SER M. Mercy it is even to the Righteous that the Wicked are spared and not immediately pu

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nished.

But if we will go on to purfue the Subject a little further, we shall find that such sparing them, is not only an Ease to the outward Circumstances and inward Pity and Paffions of good Men; and consequently that it not only conduces to their Welfare and quiet here; but that it is also a Means of advancing the Righteous in their Spiritual Affairs, and of helping them forward in their Attainment of Happiness and Bliss hereafter. 'It cannot indeed be faid that Virtue receives any real or intrinfick Value from the Redundance of Vice, because Men are to walk not by Example but Rule. And therefore how far foever the Generality of Mankind may depart from that Rule, we are never the less obliged to live up to it ourselves.

it

But yet must be owned that Virtue is beholden to Vice for its Luftre and Force, fince the Cruelty and Malice of wicked Men awaken its Powers, render the Examples of it more illuftrious, and fo in the Event exalt and beautify, whilft their Intention is to darken and fupprefs it. Were there not bad Men in the World to minifter Occafions, good Men

would

would have no Opportunity of exercising their SER M. Were there no Inju

moft shining Virtues.

ries offered, there would be no need of Forgiveness: Nor could Love be returned for

IX.

Hatred, were there none to prosecute with Malice and Revenge. The praying for our Enemies, and bleffing them that curfe us, would be only nominal Duties and find no Room for Practice. And yet it is the Exercise of these Virtues that diftinguishes the Christian, and renders him most like to his heavenly Father. And therefore without Doubt it is the Benefit and Advantage of his Children that God defigns by continuing a Mixture of good and bad Men together. It is the Tyranny of these in the World, that helps forward the Triumphs of the others in the next. Infomuch that the brightest Crowns, that shall then be worn, will in fome Measure be owing to the worst of Men. The glorious Company of the Apostles, the goodly Fellowship of the Prophets, and the noble Army of Martyrs are almost all of them beholden to the Merciless and Cruel, for thofe glorious Stations they' shall one Day enjoy in Heaven. They would doubtless fhine in a far lower Orb, had not the Inhumanity and Blood-thirstiness of their Perfecutors entituled them to much higher Spheres.

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SER M. Spheres.

IX.

To go further still, the very Redemption of Mankind by our blessed Saviour, and that most perfect Pattern of all Goodness which he fet us, is a Confequence of the Mixture we are now speaking of: Judas's Treachery, the falfe Witness of fuborned Pharifees, Pilate's Cowardice, and the unrelenting Cruelty of an inflamed Rabble, all contributed to the great Work of our Salvation, and were inftrumental in the procuring us that great Example of Meeknefs and Humility, of Patience and Submiffion, of Forgiveness of our Enemies, and praying for our Murderers, which otherwise our bleffed Lord would have had no Opportunities of fhewing.

But not only these great and heroick Examples of our Lord and his eminent Martyrs and Saints: But the Exercife of our Virtue in every Degree and Kind whatever must in some Measure take its Rife from wicked Men. So that without a Mixture of wicked Men amongst us, we should be fo far from being able to compafs the highest Degrees or Seats in Heaven; that we should scarce have Opportunity of obtaining the lowest Forms or Manfions there. For Heaven is open to none but thofe, who first stand a Trial to fhew they are worthy of it: And to make this Trial, Temptations to Wicked

IX.

Wickedness, and to Apoftacy from the Com- SER M. mands and Laws of GOD, are so abfolutely neceffary to be thrown in our Way; that when there was but one Couple in the World and never another to try them; GOD faw it fit to permit the Devil, i. e. the Devil himfelf in Perfon, to affault them. Since that indeed the Devil has had no great Occafion to attempt Mankind fo immediately by himself: He can do his Work through Men themfelves, who are Tempters fufficient to one another. But though Tempters to Evil, it is our own Fault, if they prove not in the Event, Inftruments of our Good. For the more and greater Temptations they endeavour to throw in our Way; the more and greater Opportunities they afford us (if we manage them well) to fhew our Virtue and Manifeft our Faith. Thus the Chastity of Jofeph (to give one Inftance only, where many might be brought; I fay the Chastity of Joseph) had never been known had not the Lewdness of his Mistress given him Occafion to exert it. But when the follicits, and he refifts, the Patriarch is proved, the Trial is made, and the Victory gained. To enter upon his Reward he must pass through the Prison indeed, the Emblem of the Grave: But even there

SERM. the Lord is with him to comfort and fupport

IX.

him; and as foon as the Time of his Deliverance is come, we find him advanced to the Right Hand of the King.

And this, I prefume, is fufficient to shew that as our defiring a hafty Removal of the Wicked would in some Measure be an Act of Injustice to themselves; fo would it also be difadvantageous to the Righteous: Over and above which I am to observe in the

III. THIRD Place, that fuch a Defire would be alfo an Encroachment upon the Sovereignty of GOD. For he has promised that at the Time of Harveft the Tares and the Wheat shall be entirely separated: And therefore it does not become us to murmur, because they are not already fevered. We may depend upon it, it will be done in convenient Time, and as foon as Matters fhall be thoroughly ripe for it; But to complain of Delays, and to call out for the Reapers when we think fit, is to invade the Privilege and Prerogative of the Houfholder. The Field is his, and the Seed his; and therefore his also is the fole Right to determine the Time of gathering. And when that comes, I am perfuaded that neither the one will have any Satisfaction

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