to 
 XI.    ;  remove  from  Us   thofe  Royal  Pledges  of  Good 
 
 l^^V^ito  come,  which  our  Eyes  now  behold  j  but  it 
 is  :o  banifli  iar  out  of  our  Sight,  the  moft  dif- 
 tant  Profpe(ft  of  any  Proteflant  Royal  Family, 
 for  ever ;  and  to  place  o\  er  Us,  a  long  Chain 
 of  Popifli  Succeffors,  never  to  be  difiblved,  or 
 interrupted  ;  in  which  the  latter  Branches  may 
 be  fure  to  compleat  any  Part  of  our  Ruine,  in 
 which  the  Former  may  have  failed.  So  that  it 
 is,  in  deed,  and  in  truth,  to  rob  Us^  and  our 
 Jateft  Pofterity,  of  every  thing  We  can  Value, 
 in  this  World  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,  of  all 
 Thought  of  ever  enjoying  it  again  :  And  it  is, 
 to  bring  upon  Us,  and  upon  all  after  Us,  every 
 Evil  that  Human  Nature  ought  moft  to  fear, 
 without  fo  much  as  the  faint  Glimmering  of  any 
 Hope  of  Future  Redrefs., 
 
 This  is  the  Cmije  now  fet  on  foot  by  our 
 Enemies.  And,  I  am  veryfure,  not  aggravated 
 beyond  Truth  ;  becaufe  it  is  a  Cmife,  too  bad  to 
 be  capable  of  Aggravation.  No  Colours  can 
 make  it  more  black,  than  it  is,  in  it  felf.  No 
 Words  can  reprefent  it  worfe,  than  it  reprefents 
 it  fclf  now  to  the  World,  fupported  by  the 
 Zeal  of  Popery :  whofe  only  Strength  lies  in  the 
 One  Comprehenfive  Principle,  of  Holy  Perfi- 
 dioufnefs,  and  Iniquity ;  which  tears  every 
 Good  Principle  up  by  the  Roots,  and  fandifies 
 
 and 
 
many  Prof  eft  dhts^  con/jdered,  — 
 
 231 
 
 '  and  llrengtBens  every  baa'one^      I'might  have  i  ITKM. 
 
 i  placed  before  your  Eyes,  a  Scene  of  thoib  E-      xi. 
 
 '  vils,    which    the   conftant  Experience   of  this  'y'V\J 
 Nanon  it  felf,  as   well  as  of  All   around  Us, 
 aflurcs  Us,  have  always  accompanied  it.      But 
 
 '<  I  chofe  rather  to  d^tw  it  in  another  Light  j  that 
 Such  as  are  deluded  with  the  fmooth  Words, 
 and  fait^  Promifes,  of  its  Advocates,  may  be 
 convinced,  from  thoJe  Obligations  of  Religion, 
 
 '  and  Confcience,  which  it  layeth  upon  its  Dif- 
 
 .  ciples,  that  It  not  only  always  was,  in  fad,  fo 
 fatal,  wherever  it  hath  prevailed;  but  72ever 
 can  be  otherwife.     And  yet,  even  with  refpedt 
 
 j  to  this  Canfe-j   the  Worft,  in   all   its  Circum- 
 
 i  ftances,  that  any  Nation  under  Heaven  can  be 
 witnefs  to  ;  how  aflonidiing  is  the  Condufl  of 
 
 ,  Many,  who  call  themfelves  ProteJla?its,  and 
 perhaps  think  Themfelves  fo  ?  Let  us  now, 
 
 I  therefore,  conlider, 
 
 ! 
 
 ;'     IL  The  Marks  of  a  Jlrojig  Delufwn,  in  the 
 
 I  Behaviour  of  Thofe,   who  join    either   their 
 
 Hands^  or  their  Hearts,  or  their   Indiffereiice^ 
 ■  to  carry  on  the  W' ork  of  our  Worft  Enemies  j 
 
 whilft  they  expert  to  be  thought  Protejlants^ 
 _  and  Churchmen.     And, 
 
 I .  How  ftrong  a  Dehi/Jofi  mud  be  upon  the 
 Minds  of  thofe  Men,  who  have  (hewn  them- 
 felves as  ready  to  fwallow  all  the  moft  ridiculous, 
 
 0^4  and 
 
=t  r 
 
 232 
 
 T%e  prefent  Delufan  of 
 
 SERM.  'and  groundlefs  Stories  J  as  the  Difciples  of  Po/i^ry 
 XI.     have  been   to   invent,  and   propagate   them  ?    i 
 
 t/^VNJ  If  one  refleds  upon  what  hath  palled  amongft 
 Us   of  late,    one  would  be  apt  to  think,   that 
 the  whole  Condu6t  of  the  Machiiie  for  making 
 and  diftnbuting  Falje  Reports  to  the  Credulous 
 People,  had  been  lodged,  and  entrufted,  with 
 the  Managers  of  the  PopiJI:  Canfe^  in  thi^s  King- 
 dom.   I  forbear  to  look  back  farther.     It  is  e- 
 nough  to  remember,   that  His  MajeJIy  had  no 
 fooner  taken  Quiet  PolTeflion  of  that  'T'hrone, 
 which  God  hath  given  Him,   but  that  all  the 
 Scandal,  and  Infamy  j   every  thing  that  could 
 tend  to  make  Wmfelf\  and  his  lllujlrious  Fafni- 
 ly,  contemptible,    or  hateful,  was   fcattered  a- 
 bout,  with  a  Diligence  and  Zeal  almuft  incre- 
 dible.   No  matter  how  inconiiftent ;  how  felf- 
 contradidlory ;  how  much  beyond  the  common 
 fize  of  Credibility;  from  that  Day  to  this,  it 
 hath   been  dealt  about,  with  fo  uninterrupted 
 an  Induftry,  that,  I  believe,  no  Age  ever  was 
 witnefs  to  fo  many,  and  fo  extravagant  Inventi- 
 ons of  Malice,  crowded  into  fo  {hort  a  Period 
 of  Time  :    And  every  one  of  them  fo  vifibly,  j 
 and   palpably,  framed  to  ferve   the   Canfe  of\ 
 Popery  ;   and  fo  hugged,   and  enjoyed,   by  the  ! 
 Papifls ;   (who  all   the  while  are  laughing  at 
 the  Credulity  of  their  Fellow-Labourers  ;)   that 
 no  ProtfJIants,  of  what  Church   foever,   but 
 
 fuch 
 
7nany  Protejlants^  conjidered,  1233 
 
 jfuch  as  are  wilfully,  or  fatally,  blind  to  their  sierm. 
 iown  Prefervation,  could  fliew  that  Greedinefs,   i  xi.    " 
 which  hath  been  obferved,  in  fwallowing,  and  (•'VNJ 
 fpreading  all  the  Fi5liom  of  their  VVorJl  Rne-  i 
 mies-j  and  that  refolute  Backwardnefs  to  be- 
 lieve the   contrary,   to  which  even  their  own 
 Senfes    might  be  WitnelTes.     I   have  an  Eye 
 i  particularly  now,  to  that  Heap  of  Mea?2,   and 
 Low  Calumny ',  to  that  immenfe  Number  of 
 the  moft  groveling  Falflioods,   (not  fit  to  be 
 mentioned)  calculated  for  the  Populace  %  fome 
 '  for  a  Week,  fome  for  a  Day,  or  even  for  an 
 i  Hour :  in  order  to  alienate  their  Affedlions 
 from  their  only  true  Intereft,  and  to  turn  their 
 Paffions  another  way. 
 
 2.  But  this  alone  would  not  do.    The  Great 
 Artifice  of  the  Romanijh^  who  are  ever  obliged, 
 in  Confcience,  to  keep  our  Ruine  in  their  Eye, 
 hath  been  to  give  a  falfe  Scent  to  Many  Protef- 
 tanis,   who  might  otherwife  join  in  oppofing 
 their  conftant  Defigns  j  to  turn  their  Jealoufies 
 to  Shadows  of  their  own  raifing ;  and,  in  or- 
 '  der  to  remove  their  Thoughts  from  real  Dan- 
 ger, to  make  them  Fear^   where  7io  Fear  is. 
 j  And,  ading  this  part,  with  their  ufual  Dexte- 
 I  rity,  in  conjundion  with  the  Fire  of  Ambition 
 .  in  So?nej  and  the  Confcioufnefs   of  Guilt  in  O- 
 thers ',   they  have  had  too  much  Succefs  in  it, 
 amongft  Thofe,  who  feem  little  to  care  what 
 
 becomes 
 
iu....    . 
 
 -J134,,,  J T^f-t^/f^^iLPj^/^^  ^f 
 
 SERM.  becomes  of  the  Public,  if  ^hemfehrs   be   not  ' 
 
 XI.     pleafed  in  all  th'iigs. 
 Ky^V^  I     I  fhall   mention   only  One,  or  l^wo.  of  the 
 oft  remark-able  Inftances   of  this.      In  order   j 
 o   turn  the  Jealoufies   of  weak  Men,   from    I 
 heir  own  Quarter,  upon  xhcGcvernmeJit  it  felf,    : 
 t  hath  been  one  Great  Piece  of  their  Art,    to    j 
 jreprefent  all  Attempts  in  favour  of  the  iPrr/^;z-   i 
 '^er,  ^sChimaras,  and  Impofiible  Imaginations; 
 land,  at  the  fame  time,  to  give  Aflurances  to  all 
 jtrufiy  and  faith (ul  Friends,  that   the  Attempt 
 Iwas  certain,   and  too  deeply  laid,  to  miicarry. 
 'This,  they  knew,  would  be  of  fervice  to  Them, 
 'two  ways.      The  One  Part  of  it  would  keep  up 
 the  Hearts,   and  Spirits,  of  the  Friends  of  his 
 Caufe  ;   and  prepare  Them  for  his  Affiftance  : 
 Nay,  and  increafe  their  Number,  and  their  In- 
 folence.  And  the  Other,  would  be  fure  to  bring 
 Reproaches  upon  any  fuch  Preparations  of  De- 
 fenfe,  as  would  be  abfolutely  necelTary  tooppofe 
 fuch  an  Attempt.      This  was  carried  farther:  I 
 even  to  the  charging,  or  infinuating,  Defigns  of  j 
 Arbitrary  Power,  to  be  fupported  by  an  Army, 
 here  at   Home.      So  that   this  was  the  Hard  | 
 Lot  of  Thofe   who  had  the  Care  of  the  Na-  ? 
 tion  in  their  Tiufl.    If  They  made  ro  Provifion 
 for  our  Security,  before   inch  an  Attempt  was 
 opened  ;   our  Enemies  might  the  better  promife 
 Themfelves  Succefs.     And  if  they  did  ;  the 
 
 fame 
 
 j'»  -  .  - — i. 
 
._many  FroteftantSy  conftdered. 
 
 Ml 
 
 S  E  RM. 
 XI 
 
 fame  Enemies  were  fure  to  Tax  them  with 
 fuch  Defigns,  as  might  Fire  the  Veopk  againfl; 
 their  Rightful  King:  the  Confequence  ofU^v-^ 
 which,  They  well  knew,  would  be,  to  dif- 
 pofe  them  the  more  readily  to  receive  the  Pre- 
 tender. But  what  a  Delufion  mufl;  this  be  ? 
 For,  as,  on  the  one  fide,  The  greateft  Ene- 
 mies of  the  King  cannot  name  any  one  thing 
 that  looks  like  fo  much  as  a  Difpofition  that 
 way;  and,  as  He  hath  given  lis,  and  all  Eu- 
 rope^ the  greateft  Proofs,  and  the  greateft  Se- 
 curity, of  the  contrary  :  So,  on  the  other  fide. 
 They  fufferthemfelves  to  be  perfuadedto  throw 
 themfelves  headlong  into  x\\q  Arms oi  Arbitrary 
 Power,  under  Pretenfe  of  running  from  it. 
 For^this  is  certain,  that,  ftiould  the  Caufe  of  the 
 Pretender  ever  fucceed,  it  is  fo  big  with  the 
 Miferies  of  Popery  and  Revenge,  that  nothing 
 but  Arbitrary  Poiver  can  poftibly  fupport  it: 
 nor  will  it  ever  truft  itfelf  here  again,  under 
 the  Influences  of  Law,  and  Liberty. 
 
 But  the  Great,  and  perhaps  the  moft  Pre- 
 vailing ;  I  am  fure,  the  moft  Aftonifliing,  D^- 
 lufion  of  all,  is,  T'hat  of  thofe  Protejiants,  who 
 Suffer  the  Papifis  to  polTefs  them  with  an  Ima- 
 ginary Fear  about  the  Security  of  the  Church  of 
 England',  and  then,  with  blinded  Eyes,  and 
 darkened  Underftandings,  to  expedl  its  greater 
 Security,  in  thePrete?2ders Csiufe.  This,  I  fliould 
 
 think 
 
236 
 
 SERM. 
 Xf. 
 
 The  prefent  Delufion  of 
 
 think  enough  to  cure  any  Trotejlant  of  this  Jea- 
 loufy ;  that,  from  the  beginning  of  that  Ground- 
 lefs  Cry,  it  was  very  obfervable  that  the  Sons  of 
 the  Church  of  Rome,  joined  with  their  loudeft 
 Zeal  and  Noife,  in  it.  For,  what  a  fhame- 
 lefs  Infult  is  this  upon  the  Common  Senfe  of 
 Mankind,  for  T^hem  to  put  on  an  Air  of  Con- 
 cern, and  Tendernefs,  for  a  Church,  whkh  they 
 not  only  Hate,  with  an  implacable  Hatred  j  but 
 which,  it  is  a  Meritorious  Part  of  their  Reli- 
 gion, to  deftroy  from  the  Earth.  I  would  ap- 
 peal to  any  of  the  moft  deluded  Protejiants, 
 who  will  but  promife  to  recoiled  theirThoughts 
 for  a  Moment,  whether  the  Papifts  joining  in  j 
 fpreading  this  Jealoufy  of  the  Danger  of  a  | 
 Church,  which  they  Hate,  be  not  a  certain  \ 
 Proof,  that  They  think  it  really  in  a  Flourifhing 
 Condition  ;  much  too  fecure  for  their  Defigns, 
 and  their  Intereft,  unlefs,  by  fuch  frightful 
 Fidlions,  They  can  entice  Protejimits  them- 
 felves  to  join  with  them,  in  it's  Deflrudion. 
 
 It  is  fruitlefs  to  obferve  to  fuch  Protejiants^ 
 unlefs  They  will  lay  afide  their  ftrong  Prejudi- 
 ces againft  their  own  Intereft,  that  the  Worft 
 Enemies  of  the  King,  and  the  Adminijira- 
 tion,  cannot  produce  one  Inftance,  I  will  not 
 fay,  of  an  Injury,  but  of  any  Difregard,  to  this 
 Church  ;  but  might  produce  many,  if  they 
 would  be  fo  juft,  of  the  contrary:    As   many, 
 
 as 
 
majty  ProteJIants,  conjidereJ, 
 
 237 
 
 as  in  fo  fhort  a  Time  could  be  poffibly  given,  is  e  r  M. 
 But  if  they  refolve  to  fwallow  all  the  ground-  xi. 
 lefs  Jealoulies  of  this  fort ;  yet,  what  a  degree  ^•WJ 
 of  Infatuation  muft  it  be,  to  think  of  *S^r/^r//y,i 
 where  there  can  be  none  ?  To  fly  from  the 
 Imaginary  Sufpicion,  to  the  real  Certainty  of 
 Ruine  ?  To  run  from  Thofe,  who,  they  weak-l 
 ly  fufped,  may ;  to  Thofe,  who.  They  know, 
 mujl^  deftroy  it  ?  Or,  Is  there  any  new  League 
 of  ftridl  Love  and  Friendfliip,  now  made,  be- 
 tween the  Church  of  Rome^  and  IJi  ?  and  tied 
 by  clofer  Bonds  than  Proteflations,  and  Promifes^ 
 which  it  is  their  Duty  to  break,  as  foon  aj 
 They  can  ?  Or,  Is  all  the  Cunning  and  Policy 
 oiRome  funk  at  lafl  into  this,  of  furnifhing  Mo-, 
 ney,  and  Arms  -,  and  of  hazarding  the  Lives , 
 and  the  Eftates,  of  her  true  Sons,  in  this  Na- 
 tion  }  out  of  pure  Love  and  Kindnefs  to  thi; 
 Church  of  England,  and  folely  to  Eftablifh  T!ha.^ 
 upon  a  lafting  and  ftrong  Foundation?  Or,  do 
 Men  truft  once  more  to  Vows^  and  Ajfurancesv 
 If  they  do.  They  truft  to  what  the  Experieno; 
 of  this  Nation  hath  felt  to  be  No  Security  ; 
 and  what  their  Enemies  themfelves  profefs  to  b; 
 none.  And,  do  They  think  that  the  Number 
 of  Rojnanijis,  who  venture  their  All  in  thi; 
 World,  for  the  Service  of  the  Pretender  s  Caufe, 
 have  not  had  much  better  Ajfurances  and  Secu- 
 rity, that  T^hcir  Intereft,  and  Tmir  Religion,  is 
 
 t3 
 
238 
 
 7 he  prejent  iDeUiJion  of 
 
 S  E  R  M.  to  Reign  in  Triumph  in  this  Land,  before  theyj 
 xj.      would  engage  themfelves,   in   fo  delperate   a 
 
 t/'VNJ  manner  ?  But,  I  confefs,  I  fliould  not  wonder 
 xiT^hey^  who  can  come  to  be  fo  deluded,  as 
 to  think  their  Church  fecure,  in  the  Method  of 
 TJtter  DeJiruSlion,  fliould  come  to  believe  that 
 the  Britifi  Papijh  are  inflamed  with  a  Zeal  for 
 thQ  Church  of  Engla??d-y  and  undergo  all  the  Fa- 
 tigues, and  Hardfliips,  and  Dangers,  of  a  Re- 
 beilion  5  not  to  Eftablidi,  or  ferve,  their  own 
 Church,  which  They  love  to  Death  ;  but  the 
 Church  of  England,  which  they  Hate  with  an 
 immortal  Hatred.  Even  this  may  not  be  too 
 hard  for  the  Faith  of  Thofe,  who  can  truft  to 
 any  Promifes  and  Vows  of  Good,  or  Security, 
 to  any  Frotejlant  Church  upon  Earth,  from 
 fuch  as  cannot,  and,  indeed,  dare  not,  keep 
 them. 
 
 3.  The  fame  Pcrfons  may  be  deluded,  if  they 
 refolve  upon  it,  by  the  reproachful  Word  of 
 Foreigners,  and  Strangers  to  our  Laws ;  and  the 
 ike  J  caft  upon  our  Royal  Family :  without  con- 
 idering,  how  nearly,  and  how  certainly,  They 
 ire  defcended  from  our  Kings  ;  Or,  without 
 remembring  that  He,  who  throws  out  this  Re- 
 proach, never  had  any  better  Opportunity,  Him- 
 elf,  of  knowing  Us,  or  our  Laws ;  Nay,  that 
 ^e  hath  very  particular  Reafons  to  hate,  and 
 ileftroy  Them  :  That  He  cannot  come,  with- 
 out 
 
_  ma7iy  ProteJ}a?Hs^  CG?tfidered, 
 
 239 
 
 out  being  followed  by  a  Line  oiPoplfiPrinces^&E  rm. 
 Foreigners^  in  every  Senfe ;  and  that  neither  He^  i    xi. 
 nor  They^   will  come,  without  a  Religion  Fo-  v<VNi 
 '  reign  and  Superior  to  all  the  Laws  both  of  God| 
 I  and  Man.  j 
 
 j       4.   They  may,  if  they  pleafe,  be  deluded  by 
 I  the  general  Word,    of  redreffing  Grievances ; 
 I  which  y£t  His  Adherents  themfelves mention  but 
 'very  fparingly :  becaufe  they  well   know  that' 
 j  We  have  no  Grievances^  in  His  Eye,   but  the' 
 Security  of  our  Conftitiition ^  in   Churchy   and 
 State  ;  no  Grievances,  for  Him  to  eafe  Us  of,i 
 but  our  LawSy  LibertieSy  and  Religion.     Thefe 
 He  fincerely  promifes  Us,   to  remove.      And 
 I  truly  believe,    that   His  Religion  it  felf  will 
 I  permit  Him  faithfully  to  oblerve    fuch   Pro- 
 i  miles. 
 
 !  But  I  have  faid  enough.  I  have  (hewn  you, 
 [what  that  Caufe  is,  and  how  many  Evils  are 
 [contained  in  it,  which  is  now  opened,  and 
 lavowed,  by  the  Friends  of  the  Preteiider.  I 
 have  confidered  thofe  IFeak  Prettnfcs^  and 
 \Falfe  Injinuations,  by  which  Many  who  call 
 jThemfelves  Protejlants,  have  been  deluded; 
 las  they  have  been  managed  by  the  Artifices  of 
 \Popery ,  Guilt,  and  Re  J  nt  men  t :  And,  1  1  j  o  pe ,  I 
 have  mide  it  appear,  thir  it  mult  be  a  Fatal 
 Delufion  indeed,  if  They  do  ncjt  fee,  that  to 
 join  their  Hands  to  the  £ff jits  of  our  Ene- 
 mies, 
 
M5L 
 
 7%e  prefent  Dehifion  of 
 
 s  E  R  M.  mies,  in  this  Caufe,  is  to  haften  to  the  future 
 XI.     Ruine  of   Themlelves,    and    their  Pofterity, 
 
 '^yV^  through  a  Sea  of  prefent  Calamity  ;  that  to  join 
 their  Hearts  and  TFifljes,  in  it,  is  to  call  down 
 every  Curfe  upon  Themfeh'es,  and  all  that  are 
 to  follow  them ;  and  that  to  put  on  an  Indiffer- 
 ence, upon  this  Occafion,  is  to  put  it  on,  in  a 
 Caufe  that  doth  not  admit  of  an  Indij^'erence, 
 It  is,  indeed,  to  profefs  an  Indifference  to  Life, ' 
 or  Death ;  Pleafure,  or  Pain  ;  Happinefs,  or 
 Mifery.  And  tho'  T^hey  may  inwardly  applaud 
 their  own  Wifdom,  who  cautioufly  wait  for  the 
 E^vent  of  things :  yet  They  muft  remember, 
 that  their  Return  to  their  Senfes,  from  this 
 Staie  of  Indifference,  will  have  but  an  ungrace- 
 ful Appearance,  when  All  fhall  be  fecure  ;  and 
 that  little  Thanks  will  be  due  to  T'hem,  (of 
 what  fort  foever  they  be,)  from  their  King  or 
 their  Country,  when  the  Danger  iliall  be  over, 
 that  They  have  neither  opened  their  Mouths, 
 nor  lifted  up  their  Hands,  nor  fo  much  as  their 
 Hearts,  againft  the  Enemies,  not  of  Uj,  only,  but 
 of  all  Human  Societv. 
 
 If  it  ihouid  be  told,  in  any  Part  of  the  Earth 
 where  the  Hiftories  of  our  Nation  have  not 
 been  before  known  ;  could  it  poiTibly  be  be- 
 lieved, or  could  it  pafs  for  any  thing,  but  an 
 invented  <S<;7(yr  upon  Human  Nature  j  that  there 
 is  a  Sort  of  Men  in  the  World,  uneafy  at  their 
 
 own 
 
niayiy  P^rolejlants^  confidered. 
 
 341 
 
 b'wn  Happinefs :  either  labouring  to  tear  it  in  S  E  R  M, 
 Pieces,  Themfelves;  or,    wilhing   Succefs  to  i    xii 
 thofe  who  are  engaged  in  that  Work  j    or  fu-  U^VNil 
 pinely  negligent,  cold,  and  indifferent,   what 
 becomes  of  it:  Begging  a  Deliverer^  in  the 
 Agony  of  their   Djftrels ;   and    reviling  both 
 the  Deliverer,   and   Deliverance,   as  foon  as  it 
 is  well  accompliflied  :   Shaking  oii  Fetters,   in 
 one  Generation  j    and  calling  for  them  again, 
 in  the  next :   Tireing  out  Heaven  itfelf,   with 
 Petitions  for  their  own  Milery  j   inviting  and 
 imploring   zv^:^^  Evil   upon  ThemTelves,   and 
 tht^r  Poflerity  :  making  loud  ProfefTions  of  the 
 moll  fubmidive  Paflivenefs,  under  the  greateft  , 
 Worldly  Plardfhips  j   and  unable  to  bear  even 
 fo  fmall  a  one,  as  the  Want  of  all  Power  :  Speak- 
 ing much,  and  often,  and  zealoufly,  of  the  Se- 
 curity, and  tlourifhing  Eftate,  of  their  Church  *, 
 and,  in  the  fame  Breath,   giving  it  up  into  the 
 Guardianfliip  of  Rome^  whofe  Difciples  openly 
 acknowledge  themfelves  bound,  in  Confcience^ 
 to  deftroy  it :   Believing  the  Promifes  of  T^hofe^ 
 who  Themfelves  alTure  them,   they  are  not  to 
 be  believed  ;  Trufling  the  Pretenfes  of  T^hofe^ 
 whofe  Religion  profefTeth  to  deflroy  at  once  all 
 the  Foundations  of  Trufi:  >    and  uniting  with 
 Thofe,  by  whom  They  are  fure  to  be,,qndone, 
 and  miferably  treated,  themfelves  :  ^ome^  {driv- 
 ing and  fighting  J  Some^  wifhing  and  defiring; 
 .;  R  and 
 
242 
 
 7%g  prefent  Delufwn  of 
 
 and  Others i  contented,  to  part  with  Eafe,  ^i^ 
 et^  LawSy  Liberty,  Property^  Religion,  and  alt 
 the  Bleffings  of  Government,  adminiftfed  by 
 Jnftice  and  Goodnefs ;  And,  m  their  Stead, 
 Some,  not  oppoling,  and  Others,  contending 
 earn e ft] y,  for  Chains,  BaniJJjments,  Majf acres, 
 Slavery  ;  and  for  every  Evil,  contained  in  the 
 Two  Great  Con-jprehenlive  Engines  of  Mifery, 
 Unchriftian  Perfecution  in  Church,  and  Law- 
 kfs  tyranny  in  State  :  And,  in  order  to  all  this. 
 Some,  taking  a  Pleafure,  and  Others,  fatisiied 
 and  eafy,  to  fee  their  Native  Country  laid  Wafle, 
 and  made  a  Scene  of  Blood,  and  Confufion  j 
 and  the  Seat  of  a  Civil  War,  which,  in  its 
 loweft  degree,  meft  unavoidably  bring  along 
 with  it  many  unhappy  Inilances  of  DevaftatioD, 
 and  Mourning  ;  which  God,  the  Righteous 
 Judge,  will  charge  to  ^heir  Account,  who 
 neither  will  know  their  own  Happinefs,  nor 
 can  bear  with  that  of  Others :  In  a  word,  Some 
 openly  attempting  to  deftroy,  and  Others  not 
 attempting  to  defend,  a  Government,  upon 
 \vhich  the  Happinefs  of  their  own  Lives,  as 
 well  as  of  their  Neighbours  and  Poflerity,  in- 
 tirely  depends  j  and  an  Adminiftration,  which 
 Themfelves  do  not  charge  with  any  one  In- 
 fiance  of  Illegal  or  Arbitrary  Proceeding. 
 
 If  it  be  pofiible  tocaft  a  Veil  over  the  Shame 
 of  our  Gauntry  j  let  not  this  Scene  of  Blindnefs, 
 
 Abfur- 
 
many  Protejiants^  confidereS,  5 
 
 43 
 
 Abfurdity,  Contradidlon,    and  Inconfiftency,  s' e  r  M» 
 make  a  Part  of  its  Hiftory.    But  if  this  cannot     xi. 
 be  hid  j   let  it  be  told,  at  the  fame  time,  with  "^^"^^^^ 
 
 how  fteady  a  Greatnefs  of  Soul,  and  how  calm 
 a  Constancy  of  Mind,  the  King  received  the 
 Infults,    and    Ungrateful    Returns    of  Men, 
 whom  He  came  difpofed  to  make  happy  :  Like 
 a  Rock,   unmoved  by  thofe  Waves  that  dafh 
 themfeves  to  Pieces  againft  it.    Let  it  be  toldj 
 with  how  ready,  and  fincere,  a  Zeal,  his  Far^ 
 liament  hafted  to  vote  everything  for /:/'V,  and 
 the   Public  Security  ;   with  how  faithful,  and 
 vigilant  a  Care,  His  Minijiers  deteded  the  fe-- 
 cret  Contrivances,  and  oppofed  the  0/>^;7Defigns, 
 of  His  Enemies:   Nor  let  it  be  forgot,  that,  in 
 the  midfl  of  all  the  Madnefs  of  Some,  fupport- 
 ed,  and  increafed,  by  the  Indifference  of  Others^ 
 there  were  Multitudes   of  Good  SubjeBs,  truly 
 fenfible  of  the  Invaluable  Bleffings  They  en- 
 joyed in  Him,  and  His  Adminiilration  j  full  of 
 Gratitude  to  Heaven  for  their  Happinefs  j  and 
 ready  to  hazard  all  the  Concerns  of  this  World, 
 in  the  Defenfc  of  it. 
 
 May  the  Number  of  fuch,  daily  be  feen  to 
 iiicreafe  I  As  it  muft  do,  if  all  Common  Senfe  be 
 not  loft  from  the  Earth  ;  And,  may  We,  from 
 the  Principles  of  Confcience,  and  Honour,  be, 
 of  that  Number  I  As  JVe  muft  be,  if  We  con- 
 fider  what  either  Qortfcience,  or  Honour^  mean. 
 
 R  2  Let 
 
 4 
 
244 
 
 SERM. 
 XI. 
 
 The  prefent  Dehifion  of 
 
 Let  us  be  juft  to  This  Day\  which  once  vva^ 
 blefied  by  every  Proteftant  Mouth  in  this  Na- 
 tion, for  the  prefent  Relief  and  Refpite  from 
 impending  Ruine,  which  it  then  brought  along 
 with  it:  And  which  ought  now  much  more 
 to  be  bleffed,  as  it  hath  laid  the  Foundation  of 
 Happinefs,  not  only  for  Us,  but  the  Children 
 yet  unborn  5  as  We  have  feen,  and  now  feel, 
 the  Great  End  aimed  at  by  it,  to  be  crowned 
 with  Succefs  ;  and  the  Mercies  that  it  firft  con^ 
 veyed  to  Us,  (even  every  thing  We  enjoy  in 
 Churchy  and  State^  and  the  very  PofTibility  of 
 enjoying  it,)  fecured  againfi:  every  human  At- 
 tempt, but  our  own  Sttipidity,  and  Ingratitude, 
 by  the  Settlement  of  that  Frotejiant  Succejfion, 
 which  alone  could  give  Us  any  Profped:  of 
 Good. 
 
 May  Almighty  God,  the  Great  Governour 
 of  all  Things,  watch,  in  a  particular  Manner, 
 Avith  the  Eye  of  his  Providence,  over  thofe  5^- 
 cred  Lives,  upon  which  All  Our  Happinefs  is 
 fufpended!  And  guard  them  againft  every  At- 
 tempt of  Secret,  or  Open,  Violence ! 
 ,  May  He  dired  All,  to  whom  the  Admini' 
 y?r^//o;;  of  Affairs  is  committed,  to  go  on,  with 
 Wifdom,  Courage,  Unanimity,  and  Confl:ancy, 
 to  confult,  and  fecure,  the  Public  Intercft  1  And 
 whether  the  Influences  of  it  reach  to  our  parti-* 
 cular  Concerns,  any  farther,  than  as  They  are 
 
 mixed 
 
many  Protejlants^  conjidered^ 
 
 mixed  with  the  Fuhlic ;  Whether  We  tafte  of? 
 its  Beneficence,  any  otherwife,  than  as  Mem- 
 bers of  the  Whole  j  or  not ;  let  us  always  call 
 to  mind  that  it  is  our  Duty,  not  to  meafure  our 
 Obligations  to  Thankfulnefs,  by  any  private 
 Confiderations,  diftin(5t  from  the  CommonGood-^ 
 but  to  rejoice,  with  as  much  Sincerity  and  Zeal, 
 for  the  uieflimable  Bleffing  of  Public  Security ^ 
 in  which  All  partake,  as  God,  and  Juftice, 
 and  Reafon,  require,  from  a  People,  the  moft 
 happy  in  the  whole  World,  if  They  would 
 but  know  their  own  Happinefs !  Which,  God 
 grant  They  may,  before  it  be  hid  from  their 
 Eyes! 
 
 mi- 
 
 ERM. 
 XI. 
 
 K,  3  the 
 
^he  Rejloration  772ade  a  Blejjing  to  Us^  by  the 
 Trotejlant  Succeffion, 
 
 Preached  before  the  King,  at  the  Royal-Chapel 
 at  St.  James Sy  May  2^^   lyit,  being  the' 
 Anniverfary  of  the  Restoration.  . 
 
 Psalm  cxxvi.  3. 
 
 ^he  Lord  hath  done  great  T^hingsfor  Us ;  lahere- 
 of  we  are  glad. 
 
 N  all  great  Revolutions  of  States  and  King^ 
 domsy   which  We  are  called  upon  to  com- 
 ^^^Y*^^         memorate  in  a  Publick  Manner,  We  muft 
 xonfider  what  Concern  we  ourfelves  have  in  the 
 lafting  Efre(fls  or  Confequences  of  themj   and 
 what  ought  to  be  the  real  Ground  of  our  Joy 
 upon  fuch  Occasions.      If  we  feel  no  kindly  i 
 Influences   from   them  upon  our  own  Affairs;! 
 jt  will  be  impoffible  to  warm  ourfelves  into  any  ( 
 Difpofition  of  Mind  that  can  be  called  T^hank- 
 Julnejs :   Which  muH  always  be  founded  upon- 
 
 Something, 
 
"The  Reft  oration  made  a  Blejfing  to  Us* 
 
 Somethino;,  In  which  We  ourfelves  havea  Part,  serm 
 
 247 
 
 XII. 
 
 They  will  be  only  hke  other  Hijlorical  Matters 
 ofFaB',  Something  to  amufe  and  entertain  :^.>^V^ 
 Us ;  ferving  to  pleafe  our  Curiofity,  but  not  to 
 raife  our  Gratitude.  And  if  We  feel  the  Sen- 
 timents of  Joy  and  Thankfulnefs,  riling  in  our 
 Breafts,  from  fuch  Principles  and  Motives,  as 
 no  irutfhrijiiany  Proteftant,  or  Briton,  ought 
 to  entertain  :  Our  Joy  then  becomes  the  Same 
 with  the  Joy  of  our  Worji  Enemies ;  and  the 
 Expreffions  of  it  no  better  than  the  Tokens, 
 either  of  our  Blindnefs,  or  of  our  Corruption. 
 "  In  this  Nation  particularly,  it  is  certain,  that, 
 in  all  Affairs  which  concern  our  Conflitutioriy 
 either  in  Church  or  ^tate,  nothing  can  be  more 
 abfurd,  than  for  the  Friends  of  both,  and  the 
 Enemies  of  both,  to  have  the  Same  Movements 
 and  Paffions  upon  the  Same  Occafions.  It  is 
 impoffible  for  a  Proteftant,  if  He  knows  what 
 that  Word  means,  to  raife  his  Joy  upon  the  fame 
 Foundation  with  a  Papijl.  It  is  impoffible  for 
 a  Lover  of  his  Religion,  and  his  Country,  to 
 rejoice  with  Thofe  who  firmly  believe  it  to  be 
 their  Duty  to  rejoice  in  nothing  more,  than  ia 
 the  Ruine  of  both. 
 
 As  our  Joy,  therefore,  could  not  poflibly 
 difcover  itfelf  upon  this  Day,  if  the  Providence 
 of  God  had  done  great  Tubings,  not  for  Us,  but  for 
 Q\JiX  Forefathers  alone  j  and  had  permitted  Them 
 
 R  4  ta 
 
^4^ 
 
 S  E  R  M 
 XII. 
 
 MJieReJlorafwn  made  a  Bkfftng  to  Usy 
 
 to  flop  the  Ble[Jiiig  from  defcending,  or  to  con- 
 vey down  a  Curfe  inftead  of  it :  And  as  Our 
 Joy  cannot,  in  the  Nature  of  Things,  be  the 
 '[joy  of  our  Eneinics  ;  becaufe  it  muft  be  raifed 
 upon  Something  oi  Our  own  Happinefs,  which 
 They  have  hitherto  always  made  inconfiflent 
 with  Theirs :    Let  Us  now  proceed  upon  this 
 
 Foundation,  and  conlider, 
 
 r 
 
 The  Great  T'hirgs  G06.  hath  dene  for  Us,  In 
 that  whole  Scene  oi Providence,  which  this  Day 
 opened. 
 
 This  will  naturally  fix  our  Minds,  in  a  more 
 particular  Manner,  upon  theBIeJIings,  in  which 
 We  are  immediately  concerned. 
 
 And  this  will  unavoidably  lead  Us  to  forr.e 
 Thoughts,  of  Importance  to  the  prefent  and  fu- 
 ture Intereft  of  the  Nation. 
 
 Now  the  whole  Scene  of  Providence,  which 
 This  Day  opened,  and  which,  taken  in  one 
 View,  can  alone  be  faid  to  make  this  Day  a 
 Bleffing  to  Us,  is  indeed  a  Scene  full  of  a  long 
 Train  of  Incidents,  and  a  vaft  Variety  of  Cir- 
 cumftances,  enough  to  make  both  Prince  and 
 People,  in  this  Nation,  for  ever  Wife  and 
 Happy. 
 
 The  firft  Part  of  it,  is  a  Kifig  reflored  to  his 
 Kingdom;   with  his  Brother  in  view  to  Succeed 
 
 Him : 
 
hy  the  Protejlant  Succejfion. 
 
 MSL 
 
 Him  :  but  this,  not  till,  on  one  hand,  Tie  had  51  E  rm» 
 feen,  both  by  Example,   and  Experience,  how    xii. 
 terrible  in   its   Effeds,   the  popular  Dread   of-^'W 
 Arbitrary  Power  could  (liew  itfelf,    when  ever 
 it  was  fet  on  Fire  j  and  not  till,   on  the  other 
 Hand,  his  People  had  fufficiently  felt,  how  great 
 an  Evil  the  Want  of  their  Legal  Governtnent 
 was. 
 
 One  would  think  here  was  a  plain  Middle 
 Way  cfJVifdom  and  Happinefs,  pointed  out  even 
 by  Senfe  itfelf.  But  there  was  another,  and  a 
 very  different  Turn  given  to  this  Affair,  by  the 
 indefatigable  Workings,  and  Artifices,  of  our 
 Enemies.  An  univerfal  Madnefs  of  Loyalty 
 (faiHy  fo  called,)  as  well  as  o{ Manners,  pre- 
 fently  took  place  :  And  the  People  came  prefT- 
 ing  in  Throngs,  befeeching  to  be  accounted 
 Slaves,  rather  than  Subjedsj  and  beggino-,  in 
 Words^  for  Opportunities  oi  unlimited  Submif- 
 fion,  as  if  they  were  begging  for  A5ii  of  GraQe 
 and  Favour.  The  View  in  Thofey  who  then 
 had  the  Diredion  of  their  Paffions,  was  to  keep 
 that  Spirit  up  to  a  Pitch,  till  a  Popifi  Heir  was 
 fecure  of  the  Throne.  Nor  could  all  the  Know- 
 ledge  of  the  Nature  and  Principles  o^ Popery- 
 nor  the  avowed  Contradidion  of  it  to  the  Re- 
 ligion and  Liberties  of  their  Country,  engage 
 the  Hearts  of  many  ;  or  divert  them  from  the 
 Refolution  of  trufting  the  whole  Concerns  of  a 
 
 Protejlant 
 
±^ 
 
 The  ReJ} oration  made  a  Blejfmg  to  Us^ 
 
 iEKM^Profef!aj2t  Nation,  in  the  Hands   of  a  Popijh 
 XII.     Prince  :   who  at  length  took  PofTeffion  of  the 
 
 ^^""^^^  Throne,   to  which  He  was  thus  called. 
 
 Nor  had  he  enjoyed  the  Power  long,  before 
 He  obliged  His  Friends  with  frequent  Trials  of 
 the  Sincerity  of  their  Profeffions.  For,  as  it 
 iappears,  He  had  fo  much  better  an  Opinion  of 
 their  Integrity,  than  his  Predece(for  h^id,  that 
 He  really  thought  them  in  earneft ;  and  refolv- 
 ed  to  hazard  all,  with  a  Dependence  upon  the 
 Honefty  of  their  Solemn  Promifes  of  JJnbound- 
 ed  Submiffion.  This,  indeed,  proved  fatal  to 
 Himfelfm  the  Event :  But,  in  all  human  Ap- 
 pearance, was  much  more  likely  to  have  prov- 
 ed fatal  to  the  whole  Nation. 
 
 If  We  flop  a  little  here,  and  confider  this 
 Unhappy  Prince,  pofifeffed  of  all  the  Power 
 our  Laws  could  veil  in  Him,  and  flattered  with 
 a  Power  above  all  Laws ;  and  armed,  in  all 
 human  Appearance,  with  a  fufficient  Force 
 to  put  his  Refolutions  in  Execution  j  We  may 
 alk  any  Proteftant  in  the  Natiofi,  if  He  will 
 but  put  himfelf  into  that  Poflure  of  Mind,  ip 
 ^hich  every  one  felt  himfelf  at  that  Seafon, 
 What  was  then  become  of  the  Bkjjing  of  this 
 Day  ?  And,  what  would  it  now  have  availed 
 'Us,  that  our  Forefathers  faw  their  Legal  Con- 
 jiitution  reftored  to  them,  and  rejoiced  to  fee 
 it  i  if  the  very  P^ejioration  of  it  had  proved,  in 
 ''    '  the 
 
by  the  Protejlant  SucceJJton, 
 
 It?  I 
 
 the  Iffue,  the  Ruine  and  Deftrudion  of  allthesERM^ 
 Legal  Rights  of  their  Pofterity  ?  xii. 
 
 But  the  Grand  Defign  of  Providence  extend-  l/^\"\i 
 ed  much  farther.  There  is  a  Principal  ?2.xi  of, 
 it  yet  behind :  And  this  was,  to  make  it  a  laft- 
 ing  Blefiing.  And  the  Way  was  laid  for  this, 
 in  a  Method,  if  you  confider  it  in  itfelf,  the 
 moft  ear^^  and  natural  j  as  Providence  always 
 Joves  to  work  by  human  Means:  if  you  confi- 
 der it  in  that  great  Variety  and  Viciffitude  of 
 Circumftances  attending  it,  the  moft  inftruc- 
 tive  and  ufeful  to  a  Nation  :  And  if  you  confi- 
 der it  with  regard  to  the  many  Probabilities  that 
 feemed  to  weigh  againft  the  Succefs  of  it,  lit- 
 tle lefs  than  miraculous.  When  it  was  fixed 
 by  Providence  to  bring  about  the  Rejioration  oi 
 the  Royal  Family,  and  the  Legal  Ccnjiittition  of 
 this  Kingdom -y  and  to  continue  it  a  Blejjing  to 
 the  Generations  to  come ;  it  was  necefiary,  in 
 order  to  this,  to  make  fuch  a  Difpofition  of 
 Affairs,  as  might  be  fuitable,  and  adapted,  to 
 the  Accomplifhrnient  of  it.  But  firfi:,  the  Na- 
 tion was  to  feel  many  and  various  Trials;  ma- 
 ny Viciffitudes  of  Hope,  and  Fear;  many 
 Conflids  between  the  Attempts  of  Popery^  and 
 Blavery,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Strugglings 
 of  true  Religion  and  Liberty,  on  the  other  j  be- 
 fore fo  great  a  Work  could  be  concluded.  And 
 then,  at  length,  the  Embarraffments  of  Hu- 
 man 
 
gpRM 
 
 xrii. 
 
 77)e  Rejioration  made  a  BleJJing  to  Us, 
 
 man  Madnefs  were  to  be  difentangled,  and  all 
 the  Plots  and  Eitbrts  of  Cunning  and  Power, 
 united,  in  order  to  intail  a  Curfe  upon  all  Pofle- 
 rity,  where  God  defigned  a  Bieffing,  were  to 
 be  difijpated,  and  fcattered  into  Air. 
 
 With  a  View  to  this,  a  Prince  was  born 
 Some  Years  before  the  Reftoratioriy  that  He 
 might  be  ripe,  both  in  Age,  and  Abilipes,  for 
 the  performing  the  great  Defign,  juft  when 
 thofe  Attempts  fliould  be  ripening  into  Execu^ 
 tion  :  And  was  afterwards,  by  a  kind  Difpofi^ 
 tion  of  Providence,  to  make  the  Way  the  eafier, 
 married  into  the  Same  Royal  Family,  from 
 which  He  defcended.  And,  accordingly,  when 
 the  Scene  of  Ruine  was  opened  fo  plainly,  that 
 no  Eye  was  then  too  blind  to  fee  it.  He  appear- 
 ed in  all  the  Maturity  of  Wifdom,  and  Vigor  of 
 Ad:ion :  A  Prjnce,  inured  to  Labours  and  Hard- 
 fhips  from  his  Birth;  prepared  for  the  great 
 Work,  by  his  perfonal  Accomplifhments;  di- 
 reded  to  it,  by  his  Defcent,  and  his  Marriage ; 
 and  qualified  for  it  by  his  Intereft  and  Authori- 
 ty Without,  as  well  as  by  an  Uncommon  Great- 
 nefs  of  Soul  Within,  Such  a  peculiar  Conjunc- 
 tion of  every  thing  defirable  in  the  Perfon  to 
 undertake  a  Work,  hazardous  enough,  one 
 would  imagine,  to  deter  the  Greateft  Minds 
 from  thinking  of  it;  and  fuch  a  Difpofition  of 
 the  various  Interefts  of  the  States  and  Kingdoms 
 
 of 
 
by  the  Protejiant  Succejfwn. 
 
 •^ii 
 
 ERM, 
 XII, 
 
 of  Europe^  as  both  required  and  fuppcrted  thes 
 Undertaking  J  muft  appear  very  furprizing,  in 
 fo  critical  a  Moment  of  Time:  When,  ifvve']/'Wi 
 fpeak  within  the  compafs  of  Human  Views, 
 nothing  but  fo  unparalleled  a  Combination  of 
 Circumjlc3?ices  could  have  aiforded  even  the  leaft 
 hopes  of  Succefs. 
 
 The  EviUt  of  this  was  happy  beyond  Ex- 
 preffion  :  And  the  Madnefs  of  Popery  and  Ar^ 
 bitrary  Rule^  was  flopped  in  the  Vigour  and 
 Warmth  of  all  its  Power  and  Hopes.  But 
 even  yet,  fomething  farther  was  wanting;  and 
 I'hat  was,  to  fix  the  SucceJJion  to  the  Crown^  in 
 fuch  a  Manner,  as  the  Experience  of  Feeling, 
 and  Common  Senfe  in  Judging^  of  necefTity  di- 
 reded  the  Nation  to  do.  This  Day  mufl  have 
 been  marked  with  fomething  very  different 
 from  a  Bleffing,  if  the  Revolution  had  flopped 
 where  it  began ;  and,  after  a  little  prefent  Re- 
 fpite,  had  delivered  the  Nation  back  again,  in- 
 to PopiJJ:)  Hands.  And  where  indeed  fhould 
 We  now  fearch  for  the  Blejjing  of  the  Rejlcra- 
 tion-j  if  We  did  not  fee  it,  and  feel  it,  in  the 
 BJeJlng  of  the  Prote/iant  SucceJJion  ? 
 
 This  was  the  Great  View  of  Heaven,  in  its 
 firft  Defign.  And,  therefore,  We  fee  with  Plea- 
 fure,  that  when  it  was  refolved  by  Providence 
 to  make  this  Day  memorable,  by  the  Refiora- 
 tion  of  the  Royal  Family^  and  our  hegalConjiitii- 
 
 tiorjy 
 
2 54     ^^  Rejloration  made  a  Blejfmg  to  Us, 
 
 5ERM.[^/ow,   it  was  refolved  by  the  fame  good  Provi- 
 
 XII.    dence,  that,  in  the  very  fame  Tear,  upon  the 
 
 k.y'^'^'"'^^  very  Day  before  this  Great  Work  was  to  be  ac- 
 
 ,compli{hed,  a  Pr/«c^  fliouldbe  born,  in  Whom 
 
 '%h2it Rejioration,  fhould  in  due  Time  centre,  and 
 
 to  whom  alone  it  fhould  be  referved  to  compleat 
 
 the  Blefmg  for  Us,  and  to  tranfmit  it  down  fe- 
 
 jcure,  to  our  Pofterity,  in  his  own  lUuftrious 
 
 Houfe. 
 
 \     This,  I  fay,  is  the  wJook  Scene  of  Providence 
 
 iwhich  this  Day  opened  j  and  which,  taken  in 
 
 ■one  View,  can  alone  be  faid  to  make  it  a  Blef^ 
 
 Jing  to  Us,  or  to  our  Children  after  Us.  If  you 
 
 Iview  the  Rejloration,  without  the  Revolution^ 
 
 ■and  the  Protejlant  Succejfion  j  it  leads  you   di- 
 
 redly  to  a  Popifi  Prince,  holding  an  Arbitrary 
 
 JHand  over  all  your  Liberties :  tearing  up  the 
 
 Fences  of  all  your  Laws ;  fixing  all  Right  in 
 
 {his  own  Will  and  Power  j  and  perfecuting  all 
 
 his  Subjeds  into  the  Exercife  of  his  own,   Su- 
 
 perflitious,  Idolatrous,    and   Cruel   Religion; 
 
 ^nd  this  is  the  whole  of  the  Bleffing,  in  which 
 
 (you  would  fee  it  end  at  lafl.  A  Blefling,  which 
 
 (may  be  a  fit  Reward  for  the  Slavifi  Bigotry  of 
 
 'Papijls  I  But  for  Protejlant s  —  fit    only  for 
 
 tthoje  of  them  who  defer ve  it.     And  They  de- 
 
 ferve  it,  who  choofe  it ;  v^hom  no  Experience, 
 
 no  Conflderation,  no  Miracles  of  Providence, 
 
 caa 
 
by  the  Protejiant  Succeffwn, 
 
 ■isi 
 
 can  engage  to  prefer  their  own  Happinefs  before  ^  e  R  m* 
 their  own  Deftrudion.  I  xii. 
 
 But  if  We  view  the  fame  Rejloration^  in  an-  i^V^ 
 other  Light,  as   the  Reftoration    of  our  Legal ; 
 Conjiitution^  fecured  by  the  late  Re'uolution^  and 
 fixed  by  the  Settlement  of  the  Crown  in   the 
 Protejiant  Line ;  it  appears  a  Bleffing  to  Vs  in- 
 deed,  by   leading  Us  to  the  Happinefs  which  ! 
 We  ourlelves  at  prefent  fee,  and  feelj  but! 
 eannot  defcribe. 
 
 We  have  now,  therefore,  by  an  eafy  and 
 natural  Train  of  Fa^s,  brought  down  our 
 Thoughts  to  the  prefent  Times,  in  which  our 
 Eyes  behold  the  Grand  Dejign  of  this  Day^ 
 brought  to  Maturity ;  and  Plenty  of  Happinefs 
 held  forth  to  Us,  if  we  have  any  Senfe  or  No- 
 tion left  of  what  Happinefs  means,  by  the  Pro^ 
 tefiant  Succejfion  now  taking  place.  A  Bleffing  ! 
 recommended  to  Us,  by  the  immenfe  Difficul- 
 ties caft  in  its  Way,  before  it  could  be  fettled  by 
 a  Law ;  and  the  various  Hazards  of  lofing  it, 
 iince  it  was  fo !  And  a  BkJJing,  which,  unlike 
 the  other  Bleffings  of  this  World,  fully  anfwers, 
 in  the  Enjoyment,  all  the  Expedations  which 
 it  raifed  in  the  ProfpeB, 
 
 If  it  be  the  greatefc  Happinefs  that  can  be 
 tafted  in  Human  Society,  to  be  governed  by 
 Laws ',  We  feel  our  felves,  and  all   our  Con- 
 cerns, under  the  Influence  of  a  Legal  Govern- 
 '"'^  •  menu 
 
256 
 
 5ERM 
 XII. 
 
 ^The  ReftoralioH  made  a  BleJ/Jng  to  Usy 
 
 merit.  If  it  be  certain,  tlvat  Thofe  Princes  are 
 beft  qualified  to  govern  well  by  V/ritten  Laws^ 
 who  have  governed  v/ell  without  them  j  this. is 
 a  peculiar  Part  of  our  Happinefs,  to  have  the 
 Execution  of  our  Laws,  and  the  Prefervation 
 of  our  Rights,  vefted  in  a  Prince,  who  never 
 betrayed,  even  when  his  Will  was  his  L^i£;,  the 
 leaft  Inclination  towards  any  Defigns,  but  v/hat 
 are  the  Di(ftates  of  the  ftrideft  Jaftice/  And  if 
 it  redoubles  aBlefling,  to  forefee  it  flourifliing 
 amongft  our  Pofierity  in  future  Agesj  let  this 
 be  acknowledged  a  great  Addition  to  our  prefent 
 Happinefs,  that  We  may  promife  it  to  our  Chil- 
 dren after  Us,  under  the  Influences  of  Thofe 
 who  are  to  fueceed  Him. 
 
 This  is  fuch  a  Syftem,  fuch  a  ColIe5fion  of 
 Bkjjings,  as  ought,  in  Juflice,  to  be  viewed 
 with  the  moft  paffionate  Sentiments  of  Joy  and 
 Thankfgiving.  A  King  upon  the  Throne, 
 formed  for  the  Happinefs  of  All,  who  live  un- 
 der the  Shadow  of  his  Authority  :  By  his  ex- 
 perienced Virtues,  entitled  to  the  Loi;^  and  yf/- 
 feBion  of  his  Subje5ls ;  and  by  the  Laivs  of  their 
 Country,  (built  upon  the  Fundamental  Laws  of 
 Human  Society)  entitled  to  their  Allegiance  : 
 Great  in  Himfelf,  if  the  Perfection  of  Juftice, 
 and  Honour,  and  Equity,  be  true  Greatnefsj 
 and  Great  in  his  lllujirious  Family,  if  the  Pro- 
 fped  of  trsinfaiitting  Bleffings  to  Pofterity,  by 
 
 a  Line 
 
liy  the  Protejiant  kjucceffion. 
 
 2iZ 
 
 a  Line  of  Princes  defcending  from  Himfelf, 
 makes  up  any  Part  of  Greatnefs :  And,  in  a  pe- 
 culiar Manner,  Great  in  his  Influences  upon  the 
 prefent  State  of  this  Nation,  as  He  ftands  pof- 
 fefTed  of  an  unlhaken  Steadlnsfs  of  Soul,  not  to 
 be  moved  from  his  People's  Iritsreftj  and  of  a 
 Firmnefs  of  Mind,  uncapable  of  the  Impref- 
 lions,  either  of  Fear,  or  of  Inconllancy.Without 
 which  Isoble  and  Happy  Accompliiliments  in 
 the  Firji  PofeJJor  in  that  Illujiricus  Houfe^  which 
 the  Providence  of  God  hath  now  fixed  upon 
 the  Throne,  it  may  juftly  be  feared,  that  this 
 Happy  Settlement  might  by  this  Time  have 
 been  Shaken,  and  the  Bleilings  of  the  Protef- 
 ■tant  Religion y  and  o\jl^  Legal  Liberty  (for  which 
 We  have  been  fo  many  Years  contending,) 
 might  once  more  have  been  in  danger  of  va- 
 niQiing  from  our  Sight. 
 
 And  even  fllll,  the  Sufpicion  of  So  much 
 Happinefs  Ceafing  in  Time  to  come,  might  be 
 very  uneafy  to  Us,  if  We  did  not  fee,  in  his 
 Royal  Heir^  and  Succejfor,  a  Noble  and  Gene- 
 rous Zeal,  avowed  with  all  the  Tokens  of  the 
 mofl:  Sincere  and  Upright  Heart,  for  the  fame 
 invaluable  Goods. 
 
 Nor  will  I  ever  omit,  when  I  am  recount- 
 ing the  Inftances  of  our  Publlck  Happinefs,  to 
 mention  that  Race  o^  Pri?ices  to  come  :  From 
 Whom  J    what  is  it  that  W^e  may  not  exped  ? 
 
 S  When 
 
 ERM^ 
 XII. 
 
258   I  'The  Refioration  made  a  Blejftng  to  tls^ 
 
 '-    s  E  R  M.  When  We  not  only  think  of  the  Examples  of 
 XII.    Good  Government   they  will  have  Seen  j  but 
 t/'VXJ  Iconfider  them  now  under  the  Eye  and  Direc- 
 tion of  a  Pn72cefsj    in  whom  the  Perfed:ion  of 
 Good  Senfe,   and  the  Perfedion  of  Good  Na- 
 ture,  are  united  5  and  outdone  by  nothing,  un- 
 iefs  by  that  Sacred   Regard  to  ^rue  Religion, 
 Kvhich  will   make  her  Story  the   Delight  of 
 JGood  Men  in  Ages  to  come. 
 I     This  is  the  Fabrick  of  Happinefs  in  which 
 jour  Souls  may  take  their  Reft.      How  much 
 kfs  than  this,  might  We  our  Selves  have  been 
 [well  contented  to  hope  for :  And  indeed,  What 
 •more  than  this,  could  any  Nation  under  Hea- 
 !ven    well   wifh   for  ?   And   yet,   Againfl:    this 
 whole  Scheme  of  Blejifigs-j  againfl  their  own, 
 and  their  Neighbours  Security  j  againffc  their 
 own   Laws  and  Liberties-,   againft  the   Efta- 
 iblifhmentof  everything  valuable  in  thisWorldj 
 I  We  have  feen  a  Rebellion  raifed,  by  the  Wicked 
 Perverfenefs  of  Men  without  the  Pretenfe  of 
 a   Provocation,   befides  the  fingle  Provocation 
 of  offering   them    Happinefs,  in  a  Way,   and 
 by  the  Hands,  which  They  were  not  pleafed 
 to  like:   And  this,    before  their   Paffions  had 
 any  thing  offered  to  them,  to  fet  them  on  Fire. 
 And  We  have  Seen  an  Adi7iiniJiration  reviled, 
 and  infulted,    by  Thofe,  who  themfelves  had 
 
 tailed  nothing  but  Good  from  it. 
 
 V/hen 
 
by  the  Protcfiant  Siiccejfton. 
 
 259 
 
 .    When  one  reflects  with  Coolnefs  u^n  what  s^e  R  m. 
 hath  lately  paft  amongftUs,   it  feems  as  if  the     xii. 
 Fullnefs  of  Happinefs  had  itfelf  fet  on  fire  the  '^^'^J 
 reftlefs  Malice   of  Thofe,   who  were  refolved 
 not  to  acknowledge  or  enjoy  the  Blefling  of- 
 fered them ;  and  that  the  Rage  of  Enmity  hath 
 been  forced  to  be  raifed  the  higher,   and  the 
 louder,  >by  all  the  Management  of  Artifice  bc- 
 caule  there  was  fo  little  to  Complain  of. 
 
 But  this  is  the  Glory  of  an  Adminiftration  ; 
 when  Thofe  who  moft  revile  it,  cannot  do  it 
 without  bearing  Teftimony  to  it  themfelves. 
 It  is  the  Glory  of  an  Adminlfiration,  when  the 
 Reproaches,  with  which  it  is  to  be  loaded,  are 
 caft  into  Future  T^iniss  \  when  the  bittereft  E- 
 nemies  it  hath,  are  forced  to  call  in  the  Help  of 
 the  moft  fruitful  Invention  i  and,  for  want  of 
 prefent  Grievances,  to  fill  the  Minds  of  Men 
 with  the  Sufpicions  of  Evils  to  come.  It  is  the 
 Glory  of  an  AdminlftratiGn,  when,  before  it 
 can  be  blackened,  and  made  vile,  the  Names, 
 and  Natures,  and  Boundaries  of  Things,  muftbe 
 altered  and  removed  :  Light  put  for  Darhiefsy 
 and  Darknefi  for  Light  j  Legal  Juftice  (though 
 mixed  with  more  Temper,  than  ever  yet  was 
 feen,  in  any  Nation,  upon  a  like  Occafion,)  treat- 
 ed with  the  Indignity,  due  only  to  the  Highth 
 of  Injujlice  ;  the  moil  necelfary  Self-defaice  re- 
 viled as  Cruelty ;  and  a  Falfe  Compaffion  placed 
 
 S  2  ia 
 
:26  c    Tie  Rej%raiion  7nade  a  Blejjt7ig  to  lls^ 
 
 SE  R  M.  in  the  Seat  o^  Mercy ;  the  S<^fety  of  a  whole  Na- 
 XII.     ticn^  and  all  its  Concerns,  weighed  in  the  Bal- 
 
 i^'W'  lance  again  ft  Trifles ;  and  even  "Popery  itfelf 
 painted  with  l^ruth,  and  Meeknefs,  and  Love^  in 
 its  Face,  as  an  harmlefs  agreeable  Thing,  wor- 
 thy to  be  received  with  the  open  i\rms  of 
 Friendfliip,   by  Thofe,   it  would  devour. 
 
 When  thefe  are  the  Methods  of  a'rtacking 
 an  Adminiflration,  it  is  a  very  happy  Sign,  that 
 They  who  make  ufe  of  them,  have  occaiion 
 heartily  to  wifh  it  much  worfe  than  They  find 
 itj^  and  a  very  ftrong  Argument  to  all  Good 
 Subjedls,  to  wi(h  as  heartily  that  their  Country 
 may  never  know  the  want  of  an  Admi?iijlra- 
 tion,  which  is  not  reviled  by  its  Greatefl  Ene- 
 mies,  unlefs  it  be  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  to  add 
 to  its  Reputation  and  Plonour. 
 
 What  is  it,  that  an  Uneafy,  Thanklefs, 
 Generation  of  Men  would  have  ?  BlelTed  be 
 God,  the  Publick  Efforts  of  their  Malice  are 
 once  more  diffipated.  They  are  conquered  in 
 the  Field.  But  their  Spiriis,  and  their  I'em- 
 fers,  and  their  De/ignSy  do  not  at  all  appear  to 
 be  conquered:  If  We  may  judge  from  their 
 Indefatigable  Diligence  and  Art,  in  filling  the 
 Heads  of  their  Well-wifliers,  as  Soon  as  one 
 Defperate  Attempt  is  over,  with  Hints  and  Ex- 
 pedations  of  Another;  and  from  the  Unparal- 
 leled Infolence  of  their  Agents  and  Followers, 
 
 even 
 
hy  the  Proteftant  Succefp.on.  261 
 
 even  whilft  they  are  begging  and  waiting  fo:' serm 
 
 Mercy. 
 
 It  may  be  very  hard,  to  find  prefent  and 
 efFeaual  Remedies  for  fo  great  Evils.  Bat  this 
 Ojie  thing,  I  am  fare,  is  very  plain,  and  very 
 proper  to  be  mentioned,  that,  in  order  entire- 
 ly and  fuccefsfully  to  conquer  fuch  Enemies 
 We  muft  firft  conquer  Oiirfehes,--T>\^  2.\\, 
 who  tr>ily  wifli  well  to  the  prefent  Eftabliih- 
 ment,  unanimoufly  purfue  the  Same  ^oiJ^  £Wj 
 there  would  be  no  ground  for  Fear.  But  whilfl 
 the  Paffions  of  Well-meaning  Men,  upoE 
 every  Trifling  and  Private  Occafion,  join  them- 
 felves  with  the  Defigns  of  Thofe,  who  cer- 
 tainly  mean  our  Ruine  ;  it  is  this  that  fwells 
 the  Current ;  and  that  feeds  the  Infolence  and 
 Expedation  of  the  Common  Enemy. 
 
 But  to  conclude :  If  a  long  Series  of  Expe^ 
 rience  can  make  any  Nation  wife,  We,  of  all 
 Nations  in  the  World,  have  that  Advantage. 
 We  are  not  only  made  happy;  but  made  hap- 
 py in  thofe  Methods,  which  cannot  but  teach 
 Us  to  value  ourHappinefs ,  whilft,  That  which 
 Others  learn  by  Reflexion  and  Judgment,  JVe 
 have  had  brought  home  to  Us,  by  the  Senfe  of 
 Feeling,  and  Eye-Sight.  The  Enemies  of  our 
 Happinefs  themfelves,  ought  to  learn  Convic- 
 tion, from  All  that  this  Nation  hath  been  Wit 
 nefs   to  3  and   to   become  Friends.     And  for 
 
 S  3  Thofe, 
 
 XII. 
 
262     l%e  ReftGration  made  a  Blejfmg  to  Us, 
 
 s  ER  M.;Thofe,  who  are  truly  Friends^  in  the  main  and 
 efTential  Points  of  our  Happinefs ;  certainl)^4fci 
 
 XII. 
 
 ^.'^'V'O  is  Time  for  all  them  to  think  it  Wifdom,  to 
 give  up  even  their  private  Schemes  and  Nq-:^. 
 tions,  as  well  as  their  private  Refentments  and 
 Views,  to  the  Publick  Good  ;  and,  at  length, 
 after  fo  many  Viciffitudes  of  Hope  and  Fean^ 
 fo  many   Struggles   between  Life  and  Death, 
 fo   many    Hazards    and   Dangers  efcafji'ed,   to 
 unite  in  ftrengthening,   inflead  of  weakening, 
 the  Hands  of  T^hofe,  who  have  it  in  their  Will,. 
 as  well  as  in  their  Truft,  to  efliablifh  Us  upon 
 a  Foundation  never  more  to  be  fhaken  :  That 
 fo,  the  Beft  of  Kings  may  have  the  Bcft  of  Stib- 
 jeBs',  and,  Authority  and  Law,  Obedience  an^ 
 Liberty,  may  be  feen  united,  in  all  their  yi=- 
 gour  and  Glory  j  and  defcend  down,   with  the 
 Bleffings  which  accompany  them,  to  all  Fu- 
 ture Generations.   V/'hich    God  grants  jor  the 
 Sake  of  Jcfus  Chriil:  his  only  Son^   our  Lord! 
 
I'he   Nature  and  Duty  of  a  Public  Spirits 
 
 SERMON    XIII. 
 
 Preache^  at  St.  James  s,  Weftminjler^  on  St, 
 David' s'Dzy,  March  i,  171 6.  before  thej 
 Honourable  the  Stewards  and  Others  of  the 
 Society  of  Antient  Britons^  eftablifhed  in 
 Honour  of  Her  Royal  Highnefs's  Birth-day, 
 and  the  Principality  of  Wales. 
 
 Ph 
 
 1 1.  II.  4, 
 
 Look  not  every  Man  on  his  own   Things  :  But 
 every  Man  alfo  on  the  T^hings  of  Others, 
 
 i 
 
 "^  H  E  R  E  are  hardly  any  Words,  more  5  e  r  m, 
 common  in  the  Mouths  of  Men,  thanl  xiii. 
 a  Public  Spirit ;  a  Regard  to  the  P«^-*n/VNJ 
 lie;  the  Good  of  the  Public  ;  the  Lo'u^  of  ouri 
 Country ;  and  many  others  of   the   like  Sort : 
 Which  are  indeed,   in  their  Original  Defign, 
 but  different  Exprcifions  for  One  and  the  Same! 
 Thing.      The   Great   Point   is,    what    thefe| 
 
 S  4  Word§| 
 
264 
 
 S  ERM. 
 XIII. 
 
 The  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 Words  ought  truly  to  fignify  j  what  Temper 
 and  Dlfpofition  of  Mind ;  what  Pradice  and 
 Condud:  of  Life,  They  ought  to  reprefent  and 
 defign.  And,    as   I  think  that  the  great  End 
 of  fuch    Societies  and  ^Jfemblies^   as  the   pre- 
 fent,  is  to  cultivate  that  Good  Spirit   of  Love 
 and  Humanity,    which  may  difFufe  itlelf  thro* 
 the  whole  Tenor  of  Men's  Actions  ;  I  have, 
 upon  this  Account,  thought  it  proper  to  choofe 
 thefe  Words  of  St.  Paul:  In  which  He  con- 
 demns  that  Vicious  Selffinefs  which  teacheth 
 Us   to    confine  our  Views  to  Ourfehes  alone, 
 confidered  as   feparated  from  the  Reft  of  the 
 World  J  and,  at  the  fame  Time,    direds  Us  to 
 the  contrary  good  Temper  and  Difpoiition,  of 
 a  Dlffuiive    Regard    to   All  Mankind  around 
 Us.      And  I  choofe  Them,   as  They  will  give 
 Us  Occafion  to  confider,    in   a  more    general. 
 Way,   than  perhaps  He  at  that  Time  dirtdly 
 intended,  and  with   a   particular  View  to  Hu-- 
 man    Society^   The  true  Fcundatioi^    Nature^ 
 and  Extent^   of  a  Public  Spirit  j  the  Bad  Dif- 
 pojition,  and   P^ice,  oppofite  to    it  j   the  EffeBs 
 in  which  Jt  will  fliew  itfelf;  and  the  Motives 
 there  are,   to  the  chcrhhing  and  improving  it 
 in  Ourfelvcs. 
 
 I.  The  Fcur-daiicn  Oi  k  is  laid  in  that  Vir- 
 tuous Love  of  Our/elves,  which  is  joined  w-ith 
 the  Love  of  Others^  united  with  U^s  in  Human 
 
 Society  : 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit* 
 
 Society:  And  it  muft  be  fupported  by  that 
 great  and  god-like  Difpofition  of  Mind,  which 
 defires  and  labours  to  plant  Happinefs,  where 
 it  is  not  J  and  to  continue  it  where  it  is. 
 And  this  is  the  fame  Thing  with  that  Com- 
 preheniive  Love  and  Charity  towards  Other s, 
 which  the  Go/pel  came  to  reftore,  and  to  in- 
 flame. But  this,  I  fay,  not  fo  as  to  exclude 
 that  reaionable  Regard  to  ourfelves,  and  our 
 own  Concerns,  which  never  is,  nor  can  be, 
 a  Fice.  So  far  from  it,  that,  as  long  as  We 
 are  Members  of  Human  Society,  nothing  can 
 more  fecure  and  improve  our  own  Happinefs, 
 than  this  Regard  to  the  Happinefs  of  that  Hu- 
 man  Society ,  of  which  we  are  Members. 
 We  can  do  nothing  for  that  good  End,  but 
 what  will  refle6t  back  its  happy  Influences 
 upon  ourfelves,  in  fome  Degree  or  other:  As 
 !pvery  Law  for  the  Prefervation,  and  Glory, 
 and  Happinefs,  of  the  Public,  is  a  Law,  in 
 which  All  the  Members  of  the  Public  muft 
 find  their  own  Account,  and  their  own  Secu- 
 rity. So  that  a  Public  Spirit  is  not  founded 
 upon  a  Regard  to  Others,  inconfiftent  with  a 
 Regard  to  Ourfelves  in  a  good  Senfe  ;  but  really 
 takes  in  that  virtuous  and  praife-worthy  Self- 
 love  ;  which  confiders  our  own  True  Laft- 
 ing  Intereft,  (as  well  as  the  Peace  and  Ap- 
 plaufes  of  our    Mind  within,)  clofely  united 
 
 with 
 
 5  E  R  M,' 
 XIII. 
 
 ^il. 
 
26( 
 
 'The  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 s  E  R  M.  with  the  Happinefs  and  Intereft  of  All  around 
 XIII.   Us. 
 
 V^^'^  This  may  appear  with  more  Light,  if  you 
 confider  the  very  Method,  and  End,  of 
 Mankind's  'Engagements  with  one  another,  in 
 their  entering  into  the  Terms  of  Human  Society, 
 Before  you  fuppofe  this  Engagement ^  or  Com- 
 pa(ft,  or  whatever  you  will  call  it.  Every 
 Man  was,  properly  fpeaking,  One  by  llmfelf; 
 guarding  Hhnfe If  Silone,  againft  Others -y  taking 
 every  thing  for  his  Support,  which  could 
 come  within  his  Reach  j  and  having  Himfelf 
 alone,  under  his  own  Care  and  Protection. 
 The  firft  Step  towards  Human  Society  muft 
 arife,  in  the  Nature  of  the  thing,  from  a 
 Defire  of  a  more  fettled  Security,  than  Every 
 Man,  by  Himfelf ^  could  find  in  his  own  De- 
 fenfe  and  Protedion  j  joined  with  a  Benevo- 
 lent Defire  of  the  fame  Good  to  Others^  which 
 Every  One  found  the  want  of,  in  Himfelf. 
 And  the  Nature  of  the  Stipulation ^  or  Agree- 
 ment^ muft  have  been  this ;  not,  to  profefs  or 
 pretend  to  throw  off  All  Concern  for  Them- 
 f elves  }  or  to  regard  the  Happinefs  of  Other Sy 
 in  a  way  inconfiflent  with  their  own  :  But  ta 
 engage  for  that  mutual  Strength  and  Support, 
 which  fliould  be  the  Happinefs  of  All  the 
 Members  of  Society  j  that  is,  of  Themfehes^ 
 as  well  as  of  Others, 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit, 
 
 1267 
 
 The  Public  Spirit ,  therefore.  We  are  now  s|  e  r  m. 
 fpeaking  of,  as  it  refpeds  Human  Society ^  'xni. 
 mufi:  be  founded  upon  the  Original  Defign, 
 and  End,  of  Human  Society,  which  was,  in 
 the  Intent  of  every  Man,  the  Good  and  Hap- 
 pinefs  of  Himjelfy  confidered  in  Conjundion 
 with  the  Good  and  Happinefs  of  0/^^rj. 
 
 2.  This  will  lead  Us  to  the  True  Account 
 of  the  o{)pofite  Vice.     For    it  is   plain  from  j 
 what  hath  been  faid,   that  this  doth  not  confift  ! 
 in   regarding  Ourfehes ;   provided  we   regard  ! 
 Ourfehes  as  Members  of  Society ^  united  in   the  | 
 Bonds  of  Friendfhip   and  Union  with  many  j 
 Others,  for  the  fame  End  of  Mutual  Prefervation  I 
 and  Happinefs;  But  that  the  Crime  confifts  in  , 
 regarding  Ourfehes  in  fuch  a  manner,    as  doth  ! 
 in  effed:  take  us  out  again  of  that  Society^  into  | 
 which  We  were  entered  j  and  flicws  that  we  * 
 confider  Ourfehes,  as  retired  back  again  into  that  [ 
 State^  in  which  We  were  originally  Our  own  | 
 Supports,    and   Our  own  Defenders,  without 
 Regard  to  Any  but  Our  felves.    This,  Every 
 one  fees  plainly,  in  the  Cafe  of  Notorious  Of-  '\ 
 fenders  J  in  Inftances  which  public  Infamy  and  j 
 conftant  Punifliment  have  marked  with  Dif- 
 grace  j   fuch  as  Open  Robbery,  and  Violence, ; 
 and  Rapine.     But  it  is  as  true,  and  as  certain, ' 
 in  all  other,   lefs  obferved,  and  lefs  notorious,: 
 Inftances.   For,  as  Men  profeffing  thofe  Vices, 
 
 have. 
 
J2M 
 
 7he  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 have,  for  their  own  prefent  Humour,  or  Paf- 
 fion,  voluntarily  removed  Themfelves  out  of 
 that  Society ^  in  whichThey  were  once  engaged  : 
 So,  Whoever,  out  of  a  falfe  regard  to  Them- 
 felves ;  either  for  a  prefent  Gratification  of  Cove- 
 toufnefs,  Pride,  Ambition,  Revenge,  or  the  like, 
 hinder  the  leail  Good,  or  procure  the  leafl 
 Evil,  to  the  Public  ;  T'hefe  Me?2  are,  in  that  In- 
 flance,  and  in  that  Degree,  upon  the  lame  foot 
 with  the  Others.  They  are  fo  far  got  loofe  from 
 the  Bonds  of  Human  Society.  They  fo  far  re- 
 gard T'hemfehes  as  Particulars,  (landing  by  Them- 
 felves. They  have  fo  far  torn  themfelves  from 
 the  Ties  and  Concerns  of  Social  Engage- 
 ments. And,  tho'  they  may  avoid  the  Infamy 
 of  Common  Difcowfe^  which  generally  follows 
 nothing  but  Public  and  Shameful  Punifiment  j 
 yet,  in  reality  They  are  but  juft  where  the 
 Others  are  ;  that  is,  They  are  again  got  back 
 into  a  State  diredly  oppolite  to  that  of  Human 
 Society 'y  and  are  diverted  of  All  Real  Title  to 
 the  Advantages  of  a  Condition,  from  which 
 They  have  voluntarily  feparated  Themfelves. 
 
 The  ^efion  therefore,  to  any  Man  upon 
 this  Subjed,  is  only  this,  Whether,  upon  any 
 Occafion,  He  v/ill  regard  Hijnfelf  and  his 
 own  immediate  Paffions  and  Views,  (which 
 He  fuppofeth  His  prefent  Good,)  in  Diftinc- 
 tion  and  Oppofition  to  the  Good  of  Society ; 
 I  or, 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit, 
 
 !g6o 
 
 or,  Whether  He   will  be    content  to  regard  s  e  R  Mi 
 Himfelfy   as    a    Member  of  Society,   and  his|  xiii. 
 own  particular  Good  and  Happinefs,  as  united  l/^\^\J 
 and  coniiftent  with  the  Good  and  Happinefs  of 
 Others,    In  the  former  Cafe,   His  Choice  im-j 
 mediately  diflblves  the  Relation  between  Him\ 
 and  Others y  and  gives  Them  a  Right  to  look! 
 upon,   L^tfid  treat  Him,  as  a  Public  Enemy,      In 
 the   latter  Cafe,    His  Choice  is  direded  by  a 
 Benevolent  Temper  to  Himfelf^  as  well  as  to 
 Others ;  and  by  a  Defire  of  the  Happinefs  of 
 Others,    as  united   with  his  own,    in  the  fame 
 Great  Concerns. 
 
 3.  It  follow^s  naturally,  upon  what  hath  been 
 faid,  to  obferve,  that  it  is  this  Defire  of  the 
 Happinefs  of  Others,  this  Generous  and  Dif- 
 fufive  Love  of  Mankind,  which,  in  all  Sea- 
 fons,  and  upon  all  Occafions,  will  be  our 
 chief  Defenfe  againfi:  falling  into  the  Vice,  I 
 have  been  now  fpeaking  of.  For  tho',  at  the 
 Beginning,  thfe  firll  Thought  of  entering  into 
 the  "Terms  of  Society,  was  owing  to  the  Wants, 
 and  Defeats,  which  Every  particular  Man 
 found  in  Him/elf,  for  his  own  particular  Sup- 
 port and  Prefervation  j  yet  the  End  of  that 
 Society  mufl:  be  anfwered,  and  maintained,  by 
 that  Equitable  Rule,  of  not  expeding  from 
 Others,  what  We  ourfelves  are  not  ready  to 
 aftord  Them,   in  all  like  Circumftances.  And, 
 
 in 
 
270 
 
 l^he  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 i  E  R  M.  In  order  to  afford  Them,  what  We  think  rea^ 
 XIII.  fonable  to  expert  from  Them,  We  mufl  feel, 
 pnd  improve,  in  our  felves,  the  Love  and 
 Defire  of  the  Happinefs  of  the  World  about 
 Us}  and  fix  it  is  as  a  fteady  Principle  of  our 
 jov^rn  Condud,  that  it  is  not  only  ftridly  agree- 
 able to  the  very  Engage7nents  of  Hutnan  So- 
 ciety, in  which  We  are  entered  j  but /hat  it  is 
 {highly  glorious,  and  honourable,  to  add  to  the 
 JHappinefs,  and  to  diminifli  the  Miferies,  of 
 lOthers,  as  far  as  our  Power  and  Influence 
 can  extend  Themfelves. 
 
 ;      The    Great   Neceffity,  and  Ufefulnefs,   of 
 fbaving   fuch    a  Support,  laid  deep  in  a  Well- 
 difpofed  Mind,    will  appear  to  Any,    who  will 
 i  give  Themfelves  the  Trouble  of  remarking  the 
 (many  Powerful,  and  too  often  Succefsful,  Ene- 
 jtnies  there  are,    to  this  Good  and  Benevolent 
 Spirit.      Sometimes  Covetoufnefs,  and  fome- 
 times  Pride  5    fometimes   the    Ambition    and 
 Thirfl  of  Power,    and  fometimes  the  Revenge 
 and  Rage  of  Difappointment,  will  overturn  the 
 Minds  of  Men,  on  a  fudden;   and  make  them 
 i  forget,  that  They   are    entered   into    Society 
 with  their  Neighbours :    Unlefs  They    have 
 firmly  fixed  it  in  their  own  Judgments,   that 
 it  can  never  be  difiomiirahle  for  them  to  pro- 
 mote the  Happinefs  of  Others  5   nor   ever  be 
 hononrabk  for  Them,  in  any  Degree,    to  take 
 
 ^hetri' 
 
of  a  Public  Spirits 
 
 ^hemfelves    back    again    to  T'hemfehes^    after  sjerm. 
 They  have    once   entered  into  All  the  En-  xiii. 
 gagements  of  Human   Society.     And  this  can  ^■•^''^*'^"^ 
 never  be  firmly  fixed  in  any  Mind,  in  which  ; 
 that  Vicious  Seljijljnefs  reigns,  which  banifhes 
 All  Difpofition  towards  making  others  happy;  j 
 and  plants  in  its  room  a  cold  Negled  of  All 
 the  ReiJ:    of  Mankind.     Many  a  One,  who 
 would  ftart  at  the  Thought   of  being  an  open 
 Kobbery  or  Cut-throaty  yet  is  fometimes  found 
 to  indulge  Himfelf,    out  of  fome  poor  private 
 View,    or  Refentment,    in    ading     a    Part, 
 which  puts  Him  as  much  out  of  Society,  and 
 is,  in  it's  Effeds,  perhaps  of  more  fatal  Confe- 
 quence    to    the  Happinefs  of  Mankind,  than 
 Thoufands  of  Robberies,  and  Private  Violences. 
 The  fame  Law  of  Equity,  Condemns  the  0?2e, 
 which  Condemns  the  Other.  The  fame  Reafons 
 engage  Us  againfl  the  Otie^  which  engage  Us 
 againft  the  Other.     The  fame  End  of  Society, 
 and  the  fame  Defire  of  the  Happinefs  of  Other Sy 
 rightly  confidered,    and  thoroughly  imbibed, 
 would  efleflually  prevent  or  cure  them  both. 
 And  in  Cafes,  where  no  public  Temporal  Pu- 
 ni(hment  follows,  nothing  but  a  Good  Principle 
 within,  can  be  of  any  lafting  good  Confequence. 
 4.   As  for  the  EffeSis^  that  v>^ill  be  feen  to 
 flow  from   hence;  a    Eublic   Spirit ,    or  the 
 hove  of  Our  Country ^  or  whatever  it  may  be 
 
 called. 
 
272 
 
 V^he  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 Serm,  called,  will  not  fhew  itfelf,  as  If  it  were  the 
 XIII.     Love  of  a  particular  Climate^  ov  Soily  or  of   a 
 
 t/VX^  particular  Conflitution  of  Government,  what- 
 ever it  be,  merely  becaufe  we  happen  to  be 
 born  under  it:  But  it  will  appear  in  All  the 
 Genuine  Effe6ls  of  a  fincere  Defire  of  the 
 Happinefs  of  Society,  and  of  Ourfehes,  con- 
 fidered  as  Members  of  Society.  It  will  anfwer 
 .thofe  Ends  and  Engagements  of  Human  Society, 
 upon  which  it  is  built  j  and  produce  All  the 
 Fruits  of  that  Love  of  Mankind,  which  We 
 can  never  forbear  to  extol  and  applaud  where- 
 ever  We  meet  with  it.  It  will  Ad:  with  a 
 View  to  Our  own  Happinefs,  coniidered  as 
 tempered  in  fuch  a  manner  with  that  of 
 Others,  as  that  We  can  never  deflroy  our 
 own  Lafling  Intereft,  whilft  We  promote  the 
 Common  Interefl,  in  which  Our  own  lives 
 and  breathes.  It  is  Something  as  far  removed 
 from  Noife  and  Paffion  in  Words  j  as  it  is  from 
 Pride,  Ambition,  Covetoufnefs,  or  Revenge, 
 in  Atlions.  It  doth  not  always,  indeed,  footli 
 and  flatter  our  prefent  Paffion,  or  Every  Im- 
 mediate View  of  Perfonal  Profit,  or  Power  ; 
 but  it  always  tends  to  fecure,  even  our  Private 
 Good,  which  We  have,  by  entering  into  So- 
 ciety, mixt  with  the  Good  of  Others.  In  a 
 word,  It  is  feen  in  a  Condant  Regard  to  the 
 Interefl  of  that  Society,   from  which  Our  o'wn 
 
 cannot 
 
of  d  Public  Spirit, 
 
 273 
 
 5  E  RM. 
 
 cannot   be   leparated :   Arid  confirts,  riot  in  2I 
 Neglect  of  Ourfehcs  j  biit  in  a  Regard  to  Others, '  xiii. 
 clofely  united,  in  the  fdtne  Common  Happinefs,  'S^^^^^^ 
 or  Common  Mifery,  with  Otirfehes. 
 
 5.  1  come  now  to  the  Motives  and  Induce^ 
 ments  to  this  Diipolition,  and  Praftice.  And, 
 as  I  have  hitherto  confidered  a  Public  Spirit, 
 with  regard  to  Human  Society ;  fo,  ihcfirjl 
 Motive  Naturally  ariieth  from  hence,  that  the 
 E^ids  and  'Engagements  of  Human  Society  make 
 T^his  the  Duty  of  every  Man,  who  is  not  wil- 
 ling to  appear  falfe  to  his  Honour,  and  to  his 
 Affurdnces.  There  is  no  heed  of  any  Expli- 
 cit Formal  ContraB  in  this  Cafe.  For,  vvho- 
 ever  thinks.  He  hath  Reafon  to  exped  thei 
 Privileges,  the  ProteBion,  the  Support,  arifirigl 
 hoxn  Society^  (which,  I  believe,  Few  will  think 
 they  have  forfeited,)  doth,  by  that  very 
 Thought,  effedually  give,  or  renevv,  the  ;;^- 
 cejfary  Affurances,  on  his  own  Part.  He  ac- 
 knosvledges  Himfelf  boiind  by  all  the  Ties  of 
 that  Society ;  and  confequently  obliged,  in 
 Honour  and  Confcience,  to  regard  Himfelfy 
 not  as  a  Perfon  by  Himfelf,  with  his  own  pri- 
 vate Pailions  and  Humours   only  to  gratify, 
 
 but  as  0?ie  of   a  Number  of   Men,     whofc 
 
 i 
 
 Happinefs  and  Interefl  is  one  and  the  fame. 
 Whenever,  therefore,  He  feparates  his  own 
 Good,  from  that  of  the  Whole ^  into  which  he 
 
 T  pro- 
 
274 
 
 i.  pi 
 
 The  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 sfERM.  proft'fTeth  voluntarily  to  throw  It,  every  Hoar 
 :xiii.   that  He  hves  under  the  Benefit  and  Protedion 
 ^^/'W^  pf  Social  Laws  ^  He   iins  againft  Thofe  ufe- 
 ul  Obligations  -,     with    much  more  Diflion- 
 our,   and  many  more  fatal  Confequences,  than 
 1  Man  who  breaks  his  private  jigreement^  or 
 revokes  his  Verbal   Fromife^     or    his   written 
 Bond,     It  is  in  vain  indeed,  that  Men  are  en- 
 tered into   the  T^ies  of  Society,   unlefs-   They 
 look  upon  that  very  Entrance  into  them,    as  a 
 flridl  Obligation  upon  them,  to  Ad  agreeably 
 to  thofe  T'ies. 
 
 So  that,   if  You  only  confider  yourfelves  as 
 Members   of  Human    Societ\\    You    have   the 
 llrongeft  Motive,    which  Honour,  and   Rea- 
 fon,  and    Equity,  can    fuggefl  ;  that  is,  the 
 Motive  taken  from  the  Bonds,   and  Engage- 
 ments, You  have  brought  yourfelves  under  ; 
 to  perform,  on  your  Part,  what  in  Reafon  you 
 may  expect  from  Others  in  the  fame  Circum- 
 ftances  -,   and  what  is  agreeable  and  anfwerable 
 to  the  Privileges   and  Protedion   You   think 
 yourfelves  entitled  to,    from  the  Body  Politic. 
 To  claim  the  Benefits  of  Laws,  and  the  Sup- 
 ports  arifing  from  Human  Society,  is  abfolute- 
 ly  unreafonable  and  abfurd,  for   any  One   to 
 prefume  to  do,  who  hath  any  Senfe  of  Virtue 
 and  Plonour  left  j   unlefs  He  be  ready,    on  his 
 own  Part,  to  pay  back  again  all  the  Recipro- 
 cal 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit »  '  275 
 
 cal  Duties  refpe^ting  the  Gccd  of  the  Whole : 's  e  R  M. 
 Which  Pie  doth,  in  Effea:,  Promife  and  Vow^  xiii. 
 to  doj    whenevtr   He  expeds  thofe  Benefits. 
 The  firft  Motive  therefore  is  this.      You   are, 
 entered  into  the  Engagements   of  Hiimmi  So-  \ 
 ciety.     You   are  obliged  in    Confcience    and  1 
 Honour  to  anfwer  thofe  Engagements.     And  ; 
 confequently,  are  obliged  to  regard  the  Happi- 
 nefs  of  that  Society ,  in  which  your  own  is  con-  ' 
 cerned;   and  your  own  private  Inclinations,  or. 
 Paffions,  no  farther,  than  as  they  are  confiftent,  | 
 hot  only  with  the  Security,  but  with  the  Hap- ' 
 pinefs,   of  the  Public. 
 
 If  from  hence  we  proceed  to  confider  Our  | 
 felves  as  Reafonable  Creatures^  brought  into  Be-  I 
 ing  by  the  Great  Father  of  all  Things ;  and : 
 capable  of  finding  out  his  Exigence,   Nature,  i 
 and  Perfedions ;  We  fliall  be  perfuaded,    that 
 We  can   never  be  fo  Great  in  Ourfelves,  as 
 when  We  conform  Ourfelves  to  his  Will, ^,  or 
 imitate  his  Perfedions.  And,   when  we  know 
 that  He  loves  to  communicate  Happinefs  ;  and 
 that  His  great  Glory  is,  Mercy,    and  Good-  ; 
 nefs,  difFufed  to  all  Beings,  who  do  not  make  ■ 
 Themfelves  uncapable  of  them  :  This  will  be  ] 
 a  powerful  Motive  to  all  i.vho  know  his  Name^ 
 to  efteem  it  as  their  own  great  Glory  and  Ho-  | 
 nour,    to  refemble  Him,    in  that  Good  and 
 Benevolent  Difpofitionj  to  which  They  them- : 
 
 T  2  felves 
 
TTtr 
 
 l^he  Natu7''e  and  Duty 
 
 felves  owe  All  that  they  enjoy,  and  all  th^t 
 They  can  hope  for. 
 
 If  we  now  conlider  Ourfelvcs  as  CkrijriafiSy 
 We  fliall  find  that  the  Bejl  Religion  is  founded 
 in  Love;  and  that  this  Love  is  not  a  Fajjion^  or 
 a  Fancy,  or  an  Enthufiafii^  of  the  Mind,  but 
 the  Bcnrjicence  of  Fri\S.iCQ  ;  that  it  confifls,  not 
 in  ProfeJJion^  and  Words^  but  in  Deed,  and 
 ASiion  \  that  it  hath  no  other  Signification,  in 
 the  Law  oi  Chrifiians^  but  doing  Good^  that  is, 
 adding  to  the  Happinefs,  or  diminifliing  the 
 Miferies,  of  Others.  This  is  that  true  FrienJ- 
 fiipj  with  regard  to  particular  Perfons,  which 
 alone  deferves  that  Name;  and  this  is  that  true 
 Public  Spirit^  with  regard  to  the  iiDhGle  Society 
 to  which  We  belong,  which  comprehends  and 
 enlivens  every  Duty  we  owe  to  it.  If  we 
 have  CbriJJian  Charity^  We  have  that  Benefi- 
 cefit  Temper  which  promotes  the  Good  of 
 Others;  and  the  more  Diffufive  and  Extenfive 
 this  is,  the  more  Chriftian  it  is:  And  if  We 
 feel  nothing  of  the  Defire  of  the  Happinefs  of 
 Others,  in  Us,  We  are  certainly  void  of  All 
 that  Love^  which  is  the  Foundation,  and  Ef- 
 fence,  of  the  GofpeL 
 
 The  lajl  thing  I  fiiall  mention,  is,  Self-Love^ 
 .md  Self- Inter  eft  y  rightly  underftood.  For  I 
 am  perfuaded  that,  if  this  be  wholly  left  out  of 
 the  9^eftion\  and  All  regard  to  T^hemfehes  be 
 
 excluded^ 
 
 ser  m. 
 
 XIII. 
 
of  a  Publkk  Spirit. 
 
 2J^ 
 
 XIII. 
 
 excluded,  fo  that  Men  fliall  find  that  they  are  SE  rm. 
 neither  to  reap  Profit^   nor  Fkafiire,  nor  Ho- 
 nour ^   nor  any  Ad'vantage^  from  the  Part  they 
 are  to  ad,  it  is  invain  to  enter  into  Argument 
 with  Them.      Their  Pradice  muR-  be  deter- 
 mined another  way  ;   and  the  Paffiofis  of  their 
 Hearts  will  eafily  hurry  Them,   witherfoeverl 
 They  pjeafe.      And  here,    if  Men  have  any 
 native  Goodnefs  and  Piobity  of  Mind,   They 
 will  feel  within  Themfelves  the  Pkafure  and 
 Honour  of  keeping  ftridly  to   thofe  Engage- 
 ments,  which  the  Nature   of  Human  Society 
 layeth  upon  them  ;  and  for  which  alone  They 
 receive  the    Supports    and    Protedion   of  it. 
 They  will  have  the  Reward  within  of  a  peace- 
 ful Brealf,    undifturbed  with  the  Tumults  of 
 Paffion,     Pride,    Covetoufnefs,    or  Revenge. 
 They  will  feel  that  it  is,  truly  fpeaking,  muchl 
 more  happy  to  Thetjifehes,  to  give  Bounds  toj 
 their  own  Defires  and  Views,  in  ConjundionI 
 with  the  Ends  o^  Society,  than  to  break  through  I 
 their  own  Obligations,  to  ruffle  and  difcompofe 
 their  own  Breads,   merely  for  the  fake  of  lay- 
 ing hold  on  every  Opportunity  of  adding,  for 
 the  prefent  Moment,  either  to  their  Riches,  or 
 their  Power. 
 
 The  Difference  is  this,  that  They  will  not 
 indeed  have  the  Satisfadion  of  gratifying 
 every  prefent  H«/;?^wr,  or  Inclifiation,  or  Rage-, 
 
 T  3  (if 
 
'The  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 s  E  RMj.  (if  that  can  be  called  a  SatisfaBion,  which  ofr 
 XIII.   ten  brings  fo  much  Private,   as  well  as  Public, 
 
 ^•'VNi'Evil  along  with  it:)  but  They  will  have  the 
 Satisfadion,  even  as  to  Themfelves^  of  purfu- 
 ing  their  prefcnt  Intereft  in  a  more  Heady  and 
 fecure,  as  well  as  a  more  honourable  way ; 
 and  at  the  fame  Time  of  continuing  down 
 thofe  Goods  to  their  own  Foficrity)^  which 
 They  enjoy  themfe.lves.  Whereas  every 
 Breach  or  Violence,  made  upon  tlie  Scheme 
 of  Public  Good,  hath  appeared,  in  Multitudes 
 of  Inilances,  to  have  ended  even  in  the  Tem^ 
 poral  Dlfadvantage,  or  Ruine,  of  the  Perfons 
 Themfelves  who  have  been  tempted  to  join  in 
 it.  So  it  may  probably  be  always,  becaufe 
 jn  its  Nature  it  tends  to  it :  But  it  will  certain- 
 ly affed:  many  hereafter,  in  whom  They  ought 
 to  think  Themfelves  nearly  and  deeply  con- 
 cerned. 
 
 If,  therefore,  Men  have  any  Regard  to  in- 
 ward Peace  and  Tranquillity  ;  if  They  have 
 any  Senfe  of  Contentment  within,  or  Security 
 without  J  if  They  will  confult  their  Under- 
 ftanding,  and  not  their  Fajjion,  about  their 
 Intereft;  if  They  are  not  loft  to  all  Senfe  of 
 the  Good  of  their  own  Foftcrity  3  if  They 
 have  not  thrown  off  all  Regard  to  their  Kca- 
 foriy  as  well  as  all  Belief  in  God  j  They  will 
 I  think  even   their  prefent  Interefl,   (as  well  as 
 
 their 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit. 
 
 279/ 
 
 their  Fature   Reward,)   fufficiently  confulted  s  e  R  m. 
 and  fecured,   by  fuch  a  Temper  of  Mind,  as   xiii. 
 will  teach  Them  to  difdain    to  accept  of  the  i-<VXi 
 Benefits  of  Society,  without  adding  to  the  Hap- 
 pinefs  of  it  ;  and  to  purfue  their  own  prefent 
 Good,   always  in  Conjundlion  with  that  of  the 
 Public,  to  which  They  belong. 
 
 I  mii^  not  make  an  End,  without  faying 
 fomething  upon  the  prefent  Occafion  of  our 
 meeting  together.  This  Society  hath  many 
 Circiwijiances  of  Advantage  above  Others  of 
 the  like  Nature,  not  only  as  it  comprehends, 
 in  its  Intent,  a  very  great  Number  of  the  mofl 
 Antient  and  Noble  Families  of  this  J/Ia?2d -y  but 
 as  it  flourifhes  under  a  moft  Illiijlrious  and 
 Royal  Prefident'j  as  it  was  firft  inftituted  to  the 
 Honour  of  a  Princefs^  whofe  Name  carries 
 every  happy  Influence  along  with  it ;  as  it  is 
 exprefly  founded  upon  a  Principle  of  Affe£ti- 
 on,  as  well  as  Duty,  to  that  Royal  Family ^  in 
 which  We  are  now  fo  happy  above  all  the  Na- 
 tions around  us  ;  and  as  it  is  peculiarly  deign- 
 ed to  diffufe  and  propagate  that  Public  Spirit, 
 or  Love  to  our  Coiintry,  which  is  infeparably 
 the  fame  with  I'heir  Intereft.  If  You  con- 
 fider  Yourfelves  in  this  View,  You  will  from 
 hence  receive  new  Supplies  of  Zeal,  and  frefli 
 Motives  to  every  thing,  You  owe  to  Tourfelves, 
 Your  Fellow- Subje^s,  and  Your  Pojlerity. 
 
 T  4  When 
 
28o 
 
 Ibe  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 s  E  R  m|.       When  ibis  Day  leads  your  Thoughts   frorq 
 XIII.   a  DeadSaint^  whole  Virtues  You  ouglit  to  ce- 
 ^.^^y/^  lebrate,  as  far  as  the  Hiflory  of  fo  remote  and 
 dark  an  Age  will  permit,  to  that  Lroir.g  Examr 
 pie  of  Virtue,  whofe  Birth  gives  it  its  prelent 
 Lufire  and  Brightnefs  j   to  a  Saints   not  drelTed 
 up  in  the    Pageantry  of  a  blind   Superilitlon  ; 
 but  adorned    with  thofe   real  and  fu.bilantial 
 Graces,  the   Pradice  of  which   You' can  fee 
 with   Admiration,  and    the   Effed  of  whicli 
 the  World   feels  with  Hanpinefs :  When  thii 
 J^ay  direds  your  Thoughts   in  this  Manner, 
 the  Honour  You  pay  to  HtT  Is  paid  to  Virtue  : 
 And  the  Pleafure  you  perceive,   in  paying  it, 
 ^rifeth  from  a  Regard  to  the  Public  j  when 
 You  are  carried  by  the  fame  Thought  to  view 
 J^oJIeriiyy     made    happy,    perhaps    in    many 
 Countries,   by  Thofe,   whofe  Poinds  and  Man- 
 ners    She  is  now    forming  to  every    Thing 
 Qreat,  and  Beneficent  ;   as  well  as  to   remark 
 the  Influences  of  Wifdom  andGoodnefs  upon 
 the  prefent  Generation. 
 
 When  You  conlider  Tourfchcs^  as  under 
 the  Prefidency  of  His  Royal  Kighmess,  Plis 
 Zeal  for  the  Good  of  Great  Britain,  will 
 animate  and  inflame  your  own.  In  the 
 Calm  of  Profperity,  He  will  always  praife 
 an4  extol  your  Love  of  your  Laws  and  of 
 your   pouptry.      In   the    Times   of    Hazard 
 
 and 
 
of  a  Public  Spirit, 
 
 28 
 
 and  DiHreis,  if  any  fuch  (liould  come,  I^e  wills  e  r  ;^» 
 lead  Yoa  on  to  Glory  by  his  E::ample.     And  xiii, 
 if  You  follow  Kim  through  the  Paths  of  Ho-j  t^'VNi 
 nour  and  Courage,  You  will  make  Tour  fehes\ 
 and  your  Fofttriiy,  as  happy  as  He  wiflies  Yo 
 to  be  J  and  that  is,  as  happy  as  You  can  wi 
 yourfeives  to  be. 
 
 YouT  Thoughts  will  now  naturally  lead  yo 
 to  that  *trulv  Great  and  Good  King,  who 
 the  particular  Providence  of  God  hath  placedj 
 and  preferved,  upon  the  Throne  of  thefe 
 Kingdoms.  If  You  confider  Him  in  His  Dif- 
 pofition.  His  Temper,  His  Refolutions  j  how 
 much  Encouragement  will  You  find  in  all 
 thefe,  to  your  improving  and  inflaming  a  true 
 Tuhlic  Spi}-itednefs  in  Yourfeives  ?  And  howl 
 much  need  of  it  will  you  difcover,  if  you| 
 refledl  upon  that  Scene  of  Behaviour  towards 
 Him,  to  which  our  own  Eyes  have  been,  and 
 are  Witneffes  ?  He  came  to  Us,  clothed 
 with  all  the  Circumflances  that  could  recom- 
 mend Him,  even  to  our  PafTionate  Love. 
 Power  and  Authority  He  had  enjoyed,  in  its 
 Supreme  Highth,  long  before,  in  his  own 
 Country.  But  He  always  chofe  to  Reign,  not 
 by  His  Fewer,  but  by  His  Goodmfs :  And 
 They  v/ho  lived  under  his  Influences,  loved 
 Plim  too  well,  to  be  fenlible  They  obeyed 
 flnn.     His  Beneficence  made  every  Part  of 
 
 their 
 
282 
 
 SER  M. 
 XIII. 
 
 ^he  Nature  and  Duty 
 
 their  Behaviour,  refult  from  Affeclion^  rather 
 than  Buty,  And  yet,  tho'  this  was  His 
 Kyy"^  iknown  and  experienced  Condud  :  and  tho' 
 jHe  came  hither  difpofed  to  cherifh  0«r  Ha p- 
 jpinefs,  as  77/5  own  j  and  to  eftabiifh  this  Na- 
 tion, by  Juftice,  and  Temper,  and  Wifdom : 
 KVe  have  feen  Thofe  amongil  Ourfelves,  who 
 have  been  ready  to  prefer  the  Certain  ^Enemies, 
 df  their  Religion  and  Libertiei^  before  tlie 
 Greatejl  Friend  Thofe  invaluable  Goods  ever 
 yet  could  boaft  of.  They  have  been  v»^illing 
 to  call  in  the  Bigotry  and  Revenge  of  Popery  ; 
 lAnd,  when  that  alone  hath  failed,  even  to  in- 
 vite in  a  Deluge  of  relentlefs  Deftrudiion,  and 
 Defolation,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  a  State  of 
 Happinefs,  which  they  are  confcious  They  do 
 not  deferve,  and  have  fhevvn  themfelves  not 
 able  to  bear. 
 
 But  let  not  the  Zeal  of  fome,  to  tear  in 
 Pieces  that  Scheme  of  BleJJings  which  Heaven 
 hath  put  into  our  Hands,  exceed  our  Zeal  io^ 
 Hop  its  paffage  from  Us,  and  to  fecure  it  to 
 Ourfelves  and  all  Pofterity.  As  We  have  a 
 Prince  upon  the  Hhrone^  who,  unlike  mcft  of 
 the  Princes,  of  this  Worlds  defires  nothing  of 
 Us,  but  to  make  ourfelves  happy  j  as  We 
 have  all  the  lnd«cements  that  Men^  and 
 Chrijlians,  and  Protefiafits,  can  have  ;  as  We 
 have    all  the  Terrors,    and   Evils,    that  the 
 
 flrongeft 
 
of  a  Public  Sph^it, 
 
 283I 
 
 ftrongeft  Imngination  can  invent,  to   fear  for ^erm. 
 our  Country,   if   the   Caufe  of  Religion   andixiii. 
 Liberty  {hould  be  overturned  and  oppreiTed  ;  •^'"V^ 
 as  We  are  ourfelves,  in  our  ovjn  Perfons,  deep- ! 
 \y  concerned  in  all  the  miferable  Confequences  ' 
 of  fuch  an  Event  3  and  are  under  all  the  Ob- 
 ligations of  Flonour,  and  Confcience,  to  pro- 
 rnote  the  Happinefs  of  the  Public y  of  which 
 We  are  Members  5  and  as  We  mufl  exped:  to 
 anfwer  to  God,  as  well  as  to  our  own  Confci- 
 ences,  for  our  Stupidity  and  Madnefs,    in  ne- 
 gleding  fo  great  and  invaluable  Good  Things  : 
 Let  Us  not  permit  the  Zeal   of  a  true  Public 
 Spirit  to  cool  in  our  Breads  j  let  us   not   only 
 improve  it  in  Ourfelves,   but  let  us  kindle  and 
 increafe  it  in  Others -y  till  it  may  come  to  be  too 
 powerful  for  that  NarroWy  Vicious^  Selfijlmefsy 
 which  is  the  R.oot  of  all  Public  Evil  -,  and  fet- 
 tle Us  at  laft  upon  the  unmoveable  Foundati- 
 on of  Peace  and  Happi7jefs, 
 
 the 
 
^he  Nature  of  the  Kingdom,    cr  Church   cf 
 Christ. 
 
 SERMON  XIV. 
 
 Preached  before  the  King,  at  the  RoyaJ  Chapel 
 at  St.  James  Sy  on  Sunday^  March  31,*^  ^  7 1  /• 
 
 St.  John  xviii.   36. 
 
 Jefus  anfweredy    My    kingdom   is  not  of  this 
 "l^Vorld, 
 
 NE  of  thofe  gre^t  EfFeds,  which  Length 
 of  Time  is  fcen  to  bring  along  with  it, 
 
 is  the  Alteration  of  the  Meaning  annex- 
 ed to  certain  Sounds.  The  Signification  of  a 
 Word,  well  known  and  underllood  by  Thofe 
 who  fir/l  made  ufe  of  it,  is  very  infenfibly  va- 
 ried, by  paffing  through  many  Mouths,  and 
 by  being  taken  and  given  by  Multitudes,  in 
 common  Difcourfe  j  till  it  often  comes  to  fland 
 for  a  Complication  of  Notions,  as  difiant  from 
 the  original  Intention  of  it,  nay,  as  contradicto- 
 ry to  it,  as  Darknefs  is  to  Light.  The  Igno- 
 rance and  Weaknefs  of  Some,  and  the  Paffions 
 and  Bad  Defigns  oi  Others,   are  the  great  In- 
 
 ilruments 
 
7^^  Nature  of  the  Kingdom j  &c. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ftruments  of  this  Evil:  which,  even  when  it  serm. 
 feems  to  affedonly  indifferent  Matters,  ought  I  xir. 
 in  rearontobeoppofed,  as  it  tends,  in  it's  Nature,  'w<''*VNi 
 to  confound  Men's  Notions  in  weightier  Points; 
 but,   when  it  hath  once   invaded  the  moil  Sa- 
 cred and  Important  Subjeds,  ought,  in  Duty, 
 to  be  relifted  with  a  more  open  and  undifguifed 
 Zeal,  as  what  toucheth  the  very  Vitals  of  all 
 that  is  Good,  and   is  juft  going  to  take  from 
 Men's   Eyes    the   Boundaries   of    Right   and 
 Wrong. 
 
 The  only  Cure  for  this  Evil^  in  Cafes  of  fo 
 great  Concern,  is  to  have  recourfe  to  the  Origi- 
 nals of  Things,  to  the  Law  of  Reafon,  in  thofe 
 Points  which  can  be  traced  back  thither  ;  and 
 to  the  Declarations  of  yefusChriJly  and  his  im- 
 mediate Followers,  in  fuch  Matters  as  took' 
 their  Rife  folely  from  thofe  Declarations.  For 
 the  Cafe  is  plainly  this,  that  Words  and  Sounds 
 have  had  fuch  an  Effed:,  (not  upon  the  Nature 
 of  Things,  which  is  unmoveable,  but)  upon 
 the  Minds  of  Men  in  thinking  of  them  -,  that 
 the  very  fame  Word  remaining,  (which  at  firft 
 truly  reprefentedOne  certain  Thing,)  by  hav- 
 ing Multitudes  of  new  inconfiftent  Ideas,  in 
 every  Age,  and  every  Year,  added  to  it,  becomes 
 itfelf  the  greateft  Hindrance  to  the  true  under- 
 Handing  of  the  Nature  of  the  Thing  firfi:  in- 
 tended by  it. 
 
 For 
 
286 
 
 SER  M. 
 XIV. 
 
 7^g  Nature  of  the  Kifigdom^ 
 
 For  Inftance,  Rdigion,  in  St.  James  s  DaySj 
 was  Virtue  and  Integrity,  as  to  OurfeU'es,  and 
 U^V^jj  Charity  and  Beneficence  to  Others ;  before  Gcdy 
 I  even  t\it  Father,  Jam.  i.  27.  By  Degrees,  it  is 
 jcome  to  lignify,  in  mofl:  of  the  Countries 
 [throughout  the  Vv'hole  World,  the  Performance 
 iOf  every  thing  almoft,  except  Virtue  and  Cha- 
 jrity ;  and  particularly,  a  pundual  Exad:nefs 
 iin  a  Regard  to  particular  Times^  Places,  Forms^ 
 iand  Modes,  diverfilied  according  to  the  various 
 Humours  of  Men  j  recommended  and  pradif- 
 ed  under  the  avowed  Name  of  Fxternal  Reli- 
 gion :  T^wo  Words,  which,  in  the  Sen fe  fixed 
 upon  them  by  many  Chrijiians,  God  hath  put 
 afunder ;  and  which,  therefore,  no  Manjl:ould 
 \join  together.  And  accordingly,  the  Notion  of 
 a  Religious  Man  differs  in  every  Country,  juii 
 as  much  as  I'imes,  Places,  Ceremonies,  Imagi- 
 nary  Aufierities,  and  all  other  Outward  Cir- 
 cumjiances,  are  different  and  various :  VVhere- 
 las  in  truth,  though  a  Man,  truly  Religious  in 
 other  Refpeds,  may  make  ufe  of  fuch  Things ; 
 yet  they  cannot  be  the  leaft  Part  of  his  Religion, 
 properly  fo  called,  any  more  than  his  Food,  or 
 his  Raiment,  or  any  other  Circumftance  of  his 
 {Life. 
 
 i  Thus,  likewife,  the  Worjhip  of  God,  to  be 
 ipaid  by  ChriJlianSy  was,  in  our  Saviour  s  Time, 
 and  in  his  own  plain  Words,   the  VY''orfhip  of 
 
 th« 
 
vr  Churchy  of  Chrijik 
 
 2%j 
 
 .-' 
 
 the  Father  //z  Spirit  and  T'riith  ;  and  this  nie-  sjE  rm... 
 clared  to  be  one   great  End   propofed  in   the    xiv. 
 Chrijlian  Difpsnfation  :   Hhe  Hour  comethj  and  C/^'^J 
 now  isy  whe?i  the  true  WorJJ:ipers  fiall  ivorfiip 
 the  Father  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth  :  for  the  Fa.- ^ 
 ther  feeketh  fuch  to  worfiip  him-,  John  iv.  2  3.< 
 But  the  Notion  of  it  is  become  quite  another 
 thing :  and  in   many  Chrijlian  Countries,  that 
 which  flill  retains  the  Name  of  the  Worjhip  of 
 God,  i&  indeed  the  Negledl,  and  the  Diminu- 
 tion of  the  Father  ;   and  the  Worfliip  of  other 
 Beings   beddes,  and   more  than,  the  Father, \ 
 And  this,  performed  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  that 
 any  indifferent  SpeBator  would  conclude,  that 
 neither  the  Confciences  nor  Underflandings  of 
 Men,  neither  Spirit  nor  T!ruth,  were  at  all  con- 
 cerned in  the  Matter  ;  or  rather,  that  they  had 
 been  banirtied  from  it  by  an  exprefs  Command. 
 In  the  mean  time  the  Word,  or  Sound,  flill  re- 
 mains the  fame   in  Difcourfe.      The   whole 
 Lump  of  indigefted,   and  inconii'ftent  Notions 
 and  Pradifes  j  Every  thing  that  is  folemnly  faid, 
 or  done,  when  the  Worjhip  of  God  is  profefTed-, 
 is  equally  covered   under  that  general  Name  ,. 
 and,   by  the  help    of  ufing  the  fame  Original. 
 Word,  pafleth  eafily  for  the  thing  itfelf.     A- 
 gain. 
 
 Prayer,   in  all  our  Lord's  Diredions  about 
 it,  and  particularly  in  that   Form,  which  He, 
 
 him- 
 
288 
 
 'The  Nature  of_  the  Kingdom ^ 
 
 6  E  R  M-himfelf  taught  his  Followers,  was  a  calm,  un- 
 ^iv.    difturbed,   Addrefs  to  God,   under   the  Notion 
 
 '-^^'"^  of  a  Father^  expreffing  thofe  Sentiments  and 
 Wi flies  before  Him,  which  every  fincereMind 
 ought  to  have.  But  the  fame  Wo7^d,  bv  the 
 help  of  Men,  and  voluminous  Pvules  of  Art, 
 is  come  to  fignify  Heat  and  Flame,  in  fuch  a 
 manner,  and  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  a  Man 
 may  be  in  the  hejl  Difpofifion  in  thd  World, 
 and  yet  not  be  devout  enough  to  Prai  :  and 
 many  an  honed  Perfon  hath  been  perplexed, 
 by  this  Means,  with  Doubts  and  Fears  of  be- 
 ing uncapable  of  Prayings  for  want  of  an  In- 
 tenfenefs  of  Flcat\  which  hath  no  mere  relation 
 to  the  Duiv,  than  a  Man's  being  in  a  Fe'uer 
 hath,  to  the  Sincerity  of  his  Profeilions,  or  Ad^ 
 drelTes  to  any  Earthly  Pri?2ce. 
 
 Once  more }  the  Love  of  Gody  and  of  our 
 Savioury  was  at  iirft,  in  his  ovrn  Words,  and 
 thofe  of  St.  yohiiy  many  Times  repeated,  the 
 keeping  his  Commandment Sy  or  doing  his  IVill. 
 John  xiv.  15,  21,  23.  Ch.  xv.  i  o.  i  John  ii.  5. 
 Ch.  V.  3.  2  John  6.  But  the  Notion  of  it  was, 
 it  feems,  left  very  jejune  j  and  fo  hath  been 
 improved  by  his  later  FoUowerSy  till  the  fame 
 Name,  ftill  kept  up  in  the  Language  of  Chrif- 
 tianSy  is  far  removed  from  the  Thing  principal- 
 ly and  firft  intended  ;  and  is  come  by  degrees 
 ro  fignify  a  violent  Pajponj  Commotion^  and  Ee- 
 
 fiacyy 
 
w  Churchy  of  Chr'ifi, 
 
 289 
 
 fiafj,,  venting  it  felf  in  fuch  fort  of  Expreflions 
 and  Diforders,  as  other  Paffions  do :  and  this 
 regulated  and  defined,  by  fuch  a  Variety  of 
 Imaginations,  that  an  ordinary  Chrijlian^  with 
 the  utmo(t  Sincerity  in  his  Heart,  is  filled  with 
 nothing  but  eternal  Sufpicions,  Doubts,  and 
 Perplexities,  whether  he  hath  any  Thing  of  the 
 true  hove  of  God.   or  nor. 
 
 I  hav^  mentioned  thefe  ParticularSy  not  on- 
 ly to  Ihew^  the  Evil  it  felf;  and  to  how  great  a 
 Degree  the  Nature  of  Things  hath  fuftered,  in 
 the  Opinions  of  Men,  by  the  Alteration  of  the 
 Senfe  of  the  fame  JVords  and  Sounds :  but  to 
 give  you  Occafion  to  obferve,  that  there  can  be 
 no  Cure  for  it,  in  Chridians,  but  to  go  back  to 
 the  New  T^cjiament  it  felf ;  becaufe  T^here  alone 
 we  (liall    find   the  Oricrinal   Intention  of  fuch 
 
 o 
 
 Words  ;  or  the  Nature  of  the  Things  defign- 
 ed  to  be  fignihcd  by  them,  declared  and  fixed 
 by  our  hord,  or  his  Apojlles  from  him,  by  fome 
 fuch  Marks,  as  may,  if  we  will  attend  to 
 them,  guide  and  guard  us  in  our  Notions  of 
 thofe  Matters,  in  which  we  are  moft  of  all  con- 
 cerned. 
 
 It  is  with  this  View,  that  I  have  chofen 
 thofe  J^Fords,  in  which  our  Lord  him  felf  decla- 
 red the  Nature  of  bis  own  Kingdom.  This 
 Ki?igdom  ofCbriJlj  is  the  fame  with  the  Church 
 of  Chriji,     And  the  Notion  of   the  Church  of 
 
 U  Chrijf, 
 
 iSERM. 
 XIV. 
 
296 
 
 l!he  Nature  of  the  Kingdojn^ 
 
 SERM.p^^njl,  which,  at  iirft,  was  only  the  Number, 
 XIV.    ifmall  or  great,  of  Thole  who  beheved  Him  to 
 
 L/'^VN.'  jbe  the   Mcfiah ;   or   of  Thofe  who  fubjeded 
 Ithemfelves  to  Him,  as  their  King,  m  the  Af- 
 jfair  of  Religion  ;  having  fince  that  Time  been 
 fo  diverfified  by  the  various  Alterations  it  hath 
 undergone,  that  it  is  almoft  impoffible  fo  much 
 as  to   number   up  the  many  inconfident  Images 
 that  have  come,  by  daily  Additions, to' be  unit- 
 ed   together  in  it :  Nothing,   I  think,    can  be 
 more  ufeful,   than  to   confider  the  fame  thing, 
 under  fome  other  Image ,  w\\\l\\  hath  not  been 
 fo  much  ufed  ;   nor  confequently  fo  much  de- 
 faced.     And  fince  the  Image  of  His  Kingdom, 
 is  Tto,    under  which  our  Lord  himfelf  chofe 
 to  reprefent  it ;   We    may  be  fure  that,  if  w^e 
 lincerely  examine  our  Notion   of  his  Church, 
 by  what  He  faith  of  his  Kingdom,  that  it  is  not 
 of  this  World,  we  (liall  exclude  out  of  it,  every 
 thing  that  he  would  have  excluded  3  and  then, 
 what  remains  will  be   true,   pure,  and  uncor- 
 rupted.      And  what  I  have  to  fay,   in  order  to 
 this,  will  be  comprehended  under  Two  Gejie- 
 ral  Heads. 
 
 I.  As  the  Cbitrch  o{  Cbrijl  is  iht  Kijigdom  of 
 Chrijl,  He  himfelf  is  King:  and  in  this  it  is 
 implied,  that  H^  is  himfelf  the  (o\&  La^.v-giver 
 to  his  Subjects,  and  himfelf  the  fole  Judge  of 
 thciT  Behaviour,  in  the  Affairs  oi  Co7ifcience  and 
 
 Eter- 
 
or  Churchy  of  Chrifi. 
 
 291 
 
 Eternr.l  Salvation.  And  in  this  Senfe,  there-  $  e  r  m. 
 fore,  His  Kingdom  is  not  of  this  World  ;  that  xiv. 
 He  hath,  in  thole  Points,  left  behind  Him,  L^\^NJ 
 no  vihble,  human  Authority,  no  Vicegerents 
 who  can  be  fiid  prop-rly  to  fupply  his  Place; 
 no  Interpreters^  upon  whom  his  Subjeds  are 
 abfolutely  to  depend  j  no  Judges  over  the  Con*- 
 fciences  or  Religion  of  his  People.  For  if  this 
 were  fo,  that  any  fuch  abiolate  Vicegerent  Au- 
 tJjcrity,  either  for  the  making  New  LaivSy  or 
 interpreting  OA/ ones,  or  judging  his  SubjeSfSy 
 in  Religious  Matters,  were  lodged  in  any  Men 
 upon  Earth  j  the  Confequence  would  be,  that 
 what  ftill  retains  the  Name  of  the  Church  of 
 Chrifty  would  not  be  the  Kingdom  of  Chrifiy 
 but  the  Kingdom  of  thofe  Men,  vefted  with 
 fuch  Authority.  For,  whoever  hath  fuch  an 
 Authority  of  making  Laws,  is  fo  far  a  King  : 
 and  whoever  can  add  new  Laws  to  thofe  of 
 Chri/l,  equally  obligatory,  is  as  truly  a  King, 
 as  Chrif  himlelf  is;  Nay,  whoever  hath  an 
 ^h folate  Authority  to  interpret  any  written,  or 
 fpoken  Law? ;  it  is  He,  who  is  truly  the  Law- 
 giver,  to  all  Intents  and  Purpofes ;  and  not 
 the  Perfon  who  firft  wrote,  or  fpake  them. 
 
 la  human  Society,  the  Interpretation  of 
 Laws^  may,  of  neceffity,  be  lodged,  in  fome 
 Cafes,  in  the  Plands  of  Thofe  who  were  not 
 originally  the  Legifators.     But  this  is  not  ab- 
 
 U  i  folute  i 
 
292 
 
 TZ^  Nature  of  the  Kingdom^ 
 
 j(jlute\  nor  of  bad  Confequence  to  Society: 
 becaufe  the  Legifiaiors  can  1  efume  the  Inter pre- 
 tatim  into  their  own  Hands,  as  They  are  Wit- 
 neffes  to  what  pafles  in  the  World  ;  and  as 
 They  can,  and  will,  fenfibly  interpofe  in  all 
 thofe  Cafes,  in  which  their  Inter pofnion  be- 
 comes necefTary.  And  therefore,  They  are 
 ilill  properly  the  LegiJJators.  But  it  ic  other- 
 wife  in  Religicriy  or  the  Kingdom  of  Chrijl. 
 He  himfelf  neve*"  interpofeth,  fince  his  firfl 
 Promulgation  of  his  Law,  either  to  convey 
 JijfaUibility  to  Such  as  pretend  to  handle  it  over 
 again  j  or  to  alTert  the  true  Interpretation  of  it, 
 amidft  the  various  and  contradidory  Opinions 
 of  Men  about  it.  If  He  did  certainly  thus  in- 
 terpofe, He  himfelf  would  ftiil  \)^\h^  Legi f.a- 
 tor.  But,  as  He  doth  not ;  if  fuch  an  abfolute 
 Authority  be  once  lodged  with  Men,  under  the 
 Notion  of  Interpreters,  'J'hcy  then  become  the 
 LegiJIdtors,  and  not  Chriji  ;  and  T^fjey  rule  in 
 their  ow^n  Kingdom^  and  not  in  His, 
 
 It  is  the  fame  thing,  as  to  Rewards  and  Pu- 
 nifliments,  to  carry  forward  the  great  End  of 
 his  Kingdom.  If  any  Men  upon  Ec^rth  have  a 
 Right  to  add  to  t!ie  SanBions  of  his£/^i£;i;  that 
 is,  to  increafe  the  Number,  or  alter  the  Na- 
 ture, of  the  Rewards  and  PuJii^jments^  of  his 
 Subjeds,  in  Matters  of  Confcience  or  Salvati- 
 on :  They  are  fo  far  Kings  in  his  ilead  j   and 
 
 Reign 
 
or  Churchy  of  Chrijl. 
 
 Reign  In  their  own  Kingdom,   and  not  in  Tils.  ;  e  R  M. 
 
 So  it  is,  whenever  They  erect  T'ribunah,  and 
 exercife  a  'Judgmciit  over  the  Confciences  of 
 Men  J  and  afilime  to  Themfclves  the  Deter- 
 mination of  fuch  Points,  as  cannnot  be  deter- 
 mined, but  by  One  who  knows  the  Hearts ; 
 or,  when  They  make  any  of  their  own  Decla- 
 rations, or  Decifions,  to  concern  and  aftcd  the 
 State  of  ChrifYs  Subjeds,  with  regard  to  the 
 Favour  of  God :  this  is  fo  far,  the  taking  Chrift's 
 Kingdom  out  of  His  Hands,  and  placing  it  in 
 their  own. 
 
 Nor  is  this  Matter  at  all  made  better  by  their 
 declaring  Themfelves  to  be  Vicegerents^  or 
 Law-makers,  or  Judges,  under  Chrili,  in  order 
 to  carry  on  the  Ends  of  his  Kingdom.  For  it 
 comes  to  this  at  lafl:,  fince  it  doth  not  feem  fit 
 to  Chrift  himfelf  to  interpofe  fo  as  to  prevent 
 or  remedy  all  their  Midakes  and  Contradi<5lions3 
 that,  if  They  have  this  Power  of  interpretinp-, 
 or  adding  Laws  ;  and  Judging  Men  ;  in  fuch 
 a  Senfe,  that  Chrijiiam  fhall  be  indifpenfably 
 and  abfolutely  obliged  to  obey  thofe  Laws,  and 
 to  fubmit  to  thofe  Decifions ;  I  lay,  if  They 
 have  this  power  lodged  with  them,  then  the 
 Kingdom^  in  which  they  rule,  is  not  the  King- 
 dom of  Chrijiy  but  of  Themfelves  %  He  doth  not 
 rule  in  it,  but  They  :  And  whether  They  hap- 
 pen to  agree  with  Him,  or  to  differ  from  Him, 
 
 U    3  as 
 
 20 
 
 n 
 
 XIV. 
 
as4. 
 
 The  Nature  of  the  Kingdom^ 
 
 SE  R  iv! .  as  long  as  They  are  the  Law-givers,  and  Judg^ 
 XIV.    es^  without  any  Interpofition  from  Chr'ijl,  either 
 t/^V^^  to  guide  or  corre(!t  their  Decifwns,    They  are 
 Kings  of  his  Kingdom,   and  not  Chrift  Jefus. 
 
 If  therefore,  the  Church    of  Chrijl   be  the 
 Kingdom  of  C-6r//?  j   it    is   effential   to  it,    that 
 Chrijl   himfelf  be   the  Sole   Law-giver^    and  ' 
 Sole  Judge  of  his  Subjedts,  in  all  Points  relating 
 to  the  Favour  or  Difpleafure  of  Almighty  God; 
 and  that  All  His  Subjecls,  in  what  Station  fo- 
 ever  they  may  be,  are  equally  SiibjeBs  to  Him ; 
 and  that  No  One  of  them,  any  more  than  An- 
 other,  hath  Authority^  either  to   make  New 
 Laws  for  Chrijl' s  Snbjeds  j  or  to  impofe  a  Senfe 
 upon  the  Old  Ones,   which  is  the  fame  thing  j 
 or  to  Judge,   Cenfure,  or  PuniOi,  the  Servants 
 of  Another  Majier,  in  Matters  relating  purely 
 to    Confcience,   or   Salvation.      If  any    Perfon 
 hath  any  other  Notion,  either  thro'  a  long  Ufe 
 of  Words  with  Inconfiilent  Meanings,   or  thro' 
 a  Negligence  of  Thought  j   let   him  but   afk 
 himfelf,  whether  the  Church  of  Chriji  be  the 
 Kingdom  of  Chrift,  or    not  ?   And,    if  it  be, 
 whether  this  Notion  of  it  doth  not  abfolutely 
 exclude  all    other  Legijlators   and    Judges,   in 
 Matters  relating  to  Conicience,  or  the  Favour 
 of  God;   or,   whether  it  can  he  i?/j  Kingdom, 
 if  any  Mortal  Men  have  fuch  a  Power  of  Le- 
 gijlatici   and  Judgment   in  it.     This  Enquiry 
 
 will 
 
or  Churchy  of  Chrljl, 
 
 121 
 
 will  bring  Us  back  to  the  firft,   which  is  the  $  e  r  m. 
 only  True,    Account  of  the  Church  of  Chriji,  ,  xiv. 
 or  the  Ki?igdom  of  Chrift,  in  the  Mouth  of  a  t/Wi 
 Chriftian ;  That  it  is   the    Number   of  Men, 
 whether  Small  or  Great,  whether  Difperfed  or 
 United,  who  truly  and  fincerely  are  Subjeds  to 
 JefiisChriJi  alone  as  their  L^'z^'-^/'Z.Tr  and  Jitdge^ 
 in  Matters  relating  to  the  Favour  of  God,  and 
 their  Eta'?ial  Sahatiofi. 
 
 II.  The  next  principal  Point  is,  that,  if  the 
 
 Church  be  the  Kifigdom  of  Chrijl -y  and  this 
 Ki?2gdom  be  not  of  this  PVorld:  this  muft  appear 
 from  the  Nature  and  End  of  the  Laws  of 
 ChriJ}  J  and  of  thofe  Rewards  and  Punifli- 
 mcnts,  which  are  the  SanBiom  of  his  Laws, 
 Now  his  Laws  are  Declarations,  relating  to  the 
 Favour  of  God  in  another  State  after  this. 
 They  are  Declarations  of  thofe  Conditions  to 
 be  performed,  in  this  World,  on  our  Part, 
 without  which  God  will  not  make  r.s  Hippy 
 in  that  to  come.  And  they  are  almoft  All  ge- 
 neral Appeals  to  the  IVill  of  that  God  ;  to  his 
 Nature y  known  by  the  Common  Ileafon  of 
 Mankind  ;  and  to  the  Imitation  of  that  Naturey 
 which  muft  be  our  PerfeBion.  The  keeping 
 his  Commandments  is  declared  the  Way  to  Life ; 
 and  the  doing  his  JVill,  the  Entrance  into  the 
 Kingdom  of  Heaven,  The  being  SubjeBs  to 
 Chrift,  is  to  this  very  End,  that  We  may  the 
 U  4  better 
 
296 
 
 l%e  Nature  of  the  Kmgdom^ 
 
 SE  RM 
 XIV. 
 
 better  and  more  efFedually  perform  the  WiUo£ 
 
 God.  The  Laws  o^  ihh  Kingdom^  therefore,  as 
 Chrijl  left  them,  have  nothing  of  this  V/orld  in 
 their  View  j  no  Tendency,  either  to  the  Exalta- 
 tion qI Some,  in  worldly  Pomp  and  Dignity;  or 
 to  their  abfolute  Dominion  over  the  Faith  and 
 Religious  Conduct  of  Others  of  his  Subjeds ;  or 
 to  the  ereding  of  any  ^or\.  oiT'emporal Kingdom y 
 under  the  Covertand  Name  of  ^Spintual ont. 
 The  ZanBions  of  Chrifts  Law  are  Rewards 
 and  Funijldments.  But  of  what  fort  ?  Not  the 
 Rewards  of  this  World ;  not  the  Offices,  or 
 Glories  of  this  State;  not  the  Pains  oi  Prijonsy 
 Banijkments,  Fines,  or  any  lelTcr  and  more  ^no- 
 derate  Penalties;  nay,  not  the  much  lelTcr  Nega- 
 tive Difcouragements  that  belong  to  Human  Soci- 
 ety. He  was  far  from  thinking  that  Lh^fe  could 
 be  the  Inftruments  of  fuch  a  Perjhajion,  as  He 
 thought  acceptable  to  God.  But,  as  the  Great 
 End  of  his  Kingdom,  was  to  guide  Men  to 
 Happinefs  after  the  {hoxi  Images  of  it  were 
 over  here  below  ;  fo,  He  took  his  Motives 
 from  that  place,  where  his  Kingdom  firft  began, 
 and  where  it  was  at  hd-i:  to  end  ;  from  thofe 
 Rewards  and  Punifbmcnts  in  a  future  State, 
 which  had  no  relation  tothis  World:  And,  to 
 fliew  that  his  Kingdom  was  not  of  this  World, 
 all  the   SanBions  which  he  thoufiht  fit  to  q-ive 
 
 o  o 
 
 to  His  Laws^  were  not  cj  this  World  at  all. 
 
or  Church,   of  Chrijl. 
 
 297 
 
 St.  PW  under  flood  this  fo  well,  that  Hcserm. 
 gives  an  Account  of  His  own  Condud:,  and  that    xiv. 
 of  Others  in  the  fame  Station,  in  thefe  Words,  -^"v^NJ 
 Knozun7g  the  'Terror  of  the  Lord^    we  perfiiade 
 Men  :  whereas,  in  too  many  Chrijtian  Countries^ 
 fince  his  Days,  if  Some,  who  profefs  to  fuc- 
 ceed   Htm^  were  to  give  an  Account  of  their 
 own  Cojidud,   it  mufl    be   in  a  quite  contrary 
 Strain  ;  Kncwiiig  the  'T'errors  of  this  IVorld^  and 
 ha'ving  them  in  ciir  Power,  We  do,   not  perfuade 
 Men,  but  force  their  outward  Profejjion  againjl 
 their  inward  Perfuafion. 
 
 Now,  wherever  this  is  pracftifed  ;  whether 
 in  a  great  degree,  or  a  fmall ;  in  that  Place  there 
 is  fo  far  a  Change,  from  a  Kingdom  which  is 
 i20t  of  this  Worlds  to  a  Ki?igdom  which  is  of  this 
 World.  Asfoon  as  ever  you  hear  of  any  of  the 
 Engines  of  this  World,  whether  of  the  greater, 
 or  the  leffer  fort,  you  mull  immediately  think 
 that  then,  and  fofar,  the  Kingdom  of  this  World 
 takes  place.  For,  if  the  very  Effence  o^  God's 
 Worfliip  be  Spirit  and  Truth  ;  If  Religion  be 
 Virtue  and  Charity,  under  the  Belief  of  a  Su- 
 preme Governour  and  Judge  j  if  True  Real 
 Faith  cannot  be  the  Effed  of  Force  ;  and,  if 
 there  can  be  no  Reward  where  there  is  no  Wil- 
 ling Choice  :  then,  in  all,  or  any  of  thei'e  Cafes, 
 to  apply  Force  or  Flattery,  Worldly  Pleafure 
 or  Pain  j  is  to  3^51  contrary  to  the  Interefls  of 
 
 True 
 
2q8 
 
 The  Nature  of  the  Kingdo?n^ 
 
 SERMj  True  Religion^  as  it  is  plainly  oppofite  to  the 
 XIV.     Maxims  upon  which  Chrijl  founded  his  King- 
 C/VNJ  dom  ;   who  chofe  the  Motives  which  are  7iot  of 
 ;  thisJVorldy  to  fupport  a  Kingdom  which  is  not 
 ^  of  this  World.    And  indeed,  it  is  too  vifible  to 
 be  hid,  that  wherever  the  Rewaj'ds  and  PimiJJj- 
 I  ments  are  changed,  from   Future  to   Prefent, 
 I  from  the  World  to  come,   to  the   World  now 
 in  PoflefTion  ;  there,   the  Kingdom  founded  by 
 our   Saviour   is,  in  the  Nature    of  it,  fo  far 
 changed,  that  it  is  become,   in  fuch  a  degree, 
 what    He  profeffed,   His   KijJgdom  'was  not  : 
 that  is,  of  this  World ;  of  the  fame  fort  with 
 other  Common  Earthly  Kingdoms,  in  which 
 the   Rewards   are,  Worldly   Honours,  Foils, 
 Offices,   Pomp,   Attendance,  Dominion  j  and 
 the  Punifhments  are,   Prilbns,  Fines,  Banifli- 
 ments,  Gallies,  and  Racks  j  or  Ibmething  Lefs, 
 of  the  fame  fort. 
 
 If  thffe  can  be  the  true  Supports  of  a  King- 
 dom  which  is  not  of  this  World ;  then  Sincerity, 
 and  Hypocrify  ;  Religion,  and  No  Religion  j 
 Force,  and  Perfuafion  ;  A  Willing  Choice, 
 and  a  Terrified  Heart;  are  become  the  fame 
 Things :  Truth  and  Falfliod  Hand  in  need  of 
 the  fame  Methods,  to  propagate  and  fupport 
 them  ;  and  our  Saviour  himfelf  was  little  ac- 
 quainted with  the  Right  way  of  increafing 
 the  Number  of  fuch  SubjcBs,  as  He  wifhed 
 f,  for. 
 
Churchy   of  Chrift. 
 
 1S3L 
 
 for.     If   He  had  but  at  firft  enlightened  the  ser  M. 
 Po'^iVers  of  thislVcrldy  as  He  did  St.  Pun/  -,  and  \  xiv. 
 employed   the  Sword  which  They  bore,  and  U/^v'NJ 
 the  Favours  They  had  in  their  hands,  to  bring 
 SuhjeBs  into   his  Kingdom ;  this  had  been  an 
 Expeditious  and  an  EfFedual  Way,  according 
 to  the  Conduit  of  fome  of  his  profelTed  Fol- 
 lowers,  to  have  had  a  Glorious  and  Extenfive 
 Kingdom;  or  Church.   But  this  was  not  his  De- 
 fign  5  unlefs  it  could  be  compafled  in  quite  a 
 different  way. 
 
 And  therefore,  when  You  (ttOur  Lord^  in 
 His  Methods,  fo  far  removed  from  Thofe  of 
 Many  of  his  Difciples ;  when  You  read  No- 
 thing, in  his  Dodrine  about  his  own  Ki??gdom, 
 of  taking  in  the  Concerns  of  this  World,  and 
 mixing  them  with  thofe  of  Eternity  j  no  Com- 
 mands, that  the  Frowns  and  Difcouragements 
 of  this  prefent  State  (hould  in  any  Cafe  attend 
 upon  Confcience  and  Religion  ;  no  Rules  a- 
 gainft  the  Enquiry  of  All  His  Subjeds  into  his 
 Original  Mejfage  from  Heaven  ;  no  Orders  for 
 the  kind  and  charitable  Force  of  Penalties,  or 
 Capital  Punifimcnts,  to  make  Men  think  and 
 choofe  aright  ;  no  Calling  upon  the  fecular 
 Army  whenever  the  Magijlrate  Ihould  become 
 Ckrijlian,  to  inforce  his  Dodrines,  or  to  back 
 his  Spiritual  Authority  j  but,  on  the  contrary, 
 2s  plain  a  Declaration  as  a  few  Words  can  make, 
 
 that 
 
300 
 
 l%e  Nature  of  the  K'mgdom^ 
 
 s  E  R  M ,  that  Hh  Kingdom  is  not  of  this  World :  I  fay 
 XIV.     when  You  fee  this,  from  the  whole  Tenor  of 
 
 t>''VN.i  the  Gofpely  fo  vaftly  oppofite  to  many  who  take 
 his  Name  into  their  Mouths,  the  Quefticns 
 with  you  ought  to  be,  Whether  He  did  not 
 know  the  Nature  of  his  own  Kingdom^  or 
 Churchy  better  than  Any  fince  his  Time  ; 
 whether  you  can  fuppofe,  He  left  any  fuch 
 Matters  to  be  decided  again  ft  H/wT/fiJr-'^  and  his 
 own  exprefs  Profefiions  ;  and,  whether,  if  an 
 Angel  from  Heaven  {hould  give  you  any  Ac- 
 count of  his  Kingdom^  contrary  to  what  Fie 
 himfelf  hath  done,  it  can  be  of  any  Weight,  or 
 Authority,   with  Chrijtians. 
 
 I  have  now  made  fome  fuch  Obfervations, 
 drawn  from  the  Church  being  the  Kingdom  of 
 Chrijlj  and  not  of  any  Men  in  that  Kingdom  ; 
 from  the  Nature  of  his  Laws,  and  from  thofe 
 Rewards  and  PuniJJ:7nents,  v.'hich  are  the  Sanc- 
 tions of  thofe  Laws  j  as  lead  us  naturally  into 
 the  true  Notion  of  the  Church,  or  Kingdoin^  of 
 Chrift,  by  excluding  out  of  it  every  thing  in- 
 confiftent  with  His  being  King,  Lawgiver,  and 
 Judge  ;  as  well  as  with  the  Nature  of  his  Laws, 
 and  of  his  Promiles  and  Threatnings.  I  will 
 only  make  T'wo  or  Three  Obfervations,  ground- 
 ed upon  this  ;  and  fo  conclude.      And, 
 
 1 .  From  what  hath  been  faid  it  is  very  plain 
 in  genera],  that  the  GrolTeit  Miflakes  in  Judg- 
 ment, 
 
or  Churchy  of  Chriji, 
 
 mcnt,  about  the  Nature  of  ChriJl' s  Kingdom ^ 
 or  Churchy  have  arifen  from  hence,  That  Men 
 have  argued  from  Other  Vilible  Societies,  and 
 Other  Vifible  Kingdoms  of  this  World,  to  what 
 ought  to  be  Viiible  and  Senfible,  in  His  King^ 
 dom  :  Conflantly  leaving  out  of  their  Notion, 
 the  moil:  EiTential  Part  of  it,  that  Chrif  is 
 King  in >  his  own  Kingdom -j  forgetting  this 
 King  himfelf,  becaufe  He  is  not  now  feen  by 
 mortal  Eyes  j  and  fubflituting  Others  in  his 
 Place,  as  Law-givers  and  Judges,  in  the  fame 
 Points,  in  which  He  mull:  either  Alone,  or  not 
 at  all,  be  Law-giver  and  Judge  :  not  content- 
 ed with  fuch  a  Kingdo?n  as  He  eftabliOied,  and 
 defires  to  reign  in  j  but  urging  and  contending 
 that  His  Kingdom  mull  be  like  Other  Kingdoms. 
 Whereas  He  hath  poiitively  warned  them  a- 
 gainft  any  fuch  Arguings,  by  aiTuring  Them 
 that  this  Kingdom  is  His  Kingdom,  and  that  it 
 is  not  of  this  World ;  and  therefore  that  No  one 
 of  His  Suhje5ls  is  Law- giver  and  Judge  over 
 Others  of  them,  in  Matters  relating  to  Salva^ 
 tion,  but  He  alone  ;  and  that  We  muft  not 
 frame  our  Ideas,  from  the  Kingdoms  cf  this 
 World,  of  what  ought  to  be,  in  a  vifible  and 
 fenfible  Manner,    in  His  Kingdom. 
 
 2.  From  what  hath  been  faid  it  appears,  that 
 the  Kingdom  of  Chriji,   which  is  the  Church  of 
 Chrijiy  is  the  Number  of  Perfons  who  are  Sin- 
 cerely, 
 
 301 
 
 i  E  R  m; 
 
 XIV. 
 WVJf 
 
302 
 
 72^  Nature  of  the  Kin^dofn^ 
 
 .SERM.ccrely,    and    Willingly,   SubjeSfs   to   Him,  as 
 ^iv.     Ldw - giv e r  zn6.  "Judge^  in  all  Matters  truly  re- 
 
 ^"''"^^ Mating  to  ConTcience,  or  Eternal  Salvation. 
 And  the  more  clofe  and  immediate  this  Regard 
 to  Him  is,  the  more  certainly  and  the  more 
 evidently  true  it  is,  that  They  are  of  his  King" 
 dom.  This  may  appear  fully  to  their  own  Sa- 
 tisfaction, if  They  have  recourfe  to  Him  him- 
 felf,  in  the  Go/pel ;  if  They  think  it  a  fufiici- 
 ent  Authority,  that  He  hath  declared  the  Cgji- 
 ditionso^  their  Salvation,  and  that  no  Man  up- 
 on Earth  hath  any  Authority  to  declare  any 
 other,  or  to  add  one  Tittle  to  them  j  if  They 
 fefoive  to  perform  what  they  fee,  He  laysth  a 
 Strefs  upon  -,  and  if  They  trufl;  noMortal,  with 
 the  abfolute  Diredtion  of  their  Corjj'cienceSy  the 
 jPardon  of  their  Sins,  or  the  determining  of 
 their  Interefl  in  God's  Favour  ;  but  wait  for 
 their  Judge,  who  alone  can  bring  to  Eight  tbe 
 bidden  things  of  Jjarknefs. 
 
 If  They  feel  themfelves  difpofed  and  refjlv- 
 ed  to  receive  the  Words  of  Eternal  Life  from 
 Himfelf',  to  take  their  Faith  from  what  He 
 himfelf  once  delivered,  who  knew  better  than 
 All  the  reft  of  the  World  what  He  required  of 
 his  own  Siibjecfs  j  to  diredl  their  WorJJAp  by 
 his  Rule,  and  their  whole  Pradice  by  the  Ge- 
 neral Law  which  He  laid  down:  if  They  feel 
 themfelves  in  this  Difpofition,  They  may  be 
 A  very 
 
or  Chmxh^  of  Chrifl, 
 
 221. 
 
 very  certain,   that  They  are  truly  his  Subje5is,  s  e  rm. 
 and   Members   of  his    Kingdom.     Nor   need    xiv. 
 they  envy  the  Happinefs  of  Others^    who  may  ^"VNJ 
 think  it  a  much  more  evident  Mark  of    their  i 
 belonging  to  the  Kingdom  of  Chrijl^  that  They 
 have  other  Law-givers,  and  Judges,  in  ChriJTs 
 Religion  J  befides  Jefm  Chriji  j  that  They  have 
 recourfe  ^not  to  his  own  Words,  but  the  Words 
 of  Other's  who  profefs  to  interpret  them  ;    that 
 They  are  ready  to  Submit  to  this  Interpreta- 
 tion^ let  it  be  what  it  will ;  that  They  have  fet 
 up  to  Themielves  the  Idol  of  an  unintelligible 
 Authority^    both  in  Beliefs    and  JVorJJjip,    and 
 Pradlice 'y   in  Words,    under  Jefus  Chrift,  but 
 in  Deed  and  in  Truth  over  Him;  as  it  removes 
 the    Minds  of  his    SubjeSfs   from  himfelf,    to 
 Weak,    and  Paflionate  Men  ;    and  as  it  claims 
 the  fame  Rule  and  Power  in  his  Kingdom^  which 
 He  himfelf  ^lone  can  have.     But, 
 
 3.  This  will  be  A?wtber  Qbfervation^  That 
 it  evidently  defhroys  the  Rule  and  Authority  of 
 Jefus  Chrijly  as  Ki?2g^  to  fet  up  any  Other  Au- 
 thority in  His  Kingdom^  to  which  His  Subjeds 
 are  indifpenfably  and  abfolutelv  obliged  to  Sub- 
 mit their  Confciences,  or  their  Condud,  in 
 what  is  properly  called  Religion.  There  are 
 fome  FrofefTed  Chriftians,  who  contend  open- 
 ly for  fuch  an  Authority^  as  indifpenfably 
 obliges  All  around  Them  to  Unity  of  Profef- 
 
 fion; 
 
304 
 
 "The  Nature  of^  the  Kingdoji. 
 
 SE  RM  fion^  that  is,  to  Profefs  even  what  Tjiey  do 
 XIV.  not,  what  They  cannot,  believe  to  be  true. 
 This  founds  lb  groilly,  that  Others^  who 
 think  they  ad:  a  glorious  Part  in  oppofing  fuch 
 an  Enormity,  are  very  willing,  for  their  own 
 fakes,  to  retain,  fuch  an  Authority  as  (liall 
 oblige  Men,  whatever  They  themfelves  think, 
 though  not  to  profeTs  what  They  do  nyt  believe, 
 yet,  to  forbear  tht Profeffwi  and  Pufjiication  of 
 what  They  do  believe,  let  them  believe  it  of 
 never  fo  great  Importance. 
 
 Both  thefe  FretenfiGiu  are  founded  upon  the 
 miftaken  Notioji  of  the  Fcace^  as  well  as  Au- 
 thority of  the  Kingdom^  that  is,  the  Church,  of 
 Chriji.  Which  of  them  Is  the  molf  iniupport- 
 able  to  an  honefl  and  a  Clirirtian  Mind,  I  am 
 not  able  to  fay  :  becaufe  They  both  equally 
 found  the  Author  it  ^  of  the  Church  of  Chriji^ 
 "upon  the  Ruines  of  Sincerity  and  Common  Ho- 
 nefty  ;  and  miilake  Stupidity  and  Sleep,  for 
 Peace-,  bccaufe  They  would  both  equally  have 
 prevented  All  Reformation  where  it  hath  been, 
 and  will  for  ever  prevent  it  where  it  is  not  alrea- 
 dy ;  and  in  a  word,  becaufe  both  equally  divefl; 
 ycfus  Chriji  of  his  Empire  in  his  own  Kingdom  ; 
 fet  the  Obedience  of  his  SubjeBs  loofe  from 
 Hijnfelf;  and  teach  them  to  proflitute  their  Con- 
 fciences  at  the  Feet  of  Others,  who  have  no 
 Right  in  fuch  a  manner  to  trample  upon  them. 
 
 The 
 
or  Churchy   of  ChrJjL 
 
 The  Peace  of  Chrijt's  YJiigdoin   is  a  manly 
 and    Reafonable  Teace  j    built  upon  Charity, 
 and  Love,   and  mutual  Forbearance,  and   re- 
 ceiving one  another,  as  God  receives  us.      As 
 for  any  other  Feace  j  founded  upon  a  5ubmif- 
 (ion  of  our  Honejiy^   as  well  as  OMxllnderJiand- 
 wgs\  it  is  falfelyfo  called.  It  is  not  the  Peace  oi 
 the  Kwgdo?n  of  Chrijl ;  but  the  Lethargy  of  it : 
 and    a   Sleep   unto  Deaths  when    his    Subje^ls 
 throw  off  their  relation  to  Hinij  fix  their  Sub- 
 jecftion  to  Others ;   and  even   in  Cafes,   where 
 They  have  a  Right  to  fee,   and  where  They 
 have  a  Power  to  fee,   his  Will,  as  it  really  if, 
 fliall  fhut  their  Eyes,   and  go  blindfold  at  tl  e 
 Command  of  Others  ;  becaufe  thofe  Others  are 
 pleafed  to  make  themfelves  the  Sole  Judges  of 
 the  Will  of  their  great  Lord  and  Mafter. 
 
 To  conclude  ;  The  Church  of  Chriji  is  the 
 Kingdom  of  Chrijl.  He  is  Kin'^  in  his  own 
 Kingdom.  He  is  fole  Law-giver  to  his  Sub- 
 jeds,  and  Sole  fudge^  in  Matters  relating  to 
 Salvation.  His  Lauos  and  SanBions  are  plain- 
 ly fixed  :  and  relate  to  the  Favour  of  God  j 
 and  not  at  all  to  the  Rewards,  or  Penalties, 
 of  this  World.  All  his  Subjeds  are  equally 
 his  Subjedls ;  and,  as  fuch,  equally  without 
 Authority  to  alter,  to  add  to,  or  to  interpret^ 
 his  Laws  fo,  as  to  claim  the  abfolute  Submif- 
 lion  of  Others  to  fuch  Interpretation.     And 
 
 X  All 
 
 305 
 
 SER  M. 
 XIV. 
 
3o6 
 
 Tide  Nature  of  the  Kingdom^  Sec, 
 
 SERM.  All  are  His  SubjeBs,  and  in  his  Kingdom,  who 
 XIV.    lire  ruled  and  governed  by  Hifn.      Th^'w  Faith 
 
 K^V^  was  once  delivered  by  Him.  The  Conditions 
 of  their  Happinefs  were  once  laid  dovv^n  by  Him. 
 .  .  The  Nature  of  Goifs  Wojj]:ip  was  once  declar- 
 ed by  Him.  And  it  is  eafy  to  judge,  whether 
 dF  the  Two  is  moil:  becoming  a  Subject  of  the 
 Kingdom  of  Chriji,  that  is,  a  Member  of  liis 
 .Church',  to  feek  all  thefe  Particulars  in  thofe 
 plain  and  fhort  Declarations  of  their  Ki?ig  and 
 Law-giver  himfclf :  or  to  hunt  alter  Them, 
 thro'  the  iiifinite  Contradidions,  the  number- 
 "  lefs  Perplexities,  the  endlefs  Difputes,  of  ^Feak 
 Men^  in  feveral  Ages,  till  the  Enquirer  himfelf 
 is  loft  in  the  Labyrinth  ;  and  perhaps  fits  down 
 in  Defpair,  or  Infidelity.  If  Chrijl  be  our 
 King  ;  let  us  (hew  ourfelves  SuhjeBs  to  Him 
 alone,  in  the  great  Affair  of  Confcience  and  E- 
 ternal  Salvation:  and,  without  Fear  of  Man's 
 Judgment,  live  and  ad:  as  becomes  Thofe  who 
 wait  for  the  Appearance  of  an  All-knowing  and 
 Impartial  Judge  ;  even  that  King^  whofe  King- 
 dom is  not  of  this  World. 
 
 SER- 
 
SERMON   XV. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Funeral  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
 Howlandj  in  the  Parifli-Church  oi Streatham 
 in  Surry ^  on  Friday^   May  i,    17 19. 
 
 ReVE  LAT  IONS  xiv.     I  3. 
 
 /  heard  a  Voice  from  Heaven^  fiy^^S  ^^^^  ^^» 
 Write,  Blejjedare  the  Dead  which  die  in  the 
 Lord,  from  heficeforth :  Tea,  faith  the  Spirit y 
 that  They  7nay  rejl  from  their  Labours  ^  a?id 
 their  Works  do  follow  them. 
 
 HERE  is  nothing  in  which  the 
 Weaknefs  of  Mankind  is  more  betray- 
 ed, than  in  the  Notions  commonly  re- 
 ceived in  the  World,  about  Happinefs  and  Un- 
 happinefs.  We  all  profefs  ourfelves  engaged 
 in  the  Purfuit  of  the  one,  and  the  avoiding 
 the  other  ;  and  Confequently  very  much  con- 
 cerned to  fix  the  jufteft  Notions  of  Them  in 
 our  Minds.  We  all  feel  what  a  kind  of 
 World  we  no^y  inhabit ;  and  what  a  fort  of 
 X  2  Life 
 
 3E  RM. 
 XV. 
 
3o8 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 S  E  R  Ivi. 
 XV. 
 
 Life  we  now  live:  How  full  of  Vexations, 
 Troubles,  UneafinelTes,  and  Uncertainties  ; 
 that  is,  in  other  Words,  how  utterly  inconiift- 
 ent  with  Happinefs.  And  yet  we  are  com- 
 monly fo  foolilh  as  to  call  the  Living  only 
 Happy ;  as  to  think  Thofe  Blefedy  who  have 
 Fields,  and  Houfcs,  and  Treafures,  in  PofTef- 
 fion  ;  who  yet  breath  this  grofs  Air,  end  en- 
 joy the  good  Things  of  this  fordid  Earth.  If 
 we  fee  any  of  Thofe  taken  away,  in  whom 
 we  have  any  Concern  ;  and  an  End  put  to 
 their  Defigns,  and  a  Stop  given  to  the  poor 
 Profped;  of  Happinefs  They  had  here  below  j 
 We  are  apt  to  Mourn  over  This,  as  fome  fort 
 of  Mifery,  tho'  We  know  not  wdiat;  and  to 
 think  of  I'loem,  as  the  Unfortunate  ;  and  of 
 OurfelveSy   who  remain,   as  the  Happy. 
 
 This  Frame  of  Mind  is  owing,  indeed,  to 
 that  ftrong  Love  of  the  prefent  Life,  which 
 the  Author  of  our  Nature  has  thought  fit  to 
 implant  in  Us,  in  order  to  make  Us  bear  a 
 Life,  which  otherwife  We  Pnould  not,  in  ma- 
 ny Cafes,  be  able  to  fuftain,  fo  as  to  anfwer, 
 in  any  degree,  the  Defigns  of  his  Wifdom,  in 
 placing  us  in  this  Scene  of  Things.  But  tho' 
 there  be  fomewhat  in  this,  which  unavoidably 
 refults  from  the  Nature  of  Man  ;  yet  the  Ex- 
 cefs  of  this  Weaknefs  is  to  be  correded  by 
 Reafon  and  Religion  3   Both   defigned   for  the 
 
 ridding 
 
Fumral  of  Mrs.  H  o  w  l  a  N  d  . 
 
 ridding  Men's  JVJinds  of  all  falfe  Apprehenfi-  b  e  r  m. 
 ons,  efpecially  in  Matters  of  To  great  Import-  xv. 
 ance.  Senfe  itfclf,  indeed,  is  fufficient  to  fa-^^^'V^ 
 tisfy  Us  very  efFec^^ually,  that  this  World  is  not 
 fo  defirable  a  State,  as  that  We  fhould  be  feli- 
 citous to  confine  either  Ourfelves,  or  Thofe 
 Vv^hom  we  v/iQi  Happy,  to  it  :  And  there 
 needs  but  very  little  Experience,  and  the  Trial 
 of  a  vfery  few  Days,  to  make  Us  feel  this 
 Truth,  without  the  Trouble  of  much 
 Thought,  or  Reflexion.  And  then,  Reafon 
 and  Religion  open  to  Us  another  Scene  of 
 Things  ;  a  future  State  of  Stable  H9ppinefs : 
 A  State  of  Eafe  and  Quiet  j  of  Freedom  from 
 Pain,  and  Grief,  and  Trouble,  and  Uneafi- 
 nefs  ;  without  Uncertainty,  or  Anxiety,  or 
 Fear,  or  Terror ;  out  of  the  Reach  of  what 
 we  call  Fortune,  or  Malice,  or  Envy,  or 
 Detraction,  or  any  Evil;  and  fall  of  all  the 
 Real  Goods  that  We  can  be  capable  of  enjoy- 
 ing. 
 
 And  as  Religion  opens  to  Us  the  Profpedt 
 of  fuch  a  Scene  ;  fo  it  aflures  us,  it  is  prepa- 
 red for  the  good  and  virtuous  Part  of  Man- 
 kind ;  for  Tliofe  who,  by  patient  Continuance 
 in  Well-doing,  have  fought  after  Honour^  and 
 Glory ^  and  Immortality.  And  confequently, 
 it  teaches  Us  to  corred  thefe  Unjuli  Concep- 
 tions, and  Partial  Notions,  about  Happinefs ; 
 X  3  not 
 
 309 
 
3IO 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 SERM.  not  to   call    any  Perfons  Bleffed  hefovQ   their 
 XV.     Death  ;   nor  to  fix  that  Appellation  upon  Any, 
 l/'VNJ  tho'   never    fo   Rich,     never  fo  Honourable, 
 never  fo  Good,   whilft  They  are  in  a  State  full 
 of  a  Succeffion  of  hazardous  Trials,  and  Un- 
 certain  Events ;    of  Tormenting    Cares,  and 
 Uneafy  Difappointments  :      And    to  account 
 1'bofe  only  properly    BleJfeJ,    who  havp  lived, 
 as  Men  ought  to   live,  in  the  Pradice  of  all 
 Virtue,  and  Goodnefs  j  and  are  removed  out 
 of  fuch  a  State  as  this ;   and  fafely  arrived  at  a 
 better. 
 
 This  is  the  Leffon  which  the  Words  I  have 
 now  read  to  you,   will  eafily  lead  Us  to  :  If 
 We  ccnlider  Them,   not  with  Regard  only  to 
 thofe  Times  to  which  They  may  be  fuppofed 
 peculiarly  to    relate,  in  their  firft  Intention  -, 
 but  as  a  General  Lefjm,  extending  itfelf  to  all 
 Times  and  Places,   and  adapted  to  the  Ordina- 
 ry State  of  the  Chrijlian    World.      They  are 
 introduced  in  a  Manner  fo  folemn  and  extraor- 
 dinary, as  to  raife  fuch  a  Surprize  in  the  Hear- 
 ers, as  naturally  increafes  their  Attention.      I 
 heard  a  Voice  from   Heaven^  fiy^^^S  '^"^^   ^^^^> 
 JVrite,  Blejfed  are  the  Dead^  which  die  in  the 
 Lord:  —  Tca^  faith  the  Spirit ;  that  They  may 
 reft  from  their  Labour i  3  and  their  Worh  dofol- 
 low  ihem» 
 
 In 
 
311 
 
 Funeral  of  Mrs,  Howl  and. 
 
 In    profecunon,    therefore,   of  my    prefentjsER  m. 
 Defign,   in    fo   general    an    Extent,  it  will,  \     xv. 
 think,    be    natural  and    proper,     from    thefe 'v-^VNJ 
 Words, 
 
 I.  To  confider,  Who  they  are  that  may  be 
 truly  faid,  according  to  the  Terms  of  the  Gof- 
 pel,  to  Die  in  the  Lord:  So  that  We  m,ay 
 iudge,  Who  Thev  are  that  have  a  Title  to  that 
 ^oxdBleJjed,  (o  folemnly  here  pronounced  up- 
 on Them. 
 
 II.  To  fliew  on  what  accounts  They  may 
 be  faid  to  be  BieffeJ,  from  what  is  included  in 
 the  latter  Part  of  the  Words,  T^bat  J'hey  may 
 refifrom  their  Labours  3  a?id  their  Works  dofoU 
 low  them. 
 
 I.  The  firji  Point  is,  to  confider,  Who  they 
 are  that  may  be  truly  faid,  in  the  Senfe  of  the 
 Gofpel,  Tb  die  in  the  Lord:  So  that  We  may 
 judge,  Who  they  are  that  have  a  Title  to  the 
 Word,  Blejjed,  fo  folemnly  here  pronounced  up- 
 on Them.  And  if  we  be  fmcere  and  in  earneft, 
 This  Enquiry  will  quickly  come  to  an  IfTue  j 
 and  prefently  end  in  a  certain  Refolution.  For 
 every  honell:  Chriliia?iy  who  fearches  in  order 
 to  find  the  Truth,  will  prefently  coUeil  from 
 the  original  Defign,  from  the  whole  Tenor, 
 and  from  the  exprefs  Words  of  the  Gofpel^ 
 that  They  only   can  be   properly  faid  to  Dts 
 
 X  4  in 
 
211. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 SEKM.in  the  Lord,  who  may  truly  be  faid  to  have  Ihed 
 XV.     in  the  Lord;   that  is,    to  have  lived  lb,  as  that 
 
 ^-^^VXji  Oar  Bleffed  Lord  will  own  Them  at  the  laft 
 Day  for  his  true  Followers.  To  Die  in  the 
 Lord,  is  Tb  ^z>  in  the  Happy  relation  of  a 
 fincere  Difciple  to  "jefm  Chrijl,  and  of  a  good 
 and  faithful  Servant  to  our  Great  Mafler. 
 And  who  can  be  faid  to  die  thus,  but  They 
 who  have  contraded  that  Relation  by  a  for- 
 mer Life,  led  by  his  Rules,  and  conduaed  by 
 his  Will  ?  They,  who  have  iliewn  themfelves 
 Mis  Difciples  by  fuch  plain  Marks  and  Cha- 
 raders,  as  He  himfelf  has  declared  to  be  the 
 only  Marks  and  Charaders  by  which  He  will 
 know  them  ? 
 
 This  then  we  may  certainly  conclude,  That 
 "to  die  in  the  Lord,  cannot  fignify  merely  to 
 die  in  the  Faith  of  Jejm  Chrljh,  believing  and 
 confeflin"-    Him  to  be  our  Lord   and  Mailer , 
 
 the 
 
 acknowledging  him  the  Saviour  of 
 World  i  and  confidently  applying,  at  laft,  the 
 Remedy  of  his  Merits  to  the  Evil  of  a  Life 
 fpent  in  the  willful  and  habitual  Tranfgref- 
 iion  of  his  Laws.  If  the  Reafon  of  the 
 Thing,  and  the  Nature  of  God  himfelf,  did 
 not  lead  Us  to  this,  the  exprefs  Declaration  of 
 Chrift  himfelf  would  be  fufficient,  'Not  e^ocry 
 .one  that  faith  unto  me.  Lord,  Lor  d ^  Jh  all  enter 
 Into  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven^  but  He  that  doth 
 
 ike 
 
Funef^al  of  Mrs,  Rowland. 
 the  Will  of  my   Father  ivhich  is  in  Heaven. 
 And  to  do  the  Will  of  his  Father,  is  to  live  in 
 I  a  fincere  and  uniform   Obedience  to  all  God's 
 Commands,   and  all   his  Lav/s  equally,  as  fari 
 as  They  are  made  known  to  Us. 
 
 Nor  is  it  a  more  fecure  Prefumption  in 
 Men,  to  imagine  that,  in  order  to  die  in  the 
 Lord,  or  to  die  a  happy  Death,  it  is  enough 
 to  take  Refuge  in  the  Sorrow  and  Contrition  of 
 a  Death-bed  -,  or  in  confeffing  and  detefting 
 thofe  Sins  in  Death,  which  they  would  never 
 be  once  perfuaded  to  quit  through  their  whole 
 Life.  For  to  die  in  the  Lord^  being  to  die  in 
 the  Relation  of  a  true  Difciple  to  Him  5  and 
 the  Marks  and  Characters  of  that  Relation  hav- 
 ing been  fettled  and  declared  by  Himfelf,  and 
 eftablilhed  long  ago  upon  the  Nature  of  his 
 Defign,  and  the  End  of  his  Appearance  in  the 
 World  :  The  Imaginations  of  Men  are  not  to 
 be  confulted  ;  but  his  Will,  and  his  Declara- 
 tions. And  as  the  great  End  of  his  Appear- 
 ance was  to  preach  Repentance  to  the  Living, 
 and  not  to  the  Dying  ;  as  Men  are  not  called 
 in  the  Gofpel  only,  or  chiefly,  to  grieve  for 
 their  Sins;  but  to  forfake  them,  and  amend 
 their  Lives,  by  bringing  jorth  Fruits  7neet  for 
 'Repentance ;  and  as  the  Wrath  of  God  is  reveled 
 in  \\.from  Heaven  againfl  all  Wilful  and  Habi- 
 tual Sin  :  It  is  impoffible  for  Any,  who  are 
 
 not 
 
 — + — 
 
 I'^Z 
 
 ;  ERM. 
 XV. 
 
m± 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 not  refolved  to  flatter  themfelves  into  Deftruc- 
 tion,  to  conceive  that  to  die  in  the  Lord,  or  to 
 die  happiivj  can  pofiibiy  be  the  Refult  of 
 Sorrow  and  Grief  at  the  lad  Moments ;  or 
 that  any  fuch  Frame  of  Mind  can  be  the  End 
 aimed  at  by  the  Difpenfation  of  the  Gofpel,  or 
 iany  good  Foundation  of  thsit  BleJJedneJs  which 
 is  declared  in  it. 
 
 No  one  can  be  faid,  with  any  fort  of  Pro- 
 priety, to  die  a  happy  Death,  or  fo  die  in  the 
 Lord,  who,  at  the  Time  of  his  Death,  has 
 not  a  Title,  upon  the  exprefs  Terms  of  the 
 Gofpel,  to  Eternal  Life.  And  there  are 
 Otherguife  Conditions  of  Eternal  Life  laid 
 down  to  Chrifiians^  than  Sorrow  and  Contri- 
 tion for  Sins  which  They  can  now  no  longer 
 live  in.  If  thou  'ujoiddli  enter  into  Life,  hep 
 the  Commandments.  Ye  are  7ny  Friends,  if  ve  do 
 what  1  command  you.  'J'hePJghteous  fall  go  in- 
 to Life  Eternal,  and  the  Wicked  into  Ever  lad- 
 ing Funifment.  And  He  only,  ijoho  doth 
 "Righteonjnefs,  is  Righteous,  in  the  Senfe  of  the 
 Gofpel.  Thsfe  are  Declarations  fufficient  to 
 I  awaken  zviyChriilians  out  of  fo  fatal  a  Dream, 
 I  as  They  are  in,  who  have  Recourfe  to  Inven- 
 tions of  their  own  ;  who  indulge  Themfelves 
 in  laying  Schemes  inconfiftent  with  the  whole 
 jDefign  of  Chrijiianity ',  and  in  forming  Pro- 
 jedls  of  Salvation,  which  the  Gofpel  of  Salva- 
 tion 
 
Funeral  of  Mrs.  Howland. 
 
 211 
 
 tlon  knows  nothing  of.      For  as  They  only  s  e  R  M, 
 {hall  inherit  Eternal  Life,   who  have  patiently     xv* 
 perfevered  in  Well-doing  j  as  far  as  the  Terms  V^VNJ 
 of  God's   favour  have  been   made  known  to 
 Us :   So  it  is  as  plain,  as  Words  can  make  it, 
 that  the   only  Road  to  a   happy  Death,  is  a 
 Chrijiian  Life  j  and  that  they  only  can,   with  * 
 any  Degree  of  AfTurance,  be  faid  to  Die  in  the  \ 
 Lordj   who  have  lived   with  all  the  Effential  ] 
 Characters  of  his  Difciples  upon  them  ;  whofe  I 
 Lives  have  been  conduced  by  his  Laws,  and  I 
 ^filled  with  the  Fruits  of  his  Spirit.     I  come  • 
 now  to  the  Second  Thing  I  propofed, 
 
 II.  To  confider,  on  what  accounts   They 
 .may  be  faid  to  be  Blcjfed,  from  what  is  inclu-  i 
 ded  in  the  latter  Part  of  the  Words,  T^hat  they  \ 
 may  rejl  from  their  Labour^',  and 'Their  JVorks 
 do  follow  them. 
 
 I .  They  rejl  from  their  Labours.  This  Life 
 is  as  full  of  Cares,  and  Fears,  and  Uneafinef- 
 fes,  and  Difappointments,  as  it  is  of  Days : 
 And  in  the  Scripture-phrafe,  Man  is  born  to 
 T^roublc^  and  as  naturally  tends  to  it,  as  the 
 Sparks  fly  upwards.  Confider  a  little  the  Condi- 
 tions and  Terms,  upon  which,  generally  fpeak- 
 ing.  We  live  in  this  World  ^  and  You  will  fee, 
 it  is  no  very  inconfiderable  Thing  to  red  from 
 the  Labours  of  fuch  a  Life.  If  We  continue  in 
 
 this 
 
3i6 
 
 A  Sennon  preached  at  the 
 
 SERM.  't^is  State  for  any  Time,  We  live,  noTin  order 
 XV.     to  die  one  lingle  Death  at  I  aft,   at  the  End  of 
 
 C/^*>w  our  Term  ;  but  rather  to  die  a  Thouiand 
 Deaths,  through  the  feveral  Days,  and 
 Months,  and  Years,  We  are  laid  to  live.  We 
 live  indeed  in  Name  and  Appearance :  That 
 is.  We  breath,  and  move,  and  perceive,  and 
 have  Senfes.  But  We  Hve,  either  tp  feel  fuch 
 Degrees  of  Mifery  in  Ourfelves,  or  to  fee  fuch 
 Scenes  of  Unhappineis  in  Others,  as  are  fuf- 
 ficient  often  to  interrupt  our  Courfe  of  Joy, 
 and  to  embitter  the  few  Pleafures  this  btate 
 can  pretend  to.  We  often  hve  to  inherit 
 Sicknefs  and  Pain  ;  to  be  Burnt  by  Fevers  ;  or 
 to  be  Tormented  by  the  Returns  of  Stone  or 
 Gout:  or  to  be  confumed  and  v^earied  out  bv 
 fome  other  Diftemper,  which  has  it  in  its 
 Power  to  make  Us  uneafy  to  Ourfelves,  and 
 troublefome  to  thofe  about  Us.  We  often 
 furvive  the  Lofs  of  our  E dates,  our  Health, 
 our  Reputation  ;  Every  one  of  which,  to  Ma- 
 ny, is  worfe  than  Death  itfclf.  We  live 
 fometimes  to  fee  Ourfelves  facrificed  to  the 
 Fraud  and  Perfidy  of  Others  ;  to  be  forfaken 
 by  ProfeiTed  Friends,  and  infulted  by  Outra- 
 geous Enemies  j  to  be  perfecuted  by  the  Ma- 
 lice of  Evil  Tongues,  and  covered  with  the 
 Reproaches  of  Men, 
 
 We 
 
Funeral  of  Mrs,  Howland. 
 
 We  fpend  perhaps  fome  Years ;  and  watch 
 Days  and  Nights,  in  projeding  fome  Scheme 
 of  Happinefs ;  And  in  bringing  this  to  a  tole- 
 rable Perfedion.  And  when,  by  much  La- 
 bour, We  think  We  are  come  to  the  End  of 
 our  Wiihes  and  Deiires  j  fomewhat  almoft  al- 
 ways intervenes  between  Us  and  Happinefs  j 
 and  is  appointed  to  flop  Us  in  our  Career. 
 After  much  Labour  in  a  tempeftuous  Sea, 
 We  are  perhaps  (liipwrecked  in  the  Port  it- 
 felf :  And  are  either  taken  off  within  View  of 
 the  PoiTefTion  ;  or  elfe  the  Poffeffion  itfelf  is 
 fo  far  from  anfwering  our  Expectations,  that 
 our  former  Expedations,  by  being  difappoint- 
 ed,  do  themfelves  only  ferve  to  make  Us  the 
 more  completely  miferable,  in  the  midft  of 
 PofTeffion. 
 
 But  as  thefe  daily  Difappointments  never 
 weary  out  the  natural  Defire  and  Purfuit  of 
 Happinefs;  but  it  returns,  after  numberlefs 
 Trials,  to  Frefli  Propofals  and  New  Projeds 
 with  the  fame  Eagernefs  of  Expedtation  and 
 AiTurance ;  there  is  nothing  more  common 
 than  for  Men  ftill  to  go  on  to  imagine,  that 
 the  Accomplilliment  and  Succefs  of  fuch  and 
 fuch  particular  Wifhes  and  Defigns,  would  go 
 a  great  Way  towards  a  perfed  Eafe  and  Con- 
 tentment. But  when  again,  thefe  are  per- 
 mitted to  have  Succefs  i  (as  they  are  fome- 
 
 times, 
 
 317 
 
 SB  RM* 
 XV. 
 
Jl8i 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 SERM.  times  to   convince  Us  of  our  own  Incapacity 
 XV.     of  Judging  in  this  Cafe  j)  What  are  We  the 
 
 ^-^''VX^. nearer  ?  Something  or  other  again  invades 
 lour  Repofe:  and  We  find  it  in  the  Power  of 
 a  Multitude  of  Accidents,  never  to  be  forefeen, 
 to  Difcompofe  and  Ruine  the  whole  Fabric  of 
 Happinefs  which  We  have  raifed  in  our  Ima- 
 ginations. Nay,  whatever  it  be,  from  which 
 We  have  any  Expedations  of  Happinefs,  it  is 
 ifrequently  feen  that  This  itfclf,  upon  that  very 
 Account,  is  what  ferves  to  make  Us  moft  Un- 
 happy. 
 
 Such  is  the  Condition  of  our  Life  here  ! 
 Either,  not  to  have  our  mofl:  paffionate  Wiihes 
 granted  Us  j  which  is  prefent  Unhappinefs : 
 Or,  if  We  have  them  granted,  to  find,  by  a 
 comfortlefs  Experiment,  that  We  have 
 fought  Mifery  inftead  of  Happinefs ;  and  em- 
 brace a  vain  Shadow,  where  We  expeded  a 
 fubftantial  Good.  Our  Enjoyments,  at  bell:, 
 are  but  Few:  And  thofe  Few  continually 
 da(hed  with  the  Mixture  of  many  Ills,  and  the 
 Intervention  of  Unforefeen  Misfortunes,  which 
 are  powerful  enough  to  fpoil  our  Gocd^  and 
 change  it  into  EwV.  In  the  mean  while. 
 Iniquity  often  triumphs ;  and  extends  its  Con- 
 quefts  over  all  that  can  be  called  Virtuous  and 
 Praife-  worthy.  ,  The  Befi  that  can  be  faid  is. 
 That,  tho'  Virtue  ahvays  tends,  in  its  Nature, 
 
 to 
 
Funeral  of  Mrs,  Howl  and. 
 
 to  Peace   and   Happlnefs,    yet    here   below,  9  E  R  M. 
 
 T^here  is  one   E've?2t  to  the  Righteous  and  the  \  xv. 
 Wicked :    But  PFcrfe   may  too  often  be  faid,  j/VN^ 
 That  the  Good  Man,   who  alone  has  a  Claim 
 to  the   Favour   of  Providence,  feems,  fome- 
 times,   in  this  State,  to  have  Httle  l^itle  even 
 to  its   ProteBion,     In  the  tnidji   of  Life^  are  | 
 We  thu{}  in  Death :  In  the  midfl  of  Virtue  it- ' 
 felf,  encompalTed    with  the    Punifliments   of 
 Vice :  In  the  midil:  of  Enjoyment,  under  the 
 Apprehenfion  of  Lofs  and   Difappointment: 
 And  the  higher  We  are  feated   in  what  We 
 have  Thought  fit  to  imagine  our  Happinefs, 
 fo  much   the  nearer   are   We  to  a  Precipice, 
 and  liable  to  a  fo  much  greater  and  more  ter- 
 rible Downfal. 
 
 When  We  take  a  View  of  Life,  encompaf- 
 fed  with  all  thefe  Circumftances,   Who  would 
 not,     in    Reafon,    be    led  to    rejoice  in    thCj 
 Thought  of  Rejiing from  the  Labours  o^  fuchi 
 a  Life  ?   And  were   We  happily  removed  out  i 
 of  it  :  how  unkind  an  Office  of  Love  fhouldi 
 We  think  it,   were  it  poffible,  for  the  Wifhesj 
 and  Defires  of  Friends  to  call  Us  back  again? 
 To  live  indeed,  even  in  fuch  a  State  as  this, 
 is  made  the  Natural  Defire  of  Men:  And  toj 
 Die  is  appointed  to  carry  fomewhat  of  Terror 
 along  with  it,  for  wife  and  good  Reafons.  But 
 were  We  once  fuccefsfullv  delivered  from  the 
 
 Waves 
 
320 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 s  E  R  M,  Waves  of  this  Tempefluous  Sea  ;  what  could 
 XV.      move  Us  to  truft  Ourfelves    to   their    Mercy 
 
 ^"V^i  again  ?   Were  we  once  gone  off  this    Stage  of 
 Combats  and  Hazards,     with  Glory  ;     What 
 could  incline  Us  to  renew   our  own  Dan«:ers 
 and  Labours  ?    Were  we    once  dead  in    the 
 Lordj  with    the   Confcience  of  a  well-fpent 
 Life,     and    a  virtuous    Converfation,;     What 
 could  be  of  Force  enough  to  engage  to  Us  wil- 
 lingly to    revive    cur     Acquaintance   with    a 
 World  of  Cares  and  Troubles  5   and  to  live  a 
 Life  over  again,  attended  with  all  Thofe  Un- 
 evenefTes,  Sollicitudes,  Difquiets,  Expe(5lations, 
 Difappointments,     Hopes,     Fears,     Defpairs, 
 Small  Goods,  and    Great   Evils,   which   We 
 have  before  feen  and  felt  to  make  up  its  Train  ; 
 and  to  be  infeparably  united  to  it  ?  Bkjfed  are 
 the  Dead  which   die  in  the  Lord :     For  they 
 reft  from  their  Labours.      This  is  one  Confide- 
 ration. 
 
 2.  The  other  Confideration  is,  That  They 
 not  only  reji  from  their  Labours  of  fuch  a 
 Life  as  this  is  j  but  I'heir  Works  do  fllow  them : 
 that  is,  The  Life  of  Good  Works  which 
 they  have  led  here  below,  and  without  which 
 They  could  not  be  faid  to  die  in  the  Lord  j  (as 
 I  have  before  explained  it  j)  This  Life  of  Uni- 
 verfal  Virtue  is  remembred,  by  the  Mercy  of 
 God,  to  their  Eternal  Honour  and  Advantage. 
 
 4  Thofe 
 
Fumralof  Mrs,  FIowlAni^. 
 
 Thofe  Works  follow  them,  to  which  the  Pro- 
 mife  of  Glory  and  Immortality  is  madej  to 
 which  the  Favour  of  God  is  annexed,  and 
 the  Rewards  of  Heaven  folemnly  promifed : 
 And  thefe  are  the  Works  of  ths  Spirit  j  the 
 Effeds  of  Noble  Principles,  and  the  Fruits  of 
 a  well-grounded  Faith  ;  the  Works  of  Love^ 
 Beneficejice,  Juftice,  Patience,  Humility,  and 
 all  the  Train  of  Virtues,  the  End  of  which  is 
 declared  in  the  Gofpel  to  be  Eternal  Life^  and 
 BIcfTednefs  iot  ever. 
 
 This  is  the   State  of  thofe  who  die  in  the 
 Lord,   if  we  take  in  both  Parts  of  what  is  here 
 pronounced,   to    prove  and   denominate   them 
 truly  Blejfed.      T'l'jey    rejl  from  their  Labours : 
 They  ceafe  from  a  Life  of  impertinence,   Im- 
 perfection,  and    Mifery.      And  'Their   Works 
 follow  them  :  They  change    this  Life,  for  the 
 Rewards  of  thofe  Virtues  which  they  pradifed 
 in  it.      They   Change    this  Miferable,  Low, 
 Unfatisfad:ary,  and  Uneafy  State,  for  A-nother, 
 in  which  neither   Mifery,   nor  DifTatisfadion, 
 nor    Uneafmefs,   are   known  :     But    in    their 
 Head,   All  that  can  be  win:ied  for  ;   and  Eve- 
 ry thing  that   can  refult  from  the  Favour  and 
 Love  of  God  ;    from    a  Mind  filled  with  the 
 Remembrance  of  a  iincere  and  upright  Con- 
 dud  ;  from  a  Confcience  at  Peace  with  itfelf ; 
 and  from  the  AlTu ranee  of  a  lalling  and  cer- 
 
 Y  tain 
 
 5E  RM. 
 
 XV, 
 
 321 
 
32 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 s  E  R  M.  i;ain  Happinefs,  communicated  by  never- failing 
 XV.      JGoodnefs,  and  guarded  by  Almighty  Power. 
 
 Ky^sT^  How   Bkjfcd  therefore,   above    what  we  can 
 exprefs  or  conceive,   muil  the  Good  Ckrifiian 
 be,  when,  inflead  of    the  Images  of  Death 
 jwhich  fill   up  the    Scenes  of    what  we   call 
 ]Life  here  below,   He  (hall  knovi^,  in  Himfelf, 
 What  Life  is  j  and  be  fatisfied,  by  his  own  Ex- 
 perience, that  to  Live  is  to  be  Happy  !  When, 
 inftead  of  the   Uncertainties  and   Difappoint- 
 ments ;   the  Viciffitudes  of  Pain  and  Pleafure  > 
 the  Changes  of  Sorrow  and  Joy  j  the  Returns 
 of    Evil ;     the   Afflidions,    Calamities,     and 
 Reproaches,  in  the  midft  of  which  he  has  paf- 
 fed  his  Hours  here  on  Earth  j  He  fliall  meet 
 with    the  Certainty  of  a  flable    Habitation  j 
 with  Unmixed  and  pure  Happinefs  j  with  an 
 Unmoveable  State  of  all  that  is  truly  Good, 
 without  the  Fear  orSufpicion  of  Lofs  or  Dimi- 
 nution ;  out  of  the  reach   of  Tempefts  and 
 Convulfions,   and   fudden   Turns  of   Empire 
 and  Fortune  !    With  a  State,  in  which  the 
 Eilabliihed   Favour  of  God  is  the  Security  j 
 and  in  which  the  Perfedion  of  Mutual  Sin- 
 cerity and  Unbounded   Charity  cannot  fail  to 
 make  Society  the  greateft  Delight,  of  which 
 Rational  Creatures  are  capable  ! 
 
 The  Time  will  not  allow  Me   to    enlarge 
 farther   upon    this.     I  have  endeavoured^  to 
 
 give 
 
Fu?ieral  of  Mrs.  Howland, 
 
 323 
 
 give  You   as  ufeful  Leflbns  as  I  could,  fromlsERM. 
 the  Words  I  iiift  read  to  You  ;  and  as  proper,     xv. 
 as  any  can  be,  to  the  prefent  Occanon  of  our  ^^'VNl 
 meeting  together.     But  I  muft  not  end  here, 
 Whilil  we  are  paying  our  laft  Regards  to  the 
 Hemains  of  an  excellent  Perfon,   who  Is  gone 
 before  Us  to  a  BlelTed  Immortality^  I    efteem 
 myfelf.  particularly  engaged,    in  Juflice  and 
 Gratitude,   not  to  pafs  over  in  Silence  what  I 
 think,  or  know,  to  be  due  to  the  Memory  of 
 One,  who  has  a  Right  to  our  Remembrance ; 
 and  to  the  Example  of  OnCy  in  whofe  Life  and 
 Death  We  may  fee  the  Truth  of  what  I  have 
 been  laying  before  you, 
 
 I  will  begin  where  all  true  Religion  elthef 
 does,  or  ought  to  begin.     As  it  pleafed   God 
 to  blefs  Her  with  an    uncommon   Degree   of 
 Good  Senfe   and   Underftandingj  fo,    it  was 
 manifeftly  her  great  Endeavour  to  make  a  pro- 
 per life  of  fo  great  an  Happinefs,  by  laying 
 the  Foundation  both   of  her  Faith  and  Con- 
 I  dudt  in  the  moft  rational,  the  mofl  jufl,  and 
 moft  certain  Notions  of  God,  and  of  his  Per- 
 fedions,    within  her    own  Mind.     By  thefe 
 She  judged  of  Doarines,   and  of  Pradices  r 
 And  by   thefe  She  was  led  into  that  Juft  and 
 Lovely  Notion  of  Religion,   which  fupported 
 her  under  the  Evils  of  this  Life,  and  carried 
 Her  forward  to  the   Enjoyments  of  a  Better; 
 Y  2  Upon 
 
324 
 
 S  E  R  I\I 
 
 XV. 
 
 .A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 Upon  this  Foundation  She  embraced  Chj'i/iia" 
 nity,  with  her  Underflan'ding  as  well  as  her 
 Heart,  as  agreeable  to  the  Natural  Notions  of 
 the  Supreme  Being :  And  upon  This,  fhe 
 efteemed  it  the  Glory  of  the  Gofpel,  that  it 
 was  worthy  of  a  Good  God,  Plain,  Pradical, 
 and  Ufeful.  Nor  did  I  ever  obferve  Her  to  be 
 better  pleafed,  than  Vv'hen  the  Great  Duties  of 
 it  were  preached  and  inculcated,  in  their  native 
 Plainnefs  and  Simplicity. 
 
 It  was  by  thefe  found  Notions  of  Almighty 
 God,  and  his  Will,  that  She  was  truly  Religi- 
 om^   without  any   of  the  uneafy  Mixtures  of 
 Superjlition  j  and  truly  Pious,   without  any  of 
 the  undue  Heats  of  Enthufiafm.     It  was   by 
 thefe  fame  Notions  of  God  and  his  Providence, 
 that  She  preferved  her  Soul  in  that  Uncommon 
 Compofure,    in  all   the  Events,  and  under  all 
 the  Evils  of  Life,  which  is  very   rarely  feen. 
 Such  a  Courage  and  Prefencc  of  Mind,  in  the 
 many  Attacks  of  Pain  and  Sicknefs  which  She 
 experienced,  (much   greater  than  She  would 
 ever  difcover  by  any  of  her  own  Complaints;) 
 fuch  a  Refignation,  and  fuch  a  Fortitude,  be- 
 yond what  may  ftridly  be  called  Patience,   un- 
 der all  that  was  laid   upon  Her,  are   feldom, 
 equalled,  and  never  exceeded. 
 
 And  as  it  was  to  thefe  juft  Notions  of  God 
 and  his  Perfections,  that  She    owed  her  own 
 
 Chrijlian 
 
Funeral  of  Mrs.  Howl  and. 
 
 .ail 
 
 Cbriftian  Con  dud  ;  fo  it  was  by  the  fame, 
 that  She  was  led,  uniformly  and  conflantly,  to 
 be  of  the  moft  favourable  and  charitable  Dif- 
 poiition  towards  all  Perfons,  in  whom  the 
 Marks  of  Sincerity  and  Honefty  appeared,  a- 
 midft  all  their  differing  Sentiments  concerning 
 the  Methods  of  worfliiping  and  pleafing  God.- 
 Thofe^  Divifions  upon  Religious  Accounts, 
 which  She  lamented.  She  thought  might  be 
 covered  witli  Charity  ;  but  never  could  be  cu- 
 red by  Violence  and  OppreiTion,  without  bring- 
 ing in  much  greater  Evils  than  fuch  Methods 
 could  pretend  to  remove.  And  therefore,  the 
 DocTtrine  of  Univerfal  Love,  and  Mutual  For- 
 bifarance,  was  That  which  flie  always  expref- 
 fed  the  greateft  Pleafure  to  hear  inforced  upon 
 Men's  Minds ;  and  from  which  alone  She  ex- 
 pelled any  Remedy  to  the  Evil  Tempers  and 
 Faffions  of  Men.  ^^^ 
 
 Of  her  companionate  Regard  to  the  Out- 
 ward Miferies  of  the  Poor  and  diftrelTed  Part 
 of  the  World,  were  I  to  fpeak  only  from  my 
 o  vn  Knov/ledge,  This  I  could  fay,  that  I  my- 
 f  ^if  ever  found  Her  difpofed  both  to  hear  and 
 to  relieve ;  and  have  myfelf  known,  in  many 
 Inflances  of  Diftrefs  which  have  come  before 
 Her,  very  liberal  Supplies,  afforded  with  the 
 Heart  of  a  chearful  Giver.  And  I  can  appeal 
 to  many  now  living,  who,  I  know,  in  many 
 Y  3  more 
 
 SERM. 
 XV. 
 
326 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  at  the 
 
 €E  RM. 
 XV. 
 
 more  Cafes,  (in  which   the  Removal  of  Mir 
 fery,     or   the    procuring   fome  Good    to  the 
 Af?iic5led  Part  of  Mankind,   v^ere  concerned,) 
 have  received  very  large  and  very  Noble  Proofs 
 of  her  Charitable  Difpofition,   to  be  applied  to 
 thofe  good  Ends.     But  T^hey  v/ili  fpeak  moft. 
 feelingly  who  themfelves  have  partaken  of  it  ? 
 ^hey  particularly,  in   thefe   Parts,  whofe  Fa- 
 milies  have    been   chiefly   fupported  by   her 
 Bounty,   whofe  Pains  and  Sickneffes  have  beeu 
 abated   or   removed  by   her  Compaffion,  and 
 Remedies  j   whofe  Children  have  been  Cloth- 
 ed  and  Taught  at  her  Expenfe  ;  and  whofe 
 repeated  Vv^ants   have   received   Redrefs  from 
 her  repeated  Goodnefs :   Whofe  Condition   I 
 was  going  nov/  to  lament  ;  but  I  confidcr  that 
 .They  may  fliil  promife  Themfelves  the  Conti- 
 nuance of  the  fame  Beneficence,   and  the  fame 
 Supplies. 
 
 She  had  too  great  a  Soul,  and  too  compre- 
 Jierifive  a  Compafs  of  Thought,   not  to  judge 
 well  of  the  Public  Intereft   of  Pier  Country  ; 
 and  not  to  think  herfelf  too  deeply  concerned 
 in  it,  to  fit  by  an  Unconcerned  Spectator   of 
 its  Condition.      She  underflood,   as  well  as  any 
 -One,  in  what  Point  True  Liberty  was  placed  ; 
 between  Licentioufnefs,on  one  hand.,  and  Ty- 
 ranny on   the  otheir..  /^She  knew  as  well   as 
 ^ny  One,  the  Valae  to  be  fet  upon  fuch  a  Li- 
 berty 
 
Funeralof  Mrs,  Howland.  327 
 
 bertv,  of  being  governed  by   Laws  framed  by  ^  e  r  m. 
 Confent  -,  and  not  by  Arbitrary  Will.  And  She  .  xv. 
 
 was  fenfible,  to  the  higheft  Degree,  of  how  great 
 Confequence  and  Necefiity   the  prefent  Efla- 
 blilhmcnt  was,  to  make  fo  great  a  Happinefs 
 laftlng  to  Us   and  our  Pofterity.      I  fpeak  this 
 to  her  Honour,   as  I  think  it  none  of  the  lead 
 Parts  of  Her   Charader,  that,   with    Refped 
 toherCw/;/^ry,   ShewasfuUof  iuch  Sentiments 
 as   naturally  arife    from  an  Extenfi  e  Love  to 
 the  Happinefs   of  Mankind  ;   from  a  Benevo- 
 lent Tem.per,  and  Good  Difpofition  towards 
 Pofterity  itfelf ;  and  from  a  Tender  Regard  to 
 the  Good  of  Human  Society.      And  Her  Joy 
 or  Grief,  herPleafure  or  Uneafmefs  were  propor- 
 tionable to  thefe  Sentiments ;  and  iuch  as  (hew- 
 ed them  to  be  fincere.     Nothing  hardly  was 
 ever  feen  to  give  Her  a  more  feniible  Delight, 
 than  the   Good  Succefs  of  any  thing    which 
 tended  to  eftabliih  fo  great  an  Happinels.     No- 
 thing hardly  was  ever  feen  to  give  Her  a  more 
 ftnfible  Pain,  or  to  force  from  Her  more  Un- 
 eafy  Expreffions,  than  even  the  leaft  Appear- 
 ance of  any  thing  which  interrupted  the  Frof- 
 pedl,  or  tended  to  (hake  the  Foundation,    of 
 
 PubHc  Good.  ^ 
 
 Of  her  Uncommon  Prudence  in  her  Pri- 
 vate Affairs,  I  need  fay  the  lefs,  becaufe  her 
 Name  has  been  long  known  in  this  Part  of 
 y  4  the 
 
 Wnj 
 
328 
 
 ASe 
 
 no7i  preached  at  the 
 
 S  E  K  M 
 
 the  World,  and  celebrated  with  Honour  upon 
 that  Account.  It  pleafed  God,  that  She  was 
 left,  almoft  at  her  firft  Apperance  in  the 
 V/orld,  with  the  entire  Management  of  a 
 very  great  Eftate  ,  enough  to  try  the  Strength 
 of  any  Head,  and  the  Force  of  any  Heart. 
 But  with  what  Applaufe  to  her  Condud:,  and 
 with  what  Approbation  of  Ker  Behaviour, 
 5he  pailcd  through  Circumftances  of  fo  deli- 
 cate a  Nature  j  the  World  has  been  WItnefs : 
 Whilll;  She  aded  like  a  Perfon  di  fen  gaged  from 
 Herfelf ;  regardlefs  of  all  the  Amufements, 
 and  Pleafures  that  fuch  a  Fortune  could  Place 
 in  her  Way ;  and  centering  all  her  Thoughts 
 in  Another  over  whom  She  firfl  watched  with 
 t-lie  Regards  of  the  Tenderefl;  Mother,  and 
 with  whom  She  afterwards  lived  in  the  En- 
 dearments of  the  moft  intimate  Friendfhip  j 
 partaking  in  her  Cares,  and  her,CounfeIs,  for 
 the  good  of  that  Noble  Young  Family,  who 
 already  Promife  to  the  World  all  the  Fruits 
 that  can  be  expeded  from  fo  much  Sollici- 
 tude. 
 
 And  here,  Indeed,  the  Part  fhe  adled  was 
 one  almoft  uninterrupted  Scene  of  the  mofl 
 ferious  Concern,  tempered  with  a  Pleafing 
 Affability,  and  a  conftant  Good  Humour, 
 which  made  Her  the  Love  of  Thofe  whofe 
 Improvement  and  Accompliiliment  She  was 
 
 making 
 
Funeral  of  Mrs.  Rowland. 
 
 123 
 
 making  the  Labour  of  her  Life.  Her  End 
 was  to  lead  them  gently  into  the  right  Path  5 
 and  to  the  willing  Choice  of  that  Virtue, 
 which  She  knew  would  be  their  Great  and 
 only' lading  Good.  And  it  feemed,  indeed, 
 from  her  never  ceaiing  Care,  as  if  all  her 
 Happinefs  depended  upon  the  Succefs  of  her 
 Concern  here.  Her  Words  and  Looks  were 
 Pleafure  itfelf,  when  She  fpoke  of  the  Im- 
 provements She  at  any  Time  faw  in  Thofe 
 She  fo  truly  loved.  And  the  Promifes  of  Fa- 
 ture  Good,  in  the  Virtuous  Difpofitions  and 
 great  Endowments,  which  She  perceived  to 
 anfwer,  if  not  to  go  before,  her  Wiflies, 
 feemed  to  give  her  a  more  touching  Delight 
 than  ail  the  World  befides  could  afford  Her. 
 
 But  it  did  not  pleafe  God  to  continue  her 
 Life  to  that  *  Age  to  which  many  arrive ; 
 and  in  which  (l^s  might  have  hoped  to  fee 
 thofe  Promifes  made  good.  She  was  feized 
 with  her  lad  Illnefs,  and  called  out  of  the 
 World,  at  a  Time  when  She  might  have 
 found  very  peculiar  Reafons  to  defire  Life 
 fome  few  Years  longer.  But  yet,  far  from  ima- 
 gining Herfelf  the  Judge  of  this.  She  never 
 once  indulged  the  Thought  of  Life,  from  the 
 
 *  She  died  in  the  Fifty  Eighth  Ysar  of  her  Age^  April  19, 
 17^9- 
 
 firft 
 
 ERM. 
 XV. 
 
330 
 
 A  Sermo7i  preached  at  the 
 
 s  E  R  M|  firil  Attack  to  the  lad  MomenlF.  In  the  midft 
 XV.  of  all  her  Illnefs,  which  was  of  that  Nature 
 ■^'^'"V^i)  as  fometimes  to  indifpofe  Her,  one  v/ould 
 I  think,  to  fuch  a  Guard  over  Herfelf,  Her 
 '  Great  and  Conftant  Care  was  to  render  Her- 
 I  felf  as  little  uneafy  to  Others  as  poffible  ;  to 
 I  appear  Fearlefs,  in  order  to  cure  the  Fears  of 
 j  TThofe  about  Her  j  and  to  keep  ail  the  Signs 
 !  of  what  She  felt  in  Herfelf,  from  fliewing 
 ;  Themfelves  to  Thofe  who.  She  knew,  would 
 have  but  too  much  to  bear  when  the  Stroke 
 iliould  come.  Every  Thing  \\i%  Eafy,  Quiet, 
 and  Prepared  within.  She  refigned  Herfelf  to 
 (what,  from  the  Beginning,  She  looked  upoii 
 als  certain)  Death,  with  all  that  Compofednefs 
 and  Calmnefs  which  might  accompany  any 
 ordinary  Adion  of  Life.  And  whilft  She 
 was  all  along  perfuaded  -  of  her  own  dying 
 Condition,  She  watched  over  all  her  own 
 I  Words :  And  fuffered  not  any  one  Mark  of 
 I  that  Perfuafion  to  proceed  from  her  in  the 
 Prefencc  of  thofe  who  were  moil:  Dear  to 
 Her  J  nor  any  one  Sign  of  Uneafinefs,  which 
 nflight  difcompofe  Thofe,  for  whom,  at 
 Death,  She  retained  the  fame  True  Tender- 
 nefs,  which  She  had  ever  demonflrated  through 
 her  Life. 
 
 She  is  now  removed   from  L'^s.     She  Is  at 
 fe/1  from  the  Labours  of  a  Life,  which,  in  the 
 
 mid  ft 
 
Ftmeral  of  Mrs,  How  land. 
 
 midfl  of  an  Affluence  of  Riches,  She  experi- 
 enced to  be  full  enough  of  Cares  within,  and 
 Pain  and  Affiidion  without.  She  rejlsfrom  her 
 Labours  :  And  hefWoryjollmi  her.  Her  Ex- 
 ample remains  to  Thofe  who  r.re  left  behind 
 her  :  And  the  Memcn-y  of  her  Exceile?icie5,  t6 
 Thole  wiiofoiiowiirer,  ' 
 
 May  Almighty^' GoH'  Iwpport  The  ;.j  who 
 are  mod  neai  l)  Joiicerned,  uhder  (o  great  a 
 Lof&!  And  may  They  and  Wey  ril  prepare 
 Ourfelves,  by  a  Life  of  True  Religion,  and 
 Univerfal  Obedience  to  God's  Laws,  for  a  hap- 
 py Death :  Tliat  it  may  be  faid  of  Us,  when 
 that  liour  fiiall  come  which  muft  come,  Bief- 
 fed  are  the  Dead  which  Die  in  the  Lord  •*— 
 .For  they  reft  from  their  Labours,  and  their 
 Worh  do  follow  them  ! 
 
 331 
 
 5  ERMp 
 XV. 
 
 SER. 
 
SERM 
 XVI. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Preached  before  the  Houfe  of  Lords  at  St.  Peter  s 
 WeJImin/Ier,  on  Jan.  30,  1720-21.  being 
 the  Anniverfary  of  the  Martyrdom  of  K. 
 Charles  L 
 
 I  CoR.  X.  former  Part  of  ver.  11. 
 
 Now  all  ihefe  things  happened  unto   them  for 
 Efifd7nples, 
 
 OU  will  eafily  perceive,  from  my  choof- 
 ing  theit  Words,    as  an  Introdudion  to 
 t/VN.*  what   I  am  now  going  to  fay,   That  it 
 
 is  my  Defign  to  make  ufe  of  that  Black  and 
 Unhappy  Fart  of  our  EngUflj  Hiflcry,  which 
 we  are  commanded  by  Authority  to  call  to 
 mind  on  this  Day,  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to 
 make  fuch  Obfervatrons  upon  it,  and  draw 
 fuch  LefTons  from  it,  as  may  be  of  mod  Service 
 to  Ourfelves,  in  order  to  prevent  and  avoid 
 thofe  Evils,  which  happened  unto  our  Forefa- 
 thers, for  Enfamples  to  Us  their  Pofterity  : 
 juft  as  the  Unhappinefles  and  Vv^ickedneiles  of 
 the  Jews  in  form.er  Ages,  are  here  in  the  Text 
 z  fet 
 
A  Sermon  preached  before^  ^c. 
 
 m. 
 
 fet  before  the  Eyes  of  their  Followers  by  St.  :jer  M. 
 PmiL  XVI. 
 
 To  open  unnecelTarlly  any  old  Wounds  that 
 are  now  clofed  up,  and  make  them  bleed  afrelb  j 
 To  widen  any  that  are  now  open,  and  to  in- 
 flame them  ilill  more  and  more:  Thefe  Things 
 are  as  far  from  my  Inclination  and  Temper, 
 as  They  are  contrary  to  All  that  I  know  of 
 Religion.  I  had  much  rather  pour  Oyl  inta 
 Any  that  remain,  and  apply  Nothing  but  foft 
 and  healing  Medicines :  Nay,  if  it  were  pofli- 
 ble,  I  would  cafl  a  Veil  over  every  Mark  of 
 pail  Infamy,  or  even  Imperfed:ion,  on  all 
 Sides  J  were  it  not  for  Fear,  We  might  at  the  [ 
 fame  Time  lofe  fome  of  the  Beft  LefTons,  and 
 moft  Ufeful  Obfervations,  for  our  ov/n  Con-, 
 dua. 
 
 To  run  with  Violence  againfl  A  ny  One  Sort 
 of  Men  now  In  being :  To  fix  the  Guilt  of 
 'I'hat  upon  All  of  One  general  Denomination, 
 which  All  the  Chief  of  them,  detefted  by  a 
 public  Remonflrance  at  the  Tiaie  of  the  Tranf- 
 a6lion  :  To  lay  T'hat  upon  the  Generality  of  a" 
 Nation,  which  even  in  the  Firji  ^^^/againft  it, 
 was  declared  by  public  "*  Authority  to  be  the 
 Work  of  a  Few,  at  that  Time  pofTcflcd  of 
 Power  :  Or,  to  load  with  all  poflible  Aggra- 
 vations the  unjuflifiable  FroceedixHgs   on  0?ie 
 
 *  Prockm.  King  Charles  II.  1660. 
 
 Side 
 
i2i 
 
 XVI. 
 
 A  Ser 771071  Preached  before  the 
 
 SE  R  M.  Side  only,  and  to  clear  the  Other  of  every  Thing 
 that  looks  like  Guilt :  Thefe  are  Points,  which 
 common  Juftice  and  Equity  (not  to  mention 
 Compaffion  and  Charity)  forbid  Us  to  do. 
 
 But  to  teach  Ourfelves  to  avoid  what  we 
 rightly  blame  in  Others ;  to  take  Care  that 
 True  and  Juft  Principles  of  Public  Good  do  not 
 fiifFer  in  the  Efteem  of  Men,  thro'  the  Mif- 
 takes  or  Wickednefs  of  Such  as  were  Stran- 
 gers to  them,  or  only  pretended  to  make  ufe 
 of  them  ;  and  that  the  Memory  of  true  Fa- 
 iriots  may  not  be  curfed,  for  the  Sake  of  the 
 Infamy  of  TJfurpers  ruling  by  mere  Power  and 
 Armed  Force  :  To  learn,  from  the  Review  of 
 former  Unhappineffes,  every  Thing  that  can  be 
 of  Ufe  to  help  Us  in  the  Preventing  Any  the 
 like  Miferies  for  the  Time  to  come,  or  the 
 Curing  any  prefent  Evils  :  ^hefe^  and  the  like, 
 are  Points  worthy  of  Perfons  concerned  for  the 
 Good  of  their  Country  ;  and  Such,  as  may 
 render  this  Faft,  not  a  Faji  for  Strife  a?id  De- 
 hafe^  nor  merely  a  Faft  for  Shame  and  Reproach  5 
 but  a  Day  of  Ufeful  Inftrudion,  in  the  Paths 
 which  lead  to  Public  Peace,  and  the  Efta- 
 blifhment  of  all  that  is  valuable  in  human  So-- 
 ciety. 
 
 The  main  Points  which  this  Day  recalls  to 
 our  Minds,  I  fhall  conned  together  in  the  fol- 
 lowing Manner,  in  order  to  introduce  the  Ob- 
 
 ferva- 
 
Heufe  of  Lords,  Jan.  30,   1720-21. 
 
 335 
 
 feryations  I  defign  :  —  That  there  was,  in  the  serm7 
 JDays  of  our  Forefathers,  to  which  we  now  look  Uvi. 
 back,  a  Zeal  in  the  Reprefentatives  of  England^ 
 in  Parliament  aiTembled,  to  oppofe  Every  Ar- 
 bitrary  Encroachment  upon  the  Legal  Libera 
 ties  and  Properties  of  the   Subjedt :  —  That, 
 by  Degrees,  and  by  the  Concurrence  of  many 
 Accidents,  the  Paffions,  and  Rage,  and  Re- 
 venge, of  Sofne,  by  the  Help  of  mutual  Fravo^ 
 cations^   mixed   themfelves   too  much  in   the 
 Contefl :  —  That  Ambitious,  and   Defigning, ; 
 and  Defperate  Men,  took  occafion  from  hence 
 
 to  fet  their  own  Machines  on  work: That 
 
 the  various  and  contradictory  Schemes  of  J5^- 1 
 //{/"and  Worfiip,  embraced  at  that  Time,   (All ' 
 equally  honoured  with  the  Name  of  Religion) 
 were  called  in,  to  heat  the  Imaginations  of  Men 
 and  to  help  forward  the  common  Ruine  :— i. 
 That  at  length  ;his  ended  in  the  Deftrudion  oJF 
 the   Legal  Conjiitufion'j  in  confounding  everi' 
 all  Appearance  of  Freedom  in  what  remained  j 
 of  a  Parliament ;  in  an  JJfiirpcd  Power,  fup- 
 ported  by  Force  againfl:  the  Confent  of  the  Na- 
 tion, and  with  the  Abhorrence  of  the  greateft 
 Friends  to  Legal  Liberty  ;   and  in  the  Murther 
 of  the  King,  againfl  the  Voices  of  All,  but 
 Such  as  then  began  to  find  themfeives  to  have ; 
 no  Security  but  from  an  Armed  Force.   A  FaB  I 
 which,  as  I  truly  detefl  3  and  am  led  to  do  fo  by  \ 
 
 all 
 
Mi 
 
 A  Serfno7t  Preached  before  the_ 
 
 SERM.  all  the  Pri?iciples  I  know  any  thing  of:  fo,  if 
 XVI,     any   Words  of  mine  could   aggravate,  confi- 
 
 \y"V^  dered  in  all  its  Circumftances,  They  nevef 
 fhould  be  wanting.  Thefe  are  the  Main  Parts 
 of  the  Hiftory  now  before  Us ;  upon  which 
 I  fhall  proceed  to  build  fome  Obfervations, 
 And, 
 
 I.  t  fliall  take  leave  to  Warn  againft  One 
 Ufe  which  may  fometimes  have  been  made  of 
 this  Part  of  our  Hiftory  j  and  That  is,  The 
 arguing  from  the  Bad  Event  of  Things,  con- 
 trary to  the  Wifhes  and  Defigns  of  the  Beft 
 and  Wifeft  Men,  againft  all  fuch  Oppofition  to 
 Illegal  Encroachments,  and  Arbitrary  Proceed* 
 ingSy  as  firft  opened  the  Scene.  For,  As,  in 
 Argument y  nothing  is  more  injudicious ^  than 
 to  plead  againft  One  thing,  becaufe  Another 
 thing  of  a  quite  different  Nature  fucceeded  to 
 it,  thro'  the  wicked  Defigns  of  fome  Men  ; 
 and  the  unaccountable  Concurrence  of  a  thou- 
 fand  Accidents :  So,  rn  Political  Affairs,  no- 
 thing can  be  movefotal,  than  to  draw  a  Con- 
 clufion,  from  fuch  Events,  which  muft  lay  the 
 Foundation  of  Uninterrupted  and  Hopelefs 
 Slavery.  The  Nature  and  Reafon  of  Things 
 abhors  fuch  an  Inference  :  which  would  at 
 once  take  away  all  the  Right  of  a  Free  Nation  ; 
 and  make  their  Meeting  together  in  Parliamefit, 
 
 only 
 
Hoiife  of  Lords y  Jan.  30,  1720-21. 
 
 zn 
 
 Only  a  more  Sokmti  Form  of  Ahfolute  SubmiJJion 
 to  whatever  tlie  ^/7/ of  Another  Hiall  lay  upon 
 them.  All  in  the  Adminiftratlon  of  Govern- 
 ment, who  are  JFifc,  would  not  wifli  to  have 
 fuch  a  Temptation  to  Evil  laid  in  their  Way : 
 Ally  who  are  Good,  would  even  oppofe  and 
 prevent  fjch  a  dangerous  Piece  of  Servile  Sub- 
 jeSlion  :  and  All,  who  are  5^/^  enough  to  wi{h 
 for  it,  defer  vc,  for  that  very  Realon,  to  have  the 
 'Terror  of  the  Contrary  before  their  Eyes  j  that 
 fo,  Vv'hat  They  will  not  refrain  from  for  CoU' 
 fcicnce,  yet  for  Wratlfs  Sake  may  be  avoided. 
 Let  that  LeiTon,  therefore,  of  Good,  remain 
 untouched,  which  under  an  Admimjtrationy 
 by  wijich  the  Liberties  and  Laws  of  the  Coun- 
 try are  prcfcrved  unviolated,  can  do  no  hurt  5 
 and  under  One,  which  alTumes  the  Power  of 
 aifting  without  or  agalnjl  Law,  is  of  Abfolute 
 Neceifuy  to  prevent  Public  Kuine. 
 
 There  is  the  leis  Occalion  for  Argument  up- 
 on this  Head,  bccriuie  the  Be,'}  of  Thofe  Hif- 
 torians,  and  Other  WritLTs,  who  have  fliewn 
 the  greatefi:  Warmth  againfl:  what  followed, 
 yet  have  been  fir  from  condemning  thofe  Be- 
 ginnings  of  Zeal  for  the  Public^  which  tended 
 in  their  natural  Confeqaences  to  the  lafting 
 Good  of  the  King  and  the  JVhole  Body  j  and 
 could  not  have  been  diverted  from  attaining 
 that  End,   but  by  the  Unreafonablenels,   and 
 
 Z  private 
 
 SER  M. 
 XVI. 
 
338 
 
 A  Sermo?i  preached  before  the 
 
 SER  M.  ])rlvace  Views,  of  fuch  on  each  Side,  as  had 
 
 XVI*    nothing  lefs  at  Heart  than  either  the  Greatneji 
 
 t/'V^' of  their  King^  or  the  Good  of  their  Country: 
 
 Two  Thines,   which  in  our  Conftitution  are  fo 
 
 pappily  joz/i^^  together^  that  They  can  never  be 
 
 put  ajunder. 
 
 And  what  is  ftill  a  Greater  Confolation,  is, 
 that,  tho'  inch  hejfom  of  Suhje£iio?i  may  have 
 (been  taught  by  Perlons  of  Leifure,  httle  verf- 
 'Cd  in  the  Affairs  of  Human  Life,  vet  We 
 have  feen  with  Pleafure  that  All  Sorts,  and 
 Parties,  (if  I  muft  ufe  that  Word,)  of  Men 
 amongft  Us,  have,  (to  their  Honour  beitfpok- 
 en)  in  their  feveral  Turns,  and  asconftantly  as 
 any  Opportunity  offered  it  ioif,  openly  and 
 zealouily  made  Oppofition  to  Any  Attempts, 
 which  They  either  knew,  or  imagined,  to  affe(5t 
 the  known  Laws  and  Liberties  of  their  Coun- 
 try. Nay,  it  mud  be  acknowledged,  that  None 
 have  fliewn  more  of  this  Spirit  in  Parliament^ 
 than  T^^hofe  who  have  feemed  fearful  of  giving 
 too  2;reat  Lncoura2;cment  to  Libcrtv.  for  fear 
 of  the  ill  Confenuences  of  it :   And  it   ought 
 
 J.  D 
 
 ever  to  be  accounted  one  Part  of  their  great 
 Glory,  that  cut  of  Parliament,  in  the  greateft 
 and  happiefi:  Struggle  for  Public  Liberty,  which 
 the  prelent  Generation,  or  perhaps  any  other, 
 ever  was  witnefs  to,  I'hcir  Part  was  great  and 
 remarkable,    in  oppofing  the  Encroachments 
 
 of 
 
I — 
 
 Hcufe  of  Lords,  Jan.  30,  1720-21.     !    339 
 
 of  Arbitrary  Power ^  and  even   In  inviting  ansERM. 
 Armed  Force  to  make  that  Oppolition  fuccefs-    xvi. 
 ful  :    The  only  appearing  Difference  between  <y\'^^ 
 Them  and  Others,  if  we  may  judge  by  PraBice 
 being  Tiiis,   that,   vvhilil  They  are  both  equal- 
 ly jealous  of  Every  fuppofed  Attempt  againfl: 
 their  Liberties,  the  One  fort  may  imagine  l^hat 
 to  be  fo;,  whicli    the  Other  do   not  ;  and  the 
 0?2e  fort  may  be  fearful  left  the  Defenfe  of  their 
 own  Praclicc  fhould  imprefs  too  great  a  Senfe 
 Q^  Liberty  upon  the  Minds  of  Men  ;  whilft  the 
 Other  may  think  it  bed  not  only  to  vindicate 
 what  is  in   itfelf  praife-worthy,   but  to  fcatter 
 the  Light  of  Legal  Liberty  xnio  all  Corners  of 
 the  Land,   and    to  infpire  the  Love  of  it  into 
 the  Heart  of  Every  Subjed. 
 
 If  We,  therefore,   confider  fuch  Leffons  of 
 SubmilTion  with  regard  to  the  Practice  of  the 
 Wifeft  and  BelT:  on  all  Sides  •,  We  may  fee  how 
 Vain,     as   well    as  how   Rcproaclful,   on  All 
 equally,  they  are  :    If  we  confider  them  in  a 
 Political  Lvight ;   They  prefent  Us  with  nothing 
 but  Certain  Slavery  without  any  poffible  Chance 
 for  the  contrary  :   If  We  confider  them  in  the 
 way  of  Argument  niere'y;   They  are  no  better 
 than   T^his,  That  We  ought  not  to  do  what  is 
 neceffary  tor  the  Prefervation  of  a  Whole  Na- 
 tion becaufe  it    may  happen  that  We  may  be 
 ruined  afterwards  in  another  way ;  or,  That  a 
 Z   2  Man 
 
340 
 
 A  Sen7tcn preached  before  the 
 
 Man  ought  not  to  fave  himfelf  from  prefent 
 Imminent  Death,  becaufe  it  is  poflible  that  in 
 ^'^^^^''^Ithe  Struggle  He  may  put  himfelf  into  a  Fever ^ 
 which  may  afterwards  prove  mortal  j  Or, 
 That  a  Gccd  Thing  ought  not  to  he  attempted, 
 becaufe  a  BadT^hhig  may  pofiibly  happen  fome 
 Time  afterwards,  which  is  neither  the  natural 
 Confequence  of  the  Forvier^  nor  conld  be  fore- 
 feen  by  the  V/ifcfl:  of  Men.  This  leads  us  to 
 obferve, 
 
 II.  The  Unreafonablenefs  of  caflins:  the 
 Reproach  of  this  Day's  Facii,  and  of  everv 
 Thing  before  and  after  it,  upon  the  Principles 
 of  T^riie  Liberty^  in  general  ;  and  upon  th.e 
 I^ejcnders  of  them  :  Whereas  it  will  appear, 
 upon  a  ferious  Confideration,  (however  it  may 
 found  at  iirft  hearing,)  That,  of  all  Men, 
 Tbeje  are  led  by  their  Pri?icipies,  if  they  un- 
 derfland  them,  to  an  utter  and  fettled  Dilap- 
 probation  of  what  They  have  the  Reproach  of 
 favouring.  For  what  is  the  Liberty  contend- 
 ed for,  by  z\\  Men  of  Honcdy,  and  Under- 
 flanding  ?  Not  Licentioufnefs  :  Not  a  Right 
 to  overturn  Laws  and  Ccrijiitutions,  Whenever 
 Pafiion  or  Rage  didate  ;  and  the  favourable 
 Opportunity  of  Power  oiicrs  it  felf :  Much 
 lefs,  a  Licence^  under  Pretenfe  of  Liberty,  to 
 deAroy  all   Freedom  in  Parliament  j  to  fet  up 
 
 an 
 
 S£R  M. 
 XVI. 
 
Houfe  of  Lorclsy  Jan.  30,  1720-21. 
 
 ill 
 
 an  Arbritrary  Power,  and  maintain  it  by  Force  serm. 
 of  Arms,      Nothing   of  all    this;  but    every     xvi. 
 thing  contrary  to  it.      It  is  the  Liberty  which  o^-^'v^ 
 refults  from  being  governed  by  Laivs  made  by 
 Confent ;  the  Liberty  which  refults  from  thefe 
 Laws  being  fettled  in  fuch  a  manner,   that  the 
 Innocent  (hall  always  know  their  own  Defenfe 
 from  injuries,   and  even  the  mcll:  Guilty  know 
 before-hand  upon  what  their   Guilt  iliall  be 
 founded  :   It  is  the  fecure  Enjoyment  of  Pro- 
 perty, and  Privileges,  granted  by  Laws,  free 
 from  every  thing  that  looks  like  Violence. 
 
 The  End  of  thefe  Laws  is  to  guard  againfl 
 the  worfi;  of  all  worldly  Evils,  Arbitrary  Pow- 
 er, in  whatfoever  Shapes  or  Degrees  it  may 
 pretend  to  fliew  it  felf,  and  upon  whatfoever 
 Pretext  it  may  found  fuch  Pretenfions ;  to  pre- 
 ferve  Judgment  and  Juflice  from  the  Influences 
 of  Paflion  and  Private  Refentment ;  and  Pu- 
 niflimentit  felf,  in  the  Cafe  even  of  the  meanefl 
 Subjeds,  from  becoming  Cruelty.  A  Scheme 
 of  Happinefs,  not  known  in  the  Nations  round 
 about  Us,  either  under  Abfolute  Monarchies, 
 or  Republics  -,  depending,  one  would  judge 
 from  hence,  entirely  upon  the  Nature  of  that 
 Alixt  Form  under  which  We  live. 
 
 But  what  was  the  Cafe  now  before  Us  ?  We 
 find  plainly  that  a  Fa^,  as  fliocking  in  it  felf, 
 as  it  was  oppofite  to  the  Temper  of  Englifi- 
 Z    3  ;«fZ7, 
 
342 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  befoi'e  the 
 
 SE  RM,  men,  and  contrary  to  the  Maxims  of  the  En- 
 XV I .  glij};)  Government,  could  not  be  fo  much  as  at- 
 ^^'^^^^  tempted,  till  the  Freedom  of  Farlia?ne?2t  was 
 totally  deftroyed  3  the  Balances  which  keep 
 our  Government  in  an  even  Situation,  torn 
 afunder  j  and  an  Armed  Force  made  the  Sup- 
 port of  what  remained  of  Civil  Government. 
 
 This  Proceeding  is  much  more  agreeable  to 
 the  Maxims  of  Thofe  who  think  and  teach   (if 
 any  fuch  flill  remain)  that  Arbitrary  Fo'werx'h 
 the  beft  and  fitteil  lor  the  Government  of  Man- 
 kind J   than  to  the  Sentitijents  of  Others  of  a 
 contrary  Judgment.      For  in  this  Cafe,   All  of 
 LegiJIation,  as  wt-ll  as  o^  Government ,   that  re- 
 mained,  was  influenced  and  fupported  by  mere 
 ForcCy   which    is    always  abfdute.      Nay,   the 
 Crime  and  Evil  of  Vfiirpaticn  it  felf,  upon  their 
 own  Scheme^  is  lb  qualified  in  procefs  of  Time, 
 that  Frcfcription  or  Pnffeffion,   mainfained  for  a 
 Term   of  Years,   relieves    Them  at  length  of 
 very    much    of    their  Fir  ft  Abhorrence   of  it. 
 Whereas,  No  Length  of  Time,  No  Tenure 
 of  Prefcription,   can  reconcile   the   Minds    of 
 Thofe  who  underftand  what  Leg-al  Libertv  is, 
 to  the  total  Deflrudjon  of  a  Legal  Conjlitution, 
 and  to  the   Settlement  of  m.ere  Power.      The 
 very  Thing  'vViiich,   at  tlie  End  of  fome  Years, 
 would   have  comforte..i-0//6e'r5,  if  a  long  Pof- 
 feffion  of  Arbitrary  Power   had  continued  a- 
 
 mongft 
 
Houfe  of  Lords ^  Jan.  30,  1720*21. 
 
 343 
 
 mongft  Us,  feems  to  ^I^bem  fo  big  with  Fublic 
 Mifery^  and  Calamity,  that  it  heightens  and 
 inflanies  their  Deteftation  of  all  Proceedings 
 which  were  thought  neceffary  to  fuch  an  Evil : 
 an  Evil,  which,  if  one  Cunning  and  Daring 
 Ufurper  had  been  fucceeded  by  Another,  might 
 probably  ha^oe  cleaved  to  Us,  ajid  our  Seed  for 
 ever  j  and  have  come  at  length  to  have  been 
 the  Subject  of  Fulfome  Panegyric  to  All  the 
 Admirers  of  Uncontrollable  Power;  and  left 
 to  be  lamented  zVz  private  only  by  Such  as  T'hofe, 
 whofe  Frinciples  are  fometimes  reproached  as 
 if  They  favoured  what  is  ablolutely  inconfiftent 
 with  them.     This  leads  Us, 
 
 III.  To  obferve  the  perfedl  Confijlency  which 
 there  is  between  a  well-grounded  Difapproba- 
 tion  of  that  Scene  of  Things,  which  We  this 
 Day  lament ;  and  a  fettled  and  hearty  Appro- 
 bation of  that  Great  T^ranfaBion  in  our  own 
 Days,  upon  which  the  prefent  Eftablifliment 
 of  our  Conjiitution  is  founded.  There  may  be 
 Thofe,  who  are  fo  little  ufed  to  confider  a 
 Caufe  thoroughly,  and  to  purfue  it  thro'  all 
 its  Confequences,  that  They  may  be  furprized 
 to  hear  a  thins:  io  diftant  from  what  thev  have 
 been  ufed  to.  But  yet  it  will  be  found  cer- 
 tainly true,  that  T^hefe  two  Things  are  fo  far 
 from  being  Inconfifient ;  that  the  very  Same 
 Principles  which  lead  Men  of  Confideration  to 
 Z  4  Approve 
 
 s  E  R  M. , 
 
 XVI. 
 
M± 
 
 A  Sennojt  preached  before  the 
 
 Approve  \k\^Latter,  Diredand  Influence  Them 
 to  Difapprove  the  Former.  For  Inftance,  The 
 Maxim,  that  there  is  in  the  Whole  Nation  a 
 Right  to  preferve  Themfelves  and  their  Confii- 
 tution  of  Gover7ime?7f,  from  Ruine,  is  fo  far 
 from  in-jpiying  in  it,  that  a  Particular  Party 
 of  a  Nation  has  a  Rii^ht  to  nofTefs  itfelf  of  the 
 Gcverning  Power  by  Force^  or  I'rick;  or  to  tear 
 in  Pieces  a  Legal  ConjUtution  ;  or  to  commit 
 Ads  of  Violence  againft  Every  Branch  of  that 
 Ojnftitution^  as  well  as  again  ft  Private  Men  : 
 It  tsfofar,  I  fay,  from  implying  thefe  things, 
 that  it  f^rongly  implies,  and  inforces  the  Con- 
 trary. As  therefore,  in  the  One  Cafe,  there 
 was  the  Concurrence  of  All  Ranks,  and  All 
 the  Dilfcrlng  Sorts,  amongft  Us,  againft  all  the 
 Armed  Force  in  the  Land,  contending  vvhofe 
 Cries  and  Calls  iDould  be  loudeft  for  Relief  ; 
 and  in  the  Gthcr,  the  Conjuntlion  of  a  Few, 
 fecured  only  by  their  having  all  the  Armed 
 Force,  then  in  being,  on  their  Side :  A.s,  on 
 the  One  hand,  the  Concurrence  of  the  Whole 
 v\'as  dircdly  and  truly  defigned  for  the  Prefer- 
 vation  of  our  Legal  Con ftltution',  and,  on  the 
 Other  hand,  the  Views  of  particular  Men  were 
 to  be  carried  on  by  the  Dtjlrutlicn  of  that  Con- 
 fiitution,  and  the  extinguidiing  all  Freedom  of 
 Parliament :  As  the  One  ended  in  the  antient 
 J^orm    of  Legal   Government^   and  a   flronger 
 
 Eftablilh". 
 
~Hoitfe  of  Lords,  Jan.  30,   1720-21. 
 
 345 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Eftabliihment~or  the  Rights  of  SubjeSis,   andsERM- 
 Parliaments ;  and  the  Other  in  a  dired:  Avowal 
 of  Arbitrary  Power,  where  any  of  the  Legal 
 Rights  or  Privileges,  belonging  to  Parliament 
 or  People,   flood    in  the  V/ay  :    As   there  are 
 Thefe  and  the  like,  Pffential,  and  Irreconcile^ 
 able   Differences  between  the  One  and  the  O- 
 iher  ;  Ctoo  many  to  be  now  enumerated  ;)  it  is 
 evident  that  the  Proceedings  of  the  Whole  Na- 
 tion, in  the  One  Cafe  (land  approved  and  fup- 
 ported  by  rhtfame  Principles,   which  lead  moft 
 effectually   to  the  Condemnation  of  the   Pro- 
 ceedings of  a  Part  poffeffed  of  Power,  in  the 
 Other  Cafe.      But, 
 
 IV.  As  thefe  "Things  happened  to  our  Yovtid.- 
 xhQi'sfor  Enfamples;  fo  let  Them  be  En/am- 
 pies  to  Usy  not  only  to  choofe  what  ws  Good  in 
 the  CondiicI  of  Some,  but  to  avoid  what  was 
 Evil  in  Others,  and  what  indeed  hindred  all 
 the  Good  which  was  propofed.  The  Great 
 Lejfon  is,  that  on  all  Sides  Men  fuffer  not  their 
 Perfonal  Refentments,  Paffions,  Difappoint- 
 ments,  or  Private  Interefts,  to  enter  into  their 
 Contefts,  where  the  Public  is  concerned  ;  At 
 leaft,  Let  them  guard  againft  their  Influences,  as 
 much  as  it  is  poffible  for  Human  Nature  to  do. 
 I  fay.  As  much  as  pojjible,  well  knowing  how 
 hard   a  Leffon   this  is,  and   how  feldom  the 
 
 Pradice 
 
346 
 
 A  Sennon  Preached  before  the 
 
 SjERMJPradice  of  it  is  to  be  hoped  for.     There  is 
 ?vi.    fomething  in  Self-Love  fo  deeply  rooted,  that 
 
 i/'VNJ  Private  Interefts  and  Private  Views  have  often 
 a  iilent  and  effed:ual  Influence  upon  Men, 
 even  when  their  Movements  are  not  diftincftiy 
 felt  within.  Nor  would  I  be  underftood  to  in- 
 iinuate,  that  it  is  always  impoffible  that  Thefe 
 fhould  happen  to  fall  in  with  what  is  truly  for 
 the  Public  Good.  But  this  is  by  Accident :  and 
 it  being  really  the  Satisfaflion  of  our  Fajjiom^ 
 which  gives  hife  to  all  Proceedings  in  which 
 ^hefe  mix  themfelves,  the  Experiment  upon, 
 this  Account,  is  always  dangerous.  For  the 
 Nature  and  Operation  of  Thefe  Principles  is 
 fuch,  that  They  will  obfcure  or  difcolour  the 
 brighteft  ObjeB  :  They  will  make  That  appear 
 reafonable,  which  \%p7'0Jitable^  or  agreeable  to 
 fome  Prefent  View ;  and  throw  a  Difgrace  up- 
 on whatever  does  not  tend  to  fatisfy  Them- 
 felves. Take  away  T^hefe  \  and  Public  Good 
 appears  naked  and  open  to  every  Eye,  free 
 from  all  Difficulties  and  EmbarralTments :  But 
 let  T'hefe  enter  in  their  full  Strength  ^  and  Pub- 
 lic Good  becomes  only  Another  Word  for  our 
 own  Private  Views  and  Pajjiom.  But"  of  All 
 Principles  of  Action  in  Human  Nature,  Pe- 
 'uenge  for  Perfonal  Injuries  is  feen  to  make  the 
 greateft  Havock  in  all  Public  Difputesand  Dif- 
 orders.     For,  as    it  is  naturally  blind  againft 
 
 .     all 
 
Hotife  of  Lords  J  Jan.  30,  t  720-21. 
 
 347 
 
 all  Light,  and  Deaf  to  all 
 
 Argument 
 
 fo,  it 
 
 5E  RM, 
 XVI. 
 
 can  be  Sated  by  nothing  but  fome  one  particular 
 Sacrifice  which  itpropofesj  after  which  is  com-  ^"^^^'^ 
 pafled,  it  generally  ends  in  Shame  and  Repen- 
 tance. The  Power  of  thefe  Principles  is  known 
 to  be  fo  great  in  Civil  Affairs,  that  one  main 
 I  Foundation  of  all  Croil  Government^  is,  That 
 I  Men  ou^ht  not  to  be  the  Avengers  of  their  own 
 Perfonal  Injuries;  And  this  Fundamental 
 Maxim  of  Society  is  facredly  obferved  through 
 the  Whole  Tenor  of  our  Englijlo  Laws :  and 
 never  tranfgreffed  or  negleded,  but  upon  Ex- 
 traordinary Occafions. 
 
 How  terrible  was  the  Force  of  I'hefe  feen  to 
 be  in  the  Days  of  our  Fathers  ;  Efpecially, 
 when  they  were  fet  on  Fire  by  that  mijlaken 
 Zeal^  (  the  true  and  genuine  'Enthufiafm, ) 
 which  at  once  injiames  and  confe crates  the  Paf- 
 fwns  5  at  once  actuates  them  into  Rage  to  all 
 Extremities,  and  fandifies  that  Rage  by  the  fa- 
 cred  Names  of  God  and  Religion  :  By  which  it 
 came  to  pafs,  that  the  Caufe  of  every  heated 
 Imagination  became  the  Caufe  of  God  ;  that 
 whatever  Men  thought  well  of,  in  Religious 
 Affairs,  for  Themfelves,  They  came  to  think 
 it  their  Duty  to  force  upon  others  ;  and  that 
 Mutuall'oleration  was  declared  by  Some,  who 
 once  wanted  it  themfelves,  the  Greateji  of  all 
 the  Monfters  which  thofe  unhappy  Times 
 brought  forth. 
 
 We 
 
348 
 
 S  E  R  M, 
 XVI. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  before  the 
 
 We  have  much  to  learn  from  thefe  Things  j 
 and  much  to  avoid.  Let  us  imitate  all  that 
 Zeal  of  our  Forefathers  for  our  Legal  Confiitu- 
 tion  w^hich  was  vifibly  defigned,  and  naturally 
 tended,  to  prevent  future  Encroachments  of 
 Power,  either  againfl^  or  without.  Law  :  And 
 let  us  fly  far  from  all  thoie  Methods,  which 
 naturally  paved  the  Way  to  the  hofi  of  all  that 
 Freedom  v^^hich  they  pretended  to  fecure.  Let 
 us  value  our  Liberties,  as  Honefl:  Men  :  Not 
 only  for  the  Pleafure  and  Security  They  afford 
 to  Ouifelves  j  but  as  a  T^ruji  repofed  in  Us  for 
 our  Pofterity^  much  more  Sacred  and  Impor- 
 tant than  any  other  Legacy  of  this  World,  that 
 we  can  leave  them.  Let  not  our  PaJJions  be  our 
 £rfi:  Liftrudors  in  any  Step  of  om  Public  Con- 
 duB  :  But  let  them  Themfelves  be  intruded 
 and  guided  by  our  Reafon.  Let  our  Love  to 
 what  we  juilly  approve,  and  choofe  for  Ourfelves 
 in  Religicfi,  engage  Us  to  fuch  Charity  and 
 Forbearance  towards  Others^  as  may  demon- 
 flrate  our  Gratitude  for  our  own  Happinels  j 
 and  our  deep  Senfe  that  Whatfoever  we  may 
 account  the  Caiife  of  Godi?>  to  be  promoted  by 
 None  but  the  Methods  of  God. 
 
 In  a  word,  As  Britons,  enjoying  the  Blef- 
 fings  of  2iConftitiition  unknown  to  all  the  Coun- 
 tries aiound  Us,  even  where  the  Word  Liberty 
 is  ftiil  ufedi  and,  As  Chrijiians^  enjoying  the 
 4  Light 
 
Houfe  of  Lords ^  Jan.  30,  1720-21. 
 Light  and  Liberty  of  the  Gofpel  -,  Let  us  fecure, 
 as  much  as  can  be,  the  Repofe  and  Comforts 
 of  this  prefent  Life,  by  valuing  and  prcferving 
 that  Forjn  of  Go^oernment  v/hich  adminifters  fo 
 much  Good  to  Us  ;  and  letUsprefs,  with  un- 
 wearied Steps,  to  the  Rewards  of  the  Life 
 'which  is  fo  come,  (free  from  all  the  Viciilitudes, 
 and  Confuiions,  of  the  happiefl:  Kingdoms  of 
 this  World)  by  ivalking  worthy  of  our  Holy  Vo- 
 cation, and  adorning  our  Proleffion  by  a  truly 
 ChriPiian  and  unblameable  Converfation. 
 
 349 
 
 ERM, 
 XVI. 
 
 Which  God  grant,  for  the  fake  ^/'Jefus  Chrif!: 
 oiiT  Lord,  &c. 
 
 Of 
 
Of  Chrtfiian  Moderation, 
 
 SERMON  XVIi 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Swithins  Church,   on 
 Ja?i,    30,     1702-3. 
 
 Philipp.  IV.  5. 
 
 Let  your  Moderation  be  know?!  unto  all  Men. 
 
 SE  RM. 
 XVII. 
 
 r"|  "^HE  Word  which  is  here  tranflated  Mg- 
 I       deration,  fignifies  an  Earinefs  and  Gen-  ', 
 tlencfs  of  Mind,  difpofing  Men,  not 
 ■only  to  be  contented  and  quiet  themielves,  but  to 
 be  pUable  and  yielding  to  Thofe  around  them, 
 ia  order  to  the  general  Good;  a  Temper  always 
 ready,   by  all  reafonable  Methods,    to  promote 
 and  eftabliai   the   Happinefs  of  Themfelves, 
 an4  of  the  World  about  them.  This  Temper, 
 we  fee,  St,  PWdoth  mod  heartily  recommend 
 to  Chridians,  nay,  he  defires  it  maybe  One  of 
 the  more  confpicuous  and  vihble  Parts  of  their 
 Charafter ;  a  Mark,   as  it  were,   to  diftinguiQi 
 them  from  the  World  of  ill-natured  and  in- 
 flexible 
 
Of  Chriflian  Moderation. 
 
 351 
 
 flexible  Men  ;  and  to   make  a  Difference  be-  f  e  r  m. 
 tween  Them,  and  the  other  Part  of  Mankind,  'xvii, 
 who  are  not  to   be    moved  by  any   Confidera-  ^^^VNJ 
 tians.    to  yield   or    bend   to   any   Terms  of: 
 Love  and  Peace.      And   yet,   notwithftanding 
 this,   how  little  of  this    excellent   Virtue   do 
 we  fee  in  the  World  ?    And  what  little  Hopes 
 have  we  of  feeing  more  of  it  ?   Many  Men  take 
 the  Word  into  their  Mouths,   and  ufe  it  as  they 
 fjee  fit :  ^ome.,  to  ridicule,   and  make  a  Jeft  of  it; 
 Some,  to  put  it,  as  a  falfe  Colouring  to  Some- 
 thing bad    underneath  :   And    Many   miflake 
 Something  Elfe  for  it ;   and  whilft  they  think 
 they  are  poffefled  of  it,   are  far  removed  from 
 
 it^ Tliere  feem  to  be  Few,   who   have   that 
 
 Charity  that  is  necelTary  to  the  very  being  of  it ; 
 and  for  want  of  this,  Many  can  neither  under- 
 ftand,  nor  heartily  fcek  after  it.  And  yet,  from 
 the  want  oi  this  Virtue  have  proceeded  very 
 many  of  thofe  Miferies  Men  have  felt  in  their 
 own  Minds  ;  the  Plagues  of  Impatience,  Ma- 
 lice, and  Revenge  -,  and  almofl  all  the  Unhap- 
 pineffes  and  Ruines  that  have  befallen  public 
 Societies.  Why  then  fliould  not  Men  be  will- 
 ing, if  they  have  any  Senfe  left  of  their  own 
 private  Quiet ;  if  they  have  any  Regard  to  the 
 Happinefs  of  their  Neighbours  -,  if  they  be 
 touched  with  any  Concern  for  the  Good  of  that 
 Society  they  belong  to  ;  nay  if  they  but  con- 
 
 fidei 
 
352 
 
 Of  Chriftian  Moderation, 
 
 SERivl.  fider  the  Share  they  may  have,   and  their  Pof- 
 XVII.    terity,    in  the   Mifchiefs  and  Diiiurbances  that 
 
 ^.y^^-'  (hall  befall  it ;  why  (liould  not  Men,  I  lay,  if 
 any  fuch  Confideracions  are  worthy  their  No- 
 tice, (as  certainly  they  arej)  be  ready  to  un- 
 derftand  what  this  Virtue  is,  and  to  pradile  it  ? 
 and  be  follicitous  to  know,  (by  their  own  Ex- 
 perience) what  are  the  Properties  and  the 
 bleffed  Fruits  of  it.  And,  fince  the  great 
 Apoftle  fo  particularly  recon:imends  it,  why 
 fhould  they  not  (far  from  being  afliamed  of  it,) 
 glory  in  letting  their  Moderatiofi  be  known  iinio 
 all  Mm  ? 
 
 And  this  Subjed  I  purpofely  now  choofe, 
 becaufe  I  am  perfuaded  it  is  moft  proper  for 
 the  fad  Occafion  of  this  Day,  which  I  judge  to 
 be  obferved  moft  according  to  the  Deiignof  it, 
 when  fuch  material  Points  are  iniifted  on,  as, 
 if  they  had  been  heartily  embraced,  would 
 have  prevented  the  EfFeds  of  that  violent  Spi- 
 rit, the  Charaders  of  which  it  now  bears  j 
 and  will  prevent  all  Like  Evils,  and  mutual 
 Outrages,  for  the  future,  if  iincerely  embraced 
 on  all  hands. 
 
 What  I  defign  at  prefent  upon  this  Subjed, 
 {hall  be  comprifed  under  thefe  three  Heads : 
 
 I.  I  {hall  endeavour  to  fliew  what  Chrijlian 
 Moderation  is,    by  pointing  out  fome  of  the 
 
 chief 
 
Of  Chrifiian  Moderation. 
 
 chief  Properties  of  it,  and  of  the  Vice  oppofed  s  erm. 
 
 to  It. 
 
 II.  I  fnall  propofe  feme  proper  Arguments 
 to  move  us  to  purfue  after  it,  and  to  pofTefs  Our 
 felves  of  it. 
 
 "  III.  I  Qiall  endeavour  to  lay  down  fome  Rules 
 for  the  attaining  it. 
 
 Firft,  I  fay,  I  fhall  endeavour  to  fhew  w^hat 
 Chriftian  Modiration  includes  in  it,  by  point- 
 ing out  fome  of  the  chief  Properties  of  it,  and 
 of  the  Vice  contrary  to  it,  viz.  Violence.  I  fhall 
 mention  but  two  or  three. 
 
 I.  Chrijlian  Moderation  will  difpofe  us  to 
 be  always  ready  to  hear  whatfoever  can  be  rea- 
 fonably  offered,  for  the  making  up  the  Differ- 
 ences, and  reconciling  the  Qtiarrels  and  Diffen- 
 fions,  amongfi:  Men.  It  is  a  Virtue  compofed 
 of  Charity,  Humility,  and  Peaceablenefs;  and 
 therefore  muff  lead  to  the  bleffed  Fruits  of 
 thofe  Graces:  and,  upon  the  fame  account,  it  is 
 utterly  inconfiflent  with  a  Mindaverfe  to  Over- 
 tures of  Peace  ;  indilpofcd  to  hear  of  Union  and 
 Temper,  where  there  have  once  been  Differ- 
 ences ;  and  refolved  againfl  Compliance,  and  an 
 healing  Difpofition,  where  once  there  have  been 
 Breaches,  and  Provocations.  This,  ind^^ed, 
 is  the  Temper  of  Violen'ce  and  Paffion,  which 
 A  a  cannot 
 
 XVII. 
 
 r 
 
^^+ 
 
 Of  Chrijlian  Moderation. 
 
 s  E  R  M.  t^^nnot  be   conceived  to  enter  into  any  Brcaft 
 
 XVII.   without  the  Mixture  of  Pride,  and  Prejudice, 
 
 t/V^  land  Revenge  5  or   elfe  without  the  Leaven  of 
 
 Ifome  private   Defign,  which   too  often  is    the 
 
 jCafe.     But,  to  be  more  particular  5  In  order 
 
 to  Peace  and  Union, 
 
 2.   ChrijUan    Moderatidn  will   difpofe   Men 
 not  to  be  too  hard  upon  their  Brethren  of  dif- 
 ferent Parties,  or  different  Denominations  j  not 
 to  aggravate  their  Faults  beyond  due  Meafure; 
 ndt  to  beeverincenfing  and  inflaming  them,  by 
 the  Repetition,  and    lively  Reprefentation,  of 
 them,  in  what  Colours  they  think  fit;  and  this, 
 not  in  order  to  make  them  themfelves  fenfible 
 of  the  Guilt  of  them,  but  to  make  them  odious 
 jto  the  World,  and  hateful  to  all  about  them  ; 
 the  Mifchlef  and  Wickednefs  of  which  we  ea- 
 sily fee  in  Others,  tho'  we  tooeafily  overlook  it 
 in  Ourfelves. 
 
 Chrijiian  Moderation  forbids  not  that  Men 
 fhould  be  very  fully  fatisfied  with  the  Caufe 
 which  they  themfelves  efpoufe  3  or  the  way 
 they  choofe  themfelves  to  walk  in :  but  it  for- 
 bids them  to  be  ever  railing  at  Others  j  to 
 be  always  cloathing  the  Miftakes  and  Fail- 
 ings of  Others  in  the  worll  Circumftances 
 they  can  invent ;  or,  to  manage  their  own 
 Caufe  fo  as  to  irritate,  and  not  convince,  thofe 
 that  oppofe  it,  or  do  not  fall  in  with  it.  It  for- 
 bids 
 
Of  Chrijiian  Moderation. 
 
 %$i 
 
 bids  us  not  to  have  a  due  Senfe  of  any  Crimes  or^ERM 
 
 JliTors  committed,  or  embraced,  by  Others,  or   xvii. 
 to  do  pur  utmoft  to  convince  them  in  a  Way  l:^^*^"^ 
 
 ^proper  for  us  to  take  j  and  likely  to  have  Effed: 
 i^pon  them  :  But  it  foi  bids  us  to  lay  them  open, 
 after  fucha  Manner,  as  tends  toraife  their  Paf- 
 
 ^fipns,  and  utterly  indifpofe  them  to  hear  ^nd 
 receive  Avhat  can  be  offered.  It  forbids  us  to 
 charge  All,  of  any  Sort,  with  the  Crimes  of  a 
 Few:  for  that  is  fixing  Crimes  upon  Thofe,  who 
 are  not  guilty  of  them.  This  is  not  the  Way  qf 
 Charity  and  Condefcenfion  ;  this  is  not  the 
 Road  to  any  tolerable  degree  of  Harmony  ancl 
 Quiet  in  the  World  j  and  is  teaching  Others  but 
 a  bad  Leffon  againft  Ourfelves.  And  where  is 
 the  Good,  and  what  will  be  the  lilue,  when 
 the  great  Bufinefs- going  forward  in  a  Nation,  is 
 
 .  a  Contefl  between  the  differing  Parts  that  make 
 it  up,  who  fii.Ul  find  moft  Faults  in  the  other  j 
 and  aggravate  them  with  the  greateft  Spleen  and 
 Keennefs  ;  and  paint  them  out  in  the  word 
 and  blackell:  Colours  They  can  find  :  or,  who 
 (liall  reprefent  their  Brethren  fo  as  moft  effec- 
 tually to  vex  and  anger  T/6^;;2  Themfelves,  as 
 well  as  to  fet  the  World  on  Fire  againft  them? 
 I  fay  what  good  Iffue  can  there  be  of  this,  un- 
 lefs  the  Good  of  a  People  confifls  in  mutual 
 JFIatred,  and  a  Readinefs  to  dcftroy  one  another  ? 
 •And  yet  how  many  Men  think  it  almoft  their 
 A  a  2  Duty 
 
Of  Chrijiian  Moderation, 
 
 Duty  to  fay  any  thing  of  Perfons  of  differing 
 Notions,   and  differing  Meafures,  from  them- 
 felves  ?  How  many  Men,  who  are  not  content- 
 ed with  being  in  what  they  judge  to  be  a  good 
 Way    themfelves,    with    the   Advantages    of 
 Truth  and  Right  on  their  own  Side  ;   not  with- 
 out fuch  a  due  Senfe  of  the  Miffakes  and  Faults 
 of  others,   as  may  infpire  Them  with 'a  Defire 
 to  reclaim  and  amend  them  ;    but  think  their 
 Bufinefs  is  to  irritate  and  expoie  them,   as  far 
 as  poffible  ;  and  imagine,  that  they  cannot  be 
 juft  to  their  ownCaule,  without  being  unjuft  to 
 that  of  others  j  nay,  that  no  one  is  truly  and 
 heartily  in  their  Way  of  thinking,  as  to  the  main 
 Obje<ft  of  their  Zeal,  who  doth  not  join  in  the 
 reviling,   abufing,  and  unchriftian  Treatment, 
 of  all  who  think  otherwife  ?   This  is  vifible  in 
 many  of  all  Parties,  and  all  Sedls,  throughout 
 the  World  ;  and  yet  this  is  as  certainly  contra- 
 ry to  Chrijiiajj  Moderaticn,  as  it  is  to  all  Hopes 
 of  Peace  in  the  World.  For  if  Chrijiian  Mode- 
 ration  be  a  yielding  and  pliable  Difpofition   of 
 Mind,  then  it  certainly  tends  to  the  uniting  the 
 Differences  of  Men  :   And  if  it  does,  whatever 
 is  wholly  contrary  to  That,   whatever  lays  the 
 Foundation  of  eternal  Variance,  is  contrary  to 
 it,   and  inconfiffent  with  it. 
 
 But,  once  more,  I'hirdly^  Cbrijlian  Modern-- 
 (ion  will  difpofe  us  to  yield  up  Things  of  little 
 
 Importance, 
 
Of  Chrijlian  Moderation, 
 
 Importance,  and  Imall  Concern,   for  the  fakesERM. 
 of  a  greater  Union,  and  a  more  ftrong  Founda-    xvii. 
 tion  for  lading  Happinefs  and    Peace  amongfl  ^^"V*^ 
 Men :  much  more,  will  it  difpofe  Men  to  amend 
 and  reform  what  may  be  made  better,   for  the 
 fame  Ends.      To  be  heartily  concerned  for  the 
 Subftantials  and  Fundamentals  of  Religion  j  for 
 Things  of  great  Importance  either  to  Church  or 
 State  ;  for  what  is  of  Moment  in  the  Worfhip 
 of  God,  or  the  Government  of  Chriftian  Peo- 
 ple, is  that  which   all  are   obliged  to.     Nor 
 doth  Chrijlian  Moderation   lay  the  lead  Obli- 
 gation upon  Us  to  yield  in  thefe  Points.     But 
 when  thefe  are  fecured ;   and    when,  without 
 any  prejudice  to  thefe,  fomethingmay  be  grant- 
 ed, fomething  may  be  altered  or  amended  j  or 
 added  :  and  this,  either  good  in  itfelf,  or,   at 
 leaft,  not  at  all  blameable,   and  highly  advan- 
 tageous to  the  Intereft  and  Peace  of  the  World 
 about  us,  and  very  much  conducing  to  aflrong 
 Union,    and    a  lafling   good   Correfpondence 
 amongfl:  Chrijlians  ; — Not  to  be  ready  to  yield 
 in  fuch  Cafes  j  not  to  be  difpofed  to  comply  in 
 fuch  Matters,  feems  diredly  contrary   to  any 
 Defire  of  Peace  and   Concord  ;   and  therefore 
 muft    be   contrary    to    Chrijlian    Moderation. 
 For  what  Reafon  can  there  be  againfl;  it  ?   Will 
 it  do  us  any  Prejudice  to  have  a  larger  Ground 
 for  Union  ?  Is   it  not   a   Chriftian  Difpofition 
 A  a  3  fome- 
 
 357 
 
Of  Chrijiiaji  Moderatmt. 
 
 s  E  R  ^i.  fometimes  to  yield  even  totheunreafonable  Hu- 
 XVII.:   mour  of  Others,  and,  by  fomewhat  whichvvill 
 do  Ourfelves  no  Prejudice,  to  confult  the  Good 
 and  promote  the  Agreement  of  Chriftiajls^  Or 
 is  it  too  great  a  Condefcenfion,  and  too  noble 
 an  Inftance  of  Humility,  to  be  more  willing  to 
 agree  than  Others  are,   and  to  comply,   as  far 
 as  is  reafonable  with  Them,  who  will  not  com- 
 ply,  fo  far  as  v/e  think  reafonable,   with  Us  ? 
 Whic'Kof  thetwo  is  it,  that  it  hccomt^  CbriJIians 
 to  contend  forj  Who  fhall  fland  mod  upon  their 
 Guard  agri'i  ft  Union,   or  who  fhall  ftep   firft 
 tov/ards  i.  ?    V^ho  ftiall  infift  moft  flifBy  upon 
 little  Pundilios,   of  none  or  very  fmall  Con- 
 cern to  the  main  of  Religion  ;  or  who  fliall  be 
 mofl:  difpofed  to  part  With  things  of  that  Na- 
 ture, for  the  fake  of  what  God  and  their  com- 
 mon Saviour  love  infinitely  better  ?  And  which; 
 of  the  two  forts  of  N'len  will  come  off  at  the 
 great  Day  of  Accounts    with   greater    Glory, 
 ^bey,   who  have   preferred  the  Union    of  the 
 Chrlftian  World  before  their  own  Flumour,  or 
 Opinions  of  little  Importance  j  or  They,  who 
 have  abfolutely  refufcd  to  yield  up  the  leaft  or 
 tnoft  indifferent  Circumftance  to  that  Confide- 
 ration  ? 
 
 But  I  fhall  not  enlarge  on  this  any  more,  nor 
 fearch  out  any  mere  Particulars  at  prefent,  oi 
 Chriftian  Moderation.   But  only  obferve,  front 
 
 whati 
 
Of  Chrijiian  Moderation, 
 
 359 
 
 what  has  been  faid,  how  unjul'i:  and  unrealon-  5  E  r  m. 
 able  that  Account  is,  which  is  given  by  many,    xvii. 
 of  this  Virtue  j   by  Thofe  only,  I  mean,   who  v'VNi 
 are  fuch  Strangers  to  it  themfelves,  that  they 
 cannot  bear  the  leafl  Pretenfe  to  it  in  Others ; 
 who  would  make  the  World  believe,  that  it 
 proceeds  from   an  Indifference  to  all  Religion, 
 and  from  a  Mind  very   lukewarm  in   its  Zeal 
 for  God  :  when,  in  truth,   Chrijiian  Modera^ 
 tion  proceeds  from  a  great  Zeal  for  all  that  de- 
 ferves  it,  and  a  hearty  Concern  for  the  Honour 
 of  God.     Let  them,  therefore,   an  Twer  for  it 
 to  God,  and  their  own  Confciences,   whoever 
 prefume  to  bring  a  Difgrace  and  Contempt 
 upon  this  Virtue,  and  thofe  that  endeavour  to 
 pra6tife  it.     A    moderate  Man,  who  is  truly! 
 fo,  values   every  thing  as  it  deferves,  and  no 
 farther.     And  as  St.  ya??ies  fays,  that  the  Wif- 
 dom  from  Above  is  firft  pzire^  and  then  peace- 
 able-j  fo,  next  to  his  own  Purity,   he  has  a  fa- 
 cred  regard  to  the  Happinefs  and  Peace  of  the, 
 World  about  him.     And  I  fee  no  Reafon  he 
 has  to  be  afliamed  of  the  Name  ;   or  to  envy 
 any  others  a  contrary  Charadler. 
 
 But  I  pafs  on  now  to  the  Second  thing  I  pro- 
 pofed,  vi'z.  to  mention  fome  proper  Arguments 
 to  move  us  heartily  to  purfue  after  it,  and  tO' 
 poffefs  ourfclves  of  it :  For  Inftance  j 
 
 A  a  4  FirJ},, 
 
^o 
 
 SERM. 
 XVII. 
 
 Of  Chr'ijlian  Moderation. 
 
 Firjl,  If  we  confider  the  Peace  and  Quiet  this 
 Virtue  includes  in  it,  I  mean  with  refped  to 
 the  Breaft  of  every  private  Man,  this  will  in- 
 flame us  with  fome  Defire  to  attain  it.  Com- 
 pare the  Man  who  is  pofTeiled  of  it,  with  one 
 that  is  void  of  it ;  the  Man  who  has  a  Mind 
 ever  ready  to  hear  of  Peace  and  Unity,  Agree- 
 ment and  Harmony,  with  the  Man>  who  is 
 never  in  Humour  to  attend  to  any  thing  but 
 what  tends  to  the  v/idening  and  opening  of 
 Wounds  and  Breaches  ;  the  Man  who  is  ever 
 willing  to  make  Allowances  for  the  Miftakes 
 and  Faults  of  Men  of  different  Opinions  from 
 himfelf,  with  the  Man  who  is  always  raking  in- 
 to them,  and  always  eager  to  reprefent  them 
 in  the  moil  inflaming  Manner  j  the  Man  who 
 is  ready  to  yield  up  a  Thing  of  little  Moment, 
 and  many  an  inconfiderable  Point,  to  obtain 
 Peace,  and  fettle  a  good  Correfpondence  amongfl: 
 the  fevci  al  Members  of  the  fame  Body,  with 
 the  Man  who  knows  nofuch  thing  as  Yielding 
 or  Compliance,  but  is  rather  ready  to  facri- 
 fice  the  Univerfal  Peace  to  his  own  private  Fan- 
 cies :  Compare  thefe  two  together,  and  confi- 
 der in  whofe  Breaft  moft  Quiet  and  Satisfadion 
 is  to  be  found  ;  and  it  will  be  no  very  difficult 
 Matter  to  determine,  whether  more  Serenity 
 and  Happinefs  of  Mind  will  not  always  accorq- 
 pany  a  Difpofition  inclined  to  Concord  and  U- 
 
 nitj^. 
 
Of  Chrijlian  Moderation, 
 
 3E  RM. 
 XVII. 
 
 361 
 
 nity,  than  a  Mind  always  upon  the  Rack  how 
 to  inflame  and  highten  Differences ;  or,  al- 
 ways ready  to  take  fuch  Meafures  as  may  be 
 moft  effectual  for  the  keeping  alive,  or  inflam- 
 ing:, the  Variances  and  Animoflties  in  the  World. 
 But,  Seco7id!y\  As  this  Temper  of  Mind  im- 
 plies Quiet  and  Happinefs  in  itfelf,  fo  it  is  the 
 moft  ready,  and,  I  may  fay,  the  only  Temper, 
 that  can,  and  muft  at  laft,  heal  the  evil  Difpofi- 
 tionsof  Mankind  5  and  produce  Peace  and  Hap- 
 pinefs in  public  Societies:  which  is,  I  am  fure,  a 
 good  Argument,  why  every  finglePerfon  fliould 
 think  himfelf  obliged  to  purfue  after  it.  In- 
 vain  are  other  Methods  thought  of,  and  made 
 ufe  of,  to  join  the  Hands  of  Men  in  Friend- 
 fhip,  unlefs  their  Hearts  be  difpofed  to  this 
 candid  and  compliant  Temper.  There  will 
 always  be  paffionate  and  wicked  Men  in  the 
 World,  to  foment  the  Differences  in  it.  And  if 
 none  in  it  will  yield  one  Step  J  if  none  will  ever 
 bend  and  comply  ;  what  can  be  hoped  for  ? 
 If  the  Method  taken  on  all  fides  be  to  rail  and 
 revile,  to  aggravate  and  mifreprefent,  to  fearch 
 out  Faults,  and  then  to  make  what  they  pleafe 
 of  them ;  this  rather  looks  like  a  Declaration 
 of  perpetual  War  againft  one  another,  and  is 
 ine^edt  a  folemn  Proteftation,  that  they  neither 
 hope  for,  nor  defire,  Reconciliation  and  Peace ; 
 and  feems  to  be  a  firm  Refolution  of  deftroying 
 
 and 
 
.^, 
 
 Of  Chriftian  Moderation, 
 
 5E  RM. 
 XVII. 
 
 and  ruining  one  another,  whenever  an  Oppor- 
 tunity offers  itfelf.  And  what  a  blefled  Aft 
 pedt  upon  the  public  Happinefs  have  fuch  Re- 
 iolutions  as  thefe  ?  It  may  be  fafely  affirmedj 
 that  the  Men  of  fuch  Tempers,  and  fuch  Dif- 
 pofitioiis,  are  They,  who  have,  in  all  Ages, 
 dirturbed  the  Quiet  of  the  World,  ruined  the 
 Happinefs  of  Societies,  and  who  are  ever  hin- 
 dering all  Hopes  of  a  better  State  for  the  fu* 
 ture. 
 
 But  fee  if  another  Scene  might  not  be  rea- 
 fonably  hoped  for,  and  That,  a  Scene  of  Hap- 
 pinefs to  the  Public,  would  Men  but  be  per- 
 fuaded  to  be  as  moderate,  as  yielding,  as  com- 
 pliant, as  good-natured,   as  ready  to  make  Al- 
 lowances, as  willing  to  fludythe  public  Advan- 
 tage  (which  is  public  Peace  and  Agreement)  | 
 as  the  Chriftian  Religion  obliges  them  to  be.  1 
 Would  not  this  be  vilible  in  its  beneficent  In^  ' 
 fiaences    upon   the  whole  Society  ?  At  leafl, 
 would  not  this  difpofe  us  to  live  as  Chrijiians  \ 
 ought   to  do   with    Chriflians  \   and  with    all  i 
 Members   of    the  fame  Civil   Society?     But^ 
 enough  of  this.-^—i   fliall    mention  but  one 
 Argument  more  to   move    us    to    endeavour! 
 after  this  Chriftian  Frame  of  Mind  ^  and  that' 
 
 is, 
 
 'Thirdly^  That  it  is  a  divineand  god-like  Tem- 
 per, an  Imitation  of  God  himfeif,  in  what  ought 
 
 tOi 
 
Of  Chfifiian  Moderation. 
 
 363 
 
 to  appear  the  mofl  amiable  Part  of  his  Charader  s  e  r  m. 
 in  our  own  Eyes.  He  never  has  fliewn  himfelf  xvii. 
 willing  to  aggravate    our  Faults  beyond   the  "^yv^ 
 Hope  of  Pardon  ;  or    indifpofed  to  come  to' 
 Terms  of  Accommodatiou  and  Peace  with  his ; 
 
 i 
 
 Sip.ful  Creatures.     He  defires  to  be  united  to  I 
 Us  in  Love  and  Friendlhip,   who  are  at  a  great-^ 
 er  Diftaqce  from  Him  by  far,  thanThofe  who 
 differ  the  mofl  from  us,  can  pofTibly  be.      He 
 is    willing  to  recede  from  the  flridefl  Right, 
 and  the  Rigour  of  Juflice,  in  order  to  Our  Hap- 
 pinefs.      And    fhall  not   we    be  willing,   and 
 difpofed,  after  fo  divine   a  Copy,   to  yield  and 
 bend,   in  order  to   meet  our  Brethren  in  any 
 Defign,  that  tends  to  the  Foundation  or  Efla- 
 bii{l:iment  of  a  thing  of  fuch  vaft  Importance 
 as  univerlal  Peace  and   Happinefs?  Almighty! 
 God  himfelf  fhews  Us,  in  the  mofl  furprifing 
 Inflance  of  our  Redemption,   how  much    he 
 values  the  Happinefs  of  his   Creatures.      It  is 
 our  Duty  to  imitate  him  ;  and  do  every  thing' 
 in  our  Power  for  the  compafling  the  fame  End 
 and  efpecially  to  imitate  Him,  in  what  he  ac- 
 counts One  of  his  greatefl  Glories. 
 
 to' 
 
 I  come  now  to  the  Third  thing  propofed 
 at  firfl,  /,  e.  To  lay  down  fome  Rules,  in  or- 
 der to  our  obtaining  this  Chriflian  Temper  of 
 Mind. 
 
 And, 
 
364  Of  Chrijiian  Moderation, 
 
 s E  R  M.       And,    I.  Let   us  often  coniider  luch  Argu- 
 XVII.  ments,  to    nnove  us   to   the   Purfuit  after    it, 
 
 ^■^'"^''^as  I  have  before  mentioned:  How  eafy,  and  fe- 
 date,  and  happy,  it  will  make  us  in  the  inward 
 State,  and  the  fecretReceffes,  of  our  own  Minds; 
 how  beneficial  it  will  be  in  its  Influences  upon 
 the  Public  ;  how  many  Miferies  it  might  have 
 prevented  ;  how  many  HappinefTes  it  would 
 procure,  were  it  univerfally  praiflifed.  Let  us 
 then  confider  of  how  bad  Confequence,  and  of 
 what  wretched  Influence  the  Temper  contrary 
 to  it  muft  neceflTarily  be,  upon  Society  j  what 
 Wrath  and  Anger,  what  Malice  and  Ill-will ; 
 what  Outrages,  and  Tumults,  and  Wars,  and 
 MaiTacres,  it  has  been,  and  ever  will  be,  the 
 Occafi-n  of:  A  deep  Senfe  of  thefe,  and  of  the 
 great  Daty  of  imitating  God  in  our  Tempers 
 and  Pradlice,  will  help  us  in  the  obtaining  and 
 poflcffing  this  divine  Virtue.      And 
 
 2.  In  order  to  this,  it  is  abfolutely  neceflary 
 that  we  lliould  free  ourfelves  from  Hatred  and 
 Malice,  Pride  and  Arrogance.  Love  and  Hu- 
 mility are  the  proper  Road  to  this  Virtue  ;  but 
 Uncharitabienefs  and  Pride  lead  us  into  Paths 
 quite  dilVind:  from,  and  oppolite  to  it.  For  the 
 more  we  love  our  Neighbour,  the  more  ready 
 fhall  we  be  to  defign  and  promote  his  Happi- 
 nets  ;  and  the  more  defirous  and  ftudious  we 
 are  of  that,  the  more  fliall  we  be  willing  to 
 
 yield 
 
Of  Chrifiian  Moderation. 
 
 .365. 
 
 yield  all  lefTer  Points  up  to  it ;  to  com  ply  in  any  s'  e  R  m, 
 thing  of  no  great  Innportance,  when  that  de-  xvii. 
 mands  it.  And  then,  the  more  humble  we  are,  /VN^ 
 the  lefs  Opinion  and  Value  we  fet  upon  Our- 
 felves  J  the  lefs  fhall  we  be  fenfible  of  any  under- 
 valuing of  ourfelves  by  Compliance  and  Yield- 
 ing ',  the  more  ready  (hall  we  be  to  fubmit  to 
 all  good  0ffices;  to  recede  from  what  we  might, 
 perhaps,  in  Juftice,  claim,  and  to  fhew  a  Pat- 
 tern to  all  about  us,  of  Moderation  and  Conde- 
 fcenfion.  But,  on  the  other  fide  if  we  have 
 conceived,  or  donourifh,  any  Prejudices  againft 
 Men's  Perfons;  if  we  hate  and  abhor  Men,  be- 
 caufe  they  do  not  fall  in  with  us  in  all  things  5 
 or  entertain  any fortof  Ill-will  againft  them;  this 
 will  make  us  glad  to  difpleafe  and  incenfe  them 
 to  heighten  their  Prejudices  already  embraced, 
 but  is  never  likely  to  make  us  confuit  their  Good 
 at  any  Time,  or  prefer  it  before  the  leaft  Ad- 
 vantage, or  mod  infignificant  Humour,  of  our 
 own  ;  or  to  make  us  follicitous  in  our  Endea- 
 vours after  a  Frame  of  Mind,  which  confifts  in 
 a  Readinefs  to  yield  and  comply,  for  the  fake 
 of  our  common  Good  and  Happinefs. 
 
 And  therefore,  if  our  Breafts  be  filled  with 
 Pride,  with  an  overweening  Conceit  of  Our- 
 felves, of  our  own  Abilities,  and  our  own  Way  5 
 if  we  be  too  arrogant  to  hearof  any  Alteration  in 
 Ourfelves ;  if  we  think  it  beneath  our  Dignity  to 
 
 iloop 
 
i66 
 
 Of  Chrifiian  Moderation, 
 
 SE  R  M.*  ftoop  or  defcend,  or  to  recede  from  any  thing, 
 XVII.  tho'  of  never  fo  little  Confequence  j   we  may 
 ^^^^^^"^  e'en  put  a  ftop  to  our  Endeavours  after  a  Vir- 
 tue which  will  dwell  only  with  a  Man  of  an 
 humble  and  yielding  Spirit  ;  and  fit  down  con- 
 
 •  tented  with  our  own  great  Acquirements,  and 
 not  think  any  more  of  a  Temper,  which  cannot 
 pofiibly  refide  in  a  Bread,  where  Pride  and  Ar- 
 rogance are  nourifhed. 
 
 -  ;  3.  It  is  abfolutely  necelTary,  alfo,  that  we 
 free  our  Breafts  from  Covetoufnefs  ;  Ambition  j 
 
 rand  All  fuch  Deligns,  as  terminate  in  our  own 
 private  Profit  or  Honour.      For  Moderation, 
 
 l-in  a  truly  Chridian  Senfe,  (however  the  Word 
 found  in  'Englijh^)  is  a  public-fpirited  and  noble 
 
 'Virtue;  and  can  never  be  completely  and  con- 
 
 '  fiftently  exercifed  by  a  Man,  who  has  propofed 
 to  himfelf  his  own  private  Gain,  or  Advance- 
 ment, for  the  End  of  his  Labours.  How  can  He 
 
 -be  ready  and  v/illing  to  recede  one  ftep  from  his 
 own  Intereft,  in  order  to  the  univerfal  Good  of 
 Others,  who  has  fixed  his  Eye  only  upon  him- 
 felf ;  and  thinks  T^hat  only  to  be  good,  which 
 is  a  prefent  Profit  or  Honour  to  himfelf  ?  How 
 confined  mufi:  his  Defires  and  his  Defigns  be; 
 and  how  little  muft  He  be  moved  with  a  Senfe 
 of  any  Advantage  to  others,  who  has  not  left 
 any  room  for  fuch  Con fi derations  to  come  at 
 him,  but  is  wholly  wrapt  up  in  himfelf,  and  his 
 
 own 
 
Of  Chrijiian  Moderation. 
 
 i^Z 
 
 own  Bye-ends?  We  can  never  hope    to  have$ERM. 
 our  Moderation^  our  yielding  and  eafy  Temper    xvii. 
 be  known  unto  all  Men  j  uay,  we  can  never  hope  \/VNJ 
 to  have  any   thing  to  do  with  it,   'till  we  have- 
 baniihed  all  private  Ends  out  of  our  Hearts  ; 
 at  leaft  'till  we  have  brought  them  all  entirely 
 into    Subjedion   to  a  greater  End  ;  and  have 
 fuch  a  Command  over  Ourfelves,  as   that  we 
 can  make  them  yield,  at   any   time,   to  more 
 weighty  and  generous  Confiderations. 
 
 Thefe  Rules  will  help  us,  if  we  are  fincere 
 in  the  ufe  of  them,  to  form  Ourfelves  into  this 
 god-like  Temper  of  Mind  j  and  then  to  pro- 
 ceed and  improve  in  it,  notwithftanding  all 
 the  Oppofition  of  the  violent  Part  of  the 
 World. 
 
 To  conclude  with  one  word  proper  on  this; 
 Occafion  ;  Had  the  Men  of  this  Nation  been! 
 univerfally  fenfible  cf  the  Nature  and  Obli- 
 gation of  this  Duty,  and  pofTefTed  it  in  anyl 
 Degree  ;  the  wicked  Violences,  and  Evils,! 
 of  this  Day,  and  many  both  before,  and  af-l 
 ter  it,  had  not  now  been  called  to  our  Re-, 
 membrance.  I  will  not  enumerate  them  jt 
 but  rather  pray,  that  the  Records  of  ThemJ 
 in  our  Hiftories,  may  make  us,  on  all  fides,! 
 more  in  love  with  true  Chriftian  Modera- 
 tion :  without  which  (I  will  be  bold  to  fay)l 
 we  can  never  (in  Time  to  come)  be  fecure  a- 
 
 gainfl 
 
^ 
 
 Of  Chrijlian  Moderation. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 gainft  the  like  deplorable  Calamities ;  nor 
 tranfmit  thofe  ineflimable  Bleffings  of  Religi- 
 C/^^w^N.1  oas  and  Civil  Liberty,  we  at  prefent  enjoy, 
 (under  the  wife  Government  of  Thofe  who 
 appear  to  know  the  Value  of  this  Virtue)  fafe, 
 and  unviolated,  to  future  Times  :  And  this,  I 
 am  fure,  ought  to  be  the  hearty  Endeavour  of 
 every  Propcjiant  EnglifimaUy  of  what  Denomi- 
 nation foever. 
 
 SER. 
 
SERMON  XViir. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Swi thins  Church,   on  Sept.  2 
 1702,  being  the  Faft-day  obferved    in  Re-- 
 memJDrance  of  the  Fire  of  London^    1666. 
 
 y*ri  ■ -..irir^ 
 
 Luke  xix.  4  i,  42* 
 
 And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld  the  City, 
 and  wept  over  its  faying^  If  thou  hadfi  known^ 
 even  thou,  at  leafi  in  this  thy  Day,  the  T^hiiigs 
 that  belong  unto  thy  Peace  !  But  now  they  are 
 hid  from  thine  Eyes, 
 
 TH  E  City  our  blelTed  Lord  thus  wept 
 over,  was  Jerufakm;  efteemed,  by  the 
 Jews,  as  the  Glory  of  the  whole 
 Earth.  But  he  wept  not  over  it,  as  a  Collec- 
 tion of  fine  Buildings  j  but  as  it  was  the  Capi- 
 tal City,  and  principal  Refort,  of  the  whole 
 Jewifi  Nation ;  as  it  contained  in  It  a  vaft  Num- 
 ber of  that  People  whom  God  had  chofen  out 
 of  the  World  to  be  his  own  :  an  ungrateful 
 and  rebellious  People,  that  had  had  all  VTc- 
 B  b  thod$ 
 
 SERM. 
 
 xviir. 
 
"jjo   '  ASenno7%  Preached  07i  Sept.  2 ,   1702. 
 
 IX^/^S^ 
 
 TTrRTVT:>ho^iS  tried  with   thenij  to  make  them  better 
 XVI II.  and  happier,    but  could  hot  be  reclaimed  by 
 ny  ;   that  had  killed  and  ftoned  the  Prophets 
 God  had  Tent   to  them,   and  now  were  going 
 to  rejfd:  and  kill  his  Son  ;  and    {o  were  defti- 
 ned,  through  their  own  VVickednefs,  to  a  great 
 and  remarkable  Rulne  and  Deftiudtion.     The 
 Thought  and  Forefjght  of    this    niQved  the 
 .Compa{l:on  of  our  Lord,  who  came  to  fave 
 them.     When  he  was  near^   ¥le  beheld  the  City ; 
 and  that  View  brought  to  his  Mind  thofe  dif-  j 
 mal  Calamities  the  Inhabitants  of  it  were  calling 
 down  upon   themfelves  :   And  he  wtpt  over  it, 
 expreffing  his  tender   Regard   to  it's  Inhabi- 
 tants in  this  Wi{h,  If  thou  hadfiknown^  even  thoUj 
 in  this  thy  Day^  i.  e,   if,   in  this  your  laft  Tri- 
 al,  now  at  this  Time  when  I  am  fent  to  You 
 with  the  laft  Offers  of  God's  Mercy,  the  ^hivgs 
 that  belong  to  thy  Peace  I  If  You,  the  Inhabi- 
 tants,  had  underflood   what  is    your  true  and 
 real  Interefl,  your  Duty  and  your  Happinefs ! 
 But  now  they  are  hidjrom  thine  Eyes,  i.  e.  from 
 this   Time,  If  You,    the  People    highly   fa- 
 voured of  God,   are  refolved  to  periift  in  Infi- 
 delity, and   even  to  rejed:  Me  your    long-ex- 
 peded  Mefhah,  whom  God  has  fent  to  you, 
 with  his  lafl   Offers  j   there   can  be  no   more 
 Hopes.      God     Almighty   moff   juflly    now 
 gives  you    overj  to  be  led  by  that   perverie 
 
 Spirit 
 
ASennoTL  preached  on  Sept.  2,   170 2 J     3.7  r 
 )irit    into    Ruine     and     Dcilrudion.      And  sermJ 
 
 Sp 
 
 this    fame   thing   our   blefTed    Lord  fets  forth  xviii.: 
 
 in  another  Place,   in  the  Parable  of  the  Houfe-  '^'"^^^N; 
 
 holder,   who    planted   a  Vineyard,  and  let  itj 
 
 out  to  Hufoandmen,   and  fent  feveral  Servants! 
 
 to  receive  the  Fruits   of  it  for  him  ;  and,   af-' 
 
 ter  they    had    been   Abufed   and    Murthered,; 
 
 laft  of  mil  fent  his   Son :   and  when  they  refu-; 
 
 fed  Obedience  to  this  laft  and  worthieft  Meffen-; 
 
 ger,  he  could  fend.   He  refolves  to  try  them  not 
 
 more,  but  miferably    to  deftroy  thofe  wicked! 
 
 Men. 
 
 From  this  Cafe  of  the  Nation  of  the  'jews^ 
 and  the  City  of  'Jerufalon^  we  are  naturally 
 led  to  obferve  thefe  T^h7-ee  things : 
 
 I.  That,  according  to  the  conftant  Repre- 
 fentations  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  there  is  a 
 Day  appointed  for  wicked  Societies  and  Na- 
 tions, 'till  which  Time  Almighty  God  waits 
 for  their  Repentance,  and  defers  their  utter 
 Ruine  ;  but  beyond  which,  they  fhall  not  be 
 tried. 
 
 II.  That  this  Is  not  fixed  by  Arbitrary  Will 
 and  Pleafure,  but  upon  juft  Reafons  :  Or,  in 
 other  Words,  That  there  is  not  a  Day  for  the 
 utter  Ruine  of  any  Nation,  or  Society,  fo  deter- 
 mined by  God,  but  that,  if  they  repent,  and 
 
 B  b  2  amend 
 
372 
 
 SE  RM. 
 XVIII. 
 
 A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,  1702. 
 
 amend  their  Lives,  before  that  Day  comes, 
 they  {hall  certainly  be  pardoned  and  blelTed. 
 And,  agreeably  to  this, 
 
 III.  That  before  the  final  Deftru^lion  of 
 any  Societies,  or  Nations,  God  ufes  many  and 
 fufficient  Means  of  reforming  and  amending 
 them  ;  that  they  may  go  on  to  flourifh  and 
 profper  in  the  World. 
 
 I.  We  may  obferve,  that  there  is  a  Day  ap- 
 pointed for  wicked  Societies  and  Nations, 
 I'till  which  Almighty  God  waits  for  their  Re- 
 pentance, but  beyond  which  their  utter  Ruine 
 fhall  not  be  deferred. 
 
 Thus,  We  fee,  in  the  PaiTage  of  the  Gof- 
 ipel  now  before  Us,  there  was  a  Time  beyond 
 which  Jerufalemi  and  the  whole  Nation  of 
 the  'Jews^  were  not  to  be  tried  ;  and  no 
 more  Offers  of  Mercy  were  to  be  tendered 
 to  them  ;  but  if  they  did  not,  at  the  Com- 
 ing of  the  Son  of  God,  repent,  and  turn 
 from  their  Evil  Ways ;  they  were,  from  that 
 Inftant,  devoted  to  Mifery  and  Ruine :  Or, 
 if  They  did  not,  in  this  their  Day,  know  and 
 fraBife  the  Tubings  that  belonged  to  their  Peace, 
 'They  would  from  that  Time  be  hid  from  their 
 Eyes^ 
 
 Thus 
 
A  Sermon  preached  on  Sept.  2 ,   1702. 
 
 Thus  It  was  with  the  Firft  World  j  when 
 their  Sins  were  many  and  heinous,  and  the 
 whole  Earth  was  corrupt,  My  Spij-it,  fays 
 God,  Jhall  not  always  fir  roe  with  Man ;  I  will 
 not  ever  wait  for  their  Repentance  and  Amend- 
 ment; but  their  Days  fhall  bean  Hundred 
 and  Twenty  Years.  (Gen.v'i.  3.)  So  long,  and 
 no  longer,  the  Men  of  that  World  were  to 
 be  waited  on  5  and  then  a  Flood  of  Waters  to 
 be  brought  in  upon  them,  if  they  continued 
 ungodly.  Thus  we  fee,  tho'  the  Pofterity  of 
 Abraham  were  by  Promife  to  poiTefs  the  Land 
 of  the  Amorites,  yet  it  was  not  to  be,  till  the 
 Iniquity  of  the  Amorites  was  full  (Gen.  xv.  1 6.) 
 'till  they  had  been  tried  to  the  utmoft,  and  were 
 found  to  be  fit  for  nothing  but  a  fignal  Dcftruc- 
 tion.  Now  thefe  Things  that  were  written 
 before,  were  written  for  our  Inftrudion,  and 
 thefe  Things  happened  unto  them  for  Enfam- 
 ples.  And  we  may  argue,  that,  as  there  was 
 a  Pitch  of  Wickednefs,  beyond  which  God 
 would  not  let  thefe  Societies  of  Men  go  on, 
 without  a  remarkable  Vengeance  ;  and  as  there 
 was  a  Day  certainly  fet,  beyond  which  they 
 fiiould  not  be  tried,  and  after  which  no  farther 
 Offers  fhould  be  made  for  their  Reformation 
 and  Happinefs :  fo  it  is  with  Us  Ourfelves, 
 with  this  Nation  and  People  to  which  we  be- 
 long i    So   certainly,    there   is  a  determinate 
 
 ERM. 
 XVIII. 
 
 Bb3 
 
 Highth 
 
 373 
 
374       A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,170  2,    \ 
 
 SERM.!Highth   of  Wickednefs,  beyond  which    God  ! 
 XVIII.  j  will  not  bear    with  us  5  and  a   Day,   in  the 
 W^  Purpofe  of    Almighty   God,   beyond   which 
 he    will    not    try   us,    and  after    which     no- 
 thing fliall  prevent  our  utter    Defolation  and 
 Ruine. 
 
 II.  We  may  obferve,  that,  according  to  the 
 Reprefentations  of  the   fame   Holy  Scriptures^ 
 There  is  not  a  Day  for  the  final  Ruine  of  any 
 Nations  or   Societies,   fo  determined  by  God, 
 but  that,  if  they  repent,  before  that  Time  come, 
 they  fhall   certainly  be  pardoned,   and  blefTed 
 "with  Profperity  and  Succefs.     T\\u?>Noah  was 
 to  preach  Repentance  and  Righteoufnefs  to  the 
 World  before  the  Flood,  in  order  to  prevent 
 that  great  Calamity;    and   an    Hundred   and 
 twenty  Years  were  given,  to  try  if  they  would 
 hear  his  Voice  and  live.     Thus  Jonas  was  or- 
 dered by  God  to  go  to  Ninevehy   and  cry  aloud 
 in  it,  yet  Forty  Days,  and  Nineveh  fiall  be  over- 
 throw?! y  and  yet,  when  all  the  People  of  that 
 City  joined  together  to  humble  themfelves  be- 
 fore God,   and  God  faw  their  Works,  that  they 
 turned  from  their  evil  Ways,  God  repented  of  the 
 Evil  he  had faid  he  would  do  unto  them,  and  he  did 
 it  not.     Thus,   without  doubt,  he  would  have 
 done  with  the    fews  ;  if  they  had   repented 
 2iVi^  feen  the  'Things  that  belonged  to  their  Peace 
 
 in 
 
-  A  Sermon  Preached on^^^X.^  2,  1702, 
 
 37J 
 
 in  that  their  Day,    which  was  deftined  to  be|sERM. 
 their    laft  Tnai :  if,   ii'ftead   of  rejcding  thejxviii. 
 Lord  of  Life,  they    had  accepted  his  Offers, '^>''VNJ 
 and  become  his  Siibjeds  and  Servants ;  all  their 
 ftoning  and  killing  the  Prophets,  that  had  been 
 fent  before,   and  ail  their  numberlefs  paft  Pro- 
 vocations, would  have  been  pardoned  and  for- 
 gotten. 
 
 For  that  this  was  the  Method  in  which  He 
 would  always  proceed,  He  himfelf  had  affured 
 the  ^ews  by  his    Prophet  'Jeremiah  (xviii.  7.) 
 At  iJchat  Injlant  I  fhall  Jpeak  concernivg  a  Na- 
 tioiu   and  concermng  a   Kingdom,  to  pluck  up, 
 and  to  pull  down,   and  to  dejiroy  it  5    ij  that 
 ^ -Nation,  againftwhom   1  ha^ce  promamcd,  turn 
 {from  their  Evil  Ways,   I  ivill  repent  of  the  Evil 
 that  I  thought  to  do  unto  them,  i.  e.    I  will  not 
 do  it,  tho*  1  have  threatned  it  in  Words  of  the 
 moft  peremptory,  and  abfolute,  Sort.     If  Re- 
 pentance intervene,  the  Evil  fnall  never  be  exe- 
 cuted ;  and  it  is    threatned,   upon  Suppofitioni 
 only  that  a  Repentance  does    not  follow  upon 
 fuch  Threatning.   And  this  is  a  very  confide- 
 Irable  Satisfadion,  that  we  have  not  to  do  with 
 an  arbitrary  and  unreafonable  Tyrant,  but  one 
 who  defires  and  wlHies  cur  Repentance  ;  who 
 threatens  Ruine,  in  order  to  bring  a  Nation  to 
 Repentance  and  Amendment;   and  who  does 
 not  threaten  it,   in  order  to  execute  it,  if  Re- 
 ;  B  b  4  f  entance 
 
21^ 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  on  Sept,  2,   1702. 
 
 SER  M.  pentance  and  Amendment  follow.     Wtirn  yey 
 XVIII.  turn  ye 'f    'why  will  ye  die j    O  Houfe  of  IfraeH 
 i/VNj  And  thus  he  I'peaks  not  only  to  Them,  but  to 
 all    Nations  and  Societies:   Turn  ye  from  your 
 evil  Ways,  andfo  Iniquity  fiall  not  be  your  Ru- 
 iite.     But, 
 
 III.  We  are  led,  by  the  Cafe  before  Us  of 
 ferifalem,  and  the  Jewifi  Nation,  to  bbferve, 
 That,  before  the  final  Ruine  of  any  Nation  or 
 Society,  God  ufes  many  and  fufficient  Means  to 
 reform  and  amend  them  :  How  often,  fays  our 
 Lord  to  ferufalem,  would  I  have  gathered  thy 
 Children  together,  even  as  a  Hen  gathereth  her 
 Chicke?2s  under  her  Wings ;  and  Te  woidd  not  f 
 How  many  Prophets  were  fent,  with  mighty 
 Signs  and  Wonders,  to  allarm  this  People  of 
 the  Jews  ?  how  many  wife  Men  to  guide  and 
 inflrud  them  ?  With  how  immediate  and  fpe- 
 cial  a  Regard  did  God  himfelf  dwell  amongft 
 them  and  prefide  over  them  ?  How  many  ex- 
 traordinary and  miraculous  Mercies,  Delive- 
 rances, and  Victories,  were  they  bieffed  with  ? 
 And,  becaufe  that  Method  was  unfuccefsful, 
 how  many  Plagues  and  Judgments,  Famines, 
 Swords,  and  Peftilences,  did  they  experience? 
 And,  after  they  had  been  Proof  againft  In- 
 ftrudion,  againft  Mercies,  and  Judgments, 
 and  all  other  Efforts  of  his  Good-will,  laji  of  all 
 
 h 
 
A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,  1 702, 
 
 377 
 
 hefent  unto  them  his  Son,  with  all  the  Signs,  and  fe  e  r  m. 
 Miracles,  and   Evidences,    of    the    promifedjxviii. 
 Meffiah ;  in   order,   at  the  very  Approach  of""^'^'^'^"^ 
 the  End  of  his  Forbearance,  to  prevent  their 
 Ruine  by  their  Amendment.      Almighty  God 
 jhimfelf  gives  an  Account,  in  the  Fifth  Chap.j 
 \of  J/aiah^   what  he  had  done  to   his  Vineyard.] 
 \And  now^  fays  he,   O  Inhabitants  of  Jerufakmi 
 \and  Men  of  Judah,  judge  ^   I  pray  you,  betwixfi^ 
 '.Me  and  my  Vineyard  \  what  could  have  been  done^ 
 \more  to  my  Vineyard,  that  I  have  not  done  in  itfi 
 And  this  is  a  plain  Demonftration  of  his  Mer-j 
 ;cy,  and  Long-fuffering,   that,   altho'  he  muftJ 
 in  Juftice,   and  left  Virtue   fhould  perifh  froni 
 loft    the  Earth,    fometimes  decree  the    utteij 
 Ruine  and   Defolation  of  a  People ;  yet,   be-j 
 fore  that,  he  tries  many  and  different  Method^ 
 to   bring  them  to  Reformation  :    A   certain 
 Proof,   I   fay,   that  he  delights    not   in    theiij 
 Ruine  j   that  Judgment  is  his  flrange  Work^  iri 
 this  Senfe,  that  it  is  not  what  by  Choice  He  in-j 
 dines  to :  Nay,  that,   before  a  Nation  be    to-* 
 tally  deftroyed,  it  muft  be  pad  even  the  Poffi-i 
 bility  of  Recovering,  by   thofe   Methods    ioj 
 which  God  thinks  fit  to  deal  with  fuch  Crea- 
 tures as  We  are. 
 
 Having  gone  over  thofe  T^hree  Obfervations 
 I  propofed  at  firil,  it  will  not  be  improper  tq 
 i  conlidei 
 
371 
 
 A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,  1702, 
 
 SER  Mj  confider    two  ^eJiionSy     which    offer   them- 
 
 XVIII.  j  felves  upon  this    Subjeft.      T\iQ  firji   is,   why 
 
 ^'^'y^  whole    Societies   and  Nations  are  often    pu- 
 
 inifhed   fo   remarkably  in  this    World?  And 
 
 ■the    other  is,  why  good  Men  often  fuifer  in 
 
 thofe  Calamities  and   Deftrudions,   which  are 
 
 brought    on  a  People  for  the  Wickednefs  of 
 
 others  ? 
 
 Firjl,  Why  whole  Societies  and  Nations  of 
 Men  are  puniihed  often,  in  fo  remarkable  a 
 Manner,  in  this  World.  And  the  plain  Rea- 
 fons  feem  to  me  to  be  thefe  two.  i .  Be- 
 caufe  when  once  a  whole  Society,  or  Nation,  is 
 univerfally  corrupt  and  debauched,  Virtue 
 muft  necelTarily,  and  infallibly,  pcridi  from 
 amongft  the  Men  of  that  Society  or  Nation  j 
 and.  Secondly,  that  this  Defirudlion  may  be 
 an  Example  to  all  other  Societies.  As  to  the 
 firft,  the  Corruption  of  a  whole  Nation  is  not 
 like  the  Corruption  of  a  particular  Perlon; 
 which  may  be  let  alone,  and  yet  the  Caufe  of 
 Virtue  and  Goodnefs  not  run  fo  very  low,  but 
 that  there  may  be  Encouragement  enough  left 
 to  others  to  be  religious  and  good:  but  it  is  of 
 fo  very  bad  Confequence,  that  there  is  not  the 
 leaft  Probability,  if  it  be  not  retrained  and 
 checked,  by  fume  extraordinary  Methods,  that 
 Virtue  lliould  ever  fhew  its  Head  again  in  that 
 Nation.     The  Examples  in  fuch  a  Society  are 
 
 bad; 
 
A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,   1 702. 
 
 IZi. 
 
 S  E  R  M. 
 
 bad;  the  Education    of  Youth  diredtly  lead- 
 ing to  Vice  and  Debauchery;  the  Principles   xviii. 
 upon  which  Men  ad:  apparently  wicked,   and 
 tending  on  ftill  to  greater  and  greater  Degrees 
 of  Wickednefs.     Now   God,    as  he  is  holy, 
 and  of  purer  Eyes  than  to  behold  Iniquity  op- 
 pofing  itfelf  to  thofe  Rules,   He  him  f  If  ads, 
 and  would  have  all  others  ad:,  by ;  as  He  is  the 
 Governor  and   Judge   of  the  World  ;  is  con- 
 cerned   to   hinder,   by  all  poffible   Methods,! 
 fuch  an  univerfal   Wickednefs  as  would  ruine 
 Virtue,  fo  that  it  {hould  have  no  Hopes  of  everj 
 appearing  again.      And  this  is  a  lufiicient  Rea-i 
 fon  why  he  lliould  ufe   Judgments  and  Cala-| 
 mities,   as    well  as  Mercies,  to   prevent  fuchj 
 an  Increafe   of  it  in  a  Nation  :  and,   if  thofcj 
 lefTer  Methods   are   not   fuccefsful,    why  he' 
 ihould  bring  utter  Ruine  and   Defolation  up-i 
 on  that  whole  Nation.     Efpecially  confider- 
 
 2.  What  a  moving  Example  this  may  be, 
 to  other  Societies  and  Nations.  Precedents, 
 or  Examples,  are  apt  to  influence  our  Minds: 
 very  much  :  And  to  fee  how  other  Societiesi 
 of  People  have  been  loft  and  ruined,  whenj 
 they  refufed  to  be  reformed  by  milder  Me-i 
 thods,  naturally  leads  us  to  think  how  it  muft 
 fare  at  laft  with  Ourfelves,  if  we  go  on.     For! 
 
 the 
 
38o 
 
 A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,   170; 
 
 s^  R  M.  the  Qaeftion  prefently  offers  itfelf  to  our 
 XVIII.  Minds,  what  Reafon  is  there  why  We  fhould 
 <.^^VNj  Hope  to  be  excepted  ?  or,  if  we  imitate  other 
 incorrigible  Nations,  in  our  Manners  and  Be- 
 haviour, why  fhould  We  not  refemble  them  in 
 a  remarkable  and  fatal  End?  Almighty  God 
 may  therefore,  juftly  punifh  wicked  Societies,  or 
 Nations,  to  affright  them  from  going  on  to  a 
 State  of  univerfal,  fettled,  unreflrained  Wicked- 
 nefs;  and,  if  that  cannot  be  done,  may  punifh 
 them  with  an  utter  Deflrudion,  rather  than 
 permit  fuch  univerfal  Wickednefs  to  triumph 
 and  flourifh,  or  fuffer  a  Foundation  to  be  laid 
 for  an  uninterrupted  Courfe  of  it.  For  this  is 
 exadly  agreeable  to  the  Rules  of  his  Supreme 
 Moral  Government :  as  it  isabfolutely  neceffary 
 to  the  maintaining  the  World  in  any  tolerable 
 Order,  and  confulting  the  Happinefs  of  other 
 Societies,  and  of  thofe  Perfons  that  fhall  be 
 born  afttr,  who  will  be  allarmed  by  thefe  Ex- 
 amples, to  fly  from  what  has  before  brought 
 down  Ruine  upon  whole  Nations.  When  thy 
 'Judgments  are  in  the  Earthy  the  Inhabitants  of 
 the  World  will  learn  Right eoufnefs,  fays  the 
 Prophet.  When  there  is  a  remarkable  Vifita- 
 tion,  a  vifible  Punifhment  of  the  Sins  of  any 
 Nation  ;  this  will  draw  the  Eyes  of  others, 
 ^nd  teach  them,  that  Righteoufnefs  is  the  only 
 ;  fure 
 
7  II  •  ^ 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  on  ^t^^t,  2,  17.02. 
 
 2&L 
 
 Aire  Way  to  eftablifli  the  Happinefs  of  a  Peo-  s  e  r  m^ 
 pie.  For  if,  (as  Solomon  fays)  becaufe  Sen-  cviii, 
 tefice  againfi  any  one  evil  It^ork^  is  not  J'pee-^-' 
 dily  executed^  therefore  the  Hearts  oj  the  Sons 
 of  Men  are  fully  ft  in  them  to  do  Evil ;  Cer- 
 tainly, if  Sentence  were  never  executed  in 
 this  World  againfl:  the  great  and  repeated 
 ievil  Works,  of  which  a  whole  Body  of  Men 
 are  notorioufly  and  univerfally  guilty,  much 
 !more  would  the  Hearts  of  the  .^ons  of  Men 
 'be  fet  in  them  to  do  Evil ;  when  They  have 
 Reafon  to  think  themfelves  fecure  ;  and  fo 
 all  Religion  and  Virtue  would,  by  Degrees, 
 long  ago  havevaniflied  from  the  Earth.  Thefe 
 two  Reafons  feem  fully  fufficient  to  fatisfy 
 us,  why  God  fhould  often  punifh,  and  fome- 
 times  totally  deftroy,  Societies  and  Nations  of 
 Men. 
 
 There  is  another  Reafon,  why  wicked 
 Societies  and  Nations  fliould  be  puniihed  in 
 this  World,  mentioned  by  Some,  viz.  becaufe 
 they  cannot  be  puniflied,  as  Societies,  in  the 
 World  to  come.  But  this  I  do  not  urge, 
 becaufe  1  either  do  not  underftand  it ;  or  do 
 not  undcrfland  it  to  be  a  good  Reafon  :  and 
 becaufe  the  Reafons  I  mentioned  before  feem 
 to  be  fully  fufficient,  without  inquiring  after 
 any  others. 
 
 I  come 
 
;^  8  2    \  A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept  2^    17 o.^ , 
 
 s  E  R  Mr      I  come  now  to  another  Queftion,  which  has 
 XVIII.  fometimes  been  afked  upon  this  Subjed:,  viz, 
 C^VVi  Why  good  Men  often  fuffer  in  thofe  Calami- 
 ties, and  Deftrudions,  which  are  brought  on 
 any  Society,  or  Nation,  for  the  Sins  of  others  ? 
 And  as  to  this,   fuppofing  the  Fad  true, 
 
 I.  We  may  obferve,  that  good  Men  have 
 often  very  great  Imprudences  and  WcaknefTes: 
 and  thefe  may,  fometimes,  naturally  tend 
 to  help  on  public  Calamities  and  Misfor- 
 tunes. 
 
 Some  of  the  beft  of  them  may  be  Men  of 
 great  natural  Pailions,  hurrying  them  onto  fud- 
 den  Refolutions,  and  Counfels;  and  at  the  fame 
 Time  of  fo  little  Reach,  as  to  be  eafily  mifta- 
 ken  in  their  political  Condud  j  and  think  T'hat 
 to  be  good  for  the  repairing  the  Breaches  of  a 
 Nation,  which  will  really  help  to  widen 
 them  J  and  That  for  the  Intereft  and  Happi- 
 nefs  of  a  People,  which  really  tends  to  their 
 Ruine  and  Unhappinefs.  Almighty  God  is 
 not  obliged  to  free  the  Minds  of  good  Men 
 from  all  Failings,  or  to  conquer  their  Paffions 
 miraculoufly,  for  them  j  or  to  give  their 
 Minds  fuch  a  Reach,  as  that  they  fhall  not 
 miftake  in  their  Notions  of  public  Interefl 
 and  Happinefs ;  and  they  may  juftly  fuf- 
 fer in  thofe  temporal  Evils  which  they  them- 
 
 feives 
 
A  Sermon  Preached  07i^t^\.,  2,   1702 
 
 felves  thus  help  to  bring  upon  their  Country,  s 
 
 «*     A. 
 
 But 
 
 j  2.  There  may  be  many  good  Men,  unex-  ' 
 ceptionable  in  their  private  and  perfonal  Con- 
 dud:,  who  think  it  fufficient  to  look  after 
 themfelves,  and  are  too  little  concerned  at 
 feeing  their  Country  over- run  with  Wicked- 
 nefs,  tofjfe  their  Endeavours  to  give  a  Check 
 to  it,  or  to  put  in  Execution  the  beft  Laws  made 
 againft  the  Progrefs  of  That  which  tends  to  the 
 final  Ruine  of  a  Nation.  The  Inftances  be- 
 fore mentioned,  from  the  facred  Hiflory,  would 
 teach  them  another  LeiTon.  A/t^^/^  was  pre- 
 ferved  from  the  general  Flood  :  but  then,  he 
 not  only  was  a  good  Man  himfelf,  but 'had 
 Zeal  enough  to  make  him  concern  himfelf 
 for  other  People,  and  even  to  be  troublefome 
 to  them,  by  being  a  Preacher  of  Rlghteoufnefs, 
 (as  St.  Feter  fays)  in  order  to  reclaim  them., 
 and  prevent  that  Ruine  that  threatened  them! 
 So  Lot  was  delivered,  when  Sodom  ^ndGomor- 
 rah  were  confumed  i  but  then,  he  was  not  only 
 righteous  himfelf,  but  St.  Peter  obferves,  that 
 That  righteous  Man  dwelliftg  amongfl  them,  in 
 feeing  and  hearing  'vexed  his  righteous  Sculjrom 
 Day  to  Day,  with  their  unlauful  Deeds  ;  nay 
 mtereded  himfelf  fo  much  in  their  Behaviour* 
 as  not  only  to  be  grieved  at  their  Impieties* 
 but.  Without  doubt,  to  endeavour  their  Refor- 
 mation 
 
 E  R  M. 
 XVIII. 
 
B±\  A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2 ,   1702 
 
 SERMimation:  For  fo  much  we  gather  with  great 
 XVIII.  Reafon,  from  that  Speech  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
 'Lx''W'  Sodomy  'This  one  Fellow  came  in  to  fojourn,  and 
 he  will  Jteeds  be  a  judge ^  Gen.  xiv,  9. 
 
 In  thefe  Cafes,  therefore,  in  which  the  un-j 
 adive  Coldnefs  of  fome,  or  the  weak  Under- 
 flandings,  or  ftrong   Paffions,   of  other,   good  I 
 Men,  have    naturally  tended,  and  l^d   to  the' 
 Ruine  of  that  Society  to  which  they   belong  j 
 they  themfelves   cannot  think  Almighty  God 
 to  adl  unjuftly  by  them,  if  he  does  not  mira-j 
 culoully  exempt  them,  from  the  common  Lot 
 in  fuch  Calamities,  as  may  indeed  juftly  befaid 
 to  be  brought  upon  their  Country  for  the  fake 
 of  the  Wickednefs  of  Others,   but  yet  are  fuch 
 as  thefe  good  Men  themfelves  did  not  endeavour 
 to  prevent  by  their  Zeal  and  Interpofition  ;   or 
 perhaps  helped  forward  by  the  Imprudence  of 
 their   Counfels,   or  Violence   of  their  natural 
 Tempers.     But, 
 
 3.  It  will  take  away  the  very  Ground  of 
 this  Objedlion,  to  obferve  that,  according  to 
 the  Reprefentations  of  the  Scriptures,  the  Fadl 
 itfelf  is  not  certainly  true.  We  all  know  that 
 the  fame  Holy  Books,  which  relate  the  Sto- 
 ries of  the  Defolation  of  Cities  and  Na- 
 tions, for  the  Wickednefs  of  the  People,  give 
 us  Inflances  of  good  Men  wonderfully  preferv- 
 ,ed,  and  delivered,  in  fuch  Calamities.     Thus, 
 
 when 
 
A  Sermon  preached  on  Sept.  2 ,  1702. 
 when  the  Old  World  was  to  be  deftroyed,  we 
 find  Noah,  a  good  and  righteous  Perfon,  who 
 had  never  either  alTented  to,  or  winked  at, 
 the  Wickednefs  of  thofe  about  him,  ftrangely 
 delivered  by  the  Particular  Providence  of  God> 
 when  the  Flood  was  brought  upon  the  World 
 of  the  Ungodly. 
 
 Thus^  when  the  Cities  o'^  Sodormnd  Gomor^ 
 rah  were  turned  into  A(hes,  and  condemned  vfixYi 
 an  Overthrow,  juji  Lot,  who  was  vexed  with  the 
 filthy  Converfation  of  the  Wicked;  who  abhorred 
 their  Deeds,  and  was  righteous  in  Oppofition  to 
 ail  their  Examples,  was  delivered  and  fent  away 
 from  that  fiery  Deftrudion.      Thefe  are  taken 
 notice  of  by  St.  Peter,  as  a  fufficient  Foundati- 
 on to  ground  this  Confequence  upon,  The  Lord 
 hioweth  how  to  deliver  the  Godly,   (2  Pet.  ii.  o.) 
 Nay,    Almighty    God   feems    himfelf  by  the 
 Prophet  Ezd'X'/W  (Chap.  xiv.  12,  &c.)  to  give 
 fuch  good  and  holy  Perfons  (under  the  Names 
 of  ISJoah,  Daniel,   and  fob,)  a  Title  to  fuch  a 
 Deliverance  :  in  this  Cafe  of  the  extraordinary 
 Punishment  of  a  Society,  by  the  Hand  of  God, 
 exprelTly  for  the  Sins  of  the   wicked   Part  of 
 it  ;   repeating  this  often,  that  tho'  theyfhould 
 not  deliver  any  other  Perfons,  yet  they  fhould 
 deliver  their   own  Souls,   by  their  Righteouf- 
 nefs. 
 
 And  indeed,  it  feems  agreeable  to  Reafon, 
 C  c  and 
 
 SERM. 
 XVIII. 
 
rgstr 
 
 A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,   1702, 
 
 ^S  ERM. 
 XVIII. 
 
 md  Equity,  that,  in  thofe  Cafes,  in  which  it 
 pleafes  Almighty  God  thus  immediately  to  in- 
 terpofe,  and  bring  immediate  Defolation  upon 
 any  Society,  for  the  fake  of  the  Wickednefsof 
 Many  of  the  Men  who  compofe  it  j  That,  I 
 fay,  in  fuch  Cafes,  the  truly  Good  Men  belong- 
 ing to  it  fliould  be  preferved  and  delivered, 
 Otherwife,  thefe  Calamities  could  not  well  be 
 faid  to  be  decreed,  or  wrought,  by  God  him- 
 felf,  for  the  Punifhment  of  fuch  Wickednefs 
 only. 
 
 And  this  appears  plainly  to  be  the  very  Foun- 
 dation and  Strength  of  Abraham' i  Argument, 
 in  the  Eighteenth  Chapter  oiGenefis.  There 
 we  find,  at  the  20^^  Verfe,  That  God  is  faid 
 to  condefcend  to  inform  Abraham  of  his  Refo- 
 lution  with  regard  to  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 
 which,  it  is  plain  ixQ>vc\  Abraham  i  KviiyN^x ,  was 
 a  Declaration,  that  He  would  himfelf  interpofe, 
 and  bring  a  total  Deflru(5lion  upon  thofe  Cities, 
 folely  on  account  of  the  enormous  Wickednefs 
 of  the  Inhabitants.  This  was  the  Fadt,  which 
 moved  Abrahatn  to  the  Boldnefs  of  Arguing 
 with  God  himfelf,  upon  the  Principles  of  Juf- 
 tice  and  Equity,  from  Verfe  23,  to  the  End. 
 Wilt  T'hou  alfo  dejiroy  the  Righteous  with  the 
 Wicked-^'That  be  far  from  \thee  to  do  after  this 
 manner^  to  flay  the  Righteous  with  the  Wicked ; 
 and  that  the  Righteous  Jhould  be  as  the  Wicked ; 
 
 ^hat 
 
J ■ : — -. . "  1 
 
 ^  Sermon  preached  on  Sept.  2^   JtyorSiJ    387. 
 
 nat  be  far  from  thee.    Shall  not  the  Judge  of  ail  s  E  R  M. 
 \the  Earth  do  right?  This   is  his  Argument,  xviii. 
 !  Since  this  Deflrudlion   is  to  be  brought  upon  j^^^'''^ 
 I  thei'e  Places  for  the  Sins  of  the  Wicked  only,  j 
 jftridt  Jullice  requires  that  the  righteous  Part  of 
 jthe  People  {houldnotbedeflroyedfortheWick- 
 'ednefs  of  Others,  for  the  fake  of  which  alone 
 the  Def^rudlion  is  brought.     Abraham's  main 
 ;  Intention   is  not  to  intercede  for  Thofe  whofe 
 \  Iniquities  ivere  J ull ',  but  to  contend,  from  the 
 Nature  of  Juftice,  and  of  God  himfelf,  That 
 a  Method  ought  to  be  found  for  the  Preferva- 
 tion^of  the  Righteous,  in  fuch  a  particular  Cafe. 
 And  we  fee,   the  Great  God  is  fo  far  from  be- 
 ing difpleafed  with  a  Mortal  Man  for  pretend- 
 ing; to   aro;ue  with  him,   from   fuch  excellent 
 Principles;  that  He  plainly  approves  of  the  Ar- 
 gument, and  goes  fo  far  as  to  declare.    That, 
 rather  than  the  Righteous  fliall  not  be  preferv- 
 ed,  He  will,  for  their  Sakes,  if  a  Few  be  found, 
 fpare  the  City,   and  even  put  off  the  Deflruc- 
 tion  of  the  Wicked,   now  ripe  for  his  Venge- 
 ance.  And,  as  it  appears  that  there  was  but  one 
 good  Man  and  Family  there ;   This  one  Man 
 and  Family    alone   are    preferved.      And  thus 
 we  fee,  that  it  is  the  Repiefentation  of  Holy 
 Scripture,  that  Good  Men  are  adually  deliver- 
 ed,  and  preferved,   ftccoidlng  to  the  Rules  of 
 Juftice,  by  that  God,   that  Righteous  Judge  of 
 C  c  2  the 
 
388 
 
 SE  RM. 
 XVIII. 
 
 A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,  1702. 
 
 the  Earth,  in  thofe  Defolations  and  Deftrudi- 
 ons,  which  He  himfelf  immediately  brings 
 upon  a  People,  expreflly  and  merely  on  ac- 
 jcount  of  the  crying  Wickednefs,  of  the  Worft 
 IPart  of  them.  And  this  is  the  Cafe  particu- 
 larly meant  in  the  Objection.  For, 
 :  4.  As  for  Thofe  Deftrudive,  or  Calami- 
 tous  Events,  apparently  arifing  from  ihe  Ori- 
 ginal Frame  and  Contexture  of  this  Earth, 
 br  of  the  Air  around  it ;  or  from  the  Imper- 
 fections, Weakneffes,  and  Wickednefs  of  Men 
 themfelves,  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Earth  :  or 
 from  any  the  like  Caufes  ;  the  Good  Part  of 
 Mankind,  (the  Beft  of  whom  have  many  Im- 
 perfedtions,  and  are  placed  Here,  only  as  in  a 
 Country,  defigned  not  for  a  Paradife,  or  their 
 Heaven,  but  for  a  State  of  Probation,  fuitable 
 to  the  Ends  propofed  by  their  Maker,)  ought 
 not  to  complain,  that  They  partake  with  the 
 Wicked  in  fuch  fort  of  Evils,  natural  to  this 
 State.  Nor  do  the  Juftice  and  Equity  of  God's 
 Government  need  any  Vindication,  on  account 
 of  Good  Men  fuffering  with  the  Wicked,  in 
 thefe  and  the  like  common  Calamities  of  Na- 
 ture, any  more  than  They  do,  on  account  of 
 his  not  exempting  the  Befl:  of  Men  from  the 
 common  Lot  of  Sicknefs,  and  even  Death  it- 
 felf,  pronounced  and   executed   equally  upon 
 
 the 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
A  Sermon  preached  on  Sept.  2 ,    1 70  2 .       389 
 
 the  Bad  and  the  Good,  the  Juft  Man  and  the  sIe  r  m. 
 Sinner,  in  this  World.  xviii. 
 
 This  is  all  that  I  can  prefume  to  offer  con-  i/^v^\J 
 cerning  the  Cafe  of  good  Men's  fufFering,  in 
 Calamities  brought  upon  any  Nation,  for  the 
 iSins  of  Others  :  And  if  what  I  have  faid  upon 
 fo  dark  a  Subje(fl,  not  entirely  laid  open  to  our 
 Capacities,  cannot  fully  anfwer  the  Curiofiiyoi 
 Some,  or  the  honefl  Defire  of  Satisfadion  in 
 Others,  yet  it  feems  fufficient  to  abate  the 
 Force  of  the  Objedion  j  and  to  give  Them 
 fome  ground  to  think,  that  there  may  be  flill 
 ftronger  Reafons,  in  the  Counfels  of  the  All- 
 knowing  God,  for  this  Method  of  proceed- 
 ing with  the  Beft,  as  well  as  Worfl,  Part  of 
 his  imperfed  Creatures,  in  this  prefent  State  of 
 Things. 
 
 Having  thus  gone  over  the  Three  principal 
 Points  I  firft  propofedj  and  then  confidered  Two 
 Difficulties,  ariling  upon  Them  5  I  will  only 
 now  make  a  fliort  Application  of  all  to  Our- 
 felves,   and  our  own  Nation. 
 
 If  it  appears  from  what  has  been  faid.  That 
 Succefs  and  Profperlty  have,  by  the  Command 
 and  Laws  of  the  Great  Governour  of  the  World, 
 attended  upon  Families,  and  Nations,  where 
 Religion  and  Virtue  have  been  encouraged  and 
 pradtifed ;  we  may  conclude,  that  the  fame 
 yi'ill  wait  upon  Us,  if  Religion  and  Virtue  are 
 i  C  c  3  en- 
 
3  9  Q    I    A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sep t ,  2,  1702. 
 
 SE  RMj  encouraged  and  pracflifed  arnongft  us.      If  we 
 XVIII.  read  that  his  Wrath  has   been  executed,   and 
 W/'VN  remarkable  Vengeance  taken,   upon  Nations  in 
 which  Impiety  and  Immorality  have  been  tri- 
 umphant ;    we  may  be  certain,   that  Defolation 
 and    Deflrudion  is  appointed  for  Us,   if  Im- 
 piety  and   Debauchery   triumph   in    the  fame 
 manner  arnongft:  us.      And,    to  be  more  parti- 
 cular, As  We  find  by  the  Words  upon  which 
 I  have  been  difcourfing,    and  other  Paffages  of 
 the  Gofpelj  that  the  Nation  of  th^y^'i^'i,  in  our 
 Saviour's  Time,    were  called  upon  to  caft:  back 
 their  Eyes  upon  all   the  Trials  God  had   for- 
 merly made  of  them,  and  all  the  Methods  He 
 had  ufed  to  amend  them;  not  only  by  his  Pro- 
 phets, but  by  all  his  Mercies,  and  all  his  Judg- 
 ments: and  were  plainly  told,  that,  after  allthei 
 ungrateful  Returns  made  by  them,    God  wouldj 
 not  ftrive  with  them  much  longer ;  but  that,  if 
 they  did  not  truly  repent,  and  receive  their  Mef- 
 iiah,  the  Day  of  Deft:rudion  was  foon  to  come 
 upon  them :  To,  We  of  this  Nation  may  find  too 
 muchReafonto  think  that  That  Day  is  not  at 
 any  very  great  Difta nee  from  us,  beyond  which 
 God  will  not  try  us,   or  bear  with  us ;   I  mean, 
 if  we  confider  how  many  Methods  he  has  ufed 
 to  awaken  us,  and  how  little  we  have  hither- 
 to been  alarmed,   to    any  good  Purpofe  of  A- 
 mendment :  how  many  HappinefTes  and  Mer- 
 cies 
 
j4 Sermon  Preached  bn^ft.  2,  1702. 
 
 391 
 
 cies  He  has  favoured  us  with,  as  a  Nation  — 
 Placed  Us  in  a  Situation,  and  in  Circumflances 
 which  point  out  to  Us  all  Opportunities  ima- 
 ginable of  being  a  great  and  flourifhing  People ; 
 —  Made  us  the  Subjeds  of  a  Power  governed 
 by  Laws,  and  not  of  Arbitrary  and  Unbound- 
 ed Tyranny  ;  often  delivered  our  Liberties  and 
 Lives  fcom  imminent  Ruine,  and  our  Happi- 
 nefs  from  the  very  Jaws  of  Deftrudion  ^  — 
 Called  us  to  the  Knowledge  of  his  Go/pel  (a 
 Mercy  which  we  can  never  duely  value)  not 
 as  it  was  hid,  and  obfcured,  and  made  ufelefj, 
 by  ignorant  and  wicked  Men,  but,  by  his 
 Providence,  reftored  to  Light,  fo  far,  as  to  lie 
 open  to  All,  in  that  Native  Simplicity  and 
 Purity,  in  which  his  firft  Followers  preached, 
 and  wrote  it,  for  the  Ufe  of  All.  And,  toengage 
 us  the  more  to  it.  He  himfelf  has  made  This 
 happy  Condition  of  Ours  fo  much  his  Care, 
 that  no  Attempts  hitherto  againfT:  it  have  pro- 
 fpered,  but  all  have  been  wonderfully  defeated. 
 And  then  We  may  go  on  to  confider,  That,  as 
 Mercies  have  not  been  wanting  to  draw  us,  fo 
 neither  have  Judgments  to  alarm  and  drive  Us 
 of  this  Generation  to  Amendment.  It  is  not 
 very  long  fmce  all  was  Confufion  and  Difor- 
 der  ;  lince  the  Sword  of  Civil  Fury  was  dyed 
 in  Blood  and  Slaughter ;  nor  much  lefs  Time 
 fince  a  fatal  Peltilence  raged  amongft  Us,  and 
 C  c  4.  a  ter- 
 
 s  E  R  M, 
 
 XVIII. 
 
392 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  on  ^t^t,  2,    1702. 
 
 SER  Ml.a  terrible  Fire  laid  wafte  this  City.  Now,  if  we 
 XVIII,  refledt  on  all  thefe,  we  muft  think,  either  that 
 I/VN^  we  are  amended  and  reformed  fo  much  as  to 
 turn  away  God's  Dilplealure  j  or  elfe,  that  the 
 Day  for  Ruine  and  Deftrudion  cannot  be  at  a 
 very  great  Diflance,  unlefs  we  do  very  foon 
 and  very  ferioufly  prevent  it,  by  forfaking  our 
 Vices,  and  turning  to  Him  in  HoHpefs  and 
 Righteoufnefs  of  Life.  For  thus  We  fhould 
 call  to  Remembrance,  He  has  dealt  with  the 
 Nations  of  old  j  and  particularly,  with  ~his^ 
 chofen  People,  the  People  of  Ifrael.  And 
 therefore.  We  fhould  argue,  in  this  fame 
 iManner,  and  thefe  fame  Methods,  will  He 
 deal  with  us,  in  the  future  Difpenfations  of 
 his  Mercy,  or  of  his  Wrath. 
 
 The  Thoughts,  which  I  have  now  pointed 
 out,  will,  in  their  natural  Tendency,  lead  us  all 
 mofl  heartily  to  endeavour  to  amend  our  own 
 Lives,  and  to  do  what  in  Us  lies  to  difcourage, 
 and  put  a  flop  to,  the  open  Wickednefsof  O- 
 thers  J  and  fo  to  confult  our  own  Intereft  and 
 Happinefs,  in  the  Profperity  and  Happinefs  of 
 that  Nation,  and  Society,  of  which  we  are 
 Members.  And,  as  what  I  have  now  offered 
 cannot  but  be  thought  very  feafonable  upon  the 
 Occafion,  which  has  at  this  Time  brought  Us 
 together ;  fo,  let  mc  add,  with  regard  to  our 
 prefent  publick  Circumftances  ;  thatfuch  Con- 
 
 fiderations 
 4 ^ 
 
A  Sermon  Preached  on  Sept.  2,  1702. 
 
 fiderations  can  never  be  more  feafonable,  than 
 at  a  Time,  when  a  Torrent  of  open  Wicked- 
 nefs,  and  Shameful  Divifions  at  Home^  and  a 
 Powerful  Enemy  Abroad^  feem  to  confpire  to 
 open  the  Way,  to  the  Ruine  of  all  that  is  dear 
 to  Us,   as  Englijhmen,  and  Prcteftants, 
 
 God  grant,  We  may  knowy  even  We^  in  this, 
 our  Da^y  the  Things  that  belong  to  our  Peace  ; 
 and  all  of  Us  ad:  according  to  what  tVe  fee 
 to  be  our  Duty,  and  our  Intereft  I 
 
 393 
 
 S  E  RM. 
 XVUI. 
 
 SER 
 
sm. 
 
 v  -■ 
 
 T—^ 
 
 S  E  R  M  O  N  XIX. 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Titer's  Poor,  March  8,  1 708-9, 
 being  the  Anniverfary  of  the  Queen's  Ac- 
 '    ceflion,  &c. 
 
 •"SCZ 
 
 , 
 
 I  Tim. 
 
 ii. 
 
 I, 
 
 2. 
 
 S  E  R  M. 
 XIX. 
 
 I  exhort  therefor e,  thatjirft  of  all  Supplications^ 
 Prayers.,  InterceJJionsy  and  giving  of  T'banks, 
 he  made  for  all  Men  :  for  Kings,  and  for  all 
 that  are  in  Authority  ;  that  we  may  lead  a 
 quiet  and  peaceable  Life,  in  all  Godlinefs  and 
 Honefy. 
 
 H  E  S  E  Words  are  a  Diredion  to  T/*- 
 mothy,  who  had  the  Care  and  Over- 
 light  both  of  Paftors  and  People,  in  the 
 Parts  about  Ephfus  j  and  they  relate  to  the 
 public  Prayers  of  CbriJIian  Congregations:  ex- 
 horting, thai,  they  fliouid  extend  their  Charity 
 to  the  v.'hole  World,  by  recommending  all 
 Mankind  to  ihe  Favour  of  Almighty  God  ; 
 particularly,  that  they  (hould  pray,  and  give 
 Thaiiks,  for  Kings,  and  all  that  were  in  Au- 
 thority, 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1708-9. 
 
 i95. 
 
 t  thority,  or  as  the  Margin  exprefles  it,  jie.aifir{SERM. 
 to  the  Original,  in  eminent  Place ,  for  All  whom    xix. 
 tlie  Providence  of  God  has  railed  to  any  Degreeh-''"^'^"^ 
 of  Power  i   that  they  (hould  pray  for  all  fuch, 
 
 jthat  Chrijiians  might  lead  a  quiet  and  peace- 
 able Life  under  them,  in  all  Godlinefsand  Ho- 
 nefty.     Which  laft  Words  are  either  defigned 
 to  dire^  them  what  fhould  be  the  Matter   of 
 iheir  Prayers ;  or  elfe  toexprefs  one  End  which 
 he  propofed  by  Chrijiians  thus  publickly  pray- 
 ing for   All  in  Authority,  or  Eminence  ;  vix,  ^ 
 that  thefe  Perfons  in  Power  might  be  induced 
 by  this  to  be   favourable  to  them,  or,  at  le?ft 
 not  to  treat  them  as  Enemies.      If  they  be  un- 
 derftood  thefirft  Way,   the  Diredtion  is,  That 
 they  (hould  pray  for  all  in  Eminence,  to   this 
 Effedt,  that  God  would  be  pleafed    fo  to  dif- 
 pofe  their   Hearts,  that   They   might   fo  ufe 
 their  Power,  as  that  fo  good  Men,  and    Pro- 
 feflors  of  fo   holy   a    Religion,   as  the  Chrif-     . 
 tians,   might  be  fafe   and  fecure  under  them  ; 
 that  they   might  be  Terrors   only  to  Evil-do- 
 ers,  and  a  Praife  and  Safeguard  to  them   that; 
 do  well.      If  they  be  underftood  in  the  latter 
 Senfe,  as  one  End  propofed  by  St.  Paul^   why! 
 Chrijiians  (hould  at  that  Time  particularly  pray 
 for  all  in  high  Stations,  the  Meaning  of  them^ 
 will  be  this,   That  he  would  have  them    prayj 
 for  their  Superiours  and  Governours,  not  only: 
 
 becaufej 
 
2q6      a  Sermon  preached  M^r,S^  1708-9. 
 
 S  E  RM.becaufe  it  was  their  Duty,  but  becaufe  it  was 
 '  XIX.    jtheir  Intereft ;  to  the  End   that  thofe  Men  in 
 ^y^^^^'^  iPower  might  be  induced,  when  they  knew  that 
 iChrifiiam  did  heartily  pray  for  them,   to  ufe 
 them  as  Friends ;  to  permit  them  to  lead  quiet 
 j^  ^  and  peaceable  Lives,  and  not  to  perfecute  and 
 ,^^*  '  harrafs  them  as  Enemies;  thatfo  the  Church 
 might  have  Peace  and  Encouragement  by,  means 
 of  the   powerful  Men   of  the    World,   when 
 they  fliould  find  that  Chriftianity  was  no  Ene- 
 my to  them,  or   their  Government,   but  was 
 likely  to  be  a  great  Support  to  it,   by  its  Prayers 
 and  IntercefTions  for  them. 
 
 Both  thefe  Ways  may  the  Words,  I  think, 
 be  understood ;  tho'  I  rather  think,  that  St. 
 Faul  might  have  the  latter  in  his  Eye,  at  a 
 Time  when  Chriftianity  was  furrounded  with 
 Enemies ;  and  perpetual  Perfecution  was  very 
 likely  to  be  its  Fate,  from  the  Notion  that 
 they  had  entertained,  of  its  difpofing  Men  to 
 be  of  turbulent,  and  troublefome,  and  ungo- 
 vernable Tempers  ;  or  that,  being  wholly  ta- 
 ken up  with  the  Thoughts  of  another  State  of 
 Happinefs  to  come  hereafter,  they  might  be 
 entirely  difregardful  of  the  Interell  and  Good 
 of  Human  Society  below. 
 
 My  Defign  is  not  to  infiftupon  thefe  Words 
 as  they  may  peculiarly  belong  to  the  firft  Chrif- 
 tians,  furrounded  by   Enemies,  looked  upon 
 
 with 
 
yi  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8^  1708-9.    I  397 
 
 with  a  jealous  Eye  by  Princes   and    Men   in  s  e  R  m. 
 Power,  and  continually  liable   to  the  Frowns  I  xix. 
 of  all  around  them  j  but  to  confiderthem  with  i-^^VNI 
 a  more  general  View,  as  they  may  be  applied, 
 and  very  reafonably  fuppofed  to  be  direcfled, 
 to  all  ChriJIianSy  in  all  Ages,   under  all  Forms 
 of  Government:  and  to  Ourfelves  in  particular, 
 under  an  excellent  Form  of  Government,   and 
 an  excellent  Queen,  who,  as  this  Day,  by  the 
 Providence  of  God,   fucceeded  to  the  Crown, 
 and  Glory,   of  her  Illuftrious  PredecefTor. 
 
 Only  before  I  proceed,  I  cannot  forbear  re- 
 marking, how  eager  fome  Men  are  to  catch  at 
 any  thing  that  may  impofe  a  Yoke  of  Bondage 
 upon  Themfelves  and  their  Neighbours,  when 
 they  lay  hold  on  fuch  a  Text  as  this  j  and  ar- 
 gue from  St.  Paul's  comsnanding  Chrijiians  to 
 pray  for  all  in  Eminence,  or  Power,  that  he 
 commanded  them,  in  this,  to  be  wholly  paf- 
 five,  at  all  Times,  and  in  all  Circumftances, 
 under  all  pofTible  ill  Ufage,  even  under  fuch 
 Adminiftrations  as  muft  ruine  the  whole  pub- 
 lic Society,  as  well  as  themfelves ;  nay,  far- 
 ther, that  they  fhould  pray  for  Profperity  to 
 Thofe  in  Power,  in  all  their  violent  Attempts, 
 and  all  their  Undertakings  of  all  Sorts.  But, 
 in  one  word,  they  may  as  well  argue,  from 
 our  being  commanded  to  pray  for  our  Ene- 
 mies, or  from  our  being  commanded  to  pray 
 j  for 
 
^q8       A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1708-g. 
 
 SERM.for   all   Men   herein  the  Text,   that  we  are 
 XIX.    therefore   obliged    to    wifli    them   well  in  all 
 
 i^/^'">te^their  unjufl  Attempts  againft  Ourfelves  j  nay, 
 in  all  their  contradidlory  Deligns.  againft  one 
 another  j  to  fubmit  our  Necks,  our  Families, 
 our  worldly  Concerns,  to  the  Infults  and  the 
 Devaftation  of  any  who  will  be  fo  hardy  as  to 
 attack  us,  and  to  attempt  our  Ruine.  ^  And  if 
 fome  of  the  primitive  Chriftians  do,  in  their  A- 
 pologies,  declare  to  the  Emperours,  in  abfo- 
 lute  Terms,  and  without  any  Exceptions, 
 that  They  pray  for  their  Happinefs  audSuccefs; 
 it  muft  be  faid,  that  they  could  mean  this 
 in  no  Senfe  pleafing  to  Almighty  God,  but  in 
 this,  that  they  might  be  profpered  and  find 
 Succefs  in  all  their  lawful  and  honourable  En- 
 terprizes  ;  or  elfe,  if  They  meant  this,  in  any 
 other  Senfe,  that  thefe  Chrijlia?is^  who  u^re 
 fallible  Men,  miftook  the  Nature  of  their  Du- 
 ty ;  and  put  up  Prayers  very  unacceptable  to 
 the  great  Fountain  of  Good,  and  Lover  of 
 That  only  which  is  ever  Juft  and  Right. 
 
 To  profecute  my  prefent  Defign,  it  will  be 
 proper, 
 
 F/Vy?,  to  confider  the  Importance  and  Burthen 
 of  Government ;  together  with  the  unfpeaka- 
 ble  Benefic  of  good  Government  3  from  which. 
 
 Secondly i  We  may  eafily  fee,  both  the  Need 
 
 there 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Max.  8,  1708-9.    I  309 
 
 there  is  of  the  heartiefl  united  Prayers  of  the  i  e  R  M . 
 governed  Society,  in  the   Behalf  of  Govern-]  xix. 
 ours  'y  and  Hkewife,   what   mufl  be  the  chief  l/'VXJ 
 Matter  of  thefe   Prayers,   as   well  as  of  their 
 Thankfgivings,  plainly  pointed  out  in   thofe 
 Words,   I'hat  we  may  lead  quiet  and  peaceable 
 LiveSy  in  all  Godlinefi  and  Honejly. 
 
 Aftef  which,  there  will  not  need  many 
 Words  to  apply  what  fhall  have  been  faid,  to 
 the  prefent  Occafion  of  our  meeting  together; 
 and  the  Bleflings  which  this  Day  has  continu- 
 ed and  confirmed  to  us. 
 
 Firfl,  The  Importance  and  Burthen  of  Go- 
 vernment deferves  to  be  fpoken  to,  together 
 with  the  unfpeakable  and  extenfive  Benefit  of 
 good  Government.  Were  one  to  judge  of 
 Matters  by  mere  Outfide  and  Shew ;  or,  were 
 one  to  form  his  Sentiments,  concerning  Objeds, 
 by  the  Zeal  that  Poor  Mortals  ihew  to  obtain 
 them,  one  would  think  a  State  of  Power,  and 
 Riches,  (which  are  the  Sinews  of  Power,)  to 
 be  the  mod  lovely  and  defireable  State  in  the 
 World  ;  made  up  of  nothing  but  moft  agreea- 
 ble Amufements,  or  magnificent  Scenes  of  all 
 that  is  defirable. 
 
 Through  how  much  Blood,  and  at  the 
 Expence  of  how  many  Thoufand  Lives,  will  a 
 Man,  fired  by  Ambition,  feek  after  a  Crown 
 that  is  to  be  purchafed  at  any  rate  3  and  think 
 
 -.\  per- 
 
400       A  Sermon  preached  M^v,  8,   1708-9. 
 
 SE  RM.  perhaps,  all  the  while,  that  he  is  in  Purfuit  of 
 XIX.    one  of  the  moft  agreeable  Stations  this  World 
 
 l/^VN+z  can  (hew?  And  how  eager  will  the  Contention 
 often  be,  even  where  one  would  think  Men  have 
 had  enough  of  their  own  Power  before,  and 
 felt  enough  of  the  Weight  of  Goxernment  ? 
 But,  there  being  fomething  gawdy  and  great 
 in  outward  Appearance,  the  Senfes,  of  Men 
 are  more  taken  up  with  the  Outfide,  than  their 
 Reafon  and  Confideration  are  with  what  is  with- 
 in. For,  alas  !  if  the  Matter  be  laid  open, 
 how  many  Thorns  grow  inwards  ?  how  many 
 Cares,  and  Fears,  and  Anxieties,  muft  moleft, 
 even  one,  who  is  but  little  follicitous  about  the 
 good  Eftate  of  thofe  under  him  ?  How  many 
 Enmities  muft  he  encounter,  how  many  Par- 
 ties muft  he  fteer  between,  how  many  Appli- 
 cations muft  he  endure  ?  how  many  Jealoufies 
 muft  he  entertain,  of  every  Thing,  and  every 
 Body  ?  efpecially  if  he  knows  himfelf  rather  to 
 be  an  Enemy,  than  a  Friend,   to  his  People  ? 
 
 But  I  fpeak  not  merely  of  this.  Put  the 
 Cafe,  that  the  true  End  of  Government  be  con- 
 ftantly  in  the  View  of  the  Governour,  and 
 that  it  is  his  fincere  Intention  to  confult  the 
 Good  and  Intereft  of  the  Governed  ;  what  a 
 laborious,  what  an  uninterrupted  Courfe  of 
 Cares  and  Anxieties?  what  a  Burthen  of  never- 
 ceafing  Thought,   (the  Labour  of  the  Mind,) 
 
 doth 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mar,  8,  170S-9. 
 
 401 
 
 doth  this  imply  in  it  r  To  guard  againft  the  j  e  R  Mo 
 evil  Defigns  of  Flatterers,  and  artful  Courtiers;  xix. 
 againft  thofe  who  prefs  for  high  Stations,  in  </VNJ 
 order  to  hinder  the  good  Influences  of  better 
 Men  above  them,  and  only  to  anfwer  their  own; 
 private  Ends ;  to  combat  the  Enmity  and  Op- 
 pofition  of  thofe  who  diflike  every  thing  that 
 is  truly  good,  and  never  put  more  Impediments 
 in  the  Way  of  Governors,  than  when  they  are: 
 truly  in  the  Intereft  of  the  People  under  them : 
 To  fee  with  the  Eyes  of  others,  and  yet  to 
 fee  Things  in  their  true  Colours ;  to  hear 
 with  the  Ears  of  Others,  and  yet  not  to  be 
 deceived  ;  to  penetrate  into  the  dark  RecciTeS 
 of  the  Breaft  of  Others ;  to  be  Proof  againft 
 Vain,  and  Empty,  and  Extravagant  Comple- 
 ments, and  to  be  armed  againft  rough  and  un- 
 mannerly Contradidion  :  To  know  what  is 
 the  true  Intereft  of  a  People,  in  every  confi- 
 derable  Branch  ,  to  have  Courage  enough  ta 
 profefs  this  to  be  their  own  ;  to  have  Condud 
 enough  to  profecute  it  in  the  wifeft  Methods  ; 
 and  Hardinefs  to  adhere  to  it,  againft  all  thef 
 deluding  Offers,  and  all  the  boldeft  Threats, 
 to  the  contrary  :  To  do  Juftice  impartially, 
 and  yet  to  exercife  Mercy  in  due  Time  and 
 Place :  What  fliall  I  fay  ?  To  ad  the  Part  of 
 a  God  in  the  W^orld,  by  Beneficence  and  Good- 
 nefs ;  to  proted  the  Injured,  to  defend  the  Op- 
 
 D  d  prefled. 
 
•402 
 
 A  Sermo?t  preached  Mar.  8 ,  1 7  o  8 -  q . 
 
 -  T-E  RTM. 
 XIX. 
 
 prejTed,  and  to  be  ever  prepared  for  all  Occa- 
 fions  of  doing  good. 
 
 This  is  the  Part  of  Governors,  the  Part  of 
 all  who  are  polTcfTcd  of  Civil  Power,  in  their 
 feveral  Places  and  Stations.  And  is  not  this 
 a  Burthen  that  requires  God's  Affiftance  ;  a 
 Burthen  for  more  than  human  Abilities  ?  But 
 how  excellent  in  its  Ufe,  and  how  beneficial, 
 when  this  Burthen  is  borne,  and  this  Office  ex- 
 ecuted, by  Such  as  are  not  taken  with  the  ex- 
 ternal Title  and  Appearance,  but  regard  the 
 internal  Parts  of  it,  and  its  true  Defign  !  how 
 doth  the  benign  Influence  defcend  from  the 
 Head  down  to  the  loweft  Parts  of  the  Body  ? 
 Mutual  Love,  Rtft,  Qjiiiet,  Security,  in  all  thtir 
 Concerns ;  Theie  and  many  more  Goods,  are 
 ving  to  the  Fountain  above,  from  whence 
 they  flow  in  mighty  and  ufeful  Streams.  On 
 the  contrary,  v/hen  all  this  internal  Part  of 
 Government  is  difregarded,  and  only  the  ex- 
 ternal Grandeur  aimed  at,  and  carried  to  an 
 Excefs  of  Plighth  by  a  Governor,  how  doth 
 the  Malignity  of  this  fpread  itfelf  over  a  Coun- 
 try ?  Uneafinefs,  and  Mifery,  and. every  evil 
 Work,  is  the  Effed  j  and  Nothing  good  to 
 be  depended  upon  ;  but  every  Thing  that  is 
 valuable  or  delightful,  to  be  facrificed  to  Hu- 
 mour and  Paffion  1 
 
 Let 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1708-9. 
 
 403 
 
 Let  us,  therefore,  Secondly,  learn  from  hence  sek  m 
 how  much  it  concerns  us,  and  our  Governors,  xix. 
 that  we  heartily  and  fervently  put  up  our 
 Prayers  to  God,  for  Them  ;  that  this  laborious 
 and  invidious  Tafk  may  be  made  light  and 
 eafy,  thro'  the  kind  Difpofitions  of  his  Provi- 
 dence, to  all  fuch  as  truly  defign  his  Glory, 
 and  the  Good  of  thofe  over  whom  they  are 
 placed.  For  indeed,  his  fatherly  Eye,  and 
 friendly  Concurrence,  feem  more  necelTary  in 
 'Thisy  than  in  any  other  fecular  ¥/ork  what- 
 foever  :  as  it  is  evident  that  in  Tthis,  the  Hap- 
 pinefs,  or  Mifery,  of  whole  Nations,  and  of  the 
 Children  yet  unborn,  are  highly  concerned. 
 
 And  hence  we  fljall  be  naturally  led  to  fee, 
 what  the  Matter,    and  chief  Subjedl,   of  our 
 Prayers,  fhould  be.      For  Inftance,  that,  thro* 
 the  kind  Difpofitions  of  Providence,  it    may 
 not  be  in  the  Pov/er  of  evil-minded  Men  to 
 difturb  the  Reigo,   or  obflrud:   the   Manage- 
 ment,   of  fuch  Rulers  as  are  indeed  a  Terror 
 to  evil  Works,  and  a  Praiie  to  them  that  do 
 well ;     that  they  may  have  Eyes  perpetually 
 open   to  fee,  and  Ears  perpetually  difpofed  to 
 hear,   what   is   for  the  common  and  univerfal 
 Interefl  5     that  they  may  have  FTearts   armed 
 agaivift  every  thing  that  can  hinder  the  Profe- 
 cuiion  of  it,  and  Courage  and  Condu(5l  to  make 
 Government  as  uferul   as  God  Almighty  de- 
 D  d  2  figned 
 
4^4 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1 708-9. 
 
 s  E  R  r^.  figned  It  fhould  be:  That  every  thing  may  be 
 XIX..  propofed  and  pafled  into  Laws,  that  may  efta- 
 J-^^"V^'  bli(h  Peace  and  Righteoufnefs  upon  a  lading 
 Foundation  j  and  build  up  fuch  a  Strudlure  of 
 Public  Virtue  and  Happinefs,  as  no  Time  may 
 be  able  to  demolifli,  nor  any  Attempts  to 
 ruine. 
 
 To  thefe  Subjeds  of  our  Prayers,,  the  Im- 
 portance, the  Burthen,  the  Nature,  and  the 
 End  of  their  Office  dired:  us. 
 
 For  their  temporal  Profperity  and  Succefs 
 we  mufl  frame  our  ferious  Wiflies,  and  adapt 
 our  Prayers,  fo  as  to  make  them  agreeable  in 
 all  Refpeds,  to  the  Will  of  God  :  and  this  can 
 be  only  done  efFedually,  by  praying  to  God, 
 that  They  may  be  fuccefsful  in  all  fuchDeflgns 
 and  Endeavours  as  are  approved  of  by  him  ;  as 
 are  juft,  honourable,  reafonable,  fitting,  and 
 becoming:  all  beyond  this  being  little  lefs  than 
 Blafphemy.  To  pray  to  God  that  any  Perfons 
 may  have  Succefs  in  Works  which  He  hates 
 and  abhors  j  in  the  Works  of  that  evil  Spirit 
 which  is  always  reprefented  as  the  greateft  E- 
 nemy  to  his  Will  j  is  to  affront  and  anger  Him. 
 The  Gofpel  of  Chrifi  knows  no  fuch  Duty  as 
 this,  Tho*  the  Duty  of  Prayer  for  Governors 
 be  laid  down  in  general  Terms ;  yet  common 
 Senfe,  and  the  Commands  of  God  in  other 
 Cafes,  mull  regulate  and  bring  this  into  due 
 
 Form. 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1 708-9, 
 
 405  • 
 
 Form.      Suppofe  all  the  Mariners  and  PafTen--  ser  m. 
 gers,  in  a  Ship,   were  commanded  to  pray  for    xix. 
 their    Pilot,   and  for  his  Succefs,   in    genera!  ^-/^'^ 
 Terms;  could  any  one  argue  from  hence,  that 
 they  are  obliged   to  pray  for  Succefs  to  him, 
 even  when  he  is  endeavouring  to  fplit  the  Ship 
 upon  a  Rock,  to  dafli  it  into  a  thoufand  Pieces, 
 and  defjroy  the  Life  of  every  one  in  it  ?      Or, 
 Would  not  every  one  underiland  fuch  a  gene- 
 ral Exprellion  to  imply  in  it  only  an  Obligation 
 to  fuch  Prayer  as  is  fuitable  to  the  Nature  and 
 End   of  his  Office,   the  preferving  the  Ship^ 
 and  bringing  it  fafe  into  Port  ? 
 
 So,  in  the  Cafe  of  Thankfgiving,  if  that 
 were  likewife  injoined  ;  could  any  Man  be  fo 
 abfurd  as  to  fay,  that  thofe  Paffengers,  who 
 faw  this  Danger  evidently,  and  the  evil  Defign 
 of  this  Pilot,  were  yet  obliged  to  blefs  God 
 for  fuch  a  Pilot,  who  was  juft  going,  evident- 
 ly, to  dafli  them  againfl  a  Rock,  and  to  deftroy 
 both  their  Goods  and  their  Lives  ? 
 
 Beiides,  lithtChrijlian  Religion  can  be  fup- 
 pofed  to  enjoin  either  Prayer,  or  Thaiikfgiving, 
 in  fo  unlimited  aManner  ;  then  mufl:  it  be  fup- 
 pofed,  that  the  ChrijUans  of  feveral  Countries 
 muft  be  obliged  in  Duty  to  pray  to  God  for  the 
 moft  contradidory  things  in  Nature :  one  Part, 
 that  he  will  pleafe  to  profper  Tyranny  and  Op- 
 preffion ;  another  Part,  that  he  will  be  pleaded 
 
 D  d  3  tfj 
 
4o6 
 
 .  A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1 708-9, 
 
 SER  M.  to  give  Succefs  to  Juftice,  and  profper  the  beft 
 IX.    of  Adminiftrations  j  which  it  is  highly  abfurd 
 K/'V^  to  fix  upon  the  Chrijlian  Inftitution.   Can  thofe 
 Subjeds  of  any  Monarch,  in  Countries  abroad, 
 for  inilance,   who  groan  under  his  Oppreffion 
 and  his  exorbitant  Demands,  for  the  fake  of 
 what  they  themfelves   may  think  unjufl  At- 
 tempts of  Force  and  War  upon  Others ;    can 
 fuch  Chridian  Subjeds,   I  fay,    be  obliged  by 
 the  Gofpel  to  pray  for  his  outward  Profperity 
 in  ail  his  Undertakings  ?     This  cannot  be  the 
 Duty  of  fuch  unhappy  Subjeds.      We  of  this 
 Nation,  indeed,  feel  the  Sweets  of  good  Go- 
 ^Ifefnment,  and  know  what  it  is  to  be  engaged 
 in  a  righteous  Caufe;  and  therefore,  are  obliged 
 to  pray  for  Succefs  to  our  Sovereign,  whom  we 
 •willingly  obey,    and  of  whofe  Adminiftration 
 we  are  fo   gratefully  fcnfible^   and  of  whofe 
 Juftice  in  the  Caufe  She  publickly  maintains  in 
 Europe,  we  are  fo   perfedly  fatisfied.    This  is 
 the  Difference  between  Us  and  Others.    And, 
 as  it  is  impoflible  that  Contradidions  fliould  be 
 true  ;   it  is  impoffible  that  the  Duty  of  Chridi- 
 am,  in  feveral  Places,  fhould  be  fo  abfolutely 
 contradidory  of  itfelf.      No,   our  Prayers  and 
 Thanksgivings   muft   be   agreeable   to  God's 
 Will.      We  mufi:  not  pray  to  him  to  profper 
 Wickednefs,  even  in  high  Places :     nor  muft 
 we  thank  him,   as  for  temporal  BlefTings,   for 
 |:he  Vidories  of  Tyranny.  For  this  is  to  thank 
 Himy 
 
ASermwi preachedlA'A.v.  8,  1708-9. 
 
 407 
 
 Him,  for  what  is,  in  truth,  one  of  the  greateft  iER  M 
 Curfes  that  even  his  Ahiiighty  Power  can  fend    xix. 
 down  upon  any  Nation.  A  Curfe,  which  fome^-'^'^''^^. 
 Nations  Abroad  may  either  labour  againfl:,  or 
 thank  God  for,   according  as  their  Hearts  and 
 Difpofitions  have  been  preferved  in  their  natu- 
 ral State  i  or  bv  continual  Oppreflion,  and  the 
 Cuftom  pf  Injury  and  Infult,  are  become  cal- 
 lous and  totally  infenfible.      For  our  Parts,  we 
 know  no  fuch  Sentiir.cnt ;     and  therefore  can- 
 not, without  Blaiphemy,  think,  that  the  Suc- 
 cefs  of  Power,   fporting  itfelf  in  the  Miferies 
 of  Thofe   around  it,  can  be  any  Subjetft  for 
 Thankfgiving   to   the  great  Governor  of  the 
 World  ;     who    wiflies   Happinefs  to  all  Civil 
 Societies,   and   exped's   from    their  Rulers,  a 
 conftant  Attention  to  that  Happinefs,  for  which 
 they  were  fet  over  their  People. 
 
 The  T'hird  Particular  propofed  was  this, 
 Suppofing  that  the  Subjed  of  our  Prayers  be 
 granted,  or  that  it  pleafes  God  to  give  us  that 
 uncommon  Blefiing  of  good  and  juft  Govern- 
 ment over  us  j  what  our  Behaviour,  under  a 
 Senfe  of  this,  ought  to  be ;  and  what  Ufe  we 
 ought  to  make  of  fo  great  an  Happinefs.  Thefe 
 are  particularly  pointed  out  to  us  in  the  lafl 
 Words  of  the  Text,  l^kat  'voe  may  lead  a  quiet 
 and  peaceable  Life^  in  all  Godlincfs  a  fid  Ihncjiy. 
 D  d  4  Firfi, 
 
40  8 
 
 S  ER  M 
 XIX. 
 
 A  Sermon  f  reached  Mar.  8 ,  1708-9. 
 
 Firji^  This  is  the  very  End  propofed  by  the 
 Apoftle^   in  thefe  Intercejjiom  which  he  recom- 
 mends for  Kings^  and  all  others  in  Authority; 
 that,    fhewing    Ourfelves    thus   their   lincere 
 Friends   and   Weli-wifhers,    we  may,    under 
 them,  enjoy   an  undifturbed    Repofe,    and  a 
 State  of  Quiet,   which  we  could  not   fo  well 
 hope  for,   if  we  did  not  give  them  this  Tefti- 
 mony  of  our  Affection  and  Good-will.     This 
 is  as  great  an  Happinefs,  as  the  Condition  of 
 Men  in  this  World  allows  to  any  Society;     to 
 enjoy,   under  the  Protedlion  of  Power,   lodged 
 in  good  Hands,   and  exercifed  in  the  Manner, 
 and  to  the  End  for  which  alone  it  was  appoint- 
 ed,  the  Cornforts,  and  Conveniences  of  Life, 
 as  well  as  Neceflaries ;    to  reap  the  Fruits  of 
 their  own  Labours,  and  pofTefs  their  own  Ac- 
 quifitions  and  Inheritances,   without  the  conti- 
 nual Dread  of  Violence,   and  Arbitrary  Rage, 
 tearing  them  away   and  confuming  them  all. 
 An  Happinefs,  which  we  of  this  Part  of  the 
 World,   at  this  Time,  may  be  faid   peculiarly 
 to  enjoy,  whilfl:  we  may  view,  at  a  great  Dif- 
 tance,   the  Storms  and  Tempefls  which  beat 
 upon  others ;    and  the  Exercife  of  all  Power 
 by  military  Force,   to  the  utter  Ruine  of  the 
 Quiet  and  Repofe  of  their  Lives,   and  of  the 
 peaceful  Enjoyment  of  what  they  have  at  leaft 
 as  flridl  a  Right  to  enjoy  fecurely,  as  their  Go- 
 vernors have  to  rule  over  them.  And  hence  in- 
 ""  deed, 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1 708-9. 
 
 4£9 
 
 deed,  will  appear  our  peculiar  great  Concern  in  5  e  r  m. 
 thefe  Expreffions.    For  if  we  are  fo  peculiarly    xix. 
 happy,  as  that  our  Governors   watch  over  us,  ^^^'NJ 
 and  rule  us  by  Laws  made  and  known  by  Our- 
 felves  J  and  make  our  peaceable  PofTeffion  of 
 what  is  our  own,  as  fecure  as  this  World  ad- 
 mits of  5  we  mufl:  be  void  of  all  Senfe,  and  a- 
 bandon(?d  of  all  Underftanding^  to  be  Ourfelves 
 the  Troublers  of  our  own  calm  and  fmooth 
 Waters  \  and,  by  unreafonable  and  undeferved 
 Noife   and  Difquiet,  to  break  in  upon  fuch  a 
 happy  Scene  of  public  Serenity,  as  can  alone 
 give  a  Relifh  to  all   the  Goods  of  the  Earth, 
 and  alone  fecure  the  Happinefs  of  Ourfelves, 
 and  Families,  and  Pofterity,  in  it.     But, 
 
 Secondly y  There  is  fomething  farther  added 
 by  the  Jipojile^  in  his  Defcription  of  the  Condudt 
 o(  Chri/lianSj  under  the  Senfe  of  the  great  Blef- 
 ilng  of  a  good  and  beneficent  Government. 
 They  muft  not  only  lead  qtdet  and  peaceable 
 Lives,  but  muft  lead  their  Lives  in  all  Godli- 
 nefi,  and  Hone  fly.  Religion  and  Piety  towards 
 God,  and  Honefty,  or,  (as  the  Word  fignifies) 
 all  that  is  decent  and  becoming  towards  Men  5 
 Thefe  are  recommended,  as  our  own  Duty  5 
 and,  in  the  next  Verfes,  hinted  at,  as  the  moft 
 proper  and  efficacious  Means  to  reconcile  all 
 around  us,  not  only  to  us  Ourfelves,  but  to 
 God  himfelf,  ivho  wills,  and  defires  pnoft  affec- 
 tionately 
 
410 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1708-9. 
 
 SE  R  M.  tionately,  that  all  Menfiould  befaijed,  as  well 
 XIX.    ?s  Ourfelves,  by  coming  to  the  Knowledge  of  his. 
 
 i/'V^^  Truth, 
 
 ^ut  tho*  this  was  fald,  when  the  Chri/liam. 
 ^ere  in  the  niidft  of  Heathens,  and  Unbeliev- 
 ers J  yet  the  Injundion,  and  the  Reafon  of  itj^ 
 Hill  fubfifts  in  great  Force.  For  Chrijiian  Go- 
 vernors want  and  claim  our  Prayers  as.,  well  as 
 Jieathen  ones :  and  Chriftians^  as  well  now  as 
 ^t  firft,  may  find  the  good  Effed  of  fiich  ^ 
 Behaviour,  towards  their  Chrijiian  Governors; 
 that  it  may  even  now  tend  to  their  ov/n  Peace 
 and  Quiet,  ip^.all  their  Enjoyments,  as  it  did 
 upfe; others:  and  always  have  the  fame  in- 
 difpenfablp  Duty,  of  leading  a  quiet  and  peace- 
 afeje  Life,  in  all  Godlinefs,  and  all  Decency, 
 Qr  in  all  and  every  Pradice  that  is  truly  lovely, 
 and  truly  becoming  them  in  the  relation  they 
 fland  in,  to  all  around  them,  in  the  Civil  So- 
 ciety of  v/hich  they  are  Members.  This  is 
 fo  evident,  in  every  Page  of  the  Gofpel,  that 
 it  needs  not  one  Word  here  to  prove  it ;  nor 
 does  the  Time  now  allow  me  to  go  on  upon 
 this  Head. 
 
 -  1  will  therefore,  only  add  a  word  or  two,  up- 
 on a  pleafing  Subjed,  which  offers  itfelf  una- 
 voidably to  our  Thoughts,  in  applying  what 
 has  been  faid,  to  the  prefent  Occafion  of  our 
 meeting  together.  I  believe  you  will  be  before- 
 hand 
 
A  Sermon  preached  yids.  8,  1708-Q. 
 
 iill 
 
 hand  with  me  in  calling  to  mind,  that  the  Pro-  serm. 
 fperity,  and   outward  Succefs,  of  the  ^eeriy    xix. 
 whom  we  obey,  is  our  own  Profperity  and  Sue-  t/W 
 cefs  ;     that   when  we  pray  for  Her,  we  pray 
 for  Ourfelves:    That   when  we  give  Thanks 
 for  Her,   we  give  Thanks  for  our  own  envied 
 Happinefs,  in  having  One  ftill  at  the  Helm, 
 who  ha«,  for  many  Years,  fo  vvifely  fteer'ed  be- 
 tween  all   the   dangerous  Rocks,   that  many 
 Others  have  formerly  fpiit  upon.  And  indeed, 
 if  we  look  around  us,  the  State  of  all  other 
 Nations  will  engage  us  to  acknowledge  thank- 
 fully our  own  Happinefs ;  whilft  we  enjoy  by 
 written  Laws,  what  is  truly  valuable  in  this 
 Life,  as  fecure  as  Human  Affairs  can  be,  from 
 the  Inconveniences  moil  to  be  feared  in  a  Civil 
 Society  j    and   whilft  the   Supreme  Executive 
 Power  is  lodged  in  fuch  Hands,  as  have  made 
 us,  for  a  Succeffion  of  feveral  Years,  feel  the 
 kindly  Influences  of  good  Government. 
 
 I  need  fay  no  more.  Our  own  daily  and 
 hourly  Experience  fay  enough  to  move  us  to 
 pray  for  the  Increafe  of  Profperity  to  fuch  a 
 Government,  and  the  long  Continuance  of  fuch 
 a  State  ;  and  efpecially  at  a  Time  when  the 
 Bleflings  of  Peace  and  Plenty  at  Plome,  feem 
 to  be  vying  with  the  Glory  of  our  Arms  A- 
 broad :  Moderation  and  Piety  prefiding  here  j 
 Courage  and  Conduit  exerting  themfelves  A- 
 
 broad 
 
412 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  Mar.  8,  1 708-9. 
 
 broad :  and  contending  with  each  Other,  in 
 their  Efforts  to  eftabiifh  our  Happinefs  at  pre- 
 fent,  and  to  tranfmit  it  down  fecure  to  the  lat- 
 eft  Poflerity.  May  we  all,  therefore,  in  Gra- 
 titude for  fuch  Mercies,  join  our  Hearts  and 
 Voices  to  praife  the  Great  Difpofer  of  all 
 Things  for  them  j  and  to  entreat  the  Preferva- 
 4ion  of  them !  and  may  we  all  re/olve,  in 
 thankful  Return  to  our  Governors,  and  to 
 God  himfelf,  to  lead  quiet  and  pace  able  Lives^ 
 in  all  Godlinefi  and  Honefiy, 
 Whiih  God  grants  &c. 
 
 .se  rm 
 
 XIX. 
 
 SERMON 
 
SERMON   XX. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Church  of  St.  Peter  s  Poor^  on 
 May  29,  1709. 
 
 PsAL.  cxvii.  former  Part  of  ver.  i. 
 ^be  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  Earth  rejoice* 
 
 1 
 
 ■^HE  Sentence  I  have  now  read  to  You, 
 carries  along  with  it  a  moft  ufeful  Lef- 
 fon  ;  full  of  as  much  Satisfadtlon  and 
 Comfort,  as  reafonable  Creatures  could  defire, 
 in  fuch  Circumflances  as  Men  are  in,  whilfl: 
 they  are  upon  this  Earth.  And  what  it  fets 
 forth  to  us  is  plainly  this,  that  God,  who  firfl 
 created  all  Things,  doth  alfo  order  the  Courfe 
 of  this  World,  as  we  now  fee  it ;  and  ilill  con- 
 tinues to  exercife  a  paternal  Providence  over 
 it ;  and  to  diredt  and  govern  the  feveral  Parts 
 and  Inhabitants  of  it :  and  that  we  have  the 
 greateft  Reafon  to  rejoice  that  it  is  fo.  T'be 
 Lord  reignethj  let  the  Earth  rejoice. 
 In  fpeaking  farther  to  thefe  Words  I  propofe, 
 
 Firji, 
 
 SER  M, 
 XX. 
 
414 
 
 SERM 
 
 XX. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  May  29,  1 709. 
 
 Firfi^  To  fliew  what  is  implied  in  the  Af- 
 firmation, ^he  hordreigneth  -,  and  at  the  fame 
 Time,  the  Truth  of  it  j  and, 
 
 SecofiMy,  to  give  feme  Reafons  why  the  In- 
 habitants of  the  Earth  fhould  rejoice,  becaufe 
 the  Lord  reigneth. 
 
 Firjl,  I  propofe  to  fhew  what  is  in>-plied  in 
 Ihis  Affirmation,  I'he  Lord  reigneth -^  and  at 
 the  fame  Time,  the  Truth  of  it.       And, 
 
 I.  The  general  Meaning  of  it  is  certainly 
 thtsj  That  a  wife  and  powerful  God  prefides 
 over  the  whole  World  ^  that  nothing  comes 
 to  pafs  without  his  Will,  his  Decree,  or  his 
 Permiffion  ;  unlefs  he  fees  fit  to  order  it,  or  to 
 fufFer  it  to  come  to  pafs:  That  he  holds  the 
 Sceptre  of  the  Univerfe  j  and,  comprehending 
 all  Things  by  an  infinite  Knowledge,  and  be- 
 ing able  to  order  all  Things  by  an  omnipotent 
 Will,  he  doth  whatever  pleafes  him  both  in 
 Heaven  and  Earth  :  That,  as  nothing  was 
 made  without  Him,  fo  nothing,  from  the  firft 
 Moment  of  the  Creation,  hath  happened  in  all 
 the  vail  Extent  of  the  World,  amongfl  all  the 
 Multitude  of  Beings  in  it,  vi^hich  he  did  not 
 think  fit  either  to  bring  to  pafs  himlelf,  or  to 
 let  other  Beings  bring  to  pafs. 
 
 But,  2.  in  order  to  be  more  particular. 
 Let  us  coniider  his  Government,  as  it  refpeds 
 
 the 
 
A  Sermon  preached  M2iY  2Q,  170Q. 
 
 AIS. 
 
 the  material  and  irrational  Part  of  the  Crea- 
 tion ;  and  his  Government,  as  it  refpeds  the 
 intelligent  and  rational  Part  of  it. 
 
 As  to  his  Government  with  rerpe(5l  to  the 
 material  and  irrational  Part  of  his  Creation  j  let 
 us  obferve,  that  it  was  He,  who,  after  he  had 
 created  every  Thing,  placed  and  fixed  it  in  its 
 proper  flace  ;  and  all  in  that  peculiar  and  ad- 
 mirable Order,  in  which  we  now  find  theUni- 
 verle  with  Wonder  and  Aflonifhment.  And 
 this  was  one  Adt  of  Government  and  Empire 
 in  him,  to  give  Laws  to  all  the  Matter  that  he 
 had  put  into  feveral  Forms,  and  allot  to  every 
 Portion  of  it,  and  to  every  Machine,  its  proper 
 Province  and  properOffice;  within  what  Bounds 
 it  fhall  abide  J  how  far  its  Influence  fliould 
 reach  J  what  fort  of  Motion  it  fliould  have:; 
 with  what  Quicknefs,  and  with  what  Deter- 
 mination, and  to  what  End  and  Purpofe  it 
 fhould  move.  Thus,  having  colledied  an  un- 
 conceivable Number  of  Particles  of  Light  and 
 Heat,  and  fixed  them  in  one  vafl:  Body,  he 
 may  be  faid  to  have  imprefled  on  it  a  Law, 
 tho'  it  was  incapable  of  Knowledge  and  Per- 
 ception J  and  commanded  it  to  bear  fuch  a  Re- 
 lation to  a  certain  Part  of  the  World  about  itj 
 as  that  the  Inhabitants  of  it  might  receive  Light 
 and  Heat,  and  the  Comforts  of  both,  from 
 it.  And  from  this  Time  the  Sun  is  faid  figura- 
 tively to  have  known  its  Rifing,  and  its  Going 
 
 •     down  5 
 
 $ERM. 
 XX. 
 
4i6 
 
 SE  RM. 
 XX. 
 
 A  Sermo7t  preached  M2iy  29^  J  70Q» 
 
 down  J  and  has  difpenfed  its  Heat  and  Light 
 in  one  regular  and  continued  Courfe  :  illumi- 
 nating and  invigorating  thofe  Bodies  that  per- 
 form their  feveral  Motions  round  it,  in  a  ftu- 
 pendous  and  never  failing  Order.  Particularly, 
 the  Place  and  Station  of  this  vaft  Body  is  fo 
 ordered  by  this  wife  God,  with  refped  to  this 
 Earth  we  live  on,  that  it  is  the  irp;nediate 
 Caufe  of  the  greateft  Benefits  in  Nature.  If 
 the  Seafons  fucceed  one  another  in  a  conflant 
 and  never-interrupted  Courfe ;  Autumn  and 
 Winter,  Spring  and  Summer;  if  by  this  means 
 the  Earth  is  prepared  to  afford  us  its  Riches, 
 and  doth  accordingly  bring  forth  its  Increafe, 
 and  all  its  Fruits,  in  due  Seafon  ;  if  the  Va- 
 pours are  carried  up  on  High,  and  then  let 
 fall  in  kindly  and  benign  Showers  to  refrefh 
 the  Earth,  and  fo  circulate  in  a  very  beneficial 
 and  wonderful  Manner ;  if  Corn,  and  all  the 
 Fruits  of  the  Earth,  have  in  them  what  is 
 proper  to  nourifh,  flrengthen,  and  refrefh 
 the  Bodies  of  Animals,  to  gratify  their  Appe- 
 tites, to  continue  and  add  an  Agreeablenefs 
 to  their  Lives  :  and  if  thefe  Fruits,  all  in  their 
 proper  Seafon,  may  be  fo  cultivated,  as  to  of- 
 fer Themfelves,  in  a  regular  yearly  Courfe,  to 
 the  Neceflities  and  Conveniencies,  of  Man  : 
 If  the  Air  be  fuch  as  he  can  live  and  breath  in, 
 adapted  to  his  Lungs,   and  the  Frame  of  his 
 
 Body, 
 
i 
 
 J^ 
 
 Wmon preached  Md,y  29,  1709, 
 
 Body;   all  this  is  owing  to  the   Government  5ER 
 
 4^7 
 
 M. 
 
 XX. 
 
 of  Almighty  God  ;  his  original  and  firfl  Decree 
 by  which  He  confined  all  Things  to  the  Places  j^^VNJ 
 they  are  now  in,   and  fixed  them  in  their  pre- 
 fent  Relations  and  Proportions  to  one  another  j 
 and  particularly,    to  his  planting  the  Sun,   that 
 immenfe  Coliedion  of  Light  and  Heat,  exadl- 
 ly  where  it  might   be  mofl  fubfervient  to  the 
 Wants  of  that  Part  of  his  Creation  to  which 
 He  firH:  ordained  it  to  belong.      All  is  owing  to 
 hisWifdom,  who  at  firfl  faid,  Let  there  be  Light y 
 Let  the   Earth  bring  Forth  her  Increafe  ;   and 
 who  by  his  firft  Commands  conflitated  the  Na- 
 ture,  the  Properties,   the  Place,   and  the  dif- 
 tind    Office,  of  every  Work   of  his  Hands. 
 Thefe,  and  the  like  numberlefs  Appearances, 
 regular  and  orderly,  are  great  and  manifefl  In- 
 ftances  of  the  Providence,  or  Government,  of 
 God  ;   and  therefore  may  be  faid  to  be  implied 
 in  that  exprefiion,  T^he  Lord  reigneth  ;  and  are 
 not  only  fo  many  wonderful  and  agreeable  Ap- 
 pearances, but  undeniable  Demonftrations,  that 
 a  mofl  knov/ing,  and  powerful,   and  merciful 
 Being  prefides,  and  has  always  prefided  and  ru- 
 led, in  the  Univerfe. 
 
 But  then,  we  muft  obferve  farther,  that 
 this  God  not  only  firft  conftituted  all  Things, 
 what  they  are  in  their  Nature,  and  allotted 
 them  their  feveral  Places,  and  afligned  thera 
 E  e  their 
 
4T8 
 
 A' Sermo?t  preached  yi2iy  29,  1709. 
 
 SER  M. 
 '  XX. 
 
 tEeir  feveral  Offices  j  but  that  He  has  referved 
 In  his  own  Hands,  the  Reins,  to  moderate 
 and  manage  them  as  he  fees  fit :  That  He  is 
 not  fo  tied  up  to  the  ordinary  Methods  and 
 Caufes  which  he  has  eftabliflied,  but  that  He 
 fometimes  interpofes,  and  interrupts  them, 
 ■upon  great  and  remarkable  Occafions  ;  and 
 fhews  that  He  can  make  the  ordinary  Courfe  of 
 Things  yield  to  his  great  Deligns.  Particularly 
 when  He  has  a  Religion  to  propagate  in  the 
 World  ;  a  chofen  Peuple  to  deliver  5  a  Nation 
 to  deilroy  ;  a  falfe  Religion  to  fl:iame  and  con- 
 found J  He  reigns  over  nature  :  and,  as  He  is 
 the  God  of  it.  He  feems  to  go  out  of  the  or- 
 dinary Courfe  He  himfelf  once  fettled,  to  make 
 the  World  of  rational  Creatures  attend,  and  to 
 raife  their  Thoughts  towards  Him,  their  Fa- 
 ther and  King.  And  this  alfo  may  be  fuppofed 
 to  be  implied  in  the  Government  of  God,  as 
 it  refpeds  the  material  and  irrational  Part  of 
 the  World. 
 
 Let  us  now  confider  it,  as  it  refpedsthe  ra- 
 tional and  underflanding  Part  of  the  Creation. 
 And  here  it  is  plain,  That,  when  he  firft  en- 
 dowed any  Beings  with  Underftanding,  and  a 
 Faculty  of  Knowledge  fuperior  to  other  Ani- 
 mals ;  and  gave  them,  by  this  Means,  a  Power 
 of  anfwering  the  higher  Ends  of  his  creating 
 fuch  Beings  j  of  adorning  the  Sution  in  which 
 I  He 
 
A  Sermon  preached  May  29,  1709. 
 
 419 
 
 He  (hould  place  them  ;  and  of  imitating  Him, 
 whofe  Exiftence  'and  Providence  They  could 
 not  but  plainly  difcover  :  That,  I  fay,  this  very 
 adorning  Them  with  thefe  Powers,  and  noble 
 Qualifications,  was  one  Inflanceof  his  Govern- 
 ment; and  fo  was  the  placing  them,  Every  one 
 in  his  proper  Sphere  of  Adion.  And  becaufe  all 
 his  Crfiatures,  of  the  moft  excellent  Sort,  are  of 
 finite  Underflandings,  and  of  limited  Powers; 
 and  particularly,  becaufe  many  of  thefe  Intelli- 
 gent Beings,  not  only  Men,  but,  as  it  is  repre- 
 fented  to  us  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  Angels,  or 
 Beings  of  an  higher  Rank,  have  left  their  pro- 
 per Stations;  and,  inftead  of  carrying  forward 
 the  Beauty  of  the  whole,  and  making  them- 
 felves  fubfervient  to  the  Defigns  of  God,  feem 
 to  have  made  it  their  Bufinefs  to  reiifl:  thofe 
 Defigns ;  to  interpofe  in  the  Midft  of  his  Go- 
 vernment ;  to  fcatter  Wickednefs  wherever 
 they  can  ;  and  by  that  to  bring  Diforder,  and 
 Mifchief,  and  Confufion,  into  the  World,  by 
 all  the  Arts  and  Methods  they  are  Maflers 
 of;  and  even  infolently  to  oppofe  his  Pur- 
 pofes,  as  far  as  They  can :  Therefore,  it  is  a 
 moft  agreeable  Obfervation,  That  Almighty 
 God  can  never  be  fuppofed  to  leave  the  World 
 to  the  Management  of  thefe  Beings  of  an  in- 
 ferior Rank  ;  but  to  interpofe  himfelf,  either 
 immediately,  or  by  the  faithful  Miniflers  of 
 E  e  2  his 
 
 S  E  R  M. 
 XX. 
 
420        A  Sermon  preached  Vbcj  20,  170Q." 
 
 SE  R  M, 
 XX. 
 
 nis  Will  and  Pleafure,  to  (hew  that  Power  be- 
 longs unto  him  ;  and  that,  though  He  has  given 
 fome  Meafure  of  Underflanding  to  inferiour 
 Beings,  yet  he  has  not  given  them  the  Govern- 
 ment of  the  World  ;  nor  put  into  their  Hands 
 the  Difpofal  of  the  Fortunes  of  any  of  their 
 Fellovi^- creatures. 
 
 He  may  permit  wicked  Spirits,  and  wicked 
 Men,  to  plot,  and  contrive,  and  lay  down  their 
 Schemes  to  themfeives,  by  which  they  hope 
 to  do  Mifchief  in  the  World  :  He  may  permit 
 them  to  go  on  in  thofe  wicked  Thoughts, 
 which  their  own  evil  and  corrupted  Natures 
 fucrizell  to  them.  But,  whether  they  fhail  ac- 
 compliili  them,  and  bring  them  to  Effedtj  whe- 
 ther they  (hall  fucceed,  or  be  difappointed  ;  is 
 referved  to  Him,  and  remains  in  his  Breaft  on- 
 ly. Fie  often  laughs  at  their  wretched  Con- 
 trivances, and  has  them  in  Derifion,  and  over- 
 throws their  whole  Projects;  and  with  one  Nod> 
 controUs  their  Malice,  and  checks  their  Defigns. 
 He  often  infatuates  their  Counfelsj  breaths  Fol- 
 ly and  inconfiftency  upon  their  Debates,  and  ap- 
 parent Imiprudence  into  all  their  Meafures. 
 And  then,  They  work  themfeives  into  Ruine, 
 and  take  the  mofl  effedual  Courfe  to  bring  on 
 the  Deftru(5tion  of  their  own  main  Purpofes. 
 He  often  permits  their  abominable  Defigns  to 
 come  to  the  End  which  They  themfeives  wifli 
 
 and 
 
rrr*ir 
 
 ^Sermon  preached M^y  29,    1709 
 
 421 
 
 and  propofe.  But  then,  this  is  for  fomQ  wife  s 
 and  good  Purpofe,  He  has  in  his  own  Eye; 
 for  the  Punifliment  of  other  wjcked  Perfons,  or 
 for  the  Reformation  of  a  wicked  People;  or  for 
 the  more  confpicuous  and  terrible  Downfal  of 
 thefe  very  wicked  Beings. 
 
 He  often,  by  fecret  and  unknown  Wavs ; 
 by  a  falfe  Friend  or  a  cunning  Enemy  ;  by 
 their  own  Jealoufies,  Quarrels,  and  mutual  Ani- 
 mofities  ;  or  fome  more  miraculous  Method  ; 
 difcovers  and  prevents  their  Mifchief.  And 
 then,  they  Themfelves  fall  into  the  Pit  which 
 themfehes  digged  for  others :  And  the  Mifchief 
 they  meant  for  others,  falls  upon  their  oivn  Heads. 
 He  often  permits  them  to  take  every  Step  they 
 pleafe,  and  every  Chain  of  their  Defign  to  be 
 fuccefsful  J  that,  when  they  come  to  the  End 
 of  it,  they  may  fee  that  He  governs  and  over- 
 rules even  their  Wickednefs:  and  be  furprifed 
 at  laft  to  find  the  Confequence  of  their  De~ 
 iigns  fo  different  from  what  they  intended  it 
 fhould  be ;  and  fuch  Effe(fls  to  proceed  from 
 their  Contrivances,  as  thefe  Contrivances  them- 
 felves were  thought  the  only  Ways  to  pre- 
 vent. 
 
 To  prove  what  1  have  been  faying,  I  will 
 juft  mention  fome  very  remarkable  Inftances 
 of  the  Superintendencyo^GoT)^  in  the  Spiritual 
 and  Temporal  Concerns  of  his  rational  Creatures 
 ^  E  e  ^  here 
 
 E  R 
 XX, 
 
 M. 
 
422 
 
 SERM 
 XX. 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  May  29^   1709. 
 
 .  here  below.     As  to  the  firfl  fort ;  Could  any 
 thing,  for  inftance,   be  more  malicioufly  con- 
 ^■<''V>I  trived  by  the  worft   of  Beings,  than   the  ig- 
 nominious   Death   and   Crucifixion  of  Chri^y 
 which  was  his  Plot,   when  he  is  faid  to  have 
 entered  into  the  Heart   of  "Judai  ?  And  yet, 
 could  any  thing  be  more  agreeable  to  the  End 
 of  Chriji's  coming  into  the  World,  or  the  De- 
 iign  of  Almighty  God,  in  fending  Him  ?  and 
 therefore  more  contrary  to   the  Mind  of  that 
 accurfed  Spirit  in  bringing  it  about  ?  Could 
 any  thing  be  thought  of,  more  adapted  to  the 
 Defigns  of  the  unbelieving  Jewsy  than,  after 
 Jefus  was  dead,  to  fet  a  Guard  at  his  Sepul- 
 chre, left  his  Difciples  fhould   fteal  him,  and 
 fay  he  was  rifen,   and  his  Religion  ftiould  be 
 propagated  by    this  Means?  And    yet,  how 
 were  his  Enemies  over- reached  by  Providence 
 in  this  ?  This  very  Circumftance  helps  to  prove 
 that  his  Difciples  did  not  fteal  him  away  j  and 
 therefore,   that  he  truly  arofe  from  the  Dead  ; 
 and  therefore,  that  his  Religion  is  true  :  and  fo 
 they  affifted  in   the  propagating  his  Religion, 
 whilft  they  meant  to  extinguifh  his  very  Name 
 and  Memory. 
 
 And,  in  temporal  Matters,  Could  any  thing 
 be  more   artfully  contrived  to   ferve  the  Jea- 
 loufy  and  Hatred  of   'Jofepfjs  Brethren,  than 
 the  felling  him  into  Egypt ;  and  yet,  what  ad- 
 mirable 
 
A  ISermon  preached  May  29,    170; 
 
 mirable    Purpofes  were  ferved   by  it  ?  Jofeph  3er  m.  ^ 
 
 railed  to  Honour  ;  a  Nation  and  Family  faved 
 from  Famine  ;  the  Foundation  laid  for  the 
 vifible  Difplaying  of  God's  Glory,  in  all  his 
 wonderful  Dilpenfations  towards  the  People  of 
 the  Jews  5  in  his  bringing  them  out  of  Slavery, 
 and  feparating  them  from  all  the  World  about 
 them.   , 
 
 But  I  need  not  go  far  for  more  Exam- 
 ples of  this  Truth,  in  the  Concerns  of  this 
 World.  This  Day  furnifhes  us  with  one  as 
 furpriling  and  as  remarkable  as  any  to  be  met 
 with  in  Civil  Hiflory.  Who  that  lived  in  the 
 late  unhappy  Times  of  Confufion,  that  accom- 
 panied and  followed  the  Civil  Warj  Who  that 
 faw  that  State  of  Things,  and  how  many  Bar- 
 riers there  were  fet  againft  the  Reftoration  of 
 the  ancient  Form  ;  and  hov/ deeply  Multitudes 
 were  engaged  in  private  Intereft,  and  in  private 
 Revenge,  to  refift  every  thing  tending  that 
 way  J —  Who  that  knew  thefe  Things,  I  fay, 
 could  have  thought  of  that  which  afterwards 
 happened  ?  And  yet,  notwithftanding  all  the 
 Contrivances  of  the  moft  politick,  and  all  the; 
 Care  of  the  wifeft  Heads,  by  a  wonderful 
 Providence,  the  ancient  Form  of  Government, 
 and  that  very  Form  which  we  now  fo  much 
 glory  in,  was  reflored  with  the  greateft  Quiet 
 iniaginable,  to  the  great  Surprize  both  of 
 E  e  4  Thofe 
 
 423 
 
 XX. 
 
^24- 
 
 fi  erm. 
 
 XX', 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  May  29,   1 7  o  9 » 
 
 Thofe  who  wiflied  it,  and  of  Thofe  who  oppor 
 fed  it. 
 
 I  have  now  done  with  the/r/?  Head.    And 
 I  hope,  it  has  fufficiently  appeared,  from  what 
 I  have  faid  under  it,   what  is    implied  in  the 
 Affirmation,   l^he  Lord  reigneth  j  and,  at  the 
 fame  Time,  how  ftrong  the  Argument  is,  that 
 the  fettled   Order,  and  regular  Difpofi&ion,  of 
 all  the  Parts  of  the  World  about  us  ;  the  Ex- 
 cellencies  of  his  Rational  Creatures,  and  the 
 Great  E'ue?2tSf   with  regard  to  I'hem  ;  plainly 
 declare  the  Care  and  Government  of  a   mod 
 perfed:  Being  over  us ;   and  that,  where   there 
 are  all  the  Marks  and  Characters  of  Wifdom, 
 jand  Power,  andGoodnefs,  there  WKdomy  Pow- 
 er, and  Goodnefs,   ought  to  be  acknowledged. 
 And  indeed,  if  we  purfue   the   Subjedl  a  lit- 
 tle farther,   what  can  be  more  reafonable  than 
 to  argue,  That,  as  God  firft  created  us,  and 
 brought  us  into   being,  and  placed  us  in   this 
 State ;  fo,  He  did  by  that  contra(5t  the  Relation 
 of  a  Father  to  us,  and  with  it  all  the  Obligation 
 of  Care,  and   Provifion,  and  tender  Regard, 
 that  refult  from    thence — That  He,  who  thus 
 brought  Creatures  into  Being,  to  make  them 
 happy,  ftill  wiflies  their  Happinefs ;  That  He, 
 who   is   perfed  in   Knowledge,   cannot  help 
 knowing  their  Neceffities;  that  He,  who  is 
 
 perfed: 
 
A  Sermon  preached  M.3.Y  2q,   I70Q« 
 
 XX. 
 
 ^^S. 
 
 perfed:  in  Goodnefs,  is  moft  ready  to  fupply  s  e  r  m, 
 them  ;  and  that  He,  who  is  perfecft  in  Power, 
 is  able  to  do  whatever   he  pleafes  for  them  : 
 and  that  therefore,   He  will  not  forfake  or  re- 
 
 jedl  them,   'till  they  have   rejected  Him  : 
 
 Efpecially,  lince  there  is  a  wicked  Part  of  his 
 Creatures  defigning  Mifery  and  Ruine  to  the 
 other,  who  are  not  always  able  to  provide 
 againft  it  ?  For  furely,  we  cannot  be  mifta- 
 ken  in  this,  which  appears  fo  evident,  that 
 a  perfed  Being  cannot  make  Worlds  of  Crea- 
 tures to  fport  with  their  Misfortunes ;  or  to 
 leave  them  to  the  Mercy  of  any  inferior  wicked 
 Beings  :  and  that  God,  who  makes  no  Crea- 
 tures out  of  the  Reach  of  his  own  Knowledge, 
 or  Power,  muft  be  fuppofed  to  govern  what 
 He  creates.  For,  that  He  is  concerned  for 
 them,  is  plain  from  his  bringing  them  into 
 Being :  and,  if  He  be  concerned  for  their 
 Happinefs,  it  is  abfurd  to  fay  that  He 
 doth  not  exercife  a  paternal  Providence  over 
 them. 
 
 II.  But  I  muft  now  proceed  to  the  other 
 main  Point,  which  I  propofed,  plainly  implied 
 in  the  Text,  viz.  That  w^t  have  all  the  reafon 
 in  the  World  to  rejoice,  and  to  be  perfedly  fa- 
 tisfied  under  the  Confideration  of  fucha  Provi- 
 dence ruling  over   this  World,  or   under  the 
 
 Thought, 
 
426 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  M.2iy  29,  1709^ 
 
 Thought,  that  the  Lord  reigmth.  I'he  Lord 
 reignethy  Let  the  Earth  rejoice.  And, 
 .  Firfty  How  happy  is  it  for  us,  that  this  World, 
 and  every  Thing  in  it,  was  conftituted  and 
 ordered,  and  is  ftill  governed,  by  God,  /.  e, 
 by  perfedl  Wifdom,  Goodnefs,  and  Power  ? 
 How  can  we  imagine  the  Nature  of  Things, 
 the  Stations  in  which  they  are  fettled,  the 
 Courfes  of  the  celeftial  Bodies,  the  Succeflion 
 of  the  Seafons,  the  Fruits  of  the  Earth,  the 
 Qualities  of  them,  the  Bodies  of  Animals,  bet- 
 ter contrived  and  ordered,  with  refped;  to  Our- 
 felves,  and  the  Sphere  we  are  to  adt  in,  and  the 
 Ends  of  our  Life  here  ?  What  Failures,  and 
 Errors,  and  Irregularities,  might  we  juftly  ima- 
 gine and  expedi ;  nay.  What  mifchievous  and 
 pernicious  Blunders,  did  any  Being  of  lefsthan 
 perfedl  Wifdom,  and  Power,  and  Goodnefs,  pre^ 
 fide  over  this  World,  and  adminifter  the  Govern- 
 ment of  it  ?  Here,  indeed,  appears  the  perfedt 
 Satisfaction  we  ought  to  have  in  the  Thought 
 of  fuchafupremeGovernour;  when  we  knov^ 
 and  confider,  that,  as  Nothing  is  out  of  the 
 Reach  of  infinite  Knowledge,  fo  Nothing  can 
 happen,  in  all  the  vafl:  Univerfe  of  Beings,  but 
 what  fuch  a  Being  is  aware  of:  That,  as  no 
 Inftance  of  Benignity,  and  the  tendered  Love 
 is  too  low  for  infinite  Goodnefs  5  fo  fuch  a  Be- 
 ing mufl  ever  be  difpofed  to  all  Ads  of  Bene- 
 ficence 
 
1709'    ,   4^7 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  May  29, 
 
 ficence    and   Kindnefs  to  his  Creatures:   and^ERM- 
 that,  as  nothing  is   too  difficult   for    infinite     xx. 
 Power,  To  fuch  a  Being  mufl  be  able  to  do  for  |;/Wf 
 his  Offspring  whatever  his  Goodnefs  reprefents  ■ 
 them  to  ftand   in  Need  of,  and  his  Wifdom 
 knows  fitting  to  be  done,  and  becoming  his 
 Perfections,  and  their  Situation :  That  Nothing 
 doth  or 'Can  happen   to  them,  amidfl  all  the 
 Changes  and  Chances  they  are  fubjedt  to,  but 
 what  a  moft  wife  Being  judges  proper,  eithect 
 to  order,  or  permit,  to  come  upon   them;  as! 
 Nothing  can  be  defigned  againft  them,  butj 
 what  He  has  Power  to  prevent,  if  He  pleafes  ;i 
 and  as  this  Power  is  accompanied  with  perfedt 
 Goodnefs,   and    the  tendereft  Regard  to    his 
 Creatures.     But,  what  I  am  now  faying,   will 
 farther  appear,  by  confidering, 
 
 Secondly,  What  a  great  Unhappinefs  it  woulq 
 be  to  us,  were  we  left  to  our  own  Management,! 
 and  the  Reins  of  Government  put  into  our  owii 
 Hands.  Many  are  apt  to  think  that,  if  they 
 had  the  Difpofal  of  Themfelves,  of  their  own 
 Fortunes,  and  of  all  that  belongs  to  them^ 
 they  fhould  entirely  confult  their  Happinefsjj 
 and  fecure  their  goodEflate  forever:  but  very 
 unjuftly  and  unreafonably,  as  they  would  fin4 
 to  their  coft,  if  God  fhould  be  fo  unmercifuj 
 to  them,  as  to  take  them  at  their  Word,  and 
 put  them  from  under  his   own  Jurifdiclion 
 
 ani 
 
-4-?-^ 
 
 SERM. 
 XX. 
 
 j^Sennonj^eachedM2i^  29,  i^qq. 
 
 and  make  them  to  be  the  Framers  of  their  own 
 Fortunes.  Such  finite  and  imperfed:  Crea- 
 tures as  we  are,  fee  but  a  Httle  Way.  We  can 
 fometimes  perhaps  dlfcern  one  Side  of  Things, 
 ^nd  fometimes  may  guefs  right  at  the  Confe- 
 quences  of  them.  But  all  our  Knowledge 
 ^hat  Way  is  but  Guefs  at  befl ;  and  is  confined 
 within  a  Compafs  that  takes  not  in  half  the 
 Circumflances  of  Things,  that  ought  to  be  con- 
 lidered,  before  we  fhould  determine  our  Wifhes 
 and  Prayers.  And  we  are  not  only  imperfedl, 
 and  of  a  fhort  and  finite  View;  but  we  are  paf- 
 iionate,  educated  with  Prejudices,  corrupted  by 
 evil  Habitf?  •,  often  ilrongly  inclined  to  Confide- 
 I  rations  on  one  Side,  and  averfe  to  any  (tho'  ne- 
 ver fo  plain,  and  never  fo  material)  on  the  o- 
 ther.  And  what  excellent  Governours  we  fliould 
 be  of  our  Selves,  and  of  our  own  Fortunes,  is 
 plain.  And  again,  what  flrange  Confufion  and 
 Diforder  mufl  follow,  were  every  other  Man 
 his  own  Mafter,  as  we  defire  to  be  in  our  own 
 Cafe ;  and  as  He  has  the  fame  Right  to  wilh  to 
 be  in  His  :  whilfl  our  feveral  Defigns,  and 
 Lufls,  and  Paffions,  muft  perpetually  be  clafh- 
 ing,  and  always  annoying,  diflurbing,  and  con- 
 founding one  another  ?  Happy,  therefore,  is  it 
 for  us,  that  we  have  it  not  in  our  Power,  fo 
 often  as  we  pleafe,  to  Ruine  Ourfelves,  and  dif- 
 prder  the  World  about  us !   And  very  happy  is 
 
 it 
 
A  Sermon  preached  May  2Q,  1700T 
 
 AlBi. 
 
 it  for  us,  that  perfed  Wifdom,  Goodnefs,  and  s  e  rm. 
 Power,  prefide  over  us,  to  deny  us  what  is  not     xx. 
 fit  for  us  ;  to  afford  us  what  is  proper  for  us ;  v'^V^*^ 
 and  to  deliver  us  from  the  EfFeds  of  our  own 
 Follies  and  Paffions  ! 
 
 And  then,  T^hirdly^  as  it  is  an  Happinefs  to 
 be  out  of  our  own  Jurifdidion,  and  exempt 
 from  oun  own  Mana2;ement  :  fo  it  ou^htlike- 
 wife  to  be  a  great  batisfadion  to  us,  that  we 
 are  not  left  to  the  Will  and  Government  of  o- 
 ther  Beings,  of  an  inferiour  Rank  3  to  the 
 Mercy  of  that  Part  of  the  intelligent  Crea- 
 tion, that  have  thrown  off  the  Laws  of 
 God,  and  are  always  defigning  Mifchief  to 
 their  Fellow-creatures ;  and,  as  far  as  they 
 can,  helping  forward  the  Ruine  of  all  the 
 World  about  them:  whilfl  the  Innocentare  at 
 Reft,  without  Sufpicion  and  without  Fear.  How 
 tnuch  Mifery,  and  Diforder,  and  Confufion 
 would  They  bring  about,  were  there  only  the 
 good  Part  of  the  World  to  oppofe  their  Defigns, 
 t|o  deted  their  Contrivances,  and  refill  their 
 Power  ?  How  much  Ruine  would  they  joy- 
 fully be  the  Authors  of,  did  not  the  Lord 
 reign,  and  proted  his  Servants  from  their 
 Rage  ?  And  how  often  would  they  procure,  and 
 bring  about  the  Defolation  of  Nations,  and 
 Societies,  and  Families,  did  not  an  All-fee- 
 ing Eye  interpofe  to  dilclofe  their  Arts  j  and 
 1  •  an 
 
45 
 
 'XO 
 
 A  Sermon  preached  May  29,  ijog. 
 
 SERMLan  Almighty  Arm,  to  refift  and  controll  their 
 XX.     Power  ? 
 
 ^-'^'WJ  How  great  Reafon  therefore,  has  every  Man, 
 and  every  Nation,  and  Society,  to  rejoice  that 
 the  Providence  of  God  leaves  them  not  to  the 
 Contrivances  of  ill-difpofed  and  malevolent 
 Beings  -,  and  on  this  Account  to  rejoice  that  the 
 Lord  reignethi  that  He  has  referved  .the  Go- 
 vernment of  them,  and  the  Difpofal  of  their 
 Fortune  and  Eftate,  in  His  own  Hands  fo,  as 
 to  controll  the  Malice,  and  deliver  them  from 
 the  Power,  of  their  Enemies ;  and  to  hinder 
 all  wicked  Beings  from  triumphing  in  the  Ru- 
 ine  of  the  Souls  and  Bodies  of  their  Fellow- 
 creatures  ? 
 
 Thus  have  I  finiflied  what  I  defigned  at  this 
 Time.  Fir/i^  I  have  fliewn,  what  we  may 
 fuppofe  to  be  implied  in  thefe  Words,  I'he 
 Lord  reigneth :  And  obferved  what  was  fuffici- 
 ent  to  prove  the  Truth  of  this  Propofitlon. 
 And  Secondly,  I  have  fliewn  the  great  Reafon 
 we  have  to  rejoice,  and  be  entirely  fatisfied, 
 that  the  Lord  reigneth.  And  nov/j  let  us  reap 
 fome  Benefit  from  what  has  been  faid,  and  not 
 let  fo  noble  and  ufeful  a  Subjed  pais  by  us, 
 without  thofe  Advantages  it  fo  plainly  brings 
 along  with  it. 
 
 If  the  Lord  be  truly  the  DifpoferandGover- 
 nour  of  this  World  of  Creatures  which  he  at  firft 
 
 created  5 
 
A  Sermon  preached  Mz}]  2^^  ^709*        43 1 
 
 created;  if  He  prefides  over'it  with  a  watch- sierm. 
 ful  and  careful  Eye  j  let   the  Confideration  of  ■  xx. 
 jthis    fill   us  with   Peace    and   Quiet   within,  ^^/O/'NJ 
 I  and   entire  Refignation  to   his  Will  and  Plea- 
 jfure.     To   whom    can  we     fubmit,  and    in 
 jwhofe  Difpofals  can   we  acquiefce,  if  not  in 
 the  Difpofals  of  perfedt  Wildom  and  Good- 
 nefs  ?    If  the  Lord  I'eigns,  and   nothing  can 
 j  happen  to  us    but   by  his  Decree  or  Permif- 
 I  fion  ;  let  us  reft   fatisfied,  that  all  the  united 
 Force  of  evil  Spirits    and   wicked  Men   fliali 
 not  be   able  to  hurt  us,   unlefs   He  thinks  fit, 
 j  it  fliould  be  fo.     And  be  our   Circuinftances 
 what  they  will,  and  our  Cafe  in  appearance  ne- 
 ver fo  defperate,  let   the  Thought  of  fuch  a 
 Governour,  and  fuch  a  King  of  Heaven,  and 
 Earth,  comfort  and  compofe  our  Hearts  ;  the 
 Thought  that  He  that  adminifters  our  Afifairs 
 is  knowing,  and  wife,   and  good,  to    an  infi- 
 nite Degree  ;  is  moft  ready  and  willing  to  do 
 us  Good,  and  is  powerful  enough  to  free   us 
 from  all  Evil,   if  it  bebeft  for  us.      If  God  be 
 for  us  ;  if  his  Eye  be  over  us  every  where  ;   it 
 imports  litde,   Who  is  againfl:  us.     And  as  He 
 will  always  be  for  them  that  truly   fear   him  ; 
 then,  the  Sunjhcill  not  f mite  them  by  Day,  nei- 
 ther the  Moon  by  Night,  for  he  is  the  God  and 
 Governour  of  Nature;  'They  Jhalhiot  be af rata 
 for  the  Arr</w  that  fieth  by  Day^  nor  for  tbt^ 
 
 PeJI  Hence 
 
432 
 
 A  Sermo72  preached  May  2  9,  1709. 
 
 SE  R  M.  Pejlilence  that  walketh  in  Darknefsy  nor  for  the 
 XX.     DeftruBion  that  wajleth  at  Noon-day  :  for  all 
 
 ^•'V^  the  Inftruments  of  Death  are  in  his  Hand,  and 
 under  his  Direftion.  T'he  LordJJjall  preferve 
 them  from  all  E'vil^  he  fall  preferve  their  Souls, 
 Thefe  are  feme  of  the  Pfalmifl's  pious 
 Thoughts  upon  this  Subject ;  and  fome  of  the 
 general  AlTurances  the  Holy  Scriptures  give  to 
 good  Men. 
 
 And    now,    to    apply    what    has  been  faid 
 more  particularly  j    Let  public   Societies    re- 
 joice, in    a  peculiar  Manner,   that  the  Lord 
 reigneth  ;  that,   amidft  all    the  Dangers  that 
 threaten   them,   they  are  the  Care  of  an  al- 
 mighty  and    wife  Providences    that,    whilfl 
 contending  Parties  within    them  are  purfuing 
 their  own  particular   Intereds,  and  tearing  in 
 pieces  the  very  Bands  of  all   Happinefs :   and 
 whilft  powerful  Enemies,   without  them,   are 
 threatning  and   contriving  their  Deftrudion  ; 
 that    in  fuch  Circumftances,    in    which    the 
 Wifdom  and  Power  of  Men  often  fail,  an  in- 
 fallible Pilot  fits  at  the  Helm  ;  an  all-feeing  and 
 gracious  Eye  watches  and  obferves  every  thing 
 that  can  happen  ;  and  an  almighty  and  tender 
 Hand  directs   and  determines  every  Event,  as 
 it  is  beft   and   fittefl  it   fhould  be,  all  things 
 confidered. 
 
 But 
 
A.  Sermon preachedyhiy  29,  1709, 
 
 433 
 
 But  I  fiiould  be  unjuft  to   the  joyful  Occa-  ;er  m. 
 fion  of  this  Day,   and  to  the  Realon  of  my  ap-    xx. 
 pearing  here  at  this  Time,   if  I  fliould  not  take  k/''~VNJ 
 more  particular  Notice  of  the  great  Reafon  we 
 of  this   Nation  have  to    rejoice,  on  every  Re- 
 turn of  this  Day,  \\\\\{ihe  Lordreigneih.     For 
 we  are  now  met  together  to  commemorate  be- 
 fore God,   one  of  the  moft  furprizing  Difpen- 
 fations  of  his  Providence  towards  us  -,  the  Ref- 
 toration  of  the  Royal  Family,  and  with  it  the 
 Reftoration  of  our  ancient  Form  of  Govern- 
 ment that  had  long  been  banifhed  from  Us,— 
 That    Excellent    Form   of    Government,     fo 
 happily   tempered   between  the    Extremes   of 
 Lawlefs  Power,   and  Lawlefs  Confufion,   as  if 
 it  had  been  the  Effed;  of  a  Confuhation    be- 
 tween   the  greateft  Politicians,  and  the  wifefi 
 Heads  in  the  World  ;-— That  envied  Conftitu- 
 tion,   in  which  the  Commands  of  the  Prince^ 
 and  the  Obedience  of  the  Subjects,  are  equaU 
 ly  regulated  by  Laws,   and  Both  fecured   from 
 all  thofe  Unhappinefles  that  attend  fome  Sorts 
 of  Governril4;nt,   as   long  as  the  one  is  fo  wife 
 as  to  enjoin  nothing  but  what  the  Lavfs  enjoin  ; 
 and  the  other  fohoneft  as  to  make  a  Confcience 
 of  obeying  the  Didates  of  thofe  Laws--- And, 
 what  is  more  to  Us,   That  Conftitution  which 
 we  yet,  by  the  wonderful  Goodnel'sof  God,  en- 
 joy,  and  upon  which  We  are  every  Day  con- 
 F  f  gratulatinjjj 
 
434     \  A  Sermon  preached  M^ij  29,  1709. 
 
 '^ 
 
 s  E  R  M.  gratulating  our  own  Happinefs.     Such  was  the 
 lelTing  of  this  Day,  in  its  Defign,  and  natural 
 onfequence  ;  and  fuch  the  Reafon  We  have 
 ko  rejoice  that  the  Lord  reigneth. 
 
 What  ufe  was  made  of  it,  and  what  were  the 
 immediate  Returns  to  Heaven  for  it,   I  do  not 
 willingly  fay,  but  would  gladly  draw  a  Veil  over 
 them,  if  they  could  be  hid.    But  it  is  tco  plain 
 that  they  were  agreeable  to  our  ufual Gratitude 
 to  Heaven  j   and  too  evident  to  be  dilTcmbled, 
 that  a  mighty  Torrent  of  Vice  came  with  Vio- 
 lence into  the  Land,   with  thefe  mighty  Blef- 
 fings  J  that  Men  fhewed  their  Thankfulnefs  to 
 God,  not  by    the  Integrity  and   Sobriety    of 
 their  Lives,   but    by  the   higheft    Flights  and 
 Tranfports  of  Debauchery  5  that  they  fliewed 
 their  Zeal  againfl  that  Hypocriiy  which,   they 
 complaine.-',   Lad  defiled  the  Land,    by  open 
 Profanenels ;  and  their  Loyalty  to  the  King,  by 
 forgetting  the  God,  by  whom    Kings    reign  ; 
 and  that   many  of   the-m  took  occafion,   from 
 TlTelVliTeries  that  Ifad  follow^ed  the  Overthrow 
 of  this  Government,   to  ufe  their  beft  Endea- 
 vours to  transform  it  into  an  abfokue  and  arbi- 
 trary Tyranny.     Indeed,  thefe  grofs  Abufes  of 
 fo  gracious  a  Providence  refied.  only  a  Difho- 
 nour  upon  thofe,  who  had  fo  little    Ingenuity 
 as  to  be  guilty  of  them.      But  they  do  not  at 
 all  diminifli  the  Bleffing  that  Heaven  delign- 
 
 ed 
 
A  Sermon  preached  May  29,  1709. 
 
 ed  for  this  Nation.  We  Ourfelves  feel  the  be- 
 nign lufluence  of  it  at  this  very  Day,  in  tl.e  qui- 
 et Enjoyment  of  our  Lives  and  Properties,  un- 
 der that  Legal  Government  which  it  reftored  ; 
 and  which  We  ftill  enjoy,  in  a  manner  never 
 perhaps  before  experienced. 
 
 May  We  all,  by  Gratitude  itfelf,  be  induced 
 to  live,  fo,  as  to  refled:  Honour  upon  the  God 
 who  has  thus  regarded  us  ;  and  may  We,  in  a 
 Senfe  of  the  Happinefs  we  enjoy,  all  of  us,  in 
 ourfeveral  Stations,  ufe  our  utmofl  Endeavours 
 to  tranfmit  the  fame  Happinefs  fecure  to  our 
 Pofterity  ;  by  guarding  it  againfl:  fuch  as  think 
 Mankind  fit  for  nothing  but  the  Chains  of  Sla- 
 very ;  and  alfo  by  paying  a  cheerful  and  con- 
 fcientious  Obedience  to  the  Legiflative  and  Ex- 
 ecutive Power,  now  fo  happily  fettled,  and  in 
 fb  excellent  a  Manner  adminiftered,  amongft 
 Us. 
 
 Which  God  grants  &c. 
 
 Ff  2 
 
 SER. 
 
j42i 
 
 SERMON  XXI. 
 
 Preached  at  the  Church  of  St.  Peters  Poor,  on 
 the  publick  Fall-day,    1709. 
 
 Acts  vii.  latter  Part  of  Ver.  26. 
 
 SirSy  ye  are  Brethren,  why  do  ye  Wrong  One  to 
 Another  f 
 
 SERM 
 XXI. 
 
 T 
 
 H  E  S  E  are  the  Words  of  Mofes,  by 
 Vvhich  he  endeavoured  to  reconcile 
 two  of  his  Brethren,  of  the  Children 
 of  Ifrael  who  were  quarrelling  and  flriving 
 with  one  another.  This  was  not  the  lirfl  In- 
 flance  he  bad  given  them  of  his  Regard  to  their 
 true  and  real  Intereft  5  and  of  his  Readinefs  to 
 do  his  Nation  the  greateft  Service  he  was  ca- 
 pable of  doing  :  for  it  was  but  the  Day  before  i 
 that  he  had  defended  one  of  his  Brethren  a- ' 
 o-ainft  the  Infults  and  Violence  of  a  barbarous 
 Egyptian^  and  delivered  him  out  of  his  Hands ; 
 
 by 
 
j1  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day,   1709. 
 
 437 
 
 by  this  means  givingthema  Prefageof  thatgreat  s.erm. 
 Deliverance  which  God  would,   ere  long,  bring    jxxi, 
 aFout  by  Him.      But  Mcfes,    whilft  he  hoped 
 they  would  immediately  clofe  with  this  friendly 
 Cefign,  and  unanimoully  accept  of  his  Advice 
 and  Propofals,  met  with  the  common  Fate  of 
 almoft  all  who  pretend  either  to  be  Deli'.'ercfs. 
 ■of  the  Qpprefled,   or  Reconcilers  of  the  con- 
 tending and  quarrelling  Parts  of  Mankind.  For 
 the   Ifraelitesy   though  they   were  of  the  fame 
 Nation   and  Family,   linked   together  by    the 
 Ties  of  the  fame  Religion  and  Profeffion,   in-  j. 
 volved  in  the  fame  common    Slavery,  Fellow- 
 ftt&rers  in  the  fame  Barbarities  and  Cruelties, ., 
 and  furrounded  by  the  fame  common  Enemies; 
 yet,   could  not  only  find  Time  to  abufe,    and 
 quarrel  with,    one  another,   but  affronted  and  \ 
 abufed  their  beft    Friend   and    Advifer,  only  ; 
 becaufe  he  perfuaded  them  to  a  mutual  Love 
 and   Concord ;   and  to   avoid    thofe    inteftine 
 DilTenfions  and  Quarrels  which  would  inevita- 
 bly weaken  their   common   Interefl,   and  ob- 
 ftrucft  all   Hopes  of    their  future   Profperity. 
 Indeed,  we  do  not  read,  that  after  he  had  com- 
 pleted their  Deliverance,   and  was  taken  from 
 them,  there   were  any  amongfl;  them    fo  in- 
 fenfible  of  the  Benefits  he  had  conferred  upon 
 them,  as  to  purfue  his  Memory  with  Affronts 
 and  Indignities.     Such  Ingratitude  was  referv- 
 F  f  3  ed 
 
438 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  F aft- day ^  1709, 
 
 SER  M.  ed  for  latter  Times.     As  to  Mofes ;  after  Hh 
 XXI.    Death  we  hear  of  Nothing  but  the  Celebra- 
 
 C/^V^  tion  of  his  Praifcs,  the  mofl:  grateful  Ac- 
 knowledgments imaginable  offered  at  every  Re- 
 membrance of  Him,  and  all  but  Divine  Hon- 
 ours paid  to  his  Name.  But,  as  I  obferved, 
 whilft  he  lived  amongft  them,  they  treated  him 
 ungratefully  upon  every  Occafion  :  And  here, 
 at  the  Beginning  of  his  Regard  to  them,  and 
 whilfl  he  was  preparing  them,  by  his  good  Ad- 
 vice, for  Freedom  and  Happinefs,  the  Perfon 
 whom  he  would  have  perfuaded  to  Jufdce  and 
 Peace,  inflead  of  thanking  him  for  his  good 
 Offices,  endeavoured  to  touch  even  his 
 Life. 
 
 There  is  fomething  in  this  fo  applicable  to 
 Ourfclves,  that  I  could  not  but  think  it  pro- 
 per an'd  feafonable  for  us  to  fpend  fome  of  our 
 ferious  Thoughts  upon  this  Expofliulation  of 
 Mofes  in  the  Text.  We  are  divided  and  tor'n 
 to  pieces  by  our  mutual  Hatreds,  and  intef- 
 tine  Heats,  by  our  fhameful  Divifions  and  un- 
 chriftian  Tempers :  Few  amongft  us  care  to 
 hear  of  Love  and  Friendfliip ;  but  will  even 
 revile  the  Man  that  but  fpeaks  to  them  of 
 Peace :  whilft  in  the  mean  while  all  acknow- 
 ledge that  it  is  the  want  of  this  mutual  Love, 
 and  the  Hatred  which  flourifhes  in  the  room 
 of  it,  to  which  we  ftiall  owe  our  common  Ru- 
 
 ine. 
 
A  Sertnott  on  the  Fajl-day,    1 709, 
 
 439 
 
 ine,  whenever  it  comes  upon  us.  What  cansER'M7 
 one  think,  but  that  there  muft  be  a  fecret  In-  xxi. 
 fatuation  from  above,  upon  the  Minds  ofy^"^*^^^ 
 Men  ;  a  fatal  Blindnefs,  to  which  God  has 
 given  us  over,  when  we  fee  To  much  Danger 
 from  our  own  Animolities  and  Heats,  and 
 have  not  the  Heart  to  confult  our  own  Securi- 
 ty ',  when  we  read  and  hear  of  fo  many  Na- 
 tions and  Commonwealths,  deftroyed  and  laid 
 wafte  by  mutual  Hatreds  and  inteftine  Quar- 
 rels, and  yet  cherifh  the  fame  Evils  amongft 
 Ourfelves,  which  we  are  fenfible  have  haflen- 
 ed  the  Ruine  of  fo  many  Nations  before  us  ? 
 In  thefe  deplorable  Circumftances  no  good 
 Man,  who  has  the  leaft  Concern  for  the  com- 
 mon Welfare,  can  hinder  his  Thoughts  from 
 running  out  upon  all  the  poffible  Methods  of 
 putting  a  flop  to  this  growing  Evil,  and  pre- 
 venting the  fatal  and  natural  Confequences  of 
 it. 
 
 In  fpeaking  upon  this  Subje6l  it  is  not  my 
 Defign,  at  prefent,  to  obferve  what  Advances 
 might  be  made  towards  accommodating  our 
 Differences,  by  Perfons  in  the  highefi:  Stations : 
 for  I  am  fennble  to  how  little  purpofe  that 
 might  be,  at  this  Time,  and  in  this  Place. 
 But  I  fhall  endeavour  to  offer  fuch  Obfervations 
 and  Confiderations  as  concern  every  private 
 Chrijiia?iy  and  come  within  the  reach  of  every 
 F  f  4  Member 
 
440 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fa  ft -day  ^   1709, 
 
 S  ER  M. 
 XXI. 
 
 Member  of  the  Commonwealth,   and  that  in 
 this  following  Method. 
 
 Fi?^/}^  I  fliall  {hew  what  is  the  Duty  of  every 
 Chrifiian  in  thofe  Differences,  which  thus  dif- 
 traCl  Us. 
 
 Secondly^  What  are  the  gieat  Hindrances  to 
 that  Brotherly  Love,  and  mutual  Fii^ndiliip 
 and  Agreement,  which  are  fo  very  necellary. 
 And, 
 
 thirdly ^  I  fliall  urge  the  great  and  weighty 
 Motives  we  have,  at  this  Time,  to  purfue 
 Peace,   and  Union,   amongfl  Our  Selves. 
 
 L  Let  us  examine  what  is  the  Duty  of  e- 
 very  Chrifiian  in  thofe  Differences  which  thus 
 diftrad:  us.  And  this,  I  think,  may  be  compre- 
 hended in  two  Particulars ; 
 
 Firft^  It  is  the  Part  of  every  good  Man  to 
 endeavour,  by  all  the  Methods  of  Chriflianity^ 
 to  reconcile  the  contending  Parties  in  theV/orldj 
 and,  in  the  Spi  it  of  IVJeeknefs,  to  convince 
 the  Judgments  of  thofe  whom  he  imagines  to 
 be  in  any  material  Error.  No  Peace  or  Union 
 can  be  fo  iaffing,  as  that  which  is  the  Confe- 
 quence  of  Men's  being  of  one  Mind,  and  of 
 one  Heart  J  of  the  fame  Opinions,  and  of  the 
 fame  Sentiments,  in  Matters  of  any  Concern. 
 There  is  fomething  in  Human  Nature  which 
 
 is 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Faft-dayy  Jjo^,  44.1 
 
 is  delighted  with  the  Agreement  of  others  in 
 our  own  Notions  j  and  there  is  fomething  in 
 the  weak  Part  of  it,  that  cannot  always 
 bear  with  a  Difl'crence  and  Diverfity  of  Opini- 
 on. This  Difference  often  brings  on  Difputes 
 and  Difcourfe  ;  and  Argument  often  produces 
 Heat  and  Violence  j  and  fuch  Flames  are  feen 
 to  break  forth,  as  would  not  have  been,  had 
 there  been  an  Agreement.  So  that  it  muft  be 
 owned,  it  would  be  an  incredible  Hapninefs  to 
 Human  Society,  as  it  is  ktn  to  be  in  any  Fa- 
 mily, for  Men  to  be  of  one  Mind,  and  to  have 
 the  fame  Notions  and  Opinions.  Not  that  I 
 think  there  is  any  ground  to  hope  for  fuch  an 
 Happinefs.  In  the  pafi:  Ages,  it  never  has 
 been  experienced,  or  feen  ;  nor  can  it  be  much 
 hoped  for,  or  expeded,  by  wife  Men,  in  the 
 Liter  Ages  of  the  World.  I  am  fure,  the 
 Padions  of  Men  are  at  too  great  an  Highth, 
 to  give  us  any  Foundation  for  thinking  of 
 any  fuch  Happinefs  in  our  Days.  But  flill,  it 
 may  be  right  for  us  to  labour,  and  do  our 
 Part  towards  it,  tho'  we  reap  not  all  the  Suc- 
 ce{s,  and  fee  not  all  the  good  Effects  of  it,  we 
 could  wifh.  The  little  we  can  do,  every  one 
 of  us  in  our  own  Sphere,  may  ferve  to  com- 
 pofe  the  troubled  Waters  about  us ;  and  may 
 prove,  in  time,  a  Foundation  for  a  more  ee- 
 neral  and  univerfal  Agreement.  And  there- 
 ;  ■  fore. 
 
 s  E  R  M. 
 
iii 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^    1709. 
 
 SERM,  fore,  it  is  not  the  Improbability  of  efFedting 
 XXI.  this  that  ought  to  affrighten  us  from  attempt- 
 ing to  bring  all  to  the  Acknowledgment  of  the 
 fame  Truths  which  we  acknowledge  and  em- 
 brace J  provided  always  that  in  doing  this,  and 
 in  the  Methods  we  purfue  in  order  to  do  it, 
 we  break  in  upon  no  moral  Duty,  and  no 
 Command  of  our  holy  Religion.  If  we  do, 
 we  (hall  be  fure  to  cafl  more  Scandal  upon  it, 
 and  do  more  Mifchief  by  our  Practice,  than  a- 
 ny  fuch  Agreement,  even  in  true  Opinions, 
 Can  do  good  ;  nay,  we  fhail  rather  be  fure 
 never  to  elfe(fl  this  Agreement,  to  any  good 
 Purpofe.     But, 
 
 Secondly,  It  is  the  Part  of  every  good 
 Man,  amidfi:,  and  after,  all  his  Endeavours 
 to  reconcile  the  Opinions  or"  Men  to  one  ano- 
 ther, in  what  He  thinks  right;  to  love  and 
 bear  with  his  Brethren,  tho'  they  be  not  mov- 
 ed by  his  Arguments ;  tho'  they  cannot  be  per- 
 fuaded,  by  what  He  perhaps  may  judge  to  be 
 the  plaineft  and  moft  convincing  Reafons,  to 
 alter  their  Minds ;  nay,  tho'  they  return  him 
 Reproaches  and  Abufes  for  his  good  Defign  to- 
 wards them.  For,  until  that  happy  Day 
 comes  that  Men  be  all  of  one  Mind,  (which 
 whether  it  will  ever  come,  or  no,  God  alone 
 knows,)  this  is  the  only  way  to  procure  or  pre- 
 ferve  Peace  and  Quietnefs  in  the  World ;  and, 
 
 indeed. 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   1709. 
 
 indeed,  feems  to  be  a  more  glorious  Inftance 
 of  Good-nature  and  Religion,  than  any  that  can 
 be  pradifed  without  fuch  a  Difference  in  Opi- 
 nion. For  to  love  Thofe  who  agree  with  us  in 
 every  thing ;  to  embrace  Thofe  whofe  Opinions 
 fall  in  with  ours  in  every  thing,  is  no  confide- 
 rable  Reach  in  Religion;  nor  any  mighty  Proof 
 of  a  Perfon's  Candour  or  Humility.  But  to  love 
 and  bear  with,  and  make  Allowances  for,  Thofe 
 who  differ  fi-om  us,  and  whofe  Notions  are 
 at  a  wide  diflance  from  ours  ;  to  be  ready  to 
 condefcend  to  Thefe,  and  to  do  them  all  Good 
 Offices,  this  is  truly  great  and  glorious.  There 
 is  fome  Temptation  to  the  contrary,  fomething 
 in  the  Pride  and  Paffion  of  Pluman  Nature 
 contradictory  to  this,  which  makes  it  much 
 more  honourable,  and  a  much  higher  Inftance 
 of  Goodnefs. 
 
 And  it  is  worthy  of  our  moftferlous  Notice, 
 that  it  is  a  Temper  of  Mind  that  refembles 
 Almighty  God,  and  is  an  Imitation  of  that  di- 
 vine Copy ;  and  therefore  muft  be  moft  ac- 
 ceptable to  Plim.  How  wide  are  moft  of  our 
 Notions  from  his,  and  at  what  a  diftance,  too 
 often,  do  our  Opinions  of  Good  and  Evil, 
 Right  and  Wrong,  ftand  from  his ;  and  how 
 oppofite  are  our  Pradices  to  his  Will  ?  And  yet. 
 He  hath  loved  us,  and  borne  with  us,  and  made 
 Allowances  for  our  Weaknefles and  Infirmities: 
 
 and 
 
 _44J 
 
 SERM. 
 XXI. 
 
-444:- 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  F aft-day^    ^  7 <^9 • 
 
 SE  RM.  and  ftill  invites  us  to  all  the  Happinefs  we  are 
 XXI.    capable  of,   notwithflanding  this.   And  is  it  not 
 
 iy^sT^  fit  that  we  {hoiild  (liew  Ourfelves  as  placable, 
 as  willing  to  make  Ailovv^ances,  as  loving  ,  as 
 condefcending  and  good  to  Thofe  who  differ 
 from  us,  as  the  great  God  of  Heaven  and 
 Earth  has  ihewn  himfelf  to  us  ?  Jf  you  love 
 thofe  who  agree  with  you  in  all  things,  and-whofe 
 Opinions  are  the  fame  with  your  own  j  what 
 praife  have  ye  ?  Do  not  even  the  Publicans  and 
 Shiners  do  the  fame?  Bat  if  ye  love,  and  bear 
 with,  Thofe  who  differ  from  you,  and  who 
 contradid  and  oppofe  you  in  their  Notions ; 
 tlien  it  is,  that  your  Love  and  Good-nature 
 exceeds  the  Good- nature  and  Love  of  Men  of 
 other  ProfefHons  ;  then  it  is,  that  you  come 
 up  to  the  Perfection  of  Chriftian  Love  ;  and 
 then  it  is,  that  you  may  exped  a  great  Reward  j 
 becaufe  then  it  is  that  you  are  the  Children  of 
 your  Father  which  is  in  Heaven,  who  hath 
 dealt  with  you  exadly  as  he  would  have  you 
 deal  with  one  another. 
 
 Nay,  and  beiides  the  Obligation  to  this 
 mutual  Love  and  Forbearance,  amidft  our  Dif- 
 ferences, arifmf^  from  the  Glory  of  the  Pradtice, 
 and  the  Example  of  God,  one  may  fay  that 
 nothing  in  the  World  could  fo  effedually,  by 
 deorees,   put  ah  end  to  thefe  Differences  themr 
 
 felves,  as  the  Pradice  of  this  Love. 
 
 For  it  is 
 apparent 
 
A Sermononthe  Faft-day^   170Q' 
 
 itiS-. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 apparent  that  nothing  puts  fo  great  a  flop  to  s  e  R  m. 
 Agreement  in  Sentiments,  as  the  Provocations 
 given  and  received  ;  thePaffions,  and  the  Pride 
 of  Men,  with  regard  to  their  feveral  Opinions. 
 And  therefore,  tho'  we  differ  mightily  at  pre- 
 fent,  yet,  could  Men  but  be  perfuaded  to  the 
 Exercife  of  this  mutual  Candour  and  Forbear- 
 ance ;  ^'ere  there  Confcience  made  of  doing 
 all  good  Offices  to  all  Sorts  ;  this  Good-nature 
 would  have,  without  Doubt,  a  very  vifible  Ef- 
 fed:  'j  and  the  Tempers  of  Men  v^ould  become 
 difpofed  to  think  and  wifli  for  fuch  an  Agree- 
 ment, as  Paffion,  and  a  lofty  Behaviour,  make 
 them  now  averfe  to  ;  and  mutual  Forbearance 
 would  very  much  difpofe  things  towards  that 
 univerfal  Agreement  in  Matters  of  Concern, 
 which  is  fo  agreeable  to  Human  Nature,  and 
 fo  conducive  to  the  Peace  of  Pluman  Society: 
 there  being  nothing  that  hinders  fuch  an  Agree- 
 ment, fo  much  as  Perfonal  Prejudices  ;  and  no- 
 thing that  removes  Perfonal  Prejudices  fomuch 
 as  theconftant  Pradice  of  this  Love  and  Good- 
 nature. 
 
 Thus  much,  about  the  Duty  of  every  Chrif- 
 tiarij  in  the  midfi:  of  thofe  Differences  that 
 diflrad:  us.  And  the  two  Inflances  I  have 
 mentioned,  are  fuch  as  lye  within  the  Reach  of 
 every  private  Perfon,  and  what  All  Men  may 
 pradife. 
 
 II.  I  come 
 
44^ 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fafl-day^   ^  7"Q9' 
 
 SERM.       II.  I  come  now  to  conlider,  as  I  propofed, 
 XXI.    in  the  iS^coW  place,  what  are  the  great  Hin- 
 
 ^''^V'^  drances  to  that  mutual  Love  and  Good-na- 
 ture, which  cannot  but  be  acknowledged  to  be 
 fo  highly  ufeful  and  necelTary.  And  of  thefe 
 1  fhall  fpeak  but  very  briefly,  becaufe  few  can 
 bear  to  hear  of  them  :  and  I  had  rather  fup- 
 pofe  all  Men  heartily  difpofed  to  Union,  than 
 that  any  Perfons  concerned  are  guilty  of  what 
 rauft  hinder  it.  But  I  think  it  plain,  that  the 
 greatefl  Hindrances  to  it,  are,  the  Spirit 
 of  Pride,  and  Inflexibility  in  our  own  Thoughts, 
 and  our  own  Ways  ;  and  of  perfonal  Hatred 
 and  Prejudice  towards  Others,  in  their  Dif- 
 ferences, from  Us :  and  in  fome,  the  View  to 
 Ambition  or  private  Intereft.  And  thefe,  in- 
 deed with  the  artful  Management  of  our  com- 
 mon Adverfaries,  and  the  Weaknefs  of  fome 
 honeft  Men,  are  the  great  Hindrances  and  Bars 
 to  that  Happinefs  which  only  can  be  eifedted 
 by  mutual  Lovcy   and  Benevolence. 
 
 The  Spirit  of  Pride  leads  Men  to  think  that 
 they  are  always  in  the  right ;  and  that  it  is 
 more  becoming,  and  reafonable  that  the  whole 
 World  (liould  conform  to  their  Notions  and 
 Opinions,  than  that  they  fliould  defcend  to  the 
 leafl  Compliance  with  the  World  about  them. 
 And  fo  long  as  this  Temper  f.ourifhes,  it  is  an 
 
 Abfurdity 
 
L ..'^-— U 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Vajl-day^   ^709*  44-7 
 
 ERM, 
 
 Abfurdity  to  think  of  Peace  or  Union.  The  s 
 ■Spirit  of  Perfonal  Hatred,  or  Party  Prejudice,  ixxi. 
 difpofes  Men  to  think,  that  Nothing  can  be  C^VNJ 
 right  or  well  meant,  that  is  propofed  by  fome 
 jPerfons  ;  and  that  Nothing  can  be  too  hard  a 
 jBurthen  to  lay  upon  thofe  of  whom  they  have 
 conceived  a  hard  Opinion  ;  and  that  Nothing 
 ought  t®  foften  them  into  the  leaft  Condefcen- 
 fion  to  them.  The  Spirit  of  Worldly-mind- 
 ednefs,  and  Self-interefl,  makes  Men  averfe  to 
 all  Such  Agreement  and  Union,  unlefs  it  can 
 be  (hewn,  that  it  is  for  their  own  particular 
 immediate  Advantage  ;  and,  left  it  fhould  prove, 
 at  laft,  a  Bar  in  their  Way,  and  an  Obftacle  to 
 their  worldly  Projeds  and  Defigns  j  by  leflening, 
 or  ruining,  their  Intereft,  Power,  and  Influence, 
 in  the  World.  And  if  you  join  to  thefe  the  art- 
 ful Management  of  common  Adverfaries,  you 
 will,  perhaps,  have  as  good  an  account  as  can  be 
 given,  why  any  Nations  or  Societies  have  been 
 ruined  by  Difcord  j  and  why  that  Unity,  which 
 isfoneceflary  to  the  Prefervation  of  the  Whole, 
 has  been  often  prevented  and  hindered  by  any 
 particular  Members  of  the  Whole.  As  for  Our- 
 felves ;  you  know  that  our  Adverfaries,  the 
 common  Adverfaries  of  our  Religion  and  Liber- 
 ties,  want  nor  for  Cunning  and  Worldly  Wif- 
 dom.  They  never  drop,  even  for  a  Moment,  the 
 View  of  their  Caufe  s  and  are  conftantly  apply- 
 ing 
 
448 
 
 SE  RM 
 XXI. 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   ^^  709. 
 
 ing  themfelves  to  the  different  Humours,  and 
 Paffions,  and  Inclinations,  of  Men  \  and  fpend 
 '^^^"^'^^  the  Force  of  their  Minds,  to  improve  the  Pride 
 of  Some,  the  evil  Temper  of  Others,  the 
 Worldly- mindednefs  of  Others,  to  their  own 
 Purpofes.  They  encreafe  the  Evil,  and  add 
 Fuel  to  the  Fire,  which  they  hope  will  at  laft 
 confume  us  ;  and,  while  good  and  fincere  Men 
 are  not  aware  of  it,  the  Enemy  comes,  and 
 fows  the  Tares  of  Difcord  and  Diffeniion,  in 
 fuch  Ground  ss  is  fuppofed  to  be  proper  for 
 them. 
 
 I  come  now,  in  the  TZvW  Place,  to  urge  the 
 great  and  weighty  Motives  we  have  to  purfue' 
 tills  univerfal  Love  and  Concord.      And, 
 
 Firji^  We  are  of  the  fame  Nation,  and  live 
 under  the  fame  Govermcnt  ;  and,  confequent- 
 ly,  have  the  fame  Civil  Rights  and  Privileges  : 
 aConfideratlon,  which  has  always  been  account- 
 ed a  very  ftridt  Bond  of  Union  amongftMen. 
 And  thefe  Civil  Rights,  and  Privileges,  are  fuch 
 as  few  Nations  enjoy ;  a  Happinefs,  which  pro- 
 ceeds from  a  Government  fo  excellently  tem- 
 pered between  Arbitrary  Power,  and  Confufi- 
 on,  and  Diforder.  And  then,  We  are  of  the 
 fame  Religion,  as  to  the  main  and  fundamental 
 Parts  of  it  3  and  the  ProfeiTion  of  This,  in  Peace 
 and  Qmetnefs,  is  deeply  concerned  in  the  Ar- 
 gument. 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   lyog. 
 
 And  this  Religion,  fuch  as  few,  even  ;  e  r  m- 
 
 gument. 
 
 of  the  Chriltian  Nations  in  the  World,   enjoy  j 
 Reformed  from  the  groflefl  Abufes  and  Mifre- 
 prefentatronsof  fuperftitious  Men  ;  and  render* 
 ed  plain  and  ufeful,  fubfervient  to  the  Purpofes 
 gf  a  good   Life,  and  fpiritual    Worfhip  j   for 
 which  it  was  at  firfl  deiigned  by  its  great  Found- 
 er. It  is  the  Enjoyment  of  thofe  Civil  Rights, 
 and  thefree.Exercifeof  this  holy  and  pure  Re- 
 ligion, that  fo  happily  diftinguifh  us  from  ma* 
 ny  other  Parts  of  the  Chrijiian  World.      So  that 
 from  hence  it  appears,  that  we  have  the  fame 
 common   Advantages  and  Intereft  to  enjoy,   if 
 we  be  fo  haopy  as  to  preferve  ourfelves  in  our 
 prefent  State  j  and,  on  the  contrary,  the  fame 
 irreparable  Lofs  to  fullain  in  thefe  two  invalu- 
 able  Goods,   if  we  go  on  to  carry  forward  the 
 Work  of  our  Enemies,  by  our  Difcord  and  Di- 
 vilions  at  Home.      And  what  can  link  us  toge- 
 ther in  the  Bands  of  Love,  and  in  the  amica- 
 ble Profecution  of  the  fame  Defigns,  if  a  Senfe 
 of  our  Happinefs,  both  as  we  are  of.  this  Na- 
 tion,  and  of  this  Religion,  will  not  ?   If  fuch 
 Civil  Rights  and  Priviiegjes,  fuch  a  free  Enjoy- 
 ment of  what  is  our  own,   fuch   a  Liberty   in 
 the  Worfliip  of  God,   and  the  Exercife  of  our 
 Religion,   be  not  valuable  and  dear  to  us,   what 
 is  it  that  we  can  value  ?   To   be   governed  by 
 Laws,  and  not  by  a  fmgle  Will,  and  an  arbitrary 
 G  g  Power  5 
 
 449 
 
 XXI. 
 
'450  ""^    A  ISermonon  theFajt'day^    I709> 
 rE  RM.  Power ;  to  be  fecure  in  the  PofTefTion  of  our 
 Properties  j  to  be  happy  in  the  Freedom  of  our 
 
 XX. 
 
 L/'VXl  Bodies  and  Eftates  j  and,  above  all,  to  be 
 happy  in  the  Freedom  of  our  Services,  and 
 to  be  fecure  in  the  Performance  of  our 
 Duties  to  God,  and  to  one  another  :  Thefe 
 are  Advantages  above  any  Price  j  fuch  as  we 
 fhould  envy  in  any  other  Nation  3  the  ^reateft 
 Bleffings  this  World  can  know  \  and  fuch  as 
 we  fhould  never  enough  admire,  were  it  not 
 that  they  are  grown  old,  and  that  we  have  been 
 too  much  ufed  to  them  :  So  ungrateful  are  we 
 that  what  fhould  recommend  them  to  us,  real- 
 ly helps  to  fink  their  Price  in  our  Opinions, 
 and  to  make  us  loath  and  undervalue  them. 
 But  if  the  Enjoyment  of  thefe  common  Blef- 
 fings cannot  move  us  to  that  Love  and  Concord 
 which  are  neceffary  to  preferye  them,  let  us, 
 in  the 
 
 Second  Place,  be  allarmed  a  little,  by  confi- 
 dering,  that  We  have  the  fame  deplorable  Ca- 
 lamities to  expedt,  unlefs  we  jointly  endeavour 
 to  prevent  them,  by  an  univerfal  and  fincere 
 Unity.  For  as,  on  the  one  hand,  the  common  | 
 HappinefTes  we  now  enjoy  are  very  great :  fo, 
 on  the  other  hand,  the  Lofs,  we  fhall  in  com- 
 mon fuflain,  of  our  Civil  Liberties,  and  the  Ex- 
 ercife  of  our  Religion,  muft  be  very  great,  and 
 irreparable  j  if  our  Animofities  and  Hatreds 
 
 Aill , 
 
A  Sermon  on  theFaft-day^   17^9*     I     45 
 
 ^ 
 
 ftill  go  on  to  make  a  way  for  thole  Adverfaries,  s  e  r  m. 
 who  watch  for  nothing  fo  much  as  the  Oppor-    xxi. 
 tunity  of  entering  through  our  Breaches.    And;./VNJ 
 not  only  this  have  we  to  fear ;  but,  what  is  ftillj 
 worfe,  the  pofitive    Evils    of  That  miferablej  | 
 
 State  of  things,  diredly  oppofite  to  the  Prefent, 
 which  muft  fucceed.  j 
 
 The  Enemy  that  threatens  us,  cannot  be  fup-i 
 pofed  to  prevail  over  us,  but  that  his  Maxims  of 
 Government  muft  prevail  alfo.    And  as  this  fe 
 a  moft  deplorable,  and  almoft   infupportablej 
 Civil  Calamity  ;  fo  what  we  are  to  exped:,   as' 
 we  are   Proteftants,   is  more  fo  -.  for  the  other 
 might  be  fupportable,  Vvxre  it  qualified  and  lef- ; 
 fened  by  the  free  Liberty  of  our  holy  Religion.! 
 But  what  Miferies  are  we  not  to  expedl  when 
 this    Liberty  is  denied  us,  and   we  are  called 
 upon  to  profefs  a  Pveligion  which  we  cannot  in 
 Confcience   approve  of  ?   And  yet  there  is  no ; 
 Hope  of  its  being  otherwife,   if  the  common ; 
 Enemy  prevails.      For  it  has  appeared,  beyond 
 all  Contradiaion,  that  no  Oaths  or  Obligations 
 have  ever  kept  thole  of  that  Religion,  when- 
 ever they   have  Power,  from  extirpating  and^ 
 putting  an  end  to  the  Protefiant  Name.     And 
 indeed,  I  fee  not  how  any  of  Them  could  an- 
 fwer  it  to  their  Religion,  and  to  their  Church, 
 if  they  did  not.    For,  whatever  fome  of  that 
 Religion   would  fain  perfuade   the  Poor  andj 
 G  g  ;;  Ignorant' 
 
452 
 
 is  E  RM. 
 XXI. 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fafl-day^   1709. 
 
 Ignorant  amongft  us  to  believe,  in  order  to 
 laiuce  them  from  it,  or  make  them  more 
 favourable  to  it ;  it  is  notorious,  from  all 
 their  public  Declarations,  their  greateft  Wri- 
 ters, and  their  conftant  Pradice,  that  they  are 
 obliged,  (by  their  Principles,)  to  put  an  End 
 to  the  Froteftant  Name,  and  deftroy  it  from 
 under  Heaven,  if  they  can.  How  great  theri- 
 are  the  common  Calamities  we  are  to  exoedt, 
 if  we  join  our  own  Quarrels  with  our  Adver- 
 faries  Defigns  againft  us,  when  it  is  impoffible 
 'to  fuppofe  that  they  are  at  all  deviated  from 
 their  former  Pradices  or  Principles  j  impoffi- 
 ble to  think  that  the  Reformation  is  not  ilili 
 as  much  hated  as  everamongll:  them  3  and  that 
 ilill  they  account  it  lawful  and  commendable 
 to  exercife  the  utmofl  Barbarities  towards  All, 
 who  will  not  publickly  profefs  and  exercife 
 their  fuperilitious  and  unchriftian  Religion, 
 Certainly  fuch  Motives  as  tbefe  are  of  Weight 
 enough  to  move  even  the  hardell  Heart,  that 
 has  any  Senfe  in  it  of  our  prefent  Happinefs; 
 :qx  any  Belief  of  the  Religion  profefTed  amongft 
 us. 
 
 Laft  of  all,  asf'Tourown  Sakes,  fo  for  God's 
 Sake,  and  for  the  Sake  of  that  Name  by  which 
 we  are  called,  let  us  lay  to  Heart  our  Divifions 
 and  mutual  Animolities ;  and  let  us  all  do  our 
 Endeavour  to  put   fome  flop  to  them,  and  to 
 
 introduce 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   1 7 09* 
 
 introduce  Love  and  Concord    in  their  Place  : 
 that  our  holy  Religion  be  not  blafphemed  thro' 
 us  J  and  that  our  Lord  may  be  glorified  in  the  ^ 
 univerfal  Pradice  of  that  Love,  which  He  came 
 down  from  Heaven  to  plant  in  the  World. 
 
 Which  God  grants  &c. 
 
 453 
 
 ERM. 
 XXI. 
 
 G  g  3 
 
 S  E  R- 
 
454- 
 
 SERM 
 XXII. 
 
 SERMON  XXIL 
 
 Preached  at  St.  Feters  Poor,  on  the  pablick 
 Fafl-day,   1711-12. 
 
 Deuteron.  xxxii.  29. 
 
 O  that  They  were  wife^  that  'They  under  (I  ood  this  ^ 
 that  They  would  confider  their  latter  End  I 
 
 ,  ^  I  "^  H  E  Words,  I  have  now  read  to  you, 
 1  are  the  pathetlcal  and  moving  Wi(h 
 of  God  himielf,  about  the  People  of 
 JfraeL  O  that  They  were  wije^  that  They  under- 
 ftood  thisy  that  They  would  confider  their  latter 
 Ejid!  Some  Interpreters,  indeed,  underftand 
 them  to  refer  to  the  Enemies  of  Jfrael,  who 
 were  fpoken  of  in  the  Verfe  before.  But  it 
 feems  to  me  much  more  probable,  that  thefe 
 and  the  following  Words  alfo,  belong  to  the 
 Children  of  Ifrael  5  and  exprefs,  (agreeably  to 
 
 the 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fall-day  ^  17011-12.   !   4«;g  J 
 
 the  main  Defign  of  this  whole  Song,  of  which  s  e  R  m. 
 
 rthey  are  a   Part;)  the  gr^at   Delire  that   Al-  xxii, 
 mighty  God  had,  to  make  them  an  happy  and  '>V>J 
 
 ^glorious  Nation;  and  likewife,  what  it  was  that  ^ 
 
 He  expeded  from  Them  themfelves,  in  order  ' 
 
 to  this.      That  they  refer  to  the  Intereft  of  a 
 
 4^whole  Nation,  is  certain :   and  therefore,  tho*  -t 
 
 the  Dc-ath  of  particular  Perfons  may  be  called 
 
 their  latter  End,  and  often  expreffed,  in  the 
 
 ^common  way  of  Speaking,  by  that  Phrafej  and, 
 tho'  this  T^ext  may  be  applied  to  That,   confi- 
 
 _dered  by  itfelf,  and  feparated  from  the  reft  of 
 this  Chapter :  yet,  it  is  plain  that  it  has  no  Re- 
 lation as  it  ftands  here,  to  the  Death  of  par- 
 ticular Perfons,  but  refers  wholly  to  the  latter 
 End  of  Nations,  or  the  final  Ruine  of  whole 
 Societies.  Almighty  God  therefore  doth,  in 
 thisVerfe  (after  the  moft  pathetical  Manner,  a- 
 mongftMen,  ofexprefling  the  Defires  of  their 
 Hearts)  wifh  that  the  People  of  Ifrael  were 
 wife,  i.  e.  That  they  had  fuch  a  Wifdom,  as 
 would  diredt  and  move  them  to  Every  thing 
 proper  and  neceffary,  in  order  to  their  own 
 Prefervation  and  Happinefs.  He  wifhes  that 
 they  under jiood  this  -,  which  feems  to  mean  the  j 
 Method  in  which  he  deals  with  Nations  i  | 
 and  in  other  Words,  that  they  would  confider 
 their  latter  End,  or,  how  certain  their  End 
 will  be,  if  They  will  not  behave  themfelves  as 
 G  g  4  the 
 
45i 
 
 SERM 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Faji-day^    1711-12. 
 
 the  great   Governour  of  the  World  expefts  ; 
 
 XXII.   and  that  they  would  So  confider  this,  as  to  be 
 
 W/^VV  moved,  by  this  Conlideration,  to  the  Perform- 
 
 :anceof  all  thofe  Conditions  which  are  necef- 
 
 fary,    on  their  own   Part,   to  the   preventing 
 
 their  Ruine,  and  eftablidiing  their  Profperity. 
 
 And  then  it  follows,    (Verfe  30.)   How  fimld 
 
 One  chafe  a  ^hcufand,  and  Two  put   T'em  thou- 
 
 Jand  to  flighty  except  their  Rock  had  fold  them, 
 
 and  the  Lord  hadfmt  them  up  ?— /.  e.  What  a 
 
 glorious  Current  of  Succefs  fhould  they  have, 
 
 in  all  their  lawful  Enterprizes  againft  their  Ene- 
 
 i  mies,   unlefs  God  fhould  put  a  flop  to  it  him- 
 
 felf  J  and  fell  them  into  their  Enemies  Hands, 
 and  into  a  bafe  Captivity,  for  the  fake  of  their 
 fooiifh  and  wicked  Behaviour,  and  their  un- 
 grateful Returns  for  all  thofe  extraordinary  Fa- 
 vours befl:owed  upon  them  by  Him,  and  by  his 
 peculiar  Providence  ? 
 
 Thefe  Words,  thus  explained,  you  fee,  di- 
 rect every  Man,  who  is  a  Member  of  any  Na- 
 tion, or  Society,  to  confider  himfelf  as  fuch : 
 not  always  to  regard  only  his  own  private  and 
 perfonal  Concerns ;  but  often  to  have  in  his 
 Thoughts  the  Relation  he  bears  to  others  a- 
 round  him,  and  what  is  required  of  him,  as  he 
 is  a  Part  of  that  Whole ^  in  the  Welfare  of  which. 
 He  himfelf,  and  all  his  own  Poflerity,  and 
 that  of  all  around  Him,  arc  nearly  concerned. 
 
 This, 
 
A  Sermon  onthe  FaJT-day^   I7ii>i2. 
 
 This,  I  fay,  it  becomes  us   all  frequently  to 
 
 confider,  and  efpeciaily   upon  fuch  Occafions, 
 
 as  That  which  has  now  called  us  together.   And 
 
 ,  to  this  End,  the  Words  before  us  are  very  pro- 
 
 i  per,  as  they  naturally  lead  us  to  the  following 
 
 I  Obfervations : 
 
 I.  That  God  doth  truly  defire  the  Profpe- 
 rity  and  Happinefs  of  Nations  and  Societies  of : 
 Men. 
 
 II.  That  his  Defire  of  their  Profperity 
 doth  not  induce  Him  to  make  them  happy, 
 without  their  own  joint  AlTiftance  j  but  that 
 He  expeds  their  own  Wifdom,  and  their  befl 
 Endeavours,  to  concur  with  Him.     And, 
 
 III.  That  the  Confideration  of  that  latter 
 End,  and  Diflblution,  which  Nations  muft  ex- 
 pedt,  if  they  go  on  to  difpleafe  God  ;  and  of 
 thofe  Rules  by  which  he  ads,  in  his  Dealings 
 with  Societies,  ought  to  be  of  great  Force  to 
 engage  Us  to  confult  our  own  Security  and 
 Profperity,  in  thofe  Methods  which  he  has  laid 
 before  Us;  particularly,  by  forfaking  thofe 
 Vices,   which  otherwife  muft  be  our  Ruine. 
 
 1.  Let  us  obferve,  for  our  own  great  Satif- 
 fadion,  that  Almighty  God  is  truly  concerned 
 for  the  W«lfare  of  all  public  Societies  and  Na- 
 tions.    Far  be  it  from  us  to  fuppofe,  that  He 
 
 ever 
 
 457 
 
 ER  M.I 
 XXII. 
 
;45  ^  '  A  Sermon  on  the  Fall-day^  17011-12. 
 |sERM.!ever  wholly  confined  his  Love  and  tender  Re- 
 j  X21I.  gards,  or  pathetic  Wifhes  of  Happinefs,  to  the 
 ^S^^^'^'^  Jewifi  Nation  ;  tho'  he  feleded  them  out  of 
 the  whole  Earth,  as  his  own  People,  for  the 
 ;  good  Purpofes  of  his  Providence.  His  remark- 
 
 \  able  PuniOiment  of  the  Jewijh  Nation,   when 
 
 \  jtheir  Behaviour    called    for  it  j  and,    at  laft, 
 
 ruining  their  whole  Polity,   and  the  Fabric  of 
 their  Commonwealth  -,  and  his    waiting  upon 
 ;  other  Nations^   to  fee  whether  they  would  re- 
 
 5  pent  or   not  j  and  his  deferring  their  Deftruc- 
 
 j  tion   'till  they   were  paft  all    Hopes:  Thefe 
 
 j  Particulars^  recorded  of  old,  of  His  Methods 
 
 of  dealing  with  Nations,  may  alTure  us,  that  He 
 has  the  fame  tender  Defire  of  the  Welfare  of 
 All  Nations,  which  He  had  for  that  of  the 
 yews-,  and  that  He  is  as  truly  concerned  for 
 the  Happinefs  of  other  Nations,  as  ever  he  was 
 for  Tiioie  whom  He  called  His  own  People. 
 He  is  the  Creator  of  all  Men^  and  the  great 
 Governour  of  all  Nations.  All  have  a  Title  to 
 his  Providence,  and  fatherly  Care  j  and  All 
 muft  be  dear  in  his  Eyes,  'till  they  have 
 made  themfelves  otherwife.  It  appears  from 
 the  Sacred  HiHory^  That,  if  Abraham  and 
 his  Family  had  been  as  impious,  and  as  cor- 
 rupted, as  the  other  Families  and  Nations 
 of  the  Earth,  God  would  not  have  chofei> 
 Himy  and  his  Pofierity^  out  of  all  the  World, 
 
 as 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Faft-day^ 
 
 17011-12. 
 
 459 
 
 as  his  peculiar  People,  And  that,  by  this  Choice,  fe  e  R  m. 
 He  did  not  mean  to  iignify  his  exempting  that   xxii. 
 People  from  the  general  Rule   of  his  Favour 
 and  Difpleafure,  towards  all  Nations,  is  moft 
 evident  from  his  totally  forfaking  Them,  and 
 dellroying  even  their  Appearance,  as  a  Nation^ 
 for  the  very  fame  Reafons,  for  which  He  had  i 
 heretofore  caft  out  and  deftroyed  other  Nations^ 
 for  their  Sake  :  viz.  becaufe  their  Iniquities  were 
 full. 
 
 This,  therefore,  muft  be  a  mighty  Satisfac- 1 
 tion,  that,  whereas  the  Lords  and  Tyrants  of 
 this  Earth  often  take  a  Delight  in  overturning, 
 and  confounding  Families,  and  States,  and 
 Kingdoms,  when  their  Projeds  require  it, 
 there  fits  a  God  on  high,  able  and  wife,  to  over- 
 rule their  Power  and  Cunning ;  who  delights 
 not  in  Deftrudtion  and  Defolation  ;  whofe  Al- 
 mighty Power  is  chiefly  difplayed  in  fhewing 
 Mercy  ;  and  whofe  Delight  it  is  to  do  Good  to 
 the  Children  of  Men.  And  well  might  the 
 Pfalmijli  upon  Confideration  of  this,  cry  out. 
 Why  boajieft  thou  thyfelf  thou  'Tyrant,  that  thou 
 canft  do  Mifchieff  whereas  the  Goodnefs  of  God' 
 endureth  yet  daily  f  i.  e.  How  can  you,  the  Ty- 
 rants of  this  World,  pride  yourfelves  in  that 
 Mifery  and  Ruine  which  you  can  fcatter  around 
 you  ;  when  you  have  the  Example  of  God  be- 
 fore your  Eyes,  who  is  infinitely  exalted  above 
 
 you. 
 
t6o_ 
 
 JE  RM. 
 XXII. 
 
 A  Sermo7i  on  the  Faji-day^    1711-12. 
 
 you,  and  cloathed  with  infinite  Degrees  of 
 Power  more  than  you  are  acquainted  with  : 
 And  yet,  his  Goodnefs  endureth  daily  ;  and  yet 
 iJ^  delights  not  in  deflroying,  but  in  faving; 
 not  in  ftriking  Terror  upon  the  'Nations  of  the 
 Earthy  but  in  fhowring  down  his  Bleffings  up- 
 on them  ?  Did  the  proud,  and  ambitious,  and 
 infatiable  Lords  of  this  Earth  but  con fider  this ; 
 what  a  ftop  muft  it  put  to  all  the  Madneffes  of 
 their  Power,  here  below  ?  How  few  Scenes 
 of  Blood  and  Defolation  ?  how  few  Countries 
 depopulated  and  laid  wafte  ?  how  few  Barba- 
 rities exercifed  ?  how  few  Families  banifhed 
 and  extirpated  ?  how  few  Town  s  laid  in  Afhes  ? 
 and  how  few  Inftances  of  any  thing  like  Vio- 
 lence or  Brutality,  fliould  we  fee  or  hear  of  ? 
 But,  becaufe  this  lovely  Pattern  of  the  moft 
 high  God,  and  fupreme  Governour  of  the 
 World  is  not  regarded  ;  but  Ambition,  and 
 an  unbounded  Love  of  all  the  Tokens  of  Pow- 
 er, reign  in  the  Hearts  of  many  of  the  Rulers 
 here  below  5  therefore  it  is,  that  we  have 
 heard  and  feen  fo  frequently  the  Charaders  of 
 Inhumanity  in  the  World,  and  Rivers  of  Blood 
 filed,  and  Thoufands  of  Lives  facrificed,  to  the 
 Will  and  Humour  of  one  Man ;  therefore  it  is, 
 that  we  fee  Engines  of  Deftrudion  invented 
 and  improved  j  all  the  Arts  of  Diffimulation 
 to  inveigle  and  cheat,  and  of  Ruine  and  Vio- 
 j  lence 
 
ASermon  on  theFaJl-day^    171 1-12. 
 
 1 
 
 461 
 
 jlence  to  deftroy,   more  fludied,  and  in  more^ERM. 
 Repute,  than  the  Arts  of  Peace,  and  the  whole  |  xxii. 
 Band  of  Social  Virtues.  Butthefe  Methods  are  ..^■''V>J 
 not  learnt  from  that  great  Governour  of  Hea- 
 ven and  Earth,   who  ought  to  be    the   great 
 Pattern  of  the  Mighty.     For  He  is  never  re- 
 prefented  to  us  to  be  more  Jeligbledy  than  when 
 the  Rules  of  his  Government   permit  him  to 
 ihower  down   his  Bleiiings ;   and  never   more 
 grieved^  or  aCling  with  more  Reludtance,  than 
 when  He  is    conftrained,   as  it  were,   by  the 
 fame  juft  Rules  of  Government,   to  pour  his 
 Wrath  upon  any  People,  or  Nation.     But, 
 
 II.  We  may  and  ought  to  obferve,  that  Al- 
 mighty God  doth  not  fo  wifli  and  defire  the 
 Profperiiy  of  Nations,  but  that  there  are  Con- 
 ditions to  be  performed  on  their  Part,  without 
 which  he  will  not  fave  them  from  Deftrudi- 
 !on.  For  Infiance,  it  is  abfoluteiy  necefTary 
 ;that  they  call  up  all  their  own  Prudence,  and 
 enter  into  the  beft  Counfcls  they  can  procure ; 
 .that  they  take  all  Opportunites,  and  make  ufe 
 of  all  the  moft  probable  Methods,  of  prevent- 
 ing their  own  Deftrudion,  by  applying  Wifdom 
 againft  Wifdom,  Force  againft  Force,  and 
 uling  the  honeft  Arts  of  this  World,  under  the 
 Condud  and  Bleffing  of  God.  They  mufl 
 not  forget  to  implore  the  favourable  Eye  and 
 
 knd 
 
462 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fafl-day^  1 70 1 1- 1 2 . 
 
 s  E  R  M.  kind  Providence  of  that  God,  who  fits  over 
 
 XXII.  all ;  and  can  difpofe  the  Fate  of  Kingdoms  and 
 
 ^'^^'V^^,  JSfations  j  and  they  muft,   at  the  fame   time, 
 
 make  ufe  of  the  Ajjijiances,  He  has  put  into 
 
 their  Hands,  by  his  good  Providence ;  remem- 
 
 bring  that  He  will  not  work  Miracles  for  them, 
 ;'  whilft  They  ftand  ftill  and  will  do  nothing  for 
 ;  themfelves.     To  this  Purpofe  I  cannot  forbear 
 
 to  call  to  mind  that,  in  that  Storm,  in  which 
 <  St.  Paul  was  fhipwrecked  [A£fs  xxvii.)  tho* 
 '  an  Angel  of  God  had  aflfured  him  that  there 
 
 fliould  be  no  Lofs  of  any  Man's  Life  amongft 
 
 them;  yet,  when //j^  Ship- men  were  going  to 
 \jlee  out  of  the  Ship,  Paul  (zid  to  the  Centurion, 
 ;  except  thefe  abide  in  the  Ship,  ye  cannot  befaved, 
 \  So  fenlible  was  He,  that  when  God  promifes 
 '  to  fave  any  Perfons,  either  their  Lives  or  E- 
 
 ftates,  He  never  means  to  exclude  their  own 
 :  Endeavours  ;  but  always  requires  the  fame  Ef- 
 '  forts  and  Behaviour  from  Them,   as  if  they 
 
 were  to  be  faved  wholly  by  their  own  Power  and 
 I'Wifdom. 
 *      And  as  072e  Part  of  that  Wifdom  which  God 
 
 requires  of  a  Nation,  in  order  to  their  Happi- 
 inefs,  is  to  ufe  all  their  own  Endeavours  againft 
 '  the  Defigns  of  their  Common  Enemy  ;  all  that 
 1  Strength  of  Mind,  and  Force  of  Arms,  with 
 !  which  They  areblelTed ;  fo,  another  Part  of  it  is, 
 
 to  be  united  Simovi^a  themfelves  3  to  bury  all  in- 
 
 teflin& 
 
\A  Sermon  on  the  Fafl-dayy  17011-12.     j  463 
 
 teftlne  Quarrels  and  Animofities    in  their  one  serm. 
 common  Interefl ;   and  not  to  allow  themfelves    xxii. 
 in  the  leaft  Thought  of  incenfmg,  or  vexing,  or  ''-'"VN/ 
 opprefling  one  another,  whiift  their  y^//  lies  at 
 ftake,  and  they  are  engaged  in  the  Defenfe  of 
 their  one  whole  common  Intereft.      For    this 
 mutual  Ill-will  doth  naturally  tend  to  their  own  j 
 Ruine  and    Deftrucflion.     Their   Enemies   fo 
 ;  well  know  this,   that  they  never  fail  to  endea- 
 {  vour  to  bring  it  about,   where  it  is  not ;  and  to 
 !  make  a  fad  ufe  of  it  where  it  is,   by  improving 
 '■  it  to  their  own  Purpofes.      Nor  will  God  re- 
 fift,   and    hinder,    the    natural   Tendency    of 
 !  what  is  founded  upon  the  Folly  and  Impru- 1 
 1  dence   of    Thofe    who  might    know    better.  I 
 When  a  Nation  is  colleded  within  itfelf ;  and 
 has  a  Centre,   in  which  the  Parts  of  it  all  meet; 
 and  one  common  Purpofe  in  view,   on  which 
 i  its  Happinefs  entirely  depends  ;  and  no   little 
 Interellis  and  divided  Plots  movino;  in  it :   how 
 I  formidable  is  that  Nation,  and  how  difficult  to 
 I  be  overpowered  and  undone  by  any  Enemies  ? 
 •  They   therefore,  who    firft    begin    to   fcatter; 
 I  Jealoufies  and    Uneafineffes  in   it ;   to  difunite 
 \  any  Parts  of  it  from  the  others,   let  it  be  un- 
 ■  der  what  Pretence  it  will,   are  the  firfl  who 
 leflen,  weaken,   and  dilTolve  its  Strength  ;  the 
 firfl  who  give  Life  and  Encouragement  to  its 
 Enemies :  little  confideringinio  what  Mifchiefs 
 
 fuch 
 
464  '     ASermo7t  on  the  Fafl-day^  1 711- 12. 
 
 se  R  Mi.  fuch  Beginnings  have  been  improved,  thro'  the 
 XXII.  I  Cunning  of  Adverfaries^  on  one  lide,  and  the 
 L^^'N^  Weaknefles  and  Paflions  of  human  Nature,  on 
 the  other. 
 
 There  are  fome  Nations  fo  blelTed  by  Pro- 
 vidence, and    enjoying  fuch  Advantages  from 
 Nature,   always  to  be  improved  by  Art^   that 
 a  clofe  Union  amongfl:   themfelves    wpuld   be 
 the  greateft  and  moft  probable  of  all  earthly  6'^'- 
 curities  to  them  ;  and  fuch  a  Fence  of  Safety,  as 
 would  beftrong  enough  againft  the  Force  of  All 
 the  Powers  of  this  World  united  againft  them. 
 And  perhaps,  this  may   be  one  Reafon  why 
 we  often  fee  fuch  a  Nation  the  fartheft  of  all 
 others,  from  defiring  or  contriving,  or  effedl- 
 ing,  that  lafting  and  good  Union  within  them-  ; 
 felves,  which    would  make  their  Natural  De- 
 fenfe  fo  fecure  and  un moveable.     They  are  cer- 
 tain, indeed,  of  being  taught,  by  frequent  Ex- 
 perience, that  God  will  not  keep  off  the  Dan- 
 ger and  Fear  of  their  Ruine,   without  it  ;  but 
 it  is  often  feen,  that  they  will  not  let  that  Ex- 
 perience itfelf  have  that  Effedl  upon  them  which 
 it  ought  to  have. 
 
 I  cannot  here  pafs  over  in  Silence  the  Senfe 
 of  Abraham  in  this  Matter  j  a  Perfon,  who  had 
 a  greater  Title  to  Profperity  and  Happinefs, 
 without  his  own  Wifdom,  than  any  Nation 
 upon  Earth  can  pretend  to.    God  had  promiCed 
 
 him. 
 
Jl  ISermon  on  the  tafl-day^   1711-12.1    465 
 
 iiim,  to  give  him  a  moft  defirable  Landj  and 
 to  make  of  him  a  glorious  People  :  yet,  he 
 knew  perfedly  well,  that  inteiline  Quarrels  and 
 DliTeniionsamongil  Him,  and  his  Relations  and 
 Friends,  would  be  of  fatal  Confequence  to  him, 
 and  ruine  all  his  future  Hopes.  The  facred 
 Hijlorian  leaves  it  upon  Record,  as  a  Matter 
 of  fon^e  Moment,  (Gen.  xiii.  5.  &c.)  that /A? 
 Subjiance  of  Abraham  and  hot  was  great  ^  So  that 
 ibey  could  not  dwell  together  ;  and  the  Confe- 
 quence  of  this  was,  that  there  was  a  Strife  be- 
 tween the  Her  dfmen  of  Abraham' s  Cattle,  and  the 
 Her dfmen  of  hot's  Cattle  J  and,  the  fame  H//^ 
 iorian  remarks,  that  the  Canaanite  and  Periz" 
 zite  dwelt  in  the  handy  i.  e.  Abraham  and  hot 
 dwelt  amongft  Nations,  which  were  Enemies 
 to  them  both  ;  and  therefore,  ready  enough  to 
 make  ufe  of  all  Opportunities,  and  take  all  Ad- 
 vantages in  order  to  ruine  and  extirpate  them. 
 And  we  find  Abraham^  fo  fenfible  of  the  ill 
 Confequence  of  this  Quarrel,  if  he  Hiould  infifi: 
 upon  what  he  in  Juftice  might  have  demanded; 
 that  he  yields  up  all  his  own  Concerns  to  the 
 Concerns  of  Peace,  and  to  the  common  Intereft ; 
 h?t  there  be  no  Strife^  fays  he,  betwixt  Me  and 
 Hhee^  and  betwixt  my  Herdfmen  and  thy  Herdf 
 men-,  for  we  be  Brethren.  Is  not  the  whole  hand 
 before  thee  ?  feparate  thyfelf  I  pray  thee,  from  me. 
 If  thou  wilt  take  the  hejt  Hand^  I  will  go  to  the 
 H  h  Right  i 
 
4.6  6    I     A  Sermon  on  the  Fa  ft- day  ^  1 7 1 1  - 1 2> 
 
 3ERM. 
 XXII. 
 
 Right  ;  or,  if  thou  depart  to  the  Rights  I  will  go 
 to  the  Left.  What  greater  Inftance  of  Goodnefs 
 and  Condefcenfion,  and  Regard  to  the  common 
 Concern  of  both,  could  we  pofTibly  imagine? 
 
 But  how  different  is  this,  from  the  Violence 
 of  Thofe,  who  give  themfelves  up  to  the  Study 
 of  a  particular  Intereft  ;  and  make  the  prefent 
 exalting  of //w/,  the  main  Bent  of  their  Thoughts 
 and  Labours,  tofuch  a  Degree,  that,  even  when 
 the  Whole  is  in  Danger,  they  are  feen  rather  to 
 give  the  common  Enemy  an  Advantage,  than 
 let  go  an  Opportunity  of  revenging  Themfelves 
 upon  Others,  or    ralfing  their  own  Power  and 
 Interefl:  above  theirs  ?   But  in  this  Temper  there 
 can  be  little,  or  indeec  nothing,  of  that   Pab- 
 lic-fpiritednefs,   which  is    fo   neceffary  to    the 
 Happinefs  of  a  Nation  ;   and  which   muft  be 
 guided  by  thefe  Principles,  That  whatever  is  for 
 the  Intertft  and  Security  of  the  Whole,    ought 
 nioft readily  to  be  followed  and  pradifed,  by  all 
 the  Members  of  the  Whole -j  and  ftill  more,  that 
 whatever    is  contrary  to  that,  ought,  for  that 
 very  Reafon,  to    be,   upon  t\\Q  firji  Thought, 
 rejected  and  condemned,  tho'  it  tend  to  what 
 weotherwife  moft  earneftly  wid),  on  fome  pri- 
 vate and  particular  Account :  And  farther,  that 
 Nothing  indeed  can  be  for  the  Interefl:  of  a  Part, 
 in  the   Ejid,   which    is   not  for  the  Intereft  of 
 the  Whole^  in  the  Fate  of  vvhich  that  Part  muft 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-dayy  1711-12. 
 
 467 
 
 ERM. 
 IXXII. 
 
 he  involved.  Thisis  what  we  may  fairly  gathers 
 to  have  been  the  Wifdom  oi  Abraham  in  fuch  a 
 Conjuncture;  and  this  (we  may  fairly  conclude,  WNI 
 from  the  natural  Tendency  of  mutual  Jealou- 
 fies  and  inteftine  Differences)  is  the  moft  inte- 
 refting  Point  which  a  ISlation  ought  to  regard, 
 when  its  All  is  at  Stake  ;  and  fuch  an  Inftance 
 of  W-jfdomas  Almighty  GcJexpeds,  from  all 
 Societies,   upon  the  fame  Occafions. 
 
 III.  I  come  now  to  the  I'hird  Obfervatlon 
 propofed  ixom  the  Text,  'viz.  that  the  Confide- 
 ration  of  their  latter  End,  ought  to  be  of  great 
 Force  to  move  all  Nations  to  prevent  their 
 own  Mifery  and  Bijfolution,  by  fuch  Methods, 
 as  their  great  Go^jcrnour  has,  either  by  Reaton 
 or  Revelation,  laid  before  Them  :  and  parti- 
 cularly, by  utterly  forfaking  thofe  Vices,  which 
 otherwife  mud  be  their  Ruine. 
 
 1  (liall  not  here  repeat,  what!  have  often,  up- 
 on like  Occafions,  obferved  to  you,  concern- 
 ing the  Dealings  of  God  with  v,vicked,  incorri- 
 gible Nations,  recorded  in  the  Old  T^eftament, 
 But  I  (hall  add  thot,  even  under  the  Gofpel,  we 
 have  had  a  freHi  Declaration  of  this,  in  the 
 Ledure  our  bleffed  Lord  read  to  the  JewSy 
 {Luke  xiii.)  upon  the  Subjedt  of  ci^tain  fevere 
 and  extraordinary  Providences  that  had  happen- 
 ed to  fome  particular  Perfons  of  that  Nation. 
 Sufpofeye,  fays  he,  (ver.  2.)  that  thofe  Galileans, 
 H  h  2  li-'hofe 
 
468 
 
 A  Serjnon  on  the  Fajl-day^  1 7 1  i-i  3', 
 
 ii:)hofe  Blood  Pilate  mingled  with  their  Sacrijices, 
 were  Simiers  above  all  the  Galileans^   becauje  they 
 fiiffered  fuch  things  "i  I  tell  you,    Nay  ;  hit^  Ex- 
 cept ye  repe?2t,  yejhall  all  likewifeperifi :  Or,  thofe 
 Eighteen  upon  whom  the  'Tower  in  SHoamfell,  and 
 Jlew  them,  Think  ye  that  they  were  Sinners  ahon:e 
 all  Men  that  dwelt  in  Jeri{Jhle?n?  It  ell  you.  Nay; 
 but,   Etccept  ye  re  pen  t,  ye  fiall  all  iikewifeperiJJ: . 
 For  thefe  Words  are  a  Declaration  of  the  tem- 
 poral Deftrudion  of  a  whole  People,  and  not  an 
 Account  of  God's  Dealing  with  private  Perfons  j 
 and  they  were  defigned  to  fignify,  that,   as  thefe 
 Perfons  mentioned  were  flain  by  a  fad  and  un- 
 common Calamity,  fo,  that  the  whole  Nation  of 
 the  Jews  fhculd  be  brought  to  Defolation,  by  a 
 more  terrible  Calamity,  unlefs  they  prevented  it, 
 by  a  timely  and  fincere  Repentance,   and  Ac- 
 ceptance of  his  Offers:   As   if  He  had  faid  to 
 them  — *'  This  is  the  Lejfon  I  would  have  you 
 "  learn  from  thefe  Events,  that  You  yourfelves, 
 "  as  a  Nation^  (hall  io  perifi,  in  an  uncommon 
 *'  Manner,  by  thejuft  Judgment  of  Gc^;   and 
 "  not,  that  fuch  calamitous  Events,  which  Gody 
 *'  in  the   Courfe  of  his  Providence,   does  not 
 *'  think  fit  to  prevent,  are  deligned,  as  Subjcds 
 *'  for  your  cenforious   Tempers  ;    or  as  Argu- 
 "  ments,  that  Thofe  particular  Perfons  on  whom 
 "  He  fuffered  them  to  fall,   were  greater  Sin- 
 **  ners  than  Thofe  on  whom  they  did  not  fall." 
 
 And 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Vafl-day^   171  i-i  2 , 
 
 S  E  R  M. 
 XXII. 
 
 469 
 
 And  now,  it  cannot  be  at  all  improper  to  ob- 
 ferve  that,  even  without  the  extraordinary  De- 
 clarations of  Go^himfelf,  againft  finful  Nations^ 
 in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  ^hat,   I  fay,  the  Con- 
 fideration  of  the  Natural Co?ifequefices  of  Things y 
 will   itfelf  convince  us,   that    there    is   not  a 
 more  certain  Sign  of  any  one  thing  in  Nature, 
 than  the  univerfal  Virtue,  or  abandoned  Wick^ 
 ednefs,  of  a  Nation  is,  of  their  flourifliing  Con- 
 dition, or  of  their  Tendency  to  Ruine.      If  Be- 
 neficence,   and   Charity,   and   all   the  Parts  of 
 true  Religion,  abound,  and  are  univerfally  prac- 
 tifed  and  encouraged  in  a  Land,  Happy  will  it  be 
 for  the  People  that  are  in  fuch  a  Cafe,  even  in  the 
 ordinary  Courfe  of  this  World,  conftituted  and 
 appointed  by  God  himfelf.   But  if  Iniquity  run 
 down  amongfl  them  with  a  mighty  Stream ; 
 and  all  Degrees  of  Vice  abound  and  flourifh  in 
 a  Nation,  what  will  their  latter  Endbe^  It  muft 
 fare  with  them,  as  it  has  fared,   not  only  with 
 the  Jews,   but  with    other  Nations,   whether 
 Greeks,  Romans,  or  Barbarians -,  who  have  been 
 feen  to    loie  the   Glory  acquired  by   them  in 
 their  former  State  of  rigid  Virtue  ;  and  to  wafte 
 away  by  Degrees ;   in  exad:  Proportion  to  their 
 Improvements  in  Vice  and  Luxury  :  and,  atlaft 
 to  be  totally  loll  and   ruined,   by   the  genuine 
 Operation  of  their  own  Corruptions.  Thusmufl 
 They,  who  imitate  them   in  their  Degeneracy^ 
 
 imitate 
 
470 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   1711-12* 
 
 SERM.  imitate  them  in  their  inglorious  and  deplorable 
 XX  H.  ''End  alfo;  and  inherit  the  T)eftru6iion  which  is 
 
 >'^''''^'''^';  the  natural  Confequence  of  fuch  univerfal  Dif- 
 folutenefs  of  Manners. 
 
 I  have  thus  gone  over  the  three  Ol)ferv(ifio?iSy 
 I  propofed  frdm  the  ^ext  -,  and  fl:iould  now  pro- 
 ceed to  apply  what  has  been  faid  to  Ourfelves 
 and  our  own  Circumflances.  But  I  have  left 
 myfelf  not  much  Time  to  do  it ;  and,  I  hope, 
 Inot  much  Occafion  to  fpsnd  many  Words  upon 
 lit.  As  Almighty  God  has  a  very  great  Concern 
 jfor  the  Happineis  and  Welfare  of  Nations  and 
 'Societies  of  Men  :  fo,  He  has,  in  a  particular 
 jManner,  {hewn  himfelf  concerned  for  us,  if  we 
 imay  judge  by  thofe  frequent  Inftances  of  his 
 Mercy  which  He  has  poured  dov/n  upon  us ;  and 
 by  the  long  Trial  He  has  vouchfafcd  to  give  us; 
 t  whether  we  will  turn  unto  him  or  not ;  by  thofe 
 jEvils  He  has  from  time  to  timefentamongfl;  us; 
 by  thofe  Fears  and  Dangers  He  has  fometimes 
 brought  upon  us,  to  awaken  us  ;  and  thofe  won- 
 derful and  furprizing  Deliverances  He  has 
 vouchfafed  us,  above  all  our  Hopes  and  Expec- 
 tations. He  waits  upon  us,  even  yet ;  and  flill 
 tries  us  with  repeated  Inftances  of  his  Love  and 
 Kindnefs.  How  long  He  will  do  fo,  He  only 
 knows.  Would  to  Gody  I  could  fay  that  we  had 
 made  him  any  Returns  agreeable  to  i'o  much 
 Love  and  Long-futlering  j  or  that  we  feem  yet 
 
 to 
 
A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^  1 7 1 1  - 1 2 . 
 
 -471. 
 
 to  be  difpofed  for  Happinefs.     We  are  now  in  s  e rm. 
 fome  Danger  again,  as  We  are  engaged  in  the    xxii, 
 Defenfe  of  Ourfelves,  as  well  as  our  Neighbours,  -f'VNi/ 
 againft  a    very  powerful  and  cunning  Enemy. 
 This  is  our  common  Caufe,   and  the  common 
 Intereft  of  every  Member  of  this  Nation. 
 
 Whether  there  be  any  amongll:  us  who  wifli 
 well  to  this  formidable  Enemy,  is  not  our  pre- 
 fent  Enquiry.     But  that  which  looks  very  ill, 
 amongfl:  all  our  Preparations    againft   him,  is 
 this,   That   we  do  not  hate  this  public  B.nemy  \ 
 more  than  we  hate  one   another  ;   that   we  are   ; 
 not  more   glad  of  an  Opportunity  of  bringing   ' 
 him  low,   than  we  are  of  deprefling  one  ano- 
 ther ;  that  we  are  not  more   filled  with  a  juft 
 Refentment  and  Indignation  againft  Him,  than 
 we  are  with  mutual  Refentment  and  Indigna- 
 tion  againft  one  another  at  Home  j   that  we  can 
 find  time,  when  all  our  Thoughts  ought  to  be 
 wholly  taken  up  againft  the  common  Adver- 
 fary,  to    invent,  and    attempt,   and  profecute, 
 what   may   irritate  one   another  j   and  difturb 
 Our  own  Quiet  at  Home  j  and  by  this  contribute 
 our   felves  to  the    Strength  and  Advantage,   of 
 our  Enemies  Abroad. 
 
 If  any  pleafe  themfelves  with  the  Thought, 
 that  our  'Enemies  are  as  wicked,  and  as  bad  as 
 Ourfelves,  it  muft  ftill  be  owned,  that  They 
 gre  much  more  diligent  in  ufing  all  Means 
 
 that 
 4- 
 
472 
 
 SERM. 
 XXII. 
 
 A  Sermon  on  the  Fajl-day^   1 7 1 1  - 1 2 . 
 
 that  have  a  natural  Tendency  to  effe(!l  ,their 
 Purpofes  J  and  have  a  clofer  and  more  con- 
 ftant  Union  within  themfelves,  than  we  can 
 pretend  to:  and  that  it  is  certain  aifo,  that 
 God  often  makes  ufe  of  one  very  -wicked  Na- 
 tion, to  mine  and  deftroy  another  :  Efpecially, 
 when  this  other  has  had  more  of  his  Favours; 
 enjoyed  more  Light ;  and  finned  againlj  great- 
 er Convidion,  and  greater  Mercies.  I  do  not 
 prefage  Evil  to  us.  But  we  muftnot  flatter  our- 
 selves, and  be  too  fecure.  Thankfulnefs  for 
 former  Mercies  j  Repentance  for  that  Ingrati- 
 tude, that  has  been  fhewn  in  Return  for  them  ; 
 Reformation  of  our  Lives  ;  a  pubhc  and  uni- 
 form Encouragement  and  Regard  to  Virtue -, 
 and  as  public  and  conftant  a  Difcouragement  of 
 Vice  and  Immorality  ;  Love  to  one  another, 
 and  universal  Charity  j  and  a  prudent  Ufe  of  all 
 the  Means  put  into  our  hands  by  Providence  : 
 — Thefe  are  the  things  which  will  not  only 
 prevent  our  Rui/ie,  notwithdanding  all  the  Ef- 
 ^rts  of  our  mofl  powerful  Enemies  ;  but  fix 
 our  Happinefs  fecure,  upon  as  a  flrong  a  Foun- 
 dation, as  the  State  of  this  World  can  admit 
 of.  O  that  we  were  wife,  that  we  underjiood  thisy 
 that  we  would  confider  our  latter  End ! 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Date  Due 
 
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 1 
 
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