Serm. LXV. and his Religion confider'd. 47 z therwife. So that though it be a thing to be bewailed, and by the greatefl Care and Diligence to be retitled, yet it is not fo extreamly to be wonder'd at, if Chri- flianity, in the (pace of Sixteen Hundred Years, hath abated much of its firft Strength and Vigor. Efpecialiy conudering, that there were feveral Circumttances, that gave Chri- flianity mighty Advantages at Brit, efpecially the miraculous Powers which did accompany the firft Publication of the Gofpel which mutt needs be full of Conviftion to thofe who taw the wonderful Effecs of it: The extraordinary O- perationof the Spirit of God upon the Minds of Men to difpofe them to the re- ceiving of it: The perfecuted and fuffering State that Chriftians were generally in, which made thole who embraced the Profefion to be generally ferious and in good earneft in it, and kept upa continual Heat and Zeal in the Minds of Men for that Religion which colt them fo dear, and for which they fuffer'd fo much : And the fury of their Enemies againft it, did naturally inflame their Love and Kindnefs to one another ; nothing being a greater Endearment amongMen, than common Sufferings in a common Caufe. So long as Chriftians were not corrup- ted by Secular Intereft 5 and by denying all for Chritt, were free from Cove- toufnefs and Ambition, the great roots of all Evil, the Church of Chrift, though fhe was black, yet ¡he ryas comely, and terrible as an Army with Banners; She was all this while in an excellent Potture to refill the Temptations, and fight again(( the Vices and Corruptions of the World; But after the World broke in upon the Church and Chriflianitywas countenanced by the Powers of the World, and water'd with Secular Preferments and Encouragements, no wonder if the Tares began to grow up with the Wheat : Then Iniquity began to abound, and the Love of many to grow cold. When the Sun of Profperity began to thine upon the Chri- ItianProfeffion, then no wonder if the Virmin bred and fwarmed every where. When it grew creditable and advantageous for Men to be Chriftians, this mutt in. all Reafon make a World of Hypocrites, and counterfeit Profeffors. Thefe things, I reckon mutt in Reafon make a mighty difference between the firft Ages of Chrittianity, and thofe which have follow'd finte 5 and no wonder, if the real Fruits and Effefts of Religion in there feveral States of Chrifìianity be very unequal. For Profperity and Adverfity made a wide difference in this Matter. The Perfecution of any Religion naturally makes the Profeffors of it real ; and the Profperity of it does as naturally allure and draw in Hypocrites. Befides that even the bell of Men are more corrupted by Profperity, than Af- ffi&ion. But tho' Chriftians were belt under Perfecution, yet God did not think fit al- ways to continue them in that State, becaufe he would not tempt them and tire them out with perpetual Sufferings; and after he had given the World a fuffideat Experimentof the Power andEfficacy of the Chriutian Religion, in maintaining and propagating it felf in defpite of all the Violence and Oppofition of the World, fufficient for ever to give Reputation to it; he then thought good to leave it to be kept up by more Human Ways, and filch as offer lefs violence to the Natureof a Man. Being once ellablifh'd and fettled in the Word, and up- on equal Terms of Advantage with other Religions, God left it to beCupported by more ordinary Means; by pious Education, and diligent Initruftion, and good Laws and Government, without Miracles, and without Perfecution, and without chofe extraordinary and overpowering Communications of his Grace and Spirit which heafforded to the firft Ages of Chriflianity. I have infifled the longer upon this, that Men may fee what Effefts Chriflianity hath had upon the Livesof Men, by which we may fee the proper Nature and Efficacy of it; and withal may not wonder fo much that it bath not the fame Effects now. Though it bematter of great Shame to us, that they are fo vaftly difproportionable to what they were at firft. 2. Though the Dflproportion be very great between the Effeftsof Chrifïianíty at firft, and what it bath nowupon the Lives of Men; yet we ought not to deny, but it hath ftill Come goodEffefts upon Mankind; and it is our great Shame and Fault that it bath no better. If we will fpeak juftly of things, as to the general civility
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=