A sermon preached on the fast-day, Decemb. 22, 1680 at St. Margarets Westminster before the Honourable House of Commons / by Gilbert Burnet.
         Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
      
       
         
           1681
        
      
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             A sermon preached on the fast-day, Decemb. 22, 1680 at St. Margarets Westminster before the Honourable House of Commons / by Gilbert Burnet.
             Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
          
           [2], 42 p.
           
             Printed by J.D. for Richard Chiswell ...,
             London :
             1681.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Bible. -- N.T. -- Revelation III, 2-3 -- Sermons.
           Fast-day sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           on
           the
           FAST-DAY
           ,
           
             Decemb.
          
           22.
           1680.
           
           At.
           St.
           
             Margarets
             Westminster
             ,
          
           Before
           the
           Honourable
           House
           of
           COMMONS
           .
        
         
           BY
           
             GILBERT
             BURNET
             ,
          
           D.
           D.
           
        
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           by
           
             J.
             D.
          
           for
           
             Richard
             Chiswell
             ,
          
           at
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           .
           1681.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             Rev.
             3.
             2
             ,
             3.
             
          
           
             I
             have
             not
             found
             thy
             Works
             perfect
             before
             God.
             Remember
             therefore
             how
             thou
             hast
             received
             ,
             and
             heard
             ,
             and
             hold
             fast
             ,
             and
             repent
             .
             If
             therefore
             thou
             shalt
             not
             watch
             ,
             I
             will
             come
             on
             thee
             as
             a
             Thief
             ,
             and
             thou
             shalt
             not
             know
             what
             hour
             I
             will
             come
             upon
             thee
             .
          
        
         
           THere
           is
           nothing
           in
           which
           Men
           of
           all
           Religions
           do
           so
           constantly
           agree
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Duties
           we
           are
           now
           about
           :
           so
           that
           it
           may
           be
           justly
           called
           
             The
             Voice
             and
             Law
             of
             Nature
             ,
          
           which
           directs
           all
           people
           ,
           when
           in
           great
           Straits
           ,
           or
           under
           great
           Fears
           ,
           to
           call
           on
           that
           God
           whom
           they
           serve
           ,
           to
           implore
           his
           Pity
           ,
           and
           pray
           for
           his
           Assistance
           .
           I
           need
           not
           tell
           you
           how
           all
           
             Heathen
          
           Nations
           do
           it
           :
           the
           
             Jews
          
           practise
           it
           :
           
             Christians
          
           of
           every
           Perswasion
           have
           upon
           all
           great
           Occasions
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           Ages
           ,
           set
           about
           it
           solemnly
           .
           Some
           ,
           with
           the
           Pageantry
           of
           
             Heathenish
          
           Processions
           ;
           and
           others
           ,
           with
           the
           simplicity
           that
           becomes
           their
           Profession
           ,
           as
           We
           do
           this
           day
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           Ship
           in
           which
           
             Jonas
          
           endeavoured
           to
           have
           fled
           from
           the
           Discharge
           of
           an
           uneasie
           Commission
           which
           God
           had
           given
           him
           ,
           
           was
           driven
           in
           a
           Storm
           ,
           and
           brought
           to
           great
           Extremities
           ,
           
             every
             Man
             called
             upon
             his
             God
             :
          
           only
           the
           guilty
           Person
           ,
           whose
           God
           could
           only
           hear
           and
           help
           them
           ,
           
             lay
             fast
             asleep
             .
          
           I
           need
           not
           enlarge
           
           on
           the
           too
           visible
           Occasions
           of
           our
           Calling
           on
           God
           at
           this
           time
           :
           a
           sadness
           that
           is
           spread
           over
           the
           Faces
           ,
           and
           fills
           the
           Hearts
           of
           all
           Men
           ;
           the
           present
           Distractions
           We
           are
           under
           ,
           and
           the
           greater
           Mischiefs
           of
           which
           We
           are
           afraid
           ,
           speak
           aloud
           ,
           and
           need
           not
           be
           further
           described
           :
           so
           that
           all
           good
           Men
           had
           in
           their
           secret
           Mournings
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           Wishes
           for
           a
           Publick
           Humiliation
           of
           the
           whole
           Nation
           ,
           anticipated
           the
           Address
           of
           this
           
             Honourable
             Assembly
             .
          
           It
           is
           well
           that
           We
           pay
           this
           visible
           Homage
           to
           Religion
           and
           its
           blessed
           Author
           .
           In
           this
           Storm
           We
           have
           but
           one
           God
           to
           fly
           to
           ,
           and
           one
           Lord
           and
           Mediator
           ,
           by
           whom
           We
           may
           Address
           to
           him
           :
           If
           the
           guilty
           Persons
           will
           sleep
           on
           still
           ,
           or
           do
           worse
           ,
           continue
           Sinning
           while
           we
           are
           Fasting
           and
           Mourning
           ;
           yet
           if
           We
           
             Cry
             mightily
             to
             God
             ,
          
           We
           may
           reasonably
           hope
           that
           He
           will
           ease
           Us
           of
           that
           load
           of
           our
           Sins
           ,
           which
           only
           can
           ,
           and
           certainly
           will
           sink
           Us
           ,
           if
           it
           still
           hang
           on
           Us.
           When
           We
           consider
           Our
           present
           ill
           Condition
           ,
           and
           alas
           !
           perhaps
           this
           is
           but
           the
           beginning
           of
           Our
           Sorrows
           ;
           and
           reflect
           on
           the
           Signal
           Blessings
           We
           have
           received
           from
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           We
           still
           retain
           that
           holy
           Religion
           which
           was
           revealed
           from
           Heaven
           by
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           
             The
             great
             High
             Priest
             of
             our
             Profession
             ,
          
           We
           cannot
           be
           long
           to
           seek
           for
           the
           true
           Causes
           of
           all
           those
           Evils
           which
           We
           either
           feel
           or
           fear
           .
           Truth
           is
           still
           the
           same
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           same
           Value
           with
           the
           Author
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           the
           God
           of
           Truth
           changes
           not
           .
           What
           has
           then
           separated
           between
           God
           and
           Us
           ?
           and
           what
           hath
           raised
           that
           thick
           Cloud
           that
           seems
           to
           be
           set
           over
           Us
           ,
           
           and
           is
           ready
           to
           discharge
           it self
           in
           
             Fire
             ,
             Brimstone
             ,
             and
             a
             horrible
             Tempest
             ?
             God's
             Hand
             is
             not
             shortned
             ,
             that
             it
             cannot
             save
             ,
             neither
             is
             his
             Ear
             heavy
             that
             it
             cannot
             hear
             :
             But
             it
             is
             our
             Iniquities
             
             have
             separated
             between
             Vs
             and
             our
             God
             ,
             and
             our
             Sins
             have
             hid
             His
             face
             from
             Vs
             ,
          
           if
           He
           will
           not
           hear
           .
           Therefore
           those
           whom
           you
           Command
           to
           plead
           with
           You
           ,
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           God
           on
           such
           Occasions
           ,
           ought
           to
           
             Cry
             aloud
             ,
             and
             not
             spare
             ,
          
           
           but
           with
           all
           the
           plainness
           that
           becomes
           this
           Place
           ,
           and
           this
           time
           ,
           
             Shew
             you
             your
             Transgressions
             and
             your
             Sins
             .
          
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           this
           ,
           I
           have
           made
           choice
           of
           these
           words
           ,
           being
           a
           part
           of
           a
           short
           ,
           but
           weighty
           
             Epistle
          
           written
           by
           St.
           
             John
             ,
          
           in
           the
           Name
           of
           Christ
           ,
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           
             Sardis
             .
          
           Of
           it
           in
           particular
           we
           have
           so
           little
           recorded
           in
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           that
           We
           can
           gather
           nothing
           from
           thence
           to
           give
           Us
           a
           clearer
           Light
           into
           the
           meaning
           of
           these
           words
           :
           so
           I
           shall
           go
           no
           further
           than
           the
           
             Epistle
          
           it self
           ,
           for
           setting
           before
           You
           the
           State
           in
           which
           it
           was
           at
           that
           time
           .
           
             Sardis
          
           had
           a
           great
           Name
           among
           the
           other
           Churches
           ,
           as
           being
           one
           of
           those
           planted
           by
           the
           Apostles
           :
           
             It
             had
             a
             Name
             that
             it
             lived
             ,
             yet
             was
             dead
             :
          
           
           the
           Power
           and
           Life
           of
           Religion
           was
           under
           a
           great
           decay
           ,
           the
           remainders
           of
           it
           in
           some
           few
           Persons
           ,
           that
           
             had
             not
             defiled
             their
             Garments
             ,
          
           were
           even
           ready
           to
           die
           :
           
           they
           were
           all
           that
           left
           of
           those
           who
           had
           at
           first
           sincerely
           embraced
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
          
           they
           were
           but
           a
           Remnant
           of
           what
           had
           been
           ,
           and
           they
           were
           like
           to
           drop
           off
           soon
           :
           but
           for
           the
           rest
           ,
           though
           they
           retained
           the
           outward
           Profession
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           Christ
           
             knew
             their
             Works
             :
          
           and
           though
           in
           some
           things
           they
           might
           be
           praise-worthy
           ,
           yet
           they
           were
           not
           full
           Weight
           and
           Measure
           ;
           they
           were
           not
           such
           as
           became
           their
           Circumstances
           ,
           their
           Light
           ,
           the
           Advantages
           they
           had
           ,
           nor
           the
           Age
           they
           lived
           in
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           ought
           not
           only
           to
           have
           
             been
             blameless
             and
             harmless
             ,
             but
             to
             have
             lookt
             like
             the
             Sons
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             
             to
             shine
             as
             Lights
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             
             holding
             forth
             the
             Word
             of
             Life
             .
          
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           
             their
             Works
             were
             not
             perfect
             before
             God.
             
          
        
         
           Upon
           this
           ,
           Direction
           is
           given
           them
           ,
           how
           to
           amend
           what
           was
           defective
           or
           amiss
           among
           them
           :
           they
           were
           to
           
             Remember
             what
             they
             had
             received
             and
             heard
             ,
          
           from
           the
           Apostles
           :
           they
           were
           to
           make
           that
           the
           standard
           of
           their
           Actions
           :
           they
           were
           neither
           to
           frame
           a
           Religion
           to
           themselves
           out
           of
           their
           own
           Imaginations
           ,
           or
           make
           up
           a
           mixture
           of
           
             Heathenism
          
           and
           
             Christianity
             ,
          
           to
           which
           many
           were
           then
           enclined
           ;
           nor
           were
           they
           to
           be
           seduced
           by
           any
           false
           Teachers
           from
           the
           Apostolical
           Doctrine
           ,
           which
           was
           their
           Rule
           ;
           to
           this
           they
           were
           to
           adhere
           and
           to
           
             hold
             it
             fast
             .
          
           They
           were
           to
           maintain
           it
           in
           its
           Purity
           uncorrupted
           while
           they
           lived
           ,
           and
           to
           deliver
           it
           so
           to
           their
           Posterity
           at
           their
           Death
           .
        
         
           They
           are
           also
           directed
           in
           the
           use
           of
           it
           ,
           not
           to
           preserve
           it
           only
           as
           a
           matter
           of
           Speculation
           ,
           or
           as
           a
           Denomination
           by
           which
           they
           were
           discriminated
           from
           others
           ,
           but
           were
           to
           improve
           it
           so
           as
           to
           be
           the
           better
           for
           it
           ;
           
             To
             Repent
             ,
          
           to
           change
           their
           Hearts
           and
           Lives
           .
           If
           they
           were
           not
           awakned
           by
           this
           Alarm
           given
           them
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           they
           were
           to
           look
           for
           a
           more
           terrible
           blow
           ,
           which
           should
           surprize
           them
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           their
           Securities
           ,
           as
           a
           Thief
           when
           he
           is
           least
           lookt
           for
           :
           which
           also
           insinuates
           the
           Severity
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           suddenness
           of
           the
           Stroke
           .
           Thieves
           that
           break
           in
           in
           the
           Night
           ,
           commonly
           carry
           all
           away
           with
           them
           ,
           that
           is
           worth
           their
           pains
           .
           On
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           the
           Remnant
           ,
           who
           were
           then
           
             but
             a
             few
             ,
             that
             kept
             their
             Garments
             clean
             ,
          
           are
           comforted
           with
           the
           hopes
           of
           enjoying
           God
           in
           a
           State
           of
           more
           perfect
           Holiness
           ,
           expressed
           in
           the
           Figure
           of
           
             walking
             with
             Christ
             in
             
             White
             :
          
           and
           to
           encourage
           others
           to
           follow
           their
           Steps
           ,
           a
           general
           Promise
           is
           made
           to
           all
           them
           that
           continued
           to
           the
           end
           in
           that
           course
           of
           life
           ,
           
           that
           they
           should
           be
           advanced
           to
           the
           same
           State
           of
           perfect
           Holiness
           :
           their
           Names
           were
           now
           to
           be
           written
           in
           the
           
             Book
             of
             Life
             ;
          
           and
           at
           the
           Great
           Day
           ,
           when
           these
           Books
           should
           be
           opened
           ,
           Christ
           would
           before
           God
           ,
           Angels
           ,
           and
           Saints
           ,
           give
           such
           a
           Testimony
           to
           them
           as
           is
           recorded
           in
           the
           25.
           
           
             Chap.
          
           of
           St.
           
             Mat.
          
           Gospel
           ,
           
             When
             I
             was
             Hungry
             ,
             ye
             Fed
             me
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           This
           
             Epistle
          
           being
           thus
           explained
           ,
           it
           will
           not
           be
           difficult
           to
           apprehend
           what
           the
           Particulars
           are
           on
           which
           I
           shall
           enlarge
           .
           They
           are
           these
           five
           :
        
         
           
             1.
             
             Jesus
             Christ
             observes
             ,
             and
             will
             reckon
             with
             every
             Church
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             blessings
             which
             they
             have
             received
             ,
             if
             they
             live
             not
             suitably
             to
             them
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             Rule
             by
             which
             we
             are
             to
             examine
             our selves
             ,
             and
             by
             which
             God
             will
             judge
             us
             ,
             is
             the
             Doctrine
             which
             the
             Churches
             received
             from
             the
             Apostles
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             All
             those
             who
             have
             heard
             and
             received
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             ought
             to
             keep
             it
             carefully
             ,
             and
             to
             conveigh
             down
             that
             Sacred
             Trust
             committed
             to
             them
             to
             the
             succeeding
             Generations
             .
          
           
             4.
             
             The
             chief
             Use
             We
             ought
             to
             make
             of
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             is
             to
             reform
             our
             Hearts
             and
             Lives
             ;
             to
             repent
             ,
             and
             to
             forsake
             our
             Sins
             .
          
           
             5.
             
             Such
             as
             will
             not
             make
             this
             Use
             of
             it
             ,
             have
             reason
             to
             look
             for
             sudden
             and
             severe
             Judgments
             .
             All
             these
             things
             are
             clearly
             gathered
             out
             of
             my
             Text
             ,
             and
             seem
             to
             comprehend
             the
             full
             sense
             of
             these
             words
             ,
             
               I
               have
               not
               found
               thy
               Works
               perfect
               before
               God
               :
               Remember
               therefore
               how
               thou
               hast
               received
               ,
               and
               heard
               ,
               and
               hold
               fast
               ,
               and
               repent
               .
               If
               therefore
               thou
               shalt
               not
               watch
               ,
               I
               will
               come
               on
               thee
               as
               a
               
               Thief
               ,
               and
               thou
               shalt
               not
               know
               what
               hour
               I
               will
               come
               upon
               thee
               .
            
          
        
         
           
             To
             Return
             to
             the
             first
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Jesus
             Christ
             observes
             ,
             and
             will
             reckon
             with
             every
             Church
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Blessings
             which
             they
             have
             received
             ,
             if
             they
             live
             not
             suitably
             to
             them
             .
             
               I
               have
               not
               found
               thy
               Works
               perfect
               before
               God.
               Perfect
               ,
            
             the
             
               Greek
            
             word
             is
             different
             from
             that
             which
             is
             commonly
             rendered
             
               Perfect
               ;
            
             
             and
             strictly
             imports
             
               accomplished
            
             or
             
               filled
               up
            
             with
             such
             Ingredients
             as
             make
             Works
             acceptable
             with
             God.
             By
             this
             we
             are
             not
             to
             understand
             that
             absolute
             Perfection
             ,
             which
             excludes
             all
             Sin
             ,
             or
             all
             Defects
             ;
             for
             Works
             so
             perfect
             belong
             to
             another
             State
             ;
             but
             such
             a
             Perfection
             as
             agrees
             to
             the
             Gospel-Covenant
             ,
             by
             which
             all
             that
             is
             sincere
             is
             
               perfect
            
             in
             some
             sort
             ,
             and
             will
             be
             so
             accounted
             for
             to
             us
             by
             God.
             Wherein
             the
             Works
             of
             this
             Church
             were
             not
             perfect
             ,
             We
             can
             only
             guess
             at
             it
             ,
             by
             what
             we
             find
             in
             the
             other
             
               Epistles
               ▪
            
             in
             this
             and
             the
             former
             Chap.
             and
             in
             the
             
               Epistles
            
             written
             by
             S.
             
               Paul
            
             to
             some
             other
             Churches
             .
             There
             are
             three
             things
             chiefly
             specified
             and
             insisted
             on
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Their
             falling
             from
             their
             
               first
               Love
               ,
            
             and
             not
             doing
             their
             
               first
               Works
               ,
            
             charged
             by
             St.
             
               John
            
             on
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Ephesus
               ,
            
             and
             by
             St.
             
               Paul
            
             on
             the
             
               Galathians
               :
            
             they
             received
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Parable
             of
             the
             Seed
             
               with
               great
               joy
               :
            
             
             they
             begain
             
               in
               the
               Spirit
               ,
            
             they
             did
             
               run
               well
               ,
            
             but
             the
             fear
             of
             Persecution
             ,
             or
             the
             Cares
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             the
             Deceitfulness
             of
             Riches
             ,
             made
             that
             the
             Seed
             of
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             had
             been
             sown
             among
             them
             ,
             either
             withered
             or
             was
             choaked
             :
             their
             
             first
             Fervour
             abated
             ,
             their
             Love
             cooled
             ,
             they
             became
             Lukewarm
             ,
             and
             then
             quite
             cold
             and
             dead
             ;
             so
             that
             those
             who
             began
             
               in
               the
               Spirit
            
             in
             a
             spiritual
             Course
             ,
             
             or
             had
             received
             the
             Gifts
             or
             Graces
             of
             the
             Holy
             Spirit
             ,
             ended
             
               in
               the
               Flesh
               ,
            
             became
             carnal
             and
             loose
             men
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             They
             are
             charged
             for
             listning
             to
             false
             Teachers
             and
             Seducers
             :
             they
             had
             heard
             many
             strange
             things
             from
             the
             Apostles
             which
             were
             new
             to
             them
             ,
             and
             these
             did
             raise
             a
             curiosity
             in
             them
             after
             Novelties
             ,
             with
             a
             disposition
             to
             receive
             them
             ;
             some
             of
             them
             are
             particularly
             named
             in
             these
             
               Epistles
               :
            
             some
             brought
             in
             
               Heathenish
            
             Sorceries
             and
             Idolatrous
             Rites
             among
             them
             ,
             as
             
               Balaam
            
             and
             
               Jesabel
            
             had
             done
             :
             others
             loosed
             all
             the
             Tyes
             of
             Modesty
             and
             Wedlock
             ,
             as
             the
             
               Nicolaitans
            
             did
             :
             others
             were
             for
             subjecting
             the
             
               Christian
               Church
            
             to
             the
             Yoke
             of
             all
             the
             Ceremonies
             of
             the
             
               Mosaical
               Law
               :
            
             and
             by
             the
             Arts
             which
             these
             Seducers
             used
             ,
             the
             Churches
             that
             had
             received
             the
             Apostles
             with
             great
             kindness
             ,
             so
             that
             they
             were
             ready
             to
             have
             plucked
             out
             their
             very
             Eyes
             for
             them
             ,
             
             a
             phrase
             expressing
             the
             tenderest
             affection
             ,
             yet
             Were
             too
             much
             inclined
             to
             entertain
             those
             false
             Apostles
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             They
             were
             apt
             to
             divide
             and
             quarrel
             unreasonably
             about
             little
             and
             inconsiderable
             things
             ,
             and
             carried
             these
             Heats
             so
             far
             ,
             that
             even
             when
             they
             assembled
             together
             to
             receive
             the
             Holy
             Sacrament
             ,
             they
             met
             
               for
               the
               worse
               ,
               and
               not
               for
               the
               better
               :
            
             
             so
             that
             there
             were
             Divisions
             among
             them
             ,
             and
             the
             several
             Parties
             assumed
             such
             Names
             as
             they
             thought
             would
             give
             them
             the
             most
             Credit
             :
             some
             were
             for
             
               Paul
               ,
            
             some
             for
             
               Apollo
               ,
            
             some
             for
             
               Cephas
               ,
            
             and
             some
             for
             Christ.
             
             And
             the
             very
             Teachers
             themselves
             were
             factious
             and
             contentious
             ,
             so
             that
             some
             at
             
               Rome
               ,
            
             when
             S.
             
               Paul
            
             was
             in
             Prison
             for
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             preached
             there
             
               out
               of
               Contention
               ,
            
             
             that
             
             they
             might
             thereby
             
               add
               affliction
               to
               his
               Bonds
               :
            
             though
             in
             that
             they
             were
             disappointed
             ;
             for
             notwithstanding
             their
             Injustice
             to
             him
             ,
             he
             rejoyced
             that
             Christ
             was
             preached
             by
             them
             .
             Some
             one
             or
             all
             these
             had
             perhaps
             got
             into
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Sardis
               ,
            
             for
             which
             S.
             
               John
               ,
            
             in
             the
             name
             of
             Christ
             ,
             Expostulates
             with
             them
             .
             They
             had
             much
             to
             answer
             for
             ,
             to
             whom
             the
             Apostles
             had
             delivered
             what
             they
             had
             seen
             and
             heard
             concerning
             Jesus
             Christ
             ,
             confirming
             it
             with
             many
             Miracles
             ,
             and
             had
             conferred
             on
             them
             extraordinary
             Gifts
             ,
             so
             that
             they
             were
             made
             
               partakers
               of
               the
               Holy
               Ghost
               ,
               and
               of
               the
               Powers
               of
               the
               World
               to
               come
               :
            
             These
             seem
             to
             have
             been
             the
             sins
             of
             this
             as
             well
             as
             of
             the
             other
             Apostolical
             Churches
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             to
             apply
             all
             this
             to
             Our
             own
             Case
             ,
             suffer
             me
             first
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             God
             to
             plead
             with
             you
             ,
             and
             to
             set
             before
             you
             the
             many
             blessings
             you
             have
             received
             from
             him
             ,
             beyond
             most
             or
             rather
             any
             Nation
             now
             in
             the
             World
             :
             We
             are
             born
             in
             a
             Country
             that
             abounds
             not
             only
             with
             all
             that
             is
             necessary
             for
             the
             Inhabitants
             ,
             but
             yields
             Us
             great
             store
             of
             very
             valuable
             Goods
             which
             We
             exchange
             with
             other
             Nations
             ,
             and
             bring
             over
             such
             things
             as
             grow
             not
             among
             Us
             ;
             with
             a
             vast
             encrease
             of
             wealth
             ,
             which
             from
             all
             parts
             of
             the
             World
             flows
             unto
             Us
             :
             Our
             Country
             being
             equally
             well
             situated
             for
             security
             and
             Traffique
             ,
             We
             have
             almost
             forgot
             when
             We
             were
             visited
             with
             the
             Plague
             of
             Famine
             .
             We
             are
             under
             a
             Government
             so
             rarely
             tempered
             by
             Law
             ,
             that
             in
             it
             We
             have
             all
             the
             advantages
             of
             other
             Constitutions
             ,
             and
             avoid
             the
             mischiefs
             of
             the
             several
             forms
             of
             Government
             ,
             as
             much
             as
             is
             possible
             for
             any
             thing
             that
             is
             managed
             by
             mortal
             and
             sinful
             men
             to
             be
             :
             So
             that
             after
             any
             of
             the
             Convulsions
             that
             have
             been
             among
             Us
             ,
             it
             has
             been
             still
             found
             necessary
             to
             return
             to
             the
             old
             Channel
             ,
             and
             observe
             
             the
             Landmarks
             which
             Our
             Forefathers
             set
             Us.
             These
             blessings
             We
             enjoy
             beyond
             any
             Nation
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             but
             these
             We
             have
             in
             common
             with
             the
             former
             Ages
             ;
             they
             are
             also
             Temporal
             and
             end
             with
             this
             Life
             ,
             We
             have
             yet
             much
             more
             to
             answer
             for
             .
          
           
             We
             have
             the
             Light
             of
             the
             glorious
             Gospel
             of
             Christ
             among
             Us
             ,
             and
             therein
             the
             way
             to
             Life
             and
             Immortality
             hereafter
             ,
             is
             opened
             to
             Us.
             This
             We
             have
             freed
             from
             all
             the
             impure
             mixtures
             of
             Idolatry
             or
             Superstition
             with
             which
             it
             is
             defiled
             in
             other
             Churches
             ,
             and
             are
             delivered
             from
             the
             Tyranny
             of
             a
             foreign
             Power
             .
             We
             have
             had
             Our
             Religion
             long
             secured
             to
             Us
             by
             Law
             ,
             with
             all
             the
             encouragements
             that
             can
             be
             expected
             ,
             in
             a
             Church
             so
             happily
             constituted
             between
             the
             extreams
             of
             Ecclesiastical
             Tyranny
             one
             the
             one
             hand
             ,
             and
             Enthusiastical
             principles
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ;
             so
             that
             it
             is
             only
             our
             own
             fault
             if
             We
             are
             not
             the
             Sanctuary
             and
             Defence
             of
             all
             other
             Reformed
             Churches
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             We
             are
             the
             chief
             Object
             of
             the
             practices
             and
             designs
             of
             Our
             Enemies
             at
             
               Rome
               .
            
             This
             We
             have
             likewise
             in
             common
             with
             the
             former
             Age
             :
             but
             I
             shall
             next
             enumerate
             those
             blessings
             that
             We
             of
             this
             Age
             have
             been
             more
             particularly
             favoured
             with
             :
             They
             are
             great
             and
             signal
             ,
             and
             so
             obvious
             that
             it
             will
             be
             enough
             to
             name
             them
             .
          
           
             We
             were
             involved
             in
             a
             long
             and
             tragical
             War
             at
             home
             ,
             but
             were
             not
             swallowed
             up
             in
             it
             .
             Our
             Neighbour
             Island
             drank
             indeed
             of
             a
             bitterer
             Cup
             ,
             and
             was
             covered
             almost
             all
             over
             with
             the
             Blood
             and
             the
             Carcases
             of
             the
             slain
             .
             But
             here
             the
             storm
             was
             not
             so
             terrible
             :
             The
             Conquerors
             were
             so
             restrained
             by
             that
             supream
             Power
             that
             governs
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             no
             small
             wonder
             there
             was
             so
             little
             mischief
             done
             ,
             by
             those
             who
             had
             
             the
             Power
             to
             do
             so
             much
             :
             When
             Our
             Confusions
             thickned
             so
             upon
             Us
             that
             our
             Government
             changed
             almost
             as
             oft
             as
             the
             Weather
             ,
             all
             things
             returned
             of
             a
             sudden
             to
             their
             old
             Chanel
             ,
             the
             King
             was
             restored
             ,
             and
             the
             Nation
             was
             setled
             in
             so
             serene
             and
             calm
             a
             manner
             ,
             that
             it
             cannot
             be
             denied
             there
             was
             a
             signal
             hand
             of
             Heaven
             in
             it
             .
             The
             more
             have
             We
             all
             to
             answer
             for
             ,
             that
             have
             made
             so
             ill
             use
             of
             so
             extraordinary
             a
             blessing
             ;
             since
             that
             time
             we
             have
             had
             plenty
             and
             peace
             at
             home
             these
             twenty
             years
             ,
             no
             breaking
             out
             nor
             complaining
             in
             Our
             Streets
             or
             Countries
             .
             We
             have
             all
             this
             while
             lived
             under
             the
             clear
             Light
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             and
             though
             many
             of
             the
             Pastors
             have
             much
             to
             answer
             ,
             for
             their
             great
             failings
             ,
             yet
             there
             have
             been
             raised
             up
             among
             us
             not
             a
             few
             eminent
             and
             faithful
             Labourers
             ,
             who
             have
             asserted
             the
             Truth
             and
             demonstrated
             the
             power
             of
             Religion
             ,
             with
             as
             much
             advantage
             as
             hath
             been
             done
             in
             any
             Age
             since
             Miracles
             and
             Persecution
             ceased
             :
             and
             these
             have
             frequently
             given
             publick
             and
             free
             warning
             to
             the
             Nation
             .
             Many
             excellent
             Books
             have
             been
             writ
             ,
             and
             Sermons
             have
             been
             published
             as
             well
             as
             preached
             ,
             which
             will
             remain
             to
             the
             next
             Age
             to
             testifie
             against
             that
             we
             live
             in
             .
             God
             has
             been
             calling
             on
             Us
             aloud
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             both
             by
             his
             Mercies
             and
             Judgments
             ,
             to
             turn
             to
             him
             and
             to
             bring
             forth
             fruits
             worthy
             of
             Repentance
             ,
             and
             meet
             for
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ;
             that
             is
             ,
             for
             his
             holy
             Gospel
             .
             A
             raging
             Pestilence
             ,
             and
             a
             consuming
             Fire
             came
             quick
             one
             after
             another
             to
             awaken
             Us
             effectually
             :
             yet
             though
             We
             were
             then
             engaged
             in
             an
             expenceful
             War
             ,
             God
             did
             not
             deliver
             Us
             up
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             our
             Enemies
             ,
             though
             he
             corrected
             Us
             so
             severely
             himself
             .
          
           
           
             These
             things
             did
             perhaps
             give
             a
             little
             stop
             to
             some
             persons
             ,
             though
             others
             went
             on
             still
             publishing
             their
             Sin
             as
             
               Sodom
               ;
            
             but
             with
             the
             return
             of
             peace
             and
             the
             continuance
             of
             plenty
             ,
             We
             returned
             to
             or
             still
             continued
             in
             our
             Sins
             :
             We
             have
             been
             delivered
             from
             another
             War
             since
             ,
             and
             the
             ill
             designs
             of
             wicked
             Men
             were
             defeated
             and
             came
             to
             nothing
             :
             and
             now
             for
             above
             seven
             years
             We
             have
             slept
             in
             a
             profound
             Peace
             ,
             and
             as
             profound
             a
             security
             ,
             when
             there
             was
             nothing
             but
             vastation
             and
             misery
             in
             the
             Countries
             that
             lie
             next
             to
             us
             :
             But
             our
             Enemies
             slept
             not
             ,
             they
             were
             contriving
             how
             to
             make
             Us
             return
             back
             again
             into
             
               Egypt
               ,
            
             or
             submit
             not
             our
             Necks
             only
             ,
             but
             our
             Souls
             and
             Consciences
             to
             that
             Tyrannical
             yoke
             of
             the
             
               Roman
            
             slavery
             ;
             and
             thought
             the
             design
             so
             well
             laid
             for
             
               rooting
               out
            
             that
             which
             they
             call
             a
             
               Pestilent
               Heresie
               ,
            
             that
             it
             was
             upon
             the
             point
             of
             being
             executed
             .
             Then
             did
             it
             appear
             that
             God
             was
             still
             watching
             over
             Us
             for
             good
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             saw
             all
             these
             secret
             contrivances
             ,
             so
             closely
             carried
             and
             cemented
             with
             so
             many
             sacred
             ties
             ,
             disappointed
             all
             their
             Councils
             ,
             and
             brought
             all
             their
             designs
             to
             Light
             ,
             when
             We
             were
             least
             aware
             of
             it
             ;
             being
             ,
             though
             sensible
             of
             a
             great
             danger
             hovering
             over
             Us
             ,
             yet
             little
             apprehensive
             that
             it
             was
             so
             near
             Us
             ,
             and
             was
             to
             break
             out
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             .
             I
             need
             not
             run
             over
             all
             those
             steps
             ,
             by
             which
             Divine
             providence
             has
             brought
             out
             what
             they
             intended
             we
             should
             never
             have
             known
             ,
             till
             We
             had
             felt
             it
             and
             been
             past
             the
             possibility
             of
             preventing
             or
             redressing
             it
             :
             They
             are
             well
             enough
             known
             ,
             and
             are
             often
             in
             all
             our
             Mouths
             ,
             Oh
             that
             they
             were
             as
             much
             in
             our
             Hearts
             !
          
           
           
             And
             now
             put
             all
             these
             things
             together
             ,
             and
             see
             if
             it
             may
             not
             be
             said
             concerning
             Us
             ,
             what
             the
             Prophet
             
               Isaias
            
             said
             of
             the
             people
             of
             the
             Jews
             ,
             
               God
               has
               planted
               a
               vinyard
               in
               a
               very
               fruitful
               place
               ,
               with
               the
               choicest
               vine
               ,
               and
               has
               fenced
               it
               ,
               and
               built
               a
               Tower
               in
               it
               :
            
             In
             a
             word
             what
             more
             could
             have
             been
             done
             in
             this
             Vinyard
             ,
             that
             has
             not
             been
             done
             in
             it
             ?
             And
             therefore
             as
             partial
             as
             we
             are
             apt
             to
             be
             in
             our
             own
             concerns
             ,
             it
             may
             be
             referred
             to
             our selves
             ,
             to
             judge
             between
             God
             and
             Us.
             We
             see
             and
             acknowledge
             what
             he
             has
             done
             for
             us
             ,
             let
             us
             next
             consider
             what
             Grapes
             we
             have
             brought
             forth
             ?
             What
             returns
             We
             have
             made
             to
             God
             ?
             Have
             Our
             works
             been
             perfect
             before
             God
             ?
             Alas
             what
             do
             I
             say
             perfect
             !
             Have
             they
             not
             been
             on
             the
             contrary
             the
             worst
             ,
             the
             most
             impious
             ,
             and
             immoral
             that
             many
             could
             think
             on
             ?
             We
             have
             exceeded
             the
             Sins
             of
             the
             Jews
             ,
             and
             the
             Vices
             of
             the
             Heathens
             .
             It
             has
             not
             been
             only
             a
             slackning
             or
             going
             back
             of
             the
             Power
             of
             Religion
             ,
             but
             an
             open
             revolt
             against
             Heaven
             ;
             in
             too
             great
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Nation
             :
             a
             Banner
             has
             been
             set
             up
             for
             Athiesm
             and
             Impiety
             ,
             and
             all
             have
             been
             encouraged
             to
             come
             about
             it
             .
             The
             Sins
             which
             our
             Popish
             forefathers
             and
             our
             more
             remote
             Heathenish
             Ancestors
             were
             so
             much
             ashamed
             of
             ,
             that
             they
             committed
             them
             in
             corners
             ,
             We
             have
             seen
             done
             in
             the
             sight
             of
             the
             Sun.
             The
             belief
             of
             a
             God
             that
             sees
             ,
             rewards
             and
             punishes
             ,
             the
             rules
             of
             Vertue
             ,
             and
             the
             doctrine
             of
             Christ
             have
             been
             by
             some
             openly
             assaulted
             ,
             and
             treated
             with
             indignities
             which
             no
             other
             Nation
             could
             endure
             ;
             while
             others
             have
             if
             not
             directly
             consented
             to
             them
             ,
             yet
             looked
             on
             as
             unconcerned
             ,
             have
             laughed
             at
             and
             been
             pleased
             with
             them
             .
             Advantages
             have
             been
             taken
             from
             the
             Hipocrisie
             or
             Euthusiasme
             of
             the
             last
             Age
             ,
             to
             throw
             off
             the
             very
             appearances
             
             of
             Religion
             or
             Vertue
             in
             this
             Age
             :
             and
             it
             has
             passed
             for
             a
             piece
             of
             Gallantry
             and
             decent
             Breeding
             to
             be
             above
             the
             fears
             and
             apprehensions
             of
             a
             supream
             Power
             ,
             or
             a
             future
             State.
             Have
             we
             forgot
             how
             publickly
             that
             great
             blessing
             of
             the
             Kings
             Restauration
             was
             abused
             ?
             It
             grew
             to
             that
             height
             that
             it
             was
             thought
             a
             Scandal
             not
             to
             concur
             in
             all
             the
             excesses
             of
             Riot
             and
             Intemperance
             that
             did
             then
             defile
             the
             Land.
             Whether
             shall
             we
             now
             turn
             our
             Eyes
             ?
             If
             on
             this
             place
             ,
             Luxury
             ,
             Immorality
             ,
             and
             open
             Lewdness
             meet
             us
             almost
             in
             every
             corner
             :
             If
             on
             the
             Country
             ,
             how
             does
             Intemperance
             ,
             Injustice
             ,
             and
             a
             total
             neglect
             ,
             if
             not
             a
             resolved
             scorn
             of
             Religion
             fill
             most
             places
             ?
             And
             the
             excesses
             of
             Drinking
             have
             in
             many
             parts
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             not
             only
             corrupted
             Civil
             Conversation
             ,
             but
             vitiated
             the
             very
             Vitals
             of
             our
             Government
             ,
             by
             the
             ascendent
             that
             such
             practises
             have
             had
             in
             so
             essential
             and
             main
             a
             part
             of
             our
             security
             ,
             as
             are
             the
             Elections
             of
             this
             great
             and
             Honourable
             Assembly
             :
             of
             whom
             if
             some
             generously
             scorned
             such
             methods
             ,
             too
             many
             have
             complied
             too
             much
             with
             so
             base
             and
             so
             ignominious
             a
             custom
             .
             If
             we
             have
             thus
             abused
             the
             earthly
             blessings
             of
             Peace
             and
             Plenty
             ,
             and
             have
             much
             to
             answer
             for
             on
             that
             account
             :
             Oh
             what
             can
             we
             say
             to
             excuse
             our selves
             who
             have
             not
             only
             brought
             no
             fruit
             to
             perfection
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             that
             seed
             of
             the
             Gospel
             that
             has
             been
             so
             plentifully
             sown
             among
             us
             ,
             but
             have
             done
             what
             we
             could
             to
             defie
             God
             himself
             ,
             and
             to
             drive
             him
             out
             of
             our
             Country
             ,
             being
             weary
             of
             that
             very
             dead
             Form
             of
             Religion
             yet
             remaining
             .
             And
             to
             bring
             this
             home
             to
             our
             present
             circumstances
             ,
             though
             we
             are
             under
             great
             apprehensions
             of
             loosing
             this
             blessed
             Light
             ;
             what
             are
             we
             doing
             to
             engage
             God
             to
             be
             on
             our
             side
             ?
             
             We
             have
             been
             now
             for
             above
             two
             years
             in
             great
             disorders
             ,
             full
             of
             allarms
             ,
             and
             under
             eminent
             and
             visible
             dangers
             ;
             but
             what
             Lust
             or
             ill
             Custom
             have
             we
             parted
             with
             ?
             What
             demonstration
             have
             we
             given
             to
             God
             or
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             we
             consider
             Religion
             as
             it
             is
             indeed
             the
             Power
             of
             God
             to
             the
             Salvation
             of
             our
             Souls
             ?
             Or
             what
             do
             we
             for
             our
             holy
             Faith
             ,
             that
             Infidels
             ,
             Mahometans
             ,
             Jews
             ,
             or
             Papists
             ,
             would
             not
             do
             for
             their
             perswasions
             ?
             Do
             we
             continue
             still
             in
             our
             Lewdness
             ,
             Intemperance
             ,
             Oppression
             ,
             Injustice
             ,
             Falshood
             and
             ill
             Nature
             ,
             while
             we
             are
             talking
             of
             preserving
             our
             Religion
             ,
             and
             yet
             are
             doing
             all
             we
             can
             to
             undermine
             or
             overthrow
             it
             ?
          
           
             If
             God
             is
             against
             us
             ,
             all
             that
             we
             can
             do
             for
             preserving
             Religion
             or
             our
             other
             just
             Rights
             ,
             will
             either
             by
             his
             wise
             and
             holy
             Councils
             be
             quite
             blasted
             ;
             or
             perhaps
             the
             very
             methods
             that
             to
             us
             seem
             the
             most
             probable
             to
             secure
             them
             ,
             may
             in
             conclusion
             really
             introduce
             that
             which
             we
             fear
             so
             much
             .
             Are
             our
             works
             perfect
             before
             God
             who
             knows
             them
             ?
             To
             make
             a
             work
             perfect
             it
             must
             be
             good
             in
             it self
             ,
             flow
             from
             a
             good
             principle
             ,
             and
             be
             directed
             to
             a
             good
             end
             .
             The
             greatest
             part
             of
             our
             works
             are
             faulty
             in
             all
             these
             particulars
             ,
             so
             that
             neither
             We
             nor
             our
             Works
             can
             be
             accepted
             with
             that
             God
             ,
             That
             
               is
               of
               purer
               Eyes
               than
               that
               he
               can
               behold
               Iniquity
               .
            
             Some
             of
             our
             Works
             may
             be
             in
             themselves
             good
             ,
             and
             such
             is
             a
             zeal
             for
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             ;
             but
             if
             some
             do
             not
             believe
             that
             about
             which
             they
             make
             so
             much
             noise
             ,
             or
             if
             others
             have
             no
             design
             but
             to
             serve
             base
             ends
             or
             private
             Interests
             ,
             which
             they
             hid
             with
             the
             pretence
             of
             Religion
             ,
             and
             are
             ready
             to
             throw
             it
             off
             ,
             when
             they
             have
             attained
             that
             for
             which
             they
             are
             
             in
             truth
             only
             concerned
             ,
             shall
             not
             God
             search
             this
             out
             ?
             Things
             may
             be
             so
             dressed
             up
             ,
             as
             to
             have
             a
             fair
             appearance
             ,
             but
             to
             God
             they
             appear
             as
             indeed
             they
             are
             :
             So
             the
             true
             value
             of
             us
             and
             our
             works
             ,
             is
             according
             to
             what
             we
             are
             in
             his
             sight
             ,
             from
             whom
             nothing
             can
             disguise
             us
             .
             From
             all
             these
             things
             it
             is
             but
             too
             evident
             ,
             that
             our
             Works
             are
             not
             perfect
             before
             God.
             
          
           
             If
             we
             will
             consider
             more
             particularly
             what
             may
             be
             supposed
             to
             have
             been
             the
             ground
             of
             the
             Expostulation
             in
             my
             Text
             ,
             with
             this
             Apostolick
             Church
             of
             
               Sardis
               ,
            
             we
             shall
             find
             the
             parallel
             betwixt
             it
             and
             us
             agrees
             but
             too
             well
             .
             These
             Churches
             had
             fallen
             from
             their
             first
             Love
             ,
             and
             their
             first
             Works
             :
             Oh
             what
             sad
             decays
             are
             we
             come
             under
             !
             And
             how
             much
             have
             we
             declined
             from
             that
             Zeal
             and
             Love
             which
             our
             Fathers
             bore
             to
             the
             Reformation
             !
             There
             were
             two
             things
             that
             were
             visible
             in
             the
             practice
             of
             those
             who
             first
             embraced
             it
             among
             us
             :
             the
             one
             was
             the
             great
             pleasure
             they
             took
             in
             reading
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             from
             whence
             they
             were
             in
             derisiion
             called
             
               Gospellers
               .
            
             When
             the
             Bibles
             were
             first
             set
             up
             in
             Churches
             ,
             and
             went
             at
             such
             rates
             that
             ordinary
             people
             could
             not
             buy
             them
             ,
             what
             a
             running
             was
             there
             to
             Churches
             ,
             and
             what
             crouds
             gathered
             all
             day
             long
             about
             such
             as
             could
             read
             ,
             to
             hear
             this
             blessed
             Word
             ,
             which
             is
             now
             in
             all
             our
             Hands
             ,
             and
             yet
             is
             scarce
             ever
             considered
             by
             us
             ?
             Some
             read
             it
             only
             to
             abuse
             it
             and
             make
             themselves
             merry
             with
             some
             Atheistical
             jests
             to
             which
             they
             wrest
             it
             :
             Others
             judge
             that
             indecent
             ,
             so
             because
             they
             will
             make
             no
             ill
             use
             of
             it
             ,
             they
             make
             none
             at
             all
             ,
             and
             never
             open
             it
             but
             for
             fashion
             :
             some
             imploy
             their
             time
             in
             searching
             into
             the
             abstruser
             parts
             of
             it
             ,
             
             with
             a
             prying
             and
             vain
             curiosity
             :
             some
             read
             it
             meerly
             to
             acquire
             a
             faculty
             of
             talking
             in
             such
             a
             Stile
             ,
             and
             so
             either
             they
             pervert
             the
             Scriptures
             by
             their
             false
             Glosses
             ,
             or
             only
             learn
             to
             defend
             some
             Opinions
             out
             of
             it
             ,
             or
             to
             Discourse
             in
             that
             Dialect
             ,
             for
             private
             Designs
             ,
             to
             which
             that
             is
             perhaps
             some
             way
             necessary
             .
             But
             who
             read
             them
             with
             a
             simplicity
             of
             Mind
             to
             be
             directed
             by
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             inwardly
             inflamed
             by
             the
             heavenly
             strains
             in
             them
             ?
             So
             that
             we
             have
             little
             left
             among
             us
             to
             entitle
             us
             to
             the
             Name
             of
             Gospellers
             .
          
           
             The
             other
             chief
             Character
             by
             which
             the
             
               Reformed
            
             were
             at
             first
             known
             ,
             was
             their
             applying
             themselves
             only
             to
             God
             through
             Jesus
             Christ.
             This
             was
             intended
             to
             take
             men
             off
             from
             two
             fatal
             Errors
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             had
             been
             formerly
             led
             ;
             the
             one
             was
             relying
             on
             such
             external
             Works
             as
             were
             really
             of
             no
             Value
             at
             all
             ,
             and
             were
             only
             the
             juglings
             of
             those
             deceitful
             Guides
             ,
             that
             had
             set
             up
             Pilgrimages
             ,
             slight
             Penances
             ,
             and
             the
             purchasing
             Indulgences
             ,
             in
             the
             room
             of
             that
             which
             our
             Saviour
             had
             revealed
             to
             the
             World
             ;
             the
             other
             was
             their
             imagining
             that
             they
             were
             justified
             by
             the
             Sacraments
             ,
             upon
             some
             slight
             acts
             of
             sorrow
             or
             devotion
             :
             In
             stead
             of
             these
             things
             the
             Reformers
             set
             up
             the
             applying
             to
             God
             through
             Jesus
             Christ
             according
             to
             the
             methods
             of
             the
             Gospel
             :
             so
             that
             great
             and
             frequent
             addresses
             to
             the
             Father
             through
             his
             Son
             was
             the
             mark
             by
             which
             they
             were
             then
             known
             !
             This
             begetting
             in
             them
             a
             sense
             of
             that
             Love
             which
             their
             Saviour
             had
             for
             them
             ,
             could
             not
             but
             kindle
             returns
             of
             Love
             sutable
             to
             it
             ;
             and
             that
             must
             needs
             reform
             the
             inward
             man
             ,
             upon
             which
             Purity
             and
             Holiness
             of
             Life
             will
             certainly
             follow
             .
          
           
           
             This
             was
             the
             main
             Article
             of
             the
             Reformation
             ,
             and
             being
             that
             upon
             which
             the
             hopes
             of
             Salvation
             depended
             ,
             was
             indeed
             the
             thing
             of
             the
             greatest
             consequence
             ;
             though
             it
             was
             afterwards
             managed
             with
             too
             much
             Metaphysical
             nicety
             .
             In
             sum
             this
             being
             the
             chief
             Character
             of
             a
             true
             Protestant
             ,
             we
             may
             soon
             see
             how
             much
             we
             have
             fallen
             from
             that
             Love
             which
             our
             Fathers
             had
             to
             this
             Truth
             ,
             while
             they
             lived
             ;
             and
             that
             appeared
             more
             signally
             by
             their
             dying
             for
             it
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             called
             to
             give
             their
             last
             Testimony
             to
             it
             .
             But
             what
             is
             all
             this
             to
             us
             ?
             Are
             we
             living
             under
             the
             influences
             of
             that
             love
             ?
             do
             our
             hearts
             burn
             with
             the
             sense
             of
             it
             ?
             what
             reverence
             have
             we
             for
             the
             person
             ,
             or
             what
             obedience
             pay
             we
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             our
             Crucified
             Saviour
             ?
             If
             any
             of
             this
             remain
             ,
             it
             is
             much
             spent
             ,
             at
             least
             ,
             and
             ready
             to
             dye
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             thing
             charged
             on
             these
             Churches
             ,
             was
             their
             being
             apt
             to
             be
             carried
             away
             by
             the
             cunning
             slight
             of
             those
             who
             lay
             in
             wait
             to
             deceive
             ,
             and
             their
             being
             too
             easily
             disposed
             to
             vitiate
             Christianity
             with
             the
             mixtures
             of
             Judaism
             or
             Hethenism
             or
             other
             errors
             .
             Our
             vices
             have
             taken
             us
             off
             from
             the
             practice
             of
             the
             plain
             and
             indispensable
             duties
             of
             our
             holy
             Religion
             ;
             and
             then
             it
             is
             no
             wonder
             we
             find
             no
             pleasure
             in
             that
             Doctrine
             which
             can
             give
             no
             true
             comfort
             ,
             to
             such
             as
             continue
             in
             their
             sins
             .
             This
             disposes
             people
             to
             seek
             that
             elsewhere
             ,
             which
             they
             cannot
             have
             among
             us
             ;
             and
             therefore
             a
             Religion
             made
             up
             of
             pomp
             and
             shew
             ,
             wherein
             God
             and
             his
             Saints
             were
             offered
             to
             be
             bribed
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             knew
             the
             rares
             of
             sin
             and
             the
             price
             of
             Heaven
             found
             us
             but
             too
             well
             prepared
             to
             become
             Profylites
             to
             it
             .
             Our
             sins
             have
             been
             also
             so
             visible
             and
             scandalous
             ,
             that
             they
             have
             made
             our
             Communion
             grow
             
             loathsom
             to
             many
             well
             disposed
             but
             weak
             minds
             ,
             and
             have
             tempted
             them
             to
             separate
             from
             our
             Assemblies
             ,
             when
             they
             saw
             such
             mixed
             multitudes
             among
             us
             :
             so
             that
             they
             have
             run
             into
             Sects
             ,
             that
             had
             the
             appearance
             of
             greater
             gravity
             and
             strictness
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             And
             we
             are
             no
             less
             faulty
             in
             the
             third
             particular
             ,
             of
             contending
             out
             of
             measure
             ,
             for
             things
             that
             are
             no
             way
             essential
             to
             salvation
             .
             Things
             of
             so
             indifferent
             a
             nature
             ,
             that
             succeeding
             ages
             will
             wonder
             how
             men
             could
             manage
             such
             long
             and
             eager
             contests
             about
             them
             .
             We
             have
             fallen
             into
             passions
             concerning
             them
             ,
             these
             have
             grown
             up
             to
             a
             hatred
             ,
             which
             hath
             broken
             out
             into
             most
             violent
             and
             dismal
             effects
             ,
             and
             seems
             now
             setled
             into
             a
             formed
             rent
             and
             separation
             .
             Where
             is
             that
             charitable
             ,
             healing
             and
             compassionate
             temper
             which
             becomes
             Christians
             ,
             and
             reformed
             Christians
             ?
             especially
             when
             they
             are
             as
             it
             were
             strugling
             for
             life
             .
             Oh
             shall
             nothing
             make
             us
             wiser
             ?
             shall
             neither
             the
             advantages
             our
             enemies
             take
             ,
             nor
             the
             prejudices
             Religion
             suffers
             by
             our
             contests
             ,
             dispose
             us
             to
             bear
             with
             one
             anothers
             infirmities
             ,
             and
             to
             manage
             our
             differences
             ,
             if
             we
             cannot
             entirely
             bury
             them
             ,
             with
             a
             more
             Christian
             and
             decent
             temper
             !
             There
             have
             been
             extreams
             on
             all
             hands
             :
             neither
             side
             can
             free
             themselves
             from
             being
             too
             much
             exasperated
             :
             The
             resentment
             for
             what
             has
             been
             done
             in
             the
             several
             turns
             of
             affairs
             ,
             has
             gone
             too
             far
             with
             us
             .
             It
             is
             not
             so
             much
             our
             differences
             that
             divide
             us
             one
             from
             another
             ,
             as
             our
             alienation
             one
             from
             another
             which
             widens
             our
             differences
             ,
             and
             makes
             them
             appear
             to
             be
             greater
             than
             indeed
             they
             are
             .
             So
             on
             all
             accounts
             we
             must
             acknowledge
             ,
             that
             when
             our
             works
             are
             weighed
             in
             those
             just
             ballances
             they
             cannot
             be
             found
             perfect
             before
             God.
             I
             hope
             we
             are
             all
             in
             some
             measure
             convinced
             
             of
             this
             :
             The
             thing
             is
             alas
             too
             visible
             .
             What
             is
             then
             to
             be
             done
             ?
             but
             to
             set
             about
             a
             real
             Reformation
             with
             all
             possible
             seriousness
             and
             sincerity
             .
             And
             in
             order
             to
             this
             and
             to
             direct
             us
             in
             it
             ,
             here
             is
             a
             rule
             and
             standard
             given
             ,
             by
             which
             we
             may
             govern
             our selves
             in
             the
             means
             or
             methods
             to
             it
             :
             and
             that
             is
             the
             second
             thing
             I
             proposed
             to
             speak
             to
             .
          
        
         
           
             2.
             
             The
             Rule
             by
             which
             are
             to
             examine
             our selves
             ,
             and
             by
             which
             God
             will
             judge
             us
             ,
             is
             the
             Doctrine
             which
             the
             Churches
             received
             from
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             
               Remember
               therefore
               how
               thou
               hast
               received
               and
               heard
               .
            
             Here
             is
             a
             certain
             fixed
             rule
             ;
             we
             are
             neither
             left
             to
             the
             heats
             of
             our
             own
             fancies
             ,
             nor
             to
             the
             uncertainties
             of
             Tradation
             ,
             nor
             to
             the
             impostures
             of
             such
             as
             may
             pretend
             to
             the
             government
             of
             our
             Consciences
             :
             but
             are
             conducted
             by
             a
             more
             certain
             thread
             .
             It
             is
             true
             ,
             in
             the
             Apostles
             days
             this
             Doctrine
             was
             at
             first
             preached
             and
             received
             ,
             before
             it
             was
             written
             .
             There
             was
             no
             great
             danger
             as
             long
             as
             they
             lived
             ,
             who
             might
             be
             appealed
             to
             in
             any
             difficulty
             which
             could
             arise
             concerning
             their
             Doctrine
             :
             so
             it
             is
             a
             vain
             way
             of
             arguing
             to
             infer
             from
             the
             mention
             of
             
               Tradition
            
             in
             the
             Epistles
             ,
             that
             we
             after
             so
             many
             ages
             are
             past
             ,
             and
             so
             many
             impostures
             have
             been
             discovered
             ,
             should
             be
             obliged
             to
             receive
             what
             may
             be
             obtruded
             on
             us
             as
             Apostolical
             Tradition
             .
             Tradition
             while
             the
             Apostles
             lived
             ,
             was
             what
             the
             Scripture
             is
             now
             :
             And
             indeed
             so
             uncertain
             a
             conveyance
             is
             Oral
             Tradition
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             very
             Apostles
             days
             or
             soon
             after
             ,
             when
             there
             were
             no
             advantages
             to
             be
             made
             by
             such
             cheats
             ,
             and
             so
             there
             was
             less
             to
             tempt
             men
             to
             them
             ,
             yet
             many
             false
             Gospels
             were
             given
             out
             ,
             and
             false
             Doctrines
             were
             infused
             into
             some
             weaker
             people
             .
             We
             know
             how
             unfaithful
             a
             conveyor
             Tradition
             was
             of
             Natural
             Religion
             among
             the
             
             Gentile
             Nations
             :
             The
             Gospel
             tells
             us
             how
             the
             Jews
             doted
             on
             the
             Traditions
             of
             their
             Fathers
             ,
             and
             by
             them
             
               made
               the
               Commandments
               of
               God
               of
               none
               effect
               .
            
             The
             uncertainty
             of
             Tradition
             where
             it
             was
             not
             put
             in
             writing
             ,
             appeared
             within
             an
             age
             after
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             in
             the
             contests
             concerning
             the
             observation
             of
             
               Easter
               :
            
             both
             sides
             vouching
             the
             practice
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             that
             even
             while
             some
             were
             alive
             ,
             that
             had
             seen
             them
             and
             had
             lived
             with
             them
             .
             But
             after
             that
             wealth
             and
             greatness
             had
             corrupted
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             this
             holy
             Religion
             was
             made
             an
             Engine
             to
             advance
             the
             ambition
             and
             interests
             of
             designing
             men
             ,
             then
             what
             a
             swarm
             of
             supposititious
             writings
             appeared
             every
             where
             to
             support
             some
             opinions
             or
             designs
             ;
             many
             of
             these
             were
             discovered
             and
             branded
             ,
             but
             others
             passed
             without
             a
             censure
             ;
             so
             that
             it
             was
             long
             before
             Criticks
             in
             this
             and
             the
             former
             age
             ,
             could
             find
             out
             what
             was
             genuine
             ,
             and
             what
             was
             counterfeit
             .
          
           
             The
             most
             advantagious
             Imposture
             was
             coined
             and
             received
             in
             the
             
               9th
            
             Century
             ;
             a
             whole
             Volume
             of
             the
             Epistiles
             of
             the
             first
             Bishops
             of
             
               Rome
            
             from
             the
             Apostles
             days
             downwards
             ,
             was
             pretended
             to
             be
             found
             ;
             in
             which
             they
             were
             represented
             as
             governing
             the
             Church
             in
             the
             former
             ages
             ,
             with
             the
             same
             
               fulness
               of
               power
               ,
            
             that
             their
             Successors
             have
             pretended
             to
             since
             .
             This
             was
             rejected
             by
             some
             in
             that
             age
             ,
             but
             kindly
             entertained
             by
             those
             that
             were
             more
             concerned
             for
             their
             own
             greatness
             than
             for
             Truth
             :
             and
             by
             the
             Presidents
             in
             these
             Epistles
             they
             justified
             what
             they
             did
             ,
             till
             their
             Tyranie
             came
             to
             be
             generally
             submitted
             to
             :
             And
             now
             when
             these
             Epistles
             are
             found
             to
             be
             spurious
             ,
             they
             have
             been
             forced
             to
             throw
             them
             away
             ;
             but
             stand
             upon
             possession
             and
             prescription
             ,
             tho
             it
             began
             at
             first
             upon
             this
             and
             some
             other
             impostures
             ,
             
             not
             unlike
             it
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             Donation
             of
             
               Constantine
            
             and
             many
             more
             .
          
           
             They
             well
             know
             that
             their
             cause
             cannot
             be
             defended
             if
             the
             Scriptures
             are
             appealed
             to
             :
             these
             in
             many
             points
             are
             directly
             against
             them
             ,
             as
             in
             the
             worship
             of
             Images
             ,
             and
             Angels
             ,
             the
             praying
             in
             an
             unknown
             tongue
             ,
             and
             the
             denying
             the
             Chalice
             ,
             or
             saying
             that
             Christs
             body
             which
             is
             now
             in
             Heaven
             ,
             is
             in
             the
             Sacrament
             :
             in
             other
             things
             they
             are
             silent
             ,
             such
             as
             the
             Popes
             Power
             ,
             the
             Infallibility
             of
             a
             General
             Council
             ,
             the
             praying
             to
             Saints
             ,
             the
             redeeming
             souls
             out
             of
             Purgatory
             ,
             Indulgences
             ,
             Pilgrimages
             ,
             with
             a
             thousand
             other
             additions
             ,
             by
             whi●h
             they
             have
             vitiated
             the
             purity
             of
             that
             holy
             Doctrine
             ,
             which
             the
             Apostles
             delivered
             to
             the
             world
             .
             This
             is
             the
             foundation
             of
             our
             whole
             Religion
             ,
             that
             we
             believe
             all
             that
             the
             Apostles
             delivered
             to
             the
             Churches
             ,
             and
             no
             more
             :
             so
             we
             stand
             to
             this
             appeal
             in
             my
             Text
             ,
             
               Remember
               therefore
               that
               thou
               hast
               received
               and
               heard
               .
            
             It
             were
             easie
             to
             instance
             it
             in
             many
             particulars
             ,
             and
             to
             shew
             you
             how
             at
             first
             ignorance
             and
             superstition
             let
             in
             some
             Customs
             ;
             and
             perhaps
             those
             who
             introduced
             them
             at
             first
             ,
             being
             innocent
             ,
             but
             weak
             men
             ,
             meant
             well
             in
             it
             :
             so
             to
             draw
             the
             Heathens
             off
             from
             their
             Idolatry
             ,
             they
             directed
             them
             to
             call
             on
             Saints
             ,
             instead
             of
             the
             gods
             they
             had
             formerly
             worshipped
             :
             and
             to
             perswade
             people
             to
             receive
             the
             Sacrament
             with
             great
             devotion
             ,
             they
             strained
             their
             eloquence
             and
             invention
             to
             recommend
             the
             value
             of
             it
             in
             high
             figures
             .
             Many
             more
             might
             be
             named
             ,
             but
             these
             may
             suffice
             :
             afterwards
             when
             the
             
               Roman
            
             Empire
             was
             over-run
             by
             the
             incursions
             of
             the
             Barbarous
             Nations
             ,
             and
             Civility
             ,
             Religion
             ,
             and
             Learning
             ,
             were
             almost
             driven
             out
             of
             the
             world
             ;
             then
             some
             crafty
             and
             aspiring
             Priests
             came
             to
             graft
             upon
             the
             
             Customs
             of
             the
             former
             times
             ,
             new
             Opinions
             ,
             and
             still
             to
             add
             new
             Rites
             ,
             till
             in
             the
             end
             they
             swelled
             up
             to
             what
             they
             are
             now
             at
             in
             the
             
               Roman
            
             Church
             .
             When
             these
             Opinions
             were
             first
             broached
             ,
             Visions
             and
             Dreams
             were
             given
             out
             to
             support
             them
             ;
             and
             if
             these
             lesser
             frauds
             did
             not
             prevail
             ,
             pretended
             Miracles
             were
             not
             wanting
             to
             give
             them
             credit
             ,
             till
             they
             were
             received
             ;
             and
             being
             once
             received
             ,
             they
             were
             enrolled
             among
             the
             Traditions
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             and
             so
             were
             no
             more
             to
             be
             contested
             or
             denied
             :
             if
             any
             presumed
             to
             do
             it
             ,
             it
             was
             at
             his
             peril
             .
             These
             Miracles
             were
             coined
             so
             ,
             as
             to
             fit
             not
             only
             the
             Doctrine
             it self
             ,
             but
             the
             way
             of
             explaining
             it
             ;
             and
             as
             new
             ways
             of
             explaining
             were
             fallen
             upon
             ,
             new
             Miracles
             suitable
             to
             these
             new
             expositions
             were
             at
             hand
             .
          
           
             When
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             the
             Corporal
             presence
             was
             first
             received
             in
             the
             
               9th
            
             Century
             ,
             it
             was
             believed
             that
             the
             whole
             Loaf
             was
             an
             entire
             body
             of
             Christ
             ,
             so
             that
             he
             was
             sliced
             in
             pieces
             and
             eat
             up
             in
             gobbets
             ;
             and
             so
             they
             continued
             to
             understand
             it
             near
             300
             years
             .
             Then
             the
             Miracles
             to
             prove
             it
             were
             adjusted
             to
             that
             conceit
             ;
             it
             was
             given
             out
             that
             it
             did
             sometimes
             bleed
             ,
             and
             pieces
             of
             it
             were
             said
             to
             be
             converted
             to
             pieces
             of
             slesh
             :
             but
             after
             that
             the
             School
             Divinity
             came
             to
             be
             in
             request
             ,
             this
             way
             was
             not
             found
             so
             defensible
             ,
             nor
             so
             decent
             :
             and
             then
             it
             was
             said
             ,
             Christ
             was
             in
             every
             Crumb
             of
             the
             Host
             ;
             so
             that
             upon
             the
             breaking
             it
             ,
             an
             entire
             Christ
             flew
             off
             from
             the
             rest
             ,
             which
             yet
             remained
             still
             as
             entire
             as
             it
             was
             ,
             notwithstanding
             that
             diminution
             :
             and
             then
             as
             they
             blessed
             Wasers
             instead
             of
             a
             Loaf
             ,
             so
             the
             former
             Miracles
             were
             not
             so
             much
             talked
             of
             ,
             though
             some
             ignorant
             Priests
             that
             did
             not
             consider
             that
             these
             were
             contrary
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             their
             Church
             ,
             did
             in
             some
             
             places
             continue
             to
             act
             the
             former
             cheats
             ;
             but
             new
             ones
             were
             more
             generally
             invented
             ,
             and
             Christ
             was
             said
             to
             appear
             all
             in
             rayes
             ,
             over
             or
             upon
             the
             Host
             :
             so
             well
             practised
             were
             they
             in
             the
             arts
             of
             jugling
             ,
             as
             to
             make
             their
             tricks
             always
             agree
             with
             their
             Hypothesis
             .
          
           
             In
             opposition
             to
             all
             these
             false
             Doctrines
             and
             lying
             wonders
             ,
             the
             Reformed
             have
             from
             the
             first
             beginning
             of
             the
             Reformation
             set
             up
             the
             whole
             strength
             of
             their
             cause
             ,
             upon
             this
             single
             Plea
             ,
             of
             receiving
             nothing
             as
             a
             part
             of
             their
             faith
             ,
             but
             what
             could
             be
             found
             in
             the
             Writings
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ;
             that
             so
             all
             agreeing
             on
             a
             common
             Umpire
             their
             differences
             might
             be
             more
             easily
             composed
             .
             The
             Church
             of
             
               Rome
            
             knows
             well
             what
             the
             issue
             must
             be
             ,
             if
             this
             is
             granted
             ,
             and
             so
             have
             put
             the
             strength
             of
             their
             whole
             cause
             upon
             the
             authority
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             that
             is
             themselves
             ,
             and
             the
             certainty
             of
             Oral
             Tradition
             ,
             handed
             down
             by
             such
             men
             as
             themselves
             are
             :
             Whether
             the
             one
             or
             the
             other
             seems
             to
             be
             the
             more
             ingenuous
             Principle
             ,
             the
             more
             certain
             method
             of
             Trial
             ,
             and
             the
             less
             liable
             to
             deceit
             ,
             I
             leave
             it
             to
             the
             Consciences
             of
             all
             wise
             and
             good
             men
             .
          
           
             But
             as
             we
             ought
             to
             
               remember
               what
               we
               have
               thus
               received
               and
               heard
               ,
            
             so
             the
             end
             of
             this
             is
             not
             barely
             for
             speculation
             ,
             to
             inform
             us
             about
             some
             notions
             ,
             or
             to
             furnish
             us
             with
             arguments
             and
             discourse
             :
             these
             things
             are
             only
             necessary
             for
             a
             further
             end
             ;
             that
             our
             minds
             being
             well
             informed
             ,
             and
             our
             belief
             rightly
             directed
             ,
             we
             may
             govern
             our
             lives
             according
             to
             what
             the
             holy
             Apostles
             have
             left
             to
             us
             .
             It
             is
             because
             
               their
               works
               were
               not
               perfect
               ,
            
             that
             they
             are
             here
             charged
             
               therefore
               to
               remember
               the
               doctrine
               that
               they
               had
               received
               :
            
             What
             shall
             our
             knowledge
             ,
             our
             Orthodoxie
             ,
             and
             soundness
             of
             opinion
             avail
             us
             ,
             if
             we
             do
             not
             reduce
             it
             to
             practise
             ?
             unless
             it
             be
             to
             heighten
             
             our
             condemnation
             ,
             and
             to
             intitle
             us
             to
             more
             stripes
             and
             severer
             judgements
             .
             Here
             we
             will
             find
             our
             duties
             set
             before
             us
             ,
             and
             from
             thence
             we
             will
             both
             know
             what
             our
             sins
             have
             been
             ,
             and
             how
             to
             turn
             from
             them
             .
             Oh
             that
             there
             were
             such
             a
             heart
             in
             us
             !
             But
             as
             we
             ought
             to
             remember
             and
             improve
             the
             Doctrine
             delivered
             to
             the
             Church
             by
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             so
             we
             ought
             to
             keep
             it
             carefully
             .
          
        
         
           
             3.
             
             And
             this
             is
             the
             third
             particular
             I
             am
             to
             speak
             to
             :
             All
             who
             have
             received
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             ought
             to
             preserve
             it
             ,
             and
             to
             conveigh
             down
             that
             sacred
             trust
             committed
             to
             them
             ,
             to
             the
             succeeding
             generations
             .
             This
             is
             to
             
               Hold-fast
               ,
            
             what
             we
             have
             received
             and
             heard
             .
             The
             meaning
             of
             this
             ,
             considering
             the
             circumstances
             the
             Church
             of
             
               Sardis
            
             was
             in
             ,
             is
             either
             that
             they
             should
             preserve
             it
             pure
             ,
             and
             keep
             it
             as
             it
             was
             delivered
             to
             them
             ,
             or
             that
             if
             persecutions
             should
             arise
             for
             the
             Faith
             ,
             they
             should
             not
             depart
             from
             it
             for
             the
             love
             of
             this
             present
             world
             ,
             or
             make
             shipwrack
             of
             it
             ;
             but
             should
             
               hold
               fast
               the
               profession
               of
               their
               Faith
               without
               wavering
               .
            
             There
             were
             many
             Tares
             sown
             then
             in
             the
             field
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             many
             of
             the
             followers
             of
             
               Simon
               Magus
            
             were
             corrupting
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ;
             it
             was
             necessary
             on
             that
             account
             to
             look
             carefully
             to
             that
             sacred
             
               Depositum
               ,
            
             that
             was
             put
             in
             their
             hands
             .
             There
             was
             also
             a
             black
             Cloud
             gathering
             ,
             a
             persecution
             was
             coming
             on
             the
             Church
             :
             One
             storm
             had
             passed
             ,
             that
             had
             been
             raised
             by
             
               Nero
               ,
            
             and
             they
             were
             now
             in
             another
             set
             on
             by
             
               Domitian
               ;
            
             therefore
             it
             was
             necessary
             to
             put
             them
             on
             their
             guard
             ,
             and
             to
             charge
             them
             to
             keep
             or
             
               Hold
               fast
            
             the
             Doctrine
             delivered
             to
             them
             .
             This
             was
             all
             that
             they
             could
             be
             obliged
             to
             ;
             but
             in
             our
             circumstances
             there
             is
             somewhat
             else
             imported
             in
             this
             Holding
             fast
             ,
             
             that
             we
             ought
             not
             only
             to
             keep
             our
             Religion
             pure
             ,
             and
             to
             be
             ready
             to
             suffer
             for
             it
             ,
             if
             we
             are
             called
             to
             it
             ,
             but
             since
             we
             enjoy
             the
             protection
             and
             security
             of
             law
             and
             lawful
             authority
             ,
             we
             ought
             to
             hold
             that
             fast
             ,
             and
             deliver
             it
             down
             to
             our
             posterity
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             received
             it
             from
             our
             Fathers
             .
          
           
             We
             are
             to
             keep
             it
             pure
             from
             the
             corruptions
             that
             may
             be
             introduced
             to
             vitiate
             the
             simplicity
             of
             our
             holy
             Religion
             :
             we
             know
             the
             Enemies
             of
             the
             Church
             sleep
             not
             ,
             tho
             the
             Watchmen
             sleep
             too
             often
             .
             While
             we
             have
             Adversaries
             that
             are
             so
             restless
             and
             industrious
             ,
             that
             make
             up
             in
             their
             arts
             of
             insinuation
             and
             indefatigable
             diligence
             ,
             what
             is
             wanting
             in
             the
             justice
             and
             goodness
             of
             their
             Cause
             ;
             on
             these
             our
             eyes
             ought
             to
             be
             much
             set
             .
             They
             have
             corrupted
             Religion
             where
             ever
             their
             arts
             have
             been
             succesful
             ;
             and
             have
             endeavoured
             to
             overthrow
             all
             Governments
             ,
             and
             broken
             the
             peace
             of
             all
             Societies
             that
             have
             been
             so
             much
             on
             their
             guard
             ,
             as
             to
             look
             carefully
             to
             them
             .
             For
             that
             same
             principle
             that
             makes
             them
             burn
             and
             destroy
             where
             they
             have
             power
             ,
             makes
             them
             also
             incessantly
             Plot
             and
             practise
             where
             they
             have
             it
             not
             .
             Severities
             in
             matters
             of
             Religion
             are
             indeed
             contrary
             to
             that
             humanity
             that
             is
             imprinted
             in
             our
             nature
             ,
             and
             to
             those
             rules
             that
             are
             often
             repeated
             in
             Scripture
             .
             But
             if
             any
             Sect
             of
             Religion
             continues
             to
             breed
             frequent
             and
             almost
             uninterrupted
             disturbances
             in
             any
             Government
             ,
             it
             is
             not
             enough
             to
             punish
             those
             that
             are
             found
             in
             the
             fault
             ,
             but
             if
             it
             is
             evident
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             certainly
             in
             this
             case
             ,
             that
             their
             Doctrine
             sets
             them
             on
             to
             ,
             and
             will
             bear
             them
             through
             in
             such
             conspiracies
             ,
             it
             seems
             not
             possible
             to
             secure
             the
             peace
             of
             a
             Kingdom
             so
             much
             infested
             by
             them
             ,
             as
             we
             have
             been
             now
             120
             years
             ,
             but
             by
             delivering
             it
             entirely
             out
             of
             their
             hands
             ,
             and
             putting
             an
             utter
             
             end
             to
             the
             distractions
             we
             have
             been
             in
             ,
             and
             the
             mischiefs
             we
             have
             smarted
             under
             ,
             by
             their
             means
             .
             They
             will
             live
             much
             better
             among
             their
             own
             friends
             ,
             beyond
             Sea
             ,
             where
             they
             may
             freely
             exercise
             their
             own
             Religion
             ;
             and
             I
             am
             sure
             we
             will
             be
             much
             the
             happier
             and
             quieter
             for
             being
             freed
             from
             the
             trouble
             they
             have
             given
             us
             .
             And
             thus
             we
             are
             to
             
               Hold
               fast
            
             the
             Apostles
             Doctrine
             and
             to
             keep
             our selves
             from
             the
             infection
             of
             those
             who
             have
             corrupted
             it
             .
          
           
             But
             if
             this
             cannot
             be
             done
             ,
             and
             if
             God
             either
             to
             punish
             us
             for
             our
             former
             sins
             ,
             or
             to
             raise
             again
             the
             true
             spirit
             of
             the
             reformed
             Religion
             ,
             to
             purifie
             us
             from
             our
             dross
             ,
             and
             to
             melt
             us
             into
             one
             lump
             ,
             and
             close
             up
             those
             breaches
             which
             we
             have
             been
             rather
             widening
             than
             healing
             ,
             will
             deliver
             us
             up
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             our
             merciless
             and
             implacable
             Enemies
             ;
             then
             ,
             as
             we
             know
             what
             we
             are
             to
             look
             for
             ,
             so
             we
             ought
             to
             prepare
             our selves
             for
             it
             ,
             and
             resolve
             to
             be
             
               faithful
               to
               the
               death
               .
            
             We
             know
             what
             wil
             be
             ,
             not
             only
             by
             what
             has
             been
             ,
             but
             by
             what
             is
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
             of
             extirpating
             Hereticks
             ,
             decreed
             in
             their
             General
             Councils
             :
             and
             what
             they
             have
             met
             with
             of
             late
             among
             us
             ,
             has
             so
             whetted
             their
             Spirits
             against
             us
             ,
             that
             if
             ever
             we
             are
             in
             their
             power
             ,
             the
             cruelty
             of
             their
             Religion
             ,
             being
             quickned
             by
             their
             private
             resentments
             ,
             we
             can
             look
             for
             nothing
             ,
             but
             either
             to
             be
             forced
             to
             worship
             a
             piece
             of
             bread
             ,
             and
             to
             renounce
             that
             Faith
             which
             we
             now
             profess
             ,
             or
             to
             seal
             it
             with
             our
             blood
             ,
             and
             that
             perhaps
             in
             the
             cruellest
             manner
             .
             I
             know
             it
             is
             not
             easie
             for
             flesh
             and
             blood
             so
             much
             as
             to
             think
             on
             these
             things
             without
             horror
             ;
             But
             Oh
             ,
             what
             will
             it
             be
             to
             suffer
             them
             !
             It
             will
             not
             be
             our
             living
             peaceably
             ,
             nor
             our
             keeping
             our
             belief
             to
             our selves
             that
             will
             secure
             us
             :
             we
             must
             in
             all
             things
             comply
             ,
             nay
             ,
             and
             if
             we
             should
             dissemble
             and
             comply
             ,
             we
             must
             by
             an
             over-acting
             
             zeal
             procure
             our
             pardon
             for
             what
             is
             past
             ,
             and
             beget
             a
             confidence
             in
             them
             for
             the
             future
             .
             I
             shall
             on
             this
             head
             represent
             a
             little
             of
             what
             you
             may
             expect
             ,
             by
             mentioning
             some
             few
             passages
             of
             Queen
             
               Maries
               ,
            
             never
             to
             be
             forgotten
             ,
             bloody
             Reign
             ;
             that
             are
             not
             so
             generally
             known
             .
             At
             first
             She
             promised
             the
             continuance
             of
             the
             established
             Religion
             ,
             soon
             after
             She
             procured
             it
             to
             be
             generally
             changed
             ,
             even
             while
             the
             Laws
             were
             yet
             in
             force
             for
             it
             ;
             but
             then
             it
             was
             said
             ,
             none
             should
             be
             forced
             in
             their
             Consciences
             if
             they
             would
             live
             peaceably
             :
             but
             when
             the
             change
             was
             fully
             brought
             about
             ,
             then
             according
             to
             the
             Natural
             Genius
             of
             that
             Religion
             ,
             an
             open
             and
             undistinguish't
             persecution
             was
             resolved
             on
             .
             Orders
             were
             then
             sent
             from
             the
             Council
             Table
             ,
             to
             the
             Justices
             of
             Peace
             ,
             to
             have
             spies
             in
             every
             Parish
             to
             observe
             every
             mans
             deportment
             :
             a
             bare
             suspition
             was
             ground
             enough
             to
             proceed
             upon
             .
             Persons
             being
             presented
             upon
             suspition
             ,
             were
             imprisoned
             :
             and
             ,
             without
             any
             proofs
             or
             witnesses
             brought
             against
             them
             ,
             Articles
             were
             offered
             to
             them
             ,
             to
             which
             if
             they
             did
             not
             in
             all
             things
             answer
             according
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             that
             Church
             ,
             and
             if
             they
             could
             not
             be
             induced
             to
             change
             their
             perswasions
             ,
             they
             were
             condemned
             to
             the
             fire
             ,
             tho
             they
             had
             neither
             said
             nor
             acted
             any
             thing
             contrary
             to
             the
             established
             Religion
             .
             And
             it
             went
             yet
             further
             .
             The
             Justices
             of
             peace
             having
             been
             often
             writ
             to
             ,
             grew
             more
             and
             more
             backward
             to
             these
             cruelties
             ,
             especially
             when
             they
             saw
             them
             burn
             poor
             people
             single
             at
             first
             ,
             then
             by
             pairs
             ,
             then
             six
             ,
             eight
             ,
             ten
             ,
             and
             thirteen
             ,
             were
             burnt
             in
             one
             fire
             :
             neither
             the
             blind
             nor
             lame
             ,
             aged
             men
             ,
             nor
             women
             near
             their
             time
             ,
             no
             nor
             new-born
             Infants
             escaping
             the
             rage
             of
             these
             Butchers
             :
             Then
             to
             make
             way
             for
             the
             Courts
             of
             Inquisition
             ,
             a
             Commission
             was
             given
             to
             a
             selected
             number
             ,
             of
             whom
             three
             was
             a
             Quorum
             ,
             
             to
             make
             enquiry
             over
             all
             
               England
               ,
            
             not
             only
             of
             such
             as
             were
             suspect
             of
             Heresie
             ;
             but
             of
             all
             that
             did
             not
             express
             their
             zeal
             for
             the
             Popish
             Religion
             ,
             in
             taking
             holy
             Bread
             ,
             or
             holy
             Water
             ,
             or
             going
             in
             Processions
             ;
             which
             tho
             they
             are
             not
             things
             to
             which
             all
             in
             that
             Communion
             are
             obliged
             ,
             yet
             these
             discovering
             the
             affections
             and
             inclinations
             of
             the
             people
             ,
             such
             as
             did
             them
             not
             ▪
             were
             to
             be
             proceeded
             against
             upon
             these
             suspitions
             .
             At
             first
             such
             as
             were
             burnt
             had
             their
             lives
             offered
             to
             them
             at
             the
             Stake
             if
             they
             would
             recant
             ,
             but
             as
             the
             persecution
             went
             on
             they
             became
             more
             barbarous
             ,
             so
             that
             it
             was
             not
             enough
             for
             one
             to
             recant
             then
             ▪
             for
             a
             Sheriff
             was
             cast
             in
             ,
             Prison
             and
             fined
             ,
             for
             staying
             the
             execution
             of
             one
             who
             did
             it
             :
             It
             was
             said
             if
             he
             recanted
             sincerely
             ,
             it
             was
             better
             to
             burn
             him
             ,
             than
             to
             leave
             him
             to
             the
             temptations
             of
             becoming
             a
             relapse
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             did
             it
             not
             sincerely
             ,
             it
             was
             pity
             to
             spare
             him
             .
             So
             which
             way
             soever
             it
             was
             ,
             dye
             and
             burn
             he
             must
             .
             And
             that
             none
             might
             escape
             out
             of
             their
             Toils
             ,
             care
             was
             taken
             to
             secure
             all
             the
             Ports
             that
             none
             might
             fly
             beyond
             Sea.
             
          
           
             Here
             is
             a
             sad
             prospect
             before
             us
             ;
             but
             in
             what
             disposition
             are
             we
             to
             bear
             it
             ?
             we
             have
             no
             reason
             to
             doubt
             but
             great
             numbers
             will
             turn
             with
             the
             tide
             ,
             as
             they
             did
             then
             .
             Many
             who
             seem
             now
             to
             be
             hot
             and
             zealous
             for
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
             will
             then
             ,
             perhaps
             ,
             be
             as
             busie
             to
             discover
             and
             accuse
             those
             whom
             they
             now
             censure
             ,
             not
             only
             rashly
             but
             maliciously
             .
             Men
             of
             ill
             Lives
             and
             defiled
             Consciences
             ,
             want
             that
             principle
             which
             must
             strengthen
             them
             to
             bear
             the
             Cross
             ,
             and
             make
             it
             easie
             and
             comfortable
             to
             them
             .
             It
             is
             quite
             another
             thing
             to
             own
             this
             Faith
             in
             our
             present
             circumstances
             ,
             from
             what
             it
             will
             be
             to
             adhere
             to
             it
             then
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             not
             yet
             come
             that
             ,
             and
             God
             of
             his
             infinite
             mercy
             preserve
             us
             from
             it
             .
             We
             are
             taught
             by
             him
             that
             
             knew
             our
             nature
             well
             ,
             
               to
               watch
               and
               pray
               that
               we
               enter
               not
               into
               temptation
               ,
               for
               though
               the
               Spirit
               ,
            
             or
             our
             sublimer
             powers
             may
             be
             
               forward
               and
               willing
               ,
               yet
               the
               flesh
               is
               weak
               .
            
             We
             are
             therefore
             to
             do
             all
             that
             is
             in
             our
             power
             ,
             and
             is
             consistent
             with
             that
             Religion
             which
             we
             prosess
             ,
             to
             prevent
             this
             .
             You
             of
             this
             Honourable
             Assembly
             are
             now
             entrusted
             with
             the
             keeping
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             a
             part
             of
             the
             Law
             of
             the
             Land
             ;
             the
             people
             have
             trusted
             you
             with
             all
             that
             is
             dear
             to
             them
             ;
             and
             it
             is
             hoped
             you
             will
             acquit
             your selves
             as
             worthy
             of
             so
             great
             a
             confidence
             .
             On
             this
             I
             shall
             enlarge
             no
             further
             ,
             but
             apply
             to
             you
             the
             message
             which
             
               Mordecai
            
             sent
             to
             Queen
             
               Esther
               ,
            
             
             when
             her
             people
             were
             marked
             out
             for
             destruction
             :
             
               Think
               not
               that
               you
               shall
               escape
               more
               than
               all
               the
               rest
               :
               for
               if
               you
               altogether
               hold
               your
               peace
               at
               this
               time
               ,
               there
               may
               come
               enlargement
               and
               deliverance
               to
               us
               from
               another
               hand
               ;
               but
               you
               and
               your
               houses
               shall
               be
               destroyed
               :
               and
               who
               knows
               if
               ▪
               you
               are
               come
            
             into
             this
             trust
             
               for
               such
               a
               time
               as
               this
               is
               .
            
             If
             any
             shall
             ,
             either
             on
             the
             one
             hand
             ,
             give
             up
             this
             holy
             Religion
             ,
             and
             those
             means
             which
             are
             most
             effectual
             to
             secure
             it
             ,
             for
             private
             or
             base
             ends
             of
             their
             own
             ;
             or
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             shall
             ,
             to
             gratifie
             their
             revenge
             ,
             or
             to
             advance
             any
             ill
             design
             ,
             endeavour
             to
             drive
             things
             to
             confusion
             ,
             so
             that
             we
             become
             a
             prey
             to
             a
             formidable
             Neighbour
             ,
             where
             Popery
             ,
             with
             it
             concomitant
             Tyrannie
             ,
             shall
             subdue
             us
             at
             once
             ;
             These
             are
             the
             betrayers
             of
             their
             Religion
             and
             their
             Country
             ,
             and
             do
             entitle
             themselves
             to
             the
             heaviest
             curses
             in
             the
             whole
             Book
             of
             God.
             
          
           
             But
             the
             Nation
             hopes
             better
             things
             from
             you
             :
             and
             ,
             and
             as
             we
             pray
             for
             it
             ,
             so
             are
             we
             confident
             they
             shall
             not
             be
             ashamed
             or
             disappointed
             of
             their
             hope
             .
             Your
             maintaining
             the
             Laws
             ,
             or
             providing
             such
             new
             ones
             
             as
             our
             present
             circumstances
             call
             for
             ,
             for
             the
             preservation
             of
             our
             Religion
             ,
             is
             not
             all
             that
             you
             are
             to
             do
             for
             it
             ;
             there
             are
             many
             other
             things
             besides
             ,
             that
             come
             under
             your
             care
             ,
             which
             are
             also
             necessary
             ,
             that
             we
             may
             
               Hold
               fast
            
             this
             our
             profession
             .
             I
             shall
             name
             two
             particulars
             .
             The
             one
             is
             ,
             that
             there
             are
             so
             many
             Parishes
             in
             this
             great
             and
             rich
             Kingdom
             ,
             in
             which
             there
             is
             so
             little
             provision
             left
             for
             those
             that
             labour
             in
             the
             work
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             possible
             ,
             humanely
             speaking
             ,
             to
             find
             fit
             and
             able
             Pastors
             to
             undertake
             such
             a
             charge
             upon
             so
             mean
             an
             encouragement
             :
             and
             many
             of
             these
             fall
             to
             be
             the
             greatest
             and
             the
             most
             populous
             Parishes
             in
             their
             Neighbourhood
             :
             
               The
               labourer
               is
               worthy
               of
               his
               hire
               :
            
             but
             in
             many
             of
             these
             the
             hire
             will
             not
             amount
             to
             the
             meanest
             and
             most
             frugal
             subsistance
             ,
             that
             can
             consist
             with
             the
             decency
             of
             that
             Function
             .
             If
             weak
             or
             scandalous
             men
             are
             cast
             on
             such
             places
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             people
             are
             neither
             instructed
             nor
             edified
             by
             their
             labours
             ,
             but
             are
             rather
             scandalised
             by
             them
             ;
             it
             is
             worth
             your
             serious
             consideration
             to
             find
             out
             effectual
             means
             for
             redressing
             so
             great
             an
             evil
             ,
             by
             which
             so
             many
             souls
             are
             lost
             ,
             and
             such
             a
             door
             has
             been
             opened
             to
             seducers
             and
             false
             teachers
             among
             us
             .
             The
             other
             is
             ,
             that
             we
             will
             endeavour
             to
             secure
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             among
             us
             ,
             by
             doing
             all
             we
             can
             to
             maintain
             the
             outworks
             of
             it
             ,
             I
             mean
             the
             foreign
             Churches
             ,
             some
             of
             whom
             are
             now
             in
             a
             most
             deplorable
             and
             sinking
             condition
             .
             The
             methods
             that
             
               Julian
            
             the
             Apostate
             used
             to
             extirpate
             Christianity
             ,
             not
             by
             the
             quick
             and
             sharp
             waies
             of
             persecution
             ,
             but
             by
             flower
             steps
             ;
             being
             now
             taken
             to
             root
             out
             that
             which
             main
             force
             could
             not
             do
             .
             To
             these
             we
             ought
             to
             extend
             our
             compassion
             and
             assistance
             ,
             as
             we
             would
             expect
             
             the
             like
             from
             others
             when
             we
             may
             be
             brought
             to
             drink
             of
             the
             like
             bitter
             Cup
             ,
             which
             how
             near
             it
             may
             be
             to
             us
             ,
             God
             only
             knows
             .
             But
             all
             these
             means
             will
             prove
             ineffectual
             if
             we
             have
             not
             God
             on
             our
             side
             ;
             except
             he
             watch
             over
             us
             ,
             and
             build
             up
             our
             ruines
             ,
             
             you
             that
             build
             and
             we
             that
             watch
             shall
             labour
             in
             vain
             .
             This
             leads
             me
             to
             the
             fourth
             particular
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
          
        
         
           
             4.
             
             That
             the
             chief
             use
             we
             ought
             to
             make
             of
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             is
             to
             reform
             our
             hearts
             and
             lives
             ,
             to
             repent
             of
             ,
             and
             forsake
             our
             sins
             .
             
               Repent
               .
            
             I
             shall
             not
             here
             run
             out
             into
             a
             large
             discourse
             of
             this
             ,
             but
             sum
             up
             in
             short
             what
             is
             comprehended
             under
             it
             .
             The
             word
             imports
             more
             than
             a
             bare
             sorrowing
             for
             our
             sins
             ,
             or
             an
             external
             change
             of
             our
             life
             ,
             and
             does
             chiefly
             signifie
             the
             inward
             change
             and
             reformation
             of
             our
             minds
             :
             when
             we
             put
             on
             a
             new
             disposition
             ,
             come
             under
             new
             principles
             ,
             and
             are
             inwardly
             turned
             in
             the
             value
             and
             estimate
             we
             have
             of
             things
             ,
             and
             in
             our
             practical
             judgements
             and
             formed
             resolutions
             .
             Repentance
             is
             ,
             when
             a
             man
             having
             another
             sense
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             true
             goodness
             ,
             another
             apprehension
             of
             vice
             and
             sin
             ,
             other
             thoughts
             of
             a
             future
             state
             ,
             other
             impressions
             of
             the
             love
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             the
             truth
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ;
             and
             all
             these
             things
             growing
             into
             formed
             principles
             in
             him
             ,
             his
             mind
             is
             turned
             to
             such
             a
             detestation
             of
             his
             former
             course
             of
             life
             ,
             as
             engages
             him
             not
             only
             to
             forsake
             it
             ,
             but
             to
             enter
             upon
             a
             quite
             different
             Course
             ;
             so
             that
             he
             feels
             himself
             inwardly
             regenerated
             and
             changed
             .
             Oh
             have
             I
             not
             been
             discribing
             a
             thing
             little
             understood
             !
             Some
             sorrow
             for
             sin
             ,
             which
             is
             scarce
             possible
             for
             the
             worst
             men
             to
             avoid
             ,
             is
             all
             the
             notion
             too
             many
             have
             of
             it
             .
             Others
             fancy
             to
             compound
             for
             their
             sins
             ,
             with
             some
             austerities
             ,
             by
             an
             outward
             pageantry
             ,
             or
             compounding
             
             with
             God
             or
             his
             Sains
             if
             they
             can
             ,
             and
             doing
             it
             effectually
             where
             they
             can
             ,
             with
             the
             Priest
             :
             believing
             that
             his
             absolving
             them
             is
             of
             some
             other
             vertue
             ,
             than
             a
             declaration
             to
             them
             of
             what
             they
             may
             certainly
             expect
             if
             they
             are
             sincere
             in
             their
             repentance
             .
             But
             if
             these
             things
             come
             short
             of
             a
             true
             repentance
             ,
             what
             is
             to
             be
             s●id
             of
             those
             who
             have
             not
             so
             much
             :
             who
             have
             no
             remorse
             for
             their
             sins
             ,
             but
             live
             on
             securely
             in
             them
             ,
             or
             do
             worse
             ,
             
               Glory
               in
               their
               shame
               .
            
             These
             are
             far
             enough
             from
             having
             repented
             ,
             who
             are
             growing
             up
             daily
             to
             a
             higher
             pitch
             in
             their
             impieties
             .
             You
             have
             expressed
             your
             sense
             of
             the
             necessity
             of
             this
             duty
             ,
             by
             your
             addressing
             about
             it
             :
             but
             if
             it
             goes
             no
             further
             than
             the
             solemnity
             of
             a
             days
             vacation
             from
             business
             ,
             or
             abstaining
             from
             meat
             ,
             and
             the
             hearing
             some
             Sermons
             ,
             or
             joining
             in
             prayers
             ;
             this
             can
             have
             no
             other
             effect
             but
             to
             raise
             our
             guilt
             higher
             ,
             by
             our
             pretending
             to
             draw
             near
             to
             God
             with
             our
             Lips
             ,
             when
             our
             hearts
             are
             far
             from
             him
             .
             Our
             sins
             are
             drawing
             heavy
             judgements
             on
             us
             :
             our
             repentance
             only
             can
             prevent
             them
             ;
             not
             such
             a
             trifling
             performance
             as
             I
             have
             described
             ,
             but
             a
             sincere
             and
             entire
             turn
             to
             God.
             We
             ought
             to
             be
             humbling
             our selves
             in
             secret
             ,
             every
             one
             for
             those
             sins
             by
             which
             we
             have
             provoked
             him
             ,
             and
             have
             been
             adding
             to
             that
             great
             heap
             of
             guilt
             ,
             by
             which
             we
             have
             been
             too
             universally
             treasuring
             up
             wrath
             against
             the
             day
             of
             wrath
             .
             We
             are
             apt
             enough
             to
             censure
             the
             vices
             and
             failings
             of
             others
             ,
             especially
             if
             on
             other
             accounts
             we
             are
             displeased
             with
             them
             ,
             and
             if
             we
             our selves
             are
             not
             visibly
             faulty
             in
             the
             same
             kind
             :
             but
             there
             are
             other
             sins
             besides
             Uncleanness
             and
             Intemperance
             ,
             which
             may
             involve
             us
             in
             the
             common
             ruine
             that
             threatens
             us
             .
             And
             if
             we
             know
             our selves
             guilty
             ,
             even
             of
             that
             which
             we
             censure
             in
             others
             ,
             we
             by
             judging
             them
             do
             
             condemn
             our selves
             .
             Let
             us
             recollect
             our
             Thoughts
             ,
             and
             ask
             our selves
             ,
             What
             have
             we
             done
             ?
             Have
             we
             been
             adding
             Sin
             to
             Sin
             ,
             and
             perhaps
             Hypocrisy
             ,
             or
             a
             counterfeit
             Zeal
             to
             all
             the
             rest
             ?
             We
             are
             under
             the
             Eye
             of
             the
             All-seeing
             God
             ,
             to
             whom
             all
             things
             lie
             naked
             and
             open
             ,
             
               Darkness
               before
               him
               shineth
               as
               the
               Day
               ;
               the
               Darkness
               and
               the
               Light
               are
               both
               alike
               to
               him
               .
            
             Let
             us
             not
             deceive
             our selves
             ;
             God
             is
             neither
             to
             be
             mocked
             ,
             nor
             bribed
             .
             It
             is
             only
             our
             sincere
             Repentance
             that
             can
             again
             restore
             us
             to
             his
             Favour
             ;
             and
             if
             the
             Sins
             of
             the
             Nation
             are
             not
             grown
             to
             that
             height
             ,
             that
             ,
             as
             is
             said
             of
             the
             Sin
             of
             
               Manasseh
               ,
               God
               will
               not
               pardon
               it
               ;
               so
               that
               though
            
             Noah
             ,
             Job
             ,
             
               and
            
             Daniel
             ,
             
               were
               among
               us
               ,
               they
               could
               only
               deliver
               their
               own
               Souls
               ;
            
             
             We
             may
             hope
             ,
             that
             upon
             our
             Repentance
             ,
             either
             that
             Cloud
             of
             Wrath
             now
             over
             our
             Heads
             ,
             may
             be
             broken
             and
             dissipated
             ,
             or
             ,
             at
             least
             ,
             that
             our
             Peace
             and
             Tranquility
             may
             be
             so
             lengthned
             out
             ,
             that
             
               the
               Evil
               shall
               not
               come
               in
               our
               days
               .
            
          
           
             If
             we
             Repent
             truly
             ,
             we
             will
             lay
             down
             our
             Animosities
             and
             Quarrellings
             about
             lesser
             Matters
             ;
             and
             finding
             how
             guilty
             we
             are
             all
             in
             the
             presence
             of
             God
             ,
             we
             will
             be
             more
             gentle
             in
             the
             Judgments
             we
             make
             of
             others
             ,
             and
             more
             severe
             in
             the
             Censures
             we
             pass
             upon
             our selves
             .
             We
             will
             change
             the
             course
             and
             frame
             of
             our
             Lives
             ,
             not
             only
             in
             such
             instances
             as
             are
             more
             scandalous
             ,
             and
             so
             may
             be
             a
             prejudice
             to
             us
             in
             our
             other
             Designs
             ,
             but
             will
             enter
             upon
             another
             Method
             and
             Way
             of
             ●●●e
             ,
             such
             as
             becomes
             Christians
             .
             If
             this
             is
             not
             done
             ,
             all
             that
             we
             do
             beside
             ,
             will
             not
             be
             effectual
             to
             preserve
             us
             .
             If
             God
             is
             still
             offended
             with
             us
             ,
             he
             will
             not
             want
             Instruments
             
             for
             our
             punishment
             ,
             though
             we
             had
             not
             a
             Papist
             in
             
               England
               ,
            
             nor
             an
             Enemy
             in
             all
             the
             World.
             
          
           
             But
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             If
             we
             sincerely
             turn
             to
             God
             ,
             as
             we
             know
             in
             general
             he
             is
             gracious
             and
             merciful
             ,
             slow
             to
             Anger
             ,
             and
             full
             of
             Compassion
             ;
             so
             we
             have
             ,
             in
             particular
             ,
             all
             the
             Assurances
             that
             either
             his
             Promises
             ,
             or
             the
             Experience
             of
             former
             Times
             can
             give
             us
             ,
             that
             He
             
               will
               receive
               us
               graciously
               ;
               that
               he
               will
               take
               away
               all
               our
               Iniquities
               ,
               and
               heal
               all
               our
               back-slidings
               .
            
          
           
             Personal
             Repentance
             ,
             and
             the
             mourning
             for
             the
             Sins
             of
             others
             ,
             are
             Duties
             incumbent
             on
             all
             :
             To
             these
             you
             stand
             obliged
             in
             your
             private
             Capacities
             ;
             But
             as
             you
             make
             up
             this
             Honourable
             Assembly
             ,
             there
             is
             a
             further
             Repentance
             incumbent
             on
             you
             .
             You
             ,
             who
             represent
             the
             Nation
             ,
             ought
             ,
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             whole
             Body
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             to
             think
             on
             such
             Laws
             as
             are
             necessary
             for
             the
             restraint
             of
             Vice.
             It
             is
             visible
             ,
             the
             Impiety
             of
             the
             Nation
             has
             made
             way
             for
             Popery
             ;
             and
             though
             that
             were
             out
             of
             doors
             ,
             yet
             if
             the
             other
             continues
             still
             ,
             it
             will
             prepare
             us
             to
             open
             Atheism
             and
             Irreligion
             .
             God
             cannot
             be
             at
             Peace
             with
             us
             ,
             while
             our
             Adulteries
             are
             so
             many
             ,
             while
             Drunkenness
             is
             so
             common
             ,
             while
             Religion
             is
             so
             much
             scorned
             ,
             even
             by
             those
             who
             seem
             zealous
             for
             it
             ;
             while
             Cursing
             and
             Swearing
             are
             the
             usual
             Dialect
             ;
             while
             Profanity
             ,
             scurrilous
             Talk
             ,
             and
             many
             other
             things
             which
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             named
             among
             Christians
             ,
             are
             so
             openly
             and
             bare-facedly
             practised
             among
             us
             .
             By
             your
             endeavours
             to
             redress
             these
             ,
             and
             at
             least
             ,
             to
             make
             People
             ashamed
             of
             them
             ,
             if
             
             they
             do
             not
             forsake
             them
             ;
             You
             shall
             also
             ,
             in
             your
             publick
             Capacity
             ,
             shew
             the
             reality
             of
             your
             Repentance
             ,
             both
             to
             God
             and
             the
             World.
             It
             is
             an
             ordinary
             thing
             for
             all
             People
             ,
             who
             have
             some
             one
             great
             thing
             in
             their
             Eye
             ,
             to
             look
             only
             at
             that
             ,
             and
             to
             over-look
             many
             other
             Things
             ,
             if
             they
             do
             not
             immediately
             belong
             to
             that
             of
             which
             they
             are
             chiefly
             affraid
             .
             Popery
             is
             now
             in
             your
             Eye
             ,
             and
             it
             ought
             to
             be
             so
             ,
             till
             you
             have
             to
             purpose
             secured
             us
             from
             the
             danger
             of
             it
             :
             But
             at
             the
             same
             time
             you
             ought
             to
             look
             further
             ,
             to
             the
             Ground
             of
             God's
             displeasure
             against
             us
             ,
             to
             that
             which
             has
             brought
             us
             into
             all
             this
             Danger
             ,
             and
             must
             certainly
             bring
             ruin
             on
             us
             in
             conclusion
             ,
             if
             effectual
             Remedies
             are
             not
             found
             out
             in
             time
             .
             Our
             Irreligion
             and
             Impiety
             has
             made
             many
             to
             be
             little
             concerned
             in
             these
             Matters
             ;
             and
             our
             Contentions
             about
             some
             inconsiderable
             Things
             ,
             has
             diverted
             the
             Thoughts
             and
             Endeavours
             of
             others
             ,
             to
             the
             securing
             of
             particular
             Interests
             ,
             or
             making
             of
             Parties
             .
          
           
             To
             these
             ,
             if
             you
             provide
             effectual
             Remedies
             ,
             both
             for
             reforming
             and
             uniting
             us
             ,
             then
             you
             shall
             be
             had
             in
             perpetual
             remembrance
             ,
             as
             the
             Repairers
             of
             our
             Breaches
             ,
             and
             the
             Restorers
             of
             our
             Ruins
             :
             so
             that
             all
             shall
             bless
             you
             ,
             and
             in
             their
             wishes
             ,
             for
             a
             happy
             Parliament
             ,
             shall
             name
             you
             with
             Honour
             ,
             and
             wish
             it
             may
             be
             such
             a
             one
             as
             this
             has
             been
             .
          
           
             We
             have
             all
             the
             reason
             in
             the
             World
             to
             conclude
             ,
             that
             this
             Nation
             is
             dear
             unto
             God
             ;
             and
             we
             are
             sure
             ,
             the
             Holy
             Religion
             we
             profess
             ,
             is
             from
             him
             ;
             why
             should
             we
             then
             despond
             ,
             and
             not
             still
             hope
             in
             that
             God
             ,
             who
             has
             hitherto
             given
             us
             such
             abundant
             Proofs
             
             of
             his
             care
             of
             us
             ,
             and
             of
             his
             regard
             to
             the
             Reformation
             among
             us
             .
             When
             we
             remember
             by
             what
             steps
             and
             methods
             it
             was
             brought
             in
             and
             established
             here
             ;
             How
             short
             the
             Storm
             was
             in
             Queen
             
             Mary's
             Reign
             ,
             and
             that
             she
             died
             without
             Issue
             ,
             which
             might
             have
             brought
             us
             both
             under
             Popery
             ,
             and
             made
             us
             a
             Province
             to
             a
             Forreign
             Tyranny
             ;
             when
             we
             reflect
             on
             the
             long
             and
             glorious
             Reign
             of
             Queen
             
               Elizabeth
               ,
            
             on
             the
             happy
             disappointment
             of
             the
             
               Armada
               ,
            
             believed
             and
             called
             
               Invincible
               ;
            
             the
             discovery
             of
             the
             
               Gun-powder
               Plot
               ,
            
             with
             the
             later
             Blessings
             yet
             in
             our
             Eyes
             ,
             we
             have
             from
             all
             these
             much
             reason
             to
             conclude
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             in
             a
             special
             manner
             favoured
             of
             God.
             Nothing
             can
             break
             off
             this
             course
             of
             Mercies
             with
             which
             he
             has
             followed
             us
             ,
             but
             our
             obstinate
             persisting
             in
             our
             sins
             :
             If
             we
             resolve
             on
             this
             ,
             there
             is
             nothing
             before
             us
             ,
             but
             a
             fearful
             prospect
             of
             Wrath
             and
             Indignation
             .
             And
             this
             leads
             me
             to
             the
             fifth
             and
             last
             Particular
             ,
             of
             which
             I
             proposed
             to
             speak
             ,
             which
             is
             .
          
        
         
           
             5.
             
             That
             such
             as
             do
             not
             make
             this
             use
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             as
             to
             be
             thereby
             led
             to
             Repentance
             ,
             have
             reason
             to
             look
             for
             sudden
             and
             severe
             Judgments
             .
             
               If
               therefore
               thou
               shalt
               not
               watch
               ,
               I
               will
               come
               upon
               thee
               as
               a
               Thief
               ,
               and
               thou
               shalt
               not
               know
               what
               hour
               I
               will
               come
               upon
               thee
               .
            
             God's
             Judgments
             are
             a
             great
             depth
             ,
             and
             the
             Methods
             of
             them
             are
             unaccountable
             :
             Some
             wicked
             Nations
             ,
             and
             Impious
             and
             Tyrannical
             Governments
             ,
             have
             flourished
             long
             :
             Triumph
             and
             Victory
             have
             seemed
             entailed
             on
             them
             .
             The
             
               Assyrian
            
             of
             old
             ,
             and
             the
             Turkish
             Empire
             at
             present
             ,
             are
             great
             Instances
             of
             this
             .
             These
             are
             Portions
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             
             which
             God
             for
             their
             other
             sins
             gave
             in
             prey
             to
             savage
             Masters
             ;
             whose
             Prosperity
             made
             them
             the
             fitter
             Instruments
             of
             his
             Justice
             .
             But
             it
             is
             observable
             ,
             that
             those
             Nations
             whom
             he
             has
             more
             specially
             favoured
             ,
             are
             more
             signally
             punished
             when
             their
             Sins
             have
             been
             so
             notorious
             ,
             that
             it
             seemed
             necessary
             to
             give
             publick
             Evidences
             of
             the
             impartiality
             of
             God's
             governing
             the
             World.
             
               You
               only
               have
               I
               known
               of
               all
               the
               Families
               of
               the
               Earth
               ;
               therefore
               will
               I
               punish
               you
               for
               your
               Iniquities
               .
            
             
             The
             whole
             History
             of
             the
             
               Jews
               ,
            
             till
             their
             final
             ,
             and
             almost
             total
             destruction
             ,
             is
             one
             continued
             Instance
             of
             this
             .
             The
             Roman
             Empire
             ,
             when
             it
             turned
             Christian
             ,
             but
             was
             not
             much
             reformed
             by
             that
             Light
             ,
             was
             given
             up
             to
             be
             wasted
             by
             swarms
             of
             
               Goths
               ,
               Vandals
               ,
               Huns
               ,
            
             and
             other
             Northern
             Nations
             ,
             who
             for
             near
             two
             Ages
             together
             ,
             laid
             it
             so
             wast
             ,
             that
             what
             by
             the
             Destruction
             they
             made
             ,
             and
             the
             Famine
             that
             followed
             upon
             that
             ,
             which
             brought
             after
             it
             unheard
             of
             Plagues
             ,
             the
             History
             of
             that
             Time
             contains
             a
             Succession
             of
             the
             most
             terrible
             Miseries
             that
             can
             be
             imagined
             .
             The
             
               African
            
             Churches
             ,
             that
             were
             the
             best
             regulated
             of
             any
             then
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             yet
             having
             fallen
             from
             their
             first
             Love
             ,
             and
             being
             rent
             in
             pieces
             by
             Schism
             ,
             and
             becoming
             generally
             corrupt
             in
             their
             Manners
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             excellent
             Bishops
             that
             were
             among
             them
             ;
             St.
             
               Austin
            
             in
             particular
             ,
             who
             was
             the
             last
             of
             those
             that
             were
             sent
             to
             warn
             them
             of
             the
             Jugments
             they
             might
             look
             for
             ;
             which
             he
             did
             faithfully
             ,
             but
             nothing
             prevailing
             ,
             they
             were
             first
             destroyed
             by
             the
             
               Vandals
               ,
            
             and
             then
             so
             totally
             by
             the
             
               Saracens
            
             and
             
               Moors
               ,
            
             that
             the
             Name
             of
             Christ
             is
             called
             on
             no
             more
             in
             them
             ,
             except
             it
             be
             in
             their
             Dungeons
             ,
             
             by
             those
             miserable
             Captives
             that
             are
             kept
             in
             such
             slavery
             among
             them
             ,
             that
             it
             should
             tear
             every
             Christian's
             Heart
             to
             think
             on
             it
             .
             The
             Eastern
             Empire
             was
             first
             by
             the
             
               Goths
               ,
            
             then
             by
             the
             
               Huns
            
             and
             the
             
               Avares
               ,
            
             afterwards
             by
             the
             
               Saracens
               ,
            
             and
             finally
             by
             the
             
               Turks
               ,
            
             so
             wasted
             ,
             that
             the
             small
             Remainders
             of
             Christianity
             among
             them
             ,
             serve
             only
             as
             the
             Ruins
             of
             some
             great
             Fabrick
             ,
             to
             shew
             what
             once
             it
             was
             .
             The
             City
             of
             
               Antioch
               ,
            
             once
             among
             the
             noblest
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             in
             which
             that
             glorious
             Name
             of
             Christian
             first
             began
             ,
             was
             by
             a
             frequent
             return
             of
             most
             terrible
             Earth-quakes
             ,
             and
             devouring
             Fires
             ,
             so
             ruinated
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             now
             but
             a
             small
             inconsiderable
             Village
             .
             
               Sardis
               ,
            
             in
             my
             Text
             ,
             is
             no
             better
             :
             These
             Seven
             Churches
             here
             writ
             to
             ,
             are
             now
             under
             the
             slavery
             of
             
               Mahometans
               ,
            
             and
             indeed
             retain
             little
             but
             the
             Name
             of
             Christian
             ;
             some
             of
             them
             are
             so
             entirely
             destroyed
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             not
             so
             much
             as
             certain
             where
             they
             stood
             .
             When
             we
             hear
             of
             these
             things
             ,
             we
             ought
             wisely
             to
             consider
             of
             these
             Works
             of
             the
             Lord
             :
             Why
             should
             we
             hope
             to
             escape
             ,
             if
             we
             are
             as
             guilty
             as
             they
             were
             ?
             But
             to
             turn
             your
             Eyes
             to
             what
             is
             nearer
             you
             ;
             After
             the
             Gospel
             was
             planted
             here
             in
             
               Britain
               ,
            
             while
             we
             were
             under
             the
             Roman
             Yoke
             ,
             and
             was
             watered
             with
             the
             Blood
             of
             many
             Martyrs
             that
             suffered
             under
             the
             Heathenish
             Persecutions
             ;
             The
             
               Britons
            
             being
             blest
             with
             Peace
             and
             Prosperity
             ,
             did
             soon
             forget
             God
             ,
             and
             fell
             from
             their
             first
             Love.
             Then
             what
             Judgments
             fell
             on
             them
             ?
             The
             Northern
             People
             being
             more
             Warlike
             ,
             broke
             into
             the
             Southern
             Parts
             ,
             who
             were
             soft
             and
             luxurious
             :
             These
             hiring
             the
             
               Saxons
            
             to
             their
             Assistance
             ,
             were
             thereby
             brought
             under
             a
             much
             more
             
             cruel
             Bondage
             ;
             and
             those
             either
             rooted
             out
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             or
             drove
             it
             up
             into
             the
             mountainous
             parts
             of
             this
             Kingdom
             .
             What
             the
             Sins
             ,
             both
             of
             the
             Clergy
             and
             Laity
             were
             ,
             is
             set
             out
             by
             
               Gildas
               ,
            
             that
             lived
             not
             long
             after
             that
             Time
             ,
             and
             they
             resemble
             our
             present
             Condition
             so
             much
             ,
             that
             it
             gives
             us
             cause
             to
             fear
             the
             parallel
             shall
             be
             as
             equal
             in
             our
             Judgments
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             now
             in
             our
             Sins
             .
             When
             the
             Reformation
             began
             first
             in
             
               England
               ,
            
             many
             run
             into
             it
             ,
             rather
             out
             of
             hatred
             to
             the
             Clergy
             ,
             and
             love
             to
             their
             Lands
             ,
             than
             out
             of
             Zeal
             for
             the
             Truth
             .
             So
             that
             the
             Bishops
             in
             King
             
             Edward's
             Time
             ,
             did
             ,
             by
             some
             Letters
             which
             they
             sent
             about
             among
             their
             Clergy
             ,
             call
             upon
             them
             to
             warn
             the
             People
             of
             the
             heavy
             Judgments
             of
             God
             ,
             ready
             to
             fall
             upon
             them
             :
             but
             they
             went
             on
             in
             their
             Sins
             with
             a
             high
             hand
             ,
             so
             that
             the
             Land
             was
             full
             of
             Oppression
             and
             Injustice
             ,
             Adultery
             and
             Sensuality
             :
             God
             visited
             them
             for
             these
             things
             ,
             and
             took
             away
             that
             blessed
             young
             King
             ,
             and
             left
             them
             in
             the
             hands
             of
             a
             superstitious
             and
             bloody
             Princess
             ,
             who
             fearing
             her
             own
             Power
             was
             not
             strong
             enough
             to
             alter
             the
             established
             Religion
             ,
             married
             the
             Prince
             of
             
               Spain
               ,
            
             and
             by
             a
             vast
             Treasure
             which
             he
             brought
             over
             into
             
               England
               ,
            
             corrupted
             the
             great
             Men
             ,
             and
             the
             Publick
             Councils
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ;
             so
             that
             all
             that
             had
             been
             building
             up
             in
             twenty
             five
             years
             ,
             was
             overthrown
             in
             a
             little
             more
             than
             one
             ,
             by
             Parliaments
             ,
             over
             whom
             Spanish
             Gold
             had
             greater
             influence
             ,
             than
             the
             Sense
             of
             their
             Trust
             ,
             or
             their
             Regard
             to
             God
             and
             their
             Country
             .
             Shall
             I
             put
             you
             in
             mind
             of
             the
             terrible
             Judgment
             of
             God
             ,
             that
             broke
             out
             lately
             on
             our
             neighbouring
             Island
             ,
             where
             ,
             the
             Barbarity
             of
             the
             Natives
             
             being
             sharpened
             by
             the
             Cruelty
             of
             their
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             Practices
             of
             their
             Priests
             ,
             a
             Massacre
             and
             Destruction
             did
             almost
             wholly
             consume
             them
             ?
             How
             near
             were
             we
             brought
             to
             utter
             Ruin
             ,
             and
             how
             long
             were
             we
             ruled
             by
             the
             Sword
             ,
             during
             the
             late
             Wars
             ?
          
           
             Are
             all
             these
             things
             forgotten
             ?
             Or
             do
             we
             remember
             them
             ,
             only
             to
             furnish
             out
             Discourse
             with
             them
             ?
             We
             at
             present
             are
             all
             sufficiently
             apprehensive
             of
             our
             ill
             condition
             ,
             we
             see
             the
             great
             danger
             we
             are
             in
             of
             Popery's
             subduing
             us
             ;
             we
             see
             an
             overgrown
             Neighbour
             ready
             to
             break
             in
             upon
             us
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             ,
             upon
             that
             which
             is
             but
             a
             step
             from
             us
             .
             There
             is
             a
             Fermentation
             among
             our selves
             ,
             so
             high
             ,
             that
             it
             is
             like
             to
             involve
             us
             in
             great
             Confusions
             :
             The
             things
             that
             belong
             to
             our
             Peace
             seem
             to
             be
             hid
             from
             our
             eyes
             .
             Is
             not
             all
             this
             of
             the
             Lord
             ?
             Most
             of
             the
             Evils
             we
             either
             feel
             or
             apprehend
             ,
             are
             the
             natural
             effects
             of
             our
             Sins
             and
             Vices
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             of
             the
             Judgment
             of
             God
             punishing
             us
             for
             them
             .
             The
             Vices
             too
             common
             amongst
             us
             ,
             have
             corrupted
             the
             Minds
             ,
             and
             darkned
             the
             Understandings
             of
             many
             ,
             and
             are
             like
             to
             become
             their
             own
             Punishments
             .
          
           
             All
             these
             things
             are
             but
             the
             beginnings
             of
             Sorrows
             ,
             which
             seem
             to
             be
             coming
             on
             us
             .
             What
             do
             we
             then
             ?
             Do
             we
             sit
             crossing
             our
             hands
             ,
             accusing
             one
             another
             ,
             or
             it
             may
             be
             ,
             faintly
             condemning
             our selves
             ?
             We
             perhaps
             imagine
             ,
             if
             we
             were
             rid
             of
             Popery
             all
             would
             be
             well
             ;
             it
             is
             certain
             ,
             we
             should
             be
             much
             better
             than
             we
             are
             :
             but
             if
             the
             Root
             of
             our
             Distemper
             remains
             ,
             the
             carrying
             off
             one
             Symptom
             will
             but
             dispose
             the
             way
             to
             another
             .
             God
             can
             either
             plague
             us
             ,
             
             by
             delivering
             us
             up
             to
             a
             forreign
             Enemy
             ,
             who
             shall
             have
             no
             pity
             on
             us
             ;
             or
             can
             again
             send
             his
             Arrows
             among
             us
             ,
             a
             Pestilence
             to
             sweep
             away
             our
             Inhabitants
             ,
             or
             a
             Fire
             to
             burn
             down
             our
             Cities
             .
             He
             can
             leave
             us
             to
             bite
             and
             devour
             another
             ,
             till
             we
             are
             consumed
             one
             of
             another
             .
             And
             if
             he
             come
             upon
             us
             ,
             what
             can
             we
             do
             to
             withstand
             his
             mighty
             Arm
             ?
             Can
             we
             restrain
             his
             Thunders
             ,
             or
             be
             Proof
             against
             his
             Arrows
             ?
             Oh
             how
             weak
             are
             all
             Devices
             ,
             when
             God
             blasts
             them
             !
             If
             our
             Distractions
             continue
             ,
             we
             are
             like
             the
             Builders
             of
             
               Babel
               ,
            
             so
             divided
             ,
             that
             nothing
             but
             utter
             and
             irremediable
             Confusion
             is
             like
             to
             be
             the
             end
             of
             them
             ,
             if
             we
             once
             fall
             in
             pieces
             .
          
           
             Well
             ,
             we
             are
             yet
             in
             Peace
             ,
             we
             rise
             up
             and
             lie
             down
             in
             quiet
             ;
             how
             long
             it
             will
             be
             so
             ,
             we
             cannot
             tell
             :
             We
             seem
             to
             be
             near
             great
             Convulsions
             ;
             we
             have
             no
             reason
             to
             desire
             them
             .
             We
             are
             now
             full
             of
             Wealth
             ,
             our
             Trade
             is
             free
             ,
             and
             much
             spread
             ;
             we
             have
             a
             Concurrence
             ,
             both
             at
             home
             and
             abroad
             ,
             of
             many
             things
             ,
             that
             might
             yet
             make
             us
             a
             great
             and
             happy
             People
             ,
             but
             want
             the
             Power
             to
             improve
             it
             .
             What
             shall
             the
             end
             of
             these
             things
             be
             ?
             It
             were
             too
             great
             a
             presumption
             in
             me
             ,
             nor
             proper
             for
             this
             place
             or
             occasion
             ,
             to
             enter
             into
             Particulars
             ;
             but
             one
             thing
             I
             may
             adventure
             on
             ,
             which
             is
             ,
             If
             you
             of
             this
             Honourable
             Assembly
             ,
             who
             have
             now
             bespoke
             the
             Prayers
             of
             the
             whole
             Nation
             upon
             your
             Consultations
             ,
             would
             frequently
             address
             your selves
             to
             God
             ,
             and
             set
             off
             such
             Hours
             as
             your
             Business
             can
             admit
             of
             ,
             for
             earnest
             Prayer
             to
             God
             ,
             to
             direct
             and
             bless
             your
             Councils
             ,
             and
             to
             bend
             all
             your
             Hearts
             ,
             to
             that
             which
             is
             both
             most
             for
             his
             Glory
             ,
             the
             Establishment
             of
             his
             true
             Religion
             ,
             
             and
             the
             Security
             ,
             Peace
             ,
             and
             Happiness
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ;
             we
             might
             justly
             hope
             ,
             
               that
               God
               ,
               even
               our
               God
               ,
               would
               give
               his
               Blessing
            
             to
             Endeavours
             so
             begun
             ,
             and
             so
             managed
             :
             Then
             should
             the
             Light
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             which
             is
             
               our
               Glory
               ,
               still
               dwell
               in
               our
               Land
               :
               Mercy
               and
               Truth
               should
               meet
               together
               ,
               and
               Righteousness
               and
               Peace
               should
               kiss
               one
               another
               :
               Then
               should
               the
               Lord
               give
               us
               that
               which
               is
               good
               ,
               and
               our
               Land
               should
               yeeld
               her
               encrease
               .
               O
               that
               there
               were
               such
               an
               Heart
               in
               us
               ,
               that
               we
               might
               fear
               him
               ,
               and
               keep
               his
               Commandments
               always
               ;
               that
               so
               it
               may
               be
               well
               with
               us
               ,
               and
               our
               Children
               after
               us
               ,
               for
               ever
               .
            
          
           
             To
             God
             the
             Father
             ,
             Son
             ,
             and
             Holy-Ghost
             ,
             be
             all
             Honour
             and
             Glory
             ,
             both
             now
             and
             evermore
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A30419-e130
           
             Jon.
             1.
             5.
             
          
           
             Isa.
             59.
             1
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             Isa.
             58.
             1.
             
          
           
             Vers.
             2.
             
          
           
             Vers.
             4.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             2.
             15.
             
          
           
             Vers.
             5.
             
          
           
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
          
           
             Math.
             13.
             20
             ,
             21.
             
             Gal.
             5.
             7.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             3.
             3.
             
          
           
             Gal.
             4.
             15.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             11.
             17
             ,
             18.
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             1.
             12.
             
          
           
             Phil.
             1.
             15
             ,
             16.
             
          
           
             Esth.
             4.
             13
             ▪
             
          
           
             Psal
             127.
             1.
             
          
           
             2
             King.
             24.
             4.
             
             Ezek.
             14.
             14.
             
          
           
             Amos
             3.
             2.