Fellow-Labourer in the Gospel, and in all Times, and in all Places, ready to comfort and fupport the Faithful. If, to ftrengthen our Confidence in him, we are told that he is in all Refpects equal to the extenfive Charge; that being the Eternal Spirit of God, he can in all Places and at all Times difcharge the Office; this Knowledge, which was communicated to make our Faith and Hope confiftent, and to fet both upon a reasonable Foundation, ought to be no Objection against either. And fince these Articles of our Creed, being beyond the Discovery of human Reason, are placed upon the furer Foundation of the Demonftration of the Spirit, in mighty Signs and Wonders, they ought to be no Stumbling-block to us; for the Reason may teach us to embrace the Remedy, which fhe could not provide.

It is true, the Gospel has taught us Things, which by Nature we could not know; but they are all defigned to confirm and ftrengthen our Hope in God: it is true alfo, that there are fome Inftitutions in the Gofpel, which in their own Nature are no constituent Parts of Religion; but they are fuch only as are neceffary to enable us to do

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our Duty, by conveying to us new Supplies of spiritual Strength. Thefe are the Additions which the Gospel has made to natural Religion; forgive its Injury. Our bleffed Saviour faw that the Hopes of Nature were loft, therefore he brought to Light again Life and Immortality: he faw that we were corrupted, not able to refift Evil, and therefore he supplied the Defect by the Affiftance of his holy Spirit; pardon his Care, and do not think the worfe of him, or his Religion, for the great Provision he has made in it for your Security.

These Confiderations may perhaps fuggeft to your Thoughts what probable Ground there is to hope for Succefs in our Endeavours to spread the Gospel of Christ in the dark Corners of the World; and what is the true Method of proposing it to the uninftructed Part of Mankind. But as I choose to decline this Subject, and to leave it to the properer Hands on which it is placed, I shall shut up all with this Petition: that God would haften the Completion of the Prophecies relating to the Kingdom of Chrift; that he would give him the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the utmost Parts of the Earth for his Poffeffion, that he may be his Salvation to all People. L 3

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DISCOURSE VII.

PSALM CXxii. 6.

Pray for the Peace of Jerufalem: they shall profper that love thee.

HERE is nothing places Religion in

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Opinion entertained by fome, that a Concern for the present Peace and Prosperity of the World is so foreign to all the Ends and Purposes of true Religion, that a good Man ought not to suffer his Thoughts, much less his Paffions and Affections, to be engaged in fo worthlefs a Subject.

The inspired Writers have indeed, with repeated Inftructions, guarded us against the Temptations of Riches, Honours, and Pleasures, and prepared us to undergo the Calamities and Afflictions of Life, with Firmness

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Firmness and Conftancy of Mind. But what then? So does the General exhort his Soldiers to bear with Patience the Fatigues of War, to despise the Dangers of it, and in the Day of Action to prefs forward, regardless of Life itself; yet ftill Victory and Triumph, and the fweet Enjoyments of Peace, are the End of War; and the Soldier, though he must not fear to die, yet it is his Bufinefs to live and conquer. Religion is a fpiritual Warfare, and the World is the Scene of Action, in which every good Man will be fure to meet with Enemies enough; and it is not the End he aims at, but the Oppofition he meets with, in purfuing that End, that makes it neceffary for him to be inured to bear the Miferies and Afflictions of the World. Were the Cafe otherwise, it would be Iniquity to pray for temporal Peace and Profperity; fince we never ought to seek that by Prayer to God, which the Rules of our Religion will not permit us to be concerned for. So that the Exhortation in the Text, to pray for the Peace of Jerufalem, implies that we ought to be concerned for her Peace, fo concerned as to do whatever is in our Power to procure, and to preferve it; fince Prayer to God