Serm.1X. OfConJlancy in theProf ffion othef rue Religion. gels and Saints, and Bleffed Virgin, than to Himfelf by his Bleffed Son ; and to fee the Worfhip of Himfelf ahnoft joftled out , by the Devotion of People to Saints and Angels, and the Bleffed Mother of our Lord ; a thing which he never commanded, and which, fo far as appears by Scripture, never came into his Mind. I have been the longer upon this Matter, to thew how unreafonable and needlefs at the beft, this more than half part of the Religion of the Church of Rome is; and how fafely it may be let alone. But now, on the other hand, if they be miftaken in thefe Things, as we can demonftrate from Scripture they are, the Danger is infinitelygreat on that Side; for then they oppofe an Inftitution of Chrift, who appointed the Sacrament to be received in both Kinds ; and they involve themfelves in a great Danger of the Guilt of Idolatry, and our common Chriftianity in the Scandal and Reproach of it ; and this without any Neceffity, fince God bath required none of thefe things at our hands ; and, after all the Buftle which hath been made about them, the utmoft they pretend (which yet they are not able to make good) is, that thefe Things'inay lawfully be done ; and at the fame time they cannot deny, but that ifthe Church had not enjoyned them, they might lawfully be let alone. And can any thing be more unreafonable, than fo pertinacioufly to infift upon Things fo hard, I might fay impoffible, to be defended or excufed, and which, by their own Acknowledgment, are of no great Weight and Neceffity ; in which we are certainly fafe in not doing them, if they fhould prove lawful ; but if they do not prove fo, they are in a molt dangerous Condition. So that here is certain Safety on the one hand, and the Danger of Damnation on the other ; which is as great odds as is poffible? And they muff not tell us that they are in no Danger, becaufe they are infal- lible, and cannot be miftaken; they mutt prove that Point a great deal better than they have yet done, before it can fignify any thing either to our Satisfaftion or their Safety. I might have infifted more largely upon each of thefe Particulars, any one of which is ofWeight to incline a Man to that Religion, which bath fuch an Ad- vantage on its fide ; but all of them together make fo powerful an Argument to an unprejudiced Perfon, as muff almoft irrefiftibly determine his Choice ; for molt of theParticulars are fo evident, that they cannot, upon the very Mention and Pro- pofal of them, be denied to be clear Advantages on our fide. And now, to ufe the Words of St. Peter, I tejiify untoyou, that this is the true Grace ofGod whereinye(land, that the Reformed Religionwhich we profefs, and which by the Goodnefs of God is by Law eftablifhed in this Nation, is the true Ancient Chriftianity, the Faith which was atfirfl delivered to the Saints, and which is conveyed down to us in the Writings ofthe Apoftles and the Evan- gelifts ofour Lord and Saviour. Remember therefore bowyou have received and beard ; and holdfall for be is faithful. that bath promifed; which is the Second part ofthe Text : The Encouragement which the Apoftle gives us to holdfall the Profefon of our Faith without wavering; He is faithful that bath promifed to give us his Holy Spirit to lead us into all Trut to efiablifh;flrengthen, and fettle us in the Profefiìon of it, to fupport and comfort us under all Trials and Temptations, and tofeal us up to the Day ofRedemption; andhe is faithful that bath promifed to reward our Conftancyand Fidelity to him and his Truth, with a Crown'of everlafling Life and Glory. Wherefore my beloved Brethren, be ye /ledfafl and unmoveable, and always abounding in the Work of the Lord, forafmuch as you know that yourLabourPall not be in vain in the Lord ; for he isfaithful that bath promifed ; and let us provoke one another to Charity andGood Works, whichare the great Ornament and Glory of any Religion, andfomuch the more, becaufe the Day approacheth in which Godwill judge the Beliefand Lives ofMen by yefias Chr ; not according to the imperious and uncharitable Diftates of any Church, but according to the Gofpel ofhis Son ; To whom, with the Father and the Holy Ghoß, be all Honour and Glory now and for ever. 73 L Now
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