A sermon preached at the anniversary meeting the Sons of Clergy-men in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, Nov. vii, 1678 / by Thomas Sprat ...
         Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
      
       
         
           1678
        
      
       Approx. 59 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 26 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A61175
         Wing S5055
         ESTC R16678
         11930974
         ocm 11930974
         51114
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A61175)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 51114)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 825:12)
      
       
         
           
             A sermon preached at the anniversary meeting the Sons of Clergy-men in the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, Nov. vii, 1678 / by Thomas Sprat ...
             Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
             Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy (London, England)
          
           [4], 47 p.
           
             Printed by J. Macock, for Henry Brome ...,
             London :
             1678.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Church of England -- Sermons.
           Bible. -- N.T. -- Galatians VI, 10 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
        2002-10 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2002-11 SPi Global
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2002-12 Olivia Bottum
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2002-12 Olivia Bottum
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2003-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           PREACHED
           AT
           THE
           Anniversary
           Meeting
           OF
           THE
           SONS
           of
           CLERGY-MEN
           .
           In
           the
           Church
           of
           S
           t
           
             Mary-le-Bow
             ,
             Nov.
          
           vii
           .
           1678.
           
        
         
           By
           THOMAS
           SPRAT
           ,
           
             D.
             D.
          
           One
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Chaplains
           in
           Ordinary
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             I.
             Macock
          
           ,
           for
           
             Henry
             Brome
          
           at
           the
           Gun
           ,
           at
           the
           West-end
           of
           S
           t
           Pauls
           .
           MDCLXXVIII
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           IMPPIMATVR
           .
           Car.
           
           Trumbull
           ,
           R
           mo
           D
           no
           ,
           D
           no
           Gul.
           Archiep.
           Cant.
           à
           Sacris
           Domest
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           TO
           THE
           RIGHT
           REVEREND
           FATHER
           in
           GOD
           ,
           JOHN
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Rochester
           ,
           PRESIDENT
           ,
           And
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Governours
           of
           the
           Charity
           ,
           for
           relief
           of
           the
           Poor
           Widows
           ,
           and
           Children
           of
           Clergy-men
           .
        
         
           
             MY
             LORD
             ,
          
        
         
           
           SInce
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           and
           the
           Governours
           of
           this
           Pious
           Foundation
           have
           ,
           by
           your
           commands
           ,
           laid
           a
           necessity
           upon
           me
           of
           Printing
           this
           Sermon
           :
           I
           think
           I
           ought
           rather
           to
           be
           wanting
           in
           Prudence
           to
           my self
           ,
           than
           in
           respect
           
           to
           you
           .
           I
           cannot
           but
           venture
           the
           public
           censure
           ,
           to
           serve
           a
           Design
           ;
           for
           the
           promoting
           of
           which
           you
           all
           contribute
           so
           much
           more
           ,
           by
           your
           Exemplary
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           Beneficence
           .
           You
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           especially
           ,
           whom
           all
           acknowledge
           to
           deserve
           ,
           by
           your
           generous
           Heart
           ,
           and
           liberal
           Hand
           ,
           the
           two
           great
           Titles
           you
           possess
           :
           of
           disposing
           his
           Majesties
           Alms
           ;
           and
           governing
           this
           Royal
           Corporation
           of
           Charity
           .
        
         
           
             My
             Lord
             ,
          
           
             I
             am
             Your
             Lordships
             most
             Humble
             ,
             and
             most
             Obedient
             Servant
             ,
             
               THO.
               SPRAT
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           PREACHED
           before
           the
           SONS
           of
           CLERGY-MEN
           .
        
         
           
             GAL.
             vi
             .
             10
             .
          
           
             As
             we
             have
             therefore
             opportunity
             ,
             let
             us
             do
             good
             unto
             all
             men
             ,
             especially
             unto
             them
             who
             are
             of
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith.
             
          
        
         
           THese
           Friendly
           and
           Charitable
           Meetings
           ,
           Men
           ,
           Fathers
           and
           Brethren
           ,
           you
           have
           now
           ,
           by
           the
           blessing
           of
           God
           ,
           for
           several
           years
           ,
           renew'd
           with
           no
           just
           offence
           to
           any
           ,
           though
           with
           the
           grief
           ,
           and
           envy
           perhaps
           of
           some
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           of
           our
           Houshold
           of
           Faith
           ;
           but
           to
           the
           comfort
           of
           all
           that
           are
           ;
           for
           the
           present
           benefit
           ,
           and
           relief
           
           of
           many
           ,
           and
           with
           well-grounded
           hopes
           ,
           and
           presages
           of
           much
           greater
           things
           for
           the
           future
           .
        
         
           Of
           these
           our
           Annual
           Solemnities
           there
           being
           two
           principal
           intentions
           ;
           the
           one
           to
           answer
           a
           most
           unjust
           objection
           of
           the
           Enemies
           to
           the
           married
           Clergy
           ,
           by
           shewing
           a
           full
           appearance
           of
           their
           Children
           ,
           who
           are
           in
           a
           condition
           to
           credit
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           serve
           their
           Country
           ;
           The
           other
           ,
           for
           relieving
           those
           of
           the
           same
           descent
           ,
           who
           may
           have
           been
           reduc'd
           to
           Distress
           ,
           and
           Poverty
           :
           For
           the
           first
           of
           these
           ,
           I
           need
           no
           other
           defence
           ,
           no
           other
           commendation
           ,
           than
           this
           very
           Company
           ,
           to
           which
           I
           speak
           .
           For
           what
           Argument
           ,
           either
           Civil
           ,
           or
           Ecclesiastical
           ,
           can
           justify
           ,
           can
           commend
           the
           Marriage
           of
           Church-men
           ,
           and
           vindicate
           our
           whole
           Reformation
           on
           that
           account
           ,
           if
           this
           Sight
           be
           not
           sufficient
           to
           do
           it
           ?
           This
           Assembly
           ?
           The
           lawful
           Offspring
           of
           such
           Marriages
           ,
           the
           genuine
           Seed
           ,
           the
           proper
           Issue
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ;
           and
           if
           you
           permit
           me
           to
           say
           it
           ,
           I
           dare
           say
           ,
           the
           Honour
           of
           it
           too
           .
           An
           Assembly
           compos'd
           of
           men
           considerable
           in
           all
           worthy
           Professions
           ;
           eminent
           in
           many
           wayes
           of
           life
           ;
           all
           honest
           wayes
           ,
           some
           venerable
           ,
           some
           honourable
           :
           Men
           favour'd
           by
           God
           in
           your
           Birth
           ,
           your
           Education
           ,
           your
           several
           Stations
           
           in
           this
           world
           :
           so
           far
           above
           what
           the
           Adversaries
           of
           our
           Church
           most
           injuriously
           upbraid
           ,
           so
           far
           above
           contempt
           or
           meaness
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           plentifully
           bless'd
           by
           our
           gracious
           God
           with
           ablilities
           ;
           and
           ,
           which
           is
           more
           ,
           endued
           by
           him
           with
           hearts
           too
           ,
           to
           do
           good
           to
           others
           .
        
         
           In
           that
           part
           therefore
           of
           our
           design
           in
           this
           Meeting
           ,
           which
           concerns
           the
           vindication
           of
           our
           whole
           Race
           ;
           I
           will
           use
           no
           other
           Apology
           ;
           if
           I
           intended
           a
           Panegyric
           ,
           I
           should
           need
           no
           other
           ,
           but
           only
           this
           one
           unanswerable
           ,
           living
           Argument
           ,
           which
           you
           your selves
           here
           present
           afford
           me
           .
        
         
           The
           other
           great
           end
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           is
           Charity
           towards
           those
           of
           the
           like
           original
           with
           our selves
           ,
           whom
           their
           necessities
           may
           have
           made
           unable
           ,
           asham'd
           perhaps
           ,
           to
           appear
           amongst
           us
           at
           this
           time
           ;
           the
           Recommendation
           of
           so
           prudent
           ,
           so
           pious
           a
           work
           ,
           deserves
           certainly
           to
           be
           the
           chief
           subject
           of
           the
           Preacher
           ,
           the
           chief
           duty
           of
           the
           Hearers
           ,
           and
           Preacher
           ,
           in
           all
           such
           Assemblies
           of
           men
           of
           our
           extraction
           ;
           and
           in
           this
           of
           this
           year
           ,
           in
           a
           special
           manner
           ,
           for
           an
           extraordinary
           cause
           .
        
         
           For
           your
           former
           worthy
           beginnings
           of
           this
           kind
           having
           lately
           receiv'd
           incouragment
           by
           a
           Royal
           Establishment
           ;
           I
           cannot
           but
           believe
           .
           
           that
           this
           advantage
           has
           inspir'd
           all
           your
           hearts
           with
           the
           most
           chearful
           resolutions
           ,
           to
           perfect
           ,
           by
           the
           help
           of
           so
           great
           a
           Patronage
           ,
           what
           you
           your selves
           had
           before
           so
           generously
           attempted
           :
           that
           what
           you
           have
           hitherto
           done
           in
           your
           private
           bounty
           ,
           as
           a
           secret
           Free-will
           Offering
           ,
           you
           will
           persevere
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           do
           much
           more
           ,
           now
           you
           are
           invited
           to
           it
           by
           publick
           Authority
           ;
           now
           you
           are
           admitted
           by
           the
           King
           himself
           into
           a
           share
           with
           him
           ,
           as
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           in
           one
           of
           his
           most
           Sacred
           Offices
           ;
           are
           become
           
             Nursing
             Fathers
          
           too
           of
           the
           Church
           :
           
           He
           of
           the
           flourishing
           part
           ;
           you
           under
           him
           ,
           of
           the
           Afflicted
           part
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           ,
           intreating
           first
           your
           favourable
           interpretation
           ,
           that
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           sickness
           of
           the
           Reverend
           Prelate
           ,
           who
           had
           undertaken
           this
           employment
           ,
           I
           have
           been
           over-ruled
           to
           approach
           this
           place
           ,
           so
           much
           out
           of
           my
           own
           order
           ,
           so
           very
           much
           in
           all
           things
           unequal
           to
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           gone
           before
           me
           ;
           that
           I
           may
           (
           now
           I
           am
           here
           )
           be
           somewhat
           serviceable
           to
           the
           great
           Charitable
           design
           of
           this
           Congregation
           ,
           I
           have
           chosen
           to
           speak
           on
           this
           Scripture
           :
           In
           which
           we
           find
           a
           serious
           Exhortation
           of
           the
           Apostle
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Charity
           ,
           In
           its
           largest
           extent
           ;
           
             The
             doing
             good
             to
             all
             men
          
           !
           And
           then
           
           directed
           ,
           and
           limited
           in
           two
           particulars
           ,
           of
           Time
           ,
           and
           Persons
           .
           It
           is
           to
           be
           practised
           with
           regard
           to
           some
           Times
           above
           others
           :
           we
           are
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           
             As
             we
             have
             an
             opportunity
          
           .
           It
           should
           be
           with
           a
           careful
           choice
           and
           preference
           of
           some
           persons
           above
           others
           :
           To
           All
           ,
           but
           
             especially
             to
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith.
             
          
        
         
           According
           to
           this
           plain
           Method
           ,
           my
           following
           Discourse
           will
           be
           most
           naturally
           divided
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           As
           the
           Foundation
           of
           all
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           suppose
           this
           most
           Christian
           Principle
           ,
           That
           ,
           by
           the
           obligation
           of
           our
           Holy
           Faith
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           indispensably
           bound
           
             to
             do
             good
             to
             all
             men
             .
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           We
           may
           observe
           ,
           That
           though
           our
           Charity
           should
           be
           universal
           ,
           yet
           as
           it
           cannot
           be
           actually
           exercised
           ,
           but
           on
           particular
           times
           ,
           so
           it
           should
           be
           chiefly
           on
           special
           opportunities
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           We
           must
           conclude
           ,
           That
           the
           true
           ,
           Evangelical
           Charity
           may
           ,
           and
           should
           admit
           of
           different
           measures
           and
           degrees
           ;
           though
           it
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           confined
           to
           any
           ,
           yet
           should
           principally
           be
           applied
           
             to
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith.
          
           
        
         
           That
           the
           true
           Profession
           of
           Christianity
           inviolably
           engages
           all
           its
           followers
           ,
           to
           do
           good
           to
           all
           men
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           here
           much
           labour
           to
           
           prove
           ,
           but
           rather
           take
           it
           for
           granted
           ;
           the
           very
           repetition
           of
           this
           truth
           giving
           a
           sufficient
           confirmation
           to
           it
           ,
           in
           any
           Assembly
           of
           true
           Christians
           ;
           much
           more
           in
           such
           a
           one
           ,
           as
           you
           are
           ;
           whose
           Fathers
           ,
           by
           virtue
           of
           their
           Holy
           Office
           ,
           were
           appointed
           the
           special
           Guardians
           of
           the
           great
           Doctrine
           of
           Charity
           ,
           and
           Teachers
           of
           it
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           world
           .
           To
           you
           therefore
           it
           may
           well
           be
           esteemed
           as
           a
           domestic
           Doctrine
           ,
           received
           by
           you
           almost
           with
           your
           first
           milk
           ,
           as
           one
           of
           the
           very
           first
           Elements
           of
           your
           Religion
           .
        
         
           A
           Doctrine
           ,
           that
           is
           represented
           to
           our
           imperfect
           indeed
           ,
           but
           yet
           to
           our
           sincere
           imitation
           ,
           in
           the
           glorious
           ,
           primitive
           Patern
           of
           most
           perfect
           ,
           most
           adorable
           goodness
           in
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           it self
           :
           by
           which
           the
           whole
           Frame
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           the
           whole
           stock
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           the
           sound
           ,
           the
           unsound
           part
           ,
           the
           good
           ,
           the
           bad
           ,
           were
           all
           made
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           always
           sustained
           ,
           and
           encompassed
           with
           such
           inexpressible
           Grace
           ,
           such
           unbounded
           Mercy
           ,
           as
           is
           always
           ready
           for
           those
           that
           desire
           it
           ;
           always
           finds
           out
           those
           that
           seek
           for
           it
           ;
           often
           stands
           in
           the
           way
           of
           those
           ,
           that
           would
           avoid
           it
           ;
           and
           overtakes
           them
           that
           flye
           from
           it
           .
        
         
           From
           that
           most
           blessed
           Original
           of
           doing
           
           good
           ,
           that
           is
           essential
           to
           the
           infinite
           Being
           of
           our
           Creator
           ,
           we
           have
           an
           excellent
           Copy
           transcribed
           for
           all
           our
           use
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           here
           made
           necessary
           to
           us
           by
           innumerable
           Precepts
           ;
           here
           illustrated
           to
           us
           by
           a
           most
           gracious
           Example
           ;
           here
           made
           easie
           for
           us
           by
           Promises
           of
           Divine
           Assistance
           ;
           here
           rendred
           pleasant
           and
           profitable
           to
           us
           by
           assurances
           of
           unspeakable
           Rewards
           .
        
         
           This
           Doctrine
           of
           Gods
           good-will
           towards
           men
           ;
           this
           command
           of
           mens
           proportionable
           good-will
           to
           one
           another
           ,
           is
           not
           this
           the
           very
           Body
           and
           Substance
           ,
           this
           the
           very
           Spirit
           and
           Life
           of
           our
           Saviours
           whole
           Institution
           ?
           It
           is
           intermingled
           with
           all
           the
           Truths
           He
           teaches
           :
           It
           overspreads
           and
           gives
           one
           colour
           to
           all
           his
           Precepts
           ;
           't
           is
           the
           very
           distinguishing
           Character
           of
           the
           Christian
           Law
           ;
           by
           which
           that
           has
           exceeded
           ,
           and
           advanced
           all
           the
           true
           Dictates
           of
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           by
           which
           it
           has
           excell'd
           ,
           and
           put
           to
           shame
           all
           the
           best
           Pretences
           of
           false
           Worships
           ;
           nay
           by
           which
           God
           himself
           seems
           to
           have
           made
           the
           last
           Addition
           to
           his
           own
           Discoveries
           and
           Instructions
           to
           Mankind
           :
           For
           as
           in
           many
           other
           things
           the
           Gospel
           appears
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           Law
           to
           be
           a
           clearer
           Revelation
           of
           the
           mystical
           part
           ;
           so
           
           in
           this
           it
           is
           apparently
           a
           far
           more
           benign
           ,
           more
           generous
           Dispensation
           of
           the
           practical
           part
           of
           the
           True
           Religion
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           matter
           ,
           what
           need
           we
           Christians
           be
           our
           own
           Witnesses
           ,
           or
           our
           own
           Judges
           ?
           We
           might
           refer
           the
           examination
           of
           it
           to
           any
           sober
           judicious
           Heathen
           ,
           or
           unprejudic'd
           Jew
           ,
           if
           any
           such
           could
           be
           found
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           they
           might
           at
           first
           sight
           observe
           the
           common
           practice
           of
           too
           many
           ,
           that
           call
           themselves
           Christians
           ,
           to
           be
           very
           different
           from
           the
           Doctrine
           they
           seem
           to
           own
           .
           They
           might
           justly
           wonder
           ,
           that
           men
           so
           taught
           ,
           so
           obliged
           to
           be
           kind
           to
           all
           ,
           gentle
           to
           Strangers
           ,
           merciful
           to
           the
           Afflicted
           ,
           loving
           even
           to
           Enemies
           ,
           should
           behave
           themselves
           in
           every
           point
           so
           contrary
           to
           such
           heavenly
           Instructions
           ,
           such
           indissoluble
           Obligations
           !
           that
           so
           many
           ,
           that
           any
           fierce
           ,
           stubborn
           ,
           revengeful
           ,
           avaritious
           ,
           uncharitable
           Passions
           could
           possibly
           spring
           up
           under
           the
           shadow
           of
           such
           a
           Religion
           !
           nay
           ,
           that
           some
           men
           should
           make
           such
           a
           Religion
           ,
           and
           their
           Zeal
           for
           it
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           pretence
           ,
           and
           excuse
           even
           to
           justifie
           ,
           even
           to
           sanctifie
           such
           passions
           !
        
         
           All
           this
           the
           Adversaries
           of
           the
           Faith
           have
           too
           much
           reason
           to
           object
           against
           too
           many
           of
           its
           Professors
           ;
           but
           against
           the
           Faith
           it self
           
           nothing
           at
           all
           .
           In
           that
           all
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           must
           excite
           their
           admiration
           ,
           or
           overwhelm
           them
           with
           confusion
           .
           Should
           the
           wisest
           Heathen
           search
           into
           all
           the
           highest
           flights
           of
           their
           best
           Moralists
           ;
           should
           the
           most
           devout
           Iew
           recollect
           the
           most
           virtuous
           Counsels
           ,
           and
           Traditions
           of
           their
           Patriarchs
           ,
           and
           Prophets
           ;
           and
           then
           should
           both
           these
           compare
           what
           they
           can
           find
           in
           either
           of
           them
           ,
           with
           the
           free-spirited
           ,
           the
           large-hearted
           ,
           the
           universally-charitable
           design
           of
           the
           whole
           tenour
           of
           our
           Blessed
           Saviours
           Teaching
           ,
           and
           Life
           ;
           and
           that
           unanimously
           expounded
           by
           all
           the
           inspired
           Writers
           after
           him
           ;
           and
           they
           must
           both
           at
           last
           agree
           ,
           that
           here
           are
           introduc'd
           far
           more
           Heroic
           Principles
           of
           Meekness
           ,
           Forgiveness
           ,
           Bounty
           ,
           and
           Magnanimity
           ,
           than
           ever
           all
           the
           Learning
           of
           the
           Heathens
           could
           invent
           ,
           or
           all
           the
           Antiquity
           of
           the
           Iews
           could
           boast
           of
           .
        
         
           What
           could
           the
           light
           of
           Nature
           ,
           what
           could
           the
           Mosaical
           shadows
           ,
           which
           yet
           were
           clearer
           than
           that
           ;
           what
           could
           either
           of
           these
           produce
           that
           is
           comparable
           to
           the
           true
           Evangelical
           Spirit
           ?
           By
           our
           Law
           of
           doing
           Good
           ,
           no
           good
           is
           to
           be
           left
           undone
           towards
           all
           ,
           not
           the
           good
           of
           the
           Tongue
           ,
           the
           Hand
           ,
           the
           Heart
           ;
           none
           is
           to
           be
           done
           unwillingly
           to
           any
           ;
           none
           only
           for
           our
           
           own
           sakes
           ;
           none
           only
           in
           one
           season
           ,
           but
           always
           .
           Here
           are
           confirm'd
           all
           our
           other
           Natural
           ,
           Civil
           ,
           Political
           tyes
           of
           Mutual
           good
           Offices
           ;
           nay
           here
           ,
           when
           they
           are
           not
           ,
           or
           cannot
           be
           Mutual
           :
           Here
           many
           new
           Titles
           of
           kindness
           ,
           many
           new
           Relations
           of
           endearment
           are
           superadded
           to
           them
           :
           Here
           the
           foundations
           ,
           the
           desires
           ,
           the
           occasions
           of
           Envy
           ,
           Malice
           ,
           Coveteousness
           Revenge
           are
           abolish'd
           :
           Here
           a
           new
           race
           of
           Virtues
           ,
           and
           Graces
           more
           Divine
           ,
           more
           Moral
           ,
           more
           Humane
           are
           planted
           in
           their
           stead
           .
        
         
           If
           I
           will
           believe
           ,
           and
           obey
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           no
           difference
           of
           outward
           condition
           ,
           no
           Calamity
           ,
           no
           Misery
           can
           make
           any
           man
           not
           to
           be
           equal
           to
           me
           ,
           or
           to
           deserve
           my
           neglect
           :
           no
           distance
           of
           Place
           ,
           no
           strangeness
           of
           Country
           ,
           no
           contrariety
           of
           Temper
           ,
           or
           Interest
           can
           make
           any
           Man
           a
           stranger
           to
           me
           ,
           or
           to
           deserve
           my
           indifference
           :
           no
           ill
           Will
           ,
           no
           ill
           Speech
           ,
           no
           ill
           Deed
           of
           another
           against
           me
           can
           make
           any
           Man
           an
           Enemy
           to
           me
           ,
           or
           to
           deserve
           my
           hatred
           .
           With
           Men
           indeed
           these
           considerations
           are
           usually
           ,
           naturally
           the
           causes
           of
           Despite
           ,
           Disdain
           ,
           or
           Aversion
           from
           others
           :
           But
           with
           God
           they
           seem
           to
           pass
           for
           so
           many
           new
           reasons
           of
           our
           greater
           tenderness
           towards
           others
           ;
           
           even
           as
           so
           many
           new
           degrees
           of
           our
           Consanguinity
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           Should
           we
           not
           do
           good
           to
           Strangers
           ?
           The
           Gospel
           allows
           no
           such
           term
           ,
           as
           a
           Stranger
           :
           makes
           every
           man
           my
           Neighbour
           .
           Should
           we
           not
           forgive
           our
           Enemies
           ?
           those
           that
           Curse
           ,
           Persecute
           ,
           and
           would
           Destroy
           us
           ?
           The
           Gospel
           knows
           no
           such
           thing
           ,
           as
           an
           Enemy
           .
           
             We
             are
             to
             bless
          
           ,
           
           
             to
             pray
             for
             ,
             to
             love
             our
             Enemies
          
           :
           and
           if
           not
           for
           that
           very
           reason
           ,
           yet
           notwithstanding
           it
           .
           Ought
           we
           not
           to
           pity
           ,
           and
           supply
           the
           Poor
           ,
           and
           Afflicted
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           no
           Relation
           to
           us
           ?
           No
           Relation
           ?
           That
           cannot
           be
           .
           The
           Gospel
           styles
           them
           all
           ,
           our
           Brethren
           :
           nay
           they
           have
           a
           nearer
           Relation
           to
           us
           ,
           our
           fellow
           Members
           :
           and
           both
           these
           from
           their
           Relation
           to
           our
           Saviour
           himself
           ;
           who
           calls
           them
           his
           Brethren
           ,
           his
           Members
           ;
           and
           makes
           them
           his
           proper
           Charge
           ,
           his
           peculiar
           Care
           :
           Titles
           of
           Honour
           and
           Priviledges
           which
           the
           Rich
           ,
           and
           the
           Great
           ,
           as
           such
           ,
           can
           never
           deserve
           ;
           and
           will
           never
           have
           ,
           unless
           they
           employ
           their
           Riches
           ,
           and
           Greatness
           ,
           for
           the
           help
           ,
           and
           protection
           of
           these
           the
           true
           Wards
           ,
           and
           Children
           ,
           and
           Friends
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Wherefore
           since
           we
           are
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           to
           the
           Poor
           ,
           to
           Strangers
           ,
           to
           Enemies
           ;
           those
           whom
           
           Nature
           is
           too
           apt
           to
           make
           us
           Despise
           ,
           Disregard
           ,
           or
           Hate
           ;
           then
           undoubtedly
           we
           are
           to
           do
           good
           
             to
             all
             Men
          
           ,
           To
           all
           Men
           ,
           
             as
             we
             have
             an
             opportunity
          
           ,
           which
           is
           my
           second
           particular
           .
        
         
           I
           cannot
           but
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           fulness
           of
           the
           Original
           Phrase
           in
           this
           place
           .
           For
           though
           it
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           is
           scarce
           ever
           so
           Various
           ,
           and
           Copious
           ,
           and
           Efficacious
           ,
           on
           any
           one
           Divine
           Argument
           ,
           as
           when
           it
           recommends
           to
           us
           the
           great
           duty
           of
           Charity
           ;
           yet
           there
           are
           few
           expressions
           ,
           on
           this
           very
           subject
           ,
           so
           expressive
           ;
           none
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           more
           powerful
           than
           this
           ,
           throughout
           the
           whole
           Scripture
           .
        
         
           First
           't
           is
           here
           said
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           A
           Word
           ,
           that
           signifies
           ,
           not
           only
           some
           empty
           good
           will
           ,
           and
           good
           wishes
           ;
           not
           only
           some
           verbal
           assistance
           ,
           or
           the
           cold
           comfort
           of
           barren
           promises
           ;
           not
           only
           some
           slender
           kind
           of
           good
           work
           ,
           perform'd
           by
           chance
           ,
           with
           little
           cost
           ,
           or
           no
           pains
           ;
           but
           an
           active
           ,
           expensive
           ,
           indefatigable
           goodness
           ;
           such
           as
           our
           Apostle
           ,
           elsewhere
           ,
           
           in
           two
           several
           places
           ,
           calls
           
             a
             work
             ,
             and
             labour
             of
             Love.
             
          
        
         
           Secondly
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           translated
           not
           only
           
             doing
             Good
          
           ,
           but
           
             the
             Good
          
           ;
           the
           Good
           I
           suppose
           ,
           that
           others
           necessities
           most
           call
           for
           ,
           and
           our
           circumstances
           most
           
           enable
           us
           to
           perform
           ;
           and
           so
           implying
           much
           cautious
           Care
           ,
           and
           Cicumspection
           ,
           in
           suiting
           the
           kinds
           of
           our
           relief
           to
           our
           own
           abilities
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           wants
           of
           those
           we
           would
           relieve
           .
           And
           a
           doing
           good
           in
           this
           wise
           manner
           ,
           this
           truly-Gospel
           sense
           ,
           is
           a
           wonderful
           addition
           to
           the
           good
           action
           it self
           .
           Of
           so
           beautiful
           ,
           and
           amiable
           a
           thing
           as
           Charity
           is
           ,
           nothing
           can
           more
           increase
           the
           Lustre
           ,
           and
           Beauty
           ,
           than
           a
           prudent
           election
           of
           Objects
           ,
           and
           a
           fit
           application
           of
           it
           to
           them
           .
           In
           good
           works
           ,
           as
           in
           all
           other
           good
           things
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           goodness
           in
           the
           general
           ,
           but
           Decence
           ,
           and
           Gracefulness
           can
           be
           only
           in
           the
           particulars
           ,
           in
           doing
           the
           good
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           therefore
           ,
           To
           make
           this
           decence
           of
           our
           Beneficence
           compleat
           ,
           't
           is
           added
           ,
           That
           we
           must
           do
           it
           ,
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
             As
             we
             have
             opportunity
          
           .
           Most
           of
           the
           Learned
           Versions
           only
           render
           it
           ,
           
             whilest
             we
             have
             time
          
           :
           whilest
           by
           the
           favour
           ,
           and
           long-suffering
           of
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           our
           frail
           ,
           and
           uncertain
           Lives
           are
           ,
           for
           this
           very
           end
           ,
           prolong'd
           to
           us
           in
           this
           World
           :
           which
           is
           our
           chief
           opportunity
           of
           doing
           Good
           ;
           as
           after
           this
           Life
           ;
           begins
           Gods
           chief
           opportunity
           of
           recompensing
           us
           for
           so
           doing
           .
           But
           in
           all
           works
           of
           Bounty
           ,
           and
           Liberality
           ,
           something
           more
           is
           to
           be
           consider'd
           besides
           the
           occasion
           of
           
           the
           Givers
           :
           and
           that
           is
           the
           occasion
           of
           the
           Receivers
           ;
           and
           therefore
           our
           Translation
           takes
           in
           both
           ,
           rightly
           saies
           ,
           not
           only
           whilest
           we
           have
           time
           ,
           but
           ,
           
             as
             we
             have
             opportunity
          
           .
        
         
           Opportunity
           is
           in
           respect
           to
           time
           ,
           in
           some
           sense
           ,
           as
           time
           is
           in
           respect
           to
           Eternity
           .
           'T
           is
           the
           small
           Moment
           ,
           the
           exact
           Point
           ,
           the
           critical
           Minute
           ,
           on
           which
           every
           good
           work
           so
           much
           depends
           ;
           that
           whenever
           you
           just
           light
           upon
           it
           ,
           it
           is
           able
           to
           make
           all
           your
           Religious
           performances
           more
           easy
           to
           your selves
           ,
           more
           beneficial
           to
           others
           ,
           more
           acceptable
           to
           God
           himself
           .
           Has
           not
           every
           common
           action
           of
           life
           ,
           every
           virtue
           in
           Morality
           ,
           and
           so
           every
           grace
           in
           Christianity
           its
           due
           season
           ,
           its
           proper
           time
           ?
           out
           of
           which
           whenever
           it
           is
           practis'd
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           say
           it
           changes
           its
           Nature
           ,
           and
           becomes
           evil
           ;
           but
           most
           truly
           it
           loses
           very
           much
           of
           the
           comeliness
           ,
           and
           vigor
           ,
           and
           ornament
           of
           its
           goodness
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           ,
           
           saies
           the
           Wiseman
           ,
           
             a
             season
             ,
             and
             time
          
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           
             an
             opportunity
             to
             every
             thing
          
           :
           the
           same
           which
           the
           Poet
           means
           ,
           when
           he
           saies
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ▪
           
           So
           your
           Christian
           Fortitude
           ,
           and
           Patience
           have
           their
           opportunity
           ,
           in
           times
           of
           Affliction
           ,
           and
           Persecution
           :
           So
           your
           Temperance
           ,
           and
           Humility
           have
           theirs
           ,
           in
           Plenty
           ,
           and
           Prosperity
           ,
           especially
           unexpected
           
           Prosperity
           ;
           so
           your
           Devotion
           has
           its
           opportunity
           :
           
           
             We
             must
             Pray
             always
          
           ,
           but
           chiefly
           at
           certain
           times
           :
           on
           stated
           Days
           ,
           in
           most
           solemn
           Places
           :
           so
           your
           Fasting
           ,
           Contrition
           and
           Mortification
           ,
           when
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           appoints
           ,
           and
           that
           especially
           in
           times
           of
           greater
           Riot
           and
           Luxury
           :
           so
           true
           Zeal
           ,
           in
           times
           overflowing
           with
           Atheism
           and
           Prophaness
           :
           so
           Moderation
           ,
           and
           Christian
           Prudence
           ,
           in
           times
           abounding
           with
           blind
           and
           furious
           Zeal
           :
           so
           all
           the
           rest
           ;
           so
           Charity
           has
           its
           opportunity
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           rest
           .
        
         
           Indeed
           so
           diffusive
           ,
           so
           comprehensive
           ,
           so
           catholic
           a
           Grace
           is
           Charity
           above
           any
           of
           the
           rest
           ,
           that
           whatever
           time
           is
           the
           special
           opportunity
           of
           any
           other
           moral
           Virtue
           ,
           or
           Christian
           Grace
           ,
           that
           very
           time
           is
           also
           the
           special
           opportunity
           of
           Charity
           .
           It
           must
           immediately
           ,
           inseparably
           attend
           all
           your
           Christian
           Fortitude
           ,
           your
           Patience
           ,
           your
           Devotion
           ,
           your
           Mortification
           ,
           your
           Prudence
           ,
           your
           Zeal
           .
           In
           whatever
           Heart
           ,
           or
           Head
           any
           one
           of
           these
           takes
           possession
           ,
           it
           must
           never
           go
           single
           ;
           it
           must
           bring
           Charity
           with
           it
           ,
           or
           it
           is
           there
           it self
           in
           vain
           .
           
           
             Mercy
             is
             over
             all
             Gods
             works
             ,
          
           and
           should
           be
           in
           all
           ours
           .
        
         
           Such
           is
           the
           large
           opportunity
           of
           Charity
           ,
           
           whereby
           it
           is
           made
           the
           constant
           Companion
           and
           Perfection
           of
           all
           Virtues
           ;
           impower'd
           to
           enter
           into
           every
           one
           of
           their
           Provinces
           :
           and
           well
           it
           is
           for
           that
           Virtue
           ,
           where
           it
           most
           enters
           ,
           and
           longest
           stayes
           .
           Indeed
           so
           much
           employment
           it
           has
           ,
           that
           whoever
           shall
           read
           over
           St.
           
           Paul's
           enumeration
           of
           the
           Duties
           incumbent
           upon
           it
           ,
           
           he
           might
           almost
           conclude
           ,
           that
           well-nigh
           the
           whole
           business
           of
           Christianity
           is
           laid
           on
           the
           shoulders
           of
           Charity
           alone
           .
           
             Charity
             bears
             all
          
           ,
           
           
             believes
             all
             ,
             hopes
             all
             ,
             endures
             all
             ,
          
           and
           much
           more
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           .
           What
           can
           be
           spoken
           more
           effectually
           ?
           Whereas
           the
           same
           Apostle
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           Chapter
           ,
           tells
           us
           ,
           That
           
             of
             the
             three
             things
             which
             remain
             ,
          
           
           
             Faith
             ,
             Hope
             and
             Charity
             ,
             the
             greatest
             is
             Charity
          
           ;
           here
           much
           more
           is
           said
           ;
           not
           only
           that
           it
           is
           greater
           than
           Faith
           ,
           and
           Hope
           ,
           but
           that
           
             it
             believes
             all
             ,
             hopes
             all
             it self
          
           :
           has
           all
           these
           other
           Graces
           ,
           and
           their
           opportunities
           ,
           contained
           within
           it self
           .
        
         
           Certainly
           therefore
           Charity
           is
           the
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           here
           intended
           ;
           not
           only
           a
           good
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           chiefgood
           ,
           but
           that
           without
           which
           nothing
           else
           can
           be
           good
           .
        
         
           Yet
           besides
           this
           general
           opportunity
           of
           Charity
           ,
           which
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           is
           common
           to
           it
           with
           all
           other
           goodness
           :
           it
           has
           also
           many
           Opportunities
           
           peculiar
           to
           it self
           .
           As
           when
           it
           is
           to
           be
           practis'd
           towards
           persons
           of
           great
           ,
           and
           undeserv'd
           Wants
           ,
           or
           of
           extraordinary
           Merits
           ,
           or
           of
           extraordinary
           Demerits
           :
           That
           is
           one
           great
           opportunity
           of
           Charity
           .
           Or
           when
           in
           places
           ,
           that
           can
           shew
           very
           few
           ,
           and
           little
           ,
           or
           very
           great
           ,
           and
           many
           instances
           of
           Beneficence
           :
           That
           is
           another
           of
           its
           opportunities
           ;
           that
           where
           there
           are
           few
           ,
           and
           small
           examples
           of
           good
           works
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           increas'd
           ;
           where
           there
           are
           many
           ,
           and
           great
           ,
           they
           may
           be
           incouraged
           to
           continue
           .
           Or
           in
           times
           of
           public
           Fasting
           ,
           Mourning
           ,
           and
           Humiliation
           ;
           that
           is
           another
           opportunity
           of
           it
           :
           For
           the
           best
           sign
           ,
           and
           fruit
           of
           denying
           our selves
           ,
           is
           mercy
           to
           others
           .
           Or
           in
           times
           of
           Thanksgiving
           ,
           of
           remarkable
           Temporal
           or
           Spiritual
           Blessings
           ;
           in
           times
           of
           Joy
           ,
           and
           Feasting
           ,
           and
           enlargement
           of
           Heart
           ;
           that
           is
           another
           .
           In
           all
           such
           times
           ,
           when
           we
           more
           freely
           enjoy
           the
           bounty
           of
           God
           our selves
           ;
           we
           make
           it
           an
           imputation
           to
           us
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           take
           care
           ,
           that
           others
           also
           shall
           partake
           of
           some
           good
           by
           it
           .
           Such
           honest
           refreshments
           ,
           and
           comforts
           of
           Life
           ,
           our
           Christian
           Liberty
           has
           made
           it
           lawful
           for
           us
           to
           use
           :
           our
           Temperance
           ,
           and
           Sobriety
           in
           using
           them
           will
           make
           them
           innocent
           :
           But
           nothing
           can
           render
           them
           truely
           Christian
           Comforts
           ,
           except
           
           the
           mixture
           of
           some
           good
           work
           of
           Kindness
           ,
           and
           Liberality
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           therefore
           the
           only
           Feasts
           we
           read
           of
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           
           amongst
           the
           Primitive
           Christians
           ,
           besides
           the
           great
           Feast
           of
           the
           Holy
           Communion
           ,
           were
           their
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           their
           Feasts
           of
           Charity
           .
           Cicero
           brings
           in
           Cato
           reproving
           the
           Levity
           of
           the
           Greeks
           ,
           
           for
           calling
           their
           Festival
           meetings
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           from
           their
           drinking
           then
           together
           ;
           and
           rather
           commends
           the
           Gravity
           of
           the
           Romans
           ,
           who
           nam'd
           such
           meetings
           Convivia
           ,
           from
           their
           Living
           ,
           and
           Conversing
           then
           together
           .
           But
           we
           Christians
           have
           another
           manner
           of
           example
           to
           follow
           ,
           from
           our
           first
           Predecessors
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           of
           which
           the
           very
           word
           may
           teach
           us
           our
           duty
           in
           them
           :
           
           For
           these
           took
           their
           Name
           not
           from
           the
           Mirth
           ,
           not
           from
           the
           Conversation
           ,
           but
           only
           from
           the
           Charity
           of
           the
           Guests
           .
           That
           indeed
           is
           the
           only
           thing
           ,
           that
           can
           season
           all
           our
           Mirth
           ,
           that
           can
           sanctify
           all
           our
           freedom
           on
           such
           times
           :
           That
           indeed
           is
           the
           only
           true
           Christian
           life
           .
        
         
           I
           come
           in
           the
           Third
           place
           to
           examine
           ,
           what
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           proper
           object
           of
           a
           Christians
           doing
           good
           .
           It
           must
           be
           done
           to
           all
           ,
           but
           
             especially
             to
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           :
           which
           is
           the
           last
           particular
           in
           my
           Text.
           
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           manifest
           throughout
           the
           Bible
           ,
           that
           besides
           the
           whole
           compass
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           Earth
           ;
           in
           which
           God
           is
           pleas'd
           to
           reside
           ,
           therefore
           calling
           
             the
             one
             his
             Throne
          
           ,
           
           
             the
             other
             his
             Foot-stool
          
           ;
           though
           both
           are
           far
           from
           containing
           his
           Immensity
           ;
           but
           ,
           besides
           that
           more
           ample
           Habitation
           of
           his
           Power
           ,
           he
           has
           always
           condescended
           to
           take
           to
           himself
           ,
           amongst
           the
           Sons
           of
           men
           ,
           a
           peculiar
           Houshold
           of
           his
           Love
           :
           which
           ,
           in
           all
           times
           ,
           he
           has
           cherish'd
           as
           a
           Father
           ,
           by
           his
           special
           Providence
           and
           Affection
           ;
           and
           govern'd
           ,
           as
           a
           Master
           ,
           by
           a
           private
           Oeconomy
           of
           his
           own
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           proper
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith.
          
           And
           in
           the
           first
           Ages
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           't
           was
           sometimes
           literally
           no
           more
           than
           a
           single
           Houshold
           ,
           or
           some
           few
           Families
           .
           Before
           the
           Fall
           of
           our
           first
           Parents
           ,
           it
           could
           be
           no
           otherwise
           ;
           and
           after
           it
           too
           't
           was
           so
           for
           several
           Generations
           :
           whilest
           the
           Mysteries
           and
           Worship
           of
           the
           true
           Religion
           were
           almost
           confined
           to
           the
           Succession
           of
           one
           beloved
           Race
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           Mankind
           left
           to
           be
           ,
           what
           they
           had
           made
           themselves
           ,
           
           
             Aliens
             and
             Strangers
          
           .
        
         
           Nor
           ought
           any
           to
           repine
           on
           this
           account
           ,
           at
           the
           unsearchable
           Judgements
           of
           God
           ,
           that
           so
           many
           were
           at
           once
           excluded
           out
           of
           his
           Family
           .
           
           Ought
           not
           all
           rather
           ,
           we
           especially
           ,
           to
           admire
           and
           adore
           his
           apparent
           Mercy
           ,
           that
           any
           were
           still
           permitted
           to
           have
           a
           right
           in
           it
           ;
           since
           none
           could
           merit
           ,
           all
           had
           forfeited
           that
           right
           ?
        
         
           But
           in
           process
           of
           time
           ,
           when
           this
           chosen
           Family
           was
           multiplyed
           into
           a
           Nation
           ,
           that
           Nation
           too
           became
           the
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           ;
           a
           greater
           ,
           but
           still
           a
           Houshold
           :
           Limited
           in
           its
           Members
           ,
           almost
           to
           one
           People
           ;
           in
           its
           public
           Worship
           ,
           almost
           to
           one
           House
           :
           But
           still
           a
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           :
           a
           Faith
           ,
           that
           was
           true
           ,
           though
           obscure
           ;
           a
           Faith
           ,
           that
           had
           then
           the
           hope
           
             of
             things
             not
             seen
          
           ,
           though
           it
           was
           not
           ,
           as
           afterwards
           under
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           
           
             the
             Evidence
             of
             such
             things
          
           .
        
         
           Under
           the
           Gospel
           indeed
           the
           next
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           increase
           of
           this
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           has
           been
           made
           :
           when
           ,
           by
           the
           Universal
           administration
           of
           Grace
           ,
           begun
           by
           our
           blessed
           Saviour
           ,
           enlarged
           by
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           carried
           on
           by
           their
           immediate
           Successors
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           compleated
           by
           the
           rest
           to
           the
           Worlds
           end
           ;
           all
           Types
           that
           darken'd
           this
           Faith
           ,
           are
           enlighten'd
           ;
           all
           Veils
           ,
           that
           hid
           it
           ,
           are
           rent
           ,
           and
           taken
           away
           ;
           all
           
             Walls
             of
             partition
             broken
             down
          
           ;
           
           all
           confinement
           to
           Families
           ,
           or
           People
           ,
           all
           narrowness
           of
           Opinions
           removed
           ;
           all
           Nations
           under
           Heaven
           invited
           ;
           some
           of
           all
           received
           into
           
           this
           Houshold
           :
           which
           therefore
           has
           taken
           to
           it self
           ,
           as
           it
           deserves
           ,
           the
           most
           August
           Name
           of
           Catholic
           ;
           that
           ,
           without
           it
           ,
           no
           other
           House
           ,
           nor
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           Empire
           could
           ever
           justly
           claim
           ;
           nor
           within
           it
           ,
           can
           any
           one
           Church
           above
           others
           rightly
           pretend
           to
           it
           ,
           but
           only
           all
           together
           ,
           united
           in
           the
           same
           Faith
           ,
           the
           same
           Hope
           ,
           the
           same
           Charity
           .
        
         
           Such
           have
           been
           the
           different
           extents
           of
           this
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           through
           all
           its
           successions
           .
           And
           what
           all
           along
           were
           the
           different
           ranks
           ?
           what
           the
           distinct
           Offices
           ?
           what
           degrees
           of
           Privilege
           ,
           and
           Command
           maintain'd
           amongst
           all
           its
           members
           ?
           None
           at
           all
           ?
           Yes
           certainly
           very
           much
           of
           all
           .
           In
           so
           divine
           a
           Houshold
           ,
           so
           united
           in
           one
           Faith
           ,
           were
           there
           no
           other
           Means
           of
           Order
           ,
           or
           Methods
           of
           Union
           ?
           no
           Superiority
           of
           some
           ?
           no
           submission
           of
           others
           ?
           no
           reverence
           towards
           any
           ?
           How
           could
           it
           then
           be
           a
           Houshold
           ?
           A
           Herd
           of
           wild
           Beasts
           on
           the
           Mountains
           ,
           a
           salvage
           Drove
           of
           men
           in
           Caves
           might
           be
           so
           order'd
           ,
           or
           rather
           so
           disorder'd
           :
           
           But
           never
           a
           Family
           ,
           a
           City
           ,
           a
           
             People
             ,
             a
             peculiar
             People
          
           ;
           all
           which
           the
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           is
           often
           called
           :
           for
           to
           all
           these
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           Subordination
           ,
           Government
           ,
           and
           Subjection
           are
           most
           necessary
           for
           their
           well-being
           ,
           
           for
           their
           being
           in
           a
           Civil
           State
           ;
           certainly
           therefore
           as
           necessary
           to
           a
           Spiritual
           Family
           ,
           and
           City
           ,
           and
           People
           .
        
         
           Can
           there
           be
           any
           reason
           imaginable
           ,
           why
           the
           Houshold
           of
           God
           alone
           should
           throw
           off
           all
           that
           Rule
           ,
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           that
           orderly
           Dependence
           ,
           and
           Duty
           ,
           and
           Service
           ,
           by
           which
           all
           other
           Houses
           in
           the
           world
           are
           best
           govern'd
           ?
           Nay
           by
           which
           they
           can
           only
           be
           well
           govern'd
           ?
           No.
           So
           far
           is
           an
           indistinction
           of
           all
           persons
           ,
           or
           equality
           of
           all
           Orders
           ,
           and
           ,
           by
           consequence
           ,
           an
           Anarchy
           of
           all
           things
           ;
           so
           far
           from
           being
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ;
           declared
           in
           the
           Beautiful
           ,
           and
           Harmonious
           frame
           of
           his
           great
           Houshold
           ,
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           especially
           in
           all
           the
           Ministeries
           of
           proper
           Houshold
           ,
           the
           Church
           ;
           that
           there
           was
           never
           yet
           any
           time
           ,
           since
           the
           Church
           was
           a
           considerable
           Number
           ;
           I
           believe
           ,
           since
           it
           was
           a
           Number
           ;
           when
           some
           of
           its
           Members
           were
           not
           more
           Sacred
           than
           others
           ,
           when
           some
           were
           not
           appointed
           Spiritual
           Rulers
           ,
           some
           Temporal
           Governours
           ,
           some
           both
           over
           others
           .
        
         
           The
           Patriarchs
           were
           indubitably
           invested
           with
           both
           these
           Authorities
           .
           In
           Moses
           ,
           and
           Aaron
           they
           were
           divided
           in
           persons
           ;
           but
           still
           united
           as
           in
           Brethren
           .
           In
           the
           
             Iewish
             State
          
           ,
           of
           
           which
           every
           part
           was
           of
           Gods
           own
           prescribing
           ;
           't
           is
           needless
           to
           tell
           ,
           how
           great
           was
           the
           Preeminence
           of
           the
           Priestly
           Office
           ;
           how
           Sacred
           their
           Degrees
           ;
           how
           Separate
           ;
           how
           Plentiful
           their
           Maintenance
           .
        
         
           Or
           if
           that
           Example
           be
           not
           Spiritual
           ,
           be
           not
           Christian
           enough
           :
           What
           can
           be
           more
           Christian
           ,
           more
           Spiritual
           ,
           than
           our
           blessed
           Saviours
           making
           the
           like
           distinctions
           between
           his
           own
           Evangelical
           Ministers
           ?
           His
           sending
           not
           all
           his
           Disciples
           equally
           ,
           but
           first
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           them
           chiefly
           ?
           and
           his
           impowering
           them
           to
           send
           others
           with
           the
           like
           differences
           ?
           as
           is
           plain
           from
           their
           practice
           .
           And
           of
           those
           very
           Apostles
           (
           for
           I
           see
           not
           ,
           why
           ,
           as
           we
           pass
           ,
           we
           may
           not
           plead
           our
           own
           cause
           too
           )
           of
           those
           Apostles
           some
           ,
           even
           the
           greatest
           ,
           Married
           men
           ;
           of
           their
           successors
           many
           Married
           Men
           :
           all
           endued
           with
           indelible
           power
           from
           above
           ,
           to
           Feed
           ,
           to
           Govern
           this
           Houshold
           ;
           to
           Create
           ,
           to
           continue
           a
           Succession
           in
           it
           ;
           to
           Consecrate
           ,
           to
           ordain
           Pastors
           ,
           and
           Stewards
           of
           it
           ,
           to
           the
           worlds
           end
           :
           
           all
           worthy
           of
           Livelyhood
           ,
           some
           of
           Honour
           ,
           and
           ,
           if
           we
           will
           believe
           S
           t
           Paul
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           times
           of
           greatest
           purity
           ,
           
           and
           simplicity
           ,
           
             some
             worthy
             of
             double
             honour
          
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           now
           discover'd
           ,
           what
           is
           the
           true
           
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           :
           In
           general
           ,
           the
           whole
           Company
           of
           the
           Faithful
           ,
           divided
           in
           times
           ,
           and
           places
           ,
           joyn'd
           in
           one
           mystical
           Houshold
           :
           In
           a
           particular
           ,
           more
           eminent
           manner
           ,
           the
           Ministers
           of
           that
           Houshold
           ,
           the
           Dispensers
           of
           that
           Faith
           :
           and
           so
           many
           of
           the
           best
           Interpreters
           understand
           my
           Text.
           
        
         
           Hence
           therefore
           we
           behold
           to
           whom
           all
           Christians
           are
           to
           do
           good
           :
           to
           all
           Men
           ;
           especially
           to
           all
           Christians
           ;
           more
           especially
           to
           all
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ.
           And
           this
           being
           laid
           down
           ,
           as
           undeniable
           ,
           if
           you
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           make
           one
           short
           step
           farther
           ,
           we
           may
           then
           by
           an
           easy
           ,
           and
           necessary
           consequence
           ,
           reduce
           this
           general
           advice
           to
           our
           present
           ,
           particular
           purpose
           .
        
         
           For
           if
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           and
           Husbands
           of
           those
           ,
           whose
           relief
           this
           your
           Meeting
           intends
           ,
           were
           unquestionably
           of
           the
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           both
           as
           the
           Members
           and
           Ministers
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           if
           on
           that
           account
           all
           were
           especially
           to
           do
           good
           to
           them
           ;
           then
           certainly
           their
           Relicts
           ,
           and
           Children
           cannot
           be
           Strangers
           in
           this
           Houshold
           ;
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           Strangers
           to
           the
           Good
           ,
           that
           is
           done
           in
           it
           ,
           if
           they
           want
           it
           .
           If
           to
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           ,
           whilest
           Living
           ,
           all
           are
           to
           do
           Good
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           chief
           Officers
           
             of
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           ;
           
           then
           certainly
           ,
           when
           they
           have
           ceased
           from
           their
           labours
           ,
           at
           least
           as
           much
           to
           their
           posterity
           ;
           to
           whom
           there
           is
           near
           the
           same
           obligation
           ,
           too
           frequently
           a
           far
           greater
           need
           ,
           and
           occasion
           of
           doing
           good
           .
           And
           if
           all
           Christians
           are
           bound
           to
           do
           good
           ,
           in
           a
           peculiar
           manner
           to
           the
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           so
           understood
           ;
           then
           no
           doubt
           those
           of
           the
           Houshold
           it self
           ,
           who
           are
           in
           some
           estate
           of
           Prosperity
           ,
           which
           ,
           God
           be
           prais'd
           ,
           is
           your
           case
           ,
           have
           much
           stronger
           ties
           to
           do
           good
           to
           the
           other
           members
           of
           the
           same
           Houshold
           ,
           who
           are
           in
           adversity
           .
        
         
           You
           now
           see
           ,
           Reverend
           ,
           and
           Beloved
           in
           our
           Lord
           and
           Saviour
           ,
           the
           course
           of
           my
           Text
           has
           brought
           us
           to
           the
           great
           design
           of
           this
           our
           Assembly
           ;
           which
           is
           mercy
           to
           those
           distressed
           persons
           ,
           who
           have
           the
           same
           relation
           to
           this
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           with
           our selves
           .
           But
           before
           I
           come
           to
           them
           ,
           I
           beseech
           your
           patience
           ,
           whilst
           I
           speak
           something
           to
           our selves
           here
           present
           :
           to
           whom
           ,
           from
           what
           has
           been
           said
           ,
           methinks
           a
           little
           seasonable
           Counsel
           ,
           some
           honest
           ,
           humble
           intreaties
           at
           least
           ,
           are
           due
           from
           me
           at
           this
           time
           ;
           as
           from
           all
           of
           us
           a
           relief
           is
           due
           to
           the
           others
           .
        
         
           We
           have
           heard
           our
           Common
           ,
           our
           Proper
           Title
           to
           the
           Houshold
           of
           God
           laid
           open
           before
           
           us
           .
           We
           find
           our selves
           inrolled
           in
           this
           heavenly
           Family
           ,
           as
           Servants
           ,
           as
           Sons
           ,
           as
           Sons
           to
           the
           chief
           ,
           and
           most
           Sacred
           part
           of
           this
           Family
           .
           The
           best
           Philologers
           say
           ,
           that
           the
           Original
           word
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           which
           is
           here
           translated
           
             of
             the
             Houshold
          
           ,
           does
           not
           only
           signifie
           Domestic
           ,
           as
           oppos'd
           to
           Foreign
           ,
           to
           those
           without
           doors
           ;
           but
           also
           private
           ,
           as
           oppos'd
           to
           common
           ,
           and
           those
           that
           are
           only
           just
           within
           doors
           .
           On
           both
           these
           Senses
           our
           claim
           is
           founded
           .
           We
           are
           not
           only
           
             of
             the
             Houshold
          
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           World
           is
           excluded
           ;
           but
           we
           are
           more
           privately
           ,
           more
           intimately
           
             of
             the
             Houshold
          
           ,
           in
           which
           a
           great
           part
           of
           the
           Faithful
           are
           only
           as
           common
           Members
           .
        
         
           Thus
           we
           have
           all
           a
           double
           relation
           to
           it
           :
           some
           of
           us
           a
           threefold
           :
           All
           of
           us
           as
           Christians
           ;
           all
           as
           Sons
           of
           the
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           :
           some
           not
           only
           so
           ,
           but
           as
           Ministers
           our selves
           .
           And
           can
           our
           duty
           then
           be
           single
           ?
           Is
           there
           nothing
           expected
           from
           us
           ,
           more
           than
           from
           other
           Christians
           ?
           Does
           our
           greater
           privelege
           require
           nothing
           from
           us
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           Common
           ?
           Yes
           certainly
           very
           much
           .
           Let
           me
           briefly
           put
           you
           in
           mind
           ,
           what
           it
           is
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           since
           we
           claim
           a
           proper
           interest
           ,
           above
           others
           ,
           in
           the
           preeminent
           rights
           of
           the
           
             Houshold
             
             of
             Faith
          
           ,
           then
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           to
           make
           good
           that
           claim
           ,
           we
           are
           all
           proportionably
           oblig'd
           above
           others
           ,
           to
           conform
           to
           the
           proper
           manners
           ,
           and
           virtues
           ,
           that
           belong
           to
           ,
           and
           become
           this
           Houshold
           ,
           and
           distinguish
           it
           from
           all
           others
           :
           then
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           if
           in
           every
           one
           of
           such
           Virtues
           ,
           whether
           they
           respect
           God
           ,
           or
           Man
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           exceed
           others
           ,
           we
           scarce
           do
           our
           ordinary
           duty
           :
           what
           great
           deficience
           is
           it
           ,
           if
           we
           come
           short
           of
           others
           !
           what
           hainous
           shame
           ,
           if
           we
           notoriously
           offend
           in
           the
           opposite
           sins
           !
        
         
           We
           have
           far
           greater
           obligations
           than
           all
           others
           to
           do
           good
           :
           we
           have
           not
           so
           much
           as
           the
           false
           excuses
           ,
           that
           some
           others
           may
           think
           they
           have
           ,
           to
           do
           evil
           .
           If
           we
           forsake
           the
           waies
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           we
           cannot
           allege
           any
           colour
           of
           Ignorance
           ,
           or
           want
           of
           Instruction
           :
           we
           cannot
           say
           we
           have
           not
           learn'd
           them
           ,
           or
           we
           could
           not
           :
           nay
           we
           cannot
           say
           ,
           we
           have
           forgot
           them
           .
           They
           were
           familiar
           to
           us
           from
           our
           Cradles
           ;
           imprinted
           on
           our
           Childish
           Memories
           ;
           insinuated
           into
           our
           tenderest
           Age
           ;
           endear'd
           to
           us
           by
           the
           nearest
           Examples
           .
           Virtue
           in
           us
           not
           only
           our
           Duty
           ,
           but
           should
           be
           our
           Portion
           ,
           our
           Inheritance
           .
           Vice
           in
           us
           were
           not
           only
           wickedness
           ,
           but
           Apostasie
           ,
           degenerate
           wickedness
           .
        
         
         
           Wherefore
           of
           those
           Graces
           ,
           which
           no
           Christian
           can
           be
           without
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           exhibit
           a
           greater
           measure
           :
           of
           those
           ,
           which
           adorn
           a
           Christian
           Life
           ,
           we
           should
           aspire
           to
           the
           most
           excellent
           degree
           .
           Far
           should
           be
           from
           us
           not
           only
           all
           scandalous
           evil
           ,
           but
           all
           
             the
             least
             appearance
             of
             evil
          
           :
           and
           ,
           as
           Caesar
           said
           of
           his
           House
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           Sin
           ,
           but
           the
           suspicion
           .
           The
           spotless
           modesty
           of
           private
           ,
           and
           public
           life
           ,
           that
           sobriety
           of
           Conversation
           ,
           that
           mildness
           of
           behaviour
           ,
           that
           Innocence
           ,
           that
           Benignity
           of
           words
           ,
           and
           actions
           ,
           that
           Liberal
           ,
           that
           Generous
           Spirit
           which
           all
           other
           other
           Christians
           ought
           to
           labour
           after
           ,
           should
           look
           in
           us
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           natural
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           born
           with
           us
           .
           In
           those
           good
           things
           ,
           which
           all
           others
           are
           to
           study
           ,
           and
           imitate
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           give
           ,
           some
           of
           us
           Rules
           ,
           all
           of
           us
           Examples
           .
           What
           all
           others
           should
           practice
           ,
           we
           should
           scarce
           to
           know
           how
           to
           practice
           otherwise
           .
        
         
           I
           urge
           this
           the
           rather
           ,
           because
           we
           live
           in
           an
           Age
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           an
           universal
           complaint
           ,
           (
           and
           God
           knows
           ,
           there
           is
           too
           much
           reason
           for
           it
           ,
           )
           of
           an
           universal
           Corruption
           of
           good
           Manners
           .
           The
           complaint
           indeed
           is
           far
           more
           general
           ,
           than
           the
           indeavours
           to
           redress
           it
           .
           Abroad
           every
           Man
           would
           be
           a
           Reformer
           ,
           how
           very
           few
           at
           home
           ?
           
           But
           in
           truth
           ,
           if
           all
           would
           really
           intend
           an
           amendment
           ,
           and
           set
           about
           it
           in
           good
           earnest
           ;
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           any
           more
           likely
           means
           to
           effect
           it
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           it
           seriously
           begun
           ,
           and
           steddily
           carried
           on
           by
           men
           of
           our
           birth
           .
        
         
           Great
           and
           powerful
           ;
           I
           am
           confident
           ,
           irresistible
           would
           be
           the
           influence
           ,
           which
           this
           very
           Assembly
           would
           have
           on
           the
           whole
           Kingdom
           .
           
             If
             judgment
             begins
             at
             the
             house
             of
             God
             ,
          
           says
           St.
           Peter
           ,
           
           
             where
             shall
             the
             ungodly
             ,
             and
             wicked
             appear
             ?
          
           And
           why
           should
           we
           not
           expect
           that
           judgment
           will
           begin
           at
           the
           House
           of
           God
           ,
           if
           reformation
           begins
           not
           there
           ?
           But
           then
           let
           me
           add
           ,
           if
           reformation
           begins
           at
           the
           Houshold
           of
           God
           ,
           where
           shall
           ungodliness
           ,
           and
           wickedness
           appear
           ?
           Your
           Examples
           will
           meet
           it
           at
           every
           turn
           ;
           and
           put
           it
           out
           of
           countenance
           in
           every
           place
           :
           even
           in
           private
           corners
           't
           will
           soon
           lose
           that
           confidence
           ,
           which
           now
           it
           too
           much
           assumes
           in
           public
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           This
           consideration
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           all
           united
           in
           one
           Houshold
           ,
           are
           all
           of
           the
           more
           inward
           part
           of
           the
           same
           Houshold
           ,
           may
           suggest
           to
           us
           all
           ,
           that
           we
           especially
           of
           all
           Men
           ,
           of
           all
           Christians
           ,
           ought
           most
           to
           promote
           Unity
           amongst
           our selves
           ,
           and
           others
           .
        
         
           I
           beseech
           you
           mistake
           me
           not
           .
           I
           do
           not
           
           only
           mean
           our
           Unity
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           That
           amongst
           us
           ,
           I
           suppose
           .
           I
           cannot
           reasonnably
           suspect
           ,
           that
           any
           of
           us
           should
           be
           dissatisfied
           with
           ,
           or
           disobedient
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
           I
           cannot
           fancy
           that
           those
           little
           scruples
           ,
           and
           groundless
           prejudices
           ,
           and
           weaknesses
           of
           Conscience
           instead
           of
           tenderness
           ,
           which
           mislead
           too
           many
           others
           ,
           too
           many
           ,
           otherwise
           good
           men
           ;
           should
           find
           place
           in
           any
           of
           our
           minds
           ,
           against
           so
           Pure
           ,
           so
           Pious
           ,
           so
           Regular
           ,
           so
           Moderate
           a
           Church
           :
           at
           whose
           Breasts
           we
           were
           more
           than
           ordinarily
           nourish'd
           :
           a
           Church
           ,
           which
           deserves
           to
           be
           to
           all
           a
           common
           Mother
           ,
           and
           is
           to
           us
           so
           much
           more
           than
           a
           common
           Mother
           .
        
         
           Wherefore
           I
           will
           not
           ,
           I
           need
           not
           undertake
           to
           exhort
           you
           to
           an
           Ecclesiastical
           Union
           within
           your selves
           .
           I
           am
           rather
           ready
           to
           congratulate
           that
           to
           you
           .
           But
           there
           is
           another
           Unity
           ,
           which
           ,
           next
           that
           in
           Spiritual
           things
           ,
           would
           be
           of
           all
           others
           most
           delightful
           to
           God
           himself
           ,
           most
           advantageous
           to
           our
           Country
           :
           and
           that
           is
           your
           endeavour
           after
           a
           Civil
           ,
           a
           Political
           Union
           in
           the
           whole
           Nation
           ;
           a
           fair
           ,
           and
           candid
           Correspondence
           between
           all
           ways
           of
           life
           ;
           a
           strict
           ,
           and
           friendly
           Communion
           of
           good
           ,
           and
           kind
           Offices
           ,
           between
           Men
           of
           all
           Ranks
           ,
           and
           Professions
           among
           us
           .
        
         
         
           This
           is
           that
           ,
           to
           which
           I
           would
           most
           earnestly
           ,
           and
           I
           believe
           I
           should
           most
           seasonably
           advise
           you
           all
           .
           You
           know
           who
           has
           said
           ,
           
             That
             every
             Kingdom
             divided
             against
             it self
             is
             brought
             to
             desolation
          
           :
           
           
             and
             every
             City
             or
             ,
             House
             divided
             against
             it self
             ,
             shall
             not
             stand
             .
          
           And
           most
           certainly
           nothing
           more
           shakes
           the
           Superstructure
           ,
           nothing
           more
           strikes
           at
           the
           Foundation
           of
           any
           Society
           of
           Men
           ;
           nothing
           more
           disables
           a
           House
           ,
           a
           City
           ,
           a
           Kingdom
           ,
           from
           doing
           good
           and
           great
           things
           ,
           than
           mean
           divisions
           between
           the
           several
           Orders
           ,
           and
           Conditions
           of
           its
           Members
           :
           their
           narrow-hearted
           repining
           at
           each
           others
           gain
           ;
           their
           ill
           construction
           of
           each
           others
           advantages
           ;
           their
           envying
           the
           fruits
           of
           each
           others
           labours
           :
           when
           one
           Trade
           ,
           or
           Art
           ,
           even
           those
           ,
           that
           should
           be
           the
           most
           Liberal
           ,
           shall
           make
           it
           their
           business
           to
           Disdain
           ,
           and
           Calumniate
           another
           ;
           shall
           impute
           the
           faults
           of
           any
           particular
           men
           ,
           to
           the
           discredit
           of
           any
           whole
           Calling
           :
           when
           any
           distinct
           way
           of
           life
           shall
           think
           ,
           that
           all
           others
           injoy
           too
           much
           Profit
           ,
           or
           Power
           ,
           or
           Honour
           ;
           they
           alone
           too
           little
           .
        
         
           What
           can
           be
           more
           destructive
           to
           public
           Quiet
           ,
           and
           Concord
           ?
           What
           to
           a
           private
           ,
           easy
           ,
           and
           honestly-pleasant
           life
           ,
           than
           in
           full
           peace
           
           to
           have
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           an
           open
           War
           between
           all
           professions
           ?
           for
           any
           of
           the
           Clergy
           to
           murmur
           against
           the
           Priveleges
           of
           the
           Laity
           ?
           for
           any
           of
           the
           Laity
           invidiously
           to
           aggravate
           the
           Rights
           ,
           and
           Immunities
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ?
           For
           Church-men
           to
           look
           with
           a
           greedy
           ,
           or
           malicious
           eye
           ,
           on
           the
           Incomes
           ,
           or
           Preferments
           of
           Lawyers
           ,
           or
           Physicians
           ,
           or
           Merchants
           ,
           or
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           without
           weighing
           their
           hazards
           ,
           and
           expenses
           ?
           For
           any
           of
           these
           ,
           without
           regarding
           the
           pains
           ,
           and
           burdens
           of
           Church-men
           ,
           to
           grudge
           ,
           or
           upbraid
           to
           them
           those
           small
           remains
           of
           Ancient
           Piety
           ,
           which
           the
           Rapacity
           of
           some
           Ages
           has
           left
           ,
           scarce
           left
           to
           the
           Church
           ?
        
         
           Whether
           this
           be
           not
           ,
           on
           all
           sides
           ,
           a
           most
           ill-natured
           ,
           most
           pernicious
           temper
           ;
           whether
           it
           has
           not
           too
           much
           sower'd
           ,
           and
           infected
           the
           humor
           of
           too
           many
           of
           our
           Countrymen
           ;
           I
           leave
           to
           you
           to
           judge
           :
           yet
           not
           only
           to
           judge
           :
           but
           to
           you
           ,
           of
           all
           men
           living
           ,
           the
           cure
           of
           this
           Distemper
           is
           to
           be
           recommended
           .
           You
           are
           not
           only
           the
           most
           proper
           ,
           but
           ,
           I
           believe
           ,
           the
           only
           instruments
           capable
           of
           effecting
           this
           happy
           work
           .
           Unspeakable
           is
           the
           opportunity
           to
           this
           end
           ,
           which
           is
           in
           your
           power
           ,
           that
           no
           other
           generation
           of
           men
           can
           equally
           pretend
           to
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           an
           evident
           observation
           ,
           than
           no
           other
           one
           
           Race
           ,
           not
           the
           Sons
           of
           any
           one
           other
           Profession
           ,
           not
           perhaps
           all
           together
           ,
           are
           so
           much
           scatter'd
           amongst
           all
           Professions
           ,
           all
           ways
           of
           life
           ,
           as
           the
           Sons
           of
           Clergy-men
           alone
           .
           Of
           most
           others
           the
           Children
           are
           commonly
           bred
           up
           in
           their
           Fathers
           way
           ;
           or
           so
           plentifully
           provided
           for
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           left
           at
           large
           ;
           some
           few
           permitted
           to
           venture
           on
           the
           Church
           .
           But
           with
           Churchmen
           't
           is
           far
           otherwise
           .
           Their
           Children
           ,
           we
           see
           ,
           flow
           abroad
           ,
           are
           confin'd
           to
           none
           ,
           overspread
           all
           our
           ways
           of
           breeding
           ;
           and
           life
           :
           our
           Shops
           ,
           our
           Schools
           ,
           our
           Universities
           ,
           our
           Inns
           of
           Court
           ,
           our
           College
           of
           Physicians
           ,
           our
           Towns
           ,
           our
           Country
           ,
           our
           Court
           ,
           our
           Cities
           ;
           this
           Court
           ,
           this
           City
           especially
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           the
           dispersion
           of
           the
           Church
           from
           Ierusalem
           by
           the
           reason
           of
           persecution
           ,
           
           first
           into
           all
           Iudea
           ,
           then
           into
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           became
           ,
           by
           Gods
           wonderful
           providence
           ,
           the
           chief
           cause
           of
           enlarging
           the
           Gospel
           :
           why
           may
           not
           we
           hope
           ,
           that
           the
           Sons
           of
           the
           Church
           being
           so
           much
           dispers'd
           ,
           though
           ,
           God
           be
           thanked
           ,
           without
           being
           driven
           ,
           into
           all
           quarters
           of
           the
           Land
           ,
           there
           was
           some
           extraordinary
           design
           of
           Divine
           Wisdom
           in
           it
           ?
           Certainly
           yes
           ,
           certainly
           't
           was
           intended
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           carry
           along
           with
           us
           
           into
           all
           other
           places
           ,
           and
           Professions
           ,
           wherever
           our
           stations
           are
           allotted
           ,
           some
           of
           those
           good
           ,
           and
           virtuous
           qualities
           ,
           which
           we
           were
           strangely
           careless
           ,
           if
           we
           did
           not
           bring
           from
           home
           with
           us
           :
           something
           of
           that
           meek
           ,
           condescending
           ,
           calm
           ,
           affable
           ,
           reconciling
           ,
           composed
           ,
           composing
           Spirit
           ;
           which
           if
           Churchmen
           ,
           and
           their
           Progeny
           have
           not
           ,
           they
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           any
           other
           Virtues
           .
        
         
           We
           were
           all
           born
           ,
           and
           grew
           up
           in
           the
           very
           native
           soil
           of
           Modesty
           ,
           Humility
           ,
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Unity
           .
           And
           if
           we
           shall
           neglect
           to
           propagate
           these
           blessed
           dispositions
           ,
           in
           all
           the
           other
           soils
           ,
           where
           so
           many
           of
           us
           are
           transplanted
           :
           what
           others
           can
           we
           expect
           shall
           do
           it
           ?
           What
           others
           can
           undertake
           it
           ,
           without
           some
           blemish
           to
           us
           ?
           some
           reflexion
           on
           our
           negligence
           ?
           But
           if
           we
           shall
           endeavour
           it
           with
           Diligence
           and
           Constancy
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           doubt
           but
           ,
           by
           the
           ordinary
           blessing
           of
           God
           ,
           our
           labors
           in
           this
           kind
           will
           prove
           the
           fortunate
           means
           ,
           to
           make
           these
           Virtues
           thrive
           elsewhere
           ,
           spread
           every
           where
           .
        
         
           For
           proof
           of
           all
           I
           have
           said
           ,
           concerning
           the
           probability
           ,
           the
           certainty
           of
           reforming
           ,
           and
           uniting
           the
           whole
           Nation
           by
           our
           Example
           ;
           I
           crave
           leave
           only
           to
           set
           before
           you
           an
           image
           ,
           
           of
           what
           would
           surely
           be
           done
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           in
           this
           one
           City
           :
           which
           may
           well
           be
           reckon'd
           not
           only
           the
           seat
           of
           Trade
           ,
           and
           Commerce
           ,
           not
           only
           the
           Fountain
           of
           Habits
           ,
           and
           Fashions
           ,
           and
           good
           Breeding
           ,
           but
           of
           morally-good
           ,
           or
           bad
           manners
           to
           all
           England
           .
        
         
           Throughout
           the
           whole
           extent
           of
           this
           vast
           City
           ,
           I
           know
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           one
           Ward
           ,
           no
           Parish
           ;
           I
           believe
           ,
           no
           Street
           ,
           not
           many
           Lanes
           ,
           where
           there
           does
           not
           live
           one
           or
           more
           ,
           that
           have
           our
           Relation
           to
           the
           Church
           :
           and
           live
           generally
           in
           so
           good
           a
           rank
           ,
           as
           will
           rather
           invite
           ,
           than
           discourage
           others
           ,
           to
           follow
           what
           they
           shall
           practise
           .
        
         
           Now
           then
           ,
           if
           amongst
           you
           of
           our
           number
           ,
           who
           are
           Citizens
           ,
           there
           were
           at
           once
           begun
           ,
           by
           common
           consent
           ,
           an
           universal
           amendment
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           other
           Conversation
           :
           If
           we
           shall
           make
           it
           our
           unanimous
           business
           ,
           to
           oppose
           the
           particular
           Vices
           of
           the
           time
           ,
           by
           their
           contrary
           Virtues
           ;
           Schism
           by
           Unity
           ;
           Hypocrisie
           by
           sober
           Piety
           ;
           Debauchery
           by
           Temperance
           ;
           mistaken
           Zeal
           by
           true
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           :
           if
           so
           ,
           then
           the
           change
           will
           soon
           appear
           remarkable
           ;
           the
           Example
           will
           be
           spreading
           ;
           Favor
           ,
           Authority
           ,
           Credit
           ,
           Custome
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           Number
           too
           will
           be
           on
           the
           side
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           Goodness
           .
           
           And
           (
           if
           you
           remember
           ,
           how
           your
           City
           first
           rose
           out
           of
           its
           Ashes
           ,
           after
           the
           dreadful
           fire
           ,
           which
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           you
           can
           never
           forget
           )
           as
           that
           was
           rebuilt
           ,
           not
           presently
           by
           raising
           continued
           Streets
           ,
           in
           any
           one
           part
           ;
           but
           at
           first
           here
           a
           House
           ,
           and
           there
           a
           House
           ;
           to
           which
           others
           by
           degrees
           were
           joyn'd
           ;
           till
           at
           last
           single
           Houses
           were
           united
           into
           whole
           Streets
           ,
           whole
           Streets
           into
           one
           beautiful
           City
           :
           So
           every
           one
           of
           your
           Houses
           being
           first
           rais'd
           ,
           and
           appearing
           eminent
           above
           others
           in
           Piety
           ;
           others
           will
           soon
           take
           Patern
           and
           Incouragement
           from
           your
           building
           :
           and
           so
           House
           by
           House
           ,
           Street
           by
           Street
           ,
           there
           will
           at
           last
           be
           finish'd
           ,
           not
           only
           ,
           as
           before
           ,
           a
           great
           ,
           and
           a
           magnificent
           City
           ;
           but
           ,
           what
           is
           far
           better
           ,
           
             a
             City
             ,
             that
             is
             at
             unity
             in
             it self
          
           ;
           
           a
           Modest
           ,
           a
           Grave
           ,
           a
           Religious
           City
           :
           And
           London
           will
           in
           short
           time
           as
           much
           excel
           it self
           in
           all
           manner
           of
           Virtue
           ,
           as
           even
           now
           ,
           I
           dare
           affirm
           ,
           it
           excels
           any
           other
           City
           in
           the
           whole
           World
           ,
           that
           comes
           any
           thing
           near
           it
           ,
           either
           in
           largeness
           ,
           or
           number
           of
           inhabitants
           .
        
         
           But
           lastly
           ,
           since
           we
           are
           all
           of
           one
           Spiritual
           Houshold
           ;
           and
           that
           not
           only
           in
           a
           Spiritual
           ,
           but
           a
           Temporal
           Sense
           :
           what
           remains
           to
           be
           said
           ,
           but
           that
           there
           ought
           to
           be
           maintain'd
           between
           all
           the
           members
           of
           this
           our
           Houshold
           ,
           
           a
           free
           ,
           and
           uninterrupted
           Communication
           of
           our
           Spiritual
           ,
           and
           our
           Temporal
           good
           things
           to
           each
           other
           ?
           From
           the
           wealthy
           ,
           and
           able
           part
           ,
           their
           Temporal
           good
           things
           of
           Bounty
           ,
           and
           Munificence
           to
           the
           Poor
           ,
           and
           unable
           amongst
           us
           ;
           from
           the
           poor
           and
           unable
           the
           return
           of
           their
           Spiritual
           good
           things
           ,
           their
           Blessings
           ,
           and
           Thanks
           ,
           and
           Prayers
           ;
           which
           cannot
           be
           a
           less
           good
           than
           they
           receive
           ;
           nay
           they
           will
           be
           a
           far
           greater
           benefit
           to
           the
           wealthy
           ,
           and
           able
           ,
           than
           these
           can
           bestow
           on
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           bless
           God
           ,
           many
           of
           you
           here
           present
           are
           of
           the
           wealthy
           part
           ;
           I
           see
           most
           of
           you
           are
           of
           the
           able
           ;
           none
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           of
           the
           unable
           part
           .
           And
           it
           was
           my
           intention
           ,
           to
           have
           tryed
           by
           an
           ample
           exhortation
           to
           excite
           your
           greatest
           ardour
           ,
           and
           most
           fervent
           Zeal
           in
           this
           work
           .
           But
           I
           find
           ,
           I
           have
           employed
           so
           much
           time
           ,
           by
           the
           way
           ,
           in
           other
           matters
           :
           that
           I
           cannot
           presume
           on
           your
           Patience
           much
           longer
           .
           Yet
           my
           comfort
           is
           ,
           that
           such
           an
           Exhortation
           which
           the
           hour
           already
           spent
           would
           now
           make
           tedious
           ;
           the
           free
           ,
           and
           tender
           Nature
           of
           my
           Hearers
           has
           made
           unnecessary
           .
           A
           much
           longer
           Discourse
           my
           Argument
           requires
           :
           your
           merciful
           dispositions
           a
           much
           shorter
           .
           Wherefore
           seeing
           it
           will
           be
           far
           better
           ,
           for
           you
           your selves
           to
           reason
           
           with
           your selves
           on
           this
           subject
           ,
           than
           for
           me
           ,
           or
           any
           man
           else
           ,
           to
           load
           you
           with
           persuasions
           :
           I
           shall
           forbear
           enlarging
           ,
           and
           only
           offer
           to
           your
           thoughts
           some
           few
           heads
           of
           consideration
           .
        
         
           You
           are
           now
           ;
           Fathers
           ,
           and
           Brethren
           ;
           
             Sons
             of
             the
             Prophets
             ;
             and
             of
             the
             Covenant
             God
             made
             with
             your
             Fathers
             ,
          
           you
           are
           now
           ,
           with
           happy
           ,
           and
           auspicious
           beginnings
           ,
           forming
           a
           Model
           of
           Charity
           :
           of
           a
           most
           Christian
           ,
           truly-Protestant
           Charity
           :
           than
           which
           nothing
           can
           more
           fix
           the
           Root
           ,
           nothing
           more
           spread
           the
           Branches
           ,
           more
           cherish
           the
           tenderest
           ,
           and
           weakest
           branches
           of
           the
           Reformation
           :
           nothing
           more
           stop
           the
           mouths
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           by
           forbidding
           Marriage
           to
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           would
           introduce
           into
           the
           Catholic
           Church
           ,
           
           what
           St.
           Paul
           calls
           
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Devils
          
           .
           To
           confute
           these
           men
           there
           were
           Arguments
           enough
           before
           ,
           drawn
           from
           Religion
           ,
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           Antiquity
           .
           One
           Political
           Argument
           they
           seem'd
           to
           have
           ,
           and
           boasted
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           unconfutable
           ;
           That
           from
           such
           Marriages
           would
           inevitably
           ensue
           Poverty
           in
           many
           of
           the
           Children
           ,
           and
           thence
           a
           Disgrace
           ,
           and
           Burden
           to
           the
           whole
           Church
           .
           But
           ,
           by
           this
           design
           ,
           you
           have
           opposed
           their
           false
           Policy
           ,
           with
           true
           ,
           and
           great
           Wisdom
           :
           what
           they
           boaded
           would
           be
           a
           mischief
           to
           us
           ;
           
           you
           are
           providing
           shall
           be
           one
           of
           our
           principal
           strengths
           :
           you
           have
           consulted
           not
           only
           the
           strength
           ,
           but
           the
           fame
           of
           the
           best
           Reformed
           Church
           :
           and
           are
           freeing
           it
           ,
           not
           only
           from
           the
           scandal
           of
           its
           Enemies
           ,
           but
           even
           from
           its
           own
           greatest
           defect
           ,
           and
           inconvenience
           .
        
         
           The
           opportunity
           ,
           that
           is
           now
           put
           into
           your
           hands
           for
           this
           purpose
           ,
           is
           peculiar
           ,
           and
           extraordinary
           :
           not
           only
           of
           this
           one
           day
           ,
           or
           of
           other
           such
           days
           ,
           which
           ,
           I
           trust
           ,
           will
           always
           succeed
           this
           once
           a
           year
           ;
           but
           the
           sure
           ,
           and
           solid
           Foundation
           of
           a
           perpetual
           Corporation
           :
           by
           which
           ,
           under
           a
           Reign
           of
           the
           greatest
           Mercy
           ,
           and
           Clemency
           that
           ever
           the
           Sun
           beheld
           ,
           you
           are
           Authorized
           to
           make
           this
           good
           work
           of
           Mercy
           a
           great
           one
           ;
           call'd
           upon
           ,
           many
           of
           you
           by
           name
           ,
           to
           do
           it
           ,
           by
           Royal
           Authority
           ;
           to
           which
           a
           constant
           obedience
           ,
           and
           most
           dutiful
           observance
           has
           been
           ever
           the
           proper
           ,
           unsullied
           Honour
           of
           your
           Church
           ,
           and
           of
           your
           Extraction
           .
        
         
           The
           Persons
           to
           be
           reliev'd
           by
           you
           ,
           so
           nearly
           approach
           you
           all
           ,
           in
           the
           strictest
           degrees
           ,
           though
           not
           often
           perhaps
           of
           Kindred
           ,
           nor
           always
           of
           private
           Friendship
           ;
           yet
           always
           of
           Birth
           ,
           and
           interest
           :
           that
           their
           support
           may
           not
           only
           be
           call'd
           bounty
           in
           you
           ,
           but
           the
           most
           Fatherly
           ,
           
           or
           Brotherly
           tenderness
           ,
           and
           even
           some
           kind
           of
           self-love
           .
           From
           you
           their
           sad
           estate
           may
           well
           expect
           effectual
           comfort
           ,
           since
           there
           are
           none
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           much
           strangers
           to
           them
           ,
           from
           whom
           it
           may
           not
           deserve
           commiseration
           .
           They
           were
           left
           destitute
           ,
           some
           of
           Education
           ,
           all
           of
           a
           subsistance
           suitable
           to
           their
           former
           life
           ;
           without
           any
           the
           least
           fault
           of
           their
           own
           ;
           without
           any
           possibility
           of
           their
           preventing
           it
           ;
           either
           by
           the
           narrow
           Provision
           their
           Husbands
           ,
           or
           Parents
           enjoy'd
           ,
           in
           their
           best
           condition
           :
           or
           by
           the
           unavoidable
           fate
           of
           their
           untimely
           deaths
           :
           or
           no
           doubt
           some
           of
           them
           ,
           by
           their
           frank
           hearts
           ,
           and
           their
           open
           hands
           ,
           and
           their
           Charity
           towards
           others
           ,
           whilst
           they
           lived
           :
           or
           ,
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           mention'd
           for
           their
           greater
           honour
           ,
           by
           their
           Fidelity
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           and
           sufferings
           for
           the
           Church
           .
        
         
           On
           these
           accounts
           ,
           all
           innocent
           ,
           some
           praise-worthy
           ,
           some
           honourable
           ,
           they
           were
           expos'd
           to
           hardship
           ,
           and
           penury
           ;
           to
           which
           they
           had
           never
           been
           used
           ,
           and
           which
           ,
           without
           you
           ,
           they
           could
           never
           have
           escaped
           .
           Nor
           was
           their
           Poverty
           all
           .
           That
           their
           Religion
           would
           have
           taught
           them
           to
           endure
           .
           But
           what
           was
           far
           more
           grievous
           ,
           and
           deplorable
           ,
           their
           
           Poverty
           had
           expos'd
           them
           to
           be
           a
           cause
           of
           scorn
           and
           derision
           ,
           an
           objection
           against
           Religion
           it self
           .
        
         
           An
           objection
           ,
           which
           now
           we
           shall
           happily
           see
           removed
           .
           For
           you
           ,
           who
           have
           undertaken
           their
           relief
           ,
           some
           of
           you
           by
           Gods
           blessing
           on
           your
           labours
           ,
           some
           on
           your
           Studies
           ,
           some
           by
           Gods
           ,
           and
           the
           Churches
           blessing
           on
           your
           Estates
           ,
           all
           of
           you
           by
           some
           blessing
           ,
           or
           other
           ,
           are
           abundantly
           furnish'd
           with
           power
           ;
           and
           I
           know
           ,
           with
           affections
           to
           ;
           contribute
           your
           share
           to
           this
           work
           .
           So
           that
           though
           it
           should
           be
           true
           ,
           as
           I
           fear
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           never
           any
           time
           since
           the
           Reformation
           can
           shew
           so
           many
           poor
           amongst
           the
           Widows
           ,
           and
           Orphans
           of
           Church-men
           ,
           as
           this
           particular
           time
           :
           yet
           I
           believe
           it
           to
           be
           as
           true
           ,
           and
           we
           all
           ought
           to
           rejoice
           at
           it
           ,
           that
           God
           ,
           in
           his
           Mercy
           ,
           has
           now
           more
           than
           ever
           ,
           provided
           ,
           and
           pointed
           out
           a
           proportionable
           supply
           for
           them
           ,
           within
           our selves
           .
           As
           more
           Clergy-men
           were
           impoverish'd
           by
           the
           calamities
           of
           the
           late
           War
           ,
           and
           Oppression
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           than
           ever
           in
           the
           like
           space
           before
           :
           so
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           said
           without
           Envy
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           if
           this
           work
           proceeds
           ,
           it
           may
           ,
           that
           more
           Clergy-men
           ,
           or
           their
           Heirs
           ,
           than
           ever
           in
           one
           time
           before
           ,
           since
           they
           were
           allowed
           
           Marriage
           ,
           have
           been
           brought
           to
           a
           plentiful
           ,
           and
           prosperous
           condition
           by
           his
           Majesties
           ,
           and
           with
           him
           the
           Churches
           ,
           most
           happy
           Restoration
           .
        
         
           What
           any
           of
           you
           ,
           or
           your
           Fathers
           then
           received
           ,
           was
           never
           a
           just
           objection
           against
           you
           ,
           because
           you
           only
           received
           what
           was
           just
           ,
           and
           your
           own
           :
           nay
           it
           has
           been
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           for
           ever
           ,
           not
           only
           no
           objection
           ,
           but
           for
           your
           praise
           ,
           and
           honour
           ;
           that
           of
           what
           you
           then
           gather'd
           ,
           as
           most
           lawfully
           your
           own
           ,
           you
           have
           since
           already
           dispos'd
           so
           very
           much
           ,
           in
           works
           of
           public
           Piety
           and
           Charity
           ;
           and
           are
           still
           ready
           to
           scatter
           much
           more
           on
           this
           occasion
           ,
           for
           the
           good
           of
           others
           .
        
         
           Scatter
           much
           ,
           do
           I
           say
           ?
           There
           is
           no
           absolute
           need
           of
           that
           .
           For
           towards
           your
           effectual
           carrying
           on
           of
           this
           design
           ,
           nothing
           but
           what
           may
           easily
           consist
           with
           your
           Plenty
           ,
           your
           Prosperity
           ;
           nothing
           that
           shall
           be
           any
           way
           burdensome
           is
           requested
           of
           you
           :
           only
           what
           you
           can
           readily
           spare
           ;
           from
           your
           necessities
           ,
           your
           occasions
           ?
           No
           ,
           but
           even
           from
           your
           pleasures
           ,
           your
           superfluities
           ;
           only
           that
           which
           to
           give
           away
           will
           be
           a
           kindness
           to
           your selves
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           others
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           not
           the
           weight
           of
           Bounty
           ,
           and
           good
           
           Works
           from
           a
           few
           ,
           so
           much
           as
           the
           number
           from
           so
           many
           ,
           that
           is
           expected
           to
           make
           up
           and
           continue
           this
           heap
           .
           We
           have
           visible
           Instances
           in
           this
           City
           ,
           where
           great
           ,
           and
           well-nigh
           incredible
           effects
           are
           yearly
           accomplish'd
           towards
           maintaining
           the
           poor
           of
           almost
           all
           Trades
           ,
           and
           Callings
           ,
           only
           by
           a
           constant
           multitude
           ,
           and
           setled
           succession
           of
           small
           contributions
           wisely
           administred
           .
        
         
           And
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           never
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           the
           Laity
           ,
           who
           by
           the
           Clergy
           are
           taught
           to
           be
           charitable
           ,
           shall
           in
           their
           Corporations
           ,
           exceed
           the
           Clergy
           it self
           ,
           and
           their
           Sons
           ,
           in
           freeness
           of
           giving
           .
           But
           if
           any
           shall
           think
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           practical
           prudence
           of
           managing
           such
           gifts
           ,
           the
           Laity
           may
           have
           some
           advantage
           over
           the
           Clergy
           ;
           whose
           experience
           is
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           less
           of
           this
           World
           than
           the
           others
           :
           That
           in
           your
           Corporation
           is
           most
           wisely
           supplied
           .
           As
           there
           are
           Churchmen
           enough
           in
           this
           pious
           Foundation
           ,
           most
           able
           to
           advise
           the
           good
           Works
           ;
           so
           there
           are
           Laymen
           enough
           most
           able
           to
           direct
           their
           Uses
           .
        
         
           To
           our
           Laity
           ,
           and
           Clergy
           both
           ,
           my
           Dear
           Friends
           ,
           this
           Institution
           will
           turn
           to
           inestimable
           advantage
           ;
           without
           giving
           the
           least
           reason
           to
           suspect
           ,
           that
           any
           other
           course
           of
           former
           
           Charity
           will
           be
           dryed
           up
           or
           ,
           diverted
           ;
           but
           rather
           all
           of
           them
           will
           be
           much
           increas'd
           ,
           and
           more
           filled
           by
           opening
           this
           new
           Fountain
           .
           Such
           is
           the
           nature
           of
           all
           true
           Charity
           :
           the
           practice
           of
           it
           towards
           any
           always
           enlarges
           Mens
           desires
           to
           practise
           it
           towards
           more
           :
           Indeed
           as
           a
           Fountain
           it
           flows
           ;
           always
           flowing
           ,
           when
           once
           begun
           :
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           it
           not
           hindring
           ,
           but
           either
           making
           way
           for
           ,
           or
           pushing
           on
           each
           other
           .
        
         
           Yet
           though
           it
           be
           certain
           ,
           that
           no
           other
           way
           of
           public
           Charity
           has
           any
           just
           ground
           to
           be
           jealous
           of
           this
           ;
           I
           cannot
           but
           add
           ,
           that
           as
           to
           public
           benefit
           ,
           this
           will
           be
           inferiour
           to
           none
           ,
           preferable
           to
           most
           others
           ,
           if
           not
           to
           all
           :
           For
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           not
           only
           many
           helpless
           persons
           will
           be
           provided
           for
           ,
           whilst
           they
           live
           ;
           but
           a
           Generation
           of
           Men
           will
           be
           bred
           up
           ,
           within
           our selves
           ,
           not
           depending
           on
           any
           other
           Patrons
           ,
           not
           perverted
           by
           any
           other
           hopes
           :
           and
           whose
           principle
           ,
           whose
           judgement
           ,
           whose
           interest
           it
           will
           be
           to
           obey
           ,
           and
           support
           our
           own
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           which
           cherishes
           a
           Married
           Clergy
           ;
           to
           oppose
           a
           Foreign
           Church
           ,
           that
           condemns
           it
           ;
           but
           whose
           ill
           practices
           ,
           for
           want
           of
           it
           ,
           are
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           justifications
           of
           such
           marriages
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           Athenian
           State
           ,
           
           which
           was
           the
           great
           Fountain
           of
           Learning
           ,
           and
           Virtue
           to
           the
           Heathen
           World
           ,
           one
           of
           noblest
           excitements
           to
           honourable
           actions
           was
           ,
           that
           the
           Children
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           had
           died
           serving
           their
           Country
           ,
           were
           bred
           up
           at
           the
           Public
           charge
           ,
           till
           they
           came
           to
           the
           age
           of
           manhood
           :
           and
           were
           then
           brought
           forth
           to
           the
           people
           ,
           clad
           all
           in
           Armour
           ,
           one
           of
           their
           public
           Ministers
           proclaiming
           before
           them
           ;
           That
           hitherto
           ,
           in
           remembrance
           of
           their
           Fathers
           Merits
           ,
           the
           Common-wealth
           had
           educated
           these
           young
           men
           ,
           and
           now
           dismiss'd
           them
           so
           arm'd
           ,
           to
           go
           forth
           ,
           and
           thank
           their
           Country
           ,
           by
           imitating
           their
           Fathers
           Examples
           .
        
         
           Methinks
           I
           may
           promise
           ,
           and
           even
           foretell
           ,
           that
           in
           your
           future
           Processions
           on
           these
           days
           ,
           we
           shall
           see
           such
           a
           Train
           of
           Youth
           ,
           by
           you
           so
           bred
           up
           ,
           and
           prepar'd
           for
           the
           service
           of
           Church
           ,
           and
           State
           ;
           to
           whom
           it
           may
           be
           said
           :
           Thus
           far
           the
           memory
           of
           your
           Fathers
           deserts
           has
           maintain'd
           you
           :
           Now
           go
           forth
           in
           a
           lucky
           hour
           :
           Try
           to
           follow
           their
           Paterns
           of
           Loyalty
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Public
           Interest
           :
           Try
           to
           return
           to
           your
           Benefactors
           ,
           that
           kind
           of
           Gratitude
           ,
           which
           of
           all
           others
           ,
           will
           be
           most
           acceptable
           to
           them
           :
           by
           endeavouring
           to
           put
           
           your selves
           into
           a
           condition
           of
           doing
           the
           good
           to
           others
           ,
           that
           has
           been
           done
           to
           you
           :
           by
           endeavouring
           the
           Peace
           ,
           and
           Welfare
           of
           a
           Church
           ,
           to
           which
           you
           owe
           ,
           not
           only
           your
           spiritual
           ,
           but
           your
           natural
           life
           .
        
         
           A
           Church
           ,
           that
           excels
           all
           its
           Enemies
           ,
           on
           both
           sides
           ,
           as
           in
           many
           other
           things
           ;
           so
           especially
           in
           the
           great
           Doctrine
           of
           Charity
           :
           In
           which
           the
           Papists
           ,
           on
           the
           one
           side
           ,
           pretend
           to
           be
           most
           triumphant
           :
           and
           I
           heartily
           wish
           ,
           too
           many
           of
           the
           Sectaries
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           were
           not
           apparently
           too
           deficient
           .
           But
           our
           Church
           has
           most
           wisely
           ,
           most
           piously
           chosen
           ,
           and
           the
           blessed
           Spirit
           of
           God
           has
           most
           graciously
           assisted
           it
           in
           the
           choice
           of
           ,
           the
           midle
           path
           between
           both
           these
           extreams
           .
           It
           gives
           as
           much
           due
           to
           Good
           Works
           ,
           as
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           Grace
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           It
           gives
           as
           much
           preference
           to
           Divine
           Grace
           ,
           as
           is
           consistent
           with
           the
           Precepts
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ;
           Commands
           us
           to
           return
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           ,
           as
           to
           him
           ,
           to
           the
           Poor
           ,
           his
           Gifts
           ,
           out
           of
           meer
           duty
           and
           thankfulness
           ;
           not
           to
           deposite
           them
           with
           him
           ,
           in
           hopes
           of
           meriting
           by
           them
           ;
           requires
           us
           to
           perform
           all
           deeds
           of
           Charity
           equally
           to
           any
           oothers
           ,
           but
           not
           with
           equally
           presumptuous
           pretensions
           .
        
         
         
           I
           shall
           no
           longer
           detain
           this
           Great
           Assembly
           :
           only
           I
           beseech
           Almighty
           God
           ,
           to
           direct
           all
           your
           Counsels
           ,
           and
           bless
           all
           your
           Proceedings
           in
           this
           weighty
           business
           .
           
           
             For
             my
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             Companions
             sake
             ,
             I
             wish
             you
             Prosperity
             :
             Yea
             ,
             because
             of
             the
             House
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             our
             God
             ,
          
           what
           good
           man
           will
           not
           
             seek
             to
             do
             you
             good
          
           ?
           will
           not
           heartily
           pray
           ,
           that
           for
           your
           
             Labour
             of
             Love
          
           to
           the
           distressed
           part
           
             of
             the
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           here
           ,
           you
           may
           receive
           an
           abundant
           Reward
           both
           here
           ,
           and
           hereafter
           ?
           Here
           in
           your
           Estates
           ,
           your
           Reputations
           ,
           above
           all
           ,
           in
           your
           Consciences
           ,
           and
           increase
           of
           Grace
           :
           hereafter
           in
           immortal
           happiness
           :
           when
           this
           
             Houshold
             of
             Faith
          
           shall
           be
           changed
           into
           a
           
             Glorious
             City
          
           ,
           an
           
             Everlasting
             Kingdome
          
           ;
           of
           which
           I
           beseech
           Almighty
           God
           to
           make
           us
           all
           Partakers
           .
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61175-e140
           
             Ex
             Aedibus
             Lamb.
             14.
             
             Die
             Nov.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A61175-e370
           
             Esa.
             49.23
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             5.44
             .
          
           
             1
             Thess.
             1.3
             .
             Heb.
             6.10
             .
          
           
             Eccles.
             3.1
             .
          
           
             Hesiod
             .
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
          
           
             Ephes.
             6.18
             .
          
           
             Psal.
             149.9
             
          
           
             1
             Cor.
             13.
             
          
           
             Verse
             7.
             
          
           
             Verse
             13.
             
          
           
             Jude
             v.
             12.
             
          
           
             
               De
               Senectute
            
             .
          
           
             Tertul.
             Apol.
             cap.
             39.
             
               where
               they
               are
               described
            
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             5.34
             ,
             35.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             2.12
             
          
           
             Heb.
             11.1
             .
          
           
             Epis.
             2.14
             .
          
           
             Eph.
             3.15
             .
             Chap.
             2.19
             .
             1
             Pet.
             2.9
             .
             Tit.
             2.14
             .
          
           
             Luke
             10.7
             .
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             5.17
             .
          
           
             1
             Pet.
             4.17
             .
          
           
             Mat.
             12.25
             .
          
           
             Acts
             8.4
             .
          
           
             Psal.
             122.3
             .
          
           
             1
             Tim.
             4.1
             .
             
               So
               interpreted
               by
               Bishop
            
             Sanderson
             .
             Serm.
             5.
             ad
             Pop.
             
          
           
             
               Aeschin
               .
               cont
               .
               Ctessph
            
             .
          
           
             Psal.
             122.8
             ,
             9.