upon Religious Subjects. ,379 rule to Chriftians is, * See that ye walk cir- SERM,, can fpehly, not as fools but wife : redeeming XIV. the time, when the days are evil or calami- L"1"V tous ; and in the degree in which they are fo, through the oppofition of bad men to the caufe of religion: that is, endeavour to pro- long the time of your tranquility by fuch a prudent and difcrete conduct, as may avoid perfecution and other inconveniencies. The fame dire ±ion is given, ± Walk in wifdom towards them that are without (fewifh and heathen infidels, enemies to the truth,) re- deeming the time. The general foundation upon which this rule refts, is, . that as God has put men here in a ftate of probation and difcipline with refpea to virtue and happinefs, at the fame time in a focial relation to each other, re- quiring them to perform all mutual good of- fices, and to cultivate peace, he wouldnot have them loft to their freedom as rational crea -. tures in what concerns their duty to him, even though they abufe that freedom, and to carry it to each other with a blamelefs un-. provoking prudence. The confequence is that good men, however zealous for religion and compaffionate to (inners, muft not ufe i h. v. 15, 16. t Col. iv. 5. violence
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