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SERMON I.

Preached at

GUILD-HALL CHAPEL,

On the Twenty-third of August, 1674.

ROM. xiv. 19.

Let us therefore follow after the Things that make for Peace.

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HOSOEVER understandeth any thing of the State of Chriftianity, as it hath now been for fome Ages in the World, will be easily convinced, that there is no one Point of our Religion more neceffary to be daily preached, to be earneftly preffed and infifted on, than that of Peace, and Love, and Unity, here recommended by the Apostle.

It hath fared (as the Learned Mr. Hales obferved) with the Chriftian Religion in this Matter, as it did with the Jewish of old. The great and principal Commandment which God gave the Jews, and which (as they themselves teach) was the Foundation of all their Law, VOL. I.

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was, to worship the God of Ifrael, and Him only to ferve: Yet fuch was the Perverseness of that People, that This was the Commandment, that of all others they could never be brought to keep; but they were continually running into Idolatry, notwithstanding all the Methods that God made use of to reclaim them from that Sin. What the Worship of one God was to the Jews; that Peace, and Love, and Unity, is to the Chriftians, even the Great diftinguishing Law and Character of their Profeffion. And yet, to the Shame of Chriftians it may be fpoken, there is no one Commandment in all Chrift's Religion, that has been fo generally and to fcandaloufly violated among his Followers, as this. Witnefs the many bitter Feuds and Contentions that have fo long embroiled Christendom; and the numerous Sects, and Parties,and Communions, into which, at this Day, it stands divided.

And, God knows, this is a Thing that cannot be fufficiently lamented among ourfelves: For though, in many Refpects, we are the Happiest Nation in the World; and particularly in this, that we have the Advantage of all others, both as to the Conftitution of our Church, and the Purity of Chrift's Doctrine, profeffed therein; yet in this Point of Schifms, and Divifions, and Religious Quarrels, we are as unhappy, if not more, than any.

Whether ever we fhall fee that bleffed Day, when thefe our Breaches will be healed; and that an End being put to our unaccountable Separations, and the Unchriftian Animofities they are the Occafion of, we shall all join to

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gether in one Communion, and with one Mind, and one Mouth, glorify God, (as the Apoftle expreffes it) God only knows. But fure I am, it is the Duty of every one of us, heartily to pray for it; and not only fo, but, in our Place and Station, to contribute all we can towards it. It was this Confideration that put me upon the Choice of thefe Words of St. Paul, for my Argument at this Time: Let us therefore follow after the Things that make for Peace.

In treating of which, I fhall endeavour Two Things. First, To explain the Duty here recommended, by reducing it to its Particular Rules and Inftancès. Secondly, To fet. before you the great Obligations that lie upon

us to the Practice of it.

As to the First of these Things, viz. What is contained or implied in this Duty of following after the Things that make for Peace; you may be pleafed to take Notice, that this Duty hath a Twofold Object, according to the Two different Relations and Capacities in which we are to be confidered; namely, the Church our Common Mother, and Particular Chriftians our Brethren. In the firft Relation, we are confidered as Subjects; in the other, as Fellow, Chriftians. Now with refpect to the former, the Peace we are to purfue, implies Obedience, and the Prefervation of Communion, in Oppofition to Schifm and Separation. With refpect to the latter, it implies mutual Love and Charity, in Oppofition to Quarrels and Contentions. So that, you fee, my Bufiness upon this First Head must be, to fhew, what are the Par

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