In the mean time, let those Incendiaries, those Spiritual Abaddons, whose Doctrine, like a Scab, or Leprosy, has overspread the Face of Chriftianity; and whose Tenets are red with the Blood of Princes; let such, I say, consider, what Account they will give to God for that Scandal and Prejudice, that they have brought upon so pure, and noble a Religion, that can have no other Blemish upon it in the World, but that such Persons as they profess it. If they had but any true Ingenuity, (a Principle much lower than that of Grace) furely it would tie up their Consciences from those infamous Exorbitancies, that have given fuch deep Gashes, such incurable Wounds to their Religion. For shall Christ have bled once for our Sins, and shall Christian Religion bleed always by our Practices? I could now befeech such by the Mercies of God, and the Bowels of Christ, did I think this would move those, who have torne in pieces the Body of Chrift; that they would bind up the broken Reputation of Christianity, by shewing henceforth, that Subjection is Part of their Religion. That they would reflect upon the Desolations they have made, with one Eye, and upon their great Exemplar with the other; remembring him, who while he conversed upon Earth, was subject to the Civil Power in his own Person, Perfon, and commanded Subjection to it by his Precepts. So that what was faid of Christ in respect of the Law of Moses, may be equally faid of him in reference to the Laws of the Magistrate, that he came not to destroy, but to fulfill. A SERMON preached at WestminsterAbbey, on the Twenty Ninth of May, 1672. Being the Anniversary Festival appointed by Act of Parliament, for the Happy RESTORATION of King Charles II. Rom. II. 33. latter Part. How unsearchable are his Ways, and his Judgments past finding out! T 1 HAT, which first brought both a present Guilt, and entailed a future Curse upon Mankind, was an inordinate Defire of Knowledge. And from the Fall of Adam to this very Day, This fatal Itch has stuck so close to our Na ture, that every one of his succeeding Race is infinitely eager, inquisitive, and desirous to know and judge, where he is called only to adore, and to obey. By which we fee, that it was this restless Appetite of knowing, which made the earliest and boldest Encroachment upon the Divine Prerogative; setting Man up not only as a Rebel, but also as a Rival to his Maker, and from behaving himself as his Creature, encouraging him to become his Competitor. For there appears not the least Inducement to the breach of this Command of God, from any pretence of the Unreafonableness or Difficulty of it, but merely because it was a Command; it obliged, and therefore was to be broken or shook off. So that upon the whole matter, it was not so much the taking Beauties of the forbidden Tree, as its being forbidden, which stirred the unruly Humour, gave Relish to the Fruit, and Force to the Temptation. And could there be an higher and more direct Defiance of the Almighty, under the peculiar Character of Lord and Governor of the Universe, than to have the very Reason of his Subject's Obedience turned into an Argument for his Rebellion? to see a pitiful, short-fighted Creature, prying into the Reserves of Heaven; and one, who was but Dust in his Constitution, and of a Day's Day's standing standing at at most, most, aspiring to an Equali ty with his Creator in one of his Divinest Perfections? All know, that even in Human Governments there is hardly any one of them, but must have its Arcana Imperij, its hidden Rules and Maxims, which the Subjects of it must by no means be acquainted with, but yield to their Force, without examining their Contrivance (the very Ignorance of them being the chief Cause that the Generality are governed by them.) And if so, how much a more unpardonable Absurdity, as well as Insolence, must it needs be for those, who commonly stand at so great a distance, even from the little Intrigues and Mysteries of Human Policies, to say like their grand Exemplar and Counsellor Lucifer, I will ascend and look into the Secrets of the Most High, rip up and unravel all the Designs and Arts of Providence in the Government of the World; as if (forsooth) they were of the Cabinet to the Almighty, were privy to all his Decrees, and, in a word, held Intelligence with his Omniscience. For no less than all this, was or could be imply'd in our first Parents affecting to be as Gods; the main thing, which, by the Advice of the Serpent, they were then so set upon, and so furiously defi rous of. VOL. V. R Whereas : |