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ciling the world to himself: notwithstanding their nice discerning eyes, yet they could not see him, for the impu rity of their hearts; which was so great, that they murdered the Just One, their hearts being full of deceit and hyprocrisy. "Make clean the inside, that the outside may be clean also," says Christ: from whence it appears, that a true christian must be clean, both within and without also. The true beginning of the work of purity and sanctity, must be first within; and being innocent and pure in heart, we shall then see the glory of the Father, the lovely beauty of the Son, and the power of the Holy Ghost, or Spirit.

"Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Verse 9.

This peace-making is excellent work, and a blessed calling; what pity it is, that there is not such workmen in the world, who would set themselves heartily to it, which if they did, in a right spirit, God would certainly prosper the work in their hands, and plentifully reward them with his own peace, which passeth the common understanding of the natural man. If our ingenious men, our men and women of skill, and good natural parts, would take a little pains, nay, when the case requires it, a great deal, the Almighty would richly reward them. This work is not too mean even for princes and nobles; no, not even the greatest monarchs on earth, without it be too mean for them to be called the children of God. And if the children of God are peace-makers, what, and whose children are they, who break the peace of nations, communities and families? wherefore, we should seek peace with all men, and ensue it, or sue for it, by our continual seeking of it, being a precious jewel, when found; and though this office may seem a little unthankful in the beginning, or at first, yet in the end it brings forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness, as many so labouring have witnessed. And Christ, to encourage the work, says, "They shall be called the children of God;" which are words of the King of kings; and if the princes of this world would promote this work among themselves, it would save a vast expense of treasure, and of blood;

and as these peace-makers are to be called the children of God, they who are truly concerned herein, are not only so called, but are so indeed, and in truth.

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Verse

10.

Persecution may be considered in relation to calumny and reproach, and in imprisonments, confinements, or the like, or taking away life or goods on a religious account, for conscientious scruples, &c. What sad work hath there been on this account in the world, not among Turks and Jews only, but among professors of Christ and christianity, which is indeed a great reproach to that holy name. Persecution for righteousness sake, is not fit for Turks or Jews, much less for the professors of our meek Lord; his dispensation and gospel being absolutely the reverse of it, which is a shameful sin to all men, in all nations but however, the persecuted have this comfort in the midst of all their sufferings, they are blessed of Christ their Lord; who himself fuffered for them, and are promised by him the kingdom of heaven. By which doctrine, it may be safely concluded, that the members of his true church never persecuted any, though they have been often persecuted by many, as the large and voluminous books and tracts (of persecuting for religion) now extant, do plainly make appear; by which the eyes of many are open to see the ugliness of it; and a spirit of moderation begins to grow and spring a little in the earth, in divers parts thereof.

It were to be desired, that all christians' moderation might more and more increase, and might appear unto all men; because God is at hand, who will justify the innocent (whom he knows better than any man, because he sees their hearts) and he will condemn none but the guilty. How shall the Jews be converted, or the Turks be convinced to, and of the verity of the christian religion, while its professors are tearing and rending one another to pieces had it not been for the immoderation and persecution among professors of Christ in christendom, so called, it is probable christianity would have made a far

greater progress in the four quarters of the world long before this time, than it hath now done. Persecution hath been proposed by the immoderate, to allay heats and divisions, and cure breaches; but the ancient history of persecution, and the modern practice of it, fully convince us, that it hath always tended to make the hot, hotter, the divisions greater, and the breach wider, and so the contention to grow endless; which nothing will end, but a calm and quiet temper of mind, the mind being cooled by the gentle influences of the Holy Spirit of Christ, the immaculate Lamb; who came not to destroy, nor devour, but to seek and to save that which was lost, and gone astray, that he might bring them home to his fold of rest, in his Father's kingdom.

"Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake."

Verse 11.

"Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets, who were before you." Verse, 12.

There is a persecution as before hinted, by calumny, and reproach, or reviling, by evil speaking, and falsities, which, for the most part, it is better patiently and quietly to suffer for Christ's sake; and if we are abused, to appeal to him, for many times words beget words, till at last it comes to prejudice, and breaks the unity and peace of brethren and families; so that in a general way one had better suffer the calumnies and reproaches of evil men, with a tender concern for God's glory, resting in the blessing of Christ, and that thou wilt most surely feel if thou canst appeal to him on this wise, "Lord, thou knowest I suffer this wrong for thy sake." In such sufferings there is an inward joy, a spiritual rejoicing; and the heart of the persecuted is abundantly more glad, through the blessing and goodness of Christ, than the persecutor, whose conscience accuseth him in secret. And as to personal persecution, it is no more than the prophets, and our Lord did suffer before us: and with that consideration Christ comforts his suffering seed: "Those who suffer with him and his seed, these have

promise of reigning with him ;" and himself hath omised them a reward, no less than the kingdom of

aven.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth od for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden der foot by men." Verse 13.

Here Christ sheweth that his followers must season, the th, by living a savoury life, and by walking accordto his doctrine, whose doctrine is wonderfully set th in this excellent sermon; and if we live up to se holy rules, we shall then be serviceable in our gention, and our lives will teach the people as well as r words, and sometimes better too, by how much exiple is better than precept; and indeed christians ght to be careful in both; in life to live holy, and in ords to be sparing, observing to "Let your words be w and savoury, and seasoned with grace, that they may minister grace to the hearers." Thus should we sea n the world, and salt it with the salt of the covenant; it if we lose this savour of grace, and take a liberty hich Christ and his truth do not allow of, of speaking random things which are not convenient nor edifying, it altogether unsavoury; then, according to our masr, which is in heaven, we are good for nothing, but to cast out (i. e. out of the church), and then we shall be ampled upon by men, as in truth we deserve: not that ir bodies are to be killed or destroyed; for the door of he church is always open to receive true penitents. But or this end and good purpose we are chastened of the ord, that the soul may be saved in the day of the Lord. And those who know godly sorrow for their sins, and urning from the evil of their ways, by amendment of fe, those Christ forgives, and adviseth his church to do he same, saying, "If he repent forgive him;" which reentance is best manifested by a new life, and holy 'nd blameless conversation; for words, without works, 're good for nothing, but to be trodden under foot of

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"Ye are the light of the world: a city set on a hill cannot be hid." Verse 14.

True and faithful christians are indeed as stars in God's firmament, which are of excellent use to people in the night season, and more especially when they are not clouded, and in a particular manner to those who travel on the seas, for when they have not seen the sun for a season, then they are good guides to the seafaring man; and likewise in the wilderness on the land; and this world is like a wilderness, and like the troubled sea, to some poor souls; and then good men, and good women, are serviceable, to reprove and instruct in righteousness: "Such (says Daniel the prophet) shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars, for ever and ever." And these are like a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid.

"Neither do men light light a candle, and set it under a bushel; but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house." Verse 15.

Mortal men, when divinely enlightened by the grace and spirit of Christ, ought to exert themselves to their master's glory, and excite others, and stir them up to their duty; and to endeavour, as much as in them lies, to pro. mote the kingdom and interest of our dear Lord; for men are God's candles, as the scripture saith, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord;" and this candle is often lighted by Christ, who "Lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John i. 9. and is the truc light of the great Father of lights. The great and good end of Christ's lighting man's spirit, and illuminating him with divine light, is, that he may shine out to others, in a good conversation, and a holy life, which is both serviceable to others, and himself also; and answers the end of him who enlightened him by the fire of his word, or with a coal from his holy altar; being thus lighted and walking in it (as the nations of them that are saved, shall walk in the light of the Lamb.) Here all the house, a society, is truly lighted by such lights; and those who have received greater gifts, or degrees of divine light from Christ, than some others, and may have a larger share of

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