IV. SER M. and Vicious Inclinations; not by Foreign Acquifitions, but Domestick Victories over those Impieties of Christians, which gave the great Enemy of our Faith his first Advantages against it: For tho' the Matth.xi. Kingdom of Heaven fuffer violence, and 12. the violent take it by force; yet the Wea * Cor. x. pons of our Warfare are not Carnal, but Spiritual. When the Conversations of those that name the Name of Chrift, become agreeable to the Purity of his Doctrine; when the Divisions of Christendom are healed, and the Profeffors of our Holy Faith live together every where like Men of one Mind, in one House; then shall the Sceptre of Christ's Kingdom extend itself to all the unconverted parts of the Earth, and not fooner. That God, e'er the Day of Final Doom; will bring this about, the Scripture seems to fay but of the particular Time, at which he will effect it, we know no more, than of That, in which he will come to Judgment. However, let us All, as far as lies in our Power, contribute to this Great Event, and prepare the way for it None SERM. None of Us, I think, are now oblig'd to enter upon the Mission, and facrifice our Lives, in order to spread the Gospel among Mahometans and Heathens: I fay, None of us, I think, are now oblig'd to it, as not being arm'd with the Power of Miracles, requifite for fuch an Attempt. However, without hazarding our Lives, much may be done by us, both at Home and Abroad, towards encouraging and promoting fo good a Work. And let us not blame, much lefs deride thofe Good Men (though of another Communion) whofe honest Zeal hath carried them yet farther. Let us rather mention with Honour the Names of as many of them, as we can reasonably suppose to have been led into this Design by fincere Motives of advancing the Glory of God, and the Salvations of Souls, without aiming at By-Ends, or any Temporal Advantages; and let us wifh, that the Reformation had not undergone juft Reproaches for its Backwardness to promote fo glorious an Enterprize: an Omiffion, not eafily to be excused in fuch Proteftant Nations, Iy. IV, SERM. as have greatly enlarg'd their Traffick and Wealth, by the Productions of those Countries, wherein many poor Ignorant Savages dwell, who want only to bę inftructed in the faving Knowledge of Chrift, in order to embrace it. But, how shall they believe in Him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear, without a Preacher ? It might juftly be Rom. xii. expected, that Thofe, who had been partakers of the Carnal things of these Gentiles, fhould have miniftred unto them in Spiritual things; that, after enriching themselves by the Spoils of those Provinces (which I know not what Right they had to invade, and conquer) they fhould at least have made them that charitable Return of planting the Gospel among them; a Work, of greater Impor tance, and Service to the Publick, than all their other Plantations. 14. But this is a Reflection, in which, perhaps few, if any, that hear me, are concern'd. To conclude, therefore, Let every One of us, in our feveral Places and Stations, do our best to promote the Kingdom IV. Kingdom of Chrift within us, by pro- SERM moting the Love and Practice of Evangelical Purity and Holinefs; and let us likewise frequently put up our most ardent Requests for the Enlargement of his Visible Administration without us; be feeching God, in the Words of our Church, that he would pleafe, of his Gracious Goodness, shortly to accomplish the Num ber of his Elect, and to haften the Kingdom of his Dear Son! To Him, with the Father and the Ho- |