On the other Side, If I be a Member of the Church of England, I am too often apt to think my felf in a fair Way to Hea ven, if I be but Stout for the Church, and Zealous against the Sectaries, and Punctual in obferving the Ceremonies of the Liturgy, and now and then come to the Sacrament; Though it may be I have nothing of the True Life and Spirit of Chriftianity in me, nothing of that Sobriety and Meeknefs, and Charity, and inward Devotion that our Saviour doth indifpenfably require of all his Followers.

Nay, fo far from that, it may be I think 'tis no Matter how I Live, if I be but a good Subject to the King, and a true Son of the Church. Nay, it is well if f don't go further, it is well if I dont make Vice and Debauchery an Effential Character of a Man that is right in his Principles; it is well if I don't brand Serioufnefs of Converfation, and a care of one's Words and Actions, with the Name of Fanatitifm, and Reproach every one as a Puritan, that will not Swear and Drink, and take thofe Un-Chriftian Liberties that I do.

You know there are fuch Men as these frequently to be found in all the feveral Sects and Ways of Religion among us. But, O! what is become of Chriftianity all the while.

This

This fure cannot be thy Religion, O Bleffed Jefus ! fince it is fo unlike both thy Actions and thy Doctrines: Thou never placedft any Virtue or Praise in Knowing, but in Doing; in being of this or the other particular Eternal Mode of Religion; but in believing thy Gospel, and following thy Example, in Mortifying our Lufts, and leading a Life of Peaceablenefs and Obedience, and Humility, and all manner of inward Holiness and Purity.

How our Brethren of the Separation will dispose of their Members that are of this Temper, I know not; but as to all thofe that pretend to be of our Communion, and yet live fcandalous Lives, and think that their owning themselves for the Sons of the Church, will make Atonement for their Immoralities, it is to be feared they have done us more Hurt than ever they will do us Good. And unless they would Reform, it may perhaps be wifhed that we were rid of them: Let them declare themselves Fanaticks, Papifts, any Thing, rather than Members of the Church of England.

And though by their Receffion, and going over to the Enemies Camp, we might poffibly be fo weakened, that we could not fupport ourselves, but must be forced to fall under our Adversaries; yet I do not know whether even then the VOL. II. Church

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Church would not be the better for it. And, it would, perhaps, be more defirable to live in a mean, low, afflicted Condition without fuch Company, than to govern the World with it.

But Fourthly, These are not all the Maladies which this diftreffed Church and Nation labours under: There is another Wound that is as wide, and bleeds as much as any of the reft: And which, if timely Care be not taken of it, may caufe her Expiration as foon as any other.

I mean the Unnatural, Un-chriftian Feuds and Divifions that are amongst us, our Nations being rent and torn into fo many Parties and Factions, and the cruel and bitter Animofities with which each Party does profecute the other. And all this, if Men would confider, for little Things in Comparifon, Things certainly not worth all this Heat, Things that the Wifeft and Beft of the feveral Diffenting Parties confefs to be indif ferent.

O! How do Men, by their foolish and unaccountable Divifions, weaken the common Intereft that all pretend at least to be concerned for? What Advantages are hereby given to the Adversaries?

It is likely, indeed, that as they first fet on Foot, fo they ftill continue to foment

foment their Differences. They laugh at this Opportunity of making Profelytes to their Religion; and a plentiful Harveft they have hereby Reaped to themfelves.

But where is our Wisdom in the mean Time? Have Men no more Understanding, than to be ftill hot and eager in their Contentions about a Shadow, when there is an Enemy at the Gate, that is in a fair Way to take from us the SubStance?

Some, indeed, may be apt to dispute which Side ought to comply; Whether the Diffenters ought to come over to the Eftablished Church, or the Church to them? It is not now a Time fully to debate the Merits of that Caufe. But this may be truly faid, If Men would be honest and fincere, and mix no Paffion or worldly Concernment with their Religion, the Point would foon be decided on the Church's Side.

Every Man that calls himself a Proteftant, would think himself obliged to obey Lawful Authority in all Things, where he was convinced their Commands were not Unlawful. And if he could not, with a fafe Confcience, come up to it in all Things, he would come up as far as he could. And as for thofe Things that he was not satisfied about, as he would not Condemn or Cenfure those that

were perfuaded, or practifed otherwife, fo neither would he raife any Diftur bance in the Church, by joyning himself to an oppofite Party.

And on the other Side, those that did Conform to the Church in all Things, would not withdraw their Charity from their Fellow-Chriftians, for not doing fo much as they. Though they differed from them in feveral Opinions, yet they would joyn Hands with them in all Chriftian Offices of mutual Love and Charity, and in a joynt Oppofition of the Common Enemy.

But alas! Things are not thus with us. And I note it as a Fault, for which we ought deeply to be affected this Day; and if Men did duly weigh the Sinfulness and the Danger, that all Schifms and Separations of this Kind do bring upon a Ñation, they would be thus affected.

If human Conjectures about the Reafons and Causes of Divine Judgments may be allowed, it will appear from Hiftory and Experience, that there has been as much War and Blood-ihed caufed in the World; as many Nations Defolated, as many Churches Ruined by the Malignity and Evil Influence of this Sin of Schifm, as any other.

And if ever God in Judgment fhall think fit to give over this flourishing Church of ours, as a Prey to that mighty Hunter,