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 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
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FOURTEEN 
 
 SERMONS 
 
 PREACH D ON 
 
 Several Occafions. 
 
 Together with 
 
 A Large Vindication 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DOCTRINE 
 
 Concain'd in 
 
 The Sermon preach'd at the 
 FmerdoiW THOMAS 
 'BENNET. 
 
 By FrancisAtterbury, D. D. 
 
 Dean ofCarliJle^ Preacher at the Rolls, and 
 Chaplain in Ordinary to Her Majefty. 
 
 LO N D N: 
 
 Printed by E. P. for Jonab Bowja-j at the Rofe 
 in Ludgate (irect near St. ?Ws Church. 1708. 
 
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 TO THE 
 
 Right Rev^ Father in God 
 
 JONATHAN 
 
 By Divine Permiflion 
 
 Lord Bp. of iVinchefler^ and 
 Prelate of the moft No- 
 ble Order of the Garter. 
 
 j^Iay it pleafe j/our Lord/hip 
 
 O accept this Pub- 
 lick Teftimony of 
 Gratitude from a 
 Man, who ftands 
 indebted to Your Lordship 
 
 A z for 
 
^he dedication, 
 
 ^r many Favours ; great in 
 themfelves, but made much 
 greater by Your free and ge- 
 nerous manner of conferring 
 them. For they were not 
 l^e Effects of Importunit^yj 
 or the juft Rewards of Do- 
 meftick Service; they fprang 
 not from Dependance , or ' 
 Acquaintance; being be- 
 ftowd onOne^ who was (at 
 the firft') little known to j 
 Your Lordfhipj otherwife 
 than by his honeft Endea^ 
 yours to retrieve thofeSynoh 
 dical Rights of the Clergy^ 
 whereof You, my Loiid| 
 have been all along, to Your 
 ^reat. Honour, the avow'4 
 r^tron and Defender. I 
 
The DediciTiti}^ 
 
 ^^f^^'^mention not tHls Inh 
 ftance of Your Lordship's 
 Goodnefs to Me, with any 
 View of Diftinguifhing my. 
 feif from Others : for You: 
 haVe done nothing in My 
 cafe, but what You have freri 
 <^uently practised, fince the^ 
 time that Divine Providence, 
 for the good of this Church, 
 rais'd You to the Epifcopal 
 Pignity ; Nothing, but whatt 
 hath been fuccelFively ac-r 
 knowledg'd by all Thofef 
 t^ho have prefix'dYourRight 
 Reverend Name to their 
 Labours, from the Learned 
 itld Venerable D^ Tococl^i 
 down to the mean Author of 
 
 A 3 th? 
 
The Dedicatiotti 
 
 tUfolfowms SeraiorMfc Ancfe' 
 
 Vi^hile Your Lordship eO!^- 
 
 tinues to repeat the fame 
 
 i!^cts of Generofity , Yolf 
 
 muft be contented toteceJtil 
 
 the very fame Acknowledj 
 
 ments ; fince W«,^ 
 
 fhare the ObligatloiK|^1^ 
 
 fcarce find a bettdr way of 
 
 e^^prefling our Thanks^ and 
 
 doing juttige to Your Cha- 
 
 rader, than by informing 
 
 the World, Why, and How 
 
 they were deriv'di^ Usr *^'^ 
 
 • The Secrecy, with M^hifch 
 
 Wife Statefmen condtiit 
 
 their Deiigns for the Pub- 
 
 lick Good, fo, as that the 
 
 Execution alone (hall make 
 
 the 
 
The 'Dedicatiorh- 
 
 the Difcovery , hath by Youc , 
 t^rdftiip been as carefully 
 obferv'd in Your Private 
 Schemes of Beneficence $ 
 which havefeldom appeared,! 
 till they took Effed, and 
 foipris a even Thofe, who 
 were moft nearly interefted 
 in the Succefs of thepi. By 
 this means, You have, after 
 the beft manner, forbidden 
 all Applications, by rendring 
 them, not only unneceflary, 
 but impracticable; and ha\e 
 i^njoy'd to the utmoft,, both 
 ^|he Honour, and the Plea- 
 fqre of well-doing, 
 ^j^l: Indeedjthere is fcarce any 
 Virtu?, which either difpo- 
 
 r ' A ^ ff^ 
 
T'he 7)edic4tion^\ | 
 
 fes the Mind fo 4efQry^: veil 
 of pthersjor ad^f Qomelipgfs, 
 
 feftl^y ^a'ppeary land Q|iific?4a 
 Your Xordftiip : and; by 
 thefe UecQip^piyiiag ' jGir- 
 qumtlances You, engage >the 
 very |leaits^fDf Xho 
 ^BligQ^,and dpublqthe \[^ 
 ^|ue qf jipverY.^indnds-Y^^i^^ 
 
 ^ 1^0 giye, hQpmg.(jind iqqk- 
 ingj'jor^ nothingagainj is fthq 
 GofpelEule pi Benefipepce ; 
 "ancT 5 Your Lordfhip jiath 
 ftrialy obferv d it For noqa 
 of Your Gifts : have jbeen 
 (iio'ga q' with. Conditions i 
 
^he Dedication. 
 
 * You have expedled no Re. 
 turns, but what every one, 
 wkci hath a thankful Mind, 
 andia juft ferife of his Duty, 
 would even choofe , and 
 delight to pay : You have 
 aim'd only at doing as be- 
 came You in Your high Sta- 
 tions; andwhenThofe whom 
 You advancd, did likewife 
 as became them in Their 
 Stations, Your Defires were 
 anfwer d , and You had 
 Yo^r Reward. 
 
 It is well known, with 
 what Cpurtefy and Eafe 
 You have always treated 
 Thofe whom You have once 
 pblig dj on that very account 
 • . they 
 
tbey were fure of haviiig a 
 nearer and freer Accefs to 
 Your Lord£hip,inftead of be- 
 ing kept to the UfualTeims 
 of diftance and dependance^ 
 You have been fo far from 
 ever putting any Mam fil 
 mind of what You hav6 
 done for him, that You 
 would never bear to be ptit 
 in mind of it Your felf ; and 
 have not been more care- 
 ful to prevent Solicitations, 
 than to avoid Acknowledg- 
 ments. Yoji had the Thanks 
 of Your Own Gonfcioice, 
 and You neither needed, 
 nor defir'd any Other. ^: 
 -mJtc- is the peculiar Happi- 
 
 aefg 
 
nefs of thofe Perfons, on 
 whom Your Favours ajf€> 
 plac'cl, that they receive 
 them from an Hand, emi- 
 nent for its great and lafting 
 Services to our Church and 
 Gonftitution. For there are, 
 I thinks no Enemies what- 
 foever, either of her Do* 
 <ftfine, Difcipline, orWpr- 
 (hip, (either within doors, 
 or without) but what Your 
 Lordihiphathjin theCourfe 
 of Your Epifcopal Govern- 
 pient, withllood^and baffled. 
 / You were one of thofe 
 .Seven prelates (worthy of 
 honourable remembrance) 
 who gave the moft effedu- 
 
 al 
 
il^Check to the Attempte 
 (Si^opm vA a late Reigh*/ 
 fii¥d preferv'd the*|)ure Prc^ 
 feffion of Chrijftianity among 
 ps by the fame Suffering' 
 Methods by which it was' 
 atiiiit propagated. *It cap 
 never be forgotten, witW 
 what a true Chriftian Spirit^ 
 (fach as animated the ehief 
 Paftors of the Church, i# 
 thofe Days, when Epifco- 
 pacy was a certain Step to 
 Martyrdom 3 You flood 
 forth, and offered Your felf 
 willingly to vpttneff U good 
 Confeffion ; how Solicitous 
 
 You were, left the Tovper-' 
 
 If 
 
 Gates fhould have beenfhut 
 
 upon 
 
^he T>edicatmx 
 
 upon thofa Excellent Perr 
 fons, ere Yoyr Diftance 
 would permit You to act 
 company them in their glo- 
 rious Confinement 5 to par- 
 t^^e of which, You made 
 a^^much hafte, as fome Men 
 afterwards did, to draw the 
 Advantages of it to them- 
 felves, under a new Turn 
 of Affairs. 
 
 When That happened , 
 Kew Qccafions alfo of fer- 
 ving the Church, offered 
 themfelves to Your Lord-i 
 (hip, which You as readily 
 embracd. The Fatherly 
 Vigilance, and Exemplary 
 Egmnefs you then fhow'd 
 
 in 
 
7he ^edicatioru 
 
 in fruftrating the Methods 
 inade ufe of to perpetuate 
 Schifniy by unauthorized 
 Schools and Seminaries^ 
 were obferv'd withPleafurej 
 and own'd with Thanks, by 
 All that wifla'd well to our. 
 Eftablifhment. Nor could 
 They, who wilh'd ill to it, 
 juftly blame an Endeavour 
 offecuring to the Ordinary 
 that Power, which he al- 
 ways enjoy d, and of which 
 he is not yet divefted; and 
 of confining a Legal InduS 
 gence within the Bounds 
 prefcrib'd by that Law; 
 which gave Birth to it. 
 Shall I take notice here 
 
 of 
 
97;^ T)edkaUon. 
 of thc.Seafonable and Libe- 
 rals Encouragements You 
 reach'd out to a worthy 
 Treshyteroi this Church^who 
 reprels'd the bold Attempts 
 of SeBaries by his Leamed 
 and Accurate Writings ? It 
 may, I think, become me to 
 mention even this Particular 
 Ad of Your Bounty, fince it 
 had a General Aim, and In- 
 fluence, and was not termi- 
 nated in the Terfon^ howde- 
 ferving foever, but in the 
 Righteous Gatife which he 
 efpous'd^ and which, as 
 Your Lord(hip's fix'd Judg- 
 ment leads You, by all Law- 
 ful Means, to fupport, fo 
 *^' Your 
 
The T)edicati6rh 
 
 Your Temper incliiies You 
 rather to promote by Re- 
 wards, than Punifhments. 
 
 The Fears of Popery 
 were fcarce removed, when 
 Herefy began to diffufe it*s 
 Venome; and the facred 
 Myfteries of ourFaith were, 
 after a daring and petulant 
 manner, exposed to publick 
 Scorn, even in one of thofe 
 famous Seats of Knowledge, 
 which then were, and ftiil 
 are.the chief Bulwarks of true 
 Religion. It pleas'd God, 
 that You were now pof- 
 fefs'd of a See, which gave 
 You Power to Vifit and 
 Correct fuch Enormities; 
 iiio^ and 
 
The T>editatlon. 
 and You exerted that Po\v^- 
 er with Zeal and Vigour ; 
 driving out from the Schools 
 of Learning a Difciple of A- 
 rius^ who had all the Craft 
 and Obftinaey of his Mailer, 
 and the good luck, for fome 
 time, to be as well Supported, 
 The Profecution of this 
 Caufe was attended with fo 
 many Difficulties, as would 
 havefhaken aRefolution lefs 
 firm than Your Lordship's. 
 But tHe Difcharge of Your 
 great Trufl*, and the Main- 
 tenance of God's Truth , 
 were the Springs which had 
 fet you on work ; and 1 hey, 
 who a(ft upon fuch Princi- 
 * pies, 
 
The Dedication. 
 pies • can never . be dif- 
 
 * The Iffue of that memo- 
 rable Struggle, as it was of 
 great Advantage to the 
 Church, and the Univerfi- 
 ties, in other Refpedi:s, (c^ 
 particularly in this , that it 
 fixd the Power of Vifitors 
 (^not till then acknowledged 
 Final) upon the fure Foun- 
 dation of a Judgment in 
 Parliament; and, by that 
 means, made fo effedliual a 
 Pr o vifion for the future Quiet 
 of thofe Learned Bodies, as 
 may be reckond equal to 
 the greateft Benefadions. 
 This, and another Parll- 
 yn^fy ^ amentary 
 
7*he dedication. 
 
 ahientary Decifion, which 
 Your Lordfliip, not long 
 after, with equal Difficul- 
 ty obtain'd ; and by which 
 the Bifliop's fole Right to 
 judge of the Qualifications 
 of Perfons applying for In- 
 ftitution, was unalterably' 
 confirm'd ; are fuch Inftan- 
 ces of Your Magnanimity 
 and Publick Spirit, as will 
 remain in Memory, while 
 the Church, or the Law of 
 England hih. For they were 
 not Temporary Sefrvices, to 
 be made ufe of, and talk'd 
 of for a while, and then for- 
 gotten ; but (as the Hifto- 
 rian truly faid of his own 
 ^'' * X Writings^ 
 
^he T)edicati6n^ 
 
 Writings) Terpetual Jcfnip 
 ttons^ laid up for the bendSt 
 of fuGceeding Ages. And 
 He 5 who contends for Com- 
 mon Rights, with Lower 
 Aims than thefe, m^ans not 
 the Conftitution, but Hitn^ 
 felf ; and deferves not the 
 Applaufe even of his Own 
 Times, when he is not dif - 
 interefted enough to look 
 beyond them. It was the 
 Senfe of thefe Important 
 Services, already done by 
 Your Lordfliip, that occa- 
 fion'd a general Joy among 
 good Men, when they 
 heard of Your intended 
 Tranflation to the See of 
 
The T>e(lkatwn. 
 
 Winchefler. Particularly, the 
 Clergy of that Diocefe, and 
 the Univerfity of Oxford ^ 
 who were chiefly concern'd 
 in the Confequences of 
 Your Promotion, received 
 the firft Accounts of it 
 with the greateftSatisfadion, 
 iand were in Pain, while the 
 Event was fufpended — A 
 Sufpence^which we may pre- 
 fume defign'd to do honour 
 jto Your Lordship, and to 
 ^Juliify the Wifdom of her 
 Majefties Choice ; fince it 
 tended to fhew, how im- 
 patiently You were expedled, 
 lj«id< defir'd, by Thofe who 
 "io^sab t^iij ^n 3 were 
 
T^he Dedication. 
 
 were to be under Your In- 
 fpecStion and Authority. 
 
 Among ell the Learned 
 Bodies, whofe Hopes and 
 Fears were then in greateft^f 
 Agitation, None was mor^ 
 (or with more Reafon} folij 
 citous than that Houfe^ whicb 
 had the Honour of Educa^ 
 ting Your Lordship, and 
 inftilling into Your Mind 
 thofe Principles , which, 
 whoever hath once irnbib'd, 
 feldom forfakes ; and who? 
 foever forfakes not, muft 
 immoveably adhere to the 
 true Interefts of the Church, 
 and Monarchy. Whilftthat 
 fruitful Parent thus trains up 
 :..^bjj. :.i ■ her 
 
The T>edication. 
 
 her Children, She is fecure 
 of Prote(51:ion and Favour 
 from Your Lordfhip, or 
 from Whoever elfe He be, 
 that hath not been withheld 
 from doing good to Her, in 
 Evil Days, by malicious and 
 groundlefs Clamours. Un^> 
 der Your, and Their Sha- 
 dow She hath rejled at Noon- 
 when the Heat was molt 
 intenfe, and fcorching : She 
 hath flourifti'd hitherto, and 
 will, I doubt not, ftillcontii 
 nue toflourilh, tho'Her E- 
 nemies be Manv and Migh- 
 ty, and daily JJ:)oot out their 
 Jrroyvs againjl her^ e'ven bitter 
 Words. She looks upon Your 
 * 4 Lordfhip's 
 
The Dedicaumj 
 
 JLoRDS HI PS AdvancemeHit, 
 
 3s a fure Token that Divine 
 
 ^.Providence is ftill propitious 
 
 ^^loo Her ; and, encourag d by 
 
 ;j:his Profpecr, She is ready to 
 
 j:ake up her Parable, and fay ; 
 
 ..Jofeph is a fruitjul^oughye- 
 
 ,pen a fruitful \Bough by a IV ell ^ 
 
 iyphofe branches run over the 
 
 [JValL The Archers have Jorely 
 
 "^'grieved him^ and jhot at hmiy 
 
 and hated him ^ut his ^o\v ^ • 
 
 bode in Strenzth. and the Arms 
 
 i>f his Hands yvere made fir ong 
 
 thy the Hands of the mighty God 
 
 of j^coh : from thence is the 
 
 Shepherd^ the Stone (?/~IfraeL. 
 
 ^ In the Names of Thefe>, 
 
 _^ ,pf. all Other the true 
 
 Fliends 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 Friends and Sons of the 
 Church, permit me. My 
 Lord, to congratulate Your 
 Acceflion to a See, which 
 
 cwill afford You fuch a 
 
 , Sphere of Action as You 
 were made to fill ; which 
 will furnifli You with mariy 
 welcome Opportunities of 
 doing Good, of rewarding 
 
 .Merit, of cherifhingPiety arid 
 Virtue, of encouraging Per- 
 sons, diftinguifti'd by their 
 
 >Learning,theirundauntedAf- 
 
 fertion of Divine Truths, and 
 
 undiffembled Zeal for our 
 
 admirable Conftitution in 
 
 ^\ Church and State ; which 
 
 ^^ill, in fhort, enable You 
 
 to 
 
The Dedication. 
 
 to carry on all thofb Excels 
 lent Defigns , to which 
 Your Upright and Bountiful 
 Heart is religiouily incline. 
 
 What may We not pro- 
 mife our felves from the In- 
 fluence of Your LoRDSHip^s- 
 Conduct in fo Eminent a Sta-' 
 tion ? from Your known^ 
 Courage and Fervency in 
 the Caufe of God, and his 
 Church ? from the Greatnefs 
 of Your Mind, the Goodnefs 
 of Your Intentions, and the 
 Soundnefs of Your Princi- 
 ples^? from that Habitual 
 1.0YC oiH^orthj Veeds^ which 
 You contraded fo early, and 
 have by long Pra(5tice con- 
 
 firm'd 
 
 A'.\jf 
 
^he T>edication. 
 
 firm'd ? and from Your Expe-^ 
 rience of the Succefs that 
 hath attended You in all You 
 havefuffer'd, or done for the 
 Publick ? By Your Lord- 
 ship s Means, and within the 
 Circle of Your Power, we 
 doubt not but to fee all pro- 
 per Steps taken towards re- 
 viving decayed Difcipline; 
 and reftoring Church-Cen- 
 fures to their due Force and 
 Credit ; towards detecting 
 and defeating Clandeftine \. 
 
 Simoniacal Contracts; to- 
 wards fecuring the Rights 
 and Revenues of the Clergy 
 from Encroachments, refcu- 
 ing their Peifons and facrcd 
 ^'im I Function 
 
The ^edicatiom ^ 
 
 Fundlion from Cbntempt, 
 and freeing Religion it felf 
 from the Infults now made 
 upon it by Blafphemous 
 Tongues, and Pens, with 
 equal Boldnefs and Impu- 
 
 Thefe, My Lor d, are the 
 Expectations with which the 
 beft Men are now entertain- 
 ing themfelves, and which 
 You are haftning to mak^ 
 good. The Actions of thb 
 paft Years of Your Lire, are 
 a fure Earneft and Pledge 
 of what thofe to come will 
 produce; and the bright 
 Example You have (et long 
 ago to Your Self, and to O- 
 ^- thers/ 
 
The T>edtQ4tiQ^ 
 
 thers, fhall grow brighter^ 
 in Proportion to Your P6w5 
 er and Opportunities : for 
 theTath oftbefufl is as theShh, 
 ning Lights thatjhincth more and 
 more unto a perfeB T)ay. 
 
 The great Honours and 
 Revenues, ftill annexed to 
 fome few Stations in the 
 Church, are the chief Mark 
 which Impiety, Envy, and 
 Sacrilege aim at ; and much 
 they have to fay, why Re- 
 ligion fiiould be ftripp'd of 
 thefe fuperfluous and un- 
 profitable Ornaments. But 
 Malice it felf is difarm'd, and 
 all Objections are filenc'd, 
 when thofe Rewards are be- 
 ^ft\^m ftow'd 
 
Tihe Dedication. 
 
 flowed on Men, who by* 
 their Birth, and Virtues, 
 and Experience, are every 
 way qualify d for them^ 
 whofe Hereditary Fortunes^^ 
 and Noble Natures fet them 
 above all mean Defigns of 
 diverting the Patrimony of 
 the Church to improper U- 
 fes 5 and who are ready,there- 
 fore, to refled: back upon\ 
 Religion the Advantages^ 
 they derive from thence, and 
 to abound in all the Offices 
 of Hofpitality and Charity, 
 in proportion to what they 
 enjoy. I need not fay, how 
 far thefe Excellent Qualities, 
 belong to Your Lordship, 
 
 and 
 
^he Dedication. 
 
 and are a confefs'd part oE 
 Your Character. 
 
 When we compare the 
 Good whichYou have done, 
 My Lord, with that which 
 You have receiv'd, it brings 
 to mind the Appofite PaiTage 
 of the Prophet : The Liberal 
 devifeth Liberal things^ and bj 
 Liberal things floall he be e- 
 Jlablijhed, Your Lordship is 
 an Illuftrious Inftance of this 
 Truth ; for the Bleflings, 
 You have fo plentifully fcat- 
 ter'd on thofe beneath You, 
 have been multiply'd on 
 Your own Head from above^ 
 and You have reap'd the . 
 Benefits o^a moil generous 
 ■ ^ ^ and 
 
^he ^edicaiioii. 
 
 and firm Friendfhip, in like 
 manner as You fow'd theih. 
 You have given^ my Lord, 
 and it hath been given unto You 5 
 good Meafure, prejfed down^ 
 Jhal\en together, and running a- 
 ver : for mth the fame Mea- 
 fure^ if^hich You meted mthaly 
 hath it been Cand may it ever 
 be) meafured to you again. 
 
 Your Happinels , My 
 Lord, is now as compleat as 
 all the Profperous Circum- 
 ftances of Life can make it 5 
 and Your Private Domeftick 
 Felicities (a Cafe rarely 
 known) are no ways inferi- 
 our to thofe of a more Pub- 
 lick and Splendid Nature* 
 
 For 
 
 y 
 
^he Dedication. 
 
 For You are happy in the 
 beft of Ladies , as She is in 
 the Tendereft of Husbands ; 
 You have the beft of Sro- 
 thers^ and the beft oiCbildren^ 
 thoie Arrovps in the Hand of 
 the Mighty Many which are 
 both his Ornament, and De- 
 fence : God be thanked. 
 Your Qf^iver is full of them ! 
 And He amongft them, 
 who is to inherit Your Am- 
 ple Fortunes, doth, by 
 his Early Love of Learning, 
 and moft Vertuous Difpofi- 
 tion, promife, that he will 
 one day do Honour even 
 to that Honourable Stock 
 from which he fprings. 
 
 t With 
 
r 
 
 With fuch a Variety of ^ 
 BlefFings hath God fuN - 
 rounded You ! and, that 
 nothing may be wanting, 
 he hath bleff'd You likewifo- 
 with an Heart and Skill to 
 ufe them. May You, thro' 
 his Goodnefs, enjoy an un- 
 interrupted Continuance of 
 them ; and fuch a Length 
 of Days, as will give You 
 Room to improve them to 
 the utmoft, for His Glory, 
 and the Publick Benefit ! 
 
 This, My Lord, is the 
 Unanimous Wilh of all that 
 have been Obliged by You, 
 of All that Honour You, 
 th^t isjof All that truly Know 
 
 You I 
 
The Dedication, -^-^ 
 
 You ; but of none more than 
 Him, who now offers thefe. 
 Sermons to Your Lordihip, 
 and, with that Sincerity' 
 which becomes a Pi'eachei* , 
 of Divine Truth, profeiles ^ 
 himfelf to be, by all the 
 Tyes of Efteem, and Duty,^ 
 Gratitude, and Inclination 
 
 Your Lordship §.CI "io 
 
 ^olD^ff A. 
 
 4f:f^. moll Devoted, 
 
 ^nd ever Faithful Servanr, 
 <UO rilANCIS ATTERBURy. 
 
Il I 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TH E following Sermons, Jiavlng been, mofi of 
 thcjn, feparatdy Pr in feci, are now collet ed in" 
 to a Volume. One of thcm^ Vreach'd at Air. 
 Bennet's Funeral j wtis^foon after it came out, reflet- 
 ed upon with great freedom, in A Letter, direBed 
 to ^Atfrom the Prefs ,• and exhortivg me either to De- 
 fend, or Retrad the Dodrine '^ there delrjcr'd ^*L.f, 
 which is faid to ^r/x'epffended many Serious Un- ^* 
 derftanding Chriftians t- I ha've the happimfs^ -^ f l. p* 
 thank God, to be well acquainted with fever al Perfons '*• 
 of that Char^^ler, to whofe ^Judgment (^having great 
 Reafon to dijlruji my Own) I appeaN on this Occafion, 
 They ajjitrd me, that, upon a deliberate Perufal of that 
 Sermon, they faw nothing in it which ('ffendcd them ; 
 or which could, in thtir Opinion , jufily Offend am 
 one, who believ'd a Future State of Rewards and 
 Tunifiments. Nor have I, after making what E?i^uiries 
 1 could en this head, met with any One Pcrfon , who 
 carefully confider'd my DoBrine, and yet judgd differ- 
 ently of it. I wight well tberf/ore have fpar'd my felf 
 the Trouble of Reviewing and Defending, what appears 
 not to me to have been blam'd by any Wife, or Good 
 Man : for, whether the Writer of the Letter, bcfuch, 
 till 1 know who he is, I may have leave to dcubt. All 
 
ii The PREFACE. 
 
 * ^P' he fays ofJymfelfis, that he is an Obfcure Perfon * * 
 0«e, / y^ppo/^, he ixcanij that ts in the Dark • and 
 thinks it proper to continue fo , that he may take adi- 
 'vantage from thence to attack the Reputation of ethers ^^ 
 "ivithoiit baz^arding hts Civn. There may he fomewhat 
 (j^Wifdom, perhaps^ but fur e there J6 little of Goo A" 
 nefSj or Fairnefs in this ConduB. Several juch Ob- 
 fcure Perfons as thcfe.we ha've had of late, who have 
 hifulted Men of great Abilities and Worthy and taken 
 fleafure to pelt them, from their Coverts, with little 
 ObjeBions. The III Succefs of their Attemps hath 
 jufiifyd their Vrudence in concealing thcmfelves. 
 
 Whoever my unknown Correfpondent be , he preffes 
 ^^•P' hard for an Anlwer^ t ^'^^'^ i^ Jo earneft in that pointy 
 45. that he ivculd^ I perceive, be not a little difappointed 
 if hefliotild jnifs of it. Namelefs Authors have no right 
 to make fuch Demands. However^ the Importance of 
 the Argument it [elf, the Serious Air jvith which he 
 hath Treated cf it, and the Solemn Vroffftons he makes 
 of being aBed by no other Principle but a Concern 
 *ibij. for Truth '^,fooiz dcttrmind me to comply with his Ex- 
 hortations. And what follows^ therefore , 7vas drawn 
 «p not hng after his Letter appear d^ though the Pub- 
 lication cf it hath been delayed by feme Accidents, with 
 fin Axccount of which it is not neceffary to trouble the 
 Reader. AJter all, I Jljall be locked upon perhaps, as 
 writing rather too foon, than too late ' and as paying 
 too great a regard to an Attempt ^which was fof-Tpght" 
 ed, that the worthy Dean of Canterbury, not long af- 
 terwards, preach' d the DoSlrine, there opposed, before her 
 see h!> Scnr.on M-ijefiy^ and printed it by her Order *, 
 at stjawcis, ^^^ ^^ truth, there never was a Charze. 
 ^t)!A 3;. 1706.011 . ■ ' , . , r 1 n r^ ■ 
 
 jw«j/!7 xi.21.pp. matntamd witb jucb a [hew oj Lrravity 
 ">i2, 13. ^^^ Earrlejlmfs, which had a fighter 
 
 Founda- 
 
The PREFACE. lii 
 
 Fcundation to fupport it. Howfver^ it m.iy be cf fome 
 ufCf carefully to examin what this iVriter hath fald^ in 
 order, by a remarkable inf-ance, to (J}CWj hoiv little Cre- 
 dit is due to Accufaticns if this kind^ when they come 
 from fufpcBed (that is ^f rem Numelefs) Fens ; and how 
 artfully the Mask of Religion may fotnetimes be put cVy 
 to cover Dcfigns which cannot be decently o'vnd^ 
 
 That part of my Sermon, to which the Letter-Writer 
 
 hath confind his Reflections, contains the Explication 
 
 of an Argument, ivhich I fuppofe employ'd by the A^ 
 
 fofile, in the Text, for the proot of a Future State. 
 
 And I had rcafon thertfore to hope, what I offi rd on 
 
 this head, Jhculd be favourably receivd, and candidly 
 
 interpreted by aU fuch as did in good earntfl believe Juch 
 
 a State. And yet, to my fur prize, I have found One, who 
 
 'ii'ould be thought ferioufy to entertain this Belief en- 
 
 I deavouring all he can to weakeit an Argument {and in^ 
 
 I deed the Chief Argument dravjn from Rcafon aloTic) by 
 
 ' which it is upheld. 1 might have expelled this Treat' 
 
 i ment indeed from the Ten of fame Libertine, or dif- 
 
 j guis'd Unbeliever ; it being an JJfual piece of Art ^ with 
 
 ij that fort of Alt n, to undcrfnine the- Authority of Fun- 
 
 I damental Truths, by pretending to ^kw, how iveak and 
 
 j improper the Proofs are, which their AJjirtcrs employ 
 
 in the defence of them. But I did not, and ccukl not 
 
 \ expeB this Ufage from a Writer, who every where in- 
 
 fmUAres, and in one place *, I think, pretty plainly * j^^^^ 
 ; prOieiTes himfelfto be a Sincere Chrifian. His Con- 3'- 
 i cern for the Caufe of Religion t ivoidd have ap- 
 peared to far greater advantage, if he had employed it ra- ^^ ' ^' 
 ther in vindicating fome of its great Principles, v-'hich are 
 ■ every day openly and daringly attack' d from the Prefs, 
 ihr,n in Itjjening the Force of what I have urg'd in be- 
 half of one of them. Had I crrd in this cafe , it had 
 
 a 2 been 
 
iv The PREFACE 
 
 been a iveU- meant Mljlake^ and wight have pafs'd «»- 
 cbferv'd, at aTime^ when InfideUty finds fo much Em- 
 flojnsent of av other kind for all thofe who have a real 
 Concern for the Caufe of Religion. 
 
 B' fides ^ Dlfccurfes on fuch Occafions as that on which 
 I then Preached, are feldom the VroduB'wns of Leifure; 
 and (liquid always therefore be read with thofe favour-' 
 able /allowances whuh are made to hafiy Compofures, 
 So the DoBrine contain d in them be but Whole fonte a^d 
 Edifying J tho' there jliould be a want ofExaclnefs^ here 
 and there, either in the manner of Speaking , or Rea' 
 foning, it may be overlook' dj or pardon d. 
 
 When any Argume'at of great Importance is managd 
 with that Warmth andEarneftnefs which a Serious Con' 
 virion of it generally infpires, fomewhat may eaftly e- 
 fcapc, even from a Wary Ten, which will not bear the 
 Tefi of a fevere Scrutiny. Facile eft verbum ali- 
 quod ardens notare, idque, reftindis (ut ita di- 
 cam) animorum incendiis, irridere ,• faid one of 
 the befi Writers in the World^ who himfelf needed thU 
 Excufe as ftldcm as any Man. 
 
 In particular^ wh'<t I (jferd on that occafion towards 
 the proof of a Future State , dcfervd to be the lefs ri- 
 goroujly examindj beauje it was only by way oflntro- 
 dudion to fome Pfa<5lical Point Sj which I chiefly de- 
 firnd to injijf on. I had not room, in a few Pages at 
 the entrance of a J}}ort Difccurfe^ to confider all things i 
 on all hdes, * to balance the fveral Advantages j and < 
 Dlfoidv ant ages that attend the Pleafures of Men and 
 Bta/ls, Good Men and Bad, 1 pretended not fully 
 to State, t w^^-' ^<=!^ ^0 Demonftrate, the Truth 
 contain d in the Text ^ as I am jaljly reprc' 
 fented .'. to have done. TJjofe are Words which 
 1 never once usd , nor would the Task it [elf 
 have been proper at fuch a Time^ and before fueh an 
 
 Audi. 
 
 •L.p. 
 23- 
 
 tL.p. 
 23. 
 
 .-. t. 
 
 r-22, 
 
 2B 4-c, 
 41. 
 
The PREFACE. v 
 
 ^uditoryl My decUrd Intention was only^ to ex-*s. p. 
 plain the ^fojtks Argument *, /o enlarge on it f,- 2p- 
 to ^\tyK ^hy ff^jeral Infttinccs y the QndoubtedTruth of 377.''' 
 it ,'. to open and apply it || ,• and this, by fu:h Con •*,^P* 
 ^dertitlons chit fly y as were In fo?ne?neafnre applicable to i,s p. 
 tht Perion then to be interr'd. For "wh ever gives '^^^' 
 /j.mfilfthc trouble of rcvinving that mean Dlfc urfe^ 
 •Will find that^ as it confifls ^jf Three Parts ; a Specu- 
 lative point ofDoArine, [owe Pradical Reflexi- 
 ons, and an Account of the Perfon dcceas'd; [0 the 
 tivo former of thcfe Points are handled with a rigard to 
 the latter ,• the Practical Reflexions being all oftbcm 
 fuch as are fttited to the Character of the Perfon, 
 oi-kicb f Hows ; and the preceding DotSrine being iU 
 hfirated in fuch a manner ^ and by fuch Injlanccs, as na-- 
 turallj lead both to the one and to the other : that part 
 of the Dofiriney I particularly mean, which is prof (fed- *5 _^ 
 ty builg on the Letter of the Text *j and the exprcfs i^fi- 
 Authority oftbe Apofile, 
 
 It is no wondiTy if in an Argument handled thns 
 briefly, and with fuch views as thife , Every thitjg 
 fjnuld net be Jfiidy ti'hich may be thought rcquifite to 
 clear it. That^ as it was no part of my Intention ^ fo 
 neither was it Neccfliry^ Proper ^ or Pcjjlble en that oc^ 
 ccficn to be dene : and therefore, for Oniiffions of this 
 kind, I need m.ike no cxcujc. As to the other parts of 
 the Charge^ which , if true, would really b'l ml jh what 
 I ha've written, I fljall , aslpromisd, reply to them 
 "very dillindly and fully. 
 
 The Accufation of my Doctrine turns, I fnd, upcn 
 Ihrte Heads ; That it is altogether Nevv , utterly 
 Foreign from the Intention of the Apoftle, en 
 whcfe Words I build it, and Falfe in it felf. A very 
 heavy Charge ! nor is the prjl part of it to be nrgU-cted, 
 
 a 5 Fvr 
 
vi The P R E F A C E. 
 
 For^ m Matters of Morality and Religion^ 'U'hich are 
 every one s Ccncerfij and which have therefore been 
 often and throughly cxamlnd, new Doctrines, or Ar- 
 guments are defcrvediy fufpeded. And when Oney 
 -who is, by hjs Fun^ficn, a Preacher of Virtue, doth, 
 by advancivg fuch New D-Mrines, or Arguments, 
 i^' p- maks Conceflions to the Caufe of Vice t (^^ I 
 ' ' aw {aid to have done) he is doubly Criminal. I^ct 
 Tis Jee, therefore, JVhat I have hid down in that Ser- 
 7r,on, how far it is chargd as New, and with how 
 little Reafo7J. 
 
 My declard Intent ion, in that part of my Sermon which 
 diffkafes the Let ter-V/r iter, is, to explain that great 
 Argument for a Future State, which St.P^«/hath 
 couch'd in the Words of my Text. " If in this 
 Life only we have hope 172 Chrijl:, we are of all men 
 *' mofi mijcrable." I fi^ppoje tbcmto fignifie, ThatAi 
 all the Beneiirs we exped from the Chriftian In- 
 fiitution were conftn'd within the Bounds of this 
 Life, and we had no hopes of a better State after 
 this, of a great and Lifting Reward in a Life to 
 come ,• We Chriftians ihould be the moft aban- 
 don'd and wretched of Creatures, all other lorrs 
 and Sed:s of Men would evidently have the Ad- 
 vantage of Us, and a much furer Title to Hap- 
 pinefs than We. From whence, I fay, the Apoft.le 
 would be underftood to infer (though the Infe- 
 rence be not exprefs'd) That, therefore, there 
 muft needs be Another State, to make up the 
 ^ Inequalities of This, and to folve All Irregular 
 3oS% Appearances. "^ 
 
 5* 7- In the Explkation of this Argument, I prcfefs to 
 urge (what I call) the Conceliion of the Apojlle 
 fomewhat farther than the Letter of the Text will 
 
 carry 
 
The PREFACE. vli 
 
 carry us, hy ajfatlng under two different Hcads^ 
 That, weie there no Life after this, ifi", Men 
 would be more miferable than Beads : and idlv. 
 The bett Men would be Oiten the niofl milera- 
 ble. I mean, as far as H-ippincfs, or Mifeiy 
 are ro be mealar'd from plcnfing and painiul 
 Senfations. And, fuppofingthe prefent to be the 
 only Life we are to lead, I lee not but that This 
 niipht be efteem'd the true Meafureof them t- t p. 
 
 XJ^on the firfl ofthefe Heads I^jew^that in this Life 3^^. 
 Beafts have, in many rcfpedts, the advantage of 
 Men ,• in as much as they^ i) enjoy greater Senfu- 
 al Pleafures,' and (i) feel fewer Corporal Pains, 
 and (^3) are utter Strangers to all thofe Anxious 
 and Tormenting Thoughts, which perpetually 
 haunt and difquiet Mankind*. 1 enlarge en tkefe *^P- 
 Varticulars^ and then proceed jCn the fame Foot likeivije 
 toJlMv^ That the Beli Men would be Often the 
 mort miferable ,• y?w<:(? Their Principles (ij give 
 thcin not leave to talie fo freely of the Pleafures 
 of Life, as other Mens do, and (2) expofethem 
 more to the Troubles and Dangers of itf. t r- 
 
 Both thefe Foints 1 jlhijirate by 'various hfiances j ^'^'' 
 and^ upon the ivbcle. Conclude, That, therefore, 
 as certainly as God is, a Time there will, and 
 muft be, when all thefe unequal Diftributions 
 of Good and Evil (hall be fet right, and the Wif- 
 dom and Reafonablenefs of All his Trajifactions, 
 with Ail his Creatures, be made as clear as the 
 Noon- day ■*". * p^ 
 
 / was ivillivg to reprefent to the Reader^ at One 370. 
 Vicw^ the whole Courfc of my Reafoning, according to 
 the Order in which it lies, and in the 'very Words 
 %'hich I have made ufe of to cxprefs it in wy Strmon. 
 
 a 4 // 
 
I 
 
 viii The PREFACE. 
 
 If he compares this flwrt Account of my Doctrine j ivh^ 
 the larger Explication given of its feveral Branches in 
 the Sermon iff elf, he will find, That (whatever the 
 Letter Writer boldly affirms to the contrary^ it mufi he 
 tmdnfiood, and is by me aBually propos'dy under the 
 Reftridions following- 
 
 I. When Ifrefr Bea(is to Men, and Bad Men to 
 Good, in point of Happinefs, it is upon a Suppofition, 
 not only that there is no other Life than this, but that 
 Mankind are perfuaded that there is none. The Men 
 Jfpeak of are fuch, as thofe Gorinthians were againfi 
 whom S. Paul argud ; Men, who in this Life only 
 have hope in Chrift ; fuch as exped no Benefits 
 from the Chriliian Inftitution, but what are con- 
 fin'd within the Bounds of this prefent Life, and 
 have no hopes oF a better State after this, of a 
 t P- great and JalHng Reward in a Life to come t- 
 This isthe Account which I exprefiy give of them, whtn 
 I enter on the Aygument, and which I repeat feveral 
 * P- times * in the Courfe of it ; and which mufi be under- 
 375! fi^°^^ ^^' fi^ong, cve-ff where it is not mention d. And 
 'iTi- fuch a fort of Chri^ians I may be allow d to fuppcfe 
 now, fince fuch there manifefily were in the Days of 
 the Apofiles. Ncr doth it any ways interfere with 
 this Suppo(ition, to reprefent thrfe very Men, as ha- 
 ving now and then ths uneafie Prefagesof a Future 
 Reckoning, <2«i as Scaring thsmfilves fometimes with 
 the Fears of another Lfe, even while they do not en- 
 tertain the Hopes of it. This, I doubt not^ is the 
 Cafe of all fuch who frofefs to disbelieve a Future 
 State ; they are not always equally jatisfy'd with their 
 own Re a finings about it, but tremule fomctimes at the 
 thoughts cf it. • My Reprover, therefore, deals very 
 mfiiirly^ when he reckons This among the Advantages 
 
 pecti'* 
 
The PREFACE. y^ 
 
 tecuUar to Men, that they have the prefent Sup- 
 port of the Belief of a Future State, and the fi.m 
 Expedation of Rewards * in a Life to come ; and • l. 
 affures his Readers, jvith equal Modefty and Truth, ^' *'* 
 that this is agreeable to what I fuppofe t : vjhereas J^ see 
 Jfuppofe the quite contrary ,• and, on that Suppofi- ;^,3J, 
 tion, all my Reafcnings and Rifle^ions turn. Nor is ^'• 
 there a IVord, throughout the whole Argument, that can 
 be conftrud to a different Aleanivg. 
 
 2. Proceeding on this Sufpjjt ion, I affirm, not thatths 
 Befl Men would be always, but ©ften the moft mife- 
 rable. And that I might be fure of not being mifaf- 
 frehended, I repeat Thu (or feme other Equivalent^ 
 Exprefjion at U^fi fix times, * in the Compafs of a few *^ 
 Tagcs. Nor doth the Argument which I am explain- 56^* 
 ing, require a more extenjive Suppojition • it being 3^'. 
 equally neceffary that there jljould be a Future State, to 575' 
 fvindicate the yuliice of God, and falve the prefent Ir- 377, 
 regularities of Providence, whether the brfl: Men ^^ of- 
 tentimes only, or always the moft mifcrable. The 
 Letter- IVriter difftmbles his Knowledge of this Remark- 
 able Refiritlion ,• and having taken Advantao-e from 
 thence to argue and objeH as he pleas'd, contents him- 
 fdfflightly to mention it towards the clofe of his Pam^ 
 pblet ,• which was difcreetly done^ fince an earlier Ac- 
 knowledgment of it would h.ive difcoverd at f- ft fight, 
 even to the meanefi of his Readers, the Imptrti7icnce cf 
 fiver al of t ho fe Objections and Arguments. He would 
 excufe this Procedure^ by faying, at la ft. That though 
 I profcfs only to (hew that the belt Men are Of- 
 ten the molt miferablc, yet I argue, as if they were 
 always fo *, viz.. ficm that Obligation to fome «r 
 Particular Pradices, trom which they are never 41^^ 
 exempt in any Condition of this Lite * : Which 
 
K The PREFACE. 
 
 is as great and grounMefs a Mifreprefentation as any 
 of the former^ Since ^ 
 
 gdly, Mj chief Froof of this Pointy is drawn from 
 that State of Per iQCUtlon, to 7vhlch Good Alen^ above 
 all others, ate fubjeS}: beajufe ihc\r Principles expofe 
 
 * s. ihem moft to the Troubles and Dangers otLiie* ; 
 
 P"^'"' bec.Jife fore Evils and i^reac Temporal Inconve- 
 
 I p. niences attend the Difcharge of their Duty f; 
 
 3737 thrj become a Reproach and a Bye-word *, are 
 ^'*' injur'd and outrag'd f, /«/f>* unjuft and illegal 
 
 : P- Encroachments *'. ; the greateft Saints being 
 fometimes made the mo{t remarkable Inftances 
 
 ^ P* of Suffering f : for they are Inflexible in their Up- 
 rightncfs — No Profpe^l of Intereft can allure them, 
 
 *,P- no fear oi Danger can difmay them*. Would one 
 im^iglne^ after all thcfe Exprtjfions^ and fe vera I others 
 of the fame kind that I have made ufe of any Man fo 
 lo^toallSenfeofJu[iice and Truth , as tofy, That I 
 
 ti-p- fuppofe no Cafe of Perfecution t"? that I do not 
 once fuppofe fuch a State of Perfecution as the 
 Apoftle pointed at ? b!4t maintain my Pofitions 
 with reference to the moft Quiet and Profperous 
 
 21."*'' State of this Life * ? Certainly the Letter-Writer doth 
 rot mean this as one Infiance of his Concern tor the 
 Caufe of Virtue, and the Intereft of Pradical 
 
 1 ^-. p- Religion t J I do not indeed build my Reafoning 
 
 ^' wholly on the Cafe </ Perfecution ,• neither doth the 
 ylpofile himfelfj as "will afterguards appear : Hew- 
 ever, 7 ^5 wof exclude it. On the contrary, I refer 
 to it frequently , and (Ijould have dwelt more largely up- 
 on it, but that the other Conf derations Iftggcft, "were 
 more applicable to the Charad^er of the Perfon de- 
 ceas'd ^ ivhsch was {as I have already faid) the Point 
 from whence I chief y tack »y Views in this Argument. 
 
 4thly 
 
The PREFACE. ^-i 
 
 Fourthly, Even when I fuppofe good Men not to he 
 unJer a fiate ^Perfecution, yet fiiU I fttfpofe than 
 to live in a jtate of Mortification and Selt denial • 
 to he under a perpetual ConjliB with their Bodily y^pe- 
 tites and Inclinations ^ and (irugling to get the maficry 
 over them. I ftippcfe them ohilga, by their Princi- 
 ples, not to tafte io freely of thePleafures of Li'e 
 (^the Innocent Vkafurcs of Life ; forfuch I n<ianifcjlly 
 mean) as other Men do * ^ but to fit as Icofe from ,-2^ 
 them, and be as Moderate in the ufe of them as in- 
 they can "" ; not only to forbear ihofe Gratifica- 
 tions which are forbidden by the Rules of Reli- 
 gion ,• but even to rcflrain themfelves in unfor- 
 bidden Inflances *. ^nd^ whenever they tafie c 
 vcn the allowable Vleafuresof Senfe, 1 fuppofe them to 
 be under fuch Checks from Reafon and Refkdi- 
 on, as, by reprefenting perpetually to their 
 Minds the meannefs of all thele Senfual Grati- 
 fications, do, in great meafure, blunt the Edge 
 of their keened Defires, and pall all their En- 
 joyments f. ^f^d have I not reafon therefore to fay, tp- 
 that good and pious Perfons, by the Nature and ^^°' 
 Tendency of their Principles, (as they are moft 
 expos d to the Troubles and ill Accidents of 
 Life .-. fo) are the greateft Strangers to the Plea- •:■ see 
 lures and Advantages of it II ? And would net thefe\]l. 
 Ik great and needlefs Abatements of their Happinefsj 'hed 
 ij It were confind within the Compafs of this Life en- pp. 
 h • ^«^ fi'rcly, it doth not from hence follow, ncr 375- 
 have I once fuggefiedj much lefs affiimd, That the 
 Practice cf Vice doth in its own Nature tend to 
 make Men more happy, in all dates of this Life, 
 than the Pradice of Virtue ||. Jkis is an Affcrtitn li^^-p- 
 by which the great Author of cur Nature , and £- ^^' 
 
 nailer 
 
xii The PREFACE. 
 
 7)acler of the Law of Good and Evil, is highly diJJio^ 
 Kourd and blaf^kemd I and which cannot by any one, 
 'who hath the lea(l fevfe cf Religion , bt repeated with- 
 out being abhorrd. 
 
 That Virtue and Vice do In their cwn Natures 
 tend to make thefe Men Happy, cr Miferable, who 
 fcverally praBife them, is a Proprjttion of undoubted 
 (and, latnfure^ by me undfputed) Truth i as far as 
 it rehites to Moral Virtue, or Vice, properly fo 
 call d ; that is, to thofe Meafures of Duty, which 
 Natural Realon, unenlightned by Re'velation, pre- 
 fcribes : For as to thofe Rules of Evangelical Per- 
 fedion, in which we Chrijiians are obliged to excel ; 
 they are (fmeoflhew) cf fo exalted a Nature, fo 
 contrary to Fhfli and Blocd, and fo far above our or- 
 dinary Capacities and Powers, that, if there were no 
 other Life than this, 1 fee not how our Happinefs could 
 generally be faid to confifi in the Vra^ice cf thent. 
 And, therefore, when God made them Matter of [triH 
 Duty to us ^ he at the fame time animated m to Obe- 
 dience (not only by affuring us of the extraordinary Af- 
 Cifiances of his good Spirit, but) by a clear Difcox/ey of 
 a Future State of Rewards and Vunifliments * whereas 
 the J QWS, who had the Promifes of this Life only, had 
 alfo, in proportion to thofe Promifes, a lower and lefs 
 excellent Scheme of Duty prcpos'd to them. 
 
 And here alfo this /■lUthur is'al.ogether Silent : for 
 be takes no notice ofthefe Improvements made by the 
 Gcfpel in the Mc2i(ures of our Duiy ^ but fuppofes e- 
 'very where the Chriftian, and Heathen Morality to 
 he in all refpecls the fame ,• and that J he innocent Pica- 
 fur es of Life (which mufl be allowed to have fme fhare 
 in per feeling humane Happinefs) are no more affeBed 
 and retrench' d by the one than the other. He fuvpofts 
 
 all 
 
 II 
 
p- 
 
 The PREFACE. xiij 
 
 aU the Jnflancei cf Abftinence, Mortification, r.vd 
 Self denial, ^hich the Gcfpel erjolr.Sj to be included 
 -iv'itbln thnfe Rules of Virtue, "which the Light cf Na- 
 ture tc/iches us to foUozv ; cnd^ upo*j this Fvundation^ 
 proceeds to repn/ent me as cffirmirg^ that the beft of 
 Men are rendred more Miferable than the Wick- 
 ed, by the Pradice of Virtue *: ivhtreas, in'\ 
 truths I only waintain^ th.it the befi Cbrijiians (who 
 are unfjueftionably the hefi of Men) are, by their ch' 
 fetvancc of fame Cofpcl- Precepts, rendered (^more AH- 
 ferabUy or, "ivhich is all one) lefs hatpy, than they 
 would otherwife be, if they "were releasdfrom thcfe Ob- 
 ligations • and J conjtejuently, "were there no hope of a 
 Life after this, thej^ "who are not tyd up to thefe Se- 
 verities^ Tvould have a wanifefi Advantage ever tbofe 
 who are. 
 
 I in (lance indeed In fome ABs of Virtue, common to 
 Heathens and Chrifiians j but I fuppofe them to be per- 
 form d by Chrifiians after (a Chrifiian, that is, after) 
 a more fublime and excellent manner than ever they 
 were among the Heathens ; and even, "when they do 
 vot differ in Kind /'row moral Virtues, (}ri5ily fo fiU'd, 
 yet to d.ffer in the Degrees cfVerfe^iion with which 
 they are attended. 
 
 This Diflintlion between a fate o/Virtue and a 
 fiate of Mortification, between Moral Goodnefs 
 and Evangelical Perfedion, and the greater Re- 
 ft raints (in point of Worldly Pleafurcs and Advanta- 
 ges ) which are laid upon Men by the former cf thefe 
 than b/ the latter, ought the rather to have been cb- 
 fervd a7id ownd by the Letter-lVriter, becaufe, in 
 the 
 
 Fifth Place, 1 pretend not to compare the Happlncfs 
 of Mm and Beafis, good Men and bad, any farther 
 
 than 
 
XIV 
 
 The P R E F A C E. 
 
 than It rcfults from V/orldly Vkafures and Advantages^ 
 and the Obje£li of Senfe that furround^s. For the fe 
 are my Words. " Were there no other Life but this, 
 '' Men would really he more M'lferahle than Bcafis, 
 ** and the befi Men -would he often the mofi Miferabk. 
 . ^' I mean, as far as Happinsfs, or Mifery are to 
 " be meafur'd from pieafin^ or painful Senfati- 
 368.^' '^ ons f. This is the Refiritlion ivhich 1 more ex- 
 fyefly and formdly injip on, than any other. At the 
 •very opening of the Argument it occurs i nor do /, in 
 the Profecution of it, ufe any one Injiance, or lUu/fra' 
 tion, but -ivhat relates to fttch f leafing and painful Sen" 
 fations, or to thofe Delightful and Uneafy Reflexions 
 of Mindy 7i>hich arcyfome "way or other , conlequent 
 upon them. And if, in thefe Refpccfts, (and far ^ 
 * see ther I do not go'*^ ) the Happinefs of Beafts exceeds 
 ^^' that of Men J and the Happinefs of the Wicked that of 
 i/i- the Firtuom, it "will not oueaken what I ha-ve urgd, to 
 fljeWj that^ in other Refpec^ts, (fuch as the Letter- 
 Writer largely difplays ) the Advantage may lye on 
 the contrary fde ; becaufe^ were it fo, yet this Advan- 
 tage would not be ftificient to turn the Scale , according 
 to my Suppofition ; jvhich is, that, without the 
 hope of another Life, pieafm^ and painful Sen- 
 fations (jaken together with thofe Inward ReflecHons^ 
 which are naturally confequetit upon them) might be 
 efteem'd the true Meafure of Happinefs and Mi- 
 ll s. p. fery ||. On this Suppofition (which I had not then 
 3"^^* time to explain and prove) all my Reafonings proceed ^ 
 and ca?inotj therefore, he affebled by any Objections y 
 which are fo far from being built on the jame Bot^ 
 tom , that they are deflgn'd to cverthrovj it. 
 JVhetbcr this Suppofjion he true, or falfe, may be a new 
 matter of Dijpute : but if it be truCy the Argument, 1 
 
 raife 
 
The PREFACE. xv 
 
 ralfe from thence, is certainly 'True, and the OhjeBlom 
 cf the Letter IVriter are as certainly Vain and Imperti- 
 nent ; being Ifvelld rather agait/fi the Suppclition it 
 felf, than the Inference that I dr^v fnw it. 
 
 This is net a proper pi. ce to jujiify that Suppofltion ; 
 thmmuch ovlj I fj-ill Jay at pre fent concerning it. I am Jo 
 fur from rciriitllvgit, thatlhck upon it to be a mofi clear 
 and induh'itahUl ruth ^ andthink myfilftoh ■.'vz cxprejs d 
 it iv'ith wore IVarynefs and Referve than ivas necijfary. 
 My M'^crds are — I fee not bar that this miyht be 
 efteem'd the true meafure of H 'ppinefs^and JVIJery : 
 whereas this might not only be efteem'd^ but would 
 really he the true Meafure of Hjppinefs and Aljcry^ 
 t(\ the far greater part cfM:nhindj if they "were not 
 Educated under the Hofcs and Ftars of Future Rtvards 
 and PunijJ)ments. The Ohjttls cfStnfe "would then de- 
 termin the views of mofi Aim ^ of all fuch, to be Jure ^ 
 who convets'd perpetually with them , and wanted the 
 Opportunities and Capacities that were refjuijite towards 
 withdrawing their Thoughts from thefe things j and fix- 
 ing them on more rcfin'd and reafonable Fleajures. And 
 even a?Kong thoje few who were better qnalfyd , Jiill 
 fewer would be found, 7vho, without the bcpe of ano- 
 thef Lfe, would think it worth their while to live 
 *above the Allurements cf Senfe, and the Gratificati- 
 ons of this World , as far as was necejfary towards 
 attaining the heights of a Chriftian VafiCiion. Nor 
 could any Argument be urgd fuijicient to induce 
 thofe fo to do, who were otherwife refolvd and in- 
 clind. The Rule of Good and Evil would not then 
 appear Uniform and Invariable ^ but would fcem dij'- 
 fcrenty according to Mens dijferent Complexions , and 
 Inclinations ,• and whatever they judgd to be^ upi-n the 
 whole ^ mofi agreeable ^ or difagreeahle lo them^ that 
 
 they 
 
xvi The PREFACE. 
 
 they WDuhlhe fure (nay they tvcuU lock upon ihewfelvci 
 as ohligd) to purfue, or decline^ 7vitbot4t helvg re- 
 ftrain'd hy any fpcctdati've Rcafon'wgs concerning the 
 Nature of Virtue and Vice, and the Obligations Men 
 are ur.der univerfally to fraBife the one, and efchew 
 the other. 
 
 But this, I am fenfhle, lies without the Compafs of 
 my imjKediate Dejign, which is only to reckon up tke^ 
 fe'veral Reftridions under whichy what I have laid 
 down in that Sermon ought to be uvderfiood ' Refiri- 
 BioTiS, not now firfi devised to t^ualifie my DoBrine^ 
 but plainly pfopos' d together with it, and interwoven in- 
 to the Body ofthofe few jhort Reflexions, which I had 
 room to make concerning it. And yet the Author of 
 the Letter, in a very grave and folemn manner, argues 
 throughout, as if no one fuch RefiriBion had been 
 made. Let his Caufe he as good as he pretends it to 
 he, yet furely it is not at all beholden to him for his 
 way of maintaining it. He that talks thus deceitful- 
 ly even for Truth itjelf, mufi needs hurt it more by his 
 Example, than he promotes it by his Arguments. 
 
 But tofet a fide thefe ReftriAions, important as 
 
 they are, for the prefent, and take my Dctlrine at 
 
 large, even as the Letter-Writer himfelf hath reprC'- 
 
 fcftted it • that is , as briefly contain d in (what he 
 
 *-L_r,, calls) my Two Pofitions , * and the Notion on 
 
 2o- which they are founded t : let us fee ho7v far the 
 
 li'.^' fi^fi Charge of Novelty can, even upon this Foot, be 
 
 made good again fl it. 
 
 My Pofitions are thcfe ; That, were there no 
 Life after this, Firft, Men would be really more 
 miferable than Beafl-s,- and, Secondly, the Beft 
 of Men would be often the moft miferable. The 
 Notion, en which thy are founded^ is, That, fup- 
 
 pofing 
 
The PREFACE. Xvu 
 
 pofing the prefent to be the only Life we are to 
 leadj I fee not but that Pleafing and Painful 
 Sensations might be efleem'd the true Meafurc o£ 
 Happinefs and Mifery. 
 
 Againfiboth the One, an^ the Other ^ the Lettef'Tfn- 
 ter exclaims in a moji Tragical manner : He is Sori^ 
 to fee (uch Conceflions made to the Caufe of 
 Vice by any Preacher of Righreoufnefs *,• he ne- .p j,, 
 ver yet heard, nor ever expcded to hear any 
 thing like this from the Pulpit ti /jc krioWs not that ^P-^^ 
 luch Affertions have bsen ever, before this, feri- 
 oufly maintain'd by any Perfon of Virtue and 
 Underftanding, much lefs Solemnly dilated as 
 undoubted Truths from thePulpit *,• he thiriks, thsit *P'9i 
 All Vvho have any Refped for the Clerp.y, muft 
 lament tliat fuch ftrange Dodrine fliould be re- 
 commended to the ^V"orld by one of that Body^ 
 and All, who have any regard to the Honour of 
 Chrift , muft larhent to fee it Solemnly back'd 
 and confirm'd by one of his Apoftles t tP45. 
 
 The Charge of Novelty is here wgd with fo 7r:i4ch 
 Warmth , and Gravity , and fuch an Air of Afjii- 
 rancCy that even a wary Reader would he ap: to think 
 ■li well founded • and yet never was there a Cenfure 
 more racily vain , or more entirely dejlitute of all 
 Colour of Truth. For frfi^ as to the Pofitions 
 themjelveSy they are fo far from bcing'HtWj that they 
 are commonly to be met with in both Anticnt and Alo-^ 
 dern , Dome/lick and Foreign IVriters j particularly in 
 the Works of our Englifh Divines, which are in every 
 cne's hands y and with which the Author of thi Letter, 
 1 believe^ is befi acquainted. I begin with Archbijhop 
 Tillotion, who cannot be fufpt^ed to have made Gon- 
 Jjcfllons to the Caufe of Mce^eitker through Weak- 
 
 b neft^ 
 
xviii; The PREFACE. 
 
 nefsy or a worfe Reafon : and yet thefe are his Exprefm 
 (ions. ' The Condition of Men in this prefent TJfe is 
 attended with fo many Frailties, lyaUe io fo great 
 Miferies and Sufferings^ to fo many Pains and Difeafes, 
 io fitch 'various Caujes of Sorrow and Trouble ^ of Fear 
 and Vexation, by reafcn of the many Haz^ards and 
 Uncertainties, which not only the Comforts and 
 Contentments of our Lives, hut even Life it felfis 
 fuhjeB to, that the Tleafure and Happinefs of it is 
 by thefe much rebated : fo that were we not trained 
 up with the hopes of fomething better hereafter. Life 
 itfelfvjculd be to many Men an infupportableBurthen, 
 If Men were not fupported and born up, under the 
 Anxieties of this prefent Life, with the Hopes and 
 Ex^eBations ef an happyer State in another Worldy 
 Mankind would be chemoft imperfed and un-. 
 happy part of God's Creation. lor although other 
 Creatures be fubjecled to a great deal of Vanity and 
 'Mifery, yet they have this happinefs, that, as they 
 are made for a jhort Duration and Continuance, fo 
 they are only abetted with the Trcfent ; they do not 
 fret and dif content themf elves about the Future, they 
 are net lyabh to be cheated with Hopes, nor torment- 
 ed 7vith Fears, nor vexd at Difappointmcnts , as the 
 Sons of Aden are. But if cur Souls be immortal, 
 this makes abundant Amends andCompenfation for the 
 Frailties of this Life, and all the Tranfitorv Suffer^ 
 ings and Inconveniences of this prefent State : Human 
 Nature, confiderd with this advantage, is infinitely 
 above the Brute Beafis that perilli. Str?n. Vol, 
 ix. pp. 68 J 69. Again, ' J4^bat would a Man gain 
 by it, if the Soul were not immortal, but to level 
 IMi'] * himfelf with the Beafts that PerilK ? [nay~\ 
 ' ta put -himfelf into 'Si -VI oiiQ and mofc miferable 
 
 Con- 
 
The PREFACE. xix 
 
 * Condition than any oftheCreatures below him ? 
 lb. f. 72. 
 
 The famething hfaldmore^iortly^huta!: fuQyyhythe j)re^ 
 fent Lord Bifliop of Rochellef; * Without that Be- 
 ^ lief [of the Joys of another Lfi] as Chriftians of 
 
 * all Men, fo Men of all Creatures were molt 
 
 * miferable. Serm. cw Jan. 50. p. 14. 
 
 To the like purpofe Mr. Glanvi'e. ' If this Life 
 ' he ally "we have the fame End and Happincjs -with the 
 
 * Brutes ,• and they are happyer ct the two, in 
 *, that they have lelTer Cires and fewer Difap- 
 
 * pointments. Serm. p. 2<)'\, 
 
 Dr. Moor, wbotn my Reprover mufi allow to have 
 been a Perfon of Virtue and Underftanding *, ex- * ,■ 
 freffes himfelfo7i this cccCifon^ln very figni fie ant Terms. 19. 
 if(f^y^ ^^) there be no Life hereatter, the Worft 
 of Men have the ^reatefl: fliare o^ liappinef*; ,* 
 their PaJJions and ^jfeciions he'wg fo continually gra- 
 tify d, and that to the height, in thofe things that are 
 fo agreeable J and, rightly circumfiantiatsd^ allowable 
 to human Nature j fuch as the fv^cet RefltSion en 
 
 the Succefs of our Political Manr,gcment the ge' 
 
 neral Tribute of Honour and P^tfpeH for our Policy 
 and IVit, and that ample Te(timony thereof^ otir Ac- 
 ^uifiticn cf Paver and Riches j that great Satisfa^icn 
 offoyling and bearing down our Enemies, and oblig- 
 ing and making fure cur more ferviceable Friends : 
 to which finally Tou piay add all the 'variety of Mirth 
 and Pafiime, that Flejl) and Blood can entertain 
 it [elf with J from either Mufick, Prine, or Women. 
 Imm. of the Soul. L. 2. Ch. 18. Sccl. 9. 
 Dr. Goodman, ;« ^ijWinter EveningConferences, 
 (t Book receivd with general applaufc, and now in eve- 
 ry cms hands , reprefents one of the Perfns in his Dia- 
 
 b 2 l.^gue 
 
XX The PREFACE. 
 
 logue fp^hing as follo-ws ' It is plain , that nothing hu* 
 
 * the Hope of another and better IVorld at lafi can ena- 
 
 * hie a Man tolerably to enjoy himfelf in this frefertt — 
 
 * Nothing but Eternal Life is a fufficient Antidote a- 
 
 * ?>^'^^fi ^^^ Fears of Death. And all thefeare the Ef- 
 
 * fe^s and Benefts of Religion. Therefore if this be un- 
 
 * comfortable J Mankind muji needs be the moft deplora- 
 
 * bly unhappy kind of Being in the "whole World. For 
 tho^ other fort of Creatures are, in ftmefort, FeUoiu- 
 fufferers in the common Calamity s of this IVorld ,• yety 
 
 ' befdes that their (f}are is ordinarily not fo great as his y 
 'it is evident that they fear nothing for the Future, but 
 
 * only feel the prefent Evil * and they have no Rejlraint 
 ' upon them for what they de/ire, nornoRemorfeforwhat 
 
 * they have done. "Therefore, if Mankind have not the 
 Glory of his Confcience, when he doth ivell, to fet a,' 
 gainfi the Checks and Girds of it -when be doth amifs i 
 
 * <?Wif he have not Hopes to counterbalance his 
 
 * Fears, and a Reward hereafter for his Self-deny al 
 ' at prefent, his Condition is far the worft of any 
 ' Creature in the World. Tart ;. p. 43. 
 
 In like manner (Part 2. p. 114) after aUo'wing , 
 
 that ' feveral forts of Brute Creatures continue longer 
 
 in the World, and have as "well a 'Quicker Senfe of 
 
 Pleafure, as a more unlimited and uncontrolled En- 
 
 joyment of it , he makes the fame hference front y 
 
 hence that I have done ^ That upon thefe very Confide- 
 
 rations^ there ts great Reafon to believe that there is 
 
 fuch a thing as another World, -wherein Man may have 
 
 amends made him, for "whatever -was amifs , or de- 
 
 feSlive in this. For it is not credible "with me, that 
 
 fuch Power and Wifdom as is plainly difplayd in the 
 
 * Confiitution of Man, Jhould be fo utterly deftitute of 
 
 i Good' 
 
 I 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 GooJnefsy as to contrive things fo iU^ that the nobleft 
 Being fhould be finally the moft unfortanate. 
 Bp JVilklns'm hisPrinc. ofNat. Rel. f. I)9,j6o. 
 There is a firong Aver/ion among^ Alen againfi a 
 dark (tate of Annihilation ^ which no Man can think 
 of without great regret of Mind '^ and likewife, a 
 natural Dejire in all Men after a jiate of Happinefs 
 and FerfeHion. And no natural Defire is in vain. 
 AU other things have fomeovhat to fatisfy their na^ 
 tural Appetites. Andy if we confider the utter Im- 
 pojfibility of attaining to any fuch Condition in this 
 Life yt his will render it highly credible ^ that there muft 
 be another State wherein this Happinefs is attainable : 
 Otherwife, Mankind mufi fail of bis chief End^ be- 
 ing, by a natural Principle ytnofijirongly inclined to fuch 
 a fiate of Happinefs as he can never attain to ,• of 
 if he were purpofely framed to be tormented betwixt 
 thefe two TajJionSy De/irc and Defpair ,• an earnefi 
 Vropenfion after Happinefs, and an utter Incapacity «f 
 enjoying it • as if Nature it felf whereby all other 
 things aredifpos'dto their Perfe^iony did ferve on- 
 ly, in Mankind, to make themmoft miferable. 
 Andj which is yet mere confderahle, the better and 
 wijer any Man is, the more earneft Dejires and Hopes 
 hath he after fuch a State of Happinefs. And if 
 there be no fuch things not only Nature, but Vir- 
 tue iikewife muft contribute to make Men Mi- 
 ferable. 
 
 1 have fearch'd the Volumes 0/ Sermons publijh'd by 
 Divines here in England, and find as yet but Two on 
 the fame Text with mine ,♦ one preach' d by the Learn- 
 ed and Pious Mr. Pemble, the other by Dr. Sirad- 
 ling, the late worthy Dean of Chlche^&T ; and both 
 ofthemfuU of the fame Points of Dothine, and the 
 
 h 5 fame 
 
 XXI 
 
xxii The PREFACE. 
 
 fame ways of explaining thofe Points , as 1 have em-^ 
 ftloy'd. I refer the Reader to the Sermons themfelves, 
 and fjall mcfUion here but a Pfijffgs or two cut of each 
 of thtm. 
 
 Mr. PembleV flrfi Poficion is, that ' True Chri- 
 ftians are more unhappy than other Men, if 
 their Happinefs be confin'd to this Life only — 
 are in a worfi (fate than Epicures and Acheifts, 
 and other ungodly Verfcns, &;c. ———in regard to ths 
 'Mature of true Religion which, they profefsy li^hich 
 aqrees not •with 'the good likbig of the IVorld^ and 
 ^therefore it [tht ':lVorld~\ cannot agree with That^ 
 
 ncr with them that (incerely profejs it They 
 
 'are Men of. an.otbe'r Gc?yeratio», their Lives are 
 
 ■ not • like other Mens, and therefore the World won- 
 ders at them — and always fees, in their IVell- doing, a 
 
 ■ Reproof of their . fiji'n Evil-doing, Scc. "^ He ccn'^ 
 •chdes thm-r-^ — Wt. fee then the Point to be plain e- 
 nough, that true Chrifiians, barrd in their Hope in 
 Chriji, for the Lffe to come, are 7nore miferable than 
 other Men ; . becavfe all are alike hereafter ■ and for 
 this Life, the. Godly mifs of,tboft,Co7iti:ntments v.'hich 
 the Wicked enjoy ; nay, are more miicfable^not on- 
 ly than Men, but than Beafts alfo, — p, 480, 
 Dr. SiTAd\m^''sfccond Head is, ^ That, upon Sup- 
 
 ' pofition of no better Hope [^than this Life af- 
 *■ fords] all good Ch;-iftians fiiould be not oniy 
 
 t p- ' Miferable, bat ofall Men moft Miferable 
 
 * ^' ^ more unhappy than the moft Brutifli Men, yea, 
 
 * than the Beafts that perifn. For whereas thefe 
 , * feet their Mifery when it comes^ but do not antici~ 
 47 i.' ' pate it, S:c. * Chrifiians make tbemfelves yet more 
 
 .'' Miferable by their fever e Principles of Mortification 
 
 * and Sclf-denialj debarring themfehes oftbofe Com- 
 
 forti 
 
The PREFACE. xxiii 
 
 * forts and SntisfaBions which ethers enjoy f — They f p. 
 
 * loje the good Things herCj and fail of ihofe here- t^^' 
 J iifter*. 479. 
 
 To the(e Modern Injlances from cur own Writers^ 
 I (liall add that of Mr. Calvin, who fays .*. ''that 
 
 * Gryllus, in Plutarch, reafons wifely^ when he 
 
 * affirms y that Men^ ivho li've without Religion [i. e. 
 
 * without a Senfe of God^ and a helitf of future Re- 
 ' wards^ do not only not excel Brute i^ealts, but are 
 ^ by many degrees tar inferior to them, in as much as 
 
 * they are liable to variotts forts of Evils j and live aU 
 
 * in a tumultuary and rejilefs State, ' And again — 
 
 * There is none of us hut who would he thought ^ 
 
 * throughout the whole Courfe of his Life, to afpire after 
 ' Immortality, For we are ajliam'd in nothing to eX" 
 
 * ce/ the Brute Beafts, whole Conditions would 
 
 * be no ways inferior to Ours, if we had not 
 
 * the Hope of Eternity after Death to (upport 
 ' usf. 
 
 / [hall trouble the Reader with one Citation more^ 
 
 * out o/"Athenagoras ^ becaufe the fVords of that an- 
 
 * tient li'riter arc ver^ full and exprej/ive. * If (fays 
 
 .'. Sapientin'imc, apud Fliiturchum.Gryllus ratiocinatur,di!m 
 homines aflirmat, fiabcorum Vira lemcl abHt Rtligio, non 
 modo Brutis Pecudibus nihil excellere, ltd multis partibiis 
 efle longc inferiorcs j ut qui tot malorum forrnis ob- 
 noxii ttimultuariam & irrequietam Vitam perpetuo trahant, 
 <^c. Inliit.Cap. i.§. 10. ' . 
 
 t Nemo quidem eft noftrum qui non videri cupiat ad ccr- 
 leftem Immorcalitatem toto vitaecuiriculo alpivare Sceniti • 
 pudet enim Nos nulla re antecellere Brutas Pccu'dcs," qua- 
 rum Conditio nihilo noftrainleiior foror, nifi Spes seternita- 
 tis poft mortem nobis lupercfll-r. ibid. Cap. zi. §. 26.' 
 
 b 4 ' ' he 
 
 « 
 
xxlv The PREFACE. 
 
 * he *) Humane AcHom were not to he jtidgd^ McH 
 
 * would have no Advantage over Beafts ; indeed, 
 ' more n^ilerable than Beafts would fuch Men be 
 
 * who were always bufied in fubduing their Paf- 
 ' fions, and improving themfelves in Piety and 
 
 * Juftice, and every other Virtue. At this rate, 
 
 * the Animal and Btlluine Life would be the befi ; 
 ' Virtue would be downright Folly • the threats of future 
 
 * Vengeance y matter of Sfort and Laughter i the fur ^ 
 f fuits of all kind of V lea fur e^ our chief eji Good * and 
 ^ the Rule _, b/ which Men and Bea(is ought then 
 ^ eifually to guide themfelves , would be that belov'd 
 
 * Maxim of the Epicures ; Let i|s eat and drink, 
 '^ for to Morrow we die. 
 
 This lafi Pajfiige from Achenagoras includes y and 
 fuery flrofigely fljfirms all the parts of my Do^rine 
 ai^hich hai/e been excepted agaivfi • not only my Pofi- 
 tions, but the Notion it fclf alfo, on which they art 
 founded'^ and which now ^ therefor e, I proceed likewife 
 to 'vindicate from the Charge ^Noveltyj by the fol- 
 lowing Authorities. 
 
 My Notion (as 'tis call d) is, That, fuppofing 
 the prefent to be the only Life we are to lead, 
 i fee not but that pieafing and painful Senfations 
 might be efteemd the true Meafure of Happinefsj 
 
 ^ 
 
 auti^v yi im^ynffKO/Jp. Titl tjr*?-. Oxon. Ed. p. ij j. 
 
 an^ 
 
The P R E P A C E. xxv 
 
 and Mifery. This is all I fay of the matter^ there 
 being no other Taffage of like import "with this thrcngh' 
 out my whole Sermon. And have not Archbifhop Til- 
 lotfon. Dr. Scot, Dr. Sherlock, and Dr. Lucas faid 
 the jame things in a manner lefs refer'v'd, and in 
 Terms of yet greater force andcomfafs^ "without giving 
 any Offence {that 1 know of) to any one of tbofe 
 many ferious and underftanding Chriftians *, who ^ 
 daily ferufe their Excellent Writings with Vleafure and ^. 
 Edification ? 
 
 Urchbp, Tillotfon, Vol. ix. />.48. ' The Determi- 
 ' nation of the Apofile is according to the Nature ^and the 
 
 * Truth and Reafon of things. That, if in this Life 
 
 * only we have hopes, we were of all Men moft 
 ^ miferable. For although it he true, that, as things 
 ' now Jl: and J and, as the Nature of Man is fram'd, 
 
 * good Men do find a ftrange kind of inward Vleafure 
 
 * and SatisfaSlicn in the difcharge of their Duty, yet 
 
 * every Man that confults his own Breafi, will find 
 
 * that his Delight and Contentment chiefly fprings from 
 
 * the hopes which Men conceive. That an Holy and 
 ' Virtuous Life fljall not be unrewarded. And, with- 
 
 * out thefe Hopes, Virtue is but a dead and empty 
 
 * Name. 
 
 Vol. ii, p. 265". ^ If we were fure that there were 
 ' no Life after this, if we had no ExpeBation of a Hap- 
 ' p'mefs or Mifery beyond thss World ^ the wifefi thing 
 
 that any Man could do, would be, to enjoy as much of 
 ' the prefent Contentments and Satisfactions of this 
 ' World as he could fairly come at. For if there be no 
 ' Reftirre^ion to another Life, the Apoftle allows the 
 
 * reafcning of the Epicure to be very good ,• Let US eat, 
 
 * and drink, for to morrov/ we die. 
 
 Dr. 
 
p5:vi TI;p PREFACE. 
 
 Dr. Scot's Chrifi. Life, Fart iii. Vol. i. Chap, ^l 
 
 ^.301. If there -were no other Life after thify it 
 
 •would be foUy fo tnuchas to attempt it ,\_the Enjoyment 
 
 of God by Contemplation and Love , and the Imitation of 
 
 his Ver fed ions']', ^ for what Man in his Wits would 
 
 * ever think it worth the while ^ to fpeTid a conjiderable 
 ' part of his Life in waging War with himfelf mor- 
 
 * tifying his ^jjetlions, crojjing and ftarving out his 
 
 * dcarefi Inclinations^ {which yet he mufido^ e'er he can 
 
 * arrive at any comfortable degree of Divine Enjoyment) 
 ' if there were, no other recommence to be expected at lafi^ 
 ' but to live afnv dayi longer in a Rapturous Mufe, 
 
 * and then lie down in everUfting Darknefs and Infen- 
 ' Jibility ? Were he not a Thoufand times better plea fa 
 
 * and gratifie himfelf at prefent, content his craving 
 ' Dejires with the Goods that are before him, and take 
 ' his fU of thofe fenfual Delights that readily offer them- 
 ' [elves to his Enjoyrfjenty than run away from them in 
 
 ■ ' a long and wearifome que^ of Spiritual Joys^ which, 
 ^ for all he knows y he may never arrive to, or, if he 
 
 * doth, ts fure, within a few moment s^ to be deprivd 
 
 * of them for ever? 
 
 Dr. Sherlock'j Tragical Difc. concerning a Future 
 yudgment, p. 116, &C. 'The whole Chrijlian Reli- 
 ' gion is founded on, and adapted to the Belief of a Fu- 
 ^ ture Judgment, and is a very unintelligible Infiitution 
 ' without it — The Temporal Vromifes made to an Holy 
 
 * and Virtuous Life extend no farther than Food 
 
 ^ and Rciyment, to our Daily Bread But who 
 
 * would be contented with fuch a fcanty Frovijton, 
 
 * while he fees the greater Profperity of bad Men, who 
 
 * diffolve in Eafe and Luxury j were there not an hap- 
 ' py State refervdfor him in the next World ? Where 
 ^ u the Man who would not comply with the Devil's 
 
 * Temptation 
 
, The PREFACE xxvii 
 
 ^ Temptation, to fall down cind worship for all the 
 
 * Kingdoms of the fVurld, and the Glory of theniy were 
 ' be not to lofe a brighter and a richer Crown for it ? 
 
 lb. p. iJ9j &C. * Many cf our Saviour's Laws 
 
 * are founded on the Suppofition of a future Judgment , 
 
 * and are extreandy unrcafonable^ if there be no Rewards 
 ' or Punijljments after this Life- The only Rule of 
 'our Actions would \jhenl^ be, to live as Icngy and to 
 
 * enjoy as much of the World as we can. But Chri- 
 ^ jiian Religion will not in ?nany Cafes allow of thiSy 
 
 * and therefore is no Religion for this IVorld, were there 
 ' not another World to fottow •^— How many Refraints 
 ' doth the Chriflian Religion lay on us, to lejjen the 
 ' Tleafures and SatisfaBions of this Life ? It teaches 
 'ma great Indifferency to all the things cf tb^ World • 
 ' but how unreafonable is that, if this World be our only 
 
 ' Vlace of Happincfs ? It commands us to mortife 
 
 ' our fenfual Appetites, to crucifie our FleJI) with its Af- 
 ' feciions and Lufis, to live above the Vlcafures of the 
 
 * Body, to pluck out our Right Eyes, to cut off our Right 
 ' Hands : But what reafon can there be to deny our 
 ' felvcs any cf thefe Enjoyments, as far as is confiflent 
 
 * with prefer ving cur Health, and prolonging our Lives, 
 ' if we have no Expe6iations after Death ^ Nay, if 
 
 * Men are contented to live a jJjort and a merry Life, 
 ' what Hurt is there in it, if Death puts an end to 
 
 * them ? It forbids Earthly Pride and Ambition, 
 
 * an AffeBation cf facuLr Honours and Tower : But 
 ' why mufi we fubmit to Meannefs and Contempt in 
 ' this World, if this be the only Scene of A^ionweJJmll 
 ' ever be concern d in ? For a mean and bafe Spirit is 
 
 * no Virtue ,• and for the fame reafcn it can be no Vir- 
 
 * tuc to be contented with a low Fortune, to be patient 
 ^ttnder Sufferings, which if they will never bd reward- 
 
xxvili The P R E F A C E. 
 
 ed, iS to he patiently ntiferahle^ and that ts Stut>id'ity 
 and Folly l But to have our Convsrfation in Heaven, 
 to live upon the Hopes of unfeen ThingSj is Madnefs 
 and DijiraBiony if there he no Heaven, no unfeen 
 
 Things for us The Reafons ofmofi of the Evan» 
 
 gelical Commands y tnufi he fetched -wholly from the o- 
 ther World, and a Future Judgment. 
 5f Wilkins Vrinc. of Nat. Rel. p. 6j. ' If there he 
 no fuch thing to he expeBed asHappinefs orMifery here-' 
 after, "why then the onely hujtnefs that Men are to take 
 care of, is their prefent well-heing in this World : There 
 being nothing to he counted either good, or had, but in 
 order to that: thofe things "which we conceive to be con-' 
 ducihleto it, heingthe onelyDuties ; and all other things , 
 ■which are crofs to it, the onely Sins. And therefore, 
 whatever a Mans Appetite Jijall incline him to, he 
 ought not to deny himfelf in it (^he the thing what it 
 will) fo he can have it, or do it, without prohahle 
 Danger. Suppofe it he Matter of G^in or Profit^ he 
 is difposd to I if he can cheat or fieal fecurely, this 
 will he fo far from being a fault, that it is plainly his 
 Duty, that is, reafonahle for him to do; becaufe it ts 
 a proper means to promote his chief End* And fo for 
 other Cafes of Anger, Hatred^ Revenge, &c 
 According to this Principle, a ASan muft take the 
 firft Opportunity of fatisfying thefe FaJJions, by doing 
 any kind ofMifchiefto the Perfon he is offended with, 
 whether hy falfe Accufation, or Perjury, or {if need 
 be) hy poifoning or Jlahhing him ; provided, he can 
 do thefe things Jo as to efcape the Sufpicion of others, 
 and Human Penalties. 
 
 Dr. Lucas, Enquiry <?/*f£r Happinefs, part ;. p. 
 245:. * The Epicureans confin'd the Happinefs of 
 ' Man to thisfhort Life j and hy a probable Confequence, 
 
 refolvd 
 
The PREFACE. xxiX 
 
 ■ refolvd it ultimately into the Enjoyments cftJyi Bo J/. 
 Ibid. p. 145. Without another Life, all other Mo- 
 tives to VerfeBion will be infufficient. For tho , ^<r- 
 neraUy ffeaking, fuch is the contrivance of Human 
 feature, &C.— 2>r 'tis certain, that not only in ma- 
 ny extraordinary Cafes, there would be no reward at 
 ' * all for Virtue, if there were not one rcferv'dfor it in 
 "' another World, but alfo, in mo{l Cafes, if there were 
 ' not a future Pleafurethat did infinitely outweigh the 
 ' Enjoyments of this Life, Men would fee no Obliga- 
 ^ tion to TerfcBion. For what fhould raife them above 
 ^ the Love of this World ^ if there were no other ^ or 
 ' above the Love of the Body, if, when they dyd, they- 
 ^ fjould be no more for ever ? 
 
 [Prad. Chriftianjty part 11. Chap, i.] * ^'"* 
 ' the Law of our Nature being, I humbly conceive, 
 ' nothing elfe but the Law and Dilates ofReafon : and 
 ' the Bu/inefs ofReafon being, in this RefpeB at leafi, 
 
 * only to diflinguijij between Good and Evil, cur Rea- 
 
 * fon would talk to us at another Rate, becaufeit would 
 ' proceed by different Principles : Good and Evil mould 
 
 * then peradventurc be different things [from what they 
 ' are at prefent']for whatever would make for the Tlea- 
 
 * fure and Inter efi oj this prefent World, would be goed * 
 
 * and even Tleafre and Interefi would net peradven- 
 
 * ture be the fame thing Tben^ as Now : For the Soul 
 
 * would not challenge fo difiinB a Conjideration and 
 
 * Vrovifion then, as new : For it would not only be 
 
 * Lawful J but wife for it to become Senfual andWorld* 
 
 * ly i and fo the j'awe P/eafure and Interefi would mi- 
 
 * ntfter to the Happinefs of both Body ond Soul^ &C. 
 [Ibid. Chap. 4.] * Were there m Life to come, 
 
 ' it would behove every Man to be content with, and 
 I make the mcfi of This, Nor do I at all doubt, but 
 
 * that 
 
XXX The PREPACK. 
 
 that Mm may manage their Lufisfo^ as that they may 
 not be able to infer Reajon enough to relinquish them, 
 from any Influence they have upon their Worldly Inte- 
 re[^. Or if any one jliould think it. necejfary to pur-' 
 chafe a Vleafure by jhortnin^ of his Life, or leffening' 
 his Efiate, I cannot fee why he may not have Reafon " 
 en his Side : For^ A fhort Life and a merry one, 
 and, my Mind to me a Kingdom is, v^ould, up- 
 on the former Suppoftion, be Tvife Proverbs : For, 
 upon this Suppofttion, the Tleafures of the Mind would 
 he narroiv and faint ^and the Checks ofConfcience none^ I 
 \j>r'\ inflgnifcant. "' 
 
 Bp. Pearfon , on the Greedy p.p. 304. ^oy. 
 Such is the fweetnefs of our Sins, fuch the unnatural- 
 nefs of our Corruptions , fo great our Confidence of Im- 
 purity here, that, except we looked for an Account 
 hereafter, it were unreafonable CO expe^ that any 
 Man ^wuldforjake his Delights, renounce his Com" 
 placencies by afevere Repentance, create a Bitternefs 
 to his own Soul ■ " We are naturally inclind to 
 follow the Bent of our own Wills ^ and the Inclination of 
 our own Hearts. All external Rules and Prefcripti- 
 ons are burthenfome to m • and did not we look to 
 give an Acount, we had no reajon to fatisfy any O' 
 ther Defires than our own, &c. 
 Mr. Glanviles'j Sermons, p. 278. ' If this be all 
 the Life of Man, ' [i. e. the only Life he is to lead^ 
 his End and Happinefs would then be to provide for 
 the Body, and the Gratification of its Senjes. 
 Mr. Pembles Sermon, p. 479. ' Poor is the 
 Contentment that can be found in Virtue and Religi- 
 on, if it firetch no farther than^to the end of th's 
 Life Cut fromaMan his Hope in Chrifi for here- 
 after, and then the Epicure's Counfel •u^ill feem Good, 
 
 'Let 
 
The PREFACE. xxxl 
 
 * Let us Eat and Drink, for to morrow we die. 
 
 ' Let us take cur Vlcafure while ive may. If we die 
 
 * as Beajisj and come, to noth'mg , then let m live as 
 
 * Beafts too, &C. What avails it to Joy in Virtue 
 
 * and Religion ^ to follow an em^ty Name of Good- 
 ' nefs ? when nothing is got hy it after Death^ and, 
 
 * for the prefcvt^ nothing worth the dcfrlng ? Let us 
 ' retrain our Eyes and our Hearts from no Tleafttret 
 ' that may be procured • Let Virtue be only cur Stale 
 ' to win Honour J where Aden , out of Error, efieem 
 ' highly of it : Among others , love we Vice, where 
 
 * Virtue is banijli'd, &lc. Good wholefome Counfel , 
 
 * if the Day cf our Death were the utmcfi Period of 
 
 * our Time, beyond which no Happinefs were to be en- 
 
 Dr. Stradling/ Sermons p. df]G. ' The Immor- 
 ' talitv of the Soul once deny'd, the Concern for 
 ' it conld not be much ,• it being not probable 
 ' that fuch Men fhould pleafe themfelves with a 
 
 * Pretence of Virtue, who deny'd the Future Re- 
 ' wards of it. And from fuch Premifes that Con- 
 ' clufion mention'd by St. P<7«/ could not but fol- 
 
 * low, Let us Eat and Drink, for to morrow we Die. 
 
 * It is but reafonable to imagin that they, who 
 
 * thought they fKould dye like Beafts, fhould live 
 
 * like them ,♦ Husband that Life the beft they 
 
 * could, which fhould never return when once 
 
 * gone, and make it as pleafant as they faw it was 
 ' ihort. Which, if there were no other Life to 
 
 * come, v/as no doubt, a Rational Courfe, an^ 
 
 * the higheft VVifdom, &c. 
 
 p. 479. But here fome may Objed, that if 
 ' there were no God, no Life to come, yet there 
 
 * is fo much facisfadion in living according to the 
 
 ^* Rules 
 
xxxii The PR EFAC E. 
 
 * Rules of Right Reafon and Virtue, that even 
 ' that Confideration ilaould oblige Men to do fo, 
 
 * and make Men moft happy. 
 
 Ifi anfii^er to this Obje^ion he eonfejfes (p. 480.) 
 That J * to live according to the Rules of right 
 
 * Reafon Is moft agreeable to Human Nature, and 
 
 * conducing to Happinefs in this Life, But adds 
 * It may be queftionable, whether a dry 
 
 * Platonical Idea ot Virtue, perifhiiig with our 
 
 * felveSjOr a bare MoralComplacency in it, might, 
 
 * in the balance of Reafon weigh down thofe o- 
 
 * ther more fenfual Delights, which gratify our 
 
 * Lower Faculties • or a Severe and Morofe Vir- 
 
 * tue, have Charms in it Equal to all thofe vari- 
 
 * ous Pleafures which footh and flatter our Ap- 
 
 * petites. And he foon after fuhjoyns thefe Admirable 
 
 * Words, which I do in a very particular manner, re- 
 
 * commend to the Confideration of the Writer of the Letter ^ 
 
 * Far be it from me to decry Moral Virtue, which 
 
 * even Heathens have granted to be a Reward to 
 
 * it felf ; but furely, in the cafe of Annihilation, 
 
 * very Ihort of a full Compleat one. And to cry 
 
 * it up, as fome do, to the weakning of our Be- 
 
 * lief and Hope of the Immortality of the Soul, 
 
 * however at firft blufh it may feem flauOble , \% 
 
 * in fffetf, no tetCCC t|ian a Subtile Invention to 
 
 * ruin Virtue by it felf; fince it cannot poffibly 
 
 * fubfift but by the Belief and Support of another 
 
 * Life, &c. p. 481, 482, 483; 
 
 The Letter-WriteriUnknown asheis, andrefohesto he) 
 cannot, Iperfvy'ade my f elf , even inhis privacy read, thefe 
 Citations, -without hlujhing, after the confident Charge he 
 hath advanced againfi me, of PreachingNewDoBrine. If 
 helud not any of thefe VaJJagesin his Eye (<?; one would 
 
 he 
 
The PREFACE. xxxili 
 
 he Charitably htcl'md to fufpccl) the Accufaticn is ex- 
 tremely Rnjl) ; if he had^ 'tis bafe avd dishoficjr. Ei- 
 ther ivay, there is little room to hope for any Candor^ or 
 Common '^uflice^'in the management of this Diffnte.fr om 
 a M^n wh') lays the Foimdalioji of his Reajonivffs in 
 fo No tor ions an Untruth. 
 
 St. h\i{\\ny as I find him cited by Grorius, was 
 exaBly of the fame Sentiments. AuguftinuSj fubla- 
 tis pr.rmiis pccnifquc po(t hanc viram, verum fla- 
 turum aic k partibus Epicuri, in Matth. xvi. 24. 
 
 Laclanti'js/^e^^j "jery largely^ and very Emphati' 
 cally to the fame purpofc ^ vjhcrc he argues a^rainfi the 
 Opinion o/'EpicUiUS ccncerning the Souls Mortality, t 
 'will not fiVell this piece with a Tranfiation cf the PaC- 
 fagcs. Quis, cum hoc affirmari audiat, vitiis &: 
 fceleribiis abftineat? Nam_,n peritura; iLnt anima., 
 appetamus divitias, uc omnes fuavicates capers 
 poflimus. Quse fi nobis defunt, ab iis qui habcnt 
 auferamus clam,dolo, vi,- eo magis/i humanas res 
 Deus nullus curec: quandocunque fpes impuni- 
 
 tacis arriferir, rapiamiis, nt-cemus Volupri- 
 
 tibus igicur, qucquo iwodo polTumus, ferviamus. 
 Brevi enim tempore nulli erimu5 omnino. Ergo 
 nullum diem, nullvim temporis puniflum fluere 
 nobis fineVoluptate patiamur; ne.quia ipfi quan- 
 doque perituri fumus, id ip(um, quod viximiis, 
 pereat Db. 5. Sdl. 17. yig<iin., Virtus loli ht)- 
 mini data magno argumento elt Immortales eilc 
 Animas ,- qua: nee erit fccundum naturc?m, fi A- 
 nima exringuitur : huic enim pra^lc/ui vita: 
 nocet , &c. Si er.::o &: prohibcc iis bonis 
 hominem, qua: natura'iirer .ippetuncur, fie ad iv\~ 
 ftinenda mala inipellit. qua: natiiraiicer fu^iun- 
 tur J- ergo malum c(i Viirus, &: inimica naujrjc, 
 
 c ilulium- 
 
xxxiv The P R E F A C E. 
 
 Aultdmque jadic-ire necelle eft qui earn fequitur, 
 quoniam le ipfe laddie &. lus^Iencio bona pra;fentia, 
 6c appetendo arque mala line fpe trudus amplio- 
 ris, &c. Lib. 7. SeB. 9. 
 
 N:cd I urge any farther Authorities ? perhaps^ iht 
 JSl.f^ms of Mr. Lock, and Monf. Pafchal may be 
 of greater we:ght "iv'ith [owe Alen than mofi of thofe I 
 have merjtlon'd ' and therefore a few Lines , taken 
 from either of their Writings^ Jlntll cloje thefe Citations, 
 
 Lock. Hum. Underfi^ Book 11. Ch: 21. SeB. :5 j*. 
 1 Ed., h Men in this Life only have hope, if in 
 fhi5 Life only they can enjoy, 'tis not Ihange, 
 nor unreafonable, they fhould feek their Happi- 
 nefs by avoiding all things that difeafe them 
 here, and by preferring all that delight them ; 
 wherein it will be no wonder to find Variety and 
 Difference : for if there be no profpeA beyond 
 the Grave, the Inference is certainly right, Let 
 us Eat and Drink, let us enjoy what we delight 
 in, for to morrow we dye. 
 
 Pafchal, according to his "way^ hath rather hinted 
 than fully exprejs'd the fume thought. However ^ thofe 
 •who are acquainted with his manner of fVriting^ will 
 eafily learn his opinion^ from what follows, 'lis cer- 
 tain, that either the Soul is Mortal, or Immortal. 
 And the Rules of Morality will be entiiely dif- 
 ferent, according to the one , or the other of 
 thefe Suppofitions. Neverthelefs the Philofo- 
 phers Treated of Morals without any regard to 
 this diflinclion. What a de,s,ree o^ Blindnefs 
 was this t .'* Ail our Anions, and all our Thoughts 
 >ii — — ^____ ' ■ » 
 
 f U eji induhituhk que fame eji moTtiiUe ou immonelle. dU 
 dvt metre line difference entiere dim Li Morele. Et cetendjrt les 
 Philolophes ont conduit l.i Morale Indtfendxmment Je ceU- ^i^utl 
 Av.'uikment ! ejlrangi ^h. xxix. bcul. 74. cuj^ht 
 
The PREFACE. x>(xv- 
 
 ought to be conducted after (o different a man- 
 ner, according as there is, or is not an Eternal 
 Happinefs to be hop'd for, that ic is impollible 
 wifely to take a fingle fteptin Life, without re- 
 gulating it by this view — "tis our great Intereft, 
 and our chief Duty, co fatisfic our felves on this 
 head, upon which our whole Condud de- 
 pends *. 
 
 7'he Tajjages J have cited (though hut Fe-w cf Mji- j. 
 ny "which might ha've been urgd to the [awe purpofe^ 
 may fccm too lar^e and numerous. But it became me 
 effeSlually to remove this groun die fs charge 0/ Novelty, 
 with which I am Loaded. I have rather abounded in 
 fitch Authorities as relate to the Notion , whereon 
 I am faid to build my Two Po/itions, becaufe it is but 
 oncCy and then but briefly intimated in my Sermon : 
 andj therefore, thefe Authorities may ferve , not only 
 to jufiify, but moreover to explain, and clear it ,• and, by 
 that means fupply the OmiJJlon, which conjidering the 
 (hort hounds within which the Argumentative Part of 
 my Difcourfe was necejjarily conflnd, I could not 
 well avoid. And as to the Politions thcmfelves, 
 the Reader fees they are fo fur from being New , 
 that there is {which I am not afh.jm'd to own) no- 
 thing New even in my manner of handling them. 
 
 The fame Inflanc^'s, the fame Mediums, that I 
 Employ to tUuflrate them , are made ufe of alfo by 
 
 * Touus not Aciions tj' tontts not Penfees doivent pnndre des 
 cures ft dijferentQS jelon qui y atird des biers Etemels 1 efperftr 
 eu »o«, (juil efi impoffible de fiire une demarche avec jent <s' ]uge- 
 rnent qu'tn U rtgUnt par li veue de ce point, qui doit hre nojire 
 dernier objeH. Ainfi nojire premie iTnterejt Cj'noit re premier Devoir ejl 
 if .T^-vr fcUinirlur iitiei .eJ on depend toiui no^ln ;o,i,f«;r.C;iip i. 
 
 Q 2 Arch' 
 
xxxvi The PREFACE. ; 
 
 J>-cBlfijJ}op TiWodon, Dr. Sherlock, Dr. Goodmarr, 
 Mr. Pemble , Dr. Stradling, &c. Nor are thefe 
 Ajfertions that dropt from their Pens by chance^ but 
 deli'Vcrd by them in places where they profefs to coTt' 
 fider and State the Feints in ^^efiion ; and ivhere^ 
 yety th'cj have cxprefs'd the/nfehes with (at Icaji) as 
 few Guards and Reftricfiions as I have done. It may, I 
 think, even from hence beprefum'dj that J am not much 
 inifiak€7i in what J have laid down^ fnce I have fallen 
 into like Thoughts with thefe fVriters, without knowing 
 (I am fur e J without attending in the leafi to) what they 
 had written on the Subje6l \ efpecially , jince I have the 
 Honour fc exaBly to agree with Archbijh^p Tillotfon, 
 One, whoy in my poor Opinion, wrote ^ and rcafond 
 US jufily as any Man of his time. 
 
 **• . Itjs plain that the^e Writers generally built their Opini- 
 ons andRe a fonings en that V€ryText\f St .Vz\i\ .which gave 
 rife to'my Difou^fc * and it being very probable that They, 
 it is verv probable alfo that I, have not mifiaken his 
 Senfe ^tho the Second Article of my Accufation runsfThat 
 the DuElrive I haue dtliver d is extremaiv Foreign 
 * Lp. from the Defign ofxhe Apofiieon whom I fix it *. 
 2C.13, Qff/jg iwoY'ropQimons which I prcfefs to maintain. 
 The Firft is th;s, thaty without H^pe in another 
 Life, Men would be more miferrib'e than Beafts. 
 Now thiSy I am fo far from fixini^ exprefly on the A' 
 to. pofild^ as the Ltitter-lFriter ajfrms ■\, that he himfilf^ 
 J^;'^' i-i other Places, repreftnts me as only infinuating it to 
 to be agreeable to the ApoRle's Parpofe, tho'no^^ 
 •L. p neceffarily itnp'ied in the Letter of the Text *'; 
 ^' '■• which IS much nearer to the Truth • for it is with re- 
 gard to this Propofition that Iproffs to urge (what I 
 call) the Concellion of the Apoftie foniewhac 
 
 farther 
 
The PREFACE. xxxvii 
 
 hrther than the Letter ofthe Text will carry me||. n s. p* 
 And therefore J after enlarging on this fit ft Pro-pr/jtioHj 3^^. 
 J conclude by fimfly affirming the Truth t o//f, t '> p. 
 without vouching the Authority of St. Paul, or even '^'* 
 alluding to bis Exprefllons : -whereas I refer to Both, 
 at the clofe ofthe Second, and fay, that ' on the 
 Accounts \be fore mention d'] what the Apoftle lays 
 
 * down in the Text, is evidently and experi- 
 ' mentally true ,• That, if in this Life only good 
 
 * Men had Hope^ they were of all Men tnofi Mifera- 
 
 , ble *. It iSy then, an Artifice in him, to rcpre* * '^- p. 
 Jfent me as e(^uaUy building f^f/^ Undoubted Truths '''^' 
 on the Aurhority ofthe Apoftle f. Ifpeak only nf 
 the undoubted Truth of the Apoftle's Concefli- 
 On II ,• and I exprejly limit th^t Ccvcejfiontothe Latter 
 cf theft two PropoJitions'\f without entitling the Apo- f'-p. 
 itle to the Former ,• for the Truth of which, make '^* 
 my Self {not Him) anfwerable. 
 
 There is (I grant) room fiill left for a Caviller to 
 mifreprefent my Meaning ; and^ therefore^ be tells 
 fhCy that * / call the Argument, into which I have 
 
 * put this firjl Propojition, that great Argument for 
 
 * a future State, which is urgd by St. Paul in the 
 
 * Words before us f. But why mujl J veeds call it fo^ L. p. 
 as including that Fropofition ; fmce in the fame Place, ^^' 
 town, that i /j^x'e enlarg'd on the Apoflles Argu- 
 ment, that is, extended it (as I elfewhere fpeak) 
 fomewhat farther than the Letter of the Text 
 will carry me ? Tcs, but in my Paraphrafe upon 
 
 the Text, 1 explain thofe Words [We are ol all Men 
 nioft Miferable] by thefe that follow [We Chrifti- 
 ftians ihould be the moft abandon'd and wretch- 
 ed of Creatures] : and by Qvt2Lt\\XQS, my froivard 
 Interpreter will underfiajtd Beafts '*' ', f^'gctting thai * ^^^ 
 C : the 13,1s. 
 
xxxviii. The PREFACE. 
 
 the Scriptural ufe of that Word deterwins it fotnetimei 
 to Men J* Jfarticularly, if) that Text where cur Savi- 
 our commands his Difciples to preach the Gofpel to 
 every Creature f : lfi*ppofey he meant not^ to the 
 brute Creatures of the Air, t^e Sea, or the Field : Ffir 
 then, St. Francis, lamfure, "would have obejfd this 
 Command much better thxn either St. Paul, or St Pe- 
 ter. By Creature, here, we a'>e to underjlandy 
 Reafonable Creature j andfo this perverfe Gentleman 
 might J if he pleas' d^ have underfiood it^ in that Paf- 
 fave of my Sermon ; and have takeny what follows 
 there concerning all other Sorts and Se(5ls of Men, 
 Tiot as a di{iivM Propofitioa, but as a farther Explica- 
 tion only of what had preceded. Had he not been 've- 
 ry eager to find out nnfiukcs in what I have faid, he 
 would not thus in one place have flraind my Words to \ 
 fuch a Setife, as he owns in another they will not, 
 bear ^ nor have venturd to fay, and unjay the fame 
 thing in a few Pages j rather than mifs this fmall Oc-J 
 cafion of a Cavil. 
 
 As to my Second Propofition, That ^ were therg] 
 ' no Life (]or, had 7ve no hope of a better State~\ aftevl 
 ' this, the be/l Men would be often the mofi miferable^ 
 ''-■■ * [^all other Sorts and Se5ts of Men having theAdvan- 
 
 * tage efUst Chrifiians upon fuch a Suppofition~\ / 
 
 do indeed fix it exprefly on the Apofile ,• and am now 
 ready to prove, that I have not fadly {or at all) mifa- 
 • L. p. ken * his Meaning. 
 
 *''• The Apojiles Words are , Ifin this Life only We 
 
 have hope in Chrifi, We are of all Men mo(r 
 miTerable. Wherein have 1 mi f apprehended him ^ 
 
 Is it, bccaufe I fuppofe thofe Corinthians, whofe O- 
 plnions he here encounters, to have disbeliev'd a Future 
 State, as well as the Refurreviion of the Body ? 
 
 Ko 
 
 i 
 
Tlie PREFACE. xxxlx 
 
 1^0 Man, "who rtah this Chapter ^ can fuppnfe ctherwife, 
 Lefs cannot be fignify'd even by that Fbrafe in the Ttxt^ 
 which (peaks of them , as having Hope in ChriO in 
 this Life only. Sadducizing Cbri/iians, Ifuppofe^they 
 it/€rejWho faid, there Was no Refurredion, neither 
 An^el nor Spirit*, affirming perhaps with Hymenajus, t a.-}. 
 and Philetus, that the Refurredtion was pafl al- "'•" 
 ready I, and that, what our Saviour had taught on *ii:\m 
 that head^ was not to be underwood Literally , but Ji '7> 
 Allegoricaliy, of the New Birth of the Scul, and cf 
 it's Rlfingfrow the Death of Sin to the Life cf Right e- 
 oufnefs, by the Efficacy of the Chrifian Deprive, and 
 the Operation of a Divine Principle on the Hearts cf 
 Believers. The Sadducees f held^andfo^ it is likely^ did 
 thefe Corinthians, that Virtue and Vice were a fuf- 
 ficient Reward to themflves; and thtnfore^that Future 
 Rewards and PunifjMents were not neceffiary to jufify 
 the prefent Diflributions of Providence. However , that 
 they denyd a Future State, either txprrjly, or by plain 
 Confequence , is evident front feveral of St. Paul's 
 Reafonings in this Chapter, which are of no Force but 
 inly upon that Suppofition, as Origen, in his Com- 
 ments on St. Mattliew , largely and irrtfrcgably 
 proves *. It will not be neccfjary to produce his words * , 
 ftnce the Letter-Writer feems to have yielded this point, 4»*>* 
 where he owns, that St. Paul *;j here arguing againfi *^^* 
 
 * jome very weak Perfons in the Church cf Corinth 
 
 * who profefs'd to be believe in Jefus ChriH", and yet 
 
 * denyd the General RcfurreBion^ and confequently 
 
 '* (fays he) the Rewards of a Future State 1. tip. 
 
 Am I then mift-ahcn in extending the Apojlle's Af- ^' 
 fertion to Chriftians in general ? fVE are of all 
 
 t fofepb. Ant. I. 13. f, p. Bell. fud. Uhz. t. 8. 
 
 c 4 Men 
 
1 
 
 IX The PREFACE. 
 
 Men mod inifcrable .' that is. You, and J, avd\ 
 All, who ^rcfefs to live up to the firici Prides of the 
 Chii^iiv.t Irfl-itutioVj v^ithout a Future Vrofpe^i 1 The 
 Letter- IVr it cr jljall vouch for we in this refpeSl alfo : 
 *L.p. for he thus expounds the -word, JVEy We Chriftians*, 
 .'p All who now believe in Chrift f ,* ^'« ^hlch Ex- 
 
 * Sec pofition he is fo confiant and uniform *, that I need not, 
 jg^'^' in order to any Advantage I ?hjj dravj from thence in 
 i^j^p- the prcfcKt difputCj he at the Trouble of preving th^ 
 
 Truth of it. 
 
 Thus far then Tve are agreed. In what Points do 
 we d.jfcr ? vjhy, chief j, if net -ivhclly in This • tha( 
 I ma|;e th?.t a General Propofition,and accommo- 
 oate it to all Times, which the Apoftle hath 
 made a particulnr one, by accommodating i? 
 manifertly to the Times of the bittereft Perfecu- 
 
 • j^ iion"^j 7i'h.'a he fays, lacing fpoken merely with 
 14- refpedt to the bitter Sufferings the Profeflion of 
 f L. p. Chridianity then exposed it's ProfelTors to f- ^fr 
 ^°' on this Head I joyn Jfjue ivith him * and proceed there-^ 
 
 therefore to frove, that St, Paul's Ajjertion is not 
 {as he a-^ri72s) limited to the Times of the moQ; 
 gfitvousPcrfecution ^.7hat if includes them J have 
 o.ii^'7id t : ^wf that it is confin'd to them, J abfvlute- 
 h/ dtny • ,and^ I tblnk^ v'nh good Reafon. For, as to 
 th^ I4fi)xds thcmfelves, there is nothing in them thai 
 fou-irli th.:t ivaf ^ or points particularly at the Cafe of 
 perfecution. 'T':s oivn d, that the Apoftle fpeaks 
 here of Chrii^ians in general,- that is, of Chri/lians, 
 as qifin^n'ijUd from other Seels ^nd Proffjicns of Alcn : 
 Tiihy f>7u(t thife Chrifiifr.s need be ccnfidcrd, as in a 
 Suffering State ? .WhaA Ground, what Colour is there 
 f:r fitch a Redriclion ? There are but Two things 
 tirgd^ or ipfnuated v-y the Lcttir-Iiritcr invebalfofit. 
 
 ^ ■ And 
 
 •L.r 
 
 iPrer. 
 piio. 
 
The PREFACE. xli 
 
 And One of them is, the Coherence of the Text 'ivlth 
 ihe preceding Verfe^ where trcntion is made ^^^ thofe 
 who were fallen afleep in Chrift , which ExprcJJion 
 he would willingly fo underjliind, as if it were intcjided 
 particularly to fgnifie the M.irtyrs, who had laid 
 down their Lives tor Chrift's fake, and dy'd not 
 only in his Faith, but for it f. Aud indeed, ifn.p. 
 tbe Apofile be here [peaking of the Martyrs, and J- 
 their Sufferings, it will be natural to under/land what 
 foUowSy in the next Verfe, of a Suffering State, and 
 of that only. But this Reftriciion is altogether as 
 groundlefs as the former. For by thofe who were 
 fallen afleep in Chrift, the ApojHe manifcjlly means, 
 not tbe Martyrs alone^ but all Departed Chriftians ,• 
 as our Learned G:itAkzr proves * from various Autho- 
 rities, ^ which I forbear to repeat , becaufe tbe thing is 
 otherwife fufficiently Evident, for the li Koifji.)i^iv~i< cy 
 Xp/s-w, V. 18. arc plainly oppos'd to thofe who were fiill 
 Living, of whom the Apo (lie [pake in the I'jth V. And 
 therefore he adds (v. 20.) that Chrifi, by riftngy be- 
 came the firft Fruits of them that flept, ^ x^koi^ 
 fxiy'j^-Jav. Now Chrifi was not the firft Fruits of the 
 RcfurreBiov, in refpcSl cf tbe Martyrs only, but of 
 Al I "ii^ho died in the Chriflian Faith ' and therefore 
 They, who were fallen afleep in Chrifl, mufi 
 comprehend t;ll that died in the Faith of Chrijty whether 
 by Martyrdom, or otherwife. The Apofilc employs the 
 fame Word twice more in this Chapter — v", 6, where 
 ke aflirms Chrifi, after his Refurretiion, to have been 
 feen by five hundred Brethren at once ; of whom 
 ([ayi he) the greater part remain unto this prc- 
 fent, but fome are fallen afleep, oKoiixyiQwAv. A" 
 
 "Adv. Mile, Crf;. 17. ^ 167.' 
 
 ^ain, 
 
xlii The PREFACE. 
 
 gain, 'V. yi. We Hiall not all fleep (» )to/iu«9» 
 c'oy.i^ct) but we fhall all be changed. In both theft 
 flacesj Sleeping are oppos'd to Living, not to Mni" 
 tyrd CbriJ}ianj ;aff(l Jo likewlfe J i Thef. iv. i j. 
 We, which are alive, and remain unto the com- 
 ing of the Lord, (hall not prevent them who area- 
 fleep, Tii icoiy.)Mvlct( . Nor i* there a Jingle Vajj'age in the 
 New Tefiament *, "where the fVord (taken in its Me- 
 taphorical Senfe) fgnifes otherwife. For, as to what 
 is faid of St. Stephen, that ho fell alleep w4o//>ch)9«, 
 ^Ads vii. 60) it means no more than that he died ; 
 though, from the Circumftances of hts Death, before re- 
 lated^ it appears, that he died by Martyrdom. 
 
 / was willing to clear the Senfe ef this Fhrafe be* 
 yond Difpute, becaufe, leading to the Affertion of the 
 Text, it IS of great ufe to fiiew the Extent of it, and 
 to prove that it is not limited to the Times of the 
 moft grievous Perfecution, as this yiuthor peremp- 
 p . torily affirms *. However, he hath fill another Evi- 
 dence of this Limitation in referve. For, ' thaf St, 
 
 * Paul fpeaks this merely with refpeci to the bitter 
 
 * Sufferings the Vrofeffion of Chrifiianity expos d its 
 
 * Frofefors to, is (he fays) Evident from Verfes ;o, 
 31, ;2 t- ' The Words of which run thus ; And [if 
 the Dead rife not at all] why ftand we in Jeo- 
 pardy every hour ? I proteft by your rejoycing, 
 which I have in Cbrifi J^fi^^ our Lord, that I die 
 daily. If after the mannerot Men 1 have fought 
 with 3ealts at Ephefm, what profireth it me, if 
 the Dead rife not. Let us Eat and Drink, lor to 
 
 
 fL.p 
 
 * See Matth. xxvii. jj. ^ohnxi. ir. AStsxn'i. ^6. i Ccr. 
 vii. 3?. I Cor, xi. 30. i Uej. iy. lyj^^. 1 Pet. iii. 4- 
 
 Morrow 
 
The PREFACE xliii 
 
 Morrow we die. That St. Paul, in tbefc Vcrfes, 
 argues for the Refurre^ion and a Future State, from the 
 grievous Sufferings of Chriftians, is indeed Evi- 
 dent : but is it Evident from hence ^ that he argued 
 from the very fame Topick, Eleven Verfes before, 
 where nothing of that kind is exprefs'd, or intimated ? 
 I JJ}ould rather think ^ that he proceeds here to prove his 
 Yoint by a New Medium ^ not before particularly in- 
 fijted on. This^ as it u in it felf mojl probable y fo is 
 it moji agreeable to St. Paul j manner of handling the 
 trefent Argument* For^ however his Reafonings in 
 thefe and other parts of this Chapter, may, upon a fight 
 view of them, feem to fall in with each other • yet, up- 
 on a clofer Examination, "weJJiall find them to have been 
 tropos d by him with great variety and difiinStion. 
 
 But we will fuppofe that the Apoftle argues from the 
 fame Medium in both thefe places, and that the ^9th, 
 ^ift, and 5 id Verjes, are a bare Comment on his Af- 
 fertion in the 29th ; it will even from hence appear 
 that his Ajfertion is not limited to the Gafe of Per- 
 fecution, becaufe, in the lafi of thefe three Verfes, 
 there isfomewhat laid down, incon(ijient with the jup- 
 pofal of fuch a Limitation. For the Apofile therepUin- 
 ly allows, that if the Dead rife not, it might be rea- 
 fonable to refolve with the Men of this World, Let us 
 Eat and Drink, for to morrow we die. * Let us 
 
 * pleafe and gratify our felves with what we like befi, 
 
 * and be as cafy as we can be in this World, fince we 
 
 * have no Frofpecl of another. 
 
 His DoBrine here is far from being pointed on the 
 particular Cafe o/"Perfecution : it relates to the Or^ 
 dinar y and ^tiet Courfe of things j and manifcfily im^ 
 plies, that, without Hope in another Life, the Aufc" 
 
 rities 
 
xHv The PREFACE. 
 
 rities of Rel'gioH would he an unneceJJ'arj Jntrenchtnent 
 en the Happinefs of thofe^ "who tyd tbemfelves up to 
 the firi^ FraBice of them : that ix, the be (t Men would 
 hj this means \as well as by reafon of the Sufferings 
 to which they are expos' d^ become the \leafi Happy ^ or 
 the"] mo/l Miferable, And this is the 'very thing that 
 1 have affirm' d J in my Second Propofition ; except 
 only, that I have ^ualif/d it with the IVord, often : 
 thereby m.iking allowance for thofe C.fes^ wherein Men 
 of excellent Minds y may pojfiblyy by a long Pr ail ice of 
 VirtuSy have render d even the Heights and Rigours 
 of it Delightful, and brought theirDuty and Happi" 
 nefs to be in every Cafe confident, without attend^ 
 ing to the Rewards of a Future State. But thefe 
 Injiances are fo rare , that the Apofile feems to 
 have overlooked them in his Decifion ; and therefore de^ 
 dares in General, that, if the Dead rife not, the In^ 
 ference would bejufi^i Let us Eat and Drink, for to 
 morrow we die. And his Steps therefore, 1 follow- 
 ed, his Do5lrine I reajferted, when I thns explained 
 thefe fFordi in my Sermon, ^ f^pp^fi^g thefrefent to be 
 * the only Life we are to lead, I fee not but that Hap- 
 ' pine/s, or Mifery might be meafur d from pleafing of 
 
 painf.d Senfations. ' Which being granted, it will foU 
 low, that fince Beafts havz a manife(i Advantage of 
 Men, in chs(e refpe(5ls, they mny be call'dthe happier 
 Creature of the two, as enjoying greater Pleafures, al- 
 layed with fewer Pains : and fo, even, my firft Pro- 
 poficion, tho'jgh it be not contain d exprefly in St. 
 V^wVs IVords, yet will be found perfetlly agreeable to 
 ^bis Doctrine^ and manner of Re a fining. 
 
 Let me add one thing, to prevent any Cavil, which 
 ntay be rais'J about the Senfe of thefe Words ; that the 
 
 Verfes 
 
The PREFACE, ^^^ 
 
 Verfe is folnted -wrovg in cur EtigHjlj Tranptlon : fo^ 
 in the Original it -tvas read otherwife ; the fir (i Mem-- 
 btf of the Sentence ending "ivith the fVords, what ad- 
 vantageth it me ? and the next beginning ^ith thofe, 
 if the Dead rife not. [If after the manner of Men 
 I have fought with Beafts at Ephefus, what advanta- 
 geth it me ? if the Dead rife not. Let us Eat and 
 Drink, for to morrow we die.] This -way of read- 
 ing the Words y ccwpleats the Senfe of the lafi Chufe, 
 "which would otherwifc be too abrupt, and dishurthens 
 the firfi of a double [if], whereby the ConfiruBion is 
 render d intricate. 
 
 Thus therefore mojt of the Greek Expoftors divide the 
 Verjty particularly St. Chryfoftome, and Theo- 
 phyladt J T/6«f ?/je Pfeudo- — Ignatius {and his two 
 antitnt Interpreters) in the Epifile ad Tarfenfes, 
 read it * ^ thus St. Jerome cites it, in his Cent' 
 ments f i thus the Arabick Verfion hath render d it : 
 nor doth it appear that the Vulgar Latin read it others 
 wije : for the Eldefi MSS of that Verfion being in Ca- 
 pitals, without any DifiinBion of IVords, the prcfent 
 "way of pointing them is of no Authority. Daniel's 
 Edition of Beza's N, T. Jo divides the verfe, both in 
 the Greek, and in His Verfion. f Pifcator, therefore, ^^°'*^ 
 t Crellius, and Others jufih contend for this divifion ^ 
 and who pleajcs may, in the latter of thefe^ fee very con- 
 vincing reiifvns for it. However , without jucb a 
 Divifion. the Scnfe of the Apoft-le is (fill the f^mt 
 and jiifjicitnily plain ^ as 1 might fhfW from the Tefii- 
 mony of various Expositors, if th.;t were rc^uifire. I 
 
 * Fut. Apojt. Vol. 2. pp. 107, iSSj I j^, El C^^. 
 
 fliall 
 
xlvi The PREFACE. 
 
 Jhall only place their Names at the Bottom * ; avd the 
 Reader may be ajfurd^ that All cf them, though they 
 follow the ufual way of pointing this Vtrfsj yet fuppofe 
 the Apofile to have allorjvd the Epicure s Maxim to be 
 good, if fo be there were no RefurreBion. And the 
 fin'oc. Terms , in which fever al of them deliver his Mean- 
 ing in this cafe, are much fuller and /Ironger than any 
 I have employed to that purpofe in my Sermon. 
 
 As far , therefore , as theQ.oniQ\t can guide us into the 
 meaning of St, Paul, we may now refi afiird, that 
 he did not intend to Limit the Allertion of the 
 Text merely to the Times of moft grievous 
 Perfecution. 
 
 Indeed, were his AlTertion /o limited, his Ar' 
 gument would not be concluftve ^ Cliriftians not being 
 of all Men moft miferable, merely en the account 
 of their Perjecutions and Sufferings : for the Jews had 
 been then, and have been fince, perfecuted for adhering 
 to their Religion in (at leafi) an equal degree with the 
 Chriftians. No one can doubt of this, who knows 
 the Story cf that People, their Sufferings, during their 
 fever a I Captivities, and under their fever al Conquerors, 
 and particularly in the Times of the Maccabees. Of 
 thefc Sufferings St. Paul hath given a very copious and 
 moving Defcription in the nth Chapter of his Epi/lle 
 to the Hebrews, in order to fortify the new converted 
 Jews, by propofing to them the Heroic Patterns ofPa^ 
 
 * Theodoret. Tilem. Hefiiufijs. 
 
 Oecumcnius. Vcrftius- 
 
 Erafmus. Andr. Hyperiur. 
 
 Luther. Annor. Author. Sy^. Dordr. 
 
 Zuinglius. <g) YyW'co^'wxs^ delib. Aibitr. csp. 
 
 Marlorat. 4. 
 Per. Martyr. 
 
 «/l 
 
The PREFACE. xlvii 
 
 tlenct under }Affli^ionj and Conjfancy on Religion^ 
 which had been jet by their fortfathtrs : implying cer- 
 tainly ^ that the Infiances »f Conftancy find Vatienct 
 ■u/hich he prcfos'd, were as remarkable as thofe to which 
 he invited Chrifiians by the means of them. In later 
 j^ges, though the Perfecut ions 0/ Chiiftians were vt' 
 r/ great ^ yet thofe of the Jews were not lefs violent. 
 For^ after the piifcrablc Jlaughter made of them at the 
 defiruciion o/'Jeru(alem, they were fcattered into all 
 Corners of the Earthy driven from one Kingdom to ano- 
 ther ^ opprefs'dy f^oil'd^ and detcjled every where ; and 
 fometimes even majjucred^ aud extirpated. Vcrfecutions^ 
 therefore^ having been the Common and Equal Lot of 
 Jews and ChrilHans j Chriftians cannot be faid to 
 be of all Men mod niiferable, WQidy on the ac- 
 count of thofe Perfecutiens. It mufi be fomewhat pe- 
 culiar to the Evangelic Inftitution^ fomewhat that di- 
 ftinguifhes the Chrifiian Scheme of Duty from all 0- 
 thersy which gave rife to this Decijion of the Apofile ; 
 and that plainly is, the Sublimity and Rigour of thofe 
 Precepts of Aiortification and Selfdemal, by which 
 Chrifiians are obligd to walk, to govern their Inward 
 Thoughts as flritUy as theirOutward Anions ^to refeji their 
 deareji Appetites, and mofi natural Inclinations, and to 
 tajie even the Innocent and allow d Pleafures of life but 
 fparingly ,• in a word, to live, as it were, out oi 
 the Body, even while they continue in it, and are 
 chain d co it. Now, no Jiruggle of this kind can be 
 joyous, but grievous, while it lafts : and it lafis 
 ufually, in feme degree or other, as long as Life it felf^ 
 a Compleat Maftery of our Appetites being what the befi 
 of Men in this Life do very rarely attain. So that the 
 State of Chrifiians, even when they are not atlually per" 
 fectitcdfisyet a perpetual State oflfWfare, andVcluntarf 
 
 Suffering} 
 
xlviii The PREFACE. 
 
 Sufferings ; fuchy as neither the Frofeffors of the Jewifh 
 Religion, nor of any other Religion, but that ofChrijt^ 
 were ever bound to undergo. And this Confideration, 
 added to that of the External Sufferings to "which Chri" 
 fiians are expos' d, is indeed fujficient {though thofe Suf 
 feringSj in tbemfelves confiderJ, be not fufficient) to 
 jufiif^ the Apofile's Afjertion^ that^ Without Hope in 
 Another Life, Chriftians "would be the (le ft haffj 
 or) moft miferable of all Men. 
 
 But if the ApofHe's Argument (when limited to a 
 State of V erf edition) be not concluf've in general ' it is 
 much left fo -with reflect to thofe Corinthians, to 
 whom it is particularly addrefsd^ and who gave rife 
 to that Suppoficion in the Text, en which his In- 
 ference is there founded. For, how can an Affertion^ 
 relating merely to a Bitter State ofPerfecution, 
 include the Cafe of thofe Corinthians, who neither 
 then were, nor had ever been in fuch a State, fmct 
 the GoJ'pel was firji planted among them ? That the 
 Corinthians had been then grievoufly {or at allj 
 perfecuted, appears not from Ecclefiafiical Hiflory, or 
 the Sacred Writings. On the contrary, they are repre- 
 fented by the Apofile him f If in this very Epiflle, at 
 abounding in Wealth a72d Eafe, and free from all Ex' 
 ternal Freffurcsy and Trcuhks. Now Ye are fiill, 
 now ye are Rich (fays he) Ye have rei2;ned as 
 ficor. Kings without us *. The Schifms, and Divifions, 
 iv. 8- the Hejnoits Impurities, the InttfT^perancc, and Litigi- 
 oufnefs^ with which he reproaches f me of them, are fuf- 
 ficient Evidences that they had not as yet been under avf 
 General Perfectition ; for thefe are the rices of Profpe* 
 rity and Abundance. The only Difficulty they fean then 
 to have lain under was, a Temptation to partake of 
 the tublick Feafls ofthsir Folluw-Ciriz^cns, in which 
 
 the'j 
 
Th^ PREFACE. 
 
 '{'hey feel upon the Sacrifices ojferd to Uoh: Theje £«- 
 tertaivments were very grateful to a Teofky naturally 
 Levers of Tlea/ure^ and bred up in Eaje and Luxury^ 
 as tbofe ^Corinth Wirei and perhaps the Chriftians 
 cf that place might find thewfel'ves under jotne little 
 hiconvenienccs for refufing to fartake of them 
 
 . But furely nothing of thi-s hind could deferve the 
 Name of an Aftiidion, much lefs of a Perfecution i 
 and therefore with Relation to thefe , and all other 
 "Tryals of their Stedfajhnjs, which they had hitherto met 
 with, the Apofile er.prcfiy ^fitrpis, that No Temp ra- 
 tion (i. e» no AfBidion ;. fr fo the wordy 'srticctiCfjt.of, 
 often pgnrfies in the N. T.) hid taken them but 
 luch as wds common to Man"*', that is, none, ^ 
 hut what was Ordinary ^ and eafy to he born. Thefe x. ^^ 
 heing the Circumfiances under which th- \>orinthians *^* 
 then were, and the yirgurnent^ which iLk Apofile here 
 advances in behalf of a Future State, being intended 
 to reach xhtX'C particular Cafe* can we thmh it pof- 
 ftble, that he fijould draw it merely from a State 
 cf grievous Sufferings, and bitter Perfecutions, 
 to which thofe Corinthians were utter Strangers ? Nj 
 certainly, whin he concludes the Corinthian Chrift^ians- 
 i^ore mifcrable than other Men. , who had not embracd 
 Chrifiianity ; it miifi: be on the account of fomewhat^ 
 which y as Chrifii^ns, they bad aBually felt ^ at lea/}, 
 not putely for a Reafon^ the force cf which they had no 
 ways experienc d. ■ ; . , 
 
 He argues indeed, afterwards in the fame Chapter*^ > s. 
 rom the Head of }?ci\tc\xi\on. But when he doth fo. ,^?? 
 we may ohjerve, that, with great propriety and lufl- 
 nefs, he confines his Reflexions of that kind to Him- 
 felf, and his Own particular Sufferings. 'Tis He, 
 ^kat fought with Beafts at Ephefus t , thatdfdfy,^^^ 
 
 '^ <^aily; 
 
1 The PREFACE. 
 
 *J[^J- (jaily ^, that was in jeopardy every Honrf 5 /»«i^ 
 *//; bis Own Ki/// r/)ij; /?e there proclaims^ and con- 
 ilcmnsj if he fufferd all this, without a well ground" 
 ed h pe of a Future Reward : hut he duth not endear 
 njcH (there, or elfe where) to prove the Corin- 
 thians , Fuols, on the account (much lefs, fole- 
 ly in the account) (f Sufferings, which they had ne^ 
 'uer undergone. 
 
 Upcn the whole therefore, I conclude^ that when S.PsluX 
 fays, Ir in this Liie only We have hope in Chrifi, 
 We are of all Men moft niifcrab^ej He there confix 
 dcrs Chri/lii.nSy as denying th rriftl'ves in the Fleafures- 
 and advantages of this fVorld, for the fake of Chrifl", 
 and not merely as perfecuted fr their Chriftianity, 
 
 "Nothing now rcm.iins toward miikitjg good this Inter- ■ 
 fretatiof f/" 67. Paul's words but tojlnw that theStream\ 
 cf Expofitors falls in with it. And fo^ indeed, iti 
 doth : for this Text hath been thus expounded by Wri- 
 ters both Antient and Modern ; Greek and Latin j 
 by Papifts and Proteflants ,• Lutherans and Calvi- 
 nifls ,* by Divines of the Church cf Englmd;, and 
 by thofe who feparated from her Communion.' 
 What our Own Divines have faid in this cafe, (even" 
 where thty profefs'd to explain the Text) I have a? 
 ply fljcwn i : As to ether Authorities, the nam 
 Bounds of a Preface (already too much exended) 71 
 not allow me to recite them in Terms. I can only rc^ 
 the Reader to the Authors themfeives *, who fpeak vl-j 
 
 t J now add to them, Allemblies Notts upon thepluce. Gataker 
 Advers. cap. 17 J^cklbn. /W. 3- p. ^5<?. 
 
 * Theophyladi. Pfoudo Ambrofius. Hieronymus. An- 
 felni. Hernig EpRem. Eral'inus. Calvin. Luther. Mar- 
 larat, Juninianu.^;. Aretius. Hupo de S'ando CHt; •. 
 Mufculus. Corni'lius a Lap. Claud. Guilliaud. Da'^ ■{ 
 V^rzns. Tileman. Hellmfias. Pilcator. Epircopius, de . 
 z?!/?. f. 4. Mr. Lock. /;t.... 
 
 II 
 
The PREFACE. li 
 
 home to the point ^ and do all of them refrefcfit th: ^po- 
 files Dcc'ifion as built on the peculiar dilad^Mnta^^es 
 which Chriftians lye under in point of Worldly En- 
 joyments, and not as reflrain'd merely :o a State 
 of Perfecution. And thefe \bad I room to produce 
 therri) "Would be fo 7na7jy frejh Evidence: of the Rnfmefs^ 
 or Infincerity of my Accufer^ "ivhcre he rcpreftfits the 
 AfTertions by we laid dcwn^ to be juch as were ne- 
 ver before ferloufly maintain'd by any Perfon of 
 Vertue and Underftanding f. f L.pi. 
 
 Having now fully confidered the two fir fi Articles of 
 his Charge y and (hewn ^ that my Dotirine is fofarfrom 
 being New, that it is maintain d by the r/^ofi Pious and 
 Judicious Pens, and is cxa^ly agreeable to the Sc7ife of 
 Si, Paul J / am the lefs concerned thoroughly to examine 
 Tvhat is [aid of it under ths "^d Head of Accttfationy 
 'vizj. that it is Falfe and Pernicious in itfeU. For 
 if the Authority of thefe Eminent Writers, and of the 
 Blefjed Apoftlc himfelf ivill not juflify it in that refpe^, 
 nothing elj'e will. Bc(icics, iji the Paffao^es which I have 
 before cited at large from our own Divines, mofi of the 
 Reflexions and Reafoniytgs, whi'h m.ike out the Xruth of 
 both wj Pofitions, arc already Juggrjhd • and there- 
 fore need not here be repeated and apply d to every little 
 Exception made by this Author. Norhathbehimfelf 
 put me under any Necejfity cf doing it by bis method of 
 attackingmy Docfrine : for he pretends only to prove it 
 faUe, by offeringfome Obfervations on my man- 
 ner of proceeding in the Ari^ument I have under- 
 taken "^: as //Obfervations on mv manner of pro- * i. p: 
 ceeding in this Argnmt?it, would determine the Truth ^- -'^* 
 or Faljhood of the Argument it fefl And yet this is the 
 Mark at which his Ten grave Obfervations chiefly 
 
 6 z aim • 
 
lu The P R E F A G E; 
 
 aim ; not to ^rove the DoBrtne it felffalfe, hut m"^ Dis- 
 fence of it weak andimproper. And therefore he frcfofes 
 every one of them withfome Phrafes ot Admiration, 
 "which may he worthf of the Curious Reader's Verufal, 
 I. It hath, (/je/^^jj a very ftrange appearance ; 
 t,^P- and is a very ftrange way of proceeding t. 2. Ic 
 •L. p. is likewife as unaccountable *. — 3. Ic is again 
 ti p. wonderful t«— 4. It is wonderfully ftrange .'.jicis 
 24.' very flrange [. — 5'. On the other Hand, it 
 .2^f' is equally ftrange 1]. — 6. It is likewife unac- 
 lp- 27. countable *. Ic is extremly unaccountable t-^ 
 *p'2i. 8. It looks very ftrange and unaccounta- 
 tp ?3; able *. — 9. It is likewife very unaccountable t< 
 um. 10. Laft of all, he cannot but think it very 
 *p-+J- ftranee *.— NowalJthefe Exclamations fi/*ftrarige/ 
 wonderful I unaccountable ! {manag'd -with fo hap- 
 fy a Variety of Expreffion) have plainly a Perfonal 
 View ; and fo have the Reflexions thewfelveSy "ivhicb 
 are ujli.r'd in by them i being intended rather to difpa^ 
 rage Me, than difprove my Doctrine ,* and^ indeed^ 
 to difprove the one only by difpar aging the other. How 
 this is conffient -with hts folemn Alfurances of being 
 •p.44. aXedhy no other Principle but a Defire that the 
 Truth may be known in fo important a matter*, 
 I do not apprehend • and mufi have leave to teU this Ex" 
 claimer, in my turn, that, if that were his real Aim, 
 his manner of Proceeding is very ftrange, won- 
 derful, and uuaccountabie,' What tendency hath it 
 tL.p. towards a difcoverj cf Truth in this important mat- 
 xi,i2, fgp^ tofpend two Pages * in proving^ that , lifhen I 
 *^* call the Text ^ Conccflion of the Apoftle, I fpeak 
 improperly ? Sure the Fortunes fl/* Greece do not depend 
 upon fuchCriticifms as theje I the Aierits of our Dijpute 
 are no 7va)s concern d in my ufe of an improper Expref- 
 
 fon / 
 
The P p. E F A C E. lij'i 
 
 Jton I which after all is not fo improfer , it feems, hi^t 
 that the Letter-ff^riter hiwjrlf vuclfafis to errphy it 
 in the very fame Sevfe^ and upin the very fawt Oc- 
 cafion, a ftw Pages afterwards ' where y hn'vitig fro- 
 due d what he calls my Explication of the Tcxt^ he i. p. 
 addsj This is in Truth a Concedion *. y^nd if it ''• 
 he, fo alfo is the Text it felf in that Senfe at kali 
 wherein I tmderfiand it. 
 
 But to let this ( and [ome other fuchmaterial Remarks) 
 tafs — If there be any thing in his Ten Obfervationsy 
 "^hich dtftrves a Reply , 'tis what he hath urgd in the 
 Fourth of them • which feems indeed to he direBly le- 
 'vel d againfi the Truth of my Doctrine. And hecaufi 
 it contains in it the Summ of what he hath elfewhere 
 loofely fcatterd to the fame Furfofe, and will give me an 
 Opportunity of propoftng at one View, and briefly vindi* 
 eating, what I take to be the very Truth in this im- 
 portant Matter, it Jl}all therefore he particular!/ con- 
 fiderd. He there ohferves , that ' The Chief 
 ( Happinefs of any Being, in whatfoever State it is, 
 € or of what/oever Duration its Life is, rnufi refuU 
 t from the moft excellent part of its Conftituti- 
 
 < on ; that the Happinefs of a Being, made capable of 
 , imitating God, though for never fo(l)ort a time, mufi 
 
 < con (id in that Imitation ,• that Virtue is the Imita*- ,^ 
 ( tion of God, and therelore muft be the Happi- < 
 
 < nefs of Man : That the chief Happinefs of a j 
 
 < Reafonable Creature muft confift in living as I 
 c Realon direcfls, whether he lives one Day, or 
 
 i to Eternity • whether he liv.es in this State only, 
 
 t or in another afterwards j whether he hath Incli" 
 
 < nations to the contrary^ or not, provided they he 
 « Juch as may be con(]uerd. Fur neither can the Time 
 G ofhii Duration^ nor the Tendency offuch Inclinati^ 
 
 ^ 4 I * <'»?. 
 
Jiv The PREFACE. 
 
 ' cm alter any thing in this Matter, unlefs to make 
 
 * Virtue more difficult ,• which doth not deftroy 
 ' the Excellence of it, and prefent Happinefs re- 
 
 * fulting from it, but enhance and improve it. 
 ^ Befidesj on the other hand, the Practice of Vice y tho* 
 
 * L p * ^'^ ^'^ '^'^^ ^^^ Inclination, jet is againft Reafon and 
 c^.27/ Confcience *. 
 
 Thefe are his Words, to ivhlch I reply 
 
 I. That if this Argument proves any things it proves 
 too much ; even that a Man may he happy under the 
 greatefi bodily Pains , and the mofi grievous Perfecuti- 
 ons. For it is ccrtain^& that^ notwithjianding fuch 
 Tains andPerfeciitions, he may Jlill preferve his Virtue: 
 , and if the Vratlice <^ Virtue be the Happinefs of 
 S3, ' Man CHappinels it felf, as he elfewhere fpcaks *) 
 then thofe Pains and Perjecutions, not robbijig him of 
 his Virtue, would net rob him :f his Happinels. This 
 is too Homantick and ylbfurd a L..'rine to deferve a 
 ♦ ■^er P^^^^^^ Confutation : and therefore IjhjUdifmifs it "with 
 '■cA^.'the Words ofArchbipjop Tillotfon *j Tho' fomQ 
 ^^l/'*.Meri have been fo phanta*'>ically Obftinate, as, 
 "kgainft the Reafon and Common Senfe of Man- 
 "kind, to niainca'.n this Paradox, that ' a wife 
 
 * Man may be as happy upon the Rack , or in 
 
 * Phalaris his Bull, as in the greateft Eafe and 
 
 * Freedom from Pain that can be imagin'd : ' Yet 
 Nature cries fliame of this Hypocrify ; and there 
 are none of thofe 2i;//eikf(f» they fpeak of, who 
 where ever fuch Fools as to try the Experiment. 
 
 2. If "we co-Kjiucr the Beingof Man, as circumfcri' 
 l^edv/irhin the Bo^wds of this Life, I deny that his chief 
 Happinefs refuirs from the moft excellent part of 
 his Coiiditution {as thofe Words are intended to ex- 
 (clnd^ all regard for the Pleafttres of the Body): For it 
 
 refakij 
 
The PREFACE. Iv 
 
 refults, not from any cne Part, hut from the Whole. 
 The chief Happitjefs of a Creature^ compos' d of Body 
 and Soul J and defignd for this Lfe only, zir, to he as 
 Happy as it can he^ during this Lfe^ both in Body and 
 Soul • And the more and greater Plcafures of hot h kinds 
 it enjoys (which can he render d conjifent with each 
 other) the more entire and pejfe^ is its H./ppinefs. I 
 grant ivdetd^ 
 
 3. That the chief Happinefs of a Reafonable 
 Creacure muft confift in living as Reafon direds, 
 whether he lives one Day, or to Eternity, But 
 had wc no Hope in another Life, the DlreElic^Js (f Rea- 
 fon for vur Condnti in this, would not be the (ams as 
 they are now. Reafon would then dirccf us to do every 
 . thing, in which we dcl.'ghted^ to deny cur fives . no 
 Tleafure, which Inclinatimj Cujhm^ cr Opinion prom- 
 pted m to take ^ fo it did not otherwife interfere with 
 our Eafe, with our Health, our Reputation, and Con- 
 'venicnre j that is, fo Men judgd upon the whole, that 
 it would conduce more to their Happinefs to indulge 
 themfelves in fuch or fuch Tlcafures, than to forbear 
 them. Jnd how faljly the greatefi part of Mankind 
 Tvould, through the corrupt tendency cf their Nature, 
 and the perpetual Solicitations of the OhjeBs of Senfe, 
 judge in fuch a Cafe, I need not jay. And whenever 
 they judgd wrong, there would be no fure way offetting 
 them right • that is, of arguing them out of their Tajle 
 and Experience, to which they would always retreat and 
 appeal, as to the fure Tefi and Meafure cf Happinefs. 
 The Refiralnts o/Confcience, in fuch a State, would 
 no ways check Alcn in their Verfuits : For Confcience 
 being nothing but the Judgment which a Man pajjls on 
 the Rcafonahlenefs, or Unreafonablenefs cfhis ownA' 
 ^fiofis^ and that being to be tneafnfd from the Subfervl- 
 
 d 4 encj 
 
hi The PREFACE. 
 
 ency of tbofe ABiom to his frefent Happtnefs ; "what^ 
 ever appear d to him^ upon the befi Judgment he could 
 frame^ uecejfary to his prefcnt Happ'uiefsj "would appear 
 highly reafQnahle • find his Cotifcience would be fo far 
 from hlamifi^y (hat it Ti^'ould approve his Verfuit of it * 
 najy it would blame him for not perfuing it. And 
 therefore^ 
 
 4. To tell Mankijidy in fuch a State as th^, thai 
 their Supreme Felicity confifted in the Imitation of 
 
 ' God, would be to talk to them in a Language which 
 
 they would not reli^jy or underfiand. For how Jhould 
 
 \ poor imperfcB Creature, compos' d of Body as well as 
 Spirit, avd dejfgn.dfcr this material WorU only, think 
 St fdf obtigd, cr any ways able, to imitate in Eternal^ 
 infinitely- pure and perfeB ATmd ? or place its Happi- 
 t'lefs in copying Excellencies, which Human Life is too 
 port, and Human Nature too weak to reach ? 
 
 Howfljouida Soul, made to inhabit Flejh and Blood, 
 and to peri pi together with it, judge it rea finable, or pof- 
 fble, to live above the Defircs and hifirmities of Flejh 
 and Blood ? How jhculd one part of the Man be in^ 
 ducd to ncglcB and forget the other, in order to arrive 
 at a Divine Verfeclion and Refembla^ice, which (not 
 hoping to reach) it would fear ce think it felf defign d to 
 perfue ? No, the Rule o/'imitating God, can never be 
 fuccefsfully propos'd to Men but upon CHriftian Vrin" 
 clples, fl-ich asthefe ; that this World is a place , not of^ 
 Refi and Happin'efs, but of Dlfcipline and Trial ,* where 
 we are to be train d up for another and moreperfetl StatCy 
 and to (jualify our Selves for the Divine Enjoyments of 
 it, by rejifiing and fubdumg our Bodily Appetites and 
 Inclinations j a State ^ i^ito ivhich Flcjh and Blood jhall 
 . ^ot enter, where ourprefent Struggles (hall be rewarded 
 With cowpleat Con^uejls^ and our Imitation of God end 
 '-'■■'■■- |a 
 
The P R E F A C E Ivii 
 
 in the undijiurh'd Fruition of him to all Eternity, Upon 
 thefe Frinciples indeed it is highly Rtafonahk fo imitate 
 God : hut if we are dtfgn'd to live only in thefe Bo- 
 dies, and in this World, what jhould hinder Us from 
 endeavouring to make the hefi of both ? and from com- 
 ing to the Conclufon mention d (and not difapprov'd) 
 hy the J^ofile ,• Let US Eat and Drink, for to nior- 
 row we die ? 
 
 y. 7" deny not, after aU, hut that, even in fuch a 
 'State as this, the Fleafures of Virtue would be fuperior 
 to thofe of Vice, and jujlly preferable, upon the Com- 
 parifon ^ the Pleafures, I mean, of a mature and con- 
 -^md Habit of Virtue, net of the lower and imperfeB 
 Degrees of it. Such an Habit, once acquird, would inr 
 deed afford the Vrofefjors of it greater Satisfaflions than 
 any the Wicked and Licentious did, or could enjoy. But 
 how feiv would judge thus rightly of Virtue at a Dift- 
 ance ? How much fewer would be at the Pains of ac' 
 ef Hiring fuch an Habit, and of conquering all the Re- 
 luBancies and Di^culties, that lay in the way towards 
 it ? jind, till that were done, the firi^i Vra6lice of 
 Virtue would not be entirely pleafng : to he fure, no part 
 of the Pleafure of it would conjifi in the Struggle if 
 felf ^ and therefore I am much at a lofs to know, what 
 the Letter-Writer meant hy the following /fljertion, 
 that the Difficulty of {^attaining and praclifittg] Vir- 
 tue doth not deftroy the prefent Happinefs refult- 
 ing from ir, but enhanfe and improve it. Th»s, 
 I take to be a Stoical Rant, without any Foundation in 
 the Nature of Man, or the Reafon of things. For no 
 Pra6lice whatfoever can he attended with prefenc 
 Happinefs, any farther th'in it is eafie and delightm 
 ful to the Doer ; and what is difficult to be done, can- 
 :}0t be cafy and delightful, while it is doing,- — Unkjs 
 
 when 
 
Iviii The PREFACE. 
 
 when thofe Difficulties are loji and [-wallowed up tn the 
 fweet Hope of a better State, wfjich ive are fur e of at^ 
 taining by the means of them. Where once fuch a Per» 
 fivafion as this is well fix'd, I grant , it will fmootb 
 all the Rcughnefs of the JVay, that leads to Happinefs^ 
 and rendtr all the Conflicts ive maintain with our Lufts 
 and Vaffions f leafing : but furelj, ■ without the Hopes 
 cf fuch a State J the mere Profpe^ of the Pleafures 
 which Virtue in this Life may yieldy would fcarce make 
 the Struggle it ft If delightful to thofe who were 
 grangers to fuch Pleafures. 
 
 Thus far, in anfwer to his fourth Remark, which 
 contains the Grounds of his DoSirine, and offers at 
 fomtwhat toward the Difproof of mine. As to the reft 
 c/"/j;V Obfervntions on my manner ofproceeding 
 in the prefent Argument, were it worth while to 
 reduce them from their pnjcni Confufiatt into fomeOrder^ 
 thzy might be rangd and conftitr d underT\\TtQ Heads^ 
 my Omifltons , my Inconfiftencies, and the III 
 Qon{-:.q\jitnctS(fmyDo^riHe. My On\\{txons are con' 
 fefs'dy for I did not write a Treat ife, hut aftw Pages 
 only on the SubjcSl ; which I handled with particular 
 Views, and pretended not to exhaufi. Whether anv of 
 the Reafonings by me employ d, are mconU^Qntwith 
 each other, I fecurdy leave to the Judgment oj the 
 Reader, who hath now the Argumentative part of that 
 Sermon b.fore him verbatim as it was firfi; Printed; 
 But the III Confequences of my Dothine, which he 
 cbjeHs, dcfcrve to be a little confiderd. 
 
 My Dotlrine is, as I have endeavoured to jhew, the 
 *very {&me with that cf St. Paul ,• and if this hath been 
 made cut, the fame 111 Confecfuences are equally charge 
 able upon Both, and He too may be f aid to have made 
 
 Conceffions to the Caufs of Vice, by allowing, 
 
 that. 
 
The PREFACE. llx 
 
 that, if the Dead rife not^ the Inference vjouU he 
 jufty Let us Eac and Drink, for to morrow we 
 Die. All that needs he done toivard jt^fiify'ttig the A.- 
 poftle (and my felf, by his means) is, to open the De- 
 Jigfi and Manner of his Reafoning. He is there making 
 ufe of that fort, of yirgu?/jentj "which , in order to prove 
 a DoBrine true^ Juppojes the contrary Do^rine to be 
 true j and then JlitwSj what Ahfurdities follow upon 
 fuch a Suppofttion : and the greater thoje Ahfurdities 
 are, the more Jirongly do they evince the faljity of that 
 Siippcfitiony from whence they flow, and, confquently , 
 the Truth of the Dc^rine fet ajide by that Suppoftion. 
 Thus J in the prcfnt cafe^ the more ahfurd it is to affirm , 
 that Beafis have the Advantage ofMen^and BadAien of 
 Qoodjn point cf Happinefs ; or that a Senfual Life may be 
 preferred to a Severe and Rigid Virtue j the more clear- 
 ly doth the folly and falfhood of that Suppefition appear^ 
 which is the Parent cfthefe wild Ahfurdities, viz. that 
 We have liope in this Life only ; and thefaljhood of 
 that Suppofttion being prOvd^ proves the truth cf the con- 
 trary DoHrine, which was defignd to he eftahli^j'd. Now 
 tbefe very Abfurdities, <7re by the Letter-Writer, repre- 
 fented as Conceflions to the Caufe of Vice, when 
 indeed they are emplofd by me, and do in themfelves 
 tend, to confirm the Truth of a Capital Article in Reli- 
 gion, upon which (^as 1 verily think) the whole Caitfe 
 of Virtue depends. It may fuffiice to have given this 
 Jlwt^ but full Anfii'ir to all the 111 Confequences he 
 hath vainly endeavour d to faftenon my Dodlrine • and 
 which are in truth fo far from being ill Confequen- 
 ces of my Doctrine , that they arc Confe^uences 
 only cf that falje Suppoption, which I advanc'd, 
 in Qrder to difprove it, and, by that means, to 
 prove the Truth of my DoSrine. If the Letter-Writer 
 ii^as fmcere in this part cf his Charge^ be muft be con' 
 
 tented 
 
'« the PREFACE. 
 
 • L.p ^^^^^^ ^o ^^^^ f^^ Reproach o/underftandine nothing 
 16,' ' of Logick, or good Senfe * ; An ImpufatZn, •which, 
 J find, he looks upcn as carrying a greater Abfurdicy 
 in it, than even any thing 1 have [aid in my Sermon ! 
 / doubt whether He can as eafilj get rid of the 1\\ 
 Confequences of his Do^rine ; which manifefily 
 tends to jheWj That there is no neeci of a Future State, 
 to fet right the une<jual Di^ribution of Happinefs in 
 this Life, And if once this be allow d, we give up the 
 very befi Argument for fuch a State, with which mere 
 Reajon furnljhes us. And of what ufe that ConceJJion 
 cat} be to the Caufe of Virtue y this pretended Patron of 
 it will b^ pleased to tell us. Had he fubfiituted any «- 
 ther Argument for a Future State, in the room ofth^ 
 he thus endeavours to weaken • had he once, throughout 
 his Pamphlet, direBlj and plainly affirm' d^ that any con- 
 vincing Evidence of fuch a State was to he had from 
 Reafon alone, or that even the bitter Sufferings of good 
 Men were fufficlent to prove it • his ConduSi would have 
 been fo much the more excufable. But he hath offer d 
 at nothing of this kind. Once indeed (in a very Odd 
 and Wary manner) he fays ^ have heard theSufFerings 
 and Affli(5lions of many good Men here below, 
 made an Argument that, in another State, all the 
 Virtuous ftiall have the Outv/ard, as well as Id- 
 fL. p. ward Tokens of Gods Favor *. But we are left 
 52- at a lofs to know, whether he approve: the Argument, 
 he th'Hs heard ^ whether he thinks it a good Airgument 
 for a Future St at e^ as well as a proof of what fhall bapm 
 pen in fuch a State, if fuch a State there fljould he : 
 He fays not, whether a Future State be, in his Opini-' 
 on, neceffary, in oxder to a manlfeffation of thefe Out- 
 ward Tokens of Gods favor ,• or whether the In- 
 ward Tokens ofit^ befiowd in this Llfe^ may mt fufm 
 
The PREFACE, ^ 
 
 \fce to aU the furpnfes of Virtue. In another places he 
 j rncntions the Prelumpcions of Reafon , and ownsy 
 that our Lord's Refarredion, his AiTurant.es of A 
 \ FUTURE STATE, and his Miracles, A D- 
 I D E D CO thefe Prefum prions (fuch is his manner of 
 Speech) are fufficient (for vhat ? -u^hy) to fatisfy 
 all that are willing to liften to Truth f. But f/31.'^' 
 •ivhat Truth they are to be f^itisffd ^ and, if it be 
 \ the truth of a Future State^ 'what Interefi They are 
 to have in it, and what Right They have to it, he 
 cares not exprcjlj to fay. Ar.d, as to thefe Prcfump- 
 tions of Reafon, he gives us no ace unt of them. 
 What they' are , or -whence they arlfe. On the contrary, he 
 hath all n long employed fuch Rcajunings, as, if true, are 
 prong Prelumpcions againft a Future State. Fur he 
 fuppofes Virtue to be a fufficient Reward to it fe If in this 
 Life : It is the Imitation of God (he fays) and 
 therefore muft be the Happinefs of Man *; nay, P'*^' 
 the Practice of Virtue is Happinefs it felf f, And tp.23. 
 if fo, then it is not nccejfary that a Future Reward 
 pwuld bt rifervd for Virtue ,• for it hath a fufficient 
 Reward already. A V irtuous Heathen is, at this rate^ as 
 hapP) as a Virtuous Chrifttan ,• a Man, ^\i\\OMt thePro- 
 fpe^ of another H'orld, is as happy as with it : for 
 if the Practice of Virtue be Happinefs it felf. He 
 that poffijjes Happinefs it felf c<7», b^ no other Con- 
 ^derations, or Views, have any Addition made to his 
 Happinefs. If the DoBrine of the Letter be true, This 
 World may be our Home , and not the place of our Pil- 
 grimage, as we Chrifiians think, and call it : for our 
 frefent State is, it feems^ a State of Fruition and Fe- 
 licity, not a State of Preparation and Tryal • and, 
 fjfiould there he r,o ther Life, yet fuch a Supp:'fiticf% 
 1»>iU not rcJlUi on the J^flice^ or Goodnefs of God, 
 
 i^'hico 
 
Ixli The PREFACE. 
 
 vjh'ich are fufficiently 'vindicated by his -wife dlfirlhtit^ ' 
 on of Good and Evil in this Life, And by that Pleajure " 
 and Flain, with which Virtue and Vice are feverally 
 and infeparably attended. Noiif thefe Principles do, as 
 I conceive, tend to fubvert the belief of a Future State ^ 
 find have, therefore, been generally entert^nd by all 
 thcfe "who doubted of the Reality of fuch a State, or 
 exprefly dishelievd it, without JJjakiug off at the fame 
 time the Obligations of Morality. Such, particularly , 
 were the Stoics, who firfi brought thefe Tenets into Re- 
 •pute and Fa(l}ion ; an Atheifiical SeH of Philofophers^ 
 that held the IVorld to be God^ and having no certain 
 j)erfwafon,MUch lefs Evidence, of another Life, and yet 
 dcjigning to be thought Lovers of Virtue, knew not honf 
 to defend its Caufe, but by affirming that Virtue was 
 it's own Reward, and the Pradice of it Happi- 
 nefs it felf ^ fuch an Happinefs, as no y^ffli5iions, no 
 Torments, which befel a Man, could deprive him of, 
 or any ways diminijJj. I will not argue again ft fuch 
 wild Paradoxes as thefe ; the Excellent Words I have 
 p. 32. once already cited * • are a fufficient Reply to them — ■ 
 Thas to cry up Virtue, to the weakning our Be- 
 lief and Hope of the Immortality of the Soul, 
 however at firft Mufli it may feem plaufible, is 
 in effect no better than a fubtle Invention to ruin 
 Virtue by it felf, fince it cannot poflibly fubfift 
 but by the Belief and Support of another Life. 
 
 Whether the Letter-Writer intended ^by what he hath 
 wrote, to undermine this Belief, is left to God, and his 
 own Confcience. Sure I am, there are feveral Paffages 
 in his Piece (befides thofe I have mention d) which look 
 that way, and ref^uire a great deal of Candor to be in- 
 terpreted in, fuch aSenfe, as doth not rejle^l on the Cer- 
 taintj cf this great Article of all ReligioN, For he is 
 
 not 
 
 
The PREFACE. Ixiii 
 
 ttot afraid to fay, that he much queftions, whether 
 ever there vjas, or can be a Perfecution merely 
 for the Take oFthe Mortal Virtues of any Perfon ^.-p.jp, 
 A Doubt which Jhakes the only Moral Evidence of a 
 Future State^ "which he can any ways be fuppos'd to 
 allow of : For if Virtue be vot perfecuted herey 
 there is certainly (upon his Principles) no reafonfor re- 
 warding it hereafter. And what could tempt him to 
 entertain fuch a Doubt ? were not Socrates, and A- 
 riftides (to name no other Heathens) plain Infiances of 
 this kind ? and, when Jofeph fuffer'd under the Ac- 
 cufation of Potiphar's Wife, was he not perfecuted 
 merely for the Sake of a Moral Virtue ? And can 
 thts be in any degree ftrange to thofe v^ho have covJi~ 
 derd, how wicked Men look upon themfelves as re~ 
 proach^d and affronted by Exemplary Goodnefs ? and how 
 jufll/i therefore, they are reprefented in the Book of 
 Wiidojn, as fpeaking this Language ? — The Right- 
 eous (fay they) is not for our Turn, he is clean 
 contrary to our Doings ,• he was made to reprove 
 our Thoughts, He is grievous unto us even to 
 behold ; for his Life is not like ether Mens, his 
 Ways are of another Fafliion — Therefore let us 
 lie in wait for the Rightec^us, &c. *. Fur my part, I* ,r^ 
 can no way account f.r his Doubts, in fo plain a Cofe^ but "•'4« 
 upon this Foot, that he for ef aw, the Fcrfecuticn of Fir- '^* 
 tue, as Virtue, muft nectfjarily infer a Future Reward, 
 ButjljoulJ Virtue be perfecuted, yet ftill he denies 
 that the Hopes cf a diflant Rccompence would afford it cvy 
 immediate Relief', for thcfe are his li'crds — That the 
 beft ot Men are fomeiimes in this Starethe nioft 
 Milerable, as far as the Evils of this W oi Id can make 
 them fo, may poflTibiy betrue,* but it is equally true, 
 whether you iuppofe a Future State, or luppofe 
 
 ic 
 
Ixhr The PREFACE. 
 
 * ^ P* Is not *, that is \_for I can make, no other Ssnfe ofhi^ 
 Words'] the Vertuous Terfansy fo perfecuted, are Cr 
 qually mlferahle under both Suppojitions ^ their Hopei 
 of Future Happinefs hcing no wanner cf allay to their 
 Trefent Miferies, And how can the Belief of a fu-* 
 ture State be more effeBually fupplanted than by fuch 
 fin Opinion ? Can one think him in Earncft "when ke 
 faysy that He is fure, the Certainty of a Fmur© 
 State ftands in need of no fuch Supports, as 
 j^ mine ? for even without theWy Philofophers afferted 
 31. ^" it — and fo may Chriftians * — //e takes away 
 the Jlrongefi Inducement which the befi Fhilofophers 
 had (or indeed which mere Reafon could have) to believe 
 a Future State; and then leaves us to depend upon the 
 ^<?re AlTertions of feme other Philofophers (on their Au- 
 thority without Reafon) for the truth of it. And is not 
 this a very fatisfa^ory and ample Etjuivalent ? What 
 ttiould hinder us from exchanging the clear efi Evi' 
 Mnces cf a Future State , for the Ground] efs Af- 
 furances of thefe Fhilofophers of his acquaintance cotI" 
 cerning it ^ 
 
 Other Vajfages there are In the Letter y equally liable 
 to Exception : but I delight not to dwell on thefe jB/tf- 
 mifheSyOr to make the wor(i and mofi invidious Conjiru- 
 clion of things. My chief Bujinefs was to prove y that 
 the DoBrine deliver d in my Sermon was neither New., 
 «or Unfcriptural, nor in it feU falfe and pernici- 
 ous : and havings I hope y ejft^ually made good what 
 I undertook in tliefe refpeds, Ifrjallnot be Jolicitous to 
 enquire into the peculiar Articles of this Writer s Creed, 
 or «v n to dive into the fecret Sprifigs and Motives 
 tlat fet him a Work. 
 
 He Solemnly difclaims any TJneafinefs conceivd at 
 the Character ^i^'fw cf Mr. Bennet, or any defire of 
 
The PREFACE. \y.v 
 
 kjfemng mine*. Jfhls Vrofeljions he real, it -wlU tuzzlc * p. 2. 
 iim to give a good account^ "wby he took occafton frcm 
 my Sermon to vent his Thoughts on this Argti^ef^t. 
 How come I to be (iigUd out from that Crowd of IVrl' 
 tersj who have all along maintain d the fame Dotlriue ? 
 IVhj muji he particularljr reprefcnt Me, as putting 
 Tkcis into the Mouths of Licentious Perions t, f^r f l. p. 
 faying Th.ity which hath been Jo fften already faid by ^^' 
 Men of Learningj and fudgwent^ and Virtue y wit h- 
 out incurrivg the Reprnuch either of th€ir own times ^ or 
 cfthofe that followed ? But (.iihich ts worfu of all) why 
 are thefe Vofuions charg'd upon "b^lc^ as their fole Au- 
 thor and Invtnter j and the Reader led into a Belief 
 mat they were never before ferioufly maintain'd by 
 any Perfon of Virtue and Underftanding * ? * 7 .p, 
 
 Thefe are fuch manlfffi Indications ^Infincerity '?• 
 and Malice, as all his grave Pretences cf Concern 
 for the Caufe of Virtue oi^i^il mt cover, or elude. If, 
 after all, be pleads Ignorance, for his Excufe '^ftnee 
 J have Jhewn him his foul Mifiakes and injurious Mif- 
 reprefentationSf it will become him publickly to own 
 and retraB them ; and I now call upon him^ in nty turn, 
 to do it. If he doth not, they will lie heavy upon him 
 in another World, to whomibever he may have 
 rtcommended bimfelf, in This, by the means of 
 them, 
 
 ■After I bad finished this Preface^ and a great part of 
 it was printed^ there came to my Hands an A[Jiz.e- 
 Sefmon^ preach'd lately in the Cathedral at Winche- 
 fler, by Mr. Richard Weft, Prebendary of that 
 Church. He,hatb^ Ifind^ ftept a little cut of his way, 
 to give his peremptory Opinion in the Points controver- ' 
 tid between me and tbe Letter-Writer ; and withal to 
 
 e pnvi 
 
Ixvi The P R E F A C K 
 
 frove hlmJeJfno competent JuJige of them. For, ^ftt'"' 
 affirming ' that the PRACTICE ofChriftl- 
 
 * an Virtues, though we fet a fide the Confideration of 
 ' a future Reward, HAVE a fairer Xttle to frefent 
 
 "^ Happinefs, than their contVAry Vices ' (which af, 
 better Divinity than Grammar) he proceeds to fay y 
 
 * Nor does it appear that the Pharifees themjelves e-ver 
 
 * deny'dit, THO" a Notion hath been invented 
 .* , of late, that prefers Brutifli Pleafures (for the more 
 •^ Bruti(hy it feems, the more preferable^ to thofe of 
 ^■Religion. ' Serm. p. 7. 8, It is a firewd remark, 
 
 which this Sagacious. fVriter here makes^ that, though 
 a Notion hath been invented of late, Yet it doib 
 mt appear that the Pharifees of old had the fame Noy 
 tions ; He might with as great acuteiufs of Judgment 
 have obfervd, that the Art of Printing doth not appear 
 to have been known to the Ancients, tho ' it hath been 
 Invented (ince their times. But, to pafs hy this judictT 
 •ous Ohfervation — if Mr', Wc^ pleafes to read ever 
 Tny Sermon, and this Preface, he will eafily fee, that 
 he hath mifta ken my Notion, of which he here gives 
 a very injurious Account, in very unfeemly Language { 
 to fay no worfe of it. He isfiiU moremiftaken in think' 
 ing That to be a late Invention cfmine, which hath 
 been ajjerted by fa many Pious and 'Eminent Pens of our 
 Own, and other Communions • to whofe Sentiments A 
 Man, that profeffes to dedicate himfelf to the Study of 
 Divinity, ought not to have been altogether a Stranger, 
 And J am very apt to think alfo, that he hath, in 
 this Paragraph, mifiaken the Pharifees /or r/jc Saddti* 
 cees. The Sadducees, indeed, let afide the Coii« 
 fideratlon of a future Reward, and yet pretended to 
 fupportthe Pra6lice of Virtue upon the foot cf Prefect 
 Happin&fSj 4Js Epicurus likemfe did, from whom 
 
 they 
 
Tlie PREFACE. Ixvli 
 
 ti^ey are fometlmes caU'd Epicureans, in the Jew- 
 ifh Writings. Neither Epicurus , nor Zadock 
 declard openly for Vice and Immorality , though 
 they denied a Future State • but held Happinefs to bs 
 attainable in thu Life by our own ConduH and VirTues. 
 But it no ivap appears that the Pharifees had any 
 fuch Notions y or Dijputes as thefe flirringamongfi them^ 
 or any Occafion to deliver their Opifiion about the Title, 
 which thePradice of Virtue hath to prefent Hap- 
 pinefs, fetting afide the Confideration oFa future 
 Reward: And why ^ therefore, thtir Authority fn aid 
 he vouched to this Purpofcj I do by no means compre- 
 hend. 
 
 Much lefs can I imagine, why a JEWISH SeEl 
 
 f whether o/Pharifees, or Sadducees] fhould be rcpre~ 
 entedy as delivering their yudgment about the Con- 
 fequence of pradicing CHRISTIAN Virtues; 
 a Point, in which they had as little reafon to concern 
 themfelveSf as Mr. Weft hath to interpofe in thrs D'f- 
 pute, unlefs he were better acquainted with the true 
 State, and Grounds of it, and with the Opinions of 
 tbofe who have gone before him in the Argument. I 
 hope, this was not one of the Correal Vajfages, which 
 Air. Jervoife, and the other Gentlemen had in their 
 vWwy when they defir'd him to print his moft ex- 
 cellent Sermon. ^ Of which / am ternptcd to 
 
 fay fomewhat more, but fltall forbear ; havings 
 J hope, Sufficiently prevented whatever this Gentle- 
 man hath fa id, or can fay ^ again ji any part of my 
 Do^rine. And fome Attacks are fo harmlefs, that 
 nothing but a Defence can make them ConfJera- 
 hie. 
 
 What gave rife to this Civil DigreJJion of Mr. W. an 4 
 fit wJjofe Shrine he offer' d bis Incenfe^ is too plain t9 
 
 z admit 
 
ixviii The Preface. 
 
 atlmlt of any Doubt • and carries in it a RefleBion, Jh 
 jnuch to the difadvantage of Religion y tbat^ could it 
 -fojfibly he conceal' d^ I fliouldthink myfelfohligd to pafs 
 . it over in Silence. Hoiv muji it affliSt good Men, to . 
 eo7jfider^ that our unhappy Difputes, about Rights and 
 Privileges, jliould fpread themfelves into PointSj of 
 a Foreign Nature, and of the moji Sacred Importance • 
 and be perfud to the very Horns of the Akar, "without 
 any regard to the Interefis of our Common Chri^ianity ! 
 What I can we not differ about Adjournments, with' 
 cut differing alfb about the Evidences of a Future 
 State ; and managing our Contejis on that Head, in 
 fuch a manner, as even to take part with, and make 
 Sport for Unbelievers ? Are thefe the blejfed EffeBs of 
 that Moderation and Temper, of which we have 
 heard fo much infome Men's Writings, and feen fo lit- 
 tle in their PraSlices ? How long jhallthebejf Words in 
 the IVorld be thus perverfly applied to the worft Purpo- 
 ps • and made ujeofto cover, and advance Defigns^ 
 vndely diflant from our fpecious Preterftons ! Can we 
 look upon it, as one h/lance of that moft amiable Vir^ 
 tue,To Jland by cool and unconcern d for the great Truths 
 of Religion ? neither to dtfmd them our Selves, nor yet 
 luffer them to be defended by Others ? and, when we 
 chance to fpy an Egyptian frniting an Hebrew, one 
 of our Brethren , to he fo far from avenging the 
 Y/rong, as to encourage and afjifl the Doer of it ? 
 What is this, but to imitate the wicked Policy of our 
 war ft Enemy, which we have fo often cojjiplain d of ? 
 For how Eloquent hav^ fame Men been in their Inve- 
 Bives againjl a- Neighbouring Prince {the fubjeSl of 
 their Panegyricks on feme other Occasions) for making 
 fcandalctts Leagues v/ith Mahometans, andattacking 
 Chriflians in Conjunction with the great Enemies a 
 
 Chriltendom ? 
 
The PREFACE. (xix 
 
 Ctiriftendome ? Jndts Their CnduB lefs Uahk to 
 Kef roach J who are not ajlmtnd to efpouf the Caufe e- 
 ven oflnfideliry it felfy rather th.^n mifs an Oppor- 
 tunity of expreffing their Refeyttments againfi Men they 
 Ic not like, and of keeping up their Little Party- bjte^ 
 ref^s, and parrels ? When Popery -was at our Doors 
 in a late Reign • did we take This "Way of keeping it 
 rut? Andare Atheifm and Deifm lefs dreadful in 
 themfelves ? or are We now in lefs Dunger of being o- 
 verrun with them ? In God's Nawe, if we cannot 
 agree in other things^ let us unite at leafi in an equal 
 Zeal for tbofe Capital Dodrines, which -we all equally 
 embrace, and are alike concern d to maintain : Nor 
 let our Perfonal Views, and Prejudices (if we will not 
 be perfuaded to part with them) ever lead us to do any 
 things that may expofe Religion it felf to the Laughter 
 and Scorn of Profane Men, who flioot out the Lip, 
 antl fliake the Head, faying, Aha I So we would 
 have it. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Serm. I.TPHE Duty of Praife and Thankf- 
 
 Tfd, 1. 14. Offer unto God Thankfgiv'mg, 
 
 pag. I 
 Serm.it. The Power of Charity to Cover Sin. 
 I St. Veter iv. 8. Charkj Jhall Cover the 
 Multitude of Sins, P* 3 ? 
 
 Serm. III. IV. The Miraculous Propaga- 
 tion of the Gofpel. 
 Ifaiah. Ix. 22. A Little one jhall become a 
 Thoufand ; and a fmdl one^ a ftrong Na- 
 tion : / the Lordy tvill hajlen it in his time^ , 
 
 P-77 
 Serm. V. A Scorner incapable of true 
 
 Wifdom. 
 Vrov, xiv. 6. A Scorner feeketh Wifdom^ and 
 fndeth it not, P»i45 
 
 Serm. VL A Difcourfe occafioned by the 
 Death of the Lady Cutts, 
 Ecclef, vii. 2. It is better to go to the Houfe 
 of Mournings than to go to the Houfe of 
 Feafting : for that is the End of all Men^ 
 md the Living will lay it to Heart, 
 
 P-I7J 
 
 ThQ 
 
The Contents. 
 
 ^ERM. VII. The Wifdom of Providence ma- 
 nifefted in the Revolutions of Govern- 
 ment. 
 Ezek. xxxvii. ^. Arid he fat d unto me ^ Son 
 of Man^ cm thefe Bodies liwe ? And 1 an- 
 jweredj Lord God^ Thou krwivef, p. 209 
 
 Si^Rw. VIII. The Duty of Publick Intercef- 
 fion and Thankfgiving for Princes* 
 I Tim, ii. 1,2,^./ Exhort that^firft ofaliy 
 Supplfcationty Pruyers^ Inter cefftorts^ and 
 gii'i'rjg of Thanks be fnadifor all Men-^ for 
 Kjngs^and all that are in Authority ; that We 
 may leadaQus^t andFeaceableLife^inallGod^ 
 
 ■^ c linefs and Honefy : For this is Good and Ac- 
 ceptable m the fight oj God our Saviour. 
 
 Serm. IX. The Rule of Doing as we would 
 be done unto, explain'd. 
 SuMatth.vYu 12. All things y rvhatfoe^er 
 Te would that Men fijould do unto ToUy do 
 Te even fo unto them ; for this is the Law 
 And the Prophets, p. 266 
 
 Serm. X. Of Religious Retirement. 
 
 Sf'-^t. M^itth. xiv. 2^. M^hen he had fent the 
 Mtillitiide away, he went up into a Moun- 
 tatn^ apart^ ioFray, P»3oi 
 
 Serm. XI. A (landing Revelation the beft 
 Means of Convidion. St. Luke 
 
I 
 
 The Contents.' 
 
 St. Luke xvi. ^ I . Jf they hear not Mofes and 
 the Prophet Sy neither will they be perfivaded^ 
 though one rofefrom the Dead, P'3 27 
 
 Serm. XII. A Sermon preach'd at the fu- 
 neral of Mr. Thomas Bennet, 
 I Cor, XV. 19. If in this Life only we have 
 hope in ChriH^ we are of all Men mojh mifer- 
 able, P*3^5 
 
 Serm. XIII. A Sermon Preach'd at the £• 
 
 leftion oUhe Lord-Mayor, 
 
 Job xxix. 1 4. J put on Righteoujnefs^ and it 
 
 clothed me ; my Judgment was as a Kobe 
 
 and a Diadem, p. 401 
 
 Serm. XIV. A Sermon Preach'd before the 
 Lord-Mayor, on a Day of Publick Hur 
 miliation. 
 Tfal, XXX. 6, 7, 8. In my. Frafperity Ifaid^ 
 Iffjall never be moved .\ Lord^ by thy favour 
 Thou ha(l made my Mountain to Hand 
 Hrong, Thou didfi hide thy Face^ and I 
 was troubled^ I cryed unto Thee^ Lord^ 
 and unto the Lord 1 made my Supplication, 
 
 p. 429 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PR E F. p. xxiv. at the bottom, /;>;, i, for /^M/)f/xi« f^ 
 
t 
 
 The Duty of ^rnijc and Thanksgiving, 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preacli'd before the 
 
 O U E E N 
 
 WHITE HALL. 
 
 M J Y 29. 1692. 
 
 P S A L. L. 14. 
 
 Offer unto God Thanksgiving. 
 
 AMong the many Excellencies of 
 this pious Colleftion of Hymns, 
 for which fo particular a Value 
 hath "been fet upon it by the Church of 
 God in all Ages^ this is not the leaft, 
 that the true Price of Duties is there 
 juftly ftated ; men are call'd off from 
 B refting 
 
The Duty offratfe 
 
 refting in the outward Shew of Religion, 
 in Ceremonies and Ritual Obfervances ; 
 and taught rather to praclife (that which 
 was fliadow'd out by thefe Rites, and 
 to which they were defign'd to lead) 
 found inward Vertue, and Piety. 
 
 The feveral Compofers of thefe Hymns 
 were Prophets ; Perfons, whofe bufmefs 
 it was, not only to foretel Events, for 
 the benefit of the Church in fucceed- 
 ing times, but to corred and reform 
 alfo what was amifs in that Race of 
 Men, with whom they liv'd and con- 
 versed ; to preferve a fooliOi People from 
 Idolatry, and falfe Worfliip ; to refcue 
 the Law from corrupt GlolTes, and fu- 
 perftitious Abufes ; and to put Men in 
 mind of (what they were fo willing to 
 forget) that Eternal and Invariable Rule, 
 which was before thefe Pofitive I^ties, 
 would continue after them, and was to 
 be obferv'd even Then in preference to 
 them. 
 
 The difcharge, I fay, of this part of 
 the Prophetick Oiiice taking up fo much 
 room in the book of Pfalms ; this hath 
 been one reafon, among many others, 
 why they liave been always {o liighly 
 efteem'd ; becaufe we are from hence 
 furnifh'd with a proper Reply to an Ar- 
 gument 
 
and Thanksgiving. 
 
 gumeilt commonly made ufe of by Un- 
 believers ; who look upon All ReveaPd 
 Religions, as Pious Fmuds, and Impo- 
 ftures, on the dccount of the Prejudices 
 they have entertained in relation to That 
 of the "Jews : the whole of wliich they 
 firil luppofe to lie in External Perfor- 
 mances, and then eafily perfuade them- 
 felves, that God could never be the Au- 
 thor of fuch a mere piece of Pageantry, 
 and empty Formality ; nor delight in a 
 Worfliip which confifted purely in a 
 Number of wild and unaccountable Ce- 
 remonies. Which Objedion of theirs we 
 fliould not be able throughly to anfwer, 
 unlefs we could prove (chiefly out of the 
 Pfalmsy and other parts of the Prophetick 
 Writings) that the Jewifli Religion was 
 fomewhat more than bare Outfide and 
 Shew; and that Inward Purity, and 
 the Devotion of the Heart was a Duty 
 Then, as well as Now. One great In- 
 ftance of this Proof we have in the words 
 now before us ; which are taken from 
 a Pfalm of ^j^fh^ written on pi^rpofe to 
 fet out the Weaknefs and \Yorllilefnefs 
 of External Performances , >^hen com- 
 par'd with more Sublfantial and Vital 
 Duties. To enforce which Dodrine , 
 God hjmfelf is brought in, as delivering 
 B 2 it. 
 
T/;^ Duty of fratfe 
 
 it. Hear^ my Veofle^ And, I will fpe.fk ; 
 Ifrael, and I mil teflifie againfl thee : 
 J am God^ even thy Gnd. The Preface i^ 
 very folemn; and, therefore, what it 
 ufhers in, we may be fare, is ofnocom^ 
 mon Importance. I will not reprove thee 
 for thy Sacrifices^ cr thy Burnt -Offerings^ 
 to have been continually before me. That 
 is, I will not So reprove thee for any fai- 
 lures in thy Sacrifices and Burnt-Offerings, 
 as if Thefe were the Only, or the Chief 
 Things I required of thee. / mil take no BuU 
 lockout of thy houfe^ nor He-goat out of thy 
 folds. I prefcrib'd not Sacrifices to thee, for 
 my Own fake, becaufe I needsd theni : 
 '£or every Beajl of the Foreft is Mine^ and the 
 Cattel upon a thoufund Hills : A4ine they 
 are, and were, before ever I Commanded 
 thee to offer them to Me ; fo that (as it 
 follows) If I rvere hungry^ yet would I not 
 tell thee \ for the world is Mine , and the 
 fulnefs thereof. But can ye be fo grofs 
 and fenflefs, as to think me fiable to 
 Hunger and Thirfl: ? as to imagine that 
 wants of That kind can touch me ? Will 
 I eat the Flejh of Bulls^ or drink the Blood 
 of Goats ? — Thus doth he expoftulate 
 feverely with them, after the mofi: grace- 
 ful manner of the Eafi:ern Poetry. The 
 Iffue of wliich is, a plain and full Refc-. 
 
 lution 
 
and Thanksgivi?jg, j 
 
 lutlon of the Cafe, in thofe few words 
 of the Text. — Ofer unto God Thmkf- 
 gii'tng. Would you do your Homage in 
 the moft agreeable way ? w^ould you ren- 
 der x\\^ nioil: acceptable of Services ? 
 Ofer uf'io God, Th^nkjgivtng, 
 
 The Ufe I intend to make of thefe 
 Words is , from hence to raife fome 
 Thoughts about th.at very excellent and 
 important Duty of Praife and Thankf- 
 giving : A; Subje£l, not unfit to be dif- 
 CDurs'd of, at this Time ; whether we 
 confider, either the more than ordinary 
 Coldnefs that appears of late in mens 
 tempers towards the pradlice of this 
 (or any other) part of a warm and af- 
 fecting Devotion ; the Great Occafion of 
 fetting afide this particular Day in the 
 Kalendar, fome years ago ; or the New 
 Inflances of mercy and goodnefs, which 
 God hath lately been pleas'd to beftow 
 upon us : anfwering at la ft the many 
 Vrajers and F^fiings^ by w^hich wx have 
 befought him fo long for the Eftablilh- 
 ment of their Majefties Throne, and for 
 the Succefs of their Arms ; and giving 
 us, in his own good time, an Opportunity 
 of appearing |)efore him in the more de- 
 lightful part of our Duty, \vith the "joice pf. xlii. 4. 
 B i of 
 
 I 
 
The Duty of Traife 
 
 of Joji An^ Praife , mth a multitude that 
 keep Holy-days, 
 
 Offer unto God Thmkfgivwg Which 
 
 that we may do, let us enquire firft, how 
 we are to Onderflmd this Command of 
 Offering Praife and Thankfgiving \into 
 God ; and then how Reafomble it is, that 
 we fhould Comply with it. 
 
 Our Enquiry into what is meant here, 
 will be very fhort: for who is there, 
 that understands any thing of Religion, 
 but knows, that the offering Praife and 
 Thanks to God implies, our having a lively 
 and devout Senfe of his Excellencies, and of 
 his Benefits ; our recolleding them with 
 Humility and Thankfulnefs of heart ; and 
 our expreffmg thefe Inward Affections by 
 fuitable Outward Signs ; by reverent and 
 lowly Poftures of Body, by Songs, and 
 Hymns, and Spiritual Ejaculations; ei- 
 ther Privately, or Publickly ; either in 
 the Cuftomary and Daily Service of the 
 Church, or in it's more Solemn Affem- 
 blies, conven'd upon Extraordinary Oc- 
 cafions ? This is the Account , which 
 ^very Chriftian eafily gives himfelf of it j 
 and which, therefore, it would be need- 
 lefs to enlarge upon.. I iiall only take 
 
 jiotice 
 
and Than^sgivin^^ 
 
 notice on this head , That Praife and 
 Thankfgiving do, in jftriclners of Speech, 
 fignifie things fomewhat different. Our 
 Fraife properly terminates in God, on the 
 account of his natural Excellencies and 
 Perfe8:ions ; and is that Ael of Devo- 
 tion by which we confefs and admire 
 his feveral Attributes : but Thankfgwirig 
 is a narrower Duty, and Imports only 
 a grateful Senfe and Acknowledgment 
 of paft Mercies. We Praife God for All 
 his glorious Ads, of every kind, that re- 
 gard either Us, or Other men ; for his 
 very Vengeance^ and xXxo^^'Judgments which 
 he fometimes fends Abroad, in the Earth : 
 but we Thank him (properly fpeaking) 
 for the Inlfances of his Good^iejs alone ; 
 and for Such only of thefe as We our 
 felves are feme way concern'd in. This, 
 I fay , is what the two words ftri6lly 
 imply : but fmce the Language of Scrip- 
 ture is generally lefs exact , and ufeth 
 Either of them often to exprefs the 
 Other by ; I fliall not think my felf ob- 
 Hg'd, in what follows, thus nicely al- 
 ways to dilfinguifli them. 
 
 Now the great Reafonahlenefs of this 
 Duty of Praife or Thankfgiving, and our 
 feveral Obligations to it will appear j if 
 
 B 4 we 
 
S The Duty of fraife 
 
 we either conlider it abloUitelj in it felf, 
 as the Debt of our Namres ; or com^dre 
 it with other Duties, srid fhew the Rank 
 it bears among them , or fet out, in the 
 laft place, fome of ir^s peculiar Profer- 
 ties and M-varitages. with regard to the 
 devout Performer ji it. 
 
 if I. The Duty of Praife and Thankf- 
 
 giving, confider'd ahfolutelji in itfelf, is, 
 I fay, the Debt, and Law of our Na- 
 ture. We had fuch Faculties beftow'd 
 on us by our Creator, as made us capa- 
 ble of fatisfying this Debt, and obeying 
 this Law; and they never, therefore, 
 work more naturally and freely than 
 when they are thus employ 'd. 
 
 'Tis one of the earlieft Infl:ru8:ions 
 given us by Philofophy, and which hath 
 ever fmce been approv'd and inculcated 
 by the wifefl: men of all Ages , That the 
 Original Defign of making Man was, 
 that he might Praife and Honour Him 
 who made him. When God had finifht 
 this goodly Frame of things , we call 
 phe World ^ and put together the feve- 
 ral parts of it , accordmg to his infi- 
 nite Wifdom, in exa£l Number, Weight, 
 ^|i4 Meafure-; there v/as ftill wanting 
 
 aCrea- 
 
and Thanks^iVt?}^, n 
 
 a Creature in thefe lower Regions, that 
 could apprehend the Beauty, Order, and 
 exquifite Contrivance of it ; that, from 
 contemplatmg the Gift, might be able 
 to raife it felf up to the great Giver, and 
 do Honour to all his Attributes. E\eiy 
 thing indeed that God made, did, in fome 
 ienfe, glorifie its Author, inafmuch as it 
 carried upon it the plain Mark and Im- 
 prefs of the Deity , and was an Effe61 
 worthy of that firft Caufe from whence it 
 Eiow'd ; and Thus might the Heaue^is 
 be faid , at the lirft moment in which 
 they flood forth, to decLire ha G/orj, a^d P^- xix. i. 
 the Fivmamcrit to Jbeiv his Ha??dy-m)rk ; but 
 this was an imperfeft , and defedive 
 Glory ; the Sign was of no lignification 
 here Below, whiUl there was no one 
 here as yet to take notice of it. Man, 
 therefore, was form'd to fupply this want ; 
 endu'd with Powers fit to find out, and 
 to acknowledge thefe unlimited Perfe- 
 Qions; and then put into this Temple 
 of God, this Lower World, ai^ the Prielt: 
 of Nature, to offer up tlie Incenfe of 
 Thanks and Praife for the mute and the 
 infenfible Part of the Creation. 
 
 This, I fay, hath been the Opinion all 
 along of the moil thoughtful Men^ down 
 
 from 
 
1 o Tl^e Duty of Trai/e 
 
 from the moft ancient Times : And 
 tho' it be not Demonftr? ti ve , yet is it 
 what we cannot but judge highly reaibn- 
 able, if we do but allow, that Man was 
 made for fome End, or other ; and that 
 he is capable of perceiving that End. For 
 then, let us fearch and enquire never 
 fo much, we fhall find no Other Account 
 of him that we can reft upon fo well. 
 If we fay. That he was made purely for 
 the good Pleafure of God ; this is, in ef- 
 fed, to fay, that he was made for no De- 
 terminate End ; or for none, at leaft, thar 
 We can difcern. If we fay. That he was 
 defign'd as an Inftance of the Wifdom, 
 and Power, and Goodnefs of God ; This 
 indeed may be the Reafon of his Bemg 
 in general ; for 'tis the common Reafon 
 of the Being of every thing befides. But 
 it gives no account, why he was made 
 y^c^a Beingas he is, a refleding, thought- 
 ful , inquifitive Being : the particular 
 Reafon of this feems moft aptly to be 
 drawn from the Praife and Honour that 
 was (not only to redound to God from 
 him, but) to be given to God by him. 
 
 This Duty, therefore, is the Debt and 
 Law of our Nature. And it will more 
 diftindly appear to be fuch, if we con- 
 
 fider 
 
and Tl^inksglVtng, 1 1 
 
 {ider the two Ruling Faculties of our 
 Mind, the Under fl an Aing^ and the Will^ 
 apart ; in both which it is deeply found- 
 ed : in the Underftanding , as in the 
 Principle of Reafon, which owms and ac- 
 knowledges it ; in the Will, as in the 
 Fountain of Gratitude and Return, which 
 prompts, and even conftrains us to pay it. 
 
 Reafon was given us as a Rule and 
 Meafure, by the help of which we were 
 to proportion our Eiieem of every thing, 
 according to the Degrees of PerfeQion 
 and Goodnefs w^hich w^e found therein. 
 It cannot, therefore, if it doth it's Ojlice 
 at all , but apprehend God as the beft 
 and moft perfecl: being ; it muft: needs 
 fee, and own, and admire his infinite Per- 
 fedions. And this is wdiat is Ifridlly 
 meant by Praife: wdiich, therefore, is 
 exprefs'd in Scripture by confeffing to God^ 
 and acknowledging liim ; by ajcrihing to 
 him what is his Due : and, as far as This 
 Senfe of the word reaches, 'tis impofTi- 
 ble to think of God without praifing 
 him. For it depends not on the Under- 
 ftanding how it fliall apprehend things, 
 any more than it doth on the E^j^^ how 
 Vifible Obje([ls fliall appear to it. 
 
 Tiie 
 
1 2 T7;e Duty of frai/e 
 
 The Duty takes a farther and iiircr 
 hold of us, by the means of our Willy 
 and that ftrong bent towards Gratitude^ 
 which the Author of our Nature hath 
 implanted in it. There is not a more 
 active Principle than This in the Mind 
 of Man : and, furely that which deferves 
 its utmofl: Force, and fhould fet all it's 
 Springs awork, is God ; the Great and 
 Univerfal Benefactor, from whom alone 
 we received whatever we either have, 
 or are ; and to whom we can pofTibly re- 
 pay nothing but our Praifes, or (to 
 fpeak more properly on this Head, and 
 accordmg to the ftriO: Import of the 
 Rom.xi. Word) our Thankfgivings.. Who hath 
 3U16. fir H give//- to God (faith the , great Apo- 
 ftle, in his ufual Figure) and itjhall be re~ 
 commenced unto him again "^ A Gift, it 
 feems, always requires a Recompence ; 
 Nay, but of him^ and through him^ and to 
 him are all things \ Of him, as the Au- 
 thor ; Through him, as the Preferyer and 
 Governour ; To him, as the End and Per- 
 feQion of all things : to whom, therefore^ 
 (as it follows) he Glory for ever, Amen ! 
 
 Gratitude confilis in an equal Return 
 of Benefits, if we are able ; or of Thanks, 
 if we are not : which Thanks, therefore, 
 muft rife always in Proportion as the 
 
 Fa- 
 
dfid Thanksgiving. i j 
 
 Favours receiv'd are great , and the Re- 
 ceiver incapable of making any other- 
 Sort of Requital. Now, fince no Man 
 hath benefitted God, at any time, and yet 
 every Man, in each Moment of his Life, 
 is continually benefitted by him ; what 
 flrong Obligations mull we needs be un- 
 der to Thank him ? 'Tis true, our 
 Thanks are really as iniignificant to Him, 
 as any other Kind of Return would be : 
 in themfelves indeed they are worth- 
 lefs ; but his Goodnefs hath put a Value 
 upon them : He hath declar'd, he will 
 accept them, in lieu of the vaft Debt we 
 owe : and, after that, which is fitteft for 
 us, to difpute how they come to be taken 
 as an Equivalent^ or to pay them ? 
 
 It is, therefore, the Voice of Nature 
 (as far as Gratitude it felf is fo) that the 
 Good Things, we receive from above, 
 ■fliould be fent back again thither in 
 Thanks and Praifes, as the Rivers run in- Ecd.i. 7. 
 to the Sex'^ to thePUce (the Ocean of Be- 
 neficence) from whence the Rivers come^ 
 thither fhould they return again, 
 
 11. We have confiderM the Duty ahfo- H. 
 lutely ; we are now to compare it with 
 Others, and to fee what Rank it bears 
 JUJiong them. And here we (hall find, 
 
 that. 
 
J 4 The Duty of fprai/e 
 
 tliat,among all the A£ls of Religion,imme- 
 diately addrefs'd to God, This is much the 
 Noblell, and moft Excellent ; as it mufl; 
 needs be, if what hath been laid down be 
 allowM, that the End of Man's Creation 
 was, to praife and glorifie God. For 
 That cannot but be the moft noble and 
 excellent A61 of any Being, which beft an- 
 fwers the End and Defign of it. Other 
 parts of Devotion, fuch as Confeffion and 
 Prayer^ feem not Originally to have been 
 defignM for Man, nor Man for Them : 
 they imply Guilty and Want^ with which 
 t\\t State of Innocence was not acquainted. 
 Had Man continu'd in that Eftate, his 
 "Worfliip (like the Devotions of Angels) 
 had been paid to Heaven in pure Ads of 
 Thankfgiving ; and nothing had been left 
 for him to do, beyond the enjoying the 
 Good things of Life, as Nature direded, 
 and praifmg the God of Nature who be- 
 ftowM them. But being fallen from Inno- 
 cence, and Abundance ; having contract- 
 ed Guilt, and forfeited his Right to all 
 forts of Mercies ; Prayer and Confeffion 
 became neceffary for a time, to retrieve 
 the Lofs, and reftore him to that State, 
 wherein he fhould be able to live with- 
 out them. 1 hefe are fitted, therefore, 
 for a lower Difpenfation j before which, 
 
 in 
 
and TbanksgiVmgl 1 c 
 
 la Paradife, there was nothing but Praife, 
 and after which, there fhall be nothing 
 but that, in Heaven. Our perfeQ State 
 did at firft, and will at laft confift in 
 the Performance of this Duty; and 
 herein, therefore, lies the Excellence and 
 the Honour of our Nature. 
 
 'Tis the fame way of Reafoning, by 
 which the Apoftle hath given the prefe- 
 rence to Charity, beyond Faith, and 
 Hope, and every Spiritual Gift. Charity i Cor.xiii, 
 never faileFh^ faith he ; meaning, that it ^' 
 is not a Vertue ufeful only in This Life, 
 but will accompany us alfo into the 
 Next : hut whether there be Prophefies , 
 they jh all fail ; whether there be Tongues^ they 
 Jhall ceafe ; whether there be J^/wwiedge^ tt 
 /ball vamfh away : thefe are Gifts of a 
 Temporary Advantage, and fhall all pe- 
 rifli in the ufmg. For we know in fart , ver. ?; 
 and. we prophejie in part : Our prefent State 
 is imperfe£l ; and, therefore, what belongs 
 to That, and only That, muft be im- 
 perfeft too. But when that which is Per- ver. lo. 
 fe^ is corne^ then that which is in part fjjall 
 he done away. The Argument of St. Paul^ 
 we fee, which fets Charity above the reft 
 of Chriftian Graces , will give Praife 
 alfo the Pre-eminence over all other 
 Parts of Chriftian Worfliip ; and we may 
 
 con- 
 
i6 The f)uty of^raife 
 
 concIii(ie Our reafoning, therefore, as He 
 doth His : yi»d now ahideth Confejjion , 
 'Prayer;^ and Praife^ thefe three ; hut the 
 ^reatesi of thefe is Praife, 
 
 It is fo, certainly, on other Accounts, 
 as well as this ; particularly, as it is the 
 moft dtfmterefted branch of our Religi- 
 ous Service ; fuch as hath the moft of 
 God, and the leaft of our Selves in it, of 
 any we pay ; and therefore approaches 
 the neareft of any to a pure, and free, and 
 perfect AQ of Homage. For, though a 
 good A8ion doth not grow immediately 
 worthlefs by being done with the Pro- 
 fpeQ: of Advantage, as Some have ftrange- 
 ly imagin'd ; yet it will be allow'd , I 
 fuppofe, that its being done without the 
 Mixture of that End, or with as little of 
 it as is poffible, recoftimends it fo much 
 the more, and raifes the Price of it. Doth 
 Job i. 5?. JqIj j-^^y Qq^ j-'^jr j^Qiigijt ? y^2LS an Obje« 
 
 clion of Satan, which imply'd, that thofe 
 Duties were moft valuable, where our 
 own Intereft was leaft aim'd at : And 
 God feems, by the CommifTion he then 
 gave Satan to try Experiments upon Johy 
 thus far to have allow'd his Plea. Now, 
 our Requefts for future, and even our 
 Acknowledgments of paft Mercies centre 
 purely in our felves ; our own Intereft is 
 
 the 
 
and Thanksgiving. 1 7 
 
 the dire£l Aim of them. But Praife is a 
 generous and unmercenary Principle , 
 which propofes no other End to itfelf, 
 but to do, as is fit for a Creature en- 
 dow'd with fuch Facukies to do, to- 
 wards tlie moft perfed and beneficent 
 of Beings ; and to pay the wilHng Tri- 
 bute of Honour there, where the Voice 
 of Reafon direfts us to pay it/ God 
 hath indeed anne^'d a Blefling to the 
 Duty ; and when, w^e know this, we 
 cannot chufe, while we are performing 
 the Duty, but have fome Regard to 
 the BlefTing which belongs to it. Plow- 
 ever, that is not the direct Aiip of our 
 Devotions, nor was it the lirfi: Motive 
 that flirr'd us up to them. Had it been 
 fo, we fliould naturally have betaken 
 our felves to Prayer, and breath'd out 
 our Defires in That Form wherein, 
 they are moft properly convey'd. 
 
 In fliort, Praife is our moll: Excel- 
 lent Work ; a Work common to the 
 Church Triumphant and Militant, and 
 which lifts us up into a Communion 
 and FellowHiip with Angels. The Mat- 
 ter, about which it is converfant, is al- 
 ways the Perfedions of God's Nature ; 
 and tl:ke Ad it felf is the Perfefticii of 
 Ours. , . 
 
 c rir;r 
 
I 8 The Duty offralfe 
 
 III. I come now, in the laft place^ 
 to fet out fome of its peculiar Properties 
 and Ad'vantages^ which recommend it to 
 the Devout Performer. And, 
 
 i/. It is the moft pleajlng part of our 
 Devotions. It proceeds always from 2i 
 Lively Chearful Temper of Mind ; and! 
 it cheriflies, and improves what it pro- 
 pf. cxlvii. ceeds from. For it is good to ftng Fraijes 
 *• unto our God^ (fays one, whofe Expe- 
 rience in this Cafe, we may rely up- 
 on) for it is pleaftntj and Pratfe is come-* 
 ly. Petition and ConfefHon are the Lan- 
 guage of the Indigent, and the Guilty ; 
 the breathings of a fad and a contrite Spi- 
 ames v. rit : Is any affliBed ? let him fray : but, 
 1 1- is any merry ? let him fmg PJalms. The 
 niofl: ufual and natural way of mens 
 • exprelTing the Mirth of their Hearts, 
 is, in a Song : and Songs are the very 
 Language of Praife ; to the exprefling 
 of which they are in a peculiar man- 
 ner appropriated, and are fcarce of any 
 other Ufe in Religion. Indeed, the whole 
 Compofition of this Duty is fuch, as 
 throughout fpeaks Eafe and Delight to 
 the Mind. It proceeds from Love^ and 
 from Thmkfulnejs ; from Love^ the Foun- 
 tain of rieafure, the PalTion, wliich gives 
 
 every 
 
and TlwiksgiVing. i 
 
 every tiling we do, or enjoy, its Relifli 
 and Agreeablenefs. From Thankfulnefs^ 
 which involves in it the Mernory of 
 paft Benefits; the a6lual Prefence of 
 them to the Mind , and the repeated 
 Enjoyment of them. And as its Prin-- 
 cipie is, fuch is its E^d alfo. For it 
 prociireth Qtiiet and Eafe to the Mind, 
 by doing fomewhat towards fatisfying 
 that Debt which it labours mider ; by 
 dehvering it of thofe Thoughts ofPraile 
 and Gratitude , th'ofe Exultations it is 
 fo full of; and which would grow mi- 
 eafie and troublefome to it, if they were 
 kept in. If the Thankful refrain'*d^ it 
 would be Pdin and. Grief to the??i : but 
 then, then is their Soul fat iff d as with pf kiii ;, 
 Marrow and Fatnefs , when their Mouth 
 fraifeth God with fojful Lips. 
 
 2. It is another dilfinguiflijng Pro- 
 perty of Divine Praife, that it enlargeth 
 the Powers and Capacities of our Souls ; 
 turning them from little and low things, 
 Upon their GreateR and Nobleit Ob- 
 ject, the Divine Nature ; and employ- 
 ing them in the Difcovery and Admi- 
 ration of thofe feveral Perfedions that 
 adorn it. We fee, whc^.t dilferenct^ there' 
 is between Man and Man ; fucli' ,^ as' 
 there is hardly greater between Man, 
 I C 2' and 
 
The Duty of fraife 
 
 and Bead:: And this proceeds chiefly 
 from the different Sphere of thought 
 v.-jiich they act in , and the different 
 Obiects they converfe with. The Mind 
 is Kffentially the fame in the Feafant 
 and the Prince ; the forces of it natu- 
 rally equal in the untaught man, and 
 the Philofopher : only the One of thefe 
 is bufied in mean Affairs , and within 
 narrower Bounds, the Other exercifes 
 himfelf in things of weight and mo- 
 ment ; and This it is that puts the 
 wide diftance bet\A'een them. Noble 
 Objeds are to the Mind, what the Sun- 
 beams are to a Bud, or Flower : They 
 open and unfold, as it were, the Leaves 
 of it ; put it upon exerting and fpread- 
 ing it felf every way ; and call forth 
 all thofe Powers, that lie hid and lock\i 
 up in' it.' The Praife and Admiration 
 of' God, therefore, brings this A^dvan- 
 rage along with it, that it fets our Fa- 
 culties upon their full Stretch, and im- 
 pi-oves them to all the Degrees of Per- 
 ieciion, of M'hicli they are capable. 
 
 q. It, farther, promotes in us an ex- 
 quifite Senfe of God's Honour, and an 
 high Indignation of mind at every thing 
 that openly profmes it. For what we 
 value and delight in, we cannot v/ith 
 
 Pa- 
 
 \ 
 
2 I 
 
 ojid Thank.sziVin<^. 
 
 patience hear (lighted, or abus'd. Our 
 Own Praifes, \v:hich we are coriihintlv 
 putting up , will be a Spur to us to- 
 ^\arcl prccaring and pronioting the Di- 
 vine Glory in every Other inilance ; ajid 
 will make us let our Faces againfl all 
 open and avow'd Impieties. V/Jiijh , 
 methinks , iliould be confider'd a litilc 
 by fucli as would be tliought not to 
 be wanting in this Duty, and yet are 
 often filent under the Ibulcil difhoiioiu^ 
 done to Religion, and its great Author. 
 For, ttimely to hear God's Name arid 
 Worlliip vility'd by Others, is no very 
 good Argument, that M'e have been li^d 
 to Honour and Reverence him in good 
 earneft. Our felves. 
 
 ^,. It Will, beyond all this, work u\ 
 us a deep Humility, and Coniciouhiefs 
 of our own ImperfeQions. Upon a fre- 
 quent Attention to God and his Attri- 
 butes, we fliall ealily difcover our owu 
 Weaknefs and Emptinefs ; Our fu el- 
 ling thoughts of our felves will abate, 
 and we Ihall fee and teel, that we are 
 altogether lighter , to be laid in the bal- Pf, \ 
 Urice^ than Vanity. And This is a Lef- 
 fon, which, to the greateil: part of Man- 
 kind, is, I think, very well worth learn- 
 ing. We arc naturally Prefumptuous ar.d 
 vJ ^ Vain 
 
11 The Duty ofj^iaife 
 
 Vain ; full of Ourfelves, and regardlefs 
 of every thing belides : Efpeclally, when 
 feme little Outward Priviledges diftin- 
 guifh Us from the reft of Mankind ; 
 then, 'tis odds, but we look into Our- 
 felves with great degrees of Compla- 
 prov.xxvi. cency ; and are ^vifer (and better every 
 ^^.' way) //^ our own Conceipt than fe^uen 
 Mcn^ that cm render a, Reafon, Now no- 
 thing will contribute fo much to the 
 Cure of this Vanity as a due Atten- 
 tion to God's Excellencies, and Perfe- 
 6lions : by comparing Thefe withThofe 
 which, we imagine, belong to us, we 
 Rom. xii. jliall learn , not to think of our fehes 
 3- more highly than we ought to think of our 
 fehes , hut to think foberly ; We fhall 
 find more fatisfadion in looking up- 
 wards , and humbling our felves before 
 our common Creator, than in cafting 
 our eyes downwards with Scorn upon 
 our Fellow-Creatures, and fetting at 
 nought any part of the Work of his 
 Hands, The vaft diftance we are at 
 from Real and Infinite Worth will a- 
 ftonifli us fo mucli, that we fhall not 
 be tempted to value Our felves upon 
 thofe leffer Degrees of Pre-eminence, 
 which Cuftom, or Opinion, or fome little 
 accidental Advantages have given Us 
 over other Men, 50 I 
 
and 71wil{spvin^, ij 
 
 5. I fhall mention but one Ufe of it 
 more, and 'tis This ; That a confcien- 
 tious Praife of God will keep Us back 
 from all faife and mean Praifes, all Ful- 
 fom and Servile Flatteries, fuch as are 
 in life among Men. Praifing , as 'tis 
 commonly manag'd, is nothing elfe but 
 a Tryal of Skill upon a Man , how 
 many good Things we can pofTibly fay 
 of him. All the Treafuries of Oratory 
 are ranfack'd , all the fine things that 
 ever were faid are heap'd together, for 
 his iiike; and No matter, whether it 
 belongs to him, or not ; fo there be but 
 enough on't. Which is one deplorable 
 Inlfance, among a thoufaml, of the Bafe- 
 nefs of humane Nature, it's fmall re- 
 gard to Truth and Juftice ; to Right, 
 or Wrong ; to what is, or is not to 
 be prais'd. But He, who hath a deep 
 Senfe of the Excellencies of God upon 
 his Heart, will make a God of nothing 
 befides. He will give every One his 
 jull Encomium, Honour where Honour 
 is due, and as much as is due ; bccaufe 
 it is his Duty to do fo: but the Ho- 
 nour of God will fuffer him to go no 
 farther. Which Rule, if it had been 
 obferv'd, a Neighbouring Prince, (who 
 Jiow, God be thanked, needs Flattery 
 C 4 fouie* 
 
The Duty of Tratje 
 
 fomewhat more than ever he did) would 
 have wanted a great deal of that In- 
 cenfe v/hich hath been' offered up to 
 him by his Adorers. 
 
 Upon thefe Grounds doth the Duty 
 of Praife ftand, and theie are the Ob- 
 ligations that' bind us to the Perfor- 
 mance of it. -Tis the End of our Be- 
 ing, and the very Rule and Law of 
 Our ?Tature; flowing from the Two 
 great Fountains of humane Acliion, the 
 ■Underftanding and the Will, naturally, 
 and alm'ofi: riecefllirily. It is the moft 
 Excellent part of our Religious Wor- 
 ship ; enduring to Eternity, after the reft 
 iliall be do^^e away ; and pay'd even Now 
 in the frankeft manner, with the leaft re- 
 gard ' to ' our own Intereft. ' It recom- 
 mends it felf to us by feveral peculiar 
 Properties, and Advantages ; ' as it car- 
 ries rnore^Pleafure in it, than all other 
 Kinds of Devotion ; as it enlarges and 
 exalts the feveral Powers of the Mind ; 
 as it "breeds in us an exqiiifite Senfe of 
 of God's Llonour, and a Willingnefs to 
 proiriote* it in the World: as it teaches 
 us to be Humble and Lowly Our felves • 
 and 'yet prefcrves us from bafe and for- 
 tei:^i ; ^- ; -^ '■■'•■'-•''•' ^ did 
 
and Thanksgiving. 2 j 
 
 did FJattery, from beftowing mean and 
 undue Praifes upon Others. 
 
 IV. I fliall now fliut up the Arguing 
 part of this Difcourfc, with a fhort Ap- 
 plication to Two forts of Perfons ; the 
 Carelefs, and th.e Profane ; One of which 
 NegleQs the Pra6lice of fo Important a 
 Duty, the Otlier Uves in an open Defi- 
 ance of it. 
 
 A Negleci in this Cafe, doth certainly 
 involve in it a very high Degree of Guilt 
 and Folly : for 'tis ( we fee ) the Neg- 
 lect of our Duty, and Honour, our In- 
 terefi:,-and our Pleafure, all at once. 'Tis 
 to omit doing that, which we were pur- 
 poieiy fent into the World to do; and 
 withoiit doing \\'hich, all the other Af- 
 fairs of Life are but one continued Im- 
 pertinence ; That, which we have fo ma- 
 ny Obligations to do^ and no Excufe for 
 leaving irndpne ; fince Praife is within 
 every Man's Reach ; there is no one but 
 hath it in his Power, to be Thankful. 
 
 God commianded the "Jews to acknow- 
 ledge his Sovereignty and Beneficence, by 
 Sacrifices ; a Coilly and a Troublefome 
 way ofWorllnp. Of Us he requires on- 
 ly the Cheap and Eafie Offering of Our 
 
 Thanks 
 
i6 The Duty of fraife 
 
 Thanks and Praifes — -* and fhall we not 
 pay it ? Alas ! \we do not ! Every thing 
 proves an hindrance to us in the way 
 to this our Bounden Duty and Service : 
 AVe are too idle, or too bufie to attend 
 upon it. And even vi^hen we find Leifure 
 enough ; yet how cold and how infenlible 
 
 MattK XV. are we, whilft 'tis going forward ! We 
 * draw nigh unto him with our Mouths ^ and 
 Honour him with our Lips ( perhaps ) ; 
 hut our Hearts are far from him. And 
 do we then knov7, what it is to praile 
 God becomingly? Do we remember, 
 how the great Teacher of Thankfgi- 
 ving fummons up every One of his Fa- 
 culties to aflift him in it ? Blefs the Lord 
 
 pf.ciii I. Q jfiy Soul I and all that is within me^ 
 blefs his holy Name ! 'Tis a Work that 
 will employ all that is within us ^ will 
 call for all the Application, and Vigor, 
 and Warmth that we can poflibly be- 
 <ftow upon it. Cold, and languid Praife, 
 is no Praife ; this Sacrifice can be no lon- 
 ger acceptable than 'tis burning. 
 
 To thofeMen, who live in the Qon^ 
 temp of this Duty, we have alfo fome- 
 what to fay, if they would but hear us. 
 They are generally fuch, as pretend a 
 high {'^vSq of the Dignity of humane Na- 
 ture, 
 
and Tl^ank^sgiVnig. ty 
 
 ture, and bear no fmall refpeO: to their 
 own Underftandings. Now, though O- 
 ther Parts of ReHgious Worfhip mould 
 happen to be too mean and low for fuch 
 great Minds to take up with; yet This, 
 methinks, might deferve to be thought 
 Equal to them. Let ConfediOn and 
 Prayer go only for the Arts of Whi- 
 ning and Begging, and be as much be- 
 neath them as they imagine, yet fure- 
 ly Praiie hath fomewhat in it fo great 
 and fo noble as may invite them to 
 pra£lile it. 'Tis a Subjed fit for the 
 moft cnlargM Capacities to dwell on ; 
 and fuch an one, as even Thofe would 
 certainly find themfelves rais'd and im- 
 prov'd by. 
 
 If it were pofTible for Thefe Men to 
 have a Relifli of any thing in this Kind, 
 we would defire them to make the Trial; 
 to take the Hymn, call'd Te Deum^ into 
 their Hands, and to read it attentively ; 
 and then tell us truly, whether they did 
 not find their Minds fill'd, and their Af- 
 feftions ftrangely rais'd by the Images 
 which there occurred to them ; Whether 
 they did not perceive themfelves to be 
 fomewhat above themfelves, whilft they 
 were perufing it. And thefe Efiects, of 
 which every' Man, who joins in tliat 
 
 Hymn, 
 
V^e Duty of fraifc 
 
 Hymn, muft be fenfible, are owing tij 
 that Majeflick Plainnefs and Simplici- 
 ty of Thought which goes through it, 
 Unadorn'd by Words, Unenliven'd by 
 Figures 1 'Tis the Matter alone which 
 fupports the Expreflion : And becaufe 
 the Matter therein contain'd, is, the Ex- 
 cellencies of the Divine Nature, the pure 
 and genuine Objefts of Praife, therefore 
 is the Hymn itfelf fo lofty and mo- 
 ving. 
 
 But alas ! we fpeak in vain ! The 
 Men, who are bold enough to flight a 
 Duty of this Rank and Charader, will 
 eafily flight every thing that can be 
 offered to bring them to it. All we 
 can fay to them is, that, a^ God made 
 them for his Glory, fo he will certain- 
 ly ferve the Ends of that Glory upon 
 them ; one way, or another. And, there- 
 fore, if they will not freely Praiie him 
 for his Goodnefs in this \Voi-ld , they 
 fliall furely,' whether they \yill or no, 
 contribute to the Praife of his Juftice 
 in the Next. 
 
 V. Thus have I attempted to De- 
 fcribe this Duty , to fet out the great 
 Reafonableriefs ^ and to ftir You up to 
 the Practice of it. And , certainly , it 
 
was never more reafonable, than on This 
 Occafion, when we commemorate fuch 
 Pall, and feel fuch Prefent Mercies. The 
 Rello ration of tlie Monarchy , and off 
 ail thofe BleiTings in Church and State, 
 tliat came back with it; tlie Re-efta- 
 blifhment of the Bc.tutj of Pr.tife in our 
 Sanftuary; the Return of Peace and 
 Plenty, of Learning, and all the Arts 
 of Civil Life ; the Reducing us from 
 C^onfufion and Rage into Order and 
 Friendlinefs, and making Us a Nation 
 at Unity in it felf ; Lovely at home, 
 and Terrible abroad : Thefe were fuch 
 found and fublfantial Bleffings , as will 
 wear well ; and, though done a great 
 while ago, will yet deferve a great while 
 hence a Place in our Calendars. Nei- 
 ther Love to our Country, nor the Ho- 
 nour we bear to Thofe who Rule over 
 Us ; neither Our Gratitude to God, nor 
 our Good-\\'ill towards Men will fufler 
 fuch Wonders of Providence to Hip out 
 of our Minds : or the Day, in which they 
 were brought about, eafily to grow Old 
 upon Us. 
 
 The Benefits, we then receiv'd, were 
 indeed exceeding great, and would juil:- 
 ly claim a larger fliare in our Prefent 
 Reflexions; iiad not the Goodnefs o't 
 
 God 
 
 k. 
 
3© The Duty of Trai/e 
 
 God taken off our Thoughts a little 
 from tliat Subjeft, by calling us to the 
 Acknowledgment of New Loving Kind- 
 neffes. For, behold, what Glorious Things 
 the Lord hath again wrought for Us! 
 BlefTing Their Majeliies Forces with a 
 great and fignal ViQory over the moft 
 haughty and infblent of Enemies: A 
 ViQory, fo Early, fo Compleat, and fo 
 Cheaply purchas'd, that we have fome 
 Reafon to hope, it may fix the Fortune 
 of the War, and put an End to the De- 
 flrudions of the Deftroyer ; to whom, 
 we truft, God hath now faid, as to the 
 Job' ., Sea it felf, — Hitherto Jha/t Thou comty but 
 xxxviii. no fAYther \ ancLHere (hall thy froud Waves 
 be ftay^d, 
 
 Bleffed be God; who did not utterly 
 caft out our Prayers, and our Supplica- 
 tions ; but delay'd only to anfwer them,- 
 till a Day of Salvatioriy till an acceptable 
 Titne^ when the Mercy would be dearef 
 to Us, and his Goodnefs more remar- 
 kably ^ttn in beftowing it ! WJien we 
 were alarm'd with Invalioni from abroady 
 and Confpiracies at home; when men 
 threatned to fallow m uf quick \ when' 
 Succefs was now fo requifite to prcferve 
 the Honour of the Nation, to fupport 
 Their Majcftics Throne,and to ftrengt hen 
 
 rhe 
 
 II. 
 
and Thanksgiving. ^ I 
 
 the Hands of Their Allies : Then did 
 He appear, and own Our Caufe ; Then 
 was the God of Hofts our Strength, 
 and our Shield. Surely, There is no End, 
 of that Good/iefsy which continues rhus to 
 purfue us; which vouchfafes to efta- 
 blifli to Us, and to our Pofterity thofe 
 BIe(!ings, under which we have been fo 
 unthankful, and fo ingrateful already! 
 and to give us frefli Opportunities of 
 Praife, which I hope we lliall make bet- 
 ter ufe of 1 
 
 Let us, therefore, Offer unto God Thankf- 
 giving ; and not That only, but Ourfeives 
 alfo, our Souls and Bodies j to be a. Reafond'-^ 
 ble^ Holy J and Lively Sacrifice : Let us ren- 
 der him the Fruit of our Lips , and the 
 Obeditnce of our Lives, that thefe Blef- 
 fmgs may not prove a Curfe to us ; but 
 that He may llill be Our God, and we 
 may be His People. 
 
 To him J with the Son^ and the Holy Ghofi^ 
 be all Honour^ Praife and Glory ^ hence-^ 
 forth and for Evermore. Amen. 
 
 The 
 
n 
 
 Tlie fotver of Charity to CoVer Sin, 
 
 S E RM ON 
 
 Preach'd before the 
 
 Prefident and Governours 
 
 Of the HOSPITALS of 
 
 bridewell and ^ethtehem^ 
 
 I N 
 
 S(IlIDEfVELL'CBJTEL, 
 JVGVST16. 1694. 
 
 I St. PETER iv. 8. 
 Charity Jhall Cover the multitude of Sins. 
 
 SO D be thanked, the frequent Re- 
 turns of fuch Pious Meetings as 
 , in this Rich andCharitable CITY, 
 have made the General Argument of 
 D eHA« 
 
J 4 The Tower of Charity 
 
 CHARITY, the Nature and Chief Pro- 
 perties, the feveral Grounds and Reafons 
 of this Duty fo well underftood, that, 
 to Entertain You with a Difcourfe at 
 large on that Subject, would be a very 
 needlefs and ufelefs Attempt. So many 
 Eminent Pens have gone before, in This 
 Way, as have left it very difficult for 
 tliofe who come after either to fay any 
 thing which I'hey have not faid, or not 
 to fay That much worfe, which They 
 hxve. 
 
 Upon This Account ; and becaufe, in- 
 deed, I take General Difcourfes, for the 
 moft part , to be like Large ProfpeQs , 
 where the Eye is loft by the wide Com- 
 pafs It takes, and fees fo many things 
 at once , that it fees nothing diftindly ; 
 I have chofen at prefent to point Your 
 Thoughts only on One Particular Pro- 
 perty of this Great Vertue, which hath 
 been not often handled, I think ; and 
 even Then, not always well underftood : 
 It is That which the Apoftle St. Peter 
 propofeth to Us in thofe few words I 
 
 have read to You QhArity Jhall Cover 
 
 the multitude of Sins, 
 
 Few as they are, they will fufficiently 
 employ our Thoughts at this time, if 
 we confider, in the tirfi 
 
to CoVer Shu 
 
 35 
 
 Firfi- place, the feveral Explications L 
 that have been given of them, and fa- 
 tisfie our felves, which of Thefe ouglit 
 to take place. If, 
 
 Secondly , We fi-ec That One True H^ 
 Genuine Meaning of the Words from 
 the Exceptions which lye againfl: it. If, 
 
 Thirdly^ We eftabliHi the Truth laid IIL 
 down upon its Proper Grounds and Rea- 
 fons. And if. 
 
 Fourthly^ We make fome few ufeful De- IV. 
 duftions from it. 
 
 After this is done, the little Time y^ 
 that is left will properly be fpent in 
 Applying what hath been faid more 
 immediately to the Occafion o'i This 
 Prefent AfTembly. 
 
 Charity fjjall Cover the multitude of Sins, J,- 
 There is fcarce any man, I believe, 
 who hears thefe Words, that is not rea- 
 dy to frame to himfelf This Senfe of 
 them ; " That the Vertue of Charity 
 " is of fo great price in tlie Sight of 
 ^* God, that Thofe Perfons, who poiTefs 
 " and exercife it in any Eminent man- 
 " ner, are peculiarly Entituled to the 
 ^* Divine Favour and Pardon, with re- 
 *^ gard to numberlefs Slips and Fail- 
 " ings in their Duty, which they 
 D 'I ^^ moy 
 
3 6 The (power of Charity 
 
 '^ may be Otherwife guilty of: this 
 ^^ Great Chriftian Perfedion, of which 
 " they are Ma Iters , fliall make many 
 " Little Imperfections to be over-look'd 
 " and unobferv'd ; it fhall Coz'er the mul- 
 " tituAe of Sins. 
 
 This, I fay , is the account, which 
 every man naturally gives himfelf of 
 thefe Words, at his firft hearing them ; 
 and it is for That very Reafon proba- 
 bable, that This is the True and Ge- 
 nuine account of them. For, fuppofmg 
 the Original Text to be w^ell and clear- 
 ly render'd in our Verfion , it will, I 
 am of opinion, be found, that That Senfe 
 of any PalTage, which, after attending 
 to the Force of the Words, and to their 
 Coherence with what goes before, and 
 what follows, Firff occurs to the Mind, 
 is generally the Juftell: and Trueft. 
 
 This hath not however been always 
 thought a Good Rule in the prefent 
 Cafe. For leveral Pious, and fome Ju- 
 dicious men, finding the Words, in their 
 plain and familiar meaning , to carry 
 ibmewhat of a fufpicious found with 
 them, and to border a little (as They 
 Thought) on the Papal Dodrine o{ Works 
 Meriiorwus^ have, therefore, taken fome 
 Pains to give a Different Interpetation 
 
 of 
 
to Cover Sin. j7 
 
 of them. I fliall offer, firft, to your view 
 fome of thefe miftaken Senfes , e'er I 
 come to confider That which, I think, 
 was intended by St. Peter ; becaufe Each 
 of thefe doth certainly propofe a Clear 
 and Appofice Truth to us, tho' perhaps 
 not truly drawn from the Pailage now 
 before us. 
 
 F/V/?, then, the Words have been un- 
 derftood to contain an account of that 
 particular Inll:ance of Charity, which 
 we call Good-Nnture : by which we pals 
 by little Slights and Injuries, interpret 
 things in the Beft lenfe, are not apt to 
 take, or return an Aflront, not forwaid 
 to publifli, or believe an ill Report of 
 any One: by which we turn our eyes 
 always toward the Bell: fide of a man, 
 and chufe rather to look on his Ver- 
 tues, than his Failures; and by which 
 we conllantly inter pofe our Good Offi- 
 ces, where-ever, we think, they ma)' be 
 Serviceable, either to the compofing Old 
 Differences, or preventing New ones. 
 
 And This Senfe is grounded upon a 
 fuppos'd Relation there is between Thefe 
 Words in St. Peter, and Thofe in the 
 Proverbs ; Hate fitrretb up Strifes , but proy. x. 
 Love covereth nil Sms. Now, tho' in- li.* 
 D 3 dQQd^ 
 
o 
 
 The Tower of Charity 
 
 dctdy in Our Trar/flatio^^ there is fome 
 
 Similitude between the words of the 
 
 Text, and this PalTage in the Proverbs ; 
 
 yet, as it lyes in the Septua^jnt-Verfion 
 
 (which the ApolHes made ufe of), it 
 
 bears no fuch Refemblance to the Text 
 
 as may make it probable that the One 
 
 ought to be Expounded by the Other, 
 
 On the contrary it deferves obfcrvation, 
 
 !^ KctKvTr- that , where ever the Greek Phrafe *, 
 
 ^eiv ciy.cip- ^yhich is here tranflated by Cover r/7gSw^ 
 
 -tseepf. occurs in Scripture, it confbantly f fig- 
 
 Ixxxiv.i. nifies that Pardon of Sin which proceeds 
 
 r.'and^Ne- ^^^"^ God ^ not any Inftances of Good 
 
 hem. iy, 5. Nature and Forgiyenefs exercifeid by 
 
 Men] 
 
 We may farther obferve, that This 
 Senfe of the V/ords is by no means full 
 enough to bear the Weight of that 
 emphatic and folemn Preface with which 
 the Apoftle introduces them : but above 
 all things (fays He, in the Words imme- 
 diately before the Text) have fervent 
 Charity among your fclves : for Charity jh all 
 Cover th? multitude of Sins, "Eh,7zv» dfctTrlwy 
 intenfe, or fervent Charity muft fignifie 
 fomewhat more than the bare A6ls and 
 QiEces of Good-Nature, If they, to 
 whom the Apoif le wrote, w^ere above 4II 
 things to have fervent Charity among 
 
 them- 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
to Cover Sin. 59 
 
 themfelves, it could not be for This 
 Reafon, becaufe Charity would render 
 them inolTenfive towards Others, and 
 not eafie to be oBended Themfelves. 
 For tho' This be a commendable De- 
 gree of Vertue, and very fit to be en- 
 joyn'd, becaufe not frequently praftis'd ; 
 yet can it not deferve that peculiar Em- 
 phafis and Strefs which is here laid up- 
 on it. Efpecially, if we confider it as fuc- 
 ceeding the mention of thofe more im- 
 portant and necetfary Duties, to w^hich 
 the Apoftle exhorts them in the pre- 
 ceeding Verfe, the being fober^ and natclj- 
 ing unto Prayer : Above all w^hich , it 
 cannot be fuppos'd , that the Duty of 
 converfmg with one another according 
 to the Rules of Good-Nature and Gentle- 
 ness fliould be enjoyn'd. 
 
 The Words, therefore, have, in the 
 Second place, been thus alfo interpreted. 
 Charity jhall Cover the multitude of SinSj 
 that is, fays the excellent Grotim-^ it will 
 have a mighty Influence towards re- 
 claiming Sinners from the Errour of 
 their Ways ; the Confequence of which 
 is, That the Sins of Men thus reclaim'd, 
 are pardon'd, or cover'd. Charity, which 
 is an exalted Love of God and our 
 D 4 Neigh- 
 
4© Tl:^e Tower of Chanty 
 
 Neighbour, will make us induftrious in 
 procuring Glory to the One , by the 
 Salvation of the Other. It will create 
 a mighty Zeal for the Intereils of Ver- 
 tue, and the Honour of the Gufpel, and 
 the Good of Souls ; and it will run 
 through all the DiiBculties that lie in 
 the way towards fo good an End, with 
 Readinefs and Pleafure. It will not be 
 frighten'd from making Attempts even 
 on Thofe of the firft Rank in Wicked- 
 nefsj the Worft and moft Hardned of 
 Men ; becaufe it knows, that Their Re- 
 volt from Sin to Vertue ( if it can be 
 con;pafs'd ) will be of mighty Confe- 
 quence to Religion, and will probably 
 (draw whole Troops of Common Sin- 
 ners along with it : The Senfe they 
 have of their Own Sins being cover'd, 
 will make Them alfo eager, in their turn, 
 to cover thofe of Other Men. 
 
 This is a very Good and Pious Senfe 
 of the Words, but ( I believe, it will 
 be allow'd me) no very Eafie and Na- 
 tural One : they muft be rack'd e'er 
 they can be brought to conf^fs This 
 Meaning. Hov/ever it was what that 
 Learned Perfon was led into by a for- 
 mer E)jpiication lie had made of a Pa- 
 rallel place in SuJ^meSj which I fliall 
 i«v;f, ^..,-^\ ,. ; crave 
 
to Cover 5m.' 4 1 
 
 crave leave to produce at length, and 
 to eomment upon, becaufe I take it to 
 be the Kfy o( the Text, which eafily 
 and readily lets us into the True fenfe of 
 it. Breth? eri (fiysSt.J ames^ at the Con-jamcsv, 
 ckifion of his F.pifl:Ie) // a^/y One of Tou ^9y^o, 
 do Err from the Truth^ and One Conojert 
 himj Ut him knoiv^ that he which con'vert- 
 eth a. Sinner from the Errour of his ways^ 
 fba/I ftve a Soul from Death, and (ha/i hide 
 A Mult nude of Sms, He intended to fliut 
 up his Epilfle with recommending to 
 them One of the moll important and 
 ufeful Vertues , That of endeavouring 
 the Converfion and Reformation of Men. 
 And he intended alfo to ftir them up 
 to tlie Exercife of this Vertue by tlie 
 mofl: powerRil Motives he could pro- 
 pofe : What are they ? Why , firft, 
 That He who convert eth a Sinner from 
 the Errour of his ways , fliOuld confider , 
 that he fvveth a Soul from Death ; and 
 then, fecondly, and chiefly, That he 
 fja/i £ alfo 3 cover a multitude of Stns, 
 Whofe Sins ? Thofe of the Converted 
 Perfon ? Nay , but That was already 
 faid, and mucli rnore than that in the 
 foregoing Motive , He jhall fave a Soul 
 fro?n Death : for furely tlie faving a Soul 
 from Death, neceifarily includes and pre- 
 
 fuppofes 
 
4^ 77;^ fpower of Chanty 
 
 fuppofes the RemifHon of it's Sins. It 
 muft then be meant of His Sins who 
 makes, and not of His who becomes , 
 the Convert: And Thus indeed this 
 Lafl: Claufe carries a New Motive in 
 it, diftinft from That in the Former; 
 and fuch an One as rifeth beyond it, 
 and more fenfibly toucheth thofe to whom 
 it is addrefs'd ; and was therefore fit to 
 be propos'd in the Lafl: place, and to be 
 left , as a Sting , in their Minds. 'Tis 
 as if St. James had faid more at length, 
 " Let fuch an one know, that He fhall, 
 " by This Means, not orily fave a Soul 
 " from Death, (though This it felf be 
 *' a very Great and Defirable Thing) but 
 " fhall a/fo (which more nearly concerns 
 " him) fecure to himfelf on this account 
 " the Pardon of many Sins. 
 
 Now the Words of St. James here ex- 
 plain'd, are exadly the fame with thofe 
 of St. Peter, in my Text ; and the Occa- 
 fion upon which they are introduc'd, 
 and their dependence on the Context 
 is much the fame in both Places ; ex- 
 cept only that they are ufed in my 
 Text as a Motive to Charity in gene- 
 ral, but in St. James , with regard only 
 to One main and eminent Branch of it, 
 the Converfion of Souls : What there- 
 fore 
 
to Cover Sin. 4j 
 
 fore St. James means by them, is meant 
 alfo by St. Peter : and , confequently , 
 that moft Obvious and Eafie Senie, 
 which I mention'd at the Entrance of 
 this Difcoiirfe, is, in all probability, the 
 Trueft: And, as fuch, I fhall take the 
 liberty here once again to repeat it. It 
 is This, " That the Vertue of Charity 
 " is of fo great price in the fight of 
 " God, that They, who polTefs and ex- 
 " ercife it in any Eminent Manner , 
 " are peculiarly entitPd to the Divine 
 ^* Favour and Pardon, with regard to 
 " numberlefs Slips and Failings in their 
 " Duty, wiiich they may be Otherwife 
 ^^ guilty of. This great Chriftian Per- 
 ** fe£lion, of which they are Mafters , 
 " fliall make many little Imperfedions 
 " to be over-look'd and unobferv'd ; It 
 " Jhail Cover the multitude of Sms, 
 
 Nor are there wanting Parallel Places 
 in other parts of Holy Writ, which con- 
 firm this Interpretation of the Words, 
 and the Dodrine contain'd in it. For, 
 befides thofe PalTages in the Apocr}^hal 
 Writers, which direclly affirm that ^/;??j Tobxii.?. 
 jhdi purge away 6», and that Js Wuter ^^^j ^ ... 
 quencheth 'Flaming tire^ fo Alms maketh an 30. 
 Atonement for Sins ; there are in the Books 
 of Proverbs and Daniel^ two Texts, very 
 
 exprefs 
 
44 *^^ Tower of Chanty 
 
 exprefs to this purpofe : In the firll: of 
 prov. xvi. thefe the Wife Man declares, that by Mer- 
 ^' cy and Truth Iniquity is purged ; and in 
 
 the Latter the Prophet counfels Nebu- 
 Dan. iv. chadnezzar^ to break ojf his Sins by Righ- 
 17' teoufnefs^ (or rather, as it is in all the An- 
 
 cient Vei'fions, to redeem his Sins by 
 Alms-deeds) and his Iniquities by jhewing 
 Mercy to the Poor, And were it proper 
 in this place to vouch the Tejftimony of 
 the Eariyeft Writers of the Church , it 
 were eafie to produce, from their Works, 
 Palfages without Number, wherein they 
 fpeak the fame Language. 
 
 I fear I have been tedious in fetling 
 the Senfe of the Words: but it is no 
 more than was requifite, in fo important 
 a Point, fo little inflfted on from the 
 Pulpit; and which may be thought liable 
 to fome Juft Exceptions. 
 
 jj^ Thefe I am now, in the Second Piace^ 
 
 to propofe, and fhall endeavour to re- 
 move. The doing of which will give 
 me an Occafion of clearing the Senfe, 
 and limiting the Bounds of this Truth 
 more exadly and fully. 
 
 The Firfi^ and Great Exception againll 
 This way of Expounding the Text is , 
 
 that 
 
to Cover Si?T, 4J 
 
 that it gives too great a Colour to the 
 Popifli Doftrines of Merit and Super ero- 
 gation\ and feems to leflen the Worth 
 of that only True and Proper Satisfa- 
 ftion for Sin, made by our Saviour on 
 the Crofs. For , at This Rate , what 
 need of Remiflion of Sin in Every Cafe 
 by the Blood of Chrift , fince We our 
 felves are in Good Meafure capable of 
 making the Atonement? We, v^ho 
 have it, it feems, in our powder, by the 
 Exercife of one Particular Vertue to fe- 
 cure a Pardon to our felves for Neg- 
 lecting all the Reft ; and can blot out 
 the Remembrance of an Ill-fpent Life, 
 by a few A£ls of Charity at the Clofe 
 of it ? As if God were fo much behol- 
 den to us for our Good Deeds, as to be 
 bound for Their fakes to forgive us our 
 III Ones ! Or, as if the Performance of 
 Our Duty in One Cafe, could make any 
 manner of Amends to Him for our Non- 
 performance of it in Another 1 This, fay 
 They, is very Eafie and Comfortable 
 Divinity ! 
 
 To take off the Force of This Ob- 
 ie£lion, it will be requifite to reflect a 
 little on thefe followmg Confiderations* 
 And, 
 
 i/^, We muft Explain our felves a 
 
 little 
 
Tlje Corner of Charity 
 
 little more particularly , what is to be 
 underftood by that Charity^ to which 
 the Promife of the Text is made ; What 
 it is in the Nature and Extent ^ and what 
 in the Intention and Degree of it. 
 
 As to it's Nature and Extent^ it muft 
 be imderftood to fignifie not barely Acis 
 of Relief to the Poor and Needy, as the 
 Vulgar and Coniin'd Ufe of the Word 
 imports ; but, more largely, all the fe- 
 veral ways of Vniverfd Beneficence and 
 Kjndefs^ by which one Man can be fer- 
 viceable to another. Farther, it expref- 
 fes not the Outward Material A6i only, 
 but muft be fuppos'd to take in alfo 
 the Vital Form of it, that Inward Prin- 
 ciple of a Sincere Love towards God and 
 Man^ from whence it regularly flows 5 
 and feparated from which, the meer 
 external Ad is a Lifelefs and Ufelefs 
 Performance. And Then, even of Cha- 
 rity thus Largely underftood, it is not 
 a Common Degree that is meant here ;• 
 'Tis to an Intenfe or Fervent Charity, 
 to a mighty and extraordinary meafure 
 of it, that this mighty and extraordina- 
 ry Blefling is exprefly faid to belong. 
 
 2dly^ Even of this Exalted Degree of 
 Charity it is not faid, that tt jhall cover 
 all manner of Tranfgrefjions , how Grols 
 
 and 
 
to Coyer Sin. 
 
 and Heinous foever ; The Words of the 
 Text do by no means carry us to af- 
 fert thus much concerning it : but on- 
 ly (as You have heard them Explain'd 
 to You) feem to fay, that it fhall be 
 our Excufe for many LeflTer Negle6ls 
 and Failings in our Duty, many Sins 
 of Infirmity, Surprize, and Daily Incur- 
 fion ; which are properly enough flyl'd 
 the multitude of Sins : It flja/l Cover fuch 
 Offences only, as are confident with a 
 a flate of True Charity ; and furely Thofe 
 cannot be very Grofs and Prefumptuous. 
 For He, who lives in the Perfect Exer- 
 cife of that Fervent Charity^ wliich the 
 Text recommends, abounding Inwardly 
 and Outwardly in all the various In- 
 ftances and ExprelTions of it, and in 
 thofe feveral Vertues and Graces which 
 do naturally attend it : I fay, who ever 
 he is, that is throughly poffell: and adl- 
 ed by this Divine Principle of Love ^ 
 cannot be fuppos'd capable of commit- 
 ting any Heinous Sins, whilH he is un- 
 der the Guidance of it : And as for 
 Thofe, which he had fallen into before 
 the attainment of this Gift, I'hey were 
 certainly remitted alfo and cover'd, be- 
 fore the attainment of it ; elfe, doubt- 
 lefs, he had never attained it. So that 
 
 no 
 
 AT 
 
48 ne Tower of Charity 
 
 Great Guilt of any kind can well be 
 thought to harbour in that Breaft, where- 
 true Charity dwells. 
 
 Indeed, it is not univerfally certain, 
 that, when-e'^/er God remits the Gutlt 
 of Sin , he remits the Punifhment too 
 (the Temporal Pumfhment^ I mean) : for 
 Wicked Men, upon their Return to Ver- 
 tue, do not feldom find, to their Coft, 
 that a Sin may be pardon'd, and yet all 
 the 111 Conieqiiences of it not prevent 
 ed ; and they can, therefore, often trace 
 the Steps of their Former Mifdoings, in 
 the feveral Evils of Life that afterward 
 befall them. And in This Senfe, there- 
 fore, it may be, and is probably true, 
 that Charity fhall cover many Sins, even 
 of the firft Magnitude ; /. e, it fhall pre- 
 vent the Temporal Inflidions due to 
 them, and often, even after Pardon ob- 
 tained, purfuing the Committers of them : 
 But it contributes to a removal of the 
 Guilt only of fuch Frailties and Infir- 
 mities of a leffer lize, as may be thought 
 confiftent with a ftate of Charity. And 
 therefore, to except againfl: the Doctrine 
 laid down, as encouraging the Charita- 
 ble Man to expect Remiffion of all man*- 
 fier of Sins, how great and how nume- 
 rous foever, is to load it with a Diffi- 
 culty 
 
to CoVer Shu 
 
 culty which doth no ways belong to it. 
 But 
 
 ^dlj^ Eveh as to thefe {lighter Omif- 
 /lons and FaiHngs , it is not pretend- 
 ed , that they are cover'd by Afts of 
 iVlercy and Charity in any fenfe , but 
 Vv'hat inchides the AppUcation of the Me- 
 rits of our Saviour's Blood, the only Foun- 
 tain of Satisfatlion for all Kind ot Sins, 
 for the Leaft as well as the Greateil. It 
 is true indeed , and granted, that the 
 Blood of Chrift alone can expiate Sin : 
 1 However, tliis hinders not but that God 
 I may make fuch and fuch Afts of Ours 
 ; the Cofjdttions and Grounds (as it were) 
 of applying the Virtue of that Blood to 
 us. And thus Our Good Woi'ks , tho' 
 they are not the Meritorious^ yet may 
 become , if I may \o fpeak , the Occa- 
 fwml Caufe of Pardon and Grace to us. 
 And if This be eilablifliing the Popifli 
 Doclrine of Salvation by Works , then 
 hath our SavioUr Himfelf, T fear, efta- 
 I bliOi'd it, in that Divine Form of Prayer, 
 i in which he hath taught us to fa}', L'or- 
 ; give Vs Our Trefpaffes^ as We forgive Tho/e 
 . that Trefpafs again ji Vs, As We forgive 
 i Thofti 1 i. e. Inaj'much .//, on That very 
 ! account (among Others) becaufe^ we for- 
 give Thofe that trefpafs againil Us* 
 E Where, 
 
 4? 
 
J o The Tower of Charity 
 
 Where, we fee, the Exercife of one great 
 Inftance of Charity, Forgivenefs of Ene- 
 mies, is made the Ground of our ask- 
 ing and expeQing Forgivenefs from 
 God. 
 
 ^thiy and Lafily, It follows not, that 
 becaufe fo Vaft a Recompence is pro- 
 mis'd to a Fervent Charity, therefore 
 the Exercife of it is in the way of Su- 
 fererogation^ fo that we might have let 
 it alone without Fault or Blame. We 
 may be ftriftly, and by the very Letter 
 of the Law, oblig'd to it ; and yet it may 
 include fo high a pitch of perfection, and 
 one fo feldom attain'd , that God may 
 think lit, where-ever it is attain'd, mighti- 
 ly to revv^ard it ; and to encourage us to- 
 wards doing our Duty in fome One Great 
 Point , by an affurance , that in many 
 fmaller Inifances he will not be Extream 
 to rrmrk ivhat is dons amijs by us. Our Gra- 
 cious Mafter deals with Us in This Cafe, 
 as a Man oftentimes doth with his Ser- 
 vant ; If he be Trufty and Faithful to 
 him in a Bufmefs of Great Concern and 
 Moment, tho' his Duty bound him to be 
 fo, yet Ihall That piece of Eminent Ser- 
 vice excufe aThoufand Neglects and.Fail- 
 ii'jgs upon Other Occafions. 
 
 There 
 
 I 
 
to Cover Sin. jl 
 
 There Is yet a Second, Objeciion^ tho' in- 
 deed {6 flight an One, as, after the For- 
 mer hath been remov'd, is fcarce worth 
 mentioning. It is taken from that Say- 
 ing of our Lord , That They will Love 
 much, to whom much hath been forgiven. 
 Contrary to which the Text, as here ex- 
 pounded , feems to affirm , that They 
 who do love much, Ihiill have much Jbor- 
 givehthem. But thefe two Truths are 
 eafily reconcil'd. For it is not hard to 
 iinderftand, how That, which is the Cmfe 
 of a thing in One Refpeft, may be the 
 Effect of it in another. And, according- 
 ly, it may be very true, that He, who is 
 Forgiven much, will, for that very rea- 
 fon , Love much : And it may be as 
 True, that He, who thus Lovetli much, 
 becaufe much hath been Forgiven him, 
 fhall, on that very account, have much 
 Itiore Forgiven him. 'Tis juft the fame 
 Cafe as between Me and my Friend. I 
 may pafTionately love him, becaufe he 
 hath pardon'd me the Great and many 
 Injuries I formerly did him^ while we 
 were at Variance : And again, the Know- 
 ledge he hath of my Love may incline 
 Jiiin to pafb over any Future Millakes 
 .and Mifcarriages, whereby I may hap- 
 |x;ai to offend him, 
 
 E 2 The 
 
5 2 The Tower of Charity 
 
 III. The DoQrine being thus fix'd, and 
 freed from Exception ; I go on, as I pro- 
 -^ posM, in the Third place, to enquire in- 
 to the Grounds and Reajons of this Won- 
 drous Efficacy, fo particularly attributed 
 to the Exercife of Charity : for we read 
 not that God hath annex'd this Promife 
 to any Other Grace,or Vertue of the Chri- 
 ftian Life whatfoever, but to This only, 
 that It jh all cover Sin ; of which thefe fe- 
 veral Accounts may, with fome Probabili- 
 ty, be given. 
 
 i/, That it was really more fit and 
 proper that fach a Return as this fhould 
 be made to Charity, than to any Other 
 Vertue ; becaufe it adjufts and propor- 
 tions the Reward of Afting tothe A6lit 
 felf ; and makes the Duty of Man to- 
 wards God, and theBlefhng of God up- 
 on the Performance of That Duty , to 
 have a near Relation and Refemblance to 
 Each other. I explain my felf in this man- 
 ner : The Chief Employment, the high- 
 eft Point and Perfe8:ion of Charity is, to 
 pafs by the OiTences and Injuries of Men ; 
 to pardon the Malice of our Enemies, and 
 the Ingratitude of our Friends. To Him 
 therefore who advances to tliis Height of 
 Vertue, God hath very aplj and juttably 
 
 pro- 
 
to Cover Sin. 5 j 
 
 promls'd, that His Faults nnd OrFences 
 too fhall be pardon'd : as he deals witli 
 his Neighbour , To will God deal with 
 Him : Mercy fliall be fliewM upon Him, 
 wh.o fhews Mercy : if we forgive Other 
 Men Their Treipalfes, then will our 
 Heavenly Father forgive Us Our 'Fref- 
 paifes alio. There is, You fee, a i\v\B: 
 Analogy betwixt the Rew^ard annex'd, 
 and one Great Inftance of the Vertue en- 
 joyn'd : which is God's Method of put- 
 ting us in Mind of what we are to Do, 
 by his Fromifes,as well as his Commands ; 
 and of exciting Us to endeavour after a 
 Perfedion, not eafily attained, by alTu- 
 ring Us, that the Exercife of it fliall , in 
 the very fame kind, return doubly and 
 trebly into our Own Bofom. But, 
 
 2^/y, The Good and Charitable Man 
 is peculiarly entit'led to the Pardon of 
 many Sins, becaufe he is in a peculiar 
 manner liable to incur the Guilt of ma- 
 ny ; either from the Nxturd frawe and 
 Make of liis Mrnd, which difpofes liim to 
 this Vertue, or from the very E.\crcije of 
 the Vertue it felf. 
 
 Charity is grafted always on Good- 
 Nature, and a Sweetnefs of Difpolition : 
 which though it be a Temper of Mind 
 very lovely and defirable ; yet is it fucii 
 E ^ as, 
 
5 4 The Tower of Charity 
 
 as, in the Circumftances of our prefent 
 Imperfc<^ State, hath its Inconvenien- 
 cies ; and is what mal^s Converfation 
 dangerous in a World , where we are 
 furrounded with Temptations. It hin- 
 ders us from arming our felves with that 
 obftinate Refolution of Mind, that ftub- 
 born incomplying Vertue , which is 
 requifite to preferve a Man undefil'd and 
 blamelefs. It makes us eafie and yielding 
 to Common Cuftomes , and Receiv'd 
 Opinions ; Ready to comply with a 
 Thoufand things ( of which we are not 
 exaQ:ly well fatisfied) upon the pure fcore 
 of good Nature, and becaufe we cannot 
 allow our felves to be troublefome. And 
 being found and known to be of this 
 Eafieand Complying Temper; this very 
 thing will invite 111 Spirits, and 111 Men, 
 to make their Attempts upon us. 
 
 And then the Exerctfe of the Vertue it 
 fclf, cfpecially where the Principle of it is 
 ftrong, lays us open to feveral Failings. 
 It makes us omit oftentimes the Duties 
 incumbent on us from our ProfefHons 
 and Callings ; and perhaps neglecl: to 
 take care of Thofe , whom it is the Firft 
 Point of Charity to take care of, our 
 Children and Families. It warms us with 
 fuch a Zeal for doing Good , as breaks 
 
 out 
 
to Coyer Shu yj 
 
 out fometimes into A6ls, not reconcileable 
 to the Rules of Difcretion, Decency, and 
 RightReafon;and which do real dif-fervice 
 to the CaufeofGod and Religion, inftead 
 of promoting it. St. Francis'^s Charity 
 went a little too far, when it was taken 
 up in providing for Birds,and Beafts, after 
 a molt Extraordinary and Singular man- 
 ner: the Vertue was not at all be- 
 holden to him for being fliewM in fuch 
 a Drefs, as, inftead of rend ring it de- 
 fireable in the Eyes of Men, made it look 
 ridiculous. 
 
 Indeed Love ( the Spring-Head of 
 Charity) as it is the fweeteft of All Paf- 
 fions , fo is one of the ftrongefl: too ; and, 
 if it have the Reins but once given to it, 
 will go near to run away with its Rider : 
 that is, if a due Care be not taken of it, 
 it will exalt our Fancy fo high, and dif- 
 order it fo much, as to put it out of the 
 Reach and Rule of the Governing Towers 
 of the Mind. And then, what wild Worl^ 
 doth there follow ! Inftead of Wi4e 
 and Rational Ways of Beneiicence, 
 foolifli Undertakings and impracticable 
 Defigns ! Inftead of a manly and fober 
 Form of Devotion , all the extravagant 
 Rants and filly Freaks of F.nthufiafm ! 
 For the Proof of which I appeal to the 
 
 B 4 Lives 
 
5 6 The Tower of Charity 
 
 Lives of many of thofe Saints to whom 
 the Church of Rome hath allqw'd a 
 a place in her Calendar ! 
 
 Finally, the Charitable Man, who 
 Loves every thing , doth not fail fome- 
 times to Love his Own Vertue too; I 
 mean, that he is apt to over-rate the juft 
 Price of it, and too much to undervalue 
 every thing elfe in comparifon of it. A 
 Man may be fo much ftruck with the 
 Beauty and Excellence of Charity, as to 
 be lefs concern'd than he ought to be for 
 a found Faith, and make Shipwrack of 
 the One, whilft he is too hallily and 
 zealoufly purfuing the Other. 
 
 Thus , I fiiy , the Good and Merciful 
 Man, being particularly liable to fome 
 Iniirmities, is as particularlv comforted 
 with a Gracious A llurance of their Par- 
 don. 
 
 ^dly, God feems on purpofe to have 
 plac'd this Mark of Diftindion upon 
 Charity , to fhew its , how tender and 
 gireful He is of Our "Welfare ; what 
 Bowels of Love and Compailion he hath 
 for Us ; Since That is His Favourite 
 Vertue, the Vertue he chiefly delights in, 
 and delights to reward ; the Exercife 
 of which is moil fweet and comfortable, 
 
 moil 
 
to Cover Sm. 57 
 
 moil ufeful and advantageous to the Sons 
 of Men. Hedefign'd, by This Convin- 
 cirg Inftance of his Gc?diieis, to prove 
 to lis, that he WIS nOii an h.ard and rigo- 
 rous Mafter, win- enjoin'd us Commands, 
 for his 0<vf2 fake, and purehy for the plea- 
 fure of being Obey'd ; but that his great 
 Intention was, to twifr our Duty and 
 our Happinefs together : And therefore, 
 the more our Eafe and Advantage was 
 concerned in the Praftice of any Vertue, 
 the ftronger Typs and Engagements to 
 it was he refolv'd to lay upon us. 
 
 4f/;/)', Charity is particularly available 
 to procure a RemiflTion of the Guilt of 
 Sin, and a Relaxation of the Punifliment 
 due to it ; becaufe it particularly engages 
 in our behalf the Prayers of all Good Men, 
 and of all Thofe Perfons to whom the In- 
 ftances of our Goodnefs extend. A Kind 
 and Beneficent Man, as He is a Commcji 
 Bleffing to the World, fo is He blefs'd by 
 all Mankind that know him : All are 
 ready to Implore the Mercies of God, 
 Spiritual and Temporal, upon the Mcr- 
 cifal-minded ; efpecially the Poor and 
 Miferable, (whofe Prayers God hath in 
 a particular manner promised to hear ) 
 are conftant and earneft Interceflbrs at 
 the Throne of Grace for him. So that, 
 
 where^ 
 
5? Tl^e Tower of Charity 
 
 whereas the PolTefTors of Other Vertues 
 ftand chiefly upon their Own Bottom for 
 the obtaining Pardon and Grace, Every 
 man almoft becomes a Supplicant for the 
 Merciful and Liberal : and no wonder, 
 therefore, if fuch United Requefts pre- 
 vail. But 
 
 '^thly^ and principally, God hath made 
 This Promife to Charity^ and to no Other 
 Vertue , becaufe it is really the chief and 
 moft Excellent of Vertues ; and the mod 
 Excellent Thing ought to have the mofl: 
 Excellent Reward. It is the great Perfe- 
 ftion, the diftinguifhing Grace of a Chri- 
 ftian, preferable to Faith and Hope, in 
 Dignity, in Ufe, and in the Length of its 
 Duration, as St. Fatd hath taught us to 
 reafon concerning it. It is calPd the Great 
 t Matth. Comrna.ndment \\ the ^nd of the Command- 
 
 vyt] J Q '7 J 
 
 *iTim'.i. ment^ ^ and the Fulfilling of the Law-]-: 
 5- and it ^ really what it ^4- ^^//V. For where 
 ^xifi'^io. ^^^^ Divine Grace dwells , and reigns, 
 there no Moral Attainment of any kind 
 can be totally wanting. Charity is the 
 *^Am;V Queen of Vertues ^ ; the Reft are of Her 
 S^chr'f. ^^^^"^^? 2.nd Train, as it were; con- 
 x.''vi. " ftantly attending on Her, appearing, and 
 p. 191' difappearing with Her : and well, there- 
 fore, as a Queen, is flie invefted by God 
 with that Sovereign Prerogative, the 
 
 Power 
 
 I 
 
to Co^er Sin, jp 
 
 Power of Covering S-n. It Is Her Na- 
 ture to be comprehenfive of, 9nc\ abound- 
 ing in many Duties . a^d, thereio.v, it 
 is Her Reward alfo, to be a Skreen for 
 many Failings. Charity is faid in Scrip- 
 ture to eftablifh a True Friendfliip, and 
 to create a Real Likenefs between God 
 and Man : God paileth by the Faults, 
 therefore, of the Charitable, as a Friend 
 doth thofe of his Friend ; the Great Re- 
 femblance of the Divine Nature, which 
 fhines out in him , hides every LelTer 
 ' Sort and Degree of Unlikenefs, and 
 makes it not to be difcern'd. 
 
 'Tis difficult to ftop on fo Fruitful a 
 
 I Subject ; and yet more difficult to exprefs 
 
 I one's felf becomingly and well. The 
 
 I Tongues of Men and Angels, as they are 
 
 faid to be a worthlefs Gift, in compari- 
 
 fon of Charity, fo are they not All able 
 
 to fet out Half the Worth and Excel- 
 
 j lence of it. St. Paul hath done fome- 
 
 what towards it, in the Xlllth Chapter 
 
 I of the Fir ft Epiftle to the Corinthians • 
 
 and to Him I refer You. 
 
 It remains, that I fhould make thofe IV. 
 few Inferences I intended from the Whole, 
 and then point all that hath been faid 
 particularly upon the Occafion o'^ this 
 Prefent Alfembly, And i/, 
 
^O TIpe Tower cf Charity 
 
 i/, The Truth, which hath been ex- 
 plair'd, fuggeils to us One Argument 
 againft Their Opinion, who hold J^^fti- 
 fcaiiorj , and all the Graces of the Go- 
 "fpel 'O be conveyed to us by Faith a- 
 lone -^ in fu^h a fenfe as excludes any 
 manner of Regard to our Works, For 
 if J unification be The putting a Man 
 into a ftate of Favour with God by Re- 
 miflion of Sin, then Works of Charity 
 which contribute to the Remiflion of 
 our Sins, muft contribute alfo to our 
 Juftification. This Point goes generally 
 for a Speculative Nicety, not worth in- 
 flfting upon: But furely They, who think 
 it fo, have not well confider'd , what 
 Influence it hath experimentally had up- 
 on PraBice and a Good Life, in many 
 of it's Aflertors, Some Spiritual Liber- 
 tines, of the Antinomian Way, have by 
 it undermined the very Defign of the 
 Gofpel ; and fet us free fi'om the Ne- 
 ceffity of being Pious, ^ Jufl, or Good, 
 upon any other Principle , but that or 
 pure Gr^^i^W^ only. And in Thc)fe who 
 do not rife to thefe mad Heightlis, yet 
 the Perfwafions They have entertain'd 
 about Juflifying Faith , are obferv'd 
 mightily to ieflen their Efl:eem of Goo4 
 Works : and from elleeming them lefsj, 
 
 to 
 
to Cover Shf. 6{ 
 
 to come to praftife them lefs, is, God 
 knows , a very Eafie ftep , and almoft 
 an unavoidable One! Witnefs the ce- 
 lebrated In [lit ut ions of a great Divine, 
 in which of Faith much every where, of 
 Charity little any where is fpoken ; and 
 we are not, therefore, to wonder, if the 
 Rules of Charity fhould in that Book be 
 as little obferv'd. Indeed thefe very 
 Rules of Charity (which I would not 
 willingly, while I am mentioning, tranf- 
 grefs) induce me to think, That many 
 Learned and Pious Men hold this Do- 
 ftrine of Juftification by Faith alone, in 
 it's moft Rigid Senfe, without holding, 
 or even difcerning the 111 Confequences 
 that attend it. However, fmce the 111 
 Confequences of this Dcftrine are fuffi- 
 ciently plain, both from Rcafon, and Ex- 
 perience, (tlio' fuch Men happen not to 
 perceive them) the fame Rules of Cha- 
 rity forbid us, when the Subjecl falls in 
 our way, to be filent concerning them, 
 or fuiTcr Men to think, that thole, who 
 exclude good Works from being any 
 ways Inftrumental towards JulHfying a 
 Sinner , are guilty only of an Innocent 
 Miilake, which reacheth no farther than 
 bare Speculation. A 
 
 2d, In- 
 
6i Tlye Towey of Chanty 
 
 2d, Inference is, 1 hat, if a Spirit of 
 Charity fhall cover a multitude of Sins ; 
 then may we aifure our feU'es, that the 
 contrary Temper, a Spirit of Hatred, Ma- 
 hgnity, and 111 Will, fhall cover a multi- 
 tude of Vertues ; /. e. They fliall not be 
 reckon'd as Vertues to Him who poffef- 
 ieth them • Neither God nor Man fliall 
 regard them as fuch, if Charity doth not 
 Crown them. Charity covers many Sins, 
 becaufe it is fo noble and fo excellent a 
 Vertue : what Vertue then, beyond this, 
 can there be found, of value fufficient to 
 cover the Sin of Uncharitablenefs ? 
 
 3^/y, From the Promife made in the 
 Text, We may take an occafion to re- 
 f[e6i: on the wondrous Goodnefs and Con- 
 defcenfion of God. He liath a right to 
 all the higheft Inftances and Degrees of 
 Vertue that it is poiTible for us to abound 
 in ; and when we have praQ:is'd them 
 to the utmoft, we have done but what 
 we were ftriQly oblig'd to do : And yet 
 fo far he is pleas'd to abate of this Right, 
 as to accept the Performance of One Great 
 Duty in lieu of the OmifTion of many 
 Others. An Aft of Grace and Kindnefs, 
 which is enliaiis'd to Us, by confidering, 
 that Reafon never did , or could make 
 this known to the Heathen Yv^orld ; al- 
 though 
 
to Cover S't?j. 6j 
 
 though the Gofpel hath now ReveaPd it 
 to Us. Nay, remarkable it is, (as I ob- 
 lervM to you before) that this Great Du- 
 ty, which is to compenfate as it were, 
 for all our Failings, is the moll: pleafant 
 and delightful Employment that belongs 
 to us ; the moft agreeable to our Nature, 
 and the moil: ufeful to our Fellow-Crea- 
 tures. Let us not complain, therefore, 
 of the fl:ri£lnefs of the Rule we are to 
 walk by, and of the Hardfliips, which in 
 our Chriftian Warfare we are to under- 
 go. The Rule is Ifri^l indeed : but then, 
 as there are Great Helps and Afliftances, 
 enabling us to live up to it ; fo great A- 
 batements and Allowances (we fee) are 
 made to us at kill, if we do not. There 
 are indeed Difficulties to be undergone: 
 But, furely, the Labour of Love is none 
 of them. That, as it makes a kind of 
 Atonement to God for all the Faults we 
 commit, fo doth it make an Amends to 
 Us for all the Troubles we are at, in eve- 
 ry other part of our Duty; It gives an 
 Eafmefs to that Yoke, and a Lightnefs to 
 .^that Burthen which is laid upon us. 
 I Afthlj and LdjHy^ If tJie Do^lrine laid 
 '* down be good, then have we in it the 
 plaineif and moll quickning Motive in the 
 World to the Kxercife of this great Duty 
 
 of 
 
iv 
 
 XXIX» II, 
 12,13 
 
 64. The fewer of Charity 
 
 of Charity ; fuch a Motive, as exceeds 
 the United Force of all the Arguments 
 - \vhich ever were offer'd in this Cafe ; and 
 of whofe Power if a Man can be infenfi- 
 ble, all Other Motives will doubtlefs be 
 loft upon him. The wife Son of Syrach 
 thought he had made a reafonable Plea 
 Ecclus. for Charity, when he faid, Lay tip Thy 
 Treafure According to the Co'mmcLndments of 
 the ?noJi High^ and it fbdll bring Thee more 
 Profit than Gold, Shut up Alms in thy 
 Storehoufes^ and it jhall deliver Thee from 
 All Affltctto^ ; It jhall fight for Thee a^ 
 gainf Thine Knemies better than a miqlity 
 Shield^ or a firo'ng Spear, But how Flat, 
 and Cold , and Unmoving is all this , 
 wlicn compar'd with the Life and Ener- 
 gy that is in thofe Few Words ; — It jhall 
 Coz'er the multitude of Sins I 
 
 This Motive indeed hath been carry'd 
 too far, and abusM to ill Purpofes by 
 Men of another Communion, who, by 
 the help of it, have made the moft Im- 
 pure and Profligate Wretches hope for 
 a General Forgivenefs of all their Sins, fo 
 They were but Liberal enough to the 
 Church in their Wills ; and fetled fuch 
 a Revenue upon it , as lliould make a 
 Good Number of Fathers thmk it worth 
 their while to fay Daily Majjes for the 
 
 Soiil 
 
to Co'l'er Sin. 6^ 
 
 Soul of the Departed. And how grofs a. 
 way ibever This is of Expounding the 
 Text, it hath provM a very gainful one 
 to thofe who made ufe of it; por per- 
 haps half the Wealth of the Church of 
 Rome may julHy be attributed to it* ,A 
 ftrong Perfwafion of the Truth of this' 
 Expofition feems to have been one of the 
 diief Foundation-ftones , upon which a 
 Great Part of Her Charitable Buildings 
 have been E reeled. 
 
 TheMinilters of the Reform'd Churchy 
 indeed, dare not go fo far in inviting you 
 to Works of Charity and Mercy; But 
 This they dare, and do affirm ; Thatii 
 true Principle of Charity, is that Quali-. 
 fication of Mind, which of all others is 
 moft grateful and acceptable to God. ; 
 and fuch asyat the Day of final R,etribuT , 
 
 tion, He will have a particular Regard tOji' 
 fo as to make no fevere Scrutiny into that 
 Man's Faults and Failings , who hath. 
 Eminently guided his Life and Pra<^ice 
 by it. And this. they think lufliciently 
 intimated in our Saviour's Account of the? 
 Frocefs of that Day ; where the Onely 
 Head of Enquiry he^ mentions, is,' what^ 
 Good and Charitable Deeds we havedone^ 
 CO any of our Poor Brethren ? WhicIV 
 implies thus much" at Icaft ; That This; 
 
 F wllf 
 
66 Tl:e Tower of Charity 
 
 will be the Chief Point upon which we 
 fhall be examin'd ; and that Our Acquit- 
 tal, as to Neglefts in Other Parts of Our 
 Duty, will depend very much upon Our 
 being able to give a good Anfwer to it. 
 And, I hope, this AfTurance itfelf isa 
 fufficient Encouragement to the Practice 
 of Chanty, without Our needing to ftrain 
 the Words of the Text to fo Extravagant 
 ^ Senfe, as no Wife Man can believe that 
 we o^ght, and no Good Man would wifh 
 that we mighty take them in. 
 
 V, There is indeed one farther Senfe of 
 
 the W ords, than hath yet been mention'd ; 
 to which they may, however, be inno- 
 cently and truly extended. They have 
 been hitherto confider'd only as contain- 
 ing a Particular Promife to Particular 
 Perfons : They may be underftood alfo 
 with regard to thofeBleffings which Pub- 
 lick Charities procure on Publick States 
 and Communities. For it is true alfo, 
 that A£Is of Charity ihall Cover the Sins 
 of Cities and Kingdoms, as well as thofe 
 of Private Men, if Cities and Kingdoms 
 do generally agree to perform them. 
 
 Our Fore-fathers, we may prefume , 
 were of This Opinion ; and were power- 
 fully influenced by it, towards fetting for- 
 ward 
 
to Cover Sin, 6/ 
 
 ward thofe Charitable Defigns, which are 
 a Lafting Honour and Advantage to this 
 City and Kingdom. They could not but 
 fee, that the Weakh of the Church, tho' 
 it was really grown too Great, and was 
 by fome Rich Lazy Orders in it fcanda- 
 lou/ly employed ; yet had been retrencli'dj 
 on this Account, beyond what needed, and 
 iiad not been apply'd afterwards to any 
 Religious, or Publick Ufe : but was fquan- 
 der'd away for the moll: part upon Favo- 
 rites, and upon fuch as fell in with the 
 Honeil Zeal of our firft Reformers, not 
 out of any Principle of Confcience, but the 
 mere Delign of enriching Themfelves out 
 of the Plunder of Abbies and Monafteries. 
 The Senfe of tliis , doubtlefs , afleded 
 deeply the Good and Pious Men of thofe 
 Times ; and made tliem very Earneffc 
 and Active to procure fome part of thefe 
 CImrch'Spoi/s to be fet afide for Charita- 
 ble Ufes: that Retributiun, as it were, 
 might, by This Aleans, be made to God, 
 of what had been torn away in too Large 
 Proportions from Iiis Woriliip and Ser- 
 vice : To fpeak plainly that by a 
 
 true Spirit of Charity thofe Sins might 
 be Cover'^dy which a Spirit of Luft and 
 Avarice, under the pretence of Reform- 
 ing the Abufes of Charity, had caiu''d .! 
 
 F 2 And 
 
6 8 Tloe Tower of Charity 
 
 And thefe Endeavours of theirs God 
 blefs'd fo wonderfully, that fome Milli- 
 ons of Money were, in a few Years, con- 
 tributed towards ere<EI:ing and endowing 
 Here, and in other Parrs^ of our Country, 
 Hofpitals and Houfes of Charity, This 
 fufficiently baffled the Calumnies , and 
 ftopp'd the Mouths of Our Adverfaries of 
 the Church o^Rome ; who cry'd us down^ 
 as Men that were Reforming away Good 
 Works, and turning all Religion into a 
 Notional Faith. How Other Proteftant 
 Countries have freed Themfelves from 
 that Imputation, I am not able to fay : 
 fure I am, Ours clear'd it felf fo well front 
 it, as to turn the Edge of the Objedion 
 back upon the Church of Rome it felf. For, 
 upon a Fair and Impartial Computation, 
 it appears , that there were Greater Ex- 
 pences upon Publick Works of Charity 
 (fuch, I mean, as we are at prefent dif- 
 courfmg of) in Sixty Years after the Re- 
 formation, than had been in Five times 
 that Number of Years, while Popery 
 
 ftood : fome have added, than there 
 
 were from the Conquefi dow^n to King Ed- 
 ward the Sixth y that Good and Excellent 
 prince, the Great Promoter and' Encou- 
 rager of thefe Works ; and Who is not 
 to be mention'd, without particular Ho- 
 nour^ 
 
to Cover Sht. 69 
 
 pour, in This Houfe.which acknowledges 
 him for Her Pious and Munificent Foun- 
 ider. 
 
 I cannot but obferve to You, liere, 
 that it was the RuUng Part of This Great 
 City, with a Good Bifliop 0'^ Loy/don., and 
 Martyr for the Proteftant ReHgion, at the 
 Head of them, that by their United Ap- 
 plication ifirr'd up that Young Prince to 
 undertake fo publick-fpirited a Delign. 
 And it is natural for me alfo at the fame 
 Time to wifli , that That Honourable 
 Body may thus heartily always continue 
 to join Their Endeavours and Intereils 
 with Thofe of Their Right Reverend Dig- 
 cefm , in prompting Publick Charities , 
 and Publick BleflTmgs of any kind, either 
 in Church, or State. 
 
 Indeed, it mulf always be remembered, 
 to the Honour of This Great Body, That, 
 as Her Foundations of Charity are lar- 
 ger, for ought I can find, than thofe of 
 any Other City in the Chriftian World ; 
 To they were All rais'd and endow'd, ei- 
 ther diredly by Her Own Members ; or, 
 if by Other Hands, yet at Her earneif and 
 importunate Suit : So that the Fa bricks, 
 and Revenues of tliis Kind, that belong 
 to Her, are not only (as in Other Parts) 
 the Ufeful Ornaments of the Place, but fo 
 F J many 
 
70 TJ^e ^ower of Charity 
 
 many iftanding Monuments alfo of the 
 Great Piety, and Unparallell'd Bounty 
 ofHer Anceftors ; who foUcited theCaufe 
 of the Poor and the Infirm, the Lame and 
 Wounded , the Vagrant and Lunatick, 
 with fuch a particular Induftry and Zeal, 
 as had thofe Great and Blefled EfFeds, 
 which we at This Day fee and feel. A . 
 Zeal, never to be forgotten by Men! 
 and which, we hope, God alfo will ne- 
 ver forget I but, when he comes down 
 to Vifit this City for the many 111 Effects 
 of Wealth mifapply'd, will, for the fake 
 of it, Vifit in Mercy ; and confider the 
 Multitude of Her Charities as well as That 
 of Her Sins • Gracioufly allowing the One 
 to be in fome Meafure a Cover to the 
 Other ! 
 
 But I have not Roomi to fpeak feveral- 
 ly of All the Great Benefadions with 
 which She abounds ; and am calFd up- 
 on, by the Occafion of this Prefent Af- 
 ^embly, to fay fome what more particu- 
 larly of thofe of This Place, 
 
 I think it, by no means, a fit and de- 
 cent thing to vye Charities , and to ere£t 
 the Reputation of One upon the Ruines 
 of another : This is, fur the fake of Cha- 
 rity to forget the True CharaQer, and 
 Eliential Properties of it \ wliich are, aS 
 
 St, 
 
4) )" 
 
 to Cover Sin. 71 
 
 St. Paul tells us, to he kind^ and f?ot to -en- ^ Cor.xiii. 
 vy^ not to vaunt it felf^ or be Pfiffed iipy not 
 to behave itfelfunfeemlj. However, This, 
 I think, I may fay, with Modefty and 
 Truth, to the Advantage of That Chari- 
 ty to which we belong ; Tliat, though 
 the Bottom of Wealth, it ftands upon, be 
 not fo Large as that of fome Others, yet 
 is it in the Defignof it fo Comprehenfive 
 and Full, as not any where, I think, to 
 be paralleird. 
 
 Here are Supphes to Outard Want and 
 Neceflity liberally imparted ; The Poor 
 and Fatherlfcfs, not only taken Care of, 
 but fo bred up, as to be ufeful to the 
 Common- wealth, and perhaps to take 
 care of many Otiiers. Here Idle, and 
 Ufelefs, (and therefore Neceflitous) Per- 
 fons are taught the Bed of Lelfons, La- 
 bour ; inur'd to it, and made acquaint- 
 ed with it ; and then fent out with Rich 
 a Stock of Induftry, as will do them more 
 real Service than any Other Kind of Bene -r 
 fa£lion, if They will but make ufe of it, 
 and improve it. 
 
 Here, Loofe Men and Women are re- 
 duced by wholfome Difcipline, and Va- 
 grants by Confinement : PuniOiment it 
 ielf is made an Inllrument of Mercy 
 and Goodnefs j and, as Meat is provided 
 
 V 4 ^ox 
 
^i The ^ower of Chanty 
 
 for the Belly, fo is there a Rod for the 
 'Back of Fools. Thefe Particular Infta ri- 
 ces of Charity deferve to be enlargM on : 
 It is "an Argument that hatji not yet- 
 been handled in it's utmofi Extent, and 
 may perhaps ask Your Patience, on fome 
 Other Occafion : but the Tune to which 
 I am confin'd , is now almoft run out ; 
 and there are yet Other Inftances behincj, 
 to be infifted on. For 
 - Here, not only External Neceflities 
 are relieved, but Inward Wants alfo are 
 fupply'd ; not 111 Manners only are out- 
 wardly correfted , but 111 Difpofitions 
 alfo are better'd , 111 Minds reform'd. 
 And Every fmgle Inftance in this kind is 
 not confined to the Perfon who receives 
 the Benefit , but is a real Service to an 
 whole Community. It puts a ftog to a 
 fpreading Plague ; nay, , it gets Ground 
 upon it, by making Thofe, who have had 
 the Infeftion, turn Phyficians to Others, 
 by their Example, and Future Good Man^ 
 ners^ ■ ■ ■ 
 
 i' Nay, Here, Men recover their Un- 
 derftandings as \vell as their Vertues ; 
 that js,' they recover their Very Selves- 
 aitid are made once again Members of the 
 Rational Creation, able tq See arid Know 
 iheir Duty, and to Guide themfelyes J>y 
 trii. . . '.. ■ iU'-- X -\' -.■ '.''-'■ that 
 
fo Coyer Shi. 7? 
 
 that Knowledge of it ; to pay their Ri^ji* 
 finable Service to God, and to maintain 
 a Civil Intercourfe w^itli Men. 
 
 And on this Occafion, that Worth) and 
 Learw/ed Perfin dcicrves a particular, and 
 Grateful mention, who hath, by his Emi- 
 nent Skill, aifiiled the Hofpital to be 
 Charitable in This Way, to much great- 
 er Numbers of Lunaticks , than have 
 been known to be Cur'd in Former 
 Times. 
 
 So that this Great Receptacle 0^ Mife- 
 rable Obje£ls of every kind, (eems to be 
 like that Medicinal Pool at Bcthejda^ u^herc 
 there were Vertues proper for every Ma- 
 lady ; all Infirmities were equally heaPd, 
 inTliofe, who had the Happinefs to get 
 into it. I can carry the Parallel no far- 
 ther, I thank God, For the Prudence 
 
 and Vigilance of it's Governours , as it 
 hitherto hath^ {o^ I quelfion not, always 
 n'/7/ take Care, that (Contrary to what 
 I]appenM to the Impotent Man in That 
 Story) They who have moll need of the 
 Pool, fliall ever have the Happinefs to 
 get Hrft into it. Impartiality is the Soul 
 of Mercy, as well as Juftice ; and adds 
 Farther Degrees of Ufe and Beauty to the 
 moft Ufeful and Beautiful Tiling' in the 
 World. 
 
 To 
 
74 T*k^ Vower of Chanty 
 
 To give You, tlierefore, in little the 
 true Chara8:er of This Great Benefafti- 
 on; As Charity comprizeth almoft all 
 Kinds of Vertues ; fo doth This Foun- 
 dation take in almoft all Sorts of Cha- 1 
 
 nties 
 
 Buttho' all the Chief kinds of Benefi- 
 cence are here purfu'd, yet many Mife- 
 rable Objects in Each Kind are not pofli- 
 ble to be reach'd, with the prefent Stock 
 of Charity, which belongs either to This 
 Hofpital, or to all Her Other Rivals in 
 This Labour of Love, God open the 
 Hands of the Rich, and direct the Hearts 
 of the Merciful, to build upon the Foun- 
 dation Their Forefathers have laid ; and 
 to fupply what is wanting, to compleat 
 Their Defigns ! Approving Themfelves 
 thus, the true Heirs of Their Piety and 
 Bounty, as well as of their Wealth ! Fife, 
 thefe Great Buildings and Endowments 
 of a former Age, like the Vertuous A6ls 
 and Atchievements of the Firft Founders 
 of Noble Families , will become a Re- 
 proach, rLther than be an Honour, to a 
 Degenerate o nd Worthlefs Pofterity. 
 
 Confider with Your felves, how God 
 hath bleft tliis City for the fake of the 
 mighty Works that have been done in 
 Her ; I fliy, for tlitfake of them.-—-— For 
 
 let 
 
<>' to Cover Sin. ^j 
 
 ' let a Man carry his Thoughts back to that 
 
 1 1 Time, .vhen the^e Good Deflgns were 
 
 ' firft let on foot, and He fiiall Kad, that 
 
 from Thence the Rife and G ro wth of this 
 
 City in Trade, Weakhjlniereftjand Great- 
 
 iiefs, is precifely to be dated. 
 
 May it grow on, in the fime Propor- 
 tion ! and by the lame Means alfo! That 
 is, may there Hill be found fuch a Num- 
 ber of Charitable Perfons in it, as will 
 continue the Chara(3:er which hath hi- 
 therto belong'd to it ; and, by That means, 
 fecure the Continuation of God's Blef- 
 fmgs upon it. May Charity go on to have 
 tt'^s Perfect- Work ; not Living meerly up- 
 on the Old Stock , not continuing at a 
 ftay ; but Growing and Increafing Hill, 
 as the Neceflities of Some Men increafe, 
 and the Abilities of Others to Relieve 
 them ! And thus fpreading it felf to a 
 wider Compafs, it fiiall affuredly procure 
 a Greater Share of God's Mercies, and[ 
 Cover a greater Multitude of our Sws, 
 
 That This may he the Cafe^ the Good and Mer- 
 ciful Godgrant^ through the Great Steward 
 and Difpenfer of his AJercj^.% Clirift the 
 Righteous ! To whom^ n/ththe Fatherland 
 the Holy Gho/l^ be afcriPd^ as is n:o^ due^ 
 all Honour^ Adoration^ and Praffe • A^oiv^ 
 find Ever ! Amen ! The 
 
!^ 
 
77 
 
 ^he Miracuhm propagation of the Go/pel 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the 
 
 O U E E N 
 
 WHITE-HAtt. 
 
 OEloher 21. i <5 9 4. 
 
 ISAIAH lx\ 22. 
 
 A Little one p?all become a 'n)Oufand^ and 
 a Small one^ a ftrong Nation : /, the 
 Lordj will hajien it, in His 'time, 
 
 TH E Evangelic Prophet is very par- 
 ticular, throughout this Chapter, 
 iri defcribing th& fudden and mighty increaje 
 of Chri[liAmtjy it's triumphant progrefs 
 
 thro' 
 
7 8 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 tliro^ all Nations, and it's prevalence over 
 all the other Religions of the World. And 
 this wondrous Enlargement of it he takes 
 occafion (at the clok of the Chapter) to 
 reprefent as fo much the more Admira- 
 ble, on the account of that Small Ap- 
 pearance it fhould make at firft, thofe 
 Slender and Unpromifmg Beginnings , 
 with which it fhould fet out. J Little 
 one^ fays h^, in the Words I have read 
 to you, ^}dl become a Thouj'a.nd ■ And. a. 
 Small one^ a firong Nation : 7, the Lord^ 
 ivill hajlen it^ in His (i.e. in the MQ(ridih'*s) 
 time. From which words, therefore, I 
 ihall, without farther Preface, take occa- 
 fion to raife thefe feveral Heads of Dif~ 
 courici 
 
 I. Firjly I fliall triefiy reprefent to You 
 
 the marrer of^ Fact it Mfy to \vtnch this 
 Prophe^^y referrs ; how faift and firange 
 a Frogrefs the Gojpel m^ade, at, and after 
 it's firft fetting out from Jerf^J'alem, 
 
 jj^ Secondly y I fhall prove to you, that this 
 
 Succefs ot it mfifl have been Aliracidom^ 
 and owing chiefly to the mighty Operati- 
 ons, and effe£lual A (Tiiiances of the Holy 
 Spirit of Gdid. After eftablifliing which 
 great Truth upon firm and proper Argu- 
 ments, I fliall, in the 
 
 Third 
 
r 
 
 of the Go/pel, 79 
 
 Third place , fairly lay together what IIL 
 can be olfer'd to evade the force of tliem ; 
 and give the feveral Objeciions^ their An- 
 fivers. 
 
 Fourthly^ I fhall confider, how Great IV". 
 and how Diftinguifhing an Advantage 
 this was to the Lhrifitan htfiitution ; and 
 to what 'l^feful Ends and Purpofes the 
 Confideration of it may be apply'd. 
 
 Fifthly^ and Lafily I fliall enquire in- v . 
 to the time when, and the manner how^ 
 tliis Miracle ceas'^d ; and make fome fuit- 
 able Refledions upon it,with regard, both 
 to Thofe who hv'd Then , when this 
 Stop was put to the Gofpel ; and to Us, 
 who Hve Now , in the Latter Ages of 
 the World. 
 
 Fir ft, I am to reprefent to You the I. 
 Matter of Faci itfelf , to which the Pro- 
 phecy of the Text referrs ; how fwift and 
 ftrangc a Progfefs the Gojpel really made, 
 at, and after it's firH: fetting out from 
 ^ertifalem. And the account of this is as 
 much above Imagination, as it is beyond 
 Difpute. 
 
 From S. Luke we learn, that, upon the 
 Afcent of Our Saviour , the Itttle Flacky 
 He had gather'd, confifted of but One hun- 
 dred and twenty Difciples : Thefe receiv'd 
 
 a mighty 
 
eo^ T7;e Miraculous propagation 
 
 a mighty addition to their number, on 
 the very day of Pentecoft, (the day, on 
 which the Gofpel^ as well as the 'Law ^' 
 was firfl: prGmuIg'^dJ ; even on That day 
 Three Thufa^d Souls were brought over 
 to the Faith, by a Sermon o^S.Peter''s: 
 fo well did that Spiritual Fiilier begin to* 
 make good the Chara6ler, which Chrill: 
 had given of him, that hejhou/d catch Men /' 
 A(^ivi. 7. After thisy the number of the Difciples mul- 
 tiplied in Jerufalem^rf^/'/y, faith the fame' 
 holy Pen, (greatly, eVen in proportion to 
 their firfl: increafe) : and from thence the 
 DoQ:rine was foon carried into all the Re- 
 moter Regions of the Earth; infomuch 
 t ha t the Book of the Apofiles Acis (which, 
 being written by S. Luke^ the Companion' 
 of S. Paul^ is cliiefly taken up in giving 
 ail account of that particular Apoftle's 
 Labours, and Travels'; and of thofe of 
 them only, which he undervi^ent in the 
 Firfl years of his Miniftry: I fay,' even j 
 this Book it felf ) doth contain an accounr 
 of tlle^ fpreslding of the Gofpel, forwards, 
 thro' many Eaftern Countries ; and, back- 
 wards, thro' a great part of the Weft: 
 of it's piercing, on the one fide, into all 
 the Civiliz'd, and fbrrie of the Barba- 
 rous Provinces of Aft a ; and, on the 6- 
 ther, as far as the great Metropolis of 
 
 Europe^' 
 
ao. 
 
 oftheCofpel Si 
 
 Europe, Rome ic M? ; fo mightily grew the Afts xix. 
 Work of God ^ arid prev/iifd! 
 
 Indeed, The Writers of the Story of 
 the Church do with one confent agree, 
 that Scythia, hdia^ du/, and Egyp^^ all 
 the moft diftant parts of the World Then 
 known, had the Doctrine of Chrift con- 
 veyed to them in lefs than forty years, 
 /. e, before the deflrudion of the Jcn^ifi 
 State by Tttus, 
 
 And what degree of Succefs the Voice 
 of thefe Preachers had in the feveral 
 Countries, thro' which it founded, we 
 may learn from the Antient Apologifts, 
 w^ho, e'er Two Centuries were as yet 
 run out, pleaded for Chriftianity, on the 
 account of it's vail and incredible num- 
 bers ; reprefented to the Heathen Em- 
 perors, that their Courts, their CampSj 
 their Cities, their Provinces j were all 
 full of them; and that it was impofTible 
 to extirpate them, without deftroying the 
 far Greater part of their Subjecls. 
 
 The Gofpel is frequently in the New 
 Tcftament compar'd to Light: and it 
 did in nothing more refemble Light than 
 in This , that, as foon as the Heavenly 
 Do8:rine, therein contain'd, arofe upon 
 the World, it darted it's Bright Rays, 
 and ditius'd it's quickcing Influence from 
 G Eaft 
 
8 1 The Miraculous Tropa^ation 
 
 Eaft to Weft , with an unconceivable 
 
 Luke xvii. Swiftncfs. Tliis KJngdom of God came not 
 zo, zi. rvithObfervation^ neither could Men fay ^ Lo 
 Here^ md Lo There I That is (as we 
 may interpret: the Words) it did not 
 eftablifh it felfMike other Kingdoms, in 
 a flow and leifarely manner, fo as that 
 Lookers-on might trace it eafily from 
 it's Rife through the feveral Steps of it's 
 Progrefs ; but Hx'd it felf at once ahnoft 
 ev ery where, with fo rapid and amazing 
 a Courfe, as did, as it were, leave the 
 Eyes and Obfervation of Men behind it. 
 And ftill , as it w^ent along , it gain'd 
 mighty fpoils from all Religions, and 
 gathered vaft multitudes of every Coun- 
 try under it's Banners. And, therefore, 
 w^cll did the Founder of this Kingdom 
 
 thus prophefie concerning it : Vnto 
 
 Luke xiii. what is the KJngdom of God like ? And where ^ 
 ^^>-°' unto fj all I rejemble itf It is like a Grain 
 ofMufiard-feed^ which a Man took y and threw 
 into ins. gar den ; and it grew^ and %vaxed a 
 great Tree : (ind the Fowls of the Air lodged 
 itt the branches of it. And, again he faid, 
 Whereunto jhafl I liken the KJngdom of 
 God f It is like heaven , which a woman 
 took^ and hid in three me af tires of meal ^ until 
 the. Whols was leavened. 
 
 But 
 
 21. 
 
oftk Go/pel • 83 
 
 But becaufe the matter of V3.8: it i^elf, 
 [That there was fuch a {uuddcn and pro- 
 digious increafe of Converts to Chriftia- 
 nity] is on all hands fo well agreed up- 
 on, as to need no folemn Proof; it may 
 fuffice to have given this fliort Account 
 of it. 
 
 I go on now,in the Second place,to prove, IL 
 that this Succefs of the Gofpel\vd.s certainly 
 miraculom^ and owin£^ chiefy to the mighty 
 Operations , and efteftual Alliftances of 
 the Holy Spirit of God : and that, for 
 this plain Reafon; becaufe the Nuturd 
 and Vifible Caufes, which concurred to 
 the produQion of this great Effe8:, were 
 not any ways Equal to the Effect pro- 
 duc'd ; and, therefore, fome Supernntu-'^ 
 ral and Invifible Caufe muft needs have 
 given birth to it. 
 
 The Appearing Caufes and Inllruments 
 of this Wondrous Revolution were, chief- 
 ly. Twelve Men, of obfcure Birth and 
 Parentage, of the meaneil Education, of 
 the plainell: and fimplefl: Underftandings, 
 unpoliili'd by Learning and Eloquence^ 
 unimprovM by Experience and Converfe ; 
 Men of no Subtilty, no Art, no Addrefs ; 
 who had no manner of Authority, Inte- 
 reft, or Repute in the World. Thefe Men 
 G 2 wider- 
 
84 The Miraculot^ propagation 
 
 undertake to convince the World , that 
 One J^'fa^y a Man, who had juft before 
 expir'd pubUckly on a Ci-ofs , was the 
 true God, blelTed for ever ; and, in con- 
 fequence of this, to preach up a Doftrine, 
 the mofi unwelcome to Flefh and Blood 
 that could be , the moft repugnant to 
 Men's natural Defires and Inclinations, 
 to their fettled Habits, and inveterate 
 Prejudices ; contrary to the EftabUfli'd 
 Rites and Religions of all Countries, and 
 in all Ages of the World. They fet out 
 from Jerufdem^ with this Deiign } tliey 
 difperle themfelves through all tlie quar- 
 ters of the Earth, they fucceed every 
 where; and, in a very fhort time, pre- 
 vail with great Multitudes, in every Na- 
 tion, and Kingdom, to fubmit to the 
 Law^s, and to own the Religion of Jefus. 
 Now, I fay, here was no manner of 
 Proportion between the Caufe, and it's 
 EfTed ; between the Work which was 
 wrought, and the Inilrum.ents which 
 wrought it : and therefore we may, and 
 mufl: trom hence conclude, that a Divine 
 Invifible Power went along with them 
 in evei-y Step , and miruuloufy blefs'd 
 tlieir Endeavours. Which Truth that 
 it may appear to you in it's full Strength 
 and Evidence, I fhall confider more par- 
 ticularly. 
 
of the G of pel 85 
 
 ticularly, Which (naturally fpeaking) 
 are the beft Advantages for a New Opi- 
 Rion to fet up with , and under what 
 Circumftances it is moft likely to pre- 
 vail ; and I ihall fliew, that the Cliri- 
 flian Religion was utterly deftitute of 
 Every One of thefe Advantages, and yet, 
 neverthelefs, did prevail. 
 
 Now there are Four Things , that 
 chiefly conduce towards the fpreading of 
 any New Do£lrine, and moft remark- 
 ably make way for it's reception in the 
 World. 
 
 As, i/, If the Pri/uipies of It be fuit- 
 ed to the Lufts, the I^terefts, and Wijhes 
 of Thofe, among whom is to be propa- 
 gated. 
 
 2^'//, If it be fuppoyted and countenanced 
 by Perfons in Power and Authority^ of 
 great NAme and Note ; if it be either 
 forcibly obtruded upon men by Sangui- 
 nary Laws and Edicts, or more indired- 
 ly advanc"d by Art , and Management, 
 and the Methods of worldly Prudence. 
 
 3^/v, If it be firft brought into the 
 World in d^rk and hnrhnroiis Ages^ when 
 Men are either too Rude and Illiterate^.. 
 to be Able to weigh , and difpute flle 
 Tri^th of it, or too much funk in Sloth 
 G 5 anc5 
 
8 (J The Mtraculous ^Propagation 
 
 and Vice, to be "Willing to do it. Or, 
 ^thiy^ If it be not propofed to men, all 
 At once ^ but be infinuated into them by 
 Degrees J Secretly, and Infenfibly. 
 
 I. As to the F/V/ofthefe, it is certain^ 
 that nothing recommends a new Doctrine 
 fo much, or goes fo far towards promo- 
 ting an Univerfal Reception of it, as it's 
 falling in with the corrupt Defires and 
 Inclinations, the Pallions and Prejudices 
 of Men. For Men are, without diiB- 
 culty, brought to believe an Opinion 
 true, which they wifh true beforehand. 
 And This was the way in which that 
 cunning Impoftor, Mahomet^ fet up for 
 a new Prophet. He made his Doftrine 
 as reliOiing and palatable as he could ; 
 contriv'd it, on purpofe, fo as that it 
 might gratifie Men's Lufts and Appe- 
 tites ; and, efpecially, that it might com- 
 ply with the loofe and wanton Manners 
 of the Eafij where he ereded his Stan^ 
 dard. 
 
 And thus alfo, ever fmce, hath Liber- 
 tinifm of all kinds promoted it's Intereft, 
 and increas'd it's Party, Falfe and foolifh 
 Qpinions have gotten footing,and thriven, 
 in prejudice to true Religion, and found 
 Morality • becaufe there was fomething 
 
of the Go [pel. 8/ 
 
 in them, which flatter'd either our Va- 
 nity, our lAifl", or our Pride, and fell in 
 with a darling Inclination. And to this 
 fingle Art Mr. Hobhs ow'd all his Repu- 
 tation, and his Followers : it was not his 
 Philofophy, and his boafted Rcafon, that 
 drew men in ; but the ski-ll he had in fit- 
 ting his Principles to men's Conftitutions, 
 and Tempers : He knew what would 
 take, and be lik'd ; and he knew how to 
 exprefs it after a taking manner ; and no 
 wonder, then, if it were greedily enter- 
 tained. To talk againft receiv^M Opini- 
 ons, and in behalf of fome belovM Vi- 
 ces, and Frailties ; to drefs up his D^f- 
 courfe in all the natural Beauties of Lan- 
 guage, and to give it befide the Air (and 
 he gave it nothing but the Air) of De- 
 monlf ration ; This, he lav/, would be a 
 fure way of engaging the Men of Wit 
 and Pleafure on his fide ; and This, there- 
 fore, he follow'd, with application and 
 fuccefs \ like one of tlie Children of This Luke xvi. 
 World^ who are^ in their Generation^ ivijer ^• 
 thdn the Children of Light. 
 
 But Chrillianity, when it fet out, took 
 none of thefe methods of recommend- 
 ing it felf , and enlarging it's Inte- 
 relh: on the contrary, it propos'd plain, 
 naked Truths, without Colours, and Dif-^ 
 
 G 4 guifes, 
 
8 8 T*he Miraculous propagation 
 
 guifes, or any regard to what was Agfee- 
 able and Pleafmg. It held forth high 
 and unconceivable Myfteries, which the 
 Pride af man would make hirn apt to 
 fufpecl, becaufe he could not perfectly 
 comprehend ; and it preach'd up harfh 
 and ungrateful Dodrines, which did vio- 
 lence to mens Natures, and which it was 
 death to them to think of entertaining. 
 And yet, I fay, under this great Difad- 
 vantage it made it's way, and profper'd. 
 But 
 
 2^/y, It is another great Advantage to 
 a rifmg Opinion, if it be efpous'd by men 
 ofAuthoiity, Repute, and Parts ; who 
 may either force it's way into the World 
 by dint of Power, or bring it about by 
 p.rts of Management, and Contrivance. 
 In this manner the Prophet of the Eaft 
 Iiew'd out his way by the power of the 
 Sword ; took advantage from the divi- 
 fions and weaknefs of Chriftendom, to 
 arm a Savage Multitude, and make large 
 inroads upon it ; and , having , firft , 
 brought into fubje6:ion the Bodies of 
 men, had no hard task, afterwards, tQ 
 infiave their Souls. 
 
 In like manner the Papal Ufurpat;io,n5 
 often prevaiPd ; the Bifliops o^Rome got 
 
 Zealous 
 
 i 
 
of the Go/pel 89 
 
 Zealous Princes into their Intereft, and 
 made them blindly obedient to the Holy 
 3ee ; and then, by Their help, imposed 
 their own Decrees upon whole unwilling 
 Provinces and Kingdoms. And, as fume 
 of their Encroachments thus got footing, 
 fo many others, we know, were brought 
 in , at firft , and have been fupported , 
 ^ver fmce, by the higheft and mofl: re- 
 fin'd Arts of Policy, That See hath ne- 
 ver wanted, from the very moment fmce 
 it firft fet up it's pretences, a number of 
 skilful Managers, who have continually 
 pleaded it's Caufe , and carried on it's 
 Interefts, with all the Dexterity and Ad- 
 drefs, with all the Induftry and Zeal, of 
 which Human Wit is capable : It hath 
 ever had the warmeft, and ableft, (I had 
 almoft faid the wifeft) lieads em ploy 'd 
 in it's defence ; and hath taken care to 
 make fure of them, by Bountiful Re- 
 wards, dealt out in proportion to their 
 Services ; and by making a Zeal for the 
 Papal Chair , a fure and never-failing 
 ftep towards all manner of Honours and 
 Advantages : and no wonder, therefore, 
 if it's Delufions have fpread fo far, and 
 wide, and infecled fuch Numbers. 
 
 It was much the fame cafe, with regard 
 ^0 the broachcrsofHer^fieinthe antient 
 
 Church : 
 
he 
 
 90 The Miraculom propagation 
 
 Church ; they were generally leading 
 men, of fome Figure and Repute in the 
 world, of great Wit and Subtlety ; and, 
 by the help of thefe, they were able to 
 raife a duft, and make a noife ; to form 
 a Party, and fet themfelves at the Head 
 of it. 
 
 But now, when Chriftianity firft ap- 
 )ear'd, how weak and defencelefs was it, 
 low artlefs and undefigning ! How ut- 
 terly unfupported either by the Secular 
 Matth. X. Arm , or Secular Wifdom ! / fe^d you 
 16, forth^ faid our Saviour to his Apoftlcs, 
 as Sheep in the rtndfi of Wolves : And, ac- 
 cordingly, they went forth, in the fpirit 
 of Simplicity, of Humility, and Meek- 
 nefs ; arm'd only with Truth, and In- 
 nocence ; a good Caufe, and an equal 
 iCor.x.4. Refolution : The Weapons of their War- 
 fare were not Carnal^ but Spiritual t The 
 MefTengers of thefe glad Tidings were fo 
 far from having a Name in the World, 
 that they were contemptible : were 
 fcorn'd, as "Jews^ by the reft of Mankind ; 
 and as the meaneif and loweft of jf^«^-f, 
 by the 'Jews themfelves ; and were not 
 likely, therefore, to credit the high Em- 
 balTy, on which they came. They left 
 their Nets, and their Hooks, (the Only 
 flings, probably, that they underftood) 
 
of the Go/pel ^f 
 
 to come into a New World , wherein 
 they were perfect Strangers, and to preach 
 a New Gofpel, with which all men were 
 unacquainted : and they preach'd it, not 
 to the iVifcy the Mighty^ or the Noble^ 
 wlio, when converted, might have for- 
 warded it's Reception by their Influence ; 
 but to the Fooltjh^ JVeak^ and Bafe^ who 
 were able to do nothing for it's Advan- 
 tage, but by Living according to the 
 Rules, and Dying for the Truth of it. 
 As they had no Help from the Powers of 
 this World, Civil, or Military, fo had 
 they all the Oppofition that was poiTible ; 
 which they wirhfl:ood, and baffled : they 
 fow'd the good Seed of the Word under 
 the very Feet of the Roman Magiilrates, 
 and Soldiers; wiio, tho' they trod it 
 down, and rooted it up, yet could not 
 deftroy it fo far, but that Hill it fprang 
 out again, and yielded a fruitful and glo- 
 rious Harveflf A 
 
 ^d Thing, that promotes theProgrefs 
 of a New Pveligion, is, if it be brought 
 into the World, in Dark and Barbarous 
 Times; when men are either too Rude 
 and Illiterate, to be Able to weigh, and 
 to difpute the Truth of it, or too much 
 funk in Sloth and Vice , to be Willing 
 
 to 
 
^ % Tl)e Mtraculoui propagation 
 
 to do it. And This, again, cannot but 
 put us in mind of the Romiflj Superftiti- 
 ons : for it is plain, that they took That 
 time of fettUng and fpreading their Em- 
 pire, which, of all times fmce the coming 
 of Chrift, was the moft Ignorant, and 
 the leaft Inquifitive ; when Men were 
 Vicious, Lazy, Difpirited, Fearful, and 
 Credulous ; when grofs Darknefs fat up- 
 on the Face of the Weft ; when the Ir- 
 ruptions of the Goths and Vandals had 
 deftroy'd all the Old Learning , as well 
 as the Old Buildings , and left nothing 
 but Ignorance and Barbarity behind 
 them. Then, in t\\2X Nighty as the Pa- 
 rable fpeaks, did the cunning Enemy come, 
 and fow his Tares ^ when there was no bo- 
 dy at work, or awake to obferve him. 
 And, when he had thus covertly fown 
 them, what Wonder was it, that they 
 fhould grow up together with the Corn, 
 and Flourifh ? • 
 
 But did the Gofpel make fuch advan- 
 tages as thefe of Mens Credulity , and 
 Supinenefs ? No , it took all ways of 
 being Try'd and Examin'd to the utter- 
 mofl:. It alarm'd the World a good while 
 before-hand, and gave fair Warning of' 
 it's approach, by plain Signs, and Predi- 
 dions : and if the Prophecies, of the Old 
 
 Tefta. 
 
of the Go/peL (pj 
 
 Teftament will not be admitted, as Proofs 
 in this cafe, fure Tacitm^ and Virgtl may- 
 be heard ; tlie Firft of which lays it down, 
 as a known truth, that there was (about 
 the time of our Saviour) a ftrong Tradi- 
 tion, thro' all the Eaft^ of a certain migh- 
 ty Prince that was then, and there ex- 
 pelled to arife, and to govern the World ; 
 and the Latter, out of the Stbjlline Ver- 
 fes, tranfcrib'd fuch an Account of things, 
 as did evidently, and could only belong 
 to the Days of the Gofpel, and the Reign 
 of the Meffiah. 
 
 But the mod: Obfervable thing on this 
 Head, is, that God pitch'd upon that 
 particular Point of Time, for the mani- 
 feftation of his Gofpel, when Good Senfe, 
 and Learning , and Wit , were at the 
 higheli ; when the Roma» Empire was in 
 it's full Glory, and, together with it, all 
 the Arts and Sciences flourilhM : when 
 the World enjoy'd a profound Peace, and 
 was at Liberty to examine the Truth of 
 an Opinion, which fet up with fuch pre- 
 tences. Tlien did the Glorious Light of 
 the Gofpel fhine forth , and dazle the 
 Eyes even of Thofe, who were thought 
 to fee beft, and farthelf. And foon af- 
 terwards the Apoitles open'd their Hea- 
 venly CommifTion, and executed it pub- 
 
 lickly ; 
 
p4 37;^ Miraculous Tropagatim 
 
 lickly ; challenging thofe who look'd oil^' ! 
 with all their Curiofity, Subtlety, and 
 Spite, to difprove, or blemifh it. The 
 Doctrine of the Crofs fhew'd it felf bare- 
 fac'd to all the Wits and Sages of both 
 Rome and Athens ; and defy'd their Doubts, 
 and their Reafonings. And yet, under 
 Thefe difcouraging Circumftances alfo, 
 it took root doivmvards , and brought forth 
 fruit uprvardsy fpeedily, and abundant- 
 ly. A 
 
 ^th Help towards eftablifhing-any New- 
 Opinions in Religion is, if they be not 
 propos'd to Men all at Once, but infi- 
 nuated into them only by infenfible Steps 
 and Degrees : and this method hath of- 
 ten made way for the belief of the moft 
 monftrous Do6lrines, and the entertain- 
 ment of the wildeft Abfurdities. Wit- 
 nefs [once more] fevcral Articles in the 
 Roman Catholic Faith ; which, had they 
 been oHer'd to the minds of Men, at firft, 
 in their full Latitude, had been reje6:ed 
 with indignation and horror ; but being 
 proposed at half Views, and advanc'd by 
 little and little, were alfo gradually ad- 
 mitted by Men, not well aware of their 
 Utmoft Import and Tendency : every 
 firft frep into Error fmoothing the way 
 
 to- 
 
of the Go/peL nr 
 
 towards a fecond, and fo on, till the paf- 
 fage was widen'd enough for the Grof- 
 {e^ Contradidions to enter in at it. 
 
 Far from this Artificial Method of 
 winning belief, was the Religion of J^- 
 fu^s : Upon it's firfl: appearance, after the 
 Defcent of the Holy Ghoft, it offer'd it 
 felfto the View of Men, at full length, 
 and in all it's proportions. No Moral 
 Precept was referv'd for a more Conve- 
 nient Time, no Do6lrine (no Great, Fun- 
 damental Doctrine) was difguis'd , or 
 conceard. The MefTage it brought, it 
 deliver'd, plainly and openly, at once; 
 the moft unwelcome Pradical Truths, 
 as well as Thofe , which were better 
 Known , and ReceivM ; the Sublimeft 
 Points of Faith, together with fuch as 
 were more Eafie and Credible. 
 
 The Primitive Apollles did not, like 
 thofe of a Later date, the Fathers of the 
 Miffion of China^ preach up firll a Gloria 
 ffd,^ and then a Cruciffii Savioui* ; but 
 bore the Scandal of the Crofs wherefo- 
 ever, and to whomfoever they open'd 
 the Doftrines of it : The fl^ji^g of J^- 
 ^, and his being iMnged on n Tree^ is Ailsv.-'^ 
 mention'd in one of the firft Sermons of 
 S. Peter, This (humanely fpeaking) was 
 an Unlikely way of gaining Profelytes ; 
 
 and 
 
96 Tl^e Miraculous ^npagation 
 
 and yet, as Unlikely a Way as it was, 
 Thus were innumerable Profelytes gain'd. 
 
 Let us lay together what hath been 
 
 faid : The Gofpel of Chrift, at it^s 
 
 Earlieft appearance, had all the Probabi- 
 lities in the World againft it's Succefs : 
 for it was polTefsM fcarce of any One cf 
 thofe adv^antages, which do moft fignaK 
 ly recommend a new Doftrine, and make 
 it thrive. It had no Complying Tenets, 
 to footh Mens Appetites and Paflions ; 
 but was all Harfh and Auftere. It had 
 no encouragement, no proteclion from 
 the Civil Power ; no Force, or Gunning 
 to uphold it ; no Men of Eminence, and 
 Efteem, to engage on it's fide. The Age. 
 which was pitcli'd upon for the difcove- 
 ry of it, was more difcerning and en- 
 hghtned, more curious and inquifitive, 
 than, perhaps, any that either preceded^ 
 or followed it : and therefore the Succefs 
 of this DoO:rine could not be owing 
 to Men's Ignorance or Supinenefs. Fi- 
 nally, it's Promuigers dehver'd it not out 
 by Parcels, as is the way of Cunning and 
 Defigning Men ; but offer'd the Whole 
 of it to be all together examin'd, and 
 compar'd. Neverthelefs , tho' prefs'd 
 with All Thefe Clogs and Incumbrances^ 
 
 it? 
 
of the GofpcL nyt 
 
 it fprang forth, and made it's way into 
 the World, by a fwift and incredible 
 Progrefs. 
 
 The Inference from hence is plain and 
 indubitable ; That a Divine Power and 
 Vertue certainly went along with it, to 
 fupply what was Wanting to it , upon 
 Other accounts ; and that it's Increafe 
 muft needs have been Supernatural^ and 
 Miraculous : fo that, were we acquainted 
 with nothing more, concerning the A- 
 poftles, than what the Four Evangelills 
 have left us ; were the Book of their 
 A^s loll, and, together with it, an ac- 
 count of the wondrous Etfufion of the 
 Holy Spirit upon them, at the Day of 
 Pentecoif ; and of the mighty Signs and 
 Wonders, wliich they afterwards per- 
 form'd, in Vertue of that Undion : I 
 fay, were we in the Dark to all thefe 
 Tranfadlions , which declare the Chri- 
 ftian Religion to have been propagated 
 by Miracle ; yet ftill every Confidering 
 Man muft think that there was fome- 
 what Miracf-lo:is in it. Such an In- 
 creafe, from fuch beginnings ; fuch a 
 wonderful Revolution , brought about 
 by fuch weak and difproportion'd In- 
 ftruments ; is itfelf a Miracle , and the 
 greateft of iVliracies^ and doth as evident- 
 H ly 
 
^ 
 
 98 The Miraculous Tropagation 
 
 ly aiTure us, that the Preaching of the A- 
 I Cor. ii. poftles was in the Demor?firation of the Spi- 
 rit, arid of Power ^ as if we had heard them 
 fpeaking Strange Tongues , feen them 
 heahng the Bhnd and Lame, and re- 
 viving, the Dead. 
 
 III. In which Truth that we may be yet 
 farther confirm'd, let us confider (as I 
 propos'd), in the Third Place, what Shifts 
 the Enemies of the Gofpel make ufe of, to 
 evade the force of this preffing Argu- 
 ment. And the utmoft that any of them 
 pretend to fay, is, as follows. 'Tis true, 
 they will own, Chriftians multiply'd ve- 
 ry faft, and the Increafe of them was, in 
 fome fenfe, Miruulom : That is, it was 
 wonderful ; as every Unufual Thing is 
 to Thofe, who do not know, or confider 
 the Caufes of it. But to a man, they 
 fay, who dares to go out of the Common 
 road, and to think for himfelfy it will ap- 
 pear, that there was at that time a Set 
 of NAtitrd Caufes on foot, fuiEcient to 
 account for this Effect, without any re- 
 Gourfe to a Divine and Supernatural A- 
 gent. The Apoftles indeed were twelve 
 plain Illiterate Men , who had not , of 
 Themfelves, force, or skill enough, to 
 brmg about fuch an Event: but their 
 
 Natural 
 
of the GofpeL pp 
 
 Natural Inability was fupply'd by a fa- 
 vorable Juncture , by an happy Coinci- 
 dence of fuch Confpiring Caufes, and Ac- 
 cidental Advantages , as mightily help'd 
 on the Work. For Example, 
 
 The Sufferings of thofe poor bigotted 
 Creatures , the Martyrs , made mighty 
 impreflions upon Men ; efpecially upon 
 thofe of the fame Rank with the Suffer- 
 ers, the Common people ; who never 
 fail to take the fide of the Opprefs'd, and 
 to think That Caufe good (let it be what 
 it will), for the Profeffion of which A4en 
 are usM ill. Then, the Furitj of the Chri- 
 ftian Morals was. a mighty Argument to 
 bring the Men of Probity and Vertue 
 into the Interelfs of the Gofpel. And fo 
 likewife was the Analogy of fome of it's 
 MyfiicAl Trnthsy to the Do^rmes of PUto^ 
 (then in great elfeem and vogue), a very 
 good Bait to the Men of Philofophy, and 
 Learning, The Difiribution of Goods , 
 which the firitChriftians made, and their 
 living together in Common, was a good 
 Reafon for Many men's embracing that 
 Faith, which, they were fure, would 
 maintain them. The Cafual Cejfatmi 
 of Oracles was immediately turn'd to the 
 advantage of the Religion of ChriH^ as if 
 That had procur'd it. And the dejln/^i^ 
 
 H 2 on 
 
1 OO The Miracuhws Tropagation 
 
 on of the ^jemjJj State^ contributed great- 
 ly to the Increafe of the Chriftian Num- 
 bers ; becaufe it feem'd to have been fore- 
 told by the Founder of their Faith : and 
 therefore, luckily coming to pafs about 
 that time, rais'd an high Opinion in 
 Men of his Perfon, and Dodrine ; and 
 inclin'd them to think, that His Inftitu- 
 tion, then newly fet up, was defign'd 
 by God to fucceed in the Room of the 
 "^ewijh Eftablifliment, which, about the 
 fame time, hapned to pulFd down. In 
 the meanwhile, the Rulers of the World 
 cver-iook'^d^ and neglected to crujh^ a Do- 
 ctrine, which w^as fo harmlefs in it felf, 
 and fo unlikely to fucceed, on the account 
 of it's Abettors ; till, through Their Con- 
 nivance, it was at lait Univerfally re- 
 ceiv'd among the Vulgar fort, and the 
 Number of it's Votaries w^as grow^n fo 
 formidable, that even Princes themfelves 
 were forc'd, tor their Own Eafe and In- 
 tereft, to come into it, and profefs it. 
 
 And thus, fay they , feveral extraor- 
 dinary and unheeded Advantages con- 
 curi"ing to favour the Growth of Chri- 
 flianity, it grew indeed mightily^ and pre- 
 'vaiPd ; as a little River will fwell high, 
 and fpread itfelf wide, and run far, when 
 fwoln by Cafual Rains , and by many 
 
 other 
 
of the Go/pel 1 01 
 
 other Streams, which have emptied them- 
 felves at once into it. Such is the Ac- 
 count they pretend to give of the R-ife 
 and Progrefs of our Faith , from fecor^d 
 CauJeSy without calUng in ^/r/?, to folve 
 the appearance. 
 
 In oppofition to thefe Pretences, I will 
 fliew, that the Caufes here afTign'd were 
 utterly infufficient to produce the Event, 
 for which they are aflign'd : a fiiort Re- 
 view of them, I think, (and the time 
 will allow of but a fliort one) will eafily 
 fatisfie us concerning it. 
 
 The Blood of the Martyrs \\^as, indeed, 
 w^hat it hath been often ftyl^, the 
 Seed of the Church : but hov\^ ? Not, cer- 
 tainly, by allux^ing Men to the Frofeflion 
 of Chriftianity, at tlie Time rvhaj thofe 
 Martyrs fuifer'd : for nothing could have 
 a greater tendency to frighten and dif- 
 courage men from profefling the Gofpel, 
 than to tind, that they fliould be perfe- 
 cuted, and muft die for it. This only is 
 meant by that Saying , and thus far it 
 holds good ; That the Sufferings and 
 Torments, v/hicli the firft Chrilfians un- 
 derwent fo willingly and bravely, v/ere 
 a ftrong Evidence of the I'ruth of that 
 Doctrine , whicli could infpire it's Fol- 
 H i; lowers 
 
102 The Miraculous Vroj^agatkn 
 
 lowers with fo much Courage, Conftan- 
 cy, and Patience; and difpos'd men 
 mightily to embrace the Religion of 
 Chrift afterrr^rds, in better and more 
 quiet Times. But before that this Mo- 
 tive could have any confiderable Force 
 and Influence, the Gofpel had already 
 fpread and fettled itfelf every where : 
 and therefore nothing can well be ac- 
 counted for by it , but the AccefTion 
 which was made to Chrillianity, after it 
 was fuiBciently eftablifli'd ; and This, we 
 are ready to confefs, had nothing Extra- 
 ordinary in it, nor are we at prefent ma- 
 king any Enquiries concerning it. 
 
 Theiatne Anfwer ferves to difprove 
 that Qther pretended account of this In- 
 creafe, drawn from the Defiruclion of the 
 Jennjh State, We allow it to have ad- 
 ded to the Number^ of Chriftian Con- 
 verts, ivhen it hapned : but it hapned not 
 till near forty Years after the Death of 
 Chrift ; and by that time, Chriftianity 
 was ft-rong enough of itfelf, and needed 
 no Aids. And, even when this Event 
 hapned, tho Several Jervs promoted the 
 Interefirs of the Gofpel, by embracing 
 the Faith; yet the Obftinate Part Ot 
 them, which Itood out, did it much more 
 harm than the Profelytes did it good. 
 
 For 
 
of the C of pel. I o j 
 
 For die uncomplying Jcn^s were not fatif- 
 fy'd with rejecting Clu-ifl:;anitv, thcm- 
 felves; but made it their bufinefs to ren- 
 der it odious, fufpectcd, and contempti- 
 ble to the Heathens alfo, in all the Cor- 
 Tiers of the E.vih, to which the}' were 
 driven* 
 
 Thz Purity of the Chrifti an Morals^ and 
 the anfwerable Lives of Chriftian Con- 
 verts, did indeed very naturally lead 
 men to admire and vajue the Dotlrine 
 of Chrift ; but, by no means, to come 
 under the Yoke of it .• for tho Moft Men 
 have an Efteem for ftricl Rules , and 
 llriQ; Livers ; yet Few care to praftife 
 the one, or to imitate tlie other. And 
 nothing, I think, could be contriv'd fo 
 effedual, (next to tlie fornier wife Mo- 
 tive from the Sufferings of the Martyrs) 
 to dctcrr men Irom Chiillianity , as to 
 tell them, that, when they took it upon 
 them, they muft renounce their deareit 
 Appetites, and FafTions, and deny their 
 very Selves. And I defire the Men, who 
 raife thefe Obiedions againfr the Divine 
 Original of the Gofpel , to tell us tairly, 
 whether, if they had liv'd at that time, 
 they would have come in upon This Frin- 
 ciple. I am fure, they would not ; becaufe 
 it is This Principle alone, [that they mult 
 
 H 4 part; 
 
1 04 'The Miraculous propagation 
 
 part with their Satisfa6lions, and Plea- 
 fures, if they do] which keeps them out 
 of it now. Therefore, neither can This 
 be any Sufficient Reafon for the fudden 
 and wide Growth of Chriftianity. 
 
 The Andogj of fome my flic d Truths iru 
 the G of pel to the Doctrine of Plato , is 
 yet a weaker Plea. For this Motive is 
 calculated to touch but very few, onely 
 the Philofophers of the Academic School. 
 And with fuch, it could have no Great 
 weight, furely ; or, at leaft, not enough 
 to over-balance that Scorn and Con- 
 tempt , with v/hich, on other accounts, 
 they treated the Chriftian ReHgion, and 
 its Promulgers ; That, for its fhort, Un- 
 philofophical way of propofing Truths, 
 without Demonftration, or Reafoning; 
 and Thofe, for their Ignorance, and the 
 Meannefs of their Education. Accord- 
 ingly, we find not that the Sublime My- 
 fteries of our Faith made any Impreflion 
 on thefe haughty Reafoners: St. Faul 
 was derided at Athens^ when he proposed 
 them ; nor can we certainly learn that 
 any one Philofopher, of Note, embrac'd 
 our Religion, till it had been for many 
 Years preacli'd, and dilTeminated, and 
 had taken deep root in the World. 
 The Cafuai Ceffation of Oracles (as 'tis 
 
 cajrd), 
 
oftheGofpel 105 
 
 caird), about the Time of Promulging 
 I the Gofpel, was not Cafual, but the di- 
 reft and genuine Effe£l of it : and, we 
 own, had men underftood it to be fo 
 Then, and imputed the Total Silence of 
 thofe Oracles to its True Caufe, fuch a 
 Perfwafion would have been very ufeful 
 1 towards bringing in the Heathen World 
 ; to the acknowledgment of Chrift. But 
 1 we deny that tliey did at all underftand , 
 or allow it to be h. And for a plain 
 Proof of this, we referr our felves to that 
 I Celebrated Difcourfe in P/raarch, about 
 the Reafons of this CelTation ; where, a- 
 mong Many, wliich that Learned Man 
 1 afhgns for it, (vain Reafons indeed, and 
 I fuch as fhew him to have been at a Lofs 
 1 for the True One ! ) This, of the Com- 
 I ing of Chrift, is not mention'd, or hint- 
 j ted at : tho he gives there fuch an ac- 
 count of things, that a Chr^ilian might 
 1 eafily prove, from what He relates, that 
 ! it was really the Coming of Chrift which 
 effeded it. But this is a Point of too 
 important and nice a Nature to be fetled 
 incidentally, aiid mi.2;ht well deferve to 
 be confider'd in an entire Difcourfe. 
 
 Again , neither can any probable ac- 
 count be given of jthls matter, from the 
 Charitable Dijlnbutioii of their Goods ^ rvhicb 
 
 the 
 
io6 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 the frft Chridians made. For, fuppofing 
 that fome of the poorer fort might be 
 tempted by this Motive ; yet , furely, 
 thofe who had wherewithal to fuftain 
 themfelves, and were eafie in their Cir- 
 cumftances, did not come in upon it. 
 It will not be faid, I hope, that fuch as 
 made this Diftribution of their Goods 
 (which will be found to have been no 
 inconfiderable number ) came in them- 
 felves to partake of it. Nor could thefe 
 Hopes have any Great Influence, even, 
 on the Meaner fort; fince there was 
 fomething in the Chriftian Religion, of 
 far more force to frighten them, than 
 This was to allure them; the ftrift 
 Rules of Honefty and Temperance, ac- 
 cording to which they were bound tr 
 live, and the great Calamities and Per- 
 fecutions, which they were fure to un- 
 dergo. 
 
 Lajlljy no weight can be laid, in this 
 cafe, on that Contempt^ which Heathen 
 Primes are faid to have had of the Chn- 
 flian Religion^ and the little Care they, 
 therefore, took to reftrain it : for it is 
 not true, tliat they Hood by, unconcern'd 
 at its Growth ; on the contrary, it iscer-» 
 tain, that they look'd upon it v/ith a jea- 
 lous 
 
of the Go/pel i a^ 
 
 bus Eye, from its firfl Rife ; Sind the 
 
 Harly Fcrfecutions of A'ero (not to men- 
 
 t tion thofe of Domt't/ifi^ which were after 
 
 ' the Deftm£lion of Jerufalem) flicw that 
 
 • he took great notice of it , and endea- 
 
 • voiir'd to Extirpate it. However, let: 
 ', the B^oma-fj Emperours have been never 
 'To regardlefs of its Increafe ; yet it is 
 ' certain that they did no ways Counte- 
 nance it ; and that every one, wlio turn''d 
 
 ' Chrifbian , was fare by that means to 
 forfeit the Favour of his Prince, and to 
 be look'd upon as an Apolfate from the 
 ReUgion of his Country. And how, 
 evTn under fuch a PrelTure as this, could 
 Chrilfianity have made fo Rapid and A- 
 ftonifliing a Progrefs , if He , who is 
 mightier than tlie mightieft , had not 
 hid it go fort if and pofper againll all Hu- Ads v, 
 mane Difcouragements ? Had this Coan- ^^' '^' 
 yr/, or this Work been of iV/r;/, it would, 
 even without any direO: Oppofition from 
 the Temporal Power , have certainly 
 cfr,ne to nou^ljt^ as Gamaliel argu'd ; but 
 bein^ of God, rothinz could overthrow it, 
 I do not deny , after all , but that 
 Every One of thefc Particulars might, 
 in a natural way, contribute fomewhat, 
 cither to the Planting, or Spreading of 
 the Gofpel. But I think it is evident, 
 
 from 
 
I o 8 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 from the iliort Hints I have fuggefted to 
 you, that All of them together were not 
 able to do the thoufandth part of that 
 Work, which is allotted to them. And, 
 therefore, to refolve this Great Event 
 into a Co^fpiracji o^ fecond Caufes, as. 'tis 
 call'd, without any regard to the firfi, is 
 an abfurd and fenfelefs Attempt ; and 
 onely fliews us, how very ftrong an In- 
 clination and Biafs there is in Some 
 Minds towards Infidelity , which they 
 can be brought to efpoufe upon fo very 
 flight Grounds. 
 
 A man, who fliould fee an Acorn put 
 into the Earth, and perceive, in a few- 
 weeks, or months, an Oak fhooting up 
 from it , to a prodigious height , and 
 fpreading its Branches to an amazing 
 extent, fo as to over-top the loftiefl 
 Mountains, and even to cover the whole 
 Field where it grew ; might as well fay, 
 that there was a ftrange Confptrncy of 
 Ndtural Cmfes^ an extraordinary degree 
 of warmth , moifture , and fo forth , 
 which concurr'd to produce this effeft ; 
 as afHrm, that the vaft Succefs of the 
 Gofpel v/as owing to thofe petty Prmci' 
 fles^ from whence Some men pretend to 
 derive it. 
 
 But it muft be granted to them, that 
 
 their 
 
 I 
 
of the Go/pel 1 09 
 
 their Thoughts are of a piece, and that 
 this Opinion of theirs falls in with the 
 rell of their Syftem. For their Account 
 of the A'^erv Creation by Jefus Chrift, is 
 much like that which they give of the 
 Old one. It was a Lucky Hit of concur- 
 riilg Caufes which propagated Chriftia- 
 [lity. And it was a Lucky Hit alfo of 
 dancing Atoms, which firft made the 
 World: and 'tis the fame Lucky Hit, 
 which flili preferves and governs it too. 
 I'hey, who can bring themfeives to be- 
 lieve the Latter of thefe Opinions, may, 
 conliftently enough, be fuppos'd to en- 
 tertain the Former. But, certainly, no 
 other Creature, but an Atheift by Com- 
 !exion, could ever take up with fuch pi- 
 :li1 Accounts of things. 
 Well then, The Chriftian Religion, 
 from Anall and weak Beginnings, fpred 
 it felf far, and wide, after a fudden and 
 ftrange manner ; and this it did, againft 
 all Probability, and contrary to all the 
 Rules of Succefs, which all other Rifing 
 Opinions have ever fet up with : It had 
 no One of thole great Advantages, 
 fome of which recommend every new 
 Seft, that Hands, and prevails : and, as 
 for all other LelTer Helps , and AfTi- 
 : llances toward it's Increafe^ which the 
 i Gofpel 
 
[T ) o Tl^e Miraculous propagation 
 
 Wit of Man can aflign ; they are appa- 
 rently too weak to fuftain the Weight, 
 that is laid on them. It remains, 
 therefore, that this wondrous Effect 
 fprang undoubtedly from the immediate 
 Influence of the Firft Caufe, aQuating 
 after an Extraordinary manner the Jn- 
 duftry, and blefling the Endeavours of 
 the Apoftles ; ftirring up the Minds of 
 Men to attend to , and difpofing their 
 Hearts to embrace the Truths of the 
 Gofpel ; in a word, accompanying all 
 they faid, and did , with mighty Signs 
 and Wonders, with the DemonfirAtion of 
 the Spirit^ and of Power ! 
 
 I have fully confider'd Three of the 
 Five Points, on which I intended to dif- 
 courfe : Having reprefented to You, 
 
 First^ The Matter of Fad it felf , to 
 which the Prophecy of the Text referrs ; 
 how fwift and ftrange a Progrefs the 
 Gofpel really made, at, and after its firffc 
 fetting out from Jerufalem : Having 
 prov'd to You, 
 
 Secondly^ That this Succefs of it mull 
 have been Mtruulous, After which I did, 
 in the 
 
 Third place, fairly lay together what I 
 thought might be offer'd to evade the 
 
 Force 
 
of the Go/peh 
 
 Force of this Argument ; and gave the 
 feveral Objections their Anfwers. It re* 
 mains that I fhould confider, 
 
 Fourthly^ how great and how diftin- 
 guifliing an Advantage this brings to 
 the Chriftian Inftitution ; and to what 
 Ufeful Ends and Purpofes the Confidera- 
 tionofit may be apply'd: And then, 
 
 Lafilj^ Enquire into the Time when^ 
 and the Manner how this Miracle 
 ceas'd, and make fome fuitable Reflexi- 
 ons upon it, with regard both to Thofe 
 Mho liv'd Then, when this flop was put 
 to the Gofpel, and to Us who Uve Now 
 in the Latter Ages of the World. 
 
 But the handling of thefe Two Points 
 i null: be the Work of a Second Difcourfe. 
 
 Ill 
 
! 
 
"3 
 
 PART II. 
 
 IsAlAH Ix. 2l« 
 
 A little one fhdll become a Tlooufand 5 dnd 
 a fmali oney a jirong Nation : J, the 
 Lordy ufitt hajlen it in His Time. 
 
 OF the Five f bints which I pfo- 
 pos'd, from thefe Words, to han- 
 dle, Three have been confider'd : I come 
 now^ in the 
 
 Fourth place, to fhe^V", How great, IY» 
 &nd how dtflinguijhing an Advantage it is 
 to the Chriftian Inftitution, to have been 
 propagated after fo fwift and unaccount- 
 able a manner ; and to what ufeful Endi 
 and Purpofes the Confideration of it may 
 be apply^d. And 
 
 I I. This 
 
1 1 4 Tht Miraculous ^Yo^Agaiion 
 
 ift. This is, I fay, an Advantage pecu- 
 I'ur to the Chriftian InlHtution : For no 
 other Rehgion ever had lb large an In- 
 creafe, with fo Httle of Humane Aid and 
 AfTiftance ; or prevail d in fiich a manner, 
 as to make a Recourfe to Supernatural 
 Influences necelTary, in order to explain 
 the Succefs of it. This may be colle8:ed, 
 in great meafure, from what hath been 
 already hinted, in the preceeding Dif- 
 courfe. However, I flaall liere refume 
 the Reflection, and more particularly and 
 fully evince the Truth of it. 
 
 Of all falfe Religions, the Mahometan 
 cam.e nearefl to the Chriftian, in the fwift 
 manner of its Propagation ; for in a fmail 
 time it over-ran a great part of the Eaf^ } 
 ern World. But this Succefs, how exr 
 traordinary foever, had nothing miracu- 
 lous in it ) nothing, but what may eafily 
 be accounted for, by reflecting on the 
 Circumfl:ances (already intimated} with 
 which the Propagation of that Impofl:ure 
 was attended. Such, as the loofe Man- 
 ners , and lamentable Divifions of the 
 Chriflians of that time ; the Suitablenefs 
 of Mahomet'' s Doclrine to the fenfual In- 
 clinations of Men,efpecially oftliofeEaft- 
 
 ern 
 
of the Gofpcl 1 1 5 
 
 ern People, to whom it was firft ad- 
 drefs'd; and the Method he us'd of pro- 
 curing Submiffion to it, by the Dint of 
 the Sword, not by the Power of Perfua- 
 fion and Argument. A Religion, that 
 gave a full Indulgence to the Ambition, 
 the Luffs , and Cruelty of Mankind , 
 could not fail of gaining Profelytes; and, 
 when a Warlike and Savage Race of Men, 
 united by the hopes of Rapine and Spoil, 
 fet upon a diitolute , divided , and 
 weakned Enemy (as the Chriftians 
 then were) the Succefs of fuch an Enter- 
 prize was fure and eafie : and on the Suc- 
 cefs of Maljomet''s Arms the Succefs of 
 ]ik> Religion depended, \V.hen, by an 
 uninterrupted Courfe of Victories, he 
 Iiad laid the Foundation of the SaraccM 
 Empire , it was no wonder that a new 
 Empire fliould be able to introduce a 
 new Religion ; the Increafe of the One, 
 was naturally follow'd by a proportion- 
 able Enlargement of the Other: which, 
 therefore, I fay, had nothing miruulous 
 in it ; nothing, that rivall'd, or any-ways 
 
 refcmbied the Succefs of the Gojpcl- 
 
 that Stom^ which ivas cut out of. the Moun^ 
 tMri^ mthout Hxnds Q,e. without vifible 
 Ciufes and Tnlfruments, proportion d to 
 fuch a Work) and brake in peces all other , 
 
 I 2 Kj^'^gr.. 
 
I i6 The Miraculous ^rofdgatm 
 
 Kingdoms^ and at laft became it felf a 
 ■ C>3n. ii- nreat Mortmain, and filled the whole Earth, 
 
 As t6 the ^ewifh Religion, it will not 
 admit of any Comparifon with the Chrt- 
 fitan^ either as to the Manner of its firft 
 Reception, or the Addition of Converts 
 afterwards made to it. It was given to 
 the Jfraelttesj by Mofes^ in the Wildernefsj 
 whithef he had led them out of the Houfe 
 0^ Bondage, in their way to a Land floiv-^ 
 ing wtth Milk and Hon), Now (fetting 
 afide the Confideration of Miracles^ by 
 which the Jewifli and Chriftian Difpen- 
 fations were alike confirm'd) the Re- 
 ception of the Law by the Ifraelites from 
 fuch a Deliverer, under whofe Condu£^ 
 and Command they then entirely were^ 
 and in a place, where they had no Com- 
 niuaication with the reft of the World ^ 
 had nothing in it near fo wonderful as 
 the firft Plantation of the Chriftian 
 Church , by means of the Apoftles 
 Preaching. And, as to the Acceffion of 
 o Gentile-Converts, after the Tabernacle 
 was fet up in Shiloh ; it was too fmall 
 and inconfiderable, to give the ReUgion 
 of the Jews any Title, or Pretenfion to a 
 Divine Original, on that Account. 
 
 Th€ 
 
of the Gof^el I 1 7 
 
 Tlie narrow Limits of the Jewifi 
 Church are thus, under the Emblem of 
 a tranfplanted Vine, aptly reprefented 
 by the Pfahnift. Thou hafi brought (fays 
 he) a Vine ont of iEgypt, Thou h.ifi cajl 
 out the Heathen^ and planted it ; Thou pre- 
 pay edfi Room for tt^and didjl caufe it to take 
 deep Rapt, and it filed the Land, viz» the 
 Land of Jewry, wherein it was fet. Th^ 
 Hids (/. e, the Hill-Country of Judah, 
 the fartheft Point of Palejiine^ South- 
 ward) rvere covered with the Shadow of it^ 
 and the Boughs thereof were like the Cedars 
 of God, on Mount Lebanon, in the Extre- 
 mity of its Northern Borders. She fcnt 
 out her Boughs into the Sea (the Mediter- 
 ranean Sea , her utmpf]: Limit to the 
 Weft, ) and her Branches to the River , 
 even as far Eaftward, as the River Eu- pj-^ j^.^^^ 
 phrates. Thus was the Jewijb Church, 8,i?,io,n. 
 even in its moft ample and flouriOiing 
 Condition, fhut up within the Bounds 
 of Canaan, and the Countries adjacent : 
 Whereas that Mufiard-Seed, the Kingdom 
 of Chrijl, though it were lefs than all the 
 Seeds that be in the Earth, yet, when it 
 was [own, it grew up y and becan^e greater 
 than all Herbs, and jhot out great Branches, Luke xiii. 
 and the Fowls of the Air lodged in the ^'^^ 
 Branches of it : Men of all Countries, ^''l",;;- 
 
 I 5 and 
 
'i 1 8 The Miraculous propagation ■ 
 
 and all Religions under Heaven flock'd 
 to it for Shade and Shelter. 
 
 Indeed, the Mofaic Law was intend- 
 ed for a fingle People only, who were 
 to be fliut in, as it were, from the reft 
 of the World, by a Fence of Legal Rites, 
 and Typical Ceremonies ; and to be 
 kept by that means feparate and un- 
 mix'd, till the great Antitype, the Mef- 
 fiah^ fliould appear, and break down this 
 Fence , and lay open this Inclofure ; 
 publifhing a Religion, of a more exten- 
 five Nature and UCcy which all Man- 
 kind fhould be invited to profefs, and in 
 which all fiiould have an equal Intereft. 
 To thefe different Ends the Law^ and the 
 Gofpely were feverally defign'd; and to 
 thefe, therefore, the Different Circum. 
 fiances of their Promulgation , and the 
 chief Parts of their Worfhip, were feve- 
 rally accommodated. The Law was 
 (as I faid) given in the Defert, to a par- 
 ticular People j the Gofpel was publiHi'd 
 in Jerufaiem^ before a mixt Multitude 
 of various Nations and Languages. The 
 Miracles, by which the Law was con- 
 firmed, Vv^ere done before the Jews only, 
 who alone were concern'd in them [for. 
 as to thofe, perform'd by Mofes in the 
 fight of Phanoh , and the jEgy^tians ; 
 
 they 
 
' 
 
 of the Go/pel I I J 
 
 W-ire not intended to authorize the L/tr, 
 irhich was not as. yet given, but only 
 to prove liis Divine MifTion for the Tern, 
 foral Re/cue of that People]: Whereas 
 the Gofpel-Miracles were wrought before 
 the Enemies of the Gofpel, in all Coun- 
 tries ; becaufe in all Countries the Go- 
 fpel was to be propagated, believ d, and 
 jpra£lis'd. The chief Parts of the Jcvvifli 
 Worfhip (which confifted in Sacrifices) 
 were confin'd to a certain Place , at 
 which all the Males of that ReHgion 
 were bound, thrice every Year, to ap- 
 pear ; and that Religion , therefore , 
 could be intended for fuch only as liv'd 
 at no great Diftance from the Jcwiili 
 Temple: Whereas, when the Ends of 
 the Earth were to be converted to Chriif, 
 the Chriifian Sacrifice of Praife and 
 I'hankfgiving, and even the great Obla- 
 tion of the Eucliariil:, was to be per- 
 formed every where with equal Degrees 
 of Acceptance, according to the Predi- 
 ction of Malachi, the la If Prophet of the 
 Jewilli Difpenfation. For from the nfing 
 of the Sun to the going down of the fame ^ my 
 Ndme jh all he great among the Ge*?ttles ; and 
 in every place Incenfe fljall be offered unto my 
 Namey and a pure Offering : for ?ny Name 
 ffjall be great among the Heathen^ faith the j^. j • 
 Lord ofHofis, I 4 The * 
 
120 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 The ^ervififj then, and Chrifiian In* 
 ftitutions, as they are widely different 
 in many Refpefts, fo particularly in 
 This ; that the one was, by its original 
 Frame and Intention, limited as' to Place, 
 Perfons, and Time: whereas <he other 
 was to be diffus'd throughout the World, 
 and to endure together with it, that is, 
 to be, indeed, what we find it not long 
 ^fter its firft Ere^lion ftiPd, the ditholi^ 
 Church, Whereunto^ therefore, fball rve 
 liken this Kingdom of God, and its marvel- 
 . lous Increafe ? or with what Comparifofp 
 ^^ '^' fhall rve compare it? There is, indeed, 
 fome faint Refemblance of it in the pro- 
 digious Fecundity of 6Vf^i; which, accor^ 
 dingly, our Saviour makes ufeof more 
 than once, to illuftrate it : but there is 
 nothing parallel to it in the Hiftory of 
 all the Religions which have fprung up, 
 and obtain'd amongft Men, from the ber 
 ginning of the World to this Day. 
 
 And this peculiar Advantage of Chrir 
 ftianity is fp much the more remarkable, 
 becaufe ' 
 
 zdlj. It was prefignify'd by Types, anj 
 foretold by various Prophecies^ An(J 
 when, therefore, the Event came tp pafs, 
 if did, as it \yej!:e, point out its Author, 
 
 mi 
 
 \ 
 
of the Gofjjeh \t% 
 
 and declare itfelf to fpring from Him, 
 who alone knoweth , and ordereth the 
 Times and the Seafons^ and calleth the things 
 fhat are not^ as if they were. 
 
 Of Tjps, the moft illuftrious, and 
 rnoft worthy of our prefent Confidera- 
 tion, is That, which relates to the won- 
 derful Increafe of the Jfraelites in Ji-gj/pt ; 
 concerning which the Sacred Story fpeaks 
 in very expreflive and emphatical Lan- 
 guage : They were fruitful (fays Mofes^ 
 and increafed ahundantly^ and multiplied^ 
 and waxed exceeding mighty y and the Land was . , 
 j'?Wir/>/;r/;a/? ; and this(it feems)notwith' 
 ftanding the Arts that were us'd to leflen 
 their Numbers , notwithftandjng the 
 great Hardfhips and Severities that v/ere 
 laid upon them : for again it is faid, The 
 more the ^Egyptians affiled fhem^ the more 
 they multiply d , and grew, A livelier ^^* ^* '** 
 Image than which there cannot be qf 
 the thriving Eftate of the Chriftian 
 Church, under all the Cunning and Ma- 
 lice of its Heathen Perfecutors. Were 
 t:heSeed o^ Abrahm few, when they firfl 
 came to fojourn in ^gjpt ? no more than 
 feventy Souls? The Nvimber of the firfl 
 Difciples ofChrill, on the Day of Pen* 
 ^ecpflj when his Gofpel began to be 
 ■ ■ i ■ pr6= 
 
122 
 
 The Miraculous Propagation 
 
 propagated, was not much greater. Did 
 the feveral Kings of JEgyp keep a jealous 
 Eye'over the Children ot Jfrael^ and take 
 all manner of unjuft and cruel Methods 
 to prevent their Tncreafe ? Juft fo far'd it 
 with the earlieft Profeflbrs of the Gofpel 
 the Rulers of the World harafs'd and op- 
 prefs'd them, and did what they could 
 to cruHi Chriftianity, in its firft Seeds , 
 by fevere EdiQ:s, and Penalties, and 
 fubtle Contrivances. Did the I/raelites 
 thrive neverthelefs , and multiply ex- 
 ceedingly ; fo as in the Space of 430 
 Years, from the time of the Covenant 
 made with Abraham^ to come out of 
 jE^yft above 600000 flrongy that were 
 Men from twenty years old and. upvards^ be- 
 fides Women and Children, and a mixt 
 multitude not rank'd into diftin^l: Tribes 
 nnd Families, that were without Num- 
 ber? Thelncreafe ofChriftian Converts 
 was yet more wonderful ; and attended 
 with this remarkable Circumftance of 
 Refemblance, That it came to its utmoft 
 Pitch, near the fame Period of Time, to 
 wit, about 450 Years after our Saviour 
 had begun to preach and to fay, Repent^ 
 for the K^m^dom of Heaz/en is at hand. 
 Such a ftriO: Correfpondence there was 
 between thefe Events, that we may juftly 
 
 reckon 
 
I ■■ 
 
 of the Co/pel 1 1 J 
 
 reckon the one of'them, as defign'd to 
 : prefigure and typifie the -'other. Efpe- 
 daily, fince the Promife made to yJhra- 
 jum^ about tjie Fertility of his Ddcen- 
 dants was (6 worded by God, as at once 
 to include the Increafe of his A'atnral 
 and Spirftua/ Seed, and plainly to point 
 out that Accefs of Converts from All Na- 
 tions to the Church, which fhould hap- 
 pen in the Days of the Mf/fiah. In bleffing q^^ ^xiu 
 I ivill hlefs thee^ faid God, and in multiplj- 17, 1 8. 
 7}jg I Will multiply thy Sced^ as the Stars of 
 the Heaven^ and as the Sand which ts upon 
 the Sea-jhore, And in thy Seed (J, e, in 
 Chrifi, the promis'd Seed) fhall all the Na^ 
 tions of the Earth be bleffed. God begins, 
 we fee, with the AlTurance of a Tempo- 
 ral Blefling, a numerous Off-fpring, ac- 
 cording to the Flefii, and ends with the 
 future Enlargement of the Spiritual King- 
 dom of Chrtjt ; the former of thefe being 
 indeed a Figure only, or Myftical Em- 
 blem of the latter, to which this Divine 
 Promife chiefly referr'd, and in which it 
 was finally and fully accomplifli'd. For 
 the Scripture , forcJeei?7g that God would 
 jujlifie the Heathen through Faith, preached 
 before the Gofpel unto Abraham, faying. In 
 Thee f) all all Nations be blejfed. The fame Pro - Gal. iii. 8. 
 mife was afterwards cxprefly renew'd to 
 
 Jjaacy 
 
T24 • The Miraculous propagation 
 
 Gen.xxvi, jf^dc^ and "Jacob J but to none other of the 
 
 ^en. fucceeding Patriarchs: and from thefe 
 
 xxviii. 18. alone, therefore, God took his Title ^ and 
 
 vouchfafed to be call'd the God of Abrx^ 
 
 ham^ Ifaacy and Jacob; becaufe to thefi 
 
 alone he had made the Promife of that 
 
 Seed, in rvhom all the I^attofts of the Earth 
 
 (houU be bleffedy by being ingrafted into 
 
 his Church, and becoming the Subjeds 
 
 of his Spiritual Kingdom. 
 
 Many Predidions of the fame kind are 
 to be met witH, in the Pfalms^ and the 
 Prophets j particularly in Ifaiah, His LXth 
 Chapter, is nothing elfe but a Defcription 
 pf the glorious State of the Chriftian 
 Church , upon the abundant Accefs of 
 the Gentiles : and he clofes that Prophecy, 
 as we have hear^, with the Text, which 
 ^n few Words cgmprizes the fmall 
 Appearance the Gofpel fliould make at 
 firft , thp vaft Increafe if fliould after- 
 wards receive, and the fpeedy manner 
 Jn which it fbould take place. J little 
 one Jh all become a Thoufand, and a fmall one 
 A great Nation ; / the Lord will haflen u 
 in Hi6 time : In the Mejfiah*^ time this 
 great Event fhall come to pafs; and^ 
 when it begins, it fhall be ha^ned; it 
 fhall proceed \vithan aftonilhing and irrc- 
 fiftible Swiftnefs, until it be fulftU'd. 
 
 I; 
 
of the Gofpet. Ilj 
 
 If* then the vi(2:orious Progrefs of the 
 iGhriftian Faith be in itfelf a fufficient 
 Evidence of its Divine Original; that At* 
 gument muft needs be fomewhat height- 
 ned and improved, by confidering, that 
 the Spirit of Prophecy had long before 
 fignify'd and promis'd this Succefs : for 
 from the fame Spirit, from which the 
 Prophecy cartic, the Completion of it af- 
 terwards proceeded. I add, 
 
 3^/y, That the Advantage, peculiar 
 in this refpe£l to Chriftianity, doth from 
 hence alfo appear ; in that the wondrous 
 Succefs of the Gofpel confirms the Truth 
 of thofe Miracle fy by which it is faid to 
 have been planted, and frees the Account 
 of them from all poITible Sufpicion of Mi- 
 ftake, or Impoflure. 
 
 The only way that Infidelity hath left, 
 to efcape the Force of the Argument 
 drawn from Miracles, is, by denying the 
 Truth of the Fa6ls. How unreafonable 
 and abfurd a Plea tliis is, may be fhewn 
 many ways , particularly from hence: 
 That they, who deny the Credibility of 
 the Gofpel-Miracles, muft allow fome- 
 what elfe, altogether as incredible; to 
 Wit, that the Gofpel was propagated in- 
 to all the Regions, and fubdu'd all the 
 
 Re- 
 
12^ TIpe Miraculous propagation 
 
 ligions ofthe World, without Miracles : 
 which, confidering the Meannefs and 
 Incompetency of the Inftruments^ that 
 wrought this Effe»3:, is itfelf a Miracle, 
 and the greateft of Miracles*. 
 
 In vain, therefore, do fome Men re- 
 ject the Account oi the Miracles done by 
 the Apoftles, if they admit (and they 
 cannot but admit) the Account of the 
 extenfive and fwift Propagation of the 
 Gofpel by the" Apoftles means ; for the 
 one of thefe Accounts evidently confirms 
 and eftablifhes the other. The very Ex- 
 Lftenc^ of the World is a Proof, that it 
 was at firft miraculoufly created^; and 
 ioy even the Exiftence of the Chrillian 
 Religion (as at prefent fpread and pro- 
 fefs'd in the World) is a Proof, that it 
 was at firfi miraculoufly planted. For 
 the fecond Creation by Chrift Jefi-s, can 
 no more be accounted for by Natural 
 Caufes, than the firft ; and carries in it 
 as-evident Marks and ImprefTions of an 
 Omnipotent Power. 
 
 * n^i'-, « yji (DDiJ.elct iTToUy^ i-rei^ov ; « fj^ kTro'iomi^ 
 <9-e8 S'ui'jAui; i)'/^ « //./) k'Tro'iowjy K) c^c^.rowj, t^-oKv 
 ^(tnu-aslr^P^v h ro <rdy.Sdv Chryf. in i Cor. cap. i. 
 "Oray Kiyuffi uti yzv'fhi^ o;tiix^.cCj //ti^si'fjj kcuj]ii 'z^zet- 
 -TTh'pacrr tbto yt) ^jXyig-ov a-»fj.,^oi', ro, /;,«"£<? CDUeiati •!* 
 
 tiy^y,{/.ciTuy dv^jOoTTui/ di'jii^ciffctv. Id. ill A<^. cap. i. 
 
 <i Now 
 
of the Goffel 117 
 
 Now this Is fuch a Proof of the Reality 
 of the Apoftles Miracles, as is wanting. 
 t to thofe wrought for the Enabliflimeni:] 
 of the Law of Mofes ; the Authority of 
 which Ibncis fdlely on the,Authority of 
 External Teflimony, and the Trad itiprml 
 BeUef of the Jewifh Nation :"E)ut we have 
 no Internal Evidence of thejr ^Vuth from 
 : the Nature and Reafon of t];ie Event., 
 ' This way of Proof is partijCular to .thp., - 
 Gofpel-Miraeles ; the Accoimt of whicli, 
 comes to us,, not merely as Matter of Hi- 
 florical Truth, ' but as in itfelf dempn- 
 ilratively certain ; becaufe Miracles weife 
 necelTary towards diffufing .the Gofpel in 
 tliat fpcedy and effe£lual manner, where- 
 in it is confefs'd to have been propagated. 
 And, where an End cannot be obtain'd, 
 without particular Means, ' the vifible 
 Accomplill-iment of the End is a fure 
 Proof that thofe Means, mufl: have beea 
 employ'd, which were neceffary towards 
 attainuig it. . The Jewifli Worfliip 
 might pofpblj have been erected by Mo^ 
 fes in Cananriy though he had WTOUght 
 no one Miracle to conHrm it. The Cluri- 
 ftian Faith could not foffihly have takea 
 place in all the World, unlefs Miracles 
 had made way for it : And the Truth, 
 therefore, of the Gofpel-Miracles, is dou- 
 bly 
 
1 2 8 Tl:>e Miraculous propagation 
 
 biy certain to us, both from the Author!-^ 
 ty of Teftimony, and from the Reafon of* 
 the Thing ; which gives a mighty Ad- 
 vantage to them over thofe of Mofes, and 
 cuts off ill poflible Occafions and Prenl 
 tences of Diftruft from the Infidel, and 
 the Gainfayer. 
 
 Thus much to fbew, ** How great^ 
 ** and how diftinguifhing an Advantage 
 ** itistotheChriftianInftitution,tohave 
 •* been propagated ifter fo fwift and un* 
 " accountable a manner, as we find it 
 ** Was*'' It remains, that I ihould fhew 
 likcwife, *^ To what ufeful Ends and 
 *' Purpofes, this Confideration may be 
 " apply 'd, 
 
 three things there are, which we may 
 plainly learn from it. For it enables us 
 to give a clear Account, 
 
 1 . Why the DeftruQion of Jerufatem^ 
 and the utter Extermination of the Jews 
 was delay'd till 40 Years after the Death 
 of our Saviour. 
 
 2. Why Miracles ceas'd fo Toon in the 
 Chriftian Church, when they were con- 
 tinu'd fo long in that of the Jews ; eveil 
 as long at leait as their firft Temple laftedi 
 
 3. Why God did not fuffer Human 
 Learning, or the Civil Power to come ift 
 
 to 
 
of tie Go/pel lip 
 
 to the Support of Chrillrianity ; the one, 
 till above a loo; the other, till 300 Years 
 after our Saviour. A nd 
 
 I, "We may farisfy our felves, Why 
 tlie Deflru£lion of ^erufalem , and the 
 .itter Extermination of thcjewif/j State, 
 was delayed till 40 Years after the Death 
 GiChrift, 
 
 One would think, tliat the 'Jews had 
 compleatly fill'd up the Meafure of their 
 Iniquities, when they fpilt the Blood of 
 Cbnft^ and made themfelves in the moll 
 folemn manner anfwerablc for the Guile 
 of it ; and that they were even Then 
 jj:rown ripe for Divine Vengeance. But 
 our Saviour having Pray"d on the Crofs 
 (or his Murtherers , the Merit of that 
 Blood which they fpilt , prev^ild with 
 God to refpite their runiHiment for fomc 
 time, and to leave them Hill farther room 
 for Repentance. The Apoilles, therefore, 
 by an Exprefs Order of our Lord , as an 
 Antient Tradition informs us, tarried in 
 "^ideA and the neighbouring Countries, 
 'Vivelve Years after his Afcent ; Preach- 
 ing the Go/pel of KeconciU^tion to the 
 jf^n'^, and exhorting them to Repent^ and 
 he B'tpttjJdy every one of tbem^ in the Nume 
 of Jefus , for the Remiffion of their Sins : . ^ 
 
1 1 o The Miraculous propagation 
 
 particularly of that Great Sin tliey had 
 committed in Crucifying f he Lord of Life ^ 
 which is mention'd, not only in the Firsi; 
 but in all the feveral Sermons Preachd 
 to them by St. Peter , St. Stephen, and 
 St. Paul ^ whereof any Account is pre- 
 ferv'd to us in the yUJs of 'the Jpop/es^ 
 'J'licfe Applications proving fruitlefs, and 
 the Twelve Years expiring, God com: 
 manded the Difciples to execute their 
 Commiffioninitsutmofl: extent, and to go 
 Te itch and Baptiz.e all Nations^ that the Faith 
 of the Geniiles might be a Reproach to 
 the y^Jt-Z/Z; Infidelity. And fo indeed it 
 was. For nothing could better illuftrate 
 the Tnlinite Goodnefs of God , and the 
 incorrigible Ferverfenefs of that People ^ 
 than to obferve, that the reft of the 
 World fiock'd in to the Obedience of 
 Chrift, as foon as the Apoftles ere6led 
 the Standard of the Crofs, while the "^ews. 
 
 . frill ftood out Oh'linate and Impenitent: 
 The Reft of the World,. I fay ; who had 
 neithei- fo immediate an Intereft in the 
 
 • JSIeffiah^ as They ; nor were fo capable of 
 dilcerning his CharaQer, and the Time 
 of his Coming ; nor had any Share in 
 the Guilt of fpilling his Blood , which 
 might excite them the more eagerly to 
 « .^!;l r-,r the Gofpel-Pardon. v-'' Jijn 
 
 .:efs 
 
of the Gofpel 4 j 1 
 
 lefs than Thirty Years, after the Apoflles 
 fet out from jf^'^'^', they made Profelytes 
 every where; Their Sound went into all the 
 Earth , and their Words unto the Ends of 
 the World,^ And now, therefore, God's " ^<>^-^' 
 Mercy to the Seed of ^^r/j/?^«? being ma- ^ 
 nifefted in the moft confpicuoiis manner, 
 and their Infidehty being heightned by 
 all poffible CircUmftances o'i Aggrava- 
 tion, Heinflifted the Sentence of Excifion, 
 which he had before pronounc'd ; but 
 which could not be executed, till the 
 Church of the Gentiles , which was to 
 fucceed that of the ^ews^ had taken fuf- 
 iicient Root in the World. Hafle thee, 
 ( faid the deftroying Angel to Lot J* efcape 
 to Zoar , for I cannot do any thing [ /. f. 
 cannot execute rny CommifTion againfl: 
 Sodom'] till thou be come thither, \ And, in fGen.xijfc 
 like manner, may the Spirit feem to have ^^* 
 quickned the Induftry of the Jpoftles, by 
 laying , " Hafte Ye, fpread the Do£lrine 
 " oiChriH every where ; for, till that be 
 '• done, I cannot pour out my Fury on 
 "" Jerufalem, " Thus had our Lord him- 
 felf, a little before hisPaflion, declard; 
 'J his Gofpel of the K^ingdom fhall be F reached 
 j>i all the World , for a Witnefs unto all • 
 /Xations ; and then jball the End come ; || ll Ma.xxii 
 tliat is, the E.nd of the "Jemfh Polity, ^'^' 
 
 K 2 and 
 
132 The Miraculous ^ropagdtion 
 
 and of the whole Mofak Difpenfa- ; 
 tion. A 
 
 2«'. Thing, we may learn from the 
 fwift manner in which the Gofpel was 
 propagated , is , to give our felves from 
 thence an Account, why Miracles ceasd 
 fo foon in the Chriftian Church, when 
 they were continu'd fo long in that of 
 the Jews , even as long at leaft as their 
 firft Temple flood. 
 
 The great Ufe of Miracles was , to 
 confirm the Truth , and promote the 
 Reception of the Gofpel, at its firft fetting 
 out. That Ufe ceafmg , Miracles like- 
 wife eeas'd ; being gradually , and , in 
 about an Age after the Afcent of Chrift, 
 almoft totally withdrawn. For what 
 St. F^ul fays exprefly of Tongues , holds 
 equally true of all other Supernatural 
 Gifts and Powers , indulg'd to the firft 
 Promulgers of Chriftianity ; they were 
 Signs to thofe who believ'd, not , not to thofe 
 who believ'd. 
 
 Indeed , fincc the Jewijh Difpenfation 
 had receiv'd its Authority entirely from 
 Miracles, it could not, without more and 
 greater Miracles, be aboliHi'd. Since the 
 Kingdom of Satan , and the Idolatrous 
 \Vorfhip of the Heathen Gods, had been 
 
 ereded 
 
of the Go/pel I j ? 
 
 cre£led upon falfe and iji»g Wonders, tr/^e 
 ones were necelTary to overthrow it. 
 But, as foon as the Crofs of Chrift had 
 every where triumph'd in fome meafure 
 over Judaijm and P/iga/ufm; there was 
 no need of a continu'd Series of Mira- 
 cles, to compleat the Conqueft, or to 
 confirm the Faith of thofe whoembrac'd 
 Chriftianity. The manifeft Reafonable- 
 nefsand Excellence of its Precepts, were 
 of themfelves fufficient to make it flou- 
 rifh ftill more and more, and baffle all 
 remaining Oppofition. Efpecially, fmce 
 thofe, who were to live at the greateft 
 diftance from the Miracles done in the 
 Infancy of the Gofpel, might be as clear- 
 ly fatisfy'd of the Truth of them, as if 
 they themfelves had actually feen them; 
 partly , from the Evangelic ^¥ritings, 
 receiv'd early in all Chriltian Churches; 
 and, partly, from the Reafon and Nature 
 of the Thing itfelf ; \it being ( as I have 
 already fliewn ) altogether impoflible, 
 that, without Miracles, fuch a Degree of 
 Succefs fliould have attended the firll 
 Preachers of the Gofpel. 
 
 But now, as to the Law of Mofes^ the 
 Cafe was quite otherwife : For, though 
 it was ufliefd in by Miracles, yet thofe 
 ^Miracles being pertorm'd in the Defert, 
 
 K 3 with- 
 
 / 
 
134 Th^ Miraculous propagation 
 
 without any WitnefTes, but what were o^ 
 that Nation ; and before a Race of Men> 
 that were extinct e'er the Jewijb "Worfhip 
 was ereOied in Canaan ; and the Account 
 of thofe Miracles being contain'd in a 
 Bookjwhichwas all along kept fecret from 
 the reft of the World ; Infidelity foundfome 
 Room , or Colour to fufpect the Truth 
 of them ; Nor could it necelTarily be 
 inferr'd from that Degree of Succefs 
 which the "Jewijh Religion met with, 
 that it mufi have fprang originally from 
 Miracles. The Whole of chat Rehgion j 
 confifted in Ceremonious Rttes and Ob- 
 feyvances^ which had no Intrinfic Good- 
 nefs in them , nor any clear Marks or 
 ' Characters upon them of that Diving 
 
 Authority by which they were com- 
 manded. Their Typical Ufe and Refe- 
 rence, was little known to the Jervs them- 
 felves, and could be lefs difcern'd by thole 
 who were Strangers to the Covenant of 
 Promifes. In a word, the La w of il/(?/^j:, 
 as diftinguilh'd from all other Religious 
 Inftitutions, had nothing in the Frame 
 and Defign of it, apt either to recommend 
 it to its PrcfefTors, or to invite Profelytes. 
 During fuch a Ceremonious State, it 
 might be requifite for God, by frequent 
 Manifeft^tions of his Divine Fewer ^ncl 
 
 Pre- 
 
'^ of the Go/pel, 135 
 
 iPrefence, to keep diat backflidlng Peo- 
 ple within the Bounds of their Duty, and 
 procure Pvcverence to the Worfliip which 
 he had fet up from the Idolatrous Na- 
 jtions around them : It might be requi- 
 ifite, Ifay, that he fliould at, fit Intervals, 
 lown himfelf to be the Author of their 
 Religion , and do New Miracles, to 
 keep up the Credit and Influence of the 
 Old ones. Miracles, therefore, continued 
 jin that Church for many Ages after 
 its firft Erc6fion : For, befides thofe 
 which their feveral Prophets occafio- 
 1 nally wrought , the immediate Appear- 
 jance of God in the Shecbmah^ or Cloud 
 of Glory, and his Anfwers by Vrim and 
 Thummim^ were familiar, while the Ta- 
 bernacle , and firft Temple lafted ; and 
 even many of their Laivs^ ( for Inftance, 
 the Law of JealouJ) ^ thofe for the At- 
 tendance of the Jews at their Three Great 
 Feftivals , and for their Refl:ing in the 
 Sabbatic-Tear J were fo contriv'd, as to 
 be Demonftrative Proofs of the Imme- 
 diate Interpofition of God in the Aifairs 
 of that People. With good Reafon, 
 therefore, was a long Succeilion of Mi- 
 racles indulged under that Difpenfation : 
 Not fo, under the Gofpel ; which, after it 
 was fufficiently cflablifli'd , needed not 
 
 K 4 \'ew 
 
zz6 ne Miyaculous propagation 
 
 New Signs and Wonders, to preferve, or 
 promote the Belief of it; its Original 
 Succefs being , as it were , a perpetual 
 Standing Miracle, of fuiEcient Force to ,i 
 e\^ince its Divine Extraftion, from the^ 
 Beginning of Chriftianity to 4;he End 
 of it. A 
 
 ^d. Ufe, which, I thought, might be 
 made of the Miraculous Manner of Pro- 
 pagating the Gofpel , was , to give our 
 felves from thence an Account , Why 
 God did not fuHer Human Le/trning , or. 
 the Civil Poivev to come in to the Support 
 of it ; the One, till at leaft an Hundred ; 
 the other, till three Hundred Years after 
 our Saviour. The Defign of this Part of 
 the Divine Conduct feems to have been, 
 that the Eftablifliment of our Faith might 
 appear manifeitly to be the Immediate 
 Work of Fleaven, and not owing to 
 Fluman Means, or any Set of Natural 
 Caufes. The Apoftles themfelves con- 
 fefs (and glory in confefFing ) that, as 
 they Preach'd the Dodrine of ChriH in 
 the mod: fimple , artlefs manner ; not 
 with Excelkr^cy of Speech , or the Enticing 
 Words of Mans Wijdom ; fo the firfl: Con- , 
 verts , whom their Labours brought 
 over to the Faith, were generally Mean 
 
 Per«= 
 
I ■ 
 
 of the Go/pel ' 137 
 
 - Perfons, of no acquir'd Knowledge, no 
 Rank, no Education. For, A^or many Wife 
 Me-a after the Flefh^ not many Mighty^ not ma- 
 ny Nohl^ were call d\hut God. chofethe Fooliflj 
 things of the World^ to confound the Wife • 
 and the Weak things of the World^ to con- 
 found the things which were Mighty ; and 
 :he Bafe things of the World^ and the things 
 which were defpls'd did he chufe-^ yea and 
 the things which were not , ( fuch is the 
 Lefs'ning-Phrafe of St. Paul ) to bring to 
 nought the things which were. * The * i Cor. u 
 Reafon o^\v\\ichChoice is plainly fet down -^'^7'**' 
 in the following Words ; That no Flejh 
 
 \ ^^^ght glory in his Prefence : He would 
 have no Rivals, no Sharers in the Glory 
 of this Event ; and, therefore, produc'd 
 it in fuch a Manner , and by fuch unpro- 
 portion'd Means, as to make it impoffible 
 for confidering Men to miflake the true 
 Author ; fo, as that all, who look'd on, 
 fnould be ready to cry out , This is thy 
 Hand, and thou^ Lord, haH done it A- "''^^^^* ^^^ 
 
 Indeed it was, on more Accounts than 
 one, requifite,that HumanLearning fhould 
 not be admitted into the Chrift ian Church, 
 till it was fufficiently fpread and fetled. 
 For, tho' the Ufe of Learning might from 
 the beginning, have been great, in order to 
 confound the vain Sophiftry, and wild Su- 
 
 per- 
 
 »7. 
 
J J 8 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 flkion of the Greeks, and to vindicate the 
 Doftrine of ChrisJ againft all their Ob- 
 jections ; yet great Inconveniences might 
 alfo have redounded to the Faith by the 
 means of it. For it muft be confefs'd, 
 that , when Philofophers in after-times 
 embraced our Religion , they blended it 
 often with the peculiar Notions of thofe 
 Seds in which they had been educated, 
 and by that means , corrupted the Pu- 
 rity and Simplicity of the Chriftian 
 Dodrine. Had this hapned from the 
 Beginning , fuch an Early Mixture of/ 
 Philofophy with Chriftianity would have 
 bid fair for an Univerfal Reception in 
 fucceeding Ages. But the Gofpel being 
 firft , for an Age and more , purely and 
 fimply profefs'd, there was no great dan- 
 , ger of its fuffering from the Subtilties 
 and Refinements of Philofophy after- 
 wards ; becaufe every Chriftian was then 
 able to compare them with, and try them 
 by the plain Primitive Rule of Faith, 
 received till that time in all Churches ; and 
 might fecurely rejeft, or admit them, 
 upon fuch a Comparifon. 
 
 For thefe Reafons , the Learned and 
 Wife of this World feem to have been 
 overiook'd by God in the firft Plantation 
 of the Gofpel ; that neither its Succefs 
 
 might 
 
of the Co/pel 135^ 
 
 ^mlght be imputed to their Skill and 
 
 . iAfliftance , nor its Doftrine run the 
 
 ^'Rifque of being blended early with their 
 
 . particular Opinions. However, ftill we 
 
 may obferve , that the Admiflion of 
 
 ' LccLrning was long before the Admiflion 
 
 of the Civil Power ; becaufe the former, 
 
 \ having lefs Force and Influence than the 
 
 latter towards procuring the Eflablifli- 
 
 ment of the Gofpel, was, confequently, 
 
 lefs liable to be fufpe£led as the Caufe of 
 
 it. Let me add alfo, that, as the Powers 
 
 of this World would have been mightier 
 
 Inftruments of advancing Chriifianity, 
 
 than Human Learning could be, fo would 
 
 they have been more able, and m.ore jike- 
 
 ly to corrupt it, and enervate the Force 
 
 of it; as we find, that, not long after 
 
 tlieir coming into the Chnilian Church, 
 
 they actually did : And therefore, on this 
 
 Account likewife was their Admifliou 
 
 longer poflrpon'd. For near 500 Years 
 
 dtter Chrift, j\o Roman Emperor em* 
 
 brac'd the Faith ; tho' they were (feveral 
 
 of them ) Men of great Moral Venues, 
 
 and not j)ir jrom the Kjngdom of God ^ as 
 
 to their Perfonal Qualifications and Cha- 
 
 ,a6lers. Such, particularly, wevel^efpaftan^ 
 
 I Titus^ Trajan J Adrian^ and the two Anto- 
 
 \ vines. Yet it pleased the Divine Providence, 
 
 that 
 
140 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 that even thefe good Emperors, inftead 
 of embracing , and protecting the Chri- 
 ftian Faith , fhould difoourage and per- 
 fevcute it; that fo the Kjr?gdom of Chrisi^ 
 which was not of this WorU , might not 
 be beholden to any of the Kingdoms of 
 this World for its Eftablifliment ; but 
 fpread and fix it felf every where, not only 
 without the Aid of Princes , but againit 
 their Will ; in fpite of their fierceft Oppofiti- 
 on, nay even by the mea>ns of it. The KJngs of 
 the Earthy md the Rulers took Counfel toge- 
 iher^ againFt the Lord^ and against his Ari^ 
 ointed. He jhat fat in the Heavens laughed 
 them to fcorn , the Lord had them in derifwn. 
 He fet his Kjng ufon his holy Hill of Sion^ 
 firft ; and then , gave htm the Heathen for 
 his Inheritance , and the uttermoH Farts of 
 *VhUliahe Earth for his Pojfeffion.'^ Herod, and 
 4» ^> 8. fontitus Ptlate began this Oppofition, (for 
 thus hath St. Peter exprefly apply 'd thQ ' 
 t Aft. iv. Prophecy f ) and the Roman Emperors, 
 '^'^- till Conftantine, continued it. Neverthe- 
 lefs the Word of God went on, conque- 
 ring , to conquer ; till it had fuhj-. 
 du'd even thefe Subduers of the World 
 to the Obedience of theFaith,and brought 
 * Rev. iv. them to casl their Crowns before the Throne"^ 
 -'^' of the Lamb, and to acknowledge, that 
 the Fool/Jbnejs of God is rvijer than Men, and 
 
 the 
 

 of the Go/pel. j ^ | 
 
 ^he Weaknefs of God is ftronger than Men^ i Cor, 
 ^ven than the ftrongeft, and the higheft a- " 
 cnong the Sons of Men. There was then a 
 Chriilian Church, long before there were 
 my Chriftian Princes ; She did not giow 
 ap under Their Shadow,but receiv'd them 
 into Her Bofom : And, as fhe fubfilkd for 
 feveral Centuries , e'er the Civil Power 
 came in to her, fo will She endure for end- 
 lefs Ages, when the Civil Power fhall be 
 no more ; and even now, w hen flie receives 
 
 IProteftion and Encouragement from it, 
 yet is She in all the chief Funftions and O- 
 perations of the Minifters of her Spiritual 
 Kingdom, independent upon it. Thus did 
 God order things, on purpofe , that the 
 DilfinQion of thefe feveral Societies, 
 Offices, and Powers might be evident; 
 and perpetually, without Encroachment, 
 or Confufion, preferv'd : And, let no Man 
 \oin together what God hath thus put afunder \ 
 It remains that I fliould under mj 
 
 Fifth and laft General Head, briefly in- 
 quire into the Time when, and the Man- 
 ner how this Miracle ceas'd,and make'fuit- 
 able Reflexions upon it,with regard both 
 to thofe who liv'd then, v/hen this Check 
 was given to the Gofpel, and to Us, who 
 live now in the Latter Ages of the World. 
 
 The 
 
 V, 
 
14^ Tlje Miraculous Propagation 
 
 The plain Anfwer to the Enquiry pro- 
 pips'd, is,That the Miracle ceasM, when the 
 Civil Power began to declare openly in Be- 
 half of Chriftianity ; that is, foon after C(?i??- 
 siantine came to the Throne. For it was 
 no longer a Wonder, that our Religion 
 fhould thrive and flourifli ; when, inftead 
 of bitter Perfecutions , in met with all 
 tBaflner of Encouragements. For a Cen- 
 tury after Confiantine^ and upwards, the 
 Number of Chriftians multiplied exceed- 
 ingly inall the Parts of the World in which 
 it had already been planted, and to which 
 theEmpire o^th^Romanspv their Influence, 
 did extend. For above a Century after 
 that, Chriftianity feems to have been at 
 a ftand , neither gaining much ground^ 
 nor loling much, unlefs only in the Lives 
 of its lukewarm ProfelTors. But then it 
 declin'd apace every day ; Diflentions 
 among Chriftians grew hot , and their 
 Zeal for Religion waxed cold. The great 
 Honours and Endowments, which Reli- 
 gious Princes had bellowM on the Church, 
 did too often occafion Ambition and 
 Luxury in thofe who contended for them^ 
 or pofTefs'd them. In a \\'ord, all the Vices 
 of Profperity abounded, together with 
 the Advantages of it : So that the Name 
 of Chriftianity was no longer Venerable 
 
 in 
 
of the GofpeL 145 
 
 in the Eyes of Men ; and its holy Dodrine 
 not producing an anfwerable SanQity of 
 Life, made no farther Impreilions upon 
 them. This unhappy Opportunity Maho- 
 met laid hold of, to fet up his Religion; 
 which being (as I have feid ) fuited to 
 the Voluptuous Manners of the Eaft, and 
 feconded by the Power of the Sword, 
 made large Inroads into Chriftendom, 
 and tore away entire Provinces at once 
 from the ProfefTion of the Gofpel. Since 
 that time, Chriftianity feems to have 
 been almoft in a continual Decay : The 
 Hedges of this Vineyard of God being broken- 
 doivny all they that rvent by plucked off her 
 Grapes ; thiWild-Boar of the Wood did root 
 it upy and the wild BeaH out of the Field did 
 devour It '^-^ till a Difcovery of fome un-^Pf-lxxx 
 known Parts of the World open'd a new 
 Way for enlarging the Bounds of ChriiVs 
 Kingdofli. The Zeal of fome Devout 
 Men , ^ tho' mix'd often with Private 
 Interefts and Defigns ) ftir'd them up to 
 make ufe of this Advantage, and to Pub- 
 Hfli the Gofpel of Chriil: in the remoteft 
 Corners of the Eaft, whither, it is proba- 
 ble , none of the Apoftles ever came. 
 There alfo Chriftianity (a corrupt' and 
 fuperftitious Chrillianity ) hath gotten 
 footing. How long it may.continue, and 
 
 how 
 
 11, 13, 
 
144 "^^'^ Miraculous Propagation 
 
 how far it may advance, is known to Hinj 
 alone, ic^ho hath determinil the Times before- 
 df pointed , ( to Religions, as well as Na- 
 t Afl.xvii. tions) and the Bounds of thetr Habitation,-]" 
 *^' I fhall not prefume to inquire into it ; but 
 
 fliall raife an Ufeful Refledion or two^ 
 from what hath been obferv'd on this 
 Head , and with a fliort Application of 
 it to our Selves, fhall conclude this Dili- 
 courfe. 
 
 The ImperfeO: Propagation of the Go» 
 fpel , and the Prevalence of Mahometifm 
 over it, are fome of the darkeft Secrets of 
 Divine Providence. But the Caufes, that 
 contributed to produce this great Revo- 
 lution , are manifeft : they were plainly 
 the Vices and Difcords of the Chriftians 
 of thofe Times, that gave the Enemies of 
 our Faith Courage to attack it, put Wea- 
 pons into their Hands , and furnifh'd 
 them with all manner of Ac^antages 
 againft it. Chrift came into the World 
 on purpofe to fubdue the Power , and 
 deftroy the Kingdom of Satat:^, He 
 difplay'd the Banner of his Crofs , and 
 fummon'd all Nations to repair to it; 
 who accordingly obeyed the Signal* But, 
 while the Extremeft Parts of the Earth 
 were meditating a Submiiuon, while his 
 greateft Enemies were halfening to put 
 
 their 
 
of the G of pel ^^4J 
 
 their Necks under his Feet, a Hop \vas 
 put to their Intentions , and his Tri- 
 umphs, by the Mutinies and Defertions 
 of his own Soldiers. Who can fuiUcicnt- 
 \y deplore the Guilt, and deteft the 111 
 Influence of thofe Vices which cut off 
 fo many Kingdoms at once from the 
 Empire of Chrift ? not only arrefted his 
 DoArine in its full Courfe, and faid to 
 it, Hitherto flj alt thoii come ^o-rid no further - 
 but made the Sun of Righteoufnefs go 
 backrvard^ as it were, ten Degrees^ and 
 leave many Countries under grofs Dark- 
 nefs , which had once been enlightened 
 with the faving Truths of the Gofpel ? 
 Certainly, Spiritual Faftion and^Pride , 
 and Uncharitable Breaches of Chrilf lan 
 Unity and Peace, are not fuch flight 
 Offences as fome Men are willing to 
 think them; fmceit was owing in great 
 meafure to Tliefe, that the Univerfal 
 Reign of Chrift upon Earth was then 
 hinder'd, and the Accomplifliment of 
 the f rophecies in that refpedl deferr'd to 
 diftant Ages. 
 
 Many Princes fmce, indifcreetly Pi- 
 ous, have made Attempts to regain the 
 Ground Chriftianity loll, by the Force 
 of their Arms, and to plant the Faith 
 anew in thofe Places, where it once had 
 
 ^ L Pof- 
 
^i^6 The Miraculous <Pr op a^ation 
 
 PolTefTion, by the Points of their Swords^ 
 But ( alas ! ) that great Work is to 
 be accomplifli'd, not by fuch Holy 
 Wars as thefe ; but by Confli8:s of another 
 kind, which we mull: maintain with our 
 own Corrupt Habits, and Vicious Inclina- 
 tions ; not by Foreign Acquifitions,but Do- 
 meftick Vi8:ories over thofe Impieties 
 of Chriftians, which gave the great Ene- 
 my of our Faith his firft Advantages 
 againft it : For tho' the Kjngdom of He a- 
 
 Matth.xi. <ifgf2juffer'viole'/7ce, and the I'iolent take it by 
 force ; yet the Weapons of our Warfare are 
 
 i Cor.x.4. fiot Carnal^ but Spiritual. When the Con- 
 verfations of thofe that name the Name 
 of Chrifl become agreeable to the Puri- 
 ty of his Do£lrine; when the Divifions 
 of Chriftendom are healed , and the Pro- 
 feifors of our Holy Faith live together 
 every where like Men of one Mind, in 
 one Houfe ; then fhall the Sceptre of 
 Chrift's Kingdom extend itfelf to all the 
 unconverted parts of the Earth, and not 
 fooner. 
 
 That God, e'er the Day of Final Doom, 
 will bring this about , the Scripture 
 feems to fay : but of the particular I'ime, 
 at which he will etfeQ: it, we know no 
 more, than of That, in which he will 
 come to Judgment. However, let us 
 
 All, 
 
of the Go/pel ^\\7 
 
 All, as far as lies in our Power, con- 
 tribute to this Great Event, and pre- 
 pare the way for it. None of Us, T 
 think, are now oblig'd to enter upon the 
 Mijfion^ and facrifice our Lives, in order 
 to fpread the Gofpel among the Mxho- 
 met.xns^ and Heathens : I fay, None of 
 us, I think, are now ohli^'^d to it, as not 
 being arm'd with the Power of Miracles^ 
 requifite for fuch an Attempt. How- 
 ever, without hazarding our Lives, 
 much may be done by us, both at Home 
 and Abroad, towards encouraging and 
 promoting fo good a Work. And let us 
 not blame, much lefs deride thofe Good 
 Men (though of another Communion) 
 whofe honeil Zeal hath carried them yet 
 farther. Let us rather mention with Ho- 
 nour the Names of as many of them, as 
 we can reafonably fuppofe to have been 
 led into this Dclign by fmcere Motives 
 of advancing the Glory of God, and the 
 Salvation of Souls, without aiming at 
 By-Ends, or any Temporal Advantages; 
 and let us wifh, that the Reformation 
 had not undergone juil Reproaches for 
 its Backwardnefs to promote fo glorious 
 an Enterprize : an OmifTion, not eafily 
 to be excus'd in fuch Proteilant Nations, 
 as have greatly enlargd their Traiiick 
 ^ L 2 and 
 
Rom. x:i. 
 14. 
 
 ^148 The Miraculous propagation 
 
 and Wealth, by the Productions of thofe 
 Countries , wherein many poor Igno- 
 rant Savages dwell, who want only to be 
 inftrudled in the faving Knowledge of 
 Chrifi, in order to embrace it. But, how 
 fball they hdkve in Htm^ of whom they have 
 not hedrd ? and how fjali they hear without a 
 Preacher? It might juftly be expected, 
 that Thofe, who had been -partakers of the 1 
 Carnal tBngs of tht^Q Gentiles^ fbouldhave 
 rainifired walo them in Spiritual things ; \ 
 that, after enriching themfelves by the 
 Spoils of thofe Provinces (which I know { 
 not what Right they had to invade, and 1 
 conquer} they fhquld at leaft have made i 
 them that charitable Return of planting 
 the Gofpel among them ; a Work, of 
 greater Importance, and Service to the 
 the Publick, than all their other Plant a^ \ 
 ttons. 
 
 But this is a Refle£lion, in which, per-?' 
 haps few, if any, that hear me, are con-i 
 cern'd. To conclude, therefore, Let e- 
 very One of us, in our feveral Places an^ 
 Stations, do our beft to promote the 
 Kingdom of Ciirill: within us, by pro-. 
 motifig the Love and Pradice of FA'an-? 
 gehcal Purity, and Holinefs ; and let us 
 hkewife frequently put up our moft ar- 
 dent Requeih tor the Enlargement of his 
 
 VlfH 
 
cf the Goffel ?H? 
 
 Vifible Adminiftration without us ; be~ 
 
 feeching God, in the Words of our Church, 
 
 '• that he would pleafe^of his Gracious Good^ 
 
 \ nefsy jhortly to accompUJh the Number of his 
 
 Elect , a^d to hafien the Kjngdom oj his 
 
 Dear Son i 
 
 To Him^ with the Father^ And the Holy 
 Ghofi^ be afcrib'd all Honour^ Domi- 
 nion and Mighty norv and for ever ! 
 Amen, 
 
i 
 
 \ 
 
1l 
 
•45 
 
 A Scorner Incapable of True Wifdom. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the 
 
 O u E E N 
 
 A T 
 
 WHITE HALL. 
 
 OBoher 28. 169 4. 
 
 PROVERBS xiv. 6. 
 
 A Scorner Jcek^th Wifdom^ and findeth 
 ft not, 
 
 IT is the Wifelt among the Children 
 of Men, who fpeaks ; and about That, 
 which moflL nearly concerns Us, and He 
 bed iinderftood, even the Method of at- 
 tnining True Wifdom; It becomes u?, 
 Tl, thera- 
 
i4<5 A Scorner Incapable 
 
 therefore, to give the moft fixt and feri- 
 ous Attention, we can, to what he is 
 faying. 
 
 A Scorner^ faith he, feeketh Wifdom, and 
 jifjdeth it not. Where we are, firft, to 
 enquire, Who it is, that i*^ reprefented 
 to us, under the Chara£l:er of .t Scorner ; 
 and, then, in what Senfe he is fald to 
 feek iViJdom^ but not to find it. 
 
 The Scorner is One, who is frequentl} 
 mention'd in this Book of Proverbs ; and 
 againft whom the Author of it hath le- 
 veird no fmall Number of his Apoph- 
 thegms, and wife Sayings. We find L 
 the Pfahns^ and Prophetick Writings alfO; 
 jnany Glances at him, many Complaints 
 of him : fo that the Nation of the 5'^« 
 did, it feems, abound mightily with tl: 
 Sort of Men ; and they were a Grea' 
 and Particular Grievance to the Follower! 
 of Tyuq Piety and Wifdom. 
 
 Their Character feems, in fliort, t 
 have been This. They were Men, that, 
 with much ado, had made a fhift to get 
 rid of Good Principles , and fuch Itiif 
 Opinions, as they found inconfiltent with 
 a Loofe Practice. As they had not any 
 Religion themfelves, fo their Way was 
 to defpife Thofe wlio had ; to look down 
 
 with 
 
of True Wijdom. 147 
 
 with Pity and Contempt upon a poor de- 
 luded Under-World ; Beafls of Burthen 
 that followM , in a Track , after their 
 Leaders ; Slaves to receiv'd Rules, and 
 Precarious Opinions, to Foolifli Empty 
 Forms and Obfervances ; but who ne- 
 ver once reafon'd freely, or thought for 
 Themfelves. They were unfortunate- 
 ly fallen into a Time , when frequent 
 Commotions hapned in the Jemfi State 
 (as the Cafe remarkably was, in the Age 
 before Solomon came to the Throne) and 
 had feen feveral Sorts of Men uppermoft, 
 and , confequently , feveral Notions olf 
 things prevailing by Turns. This contri- 
 buted mightily to unfettle theirThoughts^ 
 or (as They calPd it doubt lefs) to enlarge 
 them ; to create in them a flight Opinion 
 of the Eternal Differences of Right and 
 Wrong, Good and Evil ; and to make 
 them laugh at Thofe, who were Eager 
 on any Side, or for any Caufe whatfo« 
 ever, which they did not get by. 
 
 They evidently fiw that Some, who 
 fiit up for greater Purity, and a Demurer 
 Shew and Face of Religion than their 
 Neighbours , were really Counterfeits , 
 and meant nothing, at the bottom, but 
 Their own Interelf, And they wifely 
 refolA^'d , upon this , that All Religion 
 L 2 ^vaVif 
 
148 A Sconter Incdpahle 
 
 was, Hke Theirs, a Coiwenlent Trick 
 and Pretence only ; invented by Cun- 
 ning men to keep fillv People in awe, to 
 make Princes Reign fafely, and the Prieft- 
 hood Live Eafily. But as for Them,- 
 they knew better things than to fall in 
 with the Herd , and to give themfelves 
 up to be ridden by the Tribe of Levi ; 
 the Poorell and moft Contemptible Tribe 
 of the Twelve, which had no Lot, no 
 Lnheritance among their Brethren; but 
 liv'd upon the Cheat of SacriHces and 
 Oflerings , and upon driving a Gainful 
 Traffick for the Good Things of This 
 World, here paid down to them, by pro- 
 mifing, and preaching up to Thole they 
 dealt with, a Recompence in a World 
 to come. 
 
 Nor were tliefe men content' to enjoy 
 this' Secret, which the)' had thus found 
 out, quietly among themfelves ; but fet 
 up openly for Profelytes, and a Party; 
 for running down all Religion, and tor ' 
 laughing Piety and Virtue out of Coun- 
 tenance : fo that a Good and Honeft 
 Man was fure to be their Mark, where- j 
 foever they found him ; and they were > 
 Pial.lxiv. ever jhootmg their Arrows againll him, 
 3' even Bitter i^-^ords. And this was come ; 
 
 to that pafs, that the True Servants of 
 
 God 
 
of True Wljdom, 14. 9 
 
 God did alinoft fink under the Affllftion ; 
 and ^lid make it matter of PublicL K. 
 quell to God in the Solemn Service or 
 the Cliurch, to be freed from it : — ■ Hat's. 
 mercy upo?i us^ Lord^ laid They, haz'e Pf. cxxiii. 
 wercj upon us^ jor we are exceedi.tgly fiU.rd 3' ^' 
 ^vith Contempt. Our Soul is exceed!, . 'g!y nl-- 
 led ivith the Scorning of Thofe that are at 
 l.afe, and with the Contempt of the Proud, 
 TJiis is, in fome meafure, the Chara- 
 Tter of That man, who, in the Language 
 of the Text, is callM J S corner ; and You 
 fee now, in wliat Senfe he is fa id to feek 
 Wtfdoniy but not to find it. For the mean- 
 ing of thefe Kxpreifions is plainly this ; 
 That He pretends to know^ more, and to 
 fee farther, than the reil of mankind \ 
 to have made freer Enquiries aftei-Tru.tli, 
 and to have iliakeji off the Prejudices of 
 Education more throughly : He fets up 
 for examining things to the bottom , 
 without taking them upon Tiadl:, or re- 
 lying on tlie Autliority ofany Man. What 
 God is pretended to have faid in the Ho- 
 ly ^Yritings, what Wife and Good Men 
 have faid in all Ages, and Countries oi'the 
 Woi-ld , he is not much conc^rn'd to 
 know. 'Yox.\\c Oracles of Right Reafon he 
 goes^ (by Right Reafon always, meaning 
 jiisOwn), iuui from thence he enquires, 
 
 L ? wivat 
 
I 5 o A Scomer htcapahk 
 
 what he is to think , and to do ; raifes 
 ibme Fanciful Scheme of things to him- 
 felf, frames fome Particular Set of Opi- 
 nions ; and then rejoices in the mighty 
 Difcovery he hath made, and wonders 
 at the Reft of the World, that they do 
 not fall in with it, and adore it. Now 
 thefe Pretences, the Wife-man tells us, 
 are vain , and thefe Searches are vain ; 
 lie hath taken a great deal of pains, only 
 to be out of the way, and to mifs the 
 mark which he aims at : A S corner Jeek- 
 etk iVifdom, and jindeth it not. 
 
 Having thus largely open'd the Senfe 
 of the Text, I fliall endeavour, in what 
 follows, to juflifie the Truth of the Ob- 
 fervation contained in it , by fhewing 
 you, how it comes to pafs, that the Men, 
 who thus fet up for a more than ordi- 
 nary pitch of Wifdom and Senfe, by 
 Contemning ReUgion, and Deriding the 
 ProfefTors o^ it, do always, and mull al- 
 ways, fail of the End which they pro- 
 pofe to themfelves ; fmce, whatever A- 
 bilities they may have in Other matters, 
 yet they are the moft unqualified and in- 
 capable, of all men, to make impartial 
 Enquiries after Divine Truth, and to 
 difcern between That and Error, 
 
 ^^ There 
 
of True Wifdom, j y r 
 
 There are Four things, which particu- 
 larly unfit a iMan for fuch a Task, a ve- 
 ry Proud ^oi: a very Sufpic/ous Temper; 
 Eilfe Wit^ or Senfuality, And Thefe are 
 the Chief and Prevailing Ingredients in 
 the Compofition of that man, whom we 
 call a, Scor/ier, The Two Lafl: do gene- 
 rally, and in moll inllances, belong to 
 him ; but the Two Firfl: are ElTenticd 
 to him, and infeparable from liim. 
 
 Pride is that Ruling Quality which, j 
 of all others , feems to take the taftell: 
 Hold of him ; Proud txnd Hdughty Scor- p^.^^ ^^• 
 ner is his iV^w/e, fays Solomon ^ elfewhere. 24. 
 i\nd again, 'There is a Gener.ttion^ how prov.xxx 
 lofly are their Eyes ! a fid Their Eylids lift- 13- 
 ed up ! The truth is, there never was, 
 nor ever can be a fettled Contempt of 
 Religious Principles, that is not built up- 
 on Pride ^ /'. e. upon ^n undue Value, 
 which a Man liath for himfelf , and 
 for his own Opinion , and a Difregard 
 for every thing befides. And, therefore, 
 the Author of (that FantalHcal Book) 
 x\\Q Levidihar?, doth, at the very Entrance 
 of it, very honeilly, and in Terms con- 
 fefs, that he is a Man who Loves his own 
 OpiHio/is, And foj doLibtlefs, doth every 
 L 4 Man 
 
iy2 A Scorner Incapable 
 
 Man too, who treads in His Steps, tho' \ 
 he doth not own it fo frankly, or pei-- 
 hap^; know it fo throughly. Indeed, d 
 Modeft Humble man can hardlv bring 
 himfelf once to think of fliaking oiTcom- 
 mon receivM Principles, and going a- 
 gainfl: the United Wifdom of mankind : 
 or, if lie flioulc] entertain, yet will lie 
 never venture to publifli that Thought ^ 
 but will conceal it, as carefully as he 
 would his own Bofom Infirmity, or the 
 Secret of his Friend. 'Tis the Prefump- 
 tuous and Proud man alone, who dares 
 to trample on thofe Truths, wliich tlje 
 reft of the World reverence, and can fit 
 (iown quietly in the aifurance, tliat He 
 alone is in the Right, and all Mankinc' 
 befide in the Wrong. 
 
 Now, I fiiy, as there is no Otie Qua- 
 litv, that fticks more clofelv to a Scorner 
 than that of Pricj^, fo is there none that 
 doth more e\idently oblh-u<ff right Rea- 
 foning, - and an impartial Searcli after 
 Truths of ail kinds, efpecially tliofc whicli 
 relate to Vertue and Piety. And no! 
 wonder, therefore, if^ on This Account^ 1 
 the Scorner, tlio' he fpek Wrfdom^ yet ffid-^ " 
 eth it not^ Pride makes a man feem fyf- 
 ficient in his own I^yes for all manner of 
 Speculations and Inquiries ;' and^' there- 
 '"':'" ■ ■-" ' ■ lore, 
 
of True Wtfdom, i j j 
 
 fore, puts him indifferently upon the pur- 
 fuit of all Knowledge, and the determi- 
 nation of all Doubts, without giving him 
 Leave to diftruft liimfelf in the leafl:, or 
 once to confider, which way his Genius 
 and Abilities lie. Hence it happens, that 
 the Man, not being duly Qtialified for 
 Every Search, or, if he were, yet not 
 having leifure and opportunity enough 
 to go tlirough with it, is fain to take up 
 with Ihght and fu per ficial accounts of 
 things ; and tlicn , what he wants in 
 true Knowledge, to make up in down- 
 right AlTurance. y\s foon as lie hath 
 t.ouch'd on any Science, or Study, he im- 
 mediately feems to himfelf to have ma- 
 ller'd it ; is as Pofitive in his Opinions, 
 and as hardy in his Aifertions, as if the 
 ']1ioughtsofIiis whole Lite had been di- 
 re6led That way only : which is, as if 
 a Coafler, who hath gone from Port to 
 Port only, Hiould pretend to give a bet- 
 ter defcription of the Inland Parts of a 
 Country, than 'Ihofc who have travelPd 
 it all over. Rut this, f fav, is the mif- 
 chievous Kature o\ Pride; it makes a 
 Man Gral'p at every thing, and, by Con> 
 fequence, comprehend nothing effedual- 
 lyand througlih : ami \ et (which is worft 
 of all) inclines l>im to defpife and con- 
 ''■ ■ ^ tradidl 
 
I j4 -^ Scorner Incapable 
 
 tradicl thofe that do. It gives him juil: 
 enough Underftanding, to raife an Objc- 
 Q:ion, or a Doubt ; but not enough to 
 lay it : which, as it is the meaneli and 
 moil defpicable , fo it is alio the mofl: 
 dangerous State of mind, a man can be 
 in ; and by fo much the more dangerous, 
 as the Subjeft, upon which his Enquiries 
 turn, is more important, and the Errors 
 more fatal which he runs into, for want 
 of a due knowledge of it. He that is 
 but Half a Philofopher, is in danger of 
 being an Atheilf; an Half-Phyfician is 
 apt to turn Empiric ; an Half-Bred man 
 is conceited in his yVddrefs, and trouble- 
 fome in his Converfation. Thus it is in 
 all matters of Speculation, or Praclcie ; 
 He that knows but a little of them, and 
 is very coniident of his own ftrength , 
 is more out of the way of True Know- 
 ledge, than if he knew nothing at all. 
 Now there is, I fay, a Natural Tenden- 
 cy in Pride , towards putting a Man's 
 mind into fucli a Situation as this ; and, 
 therefore, it muft muft needs be a Qiia- 
 lity very oppoiite to the Search and At- 
 tainment of 'I'rue Wifdom. 
 
 And then, fuppoiing a Proud man to 
 be once in the Wrong, it is fcarce pofiible 
 that he fliould ever be fet right again ; he is 
 
 plac'd 
 
of True Wifdom. I 5 5 
 
 plac'd above the reach of that great means 
 of amendment, Reproof ; J Scorner hear- i-rov, xiif. 
 eth not rebuke^ fays Solomon : and, there- ^* 
 fore, as his Pride led him into a miftake 
 at firll: , fo will it be fare to keep him^ 
 there ; and to harden him in his way, 
 iLi;ainif whatever wife men can think, or 
 iay of him. 
 
 Thus, I fay, is Pride an Enemy to the 
 Knowledge of Truth in general ; but 
 moil of all doth it hinder men from dif- 
 cerning Sacred Truth, and the DoO:rines 
 of ReveaPd Religion. A Proud man is 
 very hardly brought to digell the Hum- 
 ble Duties of the Crofs, or to admit a be- 
 lief of the Mylferies of ChriiHanity : the 
 One are too low for him, and he cannot 
 ftoop to the Practice of them ; the other 
 are too high for his Underlfanding, and* 
 he deli res to be excus'd from entertain- 
 ing any Propofition as true, which he 
 doth not perfe^fly comprehend. If he 
 cannot give liimfelf a certain plain ac- 
 count , in what Manner , and to what 
 End God did a thing; he wifely relblves, 
 that therefore he did it not at all. If he hath 
 not as clear an Idea of every Term in an 
 Article of Faith, as he hath of thofein a 
 Mathematical Propofition ; 'tis prefently 
 unphilofophical, abfurd, and foolifli ; in- 
 vented 
 
c6 A Scomer Incapable 
 
 vented by Thofe, whofe Intereft it is, to 
 puzzle mens Underftandings, that they 
 may have their Wills and Ai^eclions at 
 their Service. 
 
 II. And This puts Us in mind alfo of I 
 that Second Great Ingredient in the Cha- 
 rade r of a Scorner, which we proposed 
 to confider ; a flrange and unreafonable 
 degree of Sufpcion^ by which he doubts 
 of every thing lit hears , and diftrufts 
 every man he conyerfes with ; imagines 
 the World to be all Cheat and Impofture ; 
 that there is no Sincerity , no Honefty 
 any v/here ; but that every man is con- 
 tinually ftudying how to put a Trick up- 
 on his Neighbour. Without this Tem- 
 per (it might be eafily provM that) a man 
 •cannot bring himfelf to run down Reli- 
 gion, and the ProfelTors of it ; and, witli 
 it, it is impoiTible, I think, to arrive at 
 True Wifdom. Indeed, to be Cautious, 
 and upon our Guard, in receiving Do- 
 driiies, and not eafily to give up our af- 
 fent to every Tale that is told us, is a 
 Point of great Prudence, and very re- 
 quifite, in fuch a multiplicity of Opini- 
 ons as there is in the world, to preferve 
 us from Error. But then, we may car- 
 ry this point too far • we may be fo fcru- 
 
 pulous 
 
of True W'lfdojn. i ^ 
 
 puloiis and circumfpeQ in admitting tl:re 
 Teftimonies of men , as to rejeO: fome 
 Good WitnelTes among feveral Bad ones j 
 and to deceive our Selves often times, 
 for very fear of being deceiv'd by Others. 
 A General undiftingiiifliing Sufpicion is 
 altogetlier as apt to millead a man, as a 
 too Eafie and Unwary Credulity. And 
 to this Excefs a Scorner is naturally in- 
 chnM : He is fo poffefs'd with the Notion 
 0^ Prieft-'CraJ}^ and Pw/fs Frauds^ as to ap- 
 ply it indifferently to all Religions, and 
 to Every thing in Religion; He is foa- 
 fraid ot having his Undcrftanding im- 
 pos'd upon, in iVlatters of Faith, that he 
 rtands equally aloof from all Propofitions 
 of that kind, whether True, or Ealfe : 
 which is, as if a Man fliould refufe to 
 receive any Money at all, becaufe there 
 is a great deal goes about that is Falfe 
 and Counterfeit ; or refolve not to make 
 a Friendfliip or Acquaintance with any 
 man, becaufe many men are not to be 
 trulled. Certainly this is a very great 
 Inlfance of Folly ; and, in what Breaft 
 foever it harbours, cannot butindifpofe a 
 man extremely for the Study and Attain- 
 ment of Religious Wifdom. An extre- 
 mity of Sufpicion, in an Inquirer after 
 'Iruth, is like a Raging Jealoufie in an 
 
 Huf- 
 
1 5 8 A Scorner Incapahle 
 
 Husband, or a Friend ; it leads a man 
 to turn all his thoughts toward the ill- 
 natur'd fide, and to put the worfi: con- 
 ftrudion upon every thing ; and (in con- 
 fequence ot that) for once that lie is real- 
 ly in the Right, in his GuefTes and Cen- 
 fures, to be very often, and very much 
 in the Wrong. * 
 
 III. A Third part of the Cliarader of that 
 Man, whom we are defcribing, is, Falfe 
 Wit ; or a Way of expofing things Sa- 
 cred and Serious, by pa fling a bold Jeft 
 upon them, and Ridiculing arguments, 
 inftead of Confiiting them. The very 
 name of a Scorner will tell us, that This 
 is One of his mofi: belov'd Accomplifh- 
 ments : And, I am fure, it is Such an 
 one, as can never help a man to pro- 
 cure right Impreflions of things, and will 
 fcarce ever allow him to Improve, or 
 Preferve them. Wit indeed, as it im- 
 plies a certain uncommon Reach and Vi- 
 vacity of Thought, is an Excellent Ta- 
 lent; very fit to be employ'd in the 
 Search of Truth, and very capable of 
 afiifting us to difcern and embrace it : but 
 in the Way, in which the Scorner exerts 
 it, the Way of Satyr and PropJiane Drol- 
 lery, it betrays a man into a Thoufand 
 
 Errors, 
 
of True Wijdom. i c p 
 
 r.nors, for One that it difcovers to him. 
 Vfen of (Jijick and Lively Parts are apt 
 to give themfelves a loofe beyond plain 
 Reafon and Common Senfe ; and to fay 
 many things not exaQly Riglit and True, 
 in order to fay fomewhat New and Sur- 
 prizing. Their Great Aim is, in gene- 
 ral, 'to pieafe ; and, in order to it, they 
 mufl: bend all their Wit that way , to 
 which the Corrupt Nature of man is in- 
 chn'd, and be fure always to fpeak agatnfi 
 that which is uppermoil ; I mean, the 
 Opinions that are moft General, and Pre- 
 vailing. This gives them a Light and 
 Trifling, inftead of a Serious and Man- 
 ly Frame of Spirit ; and makes them 
 think, they have anfwer'd all the Wifefl 
 Reafons that can be brought for any 
 thing, if they have but clap'd a Nick- 
 name upon it, and drefs'd up a Grave and 
 Venerable TruLli in fo Odd a difguife, as 
 to raife Mirth and Laughter from it. 
 Thus a late Perfon, Eminent for Wit and 
 Wickednefs, till a Death-bed made him 
 more Serious, and gave him truer apprc- 
 henhons of things, us'd to pieafe himfelf 
 mightily with this Thought, that the do- 
 ing of a Miracle was only another Phrafe 
 for the jbewing of a Trick : and having 
 once reprefented the thing to himfelf un- 
 der 
 
6o A S corner Incapuhle 
 
 der fuch a light Image, he could hardly 
 be brought to think reverently of it ever 
 afterwards; or to allow the ftrongeft 
 Arguments which could be brought for 
 the Truth of Miracles, a due and impar- 
 tial Confideration. And thus alfo the 
 great Leader of the Libertines of this Age 
 (whom we have already had occafion to 
 mention), made fport with the Do- 
 Qrine of the Di'vtnity of Chrifl, by Tran- 
 flating , after an Abfurd Manner j the 
 Greek Word Ao^^©-, (wliich S» '^ohn ap- 
 plies to Him) and aifuring us,' that That 
 Appellation given to our Saviour, was, in 
 Our Tongue, as much as to fay, the Verb 
 of God, And this vain and blafphemous 
 Criticifni he thought fufficient to over- 
 throw a prime Article of the Chriftian 
 Faith. In the fame manner he pretend- 
 ed to Ridicule the Doftrine of Grace, by 
 enquiring into the meaning of Two 
 WordSjgenerallv us'd by Divines concern- 
 ing it, to wit, lnfufio?/y and InfprcLtion^ 
 and by informing us, that they fignified, 
 in plain EngUflj^ In^wring^ and Mlowing, 
 I bring Thefe Inlfances to fliew, how 
 tar a Scorncr may be led out of the Way 
 of Truth, by a little Knack of playing 
 upon Things and Words, which he mif- 
 cals Wtt ; and upon which he fliall va- 
 lue 
 
of True Wtfdonu i6i 
 
 luehimfelf more, and be wifer in his own 
 Conceipt than Seven Men th^t can render 
 a Reafon, 
 
 The Fourth and Laft Thing , from IV^ 
 whence we propos'd to give an account 
 of his Deceptions, was Senfuality : and 
 whether This too doth not, for the moft 
 part, accompany a Contempt of Reh- 
 gion, I appeal to the Obfervation and 
 Experience of every One that Hears me. 
 Look round the World , and you fliall 
 feldom find a man Loofe in his Princi- 
 ples, who is not fo likewife in Manners^ 
 There may podibly be, now and then 
 in an Age, an Inltance of fome Cold 
 Phlegmatic man, that fliall fet up for 
 overturning Religion and MoraUty , 
 merely for the fake of Contradiction, or 
 to get himfelf a Name by it, without the 
 defign of Indulging his Own Appetites, 
 in fo doing : But this is a very Rare 
 Cafe ; generally the S corners are, as S. 
 feter and S. Jude have in their feveral 
 Epiftles, agreed to defcribe them, Me^^ 2 Pet. ii'*; 
 who walk aj'tcr their own Lyfis, Accord- j^^^ ^j||, 
 ingly, we may obferve, that this Scorn- 
 ing Humor liath been moil prevalent in 
 Thofe Ages of the World, in which the 
 Love oF Pleafure, and the Arts of Eaie 
 M and 
 
i6i A Scomer %icapahle 
 
 and Luxury did moft abound ; and \9\ 
 commonly Incident to Men, at that' 
 Time of their Lives, when their Lufe 
 are moft ungovern'd, and their Blood 
 boils hotteft. 'Tis chiefly the Young Ro- 
 buft Sinner that indulges himfelf in it, 
 -ivhilft he is in the midft ofhis Enjoyments ;■ 
 for tho' a Man may continue in thePra- 
 ^ice of this Impious Folly to the very 
 end of his Life, yet the Habit it felf is 
 generally form'd much Earlier. 
 
 Now the Senfiial Man is, of all men 
 living, the moft Improper for enquiries 
 after Truth, and the leaft at Leifure for 
 it. He is never Sedate and Cool j and, 
 therefore, not able to ftx his attention to 
 a Point, and go through with it. He is 
 never DifmtereiTed and Impartial ; and, 
 therefore , not capable of deliberating 
 Freely. He is already under the Domi- 
 nion and Power of his own Lufts ; and 
 perhaps likes to be fo, and is very un- 
 willing to fhake off his Chains. Now 
 fuch a Man, fo qualified, isy no doubt, 
 a very incompetent Judge of Divine 
 Truth, and very unfit to confider the 
 Pleas that are brought for it. His Search 
 into Thefe things is like to be with no 
 great Evennefs and Fairnefs \ How can 
 it , when he comes with ftrong Wifhes 
 
 that 
 
of True IVifdom. 1 6 1 
 
 that he may find it all a miftake ? In- 
 deed, when a Man allows himfelf in all 
 forts of Impurities, and is determined to 
 go on in them ; and yet finds himfelf un- 
 der the Troublefome Reftraint of Prin- 
 ciples, and the Dread of Religion, which 
 hangs continually over him; the only 
 way for him to purfue his Enjoyments, 
 and yet be eafie, is^ to fet his Face di- 
 re£l!y againfl: the DoQrines of Rehgion, 
 that give him any check or dift urbance, 
 and refolve to get rid of them as foon as 
 he can. And he may put the Thoughts, 
 which arife in him upon This occafion, 
 together, and make a Book of them, if 
 He pleafes ; and then tell us, that This 
 is a fober Enquiry after Truth, and a tree 
 difcuflion of the Point in debate ) but 
 there is nothing of That in it • He thinks' 
 of Truth, juft as a man doth of hi^ Ene- 
 my, with Spite and Anger, afid a Defign 
 only of finding out whatever may blall 
 and expofe it< This is a If range contu- 
 melious way of treating Divine thingSjf 
 and would tempt even a Good man to 
 return the affronts done to Yertue and 
 Piety, by opening the Charaders of Fhofe 
 who do thern ; m which we fhould com- 
 monly find, that Senfuality and Loof- 
 nefs of Life had a very great and parti- 
 M z eular 
 
I ^4 A Scorncr tncdpahle 
 
 cular fhare. But Sorrte Men, who Write 
 Pretended Hifiories of Religion^ are be- 
 holding to tlie Real Religion of Others, 
 that llieir Hiftories are not written. 
 
 Thus have I ruh through thofe four 
 feverai Properties which remarkably be- 
 long to the Charafter of a Scorner ; and 
 fhewh You, how Each of them contri- 
 butes to miiinform and millead Him in 
 his purfuit of Wifdom ; fo that, fuppo- 
 fing him rfcally and in good Earneft to 
 ftek it, yet, thus fetting out, and thus 
 Qualified, it is not at all probable that 
 he iliould find it. 
 
 And no\i^ the Plain and Obvious Ule 
 we are to make of this Difcourfe, is, to 
 fatisfie our felves from hence, how it hath 
 come to pa fs, that the True Religion, all 
 along, in the feverai Ages of the Worlds 
 hath not been entertain'd by many of the 
 feemingly Wittieft and Wifeft among 
 the children of Men^ To This fl:artling 
 (Jiieftion we can now give a Short and 
 Eafie Anfwer, from the Obfervation of 
 the I'ext ; They rvere ^corners. They were 
 either Proud and Opinionative Men, that 
 could not endure to learn plain hum- 
 ble Lejlbns of Piety and Goodnefs, efpe-" 
 
 dally 
 
of True Wifdom, 1 6^ 
 
 daily from Such as they had no efteem 
 of, no value for. Or their Minds were 
 tainted with an ill-natur'd, and unrea- 
 fonable Sufpicion^ which, from finding 
 out Some Cheats in Religion, led them 
 to pronounce AH Religion a Clieat. They 
 had a Talent, perhaps, at Ridiculij?^ ho- 
 jiell Rules and Maxims, and making 
 Sport with things Sacred and Serious ; 
 and, therefore, to have ownM any fix'd 
 Scheme of Religious Principles, would 
 jiave been a mighty Damp to their Ima- 
 ginations, and have taken away from 
 them the Subjed of above half their Wit 
 and Pleafantnefs. Or, Laftly, They were 
 Men of Sffifud and Impure Lives y who 
 were refolv'd to make their Opinions and 
 their Pleafur^s as confident as they could; 
 and who therefore were obhg'd, in point 
 of interefl:, to disbelieve every thing that 
 made againft them. 
 
 This is the Short and True Account of 
 the Matter j and will appear to be fo, if 
 we caft our Eyes backward on the Story 
 of the World, and confider. Who they 
 have been, that have rejected the True 
 Religion , all along from the Creation 
 down to this Time. 
 
 In the Old World, Noah^ Who was the 
 
 pply n^an J;hat preferv'd the Worfliip of 
 
 ■ M 3 %hf; 
 
1 66 A S corner Incapahle 
 
 the True God in his Family, fecms to 
 have been an honeft plain-hearted man , 
 pen. vi. $. juft and per-fe^ in his Generation^ (as he is 
 fiefcribM in Scripture) and, xvalkina mth 
 God, The Reft of the World are laid to 
 have Eaten and Drunken, to have Mar- 
 ried and been given in Marriage, /. e. 
 They were men, who liv'd in all the En- 
 joyments of Senfe, who revell'd, and took 
 their fill of all the Good things of this 
 World ; and, to be fiire, were very Mer- 
 ry, and very Bitter upon thofe who did 
 not. How did they deride that Grave 
 iPreacher of Righteoufnefs, and hi§ Pre- 
 cife Family, when He and his Sons talk'd 
 to them of Righteoufnefs, Temperance 
 andjudgment 1 efpecially, when he tol4 
 them that there was Such a Flood coming, 
 and that he was building That Ark to 
 preferve himfelf and his Houfhold, wh^t 
 a Jeft was he to the Men of Parts and 
 Pleafure ! How many Scornful and Gay 
 things werefaid upon this Occafion,while 
 the Work went forward, by Thofe, who 
 thought themfelves very Wife, and Him 
 very Foolifli [ But the Fountains of the 
 great Deep were broken up, and the Win- 
 Hows of Heaven open'd; and Then they 
 began to change their Opinions, when 
 (alas ! ) it was too late to learn. 
 *•' •• '^ ' • In 
 
of True Wtfdom. I 67 
 
 In the next great Period after the 
 Flood, the true Religion was confin'd to 
 the fingle Nation of the jTw/ ; and one 
 may think it ftrange, at iirft fight, that, 
 if it were the True Rehgion, it (liould be 
 fo confinM ; that the w^ife and knowing 
 part of iVTankind fhould not difcern the 
 if rength of the Evidence that was brought 
 for the Divine Original of the Law of 
 Mofes, nor receive the God of Ifrael for 
 Their God. But, if We confidera little 
 farther, we fhall be fatisfied, that the true 
 reafon of Mens Infidelity , throughout 
 this long Period of time, \vas, a Mean 
 and Contemptuous Notion they had en- 
 tertainM of the Jeiv/JJj People, and of their 
 Rites and Ceremonies. The Wife Men 
 of the Ealf, in the Earliefl: Ages, and the 
 Philofophers of the Weil:, in Later Times, 
 had too high an Opinion of themfclves, 
 and too low 4n one of that Little, Nar- 
 row-foul'd, Superftitious Nation, to fub- 
 mit themfelves to be taught by them. 
 The Jews were a Proverb and a By- word 
 to the refi: of the World, the jxirpetual 
 Subjed of their Scorn and Reproach : 
 And who can think (may we fuppofe 
 oneof thofc Wife Heathens to have laid) 
 that Truth fhould lie hid among fuchan 
 Odd fort of People, in fuch a little Spot oi 
 the World? M 4 Ami 
 
I 68 A Scorner Incapahle 
 
 And thus, again, wheii Chriftianity 
 firft appear'd, it made no great Progrefs 
 among the Difputers of this World, a- 
 mong the Men of Wit and Subclety, for 
 this V ery Reafon ; becaufe they w ere Scor- 
 ners. I'he Gofpel was to the '^ews (to 
 the moft Learned and Proud Se<3: among 
 r Cor. :. the 'Jews^ the Fharifees) a Stumbling-block ; 
 ^3- and to thofe of higheft Repute among 
 the Greeks^ foolijhnefs. The Great pre- 
 tenders to knowledge every where unani- 
 moufly contemn'd and derided it, as a 
 poor and low Syfteme of Principles; and 
 could never once think of humbUng theft' 
 minds, to entertain the Simplicity of tlie 
 GofpeL 
 
 How fhould the Great Lords of the 
 Earth, who fwarm in all the Delights olf 
 Senfe, and thought themfelves born to 
 enjoy them, fubmit to be talk'd out bf 
 their Pleafures and their Privileges by a 
 few Ignorant Fifhermen , and Tent- 
 makers ? The Story of the Propagation 
 of the Gofpel in Jewry , might perhaps 
 make a part of the Converfation in th'e 
 Court of Tiber iu6 ; it was, probably, fuch 
 a Subject of Drfcourfe to Them, as the 
 Quiet ifis in Itdy were to Us, at their fii^fl 
 appearing^ The Novelty of the thing 
 might occafion fome Reflexions, ancf 
 
 En^ 
 
of True Wifdom. 7(52 
 
 Enquiries : but it was not to be expe<9:- 
 ed, that Men of Plea fu re and Parts fliould 
 give themfelves the Trouble of Exami- 
 ning nicely into the Pretenfions with 
 which this New Religion fet up, or of 
 confidering, in good Earned, whether 
 they ought to become Profelytes to it. 
 
 We are not to wonder, therefore, if, 
 in fome Ages after Chrijftianity, we find 
 not much (aid to the advantage of it, in 
 the Writings of thofe Eminent Greeks and 
 Roman Sy who are allow'd to have been 
 the beft Mafters of Polite Thought and 
 ExpreiTion. Alas! Porphyry mulf have 
 been contented to confefs the Vanity of 
 Philofophy , and LncUn mufb in great 
 meafure have foregone his Skill in Satyr ; 
 The Witty Libertines of thofe Times 
 Hiuft have parted with mucJi of the 
 Efteemthey had, and with moll of their 
 Pleafures, if they had once admitted the 
 Truth of Chriftianity : and, therefor^, 
 they agreed in running down the Repu- 
 tation of That, left they fhould lofe their 
 Own. 
 
 And, as it was immediately after our 
 Saviour's coming, fo hath it been ever 
 fince, to this very day. The Doftrines 
 of the Crofs have never in any Age met, 
 Mor will they ever in any future Age 
 
 meet 
 
;l 70 A Scormr Incapable 
 
 meet with a kind and hearty Receptiori^ 
 among Thofe, who fit in the Seat of tht 
 Scorners. 
 
 But let us not Therefore be dejefted, 
 becaufe there are Many, whom the World 
 cfteems, who yet efteem not Us, and 
 Our Holy and Undefiled Religion ! Nei- 
 ther let us fufpeQ: our felves, as being 
 out of the way and impos'd upon, becauie 
 Men of a greater Reach, perhaps, and of 
 a more improv'd Underftanding than We, 
 are not of Our Mind. Solomon^ who was 
 certainly a Man of Underftanding, and 
 who was of our Mind, doth, in a very 
 few Words (which I cannot repeat too 
 often) afford us a full and comfortable 
 Solution of the Cafe ; A Scorner (faith he) 
 feeketh Wifdom^ and fndeth it not. 
 
 From the Account of Former Times it 
 appears to us, that thus it always hath 
 been ; and from reflexions on the Nature 
 of -Man, that thus it ncceflarily mufibe: 
 and, therefore, let us polfefs our Souls iii 
 Patience and Peace ; and go on in the 
 plain Paths of Godlmefs and Honefty, 
 without Turning to the Right, or to the 
 Left, for whatever Men fcornfully- Witty 
 can fay of us, or to us. 
 ^fov.iif. Let us beg of Him, who j corn;? th the 
 24' Scorner Sy but givetb Grace unto the Loxvly^ 
 
 let 
 
 J 
 
of True Wijdom. 1 7 1 
 
 Jet us beg of him to Beflow on us, t6 
 jPreferve , and Increafe in us that feri- 
 0146 And humble Frame of Spirit, which 
 alone can qiialifie us for a Right Appre- 
 henfion of the Truths and Myfteries of 
 the Gofpel ; and which is , therefore , 
 certainly Preferable to all Other En- 
 dowments of Mind, however the World 
 may have mifplac'd the greateft part 
 of it's Eflecm upon them. 
 
 And let us, in order to this end, 
 frequently take to our felves the hum- 
 ble Words of the Son of Sjrach , and 
 fay; Lord^ Father And God of my ^ct\\x%. 
 Ltfe^ giz'e me not a frond Look ; hut turn ^'^'j'* ^' 
 dWAy from Thy ServAnt alivAys an hAughty 
 Mind ! Turn Away from- me vAtn Hopes 
 and Concuptjcence^ and thou jh^lt hold htm 
 . up that is defiroU'S Always to ferve thee ! 
 J^et not the Greedtnefs of the Belly , nor 
 Luji of the Flejh take hold of me ; And 
 give not over Me thy ServAnt to An Im- 
 pudent Mind! 
 
 < And as for Thofe, ^^'ho contemn Us, 
 and Our Narrow Principles, and who 
 makes us tlieir Dcrifion daily, let us 
 (in the Words of the Apoftle) not ceafe Eph. i. ler, 
 to make mention of them in our PrAyers, ^7, i8. 
 that the God of our Lord Jefus Chrifi , 
 the Father of Glory , 7nAy give unto them 
 
 the 
 
i^z ' A Soomer Incapable 
 
 the Spirit of IVifdom and. ReveUtiott ta 
 the Acknowledgment of him : The Eyes of 
 their Vnderftanding being en/ightned, that 
 they may know , what is the Hope of his 
 Callings and what the Riches of the Glory 
 of his Inheritance in the Saints. 
 
 I 
 
»7J 
 
 A 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 OcGafion'd by th^ 
 
 DEATH 
 
 Of the Right Honourable 
 
 The Lady Cf/rr^. 
 
 A. v. MDCXCVni. 
 
 E c c L E S. Vii. 2. 
 
 It is better to go to the Houfe ofMourn'^ 
 ing^ than to go to the Houfe ofFeaJl^ 
 ing : for that is the End of All men j 
 and the LiVmg mU lay it to heart. 
 
 TH E firft Step towards Happine{s 
 is, to corred our falfe Opinions 
 concerning it, by learning to efteem every 
 
 things 
 
1 74 A D'lfcourfe on the Death 
 
 thing, not according to that Rate and 
 Value, which the World, or our own 
 mlftaken Imaginations may have plac'd 
 upon it, but according to that which in 
 it felf, and in the accounts of right Rea^ 
 Ton and Rehgion, it really bears. 
 
 The Preacher therefore hath, in this 
 Chapter, lay'd together a Set of Religi- 
 ous Paradoxes ; which, however they 
 may ftartle and Hiock us a httle, upon 
 the firlt hearing, yet, when clofely ex- 
 amin'd, will appear to be clear unque- 
 ftionable Truths, by which the whole 
 courfe of our Lives ought to be fteer d 
 andgovefn'd. 
 
 In the firfl: Verfe of this Chapter (the 
 Verfe before the Text) he tells us, tliat 
 a Goad Name is better tlmn preciou^s Oint- 
 ment ^ and the Day ofone'*s Death than thf 
 Day of one's Birth, A Good Name ts bet- 
 ter than precious Ointment j /. e, rich Oils, 
 and fweet Odors, (in the ufe of which 
 the People of the Eaft much delighted) 
 are not naif fo grateful, or Valuable^- as a 
 good Reputation, well founded : This 
 is more truly fragrant , more diflufive 
 of its influence, more durable ; it gives 
 a man greater comfort and refrefhmenCj 
 while he is Living ; and prefer ves him, 
 when Dead, better than the moft preci- 
 ous Embalmings. Ai\d 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. 17 j 
 
 And a gen, The day of ones Death is bet- 
 ter than the day of one* s Birth -^ i, e, the 
 day of the Death of fiich an one, as pof- 
 fejles and delerves a Good Name ; of fuch 
 an one , as hath Hv'd well , and dy'd 
 well'; is preferable by far to the day of 
 hi6 Birth: for it gives him admittance 
 into a State of perfect reft and tranquil- 
 lity, ol' undifturb'd joy and happinefs ; 
 whereas the Day of his Birth was only 
 an Inlet into a troublefome World, and 
 the beginning of forrows. 
 
 And then it follows, very naturally, 
 in the words of the Text, that It is bet- 
 ter alfo to go to the Houfe of Mourn in^^ 
 than to go to the Houfe of Feajltng. As 
 Death to a Good man is more advan- 
 tageous than Life ; fo to a Wife man 
 the Contemplation of the Firfl: is more 
 defirable than all the Enjoyments of the 
 Latter: He had much rather be pre- 
 fent at the fad Solemnities of a Funeral, 
 than partake of thofe FelfivalRejoycings, 
 which are ufual in all Nations, butefpe- 
 cially among the Jews, at the Birth of a 
 Child. 
 
 Hard Dodrine this, to the Men of 
 Liberty and Pleafure ! who have fa id to 
 themfelves. Come on^ let us enjoy the things 
 that are prefent^ let us fill ottr felves with 
 
 coflly^ 
 
j^6 A Di/courfe on the Death 
 
 coflij Wine and Ointments^ and let no Florver 
 of the Spring pafs bj m ; let us crown our 
 felves with Roje-buds before they be wither"* d : 
 Hard Doftrine, I fay, it is to fuch men 
 as Thefe ; and which will run the hazard 
 of not being entertain'd by theiti. The 
 Wife man therefore hath condefcended 
 to prove, as well as affert it, and to back 
 the fevere Rule, he hath lay'd down^ 
 with very convincing Reafons : for that^ 
 fays he, is the End of all men^ and the hi- 
 i-ing Will lay it to heart. As if he had 
 faid, This Dark and Melancholy State 
 it will one day certainly come to Our 
 fhare to try ; and what muft fome time 
 or other be undergone, ought to be con- 
 iider'd beforehand : tliis is the End of all 
 men^ and all men therefore flioiild have 
 their Eye and their Thoughts upon it* 
 And then farther — We are moil of us 
 ib immers'd in the Pleafures , and fo 
 taken up with the Follies of Life, that we 
 need all methods of reducing our ftrag- 
 ling Thoughts and Defires, and of giving 
 our felves a ferious Frame and Compo- 
 fure of Mind : and of all Methods, this 
 of repairing to the Houfe of Mourning 
 is beft adapted to that Good End, and 
 will fooneft and moil effeclually bring it 
 about j The hiving will lay it to heart, 
 
 I have 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. T77; 
 
 ^ I imve largely explain'd the Connexi- 
 on and Meaning of the Words, whiclx 
 have been pitch'd upon to employ Your 
 Thoughts on this mournful Occafion. 
 The next thing fliould be, to excite Yo\i. 
 to a compliance with the .Dire£lion there 
 given, by the particular Arguments fug- 
 gefted in the Text, and by feyeral other 
 powerful and moving Confiderations : 
 to prove to You the Folly and Emptinefs 
 of a Life led all in Mirth, and Jollity, and 
 Pleafurc; the Wifdom and Reafonable- 
 nefs of fliifting the Scene fometimes, of 
 turning the CHoomy fide of things to- 
 wards our felvcs^ of exchanging the 
 Houfe of Feaftrfjg for the Houfe of Mourn^ 
 ing^ and of making a difcreet and decent 
 ufe of thofe fid Opportunities of Reflecti- 
 on , which God , mercifully fevere , is 
 pleas'd to put into our hands^ 
 
 But I am prevented in this part of my 
 Difcourfe by the Pious Defign of this 
 prefent Affembly : Yoii are already do- 
 ing that which I fliould recommend to 
 You from the Text ; paying the Tribute 
 of Your Tears to the Memory of One, 
 whofe Worth You knew, and whofe Lois 
 You fenfibly feel ; and bewailing Her.j 
 under tlie different Characl:ers She bore of 
 a Wife, a Daughter, a Relation, a Mi- 
 ftrefsj'a Friend. N Alt; 
 
178 A VifcoHrfe on the Death 
 
 All , therefore, I have to do, on this 
 occafion, is, to tall in with Your Pious 
 Grief, already rais'd, and to bear a part 
 in it, by dwelling together with You a 
 while on the Charafler of that Incompa- 
 rable Ladj^ whofe Death we lament ; by 
 uniting, as well as I am able, the feat- 
 ter\l parts of it, and recalling to Your 
 Thoughts at once the feveral Excellen- 
 cies and Perfections of which it was com- 
 posed : which made her belovM and re- 
 verenced by You while Living, and will 
 make her Memory ever Dear and Deli- 
 rable to You, now fhe is Dead ; and 
 w^hich rais'd her above the greatefl: part 
 of her Sex, much more than any Out- 
 ward Marks of Rank and Diftindion. 
 
 It is now, after her Deceafe, a fit time 
 to fpeak of her in thofe Terms of RefpeO: 
 which llie deferv'd : for in her Life-time 
 fhe w^ould not fuiTcr it, and took fome 
 pains to avoid it ; hiding as many of her 
 Vertues as file could from Publick Obfer- 
 vation, and fo behaving her felf in the 
 praclice of thofe flie could not Iiide , as 
 ihew'd, file had no mind to be told of 
 them : difcountenancing , as far as lay 
 in her power, that odious and defigning 
 Flattery, which, through the wicked 
 I'iiiiiion of an Inlinccre World, is now 
 
 thought 
 
of the Lady C\mS» I7p 
 
 thought to be a kind of Cuftomary Debt 
 due to her Sex, and almoft a neceflaiy 
 part of good Breeding. 
 
 But, tho' the Living can feldom be 
 prais'd with Decency, yet the Dead cer- 
 tainly often may ; efpecially fuch of the 
 Dead, as had a very unufual Degree of 
 indifference and unconcernednefs for what 
 was faid to their advantage, while they 
 were Living. 
 
 There is a Publick Homage due to 
 Defert, if we take a proper Seafon of 
 paying it ; and the Minillers of the Go- 
 ipel, who are entrufted with fo many 
 Methods of promoting Piety in the World, 
 are, among the reft, entrufted with This, 
 o{ nivim Honour where Honour is due-, and 
 of truly reprefenting to the Minds of men 
 fuch fhining Patterns of Vertue , as are 
 moft likely to engage their Attention , 
 and provoke their Imitation : It is Our 
 immediate and particular Employment 
 to Praife God ; and it doth, no doubt, in 
 fome meafurealfo belong to us, to pi*aife 
 thofe that are Like him. 
 
 And now how fiiall I enter upon this 
 
 fruitful Argument? What Particular of 
 
 her comprehenfive Character fhall I firft 
 
 chufe to mfift on ? Let us determine our 
 
 N 2 felvcs 
 
1 8 o A Vifcourfe on the Death 
 
 felves to begin there, \vhere flie always 
 began, at her Devotions. In Thefe fbe 
 was very Panftiial and Regular : Morn- 
 ing and Evening came not up more con- 
 ftantly in their Courfe, than her ftated 
 Hours of Private Prayer ; which llie ob- 
 ferv'd not formally, as a Task, but re- 
 turn'd to them always with defire, de- 
 light, and eagernefs. She would on no 
 occafion difpenfe with her felf from pay- 
 ing this Duty ; no Bufinefs, no common 
 Accident of Life could divert her froni 
 it : She elleem.'d it her great Honour 
 and Happinefs, to attend upon God ; and 
 Hie refolvVl tolindLeifure for That, for 
 whatever elfe flie might want it. 
 
 How fhe behav'd her felf in thefe Se- 
 cret Tranfactions between God and her 
 own Soul, is known to Him alone whom 
 She worflup'd: but, if we may guels 
 at her Privacies by what wasfeenof her 
 in Publick, we may be fure, that flie was 
 full of Humility, Devotion, and Ferven- 
 cy ; for fo Hie remarkably w^as always, 
 during t(ie time of Divine Service. Her 
 Behaviour was then verv devout and fo- 
 lemn, and yet the moft decent, eafie, and 
 unaifefted, that could be ; there was no- 
 thing in it either negligent and loofe, or 
 extravagant and ifrain'd: it was through- 
 out 
 
'oftheLady CimS. 181 
 
 out fuch, as declar'd it felfnot to be the 
 work of the PafHons, but to flow from the 
 Underftanding, and from a clear know- 
 ledge of the true Grounds and Principles 
 of that her Reafonable Service. 
 
 This Knowlcd2;e Iheattain'd by early 
 InftrudioHb, by much Reading, and Me- 
 ditation, (to which fhe appeared from 
 her Childhood to be addicted) and, give 
 me leave to add, by a very diligent and 
 exa61: attendance on theLelfons of Piety 
 which were utter'd from the Pulpit ; 
 which no one pradis'd better, becaufe 
 no one delighted in, liftend to, or confi- 
 der'd more. For, at thefe Performances, 
 file was all Attention, all F.ar ; She kept 
 her Heart fixM and intent on its holy 
 Work, by keeping her Eye from Wan- 
 dring. 
 
 It was her misfortune indeed, that the 
 Exemplarinefs of her Behaviour calPd oif 
 the Eyes of feveral to obfervc it ; but 
 more Her and Their misfortune, that, 
 when they had feen it, and fatished their 
 Curiofity , they did not go on alfo to 
 imitate it. She ofren expi'etVd her dil- 
 fatistaftion at that Indecency of Car- 
 riage which univerfally prevails in our 
 Churches ; and wonder'd that They 
 ftould be moll carelefs of their Beha- 
 N 3 viour 
 
1 8 2 • A Difcourfe on the Death ^ 
 
 viour towards God, who are mofl fcrupu- 
 
 loufly nice in exafting and paying all the 
 
 little Decencies that are in ufe among Men. 
 
 When the Bread of Life was diftributed, 
 
 file was fure to be there, a devout and ne- | 
 
 ver-failing Communicant ; and the ftrift- 
 
 nefs of her Attention, and the reverence of 
 
 her Behaviour were, if it were poflible , 
 
 rais'd and improved on thofe occafions : 
 
 The lively Image of a Crucify'd Saviour, 
 
 then exhibited, could not but make very 
 
 moving imprellions on a Mind that a- 
 
 bounded with ^o much pious warmth 
 
 and tendernefs. 
 
 Books file took pleafure in, and made 
 good ufe of ; chiefly Books of Divinity, 
 and Devotion ; which flie ftudied, and re- 
 hfliM above all others. Hiftory too had 
 very often a fhare in her reflexions ; and 
 fomecimes flie Icok'd into pieces of pure 
 Diverfion and Amufement ; whenever 
 fhe found them written in fuch a way, 
 ;is to be Innocently Entertaining. I need 
 not tell Yon, to how narrow a choice 
 fhe was, by this means, confin'd. 
 
 But of all Books , the Book of God 
 was That, in which fhe was moft de- 
 lighted and employ'd; and which was 
 never, for any conliderable time, out of 
 her hands. No doubt, flie knew, and felt 
 
 the 
 
 I 
 
ef the Lady CUTTS. 185 
 
 the great ufe and fwect influence of it, ia 
 calming her mind, and regulating her de- 
 fires, and htting up her thoughts to- 
 wards Heaven ; in feeding and fpreading 
 that holy Flame, which the Love of God 
 had kindled in her Heart, and which 
 file took care, by this means, to keep per- 
 petually burning. 
 
 When fhc met with anything there, 
 or in any other pious Book, which would 
 be of remarkable ufe to her in the con- 
 du£l of her Life and Affairs, flie trulled 
 not her Memory with it ; not even that 
 excellent Memory, which fhe fafely trull- 
 ed with things of lefTer moment ; but 
 immediately committed it to Writing. 
 Many Obfervations of this kind ihehath 
 left , drawn from good Authors , but 
 chiefly from thofe sScred Pages ; in col- 
 lecting which, whether her Judgment, 
 or her Piety had the largell Hiarc, it is not 
 cafie to fay. 
 
 The PalTages of Holy Writ which flic 
 took notice of, were indeed commonly 
 fuch, as related either to the Concerns oi 
 her Spiritual Elfate, or to Matters of 
 Prudence : but it appears alfo that Hie 
 ipent fome time in meditating on thofe 
 places where the fublimell Points of Chri- 
 llian DoQrine are contain'd, and in pof- 
 N 4 f-J'hig 
 
1 84 -A Di/courje on the Death 
 
 '' fefliing her felf with a deep fenfe of the 
 wonderful Love of God towards us, ma- 
 nifefted in the myfterious V/ork of our 
 Redemption; for flie had fomething more 
 than what, in the Language of this loofe 
 age, is call'd, a Ladfs Re/igwr/, She en- 
 deavoured to underftand the great Ar- 
 ticles of Faith, as well as to pra^life the 
 good Rules of Life, contain'd in the Go- 
 spel ; and fhe fenfibly found, that the beft 
 way to excite her felf to the practice of 
 the one," was to endeavour to underftand 
 the other. 
 
 • And in this Book of God fhe was more 
 particularly converfant on God's day ; a 
 Day ever held facred by her, and which, 
 therefore, always in her Family wore a 
 Face of Devotion fuitable to the Dignity 
 of it. It was truly a Day of Reft to all 
 under her Roof: her Servants were then 
 difmifs'd from a good part of their atten- 
 dance upon her, that they might be at 
 liberty to attend on their great Lord and 
 Mafter, whom both She, and They, were 
 equally bound to obey. There was fuch 
 a Silence and Solemnity at that time ob- 
 ferv'd by all about her, as might Iiave be- 
 come the Houfe of Moutning ;• and yet fo 
 much Eafe and Serenity vifible in their 
 Looks (at leaft in Her Looks there was) 
 - ■ as 
 
I- 
 
 ! of the Lculy CUrrS, 185 
 
 I as fhew'd, tliat They, wlio were m the 
 HoufeofFeAJltng^ were not better fatisfied. 
 Thus did fhe prepare and difpofe her felf 
 for the enjoyment of that perfeft Reil:, 
 the celebration of that endlefs Sabbath, 
 which flie is now enter'd upon ; thus did 
 fhe pra^life beforehand upon Earth the 
 Duties, the Devotions, the Cuffoms, and 
 Manners of Heaven. 
 
 To fecure her proficiency in Vcrtue, 
 jhekept an exacl: Journal of her Life; in 
 which was contain'd the Hiftory of all 
 her Spiritual Affairs, and of the feveral 
 Turns that happened in her Soul : a true, 
 naked, impartial Hiifory ! and yet,(whicli 
 feldom happens in True ones) fuch an 
 one, where the Perfon defcrib'd is not 
 diarg'd with many Blemifhes and Fail- 
 ings. Alas for Us, that the Thread of it 
 was no longer continu'd ! 
 ■ In this Glafs flie every day drefs'd her 
 Mind , to this faithful Monitor Ihe re- 
 pair'd for advice and direction ; com- 
 par'd the palt with the prefent, ludg'd of 
 what would be by what had been, ob- 
 ferv'd nicely the feveral fucceirne De- 
 grees of Holinefs flie got, and of Hu- 
 mane Intirmity fhelhook otf; and trac'd 
 every fmgle Ifep flie took onward in her 
 way towards Heaven. 
 
 One 
 
li6 ^ D'lfcourfe on the Death 
 
 One would have imagin'd , that fo 
 much Exadnefs and Severity in private 
 fhould have affeded a Httle her publick 
 Adlions and Difcourfes, and have Aid in- 
 fenfibly into her Carriage ; and yet no- 
 thing could be more free, fimple, and na- 
 tural. She had the Reality, without the 
 Out-fide and Shew of ftriAnefs : all her 
 Rules, all her Performances fate fo well 
 and gracefully upon her, that they ap- 
 peared to be as much her Pleafure as her 
 Duty ; She was, in the midft of them, 
 perfectly eafie to her felf, and a delight 
 to all that were about her : ever Chear- 
 ful in her Behaviour, but withal ever 
 Calm and Even ; her fatisfaftion, like 
 a deep untroubled Stream, ran on, with- 
 out any of that Violence, or Noife, which 
 fometimes the fhalloweft Pleafures do 
 moft abound in. 
 
 However, Chearful and Agreeable as 
 file was, yet fhe never carried her good 
 Humour fo far, as to frrjile at a Prophane, 
 an Ill-natur'*d, or an Unmannerly Jeft; 
 on the contrary, in her higheft Mirth, it 
 made her remarkably Grave and Serious. 
 She had an extraordinary nicety of tem- 
 per as to all the leafl: approaches to faults 
 of that kind, and Aiew'd a very quick and 
 fenfibjc concern at any thing, which flie 
 
 thought 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. 1 87 
 
 thought it did not become either Her to 
 hear, or Others to fay. 
 
 True Piety, which confifts chiefly in 
 an HumiUty and Submiflion of mind to- 
 wards God, is attended always with Hu- 
 mihty and Goodnefs towards his Crea- 
 tures ; and fo it was in this Excellent 
 Lady, Never was there a more deep, 
 and unfeign'd, and artlefs LowHnefs of 
 Mind feen in her Rank and Station : as 
 far as fhe was plac'd above the moft of 
 the World, yet fhe conversed as it were 
 upon the level with all of them ; and yet, 
 when fhe ftoop'd the loweft towards 
 them, fhe took care, even at that time, 
 to preferve the refpeO: that was due to 
 her from them. She had fo much true 
 Merit, that fhe was not afraid of being 
 look'd into, and therefore durlf be fami- 
 liar : and the effect of that familiarity 
 was, that, by being better known, flie 
 was more lov'd and valu'd. Not onlv 
 No one of her Inferiors ever came uneafi'e 
 from her, (as hath been faid of feme 
 Great ones); but no one ever went un- 
 eafie to her : fo alTur'd were all before- 
 hand of her fweetnefs of Temper , and 
 obliging Reception ! When flie open'd 
 her Lips, Gracious Words always pro- 
 ceeded from thence, and in her To}?gue 
 
 rvas 
 
1 88 A Dtfcourfe on the Veath 
 
 was the Law of Kjndnefs, Her Referved- 
 nefs, and Love of Privacy, might pofTibly 
 be mifinterpreted fometimes for an Over- 
 value of her felf, by thofe who did not 
 know her ; but the leaft degree of ac- 
 quaintance made all thofe Sufpicions va- 
 nifh. For, tho' her Perfedions both of 
 Body and Mind were very extraordina- 
 ry, yet fhe was the only Perfon that 
 feem*d, without any endeavour to feem, 
 infenfible of them. She was, 'tis true, 
 in as much danger of being Vain , as 
 great Beauty, and a good Natural Wit 
 could make her : but fhe had fuch an 
 over- balance of Difcretion, that fhe was 
 never in pain to have the one feen, or the 
 other heard. Indeed, This was particu- 
 lar to her, and a very diftinguifliing part 
 of her Chara£ler, that flie never fludied 
 appearances, nor made any advances to- 
 wards the Opinion of the World ; being 
 contented to be whatever was Good or 
 Deferving, without endeavouring in the 
 leaft to be thought fo : and this, not out of 
 any affeQed difregard to Publick Efteem, 
 but meerly from a Modefty and Eafinefs 
 of Nature, which made her give way to 
 others, wiio were more willing to be 
 obferv'd. And yet flie had alfo her Hours 
 of Opennefs and Freedom, when her Soul 
 
 eas'd 
 
of the Lady cur TS. 189 
 
 eas'd it felf to Familiars and Friends ; 
 and then out of the good Treafure of her 
 Heart what good thwgs did file bring forth? 
 and with what deHght was flie hftned to 
 by thofe who had the Happinefs to con- 
 verfe with her ? So that a doubt it is, 
 whether fhe were moft to be adinir'd 
 tor what fhe did, or for what flie did 
 not fay. It was wonderful that One, 
 who, when flie pleas'd, could difcourfe 
 fo fitly and fo freely, fliould yet chufe 
 to be filent on fo many occafions ; and 
 it was furprizing that flie , who was 
 fuch a Lover of Silence, fliould, when- 
 ever fhe fpake , charm all that heard 
 her. 
 
 We may be fure, that, while flie thus 
 commanded her Tongue, flie kept as 
 ftrid and watchful a Guard upon her 
 Paffions ; thofe efpecially of the Rough 
 and Troublefome kind, with which llic 
 was fcarce ever (ttn to be difquieted. 
 She knew not whatttie Difordcrs of An- 
 ger were, even on occafions that might 
 feem to iulfifie, if- not to require it: as 
 much as flie hated Vice, flie chofe rather 
 to look it out of countenance, than to be 
 fevere againft it ; and to win the bad 
 over to the fide of Virtue by her Exam- 
 ple, than by her Rebukes. 
 
 Hei' 
 
190 A "D'lfcourfe on the Death 
 
 Her fweet Deportment toward Thofe 
 who were with her, could be outdone by 
 nothing but her tendernefs in relation to 
 the Abfent ; whom (he was fure to think, 
 and fpeak as well of as was poflible: 
 and when their Chara8;er was plainly 
 fuch, as could have no good Colours put 
 upon it, yet flie would fliew her diflike 
 of it no otherwife than by faying no- 
 thing of them. Neither her Good -nature, 
 nor her Religion, neither her Civility, 
 nor her Prudence, would fuffer her to 
 cenfure any one : She thought (he had 
 enough to do at home, in that way, with- 
 out looking much abroad ; and therefore 
 turn'd the edge of all her reflexions upon 
 her felf. Indeed ihe fparM others as much 
 as if fhe had been afraid of them, and her 
 felf as little, as if fhe had had many Faults 
 that wanted mending : and yet, 'twas be- 
 caufe fhe could, after the feverefl: fcruti- 
 ny, find no great harm in her felf, that 
 flic could fcarce be brought to fufped any 
 in others. 
 
 Her Converfation might, for this rea- 
 fon, feem to want fomewhat of that Salt 
 and Smartnefs, which the ill-natur'd part 
 of the World are fo fond of; a Want, 
 that fhe could eafily have fupply'd, would 
 her Principles have given her leave ; but 
 
 her 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. 191 
 
 her fetled opinion was, that the Good 
 Name of any one was too nice and feri- 
 OLis a thing to be play'd with ; and that 
 it was a foolifli kind of mirth, which, in 
 order to divert Tome, hurt others. She 
 could never bring her felf to think, that 
 the only thing which gave Life and Spi- 
 rit to difcourfe, was, to have fome-body's 
 faults the fubjeft of it ; or, that the plea- 
 ilire of a vifit lay, in giving up the Com- 
 pany to one-another's Sport and Malice, 
 by turns. And if Thefe are the chief 
 marks of Wit and Good-breeding, it mud 
 be confefs'd that flie had neither. 
 
 With all this Goodnefs, Gentlenefs, and 
 Meeknefs of nature, flie had at the fame 
 time a degree of Spirit and Firmnefs, un- 
 uliial in her Sex ; and was particularly ob- 
 ferv'd to have a wonderful prefence of 
 mind in any accident of danger : for 
 Innocence and Courage are nearly al- 
 ly'd , and even in the fofteft Tem- 
 pers, where the one of thefe is in perfe- 
 ftion, there will and muft be a good de- 
 gree of the other. 
 
 Shall I fay any thing of that innate 
 Modefty of Temper, and fpotlefs Purity 
 of Heart, which llione throughout her 
 whole Life and Converfation ? a Quality, 
 fo llriclly rcquir'd of her Sex, that it may 
 
 be 
 
l^i A Difcoiifje on f he Death 
 
 be thought not fo properly commenda- 
 ble in any of them to have it, as infa- 
 mous to want it. However, intlie moft 
 common and ordinary Graces there are 
 uhcomm,on Heights and Degrees ; and it 
 was the partirular happinefs of this Ladj/^ 
 Remarkably to excel in every Vertue that 
 belong'd to her ; even iji tliofe, in which 
 Chriitians of the loweft Attainments do 
 in fome degree Excel. 
 
 Shall I add , that this love of Punty 
 was tlie Caufe, why flie baniflfd her felf 
 from tliofe Publick Diverfions of the 
 Town, at which it was fcarce poffible 
 to be prefcnt, without hearing fomewhat 
 that w^ouiidcd chafte Ears ; and for which, 
 fbe thought, no amends could be made to 
 Vertue by any Degree of Wit, or Hu- 
 mour, with which, perhaps, they might 
 otherwife abound. Thefe Good Quali- 
 ties, ftie knew, ferv'd only to recom- 
 mend the Poilbn. and make it palatable; 
 and, therefore, flie thought it a piece of 
 fervice to other people, (who might per- 
 haps be influencM by her Example) to 
 ftand otf, tho' Hie her felf Vv ere lecur'd 
 from the Infediqn. This, queftionlefs, 
 was One reafon of her allowmg her felf 
 in thofe dangerous Entertainments io 
 fparingly ; but it was but One of Many : 
 
 She 
 
h-> 
 
 of the Lady CUf TS. \^i 
 
 She had really neither Relift, nor Ltj- 
 fure for them \ nor for a thou fan d other 
 thmgs, which the World mifcals Plea- 
 fures. Not that flie wanted naturally a 
 Tafte for any thing of this kind ; for her 
 Apprehenfion was fine, and her Wit ve- 
 ry good, and very ready at Command, 
 "whenever fliepleasM to exercife it : 'but 
 fhehad turn'd her Thoughts fo much to- 
 wards things of Ufe and Importance, 
 that matters of meei' Pleafure grew flat 
 dnd indifferent to her ; She was fo taken 
 up with the car^ of improving her Un- 
 derftantiing, and bettering her Life, in 
 the difcharge of the Offices necetfary to 
 her Rank, in the Duties of her Clofet, 
 and the Concerns of her Family, that 
 fhe found, at the foot of the account, but 
 little time (and had lefs mind) to give in 
 tothofevain Amufements. 
 
 She did not think it (as, I fcaf, it fs 
 too often thouglit) the pecuHar Happi- 
 nefs and Prmlegc of the Great, to have 
 nothing to do ;. but took care to fill every 
 Vacant Minute of her Life with fome 
 ufeful or innocent Employment/ The 
 Several Hours of the Day had their pecu- 
 liar bufinefs allotted to them, (whether 
 it were Converfation, or Work, Read- 
 ing, or Domeftick Aflaii's) each of which 
 came 
 
1 94 -^ Difcour/e on the Death 
 
 came up orderly in its turn ; and was, 
 as the the Wife-man fpeaks, (to be fure, 
 under Her management it was) hemtiful 
 in it^s Seafof?, 
 
 And this Regularity of Hers, was free 
 and natural, without FormaUty or Con- 
 ftraint ; it was neither troublefom to Her, 
 nor to thofe that were near her : when, 
 therefore, any accident inter ven'd, it was 
 interrupted at that time with as much 
 eafe as it was at other times pra£lis'd : 
 for among all her difcretionary Rules,, 
 the chief was, to feem to have none; 
 and to make thofe fhe had laid down tp 
 her felf, give way always to Circumftan- 
 ces and Occafions. .1 
 
 She wrought with her own hands of- 
 ten, when fhe could more profitably, and 
 pleafmgly have employ 'd her time in Me- 
 ditation, or Books : but flie Vv^as willing 
 to fet an Example to thofe, who could 
 not; and fhe took care, therefore, that 
 her Example fhould be well follow'd by 
 all that were under her immediate influ- 
 ence : for fhe knew well, that the de- 
 fcription of a Good Wife and a Perfect 
 Woman in the Froverhs^ (a Defcription 
 which fhe much delighted in, and often 
 read) was fpent chiefly in commending 
 that Diligence by which She looketh mil to 
 
 thf- 
 
of the Lady CUTTS* ip j 
 
 the ways of her Houjhold , nnd eateth not 
 the bread ofldlenefs : and fhe knew like- 
 "Wifealfo, that the Perfon, whofe words 
 thefe are faid to be, was no lefs a Wo- 
 man than the Mother of King Lemuel, 
 
 Diligence, and FrugaHty are Sifters t 
 and She, therefore, who was fo well ac- 
 quainted with the one, was not likely to 
 be a ftranger to the other. She was ftrift- 
 ly carefdl of her cxpences ; and vet knew 
 how to be Generoas and to abound, when 
 the occafion requu*'d it. But of all ways 
 of good management. Hie lik'd That the 
 worft which fhuts our hands to the Poor; 
 towards whom fhe always fliew'd her 
 felf very CompafTionate and Charitable* 
 Of the other delip;hts, with which an 
 high Fortune furnifli'd her, fhe was al- 
 moft infenfible ; but on This account 
 fhe valu'd it, that it gave her an oppor- 
 tunity of purfuing the feveral pleafures 
 of Beneficence, and of tailing all the 
 fweets of Well-doing, She deliver'^d the 
 Poor that cry''d^ and the Father lefs ^ and Him 
 that l)-ad none to help him : the Bleffing of 
 him that ivas ready to perijb came upon her^ 
 and She caufed the Widows heart to fing^ 
 Very eafie, fure, will this make her Au- 
 dit at the great day of account ; That 
 Charity will, doubtlefs, be allow'd to 
 O 2 fcreen 
 
19^ A 'bifcourfe on the Death 
 
 fcreen her few Infirmities and Faults^ 
 which is of Efficacy fufficient to cover the 
 multitude of !Sins, 
 
 In the exercife of this, and of all othef 
 Vertues, She was wonderfully Secret ; 
 endeavouring to come up, as near as Ihe 
 could, to the Rule of not letting her right 
 hand know ivhat her left hand did.- And 
 this Secrecy of hers (lie manag'd fo well, 
 that fome of the moll: remarkable Inftan- 
 ces of her Goodnefs were not known, till 
 after her death ; no, not by Him, who 
 was partaker of all her Joys and Sor- 
 rows. 
 
 Retirement and Privacy fhe always 
 lov'd, and therefore chofe it, when, af- 
 ter the Death of a near Relation, who' 
 had the Care of Educating Her, fhe wa^ 
 at Liberty to have liv'd otherwife. From 
 that Time to her Marriage, which was 
 more than Three Years, llie hid her felf 
 in tl>e Country ; having an early and fet- 
 led averfion to the Noife and Inconve- 
 niences of a Town-lite ; and too little an 
 opinion of her felf, to think, that it was 
 lb much the interell: of Vertue and Reli- 
 gion, as it really was, that flie fhouldbe 
 known and diftinguifli'd. 
 
 When, afterwards, flae went to Court^ 
 (as it was necelTary tor Her fometimes to 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. II 97 
 
 , do) flie did it with an Air, which plain- 
 ly (liewM, that Hie went to pay her Duty 
 there, and not to delight her felf in the 
 Pomp and Ghtter of tliat place. Had 
 /lie gone thither foon enough, to fee that 
 Good a?id Glorious Queen^ who was the 
 Ornament of It, and of her Sex, fhe had 
 been taken, we may prefume, into her In- 
 timacy : for their Mmds were nearly al- 
 ly'd, and tlieir Charaders, and Manners, 
 and ways of Life not unhke ; allowing 
 
 J for th^ difference of Stations. 
 
 I need not, I cannot well fay more of 
 her : and if, therefore, I liave fallen fhort 
 of her Chara£ler, (as I am fenfible I have, 
 in many parts of it, which are here men- 
 tion'd, and in others, which are ftill left 
 liatouch'd) Idefire, thofe particular De- 
 feds may be fupply'd from this General 
 Account ; that Hie did not a little re- 
 femble //<?r, who was the Pattern of all 
 that is Good and Amiable in Woman- 
 kind. 
 
 Whether She had this excellent Pat- 
 tern in her Eye, I am not able to fay, 
 when, foon after her Marriage, She de- 
 clar'd to feveral Friends her thoughts, 
 that Every Woman of Quality was as 
 a^uch moieOblig'd, as flie was more Eit- 
 O I abkA 
 
1 9 8 A Difcourfe on the Death 
 
 abled than other Women, to do Good in 
 the World ; and that the fhorteft, and 
 fureft way of doing this was, to endea- 
 vour, by all means, to be as good a Chri- 
 ftian, and as good a Wife, and as good a 
 Friend, as was poffjble. 
 
 She endeavour'd to be all this, and fhe 
 fell not far fliort of it : for fhe excell'd in 
 all the Charafters that belong'd to her, 
 and was well nigh Equal to all the Obli- 
 gations that fhe lay under : She was de- 
 vout, without Superftition ; ftrift, with- 
 out Ill-humour ; good-natur'd, without 
 "Weaknefs ; chearful , without Levity ; 
 regular, without AfIe8:ation. She was, 
 to her Husband, the beft of Wives, the 
 moft agreeable of Companions, and mofk 
 faithful of Friends; to her Servants, the 
 befl: of Miiirefles ; to her Relations, ex- 
 tremely refpeclful ; to her Inferiors, equal- 
 ly obliging : and by all, that knew her 
 either nearly, or at a diftance, She was 
 reckon'd, and confefs'd to be one of the 
 heft of Women. 
 
 And yet all this Goodnefs, and all this 
 Excellence, was bounded within the Com- 
 pafs of Eighteen Years, and as many 
 Days : for no longer was fhe allow'd to 
 live among us. She was fnatch'd out of 
 the World, as foon almoft as fhe had 
 
 made 
 
of the Lady CUTTS. ip9 
 
 made her appearance in it ; Like a Jewel 
 of high price, juft ihewn a little, and then 
 put up again ; and We were depriv'd of 
 her by that time AVe had learnt to value 
 her. But Circles may becompleat, tho' 
 fmall ; the PerfeQion of Life doth not 
 confifl: in the Length of it : if it did, Our 
 Saviour, to be fure, would not have dy'd 
 fo foon after Thirty. 
 
 Short as her Life was, Hie had time 
 enough to adorn the feveral States of Vir- 
 ginity and Marriage ; and to experience 
 the Sadnefs of a kind of Widowliood too ; 
 for fuch fhe accounted it, when her Lord 
 was long abfent from her ; mourn'd a^ 
 much, and refus'd as much to be comfort- 
 ed, till his Return. 
 
 As her Life was fhort, fo her Death 
 was fudden ; She was call'd away in haftcy 
 and without any warning. One da}' flje 
 droop'd, and the next fhe dy'd ; nor wa^* 
 there many hours diftancc betw^een her 
 being very eafie in this World, and ve- 
 ry happy in another. 
 
 However, tho' She was feiz'd thus {^ikU 
 denly by Death, yet was She not fur- 
 priz'd ; for She was ever in preparation 
 for it J her Loins girt, (as the Scripture 
 fpeaks) and her Lamp ready trinrm'd^ and 
 burning : The moment almoft that Sh? 
 
 O 4 v.'as 
 
:iOO A 'Di/cuurjc on the Deat}) 
 
 was taken ill, fhe was julT: rifen from her 
 Knees, and had made an end of her Morn- 
 ing Devotions. And to fuch an One a 
 fuclden Death could be no misfortune. We 
 pray, indeed, againfl it, becaufe few, ve- 
 ry few, are fit for it"; and the Church is 
 to proportion her Forms to tlie GeneraH- 
 ty of Chriflians: But where a Good 
 Soul is in perfeft Readinefs, there the 
 fooner the fatal Stroke is ftruck, the bet- 
 ter ; all Delays in this cafe, are uncom- 
 fortable to the Dying, as well as to thofe 
 Friends who furvive 'em. 
 
 In truth, file could not be call'd away 
 more haftily, than flie was willing to go. 
 She had been us'd fo much to have her 
 'ConverfAtion in HeA^ven^ and her Soul had 
 been fo often upon the wing thither, that 
 it readily left it's Earthly Station upon 
 the leaft Notice from above \ and took 
 the very firfl: opportunity of quitting her 
 Body, without lingring, or expefting a 
 fecond fummOns. She ffay'd no longer, 
 after flie'waj^ call'd, than to alTure her 
 J^ord of her entire refignation to the Di- 
 vine Will- and of her having no mannqr 
 of uneafmefs upon her Mind ; and to take 
 her Leave of Him, with all theexprefli^ 
 onsof tendernefs. When this was over, 
 fhe had nothing more to dp v/ith her Sen- 
 ^ . . ^: V- •-• • - •• les'j 
 
of the Udy CUrrS. ipi 
 
 Ics ; (he funk immediately under her Ill- 
 ness, and, after a fliort ujiqiilet llumbcrj 
 fjept in peace. 
 
 Thus liv'd, and thus dy'd this Excel- 
 lent Lady, whofe Chara£^cr I have Co far 
 reprefented, as my Time, and the Mea- 
 fure of fuch Difcourfes as thefc would 
 fuffer me ; and endcavour'd to renew a 
 a faint Image of her fcveral Vtitucs and 
 Perfe£lions upon your Minds. J have 
 (done it in a confiis'd manner, and with- 
 out the nice Divifions of Art ; for Grief 
 is not Methodical : it is enough, if I have 
 been able to fet before you lome Refem- 
 bla^ce of her, tho' I fliould not have done 
 it after the befl and liveliefl: manner: 
 When the Life is gone, a Picture drawn 
 even by an unskilful hand hath it's Ufe 
 And Value ; and thofe who Lov'd what 
 it doth (however unequall}') reprefent, 
 will be touch'd at the fight of it. 
 
 You all are fo, I queilion not ; touch'd, 
 by what hath been faid, in various Man- 
 ners, and in diii'erent Degrees, as Your 
 Relation to her was nearer, or remoter ; 
 as You knew more,or lefs of her. But You 
 do not mourn alone ; many Lt'ving there 
 are, that do now, and many more there 
 Cite, who Ihall hereafter, when her Cha- 
 ^ rader 
 
202 A Di/cour/e on the Death 
 
 ra^er hath fpread it felf, iay it to heart. 
 The World hath had a Lofs as well as 
 You ; True Vertue and Piety have fuf- 
 fer'd in her fall : and All, therefore, that 
 have any Regard for Thefe, fhall bear a 
 part with You in Your Sorrows. 
 
 The True Servants of God fhall lay it to 
 hearty who, from their Souls, defire the 
 Increafe of Religion and Goodnefs, and 
 know the Power and Influence of fo 
 fweet, fo winning, fo perfeft a Pattern 
 as was fet by Her ; who promis'd Them- 
 felves a mighty Countenance, and the 
 "World ftrange Advantages, from her Ex- 
 emplary Sandity and Goodnefs. 
 
 They that Minifter in holy things will 
 lay it to hearty to whom fhe repair'd, with 
 fo much conftancy and ferioufnefs , to 
 hear the Divine Oracles explained by 
 them, and to enquire the Law at their 
 mouths. They will confider, what an 
 Helper and Furtherer of their pious La- 
 bours they have loft; and how much 
 more lifelefs and ineffeciual their Dif- 
 courfes are now likely to be, than they 
 were heretofore, when fhe encourag'd 
 thofe Exercifes by her prefence, and 
 taught others to attend, by the ftricl at- 
 tention iiii- her felf paid to what was 
 faid in them. In whatever Congrega- 
 tion 
 
'(/ the Lady CUTTS. 103^ 
 
 tion fhe appearM ; She fecretly rais'd and 
 improvM the Devotions of the Place; 
 Every Day of her Life preach'd up Good- 
 nefs as effedually, as the moft rational 
 and moving Sermon. 
 
 The Enquirers into the Methods^ and My- 
 Aeries of Divine Providence^ \vill Uy it to 
 heart. Why, will they fay, when God 
 hath moft Work to do in the world, is 
 one of the beft and mod faithful Inftru- 
 ments of his Glory call'd out of it ? Why 
 is fhe fnatch'd away from us, at a Time 
 when we could leaft have fpar'd her? 
 when Iniquity and Irreligion run high, 
 and Piety is in danger of growing out of 
 Fafliion, and out of Countenance ? Why, 
 in fuch a Jun8:ure, is this Good Lady 
 taken ? and, why are fo many of her 
 Sex, ^o unlike her, left ? Is it in Mercy 
 to Her, or in Judgment to Us ? Is it 
 becaufe She was too good to live here, or 
 becaufe We were too wicked to deferve 
 her company ? Righteous art Thou , 
 JLord^ when we plead with Thee : yet let 
 Vs talk with Thee of thy Judgments ! 
 
 Her Do?nefiics will lay it to hearty whom 
 She fhone upon always with a lingular 
 Goodnefs ; who were near WitnefTes of 
 her moft retir'd Graces and Vertues ; and 
 had the beft opportunities of forming 
 
 them- 
 
204 ^ Vifcourfe on the Death 
 
 themfelves upon her admirable Model: 
 and who will now (alas ! ) be deftitute 
 of her Example , and Encouragement ; 
 pf her fweet Advice, and gentle Reproofs ; 
 and will be left to live upon that Stock of 
 Vertue, which hath been happily laid in 
 by them, that Meafure of Goo^nefs which 
 They have already deriv'd, from attend- 
 ing and obferving Her. 
 
 Finally , the Poor will lay it to hearty 
 whofe Bowels flie refrefh'd, and whofe 
 Ayants (he relieved ; and was ever their 
 fure Refuge, and Support, their Kind and 
 Merciful Patronefs and Friend. 
 
 But, above all, her Relations will lay it 
 to heart ; Thofe, to whom fhe was moft 
 nearly join'd by Blood , or Love ; and 
 who had a more particular Intereft in all 
 her Vertues : They will lay their hands 
 on their Breafts, in the Day of Adverftty^ 
 and confider ; how have we oiiended, that 
 we are thus grievoufly punifh'd ? and 
 which of Our mifcarriages is it, that thla 
 heavy inflidion is intended to reform ? 
 
 This is the wifeft and bell Ufe that can 
 be made of fuch Solemnities as thefe; 
 not, by the means of them, to excite our 
 truly pious and Chriftian Grief to an im- 
 moderate and uHchriftian Degree, nor to 
 forroiv ai Men without hope ; but to take 
 
 Occa- 
 
iiftU Lady CUTTS. lb J 
 
 Occafion from thence, to fearch andeh- 
 quire into our felves ; to learn the meari- 
 ing of thefe Divine Admonitions ; and, 
 after we have interpreted them tfuly^, to 
 refolve upon obeying them. 
 
 The DeceasM Perfon, whofe Lofs we 
 deplore, is Happy without Queftion: 
 Happy M>ill the Living be alfo, if they 
 thus wifely, thus efleftually I ay it to he Art f 
 It is bettiry doubtlefs, to go into the Houfe 
 df Mourningy than into the Houfe of Feajt- 
 ing\ but upon this condition, that we 
 Come better out of the one, than out of 
 the other : that We leave our Vanities 
 and our Vices behind us ; that we lay 
 afide our Affections towards this World, 
 and our Indifference towards another; 
 that we put on holy and hearty Refolu- 
 tions of being even Now, whatwefhall 
 Wifli we had been, Hereafter, when the 
 Fatal Hour approaches ; and o1 living the 
 Life of this RighteoU'S Perfon, that we 
 may die her Death too ; and be remem- 
 ber'd and lamented, as (lie is, by thofe 
 who furvive us. 
 
 Let us affure our felves, that the befl: 
 way of doing honour to her Memory will 
 be, by making her Character flill lit^e in 
 Our Lives and Adions, that the trueft in- 
 ftance of our Love and Eileem of Her is^ 
 
 to 
 
'2o6 A D'lfcourfe on the Death 
 
 to endeavour to be Like Her : for Thus, 
 we fhall even add fome farther Degrees 
 of Happinefs and Honour to the Vaft 
 Reward which flie is already entitled 
 to ; and (hall make the Crown of Glory, 
 fhe is to wear, bright as it will be, yet 
 brighter, in the Day of General Retri- 
 bution : Till when, (it may be piouflv 
 ' fuppos'd) the Saints departed are not ad- 
 
 mitted to the Fulnefs of Joj^ that, in the 
 mean time, the Influence of their good 
 Examples and good Deeds fpreading far 
 and wide, That too, when their Accounts 
 are made up, may be taken into them ; 
 and the Fitnefs and Proportionablenefs of 
 their exceeding great Recompence, then 
 beftow'd, may be manifefted in the Sight 
 of Angels and Men. 
 
 Wherefore, ////■ up the H^mds that hang 
 dorvn, and the feeble Kjiees ! Think not 
 fo much and lb long on the incompara- 
 ble Character of the Deceased, as to for- 
 get the true Ufe You are to make of this 
 aiflifting Accident ; and to negled thofe 
 good Improvements under it, which the 
 Wife and Kind Inflicler expecls at Your 
 Hands. You have paid Your laft Re- 
 fpeQ:s to Her , be not now wanting to 
 Your felves ; but Gtrd up the Loins of 
 Tour Mind, and be Ye comforted ! 
 
 Thar 
 
of the Lady CUTTS.' 2 0/ 
 
 The Confideration of what She was, 
 which Afflids You, fhould much ra- 
 ther Chear and Revive You : had She 
 not been fo good a Woman, You would 
 with more reafon have bewail'd her. 
 But, why fhould Y ou continue to mourn 
 for One, who is enter'd upon a flare of 
 unfpeakable Joy ? Why fhould You be 
 dejeded at Her Advancement ? 
 
 She is gone to the place, where all Tears 
 are wipM from her Eyes ; where there is 
 no more Death, nor Sorrow, nor Crymg : 
 She is gone, and her Works have fol- 
 low'd, and will ibllow her, to her Great 
 and Endlefs Advantage. God grant that, 
 when We alfo follow her, we may do 
 it with as little Surprize, and as much 
 Chearfulnefs ! 
 
 To Him^ Father^ Son^ and Holy Gholt^ 
 be afcrih^dy as is moft due^ all Honour ^ 
 Adoration^ and Thanks ^ noiVy and for 
 ever ! Amen. 
 
2 op 
 
 . The Wtfdoyn of ^roVtdence ?7iamfeJ}ed in 
 the [Revolutions of Government, 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of Commons, 
 
 AT 
 
 St. Margaret's lFe/l?nm/ler^ 
 
 May the 29th. 1701. 
 
 BEING 
 
 The Aniverfary for the Reftoration of* 
 King C HJ RLES the Second. 
 
 E Z E K. xxxvii. 3. 
 
 J^nd he [aid unto ine^ Son of Man, can 
 thefe %ones live 5 Jnd I anfwered^ 
 Lord Cody thou kjiowe/l. 
 
 THESE words are part of that Vi- 
 fion of the Fallej of Bones y where- 
 in the Prophet Ezekiel doth, in a very 
 
 P loftr 
 
2 1 o T/;^ Wijdom of TroVidence rnamfefled 
 
 lofty and lively mannei-, fet out the Loft 
 and Hopelefs ftate o^ IJrael, then under 
 Captivity ; and their future Recovery out 
 of it, by the immediate Interpolition of 
 a Divine Power, contrary to all Human 
 Probability and Appearance. 
 
 The hmd of the Lord was upon me^ (fays 
 lie, at the Entrance of this Chapter) md 
 Citrried me out in the Spirit of the Lord^ An<k 
 fet me down in the midfi of a. Vallej which rvas 
 full of Bones y i.e. the Spirit of God repre- . 
 fented to my Imagination fuch a fight : 
 j4nd (as he goes on) caufed me to pafs by 
 them round about ; and^ behold^ there were ' 
 Mtiny in the open Valley^ and^ lo ! they were 
 'very Dry : i. e. they were as Numerous 
 as the Difpers'd of IJrael in the Plains of 
 Mefopotamta ^ and as deftitute of lively 
 Juice and Moifture, as that Exil'd People 
 were of all hopes of Returning. Jnd he 
 faid unto me^ Son of Man^ can thefe Bones 
 live ? And I anjwered^ Lord God, thou 
 knowefi : i.e. Thou, that art the Author 
 and Bellower of Life, canft doubtlefs re- 
 ftore it alfo, if thou wilPif , and when thou 
 will'ft ; but whether thou wilPft pleafe 
 to reftore it, or not. That Thou alone 
 knowefto After which, the Spirit com- 
 mands him to Prophejy upon thofe Bones^ 
 and to fay, ye Dry Bones^ hear the IVori 
 
 4 
 
in the ^yolntions of GoVernmcnL 2 i i 
 
 i:f the Lord, together with what fol- 
 lows, in the two next Verfes. And as I 
 prophejied (continues he) there was x mtfe^ 
 and behold afhAking ; nnd the hones came to- 
 o ether ^ bone to his hone : And — . lo ! the 
 finervs and the jlejb cnrne nf07i them , and 
 the skin covered them above : And , at 
 Lift, the breath cxW'o came into them ^ and 
 they lived, and Jlood up upon their feet, an 
 exceeding z^eat Army. Where we have, 
 in the Prophetick way, an A ilurance gi- 
 ven to the jews, that^ though their Po- 
 hty was nov/ dilToly'd, and their Tribes 
 difpers'd, yet the time was coming, when 
 the Providence of God would, in a won- 
 derful manner, v/ork out their Delive- 
 rance and Return; re-unite the feveral 
 parts of their lliatterM Frame, and make 
 that People live together once again un- 
 der their own Laws, and in their own 
 Country. 'Tis true, this Vifion hath ^^ 
 by fome of the Ancients, been underitood 
 of the General Refurreclion \ and by otherSj>' 
 of the General Rf/Joration of the Jews, be-, 
 tore the Second Coming ofChrift; and 
 perhaps Both thcfe Great TranfaQions 
 might be glanc'd at in it, and remotely 
 intended by it : For the Predidions of 
 Scripture are generally focontiiv'd, as to 
 ■xtend to more than One Event : lly as 
 
 P «?: ' to' 
 
21 2 
 
 1 
 
 Tloe Wifdom of Tro'\^idence manlfejlci 
 
 to be fulfiird at feveral Times, by feve- 
 ral Steps and Degrees of Accomplifhment. 
 However, That, wliich the Prophet had 
 chiefly and moil nearly in his View, was, 
 the Recovery of the Jcwifh State from 
 the Captivity which it then groan'd un- 
 der ; and to That therefore the Vifion is, 
 at the clofe of it, exprefly appUed ; Sori^ 
 of ?nan , thefe Bones are the whole houje 
 of Ifrael : behold , thty fay y our bones are 
 driedy and our hope is loft ; rve are cut off 
 for our farts : therefore^ Prophejj and Jay 
 unto them , thm faith the Lord God ; Be- 
 holdy my people^ J rvill open your graves^ 
 And caufe you to come up out of yourgraves^ 
 and bring you into the land of Ifrael^ and 
 ye fhali know that I am the Lo7'd, 
 
 The words of the Text, therefore, when 
 taken together with the other parts of 
 the Prophecy, to which they belong, car- 
 ry in them this Confideration , " That 
 " God doth lometimes interpofe in be- 
 " half of loft States and Kingdoms, ancf 
 " delights to manifeft his Powder and 
 " Providence, in retrieving them from 
 *' Ruin, when they are as incapable of 
 ^' ReiHtution by all Human means,, as 
 ^' dead and dry Bones are of recovering 
 ^' their Vital Juice, and being compacl- 
 ^* ed again into a living Body. A Sub- 
 
 jea,. 
 
in tlyc ^Volutions of GoVernvicnt. 1 1 j 
 
 )tS: , fit every way to employ our 
 Thoughts, at a Time, in which we are 
 call'd upon to commemorate a Revolu- 
 tion^ as furprizing in it's Manner, as hap- 
 py in it's Confequences, as full every way 
 of Wonder, and of all the Marks of a Di- 
 vine Contrivance, as any Age, or Coun- 
 try, (even This Country it lelf, which 
 hatli experienc'd fo many and great Vi- 
 cifTitudes) can Hiew; and which, tho' 
 plac'd in our /Vnnals at fome Diftance 
 from us, cannot yet be forgotten by us, 
 as long as we feel the Inlluence, and reap 
 the Benefits of it ; that is, as long as Re- 
 gal Government, and the free ulc of Par- 
 liaments, the profeflRon of God's pure Re- 
 ligion, and the Enjoyment of our Antient 
 Laws and Liberties Shall continue among 
 us : And, if it can be forgotten with the 
 Lofs of Thefe only, there is no good E/ig- 
 ////; Man but will fay, may the Memory 
 of it always flourifli ! 
 
 Give me leave, therefore, to lay before 
 you fome Thoughts concerning the Wif- 
 dom of Divine Providence, in intcpofing 
 fo particularly to bring about thefe migh- 
 ty unexpecled Turns of State; which it 
 doth, doubtlefs, for many Wife Reafons, 
 known only to that Lifinite Mind which 
 Steers the Courfeof fuch great Adions : 
 P 5 how* 
 
2 1 4 The fVtfdom of Troytdence manifefied 
 
 however, fome there are, that lie open 
 even to our narrow Apprehenfions. And 
 
 I. The Providence of God concerns it 
 felf in producing fuch furprizing Events, 
 in order to have it's Influence on things 
 below obferv'd and acknowledged ; which 
 would go near to be forgotten, did he; 
 not, by fome remarkable Inftances of his 
 interpofition in Human Aflfairs, raife Men 
 up, at lit tunes, into a lively and vigorous 
 Senfe of it. Though we know, that we 
 Live, Move, and have our Being in God 
 that we are fupported every moment by 
 his Power, and conduced in all our Ani- 
 ons by his Unerring Wifdom and Good- 
 inefs; yet the Imprcffion which this 
 Knowledge makes upon our Minds, is but 
 faint, and is quickly eftac'd. His Con- 
 curring Influences in this cafe ai'e fo fe- 
 cret, and fo difficult to be diftinguifli'd 
 from the working of Natural and Moral 
 Caufes, that we are too apt to refl: in the 
 Contemplation of thefe, without any re- 
 courfe to thofe ; and to refolve all that; 
 happens to us, in our Own Concerns, in- 
 to the Power of fuch Principles as lie 
 neareli to us. And, even in the greater 
 and more Publick Tranfaftions of the 
 Worldj when they go on in fuch a man- 
 ner. 
 
in the ^Volutions of Government. 1 1 J 
 
 ner, as to look like the effefts of Human 
 ^ Forefight and Contrivance, we are apt to 
 ftop fliort in our Reflections upon them, 
 without carrying our Thoughts up to 
 that invifible Hand , which wields the 
 vail: Machine, and directs all it's Springs 
 and Motions. Siuce the fathers fell afleep, ^ Pet. iii. 
 laid the Scoffers in St. Peter^ all thwgs con- '^' 
 tinue as they were ; and they were ready 
 to infer, therefore, that all tilings went 
 on of themfelvcs , w ithout a Superior 
 Power to Influence, or Controul them. 
 But, when the great Scene of Govern- 
 ment is fliifted all at once, and theCaufes, 
 that Vifibly contribute to the production 
 of this Effeft, bear no proportion to it ; 
 then we look out for others of a more ex- 
 tended Force ; we perceive a Divine Pro- 
 vidence interefting it felf in our Affairs , 
 and adore the footlfeps of it. When thefe 
 National Judgments, or Mercies of God, 
 are abroad tn the earthy the /Khah/ta/its of tt 
 mil learn righteoufnejs. And that Leflbn 
 of Divine Wifdom then learnt , will be 
 apply'il by them to other Circumftances, 
 and on far diflbrent Occafions. For, when 
 once a true Principle of Piety, and of a 
 Religious Dependence on God , is duly 
 excited in us, it will operate beyond the 
 particular Caufe from wlience it fprang, 
 P 4 and 
 
2 1 6 The Wi/dom of^roVtder.ce manlfefled 
 
 and give a general Turn and Tendency 
 • to all our Thoughts and Reflections ; as 
 One wife Rule of Behaviour, deeply im- 
 bib'd, will be ufefiil to us in hundreds 
 of Inftances , and fpread it's Influence 
 throughout the whole Courfe and Con- 
 duct of our Lives and Aftions. 
 ' Since, therefore, we are fo apt to for- 
 get God's Adminiftration of the great Af- 
 fairs below, when they go on evenly and 
 regularly, he is pleasM, I fay, byAwak- 
 ning Notices, now and then to put us in 
 mind of it; to prefenttoour view fome 
 aflonifhing Rev^olution of State, like a 
 Glaring Comet, hung up in the Air, 
 whofe Extraordinary Appearance, and 
 Irregular Motion, fhall fooner lead our 
 thoughts tip'to the Author of Nature, 
 and imprint a deeper Am'C of him upon 
 our minds, than the fight of the whole 
 Hofl: of Heaven, in Orderly Array con- 
 tinually moving round us. 
 
 Indeed , fince the Age of Miracles 
 ceas'd, as it did, when the Teftimony of 
 the Gofpel was fully SeaPd , the chief 
 way, in which God hath been pleas'd to 
 give Extraordinary Indications of' his 
 Powder and Providence, hath been by fuch 
 Signs of the times y fuch Wonders of Go- 
 vernment as thefe ; which were not cal- 
 •» «t -; . - culated. 
 
in the (I(eVolutions of Government* ;(, 1/ 
 
 ciliated , like other Miracles , for any 
 particular Purpofe, or Period ; but have 
 been in the World as long as King- 
 doms and Nations have been, and are to 
 JafI: together with them. And this fug* 
 gefts to us alfo, a 
 
 2d, Reafon of God's interpoilng fo 
 ■remarkably, in the fudden Depreffing or 
 Advancing of Kingdoms and States, be- 
 caufe this conduces to the Manifeftation 
 of his Politicnl Juftice , or of that Rule 
 bf Afting which he obferves , as tlie 
 Great Governour and Lord of the World, 
 towards Publiek Bodies and Communi- 
 ties of Men ; and which is very different 
 From that by which he Punifhes the Sins, 
 -or Rewards the Virtues of Private Per- 
 fons. Tlie Juftice of his deaHng with 
 Particular iVIen may be manifelled here, 
 or hereafter , as he thinks Ht ; for their 
 Duration is Eternal : and fliould their 
 Succefsful Crimes , or Unmerited Affti- 
 £lions be wink'd at in this World , it 
 fuffices, if fuch Irregularities are fet 
 right in another. But, as to Societies, and 
 Combinations of Men , which are of a 
 fhorter date, another Rule muli take ' 
 place; they will at length be loft and 
 fwallo\v'd up in the Kmgdoni of the 
 
 Lamb, 
 
2 1 8 The Wifdom of ^roVtdence manifefied 
 
 Lamb, and be made one Fold under one 
 Shepherd, one People under one Lord, 
 and Head, Chrift JeTus : and, therefore, 
 the Juftice of God's Adminiftration , in 
 regard to fuch Communities, muft be 
 manifefted either here , or not at all. 
 For which Reafon , I fay, and that the 
 Manifeftation of it may be the more 
 Glorious and Worthy of him, lie fome- 
 times turns about the Affairs and For- 
 tunes of States in a very wonderful 
 manner, and makes himfelf to be known 
 
 Dan. hf. to be the moH High , tha.t ruleth in the 
 
 '^* Kjngdoms of Men, 
 
 And from this Notion of God's Go- 
 verning, or Political juftice we may 
 give our felves fome account why Tem- 
 poral Felicities and Calamities are fo 
 often fpoken of, and make fuch a Figure 
 in the Writings of Mafes , and the Pro- 
 phets : For, under that Difpenfation, 
 God's Meffengers addrefs'd themfelves 
 to the Jews generally, as to a Nation, or 
 Civil Body of Men ; and llirr'd them up 
 to Vertue, therefore, or dehortcd them 
 from Vice, by fuch Motives as were pro- 
 perly applicable to States and Commu- 
 nities. Whereas, in the Gofpel, we meet 
 but few Paffages, or Inlf rudions of this 
 kind j the Precepts of it being chiefly 
 
 de- 
 
in the ^'\>olutlons of Government. % \ 9 
 
 defignM to improve the Morals , and 
 regulate the Behaviour of Private Per- 
 fons, and to advance their Vertue to a 
 degree of Perfeftion, anfwerable in fome 
 meafure to the Gracious Difcoveries then 
 firft imparted to them. But, as to the 
 Conduit of Societies , or of particular 
 Members in relation to them, little is 
 faid ; becaufe the DoQ:rine of the Law, 
 and the Prophets , was fo full in that 
 Point , that there was no need of re- 
 peating LeiTons, there fo often inculca- 
 ted , and no room for improving upon 
 them. 
 
 For thisReafon, among others, may 
 we fuppofe , that the j^/w were fo re- 
 markably feparated from other Nations, 
 and kept fo entire within themfelves, by 
 tlie exprefs Commands of God, and by 
 a Fence of many Peculiar Rites and Cere- 
 monies; and that the Hiflory of the 
 various and flrange VicifTitudes they 
 underwent, from their fnfl: Eredion into 
 a People, down to their final Excifion, is 
 lb punftually regillred and tranfmitted tQ 
 us ; that we might in Them , as in the 
 Glafs of Providence, ( if I may fo fpeak) 
 diftinftly fee all the ieveral Ways and 
 Methods of God's deahng with great 
 States and Kingdoms, and be fully in- 
 
 llruded 
 
a lo T^e Wifdom of TroViJence mantfefted 
 
 ftiTfcled in the Rules of his raifing , or 
 depreffing , profpering , or punifhing 
 them , by tlie Interpofition of a Di- 
 vine Power, as Vifible almofi: as tlie 
 Vertues,or Vices, that ocacdon'd it. But, 
 
 3^/y, It may afford us a farther Ac- 
 count of thofe UnexpeOred Turns of 
 State, and Deliverances, which the Arm 
 of God brings to pafs , if we confider of 
 what Ufe they are, to balHIe ^^ mii^ 
 taken Policy of Men. and todiicover the 
 Vanity and Emptinels of all tliofe Pre- 
 tences to a doQ^ and confummate Wif. 
 dom, which the falfly-wiie of tliis world 
 pleafe themfelves inland value themielves 
 upon. 
 
 Men of Ability and Experience in 
 great Aifairs^ who have been long at the 
 Helm, have hit ofi:, m their Canieclures 
 upon things , and have been ^'ery Pro- 
 fperous m many of their Projects, are 
 iipt at kit to give diemfelves the Ho- 
 nour of ail their Good Luck ^ and to 
 grow vain upon it; faying proudly in 
 their Heart , according to die Elegant 
 j|-g^^ Espreflions of Ifntah^ By thefirength of 
 13,54, myhaHtUk^uedoire it^ md by my wifdom^ 
 for I an frudent ; itnd I have re»tov*d the 
 
 Bounde; 
 
in the (Resolutions of Government. i z t 
 
 Bounds of the People^ and have robbed their 
 treafaresy and Ihaue put don>» their Inha^ 
 kit ants like a Valiant Man, And tnj hand 
 hath found ^ as a Nest , tlje Riches of thi 
 People ; and as one gathereth Eggs that are 
 lefty have I gathered all the Earth -^ and 
 there was none that moved the Wing , or 
 opened the Mouthy or peeped. Thus they 
 adore the goodly Scheme, by which 
 they brought all thefe things to pafs, 
 and reckon upon it as fure and infal- 
 lible, for the future; when, neverthe- 
 lefs , it hath this one Terrible Defe£l, 
 that God is left out of it : and, therefore, 
 he gives them often a Convincing Proof 
 of the Folly of it, by unravelling all their 
 Meafures at once, and blading all their 
 Undertakings, and bringing about a 
 New Scene of things, through unheeded, 
 unfufpe6led Methods, which they coula 
 not forefee with all their Skill , nor pre- 
 vent by all their Prudence; that fo the 
 Wtfe Man may learn, not to glory in his Wif- J^^*"- ^^« 
 dom^ and the Mighty Man not to glory in 
 his Might ; hut he that glorieth may glory in 
 this , that he under fiandeth , and knoweth 
 Me ; that I am the Lord , which exercife 
 loving IQndnefs ^.'Judgment y and Righteouf- 
 nefs in the Earth ; for in thefe things I 
 delight ; faith the Lord, Were it not for 
 
 fuch 
 
221 The Wifdoni of providence manifejied 
 
 fuch furprlzing Revolutions of AflPairsy 
 which difappoint the Devices of thefe 
 Crafty ones , and nriake the Heads of 
 the Ableft and moft Bxperienc'd Lookers 
 on, giddy at the figh'ty God would , in 
 (he opinion of many of his Creatures, 
 be fhut out from the Government of the 
 "World, and the Honour of his Conduct 
 would be devolved upon fome of the 
 Mean and Subordinate Initruments of 
 it ; thofe poor Infe6ls, that fit upon the 
 Wheels of State, and imagine thernfeives 
 to be the Authors of all its Motions, and 
 able to check, or to quicken them, at 
 their Pleafure. 
 
 There is yet a {^th^ good Ufe, to 
 ^hich thefe great National Changes are 
 fubfervient , ( thofe of them, efpecially, 
 \\^hich carry a People at once from the 
 extremity of Bad, to the Height of Good 
 Fortune; fuch as That we are now Met 
 to Commemorate) and it is this ; That' 
 the Belief of them tends to create and 
 encourage a National Piety ^ and a Pub- 
 lick Avow'd Dependence upon God, in 
 the greatefl: Extremities. For, when 
 once men are firmly perfuaded , either 
 from the Experience of what They thern- 
 feives have felt, or from the AlTurance 
 
 of 
 
in the <I(e'Volutions of Government. 1 2 J 
 
 ()f what hath happen'd to Others, that no 
 People can be reduced to fuch a wretch- 
 ed and forlorn Condition, but that the 
 good Providence of God may, and will, 
 if it fees fit, come in to their Refcue, and 
 Deliver them ; even without Hope, and 
 againft Hope : I fay, when tliis Opini- 
 on is once fix'd in mens Minds, it intro- 
 duces prefently a Publick Face of Reli- 
 gion amonglt them, and common Endea- 
 vours of expreffing their common Truft 
 and Dependence upon God ; and it ties 
 them together by the llrideft Bands of 
 Fraternal Love, Amity, and Union. Of 
 this the Jervs are a very Signal and Inllru* 
 £live Inlknce, under their feveral Cap- 
 tivities , and Dilperfions ; where, tlio' 
 they were loft to all human hopes of re- 
 covery, yet, having an Alfurance of the 
 known Favour and Proteclion of God to- 
 wards their State, they perfifted, in the 
 Strength of it, to wait for, and to expert 
 their Deliverance; and had, at thofe 
 times, fuch a true Sincere Spirit of Piety 
 ftirringamongft them, fuch Zeal towards 
 God , fuch Unanimity amongft them- 
 felves, as they were utterly ftrangers to, 
 upon Other Occafions : Infomuch that 
 They, who, when at home, under the 
 free eryoyment of their Temple- Worfliip, 
 
 were 
 
124 ^^ W'lfdom of ^roVtdence manifejted 
 
 Xvere prone to all manner of Idolatry;'' 
 when fcattered into the Lands of Idols, 
 where they had the Temptation ever 
 near them, and before thdr Eyes, are ob^ 
 ierv'd never once to have comply'd with 
 it. And this very Principle it is, that 
 ftill fupports and animates them, under 
 this their Lafl: and Greate|l: Difperfion, 
 keeps them ftill rigidly addi6led to their 
 Rites, and clofely combined among them- 
 felves, without mixing with any of the 
 Nations among whom they dwell ; un- 
 der the hopes, that God will, yet once 
 more, as he hath often already done, 
 make bare his Holy Arm in their Behalf, 
 and reftore the loft State of IfraeL Nay, 
 even We our felves, who are now met 
 to "Worlhip God, were very lately an In- 
 ftance of the Efficacy of fuch perfua'fions 
 as thefe, towards raifing up a diflblute 
 People into all the Heights of an Uni- 
 verfai and Undiflembled Piety. For 
 when, in the Late Hour of Diftrefs and 
 Danger, our Cohftitution in Church and 
 State was juft Sinking under us, and the 
 two greateft Evils that belong to Human 
 Nature, the Oppreftion of our Liberties, 
 and of our Confciences, were ready to 
 overtake us, and no Human help, that 
 y^^ could Then fee, was near ; how yet.' 
 
 did' 
 
in the ^'Vdutlons of Government. ii^ 
 
 did our Belief of the Over-ruling Power 
 of God fuftain us with the Hopes, that 
 he would, in fome way, or other, own 
 our Caufe, fupport our finking State, and 
 ■ work out Salvation for us ? And how 
 were we wrought upon by this Confi- 
 dence to turn to him with the Utmoll 
 Unanimity and Earneftnefs ? What Zeal 
 did we then exprefs for the Pure Religi- 
 on of Chrill: ? What Reverence towards 
 his Priefts ? What Love towards one a- 
 nother ? What good Refolutions did we 
 take up? What Sol(^iin Vows did we 
 make of living anfwerably to Our Holy 
 Profellion ? and, I believe, fincerely meant 
 (tho' by our Beliaviour fmce, one would 
 fcarce think, we meant) to perform them ? 
 How were our Churches then filPd with 
 Crowds of Worfliippers ? Our Altars 
 furrounded by unufual Numbers of De- 
 vout Communicants? How were all 
 Ranks and Conditions of Men Then re- 
 markable for their Piety and Serioufnefs ; 
 as remarkable as they are Now for their 
 Inditference and Prophanencfs ? Doubt- 
 lefs, the AddrelTes we then made to God 
 for Relief, wereacluated and enUven'd by 
 a refleclion on the Surprizing Bleflings 
 of this Day ; and we were encourag'd to 
 hope that God^ who had once before 
 
 Q. won* 
 
ti6 The Wijdom of fproVidence rnanifejled 
 
 wonderfully reftor'd our Conftitutioii, 
 even when it was loft, would be prevaird 
 with alfo, by a timely Application, to 
 preferve it from Ruine. And methinks, 
 therefore, our Latter Deliverance fhould 
 not make the Former forgot ; when the 
 One of thefe was the Foundation of our 
 asking, and obtaining the Other. How 
 know we, what Need we may Yet have, 
 of retreating to fuch Confiderations, and 
 fortifying our felves with a RefleQ:ion on 
 fuch Encouraging Precedents as thefe? 
 And we do well,ytherefore, to Cherifh 
 the Memory of them. 
 
 That we may do fo, give me leave, in' 
 compliance with the Delign of this Day, 
 and this Aflembly, briefly to fet before' 
 you, Firft, tlie Greatnefs and Extent of 
 that Publick Blefling for which we think 
 our felves oblig'd fo long afterwards to^ 
 pay our Publick Thanks ; and then (what 
 my Text more particularly direds me to) 
 the Extraordinary and Surprizing mau-l 
 ner in which it was Convey'd to us. 
 
 . ^ The Blefling was of it felf Vaft and 
 Comprehenfive ; for it took in all that 
 was valuable and dear to us, either on a 
 Religious, or Civil Account ; and refet- 
 led a ruin'd Church, and Kingdom on 
 
in the Revolutions of GoVenimenL ^1^ 
 
 that Firm BafiSj on which they ftood, till 
 Violent and Wicked Hands remov'd 
 them ; and on which may they fland 
 for Ever ! 'Tis natural for Men to think 
 that Government the Belt, under which 
 they drew their firfl: Breath, and to pro-^ 
 pofeit as a Model and a Standard for all 
 Others. But, if any People upon Earth 
 have a juft Title thus to boaft, 'tis We 
 of this Iliand ; who enjoy a Conltitution, 
 wifely moulded, out of all the different 
 Forms and Kinds of Civil Governmentp 
 into fuch an Excellent and Happy Frame, 
 as contains in it all the Advantages of 
 thofe feveral Forms , without fliaring 
 deeply in any of their Great Inconveni- 
 ences. A Conftitution, nicely poiz'd be- 
 tween the Extremes of too much Liber- 
 ty, and too much Power ; the feveral 
 Parts of it having a Proper Check upon 
 each other, by the means of which they 
 are all reft rain'd, or foon reduc'd, with- 
 in their due Bounds : and yet the pecu- ?^ 
 
 liar Powers, with which Each is feparate- j 
 
 ly inverted, are fure always, m Dange- 
 rous Conjundures, to give way to the 
 Common Good of the Whole. , A Con-; 
 ftitution, wliere the Prince is cloth'd with 
 a Prerogative, that enables him to do all. 
 the good he hath a mind to ; and wants. 
 
228 T7;e Wi/Jom of TroViJaice mmfejled 
 
 no degree of Authority^ but what a Good 
 Prince would not, and an 111 one ought 
 not to have : Where lie governs, tho' not 
 Abfolutely, yet Glorioufly, becaufe he go- 
 verns Men, and not Slaves ; and is obey'd 
 by them chearfuUy, becaufe they know 
 that, in obeying Him, they obey thofe 
 Laws only which They themfelves had a 
 fliare in contriving. A Conftitution^ where 
 the External Government of the Church 
 is fo clofely interwoven with that of the 
 State, and fo exadly adapted to it, in all 
 its parts, as that it can flourifh only, when 
 That flouriflies ; and muft, as it hath al- 
 ways hitherto done, decline, die, and re- 
 vive with it. In a word, where the In- 
 tereft of Prince and Subjed, Prieft and 
 People, are perpetually the^ fame ; and 
 the only fatal Miftake, that ever happens 
 in our Politicks, is, when they are thought 
 to be divided* 
 
 It is objefted indeed to this Admira- 
 ble Model, that it is liable to frequent 
 Struggles and Concuflions within, from 
 the feveral Interfering Parts of it : But 
 this, which is reckon'd the Difeafe of our 
 Conilitution, may rather be thought a 
 markof it's Soundnefs, and the chief fe- 
 curity of it's Continuance. For 'tis with 
 Governments exadly contriv'd, as with 
 
 Bodies 
 
/;/ the ^Volutions of GoVenwient. 1 2p 
 
 Bodies of a nice Frame and Texture; 
 wliei'e, the Humours being evenly mix'd, 
 every little change of the Proportion in- 
 troduces a Diforder, and raifes that Fer- 
 ment which is necelfary to bring ali riglit 
 again ; and which thus preferves the 
 Health of the Whole, by giving early nor 
 tice of whatever is noxious to any oi the 
 Parts : Whereas in Governments, as well 
 as Bodies, of acourfer Make, theDifeafe 
 doth often not begin to fliew it fclf, till 
 it hath infe6led the whole Mafs, and is 
 pail a Cure ; and lb, though they are 
 diforder'd later, yet they are delfroy'd 
 much fooner. Accordingly we know 
 that, under this Difad vantage, if it be one, 
 our Conftitution hath now lalled pretty 
 Entire through many Ages : for, except- 
 ing the fliort Interruptions which Co/f-^ 
 queji gave, (which, however, have not 
 been either fo Alan}:, or fo Great, as Some 
 would make them ) it hath continued 
 much the Same, in the main Parts and 
 Branches of it, from the Earlieft Times 
 of our S,ixo/2 Anceiiors, down to thefe 
 Days. A clear Proof, that it is a Go- 
 vernment fuited every way to our Tem- 
 per, and to our Chme; that it is per- 
 fedly made for Us, and We for It : and 
 that God, therefore, never punifhes us 
 
J o The Wifdojn of TroVtdence mm'ifefled 
 
 more forely, than when he deprives us of 
 it for a time ; nor ever corfers a greater 
 BlefTing upon us, than when he reftores 
 it — 
 
 As he did on this happy Day ; when, 
 after the Co'iiifions of a Long Civil 
 War, attenderl with the Deiiruction of 
 an Excellent Church, the Murther of a 
 Gracious Prince, and the Grievous Ty- 
 ranny of our fellow Subjects, he was 
 pleas'd at length to give us back again, 
 what we had fo lightly departed from, 
 bur Old Englijh Government arjd Laws ; 
 and, together with them, what we be- 
 fore boafted of in Name only, the True 
 Liberty of the Subjed, and the Real Freer 
 dom and Honour of Parliaments. And 
 to This Day, therefore, we owe all thd 
 Benefits we have fmce reap'd from the 
 Regal Adminiftration , all the Peace, 
 Plenty, and Happinefs, we have enjoyM^ 
 or our Pofterity after us fhall enjoy, un- 
 der it. 
 
 : To the Influence of this Day it is ow- 
 ing, that we have now at the Head of 
 our Troops, and our Councils, a Prince, 
 who hath happily join'd together the Ex- 
 tremes of Martial and Pohtical Vertues ; 
 and knows as well how to Govern a Free 
 People by their Own Laws and Cuftoms, 
 
in the (^Volutions of Government. i ] ' 
 
 as to Command Legions : who, whether 
 in the Cabinet, or in the Field, is i\\\\ 
 equally in his Sphere ; and is always in- 
 different, therefore, either to War, or 
 Peace, any farther than the One, or the 
 Other, fliall conduce to the Good of his 
 People, and the General Intereft of Man- 
 kind. 
 
 Nay, to this Day it is owing, That that 
 Great Affembly before which I ftand, are, 
 under the Aufpicious Conduft of our 
 Prince, Arbiters of the Fate, and Gover- 
 nours of the Balance of Europe : I'hat 
 their Refolves have as wide an Influence, 
 as the Firmefl: Leagues and Confedera- 
 cies ; and their very Counfels are more 
 Formidable than the HolHle Preparations 
 of Others : So that They, who lately felt 
 the weight o\W\tEngltjh Arms, will be 
 afraid of entring upon fuch Meafures as 
 may awaken Your Refolution of once a- 
 gain taking them up; faying within them- 
 felves , according to the Expi'dfions of 
 the Enlightned Patriarch ; "judah is a Lt- Gen. xlix. 
 0»'*s Whtlp^ he h^xthgone up from the Prey : ^• 
 He Stooped donv/^ he Couched as a Lio'/^^ and 
 as An Old Lion ; Who fhall rouze him up ? 
 
 The Blefling, therefore, we Comme- 
 morate, was Great ; and it was made yet 
 greater by the Way in which God was. 
 Q, 4 pleas'd 
 
232 The W'ljdom of providence nwiifejled 
 
 pleas'd to convey it to us : for lie did it 
 in fuch a Manner, as to fliew, that He 
 was the Sole Author of it, and that it 
 fprang not from Human Wit, or Contri- 
 vance. He did it, after our Forefathers 
 were reduc'd to Extremities , and liad 
 , tir'd themfelves by Various Attempts to 
 bring this Great End about, and had 
 been baffled in all of them, and fat down 
 at lafl: in defpair of effeQing it. Then 
 was it time for him to appear for our Re- 
 demption, and to give Himfelf the Glory 
 of it. All was Darknefs about them , 
 without Form, and void ; when the Spi- 
 rit of God mov'd upon the Face of this 
 Abyfs, and faid. Let there be Light ^ and 
 there was Light: And both God, and 
 Man jhv th^t this Light was Good ; the 
 One, rejoicing in his Own Gift ; and the 
 Other, blefTing and magnifying the Be- 
 ftower of it. Tis true, the Reafoners 
 of this World, who love to folve every 
 Event, without any Recourfe to a Divine 
 Power, will be ready to point out feve- 
 ral Caufes, which help'd forward this 
 End, and iiiiootli'd the way towards it. 
 But tho' there v. ere many fuch, yet muft 
 it be own'd, that All of them put toge- 
 ther were not of Force enough to pro- 
 duce theEffed ; nor, particularly, to ac- 
 count 
 
in the ^Volutions of Gd\>ernment, 2 j j 
 
 count for that Univerfal Bent and Incli- 
 nation of the People of all Ranks , In- 
 terells, and Opinions , which , upon the 
 firfl: Opening of this wonderful Scene, 
 at once difcover'd it fclf; and which 
 could proceed from Him alone , who 
 hath the Hearts of all Men in his Hand, 
 and turneth them wJiitherfoever he 
 Jifteth. 
 
 Alas ! when Man is to influence Man, 
 in order to bring about fuch Mighty 
 Changes as thefe, the Work goes on but 
 flowly. 'Tis hard to Unite in any Com- 
 mon Meafures all the feveral little Seds 
 and Parties , into which a Nation is 
 crumbled ; their interfering Interefts, 
 PafTions, and Prejudices will obftrud the 
 beft-laid Defign : what it gains in one 
 Place, it will lofe in another; and never, 
 but by the Intei-vention of a Superior 
 Power, fucceed Univerfally. But when 
 God once comes into fucli a Work , it 
 ripens apace; all Obllruclions prefently 
 ceafe, all Difficulties vanifh. As the Tops 
 of Corn bend this way, or that, before 
 the Wind ; fo are tlie Various Minds of 
 of the Multitude fway'd and inchn'd 
 by the Inward Breathings of his Spirit. 
 
 It is worth obferving, therefore, in 
 the Yifion of Ezekiel , from whence my 
 
 Uext 
 
^ J 4 ^^^ W'tfdom of ^roVidence manlfefled 
 
 Text is drawn , how , even after the 
 Sinervs and the Flejh were come up upon th. 
 Dry Bones , and the Skin had covered the?- 
 above , yet ftill it is fa id , that thert- 
 rvas no Breath tn them ; and ftill therefore 
 the Prophet is commanded to P raphe fie 
 to the four Winds^ and to bid them breathe 
 upon thofe /lain , that they might live : and 
 then , and not till then, it was, that the 
 Breath came into them^ and they lived , and 
 siood up upon their Feet , an exceeding great 
 Army. The meaning of which is, that 
 in every fudden Revolution of State, 
 the' there be many Vifible Difpofitions 
 and Caufes , that concur to favour it, 
 yet ftill the laft Finifhing Turn is always 
 from God ; who animates and invigo- 
 rates the whole Defign , puts all its Parts 
 at once into Motion , and removes all 
 Impediments. 
 
 Thus he eflfefted the Deliverance of 
 this Day ; by opening at once the Eyes 
 of a Deluded People, (hewing them their 
 True Intereft, and infpiring them with 
 Unanimity and Zeal to purfue it; and, 
 in order to it , allaying their Mutual 
 Heats , lelfcning their Prejudices , and 
 ifa.xi.^r. foftning their Averfions. The Wolf he 
 made to dwell with the Lamh^ and the Leo- 
 fard to lye down with the Kjd ; that is, the 
 
 moll 
 
in the (I(eVolutions of Government, 235 
 
 moft Oppofite Tempers were brought to 
 confpire peaceably in this Great Event, 
 the mofl: Divided Interefts were recon- 
 ciPd in it : and even They , who were 
 prepafd to Propheiic againil: it, were yet, 
 by an Over-ruHng Influence, determin'd 
 to pronounce a BlelTing; and forc'd, as 
 they look'd on , to take up tlieir Parable, 
 and fay ; God hath not beheld Iniquity tn xu xxiii. 
 Jacob, neither hath he fee n Perverfnejs in 21,11,13. 
 Ifrael, the Lord his God u with him., and 
 the jhout of a KJng i4 among the?n. God 
 hath brought them out of Egypt ; he hath, as 
 it were, the jlrength of anUntcorn, Surely.^ 
 there is no Inchantment againH Jacob, nei- 
 ther is there any Divtnation againH Ilrael : 
 according to This time it (ball be faid of 
 Jacob , and of Ifrael , What hath God 
 wrought ? 
 
 Since the Work , therefore , was His, 
 Jet us give Him the Praife of it ! even as 
 
 i we do , by this Solemn Appearance : 
 falling low on our Knees before his Foot- 
 ftool, and faying, Not unto Vs, Lord, pfa. cxv.t. 
 
 ^not unto Vs , nor unto our Forefathers, 
 but unto Thy Name give Glory -^ for thy 
 Mercy, and for thy Truth's fake ! For thy 
 Mercy s fake , which induc'd thee to give 
 fo liappy a Turn to the Affairs of fo 
 Undeferving a People ; and for thy 
 
 Truth's 
 
aj 6 The Wifdom of TroVidence manlfejied 
 
 Truth's fake y which thou intendeft to 
 fecure and to reeftablifh by the Means 
 of it. 
 
 Let us pioufly afcribe this, and all other 
 our Deliverances to God, if.nd all our 
 Calamities to our Selves ; acknowledging 
 the One to be as properly the Confe- 
 quence of our Sins, as the Other is the 
 Refult of his Unmerited Favour and 
 Goodnefs, And let us from fuch fur- 
 prizing Events as thefe, which have con^ 
 feffedly fomething Divine in them, learn 
 to lift up our Thoughts above Material 
 Caufes, and to inftru£i;our felves in all 
 the Amazing LelTons of God's Go- 
 verning Providence ; by which he holds 
 the Balance of Nations , and inchnes it 
 which way he pleafes ; fo that a/l the 
 Ban.iv.35' Inhabit ctnts of the Earth are reputed ai no- 
 thing to him, and he doth according to his 
 Will in the Arrny of Heaven , and among 
 the Inhabitants of the Earth , and none can 
 ft ay his Hand^ or fay unto him^ What doest 
 thou ? 
 
 And this he now performs by the Ad- 
 miniftration of the Man Chrift J^T^; 
 to whom , immediately upon his Refur- 
 reftion, he gaye all Power, in Heaven, 
 and in Earth : and whom , upon his 
 Jfcent into Heaven , ( th^ Holy Subje£l 
 
 alfq 
 
in the ^Volutions of Government. tj^ 
 
 alfo of this Day's Solemnity) he inflated 
 
 in the full Pofleflion and Exercife of that 
 
 Power ; declaring him King of Kings, 
 
 and Lord of Lords. And, indeed, PVor- 
 
 thy is the Lamb that was (lainy to receive Rev.v.n^ 
 
 Power ^ arid Riches^ and Wifdom ^ and '5' 
 
 Strength , and Honour , and Glory ^ and 
 
 Blejjing, Therefore, BleJJing and Honour 
 
 and Glory ^ and Power be unto him that 
 
 fitteth upon the Throne^ and unto the Lamb^ 
 
 for ever and ever ! 
 
239 
 
 The Duty of Tublick^ Interceffion and 
 ThankJgiVing for princes. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of Commons, 
 
 A T 
 
 St. Margaret^ Wejlmm[le}\ 
 
 On Wedy^fday^ March S, 170.}. 
 BEING 
 
 The Day of Her Majestv's Happy Ac- 
 cefTion to the Throne. 
 
 I TI M. ii. 1,2,^. 
 
 7 Exhort, That J firfl of all, Subfile ations^ 
 Prayers, Inter cejjioris, and giving of Thanks 
 be made for all Men ; for Kjngs, and all 
 that are in Authority ; that v:e may lead it 
 Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all Godlinefs^ 
 and Honefiy : For this is Good and Accep- 
 table m the fight of God, our Saviour, 
 
 THERE was nothing by which the 
 Enemies of Chrilfianity endea- 
 rour'd, and hopM fo much to retard the 
 
 Pro- 
 
240 The Duty of ^uhlick, Intercejfflon and 
 
 Progrefs of it, as by reprefenting to Prin- 
 ces, and Rulers, that the Propagation of 
 this Doctrine tended to fubvert their Go- 
 vernment ; that the Spreaders of it, where* 
 ever they came, exceedingly troubled, Cities^ 
 and turned the World upfide down. It be- 
 Iiov'd the Apofi:les, therefore, to guard a- 
 gainft this Objeftion, with all imaginable 
 Care. As they knew, that the great 
 Work, in which they were employ'd, 
 was not, as yet, to be promoted, or coun- 
 tenanc'd by the Powers of this World ; 
 fo they refolv'd to give them no juft 
 Ground, or Colour to obftruQ it : and 
 wifely, therefore, took all Occafions to 
 dec^Iare their Abhorrence of Such as de^ 
 Jude viii. fpis'^d Dorynnion^ and [pake et'il of Dignitiei ; 
 frequently prelVd upon their new Con- 
 verts the Duties of paying Honour^ and 
 Fear^ and Tribute to the Higher Powers^ 
 fas being the Ordinance of God'] and of 
 jubmitting themfelves to them, not only for 
 Wrath ^ but alfo for Confcience fake. And, 
 for this Reafon, it riiay be prefum'd that 
 St. Paul introduceth his Inftrutlions to 
 Timothy^ the nev/ Bifhop of Ephefus, by 
 Exhorting him, that, in order to a due 
 Difcharge of his high Trulf, he fhould 
 firfi of all ^ or, above all things, take care, 
 that Supplications^ Prayers ^ Intercejfwns, and 
 
 giving 
 
Thanksgiving for Trinces, 241 
 
 giving of Thanks be made for all Men ; eipe- 
 CidAXy for KjngSy and, all that are in Autho- 
 rity ; that we may lead a Quiet and Peace- 
 able Life ^ in all Godlinejs'^ and Honejly : 
 for thts^ fayJi he? i^ Good^ and Acceptable 
 in the fight of God^ our Saviour, 
 , The Exhortation Iiath a double Afpe61:^ 
 on Mankind in general, and on Princes 
 and Rulers in particular. I fliall confi- 
 d^r it, with regard to the Latter of thefe 
 only, for whofe fake the Apollle feems 
 chiefly to have made it \ and, under this 
 View, it fuggells to us Three Heads of 
 Difcourfe, very proper to be handled on 
 .this Day, and in this AlTembly, 
 
 ■ I. It recommends a great Duty to us, L 
 -the Duty of making Supplications^ Prayers^ 
 and Intercejfions^ and of gi'i^'i^g Thanks, for 
 Kjngs, and all that are in Authority, 
 
 II. It exprelTes the general Reafon, and II„ 
 Ground of that Duty : Tor this is Good, and 
 Acceptable in the light of God, our Saviour, 
 
 III. It quickens us to the Exercife of it i\\ 
 by a fpecial Motive, drawn from the Can- 
 fideration of our own Eafe, Advantage, 
 
 and Happinefs : That rve may lead a Quiet 
 And Peaceable Life, in all Godlinefs and 
 Honefy. R Thefe 
 
24 i The Duty of ^nblick^ Interceffwn and 
 
 Thefe Points I Hiall firft confider, and 
 explain, in that L>atitude, with which' 
 the Apollle hath propos'd them; and 
 tlien adapt the general Argument to the 
 particular Occafion of this Day's joyful 
 Solemnity. 
 
 I. The Writers on this Place have diftin- 
 
 guifli'd with fome Exaftnefs between 
 Sup^ltcAtions , Frajers , and Interceffiom , 
 and endeavour'd to give us the llricil and 
 proper Senfe of each of thefe Words ; 
 wliich, I think, it is neither neceflary, 
 nor eafie to determine. Sure we are,- 
 that bv All thefe together the Apoftle in- 
 tended to exprefs the Petitionary Part of 
 our Devotions ; and hy giving of Thmks^^ 
 the other Part, which confifts of Hymns^ 
 and Praifes. 'Iliefe Two comprife the- 
 whole of our Religious Service; and in- 
 both thefe ways we are exhorted to ad-' 
 drefs our felves to God, for Kjngs^ and, all 
 that are in Authority^ i. e. for the Supreme- 
 Magtllrate, and all Inferiour and Subor-' 
 dinate Governors. 
 
 Ancient and Modern Interpreters a*' 
 gree to underftand this Paflage of the 
 Publick Offices , or Devotions of the 
 Church : and, indeed, the Epifcopal Cha- 
 
 mcler 
 
T%ank^sgiVing for ^Princes. 247 
 
 rafter o{ Timothy^ to whom the Exhor- 
 tation isaddrefs'd ; the Inflrudions which 
 immediately follow, and manifeftly re- 
 late to the fame Head of Publick Wor- 
 fhip ; and tlie profcfs'd Defign ofSt.P/?/// 
 in \\n-iting this Epiflle, which was, to in- 
 ftrudl Timothy^ How he ought to beh/ive him- i Tim. iii, 
 felfin the Houfe of God ; do, I think, na- ^^ 
 turally, and necelTarily determine us fo 
 to underftand it : efpecially, if we confi- 
 der, that the Exhortation, thus under- 
 ftood , was agreeable to the Praftice of 
 the Jewijh Church ; the Pattern, which, 
 in Matters of WorHiip, Difcipline, and 
 Government , the ApolHes chiefly fol- 
 low'd : and, accordingly, we find the Ear- 
 lieft Apologifts for Chriflianity reprefent- 
 ing it as the Conftant and Known Ufage- 
 oftheFirif Chriftians, in all their Sacred 
 AlTcmblies, to Pray for the Lives of their 
 Emperors, and for the Profperity of theu- 
 State and Government. 
 . Our Church is in This, as in Other Re- 
 Ipefts, truly Primitive ; for thus wx pray 
 daily in her Liturgy. And what we do 
 Every day, we may, at Some times, be 
 allow'd to perform more devoutly and 
 folemnly ; even as often as the Gourfe of 
 the Year iTiall bring on that Happy Day, 
 when Her Alajefty firfl: began to Reign, ^' 
 
 R 2 9a' 
 
244 '^^^ ®^0' ^f ^Mck. Inter celjton and 
 
 on the Throne of her Anceftors, and in 
 the Hearts of her Subjecls, and to re- 
 frefli this Church, and State, with the 
 Fiind Influences of her Mild and Graci- 
 ous Adminiftration. Whenever this An- 
 nual Seafon of Joy returns, a Uvely and 
 affedling Senfe of the Mercies, it con- 
 vey 'd to us, cannot but return with it ; 
 which we have no better way of expref- 
 fing, than by Offering up to God (as now 
 we do, and are by St. Paul Exhorted to 
 do) our Devouteft Thanks for the Blef- 
 fings we already feel, and our moft ear- 
 neft Prayers for the Continuance, and In- 
 creafe of them. 
 
 The Reafon and Ground of which Du- 
 ty is thus, in the 
 
 II. Second place, exprefs'd ; For this is 
 
 Goody and Acceptable m the Jight of God^ 
 fmr Safiour. It is Goody i. e. highly De- 
 cent , Expedient , and Reafonable in it 
 lelf ; and, therefore. Acceptable in the fight 
 of GcdyCur Saviour y a Performance par- 
 ticularly Well-pleafing to Him, by whom 
 Kings Reign, of v/hofe Power they par^ 
 take, and whofe Image and Superfcription 
 they bear.- Let us take a diftind View 
 of the feveral Springs, from whence our 
 Obligation to this Duty may be fuppos'd 
 to arife. And ift/ 
 
Thanl{sgiv't?jg for Trmces, 24.5 
 
 I ft. Our Applications to God in behalf 
 of the Princes and Rulers of tliis World 
 are highly reafonable, as they are Proper 
 ExprelTions of our Good-will to Mao- 
 kind, whofe Fate is in their hands, and 
 whole Welfare in great meafure depends 
 upon their Anions and Condud. Sove- 
 reign Princes, and States, are the Chief 
 Inftruments , which the Providence of 
 God employs , in his Adminiftrations 
 here below, and by which he brings a- 
 bout all thofc Mighty F, vents, that fix, or 
 unfettle the Peace of the World. When 
 thefe great Wheels move irregularly, the 
 whole Machine of State is prefently ren- 
 dered unferviceable, and numberlefs de- 
 pending Motions are either jlopp'd, or 
 diforder'd. 
 
 The Execution of all Laws is entruii- 
 ed with Them ; and Laws are the Source 
 of every Advantage that redounds to 
 Mankind from Society, which, without 
 them, would not be preferable to Sofi- 
 tude. To the Influence of Thefe it is 
 owing, that we can call any thing our 
 Own, even Life it felf; and arefhelter'd 
 from the Attacks, which the Lulls and 
 PalTions of Men , not reftrain'd by the 
 Principles of Reafon and Religion, would 
 be every Day making upon us : That we 
 R 5 arc 
 
246 The Vuty of ^nhllch, Intercejfion and 
 
 are polifli'd in our Manners, and bred up 
 in all the Arts of Civil Life, which can 
 render us Ufeful, or Agreeable to each o- 
 ther : and, chiefljr, that we have Oppor- 
 tunities of thus appearing before God, 
 and praifing him in the Great Congrega- 
 tion ; of hearing his Everlafting Gofpel 
 expounded to us, and being dire8:ed in 
 all thofe Paths of Piety and Vertue, which 
 iead to Peace in this World, and to Ever- 
 lafting Life in the next. 
 • " Of Law (faid the excellent My. Hooker 
 longfince, with aCompafs ofThoughtj 
 and a Force of Words peculiar to him ; 
 Of Law ) " no lefs can be acknowledged, 
 ^' than that her Seat is in the Bofom of 
 '' God ; her Voice, the Harmony of the 
 ^^ World ; that all things in Heaven, and 
 *' Earth, do her Homage ; the very Leaft, 
 " as feeling her Care, and the Greateft, 
 *=' as not exempt from her Power ; both 
 •^^ Angels, and Men, and Creatures, of 
 '* what kind foever , though Each , in 
 " different Sort and Manner , yet All, 
 " v/ith one Uniform Confent, admiring 
 " her as the Mother of their Peace and 
 ^^ Joy. He, therefore, upon whofe Au- 
 thority, and Will, the Obfervation of Hu- 
 man Laws depends, hath the Happinefs, 
 or Mifery of Mankind in his Power j 
 • the 
 
T^hanksgtVw^ for princes. i *| 7 
 
 the Earth , and all the Inhabit iints thereof ^^^'^^^•'^^'^'^ 
 would be dijfoh'd^ did not fuch Perfons ^* 
 hear up the Fillars of tt. 
 
 Nay, even the Examples of Princes is, 
 it felf, a Living Law to their Subjecls, 
 which fafhions them by degrees into a 
 Likenefs of Manners, and fpreads it's In- 
 fluence infenfibly ,but powerfully, througli 
 Cities, and Kingdoms. 
 
 So that, to make Supplications for 
 Kings, that their Government may be 
 Wife, Jul!:, and Profperous, is, to pray 
 at once for all the Temporal Felicities 
 which can accrue to us; a good Reign 
 being the moll Univerfal and Comprc- 
 henfive Bleffmg, which either Man can 
 ask, or God befl:ov>' ; and for which we 
 have as much Realbn to be Thankful as 
 for the Light of the Sun, for 'Icmperate 
 Weather, and iM'uitful Seafons. 
 
 F.ven an 111 Prince cannot help doing 
 a great deal of Good, by preferving fome 
 degree of Order and Government in the 
 World; and, therefore, even Such an 
 One hath a Title to our Prayers , and 
 Thankfgivings. But, when Vertue ai- 
 cends the Throne, it difpenfes BlefTings 
 w ithout Number, and without Meafure; 
 and fpreads it's Influence on all around, 
 and beneath it-: Ws going forth is from ^^*1- x)>^- 
 R 4 the ^' 
 
24S Tl^e Vuty of TuMick^lnterceJJion and 
 
 the End of a, KjHgdom^ and it's Circuit to 
 the Ends of it^ and there U nothing hid from 
 thehext thereof, Happy are the People that 
 are in fuch a Cafe ; They have great rea- 
 Ibn to Blefs, who are thus BieiTed of, 
 the Lord. But, 
 
 2dly, As the Vertues and Vices of thofe 
 who Govern,operate on all Inferior Ranks 
 of Men, in the way of Natural Caufes^ 
 fo have they another, and a more Extra- 
 ordinary Effetl ; inafrnuch as God doth 
 often take Occafion to Reward, or Punifh 
 a People, not only by the Means of Good^ 
 or 111 Princes, but even for the Sake of 
 them. Plain Inftances of this kind we 
 have, recorded in Scripture; particular- 
 ly, where Subjects have fuffer'd for the 
 Iniquities of thofe who ^^ere fet ovei 
 them , and the Vengeance , Merited by 
 the One, hath been Inflided, and, as it 
 were, Transferr'd on the Other. Whe- 
 ther it be, that the gpod, or ill Conduct 
 of Rulers is fometimes Owing to their 
 People, and may therefore juftly be Im- 
 puted to them ; or whether (as in the 
 cafe of Vifituig the Sins of Parents on 
 their Children), by making them mutu- 
 , ally liable to tlic Confequenccs of each 
 Others Anions, God intends to imprint 
 a Mutual Concern and • Endeavour for 
 
 eaci; 
 
Thanksgiving for Trine es. 249 
 
 each Other's Welfare, and to Unite them 
 together in the ftrifteft Bands of Interefl:, 
 and Affeftion : Whatever the Reafon of 
 God's dealing in this manner with Prin- 
 ces and States may be, fure we are, that 
 Ire doth thus deal with them, and that 
 this is one Chief Article in that Scheme 
 of Political Julfice, by which he governs 
 the World. And can there be a better 
 Argument for our Interceding with God 
 in the behalf of /C//(^^, a^^d ail ilj.tt are in 
 Authority^ tlian This, That we are really 
 at fuch times interceding for our felves ? 
 fmce We may be chaftisM for Iheir 
 Tranfgrelfions, and reap the Rewards of 
 Their Piety and Goodnefs ? Further, 
 
 ^dly. The Cares of Empire are great, 
 and the Burthen, which lies upon the 
 Shoulders of Princes very weiglit) ; and, 
 on This account, therefore, they Chal- 
 lenge, becaufe they particularly want our 
 Prayers ; that they may have an Vnder- 
 fta/idino Heart, to dtlcern betwee?; Good and 
 Bad^ And to go out and in before a great Peo- 
 ple. With what Difficulties is their Ad- 
 miniifration often clogg'd by the Per- 
 verfenefs, Folly, or Wickednefs of thofe 
 they govern ? How hard a tiling do they 
 find It, to inform themfelves truly of the 
 §^ate of Aflairs ; where Fraud and Flatte- 
 ry 
 
250 The Duty of^uhlkk^ InterceJJlon and 
 
 ry furround, and take fuch pains tomiff. 
 lead them ? How nice a Task is it, to 
 diftinguifh between the Extremes of al- 
 lowing too much Liberty, and affeQ:ing 
 too much Power ? To what Daily Dan- 
 gers are their Perfons expos'd, from the 
 Attempts of Treachery, and Violence ? 
 How particular and pre fling are the 
 Temptations , to which the Height of 
 Power, they have attained, makes them 
 liable ? They are above the reach of 
 Fear, Reproof, and moft of thofe Out- 
 ward Checks, which God hath plac'd, as 
 Guards upon Private Mens Vertue ; and 
 are, on that account, in great danger of 
 letting loofe their Appetites and Paflions 
 into all manner of Excefles, without an 
 Extraordinary degree of God's Reftrain- 
 ing Grace ; which, therefore, it becomes, 
 I and concerns us to beg of Him, and for 
 
 Them. 
 
 Chriflian Charity and Beneficence, is 
 a Debt, which we owe to Kings, as well 
 as to the Meanell of their Subjeds. But 
 how fhall we extend our Good O tlices to 
 Thofe, who move in fo High a Spiiere ? 
 how, but by applying our felves to One, 
 that is yet Higher than They, even our • 
 Common Lord and Mailer; and humbly 
 imploring the Aids of his good Spirit, to 
 
 Cone - 
 
ThiinksgiVmg for princes, 25 i 
 
 Comfort, Support, and Guide them ? 
 This is the Only Compenfation, or Re- 
 turn, which moft of us are capable of 
 making to them, for their Vigilance, and 
 Concern for the PubUck Safety, the Pains 
 which they take, and the Hazards wliich 
 they run, to fecure it. 
 
 And, to encourage our Requeils in 
 their behah', we may confider, in the 
 
 4th place. That the Providence of God 
 doth, in a very Particular manner, inter- 
 pofe towards fwaying the Wills and Aife- 
 Qions, directing, or over-ruling the In- 
 tentions of thole who fit at the Helm : 
 for the Kjr?g^s Heart is tn the H^nd of.God^ Prov. xxK 
 as the Rivers of Waters ; He turneth it^ wht- ^' 
 therfoever he Itfieth : he gives a Bent to it, 
 this way, or that; which it takes as cer- 
 tainly, and eafily as a Stream is derivM 
 into the Channels, which the Hand of 
 the Workman prepares for it. On This 
 Foundation Our Church profeifes to build 
 the Duty, and the Expedience of praying 
 for Princes : We are taught (fays She) 
 by thy holj Word^ that the Hearts of Kj^gs 
 are m thy Rule and Governance^ and that 
 thou dofi difpofe and turr- thern^ as it feemeth 
 befi to thy godly Wtfdom, Indeed, the Spi- 
 rit of God operates on the Spirits of All 
 Alen -J but not in fo Copious, fo Power- 
 ful, 
 
252 The Duty of Tuhlicli InterceJJlon and 
 
 ful, and Extraordinary a manner, as it 
 doth on the Spirits of Pri?ices, which God 
 delighteth to refrAiN^ and, by that means, 
 to fliew Inm^iA'i Wonder j'n I among the Kjngs 
 of the Earth, It is the chief Care, the pe- 
 cuHar Province, the great Prerogative of 
 the King of Kings, to rule the Thoughts 
 ofThofe, who rule the AQions of Others; 
 and thereby to bring about the Ends, the 
 myfterious and infcrutable Ends of his 
 Providence. And, 'tis well for mankind 
 that there is a Being, who hath, and ex- 
 ercifeiji fuch a Power ; for, unlefs there 
 were, Human Power, left to it felf, would 
 make w^ld work in the World ; the Cha- 
 riot of Government would be often, and 
 dangeroufly mifguided by Rafli Unskil- 
 ful Drivers, did not an Invifible Hand 
 hold the Reins, and gently dire6l the 
 Courfe of it. 
 
 The Scripture feems to intimate, that 
 God hath appointed Tutelar Angels , to 
 ad under him, for this purpofe ; at leaft, 
 that fuch Minjflring Spirits there were, 
 before the Ere£lion of the Mediatorial 
 Kingdom of our Saviour :- fm', in Darnel^ 
 we read of Particular Princes, or Patrons, 
 alTign'd, from the Angelic Hoft, to the 
 Grecians , and Ferjians ; in order , as is 
 pioufly belicvM, to Encourage, Enlighten, 
 
 and 
 
Tlpanl{Sgiving for Trinccs, 2 5 j 
 
 and Protecl the Governoitrs of tliofe 
 Eftates and Empires. We are interefted 
 more nearly in the Welfare and good 
 Condu£l of Princes than thofe Miniftring 
 Spirits are ; fliall we not have fome (hare 
 in procuring it ? Ought we not with 
 our utmofl: Zeal to a 11111: 1'hofe, whom 
 God, for our fakes, vouchfafes in fo Emi- 
 nent a Manner to dire£l, and afTifl: ? and, 
 what better \\'ay of affifting them have 
 we, than by our S/tppi/catw/Js^ a»d Tha^kJ- 
 gtvings ? Which, let me add, in the 
 
 Lall: Place, are never, on this Occafi- 
 on, fo becomingly and forcibly addrefs'd 
 to God, as in the Great Congregation. 
 BlelTmgs of a Publick Nature and Influ- 
 ence require as Publick and Solemn Ac- 
 knowledgments ; and the Proper way of 
 obtaining Mercies, which afleft Many, 
 is, by pouring out the Joint-Requefts of 
 Many in behalf of them : for in the Spiri- 
 tual, as well as the Carnal Warfare, Num- 
 bers are moll likely to prevail. The Anci- 
 ents, therefore, reprefent the Strength of 
 fuch United Devotions by that of an Ar- 
 my, Encompairing, BefiegingGod ; not 
 to be defeated, or refilled by him. Colmus 
 ad Deum (faith Ono. of them) ///■, quaji TertuUUn, 
 Manu f^ct^i^ Precatio?itbHi eum amhiAnms ; 
 hxc Vu Deo grata ejl : "We come toge- 
 ther 
 
254 '^^^ 2)mO/ of ^ublicl^lntercejfion and 
 
 " ther in Troops , as it were, and fur- 
 " round God with our Prayers; this 
 '• Violence of ours is well-plcafing to 
 " him. We Then Ask, and we Then 
 give Thanks, with the greateft Alacri- 
 ty and Earnertnefs , and , coniequently^ 
 with the fureft Hope of Acceptance, and 
 Succefs, when we excite and warm 
 each other into this Holy Performance ;' 
 and, with One Heart, and One Mouth,', 
 utter the Awakning Words which the 
 Devout Pfalmift us'd , at a Solemnity 
 like This, which we are now met to ce- 
 pr. cxviii. lebrate : Thi^ is the Day which the Lord 
 2'4525,z7. ^^^Ij made ; kt m beglad^ and rejoice in itl 
 Help now^ Lord ; Lor defend m now Pro- 
 fperitj, God is the Lord^ who hath flfewed 
 v^s Light ; hind the Sacrifice with Cords ^ yea 
 even to the Horns of the Altar^ 
 
 III; I have explain'd the Grounds and Rea- 
 fons of the Duty, intimated to us in thofe 
 Words of the Text : For this is Good, and 
 Acceptable in the fight of God, our Saviour^ 
 I proceed to confider the fpecial Motive 
 there propos'd , to quicken us into the 
 Exercile of it : That fo we may lead a Quiet 
 and Peaceable Life, in all Godlinefs , and 
 Honefty, I fliall briefly fhev/, in wliat re- . 
 fpectsthe Devotions recommended by the' 
 
 Apoftle 
 
Tl^anksgivin^ for Trhires, 2 « 
 
 Apoftle contribute to this End ; and how 
 far, therefore, our Own Eafe, Advantage, 
 and Happinefs is concern'd in paying 
 them. And 
 
 I ft, They have a Plain Tendency this 
 way, as they are a Prevailing Argument 
 with God, fo to difpolc and incHne the 
 Minds of Princes, that they may ftudy 
 to promote the Qiiiet, Good, and Pro- 
 fperity of their Kingdoms. If we believe 
 our Prayers to have any elfe(^, we can- 
 not doubt their Ufeiblnefs in This Par- 
 ticular ; which is too evident, to need 
 a farther Enlargement. 
 
 2dly, Such Prayers facilitate our lead^ 
 ing A Quiet and Peaceable Life, in all God- 
 linefs^ and Honejly ; inafmuch as they ex- 
 prefs, in the moft fignificant manner, 
 our Love, and Zeal, and Reverence to- 
 wards the Perfons of Princes : and by 
 fuch Inftances of Duty invite them to 
 make us fuitable Returns. They et^'edu- 
 ally prevent thofe Jealoufies, which Mei>' 
 cloth'd with Sovereign Power are too 
 apt to entertain of their Inferiors ; and 
 promote that good Underiianding be- 
 tween them, which is the Common Inte- 
 reft, and fliould be the Common Aim of 
 Both; and wherein the Security, and 
 Happinefs of all well-orderM States chief- 
 ly 
 
1^6 The Duty of Tublick^ Inter cejjt on and 
 
 ly confifts. The Holy Wiilies ?Cncf Vo\i^s 
 we make for Tlieir Welfare, will engage 
 their unweary'd Endeavours for Oiirs ; 
 and the Tliankfgivings put up by us far 
 the Tranquillity , we enjoy under their 
 Reign, will move them to afford us frefh 
 and frequent Occafions for New ones. 
 
 ParticQlarly , the Church is in This 
 way beft capable of giving Aid and Afli- 
 ftance to the State ; and, by that means, 
 of deferving, and fecuring it's Protecti- 
 on, and Favour. This is the Spiritual 
 Tribute^ and Ctiftom^ which fhe pays to 
 the Supreme Magiftrate ; and for which 
 file receives, in Exchange, all the Tem- 
 poral Bleilingsand Encouragements, that 
 flow from the Munificence of Princes, 
 and make her not only to Subfift, but 
 Flourifli. 
 
 jdly, A Q^iiet and Peaceable Ltfe is the 
 Fruit of thefe Publick Devotions, as We 
 our felves derive from thence a Spirit of' 
 Meeknefs , Submiilion , and Refpecl to 
 our Superiors, and are led into an Habi- 
 tual Love and Pradice of thofe Mild Gra- 
 ces and Vertues, which we, at fuch times, 
 folemnly exercife, and pray God to infpire 
 us with ; and which, ulien generally 
 praftis'd, make Crowns fit eafie on the 
 Heads of Princes, and render 'Diem, and 
 
 their 
 
Thanhghnng for If^nnces. 257 
 
 their Subjeciis, equally a BielTing to Each 
 Other. Such as fincerely pray for the 
 Profperity of a State^ are not likely 10 
 difturb it themfelves, or to pufii on Others 
 into Attempts againft the Peace of it : 
 They come out of the Church, ftill mor« 
 Devoted to their Prince, and Country, 
 than they went in ; more Zealous, and 
 better Qualify'd to difcharge their Duty 
 to the Publick, in their feveral Places, 
 and Stations^ 
 
 I have fufficiently explain'd the Exhor- jy^ 
 tation of St. P.?///, and the General Ar- 
 guments, and Motives, by which he en- 
 fbrceth it. The bell way of clofmg, and 
 applying thefe Refle<^ions will be, to take 
 a View of the Cliara6:er of thofe Princes, 
 on whofe behalf the Apolfle prelTcth on 
 the Chriftians of his time the Practice of 
 this Duty, and from thence to fliew, how 
 much Wronger Obligations We are under 
 of complying with it. And 
 
 ift, The Princes, for whom the Apo- 
 ftle pleads, were Infidels, )v/>/?^«/-C/;m7, Eph.ii.isi 
 Aliens from his Commomvealtb^ and, Str An- 
 gers from the Covenatits of his Promife ; and 
 fuch alfo they were, by the PermilTion of 
 God, to continue for Three Hundred 
 Years after the Coming of our Saviour j 
 
 S that 
 
258 T7;e Duty of TiMck Inter cefflon and, 
 
 that fo his Gofpel might not owe it's firft 
 Eftablifliment, in any degree, to the Se- 
 cular Powers ; but might fpread and fix 
 it felf every where, without their Help, 
 and againll their Will ; and manifeft to 
 all the World it's Divine Original, by the 
 Miraculous manner in which it fhould be 
 propagated. The Kings of the Earth 
 were not , during this Period, to pro- 
 mote the belief of the Gofpel, any other- 
 wife than by Oppofmg it. When the reft 
 of the World Ind come in, and own'd 
 our Saviour, Then, and not 'till Then, 
 were the Rulers of it to fubmit their 
 Scepters to the Scepter of Chrift ; to Em- 
 brace, Proted, and Encourage his Do- 
 ctrine, but not to Plant it : that, in This 
 Senfe alfo, the Prediction of our Lord con- 
 cerning the Progrefs of his Kingdom, and 
 the Call of Believers, might be verify'd, 
 Matth. XX. that the Lafi of Men fhould be Firft ; anii 
 the Firfl, L/ift, 
 
 If, then, the Tribute of Supplications 
 and Thankf^ivmgs was due to tliofe Hea- 
 then Princes, is it not much more due to 
 thole who are Chriftians ? who are in- 
 grafted, as Principal Members, into that 
 Mylfical Body, of which Chrift Jefus is 
 the Head ? who, under Him, are the 
 Chief Go vernours of his Church here be- 
 low. 
 
 i^. 
 
T))anksglVuig for Princes, 2jp 
 
 low, and Guardians of all her Sacred 
 Rights and Privileges? They befeech, 
 and they praile God together with Us, 
 in the fame Common Aifemblies ; and 
 We are, therefore, doubly oblig'd to be- 
 feech, and to praife God for them. It 
 may be obferv'd, in the 
 
 2d place, That the RotnAn Emperors, 
 for whom the Apoftle here direfts, that 
 Prayers fliould be made, were Ufurpers, 
 and Tyrants ; who acquired Dominion 
 by invading the Liberties of a Free Peo- 
 ple, and were Arbitrary and Lawlefs in 
 the Exercife of it. Their Will and Plea- 
 fure was the folc Standard of Jultice; 
 Fear was the Foundation of their Go- 
 vernment, and their Throne was upheld 
 only by the Legions which furround- 
 ed it. 
 
 Even for fuch Rulers the firfl: Chrifti- 
 ans were exhorted to Supplicate, and give 
 Thanks. How much more reafonably 
 and chearfully do We, who are met here 
 this Day, now offer up that Sacrifice for 
 a Queen^ who wears the Crown of her 
 Forefathers, to which She is Entitled by 
 Blood, and which was plac'd on her 
 Royal Head, not only with the Free 
 Confent, but with the Jniverfal Joy and 
 Acclamations of her Subjeds? Who 
 S 2 rules 
 
t6o Tl^e Duty ofTuMick, Inter cejjlon and 
 
 rules a Willing People^ not by the Ter- 
 ror of Rods and Axes, but with the In- 
 ( diligent Tcndernefs of a Common Pa- 
 rent ? wlio dell res rather to be Belov'd, 
 than Fear'd by them, and takes the tru- 
 eft way toward fecuring their Utmoft 
 Love, by fliewing, in every Step of her 
 Gracious Conduft, that She entirely loves 
 them ? Wlio hath no Intereft, can have 
 no Intereil, feparate from Theirs ; and 
 upon wliom Malice it felf could never 
 fallen a Sufpicion of Her purfuing any 
 Meafures , which aim'd rather at her 
 Own Glory , or Advantage , than the 
 Common Good of England, 
 
 The Law is as much a Rule to Her, 
 as to the leaft of Thofe who Obey her; 
 the fixt Meafure, not only of Her go- 
 verning Power, but even of Her Will to 
 govern ; and She makes no other Ufe of 
 that Po\^^er, with which the Laws have 
 inverted Her, than to give Life and Force 
 to them. 
 
 The Bieflings of Her Mild and Merci- 
 ful Government defcend from the Throne 
 rr. Ixxii. upon Her People, as the Small Rain cometh 
 doivn into a ilcece of Wool, without Ve- 
 hemence , or Noife ; like the Drops of 
 Rain, that rvater the Earth, gently, and 
 infenllbly. She draws up the Free Of- 
 ferings 
 
 6 
 
Tlmnksglving for Trinces. 26 i 
 
 ferlngs of our Love, and Duty, only to 
 return them back again in Showers of 
 Royal Bounty ; which make glad the 
 Land, and produce a mighty Increase. 
 
 Surely, our Lips cannot better be em- 
 ploy'd, than in Praifmg God for iuch 
 mighty Benefits, as thefe, and for the 
 Blelfed Hand , through which lie con- 
 veys them ! 
 
 ^dly, 7 hofe who governM the World, 
 at, or near the Time of St. PauPs wri- 
 ting this Epiftle, had no Perfonal Merits, 
 or Vertues, to recommend them to the 
 Prayers of the Faithful. Ttbertm^ Cali- 
 guU^ CUuditu^ and Nero^ under wiiom 
 the Chriftian Faith was dilleminated ^ 
 and for all whom, we may prefume, the 
 Faithful equally made their Supplicati- 
 ons, were not only Bad Princes, but Bad 
 Men • infamous for their Lufi:, Cruelty, 
 ^nd other Vices : but they were in Au- 
 thority^ and that gave them a Right to 
 be mention'd in the Stated Officer of the 
 Church. 
 
 How different from Their Cafe is Ours, 
 whofe Eyes behold on the Throne a 
 Queen, who deferves to lit there, as well 
 by Her Vertue, as by Her Birth ; Who, 
 in that Publick and Exalted Station, pre- 
 ferves all the Innocence and SanQity of 
 S 3 a Pri- 
 
262 7 he Duty of fiMck Interceffion and 
 
 a Private Life ; Who is Superior to all 
 the Te-mp rations, which a great Power 
 fuggefts, and which nothing but as great 
 Goodnefs ever overcomes ; and to whom, 
 therefore, Her Subjedls feem to be almoft 
 as much obUg'd for the Shining Pattern 
 of unaflfefted Piety, which She fets them, 
 as for all the Other Bleflings of Her Pro- 
 fperous Reign. The Accellion of fuch a 
 Queen to a Crown is indeed a Felicity, 
 which we may commemorate Annually, 
 with a Devout and Sincere Joy : God 
 grant, that we may Commemorate it 
 Often ! and that we may ftill find more 
 and more reafon thankfully to acknow- 
 ledge it 1 
 
 Finally, the Emperors of Rome ^ for 
 whom the Primitive Chriftians were ob- 
 liged to Pray, and to give Thanks, were 
 their avowM Enemies, and Perfecutors ; 
 who did, what they could, to hinder the 
 Eftablifhment of the Church of Chrifi^ 
 and to fupprefs thofe Very Aflemblies , 
 wherein thefe Devotions were ofFerM up 
 to God in their behalf. 
 
 Whereas She, for whom we now Adore 
 
 and Blefs the good Providence of God, is, 
 
 by Her O.ffice, and by Her Inclination, 
 
 the Defender, and Friend, the Patronefs, 
 
 ^ and ISiurrmg-Mother of his Church efta- 
 
 bliOi'd 
 
Thduksgiviug for Princes* 262 
 
 blifli'd amongft us. In this Church She 
 was Baptiz'd, and Bred, and, therefore, 
 naturally loves it; She was made early, 
 and throughly acquainted with its Do- 
 ctrine, and Government, and,conrequent- 
 ly values it; She hath been a Religious 
 Frequenter of its Worfliip, and a fteady 
 Adherer to its Intereil ; and was pre- 
 pared , in the late times of Diftrefs and 
 Danger , to Suffer with it , and for it. 
 From Her , therefore , now Slie is ad- 
 vancM to a Throne , all the Members, 
 and Minifters of this Church may juilly 
 promife themfelves, not only the Oppor- 
 tunity of lead/K7 a Qntet and Peaceable 
 Life , ( the utmofi: which the Firil 
 ChrilHans could hope for from Their 
 Emperours ) but Farther Advantages ; 
 not meerly Protedion , but all Suitable 
 Inftances of Royal Favour and Encou- 
 ragement. 
 
 Witnefs Her late Ad: of Princely 
 Bounty and CompafTiou to the Poor 
 Clergy of this Church : an A6V, une- 
 quaird by any Prince , nay by all our 
 Princes, fmce the Reformation; and 
 which (I was going to fay ) may atone 
 ibr A£ls of a very ditlerent kind, done in 
 fome of their Reigns, It griev'd Hci 
 Religious Heart to fee, that Thofe, who 
 
 S 4 r^'^.it 
 
2 6j\. Tioe Duty of Tuhlick^ Inter cejjlon and 
 
 tvait At the Altar^ fhould not Partake with 
 the Altar ^ in fuch a Meafure, as is requi- 
 fie to preferve the RefpeQ: due to their 
 Characters, ai)d to give Encouragement, 
 and Succefs to their Labours. Slie feera'd 
 to hear them complaining , in the Pa- 
 Pfa.cxxiii, thetick Words of the Pfalmift ; Have 
 33 4- 7nercy upon us^ Lord^ have mercy upon us ; 
 for we are exceedingly jilled with Contempt : 
 Our Soul is exceedingly jilled with the 
 Scorning of thofe tha,t are at Eafe , and 
 with the Contempt of the Proud. Tp refcue 
 Them , and the Rehgion which they 
 taught , from thefe Difadvantages , She 
 extended Her Beneficence in the moft 
 Arnple manner ; and took care to have 
 the good EffeCls of it perpetuated to 
 Future Ages ; through the Chearful 
 Afliftance of thofe , who Compofe this 
 Illuftrious AfTembly , and whofe Af- 
 fiflance, we are fure, will never be want- 
 ing, to perfeft any Work, that is begun 
 for the Honour, Advantage, and Security 
 of th€ Church of England. Scarce any but 
 a Royal Heart, was capable of Entertain- 
 ing fo large a Defign ; as none but Royal 
 Hands were, in any degree, equal to the 
 Execution of it. , 
 
 Tlie Benefadion is, indeed, worthy of 
 Her, from whom it fprungj and carries 
 
 in 
 
Thanksgiving for princes, i6J 
 
 in it Marks of a Wifdom , as Extenfivc 
 as Her Goodnefs. For it is not Con- 
 fin'd, tho' Given, to Thofe who Minilkr 
 in Holy Things ; the Happy Fruits, and 
 Effeds of it will , through this Cliannel, 
 be convey'd to all Ranks and Orders of 
 Men among us. All will fliare in that 
 Munificence , which redounds to the 
 Service of Religion, the Common Inhe- 
 ritance, and BleiTing of All ; and w^hich 
 gives Life and Weight to the Instructions 
 of Thofe, who , as meanly as they may 
 be thought of , on other Accounts, are 
 yet the Ambajfadors of ChriH^ and Stewards 
 of the Myftertes of God, 
 
 An Unenvy'd Bounty, therefore, it 
 needs muft be; a Good ^ which cannot 
 decently be eiil fjjoken of even by Such 
 (if there be any Such) who wifli not 
 well either to the Objects , or the Be- 
 ftower of it. 
 
 Great and groundlefs Reproaches 
 have , in other Refpefts , been calf on 
 Oiu' Church, as if there were ftill fome 
 Remains of Popery in it. Poor Vicarages 
 are really fuch ; which took their Rife 
 from the pretended Vicar of Clu'iil:, wlio 
 endow'd Abbies,and Monafteries, often- 
 times , with the Spoils of Churcli- 
 Livings , for the Support and Mainte- 
 nance 
 
66 Tl?e Duty offuhltck^ InterceJJlon and 
 
 nance of his Spiritual Tyranny. 'Twas 
 the great Blemifh of our Reformation, 
 that, when Religious Houfes were fup- 
 prefs'd , fome Part / at leafl: , of their 
 Revenue was not reftor'd to its Original 
 Ufe. But the Defeats of that Time were, 
 we truft, referv'd to be fupply'd by Her 
 Majefty ; and the goodiyFrame of our 
 Conftitution is to be perfeded, as it was 
 modell'd, by the Hand of a Woman. 
 
 A Prince, lefs foHcitous for the Good 
 of Religion, tho' intent on fuch a Work, 
 would yet have deferr'd it, 'till the Ex- 
 penfive War, wherein we are engag'd, 
 ^ was brought to a Clofe. But the Com- 
 paUion, and Godly Zeal of our Gracious 
 Sovereign would not be check'd by this 
 Confideration : The Love of doing 
 Good overcame all the Diffiulties, v/hich 
 lay in the Way towards doing it. She 
 thought , That, to Confecrate One Part 
 of Her Revenue to fo Pious an Ufe, 
 would draw a Blefling on the Manage- 
 ment of all the other Branches of it ; 
 That the Crutfe of Oil would not fail ever 
 the fooner, for bellowing a Portion of it 
 n a Prophet, or any of the Sons of the 
 rophets ; That the Earned: Prayers of 
 Thofe, whom She thus reliev'd, would 
 be as Serviceable to Her in this War, 
 
 as 
 
Thanksgiving for Amices. 267 
 
 as the Income it felf ; and that Her 
 Charity would, in the Expreflions of the 
 Son or Syrach , Fight for her againli her Ecclu$; 
 Enemies better th^n a Mighty Spear, and a ^^^* '^' 
 Strong Shield. 
 
 And , furely , the Unanimous and 
 Early Difpatch of the Supplies, the Pre- 
 fent Height of Publick Credit, and the 
 Eagernefs with which all her Subjects 
 prefs to fill Her Coffers with their 
 Loans, are not Signs, that She hath by 
 any Ad of mifapply'd Bounty hitherto 
 loft Ground , either in the Favour of 
 Heaven, or in the Affedion, and Efteem 
 of Her People. 
 
 May that God, whom She thus ferves, 
 and imitates, extend Her Life and Reign 
 beyond the Ordinary Term of either ; 
 and crown every Year of them with new 
 Inftances of his Goodnefs to Her, and 
 to tliefe Kingdoms ! 
 
 Non\ unto the Kjng Eternal^ Immortal^ 
 Inviftble , the only Wife God , be Ho- 
 nour , a^d Glory , for ever ever ! 
 Amen. 
 
266 
 
 The RULE of 
 
 Doing as we would be Done untOy 
 Explain'd in a 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 Preach'd before Her 
 
 MAJESTY, 
 
 A T 
 
 St. James's Chapel, 
 
 On Sunday , N o v e m b. 5. 1704. 
 
 St. Matth. vii. iz. 
 
 All things , whatfoeVer ye would that 
 Men JJ?ould do unto you , do ye eVen 
 fo to them 5 for this is the Law and 
 the prophets. 
 
 TH E Sentence , I have read unto 
 you , is very fitly plac'd towards 
 the Clofe of our Saviour's admirable 
 
 Ser- 
 
2^Q The ^le of Doing ds we would 
 
 Sermon on the Mount ; as being, in great 
 meafure, the Epitome and Sum of what 
 the Divine Preacher had there exprefs'd 
 more at large. Nor is it lefs fitly or- 
 der'd to be recited at the Holy Table, 
 in the moft Solemn part of the Service 
 of this Day ; on which we meet annually 
 to Commemorate our Deliverance from 
 the Attempts of thofe bloody and mer- 
 cilefs Men, who fcem to have out-done 
 all their PredeceiTors and Succeflbrs in 
 Wickednefs , by a Notorious Contempt 
 of this great Evangelical Rule, and of all 
 the Principles of common Humanity. The 
 Practice of thofe Confpirators was the per- 
 fe«3:Re verfe of this Precept; and we cannot, 
 therefore, better be taught, or incited to 
 deteft the one , than by a due Illuftra- 
 tion and Enforcement of the othei-. This 
 I fhall attempt, by offering to your 
 Thoughts fome Confiderations , Firft, 
 on the Rule here laid down ; Ail things^ 
 ivhatfoever ye would that Menjhould do unto 
 you^ do ye even Jo to them-^ and, then, on 
 the fliort , but full Encomium , beftow'd 
 upon it , that it i^ the Law and the Pro- 
 phets : Which fliall be followed by fome 
 Inferences , naturally arifing from the 
 whole ; and the General Reliedions ad^ 
 vanc'd , ( tlio' they may all along eafily 
 
 be 
 
he Done untOy Explain d, 17 1; 
 
 be underllood to refer , yet) fhall after- 
 wards be particularly apply'd, to the 
 Subjed of this Day's Solemnity. 
 
 As to the Rule it feif, we may di^ 
 ftinftly confider the juft Extent and 
 Bounds of it , the Reafon of its Prefe- 
 rablenefs to all other Rules, in point of 
 Evidence and Convidion , the manifeft 
 Equity and Exaftnefs, the peculiar Pro- 
 perties and Advantages of it. 
 
 All things^ irhatfoevey ye would that Me/i 
 fljould do unto pu , do ye even fo to them I 
 Words of great force and energy; and 
 yet, the molf fimple, plain, and perfpi- 
 cuous that can be ! And which therefore 
 Commentators do (as they too often do) 
 obfcure and perplex, by a pretenfe of 
 Explaining. The only pofTible Doubt is, 
 concerning the Extent of the Matter con- 
 contain'd in them : For it muft be al- 
 low'd, that there are many Cafes, where- 
 in we are by no means oblig'd to grant 
 that to others, which we our felves per- 
 haps (were we in their Circumftances, 
 and they in ours) might be willing 
 enough, unrcafonably willing, to obtain 
 from them. A Benetador is not bound 
 to comply with the Demands of fuch as 
 
 ask 
 
^^t The ^le of Doing as we would 
 
 ask unmerited Favours , tho' confcious, 
 that He himfelf might be apt to make 
 as Extravagant Requefts,were it his turn 
 to be the ObjeQ: of another Man's Bene- 
 ficence. A Magiftrate is not at Liberty, 
 much lefs under any ObUgation, to turn 
 the Edge of Tuftice From an Importunate 
 Offender ; becaufe, if He himfelf were the 
 Criminal, he fliould certainly, and equally 
 defire to efcape unpunifh'd. The Rule, 
 therefore, which makes, what we defire 
 of other Men, the Meafure of our deal- 
 ing toward them, is to be underftood, 
 not of vicious and exceflive Defires, 
 but of fuch only as are fit and reafonable; 
 fuch Requefts as we can, in ourcalmelt 
 Thoughts, jullify to ourfelves; fuch as, 
 we are fure, may be made without Inde* 
 cency, and cannot be refus'd without 
 Inhumanity. And, under this necelfary 
 Limitation , the Precept of the Text 
 may be thus underftood : " Put thy felf 
 '• into fuch a Man's Condition, and con- 
 " fider, what Treatment, what Favours, 
 " in That Cafe, thou might 'ff fairly and 
 " juftly expe£l /ro;?^ Him ; and be Thou 
 " fure to deal mth Him , according to 
 " thofe thy juftand regular Expeftations* 
 And this I take to be the true Explica- 
 tion of that other equivalent Precept, 
 
 given 
 
he Done unto , Explain d. 27 } 
 
 given in the Gofpe/ , to Love our Neighs 
 hour Si, asour fehes\ which we may then, 
 in the moft proper and ^xiQ: Senfe of the 
 Words, be faid to do , when we , firfl:, 
 place our Selves in pur . Neighbour's 
 fl:ead,.and, then, learn to love him; by, 
 confidering , what degree of Love and 
 Good-Will, of Forbearance and Forgive^ 
 yefs we might , under that Change of 
 Circumftances, challenge from him. 
 
 It may be thought , that the Rule, 
 thus temper d and qualify 'd, will not bc: 
 of any fpecial Ufe, or Moment to us, in 
 the Dire8:ion of our Pradice ; inafrauch 
 as the Lines of Duty do not feem to be 
 more clearly mark'd out, by this Method 
 pf Comparifon , than they would have 
 been, by a direcl: Injunction to us , fo to 
 deal with others , as right Reafon and 
 our Confciences inform us , that we 
 ought to deal with them. For, after all, 
 when we have made another Man's Cafe 
 ours, we are liill left to judge , vvhatj 
 under fuch a Charge of Circumilanccs^ 
 Aye might, in Equity and Reafon , .exped: 
 from him ; before we can determin ^ af- 
 ter what manner we are to behave our 
 felves towards him '. And, tiiereforey 
 which way foever we taketheMeafure, 
 
 t of 
 
of our Duty ; to the Bar of Equity and 
 Reafon we mull, it feems, in order to the 
 fixing it, always finally appeal. 
 
 'Tis true, we muft — But the Maxini 
 of the Text is That, which, of all others,- 
 doth moil: elTeQually aififl: us towards 
 making a free ufe of our Reafon , and 
 forming right Judgment of things,on fuch 
 Occafions : For, by the Means of it, we 
 are able to confider our Duty without 
 prejudice, and to ftate the Bounds of it 
 impartially and fairly. When we deter- 
 min amifs concerning the Obligations 
 incumbent upon us, in refpe6l of other 
 Men ; 'tis by reafon of that ftrong weight 
 of Self-love , which , lilve a Byafs , in- 
 clines , and fecretly fways our Minds' 
 towards That Side , on which our Own 
 Interefl: lies. To fet this* Error right, 
 we fuppofe our Selves to be the Men, 
 who are to receive this Treatment from 
 Others, which we are about to praQ:ife 
 toward Them ; and , then , the fame 
 Selfifli-Principle makes that appear ve- 
 ry hard and unreafonable , which be-" 
 fere it inclin'd us to approve ; and 
 thus our warp'd and perverted Judg- 
 ment , by being bent as much to- 
 wards the Oppofite fide , recovers its 
 ftraitnefs. The Rule of the Text, there- 
 fore- 
 
le 'Done nnto^ Explain d. 275 
 
 fore, is, at the bottom , a wife Art of 
 rebating one degree of our Partiality by 
 another ; it enables us to take two feve- 
 fal Views of our Duty, to eye it in dif-. 
 ferent Situations, and under different 
 Lights ; and , by tliat means , more di- 
 ftinctly and thoroughly to difcern it. 
 And , in this Senfc , MeAfurwg our felves 
 by our felves^ and co?npari/i^ our feives rvith ^ ' ^* 
 our [elves, we take the fureft way to be 
 both Juft and Wtfe, 
 
 There's nothing, we know, that gives 
 a Man fo true and hvely a Senfe ot the 
 Sufferings of Others, or retrains him 
 fo powerfully from doing Unrighteous 
 and Oppredive things ; as his having 
 fmarted , formerly, himfelf, under the 
 Experience of tTiem, Now, the fuppofing 
 another Man's ill ufage to be Ours, is,' 
 the giving our felves a prefent Senfe, as? 
 it were , a kind of FeignM Experience 
 of it; which doth, for the time, ferve all 
 the Purpofes of a True one. 
 
 Upon thefe Accounts it is , that the 
 Precept of the Text carries greater Evi- 
 dence, and a fuller degree of Conviftion 
 in it, than any other Rule of Morality \ 
 its apparent Equity and Reaibnablenefs, 
 is what we are next to conGder, And this 
 
 12 IS 
 
Deut.xxv. 
 
 276 The ^ule of Doing as we would 
 
 IS fo plain a Point, as not to want, or 
 indeed be capable of. , a Solemn Proof : 
 For the Precept manifeftly aims at That, 
 which is the known Foundation of 
 Equity and Juftice, in all Matters of In- 
 tercourfe between Man and Man ; the 
 reducing things to oneCommon Standard, 
 by the Application of which they are all 
 to beexamin'd, and try'd. Thou J half not^ 
 have in thy Bag^ or m thine Houje (faid 
 the Levitical Law ) divers Weights^ and, 
 divers Meafures ; a Great and a. Small [ i. e. 
 one, wherewith to Buy; and another, 
 wherewith to Sell :] hut thou {halt have a, 
 perfe^ and juH Weighty a perfect and juH 
 Meajure jhalt thou have. What is" faid 
 here of ordinary Traffick and Dealing, 
 holds as true of the General Commerce of 
 Human Life, and that Exchange of Good 
 Offices by which Society is upheld: 
 There mull be a perfefl VWight^ and a juli 
 M^afure^ by which al4 Men are mutually 
 oblig'd to regulate their Condu£l , in 
 afting and lunering, in commanding and 
 obeying , in giving and receiving ; and 
 this can be no other than the Equal" and 
 Righteous R ule of the Text , the Doing 
 in all Cafes, and to all Perfons, even as rve 
 jvould be done unto. There is no one ia 
 abfurd and unreafonable , as not to fee 
 
 and' 
 
he T>oue unto^ Explain d. lyj 
 
 and acknowledge the Abfolute Equity 
 of this Command, in the Theory, how- 
 ever he may fwerve and dechne from it 
 in his Practice ; and to agree upon it, as 
 that Golden Mean , which , if univer- 
 fally obferv'd , would make the World 
 univerfaUy Happy ; every Man a Bene- 
 factor, a good Angel, a Deity, as it were, 
 to his Fellow-Creatures ; and Earth, tlie 
 very Image of Heaven ! I need , I can 
 fay no more, concerning the Reafonable- 
 nefs of this Precept : However, it may 
 help to excite and quicken your Defires, 
 and Hopes of obeying it, if I procec^l, as 
 I propos'd , to point out fome Dillin- 
 guifliing Properties and Advantages 
 of it. 
 
 The Firft of which is , that it is 
 alike eafie and obvious to all Underftand- 
 ings, to the meaneii, and moft ignorant 
 Men, as well as to thofe of the greateil: 
 Parts and Improvements. God is , on 
 this , as well as on other Accounts , no 
 Refpedcrof Perfons ; having made tiiat, 
 which is molf neccllaiv, molf common, 
 and, confequently, fuited tJiis Principle, 
 which all Men have equal occafion to 
 ufe, equally to the Aparehenfions of all 
 Men. They, thereforej who are incapable 
 T I of 
 
278 The ^ile of Doing a^ wc would 
 
 of long Trains and Dedudions of Rea- 
 fon , and of adapting the feveral Rules 
 of Morality to the various Circumftances 
 of Action, are yet able (as able as the 
 acuteft Philofophers, or Cafuiils) to look 
 into their own Hearts, to ask themfelves 
 this plain Qiieftion, and to return a clear 
 Anfwer to it : " Would I my felf be 
 " content, that others fhould thus deal 
 <' with me ? Why then fliould I fo 
 " deal with any Man ? 
 
 Human Laws are often fo numerous, 
 as to efcape our Memories ; fo darkly 
 fometimes and inconfiftently worded, as 
 to puzzle our Underftandings ; and their 
 original Obfcurity is not feldom improv'd 
 by the nice Diftinftions and fubtle Rea- 
 fonings of thofe who profefs to clear 
 them : fo that, under thefe feveral Dif- 
 advantages , they lofe much of their 
 Force and Influence ; and, in feme Cafes, 
 raife moreDifputes than, perhaps, they 
 determin. But here is a Law, attended 
 with none of thefe Inconveniences ; the 
 grofTefl: Minds can fcarce mifapprehend 
 it ; the weakell Memories are capable of 
 retaining it; no perplexing Comment 
 can eafily cloud it , the Authority of no 
 Mans Glofs upon Earth can (if \ve are 
 but fmcere) fwdyu.s to make a wrong 
 1 .-M . -r v^c ; Con- 
 
he 'Done unto, Explain d, 279 
 
 Conftruftion of it. What is faid of all 
 the Gofpel-Precepts by the Ev.angelical 
 Prophet, is more eminently true of This ; 
 It is An High-Way ; and the Wajfxring-Many I^a-xxxv. 
 tho* A Fool J jhall -not err therein, 
 
 'Tis not enough, that a Rule , which 
 is to be of General Ufe, is fuited to all 
 Capacities; fo that, where-ever it is 
 reprefented to the Mind , it is prefently 
 agreed to: it mull: alfo be apt to offer 
 itfelf to our Thoughts, and lye ready for 
 prefent Ufe , upon all Exigences , and 
 Occafions. And fuch, remarkably fuch, 
 is that which our Lord here recommends 
 to us. We can fcarce be fo far furpriz'd 
 by an immediate neceflTity of Acting, as 
 not to have time for a fliort Recourfe to 
 it, room for a Hidden Glance, as it were, 
 upon it, in our iMinds ; where it refts, 
 and fparkles always , hke the Vrir^i and 
 Thummim on the Breaft of Aaron, There 
 is no occafion foi' us to go in fearch of 
 it to the Oracles of Law, dead, or living ; 
 to the Code, or Pandc6ts ; to the Volumes 
 of Divines, or iMoralifts: Quod pet is ^ h/c 
 eH ; we need look no farther than our 
 Selves for it : for ( to ufe the appofite 
 li\[irc(Wons o\; A] ofes J This Con/mandment, Deut.xxx. 
 D'hich I Comrn.%?id thee this Day, is not 11,12,13, 
 
 T 4 hid. ^^' ' 
 
iSo TIpe ^^ile of f)oi}ig as tve would 
 
 hiciden from thee^ neither is it fxr off. It is 
 not in Heaven^ that thou jhouldH fay^ Who 
 fjall go up for us to Heaven^ and bring it 
 unto as , that ive may hear it^ and do it ? 
 Neither is ' it beyond the Sea , that thou 
 fhouldH fay^ Who fljall go over the Sea for 
 ,us^ and bring it unto us \!^ that we may hear 
 tt^ and do tt ? But the Word is very nigh 
 unto thee^ in thy Mouth , and in thy Hearty 
 that thou niafsi do it. 
 
 It is, moreover, a Precept, particular- 
 ly fitted for Pra£lice; as it involves in 
 the very Notion of it a Motive, ftirring 
 lis up to Do what it Enjoins. Other 
 Moral Maxims propofe naked Truths 
 to the Vnderftandtng^ which operate ofteii 
 but faintly and flowly on the Will and 
 Tajfions , the " two "A &ive Principles of 
 the Mind of Man : but it is the peculiar 
 Charafter of This, that it addrelTeth it 
 felf equallv to all thefe Powers ; imparts 
 both Light and Heat to us ; and, at the 
 fame time that it informs us certainly 
 and clearly, what we are to do; excites 
 us alfo ,' in the moft tender and moving 
 inanr-cr, to the performance of it, We 
 Can • fee our Neighbour's Misfortune , 
 without a fenfible degree of Concern; 
 ^/hich yet we cannot forbea:r exprefling, 
 '^ ; . ' "• I wliea 
 
he Done unto , Explain d. ^ 8 i 
 
 when we have once made His Condition 
 <3Lir Own , and determin d the Meafure 
 of our Obligation towards him , by what 
 We our felves fliould , in fuch a Cafe, 
 Expeft from Him : Our Duty grows 
 immediately our Interell, and Pleafure, 
 by the means of this powerful Principle; 
 tlie Seat of which is, in truth, not more 
 in the Brain, than in the Heart of Man : 
 it appeals to our very Senfes ; and ex- 
 erts its fecret Force in fo prevailing 
 a way, that it is even Felt , as well as 
 Underftood by us. 
 
 The Laft Recommendation of this 
 Rule I fhall mention,is its Vail and Com- 
 prehenfive Influence : for it extends to 
 all Ranks and Conditions of M:ai, and 
 to all kinds of Aftion and Intercourfe 
 between them ; to matters of Charity, 
 Generofity, and Civility , as well as 
 Juftice ; to Negative, no lefs than Fofi- 
 tive Duties. The Ruler and the Ruled, 
 are alike fubieQ: to it ; Publick Commu- 
 nities can no more exempt themfelves 
 from its Obligation, than Private Per- 
 fons ; ylli Perjons must fall down before tt^ 
 ^11 Nat ions must do it Service, And, with 
 refpe6l to this Extent of it, it is, that our 
 BlefTed Lord pronounces it, m the Text, 
 
 to 
 
 Pfa. lx\ii. 
 
2bl 
 
 The (I{ttle of 7)oing as we would 
 
 to be the Law and the Prophets, His mean- 
 ing is , that , whatever Rules of the 
 Second Table are deliver'd in the Law of 
 Mofesy or in the Larger Comments and 
 Explanations of that Law, made by the 
 Other Writers of the Old Teftament, 
 [here, and elfewhere, ftil'd the Prophet s2 
 they are all virtually compris'd in this 
 one fliort fignificant Saying, n}jatfoever 
 ye would that men jhould do unto you^ do 
 ye even fo unto them : From this, as 
 from their Common Source, they w^ere 
 all originally deriv'd ; and into this they 
 may be all ultimately refolv'd. For all 
 Gal. V.I 4. the Law is ful filed m One Word , ( faith 
 St. Paul) even in This , Thou fljalt Love 
 thy Neighbour as thy Self: and I have 
 fliew'd You, that this Word is the fame 
 in Senfe with the Word, or Precept of 
 Text ; tho' it be not deliver'd in fo clear, 
 fo expreflive, and fo convincing a Man- 
 ner. And this Word therefore the fame 
 Apoftle calls elfewhere , The End of the 
 iTim. i.y. Commandment -y and St^James^ The Royal 
 Tam.ii 8 Law: That^ (they both mean) in which 
 all the Lines of Duty , relating to our 
 Neighbour, center, and under which, as 
 under one common Head and Principle, 
 they may be reduc'd and rang'd. 
 
 Va. 
 
he Done untOj Explain d, 282 
 
 Vai-lous are the Ufes, into which this 
 Important Truth thus handled, is capa- 
 ble of being improv'd. 
 
 For from hence I might, in the firft 
 place, take Occafion to confider, Whe- 
 ther, and how far, the Precept here given 
 be the Whole^ not only of the Law^ and the 
 Prophet s^hut ofthe Gr^t^/alfo; and what 
 Evangelical Duties * there are , which 
 feem, as the Schools fpeak, to tranfcend it ; 
 to be (as Myfteries are, in refpe^l of Rea- 
 fon) not indeed agctinfi this great Prin- 
 ciple, but ahovpy and beyond it; and fuch, 
 as we cannot throughly account for, 
 without taking the Confideration of ano- 
 ther World into our Schemes and Rea- 
 fonings. 
 
 I might, in the next place, proceed to 
 fhew, how large a fhare Moral Truths 
 have, even in the Body of Reveal'd Do- 
 £lrines ; fmce the Precept of the Text, 
 which comprehends only the Duty we 
 
 owe 
 
 * Grotius in Act, xv. zo. Si quu dicere velit , hie 
 'vc riorum Jumml comfrebendi omnia Evangel i i prxce^ 
 fta, fallitur. Cum prjeccptum dc Uno Deo colendo 
 per Chriltiim , de abncgatione Sui , de fubeundS 
 Grace, non lint intra hunc ambitum : alia etiam non 
 iiifi obfciire ndmodum hue referripoffunt. 
 
owe to our Neighbour, is faid to be the 
 J^4rv and the Prophets, An Expreflion , 
 not indeed to be taken rigoroufly, and 
 and in the Letter ! but which may how- 
 ever be underftood to imply, that, as a 
 great part of Holy Writ is employ'd in 
 diredly prefling the Duties abridg'd in 
 this Precept , fo the Reft of it plainly 
 points and refers to them : Even the high- 
 eft Myfteries of Faith were not made 
 known to us, without fome regard to 
 our Improvement in Praftical Vertues ; 
 and the Knowledge of thofe, unlefs it 
 tends to quicken our Obedience to thefe, 
 will be of no manner of fervice to us, will 
 neither better us in this \yorld, nor fave 
 us in the next. 
 
 From the AfTertion, in the Clofe of the 
 Text, it may be yet farther, and more 
 clearly inferr'd, That there is a Chain 
 of Moral Reafoning, by which the feve- 
 ral Duties of the Second Table arc con- 
 nefted together, and have an orderly de- 
 pendance on One Common Principle, out 
 of which they were drawn. That Vir- 
 tue, therefore, is not the blind Homage 
 of our Nature, arbitrarily exa£led from 
 us ; but a Duty fitted and proportion'd to 
 the Light of our Faculties, and every way 
 
 our 
 
he Done unto , Explain d, 2 8 j 
 
 bur Reafomble Service : in a word, that ^^^* ^^^* 
 Morality is a true and proper Science , 
 and all the Parts of it capable of ftrid De- 
 monftration. 
 
 An Obfervation, of manifold and ex- 
 cellent ufe ! for it teaches us to rejed the 
 Pretences of thofc vain and fanciful En- 
 thufiafts, who have fram'd a Rule of Du- 
 ty to themfelves, as contrary to the Com- 
 mon Senfe and Reafon , as it is to the 
 Current Language of Mankind ; fo Re- 
 fin'd and Sublime, as to be utterly un- 
 intelligible and impra£licable : It is not 
 to be learn'd, or confuted, in the Me- 
 thod of other Doftrines ; It is to be made 
 out only by the force of fome Unaccoun- 
 table ImprelTions ; by a Light, thatfhines 
 inward, and which cannot be commu- 
 nicated, or difcover'd. But We have not Eph-i^- 
 fo learn* d Chrifi : On the contrary, we 
 are aifurM, that we do our Lord and 
 Mafter good Service, fuch as he will own, 
 and reward, when we apply our felves to 
 eftablifli the Truths of our Religion up- 
 on Principles of Reafon, and to argue 
 Men into their Duty by appealing to Na- 
 tural Light, to the Certainty of liril Prin- 
 ciples, and to the Evident Dedudions 
 which may from thence be made by the 
 fure Rules of Difcourfc ; and that we are 
 
 not 
 
 to. 
 
ii6 The(I{iile ofVoing ds u?e muld 
 
 not to regard theCenfures ofthofe, who, 
 on this account, ihall ftile us mere Mo- 
 ral Teachers , and Carnal Reafohers ; 
 but will not allow us to fpeak by the Spi- 
 rit, or to be at all acquainted with the 
 Life and Power of Godlinefs. As if Re- 
 ligion were a thing defign'd not to be un- 
 derftood, or made out ! but loll: fome- 
 what of it's, native Majefty and Force,* 
 when once we came to reafon upon it ! 
 
 Nor would it be an Unprofitable Re- 
 fleclion, to obferve from hence the great 
 Benignity and Goodnefs of God , who 
 hath made even our Own Will^ and our 
 Self-love^ a cpmpleat Law of A8;ion, and 
 Meafure of Duty to us. All things what- 
 foever Te would [i. e. whatfoever Ye are 
 willing] that Men jhould do untoTou^ doTe 
 ei'en jo to Them ! Surely, a very Eafie 
 Yoak, and Light Burthen ! We may be 
 averfe, perhaps, from fubmitting to the 
 Divine Will, or to the Will of any of our 
 Fellow Creatures, exercifing Authority 
 over us : but can we be otherwife than 
 contented, and pleas'd, in fubmitting to 
 our Own Will, whatever it is ? and yet a 
 fiibmiirion to That^ (when regulated by 
 Proper Circumftances, and Views) is ail 
 tiiat is recjuir'd of uso Merciful Savioiir, 
 
beDom unto, Explain d. 287 
 
 thou faidft once indeed to thy Father, as 
 thou Wer't Man, Nof my Will^ hut thine Lukexxii. 
 he done ! but who could expe£l, that thou *^* 
 fhouldft have faid the fame thing to Us 
 alfo, as thou art God ! However, thus, 
 in effed, thou haft faid, in the Precept 
 now before us. Teach us, O Lord, by 
 the means of this Precept, fo duly to re- 
 gulate our Wills, that we may fately fol- 
 low them ! make Thy Will, Ours ; that 
 fo, in doing our Own Will, we may be 
 fure to fulfil Thine alfo ! 
 
 We fee from hence, how far the Go 
 fpel is from fupprelTmg, or checking the 
 principle o^Self-love in us, which it makes 
 the Ground and Rule of all that Love we 
 owe to Others ; and which, therefore, we 
 may Innocently, nay Ufefully carry to 
 what Degree, what Height we pleafe, if 
 we do but take care that the Love of our 
 Neighbour keeps pace with that of our 
 Self, and is govern'd by it. Away then 
 with thofe Extravagant Flights of Devo- 
 tion, which fome pretended Saints (but 
 real Enthufiafts) of die Church of Rome 
 have indulged themfelves in ; who make 
 it neceffary for every Chriftian, in order 
 to perfection, to diveft himfelf of all man- 
 ner of regard for himfelf; nay to defpife, 
 to hate, and to abhor himfelf, in the ut- 
 
 moft 
 
2 88 The ^le of Doing cvs we would 
 
 fnoft Propriety of the Expreflion. Cef* 
 tainly, if what thefe Myftical Divines fay 
 be true, irripoflible it is for a perfeQ: man 
 to Love his Neighbour at all : fince he 
 is not allow'd, by their Scheme, to love 
 himfelf ; and yet is bound to love his 
 Neighbour, as he loves himfelf, (or, 
 which is all one, to do as he would be 
 done unto) by our Lord's exprefs Deter^ 
 mination, ' .♦ ^ . : 
 
 • • ^'^ ' i ■ 
 
 Several other weighty Truths there' ^^ 
 
 are, which this fruitful Them^ would' 
 
 fuggefl: ; and moft of thofe, I have mea- 
 
 tion'd, might defer ve to be handled more 
 
 largely. But I muft contpaft my thoughts 
 
 on this head, that I may have room to 
 
 infift on one Plain^ Ufeful- Inference,' 
 
 wherein I am to appl^^ie Dg6:rinehi* 
 
 therto dehver'd. It is this ^^f the Pre> , 
 
 cept of the Text be fo Funda-peSlal an(J / 
 
 Necefiary, fo Obvious and Eafie, faSiff'e, 
 
 and Safe, fo Full and Comprehenfive a. 
 
 Rule of Life and Manners ; how inex- 
 
 cufable, upon all thefe accounts, muft 
 
 tliofe Perfoiis be, who, throughout tlid 
 
 whole Courfe of their Alliens, iTiew,' 
 
 that they do not regard it ? 1 Inall,^ firft,' 
 
 expoftulate the Cafe with fuch. as offend 
 
 againft this Precept at large j and, then, 
 
 cou- 
 
he Done unto ^ Explain do 289 
 
 confider that particular and flagrant In- 
 'ftance of the Breach of it, which This 
 Day affords us. 
 
 Are we then, any of us, profefs'd Con- 
 temners of ReveaPd ReHgion? we would 
 yet be thought to have a mighty reve- 
 rence for Reafon (fmce by the help of 
 Reafon it is, that we endeavour to throw 
 off Revelation) ; and while we have, this 
 its Eldeft and moft Unqueftion'd Law 
 fhould, methinks, be very Sacred 10 us. 
 Wiiat ! fliall the great Mafters of Exa6l 
 Thinking, and Idolizers of Reafon live 
 in a perpetual Qontradidion to the firft 
 Principle of it ! Will They, who have 
 fo Little Light to guide themfelves by 
 (that of Nature alone), negled to make 
 ufe even of that Little which they have? 
 And yet, perhaps, there is no fort of Men 
 whatever, that ofl'ends fo remarkably a« 
 gainft the Evident Righteoufnefs of tliis 
 Rule, as Thofe, who pretend moll: to 
 magnify the Principle from whence it 
 flows : There are none who perfue their 
 Pleafures fo keenly, and footh all their 
 Paflions fo carefully ; are every way fo 
 Selfifh^ and {o directly fet in Oppolition 
 to this Generous and Equal Maxim ; as 
 the Men, who will tell you, They adore 
 plain Comm.on Senfe, but cannot digell 
 
 U a My- 
 
2po The (J^ttfe of Doing as we would 
 
 a Myftery; From whence it is manifefl:, 
 that their Difefteem of Faith proceeds, 
 not from any jufl Efteem they have of 
 Reafon, or any Regard they bear to its 
 Laws ; but merely from a Spirit of Li- 
 bertinifm, and a defire of coming under 
 as few Obligations as polTible. Tis not 
 a freedom of Thinking, which they aim 
 at ; but a freedom of Living, and of Do- 
 ing what they pleafe, witliout the Con- 
 trol 6f LaWjOr Fear of Punifhment. And, 
 in order to this, One good Step is, to (hake 
 off Reveal'd Religion ; and fuclr ah One 
 as is ufually follow'd by another, the 
 parting with All Religion , even That 
 which Nature it felf prefcribes. To thefe 
 Reafoners therefore we fay, that the Rule 
 o{ doing 05 they would be done by is not (what 
 they are fo jealous of) any Impolltion up- 
 on their Underftandings , any puzzling 
 myfteiious Dodrine ; It is all Pure Light, 
 /johni, and Evidence, and in it is no darknefs at 
 J- aIL Why then do They not Submit to 
 
 it ? Why do They, of all Men Living, 
 do as they would not be done by ? Op- 
 prefs and trample upon their Inferiors, 
 Revile their Betters, and Supplant their 
 Equals ? Carry on their Unlawful De- 
 fires, without Stint, or Bounds, to the 
 Injuring the Property of thofe who are 
 
 too 
 
h Done imto^ Explain J» ip f 
 
 too w6ak to contend with them, to the 
 defaming their Neighbour's Reputation, 
 Or defiling his Bed ? Why^ in a word, 
 do they make Themfelves the only Centre 
 of all their Aftions, Wiflies, and Defigns? 
 and regard nothing, that is without them, 
 any farther than it may be ufefiil to their 
 purpofes and enjoyments ? Let us fee this 
 Lofty Race of Men in good earneft floop 
 to this plain DiQ:ate of Reafon, and thea 
 we fhall be inclin'd to think them fmcere, 
 when they pretend to hearken to the 
 Voice of Reafon, and to that onjy ; and 
 may have room to hope, tliat the good 
 God, who fees them honeffly practifmg 
 all thofe Vertues wJiich flow from this 
 Rule, will add what is behind, and, in 
 his own time, graft Grace upon NaturCc 
 Bvt do we (as every one, I truft, doth, 
 who hears me this day) profefs our felves 
 to be the Difciplcs of Chriil ? and, can 
 we think our felves really to Be, what we 
 profefs, while we openly and avowedly 
 break this great Precept of Chrifl:.; the 
 main Hinge, upon which the. Morality 
 of his Gofpel turns ? . We may boaft , if 
 we plea fe, of our having all Knowledge, 
 and all Faith, and of our underlfanding 
 all Myflerics: but if we do not govern 
 our Lives by this Truth, which is evi- 
 U 2 dent 
 
ipi The^ile of Doing as we would 
 
 dent by Nature, 'twill be to no purpofe, 
 that we firmly a (Tent to thofe Truths 
 which are reveal'd to us by Grace. We 
 deny Chriftianity, indeed, if we reje£l: 
 Thefe : but if we live in contradiction to 
 That, we renounce the Principles of Hu- 
 man Nature it felf ; w^ithout fuppofing 
 which, there can be no Chriftianity. Let 
 us Profefs , and Believe what we will ; 
 unlefs We Do alfo as We would be done 
 unto, all Our Faith, and Our Religion 
 is vain. Nor is it Vain only, and Un- 
 profitable, in refpeft of our Selves ; it is 
 alfo of pernicious Confequence to Others, 
 who, from fueh Inftances as thefe, will 
 take occafion to difparage the Efficacy 
 and Influence of Reveal'd Religion, and 
 to harden themfelves in their Infidelity. 
 The Ridiculers of Divine Faith, the De- 
 fpifers of Myfteries, never exercife their 
 Scornful Talent with greater Pleafure, or 
 Succefs, than when they attack the Prin- 
 ciples of Chriftianity, by comparing them 
 with the Praftice of Chriftians ; especial- 
 ly in this Capital Article of all Schemes 
 of Religion, the doing to Men as we would 
 be done unto ; and can point out our ma* 
 nifeft and fcandalous Violations of this 
 plain Rule of Reafon, while we pretend 
 to embrace all the Sublime Dodrines, 
 
 and 
 
he Done unto, Explain d, 2pj 
 
 and to inherit all the Glorious Advantages 
 of a Divine Revelation. The Heathen 
 Emperor, Sever u^, fhall rife up in the judg- Matth,xii. 
 ment with fuch a Generation of Chriftians, ^^' 
 and condemn them : for He, by the Light 
 of Nature, was taught highly to reve- 
 rence this Precept ; it was written on the 
 Walls of his Palace, and in the Banners 
 of his Army ; it was engrav'd in his very 
 Heart, and tranfcrib'd from thence into 
 his Praftice. Would to God, that many 
 of thofe pretended Vicars of Chrift, who 
 have fince ereQed their Thrones in the 
 Cliief Seat of this Prince's Empire, had 
 alike fucceeded him in an Awful and 
 Confcientious Regard for this Excellent 
 Maxim, and had been, in that Rcfped, 
 as good Chriftians, (or ratlier, as good 
 Heathens) as He was! They would 
 not, then, have become the Authors and 
 Fomenters of all that Difcord and Con- 
 fufion, all thofe Wars and Mallacres, 
 thofe Confpiracies and Rebellions, with 
 which they have , for many Centuries 
 pall, fhook the Thrones of Princes, and 
 difturb'd, the Quiet of this Weftern 
 World. Nor would they, in order to 
 cover and palliate thefe Wicked Attempts, 
 have openly encourag'd the Cafuifts of 
 tlipir Communion to publifli fuch loofe 
 U J and 
 
J p4 The ^ik of Doing as we mould 
 
 and fcandalousSyftems of Morals, as, in- 
 ftead of being Comments on this Rule, 
 are a perfect Contradiftion to it, and are 
 calculated, not to bring up Mens Obedi- 
 ence to the Terms of the Gofpel, but to 
 bring down the Gofpel-Terms, as near 
 as can be, to the Infirmities and Failings, 
 nay to the Corruptions and Vices of Hu- 
 man Nature. > ^ . 
 • The Time would fail me, fliould I at- 
 tempt to mention the moft remarkable 
 Inftances , which would readily offer 
 themfelves, in either kind: That One 
 Inftance, which the Treafon of This Day 
 affords us, doth, in effed, comprehend 
 the Wickednefs of all the Reft ; and is, 
 when briefly infifted on, fufficiient to raife 
 in us a due Abhorrence of thoffe Ungodly 
 Principles and Pradices , by wliich the 
 Papacy hath enlarg'd its Interefts, and 
 eftablifh'd its Spiritual Tyranny over tlie 
 Underftandings and Confciences of Men. 
 
 The Treafon of This Day was a Con- 
 trivance, Wicked and Cruel beyond Ex- 
 ample, and beyond Expreflion ; Such, as 
 the Ears ofanyHoneft Heathen would, 
 when they heard it related, tingle at; 
 Such as, if perpetrated in the Infancy of 
 Chriftianity , would have gone near, to 
 '^''' \ ■' havQ 
 
le Done unto^ Explain d, ipj 
 
 have arrefted the Courfe of it, in Coun- 
 tries as yet unconverted, and to have 
 rendered even the Miracles, done for its 
 Confirmation, infignificant and vain : In 
 a word, Such, as nothing but the Ma- 
 lice of One of that Order, which hath 
 been, ever fince its firft Erection, the 
 Scourge and Peft of Mankind, could have 
 Projeaed ; nor Any, but foine of its Bi- 
 gotted and Furious Votaries, durll to 
 have Executed. BlelTed Jefu ! that ever 
 Men more particularly calling themfelves 
 by Thy Name, and pretending more im- 
 mediately to devote themfelves to Thy 
 Service, fliould fo far forget die Law of 
 Humanity and Kindnefs, which was vi- 
 fible in every part of thy Behaviour, 
 while thou waft on Earth , and is ftill 
 legible in every Page of thy Gofpel I That 
 they fliouId be milled, by the perverfe 
 Comments of their Own Cafuifts upon 
 this Law, fo far, as to believe that a 
 Maflacring Spirit was reconcilable to the 
 Spirit of Chriftianity, and that the Ge- 
 nuin Principles of it could lead, or per- 
 mit Men to overturn States and King- 
 doms I Such III Effcds may fpring from 
 the beft of Caufes, Religion, when per- 
 verted and abus'd ! fuch Horrid Impie- 
 ties may Men arrive at, when they have 
 U 4 onc^ 
 
tp6 The (l(ule of Doing as we would 
 
 once fixM this Perfuafion firmly in them- 
 felves, That, how Vile foever the At- 
 tempts are, in which they engage, yet, if 
 ' the End be good, it juftifies and fanQifies 
 the Means ; and that the plaineft Rules 
 and Duties of the Gofpel do not bind 
 Thofe, who are, as they imagin, propa- 
 gating the Interefts of it. 
 
 Blefled be thy Name , O Lord , who 
 did'fl: , as on this Day, after a marvellous 
 manner , difappoint their Bloody De- 
 figns, when they were even ready to 
 take place, and did'fl fufFer our Princes, 
 our Prelates, our Nobles , all the Chief 
 Ornaments and Supports of thy pure 
 . ^ ur^defil'd Religion Eftablifh'd among us, 
 pia.cxxiv. ^^ ^y^^^^ ^^^ ^£- ^j^^.^ Hands, even as a Bird 
 
 . jrom the frare of the Fowler / Surely the 
 \^' ^^^^' Wrath of Mm hath prais'd , and fhdl 
 fraife thee : — - The Remainder of Wrath 
 jhdt thou rejlrain, 
 
 I need not endeavour to raife your 
 Thankfulnefs for the Mercies of this Day^ 
 by (hewing, , that , as diftant as they 
 are, they ftill belong to us. Some Blef- 
 iings wax not old, or decay ; but , like 
 the Rod of the Tribe of Levi^ laid up 
 in the Tabernacle, tho' feemingly faplels 
 and dead, do yet fhoot, and fend forth 
 fuch their Bloffoms. And fuch is That, 
 > " we 
 
he Done unto , Explain d, 257 
 
 we now Commemorate , even Now we 
 tafte the Cweet Fruits and Eifecis of it : 
 for to this Day's Deliverance (this Day's 
 Double Deliverance) it is owing , that 
 we are freed from the Fears of Papal 
 Superftition and Bondage ; tliat we enjoy 
 all our Religious , and Civil Liberties, 
 all that is dear and valuable to us, in 
 refpeft of This World, or Another ; and 
 even that we fee HER on the Throne 
 (the Throne of her Royal Anceftors, de- 
 fign'd this Day for Slaughter) Who, by 
 fitting there , protects and fecures us in 
 thcfe Enjoyments. 
 
 Great and manifold have the Inftances 
 been of God's Interpofition to refcue this 
 Church and Nation , when they moil 
 needed it; nor is his Hmd yet [fjortned^ ifa.Ux. i, 
 that it cannot five : for , behold , what 
 mighty things he hath lately wrought 
 for us ! in how feafonable and furprizing 
 Manner he hath blefs'd the Arms, wiiicti 
 have been taken up in defence of his 
 True Religion , the Liberties of Er^rope, 
 and the Rights of Mankind, againll the 
 Common Invader and Deilroyer of all 
 of them ! whofe haughty Heart he hath 
 at laft humbled, and llain'd his boalfed 
 Glory; the Vain Idol, which that proud 
 Monarch fct up, and eommanded all 
 
 Na» 
 
298 The (^ule of 7)o'mg as we would 
 
 Nations to fall down and worfhip ! The 
 Succefs , which God hath given us, is 
 great in it felf ; but much greater in the 
 Confequences which it feems to promife. 
 For who knows but that , by this fmgle 
 Blow, the Fate of that Kingdom may at 
 length be decided ? of that Infolent King- 
 dom, which thought fhe had put her Neli 
 ^u.xxiv. ifj, fjjg j{ock, whither none could approach 
 to hurt her ? and feem'd ( in the Expref- 
 fions of the Prophet ) to fay m her hearty 
 Ifa. xlvli. J fljall be a Lady for ever \ I am^ and none 
 ■ ' ■ dfe hefide me ? Who knows, but that the 
 mighty Hunter of Men may, from this 
 moment, be oblig'd to forego his Chace ? 
 may find it come to his turn, to fly, and 
 be perfu'd every where? and have the 
 Preys , which he hath violently feiz'd, 
 ravifh'd again out of his Hands! Who 
 knows, but that the feveral Victories 
 which he hath meanly Stollen , or Pur- 
 chas'd, may now, after a more fair and 
 generous manner, be regain'd ? and all 
 the Laurels, he unjuftly wears, be torn 
 from his Temples, and plac'd on the 
 Head of Another , who better deferves 
 them? Certain it is, that God hath al- 
 ready begun to do thefe great things for 
 us ; which, unlefs we are wanting to our 
 felves, he will as certainly finifh. Already, 
 
 finoc 
 
he Done unto, Explain d, ipp 
 
 fince this Blow was given , we have feen 
 the Happy Effedls of it , in the Publick 
 Confeflion of an Exhaufted Exchequer, 
 and a Languifliing Credit : Evils, which, 
 God be thanked , are neither felt , nor 
 fear'd by Us at home , under the prefent 
 Vigilant and Wife Adminillration. 
 
 i3o Thou, God , we befeech Thee, 
 go on to jlrengthen the thing which thou 
 haH wrought for m ! Shew thy Servants thy 
 Work J and their Children thj Glory ! And pfai.ixvil. 
 the Glorious Majejiy of the Lord our God i8. 
 be upon us I Profper thou the Work of our p^^j^ ^^ 
 Hands upon us I , profper thou our i5, 17. * 
 handy-work^ 
 
30ij 
 
 Of <l(eligious ^tirement. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preachy before the 
 
 O U E E N, 
 
 ^■^^ AT 
 
 St. James's Chapel, 
 
 On Friday y March 2g. 17 of. 
 
 MaTTH. XIV. 2J. 
 
 When he had fent the Multitude awaj/y 
 he went up into a Mountain , aparty 
 to Tray, 
 
 IT hath been difputed, which is a 
 State of greater Perfedlion , the 
 Social, or the Solitary ; whereas, in 
 truth , neither of thefe Eftates is com- 
 pleat without the Other j as the Example 
 
 of 
 
J 6 3' Of^^Iigious ^tlrement. 
 
 of .our31ejred Lord ( the Unerring TefJ. 
 and Meafiire of Perfection) informs us. 
 His Life, ( which ought to be the Pat- 
 tern of Ours ) was a Mixture of Con- 
 templation and A8:ion, of Aufterity and 
 Freedom : We find him often, where the 
 greateft Concourfe was , in the Market- 
 Places, in the Synagogues, and at Feflival 
 Entertainments ; and we find him alfo 
 retiring from the Croud into a Dcfart, 
 or a Garden, and there employing him- 
 felf in all kinds of Religious ExercifCj^ 
 and Intercourfe with God, in Faffing, 
 Meditation, and Prayer. In Imitation 
 of His Spotlefs Example, we ma,y^ doubt- 
 lefs, lead Publick Lives, Innocently, and 
 Ufefully ; Converfing with Mem , .and 
 doing good to them ; mutually fowing, 
 and reaping the feveral Comforts and 
 Advantages of Human Society. But 
 becaufe the Pleafures of Converfation^ 
 wlien too freely tafted, are Intoxicating, 
 and Dangerous; becaufe the Temptations 
 we there meet with are many ' and 
 mighty ; and even where the Sfirit is 
 Pl^iiimg to refiiir , yet the F/eJh is often 
 PVeak t, we ought, therefore, to leiTen the 
 too great Complacence we are apt to 
 have in fuch Satisfadions, by fit Inter- 
 rbiiTions of them; to fl:rengthen our 
 
 felves 
 
of ^liglous ^tiremnt. 3 o j 
 
 felves for fuch Publick Encounters, by our 
 Religious Privacys; to retire from the 
 World fometimes, and Converfe with 
 God , and our own Confciences ; exa- 
 mining the State , and fortifying the 
 Powers of our Souls ^ in Secrecy and Si- 
 lence : We muft do, as our Lord did, 
 Se»d the Multitudes awaji, a»d go up int§ 
 the Mountain^ dparty to Praj, 
 
 I fhall, from thefe Words, take Occa- 
 fion to difcourfe to you concerning the 
 Great ( but much Neglected ) Duty of 
 Religiom Retre/it and Recoiled iorK I fhall, 
 firft, briefly fhew you, under what Limi- 
 tations I would be underftood to recom- 
 mend the Duty ; and, then , What the 
 Advantages are, which arife from a 
 devout and difcreet Performance of it. 
 
 I mean not to prefs upon you that 
 fort of Retirement , which is fo much 
 efteem'd and praftis'd in the Church of 
 Rome-y where all Perfedion is reckon'd 
 to confift in Solitude, and no Man is 
 allow'd capable of arriving at the height 
 of Virtue, who doth not flrip himfelf 
 of all the Conveniences of Life , and 
 renounce all manner of Acquaintance 
 With the Worldj and the Tilings of it : 
 
 lifee 
 
jo4 Of ^llgious ^etimnenf. 
 
 I fee not, wherein this State of Life 
 claims the Praeeminence over all others ; 
 how it is founded in Nature, and Reafon ; 
 what particular Example , Precept , or 
 Direction there is in the Gofpel , inviting 
 us to it. Johf7 the Baptifl: is, indeed, there 
 reprefented, as fequeftring himfelf from 
 luk.i. 17. Human Converfe , and fpending his 
 Time /a7 the Wtldernefs : but as he is faid 
 ''^^'55- ^Q \Y^^JQ come in the Spirit and Power of 
 FJioi^ (a Spirit far diiferent from the 
 Spirit of the Gofpel ) and did, therefore, 
 profeffedly imitate that Prophet, in his 
 fevere manner of Life, and Look, and 
 Diet , and Garb , and Behaviour, and 
 Do£l:rine; fo his Example belong'd ra- 
 ther to the Mofatc State^ under which he 
 liv'd and taught , than to the Chriflian 
 Difpenfation , which began, v/here his 
 Preaching ended. Nor did even the 
 Baptill: himfelf propole his Own Pra<[^ice, 
 as a Pattern to his Followers : on the 
 contrary, when the People, the Publicans^ 
 and the Soldiers enquir'd of liim , what 
 they (honld do, to flee from the Wrath to come^ 
 he did not exhort them to g;o out of the 
 World into the Wildcrnefs ; bat gave 
 them fuch Diieclions only as related to 
 a faithful Difcharge of tlieir Duty in their 
 feveral Stations and Callings : And 
 
 whei* 
 
of (^ligioHS ^tirement. 305 
 
 and when afterwards our Saviour began 
 to enter on his Miniftry, and to appear 
 as our Saviour, by publifliing the Gofpel 
 of his Kingdom, we find nothing either 
 in his A(flions, or his Doctrine, to coun- 
 tenance that Reclufe and Solitary State, 
 w^hich fome fince, who would be thought 
 beft to hav^e imitated his Example, and 
 obey'^d his Precepts, have fo zealoufly 
 efpous'd and pratAis'd. His Divine Dif- 
 courfes were chiefly fpent in prefhng 
 Men to exercife thofe Graces which a- 
 dorn the Sociable State: even his firft 
 Sermon on the Mount to the Multitude 
 did, in the Entrance of it, recommend 
 and enjoin a Publick, Confpicuous, and 
 Exemplary Vertue ; and (with fome allu» 
 fion, perhaps, to that Eminence on which 
 he fat, and the Company which furround- 
 ed him) he then likenM his Difciples to 
 a City jet on ah Hillj that ccinnot he hid. ; Matth. v, 
 he commanded them to pit their Light ^^' 
 in a Candkjhcky not under a Bujhel^ and ih.v.t'^.l 
 fo to make tt jhine before Men^ that Thej^ ih.v.\6. 
 feeing their Pood IVorkSy r,nght g/orife their 
 father whicJj is in Heaz-en, 
 
 Far be it from me, however, to con- 
 dernn all thofe Good and Holy Perfons, 
 who have betaken themfelves to this So- 
 litary ^nd Auftere Courfe of Living. 
 
 ^ poubt^ 
 
306 of ^I'tpom (Retirement, 
 
 Doubtlefs, many of them were a6led by 
 a fincere , but mifguided , Principle of 
 Piety ; the Fruits of which, tho' mix'd 
 with a great Allay of SuperlHtion, did 
 yet, in divers refpe8:s, redound to the 
 Credit of Religion, and the Good of Man- 
 kind. But fuppofing thefe to be Real, 
 yet they were, I fay, Uncommanded In- 
 ftances of Vertue ; not pofTible, or, if 
 pofTible, not fit to be pradisM by the 
 far greater part of Chriftians. The Re- 
 treat therefore, which I am fpeaking of, is 
 not that of Monks and Hermits^ but of 
 Men living in the World, and going out 
 of it for a time, in order to return intQ 
 it *, it is a Temporary, not a Total Re- 
 treat ; fuch as we may leave off, or re- 
 fume, at pleafure, according as we have 
 Need of it, or ah Opportunity for it ; 
 fuch, as is confiftent with all the Bufi- 
 nefs, and even with the Innocent Plea- 
 fures of Life ; and is {o far from inter- 
 fering with the Duties of our Publick Of- 
 fices and Stations, that it dilpofes and 
 enables us for the better Difcharge of 
 them. 'Tis this fort of Retreat which 
 may properly be made the matter of ge- 
 neral Exhortation from the Pulpit, ber 
 cauie it is really matter of general Obliga- 
 tion to every good and fincere Chrifl:ian. 
 
 No 
 
Of <^l'iglom <^t'trcnient, 3 07 
 
 No Man is, or ought to be fo deeply 
 immers'd in the Affairs of This World, 
 as not to be able to retire from tliem now 
 and then into his Clofet, there to mind 
 the Concerns of Another. Every day of 
 his Life, Early, or Late, fonie Moments 
 he may and mud find to bellow this 
 way ; the Lord's Day particularly is a 
 great Opportunity of this kind , which 
 can never wholly be neglected witliout 
 Indevotion , or even without Scandal. 
 And fucli alfo is the Annual Seafon of 
 Recolle6lion in which we are now^ fir 
 advanc'd ; not, I truft , without having 
 employ'd it, in fome meafure, to thofe 
 good Purpofes for which it was intended. 
 At fuch Times as thefe, either when the 
 Labours and Ordinary Occupations of 
 Life ceafe, or when Publick Diverfions 
 and Entertainments are foi'biddca ; Then 
 every One, the Noble and the Mean, the 
 Wealthy and the Poor, hath it certainly 
 in his Power, if it be but in his Heart, 
 to retire ; to ifep afide from the Hurry 
 and Vanities of Life, and all the Allure- 
 ments of Senfe, and to Examine, and Im- 
 prove, and Enjoy himfelf m private. 
 
 That we may be all excited (o to do, I 
 
 fhall proceed, in the next place, to repre- 
 
 X 2 fent 
 
3o8 Of ^Itgious (^ttrement, 
 
 ient to You the feveral Advantages at- 
 tending this Religious Pradice ; whe- 
 ther we confider it, as a Means of effa- 
 cing the 111 Impreflions made on our 
 Minds in Daily Converfation, or as an 
 Opportunity of perfuing farther Degrees 
 of Perfe8:ion, and abounding in all the 
 Methods of Spiritual Improvement. 
 
 The Advantages of the firft kind, 
 which it affords us, are plainly fuch as 
 Thefe ; That it unites and fixes our fcat- 
 ter'd Thoughts ; places us out of the 
 Reach of the moll Dangerous Tempta- 
 tions ; frees us from the Infmuating Con- 
 tagion of 111 Examples, and hufhes and 
 lays afltep thofe troublefom Pallions , 
 which are the great Difturbers of our 
 Repofe and Happinefs. 
 
 A DifTipation of Thought is the Na- 
 tural and Unavoidable Effed of our Con- 
 yerfing much in the World; where we 
 cannot help fquandring away a great deal 
 of our Time upon Ufelefs Objects, of no 
 true Worth in themfelves, and of no real 
 Concern to us. We roul on in a Circle 
 of vain empty Pleafures, and are delivered 
 over contmually from one flight Amufe- 
 ment to another ; ever feemixigly veiy 
 
 Bufie, 
 
of ^liglous ^tirement. jop 
 
 Bufie, and ever really very Idle ; apply- 
 ing, our felves without refpite to That, 
 which it becomes us mofi: to neglecl, and 
 utterly negle6lful of that One thixig Ne- 
 cefTary ,which it becomes and behoves us 
 moft to perfue. This gives us hy de- 
 grees fuch a Levity and Wantonnefs of 
 Spirit, , as refufes Admittance to al! fe- 
 rious Thoughts, and renders us incapa- 
 ble of Reflection ; makes our Clofe: a 
 Terrible place to us, and Solitude a Bur- 
 then. To retrieve our felves from this 
 vain, uncertain, roving, difl:ra£l:ed way 
 of thinking and living, it is requifite to 
 retire frequently, and to Converfe much 
 with (what We above all things Love, 
 and yet above all things hate to converfe 
 with) Our Selves •, to inure our Mmds 
 to Recolle6lion, to fix them on the great- 
 efb and moft concerning Objects, thofe 
 which ReUgion fuggefts, and which will j 
 by their Importance, deferve, and en- 
 gage, and command our Attention ; 'till 
 the bufie Swarm of vain Images, that 
 befets us, be thoroughly difpersM, and 
 the feveral fcatterM Rays of Thought^ 
 by being thus colleQ:ed together, do by 
 little and little warm our 1^'rozen Hearts, 
 and at laft produce an Holy Flame. 
 
 X ^ The 
 
^10 of ^Itgious ^tirement. 
 
 The Expedience of Retirement is yet 
 greater, as it removes us out of the way 
 of the moft prefling and powerful Temp- 
 tations that are incident to Human Na- 
 ture. Ye all know by Experience, that 
 Thefe meet us moft frequently, and af- 
 fed us mofl: ftrongly in Society ; where 
 our Senfes, the great Inlets or Tempta- 
 tion, are moft awaken'd, and tempting 
 Objefts, by their Number and Nearnefs, 
 make the moft Vivid and Lafting Impref- 
 fions upon us. Indeed, there is no Place^ 
 no State, or Scene of Life, that hath not 
 its proper and peculiar Temptations; 
 even Solitude it felf is not without themr 
 but they are few, and faint, incompari- 
 fon with thofe to which our Appearance 
 on the great Stage of the World expofes 
 Hs ; and whenever they attack us in our 
 RecelTes, they do, or may find us pre- 
 pared, and upon our guard ; we are tlien 
 at leifure to encounter them, and have 
 Helps near at hand, which, if made ufe 
 of, will enable us to decline, or baffle 
 them. Whereas , in Publick , we are 
 merely Pallive to fuch Impredions; 
 which ftrike our Minds fo violently, and 
 fucceed each other fo faft, that we have 
 no Opportunity, no Strength, no Inclina- 
 f tion almoft to withftand them. 
 
 Th^ 
 
of ^llgious ^tirement, 3 i I 
 
 The great Rifque which Vertue runs 
 in Company, is, from the Neighbour- 
 hood of 111 Examples, which are of fo 
 Contagious a Nature, that, if we live 
 much amongfl: them, we fhall as furely 
 be corrupted by them, as he, that often 
 breaths an ill Air, will at laff partake of 
 the Infection. 'Tis dangerous for the 
 mofl: Innocent Perfon in the World to be 
 too frequently and nearly a Witnefs to 
 the CommifTion of Vice and Folly. Such 
 Views leifen the Natural Horror we have 
 for fuch A6lions ; and render theThoughts 
 of them more Familiar, and lefs Difplea- 
 fing to us. Efpecially, when we are us'd 
 to fee 111 Things praAis'd by Perfons , 
 whom wc regard ; the favourable Opi- 
 nion we have of the Doer extends it felf 
 tothe Adion done; and leads us infen- 
 fibly from feeing to approving, and from 
 approving to Imitating. And thus be- 
 ing (the very beft of us) prone to da 
 Evil, and Living in the ivAdik of Evil ; 
 being attack'd thus from w^ithout, and. 
 betrayM from within, we are not capa- 
 ble of makincT an Effe61:ual Rcfillance : 
 The only Refuge, we have, is in Retreat, 
 where we may at leifure correal the III 
 fmprefTions that have been made upon 
 
 X 4 us J 
 
311 Of (p^Wgioii^ Retirement 
 
 tis ; and, by Difufe, and Difl:ance,weakeii 
 the Force of thofe III Influences which 
 we could not wholly avoid. 
 
 Another Advantage which ReCiremerit 
 affords us, is, that it calms and compo- 
 fes all the PaHions ; thofe efpecially of 
 the tumultuous kind ; wliich, while the 
 Bufmefs and Pleaftires of Life poiTefs our 
 Hearts, are under a Reftlefs and Violent 
 Agitation. We feldom mix long in Con- 
 verfation, without meeting with fome 
 Accident that rufBes and difturbs us ; 
 fomewhat that plays either upon our 
 Hopes, or our Fears ; our Averfions, or 
 Defires. AnIn)Urious,or Slighting Word 
 is thrown out, which we think oUr felves 
 obhg'd to refent ; or fome Innocent Ex- 
 prelTion of ours is mifinterpreted and re- 
 lented by Others, and That provokes a 
 Return, Our Enemy comes in our way,- 
 and kindles Thoughts of Averfion and 
 Hatred in us ; we look upon thofe,. who 
 are above us in all the Advantages of 
 Life, with Envious Eyes, and with Con- 
 temp: on thofe wJio are beneath us. Thus 
 are we delivered over from PaiTion to 
 PafTiOn , tofs'd and difquieted in our 
 Miiids, during the Intercourfe we main- 
 tain with the World, But when \ve quis 
 
 it. 
 
it, and retire, all thefe Winds are pre- 
 fently laid, and there is a Perfect Calm. 
 TheObjecls, which excite us, being re- 
 mo v'd, our Appetites alfo Languifh and 
 Die away ; we pofTefs our Souls in Pa- 
 tience and Peace, and enjoy a profound 
 Tranquillity and Reft , the Pleafure of 
 which is great to thofe who are fo happy 
 as to have a Relifli for it, and is enhans'd 
 by being always tafted with Innocence. 
 
 Wouldft thou then be free from En- 
 vy and Scorn, from Anger and Strife ? 
 fly from the Occafions of them ; fteal 
 away from the great Scene of PafTion 
 and Bufmefs into thy Privacy, fliut the 
 Doors about thee. Commune with thy Own pral.ir.4^ 
 Heart in thy Chamber^ and bejlill. There 
 all Animofities are forgotten, all Perfuits, 
 all Competitions ceafe ; there all Marks 
 of Diftin£lion are laid afide ; the Great 
 and the Lowly, the Prince and the Sub- 
 jeft are upon the Level ; equally under 
 the Eye of one Comrnon Mafter, equally 
 defirous of pleafing Him, and mindlefs 
 of lelTer Interefts and Concerns. There 
 the Vanities and Vexations of this World 
 are fl-iut oat, and tlie Confiderations of 
 another are let in ; and our Soul enjoys 
 that fweet Contentment and Repofe, 
 which it enjoys no where qX^q^ on this 
 fede Heaven. I 
 
3 H ^/ ^lig'toin ^tirement] 
 
 I have hitherto confider'd the Ufeful- 
 nefs of Religious Retreat, with refpe^l 
 to fome 111 ImpreOions made upon us in 
 Converfation, wliich it removes : I iliall 
 nowconlider it, as productive of the Chief 
 Chriftian Graces and Vertues ; in as much 
 as it affords us the beft Opportunity of 
 knowing God^ and our Sehes^ and of 
 taking all the proper Methods to recon- 
 cile and approve our felves to God, which 
 are Confequent upon fuch a Knowledge. 
 For, tho' it be expedient for Every Rank 
 and Order of Men, yet is it more particu- 
 larly advantagious to Penitents, to go up 
 with our Saviour into the Mount am^ up art ^ 
 to Praj, 
 
 'Tis our Duty, and our Privilege, our 
 Chief Honour and Happinefs, to be ac- 
 Job xxii. quainted with God ; and this Acquaintance 
 ii* can never be made, but, where we di- 
 vefl: our felves of all Other Acquaintance,, 
 in our Clofets. When we have call'd off 
 our Thoughts from Worldly Perfuits and 
 Engagements, then (and not 'till then) 
 are we at Liberty to fix them on the beft, 
 the moft deferving, and defirable of Ob- 
 je6ls, God ; to ftudy his Bleiled Nature 
 and Perfedions, to imprint a filial Awe 
 
 of 
 
of ^ligious ^tlrement, 3 1 5 
 
 of him on our Hearts, a lively Senfe of 
 his perpetual InfpeQiion and Prefence ; to 
 abound in all the Methods of Devout Ap- 
 plication to him, in A£ts of Petition and 
 Praife, of Joy and Wonder, ofSubmifli- 
 on and Hope, of Love and Affiance ; to 
 open all our Wants, and impart all our 
 Griefs to him, and to exprefs in the moft 
 fignifjcant manner, we are able, our En- 
 tire and Unlimited Dependance upon 
 him; 'till, by often dwelling on fuch 
 Thoughts and RefleQ:ions as thefe, we 
 have made them Familiar, Habitual, and 
 Natural to us ; and can have as Eafie and 
 DeHghtful a Recourfe to God, in all Ac- 
 cidents, and upon all Occafions, as a Son 
 hath to a Belov'd and Loving Parent, 
 who, he knows, is at all times able to af- 
 fifl: , and ready to receive him : In a 
 Word, 'till we can look up to God in 
 Each Step of our Conduct , as the Su- 
 pream End and Guide of all our A6lions, 
 the fix'd Centre of all our Wiflies, De- 
 fires, and Defigns ; 'till we bring our 
 felves to Love Nothing in Competition 
 with him, nothing but in order to the 
 Enjoyment of him ; and refolve to Do 
 nothing, and Be nothing, but what we 
 sirefure will pleafe him. 
 
 Gait 
 
^\6 Of <I(eligwus ^tinm^nf. 
 
 Can any thing refine, raife, or enno-^ 
 ble our Natures more than fuch a Con- 
 verfation as This, which is thus begun, 
 improved , and perfected in Solitude ? 
 Shall we not think it worth our while, 
 to ceafe for a time from cultivating Ufe- 
 iefs and Perifhing Friend fliips with Men^ 
 that we may be the more at LeifurCj and 
 the better qualify'd, to enter into this Di- 
 vine Correfpondence , which is of the 
 vafteft Concern to us, and upfpn which 
 our Everlafting Welfare depends ? . 
 
 While indeed our Hearts are deeply 
 engag'd in the Concerns of this Worlds 
 we cannot well relifh the Pleafures of 
 fuch a Spiritual Commerce: but, after 
 we have once accuftom'd and inur'd our 
 felves to it, we fhall find it the moft de- 
 lightful Entertainment of the Mind of 
 Man , pleafing as Light to the Eyes ^ 
 fiveeter than Honey and the Honey-comb^ 
 Senfual Men may make fport with fuch 
 a Pretence, and call it Enthufiafm,- and 
 the Produd of an Heated Imagination ; 
 but They, that tafte the Satisfadion , 
 know it to be real, and would not part 
 with it for all the Delights this World 
 can afford; and which (in the difpa- 
 raging Phrafe of the Apoflle) they count 
 
 |>hilni.8'^*^ ^ ^^'-^Zy ^^ comparifon of the Excel- 
 
 lency 
 
of ^llgwrn ^tlremenU j 17 
 
 iency of this Kj2 orv I e dge o( God y and Chrift 
 Jeft^s, 
 
 As Religious Retirement is a great 
 Means of advancing us in the Knowledge 
 of God, fo doth it affiil: us towards at- 
 taining a True Knowledge of Our felves ; 
 towards fearching and trying all our 
 ways, and getting a right Information 
 concerning the ftate of our Confciences. 
 He that will thrive in his Temporal Af- 
 foirs, muft often ballancc his Accounts, 
 examin his Gains, and his Loifes, and 
 fee what proportion they bear to each 
 other ; confider, where his Conduct may 
 have been faulty in any refpe8:, and how 
 for the future to redifie it. The fan;e 
 Vigilance and Care is requifite in relati- 
 on to our Spiritual Concerns alfo ; and 
 we can never exert it effeclually but in 
 the Clofet , where Privacy and Silence 
 befriend our Enquiries. When the Im- 
 portunity of Outward Objefts chafes , 
 when the Noife and Avocations of a 
 troublefome World are at a diftance, we 
 may enter upon thefe Searches without 
 difficulty, and Hnifl: them without Inter- 
 ruption. We may then look inwards, 
 and take a Diftindl View of what at 
 Other times pafTes there unobferv'd ; of 
 
 our 
 
3 I 8 Of ^ligious ^tirement 
 
 our hidden Inclinations and Averfions , 
 of the Springs which fecretly move us 
 in all ©ur Perfuits, of the Temptations 
 that befet us hardeft, and moft frequent- 
 ly foil us, of the Ground tb.L we have 
 loft, or get, in our feveral Encounters, 
 And when we are advanc'd thus far 
 in the Knowledge of our felves , and 
 of our Ruling Sins and Infirmities, we 
 have taken the moft ufeful and necef. 
 fary Step towards abounding in the 
 Three great Duties of the Penitent, Cofi^ 
 trition^ Refclution^ and Prayer, 
 
 Contrition' is an holy Grief excited by 
 a lively Senfe , not only of the Punifti- 
 ment due to our Guilt, (That the Schools 
 call Attrition)^ but likewife of the Infi- 
 nite Goodnefsof God, againft which we 
 have offended ; accompany'd with a De- 
 teftation of our Sin, and of our felves, 
 for the fake of it. At this A£l of the 
 Mind Repentance (properly fpeaking) 
 begins ; and this Godly Concern of Heart 
 is rarely attained, to be fure, it can ne- 
 ver be duly exerted, and improved, but 
 in private. And, therefore, in the Sto- 
 ry of St. Veter we may obferve that, 
 -as foon as a Convitlion of his Guilt 
 
 had 
 
of (^llgious (^tinment. ? i ^ 
 
 had feiz'd him, it is faid, that he went Mat. xxvi, 
 out^ and wept bitterly ; he withdrew into ^^' 
 a Seci'et Place, where he might mourn 
 his own Fall with freedom ; where he 
 might feed, and raife up to a due height 
 the Inward Anguifli he felt, and indulg'd 
 himfelf in all the Expreflions of fincere 
 Sorrow. The Wounds of Confcience, 
 like other Wounds, tho' generally re- 
 ceiv'd in Publick, muft always be heal'd 
 in Private : There they may be laid open 
 and fearcli'd to the bottom , there the 
 raging Smart of them is bell endur'd, 
 and there fuitable Remedies are moft 
 eafily , and moft ufefully apply'd ; where 
 Leifure, and Reft, Silence, and a Pro- 
 per DifciplineafTift the Patient, and pro- 
 mote the Cure. 
 
 The next Step to Contrition is, Refo- 
 lution^ or a firm immutable Pnrpofe of 
 Heart, never more to allow our fclves in 
 that TranfgrefTion, which we now abo- 
 minate, and deplore. And, in order to 
 the forming fuch a well-weigh'd and 
 ftable Refolution, there muft be a calm 
 and clear forefight of the DiiBculties 
 which may attend the Execution of it, 
 and a juft Computation of our Own 
 
 Strength 
 
3ZO Of ^ligiot4^ ^tiremmt. 
 
 Strength to bear up againft them ; we 
 muft deliberately confider, under what 
 Circumftances the Temptation, aealnft 
 which we are now arming our felves, 
 hath befet us hardeft, and how, for the 
 future, we may beft decline them ; what 
 Helps and Supports we have by Experi- 
 ence found moll ufeful, and how, in th^ 
 Day of Tryal, we may be fecure of them ; 
 to what a broken difpirited State of Mind 
 we have already reduc'd our felves, by fo 
 often and lightly departing from what 
 we had purpos'd \ and, with how much 
 greater difficulty, every time that we 
 give way, we recover our ground. I 
 need not prove to you,that thefe, and the 
 like Reflections, which are necelfary to- 
 wards our r r^^lving well and wifely, 
 can never be dwelt on, in all their due 
 Compafs and Force, but at Leifure, and 
 in Sacred Retirement. Doubtlefs, the 
 good Pfalmiir had been fome time in 
 ^?il^*^^' ^^ Clofet, and on his Knees, when he 
 utter'd thofe Emphatical Words ; / have 
 jworny ami am ftedfafily purpofed to keep thy 
 Right eoHS 'Judgments, 
 
 But of all the Duties of the Penitent, 
 that which Privacy beft Qiialifies us fox, 
 
 is 
 
 100. 
 
of ^Itgious ^ttrentent. -9% I 
 
 is '^Vrayer-, which it enables us to per- 
 form in fuch a Manner, as is likely to be 
 moft prevalent and eflfeclual. Great in- 
 deed is the Excellence and Advantage 
 of Publick Devotions, as they teftify 
 our Common Reverence of the Divine 
 Being, as they are beft fitted to im- 
 plore , or to acknowledge Publick 
 Bledings , and as they excite a Pub- 
 lick Emulation in the Breafts of Sin- 
 cere Worfliippers. However, in fome Re- 
 fpe£ls, they muft yield the Preheminence 
 to Clofet-Prayer ; particularly in This, 
 That they are not fo well calculated , as 
 That , to procure Eafe and Repofe of 
 Confcience to the Sinner, and to adjufl: 
 particular Accounts between God and 
 our Souls. For it is of fpecial ufe to this 
 Purpofe, in thefe Three Refpeds ; as it 
 affords us the beft Opportunity of being 
 Fix*d^ Fervent^ and drcumflantid in our 
 Addrelfes to God. 
 
 * Tiv©- IviKiV ^f TO op©- dyttSaheiy 'WojiS'iijuv tifxSf 
 oTi xaAoM n ip»fxia. xj [A.'ovuai{, ora.v cijuy/^oivtay S'i-A ru 
 
 Koutfi Kj^ 'ini'Tis ToTu ■d-MgjtoS-ct/ cv TcU( <^'X!^^ ana-^.^\a.v\ 
 ray arrAKKh1<i7«. 'S-oov'C*'*' >5jW5tf, Chrylbft. adMatth, 
 
 xiv. %h 
 
 Y In 
 
3 22 Of ^ligtons (B^ttrement. 
 
 In the Solemn Service of the San£lua.- 
 ry, let us endeavour never fo much to pre- 
 vent Diftractwns^ we fliall nov^ and then 
 be fenfible of them : Outward Obje8:s 
 will break in upon our Senfes, and di- 
 vert the Application of our Minds ; even 
 the Length of the Office, and the Daily- 
 Return of the fame Forms, will, toPer- 
 fons not rightly Qualify'd and Difpos'd, 
 occafion Spiritual Languors and Wan- 
 drings. And this is not the Cafe only 
 of Stated Forms ; the fame Inconve- 
 nience doth, in a much higher degree, 
 belong to Unpremeditated Prayer ; the 
 Hearers of which muft firft judge of the 
 Fitnefs, both of the Matter and the Ex- 
 preflion, before they can reafonably join 
 in what they hear. And thus the No- 
 velty of the Phrafe , inftead of fixing, 
 breaks and divides the Attention of a 
 fmcere Worfliippei ; his Curiofity indeed 
 may be awaken'd by this means , but 
 his Devotion is certainly check'd and 
 fufpended. Now thefe Obftacles are all 
 remov'd , thefe Inconveniences are pre- 
 vented , when we pray in Private. We 
 are then plac'd immediately under the 
 Eye of God, which awes us ; but under 
 no Other Eyes , and in the neighbour* 
 hoodof no other Objeds, which might 
 
 dive ti 
 
of Religious (^tiremoit, jlj 
 
 divert or difcompofe us : we are at Li- 
 berty to employ that Part of our Time 
 in the Performance of this Service, w^hen 
 we find our felves beft difpos'd for it 5 
 to make Choice of our own Thoughts, 
 and our own "Words j fuch , as are beft 
 fuited to our prefent Neceffities , and 
 Defires: and what is thus paffing with- 
 in our lelves , we cannot but perceive, 
 and attend to. We may break off from 
 ■the Duty, when-ever, we find, our At- 
 tention flags ; and return to it, at a more 
 tfeafonable Opportunity. 
 
 Nor are we capable , at fuch times, 
 of being more Fix'd only , but likewife 
 more Fervent and Inflam'd. True ReU- 
 gion is ever Modeft and Rcferv'd in its 
 Demeanor, when it appears in Publick; 
 jealous of doing any thing that may 
 favour of Vanity and Ollentation; un- 
 willing to allow it felf in any fuch Ear- 
 nellnefs of Speech , or Singularity of 
 Behaviour, as may call off the Eyes and 
 Ears of Others to obferve them : It 
 contents it felf, for the moft part, with 
 a Compos'd and Serious Look, with a 
 Simple and Unaffected Carriage. But 
 when Publick Regards and Reftraints 
 are taken off, the Pious Soul may then 
 let it felf loofe into the higheft Fervors 
 
 Y 2 of 
 
of Zeal , into the freeft Raptures of 
 Thought, and into a fuitable Vehemence,, 
 and Warmth of Expredion : there is no 
 fort of Holy Addrefs, which it is not 
 then allow'd to make ufe of; no outward 
 Signs of Devotion and Reverence, which 
 it may not decently abound in. 
 
 There is yet another great Advantage 
 that attends our Private Devotions; 
 They give us leave to be as Exprefs and 
 TarticuUr as we pleafe in our Reprefen- 
 tations. In the Church, the Sinner and 
 the Saint, Men of all Ranks, Diftinclions, 
 and Attainments in Vertue muft join in 
 the fame Common Forms : and tho' each ' 
 of them may, by a fudden Glance of 
 Mind, adapt the General Words to his 
 own Circumftances ; yet one Branch of 
 the Service prelTes too fall upon another, 
 to admit of any Paufe between them. 
 And They , therefore , who lye under 
 the Load of any Particular Guilt, rife 
 not from their Knees with fo much Com- 
 fort, as they w^ould liave done, had they 
 been at Liberty to dwell upon it, and 
 confefs it in all its Aggravations. This 
 Liberty their Clofet, and that alone, can 
 afford them. There they may Expatiate 
 as much as they pleafe upon their Wants 
 and Unworthinefs ; There they may 
 
 pour 
 
of ^Itgtotis ^tiremenL gij 
 
 pour out all their Complaints to God, 
 and lay open all tlieir Griefs, and Fears, 
 and fend up all their Thanks and Ac- 
 knowledgments : There Importunities 
 are not forbidden, Repetitions are not 
 unbecoming ; but they may perfift 
 Knocking 'till it is OpenM to them, and 
 Asking 'till they have Obtaind. 
 
 Thefe are fome of the many Spiritual 
 Advantages, which the prefent Hours 
 of holy Recollcftion , when well em- 
 ploy'd, will be fure to afford us. And 
 God grant , that All of us may, as we 
 have Opportunity and Leifure, fo cm- 
 ploy them! 
 
 Indeed , the greater our Sphere of 
 Publick Adion is, the lefs Time we can 
 allow our felves to fpend in thefe Reli- 
 gious Exercifes ; but ftill fome of it is 
 due to them, nor can any Secular Cares, 
 or Avocations whatfoever wholly excufe 
 us from paying it. Our Blefled Lord, 
 we are fure, had very great Bulinefs to 
 tranfad: with Mankind, and a very fhort 
 Time in which to finifli it; and yet, 
 during liis Three Years Converfation on 
 Earth, we find him often exchanging 
 |;he Duties of the A dive and Publick 
 State, for thofe of the Solitary and Pri- 
 
 y J \^r, 
 
jid Of ^liglous ^tlrement. 
 
 vate; fending the Multitudes aw0 ^ an A 
 going uf into the Mountain^ apart^ to Pray, 
 And we are fure, that in This, as well 
 as Other Refpefts, he left Vs m Examfle^ 
 >Pet. ii. ^jj^f ^g Jhould follow his Steps, 
 
 %u 
 
 To Him , together with the Father and 
 the Blejfed Spirit^ Three FerfonSy and 
 One Gody be afcrib'^d all Majejly^ Do^ 
 minion and Power ^ now and for ever" 
 more. Amen. 
 
P7 
 
 'A Standing <l^Velatioii ^ the beji Means 
 of ConViBion. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before 
 
 Her MAJESTY, 
 
 A T 
 
 St. James's Chapel, 
 
 On Sundxyy October 28. 1705, being the 
 Feftival of St. Simon and St. Jude, 
 
 Luke xvi, ^i. 
 
 If they hear not Mofes and the Tro* 
 phets , neither will they be per/uaded, 
 though one roje from the dead* 
 
 THE Happiefl: of Mankind are 
 often fubiecl: to this great Infir- 
 mity , That , overlooldng thofe 
 folid BlelTings which they aheady have, 
 
 Y 4 they 
 
328 A Standing (HeVeJation] 
 
 they fet their Hearts upon fomewhat 
 which they want ; fome untry'd Plea- 
 fure, or Advantage , which if they could 
 but tafte, if they could but obtain, they 
 fhould then be certainly and compleatly 
 bleft. And yet , no fooner have they 
 climb'd that Hill, which thus determines 
 their View at a diftance, but a new Pro- 
 fped is open'd to them , and they find 
 themfelves as far removM from the ima- 
 ginary Point of Happinefs, as ever. 
 
 In like manner, the Standing Eviden- 
 ces of the Truth of the Gofpel , tho* in 
 themfelves moft firm, folid, and fatisfy- 
 ing , yet make but faint Impreflions on 
 the Minds of many Chriftians ; who, 
 after all the old Miracles done by our 
 Saviour and his Apoftles, are ftill ready 
 to demand new ones; to defire, that 
 fome Special Proof fhould be given, 
 fome Extraordinary Application made, 
 to Them in particular : and then, they 
 would refign all their Scruples, believe 
 without Doubt, and obey without Re- 
 ferve. Thus do the V?igodly reafon rvtth 
 themfelves^ but not aright^ as the Lips of 
 Truth have affur'd us : For, If they hear, 
 not Mofes and the Froj.>hets , neither rviH 
 thej be ferfuAded^ tho' one rojefrom the dead» 
 
 The 
 
the T?e/i Means of ConViElion. j 2 9 
 
 The Aflertion is our Saviour's , tho' 
 utter'd by him in the Perfon ofJhaham^ 
 the Father of the Faithful ^ who, on the 
 account of that Chara£ler, is very fitly 
 introduc'd, in the Parable concerning the 
 Rich Man 3.nd',Lazarus ^ declaring, what 
 Arguments and Motives are n)oft likely 
 to produce in Men that firm, unfliakea 
 Faith in God, of which He himfelf was 
 fo illufi:rious a Pattern* 
 
 The Parable was intended againfl the 
 Voluptuaries of that Time (fuch as, One 
 of the Apoftles of this Day , St. J»de^ 
 defcribes throughout his Epiftle ; ) Men, 
 who , notwithftanding they profefs'd 
 themfelves Jews, liv'd fike Heathens, dilTo- 
 lutely , w^ithout regarding any of the 
 Rules , or Reftraints of Religion ; made 
 the beft of this World, and had no Hopes, 
 no Thoughts of Another. Senfual Wits 
 they were, who, 'tis probable, took plea- 
 fure in ridiculing the Notion of a Life 
 to come , and laying fcornfully of it, 
 That it was a Dark Invifible State , of 
 which they knew nothing , and could not 
 eafily believe much, till they had fome 
 more Authentick Accounts of it, than as 
 yet had been given them. Might they 
 indeed receive News from thence, by 
 
3 J o ^A Standing ^Velatkn, 
 
 an Hand that was to be rely'd on; 
 would any of their old Companions in 
 Vice, who had made the fad Experiment, 
 be fo kind as to return, and certiiie them 
 of what he had learnt; they fhould 
 readily give up their AfTent to fo Com- 
 manding an Evidence, and fuit their Pra- 
 ftices to that Perfuafion : but , till they 
 faw fomewhat of this nature done, they 
 defir'd to be excus'd. 
 
 To confute thefe vain Reafonings and 
 Pretences, our Saviour made ufe of that 
 inftruQive and affecting Parable, which 
 concludes with the Words I have read 
 to you. I need not lay before you the 
 feveral Circumftances of that Parable: 
 it is fufficient, if I put you in mind, how, 
 towards the Clofe of it, the Rich Man is 
 reprefented , lifting up his Eyes from the 
 Place of Punifhment allotted to him in 
 the other World, difcerning Abraham afar 
 oft', and Lazan^ together with him in 
 Glory ; and making this Requeft, among 
 others , to the bleffed Patriarch , That 
 he would pleafe to fend Lazarus to his 
 five Brethren, now alive, in order to 
 tejhfy unto them ^ leH they alfo (fays he) 
 come into this Place of Torment, A Re- 
 qneft, very fitly addrefs'd to Abraham^ 
 the Father of the 'Jemjh >s^ation , on the 
 
 Ac- 
 
the befl Means of CmViclion, 3 j i 
 
 Account both of his great Familiarity 
 and Friendfhip* with God, which might * 1 chron. 
 enable him , and his known CharaQer ^^'7- 
 of CompafTion and Tendernefs, f which jj} nJ*^^" 
 would incUne him, to perform it. Never- Gen.xviii. 
 thelefs, Abraham^ inftead of indulging the ^3.<^f- 
 Supplicant, in his Defire of new Evidence, 
 refers him to That, which his Brethren 
 already had ; They have Mofes and the 
 Prophets J let them hear them : They have 
 Mojfes and the Prophets^ whom God, for 
 My fake, and in Virtue of the Covenant 
 made with Me, and my Seed, fent to 
 their Forefathers , and by whom he re- 
 veal'd his Own Will, and their Duty, in 
 a more ample Manner, than it had been 
 declar'd to any of my Defcendants be- 
 before them. This Standing Revelation, 
 which They ( and which none but they, 
 and the reft of My Seed) enjoy, was 
 attcfted in the moft Solemn, Authentic, 
 and Credible Manner ; and is fufficient 
 to influence their Faith and Practice, if 
 they do but attend to it : They have Mo- 
 fes a.nd the Prophets , let them hear Them, 
 Not fatisfied with this Anfwer , the 
 tormented Perfon renews his Intercef- 
 fion, with the fame Freedom that the 
 Patriarch himfelf had once us'd in behalf 
 of the Sodomites ; reprefcnting farther to 
 
 Jbra^ 
 
3 J 1 A Standing ^Velationy 
 
 Jhaham , That , the Means of Convi- 
 i^lion, which his Brethren enjoy'd , tho* 
 fufficient, yet not having prevail'd , it 
 would be great Charity to try Others ; 
 and that the Expedient , now propos'd, 
 could not fail of Succefs : Naj^ Father 
 Abraham , b/a if one went unto them from 
 the Dead^ they will repent. He thought fo, 
 but Abraham knew otherwife ; and there- 
 fore fhuts up the Difcourfe with this full 
 and final Refolution of the Cafe, That 
 If they heard not Mofes and the Prophets^ 
 neither would they he perfuaded^ thd* one lofe 
 from the Dead, The Meaning of which 
 Words, when caft into a General Propo- 
 fition , is, That " They, who are not 
 ^^ induc'd to Believe and Live as they 
 *' ought to do , by thofe Difcoveries 
 " which God ihath made, and thofe 
 *' Commands which he hath given to 
 " them in Scripture ; would ftand out 
 '^ againft any Evidence, ^ny Applica- 
 * ■ tion whatfoever ; even that of a Mef- 
 *' fenger , fent Exprefs from the other 
 ^^ World, to inform, and reclaim them. 
 
 This is , I confefs , a very furprifing 
 Truth, and not likely to be entertaiifi'd 
 readily, upon thefirft Propofal, That I 
 may, therefore, fet it in as clear a Light 
 
the left means of ConViElion. J J j 
 
 as is polTible, I fhall endeavour, in what 
 follows, 
 
 I. To State and Limit the due Extent 
 
 of it. 
 
 II. To Confirm the Truth, fo ftated, 
 by various Arguments and Re- 
 fiedions. 
 
 III. To Deduce fome Inferences 
 from it. 
 
 As to the Extent of this AITertion, we 
 may obferve ; 
 
 ¥irH^ That it is evidently to be under- I. 
 flood of fuch Perfons only, as are plac'd 
 in the fame Circumftances with the five 
 Brethren in the Parable; fuch, confe- 
 quently, as have been born, where the 
 True Religion is profefs'd, and bred up 
 in the Belief of it ; have had all the early 
 Prejudices of Education on the fide of 
 Truth, and all manner of Opportunities 
 and Advantages towards acquainting 
 themfelves with the Grounds of it ; and 
 . yet, notwithftanding all thefe Advanta- 
 ges, have fhut their Eyes againft it, and 
 withftood it's Force. For, as to Others, 
 yho have liv'd under the guidance of 
 
 Rea« 
 
354 -^ Standing ^Velattonj 
 
 Reafon alone, without the afliftance of 
 Supernatural Light, it is highly proba- 
 bable, that tho' Mops and the Prophets, 
 [the Tenor of a Divine Revelation] 
 when firfl: propos'd to them, fhould 
 not, yet Miracles, or a MefTage from the 
 Dead, would perfuade them ; according 
 to what is elfewhere laid down by our 
 Mat.xi.2r. Saviour ; That, If the Mighty Works^ 
 which were done in Chorazin a.nd Beth- 
 laida, hid been done in Tyre and Sidon, 
 they would have relented in Sack^Cloth and 
 jjhes. 
 
 Secondly, Neither is the AfTertion to be 
 rigoroufly extended to All thofe , who 
 have been educated under the Influence 
 of a Divine Revelation, and yet liv'd in 
 Oppofition to the Rules of it : for there 
 is great Reafon to believe, that there are 
 many Perfons , who , through the Heat 
 of their Lufts and Paflions, through the 
 Contagion of 111 Example, or too deep an 
 Immerfion in the A flairs of Life, fwerve 
 exceedingly from the Rules of their 
 Holy Faith ; and yet would, upon fuch 
 an extraordinary Warning as is men- 
 tion'd in the Text, be brought to com- 
 ply with them. But this Truth is 
 pointed chiefly , if not folely , up^ 
 
 Sin- 
 
the hejl Means of ConViElion, 335 
 
 Sinners of the Firfl: Rate , who have caft 
 off all Regard for Piety and Goodnefs; 
 have fct up for a Life of Senfe, and are 
 Wicked by Principle : for fuch likewife 
 thofe Fh'e Brethren were ; they liv'd in 
 the fame Degree of Luxury and Un- 
 charitablenefs, as their dead Brother had 
 done; they heard not Mofes And the Pro- 
 phefSy believ'd nothing of Religion, of it's 
 Threatnings, or it's Promifes ; look'd 
 upon all Revelation as a Cheat, and all 
 Pretenders to it, as Impoftors. Of fuch 
 as thefe we muft fuppofe the Text to 
 affirm , that even a Meffage from the 
 Dead would not be fufficient to reclaim 
 them. We may obferve, 
 
 Thirdly^ That even of thefe profligate 
 Creatures themfelves it is not faid, I'hat 
 fo aftonifhing a Scene would make no 
 manner of Impreflion , would have no 
 prefent Influence upon them ; but only, 
 That it would not produce a lafting 
 EffeQ , nor work an entire Converfion. 
 It is certain , tjiat they would be very 
 much rouz'd and awaken'd by fuch a 
 Sight ; but they would not, however, be 
 convinc'd , and reformed : « i^ii '7^ih^i)(tov- 
 reu , fays the Original; an Expreflion of 
 fome force,which our Engltflj Iranflation 
 
 doth 
 
J 3 6 A ^tmiing ^eVelatiotf, 
 
 doth not fully reach, and which plainly 
 %nifies , that they would not fo far be 
 wrought upon, as to change their whole 
 Mind, and Courfe of Life, and become 
 New Creatures. 
 
 Regard being had to thefe feveral 
 Reftridlions , the Doftrine of the Text 
 may, I think , be more fully reprefented 
 to you after this manner : " That, 
 " where Men have been brought up in 
 " the firm Behef of a Divine Revelation, 
 '' and have afterwards fhaken it off, 
 ^' have reafon'd them felves not only into 
 " a Disbelief, but a Contempt of it,and 
 ^* given themfelves up to commit Inic^uity 
 " with greedmefs ; in fuch a cafe , the 
 " flanding Ordinary Means of Convi- 
 " £lion failing to influence them, it is 
 " not to be expelled, that any Extraor- 
 " dinary Means , of what kind foever, 
 " fhould be able to do it ; no, not tho' 
 *^ One fliould come from the Dead, on 
 *^ purpofe to warn them of their Dan- 
 *' ger. For, however fuch a MefTage 
 *' might ftartle and amaze them at the 
 *' firfl, might for a while put new 
 *' Thoughts, new Refolutions into them ; 
 *^ yet it would work no Total Change : 
 *' They, who were abfolute Infidels 
 '^ "be- 
 
the hejl Means of ConVtSllon. 337 
 
 " before fuch a MefTage, would , in all 
 " probability, continue Infidels ftill. 
 
 Which Truth , thus largely explain'd 
 and ftated , I proceed now , under 
 my 
 
 Second General Head , to Confirm, \\ 
 hy various Arguments and Reflexions. 
 And, 
 
 FirH^ We will fuppofe , that fnch a 
 MelTage from the Dead, as That, for 
 which the Rich Man here intercedes, is 
 really in it felf an Argument of greater 
 flrength and force to perfuade a Sinner 
 out of the Error of his Ways, than any 
 Standing Revelation , how well foever 
 attefled and confirmed : I will fhew, 
 neverthelefs, that it would not be com- 
 ply'd with. Becaufe, 
 
 iH^ It is not for want of Strength, 
 that the Standing Ordinary Ways of 
 Proof are reje8:ed, but for want of Sin- 
 cerity and a difintereikd Mind in thofc 
 to whom they are propos'd; and the 
 fame want of Sincerity, the fame adhefion 
 to Vice, and averfion from Goodnefs, will 
 be equally a Reafon for their rejeding 
 any Proof whaiifoever. The Evidence^. 
 they had before , was enough , amply 
 enough to convince them -, but they 
 
 Z were 
 
3 J 8 A Standing Revelation, 
 
 were refolvM not to be convinced : and 
 to Thofe , who are refolv'd not to be 
 convinc'd, all Motives, all Arguments are 
 equal. He that fluits his Eyes againft 
 a fmall glimmering Light, on purpofe to 
 avoid the Sight of fomewhat that dif- 
 pleafes him, would (for the fame reafon) 
 fliut them alfo againft the Sun it felf ; 
 and not be brought to fee that, which he 
 had no mind to fee, let it be plac d in 
 never fo clear a Light, and never fo near 
 him. Tlie Truth is, fuch a Man under- 
 ftands by his Will • and believes a thing 
 True, or Falfe, meerly as it agrees, or 
 difagrees with a violent Liclination : 
 and, therefore, whilll that LicHnation 
 lalls in its Ifrength, he difcerns nothing of 
 the different degrees of Evidence , nor 
 diftingLiiflieth at all between a Weak 
 Motive^ and a Strong one. But, 
 
 2^/y, A Motive, liowever Wronger 
 in it felf than Another, may yet make a 
 weaker Imprcdion , when employ'd, 
 after that the Motive of lefs , tho' fuffi- 
 cient, lli'ength hath been already refifted. 
 For the Mind doth, by every degree of 
 affected Unbelief, contrad more and 
 more of a general Indifpofition towards 
 Believing : fo that fuch a Froof, as would 
 
 have 
 
the hejl Means of ConViElton, j J p 
 
 have been clos'd with certainly at the 
 firft, fliall be fet afide eafily afterwards, 
 when a Man hath been iis'd to difpute 
 himfelf out of plain Truths, and to go 
 againft the Light of liis own Under- 
 ftanding. 'Tis in Infidelity , as in a 
 vicious Courfe of Life \ a fturdy, hardned 
 Sinner fliall advance to the utnioll: pitch 
 of Impiety with lefs difficulty , lefs re- 
 luctance of Mind, than perhaps he took 
 the firft fteps in Wickednefs, whilft his 
 Confcience was yet Vigilant and Tender. 
 Should, therefore , the Evidence of one 
 ariling from the Dead, be in it felf more 
 powerful than that of the Standing 
 Gofpel-Proofs, yet, we fee, it would ope- 
 rate as little, or lefs than they, upon a 
 Perfon who had beforehand rejected thofe 
 Proofs. Nay, 
 
 ^dly^ The peculiar Strength of the 
 Motive will itfelf contribute to fruifrate 
 the Efficacy of it ; as it makes it liable 
 to be fufpected by him to whom it is 
 addrefs'd. He is confcious, how little he 
 hath defer v'd fo Extraordinar)' a Privi- 
 lege • how much rather he hath deferv'd 
 to have the Ordinary Means of Grace 
 Withdrawn , wliich he hath fo long 
 baffled and defy'd : and he will, therefore, 
 
 Z 2 as 
 
540 A Stathling ^TleVelation, 
 
 ns foon as his firll: Surprize is over, juftly 
 begin to wonder , how fuch a Favour 
 came to be beftow'd on him ; why God 
 fliould, for His fiike, do what was never 
 before done , fmce the Foundations of 
 the World were laid ; fliould reverfe the 
 Laws of Nature, meerly to produce an 
 Eifed, which tends rather to fpread the 
 Interefts of Irreligion , than to ftop the 
 Growth of it; which encourages Men to 
 be as vicious as they can , in order to 
 qualify themfelves for God's greateli 
 Indulgencies and Mercies : for that ( he 
 well knows) is His only Qiialification. 
 He wiM conclude, therefore, That there 
 mufi: have been feme Miliake, or DeUi- 
 fion in the Matter. It might he a meer 
 Dream , which he law , the Imagery of 
 a Melancholick Fancy ; fuch as now and 
 then prefents itfelf to iMufing, Thought- 
 ful Men, when their Spirits are low, and 
 the Spleen hath gotten PoflefTion of 
 them ; and fuch, as tliey miftake at that 
 Time for a Reality, tho' they are after- 
 wards fatisfy'd, that it had no Exiftence 
 any where, but in their Own diforder'd 
 Imagination. 
 
 Or, if he cannot help Believing, that 
 fuch things he faw and heard , he may 
 ilill have room to believe , That what 
 
 this 
 
the heft Means of ConViB'ion, 541 
 
 this Airy Phantome faid, is not abfolutely 
 to be rely'd on : for it might be one of 
 thofe Ill-Natur'd Beings , who are at 
 Enmity with Mankind , and do tliere- 
 fore take Pleafure in diftiirbing and per- 
 plexing tlieir Minds , and filling them 
 with Vain, and Groundlefs 1 errors. Or 
 it might, after ail , be one of his jocund 
 Unbelieving Acquaintance [now alive,] 
 drefs'd up in fuch a Form , and ading 
 fuch a Part , on Purpofe to get the 
 Advantage of his Creduhty, and to ex- 
 pofe him. 
 
 But whoever, or whatever it was, 'tis 
 not conceivable that it fliould be indeed 
 that very Perfon, whofe Shape and Voice 
 it alTum'd : for if there be any fuch 
 thing as Hell, he is certainly tormented 
 in the Flames of it. And while he is fo, 
 can it be imagined that he fliould either 
 be enough at eafe, or have Concern and 
 Companion enough for his furviving 
 Friends, to contrive fuch Expedients for 
 their Recovery ? and by that means de- 
 feat himfelf of the Pleafure he may one 
 day hope for in then- Company ? Damn'd 
 Spirits do not , furely , ufe to entertain 
 fuch Charitable Defigns : They muil 
 needs be all Envy, Defpair, and Rage; 
 and h*ave fo much of a Diabolical Nature 
 
 Z j ill 
 
34^ ^^ Standing ^yelation^ 
 
 in them, as to wifh rather, that all Men 
 fhould fliare, than endeavour that any 
 lliould efcape their Torments. 
 
 For thefe and many other Reafons, 
 which the Evil Spirit, who is ever ready 
 to afTift Men's Doubts on thefe Occafions, 
 will be fure to infufe , he'll fufpend his 
 Judgment of this ftrange Event a while, 
 till he haih confider'd farther of it. In 
 the mean time, during this Sufpence, 
 the Heat of the ImprefTion abates, and 
 that of his Luffs and Paflions returns ; 
 and then 'tis odds but the Scale turns at 
 laft on Nature's fide, and the Evidence 
 of One or Two Senfes gives way to the 
 United Bent and Tendency of all the 
 Five. Efpecially, if it be confider'd, 
 
 4f^^yy How far thefe Sufpicions of his 
 will be improv'd and heighten'd by the 
 Raillery and Laughter, he will be fure 
 to meet with, on this Head, from his old 
 Friends and Companions. We may ima- 
 gin, what Reception they would give to 
 fuch a Story, and the Teller of it ; how 
 many pleafant and gay Things they 
 would fay on this Occafion : which will 
 have fo much the keener Edge, in the 
 prefent cafe , becaufe they are turn'd 
 upon One, who, 'tis probable, hath taken 
 
 the 
 
tk be ft Means of ConViFlion, 345 
 
 the like Liberties before; hath himfelf 
 Jaiigh\l with them on tliis very Suppo- 
 iitioa as loudly, and ridicul'd fuch Idle 
 Tales as heartily as any Man. They 
 will be fure , therefore , to put him in 
 mind of his own waking Thoughts, e'er 
 thefe Dreams had as yet made tlieir Im- 
 predion on his Fancy, and to encounter 
 him with thofe Reafonings, and that 
 Scorn, \\^ith which he usVl to encounter 
 others, on the like Occafions; till they 
 have made him afliam'd Hrll to Vouch 
 theTruth of the Relation, and afterwards 
 even to Credit it. For, when a Man is fur- 
 rounded on all fides with Oppofition and 
 .Contempt for believing, what he him- 
 felf would not Iiave believ'd, upon the 
 Relation of another ; and what , for his 
 Vices fake, he pafTionately wiflies he may 
 not have reafon to believe ; 'tis not hard 
 to imagin, how he may be brought to 
 give up the cleared E\ idence, and futfer 
 himfelf to be difputed out of his Senfes. 
 But, if all thefe Engines fail of doing the 
 Work; yet, 
 
 L^fily , Time , and a SucceiTion of 
 other Obje£ls will bring it about. Every 
 day the ImprelTion loles fomewhat of it's 
 J^orce, 4nd grows weaker, till at length 
 
 Z 4 it 
 
544 -^ Standing (^eyehtiony 
 
 it comes to ly under the fame Difadvan- 
 tage with the Standing Proofs of the 
 Gofpel, that is, to be diftant ; and , ac- 
 cordingly, to operate alfo (as thofe, and 
 all other diftant things do ) but faintly 
 upon carelefs unwaken'd Minds. They 
 who attend fick Beds will tell you, how 
 often they have met with Cafes not un- 
 like this ; wherein Men , upon the near 
 approach of Death, have been rouzM up 
 into fuch a lively Senfe of their Guilt, 
 fuch a pafTionate degree of Concern and 
 Remorfe , that, if ten thoufand Ghofts 
 had appear'd to them , and Hell it felf 
 had been laid open flaming to their 
 View , they fcarce could have had a 
 fuller Conviction , or a greater Dread of 
 their Danger : and yet, no fooner had 
 their Diftemper left them , but their 
 good Thoughts and Refolutions began 
 to leave them too; till they had at 
 laft, perhaps, forgotten their firft Fears 
 and Agonies as much as if they had 
 never felt them ; their folemn Vows and 
 Promifes as thoroughly, as if they had 
 never made them. Thus, in all likely- 
 hood, would it be with a Libertine, who 
 iliould have a Vifit made to him from 
 the other World : the firft Horror and 
 Aftonifhment it rais'd, would go off by 
 
 de- 
 
the hejl Means of ConViEilon, 34.J 
 
 degrees, as new Thoughts, new Diver- 
 fions came on ; it would be driven out by 
 Bufinefs , or Pleafure , or the various 
 Accidents of Life that might afterwards 
 befal him ; till at laft he came perhaps to 
 refleQ upon it with as much Indifference, 
 as if it were a Story only, which he had 
 heard , or read , and which he himfelf 
 was no ways concern'd in. 
 
 Hitherto I have fupposM, That the 
 Evidence of One rifen from the Dead 
 hath really the Advantage, in point of 
 Force and Efficacy , of any Standing 
 Revelation, how well foever attefted and 
 confirm'd ; and, proceeding on that Sup- 
 pofition , I have endeavour'd to fhew, 
 That fuch Evidence, however in it felf 
 forcible, would certainly not be com- 
 ply'd with. But the Truth is, and, upon 
 a fair Balance of the Advantages on 
 either fide, it will appear. That the com- 
 mon Standing Rules of the Gofpel are a 
 more probable and powerful Means of 
 Convidion than any fuch MelTage, or 
 Miracle ; And that, 
 
 FirH^ For this plain Reafon , Becaule 
 they include in them that very kind of 
 Evidence, which is fiippos'd to be fo 
 
 pow- 
 
34^ -^ Standing ^Velation^ 
 
 powerful ; and do , withal , afford us 
 ieveral other Additional Proofs, of great 
 Force and Clearnefs. 
 
 Among many Arguments, by which 
 the Truth of our Religion is made out 
 to us, This is but One , That the Pro- 
 mulgers of it, Jefus Chnsi, and his A- 
 poftles, did that very thing wliich is 
 requir'd to be done; raifed Men and 
 Women from the Dead, not once only, 
 but often , in an indifputable manner, 
 and before many WitnefTes. St. Peter 
 rais'd Dorcas: Our Saviour rais'd the 
 Ruler's Daughter, the Widow's Son, and 
 Lazarus : the firll: of thefe, when fhe had 
 juft expir'd ; the fecond , as he was car- 
 ried to the Grave on his Bier ; and the 
 third, after he had been fome time bu- 
 ried. And having, by thefe gradual 
 Advances, manifefted his Divine Power, 
 he at laft exerted the higheft, and moft 
 glorious Degree of it, and raifed Himfelf 
 alfo, by his Own All-quickening Virtue, 
 and according to his Own exprefs Pre- 
 diftion. We did not indeed fee thefe 
 things done ; but we have fuch Authen- 
 tick Accounts of them , that we can no 
 more doubt of their having been done, 
 than if we had actually feen them. For 
 tho^ no Evidence affects the Fancy fo 
 
 iVrong- 
 
the hefl Means of ConVl&ion, 24; 
 
 flrongly as that of Senfe ; yet there is 
 Other Evidence, which gives as full Sa- 
 tisfaQion , and as clear a ConviQion to 
 Our Reafon: fo that there are fome 
 diftant Matters of Fa([l , of the Trudi 
 of which we are as certain, as we are of 
 what happens before our Eyes ; the con- 
 curring Accounts of many fuchWitnefles, 
 as were every way qualified to inform us, 
 and could have no Intereil: in deceiving 
 us, and feal'd the Truth of their Tefli- 
 mony with their Blood , rendring it 
 (Morally , as we fpeak, or , as we might 
 fpeak) Abjolutely impofUble , that thefe 
 things fhould be falfc. And what can wc 
 fay more for the Evidence that comes 
 by the Senfes ? for can any thing be 
 more certain than That, which 'tis im- 
 poffible fliould not be true ? And of 
 this nature are many of thofe miraculous 
 Fa£ls , upon which the Truth of our 
 Religion is founded ; particularly, that 
 moft important Miracle of all, the Re- 
 furredlionof our Lord : It is fo convin 
 cingly attefted , by fuch Perfons , with 
 fuch 'Circumllances , that They , who 
 give themfelves leifure to confider and 
 weigh the Teftimony, at what diiiance 
 foever they are plac'd from the Fact it 
 felf, cannot help ciofing witli it ; nor can 
 
 thev 
 
34^ ^ Standing ^Velatiotty 
 
 they entertain any more Doubt of the 
 Refurrecffopi, than they do of the Cmci- 
 fixion of Jefm, And therefore, I fay, if 
 this Miracle of Chrift's Rifing from the 
 Dead heretofore be not fufficient to con- 
 vince a refolv'd Libertine ; neither would 
 the raifing of one now from the Dead be 
 fufficient for that Purpofe ; fnice it would 
 only be , the doing that over again 
 which hath been done already, and of 
 the Truth of which ( all things confi- 
 der'd) we have as much reafon to be 
 fatisfied, as if we our felves had flood by 
 and feen it. 
 
 Thus far the Old Standing Proofs of 
 the Gofpel, and the New Miracle de- 
 manded are (in reality and right Reafon) 
 Equal; and fhould therefore (reafonably) 
 have Equal Influence and Effe£l. But 
 there are alfo feveral other AccelTory 
 Proofs, by which the Truth of the Gofpel 
 was farther demonftrated. It was at- 
 tefted by Miracles of all forts, done in 
 great Variety and Number; by the vifi- 
 ble centring' of all the Old Prophecies in 
 the Perfon of Chrift, and by the Com- 
 pletion of thofe Prophecies fince, which 
 He himfelf utter'd ; by the Holy and Un- 
 blemifh'd Lives , the Exemplary Suf- 
 ferings and Deaths of the Publifliers of 
 
 this 
 
the hejl Means of ConViSiion. 3 49 
 
 this Religion, and by the furpaflfing Ex- 
 cellence of that Heavenly Do&rine 
 which they publifh'd; finally, by the 
 miraculous Increafe of the Profeflbrs of 
 Chriftianity, without any vifible Grounds 
 and Caufes, and contrary to all Human 
 Probability and Appearance. Now, if 
 the Proof of a Future State , by an im- 
 mediate Appearance of one from the 
 Dead be ( in truth, and at the bottom) 
 but Equal to that fingle Proof of Chri- 
 ftianity , taken from our Lord's Refur- 
 redion ; how much inferior muft it be 
 to thefe feveral Proofs United ? And, 
 therefore, how little Probability is there 
 that He, who is not wrought upon by 
 the one , would be convinced by the 
 other? But I have not time to perfue 
 this fruitfiil Head of Argument as tar as 
 it deferves ; by difplaying , firll , the 
 General Evidences of our Religion, in 
 all their Force and Brightnefs, and, then, 
 comparing them with That of a parti- 
 cular Apparition ; and , by this means, 
 Calculating, as it were , the feveral 
 Degrees of Credibility and Convi£lion, 
 by which the One furpaifeth the Other, 
 Such an Attempt would carry me be- 
 yond the Bounds of a fmgle Difcourfe. 
 I have Room only at prefent to fuggell a 
 
General Refle6lion or two , which may 
 contribute to illuftrate this Point ; and 
 proceed therefore to obferve 
 
 Secondly^ Another great Advantage, 
 which the Standing Proofs of the Gofpel 
 have over fuch an Extraordinary Ap- 
 pearance ; that This hath all it's Force at 
 once, upon the firft ImprefTion , and is 
 ever afterwards in a declining State ; fo 
 that the longer it continues upon the 
 Mind, and the oftner it is thought of, the 
 moreitlofes; whereas thofe, on the con- 
 trary, gain Strength and Ground upon us 
 by Degrees, and the more they are coa- 
 fider d and weigh'd , the more they are 
 approvM. 
 
 There is a like Difference between the 
 ways in which thefe feveral Proofs ope- 
 rate , as there is between the feve- 
 ral Impreflions made upon Thoughtful 
 Minds by the Works of Art and Na- 
 ture. The Works of Art, which are 
 moft nice and curious, ftrike and furprize 
 us moft upon the firft View; but the 
 better we are acquainted with them, the 
 lefs we wonder at them : Whereas the 
 Works of Nature will bear a Thoufand 
 Views, and Reviews, and will ftill ap- 
 pear new to us ; the more frequently and 
 
 nar- 
 
the left Means of ConViBion, ^ j l 
 
 narrowly we look into them , the more 
 occafion we fhall have to admire their 
 fine and fubtle Texture, their Beauty, and 
 Ufe, and excellent Contrivance. The 
 fame we may fay of the Standing Evi- 
 dences of the Gofpel ; every time they 
 are confider'd and enquir'd into , they 
 gain upon fmcere unbiafs'd Minds , ap- 
 pear ftill more Reafonable and Satisfa- 
 ctory than before, and more worthy 
 every way of that inimitable Power and 
 Skill which wrought them ; and, on that 
 Account, they are, doubtlefs, better con- 
 triv'd to work a rational , a deep , and 
 durable Convidion in us , than thofe 
 AftoniHiing Motives, which exert all 
 their Force at once, upon the firft Propo- 
 fal. An Argument , that is fome time 
 working it's way into the Underftanding, 
 will at lalt take the furer hold of it ; as 
 thofe Trees , which have the floweft 
 Growth , are , for that Reafon , of the 
 longefb Continuance. To all which, we 
 may add, in the 
 
 Third Place , That , let the Evidence 
 of fuch a particular Miracle be never fo 
 bright and clear, yet it is ftill but Parti- 
 cular; and muft, therefore, want that 
 kind of Force^ that Degree of Influence, 
 
 which 
 
^^1 A Standing ^Vektion, 
 
 which accrues to a Standing General 
 Proof, from it's having been try'd, and 
 approv'd , and confented to by Men of 
 all Ranks and Capacities, of all Tempers 
 and Interefts , of all Ages and Nations. 
 A Wife Man is then bell: fatisfy'd with 
 his own Reafonings and Perfuafions, 
 when he finds that Wife and Confide- 
 ring Men have in the like manner 
 Reafon'd, and been in like manner Per- 
 fuaded ; that the fame Argument, which 
 weighs with Him, hath weighed with 
 Thoufands, and Ten thoufand times ten 
 thoufands before him ; and is fuch as hath 
 born down all Oppofition, where-ever it 
 hath been fairly proposed, and calmly 
 confider d. Such a Reflection , tho' it 
 carries nothing perfectly Decifive in it, 
 yet creates a mighty Confidence in his 
 Breaft, and ftrengthens him much in his 
 Opinion. Whereas , he who is to be 
 wrought upon by a fpecial Miracle, hath 
 no Helps , no Advantages of this kind 
 toward clearing his Doubts, or fuppor- 
 ting his Affurance. All the Force of 
 the Motive lies entirely within it felf ; it 
 receives no Collateral Strength from 
 External Confiderations, it wants thofe 
 degrees of Credibilty that fpring from 
 Authority, and cojicurring Opinions : 
 
 which 
 
the heft Means of ConViEilon. 3 5 j 
 
 which is one Reafon why (as I told you) 
 a Man is capable of being difputed out 
 of the Truth and Reality of fuch a 
 Matter of Fadl, tho' he faw it with his 
 Eyes. 
 
 This, therefore, is a farther Advantage, 
 which the Standing Proofs of a Revehi tion 
 have over any Occafional Miracle ; That, 
 in the admitting fuch Proofs, we do but 
 fall in with the General Senfe and Per- 
 fuafion of thofe among whom vv^e con- 
 verfe : whereas we cannot aiBrm the 
 Truth of fuch a Miracle, without incur- 
 ring the Scorn and Derifion; at leaft, 
 not without running crofs to the Belief 
 and Apprehenfion of the reft of Man- 
 kind ; a Difficulty, which (as hath been 
 already fhewn) a modeft and good Man 
 is fcarce Able, but a Man addided to 
 his Vices, is neither Able, nor Willing, 
 for the meer fake of Truth , to encoun- 
 ter. 
 
 Let us lay thefe feveral Refle^lions 
 together , and we fhall find , " That 
 '' even a Meilage from the other World 
 '' is not an Argument of fuch invincible 
 ^' Strength, but it would be refiited by 
 ." fuch as had beforehand refilled the 
 ^^ General Proofs of the Gofpel ; and 
 
 A a *'that 
 
3 54 ^ Standing ^VelatioUy 
 
 *' that our Saviour, therefore, utter'd no 
 ^' Paradox , but a great , a clear and 
 " certain Truth , when he faid , That 
 " they, who hear not Mofes and the Pro- 
 phets , 7Vi/l not he ferfuaded , though one 
 rofefiom the Dead, From which Truth 
 it is now Time, as my 
 
 III. Third General Head dire£ls, to deduce 
 the feveral Inferences^ which I intended. 
 And, 
 
 iirH^ We learn from hence, what is 
 the true Ufe and End of Miracles : They 
 are not Private, but Publick Proofs ; not 
 Things to be done in a Corner , for the 
 fake of fmgle Perfons, but before Multi- 
 tudes, and in the Face of the Sun. Again, 
 They are Signs to thofe who believe not, 
 not to thofe who believe : I mean, that 
 the Great, the Chief End of them is, to 
 eftablifh the Truth of a New Revelation 
 in thofe Countries where it was firffe 
 promulg'd and propagated ; not to Con- 
 firm Men in the Belief of it , after it is 
 fufficiently eftablifh'd. Miracles are the 
 immediate Ad: of Omnipotence , and, 
 therefore, not to be employed, but where 
 the Importance of the Occafion requires 
 them : much lefs are they to be em- 
 ploy'd, where they are neither requfite, 
 
 nor 
 
the heft Means of ConViSllon. j 5 j 
 
 nor likely to fucceed ; as the cafe is, 
 where thofe , who are not convinc'd by 
 the Old Miracles, demand New ones. It 
 follows from hence, 
 
 Secondl) , That we have great reafon 
 to look upon the high Pretenfions which 
 the Roman Churcli makes to Miracles, as 
 ground lefs , and to reje£l her Vain and 
 Fabulous Accounts of them. Half the 
 Saints, which have place in her peculiar 
 Calendar, were, if you will believe Her, 
 converted by Miracles ; Apparitions, Vi- 
 fions, and Intercourfes of all kind be- 
 tween the Dead and the Living , are the 
 frequent and familiar Embellilhments of 
 thole pious Romances , her Legends ; 
 which exceed the Scripture it felf in 
 Wonders, and do, indeed, by that means, 
 contradi£l the Doctrine and Defign of 
 it : for where Mofes and the Prophets 
 are receiv'd, there a continued Succeflion 
 of Miracles is need lefs \ and, confequent- 
 ly, not to be expecled, believ d , or pre- 
 tended. It may be a 
 
 Third Ufe of what hath been faid, To 
 take an occafion from thence of Confi- 
 dering, how fare the foundation of God 
 Handeth , [ that Foundation of the Apojlles 
 
 A a 2 and 
 
^ 5 <$ A Standing ^Velatioriy 
 
 and Prophet Sy upon which the Church u built ^ 
 Jefus Chrift himfe/f being the Head Corner- 
 Stone^ as the Colleft for this Day fpeaks ; ] 
 Iiow very flrong and irrefragable the 
 firft Evidences of Chriftianity needs muft 
 be, fince thev appear ( both from Reafon 
 and Revelation) to be fuch, as that They, 
 who refifted them , would refift every 
 thing befides them. But this is fuiii- 
 ciently underftood from the whole Tenor 
 of the preceding Argument : Which in- 
 ftruds us alfo, in the 
 
 Fourth Place, to condemn the Folly 
 and Impiety of thofe Perfons ( for fuch 
 there have been) who have oblig'd them- 
 felves to each other, to appear after 
 Death , and give an Account of their 
 Condition in another World ; and the 
 worfe Ufe that hath been made of thefe 
 111 Contra £ls, when thefurviving Party 
 hath hardened himfelf in his Wicked- 
 nefs , upon the Other's Failure. It is 
 ilupidly foolifli, thus to venture our Sal- 
 vation upon an Experiment, which we 
 know not whether God will fuffer, and 
 whicli, we liave all the Reafon imagina- 
 ble to think , he will not fuffer to take 
 place. It is highly Impious, to refolve to 
 • perfift in our Unbelief, till fomething 
 
 more 
 
2S. 
 
 the be [I Means of ConViElion, J 57 
 
 more is done for our Convidion , than 
 God hath thought fit fliould be done for 
 the ConviQion of any Man in our Cir- 
 cumHances. An ApolHe, indeed , once 
 laid , Except I jhall fee m his Hands the joh, xx. 
 Print of the Nails ^ and put my Finger into 
 the Vrint of the Nails , and thruH rny 
 Hand into his Side. I nnll not believe -^ and 
 God was pleas'd to (loop to his Requell, 
 and to plant Faith in his Heart by 
 fuch an Experiment. But it was on the 
 Account of the Publick Charafter he 
 was to bear, as an Apoftle; that is, a 
 Witnefs of the Refurreclion of Chriif to 
 the reft of the World ; and it might, 
 therefore, be fit that He himfelf fliould, 
 in a very Particular and Extraordinary 
 Way, be fatisfy'd of it ; not meerly for 
 his Own fajve , but for the fake of all 
 Thofe who fhould hereafter believe in 
 liis Teftimony. The manner of his Con- 
 viction was deficn'd, not as a peculiar Pri- 
 vilege to Him; but as a ftandmg Miracle, 
 a lafting Argument for the Conviction 
 of Others, to the very End of the World. 
 Befides, though flow of Belief, he was at 
 the bottom Honeif and Sincere ; not led 
 into thofe Doubts, which he entertained, 
 by his Lufts,and Vicesinot a Revolter from 
 phe Truth which lit- had onccemhrac'd : 
 
 A a ? A nd 
 
358 A Staniing ^Velatioriy 
 
 And they, therefore, have no Reafon to 
 expect to be favoured as He was , who 
 ftand not poflefsM of any One of thofe 
 Qualifications that belong'd to Him, but 
 are (generally fpeaking ) the very Re- 
 verfe of his CharaQrer. 
 
 Fifthly, From the fame Truth we may 
 alfo be taught to correal a Vain Thought, 
 which we are fometimes apt to enter- 
 tain ; That, if it had been Our Lot to 
 converfe with Chrift and his Apoftles, and 
 to be Eye-WitnelTes of their Miracles ; 
 wefhould, byfnch an Advantage, have 
 been fecur'd from any Degree of Doubt 
 or Infidelity : Whereas certain it is, that 
 They, who at this Diftance from the 
 iirft Rife of the Gofpel , after weighing 
 the feveral Evidences of it , waver in 
 their Faith, would have waver'd, though 
 they had feen the firft Promulgers of it 
 work Wonders. Even that Sight itfelf 
 did not hinder many, to whom the Go- 
 fpel was firft preach'd , from turning it 
 into Lafcivioujnefs , and denying the Lord 
 Verf. 4. jffy^, as Sujiide complains. Deceived 
 we are, if we think, that God hath not 
 farnifh'd every Age of the Church with 
 fufficient Inducements to embrace the 
 Faith ; and the iateft Ages, perhaps, with 
 
 the 
 
the heft Means of ConViElion, 3 j p 
 
 the ftrongeft Inducements to it. Indeed, 
 the Luftre of the Primitive Miracles is 
 now wanting to us : but then we are 
 freed from feveral Inconveniences, under 
 which the firft Chriftians laboured , and 
 we enjoy hkewife feveral Advantages 
 which they wanted. We have no Ori- 
 ginal Prejudices againfl: the Gofpel to 
 fubdue, as They had ; for we have been 
 educated in the Belief of it : We are not 
 tempted, as They were, to revolt from 
 it, by the Dread of Dangers and Death ; 
 for all manner of Encouragements at- 
 tend Our ProfcfTion of it. The miraculous 
 Succefs of the Apoftles Preaching, and 
 the Accompliflimcnt of many of their 
 Predictions, which to thofe early Chri- 
 ftians were matters of Path only , are 
 to Us matters of Sight and Experience. 
 And we , that live at the greateft Di- 
 stance from the Age of the Apolfles, have 
 in this the Advantage of fuch as were 
 much nearer to them ; That even thefe 
 laft and worfl: of times have produced the 
 heft Apologies for our Faith , the moll 
 Accurate, and Rational, and Unanfwera- 
 ble Accounts of the Truth of Chriftiani- 
 ty. To apply, therefore, the Words of 
 Solomon to the prefent cafe • Sny not thou^ Eccl. vi.-. 
 What ii theCauje ihat the Fanner Dajs were ^°* 
 
 A a 4 bet- 
 
3^0 A Standing ^'Velatioriy 
 
 better than Thefe ? for thou dost not enquire 
 rvifely of this thing. 
 
 The Last Inference , which the Do- 
 8:rine deliver'd fuggeftsto us, is,Thatwe 
 {hould be invited from thence to magnify 
 and to adore the Divine Wifdom, which 
 hath fo order'd the firft Proofs and Eviden- 
 ces of our Faith, that they will be equally 
 fatisfaftory and convincing to the End 
 Eccl. iii. of the World. / know ( faith the Wife 
 J 4- Man) that Tvhatfoever God doth, it jball be 
 
 for ever : nothing ctin be fut to it, nor any 
 thing taken f'om it ; and God doth it that 
 Man jhctdd fear before him. Accordingly, 
 he hath propos'd a Standing Revelation, 
 fo well confirmed by Miracles, once for 
 all, that it fhould be needlefs to recur 
 to them ever afterwards for the Con- 
 viQion of any Man who was born with- 
 in the Pale of Chriftianity. This was 
 the fhorteft, the fitteft, and wifeft way 
 that could have been taken; the belt 
 fuited to the Majefty of God , and to the 
 other Methods of his Providence ; and 
 the beft accommodated alfo to the Na* 
 ture. Capacities , and Intereft of Men, 
 It had been below him , by an Imme- 
 diate Interpofition of his Omnipotence, 
 to have been appealing eveiy day to 
 
 his 
 
the heft Means of ConViSllon, j (J I 
 
 his Creatures for the Truth of his Reli- 
 gion; an Endlefs, and an Unbecoming 
 Task, to be put upon offering Superna- 
 tural Proofs, for the Convidion of Im- 
 pious Men, as often as their Infidelity 
 fhould be pleas'd to demand them ! Not 
 fo doth he proceed in the Government 
 of the Natural World : He made it, 
 indeed, at the firft , after a Miraculous 
 and Incomprehenfible manner ; but he 
 fteers and direfts the Affairs of it, ever 
 fmce, by ftanding Rules and Laws, and 
 by the Ordinary Miniftry of Second 
 Caufes. With Equal Wifdom hath he 
 Temper'd the ConduQ: of the Moral 
 World alfo : for, tho' he ufher'd in the 
 Mofaic and Chriftian Inftitutions, by a 
 great Variety of amazing Signs and 
 Wonders ; yet, as foon as the Truth of 
 thofe Revelations was thus illuftrioufly 
 manifefted , and the Accounts of thefe 
 things were committed to Writing , Mi- 
 racles in great mcafure ceas'd ; and the 
 Appeal afterwards was to the Written 
 Word \_to the Lxw^ and tothe Tejiimotiy,'] 
 which fiipply'd the Room of them. 
 
 Indeed , Motives that addrefs them- 
 felves cooly to our Reafon, are fitted to 
 be employed upon Reafonable Creatures ; 
 It is no ways congruous, that God fhould 
 
 be 
 
j^l A Standing ^yelatm, 
 
 be always frightning and aftonifhing 
 Men into an Acknowledgment of the 
 Truth, who were made to be wrought 
 upon by calm Evidence, and gentle 
 Methods of Perfuafion. Should fuch a 
 Miracle as that which is mention'd in 
 the Text , be indulged to One , Others 
 would think themfelves equally entitled 
 to it ; and, if indulg'd to many, it would 
 no longer have the Effect of a Miracle, 
 it's Force and Influence would be lofl 
 by the Frequency of it. Or , fuppofmg 
 it to continue ia it's full Strength, how 
 o ften foever repcted ; yet the Faith is 
 produc'd would not be fo free and volun- 
 tary an Ad , as That ought to be , to 
 which are annex'd all the Glorious and 
 Invaluable Privileges of Believing. In 
 a word , Good Men have no need of a 
 Miracle; for they are convinc'd, without 
 it : And it would be of dangerous Con- 
 fequence to the Bad ; for They, we find, 
 would not , even with it , be convinc'd. 
 And, therefore, the Allowance of fuch a 
 Favour to them , would ferve only to 
 render them more Obdurate, and more 
 Inexcufable; it would enhanfe their 
 Guilt, and increafe their Condemnation. 
 
 Let us then from thefe, and fuch 
 Confiderations as thefe, be led to reve- 
 rence 
 
the hefl Means of ConVtSlion, ? 61 
 
 rence the Infinite Wifdom and Goodnefs 
 of God in all his Tranfa^lions with Men ! 
 Let us learn, not to difpute the Methods 
 of his Providence ; but humbly and im- 
 plicitly to acquiefce in them, and to 
 adore them 1 Let us fatisfy our felves, 
 That every thing is certainly order'd by 
 Him after the apteft, and beft, and 
 moft becommg manner, tho' our Firft 
 Apprehenfions fliould fuggeil: otherwife 
 to us ; and that no Contrivance , no 
 Policy, no Prudence whatfoever, can in 
 any refped deviate from his Scheme, 
 without leaving us in a much worfe 
 Condition than it found us 1 For, 
 
 Great and Marvellous are thy IVorkSy 
 Lord God Almighty ! JuH and True 
 are all thy Ways^ thou KJng of Saints ! 
 
 To Thee (Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghoft) be render'd, as is moft due, 
 all pofTiblc Honour, Adoration, and 
 Praife, now, and for Ever ! 
 
 A 
 
.'Jl^ 
 
3<fj 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Prcach'd in the 
 
 Cathedral Church of St. ^Paul, 
 
 At the 
 
 FUNERAL 
 
 O F 
 
 Mr. Tho, Ben net. 
 
 Jug. ^o. 1705. 
 I. Co R I N't H. XV. 19. 
 
 If in this Life onely we haVe Hope 
 in Chrijly we are of all Men mo ft 
 miferable. 
 
 SUCH Difcourfes, on fuch Mourn- 
 ful Occafions as thefe, were infti- 
 tuted , not fo much in Honour of 
 the Dead, as for the Ufe of the Living ; 
 that Opportunity may be taken from 
 
 Iffnce 
 
SlS A Sermon preach* d at the 
 
 hence to excite in Perfons , attending on 
 thefe Solemnities , a due Senfe of the 
 Uncertainty and Vanity of all Earthly 
 Satisfactions ; to imprint upon their 
 Minds , by proper Arguments and Re- 
 fle8:ions, a lively Perfuafion of the Cer- 
 tainty of a Future State, and an earneft 
 Defire of fitting and preparing them- 
 felves for it. 
 
 There is no Seafon , to which fuch 
 Thoughts as thefe are more fuitable ; nor 
 any, wherein Men are likely to be more 
 affected with them : And therefore I have 
 chofen (not unfitly, I hope) to explain to 
 you, atprefent, that great Argument for 
 a Future State, which S. P^/^/hathcouch'd, 
 in the Words I have read to you ; If in 
 this Life onely we have Hope in ChriH^ we 
 are of all Men moH miferable : that is , If 
 all the Benefits, we exped f^om the 
 ' Chriflian Inftitution, were confin'd with- 
 in the Bounds of this prefent Life, and 
 we had no Hopes of a better State after 
 this , of a great and lafting Reward in 
 a Life to come; We ChnlHans fliould 
 be the mofi: abandoned and wretched of 
 Creatures ; All other Sorts and Seels of 
 Mtn would evidently have the Advan- 
 tage of us,and a much furer Title to Hap- 
 pinefs than We. 
 
 This 
 
funeral of Mr, Bennec. j 67 
 
 This Conceifion the Apoftle openly 
 makes, and from hence he would be 
 underftood to inferr (tho'the Inference 
 be not exprefs'd,) That, therefore, there 
 muft needs be another State, to make 
 up tlie Inequalities of this, and to falve 
 all irregular Appearances; £nce it is 
 impolTible to conceive that a Juft and 
 Good God fliould fuffer the jufteft and 
 bell of Men ( fuch as the bell: Chriftians 
 certainly are) to be oftentimes the mofl 
 miferable. 
 
 If St. Pau/ found it necelTary, earneftly 
 to prefs this Argument on the CorinthtanSy 
 foon after he had planted the Gofpel 
 among them, and conlirm'd it by Mira- 
 cles ; it cannot but be highly requifite for 
 Us , who live at fuch a diftance from 
 that Age of Miracles , to fupport and 
 enliven our Faith , by dwelling often on 
 the fame Confiderations : and this Argu- 
 ment, therefore , I fliall endeavour to 
 open, and apply , in the following Dif- 
 courfe: wherein, 
 
 FirH ^ I fhall fhew the undoubted I. 
 Truth of the Apolfle's Conceffion ; and 
 from thence fhall eilablifh , in the 
 
 Seco?td Place, the Truth of that Conclu- II. 
 /<?t, which he builds upon it. 
 
 After 
 
368 
 
 A Sermon Treacl?d at the 
 
 III. After which, I ihall fuggeft to you fome 
 Rules and Dire^ions^ which, if duly per- 
 fu'd, will enable you to live likethofe, 
 who have their Hope in mother Life ; like 
 Men, who look upon themfelves,as being 
 only on their Paffage through this State, 
 but as belonging properly to that which 
 is to come ; on which , therefore , their 
 Eye , their Aim , and their Hopes arc 
 altogether fix'd and employ'd. 
 
 IV. And thefe General Reflexions fliall be 
 follow'd ( as they will very naturally be 
 follow'd ) by a juft and faithful Account 
 of that Valuable Perfon, whofe Remains 
 now lie before us. 
 
 I, As to the ConceJJlon of the Apoflle, I 
 
 fhall urge it fomewhat farther than the 
 Letter of the Text will carry us ; proving 
 to you, under two different Heads, That, 
 were there no other Life but this, Firft, 
 Men would really be more miferable 
 than Beafts ; and , Secondly , The bell 
 Men would be often the moft miferable : 
 I mean , as far as Happinefs or Mifery 
 are to be meafur'd from Pleafmg, or Pain- 
 ful Senfations : and, fuppofing the Prefent 
 to be the Only Life we are to lead, I fee 
 not, but that This might be efteem'd the 
 true Meafure of them. 
 
Funeral of Mr\ Beanec. 3 5p 
 
 FirH^ "Were there no Life after this, 
 Men would be more miferable than 
 Beafts : for in this Life , it is plain that 
 Beafts have, in many refpe6ls, the Advan- 
 tage of them ; inafmuch as they enjoy 
 greater Senfual Pleafures, and feel fewer 
 Corporal Pains, and are utter Strangers 
 to all thofe Anxious and Tormenting 
 Thoughts which perpetually haunt and 
 difquiet Mankind. 
 
 The Pleafures of Senfe are probably 
 relifli'd by Beafts in a more exquifitc 
 degree, than they are by Men ; for they 
 tafte them fmcere and pure always, with- 
 out mixture, or alloy," without bemg 
 diftrafted in the Perfuit, or difquieted 
 in the Ufeofthem. 
 
 They follow Nature, in their Defires 
 and Fruitions, carrying them no farther 
 than flie directs, and leaving oif at the 
 Point , at which Excefs would grow 
 Toublefome and Hazardous ; ^0 tliat 
 their Appetite is not deftroy'd, or dulfd, 
 by being gratified , but returns always 
 frefli and vigorous to its Objed. Hence 
 Their Organs are generally better dif- 
 pos'd than Ours , for receiving grateful 
 Impreffions from fenfible Objeds ; being 
 lefs liable to be vitiated by Difeafes, and 
 
 B b other 
 
J 70 J Sermon preach' d at the 
 
 other Bodily Accidents , which diforder 
 oar Frame, and extreamly lelTen the Com- 
 placence we have in all the good things 
 of this Life that farround us. Nor. are 
 the Pleafures, which the Brutal part of 
 the Creation enjoy, fubjeft to be leflend 
 any way by the iTneafmcrs which arifes 
 from Fancy and Opinion. TJiey have 
 not the Art of growing Miferable upon 
 the View of the Happinefs of others ; it 
 being the peculiar Privilege of Thinking 
 Beings, when they are otherwife fuffi- 
 ciently blefs d, to create Trouble to them- 
 felves, by needlefs Comparifons. 
 
 They are under no Cliccks from Rea- 
 fon and Refleftion , which , by repre- 
 fenting perpetually to the Mind of Man 
 the Meannefs of all Senfaal Gratifica- 
 tions , do , in great meafure, blunt the 
 Edge of his keeneft Defires, and pall all 
 his Enjoyments. They are not aware 
 of a Superior Good, or of any higher End, 
 to which they might be ordain'd. They 
 feel no inward Reproaches for tranfgrel- 
 fing the Bounds of their Duty , and the 
 Laws of their Nature. They have no 
 tineafy Prefages of a Future Reckoning, 
 wherein the Pleafures they now tafte^ 
 muft be accounted for; and may, per- 
 haps, be outweigh'd by the Pains, which 
 
 ihall 
 
Funeral of Mr, Ben net. ^71 
 
 fhall then lay hold of them. None of 
 their Satisfa&ions are impair'd by the 
 Fear of lofing them , by that Dread of 
 Death, which hangs over the nieer natu- 
 ral iMan ; and , hke the Hand-Writing 
 on the Wall , damps all his Mirth and 
 jollity ; and by which he is, as tlie Apo- 
 llle fpeaks, all hii Life-time fubject unto^^^Mis-' 
 Bondage ; that is, is in a mean, dejefted, 
 flavifli ffate of Mind. In a word, they 
 have no Concern for what is paft, no 
 uneafy Expeftations of what is to come ; 
 but are ever ty'd-down to the prefent 
 Moment, and to the prefent Enjoyment, 
 and in that they arc vigoroufly^and total- 
 ly employ *d. 
 
 In thefe Refpe6ls, it may be truly 
 affirm d ; That, if we had Hope in this 
 Life only , Men would be really more 
 miferable than Beaifs ; and, on the fame 
 Account, 
 
 Secondly y The beft of Men would be 
 often the moR miferable. For their Prin- 
 ciples give them not leave to tafle {6 
 freely of the Pleafures of Life, as other 
 Mens do ; and expofe them more to the 
 Troubles and Dangers of it, 
 U ,The Principles ol good Men give them 
 not leave to talle fo treelv of the Pleafures 
 
 \B b 2 cf 
 
27^ A Sermon preach' d at the 
 
 of Life , as other Mens do : for their 
 great and prevailing Principle is, to fit as 
 loofe from thofe Pleafures , and be as 
 moderate in the ufe of them as they can ; 
 in order to maintain the Empire of the 
 Mind over the Body, and keep the Appe- 
 petites of the One in due SubjeQ:ion to 
 the Reafoning Powers of the Other. 
 No fmall part of Virtue confifts in ab- 
 ftaining from that, wherein Senfual Men 
 Rom. xiii. pl'ice their Felicity ; in mortifymg the 
 14. Deeds of the Body ^ and making no Provijion 
 
 for the Flejh to fulfil the Lufis thereof A 
 truly good Man thinks himfelf oblig'd, 
 not only to forbear thofe Gratifications, 
 which are forbidden by the Rules of 
 Reafon and Religion, but even to re- 
 ftrain himfelf in unforbidden Inftances, 
 when , by allowing Himfelf in what is 
 Innocent , ho would either run- the 
 Rifque of being farther betray'd into 
 what is not fo, or would breed matter of 
 Oifcnce to his weak and misjudging 
 Neighbour. He lives not for Himfelf 
 alone, but hath a regard in all his Anions 
 to the great Conmunity wherein he is 
 enclosed; and gives the Reins, therefore, 
 to his Appetites no farther, than the in- 
 dulging them is confiftent with the gene- , 
 ral Good and Happinefs of Societv. 
 
 He 
 
Funeral of Mr. Bennet. 37^ 
 
 He is fo far from grafping at all 
 
 the Advantages and SatisfaQions of this 
 
 World, which are pofTible to be attain'd 
 
 by him , that he thinks the bounding of 
 
 his Defires, and Defigns within the Line, 
 
 which his Birth and Fortune Iiave mark'd 
 
 out, to be a great and indifpenfable 
 
 Duty : He hath learnt^ in whatloever State 
 
 he is. therewith to be Content ; and dotli not, ^ ' ^*** 
 
 .II- 
 
 therefore, eagerly afpire after an higher 
 Condition of Life , is not over-folicitous 
 to procure to himfelf a larger Sphere of 
 Enjoyment. 
 
 From thefe, and many other Confide- 
 rations (which I need not mention) it is 
 manifeft , that the beft of Men do gene- 
 rally enjoy leajft of the Pleafures and 
 Satisfactions of Life : It is as manifeft, 
 that they are molt expos'd to the Trou- 
 bles and Dangers of it. 
 
 They are determin'd to hve up to the 
 Holy Rule, by which they have oblig'd 
 themfelvesto walk, whatever may be the 
 Confequences of it ; tho' fore Evils, and 
 great Temporal Inconveniences fliould 
 ibmetimes attend the Difcharge of their 
 Duty. The Hypocrite hath the Art of 
 bending his Principles , and Practice 
 always to wliatever is for his Conve- 
 venience, and of falling in with the ' 
 
 Bb ^ t^a- 
 
Wifd. ii. 
 
 ^ 74 A SerniGH prcacUd at the 
 
 Fafliion of a Corrupt and Wicked World : 
 but the truly upright Man , is inflexible 
 in his Uprightnefs, and unalterable in 
 his Purpofes ; Nothing can make him 
 Remifs in the Praftice of his Duty , no 
 Profped of Intereft can allure him , no 
 Fear of Danger can difmay him. 
 
 It will be his Lot often, to look fmgu- 
 lar, in Loofe and Licentious Times, and 
 to become a By- Word and a Reproach 
 on that account among the Men of Wit 
 and Plea fu re. He is not for our turn^ (will 
 they fay, as their Words are reprefented 
 in the Book of IViJdom J He is clean con- 
 trary to our Doings ; he was made to rejjrove 
 our Thoughts \ he is grievom tint o us ^ even 
 to behold, \ for his Life is no^ like other Me'/Ps^ 
 his Ways are of another Falhion, A nd thefe 
 ill Thoughts, once entertainM,will (we 
 may be Jure,) as Occafion offers, be fol- 
 lowed by worfe Ufage. 
 
 Some Chriftian Virtues (for Inftance, 
 Humility^ and Meeknefs) do, as it were, 
 invite Injuries : For it is an Encourage- 
 ment to bafe and infolent Minds to 
 outrage Men, when they have Hopes of 
 doing it, without a Return. If it be a 
 Man's known Principle, to depart from 
 his Right in a fmall matter, rather than 
 bre^Jk Chriflian Peace ; 111 Men will be 
 > < tempt- 
 
Funeral of Mr. Beiiner. 375 
 
 tempted to make illegal and iinjuft 
 Encroachments upon him. He who re- 
 folves to walk by the Gofpel-Rule of 
 forbearing all Attempts , all Defire of 
 Revenge, will probably have Opportu- 
 nities every now and then given him to 
 exercife his forgiving Temper. / 
 
 Thus Good and Pious Perfons are, by 
 the Nature and Tendency of their Prin- 
 ciples more expos'd to the Troubles and 
 i'R Accidents of Life, as well as greater 
 Strangers to the Pleafures and Advan- 
 tages of if, than other lefs Confcientious 
 Men are : And, on both tliefe /Accounts, 
 what the Apolfle Ln's down in the Text, 
 is evidently and experimentally true; 
 That, tf in this Life onely they had Hope^' 
 they were of all Men moH Miferdblc. 
 
 From which Concefnon, which he thus 11. 
 openlv makes, he would be underftood 
 (as I tc4d you) to infer, tho'the Infe- 
 rence be not exprefs'd, that there muft, 
 therefore, necelfarily be another State, 
 to make up the Inequalities of this, and 
 to falve all irregular Appearances. For 
 if God be infinitely holy, and pure, antl 
 jufl:, and good ; he muif needs take de- 
 light in thofe of his Creatures that 
 reiemble him molt in thefe Perfeftions : 
 He cannot but love Virtue, where-ever 
 
 Bb 4 u" 
 
37^ J Sermon preacl/d at the 
 
 it is, and reward it, and annex Happi- 
 nefs always to the Exercife of it And 
 yet this is fo far from being the Cafe, 
 that the contrary often happens in this 
 Life ; where even the greateli: Saints are 
 fometimes made the moft remarkable 
 Inftances of Suffering, We may, there- 
 fore, furely conclude, that there muft be 
 a Future State, wherein thefe Rewards 
 fliall be beftowed , and this Love of 
 God to good Men made to appear, and 
 the eternal and infeparable Connexion 
 between Virtue and Happinefs mani- 
 fefted, in the fight of Angels and Men. 
 It cannot confift with the Divme Attri- 
 butes , that the impious Man's Joys 
 fliould, upon the whole, exceed thole of 
 the Upright ; or that the Beafts of the 
 Field, which ferve him not , and know 
 him not , fliould yet enjoy a more entire 
 and perfeft Happinefs than the Lord 
 of this Lower Creation , Man himfelf, 
 made in God's own Image, to acknow- 
 ledgCj and adore him : and, therefore, as 
 certainly as God is , a time there will 
 and muil: be, when all thefe unequal 
 Difiributions ofGood and Evil fliail befet 
 right, and the Wifdom and Reafonable- 
 nefs of all his Tranfaclions with all his 
 Creatures be made as clear as the Noon- 
 Day. An4 
 
Funeral of Mr, Bennet 577 
 
 And this, before that Revelation had 
 enlighten'd the World, was the very beft 
 Argument for a Future State , which 
 Mankind had to reft upon. Their Phi- 
 lofophical Reafonings , drawn from the 
 nature of the Soul, and from the inftinfts 
 and prefages of Immortahty implanted in 
 it, were not fulBciently clear and conclu- 
 five. The only fure Foundation of Hope, 
 which the wifeft and moft thoughtful 
 Men amongft the Heathen pretended in 
 in this Cafe to have, was, from the Con- 
 fideration fuggefted in the Text : and 
 from thence fome of them reafon'd with- 
 out Doubt, or Hefitancy ; and liv'd and 
 dy'd in fuch a manner, as to fliew, that 1 
 they believ'd their own Reafonings. ^ 
 
 It may fuffice, thus far to have en- 
 larg'd on that great Argument of a 
 Future State, which is urg'd by St. Paul 
 {n the Words before us: " If in this 
 *' Life onely we had Hope, Men would 
 *^ really be more miferable than Beafts ; 
 " and the beft of Men oftentimes the 
 " moft miferable. But it is impoftiblc 
 " to imagine, that a God of infinite Wif- 
 " dom and Goodnefs fliould diftribute 
 " Happinefs, andMifery, fo unequally, 
 ** and abfurdly : It remains, therefore, 
 
 " that 
 
37^ -^ Sermon preached at the 
 
 ^^ that good Men have a well-grounded 
 " Hope in another Life; and are as 
 ^ certain of a future Recompence , as 
 " they are of the Being , and Attributes 
 " of God. 
 
 III. The befl: ufe I can make of this Com- 
 fortable Truth , thus explain'd , is, To 
 exhort you from thence to live like thofe 
 who have their Hope in another Life; 
 like Men who look upon themfelves as 
 being upon their Paflage only through 
 this prefent World , but as belonging 
 properly to that which is to come. And 
 thus we may be faid to live , if we ob- 
 i^rve the following plain Rules and 
 Dire8;ions ; which are not the lefs ufeful, 
 becaufe they are plain ones. Several of 
 them will give a natural Occafion to 
 thofe J who knew the deceased Perfon, 
 of anticipating his Character in their 
 Thoughts : for he did really in good 
 meafure (and with due Allowances made 
 for Human Frailties) govern himfelf by 
 them ; and I may , for that Reafon , I 
 hope, be fuffer'd to infift the more freely 
 upon them. 
 
 Now, to live like thofe that have their 
 Hope in another Lifcy implies, 
 
 " Brst^ 
 
Funeral of Mr. Bcnncr. ^ ya 
 
 firH^ That we indulge our felves in 
 the Gratifications of tins prefent Life 
 very fparingly; that we keep under our 
 Appetites , and do not let them loofe 
 into the Enjoyments of Scnfe : but fo 
 life the good things of this World, as not 
 abufing them ; fo take delight in them, 
 as to remember that we are to part with 
 them, and to exchange them lor more ex- 
 cellent and durable Enjoy m.ents, Brethre/i i I^h. ii. 
 (fays ^U Peter) I befeech jou^ as Pilgrims., ^'" 
 abfidtn from Fiejbij Ltifts : They , who 
 pafs, through a foreign Country, towards 
 their Native Home, do not ufually give 
 up tliemfelves to an eager purfuit of 
 the Pleafures of the Place; ought not to 
 d\\'eii long upon them, and with Gree- 
 dinefs ; but make ufe of them onh^ fov 
 their Refrefnmcnt on tlie \Va\',and fo, 
 as not to be diverted from perfuing their 
 Journey. 
 
 A good Chriifian mud partake of 
 thofe grateful Repafts of Senle , which 
 he meets with here below, in like man- 
 ner as the Jews did of their Paffover , with 
 their Loi^s girded y their Jhocs ou the/r feet^ ^ , .. 
 and their Jiaff in their har/d ^ eating it tn n. ' 
 ha jit ; that IS, he muft alwavs be in a 
 IVa veiling Pofture , and fo talfe Sen- 
 fiial Pleafures, as one that is about to 
 
 leave 
 
380 A Sermon preached at the 
 
 leave them , and defires to be flopp'd 
 as little as he can by them, in his Way 
 towards the End of his Hopes, the Sal- 
 vation of his Soul. And to this Cuftom 
 of the Jeivs St. Peter, in his Exhortation 
 to Sobriety and Temperance, may be 
 I Pet. i. fuppos'd to allude ; Wherefore (lays he) 
 13. gtrdup the Lohis of your Mind, uud be ye 
 
 Sober, 
 
 Indeed , it is impoflible for a Man to 
 have a lively Hope in ano.ii-ir Life , and 
 yet be deeply immersd in the U:;joy^ 
 ments of this ; inafmuch as 1 1 , lappi- 
 nefs of our Future State fo far exceeds 
 all that we can propofe to our felves at 
 prefent, both in Degree , and Duration ; 
 that to One , firmly perfuaded of the 
 Reality of that Happinefs, andearneftly 
 defirous of obtaining it, all Earthly Sa- 
 tisfadions muft needs look little, and 
 grow flat and unfavoury : efpecially, 
 when by Experience he finds , that too 
 free a Participation of Thefe, indifpofes 
 Jiim extreamly for Thofe; for all the 
 Duties that are neceffary to be perform'd, 
 ^nd all the good Qtialities that are ne- 
 celTary to be attained, in order to arrive 
 at them. He perceives plainly that his 
 Appetite to Spiritual Things abates, in 
 proportion as his^ fenfual Appetite is 
 
 in- 
 
3- 
 
 Funeral of Mr. Ben nee. 3 8 1 
 
 indulg'd and encouragM ; and that Car- 
 nal Defires kill not only the Defire, but 
 even the Power of tailing Purer Delights ; 
 and, on both thefe Accounts, therefore, 
 flies too deep a Draught of all Earthly 
 Enjoyments : Havi??g this Hope in him^ ijoh. iii= 
 he furijieth himjelf^ even as He ( i,e, even 
 as the Author and Revealer of this Hope) 
 is Pure, A 
 
 Second Inftance, wherein we may be 
 faid to live like thofe who have their 
 Hope in another Life, is, if we bear the 
 Uneafmefles that befal us here , witli 
 Conllancy and Patience; as knowing, 
 that, tho' our Paffage through this World 
 fliould be rough and troublefome, yet 
 the Trouble will be but lliort , and the 
 Reft and Contentment, we fliall find at 
 the End , will be an ample Recompence 
 for all the little Inconveniences, we meet 
 with, in our way towards it. We mull 
 notexpeft, that our Journey through 
 the feveral Stages of this Life fliould be 
 all fmooth and even ; or, that wefhould 
 perform it wholly without Difafters, 111 
 Accidents, and Hindrances. While we 
 live in this World, where Good and Bud 
 Men are blended together , and where 
 there is alfo a Mixture of Good and 
 
 Evil 
 
5 8^ ^ Sermon preacVd at the 
 
 Evil wifely diftributed by God, to ferve 
 the Ends of his Providence ; we are 
 not to wonder , if we are molefted by 
 the One, as well as benefited by the 
 Other.'Tis our prefent Lot and Condition, 
 to be fiibje6l to fiicli Cafualties ; which, 
 therefore, as they ought not to furprize, 
 fo mucli leis illould tiiey deje<!:l us : nor 
 can they, if we look forward, and enter- 
 tain our felves with the ProfpeQ; of 
 that Happinefs to which we are haftning ; 
 and at which when we arrive, even the 
 Remembrance of the Difficulties , we 
 now undergo , v/ill contribute to en- 
 haunfe our Pleafure. 
 
 Indeed, while we are in the Flefli, we 
 cannot be utterly infenfible of the Af- 
 flidions that befal us : what is in it felf 
 liarfh and ungrateful , muft needs make 
 harOi and ungi-ateful Impreflions upon 
 us. And , therefore , to pretend to be 
 perfeftly eafie under any great Calamity 
 of Life , muft be the Etfed either of 
 Hypocrify , or Stupidity. However, 
 tho' it be not in our power to make an 
 Affliftion no Afflidion ; yet it is certain- 
 ly in our power to take off the Edge, and 
 Iclfen the Weight of it , by a full and 
 
 fteady 
 
Funeral of Mr- Ben net. j 83 
 
 fleady View of thofe Divine Joys that 
 are prepar'd for us in another State, 
 which fliall fhortly begin, and never end : 
 We may fay, and think with St. Pauly 
 J reckon that the Sujfemigi of this prefeftt Life ^°"^' ^'^'• 
 are not ixorthy to be comfafti with the Glory 
 that jhall be revealed. And thus faying, 
 and thinking , we may bear the heaviefb 
 Load, that can be laid upon us, with 
 Contcntednefs , at leaf! , if not with 
 Chearfuhiefs. A 
 
 Third Inftance of our Uving like thofe 
 that have their Hope in another Life, is, 
 if we always take the Account of a 
 Future State into our Schemes and Rea- 
 fonings about the Concerns of this 
 "World; and form our Judgments about 
 the worth, or emptinefs of things here, 
 according as they are, or are not of ufe, 
 in Relation to what is to come aften 
 
 He who fojourns in a foreign Country, 
 refers what he lees and hears Abroad, 
 to the State of things at Home ; with 
 that view he makes all his Reile8:ions, 
 and Enquiries ; and by that meafure he 
 judges of every thing which befals him- 
 felf, or others, in his Travels. This 
 Pattern fliould be our Guide, in our pre- 
 fent ftate of Pilgrimage; wherein we 
 
 often 
 
3 84 A Sermon preached at the 
 
 often mifinterpret the Events of Provi- 
 dence, and make a wrong ufe of them, 
 by attending to the Maxims of this Life 
 only ; and fo thinking of the World, 
 which we are now in , and of the Af- 
 fairs of it, as if both That , and They, 
 and We had no manner of Relation to 
 another : whereas , in truth , what we 
 fee is in order only to what we do not 
 fee; and both thefe States, therefore, 
 muft be joyn'd,and conlider'd together, 
 if wei intend to refledl: wifely and juftly 
 on prefent Appearances : for as /?o Mafi 
 J, , , knoweth Love , or Hatred ; fo neither can 
 1. ■ he difcern Good or Evil, purely bj what is 
 before htm. 
 
 We, perhaps, when we fee Vice re- 
 markably Profperous , or Virtue in deep 
 Diftrefs ; when a Man, who is, and does 
 good to Mankind, happens to be cut off 
 in the vigour of his Strength , and in 
 the midfr of his innocent Enjoyments; 
 whilft the Wicked, grow Old^ yea. are mighty 
 Job XXI. j,^ Power , ^ and come to their Grave in a 
 t Job V. full Jge, like as ajhock of Corn cometh in^ m 
 *J' his Seafon : We , I fay, in fuch Cafes, 
 
 are ready to cry out of an unequal 
 Management, and to blame the Divine 
 Adminiftration : whereas , if we confi- 
 der'd , that there is another State after 
 
 this. 
 
Funeral of Mr. Bcnnet. 385: 
 
 this, wherein allthefe feeming Irregula- 
 rities rtiay be fet right; and that, in the 
 mean time they are of ufe to diftinguifli 
 the Sound from the Falfe Believer, to 
 exercife the Faith of good Men, and, by 
 that means , entitle them to a greater 
 Reward; This one Confideration would 
 make all oir Murmurs ceafe , all thofe 
 fancy'd Difficulties vmifh. 
 
 Many otiier Inftances, like ^hefe,- there 
 are , w^lierein ( I fay ) we fliali never be 
 able to give our felves a fatisfaQ:ory 
 Account of the Divine ConduQ: , as it 
 appears to us at fjrefent, without drawing 
 our Arguments and Reflexions from a fu- 
 ture StatS, and forming fuch a Scheme of 
 thing?', as flialT at once take in both 
 Time, and Eternity. W.e may, in the 
 
 Fourth Place ^ be faid to five likefhofe 
 that place their Hope in another World * 
 when we have in a great meafure con- 
 quered our Dread of Death , and our 
 unreaforiable I^ove of Lite, <ind are eveii 
 prepar'd, and willing to be diffol^'d, and 
 to be with Chrift, as foon as ever he 
 i^hinks fit ro call us. Till we have 
 wrought our felves up into this degre-^ 
 of Chriftian IndiHerence , we are m 
 Z>oW/<^f;wecarmotfowell be faid to have 
 onr Hop^s ns our Fear in another Life^ 
 
^ 8 (5 A Sermon preacVd at the 
 
 while wc are mighty loth and unwilling 
 to part with This, for the fake of it. 
 
 Not, that it is in the Powter of Human 
 Nature, without extraordinary Degrees 
 of Divine Grace , to look Death in the 
 Face , unconcern'd ; or to throw off 
 Life with the fame Eafe as one doth a 
 Garment , upon going to reft : Thefe 
 are Heroick heights of Virtue ; attained 
 but by few, and matter of ftrid Duty to 
 none. However , it is pollible for all 
 of us to lelfen our Natural Fears of this 
 kind, by Religious Confiderations ; by a 
 firm Belief of, and a frequent Medita- 
 tion upon thofe Joys that fliall be re- 
 veal'd , to raife our felves up into a 
 Contempr of prefent Satisfadions , and 
 into a Refolution of fubmitting our 
 Selves, if not joyfully, yet meekly, and 
 calmly, to the Sentence of Death, when- 
 ever it fhall pleafe God to infli6l it upon 
 us. This , I fay, is a very praclicable 
 Degree of Chriltian Magnanimity and 
 Courage ; and it is both the Duty and 
 the Intereft of every good Chriftian to 
 attain it. Which we fhall be the better 
 enabled to do, if, in the 
 
 Fifth a^d UH PUce^ We make a prop( 
 Ufe of fuch Opportunities as thefe, and 
 
 of 
 
Funeral of Mr, Bennet. 3 87 
 
 of all other Seafons of Serious Refleclion, 
 which are afforded us , in order to fix 
 in our Minds a lively and vigorous Senfe 
 of the things of another World. The}' 
 are under the Difad vantage of being 
 Diftant ; and , therefore , operate but 
 faintly upon us. To remedy this Incon- 
 veniency , we muft frequently revolve 
 within our felves their Certainty , and 
 great Importance; fo as to bring them 
 near , and make them familiar to us ; till 
 they become a conftant and ready Prin- 
 ciple of A£lion, wliich we can have re- 
 courfe to upon all Occafions. 
 
 If we really live under the Hope of 
 future Happinefs , we fhall be apt to 
 tafte it by way of Anticipation and Fore- 
 Thought ; an Image of it will meet our 
 Minds often ^ and If ay for fome time 
 there, as all pleafing Expectations do, and 
 that , in proportion to the Pleafure we 
 take in them. I appeal to you, if it be 
 not fo in your Temporal Affairs. Hath 
 any of you a great In te reft at ftake in a 
 far-diftant part of the World ? hath he 
 ventured a good fliare o'i his Fortune 
 thither ? and may reafonably hope for a 
 vaft and exceeding Return ? his Thoughts 
 will be often employed on this Subjeft; 
 and^ the nearer the time of hisexpe£lation 
 
 Cc 2 ap- 
 
388 A Sermon preach' d at the 
 
 approacheth , the more will he think of 
 Luk. xii. j^ . foi-^ where his Treajure is^ there will his 
 3+' Heart alfo moft certainly he. Now, our 
 
 Spiritual Interefts , and the great Con- 
 cernments of a Future State would, 
 doubtlefs, recurr as often to our Minds, 
 and atfeft them as deeply , if we were 
 but as much in earneil in our perfuit of 
 tliem : and , therefore , w^e may take it 
 for granted, that we are not fo difpos'd 
 as we ought to be towards them, if we 
 can forget them for any long time^ 
 or refleft on them with Indifference and 
 Coldnefs. 
 
 That this may not be the cafe, it will, 
 I fay , be neceifary for us to take Set 
 times of meditating on what is future^ 
 and of making it by that means, as it 
 were, prefent to us : It mull: be our 
 folemn Bufmefs and Endeavour , at fit 
 Seafons , to turn the ftream of our 
 Thoughts from Earthly, towards Divine 
 Objeds ; to retire from the Hurry and 
 Noife of this World , in order to enter- 
 tain our felves with the Profpeft of an- 
 other. 
 
 This is the proper Ufe we are particu- 
 larly to make of the prefent fad So- 
 lemnity ; and thus, therefore, I have 
 endeavour'd to employ it. Nor will it 
 
 ^ .'-■ 
 
Funeral of Mr. Benncr. 3 8p 
 
 be unfultable to that Defign , If I clofe 
 thefe Reflexions with fome Account of 
 the Perfon deceased, who really liv'd like 
 one that had his Hope in another Life ; a 
 Life, which he hath now entered upon, 
 having exchanged Hope for Sight, DeHre 
 for Enjoyment. 
 
 I know, fuch Accounts are look'd upon IV. 
 as a Tribute, due to the Memory of thofc 
 only who have mov'd in a high Sphere, 
 and Iiave out-fhone the rell of the 
 World by their Rank, as well as their 
 Virtues. However , the Chara£fers of 
 Men plac'd in lower Stations of Life, 
 tho* lefs ufually inlifted upon, are yet 
 more ufeful ; as being imitable by greater 
 Numbers , and not fo liable to be fu- 
 fpe£fed of Flattery, or Defign, Several 
 of this Auditory were , perhaps , entire 
 Strangers to the Perfon , whofe Death 
 we uow lament; and the greateft part 
 of you, who were not , had , for that 
 reafon, fo jufl: an Efteem of him, that it 
 will not be unwelcome to you, I prefume, 
 to be put ill mind of thole good Qiialities 
 which you obferv'd in him., And, tliere- 
 fore, I fhall , in as few w^ords as I can, 
 comprize,what twenty years Experienced 
 feth enabled me juilly to fay of him. 
 
 Cc 5 He 
 
l^o J Sermon f reach' a at the 
 
 He was a ferious fincere Chriilrian; 
 of an Innocent, Irreproachable, nay Ex- 
 emplary Life ; which was led, not? only 
 at a great diiiance from any foul Vice, 
 but alio in the Even and Uniform Pra- 
 £lice of many Virtues; fuchaswere fuit- 
 ableto a Life of great Application and Bu- 
 finefs , fuch as became and adorn'd the 
 State and Profeilion to which it pleas'd 
 God to call him. 
 
 He highly valu'd, and heartily lovM by 
 that Church wherein he was baptiz'd, 
 and educated ; of which he gave the beft 
 Proofs, by being a conftant Frequenter 
 of it's Worfhip, and , in the latter part 
 of his Life , a never-failing Monthly 
 Communicant ; I add alfo, and by ad- 
 liering fteadily to its Interefr ; two 
 things , which ought never to be fepa- 
 rated 1 
 
 Nor was his Attendance on Divine 
 Oiiices^ a matter of Formality and Cu- 
 ftom, butof Confcience; as appeared by 
 iiis compos'd and ferious Behaviour, 
 during the Service. It was fuch , as 
 ihew3 him to be in earneft, and truly 
 aifecLed with what he was doing. 
 
 His Religion did not fpend it felf all 
 
 in Publick , the Private Duties of the 
 
 '-' Clo> 
 
Funeral of Mr. Ben net. 3P i 
 
 Clofet were equally his Care ; with tliefe 
 he began each Morning , and to thefe he 
 repair'd, as often as he entred upon any 
 Bufinefs of confequence, (I fpeak know- 
 ingly ;) and his Family were every Even- 
 ing fummon'd by him to Common 
 Devotions ; and in thefe too, his Regard 
 for the Publick Service of the Church 
 appear'd ; for they were exprefs'd al- 
 ways in Her Language. 
 
 Indeed , he was a very fingular In- 
 flance of all thofe Domcftick Virtues, 
 that relate to the good and difcreet Go- 
 vernment of a Family. He had great 
 natural Prudence, which Experience liad 
 much improv'd ; he was of a fweet 
 Temper, and a mighty Lover of Regu- 
 larity and Order : and , by the happy 
 Mixture of thefe good Qiialities , ma^ 
 nag'd all his Aflliirs (particularly thofe 
 within doors) with the utmoft Exa£lnefs; 
 and yet with as much Qiiiet and Eafe to 
 himfelf, and others, as was pofTible. 
 
 Thofe about Jiim grew infenfibly 
 Active and Induihious by his Exam- 
 ple , and Encouragement ; and lie had 
 fuch a gentle Method of reproving their 
 Faults, that they were not fo much 
 afraid, as afham'd to repeat them. He 
 took the fureft way to be obey'd , by 
 
 Cc 4 be- 
 
J p 2 A Serman preached at the 
 
 being lov'd , and refpefted : for he was 
 free from any of thofe rough, ungovern- 
 able PaiTi-ons, which -hurry Men pn, to 
 fay, and do very hard, or oflenfive tljings. 
 He had indeed a certain Quicknefs pf 
 Apprehenfion, which jnclin'd hi rri a lit- 
 tle to kindle into the firft Motions of 
 4nger, upon fome particular Occafions : 
 but tiiis part of his Difpofition he had 
 io far conquer'd , that, for a long time 
 before hedyVl , no one, who had occa- 
 fion to receive his Orders, did, I believe, 
 ever hear an intemperate, or harfh Word 
 proceed from hirn ; pr Tee any thing in 
 his Behavigur, that betray'd any mif- 
 becoming degree of inward GDncern. 
 
 He took care to feafon the Min^s of 
 his Servants with Religious Inftruftions; 
 and, for that end, did himfelf often read 
 ufeful Difcourfes to them , on the Lord's 
 pay, of which he was always a very 
 flricl: and folemn Obferver. And what 
 they tJius Icarn'd from him in Oneway, 
 they did not unlearn again, in Another:, 
 for he was a Man, not only fmcercly 
 tious, but of the nicefl: Sobriety and 
 Temperance, and remarkably puridual 
 and juil in all his Dealings with others. 
 1 fee many Authentick Witneiles of this 
 particular Branch of ms CharaQer. 
 
 ■ •." , ^ He 
 
 i v5f 
 
Funeral of Mr* Bennet gp j 
 
 He abounded in all the trueft Signs of 
 an afte(3:ionate Tendernefs towards his 
 Wife and Children ; and yet did fo pru- 
 jdently moderate and temper his Paf- 
 fions of this kind, as that none of them 
 got the better of his Reafon , or made 
 him vvantinf^ in any of the other Offices 
 oF Life , wliicli it behov'd , or became 
 him to perform : and, therefore , tho' he 
 appeared to reUHi thefc Bleffings as much 
 as any man; yet lie bore the lofs of 
 them, when it hapned, with great Com- 
 pofiire and Evennefs of Mind. 
 
 He did alfo, in a very juft and fitting 
 manner , proportion his Refpe£ls to all 
 Others that were any ways related to 
 him, either by Blood, or Affinity ; and 
 was very obfervant of fome of them, 
 even where he could not be determin'd 
 by any Views of Intereft, and had mani- 
 feflly no other Obligations, but thofe of 
 Duty and Decency, to fway him. 
 
 In what manner he liv'd towards thofe 
 wlio were of his Neighbourhood and 
 Acquaintance, how obliging his Carriage 
 was to them, what kind Offices he did, 
 and was always ready to do them , I 
 forbear particularly to fay ; not that I 
 judge it a flight , but becaufe I take it 
 10 be a confefs'd part of his Charader, 
 ■*"•' *^' wliich 
 
JP4 -^ Sermon peacVd at the 
 
 which even Iiis Enemies (if there were 
 any fuch) cannot but allow : for, how- 
 ever, in matters where his Judgment led 
 him to oppofe Men, on a Publick Ac- 
 count , he would do it vigoroufly and 
 heartily ; yet the Oppofition ended there, 
 without fowring his private Converfa- 
 tion ; which was , ( to ufe the Words of 
 a great Writer) foft and eafie, as his Prin- 
 ciples were ftubborn. 
 
 In a word, whether we confider him 
 as an Husband, a Parent, a Mafter, Rela* 
 tion, or Neighbour ; his Charafter was, 
 in all thefe refpeOis, highly fit to be re- 
 commended to Men; and, I verily think, 
 as compleat as any that ever fell under 
 my Obfervation. 
 
 And all this Religion and Virtue fat 
 eafily , naturally , and gracefully upon 
 him ; without any of that StifTnefs and 
 Conftraint, any of thofe forbidding Ap- 
 pearances, which fomxCtim.es difparage 
 the Actions of Men fmcerely Pious, and 
 hinder realGoodnefs from spreading its 
 Intereft far, and wide, into the Hearts of 
 Beholders. 
 
 There was not the leafl: Tang of Reli- 
 gious ( which is indeed the worft fort 
 of) AffeQation in any thing he faid, or 
 did ', nor any endeavour to recommend 
 
 him- 
 
Funeral of Mr* Bennet. 395 
 
 himfelf to others , by appearing to be 
 even what lie really was : He was 
 faulty on the other fide , being led , by 
 an Excefs of Modefiy , to conceal ( as 
 much as might be ) fome of his chief 
 Virtues ; which, therefore, were fcarce 
 known to any but thofe who very near- 
 ly obferv'd him , tho' every day of his 
 Life almoft was a witnefs to the PraQice 
 of them. 
 
 I need not fay, how perfect a Mafter 
 he was of all the Bufmefs of that Ufeful 
 ProfefTion, wherein he had engag'd him- 
 felf : You know it well ; and the great 
 Snccefs his Endeavours met with, fuiB- 
 ciently proves it. Nor could the Event 
 well be otherwife : for his natural Abili- 
 ties were very good , and his Induftry 
 exceeding great, and the Evennefs, and 
 Probity of his Temper not inferior to 
 cither of them. Befides, he had one pe- 
 culiar Felicity, (which carried in it fome 
 Rcfemblance of a great Chriftian Per- 
 fection ) that he w^as entirely contented 
 and pleas'd with his Lot ; loving his 
 Employment for its own fake ( as he 
 hath often faid,) and fo, as to be willing 
 to fpend the reft of his Life in it , tho' he 
 were not to reap (if that could befuppos'd) 
 any farther Advantages from it. 
 
 Not 
 
"1^6 A Sermon preached at the 
 
 \ Not but that the Powers of his Mind 
 
 were equal to much greater Tasks ; and 
 therefore when, in his later years, he 
 was calPd up to fome Publick Offices 
 and Stations, he diftinguifh'd himfelf in 
 ail of them by his Penetration, and Dex- 
 terity in the Difpatch of that Bufmefs 
 which belong'd to them, by a winning 
 Behaviour, and fome degree even of a 
 fmooth and popular Eloquence, which 
 Nature gave him. But his own Incli- 
 nations were rather to confine himfelf to 
 his own Bufmefs, and be ferviceable to 
 Religion and Learning , in the way, to 
 which God's Providence had feem'^d more 
 particularly to dire£l him, and in which 
 it had fo remarkably blefs'd him. 
 
 When Riches flow'd in upon him, 
 they made no Change in his Mind, or 
 manner of Living. This may be impu- 
 ted to an eager Defire of heaping up 
 Wealth ; but it was really owing to an- 
 other Principle : He had a great Indiffe- 
 rence to the Pleafures of Life, and an 
 Averfion to the Pomps of it ; and, there- 
 fore, his Appetites being no way in- 
 creas'd by his Fortune, he had no occa- 
 fion to enlarge the Scene of his Enjoy- 
 ments. 
 
Funeral of Mr, Ben net, j^;?; 
 
 He was fo far from over-valuing any 
 oF the Appendages of Life , tliat the 
 thoughts even of Life it felf did nor 
 feem to aflTe^l Iiim. Of its Lofs he 
 fpake often, in full health, with great 
 Unconcern ; and, when his late Diftenl- 
 per attack'd him (which from the begin- 
 ning he judg'd Fatal), after the hrft Sur- 
 prize of that fiid Stroke was over, he 
 fubmitted to it with great Meeknefs, 
 and Refignation, as became a good Man, 
 and a good Chriftian. 
 
 Tho' he had a long Illnefs (confider- 
 ing the great Heat with which it J-ag'd) 
 yet his Intervals of Senfe being few, and 
 fhort, left but little room for the Offi- 
 ces of Devotion;, at which he was the 
 lefs concern'd, becaufe (as he himfelf 
 then faid) he had not been wanting in 
 thofe Duties, while he had Strength to 
 perform them. Lideed, on the Lord's 
 day which immediately preceded this 
 Illnefs, be had receivM the Sacrament ; 
 and was, therefore ( we have reafon to 
 believe) when the MaHer of the Houfe foon 
 afterwards cdme^ prepar'd and ready to 
 receive him.. 
 
 As the Blellings of God upon his ho- 
 neft Induftry had been great, fo he was 
 not without Intentions of making liiita- 
 
 bk 
 
'^pg A Sermon freacVdy dec. 
 
 able Returns to him, in Ads of Mercy 
 and Charity. Somethingof this kind he 
 hath taken care of in his Will, drawn up 
 at a time, while his Family was as nu- 
 merous as it is now , and his Circum- 
 ftances not fo plentiful. One part of the 
 Benefactions, there directed, was worthy 
 of him ; being the ExprefTion of a gene- 
 rous and grateful Mind towards the Per- 
 fons who had moft obliged him , and of 
 a pious regard to the Place of his Edu- 
 cation. More he would probably have 
 done, had not the Difeafe, of which he 
 dy'd, feiz'd him with that Violence, as 
 to render him incapable of Executing 
 whatever of this kind his Heart migli^ 
 have intended. 
 
 He is now gone , and his Works have 
 followed him : let Us imitate his Exam- 
 ple, that, when We alfo depart this Life, 
 we may fliare his Heavenly Reward, 
 and be as well fpoken of by thofe who 
 furvive Us ! 
 
 Notv to God the Father^ the So??- ^ and 
 the Holy Gholf^ be afcribed all Majejfy^ 
 Mighty and Glory y now y and for ever. 
 Amen* 
 
399 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd in the 
 
 Guild-Hal t- Chapel, 
 
 LONDON, Sepr.2S, 1706. 
 Being the Day of the 
 
 ELECTION 
 
 Of the Right Honourable the 
 
 LORD MAYOR. 
 
To the RIGHT HONOURABIE 
 
 Sir THOMAS (liAWLINSOKi 
 
 Lord Mayor 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 City of L N T> U 
 
 ik/y L o R D, 
 
 Quiet at home, and Con^ue^ ahroad, are two 
 of the greatefi BleJJings that can happen to a 
 feopie ; and thefe have remarkably difiinguifl/d the 
 Tear of Tour Lordfhifs Maglfiracy : which , as it 
 hath been a continud Scene of ViBories and Suc- 
 ceffesy fo it began^ and ended, "without any of 
 thofe unnatural Struggles for the Chair, "which 
 have fo long and often difturUd the Feace of this 
 great City. That thofe VafJionSy which feem now 
 to be fomewhat calmd, may be entirely laid ajleep, 
 and never more awaken d , that the City may flou- 
 rijh in Trade, and Wealth, and all manner of out' 
 ward Advantages ; particularly, that it may ne- 
 ver want fuch Magifirates to guide and govern it, 
 as Tour Lerdjhip, and Tour Worthy Succejfor, is the 
 fincere Wijh, and hearty Frayer of. 
 
 My LORD, 
 
 Your moit Obedient 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 Fr, Atterbury, 
 
4oi 
 
 JOB xxix. 14. 
 
 / put on ^ghteoufnefs y and it clothed 
 ?ne^ my Judgment was as a ^be and 
 a Diadem. 
 
 JO B's Refledtions on the Flourifhing 
 Eftate he had once enjoy'd , did at 
 the fame time affli<5l, and encourage 
 him. Doubtlefs, it increas'd the Smart 
 of his prefent Sufferings, to compare 
 them with his former Happinefs : and 
 yet a remembrance of the good Ufe he 
 had made of Profperity, contributed to 
 fupport his Mind under the heavy 
 -weight of Adverfity which then lay 
 upon him. He had been a Perfon, not 
 only of great Opulence, but Authority; 
 a Chief Magiftrate in the Place where 
 he dwelt ; as appears from feveral Paf- 
 fages in the Book which bears his Name : 
 and he had (it feems) executed that 
 high Office jultly and honourably; with 
 great Satisfaftion to himfelf, and with 
 the Univerfal Applaufe of his Country. 
 
 Dd To 
 
4^ I A Sermon preached at the 
 
 To this Confideration, therefore, he re- 
 treats , in the midft of all His PrefRires^ 
 with Comfort and Confidence ; in This 
 Thought , not^:\ithftanding the fad Af- 
 fli£lions with which lie was over- 
 whelm'd , he mightily exults and tri- 
 timphs. For hear, how he exprelTes him* 
 felf on this occafion, in the V erfes next 
 to that of the Text I 7 delivered the Poor 
 that cr/dy fays he, the Fatherlefs^ a^d him 
 that had none to hel^ him. The Bleffing of 
 him that nhts ready to perijh c-dme ufon me^ 
 and I cardfed the Widows He'd'rt to fihg for 
 joy, I rvds Eyes to the Blind ^ and Feet 
 tv^ I to the Lame ; J n^as -a. Father to 
 the Foor^ and the Caufe , which I knew 
 'not^ I fearche-d out : and I brake the Jaws 
 t)f the Wicked , and fluck'd the Sfoil out of 
 his Teeth. One would imagine thefe to^ 
 be the ExprefTions of a Man , blefs'd 
 with Eafe, and Affluence, and Power;, 
 not of One, who had been juil: ftripp'd ot 
 all thofe Advantages, and plungM in the 
 deepeft Miferies, and was now fitting- 
 >Taked, upon aDunghil! But the Spirit 
 pf A Man will fuflai',7. his Infirmities ; the'. 
 Confcioufnefs of Integrity, the Senfe of 
 a Life fpent in doing Good, will enable^ 
 a Man to bear up under any Change 
 tf Circiimftances; and^ whatever his' 
 
 put-' 
 
EleElion of the Lord Mayori 403 
 
 Gtitward Condition may be, is fuch an 
 Inward Spring of Contentment and 
 Pleafure, as cannot fail. This was that, 
 which not onl)' arm'd the Mmd of ''Job 
 >vith Firmnefs and Foititiide, but fill'd 
 it. alfa with thofe pleafing Refle^lions 
 wliich the words , I have read to You, 
 contain. Therein he particularly men- 
 tions, and values himfelf upon, the Com- 
 panion, and Readinefs, and Zeal, with 
 \vhich he had apply'd himfelf to relieve 
 the Injur'dand AfHi£led; the Impartia-' 
 litv he liad obferv'd, the great Diligence 
 he had lis d , .and the fearlefs Courage 
 lie had fliewn, in the Adminillration of 
 Juftice : He adds alfo , in the words of 
 the Text ; / fut on Righteoufmfs^ and tt 
 clothed me J my 'Judgment was as a, Robey 
 and a, Diadem \ that is, my chief Delight, 
 my greatelf Honour, and Happinefs lay 
 in thus difcharging the Duties of my 
 Station - fo that, in Comparifon of it, I 
 undervaluM all the Enfigns of Authority 
 which belong'd to me, all the Pomp and 
 Splendor of Life which which I was fur- 
 rounded. 
 
 ; The Words, therefore, will afford us a 
 proper Occafion of confidering , 
 
 D d 2 fiysf^ 
 
4©4 ^ Sermon preacVd at the 
 
 I. Firsi^ What a Publick BlefTing agood 
 
 Maglflrate is : for it is on This Suppo- 
 fition that the Reflexions ^ which Job 
 here makes to his own Comfort and 
 Advantage, are built. 
 
 ^^* Secondly , The Regard that is juftly 
 
 paid the Magiftrate, on this account, in 
 thofe Outward Marks of DiftinQion and 
 Honour with which he is attended. 
 Thefe have their Ufes, with refped both 
 to Him , and to the Community over 
 which he prefides. However, he muft 
 remember always, in the 
 
 TTT 
 
 •^^^' Third P/ace , That the Cliief Honour 
 
 of the Magiftrate confifts in maintaining 
 the Dignity of his CharaQer by fuitable 
 Actions , and in difcharging the high 
 Truft that is repos'd in him, with Inte- 
 grity , V/ifdom, and Courage. Then 
 doth he appear moft Venerable, and 
 every way Valuable, when, with upright 
 Job, he can truly fay, I pa o^ Righteouf- 
 nefs, and it clothed me ; my Judgment was 
 a Robe, and a Diadem, 
 
 We may, I fay, in the 
 
 VirU 
 
EkSllon of the Lord Mayor. 405 
 
 Firfi- Place, Take Occafion from hence I. 
 to confider, What a Publick Blefling a 
 good Magiftrare is. The Virtues of pri- 
 vate Perfons, how Bright and Exemplary 
 foever, operate but on Few; on thofe only 
 who are near enough to obferve, and 
 inclin'd to imitate them : their fphcre 
 of A6lion is narrow , and their Influ- 
 ence is conhn'd to it. But a juif and wife 
 Magiftrate, is a Blefling as extenfive 
 as the Community to which it be- 
 longs : a Bleffing, which includes all 
 other Bleflings whatfoever , that relate 
 to this Life ; fecures to us the Poifeffion, 
 and enhanfc^ the Value of all of them : 
 which renders the Conditio* of the Hap- 
 pieft among Men ftill more happy, and 
 the State of tlic Meanell lefs miferabic, 
 than it would otherwifc be : and for the 
 enjoyment of which no one Man can 
 well envy another; bccaufe all Men, in 
 their fcveral Ranks, and according to 
 their feveral Proportions and Degrees, do 
 alike fhare in it. Js the frecioU'S Ointme/?t Pfil. 
 ufo?i tlie Head , which r.tn do)vn unto the 
 Beard of Aaron , a??d ]vent do\v?> from 
 thence even to the Sktrts of his Clothi^/g ? 
 Such, and fo Univerfil are the Benefits 
 which a good Ruler bellovv b, ; in like 
 
 V) d ^ man- 
 
 CXXXUl, 
 
40 6 A Sermon Treacled at the 
 
 manner are they deriv'd from Him, the 
 Head , and gently diffiisM over the 
 whole Body which he governs, refrefliing 
 every part of it , as they defcend , froni 
 L the Higheft to the Lo\\'efl:. I fliall not 
 
 attempt to prove a Point, in it felf fo 
 Evident ; to Us, efpecially of this happy 
 Ifland , \\ho have the moil convincing 
 argument for it , our ovv'n Experience • 
 and are blefs'd with a Reign, the Advan- 
 tages of which are common to Prince 
 and People, to the meanell Subjects, as 
 well as tothofeofthe higheft Place and 
 Dignity : All fliare in them , and All, 
 therefore, have reafon to blefs God for 
 them, and for the great Inftrument of his 
 Goodnefs, by which he beftows them. 
 
 However, as manifeft a Truth as this 
 is, it may deferve fometimes to be incul- 
 cated ; becaufe we are toorapt, all of us, 
 to forget it , and fome Men have ven- 
 tured to efpoufe fuch wild Opinions, as 
 do, in effect, fubvert and deny it. 
 . The Benefits of a julf and good Go- 
 vernment to thofe wiio are fo happy as to 
 be under it , like Health to V igorous 
 Bodies, or Fruitful Seaforis in Temperate 
 Climes, are fuch Common and Familiar 
 igleffings 5 that they are feldom either 
 t ■'■ ' " va« 
 
EleBlon of the Lord Mayor! 407 
 
 valued, orrelifli'd, as they ought to ha 
 We fleep over our Happlnefs, Great as it 
 is , and u'ant to he rous'd into a cjuick 
 and thankful fenfe of it, either hy an 
 a£lual Change of Circumftances, or by a 
 Comparifon of our Own cafe with that 
 of other Men. 
 
 Few of us confidcr, how much we are 
 indebted to Government it felf, becaufe 
 few of us can , or do reprefent to our 
 felves , in hvxly coloui's, how wretched 
 tlie Condition of Mankin:! would, and 
 inull be without it ; how to TIjm we owe, 
 not only the Safety of our Ferfons, and 
 the Propriety of our PolTclTions , but our ^ 
 Improvement in the feveral Arts ancj 
 Advantages of Civil Life , and in all 
 Knowledge, both Human, and Divine; 
 even in the Knowledge of the BlclTed 
 Nature, and Will of God himfelf, and of 
 the beft ways of ferving, honouring, and 
 adoring him. We, who are us'd to fee 
 Men a6ling under the awe of Civil 
 Juftice , cannot readily conceive , wliat 
 Wild and Salvage Creatures they would 
 be , without it ; and hpw^ much be- 
 holden, therefore, we are to that wife 
 Contrivance , which makes ufe of our 
 Fear to quell our Other Pa/fions and. 
 Lufts , as Beai>s 4nd Birds of prey arc 
 
 D d ^ cm- 
 
40 8 -^ Sermon prectcVd at the 
 
 employ'd to hunt down tbofe of their 
 Kind. The Inconveniences attending all, 
 even the befl of GovernmentSj we quickly 
 fee, and feel, and are nicely fenfible of 
 the fliare that we bear in them ; and, 
 tho' thefe be little in comparifon of thofe 
 mighty Advantages that redound to us 
 from thence, yet we mufe fo much on 
 the one , that we are apt altogether tQ 
 to over-look, and forget the other. 
 
 Our Ingratitude, in this refpeO:, goes 
 farther : for Some there have been, who 
 have difputed even againft Magiftracy 
 it felf, as an Unchriftian Inftitution ; or 
 deny'd, at leaft, that the Power of the 
 Sword could, on any account, be lawfully 
 exercisM by the Followers of a meek 
 and fufiering Jefe^, And this hath been 
 maintain'd, not 'only by warm Enthu- 
 fiafisy but by cooler and more difcerning 
 Heads, even by fome of thofe who ftile 
 themfelves Vmtariam , and would 
 be thought to reafon better, and fee 
 farther into the Senfe of Scripture than 
 any Men. I think , they have given no 
 gcod Proof of either , in aflerting this 
 Extravagant and Pernicious Principle; 
 for which, after all, they have no 
 ground or colour, but a Paffage or two 
 
 of 
 
EleBion of the Lord Mayor. 40^ 
 
 of Scripture, miferably perverted, in op- 
 pofition to many exprefs Texts, and 
 indeed to the whole Tenor of Divine 
 Writ. Strange it is, that Hiey, who, in 
 matters of Faith, rejeO: the plaineft Senfe 
 of Scripture, becaufe it feems todifagree 
 with what they call Reafon ; fhould , in 
 this cafe, reje£l the plainefl: Reafon in the 
 World, becaufe of a Text or two in 
 Scripture that may be thought to clafli 
 with it. But the true reaibn of their 
 flying to this ftrange Do6lrine was, to be 
 Even with the Magiftrate; who, they 
 found, was againft Them ; and they re- 
 folv'd , therefore , at any rate , to be 
 againft Him, However, this Opinion 
 (like fome others, that have been fince 
 taken up by other Se£laries) was to laft 
 no longer than they were undermoll. 
 For fo the Event a&ually prov'd , in 
 relation to the German Aftahaptifis : who, 
 no fooner got the Reins into their own 
 Hands, than they alter'd their Minds in 
 this Point ; and , tho' they held the 
 Power of the Civil Sword to be altoge- 
 ther unlawful , whilft They were to be 
 govern'd by it, yet they efteem'd it very 
 Lawful, and very Convenient, when it 
 came to Their turn to govern: the Earthy 
 now, ^rtd fhe fuhefs thereof were thd Lord\t^ 
 
 (if?d 
 
4 1 o A Sermon preach' d at the 
 
 And, the Meek were to inherit it. The V/2lt4-^. 
 rims indeed never had, any of them, fuclii 
 an Opportunity of explaining tliemfelves ; 
 fiiould tliey have found one, it is very 
 probable they would have made the fame; 
 pfe of it. Let us leave thefe abfiird Ten- 
 ets, whenever thev revive, to be confuted 
 by that Power which tliey thus affront 
 and deny ; and let us proceed to the Con- 
 fideration of what I obferyM from tlie 
 Text , in the 
 
 ^I- Second Place ^ Concerning thofe Out- 
 
 Avard Marks of Diifinclion and Splendor 
 which are allotted to the Magiftrate, 
 and which the Robe and Diadem^ ex- 
 prefly here mention'd by ^job , may be 
 fuppos'd to comprehend : ' 
 
 The Practice of all Ages , and all 
 Countries ( whether Chrilfian, or Hea- 
 then ; Polite, or Barbarous) Iiath been, 
 in this manner to do Honour to Thofe, 
 who are invefted wdth PubUck Autlio- 
 rity. The Reafons are obvious ; I fliaU 
 mention fome of them. It was intended, 
 by this means, 
 
 Jv>//, To excite the Magiffrate to a 
 due degree of Vigilance, and Concern 
 
 for 
 
Ekfiion of the Lord Mayor. 4 1 { 
 
 for the Publick Good : That He, being 
 confcioiis of the true End for wliich 
 thefe Encouragements were given, might 
 ftudy by all polTible ways to deferve 
 them ; and to excel tlie rejl of Mankind 
 as much in Worthy Deeds and At- 
 chievents , as he out-Hiines them in all 
 other Advantages. The Honors , and 
 the Burthens , of great Polh and Em- 
 ploys , as they were joinM together at 
 the firft, fo were they delign'd never to 
 to be feparated. J 'he Magil^rate was 
 not made great, in order to ati'ord Jiim 
 Opportunities of indulging himfeU' in 
 Sloth, and Vice; but in order to infpire 
 him with Rcfolutions of living fuitably 
 to his high Profeffion and Calling ; that, 
 )vhatfbever thi?jgs are HoneH , wh.it foever , •, - ^ 
 rhr/ygF are Ju.<fy irhnffoei'er thii'fgs nre Love- 
 ly , ivh/itfoever things are of good Report^ 
 if there be any Virtue^ and, // there he any 
 Praife , he might be induced to thir/k on 
 thefe things^ and to abound in the Praclice 
 of them. A 
 
 Second Reafon of tlieie Marks of State 
 and Dignity, which are annex'd to Magi- 
 ftracy, is, for the Security of the Magi- 
 ftrate's Perfon , in which the Pub- 
 lick Tranquillity and Safety are always 
 
 in- 
 
412 A Sermon preached at the 
 
 involv'd. He, who will faithfully per- 
 form his Duty, in a Station of great Truft 
 and Power, muft needs incur the utter 
 Enmity of many, and the high Difplea- 
 fure of more ; he muft fometimes ftrug- 
 gle with the Pa (lions and Interefts, refift 
 the Applications, and even punifh the 
 Vices of Men potent in the Common- 
 wealth , who will employ their ill- 
 gotten Influence towards procuring Im- 
 punity, or extorting undue Favours, for 
 themfelves , or their Dependents. He 
 muft conquer all thefe Difficulties, and 
 remove all thefe Hindrances out of the 
 way that leads to Juftice; muft dare 
 - . even to break the 'Jaws of the Wicked , and 
 
 i-j, to pluck the fpoU out of his Teeth ; i. e. tQ 
 
 ravifh the Prey from any mighty Op- 
 preftbr, when he hath feiz'd, and is juft 
 ready to devour it. He is the Guardian 
 of the Publick Quiet; appointed to re- 
 ftrain Violence , to quell Seditions and 
 Tumults , and to preferve that Order 
 and Peace which prefcrves the World, 
 It is apparent, on thefe, and many other 
 accounts, what Hazards a good Magi- 
 ftrate runs ; and, therefore, the Retinuq 
 of State, which belongs to him, is fuch, 
 as may, at the fame time, be his Orna- 
 ment, and Defence; the Publick juftly 
 
 fcreen- 
 
EleSlion of the Lord M^yor. a 1 1 
 
 fcreening him from the Dangers which he 
 is to incur for the fake of it. A 
 
 Third plain Reafon of the Publick 
 Honours done to the Magiftrate is, that 
 that lie may not only be fecure, but had 
 alfo in due Eftimation and Reverence by 
 all thofe who are fubjeft to him. 'Tis 
 by Refped and Diflance that Authority 
 is upheld ; and "'tis by the Outward 
 Marks and Enfigns of Honour that 
 RefpeO: is fecur'd ; efpecially from Vul- 
 gar Minds , which do not enter into the 
 true Reafons of Things, but are governed 
 by Appearances. 'Tis in the Civil Go- 
 vernment, as in the Offices of ReH* 
 gion ; which, were they ftript of all the 
 External Decencies of Worfliip, wQuld 
 not make n due Impreflion on the Minds 
 of thofe who aflift at them. But a 
 difcreet Ufe of proper and becoming 
 Ceremonies, renders the Publick Service 
 of the Church Solemn and Affeding; 
 awes the Unbeliever, infpirits the Slug- 
 gifh, and inflames even the Devout Wor- 
 fliipper. In like manner, the Solemni- 
 ties that encompafs the Magilirate, add 
 Dignity to all hisA^Hons, and Weight 
 to all his Words and Opinions ; produ- 
 cing fucli Effects, as Jot^^ m that Chapter 
 
 horn 
 
A 1 4 A Sennoii preach' d at the 
 
 Tob xxix ^^*^^^ whence my Text is taken , hath 
 7,Syi^i[zi, thus elegantly defcrib'd ; M^hen- I went^ 
 H' oiit^ fays he , to the Gate though the City^ 
 
 when I prepared my Seat in the Street j the 
 Toung Men faiv me and hid themfelfeSy and 
 the Aged arofe andftood up : Unto me Men 
 gave ear and waited^ and kept flence at my 
 Counfel ; after my words they [pake not again y 
 and my jpeech dropped npon them : And they 
 waited for me^ as for the Rain^ and opened 
 their Mouth wide as for the Latter Rain, 
 
 . finally y Thefe External Marks of Ho- 
 nour are therefore appropriated to the 
 Magillrate, that he might be invited 
 from thence to Reverence Himfelf : that 
 he may be led to remember, Whofe Image 
 and Superfcnption he carries; not only, 
 tliat of the Community, over which he 
 prefides, and for which hea8:s,,but the 
 Image even of God himfelf, by v/hom the. 
 Powers that be , are ordain'*d , and from 
 whom they muft ultimately derive their 
 Authority. The Outward Splendor of 
 his Office , is tlie Badge and Token of 
 that Glorious and Sacred Character 
 which he inwardly bears : and the One 
 of thefe, therefore, ought conftantly to 
 put him in mind of the Other, and excite 
 him to ad up to it, througliout the 
 
 whole 
 
Elecllon of the Lord Mayor. 4 1 5 
 
 Vvhole Coiirfe of his Adminillratlon. He 
 SK^ho thus efleems and reverences him- 
 felf, will not fail to take the trued 
 Methods towards procuring Elfeem and 
 Reverence from others; he will exercife 
 himfelf with Pleafure , and witliout 
 Wearinefs, in that God-like Hmployment 
 6f doi'ng Good, which is afhgn'd Jiini; 
 and by reafon of which even the Title 
 'd^God is in Scripture bellow 'd on him : He 
 wil! do nothing that is beneath his high 
 Station, nor omit doing any thing whicli. 
 becomes it : He will not prolficute his 
 Power to mean and undue Ends ; nor 
 fioop to little and low Arts of courting 
 theFavourof the People, without doing 
 them real Service : He will lland iiis 
 Ground as-ainil all the Attacks that can 
 be made upon his Probity ; no Man's 
 l^ower fhall fcare him from doing iiis 
 Duty,' no Man's Importunities fliall 
 weai'v Ifim , no Miui's Flattery iliall 
 bribe him, no By-views of his own Ihall 
 millead him: He will arm himfelf per- 
 fe([llyin his Integrity; Rtghteoujhefs jIjaU 
 ire the Girdle of his Loins ^ and Faithfuhiejs^ Ef.xi.f^ 
 the Girdle df his Reins, He will know 
 how to prize his Advantages , and to 
 relifli the Honours which he enjoys ; as 
 tlHiy are the Teftinionies of Publick 
 
 Hileem^ 
 
j^i6 A Ser?non preached at the 
 
 Efteem, and the Rewards of Merit : but 
 lie will not fo far pleafe himfelf with 
 them, as to forget, what I, under my 
 
 III. Thirds and Laft General Head^ pro- 
 pos'd to confider ; That the chief Honour 
 of the Magiftrate confifts, in maintaining 
 the Dignity of his Character by fuitable 
 Actions , and in difcharging the high 
 Truft that is repos'd in him, with Inte- 
 grityj Wifdom, and Courage. 
 
 Some Magiftrates are contented that 
 their Places fhould adorn Them: and 
 Some alfo there are, who ftudy to 
 adorn their Places , and to l*efle£t back 
 again the Luftre they receive from 
 thence ; fo that we may apply to them 
 what was faid o^ Simon the Son of Onias^ 
 That , when he pit on the Kobe of Honour^ 
 ^ . . and was clothe d with the f erf eEi ion of Glory ^ 
 , I . ' ' he made the Garment of HoUnefs honour^ 
 able. 
 
 To many fuch Worthy Magiftrates as 
 thefe, who have thus reputably filPd the 
 Chief Sea;:s of Povv'cr in this great City, 
 I am now addrefiing my Difcourfe : and 
 whom, therefore, if I detain with a 
 fhort account of the preffmg Obligations 
 of this fort which lie qu the Magiif rate, 
 
 and- 
 
EleBion of the Lord Mayor. 417 
 
 and of the beft Me.ws of difcharglng 
 them ; I fliall not, I hope, be thought fo 
 much to prefcribe Directions for the 
 future, as to praife what is ah'eady pafl:, 
 and to gi've Honour to Thofe to n^hoin 
 Honour u juftly d.ue ^ for then- PubUck 
 Services. 
 
 To be very defirous of a good Name, 
 and very careful to do every thing , that 
 we innocently and prudently may, to 
 obtain it , is fo far from being a Fault, 
 even in Private Perfons, that it is their 
 great and indifpenfable Duty; but Ma- 
 gillrates and Minifters of Jullice are in 
 a peculiar manner oblig'd to it : for 
 they have more Opportunities,than other 
 Men have, of purchafmg Publick Efteem 
 by deferving well of Mankind ; and 
 fuch Opportunities always infer Obliga- 
 tions. 
 
 Reputation is the gr^at Engine , by 
 which thofe , who are polTefs'd of 
 Power, muft make that Power ferviceable 
 to the Ends and Ufes of Government. 
 The Rods and Axes of Princes, and their 
 Deputies , may awe many into Obe- 
 dience ; but the Fame of their Goodnefs, 
 and Jullice, and other Virtues, will work 
 on more ; will make Men not only obe- 
 dient, but willing to obey, and ready to 
 
 E e come 
 
4 1 8 A Sermon preached at 
 
 come into every thing that is done, p^ 
 defign'd, for the Pubhck Advantage, by 
 Thofe who (they are fatisfy'd) fincerely 
 mean it. 
 
 An EftabliflVd Characler ipreads the 
 Influence of fuch as move in a high 
 Sphere, on all around, and beneath them 5 
 it readies farther than their Own Care 
 and Providence, or that of their Inferior 
 Officers can polTibly do : It ads for them, 
 when they themfelves ceafe to aQ:, and 
 renders their Adminiftration Both Pro- 
 fperous, and Eafy. 
 
 Befides, the A«^ions of Men in higli 
 Stations, are all Confpiciious ; and liable 
 to be fcann'd, and lifted. They cannot 
 hide themfelves from the Eyes of the 
 World , as Private Men can : Even 
 thofe, who attend on their State and 
 Dignity, and make up their Honourable 
 Train J are , as it were , fo many Spies, 
 plac'd upon them by the Pubhck, to 
 obferve them nearly, and report their 
 Charafter. Praife, therefore, or Blame,^ 
 being the lieceifary , Confequence of 
 Every thing they do , they have more 
 i-eafon to a£t, always, with an imme- 
 diate Regard to the Opinion of the 
 'World , than other Men have ; and to 
 refbive to iTiake all thofe iVcf ions worthy 
 
 of 
 
EleBion of the Lord Mayor. ^tp 
 
 of Obfervatioh ^ which are fure to be 
 oblerv'd. 
 
 Great Places are never well fill'd, but 
 by Great Minds; and it is as natural to 
 a Great Mind to feek Honour by a due 
 difcharge of an high Truft , as it is to 
 Little Men to make lefs Advantages 
 of it. 
 
 On all thefe accounts, Reputation 
 becomes a rignal,xa very peculiar BlelTing 
 to .Magillrates ; and then- perfuit of it 
 is not only allowable, but Laudable: fo 
 it be carried on by Methods which are 
 every way Innocent and Julliiiable, and 
 with a View of making a good Ufe of a 
 good Charafter when eifabliilT'd ; fo 
 That be not reil:ed in , as an End, but 
 only employ'd as a Means of doing Hill 
 farther good , and as an Encouragement 
 to proceed in doing it; m a word, fo 
 Honour be not fought after by the Vio- 
 lation of Confcience , or the Py^ife of 
 Men preferred, in any refpeO:, to the Prai/e 
 of God, 
 
 Now, tiio' all the fevcral Branches of 
 the Mngillrate's Duty, when fiithfully 
 perform'd, and all thofe good QiialiHca- 
 tions of Mind, which enable him to per- 
 form if, do, in fome degree, or other, 
 
 E w 2 tend 
 
4^0 A Sermon preach' d at the 
 
 tend to create a Publick Efteem of him ^ 
 yet there are fome points of Duty, fome 
 QuaUfications, that have a more direO: 
 and immediate Influence to this purpofe : 
 They are fuch as follow. 
 
 A Good Migiftrate , who would en- 
 dear himfelf to thofe whom he governs, 
 muft, above all things, be endu'd with a 
 Publick Spirit, that is, with fuch an Excel- 
 lent Temper of Mind, as fets him loofe 
 from all narrow, felfifh Views , and 
 makes him bend all his Thoughts 
 and Endeavours towards promoting the 
 Common Good of the Society which is 
 committed to his Care. The Welfare of 
 That is the Chief Point which he is to 
 carry always in his Eye, and by which 
 he is to govern all his Counfels, Defigns, 
 and Actions ; dire<^ing his Zeal againft, 
 or for Perfons and Things, in proportion as 
 they do, or do not interfere with it. To this 
 good End he mu(f facrifice his Time , his 
 Eafe, and his Private Advantages; and 
 think all of them well fpent, in ob- 
 taining it. Nothing, certainly, can bet- 
 ter become a Perfon, invefted v/ith a 
 Publick Character, than fuch a Publick 
 Spirit ; nor is there any thing likely to 
 procure him larger Returns of Efteem 
 
 and 
 
EkB'ion of the Lord Mayor. 42 i 
 
 and Honour : The Common Acknow- 
 ledgments of the Body will at lengtli 
 center in Him, who appears fincerely to 
 aim at the Common Benefit of it. Efpe- 
 cially, if to this be added 
 
 An Impartial Diftribution of Juftice, 
 without refpeO: of Perfons, Intereffs, or 
 Opinions. When Right is to be done, 
 the good Magiftrate will make no 
 diftinQion of Small, or Great, Friend,or 
 Enemy, Citizen, or Stranger , /(9r r/;^ Deut.i.17; 
 '\juJ.gment is Go(i''s ; and he will look upon 
 himfelf as pronouncing it in Im ftead, 
 and as accountable at his Bar for the 
 Equity of it. The Scripture forbids even 
 the Cou»tena}icifig it Poor Mxn in his Caufe-^ Exo.xxiil. 
 which is a Popular Way of perverting 5- 
 Juftice , that fome Men have dealt in ; 
 tho', without that Succefs, which they 
 propos'd to themfelves in it. But the 
 truly upright Judge will always coun- 
 tenance Right , and difcountenance 
 Wrong, w^hoever be thelnjurer, or the 
 Sufferer. And he whofreers liis Courfe 
 invariably by this Rule, takes the fureif, 
 as well as the honeftefl:, way to make all 
 Men praifc him, 
 
 E e ^ Courte-s 
 
4^2, A Sermon preacUd at the 
 
 Courtefy and Condefcenfion is an- 
 other happy Qtiality , which never fails 
 to make its way into the good Opinion, 
 and into the very Hearts of thofe whq 
 are under the good Magiftrate's Infpe- 
 Oiion : when he doth, as it w^ere, leflen 
 the Diftance which there is between 
 Him and Other Men , and , by that 
 means , allay the Envy which always 
 attends an high Station ; when he is 
 Eafy of Accefs, Affable, Patient to hear, 
 
 Job xxix. and to fearch out the Caufe that he knew not ; 
 
 ^^' when, as a Komm Writer fpeaks ^, not 
 
 only his Door, but his very Counte- 
 nance is open to all that have any Occa- 
 fion to approach him. 
 
 Bounty alfo, and a generous Contempt 
 of that m which too many Men placq 
 their Happinefs , muft come in to 
 heighten his CharaQer. There is fcarce 
 any Qtiality more truly Popular than 
 this, or more fuitable to the Public 
 Station, in which he fliines. It includes 
 
 * Ciirx ut Adit'M ad Te Viuvni atqiie Hociurni pateant, 
 neque i'oribt/4 (olnm (^dium tiiarum , fed etiam Vultu ac 
 Frome, qux eU Animi ^uriua j ([ua fi fgnificant Voluntatem 
 abditam e(]'e ac reirufam, purvi refert patere Ofiium. Quint, 
 Cic. de Petit. Coni; ad M, lull. Fratr, 
 
 Hofpi-* 
 
EleB'ton of the Lord Mayor. 423 
 
 Hofpitality to the better Sort, and Cha- 
 rity to the Poor ; two Virtues, that are 
 never exercis'd ib gracefully and w^ll, 
 as when they accoi-nnany Each other. 
 Hofpitality fometimes Degenerates into 
 Profufenefs,andendsinMadnefs and Folly 
 When it doth fo, it ill defer ves the Name 
 of a Vertue : even Parfunony it felf, 
 which fits but ill upon Perfons of a 
 Publick Figure, is yet the more pardona- 
 ble Excefs of the two. It is as little the 
 fign of a Wife, as of a Good Man, to 
 fulfer the Bounds of Temperance to be 
 tranfgrefs'd , in order to purchafe the 
 falfe ( tho' fafliionable) Repute of a 
 Generous Entertainer. But, in the Offices 
 of Charity there is no danger of Excefs; 
 the Exercife of them is always well- 
 pleafing to God , and honourable among 
 Men. He hath difpers'd, faith the Pfal- p|-^ 
 mift, he hath given to the Poor , his Horn ^. 
 fljail be exalted with Hoyiour. 
 
 But of all good Qiialities, That, wdiich 
 recommends and adorns the Ma gillrate 
 moft, is his Care of Religion ; which, as it 
 is the moft valuable thing in the World, 
 fo it gives the trueft Value to Them, 
 who promote the Efleem and Pra6:icG 
 of it, by their Example, Authority, In- 
 fluence , and Encouiagemept : for tlye?r* 
 ■■ • Ee 4. ihitP 
 
 ia].c. 
 
4^4 ^ Sermon preacVd at the 
 
 iSam.ii. th At honour me^ hys God^ mil J honour \ as 
 3°' on the other hand , they that defpife me,(hall be 
 
 lightly efiee?^''d. This is the Magiftrate's 
 peculiar Province , his moft Glorious 
 Employment; to give Countenance to 
 Piety and Vertue , and to rebuke Vice 
 and Prophanenefs ; to put the Laws of 
 Men in Execution againft fuch as tram- 
 ple on the Laws of God ; and to protect 
 Religion, and All that belongs to it, 
 from the daring Infults of thofe who fit 
 in the Seat of the S corner. And (give me 
 leave to fay , that ) there never was a 
 time, w^ien the Interpofition of the 
 Magiftrate was more neceifary to fecure 
 the Honour of Religion, and uphold the 
 Authority of thofe great Principles of it, 
 by which his Own Authority isbeif up- 
 held. For v/e Hve in Evil Days, when 
 the moft important and confefs'd Truths, 
 fuch as by the Wifeft and Beft Men in 
 allAges have been rever'd, are by Licen- 
 tious Tongues queftion^d, argued againft, 
 derided ; and thefe things not only whif- 
 per'd in Corners , but proclaimed upon the 
 Houfe tops ; own'd and publifliM , in 
 Defiance of the Common Perfuafion, 
 the Common Reafon , and the Com- 
 mon Intereft of Mankind , and of 
 All Authority, both Sacred, and Civil 
 
 Liber- 
 
EleB'ton of the Lord Mayor, '425 
 
 Libertinifm hath erected its Standard, 
 hath declared War againft Rehgion, and 
 openly Hfted Men of its Side and Party : 
 a general Loofnefs of Principles , and 
 Manners, hat!i feiz,'d on us Hke a Pefti- 
 lence ; a FeftUence that walketh not in pfal. xd.^ 
 Ddrknefs ^ but jvafleth at Noon-Daj; The 
 Contagion of which hath fpread itfelf 
 through all Ranks and Degrees of Men ; 
 hath infecled both the Camp, and the 
 Congregation : Who knows, wliat the 
 Zeal and Courage of a good Magiftrate 
 might do towards flopping it ? Let Phi- pr. cvi. 39 
 nth^s Ji and up and execute Judgment^ that 
 Co this Plague ?r?ay be fiay'^d ! 
 
 God hath , indeed , blefs'd the Arms 
 of the bell: of Qiieens , taken up in De- 
 fence of the belf of Caufes , with unpa- 
 rallePd SuccelTes abroad : may She be 
 alike Victorious at home, over Lewdnefs 
 and Infidelity 1 over fuch as reverence 
 not the Altars of God, and fcorn thofe 
 who minifter at them I That fo the Feli- 
 cities of her Wonderful Reign may be 
 compleat, and we may have nothing left 
 to wifli for on Earth but the Continuance 
 of it; nor have any thing more to fear 
 from the ill Influence of our Vices, than 
 
^^i6 A Sermon preach' d y Sec. 
 
 we have now ( God be thanked ) from 
 the Attempts of our Enemies ! 
 
 Norv to God the Father^ the SoH^ and the 
 Holy Spirit^ he all Praife and Glory 
 afcrilPd^ from henceforth for evermoreo 
 Amen. 
 
4*/^. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd at St. Paul's, 
 
 Before the Right Honourable 
 
 The Lord Mayor ^ 
 
 AND 
 
 The Court of Aldermen, 
 
 On Wedncfday^ Jpril^, i/O/. 
 Being a Day of 
 
 Publick Humiliation^ 
 
 Appointed by Authority* 
 
429 
 
 Psalm xxx. 6^ 7, 8. 
 
 In my Tro/perity 1 fa'ul^ I jlidl liefer 
 he mo'Ved : Lord, by thy favour thou 
 haft made my Mountain tojiandftrong. 
 Thou didft hide thy Face^ and I was 
 troubled, I cried unto Thee^ Lordy 
 and unto the Lord I made my Sup' 
 plication. 
 
 Or, as it is in the Tranflation, now ufcd 
 in our Church : 
 
 In 7ny Pro/perity I /aid, 1 JJhtll not be 
 removed : Thou, Lord, of thy Good- 
 nefs hafl made my Hill fo ftrong. 
 Thou didjl turn thy Face from jnCy 
 and I IV as troubled. Then cried I 
 unto Thecy Lord, and gat me to 
 my Lord right humbly, 
 
 TH E ColleaionofP/^/w/, which 
 make a part of the Daily Service 
 of the Church, is, on no account, more 
 
 valuable 
 
43 O A Fajl Sermon breach' d 
 
 valuable than this, that therein the 
 Heart of Holy David , ( the Man after 
 God's own Heart ) is laid open and 
 naked before us : The feveral Poftures 
 of his Devout Soul in all Conditions 
 and Circumftances of Life ; his Hopes 
 and Fears, his Defires and Averfions, 
 his Joys and Griefs are there difplay'd 
 with great Simplicity and Freedom: 
 All his Infirmities and Defeds, are 
 diftinQly regifter'd, the falfe Judgments 
 he made of things are own'd, and the 
 Methods pointed out by which he redi- 
 fy'd them. And thefe Accounts of him- 
 felf are very Inflrudive and Ufeful to 
 all fuch as fefioufly periife and ftudy them, 
 and are defirous of improving themfelves 
 in Piety and Vertue, by the means of fo 
 admirable a Pattern, 
 
 One great Inifance of this kind wc 
 have in the Words of the Text ; where- 
 in the good Pfalmifl: acknowledges and 
 condemns the foolifh Thoughts, which a 
 Reflexion on the profperous State of his 
 Affairs had fometimes occafion'd in him : 
 In myProfperitj Ifaid, (that is, vainly faid) 
 I jhall never he moved ; Thou, Lord, in thy 
 Goodnefs, haH made my Hill fo firong \ 
 or , according to tlie Reading of the 
 Ixx, which feems more fignificailt ; hasi 
 
 added 
 
before the Lord Mayor ((s^c, 4j i^ 
 
 added Strength to my Dignity ! He pro- 
 ceeds to fhew, how God began to punifli 
 this vain Elation of Mind, by withdraw- 
 ing Iiis Favours ; Thou dtdH turn thy Face 
 from me^ and I was troubled : And then, 
 how he entitled himfelf to the continu- 
 ance of the Divine Protedion and Good- 
 nefs, by Humiliation and Prayer : / cried 
 unto Thee^ Lord^ and gat me to my Lordy 
 right hu^ihly* 
 
 Ouv Sue cejfes luve been very great and 
 and furprizirig, and our Harts, I fear, 
 have been but too much lifted up by the 
 means of them; So that we have reafon 
 to humble our fejves before God (as we 
 now do) by FafH??g and Trayer ; lell he 
 fhould punilli our mifufe of his Mercies, 
 by fiopping the Courfe of them. 
 
 I fliall fpeak therefore not unfuitably, 
 either to the Defign of thefe Words, or to 
 the Occafionofthis AiTembly ; if I con- 
 fider, 
 
 I. what /// Efeffs great Profperity ufual- j 
 ly hath on the Minds of a People ; tempt- 
 ing them to fay within themfelves, as 
 the Pfalmilf did, in the like Cafe; IVe 
 jhall never be moved ; Thou, Lord, of thy 
 Goodnefs haji made our Hi^l (ojkron^, 
 
 II. How 
 
45^ ^ faft Sennon breach' d 
 
 n* ir. YiowVain^ SLndSi^fui, tliQ^elmdgl* 
 
 tions are : For holy David, by his way 
 of mentioning, plainly condemns them. 
 
 in. in. What the Conjequence of them of- 
 ten is : They provoke God to ft op the 
 Current of his Goodnejs towards us : He 
 hideth hu Face, and we are troubled, ' 1 
 
 IV. IV. In what manner we are to be- 
 have our felves, in order to fectdre the 
 Continuance of the Divine Favour ^nd Pro- 
 te^ion : Wq mu^ cry unto the Lordy and 
 get our felves to our God right humbly, 
 
 la I. Good Men know very well, that 
 
 we are here in a State of Difcipline and 
 Tryal ; that we are to pafs thro' things 
 Temporal to things Eternal, and that 
 nothing therefore can be reckoned Good 
 or Bad to us in this Life, any farther than 
 it prepares, or indifpofes us for the En- 
 joyments of another. And yet they over- 
 look this great Truth in the Judgments 
 they generally pafs on the feveral States 
 of Adverfity and Profperity. The Temp- 
 tations and Dimcuities, that attend the 
 Former of thefe, they can eafily fee, and 
 dread at a Diftance ; but tliey] have no 
 Apprehenfions, no Sufpicions of the Dan- 
 gerous Confequences of the Latter. And 
 yet it is certain, that the Temptations of 
 
 Profperity 
 
hefoye the Lord Mayor, ^c. 433 
 
 Frofperity are the moft mifchievoiis and fa- 
 tal 01 the two ; infinuatlng themfelves after 
 a gentle, but very powerful manner; fo 
 that we are but little aware of them, and 
 lefs able to withftand them. Wife Jgur^ 
 therefore, equally diredls his Petition a- 
 gainftboth thefeExtreams : Give tne (fays 
 he) fieither Poverty^ nor Riches ; lefi (on the 
 one fide) / be Poor andfieal^ or (on the 0- 
 ther) / he Fu/Iy and deny thee^ and fay^ rvho 
 is the Lord ? And , according to this 
 Pattern , hath our Chui'ch taught us 
 to pray, that God would, npt only in 
 all time of our Tribulation^ but in all 
 time of our Wealth alfo, be pleas'd to 
 deliver us. 
 
 Indeed, a State of great Profperity and 
 Abundance, as it expofes us to various 
 Temptations, and furniilies us with all 
 manner of Opportunities and Encourage- 
 ments to Sin, fo it is often prejudicial to 
 us, on this account (particularly men- 
 tion'd in the Text) ; that.it fwells the 
 Mind with undue Thoughts and Opini- 
 ons, renders us Secure and Carelefs, 
 Proud, Vain, Self fufficient ; banifhes 
 I from our Thoughts a lively Senfe of Re- 
 ligion, and of our dependence on God ; 
 and puts us upon fo eager a perfuit of the 
 advantages of Life that are within our 
 V f reach 
 
4J4 -^ ^'^fl Sermon f reached 
 
 reach, orvkw, as to leave us neither 
 room, nor inclination to refle£l on the 
 great Author and Beftower of them. 
 \Ve do then, more than at any other 
 time, He open to the ImprefTions of Flat- 
 tery ; which we admit, without Scruple, 
 becaufe we think we deferve it ; and, 
 thatwemay befure not to want it, we 
 take care to flatter our Rives with Ima- 
 ginary Scenes and Profpeds of future 
 Happinefs : We like our prefent Cir- 
 cumftances well, and dream of no Change 
 y^-3 l^-l but for the better , not doubting but that 
 1;. to Morro)v jbdl be as this Daj^ and much 
 
 Job XXIX. ^^y.^ ahunda'at. We fay, we jhall die in 
 our Nefis ^ and multiply our Dajs as the 
 Sand ; that wefljall neuer be renwved^ God 
 in his Goodnejs hdvi/7g made our HiHfo ftrong ! 
 And this enchanting Power which Pro- 
 fperity hath o^er the Minds of private 
 Perfons, is more remarkable in Relati- 
 on to great States and Kingdoms ; where 
 all Ranks and Orders of Men being equal- 
 ly concern d in Publick Bleflings, equally 
 join in fpreading the Infection that at- 
 tends them; and they mutually teach, 
 and are taught, that Lelfon of vain Con- 
 fidence and Security, which our Cor- 
 rupt Nature, unencourag'd by Example, 
 is of it felf but too apt to learn. A very 
 
 profperous 
 
before the Lord Mayor, c>r. 4^ c 
 
 profperous People, flufh'd with great 
 Victories and Succefles , are rarely 
 known to confine their Joys within the 
 Bounds of Moderation and Innocence ; 
 are feldom fo Pious, fo Humble, fo Jufl, 
 or fo Provident as they ought to be, in 
 order to perpetuate and increafe their 
 Happinefs : Their Manners wax gene- 
 rally more and more Corrupt, in pro- 
 portion as their BlefTings abound ; till 
 their Vices perhaps give back all thofe Ad- 
 vantages which their Victories procur'd, 
 and Profperity it felf becomes their Ruin. 
 Of this the People of 7/r^c/ were a very 
 fignal and Inftrudlive Inilance. As never 
 any Nation upon Earth was blefs'd with 
 more frequent and vifible Interpofitions of 
 Divine Providence in its behalf; fo none 
 ever made a worfe Ufe of them : For no 
 fooner were they at any time delivered out 
 of the Hand of their Enemies, and elfab- 
 lifh'd in Peace and Plenty , but they 
 grew Carelefs, Diifolute, and Prophane ; 
 and, by mifemploying the Advantages, 
 I which God had thrown into their Lap, 
 Ig^ovokM him (as far as in them lay) 
 K)rthwith to withdraw them. J^fi^J"^^^ x^ii'i^'s 
 ivaxed Fat^ and. kicked : Then heforfook God 
 which made him^ and lightly ejieemed the 
 Rock of his Salvation, And therefore 
 F f 2 MoJeSy 
 
 Deut. 
 
43^ ^ P^(i Sermon f reached 
 
 Mofes^ who had obferv'd the Backfli- 
 dings of this wanton People for Forty 
 Years together in the Wildernefs, when 
 they were come to the Borders of the 
 promis'd Land, and were now going to 
 pofTefs it, warns them, with the greateft 
 Earneftnefs, of thofe Dangerous Tempta- 
 tions to which Profperity (he knew) 
 would expofe them. Beware (fays he) 
 /f/if whe^ thou haU Eaten^ anci art Full, 
 and haH built goodly Houfes^ and dwelt there- 
 in ; and when thy Herds and. thy Flocks mul- 
 tiply^ aud thy Silver and thy Gold is multi- 
 plied J and all thou hafl is multiplied : Then 
 thine Heart be lifted up^ and thou forget the 
 Lord thy God^ that brought thee forth out of 
 the Land of ^^gypt , from the Houfe 
 of Bondage ; and thou fay in thine Hearty 
 my Power J and the Might of my Hand hath 
 . gotten me this Wealth, This was one 
 it> 13,' perverfe Etfe£l of their fitting Safe and 
 j4j 17. at Eafe under their Vines and their Fig- 
 trees ; that they began to forget, from 
 whence that Eafe and Safety came, and 
 to transfer all the Honour of it uponthem- 
 felves, by facrifcmg unto their own Nets, 
 and burning Incenfe unto their Drags', a fo 
 of Idolatry y as hateful to God as any othe 
 whatfoever. 
 Or, if they vouchfafed to give Godthe 
 
 praife 
 
 Kab.I. ly. 
 
 erj 
 
I 
 
 he/ore the Lord M^yor] <^c. 4?/ 
 
 pralfe of his GoodiicTs ; yet they did it only 
 in order to boaft the Intereft they had in 
 him : They were the peculiar Care of 
 Heaven, the Nation which above all Na- 
 tions he delighted to honour; iho^wMoim^ 
 tain was Jlrong, and jhould not he removed^ 
 no Harm jbould come mgh their Dwellings, 
 
 What fecret Imaginations of this 
 kind we have fondly entertain'd, upon 
 our SuccelTes, is beft known to God and 
 our own Hearts : Only this is apparent, 
 that we have not fmce fo behav'd our 
 felves towards God, as if \\x prefervM up- 
 on our Minds a grateful remembrance of 
 his Mercies ; that we have fcarce mani- 
 fefted our Senfe of them any otherwife 
 than by the Formalities of a Thankfgiv- 
 ing ; that, whatever Ground we may have 
 gotten upon our Enemies, we have got^ 
 ten none upon our Vices, the worft Ene- 
 mies of the two ; but are even fubdu'd and 
 led Captive by the one, while we triumph 
 fo glorioufly over the others. The Life 
 and Power of Religion decays apace here 
 at home, while we are fprcading the 
 Honour of our Arms far and wide through 
 foreign Nations : To fecond Caufes we 
 feem to trull:, without depending (at 
 lealt without exprefling fo devoutly ai» 
 F f 3 wc 
 
43 8 A Fa[i Sermon Treach'd 
 
 we ought to do our Dependence) on the 
 Deut. iv. pirf^. It is fufficient that this great Nation 
 Ifa. xxvi. ^ ^ ^^fi ^^^ underftandin^ People ; that we 
 J. have Counfel and Strength for the War ; and 
 
 where Counfel and Strength is, how can 
 theychoofe but prevail? In a word, we 
 fo live, and fo ad, as if we thought our 
 prefent Profperity founded on fuch a 
 Rock as could no ways be fhaken ; as if 
 we were perfeclly fecure of the final 
 IlTue and Event of things, however we 
 may behave our felves ; and had no longer 
 any occafion for the fpecial Providence of 
 God to watch over us for good, to direct 
 all our Steps, and blefs our Endeavours. 
 How Vain and Sinful fuch Imaginations 
 are, is what I propos'd, in the 
 
 T J II. Place, to fhew. Two things there 
 
 are, that lie at the Bottom of this falfe 
 Confidence : We think, that our Succef- 
 fes are a plain Indication of the Divine 
 Favour towards us ; and that, becaufe 
 we have fucceeded hitherto, we fhall fuc- 
 ceed always, even until our Eye hath {<^Qn 
 its Defire upon our Enemies. 
 
 May the Event every way anfwer our 
 BxpeQation ! However, we fliall not be 
 e're the Icfs likely to meet with Succels, 
 if we do not cxpcdi it too Confidently; and 
 
 thereforq 
 
before the Lord Mayor, <^c, 4^5) 
 
 therefore it may be of fome ufe to 
 us to confider, whether, and how far 
 we may from the prefent profperoiis 
 State of our Affairs conclude that God 
 is with us of a. truth , and will go on 
 ftill to heap greater BlefTings upon us, 
 how little care foever we have taken, or 
 ihall take to deferve them. 
 
 Military SuccelTes do , above all o- 
 thers, elevate the Minds of a People that 
 are blefs'd with them ; becaufe the Pi 0- 
 vidence of God is thought to be more 
 immediately concern d in producing 
 them. Indeed, there are no Events, 
 which do either confefs a Divine Inter- 
 pofition fo evidently, or deferve it fo 
 well, as thofe of Battel : which, as they 
 are of the ntmoll Confequence , and 
 have fometimes decided , not only the 
 Fate of particular Provinces, or King- 
 doms, but the Empire of the whole 
 World ; fo do they depend often on fuch 
 remote and feemingly difproportion'd 
 Caufes, turn on fuch little unheeded Ac- 
 cidents, as it is not in the power of the 
 luofl: fagacious and experienc'd among 
 the Sons of Men to prevent, or forefee. 
 War is a direO: Appeal to God, for the 
 Decifion of fome Difpute, which can by 
 no other means be pofTibly determined : 
 F f ^ anc} 
 
440 A Fafl Sermon Treach^d 
 
 and, therefore, there is reafon to believe 
 that the IfTues of it may, in a pecuHar 
 manner, be directed, and over-rul'd by 
 Providence : upon which account God is 
 Styl'd fo often in Scripture the Lord of. 
 HoHs^ the God of the Armtes of Ifraely the 
 God mighty in Battel; and he is faid there 
 to have lent his Angels, on fome Extra- 
 ordinary Occafions, to fight for his Peo- 
 ple ; and the difcomfiture and flaughter • 
 of great Hofls is exprefsly attributed to 
 their unfeen alTiftance. 
 
 However, tho' Warlike Succefles carry 
 in them often the Evidences of a Divine 
 Jnterfofttion^ yet are they no fure marks 
 of the Divine Favor/r. If they were, the 
 Goths, and Saracens, and other Savage 
 Nations, which over-ran Europe, and Jfta^ 
 would have entitled themfelves to the 
 Favour of God, by their Bloody and Bar- 
 barous Conquelfs ; and even that mof^ 
 ChriHian Enemy with whom we contend, 
 muft, on the account of thofe Inhuman 
 Ravages, which he fo long committed, 
 with Equal Injullice and Succefs, have 
 been accounted the Darimg of Providence. 
 No, fuch Conquerors as thefe are not 
 the Favourites, but Scourges of God, as 
 One ofthemityrd himfelf; the Inrfru- 
 ments of that Vengeance which Heaven 
 
 hath 
 
lefore the Lord Mayor, c>r. 441 
 
 hath determin'd to pour out on fuch Na- 
 tions, as have fill'd up the Meafure of 
 their Iniquities, and are grown ripe tor 
 Excifion : and as loon, therefore, as that 
 Sentence is executed, thefe Rods, thefe 
 Inilruments of Divine Difpleafurc, are 
 themfelves thrown into the Fire. From 
 mere Succefs, therefore, nothing can be 
 conckided, in favour of any Nation, upon 
 whom it is bellowed. That Point can 
 only be determined by conlidering. Whe- 
 ther the Caufe^ for which they are en- 
 gag'd, be juft , and the Means alfo juft, 
 which they employ towards fupporting 
 it; but, above all, whether the Mord 
 Deferts of a People be fuch, that 
 their Succefles may be look'd upon 
 as the jufl: reward of their Virtues. I'o 
 the two Hrfl of thefe Advantages we may, 
 I think, fairly lay claim ; I wifli, we 
 had as good a Title to the latter , and 
 then our Confidence would not be ill 
 grounded. 
 
 Our SuccefTes have indeed been the 
 Confequences of a Juft and Honourable, 
 nay NecelTary War; in which we en- 
 gaged, not out of Ambition, Revenge, 
 or any other uniuftifyable Motive, but 
 for the Defence of all that was dear to us, 
 
 in 
 
i^^l 4 P^tfl Sermon freacUd 
 
 in refped either to this World, or ano- 
 ther. The Haughty Monarch, whofe 
 Heart God at laft by our means hath 
 humbled, was grafping at Univerfal Em- 
 pire, preparing Chains for the Necks of 
 free States and Princes, and laying 
 Schemes for fupprelling the ancient Li- 
 berties, and removing the Antient Boun- 
 daries of Kingdoms. Nor was he fatis- 
 fy'd in fubduing Men's Bodies, unlefs 
 he enflav'd their Souls alfo, and made 
 the pure profellion of the Gofpel give way 
 to Superitition and Idolatry, wherever he 
 had power enough to expel the one, and 
 eftablifh the other. Nay, he pretended 
 to give Laws even to our Succeflion 
 here at home, and to impofe a Prince 
 upon us, who fhould execute the defigns 
 he had form'd againft our Civil and Re- 
 ligious Liberties. It was high time, 
 therefore^ to appeal once more to the 
 Decifion of the Sword ^ which , as it 
 was jjjftly drawn by us, fo can it fcarce 
 fafely be fheath d, till the Thumbs and 
 
 judg. i. ^^^^^ •^'^^^ ^f Adonibezek be cut off \ I 
 
 €, ' ' \ mean, till the Power of the great Trou- 
 
 bler of our Peace be fo far par'cj arid 
 
 reduc'd, as that we may be under no 
 
 Apprehenfions of it for the future. 
 
 Nor 
 
before the Lord Mayor, ^sr'c. 44J 
 
 Nor have the Means^ which we have 
 made ufe of to attain this great and good 
 End, been any ways unfuitable to it. A 
 Juft and Righteous War may be profe- 
 cuted after a very unjuft and unrighte- 
 ous manner; by perfidious Breaches of 
 our Word, by fuch Treacherous Praftices 
 as the Law of Arms it felf (loofe as it is) 
 condemns; by inhuman Cruelties, by Af- 
 failinations ; by Tyrannical Methods of 
 forcing Money into our Coffers, and Men 
 into our Service. Thefe are the diflionour- 
 able ways, which He^ who formerly pro- 
 fefs'd to fight for his Glor^ hsith not of 
 late disdain'd to make ufe of. Thanks be 
 to God, that, as we have had no need, 
 fo neither doth it appear that we had 
 any Inclination to try them ! In every ftep 
 of this long and Bloody Difpute, we have 
 fhew'd our felves fair, nay good natur'd 
 and generous Adverfaries ; and have 
 carried on even our Hoftilities with all 
 the Humanity and Mercy of which they 
 are capable. We have fpilt>no Blood but 
 in the heat of the Battel, or the Chafe ; 
 and ha.e aide Captivity it felf as eafie 
 to the unfortunate as was poflible. We 
 have been firm and faithful to our Al* 
 lies, without decUning any Difficulties, 
 or Dangers, any Expence of Blood, or 
 
 Treafure 
 
4.4.4 -^ ^^ft Sermon Treach'd 
 
 Treafure, to which we had engagM 
 our felves ; and we have even exceeded 
 our Engagements. We have not made 
 life of Rapine and OpprefTion at home, 
 to fupport the Burthen of the War a- 
 hroad , but have carried it on by the 
 free Gifts of a Willing People ; nor can 
 it be faid, that the Publick Service hath 
 been robb'd of any part of thofe Sup- 
 plies which were intended for it. We have 
 not pillag'd thofe Rich Neighbouring 
 Provinces which we refcu'd : Viftory it 
 felfhath not made us Infolent Mafters, or 
 Friends; nor have we taken advantage 
 . from thence to enlarge either our Territo- 
 ries,or our Pretenfions,or to gain any thing 
 to our felves beyond the Honour of re- 
 ftoring Quiet to the World , and every 
 pnes Rights to their Juft Owners. 
 
 And thus far, therefore we have reafon 
 to look upon our Succeffes , as the Blef- 
 fings of God upon the good Methods we 
 have taken to fupport a good Cauje^ and 
 as Declarations of Heaven in our Favour. 
 However , they cannot be entirely de- 
 pended on as fuch, till we have tarther 
 confider'd, whether our Piety and Vir- 
 tue have born a due proportion to our 
 Succeffes, and laid the foundation for 
 them : for, unlefs this be the cafe, tho' 
 
 God 
 
hefore the Lord Mayor, €^c. 445 
 
 God hath blefs'd a RighteousCaure,yet he 
 fcath not blefTed it for the fake of thofe 
 who are concern'd in it; and the Blef- 
 fings which are not imparted to us for our 
 ovn Sakey can be no Evidences of the Di- 
 vine Favour towards us. 
 
 Let us then lay our Hands upon our 
 Hearts, and impartially enquire. What 
 good Qiialities we had to recommend our 
 felvestothe Favour of God, at our En- 
 trance on this long War, and how we 
 have behav'd our felves througliout the 
 CoLirfe of it. 
 
 No foonerwas our Deliverance from 
 the illegal Attempts of a late Reign com- 
 pleated, but we forgat our Danger and 
 our Duty ; forfook the God that had pre- ^ 
 ferv'd us, and light Ij efieemed the Rock of xxxii.'iS' 
 our Sdvation, That Spirit of Religion 
 and Serioufncfs, by which we had juft be- 
 fore diftinguifli'd our felves, vanifh'd all 
 at once; and a Spirit of Levity and Liber- 
 tinifm, of Infidelity and Frofanenefs {fart- 
 ed up m the room of it : Our Churches, 
 that a little while before liad been crow- 
 ded, were now in great meafure deferted ; 
 our Sacraments, which had been frequent- 
 ed with fo much Zeal, were approach'd 
 naore fparingly ; the Difpenfers of holy 
 Things, which, for their Work's fake, 
 
 had 
 
44 6 ^ P^fi Sermon ^reacVd 
 
 had been fo highly regarded and reverend 
 c'd, were made a By-word and a Re- 
 I Cor. fx. proach, at theflth of the World^ and the ojf^ 
 ^^' fcouring of all things. Nor could their 
 immortal Labours againfl: Popery, by 
 which they had contributed to the com- 
 mon Security,as much at lead as any other 
 Order of Men in the Kingdom, fcreen them 
 from that Contempt, which was then fo 
 liberally pour'd upon them. In propor- 
 tion as our Zeal for Religion decay'd. 
 Our Corruptions and Vices increas'd ; an 
 tmiverfal DifTolution of Mannerrs began 
 to prevail, a profefs'd Difregard to all 
 fix'd Principles, whether in Matters Di- 
 vine, or Humane. 
 
 At the fame time we were crumbled in- 
 to various Factions, and Parties; all aiming 
 at By-interefts, without any fmcere regard 
 for the Publick Good : Odious Names of 
 Diftindion, which had flept, while the 
 Dread of Popery hung over us, were re- 
 viv'd ; and our private Quarrels were 
 carried on againft each other with as 
 greatBitternefs and Malice, as if we had 
 now no common Enemy to unite and 
 employ us. 
 
 With this Temper of Mind we entred 
 into the War ; were we alter'd any way 
 for the better, during the Courfe of it ? 
 
 Did 
 
before the Lord Mayor, <fc. 44;^ 
 
 Did the VicIfBtudes of good and bad 
 Fortune, which we then experiencd, af- 
 fe£tus with due Degrees ofHumiHty, or 
 Thankfulnefs ? Could God prevail with 
 us by all the forts of Experiments, which 
 he try'd, toforfake our Sins and our Fol- 
 lies ? Could he awe us by his Rod, or 
 melt us by his Goodnefs into Repent- 
 ance ? Alafs ! inftcad of that, we wax'd 
 worfe and and worfe every Day, both as 
 to Religion, and Morals; till we left 
 off even to fludy the outward Appearan- 
 ces of Piety and Vertue ; and were not con- 
 tented merely to ky butaffeded even to 
 he thought^ Loofe and Lawlefs. Edifts 
 againll Immorality and Profanenefs ilTu'd, 
 Laws againfl: Oaths and Execrations were 
 fram'd ; and we trampled both upon the 
 one and the other, with Contempt and 
 Impunity. Whilil a foreign Wardevou- 
 r'd our Strength, and drain'd our Trea- 
 fures. Hill Luxury and the Expences of 
 Life increased at home ; nor were they 
 check'd even by our Difgraces and Misfor- 
 tunes. Our National Humiliations were 
 ridicul'd by im^^iows Mock -feafis-^ wherein 
 the execrable Murther of our Martyr'd 
 Sovereign was annually commemorated 
 with Circumilances of fo much Indignity 
 and Scorn, as cannot be fpoken of with 
 
 Decencv, 
 
44^ ^ F^ft Sermon freacJyd 
 
 Decency, or refie6led on without Horror. 
 Whe^ we rve'pt^ on this occafion, and chafl- 
 md our S^uls with Fnfling^ that was to our 
 Reproach^ : The^ that fat m the Gate^ (fome 
 even of the Men of Greatnefs, and Bufi- 
 pfal. Ixix. ^^^^^ ^^^ Gravity) /pake againft m ; and 
 
 we were the Song of the Drunkards ^ of 
 vain, i^le, dilTolute Companions. The 
 Houfe of God it felf hath been prophan'd 
 by Riots ; abominable Impurities, not to 
 be mention 'd, have been openly and da- 
 ringly praQ:is'd : We have declared our 
 ■ jfg '-J. a, Sin, as Sodom, and have not hid it. We have 
 talk'd much of reforming Men's Man- 
 ners ; pray God, we meant it / If any ftep 
 of that kind hath been taken, it is only 
 what the Zeal of fome private Perfons 
 fuggefted ; the Execution of that glori- 
 ous Defign hath not bien put into the 
 Hands of Thofe, who fliould be beft in- 
 clined, astheyaremoftconcern'd, to pro- 
 mote it. 
 
 The Fundamental Articles of our Faith 
 have been oppugn'd from the Prefs; My- 
 fteries have been derided ; the Immorta- 
 hty of the Soul hath been denied ; the 
 Chriifian Priellhood fet at naught and vi- 
 lified ; and even the High Priejtofour Fro- 
 fejfion^ the Blelfed 'fejm himfelf, treated 
 
hefore the Lord Mayor <src, 449 
 
 by a Blafphemoiis Pen * with * See a paf^pe, in 
 
 _, 1 c „J A/T r the Ax Uii to the Root of 
 
 as much Scorn and Mahce, cbriQunity, cited from 
 
 as when, he appear'd before a Book, enrinled. The 
 
 the Bar of PtUte, Hath ti movyoithtGrmih of 
 
 N.i.tion fo ufed their Godsy 
 
 ivhich are yet no Gods-]-'^ or tjer. ii. n. 
 
 fo vilify'd the Perfons that belonged to 
 
 their Worfliip and Service? 
 
 Since thefe are fome of the Methods, 
 by which we quahfy'd our felves for 
 our Succelfes, thefe fome of the Returns 
 which we made to God, after obtaining 
 them ; can we reafonably prefume, that 
 we are in the Favour of God on the Ac- 
 count of them ? Can we juftly promife 
 our felves, that, becaufe we have fuc- 
 cceded hitherto^ in fpite of all our Sins, 
 and Provocations , we fhall Succeed 
 always ? or reft fecure, that the Mer- 
 cies we have received, great as they 
 arc, were meant only as Earnelb and 
 Pledges of Hill greater, which are to 
 follow ? 
 
 Thus indeed we feem to think, and 
 thus the prefent happy Profpecl of our 
 Affairs, humanly fpeaking, may feem 
 to promife. And yet the hidden and 
 lurprizing Turns, we our felves have 
 
 it, orfeen, fhould not, methinks, fuffer 
 11:. too forwardly to admit fuchThoughts ; 
 
 G g which 
 
4JO A Fajl Sermon preached 
 
 which may indeed, (if God fhoiild be 
 tempted from thence to rebuke our 
 Vanity) contribute to blaft the faireft 
 Hopes , but can be of no iife towards 
 rendring them efleftual. Too great a 
 Confidence in Succefs is tlie likely eft 
 way to prevent it ; becaufe it hinders 
 us from exerting our Strength to the 
 iitmoft, and making the beft ufe of 
 the Advantages which we enjoy. It 
 renders us indulgent to our Lufts and 
 Vices, carelefs of approving and recom- 
 mending our felves to God by Religious 
 Duties, and, by that means, fecuring the 
 Continuance of his Goodnefs to us. It is 
 like the Conceit about Abfolute Electi- 
 on to Eternal Life ; which fome Enthu- 
 fiafts entertaining, have been thereby 
 made more rcmifs inthe Practice of thofe 
 Virtues w^hich alone could fecure their 
 Title to Heaven. 
 
 Let us then lay afide thefe vai/^ and 
 
 finful Imaginations , left the Confequence 
 
 of them jfnould be in Our cafe, what it 
 
 I was in King David's ; God did hide his^. 
 
 Face^ d/td he was troubled, 
 
 jn. Tills is the Third Point, to which 
 
 I proposed to fpeak. But 'tis an unwel- 
 come Task, a Subjed which I care not 
 
 much 
 
before the Lord Mayor O'c, 45 it 
 
 much to infifl on ; and which , after all, I 
 truft in God, we may not be concern'd 
 in ; becaufe it is (\ am fure) ftill in our 
 power to lecure to our felves an Inte- 
 reft in the Divine Mercies that are yet 
 to come, and to lengthen the Courfe of 
 our Prefent Profperity ; if we do but in 
 good earneil: betake our felves to the ufe 
 of thofe means which are prefcrib'd in tlie 
 Text, HumiliAtion^ and Prajir. The» cry^ 
 ed I unto Thee^ Lordy and gat me to my 
 God right humbly, 
 
 IV. Thefe are the Duties^ which we jy 
 profefs, on this Solemn Day, to per- 
 form : If with a true Chriftian Lowlinefs 
 of heart, and a devout fervency of Soul 
 we perform them: we fliall find, that they 
 will turn to a greater account to us, than 
 all the Warlike Preparations in which 
 we trull , than the AlHances of our 
 Potent Friends, or even the Fears of our 
 Diflieca'tned Enemies; that they will pght for Eccluf. 
 us better th.tn a. mighty Shield^ and flrong^^^^' ^^' 
 Spear, If we do, indeed, humble our 
 felves before God, this day, not merely 
 by the Outward Solemnities of a Faft, 
 but by ajflUHng cur Souls (as well as 
 Bodies) for our Sins ; by emptying our 
 Hearts of all thofe Vain and Swelling 
 G g 2 ThoughtSj 
 
45 ^ ^ Fajl Sennon preach' d 
 
 Thoughts, which Profperity hath infu- 
 fed into them ; by acknowledging our 
 felves unworthy of the leaft of God's 
 Mercies, at the fame time that we en- 
 joy the greateft ; by afcribing to Hi^ all 
 the Glory of what is paft, and by re- 
 nouncing all relyance on the Arm of 
 Flefh for the future ; by deploring the 
 mighty Guilt of our Tranfgredions, and 
 renewing fincere Vows of Obedience: 
 If, I fay, we do in this m.anner f^nctify 
 the prefent FaU^ i^wefcek tinto God,x}im% 
 Job. viii. betimes^ and make our Supplication to the 
 ^.7- jilmighty ; furely he will now awake for us^ 
 and, make the habitation of our RighteouJ- 
 nefs projperof^ y and, tho our beginning hath 
 not been finally yet our latter End jhall greatly 
 increafe. No fight is fo pleafing to God, 
 no Service is fo acceptable to him, as the 
 Publick Humiliations of a thankful Peo- 
 ple, in the midft of their Succelfes and 
 Victories. Mighty is the Efficacy of fiich 
 Solemn IntercelTions, even to avert Judg- 
 ments that are already denounc'd, (as ap- 
 pears from the cafe of the Ntnevites) : 
 how much more available then muft 
 they be, to fecure the Continuance of 
 J^lejflings, and to confirm and eiiaolifli 
 the Profperity which God hath already 
 given us ? 
 
hefore the Lord Mayor (^cl 453 
 
 LAciantius and St. Auftin are not a- 
 fraid to confirm by their Suffrage the Ob- 
 fervation made by Heathen *vdyhms,ci- 
 Writers ^, that the flourifli- ^^^o- 
 ing Eltate of the Roman Empire was 
 owing to the ReHgious Difpofition of 
 that People'; by which they afcrib'd all 
 their Succeiles to the Heavenly Powers 
 they Worfliip'd, and ftlll advanced in 
 their Regard for Religion, as they ad- 
 vanced in Greatnefs. Diis Te minor em 
 quod, gens imferas fa id a Ro?n/ins to 
 his Country-men, at that point of 
 time, when their Affairs were moft 
 profperous : It was, becaufe they carried 
 themfelves with a due Submiffion to the 
 Gods, that Mankind was made Subjeft 
 to them. Hath the Revelation of the 
 Gofpcl of Chrifl: made any Change in the 
 Methods of God's deahng with King- 
 doms and Nations ? If not — and the Re- 
 verence which thefe Heathens exprefs'd 
 towards their falfe Deities, was fo highly 
 rewarded, may not We Chriffians, when 
 we thus offer up^our Devotions to the 
 true God, expedl alfo a Bleffmg up- 
 on them ? We certainly may ; if they 
 come, not from the Lips, but the Heart ; 
 from an Heart fiU'd with a grateful Senfc 
 of Mercies receiv'd, and firmly refolv'd 
 
 to 
 
45 4 ^ ^^ft Sermon ^rcacUd 
 
 to do every thing in it's Power toward 
 deferving New ones : from an Heart, 
 fo affefted as good David's was (not 
 when he faid, I^ my Frofperity I fhall ne- 
 njer he moved, , but) when he had learnt 
 to fecure, and increafe his Prqfperity, by 
 an humble Behaviour towards God, and 
 a dutiful Relyance on his Providence j 
 and did, under thefe Convictions com- 
 pofe the following Hymn, to be us'd (as it 
 fiiould feem) in the Pub lick Service oF 
 the Church, on fome folemn 
 t Pi. cxxxi. -p^y. ^^ Humiliation, f Lord, 
 
 (faith he) my heart is not haughty^ nor mine 
 eyes lofty ^ neither do I exercife my felf in 
 great matters^ or in things too high for me. 
 As mighty things as thou haft done for 
 me, I have not been exalted, either in 
 Heart, or Look, on that account; nor 
 have bufied my felf in fearching out the 
 fecret reafons of thy diftributing Prof- 
 perity and Adverfity in fuch a manner 
 as beft pleafeth thee. Surely I have be- 
 haved and quieted my felf as a Child that 
 is weaned of his Mother; I have imitated 
 the Humble, Modeft , and Tradable 
 Temper of the Infant-State; Tea^my Soul is 
 even as a weaned Child^ it is as refign'd 
 to thy Guidance, as entirely dependent on 
 thy Care and Goodnefs. Upon which it 
 
 very 
 
hefore the Lord Mayor ^srv, 455 
 
 very naturally follows — Let Ifrael (^that 
 is,every Ifraelite indced^who can thus truly 
 fay of Iiimfelf 3 t^^^ft inthe Lord^from hence-* 
 forth ^ and for ever \ for there can be no 
 furer.way to Succefs, than by difclaim- 
 ing all Confidence in our felves, and re- 
 ferring the Events of things to God with 
 an Implicit Affiance. 
 
 Come on then , let as many of us, as 
 have not been Tempted by our Frofpe- 
 rity to entertain vain Thoughts, or arc 
 now refolv'd to difmifs them, bow our 
 felves before God, both pub lick ly and 
 privately, imploring the Continuance of 
 his Bleilings on tliat Righteous Caufe 
 wherein we are engag'd, and on Thofe 
 who by their Counfels, Courage, or Con- 
 dud uphold and llrengthen it j efpecially 
 on our moil: Gracious QJJ E E N^ whofe 
 Exemplary Piety and Virtues are its 
 greatell (3rnament and Advantage, it's 
 chief Support and Stay : Who , as She 
 hath had the SucceiTes of David^ fo hath 
 She receivd them with the fame Reli- 
 gious Humility He did ; and hath, by that 
 means, we truft, laid a Foundation for 
 more ; which (if our Vices hinder not) 
 He in due time will belf ow , who re^ 
 gardeth the Lowlynefs of his Hmdm.tiden^ 
 hnt jcattereth the Proud in the Inhiginxtion- 
 
45 d A Fajl Sermon preach' d 
 
 of their hearts : Who futteth down thi 
 Mighty fr'0?n their Seat ; but hath exalted^ 
 fand will exaltj the Humble dn'd Mefk, 
 
 To him. Father, Son, and Holy Sprit, 
 he afcrib'*d all Dominion and Praife^ 
 Now, and for Evermore, Amen/ 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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