they be Men hating Covetoufness, i.e. the inordinate Defire and Love of Riches. WITH good Reafon does the Text require, that they who are entrusted with the Power of Judging fhould be free from a Temper of Mind, which will make them feel too fenfibly the Force of thofe Temptations to Iniquity, which worldly Intereft may fometimes ply them with. Nothing beyond Expectation would happen, if the Love of Mammon should prevail upon thofe, in whom it is the predominant Paffion, to fet Juftice to Sale, and to accept the Wages of Unrighteousnefs. Greedinefs of Gain will prepare them for Receiving, and the receiving of Prefents for the Wrefting of Judgment. When they have interefted themselves in the Iffue of a Controverfy, it is great Odds but they will judge that to be Right which favours their Intereft, and that which clafhes with it to be Wrong. They will then fee Things in a different Light, and under other Colours, than they would if they attended only to the Merits of the Caufe. Eyen Perfons of the beft Under SERM. XV. SERM. XV. ? Understanding, who would otherwife be ready to judge uprightly, will, when their Judgments are perverted by Bribes, be very liable to be mifled, and to be turn'd afide out of the ftrait Paths of Juftice. Thou shalt take no Gift, faith the Law of Mofes, for a Gift blindeth the Eyes of the Wife, and perverteth the Words, i. e. the Sentence of the Righte ous. This, I fuppofe, is the particu lar fort of Covetoufnefs aim'd at in the Text. All who are in Authority, if they are defirous to preserve their Integrity and Reputation, will keep themfelves at fuch a Distance from it, as, if poffible, never to fall under the Sufpicion of it. They will not only avoid it, but, as the Text directs, hate it; and, as they have Opportunity, manifeft their Abhorrence of it. In many other Instances, which it would be tedious particularly to men tion, Avarice will lead Magiftrates to act beneath the Dignity, and contrary to the Duty of their Office.- -Now the great End for which Magiftrates are ordain'd, is to ferve Human Society. When there therefore they are more intent upon fer. THAT this Nation may ever enjoy this Happinefs, God Almighty grant for the Sake of his Son Jefus Chrift our only Lord and Redeemer. To whom, &c. SERM. XV. SERM. 430 SERM. SERMON XVI The Religious and Loyal Subjects Duty confidered, with Regard to the prefent Government and the Revolution. PROV. XXIV. 21. My Son, fear thou the Lord, and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change. T HERE is no Need that I should acquaint any who are here present XVI. with the fad Occafion of this Anniversary Solemnity; nor need I, I fuppofe, use many Words to raise in you a juft Abhorrence of that most execrable Parricide, which Martyrdom of King CHARLES I. which we are now bewailing. To be fure we do all of us, from the very bottom of our Hearts, deteft and abominate it; unless we have been all this while in this holy Place prevaricating with God and Man, and adding a feigned Humiliation to the Number of our former Proyocations. SERM. XVI. As it ought to be the earnest Prayer and Endeavour of all good Men and loyal Subjects, that no fuch Wickedness may hereafter be committed among us, to the Reproach of our Nation, and of the holy Religion which we profess; fo is it particularly incumbent on the Minifters of the Gospel, to prefs upon Men the due Obfervation of thofe Laws, which the Moft High hath enacted for the Security and Support of his Vice-gerents on Earth; and to caution Men against those pernicious Principles and Practices, which in the laft Age brought a moft excellent and gracious Monarch to the Block; and quite overthrew our Constitution in Church and State; and which in all Ages, if a timely Stop be not put to them, will produce |