or External to perswade us to be or do otherwise And indeed 't is the greatest Honor we can do him Phil. 2.5 6 7 8 9. to endeavour to have the same mind in us which was in Christ Jesus and by all means possible to transcribe his Pattern who was the great Exemplar of Meekness and lowliness of heart Thus if we walk as we are oblig'd in his Steps 1 Pet. 2.21 and patiently bear as he did with Meekness and Humility those Injuries and Affronts which are usually the Portion and Pattimony of the best Christians in this School of Affliction If we account and esteem Honors Riches Pleasures Wit Beauty Strength and all the other enticing Allurements of this World as they are indeed in themselves Loss and Dung Phil. ◠8 Emptiness and Vanity compar'd with the Exellencies of Christ Jesus our Lord 〈◊〉 and do humbly acknowledge that God i◠Christ is the Proprietor and Dispenser 〈◊〉 'em If we be careful to manage the◠Subsidia prudently and discreetly to God Glory and the mutual Comfort and Benefit of our selves and others if we chearfully submit to God's unerring Will and Wisdom in disposing of us and our Concernments and patiently bear every cross Accident which may happen to us and Ours upon these Conditions I say we shall in some proportion resemble our blessed Saviour's innocent Life in Grace and Goodness here a temper of mind and Spiritmost acceptable to him and we need not doubt but upon these hearty Compliances he will accept of us and reward us when he comes again in his glorious Majesty hereafter 3 We must yield our unfeigned Assent to and sted factly Believe this great Mystery of our Saviour's Manhood that he was conceiv'd without Sin in the Womb and born of a pure and immaculate Virgin by the Operation and Influence of the Holy Spirit that he voluntarily assum'd our Nature and has by the Merits of his Active and Passive Obedience fully satisfied God's Infinite Justice for all our sins which as I hinted before could not be aton'd for by any other Means then by Suffering the severest Resentments of God's just Wrath and Vengeance in that Nature which had sinned against him But because the Guilt and Punishment of our Sins were a Burden too insupportable for Flesh and Blood therefore we must also believe that our frail Humanity was supported by his Omnipotent Divinity of which more fully in the next Chapter Let us therefore seriously apply this Point by the exercise of a true and lively Faith That as Christ was conceiv'd by the Operation of the Holy Spirit in the Womb of a Virgin and became Man for Us So we may conceive him Spiritually by a true and saving Faith and bring forth the Fruits of Evangelical Obedience in a holy vertuous and innocent Conversation 4. We should be always mindful to offer up upon the Altars of our Souls that reasonable Sacrifice and Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the Incarnation of our Lord. Could ever Tidings be more welcome or any Report so grateful to mortal Ears as this was All the Inhabitants of Heaven were ravisht with joy breaking forth into Hymns of Praise and Congratulation for the Redemption of Mankind and how should we Christians most especially who inherit all the blessed Priviledges of the Gospel bear a part in that Heavenly Chorus praising the Lord incessantly for his Goodness and declaring the Wonders which he hath done for the Children of Men. Psal 107.8 15 c. To shut up this Point I 've been the more express in the handling of it not only because 't is the great Foundation on which our Christian Religion is built but because our restless Adversary the Devil and his wicked Agents and Emissaries have in all Ages us'd their utmost endeavours to corrupt and undermine it And tho' this Doctrine be an impregnable Fortress and Bulwark under which we may securely defend our selves and against which all the Powers of Hell shall never be able to prevail yet we are not ignorant of Satan's devices nor of his malicious Stratagems and mischievous Designs against us and our Religion And how active and successful he has been hitherto in his Temptations and Allurements is most notoriously evident For this great implacable Adversary has endeavour'd by all means possible to extinguish the Knowledge of Christ the Messiah of the World both before and since his coming in the Flesh And 1 Before his coming into the World How restless the Devil has been hitherto in his Endeavors to undermine destroy this Doctrine he us'd all imaginable Means to extirpate the whole Jewish Nation whence 't was prophesied the Messiah should descend He studied to ridicule and enervate all the Prophesies and Promises of Holy Scripture concerning him He made it his business to possess the World with gross Conceits and Apprehensions of Christ's Kingdom at his Coming And his Suggestions were so prevasent and successful that 't was generally expected that the Messiah should appear in great State and Grandeur that he would bestow Crowns and Scepters and the greatest Immunities and Priviledges upon his Subjects Which conceit doubtless our Saviour appearing in so mean and despicable a Condition was not the least cause of the Jewish Infidelity and did in a great measure obstruct their embracing of the Gospel It seems the very Apostles of Christ were tainted with this Prejudice by their being so inquisitive about the Restitution of the Kingdom again to Israel They expected doubtless to be Grandees in it as may be gather'd from that request of the Mother of the two Sons of Zeledee for whom she was so importunate with our Saviour Marth 20.21 that one of them might sit on his right hand and the other on his left in his temporal Kingdom for so the Words must be understood Thus far had Satan's Stratagems prevail'd to prejudice Mankind against the Messiah of the World Before his coming 2 When he was come from the Cradle to the Cross his whole Life was an entire Series of Sorrows and Persecutions How did the Devil inflame the Scribes and Pharisees with a fiery and impetuous zeal and eagerness not only to defend and maintain all the Laws and Constitutions Rites and Ceremonies which they receiv'd from Moses with their own erroneous Comments and heterodox Opinions concerning 'em But to oppose and stifle with all imaginable Vigour and Policy our excellent Religion as it were in the very Embryo ere it had got any considerable footing in the World And tho' this was beyond the reach of their Power and Malice God having decree'd to establish it by his own Omnipotent Arm yet he persecuted its excellent and innocent Author to Death by the severest Methods of Cruelty and Injustice And tho' the Devil receiv'd then a deadly blow yet he has not been wanting to his power ever since to persecute and ensnare his Members and he is restless still in his endeavours to prevail with
reduced to this Head Thou shalt love the Lord thy God saith he with all thy Heart Matth. 22 37 38 39. with all thy Mind with all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and thy Neighbour as thy Self Hereby implying that we should make that Return of Duty unto God as to Love and Honour Worship and Obey him with all the Powers and Faculties of our Souls and Members of our Bodies That we should so love our Neighbours viz. the whole Race of Mankind as to be just and charitable to 'em in our whole Entercourse and Dealings with them That we should have that tender Regard to our own present and eternal Welfare 1 Cor. 6.20 Jam. 1.17 as to glorifie God both in our Souls and Bodies and to keep our Selves unspotted in this world These are the indispensible Duties of Religion which God expects and requires from us and the certain Conditions of our Happiness which being faithfully and conscientiously perform'd will dispose and qualifie us for all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Gospel I shall therefore treat of these Duties severally and distinctly by which I hope to acquit and discharge my self of that Task I 've undertaken And we begin 1st More particularly Of true saving Faith With our Duty to God And hereby we are oblig'd to Believe and Confess That there is but one God and that there 's no other besides Him That he is an infinite and immortal Spirit without Beginning and without End That by his infinite Power Wisdom and Goodness he has made all things visible and invisible the Heavens the Earth the Sea and all that in them is We must believe also that he that made 'em doth preserve them in this excellent Beauty and Order wherein they do now consist that they might all minister to his Glory and the mutual Benefit of one another We must believe That he knows all Things and is intimately present in all Places and that he is the Fountain and Original of all Happiness and Perfection of Grace and Glory That he is a God of infinite Power Justice Mercy Truth Goodness c. and therefore abundantly able and freely willing to protect our Persons and reward all our Endeavours with Temporal Spiritual and eternal Blessings But we are oblig'd more particularly to believe and confess That God has made us Men by Creation Christians by Redemption and Candidates of Grace and Glory by Sanctification Father Son and Holy Ghost three distinct Persons in the Unity of the Divine essence after a secret and inconceivable Manner which we must believe but cannot understand Again we must believe and confess That all things contain'd in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word and Will of God reveal'd to the Sons of Men by his holy Spirit That all the Affirmations thereof are true both as to the Doctrinal and Historical parts of them and we must acknowledge 'em to be so tho' they be above our Reason and beyond the reach of our humane Capacities that all God's Commandments are holy just and reasonable and necessary to be observ'd and obey'd tho' they may seem opposite to our natural Tempers and visible Interests in this World That all the Promises and Threatnings in Scripture which concern the present and future Welfare and Misery of Mankind upon the performance or neglect of the Duties and Conditions on which they are grounded shall most certainly and inevitably come to pass For our God is of infinite Veracity faithful and just in his Dealings with us Heaven and Earth shall pass away Mat. 5.18 but not one Iota of his Word shall fail till all these things be fulfilled But herein we must be cautious that we do not mistake a naked Assent to the Truth of these Mysteries for a Principle of saving Faith Jam. 2.19 For the Devils do believe all these things to be true and tremble to think of it But that Faith by which we Christians through the infinite Mercies of God and the alone Merits of Christ do expect Salvation The Properties of a saving Faith must appear in the powerful Effects and excellent Fruits of it 't is a lively active Faith if it be sincere most ready to comply with and willing to obey the whole Will of God And the effects of it will appear And this is the first Instance of Duty which we owe unto God Namely to believe in him 2dly As a necessary and natural Result of a justifying and saving Faith We are oblig'd to Love him above all things 1. By our love to God This is another Branch of Christian Piety and an indispensible Condition of our supreme Happiness For if we do not love God sincerely and devoutly with our whole Hearts Wills and Affections in this Life 't is morally impossible that we should enjoy him in the other Now the Motives by which we are induc'd to love the things of this World with any competent Delight and Satisfaction are either the excellent Qualities of the Things themselves or 't is for the sake of the Benefits and Advantages which we receive from them and by them But we are most especially oblig'd to love God in both Respects Whom we must love For the sake of his own Exlencies And 1 Because he is most amiable and lovely in himself For all the scatter'd Excellencies which we are apt to love and admire in the Creatures are but Emanations from and imperfect Adumbrations of that infinite Perfection which the boly Angels and Saints glorified do contemplate in God a Happiness which above all things we should aspire to and desire to enjoy How should our Souls be charm'd and delighted with the incomparable Excellencies of the Divine Nature how should we be ravisht and transported with Exstasies of Joy and Wonder since we may upon certain easie Conditions more fully comprehend and perfectly enjoy all those wonderful Endearments of Love and Beauty hereafter which even now shine so conspicuously in all God's glorious Attributes and Actions 2 God is not only infinitely lovely in himself And for the Benefits bestowed which should oblige us to love and admire him even for the sake of his own Excellencies above all the transitory Delights Riches and Honours of this World But we must love him above all things because he is most beneficial and bountiful to us Psal 100.3 in bestowing his innumerable Blessings and Benefits upon us To instance in a few amongst many Particulars And First On our Bodies Man is the Epitome of the whole Creation a Compound of Heaven and Earth Psal 139.14 little lower than the Angels and yet far transcending all the rest of the Creatures Psal 8.5 6. He is fearfully and wonderfully made as to the curious and admirable Structure of his Body for which the divine Providence has made a liberal Provision for its support and comfort not only for its Being but also for its Well-being And we of
us How should these Considerations then affect our Souls with a deep Compunction and a hearty Contrition for our by-past Offences And how should we hate and aband on even the very Appearances of all Sin and Wickedness for the future More especially if we consider that If God did so signalize the severe Rensentments of his Wrath in the Punishment of his own most dearly beloved Son what then shall be the Doom of the impenitent and contumacious Offender What dreadful Impressions should this great Exemplar of God's Justice and Vengeance make upon our Lives How should we study and endeavour to mortifie our Flesh â— Pet. 4.1 2. and crucifie our Lusts which have been the immediate Causes of all those barbarous Cruelties and merciless Persecutions which he suffer'd How should we renounce all the superficial and extravagant Fooleries of this World according to the Example of Christ and his Followers Col. 3.3 5. Rom. 6.5 6. And indeed unless we thus crucifie the old Man and become conformable to Christ in trampling upon all the sinful Delights of this vain and transitory Life we have no real Title to the Blessings and Priviledges of this great Propitiation For if we Sin wilfully under the Gospel we crucifie the Son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 and react that dreadful Tragedy which we lately heard of This would be to despise and reject all his charitable and merciful Endeavours for our Peace and Welfare and if we continue in any one wilful Act of Sin and Disobedience unrepented of 't will render all his bitter Sufferings for our sakes not only vain and fruitless but destructive and pernicious Let us therefore flie from all Sin as the most deadly Contagion and when by a thro' Mortification of our Lusts and Appetites we have made our Peace with God we should dread the Danger Shame and Scandal of returning with the Dog to the Vomit or with the Sow that is washed 2 Pet. 2.22 to her wallowing in the Mire 4 We are strictly oblig'd by the Laws of Gratitude Interest and Duty to conform our Lives so far as we are able to the Doctrine and Pattern of Christ And our Respect and Reverence to the eternal Son of God our faithful High-priest should be attested with a sincere Obedience to all his holy Institutions He submitted to his Fathers Will in bearing the heavy Yoke Phil. 2.8 and drinking the bitter Cup for our Sakes How should we then study to imitate his holy and innocent Life alwayes looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith c. Heb. 12.2 For our pious Conformity hereto will not only recommend us to the Regard and Admiration of future Ages but will effectually dispose and qualifie us for all the blessed Priviledges and Advantages of his Grace and Glory In a word the Life and Death of Christ are an Inforcement and Recommendation of Patience Mat. 11. Math. 5.10 and Perseverance in well doing and suffering for his sake to the Glory of God and the Interest of Religion We should devote our selves therefore intirely to his Service and become most active Instruments in the promoting of his Glory and then 't will be impossible that we should fail of the Comfort and Benefit of our holy and vertuous Endeavours 5 And lastly Christ's infinite Love to us in all those Instances which I have mention'd should be a powerful Motive and Argument to perswade us to be kind and charitable to Others 1 Joh. 4.11 Did the eternal Son of God set such an infinite value on our Souls as to lay down his Life for them How then should we love those lively Images of his for whom he has paid so dear a Ransom and do always bear the Signature and visible Characters of his Grace and Favour Has he done and suffer'd so many things for us and cannot we prevail with our selves Rom. 15.1 Eph. 5.2 1 Joh. 3.16 to dispense with a petty Neglect bear some small Injuries from and Infirmities in our Brethren for his sake who has pardon'd us a Debt of more than ten thousand Talents Let all these things be duely consider'd and applyed that we may behold our Lord by the Eye of Faith standing upon the Cross not only as a resolute Sufferer but a glorious Conqueror to the infinite and unspeakable Joy and Comfort of our Souls in this and their infinite eternal Happiness in another World I have done with the first Part of our Saviour's Priestly Office namely the Satisfaction which he made and the Ransom which he has paid for the Purchase of our Redemption here on Earth which brings me to the 2d Branch of it viz. his meritorious Intercession for us in Heaven Christ our High-priest intercedes for us in Heaven Jesus Christ our most merciful Lord and Saviour is now entred into the Heavens where he is executing and administring his Melchisedekian Office for the Interest and Benefit of his Church and People here on Earth most especially in these two remarkable Instances 1 By interceding for us 2 In Blessing of us And 1st Christ our faithful High-priest For the supply of all our Wants Intercedes powerfully with the Father for the supply of all our temporal and spiritual Wants that we may live comfortaby here and be glorified with him eternally hereafter And to this End he is now presenting the Merits of his Bloud and Obedience to his Father's Acceptance representing all the Wounds Marks of his Sufferings and pleading 'em in full Satisfaction For the pardon of our Sins Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 for all the Sins and Offences which his Votaries have committed The Bloud of Christ supplicates in Heaven for Mercy and Compassion for us And the sprinkling of it now is as necessary for the Sanctification of Believers as the shedding it upon the Cross was for the Salvation of them For altho' one Drop of it might be sufficient to save ten thousand Worlds yet it becomes efficacious only to those on whom 't is sprinkled This is that precious Bloud which speaks better things to us then that of Abel and it has such a rinsing and cleansing Property in it For sanctisying Grace as to purifie the Souls and Bodies of those who truly believe and apply it from all the Contagion Filthiness both of the Flesh and of the Spirit This only can render our Persons and Performances Sacrifices and Services acceptable to God So that when he beholds the Wounds and Sufferings of Christ he will think nothing too dear for us More particularly That our Hearts may be truly affected with a real Sense of the Comforts and Benefits of his meritorious and powerful Intercession 't will be of necessary and important Use to consider these following Instances of it For 1 He offers up his own Prayers to God the Father for us He offers up his own Prayers to the Father for us and stands like Aaron being truly sensible of our Wants
Good In which holy Confidence we shall rest secure and safe and nothing shall be able to disturb or interrupt our Quiet And whatever our Condition be in this Life we shall enjoy a Heaven upon Earth in the Peace of a good Conscience which to an upright man is more precious than Rubies and much more valuable than all the Treasures of the East 5 Our pious Reflexions upon those infinite Expressions of Gods Love and Bounty 4. By our filial Fear of offending him c. should possess us with all awsul Regard to and Fear of offending Him And we have many powerful Inforcements to perswade us to a strict Performance of this Duty For the infinitely wise God observes all our Actions Psal 139.1 to 12. hears and considers all our Words and sees our very Thoughts and Inclinations they are all registred in his Book and will infallibly be brought to Account either to our Consolation or Condemnation at the day of Judgement But where the Fear of God is truly fixt 't is the Spring of all other Duties the Watch-port and Centinel of the Soul to keep out Temptations and in Scripture Language comprehends the whole Duty of Man Ecc. 12.13 This Duty is of that absolute Importance that the Christian who truly Fears God has no cause to be afraid of any thing besides For God can restrain the Power and Malice of Devils and wicked Men when and how he pleases and make our greatest Enemies to be at Peace with us Prov. 16 7 Those temporal Afflictions which the righteous suffer are but fatherly Chastisements for the tryal and improvement of their Graces or the Punishment of their Sins for a time that they may not perish for ever Hence it is that our blessed Saviour exhorts us not to Fear those that can kill the Body only for that 's the worst they can do since our Souls are out of their reach Mar. 10.28 But rather fear him that can kill both Soul and Body in Hell 'T is no matter then whether the World smile or frown on us For if we fear God as Sons out of a true Principle of Love and Obedience Rom. 8.1 Psal 25.23 it will exempt us from all other Fears our Souls shall dwell at ease and if God be with us who can be against us From all which it may be reasonably infer'd Heb. 10.31 on the contrary That 't is a dread ful thing to fall into the hands of the living God For who shall stand before the Lord when he is angry Psal 76. 7â— or be able to conflict with everlasting burnings What cause then have the Atheists and all impenitent Persons to be afraid especially if they consider that Vengeance does every where await them nor can they be secure one Moment from Destruction Those that will not repent of their Sins and reverence their heavenly Father as Sons shall be cast out of his Presence as Slaves and have their eternal Portion assign'd 'em with the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 Wherefore let the best of Men tremble at God's Judgements and flie from all Occasions and Temptations of Sinning For since to live and die in the least Sin unrepented of is damnable and if the righteous Man depart from his Righteousness Ezek. 3.20 all his former Piety and Vertue shall stand him in no stead but the heavy Wrath of God must fall on him for his wilful Apostacy and Disobedience What cause have we then to be watchful over our selves and serve the Lord with fear all the dayes of our Life that we may not be afraid of his Judgements at the hour of Death or in the great day of Account 6 And Lastly 8. By our sted fast Hope in him If God's Spirit witness with our Spirits that we have thus Repented of our former Sins and do sincerely resolve to abandon 'em for the future if we stedfastly believe all those necessary and saving Truths which God has been pleas'd to reveal to us by the Spirit of his Son and testifie the sincerity of our Faith by the genuine Fruits and Effects of it if our Love towards God be attended with those necessary and excellent Properties which I have mention'd if we Pray devoutly and humbly and patiently submit to God's wise and gracious Disposals if we be afraid to offend him and be willing to quit all our Interests in this World and die a thousand Deaths rather than wilfully transgress the least of his Commands we may undoubtedly upon these Conditions cheerfully and comfortably expect and hope for the happy Accomplishment of all the Promises of the Gospel to our endless Joy and unspeakable Felicity Yet here I must note to you that we must by no means depend upon the Efficacy of the Duties themselves tho' they should never be neglected but on the infinite Mercy of God in Christ for the comfortable success of all our pious Endeavours These are the Principal Duties of Piety we owe unto God which he indispensibly requires of all Christians and must be carefully and conscientiously perform'd by all those who expect and hope for the admirable Blessings and Priviledges of the Gospel And as these excellent Duties must by no Means be neglected So On the contrary The Opposite Sins most dangerous and damnable we are oblig'd under the severst Penalties of Hell and Damnation to avoid and abandon the Sins of Atheism Polytheism Blasphemy Idolatry prophane Swearing Lying Sacriledge Covetousness the neglect or contempt of God's Worship Word Sacraments Services Days groundless Presumption Distrust Dispair c. All which searlet Sins are highly dishonourable to God reflect a Scandal upon our excellent Religion will deprive those Miscreants of all the rational Pleasures of the Soul and without a sincere Repentance and Reformation of Life they 'l forfeit their Tittle to eternal Happiness And those Penalties which I mention'd before shall be their just Portion and Punishment in another World We pass forward to the 2d The Dities relating to our Selves Duty which our blessed Saviour has enjoyn'd and recommended for the Attainment of his Grace and Glory Namely that which has a peculiar reference to our Selves Which Duty consists in the prudent and virtuous Conduct of our Lives especially in the Affairs and Business of Religion And since this must needs highly concern us 't will admit of a serious and impartial Consideration Now Christian Prudence of which I shall give you an account in the first Place will be of necessary use and advantage to direct and further us in this Duty Prudence of general and necessary use for the Government of the whole Man This Virrue will teach us to govern our selves according to God's Word and the Dictates of sober Reason and prevail with us by degrees to conform all the Actions and Affections both of the outward and inward man to the Pattern of Christ that we may not only be morally virtuous John 1.16 but receive
All the Delights of this World are as the Summers Rain or Morning Dew which are presently dried up But the Favour and Mercy of God in Christ are as the Sun Beams which shine out more and more to the perfect day to which there succeeds no Darkness Tho' our Accommodations be mean and course in these Tents of Kedar yet the enjoyment of the Favour and Mercy of God that infinite and Supreme Good will supply all these Defects when we come to be satisfied with the fulness of his house Psa 16.11 and drink abundantly of the riches of his pleasures Since then our infinitely wise and gracious God has assign'd us our Portion in this Life 't is but just and reasonable we should be content with it And tho' it be the bitter Cup of Affliction which he has put into our hands yet in Conformity to Christ and his followers we must cheerfully drink of it Which if we do 't will turn to good Account at the last If we moderate our Desires and be content with such things as we have our Souls will not only live at ease and be free from all distracting Cares and Despondency but God will bestow a greater Measure of his Blessings upon us if he see it convenient And if it should fall out otherwise we have still cause to submit to his wise and gracious Determinations Abraham being content with and desirous that Ishmael only the Son of his Concubine should live and God blessed him with an Isaac who was many Degrees better and more worthy Solomon desir'd Wisdom only and being satisfied with it God was pleas'd to add Riches and Honours as the farther reward his Contentment and Moderation Having therefore Food and Raiment let us be therewith content 1 Tim. 6.8 Many thousands better than we are forc't to truckle under a narrow Fortune The Heir of eternal Majesty and Lord of all things was content with barley Bread and a few small Fishes nor had he a Bed of his own whereon he could lay his head Shewing us hereby that Nature is satisfied with a little 2 Cor. 8.9 and therefore he became Poor for our sakes that we through his Poverty might be made Rich whose Grace and Mercy are a full Compensation for all our other wants We have no cause therefore to distract our Thoughts with an anxious Care and Despondency but should rather be content with that Dividend which God's Providence has assign'd us For he that spared not his own Son Rom. 8.32 but delivered him up for us all how should he not with him also freely give us all things Hitherto of those divine and admirable Duties of Piety towards God and of those of Christian Morality which do most immediatly concern our selves and have the greatest Influence on Mens Practices in the great Business of Religion We proceed now 3dly and Lastly to treat of those several Duties which concern our Dealings and Entercourse with other Men. And these must be consider'd either 1 in general as they belong to the whole Community of Christians Or 2 and more particularly as they relate to our Persons and Offices in all the Civil and Religious Transactions of Humane Life And 1st Those which concern all the Members of the Christian Brotherhood in general are universal Love and Benificence to all and every one of them without respect of Persons of what Country Calling Sect or Party soever they be And herein we should endeavour to imitate the divine Benignity who causeth the Sun to shine and the Rain to descend Mat. 5.54 upon the Persons and Possessions both of the just and unjust And this is most consonant to the admirable Doctrine and Example of our blessed Saviour who made it a necessary Duty and Principle of Life for Christians to Love one another Joh. 15 1â— 1 Cor. 14.1 Col. 3.14 To be earnest in the pursuit of Charity and above all things to put on Charity which is the Bond of perfectness which Duty is recommended to us by this noble Enforcement For he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 3.16 and God in him This is the new Commandment and that Vniversal Law Joh. 13.34 which all believing Christians are willing to be govern'd by even that which our Saviour has ratified and confirm'd by the admirable Sanction of his own Authority and Example So that there can be no dispute now under the Gospel Oeconomy concerning the just Bounds and Measures of our Love and Charity to others For the whole Tenor of the Christian Law doth oblige us to love as Brethren 1 Pet. 4.8 to have fervent Charity among our Selves and to be kindly affection'd one towards another Rom. 12.10 And our eternal Lawgiver has made this one Duty the Criterion and Cognizance of the Sincerity of our Faith and Obedience for by this saith he shall all men know that ye are my Disciples Joh. 15.35 if ye have love one to another But to illustrate this Point more fully wherever the Christian Religion is sincerely believ'd and complied with it begets in its Proselytes such a gracious Temper of Mind and Spirit as will make its Votaries humble courteous affable candid ingenuous tender and compassionate and as sensible of and zealous for other Mens Good as their own This will dispose them for all Offices of Humanity and good Neighbour-hood and so cultivate and sweeten their Tempers that they 'l find themselves hereby oblig'd to perform all the mutual Offices of Charity and Duty to others which their present State and Condition of Life require and call for Again the Gospel Dispensation obligeth us to be obedient and submissive to our Superiors courteous and civil to our Equals and to treat our Inferiors and all we converse with with a pleasant Look civil Language and an obliging Deportment We are oblig'd also to be kind and grateful to our Benefactors to pity and pray for our Persecutors and tho' we should suffer as Christians yet even herein we must exercise Forbearance and long suffering Patience abstracting from all Malice and Revenge being most kind and gentle and easie to be entreated forgiving Injuries enduring Affronts and being forward and easie to be reconcil'd And we should be so charitable in all doubtful Cases as to take hold on the right Handle interpreting all the Words and Actions even of our most inveterate and malicious Enemies favourably and candidly rather excusing or extenuating than proclaiming their Errours and Miscarriages unless it be in some important Cases wherein the Interest of Religion or the Reputation of our selves or others may be eminently concern'd This is that heaping of Coals upon their heads Rom. 12 2â— which the Apostle speaks of and if this sovereign Medicine will not melt their rugged Tempers and Dispositions into a friendly and amicable Compliance with us they have just cause to be afraid that God's infinite Justice reserves 'em to be Fuel for those inextinguishable Flames
Prince of Peace came into these lower Regions to make up the Breach between God and Man he brake down the Partition Wall proclaim'd an universal Peace by his Doctrine and confirm'd it by the Example of his own Life and the peaceable and quiet Deportment and Demeanour of his Followers Hereby fulfilling that Prophesie of breaking Swords into Plough-shares c. And the whole Contexture and Design of our Christian Religion as is most evident from all the Particulars of it can be no other then to reconcile God and Man Jew and Gentile and to reduce the whole World into one Community Now to enforce the Practice of these Duties not only of public but private Peace 't will be of singular use and importance to consider the Force and Energy of these following Arguments For 1 We are Members of that mystical Body whereof Christ Jesus is the Head Eph. 3.15 Heb. 12.14 1 Thes 5.13 Eph. 4.3 Who commands us to be at peace with all men to practice Peace among our selves and to use out utmost endeavours to preserve the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace which if we be careful to do 2 Cor. 13.11 the God of Love and Peace will be with us 2 We are all Descendents from the same common Parents Adam and Eve â— and therefore it would be most unnatural to hate Eph. 4.6 rail against and quarrel iwth our own Flesh We have all the same God to our Father and since we are Brethren how should we love and be at Peace one with another Especially since nothing can be more pleasant in this World Ps 133.1 then for Brethren to live together in Vnity 3 We have all one blessed Lord our Redeemer who purchas'd us all at one and the same Price that we might be at Peace with God and amongst our Selves He has given us all one Gospel and one Faith which is perfected in us by one and the same Spirit Since then we are united in our Minds in believing the same Doctrine it would be highly incongruous to be divided in our Affections this would be to pull down with one hand what we are endeavouring to set up with the other 4 We are all Temples of the same holy Spirit the Sanctifier by whose powerful Operation and Influence if we stifle not his Gifts and Graces by our Sins he will unite us to Christ our Head and in the mutual Bonds of Love Peace and Vnity to one another 5 We have all one Calling to Piety and Holiness of Life and we have the same Hope of our Calling in Christ Jesus we all aspire to and hope for the same Happiness and upon the same Conditions why should we therefore differ on Earth since we do all expect to be united in the same Society in Heaven where there shall be an absolute End of all Feuds and Contentions 6 We are all of us united in one Body by Baptism and herein admitted to all the Priviledges thereof as Members of the same Christian Brotherhood If we separate therefore from the Body we unchurch our selves make void the Terms and cancel the Bonds of our Peace and Reconciliation 7 and Lastly we do all partake of the same Elements in the Sacrament of Christ's Holy Supper We mystically eat the same Body and drink the same Bloud of Christ And certainly this Pledge and Assurance of his eternal Love to us should be the most powerful Motive to perswade us to love one another By these and many other Arguments Examples Precepts and Counsels we are not only oblig'd to preserve and maintain Peace in our Christian Community but to avoid as we would do the most Pestilential Disease all Factious Schismatical and turbulent Behaviour in all Societies both Sacred and Civil whereof we are Members The Mischiefs of Factions and Seditions are innumerable nor can we preserve Peace and Unity but by mutual Forbearance and Condescention and indeed 't is impossible that there should be any such thing as Unanimity amongst fiery fierce and contentious Spirits Now for the better Establishment of this Peace which I 've recommended to you by such cogent and convincing Arguments which our greatest Adversaries by all their Malice and Sophistry shall never be able to elude It concerns all Persons in every Capacity both public and private to use their utmost endeavours to promote and maintain it And therefore 1 Those that move in the highest Sphere of Government Superiors have cause to consider how much they are oblig'd to study the Peace and Quiet of the whole Community And this cannot be accomplisht by any other Means then by the Punishment of those Offences which are inconsistent with the public Weal and Tranquility of the Government and by the Encouragement of those Persons who are tractable and submissive That both Superiors and Inferiors may lead peaceable Lives 1 Tim. 2.2 in all Godliness and Honesty 2 Those that move in a lower Orb Inferiors and live as we of this Nation do under the happy Influences of a peaceable Government both in Church and State should use their utmost Endeavours to propagate and preserve it And to this End all the Subjects of this Kingdom are oblig'd to behave themselves towards their lawful Governors with all Modesty Respect Deference and Submission both to their Persons and Offices paying them that Tribute which is due to them and submitting their Persons and Fortunes to be dispos'd of by their just and reasonable Commands The Contraries to these are usually attended either with Confusion or Tyranny and which of them soever prevails the Consequences must be mischievous Thus The whole Community of Christs aâ—s are concern'd in it all Persons of all Ranks and Conditions who are Christians indeed will study to be unanimous and compliant one with another for Peace and Righteousness sake they 'l be careful to do their own Business study the mutual Satisfaction and Delight of all they converse with and endeavour to practice all those Virtues which are most conducive to the Peace and Interest of Mankind for we must acknowledge that we are all concern'd in the Blessings and Comforts of public Peace and in the Miseries of War and Discord And therefore if we crumble and divide our selves into Sects and Parties we shall be less able to repel the force of our Adversaries defend our own Interests or assist one another Nor can it be expected if our Humours and Interests clash that we should enjoy Peace and the comfortable Fruits of it under the same Government But then since we must of Necessity converse with and live amongst those that are Enemies unto Peace our blessed Saviour exhorts us to endeavour to quel and overcome the unruly spirits of Men by bearing Reproaches suffering Injuries practicing Meekness Patience and Condescension curbing and restraining our extravagant and unruly Passions which being indulg'd will undoubtedly prove the Springs and Incentives of Confusion and Disorder And indeed if Christians did but
Preservation of the King 's most excellent Majesty James the Second c. and all the Royal Family bless the whole Clergy but him especially whom thou hast appointed to watch over us in this Parish together with all the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of this Realm that they may all become active Instruments for the Advancement of thy Glory the Safety and Preservation of the King's Person Honour and Interest and for the Comfort and Benefit of all his truly loyal peaceable obedient Subjects Visit we pray thee with thy Grace and Blessing all our Relations Friends and Benefactors forgive the Injuries committed against thee and us by all our Enemies Comfort and Support all distressed Persons with the stedfast Belief of sure Confidence in and a patient Submission to thy divine Will and Wisdom in all Straits and Sufferings whatsoever And now O Lord we return thee most humble and hearty Thanks for all those temporal and spiritual Blessings which make the time of our short abode in this Life more easie and comfortable to us But let our Souls for ever love adore admire and praise thee for thine infinite Goodness Bounty in sending thine own Son from the highest Region of Bliss to take our Nature upon him Who submitting to all the Indignities of a sorrowful Life and the Injuries and Tortures of a painful and accursed Death has not only deliver'd us from the dreadful and damning Effects of our Sin and Disobedience but puts us thereby into an undoubted Capacity of being sayed appointing the Use of such Means and affording us those most powerful Assistances whereby we may live comfortably here and be happy for ever We praise thee more particularly for the Safety and Refreshment of the Night past and since thy Providence has bless'd us with the Light of another Day keep our Souls and Bodies we beseech thee pure and undefiled and enable us to imploy it and the whole residue of our Lives to thy Glory and the real and mutual Benefit of of our selves and others So that after the few Dayes and Nights we have to pass in this World we may be happily translated from the short and troublesome Enjoyments thereof to the ravishing and immutable Pleasures of a future and better Life Grant these our most humble Suplications and what thou seest further needful and convenient for us we sincerely beg at thy hands for the Merits of Jesus Christ the righteous in whose holy Name and Words we pray unto thee Our Father c. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ c. An Evening Prayer for Families O Lord the Almighty Creator of the World and the merciful Redeemer of Mankind who seest our down lyings and uprisings and to whom the Darkness and Light are both alike Thou art a God of Infinite Purity and Holiness nor can any thing be added to thy admirable Perfections and essential Glory by us or any of thy Creatures for thou reprovest thy Angels of Folly and the Heavens are impure before thee much more might the sense of our wretched Estate and Condition make us justly asham'd and afraid to offer unto thee any Sacrifice yet in great Mercy to our Souls thou hearest Prayer and thy Power and Goodness are every where manifest in the visible Administrations of thy Providence We beseech thee therefore to accept of this Evening Oblation of our Souls and Bodies which we desire with all Humility to present a holy living and acceptable Sacrifice unto thee thro' Jesus Christ We do confess O Lord and in great bitterness of Spirit lament and bewail our detestable Impiety Unworthiness and hardness of Heart in that we have wilfully trampled upon thy Sovereign Power and Authority by violating and transgressing thy just and reasonable Commands rejecting all the bountiful Tenders of thy Grace and Mercy and obstinately despising the Riches of thy Forbearance and long suffering Patience which should lead us to Repentance But thou hast graciously spar'd us hitherto when we deserved Punishment and in the midst of Judgement thinkest upon Mercy Wherefore O Lord thy Mercy is our Sanctuary and unto thee do we flie for Succour Let the sense of our Vileness possess us with an holy Indignation against our Selves and give us Grace to look back upon the Offences of our former Lives with that horrour and regret hatred and detestation that neither our vile Lusts the illusions of Satan nor the alluring Enticements of this vain and transitory World may prevail with us to neglect the great Concernments of Eternity And for the perfecting of our present and future Happiness we beseech thee O heavenly Father to be gracious and merciful unto us in the forgivenness of all our Sins Pardon the vanity and impurity of our Thoughts the sinfulness of our prophane idle and impertinent Words and the Impurity injustice and Impiety of all our Actions Purge our whole Nature from the Stain and Pollution of the Old-man not only from grosser presumptuous Sins but even from our private Slips and more secret Corruptions Sanctifie us throughly by thy holy Spirit and we shall be clean wash us in thy Sons Bloud and we shall be whiter than Snow Bless all our Endeavours of Reformation and let the redundant Satisfaction of our meritorious Advocate and Intercessor prevail for our Release and Rescue for thy Grace and Acceptance Fix our thoughts our hopes and desires on Heaven and heavenly Things Make us watchful over our Ways and enrich our Understandings and our Wills with the love of Goodness and Knowledge of thy Truth Mortifie and subdue all our lustful Appetites and Passions by the Operation and Prevalence of thy Grace that we may submit our Selves entirely to the gracious and safe Conduct of rectified Reason and Religion And to this end we beseech thee strengthen our Faith confirm our Hope and give us a daily increase of Charity that we may serve thee sincerely fervently and constantly in Righteousness and true Holiness all the days of our Life Enable us to increase still more more and persevere in all the Instances of Piety Virtue that by adding Strength to Strength and one degree of Grace unto another we may have acomfortable Well-being in this Life and in the World to come Life everlasting We implore thy Mercies also for the Peace and Happiness of all Mankind Bless thy Church universal but more especially that part of it to which we stand so nearly related in these divided Kingdoms of great Brittain and Ireland Remember not O Lord our crying Sins nor the Iniquities of our Forefathers whereby these Nations have been involv'd in Bloud and Ruine and do still cry aloud against us for Vengeance But out of the Bowels of thy tenderest Mercy and for the sake of our Compassionate Redeemer let thy heavy Wrath and Judgements be turned away from us Bless our gracious Soveraign and all the Royal Family endue him with the Spirit of Wisdom and sound Judgement in thy Fear and make him successful in