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Subjects are not fatisfied with it? And if that Diffatisfaction be a juft Reafon to break Communion with the Established Church, what Ligaments have we to tie Chriftians together? What will become of holding the Unity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace? What is I the Confequence of this, but endless Schisms and Separations?

But further, I wish these Persons would confider what an unaccountablé Humour it is to make a Rent and Schifm in the Church, upon a meer Point of State.

Great Revolutions have happened in all Ages, and in all Countries, and we have frequent Inftances of them in Story. But, I believe it will not be eafily found, that ever any Chriftians feparated from the Church, upon account of them. Still they kept unanimously to their Doctrine and their Worship, and never concerned themfelves farther in the Turns of State (how great foever they were) than peaceably to fubmit to the Powers in being; aand heartily to pray to God, fo to profper their Government, and direct all their Affairs, that all their Subjects might lead quiet and peaceable Lives under them, in all Godliness and Honefty. But when in a Revolution, a Prince was advanced to the Throne, that they looked upon to be a good Man, and an Encourager of the True Religion; in that Cafe, they did not only readily fubmit to him, but acknowledged it as the great Bleffing of God to them, that he had raised up fuch a Man to rule over them. This was the Notion, and this was VOL. I.

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the Practice of the Primitive Chriftians as to this Matter; I may, indeed, fay of the Chriftians in all Ages. And whatever you may have heard to the contrary, I doubt not to say, that this is the very Doctrine of the Church of England.

Let me, therefore, exhort all of you to be Followers of Peace; to promote Publick Unity and Concord, as much as is poffible; to ftudy to be quiet, and mind your own Bufinefs; to be more concerned for your Country and Nation, than the Intereft of any fingle Man in it; heartily to fubmit to the Government ; and not only fo, but to thank God for the Bleffings you enjoy under it, and most earneftly to pray for the Continuance of them: Laftly, Never to efpoufe any Party or Faction against the Government, nor ever to be driven away from the Communion of the Church, of which you have always profeffed yourselves Members, by any of the Pretences which some warm Men may fuggeft to you. This I dare venture to say, how uneafy foever some of you now may be in joining with our Prayers, you will at laft be Ten times more uneafy in feparating from us. For Faction

has no Bounds, and God knows whither it will lead a Man at laft. Were there nothing else but the Heat and Turbulency, the Paffion and Peevishness, the bitter Zeal and Uncharitablenefs, that the being of a Party doth naturally ingage Men in; I fay, were there nothing elfe but this, no Man that confults the Peace of his own Mind, would for any

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Confideration leave the Publick Communion, and efpouse the Caufe of a feparate Intereft, But there are worfe Confequences than these, and I pray God we may never feel them.

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And now I have done with my Exhortation. And I have fpoke my Thoughts very freely to you. And I hope you will receive what I have faid with the fame Kindness that I mean it it. And truly, I have no Reason to doubt of it, after fo long an Experience as I have had of your Civility and Candor. Indeed, during all the Time I have been among you (which hath been now near Sixteen Years) I have been o kindly treated by you, and have received fo many Teftimonies of your Good-will, that I cannot but take this Opportunity of Publickly acknowledging my Obligations to you, and returning you my folemn Thanks for them.

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I cannot, indeed, fay, that I have done my Duty as I ought; and I heartily beg of God to forgive all my Defects: But I have, this Satisfaction, that I have fincerely endeavoured, in all my Preaching, to inftruct you in the true Doctrine of the Gofpel, and to teach you the right Way that leads to Salvation. And I am fo certain, that I have not been mistaken myself, nor mified you in that Matter, that I dare with Confidence addrefs myself to you in fome of the Words of the Apostle, which do immediately follow after my Text: Viz. Thofe Things which you have learned and received, and heard from me, do; and the God of Peace fhall be with you.

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I fhall ever blefs God for that Providence of his which placed me among you; and as I fhall always and do earnestly defire all your Prayers for me; fo I fhall always heartily pray for you; that God would guide and profper you, that his good Providence would always watch over you for Good; that he would bestow upon you, and your Children after you, all Sorts of Bleffings needful and. convenient for you; and efpecially, that he would deliver you from every evil Work, and preferve you to his heavenly Kingdom.

This, God of his infinite Mercy grant, &c.

SER

SERMON X.

Preached before the

Lords Spiritual and Temporal

IN THE

Abbey-Church at Westminster,

On the Fifth of November, 1691.

ROM. X. 2.

For I bear them Record, that they have a Zeal of God, but not according to Knowledge.

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HESE are St. Paul's Words, and he fpoke them of the Jews, thofe unbelieving Jews, that were fo tenacious

of the Traditions of their Fathers, and fo utterly averse to any Reformation of Religion; that though it appeared by undeniable Evidence, that Chrift Jefus was by God fent into the World for that Purpose; yet did they, to the laft, ftand out in their Oppofition of him and his Gofpel, even to the final Rejection of their Nation.

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