Profufion, Admiration of undeferving Things, Neglect of important ones; be they, who are guilty of fuch Faults, ever so distinguished by their Rank or Accomplishments. Further as Liberty is a Bleffing of ineftimable Value in Society, it ought to be afferted with the utmoft Refolution and Watchfulness, not only against open Affaults, but every Prac tice, that may fecretly and filently impair it: yet with religious Care, neither to use it, nor unwarily affift others to use it, for a Cloke of Malicioufnefs; nor hazard the Destruction of it, by Attempts of improving it to a visionary Perfection. Therefore Power, in a requifite Degree, must both be allowed and diligently fupported: They, in whofe Hands it is placed, must both be obeyed and humbly respected, not only for Wrath, but also for Confcience Sake; even the Subordinate, much more the Supreme: their whole Conduct must be viewed with Modefty and Candour; their good Actions and Intentions acknowledged with due Thankfulness; their Mistakes and Failings, imagined or real, born with that Mildness, of which we have All Need, to excufe our own. And the fame equitable Tem 1 Pet. ii. 16. + Rom. xiii. 5. P 2 per per should always be preferved between private Perfons, one towards another; were their Differences about public Affairs of ever fuch Moment, whereas they are frequently nominal or trifling; and were they ever fo fure of being in the right, whereas poffibly both of them have Reason to diftruft it. This is the Method, and it is the only one, by which we can ever hope to fee Jerufalem built as a City, that is at Unity in itself *. Further yet as good Laws, and the Obfervation of them, are neceffary to the public Welfare; all, who have a Share in Legifla ture, ought to contrive or affent to fuch, and oppose others, without fuffering any Confideration to bias them all Magiftrates ought to execute them with Uprightnefs and Courage, yet with Humanity; and all Subjects, to obey them difinterestedly, and procure Obedience to them zealously. But the Laws of Morality require peculiar Attention, for our Country's Good, as well as our own. Every Perfon, who tranfgreffes thefe, teaches his Neighbour, teaches his Family, an evil Leffon against himself, in Points of the greatest Confequence. And every Govern ment, which connives at fuch Tranfgreffions, when it can safely punish them, connives at the Ruin of the People intrufted to its Care. But especially every free Government, guilty of fo culpable Remiffness, be it to court Popularity, be it to serve what present Turn it will, undermines the only Ground it hath to stand upon. For without Virtue, Liberty cannot fubfift. Nor indeed without Piety can Virtue subsist. For our good Affections are so weak, our bad Inclinations fo vehement, and the Temptations of the World fo numerous and inticing, that we need every poffible Prefervative. And evidently the Fear of God is the most awful Restraint from doing ill and the Love of God the most delightful Inducement to do well. True Religion therefore must be established by the Authority of the Legislature, but with the tendereft Regard to fcrupulous Consciences: and upheld in Reputation by the Countenance and Example of the Great. Its Minifters must be industrious, and their Superiors must see that they are, in teaching and defending it, and adorning their Doctrine by respectable and amiable Behaviour. Its Profeffors must be affiduous Attendants on its Exercifes in the Congregation, and ferious Practifers of its Injunctions at home. But particularly, in both Places, they must be earnest with God for their Country's Prosperity, and fervently pray for the Peace of Jerufalem. Many can do little elfe: but all can do so much for it. In fome of our Endeavours to serve the Public we may err: in this we are fure to be right. Often we know not, what is best for it: Our heavenly Father always doth. Poffibly in Times of Difficulty and Danger, we may be tempted to despair of the Commonwealth: Praying for it will remind us, that its Fate is not in the Hands of Men, but of the Almighty. In all times, Refentments, Interefts, Prejudices, frequently blind and mislead us: devout Applications to Heaven will compofe our Paffions, purify our Intentions, obtain us Light to guide our Steps, and enlarge our Views. Perhaps we have been diligent enough, or more than enough, in the Ufe of other Means, conducive, as we imagined, to public Good: but have never, humbly and heartily, used this. And yet, if we believe a righteous Judge of the World, we must furely believe, that he takes Notice of the Addreffes, which his poor Creatures, with pious Affections, offer up to him. Or could we doubt it otherwife, we are fully affured of it in his Sacred Word. Not that naming our Wants informs him, or Acts of fervile Submiffion delight him, or unfit Importunities prevail on him: but that praying in Spirit and in Truth *, while it feems intended to influence Him only, hath a powerful Influence on Us: and by ftrengthening the Sense it expreffes, how dependent we are on his Mercy, and what Qualifications are needful to obtain it, fits us at the fame time to receive it, and grow better by it: whereas beftowing his Favours. on those, who are too negligent of him to ask for them, might neither be fuitable to the Holiness of his Nature, and the Honour of his Government, nor indeed contribute to their final Advantage. Why then should not we addrefs ourselves to the Lord of all, not in outward Form only, but inward Reality; not merely at diftant Seafons appointed for it, like this, but every Day of our Lives; that he would graciously protect the Community, of which we are Members, and instruct and excite us to perform properly our Duty towards it? His own Declaration, even after he had * John iv. 23. P4 pro |