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may all be content to obey on the fame Terms, on which his Majefty has affured us he is difpofed to govern.

But above all, let us take Care to justify ourselves in our Concern for our holy Religion, which is our best Plea, and surest Pledge of divine Favour, by adorning in our Lives and Conversations the Doctrine which we profefs. We have with commendable Zeal, on many Occafions, stood in Defence of our Religion, at the Expence of the Blood and Treasure of the Nation: let it not be obferved by our Enemies, that the Religion of England is a mere Watch-word for an Army, never valued but when it is to be fought for; and in Times of Peace laid by, condemned to rust, with other the useless Arms and Inftruments of War. Our Religion has domestic, as well as foreign Enemies; we have feen with what an uncommon Zeal it has been attacked by Infidels; profeffing not to introduce any religious Perfuafion, but to throw out all. These Men, who deride all Religion, will be found in the End to be the best Agents for them who labour to bring in the worst: and the Intereft of our Country being fo united to the Cause of Religion, fuch profane Liberty

is

is deftructive of our Security, fince every Heart, that is alienated from a Senfe of God and Religion, carries off with it a Pair of Hands from the Defence of the Public.

To a Zeal for true Religion let us add Charity, the Crown of all Virtues; and let us fanctify this Day of our Deliverance, by laying afide all Hatred, Malice, and Defire of Revenge; that we may with one Heart, and one Mind, glorify God for his Mercies, and implore his Protection for ourselves, our King, and our Country; that he would give us the Bleffings of Truth and Peace; that he would long preserve our Sovereign; and that there may never want a Proteftant Prince defcended from him, to go in and out before his People.

DISCOURSE VIII.

ACTS XX. 35.

I have fhewed you all Things, how that fo labouring ye ought to support the Weak; and to remember the Words of the Lord Jefus, bow be faid, It is more blessed to give

than to receive.

T

HESE Words concluded the moving

Speech which St. Paul made to the Elders of the Church of Ephefus, when he took his final Leave of them. The Time he had to difcourfe with them was but little, and the Occafion was very folemn ; which Circumftances would determine him to mention nothing to them, but what he judged to be of the laft Confequence and Concern; and what they ought always to remember, as the dying Words of their great

Teacher

Teacher and Apoftle. At the 25th Verse, you find him under the Paffion of a Father bidding adieu to his Children and the World; And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, fhall fee my Face no more. But to fhew that this Care of them would outlive himself, he gives them his last Advice, the best, the only Legacy he had to bestow. Two Things he efpecially recommends to them, the Care of the Church of God, and the providing for the Neceffities of the Poor and Helpless. The former Charge you have at the 28th Verfe; Take Heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the Flock, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made you Overfeers to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own Blood. The latter you read in the Words of the Text: I have fhewed you all Things, how that fo labouring ye ought to fupport the Weak; and to remember the Words of the Lord Jefus, bow he faid, It is more blessed to give than to

receive.

There are fome Duties fo effential to Religion, fo neceffary to form the Character of a good Man, much more of a good Chriftian, that they always have been, and I hope

will always continue to be the Preacher's common Topic. Yet this, I know, is in some Refpects a Disadvantage, and that Exhortations of this Kind are esteemed to be fo much Things of Course, that they are often used with more Effect by others, from whom they are less expected. I have need therefore to bespeak your Favour, that I may be heard on this Subject, without incurring the Cenfure of being thought a common Beggar. And yet not to diffemble my Intention, beg I would; partly indeed for your Sakes, whofe Neceffities can no otherwise be relieved but by Charity; but much more for your Sakes, whofe ample Fortunes, if rightly administered, entitle you to the choicest Bleffings of the Gospel: For it is more bleffed to give than to receive.

In fpeaking of the Duty and Obligations of Charity, in this reftrained Sense of the Word; in which it regards only the temporal Wants and Neceffities of our Brethren; there are three Things proper to be

confidered.

First, How far the Obligations of this Duty extend; for that they do not extend equally to all, is evident, because fuch as are qualified to receive, are in all ordinary Cafes exempted from giving,

Secondly,

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