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SERMON I

PREACHED AT

GUILD-HALL CHAPEL,

On the 23d of AUGUST, 1674.

ROM. XIV. 19.

Let us therefore follow after the Things that make for Peace.

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HOSOEVER understandeth any thing of the State of Christianity, as it hath now been for fome Ages in the World, will be easily convinced, that there is no one Point of our Religion more neceffary to be daily Preached, to be earnestly preffed and infifted on, than that of Peace, and Love, and Unity, here recommended by the Apostle.

It hath fared (as the Learned Mr. Hales obferved) with the Chriftian Religion in this Matter, as it did with the Jewish of old. The great and principal Commandment which God gave the Jews, and which (as they themselves teach) was the Foundation of all their Law, VOL. I. B

was,

was, to worship the God of Ifrael, and Him only to ferve: Yet fuch was the Perverseness of that People, that This was the Commandment, that of all others, they could never be brought to Keep; but they were continually running into Idolatry, notwithstanding all the Methods that God made ufe of to reclaim them from that Sin. What the Worship of one God was to the Jews; that Peace, and Love, and Unity, is to the Chriftians, even the Great diftinguifhing Law and Character of their Profeffion. And yet, to the shame of Chriftians it may be fpoken, there is no one Commandment in all Chrift's Religion, that has been fo generally and so scandalously violated among his Followers, as this. Witness the many bitter Feuds and Contentions that have fo long embroiled Christendom; and the numerous Sects,and Parties,and Communions, into which, at this Day, it ftands divided.

And, God knows, this is a Thing that cannot be fufficiently lamented among ourselves : For though, in many Refpects, we are the Happiest Nation in the World; and particularly in this, that we have the Advantage of all others, both as to the Constitution of our Church, and the Purity of Chrift's Doctrine, profeffed therein: Yet in this Point of Schifms, and Divifions, and Religious Quarrels, we are as unhappy, if not more, than any.

Whether ever we fhall fee that bleffed Day, when these our Breaches will be healed; and that an End being put to our unaccountable Separations, and the Unchriftian Animofities they are the Occafion of, we fhall all join to-.

gether

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