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Ccaes eee >. a si : \ r - —s net i A NR i eee Prion La ae = agree ae eta, Pee ea ees THE NATURE and EFFECTS || OF "Preached before the Honourable Houfe of Commons, xe) aN . & “*. , : or 4 7 ~~ ea - Saturday, the Fifth of Neen, “1692. < tl THOMAS MANNINGHA M, D.D. and} | : Chaplain in Ordinary to ‘Their Majetties. | i ON D OWN, Printed by T boinias Braddyll and Robert E veringham, | | and are to be Sold at the Seven Stars in Ave-| | Mary-Lane, MDCXCII. , i e ; 4 f it r ’ af I ae ¢ ees 3 5) Fore neti Mi i Sih are eee eee al abe natin ee sent Apa Mores nw: asten va tat a , sy ’ ee Nn Te hr en ere ee ee eres eed SnnNesrare UvEe eee Ded Dinas API ta RISES Di OSA EN RAN " * ; ¢ . ‘4 sear VORiR RINE S Me ve HIM RP NR st Oe AN IRRE a Soman Oy yee PLM tan Se 4 tepals oy (Rem eee ORCS 2a Beisity . sap se Pe i q et ~ J z *y ‘ § tat ‘ ; : Sh i ¥ # Ar ‘ ? oe By | i ‘ . fe ; ! e . n ie / Fy ; ' : Bis » : x % M ‘ * vid 4 ; é $ a . ow 306 i 4 Sey: x ? 4 % ‘ ‘i é ‘ gees ie & " . % rl i % fa ee ‘ 2 Rae Pa i f ; { uct ain vA i wn ipod rs os je a a wag j sips § ; ag Nae : y ys » .- - % t facto ‘ sth * Pissing Borssdoen ‘ 4 % ¢ J i Le nN ‘i Bunt : ny ~ > v 2 : * 7 h Eeowsisey } Ape “ Sai } a . i hy, A ae 4 ii © Why i ¢ | : Phat [Sane ‘ fasta i , “Set ; Lae bead ke e & 4 } P dduns ® 7 pr 4 @ apie ie 43 ' ¥ ae rises is » Nr r < ad ae ; : ay : at 3 Se Ki “3 7%, ‘ ‘ oe 4 ssh ‘ or oh ; c ce i : : ¥ * ‘ ¢ , 5 ' " A ; i 2 4 a eg? q ? 4 ¥ z * 5 4 bs ; 4 EEA ¥6 Vues ¢ H ¥ B) NCAP Ray fi ® ; te h | FNS | a a 4 i 3 pis von y } * t i i x 3 i ; H 4 . ; fe i : 4 , \ if - R % * : : 4 & ‘ \ . 6 Fs % nr 3 A cad ¢ sf : ; ei ; ae: : Se oy ie ‘ j ij i / 4 : > i Asie A » f . . ] f a " ¢ © ‘ # my ‘ & : oh iM 3 ? & lap 4 1 ‘ ma S ha 4 yer * 4 x a eis & 2 ) al: lou ; ig SS ; ; bi t 465) & ig j 4 4 Stemyiys | : i . > iY ee « 4 ewe 4 * ; * 4 ; A ene wt ! a ; 5, ea a » Wises ‘i a ; q 4 H Ce { f 3 a | : - ‘a 4 * ‘ ; ‘ 3 4 J wh a ‘ & i a 2 \ % ; > . a i a = Z % &, v * > % A ; ‘ ' 4 ; : iH $ 3 i \ ‘ g i} . i i a i be ; ; x eros » s t q e *, a e- f > ‘ % a 7 , 4 & a ae £ rg OLEAN AER NO ROMANE PMN Ie OP a IL IOS ARTA Ret one Me Rar tin wih Ac ritarne | ANT NHO /tATNESTN: Monit eR gore. LIT IN hm AS ey Bs Pe EN se NL te RAN Hi SOY OF ton iB? Dae ee ee ee OE ee er Pr eee we it a A PE ela ORO TAME NAIR AE ERI aE aS SY se bi varleh ; : i ; t : ; Bis ae i J RA ia aatite ot aO1 a ene lO inca inant bed SAIN i rane 28 0 asa Sanya heroes eMigpiete yee ox eqnn tevin ‘ited Ny aN MAILE FS SS ee Sc ee ae a at, at alia i Ms deride ORES OE: cB TURN ACARE iy i ih gl AAR caBIG NRAR 528 % ‘ - < ot 5 N % i “ : ” we y ‘ es : : “4 ey SF Then Paul oo in the midft -o Marf. ERM and fad, ye Men of Wont T : - Preached before the Honorable” “Houte of Commons. “Aas xvii, 22. “ percteve. that... in all hing: 46 are nt : ey Me Jameel 7——~ When: St.Paul» ; talk: d.fo much: ait gb ono and thi Rejurredtion, chevy! took A Sermon Preached before took him to be a fetter-forth of New Gods, | and one who came to increafe the Superftition ofthe Vulgar; for we cannot well. conceive — that all the Philofophers of that-Age, efpecial- ly the-Zpicureas, which wasthe-moft-prevail- ing Sect at,that Time, had any, great Opinion of thofe Devotions and Ways of Worfhip, of whiclrthe Common People were fo Zealous : However, they expected fomething that was new, fomething that might entertain their In- quifitive Minds, and give fome Diverfion to chain Wir and Parts.301 i bool LEE TL sss \ _ The Religion of the great\Men of thatAge - -was wholly turn’d into curious Difputes,. into elegant Difcourfes, and a Gentile Way of pro- pofing and anfwering fome /pecious Probabilities, and of making their Converfations very eafie as - to matter of Opinions. They were fufficiently- confcious that fome of:the Idolatries of the World. were too :Grofs:and < Abfurdto bear the © practifed by aciviliz’d People. Some Popular — Worfhips they found inneceflary to allow:of, _ fach as might 'give Amufement, ‘and nowpreju- dice the Commonwealth: © They had dubrile Diftin@ions and Evafions: for themfelves, om ER Se FRE RE TR RSS Ra n> Gielen jacenaeoe ple ethics sasseesipae ices (agp SS Te TS I Ee irs BES sas oy TL te Sohn SEER So RE pee Eke a ode y % : 3 = - , % C3 i ° j y ¢ "9 : > : t ms i Q } 0 : = OmMmM0nS : C ® wvernable, and-not ‘difturb their foft Tranquil- jity5: They ‘were content ‘that many fanciful ‘Rues-and Dotages {hould prevail, and be'efta- 6 . blifhed ‘by their Laws. It iseatie to’read ‘this Epicurean Temper in the Behaviour ‘of moft ‘of thofe Roman ‘Magi- -iftrates, | who'were’ concerned ‘in the: Affairs of Judea; and their own Hiftories acquaint us that this was the Temper which then-gene- rallyprevailed:among their Great Men : Their smain ‘Bufinefs was Empire and Eafe, they did not careto trouble themfelves. much about the ~ ‘Queftions’‘and Zeal of contending Parties, bur fuffered all’Men ‘to enjoy ‘their particular Per- fwafions, ‘fothey raifed no Tumults, and aét- ed nothing ‘contrary to the Intereft of Cefar. “This-was the Humour of ‘the Epicurean Party, though others were of fomewhat a warmer ‘Temper. WIRY €HORGo1g Metigias _- Now St. Paul, who was not afraid of So- crates “his Draught, {pake’fuch Truths before - the Magiftratés, ‘and the moft captions. Seéts, and in that ‘City too, which-was-the Metropolis of-all Idolatry, with ‘that Freedom and Bold- nefs-as few-of their wife Men, had ‘they been able, would*have ventured to have fo publick- ee fo the Multitude would be but quiet andgo- ly own _of fome ‘Truth, yet: for the molt parc detain’d ic in UnrighteoufnefS: But our Apoftle, in an:un- daunted, maniier,, declares unto. chem, the God ae Te eee ee - : : / A Sermon Preached before o_—, ’d. who, though, they were con{cious of the Jews, the God, who madethe World and AIL Things, the,God,; whom: they themfelves .didtignorantly Worfhip 5 to: whom they had rere@ed’ an Altar,- though, they-had appointed mo-Sicriftce.zeiofliH nwo vera bros gens There were fome few. of thé:more Thinking Men; both among the Athenians and the Romans, who had gone a great way in dilcovering and confuting, the: Follies and Barbarities, of the — amore. monftrots: Sorts of Supérftition’5)-chey could, sina great meafure, - pull down the old — one; they were vigorous Oppolers of fome very palpable Falfhoods,,but knew not where tofind the “Fruth s, Whereas. St..2aul, not only difcovered the egregious Vanity of Paganifm, bur fet before:themthe trne and only Religion; the Worfhipiof one God, v.23: fincere Repen- tance, v.39. -ftedfalt. Belief of a Day of) Judg- - ment,.,and anexprefs.and peculiar Faith in thar — Man whom God. had. ordain’d to Judge the whole World: in. Righteoulnels , of which he had given)a full aflarance, and; demonftration, by SIGART OS Tea? ans, we {hall find thatthey-have a Foundation iii — natural Religion, buttheir! main ftrengthand laft ‘Evidence is built uponRevelation: For he reafons withthem, That there.is one God the Maker of Heaverand Earth,: and: all-things:therein.; -that'nothing is more ablured thamto makeany material Reprefentation of the Infinite Being ': That Man is but an Off-fpring of God, and if an’s Reafon and -Un- . no. Art can reprefent Man s | derftatiding by any. fmageésin Gold; Silvet.or Stone,: how much lefs can it: houre out the Inz comprehenfible Godhead, ‘of which» Man’s Soul is but an imperfect Image ?) That God is not to be worfhipped with any Opinion of In- digency in him, asf he needéd any, thing, :as they fuppofed their Demons did; -who, ‘as; they fancied, were pleas’d, and, as it were, . fed: with the Steams of theit Sacrifices} whereas — s hep “wiio © was f , ko rd 2 -of | Heaven va nd. Ba (th 3; — wanted: nothing,and: would bé Worfhipped fer Ndvantage, mot his own 2: That he was our: the Crearor of alk Mankind, having made‘ok eos E hat his,Pro- ing ahd Goo vidence was over allpanmsSultdin -hisnoind | ¥en _ with admirable Addrefs,1 , poner all Things : et & hat Ben or Be bad. pers ree thes ignorant) World to try their own ways, -yet now he commanded -all -Men.to Repent: ‘And: co confirm:the general appre- henfion they had ‘of a: Day-of Judgment, and tomake-it a certain Principle of all their \De- figns ‘and A&tions, he appeals to Revelation,; tells ithemto be the greateft Mafters, and by the Authority of Aratus, an Aftronemical Poet of high Repute amoneft them; and laftly, wherein he not _ only confutes their Errors, but fhews them the Truth; notbyfubtilry and human Methods, but by: having, recourfe to the Revelation of God; and that teftify’d; by. the greatelt of Mie racles, the :Refurreétion ef Chrift’ from) the — Dead‘; having thus enlarg’d upomthis Oration _ ef Sts Paul, whichhe made againft-the Super- tition: of the Athenians, in the midft’ of their preat Court of Judicature, Ifhalbendeavour — thefe three Thingsin: my following Difcourfe.. TI, To lay down fome Confiderations: that may lead: us into a. more diftin& Knowledge of the Nature of Superftition. — at orice Il.. To obferve fome of its more Barbarous. Effects, {uch as the Occafion andthe Hiftory of this Day shall faggeft. . _ IIL To propofe fome Direétions. to pres ferve us from this Horrible Sin, : and theill oo Confequences-of it, aon LTe Cooney - Entertainment to: his): and) wherein he con- 2 “A Ser er mons 5 Preaghed befo fre a Ee “i down fore. Confi iderations, ees 1ary ule, is made a pleat in: its ordir } wba of Ambiguity, and. acommon Term of: Difdain, »which is mutually caft upon all the - Differences' in. Religion ..'The Epicureans .couns ted it: Superftition to. acknowledge: the: Provis dénce-ot God) and to. pay! him:any. ‘Worthip béfides ‘the byincie Efteem of the Mind. | The Heathen Writers, whenever they | ‘mention the Jews or the. Ghriftians; fpeak of chemias:a moft -wretchedly- deluded People; igiven over to'an obftinate Superftition’:. Bue I think the Primi2 tive Fathers: have {uffictently. manifetted whete Superftition was to: be. really chare’d,. by ex= | pofing,’ their ‘Abfurdy Cruel) and: Obfcene Rites, and by Baffling all the Arguments which’ : yo brought to juftifie their Follies. | > Bue ftill; there ate vaft Bodies of People in : the World, who live under different Perfwa~ ~fions in Religion, -asiswell’ as. under difference Governments 5- who are mightily. {atishied in their dwn ways of Worthip; and commiferate -all who are not of their Opinion, as poor de= luded- Creatures blinded with Superftition. - Nay; the Profeffion of Chriftianity it elf, is fo All’d up with different Imaginations, Rites and mess that almoft ia diftinet Communions are “4 ape | areerrsP ahd Abhe porting oie” S anothe = oS upon the account of Superftition. pd ae They: who know the “World, ‘know line . chalet are true “Obfervations, and: very depto: —-_- gable? But furethere is fone ‘better Standard . 1 > ‘of Superftition than ‘the opprobrious Language ands Paffions 6f Mankind): and se gel 8 the* “thilig : y tam now to enquire: afer. . | OBS Therefore, "tis well Refbwin dois Piacsich -— hadewwrieren the: molt, celebrated’ Treatife‘on this Subject, of any atnong thé Ancient Hea» © thems: for chat Book’ ‘of Seneca’ coricerning Su- = perftition, which St. 4u/tin quotes, is not ‘comé : - downto our Hands: © — though this Grave and Ingenious “Author has delivar'd many ex- | . .. 4oebbene “Things: on thatHead, and Mew'’d'an : ss extraordinary Zeal againgt thae who paitited | | the Divinity ia a Horrid Shape? that they might = press © thei’ own il fiers 6 5 ae whee fe : one Bi of ore” sabi do’ arg iY For pint BR — Superftition may arife? Frotiy’ Péar, yet, it tifes alfo from: Fgnorance,’ or a “Stupidity ofthe Mind; “from Love’ and’ Pondnels, as well 4s fiont Fear, from almoft any Paffion of the Soal, and Any a oF the’ Body; for C when: ————— est a eee wee oe as ae ae “A Sermon Preached before a when the Natural Sence of a Deity, and of the Duty that Man owes him, comes to be Vitiated with a mixture of Mens own Infirmi- ties. and Paffions, thofe Infirmities and Paf-— fions. ftand ready to commence Superftition 3. there. being. nothing. more requir’d , but an, Opinion of their. being well-plealing to God, which is feldom wanting to Mens own. Imaginations. ,.. Befides, to call a Dread of ' God by the Name of Superfticion, is fomewhat a. dangerous Expreffionto Chriftian Ears, when we confider how the Old Te/tament does almoft every where reprefent Religion by the Fear of God; amd that the Prophets convers'd with him under great Tremblings and Terror. Plutarch was a Platenift, and the Platoni/ts were: a Sett, of People who were generally of a foft. and Amorous Nature, who plac’d their _Happinefs in the Speculation of Ideas; and who rarely confider’d God, as a Righteous Punifher of Sin, but chiefly asa moftamiable . Being for them to contemplate ;. they ufually. entertaind very good Opinions, of them- felves,; .and— of their own Perfections, and kittle. thought of that Gulf which Sin. had made between Man and the Divine Nature 3 and therefore they. hardly. allow’d {uch a jul Severity, to the Deity, as was requifite for the wife _ ~vthe Honje of Commons. wife Government of the World, but made his Goodnefs to {wallow up his Juftice.Where- — as God, who knows his own Nature beft, has. given us another) Character of himfelf, the Lord, Merciful and Gracious, and forgiving Iniquity 5 but will by na means clear the Guilty, — vifiting. the Iniquities of the Fathers upon the Children, . Exod. 34. 6,7. Superftition therefore, though varia- dle in its Original and Effects, is always founds ed upon a falfe Apprehenfion of God, and — confequently upon a falfe. Apprehenfion of Religion, by which be is Serv’d and Wor- fhip’d : And.as this falle. Apprehenfton) of 4 God and Religion arifes trom feveral Caufes, ? and produces feveral Effects, fo accordingly Superftition -is varied 5, It confilts both in Opi- nion and Praétice; .and though: Practice be moft Obvious and Remarkable, and that from which Opinion is ufually gather'd 5. yet it may be defin’d, with a regard to both, viz, That it wthe Performing of a religious Service, though it be really unacceptable and unworthy to be-of- ferdtobim. Sothat our next Enquiry will be, to know what Religious:Service is -well-plear fing to God, and what is unacceptable to him. | I. Some have thought .chat the Manners sand Cuftoms of the Country, and the Pub- - S1Ohi oT oe ~~ dick | A Sern mona a Pr eat ve Ife ick Laws are: hk only Doe aiewsianseicies in this. ‘Matter £ So Seneca issreprelented by. St. Au/tin, for conclading that thofe:Superftitions which ‘he could“ noc approves oP tochis own Mind, were *yet''to? be Sobferw'd) “becaufe che Laws ‘commanded: them :° Que omnia: fapiens obferva- bit tanguam legibus jaffa, non oe pas grate, ©: D: 1, 6. igetig}ate43 noi: | And not much unlike is chai: @ihichi the Church of Rome Affigns, when fhe makes: her Conftitutions the only meafure of what i is, ‘and whit | is hot, Superftition. > But now ‘this isa way: “of | cdnféoadiig’ all “Prith, or of making it fafe,oas to Temporal Intervet, for Men to ‘pradtice the Superftitions ‘ef ‘every Country, where they are publickly allowed | but this gives the Mind no. ‘Light, ner banblési it to make a Rational sand Certain Dillinciba ‘Between’ rte aa and Suporite- tion. G DEEL 2a cppeal ¢ to the Pokicples = Natural Avligicn:; arid to“ the Didtates of found Mora- lity, did go.agreat way among. fome of the ewifer Heathen. “cowards the Determination of this Thing s and therefore St. Paul infifted fo ‘mtich upon Natural Principles in his Speech to thé Ythenians, though he did not ultimately reft on n thofe : Grofs Idolatry ‘could: not ftand be- fore Caen 800 the foufesof Commons. | Ai BRE SEAT TR ee ee oy re ON aS mes ae ete aber he whee EN ries EA EON AE ORCI AST PEAR ON A A SERA Nt ORE RE AAO AACR OE ELAR fore'tthe Light of Natural Reafon, when it. was -— awell difplay’d 5 buyer there :were manyslel: fer’ Extravagances‘ from whiclothe: politer Heas then could tot’ freethiemfel ves’ bythe ftrength of that’ Principle’ “Thus. Cicero, “wno-wWassa great Mafter of Moraliry,’ and deeply ingag'd in all che Gallantry of Roman Vertue dnd Hes roical Worth, made“ a'fhift; by the Sagacicy of Kis Reafon; "and the Natural:Probity cof chis Mind, to confute the more‘Abominable Opi- nions and Practices of the Superftitious an chis Time ; whatfoever was Barbarousand Inhu: man, whatfoevér was Obfcene and) Filshy, - and Egregioufly abfurd in*the Gentiles Wore fhip, he perfectly detefted, as direétly cone trary to the Benignity of God, tothe Modefty of Human ‘Nature, to the’ Untverfal Loverot Mankind, and che*Foundation of all Society: _ But when he had werk’d his Reafomto fome height, and had proceeded fo far as*to givera good blow to all Paganifim, ‘by his Rational and. Searching Difcourfes pyet,. at daft, che» - fourrd it neceflary to retain fome Sacrifices, and fome Cererhonies in the Worfhip of the Gods for which he’ could give’ no other reafon than the Teftimony of ‘the Oracles, and the Ivadition ot Ancefters: “And this plaialy fhews, that “there: is-no refting in this Argument, ull we come to Dicome ors, EEL ESE NLL A Hi wt : “A Sermon Preadhed ig ao Divine Revelation. We may, doubtless, 80. _ great way towards the detecting of Superftition by the ftrength of that which Men call Natural Religion: and: Moral Principles, and the Eter- nal Reafonef Things; for whatfoever is.appa- rently repugnant to the Notion of the Godhead, to the Perfection of our own Nature, and to che beft Conceptions of our Minds, can never be the whole, or any. part of the true. Worlhip of | God : But though this be freely granted, yeel fuppofe that Man would be hard put to it, that fhould undertake to prove that the Ceremonial Worfhip of the Ancient Jews.was not Supertti« tion, and be allow’d no Arguments to prove this by, but fuch as arife from the natural Noe tions of Things, and a fuitablenefs to the Di- vine Nature : Had not God been pleafed, to Ins | ftitute that Worfhip Himfelf, and toigive Au- thority to it, by a multitude of undeniable Mi- racles, we fhould never havefound any intrin- fecal Goodnefs i in it, by hearkning to our own Reafon, or by contemplating the Divine Na- ture. So likewile, in refpeé to the two Sacra» ments of the Chuftian Religion, what Con gruity can we difcover Letorcen chinfe material and fenfible Ceremonies, and a pure and infi- nite Spirit ? Tis true, they are admirably fuic- ed to the Worlhip of a God Incarnate, but thea that the Houfe of Commons. 5 that is matter of Revelation, and is the thing I. contend for; viz. That we can never boldly pronounce concerning what is true Religion, and what is Superftition, till we fix our felves upon Divine Revelation: For though, as 1 have obferv’d, fome of the wifer among the. Gentiles were able, by Natural Reafon, to dif. cover fome of the grofler Parts of Superftition,, yct full they themfelves were under. the fame. Bondage, though ina lefs Degree;.. as fome, Madmen, who are lefs Raving, will oftentimes. {peak with fome Judgment and: Compaffion of. the more Extravagant Madnefs of others, tho? all the while they. too labour under, the fame, Difeafe, but thew Difeafe is. natin, fo:high a, Ferment. | | | foe We. muft centre our felves therefore upom. the Reveal’d Will of. Godin, Matters of Reli+ gion, and nottruft too much to our own Rea+ fonings: concerning the Divine Nature and: Will, of which we fhould have known fome=: thing, but very little, if God had not been: pleafed to difcover himfelf to us in his holy O-. racles : If Men fhall go: to make Religion,. or any partofit out of theirown Heads, they will certainly make a Superftition of ic : There is, not fo much as apurely Natwral Religion in he; ; fall’n State of Mankind ;. no Prayers og Prailes,, OK. { kg? See rr ee at oe on tlt SOLES NES = rie la = ee renee Se I RE ere raaidyywaneerens eect AEDT IE TO OS 5 mea ' a a = oe SSS : ‘i : : - = ee a Bitte gate SE ee ret anna e Diba SUE 2 Hsia rnb ava esl : 2 : sececoerseatrs wane inst. ueant Den = i rier ae. ‘ pS GE LATOREA STEER OS # en Pon OL Eta REE lationof God in all the Effentials, and‘in all the - fubRantial Adts of Worfhip, and Superftition — ia departing fom iin-any ofthicfe:’ All che f Relit he has Cormmanded. | “OT effect this, . a OF ee Gi a z a & Se -"That God may reveal his Will to“ Mankind in4'Supernatural and Extraordinary Manner : 3 a. That he! can make ‘ule of firfficient means to confirm his Revelations tous, ‘and to en- ablectis ‘to diftinginth’ between a true Reve- lation’ anda’ pretended one : That what-- evetGod' Reveals is| infallibly true : That —if"we ‘will make* a fincere Ue. of our Fa- ctilties - we may” fo: ‘far’ tmderftand © the aia true “Reafor may proceed’ in) de ae : : : ~~ £ 5 Pe Gee ee ee GRASS Z : Fea & » fe 3 es £S * & tt es eet ee = 3 S = Se. & 7 f = 3 iz: Lay Sy eS i . 3 tiois * Nret sad py there rundamerntal ivia= 3 ¢ e < : me See Sy AS FE Se PS PEO TS Pee Cz Seg SS Pa FS FS SP Se wey Ss a or 7 2 54 Se = 2 ee & 2 3 ; = Se Ee ae =e ae © = ts . Sg te 48 3% sf, & 2k & Lo 4 2 Se a a ES Ses - es mas, 4 — ——-=-- ee as a 1s. et penvenmeunn NE a ee ee = onan Se a= ci res Des Oe tt Sang NOTES ie = 3 ; EE OST gS . fectire, that we have. right Objects. for our Faith, and true Rules and- Meafurés for our Obedience: Buc thén farther, ’tis'as- Ra: tional a Conclufion; as-anyof-the foregoing. that God) can reveal! more than-we.can fally comprehend: or; that-he' oan dilcover: to-us fuch-fublime-Truths,aswe may have fuffitient Reafon: to: believe,, tho’ we have not Capaci= ties fully to conceives; and’ io is herd éf pecial« ly,. that our: Reafon as-10-{to Ops. ahd co yield to Faith; for our; Underftan dings are finite; and) not. a: proper Meafure: of, all: Divine — Truths: and ; whates:mOre-to'be infitted On} — tte Senfe: of whatever God has reveal’d: ret __ lating to:his. Worhhip,. as.to’ diftinguith his Mind; fren falfe Interpretations, and! to be A Sermon Pr cached before there is but one Trae Religion, ‘ot acceptable Worhip, which is the Chriftian; and thacall the reft are Superftitious,’ whether femi/h, Pagan, ot Mahometans for the Fewi/b Religi- on, as’tis now profefsd in oppofition to Chritt; and as’tis ftuff’d with modern Dotages, is a poor, wretched Superftition, = As tocwhat concerns the charge of Super- ftition among Chriftians, 1 may now be dif- patch'd in few words: For Ido not fee, that it can with any mannet of Truth, be apply-d to any vifible Public Con/titution, but that of the Church of Romey for 1 do notconcern my felt Sects.It cannot confift,either in the numeroul- nefs or! oddnefs: of Ceremonies, when there is no Méritattributed:to them,'and they are hot enjoin’d as Subftantial Acts of Worhhip, or as parts of Holinefs, in themfelves: well pleafirigito|God.ow ial, 2voituea yribovox As to Superftition in Mannets, or the bad ufe which fome make of the Excernals:of'Re- ' ligion, that cannot:-be prevented by the moft excellent Conftitution of a’ Church, nor by _ the beft Wifdom of a Nation; for when People areaverie to realiGoodneds, they: will ery to:goto Heaven: by. fhifts; and place Per» feétion in Inftrumental Piety ; Thefe are abu- | — fes fes which cannot be wholy prevented by any Public Eftablifhmenr; bur People mutt be call’d off from fuch:fore of Superftition,: by. frequent Admonitions; and by {uch Sermons and Difcourfes;: as thall plainly thew; -where: in real and fubftantial Holinefs does confit. Whereas the Church of Rome, has Eftablith'd Superftition by a Law, and-madeit the moft Celebrated part of their Worthip:and Devo: tion. A great pare of them Religion: as founded upon fome particulars,’ which they © conjecture, . muft. needs be 'Tranfacted: by Souls departed, and in the behalf of Souls, as they arein:a State of Separation, concern- ang which Revelation has left us inthe dark; wherefore, that muft: neceflarily be-a: very great Superftition, which obliges People to receive duch practices, «as parts’ of Divine Worhhip, . which have’ nothing “to fappore ~ them, but Man’s Prefumption. The Wor- fhipping of Saints and Angels, is Superftiti- on in the principal Senfe of thé Word, Aaadeupgriz, the Worhhip of Demons’;. not- —withftanding all the fine colours, by!which their witty Mentry to difgurfe this: practice ; us hard to propofe any two thingsan’ che world, that cun in fo exact aparallel, as the elgg. D 2 W orfhip pane = or rE ITT EELS EET SI A Oa : 4 Ps ? Bus ane ng s the Ganatlos; and i the WV ‘orfhip of Saints among the 'Papafts ; ‘allel, farc’d and | (aoe for, nor 7 nag ‘diby. fanfie, but fucl as coberudes 1 it Worthip of: Dewicyrs| a | lf uponithe Obferyation, cand \offers at self ——- goneur firft:RefleQiions. «Little did St; Pant — think, when he made hhis admirable Speech againft the Superftition of whe Arhenians, that he hum ‘Mt fo: adi one day be. W orthip’ d , gs anfone vat Demon in the Ghriftian Church : / Burfoitis, the Seducer has been:too hard for thof Chuftians; who would nor ftand to | ~ _. ghe-plain Word of 'God; ‘but would prefume qi somake Additions to the main and principal a part of all Revelation, ‘the Doctrine of the | Mediation of Obrift : He has infinuated a i amoft abonunable shabetey whichis the worft | spartof Superftition, under ‘another drefs, | | the hasfupply’d the :Papifts, ‘with Angels and | : Saints, inftead of Demons and Hero’ s, and | | has fent them Ju biter ANC Moncey, in the like- i] pesiof Barnabas and Paul.’ - Having Jaid down fome Atoniillardeitis, | that may leadus into a 1 more diftinct Know- = noe of the Nature of ‘Supe flition 31 Laie cg in tne | Second place, roobierve fome of its more | | barbarous iil tl barbarous fire ucha fion, and the Haiftery vot; ~, Had awe only the Follies and Impieties of | Superttition to complainiof, at were.a Gric 4 vance worthy the Care and) Wifdom ofa | Chriftian Nation xto provide again{t; ‘but SoS ~ when-we confider, chat movhing animates Peo- — ple more to Sedition, and to anabhorrence ae of all good Government, than Superftiaon ; a ehat itis themoft frumful parenc.of ignorant and bitter Zeal; that che moft cruel Conf{pie | racies, and moft mifchievous Defigns are ge- nerally fuggefted by. Superftitious Councils, | and moft.commonly attempted by Men of | inthufiaftick Tempers, embolden‘d ‘by falfe a chefe things, and what a’ peculiar Malignity there isin all Superftimomagaintt ‘the ‘Civil | Peace of Kingdoms, and the fafety of Pub- | | lick States; there feems.to lyeia new Ob/igati- | pw onthe Magiftracy vo hinder the increate of | . that Diftemper in Religion, whichis fo apt _ { ~ go turn into the worft Plague of Government, — | Rebellion upon pretence of Confcience.:) Laci+ nip. i: | b of the Bg yprians ot his time,’ chat" * Id:hardly obeyany:Magitrates,or — ~~ hearken | gates east re AP tne DO DI a gt A Sermon Preaswea before hearken:to any ‘Laws, upon the account of their numerous Superftitions. And the Hi- {tory of our own Times may fatisfie any reas -fonable Perfon, that when ever People of fuch. Perfwafions and Tempers fhall: be fuf- ferd to come toa Head, there will foon be - an end of all juft Authority :. For what legal -Reftraint can be laid upon thofe,who prefume themfelves actuated: in all:things by a Divine Impulfe, and: that all the Murders. they commit, are but fo many Acceptable Sacri- ficesto God? andwho will be fureto throw. | off their Civil Subjeétion, as foon as everae fhall come into their Fancies, that God -will help themagainft ther Magiftrates? 9) >> The Confpiracy of this day is Evidence e- nough, what Cruel and Barbarous Defigns Superftitionis always big with, tho’, God be thank’d, ‘ic has not always ftrength to bring forth: Nothing, it feems, could content thofé Superftitious Zealots, but the choiceft Sacrifice, made up of the nobleft Blood, and the Flower of Humane Nature gather’d into one body: And that there mightbe no- _ thing co oppofe their hellith Defign, they were ‘refolv'd.not to.give the blow; ‘ull all che Au- thority; Wifdom, and:Courage of the Nation were & the Houfe\of Commons, were met inoné Auguft Affembly; but Pro- vidence, which prefides over Kingdoms, is _ efpecially watchful over Parliaments, by which Kingdoms are beft fecur'd; and {till continues a Succeffion of Them to withftand — all ‘Popifh Counfels' and “Attempts, and’ to praife the Lord for that great Deliverance. ~. But feeing many are not apt to be fo ve- ry fenfibly affected with thofe Deliverances, which were conferr'd’on the Generations be- fore them; behold ! this Day has been fince © enlarged with: new Mercies, ‘and th erefore requires a double Gratitude from us. When the ‘Men of the fame Superfticion had brought another horrible Defign almoft to — effect, of undermining the Government, and of blowing up the Laws and Conftituti- © ons of this Kingdom and Church; even that was: as. miraculoufly: prevented by a Divine and feafonableInterpofal; and ic muft needs raifé our Wonder and Joy, when we confi- der} who: that Deliverer was, that’ Providence fentus: A ‘Royal:Prince ‘out of that very utter Extinétion: A Prince born fo near this — almoft fatal Day, ‘his Birth havingan imme- diate priority to this Anniverfary, that Hea- Line, which was on-this Day devoted to an an eT nk TT Ye ven, aie feems) to | aflare us,, that He -has, an Afcendanr: over. all.che. Malignant Infu-. ences of Popilh Sorcery; andithat their. Divi- nations, fhall never prevail againft-him ; and, that. by: his. verry. Nativity, she, is pointed. out. to, be the Guardian of, the! Proteftant Cant: And, what is anocher, remarkable Gircum- ftance in- our: Deliverer,, he is; a, Prince de- feended: from: that Noble: Aticeftor’ of his, who, withtteed the ‘Tyranny: and: growing Menarchy of Spains, when. fie: thought. to have, gpafp'd-all the Liberties of Aarope; and sree drankdeep of the Cupiof Fornications, the - i given her Rowen: and hee Senge unto ial ate Genlidiataibei: hae ‘woukd ‘compe: any Rational Man, the.ofne-Prophe- tical Genius, to: conclude,., that: doubtlefs, — fome: greater Revolution than: whatiwe have vet, experumented; 1s mowing: on; unless our ——_ ftep its > pd fides id Mercies; that’ sanidhivoch evant Year ¢ Commemoratedi fince that happy) Re olee we:are: ftillitanblefs\Gods. than we have: our Bftabhtid: po wd and: may fre bina; without ar Slavatt Active, to watch aa to” spilittand?: a very hy ele. + ke a, Creature’ that ‘we have to’ deal with, whofe - greateft Strength lyes on the Land’; yer‘by a prodigious Ga Hantry,of forrie of the Braveit Men that ever gave their Lives: for’ their Country; He has-been lately taughe: thatic would not be fo hatd'forus to Conquer, ifhe had but Courage to giveus one fair Battel: -’Tis not the Method of Divine Providetice, to doall for usat once,but tetry ourG: dgtude, by feveral inftances of his soodiels gradually’ the: Deliverances he fends us; to fee whether we will'repent and amend, : and: wheehit'v we his Favour’ are wort iy of the continuancd of! A Sermon Preached before - If-he finds. by the daily increafe of Wickednefs amongft us, that-he fhall not be Glorify‘d by: our:Profperity, he wall change his Method of. dealing with us, and be.Glorify’din our Op-. preflion. If we grow fo nice, as to murmur. at his- proceedings, becaufe they do-not cx- actly anfwer to all our Defires; af we prove: fo,unreafonable,,as, to think we are undone, becaufe our Safery-puts.us: co fome Expences ;, and if our Condition. appear miferable, be-. caufe our Bleffings are fomewhat chargeable: to,us;. then have we Reafon to fear, Ieft, our, Repining should. provoke God to, make us: Drink. deeper of the Cup.of Afflictions, . be-. fore he gives usa farther Delivery. ; : _ Gofpel. have been: often put to. make Apologies for the darker: -Providences. of , God ;.. but. the; untoward. Temper of this Age puts'us upon making A-. pologies for his-very, Mercies too.: .Men have: been: fo, much. usd; to Infidelity, . that.they- willnot believe their own. Temporal. Happt-, nef, , if they, can find the leaft ching co abject: againtt its. | wag Te -. Weall underftand what. Difcontents. there. are. in this: Kingdom ; (and can any of you re... men ole og when this Nation é Was Without: ts; 4 ee ee is OLS Pie $ ~ whe Hf of | Commons. | {ations fome are ready to make of every Management, and of every Event; we grant there are many difficulties under which we lye at prefent, and that the carrying on of fo Neceflary and fo Diffufivea War, mutt needs be our burthen, as well as our Security ; but none of thefe things muft put a damp upon ‘our Spirits, leffen our Gratitude to God, or -check our forwardnefs in contributing large. ly towards the Maintaining of chat Caufe, in which the whole Proteftant Intereft is bot- tom’d ; and in which his Majefty has been fo. Nobly feconded’, by the concurrent Af - fiftance, of a Wile, a Senfible, and a Gene- - yous Parliament. Il. I come in the lat place, to lay down ‘fome Directions, to preferve us from the Horrible Sin of Superftition, which is one great occafion of all the Troubles « of this Kingdom, And here! beg leave, to recommend Thiee Things more e(pecially.. 1. The firft is, a thorough infight into the Law of Nature, and the obligation of Mo- ral Actions ; an excellent piece of Wifdom, and brought to great Perfection in fome late : 28 Writings: - CakiBadnk 2) we ‘know what ill Rep “A Sermon Preasbed before Wrsmes:: The. ftudy_ of this,.. "will render. Mens Judgments: found and mafculine, make them lefs lyable to Superftitious Fancies, and confequently lefs fubject to Atheiftical Con. -ceits, which many runinto, by an Injudicious and too hafty abhorrence of the other. Make but a fober Enquiry into the True Nature of - Humane Actions, and that will quickly Teach you, to diftinguith between Moral Duties, and Ritual Performances,and Barbarous Impicties, -aéted. under the pretence of Religion ; and to prefer Obedience, Righteouinels, Tempe- rance, and Mercy, before the Sacrifice of Fools and Madmen; it will bring youto: ac- knowledge, that your beft Actions fall below — your Rule, and then the Defeéts of Moralicy, will directly Jead yousto feck after an Expiati- on for thofe Defects, and that Expiation: IS Chrift our Saviour. 9, Do burtake a ferious view of the bios ble Superftitions of the Ancient and Modern © Heathen, and you will quickly abhor all. ap-" “proaches towards fuch Degeneracies from common Reafon, and from ‘the firft. Notions of Religion, and notindure that Chriftianity fhould. have any of thofe fordid mixtures brought: Into It; which 1 in time would. ane | a that CS ee run down by Fury and Rebellion, an rid Confpiracies undertaken with Ceremonies < fhip® of one God: thro’ one. “that Seascale Taftieaiion an = of the - vileft’ practices in the World: For ‘when once the Superftitious get a Head, there will bend ftopping of them; ‘they’ will rage inal man- ner of bloody, and barbarous Effects ; “id the deftruction of Cities, Families, Pe fovinees, as ‘very acceptable parts of’ Devotion’; they will proceed, for all chat'l know, from Plots and Maffacres, to worfhip God direétly by Hu- mane Sacrifices; from the attempting: to blow up ‘Parliaments, to the offering up their own Sons and Daughters unto Devils. 3. Do but. perufe the Hiftory of eh Church in its firft and pureft Ages, and you will wonder how that Grave Matron, the Chriftian. Religion, came to put on fach. a -meretricious, Paint, as it appears ‘with in the | Church..of Rome; low old. plainaels and Sincerity came to. be fs fupplanted by Artifice and: Fraud ; how Goodnefs,; Candor, Peace. ablenefs, and lawful Subjection came, to be id hor- of Religion; and how the moft Solemn Wor- Mediator, came to be curn’d almoft into. the Worthip of one ey and all fuch Saints as he hall pleafe to — Canonize ; BS # ROE ma ae 2 a: ss F tees - 2 4a 2 Sis: PMT CLE aE IE ; OE “eichicr: for t ) ‘their Villany. Aiea 9. For a general Direétion to all Chritt. | ans), who. would not be. enfnar. ‘d by Superfti- tion; I intreat them to ftand to the Holy - n Politicks, have ' very much abated of chat A ‘Sermon: Prearbed hefore re fein Holinely, or for Scriptures, and to-‘well feafon ‘cheit Minds witha due fenfe of the Chriftian - Religion from thof. Pure and Spiritual Dilcourfes which our Saviour himlelf has left.us: To ‘confider, what are the efpecial Duties to which he has annexed his Bleffings, and what ds the Hypocrifie and Formal Worfhip he has moft zealoufly opposd. . Tis converfing ~ much with the Holy Scriptures, that alone is ‘able to make a Man Devout: and Difcreet at the fame time; there is no fach fecurity a-_ gainft all Superitition, asa conftant tecourfe © tothe Word of God, that. Cryftal Fountain of all Truth; F loliness, ‘Wifdom, and Love; and. when, thee, Graces are ‘well infus‘d into Our Hearts, nothing but what is folid in Re- ligion will -be able to n make any ftrong Im- | > ge Bs See pre ion. on our. Sou cae TO. ‘conclude, ‘That w nich t am willing to leave very, affecting , and warm upon your Minds, is this, That I fear our little Differences jutt juft abhorrence which is.due to the Abomi- ° oh BR IES BR a OG Oe Ni ts I, Hate SS SERIE TREE SO PE ESL SERPENT IB a Se os . > {3 : 4 Be ‘. oe = 7 foes ee” Le os : . ee 4 : eit. ook . = y ay wy ee g es Sa fom & | ay moo : Fs G Ree ee <% . * me Se é 7 j ee , : : es Sein . > 5 aid ‘ — ae a <> 2 A E 7a = a fs ee. ae ieee | "SBE eae * es = f = ; : : & % oR RES x ; eS a ‘ ae a * S SR ae ee SS gs =. 9 3 ee eG ge Sot meee Sane *g ¥ mable Superiticions of the Church of Rome. and,fo the laft Error. may be worfe thanithe fir; Butwhatever mulcatriages we nucually impute to.cach) other, Jet us. all, aflure our Aelves, that Popery is ftill che fame Corruption of Chriftianity as. before, and.thar there isno Alteration: in. the. Opinions.and. Defigns of that Church, whatever there may. be.in the Piety and Conftancy of thofe who feem to flacken very much in their Oppofitionagaintt. _ with, that, Moderation, that all. Parties may: come into the true Intereft’ of the, Nation, — which is the prefervation of the Proteftant- Religion; that all our Hearts may be united: into the fame general Policy and Wifdom ;. that our Divifions may be no longer a Re-- proach to our félves,and a Triumph to our E-. nemics: And, in a word, that Luxurious Ff, , Murmuring Thanksgivings, and falfe Profet- fions of. Al/egigncé mia} Met ‘be the ruin of. this Church and Kingdom !' If neither Judg- ments nor Mercies will do us any good; if. We are of too perverfe a-‘Temper, either to. be Humbled or Oblig’d, then our. greatett. Calamity.is not remoy'd, but only deferr’d ; a Gree ‘3 S224 8 2 RAPS Beet SR teal * aida be ‘ SS se 3 4 tet i. = 3 go & ; b ; ~ tes “ea - % t i ase = cate. as = 2 F: : A @ : : a - .. . 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