352 A SERMON OF REPENTANCE. ence among us which is the higher power, when those that have their shares in the sovereignty are divided; but whether we should be subject to the higher power, is no question with us. Gentlemen, I have nothing to ask of you for myself, nor any of my brethren, as for themselves, but that you will be friends to serious preaching and holy living, and will not ensnare our con- sciences with any unscriptural inventions ofmen. This I would beg of you as on my knees : 1. As for the sake of Christ, whose cause and people it is that I am pleading for. 2. For the sake of thou- sands of poor souls in this land, whose salvation or damnation will be much promoted by you. 3. For the sake of thousands of the dear servants ofthe Lord, whose eyes are waiting to see what God will do by your hands. 4. For your own sakes, who are undone if you dash yourselves on the rock you should build on, and set against the holy God, and turn the cries of his servants to heaven for deliverance from you ; Luke xviii. 8. If you stumble on Christ, he will breakyou in pieces ; but if he fall upon you, he will grind you to powder. 5. For the sake of your posterity, that theymay not be bred up in ignorance or ungodliness. 6. For the honor of the nation and yourselves, that you turn by all the suspi- cions and fears that are raised in the land. 7. For the honor of sound doctrine and church-government, that you may not bring schism intogreatercredit than now you have brought it to deserve shame.' For ifyou frown on godliness under pretense of unifor- mity in unnecessary things, and make timesworse than when liber- tinism and schism so prevailed, the people will look back with groans and say, ` What happy times did we once see !' And so will honor schism, and libertinism, and usurpation, through your oppression. 8. Lastly, I beg this of you, for the honor of sover- eignty, and the nation's peace. ..A prince of 's. holy people is most honorable. The interest of holiness is Christ's own. Happy is that prince that espouseth this, ,and subjecteth all his own unto it. See Psalm i. 1, 2. and ci. and xv. 4. It is the conscionable, pru- dent, godly people of the land, that must be the glory and strength of their lawful sovereign. Their prayers will serve himbetter than the hideous oaths and curses of the profane. Woe to the rulersthat set themselves against the interest of Christ and holiness ! (read Psalm ii.) or that make snares for their consciences, that they may persecute them as disobedients, who are desirous to obey their ru- lers in subordination to the Lord. See Dan.' iii. and vi. 5. 10. 13. I have dealt plainly with you, and told you the very truth. If God have now a blessing for you and us, you will obey, it ; but if you refuse, then look to yourselves, and answer it if you can. I am' sure, .in spite of earth and hell, it shall go well with them that live by faith.
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