Matth. xi.

Poffeffion, by the Points of their Swords. But (alas!) that great Work is to be accomplish'd, not by fuch Holy Wars as thefe; but by Conflicts of another kind, which we muft maintain with our own Corrupt Habits, and Vicious Inclinations; not by Foreign Acquifitions,but Domeftick Victories over thofe Impieties of Chriftians, which gave the great Enemy of our Faith his firft Advantages against it: For tho' the Kingdom of Heaven fuffer violence, and the violent take it by force; yet the Weapons of our Warfare are 2 Cor.x.4. not Carnal, but Spiritual. When the Converfations of those that name the Name of Chrift become agreeable to the Purity of his Doctrine; when the Divifions of Christendom are healed, and the Profeffors of our Holy Faith live together every where like Men of one Mind, in one House; then fhall the Sceptre of Christ's Kingdom extend itself to all the unconverted parts of the Earth, and not fooner.

12.

That God, e'er the Day of Final Doom, will bring this about, the Scripture feems 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,

All, as far as lies in our Power, contribute to this Great Event, and prepare the way for it. None of Us, I think, are now oblig'd to enter upon the Miffion, and facrifice our Lives, in order to fpread the Gospel among the 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. How-. ever, 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) whose honeft Zeal hath carried them yet. farther. Let us rather mention with Honour the Names of as many of them, as we can reasonably fuppofe to have been led into this Design by fincere Motives of advancing the Glory of God, and the Salvation 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 excus'd in fuch Proteftant Nations, as have greatly enlarg d their Traffick and

* L 2

Rom. xii.

14.

and Wealth, by the Productions of those Countries, wherein many poor Ignorant Savages dwell, who want only to be 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 expected, that Thofe, who had been partakers of the Carnal things of thefe Gentiles, fhould have miniftred unto them in Spiritual things; that, after enriching themselves by the Spoils of thofe 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 Importance, and Service to the the Publick, than all their other Planta

tions.

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 of Chrift within us, by_promoting the Love and Practice of Evangelical Purity, and Holiness; and let us Likewife frequently put up our most ardent Requests for the Enlargement of his

Vifible Adminiftration without us; befeeching God, in the Words of our Church, that he would pleafe, of his Gracious Goodnefs, bortly to accomplish the Number of his Elect, and to haften the Kingdom of his Dear Son!

To Him, with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, be afcrib'd all Honour, Dominion and Might, now and for ever ! Amen.

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