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Thus Chriftianity, which is the most peaceable and lovely Institution in the World, by the Wickedness of Men, becomes the fame as if it had been made up of Fire and Sword. Which brings me,

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Secondly, To fhew the dangerous Confequence of abufing Chriftianity to fuch wicked Purposes. The Gospel is a Declaration of the Pardon of God to Mankind, and confequently a Revelation of his Love to his whoever therefore turns this Love into Hatred, as every one does who makes the Gospel a Cover for Perfecution, tramples under Foot the Blood of the Covenant, wherewith we are feal'd through the Redemption that is in Chrift Fefus. And if they were to die without Mercy who defpis'd Mofes's Law, of how much forer Punishment fhall they be thought worthy, who, by this their Apoftacy from Chriftianity, have, in Effect, trodden under Foot the Son of God, and render'd his ineftimable Love to Men ufelefs and ineffectual !

This is doing the very Work of the Devil, and helping him out in that hellish Drudgery for which he will not fail to reward them: For we know very well whofe Bufinefs it is to fave Men's Lives, and whofe

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SERM. to deftroy them; who it was that went a VI. bout doing good, and who it is that goes about feeking whom he may devour. So that we can't be ignorant whofe Kingdom a cruel perfecuting Spirit tends to advance; not the Kingdom of Chrift, but the Kingdom of Satan. For it is certainly true, that to whomsoever we yield ourselves Servants to obey, his Servants we are to whom we obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of Holiness unto Righteousness.

Our bleffed Saviour has given us an extraordinary Example of univerfal Love and Benevolence, in laying down his Life, not only for our Sins, but also for the Sins of the whole World: And as far as we are for promoting the fame Love, fo far we follow his Steps; but when we turn that Love into Hatred, even unto Death, we fhew that we belong to another Mafter, viz. the Prince of Darkness, and follow his Steps, in endeavouring to prevent and fruftrate the ineftimable Benefit of Chrift's Death, by deftroying them for whom Chrift died.

Axes and Halters are unanfwerable Arguments indeed, but then 'tis for this Reafon, because they put an End to the Dif pute and the Difputer too. But one would think that every one must know, that it

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must be a bad Caufe that ftands in need SERM. of fuch Arguments as thefe. As for ChriVI. ftianity, 'tis directly oppofite to this Spirit of Cruelty; even Nature itself abhors it: And yet it seems it must be kept up to do God good Service. But for God's fake, how? Where is there one Text of Scripture that says, a Man must be destroyed for the fake of Religion? Does not the whole Tenor of it run the contrary way?

But 'tis the everlasting Plea of the Advocates for Perfecution, that we, and all but themselves, are Heretics: And fuppofe it were fo, tho' there is no reason to suppofe any fuch thing, for there are a great many Things to be made out firft, where is there one Text of Scripture that says, a Heretic must be deftroyed? Has not our Bleffed Saviour determined this very Thing already with relation to the Samaritans, who were not only Heretics but Idolaters? And yet when the Disciples James and John were for calling for Fire from Heaven to confume them, he turned, and rebuked them, and faid, Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of: For the Son of Man P

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SERM. is not come to deftroy Men's Lives but to Save them.

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But if others think, that tho' our Saviour did not come to deftroy Men's Lives, yet that they have a Right to do fuch Things, then I think too, they ought at leaft to be fo fair as to make no Pretenfions to Christianity, fince they are as contrary to it as an evil Spirit is to a good one. So that upon Suppofition we were Heretics, in the Sense they are willing to understand it, yet Perfecution is a manifest Breach of Christian Charity, which is employed, and delights in doing good to Men, and not in destroying them; and therefore, if it were to be put upon that Footing, they are in a much worfe Condition than we, as being guilty of the great Sin of Uncharitableness, which is fo much worse than Herefy, as Charity is greater than Faith.

But further, let us purfue the Conféquence of this perfecuting Spirit, and fee where it will end. Suppofe then all that can be defired, that Perfecution is a Chriftian Principle, and that there is sufficient Warrant for it from Scripture; let all this

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for once be granted, and what are we SERM. now the better? Can this alter the Nature of things? or make Hatred and Ill-nature be otherwise than they are? As long as things are what they are, it will still be a Moral Crime; and Human Nature, upon Supposition that it is what it is, can never approve of it, unless it be ftrangely byafs'd by other Confiderations. What then will an Argument drawn from hence prove? If it prove any thing, it will prove too much. For was there but one Text of Scripture that would justify Perfecution, that would be fufficient to prove the Chriftian Religion to be false, and not to come from God; For that would be to make Chriftianity destroy its own End, as well as confound and destroy the eternal Differences and Relations of things. Accordingly we find the Deifts have made this Ufe of it: And indeed were it not for the Hatred and Cruelty that has been so often found among Chriftians, a late Author, that has appear'd at the Head of their Caufe, would have very little to fay. This is what He, and all the Enemies of Reveal'd Religion have found their Advantage

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