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AREFOR,MATION
SERMON%
able
to
fasten the charge
by
any
particular proof
upon
any
of
the members
of your
societies.
Affronts
and railings
you
must
sometimes
expect to
meet
with
:
blessed
are
ye when
men shall revile
you,
and
speak
all
manner
of
evil
against
you falsely for
the
sake
of
Christ
and
his
name
;
rejoice and
be
exceeding
glad
;"
.21
104.
v.
11.
Bind
the
reproaches of
Christ to
you, as
your ornament
and glory,
Go
on
dauntless
against such oppositions.
If
you know how to
encounter
these I have
mentioned
with
courage you
may
contemn
all the rest.
Adore that God
that
has
kept
the
honour
of
your
societies
hitherto
:
and
so
supported their credit,
that
the spite
of
all the
powers
of
darkness, and
the
smoke
of
hell
bath not been able
to
sully
your reputation,
or
sink
your
esteem amongst the men
of
wisdom
and
virtue.
II.
Another discouragement
you
meet
with
proceeds
from
the magistrates.
Some
of the
inferior rank
refuse
to
assist you in
seizing
the criminals
whom you
have
dis-
covered
:
And some
in
higher stations
that
should
punish
the
vicious,
rather
brow-
beat and discountenance the
reformers.
But our God
be
praised,
that
there are
some
of
higher and lower rank
that join
their hearts and
their
bands
with yours.
Their
zeal and power
are
engaged in
the
wars
of
the
Lord against
sin
:
May their
names be
honoured
upon earth, and their reward
be
great
in
hea-
ven
!
But let
such as
appear
on the side
of
sin blush
and
be ashamed
that
they should use the
authority
which
they
receive from God, to
countenance or
favour the
enemies
of
his holiness;:
Let
them know
that
there is
"
a
higher
than the highest
on
earth,
that
beholds
the
perverting
of justice
and
judgment
in
a
province
;"
Re.
y.
8.
Let
them be
put
in
mind
of
that
awful
judgment
-
seat, before
which
all
mankind must
stand
upon
a
level;
where.their
commissions cease for
ever, and
their
distin-
guishing,ranks
of
place
and:
power
are
known no
more.
Though
it
bath been
said,
"
ye
are
gods,
yet
ye
shall die
as men
;"
Ps.
lxxxii.
6.
Remember therefore
the
tri-
bunal
to which
you must
give
up an
account of your
magistracy.
What
will
you say to
the
Judge,
whose
eyes
are
a
flame
of
fire,
when
he
shall demand of
you,
did
ye
indeed
speak righteousness.
on
earth
?
Did
ye
judge
uprightly,
O
ye sons
of
men
?"
Ps,
iviii.
1.
Have
I