times fpeak, more indefinitely) of what is necessary to denominate a Man a Christian. I stay not now to examine, how far this Scheme is reconcileable with the Directions, which CHRIST and His Apofiles have left us, relating to the Chriftian Church; nor how far it may be really practicable. But we must be allowed to enquire, What Confequences are to be expected from this thorough Reformation, fuppofing they could be gratified? They will promife us a Glorious State of univerfal Liberty. But, is it to be imagined, that a Nation, retaining the least Concern about Religion, could for any Time continue in fuch as State as this? Would all Chriftians be at once fet at Liberty from their Paffions and their Prejudices? And particularly, would the Teachers of Religion (for Teachers, I fuppose, there must be so long as there is Religion) be by these means divested of that Luft of Power, from which Some at prefent affect to be under such dreadful Apprehenfions? Alas! the Denominations of the contending Parties might be changed, but the Contentions themselves would remain as fierce as ever. We fhould foon have Teacher fetting up against Teacher ; each propofing a different Interpretation of the One Article, and a different Account of what what is necessary to denominate a Man a Chriftian; each zealous for the Prevalence of his own; and probably the more fo, in Proportion to the Hopes, he might flatter himself with, of being able to draw the, then vacant, publick Encouragements towards it. In the mean while, thofe of the People, whom this Scheme fhould find in a Pofture of Indifference to all Religion, would foon be advanced by it into the Seat of the Scornful; whilft it would drive the more devout into the Arms of the Romish Emiffary: Of the feft, fome would fall in with one Leader, fome with another; one declaring for Paul, another for Apollos, a third for Cephas, and a fourth disclaiming all fubordinate Authority or Instruction, and infifting on his immediate Relation to CHRIST. The Diftractions must needs be, for fome Time, moft deplorable; and the Iffue of them, if our Situation with refpect to our Neighbours be confidered, probably not much less fo. Only of thus much we may be well affured; that no Iffue of them could be more dreaded by the Enemies, or more heartily prayed for by the Friends (I fay not, of Religion only, but) of all valuable Liberty, than a Revival of that excellent Eftablishment, which as on This Day fell a Sa crifice, 1 crifice, with its faithful Defender, the Royal Martyr, at the Head of it; which was fince, by GoD's good Providence, wonderfully reftored, and is ftill graciously continued to us; and which, if we are content to learn Wifdom at the Expence of our Forefathers, we shall not again wantonly caft away from us. To conclude. The Constitution we live. under is, in both its Branches fo happily fituated, as to partake of the beneficial Influences of a juft Authority and a fober Liberty, and to avoid the Extremes of Tyranny on one Hand, and Licentioufnefs on the other: A Conftitution, under which we may be as fecure, as any thing Human can fecure us, in our Perfons and our Properties, in our Lives, and (which are justly yet dearer to us) our Confciences: A Conftitution, by a due Improvement of the Advantages whereof, we may be eafy in this World, and happy in a far better. Let us then at once fhew ourselves worthy of thefe Bleffings, and fecure the Continuance of them, by rendering unto Cefar the Things which are Cefar's, and unto GOD the Things that are GOD's: Expreffing our Affection for our Country, by praying for its Peace, and by contributing our honeft Induf a Matth. XXII, 21. try try in our proper Stations, toward its Prof perity; and our Zeal for our Holy Religion, by a conftant and devout Attendance on its Worship and its Ordinances, and by adorning it with all the Virtues and Graces of a truly Chriftian Life. Schemes of farther Liberty, or greater Perfection, look plaufible in Theory and inviting at a Distance; and might perhaps anfwer our Expectations tolerably well upon a nearer View, were both the principal Conductors of them, and their fubordinate Inftruments, fuch purely rational, fuch intirely difpaffionate Beings, as unexperienced Projectors generally prefume upon finding them to be. But, 'till this is the Cafe; that is, 'till we arrive at that Jerufalem which is above, and which alone is perfectly, because it alone could be securely, Free; let us cheerfully comply with those Restraints, which our present Situation renders necessary for us : And, a whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the fame Rule, let us mind the fame Thing. a Phil. III. 16. |