fome of our own Rights. But yet at the fame time we owe a great deal more to the Publick than we do to any particular Person whatsoever, and therefore must not violate the publick Laws to gratify the best Friend we have. There are many Things for inftance in the outward Worship of God, in which, if we were left at our own Liberty, we might innocently and prudently condefcend to the Ignorance or Infirmities of others; and it would be fometimes fitting fo to do. But if publick Authority hath interpofed and made a Rule for us; if the Laws have enjoined fuch a Time for Worfhip, or fuch a Form of Prayer, or fuch Gestures, or Garments, or the like; here to fwerve from our Rule, because others do not like it, and to do Things of our own Head for the humouring them, is a Thing not becoming the Modefty of any Chriftian.

The only Reflection I make upon what I have now faid, is this; If it be unreafonable to break publick Rules and Laws, tho' never fo indifferent in themfelves, for Compliance fake, how much more unlawful and intolerable muft it be to diffemble or depart from our Religion for the humouring of others. There are fome, I doubt, who are for carrying this Principle of Compliance fo far as to think fit to be always of that Religion which is moft in Fashion. So long as the Proteftant Faith is established VOL. V. N

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by Law, and countenanced by the Government, they will be zealous for that: But if Popery (nay, perhaps Turcifm) fhould get the Afcendant, and come in the Place of it, they could without much Difficulty change their Sides. This, I grant, is a very eafy and expeditious Way to fave ourselves whole and harmless in all Times. And if there was no fuch thing as Honefty and Confcience in the World, it might be very adviseable; but no Man, who hath any Senfe or Regard to either of thefe, can poffibly think of it without Abhorrence. This I must observe, that the primitive Chriftians were fo tender of Compliances in Matters of Religion, and this Point of the open Profeffion of it, (when they were called to it) was then thought fo neceffary, that any among them who did but fo much as throw a Grain of Incense upon the heathen Altars (which was interpreted as a facrificing to their Gods) tho' it was for the faving of his Life, was presently excluded the Communion of Chriftians: Nay, tho' a Man did not facrifice, but only accepted a Ticket or Certificate from the Officers that he had done fo; I fay, even complying thus far, was looked upon and reputed so great an Affront to Jefus Chrift, that the Man was ranked among the Apoftates: And fo were all thofe likewife who deliver'd up their Bibles to the Perfecutors upon any Account whatsoever. And these three forts of Per

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fons I have named, were the Thurificati, the Libellatici, and the Traditores, which we fo often meet with in the Ecclefiaftical Writers.

O therefore! let it be an immoveable Principle within us in all Times to be conftant to that which we take to be the true Religion. Let us hold the Profeffion of our Faith without wavering. Let no Profpect of worldly Gain or Advantage, let no Perfuafions or Infinuations of Friends, no Concernments of our Families and Children, no Terrors of Perfecution, or Death itself, make us fall from our own Stedfaftnefs. Let us remember what our bleffed Lord hath told all his Difciples, Whofoever shall con- Matt. 10. fefs me before Men, him will I confefs before my Father which is in Heaven. But whofo- Luke 12. ever fhall deny me before Men, him will I deny before my Father and the Angels of God. But thus much of my firft Head. I proceed to the next.

2. Another Point of Chriftian Wisdom and Circumfpection in evil Times recommended by St. Paul, we fhall find to be this; viz. the Prefervation, as much as is poffible, of Love and Unity among those who are of the fame Religion. There is nothing that he more preffeth in all his Epiftles, as a Means both for preferving the Church in the evil Times which were then, and for recommending Chriftianity to the Adversaries of it, than that those who N 2

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profeffed it fhould be firmly united among themselves: That they fhould be like-minded, having the fame Love, being of one Accord, and of one Mind. So he speaks in the 2d ch.2.v.2.chap. to the Philippians, That they should put on Bowels of Mercies, and forbear one another in Love, endavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. So he v. 2, 3. fpeaks in the 4th to the Ephefians. It had been happy for Chriftendom if this Point had been always carefully obferved. The Divifions of Chriftians among themselves have done more Hurt to Chrift's Religion, than all the Force and Malice of its open Enemies could ever do. And as it ftands with Christianity in general, fo doth it with any Church in particular: Love and Unity among the Members of it is the fureft Expedient, both to preferve them from common Danger, and to fupport them under it. On the contrary, Divide & impera (as the Saying is) do but break them into Parties and Factions, do but fill them with Variance, and Hatred, and Animofities one against another, and you open an eafy Paffage for a common Enemy to enter in among them; Or if he be there already, you give him occafion to exercife greater Severity and Rigour, than perhaps otherwife would have been thought reasonable: Nay, it frequently happens, where fuch Parties and Breaches are, that not only a Way is opened for an Enemy to enter, but one of the Parties

brings him in, and turns Perfecutor of the Brethren. Men care not what they do, fo that they can but opprefs the oppofite Party, which at that time ftands moft in their way, tho' it be to their own Undoing at the long run. This is fairly intimated by St. Paul to the Galatians; If, fays he, ye bite and Cal. 5. 15. devour one another, take heed that ye be not confumed one of another. His Caution implies that there is no Neceffity in order to the Ruin of a Church or Nation, that the Members thereof fhould always fall into the Hands of them who wish them ill; for they themselves, by their unfeafonable and bitter Quarrels, may oftentimes do the Work.

3. But in the third Place, among the Points of prudent Walking in evil Times, we ought not to omit that which St. Paul orders Titus to put the Chriftians in those Days in efpecial Remembrance of; Put them in mind, fays he, to be fubject to Prin- ch. 3. v. 1. cipalities and Powers, and to obey Magiftrates. And St. Peter likewife lays the fame Charge upon those to whom he writes. with reference to the evil Times they liv'd

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in; Submit your felf to every Ordinance of 1 Pet. 2. Man; whether to the King as fupreme, or 13,14,15, unto Governors, as unto them that are fent by him. For fo is the Will of God, that with Well-doing ye fhould put to filence the Ignorance of foolish Men. Nothing did more

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