GOD was not content to give us One Pledge of His Kindness, by assuming our Nature; but would add a Second, by espousing our Miseries▪ Those Showres of Tears, with which He first saluted the World at His Nativity, were scarce dried up, when He permitted the Lance to open a Way to Streams of Blood; that we might read His [Page 2] Kindness in as many Characters, as He poured out Drops; and that our Eyes might be Spectators, as well as our Ears Witnesses, of His Affection. But, as our Sins cry'd out aloud for a Saviour; so did our Blindness plead as earnestly for a Leader; A Re­deemer's Death, indeed, could make us cease to be Bad; His Life was requisite, to point us out a Me­thod to be Good: And therefore, He was pleas'd to leave us His own Life▪ as a Model to frame ours by; and to buy the Glory of His Body with the Price of those Vertues, with which we must purchace the Happiness of our S [...]uls. He taught us Poverty at his Nativity, bereaving Himself of all Things, though He created All: He preach'd us Obedience at his Cir­cumcision; and Patience at his Death: But, in this Day's Gospel, He gives us a Document as necessary to be learnt, as it is hard to be put in execution; viz. Ne­sciebatis in his quae Patris mei sunt oportet me esse? ‘Do you not know, that my Affection to you must give place to that Love I bear my Father? That all the Ties of Flesh and Blood are too weak, to restrain me from my Duty?’ Dear Christians! Hear this Great Preacher; and perswade your selves, that it was not so much a Desire of satisfying his Parents, which open'd his Sacred Mouth, as of instru­cting you in a Point, that perchance you all know, [Page 3]though (I fear) sew practise. Alas! we live in so Complementing an Age, that One false Step in regard of a Companion, carries us into greater Convulsions, than a Thousand Treasons against GOD. We lead Lives at Random, as if we could be Sav'd by Proxy; or, as if the Fear of offending a Debauch'd Friend, were a just Reason to offend GOD. Infine, Our Judg­ments are so deprav'd by Heathenish Principles, ena­cted by Christians, that most Men (Alas!) choose rather to be really Bad, than to be thought Good: A strange Frenzy (I confess,) and a most Couragi­ous Cowardize, to stand the Stroke of a Thunder-bolt, and to tremble at the Touch of a Tongue, which takes its Point from our own Imagaination! Give me Leave this Day to arraign human Respects from this Pul­pit, which Jesus Christ condemn'd in the Temple: Be not angry, if, whil'st I accuse this Vice, I fall not in It my self, out of a Fear of displeasing Those whom I cannot please, without betraying my Character, and their Salvation.

I will draw my Discourse into Two Heads; viz▪ First, I will discover the Intriegues of the Wicked, to with-draw their Fellow-Creatures from the very Root of Godliness, the True faith: And then I will arm These with Weapons capable to over-come the [Page 4]strongest Human Respects; which have always been the most fatal Obstacles the Devil can put in their way, who seek the Truth. Secondly, I will address my Discourse to Those, who, in spight of all Op­position, have embrac'd the True faith of Christ; and will lay before them such Motives, as shall be able to perswade any Man of Reason, into a Resolu­tion of bearing up close to the Duties of his Religion; without which Compliance, Faith is but a sounding Cymbal, a specious Name, and an insignificant No­thing.

'TIS a great Happiness to Walk in the Way, which leads us to Eternal Felicity; and an Unhappi­ness above Expression, to run (in this World) towards a Misery without Redress, because Endless. Those run the Fortune of the First, who embrance a True Faith; and Those the Misfortune of the Second, who hugg a False One. So that we ought, in Prudence, to imploy all our Care to be in the Right: And yet, (O Heavens!) our Study is to be in the Wrong; notwithstanding, as if our own Reason were too weak to work our Ruin, our Companions lend us an Hand; and We (poor Creatures!) lay hold of it, out of Ci­vility, though the Complement cost us our own Sal­vation. [Page 5]'Tis a stupendious Thing, to see what Di­vines this Corrupted Age (and I may add too, this Cor­rupted City) hath brought forth, and nourished; and also, how docile Scholars are, in learning those Maxims they should never hear of without Horror! Some teach raw Youth, That poor Men here below grope in the Dark; That Things beyond this World flote on Ʋncertainties: And therefore, That those black Stories of Hell, those diverting Fables of Hea­ven, are only fit to take place among the Romantick Tales of a Poetick Brain: That the most Sparky Wits of Antiquity, could never discover the least Glimme­ring of any other Divinity, than Fortune: And, Why should We (blind Batts) pretend to discern a Being, those Eagles never espied? These Blasphemies (edg'd with Wit, and back'd with the Authority of Those, whom Fools have plac'd in the Front of the Vir­tuosi) are receiv'd by Youth, (which would fain find a Veil for the blackest Crimes) as Oracles dropt from Heaven.

This Discourse is follow'd by Peals of Applauses; every one cries, The Gentleman hath Reason; though, in reality, he hath no more, than to deceive his Hea­rers; nor Those, than to be deceiv'd. But, if some are not overcome by this canting and modish Piece of Sophistry, [Page 6]then He sits down in the Chair of the Scorner, as the Psalmist expresses it; and, for want of Reason, laughs his Auditory into his Atheistical Belief.

I must confess, Railery hath more augmented-this Impious Doctrine, than any other Engin (either the Craft of Satan, or Malice of his Emissaries) ever set a running: For (though I can't tell how it comes to pass, yet) certain it is, That whosoever patiently bears a Railery, is judg'd defective in his Intellectuals: And such is the present Perswasion of Mankind, that it is a lesser Blemish to be esteem'd voyd of Grace, than Wit. And then the Fear of losing a Place in the Acade­my of Wit, or of being quite cut off from the Conver­sation of Men of Parts, frights poor Creatures into a Resolution of embracing a Religion, which hath no other Articles, than to deny All. But, because no­thing but a Desire to Die as Beasts, can perswade Men thus to Live like Them; and that Few are so indulg'd to Sense, as quite to lose it: Therefore Others, better acquainted with the Inclination of the Times, will grant, that there is a GOD. But then they turn Him into a Latitudinarian; as if Any Worship satisfy'd Him, as well as That which He pre­scrib'd Himself. GOD, say they, with the Old Pagan Maximus, is too vast to enter Whole into Man's [Page 7] Ʋnderstanding; He must be taken in Pieces; and some must be contented to worship One Symbol, and some Another, as they judge convenient: He is not so nice, as Divines make Him; 'Tis Honour He re­quires, without quarrelling at the Manner: And therefore, all Religions are good, if supported by Mo­rality. Thus do these Men extol every Perswasion, and are of None themselves. They erect a new Pan­theon; yet adore no other Divinity, but their own rambling Imagination.

Now, that this fair Discourse vents foul Falsities, 'tis evident to All, who are not resolv'd to be deceiv'd: Whosoever hath cast but one Glance upon the Scrip­ture, cannot but know, That as there is but One GOD, and One Baptism; so there is but One True Faith; and that he who will not acknowledge this Church to be his Mother, cannot have GOD for his Father.

Yet after all, this Doctrine is so varnisht over with the specious Colour of Reason, so sweetned with the bewitching Allurements of Liberty, that Many admire it, Some embrace it, and Others have not Cou­rage enough to condemn it. They either imagine, that Silence speaks loud enough their Dislike of it, or it is [Page 8]not their incumbent Duty to be so Zealous for GOD's Honour, as to expose their Own to the Capricio of Men; from whom they cannot expect any Civility, seeing their Malice is not aw'd by the Majesty of their Maker.

But, for God's sake, D. C. (and your own) do not let any Human Respects tie your Tongues, when Zeal for your Maker's Honour commands you to speak. If Impiety dare appear bare-fac'd, give your Piety the same Freedom; and be not more fearful to defend your Maker, than his Enemies are to unthrone Him. Fly from them, as from Men struck with the Plague; and do not scruple to separate your selves from Those, who have separated themselves from GOD. But, if it be your Misfortune once to fall in so deprav'd a Company, (and God knows, 'tis an Ac­cident may frequently happen in this Great City) run not into it a second Time: They are sick of a Mortal Disease; and nothing is more Natural, than to catch it. To hant a Sinner, is the next Degree to be like him. Cum perverso pervertêris. Do not say, so monstrous a Blasphemy sounds too gratingly in the Ears of a Christian, ever to be heard without Indig­nation: Alas! Alas! Sins are but like Out-landish Monsters; which, at first, fright us; but, in Process [Page 9]of Time, delights us. Neither be inveigl'd by the specious Name of a Friend; for, How can you in Prudence put one Grain of Trust in a Man, who disavows all Fidelity to GOD; from Whom he can both Hope and Fear more, than from any Creature breathing▪

But, I confess, few have so great a Respect for a Companion, as, for his sake, to unmake their ve­ry Maker; that is, To deny His Being, to whom they owe their Own. This servile Deference is only incident to Those, who have lost all Conscience by re­doubled Sins: And then, seeking a Remedy worse than the very Evil, they perswade themselves, there is no Hell Below, to punish Crimes; no GOD A­bove, to recompense Vertues. Nor will they be per­swaded out of this Temerarious Tenet, till Experience forces them to feel their Mistake.

Human Respects take their Range more ordina­rily among Those, who profess a Religion, but dare not embrace the True One, although they know it: The Devil raises a thousand Black Imaginations in their Heads; and their own Cowardize as many more: And then these Aery Fancies (which take their Terror from Apprehensions alone) quash all Re­solution, [Page 10]but to Profess openly the Religion A-la-mode; and Interiourly That, which they are convinc'd to be the True One.

But, let me tell You, D. A. This petty Piece of Policy will not do; This Jumbling and Blending of Religions together, makes but a Babel of Confusion; which GOD detests. Jehu was convinc'd of the Truth of the Mosaick Religion; but, to ingratiate himself with his Ethnick Subjects, he plac'd the Calf on the Altar: However this monstrous Mixture of Devo­tion, was no better than Impiety; and so the Holy Ghost hath publish'd to Posterity, That He walked in the sinful Path of his Predecessor, Jeroboam: Which is as harsh an Epitaph, as could be Ingraven on his Tomb.

Do not then deceive your selves, ( Dear Brethren!) by imagining you comply with your Obligation, when you Erect a Temple to the True Religion in your Heart, and an Altar to a False One on your Tongue. St. Paul assures you, Confessio autem [...]it ore ad Salutem; That a Publick Confession of the Truth, is a necessary Re­quisit to Salvation.

But, Oh Sir! What will the World say, if I leave [Page 11] The Religion in which I was Born, to profess Ano­ther; which is the continual Subject of Pulpit-Exe­cration, the common Theam of Railery, and the ne­ver-failing Topick of all Invectives?—I must con­fess, these Bugbears have frighted more than one Soul into Hell. But consult your own Reason a little, I beseech you; and then tell me, Whether such weak Objections ought to oversway your Obligation, or such childish Sophistry argue you into Damnation?

First, If it be your Misfortune to have been Born, and have spent the greatest Part of your days in a False Religion, the greater is your Misery; and therefore you cannot forsake that Error too soon, which hath deceiv'd you so long: Embrace rather a new-offer'd Light, and do not sleep in an old Darkness. Be not cruel to your selves, seeing it hath pleas'd GOD to shew you Mercy.

Secondly, I grant, Our Religion hath not only been aspersed by the open Professors of Impiety, but even by Those to whom a counterfeit Zeal gave a place among the Vertuous: But you must know, 'tis no Crime to be Condemn'd, but to be Guilty. Was our Blessed LORD a Drunkard, because the maliti­ous Scribes and Pharisees term'd Him so? Was He [Page 12]an Enemy to Caesar, because Gaesar's Enemies affirm'd it? Or, Did He lay an Horrid Plot to subvert the Government, because the Jews laid this Treason at His Door? No, no; CHRIST's Enemy's Crimes and Perjuries could not blast His Innocence; nor could (yet) His Church's Foes ever black its Reputation, in the Opinion of Men, who are greater Friends to Truth than Malice; and who rather follow the Light of Reason, than the Torrent of Faction. Let Men call you then, Superstitions, Cruel, and Idolatrous, if you joyn your selves to Our Church; the Sin is Theirs; the Vertue of Patience Yours, if you bear the Accusation without any other Concern, than for your Persecutor's Sins. And I am sure, so great a Blessing ought infinitely to out-vy the greatest Male­diction, which can flow from the most inveterate Malice.

This is true, Sir: But after all, the World will talk; nor will all the Sincerity of my Intentions, ever be able to perswade Men to put a savourable Con­struction on my Proceeding. Spleen will blaze it a­broad, that Interest was the sole Motive of my Con­version, not Conscience; and that a Criminal Com­pliance with the Times, rather turn'd my Will, than Reason convinc'd my Iudgment; and so [Page 13]I shall lose my Honour, and forfeit my Reputation, which is the greatest Treasure a Man of Quality can possess.

Pray, Dear Christian, give me leave to ask you this Question; Can another Mans Wickedness warrant yours? Can a Fear of being thought a Bad Man, justi­fie your being so? The World will say, That Interest is your Motive; if it be, Religion is but a Cloak to cover your Vice; and you deserve more Execrations, than the Tongues of Men are able to fling on you: But if Conscience be the sole Ground of your Con­version, Will you be so unnatural as to pawn This on Wicked Mens Account? Will you be really a Sin­ner, our of a Fear of being esteem'd One? This is a Folly above Expression, and a Deference to an Ene­my, which should never be granted the dearest Friend.

But you will hazard your Honour: What than? Good GOD! Shall I rather put to a venture the Sal­vation of my Soul, than my Reputation? Shall I be so inchanted with the vain Applause of Men, who can­not be sufficiently blam'd, as rather to fling up my Right to Heaven, than to forfeit a Place in their Pa­negyricks? O in what deceitful Balances do the un­fortunate Children of Adam weigh Things! How fool­ish [Page 14]is their Conduct, whose only Ambition is to be thought Wise!

Believe me, Honour will never save your Souls, ( Dear Christians!) nor false Aspersions damn them: So that, in Prudence, you ought not to startle at These; nor to be so much enamour'd with That, as to give it a greater Place in your Affections, than your Duty. But, if you will be Slaves to Honour, let it be to That, which ennobles you, not to That, which disgraces you: Be Great in the Sight of GOD, not in the Opinion of Men; who are sure to esteem That most, which is of the least Value. The Holy Fathers tell us, 'Tis an Honour to Be a Christian; and, I am sure, 'tis a greater to be a True Oue; that is, not only to Profess CHRIST, but a Religion which hath its Being from his Eternal Wisdom, not from the Aery Fancies of Men.

Well, Sir, I am convinc'd, 'tis a Madness to be byass'd by any of these weak Arguments: But, Times may Change; and the Religion which is now Pro­tected, may be Persecuted by an Equal Authority. Times may Change, 'tis true: But, let me tell you, Perchance, many here present, may be in their Graves before Those Times come. Shall I then assure my [Page 15] Damnation, out of the Apprehension of a Danger, that perhaps will never come near me? No, no: Seeing all my Care and Industry can never put my Soul in a perfect Security, whil'st it moves in this Region of Ʋncertainties, I will place it as near Heaven as I am able; and never be frighted from so prudent a Care, by any future Contingencies.

But, suppose those Times were not only to Come, but Present; Can the Sword of Persecution, the Ri­gor of Laws, warrant any Man's Dissimulation? Does GOD adapt his Church to the Times? Hath He Instituted One for a Calm, Another for a Storm? I confess ingenuously, I never saw, in all the Monuments of Antiquity, any Foot-steps of such an Indulgence. As GOD is without Change, so is his Religion; and we are oblig'd, under pain of Damnation, to em­brace it, tho' it cost us the Sweat of our Brows, nay, and every Drop of Blood in our Veins.

This is CHRIST's Doctrine, without any Hy­perbole; If any Man come to Me, and hate not his Fa­ther, and Mother, and Wife, and Children, and Bre­thren, and Sisters, yea, and his own Life also, he can­not he My Disciple, Luke 14.26. By which Words He declares, in the most positive Terms imaginable, [Page 16]That neither the Respect due to our Parents, nei­ther the Love of Wife and Children; in fine, neither the natural and in-bred Inclination all Men feel to conserve their L [...]es, can warrant the Transgression of GOD's Com [...]ds: We must rather quit All we can hope for in this World, and exspose us to All we can fear, than [...]ll one Inch short of our Duty. And because it is [...] the Le [...]st Command (I am sure) to Embrace t [...]t Faith, which CHRIST hath Planted with His Sweat, and W [...]tred with His most precious Blood, any Man's not Pr [...]essing It will be punished with Eternal Death. He that Believeth not, shall be Damned, Mark 18.16. The Primitive Chri­stians were convinc'd of this Truth; and therefore no Human Motive was capable to with-draw them from CHRIST: These Invincible Hero's saw Chri­stianity condemn'd by unjust Decrees of the Roman Senate; and more Cruelties put in Execution, than were Enacted: They beheld the Reeking Gore of their Massacred Brethren; were Spectators of their Man­gled Bodies, which were either cast as a Prey to the Beasts of the Field, or Birds of the Air. As their Divine Constancy rais'd their Souls above the World, so the Cruelty of their Persecutors cast them lower than Beasts: The Wounds they receiv'd, the Torments they endur'd, so chang'd their Features, that nothing [Page 17]was more unlike Men, but the Tormentors, whose Barbarity plung'd them into so deplorable a Condi­tion. Yet Death, in all these ghastly Disguises, was not able to fright Young Lords, and Tender Ladies from the Gospel: They read GOD's Commands, and were resolv'd to comply with Them. They knew their Souls were at stake; and therefore, to secure These, they thought it no small Piece of Wisdom, to expose their Bodies, which once would fall a Sacri­fice to Death, in spight of Care and Artifice: That the Tyrant's Rage, if vehement, would soon dispatch them; that, if remiss, it might be borne. So that what they could lose, was only what Nature once would steal.

But Infidelity open'd a far different Scene: It represented Heaven lost, Hell found, and Both for an Eternity. These Motives so softned all the dis­mal Sequels of a Conversion to Christianity, that they embrac'd it with Joy.

And therefore I do not see, why We, who expect from our Obedience to CHRIST's Religion, as great Recompences as They, and ought to fear as great Pu­nishments from our Infidelity, should wander in a La­byrinth of Irresolations; or rather should resolve to [Page 18]be argu'd out of the True Faith, by such Arguments as weak Children, and seeble Old Men have solv'd by the Effusion of their Blood.

O GOD! Seeing therefore this is thy Command, I will seek the Truth, not as if I fear'd to find it; but like One, who knows he may be eternally Hap­py with it, and must be perpetually Miserable with­out it. I will lay down P [...]ejudice, which is the worst of Counsellors, and only take Sincerity with me in the Pursuit: And, when once I am so fortu­nate as to find this Treasure, nothing but Death shall take it from me. I will not value the Reproaches of Enemies, nor the fawning Disswasions of Friends: I will sacrifice my Honour to my Duty; the Portion I possess in this World, (if need be) to that I pretend to in Heaven; and the Safety of my Body, to the Salvation of my Soul: Because, I am sure, if once I lose This, I shall never find It; but ever to deplore my Cruelty towards my Self, and my Ingratitude towards my Maker.

Deo Gratias.