i
 
 ^vv 
 
 V - 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 : F. Lengfeld
 
 T H E 
 
 LordBifhop of Coventry andLichfald's 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Right Honourable the 
 
 Houje of Lords 9 
 
 On the 3 oth of JawMry 1 7 1 7-1 8.
 
 DieVeneris 31. Jan. 1717. 
 
 OR D E R E D, 'by the Lords Spi- 
 ritual and Temporal in Par- 
 liament AfTembled, That the Thanks 
 of this Houfe be, and are hereby jji- 
 ven to the Lord Bifhop of Utchjttld 
 and Coventry* for his very Excellent 
 SERMON preach'd before this 
 Houfe Yefterday in the Abbey-Church, 
 Weftminfter. And he is hereby defir'd 
 to caufe the fame to be forthwith 
 printed and publilhed. 
 
 WILL. COW PER* j 
 
 Cler Parlimentor.
 
 ISERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the 
 
 Lordf Spiritual and Temporal 
 In Parliament Affembled, 
 IN THE 
 
 [Abbey-Church at Weftminfter, 
 
 On the 3 oth of January, 1717-18. 
 BEING THE 
 
 |Day of the Martyrdom 
 
 King CHARLES I. 
 
 By the Right Reverend Father in G O 
 EDWARD Lord Bifhop of Coventry 9 
 and Lichfield. 
 
 The Second Edition. 
 
 [London, Pointed for James Knapton, at the Crown\ 
 in St BraZ's Church- Yard. 1718.
 
 *
 
 (5) 
 
 J U D G. xviL 6. 
 
 In thofe Days, there was no King 
 in Iffael, but every Man did that 
 which was right in his own Eyes. 
 
 T^ ^ E Words are written four Times 
 in this Book, and every Time they 
 are brought in as a Reafpn, for 
 (bme extraordinary evilThing that 
 hapned in Ifrael ; fome fuch Thing, as it was 
 not to be thought could have hapned in the 
 People of God. God's faying it but once, 
 had been enough to oblige us, to take no- 
 tice of it. But he is pleas'd to fay it four 
 Times over, that we may take great notice of 
 it, that fuch evil Things are the natural Ef- 
 fects of Anarchy, of want of Government in 
 a Nation. 
 
 The Age in which thefe Things hapned, 
 feems to be that interval of Time, from the 
 Death of Jofbua and the Eiders that furvived 
 him in Canaan, to the Rife of the firft Judges. 
 
 It 
 
 8"* r~- JT> /">> "-" 

 
 Jt was then the third Generation from Mofes ; 
 for Jonathan, the Grandfon of Mvfes, as the 
 Vulgar Latin truly reads, inftead ofManaffetfy 
 Judg. xviii. 30. is laid to be Trie/I at the time, 
 to the graven Image fet uf ly the Children 
 of Dan. Which agrees with what is after- 
 wards faid Ch. xx. 28. that Phinees the 
 G randfon of Aaron, did about the fame time- 
 ft and before the Ark of the Lord. So that 
 thi Chapter and thofe that follow, though 
 placed laft in this Book, as written perhaps 
 by another Hand, as was Ruth, which is an 
 Appendix to the Book of Judges, have their 
 proper Place, in order of Hiftory, after : Ch. 
 ii. 10. where there is a near relation between 
 the Wickeclnefs there recorded, and the Liber* 
 tinifm in my Text. 
 
 It is a meer Concert, the imagining that 
 the word Kjng in my Text, refpe&s King 
 Saul, or thofe that fucceeded him. in that 
 Office. It may rather regard Mofes, who li- 
 ved before the Time of thefe Events, and who 
 is called Kjng in Jefiurun, Deut xxxiii. j; 
 But fmce Kjngs and Kjngdoms, fignify in 
 Scripture, as well as other very antient "Wri- 
 tings, any kind of fettled Government that is. 
 Supreme, we may well underftand, as we do,. 
 by no Kjng in IJ'rael, the DifTolution of their 
 Government by Joshua and the feventyElders. 
 "Whether it was, by neglect to chufe new 
 Members in the Room of thofe that were 
 gone off, or that through oppofition of. Power- 
 ful Factions) they could not agree upon the 
 
 Perfons,
 
 C7) 
 
 Perfons, fo it fell out in effet, the Union 
 between the Twelve Tribes being loft, \Wi 
 the Authority that cemented them, they found 
 themfelves in a State of Nature, where Will 
 and Power were the only Meafure of their 
 Aftions. Becaufe they had no King, no 
 fupreme Magifbrate, in Ifrael, therefore every 
 Man did that which was right in bis own Eyes. 
 A lively Image of the miferable Conditi- 
 on, this Nation was reduced to, after the 
 horrid and execrable Murder of the Perfon 
 of King Charles, which was followed with 
 the entire Subverfion of the Government both 
 in Church and State. It was the Aft indeed 
 of few, in Comparifon of the Nation, who 
 declared their Abhorrence and Deteftation of 
 it. But the Evils that enfued, were felt by 
 all. No Family but fuffered more or lefs, in 
 the Devaftations made by the lawlefs Crew, 
 that appeared thereupon. And fuch Devafta r 
 tions being the plain and juft Confequences of 
 Rebellion, and Anarchy, 'twill be needful to 
 revive the Senfe, of what was then fuffered, 
 in your Mindtf, in order to create a Dread 
 and Horror o any future Proceedings, that 
 may have as fatal an End ; which I take to 
 be one chief Defign of the continued Obfer- 
 vation.of this Day. All that bore a? Part in 
 the wicked Transactions of thofe Times have 
 already given acbount to God ; and we truft 
 the national Guilt is removed long fmce thro* 
 the Punifhment of the Ring-leaders, and the 
 repeated Humiliations of the good People 
 
 of
 
 CfJ 
 
 of the Land. It can have no good 
 felfe now to reproach Perions and Fa- 
 mmes that were inftrumental in fo great 
 Wicked nefs, which is to keep open and 
 inflame a Sore, which it is full Time 
 fhould be healed. But there will be al- 
 ways felfifh factious Men,5 ready to make 
 any Change to ferve their own Purpofes : 
 And fo it will be always ufeful, if we can't 
 mend them, with (hewing them the Ten- 
 dency of their reftlefs turbulent Spirits, to 
 make the People fenfible, what they arc to 
 expect, if they be milled by them ; to cau- 
 tion them how they credit any Mifreprefen- 
 tation, and unreafonable Sufpition of their 
 Governors, affirmed or infmuated by Parties 
 and their artful Leaders, left under new 
 Names, they play over the old Game, to 
 their Ruine. 
 
 My Bufmefs then at prefent fliall be ta 
 {hew 
 
 I. The Benefits of Government, to any 
 People, efpecially in reftraining that 
 Liberty, which out of Government, they 
 will take, of doing that which is Right in 
 their own Eyes. And 
 
 II. The Folly and Sin of them that wan- 
 tonly deftroy the Peace of a fettled Go- 
 vernment; which I fhall conclude with, 
 a fhort Application. 
 
 I, Of the Benefits of Government to any 
 People, efpecially in reftraining that Liberty, 
 
 which
 
 (9) 
 
 which out of Government they will take 
 of doing that which is right in their own 
 Eyes. I fhall name but three, and they 
 are the chief Bleflings of Government. 
 
 1 . It fecures to us the Things that make 
 Life valuable, fuch as Liberty of Perfons 
 quiet pofferTion of the Fruit of our La- 
 bors, Authority to vindicate invaded Rights, 
 Peace, Plenty, and the like. Nay it fe- 
 cures even Life it felf to us ; There is no li- 
 living fafely without Government. 
 
 2. It promotes Knowledge, and thofe Arts, 
 that abate the natural Fiercenefs and Self- 
 fiwnefs of Men's Tempers, that civilize and 
 fweetens Life. 
 
 3. It protects, encourages and enforces, 
 the Praclife of Religion, which ought to be 
 dearer than Life to us. 
 
 i. Government fecures Life, and all that 
 is valuable in Life to us. For this the ve- 
 ry End of uniting into Societies, that the 
 joint Wifdom and Force of many , may 
 be employed, in the Defence of all, and 
 every Member thereof, againft the At- 
 tempts of heady, and unreafonable Men .- 
 that wholefome Laws be made , for pre- 
 ferving the property of every Perfon ; for 
 vindicating the Innocent, and punifhing 
 the fraudulent and Oppreflive , Rapaci- 
 ous and Violent, and for equal Ad minillra- 
 tion of Juftice to all. Such is the Courfe 
 thefe things move in under all well gover- 
 ned Societies ; and they are all precarious 
 
 B or
 
 or rather, impoflible to be obtained, out of 
 Government. 
 
 Maim.M. A learned Jew, has reprefented the Truth 
 Neb * hereof in a very familiar Inftance. I faw, 
 faith he, a Banker, a little, old, thin, weakly 
 Man, feaiiefly counting larges Sums of Mo- 
 ney upon his Tables, in the Sight of thofe that 
 paffed by. There came to him a lufty young 
 Begger, with fcarce Cloaths to his Back, who 
 bowed low, and begged Charity. The Ban- 
 kers denyed him, and with big Words threat- 
 ned him from the Door. And away went 
 the Begger quietly, without replying. From 
 whence, as the fame Jew goes on, I conclu- 
 ded this Place was blefled with Govern- 
 ment ; for if fear of the Magiftrate's Power, 
 had not reftrained the poor Man ; he that 
 was fo much ftronger, under fuch Nece 
 fities and fuch Provocations, would have 
 taken more than he asked, and abufed the 
 Owner alfo. 
 
 It muft be acknowledged, the Laws arc 
 not always fo fufficient a Reftraint, nor do's 
 the Terror of capital Punifhments, keep all 
 Men within the Bounds of Right and E- 
 quity : Some will ftill encroach upon their 
 Neighbour's Property, and will not ftick at 
 his very Life, if that ftands in Oppofition, to 
 the obtaining of their unjuft Defires, though 
 they know, the deftroying of his Life, is at 
 the certain Peril of their own. But then k 
 fhould be obferved, how much worfe the 
 lii me Men would prove, how much wider 
 
 their
 
 ( li ) 
 
 their Violence would ipread , how many 
 others would be encouraged by their Impu- 
 nity, to Imitation, were there no fuch Pu- 
 nifnments to controul any one. 
 
 Man, under the Dominion of his Pafli- 
 ons, as all Men left to themfelves natural- 
 ly are, is the moft dangerous, mifchievous 
 Creature in the World. His Underftanding, 
 given him for better Purpofes, ferves only 
 to render Him, a more treacherous fuccefsful 
 Enemy : and he is much the more to be fear- 
 ed, for having once lived under the Improve- 
 ments of Society, if ever the Confinements 
 thereof come to be taken off, as becoming 
 thereby, more ingenious in Mifchief, and 
 skilful in the Arts of deftroying. He covets 
 every Thing he likes, he holds fail every 
 Thing he has, he envies every Thing he has 
 not, he refents every Appearance of Injury 
 to himfelf, he is devoid of Senfe of what any 
 others furters ; and what fhould hinder him, 
 from taking the fhorteft way, to gratify 
 each of thefe Paflions, but the Fear of him, 
 that bears the Sword, for the Punifhment 
 of fuch evil Doers? Take away this Ap- 
 prehenfion from the Generality , and e- 
 very defireable Good , lies at the Mer- 
 cy of the Strongeft: And while ea:h 
 Man is willing to fancy himfelf fo , and 
 therefore to try it out by Force of Arms, 
 Lord ! What a Scene of Blood and Mifery, 
 mutt this Earth be / \V hat fufpitions, what 
 Jealoufies, what Contrivances and Fears, 
 B 2 will
 
 will in their Turn diftrad, the Souls of eve- 
 ry Perfon ! What Indignation and Rage, 
 will pofTefs the Minds of the Injured. and 
 Helplefs ! With what Fury will he go on, 
 who is pufh'd forward by Appetites, that 
 will be denied nothing, to take more than 
 is his own ! With what Refiftance muft 
 they meet him, whom Intereft and Re- 
 venge infpire to keep what is their own/ 
 And from the mutual Conflids, of thefe 
 two forts of Men, and thofe engaged on 
 their Sides, who can exprefs the Evils that 
 muft follow? Nothing is to be expeded, 
 but Quarelling and Plundering, but Fighting 
 and Killing every where, till they bring the 
 whole World into a perfed Defolation. 
 
 2^/y, It is another Benefit of Government, 
 that it promotes Knowledge and thofe Arts, 
 that abate the natural feltifhnefs and fierce- 
 nefs of Men's Tempers ; that civilize and 
 ]oh.xi.i2.f weete n Life. Man, faith Zopkar in 'Job, is 
 born like a Wild-Affes Colt ignorant, rucfe and 
 untraclable. And thefe bnitifh Qualities, are 
 not to be fubdued, but by Inftitution, and 
 thofe Improvements, that are to be found on- 
 ly in Societies. God therefore fb ordered it, 
 that every Man fhould be born, within fome 
 Society, I mean that of a Family, where 
 the Father or the Mafter prefides ; and to 
 compel them yet into greater Societies, that 
 the Single Reafon, of no one or two Perfons, 
 ihall be able to anfwer , the manifold 
 Wants incident to humane Nature. No ; the 
 
 Work
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 Work muft be divided ; fome are to betake 
 themielves to one Study or Art, and fome to 
 another ; and even in the fame Profeffton, 
 that is built upon Obfervation and Experi- 
 ence, one Man is to grow wifer, by ano- 
 ther's Studies and Labors, and to tranfmit his 
 own Additions, to a third to improve upon. ^ 
 Thus living together, and obferving their 
 many Wants, and the many more Hands, 
 that are needful, for the redrefs of any one 
 Want they plainly fee that Man, who hath 
 neither all Perfe&ion, nor all Sufficiency in 
 himfelf, is not defigned to be, the fole Cen- 
 ter ofhis Aftings: Their mutual Afliftance, 
 and Subferviency, brings them into an Efteem 
 of each other's Talents, and that into a Com- 
 placency for each others Perfon. And tho' Ef- 
 teem fhould not proceed fofar, it will however 
 put much Reftraint upon an unfociable Tem- 
 per ; it will gradually lefTen that Sournefs, and 
 Roughnefs that fhuts out from the Helps, o- 
 thers can impart, and they have occafion for. 
 So that upon the whole Matter, Study and 
 Application ; and united Endeavours are ne- 
 ceOTary, to find out, and provide, thole Ac- 
 commodations, that make Life comfortable, 
 and to pare off thofe Afperities of DifpoQti- 
 on, that are irreconcileible with Peace and 
 Union. Now all Endeavours flag, without 
 Emulation, Encouragement and the Rewards 
 of orderly Societies, unlefs preiTed forward 
 by thofe Neceflities, which the multiplying 
 of Men together, caufe. Out of Govern- 
 ment
 
 ( H ) 
 
 merit, Men's Thoughts run in another 
 Channel, being employed, how to fave their 
 own, or feize their Neighbour's Acpuifiti- 
 pns : And higher they don't rife, as want- 
 ing the Spur to all Diligence, the Profpeft 
 of enjoying and difpofmg what has been 
 thereby obtained. A long War in any 
 Place, is therefore noted to caft a chilling 
 Damp, upon all ufeful Arts, and to have 
 been ftill fucceeded, by an Age of Barba- 
 rifm : The fame Caufes, reducing them into 
 the fame State, the poor Savages in the In- 
 dies, ftill remain in, for being not yet for- 
 med into Civil Societies, whofe Condition 
 feems to be worfe, than that of other Crea- 
 tures, in Rank below them. For thofe, Na- 
 ture has provided a prefent Supply, under 
 their ordinary Wants. They are from their 
 Birth, cafed with Covering, againft the Ri- 
 gours of the Seafon, and arm'd with Wea- 
 pons, of Defence, or Flight, upon A (faults ; 
 they are endued with proper Inftinfts, for 
 their Food and their Phyfick ; and if they have 
 not Houfes and Beds, they need none. But 
 thefe wild Men we fpeak off, not knowing 
 how to ufe their Reafon, that was given 
 them, inftead of every other Provifion, are 
 liibjeft to more Inconveniencies, than other 
 Animals are liable to, without any Remedy 
 at Hand. They wander up and down na- 
 ked and dcfcncelefs; they fee the Dangers 
 they arc ex poled to, and know not how to a- 
 -ad them; their Days are fpent in carelefs, 
 
 undefigned,
 
 ( '5 ) 
 
 undefigned, thoughtlefs Romings ; their Nights 
 are broke, with Fears of what may befall 
 them under the next Buih they fhelter 
 thcmfelves under. 
 
 Now which of us would not be weary of 
 Life, upon thefe Terms ? were our ceiled 
 Chambers, exchanged for the Covering of 
 Heaven, and our foft Beds for a few green 
 Turfs; were our Cattle driven from their 
 Pafture, and we left to graze in their Stead, 
 and even our Title to that, difputed by other 
 Animals, to our Difad vantage ; in a Word, 
 were our Country turned into a Wildernefs, 
 as it would foon be, if we lived at the rate 
 of thofe Savages, that live in thofe defolate 
 Countries, we fhould then be too late fenfi- 
 ble of the Advantage of Arts and Trades 
 and. Sciences, and of the Bleffing of Govern-? 
 ment, that cheriflies and patronizes them, 
 It is Government only that by improving 
 their Underftandings, makes the Life of 
 Men more eligible than that of Brutes* 
 For, 
 
 3^/y, Religion, which alone without Go- 
 vernment, is able to civilize Men, and fup- 
 port them under any Suffering, is it felf, 
 much advanced by good Government, and 
 doth fenfibly decay, where there is a want of 
 it. Not that Religion owes it's Original to 
 the State, or can't lubfift in truly pious and 
 virtuous Souls, in oppolition to any Negleci, 
 or even Seventy of Princes againft it. But 
 this I mean, fuch pious and truly virtuous 
 
 Souls.
 
 Souls, are rarely and difficultly raifed, in Times 
 of publick Diforder, and Confufion, the very 
 Principles are apt to wear out of Men's Minds, 
 where they are not called upon, or under fome 
 Obligation to recoiled them ; and when the 
 Iriterefts of religious and civil Societies, have 
 been interwoven into one Conftitution, the 
 fall of the State hath ever been fatal, not on- 
 ly to the publick Exercife, but in great mea- 
 lure to Religion it felf. Hence St Paul, though 
 he lived under a Government not Chriftian, 
 yet knowing Religion to be in more danger 
 from Anarchy, than Perfecution, exhorts 
 ChrifHans to pray even for that Government; 
 for Kjngs, faith he, and, all that are in Autho- 
 rity under them ; the Argument is ftronger, 
 for Chriftian Kings, and thofe that counte- 
 nance Religion, that we may lead quiet Lives 
 under them in all godlinefs and honefy. i TitUS 
 ii. 2. 
 
 I know, it is Matter of Difpute, the Au- 
 thority the civil Magiftrate hath, in Matters 
 of Religion : and it is certainly a Point of 
 great Nicety, the adjufting the exact Bounds 
 of that Authority, beyond which he ought 
 in no wife to proceed. But laying it down 
 firft, as an inconteftable AfTertion, that Force 
 and Perfecution, are improper Methods, to 
 produce Religion, which ought to be, the re- 
 fill t of Per ilia (ion and Choice, and that Ma- 
 giilrates therefore, fhould not impofe, their 
 ;:wn Opinions by Violence, upon Perfons 
 
 capable
 
 .C 
 
 capable of judging for themfelves $ I think, 
 it will not be denied, that Princes within 
 their own Dominions, have a great Intereft, 
 in the Things of Religion, and are account- 
 able to God, for Indifferency or Negled 
 thereof. 
 
 The Magiftrate, may and ought to fee, that 
 the Publick Worfhip of God be kept up , 
 that proper Times and Places for that Wor- 
 (hip, be held Sacred ^ that the Minifters there- 
 of be encouraged, to difcharge their proper 
 Functions duly, or punifh'd for default j that 
 in fuch Places, all Means of Inftrudion in 
 the Will of God, and all Helps of fubftantial 
 Piety, be exhibited to the People j that a li- 
 centious freedom of going no where to worfhip, 
 or of vilifying Things Sacred, be retrained , 
 Nay, he ought to have an Eye, upon every 
 new religious Sed that arifes, that fo Diftinc- 
 tion be made, between fimple inoffenfive O- 
 pinions and Errors, and the wild Pretences of 
 Enthufiafts, fuch as are deftrudive of Civil 
 Government, and whereby whole Countries 
 have been defohted, or the perfonated Tenents 
 of cunning Men, employed to lye in wait to 
 deceive, and divide, and fo confound all 
 Order. 
 
 * Such Rights and Duties, Parents found 
 themfelves inverted with, under natural Re- 
 ligion. Their Children, by appointment of 
 Providence, are brought into i he World, In- 
 fants in Underftanding and Religion, as well 
 
 C as
 
 . l8 . 
 
 as Stature, God, as it were cafting them in- 
 to their Hands, in this weak Condition, and 
 with a growing Capacity, on purpofe to be- 
 fpeak the Afiiftance of their Parents in form- 
 ing them to the Knowledge of God, their 
 Duty to him, and a Judgment to come. And 
 no lefs Concern for the Chriftian Doctrine, 
 is expected of Chriftian Parents, whom St 
 Paul exhorts, to bring up their Children in the 
 Nurture and Admonition of the Lord^ namely 
 Chrift, Epb. v. 4. 
 
 Such care, Mafters of Families, thought 
 they were obliged to extend, to all in their 
 Houfe, and are often commended for it, in 
 Scripture. Of Abraham, God fpeaks with 
 Cen j., t Approbation, I know him, that he will com- 
 19.' wand his Children, and his Houfe-hold after 
 him, and they Jhall (or, that they may) keep 
 the way of the Lord, to do Juflice and Judg- 
 ment. And Jojbua's Refolution is recorded, 
 for our Imitation, As for me andmy Houfe, we 
 will ferve the Lord. It was God's Direction 
 to Abraham, when he gave him the Rite of 
 ow. frtCircumciflon (a Seal of the Right e.oufnefs bp 
 ii. 'Faith,") that every Male of his family, or born 
 in his Houfe (the Children of his Slaves) 
 or bought with Money of any Stranger, though 
 no' of his Seed, muft needs be circuwcifect. 
 And by the like command, every other Matter 
 of a Family, was to look to theObfervation of 
 fie Sdbbath, (another part of inftituted Re- 
 
 and the: 
 Stranger 
 
 xv
 
 r 19 
 
 Stranger within his Gates, as well as by his 
 Children, and to hinder the Profanation theieo c . 
 
 Now what are large Families, but littleKing- 
 cloms? And what are great Kingdom , but many 
 Families, united together under one fupream 
 Head or Governor ? If then the Wormip of 
 God, whether taught by natural, or revealed 
 Religion, is the concern of Fathers and Mafters, 
 why not of Kings, in a more publick Manner ? 
 If inftituted Religion, may be inculcated, upon 
 Children and Servants, by their Governors, 
 why not upon thofe Families, that make up a 
 Kingdom, by their Magiftrates, fo as they do it 
 in Ways fuitableto Religion? 
 
 God has (hewn, \\.may and ought, by incor- 
 porating the Religion of the Jews, with the 
 State, and putting the whole Conftitution, un- 
 der the Infpeftion of the Civil Magiftrate. 
 Till therefore it be proved, that there is Some- 
 thing in the Chriftian Religion inconfiftent 
 with fuch a Civil Incorporation, the Chriftian 
 Magiftrate may be prefumed to be equally 
 qualified to proted and encourage the Chrif- 
 tian Religion, by Chriftian Methods, as the 
 Jewim Magiftrate was to defend his Religion, 
 by Methods fuitable to theCircumfliancesof that 
 time. And fo it was predicted of old, by the 
 Prophet Efa.xlix. 23. Where fpeaking of the 
 future Church of Chrift, he adds, Ki*gs flail 
 be thy nurfmg Fathers and Queens thy nurjtng 
 Mothers. Favour, and Countenancj are at 
 leaft imply ed in this Promife, which fuppofes 
 
 C 2 ' alfo
 
 . 
 
 alfo that they a& fuitabty to the ftate of the 
 Perfons, they govern, neither tyrannizing ir- 
 rationally .over their Confciences, nor yet 
 permitting their Charge, to run into every 
 Danger, their Frowardnefs or Unskilfulnefs, 
 makes them liable to. And this feems to be 
 the Reafon, why the Jewim Kings, when they 
 xvii. entrec ^ H P n ^ oe Throne of their Kingdom, were 
 is. ordered to write thsmfdves a Copy of the Book 
 of the Law, namely, that they might re ad there- 
 in what was truly God's Will, and be inftructed 
 to enforce that and nothing elfe. For this Power 
 will otherwife be very apt to be abufed, as may 
 that of Parents and Mafters. But the Abufes 
 maybe guarded againft, and the Power not en- 
 tirely taken away. Would to God, there never 
 had been an Age when things falfe, or even 
 doubtful, much lefs flnfuJ, had been intro- 
 duced, into the Chriftian Worfhip, nor im- 
 pofed by Kings, as Conditions of Communion > 
 in that Worfliip! But fince Faults of this kind,, 
 have fometimes been improved, to the difcredit 
 of the Magiftrate's juft Authority, it concerns 
 ias, to ailert his Right, to fupport true Ghrifti- 
 anity, after feparating that, from Do&rines 
 going under that name, which are not fo , left 
 by denying him any Thing to do in Religious 
 Matters,we let in fuch Confu(ion,as that of the 
 Age my Text refers to.. The People of Ifrael 
 were then the Children of the Men, for whom 
 God had wrought fo many Miracles, to bring 
 ihem into Canaan;. The Ark of the Covenant, 
 
 and
 
 r M 
 
 and the Book of rhe Law, remain'd among 
 them, and many (landing Evidences of the 
 Truth of their Religion y and yet they went 
 whoring after their own Inventions, they for- 
 got God their Saviour, and fet up Gods of their 
 own, molten and graven Images, fuch, as God 
 from Heaven had forbidden, in the fecond 
 Commandment , they confecrated whom they 
 would, to be Priefts, to them that were no 
 Gods. How came this to pafs > why they for- 
 bore attending God's publick VVormip, there 
 was no Superior Power, to remind the People 
 of their Duty, nor to keep each Order of Men 
 employed, in their Functions, according to 
 their Station , There was no King in Ifrael^ 
 therefore every Man did that which was right 
 in his own Eyes. 
 
 Later Experience, bears witnefs to the 
 Hiftory of former Times. After the fall of the 
 Monarchy here in England, under which 
 the Chriftian Religion, had happily flourifh'd 
 fince the Reformation, it is not out of Me- 
 mory, the Wound that was then given to. 
 Religion it felf : nor what an infinite Num- 
 ber of unreafonable Sefts arofe, as oppo- 
 fite to one another, as to the former Order ^ 
 as if permitted by God, to (hew, when no 
 Argument elfe was attended to, the Happi- 
 nefs of a regular Government, and of the 
 publick Encouragement of Religion in a 
 Nation, So that thofe, who had been be- 
 fore inftrumental through, a falie Zeal, to pull- 
 down
 
 (21) 
 
 down the Biftiops, that were Minifters on* 
 der the King, (and fome of them too rigid 
 in their Office, as Lord Clarendon remarks, 
 but that was their perfonal Fault,) for the 
 reftraining of the Liberty contended for, 
 when they faw what followed, for Want of 
 fome other Check, to fucceed under the Ma- 
 giftrate, they lamented what they had done, 
 and wimed again, even for that Order, ra- 
 ther than the Diftempers and Diftrafti- 
 ons in Religion, that grew up, by their Re- 
 moval. The Way being thus prepared, I 
 may proceed 
 
 II. To mew the Folly, and Sin of thofe, 
 that wantonly defhoy the Peace of a fettled 
 Government. And both thefe, Folly, and Sin, 
 are chargeable upon two Sorts of Men-: The 
 Ambitious, Factious and Unquiet, who for 
 the Sake of Places and Honours, to be obtain- 
 ed, or kept no other Way, do not flick at 
 Methods, ever fo hazardous to the Publick. 
 And again, Men of prime Dignity, andTruft 
 in Government, who betray the Princes they 
 fliould ferve, by doing odious Acls, in their 
 Name?, and by their Authority, who inva- 
 ding the Liberties and Rights of the Subjeft, 
 for their felfim and arbitrary Purpofes, give 
 the Difcontented the Handle they wanted, 
 for troubling and confounding the State. 
 
 The Folly of both is evident, whether they 
 truly intend to go through with the De- 
 ilrudion of the Government they are un- 
 der 

 
 O?) 
 
 der, or no. If that be not intended, Experi- 
 ence hath often proved, how much they were 
 deceived, that prefcribed Limits to contrived 
 Shocks againft the State, or thought to diflurb 
 the Publick, under Conditions of flopping 
 at a certain Length. They neither know 
 themfelves, or other Men, that imagine fuch 
 a Power in themfelves, The Paffions grow 
 head-flrong, and the Projects are enlarged; 
 with every Turn of Succefs, and the nearer 
 View of compafling their Ends . and every 
 Change of Circumftances, leads a Man to 
 judge, and reafdh differently .from what he 
 did in another Situation. 
 
 Again, the Tares of Discontent, that were 
 of Service, in fome particular Cafe, are not 
 to be weeded out at Pleafure, but grow 
 rank, and fpread, to their very great Trou- 
 ble afterwards, that fowed them. 'Tis next 
 to impofiible, to govern every Spirit that one 
 may raife. Should their Confciences, become 
 tender, and flop at the Mifchiefs their prac* 
 tifing hath brought to Maturity, there are e- 
 now to go on, where they leave off, and even 
 againfl their Wills, to play the Game into o- 
 ther Hands, to very different Purpofes. 
 
 But, fuppofe they be thofe that delibe- 
 rately intend the Ruine of a Government, 
 to ere ft a Something, they know not what, 
 in its Room, that fhall be more favourable, 
 to their Interefls } can they more truly ex- 
 prefs their Folly, than in Endeavours t 
 
 fhake
 
 ihake off a Form, that hath been found to 
 anfwer all the Ends of Government, and by 
 long ufe, to fuit the Genius, and Circum- 
 ftances of a People in all Events, for a Chi- 
 mera, which it is great odds, is not praclica* 
 ble ? Many Things, feem pretty in Specula- 
 tion, that will not bear a Tryal : And grea- 
 ter Difficulties appear, when a total Change 
 is laboured, than could be forefeen by the 
 inoft Politick. If the Undertakers do not 
 perifh in the Attempt, as is the common, 
 and deferved Fate, of unreafonable Oppofition, 
 to wife Settlements , if the^ be not forfaken 
 by their Followers, who fhrink at Danger 
 they don't encounter , with equal Paflion 
 and Refolution, to that of their Leaders, 
 nor flain in the War, that muft compleat the 
 Deftrudion of what they diflike-, yet how 
 often do they find as much Oppofition to their 
 new Scheme, from others, as They caufed to 
 the old > No State-Projector can be fure, 
 that even under his new Scheme, mould it 
 fucceed, that he (hall be of any Confidera- 
 tion then, or that he (hall repair his For- 
 tunes, which muft furely be confumed, in 
 nurfmg it up , fince new Parties are wont to 
 llioot from old Stocks, and to put them out 
 of Capacity to do good, or hurt, under whofe 
 flicker they rofe. 
 
 It is, as if one mould (ink the Ship he is 
 embarqucd in, and run the Rlfque of a Ship- 
 wreck , upon the uncertain Profped of 
 
 build-
 
 (25) 
 
 building a new Veflcl,with the fcattered Planfcs, 
 
 where poflibly he may mend his Sitting-place. 
 They do in all refpefts, as mad a Thing, who 
 embroil a Society , upon private Views , and 
 raife popular Commotions, from whence an 
 Efcape is next to impoflible. Political ma- 
 kings, are like Earthquakes, which is the Figure 
 the Prophets delcribe them by, wherein the 
 Dregs are thrown upwards, and thofe at Top 
 fink to the Bottom, and no Man is fure of his 
 (landing 5 nor can the moft Penetrating , fee 
 through the muddinefs of the Medium , to 
 guefs when, how, or where, the Commotions 
 will fettle. Different Humours, Inclinations, 
 Defigns, Interefts, Pafiions, when that which 
 kept them all in awe, is taken off, when many 
 think themfelves to be upon an equal Bottom 
 to advife and irnpofe, will make work for the 
 .moft cunning and refolved Head 5 unexpected 
 Incidents will fall in, to difturb the beft-laid 
 Meafures, and at laft the generality, weary of 
 the many Changes, in every one of which 
 they are fure to be Lofers, will hanker after 
 the Government they were formerly accu- 
 ftomed to, not without Indignation againft 
 thofe that abufed them to aft againft their 
 own Peace. 
 
 Of thofe Nobles and Gentlemen, who be- 
 gan the War, that ended in the Ruine of the 
 Monarchy, how few lived to fee the end of 
 it> How much fewer were Gainers by it > 
 Nor did any one of them hold Jong the 
 
 D Power
 
 ( 2* ) 
 
 Power, they had ufurp'd. The Houfe of 
 Commons* having laid afide their King firft, 
 and then the Houfe of Lords, were themfelve*, 
 many of them, purged and imprifon'd, and the- 
 Remainder of them, at laft Ditfblv'd, againft 
 their Wills. The Council of Officers that fuc- 
 ceeded them, could neither (land againft the 
 Pra&ifes of the Agitators , and Levellers , 
 who by the fame Methods confounded the 
 Officers, as they had before confounded the 
 Parliament. They therefore devolved their 
 Power , to a Centumvirate , that had not 
 Strength to fubfift Six Months, but deliver- 
 ed all up to a Protector, who formed a mock 
 Houfe of Commons, and Lords. After his 
 Death, the Diftempers encreafed , under a 
 Committee of Safety, and then under a Coun- 
 cil of State, until a free Parliament was cho- 
 fen that reftored the Monarchy again. So 
 true is the Obfervation , the (aid excellent 
 Hiftorian hath made , that it quickly apfzars 
 ^ ift - how nnfecure new Jnftitutions of Government 
 " are :, and when the Contrivers of them have 
 provided, as they thinly, agninft all m'tfchievottf 
 Contingencies^ they find they have unwarily left 
 it G.?p open, to let their Dtftnittion in upon 
 
 them. 
 
 Nor is their Sin lefs than their Folly, that 
 praftife againft Government, or Icffen the Pvc- 
 verence and Efteem People ought to have for ir, 
 by Male-adminiftration. Trace it np to its true 
 Canfes, and you di (cover Pride, Envy, Cove-* 
 tonfnefs. Ambition, Malice, Revenge,, and flich 
 
 un-
 
 f 27 ) 
 
 urtfflortified Lufts, to. be the real Principles of 
 fuch Men's Acting. Publick good, Reforma- 
 tion of Abufes, and Zeal for Religion, are ever 
 pretended, and as conftantly invaded, in the 
 Courfe of fuch Proceedings, till at laft the well- 
 meaning, that for the fake of thefe were drawn 
 in to affift, find themfelves cheated out of them 
 all. Where thefe are indeed at Heart, one will 
 be tender of hazarding the Safety of the 
 Whole, unlefs that be plainly to be preferved, 
 no other Way. They are wicked Quacks 
 in Politicks, who poifon the whole Body, for 
 the flopping of fome Tetters and Ring-worms, 
 that darken the Skin. 
 
 Follow it in the Steps and Means of putting 
 it in execution, and no Sin is more complicated, 
 than Treafon and Rebellion. What Hypocrily, 
 what Lying, what Breach of Promifes, what 
 Perjuries, are committed to encourage others 
 into a Dependance, and to conceal the true 
 Intention? What Injuftice and Cruelty, tode- 
 prels thofe that (land in the Way, or to encreafe 
 the Numbers of a Party ? What Ingratitude to 
 old Friends, when it is thought feafonable to 
 contract new ones> Unwarrantable Enterprizes 
 require neceflarily unwarrantable Ways of 
 carrying them on. 
 
 View the Sin in its Effefts and they are 
 known to fpread into all Rinds of Sin, 
 and all Forms of Mifery. The Confequence 
 of the Fall of fettled Government, is no 
 Government, and that is a DiiTolution of all 
 natural, as well as legal Rights, of all Order 
 
 D 2 and
 
 ( 28 ) 
 
 and Difcipline and Purity in Religion. The 
 Juft Refult of inveterate Oppofition to Govern- 
 ment, is a War, a bloody Civil War, which 
 tramples upon all the Offices of Relation and 
 Affection, and effaces the Principles of Mora- 
 lity, and even Humanity, which fcatters Ca- 
 lamity upon the Innocent, and entails Defo- 
 lation upon the Unborn. And fhall not thefe 
 Things, be hateful to God, who glories in the 
 Titles of Lover of Mankind, and the Patron 
 of the OpprefTed, who re Joyces in the Profpe- 
 rity of his Servants, and declares himfelf a fe- 
 vere Avenger againft them that (bed Man's 
 Blood caufelefly ? Doubtlefs, God firft formed 
 Societies,as the mod comprehenfive Way of pro- 
 viding for the Well-being of Mankind $ and he 
 has therefore guarded them under Chriftianity, 
 by fo many pofitive Precepts of Obedience to 
 the Governors thereof, and thofe he has again 
 enforced, with Entreaties, Promifcs and Threat- 
 nings. Snbmit your felves, faith God by St. 
 2Pet.ii.i5. Peter to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lord's 
 fake. Whether to the King as fuprewe, or Go- 
 vernors fent by him. If there be any Concern 
 f>r the Honour and Love of Chrift, who is 
 t'le Saviour of all Men, (hew it, in giving 
 Honour to Governors, who arefent by him, for 
 the Punifiment of evil-doers, and the Pratfe of 
 them that do well. 
 
 St. Pa M I exhorts Timothy to fray fir 
 Kings, and all tkat are in Authority, (and 
 what we 'pray for, we are to endeavour 
 
 after.
 
 ( 29 
 
 after,) as the Way to lead quiet 
 
 tie Lives in all Godlinejt and Honefty, 
 
 and as it is a Thing good and acceptable 
 
 in the Sight of God our Saviour. He com- lT - ... 
 
 mands to turn away from the traiterovs and 5. 
 
 heady^ and high-minded^ that (hall arife in 
 
 perillow Times. And for them that do 
 
 other wife, he declares, by ref fling the Power, ^ om< Xlii 
 
 they refift the Ordinance of God , and they 
 
 that refift) //jail receive to themfelves Dam- 
 
 nation. 
 
 Thefe Texts, out of feveral others, are e- 
 nough to fhew, that many Precepts muft be 
 tranfgreffed, many Promifes forfeited, many 
 Threats incurred, by the Fa&ious and Re- 
 bellious ^ they will be anfwerable for all 
 the Sins, and all the Evils, that are unavoid- 
 able , in the Profecution of this wicked 
 Affair, and that is a Load big enough, to 
 frighten him, that has the leaft Feeling of 
 Confcience, from caufing, or medling in 
 National Difturbances. 
 
 To br ng home in few Words, the Sub- 
 ftance of what hath been faid, to our par- 
 .ticular Circumftances. No Nation under 
 Heaven, enjoyed greater Profperity and Hap- 
 pinefs, than ours did, till they deprived them- 
 felves thereof by running into a Civil War, 
 that deftroy'd the KING and the Conftitution. 
 We began again to flourith, through God's 
 good Providence, as the Government fet- 
 tled again, upon its ancient Bafis^ and we feem- 
 ed, a while fenfible of the Bleffing:,- but af- 
 ter
 
 
 ter a long Peace, the Remembrance of the 
 Evils they had 1 fuffered, wore off fcdth in 
 King, and People. At length, when a King 
 . of another Religion was poffefs'd of the 
 Throne, and -he - ruled by Popifti and 
 Foreign Councils, an unnatural Confpira- 
 cy of the Head againft the Members, ap- 
 peared as evident as the Sun-mine: Our 
 Conftitution and Holy Religion, were to be 
 offered a Sacrifice to Popery 5 our Liberties 
 and our Conferences, were to be enflaved, 
 to thofe at Rowe, that regard neither. 
 
 Thefe Fears awakened us, and brought us to 
 be of one Mind, and fo made way for that 
 Wonderful Revolution , tin at fived us then 
 from imminent Ruine, and was worth all the 
 Ex pence, and Hazard we run in a tedious 
 War afterwards to defend it, as it procured 
 for us, the Settlement under his prefent Ma- 
 jefty, who is the only Prince we know,. be- 
 fide his next Title in the Proteftant Blood, 
 every ways qualified, to preferve to us the 
 Fruits of that Deliverance. 
 
 Under him, we may reafonably promife our 
 felves as happy Days, as have been feen, in 
 ar.v Rei:;n, before Him, if we our felves do 
 not hinder. There is no faving People againft 
 their Wills. Let us that are Subjects, be con- 
 tent to be made Happy, and we may expeft 
 every Thing clfe, that is in the Power of a 
 good Governor, from the KING'S good DiG- 
 pofirion, and good Intentions for the Publkfc 
 Welfare. 
 
 God
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 God hath given us the Eftablifhment we 
 were anxioufly contriving, and praying, and 
 refolved to dye for, after the Demife of the 
 late pious Queen. It is our Part , not to de- 
 feat the Benefit of it, now we have it: Nor by 
 unfeafonable Divifions (hew we know not what 
 wiJl fatisfy us. The curfed Tragedy of This 
 Day, calleth upon us, to watch over the Paf- 
 fions, and Beginnings, that led into fo mon- 
 ftrous a Wickednefs. It warns us, not to cre- 
 dit every Appearance $ not to magnify little 
 Miftakes , incident to the Beft Humane Go- 
 vernments, into malicious Defigns 3 not to 
 carry any imagined Grievance, into an Appeal 
 to the common People 5 and efpecially, not to 
 engage too far- in Party Difputes, fo as in de- 
 fpair of Pardon and Reconciliation, not to be 
 able to retire, nor proceed with Safety. 
 
 It will be to no purpofe , that we bewail 
 the great Sin of this Day, if we be ready to 
 repeat it any other Day , againft our prefent 
 Governour. That Loyalty is a mere Cloak 
 of Malicioufnefs, which is fo exbaufted upon 
 the Perfon of the Martyred King, as to have 
 no Zeal left for the Service of our living 
 King. But if our behaviour to 'Him, be like 
 that of Men, that do indeed abhor their 
 Praftifes, then it will appear, we are grown 
 Wifer and Better, by former Mifcarriages, and 
 God himfelf will be pleafed, that fo great De- 
 liverances, and lo fignal Mercies, have not 
 been quite thrown away upon us. He will 
 continue to grant m his Salvation , as hg 
 
 fees
 
 ( 32 ) 
 
 Tees we do net prepare to turn agaW to 
 
 'folly. 
 
 May God; the Giver of all Grate, difpoTe 
 jur Hearts , to mind the Things that belong 
 to our Peace, before they be hid from our Eyes, 
 for the Sake of Chrift Jefus, to whom with 
 the Father, and Holy Ghoft, be all Honour and 
 Praife for evermore. Amen. 
 
 FIN IS. 
 
 A Sermon preach'd before the King, at the 
 Royal Chapel at St. James's, on Chriftwat-Day, 
 1717. By the Right Reverend Father in GOD, 
 EDWARD Lord Bittiop of Coventry and 
 Uckfdd. Ptiblijtfd bj Hff Majeftys Special Com- 
 mand. Price 4 d. 
 
 A Sermon "preach'd at the Cathedral-Church 
 of Worcester ^ on the jth of June 1716. Being 
 the Day of Thankfgiving for the Bleffing of 
 God, &c. in fupprefling the late Unnatural 
 Rebellion. By . CHANDLER, D.D. 
 (now Lord Bimrp of Coventry and Lichfield.) 
 
 Printed for James Knaptw, at the Crown in 
 St, PattFs Church Yard, Price 4 d.
 
 
 
 
 The &oneft and the dijlooneft 
 ways of getting WE A LT H. 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 PREACH'D in the 
 
 P A R I S H - C H U R 'G H 
 F 
 
 St. Mary, k Bow, 
 
 On SUNDAY., November 20. 1720. 
 
 By SAMUEL Lord Bifliop of Carlile. 
 
 L N D - N: 
 
 Printed for JOHN W YAT, at the Rofe in 
 St. Parts Church-yard. M DCG XX. 

 
 :. CJ
 
 PROV. XIII. ir. 
 
 health gotten ly vanity Jhall be 
 diminifked : but he that gather eth 
 by labour, Jhall increafe. 
 
 Might begin my difcourfe on 
 this Text with thofe words 
 of our blefled Saviour., with 
 a little variation j This <^/ 
 is this Scripture fulfilled be- 
 fore your Eyes. The great diforder and 
 confufion which an eager defire of wealth 
 has of late occafionM amongft us, and the 
 grievous Difappointments which many 
 have met with in the irregular purfuit of 
 It, made me judge this a very proper Sub- 
 for our prefent meditation. 
 
 A 2 
 
 They
 
 The honeH and the dtfhonest 
 
 They are the words of Solomon, the 
 wife King of Ifrael, concerning the regular 
 and irregular ways of getting wealth - y 
 founded upon reafoo, and probably" upon 
 the Experience alfo which he might have 
 had in'divers.inftances 3 and having., like 
 many other fayings in this book., no depen- 
 dance upon what goes before., or follows 
 after thern^ are to be confiderM by them- 
 felves 5 for the clearer under ftand ing of 
 which., it may not be amifs to obferve very 
 briefly., how they are rendered in other 
 tranflations. In the vulgar Latin they are 
 thus rendered., Subftance gotten hafiily flail 
 be diminiflSd : but that which is gathered by 
 the band gradually [by little and little^ ft all 
 be multiplied. In the Septuagint^ thus,, 
 Sub fiance h aft /ly gotten with iniquity is kf- 
 Cetid : but he that gathereth to himfelf iv'nh 
 godlinefs fhall abound [ or Jl all have h/y 
 Jubftatice multiplied.^ The Syriac ti anflation 
 is much to the fame purpofe., Wealth gotten 
 by Iniquity foall be diminiftfd : but that 
 which is gathered with jnftice Jkall increase. 
 The Arabic- reads it thu*, Wealth which is 
 greedily fought with iniquity foall fail : bttf 
 he that gathereth to himfelf with good advice, 
 
 his
 
 'ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 bis fubftance fidll be multiplied.. And to 
 name no more, the Chaldee Paraphrafe thus 
 express it., Wealth gottten by the iniquity 
 of the poffeffor fhall be dimmified : and he 
 that gatherjeth and givetb to the poor Jlall 
 multiply his riches. From all theie tranfla-r 
 tions compared together^ we may conclude 
 the plain meaning of Solomon in thefe 
 words to be this^ That an eager defire of 
 being haftily rich_J which tempts men to 
 the feeking of wealth by falfe, deceitful., 
 unrighteous and indirect means, regarding 
 themfelves only., and not others., is likely 
 tO'meet with difapppintment, if not in at- 
 taining the. wealth thus fought^ yet in its 
 foon failing and wafting away. Whereas 
 on the other hand., the inoft likely means 
 of attaining fuch>a degree of wealth as is 
 convenient for us., and which we may 
 reafonably hope may continue with us and 
 with our children after us,, is the way of 
 Labour and Induftry in our refpeftive fta^ 
 tions and callings., whilft we walk carefully 
 in the paths of piety towards God., and 
 juftice and charity towards men ., thus 
 gradually gathering that meafure of wealtk 
 which is be ft for us^ as the proper reconv 
 3 . pence
 
 The honest and tie dijhoneH 
 
 pence of .our being well employed 3 in 
 bufinefs profitable to others as well as to 
 our felves. 
 
 In order to the difcourfing ufefully on 
 this fubjeft., I propofe the following me- 
 thod. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I. To fliew what degree of wealth a 
 good man., particularly a good Chriftian., 
 is allowed to defire ancf leek after. 
 
 II. To fliew by what means he is al- 
 lowed to fcek it, and is in the faireft way 
 of obtaining and preferving it. 
 
 III. To fliew farther which are the un- 
 lawful and indirect ways of endeavouring 
 to obtain it., and the moft unlikely to fe- 
 cure and prefcrve it 
 
 IV. To make fome Application of the 
 whole to our felves. 
 
 I. Let us confider, What degree of 
 wealth a good mair, particularly a good 
 Chriftian,, is allowed to defire and feek 
 after. 
 
 i . Now there can be no queftion but 
 that fuch an one may defire and fcek after 
 fo much as is neccflary to fupply all his rea! 3 
 
 not
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 not imaginary wants., in the ftation in 
 which Providence hath placed him ^ but 
 with this condition added, That if it fhall 
 pleafe God to remove him to a lower fta- 
 tion than that in which he is at prcfent, 
 he fhall then be contented with what 
 fhall be fufficient for him in thefe circum- 
 ftances. 
 
 It is fit and good., and God hath wifely 
 fo orderM it, that particular men fliould 
 be placed jn different flattens., for the be- 
 nefit of the whole Society of mankind ^ 
 and it is evident., that what is truly a com- 
 petency for men in one ftatioo, is not fo 
 for thofe in another., to enable them to 
 live comfortably, and to aft their parts 
 decently ; and therefore the meafure of 
 our defires and endeavours after wealth 
 fhould be taken from the ftation of life., 
 in which Providence hath thought fit to 
 place us, we being contented with the 
 ftation in which we find our felves,, and 
 "with fo much as will decently provide for 
 us and our families in it. Not but that., 
 if without our ufing any irregular methods,, 
 and without any inordinate folicitude on 
 our partj it fhall pleafe God by his Provi- 
 dence
 
 8 The faonest and the dijhonest 
 
 dence to open a fair way for us,, to better 
 our prefent ftation., it will then become 
 reafonable for us to enlarge our defires 
 and endeavours after .a Provision propor- 
 tionable, provided ftill,, as I faid before, 
 that if Providence fliall deprefs us to *a 
 Nation lower tha'n that in which we at 
 prefent are, our deilres and endeavours 
 after wealth be .always reftraio'd within 
 die bounds proper to our condition. 
 
 This is highly reafonable in it fclf/ and 
 \vhat our Chriftian profeffion certainly 
 
 * Tim. v. obliges us to. Having food and raiment > 
 kt us be therewith content,. faith St. Faul^ 
 which words fuppofe a Chriftian to be in 
 one of the meaneft ftations of human 
 life., fo as to have no more s than food to 
 eat., and raiment to put on, and even in 
 that ftate require him to be content , not 
 to murmur or repine againft Providence 
 on account of his narrow allowance. 
 In like manner the Writer to the Hebrews 
 
 neb. xiii. ad vifes., Let your conversation be withont covet' 
 Mifneffj and be content with fitch things as yon 
 have. It is indeed the great defign of 
 Chriftianity., to make us throughly fehfi- 
 
 ble
 
 'ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 ble that our happinefs does not confift in 
 any of the enjoyments . and pofieffions of 
 this world r and therefore to raife up our 
 thoughts to things above ; to create in us a 
 great indifference to every thing here be- 
 low j to make us perfectly eafy and well 
 fatisfied with whatever condition of Life 
 Providence frtal! aillgn us j and confequent- 
 ly to teach us not eagerly to dcfire or feek 
 after any more wealth, than may be a 
 competent., that is., a moderate provifion 
 for the ftation we arc in. 
 
 But it may be faid., Are we then to be 
 (tinted juft to an allowance fufficient to 
 defray the charges of our particular fta- 
 tions? Is it unlawful confequently- for a 
 good Chriftian to increafe his wealth to a 
 greater degree, fo that he may be faid not 
 only to have what is. barely fufficient., but 
 qven to abound? as Solomon in the Te>ct 
 feems to promife^ that be that gatheretb by 
 Labour Jlall mcreafe. To this I fay in the 
 fecond place^ 
 
 a . That although no good man., parti- 
 cularly no good Chriftian ought to extend 
 his deiires or endeavours^ with folicitude 
 beyond the limits I have mention^ yet he 
 
 B may
 
 10 
 
 The honett and the di/honeff 
 
 may lawfully increase his wealth,, and may 
 poffibly by degrees come to abound in. 
 riches., as a due recompence for extraordi- 
 nary diligence or uncommon skill in fome 
 art, profefiion., or employment fcrviceable 
 to the Community of which he is a mem- 
 ber., taking care at the fame time to be 
 no way injurious to the publick,, or to any 
 particular member of the fociety : that is 
 in other words,, Although he fhould be no 
 farther concern'd., than for food and rai- 
 ment convenient for hiin^ and thofe that 
 appertain to him., in his prcfent ftation 
 yet he may lawfully acquire a greater mea- 
 iure of wealth in the ufe of lawful means 
 of obtaining it; which brings me to the 
 next general Head which I proposed., 
 
 II. To fliew by what means he is al- 
 low'd to feek fuch increafe of his wealthy 
 and is in the faireft way of obtaining and- 
 preferving it. 
 
 Now this is plainly marked out by So- 
 lomon in my Text,, He that gatheretb by la 
 hour fiall increafe ' where by Labour is to 
 be underftood, diligence and induftry in 
 pur lawful and honeft Callings, whatfoever 
 
 they*
 
 ways of getting Wealth \ \ 
 
 they be ^ the employing the powers and 
 faculties with which God hath indued us 3 
 whether of body or mind r to the purpo- 
 ies for which they were beftow'd upon us. 
 Immediately' after the fall of our fir ft Pa- 
 rents,, God declared to Adam y and in him 
 t3 all his Pofterity., That m the fiveat ofGer. 
 his face be jJjould eat his bread, until 1 
 he jlould return to the ground out of- 
 which he was taken. And although every 
 particular defceridant from Adam is not 
 appointed to be a Tiller of the ground, 
 or to be engaged in hard bodily labour ; 
 yet every man that comes into the world 
 has his proper work afllgn'd him by the 
 ^reat Lord of all, in doing which he is 
 obliged to exercife proper care and in- 
 duftry., not to live an rdle and unprofita- 
 ble life., but to be conftantly employed in 
 fome bufinefs tending to the benefit of the 
 whole Community in which he lives, and 
 to labour therein with the powers and fa- 
 culties of his body, or his mind., or both. 
 Had men remainM in the ftate of inno- 
 cence^ it cannot be doubted but that they 
 would have had work afilgn'd them fuitable 
 to that ftate/hough with lefs labour and dif- 
 
 B 2 ficulty
 
 1 2 The hwieB and the dtfhoneft 
 
 ficulty than fince the fall. But fince our 
 degenerate Eftate labour is become more 
 neceflary, both to make us humble in a 
 ienfe of our folly "Sn difobeying our- 
 Maker $ and that by taking pains in fome 
 honeft and ufeful employment., we may be 
 prefervM from evil courfes., and become 
 ufeful members of the great body of man- 
 kind. And this our Chriftian profeilion 
 particularly obliges us to. Our Lord 
 Mark xiii. compares himfelf to a man taking a fan 
 34- journey j who left his houfe^ and gave Au~. 
 thority to bis ftr<vants, and to every mam 
 his work. And St. Paul puts Chriftiam 
 ii, in mind, that being many they are. one body 
 ' in Chrift^ and every one members one of ano- 
 ther . exhorting them from that confide- 
 ration to ufe and improve the gifts be- 
 jftowM upon each of them to the benefit 
 of the whole body^ admonifliing them 
 not to be flothful in bufineffj that is^ in 
 any bunnefs in which they were properly, 
 employed., but to be fervent in fpirit fee ving 
 the Lord. 
 
 God hath in great wifdom given variety 
 of abilities to men., fuitable to the feveral 
 frations of life for which he hath dcfign'd
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 them, that every one keeping his own fta- 
 tion., and employing his refpeflive abili- 
 ties in doing his own work., all might re- 
 ceive advantage. And in truth., the feve - 
 ral Employments of human life^ and the 
 feveral Abilities which we have for the* 
 .difcharging them., are to be accounted fa 
 many Talents committed to our trufr., not 
 for our own profit merely., but for the> 
 benefit of others alfo * and whilft we are 
 faithfully and diligently difcharging this 
 Truft., it is the proper way for obtaining' 
 that competency of wealth which \ve are- 
 feekingj and of increafing it too. This is 
 the natural and the appointed recompence 
 of our Labour and diligence in our re- 
 fpe&ive Callings., that whilft we* are in our 
 feveral places promoting the benefit of the 
 whole Body., we fliall at the fame time 
 reap profit to our felves alfo., the Labour 
 and induftry of every other member re-* 
 dounding to our benefit., as much as ours 
 does to theirs., and all together confpiiing: 
 to the general good. In confequence of 
 which alfo, if any of us exercife extraor- 
 dinary diligence,, or employ uncommon 
 skill., in the difcharge of our. part; an ex- 
 
 traordi-
 
 1 4. The honest and the dijhmesl 
 
 traordinary increafe of wealth is the natu- 
 ral,, and the juft confequence of our fo 
 doing. 
 
 Nor need we fear the not finding our 
 own account, whilft we are thus perform- 
 ing the duties of our place and ftation., 
 when we confider, that this is accord! ng, 
 
 o 
 
 to the Order which God hath appointed to 
 mankind., which therefore if we duly ob- 
 ferve, he will not fail to add his Blefllng., 
 which alone can give fuccefs' to us in 
 the life of our beft skill and diligence,, 
 according to the faying of the wife 
 man., The bleffing of the Lord it maketb 
 rich j and be addeth no forrow with it. 
 It is the Lord only who can make our in- 
 duftry an " effeclual means of increasing 
 our wealth ; and if we are not wanting on 
 our part., we need not doubt of his giving 
 fuch fuccefs to our induftry, as he fliall fee 
 truly bcft for us. For this is always to be 
 remembered., that God hath no where pro- 
 mis'd, to make the beft and moft faithful 
 of his fcrvants rich in this world. He 
 knows what is iitteft for every one of them, 
 and that abundance of wealth would be 
 exceedingly dangerous to fome tempers., 
 
 and
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 iM^MM^M^HMMMMMMVMM^^^^^M^H^^MMa^M^M^^M^^MM^MI^Mi^^HMM^H^S^^m 
 
 and in that cafe it is from his fpecial favour 
 to them,, that he reftrains them from great 
 increafe. But thus far they may fafely 
 depend upon him., that if in their refpe- 
 flive ftafions they do what becomes them, 
 he will not fail to blefs them with fuch 
 increafe as he knows to be moft proper for 
 them. Whilft they feek the kingdom of Cod Mate. vi. 
 and his right sou fnejs in the fir ft place, he 3 
 will certainly add all temporal blefllngs 
 which lie (hall fee needful and truly good 
 for them. 
 
 This therefore is all that I (hall add un- 
 der this Head., That together with our L^- . 
 hour and induftry in our feveral Callings, 
 we take care., according to fome of the 
 tranflations of my Text., to add Piety to* 
 wards God, together w r ith Juftice and 
 Charity towards men j that we gather 
 wealth with godlinefs^ as one of them 
 fpeaksj with Jufiice^ as another^ without 
 iniquity , as others , and laftly, that whilft 
 we are gathering to our felves we alfo give 
 to the poor, as the Chaldee Paraphrafe ad- 
 moniflies. This is the reafonable , the 
 proper, the likely means of gathering and 
 increasing wealth. This is the fure way of, 
 
 obtain-
 
 1 6 Tie fanest and the dijhonest 
 
 obtaining the blefllng of God, either to 
 increase OUT wealth and multiply it 5 if he 
 ' (hall fee that to be good for us j or elfe., 
 which is better., to deny us that meafure 
 of wealth which would endanger- our fpi- 
 ritual and eternal welfare. But I proceed 
 to that which I proposM in the next place., 
 
 III. To mew which are the unlawful 
 and indirect ways of endeavouring after 
 wealth,, and the mod unlikely to fecure 
 and preferve it to us. And they are fuch 
 as the wife man points out in thofe words^ 
 Wealth gotten by vanity. 
 
 Now without queftioR, all wealth got- 
 ten by falfliood and injuftice, by extortion 
 and oppreiHon., by fecret fraud or open 
 violence., may be properly faid to be got* 
 ten by vanity, according to the common 
 fignification of that word., which in divers 
 of theTranflations I have mentioned is ren- 
 dei'M by iniquity, under which will be 
 comprifed all little arts of impofing upon 
 the ignorance and unskilfulnefs of thofe 
 with whom we have to do j in a word_, 
 whatever is plainly contrary to the known 
 
 Rules
 
 'ways of getting Wealth. 1 7 
 
 rules of truth, juftice and equity in traf- 
 fick and commerce one with another. 
 This will be readily ownM by all that pro- 
 fefs to believe the eternal and unalterable 
 difference between moral good and evil., 
 between truth and falfliood., right and 
 wrong. 
 
 But this is not all that Solomon feems to 
 intend here ; at leaft he has fet this matter 
 in a view which is not commonly obferv'd, 
 his meaning by the word Vanity being 
 more extenfive., as it ftands in this place., 
 than it is ordinarily taken to be., fo as to 
 include in it whatfoever methods of get- 
 ting wealth are oppofite to the other way 
 that he here mentions, of gathering by la-, 
 hour. He plainly fets thefe two in op- 
 pofition.one to the other., getting wealth 
 by vanity, and gathering by labour, condemn- 
 ing one, and approving the other ; as if 
 he would intimate., that the only proper 
 method ordainM by God., and fit for men 
 to ufe 5 in order to the increafing their 
 fubftance, were that of Labour, or in- 
 duftry., and that all other methods were 
 ways of vanity. 
 
 C Not
 
 1 8 The hone ft and the di/honeff 
 
 Not but that an honed man., and a 
 good Chriftian rnay fairly poffefs and 
 thankfully enjoy wealth., which he himfelf 
 has not acquired by Labour 3 but which it 
 may be has defcended to him from his An- 
 ceftors ; or has been freely beftowYI upon 
 him by fuch as have born particular friend- 
 "fhip to him j or has otherwife come into 
 his hands providentially 5 without any care 
 or labour of his own, but at the fame time 
 without any the leaft injury to any parti- 
 cular perfon., or to the community in ge- 
 neral. But that which my Text fpeaks of., ' 
 and of which I am now difcourftng, is 
 men's getting or gathering to themjelves 
 wealth^ or increasing what they already 
 have. Now the only way proper for 
 men thus to acquire or increase their weak rr, 
 is, according to the declaration of the 
 wife man., that of Labour or Induftry in 
 the Station or Galling in which Providence 
 hath placed them., according to the Ac- 
 count I have given of that Matter under 
 my laft Head. 
 
 And this appears reafonable., becaufe., as 
 f there obterv\1, every particular man^.by 
 thus exercifing his Libour y induftry or skill 
 
 in
 
 ways of getting Wealth. j 9 
 
 * in his proper Station^ becomes fefviceable to 
 the whole Community^ and to every par- 
 ticular Member of it 5 * and it is very fit 
 that he from whom others receive benefit, 
 fhould at the fame. time > and by the fame 
 means reap profit to himfelf, as a juft re- 
 compence of fuch his care and diligence. 
 Whereas on the contrary., if a man by 
 being negligent or flothful in his proper 
 bufinefs becomes ufelefs to others, there 
 can be no Reafon why he fliould expeft 
 any fuch recompence., or why he fliould 
 reap benefit by the labour of others., who 
 reap none by his : and much more would 
 it be unreasonable for fuch a Man to in- 
 creafe his own wealth to the prejudice and 
 injury of the Community., or of other 
 private Perfons in it. 
 
 And it is for this Reafon amongft others 5 
 that Gaming is accounted an unlawful 
 way of increasing wealth. I fpeak not of 
 what is ufed only for innocent diversion 
 and recreation., without mifpending any 
 confiderable part of our time or fubftancej 
 but of getting or increasing to our felvcs 
 wealth in that way. Befides the wafting 
 of a great .many precious hours of life., 
 C 2 ch
 
 2o The honeH and the diJhoneH 
 
 which ought to be employed to fome wife 
 and good purpofes ; befides the living in 
 a way below the diftates of Reafon^ and 
 much befide the end for which men are 
 Tent into being j befides all the other in- 
 conveniences and temptations to which 
 Gaining expofes men ; this confederation 
 alone would make it criminal,, that men 
 hereby feek to increafe their wealth,, with- 
 out having any Title to it by ufing the 
 proper means appointed by God to thatr 
 end., and this at the fame time to the in- 
 jury of thofe that are engaged with them. 
 Men thus employed are not exercifing their 
 Skill and Induftry in the Stations and Cal- 
 lings allotted to them, .by Providence., 
 and therefore no recompence can be due 
 to them. Befides that what the one gains,, 
 the other certainly lofes j" by fo much as 
 the one increafes his fubftance., by juft fo; 
 much the fubftance of the other is dimini- 
 (he a ' and no advantage gained by either 
 of them to the Community., but real 
 lots., in having its members not employed 
 in any work that redounds to the good of 
 the whole., but mifpcnding that time which 
 ought to be fo employed^ idly and unpro- 
 
 fitably.
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 fitably.. -Whereas in the other way of La- 
 hour and Induftry,, the man who increafeth 
 his own wealth., helps to increafe that of 
 others alfo^ and all together carry on the 
 publick Good. As for Inftance., in all 
 lawful trade and commerce., both the ho- 
 ncft buyer and feller are well employed., 
 each of them propofing a reafonable gain 
 and advantage to himfelf, whilft at the 
 fame time both of them are promoting 
 the benefit of the whole Society of which? 
 they are members. And the fame holds 
 true in all other employments fit for the 
 ufe of reafonable creatures united in one 
 comtnon Body. 
 
 Now in like manner as it is in the cafe 
 of Gaming., fo ( what I would propofe to 
 your ferious confideration at this feafon ) 
 every other way, by what name foever it 
 may be calPd.,. of a private man's in- 
 creafing his wealth., to the apparent lofs 
 and injitry of other, particular men., or 
 to the detriment of the Community to 
 which he appertains., I take to be an indi- 
 refiy and therefore an unlawful way of gain- 
 ing. If by the way and method in which 
 one man is a gainer., another muft neceflari- 
 
 4
 
 2 r> The hone ft and tfie difhoneH 
 
 ly be a lofer; if the increafing his wealth 
 is manifcftly by the diminifliing the others, 
 and this without any real defert on the 
 one fide,, or forfeiture on the other , and 
 at the fame time no way to the advan- 
 tage., but to the apparent detriment of 
 the Community j this is a way and me- 
 thod in which I do not fee how any good . 
 man., and efpecially how any genuine 
 Chriftian can allow himfelf. 
 
 How much of this kind has lately been 
 prafiifed amongft us,, and to which of the 
 diviilons in my Text fuch ga^n is to be re- 
 duced, that of gathering by labour y or get- 
 ting by vanity 5 and confequently how far 
 men may rcafonably .expect to have their 
 fubftance increased or diminiftfd by fuch 
 practice., I leave to the confideration of 
 thofe that hear me., not thinking it proper 
 in fuch a difcourfe as this, to defcend to 
 particulars. 
 
 If it be faid., Nothing is done" in this . 
 cafe but by confent on both fides,, the 
 gainer and the lofer aft voluntarily both 
 alike,, and confequently there is no injury 
 done in the cafe. 5 Tis true, they do both 
 ail: voluntarily ; but it is the very fame 
 
 cafe
 
 of getting Wealth. 
 
 cafe in gaming, the winner and the lofer 
 
 agree voluntarily to run the hazard j and 
 
 yetj as I fliew'd before,, that may be ne- 
 
 ver thelefs a criminal way of increasing 
 
 wealth., as I believe all good Cafuifts will 
 
 allow. In fliort, If in thefe ways wealth 
 
 is gotten by vanity., as that {lands in oppo- 
 
 fition to gathering by labour or induftry r 
 
 the wife man here declares that it fhatt le 
 
 diminished, it has no good foundation., 
 
 nothing to juftify the acquiring it 3 it is 
 
 againft the Order in which God hath al~ 
 
 low'd and directed men to proceed in 
 
 .acquiring what is convenient for them^v 
 
 and cqpfequently what men have reafon to 
 
 expeft that the God of Truth and Juftice 
 
 will not profper, they cannot reafonably f 
 
 ask nor expeft tha-t his bleffing fhould at- 
 
 tend them j whilft they are taking an indi- 
 
 re9: way ; but muft be forced to acknow- 
 
 ledge his righteoufnefs., etcher in" dtfap- 
 
 pointing their endeavours, or in caufing- 
 
 wealth this gotten to wafte away and be- 
 
 diminijtfd. But I proceed to what I pror* 
 
 gos'd in the laft place^ .*?!%;*, 
 
 IV. To.
 
 24. The haneH and the drfbwitft 
 
 IV. To make fome Application to our 
 felves of what has been faid on this Sub- 
 
 i. We may obferve,, from this Maxim 
 laid down in the Text by Solomon, the Wilf- 
 dom and Juftice of Almighty God in his 
 difpenfations towards the children of men, 
 even in this life., in order 'to the encou- 
 raging Virtue ^ and the difcountenancing 
 Vice. It is true, the great rewards of re- 
 ligion and virtue., and the fignal punifh- 
 ments of irreligion and vice., are referved 
 for the world to come : but even in this 
 prefent life., the following the Order .which 
 God hath appointed in our a&ions., natu- 
 rally tends to our worldly profperity^ 
 and the declining that Order -has the fame 
 like natural tendency to difappointment 
 and lofs. Bcfides that the fpecial blefling 
 of God is only to be looked for in the 
 former method., and his blafting our de- 
 fig ns and endeavours to be juftly feared 
 in the latter. What the wife man obferves 
 in my Text was certainly true in his time,, 
 and has been and will be fo in all ages., 
 that generally fpeaking. Wealth gotten by 
 
 vanity
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 2 5 
 
 vanity is diminifbed: whilftie that gat hereth 
 by labour iticreafetb. Whilft Men attend 
 to the Rules which God hath prefcribed 
 to them, either by Reafon, or by farther 
 Revelation, they are in the way in which 
 they may ask and hope for his bl effing : 
 when they lay afide thofe Rules, ceafing 
 to walk in the plain paths of rightcouf- 
 nefs, and following their ow*i vain imagi- 
 nations and contrivances, they cannot have 
 the face to defire him to blefs and profper 
 them, but muft rather fear that he would 
 difappoint them in the ufe of fuch indi- 
 rect means. 
 
 2. From what I have been difcourfing 
 it will appear very fit for every one t)f us 
 ferioufly to reflect and impartially to confi- 
 nder with our felves, what part we have 
 had in the late unhappy Management of 
 Affairs amongft us, from whence fo many 
 diforders and complaints have arifen ; and 
 accordingly what is now our proper Bufi- 
 nefs, what it becomes us., as good Men., 
 and ferious Chriftians, to do in our pre- 
 fent circumftances; 
 
 I hope there are none here prefent who 
 have been guilty of knowingly and wil- 
 
 D fully
 
 2(5 The hone ft and ihe di/honeH 
 
 fully contriving to injure their neighbours., 
 and to betray the intereft of their Couti- 
 try 3 in order to the heaping up wealth to 
 themfelves. Thofe that can be guilty of 
 fuch a Crime., muft be fo far from defer- 
 ving the name of Chriftians., that they 
 are to be reckoned among ft the vile ft and 
 moft diflfoneft part of mankind j and how- 
 ever they may fare amongft men^ they 
 ought to know and to confider, that they 
 cannot have the leaft hope of the favour 
 of God., till they have exercifed a very 
 deep repentance for their heinous fin., and 
 made all the fatisfacYion that Ires in their 
 power to thofe who have been injured 
 by them. It is univerfally allowed, 
 that in cafe of injury done., full rcfti- 
 tution to the bcft of a man^s ability 
 is a neccffary part of repentance. It was 
 ICV.VM appointed by the Law of Mofes , that 
 not only the principal tftiould be reflored, 
 but a fifth part added thereunto and given 
 to the perfon injurM^ before an offering 
 to God could be accepted. And we know 
 that when Zaccheus the Publican., who had 
 been employed in arn office that often 
 tempted men to injufuce and extortion^ 
 
 pro-
 
 ways of getting W^calth. 27 
 
 profefs'd himfelf a difciple of our Lord/ 
 he immediately declares_, Behold^ Lord, f/je Luke xi 
 half of my goods I give to the poor : and if 9 ' 
 I have taken any thing from any man by- - 
 falfe accusation, ( and the cafe is the fame 
 in taking any thing by any other injurious 
 methods) 1 rejlore bint fourfold. But this 
 I would charitably hope is the cafe of 
 the fmaller number. The greater part., 
 'tis to be prefum'd., have been drawn, in ig- 
 norantly and unwarily into an irregular 
 traffick, imagining all the while, that 
 they were only taking an opportunity 
 that offered it felf of getting wealth in an 
 innocent and lawful way., without injuring 
 others^ efpecially firice they obfervM fo 
 great a number of all forts of men engag'd 
 in the fame praftice. 
 
 It is wonderful indeed,, that the injuftice 
 of this way of dealing,, which now fo evi- 
 dently appears, fliould not have been 
 plainly difcern'd, and confequently avoid- 
 ed., by all well-difpos'd Perfons j and it is 
 not to be doubted., but that the too great 
 love of wealth, too eager a defire of grow- 
 ing rich in hafle., very -much contributed 
 
 D 2 to
 
 28 The honeH and the difhoneft 
 
 to the blinding the eyes and darkening the 
 underftandings of men in this cafe. 
 
 Now of thofe who have been thus 
 miftakingly engaged 3 without a direft 
 defign of doing wrong, or without con- 
 fidering that they did fo 3 there may be 
 reckoned three forts ; Thofe that have got- 
 ten great wealth by this method : Thofe 
 whofe fiibftance has been confiderably dimi- 
 niftfd thereby : and laftly,, fuch as without 
 considerably increafing or diminifhing find 
 themfelves in the fame condition they 
 were before. 
 
 As to thcfe laft., I fliall only fay, that I 
 think it becomes them to repent of their 
 raflmefs., by which they might have been 
 injurious to others before they were aware ; 
 and to be thankful to God., who hath 
 neither fuffer'd them to heap up riches to 
 themfelves by indireft means 3 nor to be- 
 come the unhappy inftruments of injuring 
 orders., though unwittingly^ and without 
 defign. 
 
 As for thofe who have been Sufferers by 
 this -traffic!^ ( which indeed I take to be 
 the far greater part*) I would ferioufly ad~ 
 vifc them to beware of murmuring againft 
 
 God,,
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 29 
 
 God., or their Governors,, as too 
 many I fear are apt to do. Solomon 
 obferves 3 that the fookjbnefo of man 3. 
 perverts his way y and his heart frettsth 
 again ft the Lord j and the like may be faid 
 in the prefcnt cafe., againft his earthly Go- 
 vernors too. Meji do foolifh and wrong 
 things themfelves., and then are apt., meet- 
 ing with difappointment or ill fuccefs^to lay 
 the blame upon any rather than upon them- 
 . felves., even upon Providence it fel But 
 in fuch a cafe .they are to confider, that 
 the Providence of God is not engaged to- 
 fave men harmlefs., whilft they are taking 
 indirect courfes. Nor ought they in this 
 cafe to reflect on their Governors., who 
 proposM a Method., which if lawfully 
 and honeftly managed., might have been 
 for the cafe and benefit of the Publick, 
 and no ways injurious to private perfons^ 
 but which 5 through the grofs inifmanage- 
 ment of defigning or unskilfuf men., has 
 proved very detrimental and injurious to 
 both. They ought therefore to blame 
 their own-inconfideratenefs and raflmefs,, 
 in fuffering themfelves to be impofcd up- 
 on and abufed by the wkkednefs or un- 
 skilful-
 
 The honest and the dijhonesl 
 
 skilfulriefs of other men ; they ought to 
 be humble in confederation of their own 
 too eager defire of wealth, which exposed 
 them to this rafhnefs ; they ought, in a 
 word,, patiently to fubmit to the Provi- 
 dence of God,, which permitted this cala- 
 mity to befal them in the ufe of indirect 
 means., and to make a good ufe of it to 
 their fpiritual advantage, z>/%, to take off 
 their hearts from an inordinate regard to 
 the wealth of this world, and to place 
 them upon more defirable. and more dura- 
 ble treafures. 
 
 As for thofe, in the laft place, who 
 have inordinately increased their fubftance by 
 thefe means, even although they did not 
 direftly defign the injuring others, yet 
 fince it manifeftly proves to have had 
 that cffecl:, if they would take my Ad- 
 vice, it fhould be, to fearch out thofe 
 who have been the unwary fufferers in the 
 prcfent Calamity, and out of their own 
 Overplus to fupply their wants. This I 
 am verily perfuaded would be the beft 
 means towards the fatisfa&ion of- their own 
 minds, when they (hall come ferioufly to 
 refleft upon what they haye done, and 
 
 yield
 
 . 
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 
 
 yield them more true plcafure than the 
 enjoyment of their wealth could do : and 
 by thus Separating what they have gotten 
 by vanity, they might the better fecure to 
 themfelves and their families what they 
 before obtained- in the way of Labour md 
 Induftry., or what they poffefled by any 
 other regular and lawful means. I am 
 very fenfible., that the advice which I have 
 in this laft cafe proposal will be thought 
 fevere., and by thofe who a& only by the 
 maxims and opinions of tJje children of this 
 world, may be defpifed : but I judged it 
 my duty to fpeak rny mind freely to you 
 who are under my particular care., in . a 
 Cafe which I apprehend to be of fo great 
 importance 3 and wherein fo many Per- 
 fctfis are concerned. 
 
 3. From the Doflrine I have been in- 
 fifting upon., and our own experience of 
 the truth of it, we ihould be inftrufte'd to 
 mortify in our felves all inordinate defires 
 of worldly wealth., that fo we may never 
 be tempted to take any irregular and indi- 
 recT: courfcs to acquire it* 
 
 It
 
 - - -~ 
 
 32 The- honesl and tfre di/bonest 
 
 It cannot be doubted., but that this has 
 been the unhappy fource of the calamities 
 now complainM of, An eager defire of be- 
 ing haftily rich j which has tempted fome to 
 ufe means that they knew to be unjuft, 
 and others too raflily and inconfiderately to 
 fall into the fnare ; whereas there is no vice 
 that the holy Scriptures do more particu- 
 larly warn us to beware of, than that of 
 covetoufnefsj or ihe inordinate defire of 
 pro.xxviii. riches. A faithful man fhall abound 
 * 0> with bleffmgSj faith Solomon : but he that 
 maketh hajle to be rich, {hall not be inno- 
 
 Verfeaz. cent - ^nd a g aui j & f ^ at ktfttth to be 
 
 rich hath an evil eye, and confidereth not 
 that poverty fhatt come upon him. Take 
 
 mkc xii. heed, and beware of covetoufnefs^ is the 
 admonition of our Lord himfelf^ and that 
 for this very good reafoo, that a mans 
 life confifls not in the abundance of the things 
 which ht poffejjes. Abundance is not ne- 
 ceflary either to the life,, or to the happinefs 
 of a man , nay very frequently it creates 
 great difquiet and uneafinefs to him. 
 Bcildcs the folly of fruiting in uncer- 
 
 i Tim. vi. tain riches, as the Apoftle ftyjes them. 
 
 pro. xxiii. Labour not to le rjch, faith Solomon $ ceafe from 
 
 ^ 5> thine
 
 'ways of getting Wealth. 3 3 
 
 thim own wisdom. Wilt tbou fet thine eyes 
 upon that which is not ? For riches certainly 
 make themselves wings, they fly away, as 
 an eagle towards heaven. Efpecially if 
 gotten by vanity, they flail be diminified, as 
 my Text declares. But beyond all this, 
 they are very apt to debafe the foul of 
 the man, to tempt him to pride and felf- 
 confidence^ to falfhood and injuftice 3 to 
 . render him forgetful of his fpiritual con- 
 cernments., to turn away his heart from 
 regarding his main intereft, and finally to 
 endanger his exclufion from the Kingdom 
 of Heaven. Hear how St. Paul declares 
 
 
 
 the great danger of loving and defiring 
 riches. They that will be rich fall into i Tim. 
 temptation 3 and a jnare , and into ma- 9> - lc 
 ny foolifi and hurtful lufts, which drown 
 men in deftru&ion and perdition. For 
 the love of money is the root of all evil, 
 which while -fome coveted after, they have 
 err*d from the faith, and pierced themselves 
 through with many Borrows. ( Words which 
 have been fadly verify "d in our days. ) 
 And it is in oppofition to this temper^ that 
 he makes it to be the meafure of a Chri- 
 ftian's defires ( as I took notice before ) 
 
 E that
 
 34- Tie hneH and the difhoneft 
 
 *Tim.vi. t nat having food and raiment he Jlould 
 /, 8- be therewith content , forafmuch as we 
 brought nothing into this world ^ and it 
 is certain we can carry nothing out. What 
 will the greateft degree of wealth avail 
 any of us., when we come to take 
 our leave of the world? What profit., 
 what fatisfa&ion will it yield us at the 
 hour of death ? And how near that hour 
 may be r we know not. Even whilft we 
 are heaping up riches in this wprld ? " 
 and rejoycing in thera^ it may be 'on 
 a fuddcn faid to any of us, Thou fool! 
 
 Luke xn. ,. , , r i ft it 1 I s* 
 
 ^o, 21. WK night thy Jonl Jhall be required of 
 thce. T^hen ivhofe jball thofe things be 
 which thoH haft provided? Upon which 
 our Lord immediately aclds^ 5^ ^ f je t } jaf 
 layeth up treasure for himfelf, and is not rich 
 towards Cod. Such will be the furprize,, 
 fuch the mifery of every one., who by 
 treafuring up wealth in this prefent ftate ? 
 has been diverted from making timely pro- 
 vifion for a future life. It is an awaken- 
 ing Admonition that of our blefled Savi- 
 our., and that which is enough to ftrike the 
 hearts of rich men with fear and trembling. 
 Vmly I fay unto you. That a rich man Jlall 
 
 hardly
 
 att h xix ' 
 
 <ways of getting Wealth. 3 
 
 hardly enter into the kingdom of Ixaven. 
 And again I fay unto you, That it is eafter 2** ** 
 for a cartel to go through the eye of a needle y 
 ihan for a rich wan to enter into tfye king- 
 dom of God. Upon whichj when the dif- 
 cifles were exceedingly amazed, and. f aid, 
 Who then can be faved ? Our Lord did in- 
 deed a little foften the -Teeming hardnefs 
 of the expreffion^ but ftill intimating, 
 that without an extraordinary meafure of 
 grace it could not be otherwile, With men 
 this n imp offible : but with God all things are 
 pojfible. 
 
 And who,, after this., that feeks and 
 hopes for the kingdom of heaven, would 
 be eager in his defires or purfuits after 
 riches? What difciple ofCbrift, who reads 
 thefe words of his Lord., and veHly be- 
 lieves them to be true., would not be a- 
 fraid of becoming rich, and rather chufe 
 to take up with food and raiment, than to 
 put his eternal falvation into fo apparent 
 'hazard ? 
 
 4. In the laft place^ we fliould be in- 
 ftrufted from this Doftrine to lay up our 
 Treafure in Heaven , where only true 
 Riches are to be found^ that^ according to 
 
 E 2 OIK
 
 Tie foneft and tie di/honeff 
 
 our blefled Saviours Admonition, our hearts 
 Matth.vi. way be there alfo. Our hearts will nc- 
 J *> 2Q 2I> ceffarily be, where our treasure is ; fo that 
 the only fure way to prefer ve us from 
 the inordinate love of the riches of this 
 world, is to place our affeftions on the 
 pofleffions of a future life, which are in- 
 finitely more delirable. If indeed this 
 Earth were to be the place of our per- 
 petual abode,, it would be requifite that 
 we fliould carefully furnifli our felves with 
 provifion accordingly : but if when we 
 ceafe to live any longer here^ our immor- 
 tal Spirits will continue their duration irr 
 another State, and that duration (hall be 
 without end , then our chief concern 
 muft be to provide for our everlafting 
 abode, making fure of a Treafure that 
 will never fail. 
 
 What the Poflefllons and Enjoyments 
 of the heavenly State will be, we can- 
 not , whilft we arc here below , be 
 -.iu. thoroughly apprifed of. Eye hath not 
 fleetly nor car heard , neither have entered 
 into the heart of man^ the things which 
 God hath prepared for them thaJ: love him, 
 This we are affured^ that they are fuch as 
 
 will
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 37 
 
 will be perfe&ly fatisfa&ory to the Poflef- 
 fors., and as durable as their beings,, fuch 
 as will not decay of themfelves^ nor be 
 liable to be corrupted or taken away from 
 them. Lay up for your felves treajures m 
 heaven, where neither moth nor ruft doth 
 corrupt, and where thieves do not break 
 through nor Jieal. It is an Inheritance incor- l ^^>^ 
 ruftible , and unde filed, and that fadeth 
 not away , re fervid in heaven for us, as 
 St. Peter ftyles it. In a word 5 It is an 
 inheritance reserved for thofe who fliall be 
 accounted worthy to be called the children 
 of God, to be given freely to them,, an 
 d fettled for ever upon them by their . 
 heavenly father. 
 
 Weak and foolifli creatures that we are! 
 we can be here purfuing with great eager- 
 nefs and folicitude., that which in a very 
 few years at the fartheft, we know noc * 
 how foon., will be altogether unprofitable 
 and infignificant to. us., whilft we ncgleft 
 and hazard this glorious and everlafting 
 Inheritance ! One would be > apt to think 
 on the other hand., that the profpcft and 
 hopes of it, ftould render us wholly care- 
 lefs and indifferent^ as to all our earthly 
 
 pqflefli-
 
 38 Tfo honest and the di/honeft 
 
 PofleGions, that no Chriftian fliould be 
 found looking after any more than the ne- 
 ceflaries arid common conveniencies of 
 this prefent life, much kfs heaping up 
 riches withont meafure,, and without end,, 
 to the endangering his immortal well-be- 
 ing. And thus it would be with us,, if 
 we entertain'd a firm and un(haken belief, 
 and a conftant fenfe of the vaft difference 
 between this our prefent ftate,, and that 
 which is future. 
 
 This therefore is our bufinefs, to get 
 our faith well nVd and fettled with rcfpeft 
 to that eternal ftate of happhiefs which 
 we profefs to hope for* to meditate fre- 
 quently and ferioufly on the vanity 
 and uncertainty of all our earthly en- 
 joyments, and of the reality and cer- 
 . tainty of thofe which we expeft here- 
 after 5 according to the expreffton of 
 2 cor. iv. St. anl y Looking not at the things which 
 are feen^ but at the things which are 
 not feen 3 confidering that the things 
 which arc feen are temporal J bm the 
 things which are not .feen. are eternal. Fi- 
 nally, Let us fecure to our felves a treafure 
 j j 
 
 in heaven., by all Afts of Piety, Juftice, 
 
 and.
 
 ways of getting Wealth. 39 
 
 and Charity., by acquiring all chofe good 
 difpofitions of foul., which will qualify us 
 for the enjoyments of the heavenly ftate; 
 by feeking firjl the Kingdom of God and his 
 Righteoufnefrj and in rhe faithful difcharge 
 of .the duties of our feveral ftations^ 
 leaving it to God to add to us all other things 
 as he (hall know to be moft expedient for 
 us. 
 
 Cod grant we may all of us have Wisdom 
 and Grace thus to purfue our own true 
 bappincfs, and by his mercy to obtain 
 it y through Jefns Chrijl our Lord* 
 Amen.
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd in Lambetb-Cbafel, 
 
 A T T H E 
 
 CONSECRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Right Reverend Father in G o D, 
 
 WH ITE 
 
 Lord Biflhop of 'Peterborough, 
 
 On SUNDAY Novemb. pth, 1718. 
 
 By EDWARD WADDINGTON, D.D. 
 Re&or ofM'baB&Ps (be Great, and Chaplain 
 in Ordinary to His MAJESTY. 
 
 of 
 
 Of CANTERBURY. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J. W Y A T, at the Rofe in 
 St. Paul's Church-Tard. i 7 I 8.
 
 i C O R. chap. iv. ver. i. 
 
 Let a Man fo account of us y as of the 
 Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of 
 the Myjleries of God. 
 
 T has been a common Practice 
 in the Writers of the Chriftian 
 Church, to apply what is faid 
 in this and fucn-like Paffages 
 of Scripture, (originally meant 
 of the Apoftles of our Bleffed Saviour) JLO the 
 refpe&ive Governours and Paftours of it, at 
 the Time when they wrote $ and had it in 
 their .view, either to lay before them the 
 Nature of their Holy Function, or to excite 
 them to a faithful Difcharge of the Duties 
 of it. And this they have done from Time 
 to Time, without any Defign (as we have all 
 the reafon in the world to believe ) of Impo- 
 fing upon Mankind by fuch a Pradice $ or 
 any the leall apprehenfion that it could offend 
 either God or Man. 
 
 But it has happened (I know not well 
 
 how) amongft our ielves of late, that the 
 
 Continuance of this Practice has given* very 
 
 great Offence 5 and has been artfully enough 
 
 A 2 repre-
 
 (4) 
 
 reprefented by (*) fome, as fetting the 
 meaneft Ordained Perfon amongft us, how 
 unworthy foever of it upon other Accounts, 
 upon the fame foot of Efteem with an imme- 
 diate Apoftle of Chrift, and that in order 
 to carry on the more fpeciouily a wicked De- 
 fign of bringing the Minds and Confciences 
 of the Laity into a greater Subjection to the 
 Authority of the Clergy, than is confiftent 
 with their Liberty either as Men or Chri- 
 flians. A heavy Charge, indeed, if true ! 
 but therefore we have the more reafon to 
 hope that there is no fufRcient Foundation 
 for it, in fuch a Proteftant Church as ours is. 
 
 I am very unwilling at this Time, and 
 on fo folemn an Occafion, (where nothing but 
 the pjeafing found of Chriftian Love and 
 Unity Ihould be heard,) to touch upon any 
 Controverfy that may difturb that Harmony, 
 or divert either my own, or your Minds, 
 from the more important Bufinefs now in 
 hand. But fmce, by chufing thefe Words 
 of St. Paul for the Subjecl: of my prefent 
 Difcourfe, I find my felf in great danger of 
 running into the fame Fault, ( if it be a 
 Fault ) which has been fo feverely cenfured 
 and condemned in others 3 I muft beg Leave, 
 before I proceed any farther, to juftifie 
 at leaft my own Practice in this Par- 
 
 *id. Rights of the Chrijlian Church. Lord Shaftsfyr/s 
 &c. 
 
 ticulap
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 ticular, and to fliew you for what Rcafons 
 I think it both Lawful and Ufeful thus to 
 apply this and the like PafTages of Holy 
 Scripture to the refpeftive Governours and 
 Paftours of the Church in this or any other 
 Age of it. And the Reafons I (hall give 
 are Two. 
 
 Firflj Becaufe* in this or the like Paffages 
 of Scripture there is nothing contained or 
 implied, but what may, with equal Truth, 
 be faid of any prefent Governours, or 
 Paftours of Chrift's Church, as it was of 
 the Apoftles themfelves. They are here 
 called Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of 
 the Myfteries of God ^ and in other places, 
 Labourers in God's Vineyard 3 Paftours of his 
 Flock 3 Ambaffadours for him $ and the like. . 
 
 Now, as foine of thefe Expreflions give us an 2Cor.5. 2 o,. 
 Idea of the Original., and all of them repre- 
 fent the Nature of the facred Miniftry of the 
 Church of Chrift, there feems to be no juft 
 reafon why they may not be equally appli- 
 cable to all, in all Ages of the Church, 
 whofe Authority is derived from the fame Ori- 
 ginal, and whofe Office is, in every refpecl, 
 as far as thefe Expreflions reach, the fame. 
 Was the Authority then which the Apoftles 
 had, To preach the Gofpel, To call Men to 
 Repentance, To admit Believers into the 
 Kingdom of Chrift, from Above , and not from. 
 Men $ ( and this is fufficiently implied, where 
 they are faid to be the Minifters of Chrift t 
 his Stewards, his Ambaffadours, and the 
 
 like?)
 
 like > ) fo, I prefume, is ours too $ fince we 
 can have no Authority in fuch Matters as 
 thefe, but what has been derived to us from 
 them, and what originally flowed from the 
 faid Divine Fountain that theirs did, even 
 Chrift the Head ' of his Church 5 and who, 
 when he afcended into Heaven, gave thefe 
 ii. Gifts and this Authority unt6 Men. 
 
 Again $ Was it the Office of the Apoftles 
 to ferve Chrift and his Family in the facred 
 Luk. 12. Miniftry of his Word 5 To difpenfe to his 
 4^ s , Subjects their Spiritual Meat in due feafon 5 
 To feed the Church of God, which he had 
 Matth. y. purcbafed with his own Bloody To labour 
 2 Cor. 5 . i n h' ls Vineyard^ To befeech Men, in his 
 ftead, to be reconciled unto God ^ and, in one 
 word, to take a proper Care of trie Vifible 
 Members of Chrift s Church, when formed 
 into a Vifible Society, and an Outward Pro- 
 feilion of the Chriftian Faith > And is not all 
 this ftill the Office and indifpenfable Duty of 
 the Clergy of the Church of Chrift in every 
 Age? and muft indeed be fo to the End of 
 the World ? Where then is the great Fault, 
 if being under all thefe Obligations of Duty 
 and Service, as much as the Apoftles of our 
 Bleiled Saviour were, we are defirous to re- 
 tain the Honour of being called, as they 
 were, the Mnnfters of Chrift, and Stewards 
 of the Myjleres of God ? or of wifhing that 
 Men would account of us as fuch, for their 
 own fakes, rather than ours ? fince it is plain, 
 that, iinlefs all our folemn Ordinations and 
 
 Confecra-
 
 (7) 
 
 Confccrations are Matters of Form only, 
 and a meer Mockery both of God and 
 Man, the Mini/try of Reconciliation is ftill 2 Cor. 5,. 
 committed to us $ and that God does, in the l8 " 
 ordinary way of Conveyance, difpenfe the 
 gracious Favours of the Gofpel of Chrift by 
 our hands, to thofe who are willing and 
 fitted to receive them. Which does not im- 
 ply (as fome very unkindly would infinuate^. 
 that we pretend to have the Arbitrary Difpo- 
 fal of them in our own Power 5 or, which 
 is ftill worfe, to bind Almighty God himfelf 
 to confirm whatever we do on Earth. For 
 without our claiming fuch, I may call it, a 
 blafphemous Power to our felves, God may 
 yet think fit to ufe the Miniftry of Men, in 
 difpenfing his Favours to thofe whom he fees 
 fit for them, tho* he neither wants, nor expects 
 our judgment, to determine Him who are the 
 proper Objects of them 5 nor always confirms 
 what fallible Men, in a Minifterial capacity 
 . only, do here on Earth. Hitherto then, I think 
 we may, without any great breach of Modefty, 
 juftify the applying thofe general Titles which 
 were firft given to the Apoftles of Chrift, 
 with refped to the Nature and the Original 
 of their Office, to the Governours and Pa- 
 ftours of the Church of Chrift, in the feveral 
 Ages of it, fince they all feem to be upon the 
 fame foot in thefe Points. Nor is there, 
 
 Secondly , lefs reafon for doing fo, if we 
 confider, that, as to the General Duties of 
 the Apoftolical Office above mentioned, the 
 
 Governours
 
 (8) 
 
 Governours and Paftours of the Chriftian 
 Church, in all Ages of it, may, by the 
 Grace of God, and their own fincere Endea- 
 vours, fo fully difcharge every branch of 
 them, as to deferve to be accounted, as 
 much as the Apoftles themfelves were, the 
 Minifters of Cbrift, and Stewards of the 
 Myfteries of God. We all certainly know 
 jthat this is our Duty, and the only ground of 
 our Diftinftion from the reft of our Chri- 
 ftian Brethren, that we fhould endeavour to 
 be fuch as the Apoftles were in all thefe re- 
 fpefts. We may, according to the feveral 
 Stations we are in, whether we ad in a higher 
 or a lower Sphere, govern and feed the Flock 
 of Chrift committed to our Care, with as 
 much Charity, and Diligence, and Sincerity 
 as even the Apoftles of Chrift did, in the or- 
 dinary Conduct of themfelves in their Mi- 
 niftry. Every Age of the Church, God be 
 
 cor. 11. thanked, has produced fome fuch Imitators of 
 them, as they were of Chrift $ nor are they. 
 yet wanting in our own. We may watch 
 againft Errors and Corruptions in Doftrine, 
 as ftrictly as they did 5 we may reprove Infi- 
 delity and Vice, with the fame Boldnefs 5 re- 
 commend Faith and Obedience to the Laws 
 of Chrift, with the fame Zeal and Refolu- 
 tion : We may (under the never-failing 
 Afliftances of Divine Grace to the Sincere ) 
 (bine in every part of our Holy Function 
 
 h- ,:.i 5. as Lights in the midft of a crooked andperverfe 
 Generation j and by our Doctrines, Corrections, 
 
 Reproofs,
 
 . (p) 
 
 Reproofs, and Inftruftions, may, ancUJ hope 
 do, turn many to Righteoufnefs, and advance 
 the Kingdom of Chrift in the Hearts and 
 Lives of Men, both at Home and Abroad, 
 as the Apoftles did. 
 
 Miracles, indeed, we have none to convert 
 the World by $ and here we muft fall fliort 
 of the Apoftles, as we pretend not to come up 
 to, or imitate them in fome other parts of 
 their Conducl, which were more fit, perhaps, 
 for thofe earlieft Days of Chriftianity, than 
 any that have been fince : But excepting fuch 
 Extraordinary Cafes as thefe, a Bifhop or a 
 Presbyter of the Church of Chrift now, may 
 difcharge the General Duties of the Apofto- 
 lical Office as well, and (by the Grace of 
 God ) as effe&ually, as the Apoftles did. And 
 if they do fo, where is the Harm of giving 
 them the fame honourable Titles and Appel- 
 lations that they had ? or of applying to them 
 fuch Marks of Diftin&ion, as their equally 
 diftinguifhed Labours deferve > 
 
 Nay, it feems to be 'fo far from having any 
 Harm in it, that I cannot but think it muft be 
 of great Ufe to the Chriftian Church : As 
 this Honour is but a juft Reward to thofe who 
 do well, fo it may fcrve to awaken the Sloth- 
 ful and the Negligent. If we look upon our 
 fclves, in our ftate of Diftinclion from the reft 
 of our Chriftian Brethren, only as the Miniflers 
 of Men, we may perhaps be tempted to have 
 lefs Zeal than we mould have, for the proper 
 Work of the Miniftrv. But if we are told 
 
 B and
 
 and beiieve that we are, by Office and Di- 
 vine Appointment, the Minifters of Chrift -, 
 tho'ftill, for the Good of Mankind, thismuft 
 give another turn to our Thoughts ; we muft 
 in this View of our felves, fee plainly Who it is, 
 whom we (hall principally pleafe or offend,, in 
 the faithful or carelefs Performance of our Du- 
 ty : We (hall be convinced, that it is not a flight 
 Matter, to be unfaithful tofucb a Truft com- 
 mitted to us byfucb a Superiour. The Myfte- 
 ries of the Gofpel, which He has given us to 
 difpenfe, will ftrikc an Awe upon our Minds. 
 And tho' the lively fenfe of all this may make 
 
 2Cor.2.i<5.us fometimes cry out, with St. Paul, Who is 
 fuffcient for thefe things 3 Yet it will, in all 
 probability, hinder us, when once we have 
 
 Luke 9.52. jfatf our band to the plough, from looking back 
 again 5 left, for fo doing, we mould be thought 
 unworthy of the Kingdom of God. 
 
 For thefe Reafons therefore, I am con- 
 vinced, that the conftant Praclice of apply- 
 ing fuch PalTages as thefe (tho* firft ufed 
 concerning the Apoftles) to the prefent 
 Governours and Paftours of the Church, 
 in any Age of it, is fo far from being a 
 Fault, that it is, with refped: to their Office in 
 General, no niore than giving them their Due 5 
 and with refpecl: to the Management of that 
 Office, it has been, and may be ftill, of great 
 Ufe to fupport the faithfull Labourers in 
 Chrift's Vineyard, in a chearful Perfeve- 
 rance to the End 5 and to quicken others 
 to do their Duty, no lefs poflible to them, 
 
 than
 
 ( I') 
 
 than to the Apoftles themfelves, in their ordi- 
 nary Capacity of being Minifters of Chrift, 
 and Stewards of the Myfteries of God. 
 
 And having thus opened the Way to my 
 Text, by removing this modern Prejudice 
 againft the Ufe I intend to make of it 5 
 I can now go on the more boldly to con- 
 fider it with a particular View to the prefent 
 great Occafion : And this I mall do in the 
 following Method. 
 
 Fir/, I mall explain the Character St. Paul 
 here alTumes to himfelf, and which his 
 Succeffburs, in the general Offices of Govern- 
 ing and Teaching in the Chriftian Church, 
 (till bear, as it is reprefented to us by the 
 Expreflions of the Minifters of Chrift^ and 
 Stewards of the Myfteries of God. 
 
 Secondly, I mall (hew you what St. Paul 
 moft probably meant, when he enjoined the 
 Corinthians, and in them all Chriftians in 
 general, fo to account of him and his Suc- 
 ceiTours in the fame Offices, as of the Mini- 
 flers of Chrift, and Stewards of the Myfteries 
 of God. And then, 
 
 Thirdly and Laflly, I (hall draw an In- 
 ference or two from what has been (aid, and 
 fo Conclude. And, 
 
 Fir/?, I (hall explain the Character St. Paul 
 here aiTumes to himfelf, and which his 
 Succeflburs, in the general Offices of Govern- 
 ing and Teaching in the Chriftian Church, 
 ftill bear, as it is reprefented to us by the 
 Expreflions of the Minijters of Chrift, and 
 B 2 Stewards
 
 Stewards of the Myfteries oj God. The Words 
 reprefenting-the Charader, are, in the Origir 
 nal, 'TTrnpira? ^ OUcvcjjisf, both implying a 
 Minifterial Capacity : The former fignifies 
 either any Servant in general, who mini^ 
 fters to another as his Superiour , or iu 
 particular, as the Word was fometimes ufed, 
 {*) that Servant who waited on the 
 Soldiers in an Army, to fupply them with 
 NecefTaries, and who was one of the four 
 Officers who attended on, and was placed 
 next to the foremoft Rank. And the latter 
 Word fignifies a Steward in a large Family, 
 to whom, as our BlefTed Saviour hirafeJf de- 
 Lukc 12. fcribes his Employment, the Majler of the Fa- 
 42 - mily commits the Rule of his Houjbold in his Ab- 
 fence, and whom he appoints to give them their 
 Meat in due feafon. So that from both thefe 
 Expreifions, the Character which the Go- 
 vernours and Paftours of the Chriftian 
 Church bear in it, appears plainly to be 
 no other than that of Servants or Minifters. 
 That Character which even our Blefled Sar 
 viour did not difdain to take to himfelf, 
 but fpeaking of the Defign of his coming 
 into the World, he fays expreily, that he 
 came not to be miniftred unto, but to mini- 
 fter, and to give his Life a Ranjom for 
 many. And with regard to the fame Cha* 
 rafter, he tells us in another place, that 
 
 
 (<0 Sec Bifhop Potter's Arckvol. Gr. Vol. 2. p. $<5> $7. 
 
 fo
 
 ( '3 ) 
 
 tie was amongft his DifcipJes as one that Luke 
 ferved $ and again, that be came not to do jj 
 his own Witt, but the Will of him that fent 38. 
 him. And therefore, as our Saviour argues 
 upon another Occafion, we whom he has' 
 appointed to minifter unto him, fliould not 
 decline the Character of Servants too 5 be- 
 caufe the Difciple is not, nor ought to fo 
 above hid Mafter, nor the Servant above his 
 Lord $ but it is enough for the Difciple to be as 
 his Alajler, and the Servant as hi* Lord. 
 
 Nor do any of the other Titles, which 
 are given to us in the Holy Scriptures, 
 carry our Character at all higher, however 
 they may feem to do Co $. for what are 
 Ambaffadours but ftill Servants, tho' of & 
 higher Order, to their Prince or Sovereign > 
 What are even Angels, in the Original and 
 proper Notation of the Word, but Servants 
 to thofe who fend them as MefTengers, not 
 to do their own Bufinefs, but theirs whofe 
 MefTengers they are > And therefore thofe 
 Happy Beings above, who arefo peculiarly 
 called Angels, from their Office under the 
 Great King and Governour of the World, 
 are by the Author of the Epiftle to the 
 Hebrews, fa id to be miniflring or ferving 
 fpirits, fent forth to minifter to them who 
 JJiall be Heirs of Salvation. No wonder then, 
 that we who are employed in the fame graci- 
 ous Work,lhould have the fame Title given us, 
 from the Services we do to the fame Common . 
 Head and Sovereign the Lord Chrift Jefus. 
 
 But
 
 But tho' we do not deny, but glory in 
 this our Character of Servants, yet we are 
 willing at the fame time to have it remem- 
 bred wbofe Servants we are, and -what our 
 Service is 3 and of thefe the Text farther 
 informs us, that we are the Minifters or 
 Servants of Chrift^ and Stewards of the 
 Myfteries of God. So that we are not princi- 
 pally the Servants of Men, in the capacity of 
 Minifters, but of Chrift and of God. Tho' for 
 Chrift's fake, and God's Glory, we chearfully 
 become, as St.Paul, elfewhere exprelTes himfelf, 
 2 cor. 4.$. their Servants too, in the fame fenfeas the 
 Steward of a Family (who generally has 
 fome fort of Authority over the reft of the 
 Family,) may yet be faid to be their Servant 
 for whom he provides their Meat in due 
 feafon $ that is, as he faithfully executes 
 the Commiflion of his Lord and Mafter, 
 in taking due Care of all.thofe who are 
 committed to his Charge, and fo ferves 
 them in all their Wants and Neceflities, tho 3 
 he received none of his Power originally 
 from them. 
 
 It is indeed required of him (as St. Paul 
 fays exprefly in the Verfe after my Text, 
 verfe ad. that he be found faithful. And it 
 is a very juft Obfervation of St. Chryfoftom 
 on the Place, (a) that a Steward muft not 
 
 (a) OixopQug 50 TO <Ptoi)iv rat, i 
 -T* hty&v ti) Tit / genroT/xei) rtAA* T'VVAVTIOV, 
 X..T.A. Chryibft. torn. 2. p. 303. Eton 
 
 fay,
 
 ( '$) 
 
 fay, that his Mailer's Goods are fa, but ra- 
 ther that bis are his Mailer's ^ and it is, as 
 he farther adds, necelTary, that he fhould 
 think thus, to prevent his with-holding from 
 others what is their due $ but yet he is 
 properly the Servapt of his Matter, and not 
 of thofe to whom he thus minifters for his 
 Matter's fake. Let it not then be thought 
 too ailuming in us, that we think our felves 
 principally and properly the Servants of Chrift, 
 and not the Servants of Men,any otherwife than 
 as we minifter under him for their fpiritual 
 Good and Advantage 5 which ought indeed 
 to be our Glory too, and Crown of Rejoy- i ThefT.2.. 
 cing^ efpecially where our Labours in Chrift's *& 
 Service meet with the defired Succefs. 
 
 Which Labours are the only Thing re- 
 maining to be obferved on this Head, as 
 reprefenting the Nature of that Service in 
 which we minifter to our Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 intimated in that part of the Text, wkere 
 we are called the Stewards of the Myfteries of 
 God $ that is, in other Words, the Difpenfers 
 of the Grace of the Gofpel to Mankind : 
 In manifefting of which Grace to them, God 
 has difcovered fuch Myfteries of Wifdom, of 
 Power, and of Goodnefs, as were not known 
 to the World before, and are not yet (while 
 we only fee things as through a glafs darkly*) i Cor. 13*. 
 to be fully comprehended by us. 
 
 Thefe Things our BlefTed Saviour came 
 himfelf into the World, to publifti for the 
 Good and Benefit of Mankind $ but as the * 
 
 Scheme.:
 
 Scheme of our Redemption, laid in the Eter- 
 nal Counfels of God, did not permit him to 
 abide for ever with us here on Earth, but 
 called for him back again to the Bofom of 
 his Father ^ he therefore appointed Stewards 
 to fupply his Place, and to give his fpiritual 
 Children their Meat in due feafon $ and as 
 the poffefTed Damfel, in Acls 16. ver. 17. ex- 
 preffes it, to be the Servants of the moji High 
 God, to frew unto Men the way of Salvation. 
 
 This then is the proper Bufinefs and Ser- 
 vice of the Minifters of Chrift, (viz.) to 
 publilh to Mankind the glad Tydings 
 of the Gofpel of Peace, and to be Fellow- 
 Labourers and Fellow- Workers with him, 
 (fince he vouchfafes us that Honour,) in re- 
 conciling Sinners to their offended God. To 
 
 1 Cor. 2. 7. this end, they are to make known the Wif- 
 
 dom of God in a Myftery, and to call Men to 
 
 Repentance^ and to the acknowledgment of the 
 
 : Tim. 2.7~ntf/&, as it is inChrift Jefus. They are to 
 
 preach the Word in feafon and out of feafon $ 
 
 2 Tim. 4.2. to exhort, admonijl), and rebuke with all 
 Tlr --'5- Authority , to admit thofe, who are duly 
 
 qualified for fo great a Favour, into the 
 Church, by Baptifm ^ and to exclude thofe, 
 who by their Misbehaviour have unquali- 
 fied themfelves for fo great a Bleffing, out 
 of the Communion of it. They are to dif- 
 penfe the Bread of Life, and the Cup of Sal- 
 vation, to thofe who hunger and thrift 
 after that fpiritual Food and Nourifhrnent^ 
 J and as every one has received the Gift, even
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 fo to mmfter the fame as good Stewards of the 
 manifold Grace of God. This then, to con- 
 elude my Firft Head, is our Character, that 
 we are the Servants of Chrift 3 and this our 
 Office .or Employment, to be Stewards and 
 Difpenfers of the Myfteries of God. Let us 
 therefore go on now, in the 
 
 Second place, To enquire, what St.Paul 
 nioft probably meant, when he enjoined the 
 Corinthians, and in them, all Chriftians in 
 general, fo to account of him, and his Suc- 
 ceflburs in the fame Offices, as of the Mini- 
 nifters of Chrift, and Stewards of the My- 
 fteries of God. And for the better judging 
 of this Matter, it will be neceflary to look 
 a little back, and obferve. the particular 
 Occafion of thefe Words. There were in the 
 Church of Corinth, at the time when St. Paul 
 wrote this Epiftle, very great Contentions, 
 and an unufual kind of Difference amongft 
 them , on the Account of their Teachers : 
 For as they whofe Bufinefs and Endeavour 
 it is to Inftruct and Reform Mankind, do 
 very often meet with no other Returns for 
 their Labours, and good Intentions, but 
 thofe of Slight and Contempt, and fometimes 
 worfe Ufage 5 here the Cafe was quite other- 
 wife : For the Contentions were not direclly 
 againft, but in favour of their feveral Teach- 
 ers $ tho 1 it might and did happen accidental- 
 ly, that as one encreafed in their ill-grounded 
 Favour, fo did another decreafe 3 and the 
 
 C Admirers
 
 Admirers of Apottos naturally fell into a lefs 
 efteem of St.Paiil, than they ought to have had 
 of him i) and fo again, they that were of Paul, 
 treated Apollos in like manner. But as this 
 was only the confequence of a wrong Efteem 
 at firft, the principal Difpute was not, whe- 
 ther they fhould have any Inftrudors, or no 5 
 but of thofe which they had, and were wil- 
 ling to own as fuch, which were the beft. 
 And therefore, in fuch a Contention as this, 
 every one of thcfe Minifters of Chrift had his 
 . 1 2. Followers and Admirers $ but then there 
 were fome who were for Paid, fome for Cephas 
 or Peter, and others for Apollos. Some, indeed, 
 (as it follows) faid they were of Chrift : But 
 whatever they meant by faying fo, which it is 
 not eafy to know, they could not be partial 
 with refpect to any particular Minifter of 
 Chrift 5 fince they feem, by what they faid, to 
 have been for none at all. Nor does St.Paul take 
 any farther notice of them, in the profecution 
 of his Argument 3 as not falling dire&ly in his 
 way, whatever their particular Opinion was, 
 or how faulty foever they might be in divi- 
 ding even for Chrift, as they pretended. 
 
 Now, that which led the reft of thefe 
 Perfons into their particular Miftakes, was, 
 their not duly obferving the true Nature of 
 the Gofpel Miniftry, of in what Capacity, 
 and to what Ends and Purpofes, either 
 Paul, or Af ottos, or Cephas, or any other 
 Servant of Chrift, miniftred unto them. 
 They had been ufed before, in their flare 
 
 of
 
 ver. i . 
 
 of Heathenifm, to the wifdom of words, as 
 St. Paul calls the Heathen Learning, in the 
 Firft Chapter of thisEpiftle $ their Ears had 
 been lorjg filled and entertained with the 
 fine Harangues and fet Difcourfes of their 
 Philofophers and Oratours, and fhefe had 
 made fuch a deep ImprefTion upon them, that 
 they could not eafily relifh any thing elfe from 
 the Apofties of Chrift, but the fame excellency 
 offpeech and of wifdom $ and the nearer any chap. 2. 
 of them came up to it, the more ready were 7 """ 
 they to follow and admire them, to glory 
 in them, and reft upon them as the Au- 
 thors, rather than the Helpers of their Faith. 
 And as Apollos's Characler is given in the 
 1 8th of the Afts, at the 24th Verfe, that 
 be was an eloquent Man, as well as mighty 
 in the Scriptures, and fervent in the fpirit 5 
 it is no wonder that he had a great number 
 of fuch Admirers, and, to fpeak in our 
 modern Language, was mightily followed in 
 thofe Days 5 and Cephas or Peter, whether 
 he had the fame Eloquence or no, yet as it 
 appears from his general Character and con- 
 ftant Behaviour, having a great deal of 
 Warmth and Vehemency in his Temper, 
 which could not but mew it felf in his Ad- 
 dreffes to his Hearers, he might gain thereby 
 unavoidably on their AfTeclions and Efteem, 
 and by that means become the Head of an- 
 other Party, not by his own Choice, but by 
 their Prejudices. And perhaps St. Paul'* 
 
 C 2 parti-
 
 rrr. i. 
 
 particular Excellency, and that whereby he 
 gained a Set of Admirers and Followers too, 
 chap. 2. was his ftudiovjly declining every thing that 
 wr ' *' look'd like humane Wifdom and Eloquence 
 in preaching the Gofpel, and only declaring 
 to them, in a plain, (imple, and natural way, 
 the Teftimony of God, as he calls it. For 
 this, perhaps, the better and wifer fort of 
 chap. 2. Chriftians might glory in him more than 
 they fhould have done, as others did in 
 ^folios for his Eloquence, or in Cephas 
 for his Fervour and Vehemency of Spirit. 
 But whether thefe, or any other Prejudices, 
 in favour of thefe Holy Perfons, (for there 
 is no being pofitive in a Matter left fo much 
 in the dark as this is) were the Occafion of 
 the DivifionS at Corinth, it is very plain, that 
 they admired rather too much than too little 
 their Paftours and Inflrudors, and either upon 
 falfe and miftaken grounds, or fuppofing them 
 right, yet, in an undue meafure and manner, 
 defended on them more than they ought to have 
 done. St. Paul therefore had no occafion to 
 reprove them for flighting or undervaluing 
 him and his Fellow-Labourers in general, for 
 this they did not, but for fetting too high 
 3. Value upon them, for thofe things chiefly 
 which did not properly belong to them as 
 Minifters of Chrijt, nor were efTential to their 
 Character as Stewards of the Myfteries of God. 
 That which this Character required of them 
 was, as St.P<*/ fays exprefly'in the Verfe 
 
 after
 
 ( 31 ) 
 
 after the Text, that they be found faithful $ 
 not taking to themfefaes, as it were by force, 
 the Dignity of their Mafler, but doing all they 
 could to make him efteemed and beloved^ as 
 Theodoret explains the Words (V) . But thefe 
 mifguided Corinthians did not feem, by their 
 Behaviour, to lay any great ftrefs upon this 
 point of Faithfulnefs to their Truft in their 
 feveral Teachers, but only efteemed them for 
 their ornamental Abilities, as Wife, or Elo- 
 quent, or Zealous Perfons 5 and thereby fell 
 into a vain Admiration of fome, to the Pre- 
 judice and Difcouragement probably of others^ 
 and were piffed up, (as it is afterwards ex- chap; 4, 
 prefTed) for one againft another, overlooking^ 6 * 
 the main Things for which they ought to 
 have efteemed them all, (viz.) their Autho- 
 rity in Common as Minifters of Chrift, and 
 their Bujinefs as Stewards of the Myfteries of 
 God, and their Faithfulnefs to their Mailer, 
 in the Difcharge of their Truft. 
 
 And therefore when St. Paul was to fct this 
 Matter right, he plainly diftinguifhes between- 
 the Man confidered in himfelf, and with his 
 particular Endowments, and the Charafter 
 he bears of a Minifler of Chrift, and enjoyns the 
 Corinthians to lay the ftrefs upon the latter 
 only, as the true way to put an End to their 
 unhappy Contentions on this Head. Let a 
 
 tvvow ?vA'l;>N Tom. 3. pag. 
 
 Mam
 
 Man (fays he) fo Account of us, as of the Ml- 
 nifters of Chrijl, and Stewards of the My fie- 
 ries of God ^ that is, Let no Man look on us 
 as ading by our own Authority, or for our 
 own Advantage $ let him not ground his 
 Efteera of us, and Refpeft towards us, on fuch 
 things as either do not belong to us at all, 
 or are meerly ornamental in us. We are not 
 chap. i. either Philofophers, Or Oratours, Wifemen, 
 w. 20. Scribes, or Difputers of this World, nor yet 
 fpiritual Kings and Princes, in it : Our true 
 Character is that of Mimjters of Chrift 5 and 
 our proper Bufinefs and Imployment is, to 
 difpenfe the Myfteries of God, like faithful 
 Stewards of his Houfhold, to thofe who are 
 in it. And if, on thefe Accounts, any Man 
 (hall efteem and value us, we can receive fuch 
 Honour for our Matter's fake, tho' not for 
 our own 3 knowing, that when we have done 
 all that was commanded us 9 we have done no 
 more than it was our Duty to do 5 and that 
 Luke 17. after all, we are Jtill but unprofitable ferv ants : 
 Or if we are defpifed or undervalued on 
 the Account of this olir Character and 
 Employment, it ought to be a very fmatl 
 thing to us, that we are thus judged of 
 Men, iince they are not properly our 
 Judges in this Cafe 5 and we know that 
 we ferve a Mafter, who both can and will 
 judge us, according to the Sincerity of our 
 Hearts, and the Integrity of our Hands in 
 his Eye- fight. 
 
 This
 
 This I take to be the true fenfe and 
 defign of this PafTage of St. Paul (a), which 
 was not, (as fome feem to miftake it) chiefly 
 intended to magnify his Office, but to fet 
 ihefrefumed Dignity of it upon its true and 
 proper Foundation. Tho* indeed, by neceflary 
 Confequence, there is no magnifying it like 
 fetting it in a true light, and reprefenting it 
 fairly and impartially to thofe, from whom we 
 expeft a* juft and honourable Regard to it. 
 
 For whatever a Heathen or a Jew may 
 think of the Name of Cbrift, it muft fure be* 
 facred and venerable to a Chriflian, who 
 owns him for his Lord and bis God$ who 
 has given up himfelf to his Obedience, and 
 rejoyces in him as his Saviour and mighty 
 Deliverer. To ferve him, * Vlv /*iw <#*, 
 than whom nothing is better, (as the devout 
 Father (b) of old fpeaks) muft undoubtedly 
 be thought, by every one that knows him, 
 to be a Poft of Honour, as well as Labour. 
 And this is what another Father (?) calls 
 ptfeiv -rrj Qu'ow TO yt^r, to meafure the Honour 
 by the Nature of the Office. 
 
 (a) I have underftood this whole Difcourfe, as Clement of 
 Rome of old, and fome of our beft Commentators of late have 
 done, upon good reafons, of the Perfons of Paul, arid 
 Peter, and Apoltos, and not as only in a figure transferred 
 to them from other Perfons } that Expreffion at the 6th 
 Verfe of this Chapter, which has led fome to think other- 
 wife, being fairly enough applicable to one particular branch 
 of this Difcourfe of St. Paul. See Grotius and Whitby on the 
 place. 
 
 () Ignatius i n Epift. ad Ma&nef. (0 ZMbrtf in loc. 
 
 But
 
 ( 24 ) 
 
 But then, I fear, we (hall never gain any 
 thing like this true Honour, by calling upon 
 Men, as the pretended Infallible Head of the 
 Church of Rome does, (and I hope no Body 
 elfe is fo foolilh) to account of us as Lords 
 and Kings over them, as having Dominion 
 over their Faith and their Confciences, and 
 a Power committed to us, not for their 
 Edification, but Deftru&ion. 
 
 Nor, on the other hand, mail we ever 
 have their Efteem and Refped in a true and 
 proper way, if we feek it only by humane 
 Methods, and a worldly Wifdom, by bare 
 excellency of Speech, or ftudied Eloquence 5 
 thefe things may recommend us to their Ears 
 and perhaps their Table-talk, but they 
 will never give us a place in their inward 
 Efteem and Affections, where alone we muft 
 reign, ( pardon a common Expreflion, if it 
 feem too bold ) if we exped to do any Good 
 in the World 5 at leaft not fuch a one as can 
 afford us any real Comfort in the Difcharge 
 of our Duty as Mmifters of Cbrift^ which 
 we cannot but know, is of a different Na- 
 ture from the Art of pleafing Mens Fancies, 
 or gratifying their Curiofities. The Myfteries 
 of Chriftianity committed to us, are not 
 thofe of Nature, but of Grace: and as the Sal- 
 vation of Men, in the ordinary way, depends 
 on our faithful difpenfing of them $ fo 
 will undoubtedly their Efteem of us ( if 
 they know what they do) for our Labours 
 in fo good a Work, as well as our own Com- 
 fort
 
 fort and Satisfaction, in refle&ing on what 
 we have done. 
 
 We only then beg Leave to fay to the 
 Laity of the Chriftian Church, as St. Paul did 
 to his Corinthians, Let a Man fo account 
 of us, as of the Minifters ofChrift, and Stew- 
 ards of the Myfteries of God : And furely, in 
 faying this, we can never give a juft Offence 
 to any reasonable Man $ for this only implies, 
 that it is his Duty to look upon us as 
 Friends, and not as Enemies, for bringing 
 to him the glad Tydings of the Gofpel, to 
 pay a due and a ferious Attention to us, in the 
 discharge of our weighty Office, and to 
 receive with Meeknefs the Word of Life, 
 which we difpenfe unto him$ to admit of 
 our Exhortations, as the tenders of our Love 
 and Concern for his Sou] 5 and our Reprofs, 
 as the Wounds of a Friend, and not of an 
 Enemy $ to look upon us as the Helpers of 
 his Joy here, and the Promoters, as far as 
 it is in our poor Powers, of his everlafting 
 Happinefs hereafter : We only defire every 
 Man to remember, that in all this, we do 
 not aft (as I faid before) by our own Autho- 
 rity, nor for our own Advantage. We ferve 
 the fame Mafter that the reft of our Chriftian 
 Brethren do, tho' in a different and nearer 
 Capacity, and that in Offices of real Benefit 
 to Mankind 5 and therefore I think we 
 may reafonably hope for fuch Regard, as the 
 Dignity and Ufefulnefs of our Station de- 
 
 D ferves,
 
 ( 
 
 ferves, efpecially if we take care to be 
 found faithful in the difcharge of the 
 Duties of it. 
 
 But I had rather leave this Inference to 
 be made by every Man's own private Reflexion, 
 than infift farther upon it, how naturally 
 foever it may flow from what has been 
 faid : Nay, (tho' perhaps I may be thought 
 2 Cor. 1 1. to fpeak as a fool, in faying fo,) I had ra- 
 33 ' ther the Minifters of Chrift mould lofe fome 
 of that Efteem and RefpecT: they may juftly 
 lay Claim to for their Works fake, than run 
 the hazard of being thought to feek their 
 own Glory more than that of him who fent 
 them, by pleading too warmly for it, even 
 under the greateft Provocations, which fome 
 think have been given us in this loofe and 
 degenerate Age ^ but yet had better, in my 
 Opinion, have been overlooked, than 
 indifcreetly refentcd 3 which, I fear, has 
 been the fault on one fide, as much as 
 upreafonable Contempt has been on the 
 other. 
 
 And thus having gone through the chief 
 Parts of my prefent Bufinefs} I come now, as 
 I promifed, in the 
 
 Third and Laft place, To draw an Infer- 
 ence or two from what has been faid, and fo 
 Conclude. And, 
 
 ift. We
 
 ) 
 
 ift. We may learn, from the Occafion of 
 St. Paul's Difcourfe in this place, to guard 
 againft that common, but very pernicious 
 Infirmity, of having Mens Perfons in Admi- 
 ration, upon the account of fuch things as 
 muft appear very little, when compared with 
 the great and weighty Matters of Religion. 
 It was a want of this branch of Chriftian 
 Circumfpeclion, that gave occafion to the 
 Heats and Quarrels* at Corinth, and created 
 fuch Uneafinefs to the true and fincere 
 Apoftles of Chrift, and threatned fo much 
 Mifchief to the Caufe they were engaged in, 
 if not timely remedied. For what would 
 have become at laft of the great Defign of 
 Chriftianity, which was to reform Mankind, 
 and fave Sinners from Eternal Deftrudion, 
 if the Humour had continued, of valuing 
 the Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of 
 the Myfteries of God, for no other reafon 
 but their Wit or Eloquence, or any other 
 Ornament, in delivering their Meflage > or 
 at beft, of laying a greater ftrefs upon thefe, 
 than on the Dodrine of the Crofs, and the 
 Means of Salvation publifhed by them ? 
 And indeed this Humour did prevail fo 
 much, and fo long in that Church, ( not- 
 withftanding all that St. Paul could fay in 
 this or his 2d Epiftle againft it) and that 
 in favour of Perfons much every way infe- 
 riour to a Paul, a Cephas, or an Afottos, that 
 D 2 St.Cfe-
 
 St. Clement GZ) afterwards was forced to en- 
 gage in the fame Argument with them, either 
 after, or but a little before he was made 
 Bifhop of Rome. 
 
 And well would it have been for us, if 
 the fame unhappy Humour had not been 
 propagated down, even to thefe latter Ages ^ 
 we mould probably have feen fewer Di- 
 ftraclions either in Church or State, if fome 
 had not been for a Paul, and others for a 
 Cephas, fome for an Af olios, and others, as 
 they pretend, for none but Chrijl 5 and all 
 this, upon little Prejudices, and incompetent 
 Reasons*: I fay, fewer Diflradions in State 
 as well as Church 5 for, however it may be 
 in other Nations, it is but too evident that 
 in this, Divifions in the latter have always 
 had a very bad Influence on the former. 
 And if fo, how carefully mould all they, 
 who truly love the Peace of our Jerufalem^ 
 and wifh well to our Sion 9 watch againft all 
 appearances of this kind of Evil 5 by weigh- 
 ing Caufes, and not the Perfons of Men, in 
 Tim. 5. a righteous Ballance 5 by doing nothing thro 3 
 
 'v I - 
 
 TOTt 
 
 - IT' dwQeiitf Tsv<i>i/.eltKut ivtr&hw vytiv *ATo- 
 ~ifd CWTX T, x) Kpt r t x) 'AToAAft* j JtaL TO xj 
 
 * 
 
 ^ TC crsy.vtv f te*orirK q>i\a.Jt\q>i&f 
 
 K- T. A. Cicmcncis Roma. Epif. prior, ad Connt. Edit. Wot- 
 
 toai. pag. 189, Sec. 
 
 partiality 5,
 
 partiality ^ by leflening, rather than en- 
 creafing the number of Confroverfies, efpe- 
 cially within, as it were, our own Bowels, 
 amongft the Members of the fame eftablifli- 
 ed Church $ which, like all other vifible 
 Societies, can only ftand and flourifh by 
 Unity and Concord, by a prudent Zeal for 
 its Faith and Difcipline, and a Behaviour, in 
 every Order of Men in it, void of offence 
 loth towards God i and towards -Man 3 the 
 Man efpecially of God's own right hand, 
 the breath of our noftrils, and the Anointed of Lam. 4.20 
 the Lord, whom, we hope, he has made fo 
 ftrong for himfelf, and under the fiadow o/ pfaI - 8 - 
 whofe wings may we long rejoyce. Which I7 ' 
 we mall be the more likely to do, if we 
 learn, from what has been faid, as we ealily 
 may, in the 
 
 id place, Wherein the true Wifdom and 
 Interefl of the Minifters of Chrift, in what 
 Station foever placed in his Church, confifts, 
 (viz.) in keeping fteadily to their facred 
 Office and Employment, and in feeking for 
 Glory and Honour no other way, but by 
 being faithful to their Lord and Mafter in 
 their proper Work, and confciencioufly In- 
 duftrious in difpenfing to his Family their 
 Meat in due feafon. If this great Apoftle. 
 had intended, or thought it decent for him 
 to raife himfelf a Name and Reputation in. 
 the World, by any other Methods, no Man 
 was certainly better qualified for fuch an 
 
 Under^
 
 ( BO) 
 
 Undertaking than he was, being bred up at 
 Arts 22. $.the feet of Gamaliel, and, as appears from 
 fome PaJJages (<*) in his Writings, well ac- 
 quainted with the Learning of the Heathens, 
 and no njean Proficient in their feveral kinds 
 of Wifdom and Eloquence 5 but all thefe 
 Things he laid down at the feet of a cruci- 
 fied Saviour, as well knowing that they 
 were not the main Matters he was to purfue, 
 (tho' he mighty and did occafionally, prefs 
 them into his Service) in the difcharge of 
 his Apoftolical Office, as a Minifter ofChrift^ 
 and a Steward of the Myfteries of God. This 
 Character, he found, obliged him to lay the 
 Afts 20. whole ftrefs of his Labours, in declaring to 
 all Men the Counfel of God, for their Salvation 5 
 m taking heed of the Flock over which the 
 HolyGhoft had made him Overfeer, and feed- 
 ing the Church of Qod, which he had fur- 
 chafed with his own Blood. In thefe and the 
 like holy Offices, he endeavoured to ihew 
 himfelf faithful even to the Death : This 
 was all the Wifdom he pretended now to 
 be Matter of, and in this Way he- bore up 
 himfelf bravely againft all Oppofition 5 and 
 where he could not prevent or filence, yet, 
 defpifed the unreafonable Cenfures of Men. 
 
 Oh, that fome Rays of this his Wifdom 
 may ftill continue to defcend upon, and en- 
 Jighten his SucceHburs in general, to the End 
 of the VVorld$ that laying afide all meerly 
 
 iV) Afts j". i'?, :c, Tic. 1. 12. Afts 26. 29. 
 
 humane
 
 humane Wifdora, and worldly Policy, we 
 may, in whatfoever Station in his Church, 
 it pleafes God to place us, mind the one 
 thing neceffary, the faving of Souls, our own, t Ti 
 and thofe that are committiedto our Care : And, 15. ir 
 as our Apoftle expreffes himfelf in another 
 place, by manifeflation of the Truth, take aCor. 4.2, 
 care to commend our felves to every Man's 
 Conscience in the fight of God ^ knowing it 
 to be our trueft Intereft, as it is certainly 
 our moft indifpenfable Duty, to ferve Jefus < 
 
 Chrift and his Church with Zeal, and Dili- 
 gence, and Faithfulnefs to our Lives End $ 
 that fo, when He our Lord and Mafler (hall 
 come again at the End of it, to judge the 
 World, every one of us 5 whether Bifliop, 
 Prieft, or Deacon, may hear him pronounce 
 that comfortable Sentence, upon our Behavi- 
 our, Well done, good and faithful Servant 5 Matt. 25. 
 enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 
 
 21.

 
 Dr. BURSCOUGH's 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Houfi of COMMONS 
 
 On the ^th of NoVemb. 1712.
 
 Martis 6 die Novembris 1722, 
 
 THAT the Thanks of this Houfe be 
 given to T>r. B UR S C O U G H for tie 
 
 Sermon by him <Preacb'd before the Houfe Ye- 
 Jlerday at St. Margaret'* Weftminfter, and 
 that be be defired to Print the fame 3 and that 
 Mr. Lcheupe and Mr. Walter Chetwynd do 
 acquaint him therewith* 
 
 * 
 
 PAUL " J o D R E L t, 
 Cler' Dom 3 Com*
 
 The Alufe of Liberty. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before 
 
 THE HONOURABLE 
 
 Houfe of Commons, 
 
 On the ^th of November, 
 .1722. 
 
 B Y 
 
 WILLIAM 
 
 Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majefly. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. N i c K s, at the IVhite Har 
 in St. ^Paul's Church-yard,
 
 S E R M O N 
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of C o M M o N s. 
 
 i PET. ij. 1 6. 
 
 - not ufing your Liberty for a Cloa^ of 
 Malic ioufnefs* 
 
 AVING at prefent the Honour of 
 fpeaking in this Place, on this aufpi- 
 cious Day, upon ib many Accounts 
 (acred to Liberty ; at this unhappy 
 Juncture, when fo many feem weary of the 
 Bleiling ; and before this Honourable Aflembly, 
 the publick Guardians and Protectors of it ; I 
 cannor, I perfuade my felf, make choice of a 
 Subject more proper for the Occafion, more 
 
 delerving
 
 deferving your Attention, or more becoming a 
 Minifter of the Gofpel, than this which the 
 Apoflk in the w-ords fead to You prefects Us 
 with. 9 
 
 For the better Underflandihg of which, it 
 muft be remember'd, that the Gofpel of our 
 Lord and Saviour is in feveral Paflages of Scri- 
 pture reprefented to Us as a State of Liberty, 
 and the Apoflle St. James (tiles it the ferfett 
 Law of Liberty. The Nature of which Li- 
 berty, if we confult thefe Writings, we fhall 
 find to confift in thefe three Things ; in a Free- 
 dom from the Dominion and Guilt of Sin :, in a 
 Freedom from the Jewijb Rites and Ceremo- 
 nies ; and in a Freedom from a flavifh Sub- 
 jection, and Dependance on any Power upon 
 Earth. In thefe three Things confifts the Na- 
 ture of true Liberty, a Word than which none 
 has a more grateful Sound, and than which 
 none, I fear, has ever been more ungratefully 
 abufed ; there having to thefe three Sences in the 
 earlieft times been advanced as many others in 
 direcl: oppofition. For Ibme wilfully mifta- 
 king the Notion of Chriflian Liberty, took the 
 Liberty to difcharge Men from all Obligation to 
 the Moral Law ; and fo Liberty was abufed to 
 Licentioufhels. Others flretching their Liberty 
 to the utmoft Bounds, and exercifmg it in all Ca- 
 fes without any regard to the Infirmities of their 
 
 Brethren
 
 (7 ) 
 
 Brethren, broke through all the Laws of Chri- 
 flian Charity ; and io Liberty was abufed to 
 Scandal. A third fort being told that they were 
 free, that they were fervants of God, that 
 they muft call no man mafler upon earth > and 
 the like, difcharged themfelves from all Obliga- 
 tions to Government, and difclaimed all Sub- 
 jection to the Higher Powers ; and fb Liberty 
 was abufed to Rebellion. This innocent Word 
 therefore having in fuch grofs Inftances ferved 
 for a Cloak of Licentioufnefs, Scandal, and Re- 
 bellion, we find the two great Apoflles, of the 
 Gentiles^ and of the Circumcijion, with one 
 confent, and almofl in the fame words, cautio- 
 ning Men againft the abufe of it : Te have been 
 called^ fays St. 'Paul, unto liberty, only ufe not 
 liberty for an occajlon to the flejh ; And St. *Pe- 
 ter in the words now read, As free-, and not 
 njing your liberty for a cloak of maltcioufnefs. 
 And this we may obfe J rve to have been the con- 
 ftant manner of the firfl infpired Preachers of 
 our Faith, not to fpend their time fo much in 
 vain Joy and Granulations for the Bleflings re- 
 ceived, how great and valuable foever in them- 
 felves, as in Cautions and Exhortations not to 
 abufe them. 
 
 Wherefore, in imitation of thefe great Exam- 
 ples, tho' the- Memory of this happy Day, in 
 which the indulgent Providence of G o D to this 
 
 Nation.
 
 - ( 8 ) 
 
 Nation has more thaa once appeared in the 
 prefervation of our Liberties both in Church 
 and State, is enough to tempt a Man, capable of 
 being warmed with ib pleafmg a Subject, to 
 Ipend the Time ' either in . congratulating Our 
 f elves fo great a BlefTing, or in Praile and 
 Thankigiving to the Author of it : yet I mail 
 chufe .rather to touch at prefent upon the Abu- 
 fes which may be made of it, especially hav- 
 ing the Honour of fpeaking to Thole, who, if 
 any fiich Abufes are found, are befl able to cor- 
 rect them. 
 
 The Subject therefore I would at prefent en- 
 tertain You with, being the Abufe of Liberty, 
 the bed way I think will be to fix the notion 
 of Liberty, and from thence deduce the Abufe 
 of it. 
 
 Liberty then in its fulieft Sence, is a Power 
 of acting as we pleafe ; but Liberty in the pre- 
 lent enquiry being fuppofed a Bleffing, it can- 
 not confifl in that which would in reality 
 prove the greateft Curfe. Whoever therefore 
 lets up his own Will, Pleafure, and Inclination 
 for the Rule of his Actions, abufes Liberty, 
 and fets up for Licentiouihefs. 
 
 Our own Will therefore being thrown afide 
 as an improper Rule of our Actions, Liberty 
 may in the next place be confideg'd as a Power 
 of. acting according to the befl of our Judg- 
 ment.
 
 (9 ) 
 
 iiaents. And indeed, if Men lived wild and out 
 of Society, I fee not what other Rule they 
 could go by, but every one would be at liberty 
 to ad:, as in his own Judgment He thought 
 beft. But being join'd in Society, and obliged 
 to ad: in concert with Others, Mens Judgments 
 are apt to differ. So that to leave every Man 
 to ad: according to his private Judgment, is to 
 diflolve Society, and abufe Liberty. 
 
 If all Men were Wife and Good, there would 
 be no need of Laws and Government, but every 
 Man might be left to follow his own Judgment 
 imd Inclination ; for every Man would be a 
 Law to Himfelf : But this^, I think, being never 
 to be exped:ed, the next Thing is to agree a- 
 mong themfelves upon fome Rules of ad:ing, 
 that is, upon fbme Form of Government : And 
 that Government which leaves Men moft in 
 their natural Liberty, with the lead Inconveni- 
 ence to the Whole, is the freeft State and Go- 
 vernment. Whoever therefore breaks loofe 
 from thofe Laws which the Society he is of have 
 agreed to ad: under, is an Enemy to that Socie- 
 ty, and an Abuler of Liberty. 
 
 The beft Laws fignify nothing unlefs they 
 are duly executed. There cannot therefore be 
 a greater Abufe of Liberty, than to be remifs 
 and negligent in the Punifhment of thofe who 
 violate them. 
 
 B In
 
 In all Free States, great Care is generally taken 
 to tie up, as much as poffible, the Hands of 
 the Magidratc; not with a Defign that Offen- 
 ders iliould efcape unpunilhed, but to prevent 
 the Abufe of Power. Whoever therefore takes 
 Advantage in any fiich Inftance, and offends a- 
 gainft the Spirit of the Law, under the Prote- 
 ction of the Letter of it, makes an unworthy 
 Uie of that Liberty which the Laws, perhaps 
 (tri&ly fpeaking, Give Him, but never Defigned 
 Him. 
 
 Yet in the freed: States it will be fbmetimes 
 neceflary to devolve more Power upon the Ma- 
 giflrate than ordinarily He is intruded with. 
 And the Reafbn of doing it is, the prefent Dan- 
 ger which may threaten the Government, and 
 the Confidence repos'd in the Integrity of the Go- 
 vernour. Whoever therefore, without any Pof- 
 fibility of knowing the true State of Things 
 Himfelf, mall in times of publick Danger, en- 
 deavour to ridicule it, or mall.prefume, by un- 
 jud Sufpicions and groundlefs Jealoufies, to lef- 
 fen the Confidence of the People in their Go- 
 vernour, afts a Part directly contrary to true 
 Liberty, and is an Abufer of it. 
 
 So that upon the Whole, Liberty is not a 
 Power of Cenfuring our Governours, of making 
 the mod malicious Conftru&ion of their Actions, 
 of alarming the People with imaginary Dangers,
 
 and Shutting their Eyes againft the real Ones ; 
 It is not a Power of Libelling the Government, 
 and a Trick of evading the Punifhment due to 
 that Offence ; much lefs is it a Power of com- 
 mitting Treafbri, and taking Advantage of the 
 Difficulty of Legal Conviction ; It is not a Re- 
 miflhefs in executing the Laws againfl the Ene- 
 mies of their Country, or a foolim Pity for 
 Criminals in order to derive an Odium upon 
 *thofe who bring them to Juftice ; It is not, in 
 iliort, a Power of acting as every Man pleaies, 
 or as every Man thinks beft, tho' in opposition 
 to the common Rules agreed on by the whole 
 Society : Every thing of this^Nature is an Abufc 
 of Liberty ; And whoever, either in Difcourfe 
 or Writing, mall make it his Bufmefs to lead the 
 People into any fiich falfe and dangerous Notions 
 of Liberty, are juftly to be number'd among 
 thole whom the Apoftle cenlures, who while 
 they promife liberty, are themfelves the fer~ 
 'vants of corruption. But true Liberty is the 
 Reverfe of all this, and thofe alone deferve the 
 Character of a Free People, who placing the 
 ftricteft Guard on their own irregular Wills and 
 Paffions, avoid all Appearance of Licentiouf- 
 nefs ; who diftinguiihing between Natural and 
 Civil Liberty, obediently fubmit to the Laws of 
 their Country ; who rejoice and, as much as in 
 them lies, endeavour to fee them duly executed ; 
 
 B ^ who
 
 ( II ) . 
 
 who take all imaginable Care that none fhall 
 evade them ; who, tho' vigilant and jealous of 
 every Step that may be taken to endanger their 
 Liberties, yet in the Midft of their Jealoufies 
 preferve Senfe enough to diflinguifh between 
 Power given to deftroy their Liberties, and 
 Power neceffary to defend them. This alone is 
 true Liberty, the only Liberty worth contend- 
 ing for, the Liberty which it has pleas'd GOD 
 hitherto to preferve to Us, and which is the- 
 grateful Subjed: of this Day's Thankfgiving. 
 
 There could not in the whole Compafs of 
 Difcourfe be a more pleafing and. agreeable Sub- 
 ject of it, than to be able at this Time to look 
 back on the general Behaviour of the Nation, 
 and from the ftridtefl View of it, to find Reafon 
 to applaud their Conduct. If from the Time 
 of the Revolution, from which Time we date, 
 the Prefervation of our Liberties both in Church 
 and State, we could date too the Good Ufe we 
 havcf-ever fince made- of them, this Day would 
 be indeed a Day of pure and unmix'd Joy, and 
 Thankfgiving. But if Liberty be the Thing I 
 have reprefented it, we have great Reafon I 
 fear for Grief and Humiliation, fmce there's 
 not a fmgle Article or Branch of it which has 
 not been fhamefully abufed. For was there ever 
 a greater Licentioufnefs in the Lives of Men, a 
 greater Dif Iblutenefs of Manners, a greater Im- 
 patience
 
 t'J ) 
 
 patience of Reftraint in every kind, as if none 
 could be Free, but thofe who had thrown off all 
 Obligations, and without Libertinifm there could 
 be no Liberty. But not to detain you with Inftan^ 
 ces in this kind of the Abufe of Liberty, which 
 it may be faid is the Complaint of all Times, 
 give me leave to touch over again fbme of thofe 
 Inftances already mentioned, which may have a 
 nearer Relation to our prefent Circumftances. 
 
 A dangerous, cruel, and bloody Confpiracy 
 has been of late formed, and is (lilt carrying on 
 againfl His Majefty's Perfbn and Government ; 
 the Subversion of our Religion, Laws, and Li- 
 berties, is the barbarous Aim and Defign of it ; 
 the Particulars, as far as is thought convenient, 
 have been laid open. What now has been the 
 Return of a Free-People ? To clamour for want 
 of more Intelligence, to precipitate the Mea- 
 fures of the Government, and, as far as in them 
 lies, to foreclofe the Means of any fuller Difco- 
 very. For the Safety of the Nation it has 
 been found neceflary to draw out the Forces, 
 and to form Encampments. What now have 
 been the p reflecl:ions of a Free People? To applaud 
 the Care and Vigilance of their Governours, and 
 to return their moft grateful Acknowledgments 
 for it ? On the contrary, to form the moft unrea- 
 fonable Sufpicions, and to make invidious Compa- 
 rifons bet ween this Befland the Worfl of Reigns. 
 
 The
 
 The- Situation of Affairs is fuch as requires an 
 Augmentation of the Forces : To this has been 
 liirmis'd the Danger of Standing- Armies, the 
 deftruclivc Influence of them on free Govern- 
 ments, and the Grievance it was thought before 
 the Re volution. I mention this plainly, and with- 
 . out Diiguifc,as being not in the lead apprehenfi vc, 
 however it may be laboured, of any dangerous 
 Parallel that can be drawn between an Army 
 kept up by Confent of Parliament, and Another 
 Againil it ; between a c Fhpi]b Arjny to bring in 
 their Religion, and a Troteftaut one to keep it 
 out ; between an Army raifed to fecure our Li- 
 berties, and Another to deftroy them ; between 
 an Army under the Command of a Prince who 
 through his whole Reign has never, in any one 
 Inftance, made the leaft Attempt towards Arbi- 
 trary Power, and Another modelled by a Prince 
 whole whole Reign was one continued Effort to 
 obtain it. 
 
 It has been already obferved, and nothing can 
 be more juft, that all free Governments ihould 
 be highly cautious how they truft Power in the 
 Hands of any one. But it has been obferved 
 too, that it may be Ibmerimes NecefTary ;. and 
 When can it be more fb than at a time when a 
 mod unnatural and execrable Confpiracy is work- 
 ing Within Us, when Foreign Powers have been 
 ibllicited to fupport it, which tho' hitherto in 
 
 vain
 
 05 ) 
 
 vain, yet no doubt are ftill warmly applied to ; 
 And it lies Hire upon Us in a juft fenle of Gra- 
 titude to keep them from any further Tempta- 
 tion, and to convince them by the flrongeft Ar- 
 guments, that an Army can afford, that they 
 have no reafonto repent their Generofity. This 
 good ErTed:, I doubt not, will be produced by 
 Strengthening Our-ielves ; but what EffecT: an in- 
 dolent Neglect of providing for our Safety, un- 
 der the fpecious Pretence of fecuring our Liber- 
 ties might have produced, I am unwilling to 
 conjecture ; Tho' in all probability the Event 
 had been fatal, and thefe fond Lovers of Liber- 
 ty would have foon found, that by hugging their 
 Liberties too clofe, they had at length flifled 
 them. 
 
 In fuch Circumftances as we at prefent labour 
 under, what better, or what Other Meafures 
 could have been followed, than thole which the 
 
 Wifdom of the Nation has enter'd on ; The 
 
 Advice, it feems, is to gain the AfTeclions, and 
 reign in the Hearts of the People. The Ad- 
 vice, it mufl be confefTed, is Good and Reafona- 
 ble ; fo Good and Reafonable, that from the 
 Moment in which this Reign began, it has been 
 always ftridly followed. If the exacted Admi- 
 niilration of Juftice, if the mod religious Ob- 
 fervance of the Laws, if the moft gracious Con- 
 defcenfions, if every Great and Princely Vir- 
 tue
 
 ( t<5 ) 
 
 can win the Affections of the People, their Af- 
 fections are already won, and no doubt His 
 Majefty has already, and for along time, reigned 
 in the Hearts of the Beft and Wiieft part of His 
 Subjects. But if, as the Advice infmuates, the 
 Balk of the People are ftili alienated, as they 
 are free to Give Advice, fo let them as freely 
 Receive it. Let them act as becomes them in 
 their feveral Stations ; Let them notfinfufe Jea- 
 loufies in the Minds of the People ; Let them 
 not be afraid where no fear is, and flee when 
 vo man furfues ; Let them honeftly confefs, that 
 no one Step has been taken towards the Dimi- 
 nution of their Liberties, .nor any Inclination 
 .appeared to infringe them. Let them in a Word 
 fairly acknowledge, that thole whofe Affecti- 
 ons are gained to the Government, will not be 
 Alarm'd at the -Security now granted ; and 
 that thole whofe Affections are not gained, are 
 not fit to be trufled. 
 
 Among the many ways taken to poifon the 
 Minds of the People, and to alienate their Af- 
 fections, the mod dangerous, and diffufive, has 
 hcen that infufferable Licence which has been 
 of late fo fcandalouily taken of fpreading Sedi- 
 tious Papers, and Libels thro* the Kingdom. 
 This at length is advanced into a Claim of Right, 
 and it is declared, that no free People can lub- 
 fift without them. Were Men of low and needy 
 
 Circum-
 
 r I?) 
 
 Gircumftances alone concera'd in this Matter, 
 the Government, fdt ought I know, might con- 
 tinue their Indulgence, gnly taking care that as 
 they Write for Bread, fb they fhould fbmetimes 
 Eat it in Sorrow. But when Men of great and 
 plentiful Fortunes ihall abule the Leiiure which 
 their Circumftances afford them ; when Men of 
 Parts and Education ihall proftitute their Pens 
 in conveying Weekly Poifon through the Na- 
 tion, it is certainly high time for thofe who are 
 in Authority to look about them, and prevent 
 the growing Evil. It mufl be confefs'd, that 
 there may fome Difficulty attend a nice Adjuft- 
 ment of this Matter, fo as to provide againft 
 all Poffible Inconveniences ; But fare it can be 
 no great Difficulty to provide fuch Laws as mall 
 make Men effectually uuderfland, that Papers, 
 ib glaringly pointed againft theprefent Govern- 
 ment^ that He who runs may read it, ihall not 
 be deem'd innocent under the Cover and Prote- 
 ction of two or three Words thrown in, about 
 Former Reigns^ and Neighbouring Kingdoms ; 
 For as the Cafe at prefent ftands, the moft bare- 
 fac'd Infults pafs with Impunity, and all is right 
 and well, and ample Satisfaction made, if at the 
 End of a -virulent Paragraph, full-fraught with 
 Sedition, the Writer can but perfwade Himfelf 
 in a dull Line or two to proteft againft Fad:. 
 As therefore in former Times the Abufe of 
 
 C Power
 
 Power, and ftretchiag it too far, produced good 
 Laws for the Liberty of the Subject ; So it may 
 at prcfent be worth while to confider, whether 
 the Abufe of Liberty mould not in its Turn 
 produce fbme good Laws for the Safety of the 
 Government. Seditious Papers are the certain 
 Forerunners of publick Conftrfion ; The Ten- 
 dency is natural ; nor is it to be wondered at, 
 that when Some write Upon the Confines of 
 Treafon, Others ihould aft Within them. They 
 naturally tend to diminifh the Horror of the 
 Crime ; For when Mens Ears have been ufed 
 to traiterous Expreflions, and their Talk has run 
 long in that Channel, As common Swearers by 
 Degrees lofe all Senfe of Oaths, So thefe lofe all 
 Senfe of that Crime ; till at length, being con- 
 firmed and hardened in it, it mall be difficult to 
 perfwade them, that Treafon and Rebellion are 
 Serious Things. 
 
 If any Man doubt of this, I would defire 
 Him to look back no farther than to the late 
 Rebellion, and let Him remember with what a 
 carelefs Concern thole miferable People flocked 
 into it, without any Apprehenfion of Guilt or 
 Danger, but with the fame Unconcern as if they 
 were going to a Fair or Market : Let Him re- 
 member, after the Succefs of His Majefly'S 
 Arms, when their Perfons were fecured, and re- 
 ferved for Juflice ; let Him, I fay, remember 
 
 the
 
 the little Senfe they tad of any further Con- 
 fequence of the matter, than the Trouble of ta- 
 king an inconvenient Journey at an unfeafbnable 
 Time of Year ; Upon their nearer Approach, 
 when, by the deferved Marks of In&my ufuai in 
 fuch Circumftances, they began to apprehend 
 that they were not brought up only to fee the 
 Town ; Let any Man remember the Surprize 
 and Confufion they were in, as if fome ftrange 
 and unexpected Accident had befallen them, and 
 they were not treated with that Dignity andfle- 
 fpect which they looked for ; Let it be further 
 remembered, when the Principals of them were 
 Arraigned, Convicted, and Sentenced, what 
 little Expectations there were that the Sentence 
 would be ever executed ; Immediately after 
 Execution, and the jufteft^Punifhment inflicted 
 on them ; let it be remember'd, what an Alarm 
 fome took at fo bold a Stroke, and what unkind 
 Cenfures were pafled by Others on the fangui- 
 nary Temper, as 'twas called, of fome Able and 
 Active Ministers who were well-prepared to bear 
 thofe Cenfures, or any thing worle, for the Love 
 they bore to their King and Country. Let any 
 Man, I fay, remember, and reflect on this whole 
 Tranfaction from the Beginning to the End,. and 
 then tell Me what otfier Account can be given 
 of it, than that Men maybe fo far blinded to 
 their Deftructiou? as to have loft all Senfe and 
 
 C z Horror
 
 ( 20 ) 
 
 Horror of the Created Crime, and to look on 
 Treafon and Rebellion as nothing at all. Where- 
 fore to awaken Men, if poflible, to a Senfe of it, 
 and to preierve and enliven the Senfe of it in the 
 Breafts of all thofe who have not yet loft it ; 
 give Me leave to lay before You, in as few Words 
 as pollible, the cruel and fatalConle^mences which 
 muft attend all Treafons and Rebellions againft 
 the prefent Eftablimment, ihould it pleafe God, 
 for our Sins, to give Succefs to any fuch Wicked 
 Enterprize. 
 
 Near two Centuries have now pafled fince our 
 happy Deliverance from the Corruptions and 
 Tyranny of the Roman Church. From that 
 Time to the prefent Day, their conftant Endea- 
 vours have been to deftroy, or, as they call it, 
 to Recover Us. Once, it is recorded, in the 
 Dawn of the Reformation, under a Queen of 
 their own Perfwafion, they did recover Us; and 
 by the cruelleil Treatment, and moft barbarous 
 Perfecutions, taught Us what we are to under- 4 
 Hand by that Word. It pleafed GOD in His 
 Goodnefs, and for His Eled's Sake, to morten 
 thole Days. To Her fucceeded a glorious Pro- 
 teflant Queen, under whole auipicious Influence 
 the Reformation railed up its Head, took Root, 
 and Ipread itfelf over trie whole Nation. It 
 ought certainly to be looked on as a Leflbn of 
 Providence, and fuch as GOD would teach the 
 
 Refor-
 
 Reformation from its very Infancy, That there's 
 no Po/Tibility of its Prefervation under a Prince 
 of a different Perluafion, when by fuch early 
 Inftances on either Hand, He ihew'd it Expiring 
 under one Queen, and Reviving under the Other. 
 This Leflbn, which Providence deflgned for the 
 .Inftru&ion of Proteftants, and which, plain as 
 it is, it feems fome have not yet learned, the 
 Papifts eafily underftood. For tho' they have 
 lometimes ventured at a bolder Stroke, as Wit- 
 nefs the Deliverance of this Day, when our 
 King, our Nobles, and our Commons, were in 
 a moft favage and unheard of Manner Deflined 
 to the Slaughter ; yet their conftant Endeavours 
 have been to Pervert our Princes, as well 
 knowing they fhali be Matters of the Flock, if 
 they can but gain and corrupt the Shepherd. 
 After long. Trials, and many Attempts with 
 more'or lefs Succefs, they at length gained a 
 Prince who had not only Imbibed their Religi-> 
 on, but had Courage enough to Profefs it. 
 They had Then the Game feeure$ 'and in their 
 own Hands, had they but known how to play 
 it ; but feeing they had but One Life to depend 
 on, -they were defirous to fecure Another ; And 
 fb in confequence of the firft and ruling Prin- 
 ciple of all their Motions, by fome Means or 
 other they procured a Succeflbr. I defire it 
 may be Here obferved how Neceflary thefe 
 
 Wife
 
 Wife and Crafty Men in their Generation thought 
 it to have a Prince of their Own Perfuafion up- 
 on the Throne, that they fhould venture at fb 
 bold a Step, and rather than run the Hazard 
 of leaving the Throne vacant for a Proteftant 
 Succeflbr, fhould run the much greater Ha- 
 zard of filling it with a Popifh one. But, as I- 
 laid, in confequence of their firft and ruling 
 Principle, they thought this the wifeft way^ 
 And God, who taketh the Wile in their own 
 Craftinefs, difappointed them. For the Nation 
 alarm'd at this and many other violent Mea- 
 fures, called over to their Afilftance a Neigh- 
 bouring Prince related to the Crown, who by 
 His happy Arrival brought with him the Se- 
 cond Deliverance of this Day. The Joy of all 
 Proteftants at that time was fiich, as might be 
 expected from Men who faw themfelves and 
 their Religion refcu'd from the Grave. They 
 enter'd with one Confent into a long and ex- 
 penflve War in Defence of their Liberties and 
 Religion. And when they faw the -dear and 
 valuable Life of their great Deliverer drawing 
 to its End ; And, by the late Death of a Young 
 Prince, all Hopes defeated of a regular Succei- 
 fion in the Proteftant Line ; they exerted that 
 natural and inherent Power which uece/Tarily 
 refidcs in every Nation ; They limited the Suc- 
 ceflion of the Crown, they pa/Ted over thofe 
 
 Branches
 
 Branches which by Principle mud ruin Us, and 
 transferred it to the Firfl in Blood who was ca- 
 pable of prelerving Us. From this fhort Ac- 
 count every one may fee what has been the 
 Great Point which ever fmce the Reformation 
 has been on Both Sides contended for. And 
 what is That ? To have a Prince upon the 
 Throne of their own Perfuafion. This has been 
 the One, Grand, Deciding Point which both 
 Papifts and Proteftants have been fb long agreed 
 in to be of the lafl Confequence, the Momentous 
 AfTair which has on either Side been managed 
 with fuch Dexterity, which has been Refblve.d 
 in the Cabinet, and Difputed in the Field, the 
 final Refult of their Arms, and Counlels. 
 Wherefore bidding a long Adieu to all fuch 
 Triflers, who againft the Experience of Ages, 
 and the Judgment of all Sides, and the infle- 
 xible Reafon and Nature of things, can imagine 
 that a Proteftant Body can be fafe under a Po- 
 pifh Head ; Let every Man poflefs his Soul 
 with the fulled Aflurance, that the prefent Con- 
 teft between Us is not about Particular Perfons, 
 or exchanging One Family for Another, But 
 the Stakes now plaid for are our Religion and 
 Liberties ; and o if we are once defeated, there's 
 nothing to be expected but the laft Extremities, 
 or to embrace a Religion whofe Principles we 
 abhor. 
 
 And
 
 , . 
 
 ' And how juftly we abhor them, we need go 
 no further for a Reafbn than the barbarous De- 
 fign of this Day, which confidered in all its 
 Circumftances, is Cuch a Mafter-piece of Ini-* 
 quity, as is too black to be aggravated, and too 
 well known to be particularly recited, and 
 which will for ever remain- an indelible Mark 
 of Infamy on their Religion, unlefs it mould 
 pleafe God'for onr Sins to give Succefs to any 
 of theif Delperate Attempts, and fo fettle it 
 once more in this miferable Nation : And then 
 perhaps this Day of -Praife and Thanklgiving 
 inay be bJotrid out -of 'the Calendar, or rather 
 change its Nature, and (become a Day of fblemn 
 Faft and Humiliation - for the Difappointment 
 they met with m it. Nor let it move any Man 
 pf Senfe that Ibme have fmce denied the Mat- 
 ter of Facl: ; For what imfuccefs/ul Villany wasl 
 ever willingly owned > Tho' this was not only 
 owned by the Conlpirators, but juftified by 
 fome of them as agreeable* to that ardent Zeal 
 which every Man ought to bear towards Religi- 
 on, Good God ! that e-ver any Men mould go 
 about to juftify That by the mild and peaceable 1 
 Laws of Religion, which can be never juftified 
 by the cruel Laws of War. Fo/ grant that we 
 are Herccicks, that We are therefore ^their irre- 
 concileabie Enemies, and t;here ttluft : be perpe- 
 tual War between Us, yet there .are Rules and 
 
 Laws
 
 C *5 ) 
 
 Laws to be obferved among the greateft Enc* 
 mies, and fuch infidious, dark, and treacherous 
 Defigns, are always excepted in them. The 
 Memory of this happy Day, which has been 
 doubly blefTed by Providence, in refcuing Us 
 from the Hands of Popery, Once within our 
 own Memories, and Once upon the Occafion 
 I have been fpeaking to, has obliged Me to ex- 
 patiate a little on this particular Facl: which T 
 would have pafTed over in filence, as I do the 
 frequent Perfecutions, the Maffacres, the Perfi- 
 dioumefs of all Sorts, which have been the con- 
 ilant Practices of the Romifh Church, in the 
 Defence, and Propagation of their luperftitious 
 Wormip.- And is This the Religion for which 
 we would exchange our Own ? Is it for This 
 that Proteftants a6t in Concert with Papifts? That 
 the Powers of Europe have beenfbllicited? That 4 
 the moil facred Oaths are violated, and the mod 
 folemn Engagements trampled under Foot ? 
 That Tapifts mould wifh well to their own Re- 
 ligion, and to that End defire a Prince of their 
 own Perfiiafion, is what is natural, and might 
 be expected from them. Yet fome of Thefe, I 
 fhould hope, dread the Execution of the prefent 
 black Defigns ; And tho' they could be pleaied 
 with the Fruits, and Confequences, yet dart at 
 the Confufions thro' which they muft arrive at 
 *hem. Others perhaps among them fit ftili 
 
 D ia
 
 in the calmeft Expectation ; with Hands folded,or. 
 no othervvife lifted up than in Prayer to Hea- 
 ven for Succefs on our Endeavours, and to prof- 
 per the Deftru&ion we are bringing upon our 
 felves. But be it that they are All poffeffed with- 
 the fame blind Fury, that they are All engaged 
 in the fame horrid Defign, yet flill 'tis for what 
 7 hey think Religion, 'tis what their mifguided 
 Confcience dictates to be their Duty, They break 
 thro' no Oaths, they are not falfe to their Alle- 
 giance, they acl: but in Confidence with their 
 Principles and Intereft ; fo that Thefe are not Ib 
 much to be wonder'd at : But that" Troteflants 
 ihould engage in any fuch Attempts, that Thefe 
 fhould be the zealous, forward, and active Con- 
 trivers of them, is cruel, barbarous, and un- 
 natural, and what cannot be reflected on withi 
 out Aflonifhment. 
 
 We have been ever iince the Revolution 
 ftruggling for our Liberties and Religion : Vaft 
 Treasures have been exhaufled, and Rivers of 
 Blood ilied in the Glorious Conteft for thefe 
 two precious and facred things. It has pleafed 
 God to blefs Us with wonderful Succefs, and to 
 eflablifh. Us in the free Exercife of our Civil 
 and Religious Rights under the aufpicious In- 
 fluence and Protection of an indulgent Pro* 
 teflant King, our prefent moft gracious Sove- 
 
 reiga
 
 ( 17 ) 
 
 reign. Thefe are the Bleflings which we had fo 
 long Prayed and Fought for, And Now that they 
 are Granted, Are they*to be delivered up again, 
 and thrown back, as it were, in the Face of 
 Pravidence, as Gifts not worth preferving j* 
 Why then have we fo long contended for them t 
 Why have Half the Powers of Europe been 
 called in to our AfTiftance ? Why did we not 
 from the Beginning deliver Ourfelves up, and 
 prevent the EfFufion of Chriftian Blood ? How 
 could we anfwer thefe Queftions at a Bar of 
 Juftice ? And if we fhould be fo far infatuated 
 as to deliver Ourfelves into the Hands of Po- 
 pery, What could we offer in Arreft of Judg- 
 ment, if in the Name of every thing Juft and 
 Sacred, Sentence mould be demanded againft 
 Us, as an Abandon'd Race, who for the Space 
 of above Thirty Years have been Sporting with 
 the Lives and Fortunes of Mankind, have been 
 Wantoning in all the Miferies of War, and fil- 
 ling all Europe with Blood and Confufion, in 
 Defence, as was Pretended, of thofe facred 
 things Religion and Liberty, but in Truth, and 
 as it appears at laft by our own Confeflion, in 
 Defence of Trifles not worth the keeping. 
 This One Reflection, which I have but juft 
 hinted to You, and which the tender Regard I 
 bear to the Honour of my Country, forbids Me 
 to dwell longer on, is enough to fill the Mind 
 
 D % of
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 of every thoughtful Man at prefent with Shame 
 and Confufion, but will make the Ears of every 
 One that hears it to titigle, when at a proper 
 Time and Seafon it fhall be fet forth in all its 
 Colours, and grace the Harangue 'of fbmeiP0- 
 fijh Advocate. I (peak it plainly, and at Once, 
 If thro' our Weaknefs and Inadvertency, If 
 thro' our Fault and Negligence, the prelent im- 
 pious Attempts againfl the Saered Perfon of our 
 King, and His Government, fhould take EfTed; 
 and fucceed, (which GOD avert ! ) there's no 
 Meafure of Punifliment, no Degree of Mifery, 
 no Mark of Scorn and Infamy, which in the 
 ftricl:eft Juftice we have not Deferved. Where- 
 fore if in any Part of this Difcourfe I may be 
 thought to have reflected with any Degree of 
 Severity on the Cbndiicl: of Thofe who at fo 
 Critical a Juncture, under Pretence of Liberty, 
 are for reftraining and tying up the Hands of 
 the Government ; Let it not be imputed to any 
 Contempt of, or evil Affection towards the Li- 
 berties of the Subject, but as it ought to be, 
 to the Refpecl: and good AfTe&ion I bear to- 
 wards the prefent Happy Eftablifhment, which 
 can alone flipport them. 
 
 The willing and effectual Endeavours which 
 have been lately mewn by this Honourable 
 Houfe, to flrengthen the Hands of His Majeftyv 
 againft his Secret and Open Enemies, are foch 
 
 as
 
 as leave no room, were it proper for me, to lay 
 any thing further ; All that is left for the mofl 
 paffionate Lover of his Country, is, to defire 
 You may proceed as You have begun ; and 
 .that no peeviih Oppofition, no Clamour about 
 Liberty, may divert You from any of thofe 
 Good and Wife Ends You have propofed to 
 Yourfelves. The more agreeable and pleafing 
 Task, it mud be confefs'd, is to ferve One's 
 Country- with the univerfal Concurrence and 
 Acclamations of the People ; But let this Eafy 
 Part be reserved for Men of lefs Conduct, and 
 Abilities. To ride over the Head, of all Op- 
 pofition ; To crufh the Attempts of Open E- 
 nemies ; To trace the dark Defigns of the more 
 Hidden ; To defeat the infidious Counfels of 
 Falfe Friends ; and to bear with the Miftakes, 
 Jealoufies, and Mifconftruclions of Weak Ones ; 
 To fave the Nation, if pofllble, With its own 
 Confent, or if not, Without it, is the Difficult, 
 tho' more Glorious Province, You have under- 
 taken to Adorn, and fuch as is Worthy the Vi- 
 gilance, and Application of a Great, and Wife 
 Prince, Supported in His Juft Adminiflration 
 by the Spirit, Vigour, and Refolution of a 
 Eritifl) Parliament. In Confidence of Suc- 
 cefs from fuch united Vertues, and Endeavours, 
 Let Us praife Almighty GOD, and beleech Him 
 
 to
 
 .. 
 
 to perpetuate the Bleffing, that fo our Religion 
 may be preferred pure and undefiled, and OUT 
 Liberties tranfmitted fafe, and inviolate to lateil 
 Pofterity. 
 
 Which GOT) grant, &c. 
 
 
 
 FINIS.
 
 Juft Publiflied, the Second Edi- 
 tion of 
 
 / T 1 jF7 E REVOLUTION recommended to Our 
 MEMORIES. . A Sermon preach'd at the. 
 Abby-Church of St. ^Peter's, Weftminfter, on 
 November the Fifth, '1715. By WILLIAM 
 B u R s c o u G H, M. . A. Chaflain to His RoyaL 
 Highnefs ^PRINCE, and Fellow of Wad- 
 ham-College in Oxford. Printed for JOHN 
 NICKS, at the White Hart in St. ^Paul's
 
 The Religious and Loyal .Subject's 'Duty 
 confidered) with regard to the frefent 
 Government and the Revolution. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 PREACHED in the 
 
 O F 
 
 CANTERBURY 
 
 O N 
 
 JANUARY 30. 1721-3 
 
 Being the 
 
 Anniverfary Faft 
 
 Of the 
 
 of 
 
 K. CHARLES I 
 
 Publijfjed at the Requeft of the Prebendaries then prefent. 
 
 By ISAAC TER RT, M; A. 
 
 Late of CHRIST-CHURCH, Oxon. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for R. KNAPLOCK, at the Bi/bo/s-HeaJ in 
 St. Paul's Church-Yard. 1723.

 
 Prov. xxiv. 21. 
 
 Myfon, fear thou the Lord, 
 and the King: and meddle 
 not with them that are gi- 
 
 ven to change. 
 
 HERE is no need that 
 I fhould acquaint any 
 who are here prefent 
 with the fad occafion of 
 this anniverfary folem- 
 nity $ nor need I, I 
 fuppofe, ufe many words to raife in you 
 a juft abhorrence of that moft execrable 
 parricide, which we are now bewailing. 
 To be fure we do all of us, from the very 
 bottom of our hearts, deteft and abomi- 
 B nate
 
 2 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 nate it ; unlefs we have been all this while 
 in this holy place prevaricating with God 
 and man, and adding a feigned humiliati- 
 on to the number of our former provoca- 
 tions. 
 
 A s it ought to be the earneft prayer and 
 endeavour of all good men and loyal fub- 
 jeds, that no fuch wickednefs may hereafter 
 be committed aftiong tisy to the reproach 
 ef bur nation, and of the holy Religion 
 "which we profefs : To is it particularly in- 
 cumbehf oh the minifters of the Gofpel, 
 to prefs upon men the dtie bbfefVation of 
 thofc laws, which the moft high hath e- 
 nadcd for the fecurity and fupport of his 
 vice-gerents on earth j and to caution men 
 againft thofe pernicious principles and prac. 
 tices, which in the laft age brought a mod 
 excellent and gracious Monarch to the 
 block 5 and quite overthrew bter conftituti- 
 on in church and ftate : afld which in all 
 ages, if a timely (top be not put to them, 
 will produce the like tragical erfbfts, as ha- 
 ving a natural tendency to fubvert govern- 
 ment, and to introduce anarchy and corifu- 
 
 Ron amongft mankind. 
 
 FOR
 
 Su 
 
 FOR which reafon I have chofen for 
 thefubjed of my folio wing difcourfe, this 
 folemn charge of the wife King Solomon 
 to his Son 5 My fon, fe<tr t&w the Lord 
 and the King : and meddle not 'with them 
 that are given to change. In which words 
 are bound upon us three rules ef life, 
 very necelTary to be obferved by all who 
 would n9t be deemed enemies to the pub-, 
 lick peace and tranquility. 
 
 The firft is, To fiat the Lord. 
 
 The fecond is, To fear the King. 
 
 The third is, Not to meddle with tbofe 
 that are given to change. 
 
 Q F eaeh of thefe injunctions I ihall dif- 
 courfe in order, and fhall {hew in w/hat la.r 
 titude, and with, what reftridions, they are 
 to be underftood 5 how highly reafonable 
 they are, and of how great impartqnce to 
 the prefcrvation of human fociety, an4 thp 
 maintenance of the magiftrate's authority. 
 
 THE fear ef God is a duty equally obli- 
 ging perfons of all ranks and conditions., at 
 all times, and in all places ; and ia \# lull 
 extent comprehends all other duties. }t 
 has for its foundation, all thf gica-^us at- 
 B 2 tributes
 
 4 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 tributes and perfections of God ; but more 
 efpecially his omnifcience, his holinefs, his 
 juftice, and his almighty power. For they 
 who are firmly perfuaded, that all their 
 aftions, and words, and thoughts, are o- 
 pen to the view of the Deity j that 3 he is 
 of purer eyes than to behold evrl with ap- 
 probation y and cannot endure to look on 
 iniquity ; that he will one day judge all 
 men in righteoufnefs according to their 
 works j and that the united force of all the 
 creatures of the univerfe cannot hinder 
 him from executing the terrible fentence 
 which he mail then pafs upon the tranf-r 
 grcflbrs of his laws ; they who do, in good 
 earn eft, believe thefe things to be true, 
 and frequently and ferioufly confider them, 
 will of courfe be very careful not to incur 
 the difpleafurc of the Almighty, by doing 
 thofe things which he hath forbidden, or 
 by ncgleding to do what he hath com- 
 manded. Hence, in Scripture, the fear of 
 God is often ufed to fignify the whole of 
 Religion : becaufe in all who live under 
 the influence of it, it is a very powerful 
 
 :. limb, i, 13. 
 
 principle
 
 '{ Duty. 5 
 
 principle of conftant and uniform obedi- 
 ence to the divine laws. 
 
 THE fear of the King too comprehends 
 the whole duty of a fubjed to his fove- 
 raign. To fear the King is, to yeild to 
 him that homage, and fubmiflion, and obe- 
 dience, which the laws of God, and of the 
 land, do require : chearfully to contribute 
 towards the fupporting his royal honour 
 and dignity, and the fupplying the necef- 
 fities of the ftate ; to labour every one of 
 us in our own fphere to defeat the expec- 
 tations and contrivances of his enemies, 
 and to promote the peace of his govern- 
 ment, and the fuccefs of. his defigns j and 
 continually to pray to him who dilpofeth 
 of all events, to proted his perfon, to di- 
 red his counfels, and prolper his underta- 
 kings ; to demean our felves towards him 
 with profound reverence, to fpeak hono- 
 r ably of him, to think of him with aw, 
 to entertain the moft favourable opinion 
 of his character, and to put the beft con- 
 ftrudion upon his actions; and finally, 
 to render due honour and obedience to 
 ail inferior magistrates and officers, who
 
 6 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 aft by his commifllon, and in fubor- 
 
 dination to him. 
 
 T p E reafonablenefs and neceflity of 
 all this, will appear by (hewing, that 
 nothing lefs than this, will fully anfwer. 
 the ends of government ; and that the 
 contrary pra&ices are very injurious to 
 the authority of princes, and do tend 
 to the difmrbance and diffolution of fo- 
 ciety. 
 
 GOVERNMENT it is clear cannot 
 fiibfift, where there are none who will 
 iubmit to be governed, and own their 
 dcpcndancc upon their governours : there 
 can be no foveraign, where there are no 
 fubjccts ; no commanders, where rjoqe 
 will obey. 
 
 T o call any one King, a,nd at the, 
 fame time to rebel againft his Authority, 
 what is this but to mock him with an 
 empty title ? And it is nearly the fame 
 cafe, when fubje&s, though they do npt 
 take up arms againft their foveraign, dp 
 wu!v!ra\v from him thofe fupplies with- 
 out which his government cannot be up- 
 held. 
 
 IN
 
 Subject's Duty. ? 
 
 I N the natural body all the members, 
 even thofe which are efteemed the moft 
 ignoble and inconfiderable, do their of- 
 fice for the prefervation and well being 
 of the whole : and in the political it is 
 as fitting that all the members, even 
 thofe which are in a private ftation, 
 fhould, as their circumftances will allow 
 them, exert themfelves for the fecurity 
 and profperity of the whole community. 
 The protection which the authority of 
 the magiftrate affords to all, lays an ob- 
 ligation upon all to unite in the defence 
 ot it againft the attempts of its enemies, 
 which (bmetimes can no otherwife be re- 
 pelled than by the united endeavours of 
 all. It gives great encouragement to the 
 adverfaties of a ftate to obferve, that thofe 
 \vho do not fide with them, are not very 
 hearty and diligent againft them. The 
 government that is negligently defended, 
 will quickly be vigoroufly aflaulted ; and 
 wkh too great probability of fuccefs, 
 when even its friends fhew no other 
 mark of friend fhip to it, than the for- 
 bearing to join with its enemies. 
 
 THE
 
 8 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 THE obftruftions and difficulties, with 
 which the management of the publick 
 affairs is neceflfarily attended, are fo ma- 
 ny and fo great, that the foveraign has 
 need of all the afllftance his fubje&s 
 can lend him 7 for the removing them. 
 Should they induftrioufly lay unneceffary 
 ones in his way, his defigns for their 
 fafety and benefit, muft in all likelyhood 
 mifcarry. 
 
 THEY who can be helpful no other 
 way, have furely great reafon to follicit 
 heaven, to guard, and guide,and aflift thofe 
 who are continually watching for their 
 welfare. And fince without the divine 
 aid all human counfels and labours are 
 vain ,- they who can be moft ferviceable 
 to their foveraign by their wifdom, or 
 valour, or treafure, muft by no means 
 think themfelves excufed from affifting 
 him by their earneft and conftant pray- 
 ers. And if thofe, who barely omit thi s 
 duty, are not to be accounted good fub- 
 jecls ; they are certainly very bad ones, 
 who dare to imprecate the judgments of 
 heaven upon their governours. 
 
 I R R E-
 
 SubjeB's Duty. 9 
 
 IRREVERENT carriage to the per foil 
 of the prince, and the fpeaking contemp- 
 tuoufiy and difhonourably of him, have 
 a diredt tendency to lefien his people's ve- 
 neration for him, which is a main prop 
 of his government. The fpeaking evil of 
 princes, is commonly a prelude to fome 
 attempt againft them ; it being found by 
 experience, that the way to weaken and 
 undermine their authority, is to blaft their 
 reputation. Many perhaps, who are in- 
 ftrumental in fpreading fcandalous reports 
 of their governours, have no fuch wicked 
 intention ; but if they have not, they are 
 certainly very ferviccable to thofe that 
 have } nor are they to be excus'd who lif- 
 ten and give credit to them. Such, tho* 
 at prefent they are not adive in carrying 
 on any traiterous defigns, yet give grounds 
 to hope that they may be wrought upon, 
 and in time made fit for purpof es, to which, 
 as yet they are, ftrangers. When once 
 men have caft off all inward awe of their 
 prince, and have given entertainment to 
 an ill opinion of him 5 they are then ve- 
 C- ry
 
 io The Religions and Loyal 
 
 ry much expofed to the attacks of dif- 
 contented and factious pcrfons. 
 
 BEFORE fubjeds credit evil reports of 
 their prince, they ought to confider that 
 it is the employment of many, to render 
 him either contemptible or odious to his 
 people : that to this end many falfe things 
 are laid to his charge, his real defects and 
 mifcarriages are very much magnified 5 
 the ill fuccefs of his undertakings is 
 charged upon his mifmanagement, tho' 
 perhaps no diligence nor vigilance, nor 
 providence ( fo far as it is in man's pow- 
 er to provide againft contingencies ) was 
 wanting on his part j and his very beft de- 
 figns, laid and conducted with the great- 
 cit wifdom, and perfected with all defire- 
 able fuccefs, are reprefented as prejudici- 
 al and pernicious to the common-weal. 
 And they who can fuffer their affections 
 to be by thofe means alienated from their 
 prcfent foveraign, will not be long plea- 
 led with any : nor can any government 
 be quiet, or fecure, where thefe artifices 
 .ire practtfcd with fuccefs. 
 
 THE
 
 Sukjc&t Duty. 1 1 
 
 THE authority of the fupreme magi- 
 ftrate muft of neceiTity be exercifed by 
 many fubordinate officers : and to difho- 
 nour or difobey thefe, is, in effed, to 
 difhonour and difobey him, by \vhofe com- 
 mifllon they ad. And tho* it be for the 
 intereft of the publick, that they fhould 
 account for wilful abufes of the power 
 committed to them 5 yet all unreafonable 
 clamours againft them, are of dangerous 
 confequence to the government, and do 
 indeed threaten the foveraign himielf , 
 who may be mortally wounded thro' the 
 fides of his minifters. 
 
 I T has been before obferved, that the 
 laws of God, and of the land, are the 
 meafures of fubmiflion and obedience to 
 the King. Wherefore no one ought, from 
 what has been now faid, to infer, that in 
 limited monarchies, where part of the 
 legiflative authority is lodged in the bo- 
 dy of the people, the fubjeds are obli- 
 ged to obey any edids of the prince not 
 agreeble to the laws enaded by the whole 
 legiflature. In this cafe, fince the power 
 of the people is fo far coordinate with 
 C 2 that
 
 1 i The Religious and Loyal 
 
 that of the prince, that without them 
 no new laws can be enaded, nor for- 
 mer laws abrogated 5 they may juftly re- 
 quire to be governed by the laws made 
 with their own confent, and by no o- 
 ther. And fliould this right of the peo- 
 ple be fet afide, and no redrefs obtained 
 upon their humble petitions and repre- 
 fentations ; the prince muft take to him- 
 felf the blame, if they have recourfe to 
 other means abfolutely neceffary for the 
 prefervation of their conftitution. On 
 the other hand, it is incumbent on the 
 people to fee, that their grievances are 
 real, and not pretended ; that their com- 
 plaints are founded not upon meer fur- 
 mifcs and jealoufes, but upon notorious 
 fafts ; and that while they are afTerting 
 their own right, they do not invade that 
 of their fovcraign, nor make any thing 
 matter of demand, but the reftoring and 
 fecuring to them what is their due, by 
 laws already eftablifhed. 
 
 M o R E o v E R, fmce God is the fu- 
 prcmc Monarch of the univerfe, the 
 Kmc- of Kings, and Lord of Lords j fmce 
 
 his
 
 Subject's Duty. 1 3 
 
 his power alone is unlimited and irrefi- 
 ftible; and by cpnfequence, the primary 
 and moft proper object of men's fear; 
 it is manifeft, that no human laws what- 
 foever, can bind men to aft contrary to 
 the divine. Nothing can be more un- 
 reafonablc, than to obey God's vice-gerent 
 in oppofition to God himfelf, and to fuf- 
 fer the fear of a lefs power, to prevail 
 againft the fear of a greater. The text 
 teaches us, in the firft place, to fear the 
 Lord, and then the King. Should the 
 King command not to fear the Lord, it 
 is better to endure all that he can inflid, 
 than to do what he commands? We 
 are indeed commanded a , to render to 
 Ctffar the things that are Ctefars ; but 
 we cannot without impiety withhold from 
 God the things that are Gods : that we 
 may render to Ctffar more than is his 
 due. The Apoftles, when they were 
 reprimanded by the higli-prieft for not o- 
 beying the charge given them by the 
 Sanhedrim) to teach no more in the 
 
 Matt. xxii. 21.
 
 14 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 name of Jcfus, anfwcrcd plainly, that 
 they a ought to obey God rather than 
 man. And a difciple of St. John being 
 brought before the magiftrate for Chrift's 
 name fake, anfwered to the fame purpofe ; 
 " b We are taught to pay to the powers 
 " and authorities ordained of God, all 
 " duehonour,excepting luch only as would 
 " be hurtful to us." For to Chriftians, 
 that honour and obedience muft needs 
 appear hurtful, which, tho' it may fcreen 
 them from the difpleafure of an earthly 
 governour, who can kill the body only, 
 will draw upon them the wrath of God, 
 who can deftroy both body and foul in 
 hell. 
 
 BUT tho' the fear of God muft, in 
 cafe of competition, take place, before 
 the fear of the King ; yet ought it not 
 to be made a pretence for refufing to 
 render to the King the fear which is ow- 
 ing to him. The fear of God is fo far 
 from releafing fubje&s from their duty 
 
 v 29. * Eufeb. Hijl. Ecclef. lib. 4. 
 
 cap. 15. 
 
 to
 
 Subject's Duty. 15 
 
 to their prince, that it is the fureft ground 
 of it, and the ftrongeft motive to it. For 
 iince the King is the minifter of God ; 
 they who do indeed fear God, will of 
 courfe fear him who is in the place of 
 God, and adls by authority derived from 
 him. And whatfoever honour or fervice 
 they are to yield to him, they will yield 
 it heartily, not as to a man, but as to 
 him whom he reprefents, the all-leeing 
 and all-powerful God, 
 
 T o fuch men human laws have a 
 much ftronger fan&ion, than the penal- 
 ties annexed to the violation of them 
 by the legiflature. They are fubjel for 
 fear, not only of the magifrrates wrath, 
 but of that eveiiafting punifhment, which 
 God will inflid upon all who will not 
 fubmit to the powers ordained by him. 
 
 THE firmeft and moft inviolable in- 
 gagement by which fubjeds can oblige 
 themfelves to be faithful to a government, 
 is a folemn oath, which is render'd ef- 
 fedual to its end by the fear of God, 
 who is therein invocated as a witnefs to 
 the iincerity of the fwearer's iatentioa, 
 
 and
 
 1 6 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 and as the avenger of his perfidioufnefs 
 Ihould he break through fo facred a 
 tye. 
 
 B u T to thofe who have no awe of 
 this omnifcient witnefs, no dread of this 
 almighty avenger, no oaths will be bind- 
 ing any longer, than they are agreeable 
 to their inclination. And it will be their 
 inclination to do every thing with a view 
 to worldly advantages. The ground and 
 meafure of their obedience to the prince, 
 will be their fecular intereft; the varia- 
 tion of which will be apt to produce 
 an an iwcrablc change in the conduct. For 
 they will have no motive to loyalty left, 
 when they may turn rebels with impu- 
 nity, and be gainers by an alteration of 
 goycrnnmcnt. 
 
 BUT the fear of God being always 
 the fame, is a very fteady principle of 
 loyalty. It fccures the obedience of fub- 
 jccls in many cafes, where the laws ei- 
 ther do not reach them, or cannot be 
 executed upon them 5 and keeps them 
 true to the intereft of their foveraign, when 
 other confiderations might induce them 
 
 to
 
 SubjeB's Duty. 17 
 
 to betray or defert it. Even they who 
 would perfuade us that there is no fuch 
 being as God, or if there be, that he ob- 
 ferves not what pafles here below, can- 
 not but own that the fear of him is a 
 principle very friendly to government, 
 and of great ufe to difpofe men to be 
 peaceable and fubmiflive to thofe who 
 are in authority. 
 
 THE more inexcufable were the actors 
 in this days horrid tragedy, who made the 
 fear of God the cloak of treafon $ and in 
 direft contradiction to the precept of St. 
 *Peter, fet themfelves to refift a every ordi- 
 nance of man for the Lord's fake, turn- 
 ing faith into fadion, and religion into 
 rebellion : who under a fpecious pretext 
 of reforming the Church, filled their na- 
 tive country with blood and defolation> 
 trampled upon its laws, and triumphed in 
 the ruin of its constitution : who fafted 
 and prayed, not for the fafety of the 
 King, and all that were in authority, that 
 under them they might lead a quiet and 
 peaceable life in all godlinefs and honef- 
 
 * i Pe/. 11.13. 
 
 D ty >
 
 1 8 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 ty ; but for ftrife and debate, and to ftir 
 up fedition and infurre&ion againft thofc 
 whom God had fet over them : who, pro- 
 feffing a mighty reverence for the divine 
 majefly, rufhed upon the moft abomina- 
 ble perjuries j firft of all violating the 
 oaths which they had taken to the King 
 and eftabliihed government, by entring 
 into illegal covenants and engagements, 
 and illegally impofing them upon others 5 
 and then breaking loofe from thefe alfo, 
 when they were no longer for their turn : 
 who, with a fliew of more than ordina- 
 ry fanftity and concern for the honour of 
 God, pradtifed all the diabolical arts of 
 defamation and calumny againft his image 
 and reprefentative ; and not contented 
 with (landering thefoot-fteps of the Lord's 
 anointed, and blackening his character, 
 deprived him of his royal dignity, barba- 
 roufly infulted his facred perfon, and at 
 length imbrued their hands in the blood 
 of a king, who was an illuftrious exam- 
 ple to his fubjeds of genuine piety and 
 fobricty, and meeknefs and patience, and 
 all other chriftian vertues: who laftly 
 
 pro-
 
 Suijeffis Duty. 19 
 
 proceeded to this high pitch of difloyalty 
 and impiety, when all grievances had been 
 long ago redreffed, and the King had paf- 
 fed fuch ads, as will be everlafting mo- 
 numents of his fatherly affe&ion and ten- 
 dernefs for his people j when he had to 
 the great prejudice of his own interefts 
 granted feveral things, which his fubjeds 
 could not with juftice demand, nor ask 
 with any degree of modefty ; nay, when 
 he had confented to part with the beft 
 and moft considerable branches of his 
 royal authority, and to leave to himfelf 
 little more than the title of a King: in 
 doing which, as he went beyond the 
 example of his predecefTors, fo it is to 
 be hoped he will never be followed by 
 any of his fucceffors. 
 
 BUT tho* the fear of God was the 
 pretended inducement to all thefe villa- 
 niesj yet nothing can be more certain 
 than that they are truly to be afcribed to 
 the want of it. Wherefore none ought 
 to caft of a principle abfolutely necef- 
 fary to the very being of government, 
 meerly becaufe the external profelTion
 
 io The Religious and Loyal 
 
 of it has been abufed to the worft Pur- 
 pofes by crafty and ill-deftgning men, who 
 were deftitute of the inward power of it. 
 On the contrary, it is our duty not to let 
 it reft upon the furface of our tongues, but 
 to give it admittance into our breafts, 
 and to implant it deeply in our hearts ; 
 and then it will not fail to bring forth the 
 fruits of peaceablenefs and fubmiflion, of 
 obedience and loyalty to the Govern- 
 ment under which the merciful providence 
 of almighty God hath placed us ; and to 
 reftrain us from all feditious and traite- 
 rous practices, and from all approaches 
 towards them. For they who would a- 
 void any Crime, muft be careful to avoid 
 the ftcps that lead to it. For which rea- 
 fon the wife king to keep his fon from en- 
 gaging in defigns againft the State direds 
 him not to meddle with Changers, or, ac- 
 cording to our tranflation, with them 
 that are given to change. 
 
 I N which direftion, it was not the in- 
 tention of king Solomon, to condemn all 
 changes in the laws and government of 
 a kingdom. The fupreme power, which 
 
 in
 
 Subject's Duty. 21 
 
 in every independent State, is lodged fbme- 
 where or other, manifeftly implies a pow- 
 er to make fuch alterations as fliall from 
 time to time be judg'd convenient and advan- 
 tageous. And in the different circumftances 
 of the publick affairs, fome changes in 
 the laws will be often necelfary, or very 
 expedient 5 and when they are made be 
 fufficient authority, it is without contro- 
 verfy the duty of fubjefts to fubmit 
 to them. And even private perfons^ 
 when the prefent laws of their coun- 
 try are very inconvenient and prejudicial 
 to the interefts of the people, may law- 
 fully defire an alteration of them, and 
 may commendably endeavour to effed it 
 in a legal manner, by making humble 
 and dutiful application to thofe who are 
 vefted with the legiflative power. 
 
 BUT they are changers in the bad 
 fenfe of the word, who go about to change 
 the laws and fettled government of a na- 
 tion, without the confent of thofe who 
 have authority to do it ; or who by illegal 
 and violent methods endeavour to extor^ 
 the confent of their governours to fuch 
 
 altc-
 
 i ^ The Religious and Loyal 
 
 terations as they fhall propofe ; as by cla- 
 mours and menaces and tumultuous aiTem- 
 blies ; by forming fecret confpiracies, of 
 by openly bearing arms againft their fo- 
 veraign, and by entring into covenants, 
 not to lay down their arms, till they have 
 obtained their unjuft demands. They too 
 who by any kind of difloyal Behaviour, 
 or feditious difcourfe, manifeft their aver- 
 "fion to the eftablifhed government, may 
 with reafon be fufpefted of being given 
 to change ; altho' it be not yet their 
 avowed defign to effect a change. 
 
 B Y forbidding us to meddle with them 
 that are given to change, King Solomon 
 would rcftrain us, not only from acting in 
 concert with them, and aflifting them ki 
 carrying on their mifchievous deiigns 5 but 
 alfo from engaging in friend fhip and fa- 
 miliarity,or any unneceflfary correfpoiidence 
 with them. 
 
 I T is no eafy matter, to converfe much 
 with men of a fa&ious and turbulent 
 fpirit, without being infected by them. 
 The bed way to preferve ourfelves, both 
 from their crime and their pumfhrnenr, 
 
 is
 
 Sitbje&s Duty. 23 
 
 is to keep at a diftance from them. And 
 this I take to be the true meaning of the 
 wife man's advice, in the xxii. Chapter 
 of this book of Troverbs, at the 24th a 
 and 25th verfes, Make no friendjhtp with 
 an angry man, and isjith a furious man 
 thou jhalt not go. Left thou learn his 
 ways, and get a fnare to thy foul. By 
 often hearkening to the plaufibje difcour- 
 fes of feditious perfons, utter'd with a. 
 feeming concern for the publick welfare, 
 many come at length to approve of them, 
 and highly to efteem thofe who make 
 them, for their great understanding, an4 
 honefty, and difinterefted zeal for the good 
 of their country j and to believe that their 
 governours are not fo good as they ought 
 to be, and that fome changes for the bet- 
 ter are both pofllble and needful. And 
 they who have got thus far, will be too 
 apt to be prevailed upon, to take fome un- 
 lawful fteps towards the reforming of fup- 
 pofed diforders, without imagining what 
 purpofes they are fcrving, and how far 
 their leaders intend to carry them. And 
 when men are once engaged, they them- 
 
 felves
 
 24 The Religious and Loyal 
 felves cannot tell where they fhall flop." 1 
 One wickednefs may introduce them to 
 another, till they become principal adors 
 in the execution of defigns, with which 
 they could not have been fafely trufted 
 at their firft fetting out. 
 
 PUT the cafe, that the main fecret 
 when revealed to them fhould difpleafe 
 them; yet after a confiderable progrefs 
 in unlawful courfes, it will be very dif- 
 ficult for them to retreat. The fhame of ac- 
 knowledging themfelves to have been in the 
 wrong, the apprehenfion of being reproa- 
 ched for deferring their companions, and 
 the fear of fuffering punifhment for ha- 
 ving accompanied them fo far, will be 
 ftrong temptations to them to proceed 
 farther againft the bent of their own in- 
 clinations, and the convidions of their 
 confcicnccs. 
 
 Should they, notwithstanding thefe temp- 
 tations to the contrary, rcfolve to be no 
 longer directed by thofe who mifled them 5 
 yet what they have already done, may 
 have confcqucnces fatal to the publick. 
 By their afUftance, the enemies of the 
 
 govern-
 
 Sulje&s Duty. 25 
 
 government, may be grown ftrong enough 
 to compafs their ends, not only without 
 their farther concurrence, but in fpite of 
 all the opposition they can make. And 
 it will then be a mortifying confiderati- 
 on to refled:, that they have been accef- 
 fbry to villanies which they abhor, of 
 which, however they muft be content to 
 bear the blame. The criminal affiftancc 
 which they gave to men worfe than them- 
 lelves, will entitle them to a (hare in 
 their guilt j and they will be in fome mea- 
 fure anfwerable for the unforefeen confe- 
 fequences of their unlawful practices. 
 
 AND yet the beft and honefteft thing, 
 which perfons thus entangl'd can do, is 
 to get rid of their bad company as foon 
 as poflible, to be forry for what mifchief 
 they have already done, and to endeavour, 
 by their future conduft, to make repara- 
 tion for it. And the defign of what has 
 been now faid, was not to dlfcourage a- 
 ny from forbearing to meddle any lon- 
 ger with them that are given to change, 
 but to perfuade all who are as yet inno- 
 cent, never to meddle with them at all, 
 
 E but
 
 2 6 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 but induftrioufly to avoid them ; not to. pafs 
 by their path, but to turn from them and 
 pafs away a . For they fleep not y except 
 they ha*ve done mifchief, and tkeir Jleep 
 is, taken away, unlefs they caufe fome to 
 fall. Wherefore they cannot be too di- 
 ligently guarded againft, by thofe who 
 would preferve themfelves not only from 
 guilt, but frqm trouble and perplexity and 
 ignominy, and from that calamity and 
 ruin, which (as we are informed by the 
 verfe following my text) Jb&ll ceme fud- 
 denly upon them that are given to 
 change -, and upon thofe who meddle with 
 them. 
 
 THE unparalleled treafon committed 
 on this day, and all the confufions and 
 miferies preceding it, and confequent up- 
 on it, may juflly be afcribed to the neg- 
 led of this moft neceflary caution. In- 
 deed it can hardly be doubted, but that 
 from the beginning of thofe unhappy 
 troubles, or very foon after, there was a 
 party of defperate men, who had in view 
 
 * 
 
 1 Prov. iv. 14, 15. 
 
 the
 
 the utter fubverfion of the eftablifh'd go- 
 vernment, and were refolved to ftick at 
 no villany that might conduce to the ac- 
 compliming their end. But their numbers! 
 in thofe early days, were much too fmalt 
 to bring about the change they aim'd ati 
 or even to proteft them from the juft 
 vengeance which the nation would cef^ 
 tainly have taken upon them, had they 
 then dar'd to own their intentions. Where- 
 fore they found it neceflary to cover their 
 real defigns, under the fpecious pretences 
 of remeding abufes, and fecuring the li- 
 berties of the people, and redifying what 
 was amifs both in church and ftate. 
 
 BY this artifice, multitudes of undif- 
 cerning and unwary people, were drawn 
 into their affiftance, and to a criminal u- 
 tiion with them, and when thefe inftra- 
 ments of theirs had for a confiderablc 
 time been accuftomed to traduce the King 
 and his minifters, exceedingly to aggravate 
 the errors they had committed, and to 
 charge them with odious defigns, which 
 they knew nothing of, to brand all who 
 hxxieftly adherM to the King and the atr- 
 E 2 cient
 
 1 8 The Religious and Loyal 
 cient conftitution, with names and cha- 
 rafters of reproach, and to terrify them 
 not only by thrcatnings, but by outrages 
 and tumults 5 when they had broken forth 
 into open rebellion againft their foveraign, 
 and in contradiction to the lawful oaths, 
 which they were under to him, had bound 
 themfelves by unlawful covenants and af- 
 fociations, not to reft till they had com- 
 pelled him to comply with fuch alterati- 
 ons as they judged expedient 5 when they 
 had laid waft their country, and ihed 
 much chriftian blood in their unjuft quar- 
 rel, and had feveral times rejected the 
 gracious overtures of peace made to them 
 by the King, when by thefe means the 
 breach between him and them was fo 
 widen'd, that it was hardly poffible to 
 compofe it upon conditions fafe and ho- 
 nourable to them both ; when by long 
 familiarity, with difloyalty and treafon, 
 the confciences of great numbers of men, 
 were harden'd, .and grown perfectly infen- 
 fible ; and when the enemies of the King 
 had got into their hands the whole power 
 of the nation, and his friends could no 
 
 Ion-
 
 Subject's Duty. 29 
 
 longer make head againft them ; then was 
 it a proper time for the contrivers and di- 
 reftors of all this mifchief, to dKcover 
 to thofe who had been fubfervient to them 
 their true defigns againft the perfon and 
 government of the King. And doubtlefs 
 there were many concurring and afllfting 
 to the monftrous wickednefs, the punifti- 
 ment of which, we do this day deprecate, 
 who, had it been propos'd to them fomc 
 years before, would have been ftruck with 
 horror at the mention of it, and who 
 could no otherwife have been made capa- 
 ble of committing it, than by being art- 
 fully trailed on, ftep by ftep, from the. 
 meddling with them that are given ta 
 change, to the becoming fuch themfelves > 
 from one perjury to another perjury, and 
 from left treaions to greater. 
 
 IT is true too, that many who had 
 been adive, both in kindling and profe- 
 cuting the war, were ftartl'd at the un- 
 precedented proceedings againft the pet>> 
 fon of the King, and publickly exprefs'd 
 their diflike of them. But fruitlefs pro- 
 teftations were but pitiful compenfations 
 
 for
 
 jo The Religwm and Loyal 
 
 for the fuccefsful fervices they had done 
 to his murthcrers, whom they had con- 
 tinued to aflift and ftrengthen, till it was 
 to no purpofe to make oppofition to 
 them. It was then out of their power 
 to undo the mifchiefs which they had 
 been the authors of, or to hinder others 
 from making a farther ufe of them, than 
 they themfelves had intended. Thus were 
 they unawares made instrumental to the 
 fhedding the innocent and facred blood 
 of their foveraign ; the guilt of which 
 horrible deed muft be imputed not only 
 to thofe who were immediately concer- 
 ned in it, and confenting to it, but in 
 a lower degree to thofe alfo, who made 
 way for it, by the unwarrantable pra&i- 
 ces, which have been already mentioned. 
 THE greater rcafon have we, brethren, 
 t o be exceeding careful not to tread in, 
 their fteps, left we alfo fall in like man- 
 ner as they fell. Their mifcarriages arc 
 our admonitions, and we fhall be more 
 inexcufable than they, if inftead of ta- 
 king warning by them, we follow their 
 example. 
 
 I
 
 Sulje&s Duty. 31 
 
 I AM fenfible it will be faid, That 
 we do imitate them, at the fame time 
 that we blame them ; that the prayers 
 which we have now offered for the a- 
 verting the divine wrath due to the fin of 
 this day, and for the fafety and proi- 
 perity of our prefent gracious foveraign, 
 are a contradiction to one another ; and 
 that the late revolution was a return to 
 the principles of thofe who were con- 
 cerned in the great rebellion. And there 
 are two forts of men, who, tho' oppo- 
 iite enough to each other, will be apt 
 to concur in making this objection : the 
 one with a defign to juftify the murther 
 of the Royal Martyr, or at leaft the mea- 
 fures which prepared the way for it 3 the 
 other with an intention to condemn the 
 happy revolution, upon which our prefent 
 fettlement is founded. 
 
 Now, to what hath been already ob- 
 fervcd, with a view to this objection, I 
 need only to add, That thefe two cafes, 
 which fbme would fain have us believe 
 to be nearly alike, are widely different. 
 
 " 
 
 IT
 
 3 1 The Religions and Loyal 
 
 I T is well known, That the rebellion 
 againft King Charles the firft was begun, 
 when all grievances (which in his reign 
 were far from amounting to a total fub- 
 verfion of the conflitution) had been ful- 
 ly redrefied and repaired. And it was 
 the declared refolution of thofe who en- 
 gaged in it, not to defend, but to change 
 the laws and iettled form of government, 
 and to encroach upon the juft rights of their 
 loveraign ; who laboured indefatigably 
 to maintain the eftablimed laws and go- 
 vernment j who by the laws, to which 
 he had without compulsion contented, had 
 given fufficient proof, that he was as wil- 
 ling to fecure his peoples rights as his 
 own ; and who was fb far from affeding 
 power, that did not belong to him, that 
 his greatcil weaknefs was, that he did not 
 hold faft the rains of government in his 
 hands, but parted with his authority too 
 eafily, and made too large conceflions-to 
 thole who were not difpofed to make him 
 fiutablc returns. When the rebels had 
 got the mattery, they then adually com- 
 plcated a far greater change, than they 
 
 had
 
 Subje&sDuty. 29 
 
 had at firft profeffed to defire. A high 
 court of juftice- was erected for the judg- 
 ing and condemning the King himfelf as a 
 criminal j the whole royffl family were 
 excluded from fucceeding to the crown ; 
 and kingly government itfelf was de- 
 clared againft and abolifhed, and feveral 
 illegal forms of government were one af- 
 ter another fet up in the room Of it. 
 
 B u T in the reign of the late King 
 James, no redrefs of grievances, no op- 
 portunity of redreffing them in a parlia- 
 mentary way, could be obtained. Inftead 
 of being removed they were juftified by 
 pretending, that the King had a power 
 to difpenfe with the laws at pleafure. And 
 it was very vifible that the King and his 
 minifters governed by this pernicious and 
 tyrannical maxim. Now this was plain- 
 ly a fubverfion of the conftitution, by 
 changing the government from limited to 
 abfolute, from legal to arbitrary. When 
 the power of the people prevailed, they 
 made it very evident, that the motive to 
 the meafures they had then taken was 
 necefllty, and not the being given to 
 F chan
 
 jo The Religious and l 
 
 change. No remedy >yas fp much a$ 
 fought for ag^inft the perfpn pf the King, 
 Np prejudice was mantfefted againft the 
 illuftriotts family, \yhich had long fway- 
 ed the fcepter pf thefe kingdoms : t>u,t 
 all poflible regard was fhewn to it. Jhe 
 fCin-g hiqafelf had render'd the fetting of 
 the crown upon a perfpn who now pre- 
 ten4s to it impracticable 5 thp' the nation 
 had beei> ever fo well fatisfied concer- 
 ning his birth. But it was immediately 
 fettled upon thp King's undoubted iflT^e 
 then in the kingdom, and upcn ^ 
 grandfon of the Royal Martyr ; and af- 
 terwards, in default of the iffue from them, 
 upon the next branch of the royal fa.- 
 mily profefllng the Proteftant Rdigipn ; 
 with whom alone our conftitutipn could 
 with any profped of fecurity J>e entru^- 
 ed. Nor was there any invafipn of the; 
 royal prerogative 5 but the fame govern- 
 ment in church and ftate was chearfully 
 iubmittcd to by the people ; as on the 
 other hand the liberties of the people 
 were faithfully defended by the crown. 
 In fhort, of two changes, one of which 
 
 was
 
 Subject's Duty. 3 i 
 
 was at that time unavoidable, the nation 
 preferred the lefs to the greater, and that 
 which was fafe and advantageous to that 
 which would have been very difadvanta- 
 geous and deftru&ive. 
 
 WHICH things confidered, no man 
 mould offer to draw a parallel betwixt the 
 late Revolution and the great rebellion, 
 till he is able to demonftrate, That there 
 is no difference between the doing no 
 manner of hurt to the perfon of the 
 King, and the executing him publickly as 
 a malefactor ; between the fettling the 
 crown upon his undoubted ifliie, and ex- 
 cluding the whole royal family from it 
 without any other necefllty than what 
 arofe from the guilt of thofe who ex- 
 cluded them ; between the peoples affer- 
 ting their own undoubted rights, and their 
 invading the undoubted rights of their 
 foveraign ; between infiftifig upon the re- 
 gular obfervation and execution of the 
 eftablifhed laws, and fighting for an alte- 
 ration of them 5 between preferving the 
 ancient conftitution and utterly overthrow- 
 ing it from the foundations j or in o- 
 F 2 ther
 
 .31 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 ther words, between juft and unjuft 5 be- 
 tween right and wrong. 
 
 WHEREFORE, Brethren, Jet us flop our 
 ears againft thofe, whofe doftrrnes open a 
 door to difobedience and rebellion againft 
 lawful authority 5 and no lefs againft thole 
 alfo who would infmuate that our pre- 
 fent governours have no claim to the 
 fubmiflion, which they acknowledge to 
 be due to lawful magiftrates. The pow- 
 ers which now are, are ordained of Gods 
 and ordained in mercy to us, for the fe- 
 curity of our lives and properties and li- 
 berties, and of what we ought to value 
 above all the reft, our moft holy Religi- 
 on. And heavy will be the condemna-' 
 tion of thofe, who mall refufe to fub- 
 mit to him who is the minifter of God 
 to them for good. 
 
 LET us therefore, laying afide all pride 
 and contentions, all jealoufies and dif- 
 contents, fct our felves to perform what 
 we know to be our duty to him who is 
 vefted with the authority of God : not 
 with cye-fcrvice as men-pleafers, not 
 with murmurings as of neceffity, but in 
 
 finglenefs
 
 Subject's Duty. * j 
 
 ftnglenefs of heart and with a ready mind, 
 as in the fight of God, as having his 
 fear before our eyes, and remembring that 
 he will bring us to a ftrid account not 
 only for the fins committed immediate- 
 ly againiT: himfelf, but for every offence 
 againft his fubftitute, who by him reigns, 
 and decrees juftice. 
 
 I F we dread not the penalties of hu- 
 man laws ; yet let us revere the ordi- 
 nance of God. Let us confider by whom 
 we have fworn 5 and let deftruftion from 
 him be a terror to us. If there be any 
 who dare bid defiance to that ; let us 
 mark fuch and turn away from them. 
 Let us not be fo weak as to imagine 
 that they can have any real concern for 
 religion, or the intereft of their country, 
 who can prevail with themfelves, or would 
 prevail with others, to violate the oath of 
 God. We cannot furely be at a lofs to 
 conclude, what kind of fpirits have tak- 
 en poffeflion of thofe men, who are not 
 to be bound, no not with chains 5 who 
 break in funder the ftrongeft bonds of 
 
 . f* . "('*(P* in.;).',i:j y . 
 
 go-
 
 ^6 The Religious and Loyal 
 
 government, and caft away its cords from 
 diem. 
 
 LET our behaviour be fuitable to 
 our profeflions on this folemn day of 
 humiliation. If we do indeed deteft the 
 crimes of thofe cruel and unreafonable 
 men who gave occafion for the obfer- 
 vance of it ; if we would not for the 
 world be the authors of fuch dreadful 
 calamities as they by a long train of 
 wicked ncfs brought upon their nation ; 
 if we are Jdncere in imploring the mer_ 
 cy of God, that he would not vifit their 
 guilt upon us or our pofterity : let us 
 take heed that we do not fill up the 
 mcaiurc of their iniquities by a repetition 
 of them : let us not cherifh the feeds 
 which arc apt to produce fuch bitter and 
 deadly fruits : let us not enter upon 
 courfcs, which, for ought we know, may 
 end in the crimes we deteft. 
 
 T o conclude, let us not feparate what 
 God hath joyned together, religion and 
 loyalty, the fear of God and of -the King. 
 Let us cftccm loyalty as a neceflary part 
 
 of
 
 - Sttbje&s Duty. 17 
 
 of Religion, and affure ourfelves that wt 
 are doing God acceptable fervice while 
 we are ferving his rcprefentative. Let 
 loyalty to the King mingle itfelf with 
 our moft folemn ads of divine worfhip. 
 In our thankfgivings let us devoutly ac- 
 knowledge the many bleffings we enjoy 
 under his government : and in return let 
 us by our prayers draw down the choi- 
 ceft bleffings of heaven upon him ; moft 
 earneftly befeeching the Almighty to en- 
 rich him plenteoufly with grace here, and 
 crown him with everlafting^ glory here- 
 after 5 to prolong his life in health and 
 wealth, and to perpetuate his feed as the 
 days of heaven 5 to guide him with his 
 fpirit of councel, and to ftrengthen him 
 with his mighty arm, for the cftablim- 
 ment of truth, and the maintenance of 
 juftice, both at homo and abroad ; to hide 
 him in time of danger under the covert 
 of his wings, and to fhield him with his 
 ftrong falvation ; that the confpiracies 
 formed againft him may not profper, and 
 the devices .of wicked men may be 
 
 turned
 
 2 8 The Religious and Loyal 
 turned backwards and light upon their 
 own heads 5 that all the people may hear 
 and fear to do wickedly, and the crown 
 may flourifh upon the head of the Lord's 
 Anointed. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached in the 
 
 Cathedral Church 
 
 O F 
 
 S r - PETER in EXETER, 
 
 QnWednefday.Jan. 30. 1722-3. 
 
 Being the Day of the 
 
 tf 
 
 OF 
 
 KING CHARLES I 
 
 By PETER FOULKES, D.D. 
 
 Canon Refidentiary of the faid Church. 
 
 E 10 N: 
 
 Printed by A. B. for MATH. THORN, in St. Peter's 
 Cburcb-Tar*. MDCCXXIII.

 
 C- 1 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd on January 30. 1722-3. 
 
 f 1 * 
 
 1 IT. 111. I. 
 
 Powers 
 
 Principalities and 
 
 F it be true, what Gw- 4m*. < 
 //r affirms, that the Crg. ic ' 
 /w/ were Always a Se- 
 ditious People; then the 
 Dircftion, which the A* 
 here fends to TV- 
 
 *^ their Bifliop, may feem to have 
 b^cn particularly adapted to the Per- 
 fans, for whofe life it was intended. 
 St. Paul indeed, in the Firft Chapter cf 
 this Epiftle, taxes feme amongft Them ch ' *' 
 with Vnrnlinefi and Loquacity^ but that 
 was in Matters of Dottrine 5 and 
 he cxprelly faith, were chieflv 
 A " 
 
 10.
 
 ... ... , . 
 
 the Circumcifion j who, in This Cafe of 
 Oppofing the Gofpel,, behaved thcm- 
 felves no otherwife, than as their Bre- 
 thren of the fame Religion are known to 
 have done every where elfe-^ and fo That 
 Charge affcfted them rather as Jews, 
 than as Cretians : And the Charaffer he 
 afterwards gives of this People in gene- 
 v. 12. ral r in a Vcrfc cited out of />/- 
 wznides their Country-man, tho s it de- 
 clares them to be very Loofe and Scn- 
 fual in their Manners., yet faith nothing 
 at all of their being Seditions^ or Dijo- 
 bedient to Magiftrates^ though That Crime 
 may eallly be imagined to keep com^jpty 
 with their other tnormities. 
 
 However^ be that as it will., the A.- 
 poftlc fcerns Here, as in Other of his E- 
 piftles 1 to deliver this Precept in the 
 Text with a General View., and as One 
 of the Great Rules of Chriftian Pra&ice, 
 to he rau^lit together with the Dattrwes 
 of Chri inanity, and to be obferved by 
 All that profefs the Faith of Chrift, and 
 fubmic thcmfelves to his Laws and Go- 
 vernment , as One of thole Obligations, 
 which that Grace of GOD that bringeth 
 Salvation, and hath appeared unto All 
 
 Men,
 
 are, whom he terirfs Principalities and 
 Powers , and 2^//y 5 What is to be 
 undeiftood by being SnbkS to Them, 
 
 i. By Principalities and Powers, St. 
 Paul means Per Jons in any kind of Ci- 
 vil Authority ', whether Sovereign Princes^ 
 or other Inferior and Subordinate Ma- 
 giftrates: Such as he himfelf elfewhere 
 calls KuLrs , and again 5 Kings , Rmtt 1? 
 and All that are in Authority' and St, ? . 
 Peter fomewhat more diftinftly, the 2. 
 
 t Pft 2 
 
 King as Supreme, and Governnurs that ^ 14. 
 are ^f, or commiflloned, by Him. But it 
 is chiefly the Supreme Magiftrate in 
 every^particular Nation, by what Name 
 foever he is ftyled, that the Apoftle's Pre- 
 cept regards , fince, whatever Subjeflion 
 can be due to any Inferior and Subor- 
 dinate Power, it muft be primarily 
 owing to the Supreme ^ and paid for His 
 fake, and with refpecT: to the Authori- 
 ty which is fit ft in Him, and then af- 
 terwards derived from him to others. 
 
 a. I proceed therefore to (hew, what 
 is to be underftood by being Subjett to 
 Principalities and Powers- or what that 
 Subjeftion is, which is due to the Ac- 
 knowledged
 
 [83 
 knowledged Snfreme Magijtrate in every 
 
 Nation. 
 
 Stri&ly fpeaking^ to be Subjefy is ra- 
 ther a Condition of Life^ than a Duty ; 
 rather the Allotment of the wife Provi- 
 dence of God* than a Matter of Human 
 Liberty and Choice. For GOD having 
 difpofed Mankind here on Earth in 
 fuch a manner, as to conftitute feveral 
 Orders^ as well as Relations, amongft 
 them; and having placed fome in a 
 H/gfc, and others in a Lower Rank , 
 He hath confequently made Subje&ion to 
 be the unavoidable State ot the far 
 greater Part of the World. 
 
 What we are therefore to enquire 
 into as a Matter of Obligation and Dnty y 
 is, what doth rea\ot?ably appear to be 
 the Refult of that State of Subje&ion j 
 and what GOD himfelf hath exprefsly 
 enjoyned and annexed to it: Or in other 
 Worc^ what Kind of Behaviour 3 both 
 Right Reason and the Holy Scriptures, 
 do Oblige the Inferior Part of Mankind 
 to yield to thofe a that have a Juft Au- 
 thority over them. 
 
 And F/Vf?,, as a Leading and Ufeful 
 Principle to all that fliall follow, they 
 
 are
 
 are to have a true Inward Senfe of 
 That Snbje&ion it felf} They are to 
 acknowledge it in their own Hinds y and 
 to bnng their Inclinations and djfc&wni 
 to a willing AcquiejUnce in it. 
 
 This feerns to be Necefiary^ both as 
 it is a Principle and Foundation for All 
 thofe fubfcquent Afts and Duties, 
 which will regularly flow from the 
 State of Sutje&ion^ towards the Higher 
 Powers \ and alfo as ic tends to curb 
 and reftrain the Pride and Haitgbtincfi 
 of Mans Heart j That duality of 
 his Corrupt Nature, which dire&Iy 
 thwarts the Duties we arc enquiring 
 after, prompting him rather to Di\obey 
 and Dijdain every Superior, than fub- 
 mit to be Governed by Any. The 
 Proud man r !eakth in Wraib^ as Solomon 
 fpeaks; and H? that is of a Proud heart Fro. 
 ftrrreth up ft rife t Yea., and Only by Pfidevro 
 cometh Contention, And in fafi, All thofe Ic 
 Publick Confufions 3 which make fo 
 black a figure in the Hiftories of All 
 Nations, are nothing elfe but the Fruits 
 of this pernicious Hoot' Rebellion^ and 
 Civil War, and Subverting of Legal 
 s, and Murdering of So- 
 B vereign
 
 . 
 
 vercign Princes, however fometimes 
 varnithcd over with pretences of Rea- 
 fon 3 Juftice, Common Utility, and even 
 Religion itfelf, are in truth no other 
 than the Natural Efflfts of This Im- 
 petuous Paffion, which when left to it 
 felf is incapable of working any thing 
 but Mifchief to Mankind^ and is fuf- 
 ficient to produce the worft. 
 
 But How Contrary is fuch an Evil 
 fpirit as This, to the True Temper 
 and Spirit of the Cojpel j and to the 
 Example, as well as Precepts, of Our 
 Bl effect Saviour and His Apoftles ? 
 
 Onr Saviour made His Appearance 
 on Earth., not only in the duality of 
 a Sub] ci to the Then Ruling Toners 
 of the world - 5 but even of a Servant 
 . to much Meaner Perfons. the Son of 
 Man cjfiie not to b: Miniftred unlo^ but 
 to Mhrifter: And He recommended the 
 laic Lowly Difj-ofition to His Dif- 
 eijves Tor^ As in the Cafe of Subjection 
 to the Civil Authority, He at oncTime 
 . (iirefit-d 6V. Peter to pay T te for 
 H m to Thofe that demanded it ^ and at 
 :. other taught the.Jfopf, that the things 
 are properly Cefafa ought al- 
 ways
 
 ways to be rendred to Him , So in 
 matters of Common Mutual Service be- 
 tween Man and Man, He hath left to 
 his Followers the Pattern of a Lord and 
 Mafter Wajhing His Difciples Feet^ and 
 hath bound them to the Imitation of/ 0& - xHi - 
 it. Ye -call me Mafttr and Lord: And ys 
 fay well^ for fo I am. If I tbsn^ Tour 
 Lord and Mafter , ba-.-e Wafted y cur pet , 
 Te aljo ought to waft) one another^s feet. 
 For I bave given you an Example , that 
 ye fbould do as I bave done to you, 
 
 In like manner, His Apoftles, far 
 from encouraging any diforderly and 
 Seditious notions or humours^ have in 
 diverfe places inculcated the Do&rine 
 of Subjection y \yhereioever there can be 
 any room for it. For they not only have 
 prefcribed it to Sulj cts (Commonly fo 
 called) towards the Supreme, and even 
 the Subordinate Magiftrate^ut likewife 
 to Servants towards their Earthly Ma- 
 fters, to Children towards their Parents, 
 to Wives towards their Husbands, to 
 Chriftians in general towards their 
 Spiritual Paftors j yea, even to All Cbri- 
 ftians towards Each Ocher. Att of you lPet ^ t 
 be Sntystl (faith St. Peter) One to ano~ 
 
 B 2 ther,
 
 C 3 
 
 ^ and be clothed with tiumilhy. For 
 COD rtfiftcth the Proud, and givetb 
 grace to the Humble. The Former part of 
 which words evidently (hews us, that 
 a Temper of Subjetiiov and Lowly-m'tnd- 
 ednefs is, VniwrftHfo the true Dif- 
 pofirion of zChriftian; as the Latter 
 part ftrorigly inforccs the Former,, with 
 GOD's own San&ion to the foregoing 
 Precept. Ail of you be Subject one to 
 another., and be clothed with Humility? 
 For Cod refifteth the Pro9*d 3 and givctk 
 Grace to the Hnmbk. 
 
 Now 5 to apply all this to the Purpofe 
 for which it is brought, it would dotibt- 
 lefs conduce to a Quiet and Orderly Be- 
 haviour of SmbjeStf towards Thofe Go- 
 vernors and Magiftratcs, under whom 3 
 Not their own choice,, but the Divine 
 Providence hath placed them- if they 
 would feriouily C<Htftder y that it is 
 GOD that dilpojes them in this man- 
 ner $ that it is their Creators Pleafure 
 to fee thrin thus in a State of SubjiSti* 
 en, not only to Hhnfclf, but to fuch 
 alls of their Fellow-Creatures,, as He 
 hath thought fit to Advance to a 
 fupaior Rank, and Inveft with Au- 
 thority
 
 t '3 
 thority and Power. This Eafy ahd Ob- 
 
 vious Reflection^ Confiderately mad'e^ 
 manifcftly tends to Allay in us the 
 Heat of Carnal Pride, to fupprefs the 
 Rifings and Tumors of Ambition^ to 
 Choke the Seeds of Dsfcoment ; and 
 to Difpofe us to Render to All bfa/, 
 whatever the Command merit or Infti- 
 tution of G D bath made 'Their 
 Due a, d parcicalarly,, Honour to w om 
 Honour is Due, and Fear to whom Fear ? 
 without any Envying of Their fupe* 
 rior Condition, or Repining at the 
 Inequality of Our Own, 
 
 But Secondly , The Duty of Subjt&s 
 to Sovereign Princes is cofntiionly known 
 and difcourfed of, by the Name of 
 ObsJieKce. Which is a Duty, not fo 
 peculiarly payable to Princes, but that 
 it a! i*o reaches wherever there is Any 
 SttfyeStii* of what kind foever, (as in 
 the In fiances a little before mention* 
 ed) but is more Efpecially owing to 
 Princes, inafmuch as Thetr Authority 
 over Other Men, and the Subjection 
 of Others to them^ is the moft con- 
 fiderable of AIL 
 
 The
 
 [ '4 ] 
 
 The duefiion then is. What is 
 That Obedience which GO D requires 
 and obliges Subjects to pay to the 
 Supreme Magiftrate. 
 
 And Here, Men arc apt too much 
 to favour Themfelves , that is to 
 fay, their Corrupt Carnal Nature , 
 their Particular Tempers and Humours , 
 and the Prejudices of their own Minds. 
 From whence arifc Errors and Exctffes 
 on both hands: Some too much De- 
 preffing That Authority ^ which GOD 
 bath given to Magiftrates for the 
 well-governing of Mankind 5 and Others 
 again Advancing it to a Height, which 
 is inconfiftent with the End for which 
 it was intended. 
 
 Without diverting into any unne- 
 ceflary fpcculations, I conceive it will 
 be a Plain, Sure, and Unexceptionable 
 Anfwer to the Matter propofed, if we 
 Briefly Affirm j That the Obedience, 
 which GOD requires of Chriftian Sub- 
 jects towards their Supreme Magiftrate, 
 is the very fame with Tbat y which the 
 Eftablijled Laws of Each particular 
 Nation do enjoy n. So that Whatever 
 it .be, that will render any Pcrfon a 
 
 Faithful
 
 , 
 
 Faithful and True SuhjeSi, will in 
 This Refpe&alfoj if Nothing elfe hin- 
 der ? 5 render him a Good Cbrijlian. 
 
 It hath not feemed good to the 
 Wifdom of GOD, in any Part of the 
 Holy Scripture, to defcribe the Par- 
 ticular Duties? which go to make up 
 the Obedience due to the Civil Ma- 
 giftrate y throughout the feveral Nations 
 of the World : any more than He 
 hath thought fit to appoint to Every 
 Nation (or to Any^ fince the determi- 
 nation of the Jewtjh Polity) it's pecu- 
 liar Form of Civil Government. But as 
 Government in general h klis Ordinance^ 
 and the Inftitution of it frequently 
 claimed by him ; fo Obedience in gene* 
 rails what He hath exprefsly command- 
 ed to be Every where paid by Subjects to 
 the Gov ruing Powers. Wherefore, As to 
 the particular Parts of this Obedience, 
 fince GOD hath no where defined them, 
 we are neccflarily to look into the Con- 
 fti* niton and Laws of Each Nation^ and, 
 Unicfs there beany thing in thofe Laws 
 that contradifts any of his Divine Com- 
 mandments, we are to take them for 
 the Rule of our Pra&ice, as much as if 
 
 GOD
 
 GOD himfelf had in Exprefs Terms 
 delivered them to us. 
 
 If this be a True Account of This 
 Matter, it fecms alfo to be a Flam and 
 Eafy Method, to direft the Connie; cc 
 of every Private Subject, even oi the 
 Lowe& Capacity : there being No one 
 fo much a Strarger to the Conftitution 
 of the Kingdom or Nation he beloi gs 
 0^ as not to Know, in What Hands the 
 Sovereign Anthority if lodged, and what 
 kind of Demeanour towards it is requir- 
 ed of him. For This, in effecl, is on- 
 ly to know, What fort of Behaviour 
 will fecure to him the Enjoyment of c- 
 vcry thing he values in This World, 
 His Life^ Liberty, Eftate, and the like; 
 and what will endanger and hurt them: 
 which in All Nations, generally, the 
 Mea>;e$ of the People are as well aware 
 of, as the Greatest. 
 
 The Actual Difference and Difagree- 
 ment, which is found amongft Men on 
 This account, moft commonly lies in 
 their Inclinations and f radices ^ and Not 
 in their Knowledge and IJnderftafidwg. 
 He that Tranfgreffes his Duty in any 
 considerable point, does ic not from the 
 
 Weak-
 
 i 7 3 
 
 VVeaknefs of his judgment, but from 
 the Malice of hii Heart. Alfo, among 
 them that tranfgrefs it Not 5 there is a 
 great Difference, with refpeft to the 
 Reafon' and Principle 3 on which their 
 Obedience proceeds. The Worldly* mind* 
 e4 Man confidcrs chiefly the Security of 
 his Perfon and Property,, and Orher 
 temporal Conftquences '> and fo^ either 
 through Fear of Punifliment, or through 
 Hope of Reward, keeps himfelf within 
 the Bounds of his Legal Duty , in the 
 mean time paying little Honour or Re- 
 gard to the Perfon, or to the Office, of 
 his Prince. But the True Cbrifttan adds 
 Conscience to his Outward Obedience : 
 confiders the Ordinance of GOD, Ad- 
 ores that Divine VVifdom which hath 
 appointed Magistracy for the Welfare T 
 of Mankind, and Reverences Thofe^ with 
 whom GOD hath been pleafed to in- 
 truft His own Authority. 
 
 What SubjtQ) in any Nation^ knows 
 not) that to Form Secret ConJptracieS) or 
 to wage Publicly War, again ft the Ac* 
 knowledged Sovereign Authority, is a 
 (irinie of the Higheft Nature againft 
 the Laws of his Country? /For what 
 
 ^ * TWT ' 
 
 Q Nation
 
 C '8 I 
 
 Nation is there, in which Such Practi- 
 ces are not forbidden and inquired into 
 with the utmoft Severity ? ) Perfons of 
 All Ranks, d Equally Underftand this : 
 and No one that fails in His Duty, ever 
 Pretends that he was Ignorant of it. But 
 the Sincere Chriftian joyns the Command- 
 ment of Almighty GOD to the Law 
 of the Land .- Yea, he fears to Rebel, 
 or to Confpire_, Notyo mnch out of Re- 
 5-gard to MJ/;, as for the LORD'j fake^ 
 Not fo much to avoid Temporal Punifli- 
 ment from an Earthly Tribunal,, as That 
 2 Judgment and Condemnation of GQD^ 
 which They^ that RefiS the Higher Pow- 
 ers, flail receive to themselves Hereafter. 
 Again, What Subject wants to be 
 Informed, That to Revile and Calumni- 
 ate His Vrince'i is an Offence Always 
 Punifhed, and Jnftl) punifliablc, by 
 the Civil Magiftrate ? But Here like- 
 \vife the Good Chriftian carries, his At- 
 tention further than to the Vengeance 
 of the Secular Arm ^ hearkening to the 
 ^Divit?e Prohibition, Thottjfralt not Jpea^ 
 2- Evil of the Ruler of Thy People ^ and to 
 7^8, 1 1. the WQ denounced againft Such, as De- 
 Dominion^ and jfreak, Evil of Digni- 
 ties :
 
 . 
 
 tie* : and upon Thefe Principles., and Not 
 only for Temporal Reafons, Ordering 
 His own Praftice. 
 
 Again i What Subjc& Knows not y 
 That to pay Tribute or Cnftom y when 
 Regularly loipofed, is fuch a Branch of 
 the Duty he owes to his Sovereign^ as 
 that in cafe he refufes to do it, he may 
 be Legally and Juftly compelled to a rigo- 
 rous performance ? Here likewife^ As 
 He is the Good Subje& t who difcharges 
 this part of his Obedience willingly 
 and chcarfully , fo He is the True 
 Cbriflian, who confiders the Precept of 
 an Apoftfe of CHRIST, inforcing the 
 commands of the Legiflature. Render 
 to All Men their Dm. As Honour to * 
 whom Honour, and Fear to whom 
 Fear is DHQ\ So likewife Tribute to 
 whom Tribute is due^ and Cuftom to 
 whom Cuftom. 
 
 Further , What Subjeft in Any well- 
 ordered State is a or pretends to be Ig- 
 norant, That 5 if he hath received Any 
 wrong from Another, it is not permitted 
 htm to endeavour to Right himfelf by 
 his own Private Force, but that he muft 
 
 C 2 have
 
 C30 ] 
 
 have recourfeto the Magi ftr ate, and to 
 fuch Methods as the Law and Cuftom 
 of his Country hath provided for his 
 Redrefs. Or, if his Paffion and Self- 
 Intercft have fuggefted to him, that the 
 Supreme Magiftrate Hiinfclf is the Wrog- 
 doer '> Or if his Juft Rights have been 
 Really invaded by the Power which 
 fhould prote& him ; yet What Pri- 
 vate perfon can imagine it to be Allow- 
 * able for him., immediately to Blow the 
 Trumpet of Sedition, and call forth Ifrael 
 to their Tentf r and conftitute Himfelf 
 the Judge of his own Wrongs, and 
 Avenge them upon his Prince - If Such 
 Pra&ices were Any where Lawful, the 
 Publick Tranquillity would be very Pre- 
 carious, and of fhort Continuance: In 
 Th?fs Cafes therefore, As a Good Sub* 
 jcSt will feek his Relief Only in a Legal 
 way, and acquiefce in what is to be So 
 obtained , and a Prudent Perfon will 
 Balance the Consequences of a Quiet, 
 with Thofc of a Turbulent Behaviour^ 
 and determine his A&ions accordingly 5 
 So a Sincere Chriftiott will chiefly regard 
 the Precepts and Example of C H RIST, 
 and will rather chafe to Commit his 
 
 Caufe
 
 r 3 
 
 Caufc to GOD, and to Bear Injuries 
 of any kind patiently, than endeavour 
 to requite them by a man'feft Breach 
 of his Known Duty. 
 
 Laftly} What Private perfon Know* 
 9tot y That an orderly Compliance with 
 A LL the Laws of the State, whatever 
 they are, whether immediately relating 
 to the Sovereign Himfelf or Not 3 is the 
 Duty of Every SubjeSt^ as fuch > And 
 that in what cafe foever Any oneTranf- 
 greffeSj he is Jttft ly Accountable for it ? 
 This is ah Obligation, that arifcs from 
 the very Nature of a Political ComntHni- 
 ty, and confequently lies upon Every 
 Mentb.r of it } to wit 3 Firft to Reve- 
 rence, atid Then to Obey the Publick 
 La#>s> as far a? H':s Particular Station 
 will enable and require htm. AndTWs 
 then is to be efteemed a Part, of rather 
 it comprehends the Whole of the Obedi- 
 enct he owes to the Powers that are over 
 him:' fince Ttefe Powers do Ordinarily 
 govern their Proceedings by the Efta- 
 blifhtd Laws of each Nation ; and re- 
 quire No other Obedience from their Sub- 
 je&s, but what is Therein, fome way or 
 other, determined^ and owdc Known 
 to them, T*
 
 To This General Submiffion and Oh- 
 ?dience to All the Laws of the State to 
 which he belongs, doth the Gofpel of 
 Chritf alfo bind the Confcience of a 
 Chriftian; except (as was before hint- 
 ed) there ihould be any Inconfiftency 
 between Them and the Precepts of 
 CHRIST, as in Pagan or Mahometan 
 Countries there may Eafily be ; but 
 fcarcely in a Cbriftian Nation j unlefs 
 where the Chriftianity^ which is Profef- 
 fed and Eftabliflicd by the State, is itfelf 
 Degenerated from it's Native Purity ; 
 which indeed is too much the Cafe of 
 Thofe Parts of Chriftendom, where the 
 RoMiJl Errors have prevailed. VVhere- 
 ever This happens. The Rule of the 
 Gofpel is Known 3 Stedfaft,, and Inflex- 
 9iblc; We ought to Obey GOD rather 
 than Men. But where there is Nothing 
 of This, but on the contrary the Laws 
 of the State do regularly provide for 
 the Welfare of it's Members, without 
 violating any Do&rine or Praftice of 
 True Religion 3 There, an Humble and 
 Peaceable Conformity to Such Laws, is 
 the Duty of Every Cbriftian Subjct, as 
 well as Others , and to which he is Ob- 
 liged
 
 C~" 
 23 J 
 
 liged by Thofe Precepts oi 
 and Obedience to Prin I'ties - .d ) ow- 
 erSj which the Scrifcittn in diverfe places 
 fets before him. 
 
 II. And Thus I have endeavoured, 
 in a Plain manner, fuitable to All Ca- 
 pacities, to give you the Meaning of the 
 Precept contained in the Text. I (hall 
 Conclude with 'Exhorting you to a Con- 
 fcientious Performance of the Duty en- 
 joyncd. 
 
 Had Thofe Perfons, whofc Uhparal* 
 lel'd Wickednefs gave occafion to our 
 Prefent Solemnity, confider'd themfelves 
 either as Chriftians, or as SubjeSs; had 
 they regarded, either \heContmandmtnts 
 of GOD in the Goffcel^ or the Known 
 Confutation of th^n Country \ They would 
 not, by Shedding the Blond of their So- 
 vereign, have brought that Stain of Guilt 
 on Themfelves and the Nation, which 
 Nothing in the mere Power of Man will 
 ever be able to wafl> away. 
 
 For Not to mention again the Ho- 
 ly Scriptures, which, as we have feeir, 
 do abfolutely Forbid, and feverely 
 Menace, All fuch Evil Praftices^ What 
 
 Law
 
 C. 20. 
 
 C H 3 
 
 Law or Cuftom of This Kingdom^ What 
 approved Precedent from Ancient Times 
 could they produce, to warrant and 
 juftify their Horrid Treafons, Ufurpa- 
 tions, and Villanies, againft the Au- 
 thority, Government, and Perfon of 
 the #/NG<? Certainly, All Regular 
 Efl;ablifliments, a they provide for 
 the Welfare of the People of all ranks 
 and conditions, fo alfo for the Juft 
 Rights of Sovereign Princes and Rulers; 
 for the Safety and Dignity of their P*r- 
 fons, and the Free and Honourable Ex- 
 ercifc of their High Authority: And 
 no Violence can ever be pra&ifed^ or 
 attempted againft them, by any Pri* 
 vate SubjeSts^ without Offence and De- 
 triment to the whole State itfelf. This 
 is what Cur own Legislature in parti- 
 cular hath Solemnly Declared, with 
 refpeft to the Treafon and Murder of 
 This Day, and to All the Proceedings 
 of Thofe Impious Tray tors, tending 
 thereunto and Thereby, together with 
 the Perpetuating This our Annual Hu- 
 initiation^ hath indeed Done AH that 
 in it*s power, if not to Atone for* 
 
 JL r "* * * * - * 
 
 ^?
 
 [=5 3 
 
 the Gw7f, yet to deliver the Natkm 
 from the Infamy of Thofe Crimes. 
 
 Let Us therefore Learn, Not only^ 
 from the mention of That Deteftable 
 Wickedncfs, to beware of ever Copy- 
 ing after fo Foul an Example, bat fronr 
 the Considerations which have been laicT 
 before us, and Chiefly from the Plain 
 Precepts of the Gofiel^ to Do our own 
 Duty y humbly and quietly, in that 
 Station which GOD hath alloited us: 
 Remembring,, that it is by His Appoint- 
 ment we are Subjett to Principalities and 
 Powers i and that the Obedience we owe 
 1hem> is a Part of our Duty to Al- 
 mighty GOD Himfelf. Let us there- 
 fore endeavour to Perform it. As lo tk 
 
 J Col. 2. 2?,, 
 
 LORD - Let us Honour and Obey the 
 KING whom He hath fet over us, 
 fincercly_, and for Conscience fake : that #^.13.$. 
 Not only Man, who looketb on the out- *& i* 
 ward appearance, but GOD, whofearcb- 
 eth the Heart, may know onr Integrity. J* b 3'* 
 The Fruit whereof will be, not only 
 Outward Peace 3 Liberty, Safety , and 
 other Temporal Advantages , but Peace 
 of Mind^ the Approbation of GOD y 
 the Comfort of His Holy Spirit, Here , 
 
 D and
 
 - 
 
 and Glory , Honour 3 and Immortality ', 
 Hereafter-, through jfyW C&rift our 
 Lord. To whom, with the F*f/w and 
 the H(?/y Cfc^ff , be All Praife and Thankf- 
 giving, Dominion and Majcfty ^ for 
 ever and ever. AMEN. 
 
 F I 
 
 I S. 

 
 Preached in Lambeth-Chapel, 
 
 A T T H E 
 
 CONSECRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Right Reverend Father in G O D, 
 
 T H MAS, 
 
 Lord Bilhop of CHICHESTER, 
 
 On Sunday, Offiober 7. 
 
 By DAVID WILKINS, D.D, 
 
 Prebendary of Canterbury , and Chaplain to his 
 Grace the Lord Archbifhop of Canterbury. 
 
 Publijhed by Order o/.His GRACE, and at the defire of the 
 Right Reverend the Lords the Bi/hops of Winchefter, 
 Salisbury, Lincoln, Norwich and Chichefter. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by W. B. for ROBERT GOSLING, at the Middle 
 Temfle-Gate in Fleet ft reet.
 
 
 
 A ,,ii r<
 
 Deut. xxxiii. If. 8. the former Part of the 
 
 Verfe. 
 
 And of Levi he faid : Let thy 
 Thummim and thy Urim ve 
 with thy holy One. 
 
 [HEN Mofes the Servant of the Lord 
 found the Time of his Death ap- 
 proaching, and had now in the Ears 
 of all the Congregation of Ijrael 
 made his farewel Speech, fetting 
 forth the wonderful great Mercies of 
 God, and his terrible Vengeance, and exhorting 
 them ro obferve an^ to do all the Words of the 
 Law : He was then that fclf fame Day lent up by 
 the Almighry to Mount Nebo, for to be gathered 
 unto his People and to die there. From this Mount 
 at the Top of T'tfgah, the Lord ihewed Mcfes all 
 the Land of Canaan, which he had fwora-.unta 
 Abraham, unto Ifaac and unto Jacob, to give it 
 
 Ax to
 
 4* A Consecration Sermon. 
 
 to their Seed ; and when he was told that he ihould 
 not go over thither to pofTefs it, he prepar'd him- 
 feif to go the Way of all Fleih, and left the Chil- 
 dren of Ifrael a truly valuable Legacy, and took 
 his leave of them in a moftfolemn Manner, blefling 
 the twelve Tribes. And when in order he came 
 to the third Tribe of Ifrael^ he thus begins his 
 Blefling: And of Levi he faid : Let thy Thummim 
 and thy ^Urim be 'with thy holy one. 
 
 The dying Speeches, or the prophetical Pre- 
 dictions of the Old Teftament, which the chofen 
 Men of God, thofe that were more particularly fa- 
 vour'd with the blefled Converiation with God, 
 deliver'd before their Death, and which by the ho- 
 ly Pennraeri are left us for our Inftru&icxn, were 
 without doubt true Reprefentatives of the Times 
 of the New Covenant of Grace eftablim'd upon bet- 
 ter Promifes: And this BlefTmg which Mofes. the 
 Man of God gave to the Tribe of Levz, rs mod 
 cerrainly Typical of him, to whom Mofes gave 
 way, who in the Fulneis of Time was to blefs 
 Mankind in the quality of the Son of God, the 
 lad and greateft Prophet of all, of whom Mofes 
 hi mil If laid; the Lord thy God* will rat fe up un- 
 to thee a Trophet from the mid ft of thee, of thy 
 Brethren like unto me a . And as there arofe not a 
 'Prophet in Ifrael like unto Mofes, whom the Lord 
 knew face to face b , fo under the Difpenfation of 
 the Gofpel, it is faid of our Saviour, that no Man 
 has feen God at any Time, the only begotten Sony. 
 which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath de+ 
 dared him z . Before his. Death and Afcenfion in- 
 
 1 Veut t xviii. 15, b Deut. xxxiV. 10. - c Joh. i. 18. 
 
 CO
 
 A Confecratlon Sermon. 5 
 
 to Heaven, he endowed his Apoftles and Difci- 
 ples, rhe facred Tribe of Levi of the New Tefta- 
 mem, with Power and Authority of the Priefls of 
 the Lord, and promiled to fend them after his Depar- 
 ture, the blefTed Comforts of the Holy Ghoft, the 
 Spirit of Truth, who was to guide them into all 
 Truth. 
 
 But how this Typical BleiTing of the Sons ofLe- 
 vi is applicable to the State of Cbrifl's Church of 
 the New Teftament; and how Mofes in blefling 
 the Sons of Levi, foretold the Bleffing that was 
 to be imparted to the Minifters of the Gofpel, fhall 
 be the Subject of our prefent Meditation, in which 
 I fhall endeavour to explain 
 
 I. Firfty the Perfon that was blefled, namely 
 
 Levi. 
 ,11. Secondly, the Blefling itfelf: LetthyThum- 
 
 mim and thy 'Vrim be with him. And 
 III. Thirdly^ the Reafon of this Blefling; be- 
 
 cauie he is the holy Man of God. 
 
 I. Levi. was Jacob's third Son, whom Leah 
 Laban's elder Daughter bore him, and call'd him 
 Levi, which in its original Signification denotes a 
 Reconciliation, a Conjunction^, Jacob the Pa- 
 triarch had ferved Laban feven Years for Rachel, 
 and when by Subtilty or out of Cuftom of the 
 Country, Laban had beguiled him, in fubftituting 
 Leah his elder Daughter for the younger, Jacob 
 full of Difpleafure with his Uncle began to con- 
 ceive' a Hatred againft Leah, which me trufted 
 
 b adhtjit, adjanxif* 
 
 would
 
 6 A Confecration Sermon. 
 
 would wear off ac Jaft, and flie by her fruitful 
 Progeny, and by this third Son in particular, 
 would be reconciled to her Husband, for which 
 Realbn ihe call'd him a Reconciliation or a flrifter 
 Conjunction, and fays : Now this Time will my 
 Husband be joyned unto me, becaufe 1 have born 
 htm three Sous, therefore was his Name called 
 Levi e . And when in Procefs of Time their Chil- 
 dren multiplied, and the Allmighty was pleafed to 
 choofe them ibr his own peculiar People, and was 
 now going to eftablifh the Manner and Form of 
 holy Worlhip to be obferved by them, he chofe the 
 Families of Levi, and feparated them from among 
 the Children of Ifrael, that they might minifter 
 unto the Lord in the Prieft's Office. 
 
 This Pofterky of Levi being thus dedicated by 
 God himfelf to the facred Miniftry, was divided 
 into three Orders, into High-TrieJt, Trie/Is and 
 Ltevites. 
 
 The High Pried was a Perfon eminent for his 
 great Accompli fhments, and for the moft folemn 
 Difcharge of his Duty, was adorned with the grear- 
 eft Abilities of Mind, Body and Fortune V His 
 Dignity confided in this, that as he excelled all 
 the Priefls of the Lord in Office and Authority, 
 ib allb was it required he mould do in Sanctity ; 
 and when they were call'd Holy eabiyrwnp he 
 bore the Name of mofl holy, which according to 
 
 
 
 C,,-n xxiX 34. 
 
 * M.VK-K. \:\ xyipon ^"3 rvobn : cap-.$. T. fays, thar it was 
 required n Hirh 1'ricH (Viould be ron f\fl D'-SHDH VHM !?DO brtt 
 : ns4^,rD3i P)jDnn nxinyn preferable to all his Brethren,- outward 
 c^pjar.;nce, in Strength, in Riches, in Wifdom, and in Beauty. 
 
 Jfaui/a's
 
 A Confecratlon Sermon. 
 
 's Opinion is afcribed to him in *Dan. ix. 14 *>. 
 The High Pried executed the mod holy Parts of 
 divine Worfhip, and of all the Prieds of the Lord 
 was alone authorifed to enter into the Holy of 
 Holied; he had the Priviledge of performing what 
 part of the daily divine Service he pleafed ; he 
 was endow'd with the Prerogative of asking Coun- 
 felof God, by the Judgment of 1)riw and Thum- 
 mtm y and generally prefided in the chief and fu- 
 preme Council called Sanhedrim. This Name of 
 High Pried brfl JHD was reckoned fo eminent, fo au- 
 gud a Title, that after the Diflblution of the Ro- 
 man Republick, the Emperors thought fie to af- 
 fume it; and we find that Julian the Emperor 
 cali'd himfelf A^t^s Tonttfex Maximus. 
 
 The fecond Order of the Sons of Levi in the 
 Old Tedamenr, were the Prieds, who after a Trial 
 and Examination by the Jewifti Confiftory b\y p n>3 
 CTISHD and after the Anointment to the everlafting 
 Priedhood were admitted to the facred Functions 
 in the Temple. I will not fpend your Time in 
 collecting out of the Old Tedament out of Levitt* 
 cus zm\NumberSy or out of the Talmud h what the 
 Offices of the Prieds were, nor will I enumerate the 
 twenty four Wards -nubo into which the Families 
 of the Prieds were diyided', which afterwards by 
 the Captivity of Babylon were difperfed, fo that 
 
 8 Eufit. Dsmonftr. Evan* cap.%. p. Z4O. 
 vctt, y/ov ftyiatt > vSro 3 
 it***' %&>M*t <i"/">' dyta* ei 
 T T MI/V? v^tv fir fi 
 
 * ^n snoa foi. 131. i. p-irwD J^nm fol. 81. 
 
 t See i chron. xxiv. noyn N"tf3A fol. 17. i,, H^yn 'WV 
 fol. 17.4. 
 
 but
 
 8 A Gonfecraiion Sermon^ I 
 
 but four return'd into ^Palefline^ Ezr. ii. 36. Nor. 
 will I detain you with the Narrative how the 
 Priefts drew Lots four .Times a Day (whicu is 
 
 pointed ZtLuke'l. 9. * -n tQ(& Ttjg ;g^<7^ eA#;# 5* 
 
 S-ufudtrcu) for the Performance of their ieveral Du- 
 ties in the Temple. I will only mention that the 
 chief Duty of the Priefts was to inftrucT: the Peo- 
 ple in the Law and Commandments of the Lord, 
 to offer Sacrifices and Prayers, and to obierve the 
 particular Rites and Ceremonies of the dated Ftafls 
 and Fads fo as they were enjoyn'd by God him- 
 felf 
 
 Of the third Order of the Sons .of evi were 
 the Levites, thofe over whom the, Priefts of the 
 Lord had the overfighr,.M*^.iii. 31. who infteadof 
 the Fird born were fand'ified unto the Lord, and 
 were to bear the Ark and the holy VefTels, Num. 
 iv. 15-. i Chron. xv.x. They had the Charge of the 
 Trcafury of the Temple, were divided into xxiv 
 Clajf'cs or Wards, and were indru&ed in Mufic for 
 Divine Service according to the Number of the Sons 
 of sifhph) Hcman and Jedithun, i Chron. xxv. 
 and xxvi. 
 
 In the New Tcdament under the Difpenfation of 
 the Golpcl Covenant, and the (Economy of the 
 Chridian Church, thole Perfons that are peculiar- 
 ly devoted to, and continnalfy employed in facred 
 Matters, may very judly be dyled Levi, or the 
 Sons of Levi* fuch as by virtue of their Office in 
 Baptilm regenerate us, by their Admonitions en- 
 deavour to make us new born Creatures, and by 
 their z?a!t:us Interceflion for finful Mankind, pro- 
 cure a Reconciliation between God and Man : 
 Such as unto whom ir given the Minijlry of JRe-
 
 A Confecratwn Sermon. 9 
 
 conciliation, when God was in Chrift reconciling 
 the World unto himfelf, not imputing their tref- 
 faffes unto them, and hath committed unto them 
 the word of Reconciliation , x Cor. v. 18, 19. 
 Such as deprecate God's Anger, reftore us to his 
 Favour and Mercy, and by their Supplications a- 
 vert his heavy Judgments, by going between 
 both in the beft Offices of Peace, Happineis and 
 Salvation. Thefe fanctify'd Sons of Levi of the 
 New Teftament bare a juft Analogy with the 
 Jewifh Priefthood, not only in the lacred Office 
 and Function, but alfo in the three different Or- 
 ders of the holy Miniftry. They are authorized 
 by Chrift himfelf, the Author and Finiilier of our 
 Faith, to enter into the holy Places, where God's 
 Honour dwelleth, into the Courts of the Lord's 
 Houfe, to offer fpiritual Sacrifices of Praife and 
 Thank/giving, by Prayers, Confeflion of Sin, and 
 Promifes of Amendment, to expiate, and through 
 the Blood of the fpr inkling ofjejiis, that fpeak- 
 eth better things k , to make Atonement for their 
 Trefpafles, to direct and inftrucT: the People in 
 the knowledge of the Evangelical Law, and in the 
 All powerful Name of our Saviour, to implore and 
 pronounce the divine Bleffings upon them. 
 
 That this would be the State of the Chriftian 
 Church, God himfelf declares by the Mouth of 
 his Prophet Ifaiah\ when fpeaking of the Gen- 
 tileS) that they {hall be gathered to fee the Glory 
 of the Holy Mountain Jerufalem y and be recei- 
 ved into God's Church, Jie fays ; And I will alfo 
 take of them for Triefts and Levites faith the 
 
 Rsbr, xii. 14. 
 
 B Lord,
 
 i o A Confecratlon Sermon. 
 
 Lord, Ifa. Ixvi. 7. And in Jeremy, fpeaking of 
 the Days of Chrift, the Branch of Righteoulhefs, 
 that was to grow up unto 'David? and was to exe- 
 cute Judgment and Righteouinefs in the Land, the 
 Lord lays, Neither jb all theTriefls the Levites 
 ivant a man before me to offer burnt offerings, 
 to kindle meat offerings, and to do facrifice con- 
 tinually, Jerem. xxxiii. 18. which is confirmed by 
 Malachi i. i. 
 
 This Analogy is farther feen in the three diffe- 
 rent Orders of the Minifters of the Gofpel, of Bi- 
 fhofs, Triefts and 'Deacons, which aniwer exact- 
 ly to thofe of High Triefl, Trieji and Levite of 
 the Old Teftament, as ! Clemens of Rome and 
 St.jferom declare it m . That this was the ancient 
 Form of Government of ChriJPs Church, is at- 
 tefted, befides the Paflages of the New Teftament, 
 by the earlieft Writers in and after the Apoftle's 
 
 1 Clemens of Rome in his Epiftle to the Corinthians, .40,41, af- 
 ter he had told them that the Lord had commanded them to per- 
 form their Offerings and Service to God, not raftily ami diforderly, 
 but at certain determinate Times and Hours; and therefore he had 
 ordained by his fupreme Will and Authority, both where and BY 
 WHAT PERSONS they are to be performed ; that fo all things be- 
 ing pioufly done unto all well-pleafing, they may be acceptable 
 unto him ; then adds, that according to the different Fun- 
 ctions of three Orders of the Minifters of God in the Old Tefta- 
 ment, the fame care muft be had of the Perfons that minifter unto 
 him in the New: -nS 
 
 .. 
 
 111 Hieronym. Eplft. ad Evagrium or Evangelum. Ut fciamus tra- 
 ditiones Apoftolicasfumtas de Veterl Teftamento, quod Aaron Filii ejut 
 atque Levtu in Templo fnerunt t hoc fibi Epifcopi cr Presbyteri w Di- 
 
 aconi vendicent in Ecclefw, 
 
 times,
 
 A Gonfecratlon Sermon, i r 
 
 times, Ignatius", Irenaus , Clemens of Alexan- 
 dria P, and others. I beg leave to mention one 
 for to make the Parallel between the Old and New 
 Teftament the clearer. Tertullian \ who liv'd at 
 the end of the fecond Century, mentions the three 
 principal and diftincl: Offices of the Church : The 
 'Power, fays he, of conferring Baptifm the High 
 Trieft hath, who is the Bijhop ; then the Trie ft s 
 and ^De aeons, but not without the Authority of 
 the Bijhop, to keep up the Honour of the Church^ 
 without which Teace cannot be preferv'd, other ~ 
 wife even the Laity have a power to do it. 
 
 The High Prieft indeed was a Reprefentative of 
 the great Archetypal Aoy-, the Eternal High 
 Prieft after the Order of Melchifedec : And be- 
 caufe Chrift was the High Triefl of our 'Profef- 
 fion r , the Shepherd and chief Bifhop of our Souls s , 
 who is confecrated for evermore c , and has been 
 pleafed by his meritorious Death and Paflion to 
 execute the Office of High Prieft, and by offering 
 himfelf once, with his own Blood, was now en- 
 ter' d into the Holy of Holies not made with 
 hands v , and is now fet on the right hand of the 
 Throne of Majefty in the Heavens". It is more 
 agreeable to the Doctrine and Opinion of the Pri- 
 mitive Church, to fay, that the feveral Bifhops are 
 fo many Vicegerents, ^Deputies or cn-io (fuch as 
 
 Ignatius Epifl. ad Ephef. ad Phtladebb. ad Smyn. ad Frall'tan* 
 Iren&us, lib. 3. adverf. H&refes c. 3. 
 P Clemens Alex. lib. 6. Stromaf. 
 q Tertull. r. ; 7 . de Baptifmo. 
 
 r Hebr. iii. i. * i Pet. ii. ij. r Hebr, vii. z8. 
 x. 11, ii. Hebr. viii. ;. 
 
 V ^ the
 
 12 A Gonfecration Sermon. 
 
 the High Prieft in the Old Teftamenc had *) in 
 Chrijfs Name, and with his Authority to prefide 
 over the Churches of God, to be burning and fhi- 
 ning Lights to the other facred Orders of Priefts 
 and Deacons, and with godly Precepts, and whol- 
 fome Examples, to exhort them to be holy, be- 
 cagfe the Lord their God is holy. 
 
 Having now explained to you the PERSON that 
 was blefled in my Text, and the Analogy between 
 the Minifters of God of the Old and New Tefta-r 
 ment: I come now, 
 
 II. To illuftrate the BLESSING IT SELF exprefTed 
 in the Words of my Text, Let thy'Vrim and thy 
 Tlntmmim be with thy Holy One. 
 
 After the Almighty had feparated Aaron and 
 his Sons from the Children of IJrael, to minifter 
 unto him in the Prieft's Office, he appointed feve- 
 ral Garments to be made for Aaron for his Confer 
 cration, among which was a Breaflplate of fine 
 twined Linen, of* gold, blue, purple and fcarlet ; 
 it was four fquare and doubled, a fpan long and 
 broad, and in it were fet twelve precious Stones 
 in four rows, with the Names of the twelve Tribes 
 of Ifrael engraven upon them. This Breaftplate 
 was faftcn'd to the High Prieft's Ephod, and was 
 
 The H : ~ ; h Prieft had always a pD, who in cafe of Sicknefs, or 
 r hicap.icity, reprefented his Perfon in the Performance 
 ' ; .::kr,.il Acts, and at other times affifted him, whenfo* 
 jd upon fo to do. And upon this account he had Autho- 
 ri r y over a'i ihe inferiour Priefts, as Maitnon, \U^pt^ "fyy I TObn 
 th'ap.4. . iC. pD7, T nnn D^nsn >D) and all the (inferiour) 
 Prieits are under the Authority of the Sagtn, See Cun&us de Ref. 
 He jr. L z. c. 6. 
 
 called
 
 AConfecratton Sermon. 1 3 
 
 called the Breaftplate of Judgment, in which were 
 the 'Urim and Thummim, as is mentioned, Exod. 
 xxviii. 30. And thou /halt put in the Breaftplate 
 of Judgment the ^rim and Thummim, and they 
 jhall be upon Aaron's heart, when he vpeth in 
 before the Lord; and Aaron jhall bear the Judg- 
 ment of the Children of Ifrael upon his heart be- 
 fore the Lord continually. 
 
 To recite the different Opinions and Arguments of 
 the Jewifh and Chriftian Writers x, what thofe Thum- 
 mim arid ^Urim were, would far exceed the Bounds 
 of aDifcourfe, and quite remove my Thoughts from 
 my prefent Defign, which is only to defcribe the 
 Nature of this Oracle of the Old Teftament, as far 
 as it is applicable to the State of the Chriftian 
 Church in the New. 
 
 Under the Theocracy of the Old Teftament, the 
 Almighty required his People Ifrael to confult him 
 upon any great and doubtful matter relating either to 
 their Civil or Ecclefiafticai Government, and was 
 pleafed to anfwer them in a moft folemn manner, 
 three different ways, either by 'Dreams, or by 
 'Prophecies, or by *Vrim and Thummim z . This 
 laft Oracle was named Thummim, by reafon of the 
 Integrity and Terfettion of the Anfwers; and 
 
 im, becaufe of the true Light and Clearnefs of 
 
 y See Tbefaur. Dijfirtationum Theolog. Pk'dol. in locum. Spencer. 
 de. Urim er Thummim. Not. Eernardi in Jofepkum. 
 
 z This the old Heathens alluded at, when they enquired of God 
 the Caufe of the fevere Peftilence, as the Poet relates it. Homer, 
 Iliad, i. #. 61, 63,64. 
 
 'H ^ o 
 
 v l$ x,' Vo on Ttoyot e^V7 folG' 'Avowal, 
 
 if
 
 14 A Confecrdtion Sermon. 
 
 it; which words St.Jerom tranflates 'Dofitrine and 
 Truth, and the LXX. Interpreters Mairifejlation 
 and Truth \ But what they were made of, 
 and whether any Words were graven on this 
 Breaftplate of Judgment, I will not undertake to 
 examine. It fecms moft probable that they were 
 the twelve precious Scones in Aaron's Breaftplate, 
 made not immediately by God himfelf, but proba- 
 bly as all the reft of the holy Garments, >y the 
 wife Artificer Bezaleel, Exod. xxxi. i, 5-. c.xxviii. 
 17. Which upon account of the holy Oracle from 
 thence proceeding, bore the name ofThummim 
 and 'Vrim-, andbecaufe when the High Prieftcon- 
 iulted the Almighty in doubtful or uncertain 
 things, he always endued with this Breaftplate and 
 his golden Garments, turned his Face to 'he 
 Ark of the Covenant, and had a perfett and a 
 clear Anlwer, either by a loud Voice, or by a 
 perceptible Ray and Glance of the mining pre- 
 cious Scones, or by an internal Revelation of the 
 Will of God b . 
 
 From 
 
 3 This ngrees with what Abarbanel in his Comment, unon Exod. 
 
 sxviii. fays : cumro rnur r-ronn CMa&irw crtonrTO i:av&n ^33? 
 oso rajim am tzj^npa vn TO^y pn ^NIVLP -on nrau; ura. 
 ibme of the wife an^nmwn mananrn annm na^ an^n rnur 
 
 Men are of Opinion, that thefe Stones, upon which the Names of 
 the Cin! Jrcn or ifrjel were written, were called Urtm and Thum- 
 rnim, hec.uii'e ilicy made the Words (of the Oracle} clear and per- 
 fi;^^\l ;!io Aaiwcrs. Which Opinion is confirmed fciW rdDQ 
 
 73. 
 
 is ?t lar^e defcribed in NO^ HDDD chap. 7. and hy 
 
 -\pon ^o nobn c/>4^. TO. . IT. pan nniy ^Ni\y 
 -ki pon nns? vao- mnso b&twni pn vtb vasi 
 
 nn 
 ^y nsnaan n^-im n nsm ^vtnro waoi
 
 A Confecration Sermon. i 5 
 
 From hence we may obferve what even a Jew- 
 ifli Expofitor had done before c , that this Thum- 
 mim and ^rim, this Terfettion and Illumination, 
 was one of the divine Gifts and Graces of the Ho- 
 ly Ghoft, which Mofes in my Text wifh'd the 
 Priefts of the Lord to be endow'd with, by the Af- 
 fiftance from above, 4o bear the Judgment of the 
 Children of I (rail upon his. Heart before the 
 Lord. 
 
 But as the Ceremonies of the Levitical Law 
 were a jhadow of things to come; as this Divine 
 Oracle of Thummim and 'Urim did not laft conti- 
 nually, was loft at the Captivity of Babylon, and 
 at the People's Return (as we fee E&r.ii. 6$. Ne- 
 hem>v\. 65*.) and in the fecond Temple was wan- 
 
 i)2i64i innwa p^m vja 1333, .{wnrrsp 
 
 How do they confult (the Oracle ?) The Prieft flood : , T>yn 
 'with his Face turn'd to the Ark; and he that confulted (the Oracle} 
 was behind him with his Face turned to the back of the Prieft : 
 And he that confulted faid, Shall 1 go up, or fliall I not go up? And 
 he did not afk with a loud Voice, nor with the Thought of his 
 Heart only, but with a low Voice, like one that prays by himfelf. 
 And immediately the Holy Ghoft came upon the Prieft, and he 
 look'd at the Breaft-plate, and faw therein by a Vilion of Prophe- 
 cy, go up, or go not up, in the Letters which appeared upon the 
 Breaft-plate before his Face. Then the Prieft anfwered him, and 
 faid, go up, or go not up. 
 
 c R. Bechai, in his Comm. upon the Text, fays, CTOIflT 
 
 in "N&N jum tKnbbn jrorn \inpn nn r wmoo namo 
 
 ; unpn nna ibKQ \yabnQ rrn vbsD ^Dina tzroim- cams 
 
 Urim and Thummim was one of the Degrees of the Holy Ghoft, be- 
 caufe the Prieft indued with the Breaft-plate, in which were Urim 
 and Thummim, was at the fame time indued with the Holy Ghoft. 
 And R. David Kimchi upon the twentieth Chapter of Judges fays, 
 
 :-n- p&nwv p n^nu; \ynpn nn yro ay TII^H -.nnw vn 
 
 They delivered a certain Aniwer by the Afliftance of the Holy 
 Ghott, who was in the Prieft, by whom they enquired the Oracle. 
 
 ting,
 
 1 6 AConfecrdtion Sermon. 
 
 ting d . As thefe Gifts of the Holy Ghoft were inter- 
 rupted, and ceafed under the Mofaical Diipenfation 
 of the Law, fo are they amply recompenfed and 
 reftored again under theGofpel, which was an infal- 
 lible Proof that Chrift was come, in whofe Days God 
 promifed to four out his Spirit upon all Flejh, 
 and your Sons and your 1) aught ers Jhall prophefy ^ 
 your old men Jhall dream 'Dreams, your young 
 men Jhall fee Vifwns^ as it is in Joel ii. 18. and 
 is apply'd to the State of Cbrzft's Church by 
 St. Teter, ARs ii. Thefe celeftial Graces, and 
 the facred Office of the Priefthood ; thefe Thum- 
 mim and 1)rim were committed to the Pofterity 
 of Aaron, till MeJJlah the Prophet of the New 
 Tcftiiinent came, who had the Priefthood for ever 
 after a more excellent order. In him was the 
 Oracle and Myftery ofThummim and IJrim ful- 
 fiii'd ; tor in him are hid all the treafuresofWif- 
 d'm and Knowledge *\ in him dwelleth the ful-- 
 ncfs cf be Godhead bodily f ; and the Gifts of the 
 Holy Gbcft \vere given him without meafure. He 
 was the Captain of our Salvation^ that was made 
 ^CT / trough Sufferings & ; and being thus 
 made FLRIT.CT he became the Author of eternal 
 Safaciion unto all them that obey him h : Who 
 
 J In Gn-'M/'n ^V ^^O chap.8. $.S. the Rat>t>ins fay, 
 theiL- arc the five 'hiugs that were : pWNIH p ">Dn 
 w;inti;:,3 in t)u fccr ,d 1'emple, the Holy Fire, the Oyl, the Ark, 
 ths Spiric of Pjoplitcy, and Urim and Ihummim. And Donjofeph 
 .sLben Jechija, upon Ffra ii. 63. fays, V7 V7PW pD mDyi\y iy 
 
 D'tTi Qmst non w rvaa o t<nb n^ny> nvw D^Dim trmiN 
 
 till a ,'iiclt arii'es, that has Uir/'w znATbummim, which is to be in 
 t.ir ; e to come ^meaningtkat of Mejfiah) for in the fecond Temple 
 there was no I'ritn and Thummim. 
 
 * Cotcjf. ii. 3. * cdojf. ii. 9. g fifr. ii. 10. 
 
 h /Air. V. 9. 
 
 bccaufe
 
 A Confecration Sermon: 1 7 
 
 becaufe the Law made nothing PERFECT ! , and 
 becaufe there was no PERFECTION by the Levitical 
 *Priefthood k , has obtained an unchangeable Prieft- 
 hood, and brought in a better hofe, by the which 
 we draw nigh unto God \ 
 
 He was the true "n Light, which lighteth eve- 
 ry man that cometh into the world m . He came 
 down from Heaven, that he may tell us of hea- 
 venly things n , and declare unro us the Will of 
 him that lent him. He came into the world to 
 bear witnefs of the Truth ; and that as the Law 
 was given by Mofes, fo Grace and Truth may 
 come by Jefus Chrift P. And as in the Old Tefta- 
 ment the High Prieft alone could confult and re- 
 ceive an anfvver from the Divine Oracle of Perfe- 
 ction and Light, fo in the New, Jefus Chrift our 
 great High Prieft came out of his Father's Bofom 
 to reveal us his Will, and the Way to Life ever- 
 lafting. He has left us the holy Scriptures for a 
 Thummim andlVvffi* of theNevvTeftainent, which 
 from Mofes were handed down to us, as St. Ste- 
 phen fays, Acts vii. 38. That he received the 
 lively Oracles to give unto us, which is the more 
 fure word of ^Prophecy , whereunto we do well 
 that we take heed as unto a light that flnneth in 
 a dark flace^ until the day dawn, and the day 
 flar arife in our hearts * : Which Word of God 
 the holy men of God ffake as they were moved by 
 the Holy Ghoft r . In this Divine Oracle we find 
 the Br e aft f late of Right eoufnefs^ of Faith and 
 
 j Heb. vii 19. 
 n joh. in. ix. 
 i i Pet. i. 19. 
 
 * Heb vii. ir. ' Heb. vii. 19. 
 Joh. xviii. 37. P Job. \. 17. 
 r i Pet, i. u. 
 
 " ^<?^. i. 9. 
 
 
 c 
 
 Love \
 
 1 8 A Confecratwn Sermon. 
 
 Love; undoubted Comfort in Afflictions, fpiritual 
 Encouragement to the practice of Virtues, and un- 
 erring Advice in Difficulties and Perplexities. In 
 this ipiritual Thummim and ^Drim does that Light 
 that /hone out of darknefs^ Jhine in our hearts^ 
 to give the Light of the knowledge of the Glory 
 of God in the face of Jejus Chrift s . In this 
 Thummim and TJrim we are allured that Chriff 
 our eternal High Prieft is gone up on high, for to 
 fend us the Holy Ghoft the Comforter, that he 
 way abide with us for ever, the Spirit of truth > 
 whom the World cannot receive for to dwell with 
 as, and to be in as, for a Guide, Director and 
 Counfellor. 
 
 I have now done with the fecond Part of my 
 Difcourfe, which was the Blefling it felf, when 
 Mofes wifh'd that the Divine Oracle Thummim 
 and IJrtm might remain with the Pofterity of the 
 Sons of Levi. I come now to the 
 
 III. And laft Part, the Reafon of it ; becaufe 
 they were the holy Ones of God. -p-pon tirca the ori- 
 ginal Words do ftri&ly fpeaking feem to denote on- 
 Ty the High Prieft, as to whom alone it was per- 
 mitted to confult the divine Oracle Thummim and 
 llrim. But becaule Mofes bleffes here the whole 
 Tribe of Levi, thy holy One, or the Man of thy 
 Favour, muft be taken colleflively to fignify the 
 Priefts of the Lord. 
 
 IJrael was indeed all Holy and the chofen Ge- 
 neration of God y the Royal 'Priefthood, an holy 
 Nation^ a peculiar *Peo fie*: But Levi was call'd 
 
 5 i Corinth, iv. 6. * j Pet. ii. 9. 
 
 Holy
 
 A Confecration Sermon. 1 9 
 
 Holy by way of Diftinction from the very feculi- 
 um, the Holinefs of God, which in a more elpecial 
 manner they were entitled to approach. The 
 Sons of Levi, the Priefls of the Lord had the pe- 
 culiar Character of EZPTDPI, fious^ Holy given 
 them, becaufe from their Mother's Womb they 
 were ieparated and confecrated to God, and his Ser- 
 vice in the Temple. When they fojourn'd in 
 Egypt ) it is faid that they religioufly kept the ho- 
 ly Worfhip of God uncorrupc v ": In the Wildernefs 
 they alone of all the Tribes of Ifrael did not mur- 
 mur; had the fole Priviledge of all their Brethren 
 vifibly to draw near unto the nrotf the glorious 
 Majefty of God, and to minifter unto him in the 
 lacred Functions ; and when the Almighty did ib 
 feparate them from their Brethren, that they had no 
 Part nor Inheritence with them, the Lord laid to 
 them : I am thy 'Part and thine Inheritance among 
 the Children of Ifrael. 
 
 This glorious Attribute of Holinefs, which Mo- 
 fes makes the Characleriftic of the Sons of Levi y 
 ought alfo to be the peculiar Excellency of the Mi- 
 nifters of Chrift and Stewards of the Myfteries of 
 God. Of them it is required not only to be blame- 
 lefs, but alfo to ferfeff Holinefs in the fear of 
 GW X ; not only to frefent their Bodies a living 
 Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God?> but alfo by 
 
 Maimon. DV'Dy "llD^n or of Idolatry, chap. r. $. 10. 
 
 DV'Dy 1 lb ZD3ty; iny Nb abiyOI And they (that is the Children of 
 Ifrael) returned (into Jgy$t) to learn their Manners, and according 
 to their Example to ferve the Idols, except the Tribe Levi, which 
 perfevered in the Precepts of the Fathers; nor has the Tribe of 
 Levi at any time ferved the Idol?. 
 w Numb, xviii. 10. * i Cor. vii.r. y Rom. xii. i. 
 
 C x exemplary
 
 20 A Confecration Sermon. 
 
 exemplary Piety and SancSHty to do the Work of 
 an Evangelifti and make full 'Proof of the Mi- 
 niftry' L . The Priefts of the Lord Ihould be di- 
 vorc'd in Mind and Heart from the World, as being 
 called by the Grace of God to reveal the Son of 
 God) and to f reach him among the 'People*. 
 
 It was a very commendable Injunction made by. 
 the Biihops in St. Cyprian's Time b , that thole Priefts 
 that meddled with, and were wholly given up to 
 the Management of worldly Affairs ihould have no 
 Offering made for 'em after Death. I won't exa- 
 mine at prefent this Practice .of Oblations for the 
 Dead, nor will I enlarge upon the prefent Circum- 
 ftances of the Minifters of Chrift, which do require 
 a prudential Care in the Management of fome fe- 
 cular Affairs; but will only mention the Moral, or 
 the Defign of the Canon, which is, that as the Le- 
 vites in the Old Teftament were by divine Autho- 
 rity drawn away from all worldly Bufinefs ; fo the 
 Priefts of the Lord warring a fpiritual Warfare 
 jhould not entangle themfelves with the Affairs 
 of this Life, that they may pleafe him who hath 
 chofen them to be the Soldiers of Jefus Chrijl : 
 But that they, being truly called to the Miniftra- 
 rion and Government of God's Church, faithfully 
 cxercife themfelves in the Holy Scriptures, banim 
 and drive away all erroneous and ftrange Doctrine, 
 and mew themfelves in all things an eminent Ex- 
 ample of good Works unto others, that the Increafe 
 in Holineis and all fpiritual Graces coming thereby, 
 may be manifeft unto all Men. It is highly ne- 
 ceffary that they, with.thofe of the Tribe of Levi 
 
 ' 2. Tim. iv. 5. Gal. i. 1 6. & Cyprian. Epifl. I. 
 
 in
 
 A Confecratton Sermon. 2 1 
 
 in the Old Teftament, mould not be difobedient 
 unto the heavenly Calling in Chrifl Jefiis^ nor 
 murmur at the various Difpenfations of divine Pro- 
 vidence, at the Bonds and Afflictions that abide 
 them. They mould by exhorting and teaching 
 hold fafl the Form of found Words, and even a- 
 midft the worfe than Egyptian Corruption of the 
 Age, of Irreligion and Libertinifm, keep that 'which 
 is committed to their Truft, in Singlenefs of Heart 
 and Purity of Doctrine, and thereby convince the 
 Gainfayers. In the Old Teftament among the ho- 
 ly Garments which the High Pried was adorn'd 
 with, on the Day of his Confecration, there was a 
 Mitre upon the forefront of which was placed a 
 Plate of pure Gold, with this Infcription engraven 
 upon it: HOLINESS TCX THE LORD, as we read 
 Exod. xxviii. 36, 37. Nothing can be a greater 
 Ornament of the Mitre> that illuftrious Diadem of 
 Chrift's Subflitutes, and of the venerable Habit of 
 the Priefts of the Lord, than when like the Four 
 and Twenty Elders in the Revelation array 'd in 
 white Raiment , they have wajh'd their Robes and 
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb*\ 
 when indued with that eminent Holinefs, which 
 becometh the Houfe of God for ever* , they let 
 their Light of Innocency, of Faith andPiety" ihine 
 before Men: Then will they be the 0/y Ones of 
 the Lord, and his Tfoumm/msmd ^Orim will never 
 remove from them. 
 
 This Blefling of Mofes imparted to the Children 
 of Levij ought to be the conftant Wiflies and de- 
 vout Prayers of every one, whofe daily Care is ex- 
 
 c Revel, vii. 14. d Pfal.x ciii. 5. 
 
 ercifed
 
 22 A Confecratlon Sermon. 
 
 ercifed in promoting true Religion and Piety ; that 
 the divine Oracles might never ceafe from his 
 Church, that God would pleafe to clothe his Triefts 
 with Salvation, that they might be made perfeff 
 in every good Work, and be enlightned with the 
 celeftial Gifts of the Holy Ghoft. And efpecially 
 ihouldthefe Prayers with a publick Demonflration 
 of Zeal be renewed, whenever the Holy Ghoft fe- 
 farates any one for the Work of Cbrtft's Vicege- 
 rent, whereunto he had called htm. Then more 
 particularly mould our fervent Prayers be fent 
 up, that God would continue to fend faithful La- 
 bourers Into his Vineyard, that he would (Ireng- 
 then and eftablilh his Church, that the Gates of 
 Hell may not prevail againft her*, that (as Mofes 
 laid of Le-vi, Deut. xxxiii. n.) God would finite 
 through the Loyns of them^ that rife again ft her^ 
 and of them that hate her, that they rife not a- 
 gain. That his Light and Truth may alway pre- 
 fer ve that <sfycAla,6jxq 9 the Holy Scriptures, the 
 Oracle and faithful Repofitory of his Will, that 
 thereby his Kingdom be advanced, and that of Satan 
 be deftroy'd : That that mod excellent Character 
 which Jefus the Son of Sirach gives of Simon the 
 HighPrieft f , may be copied after, and exemplified 
 by every one,that is a chofen Fe/elunto the Lord, 
 to whom tfte Government of the Church of God is 
 committed. 
 
 And that the glorious and unwearied Endea- 
 vours of thefc faithful Stewards of the Myfte- 
 ries of God may never fail of the wifli'd for Suc- 
 cefs, it is our immutable Duty to add to thefe 
 
 j, xvi. l. f EcclefiafticHS li. 411. 
 
 Prayers,
 
 A Confecration Sermon. 2 3 
 
 Prayers, that under the All-powerful Coverings of 
 his Wings, God would protect, as he has hitherto 
 mod miraculoufly done, the gracious Defender of our 
 Faith, His SACRED MAJESTY KING GEORGE, that no 
 fecret or open Contrivances of God's and his Ene- 
 mies may ever hurt him, or difturb the Peace of 
 our Spiritual Sion\ that, as Piety, Juftice and 
 Clemency are the Foundations of his Throne, fb 
 our Religion to God, our Loyalty to the King, 
 and our Unity among our felves may fupport it, 
 and render Him and Us the Joy of our Friends, 
 the Envy of our Enemies, and the Glory of the 
 whole Earth. 
 
 Let us conclude all with the Words of Szracbs. 
 " Now therefore blefs ye the God of all, which 
 " only doth wondrous things every where, 
 " which exalteth our Days from the Womb, and 
 " dealeth with us according to his Mercy. He 
 " grant us Joyfulnefs of Heart, and that Peace 
 " may be in our Days in I/rael for ever. That 
 " he would confirm his Mercy with us, and deli- 
 " ver us AT THIS TIME. 
 
 8 Ecclefeafticus li. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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 Preached before the Right Honourable 
 
 The LORD-MAYOR 
 
 THE 
 
 ALDERMEN, SHERIFFS, 
 
 And GOVERNOURS of the feveral Hof- 
 pitals of the City of London ', 
 
 I N 
 St. R IDG ET's Church: 
 
 O N 
 
 Wednesday in Eafter-Week, being the 
 
 By NATH. MARSHAL, D. D. 
 
 Redor of the United Parifhes of St. Vedaft (alias 
 Fofters) and St. Michael-le-Quern, London ,- 
 and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty. 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 Printed for W. T A y L o R, at the Ship and Black 
 Swan in Pater-Nofter-Row. MDCCXXH.
 
 
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 , .Annoq; Reg' no(V Georgij 
 
 Magmas Britannia, &c. O6l vo ; 
 
 STEWART MAYOR. 
 
 IT u Ordered, that the Thanks of 
 this Court be given to the Reverend 
 Dr. Marflial, for his Sermon "preached 
 before this Court, and the Governors of 
 the fever al Hofyitals of this City, at the 
 Tarifh Church of St. Bridget, on Wed- 
 nefday in Eafter-Week lajt : And that 
 he be de/ired to frint the fame. 
 
 -\ r ' t T 
 
 S T R A C E T.
 
 ACTS xx. 35. 
 
 -And to remember the Words of the 
 Lord Jefas, how he faid : It is more 
 bleffed to rive than to receive. 
 
 JJ o 
 
 HESE Words refer to fome Dif- 
 courfe of our BlefTed Lord, which 
 is not recorded by any of the Evan- 
 gelifts j as diverfe Things were faid 
 and done by him, which they, in their 
 Ihort Accounts of him, do not mention ; accor- 
 dingly one of them hath told us in a very ftrong 
 Figure, that if the Things, which they had omit- 
 ted, were a every one* to be recited, he fuppos'd, 
 even the World it felf could not contain the Booh 
 which Jhould be written. 
 
 ENOUGH was, however, written for the Con- 
 vidion of all, that b Jefus isChrift the Son of God, 
 and that believing he is fo 3 they might have Life 
 thro 9 his Name. So that there is not the Necef- 
 fity, which fome would hence contend for, of 
 reforting to unwritten Traditions for any faving 
 
 a John xxi. 25. 
 b John xx. 3 1 . 
 
 Know-
 
 4 <A Sp I T T A L -S R MON 
 
 Knowledge. My Text is indeed an Hint to us 
 of many noble LefTons, which are loft and for- 
 gotten, for want of a more ample Account of 
 our Saviour's Difcourfes; but then it is at the 
 fame Time a Proof to us, that oral Tradition 
 will do little Service, where the written fails 
 us y fince in the very Inftance now before us, 
 we had loft, for ought appearing, all Remem- 
 brance of this heroick Aphorifm, if an infpired 
 Writer had not conveyed it to us. But if what 
 is left upon Record be fufficient for the Pur- 
 pofes, it was meant to anfwer, *viz. of forming 
 and finifhing the Man of Godj unauthorized 
 Reforts-are thence, all, precluded ^ and the Rule 
 of Gods appointing is not to be exchanged for 
 another of Man'r inventing. 
 
 THE Words of our Saviour, which here are 
 quoted by St. Paul, conclude a very pathetical 
 and moving Speech, which our Apoftle made to 
 the Elders of the Church at Efhejtts 3 upon his 
 taking Leave of them ; and that which he feem'd 
 in a very particular Manner concerned to prefs 
 upon them, was a Care of the Neceffitous and 
 Diftretfed. For in thofe Days, and long after 
 them, the Clergy were the People's Almoners, 
 and a fourth Part of the Stock, which was with 
 them depoiited, provided amply for all fuchOc- 
 cafibns during the Courfe of many fucceeding 
 Ages. 
 
 "AT prefent, perhaps, the Authority of the 
 Speaker may fecure the Aflertion of my Text 
 from being in Words difputed. But what is not 
 thought fit to be difputed, hath often fuch a 
 cold Affent to it, as is utterly infufficient to ripen 
 
 any
 
 PrtacWd March the i8f, 1711. 5 
 
 any Fruits of Praftice. What our Saviour once 
 hath pronounced a Elejjlng, few, I conceive, will 
 be fo hardy, as to fay, is not fo : But yet, it may 
 be, they fee, they feel not, how it is fo ; it is a 
 Blefling, if it be one, whereof they have little 
 Notion j and can lefs digeft it as put in a Light 
 of Comparifon, with a Cafe which they think 
 feif-evident, the Convenience whereof hath the 
 Affurances of Senfe to back it : For the Advan- 
 tages of Receiving are throughly underftood, and 
 that thefe fhould be exceeded by Methods of 
 Expenfe and Giving, is a Paradox which the 
 Worldling will not readily come into. He muft 
 therefore be reminded, that they are the Words 
 oj our Lord Jefw, who faid, It is more bleffed to 
 
 five, than to receive ; or, as they would be more 
 terally tranflated, c It is blefjed to give, rather 
 than to receive. He ( hitnfelf) as the d Original 
 fpeaks emphatically, hath faid them, and He 
 ( himfelf} will, undoubtedly maintain the Truth 
 of them. 
 
 WHAT! would beg Leave, at prefent to* 
 obferve from them, I would caft into the follow- 
 ing Particulars. 
 
 I. THE pofitive Excellence which is here a- 
 fcribed to Giving, It if blefjed to give. 
 
 II. THE comparative Praife of it - It is blef- 
 fed to give, rather than to receive ; or, as we 
 render the Paflage, More &le(Jed to give than 
 to receive, 
 
 |Uoc\Aov v) 
 
 IIL
 
 SP i T T A L- SERMON 
 
 III. SINCE thefe Words of our Lord Jejus are 
 to be confider'd under the View of a Moral 
 Aphorifm, and therefore to be interpreted 
 with juft Reftridions, I would juft point out 
 to you the Circumftances and Qualifications, 
 which muft concur on the Givers Part to 
 proffer the Work of his Hands upon hiw, and 
 entitle him to the BleJJlng of it. 
 
 IV. I would throw in a Word or two, by way 
 of Motive and Remembrance to you, be- 
 fore I finifh. 
 
 I. 1 begin with the pofetive Excellence which 
 the -Text hath afcribed to Giving It is bleffed 
 to give : Which I fuppofe, may appear, in fbme 
 Meukire, from thefe two Confederations. 
 
 1. THAT the Oeconomy of God's Providence, 
 in his Government of the World, is hence par- 
 ticularly anfwer'd. 
 
 2. THAT there arifeth from it a fingular 
 Complacency and Satisfaction, as well as a rea- 
 fonable Proipecl of a diftinguifti'd Recompenfe. 
 
 i . I fay, that the Oeconomy of God's Provi- 
 dence in his Government of the World, is par- 
 ticularly anfwer'd by Giving* ' 
 
 1 T is evident from the Poftufe of the World, 
 and the preient Difpenfation of its BlefTings, that 
 fome are left depending upon others, even 
 where no Obligation, befldes that of Charity, 
 can fallen any Hold upon the G/'w, or furnifk 
 any Hope, to the Receiver. Now 3 though a 
 Diftinction between the Ranks of Men 
 
 is
 
 Breach *d March t he 1 8 th, i Jl l . 7 
 
 is certainly founded on the Will of Providence, 
 and hath very wife Reafons to fupport it ; yet 
 furely thofe Reafons will conclude, that there 
 ought to be left no tnfeemly Gap between the 
 refpe<5tive Circumftances of Giver and Receiver. 
 UPON fuch an Argument as this, I would 
 fuppofe no Man unconvinced, that the Fortune 
 he is born to , or hath even acquired by his 
 own Induftry and Application, is the Allotment 
 of a favourable Providence : Why elfe fhould 
 not Induftry and Application equal to his, be 
 always attended with equal SuccefTes ? This, 
 he knows, is not the Cafe in Fa<5t; and v to ac- 
 count for the Difference by the Notion of mere 
 lucky Contingencies, is to talk a Language, which 
 hath really no Meaning to it ; fince the moft 
 contingent Event muft finally recur to a Cauje, 
 which was confefledly not contingent: But, 1 
 would take it here for granted, that the Diffe- 
 rence between one Man and another in Point oL 
 Station, and Figure, and Degree, and Fortune, 
 is the Will of Providence concerning them ; 
 and thence, he who abounds, muft have a Duty 
 incumbent on him to ftep into the AfTiftance 
 of them who fuffer need. For the Reafons, 
 which vindicate this Variety in the Dealings of 
 Providence, will be left unsupported, except an 
 Obligation be fuppofed on one Part, to anfwer 
 any neceffary Claims, which fhall be made on 
 the other. Since the World is indeed fufrlcient- 
 ly furnijQYd for the Accommodation of all its 
 Inhabitants; no Account could be given, why 
 any of them Ihould be fent into it utterly de- 
 ftitute of f ome Shane in this Provifion i , if the 
 
 Lord 
 "
 
 8 *A S P I T T A L-S E R M O N 
 
 Lord of this great Community, the Parent and 
 Matter of this extenfive Family, had not fub- 
 ftituted fome to act in his (lead, and to iupply 
 thofe Wants, which arife unavoidably from the 
 prefent Pofture of things, and of Perfons in it. 
 Now a Necefflty in fame, and a Superfluity in o- 
 thers, do as plainly lead us to the Will of Pro- 
 vidence in the Articles of Giving and Receiving, 
 as any Relation between Creature and Creator, 
 or between Man and Man, points out the re- 
 fpective Duties thereupon depending. The 
 Cafe is, in ihort, as clear as the Law of Na- 
 ture can make it ; and the Law of Revelation 
 hath indifputably confirnvd and enlarg'd it : So 
 that the Bleffcdnefs of it turns, under this Parti- 
 cular, upon the due Difcharge of an unque- 
 ftion'd Duty, upon our being Inftruments in the 
 Hands of Providence toward its wife and bene- 
 volent Purpofes for the Good of Man. 
 
 AND as every Station in Life is defigned for 
 the Trial and Exercife of fome peculiar Virtue ; 
 the Giver, in this Cafe, employs, the Talent 
 wherewith he is entrufted, upon the Ufes 
 whereunto it was appointed to minifter. For 
 the God who made him to differ from others, 
 expects a Difference of Behavior from him : 
 To Man indeed, he is not accountable for any 
 Application of the Loans he hathreceiv'd from 
 Heaven ; but he who iitteth upon the Throne 
 thereof, hath a Book of Remembrance, wherein 
 all thefe things are noted; and every fair Occa- 
 lion neglected, or perverted, is an Item, for 
 which he muft one Day account; It will not 
 then be enough to plead, that he hath done
 
 IJ^^. 9 
 
 juftly, except he hath alfo loved Mercy, and walked 
 moreover humbly with his God. This is moft e- 
 vidently the Will of Providence , and every Man, 
 who hath the Honour of fulfilling it, hath a Blef- 
 fing pronounced upon him from the Words of our 
 Lord Jeftfs. But 
 
 2/y, I obferve farther, that there arifeth hence 
 a fingular Complacency and Satisfaction, as well 
 as a reafonable Profpect of a difu'nguiuYd Re- 
 com pence. 
 
 Now reafonable Pleafures are the juft Re- 
 frefhments of a Man's Spirit, the very Food and 
 Aliment of his Soul j without which it will grow 
 lean, and ftarve, amidft the fulleft Meaiure of 
 any external Comforts. Our prefent Argument 
 will admit, I confefs, of no other Illuftration, than 
 what muft be founded in an Appeal to your 
 own Confciences and Convictions : And, I hope, 
 I fpeak to none, who are utterly unacquainted 
 with the Comfortf of Low, or with the Refrefh- 
 ment of their own Bowels, in the Confolation 
 given to thofe of their Brethren. For furely to 
 fee a drooping Family revived by the Afliftances 
 which God hath made any of us able and wil- 
 ling to extend to it -, to fee a new Generation 
 riling with all favourable Appearances upon the 
 Stock, to which we have been, or are. Contri- 
 butors y to be, in this Manner Fathers to the Fa- 
 therlefs, and Helpers to the Friendlefs j and to 
 put them in a Condition of being fo to others, 
 is, either in the Retrofpe<5t or Profpe<5t, a moft 
 delightful Entertainment ; what the Senfualift 
 can never equal with any of his, moft boafted, 
 Pleafures ; what the Mifer can never pretend to 
 
 B fr
 
 io e/d? SPIT AL-S E R MON 
 
 from any fordid or low Self-Complacencies in 
 his ufeleis Riches ; and what the Man of Ambi- 
 tion, if he could otherwife proceed unrival'd, 
 would find himfelf rival'd and out-done in, even 
 upon the Foot of mere prefent Satisfaction.. 
 For to fee Men like our felves in the main 
 Advantages of Being, and only unlike to us in 
 fome outward, accidental. Distinctions of For- 
 tune, (to fee them) raifed, I fay, by our Help, 
 out of the Dirt and Mire, into the fair and pa 
 fable Road of Life, implies in it a Diftin&ion, 
 far fuperior to any Superiority of Drefs or Diet, 
 or Appearance, which are the ufual Badges of 
 Difference between the Ranks of Men. The 
 om hath a Godlike Afpeft with it; whilft the 
 other goes in common among the Wife and 
 Foolifh, the Righteous and the Wicked. I am 
 feniible, however, that this is a Pleaiure which 
 is rather to be felt, than deftriVd; and that fuch 
 as are paft the feeling it, will hardly ever com- 
 prehend it. I therefore added, that the Duty of 
 my Text hath a very reafonable Profpect of & 
 diftinguifh'd Recompence. 
 
 THE Men, who are mod fond of the Pro- 
 mifes which Godlineff hath made to it in this 
 World, will beft, perhaps, be pleas'd to hear, 
 that for e opening their Hand wide unto their 
 Brother, the Lord their God will blefs them in all 
 their Works ; that for f f owing bountifully, they foall 
 reap bountifully ; that for * conjidering the Poor, 
 
 v Deur. xv. io. J 
 
 1 2 Cor. x. 6. 
 8 Pfal. xli. i. 
 
 the
 
 the Z %tb, ijll. H 
 
 the Lordjhall deliver them in the Time tf Trouble > 
 that in h having Pity upon the Poor, they lend unto 
 the Lord, and what is fo given, he will repay 
 them} that by ' cafting their Bread upon the wa- 
 ters, they /hall find it again with Increafe and 
 Ufury. But the Men of true Religion will pro- 
 ceed upon higher Motives, will confider the 
 Time to come, and the Recompense aflur'd to 
 them at the Refurretfion of the jfW? j will con- 
 fider the Fountain whence Riches flow, the Ufes 
 to which they are fubfervient, and the natural 
 Equality of Men, as Men ; that they have one 
 God for their Creator, who fafhion'd them in 
 the Womb ,- one Saviour, who redeem'd them 
 from their common Mifery- and one holy Ghoft, 
 who here fanclifies and enlightens, and will here- 
 after raife them to one and the fame Inheritance : 
 All thefe they will look upon as Circumftances 
 of mutual Endearment, fuch as ihould abate 
 the Vanity of any afluming Pretenfions, which 
 one may have upon another, from any Diverfity 
 of outward Condition-, whilft all are fo near a- 
 kin, all, in the main Points, here fo equal, and all 
 hereafter to be diftinguifh'd upon quite other 
 Foundations. The Refpeft of good Men will 
 chiefly, therefore, turn towards the Recompense 
 of Reward, which is promifed to none in larger 
 Proportions, than to them who Jhew Mercy, 
 who ntinifler to the Neceffities of the Saints, who 
 vifo the Fathers and Widows in their Afflittion ; 
 iince whatfoever is done to the leaft of thefe his 
 
 ^ Prov. xix. 17. 
 Ecclef. xi. i. 
 
 B i Bre-
 
 l^ <*A Sp I T A L -S E R MON 
 
 to 
 
 Brethren, Chrift hath k interpreted as done to 
 him felt. 
 
 Now from the Views thus open'd to yon, it 
 appears, I think, evidently, that there is a pofitive 
 Excellence in giving j or, according to the Lan- 
 guage of my Text, as literally tranflated, It if 
 blejjed to give. Hereupon I add, 
 
 IF. THE comparative Praife of it Rather than 
 receive Or, more bleffed to give than to receive. 
 
 T H E R E is doubtlefs here a Senfe, and a Con- 
 firuclion, wherein the lowelt and moft abandoned 
 Worldling, will fubfcribe to the JufHce of this 
 Comparison, and of the Difadvantage aflign'd by 
 it to the poor Receiver^ viz. as it reprefents the 
 one upon inferior Ground, and the other in a 
 Port of Eminence above him. 
 
 BUT this was a Bleffedneft of too low a Na- 
 ture to be the Foundation of our Saviour's Com- 
 parifon. He who expected, that the Service of 
 God mould proceed in Spirit and in Truth, had, 
 unqueftionably, a more refined and fpiritual Mea- 
 ning, when he adjudged the Superior BleJJlng to 
 the Giver. 
 
 I fliall therefore fix upon two, out of more, 
 which might be named, as Reafons very probable 
 for thus determining the Preference. 
 
 i. THAT merely in receiving a Man is whol- 
 ly paflive, exercifes no Vertue, executes no Truft, 
 nor is entituled to any Recompenfe for it ; all 
 which is the very Reverie of the Givers Cafe. 
 
 k Match, xxv. 40. 
 
 a, THAT
 
 Preach' d March the 1 8//7, 1 71 z . r 5 
 
 2. THAT the Condition of a Receiver ex- 
 pofeth him to various Difficulties and Tempta- 
 tions, which the Giver, as fuch, is exempt from, 
 
 i. FOR the former of thefe Particulars ; it hath ^ 
 already been obferv'd, that in Giving, a Man 
 doth execute a Truft of Providence, doth exer- 
 cife the proper Vertues of his Sphere and Station, 
 is-nffrvf in this bleiled Work ; and, if he would 
 copy from the exemplary Pattern of his Re- 
 deemer, IK bo went about doing goody and fought 
 out Occafions, when he did not readily find them, 
 he would eafily thence perceive, that his Em- 
 ployment, how honourable foever to him, would, 
 ftridly and literally bear the Character, which 
 the Apoftle gave it to the Thefjalonian^ l when . 
 he call'd it their Labour of Love : Nor m is God 
 unrighteous, that he Jhould forget fuch Labour-, fo^ 
 that if there were no Reward, no Pleafure, be- 
 fides, attending it, the Giver might well be con- 
 tent with the glorious Profpeft of a Recom- 
 penfe from him, who takes upon himfelf all the 
 Obligations of infolvent Debtors : Whereas mre*. 
 ceivingj a Man is wholly -pajjive ; and, like an 
 empty Veffel, taking in the Waters, wherewith 
 fome friendly Hand replenifhes it, he accepts, in- 
 deed, the Supplies, wherewith he is furnim d by 
 a bounteous Giver but then fuch Acceptance 
 and fuch Ufe of them, are no more to be confi- 
 der'd as Vertues, than is an hungry Man's Eat- 
 ing of the Bread before him. He doth, it is 
 true, what is natural, what any Man would do 
 
 1 i Theffal. i. 3. ra Heb. vi. 10. 
 
 vipon 

 
 SP i T A L- SERMON 
 
 upon the like Occafion, tho* ftili what is not the 
 proper Matter, either of Commendation, or 
 Diipraife to him. 
 
 MEAN While a generous Man will evermore 
 repine at the uneafy Circumftance of contracting 
 Debts, which he can never hope to pay off ; of 
 running himfelf behind hand in a long Arrear of 
 uncancell'd Favours, and of fubfifting upon the 
 Bounty of foreign Succours. What is therefore 
 the Subject of Pleafure and Satisfaction to the 
 Giver, muft proportionably be fo of Shame and 
 Sorrow to the Receiver. The Supplies, which 
 entitle the Difpenfer of them to a Recompenfe 
 in Heaven, (peak the Perfon^ they are difpenfed 
 to upon EartL^ in a State of prefent Deftitution ; 
 and, under that View, give him no Claim to any 
 future or farther Refburcesj akho' indeed the. 
 Humility, wherewith he feeks them, and the 
 Gratitude wherewith he accepts them, and the 
 Content and Refignation, .wherewith he fuftains 
 the Poft allotted him, may, upon the Refult, prove 
 Articles in his Favour, and are, in Truth, the pro- 
 per Vei tues of his narrow Sphere. But as thefe 
 are not neceiTarily implied in receiving, they 
 enter not ftrictly within its Character ; notwith- 
 fhnding that in Fact they are fometimes, I hope 
 oft en ) added to it. I proceed and obferve, 
 
 2/y, THAT the Condition of a Receiver ex- 
 pofeth him to various Difficulties and Tempta- 
 tions, which the Giver, as fuch, is exempt from ; 
 viz. repining at the DifpenfatidnS of Providence; 
 a fullen and flurdy Reception of that Treatment, 
 which is the ufual Fate of thofe who fuffer Need ; 
 Kancour and Envy towards them who are placed 
 
 in
 
 Treactid March the 2,8f, 1711. 15 
 
 in a Station above him ; Unfaithfulnefs in Trufts, 
 and injurious Gain. It will not be needful to 
 fliew particularly, that thefe are the Sins which 
 moft eafily befet a Man under the Entanglements 
 of a narrow Fortune : They are too well known 
 to be fb , and even he, who hath been fo happy 
 as to break through the Snare of them, hath his 
 own Experience to afTure him itw^slaid for him. 
 I T may not be denied, that the other Poft 
 hath alfo its proper Dangers, which, however, 
 feem not generally to prefs fo clofely, nor to 
 pinch fo hardly ; for a Man hath certainly lefs 
 Temptation tojto his Hand upon an Object of 
 Diftrefs and Mifery, when Providence hath en- 
 abled him to open it, than that Object hath to 
 repine at the Hard/hip of its own Condition. 
 There is a Pleafure ( it hath been obferv'd ) in 
 opening it, which rewards the Action at the very 
 Inftant of Performance ; whereas in the other 
 Cafe, the Antidote againft the Temptation is 
 more remote, and muft be fetch'd from beyond 
 the Grave, with very little Afliftance from any 
 thing on this Side of it. As again, the Gayety 
 which attends a Flufli of Fortune; and the Power 
 of giving? fliould lead a Man, one would ima- 
 gine, unavoidably, to the Offices of Praife and 
 Thankfgivirtir with fitch as keep My Days whilft 
 the Sowernefs contracted thro* Wants and Difap- 
 pouitments fets an Edge upon his Spirit,- makes 
 him froward and turbulent, and draws in his 
 Thoughts too much inward to their Centre: 
 There are, I would fay, thefe refpedive Ten- 
 dencies in the one and the other Station ; tho' a 
 fuperior Vertue in the latter Cafe may conquer 
 
 them ;;
 
 1(5 <A Spl T AL-SERMON 
 
 them; as in the former, a naughty Diipofition of 
 Soul may pervert even the Things which Jhould 
 have been for its Health, into Occajiont of its Pall. 
 But in any Companion which fhall be formed be- 
 tween them, the Eftimate fhould be taken, not 
 from the Event of Things, as it fometiwes falls 
 out, but, from the Tendency of them, as it always 
 bears: In which View of giving and receiving, the 
 Preference, for the Reafonsaflign'd, muft certain- 
 Jy turn on the Side of giving. Yet 
 
 III. Since the Words of our Lord Jefits, which 
 have thus determining and adjudged the Prefe- 
 rence, are, at laft, to be confider'd under the No- 
 tion of a Moral Aphorifm, and therefore to be in- 
 terpreted with juft Reftri&ions ; I would juft 
 point to you the Circumftances and Qualificati- 
 ons, which muft concur, on the Givers Part, to 
 profper the Work of his 'Bands upon him, and en- 
 title him to the Bleffing^ it. . G. 
 
 I.HE muft not give upon the Motives of O- 
 
 ftentation and vain Glory; nor of Importunity, or 
 Fafhion 3 nor upon any conceited Profped: of me- 
 riting by it the Recompenfe, which the Grace of 
 God hath affign'd to it ; nor of confining the Law 
 of Charity, within this particular Branch of a Duty, 
 which, in Truth, is much more extenfive. All 
 thefe are Errors, whiclvwill deface the Goodli- 
 nefs of the Vertue, and render it ufelefs, if not 
 worfc, to him. 
 
 THEY muft indeed have narrow Spirits, who 
 ihall propound to themfelves fuch a fcanty Re- 
 compenfe, as the being feen of Men, can imply, 
 
 or
 
 freaclfd March fi&* 1 8 f )&, 1 7 L i . i j 
 
 or carry, in it ; yet, fcanty as it is, the Author 
 of thefe very Words, which have pronounced fo 
 amply upon the Bleffednefs of Giving, hath pro- 
 nounced upon fuch Givers, that they are to ex- 
 pe<5t no more. n Verify I fay unto you, they have 
 their Reward. 
 
 As to Itnporttmityi it is very well known, that 
 a fadge who feared not God, neither regarded 
 "Man, is reprefented as teaz'd into a Comply- 
 ance, merely to be rid of the Trouble which he 
 received from dunning. 
 
 fajkion hath fo much in it of Man-pleafing, that 
 it, finally, terminates in the Motive, fo lately 
 mentioned, to be feen of Men. 
 
 THEY who can imagine that the Kingdom of 
 Glory is to be purchafea by their Mony, need 
 only to be reminded, that even a fingle Privi- 
 lege in the Kingdom of Grace was not /0 attain- 
 able j and the Wretch, who ofeuL^r fo vile a 
 Practice 3 flood rebuk'd and repulfed for it, with 
 deferv'd P Reproaches. 
 
 Finally > Whoever can fuppofe, that Acls of 
 Bounty and of Giving do comprize in them all 
 the Offices of Charity, ihould confider the Cafe 
 as put by St. Paul, q from which they may find it 
 to be not impoifible, that a Man fhould give all 
 his Goods, to feed the Poor, (which is the utmoft 
 Extent of Giving} without any real Charity for 
 the Caufe of it:, which is defcribed by theApoftle, 
 as more comprehenfive, and as taking in fome 
 
 n Matth. vi. 2. Luke xviii. 2 5. 
 
 Afts viii, 20. 5 i Corinth, xiii. 3. 
 
 Branches
 
 SPITAL-SERMON 
 
 Branches of almoft, every Vertue. Now if Gn>- 
 ing doth not include in it all the Offices of Cha- 
 nty ; much lefs will it comprize, lefs yet will it 
 commute for all, or, any other Duties of Life.-- Yet, 
 
 2. T H E Giver ought not hence to be difcou- 
 raged, as if no Commendation were due to the 
 Opennefs of his Hand and Heart. For furely he 
 may guard with Eafe againft fuch improper Mo- 
 imes^ and then may proceed in the Work ap- 
 pointed for him with all Alacrity and Affurance 
 of Reward. 
 
 THE Point of View which fliould chiefly lye 
 before him, is the Defire and Endeavour to do 
 Good. This is the general Aim of Charity : And 
 Alms, as taking in many Conveniencies of Life 
 along with them, are very fit Expreflions of a real 
 Benevolence^ and therefore will go far towards its 
 general Aim. Now if this View accompanies 
 them, there will be Oeconomyznd Management in 
 the Distribution of them ; and a faithful Steward 
 will contrive for his Mafter*s Stock, that it may 
 ipread as widely, and do as much good, as Pru- 
 dence and Thrift can make it. 
 
 BUT here, my Brethren, you will find your 
 Pains much rfiorten'd, and your Labour of Low 
 much eaied to you, by many and various Schemes 
 of Charity., already form'd, and concerted, and ad- 
 vanced to fuch Degrees of Maturity, that with 
 little perfonal Trouble you may do much Ser- 
 vice, by only lending your favourable Hand to 
 the Execution of them. E. G. 
 
 WOULD you provide for the Education of 
 our deftitute and helplefs Youth ? Would you 
 open to them the Means of an honeft Subfiftence? 
 
 Would
 
 Preach' d March thelftth, 1711. 19 
 
 Would you enlarge the Views, or encourage the 
 Induftry of the riflng Generation? You have a 
 Method eftablifh'd for thefe good Purpofes in the 
 noble r Foundation of one Royal Benefactor ; upon 
 which another fince hath rais'd a goodly s Super- 
 ftruclure; and both will ftill admit of fuch far- 
 ther Supplies, fuch additional Enlargements, as 
 your Piety or Charity ihall incline you to graft 
 upon them. 
 
 OR, would you remove the great Offenfe and 
 Scandal to your Polity, by the Correction of a- 
 bandon'd Proftitutes, or by the Employment of 
 idle and fturdy Vagrants ? Behold, your r Reme- 
 dy is at hand, and the proper Refort before you I 
 As you are dijpofed in your own Hearty you may 
 affift in the Continuance of this Charity upon its 
 prefent Bottom, or in the Extent of it to any in- 
 definite, any greater. Lengths. 
 
 O R, would you confult, with united Views, the 
 Intereft of the prefent and of future Generations? 
 Would you refcue the Children of the Needy from 
 the common Temptations of Ignorance and Sloth, 
 and enable them to fill the Station allotted them 
 by Providence, with Decence and Integrity ? 
 Would you find, at the fame time Labour (and, 
 with it. Maintenance) for the Willing and the Di- 
 ligent ; or would you force it upon the Vicious, 
 the Liftlefs, and the Sluggifk ? A u School is erec- 
 
 r drift's Hofahal founded by K. Edward VI. 
 
 5 Mathematical School fettled and endow d there by K. Ch.II. 
 
 ' Bridewell Hofpital. 
 
 !?. London Iffark-boufe with School in Bi(hof>Gate-Street 
 
 C 2 ted,.
 
 1O *A SPIT AL-S E R M ON 
 
 ted, and an Houfe of: Difcipline eftablifh'd, with 
 Intent of anfwering this double Profped ; if Sup- 
 plies come in proportionable to the Want^ or if 
 the Encouragements to this extenfive Undertaking 
 prove in any manner commenfurate to its large 
 Demands. 
 
 OR, would you follow, at an humble Diftance, 1 
 your Redeemer's Example, who v went about all 
 the Cities and Villages, healing every Stcknefs, and 
 every Difeafe among the People ? Would you im- 
 part your communicative and friendly Succour 
 to the Calamities of thofe, whole Poverty calls 
 them to daily Labour for their daily Bread, and 
 whom Diftempers or Cafuaities have dilabled 
 from earning it ? A w Door, you know, is open 
 for all who will enter it with Defigns of Com- 
 paffion ; of procuring Health to the Sick, Eafe to 
 them who are in Pain x Eyer to the Blind, or 
 Feet to the Lame. 
 
 O R, Finally. Would .you reftore the invaluable 
 Privilege of regular Thought, and of found Un- 
 derftanding to thofe deplorable Objects, who have 
 loft it ; and who feem in their prefent Diftrefs to 
 be but half-partakers of human Nature, wearing 
 indeed the outward Fafliion, the Similitude and 
 Shape of our Species, but deftitute of its brightest 
 Ornament, and bereft of its moft precious Di- 
 ftin<5tion, its mod pecifliar Charafteriftick ? The 
 Way, again, y here, is paved, and a Path mark'd 
 out, for the Accomplishment of this well-natur'd, 
 
 v Matth. ix. 35. 
 
 ' St. Bartholomew's, and St. Thomas's Hofpitals. 
 * Job. xxix. 15. 
 . y . Btthlem Hofpital. 
 
 well-
 
 Treach'd March the l%th, 172.1. zi 
 
 well-pointed, Purpofe: Without any Skill, any Ex- 
 perience, any Concert of your own, in contriving, 
 or in fettling them, the Meafures are, all, pre- 
 pared for it; the Wheel is in Motion, and you 
 have nothing upon you but the eafy Task of lend- 
 ing it your feafonable Help, either for the Sup- 
 port of it, in its prefent Condition ; or for the far- 
 ther Enlargement of its Sphere and Compafs. 
 
 WHAT hath been already, and what more may 
 yet be done, upon the feveral Articles, which 
 have here been pointed very briefly to your No- 
 tice, you cannot but obferve, when the prefent 
 State of them is laid before you. 
 
 f Here the Report was read.~\ 
 
 You now have heard the Munificence of your 
 pafs'd and prefent Benefactors to thefe noble Cha- 
 rities ; Men of Renown, famous in their Genera- 
 tion, whofe Names will be held in honourable 
 Remembrance by our lateft Pofterity,- and will 
 receive, I truft, from the Age we live in, fuch a 
 plentiful Addition to them, as fhall furnifh the 
 Hmi^ofour Lord with a fufficient Number 
 of like, worthy, Labourers ; who may cow, to 
 a good Degree, that Multitude of Sim, which o- 
 therwife muft cover us with a Load of Infamy, 
 and convey the Stench of our Memories to thofe 
 who come after us, with a * Curfe and an Aftonijh- 
 went, with an Hijfing and a Reproach 
 
 B u T if amidft the great Varieties of Taft and 
 Fancy, which prevail with Mankind, any Schemes 
 of a more modern Date, and of a later Eftablifh- 
 ment, ihould rather invite your Benevolence ; 
 the Field is here alfo wide enough, and fufficiently
 
 2.1 exfSPITAL-SERMON 
 
 open, for the moft extenfive Genius to take its 
 Walk, and its Pleafure in it : So that there is no 
 fear ( I fhould rather have faid, there is no Hope) 
 that Occafions fliould be wanting, to employ any 
 poffible Diverlity of charitable Difpofitions. 
 
 ONE Thing, in particular, it hath long been 
 wifh'd might have been added to the Account of 
 your annual Benefa&ions : And I congratulate 
 with you the rifing Profped of it ; I mean the no- 
 ble Defign now lately fet on Foot by the Gene- 
 rofity of a J private Perfon, but of a very fublick 
 Spirit, for the Care of thofe difconfolate Wretches, 
 whofe Cure is defperate; that the Mifery of the 
 Miierable may be fomewhat abated, when it can- 
 not, confefledly, be quite avoided , that this, the 
 foreft Aggravation of all Misfortunes ( their being 
 remedilefs) may no longer be conlider'd as a 
 Reafon, why we fliould forbear our Endeavours 
 to palliate and foften them, when yet, an entire 
 Removal of them, is agreed to be impoflible j 
 that thus even the hopelefs may have fome De- 
 grees of Support and Comfort derived upon them, 
 iome Beams of Light and of Refrelhment let in 
 upon the Darknefs and Gloomixefs of their forlorn 
 Condition : An Undertaking of vaftExpence, ot 
 mighty Compafs, and of the moft beneficial Influ- 
 ence 1 The Praifes of which will found through- 
 out the Earth ; as may the" fweet Savour of it af- 
 cend to Heaven j and the Fame of it be recorded 
 in the Annals of Providence 1 
 
 B u T it is high Time now, that I fhould relieve 
 your Patience, and draw to a Conclufion : And 
 therefore 1 fhall detain you no longer, than whilft 
 
 1 MY. Guy'-r Hofpital Jor IncuraMis.. |y j
 
 Preach } d March the 2,8fl&, 
 
 S3 {--07 
 
 IV. I throw in a Word or two farther by way 
 of Motive, and Remembrance, which the World 
 within you, and the World without you, will ea- 
 fily and naturally improve for you, if you will 
 hearken to their Voice. 
 
 i. COMPASSION, will plead, I doubt not, this 
 moving Caufe for me "within your own Bowels. You 
 cannot obferve an Object of real Diftrefs, without 
 fome fecret Yearnings, fbme affectionate Wifties of Re- 
 lief and Succour to it : Nor can you truly wifli, and 
 iui[h in vain) for any thing within your Power. By root- 
 ing us thusj and grounding us in Love, and by implant- 
 ing in our Make and Conftitution this powerfu/ Prin- 
 ciple of Benevolence, the wife Author of our Being, 
 hath taken a Security and Pledge of us- for our due 
 Difcharge of all tender- hearted and friendly Offices; that 
 if one Member f iifer, all the Members fhould fuffer with 
 it, and, by dividing the Misfortune among many, fhould 
 abate the uneafy Senfe of it to the more immediate 
 Sufferer : So that a Man muft put off Nature, before 
 he can entirely diveft himfelf of Charity. Thus upon 
 certain Forefight, that Mijery and Diforder would force 
 their Entrance inro the Creation of God, his graci- 
 ous Providence hath confulted the Views of Redrefs 
 and Order, by engaging thofe very Paffions of Men, 
 which fo frequently let in the one, to unite, and to fo- 
 licit, in Favour of the other. T'he God of this World, 
 with all his Might and Subtilty, oppofeth himfelf 
 here, as in other Cafes, to the Will of the moft High, 
 and to the Intereft of his reafonable Creatures, ever in- 
 feparable from each other; would fain feduce us into 
 little and narrow Meafures of Practice, and, by play- 
 ing off againft it contrary Affections, would weaken, if 
 he<:ould, this native Bent, and cancel this great Fun- 
 <kmental Law of human Society, and of human Na- 
 ture. But a little Confideration of the Pofture we ftand 
 in, and of the Life affign'd to us, will enable us to dif- 
 
 cern
 
 e^SPITAL-SERMON 
 
 cern our Intereft and our Duty , as well as to fee 
 thro* the Fallacy or" that thin Difguife, which would 
 feduce us from them. For,' n-3' 
 
 2. IP we look into the World without us, our Reafon 
 cannot but obferve to us, that Mifery and Mercy were 
 originally form'd and appointed to tally with one an- 
 other ; that Abundance and Want^ when meeting toge- 
 ther in /> Proportions, make up, in the whole, a beaute- 
 ous Symmetry; as, when kept at an unnatural, unfriend- 
 ly, Diftance, they difconcert the Order of Providence, 
 and grate upon the Harmony of the Creation. 
 
 TH i s folemn annual Afferably of fo many Perfons 
 blefled wich Plenty, and concerned for various Branches 
 of Charity, moft of you Benefaflors, all, it is prefumed, 
 Weft- Withers to it in its moft diffufive Compafs, pre- 
 fentsuswith a lovely Profpect of its future Succefles; 
 that thro' your favourable Help, and your aufpicious 
 Management, every Loan already of en for it, may fooa 
 bejiird up, and Encouragement thence arifeto new In- 
 ventions, rrefii, and, as yet, untried, Schemes of Benefi- 
 cence j that all the Wants, and Maladies, and Miseries 
 of human Life, may have at Length a Foundation laid 
 of Relict or Cure, of Afliftance or Comfort under them ; 
 that this famous City fo renowned for its Grandeur, fo. 
 celebrated for its Wealth, fo diftinguifh'd above its Fel- 
 lows in all temporal Advantages, may come ihort of none 
 in religious Improvements ) nor in any Ornaments and Gra- 
 ces of the Gofpel ; that under all poffible Views, it 
 may be entituled to the Holy Pfalmift's Defcription of 
 Jerufalem * Beautiful for Scituation, the Joy of the whole 
 Earth i the City of the Lord oj^Hofts, the City of our God I 
 and that God may eftablijh the fame for ever. 
 
 * Pfa. xlviii. 28. 
 
 FINIS. '^
 
 Dr. IBB T's 
 
 SERMON 
 
 LORD-MAYOR, 
 
 On SEPTEMBER 29. 1720.
 
 Michaelis Archangeli/c/7/V? J 
 "Die ^ovis xxix. "Die Sen- 
 
 t r r /| 1 t 
 
 tembris 1726,, Annw%, Regni 
 Regis G E o R G 1 1 Magnse 
 Britannise, &c. feptimo. 
 
 IT is Ordered, That the Thanks of 
 this Court be given to the Reverend 
 Dr. I B B o T, for his Sermon this Day 
 Preached before this Court, and the 
 Liveries of the feveral Companies of 
 :his City, at the Parifh-Church of 
 St. Lawrence-Jewry, before the Election 
 of the Lord-Mayor for the Year eniuing ; 
 and that he be defired to Print the lame. 
 
 STRACEY.
 
 The NATURE and EXTENT of the Office of 
 the CIVIL MAGISTRATE. 
 
 Gonfider'd in a 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the Right Honourable 
 
 Sir George Tkorold, Kt. 
 
 Lord- May or of the City of London, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 Court of ALDERMEN, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 Liveries of the feveral COMPANIES, 
 
 AT THE 
 
 PARISH-CHURCH of St. Lawrence-Jewry , 
 On Thurfday^ September 2*9. 1710. 
 
 Being the Fejttval of St. Michael the Archangel, and the 
 Eleftton-Day. of the LORD-MAYOR for the Tear enfiring. 
 
 By BENJAMIN 1 B B o T, D. D. 
 
 Rector of St. Paul's Shadwell, and Chaplain in Ordinary 
 to His MAJESTY. 
 
 NE QUID RESPUBLICA DETRIMENTI CAPIAT. 
 
 Cic. pro Milone. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for JOHN W Y A T, at the Rofe in St. P/m/ 
 Church-yard. MDCCXX.
 
 ACTS XVIII. 14, 15. 
 
 And when Paul was now about to of en his 
 
 Gallio faid imto the Jews, If it were a flatter of 
 Wrong) or wicked Lewdnefs, ye Jews, Reafrtt 
 would that I fbould bear with you : But if it be 
 a Queftion of Words and Names j and of your 
 Law j look ye to it j for I will be no Judge of fucb 
 
 Matters. 
 ^ 
 
 H.E Crime which the Jews here laid 
 againfl St. Paul, and for which they 
 brought him before G#///0,was * Blafpbemy Afts xvi 
 againft their Re!igion ? affirming that the I? ' I4 * 
 Religion eftablifhd by the Law was now 
 no longer obligatory, and profefling a 
 Religion different from That, and perfua- 
 ding others to embrace it. For thus they reprefent the Cafe 
 to Gallic, at the 1 3th Verfe, fyifiA) This Fellow perfitnJtth 
 Men to worflrip God contrary to the Law. To which Ac- 
 cufation the Apoftle was going to reply ; but Gallio prevent- 
 ed and faved him that Trouble, and put an End to their 
 
 A 3 Plead-
 
 A Sermon Preacb'd before 
 
 Pleadings on both Sides, by declaring at once, that the 
 Cafe did not come before him, nor iall under his Cogni- 
 zance. 
 
 Gallic faid unto the Jews^ &c. 
 
 This Chapter is the only Place of Scripture, where we 
 find any Mention made of Gallio ; but from the Account 
 which we here meet with of his Behaviour upon this Occa- 
 fion, as well as from the Character which other Writers 
 have given us of him, we may juftly conclude, that he 
 was a Man of great Candor and Humanity, as well as a 
 wife and difcreet Magiftrate. 
 
 He was the Roman Prsefecl: of Acbaia, a confular Pro- 
 vince under Auguftus ; and a Brother of Seneca's, who 
 gives him this Chamber, * that he was a Man of a fweet 
 Temper, univerfally bclov'd, free from all Vices, and the 
 greateil Hater of Flattery. Tacitus ||" alfo makes mention 
 of him to his Advantage, and Statins gives him the fame 
 Teftimony.f 
 
 Notwithstanding this, fome have feverely cenfur'd his 
 Conduct in this Affair, as if it proceeded from Carelefsnefs 
 and Indifference in religious Matters, and to render him the 
 more infarrous, have invented a new Name for this Sin, 
 and caird it GaUionifm. But I hope to juftify the Deputy's 
 Behaviour, and to fhow, that what he fpoke on this Occa- 
 fion, was wifely fpoke ; and t(iat if he had acted otherwife 
 in this Matter than he did, he had tranfgrefled the Bounds 
 of his Duty. 
 
 Tis \\orth while to take a nearer View- of his Words, 
 and examine more clofely into their Drift and Meaning. 
 
 * Solcbam tibi diccre, Gallionem Fracrcm meum fquem Nemo non parum 
 am;t, cc^m q;d amarc plus non pnccftj alia Vitia non noffe, hoc eciam (viz. Adu- 
 ati uicni) oduT.-, d'o omni ilium pirte cencafti Nemo enim morcalium uni tarn 
 Jdu'c : s eft, quam luc omnibuf, <&c. Si'nec. Nat. Quefl. \. 4. Initio. 
 Anna!. .'. i <,. 
 
 j- Auc dulccm generafTc Gallionem. Statins, Sjlvarum /.2. Genetbllacon Lucani. 
 
 tf
 
 the L o R D - M A Y o R , 
 
 If it were a Matter of \\ Wrong, or wicked Lewdnefs, O 
 ye Jews If you could accufe this Man of any Injuftice, 
 whereby he had invaded any one's Right and Property, or 
 could lay to his Charge any other flagitious and villanous 
 Action, done with a mifchievous Deugn, and whereby he 
 had disturbed the Publick Peace ; * reafon would that I 
 fiould bear with you. It would be but right and jufl, that 
 I fhould bear with this Trouble which you would now give 
 me, and hear with Patience what you have to fay. I fhould 
 then be obliged by the Duty of my Place to take Cogni- 
 zance of your Matter. But if it be a Queftion of Words , 
 and Names, and of your Law. If the Controversy^ as it 
 feems to me, be, not about civil, but religious Matters : as 
 about the Word which Paul preach'd, and the Truth of that 
 Word, and whether it be agreeable to your Law ; or about 
 Names: of different Seels in Religion, and of their Found- 
 ers ; as whether the Name of MeJJiah, or Chrifl, belongs 
 to that Jefus whom Paul preaches, and what Appellation 
 is to be given to his Followers ; or about the Senfe and 
 Meaning of thofe Prophecies which 'Paid applies to Cbrtft: 
 Or if the Difpute relates to the Rites and Ceremonies of 
 your Law, as whether Circumcijion be (till in Force, and 
 all that are uncircumcifed are out of God's Favour : I fay 
 if the Matter, about which you are at Variance, be con- 
 cerning your Mffffab, who he is, and what is agreeable or 
 contrary to your Law, or any Thing elfe of this Kind, 
 look ye to it. Make it up among your (elves, or difpute 
 as long as ye pleafe about it. For I will be no Judge of 
 fuch Matters. 'Tis none of my Bufmefs to determine fuch 
 Difputes. Thefe Things no way affed: the Publick Peace 
 and Quiet, which 'tis my Duty to take care of; nor do they 
 
 make
 
 A Sermon Preac^d before 
 
 make any one guilty of any Crime againft the Law of 
 the Land. 
 
 And this was a wife Anfwer, and fhow'd that he was well 
 acquainted with the Nature and Extent of his Office ; and 
 he was too good a Man to lift himfelf in any Party, and 
 to abufe the Power which was lodg'd in his Hands, by ap- 
 plying it to Purpofes foreign to the original Defign of it, 
 and executing wrath upon them who had done no evil. 
 
 The Words thus open'd, naturally lead me to treat of 
 the Nature and Extent of the Office of the Civil Magijlrate. 
 And becaufe this is a Subject which would take up more 
 Time than is ufually allow'd upon fuch Occafions as this ; 
 I (hall confine my felf to that Diftin&ion which Gallio here 
 makes between Matters of a Civil, and of a Religious Na- 
 ture ; between the Affairs of Civil Government^ and thofe 
 of Religion. The former he lays claim to, as falling under 
 his Cognizance, and belonging to his Jurifdiftion ; but the 
 latter he difclaims, as wholly foreign to his Office, and 
 what he had Nothing to do with. 
 
 This Difference between Civil Government and Religion, 
 is what I (hall endeavour to illuflrate and confirm, and to 
 fettle the juft Bounds that lie between the one and the other. 
 And this I fhall do, by confidering diftindtly what the End 
 and Defign of Civil Government is, and what is that of 
 Religion. \, 
 
 I. Then let us confider the End and Dejign of Civil 
 
 Government. 
 
 'Tis plain that Civil Government was inftituted for the 
 Prefervation and Advancement of Men's Civil Interefts, 
 lor the better Security of their Lives, and Liberties, and 
 
 external PofTclTions. 
 
 Men f )on became fenfible of the Neceflity of Civil Go- 
 rtrnin>'nt for thefe Ends, from the Inconveniences they fuf- 
 icrd by a private Life independent on each other. For in 
 
 1 fuch
 
 the L o R D - M A Y o R, 
 
 fuch a State, unlefs every Man would keep ftri&ly to the 
 Rules of Juflice and Equity, which the Pravity of human 
 Nature and long Experience forbid us ever to hope for; 
 the Weak would become a Prey to the Strong, every one 
 would lie at the Mercy of him that was mightier than 
 himfelf, and the World would be full of Fraud and In- 
 juftice, Cruelty and Oppreffion. 
 
 No fooner did Mankind begin' to multiply, and to con- 
 trad: new Relations and new Duties, but their Interefts in- 
 terfer'd with one another, and gave Rife to thofe Wrongs 
 and Injuries which daily increas'd in the World, and quick- 
 ly mov'd Men to enter into Societies for the mutual Secu- 
 rity and Defence of their Perfons and Proprieties both 
 again ft Violence from Abroad, and Rapine and Fraud at 
 Home. For thefe Ends and Purpoles Societies were at firft 
 erected, and grounded upon the mutual Compact and 
 Agreement of thofe who enter 'd into them, to ftand by, 
 and aflift each other, both againft forreign Violence, and 
 domeftick W T rongs. To repel the/r/? of thefe, there mutt 
 be external Force and Strength, which confift in Arms, 
 Riches, and Multitude of Hands ; the Remedy of. the 
 other lies in wife and wholefome Laws, agreed upon by the 
 Society ; and the Care of both is, by common Confenr, 
 committed to the Civil Magiftrate^ who is moreover arm'd 
 with the Force and Strength of all his Subjects, in order to 
 put thefe Laws in Execution. * 
 
 From this brief Account of the Nature and Defign of 
 Civil Government, it plainly appears, that the proper Bufi- 
 nefs of the Magiflrate is to preferve the external Peace of 
 the Worldj and the temporal Good of the Community over 
 which he prefides ; to prote& every Man in his juft Right 
 and Property ; to fee that t no Mango beyond^ and defraud 5. 
 .bit Brother in any matter ^ or do any Wrong of any Kind to 
 
 * Letter concerning Toleration. Mr. LockV Works , V, 2. p. 249, 
 
 B his
 
 A Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 his Neighbour ; and to this end, to inflict proper Punilh 
 * Ronuciii. ments, and * execute Wrath upon them that do evil to 
 4 - reflrain and chaftife thofe who are unruly, who tranfgrefs 
 
 the Laws, and violate the Rights of others; who are 
 guilty of any of thofe Sins which are injurious to the So- 
 cietyj which difturb the Peace and Quiet of the Government^ 
 and endanger Mens. Lives and Properties ; fuch as Fraud, In- 
 juftice, and Opprefliorr, Lying and Perjury, Theft, Mur- 
 ther, Adultery, and the like. 
 
 All thefe fall under the Cenfure and Cognizance of the 
 Civil Magiflrate ; and 'tis his Office and Bufmels to reflrain 
 Men irom fuch Outrages as thefe, by bringing the Of- 
 fenders to condign Punifhment. 
 
 But then it is to be confident , that thefe Tranf- 
 greffions are fubjedt to be punifh'd by die Civil Magi- 
 ftrate in a Civil Senfe or Capacity only, and not in 
 a Religious one. They fall under his Cognizance, as they 
 are injurious to Mens Civil Interefts, and deftrudhve of 
 the good Order and Government of the World ; and not 
 as they have an inherent Turpitude in them, and are Im- 
 moralities and Tranfgreffions of the Divine Law : For in 
 that Capacity, I conceive,, they are out of the Magiftrate's 
 Power, and not cognizable before any Courts of Human 
 Judicature. 
 
 The not obferving this Diftinffiton has introduc'd no 
 fmall Conlufion in this Subject. For fince the fame Actions, 
 which are Violations of the Divine Law, are alfo prejudi- 
 cial to Human So titty , and fo many Breaches of the-Pw^- 
 lick 'Peace and Qiriet ; hence if has been thought as much 
 the Magiflrate s Duty to prevent the one as the other^ and 
 that Religion was as much his Care and Concern as Civil 
 Government. 
 
 Whereas, in truth, if the ill Influence which thefe Vices 
 have upon the Peace and Welfare of Human Society ', could 
 be feparated from their Immorality ^ and their being Tranf- 
 greffwns of the Laws of God, the Magiflrate could have 
 
 nothing
 
 the Lo K o- M A Y o R, 
 
 nothing to do with them ; his Bufmefs being nothing el(e 
 but to prefer ve the Pubhck Peace and Quiet, and to protect 
 Men in their Civil Rights and Propeniss, and to take no 
 other Notice of the Actions and Behaviour of his Subjects 
 than is neceflary to this End. 
 
 But becaufe fuch a Separation is impartible, and thofe 
 Vices which are fo many Tranfgrefftons of God's Laws, 
 have alfo a natural Tendency to injure our Neighbour in 
 his Civil Interefls, and to diflurb the good Order and Go- 
 vernment of the World ; (It being hard to inflance in any 
 Vice, which does not fome way or other, immediately or 
 remotely, do this ; ) therefore it unavoidably happens, that 
 the Magiftrate, in the due Execution of his Office, does 
 indire&ly intermeddle with Religion. I fay indire&lj, be- 
 caufe Religion is not his proper Bufmefs, nor ought he dt~ 
 re&ly to intend it in the Execution of his Office. For THAT 
 I fhall (how is the Care and Concern of a Higher Power, 
 and is to be promoted by Rewards and Puniiliments peculiar 
 to it feif, and fetch'd from another World. 
 
 But though we cannot actually feparate the ill Influence 
 any Vice has upon the Society we live in, from its being a 
 Tranfgrejfion of fome Divine Law ; yet in our Minds we 
 may make this Separation, and confider every Vice as a 
 mix'd Action, as a Tranfgretfion of the Laws of Man, and 
 of the Laws of God. In the fir ft Capacity only, it is fub- 
 jed: to Human Judicatures ; in the fecond, it is cognizable 
 only before the Tribunal of Heaven. As it is a matter of 
 Wrong, or wicked Lewdnefs, i. e. as 'tis an Injury to any 
 private Perfon, or a Breach of the publick Peace, it is cer- 
 tainly the Magistrates Duty to reftrain and puniih it. As 
 'tis a Tranfgreffion of the Rules of Morality and Virtue, of * 
 any of the Laws of Natural or Reveafd Religion, 'tis equal- 
 ly certain that it belongs only to the Supreme Lawgiver, 
 even God himfelf, to exad: an Account of it. 
 
 For this Reafon, becaufe Vice and Wickednefs are 
 puniihable by the, Civil Magi/Irate only upon a Civil Ac- 
 
 B z count,
 
 8 A Sermon Preached before 
 
 count, Sins are differently eflimated and differently punifli'd 
 by Human, and by Divine Laws. Human Laws make an 
 Eftimate of Sins from the Damage they do to private Per- 
 fons, or to the publick Good, and inflid: the greateft 
 Punifhment upon thofe Sins which are mod injurious in 
 this Refped. For there being no (landing Law of God, 
 which has annex'd any Civil Puniftiment to any Sin, (if 
 perhaps we may except Murther) this is the only Rule 
 the Magiftrate has to dired: him in his punifhing Offenders. 
 And therefore, if there be any Sins wherein the Society is 
 no way concern'd, which it neither feels, nor is affeded 
 with, the Magiftrate has nothing to do to punifli them. 
 And even thole Sins which, in their own Nature, are pre- 
 judicial to Mens Civil Interefls^ if they could be fb circum- 
 fhntiated, as to do no Prejudice to any, nor to have any 
 ill Influence upon the Welfare of Society ; they could not, 
 in thofe Inflances, be the proper Subject of Civil Punifl>- 
 ments. Nothing is fo, but what does fome way or other 
 injure a private Perfon, or the Publick Weal. Confequent- 
 ly, fecret Intentions and Defigns of Wickednefs, if they 
 never break out into Ad ; treafonable Thoughts, rebellious 
 Willies, and feditiousPurpofes, can never be liable to Civil 
 Punifliments. Nothing but Overt-Afts, whereby the So- 
 ciety, or any Member of it, actually fuffers, or is brought 
 into Danger of raftering, can lawfully be pnnifh'd by the 
 
 But with Regard to the Laws of God, die Cafe is far 
 orherwife. He takes aneftimate of our Sins by other Mea- 
 furcs, from thofe Degrees of Light and Knowledge againfl 
 which the OrFcnce was committed, and often punifhes 
 thofe Sins mod, which are leaft, or not at all, cenfur'd 
 by the Civil Powers. Thus Anger and Revenge with him 
 is Murther, and luflful Thoughts and Defires,'- Adultery f 
 and the determin'd Will and Intention of committing any 
 Sin, \\-ith /?;>, amounts to the Sin it felf, though through 
 Fear, or Shame, or Want of Opportunity, it was never 
 
 actually
 
 the L o R D - M A v o R, 
 
 actually committed. And thofe Sins which the Civil Ma- 
 giflrate does not punifh, becaufe they do not prejudice 
 Men's Civil Interefts, do yet render Men highly guilty 
 before God, and will be feverely accounted for : Such as 
 Covetoufnefs, Pride and vain Boafting; Senfuality and Vo- 
 luptuoufnefs ; Murmuring and Difcontent ; Surlinefs and 
 ill Nature; Difrefpecl: to Superiors, and Ingratitude to 
 Benefactors ; Envy and Malice , Calumny and Detraction ; 
 -Fraud and Circumvention , I fay, thefe^ and numberlefs 
 other In fiances, which Human Laws can take no Hold of, 
 can neither punifh the Sinner, nor prevent the Sin, are 
 exprefsly condemned by the Laws of God, and have fe- 
 vere Penalties annex'd to them. And other Attions there 
 are, which though juftly punifhable by the Civil Powers, 
 are in their own Nature guiltlefs, and do not difpleafe God, 
 but by being Tranfgreflions of that general Law, of paying 
 all due Obedience to thofe whom he has fet over us. 
 
 To which we may further add, that Criminals may 
 fatisfy the Law, and fb Hand clear before Human Judica- 
 tures, and yet remain as guilty before God as ever; and 
 on the contrary, they may have made their Peace with 
 God, and procur'd his Pardon, and yet be equally guilty 
 in the Eye of the Law, and equally liable to Civil Pu- 
 mfhment. 
 
 From all which 'tis abundantly evident, that the End 
 and Defign of Civil Government is wholly taken up with 
 the Care of Men's Civil Rights, and confequently that the 
 Office of the Civil Magiflrate is confin'd to this one Thing, 
 and that religious Matters, as fitch, lie out of the Verge 
 of his Power. But if this wants any further Light, it will 
 receive it from what comes next under our Consideration, 
 and that is, 
 
 II. The End and Defign of Religion. 
 Tho Religion is a great Friend to Civil Government, and 
 the Practice "of the Duties which that enjoins, tends very 
 
 much
 
 i o A Sermon Preactid before 
 
 much to our prefent Happinefs, and makes this World a 
 much more eafy Place than it would be without it j yet all 
 this is but remotely the Efled: of Religion, and makes no 
 Part of its Main and Principal Dejign. 
 
 Religion, in a true and proper Senfe, and as the Word it 
 felf imports, is an Obligation upon us to God, and was 
 defign'd to recommend us to God, and fecure an Intereft 
 in bis Favour , by performing acceptable Service to him, 
 and doing thofe Things which are well pleafing in his Sight* 
 And therefore, though Men form'd themfelves into So- 
 cieties for Civil Reafons, fuch as have been already men- 
 tion d, they did not do it upon any Religions Account; 
 becaufe Religion as it relates to God, is tranfadted between 
 a Mans felf and God, and is what no Body elfe is concern'd 
 in. So that 'tis neither neceflary in it felf, nor eflential 
 to true Religion, that great Numbers of Men ihould meet 
 together, and be incorporated in Societies, for the better 
 Difcovery, or the more due Exercife of it.* 
 
 Hence it is that they who liv'd before the Inflitution of 
 Civil Government, or the Foundation of Commonwealths, 
 were as famous for their Piety and Religion as any who 
 have been fmcc. They who liv'd in the firft Ages of the 
 World, when the Earth was but thinly inhabited, were 
 not therefore deftitute of true Religion, but perform'd it 
 in a Manner that was acceptable to God : And fo may any 
 Tingle Perfon, or any (mall Number of Men, who happen 
 to live in a dcfart Place. They are not to be look'd upon 
 as having no Religion, becaufe they do not -live in Towns 
 and Cities, becaute they cannot make up a great Aflembly, 
 and arc not form'd into zCivil State. For Religion, as I be- 
 fore laid, is tranfadted between God, and a Man s felf, and 
 equally obliges us at all Times, and in all Places, in Soli- 
 tude as well as Society, under whatever Government we 
 
 .-' 
 
 S.v Puffendorf of the Relation between Church and State. Stlt. , $, 6. 
 
 live,
 
 tfo LORD~MAFOR, e>c. r r 
 
 live, or whether we live under any at all. And that which 
 makes Religious Worflrip mod acceptable to God, is open to 
 loi s View alone, as he is a Difcerner of the Heart ; and that 
 is Sincerity and Integrity, the Worflrip that is in Spirit, and 
 in Truth. This Religion took place before Societies were 
 ereded, and is of an older Date than any Civil Eftablifh- 
 merits, ns well as of a different Origin. It commenc'd tjie 
 Moment we were created : It is contemporary with hu- 
 man Nature, and began with the Race of Man, though it 
 came not from the Will and Invention of Man ; but is 
 grounded upon the Will and Law of God, who fees Men in 
 the Dark, has in his Hands Rewards, and Punimments, and 
 Power enough to call to account the proudeft Offender. 
 Whereas Commonwealths were founded, and Government in- 
 flituted long after, by the Will and Invention of Man, 
 and for quite other Reafons, and different Ends. 
 
 In this State of Nature, I mean before the Inftitution 
 of Civil Government, Religion, as it related to God alone, 
 had no other Hold upon Men, but from the Fear and Reve- 
 rence of God, and was a perfect Stranger to all human 
 Power, and outward Force ; and every one embrac'd that 
 Religion, which either his own Reafon dictated, or Revela- 
 tion difcover'd to him, and had a Right of ordering for 
 himfelf the external Circumftances of Religious Worship. 
 In all thefe Things, every one \vas left to his own Liberty, 
 and was accountable to none but God. In this State, no 
 Man whatever could require me to conform to bis Judg- 
 ment in Religious Matters, nor could I require him to 
 conform to mine. But if any Man out of Charity to 
 my Soul , and becaufe he believ d himfelf to be in the 
 Right, had a mind to bring me over to his Opinion, he 
 muft convince me by proper Arguments, that he was in 
 the Right, and I in the Wrong ; but muft ufe no outward 
 force or Compulfwn of any Kind ; and that for this plain 
 and fhort Reaibn, amongft others, becaufe the Care of 
 *very Man's own Soul, which is the whole Concern of Re- 
 
 /.'/ on,
 
 2 A Sermon Preach W before 
 
 ligion, belongs to himfelf alone, and is to be left to him- 
 felf ; and to ufe any Force or Violence here, is not only 
 unjuft, but, as iliall be {hewn, wholly ufelefs and infig- 
 nificant. 
 
 This was the Cafe of Religion in a State of Nature. Let 
 us next fee, whether any Alteration was made in this Cafe 
 by the Inftitution of Civil Government. 
 
 Now lin.ce thofe Wrongs and Injuries which Men daily 
 receiv'd from one another, and which firft mov'd them to 
 enter into Societies, did not affect their Religion, but their 
 Lives and Liberty, and Goods ; it follows, that when they 
 wav'd their natural Freedom, and combin'd together, they 
 did not at all iubmit themfelves, in Religious Matters, to 
 the Will of the Civil MagiflraU, as they fubmitted their 
 Perfons and Properties to be difpos'd of by him for the 
 obtaining the End of Society , the mutual Defence and 
 Prefervation of one another. Men might, and did dill 
 retain their natural Freedom in Religious Matters, very con- 
 fidently with all the Ends of Civil Government, which 
 oblige them to give up their natural Right in other Things. 
 For there is this remarkable and eflential Difference be- 
 tween Mens Civil or Temporal, and their Religious or Spi- 
 ritual Rights, that the former are alienable, and may, by 
 their own Confcnt, be reflrain'd or remitted in fome Cafes, 
 for the better Security of diem in others : But the latter, 
 their Religious or Spiritual Rights, are their unalienable 
 Property, in which they cannot be reftrain'd, and which 
 they cannot give up in any Cale, or upon any Account 
 whatever. Men cannot abandon the Care of their Souls, 
 as they may that of their Bodies and Eftates, and blindly 
 leave it to the Magiftrate to preicribe what Faith or Wor- 
 fh'p they iliall embrace. For befides that the Care of every 
 Man's Soul belongs to himfelf, becaufe every one of us mi!ft 
 give an account of himfelf to God, Rom. 14. 11. And the 
 Nature of Religion is fuch, as makes it a flrict perfonal 
 Duty incumbent upon every Man ; and whatever of this 
 
 Kind
 
 the L o R D- M A Y o R, &c. 
 
 Kind is done, muft be done by our felves : I fay, befides 
 this, we cannot, if we would, conform our Faith to the 
 Dictates of another, and believe jufl as he believes, and 
 becaufe he believes fo ; nor can it ever pofiibly be lawful, 
 upon any Account, to comply with, or agree to any thing 
 in Religion, that is contrary to our Judgment, and the 
 inward Perfuafion of our Minds; to profefs for Truth, 
 what we believe to be a wrong Faith, or falfe Doctrine ; 
 and to worlhip God after any other manner than that 
 which we conceive to be moft agreeable to the Divine 
 Will. In thefe Matters, we can neither give, nor can ano- 
 ther ufurp any Authority over our Confciences ; nor can 
 we fubmit them to any other Ruler, but God and our own. 
 Reafon. And therefore the Magiflrate ought not to in- 
 fift upon Terms of purely a Religious Nature with thole 
 who are under his Government, or exercife his Power and 
 Authority over them in this refpect. 
 
 This will quickly appear, by taking a View of the chief 
 and principal Parts of Religion. 
 
 To begin then w 7 ith Morality and Virtue, which tho' 
 unhappily diftinguiflid from Religion, are the chief and 
 main Things wherein it confifls. Thefe are founded in 
 the Eternal and Immutable Nature and Reafon of Things, 
 whereby fome Things are evidently fit, and others as evi- 
 dently unfit to be done, whatever the Confequence of 
 them be here. This being plainly the Nature of Things, 
 and there being this eflential Difference between them, 
 we juflly conclude it to be the Will of God, who made 
 us what we are, and put this Difference between fome 
 Things and others, that we fhould obferve this Difference 
 in our Actions. And herein we are to be directed by 
 our own Reafon, or Confcience ; which is nothing elfe 
 but the Opinion or Judgment of our own Mind -concerning 
 the Moral Pravity or Rectitude of our own Actions, for 
 the Conduct of which we are accountable to God alone. 
 
 C If
 
 T 4 A Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 If then I be fatisfy'd in my own Mind of the Lawfulnefs 
 or Unlawfulnefs of any Action ; and do, or forbear it up- 
 on that Pcrfuafion ; the Civil Magiftrate has no Right to 
 lay any Reflraint upon me in this Cafe, becaufe he judges 
 me to be in the Wrong ; for one Man's Confcience is no 
 (1* Cor. x. Rule to another, and therefore |1 one Mans Liberty fiould 
 *9* not be judgd of another Mans Confcience ; but in all fuch 
 Cafes as thefe, every one mufl judge for himfelf, and take 
 care to be fully perfuaded in his own Mind, and not to 
 *Rom.xiv. * condemn bimfelf in that Thing which he allowenh. 
 
 But what if any one upon Pretence of Conference^ and to 
 fhow his Liberty, fliould commit any Matter of Wrong or 
 wicked Lew tine fa invade any one's Property , or difturb 
 the publick Peace ? Why then, I fay, no Pretence of Re- 
 ligion or Confcience can skreen him from the Civil Powers. 
 He ought to Le rcflrain'd and punifh'd. But then he does 
 not fuffer upon a Religious, but upon a Civil Account; 
 :<1V< he fufTers as a f Mitrtherer, or a Thief \ or as an evil Doer y 
 or as a Eujy-bodj tn other Mens Matters. 
 
 If we place Rii^^.n in the Belief of any Set of Doffrines, 
 or in the Practice or any particular Forms or Modes of 
 divine Worflrip : Here too every Man mufl: judge, and chufe 
 for himfelf, mult believe thofe Doctrines which he thinks 
 to be true, and worftiip God in fuch a Manner as he is- per- 
 fuaded is moil acceptable ^p him. The Magiftrate has 
 Nothing to do to interpofe in this Cafe, to apply force of 
 tiny Kind to brin^ Men over to any particular Perfuafion. 
 This is plainly forreign to his Office, and ftepping beyond 
 the Bounds of his Duty. The Peace and Quiet, and good 
 Order of the Society, are the only Points which he is to 
 take care of; and fince thefe are as confident with Mens 
 holding different Opinions in Religion, as they are with 
 their being of differ tut Sentiments in other Matters ; the 
 Mftgijlrate is no more concern'd-to intermeddle in religious 
 PifputeS) than he is in thofe of Philofophy, Law^ or rhy- 
 jic'k, 
 
 Indeed
 
 LORD-MAYOR, &c. 
 
 Indeed if Men hold any Opinions in Religion^ which 
 are deftrudive of the Peace and Quiet of the World, 
 and undermine the Government, and ad: in purfuance of 
 thefe Opinions, their Actions then are of a Civil, and 
 not of a Religious Nature; and they render themfelves 
 obnoxious to the Civil -Powers, and juftly deferve to be 
 punifhd. Or if Men manage their Religious Difputes 
 with fiich Heat and Eagernefs, and carry their Differen- 
 ces fo high as to fall foul upon, and offer Violence to 
 one another, 'tis the Magiftrates Duty to interpofe, to 
 defend, and avenge him that fuffers Wrong, and to 
 punifh him that did it. And therefore Gallio was cer- 
 tainly to blame in taking no notice of that Infult 
 which the Greeks .committed upon Softhenes, the chief 
 Ruler of the Synagogue, by beating him in open Court, 
 v. 17. This is what he ought to have prevented or 
 punifh'd, both as an Affront to himfelf, and an Injury 
 to one of his Subjects. But in this Cafe, the Magi ftr ate 
 does not make himfelf a Judge of Controverjies in Re- 
 ligion, nor ufe his Power and Authority to decide them ; 
 but he ads in his own proper Character, as a Guar- 
 dian of the publick Peace of the Society, and of the 
 Civil Inter efts of his Subjeds; both which are invaded 
 in the prefent Cafe. 
 
 And therefore, where Men demean themfelves quietly 
 and peaceably, and their different Faith and Praftice 
 have no fuch Effed 1 , and concern only God and their 
 own Souls , the Magistrate is no Judge of fuch Mat- 
 ters ; and whatever their Errors be, muft ufe no out- 
 ward Force or Violence to compel them, but leave them 
 to the jufl Judgment of God, as to to their own proper 
 Mafter^ to whom they are to ftand or fall. 
 
 For the Magiflrate to interpofe, and make himfelf 
 a Judge and a Revenger in Affairs which are purely 
 of a Religivus Nature, is to tranfgrefs the Bounds of 
 his Duty, and to invade the Prerogative of God ; it is 
 
 C z (to
 
 A Sermon Preached he fore 
 
 (to borrow the Words of an Incomparable * Author) 
 to judge and mifufe the Servants of another Mafter y 
 who are not at all accountable to him. For nothing can 
 be more clear or certain, than that as Religion has God 
 only for its Si it bar, (b 'tis properly bis Care and Con- 
 cern only. The Laws of Religion are the Laws of God 
 ew/y, and he himlelf has appointed Rewards and Punifh- 
 ments for the Obiervers and Tranigreflbrs of them. 
 He has taken this whole Matter upon himfelf, and re- 
 ferv'd it to himfelf, and has no where authoriz'd any 
 Man, or any Number of Men upon Earth, to be his 
 Deputies or Vicegerents in this Behalf. So that 'tis 
 highly wicked and unjuft in any Man to ufurp any 
 Authority over others in Cafes of a Religious Nature^ 
 in Matters of Faith and Confcience. For here God him- 
 ielf has laid clown the Rule of our Actions, and not 
 left it to others to prefcribe to us. He himfelf has 
 fet before us our Duty, and has told us that he will 
 judge of the Performance : And for any Man, after this, 
 to pretend to any Power over us here, is to foreftall 
 the Judgment of God r and to take God's Caufe out of 
 his own Hands. 
 
 But fuch Attempts as thefe are not only wicked and 
 unjuft, but very foolifh and fruitlefs, as will appear, if 
 \ve confider, that the Nature and the Virtue too of all 
 Religion confifls in a free and willing Choice, in the 
 Content and Approbation of our Minds, in the Since- 
 rity and Integrity of our Hearts, in our being fully per- 
 fuaded of the Truth of what we -believe, and of the 
 Goodnefs of what we pradtife. Whatever we do in 
 Religion^ we mufl do it heartily, as unto the Lord^ in 
 Obedience to his Commands, and Compliance with his 
 Will, and becaufe we believe it will recommend us to 
 
 Mr* bockV Letter of Toleration, p. 2$g. V. 2. FoK ' 
 
 bis
 
 tfa Lo R D-M A Y O R, &C. 17 
 
 bis Favour. Whatfoever is not done with this AfTu- 
 rance of Faith, is neither well in it felf, nor can it be 
 acceptable to God. 
 
 But of what Ufe can Human Laws, enforc'd by Ci- 
 vil Penalties, be in all this ? They may make me do 
 Things which are in my Power, and depend upon my 
 Will : But to believe this, or that, to be true, is not in 
 my Power, nor depends upon my Will, but upon the 
 Light, and Evidence, and Information which I have. 
 And will Civil Difcouragements and Incapacities, Fines 
 and Confifcations, Stripes and Imprifonment, enlighten 
 the Underftanding, convince Mens Minds of Error, and 
 inform them of the Truth ? Can they have any fuch 
 Efficacy, as to make Men change the inward Judgment 
 they have framed of Things ? Nothing can do this, but 
 Reafon and Argument. This is what our Minds and 
 Underftandings will naturally yield to ; but they cannot 
 be compelld to believe any thing by outward Force. 
 So that the promoting of true Religion is plainly out 
 of the Magiflrates Reach, as well as befide his Office r 
 And though Temporal Rewards and Punifhments are 
 very proper Means to produce an actual external Com- 
 pliance with Human Laws, which is fufficient to an- 
 fwer the End of their Inftitution; yet Thefe are very 
 improper Motives to be apply'd to the Laws of God 
 and Religion, becaufe they cannot produce that inward 
 Obedience in Sincerity of Heart and Conference which 
 thefe Laws require, nor that thorough Perfuafion of the 
 Truth of what we believe , and of the Goodnefs of 
 what we pradtife, without which no outward Compli- 
 ance with the Divine Laws, nor any thing which we 
 do in Religion is of any Account. 
 
 And therefore if the Magi/Irate interpofes here, and 
 cither chufes a Religion for me, or enforces that which 
 I have chofen , with Temporal Rewards and Punifh- 
 ments ; he deftroys my Religion, and fpoils the Virtue 
 
 of
 
 1 8 A Sermon Preach' d before 
 
 of whatever I do under that Name. If he impofes upon 
 me, and forces me to prpfefs, for he cannot make me be- 
 lieve, a Religion, which I do not think to be true ; He 
 makes me a Hypocrite and a Diffembkr, and expofes me 
 to the Reproaches of my own Heart, and the juft Ven- 
 geance of God ; which is highly abfurd and unreafonable, 
 confidering that the End of all Religion is to fecure the 
 Favour of God, and the Peace of our own Confciences. 
 If he forces me to profefs and practife what is true Re- 
 ligion, and what I my felf believe to be fo, he at the 
 fame time deftroys the Virtue of this Religion, and de- 
 prives me of my Reward in Heaven. For whatever I 
 do in Religion out of Force and Constraint, upon World- 
 ly Motives and Considerations, out of Fear of the Civil 
 Powers, or the like, is no Religion at all, nor is there 
 any Virtue in any Actions which are perform'd upon 
 fuch Principles as thefe. For Religion muft be built 
 upon our Regard to God', and whatever Regard we 
 pay to Men in the Performance of Religious Duties, 
 takes off fo much at leaft from our Regard to God , 
 and fo far diminishes the Virtue of what we do. So 
 far as Temporal Motives and Temptations prevail with 
 us, and are the Springs and Caufes of our profeMing or 
 practifing Religion ; fo far moft certainly we are not 
 influenc'd by the Love or\ God, and Fear of offending 
 him, which is the only Foundation of all true Religion, 
 which confius in internal Sincerity^ in the Obedience of 
 the Htitirt and Conference, and in worfijpping God in Spi- 
 rit and in Truth. And for this Reafon, no doubt, God 
 thought fir to annex no other Penalties to the Trani 1 
 greflion of his Laws, but the fpiritual and invifible Ter- 
 rors of a Future State ; and no other Rewards to the 
 Obfcrvance of them, but the Joys -and Happinels of the 
 World to come ; becaufe prelent and Temporal Rewards 
 and Puni/hments, the Countenance or Terrors of Men, 
 have no Tendency to promote thofe Things wherein 
 
 true
 
 tie LORD-MAYOR, c>r. 19 
 
 true Religion confifls, can neither convince the Under- 
 flanding, nor rule the Heart , nor lead Men to the 
 Truth with Sincerity ; but are much more likely to 
 have the direct contrary EfTed: : And if they were ap- 
 ply 'd to Religion, might make Men outwardly comply 
 with it, merely for the prefent temporal Benefit they 
 receiv'd from it ; but could never make them fincere in 
 the Belief or Practice of it. And what our Saviour 
 faid to the People who fought for him, John 6. 16. 
 might fitly be apply'd to fuch Converts and Difciples 
 as thefe, Verily ', verily^ I fay unto you, ye feek we, not 
 becaufe ye faw the Miracles , but becaufe ye did eat of 
 the Loaves, and -were filed. 
 
 But further ; as Religion confifls in fuch a Belief and 
 Practice, as we, in our own Confciences are perfuaded 
 to be belt, and mod acceptable to God, as it lies in the 
 Sincerity and Integrity of the Heart, as it is Truth in the 
 inward Parts ; fb it can be fubjeft only to the Judgment 
 of the great God, whofe Prerogative it is, to be a Searcher 
 of the Heart, and a Tryer of the Reins; who fees the 
 iecret Springs of our Actions, and knows our Thoughts 
 and Intentions afar off Upon which Account, no Man 
 upon Earth can be a Judge in religious Matters, nor take 
 upon him the Cognizance of this Caufe. He knows not 
 the Thoughts of our Heart, cannot tell upon what Prin- 
 ciple we adted, or whether we were fincere in our Religion 
 or no; and therefore if he ihould undertake to difpenfe 
 Rewards and Punifhments ; He, through Paflion, Weak- 
 nefs, and Frailty, might eafily err, and inflead of execu- 
 ting righteous Judgment, might confound Right and Wrong, 
 by punifhing the innocent, and rewarding the guilty. The 
 Apoille's Advice therefore is very feafonable in the prefent 
 Cafe: * Judge nothing before the Time, until the Lord *iCor.ir. 
 come, who both will bring to Light the hidden Things of 5 
 Darknefs , and -will make manifefl the Counfels of the 
 Hearts : and then fhall every Man have Praife of God. 
 
 By
 
 2 o A Sermon Preached before 
 
 By this Time, I hope, it appears that Gallio acted a 
 wife and confcientious Part in this Affair, and that if he 
 had proceeded to the Hearing and Determination of the 
 Caufe which the Jews here brought before him; he had 
 done what he could not juftify by Virtue of his Office, 
 and had given himfelf much Trouble, without Doing 
 .any Good to himfelf or others, but poflibly much Hurt 
 to both. 
 
 For moft certain it is, that the Duty of the Magiftrate 
 is confin d to the Care of the Civil, and Temporal Good of 
 his People, and does not extend to their Spiritual and Eter- 
 . nal Affairs. And as long as Men behave themfelves quietly 
 and peaceably in the Government under which they live, 
 as long as they do no Wrong or Injuftice to their Neigh- 
 bour, nor prejudice any one in their Civil Rights, they 
 may and ought to be left to themfelves in the Choice of 
 their Religion, and be allow'd to worfhip God in that 
 Manner, and after that Way, which they think befl and 
 moft acceptable to him. This is their natural Right, and 
 there can be no greater Inftance of .Injuflice and Opprelfi- 
 on 5 than any Ways to abridge it, or deprive them of it. 
 
 So that Toleration, or abfohtte Liberty in Matters of Re- 
 ligion and Conference, however it has been vilified, and 
 exclamVd againft, is as much every Man's juft Right, as 
 any other Thing which can^ be mention'd : And Perfecntion, 
 however meritorious blind Zeal and Bigotry have made it, 
 is as flagrant an Indance of Cruelty and Oppreflion, as 
 any of thole Things which are often practifed.in Confe- 
 qucncc of it, Plunder and Devaftations, Fines, Imprifon- 
 nient and Mnrther. 
 
 The Magiftrate ought to be fb far from thus perfecuting 
 any of his Subjects, upon Account of their difTerirrg from 
 him in Religion, that 'tis a principal Duty incumbent on 
 him to take care that different Sects and Parties do not : 
 perfecute, or treat one another ill upon this Account. 
 His Bunnels is \o protect People of all Opinions and 
 
 Perfua-
 
 the L o R n - M A Y o R, &c. 2 1 
 
 Perfuafions not inconfiflent with the Ends of Government, 
 from being infulted by thofe from whom they differ, or 
 differing any Thing on the Score of fuch Difference. 
 'Tis Nothing to him what falle and erroneous Opinions Men 
 hold, what ridiculous and abfurd Doctrines they profefs, 
 or, in a word, what they believe, or disbelieve in Religion, 
 fo long as hereby they do no Prejudice to their Neighbour, 
 nor make any Alteration in Mens Civil Rights, nor diftarb 
 the publick Peace and Quiet. For the End and Defign of Civil 
 Government was not to provide for the Truth of Men s Opini- 
 ons, but for the Safety and Security of their Goods and Perfons. 
 
 But here it may be objected, Is the Magijlrate to fhow 
 no Zeal or Concern for the Honour of God, and the Au- 
 thority of his Laws ? Is he to be altogether indifferent 
 what Religion his Subjects are of, or whether they be of any 
 Religion at all ? Is he not to exert his Power in Favour 
 of the true Religion, and to fee that the Rules thereof be 
 dulyobferved and pradtifed ? 
 
 To this I anfwer, That fmce God who is mofl certainly 
 the properefl Judge in this Cafe, and bed knows what are 
 the fitteft Means to be made Ufe of for thefe Ends ; has not 
 thought fit to enforce his Laws with any other San&ions, but 
 the Rewards and Punifhmentsof a Future and Invifible State, 
 nor to promote his Honour and true Religion by any other 
 Motives but thefe : What Authority has any Man to make 
 any Alteration in what God has eflablifhed, and to enforce 
 his Laws with any other Sanctions than what he himfelf has 
 appointed ? God has given no Man this Authority ; and 
 Men cannot give it one another. And therefore for any one 
 to aflume it, is not only encroaching upon God s Prerogative, 
 and invading Mens Religious Rights, but 'tis calling in Que- 
 (lion the Divine Wtfdom, as if God who made Man, and 
 gave him thefe Laws, knew not what San&ions were mod 
 proper to fecure Man's Obedience to them, and what Mo- 
 tives and Arguments were mofl likely to prevail with liini, 
 to be truly good and virtuous. 
 
 D And
 
 22 A Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 And as to true Religion, and a right Belief \ every Man is 
 Orthodox to himfelf, and thinks his own Religion to be true ; 
 and therefore if this be any Argument \vhy the Magiftrate 
 fhould ufe Force in promoting his own Religion^ it will plead 
 as ftrongly forfalfe Religions, as for the true one : It will 
 hold as well for Popery in Popifh Countries, for Mahomet a- 
 niftn at Conftantinople y as for Proteftantifm in Great Britain. 
 But is not the Honour of God to be consulted ? And are not 
 Vice, and Immorality, and Prcphanenels to be reftrain'd and 
 punifii'd ? Moll certainly they ought ; but upon a Civil Ac- 
 count, and becaufe they are prejudicial to Mens Civil 'Inte- 
 refts. As for God's Honour, he himfelf is the beft Guardian 
 of ir, and will moft certainly take care of it in his own 
 Time and Way ; for he is a fealous God. But then I add, 
 that for Men to be reflrain'd from thefe Vices by the Power 
 and Authority of the Civil Magiftrate, and out of fear of 
 his Sword, is no Honour to God, whatever it may be to 
 Cxfar : It is obeying Men rather than God, and fhows that 
 we are more afraid of Men than of God. It is indeed for 
 the Interefl and Honour of the Civil Government , that ail 
 Vice, Immorality, and Prophanenefs fhould be fupprefs'd, 
 becaufe they are prejudicial to it, and the contrary Virtues 
 tend to the Good and Welfare of Society ; and fo far the 
 Magiftrate ought to interpofe. And becaufe all Manner of 
 Wickednefs, even in thofe In fiances where it does not diredr.- 
 ly injure any private Perfbn, nor diflurb the publick Peace, 
 has an ill Influence upon SociMy^ tends to make Men bad Sub- 
 jects, and wor r e Neighbours, and indifpofes them for the due 
 Difcharge of the Relative Duties of Life ; it were much to be 
 wifli'd, that Human Laws could be fo contriv d, as to take 
 in a greater Compafs here, if that could be done without any 
 pitblick Inconvenience. For the Wife Mans Obfervation is 
 founded in the Nature or the thing, as well as in .the Decree 
 of Almighty God, that Righteoufnefs exaheth a Nation, but 
 Sin * ; j a Reproach to any People, Prov. 14. 34, As the Virtue 
 of a Nation increafcth or diminifheth, fo does its Stre'ngth 
 at Home, and Credit Abroad. And
 
 the LORD-MAYOR, &c. 
 
 And further : As they who fear and honour God moft, are 
 mod likely to make good Subjects, and to difcharge their 
 Duty beft, while they do it, not only for Wrath, but for Con- 
 fcience fake, Rom. 13. 5*. So mofl certainly, upon this Ac- 
 count alfo, 'tis incumbent upon the Civil Magiftrate, and one 
 great End of his Office, to maintain and fupport the Fear and 
 Honour of God, by ptmifkhtg thofe who do evil, and praifing 
 them that do well, i Pet. x. 14. 
 
 But then 'tis plain, that thefe Confiderations are of a 'Po- 
 litical, and not merely of a Religious Nature : For the Honour 
 of God, confider'd abftradredly from the Good of Civil So- 
 ciety, and as it concerns himfelf only, cannot be thus pro- 
 moted ; and is, what he has infinite Ways of maintaining, 
 and taking care of, without being beholden to the Secular Arm. 
 
 To concluae : Since Religion and Civil Government are, 
 in their Original, End, Bufmefs, and in everything elfe be- 
 longing to them, thus perfectly diftincl 1 , and entirely diffe- 
 rent from each other ; it would put an End to many Contro- 
 verfies, and make very much for the Peace and Quiet botjh 
 of Church and State, if Men would obferve this Diftindiqji, 
 and each Party would keep within their refpedive Bounds/ 
 This would hinder them from clafhing and interfering 
 with one another, and would prevent thofe Heats and Ani- 
 mofities, thofe Acl:s of Violence and Rapine, Cruelty and 
 Oppreflion, that have abounded in the Chriftian World up- 
 on Account of Religion. 
 
 Let the Minifters of the Gofpel keep, or be kept, to their 
 Duty. Let them preach the Gofpel of Peace, and not found 
 the Trumpet of War. Let them mind their own Bufmefs, 
 which is the Salvation of Mens Souls, by teaching and per- 
 fuading them, both by their Doctrine and Example, both 
 publickly and privately, to deny Ungodl'mefs and worldly 
 Lufts, and to live righteoufly, foberly, and godly in this pre- 
 fent World : And let them not ftretch themfelves beyond 
 their Line, by meddling with the Affairs of Stare, and ma- 
 king themfelves more Minifters of the Government, than 
 Minifters of the Gofpel of Chrift. And
 
 24. A Sermon Prectcttd before, &c. 
 
 And let tht Magijlrate too confine himfelf to his own 
 proper Bufmefs, and attend to the worldly Welfare of the 
 Common- wealth, and inftead of exercifmg his Power in bind- 
 ing other Men's Confciences by Human Laws, let him take 
 care to conform his own Confcience to the Laws of God y 
 and direct all his Counfels and Endeavours to promote uni- 
 verfally the Civil Welfare of all his Subjects. * And let him 
 not think that he bears the Sword in vain, unle(s he employs 
 
 vurltC* ***'' t i. J 
 
 Toleration, it in the Caufe of God and Religion. It was not put into his 
 ST 6 '^ Hands for this Ufe, nor can it be apply *d to this Purpofe 
 with any good Effed:. It was given him for quite other 
 Ends, and he will find Work enough for it in deciding Ci- 
 vil Controversies, without meddling with thofe of a Reli- 
 gions Nature ; in executing Judgment and Juflice between 
 one Man and another ; in breaking the JaWs of the Wicked^ 
 and plucking the Spoil out of his Teeth ; in checking and con- 
 troulmg the arrogant and ungovernable, in preventing or 
 puniihing all Fraud and Injuftice, Violence and Oppreflion, 
 and in fupprefling Faction and Tumult, Sedition and Rebelli- 
 on. I fay, thefe and fuch like Particulars will afford the Ma- 
 gift rate fiifficient Exercife for his Sword, without turning the 
 Edge of it again ft falfe Doftrine, Herejy, and Schifm. 
 
 And if Civil Magiftrates, and Minifters of the Gofpel, 
 would thus contain themfelves within their own Bounds,there 
 would be the mofl exad Harmony and Agreement between 
 them ; and we might hope to fee the Prophet's Predi- 
 ction fulfill'd, concerning tlk happy State of the Church or 
 Kingdom ofChrift ; when the Wolf ft all dwell with the Lamb, 
 and the Leopard ft all lie down with the Kid', and the Calf, and 
 the ymtng Lion, and the Fatling together, and a little Child ftall 
 lead them. When the Cow and the Bear ftall feed, their young 
 ones ftall lie down together ; and the Lion ftall eat Straw like 
 the Ox. When the fucking Child ftall play on the Hole of the 
 Afp, (in;! the weaned Child ftall put his Hand on the Cockatrice 
 Den. When they ftall not hurt nor deflroy in all God's holy 
 Mountain. Then ivonld Mercy and Truth meet together, Righ- 
 teoiifnefs and Peace would ktfs each other. Which God of 
 liis infinite Mercy grant, dv. 
 
 F I N I S.
 
 \BAKE R's 
 
 ' . 
 
 S E R M O N, 
 
 ill ^ 
 
 
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of Commons, 
 
 : 3,'sl\' 
 
 - 
 
 On Monday, January 50. 1720. 
 

 
 Mart is 31 die Jan. 1710, 
 
 Ordered, 
 
 HAT the Thanks of 
 
 this Houfe be given to 
 
 the Reverend Do&or Baker, 
 for the S E R M o N by him 
 Preach'd before this Houfe 
 Yefterday, at St. Margaret's 
 Weftminfter 5 and that he be 
 defired to Print the feme - r 
 and that Mr.SecretaryCr^gi 
 and Mr. Plumptre, do Ac- 
 quaint him therewith. 
 
 \ Paul Jodrelt. 
 Cler' Dom' Com'.
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 Houfe of C o M M o N s 5 
 
 A T 
 
 St. MARGARET'S, Weftminfter, 
 
 On Monday, January 50. 1720. 
 
 BEING 
 
 The Anniverfary of the Martyrdom of 
 King CHILES I. 
 
 By WILLIAM BAKER, D. D. 
 
 WA R D E N of Wadham College , 
 
 RECTOR, of St. Giles's in the Fields, 
 
 And CHAPLAIN in Ordinary to His MAJESTY- 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed for B E N j. C o w s E, at the <I(ofe and 
 Crown in St. fW's Church- Yard. ,1720.
 
 
 
 
 ' -. 
 
 ' 
 
 5 k \ : 
 
 /. ^-;i ;. 
 ". >; ;; o r -j .i . 
 
 '.i r:i ;i i A i<i /.. ; 
 
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 ' \ 
 
 'Kx 
 
 .3? ni i." "0 I
 
 5 
 
 JOHN V. fart of the i ^th 7erfe. 
 
 Behold thou art made 
 
 whole $ Sin no more, left 
 a worfe Thing come unto 
 thee. 
 
 THIS Annual Solemnity is Ap- 
 pointed by Publick Authority, 
 To imflore the Mercy of God, that nei- 
 ther the Guilt of that Sacred and Innocent Blood, 
 jhed as on this Day nor 'tbofe other Sins, by 
 which God was proVoKd to deliver up both Us 
 and our K^ng into the Hands of cruel and un- 
 reafonable Men y may at any time hereafter be 
 Viftted upon us, or our Tofterity. 
 
 A very Wife and Pious Inftitution, 
 giving us an Opportunity to fliew our 
 hearty Abhorrence of the Fact, and a 
 juft Indignation at thofe Sons of Vio- 
 lence who committed it 5 At the fame 
 time that we Deprecate the Wrath of 
 God, who may, and often does, with 
 
 all
 
 6 A Sermon Preacfr d before the 
 
 all Variety of Temporal Judgments, punifi 
 the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children, 
 Wen to the Tliird and Fourth Generation. 
 
 But fuch is the Natural Turpitude, and 
 Deformity of Sin 5 and, for that Reafon, 
 fuch Men's Impatience under Guilt, that 
 <this has been perverted to a Day of Strife 
 and Contention, of Reproaches and bit- 
 ter Words. Inftead of Humbling our 
 ielves before God for our Sins, every one 
 has been Zealous to Vindicate Himfelf, 
 and his own Party, and labouring for 
 Ipecious Pretences to charge Any befides 
 with the Guilt and the Infamy. 
 
 We have juft now in our Prayers, hum- 
 lly confefid in the behalf of All the People of 
 this Land, that they were the crying Sins of 
 this Nation which brought down this heavy Judg- 
 ment upon us ; As the Corruption was Ge- 
 neral, let no Man refufe to take to him- 
 
 ' ^ 
 
 felf his Share of the common Shame. 
 
 What Succefs can we expecl: at the 
 Throne of Grace, if we Approach with 
 Hearts full of Pride, and Party-Refent- 
 ment, utterly deftitute of that Charity 
 to others^ which alone is able to cover the 
 
 Mul
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 
 
 Multitude of our Sins * Above all, let none 
 but Healing Methods be inculcated from 
 the Pulpit - y fuch as are apt to Calm and 
 Quiet, not to Exafperate Men's Minds. 
 
 It has been recommended as a necefla- 
 ry Piece of Wifdom by the beft Obfer- 
 vers of Mankind, that when any Diffe- 
 rences, whether publick or private have 
 been Composed, and the Contending Par- 
 ties Reconcil'd, not only all Mention of 
 paft Injuries Chould be Avoided, but the 
 Injuries themfelves be/orgott^andthe Me- 
 mory of them, as foon as poffible, be Abo- 
 lifli'd. This was thought good Policy 
 at the Reftoration ; when at the fame 
 Time that Men were Indemnified as to 
 their Lives and Eftates, for any Fa&s 
 committed in thofe Times of Confufionj 
 to encourage All to return to their Duty, 
 Provifion was alfo made for die Security 
 of their Reputation 5 All Names of <%- 
 froacbj and Terms of l)iftinlion, being or- 
 der 'd for the future to be laid a/ide. 
 
 What a.Misfortune was it to this Church > 
 and Nation, that Gentle and Compofing 
 Spirit did not longer continue ? which 
 
 could
 
 8 A Sermon Preached before the 
 
 could not have fail'd at that Happy Jim- 
 6hire to have made this our Sion the Joy 
 of the whole Earth. 
 
 But'the Union of Proteftants was not 
 at that Time the Thing in View; "Different 
 Meafures were taken 5 And 'tis to be fear'd 
 the Methods too commonly pra&is'd on 
 this Day, have by our mutual Revilings 
 given great Advantage to the common 
 Enemy : Tis now Seventy two Years 
 fince the Unnatural Wickednefs of this 
 Day was committed $ The Aftors of it 
 are long fince Dead. And the Action it 
 ielf, by the prefent Age, univerfally Con- 
 demn'd and Abhor r'd,- The avow cl Prin- 
 ciples of all our different Sects, Papifts 
 only excepted, obliging to Loyalty and 
 Obedience. 
 
 To what Purpofe then is fo much 
 Wrath and Bitternefs againft thofe who 
 profefs to hate all Rebellion as they do 
 Witchcraft ? Are fuch Invectives intend- 
 ed to upbraid Men with the Faults of their 
 Anceftors ? It ought to be - confider'd, 
 that the Defendants of the active Men 
 in thofe Times, have in a very remark- 
 able
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons'. 
 
 able manner Changed Sides, and would 
 for the moft part be ready to Support 
 the Caufe their Fathers fo violently Op- 
 pos d. 
 
 But he only who is without Sin ought in 
 Decency or Juftice to throw a Stone at the 
 Guilty 5 And where can we find an In- 
 nocent Party in the Nation ? What De- 
 nomination of Men was there Uncon- 
 cern'd in bringing thisGreat Evil upon us ? 
 Tho' the Odium and the Load of Guilt 
 be generally thrown upon one Sort bf Men, 
 and one Sett of Principles, yet did All in 
 their feveral Turns help on the Impend- 
 ing Storm 5 and 'tis not eafie to deter- 
 mine, whether the Principles of Refift- 
 ance in fome Cafes, or thofe of Abfo- 
 liite and Unlimited Obedience, did moft 
 contribute to the Diftra&ions and Defo- 
 lation that enfued. 
 
 The Truth is, Tlw whole Head was Sick, 
 and the whole Heart Faint 3 from the Sole of 
 the Foot, even unto the Head, there was. no 
 Soundnefs in it 3 but Wounds, and Srui/es, and 
 Putrifymg Sores, which were not clofed, nor 
 bound up, nor mollified with Ointment. An 
 
 B unhappy
 
 10 
 
 unhappy Difference began between the 
 King and Parliament about Prerogative , 
 and Privilege, and Extent of Power $ 
 and all Orders of Men were at Different 
 Times, and after Different Manners, by 
 Omiffion or Commiflion, concern'd ei- 
 ther in Beginning orWidening the Breach 5 
 So that neither the Court, nor Senate, nor 
 Judges, nor Clergy, nor City, nor Coun- 
 try, can be wholly excus'd from being 
 the Authors of their own Deftru&ion : 
 Every one wanted either the Power, or 
 Skill, or Inclination to Interpofe j fothat 
 the Conteft went on, and was inflam'd 
 to that Degree by Mutual Provocations, 
 that, tho' at firft it appeared but as it were 
 a little Cloud artfing out of the Sea, like a Man's 
 Hand, it gather'd into fuch a violent 
 Storm, as carried all before it, and end- 
 ed not but with the Deftru&ion of King 
 and Parliament, Religion and Liberty. 
 
 As the Calamity was common, fo was 
 the Previous Guilt that occafion'd it ; And 
 now God has vouchfaf 'd, almoft at the 
 Expenfe of a Miracle, to Reftore to us 
 our Ancient Legal Government both in 
 
 i Church
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 1 1 
 
 Church and State 5 to Prevent our running 
 any more into tie fame Excefs of f?fy)f, and 
 confequently into the Same, or Greater 
 Miferies, I have chofen for the Subject of 
 my Difcourfe thefe Words of our Savi- 
 our on Occafion of a like Miracle 3 And 
 doubt not but to make it appear, that in 
 ourPrefent Circumftances, the Admoni- 
 tion is as Proper and Appofite to this whole 
 Nation, as it was to the Perfon in my 
 Text, Behold, Thou art made Whole 3 Sin no 
 more, left a worfe Thing come unto thee. 
 
 The Excellent Advice of our Saviour, 
 to One whom he had cur'd of an Infirmi- 
 ty he had laboured under for Thirty and 
 Eight Years: He had waited long at the 
 Pool of Bethefda for Relief, but was ftill 
 Difappointed, fome other always (leaping down 
 before him. Jefus had Companion on him, 
 and asking him if he was w'dlmg to be 
 made Whole ? prefently faith unto him, <%ife, 
 take up tby Bed, and Walk ,* and Immediately 
 tie Man was made Wbolt y and took up bis Bed, 
 and walked. Afterward Jefus findeth him in 
 the Temple, and being the Great Phyfician 
 both of Soul and Body, gave him this 
 
 B z feafonable
 
 feafonable Counfel, Behold, thou art mack 
 Whole 3 fen no more, left a rporfe Ihmg come 
 unto thee. 
 
 In which Words are contained, 
 i' fly A Suppofition, that this Man's 
 Sins had been the Caule of his Infirmity 3 
 Sin no more.. 
 
 ^dly :> Here is Mention made of a 
 Sudden, and a Verfett Cure, Effe&ed by 
 One from whom there was not the leaft 
 Expe6tance of Relief*. 
 
 idly. Here is a Caution, and Advice 
 given him, not to Repeat his former Sins. 
 And, 
 
 4fW)f,' A Denunciation of fome Greater 
 Affliction that fhou'd befall him, in cafe 
 of a Relapfe. 
 
 I {hall not labour to Force, or Strain 
 this Paflage of Scripture, to make the 
 Hiftory, of which my Text is a Part, 
 and That of the late Rebellion, and 
 Reiteration exattly Parallel in all their Gir- 
 cumftances : 'Tis enough for my prefent 
 Purpofe, that tKere is a G(.e/emblance be- 
 tween them 3 and this I hope to prove by 
 Examining the Particulars now men* 
 tion'd.. ifl y Here.
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons, 
 
 , Here is a Suppofition, that this 
 Man's Sins had been the Caufe of his In- 
 firmity. 
 
 We ufually Diftinguiflh between the 
 Evils we bring upon our felves, by our 
 own Voluntary Aft and Default 5 And fuch 
 as are inflicted on us by 'Providence 3 But, 
 properly fpeaking, All Evil is from our 
 Selves, and the Fruit of our own Doings : 
 3 Tis never the Voluntary Work of God, 
 but, either the Natural Confequence, 
 and Product of our Sin 5 or fuch as our 
 Sins have made Neceflary for us by way 
 of Difcipline, and in order to our Greater 
 Good. Did the Almighty ever Affltfc 
 willingly, or grieve th Children of Men 3 had 
 He no other View in the Sufferings 01 his 
 Creatures, but only that they fliou d Suf- 
 fer, Feel Pain and Mifery, it wou'd be 
 difficult to reconcile fuch a Treatment 
 with the Notions we have of His Good- 
 nefs. But he has many Excellent Ends 
 in fending Afflictions 3 and every Affli- 
 ction is intended to be Beneficial to the 
 Perfon it Affe&s. 
 
 What
 
 4 A Sermon Treactfd before the 
 
 What was the Particular Sin of the In- 
 firm Man in the Text, is not mentioned $ 
 But the Sins of this Nation, that cried 
 to Heaven for Vengeance, are Obvious 
 to the moft Superficial Inquirer. 
 
 The King, in his own Perfon, was a 
 Bright and Shining Example of Piety, 
 and all Chriftian Vertues 5 But Pride, 
 Excefs, and Uncommon Luxury pre- 
 vail 'd in the Court : To Support which 
 Uncommon Methods were taken, and 
 many Grievous Impofitions laid, on the 
 People 5 One of the Created of which, 
 was unhappily Juftified by a Solemn 
 Sentence, and Decifion at Law, which 
 depriv'd Men of their Properties, and 
 Patience at Once, To mention All the 
 Inftances of this Kind wou'd be Unfea- 
 fonable, and before this Honourable Au- 
 ditory, Unneceflary, But whenRedrefs 
 was Offer'd, and many Valuable Con- 
 ceflions befides, the Fault muft lie at the 
 Door of the Refufers. 
 
 As to the Clergy, many of them Vindi- 
 cated and Encourag'd the Proceedings 
 of the Miniftry, and were for Giving All 
 
 to
 
 Honourable Houfe of Common?. 
 
 -- .. _ ---. 
 
 to Cdfar 3 Others, on the Contrary, Hu- 
 mour'd the Madnefs of the Times, and 
 either Led, or Follow'd the People into 
 Fears, Jealoufies and Difcontents, till at 
 laft they Preach'd up Direct Sedition, and 
 Rebellion, were for Curfing Meroz^ ami 
 Binding flings in Chains. 
 
 The City, the faithful City, became an Har- 
 ht 3 and after having Infulted the King 
 in his Palace, was with little Difficulty 
 prevailed on to meet him in the Field. 
 
 The Common People by Peace and 
 Plenty, and Bad Example, were grown 
 Wanton and Wicked, Proud and Infolent j 
 confecjuently very apt to De/pife Domini- 
 ons, and /peak, Evil of Dignities 5 And hav- 
 ing fo well Prepar'd themfel ves for Change 
 and Confufion, for this Caufe God Jent them 
 Strong Delufion to believe a Lye, the moft 
 Monftrous and Incredible Lyes that De. 
 figning Men cou'd invent to Terrify the 
 Vulgar, and make their Governors Odi- 
 ous. 
 
 This was the Degenerate State of all 
 Orders and Degrees amongft us ; All were 
 in fome meafure Culpable, more or lefs 
 
 Inftrumentai
 
 Inftrumental in the Horrible Infamy o 
 this Day. 
 
 And fhall not God vifit for thefe Things * 
 Shall He not be Avengd on fuch a Nation as 
 this t Tho' there be often in this World 
 one .Event to the (Rjghteous and to the Wicked, 
 God was pleas'd to Deal with us here after 
 our Sins, and Reward us according to our Ini- 
 quities: He foon pour'd out full Vials of 
 His Wrath, to the utter Defolation of a 
 Flourishing Kingdom, and the Lofs of 
 every Thing valuable in Life. 
 
 And whoever confiders the near Re- 
 femblance there was between the 5m and 
 the Tunijhnent of this Nation, will be 
 convinced by the very Likenefs, that One 
 was Inflicted for the Sake of the Other ; 
 And that it was the Intention and Defign 
 of Him who knows how to bring Good out 
 of Evil, to Point out to us by the Punifli- 
 ment, the very Particular Sin that occa- 
 fion'd it. 
 
 This Method of God's Punifliing Men 
 by the Same Things wherein they Sinn'd, 
 is taken notice of by the Author of the 
 Book of Wijdom ; And he juftifies his Ob-. 
 
 2 fervation
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 
 
 ftrvation, by the Divine Vengeance ,on 
 the Egyptians, in two or three remarkable 
 Inftances, that were exceedingly Adapted 
 to the Sins of that People. I flhall uie 
 the Words of that Author, For a mamfeft 
 $(e proof of that Commandment whereby the In- 
 fants iverejlun, luch their Cruelty was pu- 
 nifli'd with Turning their Rivers into 
 Blood 5 Their Purfuit of the Ifraelites into 
 the tf^edSea, with their own Deftru&ion $ 
 their ftupid Idolatry in worjhipping Serpents 
 Void of <t(eafon y and vile Beafts, .was pu- 
 nifti'd with the feveral Plagues of Frogs 
 and Lice, and Flies, and Locufts, a mul- 
 titude of unreafonable ( Beafts being fent upon them 
 for Vengeance $ And the Defign of God in 1 
 them, as we read Wijd. xi. i 6. was, Jhat 
 they might know, that wherewithal a Man Sinmth, 
 by the Same alfojkall he beTunifid. 
 
 If I may be allowed to bring this Ob- 
 fervation down to the Times we are fpeak- 
 ing of, its Truth will be more Confpi- 
 cuous. 
 
 The Prerogative that was rais'd to an 
 Exorbitant Height, almoft to the Sub- 
 ycrfiori of All other Rights in the Nati- 
 
 C on,
 
 8 A Sermon Preach W before the 
 
 on, we faw Drought Loi y eiwn to the T>uft, 
 by thofe very Powers it had Attempted 
 to Leflen and Reduce 5 And nothing 
 cou'd Atone for the Dangerous Attempt > 
 till the King himfelf was made the Sa- 
 crifice. 
 
 The Prime Minifter of that Reign, 
 as the Noble Hiftorian obferves, had 
 his Pride ftrangely Punifh'd by the Hand 
 of Heaven 5 His Deftru&ion being brought 
 on him by two Things that he moft De- 
 fpis'd, the People , and a Gentleman whom 
 he had Provok d Wantonly, and out of 
 Contempt. 
 
 The Lords Spiritual, who were by 
 fome thought too Converfant and Med- 
 ling in Secular Affairs, were, for that 
 Reafon, as was pretended, Devefted of 
 their Antient and Undoubted Right, their 
 Votes in Parliament, and all Temporal 
 Jurifdiction. 
 
 The Lords Temporal, who did not 
 Interpofe with that Vigour their Station 
 feem'd to Require, in the Controverfy 
 between the King and his People, were 
 ia a. few Years Voted Ufdefs by that 
 
 2, Houfe
 
 II r "- - " . ,|. I n._lll . 
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 1 9 
 
 Houfe of Commons they had fo much 
 Favourd. 
 
 The Commons, who had Rais'd an 
 Army without Warrant of Law, had the 
 Mortification to fee themfelves Turn'd 
 out of their Houfe by that Army, and 
 the whole Parliamentary Conftitution De- 
 ftroy'd. 
 
 The Army, the Immediate Inftru- 
 ments of this Day's Complicated, Con- 
 fummate Wickednefs, had no Reward 
 for their Impious Services : But tho' high- 
 ly concerned in Point of Intereft to Main- 
 tain what they had Done 5 And their li- 
 nked Strength feem'd Invincible, became 
 very Providentially Divided, and Broken 
 into Parties, by which their Force grew 
 lefs and lefs Confiderable, till they were 
 at length Disbanded, and fent Home 
 with Infamy. 
 
 Neither of the Contending Parties had 
 their End 3 The Royalifts Stretched the 
 Prerogative, till they Broke and Deftroy'd 
 it. The other Party ftrove for Liberty 
 and Privilege, till they made themfelves 
 Slaves. 
 
 C z In
 
 o A Sermon Preached before the 
 
 In the Church, Some by Infifting on 
 Ceremonies, and Innovations, loft their 
 Liturgy, arid the whole Ecclefiaftical Go- 
 vernment. Others Prefs'd fo long for 
 Greater Purity, and a Farther Reformation, 
 'till they had Rais'd a Thoufand Abfurd 
 Se<5ts . in the Nation, who Fill'd it with 
 Enthufiafm, Blafphemy, and Nonfenfe. 
 
 Thefe were the Righteous Judgments 
 of God, tho' Effeded by the Wicked- 
 nefs, or Weaknefs of Men 5 Guilt, or 
 Extreme Folly, always went before 'Deflru- 
 ttion 5 which in All its Circumftances car- 
 ry 'd inch Plain Marks, and Indications 
 of Divine Juftice, and an Over-ruling 
 Providence, that every One cou'd fee 
 the Finger of .God in the Puniflhment. 
 
 idly, There is in my. Text Mention 
 made of a Sudden, and a Terfeft Cure, 
 Effected by One from whom the Perfon 
 Cured had not the leaft Expectance of 
 Relief. So Sudden, that the Man was made 
 Whole Immediately, as foon as the Word 
 cou d be Spoken. So Per/eft, that he had 
 Strength lufficient to Jak* up bis Bed and 
 So UnexpeHd } that, as far as ap- 
 pears,
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 
 
 pears, his Thoughts were wholly Fix'd 
 on the Pool of ! Bethefda, where he had 
 lain a long while, and did Defpair of a 
 Recovery., till his Own Strength, or the 
 Charity ,of others fhould Help him into 
 thofe Healing Waters. 
 
 o 
 
 . To make our National Deliverance 
 Parallel to this Cure, we may confider, 
 That after a Long Night of Thick, and 
 Horrible Darknefs, at a Time when De- 
 fpair Fill'd every Bread, and all the little 
 Remainder of Hopes was Extinct, did 
 the Sun, without almoft any Preceding 
 Twilight, the ufual Notice of his Ap- 
 proach, Break out as at Noon-day, and 
 Difpell the Black Cloud that Enc.om- 
 pafs'd us. There appeared fuch an Emu- 
 lation, and Impatience in all Sorts of 
 Men to Return to their Obedience, that 
 as the Hiflorian Remarks, A Man coud 
 not but Wonder^ where Thofe f Peofk Dmlt who 
 had done all the Mifchlef. 
 
 And as thefe Inftantaneous Conver- 
 fions muft be thought little leis than Mi- 
 raculous, fo the Almighty, whofe Cures 
 are Always Perfect, and His Miracles 
 
 never
 
 A Sermon Preached before the 
 
 never done by Halves, Reftor d this Na- 
 tion to its Full Strength, and Antlent Vi- 
 gour in All its Parts 5 The King, the Par- 
 liament, the Church, the People found 
 themfelves in their Former Happy State, 
 and Condition 5 Only that the Rights of 
 Each were more Afcertain'd, and the 
 Boundaries of Power better Underftood, 
 than Ever before. 
 
 If any thing can Add to the Luftre of 
 this Deliverance, it was this Circum- 
 ftance, That it was Effected without the 
 Interpofition of Foreign Princes, or the 
 Afliftance of Foreign Troops, or any 
 Obligation to Strangers. 
 
 As the Lame Man in my Text, Ex- 
 pected no Cure but from the Waters of 
 <8ethefda, did not fo much as l(nov> Jefus, 
 and fo cou d have no Thoughts of Re- 
 lief from Him 5 For He that was Healed, 
 wift not who He was that had Healed him ; So 
 the King had not the leaft Profpect of a Re- 
 ftoration, but from an Union of Neigh- 
 bouring Princes to Revenge the Injuries 
 done to Monarchy 5 This muft have 
 made our Country a Scene of Blood, 
 
 and
 
 and Defolation $ But was Happily Pre- 
 vented by a Voluntary, and Univerfal 
 Change made in the Hearts, and Affe- 
 (Stions of the People. For it was not 
 the Death of the Ufurper, nor the Un- 
 fitneis of his Succeflbr, nor the Intereft 
 of the General, nor the Feeble Efforts of 
 the Royal Party that Brought about the 
 King's Happy Return 5 But by God's 
 Bleffing the Happy Return of the Nation 
 to their Senfes : A Wearinefs of Changing, 
 when every Change they made was real- 
 ly from Bad to Worfe $ A Long, and Sad 
 Experience, how Unworthy the feveral 
 Wild Schemes of Government, that fuc- 
 eeflively Prevail'd, were to be Compar d 
 to the Old Legal EftablhTiment. 
 
 There is One Circumftance in the 
 Behaviour of the Impotent Man <*fier his 
 Cure, that I know not how to Accom- 
 modate to the Times dfter the Reftora- 
 tion 3 Je/us found him in the Temple, Praifing 
 God for His Mercy, and laying the Vows 
 which he Promised with bis Lips, when he was 
 in Trouble. Had we the fame Good Dif- 
 pofition 4fter our Deliverance, as Before * 
 
 Were
 
 24 *'A Sermon Preached before the 
 
 Were xve Eminent for .Frequenting the 
 Houfe of God ? Did we Learn (Rjvhteouf- 
 ncfs from the Judgments we had Felt ? 
 This was the Intention of Providence 3 
 And this Ought to have been the Confe- 
 cjuence. But fuch was our Perverfneis, 
 and Ingratitude, that Religion, both as 
 to Form, and fower vifibly Declined, and 
 the Improvements we made were in Vice 
 only, and Excefs of Riot 3 And Great 
 Examples gave fuch Credit, and Repute 
 to the Growing Evil, as was but little 
 ihort of a Sanction, and Eftablifhment. 
 So Prone are Men to Run from One 
 Extreme to Another, That becaufe in 
 the Late Times Religion was Proftituted 
 to the Woril Purpofes, and Men Con- 
 ceal d the moft Wicked- Defigns. under 
 the Cover of great Stri<5lnefs, and Sancti- 
 ty 5 Therefore now, to "fliefcv. their Ab- 
 horrence of inch Practices, it was thought 
 neceiiary Men fliouid keep at the Great- 
 eft Diilance poffible from Any Shew or Af- 
 pMriMct ot Religion. The Confequence 
 of which v.vis, that Profaneinefs and Im^ 
 morality \vcre too Commonly thought 
 
 not
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 2 5 
 
 not only Confiftent with, but even Ne- 
 ceffary to the Character of a Good Sub- 
 ject 5 So that many Jud^'d it Conveni- 
 ent to put on the Fafliionable Drefs, and 
 by a new Kind of Hypocrify, to Appear 
 Worfe than they were, to Avoid being 
 Sufpe&ed. I come now 
 
 3<//y, To the Caution, and Advice 
 given by our Saviour to the Man He had 
 Heal'd of his Infirmity, Sin no more. 
 
 Whilft his Former Miferable Condition 
 was yet Frefli in Memory, and his Heart 
 Tender, and full of Gratitude for the 
 Uncommon and Diftinguiflhing Mercy 
 he had Receiv'd, his Phyfician here Ad- 
 moniflhes him of his Duty, well know- 
 ing, How Apt Men are to Return to their 
 Former Folly 3 And that; the fame Caufes, 
 either by their Natural Tendency, or the 
 Juftjudgment of God, wou'd produce the 
 fame Miferable Effects. 
 
 That we may no more Split on the 
 fame Rock, and fee the fame Mournful 
 
 j 
 
 Scene Afted over Again, we mull care- 
 fully Guard againft every Little Approach 
 to thofe Sins that Then Fill'd our Land 
 
 D with
 
 26 A Sermon Preached before the 
 
 with Blood and Confufion. What they 
 were has been already Mention'd, and I 
 need not Repeat. I (hall rather Choofe 
 on this Head briefly to Hint at fome hn- 
 prudencies, and Errors of Judgment that 
 Concurr'd, and were Inftrumental in 
 Producing the fame Effects. Our Crimes 
 were the Natural, and Meritorious Catife 
 of our Sufferings $ But without great 
 Weaknejfes, and Faults of the Underftand- 
 ing, as well as Will, the War cou'd have 
 had no Beginning, at leaft no long Conti- 
 nuance, nor cou'd its Conclufion have 
 been fo Tragical. -My Time will not 
 permit me to be very Particular 5 I can 
 but juft mention fome of the Principal. 
 As 
 
 iy?, There was not Proper Care taken 
 to Watch the Beginning of Strife and Con- 
 tentions, which to ufe Solomons Compa- 
 nion, is like the Letting out of Waters : 
 When a Breach is made, no one Knows 
 where the Inundation will flop. A little 
 Prudent Conceflion, and yielding to the 
 Times, might have Accommodated Mat- 
 ters at Firft 3 But fuch was the Unskil- 
 
 - fulnefs
 
 fulnefs and Inadbivity, fome fcruplc not 
 to Add Treachery, on one Side - 5 So 
 great the Vigilance and Dexterity on the 
 Other, that 'tis doubtful, whether the 
 King's Friends or Foes did him moft 
 Mifchief. 
 
 2^/y, Too great Credulity, and want 
 of Sufpicion at that Time Poflefs'd the 
 Honeft Majority of the Parliament. They 
 were too much Influenc'd by Outward 
 Appearances, and wou'd not be Perfwa- 
 ded till it was too late, That Men who 
 had the Good of King and Country fo 
 much in their Mouth, cou'd have that 
 Defperate Wickednefs in their Heart, as 
 to Overturn Foundations. Or if they 
 had the Will^ fuch an Handful of Men 
 cou'd never have the Tower of Effecting 
 their Defigns. But 
 
 ^dly. This Handful became Formida- 
 ble by the Addition of Numbers, who 
 were really Ignorant of Themfelves, and 
 their own Weaknefs. They were wil- 
 ling enough to have an Infolent Cour- 
 tier Humbled, and even the Court it felf 
 Reduced to its Ancient Bounds 5 And to 
 
 D i fee
 
 28 A Sermon Preactid before the 
 
 fee the Old Landmarks Reftor'd 5 And 
 here they thought to Scop. But the Heart 
 of Man is Deceitful Above All Things 3 Who 
 can l\iww it \ Not even He that carries it 
 in his Breaft 3 Thefe Men of Honeft 
 Principles, and Good Intentions, were 
 not Cautious enough of the Company 
 they Kept, nor the Caufe they Engaged 
 in 3 And fo were led Step by Step to 
 much Greater Lengths than they Intend- 
 ed, till they found Themfelves Infenfi- 
 bly Seduc'd into Actions they at Firft, 
 and at a Diftance Abhorr'd. Their Griev- 
 ances were certainly Considerable both 
 for Weight and Number 5 And to Peti- 
 tion for Redrefs was Juftifiable, and with- 
 in the Bounds of Duty 3 This Produc'd 
 Angry Remonftrances 3 Afterwards came 
 on Tumults and Infurrections 3 Then 
 were Armies Rais'd, Vi&ories Obtained 5 
 The Crown, and Church Lands Seiz'd 
 by Right of Conqueft 3 And after all the 
 Miienes of an Inteftine War, the King 
 Himieli Imprifon'd, Try'd, Condemn'd, 
 Executed. Every New Advance Ap- 
 pear d to them an Eafy Confequence 
 
 U from
 
 from the Former 3 And when they had 
 loft their Innocence, and were once 
 Engaged, Shame and Fear, and a Falfe 
 Honour Excluded -all Thoughts of a 
 Retreat. I fhall mention but One Mi- 
 ftake more of thole Times, and that is 
 
 4thly, That Men were aot.fufficiently 
 Senfible of the Happinefs they Enjoy d 
 in Living under the Beft Tempered Go- 
 vernment in the World. Where the 
 Power of the Prince is for the Eafe, and 
 Security of the Subject $ And, in Re- 
 turn, the Liberties, and Privileges of a 
 Free People are a Support, as well as 
 Ornament to trie Throne. Many At- 
 tempts, and Actual Breaches were made 
 on this Well-pois'd Conftitution $ Many 
 Errors Committed by Men Defirous of 
 Change, both on the Right Hand, and 
 on the Left. It was Excellent Advice 
 therefore the Good King left as a Dying 
 Legacy to his Son, and which, He tells 
 him, He Learn'd by Experience , ( Happy 
 had it been had He Learn d it, Any 
 Other Way ) NeVer to Affeti.moi:e Great- 
 or 'Prerogative } than what is $$% ^
 
 so A Sermon Preactid before the 
 
 Intrinfically for the Good of Subjects, not the 
 Satisfaction of Favourites. And on the 
 Other Side, what follows is no lefsTrue, 
 Jbat bis Subjects coud not but have Leasnd 
 by tbe Sad Experience of tbnfe Times, That Vitto- 
 ries over tbeir Princes were but Triumphs over 
 Them/elves $ And fo woud be more unwilling 
 to Hearken to Changes Hereafter. May the 
 Event Verify this Predi&ion to All Fu- 
 ture Ages 3 The Antient, Well-known 
 Boundaries of Power, and Right, have 
 been Always found the Common Ad- 
 vantage, and Beft Security both of King, 
 and People 3 And may no Specious Pre- 
 tences ever Remove us from thofe Good 
 Old Foundations. I fliall not trouble 
 your Patience on my 
 
 Fourth Head, any farther than to Sug- 
 geft only, How the Threatning here 
 us'd, Left a worfe Thmg come unto 1hee y can 
 poflibly be Applied to this Nation. 
 
 The fame Guilt may bring down the 
 Same Punifhment 5 But is not Inteftine 
 Rage, and a Long Civil War the Quin- 
 tejjence of all Milery ? Can any Thing 
 Wbrje happen than did ? 
 
 ^ Hard
 
 Honourable Houfe of Commons. 
 
 Hard, no doubt, was our Fate to be 
 made Slaves to the Vileft of the People, to 
 be Cha/iit'd with Scorpions by Such Hands $ 
 Pure and Unmingled was our Sorrow, 
 when by the Waters of 'Babylon we Sate 
 down, and Wept, at the Remembrance of the 
 Happinefs we had Enjoy'd in Sion. 
 
 But there are in the Hand of the Al- 
 mighty yet Sharper Arrows than Thefe j 
 <Popifb Cruelty is what we never Ex- 
 perienc'd in thofe Times 5 Famine, and 
 fe/iilence are Evils beyond all Competi- 
 tion 3 One of Thefe Hangs now like a 
 Meteor over our Heads 5 God of His 
 Mercy Avert the Impending Judgment ^ 
 And give us Grace to Learn Wifdom, 
 and Obedience by the Things we have already 
 Suffered 5 And to Sin no more, left Thf* 
 Worfe Thing come unto us.
 
 
 
 ': r: 
 
 . 
 
 fevioq 
 o: a:--: 
 
 i 
 
 i Yi \
 
 The Faithful Steward/hip. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 P R E A c H'D before the 
 
 SONS of the CLERGY, 
 
 A T THEIR 
 
 ANNIVERSARY MEETING 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 CATHEDRAL-CHURCH 
 
 O F 
 
 St. P A U L, 
 
 December 10. 1719. 
 
 By JOSEPH SMITH, D.D. Reftor 
 of S. Dionys Back-Church, and LetU' 
 rer of Trinity Chappel. 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 Printed for SAM. KEBLE at the TurFf Head in 
 Fleet-Street, and JONAH BOWYER at the 
 Rofe in S. Paul's Church-Tar d, 1720.
 
 \/ I 
 
 r .1 
 
 
 T T 
 
 
 vvi
 
 T O 
 
 The Reverend Henry Sachewrell, D. D. 
 The Reverend Michael Hutchinjon, D. D. 
 The Reverend Mr. John Rogers, B. D. 
 The Reverend Mr. Tho. Lajnplugh, M. A. 
 
 And to the Worthy 
 
 Francis Drewe Efq,-. 
 Hewer Edgley Hewer Efqj.- 
 
 Charles Wood Efq ; p> C Mr. Richard Goodwinl 
 Thomas Tichll Efq; > < Mr. John Pierfon. 
 Mr. Philip Robinjbn. j C Mr. Robert Ward. 
 
 STEWARDS 
 
 For the late FEAST of the 
 
 SONS of the CLERGY, 
 
 THIS 
 
 P n E A o H'D and- PRINTED 
 
 At Their Requeft, 
 Is DEDICATED, 
 By their molt Affectionate and 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 Jofeph Smith.
 
 (I ..V. 
 
 . t H 
 
 . 
 
 H V^"; 
 , -\,,^.
 
 I C O R. iv. 2. 
 
 Moreover it is required in 
 Stewards, that a Man be 
 found faithful. 
 
 
 HESE Words, if taken fingly 
 by themfelves, imply the gene- 
 ral Obligation of the Office of a 
 Steward^ in f whomfoever 'tis 
 inverted ; that -as there is a Tmfl 
 f epos'd in the Perfons that bear it ,- fo they 
 ought to be ftriftly Faithful, and Juft in its 
 Difcharge. 
 
 And this is a Qualification fo neceffarily 
 included in the very Name of a Steward, that 
 whether it be taken in a Civil, or Spiritual 
 Meaning, it holds good to them Both, and in 
 Both is required: Though the Latter only is 
 the Senfe in which 'tis here to be underftood. 
 
 *f pro i 
 
 B 
 
 and
 
 2 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 and This too limited, and reftrain'd by the 
 Context to a more Definite Application. 
 
 The Word Stewardship, in its Spiritual, or 
 Scriptural Acceptation, is ufually confider'd 
 under a Twofold View j either as it relates, 
 i/2, to the Gift! , and Talents, or Endowments 
 of Men in their General Capacity : Or, idly, 
 to the Personal Characters, Funtfions, or Offi- 
 ce^ which fome Men, above Others, are in- 
 vefted with, for the Servjce, and Edification 
 of God's Church, and People, or the Publick 
 Benefit of Civil Government, and Society. 
 
 But as the Words of my Text bear an Im- 
 mediate Relation to the Foregoing Verfe , 
 which retrains this Stewardship to the Spiri- 
 tual Miniftry of the Afoftks, and their Succef- 
 fors } (a Subject 1 judge more fuitable to the 
 Principal Part of this Eminent Audience, to 
 whom I have the Honour to addrcfs this 
 Difcourfe ) 1 (hall treat of them chiefly un- 
 der that Definite Senfe ? and confider, 
 
 I. The great Authority, and Importance 
 of this Spiritual Stewardfljip, as it re- 
 lates to the Clergy 3 * and 3 
 
 II. The ftria Obligation it brings upon 
 Thofe, who are ^mrufted r wit&w^ 4> 
 be confcientiouily F<uthfttl y &nd Juft: ift 
 
 its Difcharge. l ^\ 3i ^:;tntul ,- 
 
 And then, that I may -make my Difcbiirfc 
 the more generally ufeful, I ihall tonch 
 , 
 
 III. Up-
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 3 
 
 III. Upon the General Import of the 
 Word Steward, as it may properly be 
 apply'd, ift, to the Laity in their Rela- 
 tive State , confider'd as Such $ and, 
 2dly, to the Laity in common with the- 
 Clergy*, and that with a more Imme- 
 diate and Particular View to the Pre- 
 fect Solemnity. 
 
 The firft Point then that offers itfelf to 
 our Consideration, is the great Authority and 
 Importance of this Spiritual Stewardship , as 
 it relates to the Clergy , whom the Apoftle 
 here charges the Corinthians Co to account of, 
 as the Minifters ofChrift, and Stewards of the 
 Myfteries of God. Chara&ers that imply a 
 very High Commijjion, and a very Great and 
 Momentous Employ?nent j and that both in 
 refpeclt of the Perfon that gives it , and the 
 Subjett Matter 'tis to be exercis'd upon. 
 
 The CommiJJlon is vefted in them by ; no 
 lefs Perfon than Chrift the Son of God, who 
 is himfelf over all God Bleffedfor ever, and 
 whofe Sovereignty therefore tranfcends all 
 Humane Authorities, Principalities, znd Pow- 
 ers, as far as Heaven docs the Earth, or Eter- 
 nity Time. And the more Excellent the 
 Perfon from whom thzCommiffion isderiv'd, 
 the Higher fure ? and more Honourable muft 
 the Dignity of it be. 
 
 The Word Minifterf, which in this Place 
 is but another Name for Ambafjadors of Chrift, 
 
 B 2 be-
 
 4 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 befpeaks a mighty Eminence of Power and 
 Efteem, far beyond what that Character in a 
 Civil Capacity can entitle Men to. And 
 that of Stewards , or Difpenfers of the My- 
 fterier of God, is of equal Authority , asd 
 Dignity with the other. 
 
 For the Office of a Steward, even in a 
 Temporal Senfe, implies -a great Power and 
 Truft in the Family he prefides over. He 
 has a Charge, a Superintndency > and Com- 
 mand over his Fellow-Servants, to regulate 
 their Behaviour , and to affign each of them 
 their due Share both of Labour and Pro- 
 vifion ; and ought therefore to be Honour' d 
 and Refpecled by them. 
 
 i Tim. v. Owhat double Honour then are they to be 
 accounted worthy, who are appointed Stew- 
 ards and Rulers over that Spiritual Houjhold, 
 MAxxiv. of which Chrift is the Head, whofe: Conver- 
 45. fation they are to watch over, whofe Works 
 of Duty they are to direft, and whofe Por- 
 tions of Spiritual Nourifhment , from the 
 Bread of Eternal Life, they : are Severally to 
 difpenfc. All which, as it ihews the Power 
 and Dignity of this Commijjiw> fo does ir, 
 
 idly, The Excellency and Sublimity of 
 the Subjects 'tis to be exercis'd upon,' which 
 is here exprefs'd in general by the Myfterief 
 of God, i. e. the Myfterief of his Word, his 
 Sacraments , and his Santtiom, for the Edi- 
 fying of his Church, and the Salvation of 
 Souls. 
 
 fffo
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 Princes and Magiftratet have indeed a 
 great Power and Authority lodg'd in Them, 
 and that top from God. But it reaches no 
 farther than to the Security of the Bodier 
 and Eftates of Men, the Enacting and Enfor- 
 cing of Temporal Laws and Statutes for the 
 Adminiftration of Juftice , and the Peace 
 and Profperity of the Civil Government. 
 
 And what Proportion do thefe Things 
 bear to the Safety of the Soul, the Peace of 
 the Confidence, and the Stability oFCbrift's 
 Kingdom ? Can the Publication of Humane 
 Editts be thought of Equal Importance 
 with the Preaching of the Divine Word, by 
 which the Eternal Laws and Decrees of 
 Heaven are unfolded ? Can the Admini- 
 ftring of Juftice, to fecure Mens Civil Pro- 
 perttfs, vie Excellence with the Adminiftra- 
 tion of the Sacraments of Chrift's Church, 
 for the conferring of Grace? Or can H#- 
 mane Santtionr be compar'd to the Power 
 ..of Abfohing and Remitting of Sins, of pro- 
 miiing Peace and Pardon in Chrift's Name 
 to the Penitent, and denouncing Future 
 Judgments to the Difobedient and unbeliev- 
 ing? No 5 thefe things are too unequal to 
 be put in the ame ScaTe ; they are as widely 
 diftant as* Spiritual and Carnal, (or Tem- 
 
 * V.Chyf*. de Sacerd. Lib. 3. 'Isp&xroW o _ 
 yjf? M vo<rS'7T)^ <tvt>7ifu 'B&ffih&Af %rnxtv , oVo^ n^go'ftft- 
 T" ^ Satp&Qf T^ fxij'or* &c 
 
 J \ 
 
 poraL) 
 
 > i i
 
 6 The Faithful Stewardjltip. 
 
 poral. ).A n d the Cowparifort indeed is fo 
 Jhocking, that 'tis fcarce poflible for Chri^ 
 (Hans, who have not finn'd away the Senfe 
 of; God and their Religion, to entertain a 
 Thought of it. 
 
 And yet fo Loofe are Mens Notions in 
 this Pree-think'wg Age, that I am apprehcn^ 
 five, while I am fpeaking of the Authority of 
 the Priefthood, arid the Sublimity of its Fun- 
 ttiom, 1 may be thought too much by fome 
 to magnify my Office , and too much perhaps 
 to derogate from that of the Cm/ Magi- 
 Pirate. 
 
 But I may be pardon'd, I hope, when I 
 explain my (elf, (as it will be expected I 
 ftiouid) by making a very juft and necef- 
 fary Diftinftion between thePerfons, and 
 their runtlwn , between a Superiority in 
 ure Spirituals, and a Superiority in Civil 
 and Temporal Affairs. 
 
 That the Perfons of the Clergy are equally 
 under the Power and Authority of their 
 Prihce with the reft of the People $ that an 
 equal Honour and Allegiance is due from 
 them to hit Crown, and an equal Obedience 
 and Subjection to bif Laws, is what None of 
 that Order prefume to deny : They muft 
 fly in the Face of riiek Profeflion when they 
 do it. 
 
 It muft likewife be granted, that as the 
 Power of excercifing an Ecclefiaftical Jurif- 
 diction in the Government -of the Church is 
 ikriv'd alfo from the Sanctions of the
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 7 
 
 Authority, by which even our Church itfelf 
 was firft eftablifti'd ; fo in that Refpeft too, 
 as well as the Other, the Clergy fcruple not 
 to own their Inferiority, and to fubmit them- 
 fefoes to every Ordinance of Man for the Lord'f i Pet. \i. 
 fake. K 
 
 All the Authority they claim. Superior to, 
 and Independent on the State, is with a fpe- 
 cial Regard to thofe Atts only that arc purely 
 Spiritual, viz. the Afts of Ordaining, Confirm- 
 ing and Confecrating in the Bifliops $ and 
 the Acts of Difpenfing God's Word, and Sa+ 
 craments, ofBleJfing, Interceding, f dnd Abfokv* 
 ing in Chrift's Name, which the whole Prieft- 
 hood in general have an equal Right to the 
 Excercife of. 
 
 And that this is a Right PeculianoThem, 
 Exclufive of all Others, is evident not only 
 from the proper Import of the Words now 
 explained, but from the whole Tenor of 
 Chrift's GOSPLL, and the End of hislNSTi- 
 
 For to whom did Chrift deliver that fpe- 
 cial Commiifion recorded by S.Matthew, G& 
 ye, and tench all Nation?, baptizing them in xxviii * 
 the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 1? * 
 the Holy Ghofl ? And to whom did he ad- 
 drefs himfelf,when he elfewhere fays 5 ^j^- 
 foever Sins ye remit , they are remitted unto3-** 
 ihew, and whofe-foe'ver Sim ye retain, they '^' 
 are retain d? Were not both thefc Powers 
 immediately deliver'd tQ-th&Apoftlef them-
 
 8 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 fefoef, and in them to their Succeffors through 
 all Future Generations ? 
 
 How elfe could that Solemn Promife, 
 which is annexed to the Former, of Chrift's 
 - being with them to the EntLof the World, be 
 verify'd and fulfill'd ? How elfe could the In- 
 ftitutions of his Word and Sacraments be re- 
 gularly difpens'd, or the Government and 
 Edification of his Church promoted ? His 
 Apoftlef were but Men, and to die therefore 
 as fuch, and moft of them much fooner than 
 the Courfe of Nature would allow. And 
 what then muft become of thefe feveral 
 Miniftrationf, when Nature, or Violence, put 
 an end to their Lives ? 
 
 Muft every Man take upon him -to be a 
 Priefl to himfelf ? Or, muft all thofe, who 
 fhould pretend to be Gifted in Spiritual f, af- 
 fume a Liberty to teach, and mlnifter therein 
 to Others ? This would have been breaking 
 in upon thofc plain Rules of the Apoftle, thac 
 ' ^-No man can take this Honour to himjelf, but he 
 that is called of God, as was Aaron -, and that 
 None can preach,except they befent. It would 
 confound all the Notions of Order, and Di- 
 ftinclion in Chrift's Church, and we fhould 
 fiavc as many Religiont, as there are different 
 Meads, and Ways of Thinking in the World. 
 But muft Chrift's Church and Kingdom on 
 Earth then be diiTolv'd, and no Others com- 
 miilionM in his Name and Stead to difcharge 
 this weighty Function? God forbid. His 
 Care and Concern for the Being of hit Churchy 
 
 and
 
 7 he Faithful Stewardship, 
 
 and the Execution of his Laws, is as Un- 
 changeable as Himfelf, the fame Teflerday, to- 
 day, and for ever. 
 
 And to this Purpofe we are aflfur'd, that 
 before he afcended up on High, he appointed 
 not only Prophets, Apoftler, and Ewnge- 
 lifts j but a continued Succeflion of Paftors 
 alfo, and Teacher?, for the Perfecting of the 
 Saints, for the Work of the Miniftry, and for 
 theEdifyingof the Body of Chrifl, tillwejhdl 
 all come, in the Unity of Us Spirit, to be made 
 Perfect in Him, Perfect in Faith, and Perfect 
 in Glory. 
 
 I might here farther enlarge (if the Hour 
 would allow it) upon the Certainty of this 
 Succejfion, and the Regularity of it, from 
 the conftant Pra&ice of the Church in all 
 Ages. I might likewife infift upon the Sin- 
 gular Authority the Clergy alone have to mi- 
 nifter in Things Spiritual, and contribute my 
 Mite toward the Exploding the Pernicious 
 Notions that have been of late but too popu- 
 larly advanc'd, againft their claiming that 
 Authority, and the Efficacy of their Bene- 
 dicJions^ and Absolutions in Chrift's Name. 
 
 But thefe Notions having been fo ftrenu- 
 oufly , and judicioufly confuted by much 
 Abler Pens,znd the Authors of them pufli'd fo 
 far, till they have fcarce any thing left to 
 fcreen them but Sophiftry and Prevarication, 
 which always anfwers itfelf, I haften to the 
 next General Head of my Difcourfe, to 
 
 C which
 
 IO The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 which the main Drift of my Text is more 
 immediately dire&ed, viz. 
 
 II. The ftricl: Obligation which 
 ardjhip brings on Thofe, who are en- 
 trufted with it, to be confcientioufly 
 Faithful and Juft in its Difcharge. 
 
 In treating of which, if I happen to be led 
 into any freedom of Speech, which might 
 better perhaps become One of a Superior 
 Rank, and Authority in the Church, I be- 
 fpcak the Candor of my Brethren for a fa- 
 vourable Conftruction of it j that they would 
 take it (as 'tis truly meant) not in the Way 
 of an Authoritative Inftrutfion, but as a Sea- 
 finable Memento of the Importance of their 
 Office, and the Fidelity it requires. 
 
 'Tis a jufl. and remarkable Sentence of our 
 Saviour's , that Unto whomsoever much is 
 given, of him ft all much be required. And 
 'tis in no Cafe more applicable, than in 
 This now before us. For as the Steward- 
 (hip of the Miniflry is of all Others the moft 
 Noble and Important ; fo there's a greater 
 Number and Meafure of Endowments re- 
 quir'd to quality Men for it. 
 
 There's a Foundation of ^rf/and Sciences. 
 to be hud in the Schools of the Prophets^ and a 
 Competency of Natural Pvrte^nd Endow^. 
 nents fuppos'd to enable them t& raife the 
 Superftruciurc of Divine knowltdgt to fuch 
 
 a 
 
 x.
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. \ \ 
 
 a Degree of Perfe&ion, as to Teach Others 
 in it. There mnft be a Readinefs of Apfn- 
 henfion to difcern the Truth, and a Fidelity 
 of Memory to retain due Notions of it; a So- 
 lidity of Judgment to explain and unfold it, 1 
 and a Dexterity of Argument to prove and 
 enforce it. There muft be a Propriety of 
 Language to exprefs, of Eloquence to per- 
 fuade, of Fradewc? to direct, and of Induftry, 
 and Zeal, to apply all to Practice. And, 
 what is above all thefe , there is a more 
 efpecial Gift of the Spirit of Grace conferred 
 on them at their Ordination to this Sacred 
 Office, which they are ftri&ly requir'd to im- 
 prove to Ei#/tf<f?/0* 3 lefttney incurr the heavy i rim. 
 Guilt of receiving it in vain. H> &c. 
 
 The Former indeed are "talents which do 
 feldom all center in One and the Same Per- 
 fon : But as 'tis every Paflor^s Duty to endea- 
 vour the Attainment of them, and come as 
 near them as he can - y fo wherever they are, or 
 in whatfoever Degree, they bring Each of 
 them their feveral Obligations upon thefe 
 Stewards, with Fidelity to employ them to 
 the great Ends of Religion in the feveral Parts 
 and Branches of their Duty. 
 
 They are, i. To be Faithful to the People 
 intheMiniftrationsof their Office j 2. Faith- 
 ful to Chrifl's Church in its Support and De- 
 fence ^ and, 3 . Faithful to Themfehes, and 
 their Sacred Character, in adorning their Do- 
 ftrine by the Regularity of their Lives, And, 
 
 C 2 ift,
 
 1 2 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 ift, They are to be Faithful to the People 
 in the Miniftrations of their Office. The Pub- 
 licit Prayers of the Church , as they are the 
 Pureft and Beft Standard of Primitive Devo- 
 tion that ever was composed j fo they befpeak 
 a Spirit of Zeal and Piety in the Reading of 
 them > fuch as may communicate a likeSpi- 
 rit to the People that attend them, and warm 
 and enliven their Hearts in God's Worfhip* 
 
 And the Service of the Altar is yet to be 
 more Spiritual. 'Tis the Nobleft and moft 
 Elevated Office of Divine Worjhif that the 
 Priefl can perform, or the People partake of. 
 With what an Awe then, and Reverence, 
 fliould He that minifters therein approach the 
 Table of the Lord ? To what a Pitch of De- 
 votion fhould his Heart be rais'd in Confe- 
 crating the Sacred Elements of Chrift's Body 
 and Blood? And how Gravely and Solemn- 
 ly fhould he Adminifter them to the People, 
 to infpire them with a like Reverence in the 
 Receiving of them, and engage them to offer 
 up the true Sacrifice of their &?#//, that they 
 may be entitled to the glorious Benefits of 
 the Great Sacrifice they commemorate ? 
 
 And then for the Duty of the Pulpit, tho*. 
 'tis not of Equal Excellence with the Ordi- 
 nances now mention'd ; yet it calls for great 
 Abilities^ and great Efforts of Zeal, and Pru- 
 dence to fulfill it. The true and Faithful 
 Paflor is not to accommodate his Doftrines to 
 the Times, to wrefl and difguife the Scriptures 
 in Uvour of a Party, or model them to the 
 
 Hu-
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 1 3 
 
 Humours and Vices of Great Men , for the 
 Sake of Advancement : But with the utmoft 
 Sincerity, Perfpicuity, and Exa&nefs, rightly 2 Tim. ii. 
 to divide, and expound the Word of Truth i M 
 to keep back nothing of what is given him in 
 Charge to deliver , but unrefervedly to de- 
 clare the Whole Counfel of God. Nor is he ASs xx* 
 only to lay open, and explain Chrift's Do- 27> 
 citrines, but to urge, and enforce them with 
 fuch Evident Proofs, fuch Convincing Argu- 
 ments , as their moft Obftinate Adversaries 
 Jhall not be able juftly to gainfaft or refift. 
 
 And farther , that Mens Conversation , as 
 well as their faith , may be agreeable ta 
 Chrift's Gofpel, He is accurately to State the 
 Bvunds of every Grace and every Vertue^ as* 
 they fall under his Coniideration, to obviate 
 the Several Scruples and Difficulties rais'd 
 about them , and with all the Juftnefs of 
 Thought and Elegance of Exprejfion, that he 
 is indeed Mafter of, to apply and ftrike them 
 home to the Affections of his Hearers , and 
 awaken, and perfuade each, in their diffe- 
 rent Capacities, to reduce them to Praftice. 
 
 But befides Thefe , there are fome other 
 Occasional Duties that attend the Cure of 
 Souls, which require much Difcretion, and 
 Difcernment of Mind , as well as the moft 
 refolute, and unwearied Application. The 
 Sick are to be vifited , the Scrupulous fatif- 
 fy'd,the Weakfupported, and the Fallen rais'd; 
 the Stray' d are to be reduc'd , the Wavering- 
 coniirm'd., and thofe that are ^.Variance re- 
 con- -
 
 co 
 
 14 The Faithful Stewardfoip. 
 
 concil'd to Each Other. To all which, pro.' 
 per 'Remedies are feverally to be a d mini- 
 fter'd , and proper Cautions, Exhortations, 
 and Reproofs too apply'd. 
 
 And yet io Different are the Inclinations, 1 
 fo Inconftant the Tempers of the Genera- 
 lity of Mankind , that almoft every Single 
 Perfon is to be addrefs'd to, and dealt with 
 in a Method peculiar to the Circumftances he 
 is under. All which, as it fhews the Diffi- 
 culty of this Spiritual Steward/hip ; fo does 
 it likevvife the Obligations of being Faithful 
 in its Difcharge, by following the Example 
 of that great Apoftle S. Paul, who tells us in 
 the like Cafe, that he became all Things to all 
 Men, that he might by all means fave fome. 
 But , 
 
 zdly, ThcClergy are not only to be Faith- 
 ful in the Miniflrations of their Office j but 
 Faithful to Chrift's Church in its Support and 
 Defence i in Maintaining the Publick Ho- 
 nour and Intereft of it againft the Teacheries 
 and Impoftures of its Pretended Friends i as 
 well as the Open Aifaults of its more pro- 
 fifrd Emmie s^ who aim at nothing lefs than 
 Subverting its Eftablifljment, and Rooting up 
 the very Foundations of Chriflianity itjelf. 
 
 The Church ofCbrift 9 CQa6&od in its Mili- 
 tant State, has never yet been free from the 
 Snares and Attach of Ill-dellgning Men 5 
 and never was it more Openly Expos'd to 
 them than at Prefent. And therefore, as its 
 Emmies are always Aclive,and Induftrious to 
 
 Sup-
 
 . . ... ^ 
 
 The Faithful Steward/hip. 
 
 Supplant it j fo fhould the Clergy, (who, un- 
 der the Divine Providence, are appointed 
 its Guardians) exert the Utmoft of their Vi- 
 gilance , and Zeal in its Support, 
 
 They are to labour in God'f Husbandry, 
 the Field of his Church, and watch over, and 
 cultivate the Good Seed he has fown in it ,- 
 left the Enemy come, and 'mingle it with 
 Tares, and difappoint him of the narveft he Afor.xi 
 expecls to reap from it. Theyare not, like 24> 2 5* 
 Hireling?, to fhrink, and flee away, when the 
 Wolf approaches , but, like good Shepherds, 
 toftand in the Gap againft all the Invaders 
 of this Spiritual Fold, and guard their Flockf 
 from being ek4)ottr*d by the Beafts of the For- 
 reft, even at the Hazard of their Lives. 
 
 In a word, They muft be continually 
 Wreftllng againft the Malice and Fury, the 
 Fraud and Subtilty of their Earthly, as well as 
 their Infernal Enemies; and amidft all the En- 
 croachments of Licentioufnefs and Profane- 
 nefs, all the Storms of Herefy and Schijm in 
 the Church,&nd all the Concuflions of Sedition 
 in the State , muft maintain their True Prin- 
 ciples Firm and Unfliaken, even tho' they lie 
 Firft in theWay to fuffer 5 and fmart for them. 
 
 For this 'tis highly neceflfary, that they 
 fliould be accoutred with the whole Armour 
 of God, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet ofSaU ^.vi. 
 vation, and the Sword of the Spirit ; that they l<5) I?0 
 may be able to ft and againft the Wiles of the De- 
 nd quench all theFiery Darts of the Wick-
 
 6 The Faithful Steward/hip. 
 
 eh that are level'd againft the Church, the 
 Sanctuary of God. But, 
 
 $dly 9 To make this Spiritual Armour yet 
 more compleat, they are, above all, to be 
 
 r. 14. ve ft e d with the Breaft-PfateofRighteoufneft, 
 an Exemplary Piety, and Unfpotted Conver- 
 fation. They are to be Faithful to Them- 
 fifoes, and their Sacred Character, in adorn- 
 ing their Dottrine by the Regularity of their 
 Livef. 
 
 For without this , as They are too juftly 
 and defervedly expos'd to the Cenfure, 
 Contempt, and Dcipight of the People y as 
 well as to the fevere Lalhes and Reproaches 
 of their Own Conscience - y fo they can never 
 hope for that Efficacy, and Succefs in their 
 Miniftry, as will either anfwer the End of 
 their being CaWd into Chrift's Vineyard , or 
 entitle them to any Other Return of their 
 Labours , than their being condemned as 
 
 *. xxv. Wicked) and Unprofitable Ser<vantt. 
 
 For this Reafon the Faithful Minifter, and 
 Steward ofChrift't Myfteries,,(o{ whkh 'tis to 
 be hopM, there are much greater Numbers 
 than the common Cry will allow) confider- 
 ing Himfelf, as a Perfon fit apart from the 
 World) and more immediately Dedicated to 
 the Service of God^ his Church^ and his Al- 
 tar ; refolvcs to tie himfelf up, not only to a 
 Higher Decorum in h is Outward Deportment, 
 but to a greater Striftiufi and Regularity of 
 Life, than the Common Rank of Chriftians 
 oblige themfelves to. 
 
 He
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 1 7 
 
 He endeavours , as much as poffible, to 
 bring his Pajjlons and Appetites under Sub- 
 je&ion to his Reafon, and his Reafon entirely 
 to the Obedience of Faith ; and by the Exercife 
 of Self-Denial, and Contempt of the World, 
 to maintain his Sacred Character fo pure and 
 undefird, as not only to give no Offence^ that 
 the Miniftry be not blaut 1 ^ ; but fo effectually iCor.\\.-$, 
 to recommend himfelf to every Man's Confti- 2 cor. iv. 
 erne in the Sight of God, as to be able to fay, 2 * 
 in the Language of the Apoftle , that his pb & 
 Conversation is in Heaven. 
 
 In fhort, he makes his Practice correfpon- 
 dent to the Divinity of his Profejfion-, and tho' 
 he lives in^ and deals, and converfes with the 
 World, yet keeps himfelf Unfpotted, and dif- 
 entangled from it. So that amid ft all the Pre- $m. \. 
 valence of its Corrupt Modes and Cuftoms on I2> 
 the One Hand, and the Imputations of Sin- 
 gularity and Want of Breeding on the Other, 
 he holds faft the ProfeJJion of bis Faith with-0eb.x. 
 out Wavering, and is advancing ftill Higher 2 3- 
 in his Spiritual Progrefs, till he brings it 
 to Perfection, to the Measure of the Stature 
 oftheFulnefs ofChrifl. 
 
 This is the true Pattern of the Faithful 
 Paftors Life, which all, who bear that Cha- 
 ratfer, fhould endeavour (as far as Infirmi- 
 ties will allow) to imitate, and copy after,- 
 by ft riving earneftly toflrine forth as Lights 
 in the World j by reducing the feveral Gra- 
 ces and Virtues They recommend to Others 
 into Habits in c ?he?nfel f ves ; and by Living 
 
 D up
 
 1 8 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 up to what they Preachy as well as Preach* 
 ing what they Believe. 
 
 From this View of the Qualifications of 
 a Faithful Minifler , and the feveral Bran- 
 ches of Duty he is oblig'd to difcharge, the 
 Apoftle's Queftion may very jttftly be put, 
 
 2 cor. ii. Who if Sufficient for thefe Things ? And it 
 may as juftly be anfwer'd, that None of us, 
 in the utmoft Striftnefa and Equality of the 
 Obligation, (as fome of the * Primitive Fa- 
 thers have acknowledg'd of themfelves) can 
 pretend to be fo. 
 
 Ms. xiv. We are Men of Like PaJJions, and Infirmi- 
 ties, with Others, and live in a Croaked and 
 Per'verfe Generation, that are Deaf to our 
 Counfelf, and Dcfpife our Reproofs. We 
 meet with many Allurements to draw us 
 from our Duty, and many Difficulties and 
 Difcouragements in the due Difchargc of it. 
 We have Calumnies zndReproacbes in Return 
 for all our Libows^ and create almoft as ma- 
 ny Enemies by telling them the 'Truth , as 
 Others do Ftiends by flattering them in 
 their Errors. 
 
 But none of thefe Things are to deterr us 
 from our Duty ; nor is it reafonable they 
 ihould. For however Infufficient we may 
 be of Outfit-vet for this High and Weighty 
 tuniiion ; yet if we in Earned difcharge it 
 to the Utmoft of our Power, we have the 
 Promifc of Chrift's Spirit both to help our In- 
 fir wilier, and to worlt^ to jninifler, to edify 
 
 A V. Gn-g, :w-^ jfoi, A. and ctr-f* dc Sacerd. Lib. 6. 
 
 to*
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 19 
 
 together with us for the Salvation of Souls. 
 And what greater Sufficiency can we expect, 2 Cor.i 
 or defire, than that which is of God ? * 
 
 The Work of Cotrbtrfion depends not fole- 
 ly on the Force of our own Abilities, on the 
 Flowers of "Rhetor ickjfac Accuracy of Style ^ 
 the Strength of Human Arguments. But 'tis 
 the Power of God's Word, and the Influence 
 of his Grace^on which we are to found our 
 Chief Hopes of Succefs. So that, if we 
 faithfully do Our Part in the Difcharge of our 
 Office, We have nothing elfe to do, but to 
 leave the Iflfue to the Wife Counfel, and Ap- 
 pointment of God, who Alone has the Hearts 
 of Men in his Difpofal, and models, and turns 
 them juft as he pleafes. 
 
 Nor ought the Ungrateful Returns, or /// 
 Treatment^ we meet with, to be any more 
 difcouraging, than our Inabilities are, for 
 the StewardJJoip that is afiign'd us. We ought, 
 with Patience, to bear the Wounds and R?- 
 proaches we receive in the Caufe of Religion ; 
 and tho' we are allow'd,for our own Safety, 
 to join the Wtfdom of the Serpent to the Inno- Matt. x. 
 cence of the Dove j yet it behoves us with all <*. 
 Boldnefs to rebuhthc Growth of Vice, Infi- 
 delity, and Error, and to rejoice we are count- Ms. *. 
 ed worthy to fuffer Shame for Chrifis Name. 4> 
 
 The Apoftles, and Primitive Fathers, had 
 much greater Trials of Perfecution brought 
 upon them, than we can any of us complain 
 of. And yet, in Obedience to their Lord, 
 who himfelf was made Perfett through Sttf- 
 
 D 2
 
 2O The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 feringf, they undauntedly fought the good 
 277.iv. Fight of Faith, and were ready to Spend, 
 and be^Spent for the People ; tho' the more 
 2 cor.xii. they lova them, the lefs they were belovd, nay 
 the more indeed hated, and abus'd by them. 
 , Let us then, who have the Honour to fuc- 
 ceed them in their Miniflry, be content to 
 fucceed them in the Difcouragements that at- 
 tend it. And tho' we fliould indeed meet 
 with no other Return , than Evil for Good, 
 and Haired for our Good-Will ; tho' our Cha- 
 ratfer be infulted, omCounfels defpis'd, and 
 our Reproofs refented; yet let the Great 
 Work we arc engag'd in, the Salvation of 
 Souls, prevail with us, after their Example, 
 to perfevere in it to the End ; as being firmly 
 perfuaded, that if we approve Ourfelves, as 
 They did, faith fill Miniflers ofChrift, we fliall 
 ' vi. 9. be fure in due time to reap, if we faint not. 
 Having thus far confider'd the Words of 
 my Text in their limited Senfe, as apply'd to 
 ihe Clergy I proceed now to the laft Gene- 
 ral Head I proposed , viz. 
 
 X H aft moj o; 
 
 III. I'o confider the General Import of 
 the Word Steward, as it may properly 
 be apply'd; ift, to the Laity in their 
 Relative State, confider'd as fuch , and, 
 idly, to the Laity in common with the 
 Clergy ; and that with a more Imme- 
 diate and Particular View to the Pre- 
 
 ient Solemnity. 
 
 1 onv; 
 
 ift, The
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 21 
 
 i/? 5 The immediate Relation the Clergy 
 bear to God, whofe Ambaffadors they are, 
 the High Importance of the Offices they are 
 employ'd in, and the Qualifications alfo re- 
 quiiite for the Execution of them, do fo for- 
 cibly challenge a Reverence and E/?mw,that 
 even the Pagan Infidelity is not able to with- 
 ftand it. What Refuge 5 what Shadow of 
 Excufe then can the Neglcft of it be allow'd 
 in a Chriftian Country, and in a Church too, 
 where the Sun of Righteoufnefs has fo long 
 fhone forth in his full Brightness , and dif- 
 play'd a Law , and a Worjhif of the great- 
 eft Purity and Perfection? 
 
 The Ambaflfador of a Prince is confef- 
 fedly entitled, to all the higheft Marks of Ho- 
 nour and Refyetf, that is due to the Crown'd 
 Head he is Commiflion'd to reprefent. And 
 (hall not the Ambaffadors ofChrifl, who is the E phef. i. 
 Sovereign Lord, and Head over all things to " 
 his Church^ claim a like Equitable Regard to 
 the Character they fuftain ? 'Tis unquefti- 
 onably due to Them in their Publick Capa- 
 city, how Mean foever They may appear in 
 their Personal Qualifications. And the Ho- 
 nour of God Himfelf is fo direclly concern'd 
 in it , that as he denounced feveral Judg- 
 ments againft the Contemners of his Prieftf 
 and Prophets under the Law ; fo our Sa- 
 viour tells his Apoftles,that they thatdefyiid 
 Thein^ .deffifd Him-, and They that defpife 
 H//, dejpifrQod that fent Him. 
 
 Not that I am here pleading for any ex- 
 
 traor-
 
 22, The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 traordinary Marks of Outward Honour and 
 Oheifance, the Ceremonious Refpect of the 
 Hat, or the Knee. For as their Calling and 
 their Meffage is Heavenly, and Spiritual } fo 
 the Reverence due to them , is fuppos'd to 
 be of the like Nature. It is to be evidenced 
 chiefly by Thinking and Speaking honoura- 
 bly of the Dignity of their Vocation, by at- 
 tending diligently to the Purport of the Do- 
 ffrines they deliver, and the Rites they per- 
 form , and bringing forth the Fruits thereof 
 with Tharikf giving. 
 
 Let the Laity then take Heed, amidft all 
 the unhappy Prejudices they have entertain'd 
 againft the Prieflhood, that they diftinguifh 
 rightly between the Perfons^ and their Office ; 
 and that whilft they allow themfelves the 
 Liberty of cenfuring, and inveighing againft 
 the Ignorance , or the Immorality , of fome 
 Few of that Order , they don't ftrike at the 
 Function itfelf through their Sides, and by 
 degrees contract a Prejudice againft the Ex- 
 enife of it too ; defeat themfelves of the 
 Means of Grace,, that are adminiftred there- 
 by, and draw down the heavy Judgment of 
 /Ipoflacy upon their Heads. 
 
 But 1 hope Better Things of thofe among 
 X0# 3 to whom this Difcourfe is more imme- 
 MC.L i. 6. diatcly directed. A Son honours his Father 
 even in his Natural Capacity ; how much 
 more ihould You Tours in that Spiritual One 
 of the Church ? Can You forget the Rock 
 out of which you are hewn? Or vilify the Root 
 
 and
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 and Stem, from which you are fprung up ? 
 This is fuch a bafe and monftrous Sort of 
 Ingratitude , as I can hardly fuppofe You 
 capable of being guilty of, and lhall there- 
 fore pafs on to the 
 
 2d Relative Duty incumbent on the Lai- 
 ty with regard to the Clergy , and that is to 
 Edify, and Profit under their feveral Mini* 
 ftrations. For Both their Ste ward/hipf , in 
 this Refpeft, are mutually obliging. As the 
 P aft or is to be faithful in fowing the Seed of 
 God's Word in their Hearts j fo are They alfo 
 to receive, and keep, and cultivate it, with 
 Fidelity, that it may bring forth Fruit in pro- 
 portion to the Soil it lights upon , and in- 
 creafe, and grow up to Maturity, and Per- 
 fedion. 
 
 And the like might be obferv'd of all 
 the other Parts of the Minifterial Office^ if I 
 had Time to go through them. For , to 
 what End has God empower'd the Clergy to 
 Blefr in his Name, and Abfolve Men from 
 their Sins, but that They may beCleanf'd,znd 
 Sanfitffd, and Jufttffd in bit Sight? Or, to 
 what Purpofe has He appointed Them to 
 build up his Church, but that the People may 
 be Fellow-Labourerf together with them for, 
 their Edification and Salvation. 
 ' So that if the Laity don't do their Parts, 
 in anfwering the mighty Benefits and Privi- 
 leges they enjoy under their Spiritual Mini- 
 ftry, their Paftor's Fidelity will but aggravate, 
 their Crimes, and make them more inexcu--
 
 .Z4 he Faithful Steward/hip. 
 
 fable. The Principal Effed 'tis deflgn'd to 
 
 produce is the Salvation of their Souls , .but, 
 
 if it meets not with T'hat, it will work their 
 
 2 Or. n. Condemnation. For we are unto God, fays 
 
 r >' the Apoftle, as a fweet-finelling Savour, both 
 
 in Them that are fatfd, and in Them that 
 
 'perifi. 
 
 How greatly then does it behove You, for 
 your Own Sakes, as well as Theirs, to praife 
 and admire God's Wifdom and Goodnefs 
 in making them the Stewards of his Grace 
 and Mercy to You, to receive thankfully the 
 Divine Trea fares, and Talents they offer You, 
 and to difcbarge that Spiritual Steward/hip 
 You are entrufted with on 20#rPart, by Ma- 
 naging and Improving it to your own Eter- 
 nal Intcreft? 
 
 Thofe efpecially among You, who have 
 had the Happinefs to be Born, and Bred up 
 under their Roof, under the Wings of their 
 Authority , and the Influence of their Inflru- 
 tiions^ ought to efteem it as a Difgrace, and 
 Di {honour to your Extraction, either to de- 
 viate from the Sound Principles They fo early 
 inftili d, or degenerate from the P/**y They 
 endeavour' d to form in You. What a Juft 
 Regard ought You to have for their Several 
 Minifcatiom, by which both theBleffings of 
 Grace, and the Blcflfmgs of Providence, were 
 firft derived on You? And what a Reproach 
 and Imprecation do you bring upon Tour- 
 [ehes, it, now you are come abroad into 
 die \\orld , You turn your Backs upon, or 
 
 neglect
 
 7 he Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 neglect to Profit under them. I could wil- 
 lingly expatiate much farther on this Head ; 
 but that the Immediate Occafion and Defign 
 ofthisMeeting calls upon me in the laft place, 
 
 2dly, To apply the feveral Obligations of 
 that Common Steward/kip, which both Clergy 
 and Laity are equally concerned in,, for the 
 Mutual Benefit and Comfort of One Another $ 
 especially of this Honourable and well Regu- 
 lated Society, of which we are Members. 
 
 We have All of us fome Gifts, fome Ta- 
 lents, or Other, beftow'd on us by God to 
 profit withal $ and they are feverally diftri- 
 buted , One after this Manner, and Another 
 after that, for the Ends of Society, as well as 
 Religion. The Gifts, whether of Nature, 
 of Grace, or of Fortune, bring Each of them 
 their feveral Ties of Fidelity along with 
 them j and according to the various Ranks 
 and Conditions of Mankind, oblige them to 
 contribute to that Common Treafury of Good 
 Works, of -which we are all Stewards. 
 
 The Natural Endowments of a Vivacity 
 of Parts, a Quicknefs of Apprehenfion, a So- 
 lidity of Judgment , and a Fidelity of Me- 
 mory, as they qualify Men for the Attainment 
 of very great Accomplifhments of Wifdom, 
 and Learning, and Knowledge ; fo they ob- 
 lige them to great Fidelity in the due Em- 
 ployment of them. They Spread a mighty 
 Power and Influence round about them, and, 
 if rightly directed, become a Publick Blef- 
 fing both to Church and* State 5 efpecially 
 
 E where
 
 2,6 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 where they are accompany'd with the Gifts 
 of Divine Grace, which difpofes and directs 
 them all to the Manifeftation of God's Glory. 
 
 Nay the leaft Degree? of thefe Gifts, with 
 the Additional Bleflings of Health and 
 Strength , as they may be improv'd by Art 
 and Induftry to fome ufeful End and Pur- 
 pofe , either of Husbandry, 'Trade, or other 
 Sorts of Callings ; ib they imply a Truft 
 too in the Management of them, in propor- 
 tion to the Mea lures in which they are im- 
 parted, and to the juft Expectations of their 
 Almighty Donor , to whom they are to be 
 anfwcr'd, and accounted for. 
 
 How highly then are All concern'd, in 
 their feveral Circumftances and Conditions 
 of Life, to contribute their Share of the fe- 
 veral Gifts to the Honour of Him that gave 
 them, and to the Publick Good of that Body, 
 whereof the Owners of them are Members? 
 And how fcvcre muft be their Reckomxg, if 
 they pervert and mifapply them to Ends 
 quite Different from what their Donor de- 
 iignM ? i;>< '. ; >vtft' 
 
 "rlow Ungrateful muft They: be to their 
 Almighty Benefactor even for the Inferior 
 Hank and Meafure of thefe Gifts, if tlicy 
 iiiiotii.r them in the Obfcurities of Sloth and 
 iMeuej}, continc them to the Inclofures of 
 Sordid Awice , and Se'f-Intereft ; or make 
 t:icm countenance the Trad-e of Begging, 
 ;i!id getting their Daily Bread; by the Sweat 
 ,:id Toil oi ; 0:.ter -Mens Brows,?' 
 
 And
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 And what a Loid of Impiety do They add 
 ro this Ingratitude , who bury t'hofe Nobler 
 "Talent f , I juft before mention'd, in the 
 Bowels of the Earth ,- in Idle and Im^erti- 
 nentAmufements, and - Diversions, in pur- 
 fuing Little, Trivial, and Siniftcr Dedgns, 
 or (which is yet much worfe) in Wantonnefi^ 
 and Vice , and a Power of doing nfiftKief, 
 by propagating Infidelity ^znd Irreligion in the 
 World ? When they employ that Wit and 
 Knowledge God gave -them for his own 
 Glory , in Profaning and Ridiculing his 
 Sacred Name and Word ; their Accuracy of 
 Reafon in Arguing him out of the Authority 
 of his Church and Kingdom ; and turn their 
 Freedom of Thinking and Judging for 
 Themfelves into a Libertinism in Faith, as 
 well as in Practice. 
 
 But I forbear prefling farther upon this 
 Head. You, my Brethren^ as you "know 
 Better Things ; fo I doubt not but You are 
 fo Wi\e^ and fo Happy, as to do them. The 
 Wealthy Circumftances , which your own 
 Parts, and your own Induflry^ have advanced 
 moft of you to, are an Evidence of your 
 Good Ufe of the 'talents God has given You , 
 and your Appearing in this Place upon fo 
 Honourable, fo Religious, fo Charitable a De- 
 fign, as this Solemnity fuppofes, takes off all 
 the apparent Sufpicion of your perverting 
 them to Bad Ones. 
 
 I have but one thing more to offer , and 
 then I have done ; and that is, that as You 
 
 E 2 em-
 
 z8 The Faithful Stewardfhip. 
 
 employ your OtherGifts of Nature and Grace, 
 fo you would liberally employ thofeof your 
 Fortune too, to the fame Great Ends, the 
 Publick Emoluments of Religion and Society* 
 Honour arrd Riches are the two main Bran- 
 ches of this Sort of Gifts, and they Both im- 
 ply a Steward/trip of considerable Importance. 
 The Former fuppofes aPorwrand Authority 
 in thofe that have it to do a great deal of 
 Good to Private Perfons, as well as Publick 
 Communities, and they have a great deal to 
 anfwer for, if they decline, or neglect it. 
 
 Honour is not given only to fet Some Men 
 above Others, to enable them to govern and 
 keep the Reft in Awe under the Rod of their 
 Authority ; much lefs to Infultand Lord it o- 
 ver their Inferior s, to pervert Judgment fa a 
 Reward, or enrich themfelves with Bribes: But 
 for the better Maintenance of Religion,** well 
 as the Civil Rights, to fupprefs and puniih In- 
 fidelity and Vice, and to protect and encourage 
 Innocence and Venue ; to defend the Injured 
 and Opprefid, and fee that fuch as are in 
 Nccd^ and Nectffity, have Right* 
 
 Nor are Riches a Talent much Inferior to 
 that of Honour ; nay in Some Senfe they arc 
 Above it. They open a very Large and Noble 
 Held of Action to the feveral PoiTcrTors of 
 them, to render themfelves highly and [//- 
 verbally Ufeful , and Beneficial to Mankind ; 
 there being fcarcc any Wants, any Diftrefjes-, 
 any Calamities whatever, incident to Hu- 
 Kuturc ; but what the Beneficence of 
 
 the
 
 The Faithful Stewardship. 19 
 
 the Wealthy may minifter Relief to. They 
 may be Eyef to the Blind, and Feel to the 
 Lame, Fathers to the Fatherless , and H/- 
 bands to the Widows. They have Bread to 
 give to the Hungry, Cloathing to the Naked, 
 Education to the -Ignorant, and the Subfiftence 
 of a Tirade to poor Orphans in Diftrefs. 
 
 And the farther the Extent of this Talent 
 reaches, the larger and more difFufive muft 
 the Stewardship of it be, the greater the F/'- 
 delity requir'd to difcharge it; and the feve- 
 rer the Account to be demanded of it, if, in- 
 ftead of its being employ'd to thefe Excellent 
 Ends, it be either hoarded up, and made 
 Unprofitable to any but its Owner, or laviili- 
 ly thrown away upon his Vanity and Ambi- 
 tion, his Luxury, or his Lulls. 
 
 How forcibly then fhould the Thoughts 
 of thefe things move us to weigh duly our 
 feveral Stations and Circumftances in the 
 World, and proportion our Works of -Piety 
 and Chanty according to them; to compare 
 our Abilities with the Objefts that are prc- 
 fented to our View, and generonfly clofc in 
 with all Opportunities that offer of doing 
 Good to Thole that need it ? 
 
 And what Opportunity more Inviting, what 
 morj Defervitt , than Tbefe now 
 
 before us. The poor IVidow^ and the Fa- 
 tberlefr , without any other Relation, than 
 that of Felhw-Chriftians, have a Title to our 
 Gh-irity. They are of the Hottfhold of Faith, 
 el" whicli ,vv-e are only Steward?, and have for- 
 
 thac
 
 Jo The Faithful Stewardship. 
 
 that Reafpn an fqukable Demand upon Us 
 for.aSwppfyoftheir Wants. 
 
 How much more Equitable, how much 
 4Viore Moving miift Their Demands be, who 
 bear a Nearer Relation to Us, as the Relitff 
 4>i'our Fathers, and the Iffue defcended from 
 them? We are of the fame Houfloold ^ the 
 fame Parentage by Birth, as well as ProfeJJi- 
 on$ And can a Son forget his Mother, or fee 
 his Brethren in Diftrefs, and not feel the 
 Teaming, the relenting, of his own Bowels to- 
 zvardf them ? 
 
 We cannot but be all fenfible of the ve- 
 ry Small and Scanty Subfiftence, which the 
 Greater Part of the Clergy have for the Sup- 
 port of their Families, and that too leflfen'd 
 by Accidental Burthens and Expencer from 
 Abroad. And if by This they are dijabled 
 from providing for thofe of their own Hoitf- 
 ho!d ) or are fnatcb'd perhaps out of the World 
 before their Circumftances would allow them 
 to raile a Fund for that purpofe, does it not 
 nearly concern L7>, who are All of \hz fame 
 , to fupply that fore Defett^ by contri- 
 he Pitblick Fund, that is defign'd 
 for their Uie ? 
 
 We h.ivc fomc of us perhaps experienc'd 
 the lame Nccdiitics Qurftfoei^h&ve had D/f- 
 liculties to ftrusle with on account of the 
 
 j 
 
 Like Circumftances in the Families we fprung 
 
 from. And ihould not 'Ihit engage Us, in 
 
 Fdlow-feelin? towards them, to lend our 
 
 cl3 * ^ 
 
 Helping Hands towards the raiimg Them 
 
 up
 
 The Faithful Stewardship, 31 
 
 up to the fame Condition with Ourfefaes $ 
 that They alfo may be qualify'd to ftretch 
 out "Theirs , in their Turns, to the Needy 
 Ojfpring that come after them ? 
 
 We profefs to pay an Honour and Refpeff 
 to the Prieftbwd, and to the Memory of our 
 Fatherf in it ; and how can we better teftify 
 that Honour^ how can we more effectually 
 eftablifh Our Own, than by enabling their 
 Pofterity to live with Credit in the World, and 
 propagating that Reverence to their Chara- 
 cter in Our Age, which they by their Good 
 Works acquired in Theirs ? 
 
 How can We other wife do Juftice to 
 thofe Principles of Piety and Charity they in- 
 ftill'd, than by tranfmitting the Effetts of 
 them to their Succeeding Generations, and 
 taking off that Reproach of Poverty in their 
 Dependents, which is but too often reflected" 
 back upon the Parent! Themfelvcs ? 
 
 This is what the Voice of Reafon, as \vell 
 as Religion, does fo prefldngly fuggeft, that 
 I need urge it no farther, it fpeaks for itfclfl 
 Let me only intreat you to apply thcfe fcvc- 
 ral Arguments, which the Thoughts of your 
 own fiearts will naturally iuggcft in favour 
 of this C7j0ttfy 3 and reflect on -die,uiany Noble \ 
 nay Royal, Examples, tlnu have led the Way 
 to if; and then* I need^ noc doitbt:, but that 
 the Prefent Objects -of ir wiU meet with a . 
 mo ft Chearful, and^dtfrftirui Contribution. 
 
 Efpecially, if You confider, Laftjy , the 
 Excellency of thofe Rewards it entities you 
 
 te. .
 
 3 1 The Faithful Stewardfoip* 
 
 to. That as the Fa/JJb, and Piety, and Charity 
 of your Father s^ who fei v'd at Chrifis Altar ^ 
 derived all thofe Blefflngs on You, whether 
 Spiritual, or Temporal, which you have hi- 
 tberto enjoy'd ; fo the Pious and Charitable 
 Offerings You now make in their Name^and 
 for their Sahs , (thro* Faith in, and Obe- 
 dience to the fame Bleifed Lord , whofe 
 Stewardr You alfo are) will fecure and per- 
 petuate the Continuance of thefe Bleffings to 
 Tour/elves, and Tour families, both in -this 
 Life, and the Next. 
 
 You will not only have the BleJJings of 
 the Fatlerlefr, and the Widows , and the 
 Bleffings of Thofe that blefs inCbrtfs Name ; 
 But above all. You will have the Comforta- 
 ble Teftimony of your own Hearts for the 
 Faithful Difdiargeofyour^oy^r^/7;/p here; 
 and whenever You are difmiffd from it, (as 
 we all iliortly muft) will be fure to find 
 GOD, your Saviour and Redeemer , moft 
 ready to welcome a and receive you into 
 his Glory.
 
 Bifhop of PETERBOROUGH'S 
 
 Spital SERMON 
 
 AT 
 
 _ 
 
 St. B R 1 1> a E T 's Church, 
 
 tylarch the goth,
 
 Ward, Mayor. 
 
 Marti* \ij Die Aprilis^ 
 
 Annoqne Regni Regis Georgij^ 
 
 ritannia?, &c. 
 
 * 
 
 T T is ordered^ That the Thanks of this 
 * Court be given to the Right Reverend 
 Father in Cod^ WHITE Lord Bi/hop x of 
 Peterborough y for his Sermon preached 
 before this Court, and the Governor^ of 
 the feveral Hoijpitals of this City., at the 
 Parifli Church of St. Bridget ^ on Monday, 
 in Eafter-Week laft^ and that he b defired^ 
 to Print the fame, 
 vv^-r 
 
 S T JL A C E Yv
 
 
 GHARITF and RESTITUTION : 
 
 Spital SERMON 
 
 Preached at the 
 
 Church of St. B R i D G E T, 
 
 O N 
 
 EaJler-Monday, March the 3Oth^ 1719. 
 Before the Right Honourable 
 
 Sir JOHN fT4RD, 
 
 LORD-M A YOR, 
 
 THE 
 
 Court of ALDERMEN, 
 
 The SHERIFFS, and the Prefidents of 
 HOSPITALS in the City of London. 
 
 With an Application to the vain Attempts of 
 a SPANISH INVASION, in the Year 15-88. 
 
 By the Right Reverend Father in God, 
 
 Lord Bifliop of Peter borough. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. W Y A T , at the Rofe in St. Paul's 
 Church-Yard. MDCCXIX.
 
 St. LUKE XIX. 8. 
 
 And Zaccheus flood, and faid unto the Lord, 
 Behold, Lord, the half of my Goods I give 
 io the Poor J and if I have taken any 
 Thing from any Man by falfe Accusation )t 
 1 reftore him Four-fold. 
 
 together in 
 Sinners. 
 This Man 
 
 H I S noble Declaration was made 
 to our Lord and Saviour by one 
 Z^acchens^ a chief Publican, one 
 who for his Office of Colledtor^ 
 was by the Jews reputed a pro- 
 phane and wicked Man ; they put 
 Proverb, the Publicans and 
 
 out of Guriofity rather than 
 Confcience, being yet in an unconverted State, 
 had a Mind to fee this Rabbi in Ifrael; this ad- 
 mirable Preacher of Righteoufneis, and Worker 
 of Miracles ; Verfe 3 . he fought to fee Jefus who 
 he 'was. What Mortal, what Divine Man ? And 
 when he could not take a diftinft View of him, 
 hecaufe of the Prefs ; could not look over the 
 Heads of the gazing Multitude, becaufe he was 
 little of Stature ; he made up that Defect of Na- 
 ture by a very honeft Art ; he climbed up into 'a- 
 Sycomore-Tree y to fee him as he was to ffffs- that 
 Way, Verfe 4., 
 
 Whan
 
 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 When the Blefled Jefus^ who went about do- 
 ing Good, feeking and faving loft Souls : When 
 Befits came to the Place, he looked up and faw 
 him, and was pleas'd, no -doubt, with that Ap- 
 pearance of a forward Zeal and Affe&ion in him. 
 So he gave him a kind and familiar Call: Zac- 
 cheus, make Hafle and come down^ for to Day I 
 tnttfl abide at thy Houfe, Verfe 5-. 
 
 Zaccheits was (urpriz'd , and exceedingly 
 pleas'd with this Civility and Refped: paid to him 
 by fuch a Lord and Mafter ; and fo in fbme Sort 
 or Rapture, he made hafte and came down^ and 
 receivd himjoy fully. 
 
 But the Jews had an envious Eye, and a fpite- 
 ful Tongue: They murmured at this innocent 
 Liberty taken by our Saviour, and grudged the 
 Honour he did unto Zaccheits; when they faw 
 it, they all murmured, faying, -that he was gone 
 to be Gueft with a Man that is a Sinner. As if 
 Converfation and innocent Freedom might not be 
 had with Worldly wicked Men , when the De- 
 fign of it was not to partake of their Evil Deeds, 
 -but to convert them from their Sins, and to fave 
 their Souls. 
 
 Zacchei4s in the mean Time began to feel the 
 good Influence of our Saviour's Difcourfe with 
 him : His Heart was meltingv, his Affections were 
 warm'-d, his Confcience was touch'd, and all the 
 Powers of his Soul were at Work within him. 
 He reflected on his paft Life, he refolv'd upon a 
 new Courfe ; he had done wickedly, he would 
 atone for it in the moll fenfible Manner. His 
 Fraud and Oppreflion fhould be covered by 
 Charity and Reflitution, as in die Text. And 
 
 Zaccbeus
 
 -,^,_. = ,- 1 -.^,^^ m ^ : "--' 
 
 A Spital SERMON. 7 
 
 Zaccheus flood and faid unto the Lord^ Behold^ 
 Lordy the half of my Goods L give to the Poor ; 
 and if I have taken any Thing from any Man by 
 falfe Accufali&n^ I rejlors him Four-fold. Now 
 from hence, I befeech you, accept of fome pra&ir 
 eal Ihftrudiions to make you rich in good Works, 
 and wife unto Salvation. 
 
 Ii Let us- firfl learn not to be difcouraged in 
 doing our Duty, and difcharging our Confcience, 
 by the falfe Surmifes, or fpiteful Reflections of 
 other People. 
 
 This was the Gafe oF our Saviour and Zacr 
 (heits : The malignant Jews were fo offended at 
 this Intercourfe, and put fuch wrong Colours up- 
 on it, that the Entertainer and the Guefl mud 
 have been amamed of one another, had they 
 regarded the filly fpiteful Reflections that wers 
 oaft upon them. They, the common People of 
 the jews, and efpecially the Incendiaries of 
 them, the Scrfoj and Pharifees^ All murmured 
 at this good Work ; and where Envy was, there 
 was their Calumny and Reproach. 
 
 They caft an evil Report upon Zaccbeus.for 
 entertaining our Blefled Lord, and were as an- 
 gry with our, Lord for being entertained by him, 
 Oh, he was gone to be a Guejl.with a Man that 
 was a Sinner. Why, who was without Sin ? But 
 why fuch a diftinguifh'd Sinner? Why, becaufe . 
 he was not of their Tribe and Party,; he was a 
 Publican, and therefore muft be a notorious Sin-^ 
 ner. As if they themfelves were without Sin> 
 who caft thefe Stones at him,, when in Truth 
 they had more to anfwer for their Hypocu(y,.ard 
 Spirit of Perfecutiojn,
 
 8 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 But what if Zacchew had been the mod fcan- 
 Jalous Sinner? Why mud our Saviour -fuffer 
 \vith him? What Evil had he done? Nothing 
 but he was. gone to be a Guejl with a Man that 
 was a Sinner. 
 
 And where was the Harm of this? Mud the 
 Phyfician of Bodies vifit only them that are in 
 Health, and not them rather that are Sick and 
 Weak ? And mud the Phyfician of Souk attend 
 only upon them that are (bund in the Faith, and 
 in a State of Salvation : And not rather upon 
 them that are nigh unto Perdition, and in the 
 Perils of eternal Death ? In the Difeafes of Body 
 and Soul, pray who have mod need of a Phy- 
 ilcian, they that be Whole, or they that are 
 Sick? 
 
 Our Bleiled Saviour had before refotv'd the 
 Cafe upon a like Occafion. Matthew call'd from 
 the Receipt of Cuftom, entertain'd our Saviour, 
 St. Matth. ix. 10. And it came to pafsasjefus 
 fat at Meat in the Hoitfe, behold many Publicans 
 and Sinners came and fate down -with him and 
 bis Dtfciples. And when the Pharifees faw it, 
 they faid unto his Difciples, Why eatethyour Ma- 
 fter ivith Publicans and Sinners ? As if a mighty 
 Shame and Scandal. Bur, whenjefus heard that^ 
 he faid unto them, They that be Whole need not & 
 Phyfician, but they that are Sick. But go ye and 
 learn what that meaneth, I will have Mercy and 
 mot Sacrifice ; for I am not come to call the Righ- 
 teous, but Sinners to Repentance. The Uie of this 
 is to go on and be ftedfaft in the Ways of Ho- 
 nefty, and true Religion, and not be weary of 
 well doing in them, notwithflanding the Mifre- 
 
 prelen-
 
 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 prefentations and Reproaches of a wicked World ; 
 where efpecially, under a fad Diflin&ion of Par- 
 ties, one is fo ready to (peak evil of the other, 
 and even to fpeak evil of their good. 
 
 Let us not mind the idle Rumors, or the fbr- 
 ry Reflections of a cenforious Party : Let their 
 Wind blow where it lifteth , and their Clouds 
 gather as they pleafe ; yet, as he that obferveth 
 the Wind flail not fon>, and he that regardeth 
 the Clouds flail not reap : So they who are aw'd 
 by Noife and needlefs Cenfure, can never have 
 the Confcience and the Courage to be good , can 
 never be as burning and iliining Lights in the 
 midfl of a crooked and perverfe Generation. 
 The Chriflian mufl dare to be true and good in 
 Spite of all the Evil that is falfly fpoken of him. 
 Let him look upward , and fearch within , let 
 not God condemn him , and let not his own 
 Heart reproach him : And then what are Re- 
 vilings and Curfes to him ? 
 
 This then is the firfl practical Inftrudtton from 
 the Text, not to be difcourag'd in the doing our 
 Duty, and difcharging our Confcience, by any 
 falfe Surmifes, or any fpiteful Reflections of 
 other People. 
 
 II. Let it be a Second Practical InflrudHon 
 from this Example of Zaccbeus^ to mind Religi- 
 on, to prefer your Converfion and Salvation be- 
 fore arid above your Office , Profeflion or Trade, 
 or any Thing of Attendance, or other Avocati- 
 on whatfoever. 
 
 For fo did the happy Zaccheus in the Text : 
 He was by his Employment a Publican, or Tax-ga- 
 
 B therer
 
 i o A Spital SERMON. 
 
 ? 
 
 therer of the Roman Lords, among a poor oppre^ 
 fed People the Jews. A Calling that requir'd 
 a continual Attention to it ; to watch and lay in 
 wait for all the Advantages of demanding and 
 extorting Money ; to hunt after any Sufpicion ; 
 to catch at every falfe Accufation for taking any 
 Thing from any Man. 
 
 Nor was he only pne of thofe Publicans, thofe 
 Extortioners and Oppreflbrs of the People , but 
 he was Verfe z. the Chief among the Public ans^ 
 the Head Officer, a Man in Authority, having 
 many under him : He was to be accountable for 
 the reft ; he was to anfwer for their Neglect, or 
 their Corruption. A Man full of Bufmefs, and 
 in a continual Hurry and Drudgery of Life. 
 
 And his own private Concerns muft needs be 
 heavy on him ; for it w ? as a gainful Employ, he 
 had mightily increased his Wealth and Subftance 
 in it. He is faid in the fame Verfe to have 
 been Rich, and even exceeding Rich. So that 
 he had a double Burden of Domeftick, as well as 
 of publick Cares ; to ferve himfelf, and his Fa- 
 mily, no lefs than the Government and Nation. 
 
 And yet notwithftanding all thefe Incum- 
 brances of the World, he broke through them 
 all to fee Chrift, and to feek his Salvation. He 
 would not be detained by his Crowd of Bufmefs, 
 he would not (land upon his Honour and High 
 Station, he would not be taken up with his Mul- 
 titude of worldly Goods ; but he would forget 
 all, he would leave and forfake all, to find out 
 Chrift, and to follow him. Go ye and do like- 
 wife. Be not over intent upon Worldly Affairs, 
 as if born for no better Portion.. Be not only 
 
 feeking
 
 A Spital SERMON. n 
 
 feeking Places and Preferments ; be not altoge- 
 ther laying up your Treafure upon Earth, and 
 letting your Hearts be there alfo. Be not, I fay, 
 detained and deceived by any fuch Witchcraft of 
 this World ; but remember that ye are born for 
 another and a better State ; that ye have Souls to 
 live for ever. Wherefore feek the Things that 
 are Above, have a frequent Converfation in Hea- 
 ven. Seek firfl the Kingdom of God and its Righ- 
 teoufnefs, and trufl Providence for other Things, 
 to be added, or not added, to you. Be not fo in- 
 cumbred with your many Things, as to neglect 
 the one Thing needful : Chufe that better Part, 
 that can never be taken from you : Gain not 
 the whole World, to lofe your own Soul. 
 
 Lay up this Second Practical InflrudHon ; to 
 mind Religion the great Thing, to prefer your 
 Converfion and Salvation before and above your 
 Office, your Profeflion, your Trade , any Thing 
 of Attendance , or other Avocation whatfo- 
 ever. 
 
 III. And now a Third Pradical Inftrudion 
 may be this j That good moral Virtues are the 
 beft Foundation for a Chriilian Faith ; and that 
 Juftice and Charity are the befl Tokens of Re- 
 pentance, the trued Signs of approaching Grace, 
 the Forerunners of Conversion and Salva- 
 tion. 
 
 I might obferve , that our Saviour's efpecial 
 Favour to Zaccheus , his marking him out for 
 a chofen Veflel, feems owing to his Moral Vir- 
 tue and Goodnefs; his Attention to know the 
 Truth $ his Readinefs to obey the Teacher of it; 
 
 B i his
 
 12 A Spital S E R M o N. 
 
 his generous Hofpitality, his liberal Charity, and 
 abundant Reflitution of ill-gotten Goods. He 
 could not be far from the Kingdom of God : He 
 
 o 
 
 was almoft a Chriftian. Without thefe good 
 Works, all had been nothing. It was not enough 
 that he fought to fee Jefus ; that any other idle 
 Spectator might have done : Not enough to 
 climb up into a Sycamore Tree ; that was but 
 a natural Thought to a Man of low Stature : 
 Nor would it fuffice to have come down at our 
 Saviour's Call ; this might be good Manners on- 
 ly, it became a chief Publican to keep up the 
 Reputation of Civility and Breeding : Nor was 
 it enough for Zacchens to entertain our Saviour, 
 to receive him gladly; this might ariie from a 
 Refpeft to Strangers , and from a Love of Ho- 
 fpitality, agreeable to his Fortune and Figure in 
 the World. 
 
 But he muft give a better Inftance of his fin- 
 cere Difpofition to believe, and repent, and be 
 converted. What better Inftance could he give 
 than that of a liberal Heart,and an honeft Mind ; a 
 Confcience of doing Right and doing Good ? 
 Under thefe fincere Inclinations to Charity and 
 Juflice, he refblveth, he declareth to our Lord, 
 in thefe excellent Words of the Text, Behold^ 
 Lord, the half of my Goods I give- to the Poor ; 
 and if I have wronged any Man by falfe Accufa- 
 lion, I reft ore trim Four- fold. 
 
 Wherein the Ways of Expreffion deferve to 
 be confiderd, for our Admonition and Exam- 
 ple. 
 
 I. Frrft,
 
 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 i. jP/r/?, A Note of Readinefs and even For- 
 wardnefs to give, before our Saviour had impor- 
 tun'd him, or fo much as made any mention of 
 Charity to him. He himfelf began the Difcourfe, 
 and made his Offering without asking, of Free- 
 Will , and his own Accord ; nav , with great 
 
 + 4 ** * tJ 
 
 Alacrity , and iu a Pofture of Expedition : 
 He flood) as raifing up his Body and Soul, he 
 call'd for Attention and Evidence that he was in 
 earneft , Behold , Lord, the half of my Goods I 
 give to the Poor^ 6k c. 
 
 What an upbraiding to thofe who mull be ap- 
 plied to, muft be importun'd, mufl be even 
 teiz'd out of their Charity .vlt comes, Prov. 30. 
 3 3 . as the Churning of Milk bringeth forth But- 
 ter ; and as the -wringing of the Nofe bringeth 
 forth Blood-. Their Charity muft be wrefted and 
 forced from them. 
 
 2,. A Second Expreflion of his Charity, was to 
 fhew it fair and open, difmterefted and undefign'- 
 ing ; out of pure Charity, and for mere Confci- 
 ence fake. Not that I lend as hoping to receive 
 as much again ; not that I ftipulate for fome 
 Equivalent, and make my Charity a Contract, 
 an Exchange ; but I give ; I give away with- 
 out any Confideration, but that of Duty, fatif 1 
 fled with doing Good, and trufting God for my 
 Reward, or rather for his Acceptance only. 
 Nor again, I intend to give, and I promife to 
 give ; but I do it now actually, and out of Hand; 
 I give^ while I have this immediate Opportunity 
 of giving ; for our laudable Imitation, to pleafe 
 
 that
 
 14 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 that God who loveth a chearful Giver. Not to 
 flatter our felves and deceive others with Promi- 
 fes of Charity hereafter, and in Reverfion only j 
 when we are better ajble, or when we come to 
 dye : But whatever good we intend, to perform 
 it quickly if pofiible ; to give an Earnefl at leaft 
 now, that we will do more hereafter. A Man 
 alas ! who referves all Charity for a dying Lega- 
 cy, he is like the defperate Mariner, he begins 
 to throw out his Goods when the Ship is fink- 
 ing. 
 
 3 . A Third Expreflion of the Charity of Zac- 
 cbeus was, to prove it not limited and narrowly 
 confin'd, not a Party Charity, nor fo much as 
 beginning at Home, but a good Will general and 
 univerfal ; not to negled: Kinsfolks and Friends, 
 but not to appropriate all unto them : For that 
 would have too much of Flefh and Blood in it. 
 Nor yet retraining his Charity to thofe of his 
 own Opinion, and his own Way of Worihip on- 
 ly ; for that would have the Leven of Party and 
 of Faction in it. But what I give, let it be a 
 Diftribution to all that want , among any that are 
 true and proper Objeds of Chanty , without 
 Partiality , without Diftindion : / give unto the 
 -Poor. 
 
 4. And then a Fourth good Quality in his 
 Alms and Oblations was, that they were large 
 and extenfive, even to the Moiety, or one Half 
 of his Subflance ; Behold, Lord, the half of my 
 Goods I give to the Poor, This no doubt made 
 the Sacrifice acceptable and well pleafing unto 
 God. Alas !
 
 
 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 ' 
 
 Alas! what a fmall Pittance do fome of the 
 Rich of this World afford to beflow in Charity ? 
 Not a half Part, not a Tenth Part , not one of 
 a Thoufand. What the Poor have from them is 
 perhaps in Rates and Taxes only. 
 
 Not that the Proportion of your Charity is 
 fix'd, or determin'd by any Rule, but that of 
 your own Confcience , and your own Difcretiorr. 
 The Jews had a good Tradition among them, 
 that they ought to beflow a Fifth Part of their 
 yearly Income in Chanty. The firft Chriltians 
 were fo extremely liberal, that they made no Di- 
 vifiori into Parts, they furrendred the whole, 
 they laid all at the Apoftles Feet. In After- Ages 
 many Chriftians allotted a Tenth Part unto cha- 
 ritable Ufes : And Tome I believe do the fame 
 in this prefent Generation. Let every Man do 
 according to his Circumflances , and according 
 to his Confcience ; and what he can afford, let 
 it be not grudgingly or of Neceflity, for God 
 and Man love the cheerful Giver. 
 
 5. A Fifth Exprefiion of his Charity, that 
 made a good Savour of it, was the profefling it 
 a jufl and honefl Charity : Not taken out of 
 fraudulent Gains, not a Composition made with 
 ill-gotten Goods ; but Reflitution and Satisfacti- 
 on for all Injuries and Wrongs, as well as a Sup- 
 ply of the Wants and Necefiities of the Poor. 
 
 This w r as the Geriercfity and Juflice of -Zac- 
 cheiM : He had been in an Office of Fraud and 
 Violence, Impofition and Extortion , and very 
 ungodly Gains. A chief Publican, a Hprfe-Leech 
 fucking the People, and the very Blow of them,
 
 1 6 A Sptal SERMON. 
 
 and never crying, enough. Any Man accufed, 
 tho' never fo falfly accufed, of being worth fo 
 much, was to buy off the Rate, or to bribe the 
 Tax-gatherer, or to pay the uttermoft Farthing. 
 And therefore that Zaccheus might not feem to 
 mock God, might not give with one Hand what 
 he had flollen or raked with another , might not 
 rob the Spital to relieve the Poor ; he is here at 
 the fame Time making a Reparation and ample 
 Satisfaction for all the Wrongs and Trefpafles 
 committed by him ; refunding all the Wages of 
 Iniquity , refloring the Wedge of Achan , the 
 Garments of Gebaxi, all Manner of open Theft 
 or fecret Guile, founding his Charity upon the 
 true Bafis , that of Honeily. As well knowing 
 that the juft God would difdain to accept what 
 was wrongfully taken from his Neighbour. 
 
 6. Another good Expreflion lieth in the Ful- 
 nefs of Reflitution, and moil abundant Satisfa- 
 ction, Four-fold. Not content to add a Fifth Part 
 for Compenfation of the Wrong , as requir'd 
 Nwnb. 5-. 7. He flat/ recompense his Trefpafs 
 with the Principal thereof ] and add unto it the 
 Fifth Part thereof ', and give it unto him againft 
 ivhom he hath trefpaffed. Nor again content 
 with reftoring double, or twice as much as he 
 had taken away ; which was thought fufficient 
 among the Jews , -upon the Stealing of live 
 Cattle , Exod. 21. 4. If the Theft be certainly 
 found in his Hand alive, whether it be Ox or Afs^ 
 or Sheep, he flail reft ore double. But I fay Zac- 
 cheus laid upon himfelf a greater Penance, and 
 would maHfc a fuller Reftitution , even Four-fold : 
 
 Which
 
 A Spital SERMON. 17 
 
 Which was the mod rigorous Injunction among 
 the Jews, where the Thief firfl flole a Sheep, 
 and then killed it, Exod. zz. i. And this there- 
 fore voas the Judgment pronounced again/I the 
 rich Man, ivho had taken are ay the poor Mans 
 Lamb^ and kill d it, and drefsd it for. the Tra- 
 veller, z Sam. iz. 6. He /hall reft ore the Lamb 
 Four- fold, becaufe he did this Thing^ and becaufe 
 he had no Pity. 
 
 Not but that it is in the Qitota. of Reftitution, 
 as it is in the Quota of Charity. No Portion is 
 abfolutely fix'd and determin'd, let every Man 
 do as he is fatisfied in his own Mind ; Making or 
 offering at lead fome Satisfaction for every wil- 
 ful Injury and Wrong, to the Party if remaining, 
 if not, to their Children or Heirs ; if they are 
 extinct , to fome* Relation of them ; if all are 
 gone, to the Poor and Needy, for they are the 
 Truftees of God , appointed to receive all juft . 
 Dues, when there is none elfe to demand them. 
 
 And now hear a Word or Two of the Reward 
 of Charity and honefl Dealing ; no lefs than 
 eternal Salvation ; yet not the Wages or Merit 
 of thofe good Works, but the great Mercy and 
 Free-Gift of God. Per. 9. Andjefus faid unto 
 him, This Day is Salvation 'come to this Houfe. 
 He is now in the Way to Heaven, in the Capa- 
 city and Method of faving his own Soul, and 
 the Souls of his whole Family. Forafmuch as 
 he alfo is the Son of Abraham ; i. e. Ye Jews 
 think none capable of the Favour of God, but 
 your own chofen People the Jews, the Seed of 
 Abraham. You'll wonder therefore that I pro- 
 nounce Salvation to this Alien and Stranger to 
 
 C your
 
 1 8 A Spital S E R M o N. 
 
 your Commonwealth of Ifrael, this Zacchew a 
 Publican and Sinner. But I fay unto you, that 
 be alfo is the Son of Abraham. Now from hence 
 the Learned would enquire, whether our Savi- 
 our meant, that he was a natural-born Jew , or 
 tho r a Gentile yet now adopted by Grace to be 
 as effectually a Child of God, and an Heir of the 
 Kingdom of Heaven, as if he had been of the 
 Pecitl'mm of Ifrael. 
 
 Some would -infer, that by adapting his Refti- 
 tution to the Terms of the Jewifh Law, and to 
 the higheft Degree in it, that is , Four- fold ; he 
 was a Jew by Birth, and literally a Son of Abra- 
 ham ; tho' he had been a fort of Renegado, or 
 Apoflate ; and for a Publican's Place among the 
 Romans, had put off his Religion, and liv d & 
 kind of profefs'd Heathen ; andtherefore was re- 
 jected by his late Brethren as a Publican and Sin- 
 Her ; /. e. a Heathen and a Publican. 
 
 Others would fuppofe, that he was an Origi- 
 nal Gentile, becaufe the Romans would not rruft a 
 Jew in fuch an Office: But whether Jew or Pagan y 
 ur Saviour would now make him Chriftian, and 
 in that Spiritual Senie , he fhould now become a 
 Son of Abraham, by Adoption and Grace : For 
 the Son of Man who came to feek and to fave 
 that which was loft he could take this Son of 
 Perdition to be an Heir of Salvation. 
 
 However, we need not be wife above what is 
 revealed to us ; the Things neceflary are the 
 Things practical, and they are not hard to be 
 underflood , the Charity of Zaccheus, in giving 
 half of his Goods to the Poor, and the ample 
 RefKtution which he made to all whom he had 
 'd^ even Four-fiU. Goc
 
 A Spital SERMON*. 19 
 
 God blefs and profper the Charitable and the 
 Honeft Man, who Iheweth his Faith by h : s Works; 
 God grant him the End of his Faith, the Salva- 
 tion of his Soul. 
 
 The Bufmefs of the Day is to congratulate this. 
 Honourable Appearance , made on the Occafi- 
 on of the Hofpitals of this City. See here a 
 Itmbled the many pleafmg Objects of Charity, 
 the Faithful Stewards of it, the Treafurers, the * 
 Governors, the Chief Magiftrates, Truftees, and 
 Guardians of this Publick Faith, and good Works. 
 A Proteftant Charity , Three of thefe noble Ho- 
 fpitals, founded upon the Reformation by our 
 firft Proteftant King, living and dying, King Ed- 
 ward VI. for Houfes of admirable Ufe and Ser- 
 vice, inftead of the idle Cells, that Superftition 
 had before filfd with Drones and Beggars. 
 
 It was chiefly on this Account, that near "a 
 Hundred Years after , a Learned Apologift for 
 the Power and Providence of God, brings in this 
 your Royal Founder at the Head of the Excel- 
 lent Princes of that latter Ag^e, not to be matched 
 with any in ancient Times ; and that chiefly for 
 being entituled to the Foundation of thefe Ho- 
 fpitals, the great charitable Works, which (faith 
 he) by fome Additions fine e have become the moji 
 Famous in Europe, {a) Thefe 
 
 (a) K : ng Edward VI. A diligent Frequenter of Sermons he 
 was : Thefe he noted in Greek Clurafters, tint his Servants might 
 nor eafily know what he nnft obfervcd. And when not long be- 
 fore liis Death, Rid'.- ; , in a Sermon before him, 
 highlv commc-nded V/orks ^o" Charity, the King applying it to 
 (elf, t!v. Lrne Day icnt for him. ;:nd in h-s Gallery, calling tor. 
 a Ctriir, ca'is'd him to fit dovvn 3 neither would he \ to 
 be uncovered, but "giving him Trunk?, and repeating t';e pr : :iripa! 
 Head: of his Sermon, vvich.il added, u I perceive that your Speech 
 
 C 2 was
 
 20 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 Thefe Streams that refrefli the City, are not 
 yet dried up, nor ever will, till Popery can flop 
 
 " was fpecially direfted unco me , whom God hath fee in the moft 
 " eminent Place, and upon whom of his Goodnefs he hath con- 
 *' fcrred the greateft Ability : And as I am nexc unto God , and 
 ** under God in Power, Co ftlould I Jikewife be in Goodnefs. And 
 " therefore as you exhorted me in general , fo I pray affift me 
 *' with your particular Direftions and Counfel : That fo both your 
 " Exhortation may take the better Effeft, and my felf be not 
 " found defeftive in the Performance of my Duty. " Whereunto 
 ' when the Bifhop had anfwered , how he conceived that Bufmefs 
 more properly to belong to the Citizens of London, the King would 
 not fuffer him to depart, before he had received Letters to the 
 Purpofe, to the Lord^viayor of that City , and other. Commiffio- 
 ners, for the happy and fpeedy effcfting of that Bufmefs. Where- 
 upon they divided the Poor into Three Ranks ; by Impatsncy, in 
 which they placed Infants, Orphans , decrepit Old Men , L>me, 
 Blind, and the like -, by Cafualty , as maimed Soldiers, fuch as had 
 been undone by Shipwreck, or Fire, fick Perfons, and the like . 
 Or, laftly, by Idlenefa wilful Luxury and Prodigality. The firft 
 Rank of thefe they agreed, were to be nourifhed and maintained ; 
 the Second to be cured and relieved , the Third to be corrected, and 
 by that Means, if it might be, brought to fome better Pafs. For the 
 Firft of thefe, the King gave to the City the Church of die Francif- 
 cans, with all the Revenues belonging thereunto. For the Seccnd> 
 the Hofpical of St. Bartholomew : For the Third., his Moufe of Bride- 
 well, the ancient Seat of many of our Kings , not long before re- 
 paired and furniftied by his Father, that it might ferve as a Lodg- 
 ing for that great Emperor Charles the Fifth. And for the better 
 Maintenance of thefe Places, and the farther Increafe thereof, toge- 
 ther with the Hofpital of St. Thomas in Southward, lately re-edified, 
 he beftowed upon .them out of the Rents of the Hofpital of St. John 
 Baptifl , commonly called the Savoy, Seven Hundred and Fifty. 
 Marks Yearly, together with the Bedding and Houfhold-Stuff be- 
 longing co that Place. And when the Chatter of this Donation 
 was prefcntcd unto him , together with a Blank for the Sum of Re- 
 venues in Lands, afterwards to be conferred upon them without the- 
 iarther Purchafe of any Mortmain -, the King, with his own Hand, 
 filled up the vacant Space with thefe Words, Four Hundred Marks. 
 yearly. Which being ended, with a reverent Voice and Gefture he 
 gave humble Thanks unto God, that he had fpared his Life fo long 
 
 as to fee that Work finilhed. An Apology or Declaration of 
 
 the Power and Providence of God in the Government of the World. 
 By George ffafarvil!, D. D. Archdeacon of Surrey, London. 163$. Fol. 
 P- 54 J- 
 
 the
 
 A Spital S E R M Q N. 21 
 
 the Fountain Heads, by commanding a Reftitu- 
 tion of what they call the Church Lands, the Si- 
 tuation of fome, and Part of the Endowment of 
 all. And then Monks and Friars are to turn out 
 the Orphans, the Widows, the Sick, and Lame, 
 and other impotent People. That Popifli Aliena- 
 tion of thefe Charitable, and therefore flridrly, 
 J&eligious Houfes, would be the trueft Sacrilege, 
 the mod accurfed Thing of robbing God and the 
 Poor. Hear the laudable Accounts of this laft 
 Year, and the prefent State of them. 
 
 IN CHRIST'* Hofpital Children put forth Apprentices , and 
 difcharg'd the Year lafl paft 101 , Eleven whereof be- 
 ing inftrufted in the Mathematicfo and Navigation, were pla- 
 ced forth Apprentices to Commanders of Ships, out of the Mathe- 
 matical School, founded by his lateMajefty Sing Charles the Second 
 of BleiTed Memory. 
 
 Children Buried the Year lafl paft, 4. 
 
 Children now remaining under the Care and Charge of the faid 
 Hofpital, which are kept in the Houfe, and at Nurfe elfewhere 811. 
 And 121 newly admitted, amounting in all to 932. 
 
 The Names of all which, are regiftered in the Books kept in the 
 faid Hofpical, and are to be feen , as alfo when and whence they 
 were admitted. 
 
 Wherefore, and in Regard of the Charge of maintaining fo great 
 a Number of poor Orphans ("and the vaft Lofies heretofore fuftain- 
 ed by the Fire of London, and lately by the Fire in Tovecr-ftreet, and 
 otherwaysj it is not doubted, but that all Charitable and Worthy 
 gaod Chriftians, will readily affift and contribute towards the Sup- 
 port and Encouragement of a Work fo NecefTary and Beneficial to- - 
 the Commonwealth. 
 
 In Sr. BARTHOLOMEWS Hofpital there hat been. 
 cur'd and difcharg'd the Year laft paft , of Wounded, Sick, 
 Maimed , and dileafed Perfons , Soldiers, Sailors, and others ,. 
 from feveral Parts of the Dominions of the King's Mofl Excel- 
 lent Majefty , and Icreign Parts, 3r89, many of which have 
 been reliev'd with Money, and other Neceffaries at their Departure. 
 This Hofpital being lately enlarged, is made capable of receiving -a . 
 much greater Number of Patiencs than formerly . whereby the con- . 
 font Annual Charge is- fo much increas'd, and the ordinary Reve- 
 nues lo much lelfencd by the late dreadful Fire, and otherwi&, ;hac 
 *he tiid ttofpital is a very fit Objcft of the Charity of all good Men ?
 
 22 A Spit at SERMON. 
 
 vvhofe Affiftance and Contriburion are humbly defired, towards 
 preferviag the Lives of fo many miserable People , who would 
 othervvife peiifh for want of that Relief, which by the Blefling of 
 God they daily receive from the faid Hofpital. 
 
 Buried this Year, after much Charge in the Time of their 111- 
 nefs", 198. 
 
 Remaining under Cure ac the Charge of the faid Hofpital, 57 j. 
 
 In St.THOMAS\ Hofpital in Southtvark , there have been 
 cur'd and difcharg'd this laft Year , of Wounded , Maimed , 
 Sick , and Difeafed Perfons , out of this great City , and 
 feveral other Parts of his Majefty's Dominions , and Fo- 
 reign Parts, 3<5o8. many of whom have been relieved with Money . 
 and NecefTaries at their Departure, to accommodate and fupport 
 them in their Journies to their feveral Countries and Habitations, 
 3608. 
 
 Much of the Revenue of this Hofpital hath been deftroy'd by 
 feveral dreadful Fires in London and Soutlwcxtrk ; and the Buildings 
 of this Hofpital being grown very old and ruinous, and unfit for the 
 Entertainment of the Poor, the Governors thereof have, with their 
 own Money, lately rebuilt the fame with fuch Enlargements, that 
 it's made capable of receiving a very great Number of Patients 
 more than ever before fince the Foundation $ and befides the great 
 Enlargements in the Rebuilding, there hath been new erefted an 
 additional Building, with Conveniences for. receiving above One 
 Hundred poor Perions more: But the yearly Revenue of the laid 
 Hofpical, being not near fufficicnt to anfwer the conftan: Charge nf 
 fo great a Number of Patients, the Charitable Affiftance and Con- 
 tribution of all vvell-difpofed Perfons is earneftly recommended and 
 mod humbly defired tor enabling the Governors (in Compliance 
 with the Cries and Petitions of the Poor) to provide for tln.-ir Re- 
 lief and Cures in the faid Hoipital, to the utmoft Extent of the 
 prefuit Accommodations there. 
 
 Buried from thence this Year, after much Charge in the Time of 
 their Sicknefs, 21 5. 
 
 Remaining under Cure at the Charge of the faid Kofpital, $66. 
 
 !;i BRIDEWELL Hofpital there have been received into ir, 
 this hfl Year, Vagrants, and other indigent and milcrai-ie I'^-opk, 
 all which have had Phyfick, and fuch other rtdic-f , at the Charge 
 of tl.c laid Hoipital, as their Necdfitjes required, 288. 
 
 Maintained in die faid Hofpital, and brought up in divers Arcs 
 and Truck's, ut the only Charge ot the faid Moipita 1 , Apprentices, 
 
 In BETHLEM Hofpital there have been admitted this la ft 
 Year, diili-uckci Men aud Women, 71. 
 
 Cured
 
 A Sital SERMON. 
 
 Cured of their Lunacy, and difcharged thence the laid i .jr, 
 feveral of which were relieved with Cloathing and Monc-y ac their 
 Departue, <5r. 
 
 Diftrafted Perfoas buried the laft Year , after much Charge be- 
 ftow'd upon them in their Lunacy and Sicknefs, 10. 
 
 Now remaining in the faid Hofpital under Cure, and provided 
 for with Phyfick, Diec, and other Relief, ac the Charge of thefaid 
 Hofpital, 150. 
 
 Befides which, divers Perfons who have been cured in the faid. 
 Hofpital, are provided with Phyfick, as Out-Patients, atth;: Ci'.a.ge 
 of the faid Hofpital, to prevent -a Return of tiitir Lunjcy. 
 
 The Particulars of all which may be feen in thje Books of the faid 
 Hofpital. 
 
 The Chaf ge of this Hofpital is very great , and the Revenue 
 thereof not fumcient to maintain the great Number ov Patients, for 
 whom daily Application is nude .- And feveral Houfes belonging to 
 this Hofpital were confumed by the late dreadful Fire, in ron-e'r- 
 flreet ; Therefore the faid Hofpital is a very fit Objeft of a/1 good 
 Men's Charity, to do as God fhall enable them towards fo Publick a 
 Good, as the Relief of Poor Lunaticks- -, many of whom, by the 
 Bleffiagof God, and through the Charge of the faid Hofpital, 
 and the daily Cate of thofe intrufied therewith, are reftored to. 
 their former Senfes. 
 
 There has been alfo this laft Year expended feveral confiderable 
 Sums of Money in the neceffary Repairs of both the faid Hofpkais,. 
 of Bridewell and BetbLem. 
 
 And what deferves to be mentioned as a 
 new Foundation of Charity , the LONDON 
 W R K- H U S E ; there were Children in 
 this Houfe at Lady-Day , 1718. Numb. 113. 
 Since admitted, &c. 
 
 Thefe Noble Inftitutions of Charity do every 
 Year want and receive fome frefh Supplies by 
 fpecial Friends and Benefactors , whole Names 
 ihould be had in everlafling Remembrance, and^ 
 iliould, I think, be annually recited , to encou- 
 rage others to follow their good Example. 
 
 Ch rift-Church Hofpital has been feafonably re- 
 JKev d this lad Year, with feparate Legacies of 
 i op /. from Dame Sarah Prit chard. Mr. Paul 
 
 'j/j-, Gent. Sir Edward' Wills. , Kt. Samuel 
 
 Stteg*
 
 24 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 Shepherd , Efq;. Sir James Bateman , Bar. and 
 Aldennan. Sir John Let hitillier , Kt. Sir Ri- 
 chard Kc#.r, Kt. and Alderman. Mrs. Jane El~ 
 hot, and Mrs. Sarah Rudgerd. And Legacies of 
 50 /. each , from William Nutt , Efq;, and Mr. 
 William Bridges. 
 
 Benefactors to the Work-Houfe have been 
 Dame Sarah Prichard 100 1. Sir Richard Hoar, 
 late Prefident , by his lafl Will zoo /. Samuel 
 Shepherd, Efq; by Will 100 /. Sir James Bate- 
 man by Will 100 /. And fome Perfons now 
 living have given Earneft of their good Inten- 
 tions , Sir Robert Beechcroft LOO /. Sir Peter 
 Delmey 50 1. With zoo /. lately from Thomas 
 Hall, Efq; in Addition to Three Hundred Pounds 
 before given. 
 
 St. Bartholomews Hofpital within the Year lad 
 pail, has had thefe worthy Friends and Benefa- 
 dtors, Dame Sarah Prichard 100 I: Sam. Shepherd, 
 Efq; 100 /. William Nutt, Efq; 5O/.* Chrifto- 
 pher Muf grave, 200 .1.' William Daffy, Efq; 100 /. 
 John Houblon, Efq; 200 1. William Hoskins, 
 Efq; zol. Befides fome fettled Annuities by 
 Mr. Paul Jervis, and Mr. William Allen. 
 
 The pious Legacies and Gifts to St. Thomas 's 
 Hofpital are as followeth : The Legacies of i oo /. 
 by Sir John Lethuillier. 100 /. by Samuel Shep- 
 herd, Efq;. 100 /. by Mr.Jofepb King. 100 /. 
 by Dame Sarah Prichard ; and 5-0 /. by Mr. 
 John Hibbert. And feveral Gifts by worthy 
 Perfons now living ; 200 /. by Sir Thomas Abney, 
 Kt. and Alderman, and Prefident. 50 /. by Sir 
 Harcourt Mafters, Kt. and Alderman. 50 Gui- 
 neas by the Honourable Spencer Compton, Efq; 
 
 Speaker
 
 A Spital SERMO^ST. 25 
 
 Speaker of the Houfe of Commons. 50 /. by 
 John Hopkins^ Efqj. 50 /. by Mr. Thomas Sheer- 
 ing, and 20 /. by Jofeph Pace, Efq;. 
 
 Let thefe Things be told for a Memorial of 
 them : Nor let their Names be blotted out in the 
 next Generation, 
 
 Let thefe Charities abide > let them never fail, 
 let them annually, daily, increafe more and more, 
 they can be never out of Seafbn : And - yet there 
 may be a fuller Opportunity of fb doing Good, 
 in the Times of any Ruffle or Difquiet, or the 
 Fears and Apprehenfions of 'em. 
 
 It is now One Hundred and Thirty Years fince 
 our Forefathers had a mighty Surprize upon them, 
 by a pretended Spanifo Invafion , with an Arma- 
 da, which they call'd Invincible , for a Caufe 
 which they call'd Catbolick, that was, for Popery 
 and Slavery : But inflead of Conquefl and De- 
 ftrudion, it prov'd a Year of Deliverance, and 
 Victory fo great, that it (lands in our Annals as 
 the Wonderful Tear. And juft within another 
 Century, we had another Year of Wonders, 
 a moft amazing, a mofl aufpicious Revolution. 
 
 But I fay, in the firfl Eighty Eight, when the 
 Spaniards were attempting to be Conquerors here, 
 as they had been lately in the Weftern Indies ; 
 where Converfion had been the Murder of Mil- 
 lions of People : Amidfl the Rumours of that 
 Invafion, wh^t was the Preparation made againfl 
 it ? The Wifdom of the Queen and Miniftry was 
 taking all proper Meafures for Defence of the 
 Commonweal, for the All at Stake. And the 
 better Sort of Citizens in this City, upon the 
 bare Apprehenfion of that Danger, were fitting 
 
 D loafer
 
 26 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 loofer from the World, were exercifing them- 
 felvesthe more in Godlinefs and good Works. 
 Their Piety and Charity feem to have run higfier 
 () than in any one former Year. 
 
 At the Beginning of that memorable Year, the 
 Preachers of the Spital Sermons in this City re- 
 commended the greater Obligations to Bounty 
 and Beneficence toward the Poor and Needy. 
 In particular, one eminent Preacher and fucceed- 
 ing Prelate , (c) Dr. Lancelot Andrews^ thought 
 it proper to celebrate our Proteflant Charity* 
 and to prove the Increafe of it above and beyond 
 the Proportion in Popifh Countries Abroad, or 
 here in Popifh Times. Said he, " Learning in 
 " the Foundation of Schools and Increale of Re- 
 
 ' () See firft, the Foundation of the Free-School of Haute/head, 
 in the County of Lancafter , by Dr. Edwin Sandys , Bifhop of Wor- 
 cefter. i. Apr. 30. Eli^. 1588. Antiq. Worcefter, 8vo. p. 163. 
 2. Account of the great Charities of Frances, Countefs of Suffix, 
 
 who died March 9. 1588. Dugdale Bar. Tom. 2. p. 287 3. An 
 
 Aft concerning the Alms-Houfe at Lambourn?, in the County of 
 
 Berks. 31. //t- i$8i. 4. An Aft for the berter Afiu- 
 
 rance of the Free Gram mar- School of Tunbridge, in the County of 
 
 Kent 5. An Augmentation of the Vicarage of Hackington, 
 
 alias, St. Stephen near Canterbury , by Sir Roger Manwood, Kt. Lord 
 Chief Baron of the Exchequer, in Decemb. 1588. Strype's Life of 
 
 Archbifhop Wbttgift, p. 28$. 6. The charitable Legacies of 
 
 Dame Helen Branch , Widow of Sir John Branch r Kt. late Lord 
 Mayor, who died 24. July 1588. Stow's Survey of London, 163$. 
 
 Fol. p. 336 7, The Gift of Mr. fames Savage, to the Poor 
 
 of St. Mary Overy's in Southward, Anno Dom. i$88. ib. p. 455. 
 
 8. The Bencfaftions of Mrs. Blanch Parry , chief Gentlewoman of 
 Q^ueen Elizabeth" 1 :, Privy-Chamber , and Keeper "of her Majefly's 
 Jewels, who gave to the Poor of Batton and Newton in Herefordjhire, 
 Seven-Score Bufhcls of Wheat and Rye Yearly for ever, with di- 
 vers Sums of Money to. Weflminfler , and other Places for good 
 Ufes. She died Febr. 1 2. i $8|. ib. p. 81 o. 
 
 (c) A Sermon at St. Mar/s Hofpital , 03 Wednefda) ifl Eafler- 
 Week, Apr. 10, 1588, By Lancelot Andrews^ D. D. 
 
 " venues
 
 __ , . _ .. ,_^_ 
 
 A Spital SERMON. 27 
 
 cc venues within Colleges , the Poor in the Foun- 
 " dation of Alms-Houfes, and Increafe of Per- 
 cc petuities of them, have received] greater Help 
 " in this Realm within Forty Years laft pair, 
 c fince the Reformation , than it hath in any 
 " Realm Chriftian, not only in the fame Time, 
 " but in any Forty Years upward , during all the 
 " Time of Popery. " 
 
 So far that good Preacher and wife Man. I may 
 add, that by what I have happen'd to fee in the 
 Records of thofe Times, there feems to have 
 been more given to pious and charitable Ufes, 
 within the Compafs of that Tingle Year, than in 
 the Courfe of Four or Five preceding Years, 
 And fpecial Care was taken to exhort and prefs 
 the People in that Seafon to be kind and liberal 
 to their poorer Brethren. Among the Articles 
 of Advice from the Archbijhop of Canterbury to 
 the Mmi/ters of his Province, for the better dire- 
 Bing and ajfifling^ the People s Repentance and De- 
 votions : One was exprefly, for the People to be 
 exhorted, efpecially to relieve the Poor. VII. To 
 be merciful, &C. XI. The Lord-Mayor and Ju- 
 faces quietly to be fought unto for the Provi/ion of 
 Bread. And laflly , That Monthly Certificates 
 flwuld be made by every Minifler of their Cottefti- 
 ons, for the Relief of all the Poor in each Parijh^ 
 by the Church-Wardens and Collectors. 
 
 A good Hiftorian has obferved, that when the 
 prefent Danger from the Spanifo Navy was over, 
 yet the Fears of the Popiili (/) Strength and Ma- 
 
 (d) Mr, Stryfe's Life of Archbifhop Whlt&ft, Fol, p. 27$. 
 
 D z lice
 
 28 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 lice remained. For that Reafoi the People were 
 then the better difpofed to Piety and Publick 
 Prayers and Thankfgivings. 
 
 Upon Expectation of the then formidable Ene- 
 my, the QJLJEEN, by her Bifliops , appointed 
 Days of Humiliation, and (<?) Forms of Prayer 
 to be ufed in all Churches* At which Prayers 
 were frequent and full Aflemblies, and all in them- 
 were ferious and devout. In a printed Letter are 
 thefe Words, (f) " In June and July all Churches, 
 " were filled daily with People exercifed with 
 c Prayers and Shews of Repentance , and. 
 c Petitions to God for Defence againft their Ene- 
 c mies , and in many Churches continually 
 Thrice in the Week, Exercifes of Prayers, Ser- 
 1 mons, and Fadings all the Day long, from 
 ' Morning to Evening, with great Admiration 
 " to fee fuch general Devotions." The fame 
 Letter adds, c< That while the Queen was in Til- 
 " ^wry-Camp, the whole Army in every Quarter 
 " did devoutly , at certain Times,, fing in her 
 " Hearing, in very tunable Manner, divers Pfalms 
 " put into Forms of Prayer and Praife to Al- 
 " mighty God, and flie with vehement Speech 
 " thanked God with them. 
 
 (e) There was a Form of Prayer neceffary for the prefenc Time 
 and State, to be ufed on Wednesdays and Fridays ^ or certain ColIecH 
 to be added to the Common- Prayers. Publifo'd by Order of the 
 Queen. Life of Archbi/hop Williams, by Dr. Hacket, Fol. P. II. ;>. 71. 
 A Letter of the Archbifliop of Canterbury to the Bifhops of his 
 Province, fignifying, that he has newly printed a certain Book 
 of Prayers to be ufed in all Churches 5 dated 10. July> i $88. R;g. 
 Wbitgift. Cant. Ml. P. I. p. 148. 
 
 (f} Letter to Bcrnardine Mendow- Printed in 1588. 4(0. 
 
 There
 
 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 There was a devout Frame of Mind in the great 
 General, who was then at the Head of thofe For- 
 ces, and was teaching the Soldiers under him to 
 fight for their Religion, as well as for their Queen 
 and Country. I have feen thefe Words in a Let- 
 ter from that noble Earl of Lekefter y to the Earl 
 of Shrewsbury, dated from Tz/^yy-Camp, Aug. 
 15*. 1588. (g) " Our Gracious Queen hath been 
 u here with me, to fee her Camp and People, 
 <c which fo inflamed the Hearts of her good Sub- 
 " jeds, as I think the weakeft Perfon among 
 " them is able to match the proudefl Spaniard, 
 c that dare Land in England. But God hath 
 " fought mightily for her Majefty , and I truft 
 " they be too much daunted to follow their 
 " pretended Enterprize. 
 
 After their Defeat at Sea,, (for not one of their 
 Ships or Tranfports could touch upon our Eng- 
 lifh Shore ) folemn Praifes and Thankfgivings 
 were returned to God the Giver of Victory and j 
 Peace : To God, whom the Spaniards blafphem'd 
 for having turned Lutheran. Our bed Statefman- 
 the LordBurliegh wrote thus to the Earl of Shrewf- 
 bury, Nov. 4. 1588. (&) "On the pth hereof, 
 C her Majefly will go openly to Paul's or Weft- 
 " mifter-, to give Publick Thanks to God for his* 
 ^ miraculous Goodnefs, in overthrowing of our- 
 " mortal Enemies, and the worft Enemies of 
 
 (g) Colleftion of Original Letters, &c. chiefly relating to the 
 noble Family of Talbot, gathered by Dr. Nathaniel Jobnfton t and bj 
 fiis Son committed to the late Duke of Shrenrs bur}'., MS. 
 
 (h) Colleftions of Original Papers given to Lambeth Library by 
 Qr. Thomat Tenifon, late Archbifhpp of Canterbury, bound up in fe- 
 veral Volumes, Fa/. 
 
 "Chrifk
 
 20 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 <c Chrifl. The fame Adion is meet to be cele- 
 " brated through the whole Realm, the fame 
 " Day, if Knowledge- may come in Time, for 
 " it was concluded but Yeflernight in Coun- 
 " cil. All our Friends in Scotland, in Denmark, 
 " in the Low-Countries, and in all the Countries 
 " of Germany, that are Proteftants, have per- 
 " formed this with great Solemnity. 
 
 The Day of Thankfgiving in her Majefty s 
 Dominions, was for better Uniformity adjourn'd 
 for %o Days, and then as a Witnefs of it informs 
 us, " 2,9 th of Nove mber , 15-88. was appointed 
 " to be obferved for a Day of Publick Thankf- 
 u giving , for the Defeat of the Spanift Ar- 
 " mada; and the Queen her felf rode into 
 <c London , in great Triumph to St. Pauls 
 " Church, where all the Enfigns and Colours of 
 " the vanquifh'd Spaniards were difplay'd. A 
 < Publick Sermon was preach cl before her at 
 <c Pauls Crofs, wherein no other Argument was 
 " handled, but that Praife, Honour, and Glory 
 " might be tendred unto God, and that God's 
 cc Name might be extolled by Thankfgiving. (z) 
 
 For that Wife Queen put the utmofl Confidence 
 in the good Affections of her City of London. 
 She inform'd the Magiflrates of the common 
 Danger : She accepted their Offer of Ships and 
 Men : She permitted them to form an Artillery 
 Company (K) ; She took another Pledge of their 
 
 Fide- 
 
 0) Mr. Htkluyt in his Voyages, Tom. I. p. 608. 
 
 (k) A boat Three Years before , at which Time the City of Lon- 
 don was greatly troubled and charged with continual Mufters and 
 Training of Soldiers j certain gallant, aftive, and forward Citizens, 
 
 having
 
 A Spitd SERMON. 
 
 Fidelity, which Ihe faithfully reftored (/), and 
 in her folemn Thankfgiving at St. Pauls , Ihe her 
 felf made a Speech to her good People of London y , 
 to congratulate their Safety in the Succefs which 
 God had given to her. 
 
 The Reafon of her entire Confidence in the 
 Citizens of London was , that they lov'd and 
 would maintain her Proteftant Succeffion , that 
 they had not then forgot the Spirit of Popery, 
 and the terrible Effects of it in the late Popifh 
 Reign. Their Houfes fearch'd, their Ships feiz'd, 
 their Goods confifcated, their Men and Women 
 hal'd away to Priibn $ there Souls there vexed 
 with Examinations and extorted Confeflions ; and 
 if they dar'd to hold fail their Faith and a good 
 Confcience, their Bodies, after many Tortures, 
 were brought unto a Stake to be burned Alive in ' 
 Smith f eld. They were then fenfible of the Blef- 
 
 having had Experience both Abroad and at Home, voluntarily ex- 
 ercis'd thcmfelves, and trained up others, for the ready Die of 
 War. So as within Two Years, there was almoft 300 Merchants 
 and others of like Quality, very fufficient and skilful to train and 
 teach common Soldiers the managing of their Pieces, Pikes, and 
 Halberds ; to march, countermarch, and ring ; which laid Met- 
 chants, for their own Perfection in" Mi litarv Affairs and Difcipline, 
 met every Tuesday in the Year , praftifing all ufual Points of War \ 
 and every Man by Turn bare orderly Office from the Corporal to 
 the Captain. Some of them this Year had Charge in the great 
 Camp, and were generally called Captains of the Artillery Garden 
 And thei'e took Prefident from the Merchants of Antwerp. . HoweV , 
 Edit, of Stovt'sChron. Fol. p 743. b. 
 
 (f) About the Spanifl} Invafion in 1 5 58. Queen Elizabeth borrowed 
 of the Merchant Adventurers about Ore Hundred Thoufand 
 Pounds, and kept that Money by her for above one Year, and paid 
 it exaftly at the Day, with Intereft after 10 per Cent, though fhe 
 made not any Ufe of one Penny of it, but put it in Bank with the 
 reft of her Treafure. Mr. Vklet'<a Epift. Ited. to Oliver Proteftor, 
 before his Propoial in 1656, Fol. 
 
 fed.
 
 Q2 A Spital SERMON. 
 
 fed Change of a Proteftant Defender for a Popifh 
 Tyrant. They found thereby their Rights and 
 Liberties , and Gofpel Religion , their All that 
 was worth caring for, reftor'd and fecur'd to 
 them. Their Trade was flourifhing , their Com- 
 merce was enlarg'd, the Publick Faith was good 
 at Home , and the Honour of the Nation was 
 high Abroad. So that a -Faithful Allegiance to 
 their Sovereign, and a firm Adherence to the 
 Laws and Religion eflablifhed among them, was 
 their Conference, their Inclination, their Intereft, 
 and the Proteftant Intereft in all Europe. 
 
 Wherefore in all the Rumours of the Enemies 
 Coming, there was not one "Riot or Tumult in the 
 Streets ; there was not one fedttious Libel, but 
 what a Cardinal fent over by Inftruclions from 
 the Pope ; much lets any one feditious Sermon, 
 but what was fecretly muttered by fome Roman 
 Prieft or Jefuit. 
 
 Excufe thefe Thoughts at this Time, and wife- 
 ly improve them, in a juft Abhorrence of Popifli 
 Tyranny and Superftition : In a Love and Zeal 
 for the Reformation and our Church by Law 
 cftablifh'd, in a faithful and true Allegiance to 
 His Majefty King GEORGE, our Rightful and 
 -Lawful King : In Brotherly Love and Charity ; 
 in good Works and Publick Spirit ; in Holinefs and 
 the Fear of God. And I pray God, Peace and 
 Happinefs be to this City, and to all the Inha- 
 bitants thereof. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 *? Dangers of Abufing the D/. 
 'vine Bleffings ; (hewing) That National Calami* 
 ties are the Jure Conferences of Publick and, Na- 
 tional Iniquities. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd before the Honourable 
 
 HOUSED/COMMONS, 
 
 A T 
 
 St. Margaret's ffleftminfter, 
 
 o N 
 Friday, December the 8th., 1721. 
 
 Being the Day appointed by his MAJESTY, 
 
 for a General FAST and HUMILIATION, for 
 obtaining the Pardon of our Sins, and averting the 
 heavy Judgment we have moft juftly deferv'd :, and 
 particularly the PLAGUE, with which feve- 
 ral other Countries are at this Time vifited. 
 
 By E R A s M u s S A u N D E PV s., D. D. 
 
 Vicar of Blockley, in Wbrtf/erfbire. 
 
 LONDON'/ 
 
 Printed for JOHN W Y A T at the Rofe in 
 'St. Paul's Church-Yard.
 
 Sa&ti. nono Die Dec. 1721. 
 
 THAT the Thanks of this Houfe 
 be given to the Reverend Dodl- 
 or Saunders for the Sermon., by him 
 Preach'd Yeiterday, before this Boufe 
 at St. Margaret's Weftmmfter , and 
 that he be defied to Print the fame 
 and that Mr. Sandys and Mr. Dent on 
 do acquaint him therewith. 
 
 PAULjODRILL., 
 
 Cler* Dom. Com.
 
 ISAIAH, Chap. v. Ver. 4, 5. 
 
 What could, have been done more to my Vineyard^ 
 that I have not done it ? Wherefore when I looked, 
 that itfhould bring forth Grapes, brought it forth 
 wild Grapes. 
 
 And now go to, I mil tell you what I mil do to my 
 Vineyard^ I mil take away the Hedge thereof, and 
 it (hall be eaten up, and break down the Wall there" 
 of, and it {hall be trodden down. 
 
 N thefe Words,under the Allegory 
 of a Vineyard, and according to 
 the Elegancy of the Oriental Stile, 
 we have a fhort Hiftory of God's 
 Providence, with Refpecl: to the 
 Jervifh Nation ; fetting forth, Fir ft 9 
 The extraordinary Favours of God vouchfafed 
 to them. Secondly, The very ill Returns they 
 made to him ; and L*//y,The fad Confequences 
 of their Ingratitude and Unfruitfulnefs, in that 
 they were the Caufes of drawing down upon 
 them, not only many fevere Judgments, but 
 irrepairable Ruin and Deftrudion, 
 
 A 2 This
 
 4 A Sermon PreacPd before 
 
 ThisHiftory is fo well known, as that it needs 
 not long be dwelt upon ; However, the better 
 to illuftrate the Application, I intend hence to 
 infer, with Regard to our felves, I beg Leave to 
 expatiate a little upon each of the foregoing 
 particulars. And, 
 
 Firtt}I we review the diftinguifhing Favours 
 of God towards the Jews, we find that of all the 
 Inhabitants of the Earth, they were his peculi- 
 ar Favourites, and crown'd as fuch with all the 
 BleflingsTemporal and Spiritual they could wifti 
 for ; that the Almighty himfelf condefcended fo 
 gracioufly, as to be their King and Governour ; 
 and gave them Laws and Statutes, which he 
 eftablifhed in a wonderful Manner, to direct 
 their Worfhip, and to be their Rule of Life and 
 Manners. In brief, he gave them a fruitful and 
 a pleafant Land to dwell in, a Land that flotfd 
 with Milk and Honey ; he cloathed their Hills 
 with Cattle,and every way increas'd their Stores ; 
 he went forth with their Forces, and he fought 
 their Battles ; making them, tho r few in Num- 
 ber,vic1:orious over great and powerful Enemies. 
 In a Word, while they were difpofed in any 
 Meafure to obey his Will, he delighted to do 
 them good, and made them happy and fecure.; 
 or in the Words of the Pfalmift, He WM a God 
 full of Com^ffior^ Graciow and Long-f offering, and 
 Plentecw in Mercy and Truth towards them, Pla. 48'. 
 So that it might indeed well be asked, what 
 tpuld have bezn dwe more that was not done, tQ 
 
 ea-
 
 tie Houfe of C o M M o N '5. 5 
 
 engage them to be Good, and confequently to 
 make them Happy. 
 
 But, Secondly, notwithftanding all this, not? 
 withstanding all the gracious Difpenfations, 
 even of inexhauftible Bounty, and of infinite 
 Goodnefs to endear them, and to oblige them 
 to their Duty, it appears, that they were as di- 
 ftinguifhable for their Impieties againft God, as 
 for the Bleflings and the Mercies they received 
 from him ; they impioufly rejected even the 
 Divine Theocracy ; they perverted and annulled 
 the Divine Laws by their wicked Comments 
 and Traditions, even to that execrable Degree, 
 as to invert the Names of Good and Evil, to fub- 
 vert Juftice and Equity, to juftify the Wicked 
 for a Reward, and to take away the Righteou 
 nefs of the Righteous from him. And thus they 
 turn'd their BlefTings intoCurfes, and made the 
 Heavenly Difpenfations, intended for their Wel- 
 fare, the Occafion of their Ruin. For, 
 
 Were they blefTed with' Plenty and 'Abun- 
 dance, this they made the Fuel of their Pride 
 and Luxury ; were they profperous in their En- 
 terprizes, and victorious over their Enemies .; 
 how vain and arrogant did this make them, and 
 how confident in their own weak Strength and 
 Policy? Or were they guarded from publick 
 Evils and Difturbances, this they imputed alfo 
 to their own poor Contrivances, and not to his 
 Goodnefs who is alone able to make Men dwell 
 in Safety j or did the good God fend among 
 them wife Men, Prieftsand Prophets, to reprove 
 
 theiuv
 
 Sermon Preached before 
 
 their Wickednefs, and to inftrucl: them in their 
 Duty : Alas ! thofe they very ill intreated,/<w- 
 ing Some.) and killing Others, and did not fpare 
 the Son of God hirnfelf, who came for their 
 Redemption, but with wicked Hands did crucify 
 and flay him ; fuch were the Returns, fuch the 
 Gratitude of this unhappy Nation. We are now, 
 
 Thirdly, and Laftly, to fee the IfTue of it, when 
 Jt appear'd, that fo many rich Bleflings were 
 beftow'd in Vain, that no Kindneffes nor Fa- 
 vours cou'd affeft them; that they regarded not 
 the Calls and Intreaties of a good God ; and that 
 his Tender Corrections made no Impreflions on 
 them, but that they were refolute in their Wick- 
 ^dnefs, and obftinately forfook God j we then 
 find that God refolv'd to forfake them, having 
 long waitedjand by kind and various Ways and 
 Means, often caird them to Repentance, when 
 all was to no Purpofe j and that they were in- 
 corrigible, He then appear'd nolefs fearful in 
 the Judgments that he brought upon them, than 
 He formerly had -been Gracious in His Fa- 
 vours towards them. For, 
 
 What Hiftories are there of the Sufferings of 
 Mankind any where, that feem to be fo deep- 
 ly written in Characters of Blood, as to be 
 compared to the difmal Accounts given us of 
 the Deftru&ion of the Jewifli Nation ? For with 
 what a fearful Complication of the fevereft 
 Judgments were they long harrafs'd, and at 
 lad undone ? With Peftilences the moft Depo- 
 pulating ; with fore Famines, that even oblig'd 
 
 Nature
 
 tie Houfe of C o M M o N s. 7 
 
 Nature to be unnatural, i.e. the tendered Parents 
 to Prey upon their own Offspring ; and with 
 fuch Deftruftions of the Sword, as fhew'd no 
 Mercy to Age, nor Sex ; and yet this mifera- 
 ble People, while thus afTaulted from without, 
 were fo wretchedly divided from within, as to 
 Slay each other, as if they were avow'd Con- 
 fpirators with the Common Enemy, for the 
 haftening of their own Deftrudion : Nor dfid 
 they ever ceafe from this Rage andMadnefs, 'till 
 their City and GloriousTemple were deftroy'd ; 
 'till their Government was abolifh'd ; 'till their 
 Country became defolate, and the wretched 
 Remains of them were either banifh'd, , or fold, 
 as Slaves, or carry'd off as Captives to grace the 
 Triumphs of their Enemies. 
 
 This, this, Alas ! was at length the Fate of 
 this Favourite Nation ; they forfook God, and 
 God forfook them,to the Fatal Confequences of 
 their Sins ; and gave them up to that Judicial 
 Blindnefs, as not to fee the Means of their Sal- 
 vation. An *' Infatuation that ftill refts upon 
 their perverfe Pofterity, as if defign'd to be a 
 lafting Teftimony of the Wrath of God a- 
 gainft them. 
 
 Now from hence tetus, and others, learn^ 
 what are like to be the fad Confequences, of 
 a long Abufe of the Divine Goodnefs and Mer- 
 
 * Quidnani vero 111! re&e fcntire et fapere poflunt, qui poft 
 
 lllam Dotnini cedem, mentibus capti, npn ratione aliqua, fed 
 
 Impotent! Impetu,quocunqe eos infttus impellic furor ducun- 
 
 cur. Epift. Couftant. M. d omncs. Ecclefias, Ex Nifcph. 
 
 1. 8. c. <,
 
 8 A Ser&ob Preached before 
 
 cy. To this End thefe two following ufeful 
 Obfervations muft be very obvious to us. 
 
 Firfl 9 Xliat a People orNation, to whom God 
 vouchfafes great and extraordinary Bleflings, 
 are for that Reafon oblig'd to a return of ex- 
 traordinary Piety and Virtue, and to abound 
 in good Works in fome Proportion to the a- 
 bundant Bleflings, and the Means of Grace that 
 are conferr'd upon them .: It being the Rule 
 in the f Divine Account, that to whom moft 
 is given, of them moft will be requir'd ; and 
 they who have moft Talents will be expected 
 to make the beft Improvements; fo that fuch 
 as partake moft of the Divine Bounty, ought to 
 be the moft hearty and zealous in the Divine 
 Service. 
 
 Secondly, That when a People fhall do other- 
 wife, and in Contempt of the greateft Encou- 
 ragements given to be Good, fhall yet dare to 
 be the moft provoking Sinners, they muft then 
 expect the greateft Punifhments ; becaufe an 
 Abufe of moft Bleflings neceffarily calls for a 
 Return of the heavieft Judgments. And fince 
 p'ublick States and Societies, as fuch, are to ex- 
 pect their Retributions in this Life, as was feen 
 in the Cafe of the Jem, we muft then conclude, 
 that an Abufe of National Bleflings will be vi- 
 fited and follow'd with Publick and National 
 Calamities. 
 
 Now
 
 Now that we may be the more fenfibleof our 
 own Concernment in thefe Doctrines, and be 
 able to make the moftufeful Applications of them 
 to ourfelves, I propofe thefe three Things. 
 
 i ft, To confider the Great and Extraordinary 
 Bleiftngs and Favours, that the Divine Provi- 
 dence has vouchfafed to us, the People of this 
 Kingdom. 
 
 2dly, To confider how very much we have 
 been wanting to our Duty, by making fo very 
 ill and unfuitable Returns for thofe great and 
 fignal Ble (Tings. 
 
 $dly, To confider, for that Reafon, how 
 much we are oblig'd ferioufly to attend to the 
 Duty now enjoyn'd us ; that is, to humble our 
 felves before God, and to repent us truly of our 
 Sins, that they may not be our Ruin. But, 
 
 Firfi, I am to confider the Great and Extra- 
 ordinary Bleflings and Favours, &c. 
 
 This is a Subject fo very Rich and Copious, 
 as that it is not to be reduc'd into the Compafs 
 of this fhort Difcourfe ; I muft therefore con- 
 tent my felf, by giving only fome general Hints 
 and Intimations of them. For, but upon a very 
 cur for y View taken of the feveral Inftances of 
 the Divine Bounty, and of the many Advanta- 
 ges and Privileges, Natural and Civil, .Tempo- 
 ral and Spiritual, that we are blefs'd with, may 
 it not be ask'd, who are they, what State, what 
 Kingdom, or what Nation under Heaven is 
 there that can vye with us ? 
 
 B God
 
 io A Sermon Preaclfd before 
 
 God hath planted us in a .Serene, a Tempe- 
 rate and a Healthy Climate, free from the Ter- 
 rors and Deflations of Earthquakes and Volca- 
 #fl's; free from the frequent Annoyances of 
 Plagues and Peftilences ; in a rich and fertile 
 Land, that plentifully yields all we can defire, 
 not only for the Support, but for the Comforts 
 and Delights of Life ; and that in fuch Abun- 
 dance, as affords Supplies, not only for its Na- 
 tion, but for many Foreign Countries, and for 
 a beneficial Commerce with the remoteft Na- 
 tions. 
 
 To render us as fecure, as we are remarkable 
 for fo many Advantages, is it not a very valua- 
 ble Situation given us, that Indulgent Nature 
 Guards us with the Ocean ? Which is a Defence 
 certainly much more impregnable than that of 
 Walls and Bullworks ; and wouM free us eafily, 
 (were we fo wife and good as to be well united to 
 each other) from all the Frights and Dangers 
 of Surprizes, or Invafions ; without either the fad 
 Neceflity, or Expences, that others areoblig'd to 
 of having numerous Forces to defend their 
 Borders. 
 
 But further, that which is our peculiar Glory, 
 and that makes us at once the Envy and the 
 Admiration of the World, is ( if I may be al- 
 lowed to fpeak of it before thofewho beft know 
 it ) the fmgular Excellency and Happinefs of 
 our Constitution. That whereas the Nations 
 that furround us are.reduc'd to Slavery, and 
 fubjeded to the imperious Didates, of I know 
 
 not:
 
 the Houfe of C o M M o-N s. 1 1 
 
 not what, arbitrary and lawlefs Powers ; yet a 
 kind and aufpicious Providence has ftill prefer- 
 ved ourLiberty (and may God long continue it) 
 that we are- ruPd not like Be^fts, not like Bond- 
 Slaves, but like Men ; and that it is the Glory 
 of our Monarchy to have fuch its Subjects . *A 
 Monarchy fo benign and aufpicious, as to know 
 no Tyranny ; adorn'd like that of Heaven, with 
 the Prerogative and Powers of doing whate- 
 ver Good a virtuousPrince can wifh for ; and as 
 far as may be wifely guarded from the Evils one 
 that might be other wife fhould be betrayed in- 
 to. A happy Government fo harmonious ! 
 Where the Prince and Subject fhare fo amica- 
 bly in the mighty Powers of it ; being fuch, that 
 we are allowed that ineftimable Privilege, as of 
 being ruPd by Laws of our own making, fo of 
 being judg'd by our own Peers. An Ordinance, 
 if any, that merits well to be efteemed Divine, 
 as being the beft that can be well devifed by 
 Human Wifdom, to promote the mutual Wel- 
 fare both of the Sovereign and the Subject, to 
 maintain, the true Grandeur of the one, and the 
 juft Rights and Properties of the other; to in- 
 fluence the Prince to rejoyce in doing Good, and 
 being Beneficent to his Country ; as a tender 
 Parent to his People on the one hand, and to 
 Influence the People as his Children to be Duti- 
 ful and Obedient to him on the other ; and to be 
 
 o r TO 
 
 . . 
 
 SVWAV tytov Scit Rex, itaque eft ille qui imperat fecundum 
 Leges, et procluseft Scientia impera'ndivokntibv.s. 
 
 B 2 true
 
 12 A Sermon Preached before 
 
 true and faithful in that Obedience for Confci- 
 ence fake ; and not only for the Fear of Wrath, 
 but on the nobleftPrinciple, that of Love. . 
 
 Secondly^ As in our Secular, fo have we been 
 flioft eminently favourM by the Divine Good- 
 nefs in, our Spiritual and Religious Interefts. 
 For whenjn the Fullnefs of Time God thought 
 fit to reveal his Will by his Son concerniagMan's 
 Salvation, and to recal the World from Pagan 
 Ignorance and Idolatry, it is well known that 
 this happy *Ifland was with the earlieft of 
 the Gentiles converted to Chriftianity ; that as 
 It had theHononr of the firft Chriftian Monrach 
 to make it the national and eftablifhed Faith, 
 fo it had of giving Birth to the firft Chriftian 
 Emperor, who made it the Eftablifhme.nt of the 
 Empire. 
 
 If afterward the malignant Poifon, firft of the 
 *Anian^ and then of the Pelagian Herefy, crept 
 In, or fprung up among us to invade our Quiet, 
 and to corrupt our Faith, and fo made way for 
 thofe Judgments and Delufions that enflav'd 113 
 to the Roman See, (and God grant that the fame 
 Attempts being now reviv'd may not be follow- 
 
 i 1 1 _ ii i ' " ' , . i. * , " 
 
 *Briranniam noftram etfidem reeepifie mox a Pafllone ChrlftI, 
 at ab ipfis quiden diicipulis fuis, mul&a perhibent Teftimonia^ 
 StcIm.Cm. I. i.p. i. LuciunxunanimicerforuntrecipifTcfidein 
 ab Eleatkerio. Ibid. p.Jl. 
 
 ^Manfit hsec Chrifti capitls & Membrorum confonantia fua- 
 vis donee Arriana perfida arrox, feu anguis tranfmarina nobi v s 
 svomens vencna, tratres !n unum habitaates exitjabiiiter face- 
 ret icjunci.
 
 the Houfe of C o M M o N s. 13 
 
 ed by the like Confufions) but when I fay by 
 thefe Corruptions, we unhappily relapfed again 
 to almoft a Pagan Superftition and Idolatry; fo 
 as that Legends and corrupt Traditions, inftead 
 of the Divine Oracles ; and that the Worfhip of 
 Men, Women, and Angels, inftead of that of 
 the Living God, together with all the abfurd 
 Inventions of Will-Worfhifr inftead of the pure 
 and rational Religion of the Gofpel, were im- 
 pos'd upon us ; when this was the fad Circum- 
 fiance of all the We fern Churches, and of all 
 others captivated to the RomavYoke, with what: 
 Pleafure Ihould we reflect on that Goodnefs that 
 delivered us before fo many others from that 
 Bondage, by a happy Reformation : A Refbiv 
 jnation, that has again fettled our Church, upon 
 her old and juft Foundations, the Word of God ; 
 and thereby reftored her to her primitive and 
 ancient Purity,fo as to be Orthodox in her Faith 
 and Doctrines, excellently Pious in her Liturgy, 
 and Edifying and Decent in her Ceremonies. 
 
 That this Holy Religion might want no Mo- 
 tives, no Endearments to recommend it to us 
 what a noble Cloud of WitneiTes, of Saints^ 
 Martyrs, and ConfefTors, of excellent Bifhops^ 
 ufeful Paftors, and other good Men from Time 
 to Time has the Divine Goodnefs raifed up 
 among us ? Who by their fhining Piety, and 
 faithful Precepts, and by their matchlefs Wri- 
 tings, polemical and practical, addrefTed both 
 from the Pulpit and thePrefs ; and who by li- 
 ving innocently ,and fuffering patiently, even un- 

 
 14 *A Sermon Prsacfrd before 
 
 to Death, have glonioufly given the utmoft 
 Teftimony to the Truth and Efficacy of our 
 Faith. 
 
 And now if we reflec"l upon thefe feveral 
 Means of Grace, and upon the great Affrftan- 
 ces and Incitements to Holinefs andVirtue,with 
 which our Church is distinguished to a Degree 
 equal, if not fuperior, to any in the Univerfe ; 
 what other Nation therefore is there that is on 
 that Account oblig'd to excel in Goodnefs, and 
 to be diftinguifli'd by fuperiour Degrees of Pro- 
 bity and Piety as we are ? For to whom is it 
 hat the great God hath been fo good and graci- 
 >ns as to us, with Regard toourHappinefs, both 
 Temporal and Eternal ? But, 
 
 Thirdly^ We have yet further Pledges of the 
 Divine Love, and fuch as ought never to be for- 
 gotten by us, I mean the fignal, the almoft mi- 
 raculous Deliverances vouchfafed fo often both 
 to our Church and State : Our Sins, our Follies 
 have often call'd for Difcipline, often provok'd 
 God's Wrath againft us, and confequently expo- 
 fed us to be troubled and diftreffed by thofe that 
 hated us ; but ftill, with what Clemency, with 
 what Mercy have our Punifhments been tem- 
 pered to teach us that not our Ruin, but our Re- 
 formation was thereby intended. And 
 
 When (to be the more aife&ed with the 
 Senfe of the Divine Clemency and our Delive- 
 rances) we look back upon the various Arts and 
 Methods of our Enemies (Enemies not to be 
 defpiied either for their Skill, or Power) who 
 
 have
 
 the Houfe ofC o M M o N s. 15 
 
 have fo long labour'd to undo us, fometimc 
 by open Violence and Hoftility, and fometime 
 by fecret Treachery and Villany ; and that they 
 have (tuck at no MafTacres, no Murders, no 
 Seditions, or Confpiracies, no Treaibns or Re- 
 bellions, and no bale AflafTinations to eiTecl our 
 Ruin ; is it not then a Miracle of Mercy that we- 
 have been hitherto preferv'd ? and fhou'd we not 
 with all Humility afcribe it to God s Mercy, 
 and not our Merits, to God's Providence, and 
 not our Forefight, that fo many wicked Devices, 
 fo many curs'd Contrivances form'd againftus,. 
 have been defeated and confounded ? 
 
 Thefe are Things too well known, to be long 
 infifted on this honourable Audience, which is 
 fo converfant in the Hiftories, not only of our 
 own, but of all 1 Nations, and therefore needs 
 not be appriz'd by me, of the great Things 
 God has done in Ages pail, for this Church and 
 Nation, and much lefs of thofe within our own 
 Remembrance. 
 
 For you that have been "Witneffes to the De- 
 ftruclions that have fo often threaten'd us, you 
 that have feen our Religion and our Laws in 
 their laft Extremities, you that have feen our- 
 Animoftties- and Diffentions almoft inflam'd 
 .into tjie mercilefs Barbarities of a civil War, 
 you that fo well know how many and how 
 great our Dangers and DiftreiTes have been, 
 and how ft range a concurrence of wonderful 
 and kind Providences have interven'd fo often 
 for our refcue. Nay, you that have the Plea-
 
 1 6 A Sermon Preached before 
 
 fure to refleft, many of you, that in the Hands 
 of Providence, you yourfelves have been fo 
 much the Inftruments of our Deliverances, that 
 your wife Proceedings in the Senate and the 
 Council, and that your fteady condud and valour 
 in our Fleets and Armies, have happily expert- 
 enc'd the Divine Beneficence, in the Succeffes 
 and Victories you have gain'd for the wellfare 
 of your Country. The grateful Impreffions of 
 thele Thjngs, I fay, being as yet fo lively, and 
 fo well fixt in your Breaftf , I fhall no longer 
 need to dwell upon them. And, 
 
 This may fuffice, as to my firll Particular : I 
 proceed, 2dly, To confider how very much we 
 have been wanting to our Duty, by making 
 very ill and unfuitable Returns for thofe great 
 and fignal Bleflings. 
 
 Upon a Review of the foregoing Advantages, 
 and of that aufpicious Providence that has ta- 
 ken fo much Care of us, might it not be well 
 expeded, that we were poITeis'd with the moil 
 grateful Apprehenfions of the Divine Bounty 
 towards us ; that we were truly fenfible of our 
 Happinefs, and accordingly thankful, for fo 
 eafy and fo mild a Government, heartily Loyal 
 to our moil gracious Sovereign, and as heartily 
 well afteded one towards another ; and that by 
 a holy Life u r e itudy'd to adorn that moft holy 
 Religion, which God hath hitherto fo wonder- 
 fully prelerved to us; for fuch, undoubtedly, 
 oa^ht to be our Acknowlegements for the fore- 
 n :.ea lion \I BLe ill iigs, but, a las', to our Shames, 
 
 and
 
 the Houfe of C o M M o N s. 17 
 
 and God grant, that to our Amendment all" it 
 be fpoken, inftead of thofe dutiful Returns which 
 the Divine Bleflings have fo juftly calPd for, 
 how undutiful, how ungrateful have we been ! 
 For, 
 
 Are there any of the fad Abominations 
 charg'd upon the Jews in the Context, that are 
 not too prevailing among us ? Were they tax'd 
 with Coveteoufnefs, with Oppreflion, with In- 
 temperance, Drunkennefs, Pride, Luxury, with 
 Perverfenefs in inverting the Names of Good 
 and Evil, with carnal Security, and a ftrange 
 Vanity of thinking themfelves Wife, when they 
 were moil Foolifh, as being extremely wicked ; 
 are thefe the fad Enormities complaiii'd of in 
 the Jews, and for which they were to be de- 
 ftroy'd ? and can it be deny'd that the fame, nay, 
 and many other Impieties, are not become the 
 crying Sins of this Land ? For of what complain- 
 ings of Oppreffions in our Streets , and, of Violence in- 
 cur High Ways do we not frequently hear of? Of 
 what Mercilefs and Jswifb Coveteoufnefs on the 
 one Hand, and of what boundlefs Luxury and 
 Extra vangancies on the other ? 
 
 And tho' the glorious Light of theGofpelhas 
 fhin'd fo long upon us, in fo bright a Manner, 
 yet good God ! to how little Purpofe ; for what 
 Returns have we made in any meafure fuitable 
 to fo plentiful a Difpenfation of it ? How often 
 is that Holy Religon which was given to be our 
 Rule of Worfliip, and which is the \Vifdom of the 
 great God daringly made the Subjed of pro- 
 
 C phane
 
 1 8 A Sermon Preached be j ore 
 
 phane Raileiy ? How is that holy Religion, that 
 lays upon us all the Tyes imaginable of being 
 united in the Bonds of Charity one towards 
 another ? How is it perverted to quite another 
 Purpofe, and made to be the common Topick 
 of Difputes and Wranglings ? And that fome- 
 tjmes by fuch, whofe Time and Pains undoubt- 
 edly might much more ufefully be employed, 
 more to the Edification of the People, more to 
 the Tranquillity of Church and State, in incul- 
 cating uncontroverted Duties, than (for the fake, 
 perhaps,of fhewing more their Parts than Piety) 
 in reviving old, or creating new Difputes, or 
 Herefies. 
 
 But not to infift too long on fo difagreeable a 
 Subject, whither it be from the Licentioufncfs 
 arifing from Practices of this Kind, or from 
 the incorrigible ill Example of others, and the 
 Impunities allow'd to (b many ill Men, by the 
 RemiiTnefs and Neglecl: of civil Magiftrates 
 ( which are Faults not to be diifembl'd whom- 
 foever they affefc) or from whatever other 
 Caufe, or Caufes, it proceeds ;it is plain the Con- 
 fequence is too vifible, that our Impieties, our 
 Immoralities are very grofs and enormous ; too 
 provoking towards God ; too pernicious in their 
 own Nature to confift, or to be compatible with 
 the Favour of God, or our Safety \ fince it is fo 
 manifcft that there are among us fo. many 
 vicious Libertines, fa many prophane Scoffers 
 o Religion, fo many perjur'd Wretches, that 
 ad in Oppoiition to their mbit folemn Obliga- 
 tions,
 
 the Houfe of Co M M o N s. 19 
 
 tions, and fo many that daringly avow their Infi- 
 delity, and indulge themfelves without controul 
 in their Extravagances ; for thefe areThings that 
 can't go long unpunifhed in any State, if they 
 are not repented of. 
 
 'Tis true indeed, (and God be praifed for it) 
 that thefe Impieties are not yet fo fpreading as 
 to be univerfalfGod forbid they ever fhould)for 
 to our Comfort be it fpoken, there are among us 
 alfo many worthy Perfons, no lefs diftinguifh- 
 able for their Piety and Vertue, than others for 
 their Impiety and Debauchery ; Men that fear 
 God, and that obey the King, detefting both the 
 Guilt of Hypocrify toward the one, and Dif- 
 loyalty toward the other ; Men that have a due 
 Regard to their Oaths and Promifes, that efchew 
 Evil and do Good, that are not afham'd of their 
 Religion, and fhew it, not by loud Pretences, 
 not by extolling Parties, but in ferving God tru- 
 ly, in doing Juftice, in loving Mercy, in ftudy- 
 ing to be quiet, and to do their own Bufinefs ; 
 and in a Word, by heartily endeavouring, not 
 only to fave their own Souls, but the Souls 
 of others too. 
 
 Thefe, thefe are furely the moft propitious and 
 the beft Guardians of our Land ; thefe are they 
 that have hitherto ftood between us and Deftru- 
 tion ; and warded off the Thunderbolts of the 
 Divine Vengeance. And we fhould pray that 
 it may pleafe God by the Efficacy of his Grace, 
 to add daily to the Number of thofe Holy and 
 Tutelar Patriots, feeing we have fo much Rea- 
 
 G 2 fon
 
 2O A Sermon Preaclfd before 
 
 fon to believe it to be owing to their Goodnefs 
 and their Piety, to the Intereft that they have 
 with God, and their powerfullnterceflion for us 
 that we are yet prefer v'd. But 
 
 Tho' God, for their Prayers, and for his own 
 Mercy ? s fake ( which ftould lead us to Repen- 
 tance ) doth as yet with-hold hi? Vengeance, and 
 wait for our Amendment, yet, let us not be fo 
 deluded a,s to imagine that even infinite Mercy 
 can endure for to be ftill abufed. For God hath 
 plainly told us that when a People proves incor- 
 rigible, He mil vtpt them in the fever ett Manner, 
 t bat: his Eye will not fpare, nor will he pity^ but that 
 he will judge them according to their Ways,, and re- 
 commence upon them their Abominations Nay, and 
 that tho' Saints fo illuftrious, and fo dear and va- 
 luable to him, as Noah, Daniel^ and Job, fhould 
 be the Members of aState, or Nation, that was 
 incorrigibly corrupt and vicious, they fhould 
 deliver but their own Souls, That the Righte- 
 oufnefs of the Righteous (hould be upon him, - but 
 that the\Vickednefs of theWicked fhould be upon them. 
 It behoves us therefore to look well to it, leaft 
 we be thought incorrigible, and leaft our 
 Impieties encreafe and multiply to that Terrible 
 deg ee, as in the Divine Eftimate, to be account- 
 ed ripe for Vengeance. 
 
 That we may be juftlyfenfible of this Danger, 
 it becomes us often to remember on the one 
 hand, by what a multitude of Obligations we 
 are engag'd to be a Virtuous and Religious Peo- 
 ple, and on the other, how far fhort, as to in- 
 
 fi-
 
 the Houfe of COMMONS. 21 
 
 finitely the greater! Number, we are from an- 
 fwering of this Chara&e r ; and when we feriouf- 
 ly think of this, and read the Fate of God's Re- 
 bellious People, whom we imitate fo much, what 
 a Concern and Terror fhould the Appehenfion 
 of our Danger ftrike into us ? For can we think 
 that the juftGod, the Righteous Judge of all the 
 Earth, will not be aveng'd of thofe who dare 
 prefumptioufly to infult his Laws ; and if we 
 ask the Generations of old, and the Ages that 
 are paft, what State, what Kingdom ever was 
 there, when once 'twas over-run with Vice and 
 Immorality, that was fuffer'd to go unpunifhed ? 
 No, hence arofe the Ruin, hence the certain 
 Defolation of all the Empires in the Univerfe ; 
 when no other Enemy could effecl: it, their own 
 Sins and Wickednefs, grown to a Heigth, have 
 never fail'd to ruin them ; being forfaken of the 
 Divine Blefling, they commonly fell a Victim 
 to their own Corruptions and DirTentions. 
 
 Seeing then that the juftGpd did not fpare his 
 own peculiar jPeople, and that he even forfook 
 Jerufalem bis Delict among Men^ when it was 
 defiled with Wickednefs, can we think that he 
 will not deal with us, and others, in the like 
 Manner, when our Abominations fhall be equal- 
 ly provoking ? But this brings me to my 
 
 Third, and Last Particular, which is to fhew 
 that the Senfe of our Tranfgreflions fhould ob- 
 lige us in the moft folomn Manner to attend to 
 the Duty of this Day j to humble ourfelves be- 
 fore
 
 22 A Sermon Preached before 
 
 fore God, and to repent us of our Sins, that they 
 may not be our Ruin. 
 
 From theSenfe of our Unworthinefs we can't 
 but fee the abfolute, the indifpenfible Neceflity 
 of Repentance : And happy for us that we are 
 allow'd that Privilege to prevent our Ruin ; Re- 
 pentance being the Sancluary, being the fure 
 and happy Refuge, and the laft Support and 
 Comfort of diftrefTed Sinners ; for when their 
 Sins with-hold good Things from them, when 
 the dreadful Judgments of Heaven are ready 
 to break out upon them, and that they are upon 
 the Brinks of Ruin, the only Hope then lett 
 whereby to avert the Storm, and to conciliate 
 the Peace and Favour of the offended Deity, is 
 Repentance. And, 
 
 What Repentance means, you know, is to 
 enter into a ftrid Examination of the Evil of 
 our Ways, not after the Manner of DiiTemblers 
 with God, for God will not be mock'd, but fo 
 as to beget in us a juft Abhorrence of our Abo- 
 minations, and to be heartily aiflited and grie- 
 ved for them, humbly to acknowledge them, 
 with all the Aggravations that attend them, to 
 deprecate that Wrath and Vengeance which we 
 deierve ; to refolve upon a better Obedience for 
 the future, and to beg for Grace to be confirm'd 
 in tliefe our Pious Refolutions. And, 
 
 If by thefe penitential Exercifes we afflift our 
 feivcs m fome Proportion, to the Heinoufnefs of 
 our Guilt, 'till we break the Bonds of Wicked- 
 nefs, ceafe to do Evil, and learn to do well, and 
 
 add,
 
 the Houfe of C o M M o N s. 23 
 
 add, hereto our moft importunate Supplications 
 at theThrone of Grace, for the Pardon of our Sins, 
 and of the crying Sins of thefe Kingdoms ; we 
 may then humbly hope that God willftill rejoice 
 to do us Good, have Mercy upon us, and avert 
 the heavy Judgments that our Sins fo loudly call 
 for ; it being written for our Comfort, That he 
 who confeffeth his Sin andforfaketh it (hall have Mer- 
 cy ; and that to the Lord our God belong Mercies and 
 Forgiveneffes, tho'' we have rebelled against him. Nay, 
 and that fliould the Cafe be fuch, as that the Di- 
 vine Judgments fhould be actually ilTued forth, 
 as, that the Heaven fbould bejhut up, and there be 
 no Rain, or that the Locufts be commanded to devour 
 the Land, or that a Pejlilence befent among the Peo- 
 ple. Even in thofe difmal Circumftances, the 
 Gracious God hath promifed, That if my People, 
 fays he, who are caTd by my Namsfhall humble them- 
 J elves, and fray, andfeek my Face, and turn from 
 their wicked ways^ then will 1 hear from Heaven, and 
 will forgive their Sin, and will hsal their Land. 
 2. Chron. 7. 13. 14, 
 
 So then, as our whole Welfare, Happinefs, and 
 Security is to come from God, fo the Means, we 
 fee, of being entitled to it, is Repentance. But 
 we fhall be the better able t.> fee our great Con- 
 cernment in thisDury, the Neceflity of Rccourfe 
 to it at this Time, and in fome Meafure after 
 what Manner it fhould be done, if we attend 
 to thefe Two following Confiderations. 
 
 First, To the Consideration of the Aggravati- 
 ons that our Sins do admit of.
 
 24 A Sermon Preached before 
 
 Secondly, To that of the Judgments that we 
 are at prefent threatened with. And, 
 
 tirft, Of the Aggravations that our Sins do 
 admit of; of thofe I era veto inftance but in only 
 Two,i//.That they are committed in Contempt 
 of the Divine Goodnefs, that fhould have obli- 
 ged us to .our Duty ; and Secondly, in Defpight 
 of thofe fartherly Corrections, that Ihould have 
 reclaim'd us to it. 
 
 Firft then, It behoves us to refieft how egregi- 
 oufly we have abufed the Divine Goodnefs ; for 
 as much, as that we have not been only barren 
 of good Works, but abounded in thofe that are 
 Wicked, in Defpight of all that the Divine Good- 
 nefs hath done for us. That Immorality and Im- 
 piety, and all the Works of Darknefs, fhould be 
 the Produce and Growth of the dark and un- 
 lighten'd Parts of the World is not to be ad- 
 mir'd, while they 'are unhappily fo deftitute of 
 divine Knowledge, and of the Means of Grace. 
 But God be bleis'd, the Cafe is otherwife with 
 us, we are not thus forfaken, nor left to go aftray 
 in the Paths of darknefs, or to be benighted in the 
 gloomy Regions of the Shadow of Death. 
 
 And yet, if we, who have been refcu'd out of 
 this miferable State, if we, who have fo long 
 enjoy'd fo ferene and clear a Light of the molt 
 divine and purelt Informations ; if we that have 
 the Oracles of the living God fpeaking in our 
 own Tongue; if we that have a Religion fo 
 eftablifh'd on Credentials, fo worthy of a God to 
 give, and fo worthy of the moft exalted Reafon to 
 
 acquiefce
 
 the Houfe of COMMONS. 
 
 acquiefce in ; if we that have not only the beft 
 Inftru&ions fet before us, but are call'd upon 
 fo often, and in io many Ways, in Books and 
 Sermons, with the mofl Affectionate and Pathe- 
 tick Exhortations, to the Obfervation of them 
 and that have fuch ftrong Engagements in the 
 bright Examples of fo many excellent Perfons^ 
 to excite us to our Duty ; if, notwithstanding 
 all thefe rich Cultivations, we have been not 
 only barren of good Fruit, but like the degene- 
 rated Vine in the Text, we have brought forth 
 four Grapes, that is, if in defpight of all thofe 
 Means that have been us'd to make us Good, 
 we have daringly fm'd againft Light, as it 
 were in contempt of Grace, in contempt of out 
 own folemn Vows and Engagements, and in 
 contempt of all the Threats and Promifes of the 
 Gofpel. Alas, if this be indeed our Cafe, ought 
 we not to (land amaz'd at the Riches of that 
 Mercy, that has hitherto fpar'd us ? Ought 'we 
 not to adore that Goodnefs that has not yet 
 remov'd our Candleftick for {b bafe a Neglect, 
 and fo daring an abufe of it ? And Ought we not 
 to have an Indignation againft ourfelves, and 
 to be overwhelmed with Shame and Sorrow 
 at the Remembrance of having been fo unduti- 
 f hi and difobedient to fo gracious and fo good a 
 God ? We that (land in need of fo much For- 
 givenefsjought to be more earneft in our Repen- 
 ance ; and we that have experienc'd fo very 
 much of the divine Goodnefs ought (according 
 
 D to 

 
 26 A Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 ~ 
 
 to our Saviour's Rule) to be by fo much the. 
 more intent and" fervent in our Love of God. 
 
 Secondly It is to be alfo fear'd, that the little 
 gr no Effect ; which the Afflictions and Punifli- 
 ments we have been already vifited with for,- 
 our Sins, may be another Aggravation of them ; 
 for fince Afflictions faring not from, tfie Dttjt, are. 
 not the Effects of a blind chance, bat of a wife, 
 and fteady Providence.. For, II is /, faith the, 
 Lord,, that make Peace and create Evil, and (hall 
 there be any Evil [ i. e. of Affliction] in the City, 
 and the Lord hath not done it. Amos 3.6. We fhou'd 
 then remember that wllea Afflictions come, to 
 look upon them, as fent from God, either to try. 
 our Vertue, or to correct our Folly. 
 
 When we. then reflLct upon- our own De- 
 merits, and upon the Troubles. and Calamities 
 that have bjfallen us, we ought from thence to 
 be.afTur'd both of our Provocations againft God, 
 and of his Difpleafure againft us. ' fis true .we 
 Jhou'd not hence infer, that we are not the 
 greateft Sinners,, becaufe we have not been- the 
 greatefl SarTcrers, for ibmetimes God allows a 
 longer Time to fome than others for Repentan r 
 ces ; yet if we attend either to the Number, or 
 Nature, of the Troubles .wherewith we.haye 
 beenexercis'dj.we fhall have little Rtafon to 
 inter tlience that in the divine Eftimate, we are 
 not lookM upon as 'Very great and provoking 
 Sinners, 
 
 For tho' (God be prais'd) we have not a late. 
 Experience of Peiti.icn.ee, or Famine, nor of the
 
 tie Houfe of C o M M o -N s. 27 
 
 bloody Outrages of a civil War, nor of the mer- 
 ciiefs Defolations of Fire and Sword, fcatter'd by 
 a Foreign Enemy within our Borders ; but tho* 
 we have not felt thofe. fore Calamities, (and God 
 grant we never may), yet how often have they 
 threaten'd us, and how narrowly have we 
 efcap'd (at leaft fome of) them ? How long have 
 we been menac'd and infulted by the Popifh 
 Power ? How for more than Thirty Years to- 
 gether, have we been engag'd as it were, but in 
 one uninterrupted conteft in the Defence of our 
 Religion and our Laws ? How many Thoufands 
 of our dear and brave Country- Men have facri- 
 fic'd their Lives on the one Hand, and what an 
 ineftimable Expence of Treafures on the other, 
 have we been oblig'd to, for the Support of it ? 
 Again, how great are the Damages and Loffes, 
 that'we have fuftain'd by Sea and Land, and not 
 only by Foreign Depredations, but by the 
 Fraud and Rapine of Domeftick Bubbles and 
 Impoftures ? And when we con fider of thofe and 
 whatever other Evils that have befallen us, 
 which have affected fo many Thoufands of Fa- 
 milies ; can we think that the Wife and Good 
 God did infl it thofe Evils, or fend thofe Punifh- 
 ments for nought ? Or can we imagine, that 
 that gracious Being who grieves not willingly 
 the Children of Men, wou'd afHift and difci- 
 pline us thus feverely, if our Sins and Wicked- 
 fiefs did not make it neceiTary ? May we not in 
 many of our Sufferings, read the finful Caufes 
 of them, and obferve the Finger of God in the 
 
 D 2 Punifh-
 
 28 A Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 Punifhment pointing out the Wickedhefs that 
 o^cafion'd it ? But have we ferioufly confider'ct 
 fchefe Things ? Have they made any juft Impref- 
 fions upon us ; or can we fay that we have been 
 duly ImmbPd under the mighty Hand of God,. 
 ilLthofe his Punifhments ; or have they wrought 
 ajiy considerable Reformation among us ? Have 
 tjie Confederacies of fo many Foreign Enemies 
 againft us, united us to one another, and curd us 
 of our civil Difcords and Animofities ? Has the 
 Senfe of the great and heavy Debts we have 
 contracted, made us better Husbands or more 
 Frugal ? Or have the Damages, and LofTes we. 
 have fuffer'd abated our Pride, or retrenched our 
 Luxuries ? Or Laftly, have the Dangers we have 
 been in of lofing our Religion oblig'd us to a 
 better and ftri&er Obfervance of it ? Alas, if all 
 our Punifhments and Corrections have had fo~ 
 little or no Effect upon us, as the Beinoufnefs of 
 our Guilt muft be thereby inhanc'd ; fo muft it 
 follow, that for being thus obdurate and Impeni- 
 tent, we ihall treafureupunto our Selves greater 
 Degrees ofVengeanceagainft the Day of Wrath : 
 Which brings me in the 
 
 Laft Place to obferve, That the Confideration 
 of the dreadful Judgments we are at prefent 
 threaten'd with, is another Motive that calls up- 
 OA us to a very ftrict and unfeigned Repentance,, 
 It we confider our felves in our prefent Circum- 
 ftances, we have reafon to imagine, that the 
 great God looks upon us with much of that . 
 Concern that our Bleifed Lord, was in, when
 
 he beheld Jerufalem, and faid, Ob ! that thoa 
 hadjl feen in this thy day the things belonging to 
 thy peace. - That he Condoles our Obftinacy and 
 Perverfenefs, and, as it were, wifhes and defires 
 our Repentance and Converfion before ft be 
 too Late. But if no Threats, if no Promifes,.if 
 no Mercies nor Corrections are available to- 
 reclaim us, we muft not then think, that God will 
 ftillflrive with man ; for when Men prove In- 
 corrigible, Mercy then ceafes, and Juftice will 
 take Place. And if it comes to this Extre- 
 mity, if the Righteous God, who is arvfd with the 
 terrors of almighty power, who has heaven and earth, . 
 with all the powers therein, with the Iffues of life 
 and death at his command ; who is a consuming fire 
 to dejlroy the works and workers of iniquity ; if 
 this Tremendous Being comes forth to Judg- 
 ment, Alas,, Who can f and before his Indignation ^. 
 or who can abide the Fiercenefs of his Anger ? Hab. 
 I. 6. 
 
 And now we are to remember, that while 
 we are impenitent, we are at Enmity with this 
 moft dreadful Being, who can at once deprive us 
 of all that we enjoy, and all that we can hope 
 for,and inflict upon us all the Evils we are capa- 
 ble of enduring, or that we can fear. That 
 while we are at Enmity with him, his fy- 
 reft Judgments ftand in Array againft us ; that 
 one of them is, as it were, at this Time bran- 
 difli'd over our Heads; I mean that ragingPefti* 
 fence, now let loofe to fpread its Defolations in 
 the nextKingdom to us.; and we fhould 'remem- 
 ber,
 
 30 A Sermon Prcacffd before 
 
 ber, that the Meaning of that is, to tell us, 
 That they are not greater Sinners than we are, but 
 that if we repent not, we mutt likewife pertjb. And, 
 That we may be fo affefted as we ought o be 
 at the Greatnefs of our Danger, we fhould G .. fi- 
 der,atleaft, a little of the dilinal Defolationsthat 
 we hear of; confider as well of the Strangenefs, 
 as the Terrour of feeing Men in their beft Age 
 and Vigour, as it were by Multitudes falling 
 dead in the Streets and High-ways ; of feeing 
 Crowds of noifome CarcafTes lie unburied, and 
 rotting above Ground for want of Hands to re- 
 move them ; of feeing populous Towns and Ci- 
 ties almoii qii't : depopulated, and of feeingRidi 
 and well Inhabited Provinces in fo fhort aTime 
 made deftitute of Inhabitants, and almoft turn- 
 ed into a Defertc And if at this diftance-thefe 
 Miferies can't but appear very moving to us ; 
 Good God, how unfpeakable would our Ter- 
 rour and Concern be, if they were our own ? 
 Or, what more deplorable Idea can we form to 
 ourfelves, than if this Contagion came among 
 us, and that we in ourTurn fhould be alfo forc'd 
 to fee our Friends and Neighbours fall by 
 Thonfands at our Sides, and by Ten Thoufands 
 at our Right-Hand, to hear at once on every 
 fide the Cries and Groans of the Dying and the 
 Living ; to have our Habitations converted in- 
 to noifome Prifqris ; and to fee this great Metropo- 
 /#, this famous Mart of Nations, fpew out her 
 Inhabitants, and the like fpreading Defolation 
 over-run our Country ? Now when we turn 
 
 our
 
 the Houfe of COMMONS. 31 
 
 our Thoughts to thefe-black and Tragical Views, 
 and remember how very nearly they approach 
 us, unleis the wonted Miracles of the Divine 
 Mercy interpofe on our Behalf; can there be 
 any A pprehenfions more awakening, to oblige 
 us with the utmoft Diligence to make our Peace 
 with God ? In a Word, If we have any Re- 
 gard for the common Good, any Concern for the 
 Welfare of our Native Country, or for thofe in 
 it that are deareil to us, and for oir felves; it 
 behoves us without Delay, and before it be too 
 late, to conciliate his Favour who can alone pre- 
 ferve us. 
 
 Thus does it appear as welt from a View of 
 the Judgments wherewith we are threatened^ 
 as from the Aggravations that our Sins do ad- 
 mit of, how fmcere and extraordinary our Hu- 
 miliation and Repentance fhould be-. 
 
 To Turn- up all ; If in a iuft-Li^ht we fet be* 
 fore us thefe ieveral Confi derations. f/V//, How 
 much we have to yinVer to God for having fo 
 long abus'd his Good d'Js, and making fuch ill 
 Returns for all the. iu:ances of his Love toward 
 us ; how much -we have to anfwer for being fo 
 obdurate and har.ieu'd agauirl Correction ; and 
 profiting fo little by the ,Jif-:ipline w'lorcby his 
 Mercy would reclaim us; a, id how much there- 
 fore God mud be incens'd againft us, as we have 
 Reafon to believe alfo from the terrible Judg- 
 ments that are prefented before us. If the 
 Senfe.of thefe. Things have, a dueErTecl: upon
 
 32 A Sermon Preaclfd before 
 
 us, we fhall be aeceffarily convinced of our 
 Obligation to the following Rules. 
 
 f irtf, With the deepeft Humility, and with 
 a Holy and Religious Fear to proftrate our- 
 (elves before God, To acknowledge that we have 
 not walked in his Laws which he hathfet before as, to 
 acknowledge that to him belongeth Right eoufnefs, but 
 to ut Confufion, to our Kjngs, to our Princes, to 
 our Fathers, and our f elves ^ becaufe we have finned 
 againtt him. 
 
 Secondly, In the devouteft Manner to implore 
 God's Mercy, to contend with him with ftrong 
 Cries and Tears, That he correct us not in his An- 
 ger, least he bring us to Nothing, that he may not 
 remember the crying Sins and Offences of thefe 
 Kingdoms, but that according to his Mercy he may 
 think upon us for his Goodnefs fake, preferve us from 
 the noifome Pejlilence, deliver our Souls from Death? 
 and from all the Evils that we have dtferv*d* 
 And, 
 
 Thirdly, To be qualified,' and made fit Ob- 
 jects for that Mercy ; to refolve to forfake 
 the Evil of our Ways ; topurfue the Things that 
 make for our Peace ; to abhor all Prophanenefs 
 and Irreligion ; to be afham'd of our Civil Dif- 
 cords and Contentions, which tend to render us 
 fo pernicious to ourfelves,fo ufelefs toourFriends, 
 and fo contemptible to our Enemies ; and in a 
 Word, to repent us truly of all our Sins, and 
 unfeignedly to turn to God in Newnefs of Life : 
 fo fliall we efcape the Evils we are afraid of ; 
 enjoy the Continuance of God's Mercy and lo- 
 ving
 
 t lye Houfe of C o m M o N s. 33 
 
 ving Kindnels towards us, and fo doing, whe- 
 ther Life or Death befall us, we ihall be afcer- 
 tained of our Happinefs. 
 
 I have nowdifpatch'd what Ipropos'd, and en- 
 deavoured With that Plainnefs and Simplicity 
 which I think beft becomes the Occafion, to fet 
 before you the heinous Nature of our Guilt ; the 
 Judgments they are likely to bring upon us, and 
 the only Means whereby We may efcape them, 
 namely by Repentance and Reformation. And 
 now, 
 
 Of what mighty Force, Illuftrious Patriots, 
 your Example and your Authority will be to aC- 
 complifli and bring about this BlefTed End, you 
 need not be informed. What remains for me 
 is to fupplicate, that that Wifdom which is from 
 Above may direct you to the beftMeans for the 
 Attainment of our common Good ; and may in- 
 fpire you with Zeal and Refolution equal to 
 this Glorious Undertaking; and 'may enable 
 you moft effectually to fupprefs all Vice and 
 Impiety, (which are our worll Enemies) and to 
 maintain God's true Religion and Vertue among 
 us. And, 
 
 Becaufe God rejoices to fhine upon the Coun- 
 cils of the Juft and Good, may no fmful, or un- 
 becoming Imputations, may no partial, no fini- 
 fter or mean Views be the Reproach of any one 
 who has the Honour to be of your auguft Af- 
 fembly : But may the Briftjb Senate ever be re- 
 nowned for their inviolable Adherence to that 
 noble Principle, of facrificing all otherConfi- 
 
 E ' derations
 
 34 -^ Sermon Preacfrd before 
 
 derations to that of the Publick Welfare ; and 
 may you be as much rever'd and honour'd for 
 your Piety and yourVertue, as you are juftly 
 dreaded for. your Power and Authority. In 
 a Word, and to conclude in the Words of our 
 Holy Mother the Church, May your Confutati- 
 ons ever tend to the Advancement of God's Glory,, 
 to the Good of his Churchy to the Safety , Hoaettr and 
 Welfare of our Sovereign and his K^ingdoms ; that all 
 things may be fo ordered and fettled by your Endea- 
 vours upon ths best and fureH Foundations, that 
 Peace and Happinefs, Truth and Juftice, Religion 
 and Piety, may be eftablifhed among us for all Gene* 
 rations, and till Time fly all be no more. Amen. 
 
 F I N I S.
 
 Newly Puttifhed. 
 
 A View of the State of Religion in the Dio- 
 cefe of St. David, with fome Account 
 of the Caufes of its Decay. Together with 
 Confiderations of the Reafonablenefs of aug- 
 menting the Revenue of Impropriate Churches* 
 By ER A s MU s S A u NDE R s, D. D. And 
 Sold by Jo H N W Y AT, at the K^, ia St 
 Parts Church-Tar 4...
 
 JuH Publifhed. 
 
 ECclefiaftical Memorials ; relating chiefly 
 to Religion, and the Reformation of it, 
 and the Emergencies of the Church o{ England, 
 under King Henry VIII. King Edward VI. and 
 Queen Mary I. All which being new, and fuch 
 as have hitherto efcaped our "Writers and Hifto- 
 rians, will communicate much more Light to 
 thofe great Tranfalions in this Kingdom ; and 
 moreover, difcover further the Inclinations and 
 Influences of the refpedive Princes ; the Em- 
 babies and Correfpondencies with Foreign Po- 
 tentates and Sates, chiefly with Refpeft to Re- 
 ligion : The Oppofitions made to it; the 
 Troubles and Perfections of the ProfeiTorsof 
 it ; the Tempers, Pra&ifes and Events of the 
 Two Cardinals, Woljey and Pole, and other 
 Prelates and great Men of ' both Parties, in 
 the refpe&ive Reigns : Befides, Accounts of 
 Convocations, Royal and Epifcopal Vifitations, 
 Ecclefiaftical Conftitutions, Books from Time 
 to Time fet forth ; with various other Matters 
 worthy of Note and Obfervation. In 3. Vol. 
 With a large Appendix to each Volume, con- 
 taining Original -Papers, Records, $3c-. By 
 JOHN STRYPE, M. A. And Sold by 
 J o H N W Y A T, at the Rofi y in St. Paul\ 
 fchurch-Tard.
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preach'd at the Confecration of the 
 
 Right Reverend Father in GOD 
 
 EDWARD 
 
 Lord Bifliop of Lichfield and Co- 
 ventry, at Lambeth Chappel, 
 November 
 
 By WILLItAM "BTRCHE.M.A. 
 
 Chaplain to His Grace 
 The Lord Archbifhop of CANTERBURY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for JAMES HOLLAND, at the Jtikle and Bali in 
 St. jWs Church Yard. M.DCC.XVII. 
 
 Price Six Pence.
 
 i Ti M B III. 7, 
 
 Moreover he mult have a good 
 fort of them which are without, 
 left he fall into Reproach and the 
 Snare of the Devil, 
 
 THE ApoftleSt Taxi having in the five 
 preceding Verfes enumerated diftin&ly 
 the feveral Virtues which were reauifite 
 to qualify a Man for the Office of a Bifbo& 
 concludes at length the whole Character with 
 the Words of my Text ; vie. Moreover he mttfi 
 bows agtod Refwt efthem which are wTthonti* 
 As if he fliould fay, a Bifhop muft not only be 
 Chaft, Tttofftfcei Vt&lant, Hoffittbk, 
 tttt, and adornM with a!l tiie Ctmlities a 
 tues evtiy good Chrtftian oughb to 
 .of, and which are in every ones Power to 
 but he futril likewife, over and above all 
 
 A 2 have*
 
 4 &4 SERMON *Pwldfifil l the Co 
 have, what is not fo entirely in his own Power, 
 though in a great meafure it may be fo, a good 
 Report, a clear and unfullied Character from 
 them which are without. By them which are 
 without, the Apoftle undoubtedly means the 
 unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. The Jews to 
 whom the preaching of Chrift crucified was a 
 Stumllittg-'Block) and the Greeks who reputed 
 it Footijhxeff, would not fail, we may be fure, 
 to enquire very diligently and narrowly into the 
 Lives and Conversations of the Men who propa- 
 gated thefe new Doctrines, in order to make a 
 Judgment from the Tenour of their former Adti- 
 ons and Behaviour, whether they were fincere 
 in what they Taught and profefs'd to Believe, 
 or had for fome by Ends and Purpofes a DefTgn to 
 impofe upon the reft of the World. It was 
 therefore highly neceflary that the Perfons who 
 were to prefide over the Church of Chrift, and 
 to whom the care of fending Labourers into his 
 Vineyard was committed, mould be Men of ex- 
 emplary Sanctity, and unblameable Lives, in all 
 Things fiewing themfelves ^Patterns of Good 
 Works , that they that were of the contrary part 
 might le afiamed, having no evil Thing to fay of 
 them. And befides this, it was judg'd requifite 
 by the Apoftle, that they fhould not only be 
 fuch of whom no evil Thing could be faid with 
 Truth,, but 'that they fhould likewife be Men 
 of Character and Efteem even among the Un- 
 believers and Gainfayers. He well knew that the 
 attention of the Hearers was moft commonly in 
 proportion to the Authority and good Reputati- 
 on
 
 of the *Bifiof of Lichfield and Coventry. 5 
 on of the Preacher, and that the fame Argu- 
 ments had more or lefs weight with the generali- 
 ty of Mankind, as they came from Men of more 
 or lefs Efteem in the World. That it was there- 
 fore of great importance tobefpeak in this man- 
 ner the Reverence and Attention of the People 
 in the infancy of Chriftianity is very evident. 
 We muft not however look upon the Directions 
 St. "Paul here gives his beloved Son Timothy, as 
 calculated for a particular Seafon, and neceflary 
 only to be obferv'd then, but we muft confider 
 'em as written for our oAdmonition alfo ufon 
 whom the ends of the World are come. For 
 though by God's blefling and peculiar Providence 
 we have the happinefs to have been born in the 
 midft of People who profefs the Chriftian Faith, 
 (in regard to our own Nation, we may add in 
 its greateft Purity ) though it be our Felicity to 
 have Principalities and Powers on our fide, 
 though the name of Jew and Gentile is but lit- 
 tle known amongft us, yet fince there are fb 
 many who are willing and ready to revile the 
 venerable Fathers of our Church, fome, whole 
 wicked Lives and Behaviour have brought 'em 
 into a fatal and curfed neceflity of decrying all 
 Religion, ibme out of unreafonable prejudice 
 againft, and hatred to this facred Order, others 
 out of obftinate diflike, to fay no worfe, of the 
 Perfons and Principles of not a few right worthy 
 Prelates, we muft with Sorrow confefs that the 
 oi &-0r are ftill but too numerous, and ac- 
 knowledge the Apoftle's Direction in my Text 
 to be of everlafting Force and Obligation. I 
 
 ttatt
 
 6 <-,4 SEKMON Treactfd at the 
 fhall therefore on this folemn Occafion, endea^. 
 vour to fhew the NecefTity of a Bifhop's ha* 
 ving a good report of them which are witbont, 
 And this I fhall do, by confidering, as far as 
 the Time will permit, the many ill Confequen* 
 ces that may attend his not having this nece 
 fary Qualification, Now every Man that lies 
 under an ill Report, may, I think, properly b$ 
 faid to be in one of thefe three Circumftances, 
 Hither he deferves it by his prefent Life and 
 Behaviour, 
 
 Or, 2^/v, He may have given but too much 
 Reafofi for it by his former Adions, 
 
 Or, ^dl)\ (Which Is indeed the hardeft and 
 mod deplorable Cafe) he may fuffer in his Re* 
 pimmon \\ itliout Cauftj an4 may no^ by any 
 former or pi-dent Behaviour have defcrvd the 
 III Report lie lies under. 
 
 1 (hall conikler diftinftly cadi of thefe Three 
 Circumftances, and endeavour to fhew how 
 Jar they imiy ievevally be fajd to render a Man 
 ujiin ibr this ffigh and Sacred Office:, 
 
 Tl^r ,my one vrnder the firft mentionM Cir- 
 i iiniJtciMCc, is a very Improper PtHbn to be pixi* 
 m<;ud to a Foil of fr? gre^t Traft and Eminence, 
 ii. svhauio )^K!V 1 hefifcve wtll vemin*etodwy s 
 N'>nc '.in b< to bUad, but muft^fot^fee what 
 p. M-'tjuhj be to the Chriftian Name, 
 v'l-ai- OHO;^ to the Church of God, to have 
 iltvh ^ >/[:in pi-el kJe over any Branch of it, What 
 dt-tHv of Piety, \v!ma 'degerneraey in ah* the 
 J>tf.Xs jtf Morriljtv, mult we not e^p^ft, fn a 
 be tftftitutc of that great In- 
 citement
 
 ef the "Biflof of Uchfieid and Coventry. 7 
 
 chement to, and Promoter of Virtue ; a good 
 Example, there efpecially, where it ought to be 
 in the moft eminent manner, and where we 
 may be fure it will be moft looked for ? How 
 can we hope that a Man fhould to any good 
 purpofe Teach another , that Teacheth not him* 
 felf? Will not the corrupt Inclinations of Men 
 by Nature prone to Evil, and glad of any Pre* 
 tence to excufe their going aftray, plead againft 
 their Teacher, and (as they will be apt erro* 
 neoufly to conclude 5 for, themfelves, in the 
 Words of the Apoftle, Thou, that freacheft a 
 Man ffjould not Steal, doft thou Steal ? Thou 
 that fafft a Man fhould not commit &4dultery 9 
 doft thou commit oAdultery? Thou that alhor- 
 reft Idols, doft thou commit Sacrilege ? Thou that 
 wakeft thy 'Boaft of the Law, through breaking 
 the Law dijhonoureft thou God? That which 
 would be wholefom and feafonable Difcipline 
 when Miniftred by another, will wear the Face 
 of Cruelty and Tyranny when it comes from 
 fuch a Hand. And the ftrongeft ProfefTions of 
 Zeal for the Church of Chrift would without 
 any great breach of Charity be regarded as no-; 
 thing elfe but Hipocrify and Diflimulation. 
 
 The many ill Confequences, and fatal Effects 
 in this Cafe are too vifible and evident to want 
 any Illuftration from Hiftory and Example. Was 
 there any Occafion for fuch a Proof, we need 
 but turn our Eyes towards our Neighbouring 
 Nations in Communion with the Church of 
 Rome. What more probable Account can we 
 give of that dev&fh Spirit of Atheifm and Ir- 
 
 religion
 
 8 oA SERMON Treactfd at the Confecration 
 
 religion which is obferv'd by Travellers to reign 
 in moft Popifh Countries, than that it is in a 
 great Meafure owing to the fcandalous Lives 
 and Behaviour of many of their principal Clergy, 
 though there are numberlefs Fopperies in their 
 Wo/fhip, and Abfurdities in the Faith they 
 would impofe, which may not a little contri- , 
 bute towards it. It requires a more than or- 
 dinary good Underftanding, to aflent entirely 
 to the Truth of that Gofpel which is fo daily 
 contradicted by the Practice of thofe who teach 
 it ; and an uncommon degree of Virtue and In- 
 tegrity, to abftain from thofe Sins which they 
 fo frequently hear the great Prelates of their 
 Church, Bifhops and Cardinals, nay, very of- 
 ten their infallible Director himfelf, accus'd of; 
 and for which they ftand recorded in the Works 
 of Satyrical Writers, and the Songs of Drunkards. 
 I come now to the Second Circumftance, I fup- 
 pos'd a Man might be in, who lay under an ill 
 Report ; viz. His having given but too much 
 Occafion for it, by his former Life and Actions. 
 It is not to be deny'd, but that there may 'be 
 Examples produc'd of Illustrious Penitents, who 
 have done great and glorious Service to the 
 Church of God ; and Inftances given, where 
 one Sinner returning from the error of his ways, 
 has been. of greater Benefit to Mankind, in the 
 great and important Concern of their Salvation, 
 than Ninety and ninejuft Terfons that needed no 
 Repentance. But if we confider the difference 
 of Times and Circumftances, we fhall find the 
 Cafe ^ muchaiter'd now, from what it was in 
 
 the
 
 ofthelBiJJwp of Liclifield and Coventry. 9 
 the earlier days of Chriftianity. God forbid I 
 fliould be thought to infinuate, that the Arm 
 of the Almighty is (hortned, or that his Grace 
 has loft its efficacy through length of time. I 
 have a good hope there may be, and do not 
 queftion but there are as fmcere and devout 
 Penitents now, as in the more remote Ages. 
 But that it is a more difficult Task now for a 
 Man to convince the World of his Sincerity, 
 and confequently, though he will reap the in- 
 finite Advantage of it himfelf, yet that it will 
 be in great danger of being loft to the reft of 
 Mankind, will, I believe, be allow'd, when we 
 fhall have compar'd the Condition of primitive 
 Chriftianity, with the ftate we now find it in. 
 What mighty hardfhips and difficulties tile firft 
 Profeffors of Chriftianity had to ftruggle with, 
 is very well known ; when the whole World 
 was in a manner fet againft 'em, and all the 
 Powers thereof employed to their deftru&ion. 
 Let us then compute the vifible Gains of that 
 Man who in thofe days fhould forfake the 
 Vanities, Pleasures, and Allurements of the 
 World, to -preach the Gofpel of Chrift. We 
 fiiall find the detail of his Acquifitions to be 
 little elfe bat cruel Mockings and Scourgings, 
 Bonds and Imprifonment, Poverty, Cold, Hun- 
 ger, Thirft, with other numberlefs Calamities, 
 and moft commonly to clofe the whole Account 
 an ignominious and cruel Death. What Profit 
 was it then to a Man to be diftinguifhed by 
 the Illuftrious Title of Bifhop, and to be fet at 
 die head of a diftrefs'd and perfecuted Church ? 
 
 B What'
 
 i& G/4f S ER M 6 N "Preached at the ConfecrAthn 
 
 What was it but to be expos'd in a more emi- 
 nent manner to the Malice of his Adverfaries^ 
 and ftand a more conspicuous Mark for the In- 
 ftruments of Deftru&ion to aim at. This, as 
 every Body knows was the condition of the Apo- 
 ftles, and their more immediate Succeltors. 
 
 And furety a Man muft have a very untow- 
 ard Judgment indeed, that couki make any 
 ctoubt of their Sincerity in what they Preached, 
 When they were known to exchange their 
 Worldly Profit, Eafe'and Pleafure For fo many 
 vifible Difad vantages and Afflictions, what 
 could be concluded but that they expected them- 
 felves what they exhorted others to endeavour 
 after, a great Reward in teeaven ? But, now 
 fince Godhas been gracioufly pleas'd to provide 
 fame letter Thing for tts 9 fince his good Provi- 
 dence has fo order'd that the Fathers of our 
 Church fliould not only enjoy Security but 
 Plenty, that they fhould not only be exempt 
 from the hard Ufage, the Bonds and Impri- 
 fonments which their Predeceffbrs fufTer'd, but 
 fhould moreover be inverted with great Worldly 
 Honour and Dignity, Envy and Ill-nature will 
 have but too much room to fuggeft that a Man 
 who has been blameable in the former part of 
 his Life, if he defires the Office of a ISzJIwp, de~ 
 fireth a good Work^ not fo much for the pvr- 
 fefting of the Saints^ for the work of the Mi- 
 niftry, for the edifying of the "Body ef hrift r 
 as for the enriching and aggrandizing himfelf. 
 Malicious People (and I am afraid it will never 
 befo well with us as to look upon fuch, as 
 
 a
 
 of the TSifiof of Lichfield and Coventry. 1 1 
 a defpicable number of Men) will not fail to 
 Infmuate that all the Sanftity and Gravity fucli 
 a Man appears with is nothing elfe but an af- 
 fum'd Perfbnage, a politick Character, and that 
 his only end in Miniftring about Holy Things, 
 is, that he may Live of the Sacrifice. Thefe 
 reproaches, if they are unjuft, and in charity 
 we muft think they often are, will not, I con- 
 fefs injure him againft whom they are particu- 
 larly levell'd, but the Mifchief will fall where 
 it is not defign'd, upon his Diocefs, his Flock, 
 who will not be attentive to the Voice of him 
 whom they are taught to look upon, not as their 
 Shepherd, but as the Thief who cometh not lutfor 
 to Steal, and to Kjll> and ^Deflvoy. Wicked 
 and fenfual Men are too apt to imagine that 
 other People have been as deaf to the repeated 
 gracious Calls and Invitations of God's holy 
 Spirit, as they themfelves have been, and enjoy 
 an extravagant and fenfelefs kind of comfort, 
 in concluding, that wifer Men than thernielves 
 have found their (infill lufts and appetites as ir- 
 refiftible as they have hitherto done. They are 
 afraid to be convinced of the Converfion of 
 others, and fpolifhly think it for their own in- 
 tereft to believe every Man ftill as bad as he 
 lias been formerly known to have been. 
 
 It is not to be expected that Men's Memories 
 or their Tongues will pay that refpecl: to a Sa- 
 cred Chara&er, or a High Station, as to forget 
 or pafs over in Silence, the former Failings of 
 him they fee fo Promoted. No, we may rather 
 apprehend from our obfervation of the Manners 
 
 B 2 Of
 
 1 2 oA SERMON 'Preaclfd at the Consecration 
 
 of Men, and Experience in the World a ve- 
 ry different practice. When we fee any Per* 
 fon diftinguifh'd by an eminent Poft, we may 
 with great aflurance look for a faithful Cata- 
 logue o all his Faults, (if it's not wanting any 
 minutef Particular will give it that Chara&er.) 
 We may be fore we fliall fee expos'd to. Pub- 
 lick view every little Slip, every unwarrantable 
 Action which he has been guilty of in all his for- 
 mer Life, and which perhaps had never been 
 mention'd or thought on, had he ftilj continued in 
 a private Station. Thus we find it is daily,and thus 
 will it always be whilft there are Men in the . 
 World who Envy the Advancement of others, 
 or are Enemies to thofe whojVdvance 'em. Such 
 a Misfortune muft certainly be a great hin- 
 drance to any Man in the executing his Office, 
 and acquitting himfelf for the Publick Benefit 
 as he ought to do, and perhaps is defirous of do- 
 ing. And it is much more fo in in the Cafe of 
 a Bifhop or Ruler of the Church, in whom is 
 requir'd a great feverity of Morals and the 
 ftridteft Virtue, who is expected not Only to 
 have an abfolute command over, but very pften, 
 too unreafonably^ even to be without the Paflions 
 which other Men have. 
 
 There is another great Mifchief that may a- 
 rife from a Marts being inverted with this Great 
 and Holy Office, whofe former Life and Behai- 
 viour has been juftly to be blam'd, though we 
 llioukl fuppofe every Body actually convinced of 
 his unfeigned Repentance and Amendment ; I 
 mean the ill effect it may have upon the Lives 
 
 and ;
 
 of the, 'Btjhop of Lfehfielcf *W Coventry, r j 
 
 and Behaviour of others. Loofe and immoral Men, 
 efpecially the younger fort, will be very glad to have 
 a Precedent ready at hand to quote for their Pradice, 
 and will be apt to think they make a fufficient and full 
 Anfwer to the Admonitions of their own Confcience, 
 or the Reproofs of their Friends, when they produce 
 In fiances of Perfons who have been known formerly 
 to have been guilty of the fame Crimes they are ac- 
 cufed of, and yet are now Men venerable for their 
 great Piety, and live in much Efteem and Honour. 
 They will be inclinable to regard their own Faults, as 
 the natural and unavoidable Sallies of Youth, which 
 every Man has more or lefs } and which Age and ma- 
 turer Counfel will wear off by degrees, and reflore 
 'em to the Favour of God and Man. How extremely 
 difficult and haardous this kind of Reafbning muft 
 make their eternal Salvation, is fb plain, that every 
 Body but themfelves cannot but fee it. This ill Con- 
 fequence of a former wicked Life, is a Stain, which 
 even Repentance it felf can not warn away. And 
 though we have reconcil'd our ielves to God by the 
 moft undiflembled Contrition and Amendment, yet 
 does our pail Example Hill in fbme fort continue our 
 Guilt, and the more fo, the more confpicuoufly we are 
 fet above our Brethren } fince we may expeft that our 
 former Failings will be recalled to the Memories of 
 Men, in proportion to the prefent Figure we make 
 in their Eyes. 
 
 I come now in the Third and lafl Place, to confider 
 what I before oblerv'd to be the hardeft and mofl de- 
 plorable Circumflance, viz.. A Man's lying under an 
 ill Report without any Realbn given either by his for- 
 mer or prefent Behaviour. And indeed it does appear, 
 atfirfl, very hard and unreafbnable that Merit mould 
 be Neglected, or Goodnefs loofe it's Reward, becaufe 
 they happen to be mifreprefented by the malicious 
 World. But there is a deference to be paid even to the 
 wrong Opinion of Mankind, in Cafes where no body 
 
 wifl
 
 14 <*4 SERMON Vreactfdat the Confecration 
 
 will be injured by it, and our not doing it might be of 
 very great Difad vantage. Such a one is the Cafe before 
 us. A Bifhop is not Yet over the Church of Chrift 
 merely for his own Profit or Advantage, but for the 
 general Benefit and Good of the Chriftian Community ; 
 and if any Man be incapable of ferving this End, 
 though not through any fault of his, but only by Acci- 
 dent, he cannot look upon himfelf as injur'd if he be de- 
 ny'd the Office. And that a Man who lies under a ge- 
 neral ill Report is incapable of being thus beneficial to 
 Mankind, will appear if we confider, that in regard 
 to the Multitude, the cafe is much the fame whether 
 he really deferves it or no. As to himielf, indeed it 
 is, happily for him, very different. But it is the Peo- 
 ples own Opinion of their PaftorY Worth which muft: 
 open their Ears to his Admonitions, and make 'em fub- 
 mit with Patience to his fatherly Cenfures and friendly 
 Discipline. Not but that a large Share of Worth is re- 
 quifite to beget this Good Opinion, and there muft be 
 Defert in order to gain Favour, though Favour does not 
 always follow Defert. Thanks foe to God it does not 
 frequently happen that a Man lies under a general ill 
 Report, who has not in ibme meafure delerv'd it. But 
 if it fhould fo fall out, that Perfbn mould feem unqua- 
 lify'd according to the A pottles Diredtians, for the Of- 
 fice of a Bifhop. When I fay that a general ill Report 
 unqualifies a Man for this facred Duty, 1 would not be 
 undcrftood to mean that it is abfolutely neceflary that 
 iic fhould have an universal Good Character without ex- 
 ception. That is almoft impoffible for any Man to ar- 
 rive at. There were not wanting Men who reproached 
 even our Blcfled Saviour himlelf, with being a Glutton 
 and * IVhx-bihhery a Friend of Publicans and Sinners* And 
 is there any fo Innocent or Holy amongft us as to expect 
 better Ufagc than he who knew no Sin, found here on 
 Earth ? There will, I am afraid, be always thole in the 
 World, who out of private Animofi ties, Perfbnal di 
 like, or Parry Rage, will not fcruple to afperfe even the 
 
 beft
 
 tf the *Bifiof of Lichfield and Coventry. 1 5 
 
 bell of Men. We muft not therefore take a Charafter 
 of any one, from the Voice of a few fiich Wretches 
 as thefe, who I hope have not Credit enough to make 
 their Opinion General. But if they fhould by their 
 evil Arts fo far prevail upon the innocent and unde- 
 figning part of Mankind, as to make 'em nniverfally 
 believe any thing highly fcandalous of a worthy and 
 good Man, what can we do, but lament the Iniquity 
 of the Times that has made it unexpedient for fuck 
 a one to be a Governour of the Church of Chrift. He 
 himfelf, if he be really Good, and fuch we are fpeak- 
 ing of, will refign his Pretenfions, and remembring 
 that a Bilhop in particular mould not fttk his own, 
 but another's Wealth, will rather choofe to continue in 
 a private Station, than to be exalted to a Poft of E- 
 minence, where he is ib unfortunately prevented be- 
 ing fo beneficial to the World, as one in that place 
 ought to be. 
 
 But I have dwelt too long upon this Character of a 
 Bifhop, which, Welled be God, we of this Age and Nation 
 can reflect upon in no other View, but as it affords us 
 Matter of great Joy and Comfort, to conflder that it is 
 what our Princes have always had in their Eye from the 
 beginning of the Reformation. Let the whole Cata^ 
 logue of our Bifliops fince that happy Period be Stir* 
 vey'd, and then it will appear what a multitude ftand 
 there, the brighteft Examples of great Learning and 
 found Judgment, of Probity and Integrity, of Pn> 
 dence and Temper, and in Ihort, of all the Valuable 
 Qualities which fet them above the Reproaches and 
 Cenfiires of their Adveriaries. Shall we Blum to let 
 thefe againft the like number in any other Age, or any 
 other Country ? 'Tis no breach of Modefty, to fay we 
 dare to do it. We dare even appeal to the .Teftimo-- 
 ny of our irreconcileable Enemies in the Church of 
 Rome j who have always given the Fathers of our 
 Church a Good Report, fo far at leaft as their not be- 
 ing able to fix a Bad Character poa 'em may amount 
 
 to*
 
 16 e/4 
 
 to. And the Silence of thefe Adverfaries is certainly 
 no inconfiderable Evidence of their Worth, fince we 
 know by Experience, that they will not Icruple to 
 make ufe of any Means that Malice or Cruelty can fug- 
 geft, not only again ft the Principles, but Perfbns of 
 Proteftants. But their Attempts have been much oft- 
 ner againft the Lives than the Reputations of our Pre- 
 lates. They have all along charg'd 'em with Errours, 
 as they falfely call 'em, in Doctrine, but very feldom 
 with any in Life. We have always been, and are ftill 
 able to Defend the former with full and convincing 
 Arguments, and the latter hath always,. and ftill .con- 
 tinues to fpeak Undeniably for it's ielH We do there- 
 fore with grateful Hearts adore the Divine Providence, 
 which has in a wonderful manner watch'd over this 
 Church for Good, particularly in giving her Paftors 
 and Teachers duely qnalify'd for Jtheir refpeftive Mini- 
 ftrics, and to carry on the great Defigns of the Gofpel. 
 It is her Happinefs and Glory to hav many, very ma- 
 ny, who are equal to the Higheft Offices, of whom but 
 few can be call'd to 'em : But the Choice has hitherto 
 fallen, and we trull; will always fallamongft 'em. And 
 1 have no apprehenfion that 1 ihall be charg'd with flat- 
 terry, when I fay, that the prelent Bench of Bifhops is 
 a Proof of it. His Majefty has this Day given us an 
 Inftancc, that he has not lefs regard to the Interelt of 
 our Church, than the belt of his Predeceilbrs have had 
 before him. And it calls for our unfeigned thanks to 
 Almighty God, who has difpos'd the Heart of our molt 
 Gracious Sovereign, to make Choice of Men for this 
 Apoftolical Function, not only of Blamelefs and Vir- 
 tuous 1 ,ives, but of great Character and Reputation : 
 And v\ ith thcfc our Thanks, let us offer up our earneft 
 .Prayers to che Divine Majefty, that he would ftill con- 
 tinue to direct the Royal Will to promote fuch'to this 
 Sacvcd Miniftry, as have with welldoing, put to Silence th* 
 J'r>!or.nii'c of fooliflj 
 
 1 N I S,
 
 SERMON 
 
 P R E A C H'D 
 
 In the Cathedral-Church of 
 
 CHESTER, 
 
 O N 
 Tuefday the ift of OCTOBER^ 1717^ 
 
 A T T H E 
 
 ASSIZES 
 
 Held There. 
 
 By WALTER OFFLEY, A. M. 
 
 Chaplain to the Right Honourable the 
 Lord HERBERT of Cherbury ^ And 
 Reffor 0/Barthomley in CHESHIRE. 
 
 'O at t^e ftequeff of t^e HIGH-SHERIFF 
 anti (Gentlemen o t^e GRAND-JURY. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J. W Y A T at the Rofe in 
 St. Paul's Cburcb-yard. 1717.
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 Spencer Cowper Efq; 
 
 Chief- Juftice of Cbeflw : 
 To the Right Worfhipful 
 
 ; James Bay ley Efq; > 
 
 High- Sheriff ; 
 
 To the Honourable 
 
 Langham Booth Elq; 
 
 Foreman : 
 
 And to the reft of the Gentlemen 
 of the GRAND-JURY. 
 
 ;nu;v.J53 ".'kfoujfi 
 GENTLEMEN,, 
 
 Sermon^ which I fublifo 
 at Tour Requefts, was com- 
 fofed in great hurry and di- 
 B8 ftra&ion of Thought^ while 
 Rijb&p if Worcdfter fay wrafor 
 his lall lllnejs. Ton may eafily guejf, that 
 the Church losing fo worthy a Prelate 3 the 
 Government fo hearty a Friend, Virtue 
 and ikdigLon fo bright an Example , and 
 A a. Learning
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 Learning in general fo great an Encou- 
 rager and Ornament, as well as my Self fo 
 kind a Relation and Patron, did give me 
 a very fenfeble Affliction. And I doubt 
 not but theje Confederations have mov*d 
 Ton to give my hafty Performance a fa- 
 vourable Exception. Such as it is, I 
 here ^ffefent it to you, and wijb it may 
 anfaer Tour's and My honeft Intentions 
 for the Pubhck Good. I am, with 
 great KefpeSl, 
 
 * - - ? ol [ynA 
 Your mojft Obedient^ 
 
 it r ( J 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 Walter Offley. 
 
 PROV. 
 
 h ,
 
 (5 ) 
 
 PR O V. xvii. 13. 
 
 Wbofo rewardeth Evil for Good, Evil 
 fball not depart from his Houje. 
 
 HO' the word Ingratitude 
 is no-where to be found in 
 the Holy Scriptures, yet the 
 dreadful Punifhments due to 
 that Crime are either men- 
 
 tion'd or imply'd in every 
 
 Book both of the Old and 
 New Teftament. And indeed, if we confider 
 either the pofitive or negative Precepts of 
 God, deliver'd to us in the Ten Commandments^ 
 we fhall find that the Tranfgreflion of any 
 one Command there, carries a mixture of In- 
 gratitude along with it. There is no Moral 
 Virtue, no Chriftian Grace, but their oppofite 
 Vices are attended with this Sin. So that 
 whether we have regard to God, our Neigh- 
 bour, or Ourfelves, this Sin will flill appear 
 in the Difobedience to the one, or in not per- 
 forming our Duties to the others. But far- 
 ther than this, tho' the Commiffion of this 
 Sin be tranfient, the ill Efteds of .it are per- 
 manent
 
 6 -^SERMON freacfrd in the 
 
 manent and durable, and reach beyond the 
 Perions that are guilty of it, even to Pofhritf. 
 For by Houfe, here mentioned, it is obvious 
 that we muft undefftand Pofterity 5 and fo 
 my Text is a Threat, That Evil ihall not 
 depart from the Family of the Ungrateful 3 
 even his Pofterity lhall fuffer for this Sin. 
 Whofo rewardeth Evil for Good, Evil Jball not. 
 depart from his Houfe. 
 
 In difcourfing therefore more largely upon 
 thefe Words, I mail endeavour to keep to this 
 Method. 
 
 I. Firfl, I ihall lay before ywa a 
 
 tion of Ingratitude in general, and 
 Mifchief and Daffigefof tihat $16. 
 
 '"^ 
 
 II. Secondly, 1 (hall confifler tilbe 
 
 Motives that this Nation nath, above 
 many other Nations, to be Grateful 
 
 III. Thirdly and Laftfy I ftiall Juggelft fome 
 proper Means for Uhe Expreflioffl <f our 
 Gratitude, from whence may be-fecurtf 
 to us the greateft Satisfa&ion Here^ and 
 Eternal Happinofe Hereal&er. 
 
 I. J'irfi then, Give me leave to hy -before 
 you a Defcription of Jng-ratitwde, and tijc 
 Mifchief and Danger of that Sia. 
 
 Ingratitude may be defcrib'd -ek\her -nega- 
 tively or pofitively, as it conififts either tin 
 not siaking a fuitable Return g>r (Bonefc *e-
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefter. 7 
 
 ^ or, according to the Words of my 
 Text, in rewarding or returning Evil for Good. 
 Either ways the mutual good Offices, which 
 Mankind, in their refpeftive Relations, have 
 a* Right to claim of each other, from the 
 Higheft to the Loweft, are interrupted and 
 deftroyed by Ingratitude. Sabjeds, for In- 
 france, can with no face demand of their 
 Princes the Protection and Liberty of their 
 Perfons, Seem ity of their Poffeflrons and Pro- 
 perties, and a free Exercife of their Religion-, 
 if they accept not thofe worthy Deeds done nnto 
 them, by the Providence of their Governors, 
 always and in affl places with all th-ankfrdhefc $ 
 much lefs r if they murmur and 1 repine- under 
 then: Happinefs, rpurrt at the Inftrutnerrts 
 thereof, awd refufe them the Honour, Trr- 
 bute, and Obedience wnicftr k their dor. 
 Princes, on the other hand, that make no 
 other lafe of the chearful Religious Love and 
 Obedience of their People, but againff tfrenr- 
 fefves, and to-be fubfervienfl tcr their own 
 Slavery and Deftrud?ion r db irr vain flar- 
 ter themfelves that Principle will 1 alWajs 
 prevail againft Nature, and that typrejjton 
 will not make a Sober and a Patient reoplfe 
 fbmetimes Mar!. 
 
 Or, to dfefcend to more inferiotrr Dfegrees 
 among Men 5 Hbw wifl the Bowels even- of 
 a Parent ceafe to. yearn- upon his. CfiH'drerr, 
 when he fees the* Care, Sbricitucfe,, and tteter 
 G)ncern of many Years- thrown away upon 
 them, like good Seed and much Labourupon 
 
 barren
 
 8 ^SERMON preacfrd in the 
 
 barren Ground, that yields only Thorns and 
 Thirties :, when, inftead of requiting their 
 Kindnefs, they difgrace, and difhonour, and 
 perhaps difown thofe that bare them, and 
 fometimes wim, nay, even attempt the De ath 
 of thofe that gave them their Life > 
 
 How can Children, provoked by the un- 
 reafonable furious Treatment of their Parents 
 to Wrath, forbear to diminifli their real Efteem 
 and Love, which a kinder acceptance of their 
 Endeavours and Service, might have cherifh'd 
 Into a true Filial Obedience > 
 
 The fame Effed: Ingratitude caufes between 
 Mafter and Servant, Teacher and Difciple, 
 Friend and Friend, Neighbour and Neigh- 
 bour 5 if they do not Good to them from whom 
 they have received Good, the Fountain will 
 be dried up, or the Stream be turned ano- 
 ther Way. 
 
 The PafTions of Love and Efteem> from 
 whence kind and beneficial Deeds proceed, 
 are not intirely in our Power. They are 
 check'd and extinguifh'd by Ads that are 
 proper to excite Contempt, Hatred, Fear, or 
 Indignation. The outward Exprefiions of the 
 Pafiions may indeed be governed by Religion, 
 bur the inward ArFedion will be leiTen'd by an 
 Ungrateful Behaviour. And how few are 
 they that LrTer them'felves to be govern'd by 
 Religion) How generally does the World 
 fwim with their Paffions, and even run for- 
 warder to Mifchief than Refentment prompts 
 them ? 
 
 It
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefter p 
 
 It muft therefore be owned, that Ingrati- 
 tude the great Occafion of all Mifchiefs, 
 againft which, there is no Fence, no Security 5 
 againft which Civility, Humanity, and Cha- 
 rity afford no Charm, which Contracts and 
 Oaths cannot bind 5 does, by breaking in upon 
 the facred Ties of Duty, Blood, Friendfliip, 
 Obligation, and Neighbourhood, and by era- 
 dicating the great Principle of fuch beneficial 
 Adions, as unite and knit Men together 5 
 does, I fay, thus tend to diflblve Societies, 
 and to reduce Men into a State of War and 
 Confufion. For where every Man is led to 
 ftand upon his Guard againft every Man, to 
 be fufpicious that no Ads of Goodnefs will 
 foften the roughnefs, or cure the falfenefs of 
 them that are about him, he will be fparing 
 to caft away even common Favours 5 and 
 fearing to receive an ill Turn, he will 
 forbear to do a good one. And what a 
 miferable deplorable World would fuch a 
 State of it be to live ini 
 
 Well therefore may the Laws of God, 
 and Pradice of Men, fet themfelves againft all 
 that commit this Sin. It is highly provoking 
 to God, to fee thofe Affedions of Beneficence, 
 that he implanted in the Nature of Men for 
 their mutual Happinefs, fubdued, to the De- 
 flrudion of his Creatures $ to fee Societies, 
 which he inftituted for the Comfort and Joy 
 of Life, and the fupport of Religion, fubvert- 
 ed and fcattered : And it muft be no lefs of- 
 fenfive to Men that feel or apprehend the 
 
 B {mart
 
 10 ^SERMON preactfd in the 
 
 (mart of thefe Evils. He that appears an Ene- 
 my to Society, muft expeft to find every 
 Member thereof arm'd againft him. It may 
 be any Man's Lot to receive Evil for Good 5 
 and therefore every one will blame and condemn 
 fuch bafe Retaliation in another's Cafe, which 
 muft deeply affeft him when it becomes 
 his own. And very natural it is to carry 
 the Punifhment fuch Offenders deferve even 
 beyond their own Perfon. It may be ima- 
 gin'd, that the Parent's evil Difpofition may 
 defcend to his Children 5 and an ungrateful 
 Example is therefore punifh'd in the Hou(e 9 
 becaufe the Houfe is too frequently tainted 
 with the Infedion thereof, to as wicked Imi- 
 tation. Men are not willing to make another 
 Experiment of the Succefs of Kindnefs upon 
 the Children of fuch Evil-doers. The World 
 will be thought wide enough to afford other 
 Objeds for their Bounty 5. or, which is worfe, 
 Benefa&ors will be foured into a morofe Be- 
 haviour, into an Indifference to the Wants 
 of their own Species $ and finding their Good 
 to be ill treated by fame, they will be carelefs 
 how they deferve well of any. Thus the 
 Parent comes to be punifh'd in his Pofterity, 
 and thus all Mankind fare the worfe for fuch 
 Monfters as the Ungrateful are in every Age : 
 And ihefe are the mifchievous Confequences 
 of Ingratitude. Let us now confider, 
 
 II. Secondly, The Motives this Nation hath, 
 above many others, to be Grateful. 
 
 Grateful
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefter. 1 1 
 
 Grateful to God, who is the firft Author, 
 the principal Preferver of all the BJeffings 
 we enjoy $ which we had loft, were it not for 
 his good Providence, or were in great Dan- 
 ger of lofing : And grateful to the King, and 
 thofe that are in Authority under him, who 
 are the Inftruments, under God, of our Peace 
 and Profperity, of the free Profeflion, and fe- 
 cure Eftablifhment of God's True Religion 
 among us. ^ 
 
 It wou'd be endlefs to recount all the Mer* 
 cies by which we ftand diftinguifti'd from moft 
 People. Were I to go over only the princi-r 
 pal Heads, 1 muft then remind you of our 
 Situation as an Ifland, which delivers us from 
 many fudden Incurfions of mighty Armies^ 
 that like a Flood have drown'd our Neighbour 
 Nations , on the Continent, and left them no- 
 thing Green to feed upon. I fhou'd next tell 
 you of the advantageous Union-pf this Ifland, 
 not only under one and the fame King, but 
 one and the fame Form of Government, which 
 fecures us from many foreign and inteftine 
 Dangers. We are not divided into many Priii* 
 cipalities as the Britons once were., ,QT into art 
 Heptarchy as our Anceftors the S&cons have 
 been, and who were therefore at perpetual 
 Variance to encreafe or defend their Domi- 
 nions 5 nor are we any-more two different 
 Kingdoms, that, jealous of each others Strength! 
 and Policy, need to cultivate op pofitc Friend*' 
 fbips and Alliances. .The, Happinefs of our 
 Conftitution both to King and People, might 
 
 B 2 aifo
 
 il ^SERMON preactfd in the 
 aifo deferve fpecial Notice, as well as our 
 peculiar Felicity in having the Throne now 
 filled by a King able to weild the Scepter, and to 
 go in and out before fo great a People, who 
 being bleft with Children and Grand-children, 
 of his own Body to fucceed him, gives us hope 
 he will deliver down the fame Conftitution, 
 under the fame gracious Adminiftration, found 
 to Pofterity. 
 
 Thefe, and many more Things which might 
 be faid, I muft now wave, that I may go on 
 to (hew more at large the long Series of De- , 
 liverances of this Nation, of the Prefervation 
 of our Government, and with that, our Li- 
 berties and Properties, and Holy Religion, 
 when they were fo many times in Danger of 
 being ravifli'd from us, when almoft all the 
 People about us have loft theirs. 
 
 I (hall fpeak chiefly of our Religion, becaufe 
 our Religious and Civil Rights are very clofely 
 interwoven, and have the fame common Ene- 
 mies, fo that the Deliverance of the one, 
 includes the Safety of the other. 
 
 The Religion God has fhewn himfelf fo 
 concern 'd for, is the Proteftant Religion pro- 
 fefs d in the Church of England, as it frauds 
 reform' d from the grofs Idolatry, and 
 the infupportable Tyranny of the Papacy, 
 and the infinite fuperftitious Heathen 
 Ceremonies and Ufages with which the 
 Church of Rome hath defiled the Church of 
 God. This Proteftant Religion is that Reli- 
 gion which Chrift and his Apoftles lirft pub- 
 
 lifh'd
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefter; 13 
 
 lifti'd to the World, and which we ftill find 
 recorded in the Holy Scriptures. This is 
 the Religion which our Laws have guarded 
 with many Privileges and Sanctions, which, by 
 Experience, is found the beft Support to Go- 
 vernment, by maintaining the due Rights of 
 Prince and People, and by the Difcourage- 
 ment of Monkim Idlenefs, and of fuch a Re- 
 ftraint of Marriage, as is, by the Apoflle, 
 rank'd among the DoBrine of Devils, and which 
 depopulates every Kingdom where it prevails. 
 And this is the Religion which our refllefs 
 Adverfaries are ever at work to undermine 
 or demolifli. 
 
 Many indeed have been the Attempts, ma- 
 ny the Confpiracies, many the Plots of our 
 Enemies 5 and as great and manifold have been 
 the Mercies of God, in delivering us out of 
 their Hands, that we might ftill ferve him 
 without fear. 
 
 Soon after the Reformation, How bufy, how 
 implacable were a Popifli Party at Home ? 
 And how indefatigable was the whole Order 
 of the Jefuits Abroad in all the Popifh Courts 
 of Europe, to engage them in a Religious 
 War againft us ? How fuccefsful were they 
 in drawing in the mighty Spaniard, with his 
 Invincible (as it was calPd, becaufe confecrated) 
 Armada, to come and divide the Land among 
 them, and to overturn the Government of 
 that Excellent Princefs Queen Elizabeth, whofe 
 Perfon they had, in vain, attempted former- 
 ly to deftroy by Poifon or Stabbing, and, in- '
 
 14 ^SERMQN preached in the 
 
 her, to wound the whole Reformation mor- 
 tally, and make England a Province of Sfain, 
 or a Fee to the Papacy ? 
 
 How, in the fucceeding Reign, was that 
 traiterous, bloody, and inhuman Gun-Powder 
 Plot caried on by the fame fort of Men, which 
 nothing beiide a miraculous Providence cou'd 
 have deteded and defeated? The Nation, 
 after, made not fo good ufe of thefe valuable 
 Bleifihgs, as to deferve the Continuance of 
 them long $they made large Steps and Conceffi- 
 ons to gain the Alliance of thofe that wou'd have 
 deftroy'd them, as if they had forgot that 
 God was their Saviour 3 and thence the Seeds 
 of Variance and Hatred were fowo, that foon 
 after fhot up with fatal Abundance. God 
 therefore was pleas'd, in a fliort time, to vifit 
 us with a long Civil War, that wafted our 
 Men and our Treafure, and which ended in' 
 the barbarous Murther of a pious Prince, and 
 the Downfall of our Church and Monarchy 
 with him. 
 
 But neither (hall our Ifrael always mourn, 
 nor our Conftitution for ever ftrffer $ for God 
 was plcas'd to reflore to us in Peace oqr then 
 Lawful Sovereign King Charles the Second, 
 which gave new Life to our Religion, Laws, 
 and Liberties. Under that Government the 
 Kingdom thought it felf, for a while,, Happy 5 
 and fo it might have Jong continued, had not 
 his SuccefTor invaded and difturb'd our Peace 
 and Security both in Church and State/ 
 The itrong Impreffions of Popery which he 
 
 received
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefler. 1 5 
 
 received from his Mother, and which improv'd 
 in Banifliment, had taken fuch deep Root, 
 that he became one of the greateft Bigots of that 
 Church, and gave up his Reafon and Con- 
 fcience entirely to the Condud of the Jefuits, 
 who never fail to drive Things to an Extremi- 
 ty. Our All was then at Stake, and going 
 to be facrificed 5 the King's Cabinet was 
 made up moftly of profefs'd or difguifed Papifts, 
 and a Popifh Prieft hach the Impudence to fit 
 down at the Council-Board, in Contempt of 
 our Laws, by which it was Death for him 
 to fet his Foot in the Kingdom. What they 
 intended is too manifeft^ in fetting up for a 
 Difpenfing Power in the King, to make the; 
 Laws of our Conftitution a Nofe of Wax, and 
 in imprifoning the Bifhops for refufing to aft 
 contrary to Law. A confiderable College in 
 one of the Fountains of Learning, was,. it$ ( 
 effed, diflblv'd ^ Papifts were made Judges in 
 our Courts, and Officers in our Army, in dired 
 Oppofition to an Act of Parliament 5 and. a, 
 doubtful Heir like to be impofed on us $ 'till 
 at length the Prince of Orange, touch'd with 
 a fenfe of the Nation's Ir juries, and the Wrongs 
 defign'd his Princefs and hirnfelf, ' found him- 
 felf neceflitated to fee thefe Diforders redrefs'd 
 in a Parliament. But Guilt wiJJ not bear the 
 Light, nor ftand an Enquiry $ King James 
 chofe rather to defert his Friends, and leave. . 
 the Kingdom, than fufFer* a free JParJjame^t '., 
 to examine; 'into thofe Meafures which ; were 
 illegal in themlelves, and tended to the De- 
 
 firudion
 
 1 6 A SERMON freactfd in tie 
 
 ftruftion both of our Religion and Liber- 
 ties. 
 
 Thus the imminent Dangers that we were 
 then in, God, out of his infinite Mercies, re- 
 mov'd from us $ be beard our Prayers^ be bid 
 not bis Face from us wben we were in Trouble 5 
 be inclind bis Ear unto us in the Day wben 
 we caWd, and anfwerd us fpeedily, Pfai. cii. 
 i, 2. All ourHeavinefs was turn'd into Joy 
 and Gladnefs, and we feem'd a-while to re- 
 joyce in the happy Inflrument thereof, King 
 William of glorious Memory ^ 'till the Senfe 
 of Suffering wearing off, .and the Danger a- 
 gain feeming at a Diftance, an Evil Spirit 
 begun to (hew, that even this Deliverance had 
 been againft the Will of fome of us. 
 
 It was not long e're a Difcontented Fadion 
 arofe, that flood much in need of his Pardon, 
 and little deferv'd it. I need not tell you 
 how barbaroufly they us'd him, how they 
 afperfed and traduced his Title, his Actions, 
 and their own Deliverance. But however the 
 unreafonable Prejudices of fome may move 
 them to deny him the Title of King, yet he 
 hath a jufl Right to a much better, The Re- 
 florer of our Lavas and Liberties^ and tbe 
 Preserver of our Church and Nation. Upon 
 this Foundation was the Reign of our late 
 gracious Queen fecur'd $ and upon this very 
 Foundation, under His preient Majefty, 
 is our happy Eftabliftiment fettled. May it 
 long continue fo$ and when God mail be 
 pleas'd to take Him, may his Crown flourish 
 
 upon
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chcfter. 17 
 
 upon the Head of his Royal IflTue, (we have 
 good caufe to truft it will do fo,) for the 
 Honour and Safety of our Church of England 
 in particular, and for the lading Intereft of 
 the Proteftant Religion in general. 
 
 III. I come now, in the Third and Lajl 
 place, to fuggeft forae proper Means for the 
 expreflion of our Gratitude. 
 
 But before I proceed to this, it will be 
 proper to enquire, with what Gratitude this 
 Nation hath behav'd it felf, for the many 
 Bleffings it hath fo plentifully received. I muft 
 not go too far back 5 let me take our Behaviour 
 from a Date which is very frefli in our Memo- 
 ries, the latter end of the late Reign of our 
 gracious Sovereign Queen Anne. God gave us, 
 under her, many unexpected, aftonifhing Suc- 
 cefles. And did we make a. right Ufe of 
 them > Were we Thankful to Him, or to the 
 Inftruments of our Victories > I wifli I cou'4 
 affirm either the one or the other ! But it 
 was thus you requited the Lord, O foolijl) People 
 and unwife ! A Clamour was rais'd every- 
 where, by fome Defigning People, of the 
 Danger of the Church : As if the Church 
 cou'd be in Danger, when Popery groan'd 
 under the Weight of the heavy Hand of our 
 then Brave General, when the Victories at 
 Blenheim and Ramelies gave us the beft Secu- 
 rity, that we mould not be fwallow'd up by 
 the avowed Defender of Popery. 
 
 C Let
 
 1 8 A SERMON preactfd in the 
 
 Let us think coolly upon it : Cou'd the 
 Church of England be in Danger, when Popery 
 was in a (inking Condition 5 (ince the Church 
 of England, her Principles, Government, and 
 Worrfiip are oppofed direftly to Popery > They 
 made free with our Under (landings, that 
 would have had us believe fuch Contradictions. 
 But in affirming that, when they themfelves 
 knew it was not true, they had, it feems, 
 their particular Views, which was, to blind 
 the Eyes of the Credulous, 'till by their Means 
 they could advance themfelves* 
 
 It is now too plain, the Church's Security 
 
 was not the Thing tbey aim'd at, tho* they 
 
 pretended to be her greateft Friends, but the 
 
 Security of their own private Intereft. This 
 
 they compared in the End 5 they had what 
 
 they aim'd at, they were advanced to the higheft 
 
 Places of Profit and Truft $ and then the Cry 
 
 was changed, The Church is Safe. And was 
 
 it indeed fo ? View it in the Confequences 
 
 of their Management. They patcht up an 
 
 inglorious Peace $ they (hook off and betray'd 
 
 moft of their old faithful Allies, that only 
 
 could help the Nation in any future, un- 
 
 thought of Diftrefs} and then, under the 
 
 colour of Difbanding the Army, to eafe the 
 
 People of the heavy Burthen of the Land-Tax, 
 
 left the Nation naked and defencelefs, without 
 
 any Force, confiderable enough to refift either 
 
 Lighbour Potentate, or the deluded and 
 
 Popifh Party at Home, whenever they pleas'd to 
 
 rciolvt- to depofe the Queen, and fet the Popifh 
 
 Pretender
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefler, 
 
 Pretender in her room. This was making the 
 Church of England a glorious Church, in the 
 fenfe the Rebels promisM to make King Charles 
 the Martyr a glorious King, by expo&ig it; to 
 being perfected by Sufferings. And it may be 
 the Spirit of the one' was transfufed into the 
 other. But to let that pafs $ We fee how the 
 Train was defign'd, if the Queen had liv'd to 
 crofs their Meafures, from what has fince hap- 
 pen'd under her immediate and lawful Suc- 
 ceflbr King GEORGE^ I mean, in the late 
 unnatural Rebellion, which took heart, from 
 the want of fufficient Provifion then in the 
 Nation to oppofe it. Unnatural, becaufe it 
 was carried on without Provocation, without 
 any colour of Invafion of the Nations Rights, 
 againft the beft of Kings. They have great 
 reafon to think him fo, who are yet alive by 
 his Mercy, after fo juft a forfeiture of their 
 Lives. 
 
 But I blufh to to fay with what Ingratitude 
 thofe Objects of the King's Mercy have fince 
 behav'd themfelves. Some of them, lately, 
 as foon as they were free'd from their Chains, 
 forgetful of the King's great Lenity, forgetful 
 of their own and their Families Intereft, with 
 the very breath they ow d to his Mercy, with- 
 in thefe tew Months, have proclaim'd their Pre- 
 tended King James the Third. Horrid Ingra- 
 titude ! not to be named among Men, among 
 En^lijl) Men, or among Chriftans ! I muft there- 
 fore haften from fo black a Profpecl, to invite 
 you to a more fuitable Behaviour, and propofe 
 
 C 2 fotne
 
 A SERMON preached in the 
 
 fome Means proper for you to exprefs your 
 Gratitude by. And 
 
 The Firft is this : That we accept Con- 
 tentedly and with a Good-will God's Work, 
 and do every thing on our part to fecure the 
 Peace and Continuance of the Proteftant Suo 
 ceflion eftablifh'd among us. In being Sincere 
 and Hearty to King GEORGE'S Government, 
 we are true to our Selves 5 for we have not 
 a divided Intereft. But when we are guilty 
 of any contrary Practices, we are working 
 our own Deftrudion, we are undermining 
 that Fortrefs in which We and our Chil- 
 dren's Children muft hope for Safety. Let 
 us therefore flrengthen his Hands, by encou- 
 raging his Friends, by difcovering and de- 
 tecting his Enemies, 'till they are made pub- 
 lick Examples of his Juftice. 
 
 You that have Sworn to King GEORGE, (and 
 I hope there are few among us but have done 
 fo) are obliged to it by the moft facred Ties 
 imaginable ^ becaufe an Oath is an Appeal to 
 GOD, for the Confirmation of the Truth of 
 what we promife infofolemn a manner, and 
 fo more immediately before Him. 
 
 Far be it from me to fufpeft the Sincerity of 
 any One that is here prefent : But it is 
 worthy Obfervation, that thofe who firft 
 took the Oaths to King GEORGE, and firft 
 broke through the ftrideft Ties of Oaths and 
 Abjurations, have already begun to feet their. 
 Punifhment, by fufFering the Demerit due to 
 fuch an Affront upon God, and fuch Perfi- 
 
 dioufnefs
 
 Catbedral-Church of Chefter. 21 
 
 dioufneis to Men ^ or being forced to fly into 
 foreign Countries, to fecure themfelves from 
 the common Juftice of This,where they are like 
 to linger out a miferable Life, if not in Want, 
 yet in the greateft Contempt, among thofe of 
 their own Country-men that wifh well to our 
 happy Eftablifhment. May Thofe that have 
 taken the Oaths with a refolution to break 
 them, meet with no other Fate ! And may 
 they tranfplant themfelves to thofe imaginary 
 Friends which they like beft. Happy wou'd it 
 be for our Church and Nation, if Thofe that 
 have forfaken the Intereft of their Nation, 
 wou'd forfake their Native Country too. 
 
 But while they walk with us in the Houfe of 
 God as Friends, and do us fecretly all the DiJ- 
 honour and Mifchief they can, we ought to be 
 conftantly upon our Guard> that we be not 
 furprized when we apprehend no Danger. 
 But be that as it will $ God be thanked that the 
 Cheat is difcover'd, the Defign is deteded, 
 and King GEORGE is and will be King, whe- 
 ther his Enemies will or no. 
 
 The Second way I have to propofe to you, 
 for exprefling your Gratitude, is, an open, eon- 
 ftant Communion with the Church of England 
 as by Law eftabliftied $ which doth not (as 
 fome wou'd make you believe) lie in Chambers 
 and Corners. 
 
 If ever this Advice was neceflary, it is cer- 
 tainly now more &> It is our fpeeial Duty, 
 at this time, to cx-prefs a more than ordinary 
 Zeal for the pureft and beft-coflftituted Church 
 
 in
 
 ^SERMON f reactfd in the 
 
 in the World $ when the New Enemies that 
 have Separated from her Communion, have not 
 barely call'd in queftion, but have impudently 
 and peremptorily deny'd her very Being among 
 us. If we wou'd take their Word, " no valid 
 " Ads can be pcrform'd by us her lawful 
 " Priefts} her very Prayers are turn'd into 
 " Sin, her Sacraments are meer Nullities $ her 
 *' Bimops and Priefts, and all that adhere to 
 *' them, are Schifmaticks, cut off from the 
 " Communion of the Catholick Church ^ her 
 " Members can lay no Claim to the Benefits 
 *' of God's Promifes, no, not to his Aflifting 
 " Grace, nor to Remiflion of Sins, through the 
 " Merits of Chrift's Blood. 
 
 An infolent kind of Language this ! exprefllve 
 of a fpiritual Pride, like theirs of whom the 
 Prophet Ijaiah fpeaks, chap. 65. 5. Stand by 
 thy felf --, come not near me, for I am holier than 
 tJjou. They, it feems, a poor inconfiderable 
 handful of Malecontents,wou'd be thought to be 
 the only true Church of England: True, becaufe 
 they are diftinguimed by the odd out-of-the-way 
 Epithets of the Conjuring Church of England. 
 
 Let us try how they will deferve the Title 
 of even the Sons of the Church of England. If 
 we may judfxe of their Principles, from the 
 Books they write and recommend, they would 
 again advance the Notions of a Real Sacrifice 
 in the Lord's Supper ^ of Prayer for the Dead 5 
 of the neceffity of Auricular Confeffion to a 
 Prkft : Doctrines which are moft exprefly con- 
 demird in our Book of Homilies. 
 
 Their
 
 Cathedral-Church of Chefier. 2 3 
 
 Their Charity, you fee, is pretty near to 
 that of the Church of Rome, which deals out 
 Damnation to All that are not fo Mad as them- 
 felves. And the Ground of their Separation 
 from us, will be an Occafion of, and Excufe 
 for Schifms ever in the Church of Chriir, to 
 the End of the World. 
 
 Were their Plea true, farewell the Church 
 of England. For if the Civil Magiftrate in 
 our days hath no Right to ejeft the Nonjuring 
 Bifhops, neither was it lawful to depofe thofe 
 Bilhops that oppofed the Supremacy of the 
 Crown at the Reformation, upon which foot 
 our Church began to reform from Popery. 
 Were the Pretence of their departing from us, 
 drawn out, as it might, into its full Confequen- 
 ces, what a conftant Caufe of Contention muft 
 it be between the Civil and Ecclefiaftical Pow- 
 ers? How will it drive all wife Princes in 
 Chriftendom into a diftruft of the Incroach- 
 ments of Churchmen upon their Civil Autho- 
 rity, under the difguife of Independency^ and fo 
 hazard the Exercife of their true Spiritual- 
 Powers, which the Clergy receive from Chrift 
 Jefus ? 
 
 But Brethren, we have not fo learned Chrift. 
 We learn both in the Doclrine and Example of 
 our Lord Jefus Chrift, to fet up no Claims of a 
 Temporal Kingdom, which may difturb the 
 Peace of States, and abridge the juft Power of 
 Princes, which they poflefs'd antecedently to 
 Chriftianity. The True Church of England is 
 like the Wifdom from Above, firft pure, then
 
 24 4 SE RMO N preacfrcl, &c. 
 
 feaceable, gentle, eafte to be intreated, full ef mercy 
 and good fruits, without wrangling, ( as it is in 
 the Margin) and without hypocrijy. 
 
 Let us adhere ftrictly to the Doctrine and Rules 
 of this Church : Let us live up to her Religion, at- 
 tend duly her Ordinances, the Prayers, the Reading 
 and Preaching oi the Word, and the Sacraments as 
 adminiflred in her Communion, (hewing forth our 
 Faith by our Works -, and we need not doubt our 
 being in the true ftate of Salvation, where we par- 
 take of the Gofpel Means of" it, and have a folid 
 ground of Hope, as held forth in the Golpel for our 
 Sanftification. 
 
 Take heed therefore that no Man deceive you. 
 If any Man fay unto you, La ! here is Chrijt, or 
 there , believe him not, go not after them : Beware 
 of New Separations from that Church which is 
 already too much rent by unhappy, unreafbnabie 
 Divifions. Behold the Wounds (he bleeds under, 
 in the lionfc of her Friends ! Oh ! that we might 
 timely lee the Confluences thereof^ and do all that 
 in us lies to Itop her Breaches, and heal her Sores. 
 
 And let me Conclude, in the words of Samuel, 
 i Sam. xii. 20, 21. and teach you, in one word, the 
 
 good and right way. Turn ye not ajide to go 
 
 after vain things that cannot profit nor deliver, for 
 they are vain, for the Lord will not forfake his 
 People, for his great fame's fake. Only fear the Ijtrd, 
 and fervc. him in truth, with all your heart, and 
 confide v how great things he hath done for you.
 
 TWO 
 
 S E R M O N S 
 
 O N 
 
 R M. xiiL i, a. 
 
 I. Concerning the DUTY of the SUBJECT. 
 
 II. Setting forth the Sin and Folly of entring 
 into CONSPIRACIES againft the prefent 
 GOVERNMENT. 
 
 PREACHED in the 
 
 CATHEDRAL at WORCESTER, 
 
 ON 
 
 Novemb. 18, and iy. 1711. 
 
 By FR. HAR E, D.D. Dean of fForceJler, 
 and Chaplain in Ordinary to His MAJESTY. 
 
 'Publijhed at the *Defire of the Reverend the Chapter, 
 and other Gentlemen prefent. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by S, B u c K L E Y in ^men-Corner. M, Dec, xxnr, 
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 (3) 
 
 ROM. XIII. i, i. 
 
 rfiiU f 
 
 L# rctf ry <W ^ fubjeft unto the higher Powers, 
 
 For there is no Power but of God : The Row- 
 ers that be, are ordained of God. 
 Whofoever therefore refifteth tfoe Power, refift- 
 eth the Ordinance of Gad-, and ihey that 
 rtfift y Jhall receive to themfelves Danina- 
 
 H E Minifters of the Gofpel arc by their 
 Profeffion Minifters of Peace ; and from 
 thence alone it is eafy to deduce the Ob- 
 ligation they are under to teach Obedi- 
 ence to the Magiftrate, fince without that 
 no Peace can be maintained. But it is 
 
 not their general Character only obliges them to 
 whatever it is the Duty of Chriftians to pra&ifc, that it is 
 the Duty of the Minifters of Chrift to preach. But amon^ 
 the Duties required of Chriftians by the Author of pur 
 Faith, Obedience to the Magiftrate is evickntly pne x ^nd 
 that not the leaft. The firft Preachers of tj^e Go(i>ci, th^ 
 Apoftles themfelves, have fet us. an Example in this. Particii- 
 lar; St. T Win the Text, and St. Teter in his firft Epiftle. 
 
 A 2 And
 
 (4) 
 
 And what St. Taut did himfelf, he in very exprefs Term* 
 commands Titus to do, and in him all other Preachers of 
 the Gofpel, Chap. iii. Ver. i . of his Epiftle to him ; Tut 
 them in mind, fays he, to be fubjett to 'Principalities and 
 'Powers, to obey Magiftrates, to be ready to every good 
 Work } that is, to do in every thing the Part of good 
 Subjects j for that feems to be meant, by -every good 
 Work. 
 
 This then we are in Striftnefs obliged to, as Minifters 
 of Chrift, and Preachers of his Gofpel. And as nothing 
 is of more Importance to the Welfare of Society, than a 
 peaceable SubmiiTion to Authority, the Laws of the Land 
 do in the ftrongeft Manner require of us the fame Duty 5 
 and the Church hath given us an Example for the due 
 Performance of it, in her Homilies againft Rebellion. It 
 is true indeed, that'Difcourfes of this Kind have for many 
 Years been in great Difufe, and that Difufe is now made 
 an Argument againft them by the Malignancy of fome 
 People, who like no Politicks in the Pulpit, but fuch as- 
 thcir Governours would not like. They are well enough 
 plea fed to hear Sedition from thence, they will hearken 
 with great Attention to a Preacher who entertains them* 
 with Satyr and Invective againft their Superiors, and' 
 without Modcfty or Truth arraigns the Government, tho' 
 to the appareat Difturbance of that Peace and Order, 
 which by the Laws of God and Man he is bound to main- 
 tain : But if a Preacher tells them of their Duty in thefe 
 Matters/- and exhorts them to (hew themfelves good Sub- 
 icfts, he goes, they think, out of his Sphere, and med- 
 dles with Things that do not concern him, and which are 
 not proper for that Place. But it is in Truth far other- 
 wife, and what they think a Fault to do, it would be 
 very inexcufable, if upon proper Occafions Preachers did not 
 do. If fuch arguments have of late Years been feldom 
 handled in the Pulpit, it has not proceeded from any Con- 
 fcioufnefs in them, that it is a Bufincfs improper and un- 
 becoming them, nor indeed from any defigned Negled 
 
 of
 
 of what they knew to be their Duty 5 but becaufe they 
 thought there was little or no Occafion for it, as indeed 
 in quiet Times there is not. The People of this Na- 
 tion, God be thanked, are not ordinarily, and of them- 
 felves, inclined to Tumult and Sedition, much lefs to 
 take Arms and break out into Rebellion: There is no 
 Danger of this from the Generality of the People, unlefs 
 they are opprefled by great and real Grievances, or by 
 the artful Endeavours of faftious Men are made to be- 
 lieve, and ftrongly to apprehend imaginary ones. For 
 this Reafon there is feldom much Occafion to prefs on 
 the People, in fet Difcourfes, their Duty to the King, 
 efpecially fince it is by the Wifdom of the Church 
 worked into every Part of the publick Service ; and if 
 they are by the Difcourfes they hear from the Pulpit, 
 made good Chriftians, it is impoffible they fhould be ill 
 Subjefts. 
 
 This is the Reafon of that Difufe thefe Difcourfes have 
 fallen into. But when the Times grow unquiet, when a 
 Spirit of Sedition fhakes the Land, when the Difaffec- 
 tion of fome, and the Indifference of others, encourages 
 an implacable and reftlefs Fadion to take new Life, and 
 employ all their wicked Arts to difturb the publick Peace, 
 f and attempt the Subversion of the Government; when 
 to this End no Means are left unattempted to infufc 
 caufelefs Jealoufies into the People; when falic and odi- 
 ous Colours are put upon every Part of the Adminiftra- 
 tion ; when the very Perfon of the King, and the DignU 
 ty of his Auguft Houfe are calumniated and vilified ; when 
 every Corner of our Streets, and not the Corners only, 
 but even the publick Places, are filled with die mod vi- 
 rulent and treasonable Libels : When this is the Cafe, 
 then for the Minifters of the Gofpel to be filenr, is high- 
 ly criminal -, it is then their indifpenfable Duty to lift up 
 their Voice, and to Jhew Jacob their Sins, and Ifracl their 
 Tranfgrefftons ; they are then inexcufable before God and 
 Man, if they do not all they can, to (km this Torrent
 
 of Sedition, to refute the Lies and Calumnies of factious 
 Men-, to arm the People againft the Impreffions, which 
 Sedition, under the Difguife of Patriotifm, endeavours to 
 make upon them ; and to keep them ftedfaft in their Duty 
 to God, and the King. For the King is the Minifter df 
 God-, and if we would be true to God, and do his Will, 
 we muft be true and faithful to the Vicegerent he has fct 
 over us. 
 
 I wifh this were not our Cafe, and confequently that 
 there were no Occafion for a Difcourfe of this Nature ; 
 but it is too notorious to be denied, the Times do loudly 
 cry the contrary, and call us to the Discharge of this 
 Part of our Duty. There has long been difcovered a 
 dangerous Confpiracy, a monftrous and unnatural Defign, 
 aiming at nothing Icfs than the Overthrow of our pre- 
 fcnt happy Ettablifliment, and to deftroy the King, and 
 the whole Protcftant Royal Family. What the Clergy 
 think to be their Duty on this Occafion, may be feen in 
 the late dutiful and affectionate Addrefs of the two Houfes 
 of Convocation : In Difcharge of what is there promifed, 
 and for the important Reafons there given, I have cho- 
 fcn this memorable Paflage of St. 'Paul, concerning the 
 Subjects Duty to the higher ^Powers, to prefs upon you 
 from thence a Senie of your Allegiance, and to convince 
 you of the Sin and Folly of going into, or any way 
 encouraging the Endeavours of wicked Men' for the 
 Subverfion of the prcfent Government, whatever plau- 
 fiblc or fpccious Pretences their black Defigns are covered 
 with. 
 
 But before I do this, which will fill a Difeourfe it 
 iclf, it will be ncceflary to explain to you, as clearly as 
 I can, what it is St. ^Paul here fays, and to give you the 
 true and full Meaning of thefe Words;, it having been 
 their Misfortune, in the Heat of Controverfy, to be 
 forced into oppofitc Extremes; many making them a 
 aft Ground for a pallive Obedience to all Govcrnours, 
 lowcvcr unjuft and opprefllve, in the moft abfolute and 
 
 unlimited
 
 C7) 
 
 unlimited Manner 5 others on the contrary, pretending 
 to find in them Grounds and Reafons for Refiftance in 
 fome Cafes $ when it is moft certain that neither the one, 
 nor tfre other, can with Juftnefs be inferred from them. 
 The Words themfelves contain firft a Duty, and then the 
 Motives., or Arguments on which the Apoftle grounds 
 it. Let every Soul be fubjeEt to the higher Towers* 
 there is the Duty : For there is no Tower but of God : 
 The Towers that be, are ordained of God. There is 
 the Ground on which the Obedience of the Subjed is 
 founded : From whence it follows by undeniable Confe- 
 quence, that he who refifteth the Tower ; that is, refu- 
 fcth to acknowledge the Government and to yield the 
 Obedience he ought to pay to it, (which Rcfufal, what- 
 ever way it be exprefled at firft, fooner or later, it 
 almoft always e-nds in open Force or Violence, and fo 
 very properly termed Refiftance) rejifleth the Ordinance of 
 God. And what can they, who do fo, expeft from 
 thence, but that they fiiall thereby receive to themfelves 
 'Damnation? h,; 
 
 The Duty is contained folely in thefe Words ; Let eve- 
 ry Soul be fubjetf to the higher Towers. The Perfons to 
 whom Subjedion is due, are here called the higher Tow- 
 ers -, that is, thofe who are invefted with the fupreme 
 or fovereign Authority, in the feveral Governments the 
 World is divided into* Whether one Perfon or many 
 govern, whether it be a Common- wealth, or Ariftocracy, 
 or Monarchy, and whatever Kind that Monarchy be of, 
 whether pure or mixt, whether limited or abfolute: 
 Whatever the Government be, all Perfons living under 
 it are by this Text equally obliged to pay Obedience to 
 it ; there is.no Preference intended to be given by it to 
 one Form of Government before another. The higher 
 Towers in each and every one of them have, in virtue of 
 this Text, a Right to the Obedience of their Subjects, 
 of all their Subjects without Exception 5 Let every Sou/, 
 that is, every Perfon, be fubjeft to the higher Towers. 
 
 5 . Here
 
 (8) 
 
 Here is no Exception for any Perfons, of whatever Con- 
 dition or Profeflion : Ecclefiafticks are bound to obey the 
 civil Magiftrate, as much as the meaneft of the Laity 5 
 this, fays St. Chryfoftom upon the Place, is cnjoyned to 
 ^Pr iefts and Monks equally with others ; for St. *Pdul fays, 
 Let every Soul be jubjett^ every Soul, " though he be an 
 " jlpoftle, though he be an Evangelift, though* he be a 
 tc Trophetj whoever he be, he muft be fubjett to the 
 <e higher Towers:' Thus St. Chryfoflom. So little did the 
 Bimops of the Chriftian Church at that Time dream of 
 that Exemption from the Authority of the civil Magiftrate, 
 'which the Clergy of the Church of Rome have (incc claim'd; 
 and which fome other Ecclefiafticks feem unwilling to 
 renounce, while they ad, as if they had a Right to con- 
 Ipirc and rebel with more Impunity than other Men. But 
 if we will hear St. 'Paul, if we will hear the moft learn- 
 ed of the Fathers comment on him, Rebellion in an Ec- 
 cleftaftick is equally criminal, as in any other Man j his 
 Guilt before God is at leaft the fame, if not greater, and 
 the Minifter of God has therefore an equal Right to pun- 
 iih him. 
 
 But there is no need of more Words to prove, either 
 who arc the Objects of the Obedience here enjoined, or 
 from whom it is due. The Object is the Magiftrate 5 
 and who that in Fad is, except in Times of Confufion 
 and Anarchy, the Subject cannot but know, and more 
 he need not, as will appear hereafter ; and the Magi- 
 ftrate all Perfons muft obey. All the Difficulty is about 
 the Nature and Extent of this Obedience, which can 
 never be deduced with any Certainty from this (ingle 
 Word, virtfaurffiokQft be (libjeft. From hence indeed we fee, 
 that Subjection or Obedience is due 5 but for the Degree of 
 "Subjection or Obedience, there is -nothing in this (ingle 
 Word can fcrvc as a Meafurc to us 5 to fettle this, we muft 
 fetch in other Helps, which cither Reafon or Scripture can 
 lurnifh us with : For the fame Word is ufed of the Obe- 
 ciicncc required from Wives to Husbands 3 from Ser- 
 
 i vants
 
 (90 
 
 vants to Matters ; from the People to their Paftors 5 and 
 in general, from Chriftians to one another. 'Tis plain 
 therefore, no Bounds or Meafures of Obedience can be 
 fettled from this fingle Word, finte 'tis ufed of Perfonfc 
 in fo many Relations, each of which require a different 
 Degree of Subjcdion to be paid to them. Nay, inibme 
 Inftances, the Expreflion is made ftronger by the Addi- 
 tion of other Words, than it is here, i&Eph. v. 22. Wrves 
 fubmit yonr fefoes unto your own Husbands, as unto the 
 Lord'-, as in the next Chapter he bids Servants to be obe- 
 dient to their Maflers y as to the Lord; in which 1 aft Place, 
 tho' theFerft be not the fame, yet it is exadly of the fame 
 Import. There is no manner of Difference, in this Ar- 
 gument, between uVoTaors<%- and U7rctxs?jvj and therefore^ 
 he ufes the latter here to cxprefs the Duty of Servants, fo 
 Tit.il 9. he ufes the other, where he exhorts Servants io 
 btofadient to their own Mafters~, andtopleafe them weft 
 m all things -, a*rd both Words are rendred alike in the 
 Englijh. AadC^. iit. 20. the fame Apoftle exhorts Chil- 
 dren to obey their 'Parents in ali things, ra r^va, ihraxvt'l*. 
 fois yov&ffi xara Ts-dvlu. Thefeare as ftrong Expreffions as 
 can well be conceived, and yet 'tis certain and allowed of 
 all, that Obedience is not fo enjoined by them, as to ex- 
 clude all Limitation or Exception. Much Tcfs can an ab- 
 folute and unlimited Obedience be inferred fbom a fingle 
 Word, when no fuch Additions are made ta give a far- 
 ther Strength and Force to the Expreflton. No, to do 
 this, to find what Obedience is here required, we mu(t, 
 as I have faid> call in other Helps ; and thefe muft be 
 fetched from Reafon and Scripture, from the Law of 
 Nature and Nations, but above all, from the Laws of the 
 refpedive Governments every Man is under. 
 
 This Word, lethimbefiibjetf, is by the Confcnt of all good 
 Interpreters to be underftood, not in apaffive, bat in a rm- 
 />r<?ra/Senfe, let himfubjett himfelf^. that is, yield Submilfion 
 and Obedience to the higher 'Powers. Here then it is at 
 firft Sight evident, that this Limitation muft be underftood, 
 
 C that
 
 (10) 
 
 that it be in Things lawful $ for both Reafon and Scrip- 
 ture teach us, that we muft obey God, rather than Man. 
 But what if our Governors notwithstanding infift up- 
 on a Compliance with them, and threaten to punifh a 
 Refufal in the moft exemplary Manner, or any other Way 
 injure and opprefs thofe they fhould protect? what a Sub- 
 mifllon is then due from us, is the great Queftion ; whe- 
 ther in virtue of this Precept, when we can't by an affive, 
 Obedience comply with our Superiors, a pajji-ve one then 
 begins, and we, are obliged by it patiently to fuffer whatever 
 they inflict, and tamely to fubmit to the Invafions of our 
 civil or religious Rights, however illegal and unjuft 5 and 
 whether this be the Duty of all Subjects in all Cafes, and not 
 only of private and fingle Perfons, but of whole Nations, 
 And many, it is well known, have, understood this Text jqi 
 this extended Senfc, as obliging to a pafilve Obedience in 
 all Cafes whatsoever, becaufe, in their Opinion, to enjoin 
 Obedience to the Magiftrate in all Things lawful, is a poor 
 Buftncfs, (carce worthy the Apoftkj 'tis fo plain a Duty 
 rhat no body can be ignorant of it, much, lefs can it, be 
 
 * o ' \ r v i ' ' \ ' i * j ' v v> A 
 
 thought the Apoftle would enjoin it with fo much Ear- 
 nettnefs, and inforcc it with fo many and fuch ftrong EK- 
 preiTions, as he does here, and in the following Verfes. 
 
 But this Objection is, I conceive, without Foundation, 
 and :arries, partly from a very wrong,, tho' very common 
 N T otiou, concerning the Perfection of the Scriptures, as 
 jf it were rcquifite to that Perfection, that the Scriptures 
 fhould contain Anfwcrs to all Qtieftions, and Solutions of 
 ail Difficulties, upon all Subjects that have any relation ci- 
 ther to Religion or civil Life, and in all. Times, at what 
 liiihnce foevcr from the writing of them; (than whicli 
 no one Thing icems to have occafioned more falfe In- 
 terpretations,) and partly from the want of fufficiently con- 
 iidering, what the Apoftic's Defign in this Place is, with 
 what View he writes, what gave Occafion- to it, what 
 f-:!e Docrrinc or prevailing Error he intended to oppofc. 
 I he Knowledge of which is the only good Key to the 
 
 opening
 
 opening the true Meaning of this Pafiage : which I fhail 
 therefore endeavour to explain to you with ail the Clearneis 
 lean. 
 
 The Defign then of the Apoftle, I take, certainly to have 
 been this 5 to convince the Jewijh Chriflians, that it was 
 not only lawful, but their Duty to fubmit to the Roman 
 Government > and by that Means to remove the mod fa- 
 tal and pernicious Imputation that could be thrown on 
 Chrift and his Religion, by removing all juft Caufe for it , 
 which by the indifcreet Zeal of many of them had been 
 given, and by their Enemies Occafions were taken, when 
 not given. It is moft evident, nothing could do fo much 
 Hurt to the Chriftian Religion in its Infancy, as to Have 
 it thought an Enemy to Government. It was this Impu- 
 tation that condemned our Saviour himfelf : The High- 
 Priefts indeed in their Council declared him guilty of 
 Death for Blafphemy, in making himfelf the Son of God--, 
 but that which was made his capital Crime, when accufed 
 to the Roman Governor, was, that he was an Enemy to 
 Ctffar, and fet up himfelf as King, in Oppofttion to him. 
 Thus we read Luc. xxiii. 1,2. The whole Multitude of them 
 arofe, and led htm unto 'Pilate, and they began to accufe 
 him, faying, we found this Fellow perverting the Na- 
 tion, and forbidding to give Tribute to Caefar, faying, 
 that he himfelf is King. And John\\x. 1 2. when Tilate 
 had a Mind to.releafe him, as finding nothing worthy of 
 Death proved againft him, the Jews cried out, faying) if 
 thou let this Mango, thou art not'Cxhr's Friend : whofo- 
 ever maketh himfelf a King, fpeaketh againft Csefar. And 
 when Pilate asked them, faying, Jhall 1 crucifieyour King? 
 the Chief 'Priefts anfwered,we have no King butGxht. And 
 . upon this Pilate delivered him to be crucified* ' v;i 1 5 j I &>3 
 
 Thus early did the Charge of Sedition aad Trea- 
 fon begin againft that Religion , which in the Nature 
 of it is the fartheft in the World fronviit. It brought 
 the Author of it to the Crofs, and was no lefs fuccefs- 
 fully urged againft his Followers, their Enemies well 
 
 B 2 knowing,
 
 that no Accufation could more cffe&ually in- 
 .cenfc the Magiftrates every where againft them. Thus 
 Afls xvii. 5, &c. upon Taut and 5/'/*j preaching at 
 Z-heffaLmiea* t^^wfr.en'raged, Jp0 ^ them certain lewd 
 FeUwuS) of the bdfer forty and agaulted the Houfe.of 
 Jafon, nd drew hm, and certain of the Brethren, unto 
 'the Rulers of the City, crying, ThefeVhat have turned the 
 World upfide down, are come hither alfo, and do contrary 
 to the 'Decrees of C#far, faying, there >& another King, 
 one Jefus. J3ut -P^/and 'Silas could not be found, fo they 
 took Security of the reft, and let them go. And the fame 
 Accufation was brought againft St. *Paul before Felix, 
 Ads xxiv. We have found this Man, fays Ttrtullus, a 
 peflilent Fellow, and a Mover of Sedition among all the 
 Jews, throughout the World ; and the Jews ajfented, fity- 
 mg-, that t ho fe Things <werefo. -But St. (Paul in 'his admi- 
 rable Defence defies them to prove, any Thing oft this Kind 
 againft him j he affirms, that they found him nat in the 
 Temple with Multitude, or with Tumult, nor difputing 
 with any one, nor ftir ring up the 'People, neither in the 
 Synagogues, nor in the City. It was,: no doubt, chiefly thefe 
 Accufations, that brought on this great \Apoftle thofe many 
 Sufferings, tlie Stripes, the Imprifonmcnts, the Perfecuti- 
 ons, the Affli^ions, the Deaths he mentions in feveralParts 
 of his Epiftics, and at laft theiLofsof Life itfelf. 
 
 But there is no need of enlarging, to :fhcw either how 
 common a Pradice it was to -charge the firft Chriftians 
 .with being Movers of Sedition ; or how fatal fuch a^Chargc 
 muft be to them, where it was believed; and contequent- 
 ly, of what Importance it was for the Teachers to take 
 all poillble Care, that the Difciples might -give .no juft 
 Colour for ir, but behave themfelvjes in all Things, as 
 became .good Subjcds. It is more UMteriil to enquire 
 what Ground there was for fueh a -Charge, or what there 
 was either in the Doftrine, or Pradtice of the firft Chrifti- 
 at/s, that could give a handle to it : For it- is hardly credible, 
 luch an Imputation mould .be fo general, without forac 
 
 real,
 
 ) 
 
 real, or at lead feeming Ground for it. Now one Caufe 
 of this I have already pointed out, viz. that Jefus was 
 looked on by his Difciples to be the gnat King promifed 
 in the Pxophets, and who about the Time that he ap- 
 peared, was univerfally expedcd to come. How much 
 this was the -Expectation of tbe Jews, not to mention 
 fevetal Places in our own Books, we may learn from a 
 known Paflage in Suetonius, who fpeaking ,of the De- 
 ftrudion of the Jews by Vefpafian, fays, there had been 
 an Opinion univerfally fpread in the Eaftern Parts, that a 
 Prince from among the Jews fhould about that Time 
 arife, who fhould fubdue all other Kingdoms, and make 
 them Mafters of the World *. This naturally created a 
 Jealoufy in the Romans, and made them have a watchful 
 Eye upon all who pretended to be the Perfon fo much 
 expeded : .'For many fuch there were in the Compafs of 
 a few Years, who drew great Numbers of People after 
 them j as Chrifl foretold there would be. Falfe Chrifts, and 
 falfe ^Prophets, ^fays he, Jhall rife, and /hall fhew Signs 
 a nd Wonder s, to feduce, if it were pojjible, even the Rlett. 
 Mark xiii. 22. Indeed the Kingdom claimed by Chrifl 
 was of fuch a Nature, when rightly underftood, as needed 
 to have given no Umbrage to the Roman Government, as 
 our Saviour himfelf argues, Joh. xviii. 3 6. but it is no 
 Wonder, if this was not fo eafily underftood by others, 
 when the Difciples themfelves were for a Time carried 
 away with that Prejudice, which was then common to the 
 whok Nation of the Jews, and were big with Expedi- 
 tions, that Chrifl fhould be a mighty temporal Deliverer, 
 and that tho' he were by- Death for -a fhort Seafon taken 
 from them, 'htffhould in a Mtsle Time return with Power 
 
 * The Words of Suetonius are, Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus & conftans 
 opjnjo, efle in fatis, ut eo tcropore J.udw prpfefH rerum potirentur. Vefp. c. 4. 
 And Tacitus fays the fame Thing In filmoft the fame Worth. Pluribus perfuafio 
 inerar, antiquis Sacerdotum litwis contineri, eo ipfo Penapore fore, ut vdefceret 
 s,. pr0fe<fljque ^^4 ref ura .potireutwr.Hift.l. j^c. Ij.. i 
 
 and
 
 ( H) 
 
 and great Glory, and fubdue all Nations to himfelf, that 
 his Throne jhouldbe eftablijhed in Sion, and that all^Peo- 
 pie foould flow to him to Jerufalem. People fill'd with 
 fuch Hopes, and comforting themfelves with fuch Expeda- 
 tions againft all Sufferings, might very eafily, both by their 
 Words and Actions, give Umbrage to their civil Governors, 
 except that at firft perhaps they might think them too in- 
 confiderable, to be much minded. 
 
 Another Caufe of Jealoufy, and of a piece with this, 
 was the Liberty they had in Chrift. This Liberty of 
 Chrift ians, as well as the Kingfoip of their Head, was 
 of a fpiritual Nature, and therefore when rightly explain'd, 
 the Magiftrate had nothing to fear from it 5 but for a 
 Number of People to talk much of Liberty, to a Roman 
 Governor, carried a feditious Sound with it, and looked 
 like a Defign of throwing off the Yoke , and fetting up 
 for thcmfelves: And their Governors had the more Rca- 
 ion for fuch Apprehenfions, from what they faw every 
 Day pradifed in thofe Times among the Jews ,: and 
 fomc even of the Chriftians^ no doubt, gave but too jufi 
 Occafion for them, by abufing their Liberty in Chrift to 
 the very word Purpoles. They did, not a few, defile the 
 Flefo, dcfpife 'Dominions, and fpeak evil of 'Dignities. 
 jude 8. and 2 Pct> ii. 10. Accordingly we find bothSt.'Peter 
 and St. 'Paul warning Chriftians againft the Abufes of it. 
 The latter in his Epiftle to the Gal. v. 13. Brethren* ye 
 have been called unto Liberty f , only ufenot Liberty for an 
 Occafwn to the Fie ft : And St. *Peter i Ep. ii. 16. clofes 
 his Exhortation to Obedience with thefe Words; As free ', 
 and not ufmg your Liberty for a Cloak of Malicioufnefs , 
 that is, as a Pretence for doing Evil, or for feditious Prac- 
 tices, which teems to be principally meant by Maliciouf- 
 nefs in that Place. 
 
 But whatever Handle the Indifcretion of fome Chri- 
 ftians, and the Corruption of others, might by the Abufe 
 of their Liberty, or of Chri/Ts Kingdom, give for the 
 Magiltratc's looking on them as a perverfe, factious, fedi- 
 tious
 
 ( 1$ ) 
 
 tious Generation of Men (of which there could not be in 
 any of them the leaft Appearance, which their Enemies 
 would not in the moft tragical manner exaggerate, and 
 impute to the whole Party,) that which did them moft 
 Prejudice, and created in the Magiftrate the greatcft Sufpi- 
 cion of them, as Enemies to all civil Government, and 
 led him to put the word Conftrudion upon their Dodrines 
 and Adions, no doubt, was the feditious Opinions and li- 
 centious Pradices of a new Sed fprung up among the Jews 
 in our Saviour's Time, and under a Leader of the fame 
 Country, I mean the Followers of * Judas of Galilee, 
 who, as we read Affs v. 37. rofe up in the T>ays of 
 the Taxing, and drew away much 'People after him. 
 The Taxing here mentioned, is not the Enrollment at 
 the Time of our Saviour's Birth, but a fecond that 
 was about ten Years after, when upon the Banifhment 
 of Archelaus, who fucceeded his Father Herod, Judaa was 
 reduced into the Form of a Roman Province. At this Time, 
 and upon this Occafion, arofe this Judas, who, %s> Jofe- 
 phus informs us, fet up a new Sed among the Jews, in 
 other refpeds agreeing much with the ^Pharifees , but 
 diftinguifhed by a furious, ungovernable Zeal for Liberty 5 
 they maintained it was unlawful for the People of God 
 to fubmit to any foreign Yoke, or acknowledge any 
 Lord but God only. They thought it not only their 
 Right, but their Duty to refufe Obedience to any Perfon 
 the Roman Government fliould fet over them 5 and in 
 Maintenance of thefe Opinions committed the greateft 
 Outrages. And. this Sed, Jofephus obferves, fpread 
 
 * An Account of this \Judns and his Set may be fcen in Jofephus his Antia. 
 1. 18. c. i, a. e^ de B. J. 1. 2. c. 12. what Saditions afterwards {prang from 
 thefe Beginnings, and to what monftrous ExcefTes a Spirit of Fa&ion carried 
 them, the Reader may fec^ntiq. 1. 20. c. 6, 7. & de B. J, 1. 2. c. 13. $ 1.4. 
 c. 10, n, id, 19, ao, 25, 14, 30, 35-. e^ 1. 7- c. 30, 34, 37, 37. which 
 Places {hew, Jofephus had great Reafon to {ay, that from the Rife of this Sedt 
 no Evil had befallen the Nation, which they were not the caufe of. 
 
 mightily
 
 mightily among the Jews^ and infefted great Numbers 
 with the fame Enthufiafm. And to thefe Enthufiafts the 
 moft profligate and vildl of the People joined themfelves, 
 who, under the Colour of Libert y, meant nothing but 
 the Tillage and ^Plunder of the Country, which produced 
 the moft fatal Effecis; for perpetual Tumufts and Sediti- 
 ons filled all Places, and made Judtea fuch a Scene of 
 Mifery as is not to be exprefs'd, which nothing could 
 put an end to, but the total Kulri of the Nation. Btit 
 nothing that either themfelves ot Country differed could 
 abate their Rage and Zeal , they thought it the Caufe 
 of God, and rather chofe to die a thouland Deaths, than 
 quit their darling Delufion, and fubniit to 1 the Powers 
 which they could not with any Hopes of Succe& refift. 
 And they were ib far from thinking what they fuffered 
 from Men, to be the 'Puwjhment of God, and that the 
 Magiftrate was only his Mimfter to inflift it, that they 
 gloried in their Sufferings, as undergone for his Sake, 
 and therefore highly meritorious in his Sight : In ftlorf, 
 they bore the greatcft Torments with an invincible Con- 
 flancy, and were pofleffed in Defence of the worft Caufe, 
 \viih all that Affurance that can be expected in the beft. 
 
 The wild Opinions of thefe Men, as they fpread greatly 
 among the Jews, fo did they infect fome of ti\tjewijb 
 Chriftians, or at leaft were imputed to them by the R&- 
 mansy not diftinguifhing between two Se^ts, which, how- 
 ever in fome Appearances alike, were in Reality extremely 
 different. It was for fome time the Misfortune of thi 
 Chriftians to be confounded with the Jews in' the Opi- 
 nion the re(t of the World had of thcm^ and by that 
 means to be involved in the fame Calamities, and fuffer 
 in common with them. Of this we have a remarkable 
 Infhncc in Suetonius, of great Ufe to our prelent Pur- 
 pole. In his Life of Claudius C<efar , c, 25. he has thefe 
 Words, J nd (Cos tmpulfore Chrefto ajjidue tutnultuantes 
 Roma c\pu!it. He baniflied the Jews the City, who, 
 
 by
 
 ( 
 
 by the Irrigation of one * Chreftus, that is Chrift, were 
 always making Difturbances, and ftirring up Sedition. In 
 thefe Words 'tis plain Jews and Chriftians are not 
 with any Clearnefs distinguished from each other. But 
 now as to the Matter contained in them, whatever Truth 
 there were for the Charge which is here made the 
 Ground of this Edid, whether there really were fuch 
 Tumults then at Rome, and whether excited by Jews 
 poifoned with the Opinions of this Judas, or by Chri- 
 ftians alfo, as well as Jews ; or whether it were a Ca- 
 lumny only caft on them by their Enemies, who bare an 
 implacable Hatred to the Jews without Diftindion, and 
 interpreted to Sedition their Oppofition to Idolatry, and 
 their feparate Meetings for their own Worfliip ; whatever 
 there really were in this Charge, a Spirit of Fadion, Se- 
 dition, and perpetual Tumults, were, we fee, in fad im- 
 puted to the Jews; and this, impulfore Chrefto, as the 
 Effed of their following Chrift. Jf the occafion of this 
 Edid was not any thing done at Rome, but the Tumults 
 and Seditions at that time in Judtea, tho' the Charge 
 was but too true of the Jews, it was very unjuftly im- 
 puted to Chrift, and fuch as followed his Dodrine and 
 Example. But however that be, this Edid was made but 
 a *j- few Years before St. Taul wrote this Epiftle ,- and at 
 the Time he wrote, tho' the Jews might be quiet in 
 other Places, yet in Judaea things continued in the ut- 
 nioft Confufion, and gave the Emperor great Trouble, 
 and made the very Name of Jews odious at Rome, 
 whither St. Tanl intended to go very foon himfelf. 
 
 * Chreftus being a Name the Romans were better acquainted with than Chriftus, 
 that, and not any Defign, feems to have been the true Rcaiba of their putting 
 one for the other in this and other Places. 
 
 f The learned Bifhop Pearfon, in his Ann/ties Paulini, p. i 2. places this Edih 
 which is the fame with that mentioned Acts xviii. 2. in the iz' h Year of Clau- 
 dius, who did not reign quite 14. and the Epiftle to the Romans he iuppofes 
 written (p. if.) in the 3 d of Nero; and St. Pctul had then many Years intended 
 a Journey to Rome. See c. i. v. 10, i J, if. $ c. 15-. v. ^^ ) aj, ^\ t 32. 
 
 C How 
 
 3
 
 How now could he prepare his Way better j how could 
 he more effectually recommend himfelf to that Govern- 
 ment, and difarm it of its Enmity to Chriftians, than 
 by enjoining Obedience to the civil Magiftrate in fo di- 
 (linguiihing a manner, as he does in this place j in which 
 he direftly contradicts and condemns thofe wild Opinions 
 that had infe&ed fo many of the Jews, and were, whether 
 juftlyor not, generally charged upon the Chriftians ? 
 
 This then is, I think, the * true Key to the Senfe of 
 this Text, 'tis the mad Zeal of Judas of Galilee, and 
 his Sett, which had fo much provoked the Roman Go- 
 vernment by the perpetual Disturbances it made, and 
 thereby drew fo many Calamities upon the Jews, that 
 the Apoftle here oppofes, and which he would prevent, 
 or recover, Chriftians from falling into. The fingle Point 
 was, Whether it were lawful for Jews to fubmit to the 
 Roman Power ; this thefe Zealots for Liberty denied even 
 to the Death. St. Taul, in Opposition to thefc Men, 
 and, in a juft Abhorrence of their feditious Principles, 
 ailirms, it is not only lawful, but their Duty to fubmit, 
 and yield Obedience to it. And this Duty he ground* 
 ipon this Principle, that all 'Power i$ of God, a Princi- 
 ple directly oppofite to the Errors of thofe he is oppofing. 
 They thought no Power (over them at leaft) to be of 
 God, but what was by God fettled in their Law > St. *Paul-, 
 on the contrary, declares there is no Power that is not of 
 God, Which, it mud be obferved, is not a Doctrine 
 peculiar to Chrifiianity, as is commonly thought, much 
 lefs to Sc, 'Paul, and ftill lefs is it an Inference drawn by 
 him, as iome would have it, from what is faid of Go- 
 vernors in the following Verfes; no, this is a Principle 
 univerfally acknowledged by all wife Men, and received 
 
 * I am nor a little confirmed in this Thought, by finding fb good a Judge 
 js St. "J-trom in the lame Opinion; who, in his Comment on Tit. iii. i. has 
 thefe Words oi this Precept, Proptcrca editum pato, quin Judx Galilaei per illud 
 Tt-mpH' dogma adf.-nc i*'u?b.n, & Labebat fhirimm Seftatyres. 
 
 in
 
 ( 19) 
 
 in all civilized Nations. The Jewijh Zealots might have 
 learnt it from their own Books, in which the Wifdom of 
 God cries, By me Kings reign, and ^Princes decree Juftict. 
 'Prow, viii. 15. And 'Dm. ii. 22. 'tis declared, that God 
 removeth Kings, and fetteth up Kings. The fame is 
 very fully fet forth in many Places of the Prophets ; and 
 the latter Books of the Jews exprefs the fame Dodrine 
 ftill more clearly. Thus, Eccl. xvii. 17. In the'Divifion 
 of the Nations of the whole Earth he fet a Ruler over 
 every 'People. From hence the Followers of Judas might 
 have learnt, that all Tower is of God. But what deceived 
 them feems to have been what follows, But Ifrael is the 
 Lord's Portion. From whence they concluded, that 
 whatever Right the Governors of the World had over 
 their own People, none had Authority to govern thent; 
 they were under God Only, as his Inheritance. As this 
 Pafiage very plainly declares that all Government is of 
 God, fo I muft obferve, that the Writer of it does but 
 copy what is declared by Mofes in the Law, T^euf. xxxii. 8. 
 as the Reading then was> at lead in the Book that this 
 Author ufed, tho' in our Copies, arid that the Seventy 
 ufed, it be read otherwife:* 
 
 But nothing can more cxprefly dedare all Power to be 
 of God, than a Paffage in the Book of Wifdom. There, 
 at the tf th Chapter, the Writer, in the Perfon of Solomon* 
 dircas himlelf to Rulers thus ; Hear, O ye Kings, and un- 
 der ft and * y lear, ye that be Judges of the ends of the 
 Earth. Give ear, yifu that rule the Teople, and glory in 
 the Multitude of Nations. For 'Power is given you of 
 the Lord, and Sovereignty from the Higheft* who Jhall 
 try jour Works, and fearch out ydnr Comfels. Eecaufe, 
 
 * The Author of Ecclff. feems to have read for Gebulotb, which the Seventy 
 rightly render "Optt, Gefairoth, which may, I think, be rendred, arfctfs, or w&- 
 riMS j fo that the difference is only of a fmgle'Letter, of r for /, which Letters 
 in Hebrew are fo alike, as to be often confounded ; and this fmall Alteration 
 would give much Light to a Place that is at prefent exceeding obfcure. 
 
 C 2 being 
 
 3
 
 (20) 
 
 being Minifters of his Kingdom, you have not judged 
 aright^ nor kept the Law, nor walked after the Counfel 
 of God. What is declared in this Paffage, is fo perfectly 
 agreeable to St. *Paul, that one can hardly doubt but he 
 had it in his View, efpccially fmce one may by other 
 Places in his Epiftles plainly fee, he was no Stranger to 
 this Book. 
 
 And as this Doftririe here taught by St. 'Paul, concern- 
 ing the divine Origin of Government, and that all ^Power 
 is of God, is no other than what was before taught and 
 received among the Jews ; fo are the Sentiments of the 
 wifcft Philofophers and Law-givers among the Greeks, 
 and oF Homer, the Father of them, confonant hereto ; as 
 might be fhcwn by many Paflfages, were this a proper 
 Place for it. To confine my felf to Homer ; who, that 
 is at all acquainted with him, knows not his :t 
 
 %XYiTrr%(& fiaffiX&SjtortZ&SKVtP&itPaMV. 1-A 279. And 
 
 - El? xo!(>yv@ J $&), 
 
 El? @a<riX4]f 5 &> s^ooxs Kp^vs -sroctr afkuXo/viyiTsa) 
 Sy.fiTrl^v T' n'^e .^s/uusar - 1. B. 204. And 
 
 Ti.uyj d v 1:'. Ato? Iri - 197. 
 
 . ; ' 
 
 Which Places fully declare the Power of Kings to be 
 from God. From whence 'tis familiar with him to ftik 
 Kings c'tcUv ? and Ji^^tis . * that is,born of God, and main- 
 tained by him. I will only add, that the Sentiments of 
 Hefwd, { the oldcft Greek Writer next himfelf, appear to 
 be the fame, in thofe memorable Words, 
 
 Ex. o's Ajof EiX!TiXri J r - . 96. 
 
 Thus both, in perfcft Conformity to Scripture. As 
 indeed the more ancient the Books of the Heathen 
 
 * Tis Euftathius \ns Obfervation upon the laft mentioned PafTage: iflaSt 
 ^.*'.< <?V4 >$ 2i*!fi<pt% ra? Sctirt^ Aiy* iVt <M A<0 ra yw- J' 
 
 the gen 
 
 World 
 
 J'A- 
 
 A.A' CTt i| tXiiW O^TC~5 li Tlf/jfi* 
 
 The cirwcvi Marwareum makes H$W fomewhat the older, but the genc- 
 
 pjni^Ti is othervvifc
 
 World are, the more agreeable they are always found 
 to the Books of the Old Teftamenr. I will give but 
 one Inftance of this in Homer, but a very pertinent one 
 to our prefent Subjeft ; it is, that he afcribes every thing 
 to a divine 'Providence , as the Scriptures every where 
 do, and nothing to Fortune, which Word is not fo much 
 as once to be found in his Poems, large as they are. But 
 neither Homer, nor the Scripture- Writers, imagined that 
 God governed the World a/x^f, and without the In- 
 tervention of fecond Caufes ; and therefore whatever they 
 taught of Governments being from God , they did not 
 intend to exclude the Share that the People any where 
 had in the firft Eredion, or in the Provifion made foe 
 the Continuance of them. And fo it is here with 
 St. c Pauli his Aflertion, that there is no 'Power but of 
 God, is no way inconfiftent with any Rights the feveral 
 Nations of the World might have in the firft Eftablifti- 
 ment of their refpeftive Governments, or the providing 
 fit Perfons, either by Election or otherwife, to fucceed in 
 them, or in the Limitation of the Power, and Nature of 
 the Truft repofed in them, by any Compact or Confent, 
 either tacit or exprefs. For the Nature of Self prefer- 
 vation, neceflarily fupplies fome Conditions in all Sub- 
 miflions to Governors, however in the Terms unlimited 
 and without Referve. In fhort, he intended not to med- 
 dle with the civil Rights of any People one way or other, 
 as will farther appear by and by. His Aflertion is point- 
 ed againft thofe factious Men, who maintained it was un- 
 lawful to fubmit to any human Government, as incon- 
 ftftent with the Government of God, whom alone they 
 would acknowledge to be their Lord and King. The 
 Apoftle's Defign therefore in this Aflertion, was to found 
 the Right their then Governors had to their Obedience 
 in the Will of God himfelf, in virtue of a Maxim ac- 
 knowledged by the Wifdom of their own, as well as of 
 all other civilized Nations, indeed by all Perfons who 
 owned a Providence. 
 
 And
 
 (22). 
 
 Aud, as if this negative Aflcrtion were not ftrong 
 enough, but might fome way be eluded, by their 'allow- 
 ing it to hold only as to the Origin of Government, 
 but no farther; he feconds this Aflertion with an affir- 
 mative [one in Terms more exprefs and ftrong, and de- 
 clares, that the Towers that be, are ordained of G&d\ 
 u 80-ot Ss(r /cu, that is, the feveral Powers or Governments, 
 (which Terms can't be underftood in an abftrad Senfc, 
 but as including the Perfons vefted with thofe Powers, 
 and adminiftring thofe Governments) that were then in 
 Being : All thofe Powers and Governments, he affirms to 
 be, WQt apprwed, but or -darned, or appointed by God. He 
 docs not fay all lawful Powers, but all the Powers that 
 were in Being, which is a very different thing ; for had 
 he laid lawful, that muft have been meant with refpeft 
 cither to God or Man ; to have faid the firft, had been 
 faying nothing to the Convidion of thofe who maintained 
 that with refpeft to God no Powers were lawful} and to 
 have limited his Aflcrtion by the Addition of lawful with 
 relped to Men, had been to involve private Cknftians in 
 Difputcs concerning the Titles of Princes, of which they 
 neither could nor ought to judge * -, and would have 
 looked very iiifpicious with regard to the then Governors, 
 who might by fuch a Limitation have imagined, that 
 what Right the Apoftle gave them to the Obedience of 
 their Subjeds with one Hand, he pulled away with the 
 other, and that this Word was added only as a latent Re- 
 fcrvc, to be made ufc of whenever they had a mind to 
 withdraw their Allegiance, or to transfer it to another, 
 Avoiding therefore all captious or invidious Expre (lions,, 
 he affirms of the Powers then in. Being, of ail Gover- 
 nors in quiet Poflcllion of then: Powers, acknowledged 
 and fubmitted to by the Body or States of their refpectivc 
 
 ' Hvn isgftn -vultmu, (:bi pr&fcripjijje. Chriftianos veteret, ut cttitts imf>erinm nafio 
 
 ,?/; ?.'-.'<: o3.\-/;<v/f;.7/ fr^n/,;, deque itlli fu6 ff>e c tofts Nominifas res novanti acfe- 
 
 :>.:. Oror. '/ Matt. c. a:, v. 16. 
 
 People,
 
 C'3) 
 
 People, that they are of God's Appointment. Some have 
 fancied, that thefe Words ordained of God, might alfo be 
 rendred ordained under God, which makes Kings more 
 directly his Vicegerents j but that Senfe the Words in the 
 Original can't pofllbly bear ; nor is it truer of regal Go- 
 vernment of whatever Species, than it is of any other, 
 that it is ordained of God ; the Aflertion is equally true !, 
 of all fettled Governments, that are, or have been, or 
 ever (hall be. 
 
 Here then is fully afierted, and in the ftrongeft Terms, the 
 divine Right of Governors and Governments in general 5 
 that therefore it is the Will of God, that all Perfons fhould 
 acknowledge their Authority, and yield due Obedience to 
 them. And they who refufe to do fo, inftead of think- 
 ing they do God Service in it, and that what they fuffer 
 for their Difobediencc is meritorious in his Sight, ought 
 to think juft the contrary ; that their Difobedience to their 
 Governors is no other than Difobedience to God him- 
 felf, and that the Punifliment they fuirer from their Go- 
 vernors for it, is not merely a Punifliment from Men, 
 but the Judgment of God upon them. For this is the 
 Meaning of what follows, If the Towers that be, are 
 ordained of God, then every 'Power is the Ordinance of 
 God, and he that difobeys the 'Power difobeys his Ordi- 
 nance. For the Ordinance of God does not here mean 
 a Command of God, as fome underftand it, but the Go- 
 vernment it felf, that is difobey'd 5 which is not, accord- 
 ing to St. haul's Aflertion, more truly a human Ordinance, 
 than it is a divine one. But he that difobeys a divine 
 Ordinance or Inftitution, and in fo doing rebels againft 
 God , what can he look for but Vengeance and Con- 
 fufion from him ? What can fuch expeft, but that they 
 jhall receive to themfehes 'Damnation ? 
 
 The Word here rendred, 'Damnation, in the Original 
 isKgjijuia, and fignifies Judgme nt , mTuniJhment, of what- 
 ever kind 5 whence a Doubt arifcs, what Senfe it is to 
 be taken in here. Some would have it mean eternal T)am-. 
 
 nation y
 
 (H) 
 
 nation, led to that Meaning from the common Accepta- 
 tion of the Word, the Greatnefs of the Offence, and the 
 mention juft before made of God : Since it is an Offence 
 directly againft God, the Punifhment, they think, muft 
 come from him, and be fo intended by the Apoftle, and 
 confcquently muft be 'Damnation. Others think, the 
 Puniflimcnt inflicted by the Magiftrate- on difobedient 
 Subjects, is here only meant, becaufe it follows imme- 
 diately, that Rulers are not a Terror to good Works, but 
 to the evil, with more to the fame purpofe ; in which it 
 is faid, that the Magiftrate bears not the Sword in vain, 
 but is a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth 
 Evil. But neither of thefe Opinions are, I think, ex- 
 actly right ; that which is fo, is compounded of both. 
 The Punifhmcnt here meant, is at the fame time the Pu- 
 nifhmcnt of Man, and of God 5 of the Magiftratc, who 
 immediately inflicts it, in Obedience to God, and in vir- 
 tue of the Power derived from him ; and of God, whofc 
 Minifter he is, and is fo for this very purpofe, for the 
 f Punift>ment of evil doers , and for the 'Praife of them 
 that do well. This Senfe only agrees with what goes 
 before and follows after, and unites God and Man toge- 
 ther, whole Parts by this Interpretation are made to con- 
 cur in the Execution of the fame Judgment : And 'tis 
 for that realon , that in all that follows, the Magiftratc 
 : is confidercd as Cod's Minifter, And this Senfe only 
 (lands in direct Oppolition to the Error of thofe St. ^Paul 
 condemns. They thought, what they fufFered for their 
 i)i (obedience, howcvev it were intended by Men, was 
 Merit with God; and though they were punifoed in the 
 Sight of Men, y?t was their Hope full of Immortality. 
 No, lays St. c Paul y there's no Merit in it, what they fuf- 
 fer, though inflicted by Men, is the juft Punifhment of 
 God upon them, for their Difobedience to him ; for it is 
 really againft him they rebel, while they pretend to fight 
 Men only, raid for him. 
 
 That
 
 ,.., . . - 
 
 That the Words will bear this Senfe, and may denote 
 a temporary Punifliment in this World, which yet mall 
 really be a Punifhment from God, may be feen by ano- 
 ther Place of the fame Apoftie, i Cor. xi. 29. where 
 fpeaking of the Lord's Supper, he fays, that be that eateth 
 and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 'Damnation 
 to himfelf; that is, Kgjjua, which in the Margin is better 
 rendred, Judgment. For how does St. Taul flievv, they 
 eat and drink ^Damnation to themfehes ? Why from 
 hence, for this caufe, fays he, many are weak and fickly 
 amongft you, and many Jleep, or die. Thefe Weakneflcs 
 therefore, thefe Sicknelfes, thefe Deaths, are the Damna- 
 tion, or Judgment, here meant. Upon which it imme- 
 diately follows, that if we judged our felves, we Jhould 
 not be judged, that is, thus judged, of the Lord. For 
 this Judgment is for a chaftning to us j when we are 
 thus judged, we are chaftned of the Lord, that we Jhould 
 not be condemned with the World. K^v6/xsvoi -srou^tLo^a, 
 ?v jutrj xalaxg/Ow/zev. Here we fee the Punifhment they 
 fuffered exprefly oppos'd to Damnation 5 but what is op- 
 pofed to Damnation, can't poflibly be it felf Damnation. 
 So that in this place, K^J/xa, or Judgment, means truly 
 and properly a temporary Punifhment in this World, and 
 yet at the fame time, fuch as is divine, and really from 
 God. But it will be faid, what then, will not Men be 
 condemned in the other World for fuch heinous Sins, 
 as prophaning the Lord's Supper, and difobeying Magi- 
 ftrates ? Yes certainly, as well as for other heinous S ins, 
 if not ftncerely repented of in time. But it does not 
 follow that, That is the Meaning of the Word herej. 
 every thing could not be faid in every Place. It was fuf- 
 ficient to the Apoftle's Purpofe to (hew, that Difobedience 
 in them now under the Roman Government, was not lefs 
 an Offence to God, than when under Governors of their 
 own, Difobedience to whom their Law punifhed with 
 Death, <D^.xvii. 12. 
 
 D This
 
 C 
 
 This tticn J take to be the t-Fije and fele Meaning 
 of this Text ; St. 7V#/ commands all Pet fons to be ot?e- 
 djent to t,heir -Governors for Conferee fake, as they 
 are the Ordinance of God, and upon j>a,in of incurring 
 his Difpleafure, who h,ath empowered Governors tp p^niffi 
 Difobedience in the fevered manner, and what they do 
 is his Act by their Hand. This was the fingle Point 
 in views and this Point being gained, as he does not pre- 
 fcribe the Meafure of their Obedience, fo ia truth was 
 there no oecafion for lit ; for let jx pnce be granted by any 
 Man, that he is the Subject of this or that Government, 
 it follows of courfe, that fte nv$ yi,eld the fame Obe- 
 dience as other Subjects do, and which by th,e refpedive 
 Conftitution is required of him,. In fho,rt, the Law will 
 tell all Men what Subjedion is due fcpm them 5 thither 
 then muft we go for the Rule or Meafure pf our Obe- 
 dience 5 that is a Matter the Gofpel meddles not with, 
 it enquires not into Men's civil Rights, it adds nothing 
 to them, nor takes any thing from them? agreeably to 
 what this Apoftle himfclf fays, i Cor. vii. 21. Art thou 
 called being a Servant ? fare not for it. Let every Man 
 therein he is called, therein abide with God. For he that 
 is called in the Lord, being a Servant, is the Lords free 
 Man : Likewife alfo he that is called being free, is Chrifl's 
 Servant. With refpcd to all thefe things the Gofpel, 
 leaves Men where it found them.; and therefore what is 
 here faid by St. 'Paid of Obedience to Governors, is nof 
 ?o make Men more fubject than they were before, but. 
 to let them know that they are not by embracing the 
 Gofpcl lets ib, or in any meafure difpenfed with fr,on? the 
 Subjection they were before under. 
 
 But as the Gofpel takes nothing from the Right the 
 Prince has to the Obedience of his Subjects, fo neither 
 does it take away all Right the Subjects are pofleffed 
 of. Such Rights in fome degree or other all Subjects 
 have 5 thofe particularly under the Korean Government, 
 who were Civil ate donati, had great ones; this he, who 
 i was
 
 C 
 
 was himfelf in that Senfe a Roman, well underftbbd, and 
 upon propel Occaflons infifted on them in his own De- 
 fence* Thus Atts xxii. 25. when they bound him by 
 Oder of the ehie Captaki Lyfias, he faiti to the Cen- 
 tuf4ott, Ii tt lawful fei 1 you to fcourge a Man thai is a 
 Roman, and itncondemried? Upon Which they who were 
 to have examined him by ftourging, departed f torn him; 
 the chief Captain alfo was afraid, after he knew that he 
 was a RxSman , becattfe he had bound him , and loofed 
 him from his Bands. And in the fame manner he de- 
 Clares the Privileges h6 is entitled to as a Roman, upon 
 a like Occafion, in the i6 th Chapter. And in the 25* 
 Chapter, when the Jews would have put him to Death, 
 no Man, fays he, ma) deliver me unto them, I appeal 
 imto Cscfar. 
 
 Indeed, as St. Tate/does not here determine the Meafures 
 of Obedience, fo neither could he, fince that depends 
 upon the particular Conftitution of every Government, 
 and therefore what would be Difobedience in a Subject 
 under one Government, might not be fo in another ; nof 
 is it always the fame in the fame Government, fince by 
 the infenfible Alterations that are made in length of 
 Time in Things of this Nature, new Privileges are ac- 
 quired, or old ones loft. The Refult from which is, that the 
 Meafure of Obedience in every Government is the La# 
 and Conftitution of that Government, and that only, 
 and not the Scriptures , where there is neither Precept 
 nor Example that obliges in this point j Precept there fe 
 none 'tis plain, if this in the Text be not one ; nor can 
 any Scripture- Example with refped to Government be 
 binding ; fince the Law of one Government is no Rule 
 to another : Much lefs can a Governm<Htt two or three thou- 
 fand Years ago eftablifhed in an Eaftern Country, any way 
 afFeft or prefcribe to a Government in the Weflern Parts 
 of the World, at fo great a diftance of Place, as well as 
 Time. I mall only add, that all the Eaftern Countries 
 were ftrangely difpofed to Servitude, as is remarked by 
 
 D 2 many
 
 many of the Roman Writers * j whereas the Weftern 
 Parts of the World always preferved fuch a Liberty as 
 diftinguiftied Subjects from Slaves. The Truth is, the 
 Eaflern Governments were the moft antient, and the 
 moft antient, as being in the Infancy and Ignorance of 
 the World, were the moft fimple, the wife modelling of 
 Government being a Work of Time, and the Effe& of 
 long Experience. Hence it came to pafs, that the firft 
 Governments were by fingle. Perfons, and thefc Perfons 
 abfolutc, and unlimited by any Laws. This expofed the 
 Eaflern People to be more Slaves than thofe in the Weftern 
 Parts j and they were perhaps reprefented to be more fo 
 than they really were, by the Roman Writers, who were 
 fuch Enemies to the regal Governments then in ufe, that 
 it is familiar with them to treat all Subje&ion to them, 
 as Servitude. But however that be, one Government 
 can't prefcribc to another, nor are the political Laws of 
 the Jews, when under a regal Government, any way 
 obligatory to the Prince or People of this Nation > or de- 
 clarative of their refpe&ive Rights., 
 
 It would be nccdlefs to fpend fo many Words in fo 
 plain a Cafe, but that this Text has been fo often made 
 ufe of, to aflert to Princes an abfolute and unlimited 
 Power to opprcfs their Subje&s in the moft arbitrary man- 
 ner, in Defiance of the Conftitution ; and Men will ar- 
 roiVitc to the Study of c Di ( vinity > what fo plainly belongs 
 to the Profeilion of the Law. I do not fay this to re- 
 proach thofe who led the way to this Abufe; it was very 
 nainivil in a loyal Clergy, who had fccn both Church 
 und Sr-itc ruined together with their Prince in the Civil 
 War* 1 , to which no Perfons had contributed, more than 
 
 * .Svri & AJiatici Cr.rci . . IrviJJhna genera hotninttm & fen-ituti nata. Liv. 
 ;6. c. 17. Jiuixis & Syiis, Nxtionibus nat'n firvituti. Cic. de Prov. Confui 
 
 f. Dum AfTyrios p:ucs Medofque & Pcrfas Oriens fait, ikfyetUjfim* pArs fer- 
 
 (Judxi) Tac. J-Iift. 1. 5-. c. 8. Sec Grot, de Jur. B. & P. 1. i. c. 3. 
 
 o . i. & c. 4. 7. f. \vherc he quotes thefc and other Paflagcs to the fame 
 
 the
 
 (29) 
 
 the fedttious Preachers of thofe Times, Who proftituted 
 the moft holy Religion to carry on the moft wicked and 
 unrighteous Defigns j it was very natural, I fay, and very 
 excufeable in thofe who had feen thefe Calamities, and 
 had themfelves, in their Perfons or Relations, been great 
 Sufferers, to run into the oppofite Extreme, and think 
 they could never go too far in prefling the Duty of Obe- 
 dience, to prevent a Relapfe into Principles that pro- 
 duc'd fo much Mifchief. But Experience has fhewn, that 
 Extreme alfo to have its Inconveniences, and that a Na- 
 tion may be ruined by aflerting to the Prince a Power 
 unknown to the Laws, as well as to the People a lawlefs 
 Liberty.- And therefore it is no longer now excufeable 
 to continue in the fame Miftake, and to give this or any 
 other Text fuch an Interpretation, as is inconfiftent with 
 our Laws, and deftroys our Constitution, and makes no 
 Diftinftion between arbitrary Governments, and legal 
 ones. 
 
 The Law in all Governments is the Rule of the Sub- 
 je&s Obedience, and whatever Right that gives them, 
 they lofe none of it by being Chriftians. This is a moft 
 undoubted Truth ; and it is as certain, that as they lofc 
 no Right, fo they acquire none. As the firft of thefc 
 ought to be well confidered by Governors, that they may 
 not think Chriftianity gives them a Right to enflave or 
 opprefs a free People , fo ought the other to be by Sub- 
 jeds, that they may not be feduced into Sedition and 
 Rebellion, by cnthufiaftick Spirits, who think Dominion 
 founded in Grace, and that they have a Right to demo- 
 lifh any Government they don't like, to fet up the King- 
 dom of Chrift. This Nation, in the Compafs of fifty 
 Years, felt the Mifchief of both thefe Errors j and it is 
 to be hoped, what we have fuffered from the Madncfs of 
 the People on one hand, and from the illegal and arbi- 
 trary Attempts of the Government on the other, will 
 make us wifer for the future, and drea d thofe fatal Ex- 
 tremes, which have coft fo dear j or at leaft, that Scrip- 
 - ture
 
 C3O 
 
 tare will be no more employ'd to countenance arid juftify 
 the Injuftice and Violence of cither Side* 
 
 The Law mutt be the Rule to both, and where that 
 is deficient, the Interpreters of it will have recourfe to the 
 Law of Nature, and Nations, ftom which Chrtftianity 
 in nothing derogates. By thefe Laws a Government has 
 no more Right to inflift an unjuft Punifhment, than it 
 has to command an unjuft Adion ; nor any Power to 
 deftroy the Rights of a free People ; which would little 
 deTerve the Name of Rights, if there were in no cafe a 
 Righf to defend them. Nothing (eenis to be a more cer- 
 tain Truth, than that all Power is a Truft, and a Ttuft 
 may be abufed to that degree, as wholly to pervert and 
 deftroy the Dcfign of it ; and when that is the cafe, 'tis 
 to little purpofe to tell a Nation, they are bound to abide 
 by it, and be paffive under it. The great Argument 
 againft their Self-defence is, that it introduces Anarchy, 
 which Government was intended to prevent : Which is 
 very true j but it will be hard from thence to perfuade 
 a Nation, who fee thcmfclves upon the Brink of Ruin' 
 from the Opprcflion of their Governors, that it is not 
 more eligible to risk the Inconveniences of a fhort Anar- 
 chy > than patiently fubmit, and by their Submifllon entail 
 certain Slavery on thcmfelves and their Pofterity. No ci- 
 vilized Nations have ever acted fuch a Part, and from 
 thence it may well be prefum'd, never will. But this 
 <^ivcs no Right to private Subjects to difturb the publick 
 Peace, and have recourfe to Arms, becaufe they think 
 themfelvcs injured, or perhaps really are. Legal Reme- 
 dies they may endeavour, but if fuch cannot be had, they 
 ought for their own Sakcs, and the Sake of the Publick, 
 whole Welfare they are bound to fupport, of two Evils' 
 to chufc the lead, and if they do not, will, 'tis more than 
 probable, pay dearly for it, and lofe their Lives in an ig- 
 nominious Death, by taking irregular Methods to preferve, 
 or recover, fomething of little Value in Comparifon of 
 what they arc like to lofe for it. 
 
 Indeed
 
 c * > 
 
 Indeed the Advantages under almoft any Government 
 are fo many, and the defigned Injuries private Men re- 
 ceive from it are fo few, that Obedience and a quiet Sub- 
 miflion is in the general due from them to all Gover- 
 nors j who are prefum'd to intend the Good of the Peo- 
 ple, and not knowingly or willingly to invade or violate 
 their Rights. And when they do fo, it muft be to a very- 
 great degree, and the Grievance muft be general, the Fun- 
 damentals of Government muft be obftinately invaded, 
 before it can be more eligible upon the whole to oppofe 
 fuch Violence by Force, rather than fubmit to it -, and 
 whoever thinks othcrwife, and afts accordingly, will be 
 adjudged by the major part, who do not think with him, 
 to be in the wrong, and what he perhaps calls Zeal for 
 the Conftitution, will undergo the Punifiiment and In- 
 famy of Rebellion. But this, as I have faid, is a Point 
 the New Teftament meddles not with, it prefcribes only 
 for private Life, and teaches Men how to be wife to 
 Salvation: It meddles not with civil Rights, nor with 
 Matters of Government -, it leaves all thefe things where 
 it found them, and takes notice of Governors no other- 
 wife, than to put Chriftians in mind of their Duty to 
 them -, from which they are by their Religion in no de- 
 gree exempted or difpenfed with, and by that means to 
 remove the greateft and moft fatal Prejudice that the 
 then Governors could have to them. 
 
 Having thus fet this Text, and the feveral Parts of it; 
 in the clearcft Light I can, and (hewn what I take to be 
 the juft and only true Meaning of it, I fhould now come 
 to the Application I propofed to make of it to our pre- 
 fent Circumftances, but I muft leave that to another Op- 
 portunity. 
 
 Now to God the Father, with the Son? and Holy 
 Spirit, &c. 
 
 . i.'^ ***T
 
 POSTSCRIP T.:* 
 
 I Take the Advantage of a fpare Page to give the Reader a 
 remarkable Pafiage from Sleidatfs Commentaries concern- 
 ing the Sentiments of the Great Luther upon the Subject of 
 Refiftanct. The firfl Reformers^ to avoid the Imputation of 
 Sedition for their Oppofition to the Papal Power, and to pro- 
 cure to themfelves the Protection of the Civil Power againft 
 it, were very zealous in aflerting the Rights of Princes, and 
 carried the Duty of Submijfion to the greateft Height j in 
 which none went farther than Luther himfelf, in a Piece he 
 wrote in if if. on occafion of the Ruftic Warj but in i/Ji. 
 when the Princes who favoured the Reformation^ found it ne- 
 ceflary for their Defence to form the Smakaldic League, in a 
 Confultation of Lawyers and Divines, he owned himfelf con- 
 vinced, that Refinance was lawful in fome Cafes. Sleidarfs 
 Words, 1. 8. are thefe, Prim quant fosdus iniretur^ in con/ilium 
 adhibiti fucrunt n on jure confulti modb^ fed theologi quoque. Lu- 
 therus autem femper docuerat, magiflratui non ej/e rejiftendum^ & 
 ex tab at ejus hac de re libellus : Cum autem in hac deliberations pe- 
 riti juris docercnt legibus ej/e permijfum^ refiftcre nonnunquam^ &f 
 nmic in sum cafum^ de quo leges inter alia mentionem faciant^ rem 
 cffe deduttam oftcndcrent, Lutherus ingenub profitetur^ fe nefciviffe 
 hoc licerc : Et quid leges political evangelium non impugnet aut aba- 
 leaf) uti femper docuerit^ deride, quoniam hoc tempore tarn dubio 
 tanque formidohfomulta poffint accidere^ Jic ut non modo jus ipfum^ 
 fed confcientice quoque vis atque neceffitas arma nobis porrigat^ de- 
 fenfionis caufa fu?dus iniri pojff'e dicit. Jive Ca^far ipfe^ Jive quis 
 ah us forte helium ejus nomine faciat. The Example of the 
 Maccabees was too illuftriotis, to think it could be forgotten 
 on fuch an Occafion j whole Conduct in throwing offthe op- 
 prcilivc Government of Antiochus Epiphanes^ is v never cenfurcd 
 or condemned by Chrift or his Apoftles, but rather feems to be 
 commended and approved, Heb. xi. 34, &c. as well as in the 
 Books of the Maccabees^ and other Jewijh Writings 5 as affording 
 many glorious Inftanccs of the Power of Faith. For fince fomc 
 of the Characters agree to none more than them, and fome 
 folcly to them, there can be no good Reafon to think the 
 Writer had not them in his View, as well as other of the an- 
 tient Worthies j efpecially fince in this whole PaiTage he feems 
 to have had his Eye fixed on the i d Chapter of the i ft Book 
 of their Hiflory. 
 
 SER-
 
 (33) 
 
 a 
 
 . - ti 
 
 SERMON II 
 
 ROM. XIII. i, i. 
 
 ~t 1,0 ? Vj * u.; :p:jf jfiJr// 
 
 , ^. .. . ' i_ tfi/" 'iif-Li^ fi ''t.''U 2itLi/ r '.n'i' v '/ 
 
 Let- every Soul be fubjeB unto the higher Power 5. 
 
 For there Is no Power but of God ; 7%e Pow- 
 
 ers that be, are or darned of God. 
 Whofoever therefore refifleth the Power , refifi- 
 
 eth the Ordinance of God: and they that 
 
 refifl , Jhall receive to themfelves Damna- 
 
 ' 
 
 
 HAVE (hewn in the Explication I have given 
 of thefe Words, that the Duty of Obedience 
 to the Magiftrate is by St. Taul founded in the 
 divine Right of Government, and that there 
 is no Power or Government but from God, 
 and that the fevcral Powers or Governments that he, that 
 is, that are in being, are ordained of God, and that this 
 is not any new Doctrine, peculiar to the Chriflian Reli- 
 gion, much lefs to any one Teacher of it, but has always 
 been the Senfe of the wifeft Men in all Nations, both 
 
 E Jews
 
 (34) 
 
 Jews and Gentiles, who have all acknowledged the Ori- 
 ginal of Government to be divine 5 which is indeed the 
 Voice of Nature, and from thence came to be the Senfc 
 of all Nations. Nor did they think that Governments 
 had their Original only from God; in the whole Courfe 
 and Progrefs of them they were univerfally thought to be 
 the particular Objed of his Providence ; that he always 
 rules in the Kingdoms of Men, and difpofe$,of them as 
 he will. For as all Nations have acknowledged an over- 
 ruling Providence, fo they faw nothing fo worthy of its 
 Care as Government, fince the Peace and Happincfs of 
 Mankind depends upon it, and can't be maintained with- 
 out it. The Reafons which convinced them that Govern- 
 ment was of divine Inftitution, the fame Reafons prov'd 
 with equal Force, that the Difpofttion of particular Go- 
 vernments was alfo in God ^ and that therefore, as there is 
 no To-ji'er but of God, fo the Powers any where, and at 
 any time in Being, arc ordained by him. From whence 
 it neceflarily follows, that all Perfons are obliged to yield 
 Subjection and Obedience to the Governments they live 
 under for Conscience fake ', as they would not be guilty of 
 fighting againft God, as well as Man, and refitting the 
 divine Will. 
 
 And this I have (hewn was the ftngle Point St. Taiil 
 was concerned to prove ; he was not arguing with Perfons, 
 who owned the Authority of the Roman Government,' 
 and exceptcd only to the Pcrfon governing, either as to 
 the Legality of his Title , or the Equity and Juftice of 
 his Ad minift ration ; but with thofe who afierted to them- 
 tclves a Liberty and Exemption from that Government 
 in general, in whatever Hands, and however adminiftred. 
 His Defign was to oppofe the wild Opinions of the Fol- 
 lowers of Judas of Galilee, (which had very probably in- 
 jected many Je^i/h Chriftians alfo,) who maintained it to 
 be unlawful and fmful in the Sight of God to acknow- 
 ledge any Government, or to receive any Perfon for their 
 LyrJ, bur God himfdf. For thefc Men did not except 
 
 againft
 
 (35) 
 
 againft Obedience to one Emperor father than another, 
 becaufe this governed better, or had a better Title; for 
 that Sect began in the Reign of Auguftus, who was one 
 of the beft Emperors the Roman Government was ever 
 bleft with ; but they would no more fubmit to him, than 
 to Caligula or Nero, who were fome of the worft : Nor 
 did they except againft the Title of Auguflus, becaufe his 
 Power was raifed upon the Ruins of the Commonwealth* 
 and the Liberty of the People. Had the Taxation that 
 gave Occafion to this new Sect, been made before that 
 Change in the Roman Government, the fame mad Zeal 
 for Liberty would have carried thefe Men into the avow- 
 ing of the fame Principles ; and they would no more have 
 fubmitted to the Power of the Senate, than they did to 
 that of the Emperor. Now in Oppofition to the extra- 
 vagant Opinions and Practices of fuch Men, the Apoftle 
 declares that all Governments are of God, and therefore 
 all Perfons obliged to fubmit to them ; and that they 
 who will not, ought to look on what they fuffer for their 
 Difobedience, as the juft Puniftiment of God himfelf upon 
 them, tho' inflifted by the Hand of Men. 
 
 This I have fhewn at large to be the Meaning of this 
 Text by a particular and diftind Explication of every 
 part of it. I come now to confider the Application of 
 it to our feives, and (hall from thence endeavour to con- 
 vince you of the Sin and Folly of thofe Plots and Con- 
 fpiracies that have been form'd againft the prefent Govern- 
 ment, not only to difturb its Peace, but in order to a to- 
 tal Subverfion of it ; which the more you are convinced 
 of, the more careful will you be, not to be feduced by 
 factious Men into Attempts, which can probably end in 
 nothing but in bringing down the divine Vengeance on 
 your felvcs, as they would Devaftation and DeftrucVion 
 on your Country, and on every thing that is dear to you, 
 fhould they fucceed. Now if the Powers that be, that 
 is, that arc at any time in Being, are ordained of God, 
 then the prefent Government of this Nation is his Ordi- 
 
 E a nance,
 
 (BO 
 
 nance, as truly as any other. For the Apoftle's Aflfcr- 
 tion, I have fhewn, is general, not confined to Time or 
 Place, it being not peculiar to hiuifclf, and to the then 
 State of Things, but the Voice of Nature, and the Scnfe 
 of all Nations. From whence it follows that the A 
 fertion is as true now as it was then, and confequently the 
 Duty built on it of univerfal and perpetual Obligation: 
 And therefore in virtue of what is. here enjoined, Obe- 
 dience is due by divine Right, as well as by the Laws of 
 the Land, to the prefent Government eftabliihed in this 
 Kingdom. v 
 
 Indeed whoever confiders in what manner the Crown 
 was fettled on the Family of his prefcnt Majefty, with 
 how much Deliberation, with how free a Confent of the 
 States of the Kingdom, and with how chearful and uni- 
 verfal an Approbation in the Body of the People of what 
 their Rcpreicntativcs had done ; whoever confiders how 
 iblcmnly his Majcfty's Title has been recognized in Rie- 
 liamcnt; how much was done to fecure the Succeffion 
 ro him in the laft Reign, when the Nation enjoyed the 
 mod perfect Tranquillity at Home, and was in the grcateft 
 Glory by the Succcls of its Arms abroad; whoever, I fay, 
 confiders impartially, in what manner the Crown was 
 fettled on the King and his Family, and compares it with 
 the manner in which mod Governments have been begun, 
 or with thole Interruptions and Alterations that have 
 hnppcned in them, to which the Powers now governing 
 will fee abundant Reafon to own, that 
 the prdcru Government is in a more particular manner 
 ike Ordinance of God : Since it is impoflible to conceive 
 a Settlement more peaceably, more deliberately, more 
 freely made, or upon greater Neceffity, or more univer- 
 fally approved ; a Settlement not only acquiefc'd in by the 
 People, but made by their own free Choice, and acknow- 
 ledged by all other Nations in Alliance with us. If this 
 be not the Work of God, no Man living will be able 
 to lay what is, 
 
 But
 
 C 37 ) 
 
 But if the prefent Government had none of thefe Ad- 
 vantages that fo eminently diftinguifh it from others, 
 confidered only upon the fame foot -they are, 'tis as truly 
 as any of them, the Ordinance of GWj there is nothing 
 to exclude it from any Acknowledgments of that fort, the 
 other Governments of the World are entitled to. For 
 the Gofpel, as I have obferved before, does not concern 
 it felf with the Titles of Princes -, whoever are in quiet 
 Pofleilion of a Government, and are acknowledged and 
 fubmirted to by the Body of the People, there is no 
 room for refufing Submiflion to fuch Governors, upon 
 pretence of a diluted Title, from this or any Text in 
 Scripture: And therefore all Perfons, if we will hear 
 St. f Paut, are obliged in Conscience to fubmit to the pre- 
 fent Eftablifhment , with -due Allowance to the Scruples 
 of thofe, who think themfelves precluded by their own 
 voluntary Aft, and in yktue of the Oaths it found 
 them under. A great deal might be faid to (hew the 
 Invalidity of fuch Obligations in fuch a Cafe as this; 
 fince thereby they, 'bind themfelves againJft God as well as 
 Man, and deny his Right to difpofe of Kingdoms as he wilJ, 
 whofe fole Prerogative it is. But not to enter into that 
 Difpute, which affects but a very fmall Number ; how- 
 ever they may fcruple the Acknowledgment of another 
 Perfon to be their rightful and lawful Prince, yet even 
 thcfe Perfons muft acknowledge themfelves obliged to a 
 quiet and peaceable Submiilion to the Powers now fct 
 over them, in return for the Protection they enjoy from 
 them. And they who will not forbear entring into Mea- 
 fures to difturb, or fubvert the Government, or will not 
 give all reafonable Security of a peaceable Behaviour, can 
 with no reafon expect to enjoy the Benefits of it in com- 
 mon with their fellow Subje&s j or complain, if the Go- 
 vernment mould think fit to take the propereft Meafurcs 
 to fccure it fclf againft them. For whether Obedience be 
 due or nor, to a Government when it ceafcs to protect 
 Men, no body ever doubted but Protection on the part 
 
 of
 
 of the Prince, gave him a Right to the Obedience of 
 the People. 
 
 But to leave thefe Men, who are now very few, and 
 who may perhaps, moft of them, be prefumed to act upon 
 a Principle of Confcience, and have not by a turbulent 
 Behaviour provoked the Government againft them; 'tis 
 inconceiveable, how thofc who never acknowledged any 
 other Prince, nor were ever under any perfonal Ties or 
 Oaths whatever ; who were either unborn, or but Chil- 
 dren at the Rpvohrthn ; it is not, I fay, conceiveable, how 
 they can plead Confcience for refilling Obedience to the pre- 
 fcnt Government ; much lefs, how they can juftify even 
 to thcmfclves the going into Plots and Confpiracics againft 
 it, in breach of fo clear a Command for all Perfons to 
 be fubjcct to the higher ^Powers. Senfible People will im- 
 pute fuch a Conduct to Party- Rage and Paffion; to Re- 
 fentmcnt and Difcontentj not to Confcience and a ten- 
 der Regard to what they believe to be their Duty, where 
 there do not appear moft evident Reafons to the con- 
 trary. And if fuch Men feel from the Government a Se- 
 verity proportioned to the Provocation they give, they 
 muft blame them (elves, and not the Government, which 
 has (hewn an unparallel'd Tendernefs and Indulgence to- 
 wards them, and has ufed fuch a Connivance, as is hardly 
 confident with its own Safety and Defence. 
 
 But neither is it thefe Men I now addrefs to. My 
 Bufincfb at prcfcnt is with thofe who have owned the pre- 
 fcnt Government, and by the moft folemn Engagements 
 bound thcmfelvcs to be faithful and true to it ; whom 
 therefore, if they act a falfe and perfidious part, all the 
 World muft allow to be without Excufe. For what is 
 ir cm be laid for them? Have they Scruples about the 
 Title by which his Majefty holds the Crown? Why did 
 they by their Oaths acknowledge him to be their lawful 
 and r '''' L'tfnl Governor ? If it was lawful to take fuch 
 Oaths, it can't be lawful not to keep them; and all fuch 
 who act againft the Government in direct Violation of 
 
 them,
 
 (39) 
 
 them, add the Guilt of the blacked Perjury to the other 
 Sins, fuch Ads involve them in. Befides the Oath of Al- 
 legiance, by which they promife to be faithful and good 
 Subjects to his prefent Majefty, they do by another Oath 
 acknowledge the Right to be in him, and folemnly de- 
 clare they believe there is none in any other ; and what 
 is (till more material, they do therein promife to defend 
 the Crown as now fettled, to the utmoft of their Power, 
 againft ail Perfons whatfoever : They do nor oblige 
 themfelves only to do nothing diredly or indirediy 
 to the Prejudice of the Government -, they do not only 
 engage not to enter into any Plots and Confpiracies 
 againft it; but to difcover any fuch Defigns, that they 
 (hall any way come to the Knowledge of, and give all 
 the Afliftance they can to preferve and fupport the pre- 
 fent Eftablifhment againft all who (hall endeavour the 
 Subverfion of it. And this they declare to be their Re- 
 folution in the plain obvious Senfe of the Words, with- 
 out any Equivocation or mental Refervation , upon the 
 Word and Faith of a Chriftian. What can excufe a Man 
 who has thus bound himfelf, and yet afts the direft con- 
 trary to every part of thefe Engagements? I have never 
 heard of any Excufe, but what is really an Aggravation 
 of the Crime. 
 
 They fay, thefe Oaths were forced upon them, and 
 that the Perjury therefore lies upon the Impofers, and not 
 on thofe who take them. This is fo vile a Principle, 
 fo impudent an Excufe, that it unhinges all publick 
 Faith at once, and (hews thofe that make it, devoid of 
 all Morality, as well as of all Senfe of Shame. This is 
 beyond any thing that Jefuitifm. has produced $ and makes 
 the moft folemn Ties that the Wifdom of Man can in- 
 vent, no Ties at all. How would the primitive Chriftt- 
 ans, ho\v would our Forefathers in later Times have ab- 
 horred fuch monftrous Prevarication in the Sight, and 
 with the Name of God ? Had they underftood this Doc- 
 trine, had they thought the leaft degree of Infincerky law- 
 ful,
 
 (40) 
 
 tul, they needed not have undergone thofe cruel Petfccu- 
 tions, which were inflicted on fuch Numbers of them. 
 They might have fworn by the Genius of the Emperor, 
 or famfced, or complied with any other Teft required 
 of them, and have excufed it from the Necefllty there 
 was of doing fo to fave themfeives,. and have charged all 
 the Sin of fuch Facts upon the Impofers. But they knew 
 too well, how frivolous, how wicked, how execrable be- 
 fore God fuch a Defence would be j they knew no Pre- 
 tence of Force could excufe an Act which they had k 
 always in their Power to refufe; and were fo far from 
 thinking" any thing they could fuflfer from Men, a Nc- 
 cciTity that would juftify their acting againft their Con- 
 fcicnces, that they looked on Death it felf in fuch a Caufe 
 as a light Affliction. rJjiftA 
 
 But 1 need not go back to fuch remote Times, to 
 fhew how fcandalous fuch a Plea is ; if oilr Predeccflfors 
 in cither of the 'Popijh Reigns, with which this Nation 
 has been opprclicd fince the Reformation, had been ac- 
 quainted with this Doctrine, the f Prvteftaa$ Religion had 
 been long fincc dcftroycd by their Compliances to the 
 Power of thofc arbitrary Princes, But indeed 'ProteftmPs 
 have in all Countries been fo far from avowing fo infa- 
 mous a Principle, that even *Paptfts have abhorred it,: 
 Even the Jefmts, the great Corrupters of Morality, and 
 of all Principles, have not dared openly to efpoufe ic. 
 So that this Plea, inftcad of Icfiening the Guilt of fuch 
 perjured Men, is really a vaft Addition to it. And yet 
 \vhat cllc have they to fay in their Defence? For they 
 j enounce all Right to Refiftance upon pretence of Male- 
 Adrniniftration; that is a Principle they always disown, 
 nnd impute it as an impious Doctrine to thofe that differ 
 iVom them. But whatever their Opinion be of the Na- 
 ture and Meafures of Obedience, admit they avowed the 
 Principles they difclaim , it would on this Occaiion do 
 them no Service. For whatever Right Male-Admini- 
 ftration can give Subjects to oppofe their Prince, there can 
 
 be
 
 (40 
 
 be no fuch Right exercifed, where there is no fuch Ad- 
 miniftration that opprefies them : Which God, be thanked, 
 is our Cafe. 
 
 'Tis our Happinefs to be under a Prince who has no 
 Intereft feparate from that of his People, who makes the 
 known Laws the Rule and Meafure of his Government, 
 who knows no Greatnefs but in the Profperity of his 
 Subjects, and who is perfectly free from thofe turbulent 
 Paffions that give fo much Difturbance to the World, by 
 which the Peace and Quiet, the Rights, and Liberties and 
 Properties, the Religion and Confcience of Mankind arc 
 facrificed to the Lufts and Humours of a few. A Prince, 
 who, during the courfe of his Reign, has been fo far from 
 ftretching the Prerogative of the Crown, or from the 
 leaft Attempt upon our Liberties, that he has voluntarily 
 offered to part with a very confiderable Branch of his own 
 Power, if his People thought it would more effectually 
 fecure their Liberties : In a word, we are happy in a Prince 
 who is fo far from affeding arbitrary Sway in a legal and 
 limited Government, that he would not ufe fuch a Power 
 where he might rightfully have done it : He governed his 
 hereditary Dominions with as much Equity and Juftice, 
 as if he had been tied up by the ftrideft and fevereft Laws. 
 So that there is not the leaft Pretence for Difobedience in 
 the Subjed under colour of any illegal Adminiftration in 
 the Prince. No Law for the Good of the People has 
 been attempted to be repealed, or fet afide } no new ones 
 offered to him have been refufed; nor has any ^ifpenfing 
 Power been afiumed, or any thing done in any part of 
 the Adminiftration, that has hot been with the Advice, 
 or has not had the Approbation of Parliament. 
 
 But this, I am fenfible, inftead of keeping thefe Men 
 in their Obedience, is that which at prefent is the chief 
 Provocation to them to throw it off. They know 
 nothing from within can deftroy the prefent Eftablifh- 
 ment, fo long as the King is fupported by a dutiful and 
 faithful Parliament ; and fuch an one, very much contrary 
 
 F to
 
 ( 4* ) 
 
 to their Hopes, they fce the Kingdom again happy in. 
 This has made them precipitate themfelves into the moft 
 defperate Meafures, to prevent if poflible their meeting. 
 However feafible a Rebellion may be againft: a Prince 
 who ftands alone, unfupported by a Parliament, or di- 
 ftrefled by a difaflfefted and difloyal one, there is little 
 Hopes fuch Attempts can fucceed againft the united Power 
 of both, which puts the King in Pofifeffion of all the 
 Wealth and Strength of his People, fo far as the Defence 
 of his Perfon and Government fliall make it neccflary. 
 
 But what leaves them ftill more without Excufe, as 
 Men of the moft feditious Principles have no colour to 
 complain of any illegal or arbitrary Proceedings, by which. 
 cither their Religion or Liberties are endangered, under 
 vlajcfty's juft and mild Adminiftration ; fo is there no 
 room for any fuch Jealouftes in the Profpecl they have 
 of thofc who (hall fucceed him. No Apprehenfions of 
 that kind can have place, but where the reigning Prince 
 wants a Son, or has fuch an one that it had been better 
 for the Nation he had been without one, either from his 
 wanting the Virtues requifitc to make a good Governor,. 
 or from his being ill affected to the national Religion, or 
 in Danger of being perverted from it by a Princefs in his 
 Bofom bred in 'Popifo Superftition, or, laftly, that he is 
 without hopes of I flue by her 5 which in courfe plays the 
 Succcflion into 'Popiffi Hands, who in view of it will 
 always be giving us Difturbances, and concerting the bed 
 Meafures, that they may not be difappointed. But 'tis 
 our Happincfs under the prefcnt Eftablimment to be free 
 tl'om a" the uncafy Apprehenfions that any of thefc Cafes 
 could crc-.fc to m.ikc us fear that the Tranquillity and 
 Safety we now enjoy, will not be lading. 
 
 has given his Majefty a Son, adorned with all 
 the Qualities that are requifite to make a great Prince, 
 and a happy People 5 who is full of Honour and Inte- 
 grity, and abhors nothing fo much as Falfhood and In- 
 uuice j who is eminent for Fortitude and Temperance ; 
 
 i who
 
 (43) 
 
 who is well affeded to the eftabliflied Religion; who has 
 nothing foreign in him but his Birth, and is remarkable 
 for his Efteem and Love QfEngliJbmen 5 in a word, who 
 treads in the Steps, and inherits the Virtues of his royal 
 Father. And which is (till a greater Security to our fu- 
 ture Happinefs, his Royal Highnefs wants not (fuch was 
 his Father's Care) a Confort worthy of himfelf, who is 
 diftinguifhed by all the amiable Qualities, that are the Or- 
 nament and Glory of her Sex 5 who fhines in every Re- 
 lation of Life an exemplary Pattern, unfullied by any 
 Blemifh, of any fort } and who, to complete her Cha- 
 rader, is fo good a Troteftantj and fo truly an Enemy 
 to the Superftition and Tyranny of Topery, that as the 
 Splendor and Pageantry of it could not allure her, fo 
 neither could the Title of one Crown, and the Profped 
 of another tempt her, to renounce or to duTemble the Re- 
 ligion, which an excellent Underftanding and well in- 
 formed Confcience had approved : So that our Religion 
 is perfectly fafe on that fide, from whence our greateft 
 Apprehenfions of 'Popery have formerly come. But that 
 is not all the Happinefs we have in view ; we are not 
 only happy in the perfonal Virtues of their Royal High- 
 neflesj they have bleft the Royal Family, and in that the 
 Nation , with a numerous and beautiful Iffue of the 
 greateft Hopes, who are the Love and Delight of this 
 Age, and will be the Support and Glory of the next. 
 This is the King, this the Family, thefe wicked Men 
 would depofe, and fet afide; (I might fay murder and 
 aflaflinate j for it is known that even fuch villainous Mea- 
 furcs have not been difdained) a Family from whence 
 there is all the Hopes of a Succefiion of national Blef- 
 fings for Ages to come, that could be defired, and far be- 
 yond what this Nation in almoft any Age has feen. 
 
 So that they who would overturn this Government, 
 have no Pretence at prefent or in Profped for it, but 
 what in truth fhould be a Reafon to them for not at- 
 tempting it. So devoid are they of any real and juftifia- 
 
 F 2 bic
 
 C 44 ) 
 
 blc Caufcs for going into fuch Meafures, and breaking 
 thro' thofe Obligations to Obedience, with which both by 
 the Laws of God and Man they are fo ftridly bound. 
 
 And this may fhew both the Sin and Folly of fuch 
 Attempts. But the Monftroufnefs of both will more fully 
 appear, if we take a nearer View, either of the End they 
 aim at, or the Means by which they hope to compafs it. 
 Whom they are to depofe, what Family they are to fee 
 afide, we have already feen, a Family from which we 
 may pro mile our felves a conftant Succeffion of all the 
 Bleilhigs a Nation can enjoy, and which deferves well to. 
 be confidcred , the only Family that can derive thefe 
 B Idlings to us. So that if thefe Men could fucceed in 
 their Defigns, it would not be to exchange one Prince, 
 or one Family, for another, who would make us, if not 
 more happy, at lead as much fo as we are already : Tho' 
 even fuch a Defign would be extremely wicked and ab- 
 furd, yet it were well for us, if that could be hoped for 
 from the prefent Confpiracy, not to be put by it into 
 a worfc Condition than we were before. But what 
 makes their Attempt infinitely more inexcufable, it is to 
 place a 'Popijh Pretender upon the Throne of thefe King- 
 doms, and to entail on the Nation thofc Miferies, which 
 they have been at the grcateft Expence of Blood and 
 Trcafure to fccurc themfelves againft. 
 
 'Popery in the Throne, is an Expreilion that carries in 
 it every thing that can be terrible to 'Proteftants and 
 Englijhmen , and yet it does not exprefs half the Mife- 
 ries, that in the prefent Circumftances it would bring upon 
 us. 'Popery in its bed Shape, and mildeft Form, is very 
 dreadful to a Troteftant People : What then will it be, 
 when it comes upon us arm'd with all the Rage that 
 Hunger, and Revenge, and Defpair, can infpire into it? 
 What Bounds can be fet, what Temper or Moderation 
 can be expected upon the return of a Superftitton t whofe 
 Mercies &re cruel y after an Exile of fo many Years * What 
 f ufticc, v/hat Equity can this Nation hope for from an in- 
 
 fulting
 
 (45) 
 
 fulting Enemy, flufli'd with Succefs, after fo many cruel 
 Difappointments ; and whofe inbred Hatred to us, has fo 
 many ways been more and more heightned and inflamed > 
 Can 'Popery, that could not fpare us, nor keep any Terms 
 or Faith with us, when it reigned in a Prince of other- 
 wife no ill Qualities, and who had the grcateft Obligati- 
 ons to the Nation for their Fidelity and Attachment to 
 him 5 . could 'Popery be falfe, and cruel, and infupporta- 
 ble to us, in the Breaft of fuch a Prince j and can we 
 hope for any other Ufage from it, than what is didated 
 by Hatred and Revenge, when the fame Superftition has 
 it again in its Power to trample on us, in the Hands of 
 one, who is not only a Stranger to our Constitution, and 
 without all Obligations to the Nation, but who has been 
 bred in the greateft Averfion to it, and who may be pre- 
 fumed to have been taught no one thing fo much, as 
 how to take an ample Revenge of it for the Exclufton 
 of him, and effectually to fubdue all future Oppofition, 
 to whatever his Refentment or Religion can prompt him 
 to Attempt? 
 
 Nothing can be conceived fo terrible to this Nation, 
 fo deftru&ive of its Religion and Liberties, as to place 
 *P apery, thus enraged, in the Throne of thefe Kingdoms. 
 And yet this is the noble End propofed by the prefent 
 Confpiracy : 'Tis not to fecure our Laws, or Religion, 
 or Liberties, but moft effectually to deftroy them, and en- 
 flave us to the worft of Governments, to a Tyranny fpi- 
 rituai as well as civil. For to do them Juftice, they 
 do not pretend , the Prince they would impofe on 
 us, is a *Proteftaat 9 or inclined to favour our Religion, 
 or that he has promifed to fupport it $ no, on the con- 
 trary they confefs, he is a moft zealous Tapift, and that 
 none of thofe who undertook his Convcrfion, have been 
 able to make the leaft Impreflion on him. They have 
 indeed endeavoured to amufe the Country in fome Places 
 with the Hopes of fecuring their Religion, by pretending 
 they do not defign to bring in the *Preiender t but his 
 
 Son,
 
 (4O 
 
 Son, a Child not two Years old. A hopeful Scheme! 
 But can any body that thinks believe them ? Can it be 
 thought that the 'Pretender would be fo contented ? Can 
 it be believed, that if the Son were once here, the Fa- 
 ther would not foon follow ? What (hould hinder it, if 
 the Family now reigning were removed ? Or is it pofli- 
 ble this Nation in fuch Circumftances can fubfift under 
 a long Regency? Who (hall prevent Factions among 
 themfelves, who (hall fupply the Vacancies that Kappen 
 in them, or who (hall at firft name them? And if the 
 Child they arc Regents for, fliould die, as all Children 
 arc i ubj eft to a thoufand Accidents, what muft the Na- 
 tion do then ? Muft they then call in the 'Pretender him- 
 ielf, or muft he needs have another Son for us? Or (hall 
 we return to the Family they would expel? This is all fo 
 impracticable, that they muft be very ignorant indeed that 
 can be thus impofed on. If this Family be fet afide, 
 we muft have "Popery or nothing, bare-faced c Popery 1 in 
 the mod frightful Circumftances it can poflibly be attend- 
 ed with. Men muft have a very good Opinion of them- 
 ielves, or a very mean one of their fellow Subjects, if 
 they think the Generality of the Nation can be wrought 
 on to engage in, or favour fuch a wicked and ruinous 
 
 - 
 
 Dcfign, in which it is impoiuble to hope for any Good, 
 or the Abfencc of any one Evil, that can concur to make 
 
 a Nation complcatly mifcrable. 
 
 But let us now take a View of the Means that are to 
 brinss about this great Dcfign, and we mail find the End 
 and the Means iuft of a piece, equally wicked and abfurd. 
 They arc to entail Slavery upon the Nation for all Time 
 to come, by involving it at prefent in all the Calamities 
 r hat an unnatural Rebellion can bring upon it. They 
 will not indeed own this, and arc in Appearance fo fan- 
 :;uinc as to tell People, they can bring about this glori- 
 ous End without any Effufion of Blood; but how can 
 we believe them ? Why they tell us, the Revolution was 
 :'b brought about. Vain Men! Becaufe the Revolution 
 
 by
 
 (47) 
 
 by the wonderful Providence of God on the Meafures 
 of the late King, concerted with the greateft Wifdom, and 
 for the beft of Caufes, to fave the Religion and Liberties of 
 the Nation, when in the mod imminent Danger, and 
 upon the Brink of Ruin.; becaufe this Revolution was 
 fo happily effected, therefore they think they may hope 
 for the fame Succefs in the Profecution of the moft 
 unjuft and wicked Enterprize : As if becaufe God won- 
 derfully bleft a Defign to fave our Religion and Liber- 
 ties, therefore he will as wonderfully profper one defign'd 
 for the certain Ruin of them. But without confidering 
 God's more immediate Providence in bringing about the 
 Revolution, had that unhappy Prince, who was driving 
 fo faft to fettle 'Popery in this Nation, had he a Parlia- 
 ment willing and ready to ailift him, in that ruinous En- 
 terprize? Were either the Nobility, or Gentry, or Clergy, 
 engaged in thofe Intcrefts ? Had he any Wealth or 
 Strength of his own, in any other Country to fupport 
 him? Had he an Army to depend on, that either would, 
 or could lawfully defend him in his Invafions on the Con- 
 ftitution ? Were there nothing elfe, thefe Confederations 
 alone are fufficient to (hew, that the prefent Confpira- 
 tors have no room to hope for the fame Succefs as hap- 
 pened then. 
 
 But the Vanity and Emptinefs of fuch Hopes will better 
 appear, if we compare what was attempted then, with what 
 is attempted now. There was a wife and great Prince at 
 the Head of the Defign, that brought about the Re-volu- 
 tion, fupported by a good Body of Troops, ftrengthned : 
 by many and powerful Alliances, famed for his Virtue and 
 Courage, for his Love of Liberty and Zeal for the 'Pro- 
 t eft ant Religion, perfonally known and belov'd by the 
 beft of the Nobility and Gentry of the Nation, and mar- 
 ried to a Princefs, who was next in Succeflion to the 
 Crown, and entirely poflefs'd of the Hearts and Affec- 
 tions of the People. A Defign thus conducted, in fuch 
 Hands, fo fupported, and in Defence of fo good a Caufe, 
 
 did
 
 did fucceed beyond all Expectation; therefore therefore 
 what ? Why therefore, a wicked Confpiracy, to ferve the 
 word of Caufes, unfupported by any real Strength either 
 at Home or Abroad, cfpoufed by no Prince, detefted by 
 the main Body of the Nobility, Gentry, and Clergy, 
 and which will doubtlefs appear to be fo by the People 
 alfo, when their Apprehenfions of 'Popery fhall bring 
 them to their Senfes again, and they (hall be convinced 
 thefe Defigns of their Enemies are real * y fuch a Confpi- 
 racy, in fuch unpromifing Circumftances , muft fucceed, 
 as wonderfully, as the Revolution did ! How much more 
 Rcafon have the Confpirators, and thofe that wifh well 
 to them, to apprehend that their prefent Attempt will 
 fucceed no better than other Plots ufually do, of which 
 fcarce one in a thoufand takes effed ! How vainly have 
 they ever fincc the Revolution kept up the Hopes of theit 
 Party , with ridiculous Expectations of a Change from 
 fomc new Project , that could not mifcarry ? Scarce a 
 Year has pafled, in which they have not vainly flatter'd 
 thcmfelvcs with fuch Delufions. But can they fo foon 
 forget the laft Rebellion ? Or have they any reafonable 
 Ground to hope they fhall fucceed better now ? Yes, the 
 Experience of that has made them wifer; they can take 
 their Mcafurcs better now, and prevent the fatal Mifcar- 
 riagcs that happened then. Then they began their Work 
 in the remoter Parts of the Kingdom, which gave the 
 Government time to provide againft them, and take thofe 
 Meafurcs that foon put an. end to that good Defign. But 
 that the like Difafter might not again happen, they re- 
 foivcd now to begin their Play in the Center of the 
 Kingdom, and to ftrike their Blow home at once. Lon- 
 don is to be the Scene 5 the Tower, the City, the Bank, 
 the Minifters, the General, the Prince, the King, are all 
 to be feizcd at once. And if this firft Stroke could fuc- 
 ceed , they had then a fure Game; Infurreftions were 
 immediately to break out in all Parts, and the whole 
 Kingdom, they were confident, would follow the Fate of 
 the Capita!, and be their own. 
 
 But
 
 (49) 
 
 But do thefe Men really think, fuch Plots are fo eafily 
 executed? Can fuch Defigns be formed without many 
 being privy to them > Or can they confidently with that, 
 hope for fuch a Secrecy, as is neceflary ? If the chief Ope- 
 rators may be confided in, can the inferior Tools be truft- 
 cd ? The Directors may perhaps have Art enough to fe- 
 cure themfelves from Conviction, but 'tis morally impoflible 
 to fecure their Plot from a Difcovery. But if they could, 
 could they flatter themfelves , that a Scheme confiding 
 of fo many Parts would fucceed, when a fmall Mifcar- 
 riage, or Delay, in any one Part, would endanger the 
 whole ? Do they think the King's perfonal Intereft in the 
 Nation to be fo little, or Men's Concern for their Re- 
 ligion and Liberties to be fo languid, and remifs ? Do they 
 think the Men of Fortune and Eftate, who have been al- 
 ways in the Troteftant Intereft, fo devoid of Zeal or 
 Strength, that a Nation can in an inftant be over-run by 
 a few difcontcnted, ambitious Men, who mean nothing 
 but their own private Ends, or to repair their broken 
 Fortunes ? Who have nothing to recommend them to the 
 AfFeftion or Efteem of the Nation , at lead, not prefe- 
 rably to others of their own Rank 5 and who have no- 
 thing elfe to depend on to fupport them in their wicked 
 Enterprize, but the Difaffedion of the meaneft of the 
 People, and of fuch as have ruined themfelves in the late 
 general Calamity ? Which, tho' it happened in his Ma- 
 jedy's Reign, can't with any Judice be imputed to htm, 
 and might as well have happened in the Reign of any 
 other Prince j being in truth little other than an epidemi- 
 cal , or national Madnefs, which we greedily ran into 
 after the Example of a neighbour Nation ; which in rea- 
 fon fhould have been not an Example, but a Warning to 
 us, not to tread in the fame Steps. Is it imaginable, a Na- 
 tion can fo eafily be overturned by a Handful of factious 
 Men, deditute of foreign Help, and depending only on 
 fuch a Difaffeftion, as could lad no longer, than till the 
 People could be difabufed ? 
 
 G The
 
 (So) 
 
 The moft probable Iflfue of their Confpiracy, humanly 
 (peaking, would have been the fame, as it was before: 
 The utmoft Succefs they could rcafonably hope for, muft 
 hayc been the involving of the Nation in a long civil War j 
 which is fo dreadful a Scene, a Scene of fo much Horrour 
 and Confufion, that nothing can make the Thought of it 
 tolerable, but the abfolute Ruin of the Nation, without 
 the running of fuch a Risk to fave it. Could I infufc 
 into you a fliort View of the late Civil War, with 
 which this Nation was fo long diftrafted 5 were it pofli- 
 ble for you to have but for one Hour a full and lively 
 Senfe of that infinite Variety of Miferies this Kingdom 
 then fuffered, there would need no other Argument to 
 fill you with a juft Abhorrence of all fuch Attempts, as 
 muft probably involve you in the fame Calamities. But 
 could the Confpirators be as fortunate as they wifh to be, 
 you have feen what it is their Defign is to end in, in en- 
 tailing Toper y and Slavery upon a Trot eft &nt and free 
 People. 
 
 As the Difaffeclion of the People is the chief Strength 
 they have to depend on , fo it muft be confefs'd they 
 have not been wanting in their Endeavours to fecure that. 
 Hence have proceeded that Swarm of virulent and trea- 
 fonable Libels, that have of late filled all Places? which 
 both for their Number and their Malice have exceeded all 
 that this Kingdom in peaceable Times hath ever feen. 
 At the Time indeed they were thought to be calculated 
 only to influence the Elections then approaching; but the 
 Event has fhcwn, the Defign was deeper laid, and that 
 nothing Ids was meant than a total Subverfion of the 
 Government , which thefc Libels were to pave the way 
 to. T\vas for this tiich a Clamour was raifed againft the 
 Qnarantaiu Bill, and the Minds of the People terrified 
 with fuch groundless Fears. This Bill, the Confpirators 
 feared, would draw all the Forces of the Kingdom to the 
 Neighbourhood of Loydon, which Was the moft fatal 
 thing could happen for a Plot, of which London was to 
 
 be
 
 ) 
 
 be the Scenei For this all the Arts of Calumny and 
 Defamation were with incredible Induftry employed, to 
 afperfe the Government, and render every Part of the 
 Administration odious and contemptible, in hopes the 
 People would be fo far infatuated as to join with the Con- 
 fpirators, or fit (till at leaft, and not be a&ive in oppofing 
 them. It was for this the Hanover Succeflion was in fo 
 impudent a manner vilified and expofed; for this, the 
 Royal Family, every Branch of it, even the King hini- 
 felf, was traduced with fo much Virulence : And a wife, 
 juft, and merciful Prince, defeended from the nobleft 
 Blood in Europe, and no way degenerating from the Vir^ 
 tues of his Anceftors, was reprefented in the falfeft and 
 blaekeft Colours, as devoid of all Virtue and Honour, 
 inglorious both in himfelf and Family. 
 
 Such Ufage would have provoked moft Princes to the 
 fevereft Refentments ; and nothing feems to have reftrain- 
 ed all Appearance of any in his Majefty, fo much as the 
 Confctoufnefs of his own Virtue, and that Greatnefs of 
 Mind, which makes him as infenfible of Calumny, as he 
 is fearlefs of Danger. But the lefs Refentment he fhews 
 himfelf at fuch Ufage, the greater Indignation fhould it 
 raife in the Breafts of all good Subjects ; who fhould no 
 more patiently fuffer fuch Injuries done to their Prince, 
 than to themfelves. Men of the moft moderate Under- 
 ftandings may be fure thofc Charges are falfe, which can't 
 be true without fuppofing their Prince a much worfe Man 
 than any of them would be willing to be thought thern- 
 felves. In general, whatever Imputation can't be true of 
 Perfons, without their being a great deal worfe Men than 
 we before took them to be, we fhould always prefume is 
 falfe, till we are very well afliired it is not. This is ,a Jur 
 ftice due to every private Man , much more to Princes, 
 whofc Charafters, as well as Perfons, ought to be facred : 
 and no Man can be a good Subjeft, that does not pre- 
 ferve that Reverence and Honour for them : Much lefs 
 can it confift with our Duty to believe of them things 
 
 G 2 there
 
 there is not the leaft colour for ; things which are not only 
 falfe, but very groQy fo. And in this rcfpeft the Confpirators 
 have ftrangely overfliot themfelves; they have not been 
 content to aiperfe his Majefty and his Government with- 
 out the leaft regard to Truth, but have done it in fo out- 
 ragious a manner, as deftroys all kind of Probability .; 
 which People muft be very ill Judges of, who can be- 
 lieve the hundredth part of what thefe Men have told 
 them. The Subverfion of the Government appearing 
 now to have been the End which thofe virulent Tongues 
 and Pens were pointed at, that Confideration will, I hope, 
 prevail with all honeft Men for the future to be more than 
 ordinarily careful how they give any Countenance or Cre- 
 dit to them, fince they are fo full of deadly Poifon, and 
 mean nothing lets than the Deftru&ion of that Eftablifh- 
 
 c? 
 
 ment from which our own Safety is infeparable. 
 
 What has been faid, does, I hope, fufficiently (hew both 
 the Sin and Folly of the prefent execrable Confpiracy^ 
 that the Sin of it is exceeding finful, and the Folly equal 
 to the Sin. It propofes to it felf the worft of Ends, to 
 be compaiTcd by the mod wicked of Means, and thofe 
 mod unlikely to liicceed. But fome Men have fo little 
 Senfe of Religion, or of the Good of Society, or of the 
 Happinefs of their Country, that fuch Conftderations will 
 weigh little with them, if they do not find their own 
 Account in it. They foolifhly feparate things that are in- 
 feparable, and don't care what becomes of the Publick, 
 if they can reap any Advantage to themfelves. Let us 
 then go a little farther, and fee what thofe Advantages 
 are that any Men can promife themfelves by favouring a 
 Con .piracy that is to end in the Subverfion of the Go- 
 vernment. What is it they propofe to get by it? Why, 
 Trade is dead, and Taxes are heavy: Be it fo> how will 
 ii Change of the Government mend Matters? Will the 
 Farmer have better Crops, or will his Corn yield a bet- 
 ter Price ? Will the Mcclunick, or Retailer, have a quicker 
 Vent for their Wares, or be able to fell them at higher 
 
 Rates,
 
 C 53 ) 
 
 Rates? Or will Perfons of inferior Rank mend their 
 Wages? Will the Clothier find a better Market, will the 
 Merchant be able to take of him greater Quantities, or 
 at a greater Price ? In order to this he muft have him- 
 felf a greater Trade abroad : But how will a Change of 
 Government effed that ? Will it make foreign Countries 
 lay down their own Manufactures, or will the Numbers 
 of thofe who take off our Goods increafe, or will there 
 be a greater Confumption of them ? Or docs any thing 
 give Life to Trade, but the Exportations we make ? If 
 Trade be in any Branch of it overstocked, or Foreign- 
 ers have found the way to ferve themfelves with what 
 they ufed to take from us, or whatever elfe occaSions 
 Deadnefs of Trade , a Revolution in the Government 
 can't poflibly remove the Caufe j and therefore 'tis great 
 Wcaknefs in Men to fancy it will: Tho' by the way, 
 the Complaint it felf is at prefent groundlefs, the Demand 
 of our Goods from abroad having for fome time been 
 very great. Men (hould not only confider the Evils they 
 feel, but look into the Caufes of them, and then they 
 will not impute thofe things to the Government, which 
 proceed wholly from Caufes that have no relation to it, 
 or which, all Circumftanccs considered, could not be pre- 
 vented. 
 
 And as to Taxes, how do thofe that complain of them, 
 think a fuccefsful Confpiracy would make them eafy? 
 Would they deftroy publick Credit, and have fuch a Num- 
 ber of People ruined, as there muft be by Sinking a Debt 
 of fifty Millions? Which, if their DifafFedion did not 
 perpetually put the Government upon extraordinary Ex- 
 pences, we Should foon fee in a way of being paid. I doubt, 
 they who would have fo crying -an Injuftice committed to 
 lefTen Taxes, have little Property, of their own to lofe. 
 Or have they Land ? I would ask them, how they would 
 like to have that taken from them to .the fame Value ^ 
 which might be done with equal Juftice. But whatever 
 their Judgments, or rather Inclinations, -are,; they mu& 
 
 give
 
 give thofe who have truftcd the Government with their 
 Fortunes for the Defence of the common Caufe, leave to 
 differ from them. And if their Properties are fecured, 
 Taxes muft be continued. So that a Change of Govern- 
 ment without a Change of Juftice alfo, will do them no 
 Service. In truth, the Change the Confpirators would 
 make, could not leflen either of thefe Grievances, but 
 would neccfiariiy increafe both 5 it being impoillble Trade 
 can flourifti under an arbitrary Government, equally to 
 what it does under a legal one. Nor would the Wants 
 of the Government, that muft be fed by Taxes, be kfs 
 than they are now, but vaftly greater, if we confide* the 
 ftarved Condition in which 'Popery muft afcend the Throne, 
 nnd how many Perlbns and Things there would be to be 
 provided for at the Nation's Expence. 
 
 But after all that can be laid, many will be fo vain as 
 to flatter thcmfelves, that however it fares with others, 
 they at lead (hall be Gainers by a Change. But how can 
 that poillbly be, or what is it they expect ? I would 
 beg leave to ask any of thcfe Gentlemen one fliort Quc- 
 (lion ; Do they hope the Enemies of the Government 
 are many, or few ? If they are but few, the Plots againft 
 it can't fuccecd ; I will therefore anfwer for them, that 
 they wifli they may be many. But then will not many 
 upon a Change have the fame Pretenfions to favour with 
 thcmfelves? How then will they divide the Spoil? I fear, 
 where one would be fatisficd, a thoufand would be dif- 
 contentcd ; for when every Man is Judge of his own 
 Merit, he will not cafily think it juft, another fhould be 
 preferred, while he is neglected. 
 
 Befidcs, thcfe Gentlemen (hould confider, how many 
 Peribns there arc who in this Caufe have Pretenfions 
 infinitely fuperior to them -, how many Englifh, Scots, 
 and Irijh there arc to be taken care of in the firft place, 
 who have all their Lives been following a defperate Caufe, 
 and have fuffcrcd greatly for it; and arc the only People 
 that can juftly plead Confcience, and have real Merit? It 
 
 will
 
 C$5.') 
 
 will be fo impofUble to provide for others, that great 
 Numbers even of thofe, will unavoidably be negle&ed, 
 and get nothing to repair in any degree their ruined For- 
 tunes. For confider, how poor this new Government 
 will be; what Debts and Arrears are due to France, and 
 Spain, and Rome, all to be paid by a Nation, which if 
 we will believe them, is already exhaufted. 
 
 So that in the upfliot we (hall find none more diffatif- 
 fied upon a little Trial of a new Government, than thofe 
 very Perfons, who at prefent are moft zealous for it. 
 They will find they have not the Advantages they ex- 
 pe&ed, but will feel in common with others the heavy. 
 Evils, which, they fay, they did not exped. And if that 
 prove to be the Cafe, what will they do then? Why, 
 then they will plot, and confpire, and rebel again. I make 
 no doubt they would, tho' they did not tell us fo j fince 
 it is plain, it is not Confcience, but Paflion or Intereft 
 that governs them. But firft, how is this confident with 
 their pretended Principles, and their Devotion to the Right 
 Line? Next, how will they effed a Change, or what will 
 they change to? Do they think, if a 'Popijh Prince were 
 again upon the Throne, he would not take more effeftual 
 Meafurcs to fecure himfelf in it> than the laft did ? Do 
 they think, he would not profit by the falfe Steps then made, 
 and mend what in that cafe was found to be ill judged ? 
 Do they think, he would rely on f Paffi i ve Obedience for 
 his Safety, and be fo credulous as to believe, that Nature, 
 when opprefied, will not rebel againft Principle, tho' very 
 lavifli of its Complements, when there is nothing to fuf- 
 fer? Laftly, do they think he would truft to an Army of 
 Irifl) Tapifts, and refufe a good Body of foreign Troops 
 from his Catholick Allies, who would always be as ready 
 to offer, as he could be to accept them? 
 
 Thefe arc all very chimerical Fancies ; but fuppofe him 
 weak enough to make the fame, or equal, or greater Over- 
 fights than were made before, what is it thefe Men would 
 change to ? To what Prince will they apply themfelvcs ? 
 
 'Who
 
 Who will accept the Government of an inconftant, facYi- 
 ous, ungovernable People, ruined by their own Follies, 
 and weakened to that Degree, as to be the Scorn of all 
 Nations; without Honour, without Strength, without 
 Union, (the only Thing that can give it Strength) and fo di- 
 ftraded by Divifions, as to be an eafy Prey to the firft In- 
 vader ? So that nothing can be expeded in fuch a cafe, but 
 certain, and inevitable, and irrecoverable Ruin. For 
 Strength and Union will in vain be hoped for, though 
 the Prince they are fo defirous to have, fliould for awhile 
 govern better, than there is any reafon to expeft, and 
 fhould not immediately purfue violent and arbitrary Mea- 
 lurcs to the Ruin of our religious or civil Rights. For 
 do they think, that while the Crown is worth contending 
 for , the Illuftrious Family in which it is now fettled, 
 will tamely rcfign their Right ? Will he not always have a 
 powerful Rival to alarm him ? Will that part of the Na- 
 tion who are heartily and entirely in that intereft, forget 
 their Oaths, and Obligations to fupport the SucceJJion y 
 as now eftabliflied ? Will they patiently live in a perpetual 
 Fear of ''Popery and arbitrary f Power? Can fuch a Part be 
 cxpcdcd from Pcrfons who have always diftinguifhed them- 
 iclvcs by their Zeal againft them ? No, fuch an Acqui- 
 ciccncc, fuch a SubmiiTion is in vain hoped for: Their 
 Hearts and Hands will be always ready to reftore a c Pro- 
 teftant Royal Family, and they can never be without good 
 Hopes of fuccccding. So that could thofe Men have 
 their \Vifli . a Claim to the Crown will not be wanting, 
 nor a flrong Part}' to fupport it. From whence it is eafy to 
 ice, the Tranquillity they promifc themfelves, can never 
 take place, an undifiurbed Pofleflion of the Crown cannot 
 be obtained, Divifions will not only fubfift but increafe 
 with all the Mifchicfs of them, Trade will be damped, 
 Forces muft be kept, and Taxes be continued, and thofe 
 heavier much than ever. 
 
 What now upon this View will the Nation get by a 
 Change ? Which is mod eligible to a 'Proteflant People, 
 
 to
 
 (57) 
 
 to preferve the prcfent Settlement againft a Topifh Rival, 
 or to bring in a 'Popijh Pretender to be maintained with 
 much greater Trouble and Charge, againft a ^Proteftant 
 Prince ? Befides the Danger, and the Expence of Blood 
 and Treafure to bring fuch a Revolution about, and the 
 great Probability there is, that fhould it fucceed, that alone 
 would in a little time of it felf compleat our Ruin. 
 
 When fad Experience (hall (hew thefeto be the Fruits 
 of a Change, it will be a poor Excufe for thofe who brought 
 it on us, to fay, ivho would have thought it? We did not 
 defign it, we hoped, and were promifed better Things. 
 Such an Ignorance could be no Excufe to any before God 
 or Man ; and if it could, cannot be pleaded in their behalf: 
 They have been told again and again, that thefe would be 
 the fatal Confequences of not fupporting the prefent Efta- 
 blifhment. This wife and honeft Men, whofe Virtue and 
 whofe Judgment they ought to have regarded, have often 
 fore-warned them of, but they would not hear ; they were 
 given up by God to a Spirit of Delufion, as part of 
 their Puniftiment, for not fubmitting to the Ways of his 
 Providence, and paying Obedience to his Laws. 
 
 If this plain and unaffected Reprefentation will not pre- 
 vail with thofe of known Difaffe&ion, to alter their Sen- 
 timents, and convince them of the extreme Sin and Folly 
 of fuch Counfels, as can, humanly fpeaking, end in nothing 
 but the Ruin of their Country, and of every thing that 
 is dear to them ; it will, it is to be hoped, have its Weight 
 with Perfons of a better Mind, and awaken thofe, who 
 wifli well to 'the prefent Settlement, from that Supinenefs 
 and Security, into which our Enemies have by their Ar- 
 tifices lulled fo many of them : and that they will not be 
 any longer carelefs and indifferent , what becomes of 
 Things, in which their Country's Happineft is fo much 
 concerned ; which Behaviour and Temper, though not fo 
 criminal in it felf, as an open Difaffedion, is as fatal in its 
 Confequences. For if thofe who mean no ill to the Go- 
 vernment, will be Spectators only, and unconcernedly 
 
 H look
 
 ( $8) 
 
 look on, while others are endeavouring the Subverfion of 
 it, this in the End will prove the fame Thing, as diredly 
 joining with them, and the fame Ruin and Deftruftioa will 
 refult from it. 
 
 It is high Time therefore for thofe who wifh better 
 Things, to look about them,, and to be upon their Guard, 
 andconfider, that they who are not againft the Enemies of 
 the Government, are for them; and that if they are in- 
 different, they do as much as their Enemies defire of them. 
 To this end, let them take Care how they give Credit to 
 groundlefs Afperfions on the Government, particularly, po 
 that moft dangerous, as well as> moft fenfelefs Calurrmyv 
 that the King and his Minifters are impofing a Sham-Plot 
 upon the Nation, which the Enemies of our Peace have 
 been wonderfully induftrious to fpread* and, have done.it 
 with notable Succefs. There being nothijng of fo much 
 Service to a Confpiracy, or fo likely to fecure it from a Di 
 appointment, as to perfuade the People, that there is no- 
 thing in it, and that it is all a Fiction of the Court, it is no 
 wonder thofe who are in it, orwifii well to it, are much 
 concerned to propagate fuch Reports ; but how honeft, 
 fcnfible, well-meaning Men can be fo inpipofed on, is 
 amazing : Since no one Inftmce can be given, when- a 
 Prince from the Throne, or in any other authoritative 
 Way, told his People, he had certain Intelligence of a 
 Compiracy againft him, when it was no* fo. la truth, 
 Men or Scnfc murt have a ftrange Opinion Q a King, an4 
 Ins Minifters, before they can- believe they would in fo 
 iolemn a Manner impofc a Plot upon theaft: Thjey muft 
 luppofe them devoid of all Honefty, Of of all Underftaadr 
 mg,- the ijft, if they are deceived themfelves-, and believe 
 th:rc is a dangerous Confpiracy carrying oa, when- there 
 re:.l!v is none ; and the firft, if they would knowingly an<jt 
 v/i'.lingly deceive the People into the. Belief of a Plot of 
 their own making. But why fliould men entertain ekher 
 of thcfc Opinions of the King, or thojfe abouCihifli, that 
 -.crc is cither no S:nlc ? or no Truth in then%-? How- 
 would
 
 would Men of any Reputation like to be treated fo them- 
 felves? How is fo vile an Opinion of our Governors con- 
 fiftejit with that Reverence and Honour; which by the 
 moft facred. Ties, by the Laws both of God and Man, 
 is. due to them ? Such an Imputation on the Government 
 is mace particularly abfurd in the prcfent Cafe, becaufe 
 the Wit of Man can't find out one plaufible Reafort for 
 ftach a Sufpicion, or aflign one End, which fuch an Im- 
 poficion: could ferve ; whereas the moft ordinary Undcr- 
 ftanding might at the time the- Plot was firft difcovered, 
 have feen many Reaftms to convince him, that it was 
 inopeflible it fhould not be true. 
 
 Yet fwch has been the Induftry of our Adverfaries, 
 they have- taken fuch Advantage of the Indolence and In- 
 difference which their late Misfortunes have thrown many 
 into,; they have applied thcmrferves fo artfully ta their 
 Paffions and Difcontents; as to-iiTfufe into great Num- 
 bers a Belief even of this Calumny, notwithstanding its 
 very great Improbability ; and from thence have been en- 
 couraged to perfift in the Profecution of their Confpiracy 
 for many Month? after if. has been difcovered. They 
 concluded that thofe whom they had deluded into a Dif- 
 belief of their Plot, were in their Hearts with them ; or 
 at leaft were indifferent , and would give them no Di- 
 fturbance. The Conclufion indeed was a little too hafty ; 
 but thus much they might fafely promife themfelves, that 
 if their Plot were not thought real, no Meafures to dif- 
 concert it would be vigorously purfucdv OP duly executed. 
 People will not.be-a&ive- to difcovcr and defeat Defigns, 
 that are not bcHe^'ed',- and when things are ripe for the 
 Execution of a Plot,, 'tis then commonly. too late to begin 
 an Oppofition to rt* 
 
 'Tis this Supincnefs and Disbelief which they have de- 
 luded fo many into, that fecoas-to have been the principal 
 Encouragement to the Confpirators to perfift in their De- 
 figns. If therefore thofe who arc really Friends to the 
 Government, and wifli well to the 'Proteftant SucceiTion, 
 
 woulds
 
 (do) 
 
 would throw off that Coldnefs and Indifference, which 
 other wife may prove To fatal to them, this would deprive 
 our Enemies of that, wherein they place their chief Con- 
 fidence : And then we might reafonably hope, they would 
 either defift from their wicked Enterprizes, or would 
 purfue them to their own Confufion. And either way 
 this, like other abortive Plots, will tend to the Increafe 
 of the Welfare it was intended to deftroy , and to the 
 firmer Eftablifhment of the Crown in the King and his 
 illuftdous Houfe. For Providence will not be wanting to 
 us, if we are not fhamefully wanting to our felves. Of 
 this God has given us frequent and great Afiurances in the 
 many Succcflfcs, Deliverances and Difcoveries, with which 
 he has hitherto wonderfully blefled the King, and his Peo- 
 ple in him. For which, and all his other fignal Mercies 
 to this Nation, be afcribed to his holy Name all Honour, 
 Glory, and Power, now and ever. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 A 
 
 'SERMON 
 
 PREACH'D at the 
 
 CONSECRATION 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 BISHOP of BANG OR.
 
 4
 
 SERMON 
 
 PREACH'D in 
 
 C ROT 7) N CHAPEL, 
 
 On S u N D A Y of! 'uguft \\thy 1723. 
 
 AT THE 
 
 CONSECRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Right Reverend Father in G O D, 
 
 W I L L I A M, 
 
 Lord Bifhop of B A N G O R. 
 
 By SAMUEL LISLE, D. D. 
 
 Reftor of St. Mary le Bow, and Chaplain to his Grace the 
 Lord Arch-Bifhop of CANTERBURY. 
 
 Publiflied by Command of his Grace the Lord Arch-Bifliop 
 of CANTERBURY. 
 
 L O N <D O N : 
 
 Printed for BENJ. COWSE at the Rofe and Crown in St. Taul's 
 
 Church- Yard. 1723.
 
 A 
 
 JL f ,-. * 
 
 . C-J f f 
 
 7 A a x u ci nD
 
 C 
 
 H 
 
 XIIL 17 
 
 Obey them that have the Rule over you, and 
 fubmit yourf elves, for they 'watch for your 
 Souls, as they that muft give ^Account. 
 
 Suppofe our Tranilation of this Text 
 will be fufficiently vindicated, by 
 confidering other Places of Scrip- 
 ture,, where the fame original Words 
 Hy*pev& and n^s^i which we ren- 
 der by Ruling and Obeying, are ma- 
 nifeftly taken in this Senfe and can- 
 not be underitood otherwife. It will be fufficient to pro- 
 duce an Inftance or two to this purpofe. In that emi- 
 nent Prophecy oncerning the Place of the Meffiaji's 
 Nativity, recited Matt.i\.6. TheGovernourvtho was 
 
 B to
 
 CO. 
 
 to come out of Bethlehem to feed Gods Teofle 
 I/rael, is expreffed by no other Word than H^V^- ; 
 The fame is applied to Jofeph, Ats vii. 10. when 
 he was made Governour over the Land of Egypt, 
 
 and over Pharaohs Houfe, K*-rwow aW* 'Hyvptw lit 
 Afyj7r7or, < OAOK T QIW WT8 *. The other Term, iM^g, 
 which is here tranflated Obey, is by St. "James us'd 
 in the fame Senfe Epift. iii. 3 . 'i^ v 
 
 Tiivvt; ti; TO goTK" /SasMocev Ta^ TO TTGiQgo&ai aurws 
 
 we put Bits m the Horfes Mouths that they may 
 
 obey us : And being here joined with t uVefcgTe, fubmtt 
 
 yourjekes, it is in this Place,, at leaft,, evidently re- 
 
 ftraincd to the Senfe in which our Tranflators have 
 
 taken it. Beiidcs, the very Nature of the Thing re- 
 
 quires this Interpretation ; for if 'H^^ot be well 
 
 render'd thofe who rule over us, the Duty on our Parts 
 
 can be no other than Obedience and Submiffion to 
 
 them. Suppoling it certain, therefore, that the Words 
 
 are rightly render'd of Subjects and Governours, the 
 
 next Words lliew us of what Sort or Nature thefe 
 
 Governours, of which the Apoftle fpeaks, are ; 
 
 That they are not temporal Rulers who take care of 
 
 our worldly Intcreits and Concerns, but their Go- 
 
 vernment coniiits in Watching for our Souls, and 
 
 therefore is of a fpiritual Nature ; And whereas they 
 
 are to give Account of their Care and Fidelity in the 
 
 Difchargc of this Office,this fliews that they are appoin- 
 
 .ted to it by God himfelf, to \*hom they are to give 
 
 *^ V:df etiam nunnm fttjufdam Infcriftionem afuawfittf, Pafaograph. Grec. f. 10. 
 
 ~ 'm in loc. 
 
 Account.
 
 (3) 
 
 Account. So that the Words defcribe to us the Out- 
 lines, as it were, of the Chriftian Church, that it 
 is not a confused Multitude without Rule or Order, 
 but is a regular well digefted Society, wherein God 
 has appointed fome to Rule and others to Obey. And 
 from hence will follow. 
 
 I. That the Church is a vilible fpiritual Society 
 govenfd by proper Officers and Minifters ap- 
 pointed by God himfelf. And becaufe the 
 Church is to continue till the Confummation of 
 all things, therefore, 
 
 II. Thefe Officers and Minifters are to be preferv'd 
 by Succeffion throughout all Ages of the Church. 
 And becaufe no Society can well fubfift without 
 a regular Subordination of the Officers and Mi- 
 nifters in it, therefore, 
 
 III. The Minifters of the Church are of "different 
 Orders and Degrees. And becaufe the Members 
 of the Chriftian Church are here commanded to 
 obey and fubmit themfefoes to the Rulers of it ; 
 It will not be improper, 
 
 Laftly, To enquire what the Powers are with which 
 they are inverted. 
 
 I. That the Church, &c. That the Church is a 
 Society is an evident Confequence of there being Ru- 
 lers
 
 C4] 
 
 lers appointed of it, and of fbme being commanded 
 to obey thefe Rulers,, lince where Men live at large, 
 independent of one another, and loofe from- all thole 
 Bonds which being in Societies layes upon them, the 
 very Nature of the thing Ihews, that there is not nor 
 can be any Government or Sub jeftion at all ; as on 
 the contrary, as foon as Governours and Subjects are 
 conftituted, Anarchy ceafes, a Dependence of fome 
 upon others is introduc'd,and a dutiful Obedience and 
 Submiffion according to the Nature of the Govern- 
 ment. So that where ever Governours and Subjects 
 are, there muft neceflarily be fuppofed a Society and 
 all things eflential to it; and where the former are 
 mention'd the latter muft be imply'd, lince they 
 can't lubfift feparately. It is true, indeed, that the U- 
 nion of all Chriftians under our blefled Lord, who is 
 the common Head and King and Governour of his 
 univerfal Church and Kingdom, and their Partici- 
 pation of the fame Privileges, the Forgivenels of their 
 Sins, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit, do cer- 
 tainly demonftrate the Chriftian Church to be a So- 
 ciety, but then it does not hence Ib evidently ap- 
 pear that this Society is,, or ought to to be, vifible, 
 becaufe the Bond of this Union with our Head, and 
 the Graces we derive from him, our Faith, our ac- 
 ceptance with him, and the Operations of his Spirit 
 upon our Souls, are all internal and invilible. But 
 the confideration of the external Polity, eftablilhed in 
 this Society, does clearly prove the Society it felf to 
 be external, fince a Society of vifible Men, obeying 
 
 and
 
 and fubmitting themfefoes to vifible Rulers, muft 
 needs be a vifible Society. Befides, the Admiffion into 
 this Society by Baptifm, the external Communion 
 of the Members of this Society in Prayer, and the 
 Participation of the Lord's Supper, which are en- 
 joined and commanded by our Lord and his A- 
 poftles, do all prove this Society to be vifible : For 
 if the Communion in thefe outward Rites be the 
 Notes and Tokens of the Members of this Society, 
 whereby they are united to each other, and drf 
 tinguifh'd from all other Men ; if publicity meet- 
 ing together, for praying to, and praifing God, be 
 the Duty of all who are incorporated into this Bo- 
 dy, undoubtedly the Body or Society it felfmuftbe 
 external or vifible. And tho' it may and dos, too 
 often, happen that many al*e admitted into this 
 vifible Society who are not, iqdeed, united with it's 
 Head, /. e. who have not Faith in Chrift, who are 
 not good here, nor will be happy hereafter : Yet 
 no one who is not join'd to this Society has any 
 right to the Privileges of it, nor can lay any Claim 
 to the Promifes made to it. For all the Promifes 
 of Chrift are made o his Church, and if there 
 are many who do no^ attain -to, or enjoy thefe Pro- 
 mifes, the Fault is entirely in themfelves who dp 
 not perform the Conditions annext to them. And 
 hence it appears that every one is obliged to en- 
 ter into and continue in this Society, oblig'd, I mean, 
 as far as the Hopes of Happinefs, and the Fear of 
 everlafting Mifery can oblige Men : So 1;hat if 
 
 C the
 
 the Chriftian Church be a voluntary Club, or Soci- 
 ety, as fome love to {peak, tis fo only in this Senfe, 
 that it is left to every one's Choice whether he will 
 go to Heaven or not. He that believes and is 
 baptizdy that is, is admitted into the Society of 
 Chrift's Church, JJjall ~be Javed, Tiut he that 
 lielieveth not Jhall le damnd. 
 
 But tho' the Church of Chrift be thus an exter- 
 nal vifible Society, yet it is founded upon diffe- 
 rent Maxims, and directed to quite different Ends 
 and Purpofes from worldly and temporal Societies ; 
 the End of thefe is the Maintaining outward 
 .Peace, and protecting the Lives and PoffefTions of Men, 
 the Defign of the other is the promoting Piety and 
 Virtue in this Life, and the introducing Men into 
 immortal Happinefs in the next; confequently the 
 Governours of the one have to do with mens Bo- 
 dies and Eftates, the Rulers of the other are here, 
 by the Apoftle, faid to watch for mens Souls : 
 The Prefervation of mens fpiritual Interefts is the 
 Trull repos'd in them, this is the End of In- 
 ftituting the Society it felf, and hither the Rulers 
 of it are to direft all their Solicitude and Care. 
 And for this purpofe they were appointed by 
 Chrift himfelf, as the Apoftle proceeds to fhew, 
 for, lays he, they watch for your Souls, as they 
 that riiujl give .Account. And if they are to 
 give Account to Chrift of their Fidelity and Dili- 
 
 * Mark xvi.
 
 [7] 
 
 gence in this Office, 'tis a good Argument that 
 the Office it felf was committed to them by 
 Chrift. To the fame purpole St. Taul elfewhere 
 obferves, That it was requirdof them to be * fait fa 
 ful as being Miniftcrs of Chrift and Stewards 
 of the Myfteries of God. And if the Apofties and 
 Rulers in Chriftfs Church are Minifters and Stew- 
 ards of God and Chrift, if they are required to 
 ~be faithful iff this Miniftry and Stewardship, if 
 they watch for Mens Souls and muft give Ac- 
 count., 'tis plain they are appointed to all this by 
 Chrift himfelf. And our Apoftle dos in other Pla- 
 ces exprefly affirm of himfelf, . That our Lord, t 
 counting him faithful, put him into the Miniftry, 
 and that the t "Difpenfation of the Go/pel is 
 committed to him by Chrift, and of the whole Body of 
 Officers and Minifters in the Church, That (*). 
 Chrift has fet fome in the Church, fir ft Apofties, 
 fecondarily Teachers, &c. and that the ( t ) Holy 
 Ghoft had made the Elders Qverfeers to feed the 
 Flock of Chrift. But becaufe it may be faid, That 
 tho' the Apofties and firft Rulers of Chrift's Church 
 were, indeed, appointed by Chrift himfelf and the Ad- 
 miniftration of the Affairs of this Spiritual Society was 
 committed to them ; yet to apply it to the prefent 
 State of the Church it will be neceflary to prove, 
 that this Office and Miniftry was derived to others af- 
 
 * i Cor. iv. i. 
 xii. 28. (f) 
 
 f i Tim. i. 12, 
 xjr. 28, 
 
 I Cor. ix. 17. 
 
 (* ) I Cor. 
 
 ter
 
 [8] 
 
 ter their deceafe, and ought always to continue in 
 the Church. I proceed, 
 
 II. To Ihew, That as the Church is to continue 
 'till the Confummation of all Things ; fo thefe 
 Rulers and Minifters are to be preferv'd by 
 Succeffion throughout all Ages of it. And here 
 it may be obferv'd in Favour of. the Perpetui- 
 ty of the Minifters and Officers of Chriftfs Church, 
 that whereas it has been already fhewn, that they 
 are Ckri/fs Minifters and Stewards, are appoin- 
 ted by him., and muft give account of their Fideli- 
 ty in this Miniftery., it is not fo much as pretended 
 that there is any Intimation given in the Scrip- 
 ture^, that their Functions and Offices are ever to ceafe 
 and be extincT; in the Church ; whence one may gather 
 a ftrong Prefumption, at leaft, that being once efta- 
 bliihed they are ever to continue as long as the 
 Church , and the End of their Inftitution dos. For 
 if thefe Offices being once eftablifh'd fhould after- 
 wards ceafe, or be extinguifh'd^ the Failure of them 
 mult be accounted for one of thefe Ways ; either 
 from the Nature of the Church, which will not ad- 
 mit them to continue perpetually : Or of the Of- 
 fices themfelvcs which will naturally ceafe arid 
 expire : Or from fome Declaration of Chrift, that 
 thefe Offices fhall continue for but a certain Time : 
 Or, laftly, Let it be fhewn, that in Fadl thefe .Of- 
 fices have ceas'dj and that there is not the fame 
 Rcaibn for their continuance in the Church now as 
 
 * there
 
 C9] 
 
 there was formerly. But the Extinction of Ru- 
 lers and Officers in Chrift's Church is Ib far from 
 appearing either of thefe Ways,, that I fhail chufe 
 to prove by every one of them, that they were 
 intended and ought to be perpetual in it. And, 
 
 Fir/i, From the Nature of Chriflfs Church : 
 As it was above fhewn, That the Church is a 
 Society becaufe the Apoftle dos in the Text men- 
 tion the Rulers of it, and directs Obedience to 
 be paid to them ; fo from it's being prov'd 
 to be a Society will reciprocally appear the Ne- 
 ceflity of its having Rulers and Minifters, fince 
 it is impofible any Society fhou'd fubfift without 
 them : Either, therefore, the Church muft from 
 the Apoftle's Time, have ceas'd to be a Society, 
 or elfe, from that Time Rulers and Minifters 
 muft have continued in it : But if there be no 
 Reafon proving the Church to be a Society in the 
 Apoftle's Days, which dos not equally prove it a 
 Society at any other Period, 'tis plain that all 
 the Confequences drawn from its being a Society 
 formerly are equally cogent now ; and therefore, 
 if the Church were a Society at its firft Inftitution, 
 and if the Confequence of that be the Eftablifhing 
 of Rulers in it, 'tis evident that the fame Confe- 
 quence will hold as long as it fhall continue a So- 
 ciety, that is, as long as the Church it felf fhall 
 continue ; and therefore, that Rulers and Minifters 
 muft be prefeiVd in it throughout all the Ages 
 of it. Nor, D Secondly ,
 
 (10) 
 
 Secondly., Is there any Thing in the Nature 
 of the Offices thcmfelves to caule them to ceafe. 
 It is true,, That the Apoftles and firft Preachers 
 of the Gofpel were endued with the Power of work- 
 ing Miracles,, and {peaking divers Kinds of Tongues, 
 which were extraordinary Gifts, and not intended 
 to continue always. But furely the Office of an 
 Apoftle did not confift in working Miracles, but 
 in preaching the Gofpel; the Power of doing won- 
 derful Works was given them only to enable them 
 to preach the Gofpel ; with greater Authority and 
 Succeis ; : slnd Tongues were a Sign not to them 
 it' bo bclieve, but to them who believe not : As 
 loon, therefore., as by thefe Means the Gofpel had pre- 
 vail d over as great Part of the World, as to the 
 divine Wifdom feem'd fit, thefe extraordinary Gifts 
 ceas'd : But did the Apoftle's Office and Minifte- 
 ry likewiie immediately ceafe about all Perfons 
 who being convinced by their Miracles embraced 
 the Gofpcl ? As, if their Office coniitted only in 
 performing extraordinary Things, it mull have 
 done ; iince it is plainly to no Purpofe to work 
 Miracles for the Conviction of Perfons who are 
 already convinced. But in their Writings., and in 
 riie Hiitory of their Afts, we find them ftill em- 
 ploy \\ about the Faithful who had no further need 
 of Miracles, in Preaching, in Praying, in breaking 
 
 of
 
 of Breadj in ifliiing out Decrees for the Direction 
 of the Church^ in laying on of Hands,, in compo- 
 fing Diffentions, and cenfuring Offenders : TheTe are 
 the great Branches of theApoftolical Office,, properly 
 fo calfd, to which the working of Miracles was but 
 auxiliary., ferving only to introduce the Exercife of 
 thefe more ufeful Functions. As long, therefore^ 
 as Preaching, as Praying, as Adminiltring the Sa- 
 craments, as Peace and Order, and^Difcipline fhall 
 be neceflary in the Church, fo long will it be 
 neceflary that the Officers to whom the Perfor- 
 mance of thefe Functions is commited, fhall re- 
 main and be continued. 
 
 -r r { : V*</.-.,-> '.'. 'i'-r*' ff"ir;J--v "-vU T 
 
 Thirdly, Our Lord has declared and promis'd,, that 
 thefe Officers fhall continue for ever in the Church. 
 It has generally been underftood., that the Pro- 
 mife our Lord made to the Apoftles^ when he 
 fent them forth to * teach and baptize all Na- 
 tions, Loe 1 am with you always even unto the 
 End of the ffiorld, did imply the Continuance of 
 the Minifters and Governours of Chriflfs Church 
 'till the Confummatkm of all Things ; for lince 
 this Promife cou'd not be confined perfonally to 
 the Apoftles who all dyU not many Years after 
 our Lord's Aicention 3 it has reafonably been inter- 
 preted to extend to all their Succeflbrs in the Chrifti- 
 an Church : And the Way taken to evade this has 
 
 * Matt, xxviii. if? 3 20, 
 
 been
 
 been by interpreting "EV$ $ ov^x^ T &<&, to 
 mean either the End of the Jewtfo Sate,, or Difpen- 
 fation,, that is, 'till the Deftruftion of the City and 
 Temple of Jerufalem, or elfe 'till the End of the 
 Age or Lives of the Apoftles themfelves. But 
 againft the firft of thefe Evalions it may be ob- 
 ferv'd, That St. John did actually outlive the Def- 
 truction of the Temple and wrote his * Revelati- 
 on, and governed the Churches of Ajia fome Years 
 after it, to whom it will not be pretended,, I fup- 
 pofe, that the Trefence of Chrift was ever want- 
 ing. Againft the other Evafion it may be obfer- 
 vcd, That 'A<j/ is not the Gofpel term for a Man's 
 Life which is always exprefs'd by y.vt \ and be- 
 fides, if any Credit may be given to Ecclefiaftical 
 Antiquity,, it is certain that the Power of working 
 Miracles^ which is a certain Sign of Chriflfs Tre- 
 fence,, continued in the Church many Years after 
 all the Apoftles were fallen a fleep ; and if Chrift 
 were prefent in Ib extraordinary a Manner, we 
 cannot fuppofe he fhou'd be abfent in more ordi- 
 narv Inltances. 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 Laftty, It is Fact,, that Minifters and Rulers have 
 continued in the Church from the very Beginning 
 to this Day,, and no imaginable Reafon can be 
 afiignfd why Minifters and Governours fhou'd be 
 nccellary in the ftrft Ages of the Church which will 
 
 * V.d. Euf'fb. E H L. 3 C 1 8. & 23- 
 
 not
 
 iiot equally hold thro' every other Age even 'till the 
 End of the World. "Tis certain from St. Taufs own 
 writings that he himfelf ordained Timothy and Titus, 
 directing them to * ordain Kkcwife Elders in e- 
 <uery City : And many of the Eccleliaftical Writers 
 have left us t Catalogues of the Biihops who had 
 from Time to Time fucceeded in feveral Cities_, even 
 from the Times of the Apoftles themfelves., which 
 is a Thing too well known to need being infilled 
 on. And if the Apoftles themfelves thought it 
 neceflary to appoint their Succeflbrs,, commanding 
 them likewife to appoint others ; I believe it will be 
 impoflible to affign a Time and Reafoir, when and 
 why this Neceffity Ihou'd ceafe : But the lame 
 Reafon which induc'd the Apoftle to ordain Titus, 
 for inftancej commanding him to ordain others, 
 will ever induce a Neceflity of continuing on the 
 Succeffion as long as the Chriftian Church lhall 
 laft. For if the Needs and Neceffities of the 
 Church,, to which thefe Offices are apply'd,, con- 
 tinue in all Ages the fame,, what imaginable Reafon 
 can be given why the Offices themfelves Ihou'd not 
 continue ? I proceed now 7 , 
 
 III. To Ihew,, That as no Society of any confidera- 
 ble extent can well fubfift without a regular Subordi- 
 nation among the Officers and Min liters of it ; fo 
 
 * Tit. i. 5. i T/w. iii. 2. f Vid. Eufeb. lib. 4. cap. 5. & Iren. lih. 3. cap. 3. 
 
 eJ- Tertull. l:b. de Pr.cfcrip. adv. User. cap. 32. 
 
 E the
 
 the Mlniiters of Chrififs Church are of different 
 Orders and Degrees. And this diverlity of De- 
 grees is fb neceflary from the very Nature 
 of large Societies, and from the different Offices 
 and Functions to be adminifter'd in them, that 
 even they themfelves, who have thought fit to de- 
 Itroy the regular Subordination of inferior Mini- 
 fters to fuperior, which the Apoftles left in the 
 Church, have found it neceilary to eftablifh a new 
 Sort of Superiors of their own Invention. And, 
 when they wou'd no longer be fubjecl: to the A- 
 poilolical Order of Bilhops, have fet up a Sort of 
 Gaffes, and Synods, and Elders, utterly unknown 
 to al! Antiquity. But it is not my Bulinefs at 
 preleiit to difpute this Matter with thefe Men. 
 ! ihali therefore proceed tofhew in Fad;, That by the 
 Conititution of our Lord and his Apoftles, the 
 Church has from the Beginning been governed 
 by Ministers of different Degrees. We find then in 
 the Goipels that our Lord did at feveral Times 
 chufe out of the whole Body of his Followers, 
 (irilj the TV, clve Apoftles, and afterwards * Seventy 
 other D\i :iples, whom he lent forth to preach ; 
 (e the Commiffion given to both of them 
 chicPn in the lame Words ; hence fbme 
 have been indue d to believe that they were both 
 oi the iiime Order, and upon a perfect Equali- 
 ty but tliat there was a great Disparity between 
 
 them
 
 C'51 
 
 them., and that the Apoftles were really, and were 
 always underftood to be, of an Order fuperior 
 to the feventy Difciples, will appear from this 
 lingle Conftderation, that when,, upon the Defecti- 
 on and Death of the Traytor Jtidas, a Vacancy 
 happened in the College of the Apoftles, Mat- 
 thias was with great Solemnity,, and by the In- 
 terpofitiori of God himfelf, appointed to fill it, and 
 was thence * number d among the Afojiles ; yet 
 this very Perfon was before (if any Credit may be 
 given to the antient t Ecciefiaftical Writers) one of 
 the feventy Difciples: I therefore, the feventy were 
 of the fame Order with the Apoftles, to what was 
 it that MWkias was appointed ? Why all this 
 Solemnity and Prayers to God only to declare a 
 Man to be what he was indeed before ? I think, 
 therefore, we may conclude, that there was a Dif- 
 ference in the Order or Degree of thofe Preachers 
 of the Gofpel which were ordain'd even by Chrift 
 himfelf If we proceed to a View of what the A- 
 poftles did afterwards, in ordaining Minifters of 
 the Church, we fhall find a Difference of Degree 
 among them no lefs certain. I fuppole it will not be 
 necefiary, nor expected that I fhou'd go over the 
 whole Hiftory of their Afts, or take Notice of all 
 the Paflages in their Epiftles, from whence thfe 
 may be prov'd. I will therefore make choice of 
 an Example or two which do clearly fhew ; it. 'Tis 
 
 * Atts i 26. f Eufo. E. H. lib; i. cap. 12. 
 
 evident
 
 evident,, therefore, and agreed on all Hands, that 
 the Deacons were of an Order very much inferior to the 
 Apoftles ; and although the Occafion of their Or- 
 dination were to take care of the Poor, yet they 
 were not fo confitVd to this Employment, but we 
 find two of them, '''Stephen and 'Philip, immediate- 
 ly preaching the Word, and the latter baptizing. We 
 find likewile t Taul and Barnabas ordaining Elders, 
 who were without Controverfy inferior to the A- 
 pollles, in the Cities where they preach'd the Gof- 
 pel. And St. Taul having ordain'd Timothy and 
 Tiius, and fix'd the Relidence of the one at 
 EphefiiS) and of the other in Crete ; in the Epiltles 
 which he afterwards writ to them, giving them 
 Directions how they fhou'd govern the Churches 
 over which he had appointed them, commands 
 them to ordain (*) Elders and Deacons, to in- 
 fpect their Lives and Manners, and take care of 
 their Maintenance ; and if the Power of or- 
 daining, of corroding and cenfuring, gives a Man 
 any Authority over., or makes him of a diffe- 
 rent Order from others, whom he thus ordains 
 and Cenfurcs, then undoubtedly Timothy and Titus 
 were of an Order fuperior to the Elders and Dea- 
 cons, and the chief Care and Prefidence in the 
 Church was committed to them, by whom the 
 inferior Orders of Clergy as \vell as -the Laity 
 were to be directed and governed. Nor are thefe 
 
 Kh \'\. ~, 8. t Alt xiv. 23. (*). TV. i. 5. 
 
 the
 
 the only Inftances to be found in Scripture of* 
 fingle Ferfons vefted .with chief Authority in the 
 Church. For the >:< feven Epiftles, which in the 
 Revelation our Lord is introduc'd as dictating to 
 the feven molt eminent Churches of the Procon- 
 fular Ajia, are directed feverally to the Angels of 
 thefe Churches., Perlbns who muft certainly have 
 had the chief Care and Authority over them,, be- 
 caufe they are blamed or commended for every 
 thing our Lord finds fault with, or praifes among 
 them, which cou'd not well have been done un- 
 lefs their good or ill Example,, their Authority 
 and Inftruftion, their Care or Negligence^ had been 
 the Caufe of one or the other. And though 
 fome., who feeing that a fingle Perfon having fii- 
 preme or chief Authority in the Church is certain- 
 ly a Bifliop, wou'd therefore willingly apply the 
 Title of Angel either to the whole Church or to 
 a College of Presbyters prefiding over it ; yet to 
 underftand it of more than a fingle Perfon is to do 
 Violence to the whole Tenour of the Epiftles,, 
 which run conftantly in the fingular Number,, and 
 to apply them to more Perfons than one wou'd 
 make them inconfiftent. BefideSj, it may be prov d 
 from t Ecclefiaftical Hiftory,, that there were Bi- 
 fhops prefiding in all thefe Churches,, fo exceed- 
 ing near the Time of writing: the Revelation, both 
 
 " 
 
 * 7?pi-. ii. f Vid. Ignat. Ep. ad Epbef. ds Qnsjimt evrum Epifc. <& ad 
 
 & ad potycar. vid. ctiam Eufeb. H. E. lib. 5. cap. 24. 
 
 be-
 
 before and after it, that it wou'd be wonderful if 
 there fhou'd have been none at the very Time 
 of writing . it. And thus it appears from Scripture, 
 that in the firft Age there were diftinft Orders 
 of Minifters in the Church,, that there was a Sub- 
 ordination among them, that the Prelidency or 
 chief Authority was in the feveral Churches com- 
 mitted to fingle Perfons, that there were at leaft 
 three Orders when St. Taul writ his Epiftles, firft 
 of Apoltles (in which I fuppofe Timothy and Ti- 
 tus included) next of Elders, and laftly of Dea- 
 cons inferior to both : Which are the fame De- 
 grees that have ever fince continued in the 
 Church under the Titles of Bifhops, Priefts, and 
 Deacons. And., I fuppofe, thefe Fafts, as they ap- 
 pear in the New Tejtament, are fufficient to prove 
 the real Diftinftion between the two fuperior Or- 
 ders (for of the loweft there has never been any 
 Queftion) and the Subordination of the one to the 
 other, even if we fliou'd not be able to give a 
 clear Account of the Difficulties which have been 
 rais'd about the Words 'H-roW-Tr- and n^V/Stm^- be- 
 ing iynonimous Terms for Perfons of the fame 
 Order: For granting that thefe two are only dif- 
 ferent Names of the fame Order (as indeed feems 
 very probable) yet here are plainly three diftinft 
 Orders named,, c-ne of which particularly is fupe- 
 rior to Presbyters, if ordaining them, if governing 
 and cenfuring them can make them fo. But as to 
 the Difficulty it iclf, concerning the promifcuous 
 
 Ufe
 
 Ufe of the Terms Bijkops and Treshjtters. I fhall 
 chufe to account for it in the Words of the learned 
 * Theodorit, The fame Terfons, fays he,, were anti- 
 ently calld Eifbops and Tresbyters, and they 'whom 
 we now call Bijbops were then call d j4po files, ~but in 
 procefs of Time the Name ofApoftles was appropri- 
 ated to them who were Apo files in the JlriEt 
 Senfe, and the reji who had formerly the Name 
 of Apo/lles were Jlyld Bifbops. In this Senje 
 Epaphroditus 'is called the .Apoflle of the Philip- 
 pians, Titus was the Apojlle of the Cretans,, and 
 Timothy of Alia. Every one of which Perfbns > 
 however,, are by other Authors exprefsly nam'd 
 Bilhops^ and all Bifhops are faid to be Succeflbrs 
 of the Apoitles and of the Apoftolical Order. If from 
 the Scripture we defcend to the Eccleliaftical Wri- 
 ters., the Goverment of the Church by Bifhops 
 and the Subordination of Presbyters and Deacons, 
 to them, is fo clearly and fo copioufly attefted 
 that their Works are almoft full of it. t St. Igna- 
 tius, who was an Apoftolical Man and almoft an 
 Apoftle, does fo largely, fo zealoufly., and with fo 
 much Concern infift upon the Authority of the 
 Epifcopal Order, that 'tis plain he conlidered it 
 not only as the Inftitution of Chrift himfelf, but 
 was perfuaded that the very Being of the Church 
 depended upon it. And, indeed, the Opinion of 
 the divine inftitution of Epifcopacy, as fupe- 
 rior to Presbyters, is delivered down from the ear- 
 
 * Com, in i Tim. iii. I. t Vide Ep. ad SmyrtMOt. 
 
 lyeft
 
 [20] 
 
 lyeft Antiquity in fo itrong and fo uninterrupted a 
 Current, that in fourteen hundred Years and more,, 
 there was found but one Man (Aerius the Ari- 
 an Heretic] who openly contradicted it, and only 
 St. Jerom who is fuppos'd to fpeak iuipicioufly a- 
 bout it, and yet of * St. Jerom it may be ob- 
 lerv'd, that he has adopted that common Obfer- 
 vation, that as the Jewiftj State was typical of the 
 Chriftian Difpenfation, fo the Eccleliaftical Orders 
 of the former represented thofe of the Chriftian 
 Church^ Andy fays lie., what Aaron and hu Sons 
 and the Levites were in the Temple, that Bifbops, 
 Trie/Is, and "Deacons are in the Church of Chrift. 
 Which is fo clear a Teftimony of the divine In- 
 jtitution of the Epifcopal Order, that I wonder 
 mole wlio are fo fond of his Authority fliou'd 
 not fee that what in other Places,, he fays in ex- 
 altation of the Order of Presbyters., was not with 
 Intention to derogate from the Authority of Bi- 
 ff lors,, but only to reprefs the Arrogance of fome 
 Deacons, who., being of the loweft Order in Chriftfs 
 Church, did yet take upon them to equal them- 
 ielvcs with the Dignity of Priefts. And this I 
 take to be the true Key for interpreting all thofe 
 Pailagcs in that learned Father, which thofe who 
 are prejudiced again ft the Order of Bifhops lay hold 
 
 A?tfi. fur;ptas ds veferi Teftamznto quod Aaron & Fi/ii 
 //:/, her j. hi Epijlopi & Presfytfri, & Diaconi, "j'mdiceut in 
 
 of,
 
 [21] 
 
 of, as favouring their Opinion. Having thus fliewn 
 the divine Inftitution of the Miniftry, it's perpe- 
 tual Eftabliftiment, and the feveral Orders and 
 Degrees among the Officers of Chrift's Church., 
 becaufe the Hebrews are here in the Text com- 
 manded to obey and fiibrnit themjehes to thefe Ru- 
 lers. I come now, 
 
 
 
 Laftfy, To fliew what are the Powers they 
 are inverted with. I have before obferved, 
 that the Church of Chrift is a fpiritual Society, 
 and the Rulers of it fpiritual Riders > confequent- 
 ly the Powers they are inverted with muft be 
 fpiritual Powers : As they watch for Mens Souls, 
 fo the Care of them is the End of their Infti- 
 tution and the Meafure of their Power ; fo that 
 if the Rulers of Chrift's Church happen to be 
 trufted with any Branches of Civil Authority, that 
 Power they do not derive from the Gofpel, but 
 is owing to the Conftitution of the Country in 
 which they live. But as they watch for Mens 
 Souls, that is, as they are entrufted with bring- 
 ing Men to everlafting Happinefs by the Practice 
 of Evangelical Piety and Righteoufnefs ; fo what- 
 ever Means the Gofpel propofes as neceflary to 
 the Attaining this End ; the Promoting thofe 
 Means, and the Execution of all Functions relat- 
 ing to them, is the proper Office and Employ- 
 ment of the Rulers and Miniiters of Chrift's 
 
 G Church.
 
 [22] 
 
 Church. And therefore, as Faith in Jefus Chrift, 
 and the Practice of univerfal Holinefs and Righ- 
 teoufhefs (which are the Terms of the Evangeli- 
 cal Covenant), as prayer to God,, and partaking 
 in the Holy Sacraments,, are all prefcribed in the 
 Gofpel as neceffary to the Attaining everlafting 
 Happinefs ; ib declaring and expounding the Gof- 
 rel of our Lord., prefiding in the publick Wor- 
 fhip of God , and adminiftring the Sacraments 
 of the New Covenant, do properly,, and according 
 to the Nature of this fpiritual Society, belong 
 to the Rulers and Minifters of it : For to whom 
 clfe ihou\! they belong ? The Actions now men- 
 tioned arc Acts proper to this Society,, and if 
 they are not executed by the Officers and Mini- 
 fters of i^ they can be executed by no Body, 
 and thefe Offices wouYl be inltituted to no pur- 
 pofe at all. I dcfire, however, it may be ob- 
 fcrv d, that we fay thcle Officers are Minifters of 
 the Society, and, therefore, all Affairs which be- 
 iom; to the Society as fuch muft be executed by 
 them As for private pcrfonal Matters, they are 
 of a dineient Conilderation. Hence therefore, as 
 Ve Admifiion of Perfons into this Society by 
 rtifm, and the Excluding them from it by 
 d'nvftica! Ccr.fures, and the Communion of the 
 together in the Lord's Supper, are 
 Ads belonging to the Society as fuch ; 
 the Ad;r;iriili:ring of the Sacraments, whereby 
 
 this
 
 this Admiffion and Communion is perform'd, and 
 the cenfuring Offenders,, do naturally and regular- 
 ly appertain to the public Minifters ; and when 
 the whole Society are publicly met together to 
 worlhip God and expound the Holy Scriptures,, 
 the Performance of this does naturally devolve 
 upon the fame Perfons : But as it is every 
 Man's private Duty to pay continual Worfhip 
 to God Almighty,, and to inform himfelf in" his 
 Will,, as well as he is able ; we do not go a- 
 bout to abridge any Man of his private Liber- 
 ty in thefe Cafes., or difcourage him from mak- 
 ing ufe of it, becaufe we affirm that the public 
 Expounding the Scripture, and fraying to God 
 in Chriftian Aflemblies, in a Word,, every Thing 
 which relates to the Society as fuch, is the pro- 
 per Bulinefs of the Officers of this Society. E- 
 very one may frequently and devoutly pray to 
 God in private,, may ftudy the Holy Scriptures 
 for his own Inftruftion, may privately expound 
 them for the Edification of his Brethren as much 
 as the moil extended Charity requires, notwith- 
 ftanding the public Miniftration in Chriftian Af- 
 iemblies is referv'd to a particular Order of Men 
 who are confecrated and fet apart for this ve- 
 ry Office. This may fuffice concerning the Mi- 
 nifters of Chrift's Church in general, that they 
 are public Perfons authorized to tranfaft in the 
 Name of God by expounding and declaring his 
 
 Will
 
 Will to the Church, and in the Name of the 
 Church in offering up their Prayers and Devoti- 
 ons to God., and in doing all fuch other public 
 Acts as belong to the Church as a Society ; ail 
 which, I think,, very clear from this one Confide- 
 ration, that they are appointed by (3od the pub- 
 lic Minilters of the Chriftian Society. But as 
 there are divers Degrees in the .Miniftry, and 
 divers Ecclefiaftical Afts, foine of which are ap- 
 propriated to one Degree and fome to another., 
 and fbme common to all ; It might not be im- 
 proper to conflder this Matter diftinftly, and to 
 aHign to each Order thofe proper Offices which 
 Scripture and primitive Antiquity have allotted* 
 it ; but as the Time and Bounds of this Difcouife 
 will not permit it, fo becaufe there are none 
 who acknowledge any divine Inftitution of the 
 iVliniitrv at all, but do likewife allow, that all 
 thcfe Acts, I have above mentioned, do belong to 
 it ; but fome confounding the two fuperior Or- 
 ders together, and attributing to the fecond Or- 
 der all thofe Afts which we together with all 
 Antiquity appropriate to the higheft Order of 
 all ; it (hall fuflicc to allert one Power as inhe- 
 rent in Bilhops alone, which, if it be well proved, 
 will render it lels neceflary to infift on any o- 
 ther ; Jiich is the Power of Ordination, or fetting 
 Perfons apart for the Office of the Miniftry, 
 which ever has been rcferved to the Epifcopal Or- 
 der.
 
 den St. Taul ordain'd Timothy and Tittts, and 
 gave them Power of ordaining Elders, but we 
 do not find that thefe Elders were ever impow- 
 ered to ordain others, and therefore the Power 
 of Ordination has ever remain'd with thofe who 
 were call'd to the Succeffion of the Apoftles, as 
 Timothy and Titus were. Indeed St. Taul men- 
 tioning Timothys Ordination, does, in one Place, 
 lay it was done * by the laying on the Hands of 
 the Tresbytery, which has ferv'd as a Pretence 
 in thefe later Ages, for calling meer Presbyters 
 to the Exercife of this Office : But as nothing 
 hinders why we may not, with St. t Chry- 
 foftom, underitand by the Treslytery a Synod 
 of Bifhops, lince, as has been before obferved, 
 : E.7n<cTr3; & n^/3uTEpo^ feem in this .Epiftle to be 
 fynonimous Terms for Perfons of the fame Or- 
 der ; fo St. Taul does, in another Place, fay it 
 was performed \ ly his own Hands ; whence it 
 is clear that what Part foever meer Presbyters 
 may be fuppofed to bear in this Aftion, yet the 
 whole Authority -was conferr'd by the Apoftie 
 himfelf ; fince it is not likely that St. Taul fhou'd 
 be obliged to call in the Affiftance of Presby- 
 ters to ratify his Al : Their Prefence, indeed, might 
 teftiiy, and make more folemn, the Ordination, 
 
 i Tim. iv. i if. f 'Ov xsei irenr&vTs06>v qtr.m irr^n, a.)&ic. xiei ixto-xiTrtiy, is y> 04 
 
 -vTieei T sTtWcTcv s^s(jronr>. Horn. 13. in primam ad Tim. l Tim. i. 6. 
 
 H which
 
 which is all the Influence it can be imagined to 
 
 have. And this Power of conferring Orders has 
 
 ever been fo religioufly referyed to Bifhops, that 
 
 if in an Inftance or two , in all Antiquity it ap- 
 
 pears., that * a Presbyter took upon him to ordain,, it 
 
 does at the fame Time appear that the Attempt 
 
 was received with amazement as a monftrous 
 
 unheard of Thing,, and the pretended Orders con- 
 
 ferred by him were rejefted by the Chriflian 
 
 Church. And though an t ^African Synod did 
 
 permit Presbyters to lay on Hands,, yet it was 
 
 only together with the Bifhop from whom all 
 
 the Power was underftood to be deriv'd, the 
 
 Presbyters being admitted for the fame Reafbn 
 
 above aflignfd,, namely, for the greater Solemnity 
 
 of the Aftion ; for that they conveyed no Power 
 
 is evident hence., that all Ordinations before the 
 
 Canon of this Synod of Carthage had been per- 
 
 formed without the Hands of the Presbyters, 
 
 which Ordinations,, however, cannot be imagined 
 
 to have been defective. And it deferves like- 
 
 wife to be obferv'd, that this Liberty was ne- 
 
 ver granted to Presbyters in the Greek Church, 
 
 which, to this Day, confers her Orders by the 
 
 Hands of her Bifhops alone. And if the Power 
 
 of Ordination be confin'd to the Epifcopal Or- 
 
 * !':./ d_> Jclyi-t*. ordivjio .tCollutho Presbytero Aikan. Afol. 2. t Concit. 
 
 C t vth. 4. Can ; 
 
 der,
 
 O7] 
 
 der, thence it will follow, that What Powers 
 foever are conferred on the other Orders, they are 
 all deriv'd from the Impolitiort of the Hands of the 
 Bifliops who are God's immediate Minifters for the 
 Government of his Church, and in whom all EC- 
 cleliaftical Powers are radically and originally 
 veiled. 
 
 But to avoid all Miftakes of this Doftrine^ 
 lay d down thus in general, it may not be im- 
 proper to obferve, that what I have hitherto 
 faid concerning the Epifcopal Order, and the 
 Powers veiled in it, regards the regular Method 
 in which the Miniilry was eftabliflied by the A- 
 poftles, and received by the Chriftian Church, 
 and Ihews what ought to be of right in the 
 common and ordinary Courfe of Things ; but ex- 
 traordinary Cafes, unavoidable Accidents and Ne- 
 ceffities are, in my judgement, of a different Con- 
 lideration. And, therefore, if any Bodies of the 
 Chriftian Church have been forced, by the Ne^ 
 ceffity of their Circumilances, to depart froitl 
 this Rule, the Neceffity under which they lay 
 muft plead their Excufe, nor can they be jlift> 
 ly blamed for the Want of that which, indeed, 
 it is not in their Power to have. For a great 
 Diilinftion is to be made between fuch Rules and 
 Forms as regard only Order, and the eteftial 
 Laws of Right ; thefe are not tp be varied from 
 in any Circumilances whatfoever, thofe ever have 
 
 been,
 
 [28] 
 
 been, and ever muft be, governed by fuch Ne- 
 ceflities as it pleafes God to bring Men under. 
 Were any one to give Account of the Perfon 
 and Office of the High Prieft among the Jews, 
 no queltion, he wou'd defcribe him (as the Law 
 of God does) as the eldeft in the right Line 
 from slaron, and who alone was empowered to 
 make Expiation for the whole People on the 
 great Day of Atonement. And yet, when the 
 Jews tell afterwards under a foreign Dominion, 
 and this great Office was expos'd to Sale to the 
 higheft Bidder, it wou'd be hard to fay, that all 
 this white there was no Atonement made, and 
 that the Peribns thus intruding were not High 
 Priefts, for we fee that our Lord and his Apof- 
 tles acknowledged and fubmitted to them as fuch. 
 And, I think, that in Equity a very great Dif- 
 ference is to be made between open Contempt of 
 a pofitive Inflitution, and a plain unavoidable 
 Neceflity; in confideration of which one may con- 
 clude, that God did difpenfe with his own Or- 
 dinance. Upon thcfe Grounds, though we are very 
 fenfible of the Imperfection thofe foreign Churches 
 labour under which are not fubjeft to the Go- 
 vernment of the Epifcopal Order, * yet we 
 
 dare 
 
 * For mine own Part, alrbouib 7 fee that certain reformed Churches t tht Scotifh ef- 
 fecially, and the French, h*~.-e nor that which i>eft agree th with the fac re d Scripture, lmean y 
 the Government that js hy Ktjbops, m AS much as both thofe Churches are fallen under a 
 
 difiertnt
 
 [29] 
 
 dare not take upon us to pronounce their Mi- 
 niftry and Ordinances void, upon this Afccount : 
 If their Cafe be candidly confider'd they will be 
 found to want this primitive Inftittition, only be- 
 caufe their Circumftances will not permit them to 
 have it ; we know none of 'em who prefumptuoufly 
 renounce it, many,, we are fure, do highly reve- 
 rence it : And may it pleafe God,, in his own 
 good time,, to unite us all in external Order and 
 Difcipline, as we are already in the Fundamentals 
 of our Faith. 
 
 Thus much may fuffice concerning the Infti- 
 tution, the Perpetuity, the Degrees and Powers 
 of the Miniitry in Chrififs Church. From 
 all which has been laid on thefe Heads I ihall, 
 in very few Words, make an Inference or two., 
 and fo conclude. 
 
 And, Fir ft, If the Ministers of Chrift's Church 
 are appointed by Chrift himfelf, no Man ought 
 to aflume this Office without being lawfully call- 
 ed and fent to it, and they who do fo, not on- 
 
 - , . r 
 
 different Kind of Regiment ; nahifh to remedy tt> is far the one altogether too late, and too 
 foon for the other, during their prefent Afjlittion and Trouble : This their Defeff and Intper- 
 feffion 1 had rather lament in fuch a Cafe than exagitate, confidering that Men oftentimes 
 without any Fault of their oiun, may be driven to want that Kind of Polity or Regiment 
 which is befl j and to content themfehes 'with that, which either the irremediable Error of 
 former Times, or the f\ece(Jitj of the prefent hath caft upon them. Hooker's E. P. 
 Book 3. . ii. 
 
 I lv
 
 ly introduce Dilorder and Confulion into the 
 Church} but alib tifurp upon the Authority of 
 our Lord, who has eftablilhed thefe Minilters 
 and by \vhofe Delignation they aft. And if 
 the Subordination of Minifters be a Divine or 
 Apollolical Ordinance,, inferior Minifters ought 
 not to ufurp upon the Office delegated to the 
 fuperior , but are to keep themfelves with- 
 in the Bounds prefcribed by their Commiffion, 
 beyond which they have no Authority at 
 all". 
 
 Secondly , The Rulers of Chriftfs Church 
 may here fee the End of their Inftitution, and 
 the important Nature of their Office, that they 
 watch for Mens Souls, that the Care of their 
 eternal Welfare is committed to them , and 
 therefore they are to direcl all their Studies 
 and Actions to this End : But there is no need 
 of inlifting on this, on this Occalion, and to this 
 Auditory. 
 
 Let us wlio are placed under the 
 Government of thefe Rulers, and Fathers in 
 Chrilt s Church , always remember how duti- 
 fully we ought to reverence and highly efteem 
 them, for l bc'ir /-forks Sake, how we ought to 
 to obey their Admonitions, and fubmit to their 
 Corrections, that may fee our proffiting in the 
 
 Lord.,
 
 Lord) and beholding the Travel of their Soul 
 may be fatisfyd y may prefide over us with 
 chearfiilnefs and iatisfaftion in this Life , and 
 when, at the laft Day, the great Shepherd him- 
 felf Jhall appear., they may give Account of their 
 Miniftry and Care over us with Joy and not 
 with Grief. Which God grant, 
 
 FIN IS.
 
 The Authority of the Civil Powers in 
 Matters of Religion afTerted and 
 
 J O j *v 
 
 vindicated. 
 
 S E R M O N 
 
 PR E ArCH E D before the Right Honourable the 
 
 Lord MAYOR, 
 
 THE 
 
 COURT of ALDERMEN, 
 
 AND 
 
 pi V E R I E S of the Sever?*! 
 
 COMPANIES of LONDON, ^ 
 
 In the PARISH CHURCH of 
 
 St. LAWRENCE :J E WR T y 
 
 On Saturday* Sspt, 29,^1722. 
 
 Being the Day of EtfieTLONbf a Lord 
 M AYQ K fqr the Year ehfuing. 
 
 By WILLIAM BERRIM4N,D.D. 
 
 RECTOR of St. Andrew^ Under Jh af t ^ and 
 C p A,pX A i N to the Right Reverend the LORD 
 BISHOP of LONDON. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by J. Bettenham for T. PA Y N E, in Stationers 
 Court near Stationers Hall. M, DCC, xxn.
 
 Stewart Mayor. Cur. Special, tent. 
 
 inFeftoSandiMi- 
 chaelis Archange- 
 li, fcilicet Sabbati 
 vigefimo nono die 
 Septembris 1711, 
 Annoque Regis 
 Georgii Magnae 
 Britannia dec. no- 
 
 no. 
 
 IT is ordered, that the Thanks of this 
 Court be given to the Reverend Dr. 
 Berriman for his Sermon preactid before 
 this Court and the Liveries of the fever al 
 Companies of this City, at the Parifh 
 Church of St. Lawrence Jewry, before 
 the Election of a Lord Mayor for the 
 Tear enfumg - y and that he be ordered to 
 print the fame. 
 
 Stracey.
 
 f 3) 
 
 JOB xxxi. 18. 
 
 This alfo were an Iniquity to be punifhed 
 by the Judge : For I fhould have de- 
 nied the God that is above 4 
 
 HE patience of Job having been 
 fully tried, not only by his enduring of 
 various misfortunes, but by the fe- 
 
 vere expostulations of his friends : he 
 
 comes at lad to make ample profeflions of his 
 own integrity, and mentions to that purpofe his 
 freedom from any grievous iniquities, as well fuch 
 as were cognifable by the civil magiftrate, as thofe 
 which were only liable to the divine vengeance. 
 Of this latter fort were thofe mercilefs and uncha- 
 ritable difpofitions of mind, from which tho' hu- 
 man laws might be too feeble to reftrain him, 
 yet deftruttion from God was a terror to him, 
 and by reafon of his highnefs he could not en- 
 dure*. Of the other fort, which fall under the 
 cenfure of human laws, he mentions as well 
 
 .,: .r, i. 
 
 thofe 
 
 'Job xxxi. aj. 
 
 .'- 'VV /.i\ V'W 
 
 A z
 
 (4) 
 
 thofe which more immediately concern the 
 peace and order -of foeiety (fuch as that inftance 
 of adultery -in ; .the ninth verfe, concerning 
 *vhich he thus exprefleth himfelf at the eleventh; 
 for this is an heinous crime, yea it is an ini- 
 quity to be punifoed by the judges :) as thofe 
 which do properly affeft the date and profedion 
 of religion, foch as that inftance of idolatry in 
 the verfes before the text, of which he declares 
 here in like manner, that this alfo were an ini- 
 quity to be punifhed by the judge ', and afligns 
 for it the following reafon, for I Jhould haix 
 denied the God that is above. 
 
 THK vice here difclaimed by this ancient wri- 
 ter, is dcicribcd in fuch a manner as may -inti- 
 mate the true origine of 'Pagan idolatry, with 
 one principal rite or ceremony of performing 
 it. Whether it had any place in the world be- 
 fore the flood , may be reafonably doubted b . 
 
 But 
 
 '' I'.IxhtJonules (in AvoAct Zara, c. i. . i.) has placed the origine 
 n: Idolatry as high as the time of Enos, the fbn of Seth: in which 
 
 r -lion he is fol;-Hvb<rSy Selden (de Dts SyrisProleg. cap. 3 ) be- 
 1:-.k <; many others both of Jem sndChrifiians. But their opinion 
 L.e ; ;: whuily founded on a .ilng'e text in Gen. iv. 26. which they 
 urn.erfir.nd to mean, that men PRO FANE D by calling on the 
 n.n e of t.'j; L(rJ, namely by afcribing the divine name and honour 
 ta \:?. f which is not God: if this interpretation be it felf ground- 
 j rhen a!: t'ut is bi:;.'t upon it, muft fall at once. The word 
 ~"i indeed, if derived from ""^P, will ijgnifie Profanation: 
 t!;cn the icnle oi' the place is not fo eafy or grammatical [fee 
 
 hift. facr. Tutriarchar. vol. i.Exercit. 6. . 27. 
 
 i'ct. lib. i. par. 2. cap. i.] as if it be derived 
 
 Bu 
 He, 
 V:: 
 
 from "" Tl' to fignifie beginning: Acortiing to our tranflation, lien 
 
 s mi-n !o t.rll n^o'ii the name of the Lord, or rather to cjll 
 
 ':- thi ;;-rMe cf th.> I.crJ, i. e. to denominate themfelves after his 
 
 be .Hiirjiiguifh'd from the family of C::in, by being 
 
 \\\"f(>us of <Joil, a;- his poiterity were the fans and daughters 
 
 'fur,. C". n. v;. 2. ^V:srlng.i ut. fapr.i. See alfo Jxrieus critical 
 
 lif.ory
 
 (5 ) 
 
 But foon after it feems to have rifen from a 
 popular opinion, that the celeftial orbs were in- 
 habited by fome intelligent beings, which ani- 
 mated and actuated them in the like manner as 
 the human foul does the body of man c , and 
 were fo placed by God as the minifters by 
 whofe means he would govern and dired the 
 univerfe d . To thefe therefore the people ad- 
 drefled themfelves as to proper mediators, to 
 traniaft between them and the fupream Deity 5 
 and the honours paid to 'em in this relation , 
 they confidered as ultimately done to God him- 
 felf c . From hence Job refers to it as the me- 
 
 thod 
 
 biftory of the Doclrine And worship of the Church, par. j. cap. 3.) Some 
 therefore have imagined on the other hand, that there was no luch 
 thing as Antediluvian Idolatry. Idolorum enim cultum ilia mundi hir 
 fxKtia ignorabxt. Citxaeus de rep. Hebr. lib. 3. cap. i. 'EvK-yt TC~<; 
 tyeis yffltyOjix/estri TTxyri^as zovitx, rat tccil' tziii/o x.aie yiyonituv ivpv/roibtv 
 TK 7foXv6iy 7?>.Mr,c, tHftypivM tyx&tfAKfi. Cyril. Alex. adv. Julian. 
 lib. 3 . prope finem. And indeed the crimes of thofe times feem 
 rather to have been impiety and a neglect of religion; to which per- 
 haps it was owing, that after the flood men ran into the opposite 
 extream of Idolatry and Sttperftition. ii'td. Jurteu ut fuprct. Tho' 
 fome, who allow that text in Genejis to be no fufficient proof of 
 the matter, have neverthelefs concluded, from the manner in 
 which the impiety of the Antediluvians is defcribed, and from 
 their being ranked with falfe teachers in the new teftament (2 Pet. 
 ii. f. Jude vcr. it.) that there muft have been fome kind of 
 Henjv or Idolatry among them. See Heidegger ut fupra exercit. 8. 
 .3. c See Dean Prideaux's comie&ton of the hijlory of the 
 
 O. and N. T. vol. i. p. 139, 140. fol. 
 
 n 
 
 , ttar error lay In this, that thcj 
 
 fuppofed God had created the flars and cchftlal or hi to have the government 
 of the world, and had placed thefn in that high ftntion tkftt they might 
 partake of Glory, as the minifien that ferve before him. Maimon. 
 Avoda 2,ara c. i. . i. c CD^S 1 ? 1 ! CJni 
 
 irmv;o 
 
 rw
 
 (O 
 
 thod of idolatry ufual in his time ] If I beheld 
 the fun (fays he) when it Jhined, or the moon 
 walking in brightnefs, and my heart hath been 
 fecretly enticed, or my mouth hath kijjed my 
 hand*: i. e. If I have made thefe the objedte 
 of my truft and confidence, or paid any religi- 
 ous worfhip and adoration to 'em. And there- 
 fore it was that God gave his people a fpecial 
 caution againft this practice : Left thou lift up 
 thine eyes (fays he) unto heaven, and when 
 thou feefl the fun, and the moon, and the ftars, 
 even all the hoft of heaven, thou fhouldfl be 
 driven to worjbip them and ferve them s. 
 
 THE fame madnefs which prompted men to 
 this proftitution of divine honours, had carried 
 them dill farther, to ered ftatues and temples to 
 the honour of thefe imaginary deities h , and there- 
 by to fccurc , in effigie at leaft, their conftant 
 prefcnce or refidence among them. Thus Baal 
 is laid to have reprefented the fun 1 , and AJh- 
 taroth the moon k : And the fame might be ob- 
 fcrvcd of others, tho' when once the practice 
 of image-worjhip was introduced , the mifchief 
 enlarged it felf much farther; and the like re- 
 prcfentations were made either of men deceafed 
 
 TM! From hcncemen efleemedthem -wanly to have 
 f.u^s fi'iJ l.onGnr a n 'I glory afcribed to them, and that it was God's 
 r;/7 ihr-j /i:o:!tii magics and Lonour thofe whom he had magnified And 
 /.j;;<:,-,m7 ; //; l:!x wmnir as a king -would have honour done to his mi- 
 iiifu;:, tfiicij ij.jceil t.< doing honour to the king himfelf. Maimon. 
 ijici. f Job. xxxi. 26, 27. 8 Deut. iv. 19. 
 
 ' ViJ. Maimon. 8c Prideaux ut fupra. ' Selden de Dis 
 
 Syris Svntag. z. cap. i. Jurieu's critical hiftory par. 4. treat 3, 
 cap. 5-. p. I 6y. k Selden. cap. 2. Jurieu treat./, cap. 4. 
 
 P. 147. 
 
 4-
 
 (7) 
 
 or of legendary heroes. In one way or the 
 other, the practice of idolatry was grown fo ge- 
 neral by the time of Abraham, that the Patriarch 
 was almoft fmgular for (landing out againft it, 
 and is therefore propofed as a memorable ex- 
 ample of faith and integrity. Others as the 
 Magi^ttt faid to have abhorred the ufe of images, 
 but yet paid their worfhip to fire , which was 
 queftionlefs defigned as a fymbol of the fun ra . 
 And fo far the Zabians and they, however 
 reckoned for oppofite fefts, may feem to have 
 had the fame original. 
 
 AMONG the rites of tdol-worjhip , that of fa- 
 lutation was very ancient and remarkable. Of 
 this we have mention in the book of Kings ^ 
 where God fays to Elijah, I have left me feven 
 thonfand in Ifrael, all the knees which have not 
 bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath 
 not KISSED him n ; and in the Prophet 
 Hofea, Let the men that facrifice KISS the 
 calves . But yet there may be room to quefti- 
 on, whether it were cuftomary to kifs the idol 
 it felf P, or only to kifs their own hands as they 
 
 were 
 
 1 See Prideaux connexion, vol. i. p. 141. "See Juritus 
 
 critical hiftory, par. 4. treat. 7. cap. 2. p. 196. " i Kings 
 xix 18. Hof. xiii. a. The Hebrw Phrafe is^ltf TQM 
 
 T1piy^ Q^?jy ^ et *be fmcrificers of men Kifs the calves, which fbme 
 have underftood of Moloch, wbofe image was form'd with the 
 the head of a Calf or Heifer , and Was thought to receive " the 
 greareft honour from thofe who facrificed their fons. via Seldtn 
 de Dii Syris Syntag i. cap. 6. and Jurieu'i critical hiftory, par. 4. 
 treat. 2. cap. 2. p, 20, 21. But I fhould rather under/land this 
 pafl'age to have reference to Jeroboam's calves: and Qlfc^ ^PTil 
 may only fignifie the facrificers from among men, or in our tranfljtio n 
 the men that ftcrifice. p So one would be apt to take both 
 
 thofe texts in Kings and Hofea; fo they who facrifjoed their iu ns
 
 ( 8 ) 
 
 were bending their bodies towards it. Some- 
 times it is certain the latter practice prevailed % 
 either for expreffing greater reverence of the 
 idol r , or becaufe it was placed too high and out of 
 reach f , or the worfhippers were too far diftanr, or 
 perhaps were but occasionally paffing by '. Of this 
 there are fundry testimonies in profane authors , 
 the Greeks and Romans having manifeftly de- 
 rived this practice from the Eaftern nations, a- 
 
 to Moloch, were admitted to kifs the idol it felf [R. Simon in 
 jalknt aptut Jurieu ut fuprti\. AnJ Lucretius in his firft book 4e 
 warn natura, plainly {peaks of kiffing the hand of the idol. 
 
 Turn portas proffer, nbena, 
 
 Si^na, m.inus dextr.is ofttndunt attenunri 
 
 Stpe SALUTANTU MjacJtl, pr&terque mwntum. 
 
 r < In o:ando dextrnm ad ofcu'um referimus, totumque corpus 
 c'rciirmgimus. Tlin. Ufl. lib. 28. cap. 5-. And to this Demofthenes 
 
 ' 
 
 ; ,.-:'fj u.\X Y, xstrxiwii-j l-:i>Mu,3avtv. ' So perhaps we might 
 
 t^!\o tiiat p.T:l:iL T e in Luc i fin m?)- 9-vtrtay, QtfAivoi at f*'-'^^'. - ^f - 
 
 c-y.-/ .'_<;, T/.'; 5-^<r.fr, Zxj /,; ctiGTY^ae, o yiwycs, ctpx. &f o TTtn^v, xetl 
 
 it:"/ & o U',~c?.lc, o ct TIC hi@X]i6l!oy Y; TTOTTXVOV' o 01 TTft'/nllhc&rctlo TOV 3", 
 
 p.'.:.-r? ujl.-.'j TV Us-.-*; s-i'M'i, And more plainly Apuleitts (Metam. 
 /.-. 4. p. i;2. t'J.ir. Paris 1688.) Speaking of the fpeclators of a 
 foattfiful l.itly Adniovcntcs oribus Tuis dextram, primorc digito in 
 ercd'um poiliccm rcfioenre, ut ipfam prorfus Deam Vcnerem, reli- 
 riolrs adorp.tionibus vcncrabr.ntur. f So Job in the verfebe- 
 
 f..vc r!ic text, freaking of the heavciily bodies: If my mouth hath kijjed 
 nr/ Li/:,'. And Ln:;.\n [~. : > c{%y,trtas vol. i. p. 792. edit. ArnfteL 
 T ('187.1 iV -\iking of the In,l:a,m woriliiping the Sun: 'lifrol fawieu 
 
 s.vt-'ii 1 u.'>.~:'.:ri-, -;.i(rii>:-y.: : T-:i TCV y,\l:v, ov% uznt^ v.f/jft^, Tf,v "xfi?* xu- 
 
 <T-A?:-.. .'.. T. >.. And fo poffibly Tertullian is to be underftood 
 f \r-ol. c:?. 16. p, 1 6 edit. Pxris. 1^75'.] Plerique vcdrum, af- 
 kft.itionc aliv]u-ndo : celcflia adorandi, ad folis ortum Libia vibra- 
 1 >'o 2\!if)utim Felix (in Qclav. jttxta 'tritium) Coecilius, 
 irnulicro Serapidis denotato, (ut vul^us fuperftitiofus folot) manuni 
 ori :-dn-,ovcn?, oiculum labiis prcffir. Ancl more plainly Apuleius 
 (in A'. 0*07,. p. -}?''.) describing yEmilianusV neglctt of religion: Nam 
 u" audio, pcrcenlt-nribus iis qui iftum novcre, nulli Deo ad hoc 
 rvvi fjppiiovir, nullum Templum frcquentavit, fi fanum aliquod 
 jT'ctcvear, ncfas habct adorandi gratii manum labris admovere. 
 
 mong
 
 mong whom its great antiquity is evident from 
 this paffage of Job, If my mouth hath kiffed 
 my hand''. 
 
 THE frequency of the ceremony gave occafion 
 to it's being fometimes put for religious worfhip 
 in general, as in that paffage of the Pfalmift, 
 Kifs the fon, left he be angry w , i. e. pay your 
 worfhip and adoration to him. And to this 
 fome have fuppofed as well the Greek Totfxyva<rK 
 as the Latin adoratio to owe its original x . From 
 hence, like other ads of religion, it has been 
 drawn into a mark of civil refpeft ?, and has 
 
 T Job. xxxi. 27. The Hebrew is "S7 *V ptfJITI And my 
 hand hath kijfed my mouth: Which fome underftand, as if the 
 mouth of the peribn worfhiping reprefented that of the idol, and 
 his hand were his own fubftitute paying worfhip to it, ready to 
 obey and execute its commands. \Rjimold, in lib. Apocryph. torn. z. 
 col. i^yp.] Yet others choofe to explain this by an hypnllage or 
 tranfpolition of the Words agreeably to our tranflation. [vM. 
 Glajfii Gramat. facra p. 741. alias 719.] And fb the worfhiper 
 is underftood to have communicated his kiffes to the diftant idol by 
 his hand. i>id. Beyeri not its in Selden de Dis Syris, p. 40. 
 
 w Pfal. i. 12. Qui adorant, folent deofculari manum & capita 
 iubmittere. . . 8c Hebraei, juxta linguae fuse proprietatem, de- 
 ofculationem pro veneratione ponunt. Hieron. Apolog. contra, Rufin. 
 lib. i. cap. f. * Sicut apud orientis populos veneratio 
 
 oftendebatur variis fleclendi corporis formis : ita apud Grjecos 8c 
 nonnullas gentes alias, manum ad os admovendo, quod proprie eft 
 xpoa-Kwuv a KIJU [in uterofero Scfuavior] 8c inde xwtu quod eft ofcu- 
 lor. Nee aliud fignificat Latinum adorare, non ab orare, i. e. pre- 
 cari fadhim, fed ab eo quod manus admoveatur ori. Ita Grotius in 
 Decalog. ad Exod. xx. jv ' Thus jacere ofcidn with Tacitus 
 
 \Hifl. lib. i. cap. 36.] and adorare vtdgum have the fame meaning, 
 This \smanu venerari. Tacit. Annul. 16. cap. 4. &Swtm.in Clutt- 
 dio cap. 12. So jaftat bafia, tibicen. fh&dr. lib. f. fab. 7. And 
 fo poffibly. 
 
 Rowt falutwtt voce MAN Uque ducem. 
 
 Martial. Epigr. lib, S.Epig, 6f. 
 
 B been
 
 been fometjimes ufed as a note of th# 
 obeifance and fubj.e&ion z . 
 
 I HAD reafon to perfue the matte* tfcv this 
 point, i^i order to reprefept the true nature 
 and circumftances of that crime, concerning 
 which the author of our text has made fuch 
 declaration: This alfo were an iniquity, to be 
 punijhed by the judge j, for I Jhoul4 haw denied 
 the God that is above. 
 
 How oppofite were his. fentiments (good 
 man !) to thofe conceits, which we have feea 
 advanced and propagated by certain noyelifts 
 among our felves, who in defiance of that very 
 constitution, for which they profefs a more a- 
 bundant zeal, and in flat contradiction to that 
 royal fupremacy , which they have foleoinly 
 acknowledged, do infift upon it as a natural 
 right, for all men to publifh their opinipns with- 
 out let or molcftation, and difclaim all authority 
 or power of the civil magistrate in matters pure- 
 ly religious ! Againft fo mifchievous a doctrine 
 I would direct my prefent difcourfe: and if I 
 may be acquitted from the blame of dictating 
 
 ' As when Tkaraob faid td Jofeph Gen. 41. 40. According to thy 
 Kor <l fl>all all my people be ruled: The Hebre-nVy) 73 " 
 
 thy mouth /hall all my people kifs. From hence' a fbJemn falata- 
 tioi came to be ufet), in token of homage, among the ceremonie^ 
 nt the coronation of the King, i Sum. x. r. And the Jews accor-, 
 dingly make mention ; OTU "7U/ ilp^J 'ihe kifs of grundtta; 
 or magnificence \_iij. Carpzov. not. in Schickard. Jus Reg. cap. i, 
 theorem. 4.] And of this fome have underftood that paflage in 
 1'rowbi, where fpcaking of the right and equal administration' cf 
 lud'ce, the wife man has this remark, Every man flail kifs his lips 
 hut giveth a right anfwer. Prov. xxiv. 16. See farther, upon the 
 Jubjeft cf faltitation, Drufli obfervat. 1. i.e. 20. Cunrad. Diete- 
 ric. Ar.tiquit. Biblic. ad Job xxi. z6, 27. Doughtei Analefta 
 facra. Excurf. r^j. 
 
 to
 
 to my fuperiors as to the duty, I truft I fliali 
 need no apology for afferting their right, to ex- 
 ert the authority they have from, God for the 
 fupport and intereft of true religion. 
 To this end I \vould 
 
 - .', ',f,t]i -\ f'f^-rt'l 7 , / 
 
 I. PROPOSE fome arguments in proof and 
 vindication of fuch authority. 
 
 II. ANSWER the moft plaufible objections 
 that are made againft it. And then. 
 
 III. MARE fome inferences from the whole, 
 relating t6 the duty both of magiftrate and 
 people. 
 
 _-|f *\\irfl fjl |jO~!t E V'f'l fi' 
 
 i. Fi R s f then I would befpeak your patience, 
 whilft I propofe fome arguments in vindication 
 of the authority of our civil governors in mat- 
 ters of religion. 
 
 BUT here before all things, and to prevent 
 miftakes, we m'uft be careful to diftinguifh be- 
 tween that power which is merely external, and 
 applies the temporal fword for fecuring the 
 outward ftate and profeffion of religion : and 
 that which is properly internal and fpiritual, 
 and belongs to the Church as a diftinft fociety. 
 This laft Chrift committedt o his Apoftles and their 
 fucceffors : but the other is that authority which 
 we contend fo? in the civil Magiftrate, .and 
 which ought to be exerted by him for the fup- 
 port and eftablifliment of true religion. This 
 I doubt not to evince from thefe enfuing argu- 
 ments. Namely, 
 
 i. FROM the ptrecepts and examples of this 
 kind in the Old Teftament. 
 
 B z 2. FROM
 
 2. FROM the characters and prediftions 
 which relate to civil governors under the Chrif- 
 tian difpenfation. 
 
 3 . F R o M the univerfal confent and opinion 
 of Mankind in this particular. And 
 
 4. FROM the nature and reafon of the thing 
 itfelf. 
 
 ( r .) FIRST from the precepts and examples 
 of this kind in the Old Tcftament. 
 
 WHEN God was pleafed to take upon him- 
 felf the government of Ifrael, he did it in the 
 quality of a king*, and refented it as an indig- 
 nity offered him, when they asked to have an- 
 other king fet over them, like all the nations*. 
 In this capacity he gave them laws, as well for 
 the eftablifhmcnt of their religion, as the di- 
 reftion of their civil polity . And Mofes, 
 whole miniftry he ufed on this occafion, is 
 therefore defcribed to have been king in Je- 
 (hurun*. Now what fhould be inferred from 
 this, but that the princes of the earth ought to 
 conform themfelvcs to the divine example, and 
 exert their authority for the fupport and eftablifh- 
 blifliLiicnt of true religion ? For tho' in this 
 the cafe be different, that the queftion con- 
 cerning the truth of religion is not arTe&ed by 
 the countenance or oppofition of their laws, as 
 it was by the divine; yet in this they will be 
 found to agree, that the religion, which fhall 
 
 n Vid. Spencer, dc legibus Hebrseor. lib. i. in iliflcrt. de Tht- 
 rr,it'<t Jn.J.tic.t cr.p. i. b i Sam. viii. f, 7. c Vid. 
 
 Sper.ccr ut iupra, cap. f . * Deut. xxxiii. 5-. 
 
 otherwifc
 
 ( '3 
 
 otherwife appear to be true, will equally deferve 
 to be fupported by the fupream authority. 
 
 FOR this purpofe God himfelf provided, that 
 when the people fhould dcfire an alteration in 
 the form of government ; the King, who fhould 
 be over them, fhould be obliged e to write him- 
 felf a copy of the law ( , and to read therein all 
 the days of his life, that he might learn to fear 
 the Lord his God-, and this not merely for his 
 private edification and instruction, but to direct 
 him in discharging the duties of his high fhtion, 
 to keep all the words of this law (as it follows) 
 andthefe ftatutes to do them, by feeing namely, 
 that they be punctually obferved in every parti- 
 cular, as well in the rites and ceremonies of 
 religion, as in the diftribution of civil Juftice. 
 From whence it appears to have been a dated 
 ceremony at the time of coronation, to deliver 
 the teftimony s or the law of Mofes into the 
 king's handj in order to be thus tranfcribed by 
 
 e Deut. xvii. 18, 19. f The Hebrew is 
 
 rmTIn <//>/? &, which the jftws generally explain to mean, 
 trco copies of the law, one to be written by him as a private perfon 
 the other as king, one to be kept in his archives, the other to be 
 carried about with him. Others have reftrain'd thePhrafe to mean 
 only the book of Deuteronomy, which is properly duplutn legts, a 
 duplicate or repetition of the law [viz,, by way of compendium 
 or abridgement]; which notion is favour'd by the LXX verfion of 
 the placer* ^AT^V^M, and by the vulgar Latin deuteronomium legis. 
 Yet others have underftood it, and I conceive with better realbn, 
 to mean fimply, as 'tis here render'S, a tranfcript or copy of the lav, 
 ;r<jyp*pv ex oivroyfeitpy. vid. Carpzov. not. in Schtckard. de .jtat. Reg. 
 cap, i. theorem. $. e 2, King. xi. 12. z Chron. xxxiii'. 
 
 ii. i**npi icy nrvni ainpiy IDD nnnn nao nnyn 
 
 V^H 'Q^ *7D 13 The tejtimony] i. e. the book of the Jaw, as it is 
 written, And it /hall be with him, and he Jlwll read in it all the days 
 of his life. R. Sal. Jarchi comment, in ^ Kin. xi, 12. 
 
 him,
 
 him, and made the rule and meafure of his 
 government 5 to which end a covenant was 
 made not only between king and people, but 
 Ufcewife between the Lord and both of them h , 
 t;hat, aljl in their refpedive ftations, as well 
 the king in quality of fovcreign, as the peo- 
 ple in quality of fubjeds, fhould be fubfervient 
 to the honour of God, and promote the intereft 
 of his religion. 
 
 THE like precept for ftudying and obferving 
 the law was given afterwards to jfo/bua *, and 
 it is drawn by the Pfalmift into a general rule, 
 Be wife no'ju therefore, O ye kings, be mftruft- 
 ed ye judges of the earth : ferve the Lord 
 with fear ik , ferve him namely with your au- 
 thority as you are kings and judges, and in- 
 ftead of ftudying to vex and moleft his Church, 
 let it be your carncft care to eftablifh and fup- 
 port it. 
 
 AGREEABLY to fuch directions the pious 
 kings of Jndah were careful to enforce the pre- 
 cepts, and prohibitions of the law with frefti fan- 
 dions of their own, to require the regular perfor- 
 mance of divine worfhip, and prefcribe new rules 
 of expediency and order, where the law had kft a 
 latitude for doing it. So it was that *David l 
 and Solomon m methodized the courfes of the 
 c Priefts and Le-vites concerning which Mofes 
 had given no direction: And when afterwards 
 the face of religion was entirely changed by 
 
 h i Kin. xi. 17. 3 Chron. xxiii. 16. " Jofh. i. 7, 8. 
 
 k Pfal. ii, 10, it, \\ Chron. xxiii, &. ^z Chron. 
 
 viii. 14. 
 
 the
 
 ( * J ) 
 
 the abominable corruptions inteodtree4\ in the 
 reign? of Aha& and Martaffeh , with what r 
 zeal and eacneftnefi did Hj&ekta/J 11 and j0- 
 yz apply themeive& ca re-farm thofe, her--, 
 riblc abufes, not only by.- deft-roying all the ka- 
 ftruments and crccafions of idolatry, bus likewise 
 by uftag their authority with priefls and people, 
 to enjoin that -due ohfervation of religious rites, 
 which was prefcribed 'em in, the law- of Mofes^ 
 to enforce moreover the injunctions of 'Dwoid 
 and of Salomon* and add harmonious conibrt$:O# 
 vocal and' inflramental mufick as they faw occa- 
 fion. Need I add to this what was.- done of 
 the Ufce kind; by Afa$ and Jehafeafihaf^i. >vho. 
 are fo far from being, blamed for* exerting. their* 
 authority to fuch^ pious purpofes, that. 'tis men- 
 tioned toi their honour as a proof of their inv 
 tegrity, and matter of thd-.higbeft comnienda^ 
 tiiBti^ 
 
 .LAM W'dt a\r-aro. of tbo ot>fe6tion\ made b$ 
 fome, that whatever wasLdono of- this; kiad 
 the kings of Judah',, they did in the 
 of prophet s r not/of king$i Btn- th 
 do\ weit to- ffoew usy what fpecbl cornttiifli<ar 
 tliey^ received- diftm& fcbm . th: g^rterat dtrtk'Of 
 their ftatioru Of. ^^wW indeed it is confefled 
 tltat the inftrucbions. which he gave- to Solomon* 
 for the building and fecvice of thie tetnplev 
 ascribed to thc influence and dke&ion of 
 
 ;'J i.- 't).t;>'j to .JOi^'j ".;> V'Oij^i f ]' 
 i Kin. xviii. 4. 4 Chron. xxix. xxx, 8c xxxf. 2. Kin. 
 
 xxi,ii. i Chron, xxxiv 6c xxxw. p i Kin, xv. n,. 8cc. 
 
 2 CHi-Qn. xiv A ^,. 4,^. 8c ch..xv r i2-Ai<J: ^ cihron. 
 
 xvir. 6, 5cc. ch. xfx. 3, 4. Sc'cibl xx. '*, at. 
 
 .BOM* i: .y ,,; .'?-~. : > i : 
 
 the
 
 the Holy Spirit*. But it is no where inti- 
 mated, that either Tlavid or Solomon had any 
 new power conveyed to 'em for that purpofe, 
 but only that their former power was anew 
 enforced, that they were fpecially enlightned to 
 dired 'em in the exercife of it, and more ftrid- 
 ly bound to exercife it in that manner. For a 
 proof of this we may confider, that when 'Da- 
 vid, before fuch extraordinary infpiration, had 
 defigned to build the temple himfelf, and 
 doubtlefs to prefcribe fome rules for the greater 
 regularity of its miniftrations, the piety of his 
 purpofe was approved not only by Nathan? the 
 prophet 1 ", but by God himfelf, notwithftand- 
 ing he was required to leave the execution of 
 it to his fon : For fo faid God unto him ; 
 Whereas it was in thine heart to build an 
 honfe unto my name, thou did/I well, that it was 
 in thine heart, nevertheless thou Jhalt not build 
 the houfe but thy fon 1 . The authority for ad- 
 ing and the skill to ad, are clearly diftind 
 ideas; and Solomon well knew how to diftin- 
 guifli them upon another occafion, when he 
 pray'd for a wife and under/landing heart to 
 judge that great people v . The right of judgment 
 he had before as a king 5 but the skill to judge 
 was what he (till wanted, and that he received 
 afterwards by infpiration. 
 
 A s for the other Kings of Judah, there is 
 no fhadow of reafon to believe them endued 
 
 ' j Cbron. xxviii. 12, 19. f i Sam. vii. z, 3. i Chron. 
 
 xvii. 1,2. r i Kin. viii. 18, 19, 2 Chron. vi< 8, p. 
 
 T i King. iii. p, a Chron. i, 10, 
 
 with
 
 (17) 
 
 with the fpirit of prophecy : And if there were 
 Prophets fometimes fent to encline and move 
 them to the like pious undertakings ; yet this was 
 not understood to convey to them any new au- 
 thority; but only to excite them to a vigorous ex- 
 crcife of that with which they were already in- 
 vefted ; to make a right ufe and application of 
 their regal power for the fupport and fervice of 
 religion. That after this they had clear andftrong 
 imprefllons of their duty, by the influences of 
 divine Grace, may be eafily admitted. But the 
 fenfe of duty is a thing perfectly diftind from the 
 authority of aft ing : And the fame, we hope, 
 may be reafonably prefumed of thofe Chriftian 
 Princes, who are careful to fearch imp, the will 
 of God, and have the opportunity to fee and 
 hear much greater things than either Kings or 
 'Prophets of the former difpenfation w : efpecial- 
 ly when it is confider'd that the ads even of Hea- 
 then Emperors, in favour of the Jewijb Church, 
 are afcribed to the fame guidance and impulfe of 
 the holy Spirit x . 
 
 T o all this may be added that the Kings of 
 Judah, who did much of this kind, are fome- 
 times blamed for not doing {till more ; for not 
 ufing the authority they had, without waiting for 
 a new commiflion, to reftrain their people from 
 the prevailing, but fchifmatical, pradice of wor- 
 ihipping at other Altars,befides that ofjerufalem : 
 in which cafe this complaint comes often in as 
 
 . : ;;r, < J'^.f"^ t .> .Hxx h^n ^.r .vr .r'"-T - "- 
 wMat.xiii. 17. Luk.x.24. . * So the Scripture fpeajcs 
 
 of Cyrus, 2 Chron. xxxvi. 2,2. Ezr.i. i. of Darius, E^r. vi. 22. of 
 AnnxtrxtSt Ezr. vii. d, 27, 28. Nch. i. \ i . and ii. 8, of all of them, 
 Ezr.ix. 9. 
 
 C an
 
 an exception to their charafter - 3 Neverthetefs, the* 
 high places were not taken away ; the people 
 facrificed and burnt Incenfe ft ill in the high 1 
 
 THE Jewijh Synagogues perhaps might open 
 a new field of argument, which were places of 
 worfhip very often hdnour'd with the divine pre- 
 fence and difcpurfes of our bleflfed Savior % _al* J " 
 though they were not mention'd in the law of 
 Mofts, but, as to the form or method obferv'd in 
 them, feem to have been matter of human infti- 
 tution, and fubjed to the regulation of the high- 
 er powers. But that we may not feem to depend 
 wholly on the examples of the old Teftament, 
 nor yet on Jewijh examples in the new, the fame 
 is to be argued, 
 
 2. Secondly r , from thofe characters and predic- 
 
 tions which relate to civil governors under the 
 
 Chriftian difpenfation. For to them are thofe 
 
 precepts bcforemention'd given by the royal <Pfal- 
 
 mift, to kifs the fon, and ferve the Lord with 
 
 fear a : to them not merely as men, but as they 
 
 are inverted with the royal dignity > for it is in qua- 
 
 lity of Kings-, that the language of the 'Pfalmift 
 
 is ad drafted to them ; nor could the rules which 
 
 he prefcribcs, in any other view, be more the 
 
 matter of their care and concern, than they were 
 
 of private men. To ferve him then as Kings 
 
 muft imply their ferving him with ajlthtir power 
 
 i i Kin. xv. 14. and xxii. 43. i Kin. xii.j. andxiv.4- and xv. 4, 
 3)-. zChron.xv. 17. andxx. 33. 
 
 1 Sec Mar. i. 39. and elfewhere frequently. 
 "Pial.ii. 1 1,12. 
 
 4- and
 
 and authority b . And to that purpofe it is foretold 
 cl few here by the fame Tfalmift, that all Kings 
 {hould fall down before him, and all nations 
 ihould do him fervice c : which can fcarce be un- 
 derftood of their embracing his Religion in a 
 private capacity, but muft in all reafon extend to 
 their receiving it into the national eftablifhment, 
 and fupporting it by the additional fan&ions and 
 encouragement of human laws. 
 
 OF what elfe can we explain that prote&ion 
 promifed to the Church, when the fins of 
 ftr angers {hould build up her walls, and their 
 Kings {hould minifler unto hef d ? And when 
 (he is farther defcribed to fuck the milk of the 
 Gentiles y and the breafls of kings e ? What elf? 
 can be infer'd from hense, but that the princes of 
 the earth, converted to the faith of Chrift, would 
 think themfelves obliged to ufe their wealth and 
 their authority for the propagation and encreafe 
 of his religion, to fecure it from outward harms, 
 and fupply fomething analogous to that nutrition 
 or fuftenance of human Bodies, whereby they 
 Hjtf&VJo rtocii v.rn y,/ ,ri;.if;hrQ 
 
 b Quomodo ergo Reges Domino ferviunt in timore, nifi ea, quar 
 contra jufla Domini fiunt, religiofa feveritate prohibendo atque 
 pledlendo ? Aliter enim fervit quia homo eft, aliter quia etiam Rex 
 eft. Quia homo eft, fervit vivendo fideljten quia vero etiam Rex 
 eft, fervit, leges jufta prsecipientes & contraria prohibentes, conve- 
 nienti vigore fanciendo, ficut fervivit Ezechias, &c. D. Auguft. aA 
 Bonifac. Milit. Epiji. iBf. Edit. Bened. alias yo. In hpc reges, fw;ut 
 eis divinitus praecipitur, Deo ferviunt in quantum reges funt, fi in 
 fuo regno bona jubeant, mala prohi Leant, non folum quae pertinent 
 ad humanam fbcietatem, verum etiam qua; pertinent ad divinam 
 religionem. D. Augufl. cantr* Crefconium. lib. 3. cap. fi. 
 
 ' Pfal. Ixxii. ii. - Ifa. be, x p. Ver. 1 6. 
 
 r>..a fnT... ; f? fK,, . 
 
 cms.
 
 gradually advance from their infant ftatc, to a 
 ftate of manhood and maturity f ? 
 
 OR if all thisfhouldbetoo little to fatisfyour 
 captious adverfaries; let them add to the account 
 what the fame Prophet has foretold, in terms 
 more clear and exprefs, concerning that protecti- 
 on which the Chriftian Church mould receive, 
 upon the converfion of the civil powers : They jh all 
 bring thyfons (fays he) in their arms and thy daugh- 
 ter sjh all be carried upon their jhoulders : and kings 
 jhall be thy nurftng fathers, and their queens thy 
 nurfmg mothers^. Their ftation qualifies them 
 to prored and nourifh it, in a manner not to be 
 expcdlcd from their fubjeds, who are not inverted 
 with the fame Authority: and this is at once im- 
 plied to be their duty, and foretold to be their 
 pradiccj that in this fenfeat leaft, as it is faid in 
 the Apocalyptical Vifion of St. John, the kingdoms 
 of this J for Id may become the kingdoms of our 
 Lord and of his C^r//? h , fubjeft to his rule, and 
 fubfervient to his religion. 
 
 ACCORDINGLY when the Empire became 
 Chriftian, we may foon obferve thefe predictions 
 t3 have been punctually verified : when the pious 
 Emperors, not only were aftually felicitous about 
 the fupport and eftablifhment of pure Chriftianity, 
 but acknowledged that to be the moft important 
 
 f lrter cxtera quibus ditatur Ecclefia, 8c urbs falvatoris extruitur 
 viikmus Crcfarcs Romanes Chrifti jugo colla fubmittere, & aedifi- 
 cnrc KccIeHa^ cxpcniis publicis, 8c advcrfus perfecutiones gent.'um, 
 arquc infidias Hrreticorum legum (cita pendcrc. D. Hieron. comment. 
 r /,('. Ix. 10. Juxta Scptuaginta, Di-uit'icts regum comet'e;. Qune di- 
 vitia*icrunJi:m bcbrn'mm verirntem ubera funt regum atque dofto- 
 rum. quibu? nafcentium in Chrifto cruditur & nutritur infantia. 
 item in i: 1 6. E lia. xlLv, 21,23. h Rev. xi. i j. 
 
 Of
 
 ) ^ 
 
 f all their bufinefs, the firft and principal part of 
 r heir concern 1 . To the fame principle we owe 
 the benefit of our own happy eftablifhment : and 
 may God, of his great mercy, continue them 
 without interruption to our lateft pofterity ! But 
 thefe remarks perhaps had been more properly 
 referred to the 
 
 3 . THIRD argument propofed in vindication 
 of fuch authority of the civil powers, which is 
 drawn from the univerfal confent and opinion of 
 Mankind in this particular. 
 
 I T may by this time appear what has been 
 thought in the Jew'tjh and Chriftian Church : but 
 the afiertion in the text is a proof of their opini- 
 on, who had not the advantage of either difpen- 
 fation, but feem to have derived their notion of 
 the matter, from the didates of right reafon, or 
 the maxims of tradition, or elfe from fome diftincl: 
 and fpecial revelation. The crime which Job re- 
 fers to, was manifeftly in matter of religion. \i 
 lay in a wrong choice of the object of divine 
 worfhip, and did not diredly concern the peace 
 and order of the civil fociety. It was not again 
 
 "' Inter imperii noftri maximas curas, Catholics legis r e verentia 
 aut prim a Temper, aut folaefh Neque enim aliudaut belJi jabonbus 
 agimus, aut pads conciliis ordinamus, nifi ut verum Dei cultum or- 
 bis noftri plebs devota cuftodiat. Imperat. Theodos. & Honor. Marcel- 
 lino ineod. Theod.eod. 16. Tit, 1 1. /. 3. An. 410. Inter cxteras fc- 
 licitudines quas amor publicus pervigili nobis cogitatione indixit, 
 praecipuam Imperatoriae Majeftatis curam efle peripicimus religionis 
 indaginem. Theodof. & Valentin. Novel, lib i. Tit. 3. De Jud&is, Sa- 
 maritanis, &c. An. 439. Nos fnaximam habemus folicitudinem cir- 
 ca vera Dei dogmata, & circa Sacerdotum honeftatem. Juftm'uw. Epi- 
 phanio Auth. Coll. i Tit. 6. Nov. 6. Omne nobis eft ftudium 8c 
 oratio, ut crediti nobis a Domino Deo bene vivant, 8c ejus inve- 
 niant plaeationem. Juftimctn. Atttbent. Coll. $. Tit. 6. CoK/lantinopoii- 
 innts.
 
 that atheifm or contempt of all religion," which 
 the greatcft patrons of latitude allow to be intole- 
 rable ; but it was that preference of one form of 
 religion to another, in which they contend that 
 no power upon earth (hould interpofe, but all 
 men fhould be left to the cxercife of equal right, 
 fo long as they abufe it not to prejudice the publick 
 fecurity. And yet this is the crime of which Job 
 has declared, that it were an iniquity to be punijh- 
 ed by the Judge k : who confequently thought it 
 to be the Judge's duty, as well as privilege to in- 
 terpofe in fuch matters and exert the authority 
 with which he is inverted, as well for the fupport 
 and encouragement of found doftrine and a pure 
 worfhip, as for the fuppreflion of all vain fupcr- 
 flition and impofture. And what was the ground 
 which he aflign'd for his opinion? Not any dan- 
 ger of temporal inconvenience or miihap (tho* 
 that without doubt may have it's weight : ) but the 
 diflionour which is done to God by fuch idolatry 5 
 for (fays he) / foouldhave denied the God that is 
 above : fo that the care of religion as fuch, was 
 in his opinion one part of the Magiftrate's con- 
 cern, and not merely as it might happen to affect 
 the outward fecurity and welfare of the State. 
 
 BUT what need to infift upon particular tefti- 
 monics, when the whole conduct of the antient 
 'Patriarchs might be appeal'd to on this head 5 
 
 !; The Hebrew is ^72 |'.y or CD'T*?S as it is at the i I th verfe, 
 tiKH.iquirjof, or for, tlx JuJges, i. e. cognifable by them. IJ^y 
 t v "r<* Lll^On // has the Jigriificaticn of Judgment, or Judicature: 
 Is.. Sai. ben Mdech in MicUl Tophtzd !oc. The phrafe is no where elfe 
 lo be merwith: but that human judgment is intended may appear 
 t "urn the ufe of the \vord uj"V73 in Exod. xxi, 11. and Deut. 
 \\\\\. 5 1. 
 
 whilft
 
 ... 
 
 whilft the Trtefthoodu. felf was generally exercif- 
 ed by him who had fupream power \ from this 
 principle no doubt, that the care of religion was 
 incumbent upon him, and ought to be efteem'd 
 infeparable from his office ? From them it feems 
 to have been drawn into example among heathen 
 nations, whofe Kings were many of them 
 'Priefts m : And when afterwards the offices be- 
 came feparate, yet in remembrance of that anti- 
 ent combination, the title of King n was for 
 fome time afcribed to one of the prime adminiftra- 
 tors of religious rites among the Romans, even 
 whilft the republican form of government pre- 
 vailed ; as on the other hand the title of Tontifex 
 Maximus which had at firft been appropriated to 
 their Kings , and frequently annex'd to offices 
 
 1 Vid. Joh. Henr. Heidegger. Hift. Sacr. Patriarchal*, vol. i.exercit. 
 i. .19. & exercit. 3. 6. " Omnino apud veteres qui 
 
 repum potiebantur, iidem auguria tcnebant : ut enim fapere, fie di- 
 vinare regale ducebant, ut teftis eft noftra civitas : in qua 8c Regcs 
 Augures, 8c poftea privati eodem facerdotio praediti rempublicam 
 feligionum au&oritate rexerunt. Cicero d Drvinat.lib. i. .^.40. 
 
 Rex Anius, Rex idem hominum fboebicfr fa erdos. Virg. yEneid. 3. 
 Rex idem, & regi Tttrno gratijpmtts Augur. jEneid. 9. 
 
 n Rex facrorum, or Rex facrifculus. See Kennet. Ron*. Antiq. par. a . 
 /. a. c, y. Rerum deinde divinarum habita cura,' 8c quia quaedam 
 publica facra per ipfbsregesfkdlitata erant, necubi regum dcfiderium 
 eflet, regtm facriftculum creant. Id facerdotium Pontifici fubjcc^re, 
 &e. Lrvii. hift. Rom. lib. ^. cap. 2. To this office fome have fup- 
 poied Virgil to allude in the paflage laft cited, tho' fpeaking of times 
 much more antient. O>/ TU^I TVTX Nc^^ Tleui7ffat&' 
 
 flet 
 
 Xofim, hift. lib, 4. p. *J0. edit, Oxon, 
 
 Of
 
 (^4) 
 
 of the firft rank in the time of their repnblick?, 
 was afterwards retained by the Emperors them- 
 felves, till at laft it was refufed by Gratian, not 
 becaufe he thought himfelf unconcern'd in mat- 
 ters of religion, but becaufe he judged that title, 
 taken from the heathen 'Priefthood, to be un- 
 worthy of a Chriftian Emperor <J. 
 
 NOR was it, in thofe who ufed it, a mere 
 empty title : For tho' many confiderations made 
 it proper, to feparate the civil from the facred 
 function, as exprefs inftitution has done in the 
 Church of God r j yet ftill they thought them- 
 ielves conccrn'd to exert their power, in defence 
 of the religion they profefs'd ; and the rights 
 which were fccurcd by the laws of the twelve 
 tables, conformably to the laws and constitutions 
 of other nations, were as well thofe which con- 
 cem'd the ceremonies of religion, as thofe 
 which related to the publick intereft of the ftate, 
 or the property of private perfons f . 
 
 AND left we mould fufped all this to be mat- 
 
 f Ante hunc [P. Lic'm'iumCrciffum, qui <y> JEdilitatem Curtilem peti- 
 tttrus rmr] fntra centum annos 8c viginti, nemo prseter P. Come- 
 Hum C*luJ/am, Pontifex maximus creams fuerat, qui fella curuli 
 non fed i fie t. Liiti htji. Rom. lib. 15. cap,f. * Tat v irofltyl- 
 
 r.w Kxrci TS <r'Jri;hs 7:^a.'-/a.^t,ircat Tparmtvai rlw fohlui', otnuru- 
 CT^TO rlfM uiTrtvu, ctSiiAtrov iivxt fyifMyy TO <^y>^i<x> lefJtiltret^. Z,ofimus 
 ubi fupra. ' Morem autem ilium conjungendi Imperium 
 
 cumSacerdotio, per annos ferme bismille quingentos toto orbcter- 
 rarum, multis in locis etiam ferius ufurpatum, alibi quidem regum 
 luxus, forordia aut bellicx occupationes, in populo autem Dei lex 
 divina, abrogavit. Cretins de imp.fummar. foteji. circa, facra, cap. 2. 
 f . Eadem ferme habentur apud Heidegger, excrcit. 3 . 6. 
 
 ^Jus triplex tubnU quod ter fanxere quaternx, 
 SACRUM, privatHtn & populi commune quod ufquamejt. 
 
 AufoniusEdyl.4. alias ii7 
 
 ter
 
 ter of ufurpation and encroachment, ading 
 without their proper fphere, and intermeddling 
 in a bufinefs by no means their own -, it may be 
 added, that they who have written as ,philofQ- 
 phers, and treated moft accurately of the nature 
 and ends of government, have been fo far from 
 reckoning the affairs of religion to be exempted 
 from the notice of the civil powers, that on the 
 contrary they haye efteemed them to bethefirft 
 and moft important part of their concern *. But 
 of this we may be able to make judgment our 
 felves, when I fliall have offered in the 
 
 .,4. Fx> u R T H and laft place, what is farther 
 to be argued to this purpofe from the natur^ 
 and reafon of the thing it feif. 
 
 '- - : Sinn L:;:';^!v f j i>!,::{., vjj// ,'.>'i'o:. 
 WHEN they who efpoufe the other Side of 
 
 the queftion, afTert fecular fccurity and peace to 
 be the only End of c^vil government, to which 
 all its enterprifes and deigns fbpuld be -fubfer- 
 
 1 'ETitrxtarl/ox eh xct,l Ttcirot TXVTCC if a, a otvtv !TaA<? ovx ety &-/, 
 rtiuuTrloi Jie v.u.1 Trparoy rluo Tfifi it Qiwi ixiuiih&ccv w XO.AGI, 
 jirtftot. Politic, lib. 7. tap. 8. 'Hrt^ wv eufwis KOH *T?5<n? TUV 
 
 * / t \' ** / A / ' tt f] 3 / \ 
 
 .'/ot,6d)<f TTOOIffl TtU> TOU &tetl ftittAtf&6l6tpMVm**-~'CtVili CtUfq, iUU. 
 
 iiv >ucl Stupw, 'avTifi $t Qavfaj. Ariftot. Ettdem. lib. 7. cap. if. in fine. Hu- 
 jus ergo fummae potcftatis ita definita: imperiam dicimus, non ad 
 profana tantum, fed ad facra quoque extendi. Grotim tie imp.fummar. 
 poteftaL circa facra, cap. i. . z. Obfervandum inforo humano de- 
 lifta potifllmum acftimari ex eorundem obje<fto Prout 
 
 igitur objeitum a<3:ionis nobile eft'8c pretiofum quod violaiutn 
 fuit, eogravior quoque ac deteriorhabetur ai&io. Inte,r ifla porrp 
 objedla, uti nobilitate immenfum exceJlit Deus O. M. ita nagritp 
 pro: cxteris maxime deteftanda habetur aftio, quae direifte in fp:Ius 
 contumeliam tendit. Puffendorf. de jttr. not. & gent. I. 8. c. 3. . 18. 
 
 D vient
 
 vicnt, they grant us more than they are aware 
 for the proof and fupport of our conclusion. 
 For what can conduce more to fuch welfare 
 and fecurity, than the care of that virtue and re- 
 ligion, which is encouraged with the promifes 
 of the prefent life, as well as of that which is 
 to come v ? that feeking of the Kingdom ofGod^ 
 in confequence whereof we are freed from all 
 anxious folicitude, and taught to depend on the 
 provifion of our heavenly Father for the addi- 
 tion of all outward goods w ? fo is the doftrine 
 of the new teftament confonant with that of 
 the old, where almoft every page contains a de- 
 monftration of this kind, and (hews how vidory 
 over enemies, how the fertility of the foil, and 
 every fort of wealth and profperity among God^ 
 antient people, were made to depend on their re- 
 ligious obfervance of divine laws. Nor has it 
 efcaped the obfervation of heathen x as well as 
 chriftian y writers, how the profperous or ad- 
 verfe condition of the ftate, hath been ufually 
 
 * i. Tim. iv. 8. w Mat. vi. 33. Intuemini 
 
 enim horumdeinceps annorum vel fecundas res, vcl adverfas, inve- 
 nietis - omnia profpere cvcnifle feqtientibus Decs, adverfa 
 
 fpcrneutibus. L'rvii hift. orat. M. Fur. Camtll. lib. f. caf> fi. 
 
 Dii multa neglefti dedcrunt 
 Hefperix mala lu&uofae. 
 
 Hor At. //*, 3. Oi {. 6. 
 
 T Cujus [religions'] fi cultum retincre potuerfs [pctuerimtu] 
 iter profperitatis humanis aperimus inccptis. Theodof, 8c Valentin. 
 Kitiel. lib. i. Tit. 3, tie Judtis, Snmnritunh, cVf. 
 
 pro-
 
 proportioned to its negleft or regard for the in- 
 tereft and duties of religion. 
 
 -ttmniTOVog io to 3,:Ii Vo noi^tn^yrfj-t ^1^ 
 INDEED religion has a natural tendency to 
 make men good citizens and faithful fubjeds, 
 and thereby to promote the intereft and good of 
 the community z : for as its precepts prefcribe fuch 
 a behaviour as may be mod conducive to the 
 publick fafety, fo its do&rines have a powerful 
 efficacy to enforce thofe precepts, and its very 
 ceremonies are calculated to encreafe that reve- 
 rence with which we ftiould receive them. The 
 nearer any fyftem of religion approaches to the 
 truth, the more will thefe benefits be found re- 
 dounding to fociety a 3 and there is nothing from 
 which the common-wealth has more to appre- 
 hend, than from corruptions in the grand ar- 
 ticles of faith, unlefs it be from downright Athe- 
 ifm and a contempt of all religion. So that if 
 temporal welfare were acknowledged the chief 
 end of government, yet even in this view the 
 care of religion would appear to be ftrictly in- 
 cumbent on the civil magiftrate. 
 
 Idem. tap. 2. 
 
 1 p/Arper yi et 
 ires *ei> ripi. fhtlo.Jud. de MonarckiA, lib. I. p. 632. 
 
 Heu primae fcelerum caufae mortalibus aegris 
 Naturam ncfcirc Dcum. 
 
 Sil. ltd. Pmicor. W>. 4. 
 ?^J : .y> nf-'.f 'I 
 
 D 2 BUT
 
 BUT to fay the truth, this is a wrong and 
 partial reprefentation of the end of government. 
 The glory of God, the creator and governor of 
 sail things, by whom Kings reign b , is that ulti- 
 mate end to which all their afts and enterprifes 
 Should be conftantly fubfervient. They {hould 
 remember in the words of good King Jehofa- 
 phat, that they judge not for man y but for the 
 Lord c , to whofe glory therefore they ought to 
 have regard in judgment, and not merely to hu- 
 man or temporal confederations. And if then 
 his glory be advanced by the fupport of found 
 religion, and the fubverfion of all error and 
 wickedncfs, there can be no doubt but it is their 
 duty to exert the authority, which they receive 
 from him, for fuch purpofes, and to account 
 themfelves happy in the attainment of them A 
 There is one and the fame invisible Head and 
 King over the ecclefiaftical and the civil commu- 
 nity, whofe vifible fubftitutes, in each, {hould 
 endeavour, within the proper fphere of their 
 adiviry, to promote his glory in both. And 
 therefore as the paftors of the church on one 
 hand fhould extend their views to the peace 
 and order of the civil fociety, fo likewife fhould 
 the civil powers on the other hand exert their 
 authority for the eftablilhment and maintenance 
 of true religion. 
 
 b Prov. viii. iy. e 2 Chron. xi'x. 6. 
 
 ** Felices cos [Reges Cbriflianoj ] dicimus, fi fuam poteffatem, 
 ad Dei cultum maxime dilatandum, Majeftati cjus famulam faci- 
 jnt. J). A^ufi, tic civif. Dei. lib. 4. cap. 24. 
 
 THE
 
 THE welfare of the people over whom they 
 prefide, is another end of government fubordi- 
 nate to the former : but he who imagines that 
 welfare to be only temporal, does but conftder 
 things by halves, and fattens his eyes upon the 
 fhadow of happinefs, whilft he negleds the fub- 
 fiance. As all our adions in this life fhould be 
 conduded with a view and profped towards ano- 
 ther, fo the laws of the ftate fhould be princi- 
 pally calculated to fecure and redify us in 
 that view and profped,, and not flop in the pro- 
 vifion of fading and tranfitory goods, with the 
 negled of fuch as are lafting and fubftantial. 
 The end of the facred and the civil authority 
 is fo far the fame, that they are both alike dired- 
 
 ed to the real welfare and good of the comma? 
 
 --T 
 
 mtyv 
 
 AGREEABLE to .all this is St. Taul's ao 
 count of the duty of the fupream power, when 
 he defcribes him as the mini ft er of God for good' 
 a revenger ta execute wrath upon him that 
 doth evil f . The end of his office, we fee, is 
 the attainment of Go OD, of good abfolutely 
 as fuch, and confequently ALL good, whether 
 fpiritual or temporal, that ( as the fame Apoftle 
 elfewhere has it) we may lead a quiet and peace- 
 able life In all godllnefs and honefty % : in godli- 
 nefs as well as honefty^ in a regular difcharge of 
 
 1 'Ef It 
 
 rjr*fvvi F ] jwtr /<* **^ * "W *?') 1 "t uaju/a, a./, A *<? 
 
 iv cfu<ri rsAc?, TV ra> Ixyxiui c-urqpuv. Jfidor. Telu/iot. lib. . s \\ epift. 
 24.9. f Rom. xiii. 4. * i Tim. if. 2. 
 
 our
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 our duty towards God, no lefs than in all focial 
 virtues one towards another. The prefcribed me- 
 thod of his government is adapted to fo good an 
 end, namely, to execute wrath upon him that 
 doth evil, to difcourage and punifti evil doers 
 of both one fort and the other, as well in the 
 matters which concern religion, as in thofe which 
 are of fccular or temporal concernment, that (as 
 Solomon has it in the book vfTroverbs) the King 
 that Jitteth in the throne of judgment mzyfcat- 
 ter away ALL evil 'with his eyes h . 
 
 j 1 1 L 
 
 I have now done with the arguments which 
 I propofed to urge in proof and vindication of 
 this authority : My next bufinefs will be, 
 
 II. SECONDLY, to anfwcr the moft plaufi- 
 blc objections that are made againft it. To be- 
 criu then with the 
 
 o 
 
 Object, i . F i R s T 5 it is alledg'd that " Chrift 
 " is the only Head and King of his Church, and 
 " that for any power upon earth to prefcribe in 
 " matters of religion, is to invade his right and 
 " property, and cxcrcife dominion over the fer- 
 " vants of another matter." 
 
 So far as this obje&ion relates to 
 thole fpiritual powers which are claim'd and ex- 
 ercifed by the paftors of the Church* I am not 
 concern'd with it in this place. But fo far as it re- 
 lates to the intcrpofuion of the civil powers, it 
 
 b Prov. xx. 8. 
 
 may
 
 3' ) 
 
 may be cafily removed, by obferving that this can 
 be no more inconfiftent with the fupream autho- 
 rity of Chrift, than their making laws as to our 
 temporal concerns is with the government of Pro- 
 vidence. For, that God governs the world, and 
 difpenfes his mercies or his judgments in every 
 event ; that he has likcwife given us a rule of ac- 
 tion, which cannot be fuperfeded by any human 
 authority 5 will be readily confefled by them who 
 have taken any pains to underftand either God or 
 thcmfelves. And yet who would infer from either 
 of thefe principles, that the care of the magistrate is 
 needlefs, or that he ufurps on the divine preroga- 
 tive, when he calculates his laws for the good of 
 the fociety, and adds the fan&ion of proportion- 
 able penalties ? He plainly becomes in that cafe 
 the minifter of Providence, rather than encroach- 
 es or ufurps upon it. In like manner therefore 
 when Chrift is acknowledg'd to be the only law- 
 giver, who has the difpofal of life and condem- 
 nation , and has given out a fyftem of religion 
 which none may contradid : yet why muft it 
 from hence be argued, that the princes of the 
 earth exceed their province, if they enforce his 
 precepts with new fan&ions of their own, and fo 
 become the inftruments whereby he is plcafed to 
 make good hispromife of protecting and perpetu- 
 ating his Church > Surely this application of their 
 power for the enforcement of his laws, implies 
 rather an acknowledgment, than any denial, of 
 his being King of kings and Lord of lords k . Again, 
 
 : Jam, ir, i*. *Rev. xvii. I4.andxix. 16.
 
 (30 
 
 Objett. 2. SECONDLY, it isobjefted, that 
 
 " this ufe of the magiftrate's authority , muft 
 
 " needs be very hazardous and full of danger : 
 
 " becaufe if he (hould happen to miftake (as it is- 
 
 " often feen) in his notions of religion, then in- 
 
 " (lead of propagating truth and found dodrine, 
 
 " he will become the inftrument of advancing 
 
 u error and falfhood in the world." 
 
 Anfw. BUT what is there in this objedion, 
 which might not be alledg'd, with equal ftrength, 
 againft any human management or proceeding 
 whatfoever? Is not every parent and mafterof a 
 family obliged to inftmd: his children and dome- 
 fticks in the principles of morality at leaft, good 
 neighbourhood and good manners ? And yet can 
 it be judged impoilible for him tomiftakein fuch 
 matters? or fhall the polllbility of his miftajdng, 
 be thought to fet afide either his right or his duty 
 in this particular ? Again, ought not every preach- 
 er of religion to teach the people committed to 
 his charge with words of truth and fobernefs 1 ? 
 And yet is not he himfelf liable to be deceiv'd, 
 and capable of being impofed on with the groff- 
 cft fal (hoods under the appearance and dUguife of 
 truth ? Or if it be replied that thefe arc rather me- 
 thods of pcrfuafion, than ads of power and au- 
 thority : 1 would ask cnce more, is not the civil 
 magiftratc , whether fupream or fubordinate , 
 bound to adminifter juftice? And are not his ads, 
 in that rcipcd, dccm'd valid and authoritative ? 
 
 'Afts xxvi. 2_f. 
 
 And
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 And is he then only infallible in civil caufes ? Or 
 rather is he not liable to err in them as well as in 
 ecclefiaftical ? And why fliould that poffibility of 
 erring, which is no bar to his authority in one re- 
 fped, be efteem'd fo in the other? Surely that 
 way of reafoning can have no firm foundation, 
 which, if once admitted, muft overthrow all hu- 
 man authority, nay and (if perfued to its juft 
 confequence) all human action too, and intro- 
 duce the utmoft confufion in matters fecular as 
 well as facred. 
 
 THE truth is, all men are obliged to confider 
 ferioufly, and ufe all proper methods to inform 
 their judgment as to matters of religion. After 
 this the conviction of their judgment will be- 
 come to them a rule of action, and direct them 
 in their refpective ftations and offices of life. If 
 they be men in private ftation, they may content 
 themfelves with a perfonal difcharge of all religi- 
 ous duties : but if they be men of publick cha- 
 racter, they fhould, in proportion to that authori- 
 ty with which they are inverted, be fure to re- 
 quire and countenance the obfervance of them by 
 others, and remember that the publick (late of re- 
 ligion is as much their care and concern, as its pri- 
 vate influence is that of each man in particular ; 
 and they may no more neglect the ufe of their 
 authority, than others may that of their refpec- 
 tive faculties, for its fervice and fupport. This 
 indeed muft bring them under ftricter obligations 
 to ferioufnefs in their inquiries > becaufe they en- 
 quire not only for themfelves, but likewife for 
 
 E the
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 the direction of that influence which they have 
 on others. 
 
 NOT that they are bound to fearch into the 
 depths of every controverfy that may arife, with 
 relation either to faith or practice ! It is enough 
 that they be fatisfied of the great articles of faith, 
 and the general rules or maxims of behaviour : 
 And as for the difcuflion of particular queftions 
 and fubtilties that fhall arife, that may be refer'd 
 to pcrfons of greater opportunity and leifure, 
 whofe integrity as well as their abilities are liable 
 to no fufpicion. For as there is no doubt but the 
 civil magiftratc may uphold and encourage the 
 due adminiftration of juftice, without being 
 himfclf matter of all thofe cafes in point of law, 
 which arc thcftudy of a particular profeilion,- fo 
 it may be rcafonably allowed him to fupport and 
 countenance the profeflion of true religion, with- 
 out having read over the Fathers and the School- 
 men, or being able to reply to every fubtile 
 and fophiftical objector. 
 
 Ofcetf. 3 . THIRDLY, the next plea that is 
 
 urged againft this power of the magi ft rate, is, 
 
 that " by this means men may be forced to 
 
 " outward profellions, which mail flatly con- 
 
 1 tradicl the perfuafion of their own minds." 
 
 An fa. BUT will this happen more in eccle- 
 {iaflscal than civil matters ? or is not the conftraint 
 the i:unc, if the fupream powers (hould pre- 
 fcribc any action in civil life, for the fafety and 
 
 pre-
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 prefervation of the community, which their 
 fubjeds perceive to be inconfiftent with the laws 
 of God, and the performance of their duty to 
 him ? In both cafes the rule of the Apoftle is 
 alike applicable, that they (hould obey and hearken 
 unto God rather than unto men m , and adhere 
 to what is right and true with aU its difadvan- 
 tages, rather than clofc in with any falfliood 
 or iniquity, however eftablifhed by a law n . Only 
 as on one hand it concerns thofe who govern, fo 
 to temper their feverities with charity, that whilft 
 their main end is fecurcd, they may incline men 
 to comply, rather from principle of confcience, 
 than from hypocrify and worldly motives ; fo on 
 the other hand it muft concern their fubjeds, 
 to lay afide all prejudice and partiality, that they 
 may not, thro' a falfe perfuafion, rejed the juft 
 commands of their fuperiors, nor abufe the fa- 
 cred name of confcience as a colour for their 
 contumacy. But if either fide be defective as 
 to their duty in this matter, that will not af- 
 fed the queftion of authority : The magiftrate 
 will ftill be authorifed to extend his jurifdidion 
 to religious caufes, and his fubjeds will be bound 
 either to render an adive obedience to his laws, 
 or to fuftain with patience the penalties annex- 
 ed to them. 
 
 ALL the objections, which have hitherto been 
 mentioned, are formed upon a (hew of reafon- 
 
 m A<b iv 19. and v. 20. 
 " Pfal *civ. 20.
 
 ( 3*) 
 
 ing; but uponykv& reafons as would have alto- 
 gether as much force, againft any cxercife of 
 human power at all, as they have againft the 
 cxercife of it in matters of religion ; and there- 
 fore muft be allowed to have no manner of 
 force, becaufe that which depends on fuch prin- 
 ciples as would prove too much, is really fuffi- 
 cient to prove nothing at all. But 
 
 Qbjett. 4. FOURTHLY, there is one won- 
 derful .objection yet behind, taken from an ex- 
 ample in Scripture of a civil magiftrate, who 
 did actually rcfufe to concern himfelf in fome 
 matters of religion. And who was that, but 
 " Gallio the deputy of Achaia? who, when the 
 1 ' Jews made infurreftion againft Taut, and ac- 
 " cufid him of perfuading men to worfhip God 
 " contrary to the /aw, difmifled them with this 
 fi anfwcr -, If it were a matter of wrong or 
 u wicked lewdnefs, O ye Jews, reafon would 
 " that 1 jhould bear with you: But if it be a 
 ic fj He ft ion of words, and names, and of your 
 " /aw, look ye to it - 3 for I will be no judge of 
 < fuch matters . 
 
 Au(w. B u T who ever dream'd 'till now, 
 that the example of Gallio was fit to be propofcd 
 to the imitation of a Chriftian Magiftrate ? Who 
 ever niou : ;ht his character fufficicnt to outweigh 
 the general confenr and practice of mankind fup- 
 by tiie re;.fon of the thing it felf, and 
 
 Acts xviii. i i, 13, 14, i_f. 
 
 the
 
 ... 
 
 the exprcfs authority of revelation ? or who 
 would believe this inftance of his conduct, to 
 be mentioned to his commendation by St. Luke, 
 when in the next verfe we are acquainted how 
 he drove them from the judgment -feat P, and 
 tho' the greateft outrage was committed in his 
 prefence upon the chief ruler of the fynagogue, 
 yet Gallio, it is added, cared for none of thofe 
 things i. 
 
 AND yet if Gallio's praftice were allowed to 
 have been juft and reasonable, it is plainly be- 
 fide the purpofe of the queftion before us. The 
 caufe then depending- was .not between fych 
 perfons as profeiTed the religion eftablifhed by 
 the Roman laws, which was ^Paganijm^ and fuch 
 as did oppofe it ; nor did it properly affed the 
 controverfles of that kind : ( GaUio would fcar-ee 
 have' thought himfeif at liberty, to refufe pa/ling- 
 judgment in fuch matters!)' But it ^asfeetween 
 Jews or Judaizcrs, and fuch as were fully in- 
 ftrudled by St. *Paul in the doctrine of Chri- 
 ftian liberty. Among thefe it was diluted, 
 whether Jefus were the promifed Mtjfias - 3 and 
 if he were, whether his coming had aboliflied 
 the Mofaick inftitutiohs. And then it is no 
 wonder, if Gallio, continuing a Heathen, and 
 equally defpifing both partief, (hould refufe to 
 concern himfetf with fuch queftions, or fet up 
 for an arbiter of thofe difpures, which he nei- 
 ther underftood, ncr thought jt worth his while 
 
 ' A<fb xviii. 1 6. 2 "& ' 7 
 
 to
 
 to examine. So that this finglc inftance, which 
 is pick'd up, from among the various hiftories 
 of all ages and of all nations, being utterly 
 impertinent as to the matter in hand, muft needs 
 be altogether infufficient to overthrow the au- 
 thority of the civil powers in matters of reli- 
 gion. 
 
 I T remains for me now only in the 
 
 III. i. THIRD and laft place to make 
 iome inferences from the fubjeft I have been 
 treating of, with relation to the duty both of 
 magiftrate and people. And 
 
 Inf. i . F i R s T, if fuch, as we have feen, 
 
 be his duty and authority 3 of what impor- 
 tance fhouid he think it to himfelf, and to the 
 community over which he prefides, that he be 
 rightly inftruckd in his notions of religion, and 
 firft iatisfied in his own judgment of what is 
 right and true, before he prefcribes it as a rule 
 for the practice or belief of others? The er- 
 ror of a fmglc pcrfon might perhaps be tole- 
 rable, if there were no danger of its fpreading 
 to the prejudice of others : But when we con- 
 fukr the great mifchicfs that muft follow the 
 error of a magistrate, whether by the propaga- 
 tion of it among the people,, or by oppre fling 
 thofc who are too \vifc to be deluded ; this furely 
 muft bring him under drifter obligations, than 
 private men, to ferioufnefs in his enquiries, and 
 : King Solomon to apply himfelf by humble 
 
 prayer
 
 ( 39'} 
 
 prayer to God, as the author and fountain of 
 all good, that he would grant him a wife and 
 under ft anding heart to govern the people com- 
 mitted to his charge r . 
 
 THE people themfelves, agreeable to the A- 
 poftle's precept, mould add their inter cejjions, 
 for kings, and for. all that are in authority, 
 that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life 
 in all godlinefs and honefty f . They mould 
 be careful to join in the publick devotions of- 
 fered up for them, and be always mindful of 
 the Pfalmift's requeft; Give the king thy judg- 
 ments, O God, and thy right eoufnefs unto the 
 king^s fon r . After this it might be hoped, un- 
 lefs the fins of the people mould avert fo great 
 a bleffing, that Gpd would grant them his 
 fpecial guidance in their publick ads, that fo 
 (in the expreflio'n of the wifeman ) a di- 
 'vine fentence may be in the lips of a king, 
 and his mouth may not tranfgrefs in judg- 
 ment V Again, 
 
 q rb'i' OJ,"ii bsrn.'ji *jd marll v/J 
 
 Inf. 2. SECONDLY, After fuch informa- 
 tion of the truth of religion, I would hope 
 to be excufed from the blame of dictating or 
 prefcribing to my fuperiors, if I humbly beg 
 leave to remind them of what has been al- 
 ready prov'd, their duty to encourage andiup- 
 port it. 
 
 L-j ; ;u riav I'-iv/ 
 
 ' i King. iii. 9. f 2 Tim. i?. i, a. 
 
 1 Pfal. Ixxii. i. Y Prov. xvi. 10. ... 
 
 A good
 
 (40,) 
 
 A good magiftratc will never take it ill to 
 jbe told, that his office is attended with duty 
 as well as dignity : And if the exaft method 
 of executing it be a matter fit to be refer'd to 
 farther conftderation ; yet he muft fee at the 
 firft view, how it concerns him not to bear 
 the Jword in vain w , but apply it to the pu- 
 nijhment of wtckednefs and vice, and to the 
 maintenance of true religion and 'virtue. If 
 death, and the feverer penalties of the law be 
 not well proportioned to error in opinion, 
 but would rather tend to countenance hypo- 
 criiy in fome, and confirm prejudice in others; 
 yet there is no doubt but the lefier penalties 
 may be difcreetly managed, if not to perfuadc 
 men into truth thcmfelvcs (which may be hop- 
 ed for in a courfe of time ) yet at lead to rc- 
 ftrain them from fpreading their contagion, and 
 drawing others to their party. The civil pow- 
 ers again have certain favours to beftow, which, 
 fincc no one has a right to claim them, may 
 by them be turned into fuch proper chanels, 
 that they fhall water and enrich the garden of 
 God , encourage the faithful Chriftian , and 
 help the better to fecure him againft tempta- 
 t on to npoftacy. There are certain negative 
 difciitragcmtnts * as they arc called of late; 
 there arc certain profits and privileges to be 
 confcr'd in civil community, from which they 
 will very fitly be excluded, whofe principles 
 
 "* Rom. xiii. 4. 
 
 are
 
 are oppofite to found do&rine 5 efpecially if the 
 enjoyment of fuch profits or privileges fliould 
 put it in their power to propagate their evil 
 notions, and thereby create much mifchief to 
 the Church. 
 
 I could rejoyce to believe that there were 
 no occafion j but alas ! it is too plain to be 
 difiembled, there is great occafion, at this day, 
 for fuch interpofition of the civil powers. 
 When we obferve how herefy, and infidelity, 
 and a contempt of all religion do prevail a- 
 mong us -, how fome have openly denied the 
 Lord that bought them x , and brought him 
 down to the precarious condition of a crea- 
 ture 5 how others have made the priefthood 
 their theme of ridicule, and derided as incon- 
 iiftent with Chrift's regal rights, that jurifdic- 
 tron and authority of the vlfible Church , 
 which whofoever fhould defpife is, by our 
 Lord's command, to be treated^ an heathen 
 or a publican i , how laftly the whole Chri- 
 friati revelation has by fome profane wits been 
 expofcd md vilified 5 we (hall fee abundant rea- 
 fbn to conclude, that there is need of fecular 
 power for the reftraining of fuch evil doers, 
 whom no ecclefiaftical penalties can terrify, 
 who defpife the tremendous cenfures of the 
 Church, and are only to be kept in order by 
 
 *//"* i 
 
 the W0u fword, 
 
 r Mat. xviii. IT. 
 
 **"^ .< ; v ^* r '" J 4 
 
 F Inf.
 
 Inf. 3 . THIRDLY, and to fhut up all, from 
 this duty of the magiflratc it will be eafy to 
 colled that of the people, namely, to pay an 
 humble regard and deference to this exercife of 
 his authority. 
 
 I r may not be fuppofed, with the infamous 
 author of the Leviathan* that the religion of 
 the prince, whatever it be, ought to be em- 
 braced and profefs'd by all his fubjefts. But it 
 certainly concerns them to confider with ferious 
 and fober minds, and then to pay a chearful 
 obedience, wherever it may be done with true 
 honour and a clear confcience : always taking 
 heed that they make no caufelefs oppofitions, 
 nor under the fofter name of a fcrupulous and 
 render confcicnce, allow themfelves to gratify 
 a froward and gainfaying, a worldly or ambi- 
 tious Spirit. 
 
 BUT if, after all, his regulations mould be 
 fuch as they find cannot confift with the doc- 
 trines of truth, or with the laws of righteouf- 
 ncfs ; then mccknefs and patience are thofe 
 thrift ian virtues in which they fhould labour to 
 excel ; no private hands may be allowed to re- 
 drcfs publick grievances, by noifc and faction, 
 by arms and violence, but if humble remon- 
 ftranccs and fupplications fhould avail them no- 
 thing, it will then be their duty to fubmit to 
 any penalties rather than forfeit,, their integrity 5 
 and wait till God, who rules the heatts of 
 
 princes,
 
 princes, fliall be pleafed to provide for their fe- 
 curity. In the mean time, whatever miferies 
 they may endure, it ought to be their comfort, 
 that great is their reward in heaven } and as 
 they follow the examples of the prophets and 
 apoftles, who fuffered in like manner for the 
 teftimony of a good confcience, fo their prefent 
 affliction* which is but for a moment, will be 
 the means of working for them a far more ex- 
 ceeding and eternal weight of glory z , thro* Te- 
 fus Chrift our Lord, to whom with the Father 
 and the holy Ghoft be all honour, &c. 
 
 * 2 Cor. iv. 17. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 ; -..vjiV-j-A . 
 .ou -;h vo 
 
 ->! 
 
 , ^ v v\\^ 
 
 ^ f *;..:* 
 
 ibfb ei ^:,^^ ir.rlj 
 orlj v/oildt prlj 
 
 .-:.? l( 
 H*orl a
 
 O N C I O 
 
 A D 
 
 C L E R U M 
 
 SYNODO PROVINCIALI 
 
 Cantuarienjts Provincise 
 
 Ad V.PAVLl Die 12 OEfobrir, 
 A. D. MDCCXXII. 
 
 A FR, HARE, S.T.P. 
 
 Decano Eccl. Cathed. WIGORN. & Regi3e 
 Majeftati a Sacris. 
 
 *Juffit Reverendijfimi. 
 
 L N D I N I: 
 
 '-Impenfis JON^ BOWYER, ad infigne Rofe in 
 miterio D. Fault. MDCCXXII.
 
 TIT. ii. 8. 
 
 3 r\ rvj 
 
 o t, cvcwnagj cvlfctTTn 
 V/JLOOV Ktytw 
 
 Vt qm fe ex adverfo opponit, erubefcat, 
 n'thil babens quod de vobis dicat mali. 
 
 CUM efEcacius nihil videatur ad horrfines in 
 officiis fuis continendos, eos prsfertim qiios 
 rrruneris fui ratio in excelfiore quad loco po- 
 fuit, quam ad ilia ammum advertere, quse in 
 iis reprebendunt adverfarii ; non alienum putavi ab hac 
 tanta virorum noa muneris modo ratione, fed dolrina 
 etiam ac moribus infigniunt oelebrilate, vobis, Patres, 
 fratrefqae in Chriflo reverendi, ante oculos ponere, fuiiuf- 
 que deduftum explicare hoc Apoftoli ad TITUM moni- 
 tum ; quern Ecclefix Cretenfi prasfeftum hortatur, ut per 
 omnia vitas morumque fit exemplar, hanc ob rationem, 
 ne fcilicct adverfariorum reprehenfiones merito incurrat, 
 Juftamq; iis criminandi caufam prsbeat. Vult Apo- 
 iftolus, ut fe meminerit in editiflirao quodam &: fre- 
 quentiflinio theatre pofitum, omnium ora atque oculos 
 in fe converti ; fpe&atorurn autem partem longe maxi- 
 mam malignis animis infpicere, 8c curiofe omnia obfer- 
 vare, ne qua culpandi occafio elabatur; quae vero vel 
 minimam offenfionis fpeciem habeant, in pejorem par- 
 tem rapere : in tali theatro EvangelH prasconem fifti ; 
 
 A 2 fummo
 
 C4l 
 
 Mnmo igitur ftudio in eo laborandum effe, ut inculpate 
 fe gerat, & circumfpe&e omnia, quae fui fmt officii, exe- 
 quatur. In hanc autejn curam T/TLWincumbere debe- 
 i*e* non tarn fuse exiftimationis gratia ; quamquam & ilia 
 bptimo cuique merito eft cariilima, ejufque contra ini- -,- 
 quas adverfariorum calumnias tuondae cura ingenuis ani- 
 mis fummo ad virtatem adjufnento eft ; fed ne verbum 
 Dei, cujus docendi munus in fe receperat, atque adeo 
 Dcus ipfe^b advcrfariis, fua vel negligcntia vel-culpa, ia 
 odium atque contemtioncm adducatur: eos eniiri, qui 
 ipfi adverlentur, yei\Ts pietatis -vktutumque omnium ho- 
 lies die infenfiftimoSj eis unum opus efic, religponis vim 
 infrmgere, 8c contumeliis infamem reddere ; ideoque 
 omnibus- reprehendencli OGcafionibus imminere, omfiem 
 calumniandi ania.m a vide captare. Qui cum in ipfa do- . 
 ctrina quod criminentur non inveniant, in do6lores fe 
 totes conferunt, iis acerbe obloquuntur, probe fckntes, ,. 
 qunip. doQorihus culpam impingant, in ipfem dodrinam 
 rcciiicrc (clcrc ;. ex quo, iiifi ilreiaue its obviam eatur, 
 quie morui.-, corruptela, quanta pietatis labes,, qua religi- 
 0:1 is ruirio fecutura fir, neminem fugit.. 
 > I Toe fi il'do iecuni reputent, qui verbi .miniderio feie 
 Idixcnint, fcnticnt nuilam ipforum curam nimiam efTe, 
 Lilli-i^: ihidiuin, quo fe culpaimmunes .praeftent, omnem- 
 .|uenb:'rcdandi nv^terrem malevoliseripiant : quod fruftra 
 .ravc^r, qui non ornnss officii .liii partes rede, atque 
 uij n^r cfc, invpleverit *, cum vigilanthTmvam fit adver- 
 fa riorum odium ad vulnera qua poflint inferenda, Sc lo- 
 ca ic.tibL:S patentia acutiflime deprehendant. Hue igitur 
 animum advertcrc, in hos aciem debet intendere, his 
 ud quad monitoribtjs, qui affi.ca fui femper- memor ex- 
 tra iicxiam vclit c'lc, exiftimationemque luam ex omni 
 p.irto incolumem atque integram tuer.i. 
 
 Hcc inoniri hujus Apoftolici Cum ma; in verbis ipfts 
 riiliil tMl q::od nos morclur ; moneo tantum, plures C@- 
 ni-jcs, cum Chryioitomo, cum Vulgata, & anciquiflimis . 
 "Vcriioi)ibus ; pro Jftr, f.^uv legerej qus; ye.rior videtur
 
 C5 J 
 
 le&io, cum vp.v ex veteri fermonis ufb dc uno dicrite* 
 queat, unum vero T1TUM base unice fpe&ent; unde 
 etiam fit, ut in Epiftolis quoque ad T I MOTH BUM 
 Vox hajc nufquam occurrat. 
 
 Quam neceiTe fuicverbi miniftris ab ornni offenfionuin 
 gene re cavere ttrm terappris, cum ad T1TUM haec fcri- 
 beretApoftolus \ quam ipfi TITO utile, ut'hoc monitum 
 animo fern per obverfaretur, quivis facile intelligat, qui no- 
 rit quam dura fuit illis temponbus Ecclefias conditio, vel 
 quam prsefrafto& perverfo ingenio illi,quibus TITUS prae- 
 fuit ; de quibus proprius ipforum vates, Kf SW ag) .&<?& 9 
 cui teftimonio fuum quoque Apoftolus adjunxit, ne ma.- 
 ledicum aut contumeliofum in fuos Epimenidem putemus, 
 $ naipTv&ce, au.7*), inquiens, Icp^ *A6rif.. Hinc.manifeftum 
 Cre:enfes pefTimis fuifle moratos moribus, adeoque doftri- 
 nas Evangelic^ infenfidimos :, hie, fi qua alias, oves erant 
 'Chriftianim mzdio lu$orum\ TITO igitiir inter lios veiianti 
 nunquam licuit dormitare, aut negligentius agere; ne- 
 ceffe erat Temper eflfe in excubiis, omnes boni paftoris 
 partes vigilem implere, armatwa ilia Det, quam memo- 
 rat ApoftoJus fexto^ad Epksfios, teclum atq^initrutum ? ut 
 contra adverfariorum infidias fe illasfum pra-ibiret. 
 
 Hsec autem primorum temporum labes plus nimio fe- 
 quentibus adhaefit, 8f ad hunc.ufque diem eadem fere 
 Ecclefiae fbrs. fuit.. ,'Noftris certe temporibus earn .male- 
 volorum hominum invidiam,- eas calumnias fuilinet EC- 
 clefia, ut quj in Hiitoria.Ecclefiaflica .funt hofpites, nee 
 fciunt quales pertes anteada -fecula tulerunt, patent nuL 
 3o unquam tempore iniquius fuifle' com para turn. Cum 
 vklcant qupt, quamque varies Ecclefia in hoc orbe .Br-i- 
 tawo habeat.fibi infenibs, quorum alii alia facra xolunr, 
 alii liullay.alii fch-ifmatis pacem ejus p&rturbant, alii fidem 
 haerefibus -corrumpunt, alii dilciplinam .traducunt, alii 
 miniflrosejijs 8c anrifbkes convitiis ..infe6taiitur r & propter 
 . paucoiTim.culpam totum t>rdinera Ecclefia Micum in odi- 
 um adducunt 3 ...alii dsoique.^fan^iflirna dei. jnyilerk 
 iaanis excipiuat, -pmni contumeliarum genere inquinant.
 
 . 
 
 & deridenda pqpulo propinant ; cum probi piique homi- 
 nes, qui ftdem ^hriffiianam ex animo colunt, Ecclefiamque 
 iftam fidem incorrupte profitcntem, amant, diligunt, 
 hanc fidem, hanc Ecclefiam videant malediftis, contu- 
 meliis, calumniis vexari, profcindi, idque libere 8c im- 
 pune fieri, asgerrirne patiuntur, 8c merito quidem : fed 
 non hie fubftiterunt ; querelis eoufq; indulgent, ut hasc 
 tempora omnium effe deterrima importune clamitent, 
 hos mores peffimorum peflimos; in hoc autemboni viri ni- 
 mium quantum falluntur. Dolendum quidem tantam eiTe 
 morum pravitatem, fed non eft quod rniremur ; non eft 
 quod nova & inaudita hoec mala arbitremur : funt folen- 
 nia, funt vetera, funt omnium temporum, cum a caufis 
 quce temper eaedem fuerint, proficifcantur ; neq; tempo- 
 rum, fed hominum vitia fint : ni(i igitur humanum ge- 
 nus de novo eflformetur, eodem res noftne loco erunt, 
 quo funt, quo fuerunt. 
 
 Quid igitur, inquies, ab iis faciendum, qui his-malis 
 fe premi lentLint, quive oppreffis faveant, quibus Fides 
 Chrifliana^ Fideiq; confervatrix Ecclefia cordi eft ? Num 
 ^quis iinimis hasc ferre par eft? Num, quafi ad ipfos ni- 
 Iiil attineant, domi fe continere, fibi plaudere, otio & 
 quieti fuss vacare, 8r ut improbi homines omnia pro li- 
 !)itu agant, negligenter & fecure pati? Minime qui- 
 tlem ; quid igitur? querendum eft ? at non muliebriter, 
 quafi ho;c mala nobis nunc primum enafcantur, aut 
 plane intoleranda fint ; hoc arguit animum infirmum, 
 rcrumq; imperitum, 8^ nihil ultra fua tempora fapien- 
 tem. Adde, quod querelx, fi querelae tantum, profi- 
 cient pa rum ; de malo nihil imminueris, mali fenfum 
 vehementer auxeris. Quod fi non muliebriter, multo 
 minus feditiofc querendum eft: rixis 8c clamoribus 
 .paccm reipublicae turbare, magiftratum eontumeliis in- 
 ceirere, &: illi vitio vertere quod non his ( mails modurn 
 il:ituat, Ii3c qui rem uti par eft expenderit, fentiet 
 i > on prave tantum & inique, fed ftulte etiam, & inop- 
 rc fieri ; cum quotidiana experientia conftet hujufmodi
 
 I 7 3 
 
 querelas non veteres injurias tollere^ fed novas arcane- 
 re : quid magiftratum deceat, ipfius eft videre ; no- 
 ftrum eft quod noftri eft officii agere r quod Chriftia- 
 nos decet, quod fubditos : nee temere fupremas. potefta- 
 ti imputandum eft, quod non a fuo faeculo exulent in- 
 commoda, quse omnium fuere ; quod apud fuos radices 
 agant mala, qux fine gravi reipublicae perkulo extir- 
 pari nequeant ; quod demum non ea fieri impediat, 
 quas per leges impedire non poflit ; impedire autem 
 non pofle, turn aliunde, turn ex fuisipforum contume- 
 liis,. quas impune in magiftratum ingerunt, abunde ip- 
 iis poterat conftare : quid quod parum apud principes his 
 modis profici folet, qui fi iapiant, feditioforum homi- 
 num conviciis nihil libi extorqueri patientur. 
 
 Quid igitur facrorum miniftris facere fuadeas ? id quod 
 TITUM monet Apoftolus ; adveriantium odia dextre ex- 
 cipienda funt, ioimici monitorum loco habendi, accu- 
 rate videndum quid in nobis reprehendant, ut inde edi 
 camus quae praecipue vitanda funt, qux.criminationibus 
 prae casteris obnoxia, qua parte iniquis malevolorum fufpi- 
 cionibus maxime patemus. Hoc modo, eorum malevo- 
 lentiam in propriam nobis laudem vertemus, dum ex iis 
 quae culpant, ea quae maxime fugienda funt admoniti, in 
 officiis noftris eo arcl:ius contineamur, quo nos acrius ob- 
 lervent 'adverfarii. Hie malorum de quibus tarn gravi- 
 ter queruntur, ufos non fpernendus eft : juvant:adverfa- 
 rii eo quod nocere velint, culpando monent, & dum, 
 anxie 8c maligne quoerunt quod reprehendant r ne quid 
 in nobis reprehenfione dignum fit faciunt. His igitur 
 malis, fi rem rite expendamus, fine maximo malonoftro 
 carere non pofTumus. Cum autem iniquam deReligio- 
 nis miniftris fententiam, vitae eorum integritate & jugi 
 in officiis fuis conftantia penitus perfpela, exuerint ad- 
 verfarii, quidni fperemus de Religione ipia benignius in 
 pofterum fenfuros, doftrinamque illam cordate amplexu- 
 ros, quam prius calumniis fuis indigniffime traduxerant? 
 qua animorum.converfione. infarnia nobis in laudem ce-
 
 [33 
 
 xkt, pietatis odia in obfequium vertent," 8r Ecdefisc ex: 
 ipfo oppdmendi earn, ftudio inilgnis fa&a fueric -ac- 
 ceflio. 
 
 Ex -his -quae generatim di&a funt, videtis,'quom.odo 
 maxima noftro cum commodo huic monito obiempere- 
 mus. Id jgitur again us r ea caufa #quis animis ac;ipite, 
 quasnam fint praecipua cnminationum capita, quibus Ec- 
 clefiafticum folent ordinem impetere^ut'iis probe cogni- 
 tis omnerri illuruin:v:ituperationem felicius effugiatis. 
 
 Horum autem alia trita funr& pervulgata, : in omnes 
 omnium aetatum cleros temere etTufa ; alia recentiora, 
 qux nos noftraq; tempera, propius tangunt. Primi ge- 
 neris funt fere hasc, Homines Ecclefiafticos cum in 
 . Synodum convenerint, non ex rationis judicio, fed pro 
 affeftuum arbitrio omnia agere ; fuffragia ' *eorum nu- 
 niero, non pondere cenferi, uiide f:epe fieri ut major pars 
 meliorem vincat ; decretis ceniurifq; Synodalibus verita- 
 tem cum iibertate jacere ; diflidia, quae alias fponte fua 
 defeciiTent, immortalia reddi ; plus deniq; mali, quam 
 commodi, omnibus retro feculis ex Synodis in Ecclefiam 
 redundalle, Atq; hsc quidem me mhil, neq\ omnia funt. 
 Fatendum fane eit Syjiodorum non femper felices exitus 
 fuilfe; fatendum partium ftudiis nimium f^pe tribui; 8c 
 yeritatcm fuffragiorum numero non femel vidam fuccu- 
 buifte. Seel quam iniquum eft Synodorum peccata dili- 
 genter Sc anxle retegere, & prave fafta in majus:acer- 
 biiTlme augere, dum filentio premuntur ea qu fummatn 
 1 uidem meruerunt ? quam malignurn eft omnibus Eccle- 
 fiafticis conventibus imputare, qai quoruridam tantum 
 vitia lucre, qux fequiorum temportrm ; qu aulicorum 
 . debentur facfcionibus, qua? principum libidini ; quas Ponti- 
 jici.t deniq; Tyrannidis funt vitia ? qua per aliquot feula 
 univ.erfum fere cxbzm.' Chriftianum fibi fervire turpiter 
 coegit, nee Ecclefiaftici modo ordinis liomines, fed 8c 
 'jlios omnes, plebera, :populum,> proceres, magiftratus 
 .ipibs ex fuo nutu pcndcre. voluit ; regum demum cervi- 
 tibus p^; .libus fuis iliperbe infultare- non erubuit. 
 
 -(Juo
 
 E 9 
 
 Quo autem jure Synodis impurantur, quae peccata 
 fbnt Pontificum, qui omnes omnium conatus ad fidem, 
 ad difciplinam veterem inftauraadam, infana fua po 
 tentia tarn dl-a irritos fecerunt? 
 
 Fuere quidem Ecclefiaftica concilia, ut & alia om- 
 nia, non Deorum, fed hominum con;ilia; quid igitur 
 miremur, fi ab iis quoq; humanis aiTe&ibus nimium 
 eft indultum? Abiurdhlime vero queruntur adverfa- 
 rii Synodorum decreta ex majoris partis fententia 
 pendere, cum aliter fieri conventuum natura nequa- 
 quam patiatur: nifi enim omnes ineandem fententiam 
 unanimes eant, aut major pars minori, aut minor ma- 
 jo.ri, aut neutra neutri prsefcribat necefTe eft. At vero 
 ut minor pars ad fe majorem trahat, id perquam ini- 
 quum ; ut neutra neutri cedat, longe abfurdiflimum ; 
 hoc enim pafto conventus omnino omnes, quacunquc 
 de caufa habiti, inutiles prorfus reddentur ; cum uno 
 quovis dhTentiente, nihil decerni aut definiri queat. 
 Quod unum igitur fupereft, major pars minori necefTe 
 eft prafcribat : quod ut fuis non careat incommpdis, eft 
 tamen unica agendi ratio, unde ea quss in deliberatio- 
 nem veniant, ad exitum aliquem deducantur. temere au- 
 tem Sc maligne nimis Ecclefiafticis Conventibus id vi- 
 tio vertitur, quod omnium individuum eft malum. 
 Cum vero non raro eveniat, ut partium ftudiis ab- 
 repti, de veritate minus fimus folliciti, pravifq; afFeli- 
 bus nimium indulgeaturj hoc certe ex adverfariorum 
 querelis lucri nos facere oportet, ut ab his maxime ca- 
 veamus, quae cum vera funt, fumma reprehenfione dig- 
 na funt. Neq; metus eft, ne dum follicite ab iis abfti- 
 neamus quae adverfarii acerbius reprehendunt, in contra- 
 ria vitia fenfim delabamur ; a pravis enim afFeciibus nun- 
 quam nimis recedere ; ab ira, odio, ambitione, invidia, 
 nunquam animo nimis alieno effe pofiumus. 
 
 Clementia, lenitas, pacis amor, animus tranquiilus, 
 moderatus, in neutram partem vehemens, nullum ve 
 ritati afferunt difpendium, 8c ut afFerant, magno tamen 
 
 B cuift
 
 cum fcenore poft omnia reftituent : his virtutibus nulloe. 
 funt nobifmet. ipfis vel ornamento magis, vel adju- 
 mento ; nullse adverfantium animis fle&endis potentio- 
 res ; earn ad fuadendum vim habent, ut ingenuis ani- 
 mis quafi tormentum adhibeant, eofq; volentes in par- 
 tes noftras trahant, quos nulla Ecclefix fulmina, nulloe 
 legum minae nolentes eo adegaTent. 
 
 His igitur animis fi conventus Ecclefiaftici ad" res 
 quas funt officii fui traclandas accedant, malevolorum ho- 
 minum calumnias a fe facile depellent ; dilTidiis compo- 
 nendis, qux Synodorum decretis augeri & immortalia 
 reddi queritantnr, planam commodamq; v iam aperient ; 
 h&refes in ipfo nafcendi articulo feliciter extinguent ; 
 fidem pariter ac pacem Ecclefiae integram illibatamq;. 
 pneftabunt ; omnibus deniq; patebit, viros ita animates, 
 nihil privatis Cuis commodis tribuere, nihil pras (tudiis 
 partium agere ; fed de veritate, de publica tranquil! itate, 
 de populi in pietate profeftu & falute unice follicitos 
 effe; iis unisex animo ftudere. De quibus autem ita 
 fentiat populus, iis fe credet ultro, quoq; velint fequetur : 
 nemo enim fibi in animum inducit eorum confiliis fen- 
 tentiifq; obniti, quorum de pietate & prudentia plene 
 conftat. Aut parum aut prave fapere duces cenfemus 
 quos fequi nolumus ; tarn inique vero fentire de homini- 
 bus qui nullam de iis ita fentiendi caufam fecerint, id 
 paucorum efle, imo nullorum arbitror. 
 
 Sed de his fatis ; veniamus ad recentiora ilia crimi- 
 nationum genera, quaa nos noftraq; tempora propius 
 tangunt. Ad haec praecipue animos advertere par fuerit, 
 ex quibus, fi commode utamur,qualiacunq; fint, frudlum 
 non exiguum reremus. Vera funt ? ut corrigamus quod 
 peccatum eft, & diligentius in pofterum caveamus, ne 
 ullus iifdem querelis locus fit: & ut minus vera fint quas 
 criminantur, cum inde fcire liceat qucs vere dici velint 
 qui nobis male volunt, ex iniquis eorum cenfuris admo- 
 ntmur, ubi fummam nos operam ponere opoiceat, & a. 
 quo offenfiOiium genere curatius abilinendum fit. Ni- 
 
 mius.
 
 t 
 
 II 
 
 niius fim, fi fingula memorem quas nobis objiciunt adven- 
 farii ; quos fi audias, fummam in ipfo Clero regnare mo- 
 rum corruptelam, meliores vero literas paene extin&as 
 jacere cenfeas. Sed haec mitto, quae apud squos rerum 
 aeftimatores minus ponderis habebunt, fi fecum reputent 
 nullum fuifle tempus, quo non mores magis caftigatos, 
 literas autem cultiores merito defiderares. Ea vero qui- 
 bus non tarn fingulos de clero impetunt, quam toti Ec- 
 clefiaftico ordini convitium faciunt, hssc fere funt. 
 
 Primo clamitant omnia apud nos turbarum & diflidio- 
 rum plena effe, adeoq; fruftra ab hujufmodi hominum 
 conventu boni aliquid fperari. Huic autem contume- 
 lioe ut fidem faciant, ad Synodos quae memoria noftra ha- 
 bits funt, provocant ; patrum fcilicet memoria ad quos 
 provocent non habent ; nam ante fauftiflimam illam re- 
 rum converfionem, quse dulu &: aufpiciis fereniflimi 
 GULIELMI ante annos plus triginta fata eft, per toti- 
 dem fere annornm fpatium Synodi nulls celebratse funt : 
 ad eas igitur, quss ex illo tempore habits funt plures, totos 
 fe convertunt, ex iis non vanum augurium de futuris duel 
 pofTe contendunt. Quis nefcit, inquiunt, nihil ab iis pro- 
 felum efTe, unde five in Ecclefiam, five in rempublicam 
 commodi aliquid redierit? neq; profe&o melius quicquam 
 fperari potuiue ab hominibus, qui ne inter fe quidem con- 
 venirent; contentionibus invicem graviflimis fummos 
 duos Ecclefiafticos ordines laboraffe, capitalibus odiis 
 utrinq; rem agi ; 8c quod longe turpiflimum, in ipfo 11- 
 mine Synodos eas impegifle, de ipfis rerum tradandarum 
 formulis exarfifle lites, quae nulla arte componi potuerunt; 
 unde fadum ut confiliis Synodalibus adieus omnis pe- 
 nitus prscluderetur. Res vero de quibus cum tanta 
 animorum contentione difputatum eft, res nihili fuilfe, 
 populo judice, nedum dignae erant ut lites de iis orta 
 tanta invicem fimuitate agitarentur, aut ut tarn diu 
 durarent; omnium autem minime par fuifle, ut levi- 
 cularum adeo rerum gratia, negotiis gravioribus -non 
 exitus modo, fed initium etiam obftrueretur. 
 
 B -a Hrec
 
 3 
 
 Haec adverfarii plenis manibus in nos ingerunt, hsec 
 urgent, his inftant, qui Synodis infenfiores funt. Nee 
 diffitendum quidem, quod in hac criminatione praeci- 
 puum eft, regnaiTe per plures annos inter duas quas 
 vocant Convocationis domos, de rebus fpecie exiguis 
 diilidia non exigua ; atq; indefaclum, ut ex iis non id 
 commodi in publicum fluxerit, quod merito fperari po- 
 terat. Sed osqui judices, quibus aliquis rerum ufusjeft, 
 norunt multa quae fpecie quidem funt exigua, re tamen 
 ipfa plurimi momenti effe, &: a minimis fsepe maxima 
 pendere ; norunt contentiones de jure, cum qui litigant 
 publicam perfonam fuftinent, non facile componi pofTe, 
 nee niii graviffima de caufa alterutros de jure fuo re- 
 cedere debere ; fope vero evenire, ut neutri rationibus 
 idoneis deftituantur. Minus autem mirandum fl lites 
 IMS diutius durarent, cum quss. una certa erat compo- 
 nendi via, perquam incommode deficeret, partim ex 
 Synodorum infrequentia, partim "quod vetera ada Sy- 
 nodalia funeftiiTimo illo urbis incendio funt abfumpta. 
 Sed nihil opus eft ut hxc fubtilius perfequamur; ini- 
 que admodum in lites has confertur, quod egregii ni- 
 liil a Synodis ha&enus fit praeftitum, cum jam plures anni 
 lint, quod controverfiis iis finis imponatur. Ex illo au- 
 tem tempore nullum fere Synodorum faftum eft peri- 
 culum, cum vel nullas eonvenerint, vel fi convenerint, 
 de rebus paulo gravioribus traftare non conceflum fu- 
 erit. Fruit ra igitur adverfarii ex eo quod prateritis 
 annis faftum eft, de futuro conjecturam faciunt: me- 
 liora jam omnia cum bona ipforum venia fperare liceat ; 
 liceat augurari Synodum jam celebrandam velle fum- 
 mopere cavere, ne vel novae lites oriantur, vel veteres 
 recrudefcant, ut in commune junclis ftudiis confulant 
 quod Ecclefiae reique publics fit utiie; animis deniq; 
 tranquillis, defa-catis, ctquis, modeftis, ad pacem com- 
 pofitis, veriq; ftudiofis convenientes, fedulo fkfturos, ne 
 lioftibus ludibrium debeant, ullamve criminandi occafio- 
 frabeant us, qui occajionem veliftt. 
 
 Akeruroi
 
 C '3 3 
 
 Alterum criminationum caput, quo Clerum premunt 
 adverfarii, eft, quod fuisfe finibus continere nefcii, fem- 
 per aliquid novi moliantur, & indebita fibi jura vendi- 
 cent; quod Ecclefiam folutam, liberam, immunem pror- 
 fus, & exemtam velint a fummi magiftratus imperio 
 atq; authoritate. Sed quo obfecro colore, qua veri fpe- 
 cie hsec Ecclefiae Anglicanae Clero imputantur ? De Pon- 
 tificiis quidem hsec jure dixerint ; res enim palam eft -Sc 
 in aperto ; dixerint de iis qui nupero fchifmate fecefTum 
 a nobis feeere , qui quodammodo in Pontificiorum ca- 
 ftra trahfiiffe videantur ; his adjungas forfan & e noftris 
 nonnullos, fed nee multos, nee magni nominis, qui in 
 excmptionem iftam nimium quantum propendeant : to- 
 tum vero Clerum hoc crimine gravare, & eo nomine 
 in fummum paffim odium adducere, haec mera eft ca- 
 lumnia. Cum fententia ifta non modo fummi magi- 
 ftratus authoritati deroget, ad quam omnium ubiq; 
 gentium, omniumq; retro temporum confenfu, facro- 
 rum cura jure attinet ; fed 8c reformatae apud nos re- 
 Jigionis fundamenta convellat ; ab hac criminatione^ fi 
 qua alia, Clerus fe immunem hue ufq; prsftitit. Nuper 
 admpdum eft quod hifce in terris caput fuum extulit hsec 
 Regii fuprematus impugnatio. Nee aliunde profiuxiffe 
 videtur, quam ab iis, qui, ut reformatse religionis patro- 
 ni cenferi velint, reformats; tamen fidei Defenfori,Regi op- 
 timo infenQ funtj nee aliam ob caufam Ecclefiam 
 a magiftratu neutiquam pendere contend unt, quam 
 quod Is fit ille magiftratus a quo pendeat, quern pro 
 legitimo principe haberi nolunt. 
 
 Ab his hominibus profluxit prima hujus mali labes ; 
 nee apud alios fere locum invenit, nifi qui cum iis dc 
 jure quoq; regni paria fentiunt: quod ad cssteros atti- 
 net, haud dubie, ubi locus erit, criminis hujus fufpicio- 
 ne iniquiflime fe premi pronis animis oftendent, & alia 
 omnia fentire, quam qua; maligne adeo iis imputantur. 
 Lubentes fatebuntur Ecclefias omnes ubiq; locorum re- 
 eptas, quod ad externum earum ftatum, templa, re- 
 
 ditu%
 
 H 
 
 ditus, honores, emolumenta ; quod ad vim canonnm 
 quos tulerint, quod ad erTedum omnem legitimum cert- 
 furarum quas exerceant, quod deniq; ad omnes jurif- 
 di&ionis coa&ivae modos fpeciefq; fpeftat, a fummis di- 
 tionum iftarum magiftratibus unice 8c in folidum pen- 
 dere; eorumq; effe de doftrinis etiam omnibus cog- 
 nofcere; nee quicquamquod fit publicum, ab authoritate 
 publica eximi debere. Fatebuntur turn res, turn per- 
 fonas Ecclefiafticas, fummi magiftratus imperio, jure 
 gentium, fubjici; &r fi de jure hoc lis moveri potuifTet, 
 Ecclefiam tamen magiftratui debuiffe fubjici, tacito 
 quodam pafto fe reipfa fubjecifTe, ut gratiam ipfi ali- 
 quam rependat pro fummis iftis beneficiis, quibus illam 
 magiftratus cumularit. Qua: fane in hac BRITANNIA 
 noftra tot tantaq; funt, ut fi magiftratus Clero optionem 
 integram relinqueret, velit necne Ecclefiam reipublicae, 
 eo quo nunc eft modo, diutius illigari, an nexus omnes 
 vinculaq; quibus jam tenetur refolvi, Ecclefiamq; pri- 
 ftina fua quam crepant libertate redonari ; ea lege, ut 
 fua fibi habeat Ecclefia, fua refpublica ; nullus dubitem, 
 quin acerrimos exemtionis iftius patronos fententi^e fuae 
 Itatim atq; extemplo poeniteret. Sed quicquid ifti fen- 
 ferint, in Clerum certe nullo fuo merito hoc crimen in- 
 tentatur ; afta ipforum Synodalia nihil praj fe ferunt 
 unde hoc in eos confletur odium : neq; vero fcriptis, vel 
 multi ex iis, vel primarii, nee dignitate nee literis prae- 
 cellentes viri, fecerunt, quod toti Clero vitio vertatur : 
 paucorum autem ut culpa in omnes conferatur, contra 
 jus rafq; eiTe, in confeflb eft. 
 
 Sed inftant porro adverfarii; fatentur quidem fenten- 
 tiam hanc non a multis palam 8c aperto capite defendi ; 
 fed a nullo non tacite foveri contendunt, & in finu amari. 
 Unde vero hoc conftat? unde quod clam & in finu fo- 
 vemus, his hominibus innotuit ? fi illis credas, certa ha- 
 bent unde hoc fciri poffit indicia ; nee fcriptis fcilicet, 
 nee concionibus ad populum hanc nos fententiam refu- 
 farc, aut fuprematum Kegium tueri, nee fententix iftius 
 
 authores
 
 C 15 J 
 
 authores cenfura ulla Synodica ferire: quas Icilicet do- 
 lrinas non damnamus, eas probare merito cenfendi 
 fumus. Huic deniq; calumniae hinc etiam fpeciem ali- 
 quam quaerunt, quod cum hofce homines non aegre pad- 
 atur Clerus fententiam fuam in vulgus propagare, faci- 
 lem tamen & proclivem admodum fe oftendat ad cen- 
 furas in eos exercendas, qui poteftatem Ecclefiafticam 
 in ordinem cogere, 8c infra quod par erat deprimere vi- 
 deantur. Haec adverfarii; quae fi fingula refellerem, 
 nimium fe diffunderet oratio. 
 
 Quod vero, f fat Us difclufus inic^uis ipfe nequeam, id 
 vos penes eric nullo negotio facere ; vobis, fiquidem con- 
 felTus celebrandi copia fiat, in poteftate erit argumen- 
 tis fumme compendiariis, nee minus inviftis monftrare, 
 quam procul ab hoc crimine abfitis, 8c quam fuftinetis ; 
 hoc nomine invidiam, amoliri omnem, 8c longe fum- 
 movere. 
 
 Norint interea adverfarii, Clero quidem non fuifTe 
 occafionem Synodice dicendi quid in hac caufa fentiant ; 
 nunquam vero defuiffe qui fuprematum Regium fcriptis 
 erudite tuerentur ; nullumq; adeo dubitandi locum effe, 
 quin primo quoq; tempore palam fiat vos in utramq; 
 partem peccantibus pariter infenfos efTe, & media quo- 
 da mmodo via incedere ; nee ultra limites a vetere Eccle- 
 ila pofitos, regniq-, hujus legibus definitos veftram ex- 
 tendere velle poteftatem, aut novi quicquam juris af- 
 felare, unde vel populi in facris libertati vis inferatur ? 
 vel aliqua in civilem magiftratum injuria derivetur. 
 
 Tertia, eaq; fane graviffima, in Clerum criminatio 
 eft, quod male in Regem domumq; Regiam fint animo, 
 mala fide; quod in fedicionem fint proclives, rerumq; 
 novarum ftudiofi; quod multa proterve, infolenter, fa- 
 diofe faciant in Regis contumeliam, ad ipfum folio de- 
 turbandum, 8c jus SucceiTionis convellendum, legibus 
 licet fanftiflimis conftitutum, femper paratiflimi. Do- 
 let profeclo, vehementer dolet, hanc faitem criminatio 
 sera, non licere ex omai parte fiftam falikmq:, dicere, 
 
 Quam
 
 c 
 
 Quam vellem unum hoc officii mei efTet, ut vobis ex 
 animo & fmcere gratularer ob propenfam Cleri in Regi- 
 am Majeftatem benevolentiam, ob obfequium ab omni- 
 bus inculpate praeftitum, ob praecla ra fidei exempla. nul- 
 la labe contaminatae ; quod turn Ecclefise turn reipublicae 
 falus, & Religionis quam profitemur indoles, &: folennia 
 ilia quibus nps ad Regem domumq; Regiam tuendum 
 devinximus juramenta, enixe flagitant ! Quam vdiun 
 haec criminatio, fi non penitus refelli poiTct, in unurn ta- 
 rnen alterumq; tantum merito caderet I Sed proh pudor I 
 nimis quam fpeciofa eft haec adverfariorum quei*a, ni- 
 mis quam late patet; non diflimulandum eft e Clero 
 plures effe, qui ofEcio fuo non modo turpiter defuerint, 
 fed & contra fecerint. Neminem vero qui hac itifa- 
 mia laborat, ad hanc Synodum legari temere creden- 
 dum eft, cum legati crimen in legantes recidat, atq; 
 ita imius culpa in plures difFunderetur. Adverfarii qui- 
 dem, qui nihil magis velint, quam ut huic crimination! 
 fides habeatuf, totum fere Cleri ordinem hoc nomine in- 
 famant, &: in odium adducunt ; fi contra Regem nihil, 
 at pro Rege parum feciffe clamitant. Itane vero ? pa- 
 rumne eft, quod quaecunq; in caufa regia fcripta funt, 
 ab iis fere fcripta funt? parumneeft, quod cum nupero 
 conjuratorum fcelere refpublica in praefentiffimum dif- 
 crimen adduceretur, Epifcopi, qui turn in urbe erant 
 plurimi, uno animo, atque exemplo plane novo, palam, 
 apertc, prolixe, verbifq; conceptiflimis fuam erga Re- 
 gem fidem, quamq; vehementer ab impiis iftis confiliis 
 abhorrerent, i':ripto profitebantur , omnefq; ad parein 
 fidem prasitandam obnixe hortati funt ? parumne eft, quod 
 ampliftimum illud Epifcoporum teftimonium Clerus ubi- 
 que avidis aniiriis exceperunt, fummoq; confenfu, quan- 
 tum poterant, fuum fecerunt ? haeccine vim nullam habi- 
 tura funt ad graviflimam hanc calumniam diluendam ? 
 habebunt ccrte apud aquos omnes maximara, 
 
 Sed
 
 C 17 1 
 
 Sed inftant adverfarii, rogantq; importuni, quid nunc 
 egerimus, quo fidum benevolumq; in Regem animurn 
 teftatum faciamus ; quid, quo populum in hoc fummo 
 rerum difcrimine, in officio fuo contineamus. Cum pub- 
 lica tranquillitas nefariorum hominum factionibus per- 
 turbatur, cum civium fortunae, vitas periclkantur, cum 
 Regis ipfius falus in dubio vertitur, cum Libertatis deni- 
 que Religionis caufa agitur ; hoc, inquiunt, tempus 
 poftulat, ut qui funt de Clero, vocem tub A inftar attollant, 
 popuiumq; magno ftudio hortentur ad obedientiam Regi 
 debitani; ut infelices 8c calamitofos feditioforum exitus 
 iis ob oculos ponant ; ut memores faciant fanftiifimi il- 
 lius juramenti, quo pleriq; omnes qui funt aliquo in nu- 
 mero, fidem fuam obftrinxerunt ; quantumq; fit perju- 
 rii flagitium, cjuo nihil atrocius, nihil, quod ultor fcele- 
 rum Deus acrius vindicabit ; ut periculum quod Eccle- 
 fioe, cjuod reipublicee, quod bonis omnibus imminet ex 
 perditorum hominum confiliis, veris vividifq; coloribus 
 depingant; ut Papifoti deniq; ingenium atq; indolem 
 omnia ad fe pro arbitrio rapientis, leges juraq; omnia, 
 divina, humana proculcantis, noftrseq; praecipue B RI- 
 TA NNI^E fubverfionem per fas nefafq; indefinenter 
 molientis ; ut hujus ingenium, infidum, fubdolum, cru- 
 entum altius animis infigant. Haec, inquiunt adverfarii, 
 viros oportuit Ecclefiafticos fecifTe, qui in Regem bene 
 animati funt. 
 
 Oportuit fane, fatemur ultro ; 8c quin plurimi fecerint, 
 quidnam dubitemus? fi qui vero quod fui eft officii 
 nondum egerint, datur iis in prasfenti reipublics difcri- 
 mine ampliflima occafio hauc a fe calumniam depellendi: 
 licet jam omnibus, hoc crimine fefe expurgare, fideiq; in 
 Regem non fucatss teftimonium certifHrnum prasbere. 
 
 Quis enim de Synodi hujus fide dubitaverk, fi vide 
 eos officii fui memores, feditionem, perfidiam, perjuri- 
 um, Issfaeq; majefbatis crimen ex ammo deteftari ; feJi- 
 citatem, qua fruuntur fub asquidimo optimi Principis 
 
 C
 
 1 8 J 
 
 unperio, gratis animis recolere ; omniaq; quoe bonos ci- 
 ves fidumq; Clerum decet, fe praftituros, fanfte polli- 
 ceri ? nee incommode ex Synodi furTragjis, quid ii quo- 
 que fentiant quorum perfonam fuftinent, judicium ferri 
 poilit : fed & iis jam fingulis facultas eft, in fua quemq; 
 Ecclefia, quali fint in Regem anirno, teftatum facere, 
 fi greges fibi commiflfos oificii fui moneant, ipfifq; exem- 
 plo fint ; fi Pontificiorum dolos, fraudes, coxles, lanienas 
 iis in memoriam revocent ; fi quid metuendum fit a Prin- 
 cipe iftorum facris ab incunabulis enutrito, copiofe often- 
 dant ; fi nefariorum hominum calumnias in Regem opti- 
 mum iniquifllme conficlas diluant ; fidemq; Principibus 
 inviolatam legibus divinis pariter ac humanis deberi, di- 
 Hgcnter doceant. Cleri certe maxime intereft hanc a fe 
 criminationem procul amovere, non tanturn ut adverfa- 
 riis os obftruant, fed ut civium, ut procerum animos fibi 
 roncilient, ut Regiam fibi majeftatem benevolam propi- 
 tiamque merito fuo reddant. Quod vero tantopere eo- 
 rum intereft ut faciant, id jarafumma cum laude facere, 
 M libeat ? licet. 
 
 Has praecipue crirninationes in nos intentant adverfa- 
 rii : quas nifi falfo nobis objici asquis judicibus conftiterit ; 
 ut Synodus hominum ita animatorum celebretur, nemo 
 prudens, nemo qui pietatis, qui pacis, cjui boni public! 
 ftudiofus, fuaferit. Si tales conv.enturi eftis, quod de. 
 alio ccetu dixit Apoftolus, BX, eh TD x/>e?TToj/, aM* eis TO %-T\QV 
 o-uujepye&e, quodabfitl 
 
 Veftrum, opinor, nemini ignotum eft, ut a multis 
 acriter contendatur, non modo reipublicce, fed 8f Eccle- 
 tix, ipfiq; adeo Clero confultius eife atq; utilius, ut fo^ 
 lennes hi conventus penitus intermittantur ; cum rationes 
 propter quas olim agerentur, nullum jam locum habeant 5 
 nee quicquam fuperfit, in quo Synodi pro officii fui rati- 
 one fe exerceant : omnia enim quo: vel fidem vel difcipli- 
 nam Ecclefi:e fpe&ant, articulis, canonibus, legibus,. ac- 
 curate doceri, definiri, firman. Quorfum . igitur annui 
 
 Cleri
 
 t 19 3 
 
 -Cleri cnetus ? nonne ex omni parte praeftabilius eflr, lit 
 illi quorum eft domini gregem pafcere, domi fe contine- 
 ant ; ut plebem fanis piifq; concionibus erudiant, preci- 
 bus, confiliis adjuvent, bonorumq; paftorum partes GHH- 
 nes ftudiofe impleant ; ut deniq; qua; fande & fapienter 
 a majoribus conftituta funt, & ipfi obfervent, & ab aliis, 
 quantum in fe eft, obfervari faciant ? nonne praeftat ho- 
 mines Ecclefiafticos in hifce occupari ? ne quid dicatur 
 de rebus eorum domefticis, quae plerumq; Funt tenues, 
 anguftse, inopes, qu-jeque adeo ut iis vacent impenfe po- 
 ftulant : nonne hoc optabilius, quam a domibus, a fami- 
 liis fuis in longinquum evocari, non fine gravi & tem- 
 poris 8c rei domeiticae difpendio ; magnamq; anni par- 
 tern hie in urbe otiari, fub oftentu quidem Synodales 
 confeffus celebrandi, Ecclefiaeq; res agendi; verum re- 
 ipfa, ut nihil agant, vel ilia folum, quoe, fi non inutiiia, 
 nequaquam tarn en funt Ecclefiag neceftaria ? Hc incom- 
 moda 8c efle maxima, nee vitari pofle, fi qui ad Synodos 
 legati funt, eo frequentes confluant : quod fi confeffus non 
 fuerint frequentes, nee squum eiTe, ut quae gravioris fint 
 momenti, a paucis traftentur ; nee fi quid definierint, 
 apud ipfum Clerum, nedum apud populum, ponderis 
 quiequam habiturum ; pratfertim cum illi pauci in can- 
 dem omnes fententiam non ierint, quod in rebus air- 
 quantum arduis fruftva fperemus: frequentium verc 
 confeffuum quaenam funt utilitates, quibus certa eorum 
 incommoda penfari poflint ? 
 
 Hasc fere funt quae contra omnes omnino Synodos in 
 hodierno Ecclefiss ftatu afferri folent ; atq; hasc quidem af- 
 feruntur non modo ab hominibus qui funt alieniore in 
 Clerum animo, fed ab iis etiam, quos nee infenfos, nee 
 iniquos, nee rerum imperitos dixeris. 
 
 Nee fane fpeciofa haec efle negaverim ; confeffus aut 
 frequentes efle oportere, aut nullos, id vero aequum efle 
 nemo non conceflerir. Quin & eurn Ecclefias ftatum eflbj 
 tit pleraq; quas alicujus funt momenti, jam occapata firft : 
 
 C 2 &
 
 c 
 
 conftituta ; id quoque, fi contendatur, non magnopere 
 repugnaverim : fed nee dederim nihil fupereffe, in quo 
 Ecclefiaftica utiliter concilia operam fuam collocent; nee 
 tanta & tarn gravia e(Te incommoda, quae ex conventibus 
 hifce neceiTario enafcantur. Quod enim ad prius atti- 
 net, nullane funt rerum capita,, quas a Synodo in Eccle- 
 fiae aut reipublicas commodum traclari queant ? Certe, 
 fi via poflit aliqua iniri cornponendi diffidia quibus jam 
 nimium diu laboramus ; fi ; ratio conciliations aliqua ex- 
 cogitari cum iis, qui a nobis difcefTus fecerunt ; fi quic- 
 quam fieri poflit, quo canonibus fua vis, fuus honos red- 
 datur ; quo mali mores felicius corrigantur ; quo offen- 
 fionum caufae ex Ecclefia tollantur; quo jurifdidionis 
 Ecclefiafticas vitia reformentur ; fi quid, quo meliores li- 
 ters, facras praefertim, inftaurari pomnt \ fi quid denique, 
 quo juventus re.tius inftituatur ; fi quidvis horum pei* 
 Synodorum confefTus obtinere liceret, fummo certe pub^ 
 lico bono conventuras, infenfiflimi quique, nedum osqui 
 rerum aeftimatores, neceffe eft concedant. 
 
 Quod vero attinet ad graviffima ilia quae memorantur 
 incommoda ; funt fane gravia, eoq; graviora quo fre- 
 quentiora ; frequentiora vero noftris hifce funt tempori- 
 bus, quam olim ; cum nunc annua fint, olim vero non 
 nifi interpofitis intervals fatis longis redierint; & ut 
 Synodorum tempora frequentius redeunt, ita quo auge,- 
 atur malum, diucius durant, per mag,nam fcilicet anni 
 eujufque partem ; ita jam redit labor actus in orbem impro- 
 bus. Nifi igitur Clero non convenire modp detur, fed 8c 
 de rebus gravioi ibus tradare, unde pietati, moribus, Ir- 
 teris, Ecclefiae paci, aut tranquillitatj reipublico: melius 
 confulatur, vix dubitari pomt, quin homines otii, quietis 
 amantes, malint religion!, literis, rebus domefticis vaca? 
 re, gregibus fibi commiflis in pietate bonifq; moribus 
 erudiendis invigilare, quidvis denique domi agere, quam 
 fedibus fuis quaii exulare, ut nihil agant. Sin agere con- 
 cedatur quod Ecclefias, quod reipublicse fit utile, hac & 
 
 graviora
 
 C 3 i 3 
 
 gi-aviora quasque incommoda libenter devorabunt. Sunt 
 quidem pertenui fortuna Cleri pars longe maxima, 
 reiq; adeo familiaris cura merito follicitqs habet, nee fa- 
 cile pati poffunt quse ferant Synod i difpendia : quibus 
 vero vel fua dignitas, vel Cleri fuffragia, hoc quicquid 
 eft oneris imponuntr r ii fere funt quibus lautior res eft ; 
 non quod optimus quifq; fit in re lautiffima, aut quod 
 ne ii quidem quibus benignior fors fucrit, null urn inde 
 fentiant incommodum. 
 
 Sed quorfum base? quamobrem prolixe memorem, 
 quse ultro citroq; in hac caufa ja&ari folent ? ut videatis 
 fcilicet, quo in loco res noftraa funt, quantaq- animi con- 
 tentione opus eft, ne noftra culpa novum pondus ma- 
 jorq; vis eorum accedat argumentis, qui adea Synodis 
 infenfi funt, ut omnino nullas celebrari velint. Si enim 
 non fine quadam rationis fpecie difputetur, utiles necne 
 fint Synodales conventus etiam turn, cum legati ad eos 
 funt quales oportuit, pir, prudentes, moderati, veritatis 
 pariter ac pacis ftudiofi, in rempublicam, in Regem be- 
 neanimati; qualis demum fuerit bonorum omnium de 
 Synodorum utilitate fententia, fi fuerimus quales, qui 
 funt ex adverib, criminationibus fuis nos videri volunt ? 
 Si dididia turbafq; foveamus, fi ftudiis partium adi, aut 
 proprii quaeftus vel honoris gratia, publicam pacem per- 
 turbemus; fi nobis poteftatem arrogemus, qualis nee 
 cum libertate Chriftiana, nee cum falute reipublicae, ma^ 
 giftratufq; fummi juribus ftare poterit ; fi a regni legibus 
 immunitatem Ecclefiae, id eft, nobifmet ipfis fub Eccle- 
 fias nomine, vindicemus ; fi denique conculcatis fanftif- 
 fimis juramentis fidem Regb majeftati datam nefarie 
 violemus ; omnes qui religioni, qui patriae, qui Regi, 
 bene volunt, unanimes cenfebunt ipfum non.tantum> 
 pro jure fuo, quod poflit, fed etiam bene. & prudenter, 
 quod debeat agere, fi Synodales conventus vel penitusin- 
 termitti, vel in aliud tempus diiFerri jubeat, cum major 
 ipes affalferit notes melioris homines con ventures,
 
 . 
 
 que fines obtineri poffe, qui foil digni fynt propter 
 quos conveniant. 
 
 Quid igitur ? egone hujus Synodi confeffibus dift'eren- 
 dis aut intermittendis author fim ? Minime vero ; haec 
 alterius fori quseftio eft. Ego quidem, cum videam qua- 
 les quantiq; viri mihi jam ob oculos verfantur ; cum vi- 
 deam quo Tub Prsefide confeffus fuos habituri fiut, quo 
 nemo literis ornatior, virtutibus inftru&ior, prudentia 
 folertior ; nemo in Ecclefiam, in rempublicam, in regem 
 animo benevolo magis 8c propenfo eft ; ex hujus Synodi 
 confiliis nihil non fauftum fperari pofTe, fi in commune 
 confulere concefTum fit, habeo mihi perfuafiffimum : at- 
 quc adeo, fi Regiae majeftati aliter vifum fuerit, non id 
 in caufa e(Te, quod finiftram aliquam de vobis veftroque 
 erga ipfum obfequio fcntentiam foveat ; fed quod tem- 
 pora perturbatiora Tint, quam quibus res graves arduaeq; 
 commode tradari queant ; quodq; arbitretur eos qui in 
 ipfum bene animati iunt, ubivis locorum operam fuam 
 utilius collocare pofle, in tanto animorum divortio, cum- 
 que praefens reipublica; periculum omnium oculos ad fe 
 trahat, quam fi hie diftineantur in levioris tantum mo- 
 menti rebus traftandis occupati. Quicquid vero Regiae 
 Maieftati confultius vifum fuerit, meminerimus noftrum 
 efle, in utrumque paratos agere, quod bonos viros pro- 
 bofque civcs deceat ; Deo Regique qucs fua funt redde- 
 re ; religionem quae a Deo eft, doftrina tueri, moribus 
 ornare ; regem omni obfervantia col^re, honore afficere, 
 amore profequi, jura ejus omnia, pratcipue autem fupre- 
 matum defendere, vindicare ; preces pro eo ardentiflimas 
 ad Deum fundere, i'itaw orantes illi prolixam^ iwperium 
 ICCUYUW, domuw tutam, cxercitus fortes, jenatum fdelem, 
 fopulum probum, & qtt<ecunq; hominis jf Regis vota funt : 
 in omnibus denique quae noftri funt officii, populo prxire^ 
 &: diligentiffime profpicere, ne vel Ecclefia vel reipub- 
 lica tranquillitas, noilra aliqua culpa in difcrimen ad- 
 ducatur. 
 
 Ss
 
 Si tales nos dederimus, dabitnus autem fi Dei gloria, 
 fi amor patriae, fi propriae exiftimationis cura quicquam 
 tangit, non ii modo qui nobis bene volunt, gratulabuntur 
 omnem adverfariis calumniandi anfam ereptam ; fed ab 
 illis ipfis etiam laudem invkis extorquebimus. Sin ita 
 beatis effe non liceat, bonis certe aequifque omnibus nos 
 probabimus ; fummi regni ordines, qui tutelae noftra? 
 nunquam defuerunt, impenfius nobis fevebunt ; Regias 
 denique clientelae his fi modis nos commendabirnus, nihil 
 eft quod ab ipfo non fperemus ; Ecclefiam quam fande 
 recepit confervandam, lubens 8f ex ammo tueri perget. 
 Poftremo, fi hifce, uti par eft, officiis fedulo fungamur, 
 Deumipfum, incujus manu funt corda Regum, quique 
 animos populorum quocunq; velit pro arbitrio fledit, no- 
 bis demerebimur, ut votis noftris benigne annuat, ut Ec- 
 clefiam hanc laudem in terra ponat, ut ejus miniftros 8c 
 antiftites numine fuo protegat, 8f a malo liberet, ille Rex 
 Y.egum, ille folus potem, cujus unius eft regnant? i$ foten* 
 Ua, & gloria ^ 
 
 F I N I &
 
 Booty lately printed for Jonah Bowyer 
 the Rofe in St. Paul'/ Church yard. 
 
 SCripture vindicated from the Mifinterpretations of the 
 Lord Bifhop of Bangor y in his Anfwer to the Dean of 
 Worceftefs Vifitation Sermon concerning Church Authority. 
 By Francis Hare, D. D. Dean of Worcefter, and Chaplain in 
 Ordinary to his Majefty. 
 
 Spicilegium SS. Patrum ut & Hsereticorum feculi poft Chri- 
 ftum natum. I. II. & III. quorum vel Integra monumenta, 
 vel fragmenta, partim ex aliorum Patrum libris jam impref- 
 fls collegit, & cum codicibus Manufcriptis contulit, partim 
 ex. MSS. primum edidit, ac fingula tarn Prsefatione, quam 
 Nocis fubjunftis illuftravit Joannis Erneftus Grabius. To- 
 mus 2. Editio altera, priori au&ior & emendatior. Oxo- 
 nia? e Theatro Sheldoniano. Impenfis J. Bowyer Bibliop, 
 Londinenf. Price jo/. 
 
 T'he Second 'Edition. 
 
 PrjeleftionesPoeticse in Schola NaturalisPhilofophise OXON. 
 habits Audore Jofepho Trapp, A. M. Co!l. Wadh. Socio, 
 &; prsledore publico Lefhira Poetica j a Viro infigniflimo 
 D. Henerico Birkhead, L. L. D. Coll. Omnium Animarum 
 olim Socio ; in celeberrima Univerfitate Oxonienfi nuper 
 fundate. Editio fecunda.
 
 from which it was borrowed
 
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