592 How Ad Merchants in forraign parts keep up Serm. z6. Prop. i. It cánnot be expeed, that any Rule íhould be given, according to Scripture, whereby both the one, and the ocher life may be cer- tainly íecurec ; for many times Gods providence brings us into fuch circus: ll;oces, that if we are rcfolved, that come what will, wee'I keep our Religion, we mull lofe our lives : and if we are re- foived to keep our lives, though with the hazard, or fhipwrack of our Religion, we, mull then part with our Religion, and perhaps our litres to 2. There can be no certain and infallible courfe propounded whereby the life of the body may be fecured with the lois of Reli- gion; though Devil and world bid fair, and promife we fat live and do well if we will part with our Religion, yet they are riot able, if wiling to make good their promife, fo long as there be fo many thoufand wayes to death befides Martyrdome ; and this is the pur- port of that threatning expreflion Mat. 16.25 Whafoever will fave his life }fall lofe it, not only that eternal! life which is the only true life, but even this temporal! life ; as many relÀtions tell us. 3. The life of Religion in the foul, is that which by Gods bici. fing and our fpirivall care and induflry may be infallibly fecured in any place, among any perfors, in any condition ; Ido not fay the outward exercife of Religion, but that which is the life and prin- ciple of Religion in the foul may be preferved. Force and violence may deprive thofe that are religious, of opportunities to meet toge- ther, and pour forth their Common prayers and fupp'ications to God, and pubhikely fing forth the praifes of God, and hear the great truths of the Gofpell preached unto them ; nay they may be kin- dred from fpeaking with their mouthes, either to God, or for God ; as many of the Martyrs have been gagged : but all the force and violence in the world, cannot take away that which is the principle and life of Religion (un efs we our (elves betray and call it from us) nor can they hinder the prime,and principali as and cxercifes of Religion. All the world cannot hinder you or me, from having good thoughts of G_od, from fandifying the Lord God in our hearts, from trufling in, hoping in, reloycing in, the goodnefs and mercy of God through Jefus Chrili ; from making holy melody in our hearts, and Inch mufick as (hall be heard beyond the fphears, though be that finds at our elbow knows not a word we fpeak ; fo that true Religion both in the principle and prime exercifes of it may be infallibly fecured, infomuch that he who can rend the heart out of the body, cannot tear Religion out of t he foul. 4. His
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