It

long. It fuits with the law of nature in disallowing tyranny and anarchy; but it can fubfift in and under all forms of civil polity. forbids tumults, feditions, confpiracies, and rebellions under all. It requires due order, fubjection, and allegiance under all. Rulers are to be minifters of God for good. And prayer is to be made for all fort of rulers (particularly in a monarchy for the king and thofe that are commiffion'd by him) that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.

IV. There are Catholic bands of union, that may be common to all nations. There is one body; which may be as extensive, as the bulk of mankind. And one spirit; who is able to animate that one body, let it be as extenfive as it will. The members of that body, are called in (and to) one hope of their calling. They are called to the hope and expectation of an heavenly kingdom, that is fpacious enough to hold them all. There is one Lord; not on earth, but in heaven. No mention of any human head or visible power, fet up over the whole church on earth. One faith; the faith once delivered to the faints; and common to all the faints. One baptifm; into that one faith; and into the name of those divine perfons, that are to be believed in. One God and Father of all, who is above all (as Lord and Governour) and through all (as guide and difpofer) and in all (as influential caufe, by his fpirit and grace). Thefe ligaments or bonds of union, may be intirely univerfal, or common to the whole world, were it converted to the Lord Chrift.

;

V. There is a Catholic difpofition to unite the members of the church together, were it as large as the world. An oecumenical affection LOVE. Love to all the redeemed of the Lord; to all the difciples, all faints. A new commandment (uitable to the new covenant, and the new foundations laid therein) I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you (and because I have loved you, and at such a rate, have loved you) that ye also love one another. By this fhall

all

all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one to another (a).

VI. There is a Catholick duty, expressive of that affection, that will reach to all the members of the body, at the greatest distance. And that is mutual prayer. This may be exerted by the lowest, as well as by the higheft, in the Catholic fociety; brethren pray for us, lays an apcstle, as needing, and capable of receiving benefit by the prayers of the vulgar brethren. I know this fhall turn to my falvation, through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Christ (b).

VII. There may be fimilar focieties of profelites (called churches) Set up in all nations; in which there may be fimilar worship, minif try, and order; and to which there may be Catholic admiflions of all regular members, from all other parts of the world, that may occafionally arrive there; fo far as diverfity of language will give leave. We read not only of the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria; but of all the churches of the Gentiles. And the apostle recommends to the kind reception of the church at Rome, a female fervant of the church at Cenchrea (c).

VIII. Thefe fimiliar focieties may have and maintain (as far as diftance will give leave) a fraternal correfpondence and communion with each other. The correfpondence may be exerted and maintained by fuch inftances and transactions as these. 1. By fraternal con ventions of their pastors and ministers for calm and confiderate difcuffion of any point of doctrine that may arife; for confultation and affiftance in the affairs of discipline and practice, relating to the several churches; for testifying the unanimity and love, and preferving the purity, peace, and liberty of the churches. They determined, that: Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerufalem, unto the Apostles and Elders about this question (d). 2. By letters of condolance or congratulation, or information in matters of (a) John 13.34, 35.. (6) Phil. 1.19. (d) Acts 15.2..

(c) Rom 16. 1.
U

impor

importance and concern. When they had gathered the multitude together (the body of the church at Antioch) they delivered the epiftle ; which when they had read, they rejoyced for the confolation. (a) 3. By special messengers and delegates; they are the messengers of the churches. (b) Who was chofen of the churches, to travel with us, with this grace (or munificence) (c). 4. By kind charitable and fympathetic contribution to each other's neceffities. It hath pleafed them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor faints, that are at Jerufalem (d).

Thus might the whole world become the church (or facred body) of the Lord Chrift, headed by him in heaven, guided and directed in the feveral parts of it, by their proper paftors and minifters, growing in the faith, and edifying it self in love, till it fhall be transplanted to its Lord and Head in heaven.

(a) Ver. 30. 31.

(6) 2 Cor. 8.23.

(c) Ver. 19.

(d) Rom.15.26.

SECT.

SECT. XXXII.

The Chriftian Inftitution is to be proclaimed and propofed to the world; to be propagated by the most excellent methods; was actually fet up and propagated in and by much suffering; and was quickly erected in the moft famous cities of the world.

I.

A

S it is capable and meet to be the univerfal religion, fo it is to be proclaimed and proposed to the world. It is worthy to be fo. No where is the great God fo excellently difcover'd and reveal'd. No where are his perfections and glories, his counfels and transactions so excellently difplay'd. No where is man so dignified, or the method of falvation fo agreeably opened, or life and immortality fo richly illuftrated. It became the goodness of God, and of the vifible Founder of it, to take care, that it fhould be promulged and published promiscuoufly (or generally) to the world. Accordingly, the Founder himself preached it all the vigour of his days; viz. from thirty years of age, as long as he lived. And very diligent he was in the fervice; travelling to cities, towns, and villages, and preaching the religion where ever he came. He chofe alfo twelve at one time, and feventy at another, to affift and ferve him in the fame work. At first, they are confined to their own land and nation. But after the Founder's refurrection from the dead, a certain number of them is commiffioned and commanded to go forth from Jerufalem, and carry the inftitution, as far as they can, to the nations of the world. They are furnish'd with knowledge and courage, patience, and conftancy, languages, and miracles, for that end. And they went forth and preach'd

every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with figns following and attending them. In a few years a furious oppofer of the inftitution is added to their number. And he labours as zealously and unwearicdly, with as much travel, fuffering, and fuccefs, as any of the reft in the diffemination of it. They are to propofe the inftitution in its intrinfic neceffity and excellency, and with its extrinfic recommendation and credentials. And then they are to be at a point with the world. Heaven will not be trifled with. He that believes and is baptized, shall be faved. And he that believes not, shall be damned. Authority and sanction attend the institution.

II. It is to be propagated by the most excellent means and methods; and particularly, by the most excellent men. They had need to be born from heaven, that are engaged in this fervice. It would become (and it almost requires) angels themselves. It would not (by its genius and good will) allow any to be its propagators and preachers, but those that are most religious and holy; moft acquainted with natural, undefiled religion; most devoted to God, to his name and kingdom in the world; most addicted to the Son of God, to his honour and interefts in the world. Thofe that are moft confcientious towards God, most righteous towards men; moft ardent lovers of fouls, most averse to fin, moft mortified to the world and their own flesh, most patient of reproach and affliction, moft defirous of the good of mankind, most ftudious of the church's peace, moft folicitous for immortality above, and most ambitious to ferve the authority and love, the counsel and covenant, and glory of the eternal God. Nor will it allow, that the modes and methods of its propagation fhould be lels pure, than the inftruments of it. Indeed fuch inftruments will beware of all impure, unhallowed methods. They will be wife as ferpents indeed, for the ends of the inflitution, but withal harmless as doves. It will admit no guile or hypocrify; no lics, forgery, or imposture. No lie, ye know, is of the truth; nor will well blend and mix with the truth; no false legends nor pious frauds (the great underminers of

the