A sermon preached before the King & Queen at White-Hall, on Christmas-Day, 1689 by the Right Reverend Father in God, Gilbert, Lord Bishop of Sarum.
         Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
      
       
         
           1690
        
      
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             A sermon preached before the King & Queen at White-Hall, on Christmas-Day, 1689 by the Right Reverend Father in God, Gilbert, Lord Bishop of Sarum.
             Burnet, Gilbert, 1643-1715.
          
           [4], 36 p.
           
             Printed for Richard Chiswell ...,
             London :
             1690.
          
           
             Advertisement: p. 36.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Bible. -- N.T. -- Timothy, 1st, III, 16 -- Sermons.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
           Christmas sermons.
        
      
    
     
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           PRINTED
           By
           Their
           Majesties
           Special
           Command
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           KING
           &
           QUEEN
           ,
           At
           WHITE-HALL
           ,
           ON
           CHRISTMAS-DAY
           ,
           1689.
           
        
         
           By
           the
           Right
           Reverend
           Father
           in
           God
           ,
           GILBERT
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           SARUM
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Richard
             Thiswell
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           
             Paul's
             Church-Yard
          
           ,
           MDC
           ●XC
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           BISHOP
           of
           SALISBURY's
        
         
           Sermon
           before
           the
           KING
           and
           QUEEN
           ON
           CHRISTMAS-DAY
           ,
           1689.
           
        
         
         
         
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           KING
           and
           QUEEN
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             1
             TIM
             .
             III.
             VER
             .
             16.
             
          
           
             And
             without
             controversie
             ,
             great
             is
             the
             mystery
             of
             godliness
             :
             God
             was
             manifest
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
             justified
             in
             the
             spirit
             ,
             seen
             of
             Angels
             ,
             preached
             unto
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
             believed
             on
             in
             the
             world
             ,
             and
             receive
             up
             into
             glory
             .
          
        
         
           THE
           most
           venerable
           part
           of
           Religion
           consists
           in
           the
           Mysteries
           it
           contains
           :
           and
           the
           more
           sacred
           and
           sublime
           that
           these
           are
           ,
           the
           Religion
           to
           which
           they
           belong
           ,
           becomes
           thereby
           so
           much
           the
           more
           August
           .
           The
           minds
           of
           Men
           are
           subject
           to
           two
           extreams
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           Mysteries
           :
           some
           have
           such
           a
           liking
           for
           every
           thing
           that
           pretends
           to
           Mystery
           ,
           that
           this
           alone
           serves
           to
           recommend
           all
           things
           to
           
           them
           ;
           and
           as
           if
           Religion
           were
           designed
           to
           give
           perpetual
           affronts
           to
           Reason
           ,
           they
           despise
           things
           that
           are
           intelligible
           ,
           and
           think
           it
           is
           a
           Character
           of
           a
           mean
           and
           contemptible
           Religion
           ,
           if
           it
           is
           not
           full
           of
           unaccountable
           things
           :
           and
           they
           seem
           to
           be
           so
           taken
           with
           a
           sickness
           after
           Mystery
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           absurd
           that
           any
           Doctrines
           are
           ,
           they
           like
           them
           the
           better
           :
           this
           serving
           to
           gild
           or
           sweeten
           the
           Pill
           :
           and
           perhaps
           they
           think
           that
           a
           fond
           credulity
           will
           atone
           for
           all
           other
           faults
           ;
           as
           if
           an
           easiness
           of
           believing
           might
           serve
           to
           compound
           for
           the
           most
           hainous
           sins
           .
           But
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           some
           have
           such
           thoughts
           of
           themselves
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           force
           and
           compass
           of
           their
           own
           Reasons
           ,
           that
           they
           think
           it
           an
           unreasonable
           imposing
           on
           them
           to
           expect
           that
           they
           should
           believe
           any
           thing
           which
           they
           cannot
           quite
           comprehend
           .
        
         
           The
           Mean
           between
           these
           ,
           is
           to
           fix
           such
           sure
           measures
           in
           this
           matter
           as
           may
           preserve
           us
           both
           from
           a
           tameness
           ,
           that
           may
           expose
           us
           to
           be
           an
           easie
           Prey
           to
           every
           one
           that
           will
           force
           perswasions
           on
           us
           ,
           with
           this
           bugbear
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           that
           therefore
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           believed
           ,
           even
           before
           they
           are
           examined
           :
           and
           also
           on
           the
           other
           hand
           ,
           from
           such
           a
           swelling
           of
           pride
           ,
           as
           to
           reject
           every
           
           thing
           how
           solemnly
           soever
           attested
           ,
           only
           because
           it
           does
           not
           agree
           with
           our
           Notions
           .
           We
           have
           St.
           Paul
           here
           in
           my
           Text
           concluding
           a
           charge
           that
           he
           had
           given
           to
           Timothy
           ,
           and
           in
           him
           to
           all
           that
           should
           minister
           in
           
             holy
             things
          
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           from
           the
           Rules
           here
           set
           him
           ,
           learn
           how
           he
           ought
           to
           behave
           himself
           in
           the
           
             Church
             of
             God
          
           :
           for
           since
           the
           World
           that
           is
           ever
           apt
           to
           be
           implicit
           in
           its
           thoughts
           of
           Religion
           ,
           will
           judge
           of
           that
           which
           they
           do
           not
           know
           ,
           nor
           understand
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           from
           that
           which
           they
           do
           see
           and
           know
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           lives
           of
           those
           who
           do
           teach
           and
           profess
           it
           ;
           and
           since
           the
           Majesty
           that
           is
           in
           some
           Mysteries
           requires
           a
           suitable
           authority
           and
           gravity
           in
           those
           that
           handle
           and
           propose
           them
           ;
           therefore
           the
           obligation
           that
           lies
           on
           Church-men
           to
           a
           great
           exactness
           of
           deportment
           ,
           appears
           particularly
           from
           this
           ,
           That
           the
           Mystery
           of
           their
           Religion
           is
           
             without
             controversie
             great
          
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           likewise
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             godliness
          
           that
           leads
           to
           Right
           thoughts
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           a
           way
           of
           worshipping
           him
           ,
           that
           is
           suitable
           to
           his
           Nature
           and
           Attributes
           :
           both
           which
           considerations
           agree
           to
           point
           out
           this
           to
           us
           ,
           That
           the
           Bishops
           and
           Pastors
           of
           the
           Church
           ought
           to
           be
           Men
           of
           a
           sublime
           pitch
           of
           mind
           ,
           and
           of
           an
           unaffected
           strictness
           of
           holiness
           .
        
         
         
           In
           speaking
           to
           these
           words
           I
           shall
           consider
           ,
        
         
           
             I.
             What
             is
             the
             true
             and
             strict
             Notion
             of
             a
             Mystery
             in
             general
             .
          
           
             II.
             What
             reason
             there
             may
             be
             for
             us
             to
             believe
             such
             Mysteries
             as
             may
             be
             revealed
             to
             us
             by
             God.
             
          
           
             III.
             How
             credible
             the
             Mysteries
             mentioned
             in
             my
             Text
             are
             in
             themselves
             .
          
           
             IV.
             What
             reason
             we
             have
             offered
             to
             us
             that
             obliges
             us
             to
             believe
             them
             .
          
           
             V.
             In
             what
             sense
             this
             is
             a
             
               Mystery
               of
               godliness
            
             .
          
        
         
           I.
           Mystery
           in
           its
           common
           and
           general
           Notion
           ,
           is
           a
           
             Sacred
             Secret
          
           :
           and
           it
           was
           chiefly
           applied
           by
           the
           Heathens
           who
           first
           used
           the
           word
           ,
           to
           those
           Rites
           and
           Ceremonies
           by
           which
           Men
           were
           either
           initiated
           into
           Religion
           ,
           or
           reconciled
           to
           the
           Deity
           :
           and
           the
           performance
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           had
           in
           it
           many
           secrets
           which
           the
           Priests
           were
           careful
           enough
           to
           conceal
           ,
           and
           thereby
           to
           encrease
           their
           value
           .
           Among
           the
           Romans
           it
           was
           one
           of
           the
           Methods
           by
           which
           the
           People
           were
           managed
           to
           make
           them
           believe
           that
           publick
           misfortunes
           rise
           from
           some
           error
           in
           the
           performance
           of
           the
           service
           that
           they
           paid
           their
           Gods.
           A
           Deputation
           of
           fifteen
           Men
           who
           were
           
           of
           the
           most
           intire
           confidence
           was
           appointed
           on
           great
           occasions
           ;
           to
           examine
           the
           Rituals
           of
           their
           Religion
           ;
           and
           these
           either
           found
           or
           pretended
           they
           had
           found
           out
           ,
           both
           the
           error
           that
           had
           been
           committed
           ,
           and
           the
           proper
           Remedy
           :
           upon
           which
           it
           was
           given
           out
           ,
           that
           the
           offended
           Deity
           was
           pacified
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           the
           People
           that
           were
           out
           of
           heart
           ,
           took
           new
           courage
           ;
           and
           this
           to
           be
           sure
           ,
           contributed
           not
           a
           little
           to
           the
           procuring
           them
           better
           Success
           .
           From
           this
           common
           use
           of
           the
           Term
           Mystery
           ,
           it
           is
           applied
           in
           some
           places
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           to
           some
           of
           the
           Rites
           and
           Doctrines
           of
           Christians
           .
        
         
           Marriage
           is
           said
           to
           be
           a
           Mystery
           ,
           not
           as
           if
           there
           were
           any
           thing
           Mysterious
           in
           that
           Compact
           ,
           which
           is
           founded
           on
           the
           Laws
           of
           Nature
           and
           Society
           :
           but
           St.
           Paul
           had
           been
           shewing
           the
           reciprocal
           tie
           that
           is
           between
           the
           Man
           and
           the
           Wife
           ;
           by
           which
           it
           appears
           that
           a
           Man
           can
           no
           more
           have
           two
           Wives
           ,
           than
           a
           Wife
           have
           two
           Husbands
           :
           and
           upon
           that
           he
           says
           ,
           That
           in
           
           this
           lay
           a
           Mystery
           relating
           to
           Christ
           and
           the
           Church
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           a
           mystical
           Argument
           to
           prove
           that
           the
           Gentiles
           were
           to
           be
           brought
           to
           equal
           priviledges
           in
           the
           Dispensation
           of
           the
           Messias
           with
           the
           Iews
           :
           for
           the
           Prophecies
           having
           expressed
           the
           Union
           of
           God
           with
           Mankind
           ,
           in
           the
           Messias
           ,
           under
           the
           figure
           of
           a
           Marriage
           ,
           then
           it
           follows
           according
           
           to
           the
           Allegory
           of
           a
           Marriage
           ,
           that
           all
           must
           be
           called
           to
           him
           in
           an
           equality
           of
           priviledge
           and
           dignity
           ;
           and
           not
           as
           the
           Iews
           imagined
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           to
           have
           many
           Priviledges
           under
           the
           Messias
           above
           the
           Gentiles
           ,
           who
           were
           only
           to
           have
           a
           second
           share
           after
           them
           .
           Now
           in
           the
           Mystical
           way
           of
           arguing
           which
           was
           in
           use
           among
           the
           Iews
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           it
           was
           no
           ill
           way
           to
           convince
           them
           ,
           to
           shew
           that
           the
           whole
           Church
           was
           to
           come
           as
           one
           Wife
           under
           the
           same
           Priviledges
           :
           otherwise
           a
           disparity
           in
           that
           ,
           some
           having
           more
           and
           some
           fewer
           ,
           looked
           like
           the
           State
           of
           Polygamy
           ,
           or
           Concubinate
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           a
           single
           Marriage
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           return
           from
           this
           digression
           :
           The
           Sacraments
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           came
           to
           be
           also
           called
           Mysteries
           ,
           because
           in
           these
           ,
           Men
           were
           initiated
           and
           confirmed
           in
           their
           Religion
           ;
           yet
           not
           by
           any
           secret
           methods
           that
           Priests
           only
           might
           know
           ,
           but
           in
           actions
           that
           were
           plain
           ,
           simple
           and
           significative
           .
        
         
           This
           great
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           mentioned
           in
           my
           Text
           ,
           of
           God's
           dwelling
           among
           us
           in
           flesh
           ,
           is
           likewise
           called
           a
           Mystery
           ,
           as
           containing
           in
           it
           ,
           not
           any
           secret
           which
           was
           too
           sacred
           to
           be
           trusted
           to
           Lay-hands
           ,
           that
           Priests
           only
           might
           know
           ;
           but
           carrying
           in
           it
           a
           sublime
           discovery
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Person
           and
           Conception
           of
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
         
           II.
           And
           this
           leads
           me
           to
           the
           second
           point
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           shew
           ,
           That
           if
           any
           such
           extraordinary
           discovery
           is
           made
           ,
           we
           ought
           not
           thereupon
           to
           be
           prejudiced
           against
           it
           ,
           because
           it
           contains
           some
           things
           ,
           of
           which
           we
           can
           form
           no
           clear
           and
           distinct
           Notion
           .
           It
           seems
           indeed
           at
           first
           view
           a
           hard
           imposition
           on
           us
           ,
           to
           require
           us
           to
           believe
           that
           of
           which
           we
           can
           form
           no
           thought
           at
           all
           ,
           and
           which
           by
           consequence
           is
           nothing
           to
           us
           .
           It
           seems
           also
           unreasonable
           to
           think
           that
           God
           has
           given
           us
           Faculties
           which
           yet
           we
           must
           contradict
           and
           over-rule
           in
           matters
           of
           Religion
           .
           But
           all
           this
           ,
           how
           much
           soever
           it
           may
           be
           enlarged
           ,
           and
           how
           specious
           soever
           it
           may
           appear
           ,
           will
           have
           less
           force
           when
           it
           is
           considered
           ,
           That
           really
           our
           Faculties
           are
           so
           defective
           ,
           that
           we
           do
           not
           penetrate
           into
           the
           Essence
           of
           any
           one
           thing
           what
           soever
           ;
           and
           therefore
           tho'we
           can
           never
           be
           obliged
           to
           believe
           any
           thing
           that
           is
           contrary
           to
           our
           Faculties
           and
           to
           our
           simplest
           Conceptions
           ,
           yet
           we
           may
           be
           obliged
           to
           believe
           things
           in
           which
           we
           find
           Difficulties
           ,
           through
           which
           we
           cannot
           make
           our
           way
           .
        
         
           The
           notions
           of
           
             Time
             ,
             Space
          
           and
           Motion
           ,
           are
           entangled
           with
           inextricable
           difficulties
           ;
           the
           continuity
           of
           Matter
           ,
           or
           the
           admitting
           of
           Vacuities
           in
           it
           ,
           are
           subject
           to
           no
           less
           exceptions
           ;
           but
           these
           are
           matters
           of
           a
           more
           remote
           speculation
           :
           That
           which
           is
           more
           sensible
           to
           every
           one
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           there
           are
           in
           
           us
           thinking
           Beings
           ,
           which
           we
           call
           Souls
           ,
           that
           are
           united
           to
           Beings
           of
           a
           quite
           different
           nature
           ,
           which
           are
           Bodies
           ,
           in
           so
           strange
           a
           manner
           ,
           that
           the
           acts
           of
           the
           Mind
           give
           the
           Body
           a
           great
           variety
           of
           motions
           :
           We
           will
           ,
           we
           reason
           ,
           we
           
             remember
             ,
             speak
          
           ,
           or
           move
           ,
           and
           immediately
           our
           animal
           Spirits
           go
           into
           the
           Chanels
           into
           which
           they
           are
           directed
           ,
           without
           mistaking
           their
           Way
           or
           their
           Errand
           .
           Now
           ,
           how
           the
           acts
           of
           a
           Mind
           should
           give
           ,
           or
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           direct
           the
           motion
           of
           Matter
           ,
           is
           as
           unconceivable
           to
           us
           ,
           as
           how
           the
           motions
           of
           Matter
           should
           give
           a
           Mind
           Pain
           or
           Joy
           ;
           yet
           after
           all
           ,
           in
           fact
           we
           find
           it
           is
           so
           ,
           though
           we
           can
           give
           our selves
           no
           reasonable
           account
           how
           it
           should
           be
           so
           .
           Indeed
           ,
           if
           we
           examin
           Memory
           alone
           ,
           it
           affords
           us
           matter
           enough
           for
           wonder
           ;
           for
           it
           is
           not
           conceivable
           ,
           how
           we
           should
           have
           lodged
           in
           our
           Brain
           the
           Figures
           of
           all
           words
           ,
           persons
           ,
           and
           things
           ,
           which
           we
           can
           call
           up
           when
           we
           please
           ,
           and
           so
           quick
           as
           words
           come
           into
           our
           Mouths
           when
           we
           speak
           :
           Now
           ,
           what
           the
           Nature
           ,
           the
           Variety
           ,
           and
           Order
           of
           all
           these
           Figures
           should
           be
           ,
           is
           that
           which
           we
           can
           as
           little
           understand
           ,
           as
           how
           the
           Soul
           should
           read
           them
           ,
           (
           if
           I
           may
           so
           speak
           )
           and
           be
           able
           to
           do
           nothing
           without
           them
           .
           Thus
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           thing
           which
           of
           all
           others
           we
           should
           be
           like
           to
           understand
           best
           ,
           I
           mean
           our
           own
           Souls
           dwelling
           in
           our
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           acting
           upon
           them
           ,
           we
           plainly
           
           perceive
           ,
           that
           a
           thing
           may
           be
           true
           ,
           though
           at
           the
           same
           time
           all
           the
           notions
           that
           we
           can
           form
           of
           it
           do
           present
           to
           us
           difficulties
           concerning
           it
           ,
           which
           we
           cannot
           overcome
           .
        
         
           It
           will
           then
           be
           no
           prejudice
           against
           Religion
           ,
           if
           it
           should
           offer
           some
           things
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           can
           as
           little
           reconcile
           to
           our
           own
           notions
           ,
           as
           we
           can
           do
           ,
           that
           of
           our
           Souls
           lodging
           in
           our
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           governing
           them
           .
           It
           seems
           indeed
           to
           be
           very
           unconceivable
           ,
           how
           the
           same
           Person
           should
           be
           both
           God
           and
           Man
           ;
           but
           it
           is
           not
           a
           whit
           more
           conceivable
           ,
           how
           the
           same
           Man
           should
           consist
           both
           of
           Body
           and
           Soul
           ,
           so
           united
           in
           one
           ,
           that
           the
           Properties
           of
           both
           should
           belong
           to
           the
           same
           man
           ,
           who
           from
           the
           characters
           of
           his
           Mind
           ,
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           
             just
             ,
             wise
          
           ,
           and
           good
           ;
           and
           from
           the
           characters
           of
           his
           Body
           ,
           may
           be
           said
           to
           be
           
             tall
             ,
             fair
          
           ,
           or
           sickly
           .
           So
           that
           though
           these
           ,
           strictly
           speaking
           ,
           belong
           only
           to
           one
           part
           of
           a
           Man
           ;
           yet
           the
           denomination
           from
           each
           of
           them
           ,
           goes
           to
           the
           whole
           .
        
         
           It
           cannot
           be
           denied
           ,
           that
           our
           Souls
           are
           united
           to
           our
           Bodies
           ,
           though
           we
           do
           not
           conceive
           how
           it
           should
           be
           so
           ;
           for
           we
           must
           consider
           ,
           that
           all
           that
           which
           is
           imported
           by
           this
           Union
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           our
           Bodies
           being
           put
           and
           kept
           in
           such
           a
           mechanical
           texture
           and
           disposition
           ,
           our
           Souls
           act
           upon
           and
           govern
           them
           ,
           both
           in
           their
           vital
           and
           their
           free
           or
           rational
           Operations
           :
           And
           this
           Government
           
           is
           called
           the
           
             Union
             of
             our
             Soul
             and
             Body
          
           ;
           which
           is
           no
           other
           than
           the
           Bodies
           being
           put
           and
           kept
           in
           such
           a
           Mechanical
           State
           ,
           that
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           Animal
           Spirits
           runs
           regularly
           through
           it
           ,
           which
           way
           soever
           the
           Acts
           of
           the
           Mind
           do
           determine
           and
           direct
           it
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           structure
           of
           the
           Body
           is
           so
           disordered
           ,
           that
           the
           animal
           Spirits
           do
           their
           work
           imperfectly
           ,
           then
           Pain
           and
           Sickness
           follow
           upon
           it
           ;
           but
           when
           they
           can
           do
           nothing
           ,
           then
           Death
           comes
           ,
           the
           Body
           being
           no
           longer
           in
           a
           disposition
           to
           be
           subordinate
           to
           the
           Mind
           .
           By
           vertue
           of
           this
           Union
           ,
           the
           Mind
           receives
           likewise
           many
           Sensations
           from
           the
           Body
           .
           All
           which
           lead
           us
           very
           near
           the
           forming
           somewhat
           like
           a
           notion
           of
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           
             Two
             Natures
          
           in
           Christ.
           For
           ,
           if
           a
           Body
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           different
           sort
           of
           Beings
           from
           the
           Soul
           ,
           is
           capable
           of
           being
           brought
           under
           such
           an
           immediate
           and
           constant
           direction
           from
           the
           Mind
           ,
           as
           we
           see
           it
           is
           in
           our selves
           ;
           then
           it
           is
           not
           at
           all
           absurd
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           Soul
           of
           a
           man
           should
           be
           brought
           under
           an
           immediate
           and
           constant
           actuation
           from
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           which
           may
           as
           well
           denominate
           God
           and
           Man
           to
           be
           one
           ,
           as
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Soul
           and
           Body
           denominates
           the
           Compound
           of
           both
           to
           be
           one
           Man
           :
           and
           as
           the
           whole
           Man
           has
           the
           Attributes
           both
           of
           Soul
           and
           Body
           given
           to
           him
           ,
           so
           the
           whole
           in
           our
           
           Saviour
           may
           also
           have
           the
           Attributes
           both
           of
           God
           and
           Man
           given
           to
           him
           .
           And
           this
           is
           as
           true
           an
           Union
           ,
           as
           is
           that
           between
           Soul
           and
           Body
           ;
           only
           whereas
           the
           Body
           gives
           sensations
           of
           Pain
           and
           Pleasure
           to
           the
           Mind
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           Union
           between
           them
           ,
           the
           perfection
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           is
           such
           ,
           that
           it
           can
           receive
           no
           reciprocal
           Returns
           from
           the
           Humane
           Nature
           ;
           though
           it
           does
           immediately
           and
           constantly
           act
           upon
           and
           conduct
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           do
           not
           pretend
           ,
           that
           this
           does
           fully
           explain
           the
           Mystery
           ,
           but
           it
           brings
           it
           nearer
           to
           our
           Thoughts
           :
           So
           that
           if
           it
           does
           not
           help
           us
           to
           comprehend
           it
           clearly
           ,
           yet
           it
           carries
           us
           so
           far
           toward
           it
           ,
           that
           we
           perceive
           that
           it
           is
           not
           impossible
           :
           and
           that
           is
           all
           which
           is
           at
           present
           offered
           at
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           somewhat
           in
           the
           Old
           Testament
           ,
           that
           will
           also
           contribute
           to
           give
           us
           a
           more
           distinct
           notion
           of
           this
           Mystery
           .
           There
           was
           a
           Mass
           of
           shining
           Matter
           that
           hovered
           over
           the
           Cherubims
           ,
           which
           was
           wrapped
           about
           with
           a
           Cloud
           ;
           and
           it
           sometimes
           broke
           through
           it
           ,
           and
           gave
           Answers
           to
           the
           Israelites
           ,
           when
           they
           consulted
           
           God
           by
           the
           High-Priests
           .
           This
           had
           at
           first
           appeared
           to
           the
           whole
           Nation
           ,
           in
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           and
           rested
           on
           the
           top
           of
           the
           Tabernacle
           ,
           and
           went
           before
           them
           in
           their
           March
           ,
           and
           was
           the
           
           lasting
           character
           of
           God's
           Presence
           among
           them
           .
           It
           was
           the
           standing
           Miracle
           of
           their
           Religion
           ,
           which
           none
           of
           their
           Idolatrous
           Kings
           could
           ever
           disprove
           ;
           and
           it
           continued
           among
           them
           till
           their
           Temple
           was
           destroyed
           by
           the
           Babylonians
           .
           Now
           this
           Cloud
           was
           called
           
             God's
             Face
          
           ,
           his
           Glory
           ,
           and
           
             the
             Light
             of
             his
             Countenance
          
           ,
           and
           even
           God
           
           himself
           .
           
             O
             thou
             that
             dwellest
             between
             the
             Cherubims
             ,
             shew
             thy self
             ,
             and
             shine
             forth
             .
          
           And
           yet
           never
           was
           there
           any
           thing
           more
           carefully
           managed
           ,
           than
           the
           diverting
           that
           People
           from
           every
           step
           that
           might
           have
           any
           tendency
           to
           Idolatry
           .
           So
           the
           true
           account
           of
           this
           Cloud
           's
           being
           so
           spoken
           of
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           this
           Mass
           of
           pure
           and
           bright
           matter
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           thicker
           Cloud
           that
           was
           folded
           about
           it
           ,
           must
           have
           been
           quickly
           dissipated
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Laws
           of
           Motion
           ,
           all
           Flame
           being
           quickly
           gone
           ,
           if
           not
           fed
           by
           new
           Fewel
           ;
           but
           that
           God
           by
           an
           act
           of
           his
           Power
           ;
           kept
           it
           constantly
           in
           that
           fixed
           state
           ,
           and
           did
           sometimes
           make
           it
           break
           through
           the
           Cloud
           to
           declare
           his
           mind
           to
           his
           People
           that
           consulted
           him
           .
           So
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           constant
           impression
           that
           God
           made
           upon
           that
           matter
           ,
           he
           was
           said
           to
           be
           in
           it
           ;
           and
           by
           vertue
           of
           that
           ,
           the
           Cloud
           is
           said
           to
           be
           GOD.
           
        
         
         
           Now
           it
           was
           prophesied
           ,
           that
           the
           Glory
           of
           the
           second
           Temple
           should
           be
           
             greater
             than
             the
             Glory
             of
          
           
           
             the
             first
          
           ;
           and
           this
           Cloud
           ,
           in
           which
           God
           was
           present
           ,
           being
           the
           proper
           Glory
           of
           the
           first
           ,
           and
           it
           being
           wanting
           in
           the
           second
           ,
           a
           higher
           degree
           of
           Glory
           was
           God's
           not
           only
           acting
           upon
           ,
           and
           appearing
           in
           a
           Mass
           of
           dead
           matter
           ;
           but
           his
           acting
           upon
           and
           appearing
           in
           animated
           matter
           ▪
           in
           a
           Man
           that
           had
           all
           the
           Principles
           and
           Ingredients
           of
           our
           Nature
           in
           him
           .
           And
           thus
           this
           Mystery
           that
           
             God
             was
             manifest
             in
             the
             flesh
             ,
          
           has
           nothing
           in
           it
           that
           can
           render
           it
           any
           way
           Incredible
           ,
           either
           from
           the
           Principles
           of
           Reason
           or
           Philosophy
           ,
           or
           from
           the
           discoveries
           that
           were
           made
           concerning
           God
           in
           the
           
             Old
             Testament
          
           .
        
         
           As
           for
           another
           part
           of
           this
           Mystery
           ,
           that
           our
           Saviour
           was
           born
           of
           a
           Virgin
           ,
           that
           carries
           not
           any
           thing
           in
           it
           ,
           which
           reason
           shews
           to
           be
           absurd
           or
           impossible
           .
           For
           all
           matter
           being
           uniform
           ,
           and
           only
           different
           by
           the
           figure
           and
           motion
           into
           which
           it
           is
           put
           ,
           as
           God
           did
           upon
           the
           first
           creation
           of
           matter
           ,
           put
           it
           into
           what
           Form
           he
           pleased
           ,
           he
           can
           still
           put
           any
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           into
           what
           shape
           or
           motion
           he
           intends
           to
           Impress
           upon
           it
           :
           so
           that
           there
           is
           no
           difficulty
           in
           apprehending
           how
           God
           could
           have
           formed
           the
           first
           Principles
           of
           our
           Saviour's
           Body
           in
           the
           Virgin.
           And
           it
           being
           necessary
           that
           the
           Author
           of
           so
           
           holy
           a
           Religion
           should
           be
           perfectly
           pure
           and
           holy
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           be
           a
           perfect
           Pattern
           ,
           and
           so
           recommend
           his
           Doctrine
           with
           the
           more
           advantage
           ,
           it
           was
           suitable
           to
           this
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           have
           none
           of
           those
           frailties
           in
           his
           Nature
           and
           Constitution
           ,
           which
           might
           have
           exposed
           him
           to
           the
           failings
           ,
           into
           which
           the
           best
           Men
           that
           have
           their
           Natures
           vitiated
           with
           those
           ill
           Inclinations
           ,
           are
           apt
           to
           fall
           .
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           with
           the
           first
           Principles
           of
           our
           Being
           ,
           there
           are
           derived
           to
           us
           the
           Seeds
           of
           ill
           Dispositions
           ,
           both
           of
           Body
           and
           Mind
           .
           Cronical
           Diseases
           ,
           such
           as
           Gout
           and
           Stone
           ,
           Folly
           and
           Madness
           ,
           are
           thus
           derived
           ;
           and
           tho'
           this
           is
           in
           some
           Instances
           more
           visible
           and
           sensible
           than
           it
           is
           in
           others
           ,
           yet
           as
           every
           Man
           has
           some
           particular
           feebleness
           ,
           of
           which
           some
           Principles
           descend
           to
           those
           who
           derive
           their
           being
           from
           him
           ,
           so
           in
           all
           Men
           this
           is
           sensible
           ,
           that
           their
           Bodies
           and
           bodily
           Impressions
           grow
           too
           hard
           for
           their
           Minds
           ,
           and
           do
           always
           struggle
           and
           often
           revolt
           against
           them
           .
           It
           was
           then
           sutable
           both
           to
           this
           Holy
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Union
           unto
           which
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           assumed
           the
           Author
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           be
           free
           from
           all
           that
           disorder
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           matter
           from
           which
           he
           was
           to
           take
           his
           beginning
           ,
           was
           to
           be
           so
           exactly
           rectified
           and
           purified
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           be
           no
           Principle
           of
           ill
           Inclination
           in
           it
           :
           for
           we
           
           perceive
           that
           our
           Minds
           act
           so
           much
           the
           more
           perfectly
           ,
           the
           more
           pure
           and
           clear
           ,
           that
           our
           Bodies
           are
           :
           We
           grow
           as
           our
           Bodies
           ripen
           ,
           to
           be
           another
           sort
           of
           Beings
           ,
           than
           we
           were
           when
           we
           were
           first
           born
           ;
           and
           a
           Distemper
           in
           our
           Brain
           ,
           may
           so
           hide
           or
           disorder
           all
           our
           Ideas
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           thereby
           become
           in
           a
           moment
           fit
           for
           nothing
           :
           nor
           shall
           it
           be
           a
           small
           part
           of
           our
           happiness
           in
           another
           state
           ,
           that
           our
           Bodies
           shall
           be
           highly
           rectified
           ,
           and
           so
           our
           Minds
           must
           become
           both
           purer
           and
           sublimer
           when
           they
           shall
           dwell
           in
           Bodies
           of
           heavenly
           and
           exalted
           matter
           .
           Upon
           all
           this
           ,
           it
           is
           plain
           ,
           that
           as
           there
           is
           no
           absurdity
           in
           believing
           that
           our
           Saviour's
           first
           Principles
           were
           formed
           by
           Miracle
           ,
           so
           it
           was
           highly
           suitable
           to
           the
           design
           on
           which
           he
           was
           sent
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           his
           Body
           should
           be
           freed
           from
           all
           that
           disorder
           which
           follows
           the
           ordinary
           course
           of
           Nature
           .
        
         
           III.
           But
           yet
           after
           all
           this
           ,
           it
           may
           still
           be
           said
           ,
           why
           must
           things
           of
           this
           nature
           be
           required
           to
           be
           believed
           of
           us
           ?
           why
           was
           this
           Doctrine
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           is
           hard
           enough
           in
           practice
           ,
           made
           so
           much
           the
           harder
           ,
           by
           containing
           in
           it
           so
           many
           things
           which
           render
           it
           so
           difficult
           to
           be
           believed
           ?
           And
           why
           were
           such
           prejudices
           laid
           in
           the
           way
           ,
           both
           of
           Iews
           and
           Gentiles
           ,
           by
           making
           these
           Doctrines
           to
           be
           parts
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           which
           seemed
           to
           
           savour
           of
           their
           most
           absurd
           Fables
           ,
           as
           if
           there
           were
           in
           the
           Godhead
           a
           descent
           from
           Father
           to
           
             Son
             ▪
          
           To
           all
           which
           this
           is
           to
           be
           answered
           ,
           that
           as
           there
           was
           no
           Doctrine
           more
           ancient
           and
           sacred
           among
           the
           Philosophers
           ,
           than
           this
           of
           Three
           in
           the
           Deity
           ,
           which
           is
           well
           known
           to
           all
           that
           have
           well
           examined
           the
           matter
           ,
           so
           nothing
           could
           more
           recommend
           a
           Religion
           ,
           that
           was
           to
           meet
           with
           great
           oppositions
           both
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           Powers
           that
           were
           then
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           than
           the
           great
           Dignity
           of
           the
           Author
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           therefore
           ,
           as
           he
           was
           brought
           into
           the
           World
           with
           so
           much
           Pomp
           ,
           so
           many
           Prophesies
           going
           before
           his
           Birth
           ,
           and
           so
           many
           Miracles
           accompanying
           it
           ,
           a
           whole
           Nation
           being
           selected
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           he
           was
           to
           descend
           ,
           and
           a
           Religion
           being
           Instituted
           that
           was
           full
           of
           Types
           and
           Ceremonies
           that
           were
           to
           be
           accomplished
           in
           him
           ,
           so
           God
           thought
           fit
           to
           vest
           him
           with
           all
           possible
           Glory
           ;
           that
           so
           his
           Doctrine
           might
           not
           only
           have
           the
           more
           credit
           ,
           but
           that
           all
           Men
           might
           be
           the
           more
           encouraged
           to
           come
           into
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           continue
           in
           it
           ,
           by
           the
           great
           Assistances
           and
           the
           mighty
           Protection
           that
           they
           were
           to
           expect
           from
           One
           that
           was
           the
           
             Head
             of
             Angels
          
           :
           and
           was
           also
           
             the
             brightness
             of
             the
             Fathers
             Glory
             :
          
           and
           since
           it
           was
           necessary
           to
           draw
           Men
           to
           think
           seriously
           of
           Religion
           ,
           by
           offering
           them
           a
           full
           and
           free
           Pardon
           
           of
           all
           past
           sins
           ,
           it
           being
           in
           vain
           to
           press
           Men
           to
           come
           into
           any
           Religion
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           told
           that
           by
           their
           sins
           they
           are
           already
           become
           miserable
           ,
           past
           Recovery
           and
           Redemption
           ;
           God
           therefore
           as
           he
           resolved
           to
           offer
           a
           Pardon
           in
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           so
           thought
           fit
           to
           do
           it
           in
           such
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           should
           declare
           his
           hatred
           of
           sin
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           his
           love
           to
           mankind
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           so
           ordered
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           Author
           of
           this
           Holy
           Religion
           after
           he
           had
           fully
           declared
           it
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           should
           be
           seized
           on
           by
           wicked
           Men
           ,
           and
           be
           by
           them
           cruelly
           put
           to
           death
           ;
           in
           the
           suffering
           of
           which
           ,
           as
           he
           offered
           himself
           up
           with
           all
           submission
           to
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           bore
           every
           thing
           with
           all
           imaginable
           patience
           ;
           so
           he
           felt
           in
           his
           mind
           ,
           the
           most
           unconceivable
           sense
           imaginable
           of
           the
           sins
           &
           miseries
           of
           mankind
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           offence
           done
           to
           God
           by
           sin
           ,
           which
           raised
           in
           him
           the
           vastest
           Agonies
           possible
           ;
           all
           which
           concurring
           to
           make
           his
           Sufferings
           most
           exquisite
           ,
           must
           have
           overset
           a
           human
           force
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           been
           supported
           from
           a
           higher
           Principle
           :
           And
           as
           it
           pleased
           God
           to
           accept
           this
           of
           him
           ,
           as
           a
           Sacrifice
           for
           the
           sins
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           to
           Crown
           him
           in
           reward
           of
           it
           ,
           not
           only
           with
           
             honour
             and
             glory
          
           ,
           
           
             but
             by
             giving
             him
             all
             power
             both
             in
             heaven
             and
             on
             earth
          
           ;
           so
           he
           conferred
           on
           him
           ,
           an
           Authority
           of
           giving
           eternal
           life
           to
           all
           that
           should
           believe
           on
           his
           Name
           ;
           and
           receive
           his
           Holy
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           live
           according
           to
           it
           :
           and
           therefore
           since
           the
           making
           mankind
           eternally
           
           happy
           ,
           was
           a
           design
           of
           so
           high
           a
           Narure
           ,
           it
           was
           suitable
           to
           so
           Glorious
           a
           Project
           ,
           that
           the
           Person
           in
           and
           by
           whom
           all
           this
           should
           be
           wrought
           ,
           should
           be
           raised
           up
           to
           the
           highest
           pitch
           of
           Glory
           possible
           .
        
         
           Thus
           though
           it
           is
           always
           a
           bold
           Question
           to
           ask
           ,
           why
           were
           things
           so
           ordered
           by
           God
           ?
           Since
           if
           they
           are
           declared
           to
           us
           by
           him
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           conclude
           ,
           without
           any
           further
           enquiry
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           ordered
           according
           to
           the
           best
           and
           most
           infallible
           Reason
           ,
           even
           tho'
           we
           should
           not
           be
           able
           to
           find
           it
           out
           ;
           yet
           here
           even
           we
           ,
           can
           discern
           a
           great
           sutableness
           in
           all
           these
           high
           Mysteries
           ,
           to
           the
           great
           Design
           of
           God
           in
           this
           Holy
           Religion
           .
        
         
           IV.
           But
           yet
           in
           the
           next
           Place
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           that
           we
           ought
           never
           to
           be
           too
           easie
           in
           believing
           things
           ,
           that
           seem
           hard
           Impositions
           on
           us
           ;
           and
           that
           therefore
           there
           ought
           to
           be
           a
           degree
           of
           certainty
           and
           clearness
           in
           the
           Revelation
           of
           any
           such
           thing
           ,
           that
           is
           proportioned
           to
           the
           weight
           and
           the
           extraordinary
           nature
           of
           that
           which
           is
           proposed
           to
           us
           ;
           for
           as
           in
           the
           common
           affairs
           of
           life
           ,
           an
           ordinary
           degree
           of
           Evidence
           serves
           to
           persuade
           us
           of
           an
           ordinary
           thing
           ;
           but
           if
           somewhat
           that
           is
           very
           much
           out
           of
           the
           way
           is
           told
           us
           ,
           we
           then
           are
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           not
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           till
           we
           find
           it
           is
           well
           attested
           to
           us
           ;
           and
           that
           by
           a
           very
           good
           Authority
           .
           So
           in
           Divine
           matters
           such
           Precepts
           
           of
           Morality
           as
           agree
           with
           our
           Natures
           and
           the
           ends
           of
           human
           Society
           ,
           may
           be
           easily
           received
           ,
           as
           needing
           no
           extraordinary
           authority
           to
           recommend
           them
           to
           us
           ;
           but
           if
           Doctrines
           that
           are
           more
           above
           us
           are
           laid
           upon
           us
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           examine
           well
           the
           authority
           upon
           which
           they
           rest
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           may
           not
           become
           too
           easie
           a
           prey
           ,
           to
           every
           one
           that
           thinks
           to
           subdue
           us
           with
           the
           terrour
           of
           the
           word
           Mystery
           .
           Since
           then
           that
           the
           acknowledging
           that
           One
           who
           as
           to
           all
           his
           outward
           appearance
           was
           a
           Man
           ,
           like
           unto
           us
           ,
           was
           also
           the
           true
           and
           the
           
             great
             God
          
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Son
             of
             the
             living
             God
          
           ,
           carries
           such
           an
           uncouth
           sound
           in
           it
           ,
           that
           it
           naturally
           affrights
           and
           startles
           us
           ,
           it
           is
           necessary
           that
           though
           the
           possibility
           of
           this
           has
           been
           already
           considered
           ,
           yet
           that
           before
           we
           believe
           it
           ,
           we
           be
           sure
           that
           it
           is
           a
           Truth
           ,
           which
           is
           clearly
           revealed
           to
           us
           by
           God
           ;
           for
           a
           thing
           of
           this
           kind
           must
           appear
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           if
           it
           is
           at
           all
           in
           it
           ,
           with
           such
           an
           Evidence
           as
           must
           put
           it
           past
           all
           doubt
           ;
           since
           it
           is
           not
           suitable
           to
           the
           design
           and
           ends
           of
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           that
           a
           thing
           which
           is
           both
           so
           dark
           and
           yet
           so
           important
           ,
           as
           this
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           to
           be
           ,
           should
           be
           revealed
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           be
           proved
           only
           by
           Hints
           ,
           Inferences
           ,
           or
           some
           Passages
           that
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           double
           meaning
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           pursuance
           of
           this
           ,
           we
           must
           observe
           two
           things
           ;
           1st
           .
           That
           there
           is
           nothing
           which
           is
           more
           
           expresly
           forbid
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           than
           the
           giving
           Divine
           Adoration
           to
           a
           Creature
           .
           Idolatry
           is
           no
           other
           ,
           than
           the
           Worshipping
           those
           
             that
             by
             nature
             are
          
           
           
             not
             Gods
          
           ;
           and
           even
           the
           Old
           Testament
           for
           all
           the
           Compliances
           that
           were
           in
           it
           ,
           to
           sensible
           nature
           ,
           yet
           allowed
           of
           nothing
           that
           looked
           like
           Idolatry
           ;
           and
           this
           is
           much
           less
           to
           be
           imagined
           in
           the
           New
           ,
           that
           carries
           Religion
           in
           all
           respects
           ,
           to
           a
           higher
           degree
           of
           Sublimity
           and
           Purity
           than
           the
           Old
           did
           :
           This
           then
           is
           to
           be
           laid
           down
           for
           a
           Principle
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           proposed
           to
           us
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           as
           the
           proper
           Object
           of
           our
           Adoration
           ,
           but
           God
           himself
           .
           In
           the
           next
           place
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           less
           plain
           ,
           that
           
           all
           the
           Acts
           of
           Worship
           ,
           such
           as
           Adoration
           ,
           Prayer
           ,
           Praises
           ,
           Faith
           ,
           and
           Confidence
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           every
           Act
           by
           which
           we
           testifie
           our
           dependance
           on
           God
           ,
           and
           our
           Homage
           to
           him
           ,
           is
           declared
           to
           be
           due
           to
           
             Iesus
             Christ
          
           in
           the
           same
           words
           ,
           in
           which
           it
           is
           said
           to
           be
           due
           to
           God
           himself
           ;
           therefore
           when
           these
           two
           things
           are
           laid
           together
           ,
           the
           result
           of
           both
           is
           ,
           that
           either
           the
           New
           Testament
           is
           the
           most
           Incoherent
           and
           the
           worst
           composed
           Legend
           that
           ever
           was
           Writ
           ,
           in
           which
           one
           main
           and
           essential
           Point
           is
           contradict
           by
           another
           ,
           or
           that
           
             Iesus
             Christ
             must
             be
             truly
             God.
          
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           either
           such
           ,
           or
           we
           Christians
           that
           pay
           him
           Divine
           Adoration
           ,
           in
           so
           ample
           a
           manner
           as
           we
           do
           ,
           are
           the
           greatest
           Idolaters
           that
           ever
           were
           .
        
         
         
           And
           as
           this
           is
           contained
           in
           the
           New
           Testament
           ,
           in
           express
           words
           ,
           so
           the
           whole
           Doctrine
           that
           is
           revealed
           in
           it
           ,
           was
           attested
           in
           so
           eminent
           and
           so
           indisputable
           a
           manner
           ,
           as
           to
           leave
           no
           pretence
           to
           Infidelity
           ;
           so
           many
           Prophecies
           concurring
           in
           the
           Person
           of
           our
           Saviour
           to
           prove
           him
           the
           true
           Messias
           ,
           promised
           to
           the
           Jews
           many
           Ages
           before
           ;
           and
           so
           many
           Miracles
           appearing
           ,
           first
           at
           his
           Birth
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           in
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           his
           Life
           ,
           but
           above
           all
           at
           his
           Death
           ,
           his
           Resurrection
           ,
           and
           Ascension
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostles
           published
           the
           History
           of
           all
           this
           soon
           after
           it
           was
           done
           ,
           and
           mentioned
           many
           Circumstances
           that
           were
           involved
           in
           it
           ;
           which
           ,
           if
           false
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           authentically
           overthrown
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           in
           whose
           Hands
           the
           Authority
           was
           lodged
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           and
           who
           had
           both
           Interest
           and
           Malice
           enough
           to
           set
           them
           on
           to
           make
           the
           Discovery
           .
           One
           part
           of
           the
           Story
           was
           such
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           not
           possible
           to
           believe
           that
           it
           could
           have
           past
           upon
           the
           World
           if
           it
           was
           not
           true
           .
           The
           Apostles
           pretended
           ,
           that
           after
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           was
           poured
           out
           on
           them
           ,
           they
           not
           only
           wrought
           Miracles
           ,
           but
           had
           likewise
           the
           Gift
           of
           Tongues
           .
           Now
           this
           was
           such
           a
           thing
           ,
           that
           if
           it
           was
           false
           ,
           it
           was
           in
           the
           power
           of
           every
           one
           of
           any
           strange
           Nation
           ,
           to
           make
           the
           Discovery
           ,
           and
           by
           so
           doing
           ,
           to
           overthrow
           the
           Credit
           of
           the
           
           whole
           Gospel
           .
           We
           see
           ,
           by
           what
           both
           
             Suetonius
             ,
             Tacitus
          
           ,
           and
           Pliny
           have
           left
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           was
           soon
           spread
           up
           and
           down
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           that
           both
           in
           Rome
           ,
           and
           in
           remote
           Provinces
           ,
           their
           Numbers
           and
           their
           Maxims
           ,
           made
           them
           to
           be
           very
           considerable
           .
           We
           also
           see
           ,
           in
           the
           last
           of
           these
           ,
           that
           he
           had
           strictly
           enquired
           into
           their
           Doctrine
           ,
           their
           Worship
           ,
           and
           their
           Course
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           had
           put
           some
           of
           the
           Women
           ,
           that
           were
           the
           Deaconesses
           in
           the
           Churches
           ,
           to
           the
           Torture
           ,
           to
           draw
           from
           them
           a
           discovery
           of
           such
           things
           whereof
           they
           were
           accused
           :
           Yet
           he
           found
           nothing
           but
           a
           great
           probity
           of
           Manners
           ,
           and
           a
           great
           steadiness
           in
           adhering
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           which
           was
           believed
           among
           them
           :
           Upon
           whose
           enquiry
           the
           Emperor
           ordered
           a
           stop
           to
           be
           put
           to
           the
           Persecution
           ,
           that
           was
           then
           begun
           :
           So
           that
           this
           carries
           in
           it
           ,
           not
           only
           an
           Apology
           for
           the
           Morals
           of
           Christians
           ,
           but
           a
           proof
           of
           the
           Doctrines
           of
           Christianity
           ;
           for
           it
           being
           so
           easy
           a
           thing
           to
           have
           confuted
           them
           ,
           if
           these
           things
           which
           the
           Evangelists
           relate
           had
           been
           false
           ,
           since
           they
           cannot
           be
           said
           to
           be
           
             cunningly
             devised
             Fables
          
           ;
           we
           cannot
           conceive
           how
           it
           is
           possible
           that
           their
           Enemies
           ,
           who
           were
           then
           the
           Governing
           Party
           ,
           did
           not
           discover
           ,
           and
           so
           confound
           them
           .
           Upon
           the
           whole
           Matter
           then
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           God
           did
           by
           a
           profusion
           of
           Miracles
           ,
           
           if
           I
           may
           so
           speak
           ,
           give
           this
           Divine
           Doctrine
           its
           first
           Authority
           and
           Credit
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           he
           continued
           to
           water
           what
           had
           been
           so
           planted
           ,
           with
           a
           succession
           of
           miraculous
           Powers
           ,
           which
           continued
           for
           some
           Ages
           in
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           the
           Fathers
           made
           most
           solemn
           Appeals
           ,
           in
           the
           Apologies
           that
           they
           writ
           for
           their
           Religion
           ;
           of
           which
           some
           were
           address'd
           to
           the
           Emperors
           ,
           and
           others
           to
           the
           Senate
           of
           Rome
           .
           If
           these
           Things
           which
           they
           assert
           ,
           and
           to
           which
           they
           appeal
           ,
           had
           not
           been
           known
           to
           be
           certainly
           true
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           easy
           to
           determine
           whether
           their
           madness
           in
           venturing
           upon
           such
           an
           Appeal
           ,
           or
           the
           Heathens
           in
           not
           joining
           issue
           with
           them
           in
           it
           ,
           was
           the
           greatest
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           
             without
             Controversy
             ,
             Great
             is
             the
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
             ,
             or
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             :
             God
             was
             manifest
             in
             the
             Flesh
             ,
          
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           the
           Humane
           Nature
           of
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           in
           which
           he
           dwelt
           .
           He
           was
           also
           
             justified
             in
             the
             Spirit
          
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           proved
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           in
           the
           wonderful
           Evidences
           of
           the
           Divine
           Power
           ,
           that
           were
           solemnly
           given
           in
           the
           confirmation
           of
           it
           :
           He
           was
           
             seen
             of
             Angels
          
           ,
           the
           Heavenly
           Host
           appearing
           visibly
           at
           his
           Nativity
           ,
           and
           celebrating
           the
           Glory
           of
           it
           ;
           
             preached
             unto
             the
             Gentiles
          
           by
           a
           company
           of
           poor
           illiterate
           Fishermen
           ,
           who
           went
           about
           with
           those
           mighty
           Credentials
           of
           the
           Gift
           of
           Tongues
           ,
           and
           the
           Power
           
           of
           Miracles
           ;
           attesting
           the
           Truth
           of
           what
           they
           themselves
           had
           seen
           ,
           and
           known
           ;
           upon
           whose
           Evidence
           
             he
             was
             believed
             on
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             by
             the
             Gentiles
             ,
          
           tho
           rejected
           by
           the
           Iews
           ;
           who
           being
           possessed
           with
           false
           Prejudices
           concerning
           the
           Messias
           ,
           could
           not
           then
           receive
           an
           humble
           and
           a
           suffering
           One
           ,
           while
           they
           look'd
           for
           nothing
           but
           Triumphs
           and
           Conquests
           under
           him
           .
           But
           this
           loss
           was
           more
           than
           ballanced
           by
           the
           great
           Multitudes
           of
           the
           Gentiles
           ;
           who
           tho
           they
           laboured
           under
           the
           Prejudices
           of
           their
           Education
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           biassed
           Liberties
           which
           the
           Heathen
           Religion
           allowed
           them
           ,
           yet
           did
           in
           great
           Numbers
           renounce
           their
           Idolatry
           ,
           and
           embrace
           a
           Religion
           that
           both
           obliged
           them
           to
           a
           great
           strictness
           of
           Life
           ,
           and
           also
           exposed
           them
           to
           many
           present
           Sufferings
           ,
           besides
           what
           the
           first
           Planters
           of
           it
           warned
           them
           of
           ,
           concerning
           a
           Persecution
           that
           was
           quickly
           to
           overtake
           them
           .
           We
           see
           by
           Tacitus
           ,
           what
           multitudes
           of
           them
           were
           in
           Rome
           in
           
           Nero's
           Time
           ;
           and
           by
           Pliny
           ,
           that
           almost
           all
           those
           of
           Bithnia
           and
           Pontus
           ,
           both
           in
           Town
           and
           Country
           ,
           were
           become
           Christian.
           And
           in
           conclusion
           ,
           God
           thus
           made
           manifest
           ,
           was
           
             received
             up
             into
             Glory
          
           ;
           which
           either
           relates
           to
           his
           Ascension
           ,
           when
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           while
           he
           was
           talking
           to
           them
           ,
           and
           blessing
           them
           ,
           He
           was
           caught
           up
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           beheld
           
           him
           
             ascending
             up
             into
             Heaven
          
           ;
           or
           this
           
             received
             in
          
           
           Glory
           ,
           for
           so
           it
           may
           be
           rendred
           ,
           may
           relate
           to
           the
           glorious
           Instances
           of
           God's
           Power
           ,
           that
           appeared
           in
           the
           first
           planting
           of
           Christianity
           :
           For
           ,
           as
           a
           
             Cloud
             of
             Glory
          
           had
           appeared
           hovering
           over
           the
           Tabernacle
           ,
           and
           leading
           the
           Israelites
           through
           the
           Wilderness
           ,
           which
           gave
           the
           chief
           Authority
           to
           the
           Law
           of
           Moses
           ;
           so
           in
           this
           first
           setling
           of
           our
           most
           Holy
           Faith
           ,
           God
           seemed
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           to
           have
           made
           bare
           his
           Arm
           ,
           and
           shewed
           the
           greatness
           of
           his
           Glory
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           his
           Power
           .
           Thus
           he
           appeared
           to
           St.
           Stephen
           at
           his
           Death
           ,
           and
           to
           St.
           Paul
           at
           his
           Conversion
           ;
           but
           above
           all
           ,
           the
           wonderful
           Effusion
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           at
           Pentecost
           ,
           was
           such
           a
           declaration
           of
           his
           Glory
           ,
           as
           far
           exceeded
           all
           that
           ever
           had
           appeared
           before
           or
           since
           .
        
         
           V.
           In
           the
           last
           place
           it
           remains
           to
           be
           considered
           ,
           how
           this
           is
           said
           to
           be
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           :
           The
           word
           signifies
           true
           Piety
           ,
           or
           the
           right
           way
           of
           worshipping
           God.
           So
           the
           meaning
           of
           this
           is
           ,
           That
           the
           Wonders
           and
           Glories
           which
           appeared
           in
           the
           Person
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           planting
           of
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           are
           not
           only
           lofty
           Declarations
           of
           the
           Greatness
           and
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Truth
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           upon
           which
           we
           are
           to
           value
           our Selves
           ,
           and
           our
           Doctrines
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           were
           all
           intended
           by
           God
           to
           give
           our
           Religion
           the
           
           more
           Authority
           ,
           that
           so
           it
           might
           have
           the
           more
           Efficacy
           upon
           us
           ,
           for
           the
           reforming
           and
           governing
           of
           our
           Lives
           :
           for
           all
           the
           use
           that
           we
           make
           of
           them
           besides
           ,
           is
           only
           to
           boast
           ,
           that
           we
           believe
           a
           Religion
           to
           which
           God
           has
           given
           
             a
             great
             deal
             of
             Credit
          
           ,
           but
           to
           which
           we
           will
           give
           
             none
             at
             all
          
           .
        
         
           By
           Godliness
           is
           comprehended
           the
           having
           right
           Notions
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           worshipping
           him
           suitably
           to
           these
           ,
           and
           the
           framing
           our
           whole
           Lives
           according
           to
           them
           :
           And
           therefore
           we
           treat
           this
           Mystery
           but
           as
           a
           sublime
           Cant
           ,
           and
           not
           as
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           ,
           unless
           it
           has
           these
           Effects
           on
           us
           .
           When
           our
           Minds
           are
           by
           this
           so
           possessed
           with
           a
           noble
           Idea
           of
           God
           and
           of
           his
           Attributes
           ,
           that
           we
           adore
           his
           Power
           ,
           we
           admire
           his
           Wisdom
           ,
           and
           rejoice
           in
           his
           Goodness
           and
           Love
           :
           When
           we
           compare
           the
           Prophecies
           that
           went
           before
           ,
           with
           their
           Accomplishment
           in
           our
           Saviour's
           Person
           ;
           when
           we
           observe
           all
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           Providence
           that
           accompanied
           this
           Transaction
           ;
           when
           from
           thence
           we
           form
           right
           Notions
           of
           the
           hatefulness
           of
           Sin
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Purity
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           ,
           of
           his
           Justice
           as
           well
           as
           of
           his
           Mercy
           ;
           and
           when
           from
           all
           these
           laid
           together
           ,
           our
           Hearts
           become
           full
           of
           high
           and
           great
           Thoughts
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           dwell
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           possess
           us
           ,
           then
           we
           make
           it
           become
           to
           us
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           indeed
           .
           Besides
           ,
           when
           this
           leads
           us
           to
           a
           right
           Notion
           of
           
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           not
           consisting
           in
           outward
           Pomp
           nor
           Glory
           ,
           much
           less
           in
           proposing
           to
           our selves
           visible
           Objects
           of
           Worship
           ,
           or
           in
           dressing
           it
           up
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           rather
           a
           sort
           of
           Opera
           ,
           than
           the
           Worship
           of
           that
           God
           ,
           who
           has
           in
           his
           Gospel
           revealed
           himself
           to
           be
           
             Spirit
             and
             Truth
          
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           will
           be
           worshipped
           accordingly
           .
           When
           our
           Worship
           consists
           in
           humble
           Acts
           of
           confessing
           our
           own
           Sins
           ,
           that
           needed
           such
           an
           Expiation
           ,
           in
           earnest
           Prayers
           for
           a
           Share
           in
           all
           the
           Benefits
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           in
           solemn
           Acknowledgments
           of
           the
           Wonders
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           those
           Blessings
           which
           we
           are
           always
           to
           own
           as
           the
           Effects
           of
           it
           ,
           flowing
           to
           us
           through
           it
           :
           When
           these
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           are
           our
           Thoughts
           and
           Exercises
           in
           the
           Worship
           of
           God
           ,
           then
           does
           this
           become
           to
           us
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           .
           And
           finally
           ,
           when
           our
           Minds
           are
           so
           seasoned
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           our
           whole
           Lives
           carry
           the
           Impressions
           of
           it
           upon
           them
           ;
           when
           we
           are
           afraid
           of
           departing
           from
           the
           Rules
           of
           it
           ;
           when
           we
           are
           strict
           in
           observing
           them
           ;
           when
           it
           appears
           that
           we
           highly
           value
           the
           Blessing
           of
           the
           Knowledg
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           sensible
           of
           the
           danger
           of
           losing
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           rejoice
           in
           it
           above
           all
           other
           things
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           Honour
           of
           our
           Religion
           does
           so
           affect
           us
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           wounded
           at
           Heart
           ,
           when
           it
           falls
           under
           any
           Reproach
           or
           Suffering
           ,
           but
           rejoice
           in
           all
           the
           Glory
           of
           it
           ;
           when
           
           we
           feel
           a
           sensible
           Concern
           in
           the
           whole
           Body
           that
           professes
           it
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           the
           Accidents
           that
           relate
           to
           it
           ;
           then
           do
           we
           shew
           that
           we
           make
           this
           to
           be
           ,
           that
           which
           truly
           it
           is
           ,
           a
           
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           we
           are
           only
           proud
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           factious
           about
           it
           ;
           if
           it
           neither
           works
           on
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           nor
           reforms
           our
           Lives
           ;
           if
           we
           grow
           neither
           the
           better
           nor
           the
           wiser
           for
           it
           ;
           if
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           a
           Pretence
           to
           cover
           ill
           Designs
           ,
           and
           a
           handle
           to
           manage
           Factions
           by
           ;
           if
           it
           makes
           us
           think
           that
           we
           may
           compound
           by
           our
           Heat
           in
           point
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           for
           our
           Coldness
           in
           true
           Piety
           ,
           and
           that
           Orthodoxy
           will
           atone
           for
           Immorality
           ;
           if
           we
           lay
           in
           fewel
           for
           our
           ill
           Nature
           from
           it
           ;
           if
           we
           make
           use
           of
           it
           to
           serve
           every
           End
           ,
           but
           that
           for
           which
           it
           was
           appointed
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           if
           ,
           instead
           of
           growing
           better
           by
           it
           ,
           are
           really
           the
           worse
           for
           it
           :
           Then
           here
           is
           the
           most
           fatal
           reversing
           of
           the
           greatest
           Design
           that
           ever
           was
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           to
           the
           examining
           the
           Truth
           of
           all
           this
           ,
           it
           is
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           consider
           ,
           what
           Impressions
           have
           the
           various
           Scenes
           that
           we
           have
           seen
           ,
           with
           relation
           to
           Religion
           ,
           made
           upon
           us
           ?
           How
           did
           our
           apprehensions
           of
           losing
           it
           affect
           us
           ?
           Was
           it
           only
           with
           the
           sense
           of
           a
           Party
           ,
           and
           the
           anger
           of
           thinking
           that
           we
           were
           depressed
           ,
           and
           like
           to
           be
           ill
           used
           ?
           Or
           did
           that
           Scene
           make
           us
           reflect
           on
           our
           Sins
           ,
           that
           had
           rendred
           us
           unworthy
           of
           so
           great
           
           a
           Blessing
           ,
           and
           that
           had
           brought
           us
           so
           near
           the
           danger
           of
           losing
           it
           :
           did
           we
           in
           all
           that
           time
           of
           Fear
           and
           Melancholly
           ,
           turn
           to
           God
           ,
           repent
           us
           of
           our
           Sins
           ,
           and
           enter
           into
           solemn
           Vows
           of
           living
           more
           suitably
           to
           our
           Religion
           ,
           if
           God
           should
           be
           so
           gracious
           as
           to
           restore
           it
           to
           us
           ?
           Such
           a
           Preparation
           as
           this
           ,
           had
           made
           our
           Deliverance
           prove
           a
           double
           Blessing
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           And
           how
           have
           we
           received
           it
           ?
           has
           it
           been
           only
           with
           the
           joy
           of
           seeing
           our
           Enemies
           fall
           before
           us
           ,
           and
           of
           finding
           our selves
           now
           come
           in
           for
           a
           turn
           in
           the
           Advantages
           of
           Fortune
           ?
           Does
           this
           serve
           only
           to
           lift
           us
           up
           upon
           our
           Success
           and
           Prosperity
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           us
           remember
           all
           Quarrels
           ,
           and
           so
           gratify
           Passion
           and
           Revenge
           ?
           Is
           our
           Ease
           and
           Abundance
           abused
           into
           Luxury
           and
           Vanity
           ?
           Are
           our
           Hearts
           lifted
           up
           ,
           or
           our
           Passions
           sharpened
           ?
           and
           instead
           of
           parting
           with
           our
           old
           Sins
           ,
           are
           we
           adding
           new
           ones
           to
           them
           ?
           If
           our
           Hearts
           ,
           when
           sincerely
           asked
           by
           us
           ,
           concerning
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           tell
           us
           that
           they
           are
           but
           too
           true
           ,
           then
           we
           need
           not
           wonder
           if
           we
           see
           a
           stand
           made
           in
           the
           course
           of
           those
           Blessings
           ,
           which
           God
           has
           been
           holding
           forth
           to
           us
           ,
           but
           that
           we
           have
           by
           our
           Sins
           not
           only
           stopt
           ,
           but
           turned
           many
           of
           them
           to
           Curses
           .
           We
           ought
           in
           that
           case
           to
           ask
           our selves
           ,
           
             what
             have
             we
             done
          
           ?
           and
           
             wherein
             have
             we
             troubled
          
           Israel
           ?
           It
           is
           but
           a
           Melancholly
           Comfort
           when
           a
           man
           is
           full
           of
           so
           
           sad
           a
           speculation
           ,
           to
           think
           that
           man
           is
           so
           made
           ,
           that
           it
           ever
           was
           ,
           and
           ever
           will
           be
           so
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           in
           Constantine's
           time
           ,
           became
           triumphant
           over
           all
           the
           Powers
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           that
           had
           conspired
           its
           destruction
           ,
           and
           that
           after
           many
           Cruel
           Persecutions
           ,
           had
           set
           on
           foot
           the
           last
           ,
           that
           was
           both
           the
           bloodiest
           and
           the
           longest
           of
           all
           that
           had
           gone
           before
           it
           ;
           in
           which
           ,
           for
           ten
           years
           together
           ,
           the
           Sword
           had
           been
           made
           drunk
           with
           the
           
             blood
             of
             the
             Saints
          
           ;
           and
           it
           was
           so
           firmly
           believed
           that
           the
           name
           of
           a
           Christian
           was
           extinguished
           ,
           that
           Medals
           were
           struck
           to
           perpetuate
           the
           memory
           of
           that
           Performance
           ;
           when
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           got
           out
           of
           all
           this
           ,
           and
           had
           not
           only
           Edicts
           of
           Liberty
           in
           its
           favour
           ,
           but
           was
           also
           cherished
           by
           the
           Kindness
           and
           Protection
           of
           Emperours
           ;
           One
           should
           have
           expected
           that
           a
           Society
           which
           had
           been
           so
           long
           in
           the
           fire
           ,
           as
           they
           had
           been
           ,
           must
           have
           come
           out
           of
           it
           freed
           from
           all
           its
           dross
           :
           and
           that
           the
           Christians
           from
           the
           remembrance
           of
           the
           former
           Persecution
           ,
           and
           the
           reflections
           on
           their
           present
           Ease
           ,
           should
           have
           been
           so
           full
           of
           a
           sense
           ,
           both
           of
           what
           they
           had
           escaped
           then
           ,
           and
           what
           they
           enjoyed
           ,
           that
           there
           should
           have
           been
           nothing
           to
           be
           found
           among
           them
           ,
           but
           Churches
           full
           of
           Devotion
           ,
           Clergy-men
           animated
           with
           Zeal
           ,
           and
           Christians
           that
           were
           an
           honour
           to
           their
           Profession
           .
        
         
         
           But
           how
           far
           was
           it
           from
           all
           this
           !
           Generally
           Ignorant
           and
           Vicious
           Men
           were
           promoted
           to
           their
           best
           and
           greatest
           Sees
           ,
           who
           fell
           into
           most
           Extravagant
           Disputes
           concerning
           the
           Dignity
           and
           Privileges
           of
           their
           Episcopal
           Sees
           .
           In
           Africk
           a
           Breach
           arose
           upon
           no
           greater
           matter
           than
           this
           ,
           Whether
           Cecilian
           ,
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Carthage
           ,
           was
           ordained
           by
           men
           that
           had
           ,
           during
           the
           Persecution
           ,
           denied
           the
           Faith
           ,
           or
           not
           ?
           This
           was
           of
           no
           great
           Consequence
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           been
           true
           ;
           and
           being
           a
           matter
           of
           fact
           that
           turned
           upon
           proof
           ,
           the
           case
           was
           judged
           against
           Donatus
           ,
           and
           his
           Party
           ,
           who
           complained
           of
           Cecilian
           :
           but
           this
           did
           not
           stop
           the
           Breach
           ,
           which
           made
           such
           a
           fatal
           progress
           ,
           that
           almost
           in
           every
           Town
           in
           Africk
           there
           was
           a
           Church
           formed
           with
           a
           Bishop
           over
           it
           ,
           that
           adhered
           to
           Donatus
           :
           and
           the
           Division
           continued
           above
           120
           years
           ,
           and
           at
           last
           grew
           to
           be
           a
           matter
           of
           so
           violent
           an
           Animosity
           ,
           that
           much
           Blood
           was
           shed
           upon
           it
           :
           and
           they
           continued
           to
           be
           destroying
           one
           another
           ,
           till
           the
           Vandals
           broke
           in
           upon
           them
           ,
           and
           conquered
           ,
           and
           consumed
           them
           both
           .
        
         
           At
           the
           same
           time
           that
           this
           Dispute
           began
           at
           Carthage
           ,
           another
           was
           raised
           at
           Alexandria
           ,
           occasioned
           at
           first
           by
           some
           indiscreet
           Words
           that
           passed
           between
           Alexander
           the
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           Arius
           ;
           whose
           Spirits
           being
           sharpned
           against
           one
           another
           upon
           secret
           Reasons
           ,
           they
           aggravated
           some
           mistaken
           
           Expressions
           too
           far
           :
           as
           appears
           from
           the
           wisest
           Writing
           of
           that
           Age
           ,
           the
           Letter
           which
           Constantine
           writ
           to
           them
           upon
           this
           Occasion
           :
           But
           this
           was
           carried
           afterwards
           so
           far
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           safely
           say
           the
           Spirit
           and
           Power
           of
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           was
           lost
           in
           the
           Dispute
           .
           The
           Scandals
           given
           by
           the
           ill
           Lives
           ,
           not
           only
           of
           Lay
           Christians
           ,
           but
           even
           of
           the
           chief
           Bishops
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           those
           no
           less
           Scandalous
           Disputes
           among
           them
           ,
           brought
           much
           Shame
           and
           Infamy
           on
           that
           holy
           Profession
           :
           which
           will
           ever
           suffer
           ,
           when
           those
           who
           pretend
           to
           it
           ,
           are
           a
           reproach
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           In
           Conclusion
           ,
           after
           a
           whole
           Age
           of
           God's
           long-suffering
           Patience
           and
           Forbearance
           ,
           there
           fell
           on
           the
           Church
           ,
           both
           in
           the
           East
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           West
           ,
           a
           succession
           of
           the
           terriblest
           Plagues
           for
           two
           Ages
           together
           ,
           that
           is
           in
           History
           :
           One
           Conquerour
           coming
           after
           another
           ,
           and
           wasting
           what
           the
           former
           had
           left
           .
           And
           these
           brought
           on
           such
           Famines
           and
           Pestilences
           upon
           the
           whole
           Roman
           Empire
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           History
           of
           those
           Ages
           is
           a
           continued
           Scene
           of
           Horror
           and
           Misery
           .
        
         
           These
           are
           speaking
           things
           ,
           and
           are
           set
           before
           us
           for
           our
           Terror
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           for
           our
           Instruction
           ;
           to
           let
           us
           see
           what
           we
           ought
           to
           look
           for
           ,
           it
           not
           warned
           by
           such
           Terrible
           Examples
           ,
           we
           should
           still
           continue
           to
           despise
           all
           the
           Methods
           of
           God's
           Providence
           ,
           as
           well
           the
           severity
           of
           his
           
           Judgments
           ,
           as
           his
           Long-suffering
           Patience
           ,
           and
           Forbearance
           towards
           us
           .
        
         
           If
           any
           had
           observed
           the
           Constancy
           and
           Zeal
           that
           appeared
           in
           this
           Nation
           ,
           for
           some
           years
           last
           past
           ,
           when
           we
           saw
           our
           Religion
           in
           danger
           ,
           and
           that
           scarce
           any
           could
           be
           prevailed
           on
           ,
           so
           much
           as
           to
           give
           way
           ,
           much
           less
           ,
           to
           concur
           or
           comply
           with
           the
           Designs
           that
           were
           then
           on
           foot
           ;
           from
           thence
           ,
           one
           that
           saw
           the
           matter
           at
           a
           distance
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           tempted
           to
           think
           that
           we
           were
           full
           of
           Zeal
           for
           our
           Religion
           ,
           since
           neither
           Hope
           nor
           Fear
           could
           work
           on
           any
           considerable
           Number
           among
           us
           ;
           and
           from
           thence
           one
           might
           have
           been
           led
           to
           conclude
           ,
           That
           if
           God
           should
           have
           delivered
           us
           from
           all
           that
           Danger
           ,
           with
           a
           high
           and
           uplifted
           hand
           ,
           and
           should
           have
           prevented
           even
           our
           Hopes
           and
           Wishes
           ,
           in
           giving
           us
           such
           a
           quick
           and
           cheap
           Deliverance
           ,
           as
           is
           without
           Example
           in
           History
           ;
           That
           at
           least
           all
           People
           should
           have
           received
           this
           with
           all
           possible
           Acknowledgments
           ;
           and
           that
           upon
           it
           ,
           we
           should
           all
           have
           considered
           ,
           what
           were
           the
           causes
           of
           our
           late
           Dangers
           ,
           that
           threw
           us
           into
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           should
           have
           agreed
           in
           this
           ,
           That
           our
           Divisions
           had
           been
           from
           the
           beginning
           to
           the
           end
           ,
           the
           chief
           Foundation
           of
           all
           our
           Enemies
           hopes
           ;
           that
           they
           had
           been
           set
           on
           ,
           and
           managed
           by
           them
           in
           order
           to
           our
           Ruin
           ;
           that
           nothing
           
           made
           our
           publick
           Councils
           so
           slow
           and
           feeble
           ,
           and
           that
           nothing
           did
           so
           violently
           distract
           the
           Minds
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           as
           to
           see
           us
           so
           broken
           among
           our selves
           ,
           especially
           in
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ;
           and
           that
           we
           should
           have
           studied
           to
           have
           healed
           all
           differences
           among
           our selves
           ;
           and
           in
           Conclusion
           ,
           that
           the
           Effects
           of
           so
           great
           a
           Revolution
           ,
           should
           have
           been
           a
           visible
           Reformation
           among
           all
           Ranks
           and
           Conditions
           of
           People
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           shall
           be
           said
           ,
           if
           all
           this
           Change
           of
           Affairs
           ,
           has
           produced
           no
           other
           Change
           among
           us
           ,
           but
           for
           the
           worse
           ?
           If
           we
           are
           as
           bad
           as
           ever
           in
           all
           respects
           ;
           if
           Vices
           of
           all
           sorts
           have
           still
           their
           free
           course
           among
           us
           ;
           and
           if
           those
           Animorsities
           which
           were
           generally
           looked
           on
           for
           some
           years
           ,
           as
           forgot
           and
           extinct
           ▪
           are
           now
           revived
           with
           a
           new
           and
           greater
           heat
           ;
           and
           if
           different
           Sentiments
           ,
           whether
           with
           Relation
           to
           Sacred
           ,
           or
           to
           Temporal
           Concerns
           ,
           should
           now
           disturb
           us
           in
           so
           unseasonable
           a
           time
           ,
           when
           the
           Eyes
           of
           all
           the
           World
           are
           upon
           us
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           Europe
           expects
           from
           hence
           ,
           a
           Deliverance
           from
           a
           Tyranny
           ,
           which
           has
           now
           lain
           so
           long
           and
           so
           heavy
           on
           it
           .
           All
           these
           things
           are
           sad
           Indications
           of
           our
           great
           Indifferency
           in
           the
           Matters
           of
           Religion
           ;
           that
           after
           all
           the
           talk
           that
           has
           been
           about
           them
           ,
           we
           either
           believe
           them
           not
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           ,
           consider
           them
           not
           
           to
           be
           as
           they
           are
           indeed
           ,
           the
           most
           valuable
           of
           all
           things
           .
           But
           let
           the
           World
           think
           of
           these
           things
           as
           they
           please
           ,
           in
           them
           we
           see
           the
           
             Power
             ,
             and
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             God
             :
          
           And
           as
           Morality
           without
           Religion
           ,
           will
           be
           found
           to
           be
           but
           a
           feeble
           Principle
           ;
           and
           such
           as
           will
           only
           constrain
           a
           Man
           to
           follow
           his
           Interests
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           his
           Pride
           ,
           which
           in
           that
           Language
           ,
           is
           called
           Honour
           ;
           so
           Religion
           in
           general
           ,
           unless
           it
           is
           grounded
           on
           a
           Divine
           Revelation
           ,
           will
           not
           have
           strength
           enough
           to
           hold
           ,
           or
           govern
           a
           Man
           ,
           it
           not
           having
           foundation
           enough
           for
           much
           Weight
           to
           be
           laid
           on
           it
           :
           and
           therefore
           here
           is
           a
           short
           Resolution
           of
           a
           good
           Man's
           Principles
           .
           He
           is
           persuaded
           that
           God
           sent
           down
           this
           Divine
           Person
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           to
           declare
           to
           us
           the
           Will
           of
           God
           ;
           and
           upon
           our
           following
           it
           ,
           to
           assure
           us
           of
           the
           Pardon
           of
           Sin
           ,
           of
           the
           Favour
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           Eternal
           Happiness
           .
           Next
           upon
           his
           believing
           these
           things
           ,
           he
           sets
           himself
           to
           the
           serious
           performance
           of
           all
           that
           is
           commanded
           him
           by
           God
           ;
           in
           doing
           which
           ,
           he
           finds
           great
           inward
           joy
           in
           himself
           ,
           since
           a
           mind
           reduced
           to
           a
           calm
           and
           quiet
           state
           ,
           will
           feel
           as
           real
           a
           Complacency
           in
           all
           that
           is
           good
           ,
           as
           the
           Eye
           feels
           in
           Light
           ,
           or
           the
           Ear
           in
           Musick
           ;
           from
           this
           arises
           in
           a
           good
           Man
           ,
           a
           secret
           Confidence
           in
           God
           ;
           for
           as
           he
           feels
           that
           he
           is
           conforming
           himself
           to
           his
           Will
           ,
           so
           he
           grows
           assured
           of
           the
           Favour
           
           and
           Love
           of
           that
           infinitely
           good
           God
           ;
           out
           of
           that
           there
           springs
           in
           a
           good
           mind
           ,
           a
           perpetual
           source
           of
           Joy
           ;
           he
           is
           walking
           with
           God
           ,
           and
           ever
           delighting
           himself
           in
           him
           ;
           and
           this
           Joy
           goes
           far
           beyond
           Life
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           is
           present
           ;
           it
           shoots
           out
           into
           another
           World
           ,
           and
           gives
           him
           both
           a
           prospect
           of
           Eternity
           ,
           and
           also
           some
           earnests
           of
           it
           .
           This
           is
           the
           state
           of
           a
           truly
           Godly
           Man
           ,
           he
           feels
           himself
           happy
           ,
           but
           rejoyces
           because
           he
           believes
           he
           shall
           be
           infinitely
           more
           so
           ,
           when
           he
           shall
           be
           in
           a
           state
           where
           he
           shall
           perfectly
           comprehend
           that
           ,
           which
           is
           now
           to
           him
           the
           
             great
             Mystery
             of
             Godliness
          
           ;
           To
           which
           State
           ,
           God
           of
           his
           infinite
           Mercy
           bring
           us
           ,
           through
           Jesus
           Christ
           our
           Lord.
           Amen
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
           Books
           lately
           Printed
           for
           
             Richard
             Chiswell
          
           .
        
         
           JAcobi
           Usserii
           
             Armacbani
             Archiep.
             Historia
             dogmatica
             Controversiae
             inter
             Orthodoxos
             &
             Pontificios
             de
             Scripturis
             &
             Sacris
             Vernaculis
             ,
             nunc
             primum
             edita
             .
             Accesserunt
             ejusdem
             dissertationes
             de
             Pseudo-Dionysii
             scriptis
             ,
             &
             de
             Epistola
             ad
          
           Laodicenos
           
             antehac
             ineditae
             .
             Descripsit
             ,
             digessit
             ,
             &
             notis
             atque
             Auctuario
             locuplet
             avit
          
           Henricus
           Wharton
           ,
           A.
           M.
           
             Reverendissimo
             Archiep.
             Cantuariensi
             à
             Sacris
             Domesticis
             .
          
        
         
           A
           Discourse
           concerning
           the
           Unreasonableness
           of
           a
           new
           Separation
           on
           Account
           of
           the
           Oaths
           .
           With
           an
           Answer
           to
           the
           
             History
             of
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           .
        
         
           A
           Discourse
           concerning
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Commission
           opened
           in
           the
           
             Ierusalem
             ▪
          
           Chamber
           ,
           Octob.
           10.
           1689.
           
        
         
           Dr.
           Wakes
           Sermons
           and
           Discourses
           on
           several
           Occasions
           ,
           8vo
           .
        
         
           A
           Sermon
           Preached
           at
           the
           Assizes
           at
           Hertford
           ,
           July
           8.
           1689.
           
           By
           
             Iohn
             Strype
             ,
             M.
             A.
          
           Vicar
           of
           Low-Leyton
           in
           Essex
           .
        
         
           The
           Bishop
           of
           
           Salisbury's
           Sermon
           before
           the
           House
           of
           Peers
           ,
           
             Novemb
             ▪
          
           5.
           1689.
           
        
         
           —
           His
           Sermon
           of
           Peace
           and
           Unity
           ,
           4to
           .
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A30432-e230
           
             Ephes.
             5.
             32.
             
          
           
             Exod.
             40.
             34
             ,
             38.
             
          
           
             Psal.
             80.
             1
             ,
             2.
             2
             
             Kin.
             29.
             15.
             
             Psal.
             99.
             1.
             
          
           
             Hag
             2.
             9.
             
          
           
             Matth.
             〈◊〉
             .
             18.
             
             〈◊〉
             .
             2.9
             .
             &
             5.
             9.
             
          
           
             Galat
             4.
             8.
             
          
           
             Revel
             .
             5.
             8.
             
             Heb.
             1.
             6.
             
             Heb.
             13.
             15.
             
             John
             14.
             1.
             2
             
             Cor.
             12.
             8
             ,
             9.
             
          
           
             Luke
             24.
             51.
             
             Acts
             5.
             9.