SERM. their profeffion, and having united them in the relation of children to God as their common 4 ther-in-law, and a man's foes fhall be thofe of SERM. bis own bouskold; that is, the gofpel as peaceable XIV. an institution as it is, fhall be made by wicked men the occafion of hatred and quarrels ; nay, to fuch a height shall debates on the account of religion arife, that a man's nearest relations fhall be his bittereft and most cruel enemies, even thofe of his own family fhall perfecute him. But all this is a grofs abuse of the chriftian religion, which, rightly understood, and when the principles and precepts of it are regularly purfued, tendeth above all the inftitutions, that ever were in the world, to promote peace on earth and good-will among men. But without carrying things to the extremities mentioned in these prophetic declarations of our Saviour, which yet have been too evidently verified, that is, to hoftile rage and fury, producing the deftruction of men's lives, of families, cities, and other larger communities; there have been among chriftians diffentions and difcords, not fo tragical in the event of them, yet fatal to the churches, marring their edification, fullying their honour, and preventing the fuccefs of the gofpel. The apoftles forefaw by the fpirit of God, that there would be fuch divifions, and that they would be attended with fatal confequences, nay, they had actually broke out and rifen to great Cc 2 height, SERM. height, even in their own time. The churches XIV. of Galatia, and of Rome, and Corinth, were the scenes of contention. Chriftians formed themselves into parties, under feveral leaders, who ftrove for authority, for fuperior influence in the direction of their common affairs, and a number of followers: One was of Paul, another of Apollo, another of Cephas; fome were for impofing on the rest in matters of indifferency, and bringing all to an uniformity of modes and ceremonies, which were of no fignificancy at all to the main purpofe of religion, or commending men to God; especially the Jewish rites were at that time the subject of very angry debates ; whilst fome pleaded for the neceffary obfervance of them, and preffed their brethren to conform, fome of whom, in their turn, rejected them with as much warmth, and by an indiscreet ufe of their liberty gave offence to the weak, the effect was, as it always will be in parallel cafes, that charity abated, which is the very life of practical chriftianity; they judged, they cenfured, they vexed, and defpifed one another, and religion came to be placed in matters of no moment at all, indeed degenerated into empty form. This fheweth what the true peace of religious society is; it is an agreement in the faith of God's elect, as the apoftle calleth it, or the christian revelation, and the practice of chri- SER M. stian virtue; not a harmony of outward XIV pro feffions, and outward rites of worship, and a united zeal for them, but an union in the affectionate belief of the great doctrines of religion, and obedience to its effential precepts, of judgment, mercy, and the love of God. From what hath been faid, we may infer the principal offices which belong to the character of a peace-maker; and it is plain, that benevolence to mankind and charity to our brethren, accommodating itself to their various circumftances and conditions, as far as can confift with fincerity and the love of truth, together with publick affections to the interefts of fociety as fuch, are the effential parts of it. Since the peace we are confidering is the peace of men, or their harmony and concord, upon what other foundation can it poffibly fubfift than mutual good will and fincere affections? And if we heartily fulfil the fecond great commandment of the divine law, thou falt love thy neighbour as thyself, we contribute to it in the best manner we can: And for chriftian peace, in particular, the fcripture always reprefenteth brotherly kindness and charity, as the folid ground of it. St. Paul having in Cc3 the SERM. the third Chap. of the epiftle to the Coloffians, branches of this virtue, and these exercises of cafting |