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profeffed it fhould be firmly united among themfelves: That they should 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 fhould 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 easy 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 reafonable: 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 stands 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 unfeasonable 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 Magifrates. And St. Peter likewise lays the fame Charge upon thofe to whom he writes with reference to the evil Times they liv'd 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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recommend Christianity in the World, than the Peaceablenefs and Loyalty of its Principles. Had it been a peevish, unquiet, feditious, and turbulent Religion: had it countenanced Discontent or Faction, or allowed its Profelytes to oppofe the Government, or even to complain or fhew themfelves uneafy under the Administration of it; it had never fo happily weathered out the Storms that were raifed against it, and got fuch kind Entertainment in the World. The Enemies of it did indeed endeavour to poffefs the Minds of those who were Strangers to it with a Belief that it had an evil Afpect upon the fecular Power, and that the Promoters of it were a Company of ill-affected Perfons: But if they could have made good this Charge, they had in all Probability done their Work, and put a Stop to the Growth of that Religion, which was destitute of all worldly Advantages for the making its Way. But the quite contrary did appear both in the Doctrines which it taught, and in the Lives of all thofe who took it upon them. Never did any Religion, nor any Subjects, give fuch Security to Princes and States of the Enjoyment of all their natural Rights, as the Chriftian Religion and the Chriftian Subjects did. From whence it was manifeft, that this was the beft contrived and fitted to be the Religion of the World; and that all Men, who would prove good Subjects indeed, must

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turn Chriftians. Since therefore fuch is the Nature of the Chriftian Religion, fo obedient, fo fubmiffive to Authority in its Principles; and fince fuch Advantages may be expected to the Chriftians themselves, and to the World, by living up to thefe Principles, it cannot but infinitely concern all, who profefs this Religion, to be very careful in this Point; to give no Occafion to the higher Powers to look upon them as Enemies, or as diffaffected to their Interefts: but on the contrary chearfully to own the Government which gives them Protection, and both in Thought, and Word, and Deed, to pay all faithful Allegiance to it. The Chriftians thought this to be both their Duty and their Interest in the very worst of Times, when they had no better Princes to rule over them than fuch Men as Caligula and Nero. How much more then ought we to charge ourfelves with the Practice of it, who are in fo much happier Circumftances, both with relation to our Government, and our Princes who adminifter it?

4. Another Particular that falls under the general Rule of walking circumfpectly, and redeeming the Time, because the Days are evil, is that which is recommended by St. Paul in these Words, I beseech you, Brethren, 1 Theff. 4. fays he, that ye ftudy to be quiet, and mind 11, 12. your own Business, that ye may walk honestly towards them that are without; as much as

to fay, that the Way to recommend your felves to them who are without, and to make them think honourably of you, is to Study to be quiet, and to mind your own Bufinefs. This is an excellent Rule of Wifdom at all Times, but more especially in Times of Danger or Difficulty. Let every Man difentangle himfelf, as much as he can, from all forts of Quarrels and Embroilments, and from all things that may probably occafion them. Let every Man confult his own Eafe and Repose among his Neighbours, by giving no Disturbance to them, and avoiding, as much as is poffible, Disturbance from them. Laftly, let every Man dwell at home, as much as his Circumstances will give him Leave, and mind his own Affairs, (which will find him Work enough to do) but meddle as little as poffible with Things that are foreign, and which do nothing concern him. I fay, let every Man do thus, and he fhall find the Sweet, and the Comfort, and Convenience. of fo doing, let him live in what Times he will. They who are Bufy-bodies in other Mens Matters, create Trouble and Mischief to themselves in the best of Times, and therefore much more may they expect to reap the ill Confequences of their pragmatical Humour when the Times are ticklifh and boisterous. The Way to live quietly and peaceably is to fit ftill, and take what comes without murmuring; to hear and to

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