all Light, and Deaf to all Argument; fo, it SER M. can be Sated by nothing but fome one particular xvI. Sacrifice which it propofes; after which is compaffed, it generally ends in Shame and Repentance. The Power of these Principles is known to be fo great in Civil Affairs, that one main Foundation of all Civil Government, is, That Men ought not to be the Avengers of their own Personal Injuries; And this Fundamental Maxim of Society is facredly obferved through the Whole Tenor of our English Laws: and never tranfgreffed or neglected, but upon Extraordinary Occafions. How terrible was the Force of These seen to be in the Days of our Fathers; Especially, when they were fet on Fire by that mistaken Zeal, (the true and genuine Enthufiafm,) which at once inflames and confecrates the Paf fions; at once actuates them into Rage to all Extremities, and fanctifies that Rage by the faered Names of God and Religion: By which it came to pass, that the Caufe of every heated Imagination became the Caufe of God; that whatever Men thought well of, in Religious Affairs, for Themfelves, They came to think it their Duty to force upon others; and that Mutual Toleration was declared by Some, whọ once wanted it themselves, the Greatest of all the SERM. the Monsters which those unhappy Times XVJ. brought forth. We have much to learn from thefe Things; and much to avoid. Let us imitate all that Zeal of our Forefathers for our Legal Conflitution, which was vifibly defigned, and naturally tended, to prevent future Encroachments of Power, either against, or without, Law: And let us fly far from all thofe Methods which naturally paved the Way to the Lofs of all that Freedom which they pretended to fecure. Let us value our Liberties, as Honeft Men: Not only for the Pleasure and Security They afford to Ourselves; but as a Trust reposed in Us for our Pofterity, much more Sacred and Important than Any other Legacy of this World, that we can leave them. Let not our Paffions be our firft Inftructors in any Step of our Public Conduct: But let them Themselves be inftructed and guided by our Reafon. Let our Love to what we justly approve, and chufe for Ourselves in Religion, engage Us to fuch Charity and Forbearance towards Others, as may demonstrate our Gratitude for our own Happiness; and our deep Senfe that Whatsoever we may account the Caufe of God is to be promoted by None but the Methods of God. In a word, As Britons, enjoying the Bleffings of a Conftitution unknown to all the Coun I tries tries around Us, even where the Word Liberty S ER M. is still used; and, As Chriftians, enjoying the XVI. Light and Liberty of the Gofpel; Let us fecure, as much as can be, the Repose and Comforts of this prefent Life, by valuing and preferving that Form of Government which administers fo much Good to Us; and let Us prefs, with unwearied Steps,. to the Rewards of the Life which is to come, (free from all the Viciffitudes, and Confufions, of the happieft Kingdoms of this World) by walking worthy of our Holy Vocation, and adorning our Profeffion by a truly Chriftian and unblameable Conversation. Which God grant, for the Sake of Jefus Chrift our Lord, &c. Of SERMON XVII. Preached at St. Swithin's Church, on SERM. XVII. PHILIPP. IV. 5. Let your Moderation be known unto all Men. T HE Word which is here tranflated Moderation, fignifies an Easiness and Gentleness of Mind, difpofing Men, not only to be contented and quiet themselves, but to be pliable and yeilding to Thofe around them, in order to the general Good; a Temper always ready, by all reasonable Methods, to promote and establish the Happiness of Themselves, and of the World about them. This Temper, we fee, St. Paul doth most heartily recommend to Chriftians, nay, he defires it may be One of the more confpicuous and vifible Parts of their Character; a Mark, as it were, to distinguish them from the World of ill-natured and in flexible flexible Men; and to make a Difference be- SERM. tween Them, and the other Part of Mankind, XVII. who are not to be moved by any Confiderations, to yeild or bend to any Terms of Love and Peace. And yet, notwithstanding this, how little of this excellent Virtue do we see in the World? And what little Hopes have we of feeing more of it? Many Men take the Word into their Mouths, and use it as they fee fit: Some, to ridicule, and make a Jeft of it; Some, to put it, as a falfe Colouring to Something bad underneath: And Many mistake Something Else for it; and whilst they think they are poffeffed of it, are far removed from it. There seem to be Few, who have that Charity that is neceffary to the very being of it; and for want of this, Many can neither underftand, nor heartily feek after it. And yet, from the want of this Virtue have proceeded very many of thofe Miferies Men have felt in their own Minds; the Plagues of Impatience, Malice, and Revenge; and almost all the Unhappineffes and Ruines that have befallen public Societies. Why then should not Men be willing, if they have any Senfe left of their own private Quiet; if they have any Regard to the Happiness of their Neighbours; if they be touched with any Concern for the Good of that Society they belong to; nay, if they but con 2 fider |