more the bold preaching of it, alarmed all mankind against the men who professed and preached it. They were hated by their nearest relations; they were exposed to the greatest evils in life; and they were persecuted even to death. All countries were disturbed at them; and all princes and magistrates made it their business to extirpate them. This was their case almost constantly, till their numbers increased; till christianity became the established religion of whole nations, and princes became the temporal patrons of the church. And thus did this religion, which Jesus came to plant in the world, give an alarm to the kingdoms of it; and was made the handle to unspeakable disquiet and disturbance, malice and persecution, in it.

But, when it came to be the settled religion, to have the approbation and countenance of princes, and to enjoy the favourable look of the great men of this world; what a glorious scene would any one expect, who seriously looks into the design, nature, and precepts of it? What a scene of calmness and serenity of mind, of mortification and conquest of those passions and lusts, from whence proceeds all the mischief in the world? What a scene of love and beneficence to one another; of joy and delight in one another's happiness; of openness and freedom; of sincerity and kindness; of humility, condescension, humanity, and meekness? What could any one expect who searcheth into the Gospel, more than

the humours and actions of mankind, but that peace and holiness should have kissed each other; that contentment and happiness should have flourished in the earth; that all, that could contribute to the quiet and satisfaction of the world, should from this time have abounded in it?

Would you think, that, as soon as the christians had rest from the world about them, their passions ran as high against one another, as the passions of the unbelieving world had done against them before? Would you imagine that they turned from suffering gloriously, to biting and devouring, to hating and condemning one another? That their strongest and most avowed hatreds, their most fatal divisions and animosities, took their rise from, and had their foundation in, some point of religion, some point of faith or worship? And that they were often more concerned for some insignificant matter, or some point of speculation, that the Gospel had not so absolutely determined as to leave no room for diversity of opinions; that they were too often, I say, much more zealous to defend or oppose these, than to preserve the obligation, and secure the practice of the weightier matters of the Gospel ? Yet thus it was; and thus it hath been ever since, to that degree, that it is now hardly a question whether more unkindness and inhumanity, more malice and hatred, more violence and barbarity, were heretofore shown by the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles towards

christians for the sake of their religion; than have been since shown by christians towards one another, on the score of some religious differences.

The contending with the sword of the spirit, the word of truth and meekness, for the purity of faith and worship once delivered to the saints, was truly commendable and praiseworthy. This sort of contention for the Gospel, in the spirit of the Gospel, hath ever tended to the increasing of charity, as well as to the manifesting of truth. But a false zeal quickly devoured it, and took its place; and very soon prompted men of ill tempers and worldly designs, to make a greater distinction amongst christians, than need; to stigmatize honester men than themselves with hard names and odious appellations; and, then, to treat them contumeliously, and as persons unfit to be dealt with in the ways of humanity and candour. And, on the other side, this same pretence gave occasion to men of parts and passion, when they saw themselves likely to be oppressed, to strengthen themselves in their opinions; to form parties upon a foundation distinct from that of the flourishing party; to enter into close designs and combinations; and so to help forward the disturbance and disquiet of the christian church.

If we pass from these first ages downwards, who can speak or hear of such things, as have been publicly transacted amongst christians, on religious accounts, without a very sensible commotion within?

We may read it in histories, and we may see it with our eyes, that there is an immortal hatred, an uneasiness not ever likely to cease, between christians of several denominations. There are inquisitions and torments designed, and made use of, by christians against christians, beyond the example of former ages, and beyond the cruelty of either Jewish or Heathen persecutors. We have known men tortured and persecuted, murdered and massacred, banished from their possessions, deprived of their estates, expelled their native land, separated from their children and friends, or their friends and children torn by violence from them; for the sake of religion, and under pretence of doing service to the church of God, by extending and propagating the faith and worship of a particular set of men. And how exactly hath the account of this matter given by our Saviour been verified, in several countries, in these last ages, as well as the first times of the Gospel? "A man hath been at variance against his father; and the daughter against her mother; and the daughter in law against her mother in law; and a man's foes have been those of his own household."* "There have been five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in *Matth. x. 35, 36.

law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”*

We of this nation, indeed, read and hear, at a distance, of greater barbarities and cruelties, than we have ourselves experienced, or seen with our eyes; but yet we, amongst others, may help to prove the truth of what I am now observing. For what heats and passions, what unkindnesses and incivilities, what hatreds and variances, what parties and distinctions; nay, what projects and designs are there often seen amongst us, which, if the bottom of things be searched into, owe their original, or their prosecution, to some real or pretended difference in religious opinions, or modes of worship? Names are invented to distinguish some from others, and make them odious and suspected; and these names are commonly taken from something that bears a relation to religion and the worship of God; and the church is too often hooked into designs, in which it hath little to do; and sacred words are made to serve the purposes of projecting men. For this is laid down as certain, that, though true religion be little regarded, but rather trampled on, by the generality of the world; yet the pretences taken from thence are moving, and never fail to alarm the multitude, and to forward a design. Any doctrine, manifestly framed to serve a purpose, can at any time easily be made the distinguishing mark of a true

* Luke xii. 52, 53,