THAT ye should earnestly contend for the Faith! Can then that Gospel which was once deliver'd by the Prince of Peace meet with any so hardy and obstinate as to gainsay and oppose it? That Gospel, the very design of which, is to promote an universal Love and Charity; to join us all (as it were) in­to one common Houshold, one Family: That Gospel, which teaches me to look upon every Man as my Neighbour, my Friend, and my Brother; that obliges me to allow every Man a share in my Heart, and admit him as Partner in my Love and Affections: That Gospel, which is so well fitted for the Advancement of every Man's true Interest and Advantage, and which gives us a blessed Assurance, in consequence of our Obe­dience, of an immortal Crown of Glory here­after. Can any one be so obstinately, so wilfully blind, as not to see those things which make for his eternal Peace, and not upon first sight close in [Page 2] with, and embrace 'em? 'Tis strange, that the effect of the Son of God's coming into the World, should be, St. Mat. 10.34. not to send Peace, but a Sword; that the most tender and obliging offers, that even infinite Mercy did ever make, should prove the occasion of Strife and Contention, and set one Man at variance against another.

Yet this is our case, and every one who is ad­mitted within the Pale of the Christian Church, engages himself in a continual Warfare; he enters, and lists himself into the Service of him, who is described to us under the Character of the Captain of our Salvation, the Head of the Church, that Army of the living God; he obliges himself to wrestle, not only against Flesh and Blood, Eph. 6.12, but against Principali­ties and Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against spiritual Wickednesses in high Places; and his Adversaries have so many ways to beset him, that he must be continually upon his Guard; and to secure his Innocence, take to him the whole Armour of God, 13. that he may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. The Christian Profession is represented to us as a State of Warfare; and a manly Courage, Resolution and Constancy, are qualifications which are necessary for every Professor to carry con­stantly about him; we are not, in the least, al­low'd to be Careless, Negligent and Supine, but are to sight the good sight, to endure hardships, to be strong in the Lord, and earnestly to contend for that Faith, which was once delivered to the Saints.

Which was once delivered to the Saints; for there is no other Gospel now to be expected, no other Rule by which we are to square our Acti­ons; we are not to look for any strange, new Light, nor for any other Methods of Salvation. 'Tis true, Heb. 10.1. the Law was indeed a shadow of good things to come, but now, since the Substance of the Faith hath been once fully revealed to us, by that Gospel, which hath brought Life and Immor­tality to light, we are modestly and humbly to em­brace it, and take it as the only Rule both of our Faith and Practise; and though we, Gal. 1.8. or an Angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel to you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ac­cursed.

It would (I presume) be altogether needless, to go about to prove, that by that Faith in the Text, which we are exhorted thus earnestly to con­tend for, is to be understood the Christian Reli­gion in general, viz. all those Doctrines and Pre­cepts, as well as Articles of Belief, contain'd in that Gospel which hath no less than the Son of God for its Author; for so is the word used Acts 6.7. 1 Tim. 4.1. and in several other places. The Faith of a Christian, is the Religion of a Chri­stian; and to believe in Jesus, is to become his Disciple, and a Follower of his Doctrines; and, I doubt not, but that seeming difference between St. Paul and St. James, when one speaks of Justification by Faith alone, and the other asserts good Works to be necessary in order thereunto, may very easi­ly be adjusted, by a serious application of Mind, [Page 4] and by considering the drift and design of each Apostle, in his several Epistle. So that all those Controversies, which have for a long time em­ploy'd the Pens of several (I hope well-meaning) Men, may be easily reconciled, and made up; for a truly pious Christian Faith, will undoubtedly be productive of all those good Works, to the perfor­mance of which our most holy Profession obliges us. To proceed therefore further upon this Point, would be altogether needless; and I heartily wish it were as needless to enlarge upon those several Adver­saries, who set themselves in opposition to, and are the profess'd Enemies of that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints. Ver. 4. Ʋngodly Men (as our Apostle speaks) who either turn the Grace of our God into Lasciviousness, or positively deny the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, even who deny the Lord that bought 'em. 2 Pet. 2.1. But we are obliged to observe,

First, That when the Apostle exhorts us, to contend earnestly for the Faith, there are necessa­rily imply'd some Persons who will be constantly gainsaying and opposing it, some Adversaries which we are to encounter and conflict withal: Which being consider'd, we shall be naturally led in the

Second place to enquire how, and after what manner we are to deal with these Adversaries, and what peculiar Weapons we are to make use of, whilst we endeavour earnestly to contend for the Faith. And then, lest any one should be dis­couraged in the discharge of his Duty, by the [Page 5] greatness of the Work, or the many Difficulties which he is to encounter, it will be requisite in the

Third place, to shew what mighty Encourage­ments we have to perswade us to a constant per­severance in our Christian Warfare, what bles­sed Assistances are offered to us, and what glorious Rewards they shall be Crowned withal, who sight the good Fight, and do inviolably keep the Faith.

First, We are obliged to observe, that when the Apostle exhorts us to contend earnestly for the Faith, there are necessarily implied some Persons who will be constantly gainsaying and opposing it; some Adversaries which we are to encounter, and conflict withal. A Consideration, as melan­choly as 'tis serious, and every way as sad as it is true. To be either Persecuted, singled out for Destruction, or at least slighted, and laugh'd at, hath (in some measure) been the Portion of the true Professors of the Faith, in all Ages of the Church: And to be mock'd at, and derided, seem­ed to make up part of the Character of a Believer in the Infancy of Christianity. Nay, we may go further, even to the Fountain Head, and we shall find that the very Author of our Faith him­self, the Blessed Jesus, met with the same Usage: No sooner had he left that humble Retirement, in which he past the first Thirty Years of his Life, to enter publickly upon his Prophetick Office, but that Divine Charmer, who so spake, as never Man [Page 6] spake, met with such as contradicted, and opposed him; the proud, haughty Pharisee thought him­self too great to listen to the Doctrines of Meek­ness and Humility, and being big with an expecta­tion of a glorious Messiah, a Temporal Prince, who should rescue their Nation from the Roman Yoak, could not discern a Deliverer, under the appearance of a Carpenter's Son, nor imagine it possible, that he should redeem Israel, whose Con­dition was so low, mean and despicable, that, (ac­cording to his own Expression) he had not where to lay his Head. The proud Insulter would not see the Finger of the Almighty in those daily Mira­cles which he wrought, nor confess him to be the Son of God with power, though the Glories of his Divinity were visibly display'd in all his wondrous Works: But still is the Holy Jesus scoffed at, and derided, and in an impudent manner taunted at, Is not this the Carpenter, the Son of Mary? And when they found that many of the People (con­vinc'd by his mighty Works) began to adhere to, and embrace his Doctrines, lest their beloved Moses should be brought into disrepute, they re­solve to Persecute both him and them, and La­zarus was design'd to be put to Death, because that by reason of him (i. e. his being miraculously raised from the dead) many of the Jews went away, John 12.1 [...], 11. and believed on Jesus. Nor did their Malice admit of any Abatement, 'till they had nailed him to the Cursed Tree, and see him there expire, and die; when his Doctrines, they thought, would have died with him, and the Faith of Jesus, they [Page 7] hoped, would have been heard of no more.

And since his Usage was thus very hard and severe, it could not afterwards be expected that the Disciple should be above, Mat. 10.24. or fare better than his Master, nor the Servant above his Lord; and when the Apostles were sent out upon that weighty Bu­siness, viz. to publish the same Gospel which Jesus had Preach'd, Mat. 1 [...].22. no wonder if they should be ha­ted of all Men for his name sake. And indeed thus it prov'd, for when the Christian Doctrine revived, and rose again with it's Blessed Author, it no soon­er made its publick Appearance in the World, but it was as publickly contradicted and oppos'd. That Doctrine which was so repugnant to those Noti­ons, and Prejudices which had been generally en­tertained, could not undoubtedly without a great deal of difficulty, make its way into the Hearts of Men, and be received as a Rule of Faith. That Doctrine, the embracing of which at that time, tended to the lessening Mens secular Interest, and Advantage, would assuredly meet with a great many Enemies; and 'tis not much to be admired, if, not only the Ephesian Silversmiths should be against it, Acts 19. whose Craft was in danger to be ruined and set at nought, but every Man likewise else­where, whose Interest it threatned to diminish, would make a Party against it, and raise a Body of Adversaries to oppose it: And when the Rage of such a Man as Herod had urged him to kill James the Brother of John with the Sword, Acts 12 1, 2, 3. it was easie to imagine, that he who loved popular Applause, and prided himself in the Acclamations of the [Page 8] Crowd, should (when he saw it pleased the Jews) proceed further, not only to take Peter also, but lay violent Hands upon all the Preachers of the Gospel, and vex the whole Church.

I need not in this place, for I consider before whom I speak, I need not here proceed to the next Ages consequent to that of the Apostles, and lay before you a large Catalogue of that noble Army of Martyrs, who suffered for the sake of Christ, du­ring those several Persecutions which successively raged, and laid waste the Church of God. I need not lay before you an account of those several Kings and Emperors, under whom the Faithful Servants of the Blessed Jesus chose rather to suffer Afflictions with the People of God, than deny their Master, and desert their Saviour; who were tortured, not accepting deliverance; who had Trials of cruel Mockings and Scourgings, yea moreover of Bonds and Imprisonment, and yet amidst all their Troubles and Afflictions, showed themselves more than Conquerours through him that loved them.

'Twould be needless to carry your Eyes back­ward to those Times, when to embrace the Do­ctrine of our Lord, and to follow him was the sure and ready way to take up the Cross in a literal Sense, when he that would live the Life of a Chri­stian, must expect to die the same Death with his Master: These things are sufficiently known, and evident to any Man who hath but look'd into the History of the Church. It is very true, will some Men be apt to say, ‘There is no doubt to [Page 9] be made, but the first Planters and Publishers of the Gospel met with very great Opposition, and both they and their Followers, in the first Ages of the Church, were very severely and cruelly handled; and their adhering to the Christian Religion did hourly expose them to the ha­zard of their Lives. But what then? We are now quiet, and at ease, and the Exhortation which the Apostle gives in the Text, to contend earnestly for the Faith, hath no place at all amongst us; the Christian Faith (say they) is now not only generally receiv'd, and the Gospel quietly enjoy'd, but Kings themselves are become the Nursing Fathers of the Church, and Queens its Nursing Mothers: That Vine which God's own right Hand hath planted hath now taken Root, and filled the Land, and every one hath the Li­berty, and the blessed Opportunities of setting under its Shadow with great delight.’

Is it so then? If the Amalekites, with all that belong'd to 'em, be utterly destroy'd, what means the bleating of the Sheep, and the lowing of the Oxen which we hear? If the Christian Profession be so quietly and securely settled, if that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints be so generally received and embraced, that the Professors of it have no occasion to strive and contend for it, what mean all our Sects and Divisions? What means that open, that barefac'd opposition which is daily made? What should be the reason, that, instead of believing, and without Controversie assenting to the great Mysteries of Godliness, we meet with Men [Page 10] now adays who can in one breath reject all the My­steries of the Gospel? And these Men, whose Un­standings are not look'd upon as of a low, incon­siderable Size, but such as pretend to the most ex­traordinary Parts, the most refined and subtle Wits; such, as, if it be true that the Gnosticks, (those Hereticks who in the first Ages of Christi­anity infested the Church of God) had their Name given 'em from their pretensions to great and ex­traordinary Knowledge, may come under the same denomination with them. If Christianity be set­led upon so sure a Foundation, how comes it to pass that these Men should not blush at what they do, especially if it be consider'd, that our most holy Faith being guarded and protected by the Circum­vallation of humane Laws, those Men who in a Christian Country dare openly write against, and oppose the Christian Religion, are guilty of an in­stance of the highest Impudence to aggravate their Crime, and come into the number of those whom our Apostle here speaks of, who despise Dominion, and speak evil of Dignities.

If the Faith of Christ, if his Gospel be so gene­rally, so universally receiv'd amongst us, what mean all these late pretensions to new Light, and immediate Inspiration? What do they mean who go about to perswade the World, That all those Expressions of Scripture which relate to the Incar­nation, the Birth, the Death, and Resurrection of the Blessed Jesus, are to be understood in a meta­phorical and figurative Sense? Who instead of modestly and devoutly receiving the holy Scriptures [Page 11] as the only Rule both of their Faith and Practice, shall impiously, nay blasphemously, call it a dead Letter, by this means overthrowing the Authority of the whole written Word of God, perverting one of the great designs of our Saviour's coming into the World, and overturning the whole busi­ness of his Prophetick Office. For to what pur­pose should the Son of God take upon him our Na­ture, and come into the World to be our great Lawgiver, when he might through all succeeding Ages have instructed his People by the Voice of the Spirit within 'em: I say, to what purpose should he do this, if he did not design that the Gospel should be a standing, perpetual Rule to his Follow­ers? if he did not intend that when this substance of the Faith was once delivered to the Saints, the Saints should not only thankfully embrace it, but most earnestly contend for it?

If the Gospel be received, and its Doctrines so generally embrac'd, what mean all these Fruits of Unrighteousness, of which every day produces so plentiful an Harvest? Whence comes that Atheism and Infidelity which hath overspread so great a part of this Nation? Why are our Ears so un­gratefully filled with Swearing and Cursing? Why is the sacred, the tremendous Name of God blas­phemed? why are his Sabbaths unhallow'd? why are the Festivals of the Church slighted and disre­garded, and the most solemn Ordinances neglected and contemn'd, even by those very Men who at the same time call themselves by the name of Christ? Have we no Enemies to encounter? Is [Page 12] the Faith so securely setled, that we have no occa­sion to contend for it? Most assuredly when our Adversaries appear so open and barefaced on the one hand, and those who call themselves our Friends (but falsly so called) on the other hand, shall by their wicked Lives, their horrid and im­pious Practises, give occasion to the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. I say, whilst Matters stand thus, we have the highest reason to be upon our Guard, to be always in a readiness and a po­sture of defence, and whilst we fight in our Ma­ster's cause, 1 Cor 16.13. to quit our selves like Men. Proceed we now in the

Second place, to enquire how and after what manner we are to deal with these Adversaries, and what sort of Weapons we are to make use of, whilst we endeavour earnestly to contend for the Faith.

And here be pleased, in the first place, to give me leave to look back a little upon the first Ages of the Church, those dismal Times of Heat and Persecution, and see how the Professours of Chri­stianity then contended; for though (blessed be our most merciful and indulgent God) we do at present enjoy a great measure of Peace and Tran­quillity, though our Church Doors are now always open, and the pious Votary hath a ready admis­sion to the Throne of Grace; yet who knows what severe Judgments and Calamities, our many crying Sins may provoke the just Governour of the World to bring upon us; and should we ever be in their Condition we are to follow their Example, [Page 13] and contend for the Faith, as they did; look back upon the first Martyrs and Confessours, and in perilous Times you shall find them, [...] earnestly striving and contend­ing for the Faith, in the utmost stretch of the words, resolved to hold it fast, and keep it inviolable even to the end. 'Tis very plain that the Apostle here, as likewise St. Paul in several of his Epistles, al­ludes to those ancient Games, and Exercises in use amongst the Greeks, and particularly here to that of running a Race, wherein the [...], or [...], the Reward of the Conqueror was set at the end, over the Goal; and the pious suffering Christian may here be consider'd at the approaches of the last solemn hour, pressing forward toward the prize of his high Calling, come (as it were) with­in fight of the Goal, fully resolv'd (notwithstand­ing the Conflicts and Fatigues which he under­goes) not to slack his pace, or be diverted by any thing that may court him in his way. He presses forward, and endeavours to grasp that Crown of Glory which stands in view, though tortured will not accept of Deliverance, nor quit his Master's Service to gain inglorious Ease: He relies upon the sure word of Promise, Job 27.5. and till he die will not remove his Innocence and Integrity from him. And should it please God to draw a Cloud of Persecution over his Church again, it is our Duty (I say) to fol­low the steps of those pious Confessours, to main­tain our Innocence even to the Death, to strive ear­nestly for the Faith; and whilst we keep our Eye upon the promised Reward, the unspeakable Glo­ries [Page 14] of the other Life, to possess our Souls in Pa­tience, to be easie, and contented too, through much tribulation to enter into the Kingdom of God. A truly pious and couragious Christian, who is strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, will consider, that though he be cruelly used, yet 'tis for the sake of his Master, and thinks it but reasonable to lay down his Life for his sake, who died for him, he will not value the troubles or in­conveniences of the Wilderness, so long as Canaan, the Land flowing with Milk and Honey, stands in view at his Journey's end. But then,

Secondly, Let us see how we are to deal with, and contend with those other Adversaries which we have been speaking of, in Times less perilous, and hard; and here we may consider our selves, ei­ther,

First, As private Men, of ordinary Capacities, and endued with a moderate share of Understand­ing: Or,

Secondly, As Persons peculiarly set apart for the Service of God, endued with more than ordinary Abilities, and whole business consequently it is to stand up vigorously for the Cause of God and Re­ligion: Or,

Thirdly, As Magistrates, God's Vicegerents up­on Earth, to whom is intrusted the Management of the Sword of Justice.

First, Consider we how we are to deal and con­tend with the Enemies of the Faith of Christ, sup­posing [Page 15] our selves private Men, of very ordinary Capacities, and endued with but a moderate share of Understanding.

Now here we are to consider our selves as such, whose Conversation (generally speaking) lies a­mong Men of the same Rank and Size with our selves, but yet by reason of the number of those with whom we converse, we must have to do with Men of different Principles, and different Lives. Take we therefore care to be diligent, and frequent in reading the Holy Scriptures, consult­ing the Oracles of God, and by this means furnish­ing our selves with all saving Knowledge, and en­riching our Souls with that Wisdom which is from above; and if any thing of difficulty doth occur, any thing too knotty for us to resolve, our most holy Church hath provided us Spiritual Teachers, who are of Abilities to inform and di­rect us, and to whom in these Cases we are obliged to repair: By this means we shall arm and secure our selves from that Poison, which doth often in­sensibly steal into us from a mix'd Conversation; evermore observing that we put in practise what we read, and take care that our Conversation be such as becomes the Gospel of Christ, that by a truly pious exemplary Life, we endeavour to adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things: Thus shall we influence not only our Children, and Ser­vants, and those who belong to our Family, but probably bring others over by our good Example; thus shall we encrease our Numbers, and double our Forces against our Adversaries, whilst we [Page 16] take care by a constant perseverance in Holiness to perform all those necessary Duties, which are made the indispensable Conditions of our Salva­tion, whilst we let others see that we really are what we outwardly pretend to, viz. the Ser­vants and Disciples of the Holy and Immaculate Jesus; this, I say, will be a means to encrease our numbers, and consequently lessen and weaken the contrary Party, by bringing Deserters over to our side.

Secondly, Consider we how we are to deal with our Adversaries, and contend for the Faith, suppo­sing our selves Persons peculiarly set apart for the Service of God, furnish'd with more than ordinary Abilities, and whole business it is to stand up for the Cause of God and Religion.

Whose Business I say it is; it is our Calling, our Profession; the promoting the Honour of God, and the Interest of Religion, is the one great Work which is to take up all our Care, and be the Sub­ject of our constant Endeavours.

First then let us see in the General, how we are to contend with those who practically deny the Faith, and live in constant opposition to those Laws which the Son of God hath been pleased to prescribe: These Men are to be sharply dealt with, and we are to show 'em the Terrors of the Lord, and not any way desist from our Duty, though it must be confess'd, that to reclaim a stubborn and obdurate World, is a Work which is attended with a [Page 17] great deal of Difficulty and Hardship. To tell a Man of his Faults, and discover to him his Mis­carriages doth very often prove an unthankful Office; to lay open his Follies, and at the same time rebuke him sharply for 'em too, may very likely make him uneasie; 'tis like touching a Man to the quick, and probing a Wound to the very bottom: But what then? why should the Skilful Chirurgeon be concern'd, or dismay'd at the un­easiness of the Patient, when he is sure that what he doth is out of an honest design, and that he acts only in order to a Cure? And why should the Ministers of the Word be frighted from their Duty, because the peevish World are uneasie when they tell 'em the Truth, so long as they are satis­fied in their Consciences that they act upon a good Principle, and endeavour as much as in them lies to promote the Eternal Interest, Health and Salvation of Mankind. 'Tis our Duty to be bold and daring in a good Work, and not sneak­ingly stifle a Reproof, when it may be seasonably given, out of a fear to displease another, and put him out of Temper, when at the same time we are assured that 'tis our Duty to Rebuke him sharply?

Secondly, As we are thus to reprove, and re­buke with all Authority in our Exhortations, so are we likewise to do it in our Practice, and let others see that we are ashamed of all those abominable Practises which they every day repeat. We are to show the World that our Faith is a practical one, [Page 18] continually producing the Fruits of Righteous­ness, and discovering it self in all holy Conversa­tion and Godliness; that our chief Endeavour is to be like our great High Priest, Holy, Harmless, Undefiled; that our main design is to shine like so many Lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation, and to keep our selves un­spotted from the World. This is an effectual, convincing way of Preaching, when we not only instruct others how they ought to walk, but visi­bly set a Copy before their Eyes for them to Tran­scribe; and who knows but many of those Men may be won over by a good Example, whom a positive Precept will not work upon. What a mighty Force! what an almost irresistable byass doth a good Example lay upon the Minds and Actions of others! This carries not only Light, but Heat with it too; for a truly pious Zeal for God and Religion will kindly dispense its warmth to all that come within reach of it. But then,

Thirdly, To be more particular, there is ano­ther sort of Adversaries, who are not content to be wicked in their Practises, but are (if I may so speak) debauch'd in their Faith, and Principles: And with these Men they are particularly concern­ed to deal, whom the Holy Ghost hath made Overseers of that Flock, which the Son of God hath purchas'd with his own Blood: They are timely to forewarn those who are committed to their Charge, of these sorts of ungodly Men, who by false Glosses, and forc'd Interpretations of [Page 19] the Text, wrest the Scriptures to their own and others Destruction: For these Men are not satis­fied in being deceived themselves, but have the boldness to spread their Errours, openly proclaim defiance to all the Mysteries of the Gospel, pub­lickly oppose that Faith, which was once delivered to the Saints; and by publishing their Notions to the World, slily insinuate, that they have reason on their side: Thus whilst by cunning Craftiness they lie in wait to deceive, they catch the igno­rant and unstable, who are convinc'd often by a shew of Argument, and have not Genius enough to distinguish between a colour of Reason, and a Demonstration. These are Wolves, which in considerable numbers have lately crept into the Flock, and are indeed Enemies of a very dange­rous kind; and therefore it behoves us earnestly to contend, and as publickly oppose, and confute their Errours as they dare to Print 'em: To dis­cover the Trick, and Sophistry which they use in the Management of their Arguments, not suffer them by any false Interpolations to add to, nor by any false Pretensions from the Authority of this, or that ancient Copy to diminish from the Text. We are to take care that they do not impose upon the World by any false Citations out of the Primitive Fathers, or by misquoting any other an­tient Authors, and so make the World believe, that the Doctrine of the Church in former times was consonant to what they teach. This is our Business, this ought to be the Fruit, and result of that studious sedentary Life, to which we are [Page 20] design'd. By this means we shall not only be able to confute those Heresies which at present infest the Church, but prudently provide against any that may be broach'd hereafter. This, I say, is our Bu­siness, thus are we to contend earnestly for the Faith; and give me leave to add, that we are under one of the strictest Obligations imaginable so to do, no less than a solemn Vow and Promise before God, in the Presence of some one, or other, of the Reve­rend Fathers of the Church at our solemn Ordi­nation; they who are admitted to the lowest De­gree of the Ministry to the Office of Deacons, do promise, Office for the Ordaining of Deacons. That they will apply all their Diligence to frame their own Lives, and the Lives of their Families according to the Doctrine of Christ, and make both themselves and them wholesome Examples of the Flock of Christ. And when afterwards they are advanced to the Dignity of the Priesthood, they engage themselves to be ready with all faithful Diligence, Ordination of Priests. to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange Doctrines which are contrary to the Word of God. But,

Thirdly, How those that are Magistrates are to contend for the Faith; how they to whom the Sword of Justice is entrusted, are to deal with these Adversaries of God and Religion, the Time will not admit me to enlarge upon, but give me leave to say thus much, That they are obliged to take care that they bear not the Sword in vain. There are some sort of Weeds springing up even in the Garden of the Lord, the Church of Christ, which [Page 21] cannot be cut down, or at least not totally rooted out, without the assistance of the Civil Power, and therefore it is to be hoped (especially consi­dering before whom I speak) that whenever such assistance shall be desired it will be as readily granted. There are a sort of bold, obstinate Wretches who seem to have made a Covenant with Sin and Death, who are Reprobate concerning the Faith, who are positively resolved to shut their Ears against all Advice that may be offer'd, who will not give themselves leisure to reflect, nor are ever cool enough for a serious, Morning Thought, these must be given over to the Management of the Civil Power; and as on the one hand, in the Administration of Justice and Discipline, we are not altogether to forget Mercy; so on the other side, when we are inclined to be favourable, we must take care to be so favourable as not to be too remiss.

And now having already said thus much, I have prevented my self from enlarging upon the Third Head, viz. to show what mighty Encourage­ments we have to perswade us to a constant Per­severance in our Christian Warfare, what blessed Assistances are offer'd to us, and what glorious Re­wards we shall be Crowned withal, if we fight the good Fight, and do inviolably keep the Faith. But no one surely can doubt, but that God who in the performance of all our Religious Duties hath promised us the blessed Assistances of his most Holy Spirit, who hath promised that in all our Afflicti­ons, [Page 22] and Temptations, his Grace shall be sufficient for us, will likewise more particularly assist, and support us whilst we are fighting the Lord's Battles, and couragiously standing up for his Cause. And as we are assured that none of all our Labours shall be in vain in the Lord, so undoubtedly the brightest Coronets of Glory shall be reserved for them, who after a mighty conflict with all their potent Ad­versaries come off Glorious and Triumphant. To him th [...]t overcometh (saith the Blessed Jesus) will I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his Throne Amen. Hallelujah.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to preserve you faultless before the Presence of his Glory, with exceeding Joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and for ever.

Amen.