A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen, at the Guild-Hall Chappel, the 16th of December, 1683 by John Scott ...
         Scott, John, 1639-1695.
      
       
         
           1684
        
      
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             A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen, at the Guild-Hall Chappel, the 16th of December, 1683 by John Scott ...
             Scott, John, 1639-1695.
          
           [6], 34 p.
           
             Printed by Ralph Holt for Robert Horn ..., and Walter Kettilby ...,
             London :
             1684.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- O.T. -- Proverbs XXIV, 21 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           RIGHT
           HONOURABLE
           THE
           LORD
           MAYOR
           ,
           AND
           Court
           of
           Aldermen
           ,
           AT
           THE
           
             GUILD-HALL
             CHAPPEL
          
           ,
           The
           16th
           of
           December
           ,
           1683.
           
           By
           
             JOHN
             SCOTT
          
           Rector
           of
           St.
           Peters
           Poor
           ,
           London
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           
             Ralph
             Holt
          
           ,
           for
           
             Robert
             Horn
          
           at
           the
           South
           Entrance
           of
           the
           
             Royal
             Exchange
          
           ,
           and
           
             Walter
             Kettilby
          
           at
           the
           
             Bishop's
             Head
             in
          
           St.
           Paul's
           Church-Yard
           ,
           1684.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           TO
           THE
           RIGHT
           HONOURABLE
           Sr
           Henry
           Tulce
           ,
           LORD
           MAYOR
           OF
           THE
           CITY
           OF
           LONDON
           .
        
         
           
             My
             LORD
             ,
          
        
         
           IN
           Obedience
           to
           your
           Commands
           ,
           I
           present
           this
           mean
           Performance
           to
           your
           Lordships
           perusal
           ,
           which
           out
           of
           the
           known
           Candor
           and
           Goodness
           of
           your
           Nature
           ,
           
           you
           were
           pleased
           not
           only
           to
           pardon
           ,
           but
           accept
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           no
           wonder
           that
           a
           Discourse
           of
           this
           Nature
           ,
           how
           defective
           soever
           in
           the
           Composure
           ,
           should
           find
           Acceptance
           from
           such
           a
           Loyal
           Audience
           ,
           as
           My
           Lord
           Mayor
           ,
           and
           the
           Court
           of
           Aldermen
           ,
           who
           had
           the
           Courage
           to
           be
           Loyal
           ,
           when
           Loyalty
           was
           grown
           almost
           out
           of
           fashion
           ,
           and
           to
           stemm
           the
           overflowing
           Tide
           of
           a
           Popular
           Faction
           in
           the
           height
           of
           all
           its
           Fury
           and
           Violence
           .
           I
           profess
           to
           your
           Lordship
           ▪
           with
           the
           same
           Sincerity
           ,
           that
           I
           would
           confess
           my
           Soul
           to
           God
           ,
           that
           my
           Design
           in
           this
           Discourse
           ,
           was
           only
           to
           promote
           the
           Peace
           and
           Happiness
           of
           Men
           ;
           for
           I
           thank
           God
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           man
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           whom
           I
           do
           not
           heartily
           wish
           well
           to
           ,
           and
           whom
           how
           widely
           soever
           he
           may
           dissent
           from
           me
           in
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           I
           would
           not
           most
           willingly
           render
           any
           good
           Office
           I
           am
           able
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           it
           consists
           with
           my
           Duty
           to
           the
           Church
           and
           Government
           ;
           and
           had
           I
           not
           thought
           it
           an
           exceeding
           good
           Office
           to
           all
           ,
           and
           particularly
           to
           the
           Dissenters
           and
           their
           Adherents
           (
           whose
           Discontents
           render
           them
           of
           all
           men
           most
           obnoxious
           to
           factious
           impressions
           )
           to
           warn
           them
           in
           such
           a
           Time
           and
           Juncture
           of
           Affairs
           
           as
           this
           of
           the
           manifold
           Mischiefs
           of
           Faction
           ,
           I
           had
           not
           troubled
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           or
           the
           World
           with
           a
           Discourse
           of
           this
           Nature
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           the
           Stile
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           in
           some
           Places
           a
           little
           smart
           and
           severe
           ,
           it
           's
           wholly
           Owing
           to
           the
           Matter
           it
           treats
           of
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           naturally
           exprest
           without
           Severity
           ,
           and
           when
           men
           will
           do
           such
           things
           as
           cannot
           be
           represented
           in
           their
           own
           natural
           Colours
           ,
           without
           reproaching
           and
           upbraiding
           them
           ,
           they
           must
           blame
           themselves
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Expression
           ;
           and
           yet
           all
           that
           looks
           severe
           in
           this
           Discourse
           ,
           aims
           only
           at
           the
           Patrons
           and
           Agitators
           of
           Faction
           ,
           whose
           Business
           it
           is
           ,
           to
           seduce
           the
           Simple
           and
           well-meaning
           from
           their
           Duty
           and
           Safety
           ;
           and
           in
           such
           a
           case
           the
           keenest
           Satyr
           is
           Charity
           ;
           for
           how
           can
           it
           but
           move
           a
           Charitable
           Mind
           to
           see
           so
           many
           Innocent
           Souls
           led
           by
           the
           Nose
           into
           Ruin
           by
           a
           Company
           of
           pretending
           Demagogues
           ,
           who
           have
           no
           other
           Design
           in
           it
           ,
           but
           to
           gratifie
           their
           own
           Revenge
           and
           Ambition
           ,
           and
           if
           I
           should
           have
           been
           a
           little
           passionate
           in
           giving
           them
           warning
           of
           their
           danger
           ,
           sure
           no
           wise
           man
           would
           be
           offended
           
           at
           me
           for
           indeavouring
           to
           pluck
           him
           out
           of
           the
           fire
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           by
           the
           hair
           of
           the
           head
           ▪
           but
           if
           instead
           of
           taking
           this
           Charitable
           Warning
           ,
           those
           whom
           it
           concerns
           should
           be
           so
           disingenuous
           as
           to
           inveigh
           against
           it
           ,
           I
           fear
           their
           own
           woful
           Experience
           of
           those
           mischievous
           Effects
           of
           Faction
           here
           discours'd
           of
           ,
           will
           force
           them
           one
           day
           to
           repent
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           God
           grant
           it
           be
           not
           too
           late
           ;
           all
           that
           I
           shall
           farther
           add
           ,
           is
           my
           hearty
           Prayers
           that
           God
           may
           prosper
           your
           Lordships
           Faithful
           Endeavour
           for
           the
           Peace
           and
           Happiness
           of
           this
           Renowned
           City
           ,
           and
           render
           your
           Government
           a
           Blessing
           to
           all
           that
           are
           under
           its
           Influence
           .
           I
           remain
           ,
        
         
           
             My
             LORD
             ,
          
           
             Your
             Lordships
             most
             faithful
             and
             obedient
             Servant
             ,
             JOHN
             SCOTT
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           Lord
           Mayor
           ,
           &c.
           Decem.
           16.
           1683.
           
        
         
           
             PROVERBS
             .
             24.
             21.
             
          
           
             And
             meddle
             not
             with
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             Change.
             
          
        
         
           I
           Shall
           not
           trouble
           you
           with
           the
           various
           Acceptations
           of
           the
           Hebrew
           Word
           Schonim
           ,
           which
           the
           Chaldee
           render
           Fools
           ,
           or
           ,
           as
           we
           say
           ,
           Changelings
           ;
           and
           which
           our
           Translators
           more
           sutably
           to
           what
           goes
           before
           ,
           render
           ,
           
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             Change
             :
          
           for
           in
           the
           former
           part
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           he
           advises
           his
           Son
           to
           
             fear
             the
             Lord
             ,
             and
             Honour
             the
             King
          
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           reverence
           and
           obey
           the
           Supreme
           Lord
           and
           Governour
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           
           in
           reverence
           to
           him
           ,
           to
           be
           Dutiful
           and
           Obedient
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           who
           is
           his
           immediate
           Vicegerent
           ,
           and
           Representative
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           and
           upon
           that
           account
           ought
           to
           be
           Honoured
           and
           Obeyed
           :
           And
           therefore
           my
           Son
           (
           say's
           he
           )
           as
           thou
           wouldst
           be
           secur'd
           ,
           from
           all
           Disloyalty
           and
           Disobedience
           to
           thy
           King
           ,
           in
           contemning
           whose
           Authority
           thou
           openly
           affrontest
           the
           Supreme
           Lord
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           whose
           invisible
           Majesty
           he
           personates
           ;
           
             meddle
             not
             with
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             Change
             ,
             i.
             e.
          
           who
           either
           out
           of
           a
           swelling
           Ambition
           of
           being
           uppermost
           ,
           or
           a
           private
           Revenge
           against
           their
           Superiours
           ,
           or
           a
           restless
           peevishness
           and
           impatience
           of
           Rule
           ,
           or
           affectation
           of
           Novelty
           ,
           or
           design
           to
           repair
           their
           broken
           Fortunes
           out
           of
           the
           publick
           ruins
           ,
           are
           for
           introducing
           Changes
           ,
           and
           Alterations
           in
           the
           Government
           :
           with
           such
           as
           these
           do
           not
           mingle
           thy self
           ,
           no
           not
           so
           much
           as
           to
           listen
           to
           their
           Insinuations
           ,
           or
           to
           credit
           or
           propagate
           their
           Reports
           ;
           or
           to
           support
           and
           countenance
           their
           Cause
           ,
           either
           with
           thy
           Tongue
           ,
           or
           Pen
           ,
           or
           Money
           ,
           or
           Suffrage
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           any
           other
           way
           aiding
           or
           assisting
           to
           their
           factious
           and
           seditious
           Designs
           .
           In
           the
           Prosecution
           of
           this
           Argument
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           ,
           First
           ,
           to
           represent
           to
           you
           the
           great
           folly
           ,
           and
           danger
           of
           ingaging
           with
           such
           as
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           with
           Parties
           ,
           and
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           .
           And
           2ly
           ,
           To
           give
           you
           the
           proper
           Marks
           and
           Characters
           of
           such
           Parties
           ,
           and
           Factions
           ,
           by
           which
           all
           well-minded
           Men
           
           may
           know
           them
           ,
           and
           avoid
           intermedling
           with
           them
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           I
           shall
           indeavour
           to
           represent
           the
           great
           folly
           ,
           and
           danger
           of
           engaging
           with
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           of
           which
           I
           shall
           give
           you
           these
           five
           Instances
           .
        
         
           
             First
             ,
             It
             exposes
             our
             Understanding
             to
             the
             most
             Erroneous
             Prejudices
             and
             Misrepresentations
             of
             things
             .
          
           
             Secondly
             ,
             It
             exposes
             our
             Will
             to
             the
             blackest
             and
             most
             Diabolical
             Affections
             .
          
           
             Thirdly
             ,
             It
             tempts
             us
             to
             an
             high
             neglect
             of
             ,
             and
             Indifferency
             in
             the
             greatest
             and
             most
             necessary
             things
             of
             Religion
             .
          
           
             Fourthly
             ,
             It
             involves
             us
             in
             the
             most
             indirect
             Courses
             ,
             and
             then
             trains
             us
             on
             ,
             from
             bad
             to
             worse
             .
          
           
             Fifthly
             ,
             It
             ordinarily
             snares
             and
             entangles
             us
             in
             the
             greatest
             temporal
             Mischiefs
             and
             Calamities
             .
          
        
         
           First
           ,
           Our
           ingaging
           with
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           exposes
           our
           Understanding
           to
           the
           most
           erroneous
           Prejudice
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           the
           constant
           Method
           of
           all
           Factions
           ,
           to
           prejudice
           the
           Minds
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           with
           false
           and
           spiteful
           glosses
           upon
           the
           Actions
           of
           their
           Superiors
           ,
           with
           
           scandalous
           Forgeries
           ,
           or
           soul
           misconstructions
           of
           their
           fairest
           meanings
           ,
           and
           most
           honourable
           Designs
           ;
           without
           which
           base
           Arts
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           impossible
           for
           them
           to
           disaffect
           the
           Vulgar
           to
           any
           tolerable
           Government
           ,
           or
           to
           Alarm
           their
           Passions
           ,
           and
           Fears
           ,
           and
           Jealousies
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           usual
           Train
           by
           which
           they
           give
           fire
           to
           all
           publick
           Disorder
           and
           Confusion
           .
           When
           therefore
           a
           Man
           ingages
           in
           a
           Faction
           ,
           he
           doth
           in
           effect
           prostitute
           his
           Understanding
           ,
           to
           all
           the
           Cheats
           and
           Delusions
           ,
           that
           busie
           and
           contriving
           Knaves
           can
           impose
           on
           it
           ;
           for
           having
           once
           Wedded
           his
           Affections
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Faction
           ,
           they
           will
           quickly
           bribe
           his
           Understanding
           into
           a
           belief
           of
           every
           thing
           that
           favours
           it
           ;
           and
           let
           the
           opinion
           or
           the
           story
           be
           never
           so
           improbable
           ,
           it
           will
           find
           an
           easy
           Access
           to
           such
           minds
           ,
           as
           are
           already
           feed
           by
           their
           Affections
           to
           entertain
           it
           ;
           and
           provided
           it
           be
           but
           serviceable
           to
           the
           Party
           he
           is
           ingaged
           in
           ,
           that
           will
           prevail
           with
           his
           Understanding
           ,
           against
           a
           thousand
           good
           Reasons
           to
           the
           contrary
           ;
           let
           him
           but
           hear
           his
           Prince
           reproacht
           ,
           with
           never
           such
           wild
           and
           improbable
           stories
           ,
           he
           shakes
           his
           head
           and
           swallows
           all
           for
           Gospel
           .
           Tell
           him
           that
           the
           King
           is
           deeply
           ingaged
           in
           a
           Plot
           against
           his
           own
           Life
           ,
           and
           Crown
           and
           Dignity
           ;
           Alass
           what
           a
           dismal
           Story
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           should
           thus
           fall
           out
           with
           himself
           ,
           and
           doat
           upon
           his
           own
           ruin
           !
           But
           though
           his
           Faith
           thus
           glibly
           swallows
           Camels
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           strange
           to
           see
           how
           it
           will
           strain
           at
           
           a
           Gnat
           on
           t'other
           :
           for
           tell
           him
           on
           t'other
           side
           ,
           with
           never
           so
           much
           Evidence
           and
           Demonstration
           ,
           that
           the
           Traiterous
           design
           he
           talks
           of
           is
           hatching
           under
           the
           Wings
           of
           his
           own
           Faction
           ;
           and
           though
           you
           shew
           him
           the
           very
           Association
           ,
           and
           Band
           of
           the
           Bloody
           Conspiracy
           ,
           upon
           the
           Principles
           whereof
           they
           have
           Murdered
           one
           King
           already
           ,
           and
           so
           may
           reasonably
           be
           presumed
           to
           be
           acting
           the
           Tragedy
           of
           another
           ,
           especially
           when
           they
           act
           the
           same
           things
           over
           again
           ,
           Scene
           after
           Scene
           ,
           so
           exactly
           in
           the
           same
           Garb
           ,
           and
           Plot
           ,
           and
           Language
           ,
           that
           had
           one
           who
           dyed
           40
           years
           ago
           ,
           arose
           from
           his
           Grave
           ,
           but
           2
           or
           3
           years
           since
           ,
           he
           would
           doubtless
           have
           concluded
           ,
           that
           42
           was
           not
           yet
           expired
           ;
           yea
           though
           you
           produce
           a
           fresh
           Conspiracy
           ,
           proved
           upon
           the
           Party
           by
           undeniable
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           even
           by
           the
           free
           Confessions
           of
           the
           dying
           Conspirators
           themselves
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           next
           to
           impossible
           to
           perswade
           him
           ,
           that
           ever
           such
           wise
           Men
           should
           be
           so
           mad
           ,
           or
           such
           good
           Men
           so
           Wicked
           ,
           as
           to
           ingage
           in
           such
           a
           desperate
           Villainy
           .
           But
           I
           need
           not
           tell
           you
           ,
           who
           have
           seen
           the
           Transactions
           of
           these
           last
           six
           years
           ,
           how
           many
           fulsom
           Lies
           have
           been
           confidently
           believed
           ,
           and
           notorious
           Truths
           dasht
           out
           of
           Countenance
           ,
           through
           blind
           Partiality
           to
           a
           Faction
           .
           And
           indeed
           when
           once
           a
           Man
           is
           ingaged
           in
           a
           Faction
           ,
           't
           is
           thenceforth
           impossible
           for
           him
           to
           judge
           impartially
           of
           things
           ,
           because
           now
           his
           Faith
           must
           see
           through
           his
           Affections
           ,
           and
           his
           Affections
           
           must
           follow
           the
           interest
           of
           his
           Party
           ,
           and
           if
           that
           be
           ingaged
           in
           ill
           designs
           ,
           it
           will
           need
           ill
           Principles
           to
           countenance
           it
           ;
           and
           his
           Affections
           being
           pre-ingaged
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Faction
           ,
           will
           easily
           bribe
           his
           Understanding
           ,
           to
           assent
           to
           any
           Principles
           that
           are
           needful
           to
           support
           it
           .
           Wherefore
           if
           you
           have
           any
           reverence
           for
           your
           own
           Understandings
           ,
           if
           you
           would
           not
           be
           play'd
           upon
           by
           Impostors
           ,
           and
           Deceivers
           ,
           and
           choust
           and
           abused
           ,
           and
           lead
           by
           the
           Nose
           through
           all
           the
           wild
           Mazes
           of
           folly
           and
           falshood
           ,
           
             meddle
             not
             with
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             change
             .
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           By
           ingaging
           our selves
           in
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           we
           shall
           in
           all
           probability
           ,
           insensibly
           contract
           the
           most
           black
           and
           Diabolical
           Affections
           ;
           for
           this
           is
           the
           Natural
           Process
           of
           all
           Faction
           ,
           it
           begins
           in
           Pride
           and
           Self-conceit
           ,
           in
           an
           arrogant
           Presumption
           that
           we
           are
           much
           wiser
           than
           those
           above
           us
           ,
           and
           fitter
           to
           Rule
           and
           Govern
           ;
           and
           then
           having
           once
           entertained
           this
           overweening
           Opinion
           of
           our selves
           ,
           we
           look
           upon
           all
           that
           are
           superior
           to
           us
           ,
           with
           Envious
           and
           Malignant
           Eyes
           ,
           and
           think
           our selves
           highly
           injured
           and
           affronted
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           not
           plac't
           at
           the
           upper
           end
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           then
           from
           Envying
           we
           proceed
           to
           hating
           our
           Governours
           ,
           and
           from
           hating
           them
           to
           Impatience
           of
           their
           Government
           ;
           to
           ease
           our selves
           of
           which
           we
           soon
           imbody
           into
           Factions
           ,
           where
           we
           whet
           our
           
           Malice
           and
           Arrogance
           upon
           one
           another
           ,
           by
           applauding
           each
           other
           in
           censuring
           those
           above
           ,
           in
           running
           spiteful
           Descants
           on
           their
           Actions
           ,
           and
           Arraigning
           their
           Male-Administrations
           at
           the
           Tribunal
           of
           our
           Majesty
           ;
           than
           which
           there
           is
           nothing
           can
           more
           effectually
           humour
           and
           gratifie
           our
           Vanity
           :
           For
           what
           a
           Glorious
           thing
           is
           it
           for
           a
           little
           Shop-keeper
           or
           Mechanick
           to
           perk
           up
           a
           mighty
           Politician
           ,
           and
           sit
           in
           Judgement
           on
           his
           Governours
           ,
           to
           expose
           the
           Folly
           of
           their
           Conduct
           ,
           and
           find
           out
           the
           soft
           places
           of
           their
           Ministers
           of
           State
           ?
           how
           much
           greater
           and
           more
           Magnificent
           is
           this
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           Dull
           and
           stay
           at
           home
           and
           mind
           ones
           own
           Business
           ?
           And
           when
           by
           thus
           humouring
           our
           Pride
           we
           have
           blown
           it
           up
           into
           Insolence
           ,
           this
           swells
           our
           Envy
           ,
           and
           that
           inflames
           our
           Malice
           against
           all
           that
           are
           above
           us
           ,
           or
           opposite
           to
           us
           ;
           for
           by
           this
           time
           our
           mind
           is
           so
           bloated
           that
           we
           cannot
           bear
           the
           least
           Contradiction
           ,
           but
           are
           ready
           to
           run
           down
           with
           Clamour
           ,
           and
           hard
           Names
           ,
           every
           thing
           that
           thwarts
           our
           imperious
           Dictates
           ;
           and
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           every
           thing
           is
           Popery
           that
           agrees
           not
           with
           the
           Model
           of
           our
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           in
           matters
           of
           State
           every
           thing
           Tyranny
           that
           opposes
           the
           Platform
           of
           our
           Government
           ;
           and
           unless
           all
           things
           be
           framed
           according
           to
           our
           Humour
           ,
           and
           bend
           to
           the
           Dictates
           of
           our
           Oraculous
           Pride
           ,
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           will
           come
           together
           ,
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           Liberty
           and
           
           Property
           will
           vanish
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           Frame
           of
           things
           sink
           into
           Confusion
           .
           And
           while
           we
           thus
           make
           our
           Pride
           and
           Self-conceit
           the
           Standard
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           expect
           that
           all
           things
           should
           comply
           with
           and
           truckle
           to
           it
           :
           We
           shall
           be
           so
           impatient
           of
           Contradiction
           ,
           that
           't
           will
           be
           little
           better
           than
           Treason
           ,
           or
           Blasphemy
           to
           oppose
           us
           ;
           so
           that
           whosoever
           presumes
           to
           give
           Check
           to
           our
           Insolence
           ,
           is
           sure
           to
           be
           made
           the
           mark
           of
           our
           Malice
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           persecuted
           with
           all
           the
           Reproach
           and
           Opprobrium
           that
           the
           most
           inveterate
           Rancour
           can
           invent
           .
           Thus
           Faction
           ,
           you
           see
           ,
           is
           impregnated
           with
           the
           very
           Nature
           of
           the
           Devil
           ,
           and
           carries
           in
           it
           all
           the
           Pride
           and
           Envy
           ,
           Rancour
           and
           Malice
           that
           sunk
           down
           the
           Angels
           of
           Light
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           converted
           them
           into
           Fiends
           and
           Furies
           .
           Wherefore
           as
           you
           would
           not
           expose
           your
           Natures
           to
           Spoil
           and
           Ravage
           ,
           to
           be
           over-spread
           with
           the
           most
           Poisonous
           Affections
           ,
           and
           drown'd
           in
           the
           Passions
           of
           Hell
           ,
           
             Meddle
             not
             with
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             Change.
             
          
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           By
           ingaging
           our selves
           in
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           mightily
           tempted
           to
           neglect
           the
           great
           and
           necessary
           things
           of
           Religion
           ;
           for
           generally
           the
           Foundations
           of
           all
           Factions
           against
           Government
           are
           laid
           in
           little
           Disputes
           about
           matters
           of
           Religion
           ,
           which
           are
           usually
           started
           by
           the
           Leaders
           of
           the
           Faction
           ,
           for
           no
           other
           end
           but
           to
           ingage
           the
           honest
           
           Zeal
           of
           the
           People
           against
           the
           establisht
           Religion
           ,
           that
           thereby
           they
           may
           ingage
           them
           against
           the
           establisht
           Government
           .
           And
           could
           they
           ▪
           but
           make
           them
           as
           Zealous
           for
           the
           Mass
           as
           for
           the
           Directory
           ,
           't
           would
           be
           all
           one
           to
           them
           ,
           which
           of
           the
           two
           they
           advanc't
           against
           the
           publick
           Establishment
           ;
           their
           Design
           in
           these
           hot
           Disputes
           about
           Religion
           ,
           being
           only
           to
           lay
           a
           Train
           to
           blow
           up
           the
           Government
           ;
           and
           since
           the
           Zeal
           of
           the
           People
           is
           the
           Tool
           they
           must
           Work
           with
           ,
           it
           is
           their
           Interest
           to
           sharpen
           it
           ,
           and
           render
           it
           as
           Keen
           and
           Active
           as
           may
           be
           ;
           so
           that
           when
           once
           you
           have
           ingaged
           your selves
           in
           their
           Faction
           ,
           to
           be
           sure
           they
           will
           imploy
           their
           utmost
           Indeavours
           to
           bigot
           your
           Minds
           to
           their
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           to
           ingage
           all
           your
           Zeal
           for
           the
           little
           Modes
           and
           Circumstances
           they
           Contend
           for
           ;
           they
           will
           so
           represent
           the
           Matter
           to
           you
           ,
           as
           if
           the
           Life
           and
           Substance
           of
           Religion
           were
           in
           Dispute
           ;
           as
           if
           God
           ,
           and
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           and
           the
           Gospel
           were
           all
           at
           stake
           upon
           the
           Controversie
           ,
           and
           your
           Souls
           were
           to
           sink
           or
           swim
           with
           their
           Opinions
           ;
           and
           your
           Zeal
           being
           ingaged
           by
           these
           Arts
           ,
           for
           the
           trifling
           Opinions
           of
           your
           Party
           ,
           you
           will
           by
           degrees
           grow
           remiss
           and
           neglective
           of
           the
           great
           and
           weighty
           Things
           of
           Religion
           :
           For
           the
           mind
           of
           Man
           being
           finite
           in
           all
           its
           Acts
           ,
           can
           never
           operate
           divers
           ways
           at
           once
           ,
           with
           equal
           Force
           and
           Vigour
           ;
           but
           whatsoever
           Time
           and
           Attention
           
           we
           bestow
           upon
           one
           thing
           ,
           we
           must
           necessarily
           substract
           from
           another
           ;
           and
           so
           by
           degrees
           as
           we
           grow
           more
           and
           more
           Zealous
           for
           the
           little
           Modes
           and
           Opinions
           of
           our
           Party
           ,
           we
           shall
           grow
           more
           and
           more
           remiss
           in
           the
           main
           and
           necessary
           Duties
           of
           Religion
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           we
           degenerate
           into
           perfect
           lukewarmness
           :
           And
           accordingly
           how
           many
           are
           there
           among
           our selves
           ,
           the
           very
           Spirit
           of
           whose
           Religion
           is
           evaporated
           into
           a
           noisie
           busie
           and
           blustering
           Zeal
           for
           Parties
           ,
           who
           are
           wondrous
           Nice
           and
           Scrupulous
           about
           the
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           of
           Religion
           ;
           and
           yet
           can
           swallow
           Lies
           and
           Perjuries
           ,
           Treasons
           and
           Rebellions
           without
           the
           least
           Straining
           or
           Remorse
           ?
           O
           did
           but
           these
           men
           love
           God
           and
           their
           Neighbours
           in
           the
           same
           Proportion
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           a
           Conventicle
           !
           Did
           they
           but
           hate
           Impiety
           and
           Immorality
           ,
           but
           half
           as
           much
           as
           they
           do
           Bishops
           and
           Liturgies
           ,
           what
           excellent
           Christians
           would
           they
           be
           ?
           But
           Alas
           ,
           their
           Zeal
           is
           swallowed
           up
           in
           their
           Faction
           ;
           the
           Current
           of
           it
           is
           diverted
           out
           of
           those
           proper
           Channels
           of
           Piety
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           into
           the
           little
           wranglings
           of
           their
           Party
           ,
           where
           it
           flows
           Headlong
           ,
           and
           makes
           a
           Clamorous
           noise
           ,
           to
           no
           other
           purpose
           but
           to
           disturb
           the
           World
           :
           Wherefore
           as
           you
           would
           not
           be
           Tempted
           into
           a
           gross
           neglect
           of
           the
           Substantials
           of
           Religion
           ,
           to
           convert
           your
           Piety
           and
           Vertue
           ,
           into
           Bigottry
           and
           stickling
           for
           Parties
           ,
           
             Meddle
             not
             with
             those
             that
             are
             given
             to
             Change.
             
          
        
         
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           By
           ingaging
           our selves
           in
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           we
           shall
           in
           all
           Probability
           insensibly
           involve
           our selves
           in
           indirect
           Courses
           ,
           and
           be
           train'd
           on
           from
           one
           Evil
           to
           another
           ,
           into
           the
           most
           Flagitious
           Villanies
           .
           When
           first
           men
           list
           themselves
           into
           Parties
           ,
           their
           Designs
           perhaps
           are
           fair
           and
           innocent
           :
           They
           are
           told
           that
           their
           Religion
           ,
           their
           Liberties
           ,
           and
           Properties
           are
           in
           danger
           ;
           and
           finding
           such
           a
           Party
           of
           men
           set
           up
           for
           forward
           and
           zealous
           Assertors
           of
           them
           ,
           they
           mingle
           with
           them
           with
           no
           other
           intent
           but
           to
           concur
           with
           them
           ,
           in
           all
           honest
           and
           lawful
           Endeavours
           ,
           to
           preserve
           and
           secure
           those
           invaluable
           Blessings
           .
           But
           Alas
           poor
           Souls
           !
           they
           see
           where
           they
           begin
           ,
           but
           God
           knows
           where
           they
           will
           end
           ;
           for
           now
           they
           must
           move
           by
           the
           measures
           of
           the
           Faction
           ,
           and
           see
           with
           its
           Eyes
           ,
           and
           hear
           with
           its
           Ears
           ,
           through
           which
           to
           be
           sure
           all
           the
           Actions
           and
           Designs
           of
           their
           Governours
           ,
           will
           be
           represented
           to
           them
           in
           the
           blackest
           Colours
           ;
           by
           which
           their
           Passions
           being
           inflamed
           with
           contempt
           and
           hatred
           of
           them
           ,
           will
           soon
           blaze
           out
           at
           their
           Mouths
           ,
           or
           Pens
           into
           seditious
           Talk
           or
           Factious
           Libels
           ;
           and
           then
           such
           is
           the
           nature
           of
           contempt
           and
           hatred
           ,
           that
           the
           very
           venting
           of
           them
           fans
           and
           irritates
           them
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           they
           settle
           into
           inveterate
           rancour
           ,
           and
           then
           they
           are
           capable
           of
           any
           mischief
           ;
           for
           all
           along
           as
           their
           passion
           is
           growing
           ,
           they
           mistake
           it
           for
           a
           pious
           zeal
           for
           God
           and
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           publick
           
           good
           ,
           and
           under
           that
           Notion
           cherish
           its
           irregular
           transports
           ,
           concluding
           that
           nothing
           can
           be
           amiss
           ,
           that
           proceeds
           from
           such
           a
           sanctified
           Principle
           ;
           and
           so
           though
           they
           lie
           ,
           and
           slander
           ,
           and
           backbite
           ,
           and
           perjure
           themselves
           over
           and
           over
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           all
           well
           ,
           because
           they
           do
           it
           out
           of
           Zeal
           for
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           Protestant
           Religion
           :
           For
           when
           once
           intemperate
           zeal
           gets
           ahead
           ,
           it
           bears
           down
           all
           considerations
           of
           Reason
           and
           Religion
           before
           it
           ,
           and
           hurries
           us
           on
           into
           the
           foulest
           Enormities
           ;
           and
           then
           when
           once
           our
           outragious
           Zeal
           hath
           transported
           us
           into
           illegal
           and
           unjustifiable
           Actions
           ,
           we
           shall
           many
           times
           be
           tempted
           to
           proceed
           ,
           through
           mere
           despair
           of
           a
           safe
           retreat
           ,
           and
           to
           shelter
           our selves
           from
           the
           Punishment
           of
           one
           Crime
           ,
           by
           committing
           another
           :
           For
           so
           in
           all
           Factions
           Men
           ,
           do
           commonly
           so
           involve
           themselves
           ,
           that
           when
           they
           have
           done
           ill
           ,
           they
           have
           no
           other
           way
           to
           save
           themselves
           ,
           but
           by
           doing
           worse
           :
           Thus
           when
           by
           their
           Seditious
           Behaviour
           ,
           they
           have
           incensed
           their
           Governour
           against
           them
           ,
           its
           necessary
           for
           them
           to
           Associate
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           are
           Associated
           ,
           its
           necessary
           to
           Rebell
           ;
           and
           when
           they
           have
           drawn
           the
           Sword
           ,
           its
           necessary
           to
           fling
           the
           Scabbard
           to
           the
           Devil
           :
           for
           I
           make
           no
           doubt
           ,
           but
           many
           of
           those
           Wretches
           that
           Murdered
           the
           late
           King
           ,
           would
           have
           trembled
           at
           the
           thought
           of
           it
           ,
           when
           they
           first
           ingaged
           in
           the
           Faction
           ;
           but
           their
           zeal
           having
           once
           transported
           them
           into
           Sedition
           ,
           they
           had
           no
           other
           way
           to
           
           escape
           but
           by
           Rebellion
           ;
           and
           being
           engaged
           in
           Rebellion
           ,
           they
           had
           no
           other
           Sanctuary
           but
           Regicide
           .
           As
           therefore
           you
           would
           not
           expose
           your
           Innocence
           and
           Vertue
           to
           these
           and
           such
           like
           dangerous
           Temptations
           ,
           
             mingle
             not
             with
             such
             as
             are
             given
             to
             Change.
             
          
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           and
           Lastly
           ,
           By
           ingaging
           with
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           we
           shall
           in
           all
           probability
           ,
           intangle
           our selves
           in
           the
           greatest
           Temporal
           Mischiefs
           and
           Calamities
           :
           For
           Faction
           is
           naturally
           forward
           and
           Pragmatical
           ,
           it
           fills
           Mens
           heads
           with
           Projects
           and
           Chymera's
           ,
           with
           Mysteries
           of
           State
           and
           Models
           of
           Government
           ,
           and
           sends
           their
           thoughts
           after
           the
           Fools
           eyes
           ,
           roving
           to
           the
           ends
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           to
           Parliaments
           and
           Privy
           Councils
           ,
           and
           high
           Consultations
           about
           Affairs
           of
           Government
           .
           And
           when
           once
           their
           Minds
           are
           got
           abroad
           ,
           their
           Bodies
           cannot
           stay
           long
           behind
           ,
           but
           away
           they
           must
           to
           some
           Coffee-House
           ,
           or
           Publick
           Refectory
           ,
           to
           vent
           their
           Politicks
           ,
           and
           advise
           about
           Affairs
           of
           State
           ,
           discharge
           their
           Consciences
           to
           the
           Publick
           ,
           by
           directing
           how
           things
           ought
           to
           be
           managed
           ,
           and
           shewing
           where
           the
           Ministers
           of
           State
           are
           out
           ,
           and
           by
           what
           Measures
           they
           ought
           to
           steer
           the
           Helm
           of
           Government
           ;
           and
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           while
           they
           are
           Governing
           abroad
           ,
           the
           Shop
           is
           neglected
           at
           Home
           ,
           and
           the
           Trade
           decays
           ,
           and
           they
           and
           their
           Families
           sink
           insensibly
           into
           Beggery
           ;
           for
           
           though
           for
           a
           very
           small
           charge
           they
           may
           sit
           and
           govern
           an
           hour
           or
           two
           together
           ,
           yet
           hereby
           their
           time
           is
           not
           only
           wasted
           ,
           which
           is
           much
           more
           precious
           then
           their
           Money
           ,
           but
           their
           heads
           are
           filled
           with
           so
           many
           Politick
           Whimsies
           ,
           that
           when
           they
           come
           home
           they
           cannot
           mind
           their
           business
           ,
           their
           Shops
           are
           grown
           too
           little
           for
           their
           Minds
           ,
           and
           they
           can
           neither
           think
           nor
           talk
           beneath
           Affairs
           of
           Empire
           :
           And
           when
           once
           Men
           are
           got
           into
           this
           vein
           ,
           't
           is
           time
           for
           their
           Creditors
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Governours
           to
           look
           after
           them
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           too
           too
           much
           for
           one
           Man
           to
           Govern
           a
           Kingdom
           ,
           and
           to
           mind
           a
           Trade
           ;
           while
           he
           is
           busie
           abroad
           ,
           he
           must
           be
           Idle
           at
           home
           ,
           and
           when
           his
           Faction
           hath
           reduced
           him
           to
           Idleness
           ,
           his
           Idleness
           will
           soon
           bring
           him
           to
           Beggery
           ;
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           which
           the
           Age
           we
           live
           in
           affords
           us
           too
           many
           wofull
           Instances
           ,
           of
           such
           as
           have
           been
           thrust
           on
           by
           a
           Factious
           and
           Pragmatical
           Temper
           ,
           to
           inter-medle
           with
           Affairs
           of
           Government
           ;
           which
           by
           degrees
           have
           so
           ingrost
           their
           Thoughts
           and
           Cares
           ,
           and
           Time
           and
           Activity
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           scarce
           ever
           be
           at
           leisure
           to
           attend
           their
           own
           Business
           ;
           and
           so
           like
           the
           foolish
           Astronomer
           ,
           whilst
           they
           have
           been
           Gazing
           at
           the
           Stars
           ,
           and
           troubling
           their
           Heads
           about
           Affairs
           above
           them
           ,
           they
           have
           been
           utterly
           Regardless
           of
           their
           own
           Concerns
           ,
           and
           tumbled
           into
           the
           Ditch
           of
           Ruin
           unawares
           .
           But
           suppose
           they
           escape
           this
           Rock
           ,
           yet
           there
           is
           another
           very
           
           dangerous
           one
           attends
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           the
           Law
           ,
           aginst
           which
           in
           all
           Probability
           they
           will
           one
           time
           or
           other
           split
           themselves
           in
           Pieces
           :
           For
           Faction
           naturally
           renders
           men
           Bold
           and
           Confident
           of
           their
           own
           understanding
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           they
           have
           but
           attain'd
           some
           little
           smattering
           of
           Law
           ,
           they
           make
           no
           doubt
           but
           that
           they
           fully
           understand
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           utmost
           bounds
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           how
           far
           they
           may
           venture
           without
           incurring
           its
           Penalties
           ;
           and
           so
           many
           times
           they
           Dance
           themselves
           into
           a
           Noose
           ,
           and
           like
           silly
           Flies
           play
           about
           the
           Candle
           till
           they
           have
           singed
           their
           Wings
           in
           the
           Flame
           of
           it
           .
           For
           when
           out
           of
           an
           ignorant
           Confidence
           men
           will
           venture
           as
           far
           as
           they
           imagine
           they
           may
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           thousand
           to
           one
           but
           they
           venture
           farther
           than
           they
           should
           ,
           and
           either
           prate
           or
           scribble
           within
           the
           reach
           of
           the
           Penalty
           ,
           or
           through
           their
           own
           inconsiderate
           Rashness
           ,
           are
           insensibly
           decoy'd
           into
           Seditious
           and
           Treasonous
           Conspiracies
           .
           Where
           notwithstanding
           all
           Ingagements
           of
           Secrecy
           ,
           and
           Hopes
           of
           future
           Advancement
           ,
           their
           Lives
           and
           Fortunes
           are
           at
           Pawn
           in
           the
           hands
           of
           their
           fellow
           Conspirators
           ;
           who
           being
           prompted
           ,
           either
           by
           Drunkenness
           or
           Vanity
           ,
           or
           Fear
           ,
           or
           Conscience
           ,
           will
           in
           all
           Probability
           one
           time
           or
           other
           betray
           them
           ;
           or
           if
           they
           do
           not
           ,
           yet
           their
           Cabals
           may
           be
           observed
           and
           suspected
           ;
           their
           Councils
           may
           be
           over-heard
           ,
           or
           their
           own
           Guilty
           Looks
           ,
           or
           Affectation
           of
           Secrecy
           ,
           may
           discover
           them
           ,
           and
           a
           thousand
           other
           
           Accidents
           may
           unfold
           their
           dark
           Intrigues
           ,
           and
           conclude
           their
           mighty
           Hopes
           in
           a
           Halter
           .
           And
           considering
           that
           there
           is
           an
           All-seeing
           Providence
           that
           super-intends
           the
           Affairs
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           hath
           a
           peculiar
           Regard
           to
           the
           Safety
           of
           Princes
           ,
           it
           is
           ten
           thousand
           to
           one
           against
           them
           ,
           but
           that
           one
           time
           or
           other
           ,
           they
           are
           catcht
           in
           their
           own
           Snares
           ;
           for
           so
           it
           follows
           immediately
           after
           my
           Text
           ,
           
             For
             their
             Calamity
             shall
             rise
             suddenly
             ,
             and
             who
             knows
             the
             Ruin
             of
             them
             both
             ?
          
           That
           is
           ,
           both
           of
           those
           that
           move
           the
           Rebellion
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           that
           Associate
           with
           them
           ?
        
         
           I
           now
           proceed
           to
           the
           second
           thing
           proposed
           ;
           which
           is
           ,
           to
           give
           you
           some
           Signs
           and
           Tokens
           ,
           by
           which
           you
           may
           distinguish
           
             such
             as
             are
             given
             to
             Change
             ,
          
           in
           Order
           to
           your
           avoiding
           them
           .
        
         
           One
           would
           think
           indeed
           ,
           considering
           our
           Circumstances
           ,
           it
           should
           be
           needless
           to
           warn
           us
           of
           ingaging
           in
           Factions
           against
           our
           Government
           ;
           which
           is
           not
           only
           in
           it self
           the
           most
           gentle
           and
           easie
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           but
           also
           Administred
           with
           anunparallel'd
           Lenity
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           by
           a
           most
           Gracious
           and
           Merciful
           Prince
           ,
           a
           Prince
           that
           hath
           been
           indear
           ▪
           d
           to
           us
           by
           the
           most
           signal
           Favours
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           by
           so
           many
           Wonders
           of
           Providence
           ,
           and
           strange
           repeated
           Deliverances
           ,
           and
           under
           whose
           Gracious
           Influence
           and
           Protection
           we
           have
           hitherto
           sate
           
           quietly
           under
           our
           own
           Vines
           ,
           whilst
           all
           the
           Nations
           round
           about
           ,
           have
           been
           involved
           in
           Blood
           and
           Confusion
           :
           so
           that
           for
           us
           to
           list
           our selves
           in
           a
           Faction
           against
           him
           ,
           who
           hath
           been
           the
           Author
           of
           so
           much
           Happiness
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           this
           after
           so
           many
           Repulses
           of
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           which
           hath
           so
           manifestly
           stood
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           own'd
           him
           for
           its
           Darling
           and
           Favourite
           ;
           would
           be
           to
           fight
           ,
           not
           only
           against
           our selves
           ,
           and
           our
           own
           Happiness
           ;
           not
           only
           against
           God's
           express
           Will
           ,
           and
           visible
           Authority
           ,
           but
           against
           his
           bare
           and
           naked
           Arm
           too
           .
           Notwithstanding
           all
           which
           it
           's
           too
           too
           visible
           ,
           how
           apt
           we
           are
           to
           be
           imprest
           and
           wrought
           upon
           ,
           by
           the
           Seditious
           Arts
           and
           Insinuations
           of
           Evil-minded
           men
           :
           Wherefore
           in
           such
           an
           Age
           as
           this
           ,
           wherein
           even
           Well-meaning
           men
           are
           so
           often
           practised
           on
           ,
           and
           their
           honest
           Zeal
           is
           so
           apt
           to
           be
           abused
           ,
           and
           ridden
           by
           a
           Company
           of
           designing
           Male-Contents
           ,
           it
           must
           doubtless
           be
           very
           seasonable
           to
           give
           some
           Signs
           and
           Tokens
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           by
           which
           those
           that
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           may
           be
           known
           ,
           and
           discovered
           ,
           and
           avoided
           .
           Of
           these
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           I
           shall
           give
           you
           the
           following
           Particulars
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           When
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           Actually
           changed
           the
           Government
           already
           ,
           begin
           to
           re-advance
           their
           old
           Principles
           ,
           Methods
           and
           Pretences
           ,
           it
           's
           a
           certain
           Sign
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ;
           for
           either
           they
           have
           repented
           their
           Subversion
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           or
           they
           have
           not
           ;
           if
           they
           
           have
           ,
           the
           Fruits
           of
           it
           will
           appear
           in
           their
           future
           Behaviour
           ,
           they
           will
           be
           the
           more
           Peaceable
           ,
           and
           Modest
           ,
           and
           Obedient
           for
           the
           time
           to
           come
           ,
           and
           keep
           at
           a
           greater
           distance
           from
           those
           Seditious
           Arts
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           were
           inveigled
           ,
           or
           did
           inveigle
           others
           ,
           into
           the
           past
           Rebellion
           .
           But
           if
           they
           have
           not
           repented
           ,
           and
           do
           still
           continue
           of
           the
           same
           mind
           ,
           advancing
           their
           old
           Principles
           and
           Pretences
           ,
           you
           may
           be
           sure
           they
           are
           aiming
           at
           their
           old
           Mark
           ,
           and
           't
           would
           not
           be
           Charity
           but
           Sottishness
           ,
           to
           believe
           the
           Gamester
           who
           Rookt
           ye
           once
           before
           ,
           doth
           not
           design
           the
           same
           again
           ,
           when
           you
           see
           him
           throw
           the
           same
           false
           Dice
           .
           When
           therefore
           you
           hear
           the
           Cry
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           Arbitrary
           Government
           renewed
           ,
           by
           a
           Party
           that
           have
           once
           blown
           up
           the
           Throne
           with
           it
           already
           ,
           you
           may
           conclude
           upon
           it
           that
           they
           are
           Playing
           the
           Old
           Game
           over
           again
           .
           For
           whatsoever
           Cause
           there
           may
           be
           ,
           to
           dread
           either
           Popery
           or
           Tyranny
           ;
           these
           of
           all
           Men
           ,
           were
           they
           truely
           Penitent
           for
           what
           is
           past
           ,
           would
           be
           the
           most
           cautious
           how
           they
           Alarmed
           mens
           Fears
           and
           Jealousies
           again
           ,
           considering
           what
           horrid
           Mischiefs
           they
           did
           by
           their
           false
           Alarms
           heretofore
           :
           When
           therefore
           you
           see
           them
           forward
           and
           industrious
           ,
           and
           raise
           to
           propagate
           their
           old
           Clamour
           afresh
           ,
           you
           may
           without
           breach
           of
           Charity
           conclude
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           the
           same
           Men
           they
           were
           ,
           and
           are
           driving
           at
           the
           same
           Design
           .
        
         
         
           Secondly
           ,
           When
           men
           make
           that
           a
           Pretence
           for
           publick
           Clamour
           and
           Bustle
           which
           themselves
           have
           little
           or
           no
           Claim
           to
           ,
           or
           Regard
           for
           ,
           it
           's
           a
           certain
           sign
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ;
           for
           t
           is
           not
           to
           be
           imagin'd
           that
           men
           should
           be
           heartily
           concern'd
           for
           those
           things
           wherein
           they
           have
           no
           share
           or
           interest
           :
           Should
           you
           hear
           two
           Persons
           earnestly
           contending
           about
           the
           Division
           of
           the
           Lands
           in
           the
           World
           in
           the
           Moon
           ,
           you
           would
           hardly
           believe
           they
           were
           in
           Earnest
           ,
           because
           whether
           there
           be
           Lands
           there
           or
           no
           ,
           you
           are
           sure
           these
           men
           can
           have
           no
           Interest
           in
           them
           ;
           and
           therefore
           you
           must
           either
           conclude
           that
           they
           are
           Mad
           ,
           or
           that
           whatever
           they
           pretend
           ,
           the
           Foundation
           of
           their
           Quarrel
           lyes
           below
           the
           Moon
           .
           Thus
           for
           Instance
           ,
           When
           you
           hear
           a
           Company
           of
           profligate
           Debochees
           ,
           that
           live
           in
           open
           Defiance
           to
           all
           Religion
           ,
           raise
           a
           Clamour
           for
           Religion
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           are
           no
           more
           interested
           or
           concern'd
           than
           in
           those
           up-land
           Countries
           ,
           in
           the
           World
           of
           the
           Moon
           ;
           you
           may
           be
           sure
           the
           real
           Cause
           of
           their
           Clamour
           is
           something
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           are
           more
           nearly
           Concern'd
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           Pretence
           of
           Religion
           is
           only
           a
           plausible
           Mask
           to
           their
           Covetousness
           ,
           or
           Revenge
           ,
           or
           Ambition
           :
           And
           so
           again
           ,
           when
           you
           hear
           a
           Company
           of
           Bankrupts
           or
           Stript-Sequestrators
           ,
           raise
           a
           Cry
           for
           Freehold
           and
           Property
           ,
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           you
           may
           depend
           upon
           it
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           not
           the
           real
           Mark
           they
           
           aim
           at
           ;
           for
           what
           should
           make
           these
           men
           so
           Zealous
           for
           Property
           ,
           that
           have
           nothing
           of
           their
           own
           to
           lose
           ?
           it's
           a
           plain
           Case
           therefore
           that
           they
           Love
           your
           Properties
           so
           well
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           fain
           have
           a
           share
           in
           them
           ;
           and
           in
           Order
           thereunto
           they
           would
           raise
           a
           Storm
           upon
           the
           Government
           ,
           that
           so
           in
           a
           Common
           Rack
           they
           may
           inrich
           themselves
           with
           the
           Division
           of
           the
           Spoil
           ,
           and
           wrest
           their
           Old
           Usurpations
           out
           of
           the
           hand
           of
           the
           rightful
           Possessors
           .
           Wherefore
           while
           you
           Live
           ,
           have
           a
           Care
           of
           inter-mingling
           your selves
           with
           Atheists
           and
           Beggers
           in
           their
           Contentions
           with
           the
           Government
           for
           Religion
           and
           Property
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           When
           men
           pretend
           Religion
           or
           publick
           Reformation
           ,
           but
           pursue
           it
           by
           sinful
           and
           indirect
           Means
           ,
           it
           's
           a
           certain
           Token
           that
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ;
           for
           they
           who
           heartily
           espouse
           the
           Interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           are
           Enemies
           to
           all
           things
           that
           Religion
           is
           an
           Enemy
           to
           .
           And
           therefore
           if
           I
           hate
           the
           Corruptions
           of
           Religion
           ,
           for
           Religions
           sake
           I
           must
           hate
           all
           sinful
           ways
           of
           Reforming
           it
           ,
           because
           those
           Sinful
           ways
           are
           as
           contrary
           to
           Religion
           as
           the
           Corruptions
           I
           would
           reform
           by
           them
           .
           As
           for
           Example
           ;
           Religion
           is
           as
           great
           an
           Enemy
           to
           Lying
           and
           Rebellion
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           to
           Popery
           ;
           and
           therefore
           if
           I
           truly
           love
           Religion
           ,
           I
           shall
           be
           as
           great
           an
           Enemy
           to
           the
           one
           as
           the
           other
           :
           Wherefore
           if
           I
           see
           men
           Attempt
           to
           reform
           
           Religion
           from
           Popery
           ,
           by
           Lying
           or
           Rebellion
           ;
           I
           am
           sure
           't
           is
           not
           to
           serve
           Religion
           that
           they
           do
           it
           ,
           but
           to
           serve
           themselves
           by
           unhinging
           the
           Government
           :
           For
           had
           they
           the
           sincere
           Zeal
           to
           Religion
           they
           pretend
           to
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           as
           forward
           to
           obey
           its
           Commands
           of
           speaking
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           submitting
           to
           their
           Governours
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           to
           comply
           with
           its
           Prohibitions
           of
           Worshipping
           Images
           ,
           and
           Consecrated
           Waters
           ,
           because
           its
           Authority
           is
           equally
           concern'd
           in
           both
           :
           And
           besides
           ,
           they
           would
           Consider
           ,
           that
           by
           using
           unwarrantable
           Means
           to
           purge
           or
           defend
           it
           ,
           they
           shall
           much
           more
           prejudice
           its
           Cause
           ,
           than
           the
           best
           Reformation
           can
           promote
           it
           .
           And
           Consequently
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           much
           more
           for
           the
           true
           Interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           to
           be
           Persecuted
           by
           Popery
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           reformed
           by
           Rebellion
           :
           whereas
           by
           using
           wicked
           Arts
           to
           defend
           it
           ,
           they
           only
           rescue
           it
           from
           one
           Enemy
           to
           betray
           it
           to
           another
           ;
           and
           to
           Vindicate
           its
           Honour
           from
           Superstition
           and
           Idolatry
           ,
           sacrifice
           it
           to
           Rebellion
           and
           Murder
           .
           When
           therefore
           you
           find
           any
           Party
           of
           men
           driving
           on
           a
           Pretence
           of
           Religion
           or
           Reformation
           ,
           with
           Lies
           and
           Perjuries
           ,
           Backbiting
           and
           Slanders
           ,
           Tumults
           and
           Insurrections
           :
           As
           you
           tender
           ,
           either
           your
           Vertue
           ,
           or
           Welfare
           ,
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           them
           ;
           for
           you
           will
           most
           certainly
           find
           a
           Faction
           of
           Hypocrites
           ,
           that
           only
           make
           a
           shew
           of
           Reforming
           Religion
           to
           undermine
           the
           Government
           .
        
         
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           When
           under
           a
           Pretence
           of
           Reforming
           the
           Government
           ,
           men
           reproach
           and
           vilifie
           the
           Persons
           of
           their
           Governours
           ,
           and
           are
           forward
           to
           believe
           Ill
           ,
           and
           backward
           to
           believe
           Well
           of
           them
           ,
           it
           's
           a
           certain
           sign
           that
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ;
           for
           if
           they
           design
           no
           more
           than
           the
           Reformation
           of
           some
           Faults
           ,
           or
           Errors
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           they
           would
           only
           apply
           themselves
           to
           those
           in
           whose
           Power
           it
           is
           to
           correct
           them
           ,
           and
           with
           all
           Humility
           indeavour
           to
           convince
           them
           of
           ,
           and
           perswade
           them
           to
           rectifie
           them
           :
           But
           to
           make
           it
           our
           business
           to
           speak
           ill
           of
           them
           where
           they
           cannot
           hear
           us
           ,
           and
           proclaim
           and
           magnifie
           their
           Faults
           in
           our
           common
           Conversation
           ,
           what
           other
           end
           can
           this
           serve
           ,
           but
           ,
           First
           ,
           to
           Arm
           the
           Passions
           ,
           and
           then
           the
           Hands
           of
           their
           People
           against
           them
           ?
           To
           what
           purpose
           should
           you
           tell
           me
           a
           Tragical
           Story
           ,
           of
           the
           ill
           Actions
           or
           Designs
           of
           my
           Prince
           ?
           You
           know
           very
           well
           ,
           I
           am
           neither
           his
           Tutor
           ,
           nor
           his
           Counsellor
           ,
           and
           so
           no
           way
           capable
           to
           Correct
           ,
           or
           Reform
           him
           .
           All
           that
           you
           can
           effect
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           is
           to
           raise
           an
           ill
           Opinion
           of
           him
           in
           my
           mind
           ,
           and
           what
           other
           Influence
           can
           my
           ill
           Opinion
           have
           ,
           but
           to
           prepare
           me
           to
           list
           my self
           in
           any
           Mischievous
           Design
           against
           him
           ?
           When
           therefore
           you
           find
           men
           addicted
           to
           Whisper
           ,
           or
           Proclaim
           the
           Faults
           of
           their
           Governours
           ,
           to
           Magnifie
           their
           Faults
           ,
           and
           Conceal
           or
           lessen
           their
           good
           Conduct
           and
           Success
           ,
           you
           may
           depend
           upon
           it
           ,
           that
           their
           Designs
           are
           Mischievous
           ,
           
           that
           they
           rejoyce
           in
           the
           Faults
           they
           exclaim
           against
           ,
           and
           are
           glad
           things
           are
           so
           bad
           ,
           and
           do
           heartily
           wish
           they
           were
           worse
           ,
           that
           so
           they
           might
           exclaim
           against
           them
           with
           the
           better
           Grace
           and
           Countenance
           ;
           that
           they
           lament
           nothing
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           the
           wise
           and
           good
           Deeds
           of
           their
           Governours
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           worst
           News
           they
           can
           hear
           ,
           is
           the
           Prosperity
           of
           the
           Publick
           ,
           under
           the
           happy
           Influence
           of
           their
           Government
           :
           For
           how
           can
           I
           delight
           to
           imblazon
           the
           Faults
           I
           am
           sorry
           for
           ,
           and
           do
           wish
           were
           amended
           ?
           How
           can
           I
           take
           Pleasure
           in
           making
           them
           worse
           than
           they
           are
           ,
           did
           I
           not
           wish
           they
           were
           so
           ?
           Why
           should
           I
           be
           so
           forward
           to
           believe
           any
           ill
           of
           them
           ,
           but
           that
           
             Facilè
             credimus
             quod
             volumus
          
           ?
           Why
           so
           backwards
           to
           believe
           any
           Good
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           heartily
           wish
           there
           were
           no
           Cause
           for
           it
           ?
           Where-ever
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           you
           find
           any
           Persons
           of
           this
           Character
           ,
           avoid
           them
           as
           you
           would
           the
           Air
           of
           a
           Pest-House
           ;
           for
           assure
           your selves
           whatever
           they
           pretend
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           the
           Reformation
           of
           the
           Government
           they
           aim
           at
           ,
           but
           the
           Destruction
           of
           the
           Governours
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           When
           Men
           shift
           their
           Principles
           with
           their
           Interest
           ,
           and
           to
           serve
           a
           Turn
           can
           comply
           at
           one
           time
           ,
           with
           that
           which
           they
           condemn
           at
           another
           ,
           it
           's
           a
           sure
           sign
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ;
           for
           if
           Conscience
           be
           the
           motive
           of
           our
           non-compliance
           with
           the
           Government
           ,
           
           those
           reasons
           which
           sway
           us
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           for
           our
           Interest
           ,
           will
           as
           well
           sway
           us
           when
           it
           is
           against
           it
           ;
           because
           our
           Conscience
           is
           nothing
           but
           the
           reason
           of
           our
           Mind
           directing
           us
           what
           to
           do
           ,
           and
           what
           to
           avoid
           ;
           and
           though
           outward
           Changes
           may
           alter
           our
           Interest
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           only
           better
           reason
           that
           can
           alter
           our
           Reason
           ,
           and
           whether
           it
           be
           better
           or
           no
           ,
           is
           not
           to
           be
           determined
           by
           our
           mutable
           Interests
           ,
           but
           by
           Scripture
           ,
           or
           the
           immutable
           Natures
           of
           things
           .
           When
           therefore
           you
           see
           any
           Party
           of
           Men
           ,
           that
           dissent
           from
           the
           Government
           ,
           shift
           their
           Principles
           and
           Practices
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           variable
           Exigencies
           of
           their
           Affairs
           ,
           Conform
           to
           day
           ,
           and
           Non-conform
           to
           morrow
           ,
           go
           to
           Church
           and
           receive
           the
           Sacrament
           to
           avoid
           a
           Penalty
           ,
           or
           qualifie
           themselves
           for
           an
           Office
           ,
           and
           when
           that
           Turn
           is
           served
           revolt
           to
           a
           Conventicle
           ,
           and
           pretend
           Conscience
           against
           our
           Worship
           and
           Ceremonies
           :
           When
           you
           hear
           them
           curse
           Toleration
           whilst
           themselves
           are
           in
           the
           Saddle
           ,
           and
           assoon
           as
           they
           are
           dismounted
           declaim
           for
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           cry
           up
           the
           Prerogatives
           of
           the
           Crown
           while
           it
           indulges
           ,
           and
           cry
           them
           down
           again
           ,
           assoon
           as
           it
           restrains
           them
           ;
           in
           a
           Word
           ,
           when
           you
           hear
           them
           bitterly
           exclaiming
           against
           Equivocation
           ,
           Rebellion
           ,
           and
           Treason
           in
           a
           Papist
           ,
           and
           yet
           practise
           it
           themselves
           upon
           Popish
           Principles
           when
           their
           own
           Cause
           and
           Interest
           invites
           them
           ;
           when
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           you
           see
           these
           ,
           or
           any
           such
           like
           Shiftings
           and
           Doublings
           
           in
           any
           Party
           dissenting
           from
           the
           Government
           ;
           you
           may
           certainly
           conclude
           that
           't
           is
           not
           their
           Conscience
           sways
           ,
           but
           their
           Faction
           .
        
         
           Sixthly
           and
           Lastly
           ,
           When
           men
           who
           in
           the
           ordinary
           Course
           of
           their
           Conversation
           ,
           are
           proud
           and
           quarrelsom
           ,
           and
           impatient
           of
           Contradiction
           ,
           set
           up
           Pretences
           of
           Religion
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           certain
           sign
           that
           they
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           :
           for
           a
           great
           part
           of
           that
           which
           men
           call
           Religion
           ,
           is
           nothing
           but
           the
           Workings
           of
           their
           natural
           Temper
           into
           such
           Principles
           and
           Practices
           as
           are
           most
           sutable
           to
           it
           .
           Thus
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           were
           Men
           of
           a
           very
           haughty
           ,
           sower
           ,
           Pragmatical
           ,
           and
           untractable
           Nature
           ,
           and
           this
           Temper
           of
           theirs
           wrought
           it self
           by
           degrees
           into
           a
           sutable
           Religion
           ;
           for
           so
           their
           Pride
           issued
           into
           Affectation
           of
           Singularity
           ,
           and
           that
           into
           those
           distinguishing
           Garbs
           ,
           and
           Rites
           ,
           and
           Gestures
           ,
           which
           were
           the
           Badges
           of
           their
           Faction
           ;
           so
           their
           Austerity
           and
           Sowerness
           discharged
           it self
           in
           long
           Prayers
           ,
           frequent
           Fasts
           ,
           and
           unnecessary
           Severities
           ,
           and
           that
           into
           an
           uncharitable
           Opinion
           of
           every
           one
           that
           prayed
           not
           as
           long
           ,
           and
           fasted
           not
           as
           often
           as
           they
           ;
           and
           this
           into
           a
           sullen
           Separation
           from
           their
           Neighbours
           both
           in
           Civil
           and
           Sacred
           Society
           ;
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           so
           their
           surliness
           and
           untractable
           Humour
           ,
           workt
           out
           into
           a
           factious
           scrupulosity
           about
           Matters
           of
           Civil
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           that
           
           into
           Seditions
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           open
           Rebellions
           ,
           upon
           slight
           and
           trifling
           Occasions
           ;
           and
           when
           upon
           such
           Principles
           as
           were
           most
           agreeable
           to
           their
           own
           ill
           nature
           they
           had
           form'd
           themselves
           into
           a
           Sect
           ,
           all
           the
           ill-natur'd
           People
           ,
           both
           in
           Town
           and
           Country
           ,
           were
           easily
           converted
           to
           it
           ;
           and
           some
           good
           People
           too
           ,
           perhaps
           ,
           were
           so
           far
           imposed
           on
           by
           the
           mighty
           shew
           it
           made
           of
           Zeal
           and
           Sanctity
           ,
           as
           to
           imbody
           with
           it
           ,
           the
           candour
           of
           their
           Natures
           not
           permitting
           them
           to
           suspect
           a
           rotten
           Core
           under
           so
           fair
           an
           out-side
           ;
           till
           at
           length
           being
           poysoned
           themselves
           ,
           by
           the
           ill
           Principles
           of
           the
           Party
           ,
           they
           became
           as
           ill-natured
           as
           the
           rest
           of
           their
           Brethren
           ;
           and
           so
           as
           ill
           Nature
           begot
           the
           ill
           Principles
           in
           some
           ,
           so
           the
           ill
           Principles
           begot
           ill
           Nature
           in
           others
           :
           So
           that
           though
           this
           Pharisaical
           Religion
           made
           a
           mighty
           Shew
           ,
           and
           look't
           with
           a
           most
           demure
           and
           sanctified
           Countenance
           ;
           yet
           't
           is
           plain
           that
           the
           only
           Foundation
           of
           it
           was
           baseness
           and
           ill
           Nature
           ;
           and
           since
           thus
           it
           hath
           been
           ,
           thus
           it
           may
           be
           again
           :
           For
           in
           all
           dissenting
           Religions
           ,
           such
           as
           the
           Pharisees
           was
           ,
           there
           is
           something
           very
           grateful
           to
           proud
           and
           untractable
           Natures
           :
           't
           is
           a
           mighty
           gratification
           to
           our
           Pride
           to
           Dissent
           and
           be
           Singular
           in
           our
           Opinion
           and
           Practises
           ,
           because
           it
           looks
           as
           if
           we
           were
           wiser
           than
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           it
           wonderfully
           tickles
           a
           cross-grain'd
           surly
           Nature
           to
           be
           opposite
           in
           Opinion
           to
           that
           which
           is
           uppermost
           :
           And
           therefore
           ,
           before
           you
           side
           with
           any
           Party
           
           that
           advances
           a
           Pretence
           of
           Religion
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           it
           concerns
           you
           strictly
           to
           observe
           whether
           in
           their
           ordinary
           Conversation
           they
           are
           Modest
           and
           Gentle
           ,
           Humble
           and
           easily
           to
           be
           Intreated
           ;
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           you
           may
           justly
           conclude
           that
           their
           Religion
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           True
           or
           False
           ,
           is
           founded
           in
           their
           Reason
           and
           Conscience
           .
           But
           if
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           you
           perceive
           in
           them
           a
           Fierce
           ,
           Proud
           ,
           Froward
           ,
           and
           Inflexible
           Nature
           ;
           if
           in
           their
           ordinary
           Converses
           they
           are
           Cross
           and
           Unsociable
           ;
           if
           they
           affect
           Contention
           in
           the
           Neighbourhoods
           and
           Societies
           wherein
           they
           are
           ingaged
           ,
           and
           are
           hot
           and
           impatient
           of
           Contradiction
           :
           you
           may
           without
           breach
           of
           Charity
           conclude
           ,
           that
           their
           Dissent
           proceeds
           not
           so
           much
           from
           the
           Convictions
           of
           their
           Reason
           ,
           as
           from
           the
           Pride
           and
           Crossness
           of
           their
           Humour
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           wherever
           you
           find
           such
           as
           these
           contending
           with
           the
           Government
           ;
           as
           you
           would
           not
           be
           made
           the
           Tools
           of
           their
           Perverseness
           ,
           stand
           off
           ,
           and
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           with
           them
           .
           For
           when
           Men
           have
           the
           Seeds
           of
           Sedition
           in
           their
           Natures
           ,
           they
           are
           thereby
           inclined
           to
           entertain
           Dissents
           from
           the
           established
           Religion
           ,
           meerly
           because
           those
           Dissents
           are
           opposite
           to
           the
           Government
           ;
           and
           though
           ,
           if
           the
           Principles
           of
           their
           Dissent
           are
           ill
           ,
           they
           will
           the
           more
           inflame
           their
           ill
           Nature
           against
           the
           Government
           ;
           yet
           their
           ill
           Nature
           which
           tempted
           them
           to
           espouse
           those
           Principles
           ,
           would
           have
           rendered
           them
           untractable
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           
           whether
           they
           had
           espoused
           them
           or
           no.
           And
           thus
           ,
           with
           all
           Plainness
           and
           Integrity
           ,
           I
           have
           indeavoured
           to
           Characterize
           those
           that
           are
           given
           to
           Change
           ,
           that
           so
           honest
           Men
           may
           know
           them
           when
           they
           see
           them
           ,
           and
           avoid
           them
           :
           And
           if
           herein
           I
           have
           Reflected
           upon
           any
           ill
           Men
           ,
           or
           ill
           Party
           of
           Men
           ;
           it
           was
           with
           no
           other
           Design
           ,
           but
           to
           warn
           others
           from
           Intermingling
           with
           them
           ;
           and
           surely
           ,
           to
           Admonish
           Men
           of
           a
           Danger
           that
           threatens
           Ruine
           both
           to
           their
           Souls
           and
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           shew
           them
           the
           Way
           to
           Peace
           ,
           Security
           ,
           and
           Happiness
           ,
           is
           such
           a
           friendly
           Office
           as
           can
           give
           Offence
           to
           none
           but
           such
           as
           are
           resolved
           never
           to
           be
           Honester
           or
           Wiser
           .
           I
           confess
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Offices
           that
           belong
           to
           a
           Preacher
           ,
           I
           am
           naturally
           the
           most
           averse
           to
           that
           of
           Reprehension
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           love
           to
           expose
           Mens
           Faults
           ,
           to
           probe
           and
           rake
           into
           their
           Sores
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           not
           only
           my
           Charity
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           but
           the
           Indisposition
           of
           my
           Nature
           to
           find
           Fault
           ,
           that
           makes
           me
           wish
           that
           all
           Men
           were
           so
           good
           as
           to
           need
           no
           Reprehension
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           might
           have
           nothing
           to
           do
           ,
           but
           to
           praise
           and
           incourage
           them
           ,
           to
           excite
           them
           to
           go
           on
           with
           the
           Comforts
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           just
           Applauses
           of
           well
           doing
           .
           But
           alass
           ,
           we
           live
           in
           an
           Age
           would
           make
           a
           Stone
           speak
           ,
           and
           force
           any
           honest
           Man
           in
           despite
           of
           all
           the
           Candor
           and
           Modesty
           of
           his
           Nature
           ,
           to
           Cry
           aloud
           against
           the
           fulsom
           Hypocrisies
           and
           Impostures
           that
           look
           through
           our
           most
           glorious
           Pretences
           to
           Religion
           :
           For
           what
           a
           
           nauseous
           Shame
           is
           it
           ,
           to
           see
           Men
           set
           up
           for
           Reformers
           ,
           and
           disturb
           a
           wise
           and
           excellent
           Establishment
           with
           endless
           Scruples
           about
           indifferent
           Things
           ,
           whose
           Consciences
           ,
           as
           they
           call
           'em
           ,
           are
           as
           tender
           as
           their
           Eyes
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           and
           yet
           as
           hard
           as
           their
           Foreheads
           on
           the
           other
           ;
           cannot
           indure
           the
           weight
           of
           an
           innocent
           Ceremony
           when
           their
           Obedience
           is
           required
           ;
           and
           yet
           to
           serve
           the
           Interest
           of
           a
           Faction
           ,
           can
           dance
           under
           loads
           of
           Perjury
           and
           Treason
           ?
           and
           yet
           ,
           God
           help
           us
           ,
           such
           as
           these
           have
           been
           the
           Captains
           of
           all
           our
           Factions
           against
           the
           Government
           ;
           Men
           of
           ill
           Lives
           and
           Atheistical
           Principles
           ,
           that
           pretend
           to
           Grace
           without
           Morality
           ,
           and
           to
           Religion
           without
           believing
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           yet
           make
           a
           mighty
           Noise
           against
           the
           Government
           for
           true
           Religion
           ,
           pure
           Ordinances
           ,
           and
           a
           thorough
           Reformation
           ,
           and
           therewithal
           have
           drawn
           in
           our
           discontented
           Sects
           into
           their
           Party
           ,
           and
           listed
           them
           Voluntiers
           to
           their
           Revenge
           and
           Ambition
           :
           And
           indeed
           ,
           while
           Men
           live
           in
           Dissent
           from
           the
           established
           Religion
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           but
           their
           Minds
           should
           be
           in
           some
           measure
           prejudiced
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           especially
           if
           they
           are
           restrained
           from
           propagating
           their
           Dissents
           ,
           as
           they
           must
           expect
           to
           be
           under
           all
           wise
           Governments
           ;
           for
           to
           be
           sure
           ,
           this
           Restriction
           will
           be
           accounted
           by
           them
           an
           injurious
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           't
           will
           be
           hard
           for
           them
           to
           refrain
           hating
           their
           Governours
           ,
           whilst
           they
           look
           upon
           them
           as
           their
           Persecutors
           ;
           and
           when
           once
           their
           
           Passions
           are
           armed
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           they
           are
           half
           way
           onwards
           to
           an
           open
           Rebellion
           :
           And
           't
           will
           be
           an
           easy
           matter
           for
           any
           Cashier'd
           Grandee
           ,
           or
           Politick
           Demagogue
           that
           has
           but
           Wit
           enough
           to
           Chafe
           their
           Discontents
           ,
           and
           Credit
           enough
           to
           head
           their
           Cause
           ,
           to
           form
           them
           into
           a
           resolute
           Faction
           against
           the
           Government
           ;
           so
           that
           it
           will
           be
           impossible
           ,
           either
           for
           the
           Government
           to
           be
           safe
           ,
           or
           for
           us
           to
           be
           secure
           from
           the
           Mischiefs
           of
           Faction
           ,
           whilst
           we
           affect
           to
           dissent
           from
           the
           established
           Religion
           .
           And
           therefore
           it
           concerns
           every
           Dissenter
           ,
           as
           he
           vallues
           his
           own
           Safety
           and
           Innocence
           ,
           to
           use
           all
           honest
           ways
           to
           satisfy
           his
           Conscience
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           established
           Church
           ,
           where
           he
           will
           not
           only
           be
           secured
           from
           those
           Disaffections
           to
           the
           Government
           ,
           which
           he
           is
           lyable
           to
           ,
           whilst
           he
           continues
           in
           any
           discountenanced
           Sect
           ;
           but
           also
           instituted
           in
           such
           firm
           Principles
           of
           Loyalty
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           follows
           ,
           will
           for
           ever
           secure
           him
           from
           ingaging
           in
           Factions
           :
           For
           this
           is
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           our
           Church
           expressed
           in
           the
           Homily
           of
           Obedience
           ,
           
             We
             may
             not
             in
             any
             wise
             withstand
             violently
             ,
             or
             rebel
             against
             the
             Rulers
             ,
             or
             make
             any
             Insurrection
             ,
             Sedition
             ,
             or
             Tumult
             ,
             either
             by
             force
             of
             Arms
             ,
             or
             otherwise
             ,
             against
             the
             Anointed
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             or
             any
             of
             his
             Officers
             ;
             but
             we
             must
             in
             such
             case
          
           (
           that
           is
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           commanded
           unlawful
           things
           )
           
             patiently
             suffer
             all
             Wrongs
             and
             Injuries
             ,
             referring
             the
             Judgment
             of
             our
             Case
             to
             God
             :
          
           
           And
           in
           this
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           her
           other
           Doctrines
           ,
           her
           Government
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           our
           Church
           doth
           exactly
           copy
           after
           the
           Primitive
           Christianity
           :
           If
           therefore
           we
           believe
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           our
           Consciences
           will
           never
           consent
           to
           our
           listing
           our selves
           against
           the
           Government
           ;
           but
           if
           instead
           of
           Believing
           it
           ,
           we
           openly
           Contradict
           and
           Oppose
           it
           ,
           as
           all
           those
           do
           ,
           who
           pretend
           Religion
           for
           their
           Faction
           ,
           we
           are
           so
           far
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           for
           Conformity
           to
           a
           Church
           consists
           not
           merely
           in
           frequenting
           its
           Prayers
           ,
           and
           Sermons
           ,
           and
           Sacraments
           ,
           and
           complying
           with
           its
           Rites
           and
           Discipline
           ,
           but
           also
           in
           believing
           its
           Doctrines
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           not
           openly
           Opposing
           and
           Contradicting
           them
           :
           But
           whosoever
           sides
           with
           a
           Faction
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           upon
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           ,
           doth
           thereby
           openly
           renounce
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           and
           becomes
           a
           profest
           Non-conformist
           ,
           how
           Conformable
           soever
           he
           may
           be
           in
           other
           particulars
           .
           So
           that
           tho
           there
           are
           too
           many
           Men
           ,
           who
           to
           credit
           their
           ill
           Designs
           against
           the
           Government
           ,
           shelter
           themselves
           under
           the
           Wings
           of
           the
           Church
           ;
           yet
           it
           's
           evident
           they
           are
           either
           Non-conformists
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           Conformists
           that
           act
           against
           their
           own
           Principles
           ,
           which
           is
           such
           a
           Fault
           as
           no
           Church
           can
           prevent
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           there
           is
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           Free-Will
           in
           the
           World
           :
           Wherefore
           ,
           as
           you
           would
           preserve
           your selves
           from
           those
           manisold
           Mischiefs
           that
           Faction
           draws
           after
           it
           ,
           do
           not
           found
           your
           Loyalty
           upon
           
           Humour
           ,
           or
           Fashion
           ,
           or
           Interest
           ,
           which
           are
           fickle
           and
           variable
           things
           ;
           but
           upon
           the
           Religious
           Principles
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           whereof
           you
           are
           Members
           ,
           which
           will
           keep
           us
           stedfast
           ,
           and
           immovable
           amidst
           all
           the
           Mutabilities
           of
           the
           World
           :
           For
           whilst
           you
           have
           no
           Principles
           to
           lead
           you
           ,
           and
           you
           reserve
           your selves
           to
           follow
           Fortune
           ,
           and
           the
           Turns
           of
           outward
           Affairs
           ;
           you
           will
           be
           shifting
           your selves
           upon
           every
           Change
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           very
           unscriptural
           Sense
           ,
           
             putting
             off
             the
             Old-man
             ,
             and
             putting
             on
             the
             New.
          
           And
           whilst
           you
           thus
           transform
           your selves
           into
           a
           Thousand
           several
           Shapes
           ,
           as
           you
           run
           through
           the
           still
           Changing
           Fashions
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           besides
           that
           it
           will
           expose
           ye
           of
           all
           sides
           to
           the
           Odious
           Character
           of
           Turn-Coats
           and
           Runagadoes
           that
           are
           constant
           to
           nothing
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Bosom
           Satyrs
           and
           secret
           up-braidings
           of
           your
           own
           Consciences
           :
           Besides
           this
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           it
           will
           Eternally
           perplex
           and
           intangle
           your
           Lives
           .
           For
           upon
           every
           new
           Alteration
           of
           Affairs
           ,
           you
           must
           act
           a
           new
           part
           ,
           and
           put
           on
           a
           new
           Garb
           of
           Conversation
           :
           And
           whilst
           you
           thus
           shift
           sides
           upon
           every
           turn
           ,
           new
           shape
           your
           Humours
           ,
           and
           jump
           from
           one
           extreme
           to
           another
           ;
           you
           will
           be
           always
           doing
           violence
           to
           your
           Natures
           ,
           because
           you
           will
           act
           no
           part
           long
           enough
           ,
           to
           render
           any
           natural
           and
           easie
           to
           ye
           ;
           so
           that
           when
           all
           is
           done
           ,
           the
           easiest
           way
           of
           Living
           ,
           is
           to
           Live
           honestly
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           to
           set
           down
           honest
           Principles
           in
           our
           Minds
           ,
           and
           
           then
           resolve
           to
           follow
           them
           through
           all
           Events
           ;
           so
           shall
           we
           live
           Consistently
           with
           our selves
           ,
           and
           whatsoever
           happens
           from
           without
           ,
           be
           always
           the
           same
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           Conditions
           still
           know
           where
           to
           find
           our selves
           ;
           because
           we
           shall
           always
           act
           upon
           the
           same
           Principles
           ,
           and
           so
           there
           will
           be
           no
           Cross
           Deliberations
           in
           our
           Minds
           ,
           no
           Mazes
           or
           Intrigues
           in
           our
           Lives
           ,
           no
           By-ways
           of
           Actions
           upon
           〈◊〉
           Emergencies
           ;
           but
           whatsoever
           happen
           we
           shall
           still
           be
           going
           on
           through
           the
           same
           Path
           towards
           the
           same
           end
           ,
           and
           whatsoever
           befalls
           us
           from
           without
           ,
           whether
           it
           Rains
           or
           Shines
           ,
           Prove
           Calm
           ,
           or
           Tempestuous
           ,
           we
           shall
           never
           be
           at
           a
           loss
           how
           to
           behave
           our selves
           ,
           but
           our
           Principles
           will
           still
           Chalk
           us
           out
           the
           way
           we
           are
           to
           walk
           in
           ;
           and
           though
           in
           following
           them
           we
           may
           sometimes
           indanger
           our
           worldly
           Interest
           ,
           and
           fall
           under
           the
           disgrace
           of
           a
           Rable
           and
           the
           Persecutions
           of
           a
           prevailing
           Faction
           :
           Yet
           our
           very
           Enemies
           will
           be
           forc't
           to
           revere
           and
           honour
           us
           ,
           to
           acknowledge
           that
           we
           are
           Constant
           and
           brave
           honest
           ,
           and
           resign'd
           to
           our
           own
           Principles
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           better
           than
           that
           ,
           we
           shall
           revere
           our selves
           ,
           and
           be
           supported
           under
           our
           Sufferings
           with
           the
           Applauses
           of
           our
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           the
           Hopes
           of
           a
           Glorious
           Immortality
           ;
           which
           will
           render
           our
           Condition
           not
           only
           Tolerable
           in
           it self
           ,
           but
           much
           more
           desirable
           than
           the
           Crowns
           and
           Triumphs
           of
           prosperous
           Hypocrites
           ;
           and
           which
           is
           best
           of
           all
           ,
           God
           himself
           
           will
           Honour
           us
           before
           Angels
           and
           Saints
           ,
           and
           plead
           our
           Cause
           ,
           and
           Vindicate
           our
           Innocence
           ,
           and
           reward
           our
           Sufferings
           for
           Righteousness
           sake
           ;
           thus
           ,
           by
           persuing
           the
           honest
           Principles
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           we
           shall
           be
           inviolably
           secur'd
           against
           all
           the
           mischiefs
           of
           Faction
           ,
           and
           immovably
           confirmed
           in
           our
           Loyalty
           ,
           both
           to
           God
           and
           the
           King
           ,
           which
           in
           all
           Probability
           will
           render
           our
           Lives
           secure
           and
           easie
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           sure
           Everlastingly
           happy
           in
           the
           World
           to
           come
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .