of reconciling Sin and Salvation together, turn afide from the Way of Righteousness, and forfake that pure and holy Communion, which the good Providence of God had placed them in; as to fuch, we cannot judge favourably, and we will not judge hardly; there is one that judgeth', who will also render to every Man according to his Deeds: but indeed we can see no Promise of their finding Mercy in that Day. Suffer not yourselves then to be moved either by vain Threatenings or falfe Promifes, nor ever think to be fafe in any other Way, than that of first inquiring carefully, what your Duty is; and then keeping close to the Practice of it. Be affured it is fafe to worship God, through Jefus Chrift, and let all other Worship alone; fafe to receive the holy Communion as our Lord himself gave it, to pray in a Language you all understand; and make that holy Word which was written for your Learning, the Foundation and Rule of your Faith, your Practice, and your Hopes. Fear not but you are fafe in doing thus; whether the Romanifts be fafe in doing otherwife or not.

may! but God forbid that any

God grant they

of us should try.

Rear with me now but a few Minutes longer,

P John viii. 50.

4 Rom. ii. 6.

Rom. xv. 4.

whilft I give you in Conclufion fome feasonable Directions for your Behaviour towards thofe of that Church.

First then let none of their bad Doctrines or Practices ever tempt you in the leaft to any hard Treatment of them, any Incivility or fecret Illwill towards them. Juftice and Mercy, Equity and Charity, are main Parts of Religion and a Failure in thefe is one of the worst Herefies into which we can fall. We know the Church of Rome hath failed in them greatly; our Ancestors have felt their Cruelty; our Protestant Brethren abroad groan under it at this Day, and may God preserve us and our Pofterity from the Danger of it; for never had they Mercy long when they had Power. Careful Self-Defence against such a Spirit must be allowed us: but, as to any Thing farther, in thofe Things for which we blame them, let us not be like them. The fevere Laws we have in Force against them are not for their religious Opinions; but for their refusing to own, and promise due Obedience to, the Government under which they live and they have long Experience that nothing but abfolute Neceffity will ever oblige our Superiors to put any of thefe Laws into Execution. Let us therefore fhew in our private Ca

6.

pacities

pacities the fame good Temper. As Men, they have a Title to all Humanity: as Chriftians, though mistaken, they have a yet ftronger Claim to our Forbearance and Tenderness. Their Doctrines indeed are dangerous; their Practices have been dreadful: but this, in a great Meafure, hath arisen from Ignorance, and a Zeal of God, though not according to Knowledge'. Numbers of them, without Doubt, inwardly difapprove religious Cruelties, and think at least they could never be brought to join in them. However this may be, (which God forbid should ever come to be tried) yet in the mean Time nothing hinders but as in Religion they may, to the best of their Judgement, be fincerely pious, so in common Life they may be just and honest, friendly and neighbourly. Let us therefore, with much better natured Principles, be fure not to appear worse natured Perfons; but recommend our Profeffion to all the World by that Wisdom which is from above, firft pure, then peaceable, gentle and eafy to be intreated, full of Mercy and good Fruits.

In the next Place, let nothing which hath been faid make thofe, who are not fome Way called to it, over forward to difpute about these

s Rom. x. Z.

t

* James iii. 17.

Matters

In

Matters with Perfons of more Learning and Art than themselves. For a Man may have very good Reasons on his Side, and yet be fo little qualified to fet them in the best Light, that an excellent Caufe may be hurt by Want of Skill in managing it. What I have endea. voured is only that you may be able, as St. Peter directs, to give an Answer to them that afk you a Reafon of the Hope that is in you". doing which, remember you are concerned only to be on the defenfive. They are to prove, if they can, that every one of their Doctrines is not only true, but an Article of Faith, and every one of their Practices not only lawful, but neceffary. Till they have done all this, you have no Reason to change: and when they have done it, we allow you to change. But obferve one Thing: if you hear them deny any. of the Points with which they have been charged,

do not be staggered at it.

were not guilty of them!

Would to God they They would be more

in the right, and we should be never the less fo. But do not think a Charge unjust, because they confidently fay it is. The more ignorant of them here among us, perhaps, do not know the worst Part of their Doctrines: and the more

learned will not own them till they are forced. These Concealments are no new Things with them. In fome Countries many of their Miffionaries have concealed a great Part of the Christianity they pretended to teach, and allowed Heathenifm to be blended with it in order to make Converts, fuch as they are, the more eafily. No Wonder then if here they veil over their Corruptions with a fair Mask, which, if we do not pull off, they will not throw off, till the proper Time comes.

Another Thing is, If ever you should be pressed with any of their Arguments which I have mentioned, and not perhaps remember the Answer to it, ftill remember you have heard it answered: and any one of you may, at any Time when you defire it, have the Answer repeated and farther explained to you. Or if any other Argument fhould be used, to which you cannot of yourfelves reply, confult thofe that can tell us your Difficulties in Time; be affured fuch as would keep you from this do not mean honestly; give us but a fair hearing before you determine to leave us, and we doubt not your staying with us. Even if any of you should be unhappily brought to think favourably of fome of their Doctrines, remember ftill how VOL. VI. monftrous

E e